MASSACHUSETTS
STATE COLLEGE

GOODELL
LIBRARY

Per

No. l,Voi. LVI.] JANUARY, 1880. [Tbib» Siriss.

THE

FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

AND

MONTHLY JOURNAL

OF

THE AGRICULTURAL INTEREST.

TO THE

FARMERS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM,

LONDON s
PUBLISHED BY ROGERSON AND TUXFORD, 265, STRAND.

TRICK TWO SHILLING*.

HAZELL, WATSON, * TINEY.] ^ [PRINTERS, 265, STRAND,

1 ,~i_^^ : — ^__^ , ■- - - -- — — _--

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,
BOROUGB, 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
destroying the Tick, Lice, and all other insects injurious 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
Oontributin? to the general health of the animal.

Prepared only by Thomas Bigg, Chemist, Ac., at his Mann-
factory as above, and sold as lollows, although any other
quantity may be had, if required: —

i lb. for 20 sheep, price, jar included £0 2 0

8 1b. 30 „ „ „ 0 3 0

8 lb. 40 ,, „ ,, 0 4 0

10 1b. 50 ,, ,, „ 0 6 0

20 1b. 100 ,, ,, (Cask and measure 0 10 0
301b. 150 ,, ,, included) 0 15 0

401b. 200 „ ,, 10 0

60 1b. 250 ,, ., 13 6

fiOlb. 300 ,, ,, 1 7 6

80 1b. 400 ,. „ 1 17 6

100 1b. 600 ,, „ , 2 6 0

JShonld any Flockmaster prefer boiling the Composition, it
vill be equally effective.

MOST IMPORTANT CERTIFICATE.
From Mr. HF.Bnri.TH, the celebrated Analytical Chemist :—

Bristol Laboratory, Old Park, January 18th, 1861.
ISir, — I have submitted your Sheep Dipping Composition to
analysis, and find that the ingredients are well blended, and
6he mixture neutral. If it is used according to the directions
ri/en, I feel satisfied, that while it effectually destroys vermin,
." will not injure the hair roots (or "yolk ") in the skin, ♦ho

[fleece, or the carcase. I think it deserves the ntix
j testimonials published. I am, Sir, yours respectfully,

William Hbbapath, Sen., F.C.S., Ac, *«.,
To Mr. Thomas Bigg Professor of Chemistry.

Leicester House, Great L/over-street Borouojh 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 description*
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,

IMPORTANT TESTIMONIAL.
" Scoulton, near Hingham, Norfolk, April 16th, 1866.

"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 ' Noif-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 alter
dressing according to instructions left ; bnt 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 Specific proved itself an invaluable remedy, for lb
three weeks the Sheep were quite cure I ; and I am happy to
say the young lambs are doing remarkably well at pr«sent.
In conclusion, I believe it to be the safest and beet remedy
now in use. " I remain, dear Sir,

" For JOHN TINGEY, Esq.,

" To Mr. Thomas Bigg. ' "R. RENNET.

B-"**" 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 suck
as the Tick, Lice, and Scab Parasites — creatures so tenaciowa
of life. Such advertised preparations must be wholly useleca,
or they are not what they are represented to be.

DIPPING APPARATUS £'4, £6, £4, k £9.

THE

MARK LANE EXPRESS

AND

AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL

LARGEST AND THE LEADING FARMER'S AND GRAZIER'S NEWSPAPER.

PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY EVENING, IN TIME FOR POST.

$ Jflice 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.

a*

_ a* [O

o c- •

<^ a, ^

a* - *

- g Q
6

to
O

a.

to y<n

O N :S

o a~ ~r

5. a sT

^ t^ g:

•3 5* ^

a.

a

f

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

JANUARY, 1880.

PLATE.

BOUNCER.
A Sussex Prize Cow, the Property of James Brabv. Esq., Matbajstks, Rudowick, Sussex,

Botmcer (1-472) calved March, 1872, was bred
by Mr. Braby, got by Jupiter (170), dam Beauty
(1151 ) by Blackstone ((ISO). She is a level, nicely
proportioned cow, with length, depth and
quality, and has had five calves. But what does
Anthony Lumpkin, Esquire, say of her ? " Ah !
could you but see Bouncer of these parts, you
might then talk of beauty. Ecod ! she has two
eyes as black as sloes, and cheeks as broad and
red as a pulpit cushion. She 'd make two of
she."

" As for my Cousin Neville, I renounce her,
Off — in a crack — I'll carry big Bett Bouncer."

Bouncer made her first appearance, not on the
stage, but in the show-yard in 1877, at the cen-
tenary meeting of the Bath and West of England
Society at Bath, where she was awarded the

second honours ; and at the Society's meeting at
Oxford in 187S, was again placed second in her
class. In the same year she won the first prizes
at the Royal Counties Show, Southampton, the
Royal Agricultural Show at Bristol ; Slinfold, and
Tunbridge Wells Show; and when eight years old,
and soon after calving, the first prize and the
champion prize as the best female of the Sussex
breed at the Royal International Show at Kilburn.
The breed has been much improved in the last
twenty years, which has frequently been pro-
claimed in the columns of the Mark Lane Express
and the pages of this Magazine. The principal
exhibitors of Sussex cattle are Messrs. Agate,
Child, Duke, Heasman, Huth, Stanford, Vickress,
and Whitehead.

THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE.

We congratulate the members of the Farmers'
Alliance upon having agreed to add the reform
of the laws affecting the ownership and transfer
of land to their list of objects. When their pro-
gramme was first published, we pointed out the
inconsistency of their professing to be agricul-
tural reformers and neglecting to include among
their objects the most important reform of all.
The majority of the Committee, and probably the
majority of the members also, were from the first
in favour of including that object ; but, from what
we have always considered a mistaken concession
to the wishes of the minority, the object was left
out of the original programme. At the general j
meeting of members, held on Wednesday Dec.
10th, there was some opposition to the addition
of the new object ; but the grounds of that
opposition were not such as to command the res-
pect of thoughtful and consistent agricultural
reformers who have the courage of their opinions.
It was argued that many farmers were averse to
meddling with what they regarded as a landlords'
or a national question, and not one affecting their
Old Series.

own interests materially. This was a plea to
give way to prejudice, or mistaken ideas, or both.
It is as essential to the prosperity of agriculture
that the owners of land should be in a position
to carry out all profitable landlords' improve-
ments as it is that the occupiers should be able,
without unfair risk, to expend their capital in
tenants' improvements. In spite of what has
recently been said by the Duke of Richmond and
Lord Salisbury, nothing is more certain than that
the tendency of limited ownership is to render
landlords unable or unwilling to do their duty by
their estates. It is idle to argue that some of
the large entailed estates are the best managed.
They may be so ; but it is in spite of, and not
because of, the hindrances imposed by limited
ownership. As nearly all the large estates are
entailed and settled, there is no opportunity for
fairly comparing them with other large estates
which are held by what ore called " absolute '
owners. A limited owner cannot impi'ove with
out disadvantage to himself and to his younger
children. If, in spite of this disadvantage
A Vol. LXXXVII.— No. 1.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

wealthy owners of settled estates do their duty
by their land, it is all the more to their credit ;
but it does not show either that the system under
which they hold their estates is harmless, or even
that they would not be better landlords than they
are if they were owners in fee instead of owners
for life. It is in cases in which limited owners
are impoverished by the encumbrances which
exist under a system of settlement that the in-
trinsic evil of the system is seen. That such
cases are very numerous everyone knows. Mr.
Fowler, in his speech on Dec. 10, cited two

• cases that he was personally acquainted with, in
which the ostensible owners of extensive estates,

• with large rent-rolls, are in reality obtaining only a
. paltry income from the land, not sufficient to
- keep their households in bread and meat alone.

Such instances of the impoverishing effect of en-
tail and settlement may be exceptional ; but
others, less striking, serve equally well to prove
the argument we wish to enforce. We need not
quote Lord Carington's case, as that has already
been widely noticed. We have a more recent case
in point in that of Lord Ailesbury, who, in ad-
dressing his tenants on Dec. 10, apologised
for not doing more for them than he was doing
by saying that his interest iu his estate, as they all
knew, was only a life interest, and he must there-
fore think of the interests of others. Every
farmer who has been about the country knows that
it is quite common for this reason to be given to
axcuse landlords from the performance of what are
their duties as much as farming in " a husband-like
manner'' is the duty of tenants. Tenants holding
under limited owners of either small or encumbered
estates know perfectly well that it ie uselees to
. ask for money for permanent improvements. " He
/ has only a life interest in the estate, you know,"
is quite a common answer given to aDyone who
•asks why farm building or cottages are in a dila-
. pidated condition, or why wet laud is not drained.
" Can I have some draining tiles for draining the
farm" ? asked an improving tenant of the agent.
" Certainly," was the reply ; " but there is one
thing you must bear in mind — you will have to pay
for them yourself." This was on a settled estate,
and it is an illustration of a very common state of
thiugs where life owners have barely enough in-
come to support the false position which they have
to maintain. In such instances the transference of
ownership into the hands of wealthy men could not
fail to be generally advantageous to the tenants.
It is pleaded that rents are lowest on the large
■ entailed estates ; but itis&bsurd to suppose thatrents
are low because the laudlords are life-owners only,
unless the land is really worth less to hire because
such owners cannot do their duty by it. There are
limited owners who are good landlords, and their
tenants would have reason to dread a change of
ownership. But it is precisely iu such cases that
no change would be brought about by abolishing
the laws of enlail and settlement. Owners who
are in a position to so treat their tenants that the
latter do not feel the evils of limited ownership
are not the landlords who would be tempted to sell
•heir estates if we had free trade in land. It is
only where owners are embarrassed, and therefore
Labis to be good landlords, that the abolition of

life-ownership would make a change. Thus it is
clear that the fears of tenants who are well treated
on large settled estates are groundless. The opera-
tion of the reform which we advocate would only
remove, as landlords, those who are really cuin-
berers of the soil, or put them — and it would do
this instead of removing them in many cases — into
a position for being improvers instead.

The objection raised by some of those who
opposed the addition of the new object, to the
effect that it was a party question, is too weak
to deserve much attention. The reform of the
laws affecting the ownership and transfer of
land cannot be intrinsically a party ques-
tion, and the fact that more men of one
party than of the other favour it does not
make it such. As a matter of fact, many Conser-
vatives, like Lord Randolph Churchill, are
advocates of the reform. It is true that amongst
politicians there are more Liberals than Conserva-
tives in favour of free trade in land ; but the
Farmers' Alliance would be in a queer position if
it were debarred from taking up any questions
but those in which the views of Liberals and
Conservatives are exactly, or even approximately,
balanced. Would Mr. Crouch and his friends
admit that the prevention of cattle disease would be
an improper object for the Farmers' Alliance to
include in its programme, because Conservatives
have given more support to measures for securing
partial immunity to our herds and flocks from
foreign infection than Liberals have given ? W e
feel sure they would not take up so absurd a
position. Yet the prevention of catt'e disease is
quite as much a party question as the reform of
the Land Laws is. The fact is, the objection is
a party one — not the object.

If there is no reason for refraining from pursuing
a legitimate purpose on the ground that the
majority of one political paity are opposed to it,
so there is no sufficient objection to pursuing it in
the plea that many farmers are not sufficiently
advanced to uphold it. While desiring to treat
with all due respect the views of such intelligent
members as Mr. Everett and Mr, Henderson,
when they urge that it is best to avoid dealing
with questions that will cause division amongst
those who have joined or might be induced to join
the Alliance, we must nevertheless conclude that
their argument i6 insufficient. The members of
the Alliance include some of the most intelligent
farmers in the country, and they should aspire
to lead, as well as to represent, their fellow farmers.
There is a great deal in consistency; and, as Mr.
Lewis in his very able speech said, for the members
of the Fanners' Alliance to act the role of agricul-
tural reformers without dealing with the laws
which affect the ownership and transfer of
land, would be like attempting to act the
play of Hamlet with the part of Hamlet left out.
Such a course of action would be all the more
iudefensible because many large landowners and
leading politicians have recently proclaimed them-
selves as advocates of the reform of these mis-
chievous laws, and for the Alliance to lag behind
would be to exhibit a timidity and backwardness
that would be quite out of character with its
thoroughness in other respects. We lejoice then

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

that the members, in general meeting assembled,
have decided to adopt the advice of their Corn-
mttee, and include " the reform of the laws relating
to the ownership and transfer of land" in their
programme. They have now a sufficiently com-
plete list of the most important agricultural reforms
required. There are other aims quite deserving of
attention, such as the repeal of the Malt Tax and
the re-adjustment of the tithe system. But agri-
cultural grievances — and real ones too — are so
numerous that it is impossible to take them all up
at once without formulating a programme as long
as a man's arm. There are those who say that the
programme of the Alliance is already too long.

We do not agree with them. Agricultural
reformers should put before the country and before
Parliament all the most important of their aims.
Still there is no denying the fact that if a super-
fluity of riches is sometimes embarrassing, a
redundancy of wants to be dealt with at one time
is still more perplexing. We believe that the
Alliance has chosen the happy medium, and with its
present list of objects we confidently commend it
to the support of tenant-farmers, and of all who
desire the enfranchisement of the land and its cul-
tivators from the trammels of unjust laws and
oppressive conditions.

SMITHFIELD CLUB SHOW.

CATTLE.
Compared with the pa3t, there can be no question
as to the more useful character assumed by the two great
Fat Stock Shows of the year, at Bingley Hall, Birming-
ham, and at the Agricultural 'rlall, London. The judges
at Birmingham, by awarding the chief honours to a young
bullock, set an example which we trust will be followed in
years to come, whenever it is fair and reasonable so to do,
and we should like to have seen the Championship at
Islington awarded to the same animal on the same prin-
ciple. The relative merits in respect of weight for age,
and average gain per day since birth, of the animals which
obtained the chief awards at Islington will be shown by
the following table : —

No.

Animal.

5»

«

a

at

<

3

■ — «
as -a

a:

£> —
id .

X .3

19i
106
211
76
99
935

■Sir W. G. Cumming's Cup Scotch Steei
Ron. W. Stuart's first Shorthorn Ox..
Mr. J. Reid's first Cross-hred Steer ...
Mr. Adamson's first Shorthorn Steer ..

Mr. Ratcliffe's Champion tLifer

979
1307
1037

883
1275
1215
1282
1261
1321
1359
1534

32+
1485

1570

1974
2615
2048
1710
2454
2212

2-02
2-00
1-98
1-94
193
1-82

213
48
15]

233

60

115

20

Lord Lovat's Cup Cross-bred Ox

Mr. R. Worthy's first Sereford Steer...

Mr. Kirkpatriek's Cup Sussex Ox

Mr. Mayhew'a first Cross-bred Heifer...
Mr. J Wortley's first Hereford Ox
Mr. EL Stratton's Cup Shorthorn Heifer
Mr. Walter's Cup Devon Ox

2294| 1-79
2072: 1-64
2114, 160
2107 1 55
2296i 1-50
1938 1-46
L960 1 32

69

Mrs. Edwards' Cup Hereford Cow

2012

1-28

.. .i.
1-67

From which it appeals that Mr. Adamson's Shorthorn
steer which won the Eikington Challenge Cup at Bir-
mingham, ha3 made the best record against time, and,
as his quality is undeniable, we think he was fairly
entitled to the Breed Cup as the best Shorthorn instead of
Mr. H. Stratton's Wild Flower, which is a long way
behind him in figures, not so good in quality, not so evenly I
fed, and of no better Shorthoru character; aud we also

think he was entitled to the Champion Plate as the best
bea3t in the Show instead of Mr. Ratcliffe'3 Priory
Princess, on the same counts — excepting that the heifer
was as evenly fed. If quality of meat in connection with
early maturity is the end and object of Fat Stock Shows
then surely the young Shorthorn steer deserved the
championship at Islington as at Bingley Hall. And had
the award been so given, its effect on future exhibitions of
the kind would doubtless have been very marked. Young
steers are better worth encouraging in Fat Stock Show3
than non-breeding heifers, but so long as the judges are
chosen from amongst breeders' ranks so long will they be
likely to favour heifers. A bull breeder looks upon a
bullock as a fluke, whilst butchers and salesmen would
regard the bullock as the desideratum, and the non-
breeding heifer as the fluke ; although fat maiden heifers-
are always welcome to butchers. We are now acenstomed
to see the same men judging Fat Stock Shows who judge
Breeding Stock Shows ; and, what is far worse, we are
i beginning to see the same animals exhibited in both
places. If bona fide breeding stock is exhibited in such
high condition as to enable the same animals— still
supposed to be breeding stock — to take high honours a3
fat beasts, there must be something radically wrong in the
principle on which prizes are awarded at both classes of
shows. And the only way in which a stop cau be put to
this pernicious 3ysiem will be for the judges at Fat Stock
Shows to award prizes for quality and early maturity
only — in other words for consuming value at the
earliest age. This would stop the exhibition of over-
fed and over-aged animals ; and if the class for heifers
were done away with entirely, it would put a stop to the
exhibition as fat beasts of breeding stock in hi»h
condition. An old cow which has done her work, and
comes into a Fat Stock Show carrying a good carcase of
beef, is a credit to her breeder ; but a non-breeding heifer
may be considered a discredit rather than otherwise to a
breeder's stock. The landowners and gentlemen .farmers who
waste time, money, and good food in preparing uselessly
fat animals for the Showyard, are not teaching a useful
lesson to struggling farmers ; and by awarding prizes to
such animals our Showyard judges are encouraging and

A 2

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

bolstering np a system which must be acknowledged to he
superficial and useless— therefore an outrage to common
sense.

Whilst indulging in general remarks of this kind we
must not be understood to find any fault with Mr.
Ratcliffe's Champion Shorthorn heifer. We think — as
already stated — that the steer was the more deserving, but
the heifer has great merit, and an examination into her
antecedents will go to show that she made a better record
ast year than the steer has done this year. When exhi-
bited at Islington in 187S her age was 838 days, and her
weight l,90S!b., showing a gain of 2.221b. per day since
birth. Thus, compared with the steer, she was 25 days
younger and 1981b. heavier, and her rate of increase 0 2S
greater. These are hard facts, and their significance we
appreciate highly. Standing side by side with her at
Islington last year was Mr. E,. Stratton's Icicle, and
the comparative merits of the two animals — in figures —
will be seen as below : —

1878. Davs, lb. Gain p°r dav.

Icicle 1409 2108 1.50 lb.

Priory Princess S5S l'JOS 2.C2 ,,

Therefore, as Priory Princess will be considered as good
a Shorthorn as icicle, as good in quality, and as evenly
fed, it would appear that she ought to have taken the
Championship that year instead of Icicle, as many thought
and said at the time. An 1 now that Icicle has been
mentioned, and as she was exhibited again this year at
Bingley Hall, it will not be out of place to put her record
on paper, as below : —

Datp. Davs. Lb. Gain r>pr flay.

1877 1,018 1,827 1-79 lb.

1878 1,409 2,108 1-50 „

1879 1,748 2,137 1*82 „

And what she has done during the past two years will be
clearly shown by the following figures: —

Total gain in lb. Gain per day in lb.

1878 281 0 77 „

1879 2'J 0-08 .„

As she merely obtained a £5 prize in the extra stock
class at Bingley Hall this year, the utility of keeping
animals after they are ripe is not very apparent ; and the
esson, to be valuable, must teach others not to do
likewise.

It is worthy of note, whilst dealing with weights ^nd
nges, that the highest ratio of increase per day, as shown
in the table given above, is made. by Sir W. Gordon
Cumming's Polled Scot steer, and the next highest by
the Hon. W. Stewart's Shorthorn ox, which, though
first in his class at Islington, was not noticed by the
judges at Bingley Hall. He was the heaviest bea6t
exhibited at either show, and lull of firm flesh, though
not very handsome. He was certainly one of the best
butchers' beasts iu either show, and, taking his age into
consideration, it will be seen that he has maintained a
higher rate of increase for a longer time than any other
beast which obtained a prize. Another bullock deserving
especial notice is Mr. Darby's Shorthorn steer which was
first in his class both in Birmingham and at London.
.:.T.K failings are a bare shoulder and comparatively light

hind quarters, but his chiue, back, loin, and libs are wel
covered with very excellent beef, and he is very thick
through the heart. This bullock, though not so perfect
an animal as Mr. Adamson's steer, shows a record which
is only fractionally inferior, namely an increase of 1.931b.
against 1.941b. on his age ; and last year his figures were
better than Mr. Adamson's steer's figures are now —
namely, age in days 910, weight iu lb. 1,953, and daily
iLcrease 2T5 lb.; or, in other words, he was 27 days
older, 243 lb. heavier, and his daily gain since birth
0'21 greater. So that with the exception of symmetry,
Shorthorn character, aud quality, he was better iu some
other respects last year thin Mr. Adamson's steer is this
year. Mr. John Wortley's Hereford steer, which was first
at Bingley Hall, and only highly commended at Islington,
shows better figures than the first prize beast in the same
class at Islington (No. 48, see table given above), namely,
age in days 1,270, weight in lb. 2,142, and daily
increase 1'68 lb. The white Shorthorn ox from
the United States of America shows age in days 1,550,
weight in lb., 2,336, and daily increase 1.52 lb. Last on
the list, in point of weight for age and daily increase —
amongst prize-winning animals — comes the Hereford cow
Leonora, q. v., but if she is still to be considered a breed-
ing animal her two calves must be taken into consideration,
and she bad no business at a Fat Stock Show at all. It
is only fair to say, however, that we havgnot given figures
relating to any other cow, as none other took a Breed Cup.
It would appear to be an advantage if the Committees of
Fat Stock Shows could see their way clear to give the
ages in days, the weight in lb., and the daily average in-
crease iu lb. since birth, on their catalogues, after
the practice obtaining iu the United States of America.
In compiling the table given above, a month has been
reckoned as thirty days, and the daily increase has been
calculated to the nearest decimal.

Shorthorns, as a whole, made a show which was
highly creditable to the breed; there were few plaiu
animals, and no " wonders," but the rauks were made up
of well-bred and well-fed beasts of good consuming value.
And this was as it should be. Mention has already been
made of the most meritorious auimals iu the class for
Bteer-8 not exceeding ?£- years old, and also of Mr. Darby's
first prize steer in the class for steers not exceeding 3|
years old. It may be worthy of mention that the bare-
uess on the shoulder of whieh we have spokea, we fiud
by reference to our notes on the Birmingham Show of
1-678 characterised him last year ; we have already
attempted to do justice to his merits. Mr. J. J. Col-
man's second prize steer in this class was noticeable for
his quality and good Shorthorn character, but he, too,
was plain on his shoulders, rather flat-sided, and bare on
his back. la our report of the Birmingham Show two
weeks since, Mr. Colman's name was spelt " Coleman,"
and as our attention has been called to that fact we take
this opportunity of acknowledging the error and rectify-
ing it. Mr. J. Cridlan's third prize beast was a very
massive animal, and one of the heaviest in the show.
Colonel Loyd .Lindsay's white bullock, which obtained

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

a high commendation, was rather narrow in his rounds
aud twist, and too high on his legs. Nevertheless, his
quality wa3 good. lie took third in the younger class
last year, and has been first in more than one Provincial
show ; the Cup, as best beast in the show, was awarded
him at Abingdou. The entries numbered 16, forming a
strong and good class. Oxen above 3^ and not exceed-
ing 4| years old, were 8 in number. The Hon. Walter
Stuart's first prize bullock has already been meutioned
aud Col. Sowerby's second prize animal showed rather
too much daylight underneath him to be considered a very
good oue. A straight, level, aud rather showy bullock
bred aud exhibited by Mr. 13. Hoddiuott, which was
second in the corresponding class at Birmingham, was
passed over altogether by the Islington judges. He was
a good and useful bullock, not too well covered on his
shoulders, but still one would think him worthy a ticket
of some sort at Islington, if he could earn a blue rosette
at Birmingham. The Uuited States bullock, of which
mention has been made above, was of good quality and
by no means a disgrace to the class in which he stood_
It 100,000 such as he is ever to come annually across the
Atlantic, they will make a very distinct mark upon our
markets. Shorthorn heifers, not exceeding four years old
numbered 13, four of the entries being absentees. Mr. R#
Strattou's Wild Flower, and the honours she secured, has
already been made the subject of comment. The Prince of
Wales obtaiued second prize for a small and plain heifer
bredbv Mr. H. Overman -t her age in days was 1335, her
weight in lb. 1663, and her increase per day iu lb. 1.03 lb.
Being of no particular excellence.this record in figures makea
her a bad second. Colontl Loyd Lindsay's Durna, a heifer
well-known to breeding stock showyards, was placed third,
probably from a lightness of flank which was very notice-
able. She carried much more substance than the oue
placed above her. The Earl of Dunmore's two heifers,
— Red Rose of Missouri, and 4th Marchioness of Oxford
— did no credit to the Shorthorn breed. A good heifer,
shown by Mr. W. Hammond Betts, very justly received a
commendation from the judges, and nothing else iu the
class calls for special mention. The cows were a poor lot,
and even the prize-winners were very commonplace.
Had the Earl of Dunmore's two cows — Red Rose of
Strathtay and Red Rose of Alabama — been in their places
the standard of the class would have been still further
lowered. One exhibition — at Birmingham — was wisely
considered to be enough ; at all events, they did not put
in an appearance at Islington.

The Hereford breed was not particularly well repre-
sented, though the numbers made up rather a strong show.
There were some useful steers iu the class for steers not
exceeding 2^ years old. Mr. F. Piatt's first prize animal
vi as a fairly good one to the eye and the hand,as well as in
figures. His age in days was S58, his weight in lb. 1680,
and his ratio of daily increase 1.93. This record, which was
accidentally left, out of the table given above, is
but little inferior to that of Mr. Adamson's
Shorthorn steer, but he was not so good

I an animal, nor 60 ripe at his age. The second prize also
weut to Mr. Piatt for a steer which was 5 days older
and 341b. lighter ; both these steers were by the bull
Horace (3877). Nearly all the animals in the class,
numbering 10 iu their places, were good ones, and the
class was the best in the Hereford division. There were
some good bullocks standing in the next class, for steers
not exceeding 3| years old, of which there were 15. Mr.
R. Wortley's first prize animal, bred by Mr. Philip
Turner, has already ken noticed, and Mr. R. Wortley
also showed another bullock from the same herd. Mr.
John Wortley's bullock, noticed above, was also bred by
Mr. Philip Turner. The second prize fell to a long,
level, aud useful beast bred by Mr. T. J. Carwardine, and
exhibited by Mr. P. Phipps, M.P., and the third t*-on&
hred by Mr. Thomas Rogers, Dilwyn, and exhibited by
Mr. George Bright, of Broome. The herds of Mr. T,.
Duokham, Mr. R. Shirley, Mr. James Marston, Mr. 11.
L. Burton, and Mr. Francis Evans, were also represented
by various exhibitors. Two out of the 4; oxen in the
older class have already been alluded to in this report and
that of the Birmingham Show. The heifers were 5 in,.
number, headed by Mr. Win. Taylor's Lancashire Lass>
referred to in the Birmingham report. Mr. Lewis Loyd
obtained second prize for a very neat small-boned heifer,
of nice quality, and the third prize fell to Mr. Ehilig
Turner for a pretty heifer of equally good quality but not
very level. Amongst the 5 cows was Mrs. Sarah
Edwards' Leonora, which will not need further
comment, except to remark that in the preliminary rer
port of this show last month the priuters made the wcrd
" shaped,'' which was used in describing her, into
" sloped" — as will doubtless have been understood. The
other cow3 were fairly good and creditable animals.
Altogether, the Herefords, were scarcely as well finished
as we have seen them at Isliugtou, although there was
not much room for complaint.

The same want of finish was more noticeable fn the
Sussex division of the Show. The young steers were a
very useful lot, but we have certainly seen them better at
Isliugtou, and the same may be said of the steers not
exceeding 3£ jears old. The Breed Cup was taken by
Mr. John Kirkpatrick, for an ox. which had excellent
back and loin, and a good flank, but wa3 small in his
rounds and twist. The figures relating to the age and
weight of this animal are given in the table above.
Sussex heifers and cows are nearly always better than the
bullocks, and it was so this time. Messrs, J. and A.
Heasmaa obtained first prize iu the heifer class, for ex-
cellent quality, and Mr. J. M. Montefiore was first with a,
good cow in a good class. We certainly have seen the
Sussex beasts in better form, than they were this year at
Isliugton.

Devons were about of their usual quality.which is always
good, and iu their usual strength. There appears to be
very little change in the Devon ranks from year to year,
and it may be long e'er we see the like of Mr. Kidner's
ox agaiu. Colonel Buller's steer, which '.vas placed firs.

in the class for steers not exceeding 3£ years old, was a
first-rate bullock, and so was Mr. J. Walters' ox, bred by
Mr. Kidner, which took the Breed Cup. The heifers and
cows formed small but good classes.

Norfolk and Suffolk polled Cattle were 10 in number,
and some of them would compare favourably with other
breeds. West Highlanders were in larger numbers than
usual, but the quality— for Highlanders— was not very
remarkable. Polled Scot3 were eight in number, and the
Cup steer, bred by Mr- C. Grant, and exhibited by Sir W.
Gordon Cumming, though not a first-rate Scot, makes an
ezcellent account of himself in respect of daily increase in
weight, as will be seen in the above table, aud to which
attention has already been called. Oa the second day of
the Show, a ticket bearing the words " disqualified on
account of incorrect certificate" was place d over Mr. J.
Merson's heifer, which took the President's prize at
Birmingham. There were a few Welsh runts, but nothing
which demands notice here. The Cross-bred and Mixed-
bred cattle were a lot of capital butcher's beasts, a3 they
always are, but they were not the best lot
ever got together at Islington. Mr. Reid's steer and
Lord Lovat's cup ox are referred to above, a3 is also the
first prize heifer exhibited by Mr. John Mayhew. This
is remarkable as being a thorough mongrel— cross-bred
sire and cross-bred dam— but she is a very thickly fleshed
animal, a rare butcher's beast, and of great substance.
She was first in the corresponding class at Bingley Hall,
and first at Norwich. Many good bullocks stood in this
division, and, as usual, the first cross between a Shorthorn
bull and a Polled Scot cow appeared to produce the best
result. The Extra Stock Class this year produced the
Champion — Priory Princess.

In closing this notice of the cattle classes at Islington
we cannot do better than quote the following remarks
from the Cultivator and Country Gentleman (Albany
N.Y.) of November 27, on the Pat Stock Show recently
held at Chicago, U.S.A. : " While the lessons of the show
were many, important, and interesting, the great fact made
prominent was that the best beef for the consumer, and
the cheapest and most profitable for the feeder, is made
from the pure blood and grade Shorthorn or Hereford,
which, full-fed from birth, i3 ready for the butcher at less
that two years, and better at 18 months. Such steers,
when rightly selected and carefully handled, will sell for a
cent or two more per pound than the fatter beasts of
twice their ago aud nearly twice their weight. These
young steers suit the consumer and yield a profit to the
feeder. The heavy cattle have gone or are rapidly going
out of fashion ; these great mountains of fat, weighing
something near a ton, will rarely be seen hereafter, as the
choice steer of the future will be the oue who gets his best
development at less than eighteen months and which
weighs not less than 1,200 or more than 1,500 pounds."
Less than 18 mouths is too short a time for a bullock to
mature, but good useful bullocks can be made out at two
years to two aud a-half years old- To give prizes for

TEE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

bullocks over three years old does not encourage early
development.

SHEEP.
The sheep classes were not quite so well filled as they
were last year, and the numbers fell considerably short
of those of 1S77- But the quality throughout was good,
and although we have seen as good, or better, at Isling-
ton, we do not attempt to fiud fault with this division of
the Show. Southdown wethers formed a clas3 of nine
entries all in their places, and most of them were sheep
of first-rate quality. Lord Walsingham gives place this
year to Mr. H. Humphrey, of Pulborough, Sussex, whose
pen of sheep takes the first prize in the class ; also the Breed
Cup of £20 as the best Southdowns, and the Champion
Plate of £30 as the best pen of sheep in the Show. Their
live weight was 6861b., the pen of three, at 20 months
old. The sheep were exceedingly firm handlers, and one
was decidedly better than the other two. For wool and
mutton they would be hard to beat, but they were not
quite so finely bred as Lord Walsingham's second and
third prize pens. The former weve long, good backed
sheep of the best possible Southdown character. The
Duke of Richmond, the Priuce of Wales, Mr. Hugh
Penfold, and Mr. J. J. Colman were also exhibitors.
The Southdown ewes were an excellent lot of sheep, aud
the first prize fell to the Earl of Suffolk for a pen which
were not of he character and quality of Lord Walsingham's
second prize lot ; they did not handle so well, were not so
level, and not of as good Southdown character, bat
they were heavier. Messrs. J. and A. Heasman's
first prize pen of lambs were very creditable, and
so was the pen from the same breeders which took
the second prize. With Hampshire Downs Mr. Alfred Mor-
rison was again to the front with wethers, and his first
prize pen of lambs weighed 6741b., a great weight
at 9 months and 1 week. They handled as firm as
wethers, and in onr opiuiou deserved the Champion Plate
as the best pen of sheep in the Show. Shropshire Downs
were in small numbers, and not particularly well repre-
sented. Lord Chesham and Mr- T. Nock were the most
sucoessful exhibitors. Oxfordshire Downs were as good
as we have ever seen them, the Breed Cup falling to Mr.
W. Cooper for sheep bred from the stock of Mr. J. Tread-
well. The quality of the Leicester sheep was about as
usual, and some excellent pens of Cotswolds were shown.
Mr. R. Jacob's first prize pen of ewes was the second
heaviest pen of sheep in the Show, their live weight being
7241b- Lincolns were in capital form, and Mr. T. Close's
first prize pen of ewes was the heaviest pen in the Show,
namely 1,1091b. Mr. Peter Dunn's first prize ren of
wethers was third heaviest in the Show, namely 1,0081b.
Kent or Romney Marsh sheep were well represented, and
several pens were highly creditable to breeders aud
exhibitors. There were some good pens of Cheviots,
Mountain Breeds, Devous, and Horned Dorsets ; and,a3
we have already slated, the quality throughout was
excellent.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

PIGS,

This division of the Show was rather smaller than
usual, but there was no falling off in the quality of the
animals exhibited. The white breeds were represented
by some of the best, breeders, and the Breed Cup was
awarded to the Earl of Radnor for pigs of excellent
quality. The Cup for the best pen of pigs of any black
breed was won by .Mr. Wm. Wheeler, of Long Compton;
and the Cup for the Berkshire breed was taken by Lord
Chesham. As a whole, the pigs appeared to be less
over-fed, and more u.-eful than we have seen them on
former occasions at Islington.

ROOTS, SEEDS, &c.

We must say we were agreeably surprised to see the
display of roots and vegetables as good as i't was after
such an untoward season as that which we have passed
through, and that it was as good as it was says much for
good stocks of seed and the judicious application of good
manures. In more favourable years the general average
of size and quality has been higher, especially in the
maDgels ; but there is far less difference this year than
was to be anticipated. Taking the seed stands in the
order of their respective numbers in the catalogue, we
come first to that of Webb and Sons, of Wordsley, Stour-
bridge. Having recently recorded the successes of Messrs.
Webb at the Birmingham Show, we were, of course,,
prepared to see a good display of roots on their stand at
Islington. We find the Mammoth Long Red mangels
of good size, and really remarkable quality for such a
season. The Kinver Globes, Yellow-fleshed, and Inter-
mediates were also very creditable. We were most
pleased, however, with the Imperial swedes, which would
have been very good for any year. There were also some
very fine white green-top and purple-top turnips.
Wtbb's Green Kohl Rabi has, we understand, taken first
and second prizes for three years in succession at the Bir-
mingham Show, and the specimens at the Agricultural
Hall were very good. This firm also had a line display
of potatoes — the Magnum Bonum, Surprise, School-
master, Ashleaf, and other varieties, selected from 500
sorts grown by Messrs. Webb on their seed farms. Their
Challenge White, Selected Squarehead, and Golden Drop
wheat, Kinver barley, Prolific Black and Challenge White
oats were also exhibited, with a collection of grasses for
lawns and pastures. Rayubird, Caldecott,. and Co.
showed roots, grasses, and seeds. James Carter and Co.,
of Holborn, had a magnificent display of roots. It is
difficult to compare one year's show with that of another
year; but it seemed to us that this firm had never ap-
peared to greater advantage at the Smithfield Show.
There were some very large Mammoth and WTarden man-
gels— coarser than usual on account of the wet, cold
summer, but remarkable for the season. The Tankards
and Intermediates were of better quality, and of good
size also. The Imperial swedes were remarkably fine and
good. The white, green, and hybrid turnips, kohl rabi,
carrots, and onions also made a good show, and the
iJagnum Bonum, Scotch Champion, and other potatoes

were exhibited in great variety. Some of the grasses
similar to those for which a silver medal was obtained at
Kilburn last summer were shown in growth, with an an-
nouncement from Mr. Salter, the occupier of the farm on
which the Royal Show was held, to the effect that he had
decided to sow the whole of the Show ground with these
seeds. John K. King.of Coggeshall, exhibited his Long Red
Essex Prize, Yellow Globe, and Long Yellow mangels, for
which he claims the merit that they were all grown, a*
well as his other roots, in ordinary field culture. They,
have been selected from the prize roots exhibited at the
Coggeshall Root Show recently held, and were of very
good quality for the year. The Yellow Globes were
small, but the other varieties were of good size. The
unrivalled swedes, and White and Green Top turnips were
very fine and good. There were also some large Cattle
cabbages, specimens of grass, and other seeds. Holding'
as we do that the large seed firms have done much to
improve the size and quality of field roots and other
vegetables, it is a subject of congratulation that the
eastern counties farmers should have a supply of what,
may be termed home-grown roots iu their midst. Sutton
and Sons have departed from the beaten track this year
in the arranging of their stand. Instead of their usual
large display of roots, they had last week a select show
of their Mammoth, Berkshire Prize, Intermediate, and
Golden Tankard mangels, Champion swede3, Purple Top
Mammoth, Pomerarian and other varieties of turnips, and
green kohl rabi— all nearly up to their usual standard of
excellence :: some very fine white and red field carrots ; a
splendid show of Magnum Bonum, Woodstock kidney,and
other potatoes ; and — last but not least— a very interest-
ing museum of agricultural and horticultural produce
which would well have repaid a more studious inspection
than a, hurried visit to the show allowed to a visitor. It
includes a collection of. a thousand different sorts of root,
vegetable,, and flower seeds, with three hundred varieties
of grasses for permanent pasture and other purposes.
Messrs. Sutton can claim that their Mammoth Long Red
mangel has taken the first prize at Birmingham for nine
years, and other prizes gained by their Champion swede
have recently been recorded in connection with Messrs.
Procter and Ryland's show. Messrs. Harrison and Hall
showed roots, vegetables, and seeds. Amies' Manure
Company also exhibited some fine specimens of roots,
potatoes,- and corn,. grown with the use of their manures.
IMPLEMENTS.
Robey and Co. exhibited their portable and vertical
engines, and Wallaee and Stevens a thrashing machine.
Garratt and Sons, Leiston Works, Suffolk, showed
portable engines, drills, horse-hoes, and a model of Lake,
man '8 circular saw guard, a valuable invention recently
described in our columns. Horneby and Sons, Grantham p
had their usual large display of reapers and mowers,
ploughs of all kinds, turnip engines, besides their hedge-
cutting machine, portable engine and thrashing machine.
They also showed their new artificial manure distribu-
tor, materially improved since the Kilbura Show. The

B

TEE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

delivering barrel is formed upon the axis of the t\v
cairiage wheels and rotates with them ; the lever scrapers
are detachable without bolts or nuts ; the stirrer, with a
slow reciprocating sideway movement, does not work soft
manure into a paste ; a rapidly revolving' cage below
elTectually divides and disperses the falling powder, and
the driver sits on the machine. This firm is to be
formed into a limited company, as our readers
have probably noticed. The rapidity with which
the shares have been taken up is a flattering
tribute to the reputation of the firm. John
Powler and Co., Leeds, had one of their 16-h.p. steam
ploughing engines and a turning cultivator, besides a
number of models of steam cultivating machinery, for
which there was no space available in the Hall. We have
so often described these well-known engines and imple-
ments that no detailed notice' is now necessary. Some
recent improvements have been mentioned on previous
occasions. There were also on this stand two S-h.p.
traction engines for road-work or for thrashing and other
purposes, and a specimen of their portable railway, for
locomotives or animal power, chiefly employed for farming,
contractors, and military purposes. Clayton and
Shuttleworth, Lincoln, showed a thrashing machine,
elevator, 8 h.p., portable engine, fitted with crauk
shafts, brackets, and recent improvements ; a traction
engine with winding forward drum differential motion,
steel wire rope, and patent steerage ; a newly improved
drum guard for a thrashing machine, so made as to
be a protection at the sides as well as front and back
— an excellent invention ; a sack-lifting barrow, &c.
C. Burrell and Seas showed a traction engiue, with wind-
ing drum ; J. and H. McLaren exhibited their traction
engine ; and F. Savage, of King's Lynn, showed his agri
cultural locomotive. J. and F. Howard, Bedford, had
their usual large display of farm implements, amongst
which we noticed a novelty in tjae form of a thistle-cutter.
This consists of an adaptation of their haymaker to the
purpose of cutting thistles. Blades are fixed on to the
spiders of the haymaker, the ordinary prongs being taken
off, and the thistles are cut by the revolving action of the
machine. This is a. very useful adaptation, as it is avail-
able to anyone who .has a haymaker, at a small expense.
The thistle-cutter is serviceable ou pastures, aud on
stubbles or leys left long enough for thistles to grow up.
They also showed their Farmer's engine for steam cultiva-
tion, thrashing, and other purposes, thefcr steam cultivator,
their self-binding reaping machine, Eclipse reaping aud
mowing machines, and a variety of horse-rake?, ploaghsj
aud other implements. Aveling and Porter, Rochester,
exhibited their 12- h.-p. and 8-h-p. traction engines, fitted
with recent improvements, which are too well-known to
need description. The traction engines and road
rollers of this firm are noted for efficiency and
durability. Holmes and Sons showed thrashing
machines, a clover seed sheller, drills, rolls, &c. Ran-
aomes and Sons, of Ipswich, have gone into the manufac-
ture of mowing machines, and showed for the first time a

serviceable -looking mower, combining the best arrange,
ments of some other machines. They had also on their large
stand some of their well-known horserakes, haymakers,
portable, semi-portabK and vertical engines, ploughs,
thrashing machines, and other machines and implements.
E. R. and F. Turner, Ipswich, showed their " Gippeswyk''
vertical and horizontal engines, and a large assortment of
their corn grinding and crushing mills, malt mills, &c.
A. Crosskill and Sons, Beverley, had a good display of
their excellent farm carriages of various descriptions.
Marshall, Sons, and Co. showed portable and vertical
engines, and a thrashing machine : H. and J. Gibbons,
thrashing machines and portable engines } Nalder
aud Nalder, a thrashing machine and elevator ; and Brown
and May, portable engines. Davey, Paxman, and Co.,
Colchester, showed for the first time a new type of por-
table engiue which combines many improvements. The
boiler is made of steel, and is capable of being worked to
1401b. pressure on the square inch, and at'.ached to it is
a steel frame, into which the engine is fitted, by which
arrangement the boiler is relieved from strain from the
working of the engine. The firebox is of copper, and the
governors are of an improved type. The engine is fitted
with Taxman's automatic expansion valve. In order to
avoid cuttiug many holes in the boiler, an ingenious
arrangement has beeu made, by means of which one hole
suffices for the spring balance, the lock-up safety valves,
the starting or steam feed valve, and the steam gauge and
whistle, these being combined in or attached to one
casting. The boiler and engine can easily be detached.
Great power with a very low consumption of fuel is
claimed for this new engine. Huston, Proctor, and Co.,
of Lincoln, showed a new self-feeder and guard for a
thrashing machine, very simple in its action ; also traction,
portable, and horizontal engines, and a thrashing machine.
The Reading Iron Works Company exhibited eDgines,
chaffcutters, korserakes, a 3 h.-p. thrashing machine,
grain mill for crushing and bruising oats, beaus, &c, by
horse or steam power, a chaff cutter and oil-cake mill
suitable for horse or steam power, broadcast seed machine
with box 12 feet long, fitted with continuous slides aud
throwing out lever, the R.A.S.E. priae hay machine with
backward and forward motion, awarded priae of £5, at the
last great trials at Taunton, aud patent lock horse-rake
with screw adjustment and steel teeth of an
improved section, horse gear, Sec. Corbett and
Peele showed their well-known dressing machines
the dressed corn, harrows,
Ilindley, vertical eugines ; W. J.
and Sons, dairy implements and
utensils ; Fairbank and Co., weighing machines ; Fallows
aud Bates, chaff cutters ; Ord and Maddison, the Kold-
moos Weed Eradicator ; and Thomas Baker, die-sing
machines and manure distributors. Lawrence and Co.
exhibited their milk cooler, which obtained the first prize
at the recent fairy Show, and a milk heater.

The most important novelty that we noticed was
Walter A. Wood's string Bfieaf- binding reaper, tried to u

with elevators for
and horsehoes; E. S.
Harrison and Allway

THE FARMER'S

limited extent last harvest iu England and America, but
exhibited for the first time at Islington last week. This
binder has several novel features, and it appears to be as
simple as it is ingenious. The whole of the binding
mechanism is above the grain, the kuot being tied on the
upper side of the sheaf. The grain is completely
shielded as it comes from the elevators, and once on the
grain table canuot be disturbed by the strongest wind.
The binding ;ind discharging arms, wheu at rest, are be-
low the grain table, but are driven from above. Every
part of the binder is visible and easy of access for the
purpose of oiling and adjustment. Coming from the
elevators, the graiu falls upon the grain table, and is
pushed forward and straightened out by packers, revolving
discs with teeth, between which and a compressing lever,
w'lich projects down over the front of the grain table, the
graiu is compressed uutil the required bulk is gathered,
when the lever is forced out, throwing the packers out
of, and the binding arm into, gear. The binding
mechanism being above, one end of the string is there
held in a serrated retainer, the compressed graiu lying ou
the string, the binding arm comes up, bringing the string
round the sheaf into the knotter where the knot is tied
and the string cut, one end being securely held by the
retainer. As the binding arm recedes, the lever described
is lifted up and permits the discharging arm, which has
advanced, to expel the sheaf with a moderate degree of
force. As soon as these arms recede the compressing
lever drops into place, and the packers commence form-
ing the next sheaf. Ho rapidly is this work effected, that
as mauy as 27 sheaves per minute have been bound and
delivered in actual field work. The action of the binder
is entirely automatic. As soon as the required bulk is
compressed in the manner described, the sheaf is bound
and delivered; The binder having been adjusted, each
sheaf is delivered of a uniform size, whether the grain
stands thick or thin. The driver is relieved of all over-
sight of the binder, and has no unnecessary levers to
manipulate. The cost of string is not more than wire,
aud it may prove to be less. From a trial made in
Cheshire the cost appears to be about Is. per acre.

A one-horse reaper with turn-up platform is now made
by Samuelson and Co., of Banbury. This firm showed
a selection of other well-known reapers and mowers,
fitted with all their latest improvements, including the
inclined cut for mowers, the steel-and-iron welded fingers
of open pattern, and the simple knife-holder, for mowers
and reapers alike. There was also to be seen on this
stand a model of the hay-pressing machine which
obtained the silver medal at the Kilburn Show ;
also their famous turnip cutting machines. Of i
Burgess and Key's new string-binding reaper we have :
spoken on several occasions since its introduction at the |
last Smitbfield Show. We hoped to have been able to aee |
it at work in the field last harvest, but were unable to do
so. Wc understand that it did some good work, aud its
trial enabled the makers to introduce further improve-
ments in its details. Iu addition to the well-known ,

MAGAZINE.

'■)

mowers of this firm, with the crank low down, level with
the knife, and the finger-bar iu a line with the maiu axle,
they exhibited a mower constructed on the principle now
most generally adopted by English and American makers,
and known as the " Buckeye"— that is, wilh a double-
jointed finger-bar. Some improvements of their own
are added, and altogether this mower looks a very useful
one. The patent plan of taking out and putting in the
knife peculiar to the machines of this firm is a great con-
venience, saving much time and trouble. Harrison
McGregor and Co., of Leigh, Lancashire, now make
their excellent mowers with a new draught-frame and an
improved tipping arrangement for picking up laid grass
wheu working on an uneven surface. Their self-
delivery reapers are also fitted with recent improve-
ments, one of the most important of which is the arrange-
ment which protects the gearing from dirt. W. and C .
Woolnough and Co. exhibited a string-binding mechanism
which was privately tested in the field last harvest. It
appears to us somewhat complicated. Woods, C'jck-
sedge, and Co., of Stowinarket, had a large show of their
grinding mills and other stock-feeding machines and
implements of various descriptions, vertical engines, and
carts. Barford and Perkins, Peterborough, showed an
assortment of tl eir excellent corn-grinding and cake
mills, steam food-preparing machinery, and their steam
plough, self-lifting steam cultivator, and self-acting
anchor. The recent improvements in their system of
steam cultivation were described at some length in our
report on the implements at the last Smithfield Show.
Vipan and Headley, Leicester, exhibited their latest
improvements in milk cans and carriages, of which we
have previously had occasion to speak with approval ; also
ploughs, horse-gear, horse-hoes, corn mills, cake
breakers, pulpers, &e. Perkins and Co., Hitchin, had
their serviceable Polygon corn and seed screen. The con -
struction of this screen differs from that of all others .
It consists of an octagonal metallic covering with a steel
wire expanding frame. By the form of the barrel the grain
is thoroughly shaken up, and although the seeds, such as
burrs or hariff, charlock, &c, may.be the same size as the
good corn, yet from the form of the perforation the seeds
pass through and the grain from its tendency to fall Hat
on the holes, will not pass, and consequently are separated.
It will also dress wheat or barley, dividing the tail frcm
the good corn. J. Crowley and Co., Sheffield, showed a
selection of the chaff-cutters for which they obtained a
gold medal at the Paris Exhibition. Sawney and Co.,
Beverley, sent some specimens of their carts, waggons
vans, and other carriages of very nice design and make '•
also winnowing, blowing, and screening machines, sheep
racks, turnip sheers, potato riddlers, weighing machines
hay collectors, sack lifters, harrows, and other imple-
ments. Their winnowing machine was fitted with
Ouston's patent sacking apparatus. On Coleman and
Morton's (Chelmsford) stand we noticed their excellent
adjustable rotary corn screen, which may be adjusted to
suit different kinds of graiu, and to take out thin corn,

10

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

dirt, and weed seeds. They also showed some of their
well-kaowa water aud liquid-manure carriages, culti-
vators, &c.

Burney and Co., London, sent an assortment of their
cisterns, corn bins, and cattle troughs, in wrought aud
galvanized iron. McKeuzie and Sons, Cork, showed
their efficient furze or gorse masticator, invaluable
to farmers who grow furze for horse or cattle food.
Waite, Burnell, and Co. exhibited McCormick's self-
binding reaper, and their New England and Tiger horse
rakes ; C. Aultman and Co. 's the Buckeye self-binding
reaper; R Willacy and Pamphillon and Co., their
respective manure spreaders ; F. \V. Unterilp, a potato-
planting; machine ; the Maldon Iron Works Company,
chaff-cutters, mills, &c. ; Penney and Co., their potato
diggers, and their adjustable screens for corn, coffee, &c,
now made with triangular wire to prevent choking ;
Whitmee and Co., a model of Gibbs's hay-drying machine,
flour and corn mills Barnard and Lake, Gocday's
thatch-making machine, turnip cutters, vertical engines,
&c. ; Jeffery and Buckstone, their Paris prize haymaker,
besides horse-gear aud chaff cutters ; and W. H. Nichol-
son and Son, vertical engines, corn and cake mills, &c.
CATTLE FOOD, MANURE, &c

T. Bowick and Co., Bedford, had a mixed stand, as they
showed their Botanic Flavourer, patent Farina, and feed-
ing meal, besides the " Invincible" corn screens and port-
able boiler noticed in detail in our report of the Dairy
Show. These screens are made of zinc, kept in shape by
steel expanders ; they are made with apertures of different
sizes and shapes, for taking various weed seeds out of corn,
separating oats from barley, &c. Joseph Thorley, London,
exhibited samples of his foods for cattle, horses, sheep,
pigs, poultry, game and rabbits, and his special calf-rear-
ing food. The Peruvian Guano Company showed samples
of guano received direct from the Peruvian deposits.
Procter and Ryland, Birmingham, showed samples of
their well-known manures and specimens of roots grown
from the same. We have recently reported the latest results
of their annual offer of prizes for root crops. The crop of
25 tons 19 cwt> 16 lb. of swedes, which gained the first
prize, was a great one for such a year as this. In our
notice of the root stands we have mentioned the show of
roots and cereals made by Amies' Manure Company. They
showed also samples of their manures for roots, cereals,
vegetables, and flowers, which we are glad to see are now
sold with guaranteed analyses. Day, Son, and Hewitt
London, exhibited their stock-breeders' medieine chests,
and horse and cattle medicines of various descriptions,
complete — to be the heaviest at Islington. The Cow
are a poor class, and the heifers not so good as th
bullocks.

LIST OF JUDGES.

CATTLE.

Division 1. — Devons, Herefords, Sussex.

Samuel P. Newbery, Tlympton St. Mary* near Tly
mouth.

John Price, Court House, Pembridge, Hereford.

George Napper, Orfold, Wisborough Green, Billingshurst.

Division 2. — Shorthorns, and cross or mixed.
Charles Howard, Biddenham, Bedford.
Robert Bruce, Great Smeaton, Northallerton, Yorks.
Jonas Webb, Melton Ross, Ulceby Junction, Lincoln.
Division 3.— Norfolk or Suffolk Polled, Scotch (all
classes), and Welsh.

Richard England, Binham, Wells, Norfolk.
Thomas Ferguson, Kinnochtry, Coupar Angus, N.B.
Matthew Savidge, Sarsden Lodge, Chipping Norton.

SHEEP.
Division 4. — Leicesters, Cotswolds, Lincolns, Kentish or

Roinney Marsh.
William Sanday, Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottingham.
Hugh Aylmer, West Dereham Abbey, Stoke Ferry,

Norfolk.
Charles Clarke, Ashby-de-la-Laund, Sleaford, Lincoln-
shire.

Division 5. — South Downs, Hampshire or Wiltshire
Downs, Cheviot, Mountain, Ryeland, and Dorset, &c.

Hugh Gorringe, Kingston-by-Sea, Shoreham, Sussex.
T. Pearce Brown, Burderop, Swindon.
George Rea, Middleton House, Alnwick.

Division 6. — Shropshire, Oxfordshire, and Cross Bred-
C. B. Keeling, Congreve, Penkridge, Stafford.
Chailes Hob')3, Maisey Hampton, Fairford, Gloucester-
shire.
Thomas Franklin, Ascott, near Wallingford.

PIGS.
Division 7-
Edward Little, Lauhill, Chippenham.
Henry Smith, The Grove, Crop well, Butler, near Notting-
ham.
G. T. Williams, Buckland, Faringdon.

Special Judges of £50 cup, steer or ox ; £50 cup

heifer or cow ; £100 guinea champion cup.
Samuel P. Newbery, Plympton, St. Mary, near Plymouth
Charles Howard, Biddenham, Bedford.
John Price, Court Bouse, Pembridge, Hereford.

£50 Champion Cup, Sheep.
Hugh Aylmer, West Dereham Abbey, Stoke Ferry,

Norfolk.
Hugh Gorringe, Kingston-by-Sea, Shoreham, Sussex.
Thomas Franklin, Ascott, near Wallingford.

CATTLE.

DEVON CATTLE.

lass 1. — Devon Steers, not exceeding 2 years and 6
months.
First prize, £2$, to Col. Duller, V.C., Crediton.
Second, £1 5, to F. H. Risden, Washford, Taunton.
Third, £10, to J. Walter, M.P., Wokingham.
Highly commended, W. Arnold, Blaudford, Dorset.
Commended, 11. R.H the Prince of Wales, K.G., Sandring-

ham.
Class 2. — Devon Steers, not exceeding 3 years andS

mouths old.
First prize, £25, to W. R. Fryer, Lytchett Miiaster

Poole.
Second, £15, Col. Buller, V.O.
Third, £10, to H.RH. the Prince of Wales, K.G.
Highly commended, C= R. Overman, Buruham, Sutton.
(Jouuncuded, F. 11. lii don, Washford, Tauntou.

THE FARMER'S MA.GAZINK.

13

Class 3. — Devon Steers or Oxen, above 3 years and 6
months, and not exceeding 4 years and 6 mouths old.

First prize, £!25, J. "Walter, M.P., Wokingham.
Second, £15, Il.R.H. the Prince of Wales, K.G.
Third, £10, J. It. Overman, Burnham, Sutton.
Highly commended. — T. Dyer, Tencreek, Barton, Corn-
wall.
Commended. — Col. Buller, V.C.

Class 4. — Devon Heifers, not exceeding 4 years old,
First prize, £20, B. "W. Tassell, Ilode, Patrixbourne.
Second, £10, W. Arnold, Blandford.
Third, £5, E. Neame, Harefield, Keat.

Class 5. — Devou Cows, above 4 years old (that must have

had at least one live calf).
First prize, £20, W. It. Fryer, Lytchett Minster, Dorset.
Second, £10, W. Perry, Alden, Devon.
Third, £5, E. Neame, Harefield.

HEREFORD.

Class 6.— Hereford Steers, not exceediug 2 years and 6

months old.
First prize, £25, to Frederick Piatt, Upper Brenton. Here-
ford.
Second, £15, lo Frederick Piatt.

Third, £10, Robert Heigh way, Newnham, Yonkleton.
Highly commended. — Rees Keene, Pencraig Vaur, Mon- j

mouth.
Commended. — Class generally. I

Class 7. — Hereford Steers, not exceeding 3 years and G

months old.
First prize, £25, to Robert Wortley, Suffield, Aylsham.
Second, £15, to P. Phipps, MP., Collergtree Grange,

Northampton.
Third, £10, to George Bright, Broome, Aston-on-Clun.
Highly commended. — J. Mortley, Skegton, Norwich.
Class generally highly commended.

Class 8 — Hereford Steers or Oxen, above 3 years and 6

months, and not exceeding 4 years and G months old.
First prize, £25, to J. Wortley, Skegton.
Second, £15> to J. Bilchard, tanmore.
Third, £10, to W. Taylor, Ledbuiy.

Class 9. — Hereford Heifers, not exceeding 4 years old .
First prize, £20, to Wm. Taylor, Ledbury.
Second, £10, to Lewis Loyd, Addington.
Third, £5, to P. Turner, Pembridge.
Highly commended. — Her Majesty the Queen.
Commended. — J. Agate, Warnham.

Class 10. — Hereford Cows, above 4 years old (tha*
must have had at least one live Calf).
First prize, £20, to Sarah Edwards, Wintercott.
Second, to J. Pritchard, Stanmore.
Third, £5, to J. Turner, Questmoor.

SHORTHORN CATTLE.

Class 11. — Shorthorn Steers, not exceeding 2 years and

6 months old.

First prize, £25, to II. D. Adamson, of Balquarhn, Al-
ford, Aberdeen.

Second, £15, to C. W. Schroeter, of Tedfold, Billing-
burst.

Third, £10, to J. Perry, Acton Pigot, Condover.

Highly commended. — Right Hon. Earl Spencer, K.G.,
Althorpe Park ; R. Stratton, Newport, Mon.

Class 12. — Shorthorn Steers, not exceediug 3 years and
6 mouths olJ.

First prize, £25, t<» Alfred E. "W. Darby, Little, ntai

Shrewsbury.
Second, £15, to J. J. Colman, M.P., Norwich.
Third, £10, to Juo. Cridlan, Great Malvern.
Highly commended. — Colonel It. Loyd Lindsay, V.C.
Commended. — C. W. Schroeter, Tedfold ; ' Thomas

Swigler, Langhara, Oakham j David Pugh, Manoravan,

Llandilo.

Class 13. — Shorthorn Steers or Oxen, above 3 years and

6 months aud not exceeding 4 years and 6 months old.
First prize, £25, to the Hon. Walter Stuart, near Derby.
Second, £15, to Lieutenant-Colonel Sowerby, Newton.
Third, £10, to Thomas Mann, Scole.
Highly commended. — D. A. Green, East Donyland.

Class 14. — Short-horn Heifers, not exceeding 4 years
old.

First prize, £20, to R. Stratton, Newport, Mon.
Second, £10, to H.R.H. The Prince of Wales, K.G.
Third, £5, to Col. It. Loyd-Liudsay, V.C, MP.
Commended. — W. H. Betts, Diss.

Class 15. — Shorthorn Cows, above 4 years old.

(That must have had at least one live Calf.)

First prize, £20, to J. Stratton, Allon Rions, Marlboroagh.
Second, £10, to W. Graham, Bolton, Penrith.

SUSSEX CATTLE.

Class 16. — Sussex Steers, not exceeding 2 years and 6
months old.

First prize, £25, to A. Agate, Broomhall.

Second, £15, to C. Child, Slinfold.

Third £J0, to G. C. Coote, Fortington.

Highly commended, J. and II. Heasman, Angmering ; W.

M. Stanford, Broadbridge.
The whole class commended.

Class 17. — Sussex Steers, not exceeding 3 years and 6
months old.

First prize, £25, to J Braby, Maybanks, Rudgwick.
Second, £15, to E. Neame, Harefield, Selling.
Third, £10, to E. and A. Stanford, Eatons, Ashurst.
Highly commended, W. Wood, Ifield, Court, Crawley.
The whole class commended.

Class 18. — Sussex Steers or Oxen, above 3 years and 6
months, and not exceeding 4 yeais aud 6 months old.

First prize, £25, to J. Kirkpatrick, Monks Horton
Hythe.

Second, £15, to T. A. Vickress Hill, Slinfold.

Third, £10, to J. and C. Lee Steere, Jayes, Ockley.

Class 19. — Sussex Heifers, not ix ceding 4 years old.
First prize, £20, J. and H. Heasman, Angmering.
Second, £10, J. and C. Lee Steere, Jayes, Ockley.
Third, £5, G. C. Coote, Forlington.
Highly commended. — W. F. Watson, Henfold.

Class 20. — Sussex Cow3, above 4 years old, that must
have had at least oue calf.

First prize, £20, J. M. Montefiore, Crawley.
Second, £10, J. Braby, Maybank, Rudgwick.
Third, £5, A. Agate, Broomhall.

NORFOLK OR SUFFOLK POLLED CATTLE.

Class 21. — Norfolk or Suffolk polled steers or oxen, of
any age.

First prize, £15 J. S. Postle, Smallborough.
Second, £10, J. Hammond-Bale, East Dereham.
Highly Co mmended— J. J. Colmau, M.P., Norwich.

12

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

NORFOLK OR SUFFOLK POLLED HEIIEBS
OR COWS.

Class 22.— Heifers not 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, £15, J. J. Colman, M.P., Norwich.

Second, £10, J. J. Cohnan, M.P., Norwich.

Highly Coinineuded — R. S. Lofft, Troston, Suffolk.

SCOTCH HIGHLAND CATTLE.
Class 23.— Scotch Highland Steers or Oxen, of any age
First prize, £25, Right Hon. the Earl of Seatield, Gran

town.
Second, £15, Sir W. Gordon Gordon Cumming, Bart.,

Altyre.
Third, £10, Sir J. Swinburne, Bart., Capheaton.
Highly commended. — Right Hon. the Earl of Dunraore,

Roahill ; the Hon. Walter Stuart, Master of Blan-

tyre.
Commended.— His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales,

K.G.

Class 24.— Scotch Highland Heifers or Cows.
(Heifers not 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 pviz<>, £20, Sir John Swinburne, Bart., Cap-
he atoD.
Second, £10, J. J, Colman, M.P., Norwich.
Third, £5, His Royal Highness the Prince of WTales,

E.G.

SCOTCH POLLED CATTLE.
Class 25.— Scotch Polled Steers or Oxen, of any age.
First prize, £25, Sir Win. Goidon Gordon Cumming,

Bart.
Secoud, £15, W. Middleton, Greystonc, Aberdeen.
Third, £10, J. Reid, Alford, Aberdeen.
Class 26. — Scotch Polled Heifers or Cows. Heifers not

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, Sir W. G. G. Cumming, Bart.
Second, £10, J.J. Colman, M.D., Norwich.
Third, £5, W. Middleton, Greystone.
Highly commended, W. Brown, Dunkinty, Elgin.

WELSH CATTLE.
Class 27.— Welsh Steers or Oxen (Runts), of any age.
First prize, £15, G. W. Dull'-Assheton Smith, Bangor.
Second, £10, Col. R. Loyd Lindsay, V.C., M..P.
Commended, J. Stanford, Edeubridge. Kent.

CROSS OR MIXED BRED CATTLE.
Class 28. — Cross or mixed bred Steers, not exceeding 3

years old.
First prize, £25, to J. Reid, Greystone, Alford.
Second, £15, to Mrs. McWilliam-Bucharn, Gartley,

Huntley.
Third, £10, W. Scott, Glendronach, Huntley.
Highly commended, W. Paterson, Auldtown, Carnousie.
Commended, R. Burn, Blyth, Reading; Mrs. Mc William,

Bucharn ; W. Scott, Glendronach.
Class 29. — Cross or Mixed bred Steers or Oxen, above 3

years and not exceeding 4 years aud 6 months old.
Tme, £o, Lord Lovat, Beauly, Inverness.

Class 30. — Cross or mixed bred Heifers, not exceeding
4 years old.
First prize, £20, to Jno. Mayhew, Carlton, Colville.
Second, £10, to Lord Lovat, Beauly, luveruess.
Third, £5, to J. J. Colman, M.P., Norwich.
Highly Commended — J. Reid, Greystone, Alford.

Commended — J. D. Allen, Tisbury ; H. Humphrey,
Ashington ; the Earl of Dunmore, Dunmore ; William
Paterson, Auldtown,

ANY BEEEDS OF ANIMALS.
(Not qualified for the other classes)
Class 31. — Steers or Oxen, not exceeding 4 years and
6 months old.
First Prize, £20, to Robt- Wortley, Suffield.
Secoud, £10, to Thos. Lee, Egley.

Class 32. — Heifers or Cows.
First prize, £20, to J. J. Ratcliff, near Reading.
Second, £10, J. C. Brown, M.P., Holmbush, Sussex.

SHEEP.

LEICESTER SHEEP.

Class 33. — Fat wether sheep of the Leicester breed, 1
year old (under 23 mouths).

First prize, £20, to Mrs. P. Herrick, Loughborough.
Secoud, £15, to Executors of the late B. Painter, Burley-

on-the-Hill.
Third, £5, to Mrs. P. Herrk-k.

Class 34. — Fat ewes of the Leicester breed, above 3
years old,

First prize, £10, to J. Green and Son, Sihden.
Second, £5, to T. Morris, Croiton, Lincoln.

Class 35. — Fat Wether lambs of the Leicester breed born

iu the year 1879.

[No entry.]

COTSWOLD SHEEP.

Class 36. — Fat Wether Sheep of the Cotswold breed,

1 year old (uuder 23 months).
First prize, £20, to W\ Smith, Soinerton.
Second, £15, to R. Jacobs, Burlord.
Third, £5, to W. Smith, Soinerton.
CommeudcJ. — F. R. Hulbert, North Cerney, Cirencester.

Class 37-— Fat Ewes of the Cotswold breed, above
3 years old.

First prize, £10, to R. Jacobs, Burford.
Secoud, £5, to R. Swanwick, Cirencester.
ll%hly commended. — W. Smith, Somertet,
Commended. — T. and S. G. Gillett, Faringdon.

Class 3S — Fat Wether Lambs of the Cotswold breed,

born in the year 1S79.
First prize, £10, to T. aud R. Hulbert, North Cerney,

Gloucester.
Second, £5, to T. and R. Hulbert.

LINCOLN SHEEP.

Class 39. — Fat Wether Sheep of the Lincoln breed, 1

year old (under 23 mouths.)
First prize, £20, to P. Dunn, Sigglesthorne.
Secoud, £15, to P. Dunn.
Third, £5, to Chas. Sell, Bassingboume.
Highly commended — J. H. S. Wingfield, near Stamford.
Coinineuded — Jno. Pears, Mere, Lincoln.

Class 40. — Fat ewes of the Lincoln breed, abov c
years old.
First Prize, £10, to Thos. Close, Jan., Stamford.
Second, £5, to H Smith, Cropwcll Butler.
Commended — 11. Smith, Cropwell Butler.

Class 41. — Fat wether Lambs of the Lincoln breed
born in the year 1S79.

First Prize, £10, to Thomas Gunuell, Milton, Cambs-

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

]i

Second, £5, TI109. Close, jnti., Stamford.
Highly commended — J. II. Wingfield, Stamford.
Commended — Chas. Sell, Bassingbourne.

KENTISH OR ROMNEY MARSH SHEEP.

Class 42. — Fat Wether Sheep of the Kentish or Romney
Marsh breed, 1 year old (under 23 months).

First prize, £20, to J. S. S. Godwin, Ilazlewood

Hadlow.
Second, £15, to IT. Page, Walmer.
Third, £0, to P. Neame, Jan., Macknater, Kent.
Highly commended. — II. Rigden, Lymiuge, Kent.
Commended. — H. Page, Walmer.

Class 43. — Fat Ewes of the Kentish or Romney Marsh

breed above 3 years old.
First prize, £10, to J. S. S. Godwin, Hazlewood, Kent.
Second, £5, to H. Page, Walmer.
Highly commended. — H. Rigdtn, Lymige.
Commended. — J. S. S. Godwin, Hazlewood.

SOUTHDOWN SHEEP.

Class 44. — Fat Wether Sheep of the Southdown breed,
1 year old (under 23 months).

First prize, £20, toH. Humphrey, Ashington, Pulborough
Second, £15, Lord Walsingham, Merton, Thetford.
Third, £5, Lord Walsingham.
Commended. — HR.H. the Prince of Wales, K.G.

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

First prize, £10, to the Right Hon. the Earl of Suffolk.
Second, £5, Lord "Walsingham.
Highly commended, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales.
Commended, Hugh H. Penfold, Chichester; Chas. Chap-
man, Stonehouse.

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

born in the year 1S79.
First prize, £10, J. and A. Heasman, Angmering.
Second, £5, to J. and A. Heasman.
Highly commended. — J. J. Colrnan, M.P., Norwich.

HAMPSHIRE OR WILTSHIRE DOWN SHEEP.
Class 47. — Fat Wether Sheep of the Hampshire or Wilt-
shire Down breed, 1 year old (under 23 mouths).
First prize, £20, to Alfred Morrison, Tisbary.
Second, £15, to Alfred Morrison.
Third, £5, Withheld.
Highly commended.— Charles Sell, Bassingbourne.

Class 48. — Fat Ewes of the Hampshire or Wiltshire Down

breed, above 3 years old.
First prize, £10, to F. R. Moore, Pewsey.
Second, £5, to Lewis Lloyd, Addington.
Highly comuieuded. — J. Read, Hornington.
Commended. — W. Newton, Crowmarsh, Battle.
Class 49. — Fat Wether Lambs, of the Hampshire breed,

born in the year 18/9.
First prize, £10, to Alfred Mot's n, Tisbury1
Second, £5, to Wm. Newton, jun., Benson, Oxon-
Highly commended. — W. Parson, Micheldever*
Commended. — W. Newton, Wallingford.

SHROPSHIRES.

Class 50. — Fat Wether Sheep of the Shropshire breed, 1

year old (under 23 months).
First prize, £20, to Lord Chesham, Latimer, Chesham.
Second, £15, to Thos. Nock, Sutt'on Maddock.
Third, £5, to Lord Chesham.
Commended, G. Cooke, Linton.

Class 51. — Fat Ewes of the Shropshire breed, above 3
years old.

First prize, £10, to The Baron W. von Schroder, Nmt-

wich.
Second, £5, to G. Cooke, Linton.

Class .">2. — Fat Wether Lamb3 of the Shropshire breed,

born in the year 1879.
First prize, £10, to Thos. Nock, Sutton Maddock.
Second, £5, to The Baron W. von Schroder.

OXFORDSHIRE SHEEP.
Class 53.— Fat Wether Sheep of the Oxfordshire breed,

1 year old (under 23 months).
First prize, £20, to Wm. Cooper, TTonphton Regis.
Second, £15, to Albert Brassey, Chipping Norton.
Th;rd, £5, to Albert Brassey.
Highly commended.— Wm. Cooper, Houghton Regis ;

Colonel R. Loyd Lindsay, V.C., M.P., George Street^

Maulden.
Commended.— Henry F. Hill, Watford, and the Earl of

Jersey, near Bicester.

Class 54.— Fat Ewes of the Oxfordshire breed, above

3 years old.
First prize, £10, to Albert Brassey, Chipping Norton.
Second, £5, to J. P. Case, Testerton, Fakenham.
Commended. — George Adams, Faringdon.

Class 55.— Fat Wether Lambs of the Oxfordshire breed
born in the year 1879.

First prize, £10, to A. Brassey, Chipping Norton.
Second, £5, J. and F. Howard, Bedford.
Highly commended.— W. Cooper, Houghton Regis.
Commended. — J. and F. Howard, Bedford.

CHEVIOTS.
Class 56.— Fat Wether Sheep of the Cheviot breed, of
any age

First prize, £15, to his Grace the Duke of Roxburgh,

Kelso.
Second, £10, to his Grace the Duke of Roxburgh.
Highly commeuded. — T. Irving, Curriestanes, in two

entries.

CROSS-BRED SHEEP.
(N.B. — No Animal or Pen of Animals eligible to compete
in any of the other Classes can be allowed to compete
in the Cross-bred Classes.)

Class 62 — Cross-bred Fat Wether Sheep, 1 year old

(uuder 23 months).
First prize, £20, to D. Buttar, Corston.
Second, £15, to J. R. Overman, Burnhara, Sutton.
Third, £10, to W. Robinson, Knotting Gretn, Bedford.
Fourth, £5, to J. W. Sharman, Fakenham.
Commended, J. Overman, Birnham, Sutton ; E. Suther-
land, Linkwood, Elgin ; J. W. Sharman, Fakenham.
Class 63.— Fat Wether Cross-bred Lambs, born in the

year 1879.
First prize, £10, to E- Burbidge, Wraxhall.
Second, £5, J. B. Ellis, jun., West Barsham-
C ommended, E. Burbidge, Wraxhall.

PIGS.

WHITE BREEDS.
Class 64. — Pigs of any white breed not exceeding 9
months old.

First prize, £10, to J. Saunders, of Northleaze, Castle

Carey.
Second, £5, to the Right Hon. the Earl of Radnor

Highworth.
Highly commended, — Jas. and Frelk. Howard, Bedford.

14

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Cla98 65.- -Pigs of any White breed above 9 and not
exceeding 12 months old.
First prize, £10, to Her Majesty the Queen, the Prince
Consort's Farm, Windsor.

Class 06- — Pigs of any White breed, above 12 and no
exceeding 18 months old.
First prize, £10, to the Right Hon. the Earl of

Radnor.
Second, £5, to J. Saunders.
Highly commended. — G. W. Duff, Assheton Smith,

Bangor.
Commended. — Her Majesty the Queen, Sir H. Verney,

Bart., Winslow.

BLACK BREEDS.

Class 67. — Figs of any black breed, not exceeding 9
months old.

First prize, £10, H. D. de Vitre, Wantage.

Class 68. — Pigs, of any black breed, above 9 and not

exceeding 12 months old.
First prize, £10, Wr. Wheeler, Long Compton, Shipston-

on-Stour.
Second, £5, withheld.

Class 69. — Pigs, of any black breed, above 12 and not

exceeding 18 months old.
First prize, £10, W. Wheeler, LoDg Compton.
Second, £5, withheld.

BERKSHIRE BREED.

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

months old.
First prize, £10, to J. P. King, North Stoke.
Second, £5, to W. and E. Harris, Coleshill.

Class 71. — Pigs, of the Berkshire breed, above 9 and no
exceeding 12 months old.

First prize, £10, to Messrs. Harris and Biggs, Cublington

Second, £5, to T. C. Baker, Blandford.

Commended, E. Coles, Yeovil.

Class 72. — Pigs, of the Berkshire breed, above 12 and

not exceeding 18 months old.
First Prize, £10, to Lord Chesham, Latimer.
Second, £5, to R. Fowler, near Aylesbury.
Commended, J. P. King, North Stoke.

OTHER BREEDS.

(No Pigs qualified for the preceding Classes can be shown
in this Division.)

Class 73. — Pigs, of any other breed, not exceeding 9

months old.
First prize, £10, to Tom Coate, Newton.
Second, £5, J. Saunder3, Northleaze.
Class 74. — Pigs, of any other breed, above 9 andao

exceeding 12 months old.
First prize, £10, to Tom Coate, Newton.

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

exceeding 18 months old.
No entry.

Class 76. — Single Pigs, of any breed or age.
First prize, £8, to Richard Fowler, near Aylesbury.
Second, £4, to the Right Hon. the Earl of Radnor.
Commended. — Sir H. Verney, Bart., Winslow ; J.
Pittman King, North Stoke.

BREED CUPS.

CATTLE.
Silver Cup value £40, for the best Devon beast, to J.

Walter, M.P., Bearwood.
Silver Cup value £40, for the best Hereford beast, to

Sarah Edwards, Wiutercott.

Silver Cup value £40, for the best Short-horu Beast, to

Richd. Stratton, Newport, Mon.
Silver Cup value £40, for the best Sussex beast, to J.

Kirkpatrick, Hythe.
Silver Cup value £40, for the best Scotch Bea3t, to Sir

W. W. G. Cumraing, Bart.
Silver Cup value £40, for the best cross-bred Beast, or

any other breed not before specified (i e„ not being

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

Lord Lovat, Beauly, Inverness.

SHEEP AND LAMBS.
Silver Cup value £20, for the be3t pen of Leicester, to

John Green and Son, Silsden.
Silver Cup value £20, for the best pen of Cotswold, to

Robt. Jacobs, Burford.
Silver Cup value £20, for the be3t pen of Lincoln, to

Thos. Close, junr., Stamford.
Silver Cup value £20, for the best pen of South Down

to H. Humphrey, Ashington.
Silver Cup, value £20, for the best pen of Hampshire or

Wiltshire Downs, to Alfred Morrison, Tisbury.
Silver Cup, value £20, for the best pen of Shropshire, to

Lord Chesham, Latimer.
Silver Cup, value £20, for the best pen of Oxfordshire, to

Wa. Cooper, Houghton Regis.
Silver Cup, value £20, for the best pen of Cross-bred of

any kind, to David Butter, Corston, Forfarshire.
Silver Cup value £10, for the best pen of Cheviot or other

Mountain bred, to Mrs. M. Langdon, North Molton.
Silver Cup, value £20, for the best Kentish, Ryeland,

Dorset, or any other pure bred, not bef ->re specified, to

J. S. S. Godwin, Tunbridge,
PIGS.
Silver Cup value £15, for the best pen of Pigs of any

White breed, to the Right Hon. the Earl of Radnor.
Silver Cup value £15, for the best pen of Pigs of any

Black breed, to Wra, Wheeler, Long Compton.
Silver Cup value £15, for the best pen of Pigs of the

Berkshire breed, to Lord Chesham, of Latimer.
Silver Cup value £15, for the best pen of Pig3 of any
other breed, to Tom Coate, Newton, Dorset.

SILVER CUPS,

Silver Cup value- £50, to the Exhibitor, for best Steer or

Ox in any of the Classes (except in Class 31), to Henry

D. Adamson, Tedfold, Billinghurst.
Silver Cup, value £50, to the Exhibitor, for the best

Heifer or Cow in any of the Classes (except in Class

32), to R. Stratton.

CHAMPION PLATE.

For best beast in the show, Mr. J. J. Radcliffe, the
Priory, Reading (Priory Princess).

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the members was held on Tuesday
Dec. 9th, at the Agricultural Hall, and was well attended'
among those present being Lord Chesham, Lord Tredegar >
Mr. Moore, Mr. II. Trethewy, Mr. Ffo'kes, Mr. E. Little,
Mr. Charles Howard, Mr. J. Druce, Mr. Bennett, Mr. O.
W'allis, Professor Synionds, Mr. J. Brown, Mr. John Thomp-
son, &c.

The Hon. Secretary (Sir Brandreth Gibbs) read the
following Report of the Council.

The Council begs to lay before the members the following
annual report of its proceedings during the past year. Three
meetings have been held, all of which were well attended. In
addition to the ordinary business of the Club, and matters
connected with the past and the present shows, the following
subjects have had the carefnl consideration of the Council : —

1. The preparation in February last of the prize 9heet and
rules of exhibtion for this year's show. The Council is happy
to be able to report that, in comequence of the improvement

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

U

in the health of lire- stock throughout the couutry, it felt
justified iu removing the restriction which for some years it
had been compelled to enforce, prohibiting animals exhibited
elsewhere within one month of the Club's show being admitted.
In erder, however, as far as possible to guard against danger,
the rule which requ'res the exhibitors to sign a certificate that
each animal lias not been for fourteen days in contact with
any animil suffering from cor.tagious or infectious disease,
has been retained, as also that requiring all animals to undergo
a veterinary examination previous to their being admitted at
the doors of the Agricultural Hall. The Conncil has great
satisfaction in having been enabled to remove restrictions which
must in past years have had the effect of keeping many
meritorious animals from being sent for exhibition. The
rules have been amended so as to give the Council the power
of dealing more fully than hitherto with cases in. which the
exhibitors or breeders fail to prove the correctness of the
certificates signed by them when called upon to do so by the
stewards.

In order to prevent frivolous protests being lodged, the pro-
testor is now required to deposit the sum of £5 ; and if on
investigation the protest is not sustained to the satisfaction of
the stewards the sum thus deposited will, at the discretion of
the Council, be forfeited to the funds of the Club.

In re-adjusting the piize sheet, the following is the princi-
pal alteration made for the present show: — The exemption
from furnishing a breeder's certificate for Scotch cattle now
applies only to the Scotch Highland breed, and not, as hereto-
fore, to all Scotch cattle.

The Agricultural HhII Company have acquiesced in the
champion prize being taken, 30 guineas in a large gold medal
and 70 guineas in money, or entirely in plate, as in past years,
at the option of the winner.

The proprietors of Cdttle conveyances being required by law
to cleanse and disinfect their vehicles, the arrangement made
with them for some years has been discontinued, and exhibi-
tors have thus been left free to roako their own terras for the
carting of their animals to the show. It is hoped that a sav-
ing of expense, both to exhibitors and the Club, will thus be
effected.

II. The Council have had under its earnest consideration
the best means of encouraging early maturity in live stock,
and in order that this subject should be fully investigated, a
Special Committee was appointed to take evidence and report.
A letter was addressed by the Honorary Secretary to every
member of the Club, sta'ing the object for which the Com-
mittee had been appointed, and naming the day, the hour, and
the place of meeting ; and inviting those who might desire to
appear and give evidence to send in their names. Also, in
order to give those who did not wish to appear personally, the
opportunity of stating their views, the members were in-
formed that any written communication received by a fixed
date would be printed for the use of the Committee. Twenty-
four communications were received, and four gentlemen were
so good as to attend before the Committee and give evidence,
which was taken down by a shorthand writer. After mature
deliberation the Committee presented its report, which the
•Council unanimously adopted, and which has been published in
the agrieultural papers as part of the proceedings of the No-
vember Council meeting.

The chief points are that in the divisions for Devons, Here-
fords, Shorthorn", Sussex, and Cross-bred cattle, there shall be
3 classes of steers — viz., 1st, not exceeding 2 years ; 2nd, above
2 and not exceeding 3 years ; 3rd, above 3 and not exceeding 4
years. In the divisions for Norfolk and Suffolk breeds, and for
Scotch Polled breeds — 1st, steers not exceeding 3 years ; 2nd,
steers above 3 and not exceeding 4 years. In the Open or
Extra classes — steers not exceeding 4- years old ; heifers or
-cows not qualified for any of the other Heifer or Cow classes ;
the animals must not have bepn exhibited at any fat stock show
during the previous year 1879. This clause, therefore, will
prevent a heifer or cow that has won prizes as a fat animal in
the previous lyear being kept over for an additional year,
instead of being killed, in order to compete for the Champion
(Plate; it having been felt that such animnls being kept in a
fat state for two consecutive years cannot be considered eilher
as examples of early maturity or ss coming within the object
for which the Club was originally established. The Report
also regulates the amount of prizes to be given in each class.
In any class where at least 10 entries are actually exhibited,
the judges will have the power, if there be special merit, to

recommend to the stewards that an additional prze shall t n
given to the amount of two-thirds of the last piize offered in
that class. A separate Breed Cup, value £10, will be given lor
the Kentish or Marsh breed, and also for the Ryeland, Dorset
SC., breeds of sheep. '

It has been determined that the Club's Chompion Cup for
Ssheep may be taken by the exhibitor either in plate or money
or in the Club's gold medal and money, and that the silver'
medals to the breeders of the. first prize animals in each class
be given m all cases as form erly instead of as recently only
when the breeder is not the exhibitor.

III. The Council, has, in aecordince with the Bye Laws
prepared as usual the list of 16 members of the Club from
whom ,t recommend- eight for election by the members of the
Club to serve on the Council, and to succeed the eight who
retire annually by rotation and are not re-eligible for one
year.

.IY-TLh? Council lays before the general meeting the usual
printed balance sheet up to December 1st, which has been

»V«o?Uia oiJthi8n8l,OW8 balance itt hand counting to
£2,694 10s 3|d The Club has to receive £1,355 from the
Agricultural Hall Company Limited for the present exhibition
Against these amounts there will be, as usual, the payment
ot the prizes and other expenses connected with the present
show. Die total amount offered in prizes and cups for com-
petition this year is Cattle, £1,320; Sheep, £755 •
£3*012 ; Champion' £155 S otber plate, £590. Total'

It is satisfactory that a further investment of Life Com-
positions amounting to £782 5s, has been made, in the names
of the trustees in the 3 per cent. Consols, thns makin- the
total mvested capital of the Club £5,148 12s. 9d. stock.

Ihe Council regret that in consequence of the continued
severe il ness of the assistant secretary, he has been unable
to attend his duties during the last year. The lion, sec has
however, w.th the temporary assistance before sanctioned by
the Council, carried out all the details during that period and
personally undertaken and superintended the preparations for
the present show. The Council has determined, in considera-
tion of Mr. Pullen's faithful services to the Club, to grant
him a pension of 50 guineas per annum, to commence at
Christmas. Ihe Council has, subject to the necessary arrange-
ments, authorised the appointment of an assistant secretary
on the same terms as heretofore in Mr. Pullen's case.

Ihe Council is glad to be able to congratulate the members
on the continued and general prospeiity of the Club. The
number of members now on the register remains abou* the
same as hitherto. The Council, however, renews its recom-
mendation that each member should do his utmost to induce
others to join, in order that the national objects of the Club
may be extended to a still further degree than they have been
ap to the present time.

(Signed) By order of the Council,

B. T. Brandreth Gibbs, Hon. Sec.

The Chairman in moving the adoption of the Report
said the Council invited discussion upon it, but he trusted
that it was so satisfactory that little need be said.

The motion having been seconded.

Mr. Wren complaiued of having been improperly inter-
fered with and treated with discourtesy by the superintendent
in charge of the police during the visit of the Prince and
Princess of Wales the day before, and inquired whether any
special orders were given to the police.

The Chairman replied that no orders were given to the
police, but they were simply left to make the usual arrange-
ments for a Royal visit (Hear, hear).

The next business being the election of the President for
IbSl, the Chairman said he had very great pleasure in
proposing a name which he was sure would be acceptable to the
members generally— the Duke of Manchester.

Mr. Ffoulkes seconded the motion, and it was adopted
without any discussion. r

Lord Tredegar then said it was possible that his Grace
might not accept the offer, and in order, therefore, that they
might have another string to their bow, he would also propose
Mr. f oljatnbe, M.P. r

Lord Chesham said he had great pleasure in seconding
that motion, Mr. loljsmbe being well known to all of them
asa very great breeder of Shorthorns and an exhibitor, and ha
might add, a master of hounds. '

lfi

THE PARMER'S MAGAZINE.

The ronfion was then agrped to.

TIip virp-presid^nts werp rp-plpctcd, and the names of Mr.
Walter M.P., aud the E<rl of Jersey were added to the
list.

The trustees, Mr. Charlps Howard, Mr. W. SaDday, and
Mr. J. Drupe, having bppn rp-elpcted trustpps,

Lord Tr.EHF.r.AU said he had now to propose the re-election
of Sir Brandrpth Gihbs as honorary secretary, and he did so
with the greafest pleasnre. During this year that gentleman
besides his own duties, had performed those of the assistant-
8pprptarv. without any additional cost to the Club (cheers).
' Mr. W. Painter seconded the motion, which was carried
am'd cheers, and briefly acknowledged by Sir Brandreth Gibbs.

The f Rowing gentlemen were elected members of the
Council in place of those who retired by rotation : — Mr. A.
F Milton Drnce, Mr. Thomas Dnckham Mr. Robert Garne,
Mr. James E. Ransome, Mr. Joseph Shuttlewortb, Mr. Jos.
S ratton, Mr. Martin John Sutton, and Mr. Jonas Webb.
The retiring membprs were — Mr. Hugh A.ylmer,M r. Edward
BecV, Mr. Richard Garrett, Mr. Robprt H. Masfpn, Mr. Jas.
E. Rawlence. Mr. John Thompson, Mr. Henry Webb, and
Mr. Jacob Wilson.

The annnal audited balance-sheet was then presented ;
after which several mpmbprs werp elected.

Mr. Feoulkes said it was his pleasing dutv to propose
that their bpst thanks should be givpn to the President for
the manner in which he had conducted the business of the
Club, and for his valuable services during the present year.
They had all known Colonel Kingscote for a great, many
years, and he was sure that the. more they saw of him the
better they liked him (cheers).

Mr. R. Stratton, in seconding the motion, said he was
quite sure all present would agree with him that no man in
England had rendered greater services to agriculture than
Colonel Kingscote (aheers).

The motion having been carried by acclamation,

The Chatrmax said — My lords and gent'emen, I am ex-
tremely obliged for the very kind way in which the vote has
been proposed and carried. It has given me gret.t pleasure to
be the President of this Club — a Club which is doing so much
good both to agriculture and to the community at large. I
cannot help thinking that during this last ypar the Club has
not on'y taken a step forward, but has also recovered a step
backward ; for, thanks to immunity from dispa«p, it has bppn
able to oppn its doors widpr this year than it had done for
two or three years bpfore. There are. many gentlemen con-
nee'ed with the Club now present in the room to whom we
are greatly indebted for what has taken place in legislation
for the prevention of disease among animals — lpgislation
which has been attended with great success. Irrespective of
politics it always afforded me pleasure to do what I could to pro.
mote the passingof an efficient mpasnre for preventingthe spread
of contagious diseases. On the other hand, the Club has
made a good stride forward in reducing the ages of animals,
and trying to promote early maturity. I have hardly heard a
single dissentient voice in this rn«t'K. I was amus'd to
read the other day in a newspaper that a Welshman bad
declared that a great deal of the agricultural distress which
had been experienced was due to the fact that the Welsh far-
mers had not got five-year-old sheep and five-year-old beasts
(laughter). He tried to argue that out, but ] could not
liplp smiling at bis argnmpnt. I thought that if farmers
could get rid of thei' stock quicker they could make more
money and do good to themselves as well as to the public, as
I hope this Club is doing by offering prizes for early maturity.
I trust that this Club may long prosper; and if I have been
able, as a member o( the Council, or in any o'her capacity,
to help forward its interests, I am amply repaid by being
connected with the Council, and meeting there so many
business-like men whose object is the same as my own.

Mr. R. Ste atton said, before the meeting separated he would
like to have the opinion of the exhibitors first, on 'he question
whether it was not desirable to have a duly-appointed sales-
man for the sale of their stock. Great difficulty was now ex-
perienced in meeting with a salesman ; and, speaking for him-
self as an exhibitor, he might say that he scarcely knew one.
They had no office in which to meet a salesman, and he
thought it would he well if the Club adopted the system which
had been in operation for several years at the Birmingham
Show, and have a regular salesman of their own.

Mr. Guerrier was glad to hear the observations of Mr.
Stratton. It had long been fell as a nui-ance at the Smith-
field Club Show that there was no office for salesmen. lie
himself was a salesman, as well as an old member of the
Club. He did not desire the post of salesman to the Club, and
in his opinion such an appointment would not work well ;
bnt be thought it would be well to have a place where the
exhibitors conld meet a salesman, as was the case at Bir-
mingham. That they had no such place he fancied was the
fault of the Agricultural Society — (Hear, hear) — and he
mentioned the matter as one that deserved the attention of
the Council, who m'ght urge upon the Hall Company that
proper provision should be made for the accommodation of
salesmen, similar to that made for the foreman of the yard.
That official was supplied with a place in which he could
carry on his duties, whilst the exhibitors in want of snch a
place were buffeted about from pillar to post from Monday
afternoon till Friday night, when the Show closed. The re-
sult was, that when he as a salesman might be wanted about
the sheep, he was among the pig*,and vice versa, and thus lost
his customers. It was a disgrace to the Agricultural Hall
Company that they did not make some provision, and he
earnestly hoped the Council would take the matter in hand.

Sir Brandreth Gibbs could only say that in the schedule
of requirement*, that was of things to bs provided bv the
Agricultural Hall Company, a salesman's office was included,
and that schedule was communicated to the Secretary of the
Company many weeks ago.

Mr. Guerrier said he did not mean to imply any reflection
upon the Honorary Secretary. Sir Brandreth Gibbs, he
was sure, had done everything in his power to meet the wishes
both of exhibitors and salesmen.

The meeting then separated.

NATURAL FIRE.— The so-called " et»rnal fire'" on the
peninsula of Apseheron is perhaps the only phenoiipnon
of the kind in the whole world. It burns in a hollow space
of irregular form. The hollow never becomes deeper by the
emission of this continually-burning fire, the stones at the
bottom resist its action. Nevertheless, the limestones become
friable, and are easily reduced to powder. The " eternal fire "
produces neither smoke nor smell, aud exists within a circum-
ference of two versts. ft herever a hole is dug the fire
kindles up and burns with a quick flame until covered over
with earth. The firp in the largest hollow could, no doubt,
be extinguished in the same way, bnt would burn up again
whenever free vent wpre given it. It is remarkable that
grows green and fresh on the borders of this burning
hollow, and that at some little distance the-e are two wells of
excellent water and a large produc ive garden. Sume fire
worshippers are always to be found near the principal focus of
the fire, descendants of the ancient Parseps, who regard nil
fire as a symbol of the Deity. These people live in little
huts near thp hollow. In the middle of eseh hut there is a
hollow made, encircled by a border of stones, on which a
cauldron to cook their food is placed. Straw or dried herbs
are collected, which, lit at the "eternal fire" outride, are
then placed under the cauldron. The hollo* ignites
immediately, ?nd keeps burning on, without smoke or smpll.
Thus a kitchpn fire is lit much more rapidly than with wood.
The hollow is afterwards covered with felt, an' the flame
thereby extinguished. Hermits during the winter warn
themsclvps at these burning hollows ; nor do they require any
other light than that which it affords. Tlii« country off.-rs
yet another phenonenon. During the fine days of autumn,
when the evening air is warm and sultry, the fields round
Baku apppar on fire ; sometimes flames of considerable me
are feen to glide along the summit of the rocks, whilst the
surrounding mountains emit a bluish light. Innumerable
tongues of flame, sometimes separated, sometimes uniting,
cover the plains when the nights are dark and wa-rn, tprnfying
the horses, mules, and, indeed, all animals. But this singular
phenomenon lasts for four liours only, and generally during the
months of October and November. A.fter sunset, should a
strong easterly wind prevail, they are no longer discernible ;
and this ae ial element — if we may so call it — will not burn
inflammable matter as other fires will. '1 he reeds and rushes
never take fire — a most singular circumstance — though the
surface of the earth he covered with flames. And. more than
this, if ynu place yourself in the midst of these fires you do
uot feel any heat from them ! — HantteerCa Travels in Sifaria.

Till'] FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

IT

MR. GLADSTONE ON AGRICULTURAL
REFORM.

In his speech at Dalkeith on November 26, Mr. Glad-
stone, after referring to questions of foreign policy and
other topics, passed on to subjects of agricultural interest.
First dealing with the Law of Hypothec, he said :—

I am not going to discuss the merits of the question in itself.
Happily, it is Unnecessary, because opinion has reached a
stage and a condition in Scotland in which all parties, it may
be »aid, are agreed that the La* of Hypothec ought to be
done away with (cheers). That being so, I accept the con-
clusion, and 1 do not waste your time in the discussion. Bat
1 do occupy, and 1 hope not altogether wist.', your time in
calling your attention to the way in which that question has
been worked, A catechism his been sent to me in print which
it is proposed to administer, 1 believe, to me upon some con-
venient opportunity (laughter) ; but, at any rate, it is com-
plained in this catechism that when the Liberal Government
was in office it did not abolish the Law of Hypothec-. Well,
I am bound to say that there was a great deal of legislative
work that it was quite impossible for us to achieve, and the
question which, as reasonable men, you will put to us and to
vourselves is, not whether we. did everything that it was desir-
"ahle to do, but whether we raaufully and seriously employed
our time and spent our energies in doing as much as we could
(cheer^). But I must say it is rather hard that this reproach
should come from the opposite side, when I consider that at
the last election, when we were dismissed Irom office by the
verdict of the. constituencies, in the address of Lord Beficons-
field (then Mr. Disraeli) which was the manifesto of the
party it was distinctly complained of that we had neglected
ioreig'u affairs ami had breu too active in home legislation.
Well now I want to know whether you are satisfied with the
manner in which this question of hypothec has worked in
Scotland (cheers), liow has it worked ? All your Tory
members, with one or two exceptions, vo e for its abolition
(cheers). Is not that very delightful ? (laughter). Does that
give you entire satisfac.ion? (cheers). What complaint can
you make when you find them so rational as this? (laughter).
Let me call your attention to a closer examination of the
sunject which I will endeavour to make by the help of the
political microscope (a laugh)- When I look into it I find
Mr. Vans Agnew, a stout Conservative, moved the Bill for the
abolition of hypothec— nay, more, he has moved it lor several
years ; and, us far as I can s«, if the present Government
and present Parliamt-nt could happily continue, he would
regularly go on moving it from year to year for your satis-
faction—(laughter)— till old age or the breakdown ol his
energies or death should remove him from tins mortal
scene (laughter and cheers). He moved the Bill on some flay
early in the Session and carried the second reading o it by 201
ayes to 77 noes, and sent no doubt a thrill of pleasure through
the minds aoo hearts of the farmers of Sco land, who were
pretty much uui ed on this snrjjet. But. hva Bill, though read
a second time on some day in Marcher April, was never heard
more of. The Government had coi trol ol the business ol the
House. The Sessi u was very li'tle advanced, and yet no
attempt ws.s made to carry it iorward. Let us examine the
division lists— most interesting documents, division lists, some-
times (laughter). The Lord Advocate warmly supported the
Bill and he supported il with such a warmth that he con-
vinced five of his colleagues. Five of his Colleagues voted
with him lor the Bill abolishing the law of hypothec ; but he
also, nnfortunatelv, convinced 11 of them the otuer way
(lau-hlei) You were told that the Government had become
favourable to the abolition of the Law of Hypothec; but if u
had depended on the votes ol the members of the Govern-
ment, there would have been ayes 6 and noes 11, and the Bill
would have been condemned and turned out ot the House ot
Commons by a majority of live. I make a lurtherexammation
and I find this— that, I think, every Tory member for Scot-
land excepting two, voted for the abolition of the La* ot
Hypothec ; nnd 1 really h»ve rather a respect for those two-
Lord Llcho was one of them— because I leel that their votes
must have been, at auy rate, their v.ry sincere and con-
scientious votes in the circumstances. The Tory members lor
Scotland voted fir the abolition of the Law of Hypothec and
il ia pupposed you can ask nothing more. Thirteen ol [hem
voted for it, and when you examine the po itiou of the lory

party you find it to be as follows: — For the abolition of the
law "in March last, alter all your Scotch Tories had been con-
verted, there voted 5G Tories ; and for matntaing the old law
there vo ed 77 Tories, constituting the whole minority. Conse-
quently if your law had been dealt with by the Tory party,
v. hat would if signify to you that your Scotch Tory members
voted for the abolition of the law when they have to they trust to
the votes of the majority ol* the colleagues from England and
Ireland to nullify their votes and maintain the law you wanted
to get, rid o ? This is a most curious system, thoroughly
understood in theTory party. You have no idea how tolerant
that paity is in certain circumstances. When the progress of
a particular opinion, a given measure, is necessary for gaining
a seat, there are no bounds to the toleration of Tories
(laughter). For that reason members favourable to the
abolition of Hypothec are allowed to stand as Tories, and are
accepted as good and sound Tories if they come from Scotland.
Members favourable to Home Rule are allowed to be good and
souud Tories if they come from Ireland, on the same principle.
I remember the days before the bal'ot was law, when a Tory
was accepted as a good and sound Tory, though he voted for
ballot, that he migiit gain a seat for the town of Stockport.
You are good enough arithmeticians and observers to see how
it works. A certain number of Tories are returned as adverse
to hypothec from Scotland, knowing that their brother Tories
in the other two countries will destroy the effect of their voice
(Hear, hear). A certain number of Tories are and may be
returned as Hone Rulers in Ireland, because it is known than
the votes of Englishmen and Scotchmen, including all your
hypothec men from Scotland, will neutralize the Home R tiers
from Ireland, as the Home Rulers contributed to neutralize
your hypothec men from Scotland. With the ballot it is the
same. The Tory m^joriiy is that which carries on the affairs
of the country, and you will, if you are wise, well look to the
conduct of that majority, and not be satisfied with the con-
cession of the individual member in regard to the particular
question, knowing tint his particular vo'e will be neutralized,
and is meant to be neutralized. A majority of his friends
elsewhere, where no local interest is felt, will join in main-
taining the law that you disapprove. My noble friend Lord
Rosebery, speaking to me the other day on the subject, ga'd—
and 1 think with great force— of Mr. Vans Agnew's Bill,
that it was a Tulchan Bill (laughter and cheers). You know
gentleman— for you understand it better than I do — you know
what a Tulchan Bishop was (laughter and cheers). Lard
Roseberv. departing from the figure o! the Tulchan Bish
speaks o't a Tulchan Bill. We can all understand it. You
know what the Tulchan calf was (laugh er). Why, it was
the figure of a calf stuffed with straw (Joud laughter). The
practice— an old Scottish practice, 1 dont know whether it
still prevails— but the practice, as I understand it, was to place
this calf stuffed with straw under the cow in order to induce
the cow to give milk (laughter) ; an! Lord Rosebery's idea is
that the B il o! .Mr. Agnew is the Tulchan calf (laughter) ;
the cow is the Liberal party or the Saotch fartie-, and
Tulchan Bill U placed near the Scotch farmer— (laughter) —in
o induce him to give milk— (renewed laughter)— -in the
sli ipe of vote- for the lory party (laughter and loud cheeis).
Now, I do believe, gentlemen, that the illustration i< a per-
fect \' i ist and plain illustration. In the same way H I
Rule is a Ti.hr. .in subject in Ireland, b ciiise it is nvaut to
induce the Irish to give their mi:k, or, in other vords, their
votes, to men win, while voting for Home Rule, shall in olhec
respects be Tories working with the Tory party in every-
thing but that particular question. Weil, gentlemen,
there, is so much to say that 1 will not dwell longer
upon the subject, except to say that I really do think
that a vers curious illustration is shown of the working
of party organization by this me' hoi of toleration shown
in the case of your Scotch Conservative members.
After referring to O'her topicsMr. Gladstone ivent on to say :
Well, geutlemeu, there is one question yet on which I hink
i>, is quite necessary that I should still detain you, though time
passes by, and there is u) reason why I should be loug. And
this question, gentlemen, is the great and importaut question
of the condition of the laud of this country (cheers). In
concluding the address I have had the honour to make now to
you I propose to consider for a few moments matters in con'
nection with the various points which touch the interest of the
cultivators ot the land— the responsible cultivators of the
land— viz., he tenant farmers of the country. I will

18

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

not dwell greatly on hypothec, because that, I think, we
are all agreed upon, as far as the merits of the measure
are concerned. I will not dwell upon the suhject of
game, whu.li deeply interests the Scotch farmers in many por-
tions of the country, because on that subject, by the exertions
of Mr. M'Lagan, a Bill has been passed (cheers), which, I
believe, has done very considerable good, and it, perhaps, ren-
ders it unnecessary, at any rate for the moment, to enter fur-
ther into the consideration of the matter under the presmre
of so many subjects. Neither will I dwell on what is commonly
called security of tenure, because, happily, in Scotland the
education of the country is so far advanced, both among land-
lords and tenants, that to a certain Citent that security is at-
tianed by the system of leases, and no desire exists to disturb
the system either on the part of the landlord or on the part of
the tenant. There are other matters, however, upon which it
may be well to say a few words. One of them is the practice
of inserting in leases a number of covenants which direct
particular modes of cultivation, and by directing particular
modes restrain its freedom. A good tenant, a good farmer,
feels that, after ail, he is the best juige of the mode of conduct-
ing what u his own business. Every one will agree with that.
On the other hand, there is something, I think, of equity in
the statement of the landlord that during the closing years of
a lease, if a tenant means to remove, it is difficult for him
without covenants of this kind to prevent the wasteful use of
the farm. Mow, it is not for me to offer instructions, perhaps
not even to otfer suggestions, to you ; but there is a method in
use with some landlords in England who have leases that I cou-
fesa appears to me to be not without wisdom. I will just take
the suppositious length of a lease, because that is not material ;
it will only serve to enable me clearly to explain the nature of
the expedient by which it is endeavoured to do full justice to
the interests ot both landlord and tenant — that is to say, to
>ave the tenant entirely free in the prosecution of his business,
but at the saane time to secure the landlord against the
particular, though perhaps rare, instances — as I should
think; very rare in Scotland — in which a tenant intending
to leave might leave the farm behiud him in a worse
state than that in which he had received it (cheers).
The method is this : — We will say the landlord gives his
tenr.nt a lease for 21 years. la the lease arc included a
number cf provisions directing, and therefore restraining
cultivation ; but there is also a clause that these provisions
shall not operate during the first 17 years of the lease. At
the end of 17 years the tenant is to declare whether he wishes
to renew his lease cr not. If he exercises his op'ion to renew
his leasp, be receives ano'her lease, which immediately
comes into operation, v/ith similar provisions. If he says he
means to leave, then the provisions directing and restraining
the method of cultivation come into operation for the last
four years of the lease only, so that the, landlord is secured
against the dilapidation of the farm (cheers). Now, I know
that that method of proceeding is approved by many men of
good judgment. It is not for me to prououuee upon it. 1
confess there appears to te much equity in it. I hold as
strongly as you can hold that it is most important to rid the
tenants of the country from all unnecessary fetters on the
freedom of their action (cheers). We are engaged in a great
struggle. Time forbids me at this moment to enter on the
particulars of that struggle and the character of that struggle.
I shall endeavour to do it elsewhere if I am unable to do it
today, but I wish you to believe I am heartily aud cordially
with you both in my capacity as a landlord and also in my
capacity as a candidate before yeu, net only for the sake of
gaining your suffrages, but upon higher and national grounds
(cheers) — to give all possible freedom to the cultivation of
the soil, in order that the agriculturists of Eugland may have
full and fair play in competition with the Agriculture of the
world. That is a point, gentlemen, from which I will pass
on to another subject of great importance, the law of entail
and settlement (Hear, hear). I believe you view that law
with disapproval as being itself one of the moat serious
restraints upon the effective prosecution of the agriculture of
the country. Gentlemen, I need not dwell upon the matter.
I heartily agree (cheers). Yes, I am in favour of the abolition
of that law. I disapprove it on economical grounds, and I
disapprove it on social and moral grounds. I disapprove the
relations which it creates between the father aud tho eldest
son. I disapprove the manner in wliich it makes pro-
■>. fur the interest cf the children to be born.

Was there ever, gentlemen, in the history of legislation a
stranger expedient ? Let us consider what takes place in
England habitually, aud I believe in Scotland also, but I
am less conversant with the actual daily prae*ice of this
country. The possessor of an estate in England having
sons in this position, that if he dies intestate, his
estate goes bodily to his eldest son. That law, gentlemen,
is not just, aud it ought to be altered — this law of intest-
acy (cheers). But, setting aside the question of intest-
acy, let ns take the ordinary case. The ordinary case is
this : — The son is going to marry. When he marries (be-
cause under that law, supposing he does not marry, and his
father dies, he becomes absolute owner) — when he marries
his father gives him an income for life, and he, the son, in
consideration of the income, re-settles his estate on his issue
to be thereafter born. Now, what is the meaning of the pro-
cess ? It is that the actual owner of the estate induces the
son to make provision for his own children by giving him an
income for his life. Provision for the children is not made
by the free will of the father, but by the free will of the
grandfather (laughter), in order to secure the further tying
up of the estate. It appears to me that there is one law
written more distinctly than any other on the constitution of
human society by the finger of the Almighty, and tint is that
the parent is responsib e lor a sufficient provision on belnlf of
the child. But the law <.f England is wiser than the Al
mighty ; it improves on Divine Providence ; it will not trust
the father to make provision for the child; it. calls in thp aid
of tl.e grandfather, and commits to him the functions of the
parent, introducing a false, in my opinion an unnatural rela-
tion into the constitution of that primary element of society
the sacred constitution of the family (loud cheers). Not only
to liberate agriculture, gentlemen, but upon other ground*,
and I will say upon what 1 think still higher grounds, I am
fordoing away with this law of settlement and entail (cheers).
Now I have gone through, I think, all the questions except
one that greatly affect the interests of occupiers of the soil-
almost all the interests capable ot being dealt with by legisla-
tion. I am not speaking now of the great question of com-
petition which foreign countries, to which I must revert
elsewhere ; but there is one that yet remains, and that is the
que tion of local and county government (etieers). It is a
strange anomaly that in this most important matter of IoceI
government we, who have representative institutions every-
where elsp, have been content that counties down to the presert
time should remain without them. This is one of the greatets
subjects that await the consideration of a future Parliament
(cheers), and I hope that it will receive that consideration so
soon as those immediate aud pressing impediments I have re-
ferred to can be by care and skill got out of the way (cheers).
Gentlemen, there was no question upon which the last
Government was more severely criticised than the treatment
of the subject of local government. Now what did we do in
regard to it ? We avowed from the beginning that the stats
of our county government was wholly unsatisfactory ami
must be radically reformed (cheers). We thought the law of
liability in England wliich threw the whole responsibility for
the rates upon the tenaut was an unjust law, and we proposed
to divide it, as it is divided in Scotland (cheers). We
knew that there was a great desire in the country to relieve
the ratepayers from the Consolidated Fund ; we saw
in that desire and in that power to relieve the ratepayers from
the Consolidated Fund a strong leverage placed in the hands
of the Executive Government to induce all the local interests
to come freely into the changes that must be made in order
to establish a sound system of county government, and to give
you, gentlemen, the free and thorough control over the disposal
of your own local taxation that jou have over the disposal
of Imperial taxes (cheers). We therefore* said. we would not
give this money away till we were able to make it the means
of bringing parties to cope with the difficulties of establishing
a new system of government, and so to come into the enjoy-
ment of whatever aid it might be right to give from the
Imperial treasury on behalf of the ratepayers (cheers). That,
gentlemen, was our position. We were severely censured for
it; but we were not able to depart from it. Before it was in
our power to deal thoroughly and effectively with the subject
we were removed from office. Our successors took an
entirely opposite view. In their view the only thing material
was to relieve the ratepayers ; so they handed over year by
year large sums from the Consolidated Fund, and made no

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

J.9

other change whatever ; they left the present irresponsible
authority in profession, and continued five years in office
before they produced even the phantom of a Local Govern-
ment Bill, and when they produced it they contrived to frame
>• in such a way t hat no paity or section of a party in the
House o! Commons showed the i-lightest desire to have it.
The consequence is that your local government remains in the
unsatisfactory position in which it formerly stood, whereas the
I'nperial Government, which is the only propelling power
that on cause legislation of that kind, has moved ouwards
and Ins gratuitously and prematurely parted with the great
inducements which they held in their hands of bringing all
parties into a reasonable sentiment, of inducing the m igistrates
to come in, and of inducing all constituted authorities to come
in and to state their respective pretensions. They have given
up every lever by which they ought to have propelled the
question, and the question remains in that neglected and in
tnat abandoned state in which they have left almost every
o'her subject (cheers). Now, gentlemen, I have detained you
long euough (Cries of" No, no "). I have endeavoured tu be
practical and intelligible in my ren: irks. I have endeavoured
to show you that subjects of local and domes* ic interest do
not escape my attention (cheers). I have warned you of the
i umense diilieulties we have to contsud with, and have not
held out to you too sanguine expectations. I have told you
that when you succeed in returing a more — what shall I say —
eulightened parliament ihan the present (laughter), and in
obtaining an administration bet'er qualified to give effect to
your convictions, there will be much to do — much cause for
patieuce and forbearance — before we can see the peaceful
course of legis;ation which had been the pride of former
almiHistra'ious in many cases that I could name, and certainly
in at least one C inservative Administration — I mean the
ai rni nitration of Sir Robert Peel (cheers)— before that course
ofpeicefnl and use'ul legislation can be resumed. Let me
say tli at, in my opinion, these two great subjects of local govern-
ment and the laud laws ought to occupy a foremost place in
tie thoughts of every man who desires to be a legislator^

MR.

GLADSTONE ON AGRICULTURAL
DEPRESSION.

Mr. Gladstone delivered at West Calder, on Thursday,
November 27th, his third address to the electors and
non-eiectors of Midlothian. He said : —

Mr. M'Lagan and Gentlemen, — In addressing yon to-day,
as addressing oilier like audiences assembled for a like purpose
in o'her places in the county, I am warmed by the enthusiastic
welcome which you have been pleased in every form to accord
to me (cheers). I am, on the other hand, daunted when I
think, first of all, what large demands I have to make upon
your patience, and, second, how inadequate are my powers
and how inadequate almost any amount of time that you can
grant me to set for'h worfhily the whole of the case which
ought to be laid before you in counexion with the coming
e'ectiou. To-day, as I know that many among yon are inte-
rested in the land, and as I lee.l that what is termed agricul-
tural distress is at the present moment a topic too serious to
he omitted from our consideration, I shall say some words
upon the subject of the agricultural distress (cheer*), and par-
ticularly because in connexion with it there have arisen in
same quarters of the country proposals which have received
a countenance far beyond their deserts to reverse or to com- I
promise the work which it took us one whole generation to
achievo, and to revert to the mischievous, obstructive, and
impoverishing system of protection (cheer*), I speak of
agricultural distress as a matter undoubtedly serious. Let
noue of us withhold our sympathy from the farmer, the cui;i-
vator of the soil, in the struggle, that he has to undergo. Ills
struggle is a struggle of competition with the United States ;
hut I do not fully explain the ca-e when I say the United
S'Hte^. It is not with the entire United States; it is with
the western portion of those Sate-., the, portion remote from
the seaboard. I wish, iu the first place, to state to you all a
fact of very great interest and important as to me,

relating to and deiiuing the point at which that competition
of the Western States of Aaieriea is most severely felt. I have
in my hand a letter received recently trom one well nn:l
honourably known iu Scotland, Mr. Lyon Playfair, who has
recently been a traveller in the Uuited S'atfs, an. I v h >, as you

well know, is as well qualified a9 any man upon earth for
accura'e and careful investigation. It says the poiut at
which the competition of the Western States of America is
most severely felt is in the Eistem States of America,
ver be the agricultural distress in Scotland, whatever
it bg where undoubtedly it is more severely felt — namely, in
England— it is greater by far in the Eastern States of Ame-
rica. In the States of New England the soil has been to
some extent exhausted by careless methods of agriculture,
and these are the greatest of all the enemies with which
the fanner has to contend (cheers). But the foundation for
the state Dent I make, that the Eastern States of America are
those that mo»t severely feel the competition of the We
States, is to he found in this fact above all. They are not in
Ameic.i, as we are here, talking about the shortness of the
annual returns, and in sorue places having much said on the
subjects of rents — their temporary remission or permanent
reduction. That is not the state of things. I say that the
foundation for ray statement is to be found in this fact — that,
in addition to this state of things, the Eastern States of
America have actually got to this point —that the capital
values of laud as tested by sales in the market have undergone
an enormous diminution. Now I will tell you something
that has happened, on the authority of our friend Mr. Lyon
Playfair. I will state to you what actually has happened in
one of the New England States; not, recollect, in the desert
or a remote country, but in an old cultivated country, and
near one of the towns of these States — a town that has the
honourable name of Wellesley. Mr. Lyon Playfair tells me
this. Three weeks ago — that is to say, about the first of this
month, so you will see that my information i3 tolerably recent
— three weeks ago a friend of Mr. Lyon Piayfair bought a
farm near Wellesley for 33 dols. an acre being £6 12s. an
acre ; that is for agricultural land in an old settled country.
That is the present condition of agricultural property iu the
old States of New England. I think that by the simple recital
of this fact I have tolerably well established my case, for you
have not come in Englaud and you have not come in Scotland
to the point at which agricultural land — not wild land, but
improved and old cultivated land — is to be had for the price
of £6 12s. (cheers). He mentions that this is by no means a
strange case, an insohted case — that it fairly represented the
average transactions that have been going on, and he says
that in that region the ordinary price of agricultural land at
the present time is from 20 dols. to 50 dols. an acre, or from
£1 to £10. In New York the soil is better and the population
is greater there, but even in New York, even in the State of
New Y'ork, land ranges for agricultural purposes from 53 dols.
to 100 do1-.— that is to say, from £10 to £20. I think
of you, g-ntlemen, who are farmers will perhaps derive£some
comfort from perceiving that if the pressure here is heavy the
pressure elsewhere, and near to the seat of the very abundaut
production, is greater, and far greater. Still it is most interest-
ing to consider how we can meet this pressure. There has
been developed in the astonishing progressive power of the
United States a faculty of producing corn for the subsistence
of men with a rapidity and to an extent uuknown in ths
experience of mankind. There is nothing like it iu
history. Don't let us conceal from ourselves the fact. 1
shall not stand the worse with any of you who are
farmers if I at once avow that this grea'er and im-
mense comparative abundance in the prime articles of subsist-
ence for mankind is a great b'essiug vouchsafed by Providence
to man. In pari I believe the cheapness lias been increased
by special causes. The lands from which the great abundance
of American wheat comes have been very thinly peopled ; yet,
they will become more thickly peopled, and as they become
more thickly peop'ed a hrger proportion of their produce will
be wanted for consumption and less of it will come to you and
at a higher price. Ai;ain, if we are rightly iu forme'!, the
price o! American wheat has been unnaturally reduced by ex-
traordinary depression in recent times of trade in America,
and especially of the mineral trades, upon which the railroads
are dependent in America, and with which railroads are con-
nected in America in a degnc rnd manner that in this country
we know but little of. With the revival of trade in America
it is to be expected that the freight of corn will increase, and
of all other freights as well, because the employment of the
railroads will be a great deal more abundant and they will not
be content to curry corn at nominal rates. In some respects,
therefore, you may expect a mitigation of the pressure, but in

B

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

0 her rejects is is like'y to continue. Now, not long ago the
.Prime Minister, who ought to have the best information on
the subject — (laughter) — Iih nk so, undoubtedly, and lam not
goiDg to impeach in the main what he stated — gave it to be
understood that there was about to be a development of corn
production in Canada which would entirely throw into the
sh.de this corn production in the United States. Well, tint
certainly was very cold comfort as far as the British agricul-
turist is concerned (laughter and cheers), because he did not
eay and could uot say tlat the corn production in the United
States was to tall off, but that there was to be added an
enormous corn production from Manitoba, that great province
which uow forms part of the Canadian Dominion. There is
no doubt, 1 believe, that it is a current expectation that vast
or very large quantities of corn will proceed from that pro-
vine, and theretore we have to look forward to a state of
things in which lor a considerable lime to come large quan-
t:f'.es of wheat will be forthcoming from America, probably
larger quantities and perhaps at frequently lower prices than
those at which the corn-producing and corn-exporting dis-
tricts of Europe have hitherto been able to supply ns. Tint I
believe to be on the whole not an unfair representation of the
present state of things. Now how are yon to meet that
State of thing* r What are your fair claims P

1 will tell yon. In my opinion your fair claims are in the
<nain two. One is to be allowed to purchase every ar'ic!e
thit you require in the cheapest market (cheers). Titere
should be no needless burden laid up<m anything thit can
c >me to you and thatcsn assist you in the cultivation of
yjur land. But thit claim has been conceded to the full,
and I don't know whether there is an instrument of any
kind, an auxiliary of any kind that you want for the business
t>f the farm, that yon do not find at this moment in the
cheapest market. But beyond that you want to be relieved
from every unjust and unnecessary legislative restrain'. I say
every unnecessary restraint, because taxa'ion is, un'ortunately,
a restraint upon us all. We cannot say it U always un-
necessary, and we canuot say it. is always unjust. Yesterday
1 ventured to state, and will therefore not now return to the
■E'uhject, a "number of matters connected with the state of legis-
lation on which it appears to me to be of vital importance,
both to Hie --agricultural interest and the entire community,
that the-oceuviers and cultivators of the. land in this country
should be Tslirred from restraints nnder the operation Of
"which they now Suffer considerably. Bejond these two great

heads, what you have to look to is your own energy (hear,
h-ar) — jour cm energy and thought and action. You care
not to undertake tc pay rents grea'er than with reasonable
emulation jou think yon can nlTord. I am by no means snre,
though I speak rabjpct to the correction ot higher au'hority,
that in Scotland, within these last 11 or 20 years, something
of a speculative character has not entered into rents, aud par-
ticularly, perhaps into the r-n's of hill farms. I remember
hearing of augmentation i which were being made, I believe,
-ill over Scotland, :>nj I verit'.ed the fact in a number of couu-
iboot 12 or 14 years ago iu the rents ol the hill farms,
h I confess appeared to impress me with the idea that the
high prices which were ruling for raes;t and wool, and ruling
.ncreasingly Irom year to }ear, were for once leading the wary
and shrewd Scottish agriculturist a little beyond the mark in
the rents he undertook to pay. But it is not in ttti3 only ; it
is undoubtedly in a series of manful struggles in which yon
are engaged, in which you will have to exert yourselves, in
which ycu will have a right to claim everything that the
Legislature eaa do for you (cheers). And I hope it may
possibly be my privilege and honour to assist in some of these
provisions of necessary liberation from restraint (cheers).
But beyond that it is your energies of thought and of action
to which you may trust, Now, having said this, my next
du'y is to warn you against quack remedies, agaiust delusive
remedies, against the quack remedies that some people are
. and to propose, not so much in Scotland as in England. But,
gentlemen, from Midlothian at present we are speaking to Eng-
land as well as to Scotland (cheers), and let us give a friendly
warning from this northern quarter to the agriculturist of Eng-
land not to be deluded by those who call themselves his 'riends
in a degree of special and superior excellence (laughter). Let us
warn him not to be deluded into hoping for relief from sources
from which it can never come (-cheers). There are three of these
ieh 1 will speak of. but the first of "which [ shall
■ at I : ;". not-

withstanding in the tone of rational and dispassionate di »
cussion. I am not now so much upon the controversial
portion of this question. The field — which Heavea kuows is
wide enough — is matter of deep and universal interest to us in
our economic and social cond tion. There are persons, for
some of whom I have considerable respect, who think that
the differences of our agrculturists may be got over by a
fundamental change in the landholding system of this country.
I do not mean a change in the laws of entail and set'lement
and all these restraints, which I hope were tolerably well dis-
posed of yesterday at Dalkeith ; but I mean that there are
those who think that if you can cut up the land of the
country into a multitude of small properties, that of itself
will solve the difficulty, and that everybody will be started in
a career of prosperity. To a propo-al of the kind I am not
going to object on the ground that it would be inconsistent
with the privileges of landed proprietors. In my opinion if it
is known to be for the welfare of the community at large the
Legislature is perfectly entitled to buy out the landed pro-
prietor. It is not en'i led morally to confiscate the property
of the landed proprietor more than the property of any other
man ; but it is perfect'y entitled to buy out the landed pro-
prietor if it may please for tti2 purpose of dividing property
into small lots. I do not wish to recommend it, because I
will show you the doubts in my mind about the proposition.
But to the principle no objection can be taken. Those persons
who possess large portions of the spice of the earth are not
altogether in the same position as possessors of mere per-
sonalty, for personalty doas not impose the same limitations
on the action and industry and the well-being to the com-
munity in the same ratio as does the possession of land, aud
therefore I hold that compulsory appropriation, if tor an
adequate public ohject, is a thing in itself admirable and even
sound in principle. Now, gentlemen, this idea of small
properties, however, is one which very large bodies and parties
in the country treat with the utmost contempt, and they are
accustomed to point to France and say, " Look at France,
there you have got 5,000,000 — I am not quite sure whether it
is 5,000,000 or even more, I do not want to go beyond the
mirk in anything — you have got 5,000 000 of small pro-
prietors, aud you do not produce in France as many bushels
of wheat per acre as yon do in England." Well, now, I am
going to point out to you a very remarkable fact with regard
to ths condition of France. I will not say that France, pro-
duces— for I believe it does not produce — as many bushels of
wheat per acre as England does ; but I should like to know
whether the wheat of France is produced maiuly on the small
properties of France. I believe that the wheat is pro-
duced mainly upon the large properties, and I have not
a doubt that the large properties of Eng'and are, on the
wholp, better cultivated and more capital is put into
the land than on the large properties of France. But it
i3 fair that justice should be done to what is called a pea-
sant proprietary. A peasant proprietary is an excellent
thiug to be had, if it can be had, in many points of view. It
interests an enormous number of the people in the soil of the
country aud in the stability of its institutions and its laws.
But now look at the effect it has on the progressive value of
the land. I am going to give you a f«w figures, which I will
endeavour to relieve from all complications, lest I should
unnecessarily weary you. Bit what will you think when I tell
you that the agricultural value of France — the taxable income
derived from the land, and therefore the income to the pro
prietors of that land — has advanced during our lifetime far
more rapidly than that of England ? When I say England, I
use it in i-hort. I believe the same thing is applicable even
to Scotland, certainly to Ireland; but I shall take England
for my text, because the difference between England, Scotland,
and Ireland is not so great, and because it so happens we have
some means of illustration from England from former times
which are not equally applicable for all three kingdoms. And
here is the state of the case. I will not go back any further
thau 1851. I might go back mnch further — it would only
strengthen my case — but in 1851 I have a statement made by
French official authority of the agricultural income of France
as well as the income of tbeir real property — namely, houses,
^". In 1851 the agricultural income of France was
i-7G, 000,000, It was greater in 1851 than the whole income
from land and houses together had been in 1321. That is
tolerable evidence of progress ; but I will not enter
into details of it, because 1 have no means of dividing

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

21

tbfe two — tlie hou«e income and the land income — for the earlier
year, viz., 1821. In 1361 the agricultural incoraehad risen
to £106,OUO,000. Timt is to say, in tlie space oi 13 years
the increase of agricultural values in France was no less than
40 per ceut,, or 3 per cent, per annum. Now I come to
England. Wishing to be accurate, I shall limit myself to that
with respect to which we have positive figures. Iu England
the agricultural income in 1813-14 was .£37,000,000 ; in 1842
it was £42,000,000 ; and that is what I will take as my
starting point. 1 have given you figures from the year 1851
to the year 1864 in France. I could only give you those 13
years with certaiuty that I was not misleading you ; and I
b< lieve 1 have kept within the mark, and I believe I could
have put it more strongly for France. Well, gentlemen, I
have given you these figures as regards France, and I now
come to England. In 1842 the agricultural income of Eng-
land was £42,000,000. In 1876 it was £52,000,000— that is
to say, that while the agricultural income of France increased
40 per cent, iu 13 years, the agricultural income of England
only increas d 2 J per cent, in 34 years; the increase in
France was 3 per cent, per annum, tlie increase in England
was about one-half or three-fifths per cent, per annum. Now
I wi;h this justice to b done to a system where peasant pro-
prietary prevails. This is of great importance ; and will you
allow me — you who are Scjtcli agriculturists — will you believe
me when I say that 1 not only speak to you with the
re.-pect which is due by a candidate to a constituency,
but with the deference which is due by a man knowing
little of agricultural matters to those who know a great deal ?
There is one point on which the considerations I have beei

fundamental change iu the distribution of landed property in
this cuuutry as a remedy for agricultural distress. But I go
on to another remedy that is proposed, and I shall treat it
with a great deal less respect. Now I come to a region of
what 1 have presumed to call quack remedies. There is the
quack remedy, gentlemen, which is called reciprocity —
(laughter)— and this quack remedy is under the special pro-
tection ot quack doctors — (laughter) — and among the quack
doctors, I am sorry to say, there appears to be soms in very
high stations; indeed, it I am rightly informed, no less a person
than Her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs —
("Oh, oh!")— who has been going about the country and
indicating a very considerable expectation that possibly by
reciprocity agricultural distress will be relieved. Let me 'test,
gen Jcuieu, the efficacy of this quack remedy for your agri-
cultural pressure — I won't call it distress, but for the pressure
that is upon you and Icr the struggle in which you are engaged,
Now pray watch its operation. You know what is said by
the advocates of reciprocity. They always say, " Wo are the
soundest and beBt freetraders. We advocate reciprocity
because it is the truly effectual method of bringing about free
trade. At present America imposes enormous duties upon our
cotton goods and upon our iron goods. Put reciprocity into
play, and America will become a free trade country." Very
well, gentlemen, how will that operate upon you agriculturists
in particular? Why, it will operate thm: If your condition,
gentlemen, is to be regarded iu certain particulars as capable
of amendment, I ask you to cast the eye ot sympathy upon the
condition ol the American agriculturist, It has been very-
well slid, ant very truly said, and it is a smart antithesis, that

opening up aud this rapid increase in the value of the soil of 'he American agricu'turist has got to buy everything that he

wants at prices which are fixed in Washington by the legisla-
tion of America, but he has got to sell everything that he-
produces at prices which are fixed in Liverpool by the free
competition of the world (cheers). How would you like that,
gentlemen; to have protective prices to pay for everything
that you use— for your animals, for your implements, for ali
your fanning stock, and at the same t.me to have to sell what
you produce in the free and open market of the world ? Bring
reciprocity into play, and then if the reciprocity doctors are
righ', the AmeriCaus will knock off all their protective duties,
aud tlie American farmer, instead ot producing, as he does
now, under a disadvantage, — a heavy disadvantage — by having
to pay protective prices for everything that constitutes his
farming stock, will have all his to >ls, implements,
manures, and everything el,e purchased in the Iree and open
market of the world \t tree trade prices, and he will be able
to produce his corn and compete with you a great dea>
cheaper than he does now (cheers). S) much for reci-
procity considered as a cure lor distress. I am
not going to consider it now in any otlnr point of view;
but there are other men who are bolder still, who are
not content with the milder form of quackery, but who reT
commend pure and simple reversion to — 1 may fairly call it,
I think — the exploded doctrine of protecion. And upon that
I think it necessary, if you. will allow me, to say to you a
few words ; because it is a very serious matter, and it is
all the more serious besause Her Majesty's Government, I do
not scruple to say, are coquetting with this matter in a way
which is not right ; they are tampering with it ; they are
playing with it. A speech was made in the House of
Cora, uons last Session by Mr. Chaplin on tlie part of what
is cilled the agricultural interest. Mr. Chapiin did not
use the word protection, but he demanded that the malt-tat
should be abolished and the revenue suuplied by a tax
up ii foreign barley or some other foreign commodity. Well,
it he has any measure of that kind in his pocket, I don't ask
him to affix the, word " protection" to it; I can do that for
myself (laughter and cheers). Not a word of objection was
offered to the doctrine of Mr. Chaplin. He wag complimented
upon the ability of his speech and the well chosen terms of
his motion ; and some members of the Government — minor
memhers of Her Majesty's Government, humbler luminaries
ol i he great constellation — have, been going about ihe country
telling their farming constituents thai they think the time- ,.
has come when a return to protection might very safe1, i
tried. Oh, gentlemen, what delusions have been praciis, d
upon the unfortunate British farmer ! (laughter). When we
go back for 20 years what is now called the Tory party was
never heard ol as thr Tory party ; it was always heard of ai
the party of Protection. As long as the duel's ol the ui |

France bear on our interests. Let me try to explain it. I
believe myself that the operation of economic laws is what
in the main dictates the distribution of landed property in
this country. I doubt if those economic laws will allow it to
be cut up in a multitude of properties like the small proper-
ties in France. As to small holdings, I. am one of those who
attach to them the utmost value. I say that in the Lothians
--1 say that in a portion of the country where very large
holdings prevail, wherein some portions large holdings almost
exclusively prevail ; but it is not on that point I am going to
dwell, as there is not time tor it ; but what I do wish very
respectfully to submit to you is this — when you see this vast
increase in the agricultural value of France, you know at
once it is perfectly certain thst it is not upon the large proper-
ties ot France, which, if auything, are inferior to the cultiva-
t on of the large properties in England, but it is upon these
very peasant properties which some people are so ready to
decry (cheers),. What do these peasant properties mean ?
They mean what is called in France small cultivation — that is
to say, cultivation of superior articles on a small scale ; the
cultivation ol flowers, cultivation of fruits of every kiud.
That, in fact, rises above the ordiuary character of farming
production and rather approaches that of the garden (cheers).
Gentlemen, I cannot help hav i>g this belief — that our destiny
is to iiave other means of meeting the difficulties in which we
may be placed ; that a great deal more attention will have to
be given than heretofore even by the agriculturists of England,
and perhaps even in Scotland, to the production ol fruits,
vegetables, and flowers, of all that v iriety of ohj cts which are
sure to find a market in a rich and wealthy country like this,
but which have hitherto been confined almo.-t exclusively to
fsrmiug production. You know that in Scotland, in Aber-
deenshire, as I am told also iu Perthshire, a great example of
this kiud lias bem set in the cultivation of strawberries over
hundreds of aorta at once. I am ashamed to go further into
this matter, as I am attempting to instruct you. I am sure you
will take my hint as a respectful and friendly hint; but, I
do , not believe that the 1 irge properties of this country can
or will be universally broken into small one*, or that the
land of this country will be owned, as a general ru'e, by
those who cultivate it. I believe we shall have the two
alasses of laudlord and tenant ; but I earnestly desire to
see not only the relations be' ween the two classes har-
monize and sound, and their interests never bronght
into conflict, but to see both flourishing and prosperous,
aud the soil of my. country producing, as far as may be,
under the iufluence of capital and bkilled labour, such a
variety of productions as will give abundant livelihood to
those who live upon it (cheers). I say, therefore,
gentlemen, but 1 say it with all respect, L do not look to a

21

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

tertive party were not in office — as long as they were irre-
sponsible— they recommended themselves to the goodwill of
the farmer as protectionists, and said they would set him up
and put his interests upon a firm foundation through protec-
tion. We brought them iuto office in the year 1852, and I
gave with pleasure a vote to assist to bring them into office,
beca use, I said, bringing them into office would put their
protection to the test ; and before they had been six months
ju office they had tnrown protection to the winds (cheers).
Acd that is the way that the British farmers aud their
votes are got by these who claim for themselves the desig-
nation in a special sense of the friends of the farmeis. It
is the same with the malt-tax. The malt-tas is held by
them to be a great grievance on the British farmer. When-
ever a Liberal Government is in office, from time to time
they have a great muster from all parts of the country to
agitate for the abolition of the malt -tax ;. but when
the Tory Government comes into office the abolition of the
malt-tax is totally forgotten (cheers). We have now had
six years of Tory Government without a word said, so far as
I can recollect — and my friend in the chair c.n correct me if
I am wrong — upon the subject of the mali-tax (cheers). The
malt-tax, important as it is, is small itself in reference to pro-
tection. Gentlemen, it is a serious matter indeed if we are
to go back to protection, for how did we come oat of
it to free trade ? We came out of it alter a long
and prolonged struggle, which absorbed the atten-
tion of Parliaments, ou which elecions turned, which
to lk up 20 years of our legislative life, which broke up parties,
and which effected a chauge so marked that if, after the
manner in which it was effected, it was now right that we
shou'd go back on our steps, then all that I can say is that we
must lose that which has been one of the most honourable
distinctions of our country in the estimation of the world —
namely, that British legislation, though slow, is always pro-
ceeding in one direction — that our legislation never goes back
Are we, then, children, that, after spending 20 years, from
1840 down to 1860, in breaking down the huge fabric of pro-
tection— are we iD 1879 seriously to set about building it up
again ? (dear, hear). If ihat be right, gentlemen, let it be
done; but it will iuvolve npon our part a must humiliating
confession. la my opinion it is not right. Protection, how-
ever, let me point out, is asked for in two forms, and I am now
going to quote Lord Beaconsfield for the purpose of expressing
concurrence with him (laughter and Hear, hear). I am bound
to say, as far as ray knowledge goes, protection Iies not bepn
asked I'cr by the agricultu;al interests; certainly not by the
farmers of Scotland. It has been asked for by, certain
injudicions cliques and classes of persons, and by persons
connected with the manufacturing industries. They want to
have duties laid on manufacture ; but here Lord Beaconsfield
said, and I cordially concur with him, that he " would be no
party to the institution of a system iu which protection was to
be given to manufactures and was to be reiusedto agriculture/'
That one-sided protection I deem to be totally intolerable, and
I reject it, even at the threshold, as unworthy of a word of
examination or discussion. But let us come to two-sided pro-
tection and see whether that is any better — that is to say pro-
tection in the shape of duties on manufactures, and duties on
corn, meat, butter, cheese, ftrgs, aud everything that can be
produced from the laid. Now, gentlemen, in order to see
whether we can here find a remedy for our difficulties, I
preler to speculation and mere abstract arguments the method
of reverting to experience. Experience will give us very
distinct lessons upon this matter (Hear, hear). We have the
power of going back to the times when protection was in full
and unchecked force, and.of examining the effect winch it pro-
duced upon the wealth of the country. How, you will say, do
I mean to test the question ? I mean to test the wealth by
the exports of the country ; and I will tell you why, because
your prosperity depeuds upon the wealth of your customers —
that is to say, upon their capacity to buy what you produce.
And who are your customers ? Your customers are the
industrial population of the country, who produce what we
export and send all over the world ; consequently, when
exports increase, your customers are doing a large busiuess,
are growing wealth} and putting money into their pockets,
and are able to take the money out of their pockets in ordar
to fill their stomachs with what you produce. When, ontiie
contrary, exports do not increase, your customers are poor,
your prices go down, as you fxlt within tha hut lew year:-.

the price3 of mea% for example, and in other thing*, acd
your coudtion has been proportionately depressed (cheers),
Now; gentlemen, down to the year IS 13 no profane hand had
been laid upon the august fabric of protection. .Recollect that
the farmer's friend always told ns it was a very august labric,
and that if you pulled it down it would involve the ruin of the
country. That, you remember, was the commonplace of every
speech delivered Irom a county hustings to agricultural con-
stituencies. But before 1842 another agency had come into
force whieh gave new He in a very considerable degree to the
industry of the country, and that was the agency of ra Iways,,
of improved communications which shortened distance and
; cheapened transit, and effected iu that way an enormous
j economic gain and addition to the wealth of the country.
Therefor^, in order to see what we owe to our friend pro-
tection, I will not allow that friend to take credit for what
was done by railways improving the wealth of the country.
I go to the time when there were no railways, when, I may
say, there were virtually no railways — that is,, the time before
1830. Now, gentlemen, here are the official facts which I
will lay before you in the simplest form. And remember,
using round numbers as i do, that if roand numbers cannot be
absolutely accurate, they are easy for the memory to take in,,
aud inv.ilve no material error or falsification of the facts-. Now,
gentlemen, in 1800 the exports of Br.tish produce «ere 3(J£
millions iu value. I will not say anything about the popu-
lation, becaase there are no accurate returns for the tnree
countries, but the exports in 131/0 amounted to £39,500,000..
Prom 18"i6 to 1830, after a medium period of eight-and-tweuty
years, the average of our exports, which in trie fivejears
before 1800 were 3;!j millions, was only 37 millions. The
currency certainly was of less value, and lam quite willing to-
admit that the 37 millions probably meant as much in value
as the 3ifJ millions ; but these facts substantially show that
the trade of the coun'ry was stationary under protectior. The
condition of tl e people, if it were possible, grew worse rather
than better ; the wealth of the country was nearly stationary.
But now I show jou what protection produced, that it made-
no addition and gave no onward movemeut to the profits of
those who are your customers, on whose profits you depend %
because, under all circumstances, this I think nobody will
dispute, that a considerable portion of what Englishmen and
Scotchmen produce will some way or other find its way down
throats (laughter). What has been the case since we cast o\l
the superstition of protection — siuce we discarded the
imposture of protection ? I will tell you what happened
between 1830, when there were no railways, and 1842, when
no important change had been made as to protection, but
when the railway system was in operation, hardly in Scot-
land, but in England to a very considerable extent on the
main lines. Exports which in 1S30 had been somewhere
about 37 millions, between 181-0 and 1812 showed an average
amount of 50 millions. That was due to the agency
of railway?, and I wish you to beer in mind the increasing
benefit derivable from the agency, so that I may claim no.
undue credit lor the freedom of trade. Prom 1812 onward
the successive stages of free trade b<gan ; in 18-12, in 1845,
in 1846, in 1853, and again in IS60 the large measures were
carried which have completely reformed your Customs tariff
and reduced it from a taxation of 1.200 articles to a axation
of, I think, less than 12 (cheers). Now, under the system of
protection, the export trade ot the country, the wealth aud the
power of the manufacturing and producing classes to purchase
year agricultural products, did not increase at all. In the
time when railways begau to be in operation, but before free
trade, the exports of the country increased, as I have shown
you, by 13 millions in somewhere about 13 years — that is to
say, taking it at the rate of one million a tear ; but since
1S42 and down to the present time w.e bate had along with
railways, increasing their benefits, the successive adoption
of free-trade measures ; aud what lias been the state of the
export busiuess of the country F It has risen in this degree
— that which from 1810 to 1S12 averaged 50 millions,
from 1873 to 1878 averaged 218 millions (cheers). Iustead
of increasing as it had done between 1830 and 1S12, when,
railways only were at work, at the rate of £1,000,0U0 a year ;
iustead of remaining stagnant, ss it did w leu the country was
under protection pure and simple, with no augmentation of the
export trade to enlarge the means ol those why buy your pro-
ducts, the total grow th ol I he trade in a period of about 35
was no less thau liio million-* , or say taking it roughly a growth

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

23

on the export trade of the country to the extent of between
£4,000,000 and £5,000,000 a year, (cheers). Gentlemen,
you kuow the effect. You know very well that wheu that
restriction was in force you did not get the price you have been
getting Tor the last 20 years. You know that the price, per-
haps, of wheat has been much the same as it had been before
Tne price ef oats is better than was to be had on the average
iu protection times But the price, with the exception of
wheat — the price of almost every agricnltural commodity — the
price of wool, the price of meat, the price of cheese, the price
or everything that the sol prodnces — has been largely in-
ceased in the free and open market of the world. Because
the artificial advantage that you got from protection, as it was
siid to be an advantage was removed, you were brought into
that free and open market ; and with the enlarging of free
tr^.d** was enlarged the buying capacity of your customers, so
that they were willing and able to give you and did give you
a ^reat deal for your meat and your wool and your products
in g-neral than you ever got under the system of protection,
(cheer*). If that be true — and tint cannot, I believe, be dis-
puted or impugned — I don't think I need fur her discuss the
m itter.

, IRISH LAND TENURE.

Mr. Johu Hamilton, D.L., J.P., of St. Emails, Done-
gal, has published the following paper: —

During and alter the Irish Famine iu 1846, and the follow-
ing years, I had a good deal of conversa'ion and correspon-
d;uce with Lord Clarendon (then Lord-Lieutenant), about
tne state of the peasantry, aud the possible improvemeut
of their general condition.

Among other matters I then suggested a plan something
like t.ie following, and the years during which I have since
then lived in Ireland, confirm my opinion that something
very like this would help materially to change for the better
the condition of Ireland, socially and politically.

Having been for nearly sixty years a lauded proprietor,
living in Ireland, and spending a long life and large sums iu
endeavouring to improve both the land and its occupiers, my
view of these matters may be w >rth something.

I therefore offer my plan for careful consideration, and
have no doubt that the result would be to the credit of the
Statesmen who should complete and carry out that of which
I pretend only to suggest the outline.

The present condition of all landed interests renders this
a time peculiarly calling for such an effort iu their cause.
Tne mere idea that such an effort was really in contemplation
would tend to quiet much of the disturbed thoughts and
excited feelings which prevail, to the groat detriment of the
land, its owners and its occupiers.

Outline of a flab for improving the condition of
Irish occupiers of land and their holdings.

Many things have of late drawn attention to the advantages,
on all sides, of having a considerable nu Tiber of the peasautry
who occapy the land, also possessed of tlietr holdings in per-
petuity, especially in the case of small holdings, valued at
from ten to thirty pounds yearly.

The relative position of landlords and tenants in Ireland is
such as to make it very desirable to introduce some change,
so as to enable the tenant, without wrong to the landlord,
to obtain a permanent interest in the land he holds and in all
its improvements, and to do away with the difficulties and
uncertainties which embarrass the questions of land tenure as
it now exists.

It is then proposed to enable the tenant to purchase the
perpetuity of his holding, and by paying also a proportional
aum to reduce the yearly rent by one quarter, or a halt, so
that after paymeut was made he would hold at a very low
rent, easily nude up eveu in bad seasons, and all improve-
ments would be h's own.

The terms upon which such an arrangement might be made
are here supposed to be 25 or 26 years' purchase for the por-
tion reduced from the rent, and five or six years' purchase for
the perpetuity and for the giving cp by the landlord of the
probable improvement of the value of land.

In the case of the tenants upon the glebe lands of the
Episcopal Church in Ireland, they were enabled to purchase
the loo simple of their holdings by au advanced loan from the

funds of the disendowed church, which loan is in course of
being repaid with iuterest (at 3 per cent, yearly interest, and
2 per cent to repay the capital for a certain number of years) ,
so that tne funds from which the advance is made loses
nothing.

It is proposed that the Government should advance on
similar terms, the means of purchase, to tenants desirous of
buying the perpetuity of their holdings. The security would
be good, and a departraent.added to the Encumbered "Estates
Court could carry out the leudiug, and the receiving the re-
payments— and the care of the valuation of each holding
could be given to officers of the Board of Work?, so as to
secure the integrity of each transaction. A percentage
being added to each yearly payment to cover the expenses.

The tenant would thus have purchased v/hat, to him, would
be of more than half the value of his rent, besides the perpe-
tuity, while the landlord would have half his rent secured to
rum by all the purchase money, and by all the improvement
which would assuredly be generally made in the value of the
land — and for the second half he would have 30 years' pur-
chase.

It may be thought that this would interfere with the old
intercourse between laudlord and teuant; this would be fully
balanced by the doing away with much that is not agreeable
iu the same direction.

The case of estates under settlements or mortgages would
come to be considered, the purchase of holdings on these
could be invested by the court, and the interest be paid to the
landlord, the capital remaiuiug subject to the same claims as
the laud had been, till the trusts and mortgages are satisfied.

Other matters would also require special arraigemeut;
such as under what circumstances landlords might refuse to
sell ; also as to royalties, mines and minerals, water courses
&c., &c.

As to subdivisions, these might be kept within due bounds
by making every dwelling-house subject to a valuation to the
poor rates and county or other local rates.

It may be expected that purchasers of perpetuities would
be by far most numerous among the smaller holders of land,
especially from the fact that these are in the habit of buying
"Tenant Right" (as it is called) at very high prices; for it
is of more importance and profit to one who Ciu, with his
family, work his little farm, to have such a home, than it is
to a large farmer. And such a man will give teu years' pur-
chase of the fair, full rent, or more, merely to get into the
place of the outgoing tenant, without any laase. And, almost
always, the purchaser thrives on his purchase, though he gets
no direct leturn for his money, but he works hard aud saves.

It is hardly credible to anyone who has not been acquainted
with the Irish peasantry what they will do, and can do to
secure a sure home for themselves and their successors. This
leads them often to promise to pay a rent, too high for the
real value of their holdings, which rent, however, they do pay
wonderfully truly, making every effort in their power, and
denying themselves almost the necessaries of life, rather than
leave the cabin and few acres where they were born — and for
which they often pay so dearly.

Even under very nu favourable circumstances, the Irish
occupier of a little holding of from 5 to 15 acres will manage
to piy his rent, rear a family, send his children into the world
not unprovided for, and keep a very tolerably comfortable
cottage ov?r his head.

It is true that when he has done this, and is in fear of
losing the home he loves, he is apt to listen to the bad advice
of agitators, whose game is to stir him up to violence and
outrage, which can only make his condition worse. But it is
t -e part of a good Government to provide! means for the en-
couragement of the better feelings and of the sel!-improvin"
tendencies of such a people. And if there are difficulties to
be met and overcome in the endeavour to do so, they will be
mnch less fin-uacially and politically than will occur in any
effort in other directions.

This plan would not tend to increase the number of sm
holding!), but would raise the condition aud character of the
' tenants.

Could not a fund be raised (say at 3 per cent.) for the pur-
pose of this plau expressly, so as not to interfere with the
ordin iry taxation or with the ordinary expenditure of the
Government? This is .a question for financiers in a'l
its bearings.

24

THE FARMER'S iVAGAZINE.

AGRICULTURE IN ENGLAND AND THE
UNITED STATES.

Mr. Brassey's address as President of the i
Statistical Suciety, contained some valuable
statistics relating to its subject — " Agricul-
ture in England and the United States."
Most of these statistics have appeared
before ; bat Mr. Brassey has collected them into
a convenient focus for observation, and admir-
ably arranged them. Indeed, there is such a
complete collection of the most important facts
and figures within the compass of the 24 pages
on which the address is issued by the Statistical
Society, that we hope it will be reprinted for sale
at a low price, in order to bring it within the
reach of every person interested in its important
subject.

Some of the most interesting statistics to which
Mr. Brassey calls attention are those re'ating to
the production and prices of wheat in the United
States. The vast increase in the acreage of the
crop has been a subject of fre pient comment ;
but the great variation in its i i [ price has

received less attention. The great increase in
the area of land under wheat is shown by the
fact that, for the eight years ending in 1878 it
averaged about 50 percent, greater than during
tite previous eight years. Of course if theacreage
of the hrst and last year of the series c -m prising
these two terms were compared the diffei
would be greater still. As to the increase of ex-
ports, Mr. Brassey informs us that of the small
crop of 1866 the United States exported but 8&
per cent,, while of the enormous crop of L878 the
export exceeded 30 per cent. But what will be
more surprising to many who have not carefully
studied the subject, will be to learn how much
greater the fall in the value of wheat has been in
America than in this country, even in recent
years. Thus, in the United States, the. price fell
from 65s. per quarter in 1866 to 26s. in 1878,
while the price of British wheat was 49s. lid. at
he earlier, and 46s. 5d. at the later date. And
this fall in value has been, as Mr. Brass-y re-
marks, gradual, although of course liable to con-
siderable fluctuations. A point that is likely to
have some weight with American farmers, when
they fully realise it, is this— that a large crop in
the States brings, a smaller return than a crop
below average. Mr. Brassey says : — " In years
when an average crop is obtained in Europe the
price in the I'mted States is governed entirely
by the quantity produced and the home consump-
tion, the quantity exported being so small in pro-
portion to the enormous amount raised that it
exercises no influence on the price. Thus, the
cropof 1877, amounting to about 1,342,000,01)0
bushels, was valued at £96,128,0 I ; the crop of
1878, amounting to about 1,371,000,000 bushels,
was estimated at £87,360,000. There was com-
paratively little dhUreuee between tie two crops ;
but the diti'ere .ce in value was large, the reason
being that the European crop was better in 1878
than it was in 1877. Mr. Brassey thinks that if
the reduction in the price of wheat should go
much further, while the activity of the indu
region in New England ia stimulated by a renew mi

demand for metallurgical and textile prodin
we may look for some check in the progress of
wheat cultivation in the United States. Already
he remarks that the growth of oats, rye, barley,
and buckwheat shows a tendency to increase, the
oat crop of 1878 having nearly equalled the wheat
crop in number of bushels. As we p. inted out
some time ago, there has already been in America
some talk of "reducing the out-put" of wheat,,
and we have never been amongst those who think.
that American farmers will go on growing any
crop without a profit. In reply it is urged that
the small farmers of the United States and
Canada will keep on growing the trsual farm
crops, and rearing stock, living chiefly on their
own produce and selling the surplus for whatever
it will bring. Such a system may go on for a
time ; but in the long run people do not continue
to produce what does not pay them. Several-
writers have endeavoured to prove that American
farmers can grow wheat to sell at Liverpool for
32s. a quarter or less ; but their accounts ate
not satisfactory, and if they were, the- profit they
allow to the grower is only a few shillings an.
acre. Rail freights have lately risen in the
United States, and are likely to rise still higher,
as Railway Companies have n >t been getting fair
interest on their capital at the extremely low
rates at which they have carried agricultural pro-
duce. Then, as the population of the great
American Ci mtiiient increases, and wheat becomes
more generally an article of food amongst the
whole people, there will be an increased demand
for that grain, so that ultimately there is reason-
to b lieve, with Mr. Brassey, that higher prices
than those which prevailed last year will rule. At,
the same time we must point out that, some of
these are contingencies of the somewhat remote
future. There is a vast area of fertile soil in.
America yet unfilled, and as settlement is going
on very rapidly the increase in the produce of
wheat for some years to come is certain to be
gr,eat,unless a series of bad seasons'should occur in
that continent, similar to the term of bad years
from which British famers are now suffering.
The price of wheat is now sufficiently high to
stimulate its growth in America on a vast scale,
and as long as occasional years of high prices
occur., there is not likely to be a diminution. All
that we contend for is that if such low prices as
prevailed last year should continue for any con-
siderable length of time, less wheat would be
grown. W'a hold to the Opinion, that we have
frequently before expressed, namely, that British
farmers must be prepared to see the price of
wheat frequently down to 40s. per quarter, some-
tunes below it, and seldom much above it for
more than a year or two at a time. We cannot,
therefore, agree with Mr. Brassey in thinking
that the probable pressure of American com;
tion, as far as the growth of corn is concerned,
affords no ground for demanding a permanent
reduction in rents in this country. Still less dc
we endorse his views when the competition in
meat production has to be considered. We cannot
understand how Mr. Brassey comes t) the con-
clusion that a careful survey of the most recent
phases of sheop.and cattle farming in America

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

does not justify the apprehension that, the value
of our flocks and herds will be permanently de-
pressed by American importation. Mr. Brassey
does not seem to be aware of the chief reasons
why the Americans have not sent us much larger
supplies of cattle and meat than they have sent
during the past year. The principal reason is
that, at present, they have not a large supply of
suitable cattle to send, dead or alive. The pro-
portion of well- bred cattle is still comparatively
small, though vastly greater than it was only a
few years ago, and it is worse than useless to send
any but their well-bred cattle here. That reason
is of course by itself sufficient. But there is
reason to believe that we have not had all the
cattle and meat that the American prodcers
could and would have sent to us if conditions had
been more favourable. The most economical
system of conveying meat across the Atlantic and
selling it here has not been perfected, and never
will be until proper provisions for dealing with it
on this side have been made. Nor has the traffic
in live cattle got into proper order. It khas been
so irregular that all the profits have gone „to
middle men, and neither the producer in
America nor the consumer here has reaped much
advantage. If we are not mistaken it is the
receivers on this side of the ocean who have
derived the bulk of the profit, the exporters
having taken all the risks and received the small-
est advantage. There can be no doubt but that
the temporary disadvantage of a new system of
operations will soon be improved away, nor that
the vast herds of the United States will rapidly
become improved under the new stimulus. When
time has been allowed for these alterations, meat,
in a living or dead form, will probably come here
in vastly increased quantity. Mr. Brassey says
that when the waste lands of America have become
occupied, land for grazing, now to be had free,
will have to be hired. That is true, and then the
cost of producing meat will be increased. But
that, like the exhaustion of the wheat soils, is a
contingency of the remote future, aud cannot
fairly be used as a reason for supposing that rents
in this country will nut have to be reduced for
many years to come.

Mr. Brassey points to dairy firming and the
growing of fruit and vegetables, as well as cattle
breeding and grazing, as pursuits likely to be
more profitable in this country than the cultiva-
tion of corn. What we have remarked with re-
spect) to the probable increase of American compe-
tition in the production of meat is a reply to one
portion of this suggestion. That the growth of
fruit and vegetables might be increased with
ail vantage we have uo doubt, though there are
difficulties in the way of such increase which we
cannot refer to with advantage at the end of an
article. With respect to dairy farming, we fear
we must come to the conclusion that foreign
competition will affect it as severely as it will
affect any other branch of funning. On the
whole, then, in considering the probabilities of
and especially American, competition in
;ill branches of farm production, we repeat that
ee no ground for Mr. Brassey 's hope that a
iy reljef to tenants will be sufficient. It

appears to us as clear as anything not already
past can be, that, under the existing conditions of
land tenancy, the expenses of farming, including
rent, must be reduced if British farmers are to
pay their way. Land in this country is un-
doubtedly worth less to farm than it has been,
and it is almost certain to be worth less for many
years to come. In order to make it worth as
much as it has been worth, disadvantages which
have prevailed, and which could be borne under
past circumstances, must be removed. This Mr.
Brassey admits ; but what he does not point out
is that the process of recovery must at the best
be slow. The owners of land may depend upon
it that their only hope of restoring the prosperily
of British agriculture— which is their prosperity
— lies in the removal of the multifarious impedi-
ments, legal and customary, which handicap the
tenant-farmer ; but they must not expect the re-
quired reforms to show instantaneous results,
and in the meantime they will have to be content
with lower rents.

Agricultural Ca&U Calk.

Sir W. Hart Dyke, M.P., in presiding on Wednesdnv
JNov. ■Zb> at the annual dinner of the Wrotham, Ighiliam and
bcaiuted Agricultural Association said thai toe phrase em-
bodied in the toast of " Agricultural success " was one which
might, perhaps, grate rather harshly on their ears. Their
potion as agriculturists was not a successful p sition He
would speak ol them in perfect frankness as one of the land-
owners ot the country. The present position was
oue which demanded some sacrifice ou the part of the lane
owners of the country, and nee ssitated the exercise of all
their courage and patieuce. He heard on all sides remedies
proposed for these ills, and it was perfectly natural that at
Nucha time of widespread distress remedies should be pro-
posed. Sjme of these had been of a wi d and impracticable
cuaracter. He heard constantly that there was a restriction
now existing with reference to the iand, and that the laud
being tied up in various ways there was not that Ireedoiu
which should exist for its sale. There had also been of late
frequent reterences as to large owners with regard to the
law of email. He could not see that the remedying this state
of affairs would strike at the root of the evil now existing. Of
Utejalso there had been several allusions to peasant pre -
pnetorship. It seemed to him that when, as nuw, prices and
weather were bad, it was something approaching to lunacy to
suggest that the. remedy could be found iu the shape of small
holdings. He believed that we ought not to take a very
alarmist view of the present situation. He was prepared to
siythat it was a state of emergency with regard to those
whose sole property was in land. The question of rents was
oue very ofien raised, and it must settle itsel''. It was per-
lec'ly obvious that it would he no advantage to a landlord to
have a bankrupt tenant under him. If it became imperative
rents must be reduced, and, if that came about, tenants must
have the good sense to remember that they were parties with
their landlord in a certain contract. The teuauts and the
landlords of this country must realise that their interests were
identical, and that come what might each must be prepared to
make a sacrifice one to the other before they could pull
through a crisis like the present.

Amongst the sentimentals recently published is a ballad,
which begins :

" Who will come above me sighing,
When the grass grows over me ?"'

We can't say positively who, but if in a rural district, it n ac
probably be the to M.— Ayr Idocriisst.

26

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

CANADA AND HER CRITICS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir,— I believe Canada is the only place on earth
where men who have occasion to speak well of the conn-
try they travel in are subjected to abuse. The people of the
United States differ on political matters, and party strife
betimes is bitter ; but they are patriotic, and all believe they
have the finest country in the world. In Canada there are
many persons who iu allegiance are divided, and some of
those peorde never hesitate to disparage this country,
especially if they are opposed to the political party ia
power, and if it serves to embarrass or discredit, them.
1 have been abused because I dared to state my honest
conviction that in the Province of Manitoba there are
some of the richest lands in the world. I find also that
your correspondent in the Express, of September 22nd,
assails my independence, and questions my veracity on
the authority of an eavesdropper at Ottawa, and some
garbled extracts from musty newspapers that did not cor-
rectly report what I then stated ; and, although I am well-
kuown to the working meii of London, at ltast, he occu-
pies much valuable space in the Express to explain who
I am and what I have been. However, let me assure
nim, and all others whom it may concern, that the inte-
rests of the old couu'ries are s'.ill to me before all and
above all. I have not lost an iota of tny independence,
and the Canadian Government can no more influence my
statements in reference to this country than the Shah of
Persia. I travelled the United States without their
countenance or support. I came up here to round off my
tour of America, and investigate the resources of this
g eat and fertile wilderness which people talked so much
about, and will remain to experience a wiuter here with-
out their leave or assistance. I came here to speak and
write the truth intrepidly about this country for the in-
formation of intending emigrants, and now, after travel-
ling a good deal through it during the past three months,
1 am prepared to state that on this Continent or in the
Old World, I never saw more rich and fertile land on
which men can labour and enjoy good health than here in
Manitoba, especially in the lied River Valley. A mode-
rate expenditure on drainage would render the entire
province, 6$ million acres, capable of cultivation, and
make it the best wheat and pasture land in America. I
have seen large areas of prairie hay cut producing five
to seven tons the acre, and many fields of wheat which
averaged 30 to 40 bushels to the acre. In the old Scotch
settlements at Selkirk, Kildonan, aud St. Andrew's, on
the Red River, wheat has been grown continuously on
the same fields for nearly half a century without diminu-
tion in the yield. Travelling through those old Red River
settlements you will find in many places large heaps of
manure encumbering the homesteads and outbuildings, for
some of the farmers there believe it would injure the land
if spread .on it. Manure is valueless to those people,
aud frequently when the litter of cattle and horses accu-
mulates in the stables the buildings are removed to a new
site rather than clean them out. I believe when this
province is under cultivation Canada will Lave a large
surplus of agricultural products for exportation, and
according to reliable reports there are fifty times its area
of good laud in the British territory from here to the
Pacific Ocean. We had a flying visit lately from the
Imperial Commissioners, Messrs. Read and Pell, and
the citizens of Winnipeg gave them a banquet, at which
the Honorable J. W. Taylor, the American Consul here,
in replying to the toast of the President of the United
Stales, said that three-fourths of the wheat-producing
belt of this Continent lay north of the international
boundary line, and there the future bread supply of
America, aud of the Old World too, would be raised.
The guests being toasted, Mr. C. S. Rcade, M.P., said

he bad seen land in this district which his limited experi-
ence led him to believe the very best land for cultivation
the world ever produced ; and Mr. Albert Pell, M.P.,
said with h's colleague they had visited a good deal of
this province, looked more cursorily than they desired,
but still with the eyes of practical men, who were so
far acquainted with the cultivation of land as to have
almost an instinct on the subject, and as such he believed
tbat in Manitoba and the North-West the country had
all that was necessary for the production of very good
wheat, excellent samples of which he had seen. Surely
the testimony of those Commissioners, who are practical
farmers, should be almost conclusive as to the fertility
and productiveness of this country, and should assure
agriculturists at home whe desire to emigrate that Mani-
toba is a good country to seitle in. That the Americans
are fully alive to the fact of those British possessions
containing the great wheat fields from which the bulk of
the world's future food supply must be drawn, is very
evident from the speech of Consul Taylor, and from the
number of laud speculators and large mill owners I have
met over here from across the Hue, spying out the land.
But still more couclu-ive is a conversation between Ex-
Govercor Austin, of Minnesota, and General Loring, late
of the Egyptian service, as reported in the St. Paul's
Pioneer Press, of Oetuber 26th. The Ex- Governor said
while he was occupying the rooms at the State Capital, iu
St. Paul's, in 1872, a healthy looking Scotehmau entered,
and introduced himself as the Superintendent of the Hudson
Bay Company, at Fort Edmonton, 1,500 miles north-wrest
from St. Paul's. He went to Edmonton 27 years before, and
was then on Lis first visit to the States. He poured a
little bag of wheat on the Governor's table, and said that
was a sample of the twenty-fifth crop he had raise 1 at
Edmouton. It was as good wheat as the Governor had
ever seen. In 27 years the Scotehmau had only two
failures — one from grasshoppers, aud the other from
frost. He spoke of it as a fine wheat country. Now
the wonder is how great is this wheat domaiu ? The
Red River Valley is ouly a patch. The vast prairies of
the North-West also furnish unequalled pasturage for
cattle. The grasses are so rich and nutritious that aui-
mals can be prepared for market without other assist-
ance. Westward, approaching the Rocky Mountains, ia
the Bow River and Edmouton districts the climate is so
mild that the cattle feed out a'l the winter ; and even [in
the colder regions the horses aud ponies of the Indiana
and half-breeds feed out during the coldest winter. The
dry cold air prevents the snow from melting aad becoming
icy, and the auimals bj pawing easily remove the covering
of snow from the grass. I saw many large herds of
cattle in this province, chiefly the common cattle of the
country, and from Montana ; but the new settlers ate
introducing some good breeds of Darhams and Sbort-
horns — several of them cost from 200 dols. to 300 dols.
W. B. Hall, of the Hermitage, nine miles from Winnipeg,
said he commenced sheep.raising in 1858, but abaudouid
it for want of a wool market, and on account of the
depredations of wolves; but now that there is railway
communication, and the population increasing, he believts
sheep-raising in Manitoba aud the North- West will be
profitable. 1 believe in time every branch of farming can be
profitably pursued iu this country, the soil is so fertile and
easily cultivated. The Exhibition of agricultural products
at Wiuuipeg, this fall, was superior iu mauy respects
to those I have seen iu the old couutries ; the vegetables
were of immense growth aud size, and a great variety of
them. The wheat was superior to any on this Con-
tinent ; several samples of Scotch Fife wheat weighed
over 601b. to the bushel, and almost as hard as shot ; but
the oats aud barley were not as good as those you.
produce at home

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Karl Beaconsiield may have mixed matters up a little
iu his speech to the agriculturists of Bucks, but I believe
his lordship was correct iu stating that the Dorniniou of
Cauada, with the settlement of Manitoba aud the North-
West territory, will successfully compete with the United
States in raising wheat and cattle for.thc European
markets. The great State of New York scarcely grows half
enough of wheat for its people ; New England only raises
wheat sufficient to supply the population of it tor three
weeks ; the Atlantic States, with the Southern States, are
unable to meet their home demand. The great central
belt of States east of the Mississippi have not increased
their wheat production to any extent during the last
20 years, while their populations have more than doubled,
and a vicious, improvident system of cultivation is fast
exhausting the good wheat lands of the Pacific slope and
the North-West States and territories, where the wheat
for exportation is chiefly raised. The entire area, about
28 million aores, under wheat in the United States is
not equal to one half the good wheat lands in the valleys
of both Saskachewans, while the soil of the North-West
has unusually prolific powers, and plants yield better
as they approach the northern limit of their cultivation.
Besides, the completion of 410 miles of railway now iu
course of construction, from Winnipeg to Thunder Bay
on Lake Superior, will give the producers in this country
the best and cheapest route to the seaboard and to
Liverpool. Over a million and a quarter acres of the
best land in Manitoba were set apart by the Government
for the natives and half-breeds, many of whom parted
with them for a mere trifle to speculators, who now charge
from 1 dol. to 4 dols. per acre for them. But the
Government give to each settler a homestead of 160
acres, with the right to preempt 160 acres more at one
dollar au acre. This year about six thousand pre-emptious
and homestead rights have beeu taken up, and a quarter
million acres sold in Manitoba and the North-West, and
settlements now extend some 300 miles west of Winnipeg.
There are a few mammoth farms in this Province, the
owners of which intend to grow wheat on a large scale.
Mr. James Lowe, of Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester.
England, aud hi3 brother, Mr. John Lowe, of Ottawa,
are joint owners of twelve square miles of land, near
Morris, on the Bed River, and five thousand acres more
close to. All their land is good, and only cost about one
dollar per acre. In sinking for water on the Morris farm
they fouud good soil at a depth of SO feet. There are
many farms from 500 to 1,000 acres, but the bulk of the
holdings are the 320 acres taken up in accordance with
the homestead law. Many of the settlers are experienced
farmers from Ontario, and the other provinces, who have
some capital, but many who commenced farming here
without capita] with stout hearts and willing hands are
making good progress. I have seen many old eouutry
men here bravely working to make homes for themselves
and families. At the Portage la Prairie, 60 miles west, I
met an engine builder from Leeds farming 320 acres, who
said he could not be paid for going home and resuming
his trade ; and I met at Dundas, 35 miles from here, A.
Cook, from the Star and Garter, Richmond, cultivating
320 acres, which he said was more enjoyable and profit-
able employment than preparing dinners for the Cockneys.
The weather has been delightful since I came here, aud
continues fine ; although the Red River has been frozen a
few days the air is so clear and dry the cold is more en-
durable than in the old countries.

I am, Sir, &c.,

Thomas Connolly.

%ke Canadian Pacific Hotel, Winnipeg, Ma.,

Xov. 10, 1879.

17

A WARNING PROM AUSTRALIA.

Mr. Amos Yewdall, Secretary of the Stonemasons'
Society of Victoria, writes to the Standard: —

As it appears a movement is on loot in Great Britain to
relieve thedepresse I state of the labour market by encouraging
and assisting the artizan and labouring classes to emigrate I
have been instructed by the Stonemasons* Society of Victoria
to draw the attention of intending emigrants to the fact that
Australia has not escaped the general depression, and, as it
is a limited field for artizans, there is great want of employ-
ment and consequent distress existing here. Things have
been going down, down, for the last two years, and now there
are thousands out of employment, and no sign of things being-
better for a long time to come. No doubt many of those who
would come here have read the glowing accounts given of the
high rates of wages, and no lack of employment, in some of
the journals of this country, whose object his always been to
glut this market in the interests of the employers. Allow me
to refer your readers to the files of the Argus and Age news-
papers lor the last twelve months, and there they can read
and judge tor themselves as to the condition of the working
classes here. Numerous meetings have been held of the un-
employed, till at last the Government had to commence relief
works, which are still carried on, and at the present time
there are hundreds of artizans on the works, such as cutting
down timber in the country districts, breaking stones for road
purposes and many of them being allowed to work half time
only at the rate of four shillings per day. Subscription lists
have been opened, and contributions of clothing &c collected
and distributed to the needy in Melbourne and elsewhere.
JJrom these lacts the Stonemasons' Society feel called upon to
sound a word of caution, especially to ir.en of their own trade,
and would advise those whose intention it is to come to this
country to be careful of what they do, lest they find they have
jumped out of the frying-pan into the fire."

BEDALE CHAMBER OF AGRICULTURE.

A special meeting of the members of the Bedale Chamber
of Agriculture was held recently in the Black Swan Hotel
iJeda e, to discuss tile subject of agricultural depression. In
he absence of the President (Capt. Clark, The Hermitage*
the chair was occupied by Mr. G. J. Robinson, Northallerto/
one of the vice presents. There was a good attendance. '

Mx. John Ieale the hon. secretary, stated that he had
communicated with Mr. John Coleman, of Riccall Hall York
one ot the Assistant Agricultural Commissioners, who in
reply wrote as follows : — :

"I think Leyburn will be a good place to mee^, hut before
anything further can be done we mnst wait until the 3overu-
ment furnishes us with the series of printed questions which
the Assistant Commissioners have drafted, and which will
include (1) occupiers; (3) owners and agents ; (3) committees
o armers clubs, Chambers, and Boards of Guardians;
(4} labourers. Ihe answers, we hope, will be given in writing
and when they are sent in, our meeting can take plnce. In
the meanwhile, I will, if possible, visit the gentlemen wnose
names you have given me.

The Secretary also read a letter from Mr. H. M. G
Coore, J. P., apologising for absence. He wrote—

"It is most desirable that the gentlemen deputed by the
Chamber to give evidence before the Commissioners should
feel that they have the entire confidence and sympathy of the
farmers in this district, and a full knowledge of such grievances
as they may have. I do not myself expect very much res,; It
from the labours ot the Commission, but the best way to make
it really useful is to elicit a free and outspoken expression of
opinion on the hindrances to successful agriculture »

Mr Robertson corn dealer, Redcar, then re'ad a paper
on Agricultural Depression," wt ich did not throw much
light on the subject.

SUFFOLK AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.-At a meeting
of the Committee of this association held at Ipswich on
Nov. 1, it was agreed that the show for next year should bs
held at Bury St. Edmunds on the 21ih aud 25th of Juue.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

BIRMINGHAM AND MIDLAND
COUNTIES FAT STOCK SHOW,

There is certainly a change coming oyer the nature of
our fat 9tock shows, aud also a change in the principle
ou which they are judged. The latter makes the slowes
progress. The oattle classes this year at Bingley HhII
are more practically useful than last year, when we had
to record a movement iu that direction. There is
no show animal of very extraordinary merit
as a fat btast, taking early maturity and thickness of
fl.-sh into consideration — nothing that would stand very
high if judged on the American system of awarding the
highest prizes to the best "beef animal " at the earliest
age — but the classes throughout are more useful than they
have ever been btf re and the award of the champion
prize is distinctly on new lines, a step in the right
duection which we very heartily endorse, "iear by year
monstrosities produced by the over-feeding of over-aged
animals are becoming scarcer, and as the class limit for
the ages of ca tie becomes shorter the usefulness of the
auimals exhibited and the practical utility of the Ex-
hibition itself become greater. The ages of the bullocks
will still bear shortening another six months, and the
sooner the system whereby the exhibition of over-aged
and over-fed animals is encouraged comes to an end the
better it will be for the usefulness of fat stock shows as
an educational institution, and for the breeder's iudustr;
which is, or should be, the ulterior aim and object of
these meetings.

Shorthorns constituted the most important feature of
t is show, as they do, naturally, of all shows of the kind,
— and, in fact, of all cattle shows in this country. Oxeu
e ceeding 3j and n >t exci e ring 4£ yeais old, formed a cla?s
0 eight entries, njue of which were ve y sightly, but some
of them were use:ul. The first prize animal in this ela-s
was bred and exhibited by th e Earl of Gaiusborouijh,
a four-year-old bullock not very full of leau llesb, but
fat and a fairly good prize-winning Shorthorn. The
second priz.i-taker is a smart-looking bollock,
bred and exhibited by Mr. B. Bodcioott, bare on his
shoulders, but a ustful bullock. The third prize fell to a
bullock bred by Mr. Jonn Usher and exhibited by Sir
John Swinburne, a firm-handling beast, good on his loins,
aud full of llesh iu the most useful parts. The reserve is
held by Mr. J. J. Coleman as the feeder of an indifferent
Shorthorn with bare and pointed shoulders ; a big thiee-
cornertd bullock is shown by the Hon. Walter Stuart,
which weighs 23 cwt. 0 qr9. 23 lb., the heaviest beast in
the Show ; aud a leggy rambling beast by Mr. Harold
L'e3. Ibis diss does not contain an animal which was
woith keeping over two and a half years old. The cost
of maUng them what they are would have been better
speut on younger beasts. The next class is for Shorth jrn
steers, exceeding two and a half and not exceeding three
aud a half years old, and the eight entries were most ol
them very credi able. Tne winner here was bred by Mr.
R. Browne, and exhibited by A. E. W. Darby. He is a
very thick squarely-made bullock of great merit. His
forehand aud middle piece are excellent, but he is a little
light on his hind quarters. His crops, chine, aud back
are first-rate, and he handles well. This bullock pushed
the champion Shorthorn very hard, but the dillereuce iu
the ages decided it against hiin. The second prize fell to
a beast bred by Mr. II. Overman, aud exhibited bj Mr.
.1. J. Coleman; level, well covered, aud good in his
rounds. The third prize was given to an undeserving
bullock, bred aud exhibited by Mr. W. H. Hcwett, bad
on his back and common-place all over; yet because he
had what some of the judges thought good Shoithoru
character they ova-looked everything the. What is

the use of "character" in a fat stock show if it
is not accompanied by good and profitable meat ?
It is quite time that breeders gave place to
butchers and salesmen as judges at fat stock
shows. The best and most piofitable beef should
be the Alpha and Omega of all fat stock shows, aud no
bench composed of breeders — with their prejudices aud
petty jealousies — can possibly be expected to judge on
these simple aud stiaightforward lines. They set
about judging Shorthorns in a fat stock show
generally as they would judge them at a
breeding stock show, and the condition of the
animals is about the same. A ad this year it appears that
there is an attempt to break down all distinction between
fat stock and breeding stock in the showyard. It is well
known that bona jide fat stock often appear at the Royal
aud other large shows, though eutered as breeding stock,
which are supposititioosly in-calf, but the introduction of
animals fresh from their tour through the breeding stock
shows of the past summer and autumn as fat stock at
Birmingham and Loudon is more of a novelty and very
pernicious in its tendency. This does not occur specially
amongst Shorthorns at Birmingham, but there are about
as many of such entries in these ranks, proportionately,
as in the others. The reserve number bullock in the class
of which we were speaking when this digression was made
is a big and useful butcher's beast, full of lean flesh, and
is a long way the better-tinished animal of the two. The
class for steers not exceeding t *vo and a half years old con-
sisted of eight entries, aud au excellent lot of things they are.
Amongst the entries is to be found the winner of the
Elkingtou Challenge Cup, the .1100 prizp, as the best Short-
horn, the first prize in his class, aud a special prize offered
by Mr. Thorley. This steer is two yeais and a half old,
well-bred and well-fed, of excellent quality, made quickly
aud profitably. He does not handle as firmly as an older
bullock might be expected to do, but he is covered with
good beef. His hips are rather narrow and his hind
quarters rather light, but in front he is capital. His
chice, back, Lin, and rib are first-class, and he is a good
specimen of the Shorthorn breed into the bargain. This
decision met tne approval of all practical men, but it was
rough on those who keep old plaiers rotuid again with
the hope to win by them. Mr. Darby's bullock was
certainly better in some respects ; was firmer, being a year
older, aud hU extra age was wc'l paid for by his extra
freight, 22 cwt. 0 qrs. 7 lb., against 15 cwt. 0 qrs. 21 lb.,
weight of the Champion. >>e\erttelcss, the young beast the
is good beef and furnishes a bet cr example for imitation
by breeders and feeders than the older bullock. Mr. J.
S. Bull's second prize white bullock ia a good Shorthorn
and very useful. In fact all these young bullocks were
useful, and the class, which is a fresh oue, is decidedly a
success. Amongst the Shorthorn cows are some
"fashionable" non-breeders; R--d Rose of Strathtav,
bred by Mr. Abraham Re nick, of Kentucky, U.S.A., aud
and exhibited by the Karl o^ I) tnmore.a wretcbe lly uneveu
old crock which has brought three calves in eight years,
and — as a fat cow — is one of the worst animals in the
yard ; then comes Red Rose of Alabama, bied and exhi-
bited by the Earl of Dunmore, another animal of no merit
in her place as she stood, and which I as produced one
live calf in six years ; then a more useful sort of fat cow,
anything but faultless though her sire was Faultless
Gvvyune ; and more culls, with sounding pedigees and cou
tractors' carcases, making up a class which docs not reflect
very great credit on the " fanciers" and " fashion
breeders" who have studied arbitrary rules of their own
making in respect of pedigrees and given no attcuiiou —
if we may judge by results — to the corporeal merits of the
animals with which ihey have been toying. However,
Mr. 11. Wright took first prize in this class with a fairly .

THE PARMER'S MAGAZINE

i<

good cow bred by Mr. Jonas Webb, and Mr. S. Chapman's
third prize cow was very thick and good. The class for
Shorthorn heifers not exceeding four years old contained
one or two good ones and some very plain animals ;
as for example a very ordinary, common-place
looking heifer, 4th Marchioness of Oxford, bred by
the Earl of Dunmore, wilh a very select pedigree (sire
6th. Duke of Geneva, dam 8th Maid of Oxford) ;
a plaiu, lesgy heifer, Red Rose of Missouri, bred by the
Earl of Duninore ; Mr. J. Walter's Pride of Bearwood,
and several others. The first prize fell to Mr. J. J.
Ralcliil'e's Priory Princess, a heifer which was second to
Mr. R. Stratton's Icicle at Islington last year. She
then weighed 17cwt. Oqrs. 41b., and she now weighs
19cwt. 3qrs. 7lb- Close to her on the other side of the
partition stands Icicle herself in the class for extra stock
weighing 19cwt. Oqrs. 91b. against 18cwt. 3qrs. 81b. last
Christmas ; so that she has been kept a whole year at a
great cost to gain 291b., and the honour of winning
the first prize in an extra stock class — nothing
else ! Surely this absurd system of showing over-
fed animals will not last much longer. Singularly
euongh there stands next Icicle a cow which
has won the champion honours both at Islington and at
Birminghfim a few years ago, namely Nectarine Bud.
She was purchased from the breeder, Mr. R. Stratton, by
Mr. John Elwtll after her victories as a fat beast, and she
has been reduced down to ordinary condition with the
object of breeding from her. But she will not breed as
might have been expected. So she stands in ordinary
coudition, which shows the good framework on which
prize meat was once grown. Taking the history of these
two animals together, and comparing them together as
they stand, there is no getting away from the fact that
Shorthorn breeders do some extraordinary things.

The Hereford division of the show was rather a large
one, and some good and useful cattle were shown therein.
There was not, however, a well finished Hereford bullock
amongst the whole lot. and not one to come up to some of
the winners of former years. The oxen were big, rather
coarse, and unevenly fed, and not one of the two older
classes contained a first-rate Hereford. The steers not
exceeding 2| years old were just a nice lot of young
bullocks of fair average merit. The winner of the first
prize in this class is an animal of particularly nice quality
bred and exhibited by Mr. E. Piatt. Amongst the
cows are to be found some noted prize-winners
at the Royal, Bath, and West, and provincial shows, and
the question naturally arises whether they are intended
to be kept on as breeding stock, or to be sent to the
butcher. Mrs. Sarah Edwards' well-known cow, Leonora,
one of the most perfect animals which ever entered a
showyard, comes to Birmingham and takes £100 as tbe
best Hereford, and the first prize in her class besides.
And she is to go to Islington next week to see what she
can win there. What then? Go home and wait for the
breeding stock shows to come round again next summer *
If so, and this is eaid to be the programme, it is to be
hoped that this practice will in some way be nipped in
the bud. Teacher 2nd is another of these cows, an
animal which has won honours at our best breeding stock
shows. Amongst the heifers is Lanceshire Lass, a winner
of more than one first at the Royal and Bath and West
and she takes a first at Bingley Hall as a fat heifer
Leonora now weighs 17cwt. 3qrs. 211b.

Devons are few in number, and the classes do not
contain anything of great merit. The first prize in the
class for oxen takes also the £50 as best Devon ; he is an
evident South Ham, bred and exhibited by Mr. T. Dyer,
Liskeard, Cornwall. The Longhorns were fairly good,
and useful animals of the breed ; but the award of 20
guineas as best Longhorn to Mr. Burberry's ox, instead j

of to Sir. F. Fitzwygram's cow wa9 not very intelligible.
The ox was very plain in point of his shoulders, bare on
his back, and short in his middle piece — plain all over — -
whereas the cow was really a good one. Polled Scots were
1 not in strong force, only two oxen from Mr. McCombie
being there, and those not very good one9. Amongst the
four heifers is a fairly good one, rather light in front, which
defeated the Hereford cow, Leonora, for the President's
prize of £25 for the best animal bred and fed by the
exhibitor. Her beef is certainly better and worth more
per lb., and if the award was on tbese lines we endorse it
heartily. Leonora, however, is a far more perfect animal.
Amongst the cross-bred cattle are some very capital
butchers' beasts, as there usually are in this division. One
of these, a cross between a Shorthorn and red polled, was
for some time third candidate for the President's prize,
but his sloping quarters and small rounds defeated his
chance. The whole class of cross- bred cows or heife.s
was highly commended.

The show of sheep was not so good as usual ; in fact,
the quality of some of the more important entries was
considerably below par. Lord Walsingham's pen of
Southdown wethers, which took fi-st prize, were not the
best of handlers — one was a real good one, one tolerably
good, and the third only middling— for his flock. Lord
Walsinghara took all the prizes for wethers, and a pen
from the (lock of the Prince of Wales should have been
kept at home. It is difficult to understand the policy of
sending such a pen of sheep as these to an important show,
just as his Royal Highuess's fl.>ck is beginning to win
in good company. Shropshires were not as good
as usual, nor in such strong force. The- Duke of
Portland's first prize pen of wethers are good sheep, of
nice quality, but Lord Chesham's second prize pen are
leggy and badly matched — a bad second, and a poor pen
from tbe Latimer flock. The show of the other breeds
was very small, and nothing out of the way in any of the
classes. The three sinerle entries of Southdown ewes
were good sheep, the winner being a capital Southdown
bred by Sir W. Throckmorton, and exhibited by Mr.
Chapman, a sheep good all over, and handling to perfec-
tion. The third prize ewe is from the Prince of Wales's
flock, and not far behind the second, which comes from
Merton.

Pig3 are not a large show, but the quality is excellent ;
and there are fewer of those very large and uselessly fat
auimals which we have been accustomed to see wherever
pigs are exhibited. The Berkshires are capital, and so
are the small white breeds. The classes for breediug pigs
are well filled, and the animals are of great merit. A pen
of the old Tamworth breed is shown, and they seem to be
a useful sort of pig to live hard and get their own
living.

LIST OF JUDGES.
CATTLE.
Mr. T. Gibbons, Chiswick Street, Carlisle.
Mr. J. Grf.etham, StainSeld, YVragby, Lincolnshire.
Mr. J. S. Walker, Knightivick, Worcester.

SHEEP.
Mr. John Evans, Uffington, Shrewsbury.
Mr. H. Fookes, Whitechnrch, Blandford, Dorset.
Mr. John Lynn, Stroxton, Grantham.

PIGS.
Mr. R. B. Smith, Penrbvn, Bangor.
Mr. Heber Humfrey, KingstoDe, Shrivenham.

CORN.
Mr. Joseph Guest, Ashted, Birmingham.

ROOTS.

Mr. Cotuell Cokbett, Broad Marston, Stratford-upou '

Avon.
Mr. Gilbert Murray, Elvaston, Derby.

30

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

POTATOES.
Mr. A. F. Barron, Riyal Horticultural Society's Gardens,

Chiswick, London.
Mr. W. Cox, Madresfield, Malvern.

VETERINARY SURGEON.
Mr. Henry M. Stanley, 77, Broad Street, and Pershore
Street, Birmingham.

PRIZE LIST.
CATTLE.

HEItFFORDS.

Oxen, exceeding 3i and not exceeding 4-£ year3 old.— 1, J.
Wortley, Skeyton, Norwich ; 2, J. Pritchard, Stanmore,
Bridgnorth ; 3, VV. Taylor, Showle Court, Ledbury, Here-
fordshire.

Steers exceeding 2^ and not exceeding a\ years old. — i, J .
Wortley, 2, G. Bright, Broome, Aston-on-Cluu, Salop ; 3, F.
Piatt, Upper Breinton, Hereford.

Steers, not exceeding 1\ years old.— 1, F. Piatt; 2, R. Keene,
Pencraig Vawr, Caerleon, Mon. ; 3, R. Heighway, Newn-
ham, Rockleton, Salon.

Cows.— 1, Mrs. Edwards, Wintercott, Leominster, Rereford-

t shire ; 2, J. Pritchard ; 3, J. Turner, Questmoor, Eardisley,
Herefordshire.

Heifers, not exceeding 4- years old.— 1, W. Taylor ; i, Her
Majesty the Qieen, Windsor Castle.

SHORTHORNS.

Oxen exceeding Z\ and not exceed:ng 4£ years old.— 1, Earl

of Gainsborough, Exton Park, Oakham ; 2, B. Hoddinott,

Moor Court Farm, Romsey, Hants ; 3, Sir J. Swinburne,

Bart., Capheaton, Newcastle upon-Tyne.
Steers, exceeding 3J and not exceeding 3£ years old.— 1, A.

E VV. Darby, Little Ness, Shrewsbury; 3, J. J. Colman,

M.P., Cirrow Home, Norwich; 3, VV. H. Hewett, Norton

Court, Tauuton. *

Steers, not exceeding 2\ years old.— 1, H. D. Adam-nn,

Baljuharn, Aberdeen; 2, J. S. Bull, Dodbiil flou-e,

Kingston, Taunton, Somerset; 3, J. Perry, Acton Pigott,

Condover, Salop.
Cows —1 R Wright, Noe.ton Heath, Lincoln ; 2, H. I)

Adamson, Balquharn, Vale of Alford ; 3, G. Chapman,

Brook Farm, Exton, Oakham.
Heifers not exceeding 4- years old. — 1, J. J. llatcliffc, the

Priory, Beech Hill, near Reading, Berks; 2, A.PeaBC

Hummerskuot, Darlington; 3, 11. Stratton.

DEVON'S.

Oxen or steers, exceeding 3 and not exceeding 4-fc years old.—
1,T. Dyer, Tenereek Barton, Liskeard, Cornwall : 2, J.
Walter, M.P., Bearwood, Wokingham, Berks; 3, T. H.
Risdon, Washford, Taunton. •_

Steers, not exceeding 3 years old.— Prize, T. II. Ri don, \\ ash-
ford, Taunton. .

Cows or heifers.— 1, J. Walter. M.P., Bearwood, Wokineham,
Berks; 2, T. H. Risdon, Washford, Tauuton; 3, W. 11.
Fryer,Ly'tchett Minster, Poole, Dorset.

LONGHORNS.

Oxen or steers, not exceeding 4^ years old.— 1,W. P. Burbery,
The Crofts, Stratford-on-Avou ; 2, T. Satchwell, Hernfield
House, Knowle, Birmingham ; 3, S. Forrest, The Chase,
Kenilwor.h. _ _ _ ,

Cows or heifers.— 1, Majot-General, Sir F. Fitzwygram, Bart.
Leigh Park, Havant, Hants ; 2, R Hall, T iilston Grove,'
Derby ; 3, Sir J. II. Crewe, Bart., Calke Abbey, Derby.

PURE SCOTCH BREEDS.

Pure-hred polled oxen or steers, not exceeding 4J years old.—

1 and 2, W. McCombic, Tilly four, Aberdeen.
Scotch polled cows or heifers.— 1, W. McCombie ; 2, J.

Merson, Craigwillie, Huutly, Aberdeenshire.
Pure-bied West Highland oxen or sleers, of any age. — I, Earl

of Seafield, Castle Grant, Grantown ; 2, Sir J. Swinbournn,

Bart , C^pheaton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne ; 3, the Hon. W.

Stuart, Master of Blantyre, Shoitle Hall, near Derby.
Scotch h'on ei cows or heifers, of any pure Scotch horned

breed.— 1 and 2, J. J. Colman, M.P., Carrow House,

Norwich ; 3, Earl of Seafield.

CROSS-BRED ANIMALS.

Fat oxen, exceeding 3i and not exceeding 4£ years old.—
Prize, Lard Lovat, Beaufort Castle, Beauly, Inverness.

Fat steers, exceeding 2J and not exceeding 3^ years old. — 1,
Mrs. Mc William, Bucharn Gartlv, Aberdeenshire ; 2
J. J. Colman, M.P. ; 3, J. Allan, Billie Mams, Ay ton, N.B

Fat steers, not exceeding 2£ years. — 1, H. D. Adamson,
Balquharn, APord, Aberdeen ; 2, N. and N. P. Stilgoe,
Manor Farm, Adderbury, Oxon.

Fat cows or heifers. — 1, J. Mayhew, Carlton Colville, Lowe-
stoft, Suffolk ; 2, LordLovat; 3, J. Merson, Craigwillie,
liuatly, Aberdeenshire.

ANIMALS NOT ELIGIBLE TOR ANY OF THE PRECEDING
CLASSES.

Oxen or steers, not exceeding 4£ years old. — 1, T. Elliot,
Hindhope, Jedbnrgh.

EXTRA STOCK, NOT QUALIFIED FOR ANY PRECEDING CLASS.

Oxen and steers. — 1, J. Merson ; 2, R. Hall, Thurston Grove,

Derby.
Cows or heifers. — 1, R. Stratton ; 2, J. Ewell, Timberley,

Castle Bromwich.

SHEEP.

LEICESTERS.

Three fat wethers, not exceeding 23 months old. — 1 and 2.
Mrs. P. Herrick, Beaumanor Park, Loughborough, Leicester-
shire.

LINCOLNS.

Three fat wethers, not exceeding 23 months old. — I, P. Dunn,
Sigg'.esthorne, Hull ; 2, C. Sell, Kneesworth, near Royston,
Cambridgeshire.

COTSWOLDS.

Three fat wethers, not exceeding 23 months old. — 1, W. Smith,
Somerton, near Deddington ; 2, R.Jacobs, Signett Hill,
Burford, Oxon.

SOUTHDOWNS.

Three fat wethers, not. exceeding 23 months old. — 1, 2 and 3,
Lord Walsinghara, Merton Hall, Tnelford, Norfolk.

SHROPSHIRES.

Three fat wethers, not exceeding 23 months old. — 1, Duke of
Portland, Clipstoue Park Farm, Mansfield, Notts ; 2, Lord
Chesham,La"imer, Chesham, Bucks,

Fat Shropshire wether, not exceediug 23 months old. — 1,
T. llyland, Terry, Bur, Birmingham ; 2, G. Allen, Peuk-
ridge, Stafford; 3, W. Tidy.Middleton, Tamworth.

OXFORDSHIRE.

Three fat wethers, not exceeding 23 months old. — 1 and 2,
A. Brassey, Heythrop Park, Cnipping Morton, Oxon;
3, Measis. N. and N. P. Stilgoe, Manor Farm, Aaderbury,
Oxon.

HAMPSHIRE, WILTSHIRE, AND OTHER DOWNS.

Three fat wethers, not exceeding 23 months old. — 1 and 2,
A. Morrison, Eont'aill House, Tisbury, Salisbury, Wilts.

NOT QUALIF1LLD TO COMPETE IN ANY OTHER CLASS.

Three tat wethers, not exceeding 23 months old. — 1 and 2,
H. Farthing, Nether Stowey, Bridgewate.r (Somerset and
Dorset homed).

CROSS-BREDS.

Three fat wethers, not exceeding 23 months old. — 1, D.

Buttar, Corston,Coupar Angus, Forfarshire, N.B. ; 2, Eric

Sutherland, Linkwood, Elgin, N.B.
EWES.
Fat Leicester ewe, having bred one or more lambs. — Prize,

Mrs. P. Herrick, Beaumanor Park, Loughborough, Leicester-
shire.
Fat L n coin ewe, having bred one or more lambs. — Prize, P.

Dunn, Sigglesthorne, Hull (disqualified).
Fit Cotswold e«e, having bred one or more lambs. — Priz»,

P. Jacobs, Signett Hill, Bur'ord, Oxon.
Fat Southdown ewe, having bred one or more lambs. — 1, C.

Chapman, Fro-ester Court, Stonehouse, Glouce ter ; 2, Lord

Walsingi am, Merton Hall, Thetford, Norfolk.
Fat Shropshire ewe, having bred one or more lambs. — 1, T.

Ryland, Pheasey Farm, Queeslet, Perry Bar, Birmingham ;

2, Baron von Schroder, The Rookery, Nautwich, Cheshire,
Fat Oxfordshire ewe, having bred one or more lambs. — Priz",

Mr. Brassey, Heythrop Park, Chipping Norton, Oxon.
Ear ewe, of any other pure breed, having bred one or more

lambs. — Prize, H. Farthing.

FAT PIGS.

Three fat pigs of one litter, not exceeding 10 months old. —
1, A. E. W. Darby, L-ttle Ness, Shrewsbury ; 2, C. 13.
Duckering, Whitehoe, Kirton Lindsey, Lincolnshire.

THE FARMEll'S MAGAZINE.

SI

Three fat pit;s of one litter, not exceeding 15 months old. —

1, Lord Cnesharn ; 2, J. and F. Howard, Britauuia Farmp,
Bedford.

Fat pig, exceeding 15 months old. — 1, W. Wheeler, Ling
C muton, Shipston-on-Stour ; 2, Earl of Ellesmere, Wurs-
lev Hall, Lancashire.

BREEDING PIGS.

BERKSHIRE BREED.

Five pigs of one litter, exceeding 3 and not exceeding 6 months
old. — 1, J. Smith, llenley-in-Arden, near Birmingham;

2, N. Benjafield, Shorts Green Farm, Motcombe, Shaftes-
bury, Dorset; 3, T. Holford, Papil.on Hall, Market
Harborough.

TAMWOKTH BREED.

Five pigs of one litter, exceeding 3 and not 6 months old,—
Prize, J. Choyee, Piuwell Grange, Atherston.

OTHER L.VRGE BREEDS.

Five pigs of one litter, exceeding 3 and not exceeding 6 months
old. — 1, P. Eden, Cross Lane, Stliurd, Manchester; 2, J.
Godfrey, VVigston Parva, Hinckley.

MIDDLE BREED.

Five pigs of one litter, exceeding 3 and not exceeding 6 months
old.— 1, P. Eden ; 2, Earl of Ellesmere, Wuraley Hall, Lan-
cashire.

SMALL BREED.

Five pigs of one litter, exceeding 3 and not exceeding 6 months
old.— 1, Earl of Ellesmere ; 2, P. Eden.

EXTRA. FRIZES.
Silver cnp, value £25, given by Earl Howe, for the best animal

in the cattle classes bred and fed by exhibitor. — J.Merson,

Craigwillie, Aberdeenshire.
The Elkiugton Challenge Cup, value 100 gs., for the best

anim .1, to be won two years successively. — H. D. Adamson,

Bulquharn, Aberdeen.
£100 fur the best Hereford.— Mrs. Edwards, Wintercott, Leo-
minster.
£100 for the best Shorthorn.— H. D. Adamson.
50 guineas for the best Devon. — Thomas Dyer, Lytchett,

Minster, Dorset.
20 guineas for the best Longhora, — Major-General Sir F.

Fitywyuram, Hivant, Hints.
£50 for the best Scot. — W. McCorabie, Tillyfour, Aberdeen.
£50 for the best animal in classes 20 to 25 inclusive. — Mrs

McWilliain, Bucharn, Gartly Aberdeenshire.

CANADA AND EMIGRATION.

Our Canadian correspondent writes under date Novem-
ber 14th : — Messrs. Lingham and Co., cattle dealers, of
Belleville, Ontario, have, according to the papers, received
orders from England for 2,000 cattle to be sent over
before Christmas. The firm, it is added, will ship "from
Boston," and one of their number has gone to that city
to stop for a few weeks to attend to the business. The
English dealers who give this order must know little of
Canadiau cattle matters if they think 2,000 suitable
native export animals, or a quarter of that number, could
be had for love or money in this province at present.
Besides, the Treasury Departmental Order, published to-
day from Washington, would in any case settle the
" bought-in-Ontario," but export-from-Boston, business.
Here it is —

To Collectors and other officers of the Customs. — To aid in
preventing the introduction into the United States of con
tagious diseases among cattle, it is hereby ordered that in
pursuance of the authority contained io Section 2,193 of the
Revised Statutes of the United States, the importation of neat
cittle from the Dominion of Canada is prohibited until other-
wise directed. This order will take effect on the 1st of
December next. By order of the Secretary, (Signed) H. F.
French, Assistant Secretary.

This is a cruel predicament for our cattle-fictionists1
Canadian cattle must now go to Britain via Halifax ;and if
after December 1st they do not go from that port it will
show the world we have not got any. Throughout the
coming winter it will be impossible for our mycologists
to pretend they are exporting " Canadian " beeve3 Irom

American ports for convenience' sake. In fact, the knot
is absolutely Gordian, and the collapse inevitable. At thB
recent meeting of the Grand Trunk Railway in England,
the chairman said the company are losing £800 to
£1,000 weekly by the embargo. This, I take it, repre-
sents about 1,000 Chicago cattle monthly, and it is sig-
nificant that, as I find by my notes, that is about the
number of beeves brought from Chicago last January by
the Michigan and Grand Junction lines via Canada, before
the embargo. These would represent purchases by
Canadian dealers, and would be represented in England
as " Cauadian " exports. Truth may seem laggard in the
race with the nimble lie, and yet it wins generally, with
fair-play and time.

The following somewhat contradictory paragraphs
appear in a Toronto paper : —

Ottawa, November 12.— The tenant farmer delegates sail
from Quebec for England on Saturday next, and it is stated
that the Government is not so satisfied with their experiment
as to incur *he expense of bringing additional delegates to
this country.

Ottawa, November 13. — The Government do not propose
sending any more special agents to Great Britain and Ireland
for the pre>enf, and will rely on the reports circulated by the
tenant farmers1 delegates on their return.

I do not profess to reconcile these. In fact, the reports
re the views of the delegates are most conflicting.

In reference to " J. M.'s " letters, I must say that im-
migration-professionals and their champions are hard to
please. Hit high, or low, you don't suit them. Simply
deny their inventions, and they accuse you of ex-cathedra
assertions. Bring forward documentary evidence, and
they pretend you are twisting statistics, or culli lg tit-bits
from reports and speeches. In short, you are wofuliy
removed from the " calm, judicial, and accurate estimate
of men and things," for which the professionals are
distinguished. Calling a person mad, blind, biassed, un-
scrupulous, and so on, does not per se prove more than
the bad taste and bad case of the disputationists.
I have never written anything to your paper
not based on careful regard to facts. I have,
if anything, under-stated ra:her than over-stated, and my
chief desire has been the promotion of the welfare of my
countrymen, by laying before them plain matter-of-fact
statements, useful and most needful to be known, and on
which they may safely rely in deciding questions on which
the life-long good of thousands may possibly depend. Of
course, one would find it more pleasant not to seem to be
always harping on the string of criticism and contro-
versy ; but that is a disagreeable duty imposed by the
action of the interests — a point strangely ignored by
"J. M." and his confreres, who appear to forget that it
is they who " begin it," in schoolboy phraseology. To
correct the interested statements of the agents is not to
libel or be hostile to " Canada." It is the fictions of the
professionals which call forth and are responsible for the
efforts properly made by way of counteraction. Such
efforts are not only needful but laudable. If the Canadian
Government and interests do not like them, let
them cashier their hired romancists. Archbishop
\\ Lately, in his remarks on Bacon's essays, well says : —
"He who propagates a delusion, and he who con-
nives at it when already existing, alike tamper
with truth. We must neither lead, nor leave
men to mistake falsehood for truth— not to undeceive i3
to deceive. The giving or not correcting false encourage-
mentsjor conniving at their being held forth or believed,are
all fraud." It is a false encouragement, to wit, when
sundry schemers invite English farmers to emigrate to
Onta/io on the ground that it is a great cattle exporting
country, when the said cattle are reared and purchased in
the United States. If " J. M." or any other man can find

THE FARMER'? MAGAZINE,
mv name in any public accounts : show that I have anv ' their ninths, and indeed it is scarcely possible they could

selfish eud to serve by c llenrei or fahe statements, that I
hive been approached by any speculators or iutere sis, or
that there is anybody to whom I have made suit, or who
prompts or is a ware be orehandof what I write, let him do so
Tour readers know at any rate what I have said about the
so-called Canadian export cattle trade. They know tvhat
the officials and ageats have said. l>t them read the fol-
lowing from Thursday's Toronto Globe, and decide on
whom rests the onm of misrepresentation or inaccuracy :
During the past week there have been some six or eight furs
held in different parts of Oa'ario in the vicinity of Toronto.
There were abonf 5,000 cattle offered for sale at these meet-
ings, the principal por'ioc ot them being common native s'ock
—oxen, steers cows, and heifer', weighing from 600 to 1,500
lb., and a very inferior ciass of cattle. Taey were from two
to five years old, and the prices realised were rrom -e. to 3£c.
per lb. for the local markets, peddling purpose* and tr> be
manufactured into sausages. S mie farmers complain that the
shippers of cattle do not pay them snch a price as to make it
proS able to raise them, but the reason is that the
offered are not sui ral il e for export to Great Britain. Thnrongh-
bred Durhams and Hereford would command 6c. per !b. live
weight, and wo".l . the shipper a fair profit in the

-h market*, whereas the common Datives would not pay
the charges of the ocean voyage. Our market is glu'ted with

have said what the reporter imputed to them, for, as I
showed in a passage of my letter to your piper, and in
whicb I gave an account of their movements, they had
then scarcely seen anything of the country, v.

e Government organ, is growling eveu now in the
following fashion : " A question arises iu connection with
the immigration interests of Ontario. Had the Comnrs •
sioners a sufficient view of the province: A negaiive
answer must be returned. Their inspection has been
nearly confined to a view of a Shorthorn herd at Bow
Park, and the exhibits at au agricultural show. Who is
responsible for this post-haste inspection ? The Outario
Government scaudalously neglected its duty."

s, according to the Mail's view, the Commissioners
are Canadian, Dct Imperial, representatives, ana should
have been taken hold of. and made to come and go, fetch.
and carry, as our wire-pullers pleased. This is a strange
view. I look with great coufideuce for the result of the
Commissioners' investigations in food and cattle matters.
''•!. M.'s" list arid worst misquotation is as follows : —
Your correspondent gives 1 1,9S3 as the export of cat'le
from the Dominion for the fiscal year endiug June the 30;h,
Lfi i. it was really 11,985). lie stops there, and leaves
his readers to infer that was the real export of Canadian

a lot of small, lean, poor cat'le, which sell at lowe*t quotations. ; "cattle." He omits to state that that export was from Cana-
A great many cattle changed hamis at lov rates for local use. <!ian porta direct, and that in addiiioa, during the simp period,
This is from the G I obi 's weekly review of the cattle trade. ; 17.6o7 head, the produce of Canada, were exported into or
And yet "J. M." has the coolness to say he his already, ! via the United States. How many of these found their wiy
shown how " unreliable" I am on Canadian cattle matters ! | ta Great Britain it does not require a very elastic iuiagiuatum
By the way, I am not aware that he has referred to the
c it tie question in yonrcolumns. If "J. M." is identical with .
" Without Prejudice" he is to be commiserated. Over and j
over agaiu I have asserted the facts set forth in the G
aiid the agents have as persistently deuied them. But

the state of th:ngs resulting from the cattle embargo has
shown who is right. St, report above.

An individual who can call the Stratford Beacon an
" insignificant" Ontario paper is not likely to be particular.
Therefore I am not surprised to find ''J. M." does uot fulfil
the first duty of a controversialist in quoting correctly. He

SSI 5 : —

"in his last letter your correspondent says; "Moreover
lfi, 1S3 emigrants from Canada, chiefly agricultural, left one
Canadian port (Sarnia) last yew for the State*) and the
s'ream of labourers is steady and continuous from the Domi-
nion."

t > determine*

- a remarkabh specimen of mixing and saddl-
ing. * referred to sheep ; " J. M.' has mixed .-heep and
beeves up in strange fashion. I said : — " We are now
a-ked to believe that the Dominion is sendiug more thau
40 000 native sheep to Britaiu in 1S79. though we ouly
seat 11. OSS for the fiscal year ending June. 1S7S" (that
is, 11. 988 sheep). On this "J M." stvs I omitted to
state that 17,057 beeves were exported into or
United Sates in that year, a id that 1 did this on pur-
pose, because an elastic imagination might without
trouble conclude that some of these went to Britain.
What have these beeves to do with sheep i Nothing-
The fact is, " J. If." has got into a muddle. He started
with sheep, and then lost himself, and shded into bullocks.
The imagination of the immigrat'on-professionals is elastic
enough for acythiug, as they often show. Perhaps that

I said nothing of the kind. It was the A , is why they are so far from home in facts and figures

JferaN said it, a3 may be seen on reference to my letter, i Moreover, "in mv reply to "Without Prejudice" (Apiil
The Herald got the figures from the report of the Ameri- I6j. I took note of those very 17,657 beasts, of an
can Consul at Sarnia. In placing before you what the inferior grade — " pony cattle"— exported to the Eastern
JL raid said my object was to show up Lord Beacons- States, \ A Albany," which shows 1 did not want to ignore
field's nonsensical statements, and uot at all, at that time, , ,keiIi. j, • j \[ « joes not j<now tuat those 17557
to bring out prominently either the exodus from Sarnia, 1 beeves did not go to England he is uot quaatied to write

on the matter. If he does know he is seeking to m's-
le d. Tnose bullocks wtre the native Canadian animals
spoken of by the Globe. Graded cattle sent to Europe
from Canada via the States would go on board, and uot
appear in our Trade returns. The Globe, comrae
the United States embargo on Canadian cattle says : —
" The Eastern States ot the Union wi'l be those chiefly
affected. " That is correct. They take r early all onr

or any special point iu the Heralds article. "J. M."
-
Referring to Messrs. Read and Pel', the Royal Commis-
sioners, and to tl e farmers' delegate, your correspondent stys
that " unless they are of the Taylor au .'. op they

will be stuff d with tales similar to those Earl Beaconsfield
had put into him."

Here again reference to my letter will show I spoke of
the delegates, not of the Commissioners. The delegates
certainly will be stuffed if the feat is possible. I must 1 cattle exports which appear in our Trade returns— ex-
remind :'J. M." the Commissioners did not come to spv out Porls °f a" inferior class— different from the 6,902

beasts sent to England that fiscal year — comprising all
we had suitable for export to your side.

" J. M," can teach me nothiug, he may rest assured, on
I Canadian matters. I know not only the facts, but the
precise significance of every fact. 1 shall deal with
"J. M.'s" further statements shortly. That anybody
shouid select as one of his main controversial poiuts the
fatal poiut of emigration from Canada shows surprising

the laud with a view to settlement but to investigate the
food capabilities of this Continent. Sundry canny people,
"J. M." included, persist, however, in regarding them as
immigration promoters, and confounding them with the
farmers' delegates. Messrs. Peel and Read, I undertake to
say, do not so regard themselves. These gentlemen are able
men and experienced agriculturists, and will turn out all
right. In a former letter I expressed mv conviction that

au imaginative or slovenly reporter had put nonsense into | ignorance or inexperience. Our mterests will not than*

''J. M. ' for treading, ou that dangerous g/utiud.

THK FARMERS MAGAZINE.

S3

BIRMINGHAM SHOW.

SEED CORN, ROOTS, AND POTATOES.
Our report of the live stock will be found on page ^8.
The show of seed corn was a very small and a very
poor one, as'might have been expected. There was not
r sample of good grain amongst twenty-nine entries.
The wheats were small und badly matured, and the barleys
dark indeed, and a wretched colour. Oats were just
decent, but the corn was small. The one sample of
spring beans was large and soft, aud the sample of blue
peas very indifferent.

Roots were certainly better than could reasonably have
been expected, and although some of the largest firms of
seedsmen did not put in an appearance, the show of man-
gels, swedes, and turnips was very creditable both to
seedsmen aud growers. Messrs. Proctor and Ryland's
silver cup, value six guineas, offered by that firm for the
best collection of six roots each of long red aud globe
mangels aud swedes, was won by Colonel Loyd Lindsay
with an entry of large and useful roots, grown from
Messrs. Suttons' seeds. Mr. Richard Webb's collection,
also from Messrs. Suttous' seeds, was justly commended,
as were those of Sir Paul Hunter aud Sir P. Smythe.
There were 12 entries for this cup, and amongst them
was a good collection, grown from Messrs. Webb's seeds,
from Mr. T. Penn, which was not noticed by the judges.
Messrs. Morris and Griffiu's cup, value six guineas,
offered for the best 12 swede turnips and 12 globe man-
gels, was won by Mr. John Perry, of Condover, with a
collection in which the globe mangels were particularly
good. Messrs Suttous' cup, value five guineas, for the best
collection of mangels of three different varieties, namely,
long reds, globes, and golden tankard yellow-fleshed, was
won by Mr. Richard Webb with roots grown from
Messrs. Sutton's seeds. All three sorts were neat aud
clean, and probably as good as the season has produced
anywhere. Colonel Loyd Lindsay's collection was co>n-
aiendsd, and although the long reds were rather small,
the globes were capital. Sir F. Smythe's collection was
very useful iu each variety, and was also commended,
together with that from Sir Paul Hunter. There were
nine entries for this competition. Messrs. Carter's cup,
value five guineas, was offered for the best collection ot
four different varieties of mangel, namely, long reds,
yellow globes, intermediates, and tankard yellow globes —
six roots of each. This cup was won by Mr. K. Webb,
of Beenham, near Reading, with a collection of heavy,
well-grown roots in all the varieties. Sir Paul Hunter's
collection was a good one, but the intermediates were
small. There were five entries iu this competition.
K'ihl-rabi was tolerably good and true, and the exhibits
— eight in number — were all very useful. The class for
long red mangels, was very well filled, fourteen entries
beiug filled up. Mr. R. Webb's first pri/.e lot were large
aud well-grown, from Suttou's seeds, and Mr. A. Sotham's
second pr:ze lot, grown <rom Wtbb's seed, were not far
behind. Three other entries were com nended by the
udges. The class for six specimens of globe and inter-
mediate varieties of mangel contained fifteen entries, and
he quality throughout was better than could have been
expected. The first prize fell to Mr. R.Webb for a capital lot
ot globes, large and good, grown from Suttou'sseeds,and the
second prize lot, grown by Mr. John Perry, from Webb's
seeds, were solid and good, not quite so even aud true,
but still they ran the first prize lot very hard. Mr. 1. Peon
showed a large and useful lot of roots, Wrbb's Kiuver
globe, commended by the judges, but they had been
trimmed. A very good entry from Mr. J. Perry, of
intermediates, grown from Wtbb's seed, was of excellent
quality, but not noticed by the judges. Swedes made a
(food show, and, as a whole, were exceedingly good and

true for the season. Me«srs. Sutton and Sons offered a
cup, value five guineas, for the best twelve specimens of
the put pie-top swede, which was won very creditably by
Mr. J. W. Hemmings with large and fairly well-grown
svedes from Suttous' seeds. Colonel Loyd Lindsay's
entry, also from Suttous' seeds, was commended, and very
useful they were. The entries numbered 11. A cup,
value five guineas, was offered by Messrs. Webb aud Sons
for the best twelve roots of the Imperial swede, which
was won by Mr. John Perry with small-necked and well-
shaped solid roots. There were 14 entries in this class.
The class for swedes of any variety contained 31 entries,
and the competition was, as usual, very strong. The first
award fell to Mr. John Perry, for clean well- grown
swedes, aud the second to Mr. Arthut Sothara for a very
useful lot, not quite so true. It is stated that this is the
eighth year in which roots grown from Webb's seed have
carried off the honours in this class at the Birmingham
show. Common white- fleshed turnips formed a clas3 of
17 entries; and a capital class it was. The fiist prize
was awarded to Mr. H. Davis, for large clean and solid
roots of selected green globes, from Webb'3
seed ; and the second prize also fell to Mr.
Davis for very true purple tops grown from Webb's
seed. The Duke of Portland was commended for
two entries, namely, one of Webb's green barrel, and one
of Sutton's white globe— both excellent. Common yellow-
fleshed turnips made nine entries. Mr. W. Kerr's first
prize lot were as good as, if not better than, any entry of
roots in the Hall, A smaller but very excellent lot came
from Mr. T. L. Melville Cirtwright loo late for competi-
tion, but they were decidedly better than Mr. II. D.
Adamson's second prize entry. These excellent roots
appear to be better suited to the north than the south, as
he above all come from Scolhnd. The first prize lot of
white Belgian carrots were very clean and true, grown by
the Duke of Portland from Sutton's seed; and his Grace
also took first aud second prize for " other varieties" with
Webb's Altringham. There were seven entries of ox
cabbages, none of them as large as may sometimes be
seen, but most of them solid and good. The first prize
fell to Mr. Johu Perry for very compact specimens from
Webb's seed, aud the s°cond to Mr. J. Greatorex. Messrs.
Webb aud Sons, of Wordsley, were the only firm of
seedsmen who exhibited a stand of roots in the gallery,
aud the display they were enabled to make was a highly
credrable one. Their long red mangels were not so large
as usu-tl, but were tolerably true ; the intermediates were
of nice quality, and the Colonel North mangels were of a
very useful character. The swedes were for the most
part small iu the neck, solid and good, and the white
turnips were not far behind their average quality aud
shape. Messrs. Proctor and Rylaud, manure merchants,
Birmingham, made their usual display of roots grown
with their artificial mauures, aud amongst them was a
collection from Mr. K. Routledge, of Twyford, near
Leominster, to which a first prize was awarded. These
swedes were of moderate size, well-grown, solid and very
useful, weighing at the rate of 28 tons 12 cwt. per acre.
There were no better swedes in the Hall. There were
other meritorious collections of roots on this stand, which
must have been very gratifying to Messrs. Proctor and
Rylaud. Messrs. Ilarrisou and Sous, of Leicester,
showed a small collection of roots and agricultural s^eds.
Messrs. Morris and Griffin, of Wolverhampton, also
showed specimeus of roots grown with their artificial
mauures; and Messrs. Dickson, of Chester, had a
stand.

Potatoes foond* large and very excellent 'show, many
of the specimens being as true and perfect as can possibly
be. For the names of the successful exhibitors in this
division we mu3t refer to the prize 1st.

C

•34

TEE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

IMPLEMENTS AND MACHINERY.
There was about the usual display of agricultural im-
plements ap.d machinery. There did not appear to be
any novelties worth mentioning, but there have been
considerable improvements made in the constructive
detail of several well-known implements and machines,
and some of them are now shown in great perfection.
Messrs. Underhill, of Newport, Salop, showed vertical
engines, double ploughs, a five-tire cultivator, &c. ;
Messrs. Bentall and Co., of Maiden, Essex, showed their
•well-known chaff-cutters, pulpers, turnip cutters, cake
mills, and corn crushers, which do not need description.
Messrs. Hill and Smith, Brierley Hill Iron Works,
Staffordshire, exhibited an assortment of iron hurdles,
continuous tubular iron fencing, iron field gates, &c
Messrs. Samuelson and Co., Britannia Works, Banbury,
exhibited specimens of some of the machines for which
their house is noted ; and among these is the " Haady "
reaper. This machine is of the class known as manual
delivery reapers, and has been designed speciallly to meet
the requirements of farmers desiring a strong yet easily
managed machine ; it is exceedingly light of draught,
and for cutting laid or twisted crops it probably cannot be
surpassed. The firm also showed one of their patent " P "
mowers, constructed on the principles of balance draught
and inclined cut, which have now enjoyed a papularity of
about ten years. The reaping and mowing machines
made by this firm are fitted with thtir patent
•welded steel and iron fingers, which are exceed-
ingly tough and unbreakable in work j they
are of an improved form, enabling the machines to cut
clover and to pick up laid corn more readily than when
fitted with the older forms of fingers. The popularity of
Gardner's turnip cutter, shown by this firm, remains
unabated after a reputation of about forty years, and the
original or " Bacbury " make of these machines is known
for its superior excellence in material, and also in fiuish.
A very handy root slicer of the disc pattern, having
concave knives, admittedly the most suitable shape for
easy and efficient work, was also exhibited by Messrs.
Samuelson and Co. Messrs. Turner, of Ipswich, showed
their corn kibblers, cake breakers, oac mills, &c, adapted
to hand, horse, and steam power. Messrs. Taogye
Brothers, of Birmingham, had a collection of vertical
engines, steam pumps, pulley blocks, gearing,
lubricators, &c, &c. Messrs. Handyside, Audrews,
and Co., Britannia Works, Derby, had on their
stand a specimen of their one-horse back-
delivery "Derby" reaper, and also of their one and two-
horse "Enterprise" grass mowers; a Philips's patent
"*' Duplex" harrow, and some very useful combined turnip
cutters and slicers, and root pulpers. Messrs. Charles
Powis and Co., of 60, Gracechurch- street, London,
had on their stand specimens of the vertical engines,
boring and sawing machines, &c, &c, for which the firm
is famous. Messrs. Harrison, McGregor, and Co., of
Leigh, Lancashire, showed their " Albion" reapers,
mowers, and combined mowers and reapers, chaff-cutters,
pulpers, slicers, cake mills, &c. The Albion Iron Works
Co., Rugeley, had a collection of corn aud giist mills,
turnip cutters, chaff cutters with bagging arrangement,
horse gearing, Szc, &c. Messrs. Robey and Co., Lincol",
a 4-horse power vertical engine aud boiler, au 8-hor«e
power " Robey" engine, aud a 6-horse power portable
engine. Messrs. Howard, of Bedford, exhibited one of
their new patent sheaf-bindiug reaping machines, com-
plete, to bind with wive. This was the only sheal binder
in the Hall. Messrs. Mapplebeek and Lowe, Birming-
ham, had some excellent milk cans on carriages,
also improved corn drills, chuff cutters, turnip cutters,
pulpers, grinding mills, &c. Messrs. W. N. Nicholson
'aud Sim, Newark-oa-Treut, had ou their stand a patent

safety corn or grist mill, with shaker feed arrangement —
an excellent implement — a three-horse-poAer vertical
engine and boiler, root pulpers, harrows, &^., &c. Messrs.
Barford and Perkins showed their well-known and very
excellent steam-cuhivatiag machiuery ; Messrs. Barrows
and Stuart, Banbury, vertical and portable eogines ; the
Atlas Engine Co. (Limited), Birmingham, their four
horse-power horizontal high-pressure engine, a fourteen
horse-power " Atlas " vertical engine, their " Colonial "
horizontal engine, and some excellent fittings ; Mr. E.
Humphries, Pershore, a portable steam engine, and a
finishing thrashing machine. The Bristol Waggon Co.
(Limited) had their usual specialities ou view — namely,
carts, floats, seed and manure distributors, &c;
Messrs. Marshall, Sons, and Co. (Limited), Gainsborough,
portable engine, and finishing thrashing machine ; Messrs.
Ruston, Proctor, and Co., Lincoln, a 6-horse power
portable engiue and finishing thrashing machiue ;
Messrs. Hornsby and Sons, Grantham, a 7-horse power
single cylinder portable steam engine, and a combined
thrashing, shaking, dressing, and finishing macaiue, their
" Paragon 0" mower, their pateut hedge cutter, self-
raking reapers, turnip cutters — amongst which was a
combined slicer, cutter, and pulper — ploughs, &c.
Messrs. Clayton, Shuttleworth, and Co., Lincoln, showed
their 6-horse power portable engine, together with a
combined thrashing aud finishing machine, and various
fittings and appliances for thrashing machinery. Messrs.
Ransomes, Sims, aud Head, Ipswich, exhibited their S-
horse power portable engine aud a finishiug thrashing
machine, together with an assortment of ploughs, hay-
makers, and horserakes ; Mr. J. D Pinfold, of Rugby, a
combined engine and boiler, combined stone and grist
mill, and drain tile machine ; Messrs. Perkius and Co.,
of Hitchin, harrow3, sack lifters, corn and seed screens ;
the Maldon Iron Works, Maldon, Essex, chaff cutters,
root pulpers, cake mills, horse gearing, &c. ; Messrs. I.
Pickin and Co., Birmingham, chaff cutters, kibbling
mills, and dairy appliances ; Messrs. J. Perkins and Sous,
Lichfield, double and single ploughs; Messrs. Richmond
and Chandler, Manchester, horse gearing, chaff cutters,
root pulpers, &c., &C ; Messrs. Glover and Sons, War-
wick, a corn drill, sheep troughs on wheels, general
purpose farm cart, &c. ; Mr. E. S. Hindley, Bourton,
Dorset, a vertical engine which can bs used ou wheels or
as a fixture, with gQH-metal bearings ; Mr. R.
Ilandley, Birmingham, mill stones and mill-
wrights, tools ; Mr. G. H. Harris, Birmingham, chatf
cutters, pulrers, con crushers, Sec; Messrs. John
Wright and Co., Birmingham, their "Otto" silent gas
engine ; Messrs. John Crowley and Co., Sheffield, au
assortment of very useful patent safe'y lever chaff cutters ;
Messrs. W. and T. Avery, of Birmingham, an assortment
of weighing machines, scales, &c, for agricultural pur-
poses ; Messrs. Hughes and Sons, Mai ton, a patent drum
guard for thrashing machines, patent " laid com" lifters,
wheelbarrows, turnip cutters, Sec. ; Messrs. Woolley,
Williams, aud Son, Dudley, malt crushers for hand or
steam power ; Messrs. Bay lis, Jones and Biylis, Wolver-
hampton,tubular iron hurdles, continuous feuciug, Sec. ; Mr.
C. Adams, of Hereford, hurdles of various kinds ; Messrs.
John Millward and Co , Birmingham, an assortment of
weighing machines for agricultural purposes; aud Mr. J.
Sinclair, Leadeuhall-street, London, the Estiuctenr Engine,
and " disintegrator," for grinding oil cakes, &c.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Messrs. Lloyd, Lawrence, and Co., Finsbury, London,
showed some American cedar wood barrel churns, and
butter makers ; Mr. W. Waide, of Leeds, an assortment
of barrel churns; Messrs. T. Bradford and Co., Mm-
ckester, a collection of churns; Messrs. Hancock, of

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE.

35

Dudley, a collection of churns, &c. ; Me3srs. Isaac

Brooks and Co-, their "Lie Trepboer" calf, pig, and

lamb feeders, and Messrs. J. M. Hell and Co., Oxford-
street, London, some box and barrel churns ; Messrs.

Day, Son, and Hewitt had on their stand cases of their

well-known stock-breeders' chests, and assorted cattle

medicines. Mr. Henry Spratt, of Bermondsey-street,

London, showed his celebrated dog cakes, game and

pouliry food, &c. The Driffield and East Ridiug Pure

Linseed C'ake Co. (Limited), exhibited their pure linseed

and cotton ca!:es ; Messrs. Clark and Sons, Limehouse,

London, " buffalo meit " dog biscuits, poultry food, &c. ;

the Universal Cattle Drink Co., Hackney, London, their

drinks, powders, and oiutrneuts for horses ; and Messrs.

Day and Sons of Crewe, their celebrated " Driffield Oils."

.Messrs. James Gibbs and Co. had a stand on which was

an interesting display of the raw material from which

their excellent manures are made, such as coprolites of

various kinds — Suffolk, Cambridge, Canadian, Spauish,

French, Carolina, and Curacoa. There were also cones

or pyramids of their several manufactured manures, and on

their stand was also to he seen samples of their feeding cakes,

ami of the absolutely pure linseed cake which they are now

manufacturing. Messrs. T. Bowick & Co. of Bedford, the

farina wilh which the public are familiar ; Messrs. Sponnea

and Sons, Gainsborough, their condiment and " milk

substitute" for rearing calves; Messrs. W. A. Hope and

Sons, Agricultural Hall, London, their condiments, spices,

and cattle food ; Mr. Joseph Thorley, of King's Cross, j Eight varieties.— 1, J. Terry ; 3, II, W. Woods ; 3, W. Kerr

London, the well-known " Thorley's Food;" Messrs. j Slx varieties.— 1, J.Perry; 2, C. W. Howard; 3, T. Pick.

Tipper and Son, of Birmingham, their " Arabian " round ! w wortn.

feeding cakes, " Medicated Powders," &c. ; Mr. Thomas [ iw„° V^^T1: J" ^ \ 2> T- ^kworth ; 3, Sir F.

c ii i r. * l: <• t ■ r> ..) o • » i- u ■ smythe, Bart., Actou Burue .

Sellors, of Coventry, his ionic Cattle Spice, which is 1.1, |p..f fr:j„' 1 o;, w o„ n o -c t 1 Ct j-

, 1 u • .» ' • . , , j i.r t c r> 1 e leat Kidnevs. — I, bir fc.biuvthe; 2, F. Taylor, Sturding-

largely sold in the neighbourhood ; Mr. J. S. Eagles, of ton ; 3, W. Vales, Needharn hall, near Wisbech

Leamington, his " Champion' cattle cake, feeding meal,

Twelve sweJe turnip, and 12 globe mangels. — J. Perry.

Callection of six mammoth lung red mangel", six globe man-
gels, and six golden tankard yellow fleshed mangel. —
R. VVebb, Beenham.

Collection of six mammoth long red mangels, sis prize
yellow globe miuigels, six champion intermediate man-
gel?, and six tankard yellow lleshed mangels,— It. Webb.

Kohl ttabi.— l.and 2, J. Perry.

Long mangel warzsl.—l, It. Webb ; 2, A. Sotham, Snub-
biogton, Tin me, Oxon.

G obe and intermediate varieties of mangel wurzel. — 1, It.
Webb; 2, J. Perry.

Twelve specimens of the champion purple top swede. — J. W.

^ Hemming?, Newbold Mills, Shipston-on-Stour.

Twelve roots of the imperial swede. — J LV.rry.

Swedes of any variety. — 1, J. Perry ; 2, A. Sotham.

Conraon turnips, white flesh.— 1, and 2, H.Davis, Ken
sington, Woodstock, Oxon.

Common turnips, yellow flesh. — 1, W. Kerr, Dargavel, .
Dumfries ; 2, H. D. Adain»on, Allord, Aberdeen.

Carrots, white Belgian.— 1, the Duke of Portland, Clipstone
Park Farm, Mansfield, Notts; 2, J. J. xMalden, Hill Farm,
near Biggleswade.

Carrots of any other variety.— 1, and 2, the Duke of Port-
laud.

Ox cabbage.— 1, J. Perry; 2, J. Greatorex.

POTATOES.

Twelve varieties.— 1, J. Perry; 2, T. Pickworth, Lough-
borough; 3, U. W. Woods, Clipstone Park Farm, Mans-
field.

&c. ; Messrs. J. Beach and Co., of Dudley, their celebrated
farinaceous food and condiments; the Waterloo Mills
Co., Hull, their well-known " Waterloo " round feeding
cakes with samples of the materials of which they are
made ; and Messrs. P. W. Barr and Co., of L'verpool,
their "Old Calabar " meals, biscuits, &c, and feeding
stuffs of all descriptions. Messrs. Lawrence and Co.,
St. Mary Axe, London, showed a collection of refrigera-
tors, and Mr. C. H. Liddon, of Birmingham, an assort-
ment of sacks, sacking, bagging, and horsecloths. There
were also various miscellaneous exhibits, more or less
connected with agriculture, and great interest appeared to
be taken in this division of the show.

CORN.

WHEAT.

Talavera. — 1, D. Lon^r, Wiiaddorj, Gloucester.

White. — 1, R. Thomas, Baschurch, Salop ; 2, J. Greatorex,

Stretton, near Burten-on-'frent.
Re'. — 1, J. Greatorex; 2, W. Savagp, Hanging Bink,

Penrith.

BARLEY.

1, R. R. Fowler and Co , Preb^ndal Farms, Aylesbury ; 2,
Colonel Morrell, Headington Hill Hall, Oxford.

OATS.

White. — 1, W. Savage ; 2, J. Greatorex.

Black. — 1, Rev. T. L. Fellowes, East Tuddenham Vicarage,
Norwich ; 2, N. and N. P. Snlgoe, Manor Farm, Adder-
bury, Oxon.

BEANS.

], R. Fowler, Broughton Farm, Aylesbury.

PEAS.

White — No entry.

Blue or Grey.— 1, J.Perry, Acton Pigott, Condove,. Salop

ROOTS.

Collection of the three following varieties, viz : Long man-
gel wurzel, globe mangel wurzel, and swedes. — Colonel
L lyd-Lmdraj, V.C., M.l\, Lockinge Park, Wantage,

Berks.

Howard, Canterbury; 2, J.

ton ; 3, W.
Lapstone Kidneys.— 1, W. Kerr, Dargavel ; 2, J. Choyce,

A'herstone ; 3, Sir F. S my the.
Renins or Dalmahovs. -H.'W. Woods; 2, T. Pickworth;

3, W. Kerr.
Woodstock kidneys.— 1, C. W,

Perry ; 3, Sir F. Smythe.
Schoolmasler.— 1, W. Kerr ; 2, J. Perry ; 3, C, W. Howard.
Any white skinned long or kidney not provided for in other

classes.— 1, T. Pickworth ; 2, H. W. Woods; 3, J. Perry.
Any coloured skinned long or kidney not provided for in other

classes.— 1, T. Pickworth -T 2, J. Perry ; 3, W. Kerr.
Any white skinned round variety not provided for in other

classes.— i, W. Kerr ; 2, Sir F. Smythe ; 3, T. Pickworth.
Any coloured skinned round variety not provided for in other

classc— 1, Sir F. Smythe; 2, W. Kerr ; 3, T. Pickworth.
Any Americm variety,— 1 Sir F. Sruvthe ; 2, T. Pickworth ,

3, J. Perry.

" INTERVIEWING " THE FAT STOCK-

The following letter appeared in the Birmingham
Daily Poxt of Monday last.

Sir., — I was somewhat startled, on arriving here last night
to be informed by the representative of the Daily Telegraph
that in the afternoon of Friday " Mr. Lythall had taken him
over Biugley Hall." But L was still more startled to find
this morning that the Telegraph contained three-fourths of a,
column of "matter supplied beforehand." Now, as it is
essential to the well-being of every cattle show, be it fi t or
store, that due secrecy should be kept ?.s to the details of the
eutries, and as the Lai/g Telegraph of to-day does contain
matter which should not have been communicated to the
public until after the judging had taken place, I would like to
know — the public would like to know — why such an innova-
tion had taken place f' If there is to bea Press private view
by all means let there be one; but it is manifestly unfair thai
there should be a bn'rig Telegraph private view to the ex-
clusion of the journals I and others represent. I enclose mv
name and address, and meanwhile subscribe rnvself,

AN AGRICl'LTUliAL REl'O&TJ
The Queen's Hotel, Saturday m^lit,

CO

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

DISTRESS AND HYPOTHEC.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MASK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — Although my views may be old-fa9hioned and
unpopular, entirely rowing against the stream of current
bucolic oratory, I trust you will bear wilb me while I
(udeavour to stem the tide of objurgatory rhetoric, which
denounces apparently the whole eiisting economy of
British agriculture. I grieve to see so much " waste
power " of public opinion — the tenantry of the kingdom
going, or beirg led astray from attention to real and
substantial remedies for their grievances, to fasten upon
fancied evils which have no more to do with tbeir pre-
dicament, than Tenterden steeple has with Goodwin
Smds. Dismissing other pet "wrongs" for future
elimination, I address myself to the immediate considera-
tion of a proposed reform in the existing jurisprudence
of our territorial system, which in my apprehension
would be fraught with the gravest evils. Hypothec in
Scotland means the Hen of the landowner upon what the
Poman and Scotch law called 'amain, illata, the move-
ables and cmps on the land for rent. It arises the
moment occupation begins for the current rent. In
England the right of the landowner to distrain, arises only
alter rent falls due. To call it feudal, is to betray the
grossest ignorance. Kent and tenantry are modem and
commercial, in contradistinction to military suit and
service, and vassalage— to fen duties, fines, and quit
/.•nts. The priority of right implied in distress is not
coulined to land. The innkeeper has it for his bill — the
stabularius (stable-keeper) for horses at livery — nauttc
(shipowners), for carrying the cargo — caitponcs (carriers),
lor their load — wharfingers and warehouse-keepers for
merchandise. Preferential rights are given by debtors to
<reditors, by bills of exchange, mortgages, and bills of
tale. A debtor may facilitate the right to recovery iu
favour of one creditor to the prejudice of the rest, if it
tuits him. Taxes, tithes, rates, all are leviable by
tuinraary process as preferential claims, precedent to any
due to the landowner, aud are imprescriptible.

What on earth has the Law of Distress to do with the
present depreesion ? lias it increased rates and taxes, or
stimulated foreign competition '? Is it accountable for
bsd weather, poor crops, pleuro-pneumonia ? Has it
isised wages, made the peasantry turbnleut and inefficient,
aggravated the cost of production, reduced prices below
a living profit ? "What is to be thought of the respect-
ability of a public cause the forefront of which is a loud
comp'aint that honest creditors have a cheap and summary
remedy for the recovery of their debts ! Conceive the
merchants of London forming themselves iuto an alliance
to abolish imprisonment for debt, or to denounce the
legal advantage given to a Promissory Note over a debt
.by open account! The first rule of the Holyrood Club
of Insolvent Debtors, " resolved that all creditors are

d d scoundrels." lias it come to this that the

tenantry of England are chiefly concerned in evading pay-
ment of or security for their rent ?

We are indeed toll that the Law of Distress, by giving
a preferential right to a landlord to levy his debt, induces
him to give credit to "men of straw," to increase facilities
for taking farms, and the competition for them, thereby
raising rent. So, then, nobody is to till the soil but
" Ptady-money Jacks." Industrious, self-denying, intel-
ligent poverty is to have no chance to have self-denial
and providence rewarded by temporary trust in its bouesty
aDd skill. The landowner, be be rich or poor, great or
small, is to be the onlj dealer who is to give no credit,
to the end that his commodity may be had at any price
a man with the cash iu his pockets may choose to otter.
And Ibis from the men who talk oratorical'v of peasant

borrowed money ! This, too, in England, whose whole
commerce, whose eutire banking system, whose whole
course of trade is aD elaborate machinery of credit ! I
have at this moment iu m.' view an acquaintance — one of
the ablest and most discreet advocates of the Paternoster
Creed of the Alliance. He is a great money lender; that
is to say, his whole business consists in enabling men
who have no present cash to go into the produce mirket
and buy goods in competition with capitalists who can
pay cash down. Every bill he discounts raises the price
of goods to the prejudice of the buyer who goes into the
market with ready money. Should he be prohibited from
granting accommodation, so that sugar, tallow, or tea
shall become the monopoly only of buyers who can pay
oa the nail ? In my time I have known comraou
ploughmen, by their self-denial, perseverance, and superior
intelligence, rise to the state of prosperous farmers.
Should their landlords have said, " Begone ! you are
' men of straw.' You are thwarting Heady Money
Mortiboy in his scheme for renting my laud at his own
price." I have preserved the record of hundreds of small
holders in all the three kingdoms, who, with little else
than the digging fork and elbow grease have raised them-
selves to competency. " The bit o' land has done it all-"
Are they to be deprived of the only instrument of credit
they can offer to the landowner?

The case of the farmer is wholly exceptional, and
necessitates exceptional treatment. He iseutirely depen-
dent on wind and weather — on circumstances which uo
human being ean control. Two relatives of my evn,
farmers, who retired with ample fortunes, assured me that
for the first two years of their lease they scarcely got back
their seed. They were not men of straw. They had laid
out thousands of pounds that brought no return. Where
would they have beeu but for the security of Hypothec 'i
In my time wheat has varied in a few months from C3s.
to 97s. per qr. Pressed at the wrong time the tenant
might be compelled to throw away his crop. Herewehave
had no fewer than nve successive bad harvests. The most
skilful, competent, wealthy tenants have year alter year
seen their means, buried iu the earth, melting away. But
for the security afforded by the Law of Distress they must
have beeu " sold up " long ago, without being afforded
the chances of rtcovery which reluming fertility and
genial scasous may bring back to them. The landlord
foi bears, he gives time, credit, because it is his clear ia-
terest to do so, as these very years have demonstrated.
But rob him of his security, strip the tenant of the credit
which the Law of Distress enables him to offer, and what,
ID these disastrous years, must have been the sole alter-
native ?

Observe-^ this law defends the struggling tenant — the
man who has sunk ample means year alter year ia a
venture which withholds a present return, hot will per-
haps amply repay the outlay iu the future. The landlord
can, and does, wait for this. The Law of Distress com-
pels the outside creditor to do so likewise, because he
cannot distrain until he has paid the landlord out. But
would he lorbear unless this law compelled him to abide
the leversiou of returning production and belter prices ?
The whole operations of the farm depend upou seasons aud
critical barometrical vicissitudes. Give an eutside creditor
the power to levy a digress where he pleases, and 1 Lc
plough horses or the seed drills would be feezed in the falls
just when the winter wheat should be sown — the waggons
would be distrained iu June, and the hay crop left to rail)
and rot, the graaing cattle sold off, aud the summer feed
wasted.

The Law of Distress is almost the co-relative of the
farmer's trade. It is in some sense the homestead law of
England. That it induces people to refuse giving truat

proprietors, v ho for the mu»>t part owe their existence Ij is one of tho;c pretexts which have no real foundation iu

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

37

the general practice of rural life. Besides, does it lye in
the mouth of those who complain of the landowner
accepting " men of straw" to ohiect that the Law of
Distress contracts credit ? I have heard agriculturists
repeatedly allirm, that the returns of one fine stason have
more than made up the losses of three bad ones. Is it
reasonable that the femur should be deprived of the
protection against the pressure of outside creditors which
the Law of Distress exteuds to htm ? He is the creature
of the " skiey influences." He is the slave, not the ruler
of " time and tide." The lean kine and the fat alternate
in certain but wholly fortuitous intervals, for which he
must wait, but cannot predicate. Here, in your own
journal, Mr. Thomas Clark, of Fairbourne, supplies the
following practical illustration of the predicament of the
tenantry : — "Landlords are at all times safe, as there is
plenty on a farm to pay a year's rent, and they have yet
the Law of Distress in their favour. An bou. Baronet
iu a neighbouring parish to this had a tenant who went
to him at a time of severe depression, like the present,
and requested that his rent might be lowered. The hon.
Baronet replied ; ' My friend, but you have not paid any
for four years ; how can you expect me to lower it?' The
tenant said he could not go on any longer, even if he had
not any rent to pay. The kind-hearted Baronet rejoined,
' Perhaps we can manage to farm it together.' He sent
the tenant seed corn, aud found capital to pay for labour,
and the result was that the change came, and the tenant
prospered, paid the back rent with interest, in after years
saved a fair sum for the benefit of his family, and died,
with a blessing ou the head of his kind and Uberal- hearted
landlord."

It is qnite true that there are exceptional evils which
occasionally operate in the practice of this principle, but
" hard cases made bad laws. " I entirely agree with Mr.
Read that the right of distraint should not extend beyond
two years' rent. Where it is clear cattle are on laud only
by agistment, or horses, waigous, implements are only
what the law calls, in transitu, they should be free from
the operation of the law. I contend only for the expedi-
ency of the general principle ; an 1 when I consider that
the clamour for its abolition is that only of capital against
the industry and self-denial that have to struggle with
narrow means, and to make intelligence, frugality, and
energy cope with and do the work of ready and ample
resources, I have little sympathy with the cry of the
fat-eared wealth whose real complaint is, that the credit
which the Law of Distress extends to "patient merits"
prevents the capitalist from renting land at his own
price.

I know indeed very well that the man who either
himself, or by those from whom he derives his property,
has enclosed and reclaimed the fields, made the roads,
built all the houses and homesteads, hedged, ditched,
drained, mauured the land, so as to render it the fitting
instrument of production, is beginning to be regarded as
a mere tax upon the tenantry — as having neither claim
nor right to any consideration, and to have little other
destiny than that of being " improved off the face of the
earth." There is as yet, indeed, no Parnell, who speaks
r'ght out, " Pay no rent, but keep fast hold of the land.'
We don't yet hear the cry, " Shoot the landlords !" o*
" Give them lead," on this side of the Chaunel. But the
teuantry, by the accredited organs of the agricultural
uuious, have been united to make common cause with
the labourers against the owners of the land. Within
living memory every county in England has beeu ablaze
with incendiary conflagrations of stacks and homesteads,
lincourage by loose market-ordiuary oratory this sort of
spirit, and, depend npon it, the tuvy that prompts it will

not stop at landlords. When your neighbour's house is
on tire — -the proverb is somewhat musty.

I am, Sir, &c,

SllKNEV SMITH.

The Manor, Felt ham, 28th Nov.

FREEDOM OF CONTRACT.

TO TIIS EDITOR OF THE M.VRK. LANE EXPRES3.

Sir, — In your remarks on my letter of 21st November
in last week's Mark Lane Express, I am sorry to see
that yoa overlook a very important point which I
thought I had made sufficiently clear, and by ignoring
which it is impossible to apprehend aright the views iu
regard to freedom of contract advocated by me in that
letter.

You say that I have " now clearly shown that we want
nothing more than the reversal of the presumption of
the law, which, in Scotland at any rate, is in favour of
all improvements at the end of the tenancy goiug to the
laudlord ;" and because the At<rio jlturat Holdings Act,
which alters the presumption of the law in England iu
favour of the tenaut, is inoperative, you conclude that
merely to alter the presumption of the law is not enough
in your part of the kingdom — nor I should say is it
enough in ours. But we propose a great deal more than
that, What we say is abolish hypothec and distress,
remove all other class laws and presumptions of law
adverse to tenants, aud at the same time let the legis-
lature establish equitable rules to operate iu the abseuco
of special contract, giving to each at the close of the
tenancy what is his — and where the tenant's property is so
incorporated with the soil as not to be separable
from it, or removable, let it be 'paid for by
the landlord at valuation ; and then, landlord
and tenant, having thus been put on au equal
footiug in the eye of the law, leave them to make what
bartrains they please. The right conferred in this way
would not, as you seem to suppose, be a mere permissive
right, but a legal right which could only be set aside by
special contract between the parties themselves. The
evils of the existing land laws may, to a very small ex-
tent be palliated, but can never be removed by the euact-
ment of a compulsory law giving compensation for un-
exhausted manures and improvements. So long as these
laws lemain as they are, any law of this kind
likely to be got would be framed ou the lines of the
Agricultural Holdings Act, which, while conceding the
principle of right to compensation, reduces its amount,
by the machinery employed, to a trifle uot worth contend-
ing for. Were these laws, as w e propose, put ou a sound
footing, interference with contract " to protect the weak
against the strong " which you think necessary, would
have no place, for both would then in the eye of the law
be weak or strong alike, and I doubt not the " bonnet "
lifters would soon leant to lift tl e r heads along with the
bonnets.

You express your satisfaction, referring to a leader in
the Xorth British Agriculturist, that it maintains its
old position in favour of a compulsory measure in spite
of Mr. McNeel Caird aud the gentlemen who have fol-
lowed his lead. In order that our views may be still
more clearly brought before your Eugliah readers, you
will perhaps allow me to couclude my letter with a few
remarks on the leader to which you refer, and which I
have read, I confess, with a certaiu degree of disappoint-
ment, because I think its writer not only fails to do jus-
tice to our views, but also because bi3 own appears to mo
somewhat hazy on the subject ; and they are certainly
not set forth vnth that clearness which usually char-

38

TBE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

acterises bis writings on agricultural questions. The sub-
ject of freedom of contract is one on which tie leading
agricultural journal of Scotland should give no uncertain
sound, and yet it discusses the suVject in a way which to
ine at least is most perplexing. He says the English
Agricultural Holdings Act has been condemned " in
Scotland as well as souih of the Tweed, mainly on account
of its permissiveness," but I venture to say it has been
condemned quite as much on account of its injustice,
and has been repudiated by farmers general!; as little
better than a mockery and a sham. He admits that if
class laws and unjust privileges enjoyed by the landlord
were removed, the necessity for interference with contract
" would be reduced to a minimum " — such a minimum I
supposehemeansas is" involved by making the agricultural
Holdings Act in an altered shape compulsory ; " but what
he means by an " altered shape," he does not define. He
demurs to the views " of various members of the Scotch
Chamber of Agriculture, who have now and again pro-
tested against any check whatever on the contracting
powers ot parlies," and thinks " an attitude of that kind
may look well on paper," but if he mistake not, "those
who indulge most in it would not be satisfied with a per-
missive measure of compensation for tenants' improve-
ments." True, we certainly would not ; but who of U3
has ever said we would be satisfied with such a measure ?
Our object is to get the land laws put square, and all
unjust privileges and presumptions of law in favour of
either party swept away, aud a fair field being thus
secured to them, landlord and teuant should then be left
free to make any bargaiu they please. Were this done
tenants would not have to complain of theirs being the
weaker party, and as such neediug to be protected by the
law in bargaining with their landlords — nor would they
be deterred from executing all needful improvements,
and from putting their farms into such condition, as is
essential to the efficient cultivation of them. We concur
with him when he says that it would be just and reasonable
for the legislature to declare that the tenant shall have
full power to protect his crops from all kinds of game and
vermin. This is implied in our demand for the removal of
all unjust laws and privileges— and the enactment of
equitable rules to regulate the rights of parties, in the
absence of contract, at the termination of the lease, is
all that would be required to secure the tenant getting
such compensation for his unexhausted manures and
improvements as the equity and justice of the case
required.

But the writer of the article in the North British
Agriculturist iu a sentence in the last paragraph
virtuallly gives up the case when he says that if the
laws were altered as we contend for — and justice he says,
demands it — " something like rational contracts might be
expected between owner aud occupier but not till then."
Well if that be so why not join us in advocating measures
that would supersede the necessity for a compulsory or a
permissive measure, seeing the object aimed at can be
a'tained in a much more efficient and much less objection-
able way. It seems to be an intolerable interference with
the rights of an owner to compel him to pay lor what the
tenant may call improvements, but which he may consider
the reverse, and that too on the plea as you put it of pay-
ing " for value received" — or in other words outlays
which may have been made by the tenant not only with-
out the owner's consent, but in the teeth, it may be, ol
his remonstrances to the contrary. If the rights of the
leaseholder can only be preserved by an interference such
as this, lea3eholding itself as a system of land occupancy
would seem to stand condemned ; but I think we can
shrw how the rights of parties can be adjusted without
inch interference, aud 1 hope the views lirt.1 cuum.iui.cd by

Mr. McXeel Ciird and now advocated by increasing num-
bers in our Scotch Chamber of Agriculture, will ultimately
prevail.

But it may be urged that landlords would take care to
contract themselves out of auy rules the legislature may
euact, giving, in the absence of contract, compensation lor
unexhausted manures and improvements at the end of
the occupancy, aud so defeat the object aimed at in their
enactment. In answer to that, let me quote Mr.
McNeel Caird's remarks on this subject in the last
letter I had from him, written from a sick bed, aud
which I think sufficiently disposes of this objection; He
says : " When we get all the land laws set Eight, aud all
class laws abolished, landlords will have to compete for
tenants, quite as much as teuants for farms. Some may
try to coutinue restrictions on growth, but, as the tenant
will be able to staud up for himself, he will either reject
them or the landlord will have to pay smartly for them
in rent or otherwise, and so practically they will, on the
broad scale, come to an end. Legitimate conditions will
be made that the laud shall not be unduly exhausted
but with right to compensation for unexhausted improve-
ments leases will become of much less account, aud when
a teuant has a right by law to such compensation, and is
placed on an equal footing by law in makisg his contract,
you need not be afraid of his foolishly parting with his
right without Beeuriog soraethiug that he cousiders better.
Some men may barter away their right foolishly. That
cau't be helped; but the average of men, when placed
in a position of equality by law, will look sharply after
their own interest, and may be trusted to do so, which is
all we require."

I am, Sir, &c,

Bolsham, Arbroath, Dec, oth. W. Goodlet.

TENANTS' PERMANENT IMPROVE-
MENTS.

TO THE ED1TOK OF THE JIAliK LA.XE EXPRESS.

Sir, — I have read Mr. Goodlet's letter, and the
remarks on it by " A Man of Mark Laue," with great
interest. It is, I believe, gratifying to all who have the
interests of farmers at heart to find the subject of tenants'
right to the ownership of their improvements discussed
so dispassionately as it is likely to be by Mr. Goodlet on
the one side, and so quick-witted an advocate of farmers'
rights as the " Man of Mark Lane," on the other.

I believe Mr. Goodlet fairly represents the position of
the Scottish Chamber, although he by no means can be
said to advocate the views of many thoughtful Scotch-
men, when he says that a presumptive right to tenauts'
improvements is all that farmers deiire in regard to this
question.

What I wish to point out is that in view of the approach-
ing general election it is of the utmost importance that
farmers1 advocates should be agreed as to the amount of
their demands upon the next Government, be it Liberal
or Conservative. Mr. Goodlet says, <: give us but the
presumptive right to our own improvement." The " Man
of Mark Lane" says that is not enough — give us the
inalienable right to such improvements.

As is suggested in your excclleut journal, both parties
ought to condescend to particulars. How does Mr.
Goodlet propose to turn the presumption in favour of
tenauts? What sort of an Act would accomplish his
desire ? On the other hand, how would it be possible to
give an inalienable right to tenants' improvements ?

These seem to me pertinent questions. I would suggest
au answer. Perhaps it may displease both sides. As against
Mr. Goodl t I would say the experience of a more presump-
tive right in England ha« not done any good. True, it mi
be mure practical I J bcutrkiul iu a laud of leases. But 1

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

39

would ask Mr. Goodlet if he would have any objections
hat it should he the liw tint no lease of laud should
contain a provision by which the lessee gave up his right
to the property of his improvements.

Would such a provision in an Act of Parliament satisfy
the " Man of Mark Lane "? If not, I think the onus lies
on the "Man of Mark Lane'' to show how he would
construct the inalienable right which he seems to deside-
rate.

I would suggest to the " Man of Mark Lane " that the
claim of the Chamber (Mr. Goodlet' s claim) i3 only an
instalment of the justice to farmers, which is due to a
class fighting against not only foreign competition, but a
disastrous home competition for an article which is
practically a monopoly.

I have myself suffered from the iniquitous and unjust
provisions of the law, and I hope for the sake of others,
that no difference between farmers' friends may result in
nothing being done by the ensuing Parliament to amend
the land laws. No cry is more welcome or more satisfying
to enemies of farmers' rights than the cry " gentlemen
agree amongst yourselves, before you can expect us to do
anything for you." Would not the alteration of the law's
presumption be a valuable instalment of justice ? I am
aware that Mr. Goodlet used to advocate the ideal settle-
ment of such questions, in the hope that the practical
solution might be dragged up to a higher level. In view
of a general election, ought uot both sides to confine them-
selves to what is likely to be practical ?

I am, Sir, &c,

Harrow.

MR. SIMON, M.P., ON THE LAND
QUESTION.

On Friday, the 21st, inst. Mr. Sergeant Simon, M.P.
addressed a meeting in the Carlinghow Liberal Club, near
Batley, on the Land Question. There was a large attendance. —
Mr. W.Bates (President of the Club) occupied the chair, and
having alluded to the recent terrible calamity at the Skating
Rink, stated that most present would remember that the
learned Sergeant was to have been one of the principal speakers
at the opening of the club. Owing to indisposition, however,
he was unable to be present, but promised to take the fir.-t
opportunity of visiting the club, and he was now present to
speak on a most interesting subject. A foolish report was
being spread about the town, partly on account of the accident
at the rink, to the etfect th it the club-room was not sale. He
could assure all present, however, that if the room were
crowded to overflowing it would be perfectly safe.

Sergeant SlMON, M.P., said he need not say how deeply he
felt for the unfortunate sufferers, and how much he had been
touched and affected by the sad calamity which bad removed,
by an untimely death, no less than four of their fellow-beings ;
and which had injured many good, industrious, hard-working
men and women more or le3s severely. A movement had been
commence 1 to mitigate, as far as possible, the suffering and
trial which the unfortunate families would have to undergo by
the loss of those upon whom they depended for subsistence.
The land question, upon which lie was abcut to speak, could
not be properly treated in a speech of half an hour, or even
an hour's di-cussion. All he could attempt to do would be to
lay before them some of the salient facts of the case, and to
give them, as it were, an outline of the subject ; and, whilst
intimating his own views, leave them to draw the conclusions
which reasonable men would draw. From an early period in
his career circumstances bronght the lacd question in a special
way before his attention. As a student of the law nearly
forty years ago his attention was first directed to it. He was
always struck, when he became a student of the law by the
cumbrousness of their system of land transfer. He was
astonished at the almost insuperable questions to be understood
or mastered before they could attain to a knowledge of what
was the law relating to real property in the country. As a
young rain, he asked himself why in the case of land there
should be all this difficulty, when ia the case of money — it3

acquisition, transfer, and mode of being dealt with — was not
encumbered by any of these difficult problems of law or pro
cedure. In the old Saxon times every holder of land was his
own landlord — in other words, the proprietor of the soil. At
the time of the Conquest the feudal system was introduced,
and the land of the country was taken possession of by the
Crown— granted out in manors and divisions as the Crown
pleased to its followers and adherents. The nobles and
favoured subjects of the Crown again allotted their manors, as
they were called, into smaller portions to different tenants. In
process of time the question of the transmutation of landed
property, either by will or direct transfer in the lifetime of
the holders, became encumbered with a nnmber of feudal
customs, or manorial or lordly rights, implying that the
tenants were not actually the holders. The whole system was
based on the idea of a lord paramount, as he was called, and
the lord of the manor under him. The lord of the manor had
certain rights from his tenants, or those who were nominally
the owners. There was the right of the lord to have a certain
number of retainers to go to trie wars. Theu came in the
most unjust law, which they know by the name of primogeni-
ture, by which, in case of the death of the owner of freehold
landed property without a will, the whole of the estates went
to the eldest son to the exclusion of all others. Then came
in the system of entail, which tied up the inheritance of the
land to male heirs to the exclusion of female heirs. Out of
that system had arisen what in his opinion was the great
grievance and the great blot of their land system — the system
of settlement. Priraogeuiture on the very face of it was an
unjust law, but it was aggravated by the fact that not only was
the heir-at-law entitled to the whole of the landed estate, but
to his equal share in the personal estate of his father. The
system of settlement had had a most pernicious effect on the
well being and prosperity of the landed gentry themselves, not
to say of the people at large. One of the results of the system
was that the land was not let, as a rule, upon leases at all, and
seldom upon long leases. The tenant was liable to be turned
out at any moment, even though he might have spent an
enormous amount of money in improving the estate. The
present Government, in the session before last, passed what
they called the Agricultural Holdings Act, which professed to
give the tenant compensation for the improvements he had
made upon the land. But the same Act that professed to do
that gave the landlord the right to covenant himself out of it,
and to say to the tenant, '' I won't give you anv benefit unless
you give me the benefit of the improvements." A more de-
lusive show of legislation to remove a great, unjust, and
crying evil, never was passed. (Applause.) But these were
only a very small proportion of the practical effects of the
system of land settlement. There was the law of distress — a
law made really by Parliaments of landlords and land pro-
prietors. If any one entered into a contract to supply a
merchant with a nnmber of bales of goods, and did supply
them, and the merchant failed to pay, the course was to bring
an action at law. The dealer had to prove his contract, and
establish the rair value of his goods before a jury. The jury
found the, debt was du°, judgment was signed by the Court,
and the dealer put in execution his judgment, and took what-
ever he could from the merchant, wherever he could find it,
j sufficient to pay his debt and costs. This process, even under
their improved system of law, could not be carried out nnder
I some two or three months at the least. Oq the other hand,
j if the merchant who bought the goods happened in the mean-
( time to become a bankrupt, and the dealer had not proceeded
I against him by action at law to recover his debf, he had to
I come in pari passu, with the rest of the creditors. That was
j not the case with land. A man rented a house or farm from
j the landlord, and the rent becoming due, was not paid. The
i landlord had a right to go down at once take the law into his
own hands, put in a broker, take possession of the man's goods,
and within ten days sell off, in order that he might get every
shilling of the money owing. The man might be made a
bankrupt in consequence of it, and the rest of his creditors
would get little or nothing, because all he possessed might
perhaps be taken from him by the landlord. That on the face
of it, was an unfair state of law, and yet it was one of the
privileges the landed class had in this country over everv other.
There was another effect of their land system. It had brought
about the game laws, by which he thought they had made
more criminals than by any other system ever devised. The
law made a man who shot a pheasant a criminal, and the

40

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

owners of the land themselves ae'ed as accusers, prosecutors,
judges, and the pumsher of the offender. He Hid not mean to
say tint an owner wonld sit and judge a case of poaching on
liis own land ; but his next door neighbour would, and he
would do the same for his next door neighbour. He had
obtained from certain public documents statistics which would
show th-im what the effect had been of the land laws, not
ouly in tying up the land ia the hands of particular persons,
but in aggregating land in the hands of particular person?,
and confining the owuership of it to a comparathely few. It-
was Mr. Bright who had stated that the whole land of the
country was held by 30,00J persons. Lord Djrhy iu the
House, of Lords contradicted this, stating his belief that the
nuaiber of landowners in the United Kingdom was Deader
300,000 than 30,000 ; that it was a popular fallacy to suppose
that small estates were being gradually absorbed into larger
ones ; but that it was true that the class of peasant proprietors,
formerly to be found in the rural districts, was tendiug to
disappear. A committee was appointed to consider the matter
and a return was made. The revelations were so astounding
that the only wonder was that even they, a patient and long-
suffering people, should have endured the system of the land
laws so long. According to the terms of the Domesday B >ok,
in the year before last, the total area of England and Wale*,
deducting the Metropolitan area, was 37,243,859 acres ; 66
persons owned 1,917,076 acres ; 800 owned 3,7 17,64-1 acres ;
less than 280 persons owned 5,425,764, or less than one
sixth of the area of England and Wales ; and 710 persons
owned one-fourth of England and Wales. In Scotland the
case was much worse, for nearly a fourth of the country was
o»nfd by as lew as twelve persons. What they wanted to see
was the land set free —free from feudal trammels, customs that
ought to have been obsolete, and conditions that did not apply
to the Btate o! things in which they lived. They wanted the
land to be freed from the trammels which had caused it to
aggregate in the hands of a few persons, whilst it was driving
great masses ot the people into poverty, want, and discomlort.
(Applause.)
A vote of thanks to Mr. Simon for his address was adopted.

&3r.rultural GFafclc GTalft.

At the annual dinner of the Bo*ley and South Hants
Farmer*.' Club on Mouday week, Mr. W. W. B. Beach, M.P.,
said : —

There was no doubt agriculturists had passed through a
period of great trial and difficulty, and in some sense they
were iu a state of transition, because fch*re was no certainty
about agriculture at the present time. They did not know,
even if they had a good season next year, what might be the
prospects of the agriejlturist then. They could not tell what
effect the corn import from the United States might have.
Perhaps next year the elements might not be so propitious in
the west ot America; ihey might have a great deal of rain, or
a preponderance of grasshoppers, which he was told were
very prolific some years, and were also a great pest and very
drstructive. Therefore they could not tell, supposing they
had a good crop at home and a good crop in America what
would be the price of wheat or what would be the prospects
of agriculture. These were considerations which the agricul-
turist, had to watch and bear in miud at the present day
Ccrn was now imported into this country at a price at which
it could not be grown in England at a profit, and therefore
the prospects of arable farms in this country were most
gloomy, but still it was one of those qnestious which were
uncertain and could not be determined upon at the present
moment. The whole of the press had lately been turning
their attention to agriculture, aud no doubt they had been
anxious, because the enormous quantity less of corn grown
had an effect upon our revenue. The balance of trade had
beeu against us for some tune. Our imports were exceeding
our exports, while in Germany their exports were exceeding
their imports. And what was the meaning of all this ? Why
that the balance uould have to be paid with gold, which only
meant ruin in the long run, and therefore it was a consideration
with regard to the country at large whether they would be
able to stand these enormous imports without doiug something
to battle against them with their imports, and therefore it was
a consideration which should impress itself upon all practical

men of the present day. If agriculture was not fliurishing i
left its impress upon almost every other class of society, and
looking at the present distress throughout the whole country
he did not think they could hope for any bright times for the
agricultural labourer while there was a want of means on the
part of his employers. for this state of things certain
remedies were suggested, some differ widely from the others,
and sowe which really ouly touched the fringe of the question.
It was suggested that there should ba peasant proprietors. In
some ca«es small proprietorships would be very good indeed,
but he thought it would be better for the small proprietor if
he did not own the land, but rented it at a moderate rent,
with security of tenure, and if land was let in that way he
behaved it might produce good results. He had let soma
land himself in that way, and he had come to the conclusion
that it was much more beneficial to let a man be able to invest
his savings iu the cultivation of the ground with proper
security than it was for him to purchase some land of his own.
There were several o'her subjects, and his friend Lord Henry
Scott had touched upon the Agricultural Holdings Act. He
(Mr. Beach) believed that that Act was a good measure, but
stili it did not go quite (ar enongh. It would not interfere
with a lease provided it was a good one. He did not want to
interfere with the landlord who made a good understanding
with his tenant, but they wanted to touch the man who would
not do that, and he thought the Act ought to make it com-
pulsory that there should be proper conditions. And with
regard to local rates he thought they bore most unduly upon
the agricultural interest. Mr. Macuaghten had touched upon
the matter, and it was a serious consideration whether the
rates shou'd he. charged in full upon one description of
property and not upon another. Of course it was a great
thing to get a reduction from Parliament, and especially at
times like fie present, hut in previous years certain reductions
had been made in taxation, and lie did hore that when more
prosperous times arrived in the country they would be able to
impress upon the Government that some alleviation should be
made, in those burdens which so heavily pressed on the
agricultural interest. Of course that could not he done by the
county members alone, and they could not command suceesg
unless they were supported bv the members from towns. It
was only by appealing for right an! justice before all the. com-
munities of E igland that equal measures were dealt out. It
was not by the wrongs of one class being urged by those who
represented that class alone that their grievances were met,
but it was by trying to get others to sympathise and act with
them.

FAT BEAUTIES.— The prevalent leanness of limbs which
characterises the Moorish race (colle :tiveK) has peradveoture
lead them to consider that loveliness and embo'tpoini are
identica1. Feminine beauty in Morocco, tar from being
merely skin-deep, is measured by the camel-load ; and, fat
being more esteemed than fea'ures, the homeliest damsel of
twenty stone is more admired than one hundredweight of what
would seem, to the eye of Europe, perfect prettiness. As
wives there'ore valued like whales — for their blu'iber — the
Moorish helle seeks from diet the charm denied to her by
Nature. Taking as her model the Hottentot Venus, Fatima
undergoes — e*peci>lly during betrothal -a proc ss of cram-
ming very simihr to the, mode of fattening Si rasburg geese.
After every meal she moulds with her fingers the crumb of
new bread — sometimes mixed wiili fenugreek — into pelle*s
(called harrable) of the shape and size, of Eley's No. 12
cen'ral-fire cartridge. This ammunition is rammed down h>r
gullet with the aid of green tea or other beverages ; and by
stuffing dowu from fiftv to one hundred of these boluses d a ily
for about a month, the fair martyr to Moorish mitenalisiu
acquires a brea'lth of body and a mammoth-like massiveness of
limbs which render locomotion a vanity, and getting up stairs
a vexation of spirit. With irrepressible mirth I have watched
a Jewish matron (five feet by four feet) making the ascent to
the upper story of her house, propelled a iergohy three per-
fpiring Israelites. Beneath her elephantine tread earth
trembled, ceilings creaked, and chair, not expressly manufac-
tured to sustain her " too solid flesh," shrivelled suddenly, as
if smitten by n thunderbolt, into infinitesimal chips! —
Tinsley't May^tiue

TIJK FARM Kit* MAGAZINE.

41

<Khambei0 of JlgricitUnre.

CENTRAL.

A Council meeting of this Chamber was held on Wednesday,
Nov. 10, at the Society of Arts, Adelphi, the Marquis of
Huntly presiding.

Mr. Phipps, M P., as Chairman of the Education Com-
mittee, presented its R-port, which, on the motion of the hon.
gentleman, seconded by Mr. Caldrcott, was adopted.

In accordance with a suggestion from Mr. Clay (the
Treasurer), it was decided that in future the committee
meetings should be held at the offices of the Chamber in
Arundel Street.

Mr. Star/tin, in the absence of the Chairman of the Local
Taxation Committee (Mr. Pell, M.P.), moved t he adoption of
the .Report of that committee laid before the previous
meeting, and Mr. D. Long having seconded the motion, it was
adopted.

Mr. T. Bell, in the absence of the chairman (Mr. Re-id),
read the Report of the Committee on Weights and .Measures.
In the discussion it raised, Mr. Marshall Heanley
moved "That the present system of taking the corn returns
is most unsatisfactory and unjust to the grower, tithe payer,
and receiver ; that the tithe rent-charge should lor the future
be filed at the sum of £100 on the tithe commutatijn ; and
that if it be found expedient to take the corn reiurns, they
should be taken from the grower and not from the buyer"

Mr. Joseph Smith (Chairman of the York Chamber),
having seconded the motion, several gentlemen objected to the
proposal as bein? premature, and ultimately, at the suggestion
of the Chairman, the following resolution was, ou the motion
of Mr. Caldecutt, seconded by Mr. Adkins, adopted
unanimously :--" That this Council desires to record its
convic'ion that the corn returns as now collected are altogether
misleading and incorrect, and that an inquiry by a Select
Committee should be made immediately after the assembling
of Parliament."

At the close of the proceedings, Mr. Adkins proposed a
vote of thanks to the chairman, observing that he was quite
aure all who had attended the committee meetings would bear
testimony to the great kindness and business tact which he
had brought to bear on the proceedings (cheers).

Mr. Trask having seconded the motion, it was put and
carried by ace amation, and the noble marquis briefly relumed
thank*.

The annual meeting of the Chamber immediately followed.
Mr. T. WlLLSON, as auditor, presented the balance-sheet,
showing that the income of the year, including the balance of
£31 brought forward, was £537 10s. 7d., and that the balance
then in hand was £161 10s. 4d., Mr. Willsou adding that the
Chamber was financially in a lar better position than it had
ever been before.

A conversation was introduced by Mr. Herman Biddell
in re'erence to she item of £50 for reporting. That gentle-
man contended that it was untair to other agricultural papers
that a subsidy of that amount should virtually be paid to the
proprietor of the "hamber of Agriculture Journal, especially
as the meetings of the Chamber were proper')' reported by the
older journals ; and he ultimately moved a resolution to the
effeot thai the subhiuy should be discontinued. Mr. Everett
seconded this proposal, and a'ter a warm discussion it was put
and negatived b) a large majority.

The Annual Report of the Council, recapitulating the pro-
ceedings of the jear, having been taken as read,

The Chairman said — Gentlemen, I believe it is customary
for him who lias the honour of being the Chairman of this
Chamber to address a few words to you on qutt
1 hope I shall not be designated, to nse some ex
Lord Salisbury the other dav, as " one of those f
agricultural interest who take advantage of its misfortunes to
give it a great deal ot voluminous advice," or is " one who re-
gards agricultural distress as s means of adding arguments in
support of particular political views and cro chets" (Hear). I
regret that during my year of office such distress should have
hung over the agricultural interest. The distress is, in my
opinion, far greater than the majority of people iu these
islands iraigine, more serious, more vital to the true interests
of the country, and to a class which lias b<eu hitherto part

of the backbone of England. Lwt March t urged the Go-

vemment to institute an inquiry into the state of che country
a* regards agricultural depression. I have nothiug to with-
draw from what T then said, hut only to add that matters are
fur worse now than they were then (Hear, hear). Istatedinthe
House ol Lords that I knew of farms within a few miles of large
[ central towns that were let at rents which did not pay the
! interest on the ou'ky that had been incurred upon thera in
buildings, roads, fencing, draining, &c, and the rates leviable
j on the land. I can now say that many farms — thousands of
| acres— in the Midland counties, are vacant, and any one can
have them, on undertaking to pay the rates for two or three
J years' rent-free. I don't know under which system of tenure
the farmer is worse off, under lease or yearly agreements • but
apparently, whatever system has been in force, in all par'9 0f
j the country, with but lew exceptions, the tenants arc nearlv
j ruined, and remain on the land simply waiting to see if
J matters will improve, and preserved, perhaps, by the assistance
j which their landlords are able to give them. Under these
circumstances it is almost ridiculous to hear of returns of 10
I per cent., or general remissions of this sort upon an equal
I scale, as every case must be dissimilar ; and it seems that the
| time has arrived when the revaluation of land and very large
reductions in rent must take place at once (Hear hear)
Whatever the present tenure or condition was under which
the tenant may hold, I fancy that fresh bargains in almost
every instance will have to be made between him and his land-
lord. I state this as evidence of the wide-spread nature of
tlu distress. By the efforts we made I think we "ready
assisted Mr. Chaplin in obtaining the appointment of the
Royal Commission to inquire into agricultural depression.
There was an almost unauimoas opinion araoogst agriculturists
in favour of its appointment. This Chamber has shown in
many ways its anxiety to support and assist the inquiry in
every way. I may, perhaps, express my disappointment that
the Commission has commenced its labours in apparently so
laborious and elaborate a manner, and my regret that its
sittings were not continued throughout the recess • and I
would urge upon>ll agriculturist a the desirability of expediting
the inquiry in every way iu their power (Hear, hear). Surely
numerous points which the Commission reserved for their own
consideration might have been proceeded with by its members
without waiting for the Reports of the Assistant Commis-
nouers. The great thing will be to obtain an early Repor*
that is to arrive at some result as soon as possible (Hear'
hear). But we must not allow the great and crying demands
of agriculturists to hang npou the result of the Commission's
labours. To us already these demands and questions are
crying for solution, and we must th erefore press them con-
tinuously upon the attention of the public and Parliament
I will touch but brnfly upon the various points which the
Chamber and the whole agricultural interest must turn to in
renewing their present position. It is absurd for ns ro look
to Protection of ovr interests. We are a minority of mil-
lions benefited by land in England against (roughly snpakin")
26 millions having no interest in it. We can only demand
fair play, and no favour, alongside of all commercial interests
and classes in the country. I would first urge you to con-
tinue your efforts towards the reform of local taxation
There are many people who say that most ot the burde»s."
upon land having been always borne by it, should remain as
an hereditary debt ; but they forget that wh en those burde •
were imposed land was protected by a tax upon imports and
that several new taxes, such as those for education and high-
ways, have been imposed lately ; and these are probably tl o
most unjust and uu. qual of what I may call the hereditary but
unjust taxes. I should like to mention the poor-law. Verily
it is hard that so numerous a body of persons, with We

« his office ,nrT", 1? C0°w7' 6i'°u,d P"y but 1,ttle t°™d« the

lire si.n. of '< rel!?f °' the P°0r- - Wl'y, e,1°"ld DOt the P°or-ratfi »e levied

rieuds of the " a\ "T W">'l ** !* "u dT *" parta °f Seo,b,ld. "»uer the
graded system, that is, by classification of properties ? Then
again, take the police rate. Why should not persons of lar«I
income pay equally with those connected with the land for
owners and occupier, of' the soil), towards the maintenance
ot the police 1 would urge you to consider the desirability
of ins.snue that the police force should be maintained en-irely
out of the Imperial exchequer. There is another rate affecting
agricultural interests very largely which I must allude »o
espec.a.ly after the most interesting Report of your Committee*
bearing upoa it. The tithes of England are struck upon the

42

THE FARMER'S AGAZINE

eorn returns. It is surprising thai :hpsehaveri en 11 per cent.
in value. Now 1 do not condemn tithes, but I condemn the
system under which the corn returns are fixed, and thereby
the tithes are levied; and I am as'ouished that any Govern-
ment Department should have undertaken to de'end their
accuracy. One of the great mischie's they create is that
en incnt statisticians and politicians are led to make deductions
from these returns; and their arguments are, therefore, as
fallacious and injurious as th<ir suggested remedies are
erroneous (Hear, heir). But I pass from these hereditary
taxes to the newly appointed ones. His lordship then
entered into other questions, most of which had been discused
at meetings of the Council: He pointed to the
fact that in many towns whilst corn was sold by the
measure, in others it was sold by weight. He also
referred to the great burden laid npon the agriculturist by the
education rate, and he asked why they should be called upon
to bear so unequal a charge, which was equal to an income
t-.x of lid. in the pound, on the farmer. It the agriculturist
were to pay so much, <».>.rely schools of agriculture ought to he
promoted throughout the country. After referring to the
highway ratp, be advocated the institution of the appointment
of a boundary commission. He strongly urged upon the
'Legislature simplification in the transfer of land, but to carry
this into effect it would, he observed, be necessary to obtain the
aetdBtanoe of the lawyers to sweep away the legal cobwebs
which surrounded this question. He also referred to the
advantage given by the railway companies to foreign over
home produce. Foreign corn and timber from Norway were
carried over the lines of English railways at a much les3 rate
than English timber and corn; whilst English butter was
charged ten times as much as French butter. In concluding
hi? lordship said — I am not one of those who believe that
British agriculture is dead — (llpar, hear) — and although the
difficulties surrounding it are enormous and formidable- — T
helieve they can be surmounted, and the business still male a
flourishing one. To achieve success, however, every effort
must be made. The weak men have already gone to the will,
and it remains for the strong men to fight the battle on behalf
op their trade and calling. The programme before you and
the campaign to be undertaken are no light matters. I cannot
tell what political party will be foremost in the race. It
places Bn ish agriculture again not only in a successful
position, but in the very first position in the commercial
contest. I nj 'ice in taking leavu of you at the termination
of my year ot ollice, that this Chiraber is in a prosperous
position, and that, di tinctly eschewing party politics, it
devotes itself harmoniously to further the best interests of
every branch of British agriculture (cheers).

The. report having been received, the Council proceeded to
elect eight subscription members of the Central Chamber to
be members of the Council in lieu of those who retired by
•rotation, but wetc eligible for re-election — the result being
that the loilowiug were elected: — The Marquis of Huntly,
Mr. Thomas Wilson, Mr. Jasper Morp, Mr. C. M.Caldecotr,
Mr. T. Bell, Mr. J. Bowen Jones, Mr. G. Smjthies, and Mr.
Thos. Arkell.

The proceedings then terminated.

SCOTTISH.

THE LAND LAWS.

\ meeting of the Scottish Chamber of Agriculture was
held on Wednesday, December 10th, at Edinburgh, in the
Koyal Hotel. Mr. Bethune, of Blebo, one of the vice-
presidents, occupied the chair.

The Chairman called on Mr. Johu M'Laren, advocate,
to read a paper on the Land Laws — a subject, he said,
interesting to everyone, whether owuera, occupiers, or
the public

After some preliminary remarks, Mr. M'Laren, said : —

No treatment of the l.md question can be regarded as
satisfactory which does not deal with the two subjects of
tenure or property in laud, and the law of landlord and tenant.
I believe it is the wish of the Scotch farmers that the Laud
Laws in both branches should be made to conform to the
principles of political economy. I, therefore, venture to
-juggest for your consideration two principles which ought to

guide our inquiries. The first is that free scope shonld be
given to the natural forces which tend to the accumulation
and to the dispersion of lanr", avoiding all direct legislative
interrereoce with tiie action ol these lorces. Sly second prin-
ciple, or motive of legisla'ion, is the removal of the existing
obstacles to free contract between landlord and tenant, and the
placing the parties as far as possible in a position o' snch
independence that they can contract on equal terms. la
forming an opinion as to the legislative re'orms which are
necessary in the laws relating to tenure and occupation of
land, your conclusions are most likely to be well founded if
they are based ou a fair consideration of the causes of the
existing agricultural depression, and the. disadvantages to
which the occupier of land is exposed in this as compared with
other countries. You have been told by gentlemen who
represent one sec'ion of the landed interest, and who, I do n >t
doubt, have a real sympathy with the farmer, that agricultural
depression is simply a phas>e of that general depression under
which agriculture must suffer in common with other branches
of in lustre. This, if true at all, is obviouslv a very pa-tal
and incomplete s'atement ol the question. Everyone knows
that the conditions of prosperity are vrry different in an
agricultural community from those which affect manufactures,
and it is evident that some at least of the causes which have
affected trade in the mining and manufacturing districts have
no influence whatever on agricultural iudustrv. In a country
like ours, where an abundant supply of coal ant iron exists,
it may be affirmed that there is really no physical limit to the
production of manufactured goods. Hence there is a constaut
tendency to work np to the extreme limits of the possible
demand for every kind of manufactured product. When,
however, from a change of circumstance*, it may be in distant
parts ol the world, there resu'ts a diminished demand for our
product, we are at once confronted with all the difficulties
incident to over-pro luction, diminished wa»es to the workm-n,
excessive competition, and loss of capital to fie employer. In
the profession of agriculture, as carried on in this couutry, I
ue'd hardly say over-production is altogether out of the
question. There is and can be no competition affecting
priees amongst the home growers of grain or wool, sirap'y
because their unite 1 produce under the most perfect farming
which the wo'ld has seen is who, ly insufficient to supply the
home market. The co n petition which has brought down the
price or corn, cattle, and (Uiry produce is nee -ssarily and ex-
clusively a competition with a forego producer, who 'S
en bled by the t rl vantages of c ieap land and more favourable
ec inomic conditions to unde sell the British producer in his
own market, and to make a fair profit after providing for tl e
cost or railway carriage aud freight to t hi « country. This
c :mpeti ion is obviously an element of a p-rmanent nature,
aid has no hing to i'o with the variations of supply aud de-
mand which in other industries mainly aff-ct prices. I be-
lieve the dis'incfion is per'ectly appreciated by our raas'er
manufacturers and workmei. Tliev are not asking the
Government to do anything for them, unless, perhaps, not lo
stand between t'lem and ihe bu«, because they know that the
caii'Ci which affe-.t commercial prosperity, altho igh nit alto-
gether unintluence 1 by wise or unwise government, are cer-
tain'y not remediable by Act of Parliament. Parliament has
already done all that it can do for commerce by removing the
restric ions which interfere w th the Iree interchange of coin-
mo. uties. Hut this cinnot be said with regard 'o agriculture,
and, in the opinion of a powerful sec'ion of the agriculturists
of this country, the high cost of production which makes it so
d'dicilt to compee with the Amsricin producer is aggravated
by laws which tend to raise land beyond its natural
price, and to impede the economical application of capital 'o
its iinprovement. No argument of mine is needed, in ad-
dressing Scotch agriculturists, to prove that the removal of
those obstacles is matter of primary and paramount impor-
tance to your great industrial interes' : indeed, it is not too
much to siy that it is a question involving the very subsistence
of the agricultural population, ani with it of our national
prosperity. It is t'ue that we cannot imitate the conditions
of agricultural i-.dustry in America, in so far as these are dne
to natural causes, to abundance ot land and fertility of soil.
But I would venture to point ont that the agriculturist of
France is in no belter position than you are, in regard to the
possession ot an abundant and nnexhausted toil. D, then,
the French farmer is able to make a fair profit in the home

TIIK FARMERS' .M.-U.AZIXR.

4X

market, nnd even to export both corn and wine to this country,
although ocein steamers ply regularly Irom New York to ihe
ports of eastern Fr nee, I am justifie I in saying that mrter
natural conditions r.ot differing materially from those affecting
our own soil, and under the more benignant laws and customs
regulating the tenure of land which there prevail, it is pos-
sible for the skil'ed agriculturist to compete successfully with
the foreigner. I am uot sure whether the proposition might
not be applied with substantial accuracy to every country in
Europe to which foreign produce may he brought by sea and
river communic ition, though ol course, there are other ele-
rnen's, such as protective tariffs, which must be taken into
account in a genejal comp&rrso a between Great Britain and
the Continent ol Euro.e. Now, if it be true that the British
agricultural population is the one agricultural community in
Europe which suffers severely from competition with
the loud-producing areas of America and India, we may
at least he sure, that our exceptional pusitio a is n it due
to any inferiority of skill on our par', or to a want
of energy and enterprise in the application of capital to the
business ol farming. In no country of the world does agri-
culture as a»i art stand so high as in the fertile lands of
pastern England and the lowlands of Scotland. The inference^
1 think, is irresistible that our disadvantages result Irura those
restrictive provisions of the Land Laws which are peculiar to
this country. Our object, therefore, must be to remove those
artificial restrictions which press upon agricultural industry,
and to establish a system of absolute freedom of exchange in
regard to the prop< rty of land, and of absolute freedom of
contract in the relation of landlord and tenant. Now, the
great and characteristic distinction between the English system
of land tenure and that ol America ana1 Continental Europe
is this — that only au inconsiderable part of the land of Great
liri ain is owned by the cultivator, while in those countries
the arts of agriculture a1 d stock larming are carried on not
<;nly by tenant farmers, but to a very large extent by free-
holders farming their own lands, and who in number, and

of encouraging a class of yeomen proprietors in onr colonies,
irt'-n who in social portion would corresruud to the ti mat
farmers of our own country. But 1 have not observed that
those writers who are much alarmed at the notion of peasant
prmrietorship off r any practical suggestions in support of
such changes in the Land Liws of onr own country as are
calculated to bring about the restoration of the class of
yeomen, or small 're»hold farmers, who at onetime constituted
a valuable element of English society. If I am asked whether
I am in favour of legislation tending to the establishment of a
class of yeomen or proprietary-farmers in preference to a
system of cul'ure by tenant farmers, my answer is that I am
not in favour of giving preference by law to either. I am
favourable to the removal ol all artificial impediments to the
acquisition of land, whether in property or in tenancy,
believing that under the influence of the. natural economic laws
those forms of tenure will establish thniselves which afford
the best security and the largest return tor his capital to the
skilled agriculturist. It is a remarkahle tact that in France
and America, where, during the preceding century, the
economic forces affecting the distribution of land have had
free play, the tTO classes of propriet ry farmers and tenant
farmers nourish together, each contributing in his own way
to the development of agricultural industry, and neither being
able to drive the other out of the field. From this historical
fact I infer that the co-existence of the two systems of land
tenure, which I shall call for shortness the system of mixed
tenure, is the natural and the best system. Under a mixed
system, th- capitalist farmer will generally prefer the position
of a proprietary farmer, thereby securing in perpetuity the
value of the improvements which he makes upon his holding,
To the man of small espial, hut Superior skill, the occupation
of a tenant farmer will be open. It is evident that under the
mixed system even the tenant farmer will hold a better posi-
tion than he does in a country where, there are no proprietary
farmers ; and for this reason, that in a country where a large
proportion of the proprietors farm their own lands, aud

probably also in the extent of their holdings, constitute a j where a farmer in good credit will in most cases

more considerable and influential class than the tenant tanners,
When I speak of America I include our Canadian Dominion
us well as the United States ; and I wish to say that I refer
to France and America not for the purpose of instituting any
comparison bttween their forms of government and our own—
I refer to them simply as peoples who, in wealth, intelligence,
and the arts of civilisation, are comparable to our own, and
whose experience, there ore, in an economic question such as
this may be fitly considered by us. I do not think that any
useful purpose would be served by re/erring to Russia or to
India, countries from which we derive part of our supplies of
wheat, but whose social condition aud whose land laws, based
as they are on the communal or village tenure, are widely
different from ours, and incapable of being introduced into
Western Europe. Now, you know that in France and the
greater part of the American continent the land is free in tuis
sense, that the law only permits of unqualified ownership.
It cannot be tied up by settlements, so that a man shall have
the rights of ownership without the power uf disposal incident
to ownership, and without the ability to pet form the i U'ies of a
landed proprietor. Land in those couniries where entails are
not permitted by the law may be said to be always in the
market, just like other commodities, it can be had in lirger
or smaller quantities, suited to the means and requirements of
differeut classes of purchasers. Iu this country it is not so.
I am not now expressing an opinion, but simply stating a fact
when I say that if a considerable number of our fa-iner3, dis-
Bttisfied with the conditions of leasehold tenure,
and having the command of capital, should desire, to
become freeholders in their respective localities, farm-
ing their own lands, the experiment could not be
carried out, because laud is not in the market
in quantities corresponding to the size of an average farm.
Here and there a farm may be had for sale, and we know that
some successful farmers have bought land, aud have shown
how much its productive powers may be increased by a skilled
agriculturist, who knows that the benefit of his improvement
will accrue to himself or to his children. But these exceptions
only briug into stonger relief the barrier which iu this country
feparates the ownership of land from its possession and culti-
vation. I am not going to enter upon the subject of peasant
proprietorship, or what I venture to call the side issue of the
relative merits of large and small farms, and the importance

be able to buy, there will necessarily be less competition for
those farms which are offered en lease. This choice of tenure
in effect operates as an inducement to landlords to be fair and
reasonable in the terms which they offer to their tenants — a
legitimate inducement, because resulting from the operaron
of supply and demand rathe-- than from the direct infl lence
of hgislation. Ho'ding, as I do, that the development of
agriculture will be promoted by the establishment of two
classes of cultivator-, freeholders and tenants, and that all
legielative interference in favour of the one class or the other
is a political mistake, the reform of the land laws embraces
two otjects, which correspond to the propositions which I
ventured to state in the outs t — firat, free-trade or freedom ot
exchange as applied to the sal", of land by the abolition of
existing entails, aud their prohibition in the future ; secondly
freedom of contract', or, to speak more accurately, f quality of
contract, between landlord and tenant, by the removal of a!l
artificial preference and presumptions in fivour of the pro-
prietor. Su h are the Liws of Hypothec and Distress, and
the rule that whatever is placed in or on the soil b Comes the
property of the proprietor. Under the Sco'ch Law of Entail
the greater part of the land of the country — probably not Fss
than three. fou-ths — is fettered, to use a significant legal term,
so that it cannot be sold or mortgaged, ex"fnt in certain re-
mote contingencies prescribed by Act of Parliament, or by
purchasing the consent of the three ne irest heirs. I do notkn >w
that the materials ix'st in nn accessible form from wh ch
an estimate cm be made of the pro[0-tioi of tie entailed
to the unentailed ltud of Scotland. Many estates have been
disentailed by purchasing the consents, or, in other words,
paying the value of the intent of the heirs recognised by law
us having a vested right. B i' i consists with ray knowledge
th it in many such ca-.es the estates are re-entailed alter
money has been borrowed on the. security of the esta'e, or
after the desired alterations in the family arrangements have
teen effected. If I were to form an opitiion from the
evidence which has cutne before me, in my practice, I should
say that only a v ry small proportion of the land of Scotland
is held in fee-si'tple by the proprietors. Where property is
not entai'ed under the Scottish s'atute of lfi85. it is usually
conveyed in trust, and the powers of the trustees, both iu
regard to sales and the improvement of the estate, are strictly
limited hy the terns of the trust . Under the Scotch Law of

D 2

THE FABMElt'S MAGAZINE.

Entail, a landed proprietor is virtually a tenant for life. lie
cannot perform the smallest set of ownership until he has
obtained the authority of the Court of Session ; indeed, in the
case of large estates, it may be said that applications to the
Court are a part of the ordinary management of the property
—the Court of Session being in a manner constituted guar-
dians to the owners of estates throughout Scotland. An heir
of entail may make improvements if he chooses to
pay for them out of his own pocket. But the law
does not allow him to bonow the money required for
the purpose on the security of the estate (except
under the supervision of the Court), and therefore,
unless the proprietor has a private fortune independently
of the estate, he is not likely to do anything important except
at the expense of the estate. It is commonly supposed that
the Law of Entail has been much amelioraed by the various
Entail Amendment Acts enlarging the powers of the heir in
possession. These Acts can in their nature only afford tem-
porary relief. Under their authority each heir in his order
borrows as much money as ever he can on the security of the
estate, leaving the burden of payment to be borne by his
successors The result of this system of making things
pleasant all round is in the case of many of the smaller pro-
perties— I will not say chronic bankruptcy— bat a state of
indebtedness in which bankruptcy would be almost welcomed
The old law of Scotland was at least consistm*. Its
aim and object wss to preserve the estate to the family in
perpetuity, and it was a condition of every settlement that the
heirs of entail should be prohibited from contracting debt.
Under modern legislation we have found it convenient to
entail the debts as well as the land, and it is not surprising
that the present proprietary, who have come into this peculiar
kind of inheritance, should be almost unanimous in desiring
the total abolition of the, Law of Entail I shall not
stop to point out the injurious effects of this law in retard-
ing the improvement of land, because I believe you are in
accord with the general sentiment of political economists in
desiring the total prohibition of entailing clauses or trusts of
the nature of entails in future conveyances of lands. It is
not enough, however, to prohibit the future creation of such
rights. Consistency requires that a system which is con-
demned should immediately be brought to an end, and
that the actual owner of the land, whatever be his legal
designation, should be empowered to dispose of it, and to
invest the surplus price, after payment of debts, on safe
security. It is, of course, a principle of all legislation on such
subjects that regard must be had to vested interest-', and this
condition will, in my opinion, be completely falfilled by giving
the present proprietor or heir the same lie interest in the
price which he previously had in the heritable estate, and
gpcuring the reversion to the heirs, not exceeding three in
number, who are recognised by law as having vested interests.
I think that this arrangement would be more beneficial in its
operation thau the present statutory form of disentail, under
which the substitute heirs are compensated by immediate pay-
ments. To illustrate this— suppose the case of an entailed
estate worth £100,000, and charged with debt amounting to
£60,000. The rental at 3 per cent, will be £3,000 per annum,
but the interest on the debt at 4 per cent, will absorb two-
thirds of the rental, leaving the proprietor a net income of
cnly £1,000 a-year. By selling the estatt and paying off the
debt there remains a surplus of £50,000 in cash, which, if
ir.vested on mortgage at 4 per cent, will yield the proprietor
£2,000 a-year, tuns at once doubling his income without
interfering in any degree with the rights of his suc-
cessors. There can be no doubt that these powers of sale
would be largely taken advantage of, and the result
would be that land would come into the market, and in
many cases estates would be broken up. It is not
unreasonable to suppoee that portions would be purchased by
practical agriculturists desirous of farmiug their own land,
who would thus be enabled to earn two out of the three profits
which we have been told, on high authority, every estate is
bound to yield to its cultivators. In order, however, to the
8ucce8sful working of the radical change in our property laws
which I propose, the powers of the Irish Encumbered Estates
Court ought to be extended to Scotland. This need not cost
anything to the Exchequer. Oae of the Judges of our
Supreme Court might be deputed to undertake the duties of
Judge of a Landed Estate Court, and any addition which may
vfre ncccssarv • the * T of clerks of Court could be pr.

for by Court fees payable on each transaction, and fixed with
reference to the value of the estate brought into the Court !or
the purpose of sale and reinvestment of the price. To this
Court might also be appropriated the consideration of all
applications under the existing Estate Amendment Act, with
which in the meantime I do not propose that Parliament
should interfere. If the interests of agriculture and commerce
require the liberation of the land from the restraints imposed
by existing entails, it follows, as a necessary consequent, that
the powers of testators as regards future settlements of landed
property must be materially abridged. I have before me the
heads of a bill drawn up in the year 1765 by the Committee
of the Faculty of Advocates, the .leading enactment of which
is to the effect that it should not be law'ul by any settlement
•' to limit or restrain any heir of tailzie not in life at the time
of making such settlement or not specially named therein."
The minutes of the Faculty record the tact that a vote was
taken on the recommendations of this report, and that of the
members present 43 voted for the approval of the report, and
onlv four against it. In the same year a very able argument
against entails was published by Mr. Swinton, afterwards a
Judge of the Court of Session, and in a sentence from his
opinion I may fitly end this part of my subject — "Perpetui-
ties," he concludes, " deserve no sort of favour in any respect,
and it is worthy of the enlarged and liberal sentimeuts of
these times to abolish them by an express law. We owe it to
ourselves, to our families, to commerce, and to public liberty."
I am afraid the time will not admit of my entering upon the
various points in the law of landlord and tenant specially in-
teresting to farmers. With your permission, however, I shall
say a few words on the subject of compensation for improve-
menK The principle of the common law is that agricultural
fixtures are the landlord's property, although trade fixtures
are removable by the tenant. No valid reason can be given
for the distinction ; it is an anomaly, originating like many
anomalies in our laws from the circumstance that the law has
been largely moulded from the decisions of the Court, and that
udges differing in their opini.ns and prepossessious have left
their ma'k in what may be termed the Judee-inade Statu'e
Book. Wherever improvements in the nature of fixtures
admit of being removed, I apprehend that the person who
provides them, be he teninf, or lile-renter, or limited owner,
ought in equity to be entitled to take them away, unless he
prefers to arrange with the proprietor for compensation. This,
however, does not meet the case of ordiuary agricultural im-
provements, which in general do not admit of being removed
except at a cost disproportionate to their value. Various
schemes have accordingly been proposed for determining the
respective claims of landlord and tenant on equitable princi-
ples. The most ambitious of these, and the best known, is
the celebrated Agricultural Holdings Act, which professed to
compensate in one comprehensive clause improvements of
every description, from the embankment of navigable rivers
to the trenching and manuring of land, but carefully provided
that no compensation should be due where the proprietor con-
tracted with his tenant to he exempt from the operation of
the Act. I have not heard that any proprietor has elected to
come within the operation of the Act. I think you will agree
with me that this was a dishonest piece of legislation. Opin-
ions may differ as to whether the Legislature should award
compensation irrespective of agreement, but it is not consistent
with sound administration that any man should have the
right to exempt himself from the general public law of the
country. Tile Agricultural Holdings Act was probably never
intended to be put in operation ; if it had been, I think it
goes a great deal too far. It does not distinguish between
tenants' improvements and what are, or ought to be, landlords'
improvements. I am not of those who think that the ques-
tion of compensation for agricultural improvements can be
summarily dismissed with the observation that it must be dealt
with by a private contract. The principle of Tenant-Right
has been admitted by Parliament, and it is impossible to avoid
considering it on its merits. My opinions are entirely opposed
to legislative interference with^freedom of contract, but the
terra contract must not be extended beyond its fair legal
meaning. A promise to give something away without con-
sideration is not a contract either in law or in common sense,
and it is at least an open question amongst jurists whether
the law should, under all C'reumstances, enforce a mere promise
or one-sided stipulation. The qupstion must be d
with reference merely to the interests of the party suiug for

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

45

enforcement, who li*9 confessedly given nothing in exchange
for tlie ohligation, but on considerations of justice and expe-
diency. Li the case of an agreement to give a certain rent
lor so many acres of land, and to make no claim for improve-
ments, the tenant is of course under no obligation and has no
inducement to improve. It is, however, for the public interest
that the laud shall be improved, and if improvements are pre-
vented by prohibitory agreement, it is the public which suffers.
Out of these opposing considerations it is not easy to extract
a clear principle, aud I think the qu°etion is one which ourrlit
to be approached iu the spirit of compromise. In this view
improvements may be roughly divided into three classes: — 1.
Permanent improvements, which are usually and properly
made by the proprietor; 2, tenants' meliorations ; and 3, an
intermediate class difficult to define; which are sometimes
made by the proprietor, sometimes by the tenant. An attempt
ought to be made to enumerate and classify agricultural im-
provements with refereucj to compensation. The first class
includes improvements snch as the tenant has clearly no
right to make without his landlord's consent, and which must
necessarily be tiie subject of agreement. The Act, however,
should provide the machinery lor assessing their value in an
inexpensive and convenient form, with a view to the allocation
of the value in proportions which may have been agreed upon.
As to improvements of the second class the tenaut ought to
be required to give notice to his landlord, who may then, if he
chooses, execute the work himself, charging the tenant inte-
rest at a rate to be fixed by the statute. Failing thi<, the
tenant may then be entitled to proceed with the work, with a
right to receive a certain proportion of his ourlay at the
expiry of the lease, unless he is prohibited from doing so by
the landlord, subject to this condition that the landlord should
not have the power to prohibit operations necessary to the
due cultivation of the farm. By some such condition
as this, I think that the principle of freedom of
contract may be maintained, subject to the limita-
tion recognised by all jurists and economists without
exception, that the Legisla ure may prohibit, and the Courts
of Law may refuse to enforce, contracts which they denounce
on the ground of apprehended injury to the well-being of the
community, vVhether contracts restraining the due cultivation
of arable estates should be permitted by the law is, I thiuk,
a fair question for the consideration of the Legislature, having
regard to the uecessit es of the country and the ra'io between
its population and its food supplies. VVith regard to improve-
ments of the third class, and more particularly to the improve-
ment of land through unexhausted manures, I am disposed to
thiuk, though I sp>-ak with diffidence in the presence of many
who are niore qmlitied than I to form on opinion, that claims
of this nature thould lie not directly against the proprietor,
but against the incoming tenant, on this ground, that, by
reason of these additions to the soil, he is enabled to effect a
saving of expeuuiture in the earlier ye*rs of his lease. No
doubt under this arrangement it may be said the burden would
fall to some extent on the proprietor, if it were allowed for in
rent ; but, however thin may be, I think the claim ought to
bs dealt with iu the same way as other claims against incoming
tenants, now recognised by local custom, and which are
usually settled by the arbitration of practical men. It must
always be remembered that the abolition of the law of entail
would take away at least one inducement to the execu'ion ol
improvements by lauded proprietors, which is that by charging
improvements as a debt upon the estate, the proprietor obtains
an immediate benefit in the shape of increased rental, and at
the same time is enabled to transmit the claim as a provision
to his younger children at the expense of the heir. It is
tkerelore probable that under a system of fee-simple property,
proprietors wouid be more disposed to leave to the tenaut the
responsibility of improving in the first instance under arrange-
ments by which a certain proportion of the expenditure s-hnli
be returned to him at the eud of his lease. In the case sup-
posed the tenant is very much in the position of the heir of
entail, making improvements for the benefit of the estate
The heir of entail receives from the Legislature a right to
compensation more extensive in kind and degree than any
which I have suggested as reasonable and proper in a question
between landlord and tenant, though if the heir of eutail is
viewed as a tenant for life, which is his legal position under
the law of England, the two cases are really not so dis-
similar as they might at first appear to be.

After several members had spokeu. Professor Bl.v
tbc iari' : >.dc a few rooiarks, H«

said it was not only the lawyers and the landlords and the
ajriculturi«ts that were concerned in this question, but the
general public. Ha knew perfectly well that the main
cause of their grievances were those monstrous entail
laws, which were purely an invention of wretched vanity on
the part of a few gentlemen wishing to perpetuate themselves
in this world after they had gone to the other. The
will of no dead man was entitled to trammel the ac'ion of
those walking on this living platform before God. The land
laws of Scotlmd were not only bad, but they could not help
being bad, because they were made by the strong party in the
State for the benefit of t'.e strong. That was human nature.
He did not blame them for it. They would have been asses
if, when they had the power, they did not give it fuli swing ;
nevertheless, iu regard to all those artificial restrictions, let
them be swept off without mprcy. That should have been
done long ago. The Professor v.ent, on to show that
the dispersion of the independent yeomanry of Rome was
one of the causes of the downfall of that Empire ; that Sparta
suffered through thu destruction of tie middle classes ; and in
those facts, he said, there was a lesson for themselves. There
was something wrong with Juhn Bull, and with " Sandy " too,
in so far as the land laws was concerne 1. He had no hesi-
tation in sayiug that the excessive accumulation of land in
this country was a source of evil. The pulpit should have
thundered against this, and Dr. Bpgg had done so.
It wss quite plain, if there be any truth in philosophy at all,
that the distribution of property amongst the people was far
more important than the accumulUion of it in the hands of
the few. They must re-make their laws-, aud if
possible retrace their s eps in this matter — not in the violent
forcible way 1 heir Irish friends were doing; but in the
way their friend Mr. M'Laren had suggested. If, after that
were done, it was fonnd that the tendency was for the land
btill to accumulate iu the hands of a few big men — and he
did not believe it would — then they must alter their laws again
to prevent that. He had four things to say ou this
question. First, no person should be entitled to entail his
property to anybody but those alive ; secondly, they should
do all they could to make the tenants perfectly independent,
so that they might look like men in the face of their landlords,
and not like vassals, slaves, or puppets. They must be as
independent on their acres as he was in his chair. Neither
the Queen on the throne nor the whole Presbytery of the
Free Church could dictate to him about the accent of a single
Creek word and let the farmer be respected and free as much
as a professional gentleman. After he adjusted those laws, he
should do something for the small proprietors. Not in a mad
way, certainly, but he thought there wis a prejudice against
peasant proprietor ou the part of Johu Bull. lie thought that
in the neighbourhood of towns, and all places where spade hus-
bandry might be practicable, they might have a class of men
who would work along with the large farmers to their own
advautage, and the advantage of the community. Let no man
speak against the thing until it be tried. Ha wanted also to have
something done to secure the rights of the labourer. He
wanted to have the bothy system put do.vn, and to see crolts
for the labourers made an appanage of all large estates. The
neglect of that had tended very much to the de^ alition of
the noblest peasautry in the world The. learned
Professor concluded by saying that if he could bs useful to
them in any way he should be happy to help them in this
national movements

The Chairman said he agreed with almost everything he
had he »rd that day. He thought Mr. M'Laren had gone tc
the root of the matter in his p iper. What the Chamhe!
wished to see done was to take away all obstructive laws, an
to let natural laws prevail. They could not, how-
ever, hope to carry reforms in a hurry in this country ; they
must peg away at. them, and ha hoped entail would be doue
away with as soon as they could get it. He believed mauy
gentlemen with large estates would be very glad to break
them up. The peasant proprietor was very much abused.
He said that a man should have land who could pay lor it _,
call him peasant, prince, or anything ehe.

IXGRESS AND EG HESS.— A little girl was visiting
the country, and for the first time witnessed the operation of
milking. Watchiug the proceeding intently for a while, sh
inspected the cow minutely, aud lauuehod thi-. poc.

Where, do they put it in

40

Agricultural

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

^afcle Calfe.

At the dinner of the Weat Herts Agricultural Society on
Dec. 9th, Lord Salisbury after referring to agricultural de-
pression, reciprocity, and peasant proprietorship, said: — We
are. told that the present laws of the settlement of land ought
to be done away with. Tlie present iaws affecting the settle-
ment of land have Do other effect except that of preventing the
landed proprietor from mortgaging his land and squandering
his capital. I have met geutlemen even in this country who
believe that there is something in the existing Ian I laws which
prevents ihe landlord from selling bis property. I am myself
the owner of an entailed estate, and I am speaking iu the
presence of many owners of entailed estate?, and I think they
will agree with me that in all modern seflemen's any pro-
vision restraining the sale of property is not to be. found. A
man who is the owner of an entailed estate can seil it if he
pleases. He can, if he please, rai-e the money to pay iff his
mortgages, under the operation of the Act of 186 k He can
if he please, use his money for the purpose, under due pre-
caution, of improving his estate. The one thing that he
cannot do is to employ his capital as if it were the income, and
squander it away. Now, I don't believe tint if the law were
lepealed there would be any great change. My opinion is that
any landowner, if wise and prudent, would snll regard his
capital as capital, and would not apeod it ap au income; if on
the contrary, he was an extravagant roan he would not be
setting au example that it would he for the good of society to
encourage. The law of settlement prevents the raWng of un-
limited mortgages on land ; but there is no tenure more
destructive to the wellbeing of a country, more destructive to
the relations between landlord and tenant, and fatal to im-
provements, than the holding of land by a man whose land is
so heavily mortgaged that he has no further direct interest in
the property. Ag«iu I say that no advantage whatever would
acC'Ue to the farmer by any change in respect to the law of
settlement, and whether it is dtsirable (abstractedly or not),
whether the existing laws are good or bad, whether they are
capable of simplification or not, they cannot iu any degree be
connected with the difficulties that depress agriculture, aud we
are led on a false scent if we are asked in consequence of
distress to consider a scheme of that character. I always feel
that with respect to all these, propo-itions, the mistake that is
made by their authors is that tbey make too much ol the land-
lord. You may depend upon it that the relation between
landlord and tenant will adjust itself more and more easily ;
as in consequence of recent events, landlords and tenants are
in the r.pen market on equal terms. It rests are too high, or
if there is any clause in an agreement which should be re-
moved, that is easily done now. On the question of compensa-
lien for uuexhaasted improvements there is no doubt that the
fanner should be compensated, but when it is suggested that i
should be a matter of legislative compulsion the question is
wl ether it applies to the present condition of demand and
supplv. If compensation is to be givea for uuexhausted ira
provements to the tenant, compensation for dilapidations will
have to he given to the landlord. My theory is, is \ou force
the tenant to ask for compensation on his side the landlord
will ask f<;r compensation also. I «i!l not say who will gain,
but it is certain that so tie. one will levy a heavy fine ou both,
and that is the lawyer. I consider th. y are making too much
o/ the landlord and his share in the business, and that the
future of agriculture will depend on very different things and
uery much larger causes than that which affects imts or the
velatiou of landlord aud tenant. I bel eve that there is a
future for agric.ilure in England the conditions uf which will
differ very considerably from those of the. pa-t. We hear a
good deal of the importance of the investment of capital in
land, and of measures width will eucourage the investment of
capital; but there is no great desire on the part ol the
capitalist to respond. Agriculturists have too much forgotten
that yon cannot make a silk purse out of a how'sear. During
the last generation capital has been invested in laud on which
that capital will not be returned, aud in many parts of the.
country land has gro.vn wheat when i's natural function was
row fir trees. — Alter referring to the obsolete four-course
m and the necessity of farming with grain, the noble
Marquis said that agriculturists must fol ow the example of
afacturen and produce the article for which 'lure was the

greatest demand and the best market. Competition wi h
America iu the matter of wheat would decrease a* the co t uf
carriage increased on the o'her side of the Atlantic, in conse-
quence of tne farmer going further wes*., and so further from
the seaboard. The present low tariff charged by the railways
would not, he believed, continue. In the matter of poultry,
eggs, gud dairy produce, the tanner had no competition to
fear, on account of his proximity to the market, and he re-
commended their increased cultivation. In cone usion, the
noble Marquis said — It is easy to exaggerate the evils which
American competition threaten to us iu the future. It is easy
to'ake too dark a view of agriculture. My objpet has been
not to look so much to legislation, not to look so much to the
landlord, hu' to occupiers and owners who trust to their
resources and energies to overcome these evils \ and I rhink it
well may be that wneu the stress of the present pressure has
passed by we shall look back to this evil time as one that
stimulated our energies, and at the same time strengthened and
confirmed the prosperity of our land.

At the dinner of the Chichester Fat Stock Show on
D c. 10th, the Duke ot Kichmoxd and Gordo?;, in response
t the toast of his health, sad : — those who di cu-s the laud
raws, the laws of entail aud settlement, shou'd reme nbar that
they are daingwith laws that have existtd in this country
for hund-eds of yfars, and which prevail" d in prospeousas
well as in disastrous times. I cannot sfe how with any leeical
prnpre'y the two qqnstions en bi mixed up. Those who
wi-di to b-ing forward the l°nd Uws as having any onm-ction
with the existing agricultural depression ought to show (what
I have not yet seen any attempt to show) that those esta'es
which are not entailed and settled are free from the p-evileut
depn ssion and are better managt d than othtr parts of the
country. They are also bcund to show that upon those es'a'es,
be they Urge or be they small, which are under the law of
entail and asttlemeot agricultural depression prevails iu an
-rdue degree, that the tenants on those estates are discontented
scd that the labourers are bidly housed, ill f d, and not
properly pa'd. Unless thev prove thes^ things they
have noright to mix up the laws of- entail and settlement
with the pre-ent agricultural depression. Another point
which kas beeu unnecessarily introduced iuto the discussion
of this qn stiou is that of peasant proprietors. My
impression is that a number of people who talk about
peasant proprietors are talking about a matter of which they
know very littK It appears to me that in the present day
pessant proprietors are not whit is wanted by the general
public, lluudreds of years ago there were such things, but
the system is not oue that commends itself to the present
generation. It is not suited to the exigencies of the times.
Peasant proprietors have gone out, because as years went on,
and as capital increased in his country, the capitalists wan'ed
a better return for the capital they pit in' o the soil than can
be obtained by those who are c tiled peasant proprietors. 1 for
one have noohj-rtion whatever to small holdings, and [would
not for the world say they should be abolished ; but to say
that by any compulsory lav you are to divide this country
into such small holdings as is iudica'ed by the phrnke-
"■ peasant proprietor^," is contrary to the spirit ol the
age, and, as I believe, to the well being of the country.
N »w, some of those who oppose the. policy which we as a
Government have adopted, have, thrown it in our teeth that
we are, or have heen, neglectful of the agricultural interest.
In the tew remarks which I wi>h to make, it will be my duty
to show that that is not a correct statement. It Ins been
said by a very distinguished man that the moment the farmer's
fri;nl is elected in Parliament he ceaees to become the
farmers' friend, ai d becomes the landlords' friend. Well, I
take exception to that, for the farmer's friend, that is the
occupier's friend, aud the owner's friend are one and the same
thing, because the interes's of the two are inseparably bound
up together. It has beeu the fa5liiou to say that the Agricul-
tural Holdings Act is a mere sham, that it is not worth (he
paper it is written upon, and that it. is productive of no good
whatever to the country or the agricultural interest. I wish
to prove to yon the reverse of that proposition. I claim some
knowledge on this question because it fell to ray duty as
a member of the Government to have the Bill prepared and
brought in, and to take an active part in passing it through
Pailjamenl, The Bill m it in entirety in the uitrtesti

THE FARMER'S MAGAZLME.

47

of tlie orcup:er of land. It was brought in because we felt
that the slate of matters in regard to agricultural holdings
was not on a satisfactory basis. That measure for the first
time set up a presumption in favour ol the tenant. Former
improvements bting made upon a farm became the property of
ihe landlord, but lor the first time by the passing of that Act
it became the preemption of the lav that a tenant must be
compensated for money he had had out on the land the bene-
fit of which he had not received on the exp. ration of his lease or
tenancy. Therelore, if it con'ained that provision alone it was
a benefit to the occupier of the soil. Another beneficial result
of the Act was that it induced most people to enter into agree-
ments, instead of trusting to their old parole arrangements,
which were not satisfactory, as I well know, in many part3 of
the counlry. It was also set up byxthe Act that for the future
there should be a year's notice to quit instead of six months,
and a year's notice, as we all know, means practically eighteen
months. Thai I conceive to be in the interest, not only of the
octupier but of the owner of the soil. The Act set up a mode
of arranging matter- boih in regard to improvements and other
things which had not been dealt with be.foie, and to my mind
the operation ol it will conduce greatly to the benefit of both
landlord and tenant. It has been objected that the measure is
valueless, because it is not compulsory. If it had been a
Bill of a compulsory chancter, I would have had nothing to
do with it, because I am one of tho6e who h ve very strong
otjeeiions to interlering with the freedom ol contract. I
believe that the tenants of the country, the occupiers of land,
are perfectly competent to make such arrangeme.n's with the
owners ol land as they may think fit and to their advantage.
The Duke also referred to the Cattle Diseases Act.

Mr. Lane, the tenant-finuers' candidate of South
Warwickshire, in speakiug at the dinner of the Shipstou-on-
Stjur cattle show, on Dec. 8:1), said: —

He should never have dreamt of assuming the position he
now rccupied, but that the tenant farmers had placed him in
it, again»t his personal inclination. Tie recognised the
necessity for some one coming forward to represent their
in erests, to stand in the breach and to fight their battle, but
he should ue*er have come forward if any one else could have
been induced to undertake the « ork. But having entered the
coufl" t, he was prepared to continue the sfruggle if the farmers
would only stand by h m and support him. If they re'urned
him as their member, the responsibility of the choice would
rest with them; but he could assure thein that if they did
select him as their representative nothing should deter him
from upholding in the Legislature the best interests of agri- ! to show how fir the^e rents are reasonable orotherwis

country, as in Fn nee, would fend to the iroRprrity of the
British faim»r Still he knew that with regard to
o ir land laws there was room for improvement, for the
advantage alike of landowners, tenants, and labourers.
As to tenants for life, fe'tlements, and t'listeeships,
there was ample scope for change, and it was desirab'e that
the transfer of land should be facilitated, alt hough uufortunately
they knew that there were now plenty of estates in the market.
The transfer might be cheapened, and registration might
provide a Government title available at all times. Whilst
recognising generally the value of the existing system, under
which lar.d descetd-d to the male heir, he knew instances in
his own county where gentlemen wruld not expend large suras
of momy upon esta'es wlr'ch would go to other brandies of
their family at their death ; but if some plan c.u'd be adopted
by which the outlay for keeping estates in proper order,
instead of allowing them to go to rack and ruin, should be
charged upon the successive owners, it would be for the good
of the nation.

THE IRISH LAND COMMITTEE,

On the 28th of October last a meeting of land owners was'
held in Dublin, and the following resolutions were passed :—
" That having regard to the attacks which have been made,,
both in Parliament aud at meetings throughout the country,
upon the owners of land in Ireland, it is desirable that
statistics should be ob'ained showing, as far as possible, the
existing state of the relations between the great majority of
the landowners and their tenants, in order that correct inlor-
mation on this subject may be laid before the Royal Commis-
sion on Agricultural Distress." " That a committee repre-
senting all parts of Ireland, be appoiuted to obtain this infor-
mation, and to watch the proceedings before the Royal
Commission." In pursuance ot these resolutions, a com--
ruittee h:s been formed consisting of about 300 gentlemen,
and a list of questions has beeu prepared to be issued to Irisli
landowners. With the questions will be forwarded a copy of
the notes issued by the. Privy Council for the guidance of the
Royal Commissioners appointed to inquire into the stale of"
agriculture in G.-eat Britain and Ireland. The questions have
special reference to the following heads of inquiry in the •
"Notes," namely, land laws, land tenancy, and condition of
estates. The following ate the questions to which the land- ,
owners are requested to furnish answers : — 1. How much per
cent, over or under the. poor law valuation are agricultural
rents on the estate, distinguishing, if possible, grass, tillage, .
and Iraountain lands P 2. What evidence can vou adduce

culture in all its branches. He was not one ot those who
Would pull down institutions, or set class against class, or
countenance for one moment the agrarian agitation which
was now disturbing one portion of the United Kingdom. He
knew that such a movement was both wicked and impracticab'e;
and that landlords, tenants, and labourers must all sail in the
same boat, aud work together for their common good. He
k< ew that many of them had been looking with anxious
feelings to the future of agriculture to discover
whether there was any bright spot in the horizon
that would in t;me dispel the prevailing gloom. Person-
ally, he was sorely discouraged with the prospect.
Upon three dtffrent occasions he had set forth the policy
which would be carried out if it pleased the fates to decree
that a Liberal Government would be placed in power ; but. he
(Mr. Lane) was not disappointed with it so far as agriculture
was concerned, because he never expecttd any relief from the
s'atesman who was at the head of affairs when nearly all the
recent burdens were placed upon the land. In delving

3. Does Tenant-B.ight prevail on the estate to which your
replies have reference, and to what ex'ent ? -i. If tenant-
right prevails, how many years' rent is given by the incoming
tenant? 5. State the date (approximately at which the
present rents were fixed on the estate reiernd to. 6. Have
the existing agricultural improvements, including buildings,
been executed generally at the expense of the landlord or
tenant, or by contr butions from both P 7- Has there been
any extensive reclamation of waste land on the estate relerred
to, during the past forty years, as to which reliably informa-
tion can be obtained. 8. State (approximately) Ihe amount
expended on improvements, directly or indirectly, by the
landlord within any period not exceeding forty years as to
which reliable information can be obtained. 9. If there be
any case in which the rent has been raised in respect of
improvements made by the tenants, please state the circum-
tances ? 10. State the number of actual evicl ions which hare
taken place durit g the last ten years — (a) For non-payment of
ren*. ('>) For other causes, (o) Give the average number of

through eighteen columns of matter, he had been unable to I gales of rent due by the tenants evicted for non-payment of
discover anything encouraging or hopeful for the future i rent.

should a change of Government be brought about at the
next election. He had noted that they might expect if Mr.
Gladstone was returned to power that, so far as he was able,
he would do away with the Law of Primogeniture and Entail.
Now this would not result in the slightest bent fit to the
agricultural interest, because he considered that families and
estates were held together under the present system, and, as
they were aware, changes of ownership were rather detri-
mental than otherwise to tenant farmers. He, did not
believe that the division and sub-divisiou of estates, in this

The return is also to state the area in statu'e acres of
the estate to which the replies refer, the poor-law valuation
the number of tenants, and the numVr of tenants whose poor-
law valuation is under £10. Fern the return are to be
excluded holdings of which the ten tut has a perpetuity or ar
unexpired term of 100 years, towu holdings, town parks,
1 mi's in the owner's occupation (except as regards question 7),
and grazing lettiugs for one year or less. The poor-law
valuation is to include >■' -5 valuation of farm-homes sr.i
buildings..

48

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE.

CROPS IN THE UNITED STATES.

The November official returns of the estimated crops
of the United States, sent by -the Department of Agricul-
ture, reached us on Nov 15. "With respect to wheat the
estimates of a large yield have been confirmed. The crop
is estimated at 448,000,000 bushels, and is the largest
ever grown, exceeding that of 1878 by about 28,000,000
bushels. The aotuaf yield per acre for the whole country
is 13 9 bushels against 131 last year. The maize crop,
the return states, promises an outturn of over 200,000,000
bushels, which is greater than that of last year, though
by what percentage the report does not state, there being
a blank space where the figures should be. The acreage
was increased by less than three per cent, over that of
last year. The" oat crop falls about 12 per cent, short of
its predecessor, the acreage having been reduced nearly 4
per cent. The potato crop, increased by over 60,000
acres, also shows a great increase in yield, the average
being the largest since 1875. The returns for cotton
indicate a yield for the whole cotton belt of 176 pounds of
lint per acre against 191 last year.

The following summary of the wheat and corn (maize)
production of the United Status is from the Statistician's
i'orlhcoiniug report for 1878 : —

" Wheat Production in the United States.

"This department, since its organisation in 1862, has
published 16 annual estimates of the wheat crops, an
abstract of which will be found in the table below. It
should be remembered that the earlier years of this period
were years of civil war, in which a portion of our wheat
area was the scene of hostile operations destructive of
settled industry — hence our figures for these years were
abnormally low. From 1866, however, the first year
after the close of the war, there was a steady enlarsement
of our wheat acreage, more than doubling in 1878 the
aggregate of 1866. Dividing the 16 years under con-
sideration into two equal periods, we find the average
acreage of the second eight years to be 50 per cent,
greater than in the eight years preceding. The wheat
acreage of 1878 i3 about equal to the area of the State of
Alabama.

"The average yield per acre ranged from 10 bushels
per acre in 1866 to 139 bushels in 1877, averaging 13 2
bushels per acre during the whole period. It is remark-
able that the average of the two subordinate periods of
eight years is precisely the same. This fact shows that
the productiveness of our wheat area has on the whole
been maintained. As our acreage has enlarged in greater
proportion than our population, our production per capita
has increased. Comparing our estimates of products with
Elliott's estimates of population, we find that the average
yield per capita during the first eight years was less than
5| bushels, against nearly 7 bushels in the secoad eight
years. The enormous crop of 1878 averaged about 8-J
bushels.

" ll is evident that the consumption of wheat has
increased among our own people, but not to anything like
the extent necessary to absorb our late enormous crops.
To account for this we must look to the immense demand
for brewlstuffs that has lately grown up in 'Western
Europe. This demand is the result of restricted produc-
tion. Not only unfavourable growing conditions have
restricted the productiveness of the wheat crop during the
last few years, but also only a change in the economic condi-
tions of this industry. The area devoted to wheat in the
United Kingdom has been gradually decreasing for several
years, on account of the growing cost of culture and the
increasing competition of other couutries, especially the
United States. In 1858 the British Islands imported
23,201,941 cwt. of wheat and flour reduced to its
equivalent in grain ; 15 years later the import had doubled,
wnounting in 1872 to 47,612,896," ewt. ; the avi

annual import of this period was 37 876,191 cwt. Of
this average the United States contributed 27 per cent.,
Russia 24. Germany 17. France 9, British America 7-

" During the following six years ending with 1S78 the
average import rose to 57 665,777 cwt., including flour
aud meal. Of this import the Uuited States furnished
48 per cent, of the wheat and 36 par cent, of the flour ;
Russia less than 19 per cent, of the gram and a proportion
of flour too small to notice ; Germany, 8 per cent, of the
wheat and 14 per cent, of the flour ; Prance, 1| per cent,
of the wheat and less than 20 per cent, of the flour ;
British North America, nearly 7 per cent, of the wheat
and over 5 per cent, of the flour. It should be noted,
however, that in the last year or two wheat imports from
France have nearly ceased, and flour imports have fallen
to about a third of the average of the period. British
Iudia seut a large contribution in 1877, but during the
last year it fell off greatly. The supplies from Australia
have been very irregular, while Turkey and Egypt, once
sending large supplies, have greatly declined.

" The reports from the United Kingdom, as well as the
Uuited States, show that we are rapidly gaining the con-
trol of this trade, and that other countries in Western
Europe are uot only retiring from competition with us,
but also that they are opening markets for the increased
disposal of our breadstuffs. A social revolution is indi-
cated by these facts. Production and consumption are
regulated by conditions greatly different from what they
were six years ago. The rapid enlargement of our wheat
area was necessary to meet the marked decliue in. Euro--
pean production. The proportion of our crop exported is
rapidly growing.

" The prices realised by the farmer have fluctuated for
the last few years, but in 1878 they settled to a lower
point than in any previousyear. Hence, though the pro-
duct of 1878 exceeded its predecessor by about 56,000, 000>
bushels, its aggregate value fell off over GS, 000,000 dols.
This, however, being the result of general decline of value
to a specie basis, does not indicate a loss to the fanners
at all in proportion to the figures. The price per bushel»
77-7 c , in Jauuary, 1879, aud the average value of the
crop per acre, 10 dols. l&c. are unprecedented ly low
but there is nothing to indicate that wheat products have
declined in greater proportion than manufacturing pro-
ducts. The cheapness of this class of agricultural pro*
ducts is the result of their abundance, and this enables us
to transport our grain across the ocean and undersell the
wheat farmers of the hish-nrired lar.dsof Europe.

Years.

, iielu

A 1 Pef

Acreage. aore-
Bath.

total pro-
duct.
Bushels.

Price per

Bushel.
Dols.

1863

1864

13098986 13-3
13158089 13.2
1230489* 12.1
16424.496 LO

183215611 11-5
18460132! 12-1
19181004! 13-5
18992591 13-4
199 43893! ll'o
20858359! 1U9
2-2171676! 13-7
24967027' 12-3
1 263815121 11
27627021! 10-4
26277546, 13-9
32108560! 13-1

173677928

160695823
148552829
151999906
212441400
224036600
260146900
235884700
230722100
249997100
281254700
309102700
292136000
28935650C
364194U6
42012240C

1.40.0
1.33.2

1865

1.46.3

1866

2.06.4

1867

1.98.5

1868

1.42 5

1869

0 94.1

1870

1.042

1S71

1.25.8.

1872

1.24

1873

1.15

1874

1875

1S76

1877

1878

0.94.1
1.00
103.7
1.08.2
77 7

Average of whole...

8057988 lj 12-2

250270127

1.20.3

Average 1863-70...

16117718 i l*-a

195929511

1.45.1

forage 1871

260*1919 i: :

30*610748

1.03.9

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Years.

Years.

]

Total

value

of

pro.iuct,

Dols.

Total
value
per
acre,
d. c.

Wheat and.

fluur ex-
ported in
the fiscal
year clos-
ing June
30, follow-
ing.

Bushels.

Propor"
tiiin o

exports to

the crop
of the

calendar
year.

Per cent.

1863

197992837
394315119

217330195
333773646
421796460
319195291
244924120
245865045
290411820
3i0180375
32359+805
291107895
294580990
300259300
394695779
326346424

15 12

22 37
17 66
21 64

23 02
17 29
12 76
12 94
14 56
14 87

14 59
11 66
11 16
10 86

15 08
10 16

41468447

22959862

16494353

12646941

26323014

29717201

63900780

62574111

38995755

52014715

91510398

72912817

7475068

571+9949

92141626

23-9

1864.

143

1865

111

1866

1867

83

12-4

1868

13.2

1869

1870

207
22-3

187L

16-9

1872

1873

187+

1875

20 8
326
23-5
26-6

1876

1877

1878

19-7
253

__

Average of whole...

300398131

14 60

—

—

Average 1863-70...

28+399089

17 64

—

—

Average 1871-78...

316397173

12 63

—

—

" Corn Production* in the United States.

" The table given below embraces the results of 16
annual investigations of the corn crops, and shows our
remarkable progress in this branch cf production. As in
the case of wheat, the first three years included in the
table were years of civil war, aud a large portion of our
corn area was involved in its disasters. Hence the aggre-
gates for those years are abnormally low. The acreage of
1865 was nearly doubled in 1866 and nearly tripled in
1878. During the year last named our cornfields were
nearly equal in area to the State of Kansas.

" The average product per acre was substantially the
spme throughout, amounting to 26.6 bushels during the
latter eight years, against 26"8 bushels in the previous
eieht years. Our four last crops each exceeded consider-
ably a billion and a quarter of bushels. As in the case of
wheat, the supplies have grown faster than the population.
During the first eight years the out-turn averaged 21 '40
bushels per capita, and during the latter eight years,
24'07 bushels ; in 1875, it amounted to nearly 30
bushels. Our surplus in later years has found an increas-
ing foreign outlet. During the first eight years we sent
abroad but 120 percent, of our product; during the
latter eight years, 437 per cent. ; of the crop of 1877,
we shipped abroad 62 per cent., and the crop of 1S78 is
goiDg out probably in about the same proportion.

" The average price obtained by the farmer has fallen
off two-thirds in 15 years, being 99 7 c. per bushel in
1864, and 3T8 c in 1878 The last named crop, though
greater by 46.000,000 bushels than its predecessor, fell
short of it 39,000,000 dols- in aggregate value. The
average value of each acre's yield has fallen to the unpre-
cedented low figure of 8 dols. 55 c. in 1878 ; in 1864 it
amounted to 30 dols. 64 c The last-named year, however,
was one of extreme moneytd inflation. Corn has fallen
off proportionately more than wheat. Its abundance and
cheapness have made it the object of a very considerable
and growing ciport trad*.

1863

1864

1865

1866

1867

1868 ,

1869

1870

1871

1872

1873

1874

1875

1876

1877

1878

Average of whol.
period

Average 1863-70.
Average 1871-78.

Acreage.

153124+1
17438752
18990180
34306536
32520249
34887246
37103245
38646977
34091137
35526836
39197148
41036918
44841371
49033364
50369113
51585000

35930407

28650703

Yield
uer acre
Hush .

25-98

30-42

37-09

25-30

23-63

259

23-5

28-3

29-1

307

23-8

20-7

29 4

26-1

26-6

26-9

26-7

26-8

43210111, 26-6 11503+1531

Total
product.
Bushels.

397839212
530451403
704427853
867946295
768320000
906527000
874320000

109+255000
991898000

1092719000
932274000
850148500

1321069000

1283827000

1342558(

13S8218750

95917493S

7680108+5

49

Price per
bushel.
Dols.

0.6'.). 9
99 5
46.0
68.2
795
62.8
75.3
64.9
48.2
39.3
48.0
64.7
42.0
37.0
35.8
31.8

0.52.3

0.67.7

0.42.0

Years.

Total valut
of pro-
duct.
Dols.

Total
Viilue
per
acre,
d. c.

Coru and
cornraeal
exported in
fiscal year
closing June
30 following
Bushels.

Propor-
tion of

crops ex-
ported.

Per cent.

1863

1864

1865

1866

2780S9609
527718183
324168698
591666295
610948390
569512+60
658532700
601839030
+78275900
435149290
4471S3020
550013080
555+459 •(0
475491210
4S06434C0
441153405

18 10
30 26
17 07

17 21

18 49

16 32

17 74
15 57
14 02

12 24
1141

13 40

12 38
9 69
9 54
8 55

13 96

18 16
11 18

5146192

3610402

14465751

16026947

12493522

8286665

2140487

1067R873

35727010

40154274

35985834

30026036

50910532

72652611

87192110

1.29

•68

205

1-85

1-62

•91

•24

•98

3-60

368

3-86

3.53

3.85

5.66

6-50

1867

1868

1869

1870

1871

1872

1873

1874

1875

1876

1877

1878

5016162S7

—

Average 1863-70 ..

520309421
48292315*

~

—

Average 1871-78...

—

—

Distribution of Bkeadstuffs.

" Our export of breads! uffs shows an enormous increase,
the aggregate value reaching 181,811,794 dols., against
118,126,960 in 1877. All the articles of this class show
an increased movement, except corn-meal, rye-flour, and
rice, which bear an insignificant proportion to the whole.
Our barley exports more thau tripled in quantity ; corn
increased 20,000,000 bushels ; oats more than doubled in
quantity ; rye rose from 118.029 to 4,207,912; wheat
from 40,431,624 bushels to 72,404,961, and from
47,256,417 dols. to 96,872,016 dols. Flour, with an
increased shipment of less thau 16,000 barrels, increased
its aggregate value 3,331,774. The smaller grains and all
preparations of grain for food were marketed in enlarged
quantities and values.

" The United Kingdom takes 125,819,463 dols., against
76,129,976 dols. iu 1877. France raises her requirements
from 2,050,121 dols. to 7,657,563 dok. ; Belgium and
the Netherlands from 3,185,730 dols. to 9,362,071 dols. j
other European countries also greatly increase their demand
except Germany, which fell from 3,26^603 d0l3i (0

60

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

1,764,5] 7 dols. The countries of North and Sonth
America and West Indies have slightly increased their
demand. The export price of wheat is very considerably
increased, being 1 dol. 33c. per bushel, against 1 dol, 14c,
but corn has fallen rrorn 58c. to 56c. ; flour also decline!
from 6 dols. 48c. to 6 dols. 25c. per barrel. Barley, oats,
and rye were shipped in greatly increased quantities.'"

DISTRESS.-SOME PARTING WORDS.

TO THE EDITOE OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — I dismiss the question of seed with this extract
from last week's Express. In his summary and trenchant
way, the " Man of Mark Lane " observes : — -" Some writer
in the ' Chat of the Fair ' states that wheat all the way
from America 'is being so'd in the London market at
eighteen pence a bushel less than the home-grown product.'
This is precisely the reverse of the truth. The superiority
of American wheat over the poor stuff grown at home
this year renders its value much greater than our own."
I may add that quite recently the farmers in Fifeshire,
Dumfries, and Galloway report a very fair average yield
of good quality, and that a neighbour in Middlesex tinds
his yield of wheat nearly twenty-eight bushels per acre,
and a fair sample.

A "Hampshire Farmer" thinks the " question " is
not "' whether the Law of Distraint acts to the advautage
of landlords and tenants, but whether the whole com-
munity is benefited." This cosmopolitan view of philan-
thropy at large is not what I undertook to discuss, and
which I don't find either landlord or tenant care or need
to trouble their heads about. It may be left for settle-
ment between "The Friend of Humanity " and "The
Needy Knife-grinder." In my last letter I distinctly
refuted the ignorant Donsense which traced the law to
"olden times," or founded its claims upon its antiquity.
I justify its perpetuation entirely on its own merits.
Tenants with fair capital made insolvent by five bad
seasons will, it seems to a " Hampshire Fartntr," " drop
off " to the " gain of the whole community." A truly
magnanimous sentiment, and worthy of the large-hearted
patriotism wh'ch can think of no interest smaller than
that for which Anacharsis Clootz specially retained him- i
self "Attorney-General for the Whole Human Rice." i
"Regarding other creditors" as "dogs," he holds it
hard that there should be any restraint upon their
scourging the tenant either in season or out. Well, I *
don't, that's all. When your correspondent extends from
mere assertion to demonstration of the slightest co-
relation between "the Laws of Distraint and Settlement,"
I will be ready to examine his proofs. Meanwhile,
although I have beeu unable to concur in his premises, I
am happy to profess my agreement in his conclusion, that
the highly probable result of the proposed entire revolu-
tion in an agriculiural ecouomy will be the entire disappear-
ance of the teuautry, and " for everyone to farm his
own laud.''

In examining the Ltw of Distress, I have hitherto
accepted the gratuitous assumption of its opponents, that
men of straw were the class of tenantry who raised rent.
I say nothing of the cool assurance of the objection, even
if it were true — as if the buyers of the commodity were
alone to be considered, and the sellers had no other use
than to be placed at their mercy. But I flatly deny the
assumption. It is not men of straw who raise rent.
They want to get it as cheap as they can. They have to
kok keenly into the chances of re'urn, and rather to
small expenses than to large speculative profits. It is the
men of means who bid high for farms. It is they whose
command of capital enables them to see large returns
from gre: t outlays, who make light of the incidetice of
rent. It is the men who cau afford to go iuto farming as

a pleasant employment, with little view to a profit, with
which their surplus means enables them to dispense.
Often it is the pursuit of those " who have more money
than brains." To pretend that small means produce large
prices— that competition is aggravated by the impecuni-
osity of the competitors, is an economical paradox wor.hy
ouly of market-ordinary logic.

But does the absence of competition encourage success
in any pursuit whatever ? Is it the lowest reuted land
that is best cultivated ? Then, where no rent is pad,
agriculture should be carried to its highest pitch of per-
fection. Is that so? Wbat of the Eisteru States of
America, that cannot feed themselves— tha", according to
Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Play fair, are more desitnte, even
in this favourable season, than we are. In fact, show me
highly-rented land, and I will show you well cultivated
hnd. Nay, more — I will engage to find the most pros-
perous tenantry — the men of the largest capital, where
the rent is highest. Where has rent been so high, where
has tillage reached so great a state of perfection, where is
land in such good order as where iu many counties rent
ranges from 40s. to even 70s. per acre ? What fact is
better established than that in exact proportion to the
rise of rent enclosures and the area of cultivated land
have extended ? If I am to judge by their speeches, I do
not find that agriculturists who till their own aire; have
fared better thau the teuautry — uay, strauge, even para-
doxical, as it may seem, I do not find that fixity of tenure
has induced them to put their holdings in better condi-
tion than many who pay reut on lease, or even from year to
yea-. I have no objection to see amateurs diverting hounds
with red herrings, if the false scent do m t Iraw them away
from the fox or the hare. But we want all the waste
political power of the country concentrated on retrench-
ment, the redistribution and proper adjustment of re-
duced taxation, the reform of our vile system of transfer
atd conveyancing.

I have said the plough trade differs from all others in
this, that the returns depend on the caprices of the
weather, and need at least twelve months of expectation,
before the reversion of fruition. Credit is, therefore, in-
grained iu it. The transfer of other commodities is im-
mediate. The custody of the laud necessarily stretches
over months and years before payment becJin«3 due. If
the baker or the manure merchant be not paid, he stops
the supply. The landowner has to wait six months, at
least, before he can so much as move, the year is running
on, and the season is lost even where ejectment is sum-
mary, a new tenant being able to do uothiug for perhaps
eighteen months. While the owner has to wait, perhaps
to contend for months, at law, with a litigious teuant, who
holds over, everything may be swept off, bills of sale,
promissory notes, collusively giveu, may afford immediate
execution to fraudulent creditors, and the means that
shuuld have been employed in cropping the teres, keeping
offices and fences in repair, putting the soil iu good heart,
may be carried wholly off to straugcrs. Is that for the
advantage of agriculture, or a wise dispeusatiou for a
country that from its own resources cau barely feed a
third of its inhabitants? Aladdin's magician cried an
exchange of new lamps for old, but the fool who parted
with the old ouc found he lost his all by the exchange.
Were our ancestors, after all, such fouls, as it is the
fashion to call them ?

I am, Sir, S:c.,

Sidney Smith.
The Manor, Feltham, December, 1879 .

An American judge has decided that a man cannot be
slandered by Ins wife. They are one in the eyes of the law,
and she his a right to slander cither half.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

51

THE AGRICULTURAL DEPRESSION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

Siu, — Depression is what we fanners are obliged to
see, hear, and feel every day of our lives. Face to face
we have to meet and fight agaiust it, without being abl«
to see in the future any prospect of ameudment. Dark,
dreary, and dismal as prospects are, we are advised bv
many, whilst the mouey is fast draiuing out of our
pockets, to live in hope and believe that thing* are now at
the worst ; and that another summer will prove that the
cloud, which for the last four or five years has darkened
the prospects of English fanners, will be removed, so
that, at last we may see the silver lining which we have
so long waited and longed for. In the meantime the
goldeu lining of our pockets (which in the eyes of
numbers makes many men wise who would otherwise
be considered little better than fools) is not slowly but
quickly drifting away. Owners of land have not yet
begun to feel the present depression with anything like
the weight they will yet have to endure. With them
last Michaelmas really witnessed but the commencement ;
aud, as time goes on, I believe my remarks will prove too
true.

For years the position of the farmers of Great Britain
has been slowly declining from bad to worse. Adverse
seasons, rents, rates, aud taxes, with a high price for
labour, duriug the last successive bad seasons, may be
said to be some of the " straws" which have broken the
backs of thousands of fanners, by loss of capital ; and
it has diminished to a very low ebb the funds jf many
others who are still fighting and struggling against
prospects which appear to grow no brighter. Eveiyone
wants to know the remedy for this sad state of affairs,
and means have been already taken to ascertain it by a
R"jTsl Commission. But I do not believe in such a
Commission doing any good worthy of its name, for,
before they have time to reach the roots of the evil,
huudrels of farmers — unless a change for the better
takes place — will be rained, while thousands more, who
have still a portion of their capital, will emigrate to
other lands, and, instead of opposing the foreigner, will
join with him in seudiug to the old country breadstuffs
which before tbey could only grow at heavy losses.
Years ago a bankrupt fanner was almost unknown ; but
at present they are as plentiful as blackberries. The
English farmer has been beaten on all sides without a
chance of bettering himself, ar escapiug from the dilemma
in which he has been placed.

Why in the name of goodness and common sense
should the Government have sent two M.P.'s to Canada
and the States, to inquire into affairs which might be
explained by two farmers in Leicestershire without
trouble or expense. Let us have that security for the
capital which we invest in the land which a tradesman
will have before he enters into a business, and
equally upon the same commercial principles. Secondly,
let us farm our land upon the principles which will re-
munerate both laudlord and tenant. Let the old anti-
qualed systems as to cropping be abolished, so that the
tenant may enrich that soil which should prove a profit
to the owi.er as well as to the occupier. Let this be
done, and landowners will find that double the amount
which has hitherto been spent will be thrown iuto the
land. There is plenty of money yet in the pockets of
thousands of farmers. Only let them have security for
it, aud it would be buried in the laud. Farmers who no
longer hold farms, and have sufiijieut capital left to engage
iu business, will be very cautious before taking land, un-
less they have a thorough guarantee for it.

To cry out for protection agaiust the foreigner is
jimply ridiculous and absurd. The appeal would be

drowned by the voice of t'ie country, a» it would deserve
to be. We do not want protection — we have been " pro-
tected" in a certain fashion too long, and it has left us iu
a poor and dependent condition. We want freejtrade iu
land ; reform in our laud laws ; a right to kill the vermiu
which we have to keep, aud which destroys au immense
amouut of food upon soil for which we have to pay rent,
rates, and taxes ; and the abolition of old antiquated
notions and ideas as to restrictions i n cultivation which
have hitherto benefited neither the owner nor,the occupier.
Give us, in short, freedom such as the foreigner has, aud
we can yet compete with, and even beat, him in the
future. I am, Sir, &c,

John D. Broughton.

Glooston, Market Harborough, Dec. 4.

N.B. 1 shall be glad to hear from any one who wishes
to join i,he Farmers' Alliance.

THE OLD DISPENSATION OR THE
NEW— WHICH IS IT TO BE ?

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPKES8.

Sir, — I remember iu my younger days a soldier rela-
tive upon his return from foreign service, being much
amused and surprised to find that a chronic dispute
between two ancient members of the family upon some
trifling household matter, which was in existence at
his departure from home, still continued with the very
same argument on both sides — the utter stagnation aud
monotony of their lives contrasting so forcibly with the
life and vigour of his own.

With similar feelings will Messrs. Read and Pell pro-
bably contemplate British farmi g on their return from
America. They come from viewing vast unencumbered
estates on the mighty prairies, where uature alone and
not man has to be contended with ; from agriculture con-
ducted upon strictly business principles, and on an enor-
mous scale, and where everything is conceded and
managed with a view to profit only, and where no more
precedence is given to laud and land owners than to the
merchant's office or the grocer's store. How very small
will our semi-feudal estates look in their eyes, with parish
boundaries and disputes, tithes, poor rate9, stringent
leases, harassing customs, ground game, agents, and the
host of encumbrances that enswathe and fetter the
English farmer. As the hand-loom iu the weaver's
cottage to the mighty steam mill close by — the old coach
to the railway ; so will the bad systems surely compare.
And will they not feel that it is all over with us iu the
competition with America, unless we fight them on their
own ground, aud give up our old ways tor their new pro-
fitable ones ?

Prophetic people are proverbial nuisances, and it is
with apologies that I venture to refer to an extract from
a pamphlet that was favourably received in my own
county a f«.w years ago. Even then the cloud was rising,
and it was suggested that at some future time the problem
might be solved by throwing farms into large food-
producing factories, conducted by co-operation, with
huge machinery, tramways, and every modern appliance.
Surely the time ha8 now come for this change, if English
agriculture is not to be blotted out for ever, and landlords
and tenants lost in irretrievable ruin.

Legislation will not, I hope, be needful to bring this
about, and agitation for it prove a mistake. Private
rights aud private property cannot be interfered with,
and by all means let the feudal system, with its poetical
associations, remain upon the estates of those who can
afford it — an expensive luxury, to be paid for in low rents
and no rents, and cherished and preserved like any other
relic or monument of antiquity. But we can no lomrer
compote with the most business-like nation iu the world Oi

o2

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

the one hand, and the well-organised labourers' union on
the other, if our present narrow system be universally
persisted in. If estates were let in one large occupation,
would not the decrease in expenses and cost of manage-
ment in every department enable a good rent to be paid
to the landlord, good wages to the labourer, and a fair
profit to the farmer, whilst individual hardship might be
avoided, by the present tenants becoming partners and
managers in the concern ? We should then, I trust,
have nothing to fear from our trans- Atlantic neighbours,
and this terrible " agricultural depression " become a
ghost of the past to haunt us no more.
I am, Sir, &c,

Lady Farmer.

THE LAND LAWS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — If the Farmers' Alliance is to succeed— I hope it
may — it must take up the points raised in the Duke of
Richmond's speech at Chichester, and show him and the
public that the Laws of Settlement aud Eutail, with their
cumbrous and costly transfer and protective duties in the
past,have been the cause or raising the price of land iu this
couutry to an amount beyond its worth either to own or
to cultivate at a profit. By the action of these laws a very
small percentage of the land — I should say sever one per
cent. — is in the market at one time for sale, no matter
how deprsssed agriculture may be. Also, our present
ratal system, which is really based on rent, has become so
intolerable from the same cause that it is impossible to
last much longer.

Lord Derby's views on the sale of land in England are
most erroneous and have had a most misleading effect. His
loidship said at Liverpool some years ago in a speech he
made at an agricultural meeting, that any person who
wanted to purchase land only needed to look at any land
advertis.ng paper, and he could pick and choose the
estate and county ; but he omitted to inform his
audience that this was only a very small por-
tion, and that through the effect of ths land laws
of England the great bulk of the land never came
into the market at all — never changed hands by sale.
I presume it cannot be sold like the other property be-
longing to the people ; and I ask, why is this ? Why should
laud not be sold as readily and as cheaply as any other
highly valued property ? Protective duties have all long
been swept away, and cultivators have had to battle as
best they could against the free produce of the world.
Then why should not this, the last plank of protection, be
cut away at once ? Then, I would say, there is something
like equality as to landlords aud tenants, and we might
hope to see something like as many sales of estates as we
see tenants' sales on these said estates and land owners
would then kuovv like other people what it was to realize
their estates and find a new home either in this or a new
country across the seas. I ask again, are not the pist and
present monopoly and restricted sale of land the cause of
land paying so low a percentage and being so dear — in
comparison with other property — to purchase. Is it not
this that is now as well as in the past the cause of land
being at a ruinous piice to purchase, as well as at ruinous
rents to occupiers ? But now bad harvests and foreign
competition have brought matters to a climax which has
been on the way a long time.

I have no doubt the public as well as myself would be
pleased to hear these questions satisfactorily answered.

I am, Sir, &c,

Wm. Scotson.
jHfburth, Liverpool,

THE AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS ACT.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — The position and popularity of a speaker often
blind the audience to the truth or absurdity of what is
being listened to, and on no other hypothesis can we
account for the cheers with which the Duke of Richmond
was greeted when he told his admirers at Chichester that
the Agricultural Holdings Act is not a sham.

I have an occupation, the landlord of which, like thou"
sands more, contracted himself out of the Act. Disastrous
times came. I gave notice to terminate the tenancy at
the ruinous rent, and offered to retake it at a valuation
by any respectable land agent, who would naturally have
considered how I farmed and what was due to my share
of the factors of tenantable value ; but, sir, after fruitless
negotiation, my land was put up to tender, and, tempted
by the very high condition iu which 1 have put it, a
neighbour bid an excessive rent. I lost my land, and
my unexhausted improvements have caused the loss
For these unexhausted improvements, principally due to
recent deep draining, the whole labour for which I have
paid, embracing also within two years heavy outlay in
fallowing, steam ploughing, and manuring, ihi3 sham
Act enables my landlord to shut out my legal right to
claim compensation, and, adding insult to injury, it tan-
talises me with legalising, or, as His Grace termed it,
" setting up" the presumption of my moral right !

Judging by my own experience there never was such
an attempt to hoodwink a great class as when the Tory
Government gammoned the tenant farmers by the sham,
delusion, and snare known as the Agricultural Holdings
Act. I am, Sir, &c ,

II. F. S.

PLANTS IN SLEEPING KOOMS.— Professor Bentley,
in 1) is recent lecture, '' T'ie Life of the Plan'," savs there
exists a widely-spread notion that plants when grown in
rooms where there is but little ventilation, and, hence, espe-
cially in our sleeping apartments, lave an injurious influence
upon ttie contained air. This idea has arisen from a know ledge
of the fact that plants, as already noticed, are always evolving
a small amount of carbonic acid, «Dd hence, when not expo-ed
to solar light, when evolution of cxygen is also taking place,
this deteriorating influence on the atmosphere is that alone
which is going on. But the amount of carbonic acid which is
then given off by plants is so extremely small that it can have
no sensible effect upon the atmosphere in which they are
placed. It might readily be shown that it would require some
thousands of plants, in this way, to vitiate the air of a room
to anything like the extent of a single animal, and that, there-
fore, the i ea of a few plants renderiug the air of close rooms
unwholesome by this action is altogether erroneous. While
carbonic acid gas has thus been proved to be essential to
plants, nearly all other gases are more or less injurious to
them. Hence we have at once an explanation of the reason
why plants growing in the air of large towns, and more
especially in those where chemical processes ou a large scale
are going ou, do not thrive. The air of ar. ordinary sitting
room, and especially one where gas is burned, is also rendered
more or less unsuitable to the healthy growth of plauts, in
consequence of the production of injurious gases as well as
rora the dryuess of the atmosphere. — Sanitary Record.

EVOLUTION CLEARLY EXPLAINED. — Herbert
Spencer thus explains evolution : " Evolution is a change
from an indefinite incoherent homogeneity to a definite, co-
herent heterogeneity, through continuous ditferentitions and
integrations," Kirkruan, the mathematician, thus explains
Spencer: " Evolution is a change Irom a nohowish, untalk-
aboutable allalikeuess to a somehowish and iu general
talkaboutable not-all-likedness by continuous somethingelsi-
ficationB and sticktogetberations."

THE FARMER'S MAGAZIN!

f.3

AMERICAN COMPETITION IN WHEAT
GROWING.

The following letter, written to Mr. Daniel Owen,
of Cowbridge, has been published in the Western Mail,
from Mr. Osborne, a well-known writer on the Corn
Trade.

Sir, — May I take the liberty of asking you to oblige
me with a copy of your pamphlet on the production of
English wheal ? I see the Duke of Beaufort, in a letter
to you, doubts the correctness of some of my statements ;
first, his Grace says I have over-estimated the yield of
English wheat, which he states is nearer 20 than 30
bushels, even in favourable seasons. I copy below a table
compiled by the highest authorities in the United King-
dom, and accepted by the statistical abstract as correct,
which will at once prove that 30 bushels in a good crop-
producing year is a minimum average.

*1868. 3,950,000 acres yield 15,790 000 qrs.

1809. 3,982,000 „ „ 12,490,000 „

*1870. 3,773,000 „ „ 14,100,000 „

1871. 3,831000 ,, „ 11,970,000 „

1872. 3,8+0,000 „ „ 10,110,000 ,.

1873. 3,670,000 „ ,, 10.850,000 „
♦1874. 3,833,000 ,. „ 13,700,000 „

*18G8, '70, atid '74?, favourable seasons.
His Grace says, " He is wrong also in saying that it
costs 9d. per bushel railway freight to the coast." I
made this calculation wheu railroads where carrying wheat
from Chicago to New York at about 9 cents per bushel,
and I stated it was the average cost of moving a bushel of
graiu, whether by rail or water, from the interior to the
seaboard ; considering the ba>e railroad rate is now 24
cents, or Is. sterling per bushel, from Chicago to New
York, and this rate does not include elevating, or any
other charges, the estimate I made last February is
ridiculously low as compared with present cost, and it
must be borne in mind that much higher proportionate
rates always exist west of Chicago, as there the railways
are not subject to such rivalry as the eastern trunk lines,
neither are they compelled to compete with the great
water routes. I should say the average cost of moving a
bushel of wheat at present, from the interior to the sea-
board, is nearly 23. 6d. sterling. Then his Grace says,
" I believe it to be an error to say that railways are carry-
ing wheat at a loss;" all lean say is, that no railway can
carry 60 lbs. of grain 980 miles for 6 cents., and make it
pay, and this was the rate that millions of bushels were
carried for last spring and early summer. Mr. Fink, the
embodiment of railroad knowledge, has, in the interest of
railways, frequently demonstrated that the production of
the West can be carried from Chicago to New York at 20
cents, per 100 lbs., and this rate gives a living margin of
profit ; now, if a 20 cent rate only pays a living profit,
it stands to reason that a 10 cent, 12 cent, 15 ctnt, or
18 cent rate, must result in loss. You are perfectly correct
in saying that the wheat crops of 1878 and 1879 were
unprecedented and exceptional ; such crops as have been
harvested, especially in the winter wheat sections, will,
in all probability, not occur again for many years; the
average yield of wheat in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, has
this year been over 30 bushels per acre — in ordinary
seasons it is not 10 bushels. The Duke of Beaufort is
entirely wrong in saying the weather was unfavourable
for harvesting the American wheat crop of 1879 ; on the
contrary, it was exceptionally good. During the spring,
the wheat throughout this whole continent was in danger
for want of rain, but the rains came just in time, and gave
the foundation of a magnificent crop ; had the rains been
delayed even ten days, the American wheat crop would
have been a disastrous failure ; it is quite correct that
American farmers can nearly always depend on the sun,
but it is a lack of moisture that bothers them, which has

been abundantly proved by the failure of crops this year
in Western Knnsas; it is a fact beyond dispute that the
lands lying west of the Missouri River are not favoured
with a sufficient rainfall for the successful growth of
cereals. It the agriculturists of the Uuited Kingdom fol-
low the advice of the Duke of Beaufort, and abaadon the
production of wheat, they will, even before a year or two
has passed over their heads, have abundant opportunity of
regretting their error. If England places her dependence
on the United States for cereals, she will bitterly retrret
her folly, for the Yankees, and who would blame them,
will make England pay through the nose for the necessi-
ties of life. Why is it that wheat i3 held in the west at
10 or 12 cents above Liverpool prices ? Simply that the
Yankees believe that they can force Engfaud to come to
their terms. What is the reason for this belief? Leading
authorities, who should know better, have estimated the
wants of England greatly out of proportion to her
actual necessities ; according to Messrs. Caird, Jackson,
and Scott, the United Kiugdom requires importations
of fully 17,000,000 quarters of wheat during the
coming cereal year ; my implicit belief is that the Jnited
Kingdom can get along with nearly 20 per cent. less.
This has made the Yaukees raise their prices for bread-
stuffs and provisions fully 40 per cent, as compared with
prices two mouths ago. Managers of railroais have also
combined to bleed " John Bull," and have raised their
tariffs 100 per cent, as compared with those in vogue
three months ago. Mr. John Newell, general manager of
one of the Trunk lines between Chicago and New York,
is very outspoken on this point. He says, " Last year we
were all carrying wheat and pork to England at lower
prices than we could afford to ; now we see hundreds of
railroads paying dividends, millions of money belonging
to the people invested in railroads, will now pay a
revenue. Who gets the revenue ? Why the American
people. Who pays it? Why the English and foreign
customers. Reduce freights and 300,000,000 dollars
would shrink up ; who would receive the benefit ? Not
Chicago, not New York, not the nation at large, but
England and those who consume our produce." According
to the highest authority on this continent, 20 cents per
100 lb., Chicago to New York, is a fair living rate, but
American railroad managers say, England must have our
Western produce, and we will make her pay for hauling
it ; so they put on an additional profit of 20 cents per
100 lb., which has increased the value of American rail-
ways 300,000,000 dollars in six months. Now, supposing
Euglind did not raise one bushel of wheat, and was
entirely at America's mercy for supplies, do you suppose
that railroad managers would stop at a maximum rate of
40 cents per 100 lb. ? No, they would have one dollar,
there is nothing to prevent them charging what they
please. Railroad corporations are much more powerful
in the United States than any State Government, and, in
my opinion, England having given them the opportunity,
they would be fools not to profit by it ; and the Western
producer, do you think he would sell at reasonable prices
supposing he knew for a certainty that England waj almost
entirely dependent on him for about 23,000,000
quarters of wheat ? The more the intelligence and
ability of Great Britain looks at this question, the clearer
it will become to them that the United Kingdom must
have at least 4,000,000 acres under wheat, to keep in a
position to save herself from the rapacious greed of
American railroads and American wheat growers. But
it is stated on very excellent authority that wheat growing
in the United Kingdom does not pay ; agriculturists
must bear in mind that for five consecutive years they
have had most unfavourable weather for their crops, and
that the United States for the last three years has been
favoured with exceptionally good harvests, and so has been

54

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

able to supply England's deficit, it lower prices than they
will be in a position to do again for many a year to come.
Then again, English farmers are haudicapped with heavy
rents and taxes, and the majority of English landlords
are unable or unwilling — being in mo3t cases merely
tenants for life — to make such necessary improvements
on their estates as would enable the land to produce its
maximum. The general result of the Law of Entail is
shown by a statement of a Parliamentary Committee,
that out of 20,000,000 acres requiring drainage, only
3,000,000 have been efficiently drained, and, as regards
improvements, only one-filth of the soil has been pro-
perly dealt with. Is not primogeniture a ridiculous relic
of feudal times ? Is it not gross injustice to forbid a man
selling a few acres of his estate, even though the money
so obtained be laid out on the remainder, which would
enormously inc;ease its value? Lord Beaconsfield could,
if he had time, settle the question of laud reform to the
satisfaction of almost everyone, and the sooner he gets
through settling up Turkey's affairs and applies himself to
this great question — for it s a question of paramount
importance— ths sooner the position of the agricultural
classes will be improved, aud their powers to meet foreign
competition enlarged; it can no longer be argued (hut
unjust laws should be maintained for the sole purpose o
enabling spendthrifts of nobfe families to defy their
creditors. I have made this letter much lenger than I at
first intended, but I trust I have made it plain to you,
and I hope I have convinced you of this fact — that to
enable England to maintain her present proud position
shemust make her land produce more.

THE DUKE

OF RICHMOND
TENANTRY.

AND HIS

A meeting of the tenantry on ihe Richmond and Gor-
don estates in the Cabrach has been held, for the purpose
of considering the present depressed state of agriculture in
general, and the agricultural destitution in the Cabrach iu
particular. Mr. Mersin, Inverharroch, presided. Mr
Sheed, Upper Ardwell, in moviu that the meeting tende
its best thanks to the Duke of Richmond and Gordon fo
Lis kindness in postponing the Martinmas collection o
rents till 1st March, observed that on his aud many othe
farms this year there was neither seed nor bread. Mr
Gordon, bank agent, in moving that the meeting was o
opinion that the postponement of the payment of rent
till 1st March would in many instances be inadequate to
meet the necessities of the case, and that they should
therefore respectfully memorialise his Grace, showing him
the great losses they had sustained by the comparative
failure of crops for the last three years, referred at con-
siderable length to the unprecedented distress. He had
farmed since 1837, and during all his experience never
was there so much heavy loss sustained as daring the past
three years. Formerly they bad the privilege of retain-
ing their Whit-Sunday rents till about the begiuuing of
August, which was a great advantage, and he thought the
Duke should at least give that benefit again, and so assist
them to weather the storm- It was agreed to forward the
followiug memorial to the Duke : —

My Lord Dukf, — We, the undersigned, being tenants o
your Grace in the parish ot Cabrach, beg most respectfully to
approach you and to thank you for your kind consideration in
postponing the payment of our rents for a time, but we feel
we must also express onr fears that your Grace may not be
fully cognisant of the gravity of the painful circumstances in
which wr are plscpd i:i t hi- upland district. We. are extremely
reiu :taot to trouble jourGrme with a detail of onr importunes,
but this we cannot help. It has pleased Almighty God to
visit us with hard times. For the last three years we have
•uitaiiel serious losses with regard to our crop-, hut this

year exceeds them all in the gr?at loss of oar crop' of all sort*.
Indped, it has bepn such as has had no naraliel in the memory
of most living men. Our crops in 1877 wr* vptv deficient ;
maoy of us have neither seed nor bread. In 1S73 the prospect
was upon the whole fair, but j'ist when we were about to reap
our crops a tremendous hurricane swept over the country,
shaking the standing corn frightfully and scattering fully two-
thirds of the ripe grain ou the soil, and thus blast ng in a few
hours our brightest hopes. As regards this year, we can only
say we shall be sufferers to a ruinous extent. Our crops are
hardly worth thrashing. They have been cut down not half
ripe. The little they coutaiu will not be a tonrth to sujp'y
the wiots of our families, and being bad in quaii:y may be iu
jurious to health. Worst of all, the turnip crop has been a
miserable failure, and on this crop we greatlv depend. Add to
this a serious drop in the price of cattle. Many of ua have not
beeu able to dispose of our live stock except at ruinous prices,
and we are in tne awkward position of having a large luck of
feeding stuff. Most of us will have to buy meal for the sup-
port of our families, and also seed to sow the fields in the
spring if ever we are to reap another crop. Under these ci'-
cumstances, mv Lord Duke, we cast ourselves on your Grace's
generosity. We cannot but hope it will not be in viin. We
have never on any former occasion troubled your Grace wi:h
any complaiut.

That this is not too highly coloured we solemnly aver, and,
that there may be no occasion for any such suspicion, we
humbly entreat your Grace to appoint competent m°u to
inquire into our circumstances, and report to your Grace
thereupon.

And now, thanking you again for yonr kindness in postpon-
ing payment of our rents, we must be honest in informing ynur
Grace thit this will not be adequate to meet our difficulty. We
have no grain to sell, and we shall have 'ew catte to dispose
of, as we have almost nothing to feed them with, our turnip
crops being a complete failure, and the little money most of
us have will be required just a^ the time to purchase see 1.

Hoping this reprosecution may obtain your Grace's serious
and generous consideiation. — We are, &c.

M ■■. Watt, Ardwell, sngg ft'c hat the memorial should
propose to cancel the last I? ' , year's rent altogether, aud
let the Whit-Sunday rents K paid at Lunulas. Ultimately
the memorial, without alteiation, was signed by most of
those present, and a committee was appointed to o'jtaiu
addii o ,al signatures.

FAT STOCK SHOWS.
SUFFOLK.

Last year, owing to dissensions amongst its members,
the Suffolk Fat Cattle Club held uo"show. On Dec.
15 and 16 the show for the present year was held at
Ipswich. The amount offered in prizes was £328, and
the entries were cattle, 67 ; sheep, 68 ; and pus 36, as
compared with 68 cattle, 107 sheep, aud 6-i pigs in 1877-
The show was a very satisfactory one.

The following is a list of the prizes for live stock : —

OXEN AND HEIFERS.

Fat steer of anv pure or cross breed uuder 36 months old. — 1,

T. Mann, Thleveton ; 2, A. D. Green, E <st Donyland.
Fat steer of any pure or cross breed, over 36 months olJ. — 1,

A. Taylor, Starston ; 2, J. J. Colman, M P., Norwich.
Special prizes for steers or heifers, not S: orthorn or Hereford

(not to be drawn from other classes). — 1 and 2, J. J. Col-
man, M.P.
Fat heifer of anv pure or cross breed, not having bred, and

not exceeding 4 years old. — 1, C. Brown, North Lopham ;

2, A. D. Greeo.
Fat cow of any pure or cross breed. — 1, J. Taber, Rivenhall ;

2, M. Biddell, Playford.
Fat steer of any pure or cross breed, bred and fed in Suffolk

(not drawn from anv other classes). — 1, J. A. Hempson,

Erwarton Hall; 2, M. Biddell.
Fat heirer of any pure or cross breed, bred and fed in Suffolk.

— 1, J. Mayhew, Carlton Colville; 2, E. Symonris, Broine.
Red Suffolk or N or oik steer. — 1, the Prince of Wales; 2,

J. J. Colman, M.P.
Red Suffolk or Norlolk heifer.— J. J. Colman, M.P.

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE

55

Special prizes for pairs of steers rr heifers, not mixed, of any
breei1. — 1, J.J. Colman, M.P. ; 2, S. Chambers, Kettle-
burgh.

Special prizes for pair of fat steers or heifers, or mixed,
under 2 years old. — 1 and 2, G. Syrnonds, Botesdale.

Special prize for best red Suffolk iu the yard.— The Prince of
Wales.

Special prize for pair of fat steers or heifers of any age or
breed, in the Plomesgate Hundred, that have heeu the
prsperty of the exhibitor for iliree mouths previous to the
day of Show. — S. Chambers.

Special prizes for pair of fat beasts, not over-yeared and not
entered in any o*her class. — 1, J. T. Smith ; 2, J. Scott.

Special prize fur best fat beast grazed by the exhibitor in the
Sam ford Hundred. — J. A. Heropson.

Fa' cow of any pure or cross breeJ, bred and fed in Suffolk. —
J. Scott.

Bent animal in the cattle classes, bred and fed in Suffolk. — J.
May hew.

Best animal in the cattle cVses. — J. May hew.

SHEEP.

Pen of three fat Southdown wether', under 23 months old. —
1, Lord Walsinghain, Merton Hall; 2, J. J. Colruan,
M.P.

Pen of three fet wethers, of any shnrt-wooled breed not South-
down, une'er 23 months old.— 1, H. Lambert, Great Abing-
ton.Carubs. ; 2, G.Cooke, Horseheath Park, Cambs.

Pen of fat short-woulled wethers, over 23 months old. — Prize,
J. Smith.

Pen of three fat long-woolled or crossbred wethers, undpr 23
months old.— 1 and 2, J. W. Sharman, Hempton Abbey.

Pen of three fat shurt-uoolltd ewes, having bred lambs. —
Prize, II. Lambert.

Pen of three fat long-woolled ewes, pure or cro3s-bred, having
bred lambs.— Prize, R. C. ', Catling, Needham Hall, Wis-
bech.

Pi d of three we'her sheep of the short-woolled breed, bred and

, _fed in Suffolk— I, J. A. Hempson ; 2, J. Smith.

Pen of fi"e short-woolled heggetts, under 11 months old. —
Prize, J. J. Colman, M.P.

Pen of 5 lat long-woolled hoggets, under 11 months old. —
Prize, R. C. Catling.

Pen of fat sheep of any age or breed, bred and fed in Suffolk.
— Prize, J. A. Hempson.

Best fat sheep of any breed in the yard. — Prize, Lord Wa'sing-
ham.

Best pen of 3 fat sheep in the yard. — Prize, Lord Walsing-
ham.

Best 3 fat sheep in the yard, fed in Suffolk. — Prize, J. A.
Hempton.

PIGS.

Pat pig of the white breed, under 1 year old. — 1, S. Spencer,

Holywell ; 2, G. Symonds.
Fat pig of the black breed, under 1 year old. — 1 and 2, Sir

R. Wallace, Bart., M.P., Suiiborne Hall.
Fat pig of the white breed, above 1 year old. — Prize, S.

Spencer.
Fat pig of the black breed, above 1 year old. — Prize, H.

Biddell.
Pen of 3 white piss under 8 months old, being of the same

litter, bred by exhibitor. — Prize, S. Spencer.
Pen of 3 black pigs, under 8 months old, being of the same

litter, bred by exhibitor.— Prize, N. Catchpele.
Fat sow of the white breed. — Prize, S. Spencer.
Fat so w of the black breed. — Prize, J. A. Smith, Risehall,

Akenham.
Best pig in the yard. — Prize, S. Spencer.
Best pen of 3 pigs in the yard, under 8 months old, being of

the same litter, bred by exhibitor. — Prize, S. Spencer.

LEEDS.

On Dec. 16 the twentieth annual exhibition of the Leed's
Smithfield Club was opened. The show comprised not only
fat cattle, sheep, and pigs, but poultry, pigeons, and roots.

The Leeds Mercury says: — The total entries number 1,132,
and of these 97 are cattle, against 80 last year ; sheep are

less, there being only 11 exhibits, ag.-.inst 31; pigs have also
fallen off, numbering 68, against 68 ; poultry muster 597
against 624 ; pigeons have ii creased to 173, against 137 ;
rabbits have risen to 137, against 76 ; and last, but not leas''
in this adverse season, roots number 53, against 19. The fat
cattle are a fiuc lot— great, well-propor loned animals — as
good h unoured as lliey are hip. Tlie leading honours of the
ahow were taken by a magnificent beast belonging to Mr. J.
B Frrshney.ot Sal fleet, Louth, lour years eleven months ard
seven days old, which, besides, taking first in the Shorthorn
class, won the silver cup, value 20 guineas, givan by Aid.
Addyman, president ol the society, for the best animal on the
show-ground, in addition lo £-10 given by the club instead of
the, ordinary prize stated in the list. This animal slso took
a piece of plate, value not less than ten guineas, given by the
Letds innkeepers, for the best animal in classes, I, 2, 3. and
4, in addition to the money prize given by the club. As the
competition was close in these classes, the honours are all the
greater, and were worthily earned. The Earl ofZetlaudran
a good second to Mr. Freshney's animal, and his Lordship took
first in class 2 (£16), with a beautiful ox, closely followed by
a Scohish competitor, Mr. H. D. Adarason, of Alford,
Aberdeen, who just missed the first for a "cow having had a
living calf," which »as awarded to Mr. R. Wright, of Nocton
H<ath, Linoln, (£16), Mr. A. Longmore, of Banff, being
turn. The Scottish breeders generally were well to ihe fore
in Shorthorn?, first (£16), being given to Mr. J. Bruce, of
Fochabars ; Lord Z-tland was second, and Mr. Alsop,' of
Inverurie, third. In the cross-bred or Irish cattle, the Leeds
Tradesmeu's silver plate, value 15 .guineas, lor the best beast
i.i classes 5 and 6, iu additiou to the money prizes given by
the club, was taken by an ox of Lord Lovat's, of Beaufort
Castle, iwliich also took the first iu its class (£16) ; second
place being given to Mr. J. Merson, Huntley; and third to
.Mr. J. Reid.of Alford, Aberdeen. Lord Lovat also was first
in best cow or heifer (£16); the Master of Hantyre, Shott'e
Hall, Derby, second. Mr. J. Reid, of Alford, besides taking
first (£12), for polled Scotch ox, was awarded the Royal
Agricultural Society's silver plate, value six guineas, for the
same animal, in competition with the beasts in classes 7, 8, 9,
and 10. Mr. J. J. Colman, MP., Norwich, took first "(£12)
in the clasp for polled Scotch cow or hei er. The Master of
Blantyrewas awarded (£12), for best Highland ox; and Sir
J. Swinburne, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, was second. Mr. J. J.
Colman, M.P. , received first (£12) for best Highland cow or
heiler, the Master of Blautyre coming in second. In the
classes for tenant-farmers, not being land-owners, it was
pleasant to find, in thei-e bad iimes, that the tenants had the
pluck to rear and fatten such prime stuff as was shown iu the
two classes, for best ox and best cow or heifer, thrown open
for general competition. First honours for best ox (£16) was
creditably won by a neighbour, Mr. W. Sadler, of Whitkirk,
who may f urly be congratulated for taking this prize over the
heads of some of the be~t English and Scotch farmers.
Second fell to Mr. J. Wallace, of Leven, File, and third to
Mr. R. Wortley, of Aylsham ; the other animals were remark-
ably fiue specimens of their class. Mr. W. Sadler had the
further renown of taking the silver plate, given by the L"eds
Butchers' Association, value ten guineas, for the best beast in
the tenant-farmers' classes. The Scotch farmers bore away
the whole of the prizes for best cow and heifer— first (£16) bv
Mr. J. Merson, Huntley ; second by Mr. J. Reid, Alford*-
and third by Mr. J. Alsop, of Inverurie. The Leeds Cow-
keepers' Association gave a silver cup for the best beast in
milch cows, for slaughtering, competed for by members of the
association. Mr. J. Kershaw, of Halton, took the first prize
(£12), and the cup; second (£6), Mr. W. Speight Middle-
tun ; third (£3), Mr. H. Haigh, Richmond Road, Leeds.

The sheep were very few in number, but fair in quality.
Mr. 1". Dunn, Sigglesthorne, Hull, was first (£10) for three
wethers or gimmers, under two years old; Lord Zetland was
nrst (£o) and second (£2 10s.), for three south-down or other
down wethers; Mr. J. D. Gotland, Nun Monkton, received
similar prizes for three cross-bred wethers ; and Lord Wen-
lock, Lscrick Park, was first (£5) in three horned Scotch lonk
or mountain wethers. The sheep were so few in number that
there was virtually no competition.

Tho pigs, though they were not very largely represented
were of superior quality in every respect.

66

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

THE "TIMES" ON THE FARMERS'
ALLIANCE.

The Times says :— " It will be perceived that the
promoters of the Farmers' Alliance, though several of
them are known as land reformers of a somewhat advanced
type, are explicit in affirming that they are in no way
antagonistic to the landlords and their interests, that they
wish^to avoid provoking hostility between class and class,
and that they intend to use only constitutional methods
of action outside of party lines. This disclaimer was
hardly needed. So long as the movement remains in the
hands of the farmers themselves, and is neither turned to
the purposes of political partizanship nor monopolized by
impatieut and unpractical theorists, we feel sure it will be
conducted in a temperate and law-abiding spirit, with a
determination to protect tlie rights of property against
invasion, and with deference to the dictates of common
sense. The landlords will have no reason to dread a
movement so organised and directed, and the community
in general will be inclined to welcome it as a proof that
the "farmers, under the sharp stimulus of adversity, are
shaking off some of their traditional reserve and learning
to think and act, not as isolated individuals, but as
members of a society in which everything must be accom-
plished by co-operation. The tarmer, especially in
England, has heretofore been too prone to shun discussion
and to recoil from interchange of ideas even with men of
his own class. The gossip of the market ordinary was
almost the ouly opening for healthy play of thought.
But in recent years fanners' clubs have multiplied, and
in the presence of the grave difficulties with which agri-
culture has to contend, it is natural that something like a
national policy for the farmers should be suggested as
fruitful iu hope and promise. The Farmers' Alliance will
have an opportunity, if it knows how to grasp it, of
tryiug how far such a policy i3 possible, and what effect
can be given to it under the existing conditions of political
power. It is an unquestionable fact that the farmers of
the United Kingdom, though the backbone of the State,
have hitherto been less powerful, less able to act upou
public opinion, than many interests not to be compared
with them for importance in point of numbers, wealth,
or usefulness. The character of the farmer's occupation
isolates him from his fellows, confirms the sturdy self-
confidence which is part of the Euglish nature, and
develops a repugnance towards new ideas. Modern pro-
gress, the railway, the telegraph, the peuny post, and the
newspapers are chaugiog all this, but much remains still
unchanged. In comparison with the townsman, the
farmer, even in our own days, is weak, and conscious of
his weakness, because he stands alone aud has little chance
of acting as a factor in an organized social force.

THE CORN RETURNS.

The Weights and Measures Committee of the Central
Chamber report : —

The Weights and Measures Commi'-.tee have to report that
they have now received replies to the questions put in their
circular on the Corn Returns from the following Associated
Chambers -.—Lincolnshire, Notts, Leicestershire, Bucks, Vale
of Clywd, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Ciren-
cester, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Ban-
bury, Newbury, Somersetshire, Devon and Cornwall, South
Wilts, Hampshire, Monmouth, Newcastle, Nor oik. East
Suffolk, West Suffolk, Essex, West Riding of York (Wake-
field Branch), West Riding of York (Doncaster Branch)'
York, Bedale, and Swindon. These replies they have care-
fully considered as well as the general bearing of the subject.
They are fully of opinion that the complaints made against
the present system of Corn Returns are well founded, and de-
mand the early attention of Parliament.

On the first point on winch information was specially
sought by the Committee an almost unanimous conviction is
expressed by the Chambers that the growing practice ot selling
grain by weight has euhanced the Gazette prices of corn in
consequence of there being no means at the disposal of the
corn inspecors whereby the local sales can be correctly con-
verted into Imperial measure. Tne Committee find that the
weights apportioned to the term bushel very cinsi derably,
and are almost invariably in excess of the natural weight of
the grain.

The official defence of the corn returns issued by the B oard
of Trade disputes the fact of any material increase on tnis
account, relying on the replies made by the local corn inspec-
tor- as to the practice of the several markets. The Com-
mittee have examined in detail the statements made and fiud
tint the re'uru on which the classification of markets is based
is incorrect, markets where sales by weight largely prevail
being included among those classed as selling by measure only
Any argument founded on this return must therefore be
ineffective.

The replies received from very many Chambers of Agricul-
ture confirm the Committee in stating their belief that a con-
siderable rise in the Gazette prices may be attributed to the
great increase which has taken place in the proportion ofcorn
now consumed on farms. This increase is to some extent at-
tributed to the higher feeding of stock, the greater facilities
afforded for grinding corn on the farm premises, and the
absence of the demand formerly prevailing for a lower clas< of
flour, owing to the improvement which has taken place iu the
condition ot the labourer.

On the third point submitted to the local Chambers the
replies are practically unanimous — all pointing out that
repeated returns of re-sales of grain must have a very serious
effect in rais;ng the official prices above those obtained by the
growers. Tne development of the corn tr-ide involves a much
larger number of resales than formerly took place, so that the
grievance complained of by the Chambers of Agriculture iu
1869 has been aggravated. The Committee believe that a
system designed for the purpose of the sliding scales of duties
— not to ascertain the values received by the grower but the
general price of corn to the consumer — lias proved unfair to
the prayer of tithes and fallacious when applied to agricultural
statistics. Iu any amendment of the present system it is
indispensable that the prices returned should be those only
obtained by producers.

The Committee having had their attention diree'ed to the
system prevailing in Scotlmd for determiu'ng iu each
county the yearly average price of corn observe that
in striking what are called the £Fiars Prices, the grain
dealers and farmers who there make returnsare ei'joiued to
return only sales by gruwers, aud are required cuefuily to
give prices for the proper imperial measure stating the natural
weight.

The list of returning markets appears to the Committee to
require revision, and they are glad to learn that the Depart-
ment are prepared to consider the propriety ol such alteration.
Many towns have unquestionably largely chang d their
character as markets for British corn Bince the present places
were selected. The removal, in 1864, of 140 markets, which
had beeu temporarily added to the older roll of 150 returning
towns, does not appear to have been made with auy regaid to
the requirements of the respective districts.

Weight may be attached to the contention of the
Comptroller of the Corn Returns, that the recent decrease of
the wheat crop in England accounts for the falling off in the
aggregate quantities returned. It must, however, be
remembered that the sales returned bear a less percentage to
to the estimated produce than obtained some years ago, while
the largely increased resales already referred to make the
delective nature of the returns still more apparent.

Reference has been made in discussing this question to the
propriety of reducing the number of years over which the
averages for the tithe reut charge are calculated. Suggestions
have also been made with a view to simplicity and c tnvemeiue
lor all parties that the tithe rent charge should be fixed at the
par value, as settled at the time of the Tithe Commutation
Act. The Committee have felt that an inquiry into this
matter would exceed the limits of their instructions.
By Order of the Committee,

P. (i. CRAIOIE.

T$E FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

r>:

THE LAND QUESTION.

English landed gentry is a custom and not a right ; in spite

y,, , of the notion of heir-land that mast for ever descend from

We take from the Norfolk ISews the following report iat|ier to son, which is still fondly cherished bv many of oar

of a paper read before the St. Mary's Literary Class by countrymen. The custom, without doubt, had its beginning

Mr. E. E. ISIyth, B.A., solicitor, Norwich--:— | in the right which was enjoyed by the eldest son ash

the law am) Custom of PKCJIOGBNITURB. his father, informer times, when the entail could not be cut

The Law ol Primogeniture is that law of our country which, off. But while such a rule of law is enforced, how is it that

when anyone possessing real property (that is, land, houses, very many estates do in rea'ity pas* from father to sou

and other substantial and immovable property), dies Without continually without intermission P Au example will perhaps

having dispo^d thereof either by deed or will, gives it ' best clear up this difficulty. Suppose a landowner Mr. A

undivided to his eldest sou, or rext heir whoever he may be, i leaves an estate to his sou B, on condition that at B\s death

rithout bestowing any portion of it on his other children or
relations. With regard to any movable or personal pro-
perty possessed by a man dying without a will, our law is
different, and gives it to his nearest relatives iu equal
lhares.

By the Custom of Primogeniture, I refer to that custom
which prevails almost universally amongst our landed aris-
tocracy of entailing or settling their estates. By the term
entailing is meant the gift of au estate by its owner to his
eldest son, on condition that it should pass at that sou's decease
to the eldest son of such son and so on.

ORIGIN AND HISTORY. OF THE CUSTOM,

The conquest of the Western provinces of the great Roman
Empire by the Scythian*, in conjunction With other barbarian
nations, was followed by a genual contusion, which Hsted fo
some ceuturies. During this epoch the chiefs of the cowjuerr
ing tribes possessed themselves of the. greater part of the land
throughout the vanquished realms, and although large tracts
of land wpre left barren and uncultivated no portion was with-
out an owner. At that date land was considered not merely
as the means of providing food, of subsistence, but of power
and protectiou. The conclusion was consequently arrived at
that it was most advantageous to the community for land to
descend undivided to a single individual on the death of it'j
owner. In those tumultuous and turbulent times every
landed proprietor was in efffct uncontrolled lord of Iris own
estates— his tenants were his obedient subjects, and he uuited
in his own person the various offices of leader, juc'ge, and
king. These proprietors, who fully endorsed the principle
that " might makes right," were continually encroaching on
the possessions of their neighbours, and, as a nat ural result,
petty wars were for ever being waged between them, The
security of an estate — that is, the protection which its owner
could give to his tenants — depended upon its magnitude. To
sub- divide it was to destroy it, and to expose it to be swallowed
up by the incursions of adjoining owners. It was in tin's
manner that the law of primogeniture was established. En-
tails followed, almost as a matter of course, irom this law.
They were introduced to maintain unbroken a strict lineal
succession — that is, one from father to son, from son to grand-
son, and so on ; and also to prevent any part of the oiiginal
estate from being taken out of that line by sale, mortgage, or
disposition of any'sort, either through the folly or rnisfortiuvs
of its successive owner*. Neither the right nor the custom
was acknowledged by the Romans, amoogst whom sons and
daughters shared equally the property of their parents. Pri-
mogeniture was brought into England with the feudal system
at the time of the JNormau Conquest, and appears to have
taken deeper root here than elsewhere, fjr a total exclusion of
the younger sons from any share in the inheritance is peculiar
to this country.

LIMITATION OF ENTAIL.

the estate should pass to lis eldest son. This would be
entailing it. Whin Il's eldest sou attaius the age of twenty-
one years, he and his fa' her have full power to di.-pose of the
estate, This time is generally clio^n for again settling (that
is tying up and binding.) the estate which has just bei
free and capable of being disposed o'' ; and it is given to B's
eldest sou for life only, and then to the child (who may lj :
unborn) of that son. Thus it is tied up for another genera-
tion, and iu this manner entails are kept up.
EFFECTS OF TttE LAV.

This rule giving the eldestson the whole estate on the death
of his father without a will tends to keep land or immov
property together iu large masses and also to support the pride
of family distinction. It may appear necessaiy, where family
honours or estates are to be preserved, to resort to some such
device as strict settlements or en'ails ; bat in every other case
they only uphold the pride ol present owners and i
re-l interests of the tuture, generations. Nothiri
more detrimental to the welfare of a family thai
■which enriches one member ol it by redui ing- the rest to t
parative beggary. In our country the law divides all pro -
perty except real (that is. the laud and houses upon it) eq
amongst the children of the man v. ho happens to die without
a will, because it knows that is what in all probability the
parent himself would have done, certainly had he been':
parent. But with regard to land— real property — the rule of
niirnogenilure is enforced by our law, and, contrary to the.
lavs and customs throughout Europe, gives the whole es
to one, thus doiug what natural justice would forbid. E
feeling in our nature is opposed to the idea that one' child in
a family should be selected for especial benefits at the expense,
o his brothers and sisters. The inheritance of land in this
manner, although both encouraged and facilitated by our law
is manifestly in direct opposition to all our conceptions of
equity and fairness, and it is a natural deduction that primo-
geniture cannot be defended unless it be shown toreuder ■-.
corresponding advantages to the coiumurji'y at large. With
Americans a man must leave his property (both real and per-
sonal) amongst his children, but he may leave it to them in
such proportions as he likes best ; and the Doited States laws
do not compel equal division between such children as the
law of France does; for it is believed that natural affection
and justice are of themselves sufficient to carry this into effect
in most cases. But, if a man die without a will, the law of
the United States lakes all his property, and, regarding his
children with equal fairness, makes " such a distributio-i
amongst them as it deems a just and living parent would have.
made. Surelythelawwh.cn Americans enforce when:,
is no will, and which we ourselves enforce in every case but
that of real property, is one far more in harmony with our
sense of right and far move powerful iu its appeals to our

It should be thoroughly understood that under the system of !ieafl a,nd j>ear'8 .lh,,u the law,°' primogeniture which prevails
tails each fuccessive owner has but a life inteiest in his In fchls -"Iia' , lHke i'" example to illustrate the absurdity of

estates, for be it remembered that the condition of his having
the property is that it shall pass undimini.-died to his son, and
therefore he cannot dispose of it for a longer period than his
own life. I should add here that in consequence of a ruie o!
law established for the express object of lessening the evils
with which entails are necessarily accompanied, no landowner
can with certainty tie up his estates for ever — that is, he can-
not create a continuous entai', but only for a limited time, for
by this rule no one is permitted to give his estates to an "uuoru
person on condition that they shall go to the child of such
unborn person on his death; lie is ouly allowed to give them
to a living person for life, and then to the unborn children of
such living person. Any estate ^iven to the children of an
unborn person would be absolutely void and of no elfect, and
the intention of the donor consequently frustrated. From
this .t follows that primogeniture as

-- fy -■

our present law. Suppose a man, possessed of an annual
land-charge or rem charge of £50, by virtue of this, £.30 will
be paid to him every year by the o'wner of the latd upon
which it is charged. If he die intestate this land-charge
will become the property of his eldest son. But supposn
the same man to have invested £1,000 on mortgages of land as
5 per cent, w hereby>lso £50 will be paid to him annuslly by the
owner of the land, yet on his death intestate, as befoie, this
yearly sum will become the property of all his children, 'sous
and daughters alike, iu equal shares. Again, suppose a' man
to own a freehold estate of 100 acres, and also another estate

i.e si2e but held on lease for 1,000 vears. Practically
there-s very little, if any, difference between'the marl

o estates, yet if the owner die without having made
a will our law will give the freehold estate to the eldest son
while the benefit of the leasehold estate wii! devoiv

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

\\ hole family. No man unversed in the intricacies of English
law would for one moment suspect that it woohl deal differently
with the two yearly sums and the two esta'es in the event of
;m intestacy. Is not the occurrence of cases such as these an
aDorualy which calls for remedy ? It may be asked what
necessity there is for this rule to be abolished since every
huidowner by making his will may leave his estates as he
pleased and thus prevent it from taking effect. To this query
I would reply — Yon cannot but admit that primogeniture is
strengthened and encouraged by the sanction which our law
of inheritance gives, and is rendered more easy by the existing
power of entail. Custom to a very material degree governs
; uman actions. A man cannot, unless influenced from with-
out, feel that he is in duty bound to leave all his landed pro-
perty to his eldest son ; 'such a course can only be justified by
custom and conventionality. The State has to embody in its
legislative enactments what ought to be considered as man's
right intentions and natural inclinations. When, therefore
it enunciates so wicked and mischievous a principle as is here
discussed, it tends to perpetuate this custom and gives to pri-
mogeniture the sanction of social morality. In the language
•if John Bright — " The difference an abolition of the. law
"■ould make is that it would take the tremendous sanction of
the law from the side of evil and put it on the side of
:iod."

In addition to this we must not lose sight of the fact that
.Ithough the rule of primogeniture is not binding upon testa-
tors, to whom our law gives the power of leaving; their pro-
I erty as they like, yet any landowner may exercise this power
in such a way as altogether to deprive his successors of it,
nimely, by tying up or entailing his estates on one particular
line of descendants. It will readily be seen hat as a general
rule, when an estate is entailed, not only must it continuously
pass from lather to son in the prescribed manner, but it is
also prevented from being brought into the market and sold ;
since each successive possessor, having only a life interest in
the property, cannot dispose of it for a longer period than his
own life. The estate, with the joint consent of father and
eldest son, can be dealt with when that son comes of age ; bnt
of course when this happens the eldest son has a direct inte-
rest in preventing the sale of an estate which is settled upon
him, and it is consequently re-settled. The fresh restraint
upon the power of sale is generally added just before the time
when the old one would become null and void, and the land

-8 i!i-able.

WHY IS THE LAW ?RE?ERVED ?

Why then do our aristocracy and landowners so tenaciously
adhere to this law, and so steadfastly refuse to consent to any
to any modification of it !J The theory of our Constitution
is based upon the supposition that it is desirable that one of
the governing powers of this country should be an hereditary
aristocracy, and it is a>sumed that an hereditary aristocracy
cannot be maintained unless they are extensive owners of
land. And as a matter of fact, the House of Lords at this
minute possess at the very least one-third of the whole area
of Great Britain. Our law consequently endeavours to pro-
mote the idea that it is very undesirable for land to be sub-
divided. Even granting that the House of Lords be a neces-
sary part of the State, its continuance can only be secured by
its members being some of the most intelligent and able men
■of this realm. It would long e>e this have sunk into oblivion,
bad it not been constantly strengthened by distinguished
members of the Commons House. -Englishmen will never sub-
mit to be governed by any set of men because they happen to
possess wealth and station by right of birth.

It has been urged in favour of primogeniture, that it incites
the younger sons to be iudustrious by leaving them to make
their own fortunes'. This argument was powerfully put by
Dr. S. Johnson thus — " It makes but one fool in a family."
So a defender of the aristocratical principles gives it a-, his
opinion that a large inheritance is generally fatal to mental
activity and strength. Aud as a matter of fact, it does occa-
sionally octur that the eldest 6<in is an idiot or lunatic. When
this happens, the aid of the Court of Chancery has to be
called in sd-I very great expense incurred that an order or
judgment may be obtained giving leave to others to take pos-
; in of those, estates which the eldest son has not the
capacity to use or enjoy. The argument in question will also
• ell in favour of dividing the possessions of the eldest son
amongst the whole family, and thus getting rid even of the
one fool. It is, however, urged that the effect of primogeni-

ture in stimulating industry depends not so much on the
poverty of the younger children as on the contrast between
that poverty and the wealth of their elder brother. This
argument would apply with equal force to talent and virtue.
And besides this, surely those people who have earned tor
themselves large fortunes will afford, by their example, a
much more powerful stimulus than the 3ight of a man who
has inherited one.

It is argued, too, that the custom of dividing inheritances
equally or nearly so amongst children causes land to be cut up
into portions too small to admit of being cultivated advanta-
geously. This argument is old, yet ever new ; and has over
and over again been refuted by various writers. Subdivision
of the land is not necessarily involved in division of the
inheritance, for the land may he held by the co-heirs in
partnership, or may become the property of one of them,
the shares of the others being charged upon it by mortgage
or otherwise ; or the whole may be sold and tli3 proceeds
divided. When the division would lessen the productive
power of the land it is the direct iuterest of the co-heirs te
adopt one of these courses; and, in fact, the experience of
France, Belgium, and other countries has shown that no ill
effects arise from subdivision.

EVILS RESULTING r/ROM PRIMOGENITURE.

A natural and evil effect of primogeniture is that it makes
the landlords a comparatively poor class of men. The object
of the institution is to keep land tegtther in large masses,
which it effects-; but the owner of the land is not necessarily
or usually the possessor of all the income derived from it. It
is often heavily burdened with his debts, and generally charged
with provisions for other children, frequently estates are
so encumbered with charges for wives, childien, and servants,
that rrany a landowner whose broad acres make his friends
fe'eve to be very rich and able, to keep up great style is, in
reality, a person who cannot afford to properly maintain his
estate. The landlord, who is overwhelmed with debt, holds
fast to his land, although ouly for the benefit of his creditors ;
and to keep up the fa:ne of his family will not sell a part
even to set free the remainder. Consequently the majority of
landed estates are deeply mortgaged, and, as a natural result
the landowners, instead of having capital to spare for
improvements, require all the increased value of
the land to enable them to keep up the appearance
their station demands. To prevent this wholesale
mortgaging entails were had recourse to, «o that each
owner, having only a life iuterest, could not impose burdens
ou his successor. Further evils arose from thes0, for though
the owner could not ruin his successor, he could ruin himself;
and certainly he would not improve the property even if he
were rich enough to do so, for the whole benefit would accrue
to his eldest son, while he could uot even charge his estate ou
behalf of his other children. Besides being himself disabled
from improving the land, neither could he sell it to anyone
who would, for entails and settlements, prevent alie.naation.
Formerly an entailed estate could not even be leased for a terra
of years, but recent Acts of Parliament have made some
modification in this respect. Eutails, recollect, seldom expire,
although by our law the power of entail is limited. Large
properties are very rarely, if ever, free from settlement. It
follows therefore that primogeniture teuds to keep land from
being sold, which would otherwise undoubtedly come into the
market.

It will be admitted that land ought to be cultivated with
the greatest possible efficiency, becsuse thereby the products
of the soil will be the more abundant ; but the custom of
primogeniture — entails — prevent this. For example, suppose
a nobleman is tenant for life (the property being of course
en'ailed) of an estate worth £10,000 a year, and he has many
children. Assume also that this man has certain lands which
it will be most profitable to irrigate ; £10,000 expended for
this purpose may double the produce obtained. Although the
owner may fully appreciate hew advant'igeous this outlay
would be, yet he will not feel justified in making it, as by so
■doing he improves the property of his eldest son, and lessens
the amount he can leave to his younger children. Plainly
therefore this custom is detrimental to the welfare of the
■ incidentally mention as evil consequences
th it the influence and control of the father over his eldest sou
is considerably lessened by the knowledge that the latter
must come into the estate, and persons are often kept in
responsible positions who are utterly unworthy of thenu

THE FARM. K LI'S MAGAZINE.

Further, while such a number of interests are allowed to be
creaiea in land, the title must be alwa\s complicated and
lawyer's deeds great!} lengthened; so much so that when oue
of these large estates does come into the market, the burdens
on it are so numerous that the purchaser of a small plot has to
pay for the conveyance of it nearly as much as its price. The
abolition of entails would render the acquisition of land more
easy by reducing the cost of conveyancing, and whatever
facilitates the sale of land tends to make it more productive ;
whatever hinders its sale diminishes its usefulness by rendering
it unproductive. The best system of landed property is one
by which land can be rendered an object of commerce, and as
easily transferable as personal or movable property.

It may be said that in spite of our law, land is constantly
brought into the market and sold, and those wlo cire to
possess it can buy it. True, tut the price of land is artificially
raised above its agricultural value, so that small larmers cannot
purchase. The desire to possess land is inherent in man, and
its possessing generally gives positiou and influence. Thus the
price of land is forced up beyond what those who desire to own
it for the purpose of farming alone can afford to give. As a
suit of this hind is seldom cultivated by its owner, most
generally by tenants Irom year to year, who evidently canuot
afford to lay out capital to effect improvements on land which
is not their own. It more land is brought into the market,
more opportunity will be given to the small farmers, whose
numbers will proportionately increase. There is little doubt
that uuder small farming our agricultural products would be
largely augmented. Dairy farms, poultry f;irms, and market
gardens are in great request, and just at the present period of
agricultural depression the small larmers are the only ones who
ev.u make a profit.

In conclusion, although I contend thai our present law
should be abolished, and that no distinction should be made
between the distribution of real and personal property on the
death ofits owner without havingmade a will, yet I do not wish
to see the French custom of compulsory division adopted in its
Btead. It would certs inly he undesirable to create in children
a right to their parents' property which could not be deleated,
however incapable some members of the family might show
themselves to be. I would not put a single fetter upon the
right of a man to leave his property as he likes, except in so
far as to prevent the creation of entails and settlements. To
effect this I would suggest that Parliament should enact
that a testator should have no power to determine the
parties to succeed to his estates after the death of all
persons who happen to be living at his decease, although
with perfect freedom of disposition amongst such persons.
Further, as a necessary coioliary, that no one should by deed
of settlement or other instrument be able to regulate the suc-
cession to the property thereby dealt with amongst any persons
unborn at his decease. Finally, that in the case of a man
dying without a will and leaving neither widow nor children,
his other relations in the descending or ascending line, no
estates should become the property of the Government and
that no right to iuherit should be recognised in collateral
relations. I believe tint some such alterations as these intro-
duced into our system of laud tenure would rid us of the evils
we have been enumerating, whilst they would greatly increase
the number of landed proprietors throughout the kingdom,and
at the same time largely add to the products of our soil ; and
that primogeniture, when no longer receiving the sanction of
our law, would operate with continually decreasing effect.

ROUGH ON THE YANKEE.— A gentleman, coming
from New Y'irk lately, was a fellow -passenger with a Yankee
who never by any chance, except when he was eating or
sleeping, had a cigar out of his mouth. " I have seen a good
many smokers,'' said the gentleman- to this individual, " but I
never saw such an incurable chimney as you are." " Yes,"
was the reply ; "1 am fond of my Havana. I can't live
without my Havana, and I have left instructions that one is
to be put into my coffin when I die." "And," interjeted
auother Yankee of the party, " I guess you won't have to go
far for a light, anyhow,"

CATTLE DISEASE PREVENTION.

At a receut meeting of the Hay wards Heath Agrioulti
ral Society, Mr. Charle6 Leunox Peel, Clerk to the Privj
Council, gave the following explanation of the law as tu
the prevention of Cattle disease : —

I am happy to be able to tell you that the health of o
animals in the, United King loin during the past year I
exceptionally good. When 1 had the pleasure of addressing
some of you at the Cucklield agricultural show last year the
new Act which deals with the contagious diseases ol animal
hud not come into operation. 1 was only able to speak then i I
our intentions and our hopes. I am now speaking after tweln
months' experience of the working of the Act, audi am bound
to say that the result ib not unsatisfactory. I am aware that ■
year is too short a time to enable us to pronounce a definitivi
opinion on the permanent effect which the new legi.-la
tiou will have in the extinction of the diseases from which this
country has suffered so severely during the last few years. 1
will put it therefore no higher than this— that concurrent!;
with the adoption of the new regulations affecting foreign, or
home-bred stock, there has been a marked improvement intlr
health of our flocks and herds. There has been no seriou
outbreak of disease in the United Kingdom, and the regulation
are working smoothly and well.

I observe, from letters and articles in the agricultural ant
other newspapers, that some little alarm has been caused by ;.
reported outbreak of cattle plague in Russian Poland, and t*^'
gentlemen who have paid great attention to these mattsrs, an
whose opinions are worthy of every consideration — I refer tt
Mr. Odam3 and Mr. Waller — have suggested some doubts as ,i
I whether the p-ecautions taken by the Privy Council are sulh-
I cient to protect us against the importation of disease. It may
! be interesting to you to hear what those precautions are.
j Under the new Act all foreign animals arriving in this country
I must be slaughtered at the pott of lauding, but poser is given
to the Privy Council to prohibit importation altogether frcm,.
any dangerous country, and to exempt from the obligation of
s'aughter at the port of landing animals coming from any count* y
which can satisfy tne Privy Council that they are generuiy
free from disease, and that their laws are such as to give
reasonable security against the importation and spread of dis-
ease, in that country.

The countries which have so .satisfied the Privy Council mav
be counted on the Sogers of one hand. They are Sweden (in-
cluding Norway), Denmark, Spain, Portugal and Canada.
Animals arriving from any of these countries must be landed
at certain specified ports, and if after a detention of twelve
hours and two inspections by officers of the Privy Couuc'lthe
are found to be healthy, they are no longer treated as foreign
animals.

The importation of all animals is absolutely prohibited from
countries likely to send us rinderpest, aud this applies to J
sia, Austria, Turkey, Greece, Italy, and Roumania, the in
tation of cattle from Germany and De.lgiuru being prohibited
from the same cause. Prom every other country in the vvor d
all animals arriving in this country must be landed at cer
defined and isolated wharves, and under no possible cir. i
stances are they allowed to leave those wharves alive. Wl
these regulations were first suggested we were told that tl.
adoption would cause such a disturbance in the cattle trade . •
would seriously interfere with the supply ol food to 1
country.

Now this was a very serious consideration. On the o
hand it was obviously useless to impose restrictions upon our
home stock for the purpose of stamping out these diseases if
foreign origin, unless we could effectually prevent their r -
introduction from abroad ; whilst oa the other hand, as
clearly are unable at present to produce as much meat as is
required for the consumption of this country, it was esse.
that no difficulty should be placed in the way of obtaining v, I
was required from elstwhere. The Government made e.
inquiry into litis matter, and from all the information ti
could obtain from the best informed quarters. They arrive
at the conclusion that the trade would in all probability bo
accommodate itself to the altered circumstances, aud "that
was more than likely that the certainty of the new system «ou!<
prove preferable to the uncertainty which prevailed under th.
old.

I am happy to believe that this anticipation will pro.s

THE FAKMEB'S MAGAZINE.

correct. During the first ten months of the present year I
188 animals have been imported into this
country from abroad against 1,04-9,304 animals during the
corresponding period of 1878, showing an increase of 4S.0S4,
whilst it is a carious fact that on looking at the list of coun-
tries which have sent us fewer cattle than u*ual, I find at the
head of it Denmark, with a falling off of 9,000 cattle daring
the first six months of this year — Denmark being a country
whose animals have never been subject to slaughter at our
ports — hus proving conclusively that ths deficiency was due
to the. accidental circumstance of a better market having been
four I elsewhere, and not to any reguia-Lns imposed by this
country.

And now, "gentlemen, I should like to say a few words about
our home regulations, which affect you individually more than
those to which I have referred. And hers I may say that
there is one complaint with regard to our regulations with
which I entirely sympathise — I mean that in consequence of
the number of Orders, it is almost impossible for anyone with-
out an infini'y of trouble to find out what the law really is.
I have assisted at the preparation, and hare been present at
the passing, of ail these Orders, and yet I should be serry to
undertake to give an offhand answer to any abstruse question
which might te raised. I will explain to yon, however, why
it was necessary that this number cf Orders should exist- at
first. The Act laid down certain broad principles upon which
ign aid home-bred animals were to be treated, leaving
the details to be carried into effect by Orders of the Privy
Council.

We began by passing two Orders, one relating to foreign

a id the other to home animals, and as various points and

difficulties have arisen, which it was impossible to foresee,

fresh Orders have become necessary, amending or exr'

the original Orders, until they have grown into a bulky volume.

f am happy to tell you that the time has now arrived when we

ve that these Orders may be consolidated, and I hope that

e the end of the year an Order may be passed w Inch will

revoke ail existing Orders, and which will contain in itself all

the provisions now in force, both as regards foreign and home

ale. Bnt whilst admitting that the Orders are somewhat

perplexing, I must add that the leading principles of the regn

laiions contained in them are simple enough. The great feature

is that disease, when it breaks out, should be isolated and

oped out at the centre of infection. As a first step towards

this end, it is the first duty ol every owner of a diseased animal

to give notice of the fact to a constable. It is not only his

duty, but hii interest, because by doing so he obviates any risk

ef getting into trouble for not complying with the law ; and

if the diw use proves to be one for which slaughter is prescribed,

he til es entitled to the full amount of compensation

which under the new Act the local authority are bound to pay,

: three-quarters of the value for a diseased animal, and

value for any healthy animal they may deem it expedient to

slaughter.

The whole duty of nnn (regarded as the owner of a diseased
animai) has therefore been performed when he has notified the
fact lo the nearest policeman. The responsibility is then
transferred from his shoulders to those of the local authority
who are bound to inquire into the case, and to deal with it
Hccording to the requirements of the law. And here I may
observe how important ic is that rite local authority should
avail themselves of the best veterinary advice thev can procure.
1 may illustrate ths by a case of a county (Northumberland)
where this Act has been mo-t rigidly a .d successfully enforced.
It is stated in the report of the executive committee for 1879,
that during the year forty -eight cases of pleuropneumonia
were reported to them. All these cases were examined by the
Eminent veterinary inspector of the local authority, aud the
result was that only three out cf the forty-eight proved to be
cases of contagious pleuro-pm uraouia, with whioh alone the
Act deals. The lives of forty -live animals were thus spared to
the owners, and to ol th9 ratepayers were saved an

expenditure of some £500 or £600, which might have been
paid in compensation under a less rigoious inspection. The
local authority having satisfied themselves of the existence of
'-ease, and having ordered the slaughter of the animals in
cases where slaughter is prescribed, are bound to declare the
place where the disease existed "an infected place;" and 1
lirable that the limits of that place
should not be more cxttmlsd than is absolutely uecessarj for

safety. The restrictijns in an infected place are very severe-
— movement into or out of it is practically forbidden, and it is-
desirable that no greater amonnt of inconvenience than is
necessary should be inflicted on the owner, in cases of
pleuro-pneumonia, for instance,, it will generally be sufficient
to declare the shed or stall or yard in which the disease
ey sts " an infected place,." In foot-and-mouth, disease a-
larger limit may be necessary, but it should be remembered
that the Privy Council is always ready, when necessary, to
declare " au infected area " round the infected place, the re-
strictions within such area being less severe thsnthose withinan
infected ''"place,"' but still sufficient for the Security of the
neighbouring farms and premises.

There is- another provision to which v/e attach great impor-
tance— I mean the system of travelling inspection. We have a
small but very active staff of gentlemen, 'vlmse whole lives are
spent in travelling about the country, dropping down upon
rai'way stations, cattle, ships, fairs., markets, and sale yards,
for the purpose of seeing that the orders relating to cleansing
and disinlec ing are carried into effect.. Sometimes a prosecu-
tion lollows, aud though I am sorry when any of our friends
get into trouble, I am sure you who are interested in the
rearing and breeding and sale of cattle, will understand how
essential it is that in places where animals are here to-day and-
away lo-moirow, when you have no meaus of knowiug whence
they come or whither they jro, every precaution should be
taken to prevent the possibility of their leaving behind them
the seeds of disease to be communicated to their successors.

And now, gentlemen, I have done. I believe tha matters
to which I i:»ve referred have a direct bearing on the pros-
Derity of such shows and sales as those of to-day. I have only-
to say, in conclusion, that the Government are engaged in an
earnest and honest attempt ta extirpi.le those diseases of
animals which have caused such loss to this couutry, and if
they succeed, aslhopoand believe they a> ay, they will have
earned the gratitude not only of the agriculturists, but every
class of the community.

BULGARIA AS A FIELD FOR SETTLERS.- Mr. II.
Barkley publishes in the Times some intelligence from Bulgaria
which might make a third-ra'e Eng'ish squire's mouth water,
He has teceutly been offered 3,000 acres of deep alluvial soil
able to grow anything, and within two miles of a port on the
Danube, for £6,000. '' As a further inducement to purchasers,,
a farmhouse, extensive farm buildings, two steam thrashing-
machines, a steam mill, 1,200 sheep, 100 oxen and cows, and
a drove of horses, are thrown in. Large oak woods cover a
part of the land, which, 1 am informed, might be cut aud sold,
to cover the entire cost of the estate." There are many such
estates in the market, aud labour is cheap and good, while
deer, wi'd boar, partridges; black game, and all kinds of water-
fowl, abound. Thf;re is a prospect for a young squire, with
£10,000, good health, plenty of energy, and uo hope of doing
anything in this overstocked country ! He will, however, we
imagine, go to New Zealand, and leave Bulgaria to the pains-
taking German, who will euter it, as he does Poland, civilise
it, and become es hated as the Englishmen in India or in West
Ireland. —Spectator,.

A MULE WILLING TO GO.— A bad little boy" in
Portland lit a pack of sliooting-crackers, and threw them
into the street to "go off" Oue of Ike Bateman's mules
came along and swallowed them before they " went off." The
mule walked about fifteen feet and stopped. Thiugs wasn't
acting just right iuside. He began to taste the smoke of fire
dickers. He laid his left ear round against hit ribs F.nd
heard something. It was them crackers having lun. The
mule picked out about three and a hall miles of straight road'
and started. A negro met him about a mile the other side of
the Alms House, giing south, white with perspiration, with
streams of smoke shooting out of his nostrils, mouth, and ears,
while his tail stuck straight up, and a stream of blue and green
smoke about ten feet long loilowed in the rear. Ike soon
afterwards found his mule sticking half way through a farm-
house near Paddy's Run still smoking. The man got his
family out and put ira up in a lot of trees, (kc hauled hit
mule home when he got cool euough, ou * dray.

THE FARMER'S 'MAGAZINE.

6j

AN" AMERICAN VIEW OF ENGLISH
TRADE AND EMIGRATION.

A correspondent of the iWio York Tribune recently " inter-
viewed " Colonel Albert D. Shaw, the United States Consul in
Manchester, and lurnishes to that journal au account of an
interesting conversation with r-egaru to the cotton trade of
Lancashire, the markets for American cotton in Eng'and, the
effect of American oompetition, the outlook lor English
manufactures, the condition ol English operatives, the Lan-
cashire strikes, the prospects of emigration, aud the sale of
American products in England. The correspondent describes
Colonel Shaw as " a Mew Yorker who keeps his eyes open,"
aud as having made a thorough study of the subject ; and the
public are therefore assured that his conclusions may be
acceptea as those of " a trained observer.'1

Replying to the first question, whether there has been any
improvement during the past year in the cotton trade of Lan-
cashire, Colonel Shaw said : " I think no% on the whole ; it
has been a gloomy time for manufacturers- The margin
between the cost ot the raw material aud the selling price of
cotton goods has been so Bmall that the expenses have
absorbed the profits iu a great majority of cases. Few mills
have realised an adequate return on the capital invested, and
probably 30 per cent, ot them have lost money, and some of
them largely, on the year's operations. Many mills have been
shut down, more are working on short time^ and a si ill
greater number have reduced the wages of their operatives.
these facts prove that trade is bad, exceptionally so, or these
expedients and stoppages would not lollow."

" Is there any considerable market," t lie interviewer asked,
" for American cottons iu this part of England?" "Not at
;nt," said .Mr. Shaw. " American cottons of fine quality
aud finish were scut over here two or three years ago and
met with a ready and favourable sale. Naturally, this created
alarm in this stronghold of English cotton manufactures, but
reductions in wages and in the price of cottons, coupled with
the prejudices and reciprocal relations of the Manchester
trade generally, so lowered the price of cotton goods that
American importations ceased to secure a remunerative
market. The experiment, however, opeued the eyes of manu-
facturers here to the wonderful development of American
manufactures, and taught them that dangerous rivals were
eoming forward to compete with them, foi the home as well as
lor the foreign markets."

" Do English manufacturers feel the effects of competition
from outsiders?'' Undoubtedly they do," was the answer.
"English manufacturers have striven nobly to meet the dis-
couraging phases of their trade — caused by a lack of orders
and the low price of their goods — hoping for a better market
and resorting to every promising expedient to sheapen the
cost of production. But many of their former large foreign
purchasers are supplying their needs Irom home productions
largely, and the increased facilities for the manufacture of
staple goods in Germany, in France, in the United States, and
even in Canada, are now so great that English manufacturers
find themselves heavily handicapped in the race lor supremacy..
The fact is that loreiga competition lies at the bottom of their
present troubles. True, comparatively a small per eentage of
foreign manufactured guods is sold iu England, but the danger
is, always, that unless ' rock-bottom ' prices are accepted for
English mauulactures, the American, the French, and the
German products will at once take their place. So, in reality,
the cheap and excellent quality of foreign manufactures
forces down the profits of English mauulacturers, and iu
many ca.-es renders it impossible for them to live. Besides,
iu the East, and in far away centre?, American manufacturers
are rapidly gaining in favour, and hereiu lies also a dangerous
competition with English products. Many believe that the
cotton manufacturers of this district are passing through a
crisis unequalled, all in all, in the history of this industry,
llival competitors in other lands are bidding keenly for
enlarged markets ; and English manufacturers, while- still able
to command a large per eentage ol the foreign trade in the
East, and to hold their markets at home, are yet forced to
accept small profits to accomplish this.. So that while manu-
facturers here in the great majority of cases are able to
produce goods at less first cost than their outside rivals,, they
arc forced to put up with inadequate aud unhealthy profits

to hold their own at presrnt in the open markets of the
world. Besides, the failure of crops in Englaud makes the
home trade poor, and so all around the circle there is a
concentrated pressure brought to bear on English manufac-
turers."

" What is your opinion, Mr. Shaw, of the future prospects
of manufactures in England ?" " Well, sir, your question is
a hard one to answer. Knowing as 1 do the almost limitless
resources of the United States in raw materials, I naturally
incline to the opinion that American enterprise, backed by
adequate cheap capital, will be equal to the future, and that
our raw materials, so wonderfully distributed over our vast
continent, will be manufactured cheapest near the place of
production. The genius of American inventors, and the
growing skill of American operators, coupled with cheap lands
and cheap food, certainly place us in a favourable position for
winning the race in the international contest lor the
controlling position in manufactures. In England there is
untold wealth, and the climate is specially favourable for the
manufacture of certain classes of goods. Had it uot been for
the present wet season, the loss and distress in Lancashire
would have been far greater. Iu working up cotton a damp
atmosphere greatly facilitates and economises the process.
As high as 10 or 20 per cent is thus saved. All cotton manu-
facturers understand this matter perfectly. The trade policy
of rival nations is what cuts into the very vitals of English
manufactures. Protection lops off the limbs of England's
commerce, and it is this that is leaving the trunk shorn of its
branches. Shut out as England is from even her own colonies
by a tariff which encourages native industries, the supply thus
curtails the demand for manufactures; and, in the sum total,
the various losses thus brought about are more serious to
English manufacture than is generally known."

" How do English operatives in the cotton mills compare
with our American operatives?" was the next question. " In
my opinion," said Mr. Shaw, " the average English operative
is not equal to the average, American operative, either physi-
cally or intellectually. Here, whole families work in the
mills— father, mothe,', and children, and I notice a lack of
physical strength in the workpeople as they leave the factory.
They look sallow, and appear haggard and weary. There is a
kind of languor and a lack of buoyancy of spirits among
them, quite in contrast to our American operatives in this
particular. Then, again, beer drinking and smoking are very
common among them, and an euormius amount of money is
spent in this way. Beer is the great curse of the poorer
classes in England. It deadens the moral and physical forces,
and at the same time robs them of much of their hard earn-
ings. Really, sir, this drink question is a serious one at
present, for the money wasted on beer would bring gladness
and comfort to thousands of homes now made desolate by and
through its use."

" Do English operatives live aa well, and is tlieir social
position equal to those of American operatives?" "Oh, no;
there is a wide difference in these respects. In England, once
an operative, as a rule, always an operative. In the United-
States it is an operative to-day, and something else later on.
Not so in England. Class prejudices and customs press
heavily upon operatives. The spirit of change, the ambition
to seek other fields and pastures new is not general among
this class, so far as ray observations extend in Englaud. They
are content to toil on, satisfied to let others do the planning,
so long as there is work in the mill, and no ambitious disturb
them. It is a great privilege to get work there, and in it are
centred all their hopes for the future. In this circle they
expect to revolve as long as they live. Few have any aspira-
tions beyond this, and few have any prospect of getting on
outside of a fac'ory. This is the beginning aud end ol their
hopes or expectations. The contrast iu the condition of
operatives in England and in the United States — in dress, iu
education, in living, and in the prospects for the future of their
families, is most marked indeed. American operatives in their,
social position, in their school privileges, aud in the future
possibilities open before them, are a hundredfold better off
than are operatives of this country. Of this you can satisfy
yourself in half an hour by looking about this city. America
presents a future to operatives outside of the factory. England
does not; and in this radical difference lies the grand advan-
tage onr operatives enjoy."

" Have there boeu mare? strike? in this district latterlv !"

62

" Yes; several. It is a bad business this of striking anion?
operatives here, it causes much loss and suffering, both to
the operatives and the manufacturers. The dull trade of the
past year has been so serious that the workpeople hav, shown
a disposition to work under reductions which earlier
would have led to a strike. The fact is that manufacturers
are not in a position now to be intimidated by operatives.
It is hard work, under the bt-st mauagemeQt, to keep mills in
motion, and so reductions mast come, or the spindles and
looms must stop. It is a question of low wages and work, or
no work or wages." .

" What is the feeling in this section about emigration?
" There can be no doubt but that, a very large emigration will
toon take place, and now is the time for discreet efforts to
be made to direct this tide to our shores. Agents ar-e
already here working in the interest of Canada, Australia, and
New Zealand, and, as may be readily inferred, they do not
strengthen any predilections in favour of emigrating to the
United States."

" What particular class have emigration in view ?" " All
classes, almost. No end of operatives would at once start for
America if they were assured of work and fair wages. Tae
farmers by thousands have become convinced that it will be
better for them to emigrate where land is cheap and the
climate is more promising for grain raising than it is in Eng-
land. Many have already gone to Canada and to Aust' alia
and New Zealand who, rightly influenced by a full presenta-
tion of the advantages the United Sta'es offer for them to
settle there, would have chosen to come to us. Among in-
tending emigrants are stroutr, capable, and industrious people
—in many eases with from £1,000 to £10,000 of capital— the
right sort of men to de;el<ip a new country, socially, morally,
and generally. Those interested cannot too soon wake up
to the importance of promptly establishing agencies in
proper places in England to furnish needed and reliable in-
formation as to the attractions of various sections of the
United States."

" What plan appears best to you, so far as American erai-
gr ition agents are concerned P" " In my judgment the selec-
tion of men well acquainted with English habits — and, if
possible, with a wide circle of friends in England — would be
wise. One agent might do for two or more States, as the
climate and conditions might seem unfavourable or the reverse
in any one, aod thus a general bureau for furnishing trust-
worthy data could be kept up. Aleuts interested. in the sale
of particular lands are not wanted. These do not generally
succeed, for their interests do not always favour tlios* of in-
tending emigrants."

" How are American fresh meats, butter, and cheese re-
garded by English consumers ?" " Very favourably indeed.
The increase in the supply has been enormous within the past
two years, and as a result the price of English -grown meat
has fallen from 2 to 8 cents a pound. At first there was a
great prejudice against American fresh meat; but this is
largely dying out, owing to the excellent quality and condition
of the supply furnished. Wrhat is needed now are better
methods for placing our meat on sale over here. As it is, the
Euglish dealer gets the best of the bargain. If exporters of
our live stock could arrange to have retail markets in the
principal cities and towns in England, where good meats could
be had at a fair price, it would not take long to establish a
much more lucrative trade than it is at preseut. Now retail
dealers and middlemen reap the richest harvest in handling
our meats. And so with our butter and cheese. I think if
proper attention was paid to this matter that leadiug dealers
in America could form connections with influential houses in
England, and so directly supply their meats, butter, cheese,
&c, to the trade here, and thus avoid expensive middlemen
and irresponsible ageuts in this couutry. This would require
close attention and study, but it is a point well worthy of the
careful investigation of our American exporters."

" Then you believe that a better system of placing Ameri-
can farm products on sale in Euglaud would greatly benefit
onr farmers?" "Most certainly I do. There can be no
question at all about this. Look at the facts : At present a
consignment of butter, cheese, apples, meats, &c, is received,
eay, at Liverpool. The dealer to whom it is consigned offers
it for sale in lots at auction. Notice is given, and on a speci-
fied day it is sold to the highest bidder. Mind, there is no
guarmtce »pecially given, as a rule. There are the article,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

and purchasers must take their chance. A pressure of busi-
ness, or rain, or one thing or another, prevents intending
buyers from being preseut, so the prices realised are olten
very low. It is a sort of forced sal*, and knowing this many
take advantage of the plan, and even combine together often
to secure lots very cheap. The practical sffect ot this system
of sales is to lower the price of consignments made in this-
way. If, on the other hand, shipments were made to respon-
sible houses interested in the produce, where sales would be
made unaer their guirantee as to quality and condition, a
great improvement would follow. IS'o one can doubt this who'
has investigated this subject carefully. I have known 50
packages of Americtn butter to be sold at auction at Liver-
pool at 16 cents a pound, 40 packages of which a week later
were resold by the purchasers for 2S cents a pound, and the
price of butter had not advanced in the general market in the
meantime. This dealer sent the butter to his warehouse,
carefully assorted it, branded it with his firm's name, and made
a handsome profit simply because he became responsible lor
the quality of the same. This illustrates exacily what I mean
by irudroved methods of selling American iarm products in
England, for what is true in this one instance holds good in
general as regards our trade. The best articles only sh uld be
sent over here, and then the best methods should beempluyed
to dispose of them after they arrive. What is needed is a
good knowledge of the tastes and prejudices of the English
people, and then to carefully prepare our products to suit
them. With branch houses in the chief centres in Geat
Britain, through which orders could come lor needed supplies,
direct shipments would save profits now paid to middlemen,
storage, cartage, Sec, a sum total in many cases equal to a good
percentage, on a shipment, as now mauaged, ami at the same
time secure a higher price for the goods when sold. 1 atn
aware that this is not a new idea by any means, bnt, never-
theless, it is important to farmers especially, because their
interests are sacrificed by the bad methods now in force
in disposing of their hard-earned products in Euglish mar-
kets. "

" Is there much interest manifested here in regard to the
consular reports made to the Department of State at Wash-
ington ?" " Yes ; a great deal, and merchants and manufac-
turers in this country are pressing for similar reports Irom
English Consuls. It is held that such reports are of grtat
value, and the information furnished has the advantage of
beins; impartial. The recent publication of a review of
labour in Europe by the State Department at Washington has
been widely criticised and highly commended by the English
press. I think more atteution is now beiug given to the
study of the needs of foreign trade than formerly in this
couutry. The zeal of American representatives in the Con-
sular seivice in gathering all the available data as to wages,
strikes, cost of living, markets, S:c., is regarded as indicative
of a comprehensive and valuable s>steraof gathering facts tor
the benefit of the nation, and their importance is not under-
rated in England."

TOO M\NY SNAKE BITES.— During the haying season
an honest old farmer out on the Gratiot-roid, employed three
young men from the city to help cut aud store his timothy.
Noue of them liked work half as well as whisky, and a con-
spiracy was the result. About noon oue day one of the trio
fell down in the field, shouting and kicking, and the other two
ran to the farmer with wild eyes and called out that their com-
panion had been bitten by a rattlesnake aud must have whisky.
The farmer rushed to the house aud brought out a quart, aud
the three harvesters got a big drink all around on the sly,
while the " bitten " one had a lay-off of half a day. The next
forenoon a second one was bitten, and again the farmer ru-hed
for his Dottle. It was a nice little job for the boys,, and on.
the third day the third one put in his claim for a bite and
yelled for the whisky bottle. The farmer took the matter
very coolly this time, and after making particular enquiries as
to the size of the snake, location of the bite, the s-nsation, and
so forth, he slowly continued : — " Day belore yesterday James
was bitten and drank a quart of good whisky. Yesterday
John was bitteu and drauk a quart more. To-day you've got
a bite, and the best thing you can do is to smell their breaths,
and lay in the shade while the rest of us eat dinner!" The
man got well in ten minutes, and not another rattlesnake was
seen during the seasi n.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

68

UEVJE"W OF THE CORN TRADE.

From The Mark Lane Express for the week ending

December 22.

Some indications of a thaw were apparent during
the earlier days of the week, but the ice had only
partially disappeared when fiost once more asserted
its supremacy, and the subsequent weather has been
of that severe character with which we are wont
to associate the approach of an old-fashioned Christ-
mas. The snn has, however, sulked behind leaden
skies ; and fogs, dense and depressing have en-
dangered the safety of pedestrians and impeded
locomotion generally, not to mention the rendering
of business on the old Corn Exchange, in its
present dilapidated condition, practically futile.
At this season of the year agricultural affairs
"furnish few features for comment. With the land
in its present state, the carting of manure and the
trimming of edges are about the only outdoor
operations that can be carried on, the termination
of wheat sowing being necessarily adjourned "sine
die." Distress is, unnappily, ou the increase both
in the agricultural and manufacturing districts, a
fact which is the more to be deplored at the return
of that season which should be fraught with happi-
ness to mankind, and which goes far to prove how
slight has been the revival of trade which was so
anxiously looked for. Cattle are also suffering
severely from the inclement weather, and need the
■utmost care and attention to keep them in any-
thing like condition. With such a poor stock of
roots and winter fodder they are likely to fall up-
on hard times ere Spring comes round again.
Thrashing has been carried on steadily, as the in-
creased deliveries from farmers at the principal
markets testify, but, notwithstanding the some-
what improved condition of the offerings, pro-
vincial trade has been far from active, owing to
'the disinclination of millers to add to their stock
at the close of the year. Nor has business at Mark
Lane been much better, although an occasional
advance of Is. per qr. was obtained for English
wheat at the beginning of the week, in spite of a
fog which not only prevented buyers from examin-
ing samples, but almost defied personal recognition.
N -arly five-sixths of the imports of foreign wheat
into London last week were from American
Atlantic ports, and supplies from these sources
have continued to reach our shores on a scale far
in excess of our immediate requirements ; still
prices keep up, and confidence in the future is the
prominent feature in the trade. Prices have gone
on advancing in America without any response
from Europe; indeed most of the Old World
markets have been rather depressed than otherwise
of late, so that the basis of the present high range
of values for Wheat on the other side is necessarily
a fictitious one, a3 it rests almost entirely on specu-
lative enterprise. The speculation is, however,
unusually wide-spread ; indeed, it seems that
everyone with any money to invest has been eager
to put it into Wheat 4 con3equeutly the capitalists
and financiers in America feels confident of being
able to " corner" wheat, or, in other words, to
dictate prices to Europe. Such is the present state
of the trade, but it cannot last long, as prices here

are already sufficiently high to attr. ct supplies from
all wheat producing-countries in the world, of
which Australia and India, as well as some others
that might be named, are not likely to withhold
shipments until America has succeeded in establish-
ing a fictitious value in the European markets.
The actual amount of business done during the
week has been small on account of the fog and the
approaching holidays, but Monday's quotations
have been repeated on the subsequent market days
for allarticles except Maize, which has been diffi-
cult to sell, except at a slight reduction. Having
entered a mo.-t interesting phase, the trade closed
firm but quiet, and it remains to be seen how far
the lead of America will be followed by Europe.
The sales of English wheat noted last week were
41,787 qrs., at 463. 6d. against 51,419 qrs. at 40s.
8d. in the previous year. The London average
for the week ending December 19th was 50s. lid.
on 942 qrs. The imports into the United Kino-dom
for the week euding December 13th were
1,237,417 cwt.of wheat, and 193,232 cwt. of flour.
Last Monday's market was fairly attended by
millers and country dealers, and the tone of the
trade was steady, although business was rendered
almost impracticable owing to the dense fo»
which enveloped the city like a pall throughout
the day. Occasionally the form of a buyer loomed
iuto the fitful gleam cast by the candles which
factors were obliged to use to enable them to see
their market books, and the few sales that were
effected were made entirely on the faith of sellers'
representations, as it was quite impossible to judge
of samples except by artificial light, which is
always puzzling. The return showed the week's
arrivals of home-grown wheat to have amounted
to 4,407 qrs., and the supply fresh up to market
was again quite moderate. Factors held for Is.
per qr. more money, but the advance was only
occasionally obtainable from necessitious buyers.
Of foreign the arrivals were fair, in all something
over 65,000 qrs., of which quantity upwards of
49,000 qrs. were from the United States and
Canada. Germany contributed about 10,000 qrs.
and India 4,229, the remainder of the supply being
from North Russia. Considering the state of the
atmosphere a fair amount of business was done,
the demand being of a retail consumptive charac-
ter, at an advance of about Is. perqr. on the week,
red winter American and Russian varieties attract-
ing most attention. The exports were 3.783 qrs.
against 1,029 qrs. in the preceeding week. There
were 5,504 qrs. of home-grown barley and 11,966
qrs. of foreign. The trade ruled quiet but steady,
and the full prices of the previous week were ob-
tainable for both malting and grinding descriptions.
Maize, with an arrival of little over 8,500 qrs.,
met an active demand at an advance of Od. per qr.
on the currencies of the previous Monday. The
imports of oats were 44,667 qrs., and a slow sale
was experienced for all varieties at a decline of 3d.
to 6d. per. qr. on the week. There was no fur-
ther supply of English wheat on Wednesday, but
46,700 qrs. of foreign were reported. The weather
was again very fogey, and the attendance small.
Few sales of either wheat or feeding corn could
be made, but no quotable alteration took place in
prices, Maize was, if anything, a shade easier. On

t54

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE.

Friday the return showed 420 qrs. of EDplish |
wheat and 40.340 qrs. of foreign. The weather !
was rather milder, and there was less fog. The j
attendance was small, and a moderate retail de-
mand was experienced for Wheat at Wednesday's I
currencies. Maize was steady at 29s. 3d. per 480 j
lb. ex ship for mixed American. The imports of j
flour into "the United Kingdom for the week ending I
December 13th were 193.232 cwt., against 209,699 |
cwt. in the previous week. The receipts into Lon- i
don were 19,947 sacks of English, and 10,696 sacks j
and 2,649 barrels of foreign. An advance cf 6d.
per barrel and Is. per sack was quoted last Monday, ]
since which time the improvement has been fairly i
maintained. American flour for shipment has also |
realised rather higher prices. The week's arrivals
of beans were 35,430 cwt. and of peas 85,150 cwt.,
showing a decrease of 47,431 cwt. on the former,
and an increase o f4,667 cwt. on the latter. There
has not been much inquiry for beans, but in the
limited business passing previous quotations have
been supported. Peas have likewise met a slow
eale at about former currencies. The week's
deliveries of malt were 16,824 qrs. and the exports
1,026 qrs. No alteration has taken place in values,
as business has been very quiet, and is expected to
remain so until after the turn of the year. A
health v tone has characterised the agricultural seed
trade, although, as is usual at this time of year, the
amount of business done has been light, and pre-
vious quotations have been supported for nearly all
varieties. Rather more inquiry has been experienced
fcr red clover, owing to the rise in America, but
there has been no change in white clover or alsyke.
There has been some speculative demand for Italian
ryegrass, and canary has favoured sellers, owing to
an improved export movement to America, but
other varieties offer no freeh subject for remark.
With moderate supplies at the country markets,
provincial trade has been rather quieter during the
past week, but the recent advance has been main-
tained in most instances for both wheat and maize.
At Liverpool, on Tuesday, the market was thinly
attended, and the trade by no means active. The
demand for wheat was slight, but prices were 2d.
per cental dearer on the week. Flour was firmly
held, but sales could not have been effected except
at a slight reduction. Oats pave way Id. per
cental in the absence of inquiry, but Egyptian beans
were the turn dearer. Part of the recent advance
in maize was lost, say about Id. per cental, owing
to increased supplies and more liberal shipments
from America. New mixed closed at 5s. lid. to 5s.
ll|d. per 1001b. The week's imports included
58,000 qrs. of wheat and 23,000 qrs. of maize. _ At
Newcastle wheat has sold slowly, but the previous
advance of Is. to 2s. per qr. has been maintained.
Flour has been held for higher prices, but the
advance asked has checked business. Oats have
ruled quiet, and maize steady, at fully late rates.
At Hull and Leeds there has not been much doing,
but previous quotations have been obtainable for
both English and foreign wheat. Maize has risen
6d. per qr., and other articles remain without
change. At Edinburgh the market has been well
supplied with grain from the farmers, and wheat
sold freely on Wednesday at an advance of Is. per
qr. Oats were also 0d. per qr. dearer, but barley

was difficult to move, and prices favoured buyer?.
At Leith the return of milder weather has enabled
farmers to make some progress with such outl-oor
work as had been delayed by the frost. Wheat
has shown considerable firmness during the week,
while spring corn has brought 6d. per qr. more
money. At market on Wednesday Scotch wheat
sold readily at an advance of Is. per qr., and
foreign was firmlv held, but sales were not practic-
able at any quotable improvement. Flour was Is.
per sack dearer, and full rates were obtained for
barley, for which, however, the demand was by no
means lively. Oats were in better request at 6d.
per qr. more money, and other sorts of feeding
corn ruled firm. At Glasgow the week's imports
have been fair, and at Wednesday's market the
previous advance in wheat and flour was lost, but
maize and spring cotn maintained former
currencies. At Dublin the weather has been
cold and frosty, and the grain trade Steady.
Wheat has maintained last week's prices, with a
quiet demand, and maize has been the turn in
sellers' favour. At Cork there has been a some-
what improved inquiry for wheat at Is. per qr.
more money, although sales have been chiefly in
retail. The consumption of maize has been
steadily improving, and sellers have succeeded in
establishing an advance of 6d. per qr.

PRICES CURRENT OF BRITISH GRAIN AND FLOUR
IN MARK LANE.

Shillings per Quarter.

WHEAT, Esses * Kent, white ol<l — to — new 48 tc 61

65
56

u

H
52
SB
2d

rod old — — new 44

Norfolk. Linclnsh., and Yorksh. red old — new 50

BARLEY Cheva'ier new 40

Grinding 35 to 42 Distilling 3*

MALT, pale new 66 to 72 old brown 50

RYE 32

OATS, English, feed 23 to 25 rotato 25

Scotch, feed .

Irish, feed, white 26

Ditto, black 25

BBAN8, Mazagan... 31

Harrow —

PEAS, white boilers 3-4

.'Potato

2-) Fine — —

26 Potato — —

37 Ticks 35 33

— Pigeon, old 42 60

38 Maple 33 to40 Grey 35 37

FLOUR, por sack of 2301b., town households 41 £0

Best country households 42 4i

Norfolk and Suffolk 40 42

FOREIGN GRAIN.

I hilling* per Quuter.

WHEAT, Danzig, mixed 60 to C2 extra — 64

Konigsuerg 59 62 extra — —

Rostock .. 56 60 old — —

Pomcra, Meckberg, and Uckermrk rod 56 58

Ghirka 56 to 57... Russian, hard, 60 to 55,Saxonska 56 57

Danish and Holsteiu, red — — ...red American 55 60

Chilian, white, 00... Californian 60 63. ..Australian 60 62

East Indian, No. 1 Club white 66 to 67 ; No. 2 ... 51 6fi

Old. while 50 to 62; red 48 to 60 ; hard 48 50

BARLEY, grinding, 25 to 26 distilling 36 46

OATS, Dutch, browing and Polands 23 to 25 feed 21 24

Danish and Swedish, foed 22 to 33 ..Btraslnnd ... 23 24

CauadaOOtoOO Riga 18 to 19 Petersburg... 18 23

BEANS, Fries'.and and Holstcin — —

Dalian 37 to 39. ..Egyptian 33 39

PEAS, Canadian 36 37.. .Prussian 37 40

MAIZE, Black Sea 32 34.. .Mixed American 28 6 29

FLOUR, per sack, FrancuSS 41 ..Sp.vnish, p. sack — —

Hungarian, per sack. ..45 60 ... American barrel 26 30

TARES, Spring 33 40

COMPARATIVE AVERAGES.

WHEAT.
Years. Qrs. s. d.
1875... 34,6575 ... 45 3
1876... 39,3123 . 60 6
1877... 38,9591 ... 51 9
1878... 64,3831 ... 39 9
1879... 47,0483 ... 47 1

BARLEY.

Qrs. s. d.
62,941 J ... 31 6
67,6761 ... 33 7
83,21 l| ... 43 0
66, 742 % ... 88 3
63,732; ... 37 11

OATS.
Qrs. a.
2.478J ... 24

3,1701 ... 24
:i.77Hj ... 23
3,6071 ... 20
4,274* ... 20

d.
4
5
4
7
10

Panted bj IJazeil, Watson, & Vine* 2C5, Strand, London-

CHAMPAGNES.
GRAND VIN DE L'EMPEREUR

TRADE fflgfflt MARK.

NONPAREIL.

Splendid "Wine equal to the Finest Brands, at half the usual Price.

Sole Importers of the Celebrated

GRAND VIN DE CHAMPAGNE

TRADE JfflML MARK.

ROUSSEAU AND CO., REIMS.

MADEIRA

Of the FINEST QUALITY, 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, Fenchurch Street, London, B.C.

Established 1847.
SAMPLES ON APPLICATION.

THE

ROYAL FARMERS1 AND GENERAL FIRE LIFE
AND HAIL INSURANCE OFFICE.

ESTABLISHED 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 DEN1S0N, Esq., 6, Albemarle Street, Piccadilly.
Deputy-Chairman — B. P. SHEARER, Esq., 47, Gloucester-place, Portman Square.
Tkonsas Henry Burrougb.es, Esq., 16, Lower Berkeley

Street.
William Clutton, Esq., 7, Clifton Villas, Penge.
A. J. Duff Filer, Eeq., 10, Aberdeen Park, Highbury.
K. J. Hawker, Esq., 37, Cadogan Place, Sloane Street

FIRE. — Insurances at moderate rates.

LIFE. — Insurances oa equitable terms. Profits divided every five year*.

HAIL. — Crops insured against Hail Storms at od. per acre.

LOSSES.— Settled promptly and liberally.

AMPLE CAPITAL AND LARGE RESERVES.

Prospectuses and Reports may bt obtained of the Secretary, JOHN SHARP, 3, Norfolk Street, Strand
1 ob don, W.C., or of the Agents.

Richard L. Loveland, Esq., 4, Hare Court, T«mpte.
John Reddish, Esq., 9, Highbury New Park.
Major F. Anderson Stebbing, 4, Cleveland Gardens,
Castle Hill, Ealing.

J. C. NESBIT & SON,

Analytical, Agricultural, and Consulting Chemists

(Manager A. ANTHONY NESBET, F.C.S., Stc.)
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, Graeeehurch Street E.C,

A list of fees sent on application-

■ ■— -Ml-

No. 2, Vol. LVII] FEBRUARY, i 88a. [Thibt) Series.

THE

FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

AND

MONTHLY JOURNAL

OF

THE AGRICULTURAL INTEREST.

JBeturateii

TO THS

FARMERS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM,

LONDON i
PUBLISHED BYROGERSON AND TUXFORD, 265, STRAND.

PRICK TWO SHILLINGS.

,

HAZBLL, WATSOK, * VINBT.] [PRINTERS, 2«o, STRAND.

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
destroying the Tick, Lice, and all other insects injurious 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
Oontributinsr to the general health of the animal.

Prepared only by Thomas Bigg, Chemist, Ac, at his Manu-
factory as above, and sold as lollows, although any other
quantity may be had, if required: —

i lb. for 20 sheep, price, jar included £0 2 0

8 1b. 30 „ „ 0 3 0

8 1b. 40 ,, ,, „ 0 4 0

10 lb. 60 ,, „ 0 6 0

201b. 100 „ ,, (Cask and measure 0 10 0
301b. 150 ,, ,, included) 0 16 0

401b. 200 „ ,, 10 0

r.Olb. 250 „ ., 13 6

00 1b. 300 „ „ „ 17 8

801b. 400 ,. „ , 1 17 6

100 1b. 600 ,, „ , 2 6 0

Should any Flockmaster prefer boiling the Composition, it
yrill be equally effective.

MOST IMPORTANT CERTIFICATE.

From Mr. Hbrkpath, the celebrated Analytical Chemist : —

Bristol Laboratory, Old Park, January 18th, 1861.

Sir,— I have submitted your Sheep Dipping Composition to

analysis, and find that the ingredients are well blended, and

the mixture neutral. If it is used according to the directions

ji/eu, I reel satisfied, that while it eflectually destroys vermin,

it will not injure the hair roots (or "yolk") in the skin, the

fleece, or the carcase. I think it deserves the mu»e*0«
testimonials published. I am, Sir, yours respectfully,

William Hebapath, Sen., F.C.S., Ac, Ae ,
To Mr. Thomas Bigg Professor of Chemistry.

Leicester House, Great Lover-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 lor thirty Sheep (according
to the virulence of the disease) ; also in wine quart bottles,

IMPORTANT TESTIMONIAL.
" Scoulton, near Hingham, Norfolk, April lflth, 1866.

"Dear Sir, — In answer to yours ot the 4th inst., which
would have been replied to before this had 1 been at home, J
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 ' Nojr-PoisoNors Specific,' that was so highly recom-
mended at the Lincoln Show, and by their own iiresser, the
best attention being paid to the Hock oy my shepherd alter
dressing according to instructions left ; but notwithstanding
the Scab continued getting worse. Being determined to hav a
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 Specific proved itself an invaluable remedy, for in
three weeks the Sheep were quite curetl ; and I am happy to
say the young lambs are doing remaricably well at present.
In conclusion, I believe it to be the snleet and beat remedy
now in use. " I remain, dear Sir,

"For JOHN TINGEY, Esq.,

" To Mr. Thomas Bigg. ' " R. RENNET.

IMP* Flockmasters would be well to beware of such pre-
parations as "Non-poisonous Compositions:" it is onlj
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 suck
as the Tick, Lice, and Scab ParHsites— creatures so tenacious
of life. Such advertised preparations must be wholly useless,
or they are not what they are represented to be.

DIPPING APPARATUS «'4. £5, £4, A £9.

THE

MARK LANE EXPRESS

AND

AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL

LARGEST AND THE LEADING FARMER'S AND GRAZIER'S NEWSPAPER.

PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY EVENING, 'iN TIME FOR POST.

*>ffice of Publication and for Advertisements, 265, Strand, London. May be had of all Booksellers

juid Newsmen throughout the Kingdom, price 7d., or £1 10s. 4d. per annum.

TEE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

FEBRUARY, 1880.

PLATE.

PRIORY PRINCESS

The Champion Beast at the S:\iithfield Club Cattle Show, 1879.

Priory Princess, a red roan and white Short-
horn, three years and four months old, was bred
by Mr. I. T Batcliffe, of the Priory, Beach Hill,
Reading, and was by Prince Charles out of
Countess. Prince Charles was by Berks Butter-
fly (3341) dam Ducky (Herd Book, vol. 17, page
450) by His Majesty (19963). She had a good
head and kind eye, but a steery horn, and was a
well-proportioned animal throughout, and
though fat enough for anything, quite free from
those unsightly , lumpy, overhanging exerescence3
to be seen on many a prize beast of former days.
Her gentleman in waiting told us that she had
been well done by from the day of her birth, and
would not in her infancy suck any other cow than
the Countess ; that she never had a calf, and was
of that easy and contented disposition that she
spent most of her time lying down, a statement
which we can corroborate, for although she had
— as most champion beasts do — a host of

admirers round her couch at the Agricultural
Hall she declined rising for three or four hours
at a stretch, and appeared to be ruminating over
her cud as unconcernedly as if she had been used
to such homage all her life, in fact just a born
princess. She was second in the Shorthorn
Heifer class not exceeding four years old, at the
Smithfield Club Cattle Show, 1878, won by Mr.
Stratton's Icicle, which was afterwards declared
the best beast in the yard.

In 1879 she won tho first prize in an
extra stock class at the Birmingham Pat
Cattle Show, and at the Smithfield Club
Show in a mixed class, standing next to
a little Jersey cow of Mr. E. Tattersall's
the well-known president at Albert Gate, was
placed first, and eventually chosen the Champion
out of 173 entries, including the Champion at
the Birmingham Show.

THE EARL OF FIFE'S LEASE.

It is impossible to speak or write in too hearty
Appreciation of the conduct of a great landowner
who puts in practice liberal doctrines which he had
professed before he came into possession of his
property. We are, unfortunately, so familiar with
instances in which the acquisition of large estates
has toned down liberal tendencies, that the
example of the Earl of Fife is all the more gratify-
ing and commendable. As Viscount Macduff, the
present Earl, during his short career in the House
of Commons, was one of the boldest champions of
agricultural reform. As the owner of the Fife
estates, comprising 250,000 acres of land, he has
carried into practice hia theories as to the right of
tenants to be compensated for their unexhausted
improvements and to kill ground game, and he has
resigned for himself the monstrous privilege con-
ferred by the Law of Hypothec, which he had
denounced. Cu another page we print the new
Fife Lease, which is so good that we scarcely like
Old See ibs.

to criticise it. But it is so nearly a model lease —
it so narrowly escapes being the best lease we have
ever seen — that we must point out what seem to
us to be its faults, with the hope that they will be
remedied. We are quite sure that the Earl of
Fife has no wish to have any restrictions upon his
tenants which are not necessary to the reasonable
protection of his interests, or to leave his admir-
able provisions for giving real Tenant-Right to
those who farm his land in any way incomplete.

As the lease itself is before our readers we need
not give a summary of its provisions, but may at
once proceed to comment on its clauses. To begin
with, then, it seems to us that the first clause
might have gone farther, though it is a great
advance on the form of the corresponding clause
in most Scotch leases. Under it a tenant may
assign his lease, with the written consent of the
landlord or factor, to any member of Lis family,
and if no nomination be made, and there be no
V Vol. LXXXVII.— No. 2.

GO

THE FARMER'S MAGAZIN1

male member of the family to take up the lease,
the oldest female member will succeed to it. Why
not allow the tenant to transfer his lease, if he
cannot farm it out, to any solvent successor, with-
out other limitation of any kind ? We admit that
such liberty of transfer is less necessary under the
Earl of Fife's lease than in ordinary cases, because
a tenant who cannot hold on to the end of the term
is to be compensated for his unexhausted improve-
ments; but as the provisions for compensation
are not very comprehensive, it might sometimes
happen that the tenant, if he wished or was com-
pelled to give up his lease previous to itstermina-
tion, would get what was fairly due to him better
by disposing of the lease than by accepting the
terms of compensation.

Under the fifth clause the tenant is to have the
right to kill ground game, and a claim to com-
pensation for damage to his crops done by game in
excess of five per cent, on the rent. Why he should
be required to put up with this limited extent of
damage without compensation is not very clear.
We presume the reservation is made to prevent
vexatious claims for slight and not easily to be
determined damage ; but the clause would be
more manifestly equitable without the reserva-
tion.

The conditions as to cropping and sale of crops
under the eleventh clause are in some respects
objectionable. The tenant is to be allowed to
farm as he pleases, provided that he does not grow
two white straw crops in succession, and that he
leaves the farm laid out on the five or six course
system at the end of his term. All the straw and
turnips are to be consumed on the farm. The
restriction against crowing two white straw crops
in succession is quite out of character with the
liberal conditions of the lease in other respect3, and
unjustified by the teachings of modern agricultural
science. The Earl of Leicester's lease is more
liberal and reasonable in this respect, as under it
the tenant is allowed to crop as he pleases, until
the last four years of the term. The prohibi-
tion on the sale of straw or roots is also highly
objectionable, and is not to be found in the Holk-
ham Lease, under which the tenant may sell his
produce as he pleases during the first sixteen years
of his period of tenancy. The valuers, in assess-
ing the value of unexhausted manures and feeding
stuffs used on the farm, would of course take into
consideration the growth of two white straw crops
in succession, and the sale of straw or roots. The
landlord, moreover, has, under the existing law, a
claim for dilapidations if the tenant has pursued
an exhaustive system of farming. It is much to
be hoped, therefore, that these illiberal conditions
in a generally admirable lease will be excised.

Under the fifteenth clause the tenant has a
claim for compensation for the unexhausted value
of extraneous manures used in the last seven years
of the term, and for extraneous feeding-stuffs used
>during the last three years, the amount to be
determined by valuation in the usual way. We
are afraid the condition as to sending a sample in
every instance to the landlord or factor, if
required, will be exceedingly onerous, and as a
guaranteed analysis is insisted on in the case of
-eaeh lot of these commodities purchased, the send-

ing of the sample appears to be unnecessary
Probably, however, it is not intended to enforce
this stipulation except there be reason to suspect
bad faith on the part of the tenant and the
merchant of whom he purchases these commodi-
ties. It is further prescribed under this clause that
the quantity of extraneous manure used during the
last five years of the lease must be "a fair average"
of the quantity used during the preceding five
years, and the quantity of feeding materials used
"during the last three years "a fair average" of
that used during each of the preceding three years.
Presuming that " a fair average " means an ap-
proximately equivalent quantity, this is a hard and
fast condition that will be exceedingly onerous,
and often impracticable. Through unavoidable
losses it might happen that the tenant would be
unable to spend as much in the purchase of
manures and feeding stuffs during the concluding
years of his term as he had been in the habit of
purchasing. Is he, in such a case, to forfeit the
right to compensation for the amount that he does
use ? If he is, he will be likely to refrain from
purchasing any, and then thefarm will be given up
in an exhausted condition. Thus the stipulation
is calculated to do more harm than good.

The arrangements for compensating the tenant
for buildings, dykes, and fences are very fair and
good. All buildings erected by the tenant with
the landlord's consent are to be paid for, and the
tenant is to be entitled to remove those erected
without the landlord's consent if the latter declines
to take them at a valuation. Draining done by
the tenant in a permanent manner is also to be
paid for, and for this improvement the consent of
the landlord is not necessary. This is a very
liberal provision.

Under the nineteenth clause the Earl of Fife
renounces " all preferable rights as against other
creditors of the tenant conferred upon him by
the Law of Hypothec." It is impossible to speak
in too high terms of the voluntary renunciation of
an unjust, though legal, privilege. We shall be
glad to think that the Earl's example will induce
other landlords to do likewise. What he has done
voluntarily the law should do for all who are un-
willing to give up an advantage which is an
anomaly and an abomination.

We have remarked that the improvements for
which compensation is to be paid are not sufficiently
comprehensive, and we have no doubt that the
incompleteness is the result of an oversight. There
is no mention of reclamation of waste land, the
laying down of permanent pasture, the making of
roads or ponds, nor of other improvements of a
permanent character that might be named.
How much is included under the term " extraneous
manures " we are unable to determine. If lime and
chalk are not included, they require to be men-
tioned separately, unless they are not needed on
any of the Fife estates. Unless we are mistaken,
lime is greatly needed in some of the districts in
which the land is situated. Why should not a
comprehensive provision be framed to empower
the arbitrators to allow compensation for anything
considered by them to have increased the value of
the farm, though not specially mentioned in the
lease ? Tt may be presumed that the Earl's inten-

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

67

lion 19 to compensate his tenant to the extent of
anv increment of value accruing' to the estates by
their instrumentality and at their cost. If this and
the few other alterations which we have indicated
were made, the lease would be one deserving to
be held up for general imitation ; and that they
might be made without endangering the interests
of the Earl we feel the fullest confidence.

The following " Regulations and Conditions of Farm
Tenaucy " on the estates in Scotland belonging to the
Earl of Fife have just been drawn up, and are to be made
applicable to all leases henceforth eutered into. The Fife
estates extend to about 250,000 acres, and are principally
situated in Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, and Morayshire.
These " Regulations and Conditions " give effect to the
views on land law reform which the present Lord Fife
has on several occasions publicly and vigorously expounded.
They have been practically in force since his lordship (as
Viscount Macduff) assumed the management of the Fife
estates ; and — apart altogether from their local import and
effect — they embody an important scheme of land tenure
reform. Their text is as follows : —

The following Regulations and Conditions shall be applicable
to all leases entered into subsequently to the date hereof,
viz. : —

I. Destination of Leases. — The leases shall be granted
in favour of the tenant and his heirs. All assignees, legal
or voluntary, possessors for behoof of creditors, sub-tenants,
and heirs-portioners, are excluded, bat the tenant, with the
written consent of the landlord or his factor, may nominate
any member of bh family to succeed hira in the lease. In the
event of no such nomination, and in the event of the succes-
sion devolving on females, the eldest heir female shall succeed
without division.

II. Payment of Rents. — The rents shall be payable in
money, at the terms of Martinmas and Whitsunday, by equal
portions, the first payment (along with the relative road
money) at the term of Martinmas, after the reaping of the first
crop, and the next payment at the terra of Whitsunday there-
after, and so forth as regards the whole future years and crops,
except as to the last year's rent, the whole of which shall be
payable at the terra of Martinmas,Hf.er the reading of the way-
going oop.

III. Minerals. — All mines, minerals, me'als, stone, fossils,
and moss, are reserved to the landlord, with right, by himself
or others, to work and carry away the same, and to erect aud
execute all necessary premises ani conveniences, and to maks
and maintain roads and communications therewith, on payment
of surface damages, either in the shape of an annual deduc-
tion from the rent, or otherwise, as may be arranged.

IV. — Woods. — All woods and woodlands with the pasturage
therein are reserved to the landlord, and the right to make and
use all necessary and convenient roads and accesses to and from
the same, subject to payment of surface damage.

V. — Game. — All game, including hares and rabbits, deer,
roe, wild fowl, and fish are reserved to the landlord, with the
liberty at all times of shooting, coursing, hunting, and fishing
for the same, by himself or others authorised by him ; but,
notwithstanding this reservation, tenants shall be entitled at
proper and usual seasons to shoot hares and rabbits on their
arable land. In the event of any damage being done or caused
by game other than ha e< and rabbits, the value of which shall
exceed 5 per cent, of the amount of the rent, tenants shall be
entitled to compensation for such excess of damage. Rabbits
in ground adjoining arable farms may be made the subject of
special arrangement.

VI. — Resumption of Land. — The landlord reserves
power to resume, at any time, any part of the ground of the
suhjec's 1ft, whether cultivated or uncultivated, for the pur-
pose of plauting, (,n paym at of compens ition, in the shape of
an annual abatement from the rent, or otherwise as may be
arranged, and also, on the same footing, to resume any part
of the uncultivated ground for the purpose of cultivation, and
any part of the ground, whether cultivated or uncultivated, as
stances for houses and gardens.

VII.— Straic.iitknino of Marches and Excambions,
Roads, and Drains. — The landlord reserves power to
straighten marches, to make excambions, to make public or
private roads, main drains, wfcier courses, or canala, and to
shut up or alter old ones, aud, if any increase or decrease'of
value shall thereby arise, a corresponding increase or abate-
ment shall be made on the rent.

VIII. — Commonties. — The landlord reserves power to
divide and allocate commonties among tenants, and to restrict
the numbers of cattle and sheep to be pastured on them.

IX. — Residence. — The tenants shall reside personally oa
their farms, and keep them fully stocked.

X. — Terms.— The term of Whit nnday shall be held to be
the 2Gth day of May, and the term of Martinmas shall be held
to be the 22nd day of November.

XI. — Management, Cultivation, and Cropping. — The
tenants shall have liberty, in so far as in accordance with
good husbandry, to crop the arable land of their farms during
the currency of their leases in such manner as they may think
best, provided that two white crops are not taken in succession
that due regard is paid at all times to the proper cleaning and
manuring of the land, and that, at the termination of the
lease, unless otherwise agreed to in writing, the land shall be
left in the divisions and under the crops appropriate to what
is known as a|five course or as a six course|shift.';The landlord,
or others employed by hira, shall at all times be entitled to
perambulate or ride over the farms, in order to ascertain how
far these regulations have been complied with. All the straw
and turnips produced on the farms shall be cousumed thereon,
and all the manure made chereon shall be applied annually to
the land«. In the course of the autumn before removal, the
waygoing tenant shall give one proper ploughing to the whole
of the land to be left as fallow, and shall be entitled to an
allowance for the rent of such lanl and for such ploughing.
The landlord or incoming tenant shall be entitled to sow grass
seeds at the proper season, along with all or any part of the
waygoing crop, and the waygoing tenant shall be bound to
harrow in and roll the s me properly aud carefully
without compensation. The waygoing tenants shall
also be bound at their removal at WhiUur.day j-to
give to the landlord or incoming tenants the grass,
of the arable lands, and the manures produced on the' farms
in so far as unapplied, at the valuation of arbiters to be ap-
pointed in manner aftermentioned, and, on the same footing,
to give them the whole of the waygoing grain crops, including
the straw, at the separation of the same from the ground.
The valuati ms of the fallow, grass, and manures shall be made
at or before Whitsunday, and shall be payable at that term.
The valuatiou of the grain crops and straw shall be made at such
times and in such manner as may be fixed by the arbiters.
The incoming tenant, receiving the crops and strtw, and other
subjects of valuation, shall, out of the same, pay to the land-
lord, at the term of Martinmas, on behalf of the waygoing
tenant, the whole rents and liabilities then due by him to tha
landlord. The balance of the value of the crops and straw
shall be payable by the incoming tenant to the waygoing
tenant at such times and in such instalments as the arbiters
may fix, provided that the whole shall be made payable ou or
before the 15th day of March. In the event of any farm
being resumed by the landlord, or in the event of the crops of
the waygoing tenant, or other subjects of valuation, being
received by him or on his behalf, he shall deal with regard to
the waygoing tenant, as nearly as may be, in the same manner
as is provided for by an incoming tenant.

XII. — Penalty for Miscropping. — If two or more
successive white crops are taken without written permission,
the tenant shall pay M per acre of additional rent for each
white crop after the first. The whole of such add.tional rent
shall be payable with the next term's rent, and shall be re-
coverable on the same footing.

XIII. — Cutting of Weeds. — The tenants shall cut down,
at lease once every year, and before they come int0 flower, all
thistles, docks, and other weeds on their farms, 'ailing which,
the landlord khall be entitled to do so at the expense of the
tenants.

XIV.— Marches— Extent and State of Farm at
Entry. — The marches of the farms, when defined by the
factor, and marked on the ground or described in the leases,
and laid down in the relative plans or in the general plans of
the estate, shall be held as thereby settled ; and all dill'erences

G3

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

or disputes between tenants as to marches or rights to com-
nionties shall be determined by the far-tor. The entering
tenants shall be held to have satisfied themselves of the extent
an;l boundaries of their farms ; and n > deduction, abatement',
or compensation shall be allowed fo- any deficiency or differ-
ence, real or supposed, which may be afterwards discovered.
They shall also he understood to have satisfied themselves as to
the state in which thej receive the farm from the outgoing
tenants, and shall be hound to leave the whole land of their
farms in good order and cond tion at the termination of their
lea^e*.

XV. — COMPENSATION TOR UlTEXHAUSTED MANUBBS. —

The tenant at the expiry of the lease, shall be entitled to
compensation from the landlord or the incoming tenant for
the unexhausted value of extraneous manures purchased and
paid for by the tenant, and properly applied to the land during
the previous seven years. The amount of such compensation
shal not exceed the fair value of the same to the inciming
tenant. The actual purchase of snch manures must be proved
by duly authenticated vouchers, the quality and composition
by the certified analysis of a competent analytical chemist,
and their application by the written declaration of the tenant
corroborafed by such further evidence as the arbiters may see
fit to require. The tenant shall also be entitled at the expiry
of the lease, to ompensation trom the landlord or incoming,
tenant or tne unexhausted manurial value of any extraneous
feeding substances purchased by the tenant aid used in feeding
sheep or cattle on the farm during the lasf three, years of the
lease. During these respec'ive periods, the tenant shall be
bound to produce, for the inspec'ion of the landlord or his
fac'or, at each term of Whitsunday and Martinmas, if the
required, the vendors' accounts for all manures and feeding
supplied to him during the previous six months, and
shall point out the ground to which the manures have been
applied. The factor may at any time in writing, require of
the tenant that samples shall be transmitted to him of all
minures and feeding stuffs in respect of which compensation
is to be claimed ; and no compensation shall be allowed in
ct of any manures or feedieg stuffs used after snch requi-
sition, of which fair samples, each not less than two pounds
weight, are not transmitted to the factor before use, along
with a sufficient notice to the factor to enable him from time
to time, if he thinks fit, to snd a person to examine the balk,
and see the manures applied, or the feeding stuffs used ; nor,
whether sucli requisition shall have been made or not, shall
compensation be allowed in respect of any manures or feeding
stuff-, of which lair samples shall not be pe-mitted to be drawn
before they are used, or while they are being used, if
such samples are demanded by the landlord or his
factor, or by any person authorised in writing by any of
them, or it' any of them shall be obstructed in examining
the balk, or seeing the manures applied, or feeding stuffs
used.

The quantity or extraneous manures used during escli of the
last five years ot the lease to be a fair average of that used
during each of the preceding five year*, and the quantity of
feeding stuffs used during each of the last three, years to be a
fair average of that used during each cf the preceding three
yeas.

The arbiters shall be entitled to make such deductions as
they think proper from the above allowances far manures and
feeding stuffs, if, in their opinion, the manurial value has been
reduced by the fault or neg!ig«nc.i of the tenant, or if the
land is left in a state of unu'iial foulness.

The whole, sums awarded for compensation under this
article shall be calculated as at Martinmas after reaping the
last crop, and shall he payable at that terra.

XVI. — Buildings, Dykes, and Fences, — The entering
tenants shall accept the buildings and dykes on. the farms in
the condi ion in which they may then happen to be, except so
far as express arrangement may be made for repairs or
additions. The landlord or ioconiing tenants will pay the
outgoing tenants at their removal any allowances or
meliorations which they may be entitled to receive for the
same. The tenants shall keep the buildings, dykes, hedge*,
and fences on their farms at all times in thorough repair,
natural decay of materials excepted ; failing which the land-
lord shall be entitled to repair the same at the tenants1 expense,
and witaout their consent. In the e\ent of the tenant
ceasing to occupy the farm before the natural termination of
the leaie, he shall be entitled, provided the farm has been left

j in good order and condition, to compensation for the nnex-
j hausted value, to him of any carriages ot materials for the
permanent improvement of the farm, performed by him, under
the provisions of the lease, in proportion to t lie number of
the years of the lease unexpired at the date of his removal;
but. under no circumstances shall the amount tor v ilue of
carriages at the time of the performance thereof be estimated
at more than 15 per cent, on the amount paid by the land-
lord for these improvements at the time of their execution.
If the tenant shall, at his own cos% and with the written
consent of the landlord, erect any buildings or fences oa the
farm, he shall be en'i'led to compensation for the same at -lie
natural expiry or earlier termination of the laasn, provided
they are then in good order and condition. If the tenant
shall, at his own cost, without snch consent, erect any buildings
or fences on the farm, the landlord shall h-2 entitled, if so
disposed, to take snch erections at valuation, or to decline
taking thera. In the latter case the tenant shall be entitled,
or, in option of the landlord, shall be bound to remove them,
and if required shall be bound to restore the ground or the
other buildings to which they are attached to their original
condition.

XVII. — Ditches and Drains. — The tenants shall e'ean
out all open ditches, and mouths of closed drains, once every
year at least ; failing which, the landlord shall be enti'led to
do so at the tenants' expense. Cana's leading through the
farms shall be kept in order bv and at the expense of the
landlord, unless otherwise stipulated. Conterminous tenants
shall, when required, concur in making ditches of a proper
size for carrying off water. If any tenant shall, at his own
cost, drain any of the lands in his occupation in a permanent
and sufficient manner, he shall be eutitled to compensation for
the same at the expiry ol the lease, in so far as the drains
made by him are then in good working order, are suitable to
the farm, and add to its letting value ; and also on condition
that he give8, from time to tine, such reasonable previous
intimation, in writing, to the factor as may enable him, or
any person authorised by him, to visit the ground, and to iu-
spect the work as it proceeds, and also that he furnishes pro-
per plans of the system of drainage, showing the. positions of
the drains, their distances apart, their depths, and sizes of
pipes used.

XV11I — Deductions from Payments to Tenants.—
The amount of compensation or other paymeuts due to the
tenant under any of the conditions herein contained shall be
subject to deduction for all rents, assessments, insurance-', and
other claims, if any, due and becomng due, and for all liabili-
ties and obligations of the tenant to the landlord under the
lease or otherwise.

XIX. — Renunciation of Hypothec. — The landlord
renounces all preferable rights as against other creditors of
the tenant conferred upon him by the Law of Hypothee.

XX. — Damage by Floods. — The tenants shall, in,' all
ordinary cases, take the risk of damage by floods, and shall
have uo claim against the landlord for abatement on that
acoount for loss of crop, or for ground carried away or other-
wise injured; ar.d they shall prevent the water, inordinary
cases, from cutting breaches in the banks of the streams run-
ning through or bounding their farms, and keep all sluices in
proper repair. In the event of injury to the embankments,
the tenants shall give immediate notice thereof to the factor,
and the repairs thereon, or construction of new embankment*,
where necessary, shall be undertaken by the landlord, and the
tenant, shall drive the materials for the said repairs or new em-
bankments free of charge.

XXI. Fire Insurance. — The landlord shall be entitled
to insure, in his own name, all houses and farm buildings, to
the extent of their value, and to pay the, annual premiums,
which shall be repaid by the tenant, along with his rent, at 'he
first term of Mirtinmas or \Yhitsunday thereafter. In the
event of accident by fire, the landlord shall have the power of
s-ttling witli the insurance company for the damage that m ly
have been sustained, and the amount received for damage
done to buildings shall be wholly applied in rebuilding the
same.

XXII. Mooes and Mosses. — The tenants shall obey the
rules and regulations of the landlord vrith respect to moors
and mosses; and shall not cast feal or divot without the con-
sent, in writing, of the landlord, or his factor, under a penalty
of £5 for every offence, over and above the damage. The

andlord shall have the power of making new roads to the

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

G9

mosses and keeping tliem in re;i,iir, and of assessing the
tenants frequeuting such roads in the expense theivof.

XXIU. — Muir Burning. — No heather shall he humt at

any peri d of 1 lie year except at the sight of, or by those
having the wri ten instructions of the factor ; and for every
acre burnt, whether by the tenant or any other person, without
such permission, an additional yearly rent, at the rate of one
shilling per acre, shall be paid by the tenant during the re-
mainder of his lease, and that over and above the rent stipu-
lated in the lease, and shall commence and be payable at the
fi st term of Martinmas or Whitsun ay after such burning, and
half-yearly thereafter throughout the remaining currency of
the lease, and shall be recoverable in the same, manner as, and
along *iih the origin il rent. In case of heather-burning
takiug pi tee over ground held in common, the tenants usiug
the same shall pay the additional rent rateably, according
to the rents in their respective lenses. If any heather shall
be at any time maliciously or accidentally set on fire upon any
lands in the immedute neighbourhood, all the tenants within
reach shall by themselves and their servants lend effective
assistance in extinguishing such fires.

XXIV. — Removals. — The terms of removal in the last year
of the lease, unless otherwise stipulated, shall be — From the
garden and fallow, on the fi'St day of May ; from the houses,
natural pasture, and the grass of the arable lauds, at Whit-
sunday ; and from the rest of the arable lands, at the separa-
tion of the crop from the ground ; aud the tenant shall be
bound so to remove thercseives, their familie*, servant", goods,
ami effects, without any previous warning or process of re-
moving to that effect.

XX Vr.— Irritancy or Lease.— In the event of any tenant
em' ravening any of the conditions contained in the first head
o1 the 'oregomg articles, or becoming notour bankrupt, or
beiug sequestrated under theBankruptcy Ac's, or executing
any trust deed for behoof ot his creditors, or in tlie event of
any terms rent being more than six months in arrear, the
tenants right to the remainder of the lease shal1, in the
option of the landlord ip-n facto, cwase and determine, aud
the landlord shall be entitled to remove him at his pleasure,
provided always that, in the. event of the tenant being so
r moved before the expiry of the lease, he or his trustee or
representatives shall nevertheless be entitled to such com-
pensations and payments if any, as may be due under these
regulations, on the same footing, as nearly as practicable, as
if the lease had arrived at its natural termination, due allow-
ances beiug made lor such loss or prejudice as may be sustained
by the landlord.

XXVI — Arbitration. — All questions of compenation
or damages, or valuation, or relative payments, arising under
any of the above clauses, sha'l he determined by two arbiters,
one to be chosen by each party, or, in the event of the arbiters
dlfering in opinion, by an oversrnan to be named by them.
The expense of such arbitrations aud valuations shall be paid
jointly.

XXVII. — Leases — The tenants shall enter into formal
leases on stamped paper at any time, wheu required by the
landlord or his factor, and shall pay one-half of the expense
threof j and such leases shall bear special re'erences to these
aitielts and renditions, and shall contain all other usual ami
nee ssary clause*.

Lastly. — Registration Clause. — The Right Ilou.
Al xander William George, Earl of Fife, proprietor of said
e-tates, consents to the registration hereot for preservation.: —
Aberdeen Free Press.

THE WHEAT BLOCK IN AMERICA.— Messrs. James
McAlpiue aud Co., of Milwaukee,' in their WetMy Pi

ew, of Jan. 7, state— Wheat ; — Receipts are a little
smaller this week, but as Chicago railroads have issued
orders to all their agents to receive no more grain to bu
warehoused in this city, as elevators are filled to their utmost
capacity, we may look for increased receipts here, as long
as they can be taken care of. New York advices also
cosiplain of want of facilities for storing their daily arrivals,
aud the entire movement must be completely stopped unless
we get an outlet on export accouDt. Shipments continue
very moderate. The market has been unsettled, and g( i.e-
rully lower for the past lew days, and yesterday it culminated

in a d«cline of Is. per qr. The supply having increased about
one hundred thousand quarters during the week, und the
stccks iu the Eng ish markets on the first, showing
such an increase over those of one. year ago, have
tended to produce a mi ci weaker leelmg, and to-day
markets are very weak. Even at the decline we are one to
two shillings above the export value, and there is little prospect
of business resulting so long as our railroads adhere to their
present high tariff of ratep.

MARK TWAIN ON BABIES.— At the dinuer given to
General Grant, the fifteenth and last regular toast was ''The
Babies. As they c omfort us in our sorrows, let us not. forget
them in our festivities;" aud to this Mark Twain responded.
Ke said: I like 'hat. We have not all had the good fortune
to be ladies. We have not ail been generals, or poets, or
statesmen, but wheu the toast W'>rks down to the babies we
stand on common ground, for we have all been babies. It is
a shame that, for a thousand-years the worlu's banquets have
utterly ignored the baby, as if it didn't, amount to anything.
If you will stop aud think a minute — if you will go hack fifty
or a hundred years to your early marntd life ani reoonteni-
plate your first baby — you will remember that he amounted to
a good deal, and even something over. You soldiers all know
that when that litli lellow arrived at family head-quarters
you had to hand in your resignation. He took entire com-
mand. You became his lackey — his mere bocy servant and
you had to stand around, too. He was not a comm auder who
made allowance for time, distance, wea her, or anything else.
You had to execute his order whether it was possible or cot.
Aud there was only one form of machinery iu his manual of
tactics, and that was the double quick. He treated you with
every sort o( insolence aud d sresicct, and the bravest of you
didn't dare say a word. You could face the death storm of
Donelson and Vicksburg, and give back blow fur blow, but
wheu he claweJ your whiskers, and polled your hair, and
twisted your nose jou 1 ad to take it. When the thunders of
war were sounding in your ears you set your faces towards the.
batteries, and advanced with steady tre.-.d, hut wi.eu be turned
on the terrors of his war-whoop you advanced in the other
direction, aud mighty glad of the chance too. When lie
calied for soothing syrup, did you venture to throw out any
side remarks about certain services beiug unbecoming an officer
and a gentleman ? No. You got up and got it. When he
ordered his pap buttle and it was not warm, did you talk back ?
Not you. You went to work aud wanned it. Yon even
de.cended so far in your menial office as to take a suck at that
warm, insipid stuff, just to see if it was right — three pans
water to one of milk, a touch of sugar to nsodify the colic, and
a drop of peppermint to kill those immortal hiccougl s. I can
taste that stuff. And how many things you learned as you
went along? Sentimental young o ks sti.l take stock in that
beau iful old saying that when the baby smiles it is because
the angels are whispering to him. Very pretty, but too tl.iu
— simply wind on the stomach, my friends. It the baby pro-
po.-ed to take a walk at his usual hour — two o'clock in the
morning — didn't you rise up prompTy and remark, with a
mei.ral addition which wcu'd not improve a Sunday scln ol
book, that that was the very thing you were about, to propose.
yourself! Oh! you were under good discipline, and as you.
went faltering up aud down the room in your undress uniform
you not only prattled undignified biby talk, hut even turned a;>
your martial voices and tried to sing " Rock-a-by baby in the
tree top," lor instance. What a spectacle for an army of the
Tennessee. And what aa affliction for the neighbours, too,
for it is not everybody within a mile around bhat likes military
niu>.c at three iu the morning. Aud wheu you had bee-i
• this sort of thing up two or three hours, aud your
little velvet head intimated that nothing suited him uko
exercise and noise, what did you do? You simply went oa
until you dropped in the last ditch. The idea that a baoy
doe^'ut amount to anything ! Why, one buby is just a house
and a yard full hv itself. 9ne baby can furnish more business
than yon and interior Department can attend to.

He is enterprising, irrepressible, brimlul of lawless activities.
Ho what you plea«e you can't make him stay on the reservation .
Sufficient unto the day is one baby. As loug as you are in
your r glit mind don't you ever pray 'or twins. Twins amount
to permanent riot. And there ain't auy difference betwetu
triplets" d au insurrection.

70

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

THE CARRIAGE OF ANIMALS BY RAIL

As long ago as the reign of King Charles II. it was held,
in the Court of King's Bench, that c rriers could, by making
Bpecial contracts with those for whom they carried, protpct
themselves from all liability in respect of damage happening
t j those goods. In course of time railways were invented, an d ,
as a matter of course, the common law liability of the
companies as common carriers was always defeated by carefully-
word-d cun'racts annexed to the ticket. A specimen of the
►pecial contracts is given in the case of " Austin v. the Man-
chester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway Company (21
Lito Journal, C'P. 179), where the terms of carriage were
such that a hunting man would never have dreamed of
submitting to them once or twice a week as he now does to nwe
liberal condition3, when desirous of railing his horse to a meet.
The ticket in question was issued subject to Austin's under-
taking to bear all the risk of injiry by conveyances and other
contingencies ; that Austin should see to the condition and
tate of repair the horse boxes were in before he put his horses
into them ; and that the railway oompany WJiild not be
responsible lor any defects in the boxes, unless complaint
were made at the time of bookintr, or before they left the
station ; nor for any damage?, however caused, fo horses, cattle,
or livestock of any description. During the journev, the
company's servants were guilty of negligence by omitting to
see to the wheels of the horse boxes, in consequence whereof
tha wheel took fire, and the horses were injured. Austin
brought an action for damages, but it was held that the
provisio in the ticket (which was the contract between the
parties), that the company would not be responsible for any
damages however caused, protected the company, and that
they were not liable even for carelessness. In the case ol
*' Carr v. Tbe Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway " (7
Exchequer Rpp. 707), the ticket was similar to the one in the
preceding case ; the horse received fatal injuries by the horse
box being violent ly propelled against some trucks, owing to
the carelessness of the company's servants; but the company
wsre held to have successfully shielded themselves from
liability by the terms imposed by them on Carr and agreed to
by him. This abuse of a privilege on the part of the railway
companies caused great hardship to the o immunity at large ;
the introduction of, railways caused many more articles, aud
mauy more kinds of articles, to be oarried than was formerly
the case — horses, for instance, and so the class of sufferers
began to include those who, in the pre-railway days, had
probably never paid a carrier two-and-sixpeuce in their lives
for services rendered. To remedy the undesirable state of
things then existing, the Legislatare stepped in and passed tbe
Railway aud Canal Traffic Act, 1854- (17 & 18 Vict., chap. 31),
an important, though in some respects an ambiguously-
wordeu statute, which underlies contracts made with railway
companies at the present day. We are now concerned with
the seventh section only of the Act, in which are the
following provisions:—

1. "Every railway company shall be liable for the loss of
or for any injury done to, any horses, cattle, or other animals,
or any articles, goods, or things, in the receiving, forwarding,
or delivering thereof, occasioned by the neglect or default of
the company or its servants, notwithstanding any notice,
condition, or declaration made and given by the company in
order to limit such liability."

This enactment, it will be seen, knooks away at one blow all
posver of a railway company to make any such conditions as
t uit given above in the case of " Austin v. The Manchester,
Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway." So long as this section
u law no company can free itself from liabil ly for loss or
injury arising from the neglect or default of its servants. It
wjuid, however, be as unjust to a railway company to hold
them liable in any and in every instance, as it was unfair,
before the Act, to allow them to contract themselves out of any
liability at a'l. Accordingly, the 7lh seotion qualifies the above
enactment by the following provisions : —

" (<z). That, notwithstanding the first provision of the 7th
Bection (marked 1 above), railway compauics may make such
conditions with respect to the receiving, forwarding, and
delivering of any animals, oattle, or goods, as shall be thought
just and reasonable by the court, or a judge, before whom any
question relating to the condition made shall be tried. This
important rule, will be treated of presently ; its effect is that
no condition made by a company can be pronounced just and

reasonable until litigation has taken place upon it, or nntil '*
has been pronounced reasonable by a court or judge.

" (£). That no greater damages shall be recoverable for the
loss of or for any injury done to any animal than the follow,
ing : — For any horse, £50; for any neat cattle, £15 per head ;
for any sheep or pigs, £2 per head ; unless the person sending
or delivering the same to snch company shall, at the time of
delivery, declare. the animal sent to be of greater value than
the above sums, and pay a reasonable percentage upon the
excess of value by way of compensation for the increased risk
undertaken by the company.

'• (c). That the proof of the value of any animal or goods,
and the proof of the amount of injury done to it, shall in all
cases lie upon the person claiming compensation for loss or
injury.

" (</). That no special contract between a railway company
and any other person respecting the receiving, forwarding, or
delivering of any animals or goods, shall be binding upon or
affect any such person, unless the special contract be signed
by him or by the person delivering such animal or goods for
carriage."

The first part, thpn, of sectiou 7 of the Railway and Canal
Traffic Act declares that all notices, conditions, or declarations
made and given by the company shall be null and void in so
far as they go to release the company from liability for loss of
or injury to animals, goods, &c , in the carriage of them, occa-
sioned by the neglect or default of the company's servants.
But, as proviso («) allows the company to make '• reasonable
conditions," it will be convenient here to see what conditions
have been held Ui be reasonable or the reverse In the ca«e of
" Harris v. the Midland Railway Company" (25 Weekly Rep.
63), cows belongiug to the plaintiff were conveyed by one of
the defendant company's trains. The. ticket, on one side,
stated that the plaintiff had received the counterpart thereof,
and that he agreed to abide by the conditions on the back
thereof, in c msideration of the company's charging him less
than they were by statute entitled to charge. The plaintiff
signed this ticket. On the back was as follows : — " The
company will not be responsible for any loss or injury to any
horse, cttle, or other animal, iu the receiving, loading, for-
warding, nnloading, or delivery thereof, f such damage be occa-
sioned by being trampled on, or by the kicking, plunging, or un-
ru!iness of the same, or of any other animal forwarded there-
with, nor for auy injury or damage occurring to the same whilst
travelling, or in loading or unloading, unless such damage or
i'jury shall be caused by negligence on the part of the company
or their servants." Wuen the cattle arrived at their destina-
tion it was found that one of the cows was dead in the truck,
and, upon an examination by a veterinary surgeon, it was dis-
covered that its spine was greatly injured, and that its shou'der
bone was broken. It was held that the condition imposed by
the company, and agreed to by Harris, was a reasonable one;
that it did not, like the condition in " Austin v. The Man-
chester Railway," throw all risks upon Harris, but only such
as were not caused by the negligence of the company's
servants. So, too, in " Lewis r. The Great Western Railway
Company " (37 Law Times Rep. N.S., 774-), where the com-
pany had two rates for the conveyance of certain articles-
one, the ordinary rate, where they undertook the usual
common law liability of a carrier ; and the other, a reduced
rate, adopted when the sender relieves them of all liability of
los«, damage, or delay, except upon proof that such loss, damage,
or delay arose from wilful misconduct on the part of the com-
pany 's servants. The plaintiff elected to send his goods at
the lower rate, and they were damaged during transit, but not
owing to any " wilful misconduct on the part of the company's
servants." Held, that the condition was a reasonable one.
In another case of" Lewis v. G.W.R.,"a condition protecting
the company against claims for loss not made w it hi n seven days
of the time goods should have been delivered, was held rea-
sonable (5 U. and N. SG7). But iu the following cases the
conditions sought to be imposed were held unreasonable. In
" M' Maims v. Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company,"
the plaintiff brought three horses to the cattle station of the
company's railway at Liverpool, to be forwarded iu a cattle
truck to York. Que of the company's servants selected a
truck, which, so far as c u)d be seen, and so far as the porter
knew, was reasonably fit to carry the three horses. lhe
plaintiff signed a ticket, which contained the following
memorandum : — ''This ticket is issued subject to the owner. 's

THE PARMER'S MAGAZINE.

71

undertaking all risks of conveyance, loading and unloading
whatsoever, as the company will not be responsible for any
injury or damage (however caused) occurring to live stock of
any description, travelling upon the railway or in their vehi-
cles." It appeared that twopence per horse p< r mile was
charged It horses forwarded in trucks from the cattle station
and attached to luggage trains. If a horse was sent from the
ordinary passenger station in a horse box the rate was four-
pence per mile. The truck in which the plaintiff's horses
were conveyed proved unfit for the conveyance of the three
horses ; one of them was injured by making a hole in the floor
through which it got its leg. The. plaintiff then brought an
action to recover damages for the injury. The conrt*held that
the condition was unreasonable and therefore void. It stated
that the company would not be liable for any injury or damage
howsotvi r caused ; that is to say, the company declined to be
liable even tor the neglect or default of their servants, which
is exactly what the Act set out above fays they may not do.
Similar conditions were held unreasonable, in " Gregory v.
"WVst Midland Railway " (33 L. J. Ex. 155) and in other
ca os.

In " Harrison v. London, Brighton, and South Coast Rail-
way" (2 L.T., N.S. 423), the plaintiff took a valuable
dog by the defendants' railway. A porter suggested that the
dog should travel in a horsebox, to which arrangement the
plaintiff assented. The dog had a collar on its neck, and was
fastened by a strap to a hook in the horsebox. At the end of
the journey the dog and collar could not be found, hut the
Btrap remained where it had been fastened. A window in the
horsebox was open during the journey, through which it was
conjectured that the dog managed to escape. As the dog could
not be found, the plaintiff cal.ed on the railway company to
pay £21, the value of the dog; but on their refusing to do so(
the action was brought to recover damagps for the loss occa-
sioned by the, negligence of the defendants' servants. The dog
ticket, signed by the servant who delivered the dog, contained
these conditions: ''The compsny will not be liable in any
case for loss or damage to any horse or other animal above the
value of £10, or for any dog above the value of £5, unless a
declaration of its value signed by the owner or his agent at the
time of booking shall have been given to them, and by such
declaration the owner shall be bound, the company not being
in any event liable to any greater amount than the value so
dec-ared. The company in no case will be liable, for injury to
any horse or ottker animal, or dog, of whatever value, Wi.ere
such injury arises wholly or partially from fear or restiveness.
If the declared value of any horse or other animal exceed £10,
or any dog £5, the price of conveyance will, in addition to the
regular fare, be. after the rate of 2£ per cent., or 6d. in the
pound, upon the declared value above £10 and £5, whatever
may be the amount of such value, or for whatever distance
the, horse or other animal is to be carried." The court were
of opinion that the ticket, when looked at as a whole, meant
that, if the value of a dog was more than £,a, and its value
was not declared and the 2-£ per cent, additional paid, the
company would not be answerable for any injury at all, even
though caused by the negligence of their servants, and that the
condition was therefore unreasonable, and within sect. 7 of the
Railway and Canal Traffic Act Tne company were, therefore,
in the same position as though they had made no effort to
protect themselves at all, and had to pay £21, the value of the
dog. The difference between the special contract in the above
case and the somewhat similar provisions now in vogue should
be carefully observed. It is perfectly reasonable for a railway
company to say that they will not be liatjle for any damage
befalling a horse exceeding the value of £50, or a dog worth
more than £5, unless such additional value be declared and
insured against according to a specified rate. Any such con-
dition as this is embodied in the ticket, and signed by the
owner of the animal or by his servant, and the declaration of
value becomes a condition precedent, as it were, to the owner
of any animal recovering more than the £50 or £5, as the
case may be, in the event its being killed or hurt on its jour-
ney. In " Harrison v. London, Brighton, and South Coast
Railway," however, the conditions in question exceeded this
reasonable limit, by exempting the company from any liability
at all in the case of a dog worth more than £5, but whose real
value was not dec'ared.

Where a hor.-e is not declared to be worth more than £50,
there may be said to be a tacit declaration that its value is
less than £50, and to that maximum sum the liability of the

company is confined, although the real value may exceed £50.
S >, too, the pers n sending a horse by rail will be bound by
his express declaration of value, although the declaration be
made not for the purpose of insuring against the loss of a
valuable animal, but in order that the sender of the horse may
avail himself of a cheap rate of transit only extended to low
priced animals. Thus, in the case of " M'Cance v, London
and North Western Railway Company," the plaintiff had
occasion to send 6even horses by the defendant's line. The
company had two rates of carriage — first, the ordinary one,
as commonly adopted by hunting men, under which the com-
pany's liability extends to £50 ; and secondly, a cheaper rate
for horses of less value than £10. The plaintiff elected to
send his animals at the cheaper tariff, and signed a contrsct
note, the material part of which was as foliows : "I hereby
declare that the value of the seven horses this day delivered
by me to the L. & N. W. R. Co. for conveyance in cattle
waggons, by luggage trains, does not exceed £10 per horse ;
and, in consideration of the rate charged for conveyance of
such horses, I hereby agree that the same are to be carried
entirely at the owner's risk." Three of the horses were
injured during transit, one having to be killed in consequence
of the injuries sustained, and it was admitted that the injuries
resulted solely from the defective state of the bottom of the
truck in which the horses were carried. Assuming the horses
to have been worth £10 each, the damage to the plaintiff
amounted to £25, and this sum the defeudants were willing to
pry ; but the plaintiff rpfused this offer, and claimed the real
amount of damage, viz., £40, his horses being actually worth
about £30 apiece, and not £10, as he declared them to be.
The court declined to discuss the question whether the con-
dition that the owner should take all risks, in consideration
of the small i>um charged for carriage, was a reasonable one or
not, and decided that the plaintiff, having made a declara-
tion, upon the strength of which the company acted, was not
at liberty to deny the truth of that declaration ; that the
parties to the contract agreed to act uponan assumed state of
facts ; and that their rights between themselves were justly
made to depend on the conventional state of facts agreed
upon, and not upon the truth.

In many instances railway companies expressly stipulate tha
they shall not be liable for any accident brought about by the
vice or restiv ness of the hor^e they carry. But, quite apart
from any pxpress agreement, it would be manifestly unjust to
hold a company responsible for injuries sustained by a horse
inconsequence of auy vice it might be addicted to. For our
present purpose vice may be said to mean rearing, kicking,
pluuging, &c, and a horse may do any or all of these from
two opposite reasons. He may kick in a horsebox in the
same wanton manner as many horses kick at anyone who ap-
proaches them in the stable — that is, from what we commonly
understand as vice; or, a horse may start or plunge from
fear ; or, again, the loud and sudden whistle of a passing
train, a jerkin going round a curve, or the concussion caused
by an application of the brake may cau-e the horse to plunge
or do some act which maybe productive of hurt. Now, inasmuch
as railway companies are and must be auswerable for the effects
ol their servants' negligence, whether the resu t produced by
the negligence be restiveness or what not, but are uot liable
for anything occurring from the inherent vice of the animal
carried, it is of grea: importance to get some idea of what
vice means in an action against a railway company. Every-
body knows, and common sense tells us, that a horse
thoroughly deserving the character of " quiet " will not lose
that character because he happens to kick or plunge once in a
way, under some unusual circumstances ; in fact, there is a
case in which a judge said that a warranty of quietness was
not broken because a horse broke a dogcart by kicking, on
being harnessed for the first time after a thne months' run
at grass. No 6uch liberal definition can, however, be allowed
in the case of a horse kicking in a horsebox ; the decided
cases seem to establish the proposition that any kicking, &c,
which cannot be directly ascribed to negligence on the part
of the con pany's servant-1, is vice. For instance, where a
bullock made its escape from a truck in which it was travelling
by bending up an iron bar and getting between the bar and
the wooden side of the truck, the escape was attributed to
the inherent vice of the animal, and the company were not
liable " (Blower v. Great Western Railway Company," L. R. 7
C. P. (555) ; but the company were held liable in a case were
the porter at a station let a cow out of a truck, in Bpiteof a

72

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

renio istrance by the o-.vner, and the c.w jumped on to the
line and was killed by a passing train (" Gill v. Manchester
Railway Company," L. R.8 Q. B. 18b).

The defii ition given above that vice is all pluuging, &<\,
not directlv caused by the negligence of the'company's porters,
was pointed acted upon iu the case of " Kendal v. South-
western Railway Company " (L. R. 7 Kx. 373). The
plaintiff delivered his hor-e to the defendants to be carried
on their line. At the. end of the journey the horse was found
to be injured. No accident happened to the train, and the
defendants were guily of no negligence. The cause of the
injuries was nnknown, except that from their nature they
appeared to have b&?n cause 1 by the horse getting down npon
the floor of the horsebox. The horse was quiet, and accus-
tomed to travel by rail. Two j-idges out of the three
hetore whom the c»se was argued decided that the compmy
were not liable for the injury. Lord Justice Bramwell said :
li There is uo doubt ihat the horse was the immediate canse
of its own injuries — that is to say, no person got into the box
ail injured it. It slipped, or fell, or kicked, or in gome way
hart itself. It d.d so from no cause other than its inherent
pr ipensities, 'its proper vice'— that it to say, from fright, or
temper, or struggling to keep its legs."

The conveying a horse by rail involves taking it to the
company's premises, where it may have to wait in a sta'ion-
yard, and unloading it at the end of the jonrnev, and taking
it off the company's premises, and au accident may befal it
.luring these operations as well as during the actual transit ;
something therefore may often turn upon the dnrat on of the
company's liability to answer for their servaui's negligence.
In the case oC'llodgman v. West Midland Railway Com-
pany " (33 L.J., Q B. 233), the plaintilf sent a valuable race-
horse to the defendants' station, to be carried on the line.
The groom was directed by a porter to lead the horse inio a
horsebox, to do which he had to lead the hor-e between
numerous iron girders which were lying down ou the com-
pany's premises. On the way to the hor»e box the horse was
startled, and backed on to soma aharp girders, receiving Mich
injury thereby that it had to be killed. The value of the
bone was laid at £1,000, but no declaration was made by the
plaintiff or his servant. The jury gave a verdict for £1,000
for the plaintiff, but the Court, of Q leen's Bench subsequently
reduced the damages to £j0. The reason underlying this
decision was, that the liability of carriers had attached to the
company at the time when the horse was injured ; nnd that
this being so, the plaintiff could not recover more than £50
without declaring the horse's val: e. Mr. Justice Jv-ating once
directed a jury that railway companies are responsible
for the safe treatment of animals entrnsted to them for
carriage, from the moment they receive the animals into
their charge till the carriages that have conveved those
animals are unloaded ("Moffat v. G.W.R.," 15 L.T.,N.S.
630).

The above are some of the points relating to the carriage of
animals which are of most practical importance to such per-
sons as are in the habit of sendiug animals by rail. There
are ol course plenty of other questions in connection with
the subject, hut many of them will be best treated of when
noticing a case iu which one or more of them may arise. —
Field.

BANBrjRY HORSE SHOW.

r The horse show took place on recently in the Horse Fair

The day was cold, with a keen east wind blowing, but never-

■e was a large attendance. The judging began

thortly before eleven o'clock with the cart horse*. The judges

—Messrs. Sander?, Chapel Brampton; Whitehead,

istoo, and Cartwright, Wolverhampton. Amongst the

in the ring during the day were — The Eirl of

Jersey, Lird Valentin, Captain Waller, Captain Unthank

Mr. W. 11. P. Jenkins Mr. A. R. Tawney, Mr. A. T. C,

Cartwright, Mr. J. Fisher, Mr. H. C. Norris, Mr. S. M.

Brown, the. Mayor (Mr. II. Flowers), Mr. J. P. Barlord, Mr.

W. EJmunds. Mr. G. Cave, Mr. C. N. Page (veterinary re-

|, and Mr. T. Fowler, the honorary secretary, who ever

since the commencement of the show has taken the greatest

interest in its success. The entries, although not so numerous

us last year, were very fair, and showed the interest the

sulturiata of the neighbourhood take iu the show, de-

spite the badness of the times. Upwards of £100 were offered
in prizes, and the gentlemen hunting muud Buiburv v.'ry
kindly offered several prizes, and their liberality is nnic'i ap-
preciated. The first prize iu class I, £K> for cart horses above
four years old, was awarded to Mr. J. \V. Tubb, ot Tusmore for
Tnrpin, a grey gelding of fine action, and who stood well on
his legs. Mr. W. E. Bicchus had the second prize o' £5 witn
Dragon, a powerful and well-built gelding. Mr. W. Anker,
of Cropredy, was highly commended for Drummer, a good,
useful gelding. In class 2, for the best cart mare above four
years old, there was a good deal of competition, and the tirst
prize of £5 was awarded to Mr. J. White, Shottestell, for
B >unce, a well-formed aninal, .Mr. D. Wilson, of Chipping
Warden, being highly comm-nded for Diamond, a grey of good
size and fiae appearance. Mr. J. Turner's Venture also
aUrac'ei the favourable attention of the judges, and had her
legs b en a little stronger there can be little doubt what the
result would have been. In class 3, for the best cart colt
nnd»r four yeirs, there were eleven entries, and Mr. W. B.
Bacchus' celebrated gelding L:on took the tirst prize of £i,
besid-s an extra prize of £10 for the best animal in the class.
Lion was much admired for its symmetrical proportions and
excel'en.e of action. Mr. J. W. Tubb was highly commended.
Mr. G. Uamroerton, of l'rincethorpe, was award* d the fir.-t
prize of £5 for the best cart filly under four years, and also in
extra prize of £10 for the be-t animal in the same class. Mr.
E. M ssinger, of Chipping Warden Grange, was higlily com-
mended. Au objection was afterwards raised to Mr. llam-
raerton on the ground that Prineetrnrpe was not within
twenty miles of Banbury; but it was stated tint ou the
Ordnance map it was only nineteen. Mr. T. Messinger, of
Bradden, had the first pri/.- ot' £5 for the best cart colt Of
tilly nnder two years, and Mr, L. Boycott, of Boycott Farm,
was higlily commended. The agricultural horses, as a whole,
had much to recommead them. We have seen a be'ter enrry
of hack nags. The competition lay between Mr. R. J.
Berridge, Mr. B. J. P. White, and Mr. E. Knott. The prim
of £5 went to the first-named gentleman, aud the second
highly commended. The cob class brought out thirteen
animals, and amongst them were several good animals. Mr.
W. Berridge, of Upton, took the prize of £5 with Charli-,
a chestnut gelding with many good points. Mr. J. Edwards-
W. mi lend, was highly commended. The driving class, as
usual, excited a good deal of interest, and eight animals were
entered. The prize in this class (£10) isjjresenred by Mr. W.
urn, jun., nnd it was gained by Mr. E. Wivte, of
l'rescote Manor, Mr. G. Thompson, llelmdon, being second.
As might have been expected, the hunters were well
represented, and there were no less than uinete a
entries for the best hunter up to 12 stone 7, over live
years old. The first prize, of £10 went to Mr. C. Sargean*,
Chilson, for Pitra in, a brown gelding of fine form and action.
Mr. R. Hall, of Btrlord Grounds, was highly commended, and
Mr. J. M.K. Elliott, Gr» en's Norton, commended. The Earl
of Jersey and Mr. W. 11. V. Jenkins gave the prize of£iU in
cla-s 10, for the best hunter up to 12 stone 7, uuder liveyeirs
old, aud it went to Mr. W. Pairbrother, Burtou Dassett, for
Goldfinder, a chestnut gelding, which was much, admired. Mr.
T. Shrimpton, Bin ton Grounds, was highly commended. Mr.
Elliott carried off the prize of £1" for the best weight carrying
hunter, and also an extra prize of £10 for the best hunter iu
the three classes. Mr. T. Smith, Campsfield, was higlily com-
mended. The judging of the hunters was a matter of some
difficulty, so close did the merits of the animals run. The
ju nping of the hunters was to have taken place in a field on
the Oxford Road, but when it was reached it was found that
the frost had made the ground too hard for jumping. The
animals were, however, put. through their pices by the judges
in t ne presence of a large number of people. The n inters in-
cluded m my animals known with the various packs in the
neighbourhood, and were one of the most interesting features
of the show. The arrangements of Mr. Fowler and the com-
mittee were all that.could be desired. — Banbury Guardian.

A clergyman addressed his female auditors as follows :
"Be not proud that our blessed Lord paid your sex the distin-
guished honour of appearing lir^t to a female after llis^resur-

I rection, lor it was only that the glad tidings uiigjit spread the

I sooner."

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

MR. C. S. READ, M.P., ON THE UNITED
STATES.

Mr. 0. 8. Read, M.P., and Sir R. D. Huston, M P.,
met tlieir constituents at Diss, Norfolk, on January 21,
There was a lar„e attendance, and the speech of
Mr. Read derived special interest from the recent official
visit paid by him to the United Slates.

Mr. C. S. Kkad, in responding to the toast of bis healtl >
said it would not be pasftible fir him to anticipate the leport
which lie and hit colleague, Mr. Pell, haJ been deputed to
make upon Aniericin agriculture. Mr. Pi il was still, un-
fortunately, unwell, and the report would be uelayed in con
sequence, but ttiere. were a few outside matters which might
interest the meeting, and upon which he (Mr. Read) migh'
sav something. When he was in the United States he was
constantly bring a*ked by the Americans what he thought of
America, and he had the satisfaction of always giving the same
answer — viz., lint he thought that America was a great
country, and that the Americans were a great people. It was
not always possible to give a truthful and pleasant answer at
the same time, but he was able to do so in this instance. lie
must say that the United S ates were a vast country ; so vast
that the more one saw of it the more there appeared to he to
see. lie and his colleague, Mr. Pell, ran over the Uniied
Slates with marvellous rapidity, but they did not see one-hall
of tire country in the three months which they spent in it.
Still they did see enough of the Americans to find that they
were a go-ahead, intelligent, enterprising people, and to learn
that whatever they undertook they would do thoroughly well.
The unfortunate illness of his colleague, Mr. Pell, was partly
attributable to the climatic changes which he and that gentle-
man underwent ; but Mr. Peli also arranged the travelling,
looked after money matters, blew up hotel waiters, and
railway porters, made speeches, and was interviewed by
reporters. This interviewing by reporters was a kind of
excruciating martyrdom. He (Mr. Read) cou'd not under-
stand how it was that the moment a man put his foot on
America a lot of exceedingly intelligent but most inquisitive
gentlemen should run all over a town arter him, and even
invade a bed-room, in order to extract from him any morsel of
information which could be obtaine1. On one occasion his
col eague, Mr. Pell, failed to give satisfaction to his inter-
viewers. He had been already interviewed by a very long-
winded gentleman, and when he had done with this interlocutor
another appeared. Upon this Mr. Pell said, "Rea'ly, it is
eleven o'clock at night ; i have already narrated all I can to
one gentleman of the press, and you must try and get what you
ean out of him." This did not suit at all, and next morning
there appeared in one of the papers a statement that Mr. Pell
had all the reserve — with a very uncomplimentary epithet
added — of an Englishman. It was added also that he (Mr.
Read) was as bad, but as he happened to be in bed and asleep
he did not think that he was so very guilty after all. As, how-
ever, this was the first occasion upon which he had had an
opportunity of saying anything about America he thought he
was bound to avail hiratelf of it, and to tender to every one on
the other side of the Atlantic the warmest thanks of Mr. Pell
and himself for the kindness, attention, and courtesy with
which they were everywhere received. Sometimes, indeed,
the attentions which they received were rather overpower-
ing. When he and Mr. Pell arrived at a town they were
received, for instance, by a deputation consisting of the Mayor
aud Corporation and all kinds of local officers. Then there
were some filty or sixty gentlemen to be shaken by the hand,
all of whom expressed the great interest they took in the
wel'are of their visitors and the pbasure wii.li which they
made their acquaintance. Then a procession would t-e formed,
and a brass band would play " See the conquering hero
comes." All this sort of thing might be extremely interesting
and pleasant to a vain person, which he hoped he was not.
But it rather hindered Mr. Pell and himself in the dis-
charge of their duties, and they found it necessary, accord-
ingly, not to herald their approach to a town, but to enter it
in the most private manner possible. One circumstance struck
Mr. Pell and himself as a most curious fact, the busiest men
amoug the Americans — men who had not a single moment to
spare from their business — were most courteous and atten'ive,
and gave them all the information which they rrquired most
kindly and most promptly. Whether it was the moat busy

merchant on 'Change or a railway official, who had no' a
moment of his time to spare, -very one most courteou-ly
answered the inquiries wh'C'i were addressed to him. This
»a< the case with all the upper cl i<ses of the A nericaus ; but
he forgot, this was a great mistake, fir there were do clauses
in America — they were all American citizens. ID: rnnst
say that those Americans who n an Englishman would term
the I wer class could not be c jmnlimented ou their good sense.
Waiters in hotels, porters on railroads, as-istanU in shop»,
shoeblack" in streets, had a most saucy way of showing their
independence. Tnej were rude and ofTen-ive to the last degree,
•»ud this was the result of the education which every one
enj lyed more or less, he could not sav that he thought that it
was a good and successful result. He could not understand
why there should be any jealou-y between this country and the
Americans. They were all spruug from the same great Anglo-
Saxon race, and there was plenty of room in the world f»r
b ith of them; they were both advanced in civilisation, and
until such time as the whole world was filled up there was
plen'y ol room for boh Eug!is'nnjen and Americans. He could
not understand why we and the Americans should not be the
best possible 'rieuds, and he tru ted that nothirg would ever
occur to cause any rupture between two such great countries.
One thing which s'ruck him very much was the fict that when
au E igi.sliiinu Undid in America he hardly knew that he was
in a foreign land at all. When an Englishman cro^s^d the
Straits ol Dover, and lauded in Frauc , heat once found that
he was among a people d.ffering from his own in manner?,
customs, and even in dress ; but when an Engli-hman, after,
perhaps, a lung and tedious passage across the Atlantic, landed
ii New York, he found himsell in a country in which the
English language was spoken :n more or less perfection, and in
fact he found himself among Anglo-Saxons at once. It ap-
peared to him strange that although the United States was a
Republican country, whilst we lived under a Constitutional
Monarchy, so many of the American lawi exae'ly resembled
our own — our much abused land laws, for iastaacp,
were almost ideutical with those of America. This
slruck him as very strange, beciu e be was not aware
of the fact before. In the great Republic of the
Uaited S'ates the voice of the people was, aftpr all,
less powerful than it was here in Eagland. la both Houses
of Congress the majority at present was against the
Government of the country; in o'her words, both Houses
of Congress were Democratic, while the President and his
Ministers were Republican. Such a state of things as this
could not exist in this country, because the voice of the people
was so felt in the House of Commons that ao adverse vote
iu that assembly would upset the strongest English Ministry
which ever existed. He and Mr. Peil had the saisfaction
of meeting during their travels in the United States with
Mr. T. B. Potter, the member for Rochdale, aud it was rather
strange that two Englishmen should travel in the United
States and come back with different views respecting
them. Perhaps it was because they started with different
views. He (Mr. Read) was quite willing to admit some
of his prejudices had been rubbed off, but at the same
time he was not so extensively interested in the United
States as to admire what he called the imperfections of
their institutions. Mr. Potter, in speaking the other day
at Rochdale, eulogised a Republican form of government,
and said it was peculiarly devoted to peace , but what were
the real facts 1 The United States had only just recovered
from one of the most bloody and cruel civil wars whic'i had
ever raged iu any country. Hardly fifteen years since the
Northern States would not allow the Southerners to separate
from them, although, of course, they entirely approved
ol their separstion from the mother country, and the result
was a war which eost a million lives and hundreds
of millions of dollars. He did not say that this great
war occurred because the United States were Republican ;
but he did say that that war was a very good reason
why the United States were now in favour of peace, as a
country which had gone through snch a terrible and such
a bloody struggle would not so soon forget it as to be in
favour of going to war again in a hurry. We did uot find
that the Republicans in Prance disbanded their armies; on
the contrary, they increased them rather than otherwise, and
there was now a war ragiug in South America botween three
Republics. He was glad that we were uot called upon to
elect the head of the Slate in England every three or four

74

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

years ; if we had to do so it would add to our political
bitternesses in a manner which would be perfectly intolerable.
H« was vexed and pained to hear from the American citizens
with whom he and Mr. Pell spoke tint the present President
of the United States was elected bv fraud. He could not
believe that it was possible, and it might be said of Mr. Hayes
that it was impossible for any man, whe'her he were a king
or whether he were a President, to have administered the
affairs of a great country with more conciliation, and at the
same time with more firmness and more justice. There was
one t'*ing which appeared to please Mr. Bright. He said
that there was no class dis'inctions in America, and t hit there
were no titles. It was true that there were m legal
titles in the United States, and fiat they did not
give away ribauds, and badges, and garters and all that sort
of thing as rewards for services rendered to the State. He
(Mr. Read) hoped such a system would be continued in this
country, as it was a cheap way of rewarding public services.
The Americans seemed to prefer being rewarded in hard
cash. It might be a better plan, but it certiinly was a
more expensive one. Then, although there were no legal
titles in America, almost every one you met was either a
Senator, or a general, or an admiral, or a colonel, or a major,
or a captain, or a doctor, or a professor. In fact, although
the Americans had no le^al titles, they had a most marve loas
fondness for some title of distinction, so much so that almost
e^ery one had a title of some sort or other. There was also
an aristocracy in America which was a very powerful one, it
was an aristocracy of money, for nowhere in the world had
the almighty dollar such an influence as it had in the United
States. A merchant prince in England when he had amassed
a fortune retired from active business, bought an estate in the
ountry, and took to farming or some equally profitable
amusement ; but, although a man in America might be very
rich, he still continued at his business and died in harness.
A man in America was spoken of as being worth, not thou-
ainds of dollars, but millions of dollars, and the whole country
appeared to be addicted to gigantic speculations. It was a
country of enormous " rings" and monster financial combina-
tions, the consequence being that in the struggle a great num-
ber of Anierictins became miserably poor. But they did not
think anything of that, because a man who was penniless to-
day went to work and in a few years became rich agnin. It
was all an up and down game with the Americans. They had
game laws, too, in America, for in every State he visited — even
go far West as Minnesota — there was a strict law for the protec-
tion of prairie hens and all sorts of wild fowl and game; and
there was also a strict law of trespass, the same as in England.
It was said by some that America was not a country of laud
monopolists ; but in that they were wrong. He went over
one farm of seventy thousand acres and over another of
twenty-two thousand acres, and where could we find such
farms here? On one occasion he saw a vast tract of waste
land near a town, and was told it was bought by a great
speculator, who did not trouble to cultivate it, preferring to
wait until the spread of the town augmented the value of the
land. Although in theory the laws of America were against
large estates, and enacted that no one should have more, than
160 acres, those laws were evaded. Another point spoken of
by Mr. Potter was the sobriety of the Americans. He (Mr.
Read) asked a number of well-informed Americans whether
this sobriety was as real as it appeared, and they told him
that, unfortunately, it was not real, for a great deal of drinking
went on which did not appear. Still the American drank so
differently from the Englishman. They took grog as
Englishmen took phytic, and never met together for sociability,
hilarity, or noisy revelry ; but rather went up to a bar, and
taking a small glass of whisky, tossed it off, and immediately
followed this up by taking a glass of iced water — just as
children in England took castor oil. There were certainly
no attractions in drinking of this sort. Mr. Potter weut
on to say, with a great"deal of satisfaction, that there was
Sunday closing in America. It was true that, in a
number of the States, Sunday closing was the law, but
on a Sunday evening,, after attending Dallas Cathedral,
where the sermon was rather long, he (Mr. Kead) returned to
his hotel and was told tea hour was over and he could have
nothing to eat. He thought, then, that he would comfort
himself with a glass of grog and a biscuit in the bar ; but he
was told the bar did not open on Sunday, so he had to go to
bed supperless and thirsty. Next morning he told.a friend of

his experience, and the reply was, " Why didn't yon go in at
the back door ?" He was, in fac', told that the next time he
wanted grog on a Sunday he must go in at the back door and
he would get it, and he was free to c mfess that he did get it
in that way, and to his surprise saw the bar as full of people
as on any other day. He questioned a gentleJian of high
julicial authority as to this, and asked why the police did not
put a stop to it. The reply was, " To make laas in America
is one thing, to enforce them quite another." Policemen
constantly passed by the bars, and would coutent themselves
bv saying to the bar keeper, " You really must keep the blinds
drawn ; your front door is shut, but if you do not keep your
blinds down I shall have to inform against you, because your
customers en be seen drinking at the bir." He believed thdt
to piss laws never meant t« be enforced was worse than pa-s-
ing no laws at all, for nothing brought the adminis ration of
justice into contempt so much as for people to know they
might break the laws of the country with impunity. Mr.
Potter said that during the four months he was in America he
saw only four drunken people ; but he (Mr^ Read) saw six on
one occasion together, and each had a hVtsk of whisky in his
coat-tail pocket. His experience of Suuday closing
in Ame ica was not such as to induce him to
vote for a Closing of Pablic - houses Bill when it
came before the Commons next session. He saw one elec-
tion in America^ and it was under the ballot with the public-
houses closed. The ballot^ however, was not secret, lor the
voters deposited their tickets in the box openly, so that every-
body could see how they voted. Although he admired some
American institutions, he did not go the whole hog in approving
of them all. He found there was less likelihood of free trade
being adopted in Araerici than he had expected to nod, and
this was a very great misfortune to this country. Mr. Potter
made several eloquent speeches on free trade when he was in
'he United States, but he did not convert any of the Americans.
In the West arid South the farmers were iu favour of free-
trade, but they had no power. It was in the New England
States that the power lay, and there the msnufuc'.urers and
mine proprietors were dead against free trade and in favour of
protection. He (Mr. Read) was as much as ever in favour of
free trade if we could really get it, but it did not seem as if we
ever really should. Mr. Gladstoue in Midlothian the other
day said that if there was free trade in America it would he a
bad thing for the English farmer, as the Americin farmer
could then buy his do hing and machinery at much less than he
could now, and, therefore, could produce his commodities
cheaper thin ever. That was quite true, but if agriculture in
this country was to be sacrificed he did not wish toreigners to
get all the benefit. He wished it distributed amongst all
classes. No country would prosper very long without agri-
culture ; but if they had free trade in America the merchants,
miners, and manufacturers would, he belieted, as a matter of
course, flourish to such an extent that they would be able to
make some compensation to us by a very much larger consump-
tion of what *e produced. Mr. Bright said, the other day, that
he should like to see a commercial federation of all English-
speaking countries iu the world ; but that was a thing we
could not get, for Americans believed it was their mission to
feed the world and clothe themselves. They believed that
England would starve unless they sent us their surplus corn,,
and if he suggested to them what might become of this trade
if England put a small duty on their corn,, and whether they
would not pay it eventually, and not the consumer, they re-
plied "Very lik°ly ; but your Government dare not put ou
such a doty. We know very well you are governed by jour
gr°at towns, and they won't let you do it." At this he was
obliged to succumb. The Americans said that the difference
between protection here and in America was that there it was
protection for the back, and here it was protection for the
belly. In America all the artisans were in favour of protec-
tion because they knew very well that their employers could
not afford to pay them high wages unless they were protected
against the cheap labour ol other countries, while in Eugland.
the artisans were against protection because they knew it would
raise the price of the bread and meat which they consumed,,
and believed it would till the landlord's pockets. The
Americans looked only to send us their corn and to receive
back our gold ; and when he asked whether they were not
afraid of killing the goose that laid the golden eggs, they re--
plied they did not wish to do that, but at the same time they
would Hud another customer if England failed. In conclusion.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

7u

he spoke highly of the efficiency aud usefulness of the American
Department ol Agriculture, although after all he had Been .
America lie had come to the conclusion that there was
country like England, aud no c maty like Norfolk.

(tthambtcB of ^gricaltea.

BAKEWELL.

The annual meeting aud dinner ot the Bakewell Farmers'
Club wan held at tUe Rutland Arms, Bakewel1, recently,
wnen the election of officers for the ensuing year took place
and the distribution of prizes. A large nu nber of geutlemen
Were present. Mr. G. W. Furniss, Ejam, president of the
club, occupied tlie chair. The Chairman gave "Tne Qieen
und the Prince and Princess of Wale*," which was heartily
drunk. — Mr. Wallwin.the vice-chairman, next proposed "The
Duke of Devonshire," and spoke in high terms of his Grace
as a landlord. The toast was received with much en'husiasm
— Mr. Gilson Msrtin, agent to his Grace, suitably responded.
—Mr. Martin gave " Prosperity to the Bakewell Farmers'
Club."— Mr. Evans gava " The Health of the Duke of Rut-
land," which was warmly received, Mr. Greaves responded.
— The retiring members of the committee were re-elected.
The President was also re-elected. Mr. Frank Green, Ashford,
was eh cted vice-chairman for the ensuing year. The prizes
were distributed to the successful competitors at the show held
in September.

BEDALE.

At an adjourned meeting of this Chamber, held
at the Black Swan Hotel, Beciale, Captain Clarke, Presi-
dent of the Society, occupied the chair, and there was a fair
number of members present. The subject lor discussion was
" A Few Remarks on Free Trade, Reciprocity, and Protection."
It was introduced by

Mr. Ingledew (Fencote), who read a paper on the question.
He said all parties agreed as to the great advantages to a
country to export largely. Each country produced some things
useful and desirable to other countries, and each had its
specialities. It benefited itself by exchanging its surplus pro-
ductions for the productions of other countries, and both
there >y benefited. The more a country exported the more it
was benefited. Foreign trade was a universal benefit ; there-
fore if they imported little they exported little. If they
wanted to export much they must import much. For every £100
worth of articles that by prohibitory duty they prevented coming
iuto the country they prevented £100 worth of articles ot their
own production from going abroad. All interchange of commo-
dities was barter, money being but a common standard by which
to measure their relative values. Imports and exports pay for
each other. For instance, the imports into the United King-
dom exceeded the exports in 1877 by £80,000,000, and in
187& by £63,000,000. If these enormous balances had had to
be paid in specie they would have swept away all the
coin, plate, watches, and trinkets in these islands. It had
been proposed to enlarge our foreign trade by a curious pro-
cess called Reciprocity. We were to compel foreign countries to
take more of our goods by threatening that we shall take less
of theirs. If they refused, we should impose such an impost
on their articles that we should reduce our annual imports by
£10,000,000 ; but this reduction of imports would mean a
corresponding reduction of our foreign trade ; this would
entail a loss ot £20,000,000 of foreign trade, and, in addition,
would cause such a rise in the price of articles which we ceased
to import as io cause a national calamity. It was proposed
that we should enter into a formal international engagement
to lop off a portion ol our foreign trade, and, in various other
ways, to do ourselves a serious injury, unless other people
agree to alter their fiscal policy. This is called Reciprocity,
but it ought to be called the retaliatory system. Among the
articles we receive from abroad there is hardly one that Reci-
procity can lay hold of. Ninety-one per cent, of what we
import consists of raw materials, to tax which is out
of the question ; and the nine per cent, of manufac-
tured goods — which is all that the entire world supplies to
us — affords far too feeble a leverage to work with.
Reciprocity is tantamount to Baying to foreigners, "Unless

you will heroine Free Traders we will become Protectionists.
One ol the many advantages conferred ou mankind by foreign
trade, is division of labour," There was a mistaken notion
afloat that of two countries that, trade, together, oue gets a
larger profit than the other ; and that England, in her mer-
cantile transactions wit li other nations, reaps more advantages
from them than they do from her. That was a mistaken notion.
The act ol trading was a purely voluntary one, and unless it
suited both parties it would not take place. It. suited a mau to
buy just as it suited the other to sell, and national trade and
pri.flt was but the aggregate of individual gains. England had
profited, not so much hy individu il gains, but by the enormous
dimensions to which it had grown. This euor. nous expansion
of foreign trade England owed to Free Trade. The develop-
ment of her commercial intercourse with the rest of the world
since the repeal of the Corn Laws and the Navigation Laws
had beeu marvellous. In 18±0 our combined exports and
imports were £172,000,000 ; in 1878 they were £611,000,000.
Let them briefly look at the comparative results ol Free Trade
in England and Protection in America. Up to 1849 Great
Britain protected her mercantile navy by the celebrated Navi-
gation Laws, which created almost a monopoly of our trade
for our own merchantmen. In that year we repealed those
laws and boldly threw our trade open to universal competition,
and our mercantile marine became more pre-emineutthan ever.
We have become the carriers for the world — the effect of
discarding Protection. Previous to 1860 the American ship-
owners competed stoutly with our own as carriers of merchan-
dise from one nation to another. The unlortunate civil war
put a temporary stop to this competition ; but alter the close
of the war there was apparently nothing to prevent the ship-
owners from resuming, their place ; but the Protection system
I had assumed formidable dimensions by the imposition of
| excessive import duties, and they shut out cheap foreign goods,
; to be replaced by dear native goods. Prices were thus raised
to such a point that it became impossible for America to con-
struct aud equip merchant ships on terms that would allow tin
owners to compete with British merchantmen, and the latter
had accordingly had the carrying trade almost to themselves
If we import com or cotton Irom America, we do not do so in
order to confer a benefit on them, but because it suits us to do
so. It had been said the Americans inundate us with thtir
wheat and maize, but that was not so. The Americans do not
send us one ship-load of grain in a whole year. The whole of
the large importations into this country of American wheat
and maize are purchased by our own English millers and
dealers, at English aud to English account. The Americans
keep an open shop, and we bought of them just bt cause it
suited us to buy quite as much as it suited them to sell. Mrt
Ingledew concluded by saying that there was not the
slightest doubt but that all nations would ere long adopt the
Free Trade system.

Dr. Fothergill said he quite agreed with all that had been
put forward by Mr. Ingledew.

Mr. Coore, J. P., said he most heartily agreed with the
intelligent paper which had been read. He must express his
penitence at some thoughts he had had as to what might be
said on that ques'ion of Protection. He did fear that in an
unguarded moment they might have given an opinion that
would have appeared to be in favour of that quack-medicine
for agricultural distress. He was glad to find it otherwise.
Protection was dead, but it had left a ghost behind called Re-
ciprocity. Luckily, that ghost was as unsubstantial as most
ghosts were. A few men who ought to know better, both in
the House of Commons and in the more august assembly, the
House of Lords, had given the weight of their authority to
Protection. He was pleased that neither political party had
advocated it. The Conservative party, who had always volod
against Free Trade, had now seen the advantage of it and
were opposed to Protection. The leaders of the Conservative
party, all the members of the. Government, had opposed
motions favourable to Protection, and nothing had beeu said
to indicate any retrograde steps. Still, it was desirable that
local chambers of agriculture should express their opposition
to a return to Protection, especially as it had been urged by
the Reciprocity party that their ideas would be greatly to the
advantage of agriculturists.

The Chairman said one thing had struck him, tkat seeing
all the world believed in Protection, the English were the only
freetraders. Were they not in the habit of having too good
au opinion of themselves ? It was said repeatedly Protection

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

was dead ; but other conn'ries did not think so. He hoped it
was ; but there were results to which they c mid not shut their
e>es. America was put'iug a prohibitory tariff on g >odx sent
from this country, and it was said she was thereby punishing
hergelf. Bat was it so ? de thought it was a mistake to
think so. The. duty they p'lt. on. what England sent went to
rdieve the taxes of the country; aud although the peopie
might have to p iy more, for th-ir goods, tliey had 1 ss to pay
in taxe«, anJ c^n-eju'n'ly were not a sixpence the poorer,
seeing they saved it iu taxes. There were articles sent fr>m
this country >lut were charged with a duty of as much as
eighty per ceut. They co i Id uot prevent this ci u itry sending
goods ; hut thev put on a tax such as made the price almost
prohibitory ; and whilst th-y were keeping our goods oat, they
were establi-hiug a trade themselves. As they knew, there
were lots of garden plants that could not at first be raised
without, beiug put in a hothouse to be forced. And it was so
in the case ot America. By putting on a prohibitory tarilf,
the Americans were forcing a trade that would eventually take
the p!ace of ours. He. would refer to the cotton trade; not
that he. said they put eighty per cent, duty on those goods, for
he did not know ; but they put on a great duty, keeping out
our goods. Now America had cheap provisions, aud grew the
raw article. They would gradually build up a trade, and at
last cut us out, owing to their cheap provisions and haviug the
raw article.

Mr. Robinson (Vice-President) had always Wn a free
trader, and consequently cordially endorsed all that Mr. Ingle-
dew had advauced.

This closed the discussion.

Dr. FoTiiFRGiLL poposed a cordial vote of thanks to Mr.
Iugledew for Ins able paper.

Mr. Atkinson seconded; and the Chairman, in putting
the motion, observed that Mr. Ing'e lew's remarks were so well
put together that they could not " pall a hole in his coit.''

Mr. [NGLKB2W having rephed, a cordial vote of thanki to
the Chairman closed the proceedings.

DERBYSHIRE.

A meeting ot this chamber was held recsntly,
Hon. P. Strait presiding. The Duke of Devon-hire was re-
elected president; the E arl o( 11 irrington, Lord Scarsdale, and
Lord Vernon were re-elected vice-presidents; the 11 "i
W. Coke was elected chairman for the J ear, ami Mi T. S.
Radford aud Mr. II. S. Ilrongii vice-chairman. The committee
were re elected, with the addi'ion ol the names of Mr. N.C.
Curzon and Mr. J. Gascoyne. Several new members were
proposed. A long desultory conversation then ensued on the.
question of local taxation. — Mr. J. G. Crompton expressed
the belief that the pressure on the ten ants iu this diiection
would eventually right itself, and that the charges would
eventually fall on the owner of the land, who was well able to
protect ainiself.

LINCOLNSHIRE.

The thirteenth annual meeting of the above Chamber- was
held at tie Town Hall, Brigg, on Jan. 22, under the presi-
dency of the Marquis of Ripon, K.G. The meeting wis
principally fir tie transaction of ordinary business, and ihe
election of officers for the ensuing year. — On the motion
of Mr. H.j Chaplin, seconded by Mr. Paddiaon, Sir John
AstW, Bart., M.l' , was elected president of the Chamber
for the next twelve months. Mr. Trotter was also unanimously
elected Vic-Chairman. — Mr. Trotter moved a cordial vote of
thanks to the Marquis of Ripen (or his services during the
past year. He said that during the past year the Marquis
had taken the greatest interest in everything in which the
Chamber had \ been concerned, particularly in the Rivers
Conservancy Bill, and it was to this they owed the measures
n hch were being taken for the improvement of the outfall of
the river Wit ham.

The Marquis of RiroN, in returning thanks, said that he
believed institutions of that kind were of great value, aud he
was very glad indeed of haviug an opportunity of taking part
in their proceedings. He dared say he had learned something
himself which might be of use to him in the future. He
could only say with respect to the part which he had taken in
any discussions which had been held in the Chamber, that it
seemed to him that the principal use — he was going to say the

only use, but that perhaps wmldhave been exaggeration—
o* an institution of that kind was that there should be a tree
and full discussion of the various questions which were brought
before them.

Captain Craigie, the Secretary of the Local Taxa ion Com-
mittee, reacl a paper on " Local Taxation." He said there
could be no doubt at all that this qie-tion was a very intrica'e
one, and was very dllioult to grapple with. There was no
doubt that at this moment, we as a people had to bear a
heavier burden — ami we bore it w.th very much greater ease—
than the people of twenty, thirty, lorcy,or a huudred years ago ;
but the lime had now come when increased atteutiou ought to
be ajveu to that particular form of taxation known as local
taxation, the heavihess of which was one great f tu.ubling-
blook to the improvement of the people. The entire revenue, of
this country, local and imperial together, was now reckoned at
£ 133,00 J,000. Ot that amount £51,000,000 was raised
and administered by locil authorities. JNow the property
which was rated was only a section of the property of this
country. Tne etrire property of England had been estimated
at over eight thousand millions, aud uot only so, but the
capital had bejn increasing at the rate ot £2 ki ,000,000 per
anuu-ii. Til t ol course included all real and personal property.
£251,000,000 of income was iu some form or other rated, but
o' this we had in Eugland a rateable value of only
£130,000,000; Property was imposed upon to the extent of
£2o,U jO,000 at 19 per ceut., or 3s. loid. in the pound on tlie
rateable value of property iu E agland. Tbfl income-tax had
often been spoken ot as a heavy burdeu, but this tax was only
imposed to the extent of 2 per cent, upoi the incomes as-
Many who had taken au opposite view upon local taxation to
that held by himself aud the Chamber urged that they had no
right to take the whole • f '.he £25,000,000 of rates, inasmuch
as the greater part of that si.m represented, not taxutiota at all,
but an investment ou behalf ol local improvements. Miking
this distinction, and allowing £10,000,000 out of the
, 100,000, they had £lo,0J0,0o0 lea as purely the taxing
| p irt of our local rates, the poor-rate proper devoted to the
reliet of the p'.or was £7,000,000; these, with the police
"Phe maintenance of lunatics, and other matters, brought up the
total aimed. Upou imperial, as agaiust local taxation, there
were great descrepanch s, the holders of land not receiviug an
equivalent in remissions upou locnl rates. Auother point de-
manding attention was the extreme axation ou agricultural
improvements. Tne system in vogue in Ireland and Scotland
'■ might with advantage be applied to Euglaud, and farmers
! taking a farm ou lease should be asses>ed at one value through-
i out. AiiO.her loss was the abolition of tolls, aud though
| remissions might luve been made on some charges to Mm bk-
i tent of 3d., sail by this remission l£d. was put on the highway
rate. They had almost realised the amount anticipated, namely,
Gd. in the pouut, the average rati iu the rural districts being
oil., aud the average rate throughout the country 4 i d .
Therefore he thought they had a claim to go belore the Royal
Commissioners aud to lay their grievances distinctly and
definitely do»n. He confidently maintained that they were
not receiving a fair equivalent tor the amount of local taxation.
As to the education rate, the average he spoke of did no -
ciently represent the case. There were tas.^s where 2s. Cd. in
the pound, 2v, Is. 10d., and Is. Gd., had been levied it), small
rural parishes, therefore the educa'ion rate was a matter which
he thought deserved attention, Tne only way that he could
conceive of dealing with the school rate would be to approach it
very much in the same way as had been done iu Irelaud, where
the cost was borne not by the locality, but by all the p irishes,
which was an increase of the educatiou grant direct from the
Exchequer. If they could invent a local source of revenue, it
they were forced to levy rates for education purposes, theu he
thought they ought to raise the rates on houses, aud not on
lanr>. He urged them to press, one and al', for the poin;s he
had enumerated, considering that local exigencies necessitated
it, and he asked their Memoers to speak out in their places in
the House for the reform of Ijjcal taxation.

Mr. CiiAruN, M.P., confessed that it required nothing but
reppated statements of the kind which Captain Craigie had
made to be made throughout the country to ensure attrntiou
being paid to the question in the manner which it really de-
served, and which, he thought, they were eutitled to insist
upon. He hail pleasure in seconding, the vote ot thanks i.
Capuia Craigie.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

77

On this bsing carried, the business of the meeting
terminated.

Tue annual dinner was held at the. Angel Hotel, Brig;r, in
tlu- arternoon. Sir John Astley, Bart., M.l', presided., and
some other »peeches were delivered by the Marquis of Ripon
and Mr. Chaplin, M.P. The Utter advocated toe repeal of
the Malt Tax.

NEWBURY.

On Thursdav, Jan 2?, the annmi dinner of the Newbury
Chamber of Agriculture was held at the White Hart Hotel,

Newbury, Mr. II. Maskeleyue, president of the Chamber
in the elixir.

Mr. Darke proposed '; The Army, Navy, and Auxiliary
Forces," and in the course of bis remarks sketched a pro-
gr;i!ii the benefit of agriculture, which in-

olnded a reform of the 1 iw of rating an i the, law o1 distraint.
He also invited the squire of Wokingham to favour the
assemblage with his opinion in regard to tlie existing tithe
system, which he thought worked injuriously towards the
farmer.

Mr. Cherry proposed the health of "The' County
Members."'

Mr. WATTEB, M.P., in responding, referred to the depres-
sion in agriculture. He said : — Farming as I do a great deal
of my own land, I have the hest possible means of forming an
accurate opinion on the subject, aud I know it does not re-
quire auy recoudle theories, either political or economical, to
explain what the character of the season explains to the satis-
faction of every oue who has his eyes open and uses his com-
mon sense. Well, during this Parliament you are aware that
a measure was passed called the Agricultural Holdings Act.
I am not aware (rom any personal conference with my con-
stituents how far that Act was regarded by them with any
great expectations of advantage or otherwise. I certainly
did not receive ha f-i-dozeo letters on the subject during the
passing of that Bill. Hut I refer to it in order to mention a
somewhat amusing incident connected with it that happened
to myself, which you may perhaps like to hear. INot very
long after that Bill became law it occurred to a gentle-
man who takes great interest in agricultural matters,
not so much as an agriculturist as a manufacturer of
agricultural implements — Mr. Samuelson — that it was very
desirable that it should be pulled up by the roots to see how
it was growing ; and he brought a motion forward in Par-
liament to inquire into the operation of that Act. I was
very anxious to mike a speech on the subject. I had some-
thing to say, and I. thought it was a good opportunity of
delivering myself on the occasion. The gravamen of Mr.
Samuelsou'a charge was thnt rhe Act was what the Americins
call a mere ': bogus'' Ac1 — that it was not meant to be put
ia force ; that the whole thing was a sham and a delusion.
I feit rather uneasy about that, because I had the impres-
sion that all my tenants were uuder the Act, and that that
was an exception to the rule. But in order to be quite
sure I thought it safer to telegraph to Wokingham to my
solicitor, aud ask him, '' Am I right in believing that my
tenants are all uuder the Agricultural Holdings Act ?"' and in
the course of half an hour 1 got a message saying, "Yon ex-
pressly told me to contract you out of the Act." I was so
dunnfounded by this answer that 1 was shut up, and
the House lost the advantage of a valuable speech from
me. But the best of the story is to come. The
next morning I got another message from my solicitor
saying, " I cannot tell you what induced me to send you
that telegram, for your tenants are all under the Ac'."
Just imagine my disappointment in not having a friendly dis-
cussion with Mr. Samuelson. I was one of the supporters of
the Act. I never attached as much importance to it as*ome
people did, because I thought my tenants were as well
off before as they would be with it, but I
thought that being a legislator it would look rather
strange to contract myself out of an Act which I had
a hand iu passing, and I instructed my solicitor to put
my tenants under it, as they are at this moment. Mr. Darke
has referred to me on the subject of the effect which the pre-
fent system of collecting tithes may have upon the prosperity
or otherwise of the farmer. I will tell yon exactly my opinion
on that po:nt. I have been in communication with rav neigh-
bours at Wokingham on that subject, and have giveu them my

views it; on if. I have always felt very sfrorg'y, what nobody
will doubt who really examines tlie matter, that tithes are
a charge on land and must therefore fall on the, landowner.
It is so essentially a landlord's tax and a charge on land that
it is, I think, much betier for the landlord to pav it at
once. Then you reiu've it altogether out of the cat<
of farmers' grievances, if it be a grievance at all. I
therefore intend in future to make such arranzements
with my tenants as will relieve, them from the payment
of tithe, leaving the question of rent to be arranged between
them aud me. But, ou the other hand, I think it is a charge
wh ch landlords would do wisely to get rid of as
soon as they can. I went to Mr. Caird to ascertain what
facilities there were, for landlords to redeem their tithes,
and I learnt from him — what, perhaps, I should have known
— that an Act was passed two years ago, chiefly through the
instrumentalty of Mr. Cub'tt, to extend to property Bubject
to tithes, facilities for procuring, not compulsory, but
amicable redemption of tithes. Weil, I have taken measures,
which are now in progress, to test the operation of this
Act in the redemption of tithes in a parish where
I have a small property. If that succeeds I shall extend
it to other parts of mv estate If it fails I shall know
the reason why, and I shall take steps by which I may
hope to obtain greater facilities for th's purpos1. For I main-
tain that nothing can be more disagreeable to any landowner
than to have a fluctuating charge on an estate which he has no
means of redeeming. As to the mode of taking the averages,
I believe that subject was investigated a few years ago by a
committee of the House of Commons, and the result of the
inquiry was that there was nothing unfair in the mode of
ascertaining them. 0 course, if a case can be made out for
further inquiry, that might be a proper course to take. But
you must remember that there are objections to disturbing an
existing bargain made, years ago and cjnsidered to be decidedly
to the advantage of the landlord, the payer of the tithes. And
it will not do, merely because wheat and barley have (rone up
and the shoe pinches, to turn round on the unfortunate tithe-
owner and say, (i We made a bargain, and must upset it o -
cause it does not suit us." The houest and straightforward
course is for the landlord to redeem his tithes by paying a
proper price. As to the question of the remedies for the
present depressed state of agriculture, if 1 were to talk to you
for hours I could not make so good a speech as Sir W. Har-
court lately made, and which, perhaps, most of you have read.
He referred to the period of 40 years ago, in 1836, when there
was a Parliamentary Committee to inquire into a state of agri-
cultural depression, compared with which that which we are
now undergoing is a mere joke. Anybody who read the evi-
dence collected by that committee wonld be perfectly
astonished by the language then used by farmers and the
valuers of land. Some of the witnesses said that no laud
could pay rent; that land must go out of cultivation, aud
other tilings to the same effect. Sir W. Harcourt said that
the committee consisted of the wisest heads in England, and
that they made no report. The late Sir Robert Peel charged
Lord John Russell with having knocked all the brains out of
the report and made, it impossible for the members to agree
to a report. But the curious part of this history is that cot
oue of the remedies which are now so fashionable was then
mentioned. None of these reforms of the land laws as to
primogeniture, distraint, aud so forth where then thought of.
You may be amns^d to hear what were the reme lies which
were then proposed. Oue proposition then laid down — and it
was a very strong poiut — was that the whole of that agricul-
tural depression was owing to the fact that when people took
a £5 note to the bank they were p*i I five sovereigns for it.
It was held that there was something so wrong in that that it
was the cause of the agricultural distress, and that nothing but
a return to the paper currency would relieve the farmer*. The
currency doctors said that all the agricultural distress was due
to the law of 1819, which made it compulsory on the Bank of
England to pay five sovereigns lor a £5 note. I agree entirely
with what Sir W. Harcourt told his hearers the other day
that the agriculturists have nothing to fear except from the
quack doctors, and that if they are left alone and allowed to
manage their own affairs it will be better lor them. We hear
much about covenants, which are, as is said of rulers iu Scrip-
ture, a terror to evil-doers, aud not to the good. Covenants
are not required for the good tenant, but are a security against
the bad one ; and when that confidence which is the bond of

73

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

all society exists betwpen landlord and t'-nant there is little
n-ed for covenants. I have myself had tenants whom no
covenants that could be put into a lease would mnke farm as
they ought to farm, and I have had other tenants whom I
should not care to bind by any covenants at all, beciuse they
cmi'd be trusted to farm the land as it ounht to be farmed.
In fact, all these complex legal covenants often tend to produce
thatsuspicion and distrust which it ought to be the object of avey
wi e man to remove. We all know perfectly well that what
ha* led to the present state of agrcultural depression is the
coincidence of two circumstances which have very seldom met
in simultaneous combination — I mean deficient harvests and
low prices. We have had deficient harvests before, with high
prices. The agricultural depression of 1836, to which I have
before referred, was caused, not by deficient harvests, but by
superabundant harvests — by superabundance and excess of
supply at home, in the face of a Corn Law which was almost
prohibitive. Bat the present depression has been caused by
the coincidence of an extremely deficient supply at home— a
supply not above two-fifths of an average harvest — with low
prices. And we have had from America probably some six
million quarters of corn, representing about 15 millions of
money. Well, that which has been the means of depressing
the English farmer has been the means of saving the country,
because there has been no period of agricultural depression
which has been attended with so little suffering to the
labouring class — the largest class connected wi'h a rgricultnre
— or in which there has been so little suffering extending
through the community at large as in this instance. There
are many other topics on which I might touch, but I fear I
have Already detained you too long. But I should like to
conclude with a few words of comfort and encouragement as
to the future. I do not myself believe that this period of de-
pression will continue. I agree very much with those who
think we have reason to believe that the worst is over. This
is Leap Year, and February will have five Sundays in it. That,
I trust, is an excellent omen that this is likely to be a prosper-
ous and happy year. But there is another " old saw " which
a friend gave to me, and which you may like to carry home
with you, and it is a curious one, because it illustrates the
faith our ancestors had in those coincidences, which had, I
suppose, occurred to them from time to time, and left favour-
able or unfavourable impressions on their minds. It is
this :—

" If Christmas should a Thursday be,"
—and last Christmas Day was a Thursday—

" A. windy winter you will see."
Well, as you all know, this winter began with tremendous
gales.

"The summer will be good and dry,"

'• And corn and beasts will multiply,"
That is an old saying— I do not know how old— hnt it is
an augury of good — a weather prophecy which I bequeath to
you now in the hope that if I have the pleasure of dining
with you again it will have been fully verified.

Mr. Wroughton, M.P., also returned thanks, dwelling
upon the utility of bodies like that whose annual festival
they were now keeping, and suggesting that the Newbury
Chamber of Agriculture should be extended so as to include
the whole county.

Mr. F. Everett then proposed the toast of " The Land-
lord"," coupling with it the name of Mr. George Palmer,

M.P.

Mr. Palmer, in responding, referred to the mode in which
the corn averages were calculated for the purposes of tithe,
expressing the opinion that they were not fairlv taken. He
therefore thought that the basis on which Mr. Walter would
purchase his tithes fairly did not exist. One good result which
he believed would come out of the depression of agriculture was
that various questions connected with the land must be dis-
cussed, he hoped without respect to mere party considerations,
but with an earnest desire to promote the common interest of
landlords, tenants, and labourers.

NORFOLK.

A meeting of the Council of the Norfolk Chamber of Agri'
culture was held recently, at Norwich, the president
of the Chamber (Mr. R. T. Gurdon) in the chair, for ths pur-
pose of answering the questions submitted by the Royal Com.
mission on Agricultural Depression. There was a large attend-

ance of the members of the Council, and the Assistant-Cm-
missioner for the district (Mr. S. B. L. D.uee) attend d and
explained the questions, to which satisfactory replies were
given. Mr. Druce will remain in the county during this
week to obtain information 'in varioui districts.

FOOD SUPPLY FROM AMERICA.
(from a correspondent.)

The commercial interests of New York hare
suffered during a long period from the effects of incon-
veniences created by the attitude of railway companies
interested in the carrying trade to and from the Western
States. As the anomaly, growing out of the present
state of affairs, affects directly and indirectly the trade
with Eugland, a statement of the leading facts merits
the fullest attention.

The disturbing elements, causing so much irritation,
originated with the existing differential rates of freight
and the system of rebate introduced by the railway com-
panies. The primary causes of the evil carry us back to
the year 1865. At that period the premium on gold
ran high, and the deranged state of the national currency,
in the presence of civil war, justified the existence of
extraordinary high rates of freight. But the tariff rates,
adopted under peculiar circumstances, have never been
revised. Rather than submit to a reduction, concurrent
with the downward tendency in the value of every species
of commodities, the railway companies persistently adhered
to what may be termed war rates. Exceptions were made
only in cases of individual pressure. In those cases they
yielded either in granting exceptional rates, or by allowing
rebate. The pressure became greater and greater as time
rolled on, and as the depressed state of trade necessitated,
until, finally, the quasi established tariff had become
thoroughly honeycombed. The preferential rates had been
granted without the observance of any theory or govern-
ing principles, and, as a matter of fact, the local tariffs
had been converted into a structure presenting neither
basis nor cohesion. It appears tolerably clear that the
arbitrary proceedings left ample room for complaint.
The dairy farmers of the State of New York were loudest
in complaining, but the clamour on the part of shippers of
petroleum and other produce was hardly less urgeut.

As regards through rates, the companies have recently
abandoned the system of special or preferential rates. The
City of Chicago may, in a measure, be taken as a sort
of half-way house in considering the traffic between the
West and the Atlantic seaboard. Now, the four great
trunk lines, which form the connection and control the
carrying trade, have entered into a working arrangement.
Practically, the entire goods traffic has been brought
under one head. So long as a spirit of competition ani-
mated the railways, the natural advantages, possessed by
New York over other American shipping ports, enabled
her merchants to hold their own. Commerce ntturaily
follows the tide of a stable current, and prefers those
channels where capital and credit offer the greatest
facilities. Still, it required most strenuous efforts to
prevent a diversion of the current. The question evolved
on a contest of supremacy between Boston, Philadelphia,
Baltimore, and New York. Mr. Vanderbilt, as many
readers know, is the owner of the New York Central
Railway. The road connects New York with Buffalo, a
distance of 440 miles, and controls a very large portion
of the Western traffic. In his evidence before a Legisla-
tive Committee, Mr. Vanderbilt stated that, in adopting
fixed through rates for the carriage of wheat, the railway
companies had been largely influenced by the difference of
ocean freight, which, it was supposed, prevailed in favour
of New York. There are at least eight well established
lines of steamers sustaining a regular weekly service

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

70

between New York nnd British ports. Under the pressure
of hard times these steamers had for a period been com-
pelled to submit to very low rates of freight. But, wiih
the advent of increased prosperity, greater stability has
been established, and the differential rates of freight have
disappeared. The struggle which obtains between the
competing cities may be measured by a reference to the
subjoined figures, giving the mileage, intervening
between the chief distributing points of the We9t, and the
shipping ports on the Atlantic : —

DISTANCES BY RAILWAY FROM

New York. B< ston. Philadelphia. Baltimr.

Miles. Miles. Miles. Miles.

To Chicago... 982 1,012 814 889

To Cincinnati 868 920 672 578

To St. Louis.. 1,169 1,220 971 920

The foregoing figures go far to explain the character of
the irritation excited by the alleged intrigues connected
with the carrying trade. Statistics of imports show that
during the past ten years the port of New York has im-
proved its relative position when compared with the ex-
ternal trade of Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, all
of which ports show a slight decline. The reverse, how-
ever, is the case so far as concerns exports. While the three
ports named have gained in the aggregate, New York has
lost ground. Whatever causes may have operated in this
direction is not a subject of present inquiry, suffice it
to say that public opinion, in New York at least, fastens
the burden of blame on the railway monopolists. In this
respect it is convenient to add that Philadelphia ha9 the
advantage of superior railway facilities, inasmuch as the
Pennsylvania railroad possesses, in its own right, and by
virtue of perpetual leases, an unbroken line between
Chicago and Philadelphia. On the other hand, New York
is dependent on alliances with other lines, hence arise con-
stant commotions and endless intrigues, all of which
tend to militate against commercial interests.

The water route, which establishes communication
between New York and Chicago, confers an incalculable
benefit on the commerce of New York. Without it the
movement of produce between East and West would be
entirely at the mercy of the railway system. But the
canals are only available from the months of March till
November, During the winter season the navigation is
closed. Until ten years ago, i.e., till the year 1869, the
tolls levied on the Erie Canal were extremely high, but
they have been considerably lowered, and with it, there
has been a corresponding reduction in the rate of freights,
aa will be seen from the subjoined etatement, showing
the average rates of freight on wheat, by water carriage
from Chicago and New York, and the tolls levied on the
canal.

Per bushel of wheat of 60 lb.

Year.

1860

Rates ol
Cents.
27

Frieght.
Mills.
35

Canal Tolls
Cents. Mills
5 28

1870

17

9

10

3 10

1875

43

1 93

1876

83

1 93

1877

10

96

0 96

1878

9

21

0 96

The reduction in the cost of transportation overthe water
route has, of course, influenced the policy of the railway
companies ; but, as already stated, during the winter
months, when navigation is closed, there is no check on
them. The canal is State property, and a movement s
set on foot with the object to induce the Legislature to
relieve commerce from the burden inflicted by the pay-
ment of tolls. It is safe to assume that, in the course of
the year 1880, navigation on the canals will be set free.

Unfortunately for the United States, there is no Federal
or national railway law. It is, however, within the power

of every State to pass laws regulating the railways within
then- own State. The Federal Government does not
dominate State legislature, so long as the Litter keeps
within its own dominion. Under the circumstances,
railway communication between two spearate States enjoys
comparative freedom from legislative interference. But,
on the other hand, the control of traffic is subject to the
dictation and the [caprice of a small number of men who
manage the roads. The New York commercial public
seems resolved on the necessity of introducing measures
of reform. The revelations recently published, regarding
railway management are calculated to force on the mind3
of thinking men the necessity that interests, so momentous
to New York, must be protected in a manner to guard
against monopolies.

MR. J. W. BARCLAY, M.P., AND THE
WEST ABERDEENSHIRE ELECTION.

The following letter addressed to the Secretary of the
Liberal Committee of West Aberdeenshire, was read
recently before a meeting :—

Reform Clnb, Pall Mall,
London, S.W., Januarv 20, 1880.

My Dear Sir,— As I shall not be able to be present at the
meeting on Friday next, I beg to be allowed to submit to my
fellow electors my views on the political situation in West
Aberdeenshire.

I do not propose to discuss the qualifications of the gentle-
men named at last meeting of the committee as possible can-
didates. The materials for determining a selection are wantin?,
because, so far as I am aware, none of the gentlemen has
publicly stated definitely what his opinions are on questions
of the highest importance',^ a large majority of the electors,
and which, indeed, formed the basis on which the committee'
was originally constituted. The questions to which I refer
are :—

(1) The abolition of Hypothec and of the Act of Sederunt
of 1756.

(2) Compensation to tenants for unexhausted improve-
ments.

(3) Reform of the Game Laws ; and

(4) Repiesentative County Government.

But I wish specially to remind my brother farmers that one
great object of the Liberal Committee was to endeavour to
seeare a tenant-farmer representative. This the committee
once accomplished in effecting the retnrn of Mr. M'Combie
and that before any landlord had j lined the coiamittee.

At the last election for the Western Division time was
wanting for making much effort to g?.t a tenant-farmer to
come forward, but at present I see no cause for great haste in
selecting a candidate ; and to do so at the meeting next Fri-
day, before the electors generally are informed of the candi-
dates' opinions on questions ot the greatest importance to
them, would be to forestall a free and intelligent selection by
the, constituency.

There is little prospect of a dissolution of Parliament for
six months to come, and I can see no sufficient cause for any
urgency.

It is of far greater importance to take more time, and
secure, if possible, a candidate who not merely avows himself
a Liberal or a Whig, but one whose views on farmers' ques-
tions will recommend him to farmers, who constitute a large
majority in the constituency. The fact that at last election
the Tory candidate was defeated by a msjority of nearly three
to one shows that there is no risk from division of the Liberal
party, even if two Liberal candidates come forward. But the
risk lies in this — that a Whig candidate may be recommended
to the constituency who on farmers' questions is less liberal
than his Tory opponent.

1 do not say that the election ought to turn exclusively on
farmers' questions, out I am very sure that the candidate who
is acceptable to the farmers on these questions will also hold
opinions satisfactory to the Liberal Committee on the foreign
policy of the Government and on Church disestablishment.

I hope the committee will not give up, without at least an
effort, the idea of having a tenant-farmer representative for

so

TBK FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

West Aberdeenshire — the first of the Scottish const ituencies
to elect a tenant-farmer.

Whv should not a committee, on which the farmers are
fully represented, be appointed to look out lor a suitable can-
didate—in the first place, a tenant-farmer, if possible; and,
failing thereiu, some one unconnected with the holding of
lmd, who may be expected to exercise an unbiased judgmeut
on questions between landlords and tenant-, and who
sympathise-', so far at least, with the difficulties 01 the tenants'
po-ition ?

It is evident from Mr. Gladstone's Midlothian speeches that
farmers, so tar as their immediate interests are concerned, have
nothing to expect from tiie Whig G-jvernment, which hopes
to come into power after next general election, unless it may
be the abolition of hypothec. And even in respect to this
obnmtious law it mu-t be remembered that Mr. Gladstone
cannot do more than those who sit behind him will permit;
ami that in the divisions on the Hypothec Abolition Bill of
last fession, the whole of the county members present,
excepting Sir George Balfour and myself, voted.to substitute
for hypothec a law even more oppressive and harsh to the
tenant than hypothec itself.

I feel myself urged to address my feUow- farmers in the
constituency because I am fully persuaded that unless they
return a farmer, or one nuconnected wi»h land who really
sympathises with their view, there is no hope of redress of
those grievances of which they so justly complain, aod from
which not only they but the public at large so greatly suffer.
Yours faithfully,

James W. Barclay.

To David Littlejohu, Esq.,

Secretary to the Liberal Committee
lor West Aberdeenshire,
Aberdeen.

THE WHEATFIELDS OF AMERICA.

Mr. George Baylis, of Wyfield Manor, Newbury, writes
to the Standard'. —

In the spnug of 1879 I inserted a letter in several local
papers calling the attention of the agriculturists to the growth
and value of an acre of whe.3t in the United States in 1878.
My figures were judged by many farmers to be too low for the
rich soils in America. Recently, however, the Agricultural
Bureau of Washington have furnished their returns of the
wheat crop of 1 878, as follows -.—13 1-10 bushels of wheat per
acre ; price realised per bushel, 3s. 2d. My estimate last
spring was 13 bushels at 3s. 6d. It appears also that the
wheat crop of 1878 realised less value per acre than any
previous crop — the average of the last fifteen years being
14 ools. OUc. against 10 dols. 16c. in 1878. These figi res
corroborate what 1 then stated, that the United States farmer
suffered as much fro a. the low prices as the British agricul-
turists. . .

Now, what occasions the extraordinary competition of
America in wheat gro wine P It is not caused primarily by
the low price of the laud, but by the fertility of immense tracts,
which require only the slightest cultivation to produce corn.
1 ask then, is this fertility being maintained^? L) criedly not.
The American farmer takes possession of the virgin soil, grows
corn year after year, simply scratching the soil and sowing the
seed. From the low prices obtained for his cereals he is
unable to properly cultivate his holding, or to apply manure,
either natural or artificial. For a few years he prospers,
because the soil is abounding with nitrogen, phosphates, and
alkalies, caused by the decomposition of vegetable matter, and
the disintegration of the soil through the countless centuries
that are past. Eventually, however, there comes a time when
the land refuses to give a profitable increase. The United
States farmer then discards his holding, sets his face towards
the setting sun, knowing that at present there still exists west
of the Mississippi further virgin lands to be scourged.

Is it not an established fact that this system of agriculture
has to answer for the following States, New York, Pennsyl-
vania, Virginia, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont,
Maryland, Maine, &c., not growing sufficient wheat for their
own consumption ? Formerly, New York State was the
principal district for the exportation of this cereal. After a
time, Pennsylvania occupied the position ol the Empire State ;
then, again the wheat centre shifted further westwards to

Ohio, Indiana, ani Illinois, and as these lai'rr States pre
already b<-COuing e.xhaus.ed, aga;n the wheat centre has
moved to Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Now as these.
latter di-trkts are a thonsmd miles froai the Atlantic, I s»J
with what marvellous rapidity our Transatlantic kinsmen are
exhausting their rich prairie iauds.

I find, by studyiug the re'urns of the acreage of cereals in
the United' States, that in 1S63 there were 28,411,377 acres
under Indian corn and wheat, but in 1878 I find tabu at»d
83,fi93,5G0 acres. This increase is continuing at pre-ent
yearly in a geometrical ratio, and has amounted to 300 per
cent, in fifteen years-. Now, taking into consideration that
iu the centre of the American continent there exists an
i'nmmse desert, and that already the pioneers of civilisation
have advanced to the eastern skirts, whilst the wes'ern is
bounded by the Rocky Mountains, it is quite certain that the
previous ratio of increased fertile acreage cannot be main-
tained throughout another decade.

At the present time the Paradise for our depressed agri-
culturists is represented to be Manitoba, in North-west
Canada. Amusing calculations are made of large profits to be
realised by an average yield of from 20 to 4-0 bushels per
acre. Now I presuaie there is no finer soil and climate in
the world fur wheat giowingthan California, yet on the rich
soil of this Eldorado of the West the ranchers only produced
14 bushels to the acre iu 1878. Our British emigrants, who
are expec'ing better results iron the rauch-vauut-d Manitoba
district than 14 bushels through a series of years, will be
disappointed.

Glowing accounts are given of the corn crops in New
Z-aland. Now the snme process of deterioration is in pro-
gress at the Antipodes, and although certain alluvial tracts
iu the Canterbury Settlemeut and other parts may at preseut
gi re fair return", the time is not very far distant when the
New Z aland average will be as low as South Australia,
which iu 1878 only produced seven bushels to the acre.

In conclusion, the tenour of this letter will le
readers to entertain that I do not take a desponding view of
the future of British agriculture. Certainly not, for the
population of the British Isles and Europe is increa-iug
millions annually. The inhabiting ol Europe as they
advance in civilisation require their bread male of wheatea
flour instead of rye aud other c re A*.

Crossing the Atlantic, we have the United Stages, with a
rapidly increasing population, already numbering fifty millions,
but exhausting their ferule soil with the rapidity that a
spendthrift squanders his income ; and it is within the range
ot probability that before many years are past she mav cease
to be an exp irting country, unless more expensive systems of
agriculture are adopted.

(DMhuirg*

Our readers will have heard with regret of the death of
Mr. John Torr, MP., as the contest for the representation
of Liverpool, rendered necessary by his death, is a subject
of general publicity. Mr. Torr succeeded to Ayleeburt
on the death of his brother, Mr. William Torr, wev
known as a breeder of Shorthorns. After the herd hall
been dispersed, Mr. John Torr did not attempt to re-
establish it, but devoted his attention more to sheep-
breeding. He died on Friday, January 16th, after a veiy
short illness, from au attack of paralysis.

We also regret to record the death of Mr. David
Fallen, for many years Assistant-Secretary to the Smith-
field Club. Mr. Pullen died ou January 22, at the age
of 58 years. Quite recently Mr. Pullen was presented
with a testimonial by those who wished to recognise his
services to the club with which he was counected.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

81

THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA
COMPARED.

" A Scotch farmer settled in the United States" writes to
the Scotsman : —

In your issue of to-day I observe the report of Mr. Biggar,
the delegate to Canada from the Strwartry of Kirkcudbright,
on the prospects of agricultural migrants to that country.
I have not yet observed any report on agricultural prospects
of emigrants to the United States, but I have seen in your
paper several letters from settlers there strongly recommend-
ing emigration. I have been resident in the North-Western
States for the last twenty years. I had previously resided
for many years in Canada, and am able to judge of the
advantages of the United States as a field for agricultural
emigrants over Canada, more especially the north-western
provinces of Canada. These are so many and obvious that
it surprises me no deputation has been sent from this conntry
to inquire into the claims of the States as a field for agricul-
tural emigrants Withiu the last two months I travelled over
what was formerly the far Western S'a'es of Illinois,
Missouri, and Kansas, and inspected lands, and I will state
as shortly as I can the advantages of the United States over
Manitoba.

A chief element in considering the profit to be derived from
agricultural produce is the cost of transit. Now, the distance
of Manitoba from the seaboard is so great, and the means of
conveyance so limited, that however productive the country
may be, its product is comparatively valueless, as the cost of
carriage is such as to make exportation unprofitable. The
price of wheat is quoted in Manitoba at 70c. per bushel. In
Kansas, Iowa, and the North-western States generally, where
the yield is equal to that of Manitoba, the price of wlipat per
bushel was from 85c. to 1 dol. per bushel ; thus the Kansas
or Iowa farmer has a gain of from 15 to 30 per cent, over the
Manitoba farmer. This is only one item. The gain on
other products is even greater. With regard to means of
conveyance to markets there is no comparison. From the
extreme western part of Kansas or Iowa grain can be shipped
at New York in less than a week, while from Manitoba, to
which there is as yet no railway connection, communication
is nearly shut off, and such communication as exists is expen-
sive and dangerous. The cost of labour in the Statps is in-
finitely less than in Manitoba. The implements of hnsfeindry
and labour-saving machinery are so good and cheap that the
cost of tillage is considerably less than in the old country.
In Manitoba the cost of stocking and working a farm i=, from
the scarcity of labour, necessarily high, and while the
Manitoba farmer can only g.-t 70c. per bushel for his wheat,
the States farmer can raise at less cost an equal yield, for
which lie gi ts from 85c. to 1 dol.

It may be supposed, therefore, that land in Manitoba is fo
be had for a less sum than land in the States, but such is not
the case. Good prairie land, clear of timber and stone", can
be had in the Sates in any quantity at from 2CK per acre,
and many a farmer has risen to opulence who has commenced
life with a capital of £100. The climate of the States is
much less severe than Manitoba with its long dreary winter
of six month", and there is no pest of flies and mosquitoes.
The variety of crops which can be raised shows the richness
of the soil. In addition to the crops of wheat, ma'ze, barley,
oats, potatoes; a farmer can raise on this land swe°t potatoes,
Sorghum or sugar corn, castor beans, flax, hemp, tobacco,
broom corn, and all the grasses, thus giving a variety of
crops, which, coming at all seasons, are for sheep and cattle
raising invaluable. The mild wiuters enable farmers to
winter their stock with but little trouble, feedin » with prairie
hay, which can be cut and piled in any quantity. I may also
mention that all kinds of fruit, grow abundantly — the peach
tree yielding fruit in three or four years from the. sped, the
apple from five to eight years, different varieties taking
different ages to fruit. 1 have seen the cotton wood 6 inebps
in circumference and 20 feet, high in six years. In the States
there are free schools at a distance not exeppding four miles
from the most remote farmhouse, and churches are plentiful.

In reply to the above, Mr. Thos. Graharne, Agent to
the Government of Canada, writes : —

I notice in your issue of to-day a lett r from ' A Siotch

Farmer Settled in the United States," which is exceedingly un-
luir to the Province of Manitoba and the Canadian prairie
laods of the North-West.

The price of wheat canuot be comparatively valueless in
Manitoba, when it is worth over 70 cent, per bushel. The
yield of wheat in none of the North- Western States is equal
to that of Manitoba, and that was admitted by the United
Sates Consul at Winnipeg, at a public dinner s^me time ago.
All the delegates who have been through the North-West
state that the yield in Manitoba exceeds that in the States by
from at least 6 to 10 bushels per acre. As regards communi-
cation with markets, these will be as ready in Manitoba as in
any of the North- Western States in a couple of years, from
the railroads in c mrse of construction. The cost of labour
is no higher in Manitoba than ia many of the North-
Western States.

Your correspondent is entirely astray as to the price of
land in Manitoba. First-class land can be obtaiued there
near Winnipeg, the chief city, for less than 20s. per acre
whilst in the newer districts, 160 acres are given free of as
fine land as there is in the whole of the United States,
to actual settlers. £1 per acre seems to be the minimum in
the United States.

The climate of the North-Western States is about identical
with Manitoba. There is no six months of winter there. As
regards flies and mosquitoes, Minnesota and Dakota, the two
finest wheat-prodming States in the Uniou, are adjacent to
Manitoba and Canadian territory. These insects must, there-
fore, be very acute to distinguish between the American
citizen and the British subject.

When your correspondent refers to States where tobacco,
sweet potatoes, &c, are produced, wheat must be a very
inferior crop. In comparison with such State3 I have no
doubt Manitoba produces at least double the quantity of wheat
per acre.

Mr. Henry Snow, of Edinburgh, writes : —
In yesterday's issue I observe a letter from a Scotch farmer
settled in the United S'ates, taking exception to Mr. Biggar's
statements as to Manitoba being a better field for settlement
than the States. His argument is, that in estimating profits
from agricultural produce the chief element is the cost of
transit, and in doing this he compares the present prices in the
two different lecalities, and admits that the difference in price
is caused by the difference in cost of conveyance, but when
the railway from Thnnder Bay to Winnipeg is finished (and
that will not be over a twelvpmonth), grain will be. carried
from Manitoba and delivered at Montreal, whence it can be at
once shipped to Europe at the same rate it takes to bring it
from Kansas and Nebraska to Chicago, whence it has still a
thousand miles of carriage before it readies its shipping ports.
Again they are not subjected to the annoyance and loss caused
by the railway rings as in the States, any artificial raising of
freights being effectually stopped by the water competition.
Another important element to be considered by settlers in the
opening up of the Hudson Bay route, which has been exa-
mine i and reported practicable by the Canadian Government,
which would further reduce the cost of transit to this country
by another half.

But -mother not unimportant element which onr friend loses
sight of is the relative yield of grain per acre. In Minnesota,
Dakota, and Wisconsin, which are admitted to be the best
wheat-producing portions of the States, the average yield of
wheat is 20 bushels per acre, whereas in Manitoba and the
north-west the average is 35 bushels of superior quality, and
that with the same expense as is incurred in getting 20 bushels
in the States.

Regarding cattle raising, it is unequalled for this purpose.
^ou will see here cattle which work in carts all day, aud have
only a few hours at night to feed on the prairie grass, in excel-
lent condition, and a man witli a mower can cut from 12 to
15 tons of hay per day, which makes excellent winter feeding
for cattle. As to schools, 4c., it is well known with wha"
rapidity such conveniences spring up in Western conntries, and
in two or three years Manitoba will have all those advantages
claimed for Kansas aud Nebraska, hi Canada you do not
require to travel with a loaded revolver in your pocket,
and have no fear of being massacred by Indiaus, as in the'
States, where such things are of daily ociurrence.

G

8;

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

COLORADO.

The best country for British farmers to emigrate
to is, at the present time, a question of great
importance. Not only is the evidence on the subject
conflicting, but it is rare to obtaiu any impartial
evidence at all. Emigration agents are all special
pleaders, and their representations are highly
coloured and often very deceptive, as many unfor-
tunateEnglishmenhave found to their cost. Norcan
the reports of the farmers' delegates recently
returned from Oanadabe received without suspicion
— not necessarily of bad faith, but of bias, perhaps
unconscious. These delegates were sent out at the
expense of the Canadian Government, generously
treated during their travels, and, worse still, shown
what it was desired to show them, and probably
kept from seeing what it was wished that they
should not see. Moreover, they visited Canada. in
the most delightful period of the year, and the late
autumn in that country was even more charmingly
fine than usual. Therefore, with the best inten-
tions, it is almost impossible for them to give
trustworthy reports of the advantages and dis-
advantages of Canada as a field for British
emigrants. The Special Correspondents of the
Times, whose letters on the Canadian North- West
and the corn and cattle producing districts of the
United States have recently appeared in that
journal were interesting and instructive ; but we
should hesitate to declare our trust in their perfect
impartiality. When we get the report of Mr. Read
and Mr. Pell we shall feel sure of having the
impressions of those gentlemen as to what they
have seen ; but even in their case the flying
nature of their trip must leave a great deal to be
desired. How long we may have to wait for
their report we cannot tell. Mr. Read declined to
commit himself to the enterprising American
" interviewers," who tried to get at his views upon
what he had seen, on the ground that it was his
duty to reserve his impressions for the Commis-
sioners who sent him and his colleagues across the
Atlantic ; and the same reason may prevent any-
thing like a full account of his visit being published
until it is issued by order of the Commission.

We have now before us the report of another
British observer, in the form of an article on
Colorado, "the last-born State of the Union," in
the current number of the Fortnightly Review.
The writer is Mr. J. W. Barclay, M.P., whose
competency to give opinions upon a field for
farmer-emigrants uo one will doubt, and in whose
desire to serve the farmers of this country there is
every reason to feel confidence. As Mr. Barclay has
a stake in the prosperity of Colorado, we cannot say
that he is a disinterested witness ; but we believe
in his good faith entirely, and his interesting and
instructive article bears on its face the stamp of
honesty. The disadvantages of the State as an
agricultural country are shown, as well as its
advantages, and Mr. Barclay's description of both
tallies very closely with information which we
have received from another source. But what gives
us a more favourable impression of Colorado as a
country in which British capital may be invested
with a good prospect of protit, are the facts that,
fter careful inquiry and personal inspection, Mr;

Barclay chose that State as the one in which he
preferred to invest his own capital, and that his
good judgment has already been shown by a
remarkably speedy success.

Itis impossible for us to find spacein this column
for even a fair summary of Mr. Barclay's article,
which is full of facts and figures. With respect
to climate, we are told that " the thermometer some-
times falls low for a day or two in winter," but
that" owing to the extreme dryness of the air, the
cold is not so disagreeable as in our humid climate ;*'
also that " snow seldom lies on the ground for
more than a few days ; but frosts, sufficient to stop
ploughing, usually last for two months in the
year." That there cannot be much snow is shown
by the fact that the rainfall and snowfall together
only amount to from 12 to 10 inches a year. In
the hottest months the mean temperature is 75
degrees, the cool breezes from the mountains
keeping it from rising to the extent which the
latitude of the State might lead us to expect. The
dryness if the air is said to make the climate so
exhilerating that the country is much resorted to by
invalids. This dryness, however, is not without
its disadvantage. The rainfall is quite insufficient
for the growth of cereals, and it has to be supple-
mented by irrigation, which is carried out on a very
cheap and simple plan. A large portion of the State
is ouly suitable for cattle-raising, though whether
tLere is always sufficient water for the cattle or
not the article does not tell us. The Colorado Mort-
gage Company, of London, owns the largest of the
canals by means of which irrigation is carried out,
and sells land, with a right to water for irrigation
in perpetuity, at from 52s. to GOs. per acre, pay-
ment being taken in five instalments for the con-
venience of buyers. Settlers on the public lands
can buy water for £T per acre. Against the un-
doubted disadvantage of this need of irrgatiou, Mr.
Barclay sets the fruitfuluess of the soil, and the
exceptionally good home market for agricultural
produce. The soil and climate are suitable to the
productiou of all the crops grown in England and
others as well. As there is a large mining popula-
tion in Colorado.all kinds of farm produce sell well,
the State not growing enough for its own support.
Mr. Barclay tells us that, although a great future
awaits arable farming in Colorado, the greatest
profit at present is for the stock-keepers. " There
is,"' he says, " probably no part of the world where
a young man with a few thousands can employ
himself more agreeably or profitably than in rear-
ing cattle on the plains of Colorado and Wyoming,
or in the Parks of the Rocky Mountain ranges."
The agreeableness is a matter of taste ; of the pro-
fitableness Mr. Barclay cites some strong evidence
in proof. We must refer our readers to the article
for information on this and other matters of in-
terest. It is important, however, to notice the
conclusion that the writer draws from the capacity
for the development of cattle-breeding in Colorado
and other States of America, w-hich is that " it is
idle to imagine that the supply of American cattle
will become exhausted within any time that can
be mentioned in the proximate future." This quite
accords with what we have all along led our readers
to suppose. When time for the improvement of
•the cattle of the Western States has been allowed,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

83

we may expect a greatly increased supply of meat
from them.

We do not take upon ourselves the responsibi-
lity of advising farmers to go to Colorado ; bufc
we certainly recommend those who intend to settle
somewhere in the United States to pay that State
a visit. One great advantage of the States is that
they offer a great variety of climate, soil, and other
conditions, so that a settler who does not fancy one
State may readily try another. With the excep-
tion of New Zealand, and possibly of Tasmania also.
there is probablv no part of the world which at
the present time offers so many attractions to the
enterprising farmer as the Western States of
America.

We must beg to differ fi-om Mr. Barclay in one
lesson which he would teach us as the result of his
conclusion with respect to the increase of cattle-
breeding in the Uuited States. He saw good store
cattle in Colorado of about 1,400 lb. live weight,
which, he says, could be sent to Liverpool and sold
at a profit to all concerned for £'15 a-head, and
which when fattened would readily sell for £20
each. Hence he advocates the opening of our ports
to cattle from the Western States in which there
is no contagious cattle disease. He argues that
store cattle from these States could be sent to us
eta Canada without any danger, and that British
farmers would derive great advantage from such
importation. To follow Mr. Barclay's ad vice on this
point would be to upset all that has been done,
after very great efforts, to give proximate security
to our home-bred cattle from the invasion of foreign
disease. It is impossible to ensure the immunity
of any American State from disease for a single
month. The stimulus given to improved breeding
creates a new danger, as well-bred bulls will be
sent from the East to the West, and may carry
disease with them. Our cattle-breeding industry
in the United Kingdom is so vastly important that
its safety must not be imperilled for the sake of
supplying a comparatively few graziers with cheap
store cattle which, for a long time to come at any
rate, would be inferior to home-bred stores. Nor
has America a surplus of well-bred cattle to send
us at present, as the market reports, more than once
noticed by us during the past summer and autumn,
have conclusively shown. We want to encourage
breeding in this country, not to take a course which
might give it a death-blow. If security were
afforded to tenants' capital, we have no doubt that
breeding would greatly increase in this country,
and that cattle constitutionally fitted for early
maturity could be fed and tended from the weaning
time, with more profitable results than have at-
tended the happy-go-lucky system of getting stores
that has hitherto been prevalent amongst our
graziers. We do not say that all farmers can breed
cattle with profit ; but we do say that, given a
clean bill of health as far as the worst of cattle
diseases are concerned, and security for the im-
provements that a more extended system of breed-
ing and fattening would introduce, hundreds of
farmers who now do not breed at all might do so
with advantage, and many who breed only to a
small extent might breed more extensively. The
importation of stores would be ten times as dan-
gerous as that of fat cattle, and we hope that Mr.

Barclay will notobcain any considerable amount of
support amongst farmers in what appears to us a
mistaken and short-sighted policy.

FARMERS' ALLIANCES IN AUSTRALIA.

From the following remarks taken from the Australasian
it appears that farmer* in Australia are subjected to similar
criticism when they presume to look after their own interests,
to that which they are met with here. Farmers' unions con-
tinue to form a puzzling element in our political sphere, one
which the old professional politicians view as an impertinent
intrusion. The idea of any class of the colony preferring to
take its representation and the care of its interests into it8
own hands, instead of entrusting them to the political loafe'
of the Reform Leagues, is looked upon as flat rebellion. Mr.
Berry the other day, at tlie Chines show, remarked in a
patronLing way that " Gatherings like the present were the
best of farmers' unions that could possibly taka phce," mean-
ing not the best for the farmer, but the best lor the salary-
hunting politician. Ban-Is of seeny, loifing adventurers may
assemble iu obscure meetings in d ngy suburbs and nomina'e
a number of barristers without brieis, schoolmasters without
school*, preachers without congregations, aud social failures
generally, as candidates for Parliament, but when the
farmers meet and talk about their claims, aud arrange to send
respectable men of t eir own class to represent them in tl
Legislature, there is a cry at once from those who live h
politics that their mystery is in danger. At the same tim«,
we do not know whether the farmers are not in greater pjril
of being misled by false frieuds than they are by open
e iemies such as Mr. Berry and his colleague'', who state their
hosilitv in plain terms. Thus we find Mr. Casey the other
day addressing the Barnedown Farmers' Union with the
familiar parrot talk that they " must have nothing whatever
to do with politics, neither free trade nor protection, or they
wjuld inevitably go to the wall.'' But what are the politics
with which farmers must have nothing to do? They may,
Mr. Casey grsciouly concede^, ask for the abolition of duties
on their reapers and binders ; but may they not also complain
of those on their ploughs and harrows, their carts and harness,
their axes, spades, and scores of other implements ? And if
not, why ? Again, if tl ey may demand the abolitiou of
duty on these things, why may they not ask it on clothes and
furniture, and anything else which they may consider unfairly
hurdened ? At what, point does a demand of this kind
become political ? Moreover, is it only the farming class
that are torbidden to touch politics with a view of protecting
their own interests, — a prohibition which is never extended
to the miner?, manufacturers, or artisans ? We should be
glad if n*-xt time Mr. Casey chooses to talk this clap-trap
phrase he would condescend to explain it, aud show by what
arguments, if any, he is able to justify it.

A NEW MANUFACTORY.— An increase of mannfa-
to'ies implies enlarged prosperity to a town, for it brings mo
resident working men, who are important customers to tradf
men, ready money being the basis of the transactions of m<
of them. We, therefore, have great pleasure iu noticing ti
recent introduction of a manufactory in Bedford, by Messrs.
T. Bowick and Co., corn merchants, &c, for the preparation of
the newly patented articles, ' The Patent Botanic Flavourer,'
and 'The Patent Farina.' Already large consignments
have been made to France and other places,
a'ld the most flattering reports upon them have
been ma^e through various sources, including Land and
Waier. With such favourable results attending these patented
preparations, Messrs. Bowick and Co. found it necessary to
ensure the best possible steam power, and about a fortnight
ago a very fine engine was fixed atthe manufactory in Hofrae
Street, by Messrs. Barrows and Stewart, of Banbury. This
engine was specially manufactured for and exhibited by the
engineers at the la*e Kilbnrn Show of the Royal Agricultural
Society of England. It is to be hoped that the introduction
of the Holme Street works may be the advent of the establish-
ment of several other manufactories in our town. — Bed/or
shire Herald.

84

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

RESULTS ON THE NEW LAW ON
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

There has recently been published an official report by Mr.
T. H. Farrer, of the Board of Trade, concerning the proceed"
in"8 vf hich have been taken under the Weights and Measures
Act that was passed in the session of last year, and was, it
may be remembered, mainly a consolidation measure, and lelt
the law as it th< n existed substantially unaltered. " Some
anxiety," he says, " has been since ex; ressed lest the provisions
of the new Act would interfere with common and long-estab-
lished practices, and thus cause serious inconvenience.'' Ex-
planation was given of the true character ol the Act, and the
Board of Trade are not aware that any such inconvenience
has arisen.

Many applications have been made to the Board of Trade
by local authorities and other* for legal advice as to the con-
struction of the Act, but this they have felt it necessary
generally to decline to gve. Wheu, however, cases arise in
which the Board have no distinct legal anthority to give an
opinion, but in which their experience may be of use to the
local authorities or others, either in explaining the Act, or in
giving information as to the practice of the department, or as
to the practice in other parts of the country, the local autho-
rities or their officers are invited to communicate personally
snd verbally with the officer in charge of the Standards Office
(7, Old Palace Yard), and, if necessary, with the assistant
tecrelary or secretaries of the Board. " In this manner," says
Mr. Farrer, " it may be possible to give really valuable help
to local authorities, and at the same time to avoid unauthorised
iuterfeieuce. Carefully managed the office may become a
centre, through the means of which the experience and prac-
tice ol different districts may be placed on record, communi-
cated, and harmonised." On their own part the Board have
felt it necesary to obtain the opinions of the law officer* of
the Crown, who were in one iustauce asked whether it was

Imperial yard of bronze : and analyses of the metals o<ed
have been made by the oil c rs of Her Majesty's Mint. Wh<n
the verification of these Parliamentary copies may have been
approved it is proj osed that they should be placed in a fire-
Tesistiug chest in the basement of a building at the rear of
the Standards' office, known as the Jewel Tower. Standard*
of a primary or scientific character have also been verified fur
the use of the United States, for India, Queensland, Mel-
bourne, Ad- n, for the Comite International des Poids et
Mesures, and for somp municipal corporations.

Since the passing of the Act of 1878 many local authori-
ties have had their standards officially re-verifitd. Duiing
the year ended 12th of August, 1879, there have been ex-
amined 5.07S local standards. The average number of such
standards has not hitherto exceeded 2,315. So large an in-
ciease in the number of these re-verifications is latisfactory
evidence of the desire of the local authorities to maintain
their weights and measures in conformity with the imperial
standards. All local standards when officially verified or re-
verified are now stamped in auch a mauner as to show the
date of such verification or re-verification.

In the two last reports some information was given as to
the prac ice in this country and abroad with respect to the
different kinds of gauges used in various trades in measuring
the diameters of wires and the thickness of plates or sheets of
metal. The question was also adverted to of establishing iu
this country a standard gauge for use in all trades, or one by
which the various gauges of manafaclurers might be verified.
The question is one 1o which the Board of Trade are prepared
to give a favourable consideration as soon as they are further
informed on the snhj»ct.

During the year several local authorities have laid down

for public use standard measures of the chain, pole, yard, foo%

j and iuch. The accuracy of such public standards has been

; officially verified, and they are placed in pron.inent and

accessible positious in the several localities. " Every

le-al to quote iu price lists the denominations "reputed i portant town," Mr. Farrar remarks, " might well be supplied
quart" and "reputed pint." They advised that although of j with such standards, and by them anyone may at once without

course there might be a sale by reputed measure which would
be contrary to the Act, yet that a sale of so many bottles of
wine reputed as quart and piut bottles respective was not a
Bale by measure. The law officers were further of opinion that
reputed bottles can be legally used in trade, and that it is legal
to quote in price lists the denominations " reputed quart" and
" reputed pint."

The Report refers to an Order in Council having been
issued legalising a new standard called the cental, and it states
that there is required for use in trade, particularly in the Bale
of coke, a measure of four bushels. The Board have, there-
fore, given diiections for tho preparation of a standard
measure of four bushels. They propose to submit such new
denomination of measure when completed for the approval of
her Majesty in Council.

Every weight or measure used in trade is required by law to
be stamped by an inspector. The inspectors have hitherto
uae.d the design of stamp approved by their local authorities,
every local authority having its own particular design. This
great variety of design of stimp has not only rendered it
d flicult for an inspector to see whether a weight or measure
has been duly stamped by a local authority, bur it has also
exposed tradesmen to the penal consequent s of the law, and
encouraged the fraudulent and negligent practices of itinerant
and unauthorised adjusters. Unless a trader or an inspector
knows the design of stamp used in every district of inspection
(ol which there are 1,355) he cannot say whether a weight or
measure is a legal one or not. It was therefore thought
desirable to call the attention of each local authority to the
great advantage which would obviously result :rom the adop-
tion of a uniform design of stamp of verification throughout
the United Kingdom, and the design of a crown surmounting
the letters " V. R." was suggested by the Board, the number
of each district of inspection being added to the design. Some
important local authorities, however, have, preferred to adhere
to their old design of stamp, which they consider distinctive
enough for practical purposes ; whilst others say that the
evils complained of, as so great a variety of stamps will still
remain ouly partially remedied unless every loc;.i authority
adopts a unilorm stamp.

With regard to the verification of Parliamentary copies of
the Imperial standards the lleport inloims us that the copy of
the Imperial pound is made of platinum, and the copy of the

fee or inquiry, ascertain the accuracy of his measures. '
Attention has been called, he adds, to the advantages that
might attend the establishment of public weighing machines
or scales for the verification of the weights of small parcel*
(as groceries, letters, &<•.) in a correspondence laid before
Parliament in March last. Such machines, it is suggested,
might Le in the public streets, accessible to ever) body and
gratuitous. They would, it is further suggested, probably
become available, under local supervision, for use in checking
t lie accuracy not only of parcels but also of the weights them-
selves, and might thus afford to the tradesmen a ready means
for maintaining the accuracy of his own weights and scales.
The more extended use of public weighing machines for
heavy goods (as sacks of coal and potatoes) is much to be
desired. The Board of Trade have, however, no power to
cause such machines to be put up. This, if done at all, most
be done by the proper local authorities.

Representations have been made as to a want of uniformity
in the systems of weights and measures used in trades, and
that the customs of particular trades apparently hinder the
adoption of uniform weights and measures, as the custom of
buying by one kind of weight (.., avoirdupois) and selling
by another (as troy). It is stated also that the increase of
competi'ion has sometimes rendered it difficult to carry out
the law. Thus in some districts there is a practice of buying
by heaped roea>ure (coke, fruit, &c.) and selling by strike
measure ; of buying by the '"long ton " (2,352ib.) and selling
by the Imperial ton (2,2±0Ib). The stroug attachment to
ancient usages is particularly shown in the scales of fees and
port dues lonnerly authorised to be taken at some of the
harbours on our coasts. These fees or dues are levied by
weight and measure, as well as by tale and bnlk, on the goods
brought into the harbours. The weights and measures used
are not only those particular to a locality, but in many case*
are those customary in ancient times in other countries having
business with these harbours. — Standard,

REDUCING THE ASSESSMENT OF LAND.— The
Newark Guardians recently resolved to instruct the Assess-
ment Committee to reduce the assessment of agricultural land,
in accordance with the reduced value of such land, brought
about by the depression of agriculture.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

85

PROTECTION IN THE UNITED STATES
AND AUSTRALIA.

The Melbourne Argus says i —

We are indebted to Mr. James Howard, of Bedford,
Englanl, president of the Agricultural Engineers' Association
in the mother country, for a copy of The report presented to
the Governor of Iowa, U.S., by the Hon. W. R. Smith, com-
missioner from that state to the Paris Exposition of 1878.
It is a document which we commend to the careful attention
of the farmers' unions in this colony. Iowa is an agricultural
and stock-raising state, about thirty years old, comprising an
area of 35,228,000 acres, and it contained iu 1870 a popu-
lation of 1,194,020 ; but it is badly cultivated, owing in part
to the. very reasons which retard husbaudry in this colony,
namely, the dearness of agricultural implements and machinery
which has resulted from protection. Tlie state commissioner in
Paris felt it to be part of his duty to compare the British and
American articles of this kind exhibited at the Exposition, and
he unhesitatingly awards the palm of superiority to the former
for variety, style, finish, general excellence, and economy of
cost. He says, " There is no class of English engineers more
enterprising and go-ahead than the agricultural engineer,"
and he adds that " by excellent judges it is thought that their
ihrashiug-machines and portable engines are superior to any-
thing of American manufacture ; " while a? regards the artistic
character and finish of English ploughing, he observes that
" it makes you feel as if ploughing was a high art in that
country, and no doubt they would regard our performance in
that Hue as quite the reverse."

A ter describing the ploughs of Messrs. J. and F. Howard
as " combining the best form, the least weight, the greatest
strength and lightest draught, and utmost simplicity of parts,
with a capacity to do just the kind of work required," the
ci mmissioner pn ceeds to indicate the causes of the in'eriority
of American t.tiplen eut* and machinery for farming purposes
to those of Great Britain, in the following words :—

"The British agriculturist is not only highly favo ired in
being supplied with agricultural implements of the most
improved patterns of British manufacture, but through their
system ot competition open to all the world, have the choice
ol the very best, in their own or any other country, while
American agriculturists are restricted, and deprived of the same
jrivilege, through our persistent policy of "national pro-
tection,"' so-called, which, when reduced to its last analysis,
seems only to mean a combination of those manufacturers
interested in procuring through legislation ' special privi-
leges," and which, by a curious perversion of language, we. are
wont to call a ' tariff for the protection of home interests.'
But by it these manufacturers are enabled to keep from the use
of the American farmer everything of foreign manufacture in
the line of implements of husbandry, and frequently other
articles of prime necessity for family use. Prohibitory laws, or
a tariff, which amounts to the same thing, may be a very nice
and profitable arrangement for these few interested forty per-
cent gentlemen ; but, on the ot'ier hand, it is understood to
mean the exaction of a large tribute from an immense majority
of the American people, which in many instances amounts to
?n intolerable burden, and more especially when considered in
connection with the immense and constantly increasing agricul-
tural interests of the Great West."

Every word of the above will be fonud to be literally
applicable to the economic circumstances and fiscal policy of
this colony, and it comes with all the greater force from an
American, whose b:as would naturally be in favour of the
manufactures of his own country, and who is engaged in
writing an official document to be submitted to tli3 Governor
and Legislature of the state which commissioned him to proceed
to Paris.

In consultation with " one of the most practical, best-
informed, and liberal minds of England," concerning the
operation of protection in the United States, the Hon. W. 11.
Smith states that that geutleman expressed himself to the
following effect : —

" I have always considered, whatever may be the policy of
a country in respect of duties on machinery in general, that
implements used in the production of food for the people should
be regarded exceptionally, and not be subjected to duties which
may discourage the extension of their use or the introduction
of the best inventions from other countries, inasmuch as the

increase in the production of the Foil, consequent upon the use
of improved agricultural machinery, is a direct gaiu to national
wealth. In England we have, Ind a very instru '.tive example
upon the wisdom of the state not imposing duties upon
agricultural machinery. It is true that in consequence of free
imports, the English linkers have been subjected to a keen
competition from the United States in harvesting machinery,
but the effect of this competition has had a very bracing
influence on English manufacturers, and has enabled them to
meet American manufacturers in the other markets of the
world upon much more equal terms than would have been the
case had American machinery been excluded from the country
by a hoslile tariff. Our markets being open to American
manufacturers has induced them to establish depots for the
sale of their machinery in this country, and English makers
have thereby had from year to year the heat specimens
of American products brought under their immediate
observation."

The Iowa commissioner quotes, for the purpose of endorsing
the emphatic assertion of the same authority, that a great
deal of the agricultural machinery that is made in America is
very inferior to the English, esp cially thrashing-machines,
winnowing-machmes, portable engines, haymaking machines,
horse-hoes, harrows, scarifiers, chaff-cutters, and oil-cake mills ;
aud he attributes this inferiority to the benumbing influences
of protection. This also prevents the use of the steam-plough
in the United States, where it is " all but unknown." Some
thousands of them are iu use in Great Br'taie, but a 40 per
cent, cu-toras duty debars their admission into American ports,
except at a ruinous cost. The Hod. W. 11. Smith concludes
his report in these words : —

" Instead ol agriculture, the great permanent source ot our
national wealth, being retarded and made subsidiary by adverse
legislation, it should receive the attention of the best state-
craft trained and most eulighteu'd minds of the country iu
promoting its advancement in every possible way. Our
legislators should be required to provide that kiud of legislation
which will most surely foster those great natural advantages
we possess, and thus secure our ascendancy in this respect
above the nations of all other lands and c'imes, with the
satisfactory assurance thai in the ratio of its enlargement aud
success all classes of our people, without reference to their
pursuits, will reap the benefit."

We are quite sure that sentiments like these will fmd an echo
in every farmers' union iu Victoria.

NOT MINDING HIS OWN BUSINESS.— There was a
herdsman driving a hundred head of sheep or more down
Mineral Springs Avenue. They went alo»g as sheep always
do — first a steady little plod, then a clumsy canter like a
wooden rocking-horse, aud now altogeth-r in a mammoth
wad of animated wool. There, was a good-natured man with
an umbrella in his hand standing near the fence and waitiug
for the disorganised herd to approach. He thought he had
better lend a baud, and so he. rushed iu front of the ilo<:k and
waved his umbrella as a sceptre of authority. The result of
this generalship was that the sheep rushed pell-mell into a
schoolyard just as the scholars, like a 11 >ck of human sheep,
were pouring out for a recess. In one minute urchins ami
lambkins were hopelessly mixed and intermingled. There was
first a sheep and then a boy, next a girl and then a lamb,
while the man, the, over-ollicious and superserviceable chap,
who hal turned away the ilock from the turnpike, was le.lt
alone between the swaying and surging flock and the school-
house. Him an aged aud petuiant male member of the ilock
marked for immediate and condign punishment, and upon
lim this horned and woolly Nester of the flock charged
furiously. The man shut his ejes and opened his umbrella,
but of no avail, for through the umbrella covering the
creature crashed liko a circus rider through the papered hoop.
Iu wild dismay the man look to his heels, and then old Nester
sent him sprawling in advance of his flock ; and before he
could regain his feet the flock fell back iuto single file and
each sheep went scampering over him. It was teu minutes
before the last sheep had gone over him, aud then he arose,
shook the bits of broken watch-crystal out of his pocket,
picked up the rim of his hat, and hobbled away, remarking
" After all, I kinder rcckoa the best bu -"iness a man ever stuck
to is hisoAU business aud pobody clsc't,"

83

THE FARMER'S 'MAGAZINE.

agricultural arable ^Talfc.

<•-

Sir Charles pu C'axe, chairman of the Board of Customs,
at liia rent audit in Essex nude an abatement of 15 per c*nt.
up n the half year's rent. At a dinner which followed the
amit, Sir Charles spoke at some length on the condition and
pr ispects of agriculture. 11- said tha', owing chiefly to an
unvonUd succession of bad seasons, combined of late witn
the enormous importations of wheat Irotn America, the
ag-icultural interest was passing through a period of cepres-
sio i — perhaps without a parallel in the present century.
Wi h a succession of good oid-fashione'l, bounteous harvests,
he was convinced the p ospects of ag-iculture would assume a
far more cheerlui hur. li<u witnout them the present state of
things must continue, even il far worse, did not ensue. He
trusted that under Providence, the severe winter we were now
having might be the herald of a new cycle of seasons alto-
gether. He conld not believe that we were never again to
have warm summers and good harvests. If the whole course
of nature was to be so changed, God help our country ; for
we should become entirely dependent on foreign sources for
the staff of life, and in the event of tlio-e sources being cat off
by war, or any other cause, we should be liable to be devoured
by famine. With regard to importation from America, there
was no doubt it was a matter for very serious consideration,
and if we were certain that it would be permanent it must
eventually tend to bring ah >ut something like a revolution in
the system of English farming. It must be remembered,
however, that tins great American importation had been due
not merely to unusual abundance of yield.in that country, but,
even in a greater degree, to extreme cheapness, of freight.
He thought they ought not to give way to panic, hut to meet
the crisis as manfully as I he J could, to try all they could to
pull well together, and to stand by each other. That was the
spirit in which he hud endeavoured to meet his teuants this
autumn. He hoped also thai his tenantry would remember
that when the greater part of them hired their farms they did
so with the uhdersNii'iing that a certaiu amount of game
existed aud would be kept up upon them, and that now ail
that game had vanished — vanished, indeed, so completely
that he had literally this year been obliged to buy game lor
his own table, and to pay fir food for the foxes reared in his
own coverts, because he had not a rabbit left to give them,
lie thought it was by concessions of this kind and by not
hampering his tenant] wit.i vexatious covenants and restric-
tions as to the management of their farms, so long as it was
evident that they were (arming well and doing justice to the
land, that the present crisis was to be met, and, as he sincerely
trusted, tided over. Sir Charles, in conclusion, framed his
tenantry not to inculge in any dream of the possibility ol
reverting to the old system of protection, so long as the great
mass of the consuming portion ot the population were arrayed
against i% and hoptd that the revival of trade in this COnntTJ
would prove to be of a permanent character, since its got (1
effects would be felt by all classes. The speech was frequently-
applauded by the company.

At the dinner of the Druids of Oxford on Thursday, J«n. 1
S r W. Ilarcourt, M.P., said : — In this capital of an important
rural district we cauuot be indifferent to the agricultural dis-
tress by which we are surrounded. We must profoundly
sympathize with that, which we can do little to alleviate ; but
I think you must all have observed that when we ourselves or
our friends are suffering from some severe malady there is no
consolation so effectual as the assurance that others at different
times have experienced the same trials and have completely
recovered from them. This consolation, at least, we may
offer to our agricultural friends iu their distress. My atten-
tion was called to the condition in which the agriculture of
this country found itself in 1835 by a conversation I had some
years ago with our venerable and venerated friend, Mr. Henley.
He told me that he recollected at that period larms were
allowed to go out of cultivation brciuse their produce would
not suffice to pay the rates. Remembering that conversation,
I have taken pains to nuke myself acquainted with the history
of those limes. In 1833 a committee of the House ol Commons
was appointed to inquire into the distressed coudition of the
agricultural interest. The pric* of wheat was then 56s, per
quarter. Tilings weut from bad to worse. Iu 1S35 wheat

had fallen to 36s. a quarter. Remember that was
in tie days ot protection and of lov wages. So
urgent was the distress of the agriculturists that a
great ommittee was appointed, composed of all the
most emineut men in the House ol Commons, to inquire into
the distress and, if possib'e, to devise a remedy. It included
Lord John Russell, Sir H. Feel, Sir JJames Graham, Lord
Howies, Sir William Molesworth, Mr. Siloey Herbert, and
Mr. Bingham Bariue. They took evidence, which it con-
tained in two lar^e folio volumes. That evidence reveals a
state of things which is certainly not surpassed — I think not
equalled — by the present complaints. Oae of the principal
wi nesses came to testify as to the condition of agricul ure in
the neighbouring county of Bucks. His name was Mr. Rolfe ;
he was a taraier and a land valuer in the parish of Beacons-
field, and this is wrut he said: — " If I were ctlled upon to
speak of trie clay laud in Bucks I should sav it would bear no
rent. I know no land that will bear rent at present prices.
Tne lieht lands will be thrown oit of cultivation. We shall
be all begg irs together." That was the story from Bucks.
From CambiJgeshire the witnesses said they would not farm
land rent-free. From Line dnshire it was said the farmers
" would be gl\d to change conditi ;n with their labourers.''
In Essex it was stated that " the small farmers were paupers."
I think I am right in stating that things are not
worse than that now. But what was the cause of that
distress in the year 1335 ? It was not free trade, for there was
no free trade then. It was not American competition — ■
Anerican wheat was not in the English market. The first
witness (Mr. Jacob, the Controller of CornR-turns) said that
the cause of ihe distiess " was a succession of superabundant
harvests," and another witness affirmed that the ruin of the
farmer was "due to the bounty of Heaven in two or three
good harvests." After tikiug this voluminous evidence the
committee came to a wise conclusion, for, indeed, they were
composed of wise men ; they determined to make no repirt.
And if the Royal Commission wh'ch has been recently ap-
pointed should take the same course I think they will prob-
ably consult their own reputation an I the iuterests of agricul-
ture— I might even perhaps add, they would not greatly
disappoint the expectations of their authors. Wei1, S.r,
though this wis the condition, the deplorable condition, of
the agricultural interest in 1835, and though the Committee
o' 1836 declined to make a report, the agricultural interest
rcovered, as most pa'ients suffering from severe maladiis
generally do wh°n they are in the hands of s^gscious prac-
titioners, principally by being left alone. The. agricultural
interest has nothing to dread except from the nos'rums
o" quack doctors. Sufferers fio-n immediate pain are
apt to grasp at the first prescription that is offered
to them, but if auy man endeavours to persuade the
firmers that it is high wages and free trade which have
ruined them, 1 will ask them to investigate, as I have
done, the history of the 30 years which preceded the repeal of
the Coru Laws in 18±5, and the 30 years which followtd
that repeal, and they will fiod that while the latter period w .s
one of general agricultural prosperity, the lormer was one
of almost c mtinual agricultural depression. Do not let
me be nnderstood to express the opinion that there is nothing
to be done for the improvement of the c mdition of agriculture
in this country. What I am warning you against is only the
specifics which are expiced to operate an instant c ire. I
believe that there is much to be done to improve the laws
affecting land, but those are changes which can only gradually
o erate. At this very table six years ago, when lor a brief
period I was a law ullioer of the Crown, I stated at length my
view of the evils as to the present law of settlement. I will
not repeat them now. I believe that in the severe competition
to which English agriculture is and will continue to bi exposed
there are two gieat objects to be arrived at — the first, absolute
freedom of cultivation to the farmer and security of the capital
he employs ; the second, absolute freedom of disposition to
the owner of land. Wrhen you enter upon an athletic contest
the. first thing you do is to disembar. ass yourself of everything
that may constrain the freedom of your action. There was a
time when a stiff stock and pipeclay were, thought essential to
the discipline of the British soldier. We have got rid of that
at last, and for my part, in the arduous struggle in which they
are embarked, I desire to divest the agricultural interest of the
stock and the pipeclay with which the land laws of Euglaud
still cripple their energies.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

87

ANNUAL REPORT ON MANURES, SEEDS,

AND OILCAKE.

Nitrate of Sod.v. — Tliis article was affected by the revival
of speculation in the produce markets in October last, which
were excited to a degree which has not been witnessed for 25
years. Small imports, an increased demand for " Chemicals,"
and the unprovoked war levied by Peru against Chili have also
largely contributed to a most important rise in prices. The
quotation in January was 13s., in May 14s., in August
14s. 9d., and in the beginning of the present month, 19s. 3d.,
since receded to 18s. 3d., and is to-day at 19s. for the best
quality, at which the market closes rirm. The stock on the
16th inst. was 73,000 bags and 18s. 3d. against 154.000 and
13s. in 1878, and 146,000 bags and 15s. 3d. in 1877. It is
rumoured the contractors with " Penniless" Peru purpose to
advance the price of Peruvian guano ; whether they do or not
we thiuk that pho«phatic guano will sell more readily during
the ensuing season than it did in the past. The import iuto
the U. K. for the 11 months ending November 30th, were
52,900, against 63,690 tons at the same date of 1878. Within
the last few days several afloat cargoes sold at 18s. 7^1. to
19s. for the U. K. Consumers must not forget that the market
is controlled by speculators and importers, and though the
price, 19s., may de deemed high, yet we have known it at 24s.
and 25s., when under the power of a monopolist.

Superphosphate of Lime. — In the spring of 1878 our
quotations for J superphosphate of lime where challenged by
a correspondent of the Chamber of Agriculture Journal, who
alleged that they were 30s. per ton below the market price.
We immediately respandei by offering to deliver a few thou-
sand tons at the prices quoted by us, and which were soon
recognised as the current cash market prices throughout the
kingdom. We may state that the consumption of super-
phosphate of lime is estimated at 500,000 tons per annum,
no>v a reduction of only £1 10s. per ton (a moderate visw of
the result of our action) has saved the agriculturists of Great
Britain the sum of one and a half millions sterling in the past
two seasons. Our action has therefore been followed by a
real palpable good. The consumption of this article during
the past season, though moderate, was in excess of general
expectations. Owing to the great advance in the price of
nitrate of soda and the high values of Peruvian guano, we
anticipate a largely increased demand for superphosphate
during the ensuing season. It is now deemed by many one of
the cheapest and most profitable of fertilizers. We have
berore referred to our successful efforts in reducing the price.
It was our intention at the close of last sea>on to relinquish
the sale ot it, but in compliance with numerous entreaties,
privately and also publicly addressed to us, we have, with
reluctance, been prevailed upon to continue it for another year.
Tl;ere has been a dull market throughout the year for mineral
phosphates. The supp'ies have been mainly derived from
Spain, Canada, and the United States.

For Iluer Plate bone ash, &c, there is an inquiry, and a
few cargoes recently disposed of at £5 on 70 base for the ash,
and £5 17s. 6d. to £6 for the cattle bonps. Bone dust at
£5 5s. to £6 15s., according to quality. Sulphate of ammonia
in request.

Seeds. — The value of linseed was <ully maintained in the
early part of the year, and an important change took place in
the autumn, when from various causes the price rose from
52s. 6d. in July to 56s. 6d. in Octoher for Bombay seed.
Further advances have since been made, and to-day's quota-
tions are 59s. 6d. to 60s. per 416 lb. for Bombay on the spot.
The important change in the autumn is to be attributed to an
■increased consumptive demand lor oil and cake. There is
little or no inquiry for American red cloverseed and prices are
therefore easier ; prime new Western to-day is 48s. to 50s.,
wi*h yearling of fair to good quality, at 43s. per cwt.

Oilcakes. — The import of decorticated co ton cake into
Liverpool during the year was 440,000 bags, against 344,000
in 1878 and 267,000 in 1877. At the beginning of the ^ear
the value of the best quality was £6 12s. 6d. to £6 15s., but.
declined to £0 2s. 6d. in February, and continued, owing to
abundant imports, at about that price until August, advanced
to £6 10s. to £6 15«. in Seotember and October, and is now
at £7 7s. 6d. to £7 10s. for prime and £7 2s. 6d. (or secondary ;
and to arrive withiu the next ten day*, prime quality is worth
£7 8s. 9J. to £7 10s., secondary £7 5s. The failure of the

hay crop induced specu!a'or», notwithstanding the low prices
current in the summer, to endeavour to further depress values
to enable them to purchase on more favourable terms in the
United States, and in this they partially succeeded. Aided by
tie foregoing cause and the high prices of Indian Corn the
demand has corresponded more closely to the, supply than in
the preceding year. In a former circular it was stated that
decorticated cottonseed cake is the cheapest feeding stuff im-
ported, that by a liberal use of it the landowners and culti-
vators of grass farms could successfully compete with the
Americans, but. the great majority of cultivators are inexcusably
ignorant ol its merits. That is the fault of the latter and not
of the former. We venture to repeat a suggestion offered in
our November circular of 1878 that owners of land should
make this article one of the test points as respects allowances
to tenants. For instance, that the occupier who habitually
uses it should have a larger allowance than the ignorant or
prejudiced person who does not. That would act as an
incentive to the skilful and bestir the slothful occupier. The
consumption is extending, and as the English farmer has now
to compete with foreign stock it is of overwhelming importance
to reduce the cost of production. Decorticated cottonseed
cake, in conjunction with another food, enables him to
accomplish that object. English linseed Cake of prime quality
was selling at £8 15s. in January last, now is worth £10 10s.,
with superior Western American, thin oblong, at £9 17s. 6d.
to £10 2s. 6d. The intrinsic values of thin oblong linseed
cake and American decorticated cottonseed cake are almost
identical ; yet, whilst the former is selling at £9 17s. 6d. to
£10, the latter is at £7 10s. ! We shall have arrivals of
prime quality, guaranteed pure, by three vessels from New
Orleans dorin ; the nest three weeks ; the parcels will be sold
ex quay ; to-day's price is £7 7s. 6d. to £7 10s., open for your
reply per return of post.

FIGHTING FITZGERALD.— He was under the middle
height ; " his person very slight and juvenile ; his counten-
ance extremely mild and insinuating. The existing taste for
splendid attire he carried to the utmost. The button and loop
of his hat, his sword-knot, and his shoe buckles were brilliant
with diamonds. His coat and vest were as rich as French
brocide and velvet could make them. He wore a muff on his
left arm, and two enamelled watches, with a multitude of seals
dangling from either fob." Another writer describes the muff
as " drawing the eye of the public by its uncommon size ; it
fell from his chin to his toes!" Indeed, his fondness for
glittering baubles and ul'ra-finery amount d to a passion. At
a later date, when his house at Torlough was sacked by a mob
of Castlebar, he estimated his loss, in jewels and embroidered
robes, at upwards of £20,000. Among the articles purloined
on that occasion he mentions—" a casquet containing a com-
plete set. ofdiamoud vest buttons, two large emeralds, a hat band
with five or six rows of Oriental pearls worth £1,500, a large
engraved amethyst, a gold watch and chain studded with dia-
monds, several other gold watches and seds, and a great num-
ber of antique and modern rings, gold shoe and knee buckles,
silver shaving apparatus, several pairs of shoe and knee buckles,
with £6,300 worth of other jewels. This diminutive, youth-
ful looking, and ornate Fitzgerald was pronounced " an effe-
minate little being" by those of his own sex who did not
know him. As to those who did—" He was so light, loppish,
and distinguished, none could think he was the man who had'
fought more duels than any other of his time." The dames,
without exception, pronounced him " a fascinating creature.''
Nor was the opinion confined to them. One who owed him
no goodwill, Sir Jonah Barrington, allows that "a more,
polished and elegant gentleman was not to be met with."
And the renowned " Dick" Martin, who met him pistol to
pistol and got the worst of the encounter, confessed the strong
impression made upon him by " the elegant and gentleman"
like appearance" of his antagonist. Even polished
Pans admitted iisplf supassed in all that was graeerul and
splendid by this extraordinary young Irishman. " Qui est c.e
seigneur ?" asked the Parisians of one another, on seeing him
for the first time. '■ D'on vient-il ? II n'est pas Frangois.
Quelle magnificence ! Quelle politesse ! Est-il possible qu'il
soit e'tranger ;" Let us now conceive this dazzling outside as
covering the best and boldest rider, the deftest swordsman
the surest shot, and the most leckless gambler of the day •
let us now conceive him with literary tastes, an author and a

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

patron of snthors ; with as much subtlety as daring; with
intensest prine of race and iuten-est Contempt for all that wis
vulvar ; and with a repnguance. t!>at was absolutely pa^siouate
foMhegross vices and carnalities and the course amusements
of his era— and we. shall have some, idea of what " Fighting
Fitzgerald " really was. One rveniup, «heu Fitzgerald was
qnittmg the theatre with Rowan, he enc untered Baggs in the
lobbv. There was a short hut sharp dilute between the
gamblers. In the end George Robert drew his glove over
Baggs's face, an insult to which Baggs replied by dashing his
hat in the other's eyes. Here the guard appeared and laid
hold of the. Major, while Fitzgerald slipped out and was driven
off by Rowan. Several days passed, Bagas remaining under
arrest and Fitzgerald finding shelter in Rowan's hotel. At
length the major was released, and it was arranged that the
parties should meet, on Austrian territory, in the vicinity of
Valenciennes, and fight the quarrel out. Baggs was to be
attended by a Captain O' Toole, and his opponent by a Mr.
Hodges, aud the parties wf re to ieave Paris on the same day.
The d*y came, and Baggs and bis second started as arranged.
Hodges did not appear, but sent his principal a note in which
he apprised him that he had just been seized by a severe
attack of gout, and could not move. A messenger was dis-
patched in the hope of arresting Baggs, but the major was
gone. Fitzgerald now appealed piteonsly to Rowan to save
his honour; and the latter, who had no desire to mix himself
with the affair, consented, though reluctantly, to act as
second. Here occurred a difficulty which, as Rowan signifi-
cantly remarks, explained the sudden attack of gout which had
prostrated Hodges — Fitzgerald had no money, and no means
of raising any. He drew a bill for £100, but nobody would
cash it until Rowan was induced to endorse it. Ultimately
the good-natured second had to pay the money. The pair set
off in pursuit of Baggs and O'Toole, and soon reached Valen-
ciennes. A suitable piece of ground was soon met with, and
the distance— eight paces— measured. Baggs knew too well
with whom he had to deal to let him have his pet distance,
five paces. When the parties were placed in position, Baggs
beckoned his second and whispered a few words. The next
moment O'Toole drew Rowau aside, and, apologising for the
remark, slid he had reason to think Fitzgerald was plaslrunne
—a word meaning padd-d or plated. What followed was
remarkable. Overhearing the remark, Fitzgerald threw off
his coat and vest, " exhibiting himself," wri'es Rowan, " to
our great astonishment, with his shirt tied round the body by
a broad ribbon, coitleur du rose, while two narrow ones closed
his shirt sleeves round the upper and lower joints of the arms."
George Robert gave an explanation of this which we omit.
It did not satisfy Rowan ; and it does not satisfy ourselves.
The major was afterwards examined to the same extent and
no further, though he invited Rowan, in his bluff, English
way, to " feel sir ; feel." The duel then went on. "Baggs
sank on his quarters," writes Rowan, " something like the
Scottish lion in the Royal arms, while Fitzgerald sfood as
one who has made a lounge in fencing. They fired together,
and were in the act of level ing their sec md pistols, when
Baggs fell on his side saying, " Sir, I am wouude I." " But
you are not dead !" said Fitzgerald. At the same moment he
discharged his second pistol at his fallen antagonist. Baggs
immediately startfd to his legs, and advanced on Fitzgerall, who
throwing his empty pistol at him, quitted his station and kept
a zigzag course across the field, Baggs following. I saw the
fi^h of Braggs second pistol, and, and at the same moment,
Fitzgerald lay stretched upon the ground. I was just in time.
to catch Baggs as he fell, after firing his second shot. lie
swooned from intense pain, the s:i all bone of his leg being
broken. Mr. Fitzgerald now came up, saying — " We are
both wounded let us loth wounded let us go back to our
ground — Such a prop' sal could not be entertained ;
and the wounded duellist — for Fitzgerald had
been hit in the thigh — were carried off the
field. " I rould not help asking him," adds Rowan, meaning
Gorge Robert, " bow he cime to fire his second nisto'. His
replv was : ' I should uot have doue it to any man but Baggs."
— Con/hill Magazine.

JUST GETTING UP H IS LA W.— A man with an unshaven
face and a meditative air climbed to the bar of the Jefferson
Market Police Court, yesterday, and said to his Honour .
'Look a here, I've got soraeihiug on my miud that's botherin'

me a heap, and I dropped in Ihinkin' as ho-* you might help
me out o it..' 'All right. Lei's hear it,' said the Court,
good-naturedly. 'Supposin' I was a feller that cracked bnnks
and broke open tills and knocked people on the bead for their
money — a regular out and out bad un, you know.' The Court
in surprise surveyed tie speaker from bead to foot. * Oh, you
needn't siz* me up,' the man interrupted : ' a white linen tie
may do service where a hemp bandage oughter be, and a
striped nlster may kiver a mnltitood o' sins. There's no
tellin.' So supposin' I was a bad egg of extrar quality and a-
puttiu' up a job to clean out a rich ole file's house when I sees
his darter and falls in love with her away up to the top of ray
hatband. Well, the gal kinder takes to me, and I'm a figgerin'
on reformin' and winnin' her and gettin' the ole mau's tin.
D'you see ? ' ' Quite clearly,' said his Honour. ' A very laud-
able purpose.' ' You bet,' the narrator complacently observed,
' But there's a hitch to ray happiness,' he went on, ' for I finds
out that the gal hankers after a luntura young feller with a
four-in-hand which his father has given him when he went
inter bankruptcy for the fi'th time, and the treacherous female
is a going' to give me the go-by. See ? ' The Court nodded
affirmatively. I ain't done nothin' agin the lor so far, eh ? '
" No, there is nothing that you have mentioned that could be
legally construed iuto a misdemeanour.' The man seemed
quite relieved, ' But I'm bound to get square with that team,'
he continued, * so one dark night I briugs my pals around,
and we climb up the fire escape and lays at the parlour win-
der when the young feller comes a lovin,' and when he and
the gal is together I bounces inter the room and gives it to.
him right and left with a ten-inch bowie knife, and we takes
all the jools we kin get hold of, and we set the house afire, and
I carries off the gal.' ' What do yon mean ? ' cried his
Honour, quite horror-stricken, 'Be careful what you say,
or — ' ' Oh, don't worry,' interupted the other, naively. -I
don't play a card without lookin' at ray hand. What I want
tu know is what all them offences is worth. Let's fisger.
How much fortakin' the jools?" 'Five years at the least.'
The man pondered for a moment. 'And the gal r" he then
asked. ' A "till heavier penally.' More profound reflection.
' And a-settin' the house on fire?' 'Imprisonment for life.'
' Atid a-knifin' the, young feller.' ' Hanging you fool. Are
you a lunatic to come here to tell me that? Do you seriously
mean to denounce yourself ?' '.Denounce! Ha, ha ! Why,
Jedge, you're cleau off the track. I was only supposin' all
that. You see, I've been on the road with a theatric^ com-
bination, and I'm a tbinkin' o' startiu' in business meself and
gettin' up a dramar. See ! But I'm a werry particklar man,
and though the piece is a goiu' to be a red-hot, blue-fire aud
blazes sensation, I want lots o' facts to bolster it up. I must
have the lor in the play dead straight, so I jest dropped in to
have a talk with you abont it. Now, supposin'—' But his
Honour interrupted. ' My nerves can stand a pretty stiff
strain,' he said, ' but if you put yourself iuto any more sueh
violent, hypothetical positions I'm afraid the illusiou will be
so perfect that I'll have to lock you up anyway. So get out
wnile you've time.' The meditative man looked at him r. -
proschfully, but grabbed hi* hat aud acted on the suggestion
all the same. — New Fori Heral.l.

CERES, THE RURAL QUEEN.— The kinglv preroga-
tives of cotton were stoutly asserted twenty to thirty )p;rs
ago. His domination of foreign exchanges was generally
acknowledged, and every other export of the farm was frowned
upon as plebeian and trivial. When, fifty-eight years ago,
20,000,000 dols. in cotton gave the nation credit aoroad, the
foreign shipment of grain was wcrh only one-fourth as much.
In 1S50 cotton exports had reached a value of almo:-t
72,000,000 dot-., whi!e breadotuffs, at a slower rate of
increase, represented only 13,500,000 dols. Iu ten years more,
cotton, grown imperial in his manners, swollen with the. im-
portance of 192,000,000 dols. in foreign exchange, looked
contemptuously upon the slow aud sure advance of breadstnffs
to the paltry sum of 24,000,000 dols. How stands no* the
race of the agricultural bare and tortoise? Cotfon has not
declined, for the average value of its exports for teu years
past exceeds the boasted revenue of 1860, but the grain
exports of the fiscal year 1879 make the princely sum of
210,355,528 dols., greater by 48,051,273 dols. than the value
of cotton exported in the same time. All hail to Ceres the
Queen ! — New Fork Tribune.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

S9

TAXATION AND THE LANDOWNERS.

" One who helps to carry a Bigger Mao oo his Back '
writes to the Daily News : — What with bad trade aud a
spirited foreign policy., we are likely to have heavy bills to
meet both for rates aud taxes, aud it behoves us to see that
the burden is fairly apportioned* What edifying discourses
have been made on the immorality of objecting to church-rates
aud tithes, on Ihe ground that Droperty was bought and sold
subject to them I But how seldom do we hear of the feudal
tenure uuder which the ancestors of our great landed pro-
prietors were compelled practically to maintain the array, the
relinquishment of which nobis obligation never seems to afflict
the couscieuces of their descendants? If, as we are olten
told, land only pays 3 per cent,, it most decidedly has its ad-
vantages no less in the security of the capital than in that
■"influence" which obtains for great landowners a certain
compensation through the complaisauce of those authorities
whose duty it is to regulate the incidence of local burdens.
In presenting to your readers the folio wiug comparison between
different assessments, I make my own case serve as one side
of the illustration, not because it is at all exceptional, but be-
cause I have the tacts at command, i may remark that the
actual amounts are immaterial; the point is tlieir relative
proportion. In the area of rating in which I reside there is a
nobleman's mansion, worth at least £100,000 but for the pur-
pose of comparison I will value it at £80,000. This is
assessed on a rateable value of £190 per annum. My own
hamble abode is worth £3,000, and is rated on £79 5s. 6d.
Now by the application of the "Rule of three," it appears
that if my assessment is correct — and I do not complain of it
— ray noble neighbour's assessment is one applicable to a pro-
perty wonh £7,190 instead of .£30,000 ; but if, on the other
hand my noble neighbour's assessment is a right and proper one,
it follows that I ought to be assessed on a rateable value of
£7 iJs. 6d-, which, I think, would be considered to represent a
somewhat mean and paltry contribution to the various and
imcreasing purposes of local taxation. In fact, I am rated
about eleven times higher in proportion to value. If the noble
proprietor leaves his mansion empty for ten mouths out of
twelve, it is hardly to the pecuuiary advantage of the neighbour^
hood> The injustice of the thing becomes far more serious
and apparent when it is considered that the assessment of
income tax under Schedules " A" and " B" is made on pre-
cisely the same unequal basis. I am told it is impossible to
estimate a rental for such a mansion as I refer to ; but the
Act distinctly implies that a rental is so estimated, and I am
inclined to think that my noble neighbour would regard with
considerable scorn an offer of (say) £200 per annum for his
beautiful residence and grounds, should he ever wish to let
them. However, the difficulty of estimating a rental does net
exist in the case of the walled fruit-and-vegetable gardei s
connected with the mansion ; these comprise about nine acre ,
and contain vineries and greenhouses worth about £3,000,
besides three gardeners' dwellings. The whole ol this is rated
on .£15 7s. lOd. per annum, and could be easily led, as a
market garden, for £200 ; whilst my uninfluential self has to
pay on a rateable value of £12 per annum tor three similar
cottage?, without a bit of garden belongiug to them. It mav
be said, " Why not apply to your assessment committee?"
Curiously enough, some of its humbler members are actually
themselves complaining, and want some one to " bell the cat"
for them. I believe that a notice in your columns would not
only bring to light similar cases of injustice, but help to
stimulate the county magistrates, and other " influential "
gentlemen who sit on assessment committees, in the exercise
ot their quasi judicial functious. Some orchard ground in the
same union is rated at £7 per acre, and garden ground, with
vinery, at £20 per acre.

THE RAINFALL OF 1879.— The Times says (hat during
the past twelve mouths the yield of rain aud Bnow amounted
to 33in., which is morethan,9in. in excess of the average of the
same period, and is some 3in. over the depth registered in 1878.
More than a third of the total quantity fell during the months of
June, July, and August. In each of these months the amount
was above 4in., the highest monthly total for the year being
4 88in. in August. For the last quarter very little has fallen,
the yield only reaching 2 25in. Tlie smallest monthly fall was
070in. in September, and the largest amount in 24 hours was
that of T78in , which occurred during the niyht o'. May 28-29.

AMERICAN DAIRY PRODUCE.

Professor Willard, of New York, delivered a lecture in that
city on December 12 before the American Agricultural Asso-
ciation, on ■" The Dairy : its Profits and Prospects." Referring
to the co-operative system in that State, he said that in 1874
New York had 1,139 of these co-operative factories, at which,
more than 23,000 farmers were delivering the milk of 308,35 J
■cjw*. As the factories of New York have been considerably
increased since IS?-*, it is estimated that at least 30,0.00
farmers and as mauy farms are now identified with the dairy
interest. The dairy conventions, which for sixteen years have
had remarkable sway, are an outgrowth of the ca-operative
system. These have stimulated inquiry and a desire for im-
provement. At Little Falls more than 25,000,000 lb. of
cheese from the factories annually change hands, and at the
Utici Board of Trade much more. For the last twenty years,
or up to 1S79, dairying of all kinds lias been very remunera-
tive. American dairymen have a foreign market for all their
surplus. The annual consumption of cheese in England is
estimated at 501,000,000 lb. The British make has been
estimated at 312,000.000 lb., and is now, according to
Professor Sheldon, 282,000,000 lb., leaving 222,000,000 lb.
as the annual amount required to supply the Euglish demand
for consumption. For the year 1878 American cheese exports
amounted to 131,000,000 lb., while the Canadian exports,
during the same time were about 42,000,000 lb. The
import of cheese into England from Holland and other
countries on the Continent was not far from 64,000,000 lb ,
making a total of 9.40,000,000 lb., or 18,000,000 lb. more than
is ordinarily required in Great Britain for a free consumption.
In view of these figures, it became plainly evident a year ago
that the surplus cheese of 1878 carried over to the spring of
1&79 must sell at low prices, making a loss to holders. It is
now estimated that the make of English cheese, owing to the
bad season, is one-quarter less this year than that, of 1878,
showing a decrease of 70,000,000 lb. The American and
Canadian crop, it is believed, will fall short 50,000, 'J00 Ik
from that of 1878. This total decrease of 120,000,000 lb. is
good reason for the recent advance in prices. Whatever may
be the disposition of the crop ol 1879, it can hardly be
expected that the cheese crop of 1880, in ordinary circum*
stances, can be marketed at much above 7 cents. The turn iu
the Fall trade has influenced dairymen to keep full herds, and
it will stimulate an extension of business in new districts,
especially in Canada, which has become a formidable compe-
titor for the English trade. The cattle aud dead meat ocean trade
will also exercise some influence on the price of cheese. The
best brands of American cooked corned boneless beef, put up
in tins, sold in London at 50s. per 100 lb.; Australian mutton
iu tins af od. per lb. ; and American bacon at 44s. to 40s. per
cwt. ; while secondary American cheese is quoted at 52s. to
54s. per cwt. The maintenance of such high rates on cheese
would drive consumption upon meats. The real prosperity of
American dairymen is not to be promoted by high prices.
Low prices mean the reduction ot the make in Englaud
and an outlet for an increased exportation from America.
American cheese-makers have made some mistakes in the past,
in devoting all their energies to one style of product, in
looking forward too exclusively to a foreign market and
neglecting home wants. The home market is the best in the
world if properly supplied with a variety of goods.

WARNING FOR WARNING— Our American cousin*
are very kind in sendiog us forecasts of storm from their side
of the Atlantic. It would only be civil if our political
weather seers were to return the compliment by eonie such
cablegram as the following, a propos of Mr, Pamell, Agit; o ■
aud M P. : — Storm Warning.— A centre of d sturbance 1 ai
left Irish Coast, travelling wistwards. Will probably re i c l
American siile by SOth inst. ; may be expected to affect all h<j
Northern States within thrir Irish degrfes of la'.i'ude >nl
longitude. Thunder, lightning, and wit.dy weather, with
higher temperatures, likely to follow. Warn all parties (pi r-
ticularly Irish) to lay aside metallic substancea on their
persons, as from highly electrical conditions of atmosphere
such substances may be hkely to meit. — Punch.

H

93

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

THE CONTAGIOUS DISEASES

(ANIMALS) ACT.

The Orders of Council, given herewith, appeared
in the London Gazette of the lGth December,
and came into operation on the first day of the
present year. It will be seen that the first Order
is merelv a revocation of certain Orders which
havo been made from time to time under the pro-
visions of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act
of 1878, which came into operation, partially,
on the first of October, 1878, and completely on
the first of January, 1879. The second Order is
a consolidation of the Orders above mentioned ; so
that the Animals Order, as it is called, which was
made December 15, 1879, and which came into
operation on the first day of January, 1880, con-
tains the simplified and consolidated details which
have been elaborated under the broad and elastic prin-
ciples of the Act of 1878, and is now the only general
Order of Council in existence which has been made
under that or any former Act. The Dairies, Cow-
Sheds, and Milk-Shops Order of July 9, 1879,
together with twenty-seven Orders made at various
times during the years 1878 and 1879, referring to
the definition of parts of ports for the reseption of
foreign animals, the movement of animals in cer-
taiu towns, and the prescriptions of certain infected
areas, still remain in separate existence with the
general Animals Order cited above.

To breeders, traders, and all parties concerned
by the provisions of the Act, this consolidation of
the details of cattle-disease legislation, up to the
present time, will be a great boon, aud a perusal
of the new Animals Order will show that the whole
thing has been rendered as simple as it can
possibly be ; in fact, as clear as it was formerly
perplexing. Chapters 6 and 7 contain
extensions of the Act of 1878 in respect
of the diseases termed glanders, farcy, and swine-
fever. Chapter 32 provides that ships' cows
and goats shall not be deemed foreign animals on
the return of the ship, if they have not been in
contact with, or on board the same vessel with,
any diseased foreign animal, in conformance with
the Order, No. 468, of Feb. 13, 1879. The safety of
this last regulation will depend entirely onthetrans-
missibility of pleuro-pneumonia. If that disease
cin be communicated by any form of mediate con-
tagion, then ships' cows will be very dangerous
material to land on our shores. It has not yet
been proved that pleuro-pueumonia is so communi-
c ible ; but, with the exception of Chapter 32, the
■whole of the restrictions relating to that disease
in the Act, and in this receut Animals Order, are
bised on the presumption that it may be conveyed
by various mediate means. That being so, it
would appear to follow that Chapter 32 is not in
accordance with the letter and spirit of the legis-
lation of which it forms a part. Cattle taken on
board mail and passenger steamers at foreign ports
as ships' stores are about as dangerous material as
en well be imagined, and the butcher attends to
the ships' cow. Therefore, either the bulk of the
re<. u.1 itions as to the disposed of hides, carcases,
litter, &c, in cases of pleuro-pneumonia, as pro-
vided by the Act, are useless, or this Chapter 32

of the new Animals Order is a highly dangerous
provision. Chapter 28 introduces slightly different
wording in the quarantine regulations, Section 93
stipulating that the animals must be for purposes
of exhibition or for other exceptional purposes,
whereas, the former stipulation was for purposes of
" exhibition, acclimatisation, or domestication ; "
but it does not follow that any change in the re-
gulations is thereby intended, as in any case the
approval of the Privy Council must be obtained
by special application through the Commissioners
of Customs. Paragraph 1 of Section 64 provides
that a horse-box, guard's van, or other railway
vehicle not bein^r a railway '"truck," may be
cleansed by sweeping the floor and sponging the
sides, if the animals which have been carried
therein have been certified as intended for exhibi-
tion or other special purpose, aud declared not to
have been exposed to infection. This regulation
is evidently intended to induce railway companies
to reduce their charges for carrying pedigree stock
in horse-boxes ; these excessive rates being imposed
on account of damage done to the padding of
horse boxes by the ordinary cleansing with lime.
Sections 13 and 19 provide for the movement of
animals out of infected places or districts for
slaughter or ordinary purposes connected with the
breeding of animals; but paragraphs 2 in both
these sections — referring to pleuro-pneumonia and
foot-and-mouth disease — stipulate that a Local
Authority shall have no power to graut a licence
for the movement of animals out of such infected
districts or places for the purpose of sending them
to "a markets, fair, sale yard, or place of exhibi-
tion.'' Section 48, (see paragraph " r" of divi-i >n
E) provides that the Privy Council alone shall
have power t> declare an infected place or
district in consequence of pleuro-pneumonia,
foot-and-mouth disease, or swine-fever being
discovered amongst animals in transit ; and
Section 59 provides that a local authority shall
have no power, unless authorised by the Privy
Council, to "prohibit or regulate the exposure or
sale" of animals in markets, fairs, sale-yards, auc-
tions, or exhibitions. So the Privy Council, very
wisely, retains in its own hands the regulation of
the traffic in living animals, so far as it may be
affected by discovery of diseases during transit.
The Privy Council alone have power to declare an
infected area or district under any circumstances.
Section 86 stipulates that sheep which have been
shorn wiihin sixty days may not be carried by
railway without being clothed, unless the van or
truck is so constructed as to afford them proper
shelter, between the first of November aud the
thirtieth of April, inclusive. Section 121 provides
an "exceptional qualification " for Veterinary In-
spector in England, Wales, and Scotland, namely,
that the person was so employed under the Act of
1869, in conformity with Order No. 448, of Octo-
ber 25, 1878.

The whale of the regulations are now in small
compass and clearly intelligible; and with regard
to setting this machinery in motion, Mr. C. L.
Piil, Clerk of the Council, has recently given an
ial statement to the effect that " the whole
duty of man — regarded as the owner of a diseased
animal — has been performed when he has notified

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

01

the fact (of the existence of disease) to the nearest
policeman."

The countries from which all animals areentirely
prohibited are as under the former* )rders ; namely,
Austria-Hungary, Greece, Italy, Russia, Turkey
(including the Provinces of I? isnia and Herzego-
vina), and the Principalities of Roumania and
Montenegro. Cattle from Germany and Belgium,
and any cattle, sheep, or goats " being, or having
been, on board a vessel at the same time," are also
prohibited ; but it has been, and probably will be,
the dangerous practice to make a special Order to
admit cattle from a part of Germany, Sohleswig-
Holstein, from June to December each year.
Animals from Canada, Denmark, Norway, Sweden,
Spain, and Portugal, may be landed at specified
ports of Great Britain, in which "landing places"
have been defined; and after twelve hours deten-
tion, during which time they undergo inspection,
if they show no signs of contagious diseases they
are free to travel all over the country. Cattle from
all other countries, and sheep and goats from
Germany and Belgium, must be lauded at specified
ports in which "foreign animals wharves" have
been defined, and must be slaughtered within the
limits of such defined parts of these ports before
the expiration of fourteen days from the date of
landing. Some of these ports have both " land-
ing places'' and "foreign animals wharves'' de-
fined within their limits, and the arrangements
will be best shown by the following table : —

Ports.

Definitions.

B irrow-iirlfurness

Foreign Animals WhaTVes

Bristol

Foreign Animals Wharve-

Landing places

Cardiff

Foreign Animals Wharve'

Falmouth

Landing places

Glasgow

Foreign Anima's Wharve

Landing places

G)ole

Foreign Animals Wharves

Grauton

Landing places

G iiiishy

Foreign Animals Wharve'

Landing places

Hartlepool

Foreign Animals Wharve-

Landing piices

Harwich

Landing places

Hull

Foreign Animals Wharves

Landing places

Leith

Landing ph c s

Lveipool

Foreign Animals Wharves

Landing places

London

Foreign Animals Wharves*

Landing places

Middlesboron

zh

Landing places

Newcastle on

Tyne

Landing places

Plymouth

*Foreign Animals Wharve

Landing places

Portsmouth

*Foreigu Animals Wharve-

Landing places

Southampton

Foreign Animals Wharves

Landing places

S mlh Shields

Foreign Animals Wharves

Sunderliud

Foreign Animals Wharves

Landing places

Weymouth

Landing places

The port of Southampton, in addition to foreign
animals wharves and landing places, as shown
above, has a part defined as a Quarantine Station ;
and is the only port in Great Britain to which
foreign animals may be sent for quarantine. The
foreign animals wharves marked * in the above
table, at the ports of Plymouth and Portsmouth,
are stated to be " for naval purposes only ;" but the
Order of Council, No. 459, dated December 17,
1878, which was in force when the cargo of sheep
from th-2 Argentine Republic was not allowed to
be landed there, did not contain any stipulation to
that effect. This new Animals Order applies to

Great Britain only ; but a corresponding measure
will presumably be enacted for Ireland by the
Irish authorities.

We have now had a year's experience of the
workiug of the Contagious Diseases (Animals)
Act of 1878, and there can be no doubt that,
within its scope, it has worked well. The simple
principle of defining a circle round affected animals,
constituting it an infected "place" in which no
movement of animals is allowed, and defining a
second circle round this infected place, consti-
tuting an infected " area" or " district" in which
restricted movement is permitted under veterinary
supervision, is a sound and effective one for deal-
ing with home diseases. If no contagious diseases
of animals were henceforth to be imported, this
system would in time suffice to narrow down the
centres of diseases until they could be grappled
with— by making a rush— and stamped out. Foot-
and-mouth disease is almost or quite in such a
position at the present time. But that part of the
Act which relates to the importation of foreign
animals does not go far enough to afford the
necessary protection to our flocks and herds. We
cannot be practically free from the danger of im-
ported cattle diseases so long as we continue to
allow foreign animals to be lauded on our shores.
Presuming that pleuro-pneumonia is not commu-
nicable bv mediate contagion — and it must be
borne in mind, as already pointed out above, that
the Act itself does not presume this much- it
would be within the bounds of possibility that
pleuro-pneumouia could be safely received at our
foreign animals wharves. But foot-and-mouth
disease is transmissible by mediate contagion, and
therefore it is not within the bounds of probability
that it will not escape from the limits of foreign
animals wharves. To confine cattle-plague within
such limits would be an utter impossibility.
Therefore, if the breeding and feeding of
cattle on arable land is to be an important
feature of future farming, and if the breeder's
industry, in the breeding districts proper, is
to be entered in^o again with energy and confi-
dence, there must be a total prohibition of foreign
animals — for trade purposes — from our shore's.
Until that is done it is not likely that the restric-
tions and regulations of the Act, excellent as they
are, will suffice to stamp out home diseases ; and
until that is accomplished, home producers can-
not have the confidence of security which is
essential to the prosperity of their industry.
However, present legislation does not go so far as
that. Its modified principle is slaughter at the
ports of landing; and we notice, with as much
approval as we can extend to a measure which
does not meet what we consider to be the neces-
sities of the case, that no time has been lost in
making ample preparations for waterside slaughter.
That is evidently to be the programme for the im-
mediate future. Yet it is not completely carried
out. The United States protested that she had no
contagious diseases of animals, aud has sent us
plenro-pneuraonia, foot-and-mouth disease, and
Bwine-plague. Canada protests she has no such
diseases, and has sent us swine-plague to begin
with. Canada is known to have traded largely"in
United States cattle ; yet the Privy Council does

9i

THE FABMEK'S > AGAZINE.

not consider it necessary to bring Canada within
the provisions of the Fi'th Schedule to the Act of
1878. The Times has had the boldness to suggest
that the embargo on United States cattle should
be removed by the Privy Council because, forsooth,
a " large source of profit" is thereby lost to " the
railways, shippers, and middle-men" of Canada !
The Times appears to ignore the far more impor-
tant producers' industry at home, and to overlook,
or disregard, the fact that imported cattle diseases,
and the fear of them, hinders home production to
an extent which is far from being com-
pensated by imported cattle. Farmers should
bring pressure to bear on the Government to mate
the slaughter of foreign cattle at our waterside
uniform and unexceptional, a measure which is
within the scope of the present Act. So far as
Canada is concerned, she would obviously be the
gainer, inasmuch as she could then remove her
embargo and begin again to trade with United
States cattle. However, that is not our business.
What wa are concerned in is the shutting out and
keeping out of foreign contagious diseases ; and
we urge on this and every other seasonable oppor-
tunity the extension of the provisions of the Act
of 1878 to their utmost limit with regard to the
importation of foreign living animals..

SCHEDULE.— Part I.— -Orders Revoked".

No.! Date.

Subject or Short Title.

I 1S78.
4-4-2 Aag. 16
4431 Aug. 16

444|Aug.. 16

CONSOLIDATION OF ORDERS;

THE REVOCATION ORBER.

At the Council Chamber, Windsor Castle,, the 15th day of
December, 1879.

By the Lords- of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy
Council.

Present : — Lord President, Mr. Secretary Cross-,
Mr. W. H. Smith.

The Lords and others of Her Majesty's Most Hononrable
Privy Council, by virtue and in exercise of the powers in ihem
vested under the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, 1S78,
and of every other power enabling them in this behalf, do
order and declare, and it is hereby ordered and declared, as
follows :—

1. This Order may be cited as the Revocation Order..

2. This Order shall take effect from and immediately after
the thiity-nrst day of December, one thousand eight hundred
and seventy-nine.

3. The Orders of Council described in Part I of the
Schedule to this Order as far as the same are iD force are
hereby revoked ; but this- revocation shall not —

(«) revive any Order or part of any Order revoked by or
otherwise affect the past operation of any of those Orders ;

(5) affect the validity or invalidity of anything done or
suffered, or any appointment or regulation made, or any
licence or authority granted, or any right title, obligation,
or liability accrued thereunder, before this Order takes
affect ;

(c) interfere with the institution or prosecn'ion of any pro-
ceeding in respect of any offence committed against or
the recovery or imposition of any penalty or forfeiture or
punishment incurred under any order hereby revoked.

4 The Orders of Council described in Part II of the
Schedule to this Order are the only Orders made np to the
a.ite of this Order under the Contagious Diseases (Animals)
i t, 1878, that will remain in force after the commencement
if this Order,

C. L. TEtL.

415 Aug. 16
448 Oct. 25
452 D^c. 6
4-531 0"v. 17
454 Dec. 17
459. Dec. 17
463, Dec. 19

464 Dec. 19
I 1879.

465 Jan. 21
466JFeb. 4

467! Feb. 10
46>> Feb. 13
46'j!beb. 28

47C Feb. 28

47 1| March 5

473 March 25
4-74 Match 28

475
47'i

477

47'.'

4.80

481

482

483

48

488
489
490

491

493
491

495

49K

,497

498

500
501

504

506

bOt-

510

511
513

51c

51

April 3
April 8

\.pril 8

April 28

April 29

May 8
May 8

May 13

May 16

May 16
May 23
May 29

May 29

May 30
June 13

June 13
June 23
July 4

July 4
July 14
July 21

July 28

Aug. 12
Aug; 15

Sept. 6

Sept, 6
Oct. 1 1
Oct. 27

Nov. 4

520|Nov. 25

rhe Animals Order of 1878.

Die Diseased Animals (in transit) Order of

1878.
The Infected Places and Areas (Movement)

Order of 1878.
The Cleansing and Disinfection Order of 1878>
Veterinary Inspectors — Definition.
The Foreign Animals Order.
The Typhoid Fever et Swine Order of 1878,
lieUium and Germany — Importation.
Plymouth — Foreign Animals Wharf.
The Transit of Animals Order
The Invocation (No. 2) Order of 1878.

Lnzonby Auction Mart.

f he Daries, Cow-Sheds, and Milk-Shops Order

of 1879.
United States of America — Cattle — Importation,
f he Ship's Cows and Goats Order.
The Dairies, Cow-Sheds, and Milk-Shops

Amendment Order of 1879.
Liverpool (Birkenhead) — Foreign Animals-
Wharf.
Area infected with Pleuro-Pneumonia declared

at Govan.
Middlesborongh— Foreign Animals Wharf.
Hull — Importation.

London — Victoria Docks — Transhipment.
Liverpool (Birkenhead) — Foreign Animals-
' Wharf — Revocation..
Liverpool (Birkenhead) — Foreign Animals

Wharf.
Weymouth — Foreign Animals Quarantine

Station.
Area infected with Pleuro-Pneumonia declared

at Kirkcaldy.
London — Millwall Docks— Transhipment.
United States of America — Swine — Importa-
tion.
United States of America — Swine— Importation

— Amendment.
Liverpool (Birkenhead) — Foreign Animals
Wharf— Revocation. [Wharves

Liverpool (Birkenhead) — Foreign Animals
Foreign Animals Wharves — Slaughter.
The Schleswig-Holstein Order of 1879 (expir-
ing 31st December, 1879.)
London — "Victoria and Millwall Docks — Tran-
shipment— Revocation.
Harwich — Foreign Animals Quarantine Station.
Area infected with Plenro-Pueumouia declared

at Govan — Amendment.
South Shields — Foreign Animals Wharf.
Glasgow — Foreign Animals Wharf.
Weymouth and Harwich — Foreiga Aniinak

Quarantine Stations — Revocation.
Liverpool — Foreign Animals Wharf,
the Swine Fever Order of 1879.
Plymouth — Foreign Animals Wharf — Revoca-
tion.
Liverpool — Foreign Animals Wharves — Revo-
cation;
The Swine-Fever Supplemental Order of 1879.
South Shields — Foreign Animals Wharf —

Revocation-.
Area infected with Pleuro-Pneumonia at Kirk-
caldy declared free.
Oxfordshire — Declarations cancelled.
Harwich — Importation.
Glasgow— Foreign Animals Wharf— Revoca-

tron.
United States of America — Sheep — Importa-
tion.
Area infected with Plcuro-Fucumonia at Govan.
declared free.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

03

Part II.

Former Orders remaining iu force after the commencement of

this Order.

No.l Date.

499
523

44<
4t?

449
450
45fi
457
458
46"
461

462

472
478
481
485

1879.
July 9

Dec. 15

1878.
Oct. 5
Oct. 5
)ct. 25
Nov. 12
Dec. 17
D.c. 17

Dec. 17
Dec. 17
Dec. 17

Dec. 17

1879.
March 25
Ipril 8
May 13

May 13

Subject or Short Title.

486 .May 14
May 29
July 21

492
502

503

505
507
509
512
514
516
518

General.

The Dairies, Cow Sheds, and Milk Shops Order

of July, 1879.
The Animals Order.

Local .

Metropolis — Pleuro-Pneumonia — Movement.

Edinburgh — Pleuro-Pneumonia — Moveineut
'Glasgow — Pleuro-Pneumonia — Movement.

Lftith — Pleuro-Pneumonia — Movement.
jGrimsby — Foreign Animals Wliarf.

Hartlepool — Foreign Animals Wharf.

London — Foreign Animals Whar*'.
Sunderland — Foreign Animals Wharf.
Soiuhampton — Foreign Animals Quarantine

Station.
Edinburghshire — Pleuro-Pneumonia — Move-
ment.

Hull — Foreign Animals Wharf.

Goole — Foreign Animals Wharf.

Bristol (Avonmouth)— Foreign Animals Wharf.

Cardiff — Foreign Animals Wliarf.

Hull — Transhipment.

London — Transhipment.

Plymouth and Portsmouth — Foreign Animals

Wharves for Naval Purposes only.
Area infected with Foot-and-Mouth Disease

declared in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk (as

amended by Order, No. 519.)
Liverpool — Foreign Animals Wharves.
Glasgow— Transhipment.
South Shields— Foreign Animals Wharf.
Bristol — Foreign Animals Wharf.
fiarrow-in-Furuess — Foreign Animals Wharf.
Glasgow — Foreign Animals Wharf.
Southampton — Foreign Animals Wharf.
Area infected with Foot-and-Mouth Disease

declared in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk —

Amendment.
Middlesboroasjh Foreign Animals Wharf —

Revocation — Importation.

THE ANIMALS ORDER.

At the Council Chamber, Windsor Castle, the I5th day of
December, 1879.

By the Loras of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy
Council.

Present : — Lord President, Mr. Secretary Cross, Mr. W. H.
Smith.

The Lords and others of Her Majesty's Most Honourable
Privy Council, by virtue and iu exercise of the powers in them
vested under The Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, 1878,
and of every other power enabling them in this behalf, do order,
and it is hereby ordered, as follows :

PART I.

Preliminary..

Short Title.

1. This Order may be cited as the The Animals Order.

Parts..

2. This Order is divided into Parts as follows:
Part I. — Preliminary (Arts. 1 — 5).

Part II. — Disease (Arts. 6 — 59).
Part HI. — Disinsection (Arts. 60—76).
Part IV.— Transit (Arts. 77—88).
Part V.— Foreign (Arts. 89—120).
Part VI.— General (Arts. 121—137).
Extent.

3. This Order extends to England and Wales and Scotland
only.

Commencement.

4. This Order shall take effect from and immediately after

July 28

July 28
Aug. 15
Aug. 15
Sept 17
Oct. 1 1
Oct. 27
Nov. 1

519 Nov. 7

521 Nov. 29

the thirty-first day of December, one ihotmnd eight hundred
and seventy-uiue.

Interpretation.

5. In this Order —

The Actoi 1878 means The Contagions Diseases (Animals)
Act, 1878 :

Customs means Her Mijesty'a Customs:

Disease include!), with the diseases specified in the Act of
1878, glanders( larcy, and swine-lever :

Carcase includes, in addition to its meaning as defined in
the Act of 1878, the carcase of a horse; ass, or mule, and
part of such a carcase, and the flesh, bonesf skin, hoofs,
or other part of a horse, ass, or mule, separately or other-
wise, or any portion thereof:

Master includes a person having the charge or command of
a vessel :

R&ilwiy pen means a stationary pen or other place being inf
about, near, or on a station, building, or laud of a rail-
way company, and used or intended to be used by or by
permission of a railway company, or otherwise, for the
reception or keeping of animals before, a:ter, or in course
of their transit hy railway :

Van means a vehicle constructed for moving animals by
road :

Part, Chapter, Article means Part Chapter, Article of this
Order :

Scliedu'e mpans Schedule to this Orler :

Other terms, unless it is otherwise expressed, have the same
meaning and scope as in the Act of 1878.
PART II:
Disease.

CHAPTER 1.— Cattle Plague.
Notice of Cattle-Plague.

Q. — (1.) The constable to whom notice of the fact of an
animal being affected with cactle plague, or with disease sup-
posed to be cattle-plague, is given, under Sec ion thirty -one gf
the Act of 1878, shall immediately give information thereof
to his eupenor officer, who shall immediately transmit the
information by telegraph or other rapid means to the Clerk of
the Privy Council, Whitehall, London.

(2.) The constable shall also forthwith give information of
the receipt by him of the notice to an Inspeetor of the Local
Authority, and to the Local Authority.

Movement out of Place where Cattle-Plague exists.

V. No animal, horse, ass, or mule, and no dog shall be
moved alive out of a building or inclosed place in which cattle-"
plague exists or has within ten days existed.

Movement out of Place inlecred with Cattle-Plague.

8- Pending the arrival of an Inspector or other officer of
the Privy Council —

(a.) No animal shall be moved alive out of a cow-shed, field,
or other place which has become a place infected with cattle-
plague ; and

(b.) Wo carcase, and no dung of animals, horses, asses, or
mules, and no Utter, manure, or fodaer shall be removed
thereout.

Duty of Local Authority and Police in Cattle-Plague.

Q^ — (1), Where, by virtue of the declaration of an Inspector
of a Local Authority (under Section ten ol the Act of 1878)', a
cow-shed, field, or other place has become a place infected with
cattle-plague, the Local Authority shall take all necessary and
proper measures, pending the arrival of an Inspector or other
officer of the Privy Council, to enforce the observance of the law
relating to cattle-plague, lucludiug the placing of constables or
other proper officers at the entrance of thai cow-shed, field, or
other place-

(2.) Alter the arrival of the Inspector or other officer of
the Privy Council, tile Local Authority and all constables and
police officers shall assist him to carry into effect and enforce
the law relating to cattle-plague, and shall do or cause to be
done all things from time to time necessary lor the effectual
execution of ihe same.

CHAPTER 2.— Pleuro-Pneumonia.
Nutice of PleiHu-Pneumonia.

lO. The constable to whom notice of the fact of cattle
being affected with pleuro-pneumonia, or with disease supposed
to be pleuro-pneumonia, is given, uuder Section thirty-one of
t tie Actof 1878, shall lorthwith give information thereof to an.
Inspeetor of the Local Authority, who shall forthwith repost
the same to the Local Authority.

04

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Place infected with Plenro-Fneumonia.

11. Cattle affected with plenro-pneiim^nia may, nnder a
special Order of Council made on the application ■» * a Local
Authority, be moved out of a place infected with pleur"*pr.eu-
mo'iia tor s anghter, in the ma'iiif-r aod on the c and tiou- in
that special Oder specifi-d, but not oiherwi-e ; which s ipei .1
Order will only be made on tlie Privy Council being »ati-fi>d
by tlie L i«5»l Authority, that the daughter of diseased cattle in
infected place- in the district of the L ical Authority is iin-
pr^cnc-ible or would be highly inconvenient.

12. Cattle not affected with plcuro-pnenmonia may be
moved into a place infected with pleuropneumonia, at any
time and from tine to time after a Veterinary Inspector has
reported in writing to the Local Authority that all tlie cattle
which were in the iufec'ed place at the time when it was
declared infected by the Local Authority have d'-d or been
slaughtered, or have beea moved thereout, and that pleuro-
pneumonia does not ex st therein, an 1 that the cowsheds or
o her places wh»re the di-eased catt'e were kept therein heve
been, as fnr as practicable, cleansed and disinfected.

13. (1) Cattle not affected with pleuropneumonia
may be. moved out of a place infee'ed with pleuro-poenmonia,
in accordance with the following Regulations and not other-
wise :

A— For Slaughter.

(<7,t The. ca'tle may be moved to a slaughter-house, for the
purpose of being there forthwith slaughtered, with a
licence of the Local Authority, on a certificate of a
Veterinary Inspector certifying that the cattle to be moved
are not affe.ted with pleuro-pnenmonia.

{/}.) The licence shall be available for twelve hours, and uo
longer.

(c ) The licence shall specify the slaughter-house to which
the cattle are to be moved for slant liter, and they
► hall not be moved to any oilier slaughter-house or
place.

(</.) If the cattle so moved are not moved out of the riL'rlc
of the Local Authority, they shall he moved to the
specified slaughter-honse under the direction and iu charge
of an Inspector or other officer of the Local Authority
and he shall euforce and snpei intend ihe immediate
slaughter there ot the cattle, and sha'l forthwith
report to the L ical Authority the fact of the slaughter
there.

B. — For other purposes.

(e.) The cattle may be moved to a p'are o'her than a
slaughter-house, for purposes ot feeding, or other ordinary
purpose^ connected with the breeding of cattle, or for the

purpose o' isolation, with a licence Ol the Loral Authority,

on a certificate of a Veterinary Inspector certifying that
the catile to be moved are not affected with pleuro-
pnenrtonia, and that such movement is in his opiuion
necessarv.

(f.) The licence shall specify the place from which, and the
place to which, and the person to whom, they are to be
moved, and the time for which the licence is available,
and the purposes and conditions for and en which the
movement and keeping are allowed.

{g) The cattle moved under the licence shall be moved
under the direction and in charge of an Inspector or
other officer of Lie Local Authority appointed in that
behalf.

(/;.) The cattle, f.lter they are received Blithe p'ace specified
in the licence, shall not be again moved except with a
further licence of the Local Authority.
C — Out of District.

()'.) If the cattle moved for sLughter nnder Regulation A
are to be moved into the district of another Local
Authority, there shall also be requisite a licence of that
other Local Authority indorsed ou or referring to the first-
mentioned licence.

If.) The cattle so moved into the district of that other
Local Authority shall be moved to the specified slaughter-
house under the direction and in charge, of an Inspector
or other officer of the Local Authority out of whose
district they are moved; and he shail enforce and super-
intend the immediate slaughter there, of the cattle, and
shall forthwith report to both the L cal Authorities tlie
fact of the slaughter there.

(£.) If the cattle moved for other purposes nnder Regu-
lation B are to be moved into the district of another

Local Authority, there shall also be requisite a licence of
that other Local Authority indorsed on or referri g to the
firs', mentioned licence.
(>.) The dttle, after they are received at the place specified
in the licence of that o'lier Local Anthorty, shali cot be
again moved except with a further licence of that other
L 'C •! Authority.
(•2.) Nothing in this Article shall authorize the granting of
a liceme by a Local Air hurry for tlie movement 01 cattle to a
market, fair, sale-yard, or place of exhibition.

Area infectBd with Pe»ro-Piieurnonia.
14. Catile not affected with pleuro-pneumonia may be
moved in or iuto such parts of an area infected with pleuro-
pneumonia as ar< not comprised in a place, in'ected with
lpleuro-pueumonia, in a:cordance with the following Regu-
at'ons and not otherwise.

A. — Movement in.
The cattle may be moved in those parts of an area with a
licencj of the Local Authority, on a certificate of a
■ "• l nary Inspector certifying that the cattle to be
moved are not nff-ced with pleuro-pnr umonia, and have
n t, to the best ot his knowledge and belie', been exposed
to the infection of pleuro pneumonia.
B. — Movement iato.
The cattle may be moved into those parts of an area with
a licence oi the Local Authority, on a certificate of a
Veterinary Inspector cerri'ying that the en tie to be
moved are not affee'ed wi'li pleuropneumonia, and havq
nut, to the best ot his knowledge an belief, been exposed
tu the it, ection of p'enro-pneumonia.

C. — Movement in'o, from another District.
If the cattle, to be moved into those pir s ot an area under
Regulation B are to be moved out of the district of
another L cal Authority, the licence must he a licence
Ol the Local Authority out of whose district the cattle
are to be moved ; and there shall also be requisite a
licence of the Loiat Authority of 'he district where those
parts of the area are situate indorsed on or refemng to
the tirst- mentioned licence.
15- (1.) Cattle no' affected with pleuio-pneimonia may
he moved out of such parts of an area infected with pleuro-
pn umonia as are not compr sed in a place infected with pleuro-
pneumonia, with a licence of the Local Authority, on a cer-
tificate of a Veterinary Inspector certifying that Ihe c.ittle to
be moved are not affected with pl-nro-pnenmonia, and have
not, to the best of his kuowledge and belief, been exposed to
ihe in'ect on of pleuro-pneumoi.ia.

(2.) The licence shall specify the place to which, and the

per-on tO whom, they are to be moved.

(3.) The cattle, alter they are received at the place specified
in tie licence, shall not. be again moved except with a lurther
licence of the Local Authority.

(t-.) If ihe cattle, are to be moved into the district of an
other Local Authority, there shall also be requisite a licence
ol that other Local Authority indorsed on or referring to the
firs'-ment'oned licence,

(5.) Tlie cattle^ alter they are received at the place specified
in the licence of that other L<ctl Authority, shall not be
again moved except with a further licence of that other Local
Authority.

Disinfection for Plenro-Pneumnnia.

16. A Local Authority shall cii.se the cowshed or other
place iii which ca'tle affected with pleuro-pneumonia have
been kept while so affected, or have died or been slaughtered,
to he, as >ar as practicable, ceinsed and disin ec'ed, and all
li'ter, dung, or other thing that has been in contact with or
u-ei about anj such cattle to be disinfected, burut, or de-
stroyed.

CHAPTER 3.— Foot-and-Mouth Disease.

Notice of Foot-and-Mouth Disease.

IT. T'e constable to whom notice of the tact of au animal

being aff.cted wilh foot-and-mouth diseise, or with disease

Supposed 10 be f00t-and-.flJi>U h disease, is given under Section

thirty -one of tlie Aet of 1878. shuH forthwith isive information

thereof to an inspector of the Loci Authority who shall forth-
with report the same to the Loc il Authority.

Place inlected with Foot-and-Mouth Disease.
18. Animals net affected with foot and-mouth disease may
be moved into a place infected with foot-and-mouth disease
at any time aud 1'roro. time to time alter a Veteriuary Inspector

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

95

his reported in writing to the Local Aiitliority that all the
animals which were in the inn al the tixe when it

wan declared in'ecte.d by the Local A itliority have died or been
slaughtered, or have hren moved thereout, and that foot-and-

mou'h cisease dot's not ex st therein, and that, the cowsheds
or other places where the diseased animals were kepi therein
have been, ^ 'ar as practicable, cleansed and disinfected.

19. — (1.) Anima > not affected with foot and-mouth dis-
ease may be moved out of a place in'ecie I with foot-and-
month disease in accordance with the following ilegulatious
and not otherwise ; —

A. — For Slaughter,
{a.) The animals maj he moved to a slaughter-house, for
thf purpose of being there forthwith slaughtered, wi»h a
licence of the Local Authority, on a certificate of a Vete-
rinary Inspector certifying that the animals to be moved
are not affected with loot-and-mouth disease,
{!>.) The licence shall be available lor twelve hours, and no

longer.
(c.) The licer.ee shall specify the slaughter-house to which
the anioials are to be moved for slaughter, and they shall
not be moved to any other Blaughter-house or placp.
(V ) If the animals so moved are not moved out of the
district of the Local Authority, they shall be moved to
the specified slaughter-home under the direction and in
charge of an Inspector or other ollicer of the Local
Authoii'y; and he shall enforce, and superintend the
immediate slaught< r there of the animals, and >ha 1 forth-
with report to the Local Authority ',he fact of the
slaughter there.

B.— For other Purposes.
{<" ) The animals may be moved to a place other than a
slaughter-house, 'or purposes of fe< dins, or other ordinary
purposes connected with the breeding of animals, or lor
the purpose of isolation, with a licmce of t' e Local
Authority, on a certificate of a Veterinary Inspector
certifying that the animals to he moved are not afftcted
with foot-and -ranu'h disease, and that such movement is
in his opinion necessary.
{/.) The licence shall specify the place from which, and the
place to which, and the person to whom, they are to be
moved, and the time for which the licence is available,
and the purposes and conditions lor and on which the
movement anl keeping are allowed.
{(/) The animals moved under the licence shall be moved
under the direction and in charge of an Inspector or
other officer of the Local Authority appoiuted in that
behalf.
{h.) The animals, arter they are received at the place specified
in the licence, shall not be again moved except with a
further liceuce of the Local Authority.
C. — Out ol District.
{i ) If the animals moved for slaughter under Regulation A
are to be moved into the district of another Local
Authority, 'here shall also be requisite a licence of that
other Local Authority indorsed on or referring to the
first-meutioned licence.
(J.) The animals so moved into the district of that other
Local Authority shall be moved to the specified slaughter-
house under the direction an 1 in charge of an Inspector
or other officer of the L cal Authority out of whose
di-trLt they are moved ; and he shall enforce and
superintend the immediate slaughter there of the animals,
and shall forthwith report to both the Local Authorities
the fact of the slaughter there.
{&.) If the animals moved for other purposes uuder Regula-
tion B are to be moved into the district of another Local
Authority, there shall also b° requisite a licence of that
other Local Authority indorsed on or referring to the
first-mentioned licence.
(/ ) The animals, alter they are received at the place
specified in the licence of that other Local Authority,
shall not be. again moved except with a farther licence of
th it other Local Authority.
(2.) Nothing in this article shall authorise the granting
of a licence by a Local Authority for the movi ment of an inals
to a market, fair, sale-yard, or ida e of exhibition.

Area In ecttd with Foot- ml-Mou'li Disease.
20. Animals not affcted with foot-and-mouth disease may
be moved in or into such parts of an area infected with foot-
and-mouth disease as are not comprised in a place infected

wi>h foot-and-mouth disease, in accordance with the following
Regulations and not otherwise: —

A. — Movement in.

The animals may be .roved in those parts of an area with a
licence o' the Local Authority, on a certificate of a
Veterinary Inspector cerli ying that the animals to be
moved are not affected with foot-and-mouth i
and have not, to the best of his knowledge and belief,
beeu exposed to the infection of foot aac-mou'.h disease.
B.- Movement into.

The animals may be moved into those parts of an area with
» licence of the Local Authority, on a certificate ot a
Veterinary Insp-ctor certilying that the animals to be
moved are not affected with foot-and-mouth di.easp, and
have not, to Ihe best of his knowledge and belief, been
exposed to the infection of foot-and-mouth disease.
C. — Movement into, from another District.

If the animals to be moved into those parts of an area
under Regulati n B are to be moved out of the district
of another Led Authority, the licence must be a licence
of the Lncil Authority out of whose district the animals
are to be moved ; and there, shall also be requisite a
licence of the Local Authority o! the district where those
parts of the. area are situate indorsed on or referring to ,
the first-mentioned licence.

21. — (1.) Animals not affected with foot-and-mouth
disease maybe niovd out of such parts of an area iufected
with foot-and mouth disease as are not comprised in a place
infected with foot and-mouth disease, with a licencs of the
Local Au'hority, on a cert liote of a Veterinary Inspector
certifying that the animals to be moved are not affected with
foot-and-mouth disease, and have not, to the best of his
knowledge and belief, been exposed to the infection of foot-
and mouth disease.

(2 ) The licence shall speciry the place to which, and the
person to whom they are to be move I.

(8.) The animals, a'ter they are received at the place
specified in the licence, shall not b-^ again moved except with
a for' her hcencs of the Local Authority.

(I) If ihe animals are to be moved into the district of
another Local Anthori y, there shall als > be requsite a licence
of that other Local Authority indorsed on or referring to the
first-mentioned licence.

(5.) The animals, after thpy are received at the place
specified in the licence of that other Lo?al Authority, shall
not be aga'n moved except with a further liceuce of that other
Local Authority.

Disin'ection for foot-and-Mouth Disease.

22. A L >cal Authority shall cause the cowshed or other
place in which an animal affee'ed with foo'-and mouth disease
has been kppf while so affected, or has died or been s'aughtered,
to be, as far as practicable, cleansed aud disinfected, and all
litter, dang, or other thing that has beeu in contact with
or used about auy such animal to be disinfected, burut, or
destroyed.

CHAPTER 4-.— Sheep-Pox.
Notice of Shepp-Pox.

23. The constable to whom notice of the fact of a sheep
being affected wiih sheep-pox, or wilh disease supposed to he
sheep-pox, is given, under S-ction thirty-one of the Ac' of
1878, shall forthwith give information thereof to an luspector
of the Local Authority, who shall forthwith report the tame
to the Local Authority.

Declaration of Place inrected with Sheep-Pox.

24. — (1 ) Where it appears to an Inspector of a Local
Authority that sheep-pox exists, or has within ten days existed,
in a shed, field, or other place, he shall forthwith make and
sign a declaration thereof.

(2.) He shall serve a notice, signed by him, of the declara-
tion Ihe occupier of that shpd, field, or other place.

(3.) Thereupon that shed, field, or other place shall become
and be a place infected with sheep-pox, subject to the deter-
mination and declaration of the Locil Authority.

(+. ) The Inspector shall, with all practicable speed, inform
the Local Authority and the Privy Council of his e'ec'aration
and notice, and shall send his declaration aud a copy of his
notice to the LocjI Authority.

(5.) The Local Auihotitv shall forthwith on receipt of that
information inquire into the correctness of the Inspector's
declaration, with the assistance and advice "of a Veterinary

06

TTIK FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Inspector, or of a persou qualifted according to the Act of
1878 to be such.

(ti.) [f the Local Authority are satisfied of the correctness
of the Inspector's dechration as regards the existence or past
existence of disease, they shall by order determine and declare
accordingly, and prescribe the limits of the place infected
with sheep-pox, and may, if they think fit, include within
tho*e limits any lands or buildings adjoining or near to the
shed, field, or other place to which the Inspector's declaration
relates.

(7.) The Local Authority may include in a place lVectfd
with sheep-pox any adjoining part of the district of anoti er
Local Authority, with the previous co sent in writing of that
Authori'y, but not otherwise.

(8.) If the Local Authority are not satisfied of the correct-
ness of the Inspector's declaration as regards the existence or
fast existence of disease, they shall by order determine and
declare accordingly ; and thereupon, as Irom the time specified
in that behalf in their order, the shed, field, or other place to
which the Inspector's declaration relates shall cease to be a
place, infected with sheep-pox.

(9.) The L'Mjal Authority shall forthwith report, to the
Privy Council the dec'aratinn of the Inspector, and the pro-
ceedings of the Local Authority thereon.
• Places infected with Sheep-Pox.

25. The following rules shall have eff-ct in relation to a
shed, fi'ld, or other place which has become a place infected
with sheep-pox (namely) : —

(1.) No sheep shall" be moved alive out of a place infected
with sheep-pox.

(2.) A carcse of a sheep may he taken out of a place
infected with sheep-pox as lollows and not otherwise ; —
(l ) With a certificate of an Inspector of the Local
Authority certtf\ing that the carcase to be taken nut i3
not the carcase of a sheep that was affected with sheep-
pox, the carcase in that case being first skinned ; or
(ii.) With a licence of an Inspector of the Local Authority
permitting the carcase to be taken out tor the purpose of
being buried or destroyed ; in which latter case the
following regulations shall apply . —
(a.) The licence shall be available for twelve hours, and no

longer,
•(A.) The licence shall specify the place to which the carcase
is to be taken for burial or destruction, and it shall not be
taken to any other place.
<(<;.) The carcase shall be taken to the place specifi- d in the
licence under the direction and in charge of an In-
spector or other officer of the Local Authority ; and he
shalL enforce, and superintend the immediate burial or
destruction there of the carcase, and Bhall forthwith
report to the Local Authority the fact of the burial or
destruction there.
(d.) If the carcrse is to be taken into the district of
another Local Authority, there shall also be requisite a
licence of that other Local Authority indorsed on or
referring to the first-mentioned licence.
(#.) The carcase so taken into the district of that other
Local Authority shall be taken to the space specified in
the licence under the direction and in charge of an In-
spector or other officer of the Local Authority ont of
whose district it is taken ; and he shall enforce and
superintend the immediate burial or destruction there ot
the carcase, and shall forthwith report to both the Local
Authorities the fact, of the burial or destruction there,
(3.) No skin, or fleece, or wool, separate from the rest of
the carcase, of a sheep shall be taken out of a place infected
with sheep-pox, except with a certificate of a Veterinary In-
spector certifying that that skin, fleece, or wool has been
disinfected to his satisfaction.

(4.) No sheep shall be moved into a shed, field, or other
place where sheep. pox has existed, unless and until an In-
spector of the Local Authority has certified that all the sheep
in that shed, field, or other place have died or been slaughtered,
and that the shed or other place has been, as far as practicable,
cleansed and disinfected.

Slaughter in Sheep-pox.
26.— (1.) A Local Authority shall canse all sheep affected
wi h sheep-pox to he slaughtered within t + o days after the
exis'ence of the disease is known to them.

(2.) A Local Authority may, if they think fit, cause any
sheep being or having been in the same shed, or flock,

or in contact with a sheep affected with sheep-pox to b8

slaughtered.

(3.) The Local Authority shall, out of the local rate, pay
compensation as follows for sheep slaughtered under this
Ar if lp :

(a.) Where the sheep slaughtered was affected with shrep-
pox, the compensation thall be one-half of its value immedU
ately before it became so affected, but so that the compensation
do not in any such case exceed forty shillings.

(A.) In every other case the compensation shall be the
value of the sheen immediately before it was slaughtered, but
so that the compensation do not in any case exceed four
pounds.

Declaration of Freedom from Sheep-pox.

27. Where a Local Authority have declared a place to be
intected with sheep-pox, they may, if they think fit, at any
time after the expiratiou ot twenty-eight days from the date
of the cessation therein of that disease, but not sooner, ds:l.ire
by order that place to be free Irom sheep-pox.

Disinfection for Sheep-pox.

28. A Local Authority shall cause the shed, or other place
in which a sheep affected with sheep-pox ha3 been kept while
so affected, or has died or been slaughtered, to be, as f<r as
practicable, cleansed and disinfected, and all litter, dung, or
otht-r thing that has been in contact with or used about any
such sheep to be disinfected, burnt, or destroyed.

Declaration of Infected Place or Area by Privy Council.

29- Nothing in this Order shall be deemed to take
away or abridge the power of the Privy Council, by special
Order :

(n.) To declare any shed, field, or other place, with or
without any lauds or buildings ajoining or near to that shed,
field, or other place, (o be a place infected with sheep-pox: or

(A.) To exteud the limiu of a place iufected with sheep-
pox : or

(<\) To declare any place that has been declared either by
a Local Authority or by the Privy Council to be a place
infected with sheep-pox, to be free from sheep pox : or

(W.) To declare any area within a place iufected with
sheep-pox is situate to be an area infected with sheep-pox,
and 'o extend the limits of such an area : or

(<?.) To declare any area that lias been declared by the
Pnvv Council to be an area infected with sheep-pox, or some
particular portion thereof, when there is not within that area,
or that portion thereof, any place infected with sheep-pox, to
be free from sheep-pox.

CHAPTER 5.— Sheei>-Scab.
Notice of Sheep-Scab.

30- The constable to whom notice of the fact of a sheep
being affected with sheep-scab, or with disease supposed to be
sheen-scab, is given, under Section thirty-one of the Act of
1878, shall forthwith give information thereof to an Inspector
of the Local Authority, who shall forthwith report the same
to the Local Authority.

Treatment for Sheep-Scab.
31. A p°rson having in his possession or under his charge
a sheep affected with sheep scab, shall treat that sheep, or
canse it to be treated, with some dressing or dipping or other
remedy for sheep-scab.

Regulations of L cal Authority as to Sheep-Scab.
32- A Local Authority may, from time to time, make
regulations for the following purposes, or any of them :

(1.) For prohibiting or regulating the movement ont of any
field, shed, or other place of sheep affected with sheep-
scab :
(2 ) For prohibiting or regulating the movement out of any
field, shed, or other place in whicli sheep-scab exists of
sheep that have been in contact with or in the same field,
shed, or other place with sheep affected with sheep-
scab :
(3.) For prohibiting or regulating the taking ont of any
field, shed, or other place of the skin, fleece, or wool,
separate from the rest of the carcase, of a sheep affected
with or suspected of sheep-scab, or of any fodder, Ii ter(
or other thing that has been in contact with or used lor
orabout sheep affected with or suspected of sheep-scab;
but no'hing in any such regulation shall authorize movement
in contravention of Articles 52 or 54 or other provision of
this Order; and a regulation under paragraph (3.) of this
Article shall operate so long only as sheep-scab exists in the

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

judgment of tlie Loc»l Authority in any finld, shed, or other
place to which the regulation reler<, and until tlie same has
been, as far ns practicable, cleansed and disin ected.
Monthly Returns aa to Sheen Srih.
33. Wherein Inspector of a Locul Authori y finds in his
di-trict shrep-scab, he shall forthwith make >» return thereof
to the Local Authority anil to the IVivy Council, on a form
provided by ihe Privy Council, wiili all particulars therein
required, and shall continue to so make a return thereof on the
last day of every month, except where the last diy is Sunday,
and then on the last day but one, until the disease has
ceased.

CHAPTER 6.— Glanders and Fauct.
Extension of Act of 1878.
34 Horses as-es, and mnles shall be animals, and glanders
and farcy shall be disease*, for the purposes of the following
Sections of the Act of 1878 (namely) :
Sec'ion twenty-nine (slaughter).
Section thirty-one (notice of disease).
Section thirty-two (Orders of Council).
Section fifty (powers of police).
S-ction ti'ty-one (powers of inspector.').
Sec'ion fi'ty-two (detention of vessels).
Section fifty three (carcases washed ashore),
and of all other Sec'ions of the Act containing provisions
relative to or consequent on the provisions of those Section8,
including such Sections as provide for offences and proce-
dure.

Notice of Gl <nders or Farcy.
35- The constable to whom notice of the fact of a horse,
ass, or mule being affected witti glanders or farcy, or with
disease supposed to be glanders or farcy, is given, under
Section thirty-one of the Act of 1878, shall forthwith give
information thereof to an Inspector of the Local Authority,
who shall forthwith report the same to the Local Authority.
Public Warning as to Existence of Glanders or Farcy.
36. — (1.) The Local Authority may, it they think fit,
from lime to time, give public warning by placards, advertise-
ment, or otherwise, of the exis'ence of glanders or farcy in any
stable, building, field, or other place, with or without any
particu'ar description thereof, as they thiuk fi', and may con-
tinue to do so during the existence oi the disea-e, and, in cas-
of a stable, building or o'her like place, until the same has
b?en cleanse I and disinfected.

(2.) It shall not be lawful 'or any person (without authority
or excuse) to remove or de'ace any such placard.

Regulations of Local Authority as to Glauders or Farcy.
37- A Loc il Authority may, from time to time, make
regulations for the following purposes, or any of them :

(1.) For prohibiting or regulating the movement out of uny
stable, building, field, or other place of a horse, ass, or
mule affected with glanders or farcy : ,

(2.) For prohibiting or regulating the movement out of
any stable, building, lied, or other place in which
glanders or farcy esists of a horse, ass, or mule that has
been in contact with or in the same stable, building, field,
or O'her place with a horse, ass, or mule affected with
glauriers or farcy ;
hut nothing in any such regulation shall authorize movement
in contravention of Anicle 52 or other provision of this Order ;
and a regulation under parr-graph (2.) of this Article shpll
operate so long only as glanders or farcy exists in the judgment
o1 the Local Authority in any stable, building, field, or other
pi ice to which the regulation refers, and, in case, of a stable, I
building, or other like place, until the same has been cleansed
and disiufecti d.

Slaughter in Gander".
38 - (1.) Where a person having a horse, ass, or mule in '
his possession or uuder his charge give notice to a constable
that the horse, ass, or mule is affected with glanders, or a per-
son is convicted of an offence against the Act of 1878 by reason I
of his having failed to give such a notice, then, if at any time j
thereafter it appears to ihe L"eal Authority, on a special report '
of a Veterinary Inst ector or Veterinar, Surgeon, that the, hoise,
ass, or mule is atfecled with glander«, and the horse, ass, or |
nine is alive at the end of fourteen daj s a'tt r the p ceipt hy the
Local Authority of that special report, the Local Authority •
Bay, if they think fit, within seven days thereafter serve on tha '
owner of the horse, ass, or mule a notice in writing requiring
him to slaughter it, or to permit then to slaughter it, viruhin !
a reasonable tims specified in the notice. i

I (2.) [fin any case the owner fails to comply with the
requisition of the notice of the Local Authority, he shall be
deemed guilty ol an offence against the Act of 1878, unless ha
shows to the satisfaction of the court of summary jurisdiction
j h 'ore which Ire is charged that the horse, ass, or mule is not
affected with glanders, or that the slaugher thereof is for any
reason unnecessary or inexpedient.

(3.) The provisions of this Article may be put in force,
from time to time, as often as occasion requires, in relation to
the same horse, ass, or mule on a further special report as
aforesaid.

Exemption of Military.
39. Nothing in this Order applies to horses, asses, or
mules kept is 6tables of military barracks or camps under
the care and supervision of the Army Veterinary Medical
Department.

CHAPTER 7.— Swine-Fever.
Extension of Act of 187S.
•40. Swine-fever, that is to say, the disease called or
known as typhoid lever of swin', soldier, purples, red disease,
hog cho eta, or swine plague, shill be a disease for the
purposes of the following Sections of the Act of 1878
(namely) :

Section twenty-seven (disease during transit).
Sec'ion twenty-eight 'iuftcted places).
Sections tweuty-nine and thirty (slaughter aud compensa-
tion).
Sec'ion thirty-one (notice of disease).
Section thirty-two (Orders of Council).
Section filly (powers of police).
Section fifty-one (powers of inspectors).
Section fi/ty-four (exclusion of strangers).
and o1 all o'her Sections of the Act containing provisions rela-
tive tior consequent on the provisions ol tho e Sections,
including such Sections as prcvide for offences and procedure.
Notice ot Swine-Fever.
41- The constable to whom notice of the fact of swine
being affected with swine-fever, or with disease supposed to
be swine-fever, is given, uuder Section thirty-one of the Act
cf 187S, shall forthwith give information thereof to an In-
spector of the Local Authority, who shall forthwith leport tho
.-ante to i lie Local Authority.

Declaration of place infected with Swine-Fever.
42 — (1.) Where it appears to an Inspector of a Local
Authority that swine- fever exists, or has within ten days
existed, in a pig-sty, shed, or other place, he shall forthwith
Hi;. ke and sign a declaration thereof.

(2.) He shall serve a notice, signed hy him, of the ce-
claiation on the occupier of that pigsty, shed, or other
place.

(3.) Thereupon that pig-sty, shed, or other place, shall
become and be a place infected with swine fever, subject to
the determination and declaration of the Local Authority.

(4 ) The Inspector shall, with all practicable speed, inform
the Local Authority of his declaration and notice, and shall
send his declara ion and a copy of his notice to the Local
Authority.

(5.) The Local Authority shall forthwith on receipt of tint
information inquire into the correctness |of the Inspector's
declaration with the a«sis'ance and advice ot a Veterinary In-
spector, or of a person qualified according to the Act of 1873
to be such.

(6.) If the Local Authority are satisfied of the correctness
of the Inspector's declaration as regards the existence or past
existence ol disea.-e, they shall by order determine and declare
accordingly, anrt prescribe tlie limits of the place infected with
swine-fi-ver, and may, if they think fit, include within those
imits an) lands or buildings adj iinng or near to the pig-sty,
she.i, orother place to which the Inspector's declaration relates.
(7) The Local Authority may include in a place infected
with swine-fever any adjoining part of the di-trict of another
L >cal Authority, with the previous Consent in writing of that
Authority, but not o'herwise.

(8.) If the Local Authority are not satisfied of the correct-
ness of the Iusr. ecfoi 'a declaration as regards the existence
or part existence of disease, they shall by order determine m.d
declare ace r lingly ; and then upon, as from the time specified
in that behal! in their order, the pig-sty, shed, or other place to
which the Inspector's declaraion relates shall cease to be a
place infected with swiae-fever.,

93

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE

(9.) The Local Authority shall forthwith report to the
Trivy Council the declaration of the luspector, and the
proceedings of the Local Authority thereon.

Place infected with Swine-Fever.
43. The following rule* shall hive effect in relation to pig-
sty, felied, or other place which has become a place infected
wi'h swine-fever (Daraely) :

(I.) No swine affected with swim-fever shsll be moved out
of a place infected with swine-fever.

(2.) Swine not affected with swine-fever may be moved oat
of a place infected with swine-fever as follows and not other-
wise :

(a.) The swine may he moved to a slaughter-honse, for the
purpose of being there forthwith slaughtered, with
a licence of the Local Authority, on a certificate of a
Veterinary Inspector certifying that the swine to be moved
are not affeced with swine-fever.
{b ) The licence shall be available (or twelve hours, and no
longer. . .

(c). The licence shall specify the slaughter-house to whicn
the swine are to be moved fur slaughter, and they shall
not be moved to auy other slaughterhouse or place.
(d) The swine so moved shall be moved to the specified
slaughter-house under the direction and in charge of an
Inspector or other officer of the Local Authority ; and he
shall enforce and superintend the immediate slaughter
there of the swine, and shall forthwith report to the
Local Authority the fact of the slaughter there._
(e.) If the swine are to be moved into the district of another
Local Authority, there shall also be requisite a licence o(
that other Local Atvhority indorsed on or referring to tlie
first-mentioned licence.
( f.) The swine so moved into the district of that other
IxiCil Authority shall be moved to the specified slaughter-
house under the direction and in charge of an Inspector
or other officer of the Local Authority out of whose
district they are moved ; and he shall enforce and
superintend the immediate slaughter there of the swiue, and
shall forthwith report to both Local Authorises the fact
of the slaughter there.
(3.) A carcase of a pig may be taken out of a place
irlec ed with swine-fever as follows and not otherwise ;
(i.) With a certificate of an Inspector of the Local
Authority certiiying that the carcase, to he taken out is
not the carcase of a pig that was affected with swine-
feter; or,
(ii ) With a licence of an Inspector of the Local Authority
permitting tlie carcase to be taken out lor tlie purpose ol
being buried or destroyed ; in which latter case the
following regulations shall apply :
(a.) The licence shall be available for twelve hours, and nj

longer. . .

{b ) Tne licence shall specify the place to which the carcase
is to be taken for burial or destruction, and it shall not be
taken to any other place. ,

(c.) The carcase Bhall be taken to the place specified in the
licence under the dirrction add in charge of an Inspector or
other officer of the Local Authority ; and he shall enforce
and superintend the immediate burial or destruction there
of the carcase, and shall forthwith repon to the Loca
Authority the lactol the burial or destruction there.
(,/ ) If the caicase is to betaken into the district of another
Local Authority, other shall also be requisite a licence of
that other L'jcal Authority indorsed ou or reUtrnug to the
first-mentioned licence. ..,._. o

(e) The carcase so taken into the district of t

Local Authority shall be taken to the place specified in

the licence under the direction and in charge of an

Injector or other officer of the Local Authority out ot

whose district it is taken ; aud he shall euloree a:. J

superintend the immediate burial or destruction there ol

tlie carcase, aud shall forthwith report to both the Local

Authorities the fact of the burial or destruction tnere.

fi.) No swine shall be moved into a pig-sty, died, or other

place where swine-fever has existed, Huless and' until an

Inspector of the Ljcal Authority has certified that all tlie

swiue in that pig-stv shed', or other place have died or bten

■laughtered, and that the pigsty, shed, or other place has

fcrca, as lar as practicable, cleansed and disinfected.

Slaughter m S*ine- Fever.
44- — (1.) A Local Authority sh*ll cause ill swine affected
with swine-fever to be slaughtered wMiiu two diys after tha
existence of tiie disease i3 known to them,

(2.) A Local Authority may, if they think fi', cause any
swine being or having been iu the same pig-sty or shed, or
in contact with swine affected with swine-fever, to be
slaughter-d.

(3.) The Local Authority shall, out of the local rate, pay
compensation as follows lor swiue slaughtered under this
Article :

(a.) Where the pig slaughtered was affe'ed wi h swine-
fever, I he compensation shall be one-half of its value
immediately beiure it became so affected, but so that the
couip-nsation do not in any such case exceed lorty shillings.

(A.) la every other case the compensation shall be the valae
of the p-g immediately before it was slaughtered, but so that
the compensation do not in any case exceed four pounds.
D clara'ion of Freedom from Swine-fever.
4-5- Where a Local Authority have declared a place to be
infected with b wine-fever, they may, if they think fit, at any
time after the expiration of twenty-eight days from the date
of the cessation therein of that disea-e, but not sjouer,
declare by Older that plac; to be free from swine-fever.
Disinfection for Swine-Fever.
4S- A Local Authority shall cause the pig-sty, shed, or
other place in which a pig affected with swine-fever has been
kept while so affected, or has died or been slaaghtered, to be,
as far as practicable, cleinsed and disinfected, and all litter,
dung, or other thing that has been in contact with or used
about any such pig 'o be disinfected, burnt, or destroyed.
Declaration of Infected Place or Area by Privy Council.
47. Nothing iu this Order shall be deemed to take, away
or anndge the power of the Privy Council, by special Order :
(a.) To dechre any pig-sty, shed, or oiher place, with or
without any lands or buildines adjoining near to that pig-
sty, shed, or other place, to be a place infected with swiue-
(ev?r : or
(b ) To extend the limits of a place infected with swine-
fever : or
(e.) To declare any place that has been declared -either by
a Local Authority or by the Privy Ctuncil to be a place
in'ected with swine-fever, to be freelrom swine-lever : or
((/.) To declare any area wherein a place infected with swine-
lever is situa'e to be an area infected with swine-lever,
and to extend the limits of such an arei : or
(p.) To declare any area that has been declared by the Privy
Council to be an ar: a infected with swine-fever, or some
particular portion thereof, w ten there is not withn that
area, or that Dortioa thereol, any place inrected will
swme-fever, to be free from swiue-fever.

chapter 8. — pleuropneumonia or foot-and-mouth
Disease or Swine-Fever found in a Market,
Railway Station, Crazing Park, or other like
flack, or during 'iransit.

Special Provision for these Cases.

43. By virtue of Section t*enty-seven of the Act of 1878,
where an animal is found to be infected with pleuro-
pneumonia or foot-and-mouth disease or swine-fever —

(1.) W'lule exposed for sale or exhibited iu a market, fair,
sale j ird, place of exhibitian.or other place ; or

(•2.) While placed in a lair or other place before exposure
for sale ; or

(15) n bile being in or on a lauding-place or wharf er
railway station or e'her place during transit; or

(4- ) While iu course of being moved by land or by water ; or

(5.) While being on common or uniuclosed laud ; or

(fi.) While being in a cow-shed, field, yard, sty, farm, park,
or other place wherein animals of differt ut owners are taken in
for shelter, or for res', or for grazing, or lor any other
purpose ; or

(7.) While being in any other place not iu the possession or
occupation or under the. control pf the owner of the animal ;

Then the following regulations shall apply in the several
cases following (namely) :

A. — Pleuro- Pneumonia.

(a.) Where pleuro-pueumonia is so found to exist, the
Inspector. of the Local Authority shall seize and detain all the
o .ttle affected with that disease.

L'HB FARMER'S MACAZIXE.

(o ) The diseased cattle so seized shall, if not slaughtered
at i he place, where they are liezed, be moved to the nearest
8'* able shiughier-housr, for the purpose of being there
forthwith slaughtered, with a licence of the Inspector.

(c\) Tlie licence shall he available for twelve hours, and no
longer.

(d.) The licence shall specify the slaughter house to which
the cuttle are to he moved for slaughter, and they shall not he
moved to any other slaughter-house or place.

('.) The cattle so moved shall be moved to the specified
si lughter-hoirse under the direction and in charge of au
Inspector or other officer o'" the Local Authority ; and he shall
enforce and superintend the immediate slaughter there ot the
cattle, and shall forthwith report to the Local Authority the
Tact of the slaughter there.

(/.) If the cattle are to be moved into the district of
another Local Authority, th»re shall also be requisite a licence
of tha'. other Local Authority indorsed e» or referring to the
first-mentioned licence.

(y.) The cattle so moved into the district of that etlier
Loca Authority shall he m ived to the specified slaughter-house
under tlie direction and in charge of an Inspector or ottier
officer of the Local Authority out of whose di-tric they are
moved; and he shall i nforce and superintend the immediate
slaughter there of the cattle, and tlnll forthwith report to
both the Local Authorities the fact of the slaughter there.
B. — Foot-and-Moutli I) s»ase.
(h.) Where foot-and-mouth disease is so found to exist, the
Inspector of the L teal Authority shall seize raid detain all the
ar.i na s affected with that disease.

(i.) The diseased animals so seised may be slaughtered by
or at the request of the owner or person in charge thereof,
either at the place where they are seized, or at the nearest
available slaughter-house } in which latter case they may he
moved for tire purpose of being there slaughtered with a
licence of the Inspector ; and that licence shall be available
for twelve hours, and no longer, and shall specifiy the
slaughter-house to which the animals are to be moved for
slaughter; or the diseased animal", if not slaughtered as
aforesaid, shall be moved, in charge of an Inspector or other
officer of the Loc^l Aurhorily to some conven eat and
isolated place, and shall be there kept for such time as the
Local Authority think expedient, subject, however, to their
being ttiere slaughtered at any time by or at the request of the
owner or person in charge thereof.

C. — Swine-Fever.
(j.) Where sjvine-'ever is so found to exist, the Inspector o
the L .cat Authority s all sjize and detain all tl.e swine affected
with that disease.

(£.) The diseased swine so seized shall, if not slaughtered
at the place wh re they are seiz"d, be moved to the nearest |
available slaughter-house, for the purpose of being there !
forthwith slaughtered, with a licence of the. Inspector.

(/■) Tlie licence shall be available lor twelve hours, and no
longer.

(>«.) The licence shall specify the slaughter-house »o which I
the s vine are to he moved for slaughter, and they shall not be I
moved to any other slaughter-house or j 1 ice.

(n.) The swine so moved shall be moved to the speeded I
slaughter-house, undtr the direclion and in charge of an
Inspector or ether officer of the Local A ithority ; and he sh»II '
enforce and superintend the immediate slaughter there of tie
swine, and shall forthwith report to the Local Authority the
fact of the slaughter there.

fV>.) If the «wine sre to be moved into the district of
another Local Authority, there shall hIso be requisite a licence
of thalo'her Local Authority indorsed on or reierring to tie
first mentioned licenc.

land, water, cow-shed, field, yard, sty, farm, park, or other
place aforesaid at the same time with an animal found to be
aft'-cted with pleuro-pneumonia or loot-and-mouth disease or
swine fever, shall be dealt with in all respects as if
pii man mia or foot-and-mouth disease or swine fever had cot
been lound therein or thereon.

K,— Declaration of In'ected Place by Privy
Council only.
(V.) The Privy Council a'oue. and not any local Authority,
shall have power to make or declare to be an infected place or
part of an infected place that market, fair, sale yard, place of
exhibition, lair, Undine place, wharf, railway station, land,
water, cow shed, fi-ld, yard, st- , farm, park, or other place
aforesaid, or any part thereof, by reason of an animal affi
with pleuro-pneumonia or loot-and-mouth disease, or swine
fever being tound therein or thereon, in any case in which
this article applies.

t\ — Ih'sinfectiou in these Cases.
[>.) In case of an animal be found to be affected with
p'euro-pnrumonia or foot-and-mouth disease or swine fever
in or on a market, fair, sale yard, place of exhibition, lair,
landing place, wharf, railway station, land, water, cow shed,
fieM, yard, sty, farm, park, or other place aforesaid, it shall
not be lawful for the Market Authority or the owner or
occupier of such other place or any person to again use that
portion of the market or other place aforesaid where the
diseased aninul was fouud, —

(K) For cattle where a head of cattle affected with pleuro-
pneumonia is found, —
(ii ) For animals « here an animal affected with foot and

month disease is fouud, —
(iii.) Fir swine where a pig aff.-cted with swine fever i»
found, —
unless and until a Veterinary Inspector has certified that
that portion has been, as far as practicable, cleansed and
disinrecte I,

Reports.

49. The Inspector of the Local Authority acting under
tin. Chapter shsH forthwith report, to the Local Authority
the proceedings taken by him thereunder, and the Local
Authority shall forthwith report the same to the I'rivy
Council.

_ Expenses,

50. The Local Authority may recover the expenses of the
execution by them or by their Inspector or other officer of
the provisions of this Chapter from the owner of the animals
8eizi-J) or from the consignor or consignee thereof, who may
recover the same from the owner by proceedings in any court
of competent jurisdiction.

_ Exception as *o Foreign Animals.

51. Nothing in th's Chapter shall apply to a foreign animals
wharf, or to a foreign animals quarantine Station, or>t£ a
landing p'ace lor foreign animals.

CHAPTER 9.— Movement or Exposure of Diseased
Animals, Horses, Asses, and Mules.
Prohibition.

52. It shall not be lawful for any person- -
(a.) To expose a di-eased or suspected animal, horse, a«s, or

muJe in a market or fair, or in a sale yard, or other public
or private place wheie auinials or horses are commonly
exposed for sale,

(6.) To place a diseased or suspected anima', horse, ass, or
mu'e in a lair or other place adjacent to or connected with a
market or a fair, or where animals or horses are commonly
placed before exposure for sale.

(c.) To send or carry, or cause to be sent or carried, a
diseased or suspeded animal, hors", ass, or mule

r». The swine so moved into the district of that other j "^', CHn '' ri"'T' or inland Mvigat">Di or in a coastin

Local Authority shall be moved to tt"e specified slaughter
house under the direction and in charge of an inspector or
other officer of the Local Authou'v out of whose district they
are moved ; and he shall euforee aud superintend tl e imme-
diate slaughter there of the swiue, and shall forthwith report
to both the Local Authorities the fact of the slaughter
there.

D.— Animals not all ct<d with Plearo-Pnenmonia or
Foot-and Mouth Disease or Swine Fever.
(q ) All animals being in or on the market, fair, sale yard,
place of exhibition, lai , landing-place, v. hurf, railway station,

('/.) To carry lead, or drive, or cause fo be carri' d, led, or
driven, a diseased or suspected animal, hoise, ass, or mule' on
a highway or thorongh'are.

(V.) To place or keep a diseased or s-j-pected animal, horse,

ass, or male on common or uninclose i a field or

pla e insu Hi -ien-'y fenced, or in a field adjoining s hip!,
unless that fitld is so fenced or situate thi herein

cannot in any manner come in contaet with animals passing
along that highway or grazing on the sides tbi

To errze a diseasi • 0rse, ass, or

mule on pasture being on the Bides of a highway.

I 2

100

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE.

(g.) But this article shall operate subject to Articles 11 asd
43 (A.) (B.) and (C.) and 53 providing tor or directing the
movement of diseased animals in cases therein mentioned.
Proceedings in Case of Contravention of Ar'icie 62.
53.— (1.) Where an animal, horse, ass, or mule, is exposed
or otherwise dealt with in contravention of Article 52, the
Inspector or other officer of the Local Authority appointed in
that behalf shall seize and remove at d detain it, and it shail •
be dealt with as lollows : —

A. — Diseased Animals, Horses, Asses.-or Mules,
(e ) If affected with sheep-pox the animal shall be
slaughtered in accordance with the provisions of |
Article 26 ;
(£.) Ii affected with pleuro-pieuraonia or foot-and-mouth
disease the animal shall be dealt with in accordance witn
the previsions of Chapter 8 ;
(e.) If affected with sheep scab the sheep shall, unless
slaughtered, be removed to some convenient and isolated I
place, and be there kept lor such time as the Local j
Authority think expedient ;
(rf.j II Effected with glanders or farcy the horse, ass, or j
mule shall be forthwith slaughtered; and, if not I
slaughtered at the place where it is seized, it may be j
moved under the direction and in charne of an Inspector
-or other officer of the Local Authori'y to the nearest j
available horse slaughterer's or knacker's yard to be there i
slaughtered; and that Inspector or other officer shall
enforce and superintend the immediate slaughter there of j
the horse, ass, or mule, and shall report to the Local :
Authority the fact of the slaughter there ; and
(*.) If affected with swine fever the pig shall be
slaughtered in accordance with Article -14.
B.— Suspected Animals, Horses, Asses, or Mules.
(f.) If suspected the animal, horse, ass, or mule so seized

shall be dealt with as follows :
(i.) The suspected animal, horse, ass, or mule may be
slaughtered hy or at the request of the owner or person
in charge thereof at the place where it is raised ; or
(ii.) The suspects d animal, horse, ass, or mule may be
moved by or at the request of the owner or person in
charge thereorwith a licence of the Inspector to tie
nearest available slaughter house or horse slaughterer's
or knacker's yard for the purpose of being there forthwith
slaughtered; in which latter case the following regu. a-
tions shall apply ;
(g-j The licence shall be available for twelve hours, and no

longer.
fi,} The licence shall specify the slaughter house or horse
slaughterer's or knacker's yard to which the suspected
animal, horse, ass, or mule is to be moved for slaughter,
a;id it shall not be moved to any otlier slaughter house or
horse slaughterer's or knacker's yard or place,
(j.) The suspected animal, horse, ass, or mule so moved
shall be moved to the specified slaughter house or horse
s'aughterer's or knacker's yard uuih r the 6* ec'iuu and iu
charge of an inspector or other officer of the Local
Authority ; and he shall enforce and superintend the
immediate slaughter there of the animal, horse, ass, or
mule, and shall forthwith report to the Local Authority
the fact of the slaughter there.
fi.) if the suspected animal, horse, ass, or mule is to be
moved into the district of another Local Authority,
there shall also be requisite a licence of that other Local
Authority indorsed oa or referring to the first-mentioned
licence.
(I;.) The suspee'ed animal, horse, ass, or mule so moved
into the district of that other Local Authority shall be
moved to the specified slaughter house or horse
slaughterer's or knacker's yard under the direction Hud in
charge of an Inspector or other officer of the Local
Authority out of whose district they are moved ; and he
shall enforce and superintend the immediate slaughter
there of the animal, horse, ass, or mule, aud shail forth-
with report to both the Local Authorities the tact of the
slaughter there ; or
(hi.) The suspected animal, horse, ass, or mule, if not
slaughtered as aforesaid, shall be moved in charge of an
Inspector or other officer of the Local Authority, to some
convenient and isolated place, and shall be there kepi for
such time as the Local Authority think e&pedient,sui jeet,
iiuwestr, to the animal, horse, ass, or mule being there

slaughtered at any time by or at the request of the owner
or person in charge thereof.
(2.) The L^cal Authority may recover the. expenses of trie
execution by them or bv tlrir In-pector or other iffiiv.r of the
foregoing provisions of this Article from the owner of the
animal, horse, ass, or mu'e, or from the consignor or con-
signee thereof who may recover the same from the owner by
proeeedings iu any court of competent jurisdiction.

(3.) tu case of a diseased ani nal, horse, ass, or mule bein^
seized in accordance with t lie provisions of this Article, it shall
not be lawiul for the Market Authority or auy person to again
use or allow to be used for auimals, horses, asses, or mules
that portion of the market or place where the diseased animal,
horse, ass, or mule was fouod,^-

(i ) For animals where an animal affected with cattle

plague or foot-aud-mou'h disease is found, —
(ii.) For cattle where a head of cattle affected with pleuro-
pneumonia is fouud, —
(ni.) For sheep where a sheep affected with sheep pox or

sheep scab is found, —
(ii.) For horses, asse-, or mules where a horse, ass, or mule

sff cted with glanders or farcy is found, —
(v.) For swine where a pig affected with swine fever is
found, —
unless and until a Veterinary Inspector has certified that
that portion has been, as far as practicable, cleansed and
disinfected.
CHAPTER 10. — Removal of Dung or other Things.
54- — It shall not be lawful for any person to send or
carry, or cause to be sent or carried, on a railway, canal,
river, or inland navigation, or iu a coasting vessel, or on a
highway or thoroughfare, any dung, fodder, or litter that has
been in a place infeced with pleuro-pneumonia, foot-and-mouth
disease, sheep-pox or swine tVver, or that has been in any place
in contact with or used about a diseased animal, horse, ass, or
mule, except with a licence of the Local Authority for the
district in which snch place is si'cite, on a certificate of aa
Inspector certifying that the one thing moved baa been, as far
as practicable, disinfected.

C II AFTER 11— Carcases.
Disposal.
55. (1) The carcase of every animal, horse, ass, or
mule—

(a.) that has died of pleuro-pneurnonia, foot-and-mouth

se, sheep pox. sheep scab, glanders, farcy, or swiue

ferer ; or

(6.) that lias bean slaughtered in consequence of being

affected with sheep-pox, glanders, farcy, or swine-fever;

shall be disposed of by the Local Authority as follows:

(i.) Either the L;cal Authori'y shall cau<e the carcase to

be buried as soon as possible in its skin in some proper

pi nee, aud to be covered with a sufficient quantity of

quicklime or other disinfectant, and with not less than six

le.-t of earth.

(ii.) Or the Local Au'hority may, if authorized by licence

Irom the Pri»y Courci1, canse 'he carcase to be destroyed

under the inspection of the L :c al Authority, iu the mode

following. The carcase shall be disinfected, aud shall

then be taken in charge of an officer of the Lical

Authority, to a horse-slaughterer's or knacker's yard

approved for the purpose by the Privy Council, or other

puce so approved, and shall be there destroyed by

exposure to a high temperature, or by chemical

agent".

(2.) With a view to the execn'ion of the foregoing pro »i-

sion oflliis Article respecting burial the Lictl Authority

may, from time to lime, make regulations for prohibiting or

regulating the removal of any tarcise or for scuring the

'. burial of the same.

(S.) Iu every cas^ of destruction the Local Authority shall
forthwith report to the l'r;vy Council the fact and mode o
destruction.

(+.) Where, under this Article, a Local Authority cause a
enrcase to be buried or destroyed, they shall first cause its
*kiu to be so slashed as to be uselees.

(5.) A Local Au'hority may ciuse or allow a carcasn to be
taken into the district ot another Local Authority to be buried
or destroyed, with the previous consent of that Local Autho-
rity, or with a licence in that behalf ol the Privy Council, but
not otherwise.

THB FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

DijrzinK up.
56. It sli.'ill not be, lawful for any person, except with the
licence of the Privy Council, to dig up, or cause to be dug up,
the crease of any annua1, horse, ass, or mule that has been
buried.

CHAPTER. 12.— Si.at-ghtkr-IJ. uses.
DecKntion of Infected Plnce DY Privy Cuuucil only.

57. Notwithstanding anything in the Act of 1875; or
3ti\ Order of Council, a slaughter-house in which an animal

lied with disease or the rarc:is- of a diseased anioial is
found, shall Dot,, by reason thereof, be declared to be an
infected piare, except by the Privy Council.

Keeping of Swine in Slaughter-House*.

58. It shall not be lawful lor any person, iu any case in
which the slaughter of any animal is authorized or required
by or under the Act of 187S, or any Order of Council, to use
for such slaughter any slaughter house in which swine are
kept.

CHAPTER 13— Regulation bt Local Authorities of
Markets, Fairs, a.np other Places.

59. A Local Authority, if authorized by the Privy
Council to put in operation this Article, but not otherwise,
may, from time to time, prohibit or regulate the exposure or
**le of animals, or of a«y particular kind thereof specified by
the Privy Councilor of horse?, asses, or mules, in or at a
market, fair, auction, sale-yird, sale, or exhibition.

PART III.

Disinfection,.

CHAPTER 14.— Water TRArnc.

Vessels.

QO. — (1). A vessel used for carrying animals by ?ea, or on

a canal, r,ver, or inland navigation, shall, after the lauding of

animals therefrom, and bet'ore the taking on board of any,

other animal or other cargo, be cleansed and disinfected as

follows :

(i.) All parts of the vessel with which animals or their
droppings have come in contact shall be scraped and
swept : then
(li.) The same parts of the vessel shall be thoroughly

washed or scrubbed or Bcourwl with water ; then
(iii.) The same parts of the vessel shall have applied to

them a coating ot lime-wash : except that
(iv.) The application of lime-wash shall nut be compulsory
as regards such parts of the vessel as are used lor pas-
sengers dr crew.
(2.) The scrapings and sweepings of the vessel shall not b
Isnd.-d unless and until they have been well mixed with quick-
lime,

(3.) Except that in the case of a ferry-boat or other vessel
which makes short and frequent passages across a river or an
arm of the sea or other water it shall be sufficient if the ferry-
boat or vessel be cleansed and disinfected once in every period
of twelve hours within which it is so used..
Fodder and Litter.
61. All partly consumed or broken foclder that, has been
supplied to, aud all litter that has been ued for or abou%
animals carried by sea, or on a e.aual, river, or inland navi-
gation, shall, when landed from the vessel, .he forthwith well
mixed with quicklime, aud be effectually removed from
con'aot with animals..

Moveable Gangways and other Apparatus.
62---(l ) A moveable gangway or passage-way, cage, or
o'h r apparatus, used or intended for the loading- or uuloading
of anirnah on or from a vessel, or otherwise used in connexion
with the transit of animals by sea, or or. a canal, river, or
inland navigation, shall, as soon as practicable after being so
used, be cleansed as follows :

(i.) Tne gangway or apparatus shall be scraped and swepr;
and all dung, litter, and other matter shall be effectually
removed therefrom ; then
(ii.) Tne. gangway or apparatus shall be thoroughly washed

or scrubbed or scoured with water.
(2 ) The scrapings »nd Bwcepings of the gangway or
apparatus, and all dung, litter, and other matter removed
therefrom shall forthwith be well mixed with quicklime, and
be effectually removed from contact with animals.

CHAPTER 15.— Railway Traitic.
Horse-liuxes.
63. — (1.) A hors(-box.,ueed for carrying horses, asses, or

10!

niuies on a railway sh»ll, on every occasion after a horse, ass,
or mule is taken out of it, and before any other, horse, ass, or
mule, or any animal is placed therein, ba cleansed as follows :
(i.) The floor of the horse-box, and all other parts therei ,"
with which the droppings of horses, assessor mules have
come in coutact sh-all be scraped and swept, and the
ser .ptnirs arid sweepings and all dung, sawdust, fodder, .
litter, and other matter shall be effectually removed there -
trom : and
(ii.) The sides of the. horse-box and all other parts thereof
with which the head or any discharge from the mouth
or nostrils of a horse, ass, or mule has come in contact
shall be thoroughly washed with water by means of a
sponge, brush, or other instrument.
(2.) The scrapings and sweepings of the horse-box, and all
dung, sawdust, fodder, Jitter, and other matter removed
therefrom, shall forthwith be well mixed with quicklime.
Horse-Boxes, Guard's Vans, aud other Vehicles.
64.. — (1 ) A horse-box or a guard's van or other railway,
vehicle (not being a railway truck) if used for carrying animals
on a railway shall, on every occasion after an animal is taken,
out of it, and before any other animal, or any horse, ass, or
mule is placed in it, be cleansed and disinfected as follows ;
(i) It the animal is accompanied by a declaration in writ-
ing of the owner or consignee or his agent to the effect
that it is intended for exhibition or other special purpose
therein stated, and has not, to the best of his knowledge
and beii-'", been exposed to the infection of disease, the
vehicle, shall be cleansed as follows:
(.i.) Tue floor of the vehicle, and all other parts thereof
with which the droppings of the animal have come in-
contact, shall be scraped and swept, and the scrapings
and sweepings, and all dung, sawdust, fodder, litter, .and -
other matter shall be. effectually removed therefrom : and
(£.) The sides of the vehicle, and all other parts thereof,
with which the head or any discharge from the mouth or
nostrils of the animal has come in coutact shall be
thoroughly waTied with water by means of a sponge,
brush, or other instrument : but
(ii.) i If the animal is not accompanied by such a declaration,

the vehicle shall he cleaus-d and disiufeced as follows : .
(c.) The floor of the vehie'e, and all other parts thereof
with which the droppings of the animal have come in
contact, shall be scraped aud swept, and the scrapings and
sweepings, and all dung, sawdust, (odder, Jitter, and other
matter shall be effectually removed from the vehicle :
then
(d.) The same parts of the vehicle shall bs thoroughly

washed or scrubbed or scoured with water: then
(*.) The same parts of the vehicle shall have applied to

them a coating of lime-wash.
(?) The. scrapings and sweepings of the vehicle, and all
dung, sawdust, fodder, .litter, aud other matter removed there--
from shall forthwith be well mixed with quicklime, and be
effectually removed from contact with animals.
Trucks.
65'.— (1.) A railway truck shall, on every occasion after
an animal carried in it on a railway is taken out of it, and
before any other animal, or any horse, ass, or mule is placed,
in it, he cleansed and disin'ec'ed as follows:

(i.) The floor of the truck, and all other parts thereof witlw
which animals or their dropping* have come in conttct
shall be scraped and swept, and the scrapings and sweep-
ings, and all dung, sawdust, litter, . and other matter,
shall be effectually removed therefrom : then
(ii.) The same parts of the truck shall be thoroughly

washed or scrubbed or scoured with water : theu
(iii.) The same parts of the trr.ck shall have applied to -

them a coating of lime-wash,
(2.) The scrapings and sweepings of. the truck, and all
dung, sawdust, litter, and other matter removed therefrom-
shall forthwith be well mixed with quicklime, and be effects
ally removed from contact with animals.
Vans.
66.— (1.) A-van, if used for containing animals, horses,
assessor mules while carried on a railway, shall, on every
occasion alter a diseased or suspected animal, horse, ass, or
mule is taken out of it, and as soon as practicable, and before
any other animal, horse, ass, or mule is i heed in it, be
cleansed aud disinfected as follows ;

102

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

(i.) The floor of the van, and all other parts thpreof with !
which animals, horses, asses, or mules, or their droppings
have come in contact eh.-ill be scraped and swept, and ths
scra^iog^ and sweepings, and all iluug, sawdust, litter,
and other matter shall be effectual removed therefrom:
then
(ii.) The same parts of the van shall be thoroughly washed

or scrubbed or scoured with water-, thpn
(iii.) The same purts of the van shall have applied to them

a coating of lime-wash.
(2.) The scrapings and sweepings of the van and all dung,
sawdust, litter, and other matter removed therefrom shall
forthwith be well mixed with quicklime, and be effectually
removed from contact with animals.

Moveable Gangways and other Apparatus.
67. — (1.) A moveable gangway or passnge-way, cage, or [
other apparatus, used or intended for the loading or unloading
of auimah on or from a railway truck, or other railway I
vehicle, or otherwise used in connection with the transit, of
animals on a railway, shall, as soon as practicable after being I
go used, be cleansed as follows:

(i.) The gangway or apparatus shall be scraped and swept,
and all dong, litter, and other matter shall be effectually j
removed thereforra : then
(ii.) The gangway or apparatus shall be thoroughly Ycished

or scrubbed or scoured with water.
(2.) The scrapings and sweepings of the gangway or appa- ,
7atus, and all dungr litter, and other matter removed therefrom ;
shall forthwith be well mixed with quicklime, and be eff<.c- j
tnally removed from contact with animals.
Tens,
68. Every railway pen shall be cleansed and disinfected,
either on each day on which it is used and after it has been
n ied, or at some time not later than twelve o'clock at noon of
the next following day, unless the following day is Suuday,
and then of the Monday following, and in either case before it
is again used.

69.— (1.) A railway pen shall b: cleansed and disinttcted
as follows ;
(i.) All parts of the pen with which animals or their drop-
pings have come in contact shall be scraped and swept, and
the scrapings and sweepings, and all dung, sawdust, litter,
and other matter shall be effectually removed therefrom :
then
(ii.) The same parts of the pen shall be thoroughly

washed or scrubbed or scoured with water : then
(in.) The same parts of the pen shall have applied to them

a coating of lime-wash.
(2.) The scrapings and sweepings of the pen and all dung,
sawdust, litter, and other matter removed therefrom shall
forthwith be well mixed with quicklime, and be effectually
removed lrom contact with animals.

CHAPTEB 16.— Road Traffic.
Vans.
70. — (1.) A van, when used for moving aninuls, horses,
as f, or mules by road, shall, on every occasion alter a
ised or suspected animal, horse, ass, or mule, is taken out
of it, and as soon as practicable, and before any other animal,
horse, ass, or mule is placed iu it, be cleansed and disinfected
as follows :

(i.) The floor of the van and all other parts thereof with
which aniirr.'s, horses, asses, or mules, or their droppings
lave come iu contact shall be scraped and swept, and
the scrapings and sweepings and all dung, sawdust,, litter,
and other matter shall be effectually removed therelrom :
then
(ii.) The same parts of the van shall be thoroughly washed

or scrubbed or scoured with water: then
(iii.) The same parts of the van shall have applied to them

a coating of lime-wash.
(2.) The scrapings and sweepings of the van, and a'l dung
sawdust, litter and other matter removed therefrom, shall
forthwith be well raked with quicklime, and be effectually re-
moved irom contact with animals.

CHAPTEB 17.— Landing-Places.

7X,_(1.) Where an aminal at a place of landing or pi ice

adjacent tnereto is affected with disease, that, place, and every

other place where the animal is or since lauding has been

hall no* be used for auy animals other than aninuls brought

• to with that animal (iu the Baane vessel oc otherwise)

unless and until the place has been, as far as prarcticabfr,
cleansed and disinfected.

(2.) Nothing iu this Chapter shall apply to a foreign ani-
mals wharf, or to a foreign animals quarantine ttation, or to a
landing-place lor foreign animals.

CHAFFER 18.— Miscellaneous.
K-gulatious of Local Authorities.

72- A Local Authority may, from time to time, make.
regulations for providing lor the cleansing and disinlectiou of
pi ces used by diseased animals, and may prescribe the mole
in which such cleansing and such disinfection are to be effected

Obligation on Occupiers.

73- Where the power of causing a place to be cleansed and
disiuieeted is exercised by a Local Authority or an Inspector
of the Privy Council the occupier of the p'ace shall give alt
reasonable facilities for that purpose.

Substitution in existing Lical Orders-.
74 For the explanation and amendment of certain Orders
of Council having a local operation oi>ly, the following pro-
visions shall have effect s

(i.) In th» . c including paragraphs of the following Orders,
(providing for the movement of cattle affected with pleuro-
pneumonia out of places inhered with iTeurj-pneumonia far
slaughter,)- namely ■-

(a.) 5 October, 1873. — Metropolis.
(// ) 5 October, 1S78.— Edinburgh.
(*.) 25 October, 1878.— Glasgow.
(,/) 13 November, 1878*.— Leith.
(e.) 17 December, 1878. — Edingburghshir" :
Article 7u of this Order shall be deemed to be re-erred to (a»
providiug for the manner in which floats or cattle-vans are to
be cleanaed and disinfec'eri) instead of Article 8 of The
Cleansing and Disinfection Order of 1875.

(ii.) In Article b ot the Order of 14 May 1879, relating
to- the transhipment of animals brought from the United
States of Anerica to the Port ol Hull, and in Article 6 of the
Order of 29 May, 1S79, relating to the transhipment of animals
brought from the United States of America to the Port of
Loudon, Article 80 of this Order shall be denied to be re-
ferred to (as providing fur the manner in which landing-vessels
are to be cleansed and di-inlected) instead of Article 5 of The
Cleansing and Disinfectiou Order of 1S78.

CHAPTER 19.— Ojfe.n es.
75- Ifarty'hing is done or omitted to be done in con'ra-
vennon of any of the foregoing provisions of this Part, the
owner and the charterer and Hie master of the vessel in or in
j respect of which, — and the owner of the gangway or pas-age-
| way, cage, or other apparatus in respect of which, — and the
railway company carrying animals, horses, asses, or mules ou
or owning or working the r.ilway ou which, — and the owner
and the lessee aud the occupier of the railway pen in which,
— and the- person ivsiog the van in which, — and the owner and
the lessee and the occupier of the phce of landing or place
adjacent thereto or other plact in which, — and the owner and
the lessee and the occupier of any other place or thing in as-
pect of which, — (as the case in iy be,) the same is done or
omitted, each according to and in resp ct of his or their own
acts or omissions, shall be deemed guilty of au offence against
the Act of 1878.

CHAPTER 20.— Markets, Fairs, Sai.e-'iards, Places
oi Exhibition, Lairs, a.-vd other Places.

Regulations of L:>eal Authorities.
76. — (I ) A Local Authori*y nwy, from time to time,
make, regulations for the following purposes, or auy ol them '.
For requiring the owners, lessees, or occupiers of markets,
lairs, sale-yards,, places of exhibition,, lairs, or other
ptaees used for animals to cleanse those places, from, lime
to time, at their own t x.pense :
For requiring the owners, lessees, or occupiers of those
places to disinfect the same, or any specified part thereof,
from time to time, at their o-va expense, where, iu the
judgment o1 the Local Authority, the. circums'aucas hm
bucIi as to allow of such disinlectiou .being reasonably
required :
For prescribing the mode in which such cleansing and such

disinfection are to be effected.

(2.) If the owner, lessee, or nccupier of auy such place does

any act in contravention- of aay each regulations, or tails ia

auy respect to observe the same, then, without prejudice to

any other liability consequent thereon, it shall not be, lawful

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

103

for dim or any other person at any time thereafter, without
permission in writing of the Lncal Authority, to hold a
market, lair, sale, or exhibition of animals in that place, or to
use tliat lair i>r place tor animals ; and the holding therein of
any market, fair, sale, cr exhibition of animals, or the ae of
that lair or place for animals, shall be and the same is hereby
prohibited accordingly.

PART IV.

Transit.

CHAPTER 21.— Transit by Water.

Fitting* oi Vessels.

11.— (1 ) Every place used for anim.-t's on btard a vessel

shall be divided into pens by substantial divisions.

(2.) Each pen shall not exceed nine feet in brealt'u, or
filteen feet in length.

(3.) The Hour ol each pen shall, in order to prevent
slipping, be strewn with a proper qaantity of litter or .-and
or other proper substance, or be fitted with batteus or other
proper foot •holds.

(4.) Every such place, if inclosed, shall be ventilated by
means of separate inlet and outlet openings, of such si^e arid
position as will secure a proper supply of air to the place in
ail states of weather.

Overcrowding.
78. A vessel bringing animals to any port or place in
England or Wales or Scotland front any port or place in the
Uuited Kingdom shall not be overcrowded so as to cause un-
necessary sutfering to the animals on board.
Shorn Sheep.
19. Between each first day of November and the next
following thirtieth day of April (bo'h days inclu-ive) shorn
sheep shall not be cirried on the deck of a vessel, except
wnere they were last shorn more than sixty dajs before being
so carried.

Gangways (or Sheep-Pens.
80- Where sheep are. carried on the deck of a vessel,
proper gangways shall be provided eii'ier between or above
the peus in which they are carried.
Detention.

81. Animals landed from a vessel shall, on a certificate of
bu luspector ol the Pi ivy Council, certifying to the effect that
the provisions of this Chapter, or some or one ot them, have
not or has not been observed in the vessel, be detained, at the
place, of landing, or in lairs adjacent thereto, until the Privy
C-'uncil otherwise direct.

CHAPTER 22. — Shipping and Unshipping Palces,

Water.

82. At every place where animals are put on- board of or
lauued from vessels, provision shall be made, to the satisfaction
of the Privy Council, for a supp'y of water for animals ; and
water shall be supplied there, gratuitously, on requeot of any
person having charge of any animal.

Food.

83- At every place where animals are landed from vessels,
prov.siou shall be made, to the satisfaction of the Privy
Council, for the speedy and convenient unshtpraent of animal?,
and for a supply of food fo' them ; and food shall be supplied
there, on request, of any person having charge of any animal,
at such price as the Privy Council from time to time approve.

CHAPTER 28;— Transit by Railway.
Trucks, Horse-Boxes, or other Vehicles.

84- Every railway truck, hor.-e-box, or other railvay
vehicle, used for carrying animals, horses, asses, or mules on
a railway, shall be provided at each end with two spring
b-iflVrs, aud the floor thereof shall,, in ora'er to prevent
slipping, be strewn with a proper quantity of litter or sand
or other proper substance^ or be fitted with battens or other
proper foot-hulds.

Overcrowding.

85. A railway company shall not allow any railway truck,
horse box, or other vehicle used for carrying animals, horses,
asses, or^ruules on the railway to be overcrowded so as to
cause unnecessary suffering to the animals, horses, asses, or
mules therein.

Shorn Sheep.

86 Between each first day of November and the next
folio a ing thirtieth day of April (bo'li days inclusive] every
railway truck or other railway vehicle carrying si eep shorn
and unclothed shall be covered and inclosed so as to piotect
the sheep from the weather, without obstruction to ventila-

tion ; except thai !hw Vrtie'e ihaH n-'t spplv to sheep last
shorn more than sutv days before bein<r so carried.
CHAPTER 24 --Offences.

81- If anything is done or omitted to bs done in coutra-
ven'iou of any of the foregoing provisions of this Part, the
owner aud the charterer and the master of the vessel in whie' ,.
— and t ne owner an-l the lessee aud the occupier of the place
where animals are put on board of or landed from vessels at
whic1', — indthe railway company carrying animals on or
owning or working the railway on which, —and also, in cito
of the over-crowding of a vessel, or of a railway truck, horse-
box, or other vehicle on a railway, or of the carrying on a
railway of sheep shorn and unclothed, the consignor of the
Mnimals in respect of which,— (as the case may be,) the same
ii done or omitted each according to and in rrsject of his or
their own acts or omissions, shall be deemed guilty of an
offence against the Act of 1378.

CHAPTER 25. — Water supply on Railways.

88 The railway companies working the rtilways named
in the Third Schedule shall make a provision of water, to ihe
satisfaction of the Privy Council, at each of the stations
therein named, for animals carried or about to be or having
been carried on those railways.

PART V.

FOREIGN.

CHAPTER 26.— Prohibition.

89. — (1) Unless and until the Privy Council otherwise
order, animals brought Irom any of the following countries
shall not be landed :

The Austrian- Hungarian Empire.

The Dominions of the Kin;; ot the Hellenes.

The Dominions of the King of Italy.

The Principality of Montenegro.

Ihe Principality of Roumauia.

The Dominions of the Emperor of Russia.

The Dominions of the Sultan, including the Provinces of..
Bosnia and Herzegovina.

(2) Unless and until the Pr.vy Council otherwise order,
by special Order relating to Schieswig or to Holstein, or by
any other special Order, or by any general Order, cattle
brought from either of the following countries, and cattle,
sheep, or goats being or ha»f'g been on board a vessel at the
sirne time with cattle so brought, shall not be landed :

Belgium'.

The German Empire.
CHAPTER 2Z.— Foreign Animals subject to Slaugii

TER.

Pons having Foreign Animals Wharves.

GO. The following are the ports at which parti are at the
date of this Order, by special Orders of the Privy Council,
defined as foreign animals wharves :

Birrow-in-Furneis. London.

Bristol. Plymouth (for Naval purposes

Cardiff. only).

Glasgow. Portsmouth (for Naval purposes

Goole. only).

Grimsby. S mthampron,

Hartlepool. South Shields-,

Hull. Sunderland,

Liverpool.

Charge of Animals on Landing.

91. Animals landed in a tore:gn animals wharf shall, .vhert
landed, be placed undir the charge of an Inspector of the
Privy Council ; and, until his arrival, they shall remain under
the charge of the Commissioners ot Customs.
Time for Slaughter.

92- — (1) Auimals landed in a foreign animals wharf
shall be slaughtered within fourteen days after the landing
thereof, exclusive of the day of landing.

(2) The slaughter of the animals may be commenced at
any time after the landing thereof, with the permission of an
Inspector of the Privy Council.

Movement.

93: — (1.) No carcase, fodder, litter, or dung shall be re-
moved Irom a foreign animals wharf except with the per-
raiss'oo of an Inspector of the Privy Council.

(2.) It the luspector of the Privy Council is. of opinion
that any such carcase or thing as aforesaid may introduce
disease, the sa.nie shall be destroyed or otherwise dealt with in

104

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE

accordance with instructions frcm time to time given by tl e
Privy Counci1.

Disinfection.

94. Don? and manure shall, before being removed from
a foreign animals wharf, be disiufected t'J the satish ction of
an Inspector of the Privy Council.

95. Whore an animal in a foreign animals wharf is
affected with diseasp, the portion of the wharf where the
diseased animal is or has been shall not be used for animals
unless and until that portion has bepn c'eansed and disin-
fected to the satisfaction of the Privy Council.

CHAPTER 23— Quarantine
Port having Quarantine Station.
96.— (1.) The following is the only port at which a part
i« at the date of this Order, by special order of the Privy
Council, defined as a foreign animals quarantine station :j
Southampton.
(2.) The aniraaf3 landed in a foreign animals quarantine
*tat on must be intended for purposes of exhibition, or for I
other exceptional purposes to be in each eise approved by the
Privy Council on special applicati m through the Commis-
sioners of Customs.

Charge of Animals on Landing.
97. Animals landed in a foreign animals quarantine
station shall, when landed, be placed under the charge of hu
Inspector of the Privy Council; and, until his arrival, the)
shall remain under the charge of the Commissioners of
Customs.

Conditions of Landing.
98.— (1.) The landing of foreign animals at a foreign
an mals quarantine statiou is subject to the following
conditions :

Firs'. The animals must be accompanied by a declaration
of t ie owner or consignee or his agent, declaring the purposes
fur which each animal is intended.

Second. The animals when landed shall be detained in the
station for snch period as the Privy Couueil in each case
recording to the circumstances direct,

Third. When moved thereout they shall hi accompanied

by—

(a.) A certificate of an Inspector of the Privy Council

certifying that they are free from disease.
(&.) A license of an Inspector of the Privy Council
specifying the place to which and the person to whom
they are to be taken.
Fourth. The Inspector of the Privy Council giving the
licence shall send a copy of his licence to the Local Authority
f.jr the place to which the animals are to be taken.

(2.) It shall not be lawful for any person to take them to
any other place or persou.

Disinfection.

99. Dnng and manure shall, before being removed from a
foreign animals quarantine station, be disinfected to the
uati^fsetion of an Iuspector of the Privy Council.

100. Where, an animal in a foreign animals quarantine
station is atf. cted with disease, the portion of the station where
ike diseased animal is or has been shall not be used for
animals unless and until that portion has been cleansed and
disinfected to the satisfaction of the Privy Council.
CHAPTER 29.— Foreign Animals not subject to

Slaughter or Quarantine.

Countries specified.

101- Unless and until the Privy Council otherwise order,
animals brought from any ol the following countries are.
allowed to be landed without being subject. ULder the Filth
Schedule to the Act of 1S78, or under this Order, to slaughter
tr to quarantine :

Her Majesty's Possessions in North America.

Denmark.

Norway.

Sweden.

Spain.

Portugal.

Place of Lmding.

102.— (1 ) Foreign animals under this Chapter shall rot
be landed at anj place except at a dock, quay, wharf, or other
place of landing approved hy the. Privy Couueil ; and quays,

arves and places of lauding are at the date of thij Order so
aj proved within the ports following ;

Bristol. Liverpool.

Falmouth. London.

Glasgow. Middlesbrough,

Graoton. Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Grimsby. Plymouth.

Hartlepool. Portsmouth.

Harwich. Southampton.

Hull. Suuderland.

Leith. Weymouth.

(2.) Those foreign animals shall be landed in such manner,
at such times, subject to such supervision and control, and
under such regulations as the Commissioners of Customs from
time to time direct.

(3 ) When landed they shall be placed under the eharge of
an Inspector of the Privy Council ; and. until his arrival,
tVey shall remain under the eharge of the Commissioners of
Customs.

(4-.) A quay, wharf, or other place of landing approved for
the landing of foreigu animals under this Chanter, shall not,
during the continuance of snch approval, be used for the
landing or keeping of, or in any way for, animals other than
foreign animals under this Chapter.

(5.) Tiie Privy Council alone, and not any Lacal Authority,
shall have Dower to make or declare to be an infected place, or
part of an ioffeted place, a quay, wharf, or other place of
landing approved for the lauding of foreign animals under
this Chapter.

Conditions of Landing.
103. — (1.) The landing of foreign animals under this
Chap er is aubj-ct to the fi lowing conditions :

Fust. That the vessi 1 in which they are imported has not
within oue month before taking them on board, had on
biard any animal exported or carried coastwise from a
pen < r place in any country o'her than a country named
in Article 101, or from a port or place in the Channel
Islands or in the Isle of Man.
Second. That the vessel has not, since taking on board the

animals imported, entered any such port or place.
Third. That the annuals imported have not, while on board
the vesse;, been in uontast wi h any animal exported or
carried coastwise from ai y snch port or place.
(2.) And the animals imported shall not be landed else-
where 'hm in a for i^n annuals wharf, uuLss and until —
(a.) The owner or charterer of the ve-sel in which they
are imported, or his agent in England or Wales or
Scotland, has entered into a hond to Her Majesty the
Queen, in a sum not exceeding oue thousand pounds,
with or without a surety or sureties to the satisfaction of
the Commissioners of Customs, conditioned for the
observance of the foregoing conditions ; and
(6.) The master of the vessel has on each occasion of im-
portation of foreign animals therein satisfied the Com-
missioners of Customs or their proper officer hy
declaration made and signed or otherwise, that all the
auimals then imported therein are properly imported
according to the provisions of this Article.
Twelve Hours Detention.
104. — (1.) Foreign animals under this Chapter shall be)
detained in some lair or other proper place adjacent to the
j lace of landing.

(2.) The detention shall continne for at least twelve honrs
reckoned from ihe time of the landing of the last animal of the
cargo, whether the whole cargo is landed continuously wi'hout
intermission at one place, or part thereof is landed at one
pi tee and pirt at another place, or parts thereof arc landed at
different times at the same place.

Examination and Consequences.
105. — (1.) Foreign animals under this Chapter shall not
be moved from the place of landing or lair or other place ad-
jicent thereto, orbeallowed toexne in contact with any
other animals until they have been examined by an Iuspector
or the Privy Council.

(2.) If on such examination all the animals landed from the
same vessel are found free from disease, they shall thereupon
cease to be deemed foreigu auimils (except for tie. purpose of
paragraph (7) ot Section ihirty of the act of 1878).

(3.) If on such examination any one or more of the
auimals landed from a vessel is or are found affected with
disease, all ihe disused animals being affeoted with one and

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

10&

Ihesame di»»ns", then all the animals then brought in that
vessel shall be dealt with accordini! to the followiug Rules :
A- — Cattle-Plague.
If the disesse is cattle-plague, the Inspector of the Privy
Council .shall d> tain all the animals then brought iu the vessel,
and report immediately to tile Privy Council.
B. — Pleuro-Pneumonia.
If the disease is plearo-pnenraonia, the Inspector of the
Privy Comicil shall cause the diseased cattle, and all cattle,
brought in the bame vessel therewith, to be dealt with as
follows:

(a.) The diseased cattle shall be slaughtered at the place of

landing.
(b ) The cattle not diseased shall be slaugh'ered at the
place of landing, or, if landed at a port at which there is
a foreign animals wharf, may with the permission of
the Inspector of the Privy Council be removed into that
wharf lor slaughter ; but Dot elsewhere.
C. — Foot -and -Mouth Disease.
If the disease is foot-and-mouth disease, the Inspector of
the Privy Council shall cause the diseased animals, and all
cattle, sheep, and swine brought in the same vessel therewith,
to he dealt with as follows :

(a.) The diseased cattle, sheep, and sivine shall be slaughtered

at the place of landing.
('».) Ihe catle, sheep,, and swine not diseased shall be
slaughtered at the place ol landing, or,, if lauded at a port
at which there is a loreign animals wiiarff may with the
permission of the Inspecor of the Privy Council be re-
moved into that w-har1 lor slaughter ; but not elsewhere..
D. — Sheep-Po* or Sheep-Scab,
If the disease, is sheep-pox or sheep-scab, the Iuspector of
the Privy Council shall cause the diseased sheep, and all sheep
brought in the same vessel therewith, to be dealt with as
follows :

(a.) The diseased sheep shall be slaughtered at the glace of

landing.
(<5.) Tne. sheep not diseased shall be slaughtered at the
place of landing, or if landed at a port at which ttiere is a
foreign animals wharf, may with the permission of the
Inspector of the Privy Council be removed iuto that
wharf for slaughter; but not elsewhere;
£. — Swine-Fever..
If the disease is swine-fever, the Inspector of the. Privy
Ci Uucil shall cause the diseased swme, and all swine brought
in t lie same vessel therewith, to be dealt with as loliows :
(a.) The diseased swine shall be slaughtered at the place of

landing.
(£.) The swine not diseased shall be slaughtered at the
* place of landing, or, if landed at a port at whicr there
is a foreign animals wharf, may with the permission of
the Inspector of the Privy Council be removed iuto that
wharf for slaughter ; but not elsewhere.
(4-.) If on such examination any two of the following three
diseases (nameK) (a) pleuropneumonia, (b) sheep- pox and
sheep-scab (reckoned as one disease), and \c) swine-fever are
found to exist among the animals landed irom the vessel,
th-n all the animals then brought in the vessel shall be dealt
with according to the following Rules :

F. — Pleuro-Pneumonia and Sheep-Pox or Sheep-Siab.
If the diseases are pleuropneumonia and sheep-pox or sheep-
s;ih, the cattle of the cargo shall be dealt wi'h in accordance
witli Ilule B, and the sheep of the cargo sha.l be dealt with in
accordance with Rule D.

G. —Pleuro-Pneumonia and Swine-Fever.
If the disease are plenrn-pneumonia end swinp-fever, the
cattle of the cirgo shall he dealt with in accordance with Ru e
B, and the swine of the cargo shall be dealt with iu ace rdance
with Rule E.

H. — Sheep-Pox or Sheep-Scab and Swim--Fever.
If the di eases are sheep-pox or sheef-scab and swine-'ever,
the sheep of the cargo shall be dealt with in accordance with
Rale 0, and tlie swine of the cargo shall be dealt with in
accordance with Rule £.

Continuance of One Cargo.
106. For the purposes of this Chapter all animals brought
at the same time in the same vessel shall be deemed to continue
and be one cargo during the time of the twelve hours or other
detention, whether they are all landed continuously without
utermissiou at ono place, or some of them are landed at one

place and some at another place,. or some of them are landed
at one time and some at another time at the same place.

107. Where an animal forming part of o >e cargo of for-
eign animals under this Chapter has not been kept separate
from an animal forming paifeoi another cargo of foreign
animals, all the animals forming those two cargoes shall be
dealt with as il they formed one e:iru'".

Detention of Suspected Animals..

108- An Inspector of the Privy Council may detain, for
any period that he thinks necessary or proper, any foreign
animal under this Chapter which he has reason to s'uspect is
diseased or may introduce disease.

Movement.

109. — (1.) No animal, carcase, fodder, litter, or dung
shall be removed from the lair or other place adjacent to the
place of landing where foreign animals under this Chapter are
detained, except with the permission, of an Inspector ol the
Privy Conncil.

(2.) If the Inspector of the Privy Council is of opinion that
any such animal or thing, as aforesaid may introduce disease,
the same shall be slaughtered, destroyed", or otherwise dealt
with in accordance with instructions from time to time given
by the Privy Council.

Disinfection.

110. Where an animal at a place of landing, or in a lair-
or other place under this Chapter, i* affected with disease, the
portion of the phce of landing, lair, or other place where' the
diseased animal is or has been shall not be used for animals
unless and until that portion has been cleansed and disinfected.
to the satisfaction of the Pri\y Council.

Lauding of other Foreign Animals.

111. Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the landing of
any loreign animal at a foreign animals wharf if the ow„er of
the animal or his agent in England or Wales or Scotland, or
the consignee thereof, so desires.

CHAPTER 30,-Ciiannel Islands.

112. Unless and until t he Pr vy Council otherwise order
animals brought Irom the Channel Islands shall be subject to
the provisions of Chapter 29.

CHAPTER 31.— Isle or Man.

113. Uuless and until the Privy Council otherwise order,
annua s brought from the Isle of Man are allowed to be, landfd.
without being subject under the Fifth Schedule to the Act of
1878, or under this Order, to slaughter or to quarantine, or to
the provisions of Chapter 29.

CfcUPl'Elt 32.— Snrr-s Cows and Goats.

114. Unless and until the Privy Council otherwise order,
a cow or goat taken on board a vessel in England or Wales or
Scotland for the purpose of supplying the passengers or crew
of the vessel with milk on a voyage shall not on being landed
in England or Wales or Scotland at the end of the voyage be
deemed to be a ft reign animal, if the Commissioners ol Cus-
toms are, before the same is landed, satisfied that it has been
taken Irom Eogland or Wales or Scotland, and has not been
landed in a loreign country, and has not been in contact
with, or on board the same vessel with, any diseased foreign
animal.

CHAPTER 33.— Miscellaneous.
Other Animals with Foreign Animal*.

115. All animals lor the time bHug in a foreign animals
whan, oriu a foreign animals quarantine station, or in a pl«-e
of landing for foieign animals within Chaptei 29, shall be
deemed loreign animals; and the regulations relating to the
whirl, or station, or place of landing shall apply to all those
animals.

Disinfection of Persons and Clothes.

116." Where an Inspector of the Privy Council, or the-
pei sou in charge of a foreign animals wharf, or o! a foreign
animals quarantine s'ation, or of a place of landing for
foreign animals within Chapter 29, affixes at or near the
entrance thereof a notice to the fffct that persons entering
that wharf, or station, or place will be required belore leaving
to disinfect themselves and their clothes, then, every person
shall on being requested comply with the terras ot that noiice.
Foreign Animals injured on Voyage;

117. Notwithstanding anything in this Part, where a
vessel comes into port having on board foreign animals maimed
or injured on the voyage, the owner, consignee, or othrr person
in charge thereof, or the master of the vessel, shall, if directed

106

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

by an lupec'or of t'-ie Privy C unci I, or mav, i( he thinks ft>,
Blau<riiter those animal* or any of th m immediately on their
b°iug landed ; but the carcase of any such animal is not to be
mived from the place of landing, or some lair or slaughter-
house adjacent thereto approved by the Privy Council, wrhont
a certificate from the Inspector of the Privy Council certifying
that it is not likely to introduce disease.
Carcases.

US (1.) Tf 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, bat has died on the voyage, t'-e
master of the vesr-ei shall, immediately on arrival, report the
fact to the Principal Officer of Customs at the port.

(2.) The carcase shall not be landed or discharged from
the. vessel without the permission iu writing of the Principal
Olficer.

General Power of Detention.

119. Where it appears to the Principal Officer of Customs
with respect to any foreign animal, horse, ass, or mule, or any
fodder or o; her article, brought by sea, that disease may be
thereby conveyed to animals, hordes, asses, or mules, he may
seize and detain the. same; and he shall forthwith report, the
facts to the Commissioners of Customs, who may give such
directions as they think fit, either for the slighter or destruc-
tion or the further detention thereof or lor the restoration
thereof to the owner on such conditions, if any, (including
payment by the owner of expenses incurred by them in respect
of detention thereo',) as they think fit.

Duties oi Local Authorities and Pulic.

120. Where any regulation relatiog to foreign animals is
in operation, the Local Authority and all constables and police
officers shall assist the Inspector of the. Privy Council to carry
the same in»o effect and to enforce the same, and shall do or
cause to be done, all things from time to tune necessary lor the
eftctual execution of the same.

PART VI.

General.

CHAPTER 3L— TFsrFCTORs a^d Notice or Disease.

Exceptional Qualification of Veterinary Inspector.

121. The following is hereby approved as the qualification
of a veterinary practitioner (not being a member of the Ro; al
College of Veterinarv Surgeons, or, in Scotland, not holding
the Veterinary Certificate of the Highland and Agricultural
Society of Sen-land), to be a Veterinary Inspecter of a Local
Authority in England or Wales or Scotland, namely, — that
he was emplo\ed° by thac Local Authority as an Inspctor or
Veterinary Adviser under The C .ntagious Distases (Animals)
Act, 1869.

Ontioiial Notice of Disease or Illness.

122. Any person having in his possession "r under his
charge, an auimal affected with disease, or with any illness, or
suspected of being so affected, besides giving such uotice to a
constable as he is required by Section thirty-one of the Act of
1878 to give, mav, if he thinks fit, give notice of the fact of lhe
animal being so affected, or suspected, to the Inspe tor of the
Local Authoritv.

Dntv of Inspec'or to act immediately.

123. An Inspector of a Local Authority on receiving in
auy manner whatsoever information of the supposed existence
of disease, or having reasonable ground to suspect the exist-
ence of disease, shall proceed with all practicable speed to the
place where the disease, according to the information received
by him exists, or is suspected to exist, and shall there and
elsewhe're put in force and discharge the powers and duties by
or under the Act of 1878, and any Order of Couucil, con-
ferred and imposed on him as Inspector.

forms.

124.— (L) The. forms for use by an Inspector and (lie
forms of movement licence given in the First Schedule, with
such variations as circumstances require, may be used for the
purposes of the Act of 1878 and of ibis Order.

(2 ) Forms ol movement licence which have been before the
making of this Order prepared for use by a Local Authority
under any former Order of Council may be used, as far as tin y
are suitable, for the purposes of this Order.

Weeklv Returns to Privy Council.

125. Where an Inspector of a Local Authority finds in his
district pleuro-pneumoma, foot-and-mouth disease, sheep-pox,
glanders, farcy, or swine-fever, he shall forthwith make a
re' urn thereof to the Local Authority and to the Privy Council,
ou a lorni provided by the Privy Council, with all particulars

therein required, and shall continne to so make a return thereof
on the Saturday of every week uutil the disease Ins ceaa-d.
Food and Wa'er during Detention.
120. An Inspector, officer, or constable detaining an
animal, horse, ass, or mule under the Act of 1878 or any
Or'er of Council, sha'l canse it to be supplied with requisite
food and wa'er during i;s detention ; and the expenses incurred
by him iu respect thereof may be recovered from the person
having charge of the animal, horse, ass, or mule, or from its
owner, by proceed. ngs in any court of com.' etent jurisdiction.
Notice to Privy Council as to Inspectors.
127- Whenever a Veterinary Inspectoi or an Inspec'o- is
appointed under Section for'y-two of the Act of 1878, or there
is any change in the name or address or district of a Veteri-
nary Inspector or Iuspector, the L 'Cil Authority shall forth-
with report the same to the Privy Council.

CHAPTER 35.— Miscellaneous.

Report to Privy Council or Declaration of Freedom from

Disea-e.

128. A Local Authority declaring by order a place to be
free trom disease sh:<ll forthwith ieport to the Privy Council
the fact of such declaration haviug been nude.

Withholding of Compensation.

129. A Local Authority before determinine, under para-
graph (7) of Section thirty of the Act of 1*78, to withhold,
either wholly or partially, compensation or o'her payment in
respect of an animal slaughtered by their order, shall give to
the owner of the animal an opportunity of m king^ representa-
fins to them respecting the facts and cireuuistauces of the
ca e, and shall consider the same.

Ascertainment of Value for Compensation.
130- — (I.) Where, in England or Wales, an animal is
slaughtered by order of a Local Authority, they shall within
six days after the slaughter give to the owuer of the animal
no'ice in writing of the valuation thereof made by them.

(2.) If the owner does not within six days after the receipt
of that notice give to the Local Authority, or their Inspector
or other officer, a counter-n >Uc* in writing sta'inar to the
effVct that he disputes the vtl-iation made by the Local Au-
thority, the compensation shall be paid on that valuation.

(3.) If the Local Authority fail to give such a notice, or if
the owner gives such a counter-notice, as aforesaid, then the
question of the value of the animal shall by virtue of this
Order stand referred to the arbitration of a single arbitrator,
who shall make his a*a d ready lordelivery within Beven days
alter he is appointed ; and the provisions of The Common Law
Procedure Act, 1351, shall apply to lhe refirence and arbitra-
tion.

(L) If, on the arbitration, a higher valuation is awarded
than the valuation made by the Luctl Authority, then the
Loctl Authority shall he liable to and shall bear and pay all
the expenses of the arbhr tion, and all costs of the owner
reasonably and properly incident to the proceedings thereiu,and
their own costs of those proceedings.

(5.) O : her wise, the Local Authority shall be liable to aud
shall bear and pay one half of the expenses of the arbitration,
and their own costs of the proceedings therein, but no further
expenses or costs.

(6 ) All such expenses and costs pr.ii by the Local Authority
shall be part of their expenses under the Act ol '1873.
Recoid of S'anghter.
131. Every Local Authority shall keep, in the form given
in tne. Second Schedule, or a lorm to the like < ffeet, a record
relative to animals slaughtered by their order, stating the par-
ticulars indicated in the form given in that Schedule, with
such variations as circumstances require.

Orders ai d Regulations o! Local Authorities.

132- Every order or regulation mule by a Loci Authority
uudrr. any Order of Council shall be pub ished by advertisement
in a uewspapsr circulating in the district of the Local Autho-
rity, or iu such other manner as the. L cal Authority con-
sider best fitted to insure publicity for the same.

133- A Local Authority mav, from time to time, by auy
order or regulation revoke or alier any former order or regu-
lation made by them under the Act ol 1373 or auy Order of
Council.

134. Every Local Authority shall send to the Privy
Council a copy ol every order or regulation made by them.

135- If the Privy Council are SHtisfu-d on inquiry, with
respect to any order or regulation made by a Local Authority

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

under the Act of 1S73 or under any Order of Council, that
the *>me it of too restrictive a character, or otherwise objeo-
tionsble, and direct the lrvocation thzreo1', the same shall
tli' r. nil in cea8fl to operate.

136- All orders and regulations made by a Local Autho-
rity nuder any former 0 der of Council and in force at the
commencement of this Order shall, as far as the same are not
varied hy or inconsistent wi'h this order, remain in force
until altered or revoked hy the L cal Authority.
Printed D cuments and Forms.

13V- Except where otherwise provided for in any Order
of Council, a L>c»l Authority shall provide and supply, with-
out charge, printed copies of documents or forms requisite
uuder the Act of 1878 or any Order of Council.

C. L. Peel.

Then fol'ow the Schedules, which give forms aud licenses
of various kiuds in connection with the Orders.]

LIST OF RAILWAY STATIONS AT WHFH WATER
IS PROVIDED FOR ANIMALS IN TRANSIT.

Aberdeen

Aberfeldy

Abergavenny

Abergwilly

Abermule

Aberys'wyh

A"crmgton

Afon Wen

Alfnrd

Almond Bank

Alness

Alnwick

A'sager

Alston

A'ton

Alvefcot

Alvth

Ampthill

Andover

Annan

Appledore

Arbroath

Ardler

Androeowi

Ardwick

Arundel

Ashbaarne

Ash ord

Birkenhead (Shore Chelmsford

Road) Chester

Birmingham Ches'erfield

Bishop Auckland Chichester
Bishops S'ortford Chippenham
Bishopstoke Juuctin Cirencester

Blackburn
R'ackford
B air Atbole
Blairgowrie

Blencow

Bletchley

B'ythe Bridge

Boat of Garten

Bodmio Road

Bolton

Bonar Bridge

Bordesley

Boronghb iJge

Boston

Botley

Brad lord

Braintree

Brtchin

Brecon

Brentwood

Bridge of Dun.

Bndgewater

Ashton un.ler-Lyne Bridlington

A«pafria

Auohterarder

Auldgirth

Axmin-ter

Aylesbury

Ayr

lineup

Bsia
Ball'ror*

Ball. >eh

Ban) try

Banff

Bangor

B ii month

Barnard Castle

Barnet

Birnsl y

Barnstaple

Barrhead

Barrow

Basiugstoke

Bath

Beattock

Beccles

Bed ale

Bedford

Beeston Castle

Bedford

Berwick-on-Tweed

Beverley

Bicetter

Brighonse

Brighton

B'isto]

Brockholes

Bromsgrove

Brougbton

B'oughty Ferry

Builth

BalgilJ

B 'rnley

B'irntisland>

Burton

Bury

Chekheatou

Clifton

Clitheroe

Cickermouth

Colchester

Coldstream

Colne

Congleton

Conway

Corbridge

Corwen

Cosham

Coupar Angus

Coventry

Craven Arms

Crediton

Creetown

Cresswell

Grewe

Crew kerne

Criccieth

Crieff

Croston

Cupar

T>.lkeith (or Esk

hank
©niton
Dilwhinnie
Darlington
Dartford
Denbigh
Denny
Derby
I> reham
Dewsbury
Didcot

Bnry St. Edmonds Dingwall

Bhtiingtuu

Bu-xton

Oaerwys

Colander

Cambridge

(/amp Hill

Canterbury

Cardiff

Carlisle

Carmarth' a

Carnarvon

Cam forth

Carnoustie

Castle Douglas

Casileton

Chathurn

Chatham

Dolgelly (Joint Stat)

D incaster

Dorches'er

Dorking

D uoe

Dover

Driffield

Dnbton

I) .J ley

Dmnfiiei

Dunbar

Dunblane

Dundee

Dunfermline

Duukeld

Duuiuow

Dunning
Dnnse
E.st Linton
Ecclefechan

Edinburgh

Egges'ord

Elgin

Ellon

Elsenhara

Elstree

Ely

Epping

Errol

Bttily Heath

Eve.-hani

Exeter

Fakenham

Falkirk

Farelum

Farnbori iigli

Faruham

Fsrningham Road

Faversham

Ferry hi 11

Fleetwood

Fordoun

Forfar

Forres

Forteviot

Four Crosses

Fourstones

F'rome

Fullerton Bridge

Galashiels

Gtrstang

Gporgemas

G'ggleswick

Giilingham

Girvan

Glamis

Glasgow

Glas'onbury

Gloucester

Gl'ispie

Goole

Gosport

6 ahamston

Gram pound Pcoad

Grantham

Granton

Grandtown

Gr vesend

Great Yarmouth

Greinlnaoing

Greenock

Grimsby

Grosraont

Guild'ord Junction

Guthrie

Gwyddelwern

l! aldington.

Hadieigh

11 tilsham-

Halesworth

Halifax

Haltwhistle

li.m Street

llareeastle

Harlech

Harles'on

Harling Road

Hsrlington

Harlow

Harrow

Harwich

Hastings

Hatfield

Havant

Hawick

Hay

Haydon Bridge

Headeorn

Jleadingley

Ilebden Bridge

HeekmoudwiKe

Hendon

Hereford CBartoD)

H.rne B.il

Hertf rd

Hexh un

Hey lord

Higbbridge

Hi.lilnndman

High Wycombe

Hii.dley

Hitehin

Hogh'on

Holmfirth

Honiton

Holyhead

Horley

Hornby

Horsebridge

Horsham

Huddervfield

Hull (Goods)

Huntingdon

Hunily

Ingatestone

Invergordon

Inverness

Inverurie

Ipswich

Ivy Bridge

Keith

Kelso

Kendal

Keswick

Kettering

Kibworth

Kidderminster

Kilmarnock

Kinbuck

K'ngton

Kingusvie

Kinri ss

Kirk by Stephen

Kirkcudbright

Kirkliam

Kittybrewster

Kuaresborough

Knighton

Knott ingley

Lidybank

Lairg

Lampeter

Lanark

Linca-ter

Lap ford

L ii bert

Laurenckirk

L amington

Leeds

Leek

Leeraing Lane

Leicester

Leigh

L uhton

Leith (South)

Leominster

Lenchars

Lewea

L^yburn

Lichfield

Lid lord

Lincoln

Linlithgow

I.iphook

Liskeard

Littlehampton

Littleport

Liverpool

L'unddo

Llandovery

LUufyllia

L anidloes

Llanymynech

Lockerbie

London

L mgport

Long Preston

Longtown

Lougbboro'

Louth

Low .Moor

Ludlow

Luton

Lynn

Lytham

Macclesfield

Machynlleth

Madeley

M..gor

Maidstone

Maldon

Malton

Manchester

Manningtree

Mmsfieid

March

Margate

Market Drayton

Market Harhoro'

Market Weighton

Markinch

Marsbfield

Miryport

Masborough

Meigla

Mellis

Melmerby

Melton

Merthjr

Methley

Methven

Micheldever

Middlesborough

Midhnrst

Ml fed

Milium

Milton

Minster

Mii.s'erley

Mirfifld

Mold

Monmouth

Montgomery

Montrose

Mor. cimbe

Moreton

Morpeth

Moulsford

Muir of Ord

Nairn

Narbeth

Neath

Newark

Newbridge-on-W -e

Newbury

Newcastle

Newhaven

Newmarket

New Milford

Newport (Moo.)

Newport (Salop)

Newton Abbot

Newton Stewart

Newtown

Norbnry

N'innauton

Northallerton

Northampton

North Dean

108

North Tawton
Northwioh

N irton

Norwich (Trowse)

Nottingham

Nuneaton

Oakamoor

Oik ham

Okehampton-

Oldham

Oui MelJrum

Ongar

O.mskirk

Oswestry

Oxenholme

Oxford

Pad dock Wood

Paisley

Peebles

Pembroke

Penrith

Penruddock

Penzance

Penh

r. teriiOro1

Prtersfield

l'eveiisry

Pickering

Pie I

Plmbo Lane

Pipe Gate

Pi lochry

Pluckley

Plymouth

Pontefract

Portm-idock

Purtpatrick.

PoltMDOUth

Preston

Pulborough

Pwllheli

Queen borough.

R..dcliff«

Raimord Junction

Ramsbo'tom

Rarasgate

Rawtenstall-

Reading

Red Hill

Reed ham

Reigate

Ret:ord

iihajader

Khuddlan

Rhymney

Richmond

Ringwood

Ripon

Rocester

Rochdale

Rom lord

Rom spy

RoMierharn

R.gby

Rugeley

TKE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Ru'hin

Rye

Saffron Walden

Sr. Albans

St. Andrews

St. As*ph

S'. .Austell

St..Boswells

Sr. Ives

Sallord

Salisbury

Samplord Goartnay

Sandal

Sauiion

Sandwich

Sanquhar

Saxniundhara

Seanur J-unction

Seiby

Sernley

Settle

Sh a I lord

Sheffield

Shresbury

Si I loth

Sirhovvy

Sittingbonroe-

Skipton

9;eatord

Slough

Sineeth

Siaith

Sole Street

Soulhall

Southampton

South St<.ck'on

Soyterby Bridge

Spalding

Stafford

Staleybridge

Stamlnrd

Staplehiirst

Ste) Jlillg.

Slirling

Stockbridge

Stockton

Stoke

Stoue

Stonehaven

Stowm arket

Stranraer

Stratford

Stratlord-on-Avon

Strood

SudLury

Sunderland-

Surbiton

Swilfhsm

Swansea

Swindon

Syston

Tain

Talgarth

Tiunworth

'laiteuhall Road

Tauuton

Tavistock

Tavport

Tebay.

Tewkesbury

Thame

Thames Haven-

Tlursk

Tnoruhill

Thrap-s-'on

Three Cocks Jnnc.

Tnrelkeld

Tilbury

Tivertcn-

Todmonlen

Torrington

Totnes

Tottenham

Tow ne ley

Tregaron

Tioutbeck

Trowbridge

Truro

TuUiliardine

Tnnbri tge

Turriff

Tut bury

Tweed mouth

Tw) ford

Llverston

Uraberleigh.

I'ttox&ter

Wakefield

\\...<h.m

Warrington

Warwick

Watford

Wellingboro*'

Well,

Welshpool

We in

West Hartlepool

Weslon

W <> month

Wetherby

Whitchureh

Whitehaven

\A bitmore

Wigan

Wigton

Wini bourne

Winches e-r

Winchfield

Wisbeach

Witham

Woking

W olverhnmpton

Wolverton

Worcesti r

Wrexham

Wroxham

Wj mondham

"Yiirm

Yeovil

York

THE FROST AND VEGETATION.— The damage to
vegetation by the frost, with which the winter commenced,
has now become painfully apparent in the whitening of the
letfage ot evergreen trees, aud the apparent death of many
subjects that have, until now appeared unhurt. We tear tlM
spnug will reveal a very large amount of loss. For the
present we advise that the unsightly masses of blanched leafage
on evergreen trees be lelt untouched. It will at least serve to
protect the sound wood that, may yet be lelt in the eveut of
another severe Irost. It will be early enough to prune the
trees wbeu the spring is somewhat advanced. — The G.tnhncrs
Magazine,

BAD SEASONS.

The year now closed has been ngricultu-ally the worst ex"
penenced in this generation, though in Sco' land *i's character
was partia'ly redeemed by the good months of October and
November. To find a parallel season we go back to 1816 and
1799. Old farmers can rt collect something of the " wet years"
1816 and 1817. Tne time was in several respects not unlike-
the present. There had been a long period of agjicu tural
prosueri'y ; and iu soma years during the. war it was said that
a large farmer in Roxburghshire cou:d pay his rent out of one
wheat field. The high prices reached in 1S15 had suddenly
ooliapsid; and the trial to farmeis was aggravated by the
passing of Peel's Currency Acf, which so changed the value c£
money that rents and other bargains made when the nominal
pound was worth only fifteen shillings had to be implemented
when it had come to be wor.h twenty shillings, and when the
enhanced purchasing pewer of money had lowered the prices
o1 grain, butcher meat, and other commodities in like propor-
tion. The season, also, was extrene y ine'eraent. Winter was
so protracted that ou the 16th of M .y Arthur's Seat and the
Pentlatids were covered with suow, and sheep were dying by
the score. June was the wettest month of the year ; and after
the first week of June the sun was scarcely seen during the
whole summer. Like the year 1879, it was a summerof cloud, .
rain, wind, and fo^s. In August and September the wind aud
r:iin were incessant. Ou the list day of August there was a
violent tempest ; aud or the second ol September there was a
fall of snow in some parts of England. The cucumbers and-
French beans iu the market ganieus round the city of Ely were ■
all destroyed. by frost. Not till the 10th o' Oc'ober was there
a gleam of unshine ; and then the lavourab'e change was
both too late and too brief. Harvest in the early districts on
Tweedside began about the first » eek of October ; and a a>onth ■
later, when much grain was in the fields, and most of the crop
in higher districts was uncut, came on a heavy snowstorm. Ou
the 10th of November the snow was so deep in Iuverness-
shire that lives were lost. The grain was nearly all in the

fields.

Pota*ops were bad and few, but ou these, with salt herring,,
poor people had to subsist. A Berwickshire working man
narrates how the supply in his father's house had dwindled
till they were nearly finished ; and the mother of the family
never niter, d the p ntry without, a sigh and an expiession of
wonder what in the world would be dons when the potatoes
were finished. An accident hastened the dreaded result. The
house opened into a straw court, where some lar^e hungry,
homed cuttle, which should have been eating turnips, were
subsisting on bad straw. One of the animals had found its
way to the potatoes, and wbeu the good woman belaboured its-
heels the beast, struck out, but continued to eat. Getting,
between its horns and the wall, the poor mother, with b'ov/s
of the tongs on its forehead, made the animal back out ; aud'
then, in company with her children, sat down to cry over the
test potatoes. We need not wonder that in such a teason
there was an unprecedented scarcity of honey; but, on the
other hand, fish were abundant.

The markets in 1816 rose rapidly; but as farmers had little
to sell, and as rents were high, they got no benefit. The only
way in which decent flour could be made was by mixing a
quantity of old wheat among the new, and happy were farmers
who had a supply ol old grain. In January wheat brought
6.2s. 6d. per t;r ;.but in May it had risen to 76s. Iu August it
was 82s.; in October it was U3s. ; and in. December it had risen
to 103s. per quarter. In June, 1817, it was Ills. 6J. per
quarier, after which it declined ; but in December that year it
was still Sis. 6J. ].er quarter.

After two bad season", the nnjirity of farmers found them-
selves insolvent in 1818 ; and many were seriously discussing
the question ot emigration, getting books to read concerning
the colonie«, where, it was thought, a subsistence could be
found. Jusi then some of the. landords made a compromise
with their tenants. 'Ihe late Colonel Hay of Dun-e Castle,
for example, announced to all his tenants that he would abate
their rents 20 per cent, for two years, alter which they would
be st liberty either to quit their funis or enter on a new lease
at the reduced rate. All the fanners on the estate remained,
with great advantage, as it proved, both to themselves and
their landlord. With ISIS prices fell, and farmers, after their
previous losses, and with low prices for all kinds of produce,

THE FARMERS1 BIAGA2TSTB.

i 08

had a hard struggle, till tl>e year 1S—4, when the. finest crop
°f t)i is century »p.* reaped, and as prices had risen with the
increased prosperity of the country, the profits ol that exceed-
'nif ly prosperous year completely set the farmers again on
the:r feet.

It was a notable circumstance that while there whs so much
rain in the south of Europe, there, was a long continuation of
dry weather in the norlh-"as". At St. 1 V'erhurg in the months
of June and July, the dry weather was remarkable :
and at Riga and Dautztg public prayers were offered for
rain.

A worse year than 1816 was "the black year," '799. In
the. middle of February that year many persons perished
throng'-i the severity of the weather. On the 6ih of April
came on a snowstorm of uncommon severity. It caught the
mail from Edinburgh to London at Newcastle, at seven in the
morning, and fell faster than they had ever seeu snow fall
before till six at night. Long before that time the coach had
-stuck, and the guard scrambled away ci hor-eback with the
letters. In London, the highest summer temperature was 77
deg., and the mean for July was 631 deg. In August, Sjp-
tember, an I October, uncommon torrents of rain fell, flooding
"the English rivers, and carrying oil' cattle, sheep, horses, bay,
and, from places like Manchester, great quantities of manu-
factured good-. In contemporary records it is stated that
during the latter part of August the rains were "more
general and more severe than were, perhaps, ever before ex-
perienced in this country." In Lancashire nearly all the
bridges on the Mersey, the Med lock, the Irwell, fee, were
■carried away, and numerous mills ou the banks of the rivers
were, destroyed. In Worcestershire rain prevailed lor about
three weeks without intermission ; travelling was almos' sus-
pended ; and hay, corn, and sheep were extensively carried
away. In Yorkshire the country was flooded so seriously that
mail coaches were stopped, and passengers had to be lorwaded
by boats. Ou the 8th of September rain le'l in such torrents
in the county of Sussex thac one river rose. 12 feet in a few
hours, and no one recollected of such a high flood. In the
same county, ou the 12th of October, it was said the rains were
heavy "to an extent almost beyond conception." Many
people had to leave their houses and flee for their lives. The
price of wheat rose rapidly. In January, 1799, it was 6s. 2d.
a bushel; but in May it began to rise. In Oc'ober it was lGs.
5d. a bushel ; and at the close of the, year it was lis. 8d. The
four-pound loaf cost 131., the highest price it harl ever before
attained in Britain, the nearest to it being I2:jd. in 1795.
The. average price was 6d. or 7d. In December, 1800. the price
ol wheat had advanced to 130s. a quarter. — Scotsman-.

Agricultural <S0ottuj

B 0 B 0 U G H B B I D G E .

A quarterly meeting of the Boroughbridge Agricultural
Society was held on January 7th, at the Crown Hore',
Boroughbridge. Mr. Paver-Crow, Ornhams II ill, President
of the Society for the year, occupied the chair, and there was
a large attendance of members. Mr. T. Scott Grantlev,
Secretary, bad prepared a paper on <; Hindrances to Ag'icuk '
ture," wiic'n, in his ahsence through indisposition, was read i
by Mr. W. .Scott. The, paper was as follows: — I have taken j
for our theme to-day " Hindrances to English Agriculture," in
the hope that the discussion may furnish matter which may
assist those of us who have to give evidence to the Royal
Commission on the inquiry on the state of agriculture. There
can be no reasonable doubt but that the past and existing
depression is chiefly due to a succession of adverse seasons,
and to the had state of trade generally. Over these mail has
no control, but there are other obstacles to British farming
which the landlord or tenant or both have it in their power to
remove. And the time appears now to have, arrived when,
for our national well being, all such hindrances to the profit-
able cultivation of the laud will have to be seriously con-
sidered and extensively dealt with in order that the farmers of
this country may, unfettered, compete with their foreign rivals
in the production of grain and animal food. Let us first
consider fuch matters as immediately concern the owner of
the. land and are under his control. Much has been said
against an excess of ground game, which is, unfortunately, so

fr qnently productive of ill feeling between landlord and
tenant, and which so oltm paralyses the. efforts of the latter to
the detriment of the interi sts of the lormer. I will not waste
your time hy dilating on rabbits, as most iandlo'da who have
rightly considered their own interests have already seen the
policy of allowing their tenants, under certain restrictions, to
destroy these vermin ; at all eveuts, for so many months during
the year. A landowner who is loud of shooting Ins a perfect
right to expect to find a fair show of hares When out. for a
day's spor'. I think that if rabbits were given to t lie tenants
and hares kept down within reasonable bounds, landlords
would find that their tenants, as a body, would aid in preserv-
ing winged gaire to a much grea'cr extent than they hitherto
htve done: having been too frequently soured by witnes-ing
damage done to their growing crops by an excess of ground
game. At any rate, landlords might try the experiment, and,
if it lailed, theu th^y might return to the old regime, which I
scarcely can Conceive Uiey would find it necessary to do-
Englishmen have an inherent admtration for winged gam",
and no one but a disaffected tenant feels otherwise than glad
when he hears that his landlord and friends have had good
sport on his holding. Superfluous hedges and hedgerow
timber are, in many arable districts, highly detrimental to the
cultivation ot the soil. Fences which uselessly occupy a good
deal of space, and such trees aas re not ornamental, especially
those which stand out of the fence-rows on arable land, ought
to be removed, as they are impediments to field operations,
cause serious breakages to costly implements and machines,
and staud in way of the more general use of the steam culti-
vator, new an indispensable axuiliary to bring up arrears of
field work. I do not wish it to be understood that I am an
advocate lor denuding the, country of trees, which so much
contribute to the beauty ol our scenery ; on the contrary, I
would have more gioups of trees on oar pasture lands, and
a'so plant thousands ot acres which in these days yield little
or no reut, and which, with judicious management, w.oild pay
much better under timber; anil, if planted with judgment,
would affird shelter,and materially improve, some of our high*
lyiug lands. And now when we are told that the vast forests
of America, Norway, and other countries, on which we. are
chi -fly dependent for our timber, are being fast exhausted,
without any regard beiug paid to tlieir being replanted, I
question whether plant'ng inferior strong land in this country
is not the best investment a landowner can make ; for
although iron has been substituted for numberless purposes for
which wood had previously been used, yet the consumption of
timber is enormous in prosperous times.

Some have attempted to show that freedom of action given
to tenant farmers would not only better their condiion, but
w mid also tend to increase the produce of the land. I think
if those who urge this so vehemently were to compare the
laud occupied by our be-t tenant farmers with that in the
owners' bauds, they would find, in the majority of cases, the
former in a better state of cultivation than the latter, where,
no res:rictive conditions fetter the course of action. I would
say thut medium-sized and small farms suffer most by com-
parison in this respect ; and the scanty produce on some of
these latter suggests what would be the miserable state of this
country uuder peasant proprietorship. It is essential that
property should be guarded against dilapida ion and waste, and
in order to avoid these it is cesirable to have a fair p'actical
agreement, protec iug alike the owner and occupier, giving the
latter full compensation lor all unexhausted improvements on
quitting. Whilst it is requisite to h<ve strict causes, in order
to deter careless tenants Irom taking advantage; it is tacitly
understood that deserving ones farm pretty much as they like;
stipulation as to cropping, Sic, being relaxed in their cases.
Mill-dams are, a frequent source of interference with the drain-
age of land in their vicinity. There are numerous cases within
our notice of small corn and other mills which let at say, £-20
to £50 a year; whereas the impounding of the water lor the
purposes of motive power causes tnnch back-watering, and
thereby precludes the possibility of draining the laud im-
mediately above or abutting upon the stream. In flat countries,
especially, large areas of laud are ilms injuriously affected,
representing in the majori'y ot cases a loss of ten time9 the
amount of the rent of the m lis winch decision such injury.
Legislative enactments are urgently needed to empower the
owners of land ihus injured to take such mills at a lair number
of years' purchase, plus the usual percentage for compulsurily
taking, re-investiDg, solatium, fee. There a as a time when

.310

TI1K FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

these mi'ls wore iiulispehsable for local gristing, but now,
when otlier motive power* are as cheap a* that of watcr, rcany
biicIi mi Is mkiit be abolished without inconvenience. The
same argument applies to some of our canals, which, since the
days of railways, are rarely used; many of these make
hundreds of Bcres of otherwise fertile land into profitless
Bwamps. The situat on of many farmsteads with repect to
their several larms entails serious loss of time and labour to
the occupier. This m >*t frequently occurs in the cases o{
village tarr;i>>eads, which being grouped, cannot p S'ibiy be
c-nt rally situated • hence a ser ous loss in ihe carriage to and
Iro of the produce of distant fields. Tins inconvenie ice also
exi-ts where lands of d-ff^rent owners are intermix-ri, which
might be materially remedied by such owjers wurmiigex-
cnange«, or by sah-s and purchase of isolated ami intermediate
fields, so as to consolidate the farms and render thein more
adaptable to ru< dern agriculture; but the complication and
expense of English conveyancing make such such irausaciiuns
somewhat formidable^ Simplicity in land tran>fe-r is ranch to
te desired, and might, with advantage to the country at large,
have the attentiou os our legislators. The question of rates
paid by the occupier of laad, if thoroughly gone into, would
occupy bo much of our time that I thiuk it may fairly in itself
aff.rd" a Bubject tor di-cussion ou some future, occasion. Suffice
it to say, for the present, that pawnents directly out of the
land olthis country lor parochial and national purposes have
duriug the last few years been largely increased, imposing
U> justly upon the laad more than ite lair share ol such burthens.
W i at is this but a tax on the people's food in an in lr^ci
form? Insufficiency oi capital is an evil. Tenant-farmers
too frequently over-reach themselves by hiring larger farms
than they have means to fully stock and properly culliv te.
It must ne e^s^rily lollow that land so farmed does not grow
marly the same amount of produce as that in the hands of
men of ample means. If the law of distraint were to be got
rid cf, the landlord would either require a substantial joint
teuant.or that the rent should be paid hall-yearly in advance.
This course would ensure men of sufficient capital. But would
the tenant be willing to psy the reut in advance, subject, of
course, to an allowance of interest lor the six or nine months'
credit now given P As well as lack of capita', there is what
is quite as bad amongst farmers, especially on low-rented g-ass
larms, a want of energy. The contented di position of these
mm is much to be admired, but. at the same lime their lethargic,
easy wajs are not in keeping with the present times, or pro-
ductive ol public good. Their wives, as a rule, are the most
industrious class in existence, lu conclusion, I do not wish
it to be understood that all country matters should be made
subservient to agriculture, but, that th>. Government and those
directly interested in the land of this country should co-operae
in endeavouring to remove all obstacles which militate against
the means of lully developing the capabilities of the soil.
Fanning has, to a great extent, lost its attraction for the
younger sons of the aristocracy, aid others who, a few years
auo, had an inclination for this pursuit. I fear that agriculture
in this country will not in the future be carried on with the
same spirit, ou the. part of the te.uaui-furmer that it has been
during the last thirty years or so; nor do I believe that the
Siiue, amount of produce which has been raised on our best
en tivated larms for the above-named term will ever be exceeded
iu the lu ure, hecau-e our old till- a arable lai.d, although not
exhausted, is h comiug sick of so many green and preparatory
crops, now the most valuable in raising the gteat-st amount
o' animal lood. What we want is to have g< od farming more
general, bo that '.he laud is made tie most of, aud that the
people are fed on reasonable terms, but as much as possible
oa home-grown produce.

ENGLISH CART HORSE.

The Council met at the Inns of Court Hotel, Holborn,
o;i January 5, 1880, at 2 p.m. The Earl of Ellesmere
iu the chair.

The Horse Show Committee reported thit they had ha4
several interviews with the Agricultural 11*11 Company and
its managers. They considered satisfactory terms could be
mad-, and that it was most desirab'e a Show under the
auspices of the Society should he held, but that the Society
should not be subj-ct to any responsibilities. Tr.ey thought
it would be a great advantage to have tins Spring Show, as it
would put owners and breeders of stallions iu communication
with persons desirous of hiring or buying, li was prnpo-ed
that the Show should be held on the 2nd, 3rd, end 4 b March,
and tl at a sura ot £500 should be givvn in prizes. Af tr a
considerable discussion the steps thus far takeu by the Com-
mi'tee were senctioned. Mr. Joseph M-irtin and Mr. Jerries
Howard were added to the c immittee, who were chargrd to
make the necessary arraugement9 of prize lists and other
details. It was understood that members would be ad-
mitted freeto the show, and could enter their stock by paying
half tees.

ESSEX.

The annual meeting of the E»sex Agricultural Socie'y wis
held at Chelmsford on Jan. 9. In the absence ol the Pres denv
fCol. Brise, M.P.), the chair was taken by SirChas. DaCaue,
K.C.M G.

The Sf.creta.RT read the report of the committee, which was

a opted.

Mr. Thomas Nunn, of Lawford, was elected president for
1880.

The committee were re-appointed, th? only alteration being
the substitution of the name oi Mr. Johu C.ajden for Mr.
Pet r Portway, resigned.

The. Secretary read a letter from Mr. J. W. Duvall and
Mr. C. N. Brooke, secretaries to the Local Committee at
Manningtr*e, stating that at a meeting held at Manuingtree on
Thursday it was unanimously resolved that the sum ol £300
be vo ed towards the general Prize Fund in addition to 'he
lo'lowing special prizes ; — Mr, Win. Alexander, £10 10-. ; Mr.
E. K. .Norman, £10 10s., aud Mr. J. i'. Wataoa, £10 10s.

HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL.

The monthly meeting ol the directors of this Society w«s
held on Wednesday January 7, iu their Chambers, George IV.
Bridge, Eiinhorgh — The Mirqms of Ljthian, and afterwards
Mr. G liou, ol Wallhouse, in the chair.

The following will be proposed at the general meeting *o
fill the vacancies in the list of office bearers : — Vice-
Presidents — Earl of Haddington, Earl ot Wv mess and March,
Lord Napier and Ettrick, Lord Reay. Ordinary D rectors —
Lord Arthur Cecil, Orchard Mains; Sir Hugh Dalrymple, of
North Berwick, B»rt.; Junes Cunningliim, Torbreoch ;
John Scott Diidgeoii.L-itignewtnii ; John Forraan, Dunerahill ;
R. II. Harris, Earnhill; William Elliott Lockhart of
Borthwickbr te, Devid R. Williamson of L»wers. Extraordi-
nary D rectors— Lord (ilcho, M.P. ; Hon. Henry Constable
M ixwell-Stuart of Trsquair, Sir Robert Hay of Haystoun,
litrt., Sir William Scott of Ancrum, Bart. ; Sir George II.
Scott Douglas of Sprmg*ood Park, Bart., M.P. , Sir Dudley
Contts Marjoribanks of Gui-aehan, Bart., M.P. ; Havid
Milne Home ol Milne Graden, Colin J. Mackenzie of Port-
mor , Jeines Smith, Chie.l Magistrate oi K- lso ; Archibald
Campbell Swinton of Kimmerghame.

The general meeting held at Perth passed the following
resolution : — " That the Society subsidise their chemist, so that
he would be able to give the members analysis at the same
ra'es as local associations do."

The comnii'tee to whom this matter was referred have
adopted the followiog proposal", on it, not as emana'irg from
themselves, but simply as what appears to them the mo>fc
practical method ot carrying into effect the resolution of the
general meeting at Perth — "That the motion carried at the
general meeting at Perth may be held as rescinding any under-

The Editing Committee reported that they had completed I standing which previously existed, that no put of the Society's

the first examination of the pruo's of the Stud Hook, and they
had reason to believb lint the first volume would he issued
before the 1st March. They also suggested that an appendix
or probati.marj portion be added thereto, to contain the
pedigrees aud other valuable information of- lions having a
cross of Clydesdale, Suffolk, or other blood. This was thought
desirable and agreed to.

fun I" should be appropriated for the cheapening of analyses to
members. That the most simple method of giving effect to
theraotiin is to diminish the charges to inemb-rs tor analyses
of in mures or feeding stuffs by, say one-hall, the other half of
the fee being made chargeab'e upon the Society's funds. That
:he amount ol money bo expeuded lor any member shall not
exceed 10a. annually. That the arraugement be made tuojeot

THE FARMER'S MACA/HNE.

iii

to there being siifficieut fui .'>. at the di^poa^l of the din.- ora
for the purpose." These will be submitted to the general
meeting.

The committee appoin'cl to consi ler the Requisition of any
proper'}' suitable tor i ffici B and a chemical laboratory, reported
thai they hid failed to find suitable premises in the old town
of Edinburgh and that only three alternatives appeared to them
— F'rar, "Thai the present h»ll be converted into a laboratory,
and accommodation lor the general meetings I'nund outside ;
or, second, that rooms be rented in India Buildings for a labo-
ratory ; or, third, that the directors be authorised to purchase
any suitable premises that may come iutotlie in irkct, whe'her
in the Old or N*w Town." This report will bedispoeed of by
the geueral meeting.

Regarding the revision of the Society's charter, the following
suggestions, agreed to by the committee on the subject, will he
submitted to the general meeting: — "The S-ieiety shall
annually, at the said general meeting in January, choose out
ot t tie ordinary members a board of thirty directors, specal
regard being had to the convenience of one-third of that num-
ber for attending meetings of the Board held in Edinburgh —
seven members at least shall be newly elected. The Society
shall also at same meeting choose twenty extraordinary direc-
tory seven of these to be uewly elected, and not fewer than
ten out of the whole number to he resident in the district in
which the show of the year is to be held."

The report of the meeting of members held at Kelso on the
12th December was submitted, from which it appeared that a
discussion to.»k place on the proposed premium of £100 for
the. Best stallion for agricultural purposes to serve in the dis-
trict of the show in seasou 1880 ; that it was moved by Mr.
Scott Dudgeon, Longnewton, and seconded bv Mr. C-ilder,
Halterbum, that the meeting approve of the £100 assufhVieut.
Mr. HadJon, Honeyburn, moved as an amendment, and Mr.
Roberton, Harpei ton, seconded, that the meeting recommend
the directers to increase the premium to £150. On a vote
being taken the amendment was carried. It was agreed to
recommeud an increase of the prizes for hunting mares and
geldings (sections 13 and 14) from £20, £10, and £5, to £30,
£15, and £10 in both sections ; also to increase the prizes for
jumping horses from £10, £5, and £3, to £20, £10, and £6.
Messrs. Haddon, Honeyburn; Usher, Stodrig ; and Roberton,
Ladyrig, were appointed a committee to co-operate with the
directors in connection with the spring show of stallions.
The report was approved.

It was resolved to extend the period for receiving reports on
the best method of arranging the implement department to
23rd of February.

A letter was submitted from the Rev. John Gillespie, Mous-
wald, secretary of the Galloway Cattle Society, stating that at
a meeting of the couuel of that society, held at Duiulries on
the day of the Union Show in August last, it was unanimously
resolved to approve of the resolution brought before the
general meeting of the 11'ghlaud Society in the showyard at
Perth by Mr. Graham, Parcelstown, to the effect that the
same rule should be app ied to Galloways as to Shorthorns, in
respect of their being eligible for entry at the shows of the
Highland Society. The letter was remitted to the General
Show Committee.

The Secretary reported that at a meeting of members
held at Stirl-ng on the 19th December, the list of the classes
of stock was approved of, subject to the following additions
and alterations suggested for the consideration of the direc-
tors : — 1. That there should he a section for three-year-old
Ayrshire cows iu milk. 2, That the section for tups three
shear and upwards of the blackfaeed, Chevio', and B irder-
Leic ster breeds should be deleted, and the section for two-
shear tups in these breeds be open to all tups abo\e one shear.
3. That there should be a class for collie dogs, both long
haired and shori-haired, male and female. The Bwrd
approved of the various suggestions made at the Stirling
meeting.

Various awards were made for papers lodged in competi-
tion, both under the agricultural and the forestry departments.
The names of the authors will be announced at the general
meeting on the 21st.

THE EXTRAVAGANCE AND INEFFI-
CIENCY OF HIGHWAY BOARDS.

Mr. Edmund A. Fawcett, of Child wick Hall, St.
Albans, in a letter addressed to the magistrates and mem-
bers of the Highway Boards of Herts, as a protest against
a proposal to increase the. number of Boards in the county
writes (we omit some matter relatiusr only to the
county) : —

At the. mee'ing of the St. Albans Highway B <ard on the
13th, "Mr. W. George stated that the expenses incurred ill the

is of St. Peter and Stndridge were, asunder .
ten years' expenditure under the parish surveyors.

St. Peter's Parish 1358 to 1868 9u6 6 6

Being £5 7<. 3d. per mile.
Sandridge Parish 1858 to 1868 1,072 10 5

Being £fc lis. 2d. per mile.

TEN YEARS' EXPENDITURE UNDER THE BIGIIWAT BOARD

£ S. d.

St. Peter's Parish 1867 to 1877 1950 0 0

Being £11 10*. lOd. per mile.
Sandridge for the last ten vears 2 520 0 0

Being £10 14s. 6d. per mile.
The above, figures do not include the common fund charges.

The expenses therefore under (he management of the High-
way Board have more than doubled in these parishes and are
gradually increasing, whilst the ordinary country roads are
rapid'y becoming worse and worse, almost unfit, "and in some
cases dangerous to travel ou.

In the year 1867 I advocated the change which was then
made from the parish system to the establisment of the High-
way Boards, believing that the roads would be kept in better
repair, and that the cost would not be much greater.

The experience of the last, twelve years has convinced me that
a more unortunate change could not possibly have been made.
Many of the ordinary country roads, and e-pecially the cross
roads, are now in a dreadful state. Few labourers are. to he
seen enploved iu repairing them, and those that are employed
appear to do ju-t what they please. They seem to come to
work when they think proper, and go home when they like.
No reasonable control can be exercised over them, for whilst a
district surveyor is in one parish, the labourers in many others
are absolutely without supervision of any kind, and the result
is, that there is an enormous increase in the amouut charged
(or labour, and that much less work is done.

Some ol the labourers may possibly be seen by the District
Surveyors daily, others perhaps once a week, or once a month,
or once in three months, or it may be once a year.

When the labourers are paid, by whom, and where, seems
a mystery, and how any correct account of their time can pos-
sibly be kept, and by what means, the most fertile imagination
cannot possibly devise.

There is, of course, no difficulty in furnishing the names of
labourers, and stating the time th t the men are said to have
worked, and an amount of money can easily be recorded which
is said to have been paid to thfm, but no waywarden knows if
the labourers iiave j)?rformed the work, or have received the
money, debited to each parish, and what can possihly be the
value of a + made upon a piece of paper by a man who cannot
write, or read writing, which + or mark "is one of the checks
devised by the Local Government Board, in order to prove
that a labourer has received the amount of money stated upon
the piece of paper, or in a book, prepared for that purpose.

At the end of each month a district surveyor may give to the
clerk an account said to have been paid for labour in ech
parish, but no one can possibly discover if the labourers have
done, the work, or any por ion of it, or if the money has been
paid to them, as many ol them cannot, read writing, but msy
possibly be Hble to sign their names.

Tne clerks to the Highway Boards admit that they have no
check whatever over these ensh payments. The waywardens
do not nsuallv see these accounts, and i» they do happen to do
80 many of them allow that they have no idea whatever
v. hether the work I as been done or the money paid.

How is it possible for any district surveyor to overlook
labourers who are many miles apart much less keep their time
correctly or pay them himself?

112

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

In practice the srs'pm adopted by Highway boards lias
bpen found to be devoid of all rea-onahle control o?er tlie
lahonrers employed, and most unsatisfactory as regards the
enormously increasing amount debited against each parish for
money said to be paid for labour.

T'-e materials which u*efl to be purchased and emploved in
repairing the mac's have, in some parishes, been bought up by
the district surveyors and sold to the railway companies,
greatly to the injury of the roads, which, ;. nstead of being
repaired as they used to be, with good hard stones, flints, and
the like, have had little or nothing put upon them, excepting
gravel, which in many cases is totally urf.t for the purpose,
and will never make good hard roads fit to travel on in
■winter.

The«e proceedings have also been attended with another
bsd effect, as the district surveyors who have carried on this
kind of business have necessarily given much of their time to
these transactions.

The materials w! ich the surveyors purchase are to a con-
siderable extent bought from some of the waywardens and
ex officio members of the hoards, whose agents the surveyor*
ought to be, but in many cases they become, the most
profitable customers of such waywardens and ex officio mem-
bers; and where such connrcions exist, who can wonder at
such waywardens and ex- officio members ob'aining a good
price for their gravel and stones, and having th-ir accoun's
always passed by the surveyor and the Finance Committee, and
who "can wonder at such persons voting for a contiuuance of
the Highway Boards P

The accounts are no longer placed before the parishioners
in Vestry, as they used to he. The s.irveyor, the clerk, and
the Finance Committee (upon which perhaps there are only
three waywardens appo:nted oat of twelve), arpear to pass the
accounts for a'l the parishes, although, in many case-", none of
the members of the. Finance Committee reside in the parsh
the accoun's come from ; nevertheless, they pass the accoun's,
about which they can know nothing whatever, and upon the
bare assertion made by a district surveyor that the said
accounts are correct. A more unsatisfactory administration of
a law never existed]

AH power has been taken away from the parishioners —
they have no accounts submitted to them in Vestry, as in former
days.

They cannot see what becomes of their monpy, or what is
charged for materials, or obtain particulars of any kind until
a considerable period has passed away, and then all they are
allowed to see are lumped sums under a few offi rial heading*.
Their money is taken awav from them and spent at the will
and pleasure of a district surveyor, and very much as he
pleases, and he accounts to a clerk ol a Board perhaps twenty
miles away from the parish.

CHESHIRE CHEESE.— Writing from Colleton, Che-
shire, a correspondent of the Groc.tr says : — '' For so ne time
past the. Cheshire dairy fanners have been doing very badly,
and have t>pen complaining bitterly about their unpleasant
position. A' one time ilieir chees- was a drug in the market,
and pries reached an nnpreceden'ed!y low level. Few of t 'em
were ahle to hold on in hopes of higher ra'es. F >r one thing,
they wanted money; for another, th-v no* make cheese more
for immediate consumption than lor keeping purposes. They
make butter as well as cheese, and use up their cream (or the
bntter. The quality of the cheese perhaps suffers in con-
sequence. But now the Cheshire farmers are doing a great
deal leter than they were; the higher prices which they
have been so long expecting are pric'ically realised. I need
not go into de'ails showing how cheese has lately advanced ;
th;s information is given so fully in your journal that your
readers arc thoroughly acquainted with the matter. But, as
showing the extent, of the recent, risp, it may he mentioned
that Cheshire cheese which a short time ago did not fete.h
more than 40s. now realises about 70s., and consequently the
farmers' prostmcts (and purees) are far more sat Bfactory than
they were. There has been also a good deal of speculation
in the article, and certain people have made large sums of
money. They certainly deserve this for their power of
divining what was going to happen with regard to the price of
chtese."

A PEEP AT A WILDERNESS —Far queerer than Aunty
or Bnwen was an old worn in who reigned over a firmhm-e at
which we were obliged to stop one cold blustering night.
" How many are there ? " she asked. "Six." " TV' II that's
just six too much. What folks want to be iirowlin' round
other folks' houses for, it lira's me to know! You don't wsnt
more tlun one room, do you ? " " Certainly, if we can get
more." " Tnese town folks just about kill me. Always a-
wanting to go off by themselves ! C >me along." Folio vin^
the beldame, who carried a snlut'ering tallow candle that
seemed to sympathise in her ill humnnr, we clambered up
creaky stairs; and, as we arrived at the ton, 1 put my foot
through a hole in Mie floor. " Mf sakes!" mil tered the bel-
dame, " don't you know enough not to put your foot in it ? That
hole's for nothin' in c-eation but stovepieces. There! " she
continued, throwing open the door of a box about the size of
a steamer cabin, li the last man that went in there came out a
corpse. How'll that su't you P " "It wont suit at all."
" Corpse ain't there now." " Never m;nd; we prefer another
room." " Afraid of dead men ? Pshaw! What did you come
into the wilderness for ?" This was our first intimation th-tt
people went into the Wilderness in search of human remains.
We did not sleep well that night. The room occupied by Mrs.
Winkle and my sell belonged to a sportsman who was indis-
creet enough to come home before morning. He attempted to
carry his door wi'h assault and bsttery ; and, when informed
of the sanation, had the audacity to demand his toothbrush.
' This is outrageous ! " said Mrs. Winkle. ''The idea of a
man in the wilderness wanting a toothbrush ! And in the
middle of the night ! " We could not find a toothbrush in the
dark, but threw a clothes brush over the partition ; for
having harricaded the door with a four post brdstead, we could
not o;. en i', and, judging from an expletive t 'at escaped the
sportsman's lin", [ thnk the clo'hes brush must have landed
on his henl. — Kate FttLD, M July's Annual.

THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH AND IRISH D13
TRESS. — There is a s'or> current ahout 'he Duke of M irl-
borough which em'iodles a fresh injustice to Ireland. Just
before the issue of the appeal of the Duchess for funds for the
population of the distressed dis'ricts, the L>rd Lieu'enant
received a long and impassioned letter from Mr. Mi'chell
Henry, iu which the following passage occurred : " Within
the last few days the people f'om the neighbourhood of Tally
and Letter have been to this place, to sell their oats, as is
their usual custom, aud I can truthfully say that I hav;- never
seen men so chauged. Pale, thin, and bloodless, silent, and
without a smile, their condition is absolutely without hope.-'
O/i r/'7, in ang'y Ireland, that when his Grace read this he
thoughtfully pencilled on the margin the query, " Do people,
usually smile when selling oUs ?' Nor was this all. Carried
away by the flood of his own el ujuence, the member for
Galway continued : " The Local Government Board have
warned the guardians to get ready extra accommodation iu the
workhouses, and lay in a stock of bedding. Shall the
guardi .in begin by buying the three hundred beds and bnnkets
which Dean MacManns states are pledged in the pawnshops
of Cifden, where the workhouse is situated ?" To this
sardonic illy satirical inquiry the Duke supplied the answer
" Certainly not." This is a case where the. promise of a siuuile
answer turning away wnth has nit been fulfilled. Mr
Mitchell Henry is greaHy moved, and I should tiot woiiIt if
s»mcbody were i up -ached when Parliament meets. — World.

THE PIONEER RACKET.— "Yes, gentlemen," said a
seedv looking custo ner with a loug beard, wh i had rung in on
a party of tourists in the 15 lid -via b ir-room, tile other evening,
,: i ias i he first white American that evrr ser foot oa the site
of Sin Francisco. Many the night I've roas'ed bearsteak for
supper and slept with th^ sand for a blanket right here where
this hoti-1 now stands. I owned 'he entire country clear down
to San Jose, and I traded the whole busings* one <!ay for ten
pounds of tobacco." " Five pounds !" put in the bartendp.r
Bternly. " 1 guess I know h iw manv pounds," said the oldest
inhabitant, somewhat abashed. "You said five pounds last
nigh'," retorted the barkeeper ; ''and I've, t old you mor'n fif y
times that it you intend to work the pioneer racket in this ere
bar, yon must stick to the same story. If you don't I'll let
Joe ivsrker work the house instead; you hear me ?" And
the relic of the gool old Areoaautic days drifted sadly off to
the lunch-cuuuter. — Sun Francisco Pout.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

A NORFOLK MAN FARMING IN OHIO

The .V '8 has received the following interest-

ing communication from a gentleman now farming in
Ohio, and formerly a resident in Norfolk : —

O'nio holds a central position in the Northern States.
Tliere is a great diversity of soil, «nl this may be taken ?.s a
rule for all t he Northern States. We have not much of the
rich pravrie land of Illinois, so v, sll adapted tor the growtli of
Indian corn, but we have lands along our streams that will
grow as much and will wear longer. It is a sort of black
alluvial soil. Some of it lias beeu farmed for fi'iy years, and
the crops seem as good as ever with scarcely any manure. Our
uplands fro n the rivers are mostly clay in the western and
centnl parts of the State. Tliey are not very heavy — a sort
of mixed soil — hut after years of cultivation get slider and
make excellent grass land, both in qmlity and quantity, if the
season is at all favourable, for we have here some years of
most severe drought. The usual pi in on say a 100-acre farm is
to plant in early May about fifteen acres of Indian corn on the
same piece for three or four years successively. Then sow
•.vhi-a', seeding it down with grass. It then lies till we come
round to it again. What manure is made is used on the corn
land". There is a very exhaustive crop on the uplands, bat
the most remunerative crop a farmer can grow on fifteen acres
will keep two men busy thinning the weeds all summer. It is
planted three and a half feet apart each way en the level
ground, and then ploughed between the rows with what we
call shovel ploughs. The small farmers use one-horse single
ploughs, and the larger farmers double ones. I have cue I
can ei'her ride or walk with ; but it is harder to ride all day
in the hot sun than to walk and guide it. The stalks and ears
attached to the grain are cut up about September, and, well set
up, ten hills square or 100 hills, three stalks in a hill, will stand
all winter. In November, before tic cold weather omes, W8
husk out what we want of the ears for the hogs and cattle,
and leave the rest standing to feed out in the shock. The
fodder is excellent for cows, and they will milk better than on
the best hay. With the corn I feed my youag stock, and have
a horse mill to grind the ears. Turnips are not grown in
Ohio, or, in fact, in the United States. One acre of corn
would he worth, more than all the turnips we could grow.
They will not do well, and the stock do not like theui. Our
average yield of corn is about forty five bushels per acre. I
have grown as much as seventy, but it mnst be g land and
a favourable season. We have excellent firm implement,
as good a9 or bettenhin I ever saw in Norfolk. In the central
and western part of Ohio very little wheat is groarn, owing to
the small demand. More is sown this year than I ever knew
iu this part of ike State.

Cattle, slue', and hogs are our principal productions, an-d
mostly sheep. We have more sheep than in any other county in
the United Sates. I keep scarcely any other stocx, and all for
raeriuo or fine wool. It pays better here to grow more for
wool than mutton. Our Ohio wool fetches the best price in
the market, and I cannot make anything pay as well. About
here there used to have been large dairy farms, but sheep have
superseded thern. In the northern part of the State, however,
large dairies are still kept, the flat wet land not bein< so
healthy for sheep, A (arm here of 100 acres will support
say 200 sheep, two or three cows, a few head of cattle, and
hogs to sell, bringing in generally about 700 dollars or £135
sterling. The price of the land with good buildings is about
£17 per acre. So you see a farmer has to use economy and work
hard to get interest for his money. If he has no sous to help him,
and with the high price of labour, he can do no more than live on
that amount of land, and there is no farming that pays better
than about 100 acre farms. In the far West, where land is
cheaper, more land will be better, always supposing that the
farmer has help within his own family. The young farmers
here work hard and live in pretty good style. My boys could
not do without a 240-uoIlar carriage and a fine horse or two
tint I am afraid to ride behind. You see we have not yonr
expenses in farming. Our laud-tai to the States Government
in Ohio is very high, and that is nearly a'!, excepting some
little for labour. There are no tithes, and the poor rates are
merely nominal. The county, with a population of 40,000,
has one poor-house with about 100 inmates. We grow all we
se (except a little tea aud coffee) even to tobacco, apples,

113

I never grow more.

peaches, grapes, and all such thing
wheat than we want for ourselves.

In the eastern part of the State, along the Ohio and two
ranges of coantiea inland, the land is very hilly, mostly lime-
stone. There they generally grow wheat of superior quality,
the land being, not like ours, adapted for grazing. Zines-
\ille, in Muskingum County, when 1 was there in the milhug
business, shipped to New York in oue year nearly LOO,
hirrelsof fiour. Wheat in Ohio is a very uncertain crop.
Tne winters kill it in some years when we have not snow
enough to cover it, and as Done of the upland is drained, the
frosts and thaws lilt it out and it perishes. There are morn
dollars and cents made in cattle and sheep raising than in the
grain-growing counties in the far north-west— Minnesota,
Nebraska, aud Wisconsin — where the snow protects the grain
during the severe winters. Even there they mostly grow
spring wheat. My boy was out there last harvest, and he said
the country was a perfect sea of wheat, and where the land is
so cheap and the soil virgin, with excellent implements for
seeding and harvr s>, it is a hard matter to compete with them
in the business. A dairy here pays best if a farmer has girls
to help, but indoor help it is impossible to get, and the work
requires constant attention. The land in the neighbouring
State of Indiana is very like Ohio, heavily timbered and of
much the same quality. It is rather more hilly and more,
sown with wheat. Illinois is, as a rule, level, without timber,
except alon» the streams. They grow for the most part corn
and spring wheat. The winter wheat freezes out on the black-
alluvial soil, but corn is the staple crop. The prairies cannot
grow the quality of grass we raise in Ohio. Cattle and hay
are the principal products in Ohio. A man owning a hundred
acres plants it all in corn for successive seasons, and for many
years you will see no failure in the crops growing from forty
to sixty bushels per acre.

The land in Ohio and all the Northern States (for the
Southern States are as different from us as Norfolk from
E^ypt) is occupied by owners. Not one farm in a hundred is
let to tenants. If a man has m >re land for corn in the spring
than he can manage he rents it to some neighbour who has no
land of his own, or not enough to work. The tenant plants,
works, and cnt» up the crop, giving half for the use of the,
land. Sonetimes, on rich soils, he gives the owner but one-
third, and the same with wheat. The owner generally gets
half in the bushel when thrashed, finding half the seed. Some
few farms are leased for a money rent, but the difficulty of
getting responsible tenants is so great that tliere is very little
of it done. The farms vary in size from five to one thousand
acres — very lew larger. The average size is from one to two
hundred acres. The farm labourers of this district and all the
Northern States are a migratory set. A poor man living in
a neighbourhood works round with his family among the
adjoining farms. The *ages of joung men average about l-t
or 15 dollars a month, the employer boarding them. Young
men of industrious habits save a little money, go West and
settle on Government land, and make themselves a home, the
useless ones staying behind. Tlie emigrant bbjur is mostly
iu the cities and towns, and more than two-thirds of the
workmen in cities aud on the railroads are foretgters.

There are no naiive Americans in these Western States who
cannot read and write. Our school system is expensive, and alt
can go who will. Each county is divided into townships, like
what you cill hundreds in Norfolk, and each towrship is sub-
divided into school districts with a school-house. The districts
are about oue and a half miles square, sometimes a little more,
where the farms are large, and there are not so many scholars
In each district there are three directors chosen to hold tie
olhce for three years, and it is so managed that one of the
three terms expires every year, so that we have generally aw.
annual electirn. The dir.-ctors of all the districts meet occa-
sionally to attend to the repair of school-bouses and other
matter*. Toe directors in each district hire the teacher for
the summer or winter ierro. In the capital of the County there,
are school examiners appointed, and the teachers must get a
certificate from them before they can take & school. '31.
summer schools are generally taught by girls, s>-a£ yrung men
mostly teach in winter. In some of the distr»'0t schools ma''
matic, al*ebrs, and some of the classics »-, e taugh', X! *"'*'*
does not require it, but you can be exajr ;ned to tet'.ii >'. k .
of that kind if you like. Of course tJie distri t r ^
higher wagep. My eldest bov \raBht ore ' /' «M<*y

college, aud he had some ^><y fi I^jg* Jfu

114

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

most of the districts, reading, wri'ing, and all branch es of I stprling in purchasing those of other countries in their variori
English are taught 'with generally a little algebra. The i forms ol bntteriue, oleo-margerine, lards, soups, compressed
schools are supported by a tax on all real and personal property j meat., 8te.

in the S ate. The wages ef the tt aehers average about to ! I be obvious remedy tor tins state of things is the
sterling per month or twenty-five dollars. Some of the dis- ; establishment of ahat'oirs, wi'h appliances for cooling meat
tricts pay as much as £9 p>r month. My boy received about : and utilisation of offal in every county, where, butchers cou'd

procure their supplies without the intervention of middlemen;
the savings thus effected, and the collection and distribution
of some items of « fftl, and ti e utilisation of some others now

that. The school fund is equally divided in the diff. rent dis- .
tricts, and when they have, more expenses than the money j
allowed the district has to pay them out of its private means, j
There is, however, always e lough for a good common school.
Our school tax tor the State ol Ohio amouuts to a c msiderable
sum iu the year. Such as have nothing pay nothing, but their
children have the same chance as the rest. There is j.o law
to compel attendance. Ti.e school laws of all these Western
Sates are about the same.

The farm-houses and buildines are almost all of wood,
framed and weather-boarded. There is not much difference
in cost between a wood and brick house, and for this climate
I like the wood best. The houses are, 1 think, on an average
will the farm-hou«es of Norfolk, and certainly more conve
nieut. One like mine, with cellars, cisterns, and all couve
niences, cos's some £700 or £800, but that is more than
the average, although there are some far more expensive. Our
barns and out-hon«es are all of wood, not so divable as some
of your old Norfolk bams, but far more more convenient. A.
good frame barn, kept well roo'ed, will stand seventy-five
years. In busy times, like harvest and coru planting, the
neighbours help each other, partly to save expense and partly
on account of the scarcity of labour. A small farmer comes to
a large, one, gets his reaper and mower to cut his crop, and
then turns out with his boys and helps the other to house and
Btack his own. Of course this is not altogether Hie case, but
a great deal of it is done. W. R.ICHBS.

Granville, Ohio.

MEAT PRESERVATION AND

DISTRIBUTION.

Mr. D. Tallerman writes to the Daily Xeivs : —

The announcement of the'early arrival of a shipment Of
resh meat from Australia may iucrease the present anxiety as
o the future of our farming and landed interests. Kindly
allow me the aid of your columns to direct the attention of
agriculturists to a means whereby their position may be
strengthened. Meat production is the largest occupation of
farmers, and the probable effect of large importations of it,
dead or alive, seriously concerns them. Hitherto the im-
portations havebten small c mpired to the total consumption,
but the British farmer by h s prox;mity to the market, il he cm-
ducts his business by tul-s of reason and common sense, need
not fear competition, despite the increased imports from
abroad. The system of meat distribution iu this country is
unorganized, extravavant, and wasteful ; from tl»e farmer to
the butcher a continual and unnecessary expenditure of labour
and material takes place which is unknown in America. An
English bullock, before reachiug the batcher, passes, in a live
or dead form, through the hands of innumerable raidd emeu,
whose profits the consumer pays, but the producer does not
receive. The system of slaughtering is divided and disorgan-
ized ; the so-called offal, more than one-third of every animal,
and comprising food and commercial products of great value,
is for the most part not beneficially utilised. Iu America these
matters are better managed. There the live stock is
collected and slaughtered in abattoirs supplied with
cooling chambers, where the meat remains until required for
consumption or shipment, and forced sa'es thus avoided. The
shipments, on arrival at Liverpool, are mostly sold direct
from the ship to the butchers throughout the country, and only
when there is an accidental glut, or the refrigerator has to be
emptied to allow the ship to return, is the suplus sent to
the London market Very rarely indeed do the trade get the
upper hand of the. American shippers, who fix their own prices,
and thus occupy a different position to the British farmer,
who, iu sending bis stock to market, must aece.pt what dealers
ch'Jse to give hnn. Iu America the concentration of
slaughtering enables measures to be ts.ken for the utilisation
of the effal which could cot otherwise be effected. We not only
waste our own products, b^t annually expend several million*

was'ed would amount to 20'. to 40", on every bullock, and 2s,
to 4s. on every sheep, an aggregate of several millions sterling
annnallv, to the b-nefif of the producer, without adding to tie
pri'e of meat to the consumer.

The second stage of dis'ribution, viz., from the butcher to
the consumer, is characterised by similar extravagance and
thnughtiessnes ; i o this instance with ' -ss excuse. The waste
o' the working classes in their system of cooking has often
b'Pn commented on, but noticing has been said of the ln'elhgent
but -hers, who, without exept on, allow carts diilv to leave
their premises loaded with bones, cuttings of meat.&r-., for the
soap boi'e s and tallow melters, which, if carefully and cleanly
hindled, won! J yield a large amount of va'mble food material
in tbe fo-m of essences and extracts of meat, beef tea, soups,
dripping, Jtc . of a far greater commercial value than the
" rouL'h s'utf" into which it is at present converted. F botcher
establishments possessed cooling chambers to keep their unsoli
•.neit, and s'eam digesters for treating the bones, cuttiugs, and
fat, what is now wasted might be converted into soups eqial in
evpry re-pect to those sold by the confectioners of the City and
Wes'-*nd, and this, w:th the dripping and other produces,
in only a moderate business would yield several hundred
pounds sterling annually, and add so much to the food supply
of the c jun'ry. In its third stage meat is in the hands of
the consumer, and here I would point out that the reta;l pr ce
beirs no re.lati in to the wholesale ; the former does not vary
with the fluctuations of the markit. The high retail price is
mainly due to the public for the most part requiring joints
which form but asnall portion of the animal. If they would
r?a'tse the fact that every part of a beast is eq-ialiy
wholesome, and that there is as much nutrition, if not
more, in boiling joints as in roast i rig, and pirtake of them
evenly, a marked reduction would inevitably take place in
the retail price of meat. It has been estimited that a
general reduction of one penny per pound in the price of
meat would amount to an annual saving to consumers of twelve
millions sterliag. Having pointed out how each class may be
pecuniarily benefi ed, from a sanitary asppct even greater con-
siderations present themselves in favour of tli». adoption of the
measures here suggested — not the least would be the facilities
aff jrded for the examination of all meat by cmtralised collec-
tion of stock lor slaughter. We do kuow that diseased m°at.
jis often found in our markets, and can only infer that it enters
(.nto consumption in many indirect ways throughout the
ountry.

YULE TRAPS. — The amusement that is the prettiest way
o! ' givine presents is that of the period when Christmas was
called ' Yule-tide," and peonle burnt enormous Yule-logs, at
which they roasted oxen and sheep whole ; those may hava
have been to a certain degree " the good old times," but they
were undoubtedly v ry rough and uncomforta'ile when compare d
with our modern days, " Yule traps" is, however, a part ol
the old customs that we may s* ill keep up, as it gives great
amusement. It consists in hiding one present in another, dis-
guising it in snch a manner as to test the cleverness of the
receiver not a little in finding it out. For example, a soft pair,
of kid gloves can be rolled up and secured iu a large Spanish
walnut-shell previously emptiel, and the two halves gummed
together; a case of knitting-needles will be hidden in what
appears to be nothing but a flat block of wood, which, by a
little knowledge of simple carpentering, can be made to slide
into two pi'ces, so as to discover it. A little pot of dimson
cheese has b-en found to have the preserve dexterously cut
away underneath, fufii iently to give room for the pot to con-
tain also a delicate gold chain or ornament. A large pair ol
swede turnips has been made the ho'der of a present in game
- — in! so on : any one with a little ingenuity can invent traps
by tbe dozen, and the more peculiar they are the greater the
fuo. The amusement may be still further increased by hiding
the traps or presents all about the sitting-rooms of the house

THK FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

115

CANADIAN FARMING AS AD YPTED FOR
GENTLEMEN OF SMALL CAPITAL.

" Maple Tree " writes in the Field the following
snide : —

Not so many years ago, Ontario was justly conside-ed a vast
forest, anil Manitoba t'>e undisputed huntiug ground of tlie
Indian ; bat comparatively little was known of the c'imateor
resources of either. In those days Australia and New Zealand
almost .monopolised tire better-c'ass em'gration, aud Canada
had, for t tie most part, to be contented with a cla«s of
emigrants best 'described as " labourers," or li'tle better. Here
and tbere an old armv i.ftcer, or scion of some good "old
c mntry" tamily, rook np sections of country, and has handed
his najie down to po terify as a meiiib-r of the little bind of
heroic pioneers wbo have been the meaus of opening out. tbe
ricb and prosperous western provinces of the Dominion of
Canada. These, bowever, were exceptions, the ordinary pioueer
having been generally cast in a rougher m mid.

In the old days there was no railroad we-t of Toronto, and
the chain of lakes was the only means of transport for large
hulks of freights. Now the Grand Trunk, Intercolonial,
G-eat Western, Northern, Canada Southern, and others
traverse the po|ii'ated agricultural districts, more particnl >rly
the south-western peninsula, bounded to the South by Like
Erie. T .wns have Bprung up where but a few years past ma) he
l.o* a house existed, and are particularly dotted about the
prairies of Manitoba, from the chief town of which, Winnipeg,
ii « now proposed to build a line of railroad to Hudson's Bay,
connecting with two lines of steamships, thus opening up an
" immense fertile wilderness,'' until lately looked upon as
habitable only by furred ga>ne and trapper*.

Asa natural result of such rapid development aril display of
resources, Ouiada, once so little thought of, has come into
prominent notice as an opening for the overplus of " old-
country " population, particularly among persons of an agri-
cultural turn of miuxl.

Another circumstance which has not been without its effect
iu briuniug Canada into prominent notice has been that sheep
and cattle farming in Australia have been found to be both ex-
pensive and oftentimes very risky ; whilst farming in Canada
has the advantage of beiug far cheaper, and, with reasonable
precaution, a positively safe investment.

The rough general idea is that Canadian agricultural
operations are of a very primitive character, such, for instance,
as that grain is sown between the stumps of trees, the soil
being simply scratched by a crude harrow drawn by docile
oxen; that in the winter a fresh clearirg is added to that
already under cultivation ; and that graduually a settler finds
himself the proud possessor of an improve I farm. Such was
undoubtedly the class of pioneer work, but is not the lire of to-
day— that is, iu the older settlements — and it is not the life
which will very frequently commend itself to men brought
up amidst ihe refined associations of English society.
Still the opportunity to make an experiment of it is
always at hand. Canada is a large plac, and is hut
parti illy inhabited. New settlements far away from all
traces of civilised society exist, where timber land can be
purchased at a very trifling cost, or obtained by Government,
grant, particularly in the Muskoka and Parry Sound districts,
where the ambitious settler may actually put to a practical
test ihe much talked of glories of " chopping a fortune out of
the woods." It is a lite which no doubt has much ih it to
attract and fascinate, but it is also a life which requires indo-
mitable pluck, perseverance, health, and strength ; and is one
ia which the native.-b-'rn Canadian will be far more su'Cess'ul
than liis equally hard working English cousin pioneer ; for the
clever use of an axe is the prime requisite in the rapid cleari ig
up of hush, and in that the Canadian cannot be excelled,

Hut on the prairies of Manitoba the English settler starts in
an even race, and he will find the young Ontario fanner, for
whom the road to lor'une has been too dull in his native pro-
vince, struggling with the exactions ol pioneer life on the. same
footing as himsell ; neither will have handled a prairie plough,
necessary for the first turning over of ihe tough grass. Speak-
ing abstractedly as to the prospects of both such men in Mani-
toba, it is only necessary to remark that, given health and
strength, and a capital of £300, success or lailure > imply de-
pends ou the individual.

It i«, however, a consolation to those who hardly, from one

reason or ano tier, feel equal to so crude a life, and to kuow

| that, if Maui oba and the young settlements of Northern

0 .tario hold ant inducements of a pecuniary character, they

a^e in a great measure counter- ba'anced by the social and

b 'siue^s advantages of the older portions of Ontario. Of

' to'irse such advantages are ondttcivetoa higher price of land,

lila more expensive mode of living suited to a more elah Kate

I social svs'em ; but when all the comforts which can he

: crammed into a bena file Ontario farmers life are compared

side by side wiih those enjo ed, and considered

I almost uecssarie^ by the English freeholder, it will be found

• that the prosperous Canadian Urin -r i< content wi:h very

little in the way of extravagance. His m itto is " work," and,

unless a man works himseff, he will soon find that, with the

I present range of market, prices and system of farming, his

I land does not pay legal interest on his money invested. A

prosperous farmer is the man who is not afraid of real hard

work, and who employs as little outside " help" as possible.

Aud when it is realised how short the season is, and the.

amount of work to be got through iu preparing the ground,

and g t'ing iu and harvesting crops, sortie conception will have

bi en gained of what hard work consists.

When spring breaks ou% about the middle of April,
ploughing commences, quickly followed by gang-ploughing of
the land turned up in the previous fall. Then harrowing and
cultivating, getting the seed in, and preparing with extra care
the land ou which Corn (Indiai corn) is to be plinted, follow
in their re-pective order, and the last crop should be in not
later than May 24-, and on a IGO.acre farm not less than 60
acres of crop should be put in, including fall-sown wheat.
The usual crops are oats, wheat, barley, peas, corn, besides the
various root crops, potatoes., Sec. Timothy, clover, and millet
are sown ; the former for seeding down, and the latter as an
extra hay or green grass crop. No sooner has spring seeding
been accomplished than haying c nnmences, to be immediately
fjllowel by the general harvest of spiing-sown crops. These
safely garnered, ploughing and getting ready land for the re-
ception of tall wheat seed is a necessity, and the grain should
be in the giound not later than September 20, which will give
it a good start of frost.

After this root crops (if any) have to be attended to, and as
much land ploughed as possible prior to the setting in of frost
iu November. Li addition to this, there has been fencing to
renew, odds and ends to do in the garden and abuii' the farm
buildings, and house and stock to be attended to. In ihe
win'er, stock has to be fed twice a day, watered, and generally
cirel for, fire-wood chopped for home consumption, and, if
near a 'arge town, for sale, with many other iucidental and
accidental occupations. It will hardly require a more detailed
account of the crdiuary routine work on a 100-acre farm to
show that there is plenty to be perronned and when il is
understood that to make it pay all should be. do le by two
regular hands, some idea will have been gained as to what,
hard *ork is on even an improved farm. But when to this
citalogue must be aided the laborious task of breaking up
p.a:rie or bush land, it will easily be understood that strong
phys'que is indispensable for successful col mial farming. It
is, of course, understood that reference oulv is made to men
who firm for a living, not to persons of sufficient capilal, and
who only farm to keep their house, and teed a few head of
cittle for amusement.

Without entering in'o the vexed question of caste, it is im-
possible to avoid a slight allu-ion to an always delicate su ject.
All nationalities have their pecu'iar prejudices, aud Canadians
are no exceptions to a general rule. Th>y have bet n ptoulurly
situated, and circumstances have done much to rajuli a some-
what narrow and eao'isll wl character. Proud of their allf
giaDce and loyal to their Qieen, they (that is the mas e ) are
not at all I'reetrom a very distinct strain of social republic in-
i<m. The fami-rs, as a rule, sneer at the notion of caste, and
do not sympathise with the msnnerisms and bearing of young
English nen w ho cannot quite bury their v< ry honourable pride.
'J'his is a serious consideration to anyone settling ; and care
should be tsken to purchase land (if in Ontario) near a good
town, where deceut sucietycan be met with, or other people of
the setller's class are located, or he will have to swallow a dis-
agreeable pill and accept the inevitable. In Manitoba, where
tj many Englishmen are goine, there will no doubt be found
neighbourhoods in which men of the right sort are roughing it ,
and who will r.-ceive oue of their kind with open ami".

K 2

116

THE FARMER'S MAQAZINI

Id the esse of settling near a good town in Ontario, with a
view of chaining sm occasional glimpse of decent society, it
must not be forgotten that land, in the first place, is dearer,
and society often eft to mon-rolise time better spent in
attending to the sterner duties of lie. It is also expensive in
two ways, adding to tailors' and housekeeping bills, besides
necessitating the paying of additional wages to an extra hand
to make up lost time. It is simply a matter of means the
life of a gentleman farmer is a very enjoyable one, whether it
be in England or Canada; but it is not one wluet themsjorty
of voun^EnMish settlers in Canada can afford to follow. o
understand the position more clearly, let us exa-ntne the
accounts of an Englishman purchasing and slocking an

It has been taken into considaration that suffHrnt stuff liar
been ttken ont to fatten pig«, and to keep in first-clnss ordes
ciws, horses, and any additional stock which may have, been
purchased during the year ;

Cbcp Accorsr.

Wheat, 15 a. at 25 b. per :

nroved one hundred Tiere farm, within, say, seven or eight | nariey, e a. at 40 b. per a. 210

100
16
40
25
18
70
15
22

dols.

lies of a good town in Ontario. We sha I in this way pun
a more satisfactory insight into the amount of capital requisite
for successful farming of the same. The account will run
very much as follows : —

Stock and Implement Account.
To cost of 100-acre farm, 70 acres cleared, rest | 5 C0Q dol3<

good hardwood bush, at 50 dols. per acre )
To one team of general purpose horses ... 180

To one buggy horse 10..'

To one waggon (box and spring sea ) /o

To one" Bob sleighs" j-J

To one cutter ™

To one buggy *""

To one cord wood rack '"

To one reaper and mower 1*0

To one drill

To one set of harrows

To one set of double harness

To one single harness

To one plough

To two cows

To one sow .'

To six ewes

300
500

Peas, 10 a. at 30 b. per a.
Oats, TO a. at 50 b. per a.
Corn (Indian), 10 acres at

75 bush, cobs

Bay, 7 acres, all required
for feed or keeping over.

Gross Profit 752.50

Deduct expense as by account below 637. 88

114.62

Addsav 10 pigs at 1201b. at 5 per cents, per lb 60.00

Receipts (net profit) for wood as per above account. 500.00

674.62

To legal expenses in searching title,
other incidental expenses

981 dols. 981

lV ' | 100

Expense Account General.

Dols.

To seed grain, wheat, 37i bushels, at 1.25 dols 46.87$

„ seed grnin, barley, 15 bushels, at 75 cents 11.25

„ seed grain, peas, 25 bushels, at 65 cents 16.25

„ seed grain, oats, 25 bushels, at 25 cents 6.25

„ seed grain, corn, 10 bushels, at 25 cents .., 2.25

„ seed clover aBd timothy (say) 10.00

„ taxes 30.00

,, grocer's bill, including pork 125.00

„ hired man and wife, as housekeeper, at 15 dols.

per month 180.00

„ extra help in harvest 60.00

,, personal account 60.00

„ legal expenses as by first account 10,000

6.0S1 dols.
AH items under stock and implement account can be
obta ned at one year's credit on approved joint note, Inat is
to say, having purchased a farm, the purchaser is cons-dered
« good," as it is not likely he, will run away and leave his
money in the land. His note is therefore taken, provided
some other equally reliable owner of real estate signs with
him. Men, as a rule, afend the auction sales in pairs for the
season, signing each other's notes. Of course, with pleuty ol
cash at command, it is best to pay down, as things can be pur-
chased at least 10 per cent, cheaper than for credit.

But, for the sake of illustration, let us suppose that our
capital is limited to £1,000 (say 5,000 dnls,), all of which is
swallowed up by the laud purchase. We then shall haveto
depend on our fcrming abilities to stock, and get together
implements to carry on onr operations. It is best lor the
sake of clearness, to suppose that we have purchased in the
fall. We fust have to procure a team of horses, a plough,
harrows, and seed wheat. For these we give our note, at
about the prices named in the above account. rVilh these
we heartily set to work, and get our wheat m, aud as niucu
land plutighed as possible. When frost slops us, we turn our
attention to the woods, and make a contract to supply some
wood jobber, with say 200 cords of wood at 3Jr dot", a cor),
let ns suppose. This will make a total of 700 dols. ; bu trom
this must be deducted at least 75 cents a cord for chopping,
and 25 cents for cuttiug, shrinkage from bad busn piling
(choppers are sly dogs), which will make a deduction of 1 d
a cord, leaving a balance of 500 dols. It is doubtful whether
a team would get 200 cords out of the woods, unless sleighing
was pretty good ; but we will allow it as near enough for our
purpose.

Add to this 500 (hilars the net profit or. the yeai's crops,
and we sha'l find what funds will be at command to meet stock
and implement account. It is quite impossib'e to do more than
give a crude idea as to the probable profit of one year on a
hundred-acre farm ; but the following account, will be found
correct enough as to ordinary crops and average market prices.

637.87*
The original stock and implement account was 931 dols. to
pay which we have but 674.62 dols. being a deficiency of
308 38 dols. There can be only one way, therefore, to meet
the first year's call, viz., by cutting down expenses to the
lowest ebb, by doing without a buggy, baggy horse, single
harness, cutter, and drill. This will effect a saving on the
fir>t year's outlay of about 270 dols. and leave us with a clear
balance of about 70 dols. cash to start on the winter's chop-
ping with.

We shall have the nrxtyear, therefore, 370 dols. as above
as well as payment for a few head of cattle, which may possi-
bly swell our stock and implement account to say 600 dols.
for the second year, against 611 dols. of the year before.
But we shall, in all probabili'y, have much fewer expens;s ;
for instance, our grocer's bill will be less by the amount of
pork we had to buy the first year, our outstanding notes ought
to be nil, and we ought to start on the third year with nearly
a chau sheet, with our woods for a year or two to help to
recoup tbe original purchase money.

It is quite evident then that, with a capital of £1,000, a
great deal of hard work and good management will be neces-
sary to wade turough the first three or four years, and that
with a good average farm to work on. Many Englishmen, in
purchasing, seem to forget Ihvt land varies in quality ia
Canada as elsewhere, and are disappointed if they find that,
through their own want of judgement, they have selected some
worthless sandhill, or clay too heavy to be successfully
worked in such a climate.

In starting in Manitoba, the principal gain is the cheap-
ness of land — say I dol. per acre, as against 50 dols. per acre
in Ontario. Time is also gained before a large outlay becomes
necessary in stock and implements, as only a certain portion
of land will be cleared np every year ; but it must be borne in
mind that a house and barn will have to be built, and a year's
living provided for out of capital before any receipts can be
expected. With £200 a man practising every possi-
ble economy will bo able to pull through • with £500 he

THE FARMER'S MAGAZIN2S.

117

will escape much anxiety, and have a nice surplus with which
to start buying implements and stocking, besides reaping the
advantage of a discount of at least 10 perjccnt. for cash. The
electiou between Ontario and Manitoba must rest with the
individual most concerned, after careful consideration of ways
and means, and his ability to thoroughly rough it. Ontario
offers the advantages of a more complete system of society,
whilst Manitoba holds out indue ments of a pecuniary cha-
racter. In either province a man must be prepared)for a few
years to earn his living literally by the sweat of his brow,
after which he may look forward to gathering around him a
few frugal comforts, mo-t probably a wife, and possibly a
family. The man who will succeed best is the one who on
first going out is a sparing critic and a close observer, and is
wise enough to learn as much as possible practically before
investing his capital in land, the quality of which he knoWs
little about, and in a climate quite new to him. He will have
much to learn, something to unlearn, as the necessities of a
short but rapid growiug and ripening season are such as to
nuke it impossible to do things in so thorough a manner as iu
the mother country. But after a few years the. ways and ex-
pedients of his adopted country will become a second nature
to him, and be will often smile as he remembers how tenaci-
ously he held on to his old country prejudices ; and he will be
apt to exaggerate the benefits when he used to denounce the
drawbacks. This is a healthy sign, and clearly demonstrates
that with all its trials the life of a Canadian larmer after all
is not altogether unfitted for the sons of gentlemen.

TITHES AND THE COEN AVERAGES.

A public meeting compased chiefly of Kentish farmers an
liopgrowers was held at the Star Hotel, Maidstone, on Jau
]5, to hear a lecture by Mr. Fisher, of Shepherd's-bush, on
Tabes, and to di-ciss " th^unjust mode by which the coru
averages have been taken." As a proof ol the iuterest lelt in
these questions it was stated that one gentleman residing out
of the reach of railways had driven seventeen miles to^be pre-
sent at the meeting, and that several others from Swanlpy,
Faruingham, and equally distant places remained long alter
market hours to take part in the proceedings. Mr. Ha--sall
presid/d over au assembly numbering ^upwards of oue hundred
and fi ty persons.

The CHA.IK.MA.N declared that he was one' of those who
wished to see tithes abolished altogether. (Hear, hear). It
was said that the abolition of tithes would enrich the landlords.
As a small laudowucr lie did not wish to see that; he would
wish to see the money derived from the abolition of tithes ap-
plied to the reduction of local taxation. (Hear, hear;. No
pious ancestor had a right to burden them with the rent-
charge ; instead of that being a^pious act, it was'a most im-
pious act. (Hear, hear). Tithe was a first charge not upon
land, but on the produce of farming aud of machinery, and the
better a man farmed the more tithe he had to pay. (Hear,
hear). Endowments by pious ancestors, he'maintained, were
inteuded for the benefit of the nation. (Hear, hear).

Mr. Fisher, after explaining that his attendance there had
not been of his own seeking, took it that the meeting had
arisen out of the intense and protracted depression of agricul-
ture in this country. This partly resulted from temporary
causes, such as bad harvests, which no legislation could remedy,
but it arose also from increased foreign competition, especially
from across the Atlantic, and this, being permanent, became
a question for the consideration of Parliament. The first
question was, was the nation morally competent to iuterfere
with r gard to the tithe? As to the legal point, there could
be no doubt of the right of a nation to adnpt its laws to the
necessities and requirements of the times. It was said that
tithes were private endowments and were private property, and
that interference with tithe would be fatal to the rights of
property, and that it must not be touched at all. He entirely
demurred to the proposition that tithes were of private ar-
rangement. If a laodowuer had chosen to make such a charge
ou his land, it would have been done by deed, and no such
deeds were extant. Ac the tine tithes originated the monks,
who were the lawyers and doctors of the period, would make
t hem as secure as possible; Yet there was no record of any such
deed ever having been executed, and no such deed was it possi-

ble tor any man now to produce. The origin of tithe was no
doubt this ; — When first missionaries came over to this country
they taught the people to give for the support of their religion
as they ought to give. After a while, no doub1', they sought
to pnforce tithe by ecclesiastical law, The civil power even-
tudly transferred that which had been a voluntary act into a
national tax. Sir It. Pnillimore showed that what was paid
to the Church in the first ages after Christ wan a voluntary
offering. In 971, Offa, king of Mercia, made a la:v by which
he gave the Church, the tithes of all his kingdom to expiate
the death of Eihelberc, whom he had murdered. So that tithes
originated in a soniew hat similar manner to the incideut quoted
by Mr. Henry Richard in the House of Commons :

Here lies John Brown, who of hi3 great bounty
Built this bridge at the expense of the couuty.

This settlera nt of Offa reached no further until Ehelwolf,
50 years later, extenued the law to the whole of England.
Voluntary offerings were converted into a national tax, and tha
tax had been continued in this country from that time to the
present. Blackstone showed that the landlords, having the
power to levy this tax, applied it to the maintenance of
churches. Therefore the tithe was a creation of law, aud what
the law created the law was at liberty to dL-tributo and appro-
priate at its pleasure. Nothing could be more absurd than
that men livii'g a thousand years ago, actuated by pious
motives, could impose a tax not on land, but on the labour oi
their descendants. Land was of no value until the farmer
cul'ivaed it, and then the priest came and took away one-
tenth of the produce. Maintenance of the national religion
attached at preent exclusively to the land. There was a time
when that was fair, because the landed interest was then the
only interest of this country. Manufactures were nothing, aud
towns as they were now did not exist. At that time it was
not uut'air that the; tithe rested ou the land, b. cause in that
way it rested on the whole community. But times had a terei',
and within the last hundred years the impetus given to manu-
facturers in ibis country had rt ndered us a manufacturing
nation rather than an agricultural nation. If we were to have
a national church at the national cost the burden ought
to be laiily di.-t ibuted. The great mauu ac^urers should give
their share, and the ua'ional church should be provided lor in
some other way and not alone by t i i he. Then there was
a time when the people were all of one religion or left
it all to the priests. Now scarcely more than one-
third of the population were attached to the Church of
England. Consequently tie lime had come when some
revision should be made. No doubt if tithes were removed
some fresh provision must te made for the clergy, 23,000 of
whom gave the best service they could to the country. The
fact that there were those clergymen to provide for constituted
the great difficulty of the question. He believed that if they
were left free to be maintained by their own congregations it
would be better For them. In America, although no national
provision was made for the clergy, the clergymen were as.
efficiently maintained as in England, aud worked with as
much success as in our own favoured land. If tithe wer«
applied to the easement of local burdens it would no
doubt enable the tenant to pay more for the land, aud the
landlord would get some advantage. Why should he not ?
Landlords were looked on as the greatest sinners, but he
believed that, leaving out the farmers, some of them had the
greatest claims in this matter. If tithe went to the relief of
the poor, it would only be reverting to the purpose to which,
a cordins to Blsckstone, oue-"hird of it was formerly applied.
When it was said that it should be applied to education, he
held that the. farmer was alre.idy taxed twice over for that
purpose, in being deprived of the labour of boys, whose after
education rendered them no better iittid for his service, but
qualified them to be of more use to the manufacturer in his
competition with the rest of the world. If farmers were
content to take the 15 or 20 per cent, given them by their
landlords they might remain wherethey were, for they would
obtain no redress in Parliament. The Reformers' Almanack
stated that there were 2G3 members of the Hou.e of Commons
connected with the fighting interests of this country in the army
and navy, 183 connected more or less wi.h the aristocracy, 102
identified with the Government and official heads, 120 identified
with the law (hughter). The monied interest had 33 repre-
sentatives, the railway interest 170, some 'course represent-
ing two or three inteiests. The liquor interest (laughter)

118

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

was represented in the Honse of Commons by 16 brewers
1 distiller and 4 bankers. Literary, profession*', and
scientific interests were represented by 81; roanufac urers,
commerce, and trade, 133. How many farmers bad they >n
the House of Commons (" One "> ? Mr, Clare Sewell Read
w«s the one representative of the farming interest (enters).
There was a clause in the Government Valuation Bill which
sought to exempt clergymen from taxation for the salaries
they paid to their curates (A. voice: " Not innch ), A
clergyman who received £700 a year might onlvpny on
£100 It real'y meant that an extra burden of £1<>U,UUU
wou'd be thrown upon the farmers by the action of that clause.
Yet the Bill had been before Parliament three sessions, and
if no one had taken more action against it than the farmers
themselves it would have been passed into law. He con-
ceded by commending, these facts, with great deference, to
their consideration.

Mr Brine of Hawkhirrst, secretary to the committee, read
letters from Mr. Howard, of Bedford, Mr. Cazilet, Mr. H.
Richard, and Mr. Jamas Webber, regretting their inability to
he present Mr. Wingffeld, of the Wokingham A-sociation,
wrote that not three farmers in that district would vote for a
candidate who would not go for tithe revision. Mr. Care
S-w 11 Read, the only representative the farmers had (-aid Mr.
Brine) wrote that he had no desire fo take part in the
meeting T the, it seemed to him, was charged on the land,
and should be paid by the landowner. It tithe were abolished
the tenant would have to pay more rent (A voice : "Not at
present"). Another letter was from the Bishop of b.th and
Wells who received £5,000 a year, and brad prohibited every
one of his clergy from abating anything of the tithe Now,
they had paid three per cent, above par to the Bishop for some
years ■ but he (Mr. Brine) declared that before he would pay
another farthing his goods should be taken (Hear, bear). The
Archbishop of Canterbury, receiving £15,0U0 a year, expressed
sympathy with agricultural distress, but could not recommend
any abatement of the tithe. That was the sympathy for the
tenant farmer expressed by a receiver of tithes (Shame !}. lie
(Mr Brine), was astonished that a powerful class of im-ii who
w\re' drifting into bankruptcy did not arouse themselves to
avert further calamity (Hear, hear).

Mr George Thirkeh., declaring that he did not wish to
rob any man, went ou to speak of the Farmer's Alliance
as an organisation, to rob the landlords. (Cries of ' Ques-

' The Chairman explained, to Mr. Thirkell's satisfaction
that they did not intend to rob any mam, but merely to obtain
revision of tithe. , . .

Mr A Batii quoted the official corn averages of the last
seven 'years, giving wheat at 54s., barley 38s. 6d., and oats
25' 6d He could only say that they had not been able to
realise those rates in Kent. Owing to tfce increased breadth
of land under cultivation £35,000 more was pa'd now than
was paid a few years ago, the extra tithe averaging a pound an
acre For sixteen years the tithe average, had been below par,
but for twenty-seven years it bad been above par, owing to
the unjust way in which averages were taken. Why slnuid not
the seller himself give a statement of his crops, and not tire

dealer and the miller P .»«.*'»!

Mr Rogers, of TenteruVn, expressing thanks to tne
lecturer said with respect to the tithes, that he confessed he
would rather pay the commutation than see waggons go into
the field and take every tenth shock. At the same time it
was desirable that farmers should return their own sales. In
one case of a farm of H00 acres, the farmer paid just one-barf
of the rent to the clergyman, and only half went to the
landlord. Iu another case afarraer of 600 acres only paid Is.
»n acre in tithe out of £3 or £4 an acre rent. He (Mr.
Rogers'! was decidedly what was called a " parson s man,
;.nd die not wish to see the parson injured, but it seemed to
him that the question deserved consideration, brcaiue he
(eriously doubted whether the parsons gave value for the
money they received.

Mr'. Brine did not doubt that farmers had paid, not three
but teu per cent, more than they ought to have doue in tithe
in the last *en years. „

Mr. Cole believed tithe was altogether nDtust and nnlair
and should be paid fiom other sources.

Mr. Brine proposed a resolution, "That in the opinion of
thib meeliDg, the subject of tithes demands the serious and

immediate consideration of Parliament, w'th a view to their
being employed in the easement of local burdens."

The resolntion was seconled by Mr. Mux waring ,
and carritd unanimously, with cheers.

Vote of thanks to the Chairman and the lec'urer terminated
the mieting.

POTATO CULTIVATION IN YORK-
SHIRE,

The following piper was read by Mr. J. C. Coleman,
of Riscoll, at a recent meeting of the York Chamber of
Agriculture : —

Mr. Co&eman said : Success in farrmrng dVpends upon
attendance to numerous details. It will no longer suffice to
etrry on ow main operations oi» business-like principles and
neglect scientific treatment of minor matters. If we are to
compete successfully with Brother Jonathan — and I, for oup,
dj not despair of this conntry — we raiwt substitute for lhe
happy-go-lucky rule of thamb intelligent practice, based upon
scientific knowh d^e of every detail. For example, we want
to know what different crops require, how far each soil con-
tains the requisite ingredients, aud in wl at way natural de-
ficiencies cau be best supplied. Depend upon it the farmer Of
the future must be more systematic and economical than bira
of the past. What is now, unfortunately, the exception, must
become the- rule. If the conntry really now produced as mi clt
as it is capable of -r if all had been done by t.ie farmers in the
economical application of capital to render our soils as-
productive as possible, then I should despair of our ability to
overcome the difficulties which we have to face. But when I
look around, and note tl»« mismanagement which too generally
prevail*, I am enconraged to behave that improved practice
wifl enable ns to lrold our own. It is as regards one of these
details, the cultivatiou of po'a'o crops, that I venture to call
your attenti' a to-day ; and I luve chosen the subject becsuse
it has fallen to my lot to carry out important experiments, in
company with my valued coadjutor, Mr. J. M. Hull, on the
results of which onr practice has been based for many years-
past, and because I believe that in some important particulars
we have, in consequence ot the experience gained irom these
experiments, been more successful than our neighbours, so
that those, at any rate, who are similarly circumstanced as to
soil may participate in these advantages, f may mention here
that the experiments to which I allude were, carried out at the
instigation of Dr. Voelcker, the chemist of the Royal Agri-
cultural Society during the years 1868 and 1869, and duly
recorded in the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society.
That Yorkshire farnit-rs are not, as a rule, conversant with
these experiments is a proof of how little tiiis valuable journal
is read. Would it not be desirable that this Chamber, which
1 rejoice to know is gaining the support of Use farming
community, should establish au agricultural library, and afford
those of its members who are not members of the Royal the
opportunity of seeing this jourual aud oilier contemporary
publications. It is unnecessary, in addressing a meeting of
Yorkshire farmers, to allude to the importance of the potato
crop, but it may be interesting to kuow to what extent it is
cultivated in our great county. Guing back to the year 187-1,
I find that the area occupied by potatoes was 9,018 acres in
the East Riding, 8,619 acres in the North Riding, and 22,231
acres in the West Riiting, making a total of 39,898 acres.
In 18-75 the total had increased to 44,606 acres; iu 1876 it
was 43,318. I have not been able to refer to the returns of
1877. In 1877 bad seasons had further reduced the acreage
to below wnat it was iu 1S74, namely, 39,073 acres. Last
yiar, however, there was a cousilerabie iucrease, probably
owing to corn returns being had. 1 give the details from each
division. East Riding, 10,297 ; Nonh Riding, 9,018 ; V\ est
Riding, 23.7S6— 43,101. Referring back to 1866, I find that
the total area was over 47j0.J0.000 acres, reduced the follow iug

THE PARMEIVS MAGAZINE

110

year to 41,000,000. I think we may therefore assume an
average oi nbuu' 43 0UO to 4.5,000 acres, which represents

about 15 p»r cent, of the total area, under green crops And
as the growth of potatoes is confined to certain distric », the
importance of the crop in those puts on b judged of. I
propose to divide my subjects um'er the following heads: — I,
Soi's most suitable ; 2, position in the rotation ; 3, varieties
most desirable to prow and importance o( change of seed, and
some facts as to disease; 4, general management,- especially
with regard to manure; 5, results.

I
1. I take it we shall all agree that the potato requires light
dry soils,and that whilst condition, i.<r.,the presence of suitable
plant food, is a necessity for securing healthy growths. Natural
poverty of soil may be remedied by jud cious applica ion of
nunurp. But no treatment cm render strong, heavy soils,
however fertile, suitable. It may be that, even here, wi'h an
exceptionally dry season, excellent c-ops may be grown; but
the risk is too great, and much loss and disappointment have
ocurred from the attempt to grow potatoes on land which,
titlier from the presence of clay or from imperfect draining
retains moisture. On the other hand, even weak blow-away
sand may be mad?; profitable Dy the proper growth of the
potato. It would be easy to refer to districts surrounding
Yoik, which have been doubled in value entirely through their
suitability for potato culture. There is another important,
c insidera'iou which should it fl tence our practic, and that is
the effect of the potato on the other crops of the, rotation.
Now, as a rule, subject of ourse to exceptions, I believe it will
be found that on light sand- warps, and probably peaty soils, the
growth of potatoesat properiutervals benefits the land at d helps
o' her cops lo li c)rn,sud esptcially roots. The effect on lime-
tone is often ex^c ly the reverse. Hire the, potato nets like a
piLon: its cruel influence is seen on the corn which follows.
I do not pntend to alfml an explanation of a fact loo well
known to require di cussion, but it should influence our prac-
tice. I be'ieve the, reasons why I'ght soils are so favourable
are the following : — 1. That the potato disease is promoted by
moisture eva| orating Irom the soil. 2. That the tree circula-
tion of air about the roots cluing the early period of growth
is of the utmost importance. This explains cjrtain facts which
are well kuown to growers: the superiority of long fre.-h
manure to very close rotten dung; the prac ice, of growing
potatoes after seeds on a fresh rather than a stale, furro v ; the
green sods tending to promote the porosity ot the soil and the
uncounted bentficial effect of Irequent stirring of the sur'ace,
which is so well secured by the frequent use of that admirable
i'tiplemmt thecoup' -harrow, the hoe, and the bouting plough.
Potatoes should have a free, porous, dry soil, in which to
develop roots, and so bear tubers. As regards the quality cf
the produce, the better the soil the better the crop ; but, as I
s iid before, a favourable mechanical condition is more impor-
tant than the natural fertility ; because any deficiency can be
8ii| plied by proper application of manure, whereas it we have
not suitable media, no amount of fertility can secure a sound
ctop. 2. Although there are certain soils which appear spe-
cially suitable lo pota'oes, eveu these can have too much of a
good thing. Great injury has followed the too frequent growth,
aud this, it would almost seem, has been in proportion to the,
na'ural fertility of the soil. I believe that a good deal of the
present distress in the Lothians of Scotland ari-es from ex-
haustion of the soil fiom excessive potato growth. The
extensive, growth of potatoes in that hitherto favoured district is
Ot recent growth. Remarkable results have obUiued when the
crop was fresh to the land. It was not unusual to hear of £35
or £45 an acre being made. An ex'raordinary stimulant was
given to farming. Rents rose to a poiut which, to our sober
eyes, appears marvellous and inexplicable, and for a time —
but only a short time — all went well. The potato, I suspect,
was reputed <<t too frequent intervals, and the result, botli
as regaids this crop and corn, has been disastrous. I have no
personal experience as to potato growing in light warp soil,
which enjoys a high reputation, both for quality and quintity ;
but I find that it is a common prec'ice to grow the crop every
three years, and I have an idea that the terrible loses from
disease may in some measure be attributable to its too frequent
recurrence. 1 tliiuk if the rotation were altered so as to bring
the crop only once in five or six years, the result might be
more favou-able. I hope there may be some present who will
be able to give us positive information as to the cultivation of
potdtots on waip laud. Confining my attention to the class

or soils with wh'c'i I a n best acquainted — light, poor sand— ■
1 hold a strong opiuion that the, potato-c op cauuot be profit-
ably grown as a permanent, element of the rotation more olteu
thau once in six years, and that its plsca should be after seeds
either one or two yeirs old. In making this statement I am
qui e aware that on a better class of laud potatoes are success-
fully taktm after oats which have followed se'.ds, and I trust
we shall have the sdvautage of my neighbour, Mr. Jonathan
Dunn's experience, who, I believe, adopts that plan, tluti
whom it would be dilficu t to find oue in >re qualified to teach
or better to follow. My reasjn for advising that potatoes
should follow seeds is because the land is theu richer, owing
to the accumulating effects of the clover, thau at any other
time, bee use the roots of the clover as they decay furnish a
large a uount of slowly solub'e food, and because. I find that
the soil, alter a crop of potatoes properly mauured, is in a
suit ble condition to grow, not one only, but two successive
c >ru crop*. The rotation we adopt on the ilo:ne /arm at
Escrick is as follows: — (1) Po(atue< on seeds, mown, fed, and
top-Jressed ; (2) oa s, \vi bout mauu e ; (5) barley, top-
dressed ; (4) roots, swedes, mangels, aud yellow turnips,
alter ua'ing; (5) barley aud seeds ; (0) seeds, 1110*11 and led.
A; regirds the sort of potatoes, I may state at the 0 t et that
1 am sceptical as to the perinaii"nt immunity from disease of
any variety, although it is crtaiu that new sorts often have
more app irent utdity and constitution thau some of our old
friends ; aud this is only natural. The c intiuued exposure;
of a plant to an artificial and euervated condition Ins the
effect of making it de.lica e, just as animals under lorciug
treatment are uuable to bear vicissitudes of clinnte. The
fluke kidney potato when first produced was singularly free
from disease, but at the present time it is quite as liable as
other sorts. I have grown an Americin sort, much praised,
viz., Suowflake, and whilst our main crop of Dumatian and
Victorias suffe.-ed con-iderably, probably one fourth being
diseased, I only found here and there, a diseased tub-rcfthe
new sort; but I do not suppose that the result will be the
same 20 years hence. A great deal has been written about
the Champion, a Scotch potato, which I take to be an improved
var'ety of Rocks, and the freedom Iro a disease has been j.
gratifying fact this year. With better quality out o the
rarket these potatoes have hid a fair sale, but it must not be
forgotten that when potatoes are sound aud abundant these,
coarse sorts are not good to sell, and would probably have to
be used as cattle food ; sti 1 it will be wise discretion to grow
a portion of such crops so as to be prepared for accidents.
York Regents, which at one time took a lead in the market
have of late years beeu improved by Scotch putatoes. We
have been fairly successful with a variety of Regents known
as Dalmatians. I think change of se^d of great importance,
and especially for poor soils which do not yie.ld a good
quality. It is really astonishing how soon both quautity
and quality suffer when home-grown seed is used year
afler year. Tne price of seed is often a serious item ;
but there is nothing pays so well as frequent changes,
if not every year, at least every other year. It is
right that I should say something at this point as to
disease. It is a rather humbling fact, that alter tho
experience of a quarter of a century, and time and money
spent in investigation, science still is fain to conress her
inability to explain the mystery or indicate a certain remedy.
The last attempt was made when Lord Cat heart, as President of
the Royal Agricultural Society in 1372, offered a prize ot £100
for the best essay on the potato disease and its prevention.
For this very liberal offer 91 competitors responded, uiootly
practical farmers ; but so little did they understaud the nature
of the disease, and so wild and illogical were their conclusions
that the judges could not award a prize, but advised that the
Royal Agricultural Society should lake up the subject for in.
vestigation. This was done, and the scientific portion of the
inquiry wa3 committed to a very emiueut authority — Professor
de Barry, whose reports have not yet beeu published. A
number of questions were issutd to potato-groweis. A digest
of the answra were made by Mr. Jeukins, aud published m
the journal. Professor Carruthers, the bolaui-t to the
society, had pointed out the close resemblance of the potato
fungus with similar diseases affecting the leaves of clover aud
the straw of wheat, and from some of the anawers it almost
seemed probab.'e that the disease might be communicated
through these lines. Thus instances were given in which
potatoes alter turnips, and ako were no manure was used,

120

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

were singularly free from disease. It may be said at once
that more exhaustive inquiry did not in a-uy way confirm i his
negative evidence. At the same time that these questions
were issued, the society offered substaatial prizes for early and
late varieties which cou'.d be shown to be free from disease for
three j ears, during which time they would be grown, nnder
varying conditions and in different localities, under the direc-
tion of the society. It is pleasing to know that a number
of leading farmers in different districts responded to the invi-
tation of the society and tested the different sorts sent for
competition. I believe that six entries were made, princi-
pally by seedsmen, with new sorts. Mr. Carruthers published
a report — 1S75 — since which nothing has been issued. We
may anticipate the report. The question of liability to or
immunity Irom disease may be influenced to some extent by
the sort, but will depend to a great extent upon atmospheric
conditions. I do not expect that after the seasons we have
had any one of the sorts will be sufficiently successful to win
the prize. It does not appear, so lar, that the experiments at
all bear out the theory that the proiwpoia iitfetiana is
identical with the fungoid diseases of clover and wheat.
Manure certainly has nothing to do with it. Rainfall in July
and August is the great developer of disease. Mr. Carruthers
believes that the spores of the fungi are present in the air.
We have by this time, he says, inherited the seeds of disease ;
hut they cannot come into active life without a certain con-
dition of moisture, even though they found a resting-place on
ihe leaves and stems of the potato. But when heavy rains
and especially warm thunder rains occur in July and August,
accompanied by dull, ho*, heavy weather, the spores shoot
intolile. To quote Mr. Carrutheis, "They may rest on the
surface of the leave*, and remain perfectly harmless if the air
contains no free moisture, for they can obtain noue from the
interior of the plant as long as they are external to it. Iu July
or August, when the warm atmosphere drinks up to saturation
the rain which has fallen, any slight reduction of the tempera-
ture like that caused by the setting of the sun sets free a certain
amount to watery vapour. The spores are able to appropriate
v. hat they require of this vapour, and begin their actke lie by
pishing out a small process or thread. Of all the spores that
ihus germinate, only such as are in close connection with the
p.'ant can live. But when the thread from the spore has
1 ulied its way through a stomate of the leaf or the skin of
ihe tuber, it obtains possession of a supply of food moisture,
a id speediiyldeveloje', destroying the plant in it- (progress, and
throwing into the air myriads of new spores to spread the
malady amongst the neighbouring host. The deductions from
the trials so far as they have been published is that climate
determines the healthy growth more than any other influence
— a line through the centre of England, from north to south,
indicates the regions where potato culture, soils being suitable,
may be successfully carried on — these beiug to the east of the
line, but that even in moist districts crops that cin be got off
eirly often succeed well. One most important point has been
proved, namely, that the spawn of tha fungus can exist in the
soil lor considerable periods, and hence, if diseased haulrn he
ploughed under, bs is o'ten the case, we may thereby be supply-
ing a source of disease for the next crop." Mr. Cairutiiers
efore advises that in cases where there is disease, the
haulm should be carefully collected and burnt, and I earnestly
trust that this simple precaution may be adopted. Suppose it
is probable, though not absolutely proved, that the fungus of
potatoes is the same as that which attacks the straw of wheat
and the leaf of clover, or that the spores cau retain their
vitality for years, how frightful a source of disease in the soil
or air will be the decaying haulm, abounding, as it does, in the
spores of the fungus. I know it may be urged as against this
view that the spores are always present, only waiting a
favourable condition to come into active life, and this thy
find where the soil is saturated with moisture ; but inasmuch
as there must be an active ferment in order to induce organic
change, so there must be a seed spore before a fungus csn be
developed, and if these are not present we shall not have
disease. Further research may throw more light on the subject,
aod it is not impossible that some day we may be able to ward
( IT disease from the plant as we now do from the animal. That
certain kinds of potatoes are less liable or altogether resist
the disease, only shows that they have some antiseptic in their
nature which enables them to resist the malign influence, and
does not at all prove that the spores are not the cause; and
therefore if we can in any way reduce, we must check the

disease. (4.) Iu considering the subject of manure, I must
draw your attention to the resu'ts of experiments as shown in
the diagram. These results are as follows : —

Manure.

1868.
Produce'
per acre.

3 84

4 18 1?

Cwts. I Let. lb
f Mineral super-~)
| pho-phate...4 | I
-{ Potash salts 2 }> S
| Sulphate of | |
[_AiumoDia.... 2J

Tons. I
Rotten dung 20 7 11 88, 4 6 21

Cwts,
Mineral snper

1868.
Increase

Tn.ct. lb.

1869.
Produce
per acre.

C Mineral snper- "J
< phosphate 4 >
I Potash salts 0}

7 5 0

No manure.. 0 3 7 76
P'vianguanoi 4 10 0 1 4 4i
I f Mineral super-"}
phosphate 4 |
^ Potash salts 2 )- 7 7 16 4 1 61
Nitrate of |

I, soda 2J

Tons.
Rotten dun* 20 |9 0 0 5 14 4J
No manure.. 0 |3 12 16i —

35 19 45

1869.
Increase.

Pn. ct. lb. Tn.ct. lb.

l2 5 40

11 5 40

8 9 12

6 15 80

9 9 72

10 15 0

5 13 84

4 13 54

1 17 54

2 18 4
4 3 44

11 2 56 4 10 100

6 7 56 —

Tubers. Haulm.

Silica -91 8-22

Phosphoric acid 1715 227

Sulphuric acid 319 512

Carbonic acid 1214 14 09

Lime 2 65 37-02

Magnesia 4 21 C"00

Peroside of iron

Potash

Soda „

Cnloride of Po'Mssium
Chloride of Sodium -

106 3 73

5089 1144

2-41 none.

mere traces.

533 12-00

The following was the produce of four years under the
above svstem •. —

1875, 28 acres £29 13 6 per acre.

1876, 28 acres 29 6 3

1877, 29 acres 26 0 0 „

1873, 29| aces 26 8 7 „

1S79,30 acres not sold. „

£111 8 4

Giving an average of £27 17'. Id. per acre for four years.

The mixture of manures was recommended by Dr. dicker,
and the manures themselves were supplied by Messrs.
Richardson and Co., Skeldergate, York ; and I would ) articu-
larly draw attention to the lact that these experiments were
tried in two very opposite, years as to season. 1S6S was a
remarkably dry summer; 18G9 was a much more favourable
year for roat crops. Yd the results are comparatively identical,
and they prove iucontestably the superior results from a mixture
such as No. 1 over Peruvian guano ; indeed the*increase iu
1869 was three tous five cut., which, at £4 per ton, gives au
increased value of £13 an acre, whilst the result in 1S6S was
even greater, but the extremely dry weather of that year was
unfavourable to guano. It is not I think difficult to understand
why the mixture proved so superior. By reference to the
second table it will be seen that potash is a most important
ingredient in the ash of the potato, and, to a less extent, iu
the haulm. Confining our attention to the bulbs only, the
total ash comprises about -71 per ceut. of the whole, and o! this
one-half, as shown by Professor Way, is put ill. Iu a crop of
ten tons per acre we have therefore 1591b. of ash, of which
7'J.V.b. will be potash. Now Peruvian guauo is very different
in potash containing |only about 3 per ceut. Sandy soils are
also wanting in potash, hence the remarkable lcsult of its
application. It will be seen that in both years, the mixture

of superphosphate, crude potash salts, and sulphate of ammo-
nia, produced a larger crop than 20 tons of well-made manure,
thus proving how extremely suitable the mixture was for the
crop. In our practice we use b >th foldyard manure aud
artificial, and accordingly vary bo newhat the mixture, which
has hitherto proved very suitable, and which I can heartily
recommend to all who grow potatoes on light, poor land. Now
that the mauure is made under cover we find ten cart loads,
weighing about nine tons, quite as much as we can spare. Ou
this we so* broadcast the following. mixture : —
2£cwt. of bone phosphate,
li „ kainit, sulphate of potash.

■J „ muriate of potash.

£ „ sulphate ot ammonia.

$ „ rape dust.

6^ cwt. per acre.

The only object of the rape dust is to make the mixture work
better. It. is itself a very expensive manure, according to
what it yields. Now, ttiis mixture costs from 45s. to 48s. per
acre, and I am satisfied — and I hope you will be also — that it
is a very much better manure than 4, cwt. of guano. It should
be borne iu mind, as strengthening my view, that when these
experiments were tried, the quality of guano was better thin
it is now, and more reliable ; yet if we had dressed our crops,
as so mauy of our neighbours do, with guano, we should have
k)St say from £10 to £12 an acre, which repre<ents a very,
handsome profit. I have been so struck with the fact that
notwithstanding our experience, which we have ventilated as
much as possible, and the results of which were published in
the Journal, our neighbours still generally apply Peruvian
gumo for potatoes, that I have brought the subject before you
to-day, hoping that, having seen and hearJ, you may alter
your practice, in this important detail. I will uo^ give you
au estimate as to the cost of an acre of Dotatoes.

£ s.

Riftered and ploughed in autumn, per acre 0 12

llnwing before manure is applied, one man and a
pair of horse*,, at the rate o! 4 acres per day 0

THE FARMER' S MAGAZINE ]21

DESTRUCTION OF BIRDS OFP.J'SY"-

d.
0

i 6

Filling manure, three men, at 3s.

each £0 9

Two boys driving carts, at Is. each. 0 2
One man putting out manure from

carts 0 3

0

£0 14 0
Cost per acre, at 14s. for 4 acres ... 0 3 6
Four women spreading ruaBure, at Is. 6J., reckoning

4acresperday 0 16

One man to sow the tillage and to assist in spread-
ing the manure, at the rate of 4 acres per day.... 0 0 9
One mau, horse and cart, to serve the planters with

sets, at 5s. per day _ 0 13

Three horses and carts, for leading mauure 0 10 6

Artificial manure 2 10 0

Ten tens foldyard manure, at 10s 5 0 0

Oae boy and horse harrowing down the rows berore
the plants appear, 5s. a day for 4 acres, three

timesover 0 3 9

Hoeing, weeding, &c 0 5 0

One man and a pair of horses to earth up 0 2 6

Rent, rates, and taxes, &c 2 0 0

£16 1
A considerable allowance should be made for the
manure bill for the unconsumed portion, which
so evidently beuefits the after-crop, aud wh:ch I
value at one-third the foldyard manure 1 13

Leaving the net cost per acre £14 17 11

In the discussion which followed Mr. J. Newton, Mr. II.
Richardson, and Mr. l'epper, President of the Howdea
Chamber of Agriculture, took part, all the speakers confirm-
ing the observations made by the reader, and thanking him
for the valuable information he had given to potato-
growers generally. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded
to the reader at the conclusion of the meeting, and also to
the^Chairmac.

The great destruction of the noblest species of British birds,
the Raptores (Prey catchers), which is taking place, and
threatens in cour.-e of time it nothing is done to prevent it, to
exterminate them in England, is a matter to be deplored not
only by ornithologists, but by the community at large.

Nature has provided spheres of usefulness for all her chil-
dren; each has its appointed work to do, and if we destroy
one, many must suffer the consequences. Yet this is what is
being done in the case of our native hawks.

That evil to the land, aud one of the many burdens the
farmer has to bear the gamekeeper one of the most dis-
turbing elements in the relationship of landlord and tenatit,
and the author of the many abuses relating to the Game Laws
indiscriminately destroys all bird life save game, and it is to
him we owe, in great measure, the gradual extinction with us
of this order of birds.

The gamekeeper, in his crass ignorance, believes that hawks
in gaining their legitimate living prefer game to other fuod,
as though they knew of the arbitrary distinction made only
by the laws of man, and this is his sole reason for destroying
them, because, perchance, they m^y kill a few of his young
pheasauts aud pan ridges, which he is rearing only "to be
slaughtered by the d-geuerating battue system.

Mr. T. W. Dealy, writing in Science Gossip for November
last, in an article on the spatrow-hawk, gives the following
curious cikulation: " Suppose there is one pair of sparrow-
hawks to every twenty square miles of the British Lies —
which is a very moderate calculation— far below the number,
there would then be 12,150 birds. Again, suppose each of
these to consume three birds— sparrows, we will say — per day
they would destroy upwards of 13 000,000 per year. What
a holocaust offered up at the shrine of agriculture, and yet it

is rejected."

Ths iiev.E. O. Morris, is his well-known work on British
birds, speakiug of the kestrel, another of our commonest, or
rather least rare hawks, says : " It does infinitely more good
than harm, if indeed it does any harm at alt, and its stolid
destruction by gamekeepers and others is rouah to be lamented
and should be deprecated by all who are able to interfere for
the preservation of a bird which is an ornament to the country.'

It is a great pity that the raptores were not included in the
Wild Birds Protection Act, for it is iu the breeding season,
when the hawks resort to the woods, that their systematic and
senseless slaughter by gamekeepers take place.

Iu the winter birds of prey leave the woods for more open
country, and at this season of the year may be seen hovering
over farm premises and corn stacks in search of their food in
the shape of rats, mice, sparrows, etc., thereby ridding the
larmer of these tiresome pests whic'i undermine, his buildings
destroy hundreds of coombs of corn annually, be.-ides doing
ether mischief; yet here again they are thoughtlessly shot at
by any and every one carrjinga gun. Can the iucrease of
vermin in farm homesteads be wondered at when the very
means nature has given to remedy the evil is being wautonly
destroyed.

As an instance of the war waged against our native hawks I
may mention that during last month four rough-legged
buzzards (a large, and with us rare species of hawk) were
killed in the neighbourhood of ^this town, twoj of them had
been shot and one trapped by gamekeepers.

I would ask all lovers of uaiursto try their utmost to pre-
vent this wholesale destruction of our native raptores, or they
will awaken when too late to the fact of the loss of many of

the most beautiful and useful four leathered friends. Hugh

Tsioieb. (Ipswich,) in Land aid Water.

A NEW HEATING APPARATUS.— A New York horse
car company has undertaken to heat its car this winter bv a
patent process. Under each seat, and protected by wire net.
ting, are run terra cotta pipes, to be filled at the beginning of
each trip with hot salt water. At each end of the car is
placed a cylinder, opening upon the platform, into which, every
trip, will be placed a large red-hot iron slug heated in a
furnace at the station. Most of the cars have already been
furnished with this heatiug apparatus.

122

THE

TIIK PARMER'S MAGAZINE,

FARMERS' ALLIANCE
LAND LAAVS.

AND TBE

At the first annual meeting of the members of this
.Association, held in the Freemason's Tavern, London,
December 10th, Mr. W. Fowler moved the addition of
the following object to the programme of the Alliance :
" To promote the reform of the laws relating to the owner-
ship and transferof land," which was carried by a majority
ot two-thirds of the members present. So that the Far-
mers' Alliance now stands pledged to a reform of the
Land Laws, and to take its share — virtually to lead the
van — in the downright hard fighting which will have to
be done before a reform of thia kind can possibly be car-
ried ont. Those who represent this step on the part of
the Alliance as a measure intended to further party politics
are very greatly in error. A class question it certainly is,
in one acceptation of the term, for it is a matter which
sets the whole of the community, with the exception of
one class, against the system which that one class — the
limited owners of entailed estates — maintain a position
which m inimical to the welfare of the remainder of the
people. It pits the welfare of the many agaiust the
legalised artificial status of the few — the prosperity of the
country against the feudal privileges of the great land-
ovners — the food of the people, and the prosperity of
agriculture, against the empty pride of family name, and
the poverty and incapacity of limited ownership. So far
from being a question of party politics, the strongest and
most bitter opposition will must likely come from the
"Whig section of the Liberal ranks. There is no more
determined opponeut of laud-law reform, and all measures
which have hitherto been framed for the purpose of freeing
agriculture from the thraldom of feudalists covenantstbau
the Duke of Argyll and the political party, or sectiou of a
party, which he represents. The sacrtd rights of properly,
and the sacrtd privileges which are secured by law
to the ownership of land, are as dear to a
L'beral as to a Conservative aristocracy, and to
Whigs as much as to Tories. As to the
Radical section of the Liberal party the action
takeu by Mr. W. E. Forster, Mr. Mundella, Mr. A. Peel,
aud others with regard to the Contagious Diseases
(Animals) Act, and more recently by Mr. Fawcett and Sir
C. Dilke in respect of farmers' appeals against income-
las, will suffice to show that for most political purposes the
Fanners' Alliauce would find the Radical party to be
incompatibles. The Alliance must not depend on or cater
for the favours of any political party, but must be a power
of itself, strong enough to be independent, but ready to
accept the bond Jide assistance of any political party, or
sectiou of a party, which may first be induced to take up
land-law reform as one of the political necessities of the
times. The Farmers' Alliauce will exert its strength to
influence elections, not ou party grounds, but to secure
the return of meu who will pledge themstlyes to advocate
in the House of Commons the objects for which the
Alliance exists. It has already become a power in the
land, and its strength is rapidly increasing. One of the
best possible sigBS of its vitality is the secession of such
men as Mr. Crouch, who should never have placed his
name on the list of members. The step which the
Alliance has at last been bold enough to take will clear
out of all who are afraid of the coming struggle, and their
places will be taken — have been taken — by others who
are prepared to devote their whole energies to the cause,
and to dig unremittingly at the roots of the feudalistic
system, which is ruining the agriculture cf the country.
Now is the time for the balf-hearted to "turn aud
flee," and for every one so lost the Alliance will be the
stronger.

The working of the laws of eutail and settknieut may

be briefly described. Estates are given by deed, or willed
at the death of the testator, to a child fur life, then to
grandchild for life, and then to the child of the grandchild ;
by which means the land is tied up for 21 years — the
minority of a child — after lives in being. But the law
permits a father and son, when the latter attains his ma-
jority, to eu'er into a deed of set'lemeot, or re-settlament,
so that the father holds for his life, and the s n for his
life after the father's death, and then the unborn male
heir of the son. So the eiitail aud settlement is kept up.
Mr. Gladstone, iu his speech at West Calder, explained
the process in the following words — ''The actual holder
of the estate" — or rather the life-holder — "induces the
sou to make provision for hi3 own children by giving him
an income for his life. Provision for the children is not
made by the free will of the father, but by the free will of
the grandfather, in order to secure the further tying up
of the estate. . . . The law of England.
will not trust the father to make provisiou lor the chil I :
it calls in the aid of the grandfather, and commits to him
the functions of the parent." The result of this has been
forcibly elucidated by Lord Carrineton when speaking to
his tenants in South Buck oghamshire. He said —

" In the north of the country I have two strong clay farms
on my hands. One I cannot get a bid for ; nobody will
cultivate it at any rent. I ■nay to my agent, * What am I to
do?' He answtrs: — 'The buildings must be re.buiU, the
«o:-if land laid down in grass, the land dra;ned and cleaned,
and in two years yon may get a tenant.' Very go»d, but all
this oujjht to have, been none year* atro, and the tenant would
have been saved, and the land woild never hnve got into so
miserable condition. But the same millstone is round my
neck that hampered my father, that I must wear till my death,
my bro' hers as well, if the, succeed me, and the land is not
free till alter our dea'hs or the twenty first birthday of an
unknown heir. As tenant for lire I hoped agaiust hopr,
trusting to the good se isou of 1879 'o put things right. That
f iled ; the tenant is ruined aud the land starved. It is a
small matter — one farm in hand— yon will say. But look round
us. I hear of a proprietor with 4,01)0 acres on his hands, a
Berkshi-e landowner with thirteen farms, and land thrown
up in all directions, l'eople woul I improve their properties if
they could ; but the majori'y cannot, as is shown by the
Commi'tfe of the House of Lords, consisti' g of the Duke of
Richmond, t lie Maniuis of Salisbury, the E rl of Derby, and
L >rd E„'erton of Tatton, who reported in 1870 that of '20
million acres in this country requiring drainage, only three
millions had been drained, and that taking into account also
all other necessary improvements, only one-fifth of the laud
had been properly dealt with. Is nut this a serious state of
things t"

Most assuredly it is. And yet the Times newspaper
had the temerity to say in effect that Lord Carringtou did
not understand the subject on which he was speaking.
Another very striking instance of the practical working
of the laws of entail and settlement is given iu the ad-
mirable series of letters written by the late Mr. Joseph
Kay, and now published iu book form —

•' I was (sa\s Mr. Kay) the trustee of a large and valuable
estate, in the south of England. This estate, fi'ty or sixty
years ago, came into the possession of a youua tilled man, win
was just twenty-one years old, and whom I will call Lord

A . He became the absolute owner of it, unfettered by

anv deed, or will, oi mortgage. The whole income of the
estates belonged to him. He married when he was about
twenty -two years of age. Upon his marriage, deeds were
executed which gave him only a life interest in the e-tate, and
theu settled the properly ou his children most strictly. That
was fifty or sixty years ago. He had one child, and as soon
as that child was twenty-one another deed was made, giving
that child ouly a life interest in the estate, and settling it after
his death on the children he might leave iu succession. The
estate was divided iuto large farms aud very valuable woods.

Lord A was an extravagant and reckless man. He. hunted

the country. He kept open house. H« li<fel as if his income

were ten timej as gaat as it was. He gambled and lost heavily.

ded i

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

125

He rai-ed money on his li'e interest. Be finally IM from
K. gland, deepf) in debt, and lived abroad. Tlir rem ,itider of
his life in crest, which wa« only worth the annual thinning of
the wood", was sold to a Jew, who knew he wou'd lose nil as

• oo as L >rd A died. That state of ihings las ed about !

lorty years. Tne farmers had no lea es, and no security for J
any expenditure. They were unwilling to expend on the j
restoration or substaniial maintenance of the farm buildings.
The Jew would not spend, for he did not know, aid con'd not '

know, wheu L >rd A. might die. The gentleman who took

the nunsion wou'd not expend upon it, because he could not '
tell when he might be turned out. The Jew, in order to make \
8» much out of the estate as he could, raised the rents as much
a- lie could, and c«t out of the beautiful park and woods far
nvre timber than any >jnerubarrassed owner would have done ;
and so the estate was damaged more aud more year by year.
The tenantry were prevented from dealing fairly by the land
or fairly by themspjves ; there was no one to support the
schools or the church, or to look after the large village of
hbourers upon the property. All social progress and all social
prospmty upon the estate were put an eud to. The farm
buildings fell into decay ; the land was not properly drained
or eultWated ; the plantations were injured; the mansion
became dilapidated ; and all this was caused by the deedg
which the law had allowed the lord and his heir to execute.

The circumstances detailed alone afford an excellent
rejoinder to Lord Silisbury's statement iu his receut
speech, iu which he boldly and ruthlessly declared that
the laws of entail aud settlement ** have uo other effect
except that of preventing the landed proprietor from
mortgaging hrs Lud anil squandering his property." It
is clear that if the land is thus retained, burdened with
eDiurnbrauces from generation to generation, aud the
family name preserved, it does not prevent the rent-
charger from squandering all he can possibly screw out of
the estate ; and the result is a state «f affaiis described by
the Special Commissioner of the Daily News as existing
not a hundred miles from the family seat of the noble
Marquis, lie says : —

"The views may be picturesque and the homes suflTcient'y
quiet and retired, but; to the auricnltural observer the whole
aspect of the country is lamentable. Uutrimmed hedges,
smothering hedge-row timber, rushy, undrained fields, park
walls in a dilapidated condition, the absence of good farms,
aud the paucity of labourers' cottages, tell ot husbandry
despised, nature left to run almost wild, no enterprise promot-
ing the comfort ol an increasing population, and lavour shown
to such live stock as pheasants and rabbit". And the aspect
of everything says that the land is entailed. A universal
deaduess broods over the country. It is a laud for gentry to
live in, peacefully retired Irom the turmoil of botli city and
couutry ; and the society here is as unruiHed as the landscapes
are calm aud dreamy."

The noble Marquis reminded the good people of Wal"
ford " that you cauuot make a silk purse out of a sovv'^
ear," and one may easily imagine the impossibility o1
making a Land Law reformer out of Lord Salisbury. The
Luke of Richmond points out that the laws have existed
iu this couutry for hundreds of years ; but he does not
describe them as a relict of feudalism, as they really are,
aud went on to tell his hearers at Chichester the other
day that those who wish to bring forward the Liud Laws
as having any connection with the existing agricultural
depression ought to be able to show,

"That upon these estates, be thr-y large or small, which are
uuder the laws ol entail and settlement agricultural depression
prevails in an undue degree ; th; t the tenants on those esales
are discontented ; and that tie labourers are b'dly housed,
ili-fed, and not properly paid. Unless they prove this? things,
they have no right lo mix up ths laws of entail and settlement
with the causes of the agricultural depression."

But as from three-fourths to four-fifths of the cultivated

laud iu this couutry is said to be held uuder entail aud

settlement, the cause is iu general operation. With re-

d to the effect of these laws ou the expenditure of

landlords' capital on the land, in reapf>ct of labourer's
cottages, &c, referred to by the Duke, Mr. Culley, oueof
the Commissioners, who, in 1870 inquired into the condi-
tion of agricultural labourers, reported as follows : —

" It is too evident that the great co'tage difficulty is the
poverty of the landViWoing class — the possessors ot heavily
burdened e-tates, who are, in the preseut state of the law, un-
able adequately to dis-diarge the duties of ownership, either to
their labourers, or their estates, or to the public."

And reports of the same tenor were given by other Com-
missioners on that occasion. His Grace apparently forgets
this ; if he doubts it, let him make a tour of inspection iu
the neighbourhood of Hatfield. Mr. W. L. Forster also
gives an explanation of the laws of entail aud settlement.
He says they work iu this way ; —

" A man who, being foolish and extravagant, does not know
how properly to manage his land, is yet enabled, if not obliged
to keep up the management, and to no on managing it. But
landowning, alter all, is a business like other businesses ; aud
in order to succeed there are certain conditions of success, and
they are not folly, and not extravagance, but sense and
economy ; and the law, in trying to preserve the foolish aud
extravagant landlord by these settlements from the consequence
of his lailure to conduct his landowning business, interferes
with a much more important business than the landowning
business, and that is the food-producing business/'

Thus it will be seen that although land is by a legal
fiction saleable, even nnd r entail it is practically unsale-
able. It is iiedged in by provisions of the law, and the
" dead hand'* is upon the greater portion of the soil of
England. Mr. Walter, M.P., the chief proprietor of the
Times newspaper, declares, " as one of the largest farmers
iu the comity (Berkshire), that the Land Laws are not the
cause of agricultural depression." Mr. Chaplin, M.P.,
says ; —

" It seems to me that it is perfectly idle to seek for the
cause of distress in a condition of things which has been co-
existent with the times of our greatest prosperity ; and equally
idle to look for relief to a change in those laws which experi-
ence shows ns have for years been compatible with the highest
standard of agricul urral welfare.'

But farmers will have made up their mind?, by this
time, that the present depression iu agriculture is without
precedent, aud that they canuot contend with foreign
competition unles9 they can rent and farm under condi-
tions which differ both in kind aud in degree from those
bow obtaining. And it has been clearly shown that whilst
the land is tied up under entail and settlement by the
" dead hand "of the law, they cannot obtain these altered
conditions of tenure. Therefore, they should help the
Alliauce with all their strength — their united streugth —
to reform the Land Laws.

Space will not now permit more than a passing mentioa

of the costliness of land trausfer. It is known that the ex-

: peuses attending the conveyance of small purchases of laid

| amount to very nearly as much as the purchase tnonty

| itself. This is au evil which the Alliauce will lend its aid

| to redress. If one-half of the lawyers who now live by

such extortion were to find their occupation gone, the

! country would be the gainer thereby. Mr. Baxter

j has clearly expressed the necessities of the care when he

j said that "'the law should no longer interfere to prevent

j artificially the sale and breaking up of large estates, when

cirumstances would effect this if left to themselves." There

is nothing in the possession of lame estates which, of

itself, need teud to public disadvantage or loss. Peasant

proprietorship is a system which should not have legal

impediments placed in its way, but it is not likely to obtain

to a much greater extent thau at present in this

couutry.

From what has been demonstrated, farmers, one and
all, should join the Alliance. They have all to gain and

124

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

nothing to lose. Ten years ago they might have been
turned out of their farms, if they did not hold leases,
but matters wear a very different complexion now. The
Alliance does not seek to give them fresh political power,
hut merely to concentrate and utilise that they already
possess. If farmers would only combine, they could not
only have a voice in making the laws which affect them-
selves, but they could determine the results of nearly all
county electious — iu other words, the composition of any
Government. Without trenching on party politics, they
could gaiu their ends, which are consistent with the
country's welfare, by submitting to every Parliamentary
candidate a list of reforms, and refusing to vote for him
if he would not pledge himself to advocate them in
Parliament. This is all that is required. It is a very
simple plan, but a very effective one. Every tenant
farmer may safely try it.

When landowners themselves come forward to support
the reform of the Land Laws — men iu the position of
Lord Hartington, Lord Carington, Lord Cowper, the
Marquis of Tavistock, Lord Alsford, Lord Randolph
Churchill, and others, together with politicians like Mr.
Gladstone, Mr. Forster, and other active members of
Parliament, the most timid amongst the agricultural ranks
need not feel themselves without substantial support. —
Norfolk News.

CANADA AS A FIELD FOR FARMERS.

A meeting of farmers was held in the Town Hall, Annan, ou
the 9th ult.,to hear the report of Mr. Robert W. Gordon, Com-
longan Maio3, Ruthwell, the delegate sent to Canada by the
Anuandale farmers to report on that country as a field of
{migration for agriculturist-'. There was a large attendance,
the hall being quite crowded, and several could not gain ad-
mission. On the motion of Mr. Marshall, Howes, Provost
Nicholson was called to the chair.

Mr. Gordon sketched with much detail the general cha-
racter of the townships forming the south-easternportion of the
province of Quebec, touching on their agricultural and horti-
cultural products and capacities, their climate, soil, people,
and institutions. Ontaria was similarly described, and, in
concluding, Mr. Gordon thus summed up the case from the
point of view of a practical agriculturist: — Is Canadi the
place to emigrate to? and if so, which of her provinces is the
most desirable? Tiie 6rst questiou I will answer in the affir-
mative (1), because of its boundless exteut of cheap, and at
the sam°. time ferule, lands; (2) because of its proximity to
our own country, and therefore to the best market in the
world ; (3) because of the similarity of its people to ourselves ;
and (4) became of its loyal allegiance to the British Flag.
The second I will leave }Ou to decide for yourselves alter point-
ing out shortly the advantages and disadvantages of each pro-
vince as I was able to discover them. The capital required
varies, of course, according to the system adopted aud the
district chosen, and may be roughly estimated at from £3 to
£30 an acre. This includes the first cost of the land. After
that, of course, there is no rent to pay. Land, however, can
be bought to be paid in a certain number of years, with interest
on the unpaid portion. In this case less capital is required,
but this leaves a yearly burden in the shape of interest, which
virtually forma a rent for a limited time. The yield of whe it
in Quebec and Ontario varies from 10 to 40 bushels per acre,
but the average, I fear, can hardly be put down at more than
17 bushels of 601b. weight. This low average is a result of
the land having been so badly farmed in the past. The
aimers, however, are now alive to the fact tint they must
turn their attention more to the rearing and feeding of live
s'ock for exportaiion to the British markets than to the grow-
ing of wheat. The yield of barley may be reckoned at 33
bu-hels of 4S lb., oats at 50 bushels of 32 lb., aud Indian corn,
where it will grow, also at 50 bushels of 60 lb. Wheat was
making 5s., barley 2s. 4J., and oats Is. 4d. per bushel. Fruit
is also a valuable adjunct iu these provinces. Turnips and
potatoes are similar to our own crops in ordinary years. Beef

was selling retail at 5il. per lb., mutton about the same figure,
and the 4- lb. loaf at 4£i. to 5d. ; cheese when we lanfled at
3M. per lb., when we left at (3d. From all I could learn a
farm can be worked cheaper than in this country, for although
wages are higher, fewer hands are required. Labour may be
estimated when all paid for at 10s. to 15s. an acre. For every
£100 invested in land, the total fixes payable do not exceed
15s. I may say that as h rulp, no artificial manure is used.
The capital required for Manitoba neet not be so highly esti-
mated, as in no case can the sum required exceed £5 per acre ;
but, on the other baud, no man should go there trom this
country with a less capital than £500 to attempt to cultivate
160 acres. He can easily start and flourish with the half of
this, provided all things go well, but there are contingencies,
such as grasshoppers and severe weather, it would be well to
provide for. Wtitat may be safely estimated to yield with
reasonable cultivation 30 bushels of 80 lb., and oats 60 bushels
of 321b. The yield of barley I did not ascertain. Grain is
not expected to require much outlet lor some years, as the
new settlers always require seed and food for themseKes and
animals until their own crops are matured. There is a demand
also from railway contractors, and by the tim« these markets
fail communications will be. better. Wheat was warth 2s. til.
to 3s. per bushel, and oats Is. 81. to 2s. Potatoes and turnips
grow well, and cattle do well on prairie grass iu summer aud
on hay in winter, which can be got as jet in any quautity off
unsettled land iu the neighbourhood. There is nothing to pay
for it except the labour. The first breaking of the land out
of prairie can be let by contract for 12s. an acre, the next and
following year it can be ploughed for 8s. Harrowing is a
mere bagatelle after the firut year, aud harvesting, owing to
the dry climate and the level nature ol the surface, is inexpen-
sive. Iu Qaeb?c (when I speak of this Province I mean the
Eas'ern Townships) you have the advantage of being uear the
seaboard, consequently the freight to the European market is
low. You require, less capital than in On ario, as land of the
same quality it cheaper. The wages are lower. Water is ra
better supply naturally, and permanent pasture is found t»
answer. On the other hand, Ontario can furnish a greater choice
of more valuable land ; roads are belter ; schools more
numerous ; winter is shorter; and the people generally are
more like ourselves. This arises from the absence in a great
measure of a foreign element as compared with Quebec. Agus
is still present iu some parts of Ontario, while Q lebec and
Manitoba are free. Manitoba has a disadvantage as compared
with both these provinces in her distiuea from a rairket, in
her sparse population, greater scarcity of schools and churches,
roads and good water, and a louger and more severe winter.
Ou the other hand, she has a virgiu soil of vastly superior
quality, which is to be had at a comparatively low price, less
labour is needed, although wages are higher (ruilrosd men
earn from 6s. to 8s. a day), and there are no taxes. Quebec
and Manitoba, as settlement advances, will have better roads,
and more churches aud schools. A very good idea of the rate
at which settlement in the latter province is advancing is
gathered from the fact that the post offices have been increased
in little more than a year from 58 to 120 ; one land office last
year had located 900 settlers and sold 400,000 acres of land.
The communication between here and the old world will soon
be vastly improved, through the competition of the Thunder
Biy Route aud the construction of utw hues of railway now
iu contemplation. A new route is also proposed, via the
Nelson River and Hudson Bay, which wili briug IViunipeg as
near Liverpool as New York is at present. The grasshopper
and mosquito plagues will moderate or disappear altogeiher,
as they have aiready done in the older provinces, and the
praiiie lire, which is the dread of the now settler, need do him
uo damage, unless through his own extreme carelessness..
Persons going out herp, however, should be still robust aud
active, as, of course, at present it h a pioneer's life, while, if
they go to the older provinces, wheu once there, they can
make themselves as comfortable as at home.

THE LIE POLITE.— The grandma of a little four year
old had been telling her one day not to say people lied, but
rather that they were mistaken. Her grandmother, to amuse
her, told her a bear story, which was a tough one to believe.
Alter she had finished, the little girl looked into her facs and
exclaimed, " Grandma, that is the biggest mistaken 1 have
ever heard.'' — Boston TraveUtr.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

125

&<$ucultiuai arable Calfe.

At the aimml ilinner of the Oxford Libera] Association on
Jan. 1 3t ii Mr. Chitty, QC.re'erred to the Lmd Question,
He said : — The subject, hs they were aware, ha 1 rec< ived a
great deal of attention of late and been treated hy varions
writers of different classes. Among the more recent were
the late Mr. Kay and .Mr. Farrer, the Secretary of the Board
of Ttade, whose, short essay on the Freedom of Land he spe-
cially commended to their uotice. Mr. George Shaw-Leferre,
the member for Reading, was bringing out an ad nirable
pamphlet, under the title of " A Plea tor Free Trade in Lmd,"
which he had kindly allowed him to see in the proof-sheets.
The agricultural distress had turned men's thoughts in everv
direction to seek for the cause and the remedy, and had directed
attention to the extraordinary state of the law. It consisted
of a vast irregular mass. Tue foundations were the common
law, which itself was made up of the feudal system intermixed
with some fragments of Saxon law. The next story comprised
an elaborate and intricate patchwork of statutes, the product
of various centuries ; and on the top of all this was a sjste.m
of equitj, the ramifications of which affected the structure in
every part. The difficulty of exploring this enormous pile was
very great. A mau must be a lawyer, and a specially trained
lawyer, to comprehend it thoroughly, and not many specially
trained lawyers were complete masters ol it. He then referred
to the Acts passed by Lord Westbury and Lord Cairus for the
establishment of a system of registration, w'.iich were both
failures. These experiments showed the futility of merely
permissive legislation on such a subject. Many sensible men
held that a system of registration should be preceded by a
sound and carefully considered measure for simplifying title
and extending the power of alienation. He then explained
the effect of the law affecting land under settlement, which was
to keep the land tied up for a long period, varying according
to the circumstancss, and not uifrequently extending to 30,
40, or 50 years, and even longer. It was estimated that from
half to three-quarters of the land in this country was under
settlement, the result of which was to make, not the present,
but the next unborn generation the owner. Could human
ingenuity, he had almost said perversity, have efftc ed a more
astonishing result ? Land, which was the basis of our civi-
lization, belonged, not to the present, but to the next genera-
tion ! But this was not all : a dead man could order that
the rents should be accumulated for twenty-one years, and
could give directions as to the cultivation and management of
the land after his death. They would see what a grip the dead
man's hand had on the? land. Now, where the land was in
settlement, the possessor was generally merely tenant for life,
and, with certain exceptions, could deal with the laud only to
the extent of his interest. But it came into his hands heavily
lad^n with jointures, with charges for his younger brothers
and sisters, and with family mortgages and other incum-
brances. He was the apparent, not the real owner; but he
was expected to fulfil all the duties of a real owner, requiring
great expenditure, in maintaining the hospitality and style of
the family. In the midst of apparent p'enty he was often a
poor mau — a Tantalus parched with thirst though the water
was rising to his lips. Often, and especially in bad seasons,
it would be for his advantage to sell a portion of his land ; but
he could not do so. If he was a spendthrift, he mortgaged
his interest to money-lenders, who took possession and during
the rest of his life put as little in the land and took as much
out of it as they could. That a settled estate should be in the
hands of encumbrancers of this sort was by no means a rare
thing ; within his own experience he had known it in every
rank of the peerage, from a duke downwards. If, however,
he was prudenf, he knew that what he put iuto the land from
his own savings was added to the fortune of his eldest son,
who already had too much, and was taken away from his
younger children, who had too little ; and what he saved for his
younger children in many cases he took away from the land-
One of the best proors of the evil effects that arise from
limited ownership was the many palliatives which had been pro-
vided by .Parliament of late years. Uuder these Acts, which
had been well described as " mere supplementary devices,"
the limited owner was supplied with certain powers of
borrowing mouey for improvement charged on the land and
repayable by instalments spread. over a period of some twenty
or twenty-five years. But, taking the average duration of life,

it would be found that often the greater part, som(tim»s the
whole, of these instalments fell on him as an additional bur-
den, a<.d in the exercise of these powers he found himself ham-
pered with official interference and involved iu expense, trouble,
tmd delay. But then it waa said — ind he heard Mr. Hall say
other night — that in amost every settlement there was
a power of sale, and that where tiere was no such power a
sal- could he ordered by the Court under the Settled Estates Act.
But the settlement power was conferred upon trustees; whose
duty it was to protect the remainder-man, and the power of the
Court was restricted in a >iiuiUr manner. Iu both cases Ihe
ultimate destination of the money was to buy more laud, which,
when bought, became subject to the settlement. la both cases,
the motive power to sell was wanting. He would not stop to
enumerate the many evils that resulted from this system ; a
notable one was the obstruction to the Iree circulation of land
and the expense aud delay arising from complication of title
that attended every purchase and pressed most heavily on the
snail purchaser, and the uncertainty of getting a title when
the money had been paid. Another was that the land was not
held by the real owner, cap ible of doing his du'y to it in the
way of improvement and cultivation. A. plain remedy wonld
be to abolish or cut down this monstrous power of settlement
and entail. Some had proposed to abolish the system altogether.
The state of public opinion, however, on the subject scarcely
appeared to be, as yet, ripe for so drastic a measure ; but it
would seem right at all events to take away the power of
making unborn persons the owners of land. A
very excellent suggestion, and one which had his ap-
proval, was to give every tenant for life in possession
an unrestricted power o sale, with due provision for the
protection of the surplus purchase money after discharging
incumbrances. Primogeniture should be abolished. Com-
paratively a small part only of the land in this country, as
they were probtbly aware, passed under the Law of Intestacy.
It generally operated in the case of small or moderate proper-
ties, where the owner had neglected to make a will. In his
own experience he had known many instances of this sort
where the whole of the property had gone to the sou, and the
other children and even the widow had been left destitute.
If the law mada a will for a man it should make a just one,
and not such as no man in his senses would think of niakin<*'.
There were many other points connected with land, such as
the Law of Distress, of fixtures and improvements, and of
long building leases, requiring, in his judgment, revision and
alteration; but time would not allow tiim to speak of them
to-night. Suffice it to say, that in the interest of the com-
munity at large, of the landowners themselves, of the farmers
and of the labourers, our land system required a complete and
thorough reorganisation. The principle on which we should
proceed was to remove all artificial restraints, and to leave
natural causes and the wants of society free to do their work.
He was not disposed to attempt the creation by artificial
means of classes of yeomen or peasant proprietors,
much as he should like to sec them. He was afraid
that if artificially created they would languish aud die.
But we should endeavour so t> reform the law as to make the
purchase of land easy and inexpensive, to give facilities to the
artisan and working man for making a safe investment in land
of his small savings, for which he had now great difficulty in
finding an investment, and to afford to the cultivator of the
soil some hope that he too might by industry and thrift one
day become an owner. The life of an English labourer was
well described at the present day as " thriftless, hopeless, and
aimless." Let him see his opportunity of becoming owner
he would be a different man. On this subject he could not re-
frain from quoting the well-known words which Arthur Young
wrote so long ago as 17S9 :— " Give a man the secure posses-
sion of a bleak rock and he will turn it into a garden ; give
him a nine years' lease of a garden and he will turn it into a
desert. The magic of property turns sand into gold." He
was convinced that a thorough reform of our land laws would
stimulate industry and thrift, reduce pauperism, and strengthen
the rights of property. How much better would it be if the
Government were to direct its energies to some such useful
and beneficent work as this, instead of fighting Zulus and
slaughtering Afghans, persecuting Boers, aud not reforming
Turks. After some further observations, for whbh we have
not space, the learned gentleman concluded his speech, which
was listened to with much iuterest, by referring to the foreign
policy of the Government, which he strongly condemned.

l-2a

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

THE NEXT ROYAL SHOW.

The following regulations, among«t others, relating to
implements, mae'iinery, &c, to be exhibited at the meeting
of the Royal Agricultural Society, to beheld at Carlisle on
the 1-lb. of July next, have beeu i.-sued : —

STEAJl ■CULTIVATING MACHINERY.

The judges are empowered to aw*rd gold and silver medals
to any impbin 'nts and machines for the cultivation of the land
bv steam or other mechanical force, which, in the opinion
of the stewards a"a 1 judges, are new invention^ aud have not
been previously submitted to trial by the S 'C:ety.

The s'ew >rds and judges are instructed that tlie gold medals
t-hall be awarded only in cases of special merit, and for
implements and machines likely, in their opinion, to be prac-
tically useful.

NEW INVENTIONS.

There ate ten silver medals, the award of which the judges
appointed by tlie Council have the power of recommending in
ca-es of sufficient merit in new implements exhibited at the
C rlisle Show.

These medals cannot, in ally Case be awarded to any imple--
nvnt, unless the principle of the implement, or Of the improve-
ment of it, be eutirely new. No medal shall be awarded by
the judges without the const nt of the steward*, and no com-
mendation of miscellaneous af.icles shall be made by the
judges.

The jtidg°9 are al»o empowered to make special awards of
medals tor'e*ucient modes of guarding or shielding machinery,
especially when worked by steam, from contact with persons
i nmediately engaged in attending to tUch n-achinery while at
work.

No medal shall, in any case, be awarded to any implement
or miscellaneous artic'e Capable of trial until it has been sub-
JAc*ed to such trial as the stewards may direct.

Entries for implements will close on the 1st of April.

GENERAL REGULATIONS.

The specific ition of every new implement or machine fof
the cultivation of the land by steam or other mechanical
force, entered for trial, must include the worlds " entered for
trial,>> so as to identify it in the catalogue, otherwise such
implements may be disqualified from competing lot the prizes
offered ; and no implement will be allowed to compete for the
prizes offered unless specially entered, as for trial, in its proper
section and class, on or before the twentieth of April, 1880,
except by order of the stewards on the recommendation of the
judges. Descriptions, with dimensions of those implements
entered for trial, must be written on the duplicate form sent
with the specification.

The specification must state the selling price of each article
complete and in good Working order", and each exhibitor will
be bound to execute all orders given to him in the show-yard,
at the price stated in this specification, and to deliver the
implements w'thin six months of the clo^e of the Show, on
piin, in case of proved failure in such engagement, of not
being agsin allowed to exhibit at. the meetings of this Society,

In order to ensure a bO,ia-fi//e selling price being specified,
it is a condition that, if the price certified by the exhibitors
shall, in the the opinion of the judges and the consulting
engineer of the Society, be stated so manTestly low, that the
e liihitor cannot Consist n'ly supply at such price, such imple-
ments shall be removed Irom the yard.

No exhibitor is allowed to enter duplicates of the same
article.

In order to prevent the entry of duplicate articles, a
minimum fine of £1, increasing to a maximum fine of 10 per
cent, on the declare! price, will be imposed f ir each article or
duplicate of an article exhibited or taken into the show-yard
in breach of the preceding rule.

All machinery, implement, and other articles, except car-
riages, and seeds, and models, must be brought, to the show
yard, and be arransed in complete order, before five o'clock
in the evening of Wednesday, 7th July, and curiages, &c,
by Friday, 9th July, before five p.m.

If any exhibitor shall send machinery away from home so
that it is not possible for it to arrive iu time to be admitted
into the yard, he shall forfeit the right to the reduced return
rate of railway trtmsit.

The " Eutries for Trial " made by exhibitors must apply

only to implements and machines for the cultivati n of the
land by steam or other mechanical force, and not to miscellane-
ous «it cles.

The judgis will select any misc llaneous articles exhibited In
the sho»-yard that they may wuh to try, with a view to the
award ot Silver Medals,

Every implement intended by the exhibitor ror competition
shall be entered in i'8 respective section and class as for trial
at the time when the specification is sent in to the Secret iry ;
but notwithstanding such pntry, the discretion of trial will
r.^st with the stewards and judges.

No extiihitor may en'ernnre than oneimplemert of thes^me
construction for competition in any one class. The decision
of the stewards as to whether difference in theconstruC'ion of
machines are sufficiently great to constitute them different
machines shall be final and binding.

The stewards may. on the recommendation of the judges,
order any new implement to he tried, and its capabilities ma e
public ; and the judges may, with the concurrence of the
stewards, award to the exhibitors of such implements any dl**
tinction, according to merit, that may bs at their disposal.

All competing machinery and implements entered as ne v
inventions mu~t be brought into the show-yaf.l by the time
specified in Regulation No. 16 in perfect order for work'hg,
as they will be liable upon the recommendation of the judge*
to have their capabilities proved by actual trial.

The stewards and judges shall, duriug the first two days
before tin show, make such preliminary investigation into the
weight and construction of competing machinery and new
implements as they may consider necessary* and such imple-
ments as the judges shall sel-ct will be tried at such time and
place as the stewards may Hppoint.

Exhibitors are requested to be in attendance during t' e
exhibition of their machinery as well as dU'ing the trials ;
and they or their servants must give every facility to the
stewards by preparing thpir implements for inspection ; and
any exhibitor alter having had due notice, will be liable eittur
to have his implement worked at his own risk in his absence,
or to have it removed altogether from the show-yard, as the
stewards may decide, and without any responsibility attaching
to the Society iu consequence.

No implement will be allowed to work in the trial-yafd or
field, unless by the express orders of the judges or steward?.

The stewards shall have power to order any implement
out of the yard, the owner of which does not. conform to the
regulations of tlie S eie y, or the directions of the stewards.

The judges will have from nine o'clock in the morning of
Friday, July 9th, allowed them fot making their inspection of
implements in the show-yard.

The judges will be instructed to deliver to the stewards
their final and complete awards of medals immediately their
decisions are completed.

The judges will be requested to observe that it Is left to
their discretion to select implements for trial from those
entered as new implements, as well as, if they consider it
desirable, from those not so entered.

The judges will decide on the merits of the work done by
any implements to which steam or oth»r power is appiied ;
but they will be required to pay every attention to the report
of the consulting engineer, as to the power Used, the mechanical
construction of the machine, aud the quality of workmanship
and materials used.

The judges will be Instructed that in the trial of i>ple.
ments, in every cise where practicable, steam-power should be
adopted instead of horses, as the most accurate test of the
relative working of mschinery.

The judges are instructed to visit every stand of implements
in its numerical order, and to place on the notice boards each
evening the nu nber ot the siand with which they will
commence their inspection on the following moruing, and at
one o'clock each day the number of the stand from which
they will proceed at two o'clock.

The judges are instructed to give timely notice to the
stewards of any milk, cream, cake, corn, roots, coals, seeds, or
materials of any description, or additional suppliesthereof,
that may be required lor conducting the trial of any implement.

The judge will be instructed not to recommend the award
of any medal if the* shall be of opinion thst there is not
sulficient merit in any of the implements (xhibited to justify
an award.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

125

A FARMERS" CONFERENCE AT
LAQNCtSTON".

On Saturday, Jan. 10 Mr. J. W. B.rclay, M.P for F >r-
farshire, and Yire-pre-icle"t of the Farmers' Alii mop, who
was oq a visit to Launceston for a few days with Mr. Robert
Collier, t tie Liberal candi.tate for the borough, addressed a
large gathering o( the tenant farmers of the district in the
Central Rooms on the present agricultural depression and t! e
position uf the tenant larmers therein, a* the same time ei-
plainine the principles of the Farmers' Alliance. Mr. J.
Bawling, a local farmer, presi ed, and the meeting was really
a " Fanners' Conference," being called »» such. Mr. B irclay,
after exp'aining that the Alliance was brought into existence
through the growing convictions among tenant farmers that
Iheif interests were not represented in Parliament as I hey
should be, said t'-ey had trusted too long to those who had
professed to know their wants, but had not actually done so,
and he urged that it was absolutely necessary for them to
combine together and do something for themselves if they
hoped to escape utter ruin. He had no doubt that the present,
depnssion was diieetly brought about bv a succession of bad
harvests ; but he felt sure the depression must have come
later oh even had seasons remained favourable. They could
lope with confidence that better seasons woul I come, but even
if they were fortun ite, and got good crops equal to those of
former years, they would have to look fjrward with grave
jippreheusions to foreign competition, particularly with
An. erica, and both landlords and tenants ought to consider
how this couutry was going to meet it. Mr. Barclav then
gave an accou it of his recent vi-it to the United States, and
nf the deductions he had drawn therefrom as a tenant, farmer.
lie had no doubt that for some years they would have in-
creasing supplies of all kinds of agricultural produce from the
United Sta'es of America. lie directed particular attention
to the Western S ates, and to the great extent and fertility
of the basin of the Mississippi and the range, of country
on either side, bo'h as regards corn growing and cattle
raising, for which latter great advantages were hell
out, together with the easy means of acquiring possession of
the land, its freedom from rates aud taxes and the lowneo of
freights, both by rail and ship, and said he had come to the
conclusion that it was impossible for the British farmer to
compete in the face of such great odds, unless his position
were considerably altered. He had satisfied himself that the
farmer of Western America, after allowing 10 per cent, on the
cost of land, and charging all the work on his farm at contract
price, he could produce his wheat at Liverpool at 30s. per qr.
with freights and all charges paid. The Farmers' Alliance
sought to put the British farmer in a better position by suggest-
ing and urging forward several remedies for the evils which
told so much against him. The first of these was a consider-
able reduction in ren^, and the secoud compensation for un-
exhausted improvements. Agreeing that the question of rent
waa a question between landlord and tenant, law presumed
tiiat both parties to a bargain were on an equal footing at the
time, and it would surely be unfair of it to step in and give an
advantage to one of the parties, especially if that party was
naturally the stronger. But this was what was done by Ihe
Law of Distress. There was no valid reason why the land-
lord should put his claim over that of others. He did not
r.sk his capital like many others who gave the farmers credit ;
his risk could only be at the most a year's rent, which might
be taken as the interest for his money, but others who dealt
with farmers often had to lose both interest and capital in
cases of failure, while the landlord was pail in full and
appropriated all. The indirect effect of this law was
that rents were forced up to an extravagant figure. More-
over, it enab ed the greedy or needy landlord to take the
higher rent offered irrespective of the character of the
applicant, knowing that so much stock and capital would
have to be put upon the farm to work it that he would be
sure of his rent under the existing law, whilst he could
prolong the tenant's occupancy and everything was taken from
him. It often happened too under the present system that the i
impecunious competitor for a farm was played off by the land-
lord agiinst the man of capital, in order to lead the latter on
to raise the rent. Instead of helping the poor farmer, as some
contended, the law was a positive injury to him. English
tenant farmers must do as they had in Scotland, where they
would only vo'.e for men pledged to the abolition of the Law

nf Hvpother, which was similar to the Law of Distress in
E >gland. Speaking of the Chambers of Agricu'ture, he
charae'erisid them as having been monopolised by land o vner
or their agents for political ends, and instanced as th-ir out
come the late Agricultural Holdings Act, which was only a
sham and a mockery of an intelligent a id hard working
class. Toe man who embarked his capital in another rain'a
laad had the right in all o irnmon jus'ice to ask the law to pro-
t'C' him and give him security of possession, or the alterna-
tive of compensation for unexhausted improvements. Tney
must also have by their leases grea'er freedom in the cultiva-
tion of the soil and the disposition of its produce, to/ether
wih an alteration of the gnme laws. A farmer shou'd have
the ab-olute right to take, or cause to be taken, hares or rabbits,
which did so much i jury, whilst winged game, which were
less injurious, might be given up by the tenants as a com-
promise. It wis also a gross anomaly that the tenant should
have to pay all the rates on the land, and that the landlord',
with the exception of the Poor-rate, spent all the money. Tne
Tories promised to alter ihis, and Sir Massey Lopes had lately
said they had spent £2,000,000 outorthe I np rial Exchequer
to reduce local taxation ; but the speaker tailed in finding
one instance wherein the farmer was any the better.
On the contrary, they were increasing under the
present G iverument. Lml own°rs were now trying
to show that the rates were not paid by the tenant farmer
hut by the landlord. Well, if that were true, he ouly wished,
the landlord would put his hand into his pocket and pay them
at the beginning, and so effect a considerable saving in col-
lecting. It was absurd to say that the imere-its of the land-
lord and the tenant were identic il no* ; they m'ght have been
in the o'd Protec iouist days, which would never cone back.
It was contrary to the interests of the landlord and the nation
t j maintain an excessive heal of game. Bit was not this
frequently done ? Azain, their interests were not identical in
the matter of rent, and he did not think landlords knew their
own in'erests very well. It was for the interests of ltndlords,
he firmly believed, to give full compensa'ion for unexhausted
improvements. Bit how mmy did so ? T e honourable
gentleman then pointed out that the agricultural interest in
the House of Commons was entirely at the mercy of those
who would naturally do all they could for their own advantage,
and said that if a farmer was going into arbitration with his
1 indlord, it would be absurd to allow the latter to appoint
both arbitrators. But that was justthe present aspect of their
legislative body, for whilst they could count tenant farmers'
representatives in the House of Commons by the fingers nn
one hand, their were 200 or 300 landlord representatives. H<?
urged them therefore to combine and secure the return of
tenant farmers' representatives. After a discussion a reso'o-
tion was carried, approving the principles of the Farmers'
Alliance.

A CAT STORY.— A cat story his come to our notic,
from an entirely authentic source. The scene is laid in th*
village of Yarmouth. An aged gentleman and his house-
keeper constitute the family, and their good old cat finds the
lines are failed to her in pleasant places. Family prase's are
the ru'e each evening in this household, and the e it fell into
the habit of regular and punctual attendance. No o'her of
the cares that proverbially crowd a cat's life was ever allowed
to interfere with this religious duty. At the signal for prayers
she would even leave a mouse half caught, or give a doomed
bird a longer lease of existence, and decorously compose her-
self in the lap of the housekeeper, with an air of attention to
the service that was highly edi'yiog. At the final " Amen '
she went friskly about her business. But in an evil day there
came a kitten that was deem d superfluous, and sentence ol
death was paiseJ upon it. The head of the fa nily undertook
the execution of the sentence, and, unknown to him the cat
w is a witness to the scene. From that day the cit refused to
attend the morning service, and cannot now be induced to
listen to the prayers of one who had so shocked her sensi-
bilities. She faithfully performs ailother du'ies as before, and
sociably purrs for the family on all secular occasions, but seems
o say — "L"t my religious hours alone." — Portland Tran-
script,

128

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

GRAIN SALES

Mr. T. Biwick, of Bedford, writes in the Newcastle
Formers' Club Annual : —

Tlie Weights and Measures Ac% which became law on the
1st day of January, 1S79, seems to be almost entirely inopera-
tive. We asked a corn merchant lately what changes or
improvements had bepn made in corn transactions by the
receut Act, and he replied that no improvement had been
made, and that locil customs still prevail. The old Act tint
came in force on the 1st day of January, 1826 (Acts Geo. [V.,
c. 74-, and Geo. IV., c. 12, Jane 17th, 1824), effected a great
improvement in the then existing state of things. The pro-
visions of that Act were mainly the following: — The inch is.
the l-36:h part of Bird's standard yard and measure of length
The statute or imperial acre is 4.4S0 square yards. The
standard brass weight of one pound troy, in the custody of
the clerk of the House of Commons, is the genuine me. Mire
of weight, and consists of 5.7G0 grains. The pound avoirdu-
pois consists of 7,000 of these grains, which is almost the
universal legalised standard in use. The measures of capacity
for liquids and dry goods is the pint of 34,6J9 cubic inches,
hut the gallon may be said to be the unit or standard meagre,
having a capacity of 277.27-t cubic inches, aud wbeu filled
with distilled water, at the temperature of 62 decrees Fahren-
heit, it holds a weight of 10b. The corn bushel of 8 gallons
weighs 801b., and has a capacity of 2,178 cubic inches.

There is obviously a reluctance to sell cora by weight only,
although it is a more approximate index of value than
measure. It is common in some districts to sell wheat by
weight, the quarter being reckoned 496 or 5041b. avoirdupiis.
Again, oats are also commonly sold by weight, but barley is
very generally sold and bought by measure. Considering
these and other diver.-ities in corn transactions, it would be
easy to adopt the plan which is very generally followed in the
best corn growing districts in Scotland, namely : to sell by
measure, and the price to fluctuate according to the natural
weight of the bushel. This system has wrought fairly since
it was introduced intogeneral practice in the north, and disputes
rarely occur. The lollowing are some of the advantages ot
the plan : —

1. It holds out great inducements to the farmer to dress
corn well, and a marked improvement took place in the clean-
ing after it became the rule. The increase of weight being
a greater consideration for the seller than any increase of
measure by the retention of the tails and the light grains, it
needs no persuasion to dress corn thoroughly.

2. The equity of the plan between the buyer and seller is a
great recommendation. Measure with reference to the
natural weight of the bushel of corn is certainly a good
criterion of value.

3. In awarding prizes for seed-corn, the agricultural
societies of the north almost invariably award the prizes
according to the natural weight of the bushel of dressed
corn. That that is a good criterion of the soundness of seed
all will be ready to admit, for the almost empty elumes can-
not be expected to develop a strong germ and radicle.

4 If the scheme were generally adopted, com averages
could be more precisely ascertained, and prices on a given market
day would be more uniform. It is not indeed to be assumed that
two samples of Wheat each 63ib. per bushel would be
exhctlv of the same value or command the same price in the
Cora Exchange, bnt it would lead to greater accordance,
which must be considered an advantage.

5. That the weight is governed not less by the condition
than by the quality and dressing of corn is another recom-
mendatvm in favour of transactions being carried out on the
plan sijggested. Corn iu a moist sta'e being lighter than
when dry, owing to the water swelling the kernel, a smaller
number of grains fill the bushel.

G. Some may allege that there would be a difficulty in
determinating the precise weight of the bushel of corn, on
which the price more or less depends: but in practice and
with well-trained hands, that lias not been found to be the
case. We know an instance that lately occurred, where the
seller complained that his oats did not weigh 4-2 Jib. per
bushel, while the receipt from the miller showed only 421b.
On a second delivery of oats, pr;cisely similar, it was found
that the four bushels as delivered weighed 1681b. — being
exactly -121b. — all further complaiuts were silenced. The

mode of adjusting the price according to the weight is 9orae.
what as fol.ows: — Wneat weighing say 601bs. per hu-ihel
wou'd command say 50J. per quarter, and if the natural
weight is 511b., the price would oe 5l<. 6J. or 62s. per q-.,
aecording to the scale agreed on for the particular season.
Again, barley 50lbs. per bushel would be worth say 40s. per
quarter; but if it should weigh 51, 52, or 531b,, the ba\er
would have to pay an increased price according to an understood
rule.

7. It may be further explained, that as heavy c )rn yield*
more fine flour or meal, propor'ionably according to its weight
than that which is naturally lighter, the scale ol payment is
often increased in a proportionably greater rat'O. Fine heavy
wheat, for examplp, will yield 75 per cent, of fine flour, while
an inferior quality, say of 5Slb. per bushel, will produce only
54 to 60 per cent, of flour. The same remark mav be made
respecting oats — a quarter weighing 431b. per bnshel will
yield about 1861b. of meal, while oats weighing 441b. per
bushel will produce say 32. b. more meal from the quarter.
The assumed aggregate weight of the one quarter of oats is
320ib., and the other 3521b ; so that the extra yield of
the meal would be equal to the extra weight of the oats.

THE DUKE OF RICHMOND AND
GORDON AND HIS TENANTRY.

The North British Agriculturist recently published a
memorial by the Cabrach tenantry of His Grace the Duke of
Richmond and Gordon, praying for assistance on account of
the bad seasons they have lately experienced in common with
others of their class. It appears tr>at the Glenlivet tenantry
of the Duke have also petitioned for a reduction of rent.
The following is the reply to both memorials^ —

To the Tenants in the Cabrach and Braes of Glenlivet.

I have received the memorial from the Cabrach tenants
appeding to me for assistance on account of the bad spawns of
1877, 1873, aud 1S79, and from the tenants in the Braes of
Glenlivet, asking for a reduction of rent for seasons 1877, and
1879, aud also over a petiod of years.

I am not surprised at being asked to take into consideration
the disastrous results of this unprecedentedly cold and late
season, and I depply sympathize with yon in tire distress
which your losses must occasion.

It is most gratifying to me to know that your forerathfrs
have been tenants under ray family for generations, and, with
ons exception, those who signed the memorial are either the
sarr.e individuals or are the representatives of those who were
tenants under the leases entered into in the vears 1842 and
1843, and in the years 1859 and 1862,

1 did not anticipate that I should be asked to make a
redrction of rent on the ground that 1877 was a bad season.

Wlieo the accounts were closed in August of that year,
there was not a single penny of arrear in the Braes of
Glenlivet or the Cabrach ; and whilst I readily admit that
this cou!d not have b"en the case if you had not been
industrious I cannot but take it as a proof that the rents had
been adjusted on the principal of " Live and let live," a
maxim upon which it has always been my endeavour to ac\

I am sure that jon would not desire the arrangement
between us to be so framed that you should derive all the
benefits of good years, and that I should bear the loss in less
prosperous times.

The present depression in agriculture generally and in the
pries of stock does not appear to me to arise solely from bad
seasons and foreign competition, but also from the stagnation
which has effected all industries both at home aud abroad.
Good seasons will follow the tad as he-etofore ; and when the
commercial depression shall have passed away, as it is no*
dung, we shall be in a better position for forming an opinion
as to the future.

The subject was constantly unler my consideration when in
the north this aiUumo, and the state of your crops was brooght
fully before me in the end of Oc'ober. I arranged in
consequence that the collection of the rents should hi post-
poned for three months. Other measures of relief were
suggested to me with a view of meeting the difficulty which
might arise should the results of the season, when more fully
ascertained, appear to render them necessary ; and the
question as to which would be the best mode of meeting such
a necessity has received, and will continue to receive, my most
anxious consideration. — Yours faithfully,

(Signed Kichmond and Gordon.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

129

\ A R I 0 U S N 0 T E S.

From South Australia we learn that large quantities of
Wool are reaching Morgan and (1 >olwa. from the Darling
stations. The crop projects are said to be good all over
the Colony, and especially in the Areas district. Reaping
has commenced at Baroota, and the yield is said to be
heavy. A load of new wheat was sent in to I'ort I'irie
from Telowie. The estimated yield of wheat for the Colony
of South Australia is 11 binhels per acre. There are 29
entries for the prize of £4,000 offered by the Governor of
the Colony for the best harvesting machine. The average
of 11 bushels to the acre would give an available export
of 325,000 tons of wheat for the year 1880, but the Com-
missioner of Crown Lands, who has made a tour of inspec-
tion in the north, is of opinion that the average will be
nearer 12 to 14 bushe'.s per acre. According to the Suittk
Australian Reyisttr (Adelaide) of D^c 1, the finest crops
seen were near Wilmington, where one of them is not
likely to give a les9 average than from 30 to 35 bushels.
One thing impressed very strongly on the minds of the
travellers was that good farming hid nearly everywhere
been followed by good results, and that some of the crops
will not yield more than from 3 to 5 bushels an acre ;
others, where the soil and locality were no more favour-
able, will return not less than from 10 to 25 bushels. The
country passed through looked splendid. The only local
lities destitute of grass or herbage were where too much
stock had been depastured. This was especially noticed
in the neighbourhood of Port Augusta, and upon most of
the travelling-stock reserves. There was a little red rust
in mauy of the crops, but not sufficient to do any injury.
The ears of the wheat in almost every case appeared full,
and the Commissioner was of opinion that many of the
farmers would be surprised at receiving a greater weight
of grain than the appearance of the crops at first sight
seemed to indicate. A 9ale of 10,000 bushels of new wheat
has been made at Adelaide for 5s. 3d. per bushel.

Harvest has commenced with good prospects in the
Colony of Victoria. There is a large clip of wool reported.
The Andralasian (Melbonrne), of November 29, says
that "the value of the wool exported from the port of
Melbonrne during the week euding 22nd inst. was
£527,726. The wool exports are yearly assuming larger
dimensions, and we believe that the shipments of last
week exceed those of any similar period."

The agricultural outlook in Victoria is still, as regards
the weather and crops, bright. From the Lender's com-
ments we learn that in the regular hay-growing districts
cutting has been commenced under somewhat unfavourable
conditions, owing to the changeable character of the
weather. The crops, on the whole, promise to yield
fairly. In some of the earlier localities inland a begin-
ning has been made with the mower among some of the
crops originally intended for grain, but, owing to the foul-
ness and poorness of yield the determination to cut for
hay has been come to. Unfavourable reports as to the
expected yield of the wheat crops come from the Richardson
district, and from some other plaees, but the bad patches are
said not to be extensive in area. From the Lower Avoca,
the Goulbourn district, and many parts of the Wimmera
good reports are to hand, while so far there does not
seem any appearance of rust.

In Queensland, according to the Qutmsltmdef of Nov.
29, there has been a good crop of lambs, and shearing
had commenced with good prospects for a heavy clip.

Unusually large quantities o wool are coming to hand
from Riverina this season. Nearly 50,000 bales have
arrived at Ecbuca up to the preseut date, representing
a money value of over one million sterling. Shearing is
progressing on the Downs. Some of the district returns
of lambing show high percentages, and nearly all the

returns mark a fair increase. The board of inquiry into
the diseases of plants and animals still continues its work,
and, according to the Queenalander, its experiments in
the cultivation of rice have been taken up by many
settlers in different parts of Q'leeusland. There has been
« serious outbreak of rust on the Darling Downs, one of
the best wheat-growing districts in Queensland. The
vsitatonof the plague was quite unexpected, for tiie
young crops never looked more promising than they
did at the close of last mouth ; but suddenly farm after
farm disclosed stained crops, and it is feared that, at least,
three- fourths of the area uuder wheat this season will be
lost.

In New South Wales the squatters are having trouble
with the shearers, but the clip is said to be first-rate.
The Sydney Mail, November 29, says : — " There is not
in our memory a season wherein the reports from I he
pastoral and agricultural districts were so cheerful as they
are at present. Grass is abundant in nearly all localities,
the water supplies are all that could be wished for, and
there are no stock diseases mentioned. The farmers are
jubilant over their proepects, and a good yield of wheat
is confidently expected. Rust has kept away, and th^
crops are for the greater part healthy-looking. Grass-
hoppers are proving troublesome in a few districts. The
northern districts have been freshened by a fine supply of
moisture, and despite the low prices of fat stock, the out-
look is remarkably bright." There are now inquiries for
sheep stations, and some properties have changed hands.
In Fiji six hundred acres of land has been sold at
Taviuni at 25s. per acre.

Our New Zealand correspondent writes on December
6th : — The past month has been characterised by some-
what broken weather, which, while eminently favourable
to pastures and all growing crops, have been rather against
hay, and much trouble and extra expense has been the
inevitable result. With the excellent prospect of a splen-
did corn crop all over the colony, this comparatively
slight disappointment may easily be borne, and farmers on
all good laud look confidently forward to a forty- bushel
crop, many even considerably more, and, with present ap-
pearances, the best prices that have ruled for some years
past. Grass has continued to grow throughout the spring
months with the utmost luxuriance, having been forced on
by the abundant rains, and stock are very forward for this
early period of the season, and already come from the
best pastures of the interior in almost ripe condition,
without having had a bit to eat throughout the winter
but grass, or the slightest shelter but that which was
afforded by the original bush, which, by the way, is mag-
nificent shelter, the animals coming out of it, after the
stormiest winter, clean and sleek as sfall-feds at home. A9
to price, 32s. per 100 lb. '.% the highest obtainable, sinking
to 28s. and 25s. per cwt. for secondary and inferior. The
prise oxen at the recent Auckland show held on the Prince
of Wales's birthday, made as much as £22 10s. to the
butchers at above rates, which very conclusively shows
their extraordinary size and excellent quality, the second
prize lot averaging £16 IGs., and a splendidly even lot
they were. Ordinary fat steers make an average of £10
10s., requiring to be of good size and quality to make it.
Dairy cows from £7 to £11, calves from 45s. to 65s.
yearlings 65s. to 75s., two-year-olds from £5 to £5 15s.
A few yearling ehorthomed bulls were soil by auction on
the show ground, making £100, £52 10s., £45, £42, and
j£36 respectively: Sheep, now that they are out of the
wool, are low iu price, 2£d. a lb. for wether, and l^d. a
lb. for ewe mutton being as nearly as possible the outside
limits. Lambs, if very fat, may bring from 10s. 0'd to
13a. each, tunning down to 6a. and even less for butchers'

L

130

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

use. The boiling-down season ha9 commenced, and tallow-
comes to the maiketsin moderate quantity, mutton tallow
makiug 26s. and beef ditto 25a. a cwt. The olippiug
season is now well over, the early promise of bulky and
clean fleeces being sustained throughout all over the
country. The recent -advance in the London markets and
the firm tendency displayed at the sales, of which we are
duly informed twice a week by sub-mariue cable, has had
a good effect out here, being a gleam of prosperity at a
period of depression. The importance of a rise in wool to
Mew Zealand is shown by a very simple illustration,
viz., that a permanent rise of a penny per lb. adds the sum
of £100,000 to the sum total received by the Colony for
this important item of her products. Local buyers find
it hard to purchase on any terms which would give them
the remotest chance of a profit, growers preferring to for-
ward to London on their own account, so as to secure all
the advan.age afforded them by a rising market. .New
potatoes come forward in very small quantities, and
quality inferior, the early spring fro3ts having caused
serious injury to this very important crop. As far as can
yet be judged, market gardeners, and pensioners' settle-
ments, have been the principal sufferers, much dependence
being placed by these classes on this crop, but it is not
expected that farmers will be as successful as usual unless
the fine weather, whicli canuot now be far from us, effects
an improvement. "Nearly every variety of fruit has suf-
fered from the same cause, but stone fruit eminently sa,
almonds, peaches, apricots, and pluni9 having fallen
in immense quantities while stoning, and even cherries
have suffered considerably, as slthough the crop at
present being gathered is abundant, they are deficient both
in 9ize aud flavour. The entire season has been excep-
tional in regard to the prolongation of winter weather
quite through the spring and well iuto summer, frosts,
floods, and furious gales succeeding each other with uu-
pleasant regularity, as if the atmospheric wave which has
created such disaster in the United Kingdom during the
past summer had reached New Zealaud. Even a9 late as
the 30th of November, answering to the last day of May
in the old country, the mountains as far north as the forty -
tirst parallel were thickly covered with snow to within
several hundred feet of the level of the sea. Depression
in nearly every branch of trade still continues, and with
but little prospect of improving, and with hundreds of
emigrants landing contiuually at all the leading ports,
there exists the strange anomaly of hundreds of men of
splendid lorm, seasoned to the climate and accustomed to
the ways of the country, walkiug about idle. In almost
auy line '.here is the utmost difficulty in getting employ-
ment, whether a man be a tradesman or a labourer ; aud for
any oue of good education but no mouey to come out
here looking for a situation is truly a forlorn hope. The
rapid and disastrous decline of the New Zealand gold
diggings in productiveness has been one. great cause of
dull trade ind want of employment, the export of gold,
whicli in 1871 reached the euormous amouut of 730,029
oz.., haviug gradually fallen year by year, umil in the
last official year, 187b 9, the amount was but 118,052 oz.
Thousands of men, finding it no longer worth their while
to endure the hardships inseparable from life iu a hut or
tent, or an exposed hill terrace, where all the money ih>-y
could make in the best of times could not purchase com-
fort, crowded into the towns to swell the ranks of the
unemployed, while the steamers and other mode9 of
transit, by whicli their stores were taken to the nearest
points, to shorten the land carriage, are either driven off
the route altogether, or run half empty. The cautious
liue takeu up by the bauks in refusing advances, unless
on unexceptionable security, still continues to check
private speculation, and the great look out at the present
moment bj contractors for Government works, and the

class that depend on them, is the arrival of the five
million loan, now about to be floated iu Great Briiain.
Although more than half has been anticipated, and
already expended on railways and other public works,
still what remains when divided amongst the proviuces
for railways and harbour improvements will do much to
clear off the unemployed in each district, and of course,
more or less iudireetly benefiting all classes by the circul
lation of money, will enable them to hold ou nuti
trade, commerce, and agriculture permanently revive, ami
enter on a more pn sperous career than has been of late
experienced. Amidst all the difficulties incidental to
commercial depression the farmer and the bona jiJt?
fanner's man have still a good prospect of doiug well iu
New Zealand, particularly if the farmer brings out with
him from £500 to £1,0*00, and providing the latter,
eschewing all temptations to linger about the town9, goes
direct into the interior, and hires himself out to do the
kind of work to which he has previously been accus-
tomed in the old country. The farmer who in addition
to possessing a moderate capital can work a pair of horses,
or take a man's part in all the operations of the farm, is,
with ordiuary care, an independent man from the day he
enters on his little property, as by his own labour he
earns at least two guineas a week, or saves paying it out,
which amounts to the same thing, while his example and
knowledge of what bis men ought really to do is worth
considerably more. At all times and in every district
there is abundance of choice of farms, wholly and par-
tially improved, without having to go iuto the bush,
which is all uphill work, and has a depressiug intlaenc:
on people accustomed to the comforts and conveniences of
the old country. Your correspondent, Mr. Brooinha.ll, of
Surbiton, whose letter relative to New Zealand appeared
in your issue of September 2(Jth, gives excellent ad\ice
to all who intend coming out to this country, and his re-
marks will repay careful study. Land described on the
Government map as of good quality, and extremely favour-
able for settlement, looks marvellously cheap to the uuiui-
tiatedat from 13s. to a pound an acre ; the coutrary, how-
ever, is the eas?, a very cursory personal inspection indeed
revealing the fact that instead of the Government exacting
any purchase money, they would assist the development
of the country, and ensure its future prosperity in a
vastly greater degree by giving a bouus to all resident
settlers for every acre they reclaimed from the wilderness
by the united operations of cleariug, draiuiug, and feucing.
Although it looks an astonishingly foolish mistake for
auyone to pay for land which they have never seen, it is
often done, not only after lauding in the colony, but
before leaving the old country at all, and much disap-
pointment and heart-burning has been the inevitable
result, as uuder the most favourable conditions it is very
clear that in the division of a block of laud there must be
some very good and a number of very bad positions.
Thus ou arrival at the settlement on which they have
allowed auother to fix their future home, oue man m y
find himself perched on the top of a precipice, aud anotder
in the middle of a swamp, or other situations so utterly
inconvenient as to reader success almost out of the bounds
of possibility. There have not been wanting instances
where men deeply incensed with such treatment, and
smarting under the disappointment, would have sum-
marily chastised the party that induced them to trust such
an important matter to their choosing, or eveu in the heat
of the moment have takeu the Irish farmers' mode of
sealing land difficulties and disputes.

The Canterbury (New Zealand) Times, received by the
last mail, describes four important agricultural shows held
in New Zealand in November. The sixth annual show of
the Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association was

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

131

held at Raogiora on Nov. (>th. From the report ou the
live stock we extract the following coinmeuts : —

The sheep classes as a whole showed a decrease of 21
as compared willi last year, the total entries being 111 as
against 132. That the exhibits included much ofiutei est,
however, was apparent from the fact that throughout the
day the sheep pens had a full 9kare of attention, aud that
at limes it was not au easy matter to get a look at the
prize- takers.

The show of cattle was in every respect superior this
year to the previous one, though the number shown was
about the same, but in consequence of there beim< several
extra special prizes, the actual entries were more nume-
rous, maay of the animals being entered for these in addi-
tion to the catalogue prizes. Taken as a whole, there
were less of an indifferent class than on a former occasion,
and (here were leprcsentatives of herds which have not
been shown before at Raugiora, one of which, the repre-
sentative of the ltavenswood herd, walked off the prize for
the best shorthorn cow. As usual, however, Mr. P. C.
Threlkeld carried away the principal prizes, and well
merited them, as his cattle were shown in excellent con-
dition, besides bringiug out their character for quality to
the full. The Hon. H. B. Gresson showed some well-
reared stock, and shared some of the honours with Mr.
Threlkeld.

The total number of horses entered and shewn was 1 18)
or a decrease of four on the previous year's show, but
several of the classes were better represented, and the
animals showed greater quality thau heretofore.

The number of entries iu the pig department compared
very favourably with previous years, though the quality of
those shown was barely up to the usual standard.

The annual show of the Canterbury and Pastoral Asso-
ciation was opened on November 12, and was a very suc-
cessful exhibition. This society is the most important in
New Zealand, aud its progress isshowu by the following
table of entries: —

o
x

x

X

CO
X

—

X

X

00

X

CO
CO

OS

co

11-2
HO

ir>5

71

226

7 b

$39
98

-21
90

267
02

317
13s

■■M>'.>

294
lot

31(5

190

76

110

12;

1*3

Llfi

1 39

155

121

in

131

Pitw

2^

34

29

20

10

33

29

43

30

17

30

32

18

13

20

3«

39

39

31

30

8

U

lb

7

"

18

15

16

Dairy produce,

27

33

3+

27

27

3.

36

50

52

42

55

60

37

7»

47

lo;

.23

106

197

2S7

N.Z. Manufac-

tures and woo!

5 'J

55

85

70

58

6

6,

102

105

112

506

58 j

U9

771

012

77

17

'J 2 2

LOW

1130

The Canterbury Tunes reports: —

The number of entries of sheep this year iu the merino
classes were sligh.ly iu excess of those of las! year, and
ru.ignifictnt as that year's show of merinos was, the
present may well be called exceptionally grand. Ouce more
the Hon. R. Campbell takes away the lion's share of the
pr' zee, viz., teu first aud two silver medals, five second and
three thirds- Mr. Campbell aUo takes the New Zealaud
Loan and Mercantile Ageucy'6 silver cup for the highest
prize taker in ineriuo 6heep. It was not aloue that the
imported Cummiug's and Currie sheep shown by him
were, as might have been expected, spleudid specimens of
their class, but those bred by the hon. genlleniau himself
showed Mich profit, constitution, aud abuudauce of ciinb-
ing wool that the judges awarded two of the exhibits
silver medals for the best ram aud ewe of any age iu the
whole class. The Hou. \V. Kobiusoti showed some tine

Gibson sheep, imported from Tasmania, hut, owing no
doubt to change of climate, the wool showed a tendency to
run away light. This defect acclimatisation will no doubt
remedy.

The cattle department of the exhibition assumed gigan-
tic proportions this year, and the exhibits were so nume-
rous that they occupied a much larger area of the show
ground thau ou auy former occasion, but they were
arranged in such excellent order that the public, daring
their tour of inspection, had.no difficulty in following out
each of the classes. To say that the cattle show itself was
immensely superior to any of its predecessors would trjve
but a very poor illustration of the excelleuce of yesterday's
exhibition, aud the giand quality of the stock brought for-
ward for inspection. There has never berore been such a
magnificent display of shorthorns iu New Zealaud, and we
are assured by gentlemen who have visited all the principal
shows in the Australiau Colonies, that for quantity and
quality combined they never saw anything in Australia to
equal the animals shown yesterday.

The draught horse section was more fully represented
than it has ever been, and the quality of the entries was,
generally speaking, very superior to anything yet seen iu
Canterbury. Iu the young stock the competition was
very close, the general opinion being that such a display
of youngsters could not be excelled at more pretentious
shows in the old country.

The show of pigs was very much inferior to anything
before seen on the Metropolitan ground, the quantity of
entries being about half the number of last, aud the quality
decidedly inferior to any previous year, iudeetl, the show of
these auimals was inferior to that shown at Raugiora last
week.

The lent in which dairy produce was staged was a great
attraction during the day, and though the number of
entries, compared with those at most country shows, was
decidedly small, the quality of the articles shown proves
that there is every care taken to bring nothing but the
best articles to the " big show." The butler was very good.
but generally lighter iu colour tha.i would be expected at
this season of the year, considering the unexceptional rich-
ness of the feed at present.

The North Otago Agricultural Show was held at
Oamaru on November 20 and 21, and is described as the
best ever held by the association.

The annual exhibition of the Dunedin Agricultural and
Pastoral Association's Third Annual Show was commenced
on Nov. 27 at Porbury Park, and as regards the number
and quality of the exhibits iu the sheep, cattle and imple-
ment classes it was a decided improvement on last year.

In New Zealand there is to be a tax on timber and
grain.

CONTAGIOUS ANIMAL DISEASES.

The following petition of the Unite! Sates Veterinary
Medical Association is being rirculated : —

TO THE Ho.NOUKABLE, THE CONGRESS OF THE UnITJ D

States :

VN hereas it lias been shown that different animal plagues
prevail to a disastrous extent among the live stock ol the
Uui'ed St tes, aud that many millions of dollars are anuually
loat >o the na'iou iroin t< is ciuse : —

Whereas s* veral ol the most redoubtable of these pl-igues
are now re3tric ed to circumscribed localities, hut threaten to
speedily ex end over wide, areas, where from the mingling of
herds on un'ei c d range*, like the plains, they must become
peninnently domiciled, at au immense yearly loss that will
steadily increhse wi h tne constant advance ot agriculture and
the increase ot our 'ive stock : —

Wt ereas the un fenced slock ranges of the weit and south are
at the si urce of the traffic in live stock, and their inreCtion must
determine the iulecUuu of all the channels of the traffic (cars,

Li

132

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

boa's, yard?, etc., etc.,) and of the Middle and Eastern
States ; —

Whereas several of these animal plagues have already led
different American and European countries to place embargos
on our live stock, which will be. maintained so long as these
pestilences are allowed to exist in our midst : —

Whereas the extinction of these animal contagia is of in-
comparably more importance to the western stock-raising
states than to the eastern, even though they may be at pre-
sent exclusively confined to the latter :—

Whereas it is not probable that all of the infected states will
of themselves 20 to the trouble and expense of siampiog out
these pests in which they have so much less pecuniary interest
than other states which are as yet unaffected : —

Whereas certain of the mo".t destructive of these pestilences
are exotics to the stock-exporting states, and can be effectually
and permanently eradicated from them : —

Whereas a large number of animal diseases are dne to con-
tagia or to parasites that are communicable to man with
equally disastrous results :

Whereas there is constant danger of the importation of the
same and of other exotic animal plagues unless a proper in-
spection and quarantine of imports shall be inaugurated ; and

Whereas tlie restriction and extinction of these diseases can
be best accomplished under the direction of the veterinary
profession, who alone have made a special study of these epi-
zootics, and are acquainted w:th the laws of their propagation
and development : —

Resolved that we. the undersigned, members of a committee
appointed by the United States Veterinary Medical Associa.
tion for that purpose, do hereby respectfully petition, that the
Honourable, the Congress of the United States, shall establish a
"Veterinary Sauitary Bureau, whose duty it shall be to advise
Congress as to what measures shall be necessary to control,
restrict, or eradicate any contagious or infectious disease affect*
ing the domesticated animals ; and

Resolved that in view of the urgent necessity for the eradica-
tion of the lung plague of cattle from the United States, the
restriction of the Texas fever of cattle to those southern states
in which it is already domiciled, and the protection of our
flocks and herds agaiust pestilences that may be imported with
foreign stock, Congress is further respectfully requested to
appropriate a sufficient sum of money to enable the Veterinary
Sanitary Organization to deal at once and effectually with
these three important matters.

A Llautard, M.D., V.S. ; N. II. Paaren, M.D.,
•VS. ; J. Law, F.R.C.V.S. ; A. Lockhart,
M.K.C.V.S. ; J. L. Robertson, M.D., V.S. ; C.
P.Lyman, V.S. 4 E. F. Thayer, M.D., V.S. ;
C. B. Michener, D.V.S.; A. A. Holcombe,
D.V.S.

SCHOOL-BOARB ESSAYS- COOKERY.— Cookery is
"done with meat, and potaters, and cabbidge, aud pudding, on every
Sunday. You must light afire. You put sticks, and pa per,
and koles, and then set light to it. If it wont burn you can
boil the meat and pointers, but I -like tliem baked best,
because there is plenty of fat, sometimes a Are wout burn
because the sticks are wet, out of the yard, and it takes such
a time. The cook in a situation, has to swepp the chimney.
You call in a s«eep, and kiss him, for his mother. Tlieu you
send fur some sweepstakes, for his dinner- While he is eating
It is stakes, you go up the chimney, best foot foremost, aud -put
your head out of the chimney pot, and cry sweep. I have, not
seen this, but read it in a book, about poor little negro
children. There is a fish called soul, which is often fride,
another fish is the skate, which in put on the ice. The lady a
number seven, said to her servant, if you can get me a madet
you may get yourself a place and the servant went to a,
fish shop. The whiting is a fish, that is cooked with browning,
but if the sut falls down the ehimney, it becomes blacking,
which is what they clean boots with. A black pudding is
made white, at first, like a whiting fish, but it is made black
with blackled, which makes it shine so. if a b'ack pudding,
ort to be white, you wash the blaekled off it. I like the
lumps oi fat, in a black pudding I think it is better than
lumps of delite. I o&ce eet a beedel, it was not nise. But I
ilike hot perraaturo, also apratts. The cooks company is in
the city, but sometimes cooks have a lot of company in the
iitshen. Misses Browns cook did, when they was out town,

and she went away when Misses Brown come back. Roasting
8 done with a fire, the same a* chestnut*, at the corner of an?-
pender al'ey, where the man sell them, 4 for aipnev. Boiling
is done in a boiler, which I spose is what they call, bahbe-1
and squeek. Mrs. Harris told her servant the fire was not
smart enuff. for broiling, and the servant told her to tie some
ribbon on it, and Mrs. Harris sent her away. Hnir soup is
made, out of sumbodis wig. Beef has to be "hung in the safe,
before it is hung at the fier, and I think it dredful for yon
body to be hong twise. Potaters have to be with a bone in
them, I wander how the hone gete there. Thyme is everj-
thing ia cooking, and so is pnnkshnalitv,, solomou sayd
punkshuality is the theef of thyme, and thats all about
cooking from yor affec dewtifully. — Elen Taylor, in The
Gardener' t Magazine.

THE PRESENT DEPRESSION IN
ENGLISH AGRICULTURE : ITS
REAL AND ASSUMED CAUSES.

Tie following; paper wa9 read by Mr. W. L. IIus-
kinson at the General Meeting of the Institution of
Surveyors, on January 19th, William James Beade',
Vice-President, in the chair = —

In introducing this question for the consideration of onr
members, my main object is to afford that opportunity of
discussing this, to n», most important of questions, which »e
are denied by the wise e'iquette which precludes us from
discussing a President's Address. It is scarcely possible in
doing this to escape from the general lines laid down in the
opening Address, and I anticipate that the general conclusions
therein contained, however they may be enforced by difference
of detail, will be substantiated.

The agricultntal question, which has now arisen, is in a
different form from that which it presented a few years ago ;
when its discussion resulted in the " Irish Land Act," and
the " Agricnltnral Holdings Act " in England. It was then
looked at mainly from a political point of view. Statesmen,
legislators, professors of political and rural economy, and
writers of magazine articles, were keenly interested ; and
every matter connected directly or indirectly with land re-
ceived its share of attention. The land question of that day
gave birth to a literature in itself. Land holding and occupa-
tion, peasant proprietors, primogeniture and entails, the title
to and transcer of land, and other kindred sul>jects, were dis-
enssed nntil the interest had subjided, and the whole matter
had been what is called " ventilated."" The excitement at
that time was, however, a good deal fictitious. The agricul-
tural classes as a w'hole were but little moved by the heated
debates around them. Free land and entails, peasant pro-
prietors, and land law reform have very littlt interest for the
bulk of the agricultural classes. As to the majority of the
landowners, tenant farmers, and labourers of that day, as the
poet<Jray puts it,—

"Along the cool sequestered vale of life
They kept the noiseless tenor of their way."

But the agricultural question at the present time excites a far
wider and deeper interest, and esrae s home to everyone con-
nected with land. It is taken up by q-iite a different set of
people, and is discussed more among tie purely agricultural
classes than ia tire world ontside them. In the fir.-t instance
the domain of English agriculture was invaded by a host of
politicians and economists, who used dt as a battle g ound for
their own purposes, but in the present case agriculturists
themselves are all in arras to assert the importance of their
interests to the S'ate, and the gravity of the circumstances
affecting them. The policy of the rival parties in the kingdom
aud the extension of empire sink to insignificance in the rural
mind compared with the question of farming profits. How to
live with credit and distinction is a very important question,
bnt is quite subsidiary to the question of how to live at all.

The present state of English agriculture affects members of
our profession as much as any c'ass, and is a subject
which must constantly occupy our thoughts. It is necessary
for us to have some ideas on the subject, right or wrong, as
we are daily obliged to act, and our action must be hffected by
our views. Some people are fond of contrasting theory and

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

133

practice, ideas and actions, as theologians used to be with
re-pe.c' to faith and w irks ; bur, in reality, ad action is or
ought 10 be flie. result and embodiment ot [.nought, and the
main thing is to see that our thoughts and ideas are c irrect
and sound ; for, if not, no sound course of action will result..
It is as vain to expect to act rightly on wrong principles as to
gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles.

The general public has leisure to suspend its judgment on
the suhj-ct before u", but we cannot altogether do so ; and it
is, therefore, a matter of great interest to us, and a great help
al-o, to elicit the opinions formed by brother members of the
profession on what so nearly concerus us all. An exchange of
ideas seems extremely desirable. We may be expected to take
an impartial view, uudisturbed by the panic around us (which
has no . very much abated), and, on the other hand, removed
from the sanguiue opinions of those who would fain prrsuade
themselves and other* that there i» no gravity in the crisis
through which we are passing. We cannot deny that English
agriculture has received a severe shock, Few will be bold
enough to assert that its constitution is not sound enough to
recover that shock.

The subject is so wide, and embraces so many topics, that it
is impossible to do more than glance at it ; the limits imposed
by a Paper preclude any attempt at exhaustive treatment.
'I he lloyal Commission, a numerous body of able men, will
hardly be able, to complete their labours before the crisis is
over aud the subject forgotten. How, then, can any indi-
vidual hope to do more than touch upon the salient points of
so large a question ? The questions propounded by the Com-
missioners have startled farmers by their wide range. To
expe t minute particulars for ten or fifteen years back shows a
more sanguine, view of the financial records ol ordinary farmers
than experience warrant".

Some of the questions seem very remotely connected with
the present depression ; they remind one of the story of the
American humourist, where he describes the showman re-
qu steU to undertake the census of his native, village, and, after
due coo»ideratiou,setting dowu a few quetinns I e thinks appro-
priate to the occasion, but wliich the majority of people would
deem rather irrelevant.

It may be said that we have the advantage of discussing the
question in the light of opinions so freely contributed to the
press ; and this is perfec ly true. It is our business to sift the
wheat from the chaff, to separate, in the assumed causes of the
degression, the real Irora the false ; to give facts, where we
can, in place of estimates ; to measure, and gauge, so far as
we are able, the meaning and force of the general phrases
which are so glibly quo ed on all sides, and to nj.i'ct all testi-
mony which has no bearing upon the point at issue. The
shackles of the feudal system and onr old Iriend the peasant
proprietor have, of course, been brought forward. They are
as certain to appear during a laud agitation as the petrel
helore a storm, or the s-a. serpent in the dull season, but their
bearing on the question 1 fail to see. English farming is in a
bid s ate. Is it likely to he any hetter? That is the question ;
and bringing in the feudal system is more incongruous and out
ol place than the knight in. armour at a modern Lord Mayor's
show.

The. general public and the agriculturists both admit that
the present state of 'arming is unsatisfactory, but give various
answers to the question — Why is it so ? Tfc« general public
introduces aud alleges a nariety of matters which the farmer
would not heed -y the farmer himself would give different
reasons. The arable farmer would talk of bid crops, bad
prices,, and increased coat of labour ami rates ; the grasier
would quote the high price of stock in the spring, and the fall
in the autumn ;, and the dairy farmer would refer to- the fall in
price of butter and chees». English agriculture, in tact,
embrace* a very wide range of products, and the causes of the
depression are various ; and to obtain clear views, and to pre-
vent confusion, each description of farming w mid require to
be separately considered. The results in each case, even then,
would be the product of many-sided causes.

To talk about English farming as a whole, or on the
average, would give the reins to loose ideas aud inconsequent
reasonings. Averages are extremely useful and uecesaary, aud
upon them are based some of the soundest reat-onings; but
they require to be used with great care — remembering that
they are valuable not in proportion to the number of cases
they arc derived from, but to the smallness of the variation
in trw extremes. The rainfall of England varies from 10 to

20 inches on the east coast to more than au average or 40 on
the west; au exceedingly heavy rainfall ot the one being
merely the ordinary rainlall of the other, and therefore facts
to be compared should be drawn (unless the nature of them
permits otherw s ) from the same district. Some people say
they object to averages, when what they mean is they object
to the inferences drawn from them. They ejnfound the I acts
with the conclusions drawn from those facts, and, like the
Bro'hers Birchimrton iu ' Ingoldsby Legends," " Richard
gets blamed for Robert's offences." My remarks will then
refer, uulest specially noted, to my own district in the North
Midlands.

I have mentioned that the assumed causes of the unsatis-
factory state of English farming may be divided into real and
false causes. Among the real causes which have more or
less contributed to the depression I would class:— (1) The
Seasons; (2). Prices ; (3) Labour; (4) Kates ; (5) American
Competiiioti.

I will gauge so far as I can the part borne by the real causes
in contributing to the general effect, remarking only that the
treatment must of necessity be fragmentary and imperfect.

1. — THE SEASONS. r

By general admission the weather— the long succession of
uugenial seasons— is regarded as one of the main causes of
the depression, and I will show, as far as the clays o
Nottinghamshire are concerned, to what extent this cause has
contri' uted to the unfortunate result. I will give not estimates
nor conjectures, but actual facts and figures, which can be
substantiated. They may throw light on many other clay
districts.

It is difficult to say in these days what will not be denied,
and it lias even been denied that the seasons are the main
cause of our difficulties. Mr. Edwirds, at the Farmers' Club,
iu Holborn, in his Paper on the " Future Aims of the Farming
Interest," is reported to have denied that the present depres-
sion was owing to bad seasons. The quarter from which the
denial comes makes it worth a moment's attention. So far
as the North Midlands are concerned (aud I leave to other
members to determine how far the case is similar in other
districts), I entirely disagree with Mr. Edwards. I will give
the reasons and grounds ol my opiniou, as some might demur
to an opiaiou who would acknowledge an argument or fact-
Lord Eicon says, " Opiuion is like a shot from a long bow,
depending for its tflkacy on the strength of the shooter,
but argument is like a shot from a cross bow, equally efficient
whether discharged by a child or a giant."

For a very long Beries of years Mr. Lowe, F.R.S., bus
onset red the rainfall of Notts, and published the facts. From
1867 Mr. Tarbotton, C.E., Surveyor to the orporatioo of
Nottingham, has taken observations and has giv»n, among
other things, the monthly rainfall from 1867 to 1873 in his
"Meteorology of Nottingham." From these authorities I
gather that the average annual rainfall of Notts, for a long
series of years, has been approximately 26^ iuchrs, with a
variation of from about 18 ia-ehes io 35 inch>s. From 1868
to 1874 (both inclusive), we had a cycle of dry seasons, inter-
rupted only by the extremely wet year 18/2. With 1875
commenced our wet cycle. Iu Juiy and October of that year
we had our disastrous Trent Floods from a rainfall of 5 inches
in each of those two months. From 1S75 to the present time,
we have had none but wet and uugenial season', From Mr.
Tarbotton*9 publication I make the average annual rainfall
from 1875 to 1878 (both inclusive) 29$ inches. Mr. Lowe,
quoted by Mr. Tarbotton, gives an average annual rainfa'l for
the same period of 31^ inches. Taking the lowest figures,
then, the average annual rainfall from 1S75 to 18~S (both
inclusive), was three inches in excess of the average rainfall
lor a long series of years. In addition to this, 1879 had 3£
inches in excess. When we consider that an inch (,f rainfall
means, approximately, 101 tons of water per acre, and the
last five years has given ns over 15 inches, or 1,515 tons of
water per acre in excess of our average supply, we need not,
wonder that on our s'rong soils arable farming has been ui.
profitable. But the rainfall of the year does not show the
whole case, The we.-uher at seed time and harvest is more
important than the total rainfall of the year. From 1875 to
the present time, we have had either wet harvests or wet seed
times, and sometimes both. The bad effect of sm-lt an excess
of wet is( on strong soils, only too evident. The land gets
soddened, itB finer particles carried off, manures are diluted

134

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

aod washed away, weeds comp'ete ly choke the crops, vegeta-
tion suffers, and the result is disastrous.

I have given in some detail tl>e weather of Notts, in order to
afford some opportunity of comparing it wi h the result of
wheat yield during a Ion? series of years. I snhjoin the yield
of wheat in a parish a lew miles from where the rainfall was
registered, and a comparison is lull ol soggestivehess. The
yield taken is from a farm of 726 acres, on the Keuper
division of the Red Sandstone formation, and is extracted from
records carefully kept for many years past.

Rainfall at Nottingham. Yield of Wheat

Year.

1862
1863
1864
3865
1866
1867
1868
I860
187*)
1871
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878

1879

in Inches.

29-9
25-3

277
17-9
26-8
35-9
2U-5
18-1
31-7
29-3
28-7
28*8

,= 00

oo

t«LCO

per Acre.

f3"5S qrs.

5 30 „

3 75 „

4 25 „
< 369 „

2-07 „

5 31 „

2 80 „

L**o ..

•2-90 „

3 43 „

2 87 „

3 37 „

j3U .,

%2 3t „

2 31 „

2-78 „

[2-0

Estimate
only.

The yield of wheat does not, of course, very prprisply
with the rainfall. There are many other circumstances which
affect vegetation, such as temperature and sunlight, which e n-
not he shown ; ht>', on the whole, a wets- ason means one with a
temperature, an 1 the table fairly explains one grea' cause of
our present depression. It may be f aid that, facts mav exist
t ige'lu-r without standing in the relation of csu>e and effect.
This is true enough, but let us examine the table. The
Average yield per acre for the 17 years, ex<>naing 1875, which
is only an estimate, is 3*<8 qrs. The years 1863, 1868, and
1870 were very dry ; the yield of those years was high, being
nearly 2 qrs. per acre over the general average. The years
1867 and 1878, among others, were wet, ungenial years ; ani
the yield was small, being 1 qr. per acre less than the general
average. Taking the yield of all the -.e»rs with a rainfall
above the average, the result is lev, being 2*62 qrs. per acre ;
and tlip yield of all the years, with a rainfall be ow tlie average,
the result gives 4 qrs. per acre.

'1 he 1 ist is the best test, for the wider the basis the. more
the d sturbmg causes which affect the reealt in individual ra«*s
are e imiuated. Considering the variety of causes vthich
a fleet the result of g>od or bud crops, I think the table stands
fairly well the application of the first canon of Mr. Mills' ex-
perimental methods. There are oae or two exceptions, hut
they admit of explanation by reference lo the monthly rain-
fall. The year 1872 had a very heavy rainfall, wi'h a yied
slightly above the average, hut the seed tine in 1871 was
favourable, and the ra;n fell in excess in 1872 main'y in July
and again at the latter end of the year, after the corn was
gathered. This excess at. the end of 1872, coining at the
wheat seed ti dp, explains why 1S73, with a small rainfall, has
a d» lieiency of yield.

For the sake of comparison, and to show the effect cm the
farmers' position of low jiel.l and low \ir\ce combined, I will
take four years from a comparatively dry cycle, and four years
from a wet one, with the prices of their respective periods : —

Average

annual Average Value

Rainfall. Yield p< r Acre, per acre.

Years. Inches. Q-s. £ s. d.

1868 to 1871 24-4 3.85 10 7 3

1875 to 1878 29 6 2-6 1 6 6 7

Difference

1-4

Tlipre is a difference in the two periods — in yield, of I5
quarters per acre ; and in value, about £4 per acre. But it
may be said that comparing a wet eje'e with a favourable
cycle i» rather exaggerating the case, and therefore comparing

an average y^eld based on a long course of years, at the pric*
fixed by the Tithe Commutation Act («hieh forms such a
commonly adopted basis) with the years 1875 to 1878, ihe
result as follows: —

Yield per Value per

Acre, Acre.

Qrs. £ s. d.

Average yield for 17 years 3 38 at 56s. 9 16 0
1875 to 1878 „ „ 261 as above 6 6 7

0-77 3 9 5

This shows a difference in yield of nearly a quarter per acre,
and in value of £3 9s. per acre. This loss of from £3 to £4,
and in many cas»s it has been much more, maintained for five
years in succession, is in itself sufficient to explain a good desil
of depression.

With reference to barley I will not go into further detail
than stating th- average yield per acre on the same land re-
ferred to in the case of wheat. • —

Years. Yield per Acre. Valne per Acre.

Qrs. £ 9. d.

186-? to 1867 both inelnsire. 4 90 at 35s. 8 116

1875 to 187S both inclusive. 3-77 at 30s. 5 13 0

Difference 113

£2 18 6

The last four years showing a deficiency in yield of 1*1.3
qrs. ppr acre, arid A'2 18s 6d. per acre in value. We are
now able to sep, so far as wheat and barley are concerned, the
effect of tlie succession of bid seasons on the Keuper marl*,
where the land Was been wjil cultivated and well .11 mured, as
is the case or> the farms from whence the i'orego'ng figures are
obtained. There are verv many farms, as many ot our mem-
bers may know, in trie Midlands, where }| ars. of wheat per
acre, and no larger yield of barley, is nearer the fact than the
figures quo'ed.

It we take a fans of 700 acres, comprising 200 acres of
grass and 500 acres of arable land, and assume the rent to be
30s. per acne, or £1,050 per annum ; and that with the average
yield of a long series of years at the prices of the Tithe Co'ii-
mutation Act, tor wheat, and 35s. per qr. for barley (about the
10 ppr cent, increa e on the Tithe Commutation price, which
Mr. Caird, C R., says has taken place), this farra would pay
rent, and 8 per cent, on the tenant's capital.

This is no violent assumption, but is the basis npon which
rents are generally fixed. li we take the tenant's capital
at £8 per acre, it would give £5,600, and the interest upon
this would be, at 8 per cent., £448 per annum. What then,
judging from the. foregoing (acts has been the effect of the last
live years of bad seasons ?

100 acres of wheat, deficient in

value per acre 3 9

100 acres of barley, deficient in
value per acre 2 18

£635 0 0
This loss of £635 for five years in succession is a loss of
£3,175, or, to put it in another way, a total loss of interest on
capital for 5 year«r ana, in addition, a c-«pi.al loss of £935.
This is no exaggerated case. The deficiency per acre is from
ac'wal facts. The assumed case to which they are .tpplied is
a fair example. When we add to this in !S79-the temporary
depreciation in the- price of stock and wool, and the loss of
artificial manures applied, through the effect of the wet, and
consider that over all the strong land arable farms of the-
countrv some such re-nlt as the above has taken place, the
general depression in English agriculture is fairly and 1 think
fully explained.

AS to PRrcES.
2. — Trie Parliamentary Return moved for by Mr Foljambe,
M P., fully bears ottt the statement m our President's Ad-
dress, that up to the end1 of 1878 "the only articles of agri-
cultural produce which had senouslv fallen in price were wheat
and cheese." As the prices in the Parliamentary Return may
include foreign wheat, I have tested the yearly average with'
the yearly average we have realised since 1868. 1 find tlia',
up to 1874, we realised 2s. to 3s. per qr. more, and, from
1875 to 1879, about Is. to 2s. per qr. less than the return
shows ; this the wet harvests of the. last few years would

d.

£ s. d.

0 =

345 0 0

0 =

290 0 O

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

133

account for. From 1S68 to 1874, the yearly averse was
56» per quarter, and Ironi 1875 to 1879, it was -itis. per
quarter.

With regard to the pr'ce of stock, it is a more difficult ques-
tion, and one. certain to give opportunity for much discussion.
During the air u tin ot 1879, there was a great fall in the
p-i'-e of mist descriptions of stock, particularly of breeding and
store stock, tut the reason for this seems to me plain, and
relieves any anxiety as to future prices. Farmers were short
of money ; their corn was not in a condition to thrash, and
the »ale of stock w is the real'est and almost the only way
of realizing money. The turnip crop over a large area was
deficient, and sheep have had to be sold, where they would
otherwise be kept, and those farmers who usually buy have
not bought so largely.

It must be borue in mind, tort, that the division of profit
between the breeder and tlte grazier is one with which we
are no' now coucerned. If the grazier has to give a high
price, the breeder receives a high price. What we are no* con-
cerned with is, what farmer*, as a class, get from the general
ptilhc as consumers. Tne price of fat beef, with regard to beasts,
is there 'ore the best test. No description of stock is kept lor
ornament, and all soover or later come to the butcher.

From Mr. Foljambe's return we find, hoth with regard to
h-asts and sheep, that the average prices for the last few
years have been as much as in preceding years. Though
there has been a decline in 1879, we have no reason for sup-
posing that it is more than one of tlw-e ordinary fluctuations
to which all trades are exposed. As L >rd Macaulay says,
'• Anyone wstching the receding wave may be misled, and
imagine for a moment that the tide itse'f is receding."

With rega d to wool the Parliamentary Return is very in-
omplete. hut I have a record of our own prices fur nearly 30
years, aud, judging from it, there seems no reason to doubt that
the low prices of the last three or four years have resulted
from the depression of trade, which has affected other coun-
tries qm*e as much as ourselves.

That depression is passing away, and wool has risen about
25 ner cent, from its lowest price.
From 185') to 1860 our prices averaged 33-. 0,1. per tod.
„ 1861 to 1870 „ „ 51s. 0J. „

„ 1871 to 1879 „ „ 45s. 7d. „

The average of the last four years alone is lower, being 3ts.
6d. per t"d.

O cjursewe cannot expect a return to the prices which
were caused by the Ameri an civil war; but in the early years
of the present decade, |wheu trade was flourishing, we had
sHisfictory prices, and when prosperity returns again to the
t-ade of this country, I have heard no reason advanced why
the price of wool should not increase again. The prices though
1 iw this past year, was little better from 1850 to 1860 ; and,
w'th the exception of 1879, we have no reason to complain of
the price for the past 20 years.

Willi regard to the price of milk, Mr. Foljambe's retu/n
shows a steady increase for the last 20 years; and with a
population like ours, increasing at the rate ol about 1,000 a
day, tfere is every reason to suppose the price, of milk will
increase. There are, of course, temporary fl'ic'uationn, but
tie general tendency, as shown by the return, is to increase in
price.

3.— AS TO LABOUR.

The increased cost of labour is one cuise which is oft°n ad-
vanced in explaining the decreasing profits of firming. If we
consider the cost of labour to mean its price, coupled with its
efficienc, there is no doubt that, the cost of labour has in-
creased, and seems increasing. Farm labour is not so efficient
a* it used to be, partly owing to a decreasing interest in the
work on the part of the labourer, and partly owing to the
emigration of the most active young men to the. towns. The
decrease lit the efficiency of the labourer it is impossible to
exactly estimate, hut the element of priee it is possible to
estimate pretty accurately..

In discussing tlie subject with farmers they appeal- to the
10s. a week, which they paid twenty years ago, and compare
this with the. 15s. or 16s. a week, which they have to pay now,
the inference being that labour upon a farm ha-< increased
fifty per cent. They take no account of the advantages we
have derived from the nse of steam po-ver, the inventions of the
mechanicians, and the multiplication of labour-saving machines
upon farms generally. I have examined our farm a< -conn is
deling, with 815 acres of laud iu Nolls, fur tlie last t wen

years, and do not find the increase which is generally imagined-
From 1872 to 1875, there, was an increase in the total price
paid for annual labour, hut the annual amount pud from that
date has returned to nearly the old level. The increase during
the years alluded to, when prices were generally inflated, was
about eight per cent. I should be glad to show" the details to
auy member, and the total amount includes everything relating
to manual labour on the farms. The reason no doubt is, that
the economy resulting from the use of machines has nearly
balanced the iucrease in the price of the manual labour.
1. — AS TO RATES.
The increase in parochial rates is also generally mentioned
in connection with this subject. In many districts these have,
no doubt, considerably increased of late years. In parishes'
subject to local boards, what with district rates, ordinary poor
raies, and edu aion rates, the amount is very serious, and, the
charge falling primarily on the occupier, is a cause of
diminished profit — especially to a lessee.

In thoroughly rural parishes, too, il included in populous
Uhions, the rates have increased to an appreciable exteut, but
in the bulk cf rur.l pm>hes in rural unious the rates have not
increased in the last ten years to the extent that is sometimes
imagined.

In parishes where turnpike trusts have terminated, and the
roads have been thrown upon those parishes, there has often
been^a very serious increase. As u ider the new 'Highway
Act " parishes are rated, not in proportion to thei-- extent of
roads, but in proportion to their rateable value ; and the whole
cost of the roads within the highway district being charged
rateably over the district, there is aa increase of highway
rates in some parishes and a decrease in others. But a re-
apportionment of rates is not an increase of rates; what one
parish loses a-other gains. In my own parish the rates,
including poor rate, highway rate, and county rate have not
increased at all in the last ten years. There will, however, be
a slight increase as a result of the " Highway Act," which
came in force last year.

5. — AMERICAN COMPETITION.
American competition is, no dount, a serious natter, and we
must adapt our farming to it ; but 1 do not think it will prov<*
utterly ruinous, as many farmers imagine. The subject seems
to fascinate some men, and they deal with millions of acres
and millions of cattle as freely as writers on " pre-historic
man," geologists, and evolutionists do with millions of years.
The figures are so enormous, that the powers of emulation and
comparison seem lost in amazement.

Corn is a bulky article ; its freight in ordinary years would
cost far more than at present, and America cannot always
expect such harvests as she has la ely enjoyed. The yield in
average, season is very poor, 10 to 12 oushels per acre, and
Mr Pell is reported to have said that he finds the laud very
full of weeds, and as many rabbits in Manitoba as stones.
Railways are being made, and fresh districts opened out, no
doubt, but in a farm a few miles from the li.ie, bad roads must
make the carriage a difficulty. Population in England and
America is rapidly increising. We shall want ourselves at
least 250,000 more quarters for consumption next year, as
compared with this, from somewhere.

( Ou the whole American question I for one suspend my
judgment, and wait for further information. We are told,
indeeed, that by opening up the practically illimitable West,'
the English farmer must be ruined. We we.re told before the
introduction of railways that the. breed of horses would soou
become extinct ; probably the one prophecy is as correct as
the other. What American competition will do is one thing,
what it has done is another.

As to wheat. I have given the value per acre, derive', from
an average yield, based on a Ion* series of years in a particular
parish, at the pric; fixed by the Tithe Commutation Act, and
have compared this with the actual yield of'the laU four years,
1875 to 187S, at the prices obtained ; and the difference was
about £3 9s. per acre. Mow how much of this resulted lrom
American competition ? It appears to me it is approximately
capable of measurement, as the following table will show; —

Average yield at Tithe Commutation price

viz., '.j\ qr-. at 5 'is. pp.r tjr

Actual yield at the same price

9 16

7 0

2 1G 0

m

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Out of the £3 9s., then, £2 16s. represents deficiency of
yield, and about 13s. per acre i* left for American competition,
if we assume that the lower range of prices is entirely due
to it, but the damaged sample of our own home ctop repre-
sents' a large share. But apart from this, Am ricau competi-
tion would only represeut 23 per cent, of the losses on wheat
laud. In other words, three-quarters of the loss was the
result of df ficient yield, and one-quarter a lower range of
prices from various" erases, one of which is American compe'.i-

Among the ciuses brought forward wliic'i I submit are false
causes I would class — 1. Abseuce of peasant proprietors.
1. Difficulties in the transfer of land. 3. Primogeniture.
4. Entails. 5. Liw of Distress. 6. Restrictive covenants.
7. Absence of leases. 8. Farmers' extravagancy

The agricultural question is one of much public interest : it
is a great opportuni y for land reformers to make what capital
they can out of the present depression. Each ha* his owu
hobby. One laments the absence of peasant proprietors ;
another would abolish primogeniture, settlement, and entail ;
a third advocates security of tenure ; aud others, taking refuge
in a delicious vagueness, would deliver us from the relics of
the feudal system. None of these would expre3sly connect
these subjects with our present depression, but, by introducing
them in connection with it, they lead inexact thinkers among
the general public to assnme that there is a connectiou of
cause aud enVct to some extent.

It is my firm conviction that these sahjects are atter)y irre-
levant. All these di»advant«ges, if disadvantages they be,
have existed for years, ind the depression in agriculture has of
late jears b?en rapidly increasing. A stationary cause, and an
increasing edict! I l»ave it to logicians and scientific men
to estimate the value of the connection.

1. As to the Piasaxt Proprietor.— Whatevi i be the
advantage of the peasant proprietors on the Continent, they
are out of place in England. With hajf our popula ion
depending on toreigu supply for food, the necessities of
England exaggerate the value of production of food, as com-
pared with distribution of wealth. The greatest amount at the
least cost is our want. Mr. Jenkins '.ias eifectaally disposed
of the question of English versus Flemish farms in the pro-
duction of wheat, and, although, as to stock, M. de Laveleye
compares Flanders with its 55 head of stock per 100 hectares
with 33 in England, yet, adding the excess of sheep in
Eogland as compared with Flanders at the rate often adopted
of 8 sheep to 1 beast, would bring England to 57 head of
stock per 100 acres, as compared with 55 for Flanders. There
is no proof that the gross produce is greater in the case of
peasant properties, which renders ineffective Mr. Mill's
ingenious delence of them. Peasant properties have their
advantages. They encourage industry and thrift : this is
unquestionable, and is patent to all who know them. They
are. said to have a tendency to limit population. Mr. Mill
admires this tendency. France is quoted with its increasing
capital aud stationary state as to population ; but even Mr.
Mill admits, in his chapter on peasant properties, that Bel-
gium, where they are common, has a rapidly increasing
population, In Prussi , Mr. Gaskell reports that small
properties are to large, as 10 to 1, and Prussia has a rapidly
increasing population.

The inference as to the connection of a statiosary population
and peasant properties is, 1 think, drawn from too few in-
stances. People generally compare England and Erance
alone— England with its. large properties Inving an excess of
birth-rate over death-rate of about 1-2-7 per 1,000, aud Franee
with its small properties an excess of birth-rate over death-rate
of only 10 per 1,000. On such a narrow hisis comparisons
are extremely fallacious j the method is radically vicious, and
the result, untrustworthy. But if sueh were the result, we
who manufacture for the world, and possess such enormous
territories in Canada, Australia, and New &'alaud, as a
heritage for our children, do not want a stationary
po| u'ation. The circumstances are altogether different.

But if we had our peasant proprietor, how do we. propose
to keep him ? The English yeoman, the Cumberland " states-
man," have largely yielded to the force of circumstances add
are yearly disappearing. The causes of their disappearance
are perfectly patent to those who know modem rural life.
Advocates ot peasant properties we n to nave an idea that an
Act of Parliament could create such a class or can keep it
existing. Tu create it may be possible, but to preserve it,

nnless the conditions of E iglish civilization are altered is
impossible. It circumstances favoured the existence of such a
class, it would have grown, not decreased; for it recently
existed to a large extent. Why did it die away ? For the
reasons that would destroy it if artificially created. As Mr.
Caird say, " A class of | easant proprietors in this coi'utry
wouhl soon bee >me impisstbte umler the temptation of the
high prices at which wealthy men are anxious to obtain land."
But why are peasant proprietors wanted ? The greatest
weight ot evidence goes to show that the English system pro-
duce! a larger supply ot bread and meat— the staple foods—
than the French and the Flemish systems, and produce for
our manufacturing populuiou is what we require. But
whether peasant proprietors are an auvuitage or not has
nothing to do with the existing agricultural depression. The
sun shines and the rain tails on the peasant ana ou the squire;
and the weather, caring nothing for political ideas, would
not have spared the peasant proprietor. If there ever were
a season which proved the advantage of a class of large
landowners it is the present. The reasons are obvious to the
most unrefl cting.

The causes of the disappearance ol the English yeoman
(the representative ol the peasant proprietor) have been over
aud over again forcibly put by many authorities in rural
matters, and the cogency of their arguments has been sub-
stantiated by the best authority, and that is by the peasant
proprietor himself. If his admirers have their way, and
create him on a large scale, he will, from that moment, try to
disappear, unless the economic forces now exist ng in England
are reversed iu their operation. We who live in the country
teat these theories by applying them to our own townships.
If the one iu whieh I live were divided into 10-acre peasant
farms, there would have to be a population twice the amount
o1 that existing, solely engaged iu cultivating the land. They
would have to be. very successful to feed twice as many
mouths, and have as much to export, as we do, for the support
of neighbouring manufacturing populations. As I have said
before, the objective point of English agriculture is quite
different from thiit of the Continent.

With reference to the subject of entails, primogeniture,
transfer of laud, and kindred matters, they are all important
and interesting, but have no hearing ou the present depres-
sion. If those who bring them before the public could have
their way, they would find, to their amusement perhaps, that
the object they have iu view was not even approached.

2. As to the I'RANsiERorLANDi. — Ii land were transferred
more cheaply, and iu a more simple manner, it would not go
into the hands of small owners more thaa it does now.
Land, like everything else, goes to the man who will pay
most for it. There is perfect freedom now, there couW be
no more then. The reduction of the friction of transfer, if

1 may so express the cost of transfer, would result in a gain
to the buy er and seller ; but why should it tend to change,
as is often assumed, the class from which the buyer is
drawn ? He gives now the value of the land, plus the cost
of transfer, lie would as readily give the whole amount for
the land.

Land may have temporarily declined in ralne, when people
force it into the market with a weak demand, but that land
which is a fixed quantity in a country that has a population
increasing at the rale of 1,<)00 a day, aud a saving of capital
increasing at the rate of £150,000,000 annually, should per-
manently decrease in value seems impossible, and the more
land increases in price, the more its ownership becomes a
luxury for the rieh.

The markets for our agriculture, and the value of land,
hang upon our manufacturing supremacy ; and tmtil this is
lo-t, and trsde and population permanently decline, we need
have no great anxiety as to the future.

3. PRiJiofiEJUTWRE. — Primogeniture seems to me a small
matter. A man is free now to make, a will, an-' the law only
applies iu the case of intestacy, which has been reckoned at

2 per cent, of the land that changes hands. It is custom and
{eeling which govern when the law is silent, and if men are
to have freedom in such matters, they most be allowed to asm
it. When the feeling on the subject changes, the custom will
change. The feeling is not confined to Eugland. All people
have not the passion for equality that the French have.
Although the " Code Napoleon" is in force in Rhenish Prussia,
M. de Jjaveleye states that " iu Germany law and custom
alike have been opposed to divisiou of t'arjjs." " In Bavaria

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

137

tlic, l<nl i» in the hand* of wealthy peasants wlio leave their
farm 10 one son, to otiiers only a pittance." Primogeniture
it may not be, but the re~u.lt is the same in these Teutonic
lamia : the land u left to oue sou, and it* sub-division pro-
vided against.

4. As to Entaii, Sec. — Entails are a very important
subject in them-elve*, but their bearing on the prese»t
question i«, I think, very limited. There are so many
s'a'utes enabling owners of limited interests to borrow
money for improvements, cliarging it on the land, that it must
be difficult to imagine, even for those who with to do so, that
the present depression is exaggerated to any extent on entailed
esta'es. If the interest charged by improvement coittpasies
is objected to, the Land Act of 1861 enables a man to
borrow from his banker, or from himself (from his per-
sonality), aud charge it upon hit estate. We- have nothing
to do with the political aspects of entails, only with their
economical aspect.

A* to those who would deliver ns from the feudal system, 1
was nnder the impressiou that we had long ago been practi-
cally delivered. I have always- thought the sta'nte passed in
Charles tlve See-ind's reign abolished knight service and other
incidents of feudal tenure. Perhaps copyholds are referred
to, and if so, tue Copyhold Aet gives opportunity of en-
franchisement. Perhaps entails are referred to, and if this
be the case, it were best to say so. To talk about the feudal
system brings visions of haughty, barons and tyrannical op-
pression. Ii is like calling a man a heretic if you differ
from his theology. It casts a stigma, but like all excess of
statemen-t , it defeat* its own object and causes a reaction when
the real facts are known.

5. Law ok Disiiiess. — A* to the Law of D'ntre*-, it is a
point lor the poliical agriculturist, but the frraer does not
really suffer from it. As our President has shown, if it did
not exist, rent would be collected punctually each qmrterday.
Now, three and six months' credit is given and in bad times
and even in ordinary times, in individual eises, ranch longer
credit is given. The tenant has a lean of the amount of rent
for the term of delayed payment without payment of interest.
The advantage of this is patent to all. I can understand the
tradesman and the artificial manure merchant objecting to the
Law of Distress, bat 1 have never heard the objection come
from the tenant farmer.

6. Resibictiye Covenants. — Antiquated and obstructive
covenants have uo friends in land-agents, who are prepared to
advise in favour of a good tenant everything that is liberal in
this respect, consistently with the continued fertility of the
soil. It would be no gain to the agriculture of England if
b id tenants had full license to exhaust the soil by overcropping
for their own benefit, and then for them to give up land foul
with weeds and poor with excessive cropping without ma uring,
to be brought into good heart by the successor.

7. Security of Tenure. — As to leases, I know few ten-
ants in our neighbourhood who would now take one. Security
of capital invested in farming by a fair Tenant- Kight is de-
sirable, bat the ordinary yearly tenancy can provide this, and
yearly tenancies .have enabled the tenant to throw imme-
diately upon the landlord the result of bad times. A lease-
holder might be in a different position. In no country
is there a more liberal Tenant-Right and a greater security
for capital invested in farming than in Lincolnshire, and
farmers there have suffered most severely, which clearly
shows that security of capital invested in farming has not
prevented the depression reaching them, and, eonversely,
that absence of Tenant-Right is no explanation of agricultural
distress.

8. Personal Extravagance. — The falsest of canses as-
signed is, that the farmers have brousght their diSeuhies
upon themselves by extravagance. Now, that there are
member* of the farming class who have done this is
undoubted, but this is not peculiar to- the farming class ;
and the cases are fewer than in other classes in this
respect. There are too many individuals in all classes who,
instead of walkiug firmly on their feet, are, as it were,
craning their necks and standiog on tiptoe, with the object
of appearing as tall as some one else who is n.turally taller.
This is a terrible curse, of modern life, a disease which
affects all classes, and the farmers ought not alone to be
blamed. The hunting, champagne-drinking farmer exists but
in small proportions to the bnlk of his class. When the
average siie of farms in Euglaud is considered there cannot be

much doubt of this. I think the farmer may not have beeoso
well seconded in his efforts by tlve female uortkm of Ins house-
hold as formerly, and that the minor products of agriculture
might be increased with advantage. The enormous importa-
tion iif iggslrom France is a disgrace. Of course it is very
satisfactory to ho nan nature to point out that misfortunes
result Irom a man's own eouduet, »he* we ourselves are not in
(juestion.

What thea is She result of a review of the question ? I
have toadied upon what I deem the real causes, more or less
of tke depression, and it appears to me, from an examination
of them, that we may throw out to a great extent everything
save, the succession ol uugeniai seiusoa-s ■ and that the long
continuance of these is a, moot poteut cause of the great distress
amongst farmers.

Oue bad season is easily recovered, but a succession of five
of them is a terrible fact, from the effects of which we shall
not soon recover. The preient generation of farmers has lo«t
its capital to a serious extent, and; mauy will be etippled lor
life, in this respect.

We have had very bad seasons. The Americana have had
very good ones, and importations from their abundance have,
fortunatelv lor the country, met our scanty and damaged
supply. The eonjfinctiou of low yield, with low priee is Che
real root of the evil.

Although there has been a tecdeney to lower prises of stock
of late years, we cannot advance that as explaining our diffi-
culties, with good beeS never lower than 9s. a stone, and now
nearer lGs. fid. a stone, St is not, of course, so good as the
lis. we received a few years ago, but still it is a price not to
be put forward as the source of farming iistBculties. For the
reasons 1 have mentioned, I neglect the fall in breeding stock
and lambs which has lately taken place. The fluctuations
wi'hin the agricultural class itself are quite a different thing
from what we are considering. We. eaanot complain that
farming does not pay because the general public does not give
enough lor meat. We cannot say we are ruined by American
competition in meat, as long as we get 9s. a stone.

Wool has been very low this year, but it has been as low
before, but the average of the last ten years has been with us
45". 6d. per tod, which is a price of which we cannot
complain.

There seems no m)stery as to the canses of our depression.
At the commencement of 1879 farmers had struggled through
four very bad seasons. They were like troops almost over-
borne in an unequal conflict, exhausted, and partially demora-
lized. They are bow after this last calamitous season like
troops after a crushing defeat, and there might be a panic.

The year 1879 brought a host of disasters. There has been,
much rain, and little sun. Over a large area the wheat crop,
was a failure, the barley crop a failure, root crops deficient in
quality and quantity. At the same time there was a fall in
prices more or less in all descriptions of agricultural produce.
Low yield and low prices, singly, are powerful enemies to the
farmer, but when they combiue, as they have done this last
year, after a long succession of bad years, he must suffer a
grievouB defeat. But there is no reason to assume that good
years will not return, or that good seasons will always exist on
the American Continent, and bad seasons in Europe. For at
least 4,000 years past, we have records of seasons of drought, and
seasons of ilood. We are better off than the Egyptians, after
their seven years of famine. It may be that all classes have-
failed to make the same good use as Joseph of the seven-
years of plenty. ** To-morrow will be as to-day, and even
more abundant," is too common a failing. And as to prices,
trade in every department is tending to recovery. The revival
came from America, and why ? America has had three or
four abundant liar vests, with 10 or 11 per cent, over the
average yield. A good grain harvest, as has been well said,
k pours millions sterling from the heavens into the earth's
treasury. " It is a gift from Providence to man, and so closely
are human interests interwoven, that a gift to one acts in-
directly on all..

Every discovery of science, every step of progress man
makes, tends to increase the oommunity of interests. Some
people reason as if America was always to have good harvests,
but she is as subject as ourselves to fluctuations, and scarcity
and plenty are dealt out now to one nation, and now to
another. Wealth as well as power comes from above.

After deciding approximately what are the causes of our
present depression, it may be objected that American

108

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE.

compptition, if not a new cause, is a constantly increasing one,
the effect of which no past experience can help us to measure.
We may be standing at a turning point in English agriculture.

The illimitable acres and herds of the West are being, by
the spread of railway*, brought daily into nearer communi-
cition with our markets, and some are of opiuion liiat we
are not passing through a temporary crisis, though a
prolonged and severe one, but are on the threshold of great
and permanent changes through the entrance of America in
force into the English market. No one can foresee the
future, hut corn and cattle are bulky articles of carriage, and
wlien freights advance in Atlantic steamprs and on American
railways, as they will with re'uring trade, we shall
have a better natural protectim. As to c irn, 'his natural
protection equals our rent, and as to meat, Mr. Caird,
quoting a lettt-r from the Scotsman, says the best beef in New
York is seldom less than 7d. per lb., and cannot be sold
wholesale in this country at a profit much uuder 8d. per lb ,
cr over 9<. a stone.

Of course any observations npon the existing depression
must need tho»e qualifications which all observations reqiire,
and must be applied to those circumstances alone to which
th ay refer, and not to an entirely different set of circum-
stances. There are districts that h-ve not suffered. There
are individuals that have not sufferel. I have heard people
deny the reality of the depression on such grounds. This
is as logical as to deny a disease is decimating a town becausa
this, that, and the other mau are in their usual health, and
certain suburbs are uuaffrcted.

I have endeavoured to show that onr depression is mainly
owing to baa seasons, and that increased cost of labour and
increased rates, and more especially the general fall in prices
consequent upon stagnation of trade, have partially con-
tiibuted to the result. 1 have expressed an opinion that neither
primogeniture, entails, Law ot Distress, insecurity of capital
expended in farming, nor the relics ot the feudal system (what-
ever that phrase may mian), are relevant to the point, at is^ue.
They have existed during the good times, as well as during the
bad. They are, therefore, not the cause of our difficulties. I
do not see that the peasant proprietors would have helped us,
on the contrary, they would have had no wealthy landlord to
help them in these days of trouble, and they would have lost
their capital just as the tenant tanners have done. If it be
supposed that peasant proprietors are never in debt aid diffi-
culties, and that they are exempt from all such contingencies
incident to hnmanity, it must be remembered that the capital
invested in mortgage of real estate in France :s 300 millions
sterling, and that Profes«or lingers states that the peasant pro-
prietors of Franeeand Belgium are cons uVrably indebted. Why
should we suppose the English peasant proprietors should not
be so also ? As a matter of fact, we know that the few re-
presentatives of the class in this country are generally in debt
and always in difficulties.

1 have confined myself to the question of the causes,, real or
assumed, of the existing depre>sionr and before concluding
must refer to the question o f how best to help the present
t nant farmers to tide over the difficulty,. — one most important
question for both landowners and tenants. Although good
years will return, it will be a bard struggle for many farmers
to wait for them. As a general principle no landowner should
let a good tenant go if he can help it, and Bhould meet him,
in every reasonable way,, with patience and with money,
depending upon the circumstances of his farm, and landowners
are,, as a body^ exhibiting every desire to do this. However
great the strain, nothing nas in this country, as yet, disturbed
the existing good feeling and mutual confidence of landlord
and tenant, and if they, continue to work in harmony we shall,
though not without patience and sacrifice on both sides, in due
time see better days.

THE RULES OF WHIST.
If you the modern game of Whist would know,
From this great psinciple its preoapts flow :
Treat your own hand as to your partner's joined,
And play, not one alone, but both combined.
Your first lead makes your partner understand
What is the chief component of your hand ;
And hence there is necessity the strongest
That your first lead be Irom your suit that's loupes'.
In this with ace, anJ king, lead king, then ace ;

With king and qneen, king also has first place ;

With ace, queen, knave, le*d ace, and then the qo en ;

With ace, four small ones, ace should first be seen;

With queen, knave, ten, yon let 'he queen precede;

In other cases y> u the lowest lead.

Ere you return your friend's, your own suit play ;

But trump you must return without delay.

Wheu you return jour partner's lead, take pains

To lead him bnck the best your hand contains,

It you receive not more than three at first ;

It you had more, you m»y return the worst.

But if you hoid the master card, you're bound

In mist cases to piny it second round.

Wueue'er you want a lead, 'tis seldom wrong

To lead up to the weak, or through the strong.

It secoud hand, ynur lowest should be playen.

Unless you mean "trump signal " to be made;

Or if you've king and queen, or ace and kiug,

Then one of these will be the prop-r tiling.

Moid well the rules for trumps, you'll often need tl.etn :

When you hold five, 'tis always right to lead them ;

Or if the lead won't come in time to you,

Then signal to yojr partner so to do.

Watch also lor your par'ner's trump request,

To which, with less than four, play out your best.

To lead through honours turned up is bad play,

Unless you want the trump suit cleared away.

Wnen, second hand, a dountful risk you see,

Don't trump it, if you hold more trumps than three,

But having three or less, trump fearlessly.

When weak in trumps yourself, don't force your friend.

But always force the adverse strong trump hand.

For sequenc- 3, stem custom has decreed

The lowest you must play, if you don't lead.

When you disctrd, weak suit you ought to choose,

For strong ouea are loo valuable to lose.

London Society.

MR. MECIIFS BALANCE SHEKT FOR
1879.

This is the first time in the hst fifteen years that my
farm balance has beeu on the wrong side, and it proves to
me how sad must he the financial position of a vast num-
ber of British agriculturists. Already 120 additional
applicants for relief from the Royal Agricultural Benevo-
lent Institution are on our new list ; many of them have
been in a most respectable station of life as agriculturists.
Such a season, fatal to every crop and injurious to live
stock, I never remember.

The accounts show a deficiency of £750 Ss. 3d. as com-
pared with 1878. If the farm had been all of stiff clay
the loss would have been at least £l,000j or folly £6 per
acre; and this, too, on land well drained, highly manured,
and deeply and cleanly cultivated — free from fences. But,
fortunately, about 50 acres are of light soil, which con-
siderably mitigated the loss. I have reason to believe
that generally very light soils on porous subsoils have
suffered much less than the- dense clays, which this sad
year must have proved ruinous to mauy farmers.

Another saving olause was the picking of 33 acres of
peas green for the London market, which saved me at
least £130, for had they becu left for harvest, like some !•
saved for 9eed, the crop would have been comparatively
worthless. The peas picked green netted J&2S5 15=. after
paying the following charges r —

& 8. d.

Ticking 85 2 10

Railway carriage ot 7 7

L'oiDini.-biou on selling 'IS D 1

L82 19 6.

THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE.

Fifty odd pounds, received fiom the Farmers' Insurance
Cuiii|Uiiy for damage by hail, has beeu placed to the credit
oi the crops damaged.

The live stock account is worse by £361 8s. 5J. than
list year, for, owing to the great reduction iu the price
of lean and breeding stuck, we had to value our sheep at
£120 less than last year. Our han cattle were bought iu
too dear and sold out too cheap. We lost seven ewes and
eleveu lambs in 187lJ — au unusual quantity with us. The
Hock generally did uot thrive so well as iu 1878, owing to
the wretched season and uuripened vegetation.
T11TREE FARM BALANCE SHEETS.

1878. 1879.

Paid.
January 1. — Valuation :—

Live stock

l'oultry

Horses aud doukey

Tillage--, manure, &c

Hay, corn, &c. (unsold)

I -ii piemen: i

s. d.

485

4

0

858

3

0

'J.0

0

0

24

0

0

175

0

D

177

0

0

481

18

I

487

3

5

615

1-2

0

413

a

0

465

11

1

465

11

1

(Fised a'eam engine, irrigation
ijumps,mill-s'.oue*, find thrash-
ing machines, valued in estate)

Corn and ha) f r live stock, pro-
duct* o ! farm, eiarged at market
prie- s

Corn, cake, malt combs, bran,
&c, purchased for live s'oek...

Grinding corn for live stoik by
our own eugine, at the usual
pricei charged to others

Veterinary and nudiciments

Live stock purchased

Horse food pu chased from farm

Lit'© purchased elsewhere

Farm labour, including ingine-
driver and working bailiff

Rent of Chapel land, 45 acres ...

Tubes, taxes, poor, highway,
church, and couuty rates

Reserve for wear and tear and
depreciation of machinery and
implements

Coals for steam eDgine

Tradesmen's bills : — Wheel-
wright, blacksmith, founder,
harness maker, bricklayer, car-
penter, painter, basket maker,
cooper

Malt and hops for beer for
labourers

Seeds and plants purchased

Ditto of our own growth

Purchased manures

Horses purchased

Miscellaneous petty expense--: —
Mole and rat catching, mend-
ing saeks, postage stamps, sta-
tionary and farm account books,
oil, candles, cart grease,
tallow, packing for engine, &c.

Thatching

Thatching stuff

Thrashing work

Grinding corn at otir own mill for
our farm horses

Fire insurance „

Hail-storm insurance „...

Balance for rent of 128 acres, and
proiit aud interest ou 1/3 acres

22 PJ 5 2 2425 2

75 10 0
396 0 8

17 10 0

7 0 0

431 5 0

88 4 0

65 13 0

415 14 6

56 0 0

III 10 0
419 1 6

18 10 0

2 3 0

43 0 0

75 0 0

101 10 0

37(5 17 3

56 0 0

75 17 6 75 19 9

25 0 0
25 12 0

25 0 0
24 0 0

16

5

0

27

2

o

68

15

0

124

0

f>

4a.

0

0

78 11 9- 31 0 4

12 10 0

31 10 0

67 0 0

69 0 0

11 8 11 9 17 0

8 0 0 5 10 0

113 15 0

10 5 0 7 17 0

10 1 0 11 0 0

3 15 O 3 15 0

2 7 0 2 6 0

4334 3 9
580 16 1

4006 4 4

4911 19 10 4U06 4 4

Received.
December SI.— Valuation :—

Live stock

Poultry

Horses and donkey

Tillages, manure, &c

Corn and hay, Jtc. (unsold)

Implements

858 3 0

2t 0 0

177 0 0

4S7 3 5

413 5 0

465 11 1

1^9

5H 0 0

20 0 0

] 50 0 O

331 19 3

370 15 0

465 11 1

Corn sold for money

Corn and hay sold to live stock,

aa per contra

Peas (picked for market) sold,

after deducting all expenses ...
Home-grown corn used as seed,

and charged per contra

Oats, hi an-«, (.ml hay, home g»own,

sold to our horses

Hay and straw sold

Sundnes

Fat meat sold

Wool sold

Poultry and eggs sold ,

Grinding for hire

„ for own stock

,, for horses

Rent of cottages

Received lor milk

Nothing for rent of 128 acres, and

profit and interest on 173 acres,

but a loss of

2425 2 6 1856 5 4

834 16 9 496 3 3

75 10 0 111 10 0

295 9 1 285 15 0

68 15 0 67 0 0

88 4

0

75 0

O

340 6

5

146 15

9

11 2

6

12 0

0

638 4

0

624 8

7

48 18

0

46 10

5

41 0

3

32 4

2

18 12

U

17 10

0

18 10

0

10 1

0

11 0

0

16 4

0

16 4

0

15 0

0

7 10

0

4914 19

10

3336 12

2

169 12

2

Details or Live Stock Account

Valuation, January 1.

Livestock 485 4 0

Poultry 25 0 0

Corn aud hay purchased off Turin 75 10 0

Dii to, elsewhere 395 0 8

Grinding corn 17 10 0

Veterinary, &c 7 0 0

Live stock purchased 431 5 0

4914 19 10 4006 4 4

858 3 0

24 0 0

111 10 0

419 1 6

18 10 0

2 3 0

43 0 0

1436 9 8 1476 7
Balance, to pay for attendance
consumption of rooots, and
green herbage 145

7 9

Val jation, December 31 : —

Live stock

Poultry

Fat meat sold

Wool

Poultry and eggs sold

Milk sold

1581 17

5

1476 7

6

858 3

0

618 0

0

24 £

0

20 0

0

638 4

0

624 8

7

43 18

0

46 10

&

41 0

3

15 0

0

7 10

0

1531 17 5

Balance — Loss on live stoek

1259 16 10
216 10 8

1581 17 5 1476 7 &

Rej£ark.s on the Balance-sheet of 1878:— The
live stock account is more favourable than usual, the sales
having been made at good prices early in the year. The
coru 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 halance-sheet. Peas picked
green netted £295 9s. Id , after paying the following
charges l —

£ s. d.

Picking 98 3 8

Railway carriage 72 16 4

Commission ou selling 62 14 10

£233 14 10

140

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE.

It is quite certain that I could not obtain such favour-
able results had 1 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 piofitably, even at a very low
rent, iu its original or unimproved condition. Drainage,
the absence of trees and feuces, and suitable buildings,
enable me to obtain a good landlord's rent, and a fair
farm p'ofit. In these days of low prices ard competition,
110 arable farmer can make land pay without plenty of
fattening and breeding stock, and its consequent abuudaut
manure. Farmers with capital should be free add un-
fettered. I hope that our influential land agents will impress
this ou landowners. Security of tenure and a valuation
for tenants' unexhausted improvements would soon change
and improve British agriculture : at present it is, as a
whole, in a most uhsuitable aud unprofitable condition.
Security of tenure by nineteen years' leases in Scotland
has wonderfully encouraged improvements, and only
requires the addition of an equitable valuation st the expira-
tion of the lease. It may appear remarkable to some that
1 have onh & acres of permauent pasture, and yet mauage
to keep, as an average, 200 sheep, and from 15 to 20
cattle 'f but we cut all up, allow no roaming at large, and
invariably give supplemental food. The sheep are always
witbiu iron-hurdled folds, removed morning and eveniug.
— J. J. Mechi, Tiptree Hall, Kelvedou, Essex.

REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE.

From The Marl; Lane Exps'tt for the week ending Jan. 26"
Although occasionally bright, the weather, generally
speaking, has been dull and foggy during the past week,
and inland navigation has once more been interrupted by
severe frost. Thrashing operations bare- been earried on
with increased vigour, as the more libera! offerings of
home-grown wheat testify, and some slight improvement
in the condition of the grain marketed has been apparent.
All outdoor work has been stopped by the frost, b»t a
large proportion of the arrears into which wheat sowing
had fallen had fortunately been made np during the recent
open weather. As the temperature has been so low, no
apprehensions have been felt as to the too rapid develop*
ruent of the growing wheat. Indeed, in some districts,
notably in Yorkshire, fears are expressed that from some
cause the plaut is deficient in vitality. This may be
owing either to the severity of the winter, or to the fact
that seed of a suitable character was not sown. Many of
She early-sown fields are nevertheless looking well, as far
as it is possible to judge at preseut, and it is to be hoped
that Yorkshire advices do not furnish an index of the
general state of the English crop. In Scotland farm
work is tolerably forward in the earlier districts, but of
eourse there has been no ploughing since the frost re-
turned. The offerings of home-grown wheat at the
sountry markets have been on a more liberal scale, and
some improvement has been noticeable in the condition of
many of the samples; but in spite of the general firmness of
the trade, all except the choicest lots have been neglected,
and difficult to sell. The imports of foreign wheat into
Loudon continue on a moderate scale. Last Monday's
list of arrivals only slightly exceeded 30,000 qrs., of
which quantity only 7,S82 qrs. were from America, a
smaller arrival than we have had occasion to note of late.
Business has been quiet, as despite the under-current of
firmness which runs through the trade, the week's re-
quirements have been of an ordinary consumptive charac-
ter, but the scarcity of English wheat in good milling
coudition has not unfrequeutly turned the demand on
those descriptions of foreign produce which could be
advautageously used as a substitute. The statistical
position of the trade offers few fresh features for remark,
but a further increase of ucarly 1,000,000 bushels may

be noted in the visible supply in America, which no<v
stauds at 30,500,000 bushels, against 19 250,000 bushels
at the corresponding time last year. According to mode-
rate computatious it is estimated that the requirements of
Great Britaiu and France will reach twelve million qrs.
between this and August, exclusive of the quantity now
on passage. Notwithstanding this, the trade continues
discouraging to holders, as with liberal stocks to select
from, and a bad sale for Hour, millers have shown uo
desire to do more than meet their present requirements.
According to the official estimate the surplus (ram the
American wheat crop for 1879 is put down at 22,400,000
qrs., of which some 13,000,000 qrs. have already been
exported. No doubt the position is statistically a sound
one for holders, seeing that large as available supplies are,
they are not in excess of estimated wants, but it is diffi-
cult to convince buyers of this in the actual presence of
good slocks, the quantity of Californian wheat afloat, and
the increased export movement from India, aud it will be
still more so, should the season prove favourable to the
growth and progress of the English crop. A develop-
ment of the forces now at work upon the trade may be
looked for in May or Junp, but before then it seems
scarcely likely that any marked rise can be looked for.
Under auy circumstauces it will be necessary for the
American " riug'' to hold over tbeir stocks for some time
longer if their enterprise is to result in ultimate success.
Meanwhile the yigautic attempt to force np the price of
the staple food of the iuhabitauts of the temperate zone
is regarded with little faith and less sympathy. The sales
of English wheat noted last week were 36.903 qrs., at
■45s. 7d., against 54,792 qrs. at 39s. Id. in the previous
year. The London average for the week ending January
22ud was 4Ss. Sd. on 671 qrs. The imports into the
United Kingdom for the week ending January 17th were
593,45a cwt. of wheat, and 228,510 cwt. of flour. Last
Monday's market was well atteuded by all classes of grain
buyers, and the moderate arrivals from abroad and the
return of cold weather tended to produce a steadier feel-
ing in tte wheat trade, but notwithstanding the improve-
ment ia the demand, the decline of the previous Friday
could not be recovered. Although lacking animation,
business at Mark Lane did not wear quite such a dis-
couraging aspect as that which had characterised it since
Christmas. The week's arrivals of English wheat
amounted to 3,164 qrs., and there was again a small
supply fresh np to market. Factors asked the full rates
of the preceding Monday, but could only obtain same for
the best lots. Some slight improvement was apparent in
the general condition of the offerings. The total imports
of foreign were 30,837 qrs., rather more than one-half of
which quantity was contributed by Germany. America
was represented by only 7,882 qrs., and the remainder of
the supply was from India and South Russia. At the
commencement of the market, millers bought sparingly
and with cautiou^but sales increased as the day wore ou,
and a steady consumptive demand was experienced^ albeit
at a decline of 6d. to Is., per qr. on the week, hilt the
trade closed in a decidedly better condition than, on tbe
previous Friday. The exports were 648 qrs., against 422
qrs. iu the preceding week. There were 4,360 qrs. of
hoiae-grown basley, and 13)145- qrs. of foreign. Malting
sorts were steady, but grinding desciiptions were difficult
to- move eieept at a slight reductiou. Maiae, of which
the imports were 5,313 qrs., and the exports 2.166 qrs.,
was iu rathsr better demand, but the quotations of the
previous Monday could not be exceeded, new mixed
American closing at 26s. 3d. per 4801b. ex shio*. The
imports of oats amounted to 75,179 qrs., and supply
being much iu excess of demand sales were only practi-
cable at a reduction of 3d. per qr. on the week. On
Wcduusdav there was uo further arrival of home-grown

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

141

wheat, but 35,2fiO qrs. of foreign were reported. The
market was very scantily attended, and the trade ruled
quiet f>r wheat and feeding- stuffs at nominally Monday's
prices. Business wa9 restricted owing to the thick fog
which prevailed during the day. Ou Friday the return
showed no arrival of English Wheat, but 42,920 qrs.
of foreign. The trade was exceedingly inactive, and
very few sales were made, either of Wheat or Spring Corn,
but there was little quotably alteration in prices. Maize
was dull but not quotably cheaper. The imports of Flcur
into the United Kingdom for the week ending January
17th were 228,510 cwt., against 215,811 cwt. in the
previous week. The receipts into London were 18,996
sacks of English, and 25,1)67 sacks and 2,9S5 barrels of
foreign. Country-made, although very dull, has not given
way to any quotable extent, but American sorts must be
noted Is. per sack and 6d. per barrel cheaper on the week,
supplies continuing far in excess of demand. Hungarian
and Baltic flour has also been difficult to sell except at
less money. The week's arrivals of beans were 56,203 cwt.
and of peas 24.G62 cwt., showing a decrease of 48,779
cwt. on the former, and 7,153 cwt. on the latter. But both
these articles have met a quiet demand, and except in the
case of Canadian peas, which have given way Is. per
qr., little alteration has occurred in prices. The week's
deliveries of malt were 18,049 qrs. and the exports 1,313
qrs. There has been more business passing in this branch
of the trade, and with an improved demand last week's
quotations have been fully maintained. With a view to
supply their wants during the approaching spring, country
dealers have purchased agricultural seeds with rather more
freedom of late. Fine samples of red clover, both Eng-
lish and \merican have been in fair request, and full rates
have been obtainable for these, as well as for white
clover and ahike, but trefoil has met with little attention.
French ryegrass is scarce and easily saleable at the late
advance, but Irish seed, although plentiful, is of po^r
quality, and difficult to place. Tares are firm and held
for more money, but canary and linseed have favoured
buyers. Provincial trade has remained in a dull and list,
lees state, most of the country markets quoting wheat Is.
to 2s. per qr. lower at the beginning of the week. Some
slight return of strength has since been noticeable, al-
though in accompanied, for the most part, by any improve-
ment in prices. Supplies have in some instances been on
a more liberal scale, but the offerings have consisted
principally of inferior produce. At Liverpool on Tuesday
the market was well attended, and a healthier tone was
exhibited for wheat, for which an improved demand was
experienced at an advance of Id. per cental. Maize, how-
ever, met a slow sale at l£d. per cental less money, owing
to the larger American shipments. There was no change
in barley or oats, but beans and peas were both rather

cheaper. The
wheat, and 23,000

week's imports included 46,000 qrs. of
qrs. of maize. At Newcastle the

wheat trade has been firm but quiet at fully late rates,
while flour has slightly improved in value, and spring
corn remains unchanged. At Leeds there has
been a rather better demand for all articles at about
former currencies, but at Hull the turn of prices
has been against sellers, for both English and foreign
Wheat.

The following are the reports from The Mark Lane
Express during the past month : —

Monday, January 5.

The arrivals of grain-laden vessels at the ports of call
during the past week have been moderate. The firmness
recently noticed in Wheat ha3 given way to a quieter
feeliug, and early in the week prices decliued Cd. to Is.
per qr., but since then a steadier tone has prevailed, and
part of the decline has been recovered. Maize has been

in less demand at a reduction of 6.1. to 9d. per qr. The
inquiry for Wheat to arrive has been inactive, although
sellers have somewhat moderated their views, but th<;
American offers are still above a working level. Maize
has ruled Hat, with a declining tendency, and sellers of
the new crop of mixed American have come forward at
26s. to 26s. f>d. per 4801b. to U.K., January -February
shipment. Birley remains unchanged.

The arrivals iuto London during the past week have
been : English Wheat, 8.366 qrs.; foreign, 74 819 qrs. Ex-
ports, 1,182 qrs. The supply of English Wheat at
market this morning was again very moderate, and many
samples were more or less out of condition. The trade
was very dull, but in the few sales made last Monday's
prices were repeated. Of foreign the arrivals were on a
liberal scale, aud with an average attendance of millers a
quiet retail demand was experienced at barely late rates.
Country Flour, 17,507 sacks; foreign, 39,078 sacks,
and 32,991 barrels. The heavy arrivals from abroad
weighed ou the trade, which ruled dull for both sacks and
barrels at nominally last Monday's quotations.

English Barley, 1,768 qrs. ; Scotch, 1.252 qrs. ,
foreign, 10,594 qrs. Fine malting sorts were firm and
fully as dear, but inferior and grinding qualities met a
slow sile at last week's prices.

Malt English, 9,594 qrs. ; Scotch, 488 qrs. ; Irish, 405
qrs. Exports, 1,101 qrs. There was no quotable change
in this article for which the demand contiuues very in-
active.

Maize, 43,286 qrs. Exports, 209 qrs. Under pressure
of the increased arrivals, business was quiet, sales being
effected with difficulty at a decline of Is. per qr. on the
week.

English Oats, 448 qrs. ; Scotch, 32 qrs.; foreign,
32,446 qrs. With lighter imports than of late, an im-
proved demand was experienced for Russian descriptions
at 3d. to 6d. per qr. more money, while Swedes barely
maintained late rates.

English Beans, 644 qrs.; foreign, 8,335 qrs. A dull
trade, without alteration in values.

Linseed, 28,269 qrs. In moderate request at previous
currencies.

Monday, January 12.

The arrivals of Grain laden vessels at ports of call dur-
ing the past week have been moderate, and despite the
conflicting advices cabled from America the tone of the
off-coast grain trade has been decidedly quiet. Wheat has
given way Is. to Is. 6d. per qr., with only a limited
demand, but Maize has met an improved inquiry, albeit at
a reduction of Is. per qr. Wheat for shipment has also
ruled quiet, and buyers still hold aloof although there are
sellers at Is. to Is. 6d. per qr. less money. Maize has
been neglected aud Is. per qr.- lower ; and Barley remains
unaltered.

The arrivals into London during the past week have
been :— Euglish Wheat, 4,012 qrs.; foreign, 37,780.
qrs. Exports, 422 qrs. The supply of English Wheat
fresh up to market this morning was agaiu small, and
most of the samples were in defective condition. Busi-
ness was exceedingly dull, and in the few sales made
prices gave way Is. per qr. Of foreign the arrivals were
also light, but there was but little activity in the trade.
Red winter American was fid. per qr. cheaper, and
Russian varieties gave way Is. per qr. on the week, but in
white descriptions there was no quotable chauze.

Country Flour, 18,829 sacks , foreign, 17,828 sacks
and 7,480 barrels. There was very little business done,
and no alteration took place in the value of either sacks
or barrels.

English Barley, 1,972 qrs. ; Scotch, 3,307 qrs. ; foreign,
1,015 qrs. Sales progressed slowly, but last week's

Ul

THE FARMER'S -MAGAZINE.

prices were repeated for both malting and grinding de-
scriptions.

Malt : English, 17 743 qrs. ; Scotch, 892 qrs. : Irish,
160 qrs. Exports, 443 qrs. A dull trade at nominally
late rates.

Maize, 7.958 qrs. Fxports, 107 qrs. A further de-
cline of fully Is. per qr. has taken place since last
Monday, mixed American being now obtainable at 26s.
to 26s." 3d. per 4S01b. ex ship.

English Oats, 888 qrs. ; Scotch, 52 qrs. ; Foreign,
33,229 qrs. The trade was quiet but steady, and no
change took place in prices, except in the case of Swedes,
for which sellers obtained 3J. per qr. more money.

English Beans, 971 qrs. ; foreign, 1,442 qrs. The
demand was light, and in the few sales made previous
rates were maintained.

Linseed, 7,981 qrs. Quiet and without alteration in

value.

Monday, January 19.

With moderate arrivals at ports of call during the past
week, a fair business has been done in Wheat cargoes at
a decline of about 6d. to Is. per qr. on red Winter and
Spring Americans, and Is. to is. 6d. per qr. on Ghirka
sorts. Maize has sold steadily at barely last week's
prices. Wheat for shipment has attracted very little
attention, although sellers have been more inclined to
meet buyer's views. The American offers have come at
lower prices, but the quantity offered has been limited.
Maize has met a moderate inquiry at a decline of 6d.
to 9d. per qr., while Barley has also given way to a
similar extent.

The arrivals into London during the past week have
been :- English Wheat, 3,164 qrs. ; foreign, 30,83? qrs.
Exports, 648 qrs. This morning's supply of English
Wheat was again small, and the samples were very
variable both in quality and condition. The trade was
decidedly quiet, and last Monday's prices could only be
obtained for the best parcels. Of foreign the arrivals
were light, and a slightly improved inquiry was met at
last Friday's currencies, which indicated a decline of about
Is. per qr. on the week.

Country Flour 18 996 sacks. Foreign 25,967 sacks,
and 2,985 brls. There was very little business done, and
a slight reduction wes necessary to effect sales.

English Barley, 2,487 qrs.; Scotch, 1,723 qrs ; Irish,
150 qrs. Foreign, 13,145 qrs. Malting qualities were
quiet, but unaltered in value, while grinding sorts ruled
the turn in buyers' favnnr.

Malt.- English, 17,564 qrs. ; Scotch, 485 qrs. Exports,
1,313 qrs. No quotable change took place in values, but
there were some signs of an improving demand. Maize,
5,313 qrs. Exports, 2,166 qrs. With coutinued light
arrivals from abroad, a steadier tone succeeded the recent
depression, unaccompanied, however, by any actual im-
provement in prices.

English Oats, 898 qrs. ; Scotch, 10 qrs. ; foreign,
75,179 qrs. Exports, 81 qrs. Under pressure of liberal
imports the trade ruled dull aud sales could only be
effected a* a decline of 3d. to 6d. perqr.

English Beans, 850 qrs. ; foreign, 305 qrs. A slow
sale at nominally late rates.

Linseed, 3,257 qrs. Dull and unaltered in valoe.

Monday, January 26.

The grain market early in the week showed firmness in
all departments, but since then the sudden and consider-
able decline in Wheat cabled from America has paralysed
the trade. At the same tune it must be remembered that
for some time past the American prices have been several
shillings above a shipping point, aud the above decline,
although considerable, is not enough to stimulate demand.
The arrivals of grain-laden vessels at ports of call have

been small, and the demand for Wheat has ben quiet at a
somewhat irreuulardeclineof Is. to 2s. perqr. Maize has re-
ceded abnil 6d. p»-rqr.,iiotwithstaodingits scarcity. Wheat
for shipment has been very inactive, although offered at
Is. to 2s. per qr. less money, while Maue has been slow
at a decline of 6d. per qr., and Barley remained un-
changed.

The arrivals into London during the past wfek have
been : English Wheat, 3,439 qrs. ; foreign, 54,997 qrs.
Exports. 921 qrs. There was a very small supply of
English Wheat at market this morning, and sales pro-
gressed slowly at a decline of Is. to 2s. per qr. ; of foreign
the arrivals were fair, and with an average attendance of
millers the trade ruled quiet at last Friday's currencies,
which indicated a decline of Is. per qr. on the week.

Country Flour, 17,981 sacks; foreign, 16,019 sacks
and 5,588 barrels. Under the influence of the depressed
state of the Wheat trade prices receded 6d. per barrel and
Is. per sack.

English Barley 3,036 qrs. ; Scotch 2,518 qrs. ; foreign
10,961 qrs. Business was inactive, but there was no
quotable alteration in either malting or grinding descrip-
tions.

Malt, English, 22.845 qrs. ; Scotch 200 qrs. ; Irish
500 qrs. ; Exports, 1,841 qrs. The trade was not so
active as of late, and in some instances a slight reductiou
was necessarv to effect sales.

Maize, 9,782 qrs. A steady tone prevailed, and sellers
succeeded iu obtaining 3d. per qr. more money.

English O.ts, 721 qrs.; Scotch. 10 qrs.; foreign,
60,961 qrs. Exports, 376 qrs. The trade ruled firm at
last Monday's prices for all except Revals, which realised
an occasional advance of 3d. per qr.

English Beans, 546 qrs.; foreign, 117 qrs- Exports,
278 qrs. In moderate request at about late rates.

Linseed, 25,345 qrs. Unchanged.

PRICES CURRENT OF BRITISH GRAIN AND FLOUR
IN MARK LANE.

Shilling" per Quarter.

WHEAT, Essex ft Kent, white old — to — new 40 tc 69

„ ,, red old — — new 41 53

Norfolk. Linclnsh., and Yorksh. red old — new 46 51

BARLEY Chevaiernew 40 6*

Grinding 35 to 42 Distilling 3* 48

MALT, pale new62 to 71 old brown 50 52

RYE 32 36

OATS, English, feed 23 to 25 Totatn 25 29

Scotch, feed — — Potato — —

Irish. feed,whito26 23 Fine — —

Ditto black 25 26 Potato — —

BEANS, Mazagan .. 31 37 Ticks 35 33

Harrow — — Pigeon, old 42 60

PEAS, white boilers 31 3S Maple 38 to40 Grey 35 :<7

FLOUR, per sack of 2«01b., town households 11 60

Best country households 42 43

Norfolk and Suffolk 38 40

FOREIGN GRAIN.

t hilling* per Qu»i ter.

WHEAT, Danzig, mixed 60 to 62 extra — 6J

Konigsnerg 59 62 extra — —

Ro-tock 56 60 old — —

Pomera, Meckberg, and Uckermrk red 68 68

Ghirka 64 to 55. ..Russian, hard, 51 to 64,Saxonska 54 ?6

Danish aud Holstein, red — — ...red American 65 58

Chilian, white, 00... Ca1ifornian58 61... Australian 68 60

East Indian, No. 1 Club white 51 to 65 ; No. 2 ... 51 6 J

Old. white 48 to 60; red 46 to -18; hard 46 43

BARLEY, grinding, 25 to 26 distilling 33 41

OATS, Dutch, brewing and Polands 22 to 2» feed 21 24

Danish and Swedish, feed 18 to 21 ..Straslund ... 22 24

CanadaOOtoOO Rigal8tol9 Petersburg... 18 22

BEAN.3, Frieslandaud Holstein — —

I alian 37 to 39 ..Egyptian 38 39

PEAS, Canadian 36 37. ..Prussian 37 40

MAIZE, Black Ssa 30 32. ..Mixed American 26 27

FLOUR, per sack, French 36 44. ..Sp inish. p. sack — —

Hungarian, per sack. ..45 60... American barrel 26 30

TARES, Spring 38 40

Printed by 11azf.il, Watson, & Yiney, 265, Strand, London

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

C O N T E N T S .

FEBRUARY, 1880.

Plate.— PRIORY PRINCESS.

The Earl of Fife's Lease . . .

The Cariuage of Animals by Rail
Banbury Horse Show ....
Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., on The United States
Chambers of Agriculture
Food Supply from America

MR. J. W. Barclay. M.P., and the West Aberdeenshikk E
The W heatfields of America .
Obituary .....

The United States and Canada Compared
Colorado .....

Farmers' Alliances in Australia

Results of the New Law on Weights and Measures
Protection in the United States and Australia
Agricultural Table Talk

Annual Report cn Manures, Seeds, and Oilcake.
Taxation and the Landowners
American Dairy Produce

The Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act . .

A Norfolk Man Farming in Ohio
Meat Preservation and Distribution
Canadian Farming as Adapted for Gentlemen of Smal
Tithes and the Corn Averages .
Potato Cultivation in Yorkshire .

Destruction of Birds of Prey
The Farmers' Alliance i no the Land Laws
Canada as a Field for Farme1 s .
The Next Royal Show ....
A Farmers' Conference at Launceston
Grain Sales .....
The Duke of Richmond and Gordon and His Tenantry
Various Notes .....
Contagious Animal Diseases
The Present Depression in English Agriculture: Its Re

Causes .....
Mr Mschi's Balance Sheet eor 1879
Review of the Corn Trade

Capita

Assumed

05
70
72
73
75
78
79
80
80
81
8 2
83
84
86
SG, 125
87
89
89
90
1 13

114

115

117

118

12l

122

124

126

127

123

123
129
131

132
13d
140

CHAMPAGNES.

GRAND VIN DE L'EMPEREUR

TRADE if fw R MARK.

NONPAREIL.

Splendid Wine equal to the Finest Brands, at half the usual Price.

Sole Importers of the Celebrated

GRAND VIN DE CHAMPAGNE

TRADE JBH MARK.

ROUSSEAU AND CO., REIMS.

MADEIRA

Of the FINEST QUALITY, in Quarter Casks and in Bottle and every
other description of Wines at the

LOWEST POSSIBLE PRTCE,

CAN ALWAYS BE HAD OF

TUXFORD AND CO.,

WINE MERCHANTS,

48, Fenehureh Street London, E.C.

Established 1847.
SAMPLES ON APPLICATION.

THE

ROYAL FARMERS' AND GENERAL FIRE LIFE
AND HAIL INSURANCE OFFICE.

ESTABLISHED 840

TO INSXJKE AGAINST LOSSES BY

FIRE AND HAIL STORMS,

AND TO GRANT

I N S URANCES ON LI V E S .

DIRECTORS

Chairman— ALFRED DEN1SON, Esq., 6, Albemarle Street, Piccadilly.
Deputy-Chairman — B. P. SHEARER, Esq., 47, Gloucester-place, Portmau Square.
Tluinas Henry Burroughes, Esq., 16, Lower Berkeley Richard L. Loveland, Esq., 4, Hare Court, Temple.

.Street. John Reddish, Esq., 9, Highbury New Park.

William Clutton, Esq., 7, Clifton Villas, Penge. Major F. Anderson Stebbing, 4, Clevelaud Gardens,

A.J. Duff Filer, Esq., 10, Aberdeen Park, Highbury. Castle Hill, Ealing.

E. J. Hawker, Esq., 37, Cadogan Place, Sloane Street

FIRE. — Insurances at moderate rates.

LIFE. — Insurances on equitable terms. Profits divided every five years.
HAIL. — Crops insured against Hail Storms at 5d. per acre.
LOSSES.— Settled promptly and liberally.

AMPLE CAPITAL AND LAEGE RESERVES.

Prospectuses and Reports may be obtained of the Secretary, JOHN SHARP, 3, Norfolk Street, Strand
London, W.C., or of the Agents.

J. C. NESBIT & SON,

Analytical, Agricultural, and Consulting Chemists

(Manager A. ANTHONY NESBET, 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, Graeeehureh Street, E.C,

A list of fees sent on application-

No. 3, Vol. LVI.J MARCH, 1880. [Third Seribb.

THE

FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

AND

MONTHLY JOURNAL

OP

THE AGRICULTURAL INTEREST.

TO THE

FARMERS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.

LONDON :
PUBLISHED BYROGERSON AND TUXFORD, 265, STRAND.

PRICE TWO SHILLINGS.

HAZBLL. WATSON, * TINBY.] [PRINTERS, 265, STRAND,

J

IMPORTANT TO FLOCKMASTERS.

THOMAS BIGG,

Agricultural & Veterinary Chemist,

By Appointment to his late Royal Highness
The Prince Consort, K.G.,

LEICESTER HOUSE, GREAT DOYER 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
destroying the Tick, Lice, and all other insects injurious 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
Oontributing to the jreneral health of the animal.

Prepared only by Thomas Bigg, Chemist, 4c., at his Manu-
factory as above, and sold as follows, although any other
quantity may be had, if required: —

1 lb. for 20 sheep, pr

6 1b.

30

81b.

40

10 1b.

60

20 1b.

100

301b.

150

401b.

200

601b.

250

601b.

300

801b.

400

loo lb.

500

ce, jar included £0

0

0

(Cask and measure
included)

3
4

0 6
0 10

0 15

1 0
1 3
1 7

1 17

2 5

Should any Flockmaster prefer boiling the Composition, it
will be equally effective.

MOST IMPORTANT CERTIFICATE.

From Mr. Hbbbpath, the celebrated Analytical Chemist:—

Bristol Laboratory, Old Park, January 18th, 1861.

Sir, — I have submitted your Sheep Dipping Composition to

analysis, and find that the ingredients are well blended, and

the mixture neutral. If it is used according to the directions

gir en, I feel satisfied, that while it effectually destroys vermin,

it will not injure the hair roots (or "yolk") in the akin, the

fleece, or the carcaee. I think it deserves the nomexm
testimonials published. I am, Sir, yours respectfully,

William Hbbapaih, Sen., F.U.S., 4c, 4c,
To Mr. Thomas Bigg Professor of Chemistry.

Bicester House, Great Lover-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 whieh 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 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 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 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-poisowous 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 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 Specific proved itself an invaluable remedy, for in
three weeks the Sheep were quite cure<l ; and I am happy to
say the young lambs are doing remarxably well at present.
In conclusion, I believe it to be the safest and best remedy
now in use. " I remain, dear Sir.

"For JOHN TINGET, Esq.,

" To Mr. Thomas Bigg. ' " R. RENNET.

B2&" 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 suck
as the Tick, Lice, and Scab Parasites— creatures eo tenacious
of life. Such advertised preparations must be wholly useless,
or they are not what they are represented to be.

DIPPING APPARATUS «'4, £5, £4, 4 £3.

THE

MARK LANE EXPRESS

AND

AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL

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.

V

\

e

-

5

•tl

s.

s

V

<JSI

ft!

V

^

:

144

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

which was 13*9 bushels. We notice that Mr. Dun
says of the average yield per acre that " it oscillates
between 13 and 14 bushels." Tfrs is an error, as
the oscillation is between 10 and 139 bushels ; for
although there has not been an average quite so
low as 10 bushels since 1866, there was one of 10-4
bushels as recently as 1876. The mean average
for sixteen years ending with 1878 was 12.2 bushels
per acre, as stated in the official Annual Report
for 1878, and it was the same for each of the two
periods of eight years of the sixteen, thus showing
that the yield has not increased, in spite of the
occupation of an immense area of virgin soil. It
is the more surprising that Mr. Dun made this
mistake, because the Annual Report is quoted from
in a letter which appeared in the Times of December
13th, written, if we are not mistaken, by Mr. Dun
himself. The mistake is the more important be-
cause throughout his paper Mr. Dun assumes that
the average yield is about 13^ bushels. Even this
quantity would be considered a poor average yield,
one of the worst of English farms in the worst of
harvests, such as the last. It would be interesting
to ascertain whether the small yield of wheat in
America is partly to be accounted for by the small
quantity of seed sown. We are surprised to learn
from Mr. Dun that it i? only from 1 1 to 1£ bushels
per acre, which is very thin seeding in a country
which grows a large proportion of spring wbeat.
On our best wheat soils in this country 1^ bushels
is sufficient for autumn wheat got in early ; but for
wheat sown in spring few farmers would be rash
enough to put in less than 2 bushels. It has some-
times been said that what British wheat-growers
have to compete with is, not the States which grow
such small crops as to bring down the average to
its low level, but those vhich produce, one year
with another, a mean average of from 15 to 18
bushels. We cannot agree with such a statement,
because if the exhausted lands of the United States
are withdrawn from the cultivation of wheat, the
total produce will be less than it otherwise would
be, and if owing to the increased cultivation of rich
virgin soils it does not actually diminish, it will
diminish in proportion to the increase of popula-
tion. Whether the farmers of the Eastern and
Middle States can make it pay to keep up the fer-
tility of their wheat-growing soils by the use of
manures, or by the feeding or ploughing in of green
crops, remains to be seen.

Mr. Dun estimates the cost of producing wheat
in the Western States at about 40s. per acre.
This seems very little ; but when the small yield is
borne in mind, it is quite enough. With an acre-
able return of 54s., yielding a profit of 14s. which
we are told is a fair average for recent years,
a farmer of 160 or even 320 acres would be a
long time in getting rich. As a matter of fact,
more money has been made in the United States
by getting farms into cultivation and selling them
after a few years than by farming itself. Neverthe-
less these small American farmers manage to live
pretty comfortably and save a little money, though
not by wheat-growing alone. Great wheat farms
have not been considered profitable, though during
the last two years the good crops have enabled
some of their owners to show large returns. It

will be about time in the coming season, accord-
ing to the usual course of things" for the grass-
hoppers to devastate the crops. In that event the
large profits obtainel on large farms from the
great yield and tolerably high prices of the crop
row being sold will be reduced, if not entirely ab-
sorbed. Although Mr. Dun's estimate of the price
which must be obtained in this country for
American wheat, in order to remunerate growers
and middle men, is higher than that of some other
writers, we believe he is right in his conclusions.
The pi ice he names is from 40s. to 42s. per qr ,
against 36s., and even less, as estimated by the'
writers referred to. We have often urged that
American farmers could not grow wheat to sell in
this country profitably at less than 40s. per quarter
in a good year, and we are glad to have Mr. Dun's
testimony to the same effect. Many people seem
to think that farmers in the United States will keep
on growing wheat whether they get a profit or not,
the theory being that they can live out of the pro-
duce of their farms, and must sell their surplus
for what they can get. We do not believe in the
continuance of wheat-production in increasing
quantities — which is necessary for keeping down
prices to the level we have supposed — under such
circumstances. Especially if the revival of trade
and manufactures in America continues, we shall
expect to see the increase of the wheat area in that
continent cease, unless prices keep nearly up to
their present level. The increase in the wbeat
area of 1879 over that of the preceding year was
only about 437,000 acres, whereas between 1877
and 1878 the increase was, in round numbers
5,830,000 acres, being all the greater because the
crop of 1877 was less than that of 1876 by
1,35,000,000 acres. The small increase in acreage
in 1879, which was a surprise to most people, was
probably owing in some degree to the low prices
of 1878, as for the great harvest of that year
American farmers obtained comparatively small re-
turns. Any readers whowilltake thetroubletocom-
pare the table showingthewheatacreageoftheUnited
States which they will find on page 3 of our issue
for January 19th, with the table of average prices in
England which was priuted on the last page of our
Supplement for the following week, will
see that there is striking proportionateness in
increased acreage following a year of high prices,
and vice yersd. There is some evidence in
this, we think, to show that American farmers are
very sensitive to the price which they get for their
crops, and that they are not at all likely to keep
on increasing their acreage of wheat if they do not
get a fair profit for growing that crop. There are,
of course, other causes which influence the
quantity of wheat grown, such as a bad seed-time,
or an unfavourable winter leading to the ploughing
up of a portion of the crop. There are also othe^
causes conducing to the opening up of fresh land,
such as the lack of sufficient employment in the
great towns, and diminished profits in trade. All
that we contend for is that the price in one year
exercises considerable influence over the wheat
acreage of the next, and that what we may term
the machine theory, as applied to American
farmers, is not a sound one. We agree with Mr.
Dun, then, in thinking that, unless the cost of

THE PARMER'S MAGAZINE.

145

transit should be considerably diminished, there
is no reason to fear that the average price of wheat
in this country will often be below 40s. a quarter,
or very often as low as that. One year with
another, he thinks the British farmer will have to
grow wheat to sell at about 45s. per quarter, where
he grows it at all, and he is right to urge the
necessity of allowing the straw to be sold with the
grain, in order to help the returns from the
crop.

If Mr. Dun was considered by some of his
audience to have spoken cheering words with re-
spect to the prospects of wheat-growers in this
country, he was far more conforting when he came
to talk about meat. In the production of mutton
he thinks that British graziers can hold their own
against Americans, and it was not within the scope
of his paper to refer to probable competition from
Australia. Even with respect to beef he had
nothing worse to predict than that it would have to
be produced here at 7£d. or 7d. per lb. — prices, it
will be observed, higher than those now current
for middling beef by the carcase. He does not
seem to fear that American graziers can send beef
here to sell at less than 6d. per lb. , and he concludes
that home-grown beef will command from Id. to
2d. per lb. more than American. We are less
sanguine than Mr. Dun as to future competition
in meat; but we cannot on the present occasion
enter into detail upon the subject.

It is desirable that every British farmer should
have an opportunity of reading Mr. Dun's paper,
and as, unfortunately, every farmer does not see
either an agricultural journal or the papers issued
by the Farmers' Club, we suggest that the valuable
contribution to a subject now uppermost in the
thoughts of the agricultural community should be
published in pamphlet form and sold at a low price.
There would undoubtedly be a large demand
for it.

AN ILLINOIS STOCK FARM.

Probably a brief description of a grazing farm in
Illinois may be interesting to your readers. Mr. Tom
Ponting, of Stonington Park, Christian County (as he
was christened " Tom" he objects to be called Thomas),
owns some twelve hundred acres, and rents twelve hun-
dred more, adjoining. He has been a feeder and dealer in
cattle for thirty years, and a breeder about ten years.
He has now about fifty head of Shorthorns of various
families. Although the herd is not sufficiently uniform
to be called a good bull-breeding herd, there are many
good animals in it. These Shorthorns are fed upon the
pastures, with corn on the stalks, which is drawn from
the fields in which it grew. There are about 1,000 shucks
in the field at this date, January 6th. When this is all
fed he will feed from his wheat straw and corn in the ear,
giving them plenty of the former, so that the cattle can
feed on the best and lie on the remainder. He will con-
sume during the winter 25,000 busbels of corn, 2,000
bushels of oats, and 1,000 bushels of bran. He has now
on the place, in addition to the Shorthorns, six Hereford
heifers and a bull. He has also a lot of Montana cattle
of 150 head, purchased iu the Union Stock Yards, Chi-
cago. After travelling 1.500 miles as stockers they
averaged at that time 1,363 lb., and cost 355 dollars per
hundred, delivered home in June. Although the summer
was very dry, they did tolerably well on their scanty pas-

tures, although they were coarse. Had the grass been more
abundaut they would have gone to market in January.
Under the circumstances they will have to remain until
March to get ripe. They have corn in their cribs con-
stancy to resort to according to inclination, and they
consume a little over half a bushel a day each on an
average. They do not consume any more by this course
of feeding than if fed in small quantities three times a
day, as, when satisfied, they do not remain at the trough
to blow over their feed, but lie down to rest, or feed
a little on the wheat straw. Mr. Ponting says
corn is his cheapest feed, and the more they eat the
more flesh they put on. The cob being eaten with
the corn adds to its bulk, and is equivalent to hay. The
winters are mild in this part of Illinois, and cattle do
better under such treatment than in stalls, and fed on
ground feed. As there is a hog or more to each animal,
to eat up the dropping and scattered corn, nothing is
wasted, and the principal labour is done with the teams,
the economy of which is a desideratum and where the
profit lies. Expensive feeding would not pay the grazier,
even for the English market, at present prices of beef,
expense, and risk of transportation. When these cattle
get to the Chicago market in March, they will average
about 1,850 lb. live weight, while the hogs will yield
about 150 lb. of pork to each steer. There are 250
younger and smaller steers of native production, which
have been fed on corn from the shuck in two separate lots.
They are on the pastures on more limited allowance, and
will be fed on corn until July or August, when they will
be sent to market, if the prospect is encouraging for
summer beef. The hogs are all ringed, and follow these
cattle as before. Spring water is abundant in most of the
lots, and the land is equal for grazing purposes to the
feeding soil of Buckinghamshire. Mr. Pontiug thinks it
well adapted for the dairy, and believes that butter or
cheese might be produced to advantage. The twelve-
hundred-acre farm he rents^is about equal to his own, with
the exception of the buildings, having an excellent orchard,
with plenty of valuable timber, fine springs, and rich old
sod, which can be purchased at 30 dols. per acre. Mr.
Ponting thinks that a better dairy farm could not be
found in America. It is 80 miles" from St. Louis, 180
from Chicago, and has a railroad running through it to
both places. He has 500 sheep, which he has been breed-
ing up from the common sheep of the country for many
years, using Cotswold rams. Many are of the Cots-
wold character, and cut last year about nine pounds of
unwashed wool. He feeds them in the pastures, on 3hock
corn in winter, will shear them about the first week ia
May, and send the wethers to market fat. Mrs. Ponting
raises an abundance of poultry, the eggs and bodies of
which are consumed in the house by the family and the
numerous friends who visit them.

Mr. Ponting was born at Itadstock, Somersetshire, and
left England in 1847. He has been dealiug in cattle
ever since, and has had many ups and downs, but is now
settled down on his own soil free from encumbrance, his
stock all paid for. He says he has met with many cloudy
days, but the majority have been sunny. He attributes
much of his success to the help of his wife. — W. II.

SOTHAM.

Coleridre when a yonng man was lecturing to a critical
audience, and was violently hissed on account of some of his
novel propositions, but nothing daunted, he retorted : "When
a cold stream of truth is poured on red hot prejudices, no
wonder they hiss."

M2

146

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Jfarnurs' Clubs.

IXWORTH.

THE EFFECT OF THE EDUCATION ACT ON THE AGRICUL-
TURAL INTEREST.

A meeting of this Club was held on .February 6, the subject
for discussion being " The eff-ct of the Elucatioa Acts upon
the Agricultural Interest," introduced by Mr. Rowland Holt
Wilson, of Bury. The chair was occupied by Mr. B. B.
Hunter Rodwell, M.P.

The Chairman briefly introduced

Mr. R. H. Wilson, who read the following paper : —

In introducing the subject for discussion at this Club I do
so with considerable diiti 'ence and under some difficuly.
With diffidence, because I a,u conscious that there are many in
this Club who understand this important sobjec* better than I
do, and are more intimately connected with it. With difficulty,
owing to the short notice I have had, and the little time I have
been .able to give to it. I will not attempt to do more than
give an outline of the subject, and offer such suggestions.
There is no doubting the fact that this country has made up
its mind to give all classes the opportunity of obtaining
education, and they have, I think, wisely gone further aud
decided to enforce it. That education is an advantage to the
community at large has been a recognised fact in some of the
European countries and America for a long period, and in
this they are in advance of us. lean understand our being
behind a new and rich country like America in this instance,
but do not see why we should be behind any European country
like Germany, as is undoubtedly the case. Previous to the
passing of the Act of 1870 the education of the class in whose
special interest the Act was passed was affected by a voluntary
system, assisted by annual grants from the Government fur
results ascertained by their Inspectors. Too much cannot be
said in praise of the education so carried on, in the sacrifice it
entailed in many instances on its principal supporter", and the
really good work it did. The Education &.ct of 1870 found
the country insufficiently provided with means of education,
and a system of raising the necessary funds for and o* carry-
ing out a general educ-ition -was instituted with the following
result : — Voluntary and Board schools have been erected in
many parishes, voluntary schools in obedience to the declared
intention of the Act being also assisted to meet the require-
ments of the Act. In 1869-70, before the Act of 1870 came
into force, the Voluntary system had provided school accommo-
dation for 1,765,944 children, and had an average attendance
of 1,0(12, 999 children. In 1878-79 the accommodation supplied
by the two systems was —

Provided tilaces. Average attendance.
Voluntary ... 3,052,173 1,846,119

Board ... 890,16* 559,078

3,9 42,337 2,405,197

It will thus be seen that the Voluntary system is a much more
powerful factor thau the Board School system. A comparison
of the cost of the two systems is still more remarkable. Previ-
ous to 1870 voluutary schools had raised for building purposes
about eight millions, and since then the amount has been in-
creased to thirteen millions, of which the Government have
provided £1,761,S63. The average cost per scholar has been
12s. The School Boards have spent ten and a half millions
in buildine, and the average cost per scholar is 12 guineas, as
against 12s., and then the amount borrowed has to be repaid
out of the rates. Still, although the difference of cost between
the two systems 13 so great, it is difficult to see how the in-
tention of the Act of 1870 could have been carried out other
wise than by some such institution as a School Board. I
cannot, however, shut my eyes to the fact that more money
• has been spent in architectural design in many buildings than
the circumstances of the. case justified. Prom a perusal of the
various Acts passed from 1S70 to the present time, and the
Education Code of 1876, it would seem that the following are
the regulations in foroe as to the attendance of children at
school and their proficiency. For the present year, 1880, every
child— a child meaning a boy or girl between five and 14 years
of age — must, in order to justify his being employed, have at-
tended 250 times in not more than two schools during each of the
four previous years, aud be able to pass the 3rd Standard, which

means re\ding with intelligence, writing a sentence s'owly
dictated from some book, and copybooks (showing small-baud
capital letters and figures), notation and numeratioi up to one
million, long division, and compound addition and subtraction,
(monev). After 1830 the attendance must be 250 times iu
not more than two schools for each of five years, whether con-
secutive or not, aud, for proficiency, Standard IV. is fixed,
which is a slightly higher educational test. " For the purpose
of payment of fees," otherwise obtaining the Government
grant, the standard of attendance for 13S0 is 350 tor each of
the previous four years ; after that the same attendance must
be mad^ for five years after, and iu each case Standard IV
must be passed. Thus it will be seen that " for the purpose of
p lyraent of Tees ' a child musf attend 100 dsys more in the
year than he need for the purpose of employment, but as loss
of grant means extra charge on the rates, the attendance must
practically be 350 days a year after 138\ The Government
grant, on examination, does not exc ed 17s. 6d. per head, with
extra allowances for special subjects, which I believe are not
commonly obtained. * The agricultural interest " may be
sai I to consist of three classes, landowner, tenant, and labourer.
The Acts profess to proceed on the basis that each of these
classes shall contribute directly or indirectly to the cost of
education and the community at large other than these classes
contribute their quota too. With regard to the advantage of this
improved education to these classes, and the community at large,
the following ideas occur to me : — The land-owners and tenants,
intelligent members of society, have a large property stike,
aud it must be more to their advantage to be surrounded by a
large and lower class more or less educated, and able to decide
for themselves matters affecting their own interests, than to
have the same class guided and influenced to a great extent by
men, who, either from a wrong or exaggerated view of the
matter or for private or political purposes, iuten'.ionally
mislead them. Then again, as regards the tenant, iu very
many cases he is a small holder, and cannot afford to send his
children to expensive schools as boarders or otherwise, and
the existence of a sehool in his ewn parish, where a cheap aud
sound, and, for his purpose, sufficient education can be obtained
is a great advantage. As regards the labourer, it is of immense
advantage to him to be able to compete in the labour market
of the world, where, without education, many of the openings
at present presentiug themselves to him would be shut — for
both in our English towns, and in America, aud in ourolonies,
he has to compete with men who have received iu many
instances a better education than himself. The better
education of the labourer may lead to his increased thrift, as
suggested by Lord Derby in his recent admirable speech on
Savings Banks, and his lordship shows how this is a practical
advantage to the commuuity at large iu helping to
discharge our immense National Debt. With the funds to
employ, and the increased intelligence to nse them for his ad-
vantage and the benefit of the community, why should he not
become a small proprietor, which many consider the panacea
for the present agricultural difficulties ? I am inclined to think
small proprietorship will be adopted to a limited extent in most
districts, only the labouring classes must fit themselves for it.
Educntion assists a class in making its wauts known, and
surely it must aid the governing powers to know from the class
itself its requirements. It is admitted that on tlie whole the
Education Acts have worked well, but at the same time they
undoubtedly require some amendment as regards the agricul-
tural interest. In this part of my subject, I would start with
the hypothesis that whatever injures one of the classes of the
agricultural interest affects the others. We have seen that
from the age of 5 to 14 a child is subject to the provisions of
the 'Education Acts. Still if the child can pass a certain
standard at the age of 10, that child can be employed in labour
on the land —the effect of this will be that most of them will
be at libeity at that age. As regards the child, I fear this
works to his disadvantage, as in many cases he loses his
education in the sphere in which he alterwards moves, and he
also loses the discipline and moral drill at a time when
most important to him. Here I must record my dis-
appoitmentj and pain that the jealousy of relipious sects
should have furnished such an instance as the Birmingham
School Board in regard to their exclusion of the Bible.
Tnis withdrawal of juvenile labour from the land is a
very serious question, and affects the agricultural interest
very materially. The tenant has to substitute aduU
labour for juvenile labour, which in many cases increases his

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

147

labour bill from a tlii d to a fourth, and in some cases abso-
lutely necessary work consequently goes undone. Section 9 of
the Act, 1876, gives the local authority power_to exempt
persons eraplo)ing cliildren whilst school is closed, or for
employing childieu above eight years of age for necessary
operations of husbaudry or ingathering of crops, the local
authority having power to exempt them for the latter purpose
for a period not excteding six weeks in the year. IVlaking
allowances for Suudays (attendances on which day do not
count), Saturday, and the usual annual holidays, and a possi-
ble six weeks' exemption, I tiud a child can make -102 atten-
dances in the year. As he must make 350, he, therefore, has
only 52 days in hand during which he may absent himself
from school, and even then he cannot work ou the land if
under 10 years of age — or, if over 10, unless he has obtained
a certificate of proficiency or due attendance, which latter
instance, means autumn or winter when his labour is not s
valuable. I would suggest that a system of " half time " be
adopted, by which means the education of the child and his
employment may coincide. Alternate seasons of agricultural
activity and slackness would do — or, if these periods cannot
be fixed with sufficient certainty, have "half-day" labour —
(this plan, I believe, exists in Germany). Tenants, widows
with children, and labourers with large families would all be
benefited. One other topic and I have finished, and this is the
cost. I think there is a general feeling, particularly where
there is a School Board, that too great a portiou of the cost
is borne by the land, and, in many cases, paid by the tenant.
Mr. I'hipps, M.I'., in an able paper read at the Farraers'jClub
in Londou last December (and to which paper I am indebted
tor much information), gives the following account of the
proportions in which the cost is borne :—

Imperial revenue ... ... from 20 per cent.

Children's fee ... ... „ It „

Endowments and other sources „ 2 „
Kates , ,,61 »

100
—Thus 6-1 per cent, falls on real property, and seems out of
all proportion when the benefits of the improved education to
the community at large is remembered. The tenant would
seem to pay in two ways, directly on his assessment (in other
words supposed profits), and indirectly under Schedule B of
the Income-tax; there is therefore an enormous property
which only pays indirectly under Schedule D (and not always
then), though the owners expect to, and will, reap the benefits
of the improved education. The landowner should pay a fair
portion of auy rate imposed on the land, unless made to pay
in any other way ; he practical y does pay a proportion in
many ca s now, though not in all. Every effort should be
made to bring this part of the ques'ion prominently before the
Royal Commission now sitting, with the view of rectifying the
present unfair proportion of the cost thrown ou the rates. In
conclusion, I wish to express my sincere thanks to those of ray
friends and correspondents who have been kind enough to
furnish me with materials for this paper.

MAIDSTONE.

LIVER ROT IN SHEEP.

A meeting of the members of the Maidstone Farmers' Club
and Chamber of Agriculture was held at Maidstone, on Thurs-
day, the 5th ultimo, to hear a lecture on " Liver Rot in
Sheep," by Professor J. Wortley Axe, of the Royal Yeterinary
Colbgp, London. Mr. George Marsham, J.P., presided.

Professor J. Wortley Axe remarked that at a time like
the present, when the depression in. agriculture had reached a
point which was unprecedented, and when, the farmers had
bpen so seriously inconvenienced by the foreign importations,
not. only of stock. and corn, but also of disease, he could well
understand their anxiety to become more intimately acquainted
with some of the causes leading up to their present position.
One of those causes was- certainly the disease known as rot in
sheep. It was a disease which had been known to farmers
and to veterinary surgeons for centuries past in all quarters of
the globe wherever shepp husbandry was recognized, and
notwithstanding that it presented certain peculiarities in
regard to its action when it appeared in ils most deadly form,
it nevertheless probably prevailed to a greater or lesser extent
in, seven-tenths of the flocks of this country at all- times.

Its cause had been variously attributed, and the reasons in
some cases were palpably erroueous, although they were
believed in by persons even until the present day. It used to
be and was 8' ill considered that rot owed its origin to certain
deleterious grasses ; others regarded it as arising from some
change which the blood of sheep underwent, and others attri-
buted it to rapid wasting. But let them examine the disease
in regard to its causation. Its origin had been referred to
many grasses commonly found in low lying districts, but this
view was negatived by the fact that in certain seasons it
occurred in the highest and dryest land, and in every quarter
of the country, as well as iu low lands. They must, therefore,
dismiss from their minds any idea that the disease was due to
tin nature or qualify of the grass. They might also abmdon the
idea that the blood, in itself, could originate anything in the
shape of life. Than it had been attributed to drinking stagnant
water. Now there was some reason for regarding stagnant
water as being somewhat obnouou*, not in itself but in
what it contained. There were other views, equally erroneous,
but it was not nec-ssary to enter into them, as it had been
clearly decided that the rot, as it occurred iu sheep wasdupto
the existence of a parasite iu the liver of the auimal. The
parasite was termed a flukp, and it differed considerably from
the generality of such creatures. la the first place it was
bi-sexual, containing in its own body both male and
female organs of generation, and therefore it was capab'e of
propagation entirely independent of others of its species. Its
history, too, presented peculiarities of a no less striking
character. They were all familiar with the mauuer in which
domestic animals multiplied their species, and that if a hen laid
an egg, they expected that at the expiration of a certain period
of incub ition a chick the exact counterpart of the hen would
come forth. Ba% notwithstanding that the liver 11 ike was au
egg-producing anima', its eggs behaved very differently from
those of other oviparous animals. Having been deported in
the biliary can ils ofathe liver they did not give rise to a fluke,
but to a creature with entirely different endowments, and of
an infusorial character— hence, the mistaken idea that the rot
arose from drinking stagnant water. As a fact, although
similar creatures would be contained in such water they were
not flukes. The embryo fluke having le't the shpll, did uote
immediately becime a fluke, but had to enter into the bodies
of certain creatu-es which abounded on wet pastures where
rot prevailed. The embryo of the fluke was to be found-
especially in the ditches and furrows of ill-drained land, and
there it perished, unless it could, as a parasite, seize upon
snails or other aquatic creatures and insinuate itself into or
upon their bodies. Markhara, in 1516, pointed out a certain
relationship between snails and rof, recording that sheep took
into their bodies " little snails which gave rise to rot," but he
knew nothing of the connection of the fluke with the snail.

j The embryo having passed into or upon the snail developed in
the form of a cyst, and then after a further advancement of
their organisms, these creatures were liberated from the sac, iu
another form, and finding their way into the body of the sheep
developed into the liver fluke. The fluke deposited its eggs
in the bilary ducts, there they abided for some time until they
arrived at a certain stage, then they were ejected and thrown
upon the pastures, wherp,. if the weather were favourable to it
— if moisture prevailed — they seized on the snail and went
through the stages before described. Thus the mere eggs
given to sheep could cause no damage, iuasmuch as the embryo
required to pass into the body of the snail to undergo further
development before it could give rise to a fluke. Being deve-
loped it passed into the digestive canal of the sheep in the act
of feeding, and that was termed contamination.

Now, one of the most important questions was — How long
does it take a sheep to become contaminated ? That depended
more especially UDon the number of larvae which existed on
the pasture, and there was no reason why a sheep should not
be so contaminated in two hours as to destroy it completely in
a month. He had had an opportunity of examining the livers
of many sheep, where no less than 2,000 of these creatures
could be found, and they were so small as to escape the eye of
the common observer, it being only upon very minute
examination of the organs that their existence could be recog-
nised. There was, he thought, good reason to believe that au
animal might be so contaminated in a short period of time, as

I to die within a month.

Now, what were the conditions under which the fluke

I flourished ? It had lor.fr been noticed that wherever moisture

148

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

badly

existed in large quantities, and wherever land was
drained and the soil capable of holding moisture a long time,
there they might look for the prevalence of rot. It wis on
such land that snails, which were necessary to the devo op
went of the embryo, existed, and there the disease prevailed.
But it was not simply a question of nature of land and sitoa-
<ion. Seasons had their effect and continuous rains, such as
were experienced during the last year, were favourable to the
propagation of the water snail, and consequently to the
development of the liver fluke.

As to the symptoms which characterised its appearance, he
regretted that he could not give them anything specific by
which they could immediately tell that a sheep was rotten.
It had, he knew, been said that one could gain the necessary
knowledge by lifting the eyelid of the sheep, or by trying if
the back would yield to the pressure of the hand, but those
were most unreliable tests, as the simple fact of the animal
yielding to external pressure was an indication of weakness,
and the eye being blanched was a sign of the bloodless con-
dition of the system— in fact, any debilitating disease might
give rise to those conditions. But was it trne that after con-
tamination a sheep showed a disposition to fatten ? That was
the general impression, bur he had no hesitation in saying
that it was a misinterpretation of facts. When an animal
was placed on pastures capable of contaminating it, it fed upon
profuse vegetation — for in all low-lying meadows there was
at certain times a great abundance of herbage— and this con-
tributed to the rapid formation of flesh. There were, how -
ever, means of determining whether the rot did exist in a
flock. A microscopical examination of the droppings of sheep
might discover the eggs of the parasite. But when they came
to consider the general phenomena, they found thera to be
most ambiguous. Unfortunately the ordinary observer was
not capable of detecting the disease until the animal became,
as it were, worthless, but he would suggest that it was a mo-t
dangerous proceeding to await the eventuality of the animal
becoming so far emaciated as to be worthless, because while
waiting for this process, many of the flock would be
wasting in an equal or lesser degree. It was therefore
advisable that an animal should be destroyed. Then if flukes
were tound to exist in large numbers in the liver, kill the whole
flock and dispose, of them. As the disease progressed there
were certain symptoms devt loped, and these became of a more
decided character. The animal began to waste, the belly
became tucked up, the mucous membrane of the eye was
blanched and had a watery look, and the Deck and
throat swelled more or less. None of these symptoms alone
was diagnostic of rot, as they were apparent in other diseases.
But as the malady progressed the Bkin became harsh and dry
the animal was "razor-backed," the spins being rendered
prominent by the wasting of the muscles, eventually the belly
became enlarged, emaciation set in, and the animal died.
The dung made by diseased animals varied considerably; some-
times it suffered from diarrhoea, and at other times the bowels
were constipated, while when the quantity of fluid in tke bely
was large respiration was interfeied with. A post-mortem
examination revealed internal changes of a remarkable
charaeter in the liver ; although the changes varied. One
thing he would ask them to note, and that was that in cases
where flukes were not found in the liver they were not to con-
clude that the animal had not suBered from rot. The simple
explanation was that the flukes had left the animal. But
where that was the case the liver was unusuully hard, it cut
with a gritty sensation to the hand, it was white in colour
and very dense. In the othei case the bile ducts stood out
from the surface in long ridgee, the liver itself was of a pale
hue, filled with nasty black bile, and charged with flukes and
their ova. The belly contained, too, a greater or lesser
amount of water. But in cases when the disease had run its
course rapidly the liver, instead of having a pale colour and
being contracted and hard, was enlarged, red, and soft, and
the biliary ducts were clogged by hundreds and even thousands
of flukes which had invaded them, the blood vessels were broken
and the liver was suffused with blood. It was important to
remember the great variety of appearances presen'ed by the
livers of animals which had been subjected to the rot.

What were they to do in the event of the appearance of rot
in a flock of sheep P Everything depended upon circumstances
and upon the extent of the contamination. They could only
account for the general prevalence of the disease at tbe present

time by assuming that one or more flocks in which it had
occurred were subject to the fluke prior to the set in of the
incleuent weather. There must hive been eggs, and unless
there were sheep nursing, as it were, the Duke, they could not
have had the eggs. Therefore they had a right to assume
that flocks in those parts of the country in which the disease
was now prevalent had harboured the flukes. Each fluke
was capable of producing between ten and forty thousand of
it own species, and as two thousand were sometimes found in
a liver, they would readily understand that even a dozen sheep
were capable of giving rise to millions of flukes. An animal
with only three flukes was quite sufficient to contaminate a
large flock, providing the circumstances of weather and soil
were favourable to thy spread of the disease. The questions
which they must ask themselves before deciding on the method
of treament were then — To what extent are the sheep
contaminated, and bow many flukes have they in their livers?
In order to answer these they must destroy one of the animals
and if in its liver were found only a small number, then
judicious management might euable thera to tide over the
ravages of the flukes, and render the flock a useful one. But
where the flukes nere numerous, it was not only dangerous,
but it was an absolute waste of food to allow the flock to exist
for a day. The butcher was the best remedy, and it was
certainly a better one than throwing the carcases on the dung
heap. What were they to do if they resolved to treat
the flock ? They must not hope to destroy the flukes, th-it
was an impossibility. They mast aim at nurturing their
sheep, protect them from inclement weather, deal with thera
as they would with a man sufferingfrora a debilitating disease,
give thera good food and shelter, administer to them stimulating;
and tonic medicines, such for example as sulphate of iron, and
give them salt by all means, as it imparted to the blood the
density and composition it should possess.

It was said that salt marshes possessed the property of
destroying flukes in the liver, but that was not so ; they cer-
tainly were beneficial as preventives, as fresh water snails
were not to be found where salt water existed, and this
accounted for the immunity of those places from the disease.
It was interesting to note that when auiraals were turned iato
salt marshes they were out of the way of Snkes altogther.
Then there was another important point. They had seen that
a condition of moisture was essential to the disease, and by
draining the land they removed it. Therefore in keeping away
moisture they had the secret of the prevention of rot. In the
matter of season, too, there were important considerations,
and in a continuously hot summer the larva- of the fluke were
destroyed because of the absence of the conditions necessary for
their propagation, and if, succeeding the past wet weather,
there should come a hot summer, the snails, which were the
nurses of the fluke, would perish for want of nourishment, and
by their destruction the source of contamination and infection
would be removed. Therefore the season was capable of
doing very considerable service in putting an end to the exis-
tence of the rot, and he had no doubt that, with a hot summer,
the farmers might look forward to the disappearance of the
disease, and not, providing we had fair average weather, fear
its re-appearance until there should be another season such as
that we had just passed through.

Mr. C Whiteheads after complimenting the Professor ot>
the interesting character of his lecture, and referring to the
importance ol the subject at a time whei so many flocks in the
country were severing from the scourge, said he thought it
had been pretty clearly pointed out that the practical means
of prevention were to drain- th»ir lands as well as they could,
and in wet seasons to keep their sheep as much as possible
from the wet marshy places where snails "do love to live."'
He also would venture to suggest that thev should give thera
food of as dry a nature as possible. With regard to the
description that had been given thera of the generation of
the liver flake, which wre knowa scientifically as Distona
Hepaiicum or F'isciola Hepalica. Each generation was called
by a distinct name and differed essentially, and was a remark-
able instance of "Alternate Generation," which was, he
thought, first brought under the notice of scientific men in
this country by Professor Steenstrup, and in which the form of
the parent was not reproduced in the next generation, and not
until after two or three, or even more succeeding generations.
As to the stages through which they passed, it^struck him that
there was some hiatus in the description, but it was perhap i

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

140

due to the desire of the lecturer not to trouble thera with so
many stages and details. Professor Oweo said in his lecture
on "Comparative Anatomy" that "the produces of the ova
of the Disloma Hepulicum" — the liver fluke — "are found in
early summer adhering in vast numbers to the inner surface of
the respiratory caviiy, and to the exterior of the tubes of the
liver of a species of snail." It must be said in passing, that it
was remarkable that the products of I he ova of the flukes, which
did so much harm by living on the livers of sheep, should iu
their turn find a renting place, in the livers of enails, from
which, to resume Prolessor Owen's remarks, " in time] they
detach themselves as tree animalcu'ae. If one of these be
microscopically examined none of the organs of the future dis-
toma, or fluke, can be discovered. As the growth of this
parasite proceeds, a progeny is seen to rise by the develop-
ment of the germ cells into embryos, these gradually
acquire cephalic spicula " — rudimentary heads — " and
a caudal appendage. They escape from the parent cyst
and disperse themselves as cercarias into the
water. After a brief life in this stage they shrink in
size and lose their tails and attach themselves to the
skin of a snail. Here they assume a pupa form and gain their
parasitic habit by piercing the soft skin of the water.suail." Dr.
Cobbold, who was one of the greatest living authorities upon
Entozoa and Ectozoa and other parasites of animals, agreed with
Professor Owen in the main. Dr. Cobbold said, iu his Treatise
on the Eulozoa of Man and Animals, " The escape of the
embryo is effected at the anterior part of the egg-shell. An
embryo at the time of its birth exhibits the figure ot an in-
verted cone. After a lapse of a few days they assume the
character of creeping larvae— jo/a««/<p — which sooner or later
gain access to the body of an intermediary bearer — a snail or
mollusc known as Planorbis Maryinala. In this state the
larvae is capable ol developing aganoiiogetically — i.e., without
sexual intercourse — other larvte which are called cercaria3 and
quit their nurse and pass an independent existence in the
water." In the cases of some species of flukes Dr. Cobbold
is of opinion that the cercarhe, or larvae, re-enter the bodies
of the raollusks. In this situation they develop into the so-
called pupae which is at length passively transferred with the
fodder or drink to the digestive organs of the host." With
regard to the Disloma Hepaticum Dr. Cobbold thought that
they passed directly into tha bodies of ruminating animals as
cercariae and not in the pupae state. Mr. Whetehea.d preferred
Professor Owen's theory. He thought what was omitted in
Prolessor Axe's statement was the power of the embryos to
reproduce themselves in enormous numbers without any sexual
connection. This enormous re-production accounted for the
extraordinary numbers produced from a single egg, just as in
the case of hop aphides lice were developed in large quantities
without sexual intercourse for several generations. Then
another point that required clearing up was whether the
pu[se were taken into the bodies of the sheep when
they were actually in the snail's body, or whether they were
taken in as pupae alone. It seemed to him natural that they
should be taken np in the former way while adhering to the
eaail, for on a wet morning white snails could fee found
adhering to grass in immense quantities, as Gervas Markhara,
writing in the 17th century, had pointed out, as quoted by
Professor Axe. Hence they would be probably eaten by the
sheep with the grass. In a pamphlet published by Professor
Simonds, it was stated that there were serious outbreaks of the
disease in the years 1809, 1816 1824, 1830, 1853, and 1860,
all of these being known as very wet seasons ; and that it was
known in all parts of the world where sheep flourished — in
France, Germany, Australia, and America. Another point
which was important was whether the egg-bearing flukes were
ever discharged from the sheep, or whether in all cases only
the ova themselves were discharged. In all cases
the discharge was per anion* It was a fortunate tiling that
they were exposed to so many dangers a'ter their escape from
the sheep from being crushed by the feet of man and animals,
and, as had been clearly pointed out, if the weather were dry
and hot it was fatal to their existence, it being most essential
to their life and propagation that there should be a plentful
supply of moisture. But it was a curious fact that in Romney
Marsh, where above all other places they would expect liver
rot to be most troublesome and dangerous, comparatively little
of it was to be found, and a friend with v. bom he had been in
correspondence told him that, as a rule, even iu the wettest .
icasons, they had very little trouble with it oa the Marsh, '

with the rxeeption of on about 2,000 acres, out of the 60,000
acns. which were liable to be flooded at all wet seasons, near
the mouh of Bye Harbour and by the banks of the Rother.

Bat lie could not find out that Romney Marsh was particularly

liable to the rot, even before it was drained

(Ehambers of Jlgricultun.

BANBURY.

At the last meeting of this Chamber, held for the purpose
of discussing agricultural depression, Earl Jersey, who
presided, said : — lie was not going through all the questions
which had been issued by the Assistant Commissioner, because
it would take many reams of paper to give an answer to each
one, and his voice would »iok into a whisper ere he could state
the questions without the answers. Ttie natural causes, and
to his mind, the most important, had been the very bad
seasons. The land had produced crops short in quality and,
uufair in yield, and badly gathered in, and low prices followed
because there was nothing worth selling. He saw before him
many occupiers of land, and he held a large farm himself,
unrestricted by conditions, and having a certain amount of
capital to invest, and he trusted there was no one in that room,
who could approach in the slightest degree tie amount he had
lost over his farm. When he told them that during the last
four years they had no less than twenty-four inches of rain
mora than an average fall would have given them they would
easily imagine what effect it had had upon the land. Anyone
travelling between Banbury and Oxford must have often seen
this, and during these four years the farmers had found that a
really good umbrella and a macintosh were of far more use
than a fork and a straw hat. The result had been that the
farmer found that the just expectations which he had a right
to form had been entirely done away with by causes over which
he had no control. But worse than that, or quite as bad, were
the terrible seasons during the last few years which had done
so much harm. He regretted to know that even now farmers'
troubles had been intensified to a very large extent by that
bad disease — the sheep rot — which he was sorry to learn was
so rife in that district. The effect was that causes like these
were really ruining the capital of the farmers, a'id there was
no law in existence that he could think of that could meet such
circumstances. Those were the natural causes. It was no
use ratiug against some of them, but he suggested they might
possibly lessen them by starting some plan ol insurance. He
asked them to consider what had been the artificial causes
which had in addition to bad seasons tended to make their
position worse. He was not going into the question of foreign
competition. It affected tnem most strouglv, but pending the
publication of Mr. Read's report he felt he should but be
prophesying without knowing and speaking without a book.
He asked, did their laws and customs hinder the development
of agriculture? The Land Laws had been very much blamed
of late, in some cases, perhaps, rightly, in others rather
unfairly. He took the case of an owner in fee simple. If he
did not care to keep his property in order it was the fault not
of the laws but of his own judgment. But the case of a
limited owner was different. He enjoyed the property re-
strained by a will or settlement. Tie owner in that case would
say, " I cannot do as I wish, I have only a life interest,
and I cannot sell part of my property in order to improve the
rest." It seemed to him, therefore, that the law thus hindered
the proper development of agriculture. Of late years, as Mr.
Lawrence in his able pamphlet showed, there had been various
changes in the law of tenure of land, all tending to give to
the limited owner greater freedom in dealing with his land.
The Settled Estates Act of 1856 gave to a tenant for life cer-
tain powers of leasing and sale, under conditions, and various
other Acts which had been passed in this direction had im-
proved the tenure of land in the country. But the law re-
formed was like a cog which did not run smoothly. What
they required was a lurther simplification and a more easy and
cheaper process. In all well-drawn settlements and wills
there existed a power of sale for the benefit of the rest of the
estate, but not for the pleasure of the limited owner. He
would make it, to put it shortly, incidental by law to every
will and settlement, whether expressed therein or not, thai

150

the tenant in actual possesion should have the power of
)ea«ing and selling for the improvement of the estate bat not
fur the purpose of squandering; the power to manase an
estate but not the power to waste it. If report spoke true the
Government were about to introduce a measure dealing with
this subject, and he was quite sure a well considered measure
would receive great support in the country. Some would Bay,
«' What a change'' in what he had suggested. He feared not,
however, in changes which aimed at improvement, but shrank
from those which sought only to alter those which exis'ed.
L*ws were made for the benefit, of men as stepping stones to
a certain position, and not merely Yast stumbling blocks in
the way. Such a change would be of great value to the
limited owner, to his happiness and welfare, and of all classes
engaged in agriculture. It would hinder the owner from con-
solidating his estate. Happy was that country which knew
how to apply its experience of the past in order to advance the
position of the present. He inquired how far their customary
agreements interfered with agriculture and affected capital ?
On that point many of them could speak with greater force
than he could himself. He felt, however, that the ehangmg
conditions of agriculture did call for some alteration in the
agreements. They were too stringent in some cises. In the
future it must be the aim to make the land produce more
and fetch more. To achieve this they must give the
farmer greater freedom of the cultivation of the soil, and
of course with greater freedom of cultivation they would
take care that the land was not deteriorated through improper
treatment. The owner should not find the land when handed
hack in a worse condition owing to mismanagement, but they
might fairly say these would be exceptional cases. He would
read to them a paper which he had, to give them au idea of
the line upon which agreements might be drawn up :— ' The
tenant not to be restricted in the cultivation of his land, it
biing understood that the tenant shall cultivate it m a proper
manner. The tenant to have the power of selling hay and
straw off the laud ; compensation for unexhausted manures at
Hieendof the tenancy (as already bettled). Twenty-four
months' notice to quit, instead of twelve as now. During
these last two years, viz., after notice to quit has been served,
the land to be cultivated on the four course system, and no hav
or Btraw to be sold off. The landlord to have the right of
having the state of the land settled by arbitration in the. event
of his°deeraing it necessary, if it be left in a foul condition,
and compensation to be paid to the landlord." He only put
that forward as a suggestion, as before the land question was
settled there would be a great many differences of opinion
expressed, but what they "wanted was that every agreement
shonld be drawn up upon s»ch lines that would be fair to both
parties. One word as regarded the labourers. He believed
the great point with regard to the labourers wasbetter houses,
for they might depend upou it they v/ould never have the
condition of the labourers improved uuless they fiyst gave them
comfort. He hoped and trusted there would be no Winking
this question before the Commission, as he believed the dictates
of justice demanded that they should give it their most careful
consideration, and try as far as possible to improve their
present condition. One of the questions that would come up
for their consideration— and this of the greatest importance —
was that of local taxation.

Mr. A. II. Thuksbey moved " That in the opinion of this
meeting the agricultural interest is unfairly burdened with the
increased cost of national education, main roads, and sanitary
requirements. Therefore, in order to alleviate the unexampled
depression of agriculture, and the iucreasing seventy of foreign
competition, it is absolutely necessary that further relief should
tie granted in aid of local taxation." The resolution was
carried.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

ESSEX.

A general meeting of the members of this Chamber was
held at the Shire Hall, Chelmsford, on February 5. The
chair was taken by Mr. G. Alan Lowndes, the newly-elected
President for the year.

TUE LAND LAWS AND CUSTOMS : THEIR INFLUENCE UPON
AGRICULTURE.

Captain Delf read a paper on the above subject, of which
the following are extracts : —

'J he land laws by their nature affjet the entire community—

their action may be more direct in some clashes than in other*,
bnt, nevertheless, they are felt by all, and it is for the benefit
of the whole nation that they sSould be, at least, revised, and,
if necessary, repealed, In speaking of laud hws, I must be
understood to mean also customs ; as 1 believe some of the
laws that regulate the letting and hiring of iand are unwritten.
But on this point my legal friends can put me right if I am
wrong. If in the repeal of these laws some classes should
seem to be hardly dealt with, it must always be borne in mind,
no reforms can be carried out without that plea being raised
on behalf of some members of a community so large, and
comprising such varied interests as our own ; but I think the
more this question is looked into, the more will this prejudice
resolte itself into thin air, like the baseless fabric of a vision.
It cannot be too well remembered that when one portion of a
body corporate is suffering from any cause, all other members
suffer more or less in sympathy, and if such a vast and impor-
tant section of onr industrial community as the agriculturists
are feeling the undue pressure of raedifeval laws, dating from a
very different state of society to that which exists now, we
may take it as a safe conclusion that if these relics of a worn-
out feudal system are relegated to a museam of legal anti-
quities, not only farmers, but the entire nation will be
benefited.

That the land laws do press hardly on both landlords and
tenants is, I think, b-youd dispute ; but that you may dearly
understand me, I will endeavour briefly, though incompletely,
to specify these various laws and customs, and their bearing on
the points I have raised. They are well known to you, as
during the last few months they have been brought promineutly
before the public at many meetings, and in many speeches.
First, I would speak of the Law of Entail, by which land can
be tied up for a life or lives in being, and twenty-one years
beyond. This law is well known to all of you, and what is
the result of its working ? Do we not see it everywhere
throughout the country in large estates with poor buildings,
sad still poorer cottages, lands undrained and roads uomade?
The nominal proprietor of such an estate is frequently poor,
holding a social rank with which his means are not commen-
surate, and I alarm that if this law were abolished, many who
are now tied and hampered in their social and family relations
would hail the day of its extinction as one giving freedom
and the hope of future prosperity to themselves and their
families. By settlement, an estate ea» be burdened with pro-
vision for the collateral branches of an owner's family for many
years after the death of that owner, thas reducing1 the power
of his saeeesaors to spend any of the incorae from the estate
for its benefit, to the great detriment of the interests of those
successors, and as a consequenee of any who may hire th» ktsd
of them. These laws are so well known to us all, and their
effects meet us so constantly, that I need not dwell upon them,
except to point out to you that their dismissal from our code
would ultimately tend to an improvement in the position both
of landlord and tenant.

That sufficient capital is placed in the land, few of ns will
venture to assert ; and when the question arises, as it frequently
does, where is more capital to come from, aud who is to direct
it to the land ? I say, remove all obstacles to the free use of
the land, regard it only as a raw material, take, away those laws
which we as a nation have outgrown, and make the free inter-
change of land easy aud inexpensive. Then capital will flow,
as it always has done and as it always will, in obedience to a
natural and unalterable law, where it will find free scope, and;
give a better remuneration to its owners than it has the power
of doing now.

It is, I think, too commonly remarked that tenants fail in
the duties which they owe to the land by not employing
sufficient capital. Now, i do aot for one moment wish to
defend any deficiency of capital or eaergy on the part of the?
tenantry of this country, but I state fearlessly that the duties
of the tenants are performed more completely and more gene-
rally than those duties which especially fell to- the share of the
landlord. Many of you can donbtless pat your finger on farms
where the tenants, by the application of capital and skill, have
raised the laud as a raw material to a state of great fertility
and of high condition, and this, too, be it remembered, on
property not their own, the fruit of their capital and industry
thus remaining in the possession of the landlord at the expiry
of his lease or agreement. In strong contrast, we often see
deficient house and cottage accommodation, ill-arranged and
scanty i'armsteading, and other conveniences. It is the spetial

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

151

rnvince of 1 he landlord to provide, these indispensable ai'jnncls
before lull justice can be done o his tenant and hid land — may
it not be more from the injurious operation of tlie laws I have
Bpoken of, by which the landlord is rendered helpless, rather
than, from the want of inclination on his part, that this incon-
gruity exists ?

I am now brought to another point of my subject, and one
which 1 think has scarce'y rec< ived the attention anions laud
reformers it deserves, and it is this, the enormous cost and delay
in the transfer of land ; if we took a leaf out of the hook of our
neighbours across the Channel, and by a simple method of
compulsory registration under Government surveillance
recorded each transfer of every piece of land bought and sold,
how much money and time might be saved and put to a profit-
able purpose in or on the land, instead of going where it does
now, although where that may be I will leave you to say.

What land reformers desire to see is the ownership of land
more widely spread among the people, but at the same time
they desire to see that result brought about in "no other way
than by natural causes, also that the law should no longer
interfere to prevent the division and sale of large estates when
circumstances would effect this if left to themselves. They ask
for the abolition of the Law of Primogeniture and the limita-
tion of the system of entail, and they wish to subsitute a bona
fide ownership for mere life interest and limited ownerships.
As an adjunct, it is necessary that the transfer ol land shall
be made as facile and as inexpensive as the transfer of shipping
property or the shares of a joint stock company. I hold that
limited ownership is oue ot ihe greatest evils of our present
land system, while under our system of entail the apparent
proprietor of land is bnt a tenant for life, the real owners
bring his descendant!", many of them not having passed the
cradle. Such a proprietor has little inducement to improve
his estate. L:dusrry is hampered and development is checked
by sneh an unnatural system, investment of money in the land
is denied to the people, production is limited, and, as a con-
sequence, the wealth of the couutry is not increasing, pauperism
is fostered, and the dwellings of the labourers, in too many
cases miserable tenements, are unimproved and form a source
of much that is immoral ; temptation to extravagant and un-
warrantable expenditure on the put of the proprietors them-
selves is induced, which reflects itself in a pernicious manner
throughout the family. What I contend for is the removal of
all unnatural impediments to the acquirement of land,
believing that the working of natural economic laws will
promote those forms of tenure which afford the best security
and the best return for the capital embarked by the skilful
agriculturist.

The last part of my subject refers to that vexed qnestion, the
compensation for tenant's improvements. We all know,
and know too well, that common law constitutes agricultural
fixtures put up by the tenants, the property of the landlord,
while in trade fixtures may be removed by the tenant. I fail
to see any valid reason why this distinction should exist ; it
is an anomaly having its origin, like many others, in the
days of feudalism, but its presence is an anachronism which
should have no place in the pressntday.

Suggestions not a few have-been advanced for appraising the
respective claims of landlord and tenant satisfactorily — the
most pretentions and prominent, I need scarcely remind you,
is the notorious myth known as the Agricultural Holdings Act
which proposes to compensate in oue bold clause every kind of
improvement,, from those demandng the skill of the civil
engineer to the ordinary tillages and manuring of the land.
But its permissive character is known to all who have taken
the trouble to glance at the Act, for it carefully provides that
no compensation shall be due where the proprietor contracts
with his tenant for immunity from the exercise of the Act. It
is notorious that very few proprietors have thought fit to
place themselves under the Agricultural Holdings Act, and I
am disposed to think that jon will agree with me in regarding
this as a very farcical piece of legislation. There is oue point
on which we, may naturally look for differences of opinion, and
that is whether compensation in cases where no previous
arrangement hag been entered into should be awarded by the
Legislature ; but I think that we shall all be agreed in this,
that it is incoasistent with anything worthy the name of legis-
lation that any man should be free to claim exemption from
any law of the country in which he may reside.. Perhaps it
may not be uncharitable to say that the Agricultural Holdings

Act was never intended *o exist in any other form than in
name, for it outruns itself. It fails to recognise those im-
provements which properly belong to the laudlor I, and those
which properly b long to the tenant. The subject of com-
pens.itiou for agricultural improvements is a very large one,
and upon w nch the. highest principles of arnitrit.iou should
be brought to bear, hence it is that it cannot be dismissed
with the curt remark that such compensat'on should be left to
private contract. Our legislators having admitted the principle
o Tenant Right, we shall be treadiug on safe ground if ws
discuss the iu*tter as we find it. I have on former occasions
expressed myself as strong')' opposed to any approach towards
legislative interference with liberty of contract, but there is a
danger lest the term contract be strained beyond its legitimate
meaning. Considerations of justice and policy demand that
tlie question of Tenant Right be decided on other grounds
than merely the interests of the party suing for enforcement,
who has admittedly rendered nothing in exchange for the
obligation. Where a tenant is under an agreement to pay
rent for so mueh land, to make no claim for any improvements
it is clear that the tenant has no incentive to improve the land
held out to him. The interests of the community demaud
that the, land shall be. so managed as to yield its full increase,
hence it, is dear that if the called for improvements are arrested
by feudal fetters the community suffers in consequence.

A very little consideration .vill show ho* the boiy politic
suffers from the absence of a well-defined system of compensa-
tion which shall be obligatory. Our ears are frequently greeted
with expressions of sympathy and hopes that th9 relationship
existing between, landlord and tenant should be of a eordial
and reciprocal character ; but it will not do to stop there ; that
which is sentimental and theoretical must be supplanted by
that which is substantial and practical. Allow me, in a very
brief manner, to point out the disadvantages which exist, owing
to the non-existence of compulsory compensation : — the con-
traction of energies on the part of a tenant during the last
three or four years, who is holding uuder a 14- years' lease, or
of a tenant who holds year by year, is a very serious matter,
and one which has a most demoralising effect upon him for it
is very evident that every incentive is denied him under such
conditions to increase the development of the resources of the
soil, and at the same time every temptation presents itself for
him to reduce the productive power of the soil to the lowest
ebb. A farm which is brought to that degree of impoverish-
ment is a source of loss to the landlord, the direct cause of
increased outlay on the part of the succeeding tenant, and a
very direct loss to the community, inasmuch as every acre of
such a farm is incapable of yielding the same amount of pro-
duce as it did when the farm was uuder a renovating system
instead of one of depletion. On the other hand, the advan-
tages which would accrue from the certainty that a tenant
would receive full payment for all unexhausted improvements
are prominent and valuable. The lands throughout the
country would be in a very different condition of cleanliness
and fertility had we been blessed with that which is only the
obvious right of every improving tenant. Many of the farms
which have to be relinquished now at the expiration of the
lease in consequence of gradual deterioration arising from the
want of the stimulus which compensation would have afforded
would still be held on by the old tenants, and many (arms
which landlords now fail to get would-be tenants to look at
would be, laid hold of by them instead of being on the hands o'f
the landlord, or, as is too much the case now, lying altogether
unproductive and a disgrace to the country in which such a
state of things exists. I might easily amplify this part of my
subject by going more into details, bnt I think that I have
said sufficient to indicate to all practical men the injury done
by a great defect in our law to ail interested in the land.

I shall have failed in the olject of this paper if I have not
been able to demonstrate that the Land Laws of this country
as they at present exist, are injurious alike to the proprietors'
the tenants, the labourers, and the community at large. These
laws are not only bad, but it is impossible that they ►h'ould be
otherwise, because, at whatever peripd they were instituted
their creation was by the strong party in the State for the
benefit of the strong, I.t was only human nature that it
should be so, and, we all know too much of that, whether as
regards landlords, tenants, or any other classes, to believe,
that when they were stroug they would endeavour to'
Btrenglhen the weaker party. We can not blame them, for
they had been allowed a free range, and they would have been

152

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

something more than human if they had not taken advantage
of the opportunity.

I tlduk I am safe in saying that I have this Chamber with
me when I say that those who may be aptly designated Land
Reformers hate no desire to balance one wroug by the inflic-
tion of another, but would rather leave the balance a simple
power to pendulate freelv, a condition only possible by the
extinction of present legislntive obstruction. Let us see that
existing entails be abolished, the creation of new ones pro-
hibited, and that the process of land transfer be made simple
and inexpensive ; let us see that all legal presumptions be ad-
justed so that a tenant can assign his lease and interest or
leave them by will to whomever he pleases ; and let us see
that the increased value of the soil goes to him who supple-
mented it. Let us press for the totul abolition of the taw
of Distress, so that landlords shall cease to have a prior claim
over the other creditors of his tenant. But these reforms
demand such a strong and united effort, not only at the hands
of the Es?ex Chamber of Agriculture, but of the tenant
farmers of Great Britain, that uo political party shall be able
to withstand it. A sore has been discovered in agriculture in
the form of a depression greatly intensified by the effects cf
class legislation and protection, inflicting injury on the very
class intended to be benefited ; but these reforms, as was
said by an eminent statesman, " will not only be a large
plaister for a very large sore, but will extirpate the evil fron
the very roots."

Nothing but indifference has prevailed in regard to the
objects to be attained, but if farmers were heard by their own
voices — those of tenant-farmer representatives, be they Con-
servatives or be they Liberals — they could then calculate up n
ju-tice, too long withheld, being at last within their reach.
There is nothing in the nature of the reforms I have indicated
which need agitate the most nervous politician ; and if a fair
majority of those Members who represent agricultural con-
s'i'uencies were earnest in urging such reforms, no party could
afford to trifle with them. But farmers will be sadly to blame
if they do not move speedily and firmly in these matters. It
remains only for me to thank you for the kind manner in
which you have given me your attention, and to ask your
support to the following resolution : —

" That in the opinion of this Chamber the Land Laws and
customs of this country, as they at present exist, are inimical
to the progress and proper development of agriculture ; and,
further, that this Chamber considers the time has arrived when
the Legislature ef this country should take under its considera-
tion the re'orm of the Land Laws."

General Fytche, in seconding the resolution, said he had
listened with very great interest to the able paper which had
been read by Captain Delf, and he was convinced that their
existing Land Laws required revision, and that the thorough
reorganisation of those laws would tend to the advantage of
the landholders, the farmers, and the labourers, and the
community in general. This was no party question, and it
was one in which they could all join, and in which those who
had the real interest of agriculture at heart ought to join.
Agriculturists should urge their claims as loudly as possibly, so
as to insure their being heard. They were now on the eve of
a general election, and it was a good opportunity for agitating
their claims, and attempting to remove the laws which pressed
so heavily upon the land, and, he might also say on its
produce. He made especial relerence to the nnjust tax on
malt, which a Parliamentary Committee had reported as
interfering greatly with profitable farming, and as precluding
the farmer from using the most valuable food for his cattle.
From the great competition with America in wheat, no doubt
the cultivation of barley would greatly increase in this country,
and it was very hard indeed upouthe farmer who grew his own
barley on his own land, which, when malted, would prove a
most valuable food for his stock, that he should be precluded
from taking advantage of it by this abominable tax.

After some other members had spoken the discussion was
adjourned for a month.

TRIAL OF SELF-BINDING REAPERS.— A cable dis-
patch recently from New Zealand brings the iollowing
intelligence: At trial of binileis near Dunedie, Otago,
February 10th, the improved Walter A. Wood, binder was
awarded first prize over seven machines in competition.

LAND LAVV REFORM CONFERENCE.

A largely attended conference consisting of delegates
from the various organisations for the promotion of Land
Law Reform in London and the provinces was held on
Feb. 10 at St, James's Hall, Mr. C. Brailaugh presiding.
Letters expressing sympathy with the meeting had been
received from Sir Wilfrid Lawsm, M.P., Mr. J. Pease,
M.P., Mr. Baxter, M.P., Mr. C. H. Hopwood, M.P.,
Mr. W. Holms, M.P., Mr. J. R. Trevelyan, Mr. Mac-
donald, M.P., and Mr. Peter Taylor, M.P., the latter
gentleman forwarding a cheque for £50 toward preliminary
expenses.

The Chmrm\n, ia his opening remarks, said that the
committee who hid convened the meeting had asked him to
say how muc i they desired that the conference should he a
real one, aid that they should decide on something which
should be a programme for a Lind Law Reform League to
be formed. There were seven or eight delegates present, who
represented over a quarter of a million ol men ; and, there-
fore, it could not be said that it was a sham. With regard to
the nationality of the delegates, he sail that they came from
all parts of England, from Ireland, from Scotland, and from
Wales. They had also the Londoa trades efficiently repre-
sented by their delegates ; whilst the agricultural labourer,
raining, and other provincial trade organizations were repre-
sented. Whatever might be the programme at which they
arrived, he believed that the lanJ laws reform was to be the
battle question of the day, and he therefore asked them to dis-
cuss the question as soberly as they could.

A paper was then read by Mr. Patrick Barry, after which

Mr. Arch addressed the meeting, and said that no class
were so detply interested in the movement as the agricultural
labourers.

On the motion of Mr. Smith it was then resolved that the
conference should turn its attention to suggested remedies tar
the present state of things produced by the Land Laws.

A paper, read by Mr. Cameron, of Glasgow, strongly
urged the necessity of breakiug up the large estate* of waste
land kept simply for the purposes of game preserving.

Mr. Burt, M.P., said he came to the meeting simply to
show the side he took, and that he, with the men of the
North of England, with whom he was more immediately
connected, were heart and soul with the conference in the
question of land reform. The miners of the North, he assured
them, took a hearty and earnest interest in the movement,
and any well-considered scheme which might be developed
would meet with their earnest support. He was glad to see
the success of the meeting, which represented about 400,000
men. That in itself was sufficient evidence that reform was
needed. If they succeeded now in dealing with the question
in a practical manner to-day, they would have commenced a
reform not less important than the great reforms which had
made this century remarkable.

Mr. Grant said that the London Trades Council, which he
represented, was in favour of the nationalisation of the
land (loud applause). The Council was of opinion that
the Boards could be elected by the suffrages of the people in a
similar manner to the School Boards. They must not lose
sight, however, of the fact that any sadden nationalisation
land scheme must necessarily mean such an overturning of the
present state of things as would be seriously detrimental to-
many classes of men (Cries of " No, no"). He, the
speaker, was only stating what the Trades Council instructed
him to say ; but he would observe that the council was so far
in favour of their view, that it had instructed its delegates,
of whom he was oue, to go in for a nationalisation scheme.
Next be was instructed to go against tree trade in land—
(good, good) — which only meant greater facility for those
with money to purchase the land — (Hear, hear) — whereas,
what they wanted to bring about was a system by which,
those with no money and no land should have a chance. He
was further instructed to go against land-owners in this
country, who should be called land-holders — (Hear, hear)—
and go in for a re-assessment of the valuation of the laud.
(Hear, hear). Mr. Grant concluded with two illustrations of
landlords possessing 50,000 acres of land, who paid but j£3,000
and £2,000 taxation — by the 1692 law of 4s. in the pouud —
whereas, had the land been split up into small holdings, the

THK FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

163

result to the Exchequer would have been much more,

Mr. Bradlaugh laid the following heads of reform before
the meeting : —

1. In case of intestacies, the same law to govern the dis
tribution of real and personal property. Following this,
abolition of primogeniture with limitation of the power of
devise. [In France the testator leaving several children is
only allowed absolute control over a portion of his property
equivalent to a child's share — except this, all children must be
equally provided for.] 2. Abolition of the right to settle or
entail for non-existing lives. If possible abolish all bare life
estates. [The effect of life estates is to cripple cultivation,
and to render the land less productive to the State.] 3.
Transfer of l*nd to be made cheap and easy. Security to be
ensured by compulsory registration of all dealings with land.
4>. Abolition of all preferential rights of landlords over other
creditors. [At present a landlord is his own judge, and on
his mere written warrant may seize on the property of a
stranger for his tenant's debt.] 5. Abolition of the Game
Laws. 6. Compulsory cultivation of all lands now unculti-
vated, and not devoted to public purposes, which are cu tivable
with profit. [There are estimated to be 1 1 millions of acres
now uncultivated, which might be cultivated with profit.
There are many thousands of acres in Scotland which might
grow timber.] 7. Security to the tenant cultivator for improve-
ments. 8. Re-valuation of lands for the more equitable im-
position of the land tax. 9. Land tax to be levied on a scale
so graduated as to press most heavily on excessively large
holdings. 10. One and the same Land Law for Great Britain
and Ireland. "

These points he proposed to carry by perfectly legal means
and not by any revolution, against which he especially warned
his hearers.

On the motion of Mr. Ball, seconded by Mr. Patterson,
it was resolved —

" That this Conference approves the formation of a Land
Law Reform League for the purpose of agitating for a radical
reform in the Land Laws of this country."

On the motion being put, it was carried with only one
dissentient.

On a motion by Mr. Reynolds, that the League should
be formed on the lines of Mr. Bradlaugh's programme,
the following amendment was brought forward by Mr.
Harris : —

'That this conference is of opinion that the time has
arrived for the gradual resumption by the State (on the
acknowledged principles of equitable compensation to existing
holders, or their heirs) of its ancient, undoubted, inalienable
dominion and sole proprietorship over all the lands, mines,
turbaries, fisheries, &c, of the United Kingdom, the same to
be held by the State, as trustees, in perpetuity, for the entire
people, and rented out to them in such quantities and on such
terms as the law and local circumstances shall determine ; be-
eause the land, beiug the gift of nature to all, can never be-
come the exclusive property of individuals ; because the mono-
poly of the land in private hands is a palpable invasion of the
rights of the excluded parties, rendering them more or less the
slaves of landlords and capitalists, and tending to circumscribe
or annul their other rights and liberties ; because a
monopoly of the earth by a portion of mankind is no more
justifiable than would be the monopoly of air, light, heat, or
water; and because the rental of the laud (which justly belongs
to the whole people) would form a national fuud adequate to
defray all charges of the public service, execute all needful
public works, and educate the population, without the neces-
sity for any taxation."

This amendment was supported by a considerable number of
delegates, in the course of a long discussion.

Mr. Biggar, M.P., for his part, while believing that the
land laws of France and Germany were immeasurably superior
to those of England, thought that a system of tak'ng land,
from Government by the year would be a ruinous and injuri-
ous one, as then the occupier would have no inducement to
improve his land. Uuder the circumstances he therefore
advised the Conference to support the resolution. Oilier
speakers having followed,

Mrs. Besant, who was received with applanse^said she
should support the resolution, and not the amendment, which
was in favour of nationalisation of the laud. She admitted
that the latter was the true theory supposing they had a new
country in which to begin, but it would be impossible to bring

such an idea into force all of a sudden in an old country. No
reasonable man could think of confi>c»tion, so that onlv the
plan of purchase remained. The rental of the United King-
dom was n> less than £20^000,000, so that at least
£4,000,000,000 would have to be raised for the purchase money.
It had been said that the land would get back into the hands
of capitalists, who olten paid more for it than it whs worth tor
the sake of the position it gave them ; but by destroying the
laws of primogeniture and entail they would do away with all
such motives. Nationalisation was not now possible, but the
programme in the resolution was possible, and would lead to
nationalisation.

After a few words from Mr. Bradlaugh on the subject of
h'S resolution, the latter was passed by a large majority, and
the amendment consequently thrown ont.

A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the proceedings.

In the evening a meeting, consisting of upwards of 5,000
persons, was held in the St. James's Great Hall, when Alder-
man Gurnet, Mayor of Northampton, occupied the chair.
The meeting was exceedingly orderly throughout, and charac-
terised by great unanimity in every portion of the proceedings-
In the interval previous to the appearance of the chairmani
those present sang with the utmost heartiness a " Song of the
Lower Classes," a somewhat satirical ditty, of which the
following is trie chorus to the first verse, and a specimen of
its tone throughout :—

We're not too low the grain to sow,
But too low the bread to eat.

The Chairman, Mr. Bradlaugh, Mr. Joseph Arch, and
other well-known land law reformers were, as they stepped on to
the platform, received with enthusiastic applause, which con -
tinued some time after they had taken their seats.

The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, after con-
gratulating the meeting on the'snccess of the Conference held
in the morning, said he hope! that as the agricultural
labourers had shown so much political activity of late the
franchise would soon be extended to them. He felt much
pleasure in taking part in this agitation, because it was to
obtain a radical change in laws which were framed by the land-
owners themselves in their own interests and not in the
interests of the people at large.

Mr. Joseph Aeoh then moved—

"That in the opinion of this meeting it is absolutely
necessary for the obtaining a radical reform of the land laws
that the proposals of Mr. G. O. Trevelyan for the extension
of the county franchise, and of Sir C. Dilke for a redistribution
of seats, should be passed into law without delay."
He said that if reform was to be brought about in this country,
it must first spring from the industrial classes. He had no
fear that when the working classes took up any measures of
reform they would not have the power to carry it out, if they
believed it would be for their good and the good of the country
at large. They should also expect that when the working
men of England obtained the franchise, the same privilege
would be extended to their Irish brethren. As it was admitted
that the best soldiers were drawn from the agricultural
labouring class, they should also have something to say in the
matter of wars.. He then submitted the resolution to the
meeting.

Mr. Bryson, president of the Northumberland miners,
seconded the resolution.

An amendment by Mr.. C. G. Murray to make the resolution
one filing for manhood suffrage and are distribution of seats
was thrown ont, and after some remarks from Dr. E. B.
Aveling, the original resolution was carried, with only two
dissentients.

Mr. Michael Davjtt, who was received with enthusiastic
cheering and long-continued applause,, after thanking the
audience for their kind reception of him, said— I am speaking
to this audience under very serious circumstances. On the
other side of the Channel,, in that land you have heard so
much of recently, I am generally accompanied by a band of
Government shorthand writers, so I charitably assume that
her Majesty's Government, and that gentleman who wields
the destinies of the British Empire, wish to be educated on
Irish matters. Although he may benefit by such edacation
I must say that the process of educating the English Govern,
ment is not * wn feasant one in Ireland, because if I succeed

Ite

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

in crossing the Channel between this and Saturchy I shall
have to plead guilty or not guilty in the courts of Dublin on
the charge of havin? used seditious Iansuage in the we-t of
Ireland last year. Well, the language I used in the west of
Ireland, and for which I shall sta^'d my trial, I repeat here
to-niiht. At a meeting in the county Sligo some shcirt time
ago I declared my opinion as an Irishman that rent for land
was an immoral tax upon the industry of the people, and that
landlordism wss a huge conspiracy against humanity and
labour. I repeat that language here to-night, and I further
declare that landlordism is a huge robbery, and a robbery
which we in Ireland are determined to put an end to. In the
past history of our country we have had to appeal to the
English House of Commous, an assembly of landsharks
and a senate of idle aristocrats. And how have we been
treated? Why, treated with the contempt that a begging
policy merits, so we Irishmen have resolved at last we will
beg no more. Having prefaced my very short speech with
these remarks, I will fulfil the duty I have to do to-night, to
explain to you the objects of the National Land League.
Some twelve months ago an agitation was started in Ireland
against the system of landlordism, and it had two objects in
view. The first was to call upon the laDdlonls to reduce their
rents, and the second was to call upon the Government that
unfortunately wields the destinies of Ireland to abolish that
system at once and for ever. The platform of the Irish
National Land League is simply this— to aboli-h that feudal
system called landlordism, and to give over all the
land of Ireland to the Irish people, to whom it belongs.
The League will advocate this for Irishmen, it is also
willing to extend its sympathy and its aid to any
other people similarly situated with regard to landlords, and
I feel proud, gentlemen, as an enemy of your Government in
Ireland, to stand upon a platform composed of the \v irking
men of England. We in Ireland look upon this land question
as one of labour and humanity, aud are resolved to advocate
it in any county where a member of it may stand. The pre-
sident of our League is in Americi. And no matter how
much he may be abused by the organs of the aristocrats in
England and by her Majesty's Government, he is working in
America for the interests of humanity and labour, and he will
return to Ireland and to the House of Commons bringing back
with him the sympathy of 40,000,000 free citizeus of the
great Republic of America, lie will not be found wanting if
the labourers and the artisans of England require an advocate
on an English platform. Another wish of the League is this
—we want to conduct the people of Ireland into the belief
that their land was not created for 2,000 or 3,000 Ihzj Irish
landlords. We want to tell them that the land was crated
like the sunshiueand the air, not made to be taxed by rent.
We want to tell them, while educiting them on this queslion
that the only way to grapple with the land monopoly, and
crush class privilege and caste government, is — combination.
We want to combine our people in a manly open organisation
until the land monopoly is seized by the throat and compelled
to disgorge the stolen heritage of a sovereign people. In
England and in Scotland, notwithstanding your superior educa-
tion and civilisation — we are a little ahead of you in this land
reform, and we go in for the total abolition of landlordism —
because that system is responsible for every ill, for every crime
committed in Ireland ; and what do we find now in this noon-
day of the nineteenth century of civilisation ? We find our
country for the third time in this century face to face with
famine, created principally by the operations of this accursed
lanu system. If the English and Irish peoples understood
each other better they would not allow an aristocratic House
of Lords or an assemblage of landsharks like the House of
Commons to rob them both. I will then ask you Englishmen
to go on parallel lines with us in Ireland, and declare from
henceforth unceasing war against land monopoly and land-
lordism in the three countries.

It was then unanimously resolved —

" That this meeting of Englishmen expresses its warmest
sympathy with the Irish National League in its efforts to
destroy feudalism, and plant the Irish people upon the soil of
their native land.'

Mr. Ball moved, and Mr. Rusden seconded —

"That this meeting earnestly requests the members of the
House of Commons to attend in their places on March 2,
and there support Mr. 1'. A. Taylor's u.otion against the Game
Laws."

Mr. O'Si'LLiv.vN, in supporting the reiolu'ion, spoke
strousjly in favour of an extended franchise, and said that the
present state of things with regard to land would continue
until the working men had more representatives in the House
of Commons.

The resolution was unanimously carried.

The following motion was then put forward by Mr.
Bradi.aigh, seconded by Mrs. Besast, and supported by
Mr. Stubs : -

"That this meeting approves the formation of a Land Law
Reform League for the purpose of agititing for a radical
reiorm iu the. land laws of this country."

The resolution being identical with that passed at the
Conterence, and the arguments used almost the same, it would
be of no further public interest to publish the arguments
used.

The customary vote of thanks closed the proceedings.

LECTURE ON THE LAND LAWS. — On February
4th a lecture was delivered in the Corn Exchange
Roches'er, by Mr. T. Avehng, M.I.C.E., on the suhject of the
land laws. The Exchange was filled, and the lecturer was
supported on the platform by the Mayor, who presided, Alder-
man Tribe, the Rev. R. Whiston, Messrs. Belsey, Warue,
Toomer, &.c. In the lecture, which occupied an hour and a
half in delivery, Mr. Aveling in an able manner, dealt with
the existing laws o' entail, settlement, mortmain, primogeni-
ture, and those relating to the transfer of landed property, j»s
showing how, in their operation, they all tended to increase
the burdens on land, and in preventing its realy sale and
transfer operated most injuriously in their effects. The
lecturer whose remarks were frequently applauded, was at the
close of the lecture awarded an unanimous vote of thanks, on
the proposition of Mr. Belsey, seconded by Alderman Tribe.
In returning thanks, Mr. Aveling remarked that his lecture
that evening had been devoted to the. aspect of the land ques-
tion from the landowners' side, but he trusted shortly to
deliver another lectnre, dealing with it from the side of the
tenant occupier — a statement which was greeted with applause.
On the proposition of the Rev. R. Whistoo (who intimated
that he dissented from some of the views of the lecturer),
seonded by Mr. Tooner, a vote of thanks was given to the
Mcayor for presiding, and his worship having replied, the
proceedings terminated.

HEALTH IN MIDDLE AGE.— At the age of thirty-five
man kind, according to some eminent authorities, is said to
have reached the. meridian of life, while others name forty as
the number ot years we take to reach the hill-top of our
earthly existence. But be this as it may," no one who has
taken the ordinary means to preserve his health in youth and
early manhood should feel other than young at the age of
foaty-five, from which period until that of sixty, if life be
spared to us, we shall do well to consider ourselves middle-
aged, and to adopt greater precautions for the preservation of
health and consequent happiness than might have been deemed
necessary when youth was on our side. And if this is done,
the period of middle age should he one of the greatest activity,
of both body and mind. What though the hairs are turning
grey ? that but shows one has suffered sorrow and survived it,
or that, sorrow apart, he is a man who thinks. And what
though the limbs be not quite so nimble? Calm enjoyments
foster thought and generate habits of that true temperance
which conduces to long life and contentment more than any-
thing else in the world ; and whatever some may say to the
contrary, I maintain that the desire to live long is inhereut in
every healthy sane man or women. To die of old age is the
only natural death, and, if death may ever be said to be
pleasant, the only pleasant one. Though younger than some
of my professional brethren still in harness, I have neverthe-
less seen death in very many shapes and forms, and in
almost every case I have found the aged more resigned to the
inevitable than those less advanced in years. For a well-spent
life is like a well-spent day ; at its close theie is a wish for
rest. — " The Family Doctor."

The right sort of husband will always insure his life ;. ill
gives his successor a good start.

THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE.

loo

THE DEPRESSION IN AGRICULTURE
AND TRADE.

The following is a portion of an address delivered by
Mr. E. Cazilet, one of the candidates for Mid- Kent, at a
meeting held at Maidstone on Feb. 2nd: —

1 have been requested by raauy of ray friends, electors of
this constituency, to give an address on the Depression of
Trade and Agriculture, and the causes which have contributed
to make that depression so protracted, and so severely felt as
has, unfortunately, been the case in this country. The subject
is far too wide in its bearings to be dealt with
in a spirit of party polemics ; it is, moreover,
owing to the abstruse nature of some of the questions con-
nected with it, not easy to treat of before a mixed audience.
S nee the time when men began to multiply upon the earth,
the manifold questions and doubts to which the laws connpnted
with trade ami agriculture give rise have formed an uninter-
rupted source of debate and contention. Some of them remain
unsolved to the present day. If, then, in compliance with the
wishes of many here present, I attempt to put before you on
this occasion the different influences which, in my opinion,
bear prejudicially upon the industrial population, I (eel sure
that you will extend towards me that generous forbearance
which the difficulty of handling such a subject in a popular
manner obliges me to claim of you. The causes which influence
commerce and agriculture prejudicially may be divided under
three he-ids : First, there are causes for which those engaged
in industrial operations are themselves responsible; secondly,
there are causes which are beyond human control ; and thirdly,
there are causes which Governments regulate, and for which
Governments are mainly responsible.

Now you will find that the causes of depression for which
the industrial portion of the population may be held to be
mainly responsible can never refer to a geueral depression
throughout the country. They are limited to certain special
trades and industries, and are generally caused either by undue
competition leading to excessive supplies, or by some new dis-
covery creating an important modification in any special trade,
or, it may be, by successful combinations which tend to divert
commerce from its former channels, and force it into new
ones. Under this head, I will only say that in so far as these
local and limited depressions are owing to some useful dis-
covery, such as Edison's light may prove, or to such success-
ful combinations as Co-operative Associations, the results to
individuals may be injurious and unmerited, but to the country
at large they can only be advantageous. Anything that tends
to cheapen the necessaries of life to the great mass of the
population cannot be otherwise than beneficial. Individual
interests may suffer in these casess ; but all that manulacturers
and tradesmen can do, under such circumstances, is to endea-
vour to modify their business so as to bring it into harmony
with the wants and interests of the people.

The second category of causes to which I have to al ude are
causes beyond our control. The farmers, probably more than
any other class of society, have c.use to feel their depen-
dence on Providence. The seasons are not in their
hand. The farmer may sow and till, but he can never
be sere of the increase. On the other hand, no intelli-
gent agriculturist wih deny that with good soil, suitable
farm buildings, and all the appliances which modern
science offers, a farmer who understands his business can
make himself to a very great extent independent of bad seasons.
It is not bad seasons to which the present prolonged depression
in agriculture is mainly to be attributed, but foreign competi-
tion. There are besides, no doubt, difficulties of a local nature,
which agriculture in this country has to contend against ; and
before passiug to the question of foreign competition I may
reter to these difficulties. Highly taxed and rented as the
farmer is, his occupation has necessarily beco-ne a scientific
one. The old methods of agriculture are giving way to high
class farming; and for this a knowledge of all that science
contributes in rela'iou to such subjects as the nutrition of
plants and animals, the rotation of crops, and the mechanical
cultiuation of the soil, is necessary. Is it possible for a farmer
to obtain an education for his sons in England at a reasonable
cost in such subjects ? In France, Belgium, and Germany,
agricultural colleges exist, receiving State assistance. Nothing
of the kind, however, exists in Eugland. Farmers should see

that their interests in this respect are no longer neglected.
Again, the conditions of the tenure of land in this couutry
are such that for the most part the, interest of the
tenant tanner in the soil is not sufficiently securpd to
him to induce him either to undertake permanent
improvements in the method of cultivation, or to en-
deavour gradually to ameliorate the qualiy of the soil.
By far the larger proportion of land in England is held by
yearly tenants, and the tendency in many cases under such a
tenure is towards a gradual working out and impoverishment
of the soil. Mr. Clare Sewell Read states that something like
three-fourths of the agricultural tenancies of the country are
merely yearly tenancies. In other words, out of twenty-four
million acres — the cultivated area of England — probibly about
sixteen million acres are held on this tenure. As a consequence
of this, and of other unsatisfactory conditions in our land
economy, a viry large proportion of the soil in England is
either not drained at all, or not properly drained. Mr. Bailey
Denton estimates that only two million acres have been drained
ont of twenty millions which require'draining. This may be an
exaggerated estimate, but with respect to improvements
generally, including drainage, we have the statement of Mr.
Caird, endorsed by a Committee of the House of Lords, iu
1873, to the effect that we have accomplished only one-filth of
the improvements that are necessarv. Now, if the highly
rented and heavily taxed farmers of Great Britian are to com-
pete with American agriculturists., it is clear that more capital
must hs able to find its way to the land, and it is impossible to
avoid coming to the conclusion that the artificial conditions of
our land system constitute very considerable drawbacks to the
progress of agriculture.

To deal radically with this evil, it is not sufficient that
landlords should meet their tenants with a temporary reduction
of 10 or 20 per cent, of their rent. That kind of arrangement
is derogatory to the position of an independent farmer ; and at
best, it is only a palliative. What is wanted is, that the Legis-
lature should grapple seriously with the difficult question of
Land Tenure, and remove the conditions which tend to prevent
more capital being brought to the cultivation of the soil. At
an agricultural dinner not long ago I heard a great landlord
say that to give advice to farmers was like teaching one's
grandmother to suck eggs. The noble lord stated this with so
much emphasis as to lead one to infer that his experiences in
this direction must have been really unhappy ; but as your
candidate for Mid-Kent I am bound to tell you my opinions
on these subjects, if you wish to know them. Well, placing
myself in the position of a tenant farmer, the first question I
should put to myself would be — have I sufficient capital to
work this farm to advantage ? If I could not answer this
question conscientiously in the affirmative, then I should make
up my mind either to look out for a smaller farm, or give up
farming in this country. If, however, a farmer has sufficient
capital at his disposal, say £15, or at any rate not less than £10
per acre, then I believe the game is in his own hands. Provi-
dence, which has hit him hard during the last year or
two, has given him this great advantage, that he is
now in a better position than he ever was to make
satisfactory terms with his landlord. The terms I should
recommend would be based on the following principles : —
First, that he should have nothing whatever to do with
ordinary tithes. Ordinary tithes are a tax upon the land ; the
land belongs to the landlord, and a tenant farmer should have
nothing whatever to do with this tax. Let the farmer pay a
fair rent to his landlord, so long as he holds the land, and let
the landlords and the tithes take care of themselves together.
In contradistinction, however, to ordinary tithes, the extra-
ordinary tithes are directly a farmer's, and not a landlord's
question; and I think no efforts should be wanting on the
part of the farmers to obtain the repeal of this tax. What-
ever may have been the circumstances under which they were
imposed, they are entirely at variance with all the principles
of Free Trade. They are not likely to be repealed without
some difficulty, because some other source will require to be
found from which to indemnify the clergy who are the re-
cipients of these tithes. This is one of the questions which,
as a farmer myself, I should like to make a test question at the
next election. Secondly, I would say to the farmer, stipulate
for an equal right with your iandlord to shoot ground game ;
or else give up your right to shoot only on consideration of a
reduction in your rent. Thirdly, endeavour to get inserted

1W

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

in your agreempnts some fair clause for remuneration
for unexhausted improvements in case of your leaving
the farm. Take as the basis of your agreements
the lease lately granted by the Earl of Fife to his
tenantry. The Earl is the owner of 25t>,000 acres, and he
has set a good example. Its conditions are sensible and
liberal, and with slight modifications may be made the basis of
a fair understanding between landlord and tenant throughout
the country. For these simple changes, the farmsr should not
wait tor legislative enactments. The right ol private contract
is open to every Englishman. You have powerful associa-
tions ; club together and make your own terms. The wheel
of fortune has placed the ball at your feet ; give it a good
kick in the right direction. Whilst in the way of giving
advice, I should like to add one more important item. Try
and induce some tenant farmer to stand for the county.
There are, I believe, a million farmers throughout the
country. How are they represented? I believe you have
only one representative. There are probably some thirty,
forty, or fi'ty thousand landlords in the country. How are
they represented? You, the electors, doubtless know; I
only hope you will give me an opportunity of calculating
how many there are. If you cinnot succeed in finding one,
why th n perhaps the next ue4 thing you can do is to choose
me. Hiving argued that agricultural depression is the result
of foreign competition, rather than of bad harvests, Mr.
Cazalet proceeded at great length to urge that American com-
petition is not the legitimate off-pring of F>ee Trade, but the
result of a state of war in America, followed by a forced [,aper
curesrency.

PURCHASE AND SALE OF STOCK BY

WEIGHT.

By J. B. Laves, F.R.S., L.L.D.

The profession of the farmer is full of uncertainties. The
weather is uncertain, the action of manures is uncertain, the
yield of crops is uncertain, and the price that the farmer
obtains for his produce is also uncertain.

Possibly, in consequence of the farmer being compelled to
carry on his business iu the midst of all these uncertainties,
he may have become indifferent as to there being one or two,
more or less, and so has neglected the adoption of a system
which would make some cf his operations less liable to risk.
The whole aim and object of science as applied to agriculture
is to explain, and bring within the sphere of human know-
ledge, the various operations which constitute the business of
farming. Considerable progress has been made in regard to
our knowledge of the various substances which constitute the
food of both animals and plants, and from the results already
attained we may confidently expect that a fuller explanation,
and in consequence, a solution of the uncertainties which per-
plex the present race of farmers, will be brought within the
practical knowledge of the next generation ; nor need we
despair of some important aids from meteorology in reducing
to greater certainty the forecasts of the weather.

THE USE OF SCALES.

I hare already called attention to the uncertainties con-
nected with one of the most important branches of a farmer's
business — I allude to the neglect of the use of scales in the
purchase and sale of stock. The act of purchasing by weight
is bo universal in all ordiuary commercial transactions, that
we can hardly realise how immense is the saving ot time
effected by this process, quite apart from its affording the
certain information of the actual value of any bargain, as
soon as the price per pound or per ton is settled.

Let us suppose, by way of illustration, the case of an im-
porter of sugar and a wholesale grocer meeting together in
one of the Docks in London ; each with a fair knowledge of
the value of sugar per pound, but quite ignorant of the weight
of the various hogsheads spread out before them. Conceive
the amount of time that would be wasted by their proceeding
to calculate and guess at the contents of the hogshead, instead
of at once settling the question by an appeal to the scales !
Would not such a process render business, if not impossible,
at all events most tedious and unsatisfactory P let if we
place our hogsheads upon four legs, give them each a head
and tail, call them bullocks, and then transfer the scene to a
market, we shall have a transaction very similar to that

which I have been illustrating. Weight tor weight, the
value of the ox and sheep per pound is much greater than
that of snggr; but, while in the docks the purchase and sale
is closed at once by reference to the scales, iu the market the
guessing may be carried on during the whole day !

I have frequently asked farmers on what their estimate of
value is based as regards stock, apart from quality, and I
gather that it is formed, not on the weight of the animal at
the time of the purchase, but on the possible weight which the
farmer thinks the animal may arrive at when fat.

I will endeavour now to show, by a few illustrations why
the buyer should only consider how much he can give per pound
for the actual weight of the animal at the time of purchase,
and that this alone should be the basis of his dealing.

A short time ago I purchased 30 Hereford oxen of good
quality; the price was £16 10s. per head, and they weighed
on the average 8 rwt. 171b., or 9131b. ea«h. I estimated that
each 1001b. live weight would contain 521b. carcase, the oxen
cost therefore 4jd. per lb. live weight, or between 8il. and
8|d. per lb. for the butchers' meat. At the end of last year
I purchased another lot of Herefords, of equally good quality,
for which 1 had to pay £17 4s. each, and the average live
weight was 8751b. I therefore paid 14». more per head for
the lot, and I received 381b. less live weight, which at 4^rl.
per lb. is equal to an additional 13s. id. Now, assuming t hat
both these lots ol oxen were offered for the same price iu the
market, I cannot conceive that any one could, either oy the
process of punching the ribs, or of staring at the animals
from rooming to night, have detf c'ed a difference of 381b. per
head in their weight, which is equivalent to 13s. 4d. in money
and yet people will be found to haggle ail day over even a les
sum than this !

[ maintain that in a dispute of this sort, the necessary
knowledge to decide whether these oxen were worth 10s. or
15s. per bead more or less, was not in the possession of either
buyers or sellers, and that nothing but a reference to the scales
could decide the question.

Assuming that the food of an animal costs more than
the meat produced by such food is worth, and that the
outlay can only be recovered by charging some value to
the manure, it will be evident that the cjst at which this
manure is obtained will be greatly affected by the price of the
store animal.

Let us take the case of a farmer who has purchased a lot of
store sheep at 55s. per head. After cutting 5s. worth of wool
from each, he places them in the scales, and finds they average
100 lb. live weight, and have therefore cost him Gd. per lb.f
while from their being very poor in condition, he considers
that of the gross weight) not more than 501b. is butchers'
meat, the other 501b. being offal. He has therefore paid 1*.
per lb. for his meat, for which he will probably only obtain
9 J. ; lie must therefore feed his sheep until each has put on
17lbs. more meat, in order to make them worth the price that
he gave for them in the first instance, and allowing for an in-
crease of offal, corresponding to the 171b. of meat, he must
add about 301b. to each sheep's weight-, a process which will
take from three to four months of good •eeding.

During this preriod his animals will not have increased in
value one halfpenny ; all that they will have effected will have
been the turning of so much food, of more or less value, into
manure.

The cost of the store stock is a most important element in
the economy of a farm, and in certain circumstances, as, for
instance, in the case of those who occupy grazing land, store
stock must be purchased whatever be the price ; in other
c.ises, however, where they are not a necessity, if the farmer
could buy his store stock by weight, he would often decline trans-
actions which he now carries out tor want of a clear notion of
what will be the result, as he would find it cheaper to substi-
tute artificial manures for that made by the process of feeding
animals.

I now come to the transaction between the farmer and the
butcher, and whatever 1 have said against the process of guess-
ing, and of the necessity ot selling by weight in reference to
store stock, applies with tenfold force when the former comes
to sell his fat stock. The seller of store stock is quite
as ignoraut of the weight of the animals as the purchaser, but
in the case of fat stock the farmer and the butcher are not on
an equality.
Some time ago I was offered by some London butchers £24

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

157

p<r head for a lot of Hereford oxen, the pries of bee/ be:ng at
the lime 6s. per SLo., or 'Jd. per pound. A» I had taken the.
live weight of these animals I knew they were worth more
than the price offered, and thought it would be a favourable
opportunity for convincing farmers how much they lose by the
present process of sale.

I accordingly sent round to the neighbouring butchers and
offered to sell the oxen by the carcase at 5s. 9rl. per 81h.,
on condition that they should he killed and weighed on my
own farm.

The following table gives the highest and lowest percentage
ef the unfasted and fasted live weight of any one animal ; the
carcase weight in 81b. and 141b. ; and also the average of the
twelve oxen.

FRRMING IN MANITOBA.

Highest of any 1 ox.
Lowest of anv 1 ox...
Average of 12 oxeD..

jj

+$

Tl ■Sl

o. -o

S '«

« 2

g*

a

&*

CB t.

P s

>

^ a.

O n

—

— '

a.

per cent.

per cent.

62

61

95.6

54.10

54.7

57

85.4

48.12

56.3

60

90.5£

51.11

Now it i8 evident that althongh by the offer of £24 for my
bullocks I was supposed to be receiving 6s. per 81b., I was
actually only receiving 5s. 6d., or £2 5s. per head less than
their value, as estimated by the London butchers. The weight
of the offal varied from 4471b. to 5151b. Tlie weight of each
iseparate part has been taken, and could be furnished if re-
quired. Almost the whole of these have some market value,
and, from information supplied to me, I am disposed to think
that in the case, of these oxen it would amount to about £3 10s.
per head. It is usually supposed that the profit of the butcher
is obtained by the sale of the offal, and the price per pound
that he adds to the meat over and above what he has paid to
the owner of the stock. It is evident, however, that the
owner does not obtain the full value of his animals, owing to
his ignorance of their weight.

Some years ago, in anticipation of the great changes which
have since taken place in the price of corn and the cost of
labour, both of which changes appeared to me to be probable,
before they actually occurred, I laid down a good deal of land
in permanent pasture, and have now considerably more than a
hundred head of cattle on my farm. I have, therefore, in
common with other farmers, a pecuniary interest in all that
relates to stock, and when I say that I am placed at a distinct
disadvantage, both in the purchasing and selling of stock,
because the transactions are not made by weight, I am merely
saying now what will be universally admitted in a very short
time.

Without making the sale of stock by weight compulsory, I
see no reason why those who receive tolls where fairs and
markets for live stock are held should not be compelled to
erect a public weigh-bridge, so as to enable those who prefer
it to sell by weight, and thus avoid the uncertainty which is
entailed by the present system of guessing. — Ipswich Journal.

HOW HE LOVED HER!— She came into the office
smiling and beautiful. George and she were engaged, and
George had a case. He had a galley of solid nonpareil on
his frame, which he was about to lock up and prove. George,
blushing like a girl, shook her hand, and called her his
darling. She eyed the galley, and smiled sweeter than before.
" Doddy, dear," she said, still eyeing the gralley of nonpareil,
"are them the things you print with P " " Yes, darling,"
said Doddy, feelingly. She swept her taper fingers over the
matter, squabbling the entire galley. ''Bless you, my
darling ! " said George, chokingly, the perspiration pouring
down his face. She looked up at him and said : " Why,
Doddv, dear, it's all in little pieces, ain't it ? " " Yes, love,"
said George, gently taking her hand, and leading her towards
the door. "Good bye, darling," he said. "Bye-bye,
Doddy ; be sure ycu come to-night." " Dear me," she
soliloquised, "how George loves me! He nearly sobbed
when I touched those funny little bits of thingummies."
George, moodily : " I wish all women were in — heaven.'

Mr. James Riddel I, son of .Mr. W. Rid Jell, of Huudalu,
Scotland, writes from Manitoba, to the North British
Agriculturist : —

I have noticed several articles on Manitoba and the
North-West Territory in the newspapers, from people
who have only taken a short trip to this country.
They have given a very fair description of the country.
Perhaps a few facts from one who ha3 been nearly three
years farming here may be ihe means of inducing others
to follow his example and come ont.

Manitoba and the North-West Territory comprise
millions of acres of land, nearly all, with a little draining
or ditching, capable of growing wheat, oats, barley, and
roots. The choice lands of Manitoba are mostly taken
upas homesteads, or bought from Government ; but there
has been surveyed a large part of the North-West Terri-
tory, immediately beyond the boundary, which is thrown
open for homestead entry on the same terras as in this
province. Many fine farms can be bought in good settle-
ments, convenient to water carriage, on reasonable terms.
Those who are desirous of selling are mostly in need of
cash, and would rather go West, where land cm be had
cheaper. These farms, with about 20 acres under culti-
vation, with dwelling-house and stables, can be had at
from 300 to 600 dols. per acre. To my mind, this is the
cheapest as well as the most convenient way of procuring
land, as, with wheat selling at 90 cents per bushel, and
oats at 50 cents, in a few years the crop would pay the
purchase. For any one who does not wish more than
1,000 acres or so of land, Manitoba is the place ; but
those going in for large tracts of land must go to the
North-West Territory. The soil is a rich black loam,
from one foot to three feet thick. Some of the old
settlers claim to have grown wheat on the same land for
fifteen or twenty years in succession without manuring ;
but I have noticed their crops are not to be compared
with those on land more recently reclaimed. At the
same time, my belief is that if they had manured their
land judiciously, their crops would have been as good to-
day as during the first years.

Previous to this, I thought winter was the most enjoy-
able season of the year, but the thermometer at 50 deg.
below zero makes me think the two months of mosquitoes
in summer are not so bad after all. The fall is by far the
most pleasant time of the year. Cattle thrive well on
the prairie, in fact they get fat when protected from flies.
In winter they keep their condition on marsh hay or good
oat straw, if good shelter is provided. Sheep do nearly
as well as cattle, but timothy and clover would please
them better. I may say that fourteen acres were seeded
here last year with timothy and clover, and it looked like
doing well before snow covered it. Horses, when
attended to, and fed properly with oats and marsh hay, do
well enough; but many farmers have lost them through
feeding on hay alone, and working them at the same time.
We have had four horses and had no trouble. There is"
no doubt that oxen are much cheaper to begin with, but
where long trips are necessary they are tedious. A good
farm horse is worth 150 dols.— about the same price as a
good yoke of oxen.

It may be interesting to know the regular routine of
work carried on on a farm here, so I will consult Diary
of 1879. '

During January, February, and March we were engaged
cutting and drawing rails and posts for fencing ; drawing
and cutting firewood for winter and summer use • cutting
drawing, and flattening logs for building; cutting and
drawing logs to mill for sawing into lumber ; drawing
wheat to mill ; trip to town for summer supplies ; thrash-
ing crop, and daily attendance on stock. The coldest day

158

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

of the 9ea9on iraa 23 h February. Thaw set in 4th April
about oue foot of snow disappearing in a couple of days
Commenced sowing wheat 19th April, and ploughing
stubble; finished seeding by sowing barley 15th May.
Fences were put up as soon as the ground was sufficiently
soft for driving posts in. Ploughed prairie from 4ih June
to 10th July; sowed turnips 7th June. In June, as
usual, we had a heavy fall of rain. Began cutting marsh
hay on 13th July ; 4th August began harvest. After
harvest, hay on dry prairie was cut for sheep feed during
winter; this hay being finer, sheep eat it better than the
marsh hay. Ploughed stubble and turned back June
breaking, till frost set in on 25th November. Snow came
on two weeks later, and still lies. December was the
coldest month we have had since coining to the country,
the thermometer being as low as 50 degs. below zero.
Little could be done but attending to the stock. Crops
thrashed out well, — 18 acres of wheat yielding 600
bushels; 32 acres of oats 1,590 bushels; 7 acres of
barley 280 busheK The wheat would have been better,
but part of it got flooded with water.

We are all looking forwnrd for the reports of the
tenant- farmers' delegates who were out last summer. We
feel confident they will recommend men with from £300
to £1,000 of capital to come here. Along with money,
they should be willing, as well as able, to put their hauds
to anything.

ABOUT A PATENT MILK PAIL.— The home of Mr.
Gosraan, in Orange County, lies in the track of the summer
pedlars, and is constantly visited by them. Mr. Gosman is a
respectable milk person, who, with the help of thirty-seven
cows, sends a very large quantity of milk to the market.
Though duriDg the six months from the 1st of May to the 1st
of November, an average number of five pedlars and two-thirds
call on him with articles for sale, he rarely buys anything.
Still being a kind-hearted and just man, he never drives the
pedlar from his door with violence, and it is only when he is
uuusually busy that he sets the dogs on an intrusive pedlar, or
reminds Mrs. Gosman to throw boiling water on him. There
was nevertheless one pedlar whom Mr. Gosman rather liked.
He was a pleasant-faced and cheerful fellow, who never de-
scended to auything as low as lightning rods or as exasperating
as subscription books, but who occasionally offered for sale
articles that were not wholly useless, arid who always dealt
liberally and fairly with his customers. For example, he once
sold to a neighbour of Mr. Gosman a small monkey-wrench,
and when the purchaser objected that he never had any mon-
keys to wrench with it, the pedlar offered to procure for him
a gross of monkeys of the proper size, at the wholesale price.
It is true that the offer was not accepted, but that it was made
is a proof of the pedlar's anxiety to please his patrons. One
day last October this comparatively tolerable pedlar made his
last visit for the season to Mr. Gosman's house, and was per-
mitted to engage in conversation with the owner thereof. It
so happened that Mr. Gosman, who always milked his own
cows, was at that precise time in an unusually gloomy con-
dition. He had that very morning witnessed the loss of seven
pailfuls of milk, which had been kicked over by depraved cows,
and he felt the loss severely. The pedlar, seeing his oppor-
tunity, produced from his waggon a patent milk pail, which he
said he had invented himself, with an especial eye to Mr. Gos-
man's cows. It was certainly a most ingenious affair. When
not in use, it shut np in such a way as to occupy a very small
space, and when properly expanded, by means of spriugs, it
not only had a capacity of four gallons, but it served as a seat,
thus doing away with the old-fashioned milking stool. The
pedlar lectured on this invention at some length showing that
it would be impossible for any cow to kick over a pail on
which Mr. Gosman — who weighed 211 pounds — was seated.
The result was that lie sold his pail, and Mr. Gosmau was so
much pleased with it that he ordered six more, to be delivered at

the earliest opportunity. The next morning the pail was put in
use. Mr. Gosman expanded it, sat on it, and milked seven
consecutive c ws with perfect satisfaction to himself. The
eighth cow was an animal of mucli prowess, who had kicked
over a score of pails in her day, besides several milkmaids. Mr.
Gosman approached her, smiling as he thought how completely
the new pail would thwart her wicked design?. He sat dowu
on the pail, and filled it nearly half full of milk without an
accident. At last, however, the cow fancied that fhe saw her
opportunity, and after demoralising Mr. Gosman by switching
her tail into his eyes, she dealt the pail a tremendous kick.
Unhappily, her hoof hit the very spring that kept the pail ex-
panded. Without a moment's warning the civer of the pail
sank under Mr. Gosman's weight, while the sides clasped him
with an inexorable grasp. Being thus firmly htld, he was
danced upon to some extent by the hilarious cow, and when
her enthusiasm cooled and he gathered himself up, he was
ready to go home and reflect, in the seclusion of his room, on
the merits of the milk-piil. That diabolical machine could
not be induced to release him, and as he walked slowly home-
ward he excited a good deal of speculation, it being the
opinion of most people who saw him that he was on his way
to advise the editor of the local newspaper how to couduct his
journal, and had wisely adopted an ironclad style of dress wi'h
a view to contingencies. Mr. Gosman is now awaiting the
return of the pedlar with the other half-dozen pails. If tint
pealar should happen to see this copy of the Times, he will be
able to save his funeral expenses; hut perhaps it would be
just as well for him to call on Mr. Gosmau and ask him how
he liked the pateut pail. — New York Times.

TOO MANY GIRLS.— "Them girL'll be the death of
me," sighed Mr. Tlug this morning, as he came up street ,
' Why, I thought they were very nice girls," said a
sympathizing friend. " So they are nice enough, but there'
too many of 'em an' they are too attractive," said the dis
consolate patriarch. " Them three daughters of mine were
enough in all conscience, but now my niece is np here from
Boston, and it seems as if the old scratch had got into 'em.
I don't object to young people havin' a good time, and girls
having beaux and all that, but when it comes to havin
sparkin' going on all over the place, damme it's too bad," said
Mr. Plug, unconsciously quoting from Pinafore " Last night
Sue had a feller courtin' her at the tront gate, and Julia had
her chap in the parlo*, and when I got ready to go to bed,
bless me if Andromanche (that's my niece from Boston)
didn't 'r'ave a young start spoouing ou the stiirs. She says
that's Newport style. Cuss sich nonsense ! I couldn't get
up stairs to go to bed without climbiu' over 'em. I thought
I'd go out to the barn and sleep on the hay, but durn my
pictur if I didn't fall over Milly and some young snoozer
'nother settin' in the barn door. This thing's got to stop
before the cold weather, for I can't afford wood and carrysene
for any sich nonsense when it's too cold for outdoor
sparkin'."

BROKEN TO HARNESS.—" It's astonishing," remarked
the old forty-niner this morning as he nodded over his glass to our
reporter, " it's astonishing " what a coward a man is at home
— a regular crawling sneak, by Jove ! I've travelled a good
bit and held up my end in most o' the camps on the coast
sence '49. I've got three bullets inside o' me. I've shot an'
been shot at, an' never heard nobody say I hadn't as good grit
as most fellers that's goiti'. But at home I'm a kyote. Afore
I'd let the old woman know that her hot biscuit wasn't Al
wheu its like stiff amalgrara, I'd fill myself as full as a retort.
I've done it lots o' times. Most o' my teeth is gone from
tnggin' on beefsteaks that the old woman has fried. D'ye
think I roar out and cuss when I go over a chair in the dark?
No, Sir. While I'm rubbin' my uliins an' keepin' back the
tears I'm likewise sweating fur fear the old woman has been
woke by the upset. It didn't use to be so," sighed the poor
fellow, (houghfully rubbing his shining scalp. "When we
were first hitched I Ihought I was the superintendent, bot
after a year or two of argyin' the pint I settled down to
shovin' the. car at low w iges. I can lick any man o' ray age
and size," cried the old gentleman, banging the saloon table
with his wrinkled fist. I'll shoot, knife, stand np or rough
and tumble for coin, but wheu I hang my hat on the peg in
the hall an' take off ray muddy boots, an' hear the old womau
ask if that'i me, I tell you the starch cornea ri^ht out o' me,"

1

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

150

PROFESSOR BLAOKTE ON LANDLORDS
AND LAND LAWS.

It, is certaiu that the small peasant proprietors of the Con-
tinent, and oven the much-amused, and often most inhumanly
treated, Highland crofter, under wise superintendence, will by
perseverance and diligence turn a waste into a garden where
neither mighty lord nor rich hieh farmer would condescend to
turn a sod. High farmers are like higti-bred racehorses ; they
will not be found dragging dray-carts. To msthetical decoration
of course, your peasaut proprietor can pay little attention ; but
even in poiat of neatness and a look of substantial comfort,
he will often be found outshining the large proprietor in those
parts of his domain which do not lie immediately beneath the
master's eye. But this is not all, nor the worst. Your large
proprietor, even when a good man, and with social sympathies,
is by the necessity of his position an enemy to the growth of
a numerous and influential local gentry ; he needs but one
manor house; and, whatever amenities and utilities are wont
to grow out of the manor-house, as a centre of local culture and
a nucleus of local prosperity, are found at only one point, it
may be a remote corner of a widely extended district. In the
economic distribution of the soil, the families of the gentry
scatteied through a coun'y are, like the ganglions in the
nervous system of the human body, centres of potential local
action — little subordinate brains — so to speak— when the
motive and sensitive apparatus of the different orgaus is sup-
plied. In all such cases, of course, distance from the centre
implies feebleness of the conveyed force. As iu a large hall,
the light of a candle in one corner radiates leebly and more
feebly, till in the most distant parts of the room utter darkness
prevails, only to be prevented by the introduction of other
lights, with establishment of new centres of radiation, so a
number of comparatively small proprietors in respect of what
we may call social radiation, act more beneficially than
one large proprietor. Take an actual case. The
Island of Mull, for instance, with which I happen to be
intimately acquainted, is possessed at present by some six-
teen or seventeen proprietors of considerable importance-
Now imagine the whole of this beautiful island to be bought
up, or to fall by succession into the hands of our great terri-
torial nobility, or any of those cotton, iron, or coal lords, who
have made their phylacteries so broad in these last days of
John Bull's transcendental prosperity ; does any person
imagine that the island of Mull, would, in any respect, be the
better of this consolidation of many small into one large
property? Certainly in respect of population and society it
would be a great deal worse; in respect of produce it would,
in all likelihood, not bs better : nay, it is quite possible that
the big man who bought it might buy it for the express par-
pose of turning it into a deer forest ; and a very nice deer
forest it would no doubt be, thirty eight miles long by twenty
broad, and with the sea all round it, to save the expensn of a
fer.ee. Nor would this be all. Without exactly turning the
whole island into a deer fores', he might do on a large scale,
which I much fear has already been done by selfish proprietors
on a small scale : turn all the peasantry out of their rural
holdings that they may settle in the neighbouring boroughs,
and save the landlord, by one bold stroke, at once from
poachers and poor rates. All this, according to British
notions, British law, and British practice, might be quite
correct, and would find advocates, no doubf, in quarterly
reviews aud daily leaders, sum iently eloquent, with a whole
s'orehnuse of phrases from authoritative books on political
economy, to prove that all this was quite right, that every
.Englishman is entitled to do what he likes with his own, and
that Mull,

The fairest isle that spreads
Its bright green mantle to the Celtic Seas,

his every reason to be congratulated on th» ehang». But social
instincU, I imagine, in ibis instance, and that rude confrouier
of inexorable logic, called common sense, might prevail at once
over political economy and the deer-stalking proclivities of our
sporting aristocracy. People might begin to say that property
in the soil of a country is a somewhat different thing from
property at a fireside in a cosy chair, or in a well-buttoned
pocket; that in a civilised btate of society absolute property,
even in moveables, may not exist, inasmuch as by taxation,
laws of succession, and otherwise, even moveables may be
forced to pay their tribute to the common good ; but that the

owners of land are in a peculiar sense the holders ot property,
not for their own pleasure or profit oulv, hut lor the general
protection, cherishing, and furtherance, of the local population.
Landed proprietors, in fact, are in some Bense trustees for the
public good ; and, as a matter of history, the great lords of the
soil received their privileges from the Crown on the condition
of certain prestations for the public service, aud though it is
quiet true that these special services, from changes in trie
social machinery, are no longer required to be periormed, the
absolute disposal of large tracts of natural property is of a
kind which involves too many grave social issues to be tolerated
by any wise Governmnot ; and the principle remains that a
man, for iustance, cannot be allowed to fence round Ben
Muicdhui exactly as he fences his private garden ; or to obstruct
the passage from the source of the Dee in Braemar to the hoods
of the Spev, as he might close a laue leading Irom one field ot
his ancestral manor to another. Landed property, as has been
well said, has its duties as well as its rights ; bat the duties
however obvious.have not seldom been neglected without social
discredit, while the rights, however impolitic, have b en en-
forced by legal authority, and sanctioned by that usage ol
centuries which passes tor right, with the unthinking. But L
have yet a worse charge, to bring against large properties :
they necessitate vicarious administration, aud readily become
the fertile mother of one of the worst of all social sms which
a landed proprietor can commit, habitual absenteeism. If a
landlord be, as it appears, a proprietor of a peculiar kind en-
trusted with a special sort of property, on which the local
prosperity of the country in a great measure depends, it is
plain that, as in other cases, the duty of over.-eership will be
best performed by persona who de not live at the end of the
world, but rather at home with their eye directly over the
district of which they are the guardians. Now, the greater
the distr'ct, of course, the more difficult, even in this age of
ready lo amotion, the duty of personal presence and personal
inspection, and the stronger will be the temptation— or, may
we not rather say, the necessity ?— to the proprietor to hand
over his ownership wholesale to a resident factor or factors.
In this cas», while the maxim Qui facit per alium fact per
se will sa isfy all legal claims on the lord of the soil, the con-
s-cience of the community may justly think itself entitled to
pronounce a verdict not in any wise so favourable to this
practical assignation of proprietary duties into the hands of a
third party. Government by commissioners and factors is not
aud never' can be, so cousiderate, so equitable, and so kindly
as the direct administration of the proprietor. A factor on
a large property is, iu fact, very often in the position of a
trustee on a bankrupt estate ; his principal, though not
formally bankrupt, wants money, and it is his duty to
get it as quicklv as possible, no matter how harshly and un-
ceremoniously. This is the secret of what has takeu place to
our knowledge, not unfrequently in the Highlands ; the factor
has been guilty of acts of social severity, which were forth-
with disallowed by the great proprietor as soon as they came
to his knowledge. A good factor, that is, a kindly and
humane hearted factor, once said to me that half the biiu
ihiugs that had been done in the Highlands were done by the
factors. It can scarcely be otherwise. The factor has not
the parental feeling towards the people that belongs to a
good resident proprietor ; moreover he has often a great deal
more to do than a man can manage conscientiously in oe,al1 ;
so he applies an uubending general law to all cases ; and then,
like other mortals, anxious to save himself trouble, he is no
friend of a numerous population, and prefer", from reasons of
personal convenience rather thau of public_ utility, getting-
JU.OOO a year from one big absentee owner.resident perhap9 a
thousand miles away, to the same sum paid in parts by ten
small resident farmers. And thus large estates, large farms,
and factorial management have formed together an unholy
alliance, by winch the absentee lord of the soil has been ae-
qu tted of all social duty, and the people who lived under his
protection sacriticed.in a manner equally impolite and inhuman,
to the incouvenience of a practically irresponsible mandatory,
the crotchet of a doctrinaire economist, or the greed of an in-
trusive speculator. Among the many acts ot haseness brand-
ing the English character in their blundering pretence of
governing Ireland, not the least was the practice of confisca-
ting the land, which, by the Brehoalaw, belonged to the peo-
ple, and giving it not to honest resident cultivators (which
might have been a politic sort of tbeft), but to cliqueB of
greedy and grasping oligarchs, who did nothing for the

N

100

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

country which they had Appropriated but snck its blood in
the. name of rent and ■-quander its resources under the name
of pl«atnre, and fashhm, and courtliness in London. Now,
this takes place in Scotland ateo, thou-h not to the samp
extent. Some of our biggest landowners thank Heaven, are
our best landlords, and never more pleased thin when they are
amongst their o.vn people ; but g-nerally we. must sa? that
small proprietors are more likely to be resident proprietors,
because they cannot afford to spe d eight months of the year
in London or Paris; and it would be <u va;n to deny that
there are large landed proprietors who are seldom seen on their
"properties except in the shooting season, and who, from their
general style of administration, are suspected of being much
more anxious to preserve the game than the human population
on their estafp. These are bad landlords and worthies
citizens; and only a shade better sometimes than the uncon-
scientious nobles and the grasping graziers who have, at
different epochs and under different circumstances, juggled the
Irish people out of their natural inheritance in the soil.

MR. BRASSEY, M.P., ON THE COLONIES.

Mr. T. Brassey, M.P., for Hastings, delivered a lecture in
the Meel auic's Institute, Bradford, recently, under the
auspices of the Clumber of Commerce, on " The Colonies
acl Colonisation "

Mr. Bri3sey said — In the course of many wanderings upon
the seas I have visited' Newfoundland. I have seen the mag-
nificent scenery of the St. Lawrence, and the thriving cities of
Montreal, Quebec, and T ironto. Iu a recent voyage round
the world, we touched at Hong Kong, Singapore, Ceylon,
Aden, Malta, and Gibraltar. Withiu the memory of the
present generation, Hong Kong was a barren rock, from which
a band of 600 pirates set forth on their lawless expedition?.
It has now 124,000 inhabitants, including a civil European
population of 3,000 persons, and the annual imports o? Eng-
lish merchandise alone are not less than 3 j millions sterling.
At Singapore, where the English population numbers not
mora than 1,400, we have'estabhshed a trade oi collection and
distribution not inferior in importance to that carried en from
Hong Kong. Aden, which may be compared to a huge
cicdrr lying on the arid coasts of thirsty Arabia, has become,
under the beneficent influence of British administration,
anotl'.er great emporium of trade. Its commerce extonds on
the east to the shores cf the Persian Gulf, and southwards to
Zanzibar, and far down the eastern shores of Africa. An
average number of 800 laden camels daily eater the gates of
Aden, and the total exports aud imports arc nearly three
millions sterling a year. Trade, as we know, tends to follow
the flag ; and, during the perijd of commercial depression
through which we have lately passed, and from which we are
now very gradually eme.giug, it has beeu in the British
possessions alone that the export trade has displayed any
growt'i and elasticity. British India now takes a larger
quantity of our produce than any other country. In 138'J it
only occupied the third place. In a paper by Dr. Forbes
Watson, read at the Colonial Iustitute in February, 187*5, a
comparison is made of our export trade in 1369 and 1876. I
propose to bring the figures down to 1S78, the last ypar in-
cluded in the Statistical Abstract. The figures disclose a
significant change iu the direction of our external trade.
*A!:.le the exports to foreien countries had arisen from
^111,900,000 in 1869, to £195,700.000 in 1S72, and had
7S to £1*26,611,000, our colonial trade has
atead'lv grown in the same interval from £18,000,000 to
^06,237,000, or from 25 "3 per cent, to 84'4 per cent, of our
total commerce. When we pass from the aggregate figures
to examine our colonial trade in detail, we discover additional
evidences of its great importance to the industrial prosperity
of our country. The populations of the British Empire iu the
tparta beyond the seas arc, in proportion to their numbers, by
far the most extensive consumers of our manufactures. It
appears, from a table prepared by Mr. Frederick Young, that
the annual consumption of our merchandise per head is
i-ppreseuted by the following figures : — Uui'ed Statea, 7s. ,
Germany, 9:-. 2d. ; I ranee, 7s. 3d. ; North American Colonies
£2 2s. 9d. ; and Australia, £8 10a. 8d, A more elaborate,
analysis, by Dr. Forbes Watsou, brings out this striking
result, that Australia actually consumes, in proportion to its
pojmlatioD, a larger quantity of British manufactures than we

require ourselves. Our - obnial trade is the more valuable
because, as Dr. Forbes Watson points out, it is largely com-
posed of aricles in an advanced stage of manufacture Of
our exportations of apparel, blaukets, flannels, nooks eutlerv,
and other article* of domestic co isnmptio-i, the colonies t ki
£16,300,000, or about 70 per ceut. of the total exDO'tato 1.
The proportion in 1369 did not exceed 58 per cen^ Ot' the
cotton trade, which forms about one-third of our total expo*t»,
two-iiths were taken by the British posses-ion-. Between
1869 and 1876 they increased their consumption of our goods
by £6,300,000; while our exportations to foreign countries
diminished by ^£ 1,500,000. Not only was the aggregate
quantity increased, but the goods were more high:y finished
than those we supply to many foreign eouutri.*s. Ttie
coloni'8 take 40 per cent, of fiunhed cotton maniifacture< ;
they take only 219 per cent, of cotton yarns. They take
23-4 per cent, of our woollen and worsted manufacture--, an!
only 0 3 per cent, of yarn. They take 40 4 per cent, of
manufactured, and only 3 6 per cent, of pig iron. Tuey take
17*7 per cent, of wrought and unwrought steel, and 40 6 per
cent, of our exportations of hardware aud cutlery, and 53'2
per cent, of onr exports of implements. Having spoken of
the growth of the colonies themselves. Mr. Brassey pro -eeded
— We have seen the importance of the colonies as the con-
sumers of our manufactured products ; they are not less
essential to us for the supplies of food which they furnish to
the teeming population of these islands. Mr. Bourne lias
shown that we cannot expect a material increase in the life-
sustaining abilities of the land. Half of our food already
consists of foreign importations. It has been estimated by
Mr. Bourne that ttie demand for imported food and raw
material will increase every year by considerably more than
six millions sterling. We uiuat proportionately increase our
pxnorts in order to pay for these ever-grmving import&tious.
We have seen the stagnation in the Continental demind, and
the growth in the consumption of our goods in our own pos-
sessions. If some of that capital so recklessly squandered in
mushroom States had beeu carefully and gradually expended
in our own colonics, the investors would have obtained a
steadier return, and the commerce of this c.iuu'rv would have
received a more lasting benefit. The colonies offer an inviting
field both for the industrious labourer and the small capitalist.
By conquest, by discovery, aud for motives of philanthropy,
we have appropriated a wide space upon the earth. We can-
not evade the responsibilities of our acquisitions. We must
give to these couutrie3 the freedom that we enjoy, the com-
merce and the agriculture that we have organised, the
civilisation under which we live, and the. religion with which we
ourselves are blessed. It is only by emigration that this benefi-
cent mission can be accomplished. In his " Recollections aud
Suggestions," that great statesman lately departed, Earl
Itussell, says — " To build up an empire extending over every
sea, swaying raauy diverse races, and combining many forms
of religion, requires courage aud capacity. To allow auMi an
empire to fall to pieces is a task which may be performed by
the poor in intellect and the pusillanimous in conduct." The
cost to the British Exchequer of the most valuable colonies
has been brought down to a nominal charge. There is no
reluctance on the part of ihe wealthier colonies to bear the
cost of local defence. In a paper published in 1872 in the
Annual of the " School of Naval Architecture," Mr. Barnaby
rightly urged that tlie Briiish Empire, if effectively organised
as a maritime confederacy, would be enabled not only to
maintain itself in security from attack, but that it would be
■& guarantee of maritime pence to all the wayfarers on the
seas. But the initiative must come from the mother country
— from our experienced statesmen and our numerous body of
highly trained officers, who have leisure for the cousideration
ot these things. The task before us isdiffictih, because it has
been too long neglected> and the question still demands solu-
tion. " If England became involved in a great war," says
Mr. Sirangwsys, late Premier of South Australia, "it would
have one of two effects in connection with her relation to the
colonies. It would either bind England and her colonies
into one vast empire such as the world has never seen, or it
would entirely separate her from those colonies." The
colonies are sensible of the weakness of isolated action. They
know that each colony is too jealous of the rest to admit of a
formidable combination under any other supremacy than that
ol the mother country. It may be that some more indepen-

TflE FARMERS' MAGAZINE.

161

dent i)Un in the nature of a perpetual ami friendly alliance
may be adopted. Whatever ma\ be the final settlement, the
indefinite adjournment of this q iply because it does

not happen to be pressed forward hv agit&'ion out of doors, is
most earnestly to be deprecated, liitter, indeed, will he the
reproaches heaped upon the statesmen or the party which
should be held responsible, for having, from mere neglect,
brought about, the disintegration ot the empire.

KINGSCOTE AGRCULTURAL ASSOCIA
TION.

A meeting of this association was held on Friday, Jan-
23rd, at Kingscote- Colonel Kingscote, C.B., M.P.,
presided.

The (ii urm in introduced the lecturer for that even-
ing, Mr. J. J. Ilar'.e, of Whitfield, who read the following
pai er on " Notes on (arming iu the North and South of
Hujland :" —

" Having had frequent opportunities of observing the
running practised in the North and South of England for
some years, more especially in the counties of Northum-
berland and Gloucestershire, I have taken the liberty,
this evening, of opening a discussion upou the different
methods of agriculture adopted in these districts. I
believe there is nothing more conducive to good and profit-
able fanning than a study and discussion of the best
methods of agriculture practised in different parts of this
country, and an earnest endeavour to adopt all of the good
customs that may he made suitable to the soil and climate,
and to cast away any bad and unprofitable practices that

lug com erupt by maintaining such large number* of (.beep
upon the land. This is done by the growth of vetches and
oiher catch crops, and summer folding them on the laud
previous to the ordinary root crop, and by consuming
nearly all the roots on the land during wiuter, with hay
and cake. I am iuclined to think, however, that there
are certain disadvantages attending the growth and eatage
of vetches, &c, as they seldom or never pay for the cost
of cultivation, and they usually cause the succeeding root
crop to be smaller, whilst they allow no time for the laud
to be properly cleaned; and iu the summer folding of
sheep the food is often soiled before being eaten, and the
animals themselves do not thrive so well as when grazed
at large and are more liable to foot rot. The autumn and
winter management of the ewes and fatting sheep on the
Cotswolds ia greatly superior to the north country system
of feeding nearly entirely on roots aud eating them out of
the ground, but I am inclined to question the policy of the
Cotswold practice of penning the sheep in close quarters
and giving a new piece every day ; the sheep do not dirty
their food so readily or poach the laud iu wet weather so
much when they have a larger piece of ground, and they
will thrive better under the shelter of the hedges than
when penned in the middle of a bleak hill side, although
of course the droopings are not distributed so regular! \
over the land. In the north nets are generally used
instead of hurdles, aud they answer admirably if the hares
are not sufficiently numerous to bite them ; a net forty
yards length costs 12s. and the stakes Is., so that thay arc-
much cheaper than hurdles, besides being more easily
carried about and fixed in the fields. The labour attending

may have got established iu a district by long usage. 1 [ sheep is not so great in the north as iu this district, one
would like to discuss these different practices with you I man being able to attend on 400 sheep in the autumn, and

under three heads — viz., the management of sheep, cattle,
aud cropping of arable laud. As the farming of this
district is known to you much better, perhaps, than to
myself, I shall not attempt to describe it, but give you a
short account of the farming practiced in Northumberland
in the points that differ from your own, and attempt to
discuss with you the best and worst customs of both
districts. 1st, sheep in the North of England are chiefly
bred on the hill farms, which are all in pasture, and the
lambs are weaned in August and sold to the lowland
tillage farmers ; but there are many farms which have
both hill pastures for breediug and tillage land in the
valleys for fattening off the sheep. The ewes are gener-
ally Cheviot aud Black-faced on the highest hills and a
cross between the Cheviot and Boider Leicestershire
breeds on the lower lying farms. They are placed with the
ram early in November, in order that they may drop their
Jambs early in April, when there is sufficient grass to keep
them without roots or roots and little artificial food. The
ewes seldom receive much artificial food during the winter,
but are grazed thinly on the rough grass land. Ater
weaning the lambs are placed as thinly as possible on the
clover aftermaths and stubbles until the end of October,
when they are placed on white turnips, aud generally
receive a sufficient area to last them a fortnight, having at
the same time, if possible, their liberty to an adjoining :
grass field. They continue to eat their roots out of the
ground until January, and seldom receive at this time I
much artificial food ; some time during this month the
sheep are removed to swedes, which are cut into troughs,
and larger quautities of corn or cake are given, and with I
this management one half of them are ready for the J
market at twelve months old, aud the remainder are j
fatteued during summer on gras3. In the Cotswold
district the sheep, I believe, are always bred and fatteued j
jn the same farm, aud larger flocks of ewes are kept con-
sidering the small proportion of grass land. The great

250 when eating cut swedes. Cattle : the management of
cattle in the-north of England may be described as con-
sisting of two styles, viz., the summer feeding of Irish
cattle, aud the winter feeding of ordinary Shorthorns.
Most of the grass farms on the lower hills being large aud
the grass of moderate quality, no large herds of cows are
kept for butter aud cheese, consequently few calves are
bred, and the large graziers are dependent upon Ireland
for their grazing cattle. These are purchased at two to
three years old from Juue to October and placed on the.
worst aud coarsest grass land upou the farm until the end
of the year, when they are tied up at night and let out
during the day, or if there is not enough shedding they
remain out all the wiuter ; in either case they receive hav
once or twice per day, according to the quantity of snow,
until grass ippeara again in May. The cattle are then
grazed on the be3t grass fields on the farm, along with
ewes and lambs placed very thinly amongst them ; the
best are ready for the market in July and the remainder
before the eud of October -, care is taken to always select
the fattest cattle and put them into the best field as the
others leave it, so that the best grass field may often finish
off the whole of the cattle. Strange as it may appear,
the cattle wintered in the fields feed more rapidly on grass
than the stalled cattle, as the cold nights of May do not
check their progress so much. Heifers purchased in
August or September from some parts of Ireland fre-
quently turn out in calf, and are a great nuisance to the
large graziers, but if they drop their calves in Mirch. or
April they can suckle their calf fat, and then bring up
another Shorthorn calf during the summer. The Short-
horned cattle are chiefly bred in the valleys of the hilly
districts by small farmers occupying 20 to 100 acres of
grass laud ; these men are able to pay very high rents for
their eomewhat inferior grass land by keeping four to
ten cows for making butter, aud rearing the calves very
carefully. The calves never suckle cows, but are

feature of the district is the admirable way by which the removed from the cows directly they are dropped, and
thin brashy soils are enriched and made capable of grow- received new milk for a few weeks, aud afterwards skiiw

N 2

102

THE FARMER'S 'MAGAZINE.

rned milk supplemented with scalded linseed or meal. As
they are few in numbers they are generally well looked
after, and bring good prices when sold at twelve or
eighteen months old. One third of these small farms id
generally mown for hay, the same fields year after year ;
but as the whole of the manure is put on these meadows,
and at least one third of the laud is heavily coated every
year, there is no deterioration of the condition of the land.
A large proportion of this class of land has been nearly
doubled in value by draining and lining it heavily during
the last 50 years. The lowland tillage faimers purchase
the greater part of their cattle at eighteen months old from
these districts, to fill their strawyards and consume their
roots, and fcr this purpose many hundreds are sent away
every autumn to the south of Scotland and Tweedside.
These cattle in their second winter seldom receive any
bay but are fed chiefly on oat or barley straw, with roots,
or a small quantity of cake. I have frequently seen
bullocks of this age fed upon oat straw and six or seven
pounds of mixed linseed and cotton cakes, cost 3s. 6d.
per week, which have been sold half fat in May, leaving
a return of 5s. per week and their manure. If the young
cattle have been pushed on in this way, and are half fat iu
May they are placed on good grass land and finished off with
cake by the end of June ; but if only in store condition
they are grazed on the grass seeds and medium pastures
until October, aud then fattened in yards or stalls on roots
and hay, together with cake and meal. The whiter feed-
ing of cattle is not so economically performed as in the
south of England, as the hay and straw are not generally
cut and mixed with the meal and cake, and too many roots
are generally given, aud frequently unsliced ; but the
roots are grown cheaper and of better quality, and as
labour is dearer, it is more sparingly used in preparing
and mixing foods. In Gloucestershire the cattle are nearly
all of them a superior type of Shorthorn, and in the vale,
at least, more cattle are bred than are fattened upon the
farms, large herds of cows being kept for cheese and
butter making. The ordinary practice is to serve them
with a good Shorthorn bull at such a period that they may
drop their calve3 from January to April ; the calves suckle
thiir dams for three weeks, and are then removed and
giveu skimmed milk along with other foods. The milk is
made into cheese aud butter from May to October, when
the grass begins to fail aud butter only is made ; the cows
continue to lie out iu the fields until the end of the year,
receiving no extra food but hay, and at this period giving
little milk. I believe at this time it would be profitable
economy to give the cows a little cotton cake and shelter
them at night, as by doing so more milk and butter would
be produced when they are high in value; more manure
of a better quality would be made, and the animals them-
selves would be less liable to lung and ether diseases. On
the other hand, it is of course very important in a district
where little straw ia grown to ecouomise the litter as much
as possible, and there is less trouble in feeding hay on the
fields and letting the cattle distribute their manure; un-
fortunately they 6how little discrimination iu the matter
aud geueralty drop it under trees aud rich sheltered places
instead of poor hills, where it is more required. The
• calves are fed during their first and second winters on cut
hay, mixed with pulped roots, and occasionally a little
meal, with grass during summer. The best of the heifers
are brought into the herd and produce their firHt calf at
three years old, aud the others are sold half fat to feeders
or fattened out at three years old. It is my firm opinion
that with such a good class of Shorthorns and on such good
grass land as the vale chiefly consists of, all the cattle
not required for breeding purposes should be fattened off
-at two to two and a half years old at the latest, and to do
this would not require an expensive system of artificial
feeding. The calf, I thiuk, should never be allowed to

lose the layer of flesh received when suckling the cow,
but kept always iu a growing and thriviug state, care
being taken not to expose it in the first summer to heavy
rains or cold damp nights. Iu the first winter the cost
of two pounds of additional linseed cake per day to the
ordinary food would be well repaid by the extra size
and condition of the animal ; and in the second winter,
5 or 61b. of mixed linseed and colton cake given along
with hay and pulped roots would make the animal half
fat by the end of the winter, and it would only require 6
or 8 weeks more feeding on grass aud cake to be quite
fit for the market in June when beef is genenlly high in
price. An expenditure of £4 in cake upon each animal
would add at least £4 to its value, and at least £? worth
of extra manure would be added to the farm. I believe
there is no cheaper or quicker way of raising the condition
of land than by the consumption of cake upon it. I have
myself seeu grass land in ten years raised 23 per cent, by
it. There are many customs of the dairy farming in the
vale of Gloucester that I greatly admire, but there is one
practice that I am incliued to criticise, and that is the
common practice of grazing 30 or -10 cows together in
oue field, and changing them from field to field as the
grass becomes consumed. Although it causes more labour
to have the cows in two or three lots, yet I believe it is
better economy to do so, for in wet seasons, large num-
bers of cattle plunge wet parts of fields and tread a large
proportion of the grass underfoot, and causes the surface
of the land to become waterlogged and injured for grass for
sometime ; and besides these objections I feel convinced
that cattle thrive better in small lots, and a greater num-
ber can be grazed on the same acreage of laud. In the
management of arable land there is not much diffsrence
between here and the north of England, the rotations ia
both districts beiug similar to the ordinary four-course. In
the north wheat does not grow well after clover or grass
aud oats are sown instead : the laud is ploughed for them
in December or Jauuary, when it is too wet for any other
kind of tillage, aud by this practice two months' longer
eatage of the grass is gained, but these two advantages are
more than counterbalanced by the lower value that the
! oats bear to the wheat crop. After the oats are removed,
' the land is ploughed as deeply as possible in autumn, and
, in spring it is again cross-ploughed and cleaned for roots
I which are managed differently from here, as they are
drilled on ridges 27 inches apart, with the farmyard
! manure spilt in between them. Few mangolds are grown,
1 the climate being too moist and cool for them, bnt it allows
the swedes and turnips to be sown one month earlier than
| here, without much danger of mildew in September, and
it also enables the crop to assimilate more manures. I
believe experiments have proved on the Cotswolds that
3 or 4 cwt. of superphosphate per acre is the largest
quantity that can be profitably applied ; but in the north
6 to 8 cwt. of superphosphate and guano are often applied
besides farmyard manure with good effect. I have found
the most economical and lasting manure for roots to be a
mixture of & cwt. superphosphate and 2 or 3 cwts. of bone
meal, the former of which always starts the young turnips,
and the latter developes them in the autumn and remains
in the land to nourish the succeeding barley crop. Lirge
cropsof roots are grown with this management, 20 tons per
acre at least being generally grown, of which one-half are
often eateu on the ground by sheep eating corn or cake.
After this liberal treatment spring wheat or barley is
sown, the latter beiug generally the more profitable, 5 qra.
being sown in ordinary seasons, but the quality and colour
of the sample is very inferior to this district, the grain is
thicker in the skin, but plumper and larger and often
weighs heavier, running from 55 to 581b. per bushel. I
have frequently been surprised to hear of the compara-
j tively small yields of barley in many parts of the south of

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

168

England when the climate anJ land are taken into con-
sideration, and more especially when so many of the roots
are eaten on the laud with cake, and I am iucliaed to
think that the reason may be due to the small quantities
of superphosphate applied to the roots, and as phosphatic
matters seem to especially aid the growth of barley, it
seems to me a question whether it would not pay to apply
~ cwt. of superphosphate per acre when the barley is sown
instead of such large quantities to the root crop which does
not seem to benefit by it. The barley in both districts is
followed by grass seeds, and there is little difference in
their management except that more rye grass and less
clover is sown in the north, aud the poorer lauds are
generally sown for two or threj years' grass, similarly to
the practice of sowing the poorer soils of the Cotswolds
with saufoin."

MR. JOHN BRIGHT, MP., ON THE IRISH

LAND QUESTION.

On January 2i, at Birmingham, Mr. J. Bright, M.P.,
delivered a speech, clnelly bearing on the [rish Land Question.
lie said :— Iu France and Belgium you have Catholic popula-
tions exhibiting none of the faults and none of the difficulties
we have constantly met with in connection with Ireland. Now,
let us ask ourselves — is there anything in Ireland which you
do not fiud iu Belgium or France, or other Catholic countries
iu Europe? There is one condition different. Iroui what you
find in any other country in the world, probablv ; and I believe
that condition is the key to the explanation of the whole mys-
tery. Their land svstera, the condition of their land holdings
as regards their tenants and of their tenancy as regards their
landlords is wholly differeut from that which is to be found
anywhere else. But I can imagine an Englishman saying to
me, " Why, that is all pure nonsense ; the laws in Ireland
with regard to land are as near as may be exactly the. same
as the laws with regard to land in England." Well, I grant
that there is force and truth in that, but let me remind
you that evil laws may work much more rai.-chief in
one country and in one state of things than the same
laws will do in another country with another state of
things. Take our feudal laws which we have here and
which we have in Ireland. In England there are other
industries to correct the evils of the feudal system of the land.
We have grown up iu Eng'and and Scotland, as you know,
wonderful industries ol various — I may say of almost all —
kinds, and the people, who have been divorced from the land
by reason of these feudal laws have found in the wonderful
industries and manufactories of your town and of the county
from which I come, aud of many other counties — they have
found a resource and home, having what, under our present sys-
tem, they never could have had on the land. I do not hesitate
to say that had it been possible that these various industries
iu England had not grown up the condition of things would
have approached the terrible state of things which exists in
Ireland. What is that condition ? I beg you to keep in mind
one or two facts. There are in Ireland a little over twenty
millions of seres of land and 202 persons — perhaps as many
people as occupy one of these side galleries — occupy six and
a-lialf millions of acres, being close on one-third, of the whole
area of the country let. In each of the galleries before and
behind me there are probably 600 or 700 persons. Now,
7-ii persons in Ireland are the owners of 9,6 12,000 acres,
and P.2 persons — do not blame them at all — -!• am
speaking of the system^ — none of us would have been to
blame had we been the fortunate inheritors of the
property — but 122 persons occupy more than 108,500
acres each. The whole of the proprietors of Ireland —
I do not mean proprietors of gardens, but what
are cilled landed proprietors — are probably ten or twelve
thousand. What are the tenants ? "'hey are 600,000 in
number. There is one real proprietor to sixty farmers. . Be-
sides those 000,000 farmers there are three millions of people
or probably two millions and a half, tenants at will, who are
liable — they have no leases — to have their rents raised or
notices of eviction served on them, and a process of ejectment
to fodow at six or twelve months, at the will of the person
with whom they arc connected. But that is nol all, I

must tell you that absentee landlords are a very large propor-
tion, some people say one-half, but I hope it is not so manv.
The truth is that a very large number of the proprietors are
absentees. Tliey do uot live in Dublin, or in Ireland. Many
of them live in this country, and s^end their incomes in Lon-
don, and others in Paris and other parts of France. But they
are absentees, and I need not tell you that the rents follow the
owners, and if the o*ners are in London or in Paris the
Irish people are absolutely deprived of several millions of
money, the produce of its soil, by owners who perforin no part
of their duties as owners, and indulge iu no expenditure on the
| spot where the wealth is created, or tend to encourage the in-
| dus'ry of the country and afford employment to the people.
| You will say all this is bad enough, but this is not the whole.
of the had. (Interruption., and a cry of "Turn hira out.')
D j not turn him oat. You may rely upon it whoever makes
any objection on the score of my facts, and I think my ar^u-
ments had need to stay in to be a little instructed. I at id
there is another matter to be remembered when we are speaking
of discontent and disloyalty— that there is the shadow of past
and grievous wrongs over the whole of the Irish tenautry, and
over the whole hindovuing and land peasantry there is the
tradition of many and cruel confiscations in the country. In
the reign of James I. the people went from England and" Scot-
land, mostly from Scotland— and were settled, or what they call
it, in the north of Ireland, in the province of Ulster. Under
that transaction three millions of acres were taken fiom the
native owners of the soil and were put into the hands of these
new comers from this island. Later on, in the time of Crom-
well, it is said— I hope the statement is in excess o'' the truth
but I cannot find that it is— I find in what are considered*
authentic histories of Ireland, that in the time of Cromwell
something like seven or eight millions of acres were trans-
ferred from the native owners to those who followed
the Cromwelliaa arras and those who settled in that country
after the disturbances and insurrection were quelled ; and
w^f- °n' coinin£ nearer to our own time, in the time of
Wil.iam HI., after the battle of the Boyne, then that another
million ol acres were also confiscated aud placed in the hands
of persons from this country who were supposed likely to be
raore faith'ul to the new Government, aud to the arrangements
which followed upon the Revolution which placed William III
oathe Throne. Now, if this be true, it follows tint nearly
all the land of Ireland, and its divisible and real property, was
taken from those to whom it of old legitimately belonged' and
was placed in the hands of strangers, and since then, following
after that cruelty and injustice, there came the additional
cruelty of the Penal Laws, which rema ned until the last
century, and inflated untold and indescr bable inj istice and
wrong and cruelty upon the Catholic p. pulatio i of Ire-
land. The fact is, to such an extent did all tins work that
1 have seen it stated that not
tenth to one seventh of

more that from one-
the land of Ireland of late
times has been in possession of Catholic proprietors Well
then, remember that all these tenants, having all these
traditions, are flocking about the couutry, that they are
all tenants at will nearly, that they are subject to the
fiercest competition for land, and that there is no other
industry lor them except in the north of Ireland in the
linen country. There is no oilier industry for them or
almost none„ and therefore they struggle for the bit of
land they hold as being their only chance of living, and
you may imagine how men in such a condition do thus
beouia excited, even to desperation, aud reidy even to
accept the wildest theories that offer them by any
possible chance relief from, the sufferings which they
endure. With this fierce competition there is a constant
tendency to the rise of reuts. I do not believe that tents in
Ireland are any higher than, I think they are not so high as
in England and Scotland, but then the cultivation is infinitely
worse, because under these circumstances there can be no
general good and successtul cultivation. Now the effect of this
state of things is to breed in every tenant's mind a feeling of
uncertainty ; he knows that his rent may be raised and he
cannot help it; he knows that he may be evicted, aud lie
cannot help it according to law; he becomes careless and
slovenly in his cultivation, because he knows that he merely
invites an additiou to the rent. I must ask you one question
1 need not tell you that there is great suspicion engendered by
this system— a suspiciou that breeds a state almost of w/r-
between the tenautry aud the agent aud landlord. I ask von

164

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE.

then, is any remedy iippJfil for this state of thing", and do you
thiuk a remedy possible ? There arc things for which there
is no remedy. It may be too la'e to remedy it ; but I tliink
there is a remedy that may be tried with a fair chance of suc-
cess. Go to Frauce, go to IHsnnm, go to Prussia, goto
Switzerland, go to the whole of Europe, and ask what is the
remedy, anU they will tell you to look about you, and what you
see in these countries apply to Ireland as the only possible
remedy in this case. What I propose is this, and what I have
proposed lor many years is this, that some measure should be
taki-n by which occupiers of farms iu Ireland should be trans-
erred and transformed into owners, and that this should he
done by a process which should be absolutely just, not to the
tenant only, but as just to the landlord himself. May I ask
your attention for a moment to two at least of the plain that
are often offered from Ireland with a view t > settle tiie Iiish
question? You who read the Irish newspapers, or the
speeches of Irish members, will often hear of the term " fixity
of tenure." They say they do not wish to get hold of the land
to damage or injure the proprietor, but they want a settled and
fixed tenure for what they call a fair rent^ Well, now I am iu
lavour myself of fixity of tenure and fair rents. Nothing
seems to be more just, but what they propose is that the rent
of the land shall not be. fixed by the tenant, or by the landlord,
or by the two conjoiatly, bu* by some third party, who is sup-
posed to be independent, and not interested in the matter.
Well, now, that seems on the face of it a reasonable proposi-
tion, but to my mind its reasonableness is onlv in the proposi-
tion, so do not think it would b' reasonable if it were put iuto.
practice. For example, who is to deride what is a fair rent
and what is net a fair rent? Can any man tell me ? The
rent upon a given twenty acres of land, upon which one Irish-
man would be prosperous, would be a reut upon witch I fear
another Irishman would be impoverished and ruined. I speak
of the different inrqualities of land, aud I ask whether it
would be possible to hand over to sonie iawyer, county court
judge, magistrate, or person in authority, to determine tl>e
rent of all the farms between the tenants and laudowners. At
any rate it is a principle which we cL> not adopt in our
markets aud in our exchanges, and we ought to try every other
plan befors we depart from the principle which economical
law teaches — that those who are interested in a bargain should
be those by whom the bargain is completed. Now, others
see fixity of tenure under different circumstances, that is, that
there should ha a permanently fixed rent, that the landlord in
future should have absolutely nothing to do with it but to
receive the rent which is agreed to be paid, and if that rent be
paid, the teuant should be for ever in the same position as if
the land belonged to him. Well, if the landlord chooses to
agree to that, no one has any riiiht to ohj»ct to it. I know an
Irish member of Parliament who told me that he had landed
property in three counties, and he said if his tenants would
agree to give him 10 per cent. more, cu their present rents, he
would have no objection to make such an arrangement as that
with them. But what would happen ? If you were todi*orce
the landowners from the land,, as, under our feudal law, the
tenantry, to a large extent, are divorced from its ownership,
this result would follow. Instead of having half the rent of
Ireland going to England or Paris, you would probably have
nearly the whole of it going away. Those gentlemen who
rjceive incomes from five hundred to twenty thousand a year
from land in Ireland, if they had nothing to do with the land
bit receive their rents, would not, you may depend upon it, live
iu Ireland at all. They would live here or abroad ; iu fact,
absenteeism would, in all probability, be more than doubled if
that plan were ad pted. Now I thiuk neither of these plans
is the best. I do not say thai nothing may he said lor the oue
or the other, but I think neither of these plans would be the
b :st, for they are cot consistent with sound principles, and it
w.mld \i*. easy if there were time to add other reasons against
them thin those which I have ventured to olfer to yon. Xow,
1 am for no sudden and what is called heroic remedy. I don't
believe that you cau bring a people from the condition they
are in in Ireland to the condition we should like to see them
in by a clause in an Act of Parliament, and a great and revo-
lutionary, though legal, measure. I am myself against violent
remedies, because I believe there is generally a mode of treating
political questions in which violence is not required. There
are two things I would do. First of all, I wou'd absolutely
slop, by with hawing all encouragement, the furtmtiou of great
estates— I would say that whenever a man owning LuJ died

without a will, his land should be subject to exactly the same rule
of division which is now applied to personal property. Well, then
I would put an end to the system of entail, by which it won it
he rendered impossible to tie up laud, through the man who
lies quie'ly for ever in the churchyard not having had the
power of determining for long alter he was dead the ownership of
theesta e which he himself had possessed. I would so legislate
that the present g-meration should be the absolute owners,
of the land and the next generation should be the absolute
owners, but neither this nor the next should be able to dictate
*o luture generations who should own it. I would have the
compulsory registration of ail landed property, so that it would
be easy at the expense of oulv a few shillings or pounds to
transfer a farm or an estate from one to an >'her by an absolu-
tely legal and definite sale. Tliese are things that are done
elsewhere, and they ought to be done here just as easily if vou
would only lay hold of the landed ptoprietor.and lay hold of the
lawyer. They tell me that this is a very d.fficult thing to do,
but it has been done elsewhere, and it must be done here. N ly
more, if yoa and others like you will speak out, it shall be
done here. That is a step which ought to have been taken iu
Ireland, first when the Encumbered Estates Court Act was
passed ; secondly, it ought to have been done, by the Land Act
of Mr. Gladstone, but it was not done. Well, now I come to
the second proposition, because that which I have referred to
is a matter which, though beginning to act immedately, would
act, as you can understand, only wiih a certain slowness, and
would produce great aud visible, results only after a certaiu
lapse of time. But I come to the second proposition which
I wish to state to yon, and that is a mode by which the
occupying tenantry in thousands and thousands of cases might
in a very short time be made not occupying teuauts but oc-
cupying landowners, positive owners of their farms. Iu the
Act of 1S-70 (Mr. Glad -tone's Land Act) there are clauses
which are called, or should be called, the Purchase Clauses of
the Land Act. They are often in Irelaud, as you will observe
in the papers, associated with my name because I had sug-
gested that mode of dealing with the tiuestioi: years before the
Land Act was propouuded. Now, the clauses of that Act-
were to this effect, that if an estate was going to be so! I,
having on it a great number of faruw — some estates in Ireland
have hundred*, some 500 different hirms upon them — if
\ an estate was going to be sold through the Landed
; Estates Court, it was the duty of the Landed Estates-
Court to sell, and whenever it could be conveniently
done, to sell to the tenants if the tenants were willing
I to buy ; but it was the duty of the Landed Estates Court to-
| Ret the best price it could fo* the landowner who wa< about to
: sell, and to do the* best it could in transferring farms to-
tenantry. But then this followed, that if there were one.
hundred farms on a given estate, and only eighty farmers were
i able to buy their farms, what was to be done with the o'her
twenty? There was no provision for that, and if anybody
stepped iu and offered £5 more for the whole of these farms
than these tenants offered, then the Court was obliged to sell
it to the person who offered J&j more, because it was its duty
to get the best price i' could lor the land. The tenank wis
not dff.-auded, of course not, but the result has been that with
very few exceptions the Act has been a failarp. I think that
out of the million which the Act proposed the Treasury should
advance to enable the tenants to buy, not more than half »
million has been expended for that purpose in the ten years
which have elapsed since the Act was passed. 3ut if you
look at the Church Commission you will find a different state
of things.. Whcu the ijrish Church was abolished in 18(59;.
the year before the Land Act was passed, there was a Coin-
mission appointed to take charge of all the land belonging to
the Church. Tlte Commission was put into absolute possession
of it. It was taken from the Chu ch aud givea to the Church
Commission, who were empowered to raake such arrangement*
as would enable, them to sell the farms- to those who then cul-
tivated them, if they wished to buy therr>, and the result has
been that a great success has attended the working of the
Church Commission, and they hive made, L believe, several
thonsauds — 1 forget the number — of proprietors of farms wlw,
before the Church Act, were merely tenuuts living ottder the
bishops and clerical corporations. Now, last year and the year
before there has been a Coramision of the House of Commons,
over which my friend Mr. Shaw-Lefevre, the member for
Reading, Ins presided. I cannot tell yon how much we owe
to his labours, aud how much by-aud by it will be seen that

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

1G5

Ireland owes to the care lis has taken upon tliis question. 1
whs on that coramit'ee and we liad there evidence of the most
conclusive and unanswerable kind to BhoW that the plan of the
Church Commission hud succeeded, and that the plan
of the Land-d E tale Court had tailed ; that it was
necessary to change the Act of 1870— the Land Act of Mr
Gladstone — and to establish a separate, independent, and
powerful Commission for ilie purpose of doing tins great work
amongst the tenantry of Ireland. I will jmt tell you how it
was doue. The proposition is — lhat if any man wishes to buy
a far n. which his landlord or anybody else i< disposed to sell
—the Treasury will find a certain portion of the money, it may
be two-thirds or three-fourths. If, for example, it cost £10.)
the Treasury would find, let us assume, £300 Hnd the farmer
himself must find £10 t, and then the farm is transferred to
him and he goes on paying his rent, not to the laudlord,
because ibe landlord is away, he has sold it — but paying bis
rent to the Commission, which is the interest on the money
that hs has honowed from them, and after thirl y-five years he
has paid all the interest and all the principal of the £300,
and the farm becomes his own as long as he chooses to keep it.
Now, I want the G ivernraent — the Parliament, to pass a law
which shall compel the London Companies for example, who
are the owners of great estates in the county of Londonderry,
to sell their estates under an Act of this kind. I want also
that the Commission to be appointed should have the power of
taking over absolutely any estate offered them for sale which
they might think a desirable estate, so that, having it in pos-
session, as the Church Commission had their lands in posses-
sion, they might hand it over to various tenants on the estite
who were willing to buy i'. Now, I don't want a Commission
to go there and sit down with good salaries to do nothing.
They should have a suitable staff; they should have a good
lawyer on it, and men thoroughly acquainted with the condi-
tion of the land and the people in Ireland, and they should
advertise and let all the Irish tenantry know that the Imperial
Government has sent them to Dublin for the purpose not to
open an office and to give salaries, establishing a new system of
patronage, but that they should go there and hold out a help-
ing baud to every honest, industrious tenant in Ireland who
wishes to possess his farm, and that wherpver his landlord
was willing to help he would find them willing to give him a
transfer. Besides what I have said about the London Com-
panies, I have an idea — which I have no doubt somebody who
writes in some newspaper to-morrow will ridicule and scoff at —
that there are many English noblemen and many English gen-
tlemen not in the peerage, who have large estates in Ireland, and
who, except they go for a few weeks in the year as a mater of
duty, do not live in the country. If Parliament would take
the course I have ventured to point out, and if the public
sentiment would support it, you would find many of the Irish
proprietors living in England believing it would be a great good
to that country. Many of these noblemen and gentlemen have
no interest whatever but in the good condition of Irelaud, and
they would be willing to aid the transfer of estates to the
tenantry, and to accept the fair and just compensation which
the Givernment would offer to them. Well, then, very likely
some p-ople say, What is to be doue for the money ? Who is
to find ihe money to buy those lands? It may require £300
to enable the tenant to buy his farm. Now let me show how
that would operate in one class of tnses. I assume the ,'enant
comes to the commis ioner, and, having thirty-five
acres, he says to the commissioner, "The owner is
willing to sell and I am willing to buy." The
commissioner makes the arrangement for the £300, for
whatever he requires to be put in possession ; in fact, he is
in possession, and the money advanced keeps the tenant on bis
farm. I am told that actually at the present moment the rents
paid for land would, if advanced in a lump, not only pay the
rent the teuant now pays, but a'ter thirty-five years would pay
off both the principal and the interest. The tenant would then
become the owner of the land, and would have it to leave to
those who might follow him — his son, his widow, or whoever
might succeed him. He would be absolutely owner of the
fatm, and no injury would be done to the owner, I say that
is the best way — incomparably the best way — to do it. He
would soon get a hold on the land, and would come nearer
and nearer the time when it would be his. The. effect ol this
would he felt in the cultivation of his farm ; and he would, in
the course of time, become as iree, as independent, as any of
us in this country, and the whole aspect aud atotosphi

Ireland would be enormously changed for the better. Now .
theu, people wili sake that is a slow process ; but just proposal"
are generally rather slow, but they are generally very sure.
How long would it tike to double or quadruple the peasant
proprietors in Ireland ? A very few years. AH the -e land-
owners whom you buy off would be justly treated. Xo man
would part with an acre of land who did not irel his proper re-
compense, and those who did not sell would feel that their con-
dition ;is proprietors was being constantly improved. At the
present tune the six hundred thousand tenants stand face to
face with twelve thousand landowner-. Sixty teuanls to oi e
landl Til ! What is the result? The result is that the opinion in
Ir.ls I, in favour of the tenants, of all wild theories, and sorae
times of illegal practices, is a vast volume which
threatens, and, if it were rot for the power ol England,
won' ! not only threaten, but would sweep away,
the whole class of landed proprietors. There is no
man — not even t!ie tenant, miserable as be is, and he coull
possihly get away to America — 'here is no man in reland
whose interest in the plan 1 RUSTgest is so great as that of the
landed proprietor himself. We are interested in another way.
We are citizens of this United Kingdom. We are here con-
stituents and numbers ol Parliament. We are here with our
fortunes bound up inseparably with Ireland, and, bei:.g so, I
say we have Ibe greatest possible interest in hurrying that
country into a condition which our Government and our people
cau look upon without sorrow and humiliation. At present,
between tenaut and laudlord there is, as you see, anger aud
injustice. There is an article iu the Times to-day on this
suoject, written by a correspondent o( theirs in t'.e west of
Ireland — I think from Westport, Conneraara. I will read the
paragraph which I copied just before I came to this meeting.
He says : — " Persons whom I consider ma«t likely to know the
temper of the tenantry aver that the Trade Union Bind iu
Connaught is comp'ete, the result being that henceforth uo
farm lrom which an occupier has been evicted for non-payment
of rent fixed by the landlord or for reasons deemed insufficient
by the tenants will ever be taken by any successor." And,
therefore, if the landlord cannot evict his tenant because be
will not pay his rent, or if be evicts him, as he may do by
force, and no man in Ireland would dare to take the farm, the
landlord is even in a worse position than if the tenant should
not p ty his rent, because the land would soon become a mere
wilderness, and would take a very large outlay at any future
time to bring it again into cultivation. Wei', then, the writer
says— and this touches upon the point I meutioued just now — ■
" The remedy for the discontent and disaffection w ll remain to
be applied when demagogues and layvbreakers have been
silenced and subdued." And, therefore, whatever the Govern-
ment dops now iu giving relief to the suffering, in crowding
constables or military in certain districts, in enforcing the law ,
the state of things is such that when you have ensured tem-
porary tranquillity there will still remain a sore festeriug as
before, at another time to work out disastrous mischiefs, equal
to and, perhaps, exceeding those which face us at the present
moment. Now, you will admit, at any rate, this — I hope
critics in the newspapers will admit it also; in years past they
not only did not admit it, but denied it — you will admit I have
proposed nothing that is not clearly just to both tenant and
laudlord. What the tenant gets he pays lor, what the landlord
parts with he is compensated lor ; and therefore, if this system
be one which is workable in I eland, why, in the name of all
that is successful, is it that we cannot in the c lining session
of Parliament have it fairly put on foot ?.cd tried once
for all? If you ask any of the leading and trusted
Irish members, if I were to ask them, and if { referred to
the .speeches they delivered, 1 should find that they held
exactly the same apiuiou as I do on this measure. They
may think that possibly some different and probably more
extreme measure might be tried in some other direction,
then- is not one of them who does not believe that this wouid
be an essential and an enormous advantage to the couutrv
which they represent. Oneothersenter.se only. There i.
one thing that strikes me, with regard to this representation
of Ireland, that lias not been carried into effect. What tli6
Irishman on his !arm wa»ts more than all else is to get rid of
suspicion aud, fear of injury, to get rid of uncertainty oi tenure,
and have infused into his wind the opposite feeling of confi-
dence and hope. If you would give to all the iris!; tei t -it-s
connu>iu-e aud hope, every year would s»e llieir advance to ..
■• condition Vtill anylju

16G

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

hope is nothing, and of no avail in the affairs of men P I
might quote from a poet who— what shall I say — has created
almost immortality for our language. He says " White-
handed Hope, the hovering angel gilt with golden wing-."
Bring this hope to the Irish farmer, and peace and his pride
would have an inflnenc, and a blessed influence, as all-healing
in the homes of the poor as in the mansions of the rich and
the great. For, as far as I have Eeen, Irishmen in their own
country and in this country are open to good and fair treat-
ment as other people. They have been victims of oppression,
to be found in all histories. Our fathers subjugated them and
maltreated them, and we suffer in part during our lives for the
blundering of the past. L-t ns not be weary of the at'empt to
bring reformation, and without any suspicion, do all that we
can to remove the disloyalty which has existed in Ireland. As
to the present distre-s, I have not treated upon that — that is a
matter of time, and a matter which may be removed by the
return of a fair harvest and the course of time. But when the
present distress is removed I hope we shall return to the great
question 1 have attempted to explain to-DJght. \nd I hope
with regard to that distress that the duty of the Government
will not be neglected. I hope they have not spent so much
in endeavouring to civiliae Zulus and Afghans without their
being able to do something for the poor people nearer home.
Some one has Baid :—

" These lofty souls have microscopic eyes,
Which see the smallest speck of distant pain,

Wtnlst at their feet a world of agonies-
Unseen, unheard, unheeded, writhes in vain.''
1 hope the Government, in dealing with the Irish question,
will deal with it frankly, openly, and generously, and that as
they now under the pressure of the present distress open their
hands to relieve the suffering people of the west, they will
open their hearts and their intellects too to the other and
greater question of what sliould be done for the Ireland of the
future. I have offered my contribution to this question. It
is not the first time I have offered it. 1 found it year* ago
received with almost unanimous acceptance in Irelaud, and it
is accepted now unanimously, or nearly so, by the Irish mem-
bers. I lvope to-night I have brought you into the ring, and
into the number of those who believe something may still be
done (or Ireland. If the Government is willing to do it in the
session which is coming, or in the session which shall follow,
I hope at any rate those who speak in Parliament as the
representatives of this great constituency will be found amongst
the warmest and most urgent supporters of Jlie plan which I
have ventured to lay before you.

THE BRIGHT CLAUSES OF THE
IRISH LAND ACT.

Mr. G- J. Shaw Lefevre,M.P., writes to the Times : —

Your article of to-day, which con bats Mr. B/ight's proposal
for increasing the facilities for the conversion of tenants of
land in Ireland into owners by purchase, appears to be based
to a great extent on the allegation that the experiment* made
under ithe Church Disestablishment Act in respect of the
Church property and by the Land Act have already failed,
owing to the inability, unwillingness, and failure of large
numbers of purchasers to pay the interest and instalments due
to the State.

I believe I am fully justified in saying that this statement
cannot be sustained. I am iuformed on the best authority
that of 000 purchasers, under the Laud Act, only 2f> have
'.ailed to pay the interest due this winter. 1 am unable to give
the actual number in the case of the Church property -f but
Lord Monck, in a recent letter to me, says that " the income
uf the Commissioners has h-eu very well paid during the past
year j" and I understand that, although some applieitioDS
have been nceived for the postponement of payments, yet no
greater difficulty has been experienced from the small pur-
chasers of farms than from the landowners who have purchased
the tithe rent-charge, and who. were dealt with on much more
favour ible terms.

In so deplorable a season as the present,, when,, as tout
correspondent at Mayo write*, one-third of the small tenants
inthcwe<tof Ireland have lost everything, it would not be
strange if dillicully should be felt by soaie of the class uf

smaller parchasers in paving their interest. Such a sea«on
has not occurred sinee 18i8. 1 fail, therefore, to see wliy it
should be considered as fatal to the scheme of the " Bright
Clauses." It would be possible to suggest many methods of
getting over such an emergency without loss to the State and
without nndu'y forcing sales. The reaily serious point would
be :hat any question should be raised as to the obligation to
pay the full rates agreed upon ; and of this I can confidtntly
say there has been no symptom. Had tl ere been such a
movement, I admit it would have presented a serious objection
to auy extens'on of the system ; and I have on this account
deferred making aDy reply to the other objections which
have been raised durine the recess, while observing the
effect of the recent agitation in Ireland upon this class of
purchasers. I will now ask permission for this opportunity
of replying to some of these objections, as a supplement to
the able speech on this subject of Mr. Bright.

The objections which have been urged lo the scheme come
from two opposite quarters. Tne first are those who see no
merit in a numerous proprietary of land or in the combina-
tion of ownership and occupation, and who do not think the
present state of land ownership in Ireland is unsatisfactory.
To these I think it is sufficient to point to the recent agitation
in that ountry. Just in proportion as tbey may think, o
serious and directed against the payment of all rent, and
aimed, therefore, against the very existence of property iuland
as distinguished from i's occupation (a c nclusion which I
think is open to question, as regards the great mass of tenants
in Ireland), so they must admit the present condition of
property in Ireland to be daDgerous and unsatisfactory. Where
in the civilised world, it may be asked, would such an agita-
tion be possible or have the slighte»t chance of success? But
where also in the world is there such a condition of land-
ownership, such a vast disproportion betwi en the number of
owners ou the one hand and of tenants on the other ? The
evidence before the Committee of 1877-8 was full of warning
on this point, from landowners, land-agents, bankers, judges,
and other persons deeply interest* d in the maintenance of
property, who all concurred in the extremely dangerous
condition of property, which they stated had been aggravated
by the Ballot Act and the consequent loss of all political
influence by the landowners. 1 venture to think there is not
a sensible landowner in Ireland who does not deplore the
existing state of things, and who would not welcome any
legislation for increasing by legitimate means the number of
owners of all classes, and especially of those cultivating their
own land.

The economic e?il of the present 3tate of things is as cer-
tain and clear as the political danger, for on the one hand
it is the experience of every country in Europe and the teach-
ing of every economic writer of authority that a system of
small farms cannot answer unless largely connected with
ownership, for the reason that it is only ownership, t he highest
form of fixity of tenure and security for improvement, which
gives the inducement to the industry and thrift which can
produce a good result from small farms ; and, on, the other
hand, it is equally certain that tlte small farmers of Ireland
do not produce on the average oae-half of that which they
might produce with their existing appliances through want of
this inducement aud through fear of having their rents raised.
This poiut can be established on the clearest evideuce, and is
also in harmouy with all experience on the Continent.

It muet be conceded that Parliament has admitted these
political and economic dangers. The action it has already
taken for the conversion of tenants into owners was based on
this. The first admission, was made in the Church Disestab-
lishment Act ki respect of the Church property ; the second
in the clauses of the Lind Act, which proposed to give facili-
ties aud inducements to tenants to become owners and which
' directed the Judges of the Landed Estates Court to give all
reasonable facilities to tenants desirous of purshasing their
holdings by the formation of lots or otherwise, a direction
which the. Judges have admitted they are unable to give effect
to. These clauses passed withoufc a word cf opposition and
with geueral approval in both Houses of Parliament. The
principle was again practically affirmed when a committee was
appointed in 1877, with the c .incurrence of the Gjverrwnent,
to inquire into the causes of failure of these clauses of the
Land Act, It was unanimously affirmed by the committee
after two years of inquiry, though there was considerable differ-
ence of opinion as to the means by which such facilities should

THE FAttMElfS MAGAZINE.

1G7

b' extender*. It was again aitiruied in the last SassuB, when
t ie House o Cummous p;issed a resolution hi my iustauee iu
these words : —

"That, io view of the expediency of a consirlerab'e increase
in the number of owners of land in Ireland among the class of
persons cultivating its soil, legislation should be adopted with-
out further delay for the purpose, of increasing the facilities
otfered by the St<te with this object, and of securing to the
tenants of land offered lor sale the opportunity of purchase con-
sistently with the interest of the owners them f,"
A stronger ar>d more imporant resolution has rarely been
placed on the records of the House. A. Gofernment was at
first disinclined to accept it, but finding the feeling of the
11 use was most strongly in its favour, aud that every member
from Ireland, witlwut exception, would have voted for it, thpy
gave way ; and the rao'ion, without amendment, was cirried
unanimously. The House of Commons, therefore, and the
Government stand pledged in the. strongest manner. The
priuciple can hardly be said to be disputed, though there may
be a question an to the degree to winch it i« advisable to art
upon it. I hold, then, that it will destroy confidence in the
f litli ol Parliament and of the Government if they should now
decline to proeeed lorther and to make thtse clauses effective,
except for the clearest possible reasons.

The other class of objections come frcm economists — from
those who,, admittiug the danger of the present sute ot things
iu Ireland, and desiring a radical change in the Land Law-,
deprecate any such assistance by the S:ate as is contemplated
by the- Bright Clauses. They raised no objections while these
clauses were passed or when my resolution of last Sesiion was
debated -r their objecti pn<=, therefore, came rather late. They
regret, in the first place, that the question of peasant proprietors
has been raised, as they think it draws a false scent across the
true tone of land reform. There may be some force in this
objection with rererence to England, where substantially no
class of small occupiers of land exists, where it would be use-
less to aim at the artificial creation of a ciass of peasant pro-
prietors, and where the utmost those can hope for who believe
in bringing the stimulus of landowuership to the many is that
by freeing land Irora its prest nt legal shackles it may by
degrees come into the possession of more owners of all classes.
But with Ireland it is very different. There we find a vast
class of small occupiers of land ; there are all the condition of
a peasant proprietary, except the main essential to its success,
that of ownership.. Land reform in Ireland must of necessity
aim at supplying this defect, otherwise it will fail to obtain
popular support or to- produce a beneficial resiilt.

It should be recollected that the establishment of the En-
cumbered Estates Court in 1849 was in accordance with the
views of the strict school of economists. It was hoped that
it would result in land passing from the hands of those who
could not improve it to those who had capital to expend upon
it. It is eertain, however, that so far as many ef the
tenants were concerned, the measure was productive of evil
rather than the reverse, and that a large share of the agit; -
tion which has grown up since then for fixity of tenure is
due te the effects of that Act. It is said that since. 18-19 one-
fourth of the area of Ireland has been sold in this Court. The
propsilies sold were bought about three times the number of
persons who owned them previously. Large estates were
broken up into smaller estates. The tenant?, however, have
Beldam or never had the opportunity of buying. The new pur-
chasers have too often.been men of a very different type from
the former owners. If the former did little to improve their
properties, at least they respected the customs of the country ;
the new purchasers entered upon their properties without
any previous knowledge of such customs,, or of tl a tenant-
right which may have been paid by successive holders of
the farms with the knowledge and consent of the former
owners. These new purchasers, it is notorious, have done
no more than their predectssjrs in the way ol improve-
ment ; they have not built farmhouses, or cottages, nor
drained the land, nor done those many works which in Eng-
land are effected by the landlords. Such works are still, as
before, effected by the tenants, if at all ; but the new
owners have in too many cases screwed np their rents to
the u'most rackrent, regardless of the legitimate tenants'
interests.

That these are not toe* strong terms in which to speak of
these purchases can fcra proved by reference to numerous

witnesses before the Commi tee of 1877-8. Sir William
Gregory spoke as follows : —

" As regards the small class of tenants, I am afraid that
the operation of the Landed Estates Court has pressed very
genarally upon them. The lormer race of landlord-, if they
were nckless and extravagant, were, at all events, very much
allied to their tenantry ; they were easy towards them as far
as their nee ssities allowed them to be easy ; bat these persons
who have ome in and have purchased nuder the Landed
Estates Court have very little bowels of compassion for their
tenants ; they bought to get a percentage, but they did not
assume any obligation towards the property tl.ey bought."
" A great deal of the outcry wi'h regard to land originated with
p-rsons speculating in land, buying it and then extorting from
the unfortunate people whom they bought as tenants im-
moderate and unjust rents ; they treated the esta'e and the
human beings ou it as a speculation, totally regardless of their
sufferings."

And Judge Flanagan, the able head of the Court which is the
successor of the Encumbered Estates Court, spoke of the
smaller class of landlords who have bought in his court in
even stronger terms. He said :—

" I think the small landlords are as a rule the most
tyrannical class j I hardly know what term to use ; they look
uion it purely as a mercantile transaction in the extreme sense
of the term, their sole object being to extract from the unfor-
tunate small tenants who have lost the protect on of their
ormer landlords the very highest penny which by possibility
tliey can extract from these tenants."

This evidence shows the danger which may result to the
"(eDants in the breaking up of largeproperties,withoutgiving the
opportunity and facilities to the tenants themselves to buy.
Any further change n the Land Laws facilitating the break-
up np of large properties will aggravate the evil. There is,
therefore, the strongest reason for the State interposing at
this particular point and endeavouring to facilitate the sale to-
the tenants, so as to protect them against the class of purchasers
such as are described by Sir William Gregory and Judge
lianagan. If iu the year 18-19' the establishment of the En-
cumbered Estates Court had been accompanied by a scheme
facilitating the purchase by the tenants, at a time when pro-
perties were selling at a very low price, we might not only have
avoided the greater number of cases which have been subse-
quently the cause of so much complaint and agitation, but by
this time a considerable body of small owners cultivating their
o*n lands would have been in existence acting as supporters
of the rights of property, and with all those truly conservative
feelings in their best sense which actuate such classes in France
and elsewhere in Europe. A scheme of land reform unaccom-
panied by such facilities may ultimately result in breaking up
properties so as to Feaeli the class of small purchasers and
tenant farmers ; but it may be a century or more in doing so,
and in the meantime the evils I have alluded to will be multi-
plied.

The other main objection arises from the fear of the rela-
tion of mortgager and mortgagee growing up between the State
and any considerable body of small purchasers. I wonld point
out in reply to tbis that in no case would the interest and
instalments be more than the previous rent; the position of
the purchaser would be that this amount could never be raised;
it would be payable for 35 years, and as every year a portion
of the principal is paid off, the property of the purchaser
would continually be becoming more valuable to him; the
increase in the number of suoh purchases- would also take place
slowly, as year by year properties are brought into the market
for sale ; there would be no identity of condition between any
large body of purchasers, as the term ofysars for which the
payments would te due would at any particular time be differ-
ent; some would be approaching the end of their term; others
only at the commencement of it.

I have, however, myself thought that for many reasons it
would be desirable that, if possible, an Irish fund should be
appropriated for the purpose of such loans rather than an
Imperial fund. There is a tendency in Ireland to pull against
the English Treasury, and the Treasury officials resent this
tendency by keeping so tight a hold on the purse that not
nnfrequently the objects of the Legislature in offering such
loans are completely frustrated ; aud the evidence before every

lc3 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

committee showed that the Treasury had been not" a little . pEASANT PROPRIETORSHIP AND THE
concerned in the 'ailure of the working of the bright Clause?

[ believe any sell me would work more easily and the money
would be more under the protection of public opinion in
Ireland if the lund to be dealt with were a purely Irish one,
and it is for this reason I have advocated that the surplus ot
the Iritdi Church property should be used for tins purpose. It
would merely be a loan of a temporary character; the princi-
pal would eventunlly be repaid with interest, and would inure
to some other Irish purpose.

But again, the danger of a possible relation between the
State and a body ot small owners is no argument against the
principle of such a scheme ; it is only valid against the met h. d.
It would be quite possi-ile to devise a sche ce which would not
be open to such objection. In Frussia the S;ate ccnstituted
land credit banks and lent money to them on favourable terms,
for the purpose of enabling the feudal tenants to become
owners of their holdings by purchase ; and in other parts ol
Germany the same method was adopted. It would be possible
in Ireland to adopt a similar method with the same object, so
as to have a buffer between the S'.ate aud the class ol
purchasers. I don't myself think it necessary, but I throw
out thesugg>stionto those who feel the difficulty 1 have
alluded to. . . e . .

There remains only the objection that the scheme might
remit u'timatelv in greater subdivision of land. Much evidence
was given on this point before the committee originally by
gome of the largest land agents in Ireland. They were o(
opnion that there is no longer this great desire on the p.rt of
tenauts to subdivide their holdings, that the facility for
emigration has checked it, and that the pride of ownership
may be expected to prevent it in the future. In any case,
the State would retain a hold upon such small properties
dumi" the subsistence of the mortgage, that is for 3d years,
and it" would be proper and practicable to forbid and prevent
subdivision during this period.

I have only to conclude by saying that if the present time
should appear to be one when it is not likely many tenants
would be able to avail themselves of the facilities for purchase,
at least it is favourable for considering and cirrying a measure
which may have wider application in better tunes. Even at
the present time there are not a few tenants m many parts of
Ireland who are able to buy. Only a few days ago a property
in Clare of the Marquis of Conyngham, one of the largest
landowners in Ireland, was sold to its tenants, over 40 in
number for a full price, through the assistance lent by the
Board o'f Works ; and it is signi6cant that Lord Couynghaw's
eldest son, who was recently a candid- te for the county o(
Donegal expressed in his address, in the strongest language,
his desire for extending these facilities. I believe there are
very lew landowners who are not of the same opinion. A
measure based on these lines would at the present time give
confidence equally to landowners aud tenants. It would tend
to maintain the value of land, and it would show the teuants
that Parliament is determined to keep faith with them and to
move in a direction favouring the wider distribution of property
in land by measures which fully recognise the rights, of pro-
perty, uudeterred by all the agitations which have taken place
jn the recess*

TREES AND THE WEATHER.— At a recent meeting of
the Botanical Society of Edinburgh, Sir Rub* rt Christison
read a paper on the relative growth of the trunks of trees
durin" 1879 as compared with 187<L In the course of his
remarks Sir Robert observed that upwards of two years ago
he set on foot a system of measurement of the girths of a large
number of well-grown trees in Edinburgh and neighbourhood,
the measurements being made by himself wiih the same
measurirg line, and the same circumference to be measured
secured by markiug it at the time of the first measurement
with paint. The summer months of 1879. as compared with
187S for the six months ending with September showed that
the mean temperature for 1879 was fully five degrees less than
for 1878 and the deficiency of day temperature amounting to
nearly ten degrees. Of eleven deciduous trees, exclusive of
oaks, the deficiency of growth during 1879 as compared with
1S7S was forty-one per cent. ; of seventeen evergreens of the
pine tribe, the deficiency was twenty per cent ; and or
seven oaks, of different specie* the deficiency wau leu per
;eut.

IRISH CHURCH COMMISSIONERS.

Mr. Penis Godley, Secretary to the Irish Church Com-
mission, writes from 24, Upper Mtrrion-street, Dubliu,
to the Times : —

Xli«i fol owing passage in an article entitled "Ireland, her
Present ai d Future," in the Edinburgh Review just published,
has been brought under the notice oi the Commissioners of
ChU'Ch Temporalities in heland. The statements made therein
are so inaccurate that the Commissioners consider that in the
public interest they shuu'd be at once orrtced, and I have
accoruirigly to request the favour ot jour inserting this letter
m yi ur columns. The passage I refer to is this : —

" We have before us at ihis moment two examples of what
peasant- proprietorship real y means. The first case is an appeal
Irom the poor inhabitants of the parish of Templecroue, in
the county of D megal, who represent themselves to be in a
state ol starvation. These persons are peasmt proprietors.
They bought sm-Jl patches of mountaiu laud from the Com-
mission ot Church Temporalities. The pre- was low, and
the payment was to be made in instalments payable over
thirty-five years for three-quarters of the amouut ; the fourth
quarter was borrowed at ten per cent. The crops having failed,
these proprietors are utterly unable to p iy either purchase-
money or mter-st, or to find means ot subsistence. They are
largely in debt and have nothing to fall back upon."

" Again, in the diocese of Armagh, a rich part of the
country, similar purchases have been made by pea-ant pro-
prietors ou the same term*. Bat siuc; the 3ecent a-gitit;or>
against rent purchasers utterly refuse to pay their instalments
to the Commission, and the process-servers have been so
savagely threatened that they refuse to act, this is evidently
what would happen if public money were advanced by the
State to enable tenants to buy up their holdings."

The real facts in the two examples given are as follows: —

1. In the case of Templecroue an appeal to the public for
help was made by three persons, one of whom was a peasant
proprietor, and one of the others the Pro.estant clergyman of
the parish. These persons sought assistance, not for them-
selves, but lor others. There were 50 glebe tenants in the
pirish. Out ol these,. 41 purchased their holdings for cash,
and the Commissioners have, there ore,, no more concern with
them. In 2S cases out of the 41 the conveyances were, by
the purchasers' ins' ructions, not made to themselves, but to
another person, who msiy be presumed to have advanced the
purchase-money. Nine new proprietors only, out of 50,
remain ou the Commissioners" books as still liable for part of
the purchase-money of their farms. The total half-yearly
interest secured by the nine mortgages executed by these pro-
prietors is £9 12s.. 6d.

2. In the case of the diocese of Armagh, the proprietors
here alluded to did not purchase their lnldiiigs from the Com-
missioners, aud they, therefore, did not and could not owe
any instalments.

The circumstances that havs misled the writer in the Ediiu
Inryh Review are these : —

In the parishes of Forkhill and Faughart, in the dioc;se of
Armagh, there are some owners of small plots of land who
owe the Commissioners, not instalments of purchase money
nor interest on purchase-money, but " tithe rent -charge" due
out of their lands.

These tithe rent-charges have proved difficult of recovery,
the landowners declariug that they were not lia'ile for them ;
but the case has not the least connexion with that of peasant
proprietors refusing to fulfil their obligations to pay for their
land. Par from repudiating their engagements, the proprietors
created by the operation of the Irish Church Act have shown
au honourable anxiety to pay their debts, and, under the
Bpecial pressure this year, they have fallen but little in arrear
in their payments, as the following figures will show -.—
Total sum receivable by the Commissioners* in 1879 for land
iustalments and interest ou mortgages £132, SOU ; arrears
due on the 31st of December, £7,450.

ADOARU THE
-oval tattoo.— 1 '.-id.

BACCHANTE.— A false alarm— Ilia

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE

1G9

TRICHINIASIS OR TRICHINOSIS IN I

ENGLAND.

How many deaths among people in this country htivp been j
due to tlie disturbance set. up by the muscle-worm, derived
from eating in'ested swine's flesh, will never be known, but,
tlier; is a great reason to fear that they must have been some-
what numerous. From the Urge number who habi uilly con-
name tins lle-ili, the fact that they belong to the poorer classes,
who cannot procure that of the h-st and therefore. sUest
quality, and are least attentive to its being thoroughly cooked,
mid that the symptoms of trichinosis are apt to be conlounrted
with those of other diseases — notably rheumatic and typhoid
fever — it is evident that, given a quantity of worm-infested
flesh offered for consumption, the risk of human infecion is
great, and its detection a matter of mere chance. To what
extent tlie disease bhj prevail among people we know not,
neither have we any means of ascertaining whether and to
what degree swine in this country have these uupleasant
entozoa in their flesh. There is uo evidenee that they have
ever been looked lor in the tissues of our native pigs— indeed,
with that supreme indifference for the public health which
characterises our nnpaternal Government, uo inquiry has been
instituted in this dirtction, neither lias the ftesh of imported
live or dead pigs been irrutinised in order to find out how
much of it is dangerous as food.

That our native pins harbour trichinae there is every cause
for believing ; and that human beiugs iu this rinntry have,
died — if not from trichinosis, at least with these pests iu
myriads in their bodies, is not to be denied.. The worm was
first accidentally discovered in the muscles of the body of a
man which was beirg dissec ed in a disst <• ing room in Lon-
don nearly fifty years ago ; and since that time it has been
found in dissecting room suhj>cts at various times, in these
kingdoms — though whether the patients had succumbed to
trichinosis we r-innot learn.

Years ago we drew attention to the danger people incurred
through eating trchinous flesh, and we have continually
insisted upon the Government doing something to protect the
public health. We were the first to point out — in the Times,
Lancet, and elsewhere — the well-established fact that a large
percentage of American pigs harboured muscle-worms,, and
we urged that pork iospec-'ion should be adopted as a sanitary
precaution. But nothing has been done,, exeppt to tell people
that all pork should be thoroughly cooked ; though thorough
cooking is not always possible iu the best regulated kitchens,
seldom bo among the poorer slasses, who most largely consume
this flesh.

Under the conditions mentioned,, it need not be a matter for
surprise that an ascertained and authenticated outbreak of
trichinosis has at length been recorded ; the only thing for
astonishment is, that such outbreaks were not reported long
ago and frequently.. This outbreak took place on board a
training-s\ip for boys, and, by what must be cons'dered a mere
chancp, the malady was traced to its source. The disease was
at first believed to be typhoid fever, a large number of boys
bein* attacked,, and they exhibited symptoms not unlike those
of that malady.

There was, however, no apparent reason for the sudden ap-
pearance, of the malady in question, and almost in despair of
being able to trace and remove the cause, the department
applied to the Local Government Board for the services of
one of the medieal inspectors on the stpff of that ofncp,. The
gentleman solected made a careful study of the conditions of
life on board the ship affected, and eventually came to the
conclusion not OBly that the cases with which he had to deal
were not instaeees of typhoid fover, but that they were trace-
able to something in the diet of the boys. By-and-by a death
occurred, and the medical iuspector having consulted witli his
colleagues at the Local Government Board, and communicated
his suspicions to them, the Home Office was induced to give
authority, with the consent of the relatives, for the body to be
exhumed, and for au examination to take place. The cause, of
death was then apparent, in the number of trichinae which filled
some of the muscle?.. The boys on board the ship were fed.it
appears, on stated days, on American pork, and it is bplieved
that to trichinre, taken into the stomach in this food, and
which must have regained their v i ' a 1 i t y in spite of prolonged
boiling, were due both the death which occurred and'the other
ease* of illuesa which presented jo uiauy symptoms of a typhoid
harader.

Had this outbreak occurred in a family in one of our poverty
stricken loialities, a government medical inspector might
never have heard of it, and the ordinary mc licil attendant
would, in all probability, have ascribed it to typhoid or some
other latal malady ot frupient. occurrence. Surely the public
have some claim lor consideration in a matter of this im-
porlai ce ! Are they not hilly justified iu asking for some
het'er kind of protection than that contained in the cheap and
ineffective advice to cook their pork thoroughly ? Cooking
their American pork did not protect the. boys of the refor-
matory ship from trichinosis, and the worthlessness ot the
advice is one more iustance ot the imperfect knowledge which
has been so ohen displayed in our dealings with this and
other dangerous diseases of animals. But then it is much,
easier to advise thau to act. — Veterinary Journal.

IRISH FARMS AND FARMING.

A special correspondent of the Times, writing from
Castlerea, Roscommon, Jan. 17, gives the following inte-
resting description of the condition and mode of life of
the small tenants of the district: —

This rustic market town, plain in buildings, unpretendio,
in shop-fronts, with a couple ol hanks as its best built houses
a comfortable inn, a sm ill markei-hall iu which com and wool
are pitched on Saturdays, a public bteelyard erected in the
centre of what serves for a square, some oatmeal mills whose
.vheels are dnveu by the quick llowing stream which supplies
the place with water, and cloBe at hand the grounds aDd
plantations surrounding the mansion of a landowner, is in the
heart of a huge, expanse of bog aud stone-wall country. You
look in some directions over a plaiu of intermingled b.ack bog
and grass, anlike the fens of Cambridgeshire in being par-
celled out by grass banks or stone walls with fewer draius,
whik towards other points of the compass, lie undulating
stretches of country cut up into small enclosures by walls
of bluish gray limestone, or sometimes of saudstone. But
with the exception of plantations very far between, the dis-
trict is bare of all timber but scrub, and not a thorn hedge
is to be seen unless the rough runaway fences, more than half
gap, which appear ou some of the banks may be entitled to
the name. From some points of view so subdivided is the surface
into diminutive fields that more of stone wall than ol actual
land tills the eye. In some cases the fields are cumbered with
big heaps or rather stacks of stones, indicating the toil- by
which the soil has been cleared for cultivation. Boor grass,
for the most part, occupies the surface^ with a minor propor-
tion of the prevailing black soil broken up for arable, to.
bear potatoes in lazy beds,, oats,, grass, seeds, and rarely plots
of turnips^ Rushes, stems of weeds which have been left to
seed, and evidences of slovenly treatment appear in the pasture
land, while the arable is foul with grass and weeds. Occa-
sionally a decent looking farmhouse, two stories high, with
slated roof, may be in sight, accompanied by sheds represent-
ing a farmstead. This is more particularly to the east and
north, approaching some of the largest grazing farms of Ros-
common. But generally, and almost everywhere to the west
and north-west, extending for very mauy miles into the great
county of Mayo aud partly in Galway, the landscape is dotted
interminably with white-walled and straw- thatched cottages
and cabins, sometimes clustering a few together, but com-
monly scattered at intervals of a quarter of a mile or much
less, as if the dwellings of aa immense village had by some
repellent power been suddenly thrust apart and scattered with
regularity over the face of the bleak country, in innumerable
spots occur floors of bog besides-inky drains and pools, on the
brink of whicli are piled black and brown clamps ot dried peat
for fuel. For it is characteristic of this part of the country
that the bog, instead of stretching for thousands of acres
together, as in many other localities, is distributed with con-
siderable equality in the divisions of parishes common To
Ireland, known as "townlauds," a town and embracing 100
to 200 acres,, usually but not invariably constituting an estate
or the unbroken unit of. an estate. Hence the residents in
these peasants' dwellings, planted around the fringes of the
bog, procure all their house firing lor warmth and lor cooking
their own and their pigs' food by, labour in digging and carry.
ing, and they also gra^e the bog with asses aud. goats, and,
where the grassy and rushy surface is not too treacherous,
with cowa or other cattle. Sometimes the bog. is open as a

170

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

common ; but some proprietor?, as, for example, Vis-
count Dillon, who holds 84-,0'JO acres in Mayo, have «i h in-
finite trouble aud at great expense apportioned the bogs anion*
the frontagers, aud by arraugement with the tenants allotted
them proportional shares of good and inferior bog, now par
titioned by grass bank, with the little farms in lengths abut-
ting upon the public highways or new roads made for the pur-
pose. To intersect the country with a sufficient number of
good hard roads to reach the myriads of homesteads would
cost a »reat part of the value of an esttte ; and the approach
to an immense number of the farms is by a rough way of ruts,
gross, and stones called a" bohreen," which in the English fens
would be a drove, but here not always wide enough for the
passage of a cart. Indeed, you can get at many of the farms
only by a bridle road or a pathway. Gates, indeed, are not
always items lor repair, as in very numerous cases entrances
and exits are through gaps left in tumbledown grass banks or
breaks in the rude fence walls, many of the plot fields re-
maining perpetually walled rouud, a temporary breach being
made when necessary for horse and cart to letch out the crop
ol hay or corn.

Iu vain you look for specimens of the quadrangular straw-
yard with surrounding buildings which distinguishes most
English farms. Except on the few large holdings there are
no straw-yards at all, and no farm premises beyond the small
thatched houses or hovel-, which are here honoured with the
designation of barns, cow-houses and stables — usually joined
on to tie farmers' awelliug house, with manure heaped just
outside the doors. The one or two cows and their calves on
each holding are in the field all winter — a treatment which
the mildness of the climate renders possible, though the loss
in the meat-producing capability of the country from this
exposure must be enormous. The calves are shut up at night
and fed with hay, and they are not in very first-class condition
in the spring when sold as yearlings to the large grazing
farmers. The occupiers could make good use of cattle-sheds
and food houses if they had them ; in fac', improved
husbandry in root-feeding and masure-making — the very
basis of a proper agriculture — is prevented by this pitiable
absence of any reasonable description ot farm-buildings. It is
a puzzle how the tenants on hundreds of farms manage to
shelter their live stock, including the active, well-fed ass,
which so commonly puils their little cart to market with pro-
duce or turf for sale. Many of the houses, invarianly one
room high, are construc'ed with stone walls and roofs thatched
with straw, with mortar Moors, and diminutive glass windows
without oppning casements. In vast numbers ol cases the
walls are of mud ; but the interior? are by no means so desti-
tute of .comfort as might be imagined, whru there is a good
roof, a sound floor, and a chmney really letting out the
smoke. I have been in houses having a sparred roof suffi-
ciently lolty to make the principal apartment airy, with a
separate sleeping room, and a little room for setting milk,
though the principal dair) operations are conducted in the larger
part of the house. Instances are rare in which the cnw aud
the family are housed together, though they exist. Nobody
heeds the intrusion of the wel'-ted, well-behaved pig. I have
seen cabins devoid of any window ; the sole apertures for
light and ventilation being the always open door and the hole
in the roof which discharges part of the eye watering smoke
of the peat fire. One single-roomed house, without a iy
window, I fouLd to have been newly lime-whited inside, the
floor washed clean, and the moderate stock of furniture and
of cooking and table utensils iu a trim evidently the pride of
the houbewife, whose merry children were playing round the
hearth. A native arrangement sometimes seen is the provision
of a niche in the wall, a littie recess with lean-to roof, open-
ing into the. houte c'- e to the fire, like a berth in a skip's
saloon. This, sometimes closed by a straw curtain, holds a
bed for the " collaugh," or old mother, in a position from
which she on have an eye upon the other inmates of the
dwelling. With colours and sketch-book 1 cculd make here
quite a collection of picturesque homes of la pelite culture
—alas ! only iu the rarest cases with any charm of flower
garden or even fruit orchard. Io my foregrounds would
appear a stalwart Irish farmer in the tail coat of the country,
now no longer of the home-spun blue frieze, leading his tight
little horse or shaggy ?ss in the lengthy truck-cart or ' dray '*
of the region, or one of the steady, industrious lads driving
c )wb or riding an ass with pannier-load of meal or potatoes,
or a goad wife in dark blue cloak aud white cap, bearing lis;,

basket or pail, or a group of comely, cheerful, modest Irish
maidens in their scarlet petticoats, under dark brown short-
gowna, the black and green plaid shawl half covering their
heads, and their bare leet pacing over swa-d or stoues as they
carry their bright cans to the spring for water or bring crate
loads ot turf to tlie house lor tiring.

These people do work, men, w >rnen, and young persons
alike ; for although at this period of the year, wlien the
libonrs of tillage are not onerous, both young men who have
returned Irom England with their summer and autumn earn-
ings, and old men who farm at home may seem to have leisure
at their disposal, the spring brings most severe and protracted
work in digging, by far the lartest proportion of the country
beii g tilled by the spade aud fork ; and every Euglish larmer
knows how Irishmen employed by them in hay and corn har-
vesting pinch themselves in food and comforts iu order to
carry inane a few pounds for their families. The industry of
this population is uot their only virtue. Hardships, privations,
insufficient dome-tic accommodation, the almost total lack of
the commonest sanitary provision, whic'-i will be understood
by the simple statement that thousands of houses have no
closet ot any description, do not necessarily lower morals,
though they keep down the level of the people's taste. In
fail ly built tenem -nts which I have visited and where I have
conversed with the families, I have found general cleauliness,
neatness, order in the arrangement of poor furniture and in
the display of plates and jugs and tea services ; I meet with
civility and respectfulness iu the behari >ur of these peasant
occupiers of a lew acres, and in the behaviour of their wives
and children. A fanny limited to a single apartment by night
and day have their own ideas ol what is decorous and what is
not : and I can testily that here neither the improper house
accommodation nor the working of girls aud young women
out of doors induce that boldness or gross rudeness of be-
haviour which distinguish the field hands in some parts of
England. I am informed by all classes of persons familiar
with the inhabitants of Ro-cominou and Mayo, including
parish priests and other clergy, who are in constant and inti-
mate intercourse with the people, that the population are as
well conducted as their appearance and behaviour indicate.
Notwithstanding the presence of a considerable number of
houses in Castlerea for the sale of drink, mainly Irish whisky
the amount of intoxication is allegi d io be much below that
observed in English rural towns of sunihr size ; it is only at
fairs or festivals, sometimes at weddings, that feasting and
dancing occasionally end in drunken turbulence. Otherwise
the people are most quiet and peaceful ; and a social evil
which is the disgrace of some seaport, barrack, and other
large towns has no existence here. With all sympathy for the
good people who live such placid and apparently dull, en-
interesting lives iu iusolated situations, oue must lament the
almost complete absence of gaid-ming, of anything pretty in
their homes, such as pictures on the walls of their rooms, or
even the humble chimney ornaments which are seen in the
cottages of all English labourers, and the nearly total want of
books or periodical literature. In an English country town
of more than a thousaud inhabitants, like Castlerea, there is
at least one bookseller supplying daily and weekly newspapers
magazines, heralds, journals, illustrated and non-illustrated,
publications ; aud there are entertainments in some public
rooms many times during, at any rate, the winter season. But
here there is no printer or bookseller ; no magazines are
waited for by young peopla week after weak for continu-
ations of serial stories; books do. not enliven the restiut
hours of the industrious adults or the children, who have now
the vast advantage of the near-ai-haud national schools. If
any papers are read they are only a few of an ultra-national
and inflammatory character, and no local or stroiUug talent
gives coucerts or ent:rtainments.

I have much to say respecting the agriculture practised by
the small Irish tenantry, its position aud prospects ; but .some-
thing more urgent presses first for consideration. In good
times it is a mystery how these families.persevering and praise-,
worthy as they are manage to subsist, but they do ; and
thousands of thrifty parents save mouey while bringing up
healthy, robust children upon, farms of six to ten statute
acres, and even upon, still smaller holdiugs. With a diet
chiefly con-isting of milk, oatireal, Iudian corn meal, wheaten
bread, potatoes, and other vegetables ; on the smallest plots,
with meat only on high dsys and holidays, and on the 20 or
30 acre holdings bacon, or fowls, on Sundays, the people

THE FARM MR' S MAGAZINE

171

latfsty their ideas of what tolerable breakfasts, dinners, and
suppers should be. With a simplicity of wants in household
finings, in dress and decoration, almost c luformable to the
philosophy of Diogenes himself, they are able to procure
necessaries and some comlorts; and, on the extremely small
occupations this livelihood is rendered possible by the earnings
obtained in annual pilgrimages to England. I except the
agricultural day labourers, who are a compsratively small
el tss hpre. Tueir living upon a wage of Is. to Is. 3d. a day,
and nothing foil ad by the enployer, can do little more than
keep them alive upon their customary diet of stirabout — made
of milk and Indian corn meal, the latter sometimes dried into
a cake. The little farmers here cannot afford to pay decent
wages to men who have for generations been bred to do little
work upm inadequate food.

But the exceptional year of disastrous seasons has brought
a crisis ia the affairs of the farmers ; and that crisis will soon
reach a climax. Their poor yield of potatoes was destroyed
to the extent of one half by disease ; a further loss of the crop
was suffered by the tenants being unable in the brief interval
between the great rains and the premature snow and frost to dig
np all the potatoes and save their peat too ; the oats have not
turned out well ; the price of cows and calves came down,
and the consequeuce is that grpat numbers are running short
of means and short of a store ot food, and are driven to grind
the oats they should keep for seed, aud to eat the potatoes
which should be planted in one or twe months from this time.
Viscount Dillon has 4,000 teuants, of whom not half-a-dozen
men occupy over 100 acres each, the bulk of them holding
four, six, and up to 13 or 15 acres, some fanning smaller plots
than these. Other small tenantry are on the large estates of
the O'Couor Don, M.P., Lord De Frevne, Mr. Sand'nrd,and
other landlords. It is estimated by some authorities who
know mnch of the condition of the tenants on these great
properties that while probably half will be able to maintaia
themselves till summer employment com?s in, a larg.^ number
being also what is called "snug," or possessed of money in
the bank, probably a third, some say more, of the whole
number, will have to be supported by extraneous help for at
least three and probably for four mouths. The destitution
now upon some of the population and rapidly approaching
others, particularly in the wide track of country about Bally-
haunis, Claremorris, and Swineford, which form a sort of
agricultural rookery for 10 and 20 miles together, is so grievous
as to be frightful and appalling to those who had experience of
the great famine and fever. Like scenes of dire distress, of
wholesale deaths by starvation, perhaps of rebellious violence,
are certain and very close at hand, unless prompt assistance
be provided for the hungry. From inquiries in the district I
fear that relief by employment on public works will in some
cases come too late. Great satisfaction is expressed here at the
wise course which the Government have t'ken in offering
loans at a very low rate of interest and on exceedingly favour-
able terms of rf payment, by which landowners may com-
mence works of improvement other than buildings upon their
estates. Good as the effect must be, such works can be but
very uncertainly and partially undertaken ; they may be
started upon many properties, and no movement whatever
made respecting them on other estates where the tenantry
ore in greatly more need of help. Such works, moreover, may
be of great value on estates where the holdings are compara-
tively large, but quite inapplicable on such properties as I see
here cut up into a patchwork of tiny holdings, where the
survejing and laying out of works to be executed by each
occupier and the superintending of the operations in many
hundreds of places simultaneously is altogether , beyond the
power of any landlord or his agent. This is the right mo-
ment to set about important undertakings in arterial drainage
bog reclamation, waste land culture, slob-land embanking,
harbours and piers for fishery and other shipping, the cultiva-
tion of river and pond fish, the planting of land for timber, the
construction of railways for opening out neghcted localities.
For employing men who cannot be lodged far from their
homes it has been proposed to make the earthworks for
future new lines of railway, and to widen an . fence some of
the main roids. But I apprehend that before much effectual
work of this kinds is really in hand, clamorous demands will
have been made for immediate relief to starving families.
Some persons say the law which prohibits the giving of Poor
Law relief to occupiers of a quarter of an acre may be waived,
and the poor-house offered to the tenants who can no longer

keep body and soul together iu their own homes. But sup-
posing that these home-loving, h mc-worshipping people fail
to carry out their prrd.-termination to die rather than give up
their farms and go as paupers to the poor-house, how would
such a proceeding answer? So many perpetual paupers
would come out of the union in thrrie months time ; and a
class of tenants only just above them, but saved from having
entered the house, would have been beggared by the extra
rates (of which they pay one-half) required for their support.
If a sum of money, say ranging from 5s. to 10s. a week for
three months, were given to each indigent family, or in some
cases quantities of seed potatoes or of food (and under the
scrutiny of local committees, this would not involve a very
extravagant amount), it would be the quickest in application,
and would cost the least in planning and overseeing. Like
any other mode of relieving distress, this plan would be liable
to abuse by unprincipled men. Whatever fuud becomes avail-
able, to be administered as most desirable, through some
simple labour test of the sincerity of applicants, it is contendt d
by some landowners that the responsibility of sustaining these
tenants cannot equitably (all upon them. It is not the land-
lord's interest at all to have such swarms of little occupiers on
his property, and it is felt to be an injustice that owners who
exerted themselves to the utmost to preserve the lives of the
tenants during the period of the great famine should now be
looked to for aid, when other owners whose estates were then
largely depopulated have in consequence less responsibility
saddled upon them. It has been urged that it is not for the
landlords but for the nation, for the Army, the Navy, the
labour centres in England and for the Colonies, that the
existence of these tribes of little cultivators is desirable ; and
assistance to them should come, therefore, from other quarters,
from the nation at large.

It is not my province to offer any opinion on this view. Bi t
from what I observe here I am bound to declare that whatever
aid comes must be prompt, ana in another letter I will
endeavour to explain the grounds for concluding that the class
of small tenantry may preserve and improve their positions
and remain the backbone of Irish agriculture, only a portion
of their number being unable to tide over this most excep-
tional year of calamity.

Writing from Castlebar, Mayo, the same corresdondentsays :
— The. biggest thine I have heard of in Ireland is Mr. Barber's
occupation of 30,000 acres on the Marquis of Sligo's mountain
property. Tins great farmer, residing in a sheltered hollow
on the shore of the lovely Killerry Bay, where the remarkable
mildness of the climate permits the growth of the castor -oil
pant and almost sub-tropical trees to live in the open air,
grazes t'e stupendous slopes of Mulrea and other giant moun-
tains of the district with Cheviot sheep, e'ipping from them
fleeces of short staple which run into a somewhat kempy
nature. They give baautiful mutton. The fact that this
breed is well able to stand the exposnre, indicates that
these heights, upon which blow the unchecked storms off
the Atlantic, are not subject to such severities of cold and of
deep, long continued blasts of snow as those which visit the
loftiest of the Scotch Highlands where only the hardy black,
faced sheep can find a subsistence. Another feature of interest
in that region, and of great importance to all who have at
heart the development of Ireland's agricultural capabilities, is
the reclamation of bog by Mr. Mitchell Ilpnry, M.P., on his
estate at Kylemore. Tourists passing the Castle, in view of
some of the most marvellous rock scenery in the United
Kingdom, where the Twelve Tins present their precipices of
black and grey, and whole faces of snow-white quartz, with
intensely bright green slopes between, may have scarcely
noticed the operations of drain-cut:ing and transporting of
hard material, whic'i are likely, as an example, to exert a
commanding influence over the future of, perhaps, hundreds of
thousands of acres of now wasted bog. Modestly enough, the
proprietor has not yet published (so far as I am awar<-) any
full account of these most successful works, which have been
prosecuted by himself, with the assistance of bis able en-
gineeering and farming manager, Mr. M'Alister. The area
of bog under process of bit-by-bit reclamation stretches
between the foot of a mountain and a lake, with ample slope
for drainage. Indeed, I think, there is little bog and marsh
in Ireland that does not lie favourably for drying by means of
simple open drains, which can be cut to good outfalls almost
everywhere. An English fenman, who knows the heavy cost
of erecting and maintaining and working steam draining

17

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

purines and sluices, of building emb;nkments, and of opening
and improving the seaward channels of rivers before they can
orry off the water from dead-level lands, will appreciate this
important circumstance. Mr. Mitchell Henry constructed a
catch- water drain, intercepting the upland iorrenta and convey-
ing them partly round and across toe plain of bog to the lake.
This drain serves also as a canal, easing the transport of heavy
earth, which is brought to different parts of the bo? in barges,
thus greatly shortening the ditancft over which the carrying
and distributing have to be performed by cuts. Open drains
are cut across to tap the spongy bog of its water, the work
being done by the country people at a price per perch.
Covered stone drains are laid at intervals between the open
drains ; and, as the bog is Dot very deep, probably averaging
some three feet, these under drains have been laid below the
pan of e.eas-v clay upon which the bog lies — this pan, indeed,
having been probably a cause for the growth and accumulation
of the mass of bog plants on the spot. This drying of the
very bottom and reaching the springs underneath the pan is
considered a very important point. Lime burnt from the
stone on the mountain-sides is applied in a heavy dressing
upon the surface of rough heath ; aul by spade the portion
to come nnder treatment is dug in the stripes, or narrow four-
furrow ridges with open gutters h-tween, which are seen in
every attempt to cu tivate bog land in Ireland. It is said,
though I have only indirect authority for the statement, that
the cost amounts to about £15 per Irish acre, and that in
gome year} the crop of turnips always grown iu the
first year goes far towards realisiug as much. — yield-
ing in a good season up to 30 tons on the big Irish
acre. In the second year limestone-gravel and sand are carried
on to coat the bog with hard material, and farmyard manure
from hay and root fed cattle is applied to the stripes split by
fork into lazy beds for potatoes. After this crop the land is
ploughed for oats in the third year. The fine vegetable soil
thus produced rests npon the stratum of raw spongy bog,
which gradually consolidates from the drying of its mass ; and
the surface subsides till, in the course of time, it may be prac-
ticable to throw up the substratum of clay or other hard
earth by trenching, at first with the. spade, ultimately, perhaps,
with the subsoiling plough. I understand that the practice at
Kvlemorehas established the precise kind and order of opera-
tions requisite and sufficient in reclaiming hill-side bog, and,
what is of great moment, has demonstrated the remunerative
nature of the work. In thousands of localities such bogs lie
waste and unproductive. I have seen many examples of
similar enterprise in detail upon the red bog iu flatter districts,
where the made land floats upon a quag some five to eight or
ten feet deep, the. deepest mosses having a thickness of perhaps
ten to fifteen feet. Not a great distance from where I write a
parish priest has reclaimed a considerable breadth of bog by
cutting drains, liming, and applying sand or other hard mate-
rial. In some cases the turnip aud potato crops have to be
repeated after second applications of sand before the ground
will produce a crop of oats. Generally speakiug, however, I
believe that lime, the very foundation of success in reducing
the healthy surface and sweetening the upper layer which is to
form soil, is rarely made use ofby the small farmers, although
limestone abounds in so many districts of Ireland where the
hogs are. The main reliance is upon heavy applications of
limestone-gravel and sand and other earths, which have to be
repeated after a short term of years. The conversion of bog
area into farm land is also going on slowly upon innumerable
small holdings by the very tedious, hut effectual, method of
digging away the whole of the peat bodily, as it is required
for fuel year by year, and then tilling the clayey base thus left
exposed.

Bogs are not things to be attacked by a grand coup de main ;
they must be taken in hand by just so ranch at a time as the
means and the manual labour available can prndently deal
with. And, remembering this, I, nevertheless, think it not
difficult to prove that the reclaiming ol bogs, to say nothing of
any other landed improvement, might at this moment be era-
ploying in remunerative labour all the able-bodied men that
the bog regions can produce, if not all that Ireland has to
spare from her common husbandry and other industrial occu-
pations. What one enterprising owner is doing, hundreds,
perhaps thousands, more might do if they had but the incli-
nation. Many others would now engage in extensive works of
reclamation if they only possessed the means. Hundreds of
laborious occapiers find it answer to add plots of bog to the

cultivated area of their farms; myriads more would fo'l <w
their example if they equally j-aw tlirir interest to he in i.-uc-
tifying the wet expanse now lying almost valueless at
doors, now vastly could the right class of men, stimulated
hy sufficient inducement, add to the productive capacity of
Ireland in a very short course of years ! An agricultural
improver travelling through this country, where the vegetable
soil aul the limestoue aud the labour are found together, can
only wonder when he hears proposals to accelerate the present
emigration of Ireland's strong young men, instead of plans for
transferring these bauds from the over-crowded regions of poor
soil to positions where they might be engage I upon tracts
which by millions of acres await them. Capital can transform
thes^ wastes into fert'iity ; and capital would come, under the
encouragement of adequate security and a prospect of good
profit.

While alluding to home outlets for the surplus labour of
this country, I may mention that the opening of a much
grea'er trade in deep-sea and other fishing is believed here in
the West to be thoroughly practicable. It is affirmed to he
merely a matter of enterprise and capital. With boats and
gear, and, in some cases, landing piers and railways to carry
the harvest of the sea, a very large increase conld be made in
the west coast fisheries. Shoals of mackerel and herring may
trequent banks in other seas, and abound in great numb rs in
shallower water rather than in the deep ocean off the west
coast of Ireland ; but there are magnificent bays here, pene-
trating sometimes twenty miles inland, sucli as (J.tlway Hay
and Clew Biy, in which the fish are in abundance beyond the
ability of present means to catch ; and Killerry Bay is spoken
of as sometimes fall of fish.

ll'curring to peat, however, it is likely that the problem of
making use of these immense deposits of raw material in
industrial manufacture will jet be solved ; and I believe t hat
we shall see large numbers of people employed on an exten-
sive scale, in making turf-fuel, not only for Irish use, but for
export. Fortunes have been lost in attempts to manufacture
from the bog by any number of mechanical inventions aud
desiccating apparatus ; and even the trials which have been
made to improve the process of preparing turf-fuel upon the
lines of the present manual digging, piling, and turning, have
been found too costly in fle extent of shedding and of tra>s
and in the manipulation of material in such bulk as peat.
But is it not practicable tj introduce appliances so that the
wet spita of peat cut by the spade may be placed in a position
in whi'h they need be touched no more until dry, and this
drying be speedy as well as certain ? Set upou the wet heath
or the bare wet bog, and exposed to all the raius of this moist
atmosphere, it is a wonder that the little heaps of turf spits
on the open-air systpin ever dry at all, Iu a season of fre-
quent and heavy downfalls, such as the summer of 187!', much
of the pjat is sacrificed. It has been suggested that the
labour of setting up the turfs upon a grated floor would be no
greater than in placing them upon the bog ; while it would
be ea«y to place a cover like a gardener's hand- frame over
each little heap, instead of carrying the peat upon trays to be
piled in tiers iu a building. The small frames could shed off
all rain, while freely admitting wind and sun. As my infor-
mant is about to read a paper on the whole subject, it is not
necessary to go further into detail. I do uot see why acres of
fuel should not be covered by baud frames or similar apparatus
of a less expensive de-cription than the glass which covers
acres of the produce of the market gardener. The obstacle
to very distant transport of the peat when dry and ready for
burning; is its excessive bulk in proportion to weight and
heating property. The lowermost layers in the bog are
commonly so dense as to be named " stone" peat, and this, in
transport, may be comparable with coal ; bat the mass becomes
the more fibrous and spongy the nearer you approach the top.
These lighter portions might, when almost dry, be compressed
mto small heavy cakes or balls by hydraulic or screw pressure.
Turfs are sold by the box of 20 cubic feet, about nine boxes
on au average forming a tou. Perhaps the air-dried peat
might be condensed into a third of this bulk. The retail
price for household purposes ranges froaa 9d. up to Is. a box
in yea's when the article is scarce. I saw a 40-horse steam
boiler being wo'ked with peat, for which they require a larger
than ordinary fire-box, and the fire piled thickly upon the fire-
bars. The fuel is lauded upon the factory wharf on the bank
of the broad Shannon out of boats which bring it from a bog
not many miles down the river aud at 7d. per box, or ."«. 3d. per

TIIK KARMKR'H MAGAZINE.

173

toil ; the cost of the fuel for the same working of the engine
being considered to lie. one-hill that of coal ;it 1 7-s. or more.
A drawback to any undertaking of the kind proposed in that
the country people rajght lie jealous of a project calculated to
lower the price of the turfs ihey make and sell ; and until
ample employment and g od wages established a popularity
for the works, there might he considerable risk in starting a
quautity of apparatus in an exposed place.

Nature, as well as agricultural science and politica
economy, having determined Ireland's true line of advance to
lie in the multiplying of herds and flocks rather than in ex-
tending the growth of corn, it is commonly inferred in Eng-
land that this course is synonymous with the extirpation of
small holdings and converting them into large farms for both
breeders and graziers. But that this view is wide of the truth,
and that small fanning is not incompatible with an increase of
livestock, appears from the tacts placed beyond doubt by the
agricultural statistics. Here as in England some persons
question the accuracy of the official figures, on the ground
that the. constabulary who set as collecors are careless from
not being paid for tins extra work. A Lough'ea grazier aud
large dealer, for instance, expressed to me his opinion that the
returns must be wrong at any rate as regards the increase
which they show in the number of yonng oattle ; for at no
fair are they to be seen, and, in fact, he does not believe they
exist in the country. It is replied that these figures are too
broad and too uniform to be open to be impugned by mere
local and private observation; that probably in the district
referred to the young animals are either on the farms or have
been largely disposed of without entering the great fairs ; and
that, any way, the statistics are as lair one year as another for
the purpose ol general comparison. It is likely, however,
that the numbers given as to poultry may be exceedingly wide
of the mark. However, taking the returns as thoroughly reli-
able for comparing one year with another, the following facts
come out with regard to the portions of counties which I have
already selected on account of the small average size of their
lioldiugs — consisting of 42 baronies in 13 counties, having an
area of 2,746,418 acres of cultivated land in 159,908 occupa-
tions of the average size of 17* acres, with an additional area
of bog and marsh equal to more than a fifth of the above
area : —

o s .

-2

o s . S .

0

13

County.

J3 _ GO

oo

i_ o °°

V O I—

-3 _ OO

00

0 £ 00

-0 S, °°

B-g~

a r~l

SS^

' X ^~*

g-jH

a-S^

3 7Z C

3r= a

- c

a x a

S 2 '"

E-i """

Z £"*

H '"

z ■"

25 '"

Armagh, 3 ba-

13460

28770

13335

31507

8952

7389

Cavan, 2 baro-

13574

30041

12854

29481

5664

4173

Donegal, 3 ba-

26774

60705

26156

63639

107095

76378

Down, 2 baro-

nies

14735

S3 110

13437

32682

27590

27521

Fermanagh, 2

baronies

8526

10:81

8213

16152

1813

1550

Londonderry, 1

barony

18059

35667

17579

35352

12327

11761

Monaghan, 3

baronies

23047

52533

21968

53491

13661

12316

Tyrone, 5 baro-

nies

47686

97412

46683

98865

28996

16681

Galway, 3 ba-

rouies

12273

33426

12965

40997

111945

99140

Leitrirn, 3 ba-

ronies

26379

57960

24918

56046

14714

8505

Mayo, 8 baro-

nies

51176

139614

52747

155292

307070

238861

Roscommon, 4

baronies

20026

62060

20574

68458

63996

58890

Sligo, 3 baro-

nies

20922

52085

20456

5371 8

62242

50780

Total

296637

699964

291890'

"40680

761065

S13945

In 1869, this large area under la petite culture had 699,964
cattle ; and nine years later the total had increased to 740,630.
In sheep, however, the stock had fallen from 761,065 in the
year 1869 to 613,945 in 1373. Cattle had increased 5-3 per

cent., and sheep had diminished 1 9 • 3 per cent. But during
the same period of nine ye. irs the cattle sto. k of the whole at
Ireland increased from 3,733,675 to 3,986,120, or 6 7 per
cent., while the total sheep stock of Ireland fell from
4,651,195 to 4,095, 134, being a decrease of 11*9 per cent.
Now compare the same small farm area with counties in
which the average size of farm is larger : —

County, a

Wexford.
Cork, E.

Riding.
Cork, W.

Riding.
Limerick
Wick low
Meath...

Acre

sii

44!

34}
3&|

44J
45|

42553

95949

81287
96374
27762

117626
183037

144483
176055
77630

17197,15325i

39197

99934

84549

100168

25460

150S8

115939

210417

15344-7

203535

77804

176022

a"

3
55

163436

245469

154170

84770

214151

221782

159876

209514

124920

68296

199713

232669

39 361122 852116 364396 937164:1083778 994988
Total, 3,433,437 acres.

Here it is seen that in six counties having the largest class of
holdings, averaging 31^ up to 45J acres, the stock of cattle
increased in nine years fro-n 852,116 to 637,161', or 9.9 per
cent., and that the sheep decreased from 1,083,778 to 994.988
or 8.2 per cent. There is a. comparatively small balance in lavour
of the area of large holdings, averaging 39 acres each/or having
increased its cattle rather more and reduced its flocks rather
less than has occurred on the area of lesser holdings averaging
17i acres each. It does not at all appear that small farming
fails to do its part towards increasing the cattle stock of
Ireland, and is accountable for the continuous diminution of the
stock of sheep ; nor, on the other hand, that larger farming in
its stead would immensely augment the number of cattle,
and quickly put a stop to the annual reduction in the number
of sheep. It is observable that the number of milch cows in
proportion to the head of cattle is not always greatest on the
email holdings, being great in the dairying and breeding
counties of Cork and Limerick, as well as in the small farm
districts of Fermanagh, Londonderry, Monaghan, Leitrirn, and
Tyrone. An increase in ihe number of milch cows is seen in
the poor small- farm districts of Mayo, Roscommon, and Sligo,
and in Cork and Limerick. In the tillage county of Wexford',
as well as in the Wicklow and the grazing county of Meath,'
there has been a reduction of the number of cows.

As to the density of the stocking, the 2,746,418 acres, dis-
tributed in 13 counties, and mainly in small holdiugs, the
average size being 174, acres, have live stock at the rate of 27
cattle and 22| sheep per 100 acres of cultivated land. In the
counties of Cork, Limerick, Wexford, Wicklow, and Meath,
embracing 3,433,437 acres, on which the average size of hold-
ing is 39 acres, there are 27* cattle and 29 sheep per 100
acres ol cultivated land. Taking the whole of Ireland, the
cultivated area of 16,337,139 acres in the year 1878,in holdings
of the average size of 29 acres, was stocked with 26 cattle and
26£ sheep per 100 acres of cultivated land. So far it appears
that the small farm system of Ireland doe> not fall materially
behind the larger farmiug in respect of the number of animals
kept, excepting in the sheep stock. And as the section of
Ireland selected to represent the large holdings includes many
occupations wholly in grass, and also the great ranges of the
Wicklow mountains contributing largely to the flocks, this was
to be expected. But the remarkable thing is that the small
farm tract, including as it does such a great portion of poor
land as in the western counties, should come near to the
s'ocking of the fine lands of the counties including Cork-
Limerick, Wexford, and Meath.

The fact, nnlooked for as it may be, is that the very small
equally with the large, occupiers have consulted the climate',
or the necessities, or the fashiou of Irish husbaudry, and in
the West, at any rate, devote only minor proportions of their
little farms to arable culture. And the head of live stock per
100 acres is governed by other circumstances tlun thema?ni,

174

TEE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

tude of the occupations into which the surface is divided. In
the selected regions of farms averaging 17^ acres, having 27
cat'le and 22} sheep per 10(J acres, of inn cultivated area of
2,716,418 acres, 1,725,327 was grass in the year 1878, being
62^ per cent, iu the selected coun'ies.of farms averaging 39
acres, of the culrivated »rea of 3,453,4-37 acres, the pasture
was 2,363,130 acres, or 68$ per cut., which is not a much
larger proportion. For the wnole o* Ireland, of the 15,337,139
acres of cultivated land, 10,116,191 acres were in the same
year in grass, or 66 per cent. Generally, it appears that the
number of cattle and sheep vary according to the proportion
of land under grass, uo matter whether the holdings be large
or small. But it is so important to show whether this is really
io or whether quite as heavy a stocking occurs in counties
where a large proportion of the land is arable, superior tillage
ol good soil being able to maintain more animals than will
the grazing of inferior pasture, that a further comparison may
be instructive, more particularly as no one, so far as I am
aware, has taken the trouble to analyse the returns in this
comparative manner. I reserve the figures for a subsequent
letter.

AN INGENIOUS PARENT.— A. young man who had
long and dearly loved a beautiful girl on Warren Avenue
besought of her rec-ntly to name the happy day, which she
did with such fond, reluctant, amorous delay that it would
hardly have been thought that she hail made up her mi al when
the date was to be more than two months before, so soon as
she saw that he real y meant this. They accordingly waited
upon the author of her being, and, going down ou their knees,
acquainted him with the. lay of the laud, and besought of him
his blessing. He was a practical and economical old man,
with a mind fertile of resourc-, and when the young man had
stammered that he loved her dearer than his life, and had a
salary of 1800 dollars, and that he hoped— the old man took up
his trusty Toledo (O.) walking-stick, and, calling his prospec
tive son-in-law a moon-eyed caudidate for the Presidency, and
a diddle binged unvindiclive raonoraetahst drove him out of
the house; then seizing his daughter by her tiny shell-lac ears
he awayed with her to the deepest bedroom beneath the attic
roof, and locked her in there. What is the consequence P
That very night the young man came with a rope-ladder, an
ample cloak, and a double-barrelled marriage-license, and stole
his bride away, and they were made one at a West Side church.
The young wife then said to her husband, " Algernon, my
father b°haved to you as mean as all get-out ; still he was my
mother's husband, and we ought to have some deference for
him, so let us go to him aud tell him we are wedded, and ask
the blessings. Besides, 1 want to get my brush and comb bag
that I left on the bureau.' " Well I'll go," said the young
husband ; " but, mind you, Matilda, if he lays a hand on me
save in the. way of kindness, I'll knock his two eyes into one.
I suffered his previous indignities because he was the hoary-
headed author of your being, but now he is only my bald-headed
old father-in-law, and I won't stand it, if he is three times as
old as I am." Accordingly they went home, and when they
got there, and were excitedly feeling for the bell-pull, the old
nan opened the door, and said, " Come in, come in, how'n the
blushing bride, eh ?" Bless you, my children. Now, by the
time we have partaken of a bottle of champagne which is in
the ice-box, the hack will be here to convey you down towu,
or to any railroad depot ycu may be pleased to indicate."
They followed the old man into the parlour like people in a
dream. " I was afraid once," he said cheerfully, " when [ saw
Matilda coming down that ladder, that the durn thing would
break -for she's full sixteen ounces to the pound, Matilda is —
and drive all my new rosebushes and tulips into the grouud.
Why on earth didn't you, when you were compelled to flee
from ray wrath, elope out of the front door like Christians ?
I left Matilda's dungeon-cell unlocked, and I left the front door
ajar, and I went to the foot of the stairs and euored at top of
my voice so as to give you every facility. " Do you mean to
say, venerable and respected sir," said his new made son-in-
law, " that you have had no objections to my paying my
addresses to your daughter?" "Never the least in the
world," replied the old man, beaming blandly on them ; " you
are the son-in-law 1 should have picked out of millions, if I
had been permitted to choose, and even had I not been satisfied
of your worth and sobriety I could not have found it iu my
heart to re use to do what Matilda desired me to do." " Then

sir," exclaimed the young husband, thinking that perhaps he
had married into a family having the hereditary taiut of
iusanity in the blood ; then, sir, what did you give me the
grand bounce for in such an energetic and inconsistent
manner ?" '* Because my dear boy," said the good old man,
"Isawtliat if 1 did you would instantaneously take out a
license and elope with the girl, and get married at the expense
of 6 dollars 50 cents borne exclusively by you, whereas if tl>e
marriage took place in the ordinary course of even's I should
have been stuck for a trousseau, and dresses, and flowers, and
a drjeuner, and presents, and so on, to the extent of at least
2,5U0 dollars.

A STORY OF THE EMPRESS OF RUSSTA.— The
marriage of the illustrious lady who now lies ill at Canues was
almost a romance. In 183 1, when the present Czar was
twenty-three years of age, a list was prepared at St. Peters-
burg of marriageable German princesses, and uudrr the care
ef Count Orloff the Czarevitch went to visit them. He had
been to Berlin and the Courts ot North Germany, and was on
his way to Carlsruhe when he arrived at Frankfort. The
Prince was about to resume his journey, when he received an
invitatiou from the Grand Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt to dine
at the Palace of Darmstadt. Asa matter of courtesy only the
invitation was accepted, and after dinner the Court adjourned
to another room for tea. There the Russian Coelebs in search
of a wife saw a young lady of sixteen accompanied by her
governes*, whose appearauce was so charming by its simplicity
that he inquired who she was. The Princess Mary was the
daughter of his bos', but her name was not upon the St
Petersburg list. Presently the Rojal and Inpenal personages
pr< ceeded to the drawing-room, where Alexander asked to be
presented to the attractive girl, aud a long conversation with
her confirmed his first impressions. Next morning Count
Orloff informed the Prince of the arrangements for proceeding
toBid-n. " My dear Count," said the Gaud Duke, "we
shall go no further ; I have made ray choice ; my journey is
finished." Orlolf had not suspected how matters stood, and
expostulated. The Princess of Baden had not been seen, and
the n;,me of the Princess Miry of Hesse was not on the list.
Alexander would go to Carlsruhe if politeness required, but
he had made up his mind to marry none other than the
Princess Mary. When the news reached St. Petersburg the
entourage of the Emperor endeavoured to prevent this mar-
riace ; but Nicholas was tenderly attached to his son, and
would not allow him to be thwarted in an affair of the heart.
An old diplomatic, the Count de Reisei , tells this story in his
unpublished memoirs. The Czarevitch married the Princess
Mary a few months later. Eleven years after this the same
writer saw the Czarevna at Krasnoe-Selo, watching through
the Palace window the first guard of her eldest son at the door
of his grandfathers palace. Heavy rain was falling; the
little fellow had put on a big soldier's cloak, in which he
marched to and fro with difficulty, and the mother's heart was
anxious about the exposure of her first-born. Thirteen years
later still, and all the careful nnrsing of the Empress did not
suffice to save the life of this same son, who died at Nice, after
putting his brother's hand in that of his own betrothed, the
Princess Dagrnar of Denmark. So there are romances on love
and sorrow beneath the etiquette and glitter of Courts. — Echo

EATING ALLIGATOR.— Mindful that an unlooked-for
pleasure is thrice welcome. Frank Bucklaud did not advise his
guests on a certain occasion that they were about to enlarge
their gastronomic experiences; but when the soup had been
disposed of, asked a famous gourmand sitting near him how he
liked it. " Very well, indeed," was the answer. "Turtle, is
it do' ? I only ask brcuise I did not find any green fat."
Buckluid shook his head. ''I fancied it had a somewhat
musky taste — peculiar, but not at all unpleasant," remarked
his neighbour. " All alligators have," replied the host, " the
cayman especially — the fellow I dissected this morning, and
which you have been discussing." Half-a-dozen of the sud-
denly enlightened diners started to their feet, two or three
slunk from the room, and the rest of the meal was enjoyed by
only a portion of the original company. " See what imagina-
tion is!" said Buckland. "Had I told them it was turtle,
or terrapin, or bird's-nest soup, or the gluten of a fish from
the maw of a sea-bird, they would have pronounced it excel-
lent, and their digestion would have been hone the worse. I
tell them it is alligator soup, and their gorges rise at as good
a dish as ever a man need have !"

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

275

Jigricultunil (Societies.

ROYAL.

Monthly Council, Wednesday, February 4th, 1880. —
Present — the Duke of Bedford (president, in the chair),
H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, K.G., the Duke of Rich-
mond and Gordon, K.G., Earl Cathcart, Lord Chesham,
the Hon. W. Egerton, M.P., Sir A. K. Macdonald,
Bart., Sir Watkiu W. Wynu, Bart., M.P., Sir Braudreth
Gibbs, Mr. Arkwright, Mr. Aveling, Mr. Aylraer, Mr.
Cantrell, Mr. Chandos-Pole-Gell, Mr. Davies, Mr. Dent,
Mr. Druce, Mr. Evans, Mr. Foster, Mr. Prankish, Mr.
Gorringe, Mr. Hemsley, Mr. J. Howard, Mr. Bowen
Jones, Col. Kingscote, C B., M.P., Mr. M'Intosh, Mr.
Martin, Mr. Pain, Mr. Randell, Mr. Rawlence, Mr.
Russell, Mr. Sanday, Mr. Sheraton, Mr. Shuttleworth,
Mr. Stratton, Major Picton Turbervill, Mr. Wakefield^
Mr. Wells, Mr. Wilson, Professor Simonds, and Dr.
Voelcker.

Mr. C. De Laune Faunce de Laune, of Sliarsted Court,
Sittiugbourne, was elected a Governor of the Society, and
the following new members were elected: —

Arnold, Lewin II., of Tormarton, Chipping Sodbary, Glou-
cestershire.
Bell, Edward William, of Gillinghara, Dorset.
Berwick, Henry W. B , of Ardgowau, Greenock, N.B.
Bensted, Henry Thomas, of Teynham Court, Sittingbourne.
Birkett, George, of Townfoot Farm, Branipto', Cumber-
land.
Blair, Charles, of Glenfoot, Tillycoultry, Stirling, N.B.
Carlyon, Major Thos. T. S., ofTregrehan, Par Station, Corn-
wall.
Cartwrighr, Joseph Round, of Ludstone Hall, Bridgenorth,

Salop.
Catt, John, of Brighton.

Chater, John, of Argyle Bouse, Peckham Rye, Surrey,
Chesworth, Thomas, of Hallwood Farm, Ledsham, Chester.
Corbett, John, of Mold, Flints.
Cottrell, Samuel, of A»h Hall, Whitchurch, Salop.
Crowder, W. J. R.,of E<ien Mount, Stanwix, Carlisle.
Curtler, Martin, of Lansdowne House, Worcester.
Dale, Thomas Tinley, of Westoe House, South Shields.
Davies, Daniel Holford, of Eglevysbrewis, Cowbridge, Gla-
morgan.
Davies. Henry Kevil, of Croft Castle, Kiogsland, Hereford-
shire.
Dobson, Frank E. C, of Dromonby House, Carlton, North-
allerton.
Dodge, George, of Steeple Claydon, Winslow, Bucks.
Eden, Healey, of Maiden Bradley, Bath.
Farrer, Rev. Matthew Thomas, of Inglehorough, Clapham,

Lancaster.
Fell, William, of Hexham, Northumberland.
Fison, E. Herbert, of Stoke House, Ipswich.
Fletcher George, of Masson Works, Derby.
Foster, William, of 26, Vanbrugh Park, Blackheath, Kent.
Gibson, Francis, of Woolmet, Dalkeith, Edinburgh.
Gold, Charles, of Birchanger, Essex.
Hague, John, of Archid Hall, Sandbach, Chester.
Hatt, Thomas P., of Ipsden Farm, Wallingford, Oxon.
Hay, Vice- Admiral Lord John, of Fulwer Place, Fulmer,

Slough.
Henderson, Robert, of St. Leonards, West Mailing, Kent.
Hills, Osborn Joseph, of 1, South Parade, Leamiugton.
Hornsby, Wat6on, of Abbey House, Abbey Town, Cumber-
land.
Johnson, Edward, of Farringdon House, Exeter.
Jones, Rev. Harry, of Bartonmere, Bury St. Edmunds.
Keene, Rees, of Pencraig, Caerleon, Mon.
Latham, Ba'dwin, of 7, Westminster Chambers, S.W.
Law fom, William R., Junior, of Oerley Hail, Oswestry,

Salop.
Lawrey, Andrew, of Ludgvan Varfell, Penzance, Cornwall.
Linzee, Edward Gordon, of Jennyns, Romsey, Hint".
Lungrigg, John, of Great Strickland, Penrith.
M'Clellun, Rev John Brown, of Cirencester.

Meynell, Gerard Coke, of 11, Rutland Gate, S.W.
Miiburn, William, of Brampton, Cumberland.
Morewo id, George Palmer, of Hallfield, Alfreton.
Mounsey, Robert, of Walton Low Rigg, Walton, Brampton
Newton, John, of Barrington House, Altrincham, Chester
O'Brien, Captain William Edward F, of Belswood Wiuch-

field, Hants.
Peel, William A., of Batchworth Heath, Rickmansworth
Penfold, Hugh, of Rustington, Worthing, Sussex.
Pirie, Alexander Charles, of Craibstone House, Aberdeen.
Plat. Frederick, of Barn by Manor, Newark, Notts.
Ramsay, Lord, of Brechin Castle, Brechin, N.B.
Ramsay, Alexander, of St. LeonarJs, Banff, N.B*.
Reed, Thomas, of HoIIinside, Felside, Gateshead."
Reid, Christian John, of 14, Grey Street, Ne'wcastle-upon-

Tyne.
Richards, Owen, of Vronhenlop, Corwen, Merioneth.
Richardson, George, of Cumcatch, Brampton, Cumberland.
Roberts, Hu;;h, of Penbol, Rhosybol, Anglesey.
Robinson, John W. B., of West End, Kempston, Bedford.
Robinson, Joseph, of Cleveland Lodge, Darlington.
Eochford, Thomas, of Ballyanny, Nenagh, Tipperary.
Saunders, I. E., ol Clayhithe, Cambridge.
Shuttleworth, Robert Kay, of Wood End, Clitheroe.
Smith, William, of Wolston Heath, Rugby.
Stacey, Charles, of Wickham Hall, Bishop Stortford.
Stewart, Captain Walter, R.N., of St. Bridge Farm, Glou-
cester.
Swanu, Heury, of Brick House, Rainham, Romford.
Syroons Jeune, J. F. of 19, Seymour Street, W.
Thunder, Lattin, of Kingston Lodge, Navan, Meath.
Toller, R'diard, of Denney Abbey, Waterbeacli, Cambridge.
Turner, Harley, of Hatherton, Nantwich, Cheshire.
Tweddle, Isaac, of Cleugh Head, Low Row, Carlisle.
Tvlden, Richvrd James, of Milsted, Sittingbourne.
Wagstaff, James, of St. James's Hotel, Derby.
Wallis, Percy, of Westmount, Uttoxeter New Road, Derby
Whiting, Richard Amos, of New House Farm, Thanington

Canterbury.
Wilson, Arthur Maitland, of Stowlangtoft Hall, Bury St.
Edmunds.

FINANCES.

Col. Kingscote, C.B., M.P. (Chairman), presented
the report, from which it appeared that the Secretary's
receipts during the past two months had beea examined
by the Committee, and by Messrs. Quilter, Ball, and Co.,
the Society's accountants, and were found correct. The
balance in the hands of the bankers on January 31st was
£1,457 14s. The balance-sheet for the quarter ended
December 31st, 1879, and the statement of subscriptions
and arrears were laid upon the table, the amouut of
arrears then due being £1,109. The names of 93
members who, during the past year, had given notice of
withdrawal, were ordered to be struck off the books.

This report was adopted.

JOUENAL.

Mr. Dent reported that he had been elected Chairman
of the Committee, and that they had received the award
of the Judges of Sewage Farms as follows : —

" Iu judging the large farms we had not much trouble
determining the order of merit, but in the small farms,
there was much greater difficulty, owing to the differ-
euces of soil, climate, and other conflicting details.

" In Class I., for farms utilising the sewage of not
more than 20,000 people, we say that the Sewage Farm
of the Corporation of Bedford, managed by Mr. J. II.
Collett, and that of Wrexham, farmed by Lieut- Colonel
Alfred S. Jones, V.C., aie, in our judgment, equal in
merit, and we adjudicate the prize to them jointly.

"In Class I., tor farms utilising the sewage of more
than 20,000 people, we adjudicate the prize to the Earl
of Warwick, for the Leamington Sewage Farm, managed,
under the directiou of Cantaia Fosbery, the Earl of
Warwick's agent, by Mr. T<u,h, ihe bailiff. We are"
however, strongly of opinion that a second prize should
be giveu iu this class, which, if given, we award to Mr.

O

176

THE FARMER'S MAGAZTNE.

R S. Brundell, in connection '.vi'th the Sewage Farm of
To icaster, which i9 an admirable example of thrifty,
management, and shows how sewage can be applied to
j en-ral farming. We also highly commend the Sewage
Farm of the Birmingham, Tame, and Rea District Drain-
age Board, managed by Mr. James Anscombe.

" We should add that the prize farm and the second
farm in Class II. possess a much higher order of merit
than the prize farms iu Class I. We consider that it
would be an invidious position for the Sewage Farm at
Doncaster to be placed in, not to r ce ve a prize, having
regard to the fact that its merits considerably exceed
those of the prize farms in Class I., therefore we recom-
mend thy Council of the R)yal Agricultural Society to
take this matter into thsir consideration with a view to
giving a second prize in Class II.

The Committee also reported upon several matters in
reference to future numbers of the Journal, and upon
applications for an exchange of publications from Colonial
and American Departments of Agriculture. The Com-
mittee recommended that, in accordance with the report
of the Judges, the £100 prize in Class I. be divided be-
tween the Corporation of Bedford and Lieut. -Colonel A.
S. Jones (the occupier of the Sewage Farm at Wrexham);
th. t in Class II. the £100 prize be awarded to the Earl
of Warwick for the Leamington Sewage Farm ; and that
the Society give a special extra prize of £25 to Mr. R. S.
Brundell in connection with the Sewage Farm at Don-
c ster ; and that the Sewage Farm of the Birmingham,
Tame, : nd Rea District Drainage Board be highly com-
m'lided.

This report was adopted.

CHEMICAL.

Mr. Wells reported that he had been elected Chairman
for the year, and preseuted the quarterly report of the
Committee as follows : —

1. A sample of nitrate of soda was sent on June 9th,
1879, by Mr. R. B. Stafford, of Bedford, which he had
purchased of Mr. J. Brightraan, Lower Stanghton, St.
Neots, who informed Mr. Stafford that he obtained the
nitrite from Messrs. Hale and Co,, of Colchester House,
Anerley.

On analysis this material yielded the following re-
sults : —

Moisture ... ... ... .... 3 65

Chloride of sodium (common salt) ... 56 50
Other impurities ... ... ... T50

Pure nitrate of soda ... ... ... 38 35

10000

The nitrate wa9 bought at £1S 12s. 6d. per ton, and,
according to the purchaser's statement, was verbally
guaranteed to contain 92 per cent, of pure nitrate. It
will be seen that the sample sent by Mr. Stafford was
adulterated with more than half its weight of common
salt, and according to the price to be paid on the face of
the guarantee, it was worth only £5 8s. 61. per ton.

Reports of previous cases of samples of nitrate of soda,
stated to have been aupplied by Messrs. Hale and Co.,
h-ive already appeared in the quarterly reports of the
Committee. Iu these it will be seen that Messrs. Hale
and Co. repudiate all responsibility for anything done or
said by or to their agents, never sell by analysis, and treat
Dr. Voelcker's remarks with derision.

2. Another sample of nitrate of soda was sent on July
8th by Mr. George Church, of Bedford, who purchased it
from the same vendor, namely, Mr. J. Brightmau, of
Lower Stanghton, St. Neots, the price paid being £14
per ton, with a verbal guarantee of 95 per cent, of pure
nitrate. This sample on analysis gave the following re-
sults:—

Moisture

Chloride of sodium (common salt)

O her impurities

Pure nitrate of soda ...

330
4150

125
53 95

10000

In reply to the usual inquiries and request for the in-
voice, Mr. Church stated that " there being a contract
account between seller and self, I credited my account
with the delivery and paid the difference."

According to this analysis, and the price to be paid for
good commercial nitrate, the sample sent by Mr. Church
is not worth more than £8 per ton.

3- On the 20;h of August, 1879, a sample of nitrate
cf soda was sent by Mr. F. MonGkton, the Cage Farm,
Tonbridge, who stated that he had received it direct from
London. This sample yielded on repeated analyses the
following results : —

Moisture ... 5 01

Chloride of sodium 2687

Other impurities ... ... ... "35

Pure nitrate of soda ... ... ... 67'77

10000

According to the statement of the purchaser, this
nitrate was bought with a guarantee of 95 per cent, pure
nitrate, at £15 15s. per ton, delivered at Tonbridge,
through a most respectable firm in this neighbourhood,
but received direct from London by Sjuth Eastern
Railway from the importers.

Mr. Monckton subsequently wrote: —

I have had transactions for years with the firm for cake,
ice. &n<$ particularly wish their narce'kept from publicatiou.
It was at their suggestion I sent the Soda to Dr. Voelcker :
it was guaranteed 95 pure to them. I may add, I t hink
it was a positive injury, as I applied the lot in question to
stimulate hops, but having so much salt in it, and the
weather following the application being wet and cold, the
hops I believe would have been much better without it.

The purchaser having complained to his vendors, re-
ceived the following letter from the importers : —

Dear Sir, — We understand from Messrs. that

you were the receiver of one ton uitrate of soda forwarded
by us to Tonbridge station on their account on the 16th
August last ; also that you have had this nitrate analysed
by Dr. Voelcker, whose analysis shows a refraction of
nearly 25 per cent. The writer of this was from home
when the complaint reached us, but upon his return we

wrote Messrs. fully npon the subject, aud at their

request we can only repeat to you the substauee of our
communication to them. We never in our experience
knew of uitrate of soda as imported showing a refraction
of anything like 25 per cent. This, coupled with the
fact that the test of Messrs. Huson Bros., analysts for the
cargo, only show9 a refraction of 5 50, induces U9 to be-
lieve, either that some mistake has taken place in your
sampling or in Dr. Voelcker's analysis.

The nitrate which you received was delivered by the
St. Katherine's Dock Company from ship's side to a public
carman's vaus, by which it was conveyed to the railway
station. All this we can incontestably prove, and we a-e
perfectly satisfied that nothing but nitrate as imported
was sent to you.

As mentioned to Mr. we arc willing to go per-
sonally and see the article complained of, and sample it in.
conjunction with you, and if it is still in your possession,
we leave you to fix a day for this purpose.

We addressed a letter to Dr. Voelcker yesterday ia
regard to his analysis, iuforming him of tbe result of
Hudson Bros.* test, aud asking him to look over bis
analysis,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

1T7

We enclose his reply, from which you will observe that

he makes it a rule to correspond only with the gender of

the sample. Kindly return his letter to us.

* * *

In answer to further inquiries, Dr. Voelcker received
the following letter from Mr. Monckton : —

The Cage, Tonbridge, Sept. 20, 1870.
Drar Sir, — I should have written before, but was
anxious to afford you as much information as I could.
The sample I sent you was taken from two ba^s only, as
the rest were in the field, and nearly all used. I have
portions of two bags that were left after the men bad
finished sowing, and from which Mr. of the im-
porter's firm, who came to my farm on Tuesday last,
carried away samples to be analysed. T enclose the
analysis, which I received this morning, and at the same
time an account from the firm I ordered the soda from,
deducting 10s. Od. from the amount first charged
£10 lis. Od. for 1 ton 1 cwt. 7 lbs.— Yours
obediently,

Dr. A. Voelcker. Fredk. Monckton.

CERTIFICATE OF REFRACTION.
London Commercial Sale Kooms, Mincing Lane, E.C.,
and No. 1, Highbury Park North, N.
Original. London, Sept. 17, 1S79.

We hereby certify that we have examined the Refrac-
tion of the undermentioned Nitrate of Soda, and that the
following is the result, viz. - —
Per " Tonbridge." 12 lbs. per cwt. Refraction.
E. F. Teschemacher and J. Denham Smith.
Insoluble and moisture ... ... ... 4'25

Sulphates ... ... ... ... "10

Muriates 735

Sample received, 16-0 70.

1200

This case is not without difficulty, and shows that some
tampering with the cargo must have taken place, but the
Committee are unable to trace when this was done ; and
they publish the case to show that it is safer to buy by
guarantee, and have all samples analysed.

4. Mr. J. C. Wall is, Home Farm, Didlineton, Br«ndon,
Norfolk, Steward to W. A. T. Amherst, Esq., wrote on
June the 25th as follows : —

Hon. Sir, — I have a lot of manure I ahould like to
have a sample of analysed on behalf of W. A. T. Amherst,
Esq., Didlington Hall (a member of the R.A.S.E ). May
1 request you to write me what your charges will be, and
whether I may send it or not ? It is sold at £5 per ton, as
a mixture of rape cake, blood and bones, for turnips. Will
you give me an idea as to its value ?

The following is the analysis of this substance : —

Moisture

... 27-08

Organic matter

... 2032

Phosphate of lime

... 240

Oxide of iron and alumina

... 1-50

Carbonate of lime, &c

... 1558

Alkaline salts ... ... ..,

... 172

Insoluble siliceous matter

... 3131

100-00

Nitrogen

•71

Equal to ammonia

•89

In sending this analysis to Mr. Wallis, Dr. Voelcker
stated that he would think twice about it before he
decided to buy such stuff, if it were offered to him at £1
Is. a ton.

The following communication was received from Mr.
Wallis in answer to the usual inquiries : —

Dear Sir, — I thank you very much for ai a'ysis

received. I am sorry to say it is pretty much as I ex«
pected. I had hoped it would turn out better. I only
purchased a small quantity from the maker. I have
written him, enclosing copy of your analysis, and stating
that I do not intend paying more than your valuation,
unless compelled, and claiming damages ; I will let you
know the result. I am not the only one bitten.

Subsequently Mr. Wallis wrote as follows : —

Dear Sir, — The maker has receipted his bill for thn
mauure you ana'ysed for me, without payment. I had.
some trouble with him.

The maker's name is not published, simply because
Mr. Wallis threatened to have it published unless the
bill was receipted without payment. It was a Norwich
production.

5. A sample of bone*dnst, bought as pure ground
bones, at £8 a ton, was seut by Mr. George Rodger,
Arden House, Altriucham. On analysis it yielded the
following results : —

Moisture 22-45

♦Organic matter 13 98

Phosphate of lime ... ... ... 13 75

Causticlime ... ... .., ... 3 35

Carbonate of lime, &c 27-11

Insoluble siliceous matter (sand and

earth) 19.36

100*00
♦Containing nitrogen ... ... ... 1-02

Equal to ammonia ... ... ... 1*24

This sample, it will be seen, was very damp and much
adulterated with lime rubbish, old mortar, sand, ami
brick dust, and in comparison with pure bone-dust selling
at £8 a ton, was scarcely worth £2 a ton. No particulars
as regards the vendors could be obtained.

6. A sample of artificial manure, sentca May 18th by-
Mr. James Thompson of Anlaby, Hull, was bought at £6
2s, 6d. on the following analysis : —

Analysis of Manure Ordered.

Moisture... ... ... ... ... 11 3

♦Organic matter and water of combin. ... 21-1

Monoealcic phosphates ... ... ... 9'5

Equal to bone ear.h made soluble (15 per cent.

Nitrate of soda and potash ... ... 155

Insoluble phosphates ... ... ... 4'2

Sulphate of potash and magnesia ... 10-4

Sulphate of lime... ... ... ... 24.0

Insoluble matter'" ... ... ... 3.0

1000

♦Containing nitrogen equal to 6.3 per cent, sulphate of
ammonia.

An examination of the sample sent yielded the follow-
ing results • —

analysts of manure received.

Moisture 1638

♦Organic matter and water of combin. ... 25*60

Monobasic phosphate ot lime ... ... 7-12

Equal to tnbasic phosphate of lime (bone

phosphate) rendered soluble (11.15)

Insoluble phopbate ... ... ... 9 78

Sulphate ef lime, alkaline salts and mag-
nesia 2645

L Biluble siliceous matter ... ... 14-67

♦Containing nitrogen
Equal to ammonia

An examination of the preceding

100-00
2'05
249

wlil show
O 2

173

iTHE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

fiat £6 2s. 61. is a fair price for a manure having the
composition indicated in the analyses upon which the
manure was purchased, while the sample analysed by Dr.
Voekker was not worth so much by at least £1 15 s. per
ton. In answer to inquiries, Mr. Thompson stated that
his order of eight tons of this manure was executed on
Way the 9th in Hull.

Mr. Thompson subsequently wrote to the secretary as
follows: —

Anlaby.Jan. 7th, 1880.

Dear Sir, — In answer to your letter of Jan. 5th, I
beg to inform you that the correspondence was given up
at the time the account was paid. With regard to the
payment, the price I paid for the manure was the price
Dr. Voelcker stated it to be worth. I may say that
when the matter came to be looked into, it was found that
a wrong manure was sent to me from the works by

mistake ; and although Mr. personally superintended

the putting up of my lot, yet he did not superintend the
delivery of it. When the mistake was found out it was
too late to be remedied, as the greater part of the manure
was then in the ground. This being so, it was agreed
that I should pay the price put upon it by Dr. Voelcker,
and so end the matter. As I believe this to have been
purely a mistake, I must beg that if notice of this
transaction appears in the Journal of the R.A.S.E. no
names may be mentioned. In proof of it being my
candid opinion that the manure sent to me was a mistake,
I may say that it is my intention to purchase my turnip
manure for this season from the same firm. — Yours
faithfully, Jos. Thompson.

H. M. Jenkins, Esq., 12, Hanover Square, London, W.

7. The following case was referred to Dr. Voelcker by
Mr. Sanday, of Wensley House, Bedale, Yorkshire : —

MILK-SUBSTITUTE TOR REARING CALVES AND PIGS.

A cream-coloured meal, sold at 35s. per cwt., as a
milk-substitute for rearing calves and pigs, and described
in the handbills as a preparation consisting of " highly
nutritious and flesh-forming substances," and •' the most
perfect soluble food in the world," on analysis was found
to have the following compositions : — ■

Moisture 2035

Oil ... -40

* Albuminous compounds (flesh-forming

matters) ... ... ... ... 2-87

Starch and digestible fibre 74'85

Woody fibre (cellulose) ... ... 103

Mineral matter (ash) 50

* Containing nitrogen ...

The meal appeared to have been kept in a rather damp
place, for it contained more moisture than ought to be
present in meal. It consisted almost entirely of starch —
probably potato-starch- coloured slightly yellowish. It
was very poor in nitrogenous or flesh-forming matters in
which milk abounds, and a most unsuitable substitute for
milk in rearing calves and pigs.

The following is a copy of the handbill : —
Milk Substitute,
For Rearing Calve3 and Pigs,
Manufactured only by
Spouncer and Sons, Gainsboro,

This preparation consists of highly nutritious and flesh-
forming substances, and is the most perfect soluble food
in the world.

Almost every farmer admits that if hi3 supply of milk
were greater, he would rear more calves aud pigs, and
thus increase the number of his stock.

It is an acknowledged fact that if a calf be given new
milk until it is a fortnight old it can be well and pro-
fitably reared on Milk Substitute without the use of
skimmed milk.

As the Substitute does not go sour and derange the
stomach, the calf will not be so susceptible of scouring,
but will, as a consequence, be more healthy.

The following is selected from a number of similar
testimonials . —

Grove Cottage, Lentham, Nottinghamshire.

August 7th, 1878.

I am so well satisfied with your Milk Substitute,
should be glad if you will forward to me one of your 35s.
bags to Lenton station. I shall be glad to recommend it
to my friends, feeling persuaded it is a most useful and
economical substitute for milk, and am only sorry I did
not hear of it earlier.

Directions for Use. — One measure of the powder
to be mixed with co'd water to the consistency of cream,
then add three quarts of boiling water, stirring briskly al
the time.

Sold by agents throughout the Kingdom in bags at 4s:
9d., 9s. 3d., and 18s. each, or 35s. per cwt.

Agent — S. Parr, Pharmaceutical Chemist, Nottingham.

Dr. Voelcker strongly urged all purchasers of artificial
manures and feeding stuffs not to use Ihose articles until
they had received from him notice whether they are of
equal value to the guarantee which the Chemical Com-
mittee had so frequently recommended should be obtained
at the time of purchase. The Committee had considered.
Dr. Voelcker's paper on the comparative value of soluble
and insoluble phosphates, and they recomrneuded that it
be published in the next number of the Journal, and that
certain experiments named at the conclusion of the paper
be carried out at Woburn, with the view of arriving at
some definite conclusion on the subject. The Committee
had received and approved of the report of the Woburu
Sub-committee.

The report was adopted ; and on the motion of Mr.
Wells, seconded by Mr. Dent, it was resolved that the
quarterly report be published in the agricultural news-
papers.

veterinary.

The Hon. W. Egerton, M.P., reported his election as
Chairman of the Committee for the year. The Committee
had received a report from Professor Simonds, in reference
to investigstions made since the last Council meeting ;
and they recommended that the following report by Pro-
fessor Axe, on disease in a flock belonging to Mr. Drew,
of Tavistock, be published in the agricultural news-
papers : —

Report of a Fatal Distase prevailing among Ewes, with special
reference to an outbreak of it in thejlock of Mr. Brew,
Arti comb, Tavistock.

The disease referred to in this report, I have reason to
believe, is at the present time somewhat widely spread ;
and having regard to its fatal character, the rapidity with
which it runs its course, and the special condition of
the animal it assails, I much regret that I am not able to
furnish a fuller and more complete account of its history
and pathology. Reports that have reached me from
Devon, Cheshire, aud Cornwall, as well as others noted iu
agricultural papers, testify to it3 widespread existence;
and its importance at this critical period is largely en-
hanced by the fact that it claims for its victims, in a great
measure, the best bred and best fed of our breeding stock.
At a time like the present, when a large proportion of our
sheep have succumbed to the ravages of parasitic diseases
and large numbers are still threatened with extermination
from the same cause, the existence of such a malady as
that referred to above in our breeding stock is a matter of
serious concern.

It is, however, satisfactory to be able to say that
although' my knowledge regarding the nature and origin
of this disease is based on general observations, rather than
(as it should be) on a systematic and exhaustive inquiry,
I am nevertheless capable of exercising a large influence
in arresting its spread, by the application of well-timed

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

170

measures based on hygienic and prophylactic considera-
tions.

Iu every instance that has eome to my knowledge in the
past, as well as the present, all attempts to cure have met
with a negative result, both in the practice of our most
eminent scieutitic veterinarians, as well as that of intel-
ligent and experienced practical shepherds, notwithstand-
ing that every class of medicine has been employed, and
every variety of curative treatment adopted. The sudden-
ness of its inception, and the rapidity with which it runs
its course and destroys life, constitute the chief features of
the affection. In numerous instances a few minutes sallice
to kill, so that animals apparently well at night are found
dead in the morning. In the most protracted cases it
seldom extends over from three to four hours, and such
may be regarded as cases of exceptional duration.

So far as I am able to speak from past and pretent ex-
perience, ewes are principally its victims at this season of
the year, and more especially such as are in a well-
nourished and thriving condition. The prevailing fear of
"rot" has prompted the universal adoption of a too
liberal feeding as a means of protection against its ravages,
and in some measure this fact may possibly serve to explain
the origin of the malady.

Hitherto my information on the present epizootic is
chiefly obtained from upland farms, where the staple
pasture is grass, but the malady cannot by any means be
altogether coniined to such situations, nor perhaps
especially to grass feeding.

With refereLCe to the outbreak of this disease at
Artiscomb, it may be stated that Mr. Drew's flock
orginally consisted of 358 sheep, comprising 138 breeding
ewes, 65 wethers, 54 draught ewes, 113 lambs, and a mis-
cellaneous los of 5, in which were included some rams,
hoggs, &c.

They are all of the Dartmoor breed, display excellent
quality and condition, and some of them are known to
fame in connection with the agricultural exhibitions.
Mr. Drew's farm is principally devoted to grass culture,
with a considerable area of old clover layer, and a small
percentage of roots. During the summer the ewes were
pastured chiefly on grass. In September the culls were
c*rawn, separated from the breeding stock, "and fed on,"
the latter followina: the former over the same ground.
About the 5th of November the breeding ewes were
placed on mangold lops during the day, on grass at night.
This system of feeding was continued up to the 19th of
November, when they were removed to the highest poiut
of the farm, and put on four-year-old clover layer. On
the 23rd they were turned on to some rich old grass
from which lambs had been recently removed. Four days
later, November 27th, one of the ewes died suddenly ;
aud on the 29th, two days afterwards, a second died in
a similar manner. From this date up to the time of my
visit fresh cases continued to occur at intervals of from
one to four days, notwithstanding that frequent changes
of pasture, and of food generally, were made in the mean-
time. Up to the 31st of November, 25 ewes had suc-
cumbed to the disorder, and two others have since died.
Until the time of these animals being pastured on old
grass, they continued to exhibit a healthy condition. It
was, therefore, naturally inferred that the determining
Cinse of the outbreak was in some way connected with the
nature and quality of the herbage on the particular field
in which they were lodged, and they were cousequent'y
removed. While admitting the possibility of this con-
nection, it must be remembered that the ewes were only
on the old pasture four days when the disease occurred,
Further, that only eight days elapsed between the out-
break of the malady aud the discontinuance of the mangold
tops, which are said to have been frosted and otherwise
damaged. Whether the grass, or the mangold tops, or

both, or these together with certain surrounding condi-
tions, be regarded as the cause, it is perfectly clear, from
the subsequent changes of management which were
resorted to, that the cause was not a transitory one, inas-
much as it continued to ouerate over a period of four
weeks after the suspected food had been discontinued.
Whatever may be the p ecise explanation of the origin of
the disease, its confinement te the breeding ewes alone is
a noteworthy feature in the outbreak ; nor is it less
important to remember that the only material difference
in the food as regards the other portion of the flock is
that which pertains to mangold tops, which, as previously
pointed out, were given to the ewes for a period of 14
days. The fact of the lambs preceding the ewes over the
old pasture being exempt from the disease does not
necessarily acquit such pasture of participating in the
cause of the outbreak, any more than the mangold tops
can be reasonably held harmless on account of the lapse
of eight days between their discontinuance and the com-
mencement of the disease. From a consideration of the
foregoing fact3 it will be seen that while no precise cause
cm be surely stated, certain general conclusions may be
arrived at.

1. The confinement of the disease to the breeding ewes
alone, and the general condition of the latter, points in a
forcible manner to pregnancy aud plethora as predispos-
ng causes.

2. The absence of disease in the sheep that followed
the ewes over the pastures in which the malady originated
acquits that pasture of being in itself the cause of the out-
break.

3. Inasmuch as the use of the mangold tops represents
the only specific difference of feeding and hygiene be-
tween the ewes and the other portion of the flock, there is
good reason for regarding the tops as the determining
cause of the affection.

4. The gradual subsidence of the disorder on the discon-
tinuance of the tops and the diminution of the food, tends
to confirm the latter view of the case.

The symptoms of the disease vary iu different cases. At
all times, however, it runs its course rapidly, and rarely
exceeds from three to four hours' duration.

In the more acute cases sudden paralysis is rapidly
followed by convulsions aud a loss of consciousness, and
death ensues in a few minutes. In others, the premonitory
indicationsof sickness are manifested by an indisposition to
feed ; the affected sheep leaves the flock, and seeks some
sheltered and quiet corner of the field, or wanders about
alone in a dull stupid conditioc Its movements are un-
steady, the lit ad is carried low, the ears are pendulous ; in
some instances the body is generally enlarged; while in
others local swellings occur, involving more especially the
head and neck. When pressed upon, the swollen parts
crepitate or crackle beneath the fingers, and give other
evidence of the presence of air in the tissues. Not un»
frequently the belly alone is swollen tense and drum-like,
owing to the presence of gas iu the stomach, Sometimes
the skin presents a leaden hue, becomes sodden with fluid,
cold, and moist to the feel. The wool becomes loose in
its follicles, and may be removed by the merest traction.
The bowels are constipated, and the feces hard and dry,
the urine scanty and high-coloured, and sometimes strain-
ing attends their evacuations. The mucous membranes
are red and engorged with blood, this is especially marked
in the eyes. The mouth is hot at first, afterwards cold
and clammy. The breathing is quick, and often of a
stertorous or snoring character. Alter death the body
quickly undergoes decomposition, and emits a foetid odouw
The blood is fiimly coagulated, and the internal organs
exhibit blood congestions and extravasations, and in the
case of the liver, kidneys, and sometimes the intestines
more or less, ;tdema aud softening.

180

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

On my arrival Mr. Squire, veterinary surgeon, of Tavis-
tock, had been in attendance upon the flock for several
('ays, and fully appreciating the nature of the malady, had
already administered to each animal two doses of aperient
medicine, and prescribed besides a course of antiseptic
and alterative medicine. At the same time food was
changed again and again, as will be seen by the table
annexed.

The following table will show the progress of the disease
diy by day during its prevalence, as far as it could be
ascertained, and the kind of food given : —

Date.

No. of Deaths.

Kind of iuod.

Njv.

27th

1

Rich old grass.

29'h

1

Rich old grass.

'

31st

2

Moderate yasturp.

Dec.

1st

1

Moderate pasture.

2nd

2

„ „ aud cabbage.

4tb

1

Olover layer.

7tli

1

Grass.

9th

1

Grass.

12th

1

Grasp.

13tii-S

6

Old grass.

23rd

1

Poor grass, roots, corn.

24th

1

Poor grass, roots, corn.

28th

2

Moderate grass, turnips.

29ih

2

„ ,, roots, desic-

cated grains.

»

31 8t

1

Moderate grass, roots,
desiccated grains.

This treatment was continued with but slight variation, and
notwithstanding that one or two deaths have since occurred,
the result may be said to be most satisfactory.

J. Wortley Axe, Professor.

The Committee proposed for the consideration of the
Highland Society and the Royal Agricultural Society of
England, that each contribute a sum not exceeding £100
towards the prizes and expenses of the examinations in
Veterinary Science ; that the written portion of the exa-
mination be held at Ediuburgh and London simultaneously,
and that the examination in Practical Pathology, in Dec,
1880, be held at Newcastle-ou-Tyne j the expenses of the
examiners being paid by the Societies, and the second-
class fares of the candidates also.

This report was adopted.

EOT IN SHEEP.

At the request of the Committee, Professor Simonds
had drawn up a short report on the Rot in Sheep, con-
densed from the revised edition of the Treatise lately
published by the Society and Mr. Murray, which goes
fully into the whole subject ; and they recommended it to
be printed iu the next number of the Journal. In this
condensed report, Professor Simonds stated that the
animals must be carefully guarded against all vicissitudes
of weather by being folded in the best sheltered situations,
more especially at night. Their food 3hould consist of a
l.beral supply of food, rich in flesh-forming piinciples,
ind also of such as contains a large proportion of sugar,
-.tarch, and similar materials, that the heat of the body
may be kept up equa'.ly with nutrition. If placed on
meadows or artificial grasses, the sheep should be often
changed, care being taken to avoid those pastures which
are wet and cold, or which contain inferior herbage.
Manger-food must be supplied, and this should consist, in
part at least, of crushed corn, of which beans, peas,
lentils, &c, are to be preferred. Oats and maize are aUo
good, and to these a moderate allowance of oilcake may be
added. Frequent changing of the food will induce the
animals to eat more, for which reason, when they are on
the pastures, no objection is to be taken to an occasional
supply of turuips or other roots ; but, uukas compelled

by the character of the farm, and the system of cultiva
tion, continuous folding on turnips should be avoided*
Where this has to be done, great care will have to be
exercised in regulating the quantity of turnips according
to the condition of the crop, the state of the weather,
&c. Under such circimstancts an allowance of good hay,
in addition to the other food, will be imperatively re-
quired.

Medicinal agents will likewise have to be had recourse
to, preference being given to those which impart toue and
vigour to the system.

Salt cannot be dispensed with. It does good in several
ways. It is an agent which acts as a stimulant to the
process of digestion, and, by its ready solution aud free
eutrance into the blood, it supplies also any amount of
soda which is required in the secretion of bile.

The other medicinal agent to which reference has been
made as imparting vigour to the system is the sulphate
of iron. As a tonic it is excelled by lew, if by auy,
therapeutic agent ; while the readiness by which it can
be obtaiaed, and the lowness of its price, give it an ad-
vantage over many others. Sheep also do uot ohject to
take it with their food when mixed in proper proportions ;
nor is it a matter of much moment if one animal should
get rather more than his fellow, by more rapid or longer
feeding at the trough. Sulphate of iron is likewise an
excellent agent for the expulsion of several of the varieties
of intestinal worms. Its chief nse, however, in rot is
its powerful effect in the reproduction of the red cells of
the blood. In all diseases, the:efore, in which there is,
a diminished power of producing red cells, the sulphate
of iron is a valuable remedy.

Stomachics or carminatives are likewise requirsd, of
which medicaments I give a preference to aniseed in this
affection.

A good compound of these several medicinal ageuts
with some highly nitrogenised alimentary matters is con-
tained in the followiug formula. Take of

Einely-ground oilcake (linseed) ... 1 bushel,

pea-meal ... ... 1 bushel.

salt 4 1b.

aniseed ... ... 4 lb.

sulphate of iron ... 1 lb.

Let the salt, aniseed, and sulphate of iron be mixed
together first, aud after .vards well incorporated with the
cake aud pea-meal.

The Duke of Richmond and Gordon said that th©
disease amongst sheep is of a very disastrous character,
and one upon which the fullest information that we can
get ought to be obtained ; and every one knows that
Professor Simonds treats of every subject he undertakes
to write upon in the most complete manner possible. He
. therefore suggested that instead of the publication of an
^ abstract of Proressor Simonds's pamphlet in the JuitrnaT,
the whole paper should be republished.

Mr. Dent explained that Professor Simonds had pre-
pared an abstract of a very complete character, in conse-
quence of several practical farraers having represented
that his pamphlet, although, doubtless, most valuable
from a scientific poiut of view, was not easily to be
understood by practical men uninstructed in scientific
language, and therefore the Jownul Committee had
suggested the publication iu the Journal of a short
abstract only, leaving still to those who required it an
opportunity to purchase, the more comprehensive papwr u.t
the low price of 6d.

EDUCATION.

Mr. Deat reported that he had been elected Chairman
for the year. Application having been made that Junior
Scholarships should be paid to three scholars who lett

THE FAimULi'iS MAGAZINE

181

school at the commencement of the summer vacation,
instead of remaining until the period of the examination,
the Committee recommended that the rule remain unal-
tered, but that discretion be given to the Committee to
deal with individual cases. The consideration of a sug-
gestion as to a second-class certilicate in the Junior
Examinations was deferred. Referring to the resolution
ol the hist Council as to extending the advantages of the
Juuior Scholarships, the Committee recommended ihat
the competition for lhe>e Scholarships be thrown open to
all schools and candidates, provided that the Committee
be satisfied that the regilations for the examination can
be complied with, aud that the Committee be authorised
to revise their regulations in accordance with this resolu-
tion. The Committee had revised the syllabus of subjects
for Juuior examinations ; and had fixed Tuesday, April
13th, for the date of commencement of the Senior exami-
nation.

Mr. Dent added that in consequence of the discussion
at the general meeting of members, and at the last Council
meeting, several applications had been leceived for
information with respect to the Scholarships ; and the
Committee hoped that the Couucil would be inclined to
extend them generally to any boys who might be qualified
to hold them under certain conditions. Undoubtedly
there would be a difficulty in arranging for examination
in some cases, but he thought the Committee would be
able to devise regulations by which the boys might be
examined at ceutral points ; aud some guarantee should
be given that the scholar was to continue his education
for a period of twelve months after obtaining the scholar-
ship. It was hoped that in future boys from elementary
schools would enter into competition. The Education
Committee wished to express their thanks to his Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales for the letter he had
written to the Norfolk school ; and he (Mr. Dent) was
satisfied that its wide circulation in the newspapers
would do very much to make known the efforts of
the Society in the cause of agricultural education.

The report of the Committee was then adopted-

SHOWYARD CONTRACTS.

Mr. Jacob Wilson reported that be had been elected
Chairman for the year. The Comtnitteee had received
the report of the surveyor, and they recommended that, as
it appeared that the plans approved by the Couucil at the
last meeting had been departed from, the portion relating
to the bridges over the Caldew be referred to the Carlisle
Local Committee for explanation. With regard to the
railway sidings, the Committee recommended that the
Company be requested to shorten the siding (Plan No. 2)
in the showyard, if possible, and that their oiler to lay a
line of rails acrosa the implement yard, for the delivery of
heavy goods, be accepted.

This report was adopted.

GENERAL CARLISLE.

Colonel Kixgscote (Chairman) reported the recom-
mendation of the Committee that the prizes offered by
the Carlisle Local Committee, includiug prizes to the
amount of £135 for Polled Angus cattle, be accepted,
subject to certain modifications. The Committee having
been informed that the central bridge to be erected in the
showyard at Carlisle — according to the adopted plan of
the Local Committee — would not give sufficient water
way, must insist that the uuder side of the girders, and
n it the roadway, should be level with the top of the em-
bankments.

This report was adopted.

Earl Cathcart, on behalf of the Committee of Selec-
tion, moved, " That the elections recommended by the
Committee aud adopted by the Council at the Lst meet-
ing, be now coulinncd."

The motion was seconded by Mr. RANDELL,aud carried
unanimously.

The Committee of Inspection appointed to visit Derby,
to examine the sites aud other accommodation offered by
the authorities for the Country Meeting of 18S1, pre-
sented their report, whereupon it was moved by S ir
Brandreth Gibus, seconded by Mr. Randell, and
carried uuaniiuously, " That the report of the Inspection
Committee be received and adopted ; and that the Mayor
of Derby be invited to attend the next Council meeting in
order to offer any explanations that may be necessary, and
to enter into the usual agieemeut with the Society."

The President said he regretted to have to announce
to the Council the loss of one of its members by the death
of Mr. Toir, M.P.

Mr. Arkwright presented to the Council the follov -
ing Memorial from the Breeders and Exhibitors of
Hereford cattle, in favour of changing the date from
which ages are reckoned from the lst of July to tho lst
of March : —

Your Grace, my Lords, and Gentlemen, — The
subscribed Breeders aud Exhibitors of Hereford Cattle,
in presenting this Memorial, desire to direct the atten-
tion of your Council to the following arguments in sup-
port of thjir unanimous opinion, speaking for themselves
only.

The recent Report of the Royal Agricultural Society
of England Journal, in common with press criticism on
the Kilourn and other leading Shows of 187'J, poin's
out the deficiency of Hereford Cattle in point of num-
bers.

We are confident that the cause of this is not to be
found (iu the younger classes) in the scarcity of material
or apathy among breeders, but rather in the restrictions
placed upon them by those Societies which adopts the
late date for calving. Spring calving is the universal
custom among us. Calves born in and after July are the
result of accident, or the property of a few patriotic ex-
hibitors specially to meet the July rule.

Without dwelling on the reasons for this custom, which
are so well known, we submit that we consider —

1. Spring milk to be the natural and best food for the
young animal.

2. That calves should be weanpd before winter, as-
breeding cows can be more economically kept when dry
than in full milk.

3. Being principally tenant-farmers, we have not the
necessary winter accommodation for cows in milk.

4. The experience of breeders and veterinary surgeons
shows that milk fever and other diseises incidental to
calving are more numerous and fatal in the monihs of
July and August than in all the other months of the
year.

5. That calves are dropped naturally in March and
April is proved in the case of herds which ruu wild.

Societies which give prizes for animals born during the
latter half of the year are encouraging practice in direct
opposition to those views.

Our petition then amounts to this, that we may he
enabled to select for competition from the bulk of our
young stock. Should the date be changed, herds hitherto
unrepresented will have the option of entering the show..
yards. Now a veto is put upon them,.

The change of date would also establish a trade between
breeders who do not care to exhibit, and all exhibitors,
whether they be breeders or not. Such dealings now
amount to nil^— for the breeder naturally says i — " If you
will time your shows iu accordance with the mouths
during which I kuow by experience it pays me best tg
produce, I will sell you my best young cues at a premium,
to which I shall be entitled, and you will be only too ttlad
to pay. jree, and parefu]

J82

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

en ry of births, which are now to me items of inferior
importance."

We submit that any encouragement given by the Royal
Agricultural Society of England on this point would be
most valuable and reproductive to the farmer and the
Royal Society.

Supposing, for argument, the July date to be aban-
d.ned — January and February are blank months; the
exceptional calves born daring those months would be
the property of a few who happen to have the necessary
winter accommodation, aud by reason of their age would
have an undue advantage over the younger animal bora at
the popular time. This, in effect, would deter exhibitors.

Should January be taken, the youngest class would
include a possible animal aged 1 year and 6 months.
Whereas, if March be taken, the yearling might at the
most be 1 year 4 months, and the two-year-old would be

2 years 4 months old.

Practically they would be 1 year 3 months, and 2 years

3 mouths ; for a scrutiny of entries of 187(J shows that the
average animal exhibited is a month younger than the out-
side allowable age in its class. This approaches more
nearly what they are now supposed to be than what they
actually are.

Taking March, the work of the judges would be facili-
tated, the animal would be satisfcctorily developed, and
specimens would be more nearly of an uniform age than
is now the case in the same class.

This being our case, we submit it as deserving the con-
siJeratiou of your Council.

Mr. Arkwright said it might be desirable to state the
unanimity with which these opinions were received. Out
of 256 members of the Hereford Herd-book Society, 228
had subscribed to the memorial. The Earl of Coventry,
the President, and Sir Joseph Bailey, the Vice-President,
were at the head of it. In addition to these, he (Mr.
Arkwright) for his own satisfaction had tried to ascertain
the general feeling of the smaller breeders, and in one
town he collected 70 names. The memorialists were
anxious that it should be understood that their arguments
were not bronght forward theoretically, but they were
adduced as facts, and he hoped the Council would receive
them as such. The question had been re-opened princi-
pally owing to the existing agricultural depression, which
was felt very much in Herefordshire. It was his firm
conviction that if it was found practicable to grant what
the meraorial asked for, the Royal Agricultural Society
would attract and conciliate moire farmers in that county
than would be possible in any other way. He moved —
" That the memorial of the breeders and exhibitors o
Hereford cattle be received, and referred to the Stock
Prizes Committee for special report, previous to the cata-
logue for 1881.

The Duke of Richmond and Gordon said the question
was one which had frequently occupied the attention of
the Council on former occasions. It seemed to him that
if the arguments adduced to Mr. Arkwright had any
weight, they ought to apply to all cattle. Therefore, if
the Council decided to ret'er the matter to the Stock
Prizes Committee, he thought they should be instructed
to consider the proposed alteration in reference to all
cattle.

Mr. Bowen Jones, in seconding the motion, observed
that there was a strong consensus of opinion that a change
ought to be made. He thought the remarks of the Duke
of Richmond were most applicable, and that we wanted to
get uniformity in all classes of cattle. If the date fixed
by this large Society was found to be the most useful and
practicable, the other Societies would probably follow in
its wake.

Mr. Jacob Wilson said the question had already re-
ceived very considerable attention at the hands of the

Council. After the Bedford Meeting, on a petition from
an outside body, the matter was thoroughly gone into, and
circulars were sent to every exhibitor of cattle at Bedford.
The replies were very curious, and such as to lead the
Council to believe that the present arrangement was
generallv approved.

Lord Chesham remarked that it would be very
advantageous for the Jersey breeders if they could have
the date early in the spring.

Colonel Kingscote also spoke in favour of an alter-
ation as regards Shorthorns.

The resolution was then adopted ; and

On the motion of the Duke of Richmond, it was also
resolved —

" That the principle involved in the Hereford memorial
be referred to the Committee, which is further requested
to consider whether the priaciple in question should be
applied to cattle classes generally."

A letter was read from Messrs. J. and E. Hall asking
for the loan of the Society's Pulley Dynamometer, and
on the motion of Mr. Dent, seconde 1 by Mr. Hemsley.
it was resolved that the dynamometer be lent, subject to
the usual terms and conditions.

A letter was read from Mr. R. L. Hunt, resigning
his position as one of the Veterinary Inspectors at the
Society's country meetings, in consequents of ill-health.
Mr. E.ANDELL moved "That in accepting Mr. Hunt's
resignation, the President be asked to convey to him the
regret of the Council at losing his services, and more
especially that his resignation should have been rendered
necessary by the state of his health.'' The motion was
seconded by Sir Brandreth Gibbs, who testified to the
great attention paid by Mr. Hunt to the stock in the
Society's showyards.

A letter was read from Sir Brandreth Gibbs, asking
that letters for the Smithfield Club might be addressed to
12, Hanover Square, and the desired permission was
unanimously granted.

Letters were rean from Messrs. C. and J. Cadle, Mr. D.
Tallerman, and Mr. P. Street, the latter being referred to
the Stock Prizes Committtee.

On the motion of Mr. Arkwright, seconded by Mr.
Stratton, Mr. Bowen Jones was added to the Stock
Prizes Committee.

The suggestion from Mr. Bowick made at the General
Meeting of Members in December, relating to agricultural
meteorology, was referred to the Journal Committee %
but the Council did not deem it expedient to take any
action with reference to other suggestions made at that
meeting.

BRITISH DAIRY FARMERS'.

The first meeting of the Council this year took place
on Feb, 2, at the Offices, 446, Strand, under the pre-
sidency of Lord Chesham. Other members present
were — Dr. Voelcker, Messrs. J. Treadwell, Garrett Taylor,
H. Tait, E. C. Tisdall, A. Tisdall, J. Welford, R. Dale, T.
Nuttall, and H. S- Holmes- Pegler, Hon. Sec.

The Hon. Secretary read the report of the Finance
Committee, which had met on the 19-th ult. The report
stated that the balance in the hands of the bankers at the
close of the year was £78 8s. §d. That an application,
for increase of salary from the Assistant-Secretary had
been received and considered ; and that the Committee
recommended an addition of £10. The report concluded
with a list of members whose subscriptions were con-
siderably in arrear, and whose names it was recommended
to be removed from the roll.

Mr. Treadwell moved the adoption of the report,
which was carried.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

)>:{

LEGHORN PRIZE COMPLAINT.
Some correspondence was read relating to a complaint
made by one of the exhibitors in the class for Leghorn
fowls at the Dairy Show against the award of the first
prize in that class. Mr. W. J. Nichols, Secretary of the
Poultry Department, who was in attendance, explained
the circurastauces of the case, and, after the rule relating
to protest against awards had been read, it was moved
that the deci.-ion of the judges be not overruled. On the
resolution being read, au amendment to the contrary was
proposed, and carried by a majority of two votes.

COLLECTION OF DAIRY UTEN.-ILS FROM NEW YORK.

The proposition which had been brought forward at the
General Meeting by Professor Sheldon, to the effect that
the collection of dairy utensils from America should be
sold to defray expenses, aud which had at the time been
referred to the Council for consideration, was discussed at
length, and it whs resolved not to dispose of them, at
least for the present, with a view of re-exhibiting them at
the forthcoming Dairy Show.

dairy snow,

The following were elected a show committee, with
power to add to their number : Lord Chesham, Lord
Richard Howe Brown, Dr. Voelcker, Mr. R. Dale, Mr.
W. Freeinau, Mr. G. Murray, Mr. T. Nuttall, Mr. A.
Tisdall, Mr. E. C. Tisdall,' Mr. J. Treadwell, Mr. J.
Welford, Mr. A. Stapleton, Mr. H. Tait, Mr. H. S.
Holmes- Pegler. The first meeting was fixed for Monday,
the 16th inst., at 2 o'clock. It was resolved to fix the
date for closing entries for Tuesday, September 21st.

Letters were read from Admiral Saumarez, Mr. F. B.
Thurber, and Mr. G. Ferme.

A vote of Shanks to Lord Chesham for presiding
concluded the proceedings.

ENGLISH CART HORSE.

The Council meeting was held at the Inns of Court
Hotel, London, Monday, 2nd February, at 2 p.m. Pre-
sent : — Mr. Weils (in the chair), Major Dashwood, Capt.
Heaton, Mr. James Howard, Mr. Brown, Mr. F. Street,
Mr. Martin, Mr. John Treadwell, Mr. Pickering Pbipps,
M.P., Mr. W. Gilbey, Mr. Garrett Taylor, and Mr. G.
M. Sexton (secretary).

The minutes of the last meeting were read and con-
firmed. The Editing Committee reported that the first
vol. of the Stud-book was nearly completed, that the num-
bers had been affixed to all the horses, and that the entire
work would be finally revised and placed in the hands of
the printers by the latter end of the week. They recom-
mended that 500 copies be printed, and that the type
should be kept up until after the next council meeting.
The book would be issued by 1st March. It was, how-
ever, resolved that the committee be authorised to enter
into such arrangements with the printers as they may
think expedient.

The adjudicators of the prize essays announced that
they had awarded the prize to the one with the motto
"Enterprise." There were twenty- five competitors, and
several of great merit ; they, therefore, thought it would
be of additional interest to the work, if the one with the
motto " Practice with Science " be placed next to the
winner at the commencement of the Stud-book. This
was agreed to. The name of the wiener was found to be
Mr. W. R. Trotter, South Acomb, Northumberland ;
second, Mr. F. Street, Somersham Park, St. Ives.

The Finance Committee reported that they had then a
balance at the bankers' of £703 2s. 4d., and recommended
that the bills and working expenses be paid, and chtquss
were drawn.

The Horse Show Commit! ee reported that they had
made all arrangements for the show to be held at the
Agricultural Hall, on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4lh of March.

That members who had paid their subscriptions could
enter their horses at half the stated fees in the prize lists
and would be admitted to the show free. That prize lists
and certificates had been sent to all members. The last
day for entering was February 16th. That lull particulars,
certificates, &c, could be had of the Secretary on a[ pli-
cation. The judges, stewards, aud managing committee
were appointed.

Mr. Brown's resolution for the renewal of the
council was adopted, and carried out according to the
Articles of Association, rule 12, and twenty fresh names
were selected, ten out of that number to be elected by
ballot, to supply the place of the A list, which indicates
those members not eligible for re-election for the year
comprising the following names:— Mr. A. H. Broughtou'
the Hon. E. Coke, the Right Hon. Lord Dunmore Sir
W. Ffookes, Bart., Captain Heaton, Mr. James Howard
Mr. John Linton, Mr. A. Richardson, Mr. A. W
Roland, Mr. G. Street. The secretary was instructd to'
prepare and send out the ballot papers in due course.

Mr. F. Street's resolution that the General Annual
Meeting be held on the second day of the Show at the
Agricultural Hall, March 3rd, was carried, and the
secretary was instructed to seud out the necessary notices.

The following new members were elected : —

Mr. William Fookes, Pewsey, Marlboro', Wilts.

Mr. Chanes S. Carter, 48," Connaught Street, Hyde
lark, London.

Mr. William Robbinson, The Gill, Ulverston, Lanca-
shire.

Mr. Richard Tattersall, Albert Gate, Hyde Park.
Mr. J. Payne, Audleyjs Wood, Basingstoke, Hants
Mr. Joseph Waltham Parson Drove, Wisbeach.

SHORTHORN.

A meeting of the Council of this Society was held at
the Society's Rooms, 12, Hanover Square, W., on Tues-
day, the 3rd ult. Present :— Colonel Kingsc'ote, C B ,
M.P. (president) in the chair, Mr. B. St. John Ackers'
Mr. Hugh Aylmer, Mr. W. H. Beauford, Mr. J b'
Booth, Mr. H. Chandos-Pole-Gell, Mr. S. P. Foster, Mr'
Charles Howard, Mr. D. Mcintosh, Mr. E. W. Meade-
Waldo, Mr. H. J. Sheldon, Mr. R. Stratton, and Mr
Jacob Wilson.

The following new members were elected i —

Allen, S ephen H., Eastover, Andover.

Bainton, Thomas, Arram Hall, Seaton, Hull.

Boyes, Matthew, Wandale House, Sliugsby, York.

Colcombet, A., 15, Quai Tilsitt, Lyons, France.

CoupJand, Wm., Bolton House, Yeadon.

Cruse, Jabez, Cleave Farm, Brandiscorner, North Devon.

Errington, Robson, Scotby Farm, Carlisle.

Frier, Matthew, Nether Kidston, Peebles.

Graham, Miss I., 3, Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, Birming-
ham. b

Hamilton, Hon. R. Baillie, Langton, Dunse, N.B.

Harter, Percival L. T. , Lytham, Lancaster.

Hunter, James, The Palms Farm, Hexham.

Kerfoot, John, Faenol Bach, St. Asaph.

Lazonby, Joseph, Calthwaite House, Penritb.

Lett, George Henry, Millpark, Enniscorthy.

MdCKinder, Robert, Langton, Spilsby.

Moser, F. R., Carbery, Christchurch.

Norton, P. R., Turvey House, Donabate, Dublin

Shelton,. W. G.,. The Grange, Wergs, Wolverhampton.

Stephenson, Clement, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Stratton, George, Wheler Lodge, Hasband's Bosworth, Rugby.

Inompson, John, Sandymount, Tipperary

Vavasour, H. D., Tataraunaka, New Plymouth, Taranaki,

Whitmore, F. A. W., Kingslee, Farndon, Chester
Wood, J. B., The Hall, Wirksworth, Derbyshire^
Wynne, Thomas, Lislea, Armagh,

181

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

EDITING COMMITTEE.

Mr. H. Chandos-Polk-Gell reported that the Com-
mittee had examined the account for the priutiug of
Volume 25 of ihe Herd Book, and they had referred it to the
General Purposes Committee for pay uieut ; that the Com-
mittee had examined several pedigrees sent for insertion
in the Herd Book, which they had accepted, amongst
them bii.igtwo cows with dead twin calves, the colours
and sex of which were not noted at the time of birth ;
that the Committee had had several communications laid
before them with reference to the extra charge for each
calf, above two, entered as produce ; aud they recom-
mended that exceptions be made in the following cases : —
"That twins be charged for as o .ecalf; that steers aud
dead calves be not charged for; that the Committee re-
commended that a copy of Volume 25 and future volumes
of the Herd Book, as issued, be sent to the Society's
Solicitor.

This report was adopted.

A communication to the President and Coancil having
been received from a member of the Society, with regard
to the asterisk, attached to his foreigu-bred bull, and ask-
ing for its re-entry without this mark, the Council were of
opinion that the rule must be adhered to, aud directed the
secretary to CO nmunicate with the applicant accordingly.

GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE.

Mr. Jacob Wilson reported that the accounts for the
mouths of December and January had been examined by
Messrs. Q'lilter, Ball, and Co. and the Committee, and
were found to be correct ; that the Secretary's petty cash
account had been examined and passed, aud showed an ex-
penditure of £16 18s. 6d. duriug the pist two months ;
that the receipts for the same period had been £1,162 4s.
6.1., the balance of the Society's current account at the
banker's being £'J17 10s. 10d., and that the Committee
recommended that cheques be drawn for various accouuts
amounting to £565 17s- 'Jd.

That the Committee recommended the purchase from
the executors of the late iMr. Jobu Harward, for the
Society's library, of the complete set of the Royal Agricul-
tural Society's Journals, belongiug to Mr. Harward, who
was a member of the Council, and the Society's treasurer
until his death.

That the Committee had received a communication from
two gentlemen — one the sou of a deceased member, the
other a son of a member who is retiriug from farmiug —
asking that they might become members by continuing to
pay the subscription, without having to pay the entrance
fee. The Committee, however, were of opinion that the
entrance fee should be paid, and had instructed the Secre-
tary to communicate with the two gentlemen to this effect.

An application made by a life member of the Society
(elected in 1876) to be supplied gratis with the Herd Book
for 1875 — viz., Vol, 21 — the Committee recommended
should be relused.

This report was adopted.

MEMBER, OF COUNCIL.

In pursuance of notice, the Council then proceeded to
appoiut a member of the Council in the room of Mr.
Richard Chalouer, of King's Fort, Moynalty, Ireland,
lately diseased. Mr. J. B. Booth, spoke in feeling terms
of the loss the Council aud Shorthorn bree lers generally
had sustained by Mr. Chaloner's death, aud how much it
was regretted by his large circle of friends, and he moved
that Mr. Richard Welsted, of Bally waiter, Castletownroche,
Ireland, a life member of the Society, and the owner of a
large herd of Shorthorns, should be elected in the place
of Mr. Chaloner. Mr. Chaudos-Pole-Gell, in secoudiug
the motion, said that he fully concurred iu the atterance3
of Mr. Booth respecting their late colleague, whose death
was much deplored. The motion, that Mr. Richard
Velsted be elected a member of the Council, was there-
upon nut and carried unanimously.

Communications from the General Manager of th
Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway, and the
Manager of the Loudon and North-Western Railway e
were read, stating that the new charges for conveyance of
stock in horse-boxes came into operation on the 1st of
January last, and it was believed that they had been
generally adopted by the several Railway Companies of the
Uuited Kingdom who are parties to the Railway Clearing
System.

The Council then adjourned until Tuesday, the 2nd of
March, at 3 30 p m.

SMITHFIELD CLUB.

At a meeting of the Council, held at the Agricultural
Hall, February 3rd ult. Present : Lord Tredegar, pre-
sident, in the chair ; Lord Chesham, vice-president ; Sir
Brandreth Gibbs, vice-president and hon. sec. ; Messrs.
Chas. Howard, Jos. Druce, D. Paddisou, J. E. Rausome,
Jonas Webb, R. Game, James Howard, P. M. Jonas, J.
Hemsley, Garrett Taylor, Hugh Gorriuge, T. Brown, J.
Shuttleworth, Juo. Treadwell, V. B. Watts, and A.
Crosskill.

The minutes of the last Council meeting were read and
confirmed.

The Stewards' report on protests and other matters
connected with the last show was received and adopted.

Ou the recommendation of the stewards, it was resolved
that the following rule be re-adopted, viz. : —

"All the Tigs exhibited at the Siuilhtield Uluo's Shows shall
have ttie ttate of their dentition examined by a competent
au hority previously to the Judges making their award. If
the drutiiion shall ind cate that the age of any ot the Pigs has
been incorrectly returned in the Certificate, ttie Stewards shall
disipiality such Pus, and report the same to the Council."

It was resolved that the necessary portions of Professor
Simond's paper ou dentition of pigs be repriuted iu a
cheap form, after having beeu revised by the Professor.

Messrs. Jonas Webb and A. F. Milton Druce were
elected Stewards of Live Stock for the ensuing three
years, to replace the two who ret re by rotation. Mr.
Josh. Druce and Mr. R. Leeds were re-elected Stewards
of Implements.

The following rules yvere adopted for this year: —

A. — That the exhibitor shall send with each animal a
certificate that it has U9t been for fourteen days previous to
its leaving home for the Smithfield Club's Show, in contact
with any animal suffering from contagious or infectious
disease. No annual will be admitted without this certifi-
eate.

B. — That all animals undergo a veterinary examination
previous to being admitted at the doors of the Agricultural
Hall.

A memorial from breeders of Suffolk (black-faced)*
sheep having been read, it yvas resolved to institute a class
as follows : — Suffolk (black-faced) wethers, 1 year old
(under 23 months)— first prize, £10; second prize, £5..

It yvas resolved to abolish the classes for " Other
breeds of pigs," aud to substitute fresh classes for pigs
of a large white breed. There will thus be three classes-
for large white and three classes for small white.

It yvas resolved to have an additional set of judges for
sheep. The division will be as follows : — First, three for
Leicesters, Lincolus, aud Cotswolds, Kentish as at present ;
second, three for Southdowns, Hampshire, or Wiltshire,
Suffolk (black- faced) ; third, three for Shropshire, Oxford-
shire, and cross-bred ; fourth, two for Cheviot, Ryland,
Mountain Dorset, &c.

The Implement Committee, to revise the regulations of
that department for 1830, aud to allot space as heretofore,
yvas reappointed. It was resolved : —

That in order to relieve the Stewards from the necessity of
going at lull length through the Clnb's accounts at the annual
audit, a paid auditor shad be appointed to examine and cer-
tily the details preparatory to the Stewards auditiug the final
balance-sheet for each fiuancid vear.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

185

The names of a firm i f Public .ccoaatanta having been
proposed, the six steward , and tiuuomry secretaries were
ein])owered to arrange as to me appointment of auditor.

It was resolved " That a paper similar to the one for
nominating Stewards be sent previous to the November
Meeting to each Member of Council, to enable each to
suggest the names of four Members of the Club eligible
tor election on the Council.

Mr. Joseph Stratton having reigned his seat as member
of the Conucil, Mr. John Giblett was elected to fill the
vacancy thus created.

A letter was read from the Bu'chers' Company stating
that they had postponed the consideration of the subject of
offering prizes at the Club's shows.

The Honorary Secretary having announced the death
of the late Assistant-Secretary, Mr. Pulleu, the Council
passed a resolution expressive of its regret, and
directed a letter of condolence to be addressed to the
family.

The Council ordered a note to be added to the Prize-
sheet to the effect that no proprietors of cattle convey-
ance are now specially ap|)ointed to couvey animals to the
Show, and that (as last J ear) the exhibitors will
be free to make their own arrangements ia. this
respect.

The Honorary Secretary introduced Mr. H. J.
lline, Secretary of the Shortboru Society, who bad been
appointed Assistant-Secretary to the Clubs to fill the
vacancy caus d by the death of the late Assistant-Secre-
tary. The Club's letters will, therefore, now be addressed
to Xo. 12, Hanover Square, London, W.

Letters were read, and answers ordered to be sent
in reply.

The Hon. Secretary was authorised to arrange as to the
loau of the Club's troughs, &c, if application should be
made for the use of them by any other Society exhibiting
in the Agricultural Hall,

The following were duly elected members of the
Club :—
Mr. Alfred Stallisbrass, of Xo. 1, Hilldrop Road, Tuffnel

Park.
Mr. John Hill, of 17, West Smit! field.
Mr. F. A. Colley, of Endcliffe, Sin field.
Mr. T. Bottinp, of Guildford, Surrey.
Mr. F. Botting, of Guildford, Surrey.
Mr. Bruce Johnson, of Woodbury, Addiscombe, Croydon.
Mr. Joseph Christrns.s, of Bruton, East Dereham,

Norfolk.
Mr. John Cridlan, of Great Malvern.

Mr. G. W. D. Asshetan Smith, of Vaynol Park, Bangor,
Carnarvon.

The best, thanks of the meeting were voted to the
president for his able conduct in the chair. The meeting
then adjourned till November, unless a Council meeting
be duly summoned in the interim^

Jfarmcrs' dubs.

THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL BENEVOLENT IN-
STITUTION.— Mr. Mechi writes:— The Council, taking
note of the calamitous season of 1879, have decided on electing
an additional number of applicants. Ten males at £26 per
annum ; tourteen married couples at £,W per annum ; thirty-
five females at £20 per annum ; seven octogenarians ; making
a total of eighty new pensioners. The annual dinner is fixed
for Wednesday, June 2, and the election on Wednesday, June
16.

TOO FAST. — On a certain American railroad a young man
put his head out of the car-window to kiss his girl good bye,
when the train went ahead so rapidly that he kissed an ag>d
African ieraale at the next station. This is supposed to be
the fastest time ever made on a railway train.

CENTRAL-

The first meeting this year of the Farmers' Club took
place on February 2, wheu Mr. Finlay Dunn read the
following paper. Mr. J. Treadwell, occupied the chair.

The buuutiful earth has long been regarded as the teeming
mother of ail riche*. Uufor'unately, however, her riches live
tor some years been sparingly and capriciously vouchsafed to
most British agriculturists. But, under tiie more auspicious
suushiueot the Western world, ubuadiut crops have in general
been recently reaped, farmers have prospered, and Americans,
fond, even in talk, ot that largeuess w 'ich character s?.s their
country and most of their doin^ declare thtft the Uaited
States are destiued to become the granary and meat emporium
of the world. Iu support of such a proud assumption she
certainly possesses, even on the eastern side of the Rocky
Mountains, an area measured by 2,000 miles from east to
west, and lully 1,000 miles from north to south, ranch of it
blessed with a good climate, a great deal of it abounding in
varied, unworked resources. Tnere are immense, very partially
cultivated, alluvial river valleys, such as those of the Rsd
River, the Yellow Stone, the Assiniboine, and others in the
Canadian dominions, Irom any one of which the wheat deficit
of the British Isles might be furnished. There are vast
easily -worked prairies, sue1! as those of Minnesota, Iowa, and
Dakota, where wheat and Indian corn, cattle and sheep, might
be produced in lundred-fold their present proportions. There
are wide, rolling plains, as in Kansas, where many de-
scriptions of agricultural produce sie cheaply grown. Still
further west, 1,200 miles- from the Atlantic seaboard, are
hundreds of square miles of park ami plain, of well-watered
valley aud forest glade, where, amongst buffalo, elk, deer, aud
•intelope, with occasionally wolves aud bears, herds ant flocks
sparsely roam almost iu a state of nature. On the northern
American continent, in the States, and in Canada, there is
land in prolusion, scarcely comprehensible to |the uutravelled
inhabitant of this sea-girt isle ; land to buy at 20s. an acre or
less; land to rent at a cent an acre, or even for nothing;
land enough to occupy the energy of colonists, even if ior
some generations they travel West, as they did in 1872 and
1873, to the number of nearly 4-50,000 annually. This abun-
dance of laud — much of it fertile, much of it in a good climate
a great deal of the prairie aud plain requiriug no expensive
clearing, and only an ordinary ploughing to bring it into
cultivation — is evidently au almost inexhaustible source of
wealth, power, aud prosperity, and tor long years to come must
continue to supply the older and more closely peopled countries
ot Europe with large supplies of wheat and meat.

Ihe United States at present produces about one-fourth the
wheat grown in the world. Her yield lor 1879 is about
56,000,000 qrs. According to the official statistics, her wheat
arei is upwards of 32,000,000 acres, or ten times that of the
British Islands. The area of the crop of 1878 was 25 per
cent, greater than that of 1877, whilst during 1879 a further
increase was made of fully 3 per cent. — an increement of 28
per cent, within two years. This rapid augmentation testifies
how readily and quickly the supplies in America respond to
the demand. Even with this large accession, the wheat area
of the States is only equivalent to the dimension of the single
State of Alabama, or is only l-41th of the toul area of the
United States. This abundance of land still uncultivated — i
much of it available for wheat growing — distributed through-
out the vast Western ooutinent, is obviously a most important
factor in the continuous permanent supply of cheap wheat.
The fresh, untilled, virgin soil can be bougut at sma'l prices
Irom the State or territory, from railway companies or from
private speculators, who have in some regions taken op large
tracts. In tolerably accessible situalious, five or six miles
from a railway, such lands, well suited for wheat, can be pur-
chased at 20s. to 25*. an acre, or at less than tre price at
which similar land could be rented in England for one year.
In many localities they can be rented on very moderate terms
or worked on shares, the landlord provid ng house buildings,
occasionally also lurnishing seed, and receiving as rent one
half of the grain crops which occupies perhaps hall the holding ;
whilst with the other half ofthe grain, the teuant takes all profit
on live stock kept, aud on clover, roots, fruit, or vegetables.

180

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Throughout the western prairies of Minnesota, Dakota, or
Iowa, it does not cost much to bring the land into cultivation.
The sod of ages, full of rich organic matter, the debris of
thousands of crops of strong grass rotted down or burnt by the
fires which almost every year sweep these wide prairies, is
ploughed up during summer, lies a few months, sometimes
carries a catch crop, has another ploughing in autumn, and is
ready for wheat in the succeeding spring. No expensive,
tedious preparation intervenes between the acquisition of the
land and the reaping of a crop of wheat. Within twelve
months, at very moderate cost, the new lands can be made to
yield a lull return of biead-stuffs. Diversity of climate and
circumstances, as well as the great extended are», deserve con-
sideration as important elements in securing a tolerably regular
average of production. On our own tight little island, not-
withstanding diversities of clay, loam, and chalk, of hill and
dale, of high farming and of reprehensible late and sloveuly
management, a dripping season, a stormy blooming time, or a
wet harvest, greatly affects our total wheat yield. But the
ex'ent and diversity of conditions throughout the great Ameri-
can continent minimize such contingencies. In the eastern
and middh States winter wheat is mostly grown ; in the
western States spring wheat is almost universal. In California
wheat is reaped in June ; 2,000 miles distant, in Manitoba and
some parts of Canada it is not ready until August. Uncer
such widely diverse conditions it is not likely that blight, wet,
or drought can operate un:versally. The season, unfavourable
in one lccality, will probably suit another. Although Cali-
fornia last year was 6 million bushels under an average, aud
other important wheat growing States of Kansas and Texas
were very deficient, this was counterbalanced by the extra-
ordinary )ield of the winter wheat States, and the general
total was the biggest crop ever grown in America.

Practical men properly inquire how long do these fresh
virgin soils continue profitably to yield wheat ? The applica-
t on of farmyard or ether manures, be it observed, is quite
exceptional. Throughout the wide wheat-growing regions
the great bulk of the straw is ruthlessly burned. Without
any restitution ot the elements of fertility annually removed,
after eight ten, or perhaps fi'teen years' continuous wheat
growing, the best of soils necessarily becomes impoverished.
I have been shown in various parts of Minnesota land which
has borne satisfactorily, without manure, twenty consecutive
crops of wheat. But where everything is taken out and
nothing put back exhaustion must ensue sooner or later. Such
exhaustion has years ago been induced in many of the older
eastern and even throughout some of the middle States
Thousands of acres, robbed of plant food, have been left,
uncultivated, the occupiers going west for fresh unbroken land.
But such wasteful throwing up of the older land is unnecesary.
Even where it may still be considered inexpedient to incur the
expenditure of carting out and distributing manure, recupera-
tive crops can economically be grown. Land which has ceased
profitably to bear wheat, in suitable climates, where the
summer temperature reaches 70 deg. Fahr., readily produces
full crops of Indian corn. Clover, which generally grows
without fail, may he mowed or rolled down and ploughed in,
and, as at home, constitutes an inexpensive and valuable pre-
paration and nutrient for wheat. By such plans, now adopted
hy many good American managers, the fertility of the virgin
soils may be long maintained, whilst thousands of acres which
have been considered to be "played out" might be again
restored to profitable cultivation.

The yield throughout the United States averages abot.t one-
half of what we were wont to consider our British average
of 28 bushels. It oscilates between 13 and 14 bushels.
Better cultivation, more care in the selection of seed suitable
for the locality, might considerably raise this very moderate
average ; but drought at some period or another of the summer
must always shrink the American yield, and it will probably
always take two acres to produce the amount of wheat which
the British farmer gets or should get from one.

The expenses of cultivation in the States are much less than
they are at home. In most Western localities they do not
exceed 40s. an acre ; whilst our wheat crop, as you are aware,
eannot be grown for less than £.8. This low cost of produc-
tion is much in favour of American competition.

Some further details and particulars of American wheat
farming may be interesting. In many of the older eastern
States, the management is not very different from that at home.
Hotationa arc pursued, stock kept, manure made aud carted

out into the fields ; but this materially enhances the cost of
the crops, and, with the higher rent or value ol the eastern
lands, places the cultivator at a disadvantage as compared with
the western cultivator. But steadily migration carries wheat-
growing into the cheaper west. It travels with the sun, at the
rate of one degree in eight years. Making three great divi-
sions of the continent — in the first zone including the Atlantic
States, with Pennsylvania and West Virginia ; in the second
zone comprising all the central States to the Mississippi ; and
in the western all beyond — it appears from the statistics of
Mr. Char.es Worthington, the statistician of the Board of
Agricultuie at Washington, that this great western zone
produces fully 37 per cent, of the wheat grown, and is annually
increasing ; the central belt contributes 49 p«r cent., but is
diminishing ; whilst still more marked diminution occurs in
the proportion produced by the eastern belt, which, twenty
years ago, supplied 30 per cent., and now yields only 14 per
cent, ot the total.

The western States, which must shortly contribute more
than half th« American crop, produce it at the minimum of
cost. The land, as already indicated, does not cost to purchase
more than 20*. to 30s. an acre ; taxes and rates reach a few
cents ; house, buildings, and equipments on the land of the
poorer settlers, and ou some large holdings, are roughly taken
at 30*. an acre. Such invested capita1, amounting to 60s.,
will, if charged at 10 per cent., represent an anuual acreable
charge of 6s., which is less than a tenth part of the aniouut
which the British farmer under the same category pays for
rent, rates, and interest on working capital. In the western
States, throughou |Cali!oroia, and even in many off the central
States, wheat is grown tolerably cjntinuou>ly ; on the deep
loam ot the prairies or rich alluvium of the plains and vallejs
no manure is applied, and for the present, at any rate, noueis
required. Land has repeatedly been poiuted out to me in the
good, fertile State of Minnesota on which wheat has been
grown for twenty years consecutively, the whole ot the straw
being consumed where it was thrashed, not by stock but by
fire, aud the crops as yet shovviug no deterioration. 40s. to
50s., which the British farmer directly or indirectly expends
on manure for his vtheat crop, his American competitor saves..
Other expenses are also low. Ploughing does not cost nearly
so much as in this country. The easy-working land, usually
without s'ones, ploughed, as it is, lightly with a furrow twelve
to fifteen inches wide, and four to six inches deep, is turned
over by a pair of horses at a cost of 6s. an acre. The teams
make long days, seldom working less than ten hours; they are
expected to walk twenty miles daily ; they overtake fully two
acres a day. Although the men's wages are 25 per cent,
dearer, costing about 4s. per day, the horses are bought for
one-half of the price they would cost at home, and their food
is le:»s than half the value of the corn aud fodder consumed by
an English farm horse. The smaller farmers use wheeled
ploughs, the working parts of iron or steel, the beam and
handles often ofjwood, short in all their dimensions, awkward
looking, but making good work. On all the larger farms
sulky ploughs, on which the driver comfortably rides, are,
however, in general use. Such ploughs, costing £10 to £12,
turn over two to three acres daily ; double pi mglis doing four
acres, drawn by three or four horses, are also employed. With
cheap draught animals, horses or mules sixteen[hands high, and
1,100 to 1,200 lb. weight, costing £30, and oxen about half
that figure, with Indian corn and oats at Is. per bushel, and
hay under 10s. a ton, and without the necessity for deep stir-
ring, steam cultivation is not so much used as might be ex-
pected in a country where machinery is so universally
employed to expedite and cheapen labour. On au English
wheat crop the labour bill usually reaches 60s. an acre ; on au
American wheat crop it does not much exceed half that
amount.

Instead of two to two and a half bushels, the general wheat
seeding at home, half that quantity is deposited, usually with
a broad-caster, which distributes eight or twelve rows, and
overtakes eight or a dozen acres daily. No hoeing or weeding
are requisite ; the severe winter weather and hot sunnier are
unfavourable for the growth of weeds. Throughout many
parts of Minnesota and other well-farmed districts the land
was cleaner than at home. Although wages are doubled for
harvest, the work is cheaply and expeditiously overtaken.
Hindering wet is almost unknown. Machinery has long been
largely and universally used. In California large machines,
drawn by four horoes, pass over the fields, cut the ears from

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

187

the stalks, and carry them direct to the thrasher. More
frequently automatic self- binders are in use, cutting down
twenty acres daily. The cord-binder is destined to supersede
the wire- binder. On several large, well-managed farms
which I visited in Minnesota, the cord-b nde.r has last year
been used most successfully, effecting a saving as compared
with the wire, obviating the damage done to the thra>hir.g
drum by the metal, and removing the risk of the animals
eating the wire with their fodder. To save time and trouble
in stacking, some farmers thrash the dry stuff from the shocks.
Mr. Dalrymple, on his 75,000 acre farm in Dakota territory,
never puts up a wheat rick. With 120 self-binders, and
about 500 people, his harvesting is finished in twelve to fifteen
days, at a cost of about 10<. per acre. Undisturbed by rain
or storm, with twenty sets of tackle, the thrashers, including
a winnower and straw-elevator, and driven by ten or twelve
horse portable engines, the newer ones burning straw, the
whole of the grain is thrashed out in the field. This rather
risky and expensive mode of proceeding somewhat retards
ploughing, which, in such a country, must all be accomplished
by early in November, when frost may be expected to arrest
all field operations for about fonr mouths. Tabulating these
expenses of American wheat growing, the cost of an acre may
be set forth as follows :—

s.
Rent or interest on capital, £3 at 10 per cent. 6

Taxes and rates 1

Ploughing 6

Seed 6

Sowing and harrowing 2

Reaping and stacking 10

Delivery 6

Incidentals 3

40

In some localities more capital may be embarked in the farm.
On many nicely-managed small farm", the valuation of the
land, house, buildings, and permanent improvement?, with the
machinery snd implements, amount to £3 and even to £10 an
acre. This amount of capital is not uncommon on farms in the
older, middle, or eastern States, and, of course, proportionately
increases the cost of wheat growing. Forty shillings in, how-
ever, a fair estimate for the expenses of an acre of wheat in
those great regions where more than halt the crop is grown.
Mr. Dalrymple says that on his great Red River farm his
expenses do not exceed 36s. For that sura in many other
parts of Dakota, in Minnesota, and Iowa, small farmers
undertake the whole of the necessary operations, beginning
with the ploughing and finishing off with the delivery of the
thrashed grain to the railroad station four or five miles
distant.

In determining the cost of producing the American wheat
crops there is not much difficulty ; the yield and the price at
which the crop is disposed of are, however, liable to consider-
able variation. Last year's crop in Texas averaged only 7£
bushels ; the yield for Kansas was only 11 bushels ; Missouri
and Ohio made, however, nearly 20 bushels, and Illinois 18.
The average acreable yield of the whole United States is about
13£. If the acre of wheat is grown, as has been shown, at
40s., and 13^ bushels is the average produce, the cost per
bushel must be 3s. Id., or 24=. 8d. per quarter — a small price
for wheat delivered at a railway statiou. Instead of 3s. Id.
per bushel as the cost price of production, American farmers
generally for several years past have been getting 4s. per
bushel. This affords an acreable return of 54s. Deducting
the 40s. of expenses of production there accrues a profit of 14s.
an acre, or about one-half the value of the land on which the
crop has grown. A profit of 14s. over the 32 million acres of
the wheat area of the States represents an annual gain of
upwards of twenty-two million pounds sterling. Apart from
other profits, the poor man's friend, as wheat has been called
in the West, has enriched American larmers of late years as
much as it has pauperized their British tellow-workers. It
has helped to pay off mortgages, to improve holdings, to
add to live stock. Where under favourable conditions 20 to
25 bushels of wheat have been got, as I saw secured on some
well-managed properties in south-western Minnesota and other
good regions, the growers would gef enough to buy the land
on which the wheat was raised. Such encouraging returns
are everywhere stimulating extended cultivation. Even in the

wi iter wheat Spates, where for some years there has been
rather a falling off, I am told that an unused breadth has been
planted this fall, and in Oc'obsr I saw an immense deal of
wheat remarkably forward and promising.

The millions thus made in each recurring year from the
boun'il'ul earth have been the chief cause of the recent boom
in American industries. The money made in wheat growing
and stock raising has been rapidly circulated. When one-
fourth of the population, which are more or less directly con-
nected with agriculture, have thus prospered, the remainder of
the community speedily participate. In the old country, with
greater amount of accumulated wealth, and a greater variety
of long established industries, business proceeds at a tolerably
uniform pace throughout the year ; but in the New World, so
predominant is the agricultural iuterest, that so soon as harvest
is secured, business makes a bound, millions of dollars are
dispatched west for payment of wheat and cattle. The fall
trade in all sorts of goods is double that of the spring ; for
three months after the farmer gathers his golden grain, whole-
sale and retail merchants, railways and bankers, have their
busy times and their harvest. Never was this more notably
illustrated than during last autumn, when, after a most
bountiful crop had been reaped, all descriptions of agricultural
produce rose with a steady upward rush. Western merchants
sent big and repeated orders to their eastern correspondents.
Paris bonnets, silk dresses, champagne, and all manner of
luxuries were inquired for. Railways were unable, promptly
or satisfactorily, to overtake the rapidly enlarged trad" aud
every description of American business improved. Would that
the same general, agricultural, and industrial prosperity might
again illumine Great Britain.

In connection with American competition an important
question arises, what proportion of her abundant and cheap
gowth of wheat can she afford to dispose of? Previous to
1830 the United States exported annually wheat to the value
of about 1^ million pounds sterling. Notwithstanding ber
steady rapid increase of population, which now exceeds 40
millions, she has during the last few years spared abont 29
million quarters, nearly one-half of which has been entered
for the United Kingdom. Up to 1877 she exported only one-
fourth of her total wheat crop, now she exports one-third.
Although the eastern, north, middle, and southern States of
the Union do no grow enough for their own wants, " the south
middle S ates have a small surplus, the Ohio Valley has a
surplus of nearly half their crop, and the more western groups
produce more than a threefold supply of the home demand."
(Statisticians' Report for 1877). Looking at it from another
point of view, and allowing for seed, the recent bountiful
crops represent each year about 9 bushels of wheat for
each unit of the population. Although we use wheat more
exclusively than the Americans, not indulging in so many
vegetables, nor in Indian corn preparations or buckwheat
cakes, 5J- bushels suffice for each individual. Such estimates
clearly demonstrate that the United States can annually spare
one-third of her wheat produce.

A most important element in the question of American
competition obviously is the distance from market from rail-
road and from the Atlantic seaboard. The bountiful and
choice crops of remote localities are of little benefit either for
producer or consumer without facilities for their transport.
It is not maDy years since Indian corn on the cob was fre-
quently used for fuel, whilst fat bacon was a cheap and handy
means of lighting the fires ou the Mississippi and Missouri
boats, and getting up extra steam for a racing spurt. Splendid
peaches, for want of handy carriage, are given to pigs and
catile. Hay, in remote districts, worth 6s. per ton, is used
for driving flour and thrashing mills. In Manitoba, in ths
Red River country, aud in various parts of Dakota, I have
seen teams of horses, mules, and oxen laboriously bringing
wheat, fifty, sixty, and even seventy miles to market. Were
that the usual mode of transport, American produce would not
be either so abundant or so cheap as it is in England. But
there are markets and markets. An • American trade list for
January 1 gives the following very diverse prices for the same
No. 2 red wheat, sold at the following places : — New York
1.56 dol. ; Chicago, 1.31 dol. ; St. Paul, 1.21 dol. ; Duluth|
1.18 dol.; Winnipeg, 83 cents; Emerson aud Portage la
Parle about 70 cents. Neither of these last-mentioned
Canadian market places yet enjoy railway advantages.

The great and growing railway system of the States largely
contributes to their power of economically sending us every

188

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

s-econd loaf we pat, and supplementing it with a rasher of
b~con and an occasional beefsteak. She has 100,000 mi'es of ,
r»il«a_\s, is adring annually some 5,000 miles, and imuages ;
in her western domains, over IcvpI plains and prairies, to make
single lines lor less than £3,000 per mile. The long distance
rates of the United States are not so high as those of Europe.
Previous to and throughout 1878, and until Midsummer last,
wheat was conveyed by rail fully eight hundred miles from
Chicago to New York at the rate of 2s to 2s. 4d. per cental.
For the same charges 100 lb, of boxed meat or other provi-
sions were forwarded. By steam-tneged barges, through lake
and canal, via Osweso. to New York, 'he rates were little over
one-half of those by railway. Indeed, within the. last two
years the rate per Erie Canal from Chicago to New York has
repeatedly been as low as 3Jd. per bushel. This water transit,
extending from June until November, as in other parts of
America, proves a formidable competitor to the railways. The
cost of such water transit has steadily diminished during thp
last s xteen years to the extent of 30 per cent. Cheaper work
ing expenses, stea m tugs, improved docks, quick loading and
unloading by elevators, have during the past ten years, however,
been adopted, and the reduced charges hence have not
materially diminished dividends. By similar adoption of new
appliance", the railways are also able to survive considerable
reductions in their tariffs. Ocr-an rates during several years
have beeniqually moderate. From New York to British ports
a barrel of flour, weighing 214 lbs., was conveyed per steamer
for an average of 3s., and per sailing vessel, for 2s. 3d. Wheat
in bags has been carried as low ss 8d. per cental ; the average
wonld little exceed is. From Philadelphia wheat has heen
carried to Unnited Kingdom ports as low as 5s. a q larter.
From Montreal a quarter (480 lb.) of grain is forwarded at
4-i. to 9*. Provisions from most of the Atlantic ports are
landed in Great Britain at 30s. to 40s. per ton ; whilst oil
cakes are qnoted at the moderate figure of 20s. to 30s. Beef
by steamer, has averaged 6s. a tierce, but less is paid by sail-
ing vessels. Through rates to Europe from points remote from
the seahoard are proportionally lower. From Minneapolis,
1,200 miles west of the Atlantic, a barrel of flour is conveyed
to Lverpiol, Cardiff, and GU"go* for 7s. From St. Louis,
by direct water route, flour has been forwarded at 5s. per
barrel.

With such temptingly low rates, no wonder that American
flour is imported in increasingly large quantities, showing in
1879 an excess of 37 per cent, on the imports of former years,
and that English millers are anxiously inquiring into and
adopting many of the more recent imp-overaents of the best
American mills.

Owing to improved trade in many parts of the States, and
the demand for the immediate transmission of all sorts ofgonds
the low railway rates which obtained up to September last'
have been advanced, in some instances to the extent of 20 and
30 per cent. But even at this enhanced figure grain, bacon,
and other provisions are forwarded from Chicago at the rate
of ^d. per lb. Wheat can still be delivered from St. Paul or
Kansas City to Liverpool at 15s. per qr. for rail and ocean
carriage.

Sinae the present year began translantic rafes have again
fallen, and wheat is at present shipped from New York and
o'her Atlantic ports to Liverpool, Cardiff, and Glasgow at 8s.
perqr. Modern science assuredly makes light of time and
distance. The broad Atlantic cannot now he considered to
separate, but rather to unite, the Eastern and Western worlds.
I was told the other day that the cheapest mode of sending
scrap iron from Liverpool to London was to ship it at Is per
ton for New York, and have it thence consigned to London,
which would cost about 2s. per ton ! !

From the Euglish farmers' standpoint it may, in conclusion
he stated that wheat cau be grown in most parts of America
at a cost of 25s. per qr., can be forwarded on through bills of
lading 1,500 miles by railroad, lake, or canal, and 3,000 mile9
across the ocean to Liverpool or other United Kingdom ports
for the. moderate cost of 15s. ; for 2s. landing, dock, insurance
and commission charge* are discharged, making a total of 42s.
per qr. These figures afford a profit to farmer, carrier, and
shipper. When the sun shines in England, and a good crop
of wheat is properly matured, the farmer expects to make for
his fuller-berried wheats about 2s. per qr. more then can be
got for the thinner ordinary No. 2 American. With the risks
of indifferent seasons there can be only slender and precarious
profit in growing wheat in this country at 4k. or 45s. What

can he substituted for it on pior clays and thin, weak soils,
which produce at he.st about 3 qrs. an ac-e, conies not within
my subject. With better prospects it will continue to be
grown on soil where 4 qrs. on generally be couu'edon, where
no restriction is Lid on the sale of the straw, and where, in
addition to toe grain, the stiaw will realise £4 or £b an acre.
It is only under such favourable circumstances that British
farmers can depend upon profitably producing wheat at 45s.
per qr,, which, with extending cultivation throughout the
world, and tolerably good crops, will probably be its average
value for years to cume.

The meat production of America is fully as interesting and
important as her wheat production. It has grown almost
within the last twenty years, it is rapidly extendiug, and for
years to cone is capable of almost indefinite extension. Tne
milk cows of the Uuited States nuiiber 12 millions, the oxen
and other cattle number 21j millions, and are increasing at
the ra'e of about one million annually. One-third of the
cattle, stock slaneh'ered every year, presuming that they
averaged about 700 lh. carcass weight, would provide every
inhabitant of the S ates with nearly half-a-pound daily of
beef! A.s in the growth of whea1, the large area of cheap
land affords facilities for stock raising and 'eeding which we
cannot enjoy in an old and densely peopled country. Cattle
of various sorts a-id quality are bred extensively throughout
the Continent. In the great dairy state of New York there
are 1^ million of cows, or the same number as are enumerated
in Ireland, and within a few thousand of the ctnsus return
for all England, These cows mainly supply milk, butte-, and
cheese for the neighbouring busy, industrial po mlation, and
for export. Nearly a million ows are similarly employed
throughout Pennsylvania. The management of those cuttle
in these older states is not very different from that pursued
amongst similar herds at heme. They are grazed in com-
paratively small enclosures, or herded over common lands,
bronght into yards night and morning for milking, provided
sometimes with cheap concentrated foods, housed, yarded, and
fed during winter with fodder, corn, and occasionally with
roots. The profits of Americtn as of English dairying have
not, however, been particularly good during the last two years.
Cheese at 2d. and 31. per lb. has not been encouraging, and
last summer's drought confirmed many American dairymen in
their determination to try something else, and brought into
all the large autumn markets hundreds of milk cows more or
less fit for the butcher. This sudden shortening of the sup-
plies of cheese accounts lor its rapid steady increment in
value since the middle of September. Indeed, within six
weeks in the New York Produce Exchange many weli-known
brands doubled in price.

But the great breeding and grazing regions of America,
where the herds and flocks are so rapidly increasing, and
where there is still so much roono for increase, are upwards of
1,000 miles weiit of the Atlantic. One hundred and fifty
miles west of Omaha on the Union Pacific, where seven rail-
roads converge, the great cattle ranches begin, and extend 500
miles through Nebraska aud Wyoming over the Laramie
Plains to the IWky Mountains, and still 1,000 miles west
through Utah and Oregon to the Pacific. Southward* the
stock raising is being prosecuted lor nearly 1.000 miles
through Colorado and Texas to the Gulf of Mexico, and north
fully .s00 miles through the rich, partially occupied plains and
valleys of Wyoming and Montana to the international boun-
dary, and far beyond it into the Canadian Dominion. Twenty
years ago these vast regions were unsurveyed ; only a few
white hunters had penetrated amongst the Indians ; the land
was tenanted by bison, elk, deer, aud antelope. Since 1860,
it is stated that 15 million bisou or buffalo have been kiiled,
with a proportionate number of smaller game. In their place
the herds and flocks are slowly extending, but there is room
and to spare. Instead of a beast an acre — the Leicester-
shire idea of a fair stocking — the proportion even in fairly
settled localities is probably more nearly a beast to the square
mile! In these western sta'es and territories thousands of
cattle are raised on good grazings, for which not a cent, is paid.
Ttie only outlay under this category is an annual Government
head tax of five cents for two-year-olds, and seven cents, for
three-year-olds and all over that age. Where court-houses
and bridges are required this tax is sometimes increased. As
the land is surveyed and sold, as it will be by- and- by, the
stock-master's expenses will be enhanced, and he will have to
pay something for his grazing*. Meanwhile, however, iu this

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

180

great free country n man settles down usually beyond the
ranges already appropriated. In the valleys of the greatrivers
and their tribat tries he finds the most suitable location, lie
runs up his log-hut, or for a trifle buys out some former
squater, builds a 'ew sheds and corrals, buys some cows,
which cost £3 to £t, yearlings at 30s. to 40s., two-year olds
at 50s. to 6(h. Often the stockman begins with a partnership
ill a concern already running, receiving a small share ; or cows
and ewes are rented to steady mun, the owner receiving half
the produce and receiving back after three or five years the
number of breeding animals he gave. The cattle need and re-
ceive little attention ; they range instinctively in quest of the
best food and water, sometimes spreading over fifty or seventy
miles ; on some runs salt is provided. Smaller owners have
1,000 to 2,000 head ; some of the cattle kings number their
40,000 to 50,000. The chief expenses are the wages if the
stockmen and shepherds, who receive 25 dols. to 32 dols. per
month (£5 to £6 10s.), wih lodgiugs and rations. Each man
looks after about 1,000 head, and in the larger ranches more.
The busy time recurs twice a year, when the cattle are rounded
up hy men well mounted scouring the plains, bringing up the
stock to the corrals, branding the young ones, separating those
strayed from other ranches, and which when fouud duly
branded are returned to their respective owners. lOpportuuity
is taken to make selection for sale or slaughter. The baggage
waggons follow up with the cooks and provender, and the
camping out lasts for a week or more. The stockowners, if
persevering and steady, are sure to succeed. Their losses do
not exceed 2 or 3 per cent. Mishaps in calving are unknown ;
in gome districts a few cases of blackleg oc:ur; foot-and-
mouth disease and contagious pleuro-pneumonia have never
got out west. The average cost of cattle rearing does not ex-
ceed a dollar per he id per annum, and in the larger ranches
70 cents, is stated to include every outlay, including interest
on capital, Government head-tax, wages, and commissariat
expenses. No wonder that beef can be fed in such regions
at 2d. per lb. The profits from cattle raising well managed
in good districts is currently reported to exceed 20 per cent,
per annum. I have conversed with various cattle men who
began ten or twelve years ago without a dollar, and now have
ranches from which sales are annually made to the value of
£5,000. The banks, unlike their English brett ren, do not
refuse advances to steady graziers, who often pay 2 per cent.
per month for their accommodition, and assert that even whea
thus handicapped they do pretty well.

There are great diversities amongst the thousands of cattle
eared over these vast areas. All are undergoing steady
mprovernent. Lank, rough, profitless brutes are gradually
disappearing; the scillowaggs are polished off. Well bred
bulls of Shorthorn and other breeds and well-selected grades
are introduced from the Eastern States. One gentleman told
me in October that he had himself bred, bought, and forwarded
West 1,000 young Shorthorn bulls during the last three years.
To insure the advantage of such imported tires and prevent
the incursion of errant Texians, inclosures are being made in
some localities. The Texas cattle, which now muster
5,000,000, are not generally beau '•deals of symmetry or
quality. They are narrow, often open in the loin, leggy,
rough, with big heads and enormous horns, hard handlers,
and often of a sickly yellow colour. They are of Spanish and
Mexican descent. Kindliness and quality, which some gene-
rations of Shorthorn and other good crosses should have
impressed upon them, have apparently been roasted out of
tliem by the scorching hot summers which they have to
endure. Even in that hot region, where robust Kentucky
Shorthorns do not survive two seasons, the cattle are, however,
being graded np and considerably improved. Presenting a
large amount of lean meat, and no ohjectionable superabun-
dance of fat, they are largely used in Kan?as City, St. Louis,
Chicago, and New York for the canned meat trade.

The Oregon cattle are more shapely, and have less daylight
underneath them than those ot Texas. Oregon now numbers
about half a million cattle and 2,000,000 sheep, but has area
and pasturage for twenty times these numbers. Large drafts
are brought eastward over the mountains to be grazed for a
year in Wyoming and Nebraska, where the two-year-olds are
disposed of at about £3. Iuto Montana, in the very centre
of the American coutinent, both cattle and sheep sinoe 1873
have been steadily extending ; the rattle now number about
half a million, and the sheep probably abont the same. In
this cooler region the grasses are greener, more varied, uni-

, form, and level, resembling onr English pastures, and not so
bunched and scattered as in Texas. Here, as elsewhere,
small provision is made for winter feeding of the stock. The
dry, sun-cured, natural hay stands in good stead for winter
fodder, and is (rot at through the snows, which are not very
deep, and do not lie long. Excepting for a few cows, late
calves, or feeding beasts, not much liny is cut.

Dar'ng the summer and autumn the cattle throughout these
great Western grazing* intended for slaughter or lor feeding
in the Indian corn states are collected, grazed as they steadily
travel to the most convenient railway depot on the Union or
Northern Pacific railroads, which have opened up the country
and given the stockmen markets for their produce. Prom.
Cheynne, Julesburir, and other such stations, 1,000 carloa Is of
cattle are annually despatched. Mr. J. W. llitf, from his big
range, 150 miles long and abont half as wide, on the South
Plato River, now every year forwards 15,000 beasts. The
cows each averase 25 dols. ; the best for slaughter weigh,
when hung np, 600 lb. to 700 lb. They are classified in the
trade as Texians, good natives, butchers' cattle, and feeders.
Sold on the hoof or by live weight, they vary from about 2'20
cents to 3 cents per lb. T'ley are forwarded in large num-
bers via Council Bluffs to Chicago, a distance of fully 1,000
miles. Twenty beasts are put into each car, which is covered.
In this journey they are thrice unloaded, fed, watered, and
rested during twelve to twenty-four hours. The cost of this
long journey is 28s. for each beast. They are forwarded from
Cnicago (800 miles) to New York for 16s. extra. When
qiretly travelled to the railway, carefully loided, and
properly fed and rested in transit, accidents are rare aud loss
of condition slight. Beasts conveyed by rail 1,000 rades, and
weighed out of the trucks before feeding and watering, will
have lost on the gross 50 lb. to 80 lb. Upwards of 1,000,000
cattle are annually forwarded, mostly from the west and south,
to the great Chicigo stock yards, which cover 315 acres, and
disposed of at 2s. per head commission. About one-half the
beasts brought in are killed in Chicago, some of the best being
forwarded in quarters to Europe, many more are distributed
salted, and a large and increasing amount carefully and cleanly
prepared and canned for sale throughout the world. D d
time permit, I would gladly enlarge on the many interesting
matters connected with Chicago, twice burnt and twice raised
from its ashe», more big, bouncing, and busy than before,
where 30,000,000 bushels of wheat and more than double
that amount of corn are annually received, the great centre of
beef aud pork packing, where 7,000,000 hogs are annually
concentrated and 5,000,000 are killed, where, in Messrs.
Armour and Co's office, one of the principal packers, 500
telegrams a day are fr -quently received. Such fac's indicate
the great and growing dimensions of the grain aud provision
trades of Chicago ; and like progress and development are
noted in these industries in other American cities.

Another phase of American meat production must not be
overlooked. Over a great area of the central and southern
portions of the States — in Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, down the
great Missouri Valley, in Kansas, and elsewhere — wherever
the summer heat reaches 70 deg. Fahr., Indian corn is
abundantly and cheaply grown. It occupies 52,000, 0|00 acres,
bulks nearly 200,000,000 q-s., proves a tolerably certain
crop, averages 27 bushels an acre, in good localities reaches
40 bushels, and costs only 34s. an acre to grow it. This
handy readily produced cheap crop gives the American farmer
immense advantage in his manufacture of beef and bacon. Ilis
corn, shelled, costs Is. a bushel, oats about the same figure,
hay is 10s. a ton, bran at 20s. a ton is usually given once or
twice a week to keep the bowels open. With such variety of
good cheap materials, animals are inexpensively fed. Towards
autumn thousands of beasts, usua ly three years old, in fair
condition, are brought from the West, and distributed
throughout these Indian corn regions. They are bought at
lid. to 2d. per lb. live weight ; they scale 1,000 lb. to 1,200
lb. ; Texans are avoided, Shorthorn and Hereford grades are
preferred ; superior two-year-olds are believed to pay better
than older animals. They are generally run in big yards,
seldom with any hovelling; things are usually done on a large
scale in America, and 70 to 100 are placed together, but they
s ldom quarrel or disagree. In many arable districts the
smaller farmers take in cattle for the winter, supplying yard-
rooni, corn on the cob or shelled, hay constantly in the lacks,
having the animals weighed over to them, and receiving 2£t\
to 3d, per pound for every pound of gross weight g lined. Big

100

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

bullocks fairly started will eat Dearly half a bushel of corn
daily, and should add nearly 4 lb. daily to their live weight.
All over America, even on the smaller farms, Fairbank s scales
are fouud ; feeding animals are frequently weighed I ; and much
important and accurate information, which we have not, is
hence obtained as to the progress of the stock and the relative
value of different sorts of food. Cattle of good sort, fed for
four or five months on corn and hay, for every 100 lb. ot their
live weight, will give 56 lb. to 60 lb. of beef. These winter-
fed cattle olten come np to 800 lb. p?r carcase, and are of
admirable quality. They are forwarded eastward to the large
markets. Fewer middle-men than in England intervene
between the feeder and the butcher. The through long
distance railway charges, whether for live cattle or dead meat,
are much lower. In "well-arranged abbatoirs, which are found
in all American cities, the best is made of every description of
offal, the meat, moreover, is preserved in ice-cooled chambers,
and wasteful damage minimised. In very many of these
matters useful lessons may be learned from American prac-

Stieep are increasing throughout the States at the rate of
1,000,000 annually, and now reach nearly 40,000,000. In
many parts of the country they are of Mexican origin, crossed
with Merino grades. Hitherto they have been bred much
more for 'he production of wool than of mutton. But now
that their own as well as foreign markets are opened for
mutton, Oxford and Shropshire Downs, Cotswolds, and
Leiceaters are being introduced, and the lauk, thin bodies, big
heads, and close, fine wool are undergoing transformation. Iu
Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and other Western States, the
sheep are worth 12s. te 15s. each ; the best weigh when tat
60 lb to 70 lb. ; they clip 5 lb. to 6 lb. of wool, worth 10d.
to Is., per lb., and considered to pay the twelve months'
expenses. Fnra the ewes two years old and upwards 85 to
90 per cent, of annual increase is obtained. The losses under
good management, and in favourable situations, are estimated
at about 3 per cent. American mutton, however, is not so
good as American beef. There are great tracts of the Conti-
nent which, owing to the extremes of winter cold and summer
heat, are not well adapted to the thriving of sheep. Even
where now kept they have often to be housed during three or
four months in winter, and this, besides adding materially to
the cost, interferes with vigorous thriving. British flock
masters may therefore be assured that for the present, at any
rate, their important business will not be seriously injured by
American competition. . .

The same comfort cannot be administered to British pig
breeders. The swine of the United States and of Cauada are
quite as good as at home. They roam healthily at large over
plain and prairie, in wood and orchard ; they are fed on the
best of provender, often on apples and peaches. In the
States they number 35 millions. Berkshire and other
English breeds, and a useful China hog, are cultivated. I did
not see an indifferent grunter during the whole of my travels.
They cost often less than 2d. per lb. ; 60 per cent, of the hog
products are now exported ; hundreds of tons of bacon and
pork are sent to British ports at 3d. per lb. ; our national
bacon bills reach annually £10,000,000.

But I must hasten to a conclusion. From the facts I have
brought before you, your own conclusions will be drawn as to
the great food resources of the western world. For years to
come she must certainly be able to furnish enormous supplies
of her surplus, both of wheat and meat. I have endeavoured
to show that with a profit to all concerned, American wheat
can be brought into our ports at 40s. to 42s. per quarter. The
importation of bacon, pork, lard, and canned meats has of late
years enormously increased. The exports of butcher meat,
although hitherto limited, must also undergo considerable
augmentation. Of the beef, as of other food, the United
Kingdom will take the largest share. Live cattle will come
freely during summer, whilst finer weather can be counted on.
The ocean charges are £3 to £4 per head, whilst 20s. to 25s.
extra covers the cost of food and attendance during the voyage.
For about £8 a bullock, which costs l£d. to 2d. per lb. live
weight, can thus be brought from his native ranges on the
Cistern s'opes of the Rocky Mountains and landed in Ltver-
p iol. This transit charge would add less than 2£d. per lb. to
his carcase of beef. The transport of dead meat is still less.
The superior beef slaughtered in New York and other Atlantic
ports, and brought over in ice-cooled chambers, reaching Great
Britain iu excellent condition, costs for transport charges only

£1. per lb., and brings a satisfactory profit, to the importer if
it is disposed of at the landing ports at 6d. Importers, how-
ever, discover to their cost that the British meat market is
very sensitive to extra supplies, that a few hundred carcases
over the normal quautity, which at present is about 8 000 per
week, sends down the price Id. or even ljd. per lb. Superior
American carcases, weighing 800 lb., for a week or two in
full markets are frequently sold at 4-^d. per lb. This sensi ive-
ness of the market is at present the best protection which the
British feeder has. The enormous meat producing capabilities
of America, the cheapness of her manufacture, the desirability
of clearing off surplus supplies, and the low cost of transport,
which, contrary to common opinion, is, I think, unlikely
materially to advance, plainly indicate the improbability of
high prices being obtained for British beef, or even for
mutton. A few connoisseurs may willinglv give upwards of a
Is. per lb. for a quarter of veritable English Down mutton or
for a pr:me English or Aberdeen sirloin, but large foreign
supplies of really good meat, offered wholesale at 6d., must
pull down the price of ordinary Eaglish meat to 7£d. or 7d.
The British farmer was able some years ago to make meat at
7d. or less. He must do so again. Cannot the American
competition be profitably met by breeding only the best sorts,
by early maturity, by the steady, continnous growing of the
young stock, by avoidance of wasteful, dangerous checks, by
turning out two-year-old beef and year-old mutton, by mora
liberal use of cheap, imported, concentrated food, by consoli-
dating profits, and endeavouring to do business more directly
with the consumer ?

Mr. J. J. Mechi, of Tiptree Hall, Kelvedon, Essex, observed
that he would say a word or two just to start the discussion.
It appeared to him, and it had always appear* d to him, that
they must look for protection in this country in the shape of
very large, careful production and a favourable season (Hear
hear). It was quite clear that last year they had no favour-
able season, and no large production. B'lt for American
importations the people of this country would have wanted
for their daily bread, and it had been a great blessing that we
had been able to obtain meat and corn from abroad. The
question for the farmers of England was, how their expenses
could be so diminished or their produce per acre so increased
as to afford them a reasonable chance of competition. He had
ventured to s»y on previous occasions that if they could grow
five quarters of wheat per acre ou the average, as many good
farmers did, then they wonld have a protection of something
like £3 or i?4 an acre. He once read a paper at Newbury
on that matter and gave all the statistics. He did not bel'eve
they could bring wheat to England under a cost of 14s. or 16s.
a quarter from the place of its original growth. He had
taken trouble to inquire from persons interested in the bring-
ing over of corn, and the reports he had received led him to
that conclusion. It was true they might have occasions when
freight was cheaper, but what they had to deal with was the
average cost of conveyance, first from the grower to the pur-
chaser, and then from the purchaser to the port of shipment,
and then from the port of shipment to England. These ex-
penses were very oonsiderable, and the general impression was
that thev averaged from 14s. to 16s. per quarter. Therefurp,
if the English farmer could grow five quarters to the acre, he
had five times 14s. or 16s. as an advantage to protection
("Hear, hear). In regard to the production of meat there was
no doubt that by a greater use of American corn, cake, &c,
we could produce our meat at a moderate price, and the mode-
rate price was occasioned by the advantage we got in the shap*
of manure. Our great crops of corn could not be produced
unless we used a great quantity of manure to restore the fer-
tility of the land, and without the importation of foreign corn
for feeding the cattle the manure could not be obtained. He
did not fear foreign competition, provided agriculturists were
set free to take the best mode of action (Hear, hear) and pro-
vided also— what to a certain extent was going on now — that
rents fell to meet the altered circumstances of the times,
(cheers). There could be no doubt that if, taking the aver-
age of seasons (of course the last season was exceptional)
the farmers could not pay their way with the existing
rents, those rents must be reduced (Hear, hear). Labour
could not be dispensed with, and how far the steam
plough could supersede the horse plough was an important
question (Hear, hear). His owq opinion was that hitherto
they had made much too free with the steam plough. It was
so immensely powerful that it sometimes, by going too deep,

TUB FARMER'S MAGAZINE

m

disturbed a bad subsoil, f»nd mixed it with the upper soil to
such an ente.ut as to considerably diminish the. production
(Hear, hear). He had some hud which still suffered from
poorness of crops in consequence of the subsoil having been so
turned up by the steam plough lour or five years ago. When
the topsoilhad been well manured, and long exposed to atmos-
pheric action, it would be a mistake to use the steam plough
to mix i', and put that better soil at the bottom (Hear, heir).
That was one of the elements affectiog the question ol the
price a' which they could produce their crops so as to compete
with the for igner. Diminution of expenditure could only be
effected to a small extent, and therefore they must look chiefly
to increased production. He had just been reading the report
of the Scotch farmers who went to report on Manitoba. It
was a most interesting volume, showiug the vast quantity of
corn that could be grown, but the estimate there given was
that wheat could not be put down here under the most
favourable circumstances under 36s. per quarter so as to
remunerate the grower.

Mr. Dun : I say it cannot be done under 40s.

Mr Mechi, continuing, said that pamphlets had been written
to show that we could grow wheat at 40s. per quarter. His
observations led him to the conclusion that the larger pro-
duction of stock as a means of procuring manure, and the con-
centration of manure on a given area so as to increase the
crops, was the only true way in which we could compete
with the foreigner.

A Member : You said that Manitoba wheat could be landed
here at 36s. p pr quarter. Do you mean at the present time
or when they have a railway?

Mr. Meciii repeated that' the report stated it would pay
the Manitoba growers to deliver the wheat here at 36s. per
quarter. In conclusion he expressed his sense of the great
value of Mr. Dun's paper.

Mr. T. Duckiiam, of Baysham Court, Ross, remarked that
the club was very deeply indebted to Mr. Dun for his very ad-
mirable paper, and the description he had given them of the
other side of the Atlantic (cheers). Mr. Mechi had told
them there must be a material reduction of rents, and he (Mr.
Duckham) believed they had a right to look also for a material
reduction of taxation (Hear, hear). The taxation of this
country was pressing most severely on the farmers of England.
The poor-rate appeared to have been regarded for some vears
as a ready means of raising money, and the farmers of Eng-
land should unite in using the utmost endeavours to secure a
reduction of that and other heavy imposts (Hear, hear). It
could not be expected that the landlords could do ever) thing
(Hear, hear). Mr. Dun had made some very important sug-
gestions, one of them being respecting the sale by weight and
the extent to which the Americans used tie weighing machine
for the purpose of ascertaining the improvement made from
d»y to day, or mouth to month, in the feeding of their stock.
There was a very great lesson taught us in the stockyards of
Chicago with their enormous weighbridges. Nothing was sold
there except by weight, whereas in England we did everything
by hand or by guesswork. By this latter system the fanners
of England were certainly placed in the hands of people who
had much greater experience in judging of the weight of
animals than the farmer or gra^ier, tor the butcher had to kill
by thousands, whilst the farmer fed by scores (Hear, heir).
In Chicago everything when sold passed over the weighbridge,
and was sold by the live weight. Mr. Dun had told them they
made more of the off :1 in America han in England. There he
(Mr. Duckham) differed from him. He was in the stockyards
o! Chicago, and saw the system in vogue, there of slaughtering
the pigs. The heats were thrown into the cauldrons, and
certainly they did take a great amount ol pains to strip the
entrails, though not very cleanly. It was most disgusting to
see the tubs ol water with streaks of green and red through
which those entrails were be'ng stripped, and the fat of them
was thrown in with the heads aid lard into the same cauldron,
aud there raanu'ac'ured into laid tor the English market. Great
pains were taken to clarity it, but it was revolting to think
such stuff was to come before us in the shape of lard. Then,
again, the fat obtained from the slaughtering of so many
beeves was manufactund iuto butterine, or something of the
kiud, and passed into our Metropolitan marke*. No doubt
there was a good deal more made in America of the fat of
beasts than in England, but other parts of the offal, such as
the heads, were not made so much of as we made of thnn. In
regt-rd to the cattle of Texas and the far West they would have

some years fo wait before their herds would be of a quality to
meet the demand of the English market. They might do to
go to Chicago, and be slaughtered for can meat, but if sent
over here fresh, and placed in our markets, he believed there
would be no demand for them. Still they were rapidly improv-
ing, as they had been using both Shorthorns and Uerefords for
the purpose of raising the character of their breeds. As he
said and wrote when he returned from that country, their meat
producing powers in the far West were such that eventually
no European country would be able to compete with them.
That was his reply when they were told to give up corn grow-
ing iu this country, and turn their atteution to meat. His
contention was that they should exert themselves to grow a
greater quantity of both at the least possible expense (Hear,
hear). They were more likely to attain success by that means
than by flying away from one branch of husbandry to another
(cheers).

Mr. Pickering Phipps, M.P. (Northampton), said his
spirits agriculturally were much higher than they were before
he heard Mr. Dun's paper, for it now appeared that the very
worst of the outcome of American competition was that the
English farmer roust be content to produce meat at 7|-d. per
lb. He thought that as far as meat was concerned that wa9
not a very bad prospect ; and if it could be laid down, as Mr.
Dun seemed to indicate, that wheat, to pay, ciuld probably
not be sent to this country for less than 40s. or 42s. per qr , he
could only say that the message from America ivas better, as
far as farmers were'eoucerned, than he had anticipatad (Hear,
hear). If those two factors were correct, he thought there
would be no difficulty in the farmers, for the future, meeting
the competition. Of course there must be a general all-round
settlement or a reeettlement of things agricultural (Hear,
hear). Rents must be lower ; labour machines must be used
more than they have been ; labour must he of better quality
— he would not say that less should be paid for it ; and if ic
was found that wheat was pretty ^well the only article the
farmer grew which was permanently of a low price, then
wheat must be taken by the farmer only when it was
necessary for the rotation of his crops (Hear, hear). Many
iu the room, he had no doubt, could remember the time when
good beef was not worth more than 3s. to 3s. 8d. per stone,
and that was in a time when American competition was but
little thought of. They might depend upon it that if they
should be blessed with average good seasons, and if the com-
mercial depression of this country should be removed, and if
trade and commerce improved and reached the successful
position in which they were some few years ago, thus causing
a great improvement in the means of the consumers and agri-
cultural produce, then the agricultural producer of the fu*ure
would have after all not so very melancholy a look-out (Hear,
hear). As he had said, there had been times before foreigu
competition, iu regard to the produce of food for this country,
existed, when the prices realized by the British agriculturist
had been much less than those prognosticated by Mr. Dun in
his paper (Hear, hear). He sincerely hoped it might
prove true that the English farmer would not have to
meet with much severer competition than had been
indicated by Mr. Dun, and if such should be the ca->e
he was quite sure the energy and pluck of the British farmer,
taken in connection with the good feeling he hoped w„uld
ever exist between those who owned the land and those who
tilled it, would enable the agriculturists and the future to
overcome the difficulties before them (Hear, hear). He could
forget, ho < ever that there was a serious side to the present
condition of agriculture, aud that was that come what migh'',
he feared that many who hud done the best they could for
several years past must goto the wall. He believed that at
the present time there was such depression existing in con-
nection with agriculture from various causes — from cattle
diseases, from bad harvests, and from badseasous — that, owing
to no fault of their own, hundreds and thousands of respectable
and at one time well-to-do agricultuiists would have to bear
the brunt, and would be unable to keep their engagements
(Hear, hear). He was not so much afraid in regard to the
agriculturists of the future, because lie felt certain that if the
tines were changed to competition, even more severe rents
must be adjusted to those changed times and altered condition ■■■-,
but still it must b • a source o! great regret to all who practi-
cally knew the state of agriculture at the present moment
that so many, through no fault of their own, would be obliged,

P

18:J

THE FARMKR'S MAGAZINE.

to give up the occupation to which they had devoted their
lives (Hear, hear;.

Mr. H. Kai^^-Jackso>" (Salisbury Square), thought that
Mr. Dun, in his luminous paper, which threw generally a clear
light over a very broad buhject, was rather misleading on the
•point of price-, lie had come to the conclusion that every
farmer inAmeriea came to — viz., that he could produce wheat
at 25s. per qr. Well, tie question was, at what cost could that
be brought to Liverpool or other ports of G. eat Britain ? Mr.
Dun had put down the total of 42s. per qr., but lie (Mr, Jack-
son) would be sorry it that estimate went lorth without dis-
cussion. The ireighr, as he had observed of late, had beeu 12s.
■per qr., and that would bring up the priee to Liverpool or
other -ports to S3s. only. He submitted that that was a serious
point for consideration, whether the carriage was 17s. or 13s.
In Cali ornia they could get wheat, by the ton at 9s. and soine-
tin.es at Ss. a qr., and, generally speaking, it was not mere
than 12s. a qr. ; ai>d according to the statements of the Duke
of Beautort, Mr. Haukey, Mr. Chaplin, M.P., and others,
they could get it brought to our ports, so as to pay the
American producer, fur less than iOs. per qr. Tuat was au
estimate which had been generally .accepted, and it was im-
portant to know whether it could t.e disproved (Hear, hear).

Mr. Aveling, of Rochester, feared that the pluck and
energy of the British farmer would not enable him to carry on
ii/s business successfully if prices on the average were not to
be higher than those mentioned by Mr. Dun. It would be
impossible to meet the changes of weather, the losses due to
ctttle diseases and other causes, if higher prices than those
-Were not to prevail (Hear, hear.) As had been said, it was
certain, in the first piate, the rents must come down (Hear,
ti ear), The 50 per cent, they had risen during the past thitty
years, that must go (laughter). Not only must rects be
altered, but every impediment which stood in the way of the
introduction of fresh capital iuto agriculture must be removed.
There was only one way in which the end could be secured,
and that was no^, as was said by an old farmer at Canterbury
the other day, hy " sit.'i-ig on tin ir backsides and grumbling,
but by action" (Hear, hear). Every English farmer had a
vote, and lie should make use of it (Hear, hear). In conclusion,
Mr. Aveling commended Mr. Dun's paper as one of the best
ever read before this or any other Association (cheers).

Mr. Lake (Oakley, Rochester) said he would be glad if
when Mr. Dun rose to reply, he would be kind enough to,
tell them if there was any cliauce of their being able to get
u supply of young stock from the States at the price he had
mentioned-. If so, t'aey might start at a rate which would
assist them to compete with America, because they knew from
what Mr. Dun said, and from what they had read, th^t stock
in the States was being rapidly improved, and it was desirable
to know whether by this means the English agriculturist
might be enabled to cumpeie with his American rivals (Hear,
hear.)

The Chairman here announced that there were one or two
American gentlt men iu the room, and said the meeting would
doubtless like to hear their opinions.

Mr. H. C. Burleigh, of Maine (a friend of Mr. Duck-
ham), said he had not come ii.to the room with the intention
of making any remarks, but as the subject was one with
which he was familiar, he could not refuse to say something
upou it. Mr. Dun's excellent paper had in one sense reflected
the condition of American agriculture admirably, although
wheo lie detailed the amount of wheat produced per acre it
made them look a little too bad (laughter). He was incliued
to think Mr. Dun's picture was a little overdrawn. The fact
was that 1879 had been a grand jear for the American
•farmers. They had raised better wheat and more of it, and
hlso better meat and more of it, than ever before ; and as he
listened to Mr. Dun's paper he felt disposed to say with the
nigger, who was iu doubt which of two ways to go, that he
■would " take to the woods" (laughter). Personally he did not
think the American producers would ever be able to send meat
to England much cheaper than they did now. He thought
they might reckon iJd. per lb. as the average price lor better
joints sold in inland towns. They might bring dead meat here
cheaper, but the ditficulty with them was that the markets iu
' lOndon and other towns fluctuated so much, and that the dead
meat when it arrived had to go at whatever might be the
onarket price at the moment. Lor that reason the Americans
Ci>ald not compete with them in dtad meat without perfect

refrigerators. They might do so for a while during cold
weather, but when the weather became warm they could not
do so. Whether it were live meat of the first quality he did
not care. At Texas animals might cost three eeuts. per lb.
live weight, but when they came into the corn fields of Iowa
and Illinois, or the great valley of the Mississippi, they would
consume 80 bushels of corn par head to feed them ready for
the butcher. The transport by rail would cost £2 per head,
and by the time they got into the inland markets of this
country, thtse American bullocks would cost "9d. per
lb. They would be glad to supply the people of
this country, for they (the farmers) were poor and
needy over there (laughter). There was lots of
money in England, and they wanted to get some of it by
sending their meat, which would cost here 9d. per lb. As
regarded sheep, they could raise almost any quantity in the
United States; but he must confess that he never kuew what
good mutton was till he came to the English shores (Hear,
hear). They had imported the Sou'.hdowns, the Cotswolds,
and the Shropshires to some extent ; but he was sorry to say
that a large portion of those aoimals did not do well. They
were obliged to give them not only artificial food but an
artificial temperature in many of the States, because they could
not stand ttieir extreme c^ld. The Merinos would do well
almost anywhere, and as wool-producing sheep were bred very
largely. Something had been said in that discussion about the
limits of the ^.meiicau pastures. Mr. Dun aud Mr. Duckharu
and many other English agriculturists knew aomething about
that matter, having seen a good deal of the pastures of the
United Slates, and he might appeal to those who had seen
them as to whether they would entry all the stock which inauy
had supposed they would, or whether sheep could be sei't to
Eoglaud in large quantities profitably by Americans. Thpy
could send more beef here. Iu the last fal1, while going
through the West, he saw drovers picking up cattle at S dols.
50 cents per 100 lb. live weight, that sum being equal to about
14-s. It took him a good while to work that sum (laughter).
Cattle which were from Oregon, Wyoming, and the Indian
territories down to the borders ot Texas,, cost, he repeated, in
their leau state 3 dols. 50 cents per 100 lb. live weight after
beiug cirried about 1,000 miles to the Chicago market, where
they were bought by feeders, aud for whom they consumed
eighty bushels per head of corn to fit them for the English
market. They we.« then sold at from 5£ to 6 dols. per 100
lb. live weight, being about 22s. to 2i<. at Chicago. Thence
they had to be seut to New York or Boston, per railway, for
transport across the Atlantic, and by the time they got into
the inland Euglish markets, they would, he thought, cost
about 9d. a pound. It was only by improving their breeds of
stock by getting the very best animals they could in the hrge
stock-growing districts, and by well.feediog them, that they
could get steers fit for the English market. So far as their
wheat production was concerned, they bads good deal to learu
from English farmers. People talked very much about the
big farms of America. He did not deny that there were such
farms in his country ; but it was chiefly iu England that big
farming was djne — lie was sorry tojacknowledge that. Really
big farming was done on comparatively few acres of land, hy
the scientific English farmer who obtaiued such great returns ;
and he hoped the time was not far distant when the American
farmer would learn a lesson in that matter from his English
cousin.

Mr. Warin», of Pennyslvania, having risen in response to
a call from the chair, said he hardly knew why he should be
invited to speak on that occasion, as he had never shouldered
a fork aud u shown how crops were won " (laughter).
Atlhough, however, he had uot the honour to be classed among
the agriculturists of the United States, he felt, in common
wi'h most of his countrymen, deep interest in agricuhure, it
being one of the greatest industries in all countries. It was,
in fact, the basis of national wealth. When the agricultural
class prospered all other classes prospered, and if it suffered all
other classes must also suffer (cheers). Haviug learnt
through his friend Mr. Dun, with whom he had the pleasure
of meeting while he was travelling in America, that there was to
be a meeting of the Farmers' Club that day, and having been
invited to attend with that generous hospitality which English-
men always extended to Americans, he had come there to
listen, and having now been asked to speak, he begged to say
a few words in reference to Mr. Dun's paper. That paper

TEE FARMERS MAGAZINE.

IDS

appeared to liim a very able and exhaustive one. The state-
menu contained in it were very carefully made. The author was
very cautious and conservative, there was no exaggeration, and
the paper was a most excellent one. Thanking the meeting lor
the kindness with which it had listened to these few words, he
would conclude by repeating a sentiment which he reed about
a year ago, in a speech from an English sta'esraen whose name
was prized in America : " England and America, two nations
but one people " (cheers).

.Air. Ai.fk.kt> CkOSSKILL (Beverley) said, berore the dis-
cussion closed he wished to add a word of tribute to the very
excellent manner in which the subject ,had been introduced.
Jle might, perhaps, li id fault witli a preceding speaker for
saying that no other paper could rqual Mr. Dun's. As one of
those who had undertaken to read a paper this year he felt a
little awed by that statement (laughter). But he trusted he
had sullicit-nt strengtli of mind to get over that, and in his
own paper he should do all he could to approach, if he could
not equal, the excellence of Mr. Dun's (laughter)., That the
discussion had not been more lively was perhaps owing to the
fact that the paper was so excellent,, that it was exceedingly
difficult to discuss its contents ofT-haud. In reflecting on the
prcc edings of that Club, the question had sometimes occurred
to hi;n whether it would not be well to circulate able- and
exhaustive papers before the members came there to discuss
them, it being exceedingly difficult to discuss papers which
were full of information or ol figures when they came there
with their minds unprepared. He might add that if their
American friends present had not lound the discussion as
lively or as interesting as they hart expected it to be, that
might be ace uuted for in the way ihat he had mentioned.
As regarded Mr, Dun's paper,.one point connected with it
which had not been discussed by any preceding speaker had
struck him very ranch, namely, that m the competition which
the British farmer had to sustain from the American pro-
ducers, the owner and the oceupier of the land in the United
States were one person, whereas the British farmer was in the
unrortunate position of having a great deal of rent to pay.
The British farmer must fiud great. difficulty in competing
with oue who, if he were not the actual owner of the land
which they used, at all events had it on-very moderate terms.
Unless lie misunderstood Mr. Dun, a large portion of the cattle
owners in the Uuited Sates — he would not say stole the land
they occupied, but annexed it (laughter). They got land for
the gracing of their cattle, which did not really belong to
them, and he could no' help thinking that that would not go
on. The American.gentleman who spoke last seemed to think
that American farmers were likely to be so handicapped that
the British farmer had not much cause for fear. In an assem-
blage of British farmersr,ho'iever, it was quite impossible to
discuss the growth of Amer.cn corn and cattle without the,
question arising as to «hat was likely to be the effect of that
competition on the future position of the British farmer
(Hear, hear). He thought the lion, member for Northampton
pat his fbuger on thereat point before them when he said that
the question to be considered in connection with Mr. Dun's
paper was what was the true state of affairs at home now,
and what it was likely to be in ibaj fu'nre. He (Mr. Cross-
kill) felt rather shy in expressing an opinion on that point,
but, after hearing Mr. Dun's paper, he was ra her disposed to
take this view — that the prospects of British farming so far
as they were affected by Americau competition were not so
gloomy as lie had expected to find them represented to be. It
appeared from that paper that American wheat would, gener-
ally speaking, cost 44*. in this ountry (A voice : 12s.) Well,
ashilliug or two would not make much difference as regards
competition in wheat. He gathered from the remarks of the
last speaker that alter very favourable seasons there would be
a great abundance of wheat from America, but that after very
unfavourable seasons there would be much less. He inferred
from what he had heard that, notwithstanding the great in-
crease in the quantity of laud cultivated, the increased pro-
duce was not likely to be as largo as many had supposed ;
and he thought they might fairly conclude that the British
farmer, when he had fair seasons — of course every one knew
that the last lew seasons in this country had been exceedingly
bad, and he believed that the depression of agriculture was
more attributable to that cause than to American competition,
— he said, when the British farmer was blessed by Providence
with favourable seasons., he would, he believed, on the whole
be capable of holding his own, While he used the words

" holding his own " in reference fo agriculture, quite con-
curred with a preceding speaker that it was ecessary tl at
there should be changes and improvements in conditions of
farming, lie did not think the extravagant rents at whtch
land had been let during the last few years could be main-
tained, and he thought that adjustments in favour of the
cultivators of the soil would have a great deal to do with the
improvement of the position of agriculture ; but with
moderate rents and such adjustments as he referred to, he
thought the future of British agriculture would be nothing
liKe as black as persons who had not heard Mr. Dun's paper
might fairly have expected (Hear, hear).

The Chairman said, in closing that discussion, he had
but a tew words to say. Mr. Dun sta'ed in his admirable
paper that the quantity of seed wheat on the land in America
was a bushel or a bushel and a quarter per acre. It struck,
him as very extraordinary that the average yield should be
only about 13£ bushels. If the land did not yield more than
that, why did not the Ameri'vin cultivators \ at into it mote
seed ? Mr. Mechi made a remark about the value of manure
with the feeding of stock. He forgot that the manure was
not so valuable in that way when they did not get so much tor
their produce, and perhaps that might be one secret of their
friend's own balance-sheet this year (laughter). If his pro-
duce did not make so much money as it had done, the manure
could not be so valuable. He (the Chairman) bad gathered
some gleams of- hope from the remarks of their American
friends in that discussion, especially thos^ of the gentleman
who thought that the bpst. American beef could not be sold
here, at a profit, under 9d. per lb. From what h« had hearrl
in conversing with Americms he had learnt, that in their
country there was a good difference in price between good
and bad meat. 11^ was told lust year by an American bu'c'-.er
that the best joints of beef were sold in butchers' shops at
almost as hifcli a price as such parts were here, while 'he
in'erior parts were literally almost given away. One of the
American speakers having intimated that the Shropshire and
some other Engli*h breeds of sheep kept in his country were
not able to stand the climate, he would recommend him ami
his friends in America to try a few Oxford Downs (laughter)!

Mr. James Howard (Bedford) said he rose with much
pleasure to propose a vote of thanks to Mr. Finlay Dun for
his very valuable paper. (Cheers). After returning from
America some thirteen years ago he gave the Club a very brief
account of what he saw of agriculture over there, many of the
members thought at the time that he had over-estimated the
magnitude and importance of that great country across the
Atlantic; . but from the deeply interesting and elaborate
account to which they had just listened it would seem almost
impoi>si!>le to over-estimate the magnitude and importance of
America as a source of agricultural produce. He saw the
other day, in an official return made to the Land Olfice at
Washington, that the culivable area of the United States in.
creased annually by four 'million of acre«, and that the exten-
sion of cultivation during the last four years had been some-
thiog.like 10 million acres. He recollected recommending, on
the occasion to which he had alluded, the farmers' sons on
this side of the water should go ont to the United States to
cultivate past of the vast uncultivated area, and he felt con-
vinced that if his advice had been taken many a ruined family
by the present depression would have been prospering on
American farms at this day. Farmers were here too thics o
thfl ground, and a thinning process was absolutely necessary
under the present conditions of agriculture. Mr. Aveling did
not say one word too much in praise of the paper read by
Mr. Dun. He (Mr. James Howard) agreed with Mr. Cross-
kill that it was almost impossible to discuss such a paper
adequately without having previously read it; and perhaps it
was just one of those papers which might well suggest for the
consideration of the committee whether they should not on.
special occasions devote a second night to the discussion of
what was so important (cheers). There was one, and only
one, statement in that admirable paper to which he took ex-
ception. He thought Mr. Dun could hardly have meant
what he said when, speaking of the cattle of Oregon, Texas,
and other western states, lie remarked that they might be
" indefinitely increased." A breeding farm was not exactly
like a factory or a mine, the output of which might be in-
creased without limit. He remembered that in giving evidence
on that suhje«'J before a committee of the House ol Cjidtohim,
being asked by a member whether he believed in that " iude.

J&4

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

finite increase" in the cattle to be sent us from America, he |
replied that he shi.uld believe it when cattle could be. brought
into tbe world without the agency of mothers, but so long
as mothers were necessary to bring live cattle in'o the
world the rate of progress would be very gradual. He was
very glad to find that so cheerful a tone pervaded the meeting
with regard to the future of agriculture. He had great faith
in the future of the agriculture of this country, notwithstand-
ing the rjiliicul'ies by which it was at present surronnded. For
agricultural and for pastoral pursuits combined, no other
country in the world had such a climate as that of England,
aud that was a very important consideration. When they
looked at the yield of the corn produce of other countries it
seemed very small indeed in comparison with that of their own
country. The value of the land of England depended to a
very great extent upon the cost of transport. It was more
than thirty years since Mr. Stuart Mill laid down the doctrine
that if the cost of carriage could be annihilated, as it were,
between the western prairies and New York, the land ot
Staten Island would be of no more value than that of the
most di.-tant prairie. That was a sound, general principle, and
it had begun to tell upon the value of land in this country.
T'te main reason whv there was such a fall in the value of land
in England was the "fact that iive stock and corn could be
transferred so cheaply to this country from the United States
of Americ. He said that he had great faith in the future of
farming in England ; but, as .Mr. Aveling had pointed out, the
impediments in the way of the British farmer must be swept
away, and perhaps one outcome of the recent and present
depression would be that it would clear away thoie impedi-
ments (cheers). He had great pleasure in proposing a vote
of thanks to Mr. Dun for his admirable paper.

Mr. G. M. Allender (Aylesbury Dairy Company, St.
Petersburg Place, Bavswater) " in seconding the motion, after
observing that no doubt Mr. Duu's paper would be widely
perused with the interest which it so well deserved, said he
wished to make one or two remarks with regard to two great
American products which Mr. Duckhain had spoken of in dis-
paraging terms. One of these products was oleo-margerine,
or, as it was frequently called, butterine. On the previous
Saturday a friend ot his from Americi, who had visited some
of t lie largest factories whence that article was issued, said
that it was far from being produced in anything- like a dirty cr
uncleanly mani.er. He said that only the best suet was used,
that the article proocced was generally quite as pure and
almost as good as ord nary butter. That tor certain cooking
purposes, and especially in the making of pastry, it was
preferable to butter, aud he feared that it would be found a
great competitor with the dairy produce of England. Again,
Mr. Duckham spoke of the sloveuly manner in which the lard
was prepared in America. To show the value which was put
upon that product in the United States, he had only to observe
t at in the daily telegrams announcing the prices of the
American funds and other valuabe securities they would find
Wilcox's lr.rd always mentioned. Surely it was a striking
testimony to its value, that it held rank among the leading
products of America. (Hear, hear.)
The motion having been put and carried.
Mr. FlKLA.7. Dun said he felt very mnch indebted to the
speakers tor the very kind and flattering way in which they
«: imraended his paper. With regard to the discussion, he
would first remark that their chairman had very properly
eom r.ented on the extremely small quantity of seed which was
^edbythe American cultivator. Owing to the luxuriant
iant growth both in autumn and spring, a small seeding of a
I. .shel and a quarter or a bushel and a half was certainly quite
s rlicienl to form a thick crop. The sroa'lness of the vield in
Many parts of the United States aud Canada arose not from
nay infertility of the soil, but from the scorching summer
lieat, which of;cn seriously jeopardised crops. In the Red
.liver Valley the yield had lately been reduced to a considerable
itent in that way, aud the same cause of diminution was also
donstantly operatiiig;over a large port on of the United States
.:ad keeping down tlie yield. That was a condition of things
which always more or less alfected American agriculture,
although it was one in which British agriculture did not share.
i )ur wheat crops were injured by having too little, not
% >o much sunshine, too much wet, not too little; bat the case
was different on the other side of the Aiant c. As regarded
the cost of the production of wheat in America, he thought
there was very little real difference of i p:uiou among Am ricau

cultivators, it being the general impression that an enormously
large quantity could be produced at a cost of 25s. a qr. A
qnestion which was open to some difference of otinion wis the
cost at which that wheat could be brought to the English con-
sumer. Obviously, there mast be very great differeucs in that
respect arising from the varying positions of American
growers. (Hear, hear.) There were, for instance, large
quantities of wheat grown in the immediate neighbourhood of
Chicigo, in Illinois, in Ohio, and in the eastern parts of
Minnesota, which could be bronght to England for three or
four shillings less than wheat brought a distance of four or
five hundred miles farther west. Mr. J sckson had very properly
remarked that the cost of transit in America had a good deal to
do with the matter. For the last twelve or eighteen months
the cost of transit in America had been very low, and there
was a general impression in America that farmers thsre had
greatly benefited by the transport of their produce at very
low rates. There had been of late a g-eat deal of competition
between the different railway companies in wheat- carrying ;
but higher tariffs had come into operation recently, and,
taking this into account, as well as the fact that such a large
quantity of wheat was now brought from the far- west zone,
he supposed that the cost of transit, and of the landing at
Liverpool or any other part of the United Kingdom might be
fairly estimated at something like 15s. or 16s. a quarter. That
probably would be the expense of conveying wheat from most
parts of the great wheat-growJDg districts of the United
States. (Hear, hear.) With regard to the amount of stock
which was capable ef being produced throughout the various
parts of the vast territories aud States, he must submit to the
correction of Mr. Howard when he said that he had norightto
use the expression " indefinite." He could not, however, agree
with their American friend who said he believed that a great
many of the Western States nnd territories were now produc-
ing very nearly as many cattle and sheep as they were capable
of producing. (Hear, hear.) In various parts of the country
to which he went he found a large area which had not been
occupied at all, and he ascertained that there were a great
many river valleys which could supply a large additional
area for stock. In Montana, for instance, there was a very
great amouut of unoccupied land. There were, in fact,
vast trackless spaces on which there were at present
neither cattle nor sheep. Therefore he confidently stated
that cattle and sheep might be increased at a greater rate than
has beeu done hitherto, although that rate now reached a
million head of cattle and of sherp per annnm. Not only were
the American live stock increasing in numbers, they were also
undergoing rapid improvement in quality and condition. In
some of the Eastern Slates and in Kentucky were beasts as
good as any to be found in this country. He saw on the land
of Mr. Renick, a well-known Shorthorn breeder in Kentucky,
46 steers which were equal to any that he ever saw in the pos-
session of any one breeder of this country. They were great,
big, grand animals, and for these animals the price got was
only 4.j cents per lb. live weight. He quite agreed with their
American friend who spoke on that subject, that people in this
country were not likely to get Amercan beet landed at less
than 9 cents per lb. He supposed that he meant live weight ?
Mr. Burleigh : No ; I said 9d. dead weight.
Mr. Dun could only say that at New Jersey, Chicago, aud
other central points, cattle were bought in his presence at 4>
to 5 cents per lb. live weight. lu the stock yards of New
Jersey he saw one lot of 4-0 beasts sold at 5 cents, another lot
at 4> cents, the highest price paid being 5 cents for a small lot
bought by Mr. Gillett. He calculated that, supposing an
animal to be bought at 5d. per lb. dead weight — the price at
which any quantity of dead meat could be bought in New
York or Chicago — it would cost -£d. per lb. more to
bring it here, making the cost o^d. per lb. dead weight.
The importer expected to make something like ^d.
per lb. for his expenses, commission, and various
other charges, and if he got 6d^ per lb. he considered himself
paid very well. That he (Mr. Dun) considered to be the
present condition of the American dead meat, market. He
entirely concurred in what Mr. Allender had said about the
clean, careful scientific preparation of oleo-margerine, which in
New York had had a very great effect upon the prices of
butter. The prejudice which at first existed against it had to
a large extent disappeared ; it was used in America to an
immense extent, and an enormous quantity of it, both in the
condition of oleo- jiargerine and of oil, was being sent over to

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

ior>

this coun'fy to be manufactured into butter, which was cer-
tainly better than a great deal of ordinary home butter. In
the careiul systematic handling of these so-called waste
products there was in America an enormous saving. He
couldn't agree with what Mr. Duckhsra said in speaking of
the slovenly manner in which those products were prepared.
He was, ou the contrary, surprised to find on visiting some
of the factories what great care was used. Not only in
cleanliness but in the orderly sorting and making the best of
every portion of the animal — a desrable economy which
more generally practised in this country would benefit alike
farmers, butchers, and the community at large. He found
that the marrow in the bones whs taken out by itself and
cleansed with ice-cold water, aud he found that all the refuse
was removed to be made >nto manure.

Mr. J. Wood, in moving a vote of thanks to the chairman,
expressed his concurrence in the opinion of Mr Phipps, that it
was essential to the interest of British farmers that unjust
taxes and burdens upon them should be removed.

The motion, having been seconded, was adopted, and this
teriniuated the proceedings.

STOWMARKET AND CENTRAL SUFFOLK.

A meeting of this c'ub was held at Stowroarket, on Feb.
5th, the subject for discussion being "The Prevailing De-
pression," introduced by Mr. W. Manfield, Ixworth-Tliorpe.
The President of the club, Mr. R. J. Pettiward, occupied tin,
c(iair.

Mr. W. Mantield then read a paper on which the follow-
ing are extracts : —

Agricultural depression implies the ruin of many, the
reduction of expenditure by landlords, tenants, and labourers
consequent upon a reduction of rent, profits, and value of
labour, thereby seriously affecting trade. Where shall a
remedy be found for the prevailing depression P is a question J
often asked, and one that I have not yet heard satisfactorily
answered ; neither shall I presume to attempt it. The ques-
tion is so comprehensive, and the interests concerned are so
vast, that it will require a long time and much consideration
by many wise heads before a satisfactory solution can be
found. I think there are several causes — some pressing
directly and upon agriculture alone ; others, and the gravest,
affecting agriculture, trade, and commerce equally, but all
tending to produce one effect, viz., want of capital. I feel
persuaded that our bjst course is to do what we can to
enlighten the public generally as to our requirements ; and
with that objec. before me I propose that we should review
some of the alleged caases and some of the suggest- d remedies
of which we have heard so much, and without further pre'ace
I will begin with the less important and pass on to those of
gri ster moment. At the present time Imperial taxation does
not press heavily upon tenant-farmers, as it consists of Excise
licenses which are not of great amount, and Schedule B
Income-tax, which now amounts to 2|d. in the £, and which
very few farmers in this room need pay this year, if they will
only appeal and pr> duce their accounts to the Surveyor of
Taxes. I have heard it remarked that we must look to a re-
adjustment of local taxation for relief from our difficulties.
Let us briefly examine this question ; it has frequently been
said that this charge is increasing, but I do not think so, for
I remember the time, from 25 to 30 years ago, when in many
parishes the Poor-rate alone amounted to more than donble
all the rates at the present time. It comprises the Poor-rate,
which includes the cost of county government, police, lunatics,
sanitary authorities, and where School Boards exist, the
Education rate, &c, and also the Highway-rate. In those
parishes whose affairs are managed with prudence and economy,
these charges amount to about 2s. in the £, which is not
more than 10 per cent, of the rent, but eight times the amount
ol the tenant's Income-tax. As examples of good manage-
ment I will name the parishes of Bardwell and Ixworth ; in
the former parish, for the last three years, and in the latter,
for the last two )ear», the rates have not been quite 2s, in the
£ per year. While I am willing to admit that we may receive
some measure of relief under this head, I see no ground for
hope for a large reduction, except by subventions from the
Imperial Exchequer. I should like to see the Government
pursue the same course with regard to the |police as they have
already pursued with regard to the prisons. After referring

to the Highway question, Mr- Manfield proceeded : — Some
have suggested that there must be an alteration in our
personal habits, I regret to say there is an unwise expenditure
for unnece sary things among a few, but from my knowledge
of farmers as a class I should say their haliiis are not of an
expensive char; e'er, and that they and their households will
compare favourably «v ith any other class of the. community
for thrift and economy. And somewhat in connection with
this part of my subject, I find that several of our best farmers
are not bringing up their sons to farming, but are giving
them a liberal education which will fit them for the learned
professions, or the public service, which will give them a better
living and as good a position as they would have as farmers;
and remember a farmer can do this for his son at less cost than
would be required to put him into a larm of 100 acres, where be
would have to work very hard indeed, and get very little for
his work. I have noticed that the medical schools and Scotch
universities are nnusually fu I, and that the English univer-
sities have an increased number of undergraduates. This will
affect th^ landlords in the future by decreasing the number of
most eligible tenants. Some of our friends tell us we should
leave off growing wheat, and lay our land down with grass, or
grow fruit and vegetables. The latter course may answer near
railway stations, where the farmer has a knowledge of market
gardening, and is able to watch the markets for himself. I do
not think hap-hazard consignments of vegetables would bring-
much profit. I have had some experience in growing
potatoes ; I have tried them several times, but have ceased to
do so ; they are expensive to grow, and require a great deal
of labour at the busiest season of the year. 1 found my best
way was to sell them as soou as lifted, if I could get £3 10s.
per ton. It cost me more for cirriage to Loudon than it did
ray competitors in Belgium ; although the Great Eastern
Railway has lowered the freight and provided additional
accommodation for such produce, that still rpraains the case.
Our foreign competitors have auother great advantage over
ns in the abundant supply of female and juvenile labour, and
I find from personal observation that this is available in
Ieland and several countries on the Continent of Europe, and
I have reason to believe from illustrations I have seen in a
new edition of Steven's " Book of the Farm," that women
are employed iu farming pursuits in Scotland to a much
greater extent than with us. Rather than adopt the cultiva-
tion of vegetables, fruit, and flowers, except in exceptional
cases, I Bhould say the best ssstem of farming for us under
preseut circumstances is what is known as the four-course ;
it requires less capital than any other ; it reduces the labour
bill to a minimum. On heavy laud make long fallows, grow
but few roots, do not lay it down to grass, defer buying
artificial manure until better times. Upon mixed soil and
light land, instead of long fallows grow roots, and, I shou d
say, lay a great deal of poor light land down as sheep walks,
or rahbit warrens. The next point to which I invite your
attention is rent, and tithe rent-charge. That rent is iu some
cases too high there is no doubt, but I was very much struck
with the truth of a remark that fell from your President a
short time ago, that the tenants fixed the rents. I cannot say.
that I approve of begging for a reduction of rent or tithe ; it
destroys a tenant's independenee. I would rather take
the earliest opportunity of making a fresh bargain. At)
the same time a reduction of rent coming voluntarily from
a landlord would be very highly appreciated ; it would prove
his sympathy with his tenant, and tend to cement the good
feeling that should exist between them. I am glad to see
that many landlords have reduced theirr ents, and a few clergy-
men their tithe. With regard to tithe, I would not alter the
amount of commutation ; I look upon it as a solemn compact
between the clergyman and the landowner. Although it is a Ian '-■
lord's charge it is usually paid by the tenant, and in hiring a
farm the tenant asks the amount of commutation, which, until
the last few years, fairly represented the amount of tithe pay-
able ; but lately, from several causes, this has very much
increased. I think the time has come when the question cf
corn returns should be considered, aud corn averages, as
affeeting tithe, as it is beyond dispute that the averagis
upon which the tithe is paid are taken most unsatisfac-
torily ; they do not represent the value of the farmer's
produce. In those markets where returns are supposed to be
made, many buyers neglect to make them. Many returns of
re-sales are made, while most of the inferior corn is not
returned at all ; that bears a much larger proportion to the

103

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

whole thin formerly. Much corn is now sold by weight, and
the weight repre-ents a larger quantity than its supposed
equivalent measure under which it appears in the corn return*.
To my rniud tiie moit satisfactory ra-thod woull be to have
returns from certain farms made by the farmers themselves.
Again oats, which have neirly gone out of cultivation with us,
are too important a factor in the question. I think the
period over which the averages extend should be reduced from
seven to three years, and that we may fairly look for some
relief under this head, but from what oae reads and hears
sometimes, it m ght be supposed that we were living many
years ago in Persia or Media, and not in the year 18S0. The
next few questions of which I shall speak are important one*,
some o! then affecting ail farmers indirectly by destroying
confidence ; others directly and almost ruinously ; they prevent
the ttow of capital to the land, and are inju i..us alike to the
best interests of both landlord and tenant. First among them
is the Law of Distraint, which gives a landlord a preierential
claim for six years' rent, provided he puts in;-a distress before
the tenant has committed an act of bankruptcy. A very hard
case occurred recently in Kent, where a landlord seized (for
five years' reot due) the lambs of a third party, who had sent
them upon the farm to feed. This acts prejudicially to the
tenant, as it deprives him of the means of giving any security
to anyone who would lend him capital, and to the other
creditors who would have no idea of the extent of his indebt-
edness to the landlord. I should like to see th;s preferential
claim limited to ooe year's rent: this would not limit the
number of applicants for farms, as larmers would have some
less difficulty than now in obtaiiing capital, esp-cia-Liy if the
kindred Law of Bankruptcy is alterer". That law, as it now
ftands, enables a landlord to recover all his rent, and where a
farm is held under lease, actually to seize all that would
ordinarily pass under a valuation, and so make a very large
profit, out of his tenant's bankrup cy. This state of things
cenainly ought not to exist. Again, farming would make
more progress if ten-ints had greater security for their capital.
I have known instances where landlords have reaped consider-
able advantages from an outgoing tenant's unexhausted
improvements, for which the tenant obtained no compensation,
I should like to see the Agricultural Holdings Act so amended
as to give a tenant compensation for that which would really
add to the letting value of the farm, aud in case of buildings
to be allowed to remove them or to be paid for them. I know
many would object to ths, and on the ground of iuterrerence
with the freedom of contract, but that is interfered with in
many directions, and most of all in favour of landlords, and I
think they should he the last to object to extend to tenants a
measure of that which they so amply enjoy, viz., security for
capital. There are msny antiquated leases in existence, and
since the passing of the Agricultural Holdings Act I have
seen leases made which were positively unjust to the tenant,
the proper place for which is a museum, aud for which leases
or agreements more in harmony with the times should be
substituted. Another subject which I think demands alteration
is the Game Laws. A tenant may have his crops eaten up by
game, and yet have no remedy against his landlord. While
winged game does little or no damage, ground game does an
infinite amount of mischief. You are aware the presumption
of law with regard to game is in favour of the tenant, and
you are also aware that in nine cases out of ten he contracts
himself out it. This difficulty might be met bv assimilatine
our Game Laws with those in force in Scotland: where the
presumption is in favour of the landlord, who ia liable to pay
for the damage done by the game ; or the ground
game might be jointly the property of landlord and ten-
ant. To make it exclusively the property of the tenant would
be substituting one evil for another, as he might keep such a
quantity as would injure the landlord's trees, plantations, and
underwood to a great extent. As an illustration of the damage
done by ground game I will mention a case that came under
my notice in 1876. A tenant who had suffered much from
the ravages of game called in a valuer of eminence and ability
to assess the damage n;>on twenty acres ; the valuer
assessed the loss at £120. The agent wrote, stating,
" I could rot have believed it possible, had I not seen it, that
so much damage could have been done to corn on such good
land, and that I am sorry to say I cannot but fully agree with

Mr. 's assessment, viz., that the damage done to you both

in corn and straw fully amounts to £120." I saw the fields
alluded to ; I think the damage was under rather tluu uver-

| s'a'ed. I never heaid that the tenant received compensation.
N i one who has not had experience of the damage, done by
grojnd game would credit the mischief doue by it. I had
personal experience for several jears in succession of the
| damage, caused by too many rabbits; I suffered very much more
damage from them than all my rates amounted to. Some of
j yon may say these things do not concern us, but you cauuot
! tell how soon yout turn may com-, as the case I first stated
occurred upon an estate upon which a few years ago such a
state of tilings would have appeared impossible. farmers
would derive more benefit from an amendment of these laws
than from a revision o< local taxation, and any other class
besides farmers would soon tike steps which would bring about
an alteration. I am glad to see. that an organisation has been
set on foot to deal with this and other subjects adverse to
farmers' inteiests.anorganization winch will beinoreappreciated
as it becomes be ter understood ; I mean the Farmers' Alli-
ance j but I am sirry to fiud that they hive added to their
programme the abolition of the Law of Entail and Settlement.
Connected with this are many leg il questions of whicn I
know nothing ; but this I do know, that the tenants, labourers,
and general condition ot many entailed estates will not suffer
by comparison with those things upon estafes where there ia
no entail. I do not look upon this as a farmers' question at all,
neither do I think it of much importance to the general com-
munity. I should like to see the Siamp Duty upon convey-
ances abolished.. I now come to one ot the most important
causes of depression, and one that concerns us directly — the
cost of lab >ur. To the most casual observer it must be very
plain that the state of farms generally is much worse than in
187 1, whn labourers- became d.Bicult to deal with. In that
year commenced what had never be'ore occurred, viz., &
retrograde musement in farming. There has been uo real
sc rcily of labour,, but there has been an uncertainty ah ut
it ; when a farmer thinks it prohable his men will strike be-
fore a piece ot work is completed, it is most likely put olf
altogether. Many are suffering severely en that account-
Although rents and other expenses have increased, nothing
has increased in the same proportion as the cost of labour.
This would not be unsatisfactory if the labourer did his best
to earn his money, but unlortnna'ely this has not been the
case. In many instances for more piy we have had less work;.
The labourers' object has been to qo as Itttle worK as possible,
and the service has been unwilling. If a farmer is successful
it is imperative that he should have value for his money iu all
direction*. I am happy to say at the preseut time a better
feeling is existing, although wages are lower, and will be lower
still. I am not an advocate lor a nun earning a .ittle money ;
give lira piece-work, so that if he works well he ciu also
earn well. Some say farmers should work wiih their men. I
dissent from that view. 1 once knew a far ner who did so ;
he told his men he should be perfectly satisfied if they d:d as
much as he did ; he was advanced iu years. They told. him
that would be impossible, as he lived better than they (this was
doubtful). The result was the master worked as hard as he
could, the men did as ranch as he d d, but none of them did
more than three-quarters of a man's work. A master will
find plenty of work, and hard work too, without working with
his men. Labourers cannot too soon learn this — that it is not
a farmer's interest to pay low wages, for the labourers are
among his best customers ; that it is impossible for farmers to
suffer long without labourers suff.-ring too ;. aud that those who
sow strife between labourers and their employers have other
objects in view than the labourers' interests. Mr. Mansfield
then gave a number of statistics relating to American com-
petition. He concluded that the English farmer cannot com-
pete successfully with the American in growing wheat, aud ia
a few years the same will be the case with barley and meat.
America has for all practical purposes an illimitable extent of
virgin soil to work upon. The American farmer has very
little rent to pay and requires no manure ; labour costs him
less than the English farmer ; although the labourer is paid
more per day except in harvest, he works more hours and
harder than with u». For a great part of the year the. land is
locked in ice and no labour i< required upon it. The American
pays less for labour relatively than we do, in proportion to
the work done ; for instance, we get many kinds of machinery
and manufactures from America of as good quality and ot a
lower price than cm be produced at home ; for example-
locks, watches, and reaping machines, hardware and calicoes.
It Jias bceu said that au iiupott duty is a tax upou the

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINI

107

consumers, which it may be to a slight extent, but it is better
to bave plenty of money to purchase with than to have very
cheap goods with DO tiling to bay them. The American, by
securing hia " home trade," is enabled to compete with us ad-
vantageously in disponing of his surplus produce, in our own
or neutral markets. I should like to see a duty upon all foreign
produce, and to use the words of a committee appointed to
report upon the subject to the French Parliament, it should be
" a tariff high enough to preserve our weaker industries from
a too easy Hood of foreign wares, and yet low euough to allow
ot the sometimes requisite stimulus of foreign competition ;
low enough, too, to guarantee moderate prices to the consumer,
and at the saaie time to facilitate such an importation as
would enable the State, through the customs, to ohtain a
good revenue." And this might be brought about by imposing
an ad valorem duty of, say 10 per cent, upon all imports
except corn and meat. Upon corn I should like to see a toll
of say 5s. per quarter. With wheat under 50a. per quarter,
the loaf would still he cheap. The toll would be sufficient to
bring a large sum to the Exchequer. A du'y of Is. per qr.
upon the corn imported in 1878, reckoning 4 cwt. equal to 1
qr., would hava produced a revenue of £1,641,146. It would
not only do this, but it would increase the cultivation of wheat
at home, and would be, as Mr. Turner pointed out at Ixworth,
a kiud of insurance against such fluctuations in value as we
may expect, for it should be remembered in lSid corn was
mostly thrashed by flail, and we had sufficient in stock for
several months' consumption ; now, as soon as any com is fit,
the thrashing machine is at work, aud our new corn goes at
once into consumption, but from this time until harvest we
find but a small part of the food of the people. Upon meat
I should like to see a duty of 2s. Gd. per cwt., when it is
under 6d. per lb. A scarcity of food or a bad harvest in
America, a war with America or Russia, if she could com-
mission a few Alabamas, would send our corn and meat up to
famine prices ; a moderatf duty would not stop the importa-
tion of either, a-s our markets would still be the best for the
surplus produce of the world. 1 think some such plan as
this, which would benefit agriculture, would give such au im-
petus to trade that we should all have unexampled prosperity,
and we should uo longer suffer from that shortness ot capital
which now presses so heavily. One word as to the Royal Com-
mission. I am not very much impressed in its favour. At its
first rrjfeting an adjournment took phce for six months ; this
does not give the idea of much reality or earnestness about it ;
at the same time assist in every way, give all possible infor-
mation. Let us make the best use of the opportunity, and
let it not be our fault if no good comes of it. It is my con-
viction that some such plan as I have sketched out would be
for the interest of all clashes ; our home trade should be more
cared for than it has beeu of late years. 1 do not speak in
the interest of farming only, but in the interest of every in-
dustry in the country.

NOT THE PLEASURE OF HIS ACQUAINTANCE.
—Mark Twain gave ihe following anecdote ot Artemus Ward
in one of his receni lectures : — As Artemus was once travelling
in the cars, dreading to be bored, aud feeling miserable, a man
approached him, sat down, and said, ' Did you hear that last
thing of Horace Greeley's?" "Greeley, Greelev." said
Artemus Ward, '' Horace Greeley ? Who is he ? " The
man was quiet about five minutes, Very soon he said, " George
Francis Train is kicking up a good deal of a row in England ;
do you think they will put liim iu a bastile ? " " Train, Train ;
George Francis Train," said Artemus, solemnly ; '' I never
heard of him." This ignorance kept the man silent for fifteen
minutes ; then he said, " What do you think about General
Grant's chauce for the Presidency P Do you think they will
run him?" " Grant! Grant! Hang it, man," said
Artemus, "you appear to know more strangers than anyone I,
ever saw." The man was furious ; he walked up the car, but
at last came back and said, " You confounded ignoramus ! did
you ever hear of Adam ? " Artemus looked up and said
" What was his other name ?'

" Is that dog of yours a cross breed ? " asked a gentleman
rerently to a countryman, "No, sir," was the reply ; "his
mother was a gentle utftctionatecrttur."

Chambers of Jlgricultun.

C E N T R A L . "

A Council meeting of the Central Chamber was held on
February 2, at the Society of Arts, Colonel Brisc, M.P., iu
the chair.

At the commencement of the proceedings,
The Chairman said he would take that opportunity of
thanking theCounc 1, as he did most sincerely, for the honour
they had conferred upon him in electing him to preside this
year. He was fully aware of the great responsibilities of that
position, and fully sensible of the unworthy manner in which
he would perform its duties; but remembering what men
of high position and character had fi led that office to the
satisfaction of the Council, and with advantage to the country,
he. hoped to be able to follow in their footsteps, though it
might be at a respectful distance. He was extremely sorry
that his first official connection with that Chamber should
occur at a period of such unparalleled disaster to all who were
connected with agriculture. It had pleased Providence to
entail ruin and misery on thousands upon thousands of those
who had been employed in the cultivation of the land during
the last year. Many of those persons were men who, while
their means were moderate, had great energy, industry, and
ability, and it was such men — men whose prudeucs, fore-
thought, and energy had enabled them to save sufficient capital
to occupy land — who had most severely felt the great calami-
ties which had fallen upon agriculture (Hear, hear). For the
last few years there had pervaded this country an exaggerated
idea of the value of land, and in consequence of that heavy
rates and burdens had been imposed upon the soil which ought
never to have been placed upon it, and which it was not
qualified to bear. All these matters were now staring them
full iu the face, and it was their duty to take more vigorous
steps, and to make their voices more clearly and distinctly
hetrd than they had ever done heretofore (Hear, hear). He
would not occupy their time by going into the different reme-
dies which had been proposed, or would be proposed for their
consideration. He would only add that he trusted that with
their kind assistance he would be enabled to perform the
duties which might devolve upon him as chairman for the year
with credit to the Chamber and with advantage to the country
(cheers').

The Earl of Jersey, Lord Cariugton, and Mr. Chaplin, M. P.,
were elected members of the Chamber.

The Secretary (Captain Craigie) said he had to inform
the Council that since the last meeting one of the members of
the Council, Mr. James Howard, had resigned, and to add
that it was necessary that the vacauey should be filled up.

On the motion of Mr. Bell, seconded by Mr. St. John
Ackers, Sir George Jenkinson, M.P., was elected in the place
of Mr. Howard.

On the motion of Mr. T. Willson, seconded by Mr.
Startin, the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman, Mr. Read, M.P ,
and Mr. Phipps, M.P , were appointed a Committee to couler
with the Chamber of Commerce with reference to the estab-
lishment of a Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce, and
to take the necessary action in the matter.

Mr. Treadwell proposed that Lord Caringtoa should be
the \ ice-Chairaian for 1880, and the motion was tecouded by
Mr. ADKINS, and agreed to.

On the motion of Mr. Tba.se, seconded by Mr. T. Duck-
ham, Captain Craigie was re-elected Secretary ; and on the
motion of Mr. T. VVillson, seconded by Mr. Lipscomise, Mr.
Clay was reappointed Treasurer.

Mr. T. Bell gave notice that at a special general meeting
of the. Council to be held in March, alter the adjourned meet-
ing, lie would move that the Treasurer ana the Secretary
should be ex-qfficio members of every committee, observing
that his object was that all the committees should have the
benefit of their experience.

Mr. Bo wen Jones gave notice that at the same meeting
he should propose that the Parliamentary Committee to be re-
appointed that day should have extended powers, so that they
would be enabled to indicate what line of policy should be
followed on agricultural questions, not only by the local
Chambers, but also by members of Parliament, especially as
regarded Bills and notices of motion in Parlijuent.

Earl Foktescue, iu moving the reappointment of the

193

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Education Committee, said there never was a time when
« lucation was of more importance to the agriculturists of
England thau it was at Dresent, when they were struggling
with such difficulties and depression. His Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales, in an admirable letter, and which hid been
recently published, had called the attention of the Norfolk
C >unty School, in which he took such an enlightened interest,
to the value of the prizes issued by the Royal Agricultural
Society, and to the extreme desirability of lads competing for
them.

jMr. Caldecott seconded the motion> and it was agreed to.

On the motion of Mr. T. Be^l, the Parliamentary Com-
mittee was appoin'ed, the members to consist of Enrl For
tescue, the Marquis of Huntley, Mr. Read, M.P., Mr. Storer,
M.F., Mr. Phipps, M.P., and the Chairman and the Vice-
Chairman ex officio.

Mr. Duckhaji then gave notice that at the special general
meeting in March he would move that the Parliamentary
Committee should consist of " not less than five members,"
explaining that his object was to allow of an addition to the
present number.

On the first question set down in the agenda for considera-
tion, viz., '' Local Rating,"

Mr. Jabez Turner rose to move —

" That this Council renews its protest against the injustice
done to the owners and occupiers of land by the present
incidence of local taxation, and trusts that the attention of
Parliament will be immediately called to the question with a
view of securing comprehensi»e relief; and also declares that
the imposition of new rates for highways and national educa-
tion has materially increased the existing agricultural dis-
tress."

It was, he observed, an extremely difficult thing for any one
to say anything new on that question, but it was not at all
difficult to say what was absolutely true (cheers). That sub-
ject bad engaged the attention of the Council ever since the
formation of the Chambers ; many resolutions had been
parsed, and all agreed as to " the injustice doue to the owners
and occupiers of land by the present incidence of local taxa-
tion." All he could say would be the old, old story, that the
tillers of the soil had to pay for manv things the cost of which
formed part of the national obligations. As regarded " the
existing agricultural distress" mentioned at the end of the
resolution, no one knew the burden of that distress better than
he did, heloiiging as he did to the Midland counties. With a
succession of bad seasons, and of almost ruinous crops, with
cattle disease at the commencement of the period of distress,
and with sheep lot now imminent, with farms coming into
the hands of the landlords, and with tenants rumed xnd in
tome cases committing suicide, he might well say that agri-
cultural distress existed to an extent to which it had not been
known to exist during his experience of 30 years as a farmer,
and had scarcely been known within the memory of the oldest
farmer in this country (Hear, hear). The resolution stated,
in his opinion, an absolute truth in saying that the imposition
of new rates for highways and national edncation had ma-
terially increased agricultural distress. It was said that rating
did not affect the tenant larmer, because eventually the rites
would be paid by the landlord. But when were the retes paid
by the landlord? (Hear, hear). They were paid by him
as socn as his tenant was ruined and the farm was thrown
upon his own hands (Hear, hear). So much for the case of
the occupier. He said that the owner suffered equal injustice
with the tenant in the incidence of local taxation, that the
rates had been continually increasing, and that in spi'e of the
efforts of the Local Taxation Committee, who had stopped the
progress of something like 40 Bills in Parliament, which
would have enhanced the burden, the rates were uo^ as large,
or larger than they had ever been since the passing of the
New Poor Law (Hear, hear). He thought that the owners
of the soil were to be commiserated equally for the placing
o the soil of the accumulated burdens of ages instead of re-
quiring the general wealth of the country to contribute a fair
proportion. Agricultural distress being generally admitted,
there had been many panaceas suggested. Some gentlemau
had openly said that the remedy was to he found in hard work
snd low living among farmers ; others thought that rents
must be materially reduced ; while o'.hers, again, contended
that the Land Laws must be altered. He would not combat
those views; what he contended for was that the present iu-
cidence of local taxation was unjust, and a case of absolute

justice having, as he maintained, bfen established, he hoped
that his motion would be adopted, and tl a' it would have
some little effec, as being what he might c dl a united cry
from the agriculturists of England for an alteration of the
UDJust incidence of locsl taxation (cheers).

Mr. Lipscombe, in secouding the motion, protested against
receut attempts to divide landlords and tenants — attempts
which he said he felt sure were made for the purpose of
lowering the influence of the Chambers of Agriculture. He
hoped they wou d continue to uni'e for common objects.

Professor Bund said that the rates for main roads were now
spread all over the country. In the immediate neighbourhood
of Birmingham there was a dis'rict called Holbury, and the
rates paid for it per mile was the subject of discussion at the
last Worcestershire Quarter Sessions. That ratee amounted to
not less than £270 per mile. They were told that the High-
way Act had given them some relief ; but in this instance the
agricultural parishes were in fact paving half the cost of main-
taining the streets of Birmingham, and which had to be levied
over the whole county. How that could be any relief he failed
to see. The Local Taxation Committee had, he granted, done
much in staying the progress of objectionable bills in Parlia-
ment, but it could not be said they had done much in staying
their burdens. For, while new rates had been staved off, the
existing local bodies had gone on borrowing daily more and
more. They were, therefore, in this position : that the rates
were being pledged for additional sums of money, and thus ihe
ratepayer was getting deeper aud deeper in the mire. If they
continued at the rate they were now going, i' was clear that
the bankruptcy of the ratepayers could not be much longer
delayed. With regard to the education rate, his objection
was that a better education wis given at the expense of the
ratepayer than the latter could afford to give his children, and
he strongly condemned this system on the ground that it en-
couraged pauperism.

Mr. D. Long thought that, in confining the resolution to
the highway and the education rates, they would be simply
cutting off the tail o' the snake. The cost of maintaining the
poor, and the prevention of crime, and of lunscy were, equally
with highways and education, national obligations, and ought
therefore to be charged on every kind of property.

Mr. J. Stratton was certain that farmers did not object
to education, but he could not agree that they would be
materially helped in their present circumstances if they had
not to pay for it. He held, however, that the boy who had
lost two or tnree years of technical education would not be so
capable as if he bad received that technical education. A
literary education did not assist the farm labourers in their
farm work; but he did not grulge it to tl'em. He only
objected t > paying for it. The question was how they were to
obtain a remedy, and was it by m»aus of the Farmers'
Alliance ? Certainly not. It was flittering in its tones and
had seduced very many farmers, who liked the idea that they
ought to be in Parlitment; but the couutry must be shown
that that was a we«k and rotten dependence. One great
benefit that agricultural depression itself had produced was
that it had drawn lsndlord and tenant more closely together.
They we.re in the same boat, and i! that sank they would go
down together. 1', then, anything was to be done, it must be
at the next general election. Tney must return men to Pir-
liament whom th<-y could trust, tenant-farmers if necessary ;
but there were pleuty of men of position aud education coin
pitent to do the work required. For twelve years they had
toiled on this question of local taxation, and now it was for
them to indicate their course of aciou.

Mr. A. Startin agreed with Mr. Stratton that there had
been enough talk, aud that the time had come for indicating
thfir course of action.

Mr. FobdhaM argued in favour of a periodical revision of
taxation to suit the altered circles of the country.

Mr. Beacu, M P., referring to the Highway Act, said it
was a measure which to some extent fell in with the senti-
ments that had been expressed by the Council ; but there was
this great failiug in it, that it did not provide for a subvention
from the Imperial exchequer, or in the way of a license tax,
which would have assisted in paying the expense of the main
roads. The Act was like a watch, which was well constructed
but of which the main-spring was wanting. He was one of
those who were strongly in favour of deferring the Highway
Bill until some such grant could be made ; for, without that,
was impossible for a Highway Act to rectify the grievances

THE FARM KU'S MAGAZINE.

199

and anomalies which existc 1 under the present svs'em of loe il
taxation. Every effirt i-hould therefore be made to obtain
some prant from • iif Exchequer in aid of the cost of main
ro.ids, which at tins moment was a very heavy charge upon
the local ratepayers. As io ihe Education Ac;, ilicre «as no
doubt that it piisseil wi'ii great severity in many instances.
What would de the nltin ppear in the future, mid

he hoped it might be succe-slul. Upon the general quest ion
of local taxation, lie quire concurred in 'lie opinion thai every
erfurt ought to b.^ made to induce the Legislature to give then
relief.

Baron I'nf-IULE also approved of the resolution as pecu-
liarly appropriate at this critical junctu'C, and dwel upon the

necessity for a thorough revision a tax ition. Tn-y were

now on the eve of a general election, and they should press
the question upon the pttention ot those who were candidates
for scars in tb« new Parliament. It w.is a " golden oppo-
tunity " that they should not let slip ; ant it' their grievances
were laid b 'o e the Legislature in a proper manner, no doubt
means would be found to redress them.

Mr. Read, M.P., who was greeted with loud cheers, said
that, as one of the Business Committee, he wis triad that the
resolution h d received the general assent of the Chamber it did
not go hal' far enough, snd most likely they did not ; but it
was nei i.i '* i eel their way" in the first, instance The
resolntion might he divided into distinct parts — the first
r- erring to the more general subject of local taxation. The
relief shadowed forth by Sir. Startio, that was, whether they
ou?ht to receive some contribution from the national revenue
for the maintenance oi indoor paup. rs throughout the
kingdom, was undoubtedly a good suggestion, but it was
hardly rip* for discussion by 'he Chamber at that moment. As
to the oilier two special grievances indicated by the resolution,
they stood separate and distinct, because they were now
i nposts on the land that ought never to have been placed upon
it. With regard to the education rate, Mr. Forster, when he
introduced the Bill, .-tated that in no case would the rate
exceed threepence ; whilst Sir Massey Lopes proposed that it
should be a penny. Upon that proposal a divtson was taken
in the LLou.-e of Commons, but it was ignominiously defeated,
sud now, iu-tea i of being threepence, wherever there was a
School Board it. +as more likely to be double. As to the new
Highway Act, Mr. Beach ha i iold them that he was ppoed
to its passing unti1 a contribution had h en made tor the main-
tenance of main roads from the Imperial Exchequer. That
was certainly one very good reason ; but he (Air. Read) had
another and s'ill more valid objection to that unsatisfactory ,
Act. He contended that no such Act ought ever to have,
been imposed upon the ' ourts of Qiaiter Sessions; that its j
administration ought not to have b. en placed in the hands of >
such au irresponsible body, bur in those of a good County
Government Board. He believed that there was no Quarter
Session that did not heartily wish that it had n thing to do
with its ad uioiatration. Under the well-managed turnpike
system, thotse who used the roads paid for them, and no one
else was s«ked to contribute; hut now-a-da-,s the thing was
reversed ; those who never used "lie roads at all, or only some
oi them, were the chief contrii.utors to their maintenauce, and
the crushing 'evenly with which these turnpike rates tell upon
t e smaller parishes was absolutely alarming in his district.
He agreed nith previous speakers that the time had arrived
not only or talk but lor sc ion. A genera! elec ion was pend-
ing, frlear, hear.) It might, aud probably would come this
year, but it could not be postponed for more than 12 .nonths.
And during that iuterval he would say to the farmer?, " By all
me ins see who have ii»cn your UU" tnends in Parliament, and
return them again. Don't lorget that. (Cheers and laugh-
ter.) Send also better men, not only from the counties but
from the boroughs, to help us in the great cause of Local
Taxation reform." (Cheers.)

Lord FOBTESCTJK observed that a wise discretion had been
1 in singling out new rates that were new burdens, and
concurred with Mr. Head that a good roun'y government bill
ought to have preceded the Highway Act, and that the only j
satisfactory administrators of such a treasure would b» not a
ruminative, he would uot say irresponsible, body like Quarter |
Session*, but »u elective represent alive body. Moreover, hi t
could not look with favour upon a measure which extended j
over a wider area of property already Buffering troru heavj j
burdeus a charge that had been previously borne by the users

0' the roads. On the education question he was glad to rind
tli t the great majority ol tue Chamber preferred educated to
ignorant labourers, and recognised the importance of having
an educated population. Still, he thought that the Education
Act or 1870, which, in the main, he had supported, and he
amending Act of 1878, had b?eu much ov. r-praised. Both
these rue«uren contained gr^at defects. It was, he admitted,
impossible to secure reas.nable economy in the locil adminis-
tration of schools, uule-s the burden was, to a cer'uin extent,
made local iu its incidence, though the object was national.
But there ought to hive bean a limitation to the extent
of the burden, lor the School Boards had been far from beiiu as
economics! and reasonable as they ooghttoha
in town or country, in ihe. provinces or iu the Metropolis
(tlear, hear;. In truth, there had been a great deal of cul-
pable extravagance throughout ih» country, and he con Id not
altogether exonerate the Central Council of Education Irom
haviug been in too many ins'auces, through its inspectors,
accessory to much of that extrav igance. He also protested
against the rates and taxes of the country being appropriated
to education iu Latin, French, algebra, botany, pian>
playing, and a vaiiety ot otiier accomplishments, which,
though desirable in themselves, were not desirable in this
instance, except in rare eases ot extraordinary ability and
in'ustry.as rewards in the shape of scholarships, and uot in
the case of cnilJieu who have parents, nho are, as a rule; per-
I'ectly well able to pay t'ur their education themselves (Hear,
hear). On toe whole he tl ought there might be more economy
of administration with rqual efficiency, and mat a lurther sub-
vention night be rnaae by the Treasury. He would also
impose more upon the pareuls and less upon the taxpayers.

Mr. Stover, M P., denounced the Highway Act as no.
settling the whole ol the relations existing between conter-
minous and contiguous parishes.

Mr. T. Bell declined to regard education as a natioua
charge, and insist°d that jj won d b^ a hardship upon dis
tncts which had provided lor their own educational require-
ments to m;krt them contribute to the edncatiou ol other dis-
tricts iu which UO 8Uch pr..vLiou had been made. eVs to the
a ivantage or disadvantage of educating agricultural labourers,
he should be sorry if it weut forth Irom a representative body
of farmers that they were of opinion that education spoiled
the labourer. They might rely upon it that low-priced and
inefficient lahour was not cheap labour.

Mr. I)uckha.m having spoken in support of the resolution,
Mr. MARSbALL took obj 'Ction to the word "materially "
coutendiug that agricultural distress was universal and inten-e,
irrespective of the burden entailed by the Education aad.
Higliway Rates. If these two imposts had had the effect of
"materially" increasing the distress a fortiori their removal
would "materially" relieve the existing distress. But he
appealed to the Chamber whether they believed that that
would be the result. T.iat the iinpo-iliun ol these rates had
iu some parishes assisted iu increasing the distress was literally
true, but the statement in the resolution was not true.

Alter some reoiaiks from Mr. Maofield, Mr. Caldecott, Mr.
J. Stratton, Captain Fitzgerald, Mr. Stover, and Mr. Arkell,
an amend ueut was moved bv Mr. Long, but, not finding a
seconder, it was dropped. Eventually the word " materially "
was struck out of the resolution.

Mr. Birley (an American gentleman) was here introduced

to the Cli'mber, acd described the system of taxation previi]-

ing in the United S'ates. There the laws enacted that all rent

and personal estate should be taxed according to its relative

value. A poll tax was also imposed upon all rnsies about the

age of 21 years; the amount of the tax varying in different

StatPstrom one to three dols. a head; and the administration

of affairs «as conducted by local bodies pnpularh elected. He

added that every do Isr's worth of shipping and railway stock

was aiso taxed ; and why the farmer in this country should

bear tuch heavy burdens and shipping gu tre he could not

itand. Iu coming to this country what surprised him

next to its grandeur, and the wea.tii and enterprise of

...cis, was that they could submit to such a mode of

taxation as existed here.

Mr. Jabez Iurner explained that the remarks he had
made on the suiject ol education had been BOmewhat mis-
understood by subsequent opeakers. He had net intended to
object to education but to the quality of the education pro-
:nd for which the tenant-farmers Lad to ,,*> liicar,
hear).

200

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Tlie resolution, with the word " rniterially " omitted, wa
then agreed to -annnimously.

Notice was given by Mr. Cell that, at a sp cial general
meeting of the Chamber, he. should move as an amendment to
the rules that the treasurer and secretary be ex officio members
of all committees of the Chamber.

Mr. BoWEN Jones also save notice that heshould move to
invest the Parliamentary Committee with extended po.ve.8.
At present the ommittee had sirap'y to report to the Central
Chamber all notices of motion and bills that were iatroduced
into Parliament of interest to agriculturists. But it was
». eessary that they should be able to go further than that, and
K intimate, not only to local chambers, but to Members o'
Parliament, the line of policy which was being taken by the
Central Chamber on various agricultural question*, and
without actually making a "whip," endeavour to induce
him. members to co-operate with the Chamber in the same
diiection (Hear, hear).

THE ma.lt tax.

The consideration o* this long-standing question wa3 next
on the paper, and the propriety of debating it then in
consequence of the number of members who had quitted ihe
room, was the subject of a short conversation. It was suggested
that the opinion of the Chamber had already been emphatically
pronour.ced upon it, and the meeting was reminded by Mr.
Ph'pps, M.P , that on the 8th of April, 1870, oa the motion
pi Mr. Read, M.P., seconded by Mr. Surtin, the following
re-olutiou was carried unanimously : —

"That this Council is of opinion that the tax on malt is
contrary to every sound principle of taxation and ouch t to be
repealel, and that a tax on bier of a sufficiently large amount
lor the next possible loss of revenue might with advantage be
imposed."

It was finally determined to postpone the discission nntil
the. Council meeting in Much, when the proposed bill for the
Bimplification of local areas of administration will also be
considered.

THE MODERN M>>Q?.— Doe d amp afternoon the tde
came waddling out into the big room to borrow a little sanra
to lay his eggs in. " My friend," the elephmt s<id, "yoUje
is a very hard case." "Yes." the turtle replied, " hut whi -
there's life there's soup." The elephant was greatly astont
ished, for he didn't know the turtle was given to that sor,
o thing at all; and all the other animals grinned, because
you see, it wasn't often the elephant met anybody in the
nianagerie who cou'd talk to him. " Well," said he after a
pause, " it's a good thing your back is so broad." " Yes, it is,"
replied the turtle, " because there is no telling what may
comb of it." The animals cheered softly, and the elephant
looked amazed. " Well, old g^-as-you-plea e," he said presently
••you pay as yon go, don't jou?" 'Oh, yes," the turtle siid,
" I have to shell ont every once in a while. How's hides P"
he asked, cheerfullv. " Oh, they're easy," the. elephant said,
" a little loose maybe, but nothing to worry over. House-
moving business keeps up, I reckou ?'' " Yes, yes," the turtle
said, *' nothing rushing particularly, but I'm in aud out
all day. Nothing uuu-ual in shawl straps, is there?"
The animals cheered at, this delieite allusion to the trunk
business, and for the first time in his life the elephant looked
as though he were going to lose his temper, but he rallied, and
said— " Oh, no ; much the same as usual ; just a kind o1 hand-
to-mouth business. By the way, didn't 1 see your father's
old overcoat up in front of the re-taurant yesterday ? " "1
guess yon did," said the turtle ; " he wasu'l the kind of man
to die and make no sign, (ioing down into the billiard-rnom
pretty soon ? " The elephant said uo, they'd have to excuse
him ; but if they'd " wait till the hyena cime along, he'd have
some native whine wiih them." And theu the turtle baid,
' all right, he'd drop in about tusk." And the menagerie
weut to supper that night with the greatest enthusiasm. But
the elephant was very q iiet, and only spoke once, aud that
was to ask the ostrich where he supposed the turtle grew to be
so cute? And the foolish bird of the desert tossed an iron
bolt-head down his throat and replied — " Picked it up, I
reckon ? " And then, children, the elephant grinned, aud
said there seemed to be an epidemic in the menagerie, and he
leaned up against theceutre-pole aud went to bed. — lluwksjc.

THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE AT
NORWICH.

The following full report of the meeting held at Norwich
oa February 14 is from the Eastern Daily Fress j —

The. Citaif.:u.\>j in opening the proceedings, said that in an
agricultural assembly iike this tilt-re. must he, a feeling of deep
regret at the death of Sir William Bnttt'e, whose courtesy to
all during his long connection with the Western D vision had
gained him universal es'eem (Hear, hear). The programme
for this meeting' was that Mr, J. Howard and Mr. bachy
should address it as a deputation from the Alliance, but Mr.
Howard, having caught a cold in the hunting fi»ld, wss unable
to speak, so that his place would be taken by Mr. Youugman.
He esteemed it a great honour to be asked to preside over such
a meeting as this. Had he kno«n what a large and influential
attendance there would be, he should have doubted we'her he
could have fulfilled the duties assigned to him. But he
imagined that all present had one common interest, that of
agriculture (ch°er«). When he was asked to preside, he had
an idea that some of the points included in the programme of
the Farmers' AUhnce would interfere in some manner with
freedom of contract between landlord and tenant, wh'eh was
the basis of agricultural as well as co nmercial prosperity. As
the interest of the farmer was the interest of the iaud'orJ, the
prosperity of the tenant must be the first step to the pr sperity
of the landlord (Hear, hear). In tha* largv assembly no
two half-dozen would entirely agree on all questions ; they had
each their independent opiuions and individual thought*; but
whatever those opinions and thjughts might be, they could
discuss the subject which hid brought them together, the
inerests of agriculture. First of all, they could testify that
they did not meet in very favourable times. If any measures
could be introduced to improve the interests of tenant-farmers,
the interests of all connected with the land would at the same
time be improved (dear, h. ar). The first point in the pro-
gramme of the Farmers' Alliance was * To secure the better
representation of tenant-farmers in Parliament" (Hear, hear).
All counties were uot so highly favoured as Norfolk (Hear,
hear). They had uot followed the example of Norfolk in re-
turning a tenant- arnter to Parliament. Those who differed
tron Mr. Read on many points, agreed with him in the
advocacv of measures that most closely concerned the interests
of the farmer ; and there was not one, whether he differed or
agreed with him, but felt grateful to him for the pains he had
taken to represent the views of his constituents (Hear, hear).
With such au example before, them, the farmers were quite
right in endeavouiing to be represented by men similar to Mr,
Read. But whether they selected a tenant-farmer or not, the
time was uot far distant when candidates would appear he'ori
theji from whom they must selee' ; and it would be the fault
of farmers themselves if they voted for men who would not
represent their interests (Hear, hear). The srond point in
the programme was "To stimulate the improved cultivation
ot the land, especially by obtaining security for the capital of
tenants invested in the improvement of their holdings" (Hear,
hear). That was a point on which he could not give au
opinion. But he did not believe that was such an easy matter
for legislation as would at first sight appear, as it was a point
that had reference to freedon of contract between land-
lord and tenant. Still, it was worthy of the considera-
tion of all agriculturists, for the more it was examined,
on-idered, and sif'ed, the more likelihood was thereof a right
decision being arrived at ; and therelore, he did not think many
would object to its being included in the. programme (Hear,
hear). The third point was •* To promote the reform of the
law relating to the ownership and transfer of land" (Hear,
hear). No doubt laws as old as those relating to land were
open to very great improvement. The fourth point was "To
encourage, greater freedom in the cultivation of the soil and
the disposal of its produce" (cheers). Tne la'ter step had
been taken to a great exteuf b Lord Leicester, who was gene-
rally in advance of his fe'low-agricjhurists, by granting liberal
leases. Anything that would tend to the ready con-
version of the produce of the soil, ought to be cou-
c ded and supported bv the landlord (Heir, hear). The
fi th point was " To obtain the abolition of class privileges
involved in the Laws of Distress and Hypothec" (Hear. hear).
Ou the law of distress he might go Further than many, tor meu

THE FARMER'.- MAGAZINE.

201.

generally saw what most concerned their own iuterests. Hi
failed to see why any creditor ol a farm r, whose affairs were
alnmi to be wouud up, should not stand on equal terras witk
the landlorJ, who, however, had no* the priority (dear, hear).
The law of distress, it seemed to hiin, simply euabl-d
the landlord to put a tenant into his farm at a higher
rent, perhaps, than he ought to fix (dear, hear).
Such a tenant might not be >u responsible a one as a teuaut
who would give a lower rent and would not leave the farm in
such a good condition (Hear, hear). But there was some-
thing to be said on this question from a commercial point of
view. He. knew an instance where a farmer on the borders of
Suffolk happened to be insolvent, in which case the landlord
claimed not ouly the rent in arrear but the difference between
what the farm would then let at and the price fixed in the
lease. As the lease had five or six years to r.n, if the rent
there fixed was £100 a year more than the landlord could turn
let tl e farm, he therefore cia'ined £50) as the deficiency the
outgoing tenant would have to pay. This precedence given to
the landlord was not fair to the rest of the community. All
creditors should have au equal dividend outol an estate which
was insolvent, (cheers). The sxth point was "To promote the
reform of the game laws" (cheers). If it was true, as he had
seen it stated, that 10,000 of their fellow-countrymen were
annually committed to gaol on account of the. game liws, then
some reform was necessary (H^ar, hear). Tne seventh p tint
was "To obtain the alteration of all legal presumptions which
operate uufairly against tenanl-farroerR." But he should pass
that over, because he dd not believe a single landlord in
Norfolk would wish tha' anything shoud press unfairly against
the tenant-farmer. The eighth point whs " l'o secure to

explanation was necessary as to why he, a tenant-farmer in
Scotland, ard a representative of Scottish farm rs, should
addres them upon the u''joct of the Alliance, it was to be
found in the fact that the aspects of the questions c lie Alliance
proposed to deal with were much the same in Norfolk as in
Forfarshire, and that their only hope of suetteeding in
accomplishing the objects they had in view was hetrty co-
operation and energetic action a, uon^ farmers in the sjui hern
as well as in the northern part of the kingdom (EUar,
hear). Wo one denied that the agriculture ol this couutry was
at the present time in a very critical position. Eveu before
the late disastrous season the sublet was cogently pressing
i sell on the attention of the country ; and the House of
Co unions appointed a Royal Commission to inquire iuto what
migh' h°. tne causes of ihe present dep.ession in agriculture
— whether they were likely to be. permanent and how far they
might be remedied by legislative enactment.. That Commis-
sion was proceeding with its work with very considerable
deliberation. No doubt they would acquire a very great deal
of valuable information about farming, not only in this
country, but on the other side of llw Atiautic ; but it seemed
to him that if the Commission did not report very speedi y,
both the farmers' patience and rn mey would be exhausted beiortj
any relief would be forthcoming (dar, hear, and laughier),
T.iey hud little reasou to expect any report from the Commis-
sion before ano'her harvest, very possibly not before the
general election; bat the farmers in his part of the country
felt that something must be done, soon (Hear, heir). Now there
was no doubt that a very large a Jiounr of the present t'e iression
in agriculture was due to the several consecutive bad siasons
wlh which they had been affl c ed (dear, hear). Bat eveu

ratepayers their legitimate share in county government." j before tie bad seasons came up on tlieni, the position of the

Though not for Home Rule in the sister isle, he was for home
ru e in the sense exposed in that declaration, for those who
were residents and ratcpajers in the county ought to have a
voice in the expenditure ol the local rates (dear, hear). The
last point in the programme wr.s " To obtain a far apportion-
ln nt of local burdens between landlord and tenant." During
the last few years School Boards and sanitary rates had been
inipost-d, which pressed uuauly on the farmer. He knaw an
iustance, jn*t beyond the boundaries of Norwich, where the
School Boa id rnte had increai d 'lie rental of a not very large
farmer by £.j0 or £00 a year. The highway rate had also
caused an equal increase, b"cnu<e his farm adjoined two roads
oier which traffic passed to Norwich from a dis'ance of twenty
miles (Hear, hear). Such, ihen, was the programme of the
Farmers' Alliauc, from which it would appear that it was
not quite so dread ul a bugbear as it was at first supposed. A
geaileman who was now vary much in favor of the Alliance,
said when he first heard of it that he did not much like it be-
cause it hud too much of the trades' union character about it,
and that as he did not like the labourers forming any union
against farmers, he did not wish to see any union formed by
farmers against landlords. But that feeling had subsided.
Oihers hau said that the Alliance was too Radical au affair.
Well, if it was Rndical in the sense of striking at the roots of
abuses, so much the better — (Hear, hear)— but if it was
Rad:c-il in a party sense he should h ve no faith iu its pro-
gre-s or success (deer, hear). Then it was also said that tiie
Alliance was to catch the farmer's votes at the next election
— he did not know for which party — (hear, hear) — but every-
body who knew him would give him credit for this — 'hat he
would not occupy the chair if the fact which had been so pub-
ficlj assert' d could be borne out — that the Alliance would be
used by either pa-ty for their own special purposes (Hear,
hear). As a Norwich as well as a Norfolk man, he warned
them not to let parly spirit aud feeling work the same kind of
mi-chief in the county as it had wrought in the city (Hear,
hear). He trusted that courtesy and good temper would pre-
vail in the d <cmsiou whic'i would follow. He did not believe
iu legislation doing so much as many peop e expected for the
larmer, for he b lieved much in individual etfjrt ; bat he
thought that many men had taken farms beyond their means,
and if once a man borrowed capital he farmed at a disadvan-
tage (dear, hrar).

Mr. J. W. Barclay, M.P. for Forfarshire, regretted that
Mr. Ilosvard was unable to explain the onj ct and principles
of the Alliance, because from his large esperieccs in farming
and i lie interest he took in English agricnl'tre, he was ful J
entitled to the confidence he tujjyed ao.ong farmers. If auj

farmer was becoming v.-ry critical (dear, hear) The farmer
of this country w«s being .qaeez d, as it were, between the
upper and the nether millstone — on the one hand, there was *
continuous rise iu the >rents, lab' vir, rates, and, in short, every
article wnich entered iuto the cost of production ;. while on
the other hand there was do corre-pondrng advance in the
price of farm produce (dear, hear). It was, therefore, his
opnion then, as it was uuw, that the system under which the
farmer of this country had to carry ou his business was
unsound. The bad seasons of the la-.t two or three
years had simply accelerated the crisis (dear, hear)..
Bat during the last four years a new set of
circumstances had arisen. Competition by the foreigner
for the supply ol agricultural produce had very much developed,
new countries had been opened up by railways, facilities ot'
transit had been developed, and the. cost of transport was very
ranch decreased. From the < xtreme eas' and from the extreme
west were comiug in supplier of all kinds of agrcultnral produce.
Only the other day a ue« trade was commenced in the importa-
tion of fresh meat iroui the far distant colonics of Australia.
In these changed circumstances, what was the 'armer to do in
order to meet this fierce competition with which he had to
contend? Mr. Read had lately been in America and seen
some ot the grounds of the far West, and he regretted that
official reserve sealed his- lips in regard to the opinions and
conclusions he had foraied upon the agriculture of that great
couutry. L Mr. Read 1 ad any hope to communicate to tin m
ihe sooner he gave it them for their encouiagement th?
better (dear, hear). But lie (Mr. Barclav) last year visited
America, and travelled over a copsiderash e portion of the
grouud which had been visited by Mr. R*ad and Mr PeiL
Tms was the third time he had visit, d America and the Western
States. Without going into derail, but speaking generally,
h s conclusions were that the farmer in the Western States of
America could produce wheat, which railways and steamships
would transport and deliver at Liverpool at 35s. per quarter,
wi ii a profit to all the parties craeerned, iucluJing 10 per
cent, on the capitil of the farmer employed, aud estimating1
the whole of the labour at the contract price at which it could
be obtained in America. The couclasiou he had come, to as to
American beef was that it could be delivered at Liverpool at
5^1. or 6d. per lb. by the c irease (dear, hear). Some gentle-
men were of opinion that this state of things could not
continue. dj hid no desire to be a prophet, particularly a
prophet of evil, but it seemed to him very evident tha , at least
for b ime years to come, if America had ordinary se&ons, she
would send us increaing quantities of all kinds of agr cultural
produc, and, he would almost say, whatever migi t be the
prices in this country. If this was the aspect of the t dime — ha:

202

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

hoped Mr. Read urght be able to give a more sanguine view
—and if Parliament had declared itself unable, to discover any
cause for the depression or to devise any remedy, then it wss
tmie for the tenant-farmers to gird themselves up 'o consider
v hethor they did not know some of the causes, and whether
they weie not able to suggest remedies (Hear, hear). That
generally speak iug, might be described as the position wh ch
the Farmers' Alliance had taken up. No doubt it would be.
asked "What remedies do you suggest? " lu the first place,
he thought there roust be a very considerable reduction in
rents (Hear, hear). In the second place the farmers must be
•Emulated to put a large' amount of capital into tl,e soil by
having the securi y of compensation for such improvements
as they made upon their farms (Hear, hear). No doubt he
should be told that the que'ti-n of rent was one with which
the law could not interfere— that it was a question entirely
between the landlord and the tenant (Hear, hear). He agreed
in that statement. But the Farmers' AUi mce said that tr-e
law did interfere at presen% because the law of distress gave
the landlord a great advantage in dealing with his tenants
and enabl- d him to exact from them a much larger rent and
more onerous conditions than he otherwise could (H?a',
hear). The chairman had looked at the law of distraint
from a mercantile point of view; he should consider
it as it affected 'he farmer. Perhaps its effect on
the interest of the tenant-farmer was not so obvious or
direct as was its effect on the tenants' creditors in case
of insolvency. But what was the position of the landlord
and o> the tenant under the law of distraint? In the first
place, the land of the country was a liroifed quantity. There
na, only a limited numher of farm* in the market to be com-
peted for by farmers. On the other hand, if agriculture was
prosperous, as it was to the advantage of all classes of the
community that it should be, the number of farmers would
increase, and consequently the number of competitors for
farms would become more numerous U-ider these circura.
stances the competition 'or farms would be kept up to a maxi-
mum, and the profits of fanning r( a minimum. But, as if
the natural conditions were not sufficiently favourable, the law
of distraint by securing the land'ord in the full payment of
his rent, whatever might become of the other creditors,
increased the number of competitors, and in proportion to the
number of competitors might be said to be the increase of the
rent (Hear, hear). But there were urfher objections to com-
petitors with inadequate capital. The man with insufficient
means could not do justice to the land— (Hear, hear)— and
Vside*, to induce a landlord to accept him as a tenant, he ha.'
not only to offer a larger rent, but had very possibly to accept
more onerous conditions in regard to gaan, cultivation, and
covenants, than 3 man of independent means would submit to
1 Hear, hear). Some thought it would be sufficient to limit
the landlord's distraint to one year's rent. That would, he
x.lmitted be, a very considerable aH"ant»ge to the fanners' credi-
tors ; hut it would result to the disadvantage of the firmer him-
eelf. ' If the landlord were secure of one year's reut he would
still have the same inducement of security of payment — at least
tho-e landlords would who were greedy or needy— (langhter)

who desired to have the highest possible rents from the

farre8_of accepting the highest offer for a far n, while he or
his agent would take very good care that the tenant
not get more than one ve»r in arrear with his rent (Hear,
hear, and laughter). On t.'ne*e grounds the Alliance thought
that' the law of distraint should he entirely abolished,
and that the landlords Bhonld stand in precisely the same
position as the o'her creditors (H-;ar, lte«r). The next
question, compensation for unexhausted improvements, .
new one. The oppression of the present sys»e n had been
btrongly felt in Sco'laud for many }ear«,«ud the opinion of the
lenant-farniers of England was so strong on the suhjw
the present Parliament found it necessary to pass the Agricul-
tural Holdings Act, which declared, if it meant anything at
all, that the farmer ought to be compensated for his improve-
ments effected by him upon his farm (Hear, he.). Il the
-competiiion to which he had referred was to be met by he
farmers of this country, he was satisfied it c mid only be by
inv sting a larger amount of capital in the soil, ondei the
assurance that for such capital and for such improvements as
they made upon their holdings they shonld receive full com-
pensation when they left the farm — (cheers)— which compen-
sation should be based upon the increased letting value of the
holding due to the improvements (Hear, hear). Tne difficulty

of the farmer was not like that of the manufacturer, who bad
been producing too much. Tne farmer deplored thai he could
not produce enough and at a sufficiently cheap price. In order to
produce mo-e abundantly and more cheaply the farmer must
put a largely increased capital into the soil, and he would not,
uld not, be expected to do that unless he was fully assured
thac the mouey so invested would be his (Hear. h-ar). He
q ;i!e admitted the difficulty of arranging the compensa-
tion ; but would any one assert that the Agricul-
tural Hoi lings Act was a fair, he had almost said,
honest attempt to give competition (Hear, hear). He
was convinced that unless the farmers were able to produce
more, and to produce c eaply, they would be unable to >oeet
(be competition of the foreigner who produced on more
advantageous terms. If it was found impracticable to grant
comp-nsation, wi'h justice to both parries, then why should
not another system 03 tried of dealing with the letting of
land ? Why should not the farmer have whit was known as
security of possession ? Why should not the fanner and the
landlord in future arraniemeuts as to farms conclude the
bargain upon the basis that so long as the tenant paid rent
and fulfilled the concisions of his iease, so long should he have
possession of the farm ? (Cheers).

Mr. Read — " Hear, hear."

Mr. Barclay was glad to hear Mr. Read cheer tint *uggest ion
(lie ir, hear) It seemed to him that if this plau had been
ad .pted ten or fifteen years ago, it the land'ords had granted
compensation to the tenants for improvements upon their farms,
or given them securi v o' possesion, many landlords would now
have been in a much better position than they were (Hea-,
hear). Instead of having to reduce rents or to take their (arms
into their own hands, thpy would have had their rent-; ptid
with a regularity approaching to that of the pay neat of
dividends upon Consols. If the rents had not risen to such a
high pitch, as they did at oue time, the land'ords' incoue would
have been far more steady an I sire, he believed, iu toe end
lar.er than it was under the present s' stem (H^ar, heir).
Another question in the programme of the 4.1 lance whs tile
reform of the game laws (applms?). The Chairman had
spoken justly of them 'u contributing to the demoralisation
of ihe people. So far as farmers were direef!\ concerned he
believed it would be a most satisfactory arran^e-nenr, tor the
tenant io have the indefeasible right, by his own hands, or by
those whom heauthorised to do so, to pro ect hi* crops from the
ground game (applause). Another question which much occupied
the ittent'on of farmers at Agricultural Clubs and Chambers
of Agricu ture was that of local taxation. Our taxation was
altogether a grea' deal too high (Hear, hea-)- Bat he did
not see that by transferring the burden from a local to an
i nperial charge the fanners wui'd be much relieved. It
had been stated by one great advocate of local taxation re orm,
that the G ivernment hid already expended two millions per
annum in relief ot local taxation. He should be glad to hear
how many farmers had felt themselves relieved of the burdea
of local • taxation in consequence (Hear, hear). If there
was to be a remission ot local taxauou in the country, there
must also be a remission of local taxation in the towns (LI ir,
hear). Then it simply came to this, that the mouey now pud
in local taxation would in futurehave, to be paid into the imperial
exchequer, wheh would be for the most part taking money
out of one pocket instead of the other, with a loss of 10 or 15
p -r cent, upon the exchange (Hear, hear). It was stated hy
local taxation reformers t >at it wis not o' very much conse-
quence to farmers what the local taxes were, because they had
to be. paid by the landlord in the end. All he had to say was
that he wished the landlord would pay thsm at the beginning
(Hear, hear, and laughter). It would effect a great saving
in the cist ol co lection ( Hear, hear). Hut when the educa-
tion rate was tmpo-ed upon the tenant, did he get any relic
from h;s landlord ? was 'here any reduction of reut? (Hear,f
hear). They were not so bad in Scotland. There the. educa-
tion rite was payable, one-h*.lf by the landlord and one-hall by
the tenant. Could there he a more conclusive proof that
the interests of 'he English tamer were uot attended to or
caret for in Parliament, when in pr.ssing the Education Act
the whole of the burden wis pi iced upon the tenauts, whilethe
landlords did not hear their share ? (Hear, hear). In
Scotland they looked for local relief from taxes to representative
government. H» wis strongly of opinion that if the taxes
were expended and administered by the representatives of those

THE l'AR.M ER o MAI i AZ i X E.

20.3

who had to pay them, there would be a great reductiou iu ike
amount of taxation (11 ear, hear). With regard to local
represMiiive go vera meat, it was surelv humiliating to
the farmers that although the people iu the towns ob-
taiued local representative government fifty yearn ago, m
broad attempt lud been made to coaler it upon them. Surelv
the farmers were an able, as intelligent, and a> capable of
governing themselves as the people of the towns were fifty years
ago! (Hear, hear). The head in the programme of the Alli-
ance which demanded the bet'er representation of t<
fanners in Parliament, he regard d as the key of the whole
position (Hear, hear). The farmers of Norfolk had done
themselves the credit ot retu'ning Mr. Head ; and though M>.
Head himself might n it haw been able to effect very much as
\et, (.til, it was the fact that farmers' questions liad recently
rec> wed a larger amount of attention Ton Parliament than they
did formerly. But there *as not enough of tenant-farmer re-
presen'a'ives. One of the great objects of the Farmers' Alliance
Whs to tnviie the attention of farmers lo the fact that they, like
every other class in the community, should be. represented in
some nearer proportion to their influence, number*, and iiu-
p nance to the country than ihey were at the present time
(Hear). He was noi at all for class representation ; but when
there were 30U landlords in Parliament aa against two or three
tenant-farmers, it must h- seen that the proportions were
entirely unfair. According to his experience and observation,
the tenan 'farmers had very little hope of getting anv redress
o' grievances so long as the present proportion* continued.
If they could not get a tenani fanner to represent them —
and, un'ortuna'elv, in these liad times very few far mem were
able to undertake the responsibility auJ expense — he strongly
recommended them to seiec' so ueone unco'iiieuied with laud.
It was not at a'l reasonable to espect th <t lanulords would no
into Parliament and ad "ocat • relorms whicn the great majority
of them considered hostile to their interests (Hear, hear).
Tney were entitled to expect that men occupying a neutral
position, neither landlords nor farmers, would weigh the merits
of thesubjic", more fairy as between the parties. They heard
v ry frequently that the inter s's of landlord and tenant were
identical. He agreed with that in a eerraiu sense (Hear). But
if that were so, he was force. I to i he co> clnsiou tliat the land-
lords did not know what were the r real iuteres's (Hear, hear).
Taking i loner-sighted view of th; qaestion, he thought it was
n t for the iuttnst of the landlord to ask an unduly high rent
for his f .r u. But it «as quite understood b-tween the land-
h>r I or the landlord's age. t, and the farmer, that each one
had to look out for his own interest ; and while the farmer
thought it was to his interest to get the firm as cheaply as he
c ud, the landlord thoughr it- to his interest 10 get as high a
rent as possible for it (Hear, hear). No doubt every farmer
who had considered the question was fully persuaded that it
would be greatly to the advantage of the landlords if farmers
were alio-. el compensation for the improvement of their
farms, but how many landlords granted sue,h compensation ?
If their interests were identical, it surely was the interest
of the landlord to erant compensation and to encourage the
farmer (Hut r, hear). Although he thought that in the long
run the interests of landlords and tenants were identical,
i a as essential that the tenant should have his views fully
rr-^rrseuied and considered, that the landlord might be
instructed as to Ins real interest. In conclusion, l.e
said that having seen a considerable porlion of the farming
world, both, east and we-t, he did not think the British farmer
had to go i,u side his owu country to learn his business. In
nc part of the world had farming been carried on wit li greater
ability — iu no country were the crops larger or the animals
better than in the British Isles ; and if the British farmer got
the same freedom to d. al with the materials vth.ch he had to
nnuufac'ure into articles of consumption — if he had security
(or his capital the same as the manufacturer had in his busi-
ness— be would, notwiths'andiug all the competition hold his
own against the world (loud cheers).

Mr. d. YuU.ng.mv>", ol Wickham Marke', Suffolk, said he
wuuld take as tiie key-note of his address a sentence or two
from aa article which appeared recently in the Times. As a

community iu general will be. inclined to welcome it, a, *
pr iot that farmers, under the sharp stimulus of adversity, are
• baking off some of their traditional reserve, and learning to
think and aet, not as isolated individuals, but as members ol a
society in wnieh everything must be accomplished by co-
operation " (Hear, hear). ''The farmer, especially in
E ig'and," the article continued, " has hitherto been too prone
to sh..n d.scussion, ami to recoil from interchange of ideas
even with men of his own cl:i*s" (ilea.-, hear). The
speaker then remarked thai he dared not atten pt to go through
the programme of tiie Farmers' Alliance, but there was oue
point he wislnd to touch upon — the urgent need ot a better
representation in Parliament (cneers). They were very
thank ul that thej had one member fcr all England; but
they wanted a hundred more (cheers). Whether it was
possible to bet them iu tiie-e hard times, it was for the tenant-
farmers 10 decide ; and if they could oniy break through the
superstition which seemed to have enveloped them in the
past — that mo aey ins e d of votes would make members of
Parliament — they would have them (cheers). Though they
were not content with what Parliament had done for them,
they were thankful to some extent for what ihey had got. it
was a pleasant thing to read in the Queen's Speech at tho
opening o' Parliament that one point iu tiie programme of the
Fanners' Alliance had beeu adopted by her Majesty — and so
far she had joined the Alliance (Hear, hear). "Reform of
the laud laws, and a better ru ans of transfer 01 laud," said her
M ij sty. He was glad 01 it. True, it was a boon to Ian J-
lorus, hut they did not grud-e it to them. They hoped the
turu of the tenauts would come next (cheers). It wuld not
come till the next Parliament, hoaever, mark that! It was
too late tor this. The tenant-' turn would come next, but it
ought to have come side by side with the landlords', if not a
little before (cheers). And so it would had they been fairly
represented in Parliimeat (cheer-). Again and again they
must have seen that when 'armers' questions had been before
Pirifcment they Ind not been handled as they ought to have
been (Hear, 1, ear). He remin fed them of the time when
M. ssrs. Howard and Re:-d were trying to pass a Bill which
fairly met the. n.eds of the tenant-farmers — tenant-right — he
lik»d that old phrase (cheers). But they were not
sufficiently backed up by members who studied the farmers'
imer-st^ though they professed to represtnt them in Parlia-
ment, and therefore ihey failed, to their sorrow. In-.tt-ad
thereof they ha.i got fiom this Parliament an Agricultural
Holdings Act — a Peruii-sive Bill, with the veto power in tiie
wrong hand (laughter). How Sir Wilfrid Lawson mu-t
have laughed when lie saw the collective wisdom of the
country giving the veto to the publicans instead otto the
public (more laughter). Then, where it was adopted and
put in force, sec what it was! The permissive virus ran
through it. The tenant must give notice in writing and must
have the permission of his landlord beforehind for some of
the most esseutial opera'ious of agriculture — drainage to v.i\
Tin's made the Act worth nothing even where it was adopted
(Hear, hear). Tiey must have t nant-right — not wrong— not
wrung to any man. Wi'h tenant right land would be worth
having iu his country even yet; and it would be for the
advantage of the landlords to find out that secret (cheer.-).
VI ith tenant-right the farmer would dare to do what now lie
dared not do — cultivate his farm to the utmost, iuv»st his
capital to the ntmost, aud employ skill, intelligence, and
science to the, utmost in "gricuhure. All this might be done
and would be done with a tatr and honest tenant-right.
(cheers). Who, of a thousand tarmers present, had not seen,
again and again, men CJinpelled to sacrifice their in-
terests in the farms they occupied and made to suffer
severely because they had bem good farmers ? (H-ar, hear).
No wonder that agriculture was at a low cub in this coantry.
Give them freedom, fair play, a. .1 no favour, and then there
need be no fear for the future of English agriculture (cheers).
Even no* English farmers dared boast ol bem lit derived
from Am rican importation — for during the last eighteen
mouths the. abundance of feeding stuff had enabled them to

manulacture meat to a profit (Hear, mar). G.ve them but
tenant-farmer he claimed- for the Farmers' Alliance a fair anil 1 fair play, aud there were a hundred things that might be
impartial hearing from ail classes of the community and from j turned to use which had never yet, perhaps, bfeu thought oi
all parties in the Sate (Hear, hea>-). The article in the [ or discovered. But there was one thing they wanted'murfe
Times begin by giving a lair description of the Farmers' I than any other — to have tenant-farmers better represented iu
Ailianc', aud then went on to sayr " Landlords have no Parliament (cheer-) He confess, d he had hope from one
reason to dread a movement so organised aud directed, aud tha ' fact. " Sweet are me uses of adversity." it setau.il to hiat

204

THE PARMER'S MAGAZINE.

that the general election, which was coming, would be the
cheapest and purest, and most honest election ever known —
because i here was not the money to Tool away, as had been the
case in the past (cheers). There was a le't-r in the East
Anglian Times a few d-ys ago, from a highly-resprctable land-
lord m his division of Suffolk, Mr. t. Barne, fathero Colonel
1? me, one or the members tor JSast Suffolk, who said, "It
is not my in'ention to subscribe toward* the expenses or' the
mining electi-n. I wish to revert to the old purity of elec-

ti ,„_" Mr. Youugman here remarked that he supposed there

u«d" to be ' good old times" — I laughter) — " when men voted
far those they thoight b»st fitted to be their representatives
w hont fear or favour. I am taking a step in the right d'rec-
ti in, and if I should succeed, I shonid c >n'er a great bent fit
on the country. As to who are to be the members, it is to me a
m tter of comparative indifference. I may add as reason* the
non-payment of rents and the throwiog-up of farms. These
ta'ms will remain frequently uncultivated next year. I say,
w th deep grief, that many worthy and industrious farmers are
n:terly ruined." All th'it, said Mr. Youngman, was too true ,
b it still, it wenid be a good thing if out ot it came the pleas-
in? result that they were going to have a fair, honest, and
c "Tap eltction next time (cheers) A tenant-farmer had been
mme.d as a candidate to contest East Suffo'k, and on t<»Uiug
Wi.h his neighbours, whether Liberals or Conservatives, they
had with one accord, without troubling to discuss his politics,
said, " He is the man I shall vote tor" (cheers;. The tenant-
farmers' turn had comp, and they must be represented in
Parliament either by tenant-farmers o' by those who knew
their wants and would represent their feelings (cheer ) . He
would not detain them by telling them of all the things they
wanted. Thry wanted reform in the matter of the Game
Laws (Hear, hear). The tenant- armer's point of view in-
cluded not only the damage done by game to tl eir crops, but
the damage which the Game Laws did to the people, for they
nourished up around them a class of men "whose baud is
against every man, and every man's hand against them" — and
the farmers were the worse off for it all ways (cheers). He
did not know that tenant-farmers were auxious for any drastic
or thorough measures of Game Law reform— they would be
contented with some small measures drawn dead against the
fashions of over preservation (cheers). He believed every-
body would be thankrul for this. Even the Prince of Wales
would be thankful never more to be burdened with another
battue ; but if His Koyal Highness would not be thankful for
such a deliverance, then all he could say was he should pity
him with the utmost loyalty (chsers and langhter). A change
must soon come. It was impossible for farming to Mirive in
this country under the evils they suffered through want of
compensation for their investments, want of security for their
capita', want of security against damage ry game, and damage
by the possibility of " !elonious landlords." This was a phrase
wirranted by Parliament. He did not tor one moment wish
t > suggest that landlords generally would act that part ; he
b lieved that ninety-nine ont of every hundred were infinitely-
above such a thing. But the fact of the possibility remained.
Circumstances over which the landlord had no control, any
more than the tenant, exposed him to the possibility that he
would be robbed ol his cap tat, and check intelligence, industry
and science, in their application to the land (cheers). These
things must be altered if agriculture was to thrive in England
(cheers). What did this reform mean ? It meant twice as
much capital employed iu agriculture as now. A man now
occupying 4-00 acres miijht well employ the whole of his
capital on 200 acres and conduct a larger and more profitable
business than he ore. I meant, too, twiee the number of
farmers, as well a? twice the amount of capital invested; and
it meant doubling the homes'ead produce, of their farms — the
best paying part of their business (H--ar, hear). He. asked
that what they asked as tenant-farmers should be granted, and
i'gued his hearers not to take up with the notion that they
were going for Liberals or Conservatives, for this party or for
that. He heartily wished that a Conservative tenant-farmer
<was selected to run side by side with the Liberal tenant-farmer
candidate for Suffolk — he would support the one as heartily
as he did the other. Whether they elected Liberal or Con-
servative tenant-farmers it did not matter, as they knew tlie
work they wanted to be done would be well done. The motto
he was acting upon in this Matter was " No wrong to any
man, but simply tenant-right by right and not by lavour"
'cVeers). It was a shame that Englishmen shouid have, to

fawn and crawl and hunt for a good landlord in order to get
their right. Protect their property by law. Give them tenant-
right, a fair field and no favour, and then there need be no
fear for agriculture in England (loud and prolonged cheering).
Mr. R. E.xglvnd congratulated the meeting and the farmers
of Norfolk on the fact that they had secured the services as
chairman of Mr. Birkbeck, who so well knew the exigencies
and necessities of agriculturists, and whoso materially assisted
many of them in these hard times (cheers). He then
proposed the first resolution as <ollows: — "That in the
opinion of this meeting the Farmers' Alliance, as an associa
ttm of agricultural reformers, with objects independent of
party politics, deserves the support of all who desire to see the
legal and customary hindrances to agricultural prosperity re-
moved," He regretted that he had been selected to move the
first resolution, but snppised it was thought he was specially
qualified for the post because all he posspssei was invested in
land, either as owner or occnpi»r. He certainly claimed to
take an impartial view of the matter as between owner and
cc:upier, as almost to a hundred pounds his interest in the
land was about equa ly divided. The airiculiural situation at
the present moment was scarcely realised either by landlords
or tenants (Hear, hear). They often heard people s<y that
all that was wanted was a little more sunshine; but a liitle
reflection would show that this was far from a statement of
the whole case. Tr.e cost of the labour on their far ns had
increased by an amount; equal to 35 o°r cent, on their ren'al,
and with that increased payment they had 25 per cent, less
work, through the migration and emigration of the best
labourers, the withdrawal of juvenile iabonrfrora the soil by the
operation of the Education Acf", also the curtailment of the
hours of labour, the oiffrrent stroke of work, an! the resistance.
of the labourers to piece-work. Tnen the co-t of m ichiuerv, so
much required in the dear; h of labour, was alo increastdhy
another 25 per cent, on the rental. Then they must look
forward to their agricultural produce being re-hued in value
by the keen compeition to which they would he subject, that
reduced value being equal to anothpr 25 per cent. (Hear,
hear). Thus he had accounted for pretty well the whole
rental of the coun'ry being sunk ; and this was a very gra-e
situation to be placed in No return of good seasons could
hffect these facts ; nor could the ignorance of farmers account
for them, or their wisdom remedy them (cheers). It had been
asked, " Where, seeing the existence ot Farmers' Clubs and
Chambers of Agriculture, was the need for this Farmers'
Alliance ?" (Hear, hear). The same question might well
have been asked bv the farmers' clubs when the chambers were
established. He looked upon the Farnere' Alliance as the
natural offspring of these two parents, and he hoped it would
show more vigour iu its constitution and action than the older
bodies had done (cheers). It had been said that most of the
objeets of this association pointed at an interference with free-
dom of private contract. What was private contract ?
Carried to its logical conclusion and unregulated by law it
would land them in the old heathen plan.

" They shall get who have the power,
And they shall keep who can !'•

Since the seizure of Naboth's vineyard it had been found
neces-ary to protect the weak against the strong, and this was
the object of all civilised laws. In this consisted the " rights
of property" so much insisted upon by some who somewhat
inconsistently at the same time talk about the infringement of
the principle of private contract. What were the factory-
laws but an infringem»nt of private contract? Or the laws
regulating agricultural gang labour P They were laws pro-
tecting the weak against the strong. But the Law of Dis-
tress and six months' notice to quit was a protection of the
strong against the weak (cheers). Why should not the
property of the tenants be as much secured as the property of
other people? (cheers). There was nothing in the objec's of
this association to justify the charge against it of being an-
tagonistic to landlords. In his opinion it was impossible to
improve the condition of the tenant-farmers, without at the
same time benefiting the landlords, because the moment the
tenant-'arraers were put in a better position, the competition
for the hire of land was increased. This would be giving
landlords a perfectly fair and legitimate advantage ; while that
given by the Law of Distress was most unfair (cheers). Lord
Leicester's leases in this county had gone a long way on the
line of the Farmers' Alliance, even if they did not fulfil all

THE FARMER'S MAGAZiNE.

205

its retirements ; therefore he cor.'ended that if Ln'd Lei-
cester, with his gre.t practical exp rience and smmd common
sen.-e, saw it to lie to ms Advantage as well as that ol his 'eaams,
to go so tar, it «hs high :ime tint other landlords should lie
c 'iiipelled to ollo-.v in his step- (cheers). lie and oilier* had
eo • e 'o tie coi'.c'u iion that the teoant-faira re' in'erests
needed to be now thoroughly represented iu Btirliaraent
(cheers). Norfolk was proud of li r tenant-farmer member,
whose tali uts bad given him a high place in the llou e, and
they admired his bones!) in throwing up a Government
appointment because be round i' to clash with the interests of
and his duty twins constituents (cheer-). For lil'ty j< »rs, or
nearly so, the tenant-farmers bail vinu«lly held iu their hands
the representation of the run. ies ; slid yet no interests had
be-n so neg'ected by tin Legislature m the interests of the
fannej-g. He was afraid their opportunity wan well nigh gone.
It was now a moot question, and it wis rumoured the ptesenl
Government contemplated doing something as to the assimila-
tion of the county and borough franchise. Il thats'ep should
betaken the labourers will be the masters of the situation
(cheers). He hoped the labourers would use the privilege as
uuselftshly as, but much more vigorously than, the far-
mers had done (cheers). He was Conservative enough to wish
to see the present system of agiiculture maintained in this
country. It had achieved great results in the past under the
wise direction of such men as Coke, of llolkhain, ami the
grfat Francis Duke of Bedford (cheers). Great emergencies
produced great men, and there were signs that the men would
be >ounl on this occasion. Lord Carington and the Earl ot
V fe, acting on the lines of the A liance, bad shown that they
appreciated the situation and understood its remedies (Hear,
hen). He trusted that Norfolk landowners and occupiers
would jive their hearty adherence to the obj cts of the Far-
mers' Alliance, which poinded to the remedies within their
reach for the relief of the. great and prevailing agricultural
depression (cheers). Adverse seasons had only hastened the
clunax to which they had arrived; between high rents and
de.r labour the lenani-farmers were being graHua'ly squeezed
to death before. The programme of the Alliance bv no
means exhausted the remedial measures which would have to
he applied, but being a step in the right direction, and but
simple justi'e to the farmers, he comraeuded it heartily to the
support of bis brother farmers as well as of the landlords of
this connty (che; rs).

Mr. T. Allen (Markshall) seconded the resolution. After
referring to the programme of the Farmers' Alliance, he said
it was very Certain that, whether a Liberal or a Conservative
Government be in power, the subjects mentioned iu that pro-
gramme must be seriously c msidered. He hoped this associa-
tion would continue to be independent of party politics; for
( oiy by so doing could it hope to wield an influence. There was
ro question but that the time h-d now come when matters
relat ng to the success ot agriculture must be considered, and
it bel oves farmers to put their shoulders to the wheel, and so
far a> tl ey could assist in forwarding those repairs now so
greatly needed, if the soil of this kingdom was to be success-
fully cultivated (Hear, hear). Security 'or tenants' capi'al
was one of t he first things needed, also the abolition of the
Law of Distress (Hear, hear). Upon one subject he felt
keenly — tl e Game Laws (dear, hear). In Eugiishmen there
was an inherent love of sport, and he had known instances
where gnne was in the hands of the tenants, and they had been
foolish enough to keep more than was good lor their cwn crops
(Hear, hear). That being the case, it was a question how far
the community at large should allow the soil of the country to
produce that which was for the amusement of the few to the
destruction of that which was *bi the benefit of all. They all
kuew men who were good and tine men iu other matters, but
on the subject of game were lost men. Tint being the case,
a law must be enacted to pro'ect such men against them-
selves (cheers). Why should not a law be enacted to run in
this fashion — " No agreement or compact should be legal which
prevents the occupier of the soil from destroying vermin and
ground game " (cheers). Suppose they had such a law and
people were foolish enough to enter into an arrangement
allowing one man to damage 'lie other, this law wculd enable
the occupier to say, '• I have made a foolish agreement and »e
must alter it, or else I must appeal to the law, which will
protect me." It might be said that the law did not interfere
ia such a way. But the law already inter'ered with tl>e free-
dom of individuals iu many ways. As the citizens ol Norwich

toe l o their cost, the law tab rtered with them and compelled
i hem 'o spend hundreds of thousands ol pounds iu takiug their
drainage out ot the river; 'the Lw also said to manufacturers,
" You shall not lor your own benefit pour your refuse into the
streams, yi u actory chimney shall not emit foul vipours and
smoke to ike damage of your neighbours." The law mn
.vent further, and said that a railway company shall take a
nan';- favourite residence, or a portinn of ihe laud he inherited
from his la hers ; and the surveyor now-a-daya might enter^a,
man's property and lop his pet trees and insist upon his keep-
ing up the pitish roads lot the benefit of the public. The
law also, for the benefit of the community, e impelled p°opl e
to submit th'ir children to a surgieal operation — vacciua'ion.
Therefore, if the law could in these eases interfere with indi-
vidual reedniii, why should it not step in for the, protection
or the soil of this country and the occupiers of that soil Iron
the ravages of ground game? (applause).

Toe resolution whs put to the meeting and carried iiem. con.

Captain Blytii then proposed the second resolution as
nol'ows: — "That it is desirable to organise acirnmittee ol the
Ulutce in Njrfolk, with a view to increase the number of
metnbe's of the assoeiatio", as well as of watching over the
interests of farmers at the coming general election." He said
that no one would d- ny that the urese ut position ot the farmers
was a most serious one. Tney had so many burdens and
grievances which they were determined should be consider: d,
and which they hoped would he alleviated. If they knew that
an enemy was lying off th°ir coasts, the men of Norloik would,
rise, up, irresp-c ive of party or other differences, and do heir
duty (cheers). When they saw many of the homes of farmers
being broken up, and the armer3 themselves turned out into
the .vorld ruined, there was reason enough for them to gailier
together, irrespective of party, to devise the best means of
meeting tl is serious cri-is (cheers). He apprehended tint
the formation of this Alliance was intended to effect this, aud
if it wis enrried on trres ec'ive of party, hs was convinced t
would be successful ; but if party spirit was allowed to creep in
it \ioald hs a miserable failure (che. rs). After all this
Alliance would be ju t what its members chose to make it
(cheers). He had alwtys been led to relieve that the farming
interest wis the backbone of England ; and if that whs im-
perilled— as he believed it was — it was a serious thing for ihe
prosperity ol the couutry (Hear, h-ar). He had no peraoual
grievances in re.-pect ot many of the points touched upou by
the Alliance, as he was a tenant of the Holkham estate, where
they had an agreement which removed nearly all restriction--,
ga\e thf utmost freedom of cultivation, and the game was in
their own hands (cheers). But it was 'or this very reeson,
appreciating these advantages, that lie was desirous his
brother tenant-farmers of Eugland should obtain similar
benefits. He had heard it said this movement was antagonistic
to landlords; but he maintained that could not be, for this
reason — if by means of this association they could improve the
position ot the tenant-farmc, it must be to the advantage of
the landlord as well (cheer'). He did not believe in class
movements ot any ktuu ; but looking upon this *s a movement
which would ben fit alt classes he cslled upon both landlords
and tenants to join i', 'heir i uteres' s being identical (Heir,
hear). It was not tor them to go into the question of re.rt,
wnieli must always be a matter of agreement between land-
lord and tenant ; but there were many other serious subjects
which should be cou-idcred, and perhap* the be t means to
obtain just treatmeut for these subjects was for tenant-farmers
to endeavour to secure a better representation in Parliament
(cueers). Such subjects they wanted independent men to take
up — un-u who would consider the interests ol the farmers first
and party afterwards, and not party lir~t anil the. farming
interest last (cheers). Whether they were Conservatives or
Liberals they had out one object — to inornate the prosperity
ol agriculture (cheers) It rested witn the far'Le.rs of Eng-
land to determine whether the Farmers' Alliance should he a
reality or a failure ; and he hoped, in conclusion, that armers,
landlords, and others connected with the land in Norfolk would
set a good example to the rest of ihe kingdom. Then they
miglii hope lo make the Alliance h strong and powerful orra-
i nation, and thus secure not only the biuc;:t ol the farming
classes, but that of the country at large (cheers).

Mr. T Rose (Melton) seconded the resolution. What they
wanted, he said wn a remedy for agricultural distress, and
be saw no other or better remedy than the better represeuta-
tiou oi tensn'-farmers in the Hou^e of Commons. Tney had

THE FARMER'S MA'.AZLVK

one yaluab'e representative in Parliament, bat of what use w*s
on'y one? (Hear, liear). Every other class in the community
was largely represented, aud why should not farmers have
their fair proportion ? (Renr, hear). Although it was true
their interests were identic:, \va» it likely that the landlords
coulJ ffficn-nlv represent the interests of the. unant-ianuers ?
(Hear, hear). Mr. S.jo proceeded to say he looked upon
the Law of U'-t'-ess a* the root of the mischief, iu tliat it
enabled landlords to obtain as tenants men of s'raw, who were
1 igh bidders for land, while iueu ot c pital had been thrown
tut of the mat ket. He should therefore rejoice to see the
iniquitous law abolished (c»eers). In closing he expressed a
h >pe that even in Norfolk the farmers would bring forward at
the next election caodidites who would study to promote their
interests (cheers).

The resolution on being put to the meeting was also carried
nem. con.

Air. C. S. Read, MP., who was called npon to speak, said
thai this meeting was to close at two, and it wanted only Uo
minu'ee to that hour; and as he had a sample of barley to

transfer some of hi- ab'e su port i>- ■ :n r lie ari-tocrat c •trip-
ling he was successful in re nrnine a fe« yearn so 'o his ex-
cellent brother. Mr Charles HowarH, 'h Royal Com "jissioner,
who would make one of the nest posstb'e representatives of the
tenant-farmers o: Bedfordsh re. Now he. rou3t s iy a word or
two on the Norfolk Chamber of A-ricultnre, which had dis-
cussed and carried resolutions in favour of most ot the poiu;s>
that were pu* fonh in the farmers' Alliance As to the
security of the 'enants' capita], they had discussed that, and
haa declared their opinion that the Agricnl ural Holdings Act
w?s no' si ffi lent to meet the requirements of the. ca c — (*
voice : '' It is useless ") — that it ought to be niaile compulsory
(Hear). A geuUeniao s»id that the Act was useless, I' wis
iu a great measure uselt-ss — ("That's true") — nut after ir had
been tried, the people found that if was not -obad an Act ; it
would be easy to make ir enmpulsory. He rnust say that rhe»K II
which he aud Mr. Howard brought into Parliament, and which
was compu'sory, did not interfere with existing comae's, and
therefore, if it had been passed into law ir would have been
some time before the full eff-ct of it was felt throe;

II,

he should have bother enough to do that if he went into I country. But he rather ohjected to the sort of Agricultural

the'Corn Hall at oner. He was sum that they did not wish
h in to sp?ak on that occasion (Yes, yes). No ; he was
*;ue they did not (Yes, yes). It was impossible that he
s' ould do justice to the. subject or should satisiy them. How-
r er, if they wisheJ him to say a few words, he would try to
empress liis n marks into the smallest possible space. He
had been invited to this meeting by Mr. Howard, the Chair-
man of the Alliance; he. had cime, in response to that
i.viiatiop, to heir what the gentlemen had to say; and he
would now tell them what he thought of what he had heard.
In the first place, he was sorry that Mr. James Howard had
not been able to address the meeting, beeau-e he was not only
the lead, but the life aad soul of the Aliiarc*. There
were one cr two questions mentioned by Mr. En. land
t at were not exactly within the province of the Allianc?.
He did not see anything in the programme about labourers
b ina pad 25 (er rent, more than formerly for worse work ;
nor did he see that it proposed seriously to reduce their bills
lor m chinery and repairs — perhaps Mr. Howard could give
them help in that particular, thn"eh not ja his capacity as
Chairman of the Alliance (a laugh). Then Mr. Barclay said
ti at American wheat was in future years to be delivered at
Liverpool at an average price of 35s. per quarter, and that
American beef was to be delivered there at 5£d. per lb. Now,
if the programme of the Alliance was adopted, aud if the bes'
reeo'iv endatiou of the Royal Commissioners were carried
into effect, it would be impossible in such years as they had
had to live at such priees (Hear, hear). He did not
o tl e programme of the Parmers' Alliance (Hear,
hear). It would have been a very excellent thing to have
s arteu it some filrt-en years ago (Hear, hear), *hen he tried,
and that success ully, to establish Chambers of Agriculture
throughout the country. Neither the. mover nor the seconder
of the first resolution mentioned the fact that there were
Chambers, of Agriculture.

Mr, England : I beg your pardon, I did.

Mr. Read meant neither of the first two speakers. Of
course Mr. England had been a vic< -chairman ot the Norlolk
Chamber, and a very good vice-chairman he was, but he never
a teniied the meetings (a laugh). Having his organisation
throughout tl.e country deaiieg vigorously with almtv.t every
point taken up by the Alliance, was it necessary to have a
separate organisation ? (cries o: ¥es, yes). Well, he should
say that it was unnecessary— (No, no) — and therefore was
is.- 1 v to be mischievous (No, no). Y.-», it w s, and he
would tell them why. Because at tie Chambers of Agriculture
they had the advantage ol the presence ot landlords (Hear,
hear). They had the presence of landlords at this meeting in
a marked degree ; hut he did not believe that any of them weie
n-embeis of the Alliance. Although ihey had done very little
when united with their landlords, ytt if they were isolated
from them, as they would be by forming themselves into a
separate body, tiieir success would be even less in the future
than it h:id been in the past (Hear, hear, aud No, no). Now
the Central Chamber of Agriculture had fifty-two branches
throughout the country ; bat there was no Chamber oi Agri-
culture in the county of Bedford. As the main feature of the
Alliance was the return ol tenant-farmers to Parliament, he
hoped that at the next general eltctioa Mr. Howard would

Holdings Act Mr. Barclay would have them approve. He
s.id that the tenant's conpeusation should be according to 'he
iuc eased Vrtlne ill" his farm when he left it. Unfortunately,
lie would get no compensation at all, and he supposed he would
have to pay compensation to th." landlord because the letting
value of the land was now not so much as it w. He would
rather adopt the priuci ile ioiiia'ed bv\\lr. Howard and himself
in their Bill. There, was au expression m .Mr. Barclay's address>
which he seriously commended to the attention ol all right-
minded men, whether they were farmers or landowners, a»
showing the tendency, at iea-t in his mind, of what ought to
be. tenant-right. He thought that M-. Bic'.aj said thai there
should be a joint possession of th° Imd by the farmer aud the
landlord. Now, what was that but —

Mr. Barclay, M.P. ; I beg your pardon. I did not say a
word about joint possession at nil.

Mr. Read : No; bu I will teil you what you did say —
that as long as a mau paid his rent he should not be turned
cut of his farm (cheers ami ciii-s of " Certainly ").

Mr. Barclay: I s,id as long as he paid his rent and
fulfilled the couditiona ol the lease into which he had en c.-ei
with his Uuuiord he should not be turned out of his fano.

(cheers).

Mr. Read: That the landlord should uot regain his i)#ii
again, if he wanted it. That iv..b a couvenient doctriue for
those who occupied land ; but he was uot one of those who
could support it, as at present acvised (Hear, hear). That
was not bing more nor less than fixity ol tenure — i tie Irish
tenant-right, which was advocited by Home Rulers (Hear,
hear). And now about freedom of cultivation. That had
been discussed in the Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture, which
had b. eu lavoured by ilie Lord-Lieutenan' with a eopy of his
niOet excellent lease — a lease which set a most admirable
example to the whole kingdom (Hear, hear). Then the No; -
lolk Chamber of Agriculture was the first to discuss the
iniquity of the present Law of Distress. Mr. Howard Taylor
there read a most admirable paper which set men thinking
over the subject, and proposed a series of resolutions which, if
carri-d cat, would very much mitigate that odious law. But in
the present condition o: agriculture it would be better to amend
the La-v o: Di tress, which was more likely to hit the farmer ia
good than iu bad times. If they took from the landlord by
one stroke of the pen his preferential claim as a creditor, be
would insist upon his rents being paid with greater regularity
than they had beeuduriu; the la«t two or three years. Ii
was all very weil to sa> tna when i;uod limes cone the lariuer
would pay up ; but he thought ihat if it was not for the bank
m i uy farm, rs w ould not have paid iheir rents at all this year
(Hear, hear). But he was sure that if it had no' b>ea lor
the indulgence of some o! the landlords the lariners could not
have pa d any rent. Then as to County Boards, the Norfo.k
Chamber ol Agriculture had discussed that question, and had
tally condemned the Bill brought in iasl ynai by the Govern-
ment. The programme of the Alliauce was 'To w
ratepayers their .e„i unata share, iu county government.-' By
all means; but then the plan which v7ould he upheld by the
Alliance was a d'.r.ct representation ol the ratepayers (Hear,
hear). Every ratepayer « u d have ej • ne power

— that was, a man who occupied a Lo cottage, the rates of

THE I-'ARAIEK'S MAGAZINE.

207

which were paid by his landlo d, would have as much in the
election as a farmer who renUd 500 acres (Hear, hear, No,
no, and Why nut?). Manhood suffrage might suit some, but
it would not suit h:a> ('' Tell us why we should not have it").
lie should like to see a good County Guverument Board ; but
he tuought that the best way of procedure would be for the
different Boards of Guardians throughout the, county to send
their best men to the County Board. Now, ho* did this
Alliance propose to meet the question of local taxation ?
By dividing the rates betweeu landlord and tenant — no
doubt a very good thiug in its way. lie had always
said that all new rates, and all rates levied by Quarter
Sessions, ought certainly to be divide I between the land-
lords and the tenants, and lie had no objection to the whole
beiug divided if it were thought proper. But that was not
whit he considered to be the real question of local taxation.
Why shculd one-seventh only of the property of this country
contribute to the rates ? why should six-sevenths ot the rea-
lised wealth of the country not pay anything towards the
rales? i he burden now fell only u^ou the occupiers of lands
and houses, and that with crushing severity, not only in the
couu ies, bi't in towns — quite as much upon the struggling
trade.-meu ol Norwich as upon the baK.ru ined farmer in the
country. When Mr. Barclay s<id that ii the Government
contributed to the rates it was like taking money out ot one
pocket instead ot out of the other, he overlooked the tact that
the whole ot the realised wealth of the country contributed to
the taxes. They knew perlectly well who during the last
twenty five years had heaped these rates uuou them, and he
hoped that they also knew who had fjiven them £2,000,000
remission of them. Wheu Mr. Barclay said that lie supposed
toe lanners did not know it, he should see what was dnue at
tile Quarter Sessions, when he would find that the rate was
O'Hi-i lerahly diminished every quarter, and that occasionally
there was no cou.ity rate in constqu. nee of the Government
contribution (liear, hear). Then the land laws was another
feature in the Alliance programme, and one of which he very
much approved. There ought to be easier, cheaper, and
bet.er me»Ds of transferring land, and he believed that all
xhe landowners would be glad of it (Hear, hear). But while
it would benefit their property, it would not benefit the lawyers,
who were the gtntlemen who would object to anything which
would sunpliiy the transfer of land. Many tenures ought to
be swept away — copyhold tenures, for instance, and all th se
survivals of the feudal system — but what teuauts ought to do
was to help their landlords, many of them tenants for lile, so
a> to t;ive them confidence to compensate them for permanent
improvements, and to yrant them lease?. B-yoed that he did
not ihinK it was necessary for them as tenants to go into the
question of the laud laws, because he contended — and he
challenged auyoi.e to confute it — that the large estates ot this
country were better farmed, the tenants more liberally treated,
a id the rents cheaper than the ni jority oi the smaller proper-
ties (Hear, hear). There were two or three questions which
hj considered ought to have been embraced in the Alliance
programme. O-e was the inalt-t.x (Hear, hear). That was
e sential to those who tanned arable land in the county oi
Norfolk. Ol c urie that was excluded trom the Alliance pro-
k.-..iu;iie for a very good reason — that Scotland did not care
about the malt-tax, and that Irelaud did not consider it a
grievance.

Mr. J. Howard : And because you have run away from
1 (laughter).

Mr. lltAii : Whisky predominates in Scotland and Ireland,
ami beer iu Engiand.

Mr. Ba.kci.ay : We m?ke whisky out of malt.

Mr. Rfad : But they don't pay the mah-tax. But he
wishpd to know who were these new champions of the suffer-
ing tenant-'armers. First on the list was the name of Mr.
J. Howard, a man who had done more to speed the plough
than auv man living, and who, when in Parliament, wan a
most zeiloUi advocate ol the tenant-farmers' interest. He
v»a» ti.e chairman, and the life and soul of the Alliance.
(liear hear). Next came Mr. Barclay, tile member for Forlar-
a successful merchant in Aberdeen ; Mr. Blennerhassi tt,
a Home Ruler, and a supporter of Irish tenant-right : Mr.
Earp, M.P., for iNewark, a jolly brewer ;( Mr. Bear, as s. c.,
the able editor of the Mark Lane Espress, who devoted his
spare time t i wri ing essays tor the Cobueu Club. Sir LKvi i
Wedderburn and Mr. William Fowler were the. trusses. Mr,
Howard iiad whispertd to him that lie should read the name o.

farmers. Well, he saw the county of Norfo'k, in the first
issue of the list of the co umiitee, contained eleven members,
but that now the number was tour, and ali b> longed to one
political persuasion — all were what he might call members of
the extreme left of a certain party. Now he did Dot know any
Agricultural Society — Farmers' Club or Chamber of Agricul-
ture— that was composed exclusively of men of ou" party or
the other (Hear, hear). He considered it a great mistortune
to the Alliance that ihey could not point to the name:* of one
gentleman in the list who held the same political opinions
that he (lid (Hear, hear, and a voice: "That is your
fault"). In the Chamber ot Agriculture, the chairman was of
one politics and the vice-chairman of another. For the last
seven years Mr. Gurdou had been Chairman of the Norlolk
Chamber, and Mr. H. Grimmer had been vice-chairman. He
should like to hear what Mr. Gurdon had to say as to this
Alliance, and whether he was satisfied with the work the
Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture had undertaken during Ins
presidency (Hear, hear). He did not thiuk, therelore, that
they wanted this Alliance (Hear, hear). If the Farmers
as the majority of them did, suuuoited the Norfolk Chamber
of Agriculture, they did uol want another organisation to
secure the same objects (Hear, hear). If the Alliance was
not wanted it would lie mischievous ; for it they could not
get on in uoion with their landlord*, he was sure that they
would not jtet on as a separate organisation. Although he
was glad to see sueti a large meeting,an I heartily wished the
Farmers' Alliance succ ss in its objects, yet he C"Uld not con-
tribute to it or become a member (He^r, hear).

The Chairman remarked that Mr. Uead was certainly
wronj on on-.? point, for the bank had a much better class of
customers than he gave it credit for, and they had not to help
nearly as rcany rents as he had suggested (Cheers).

Mr. J. Howard (Bedford) wished to ask Mr. Read a
question. Mr. Ri-ad had said there was no need for this
Farmers' Alliance bpcause they had Chambers of Agriculture.
He should like Mr. Bead to point out the occasion wheu aud
where the Central Chamber, or any other local chamber, had
touched the. very first point in the programme of the Alliance,
— the better representation of tenant-farmers iu Parliament
(cheers). This had been put in the fore-front of the Allieuce
as they believed it to be the shortest cut to obtaining those
agricultural reforms which the country needed (cheers).
If Mr. Head's objection to the. Fanner's Alliance held good, it
behoved him to prove his posiiioD, and this he (Mr. Howard)
challenged him to do (cheers).

Mr. Read, in reply, said the Chambers of Agriculture had
brought to the front men who he did n >t douut would at the
next general election be returned as members of Parliament
(cries of " Name, name"). He mentioned the name of Mr.
Lane, who, ne b lieved had been selected as the tenaut-farmer
cu'didate for Warwickshire.

Mr. Howard: Is it part of the programme of the central
or any other chamber ? (Hear, hear).

Mr. Read : I would ask Mr. Howard how is he by his
Alliar.ce (cries of " Answer "). I would like to know how
by his Alliance he is going — (renewed shous of "Answer,"
and cheers and hisses). He was aske.i, continued Mr.
Read, what the Chamber of Agriculture haU done to promote
the election of tenant-farmers to Parliament. The chambers
were established 'or watching over all matters relating to
agriculture in Parliament and out ot Parliam nt; aud they
had brought forward and trained men to think upon these
subjects, and acy for them, and therefore they had brought to
the front men who he was sure would in fours- of time be
teturned to Parliament (laughter, cries of "Oh!oh!"and
a voice : " We may w^it till Doomsday lor that ") Mr. Read
then asked, how could an association like this do it? Was it
■io'u\£ io bottle up a lot ol aspiring agricultural M.P.'s. and
like l he Carlton and Re'crui, send them down to the different
constituencies ? (Shouts of " Why not?" "You know
betier,"and derisive laughter). Mr. Read, continuing, said
that the constituencies would rather have members whom thsy
knew, men belonging to their own counties; therefore he
should not lor one moment suiipo.se they would accept a
nominee from any outside influence, whether Tory, or Liberal
or Radical. He bad been pointed out as the only tenant-
farmer in Parliament, and he would ai-k where was the money
to come from in future? His election had cos', his brother
tenant-farmers more than £4,000. (a voice: "How much
more?" aud laugher). He was much obliged to them for

203

THE PARMER'S MAGAZINE.

contributing in snch a noble and generous way. Although he
had been pie*ty lucky, and had had a jolly testimonial, he had
be.-n put to considerable loss anil inconvenience and disom-
fort by being a member of Parliament (cries of " Oh !
oh !") He did not believe, in the first place, they couhl find
many tenant-farmers willing to sacrifice themselves as he had
done — (cheers and laughter) — and in the second place, he did
ii"t believe they would find many constituencies 'ike South
Norfolk to return a tenant-farmer free of expense (" Xon-
8-ns ," and laughter).

Mr. Barclay wished to make an explanation. Mr. Read
had described him as " a successful merchant at Aberdeen;"'
intimating as it seemed to him, that he was not a tenant-farmer,
but he claimed to be a tenan'-farmer, paying rent, quite as
mich as Mr. Read was, although he might be something
else (Hear h-ar). He farmed 380 acres and paid rent for
it, and half of that land he had reclaimed a* his own expense.
Therefore he had not come forward under false colours
(cheers). With regard to that fact to which Mr. Read
h*d called prominent attention — that there were no Tory
M.P.'s members of the Alliance, he would not offer to
explain, but every member of Parliament in both Houses
had received a circular — no doubt Mr. Read also received
one — inviting them to be present at a conference to organise
the Farmers' Alliance, and as they did not attend, the
meeting could easily draw the inference (cheers). He
had nothing to say against the Chambers of Agriculture, but
he would say to the farmers of Norfolk, that if they thought
their chamber wa3 attending to their interests according to
the programme of the Farmers' Alliance, then of course they
wo^ld not join the Alliance ; but if they thought a great
deal more might be done in promoting their interests and
bringing their c<se before Parliament, then he claimed, in
their interests, in the interests of the landlords and in the
interests of the public at large, that they should come forward
and support the Farmers' Alliance in carrying out those
objects which were so important to them (cheers).

Mr. R. T. Gurdon then moved a vote of thanks to the
chairman, who had, he remarked, the interests of agriculture
at heart, sympathised with the farmers in their distress, and
would rejoice in a return of prosperity, and who they all
wished would come forward in a more prominent position, so
that he might more directly benefit the tarmers (loud cheers).
Mr. Gurdou proceeded to say that he entirely agreed with
what Mr. Read had said as to the Norfolk Chamber of Agri-
culture having expressed ite opinion on various measures with
no uncertain sound. The Agricultural Holdings Act they had
described as silly and useless, and the two bills brought in for
local government they had characterised as absurd. Upon the
question of the abolition of class privileges and the reiorm of
the game laws they had taken very much the same views, as
the Alliance; but they had not been sble to make this weight
of their opinion felt in Parliament. If, therefore, they could
get any assistance from the Alliance in carrying out their
views they would be very grateful (cheers). It had not been
their fault that they had not been able to carry their opinions
in the present superannuated Parliament, which was fast
drawing to its close ; but he trusted the new Parliament soon
to be elected would do many things for agriculturists (cheers).
In order that they might effectually aid in carrying out their
views, they must take care to return to Parliament only men
who would really represent their interest* (cheers).

Mr. J. Howard secoud?d the vote of thanks to the chair-
man, which was carried by acclamation.

The Chairman briefly acknowledged the compliment, and
the meeiiug terminated.

THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE AT BURTON-
ON-TRENT.

On Thursday, Feb. l'J, a meeting was held at St. George's
Hall in connection with the Farmers' Alliance. Mr- Henry
Wardle presided, and there was a good attendance of farmers
and others, amongst those present being Mr. M. A. Bass, MP.
Mr. T. Earp, M.P. (treasurer of the Alliance), Mr. G. W.
Latham (Bradwell Hall, Sandbach), Col. Levett, Mr. S
Evershed, Mr. A. O. Wbrthington, Mr. E. 1). Salt, Mr. J.
Greatorex, Mr. B. Walker. Mr. S. Walker, Mr. J. Oldacres,
Mr. G. Lvhbnry, Mr. R. W. Beird, Mr. W. E. Bear (secre-
tary of the Alliance), &c.

The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, stated that
Sir Matthew Blakiston, Bart., Mr. A S. Hill, Q C, M.P.
Mr, S. C. Allsopp, M.P., Mr. T. W. Evans, M.P., and others
(including some practical farmers) had written expressing
regret at not being able to be present. He then went on to
say that his own experience led him to sympathize very much
with the agriculturists of this country at the present time, and
that his experience had also convinced him that if any man
was to make anything out of farming he must be a practical
man, and must devote his whole *iiue and attention to the
business (Hear, hear). They had hd four or fi»e very bad
seasons, but he was sure no one present considered those bad
reasons were the fault of the Government, or could be altered
by any legislative measures. They knew very well that they
were owing to unpropitious weather, and that the wea'her was
ordered by a higher Power than Parliament. But he believed
they were all satisfied that there existed a state of affair* as
regarded agricultural produce which had not existed certainly
within the last half century. They found that the immense
producing power of America had come into c unpetition with
this country, and that corn and meat must now be raised at a
price which certainly did not pay the producer. How this was
to be remedied was, he took it, the question they were to have
discussed at that meeting. Tue old iaea of Protection seem to
have exploded and to be given up by almost all its friends,
whether protection proper or simply in the guise of reci-
procity, and it appeared if they were to have tree
trade and farmers were to compete with their
brethren in America they must have a full
benefit of free trade and compete as far as possible under
similar circumstances (applause). To give them the opportunity
of doing so, an alteration was required in the tenure of land
in this country ; they required an alteration in the means of
local self-government, and they required the abolition of, or
at all events, an alteration in, the Game Laws (Hear, hear).
Of the necessity for the latter he had long been satisfied, lie
had seen it statpd, and had not seen it contradicted, that
something like £20,000,000 worth of agricultural produce was
annually consumed by game, and that meant practically that
£20,000,000 a year was taken out of the p ckets of agricultu-
rists aud destroyed (shame). So far as hares, rabbits, and
gamekeepers were coucernei, his opinion wis that they ought
all to ba classed as vermin (laughter and applause). As to the
object the Farmers' Alliance had in view, lie maintained that
it was a grave political question for every man, woman, and
child in the country, but was far too important to be made a
party question (Hear, hear). If it became a party question
it would be entirely the fault of the agriculturists themselves,
because, rightly or wrongly, it was generally supposed that
the majority of agriculturists in this country belonged to
one party, and they !l erefore had the matter pretty much in
their own hands. He then called upon Mr. Earp, M.P. for
Newark, aud treasurer of the Alliauce, to address the
meeting.

Mr. Earp, who spake at considerable length, said it would
be impossible for anyone to approach that important town and
to witness its forest of brewery chimneys and piles of casks — •
which looked in the distance like large earthworks thrown up
as if the town wa-i in a state of siege — without feeling that h»
had come amonj.8'. a community who could show genuine
smypathy with the tenant-farmers of this country, because t' e
important industry attached to the town was largely dependent
for its condition upon agriculturists. He believed that some-
thing like seven-eights of the raw material used in that
important trade either was or outht to be the produce of the
farmers of Great Britnin, and if that was not so, he maintained
that it was one of the objects of the Farmers' A'liance to try
and bring about that happy sta'e of thing". It had been found
impossible to launc'.i the Farmers' Alliance without a consider-
able amount of criticism being levelled against its promoters ;
but so far he was happy to say they had bepn able to
survive that criticism and to get a considerable amount of
public support. The Alliance hid not aim at being connected
with any particular political party. It had been stated that
some of the promoters were suspected of Liberalism in their
politics. Ah he could say was that that ought to be no sin.
Anyone at all acquainted with h'story would find that many
new movements had been initiated and m»ny ac'ual successes
had been the result of the action of the Liberal party ; and if
the Conservative party had not jet identified itself with the

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

209

movement, they had the hope that it would still be inclined to
join them in a thorough aod earnest spirit of alliance. The\r
objects were really not party objects at all; they were not
endeavouring to further the ends of party politics, neither did
they wish to act in an antagonistic spirit in reference to any
association which had in viev the interests of the tenant-
farmers of England. Perhaps, however, the most serious
accusation levelled against them was tnat they were trying to
set class agiinst class ; but if what they aimed at should,
either accidentally or of set purpose, result in anything so
unfortunate as that, he would wipe his hands of the Alliance
at once (applause). This brought him to explain why
it was he was there to address them on this question. He was
not much of a landlord, and he was pretty much his own
tenant. He was not a farmer, but he was connected with a
business which had brought him into close contact with tenant-
farmers for over 35 years, and during that time he had con-
ceived some strong friendships among members of that class,
and if there was work to be done in their behalf he was glad
to be one to step forward and do it. Moreover, he had the
honour to represent a borough which shared with Burton the
honour and glory of assisting largely in the production of
malt and beer, and there ore it was very natural his consti-
tuents should approve thoroughly of anything he did to help
the tenant-farmers. Tiieir chairman had referred to the
disastrous experiences of the last three or four years, and the
time had no doubt arrived when what might be regarded as
ordinary remedies were not sufficiently powerful and were of
no avail — the liberality of the landlords was not sufficient to
meet the difficulties of the tenants, and however much it
might please Providence to bless them with a succession of
good seasons, even then there would be many grievances to be
redressed, aud they therefore could not do better than beat
about and consider the best means to adopt to alter the present
state of things. They knew that a large number of the old
tenant-farmer class had nearly gone out of existence, and that
a great number of others were rapidly going out. They knew
that the bankruptcy lists showed a large augmentation in the
number of farmers who were overtaken by commercial distress.
They knew, als >, that there was a vast increase in the number
of registered hill-t of sale against tenant farmers, and that
really the difficulties with which they had to contend were so
great and insurmountable that in many counties tenant-
farmers appeared to be absolutely succumbing — to have lost all
heart and spirit ; there had hi eu a large increase in the death-
rate amongst them, and, sadder still, cases of suicide were be-
coming more frequent among them as a class. All these were
ascertained facts, and were scientific proofs that there was
" something rotten in the state of Denmark." But most of
the grievances under which tenant-farmers laboured might be
dealt with and improved by legislation, and it was the most
natural thing in the world for them to tollow the example of
the licensed victuallers and of the working c'asses as a class,
and get their own representatives in the House of Commons —
(hear, hear)— men who could study and act Tor them, who
understood their business, aud who, without reference to
politics at all, could go strait to the objects the Alliance had
in view. If this were done he lelt cerlaiu ihey would fiud a
6peedy improvement in their position. They contended that
legislation for tenant-farmers had hitherto been ineffectual
because they had not been sufficiently directly represented.
They had, it was true, two tenant-farmer representatives m
the House of Commons, but they had 2o0 landowners there.
He would like to see a large number of bona fide tenant
farmer representatives, and that ought to ^e quite possible in
the present day. They had ability, and if they would only
avail themselves of it he was quite sure they might soon im-
prove the present state of things. It was advisable that he
should now turn to the programme ot the. Alliance, and invite
them to consider whether or not it contained aims and onje cts
which met with their approval. If, alter fearing them ex-
plained, they thought those objects were such as would be
likely to benefit their condition, it would be a simple matter
for them to put questions to those who appealed for their
suffrages in the future and to ask them if they would support
those objects. Mr. Earp then went through the eigtht artie'es
in the Alliance programme seriatim, and explained the objects
of some of them at considerable length. The first article states
that it is the object of ths Alliance "to secure the better
representation of tenant-farmers in Parliament." The second
object is " to stimulate the improved cultivation of the land,

especially by obtaining security for the capital of tenants
invested in the improvement of their holdings." This article
afforded him an opportunity lor speaking upon t he Agricul-
tural Holdings Act, which he showed from information
obtained by Mr. Sarnuelsoo, M.P., from half-a-dozen
representative farmers in Staffordshire was practically
a dead letter so far as this county is concerned,
owing to the last clause, \ which enables landlords to
contract themselves out of the Act. Then they wanted " to
encourage greater freedom in the cultivation of the soil and
the disposal of its produce." Thev also wanted " to obtain
the abolition of class privileges involved in the laws of distress
and hypo'hec," which he contended would place tenant-
farmers on a much better footing with those with whom they
dealt. The latter now felt that they were at a disadvantage as
compared with the landlord, and therefore probably regarded
with great suspicion larjje orders which farmers might some-
times advantageously give. The chairman had touched upon
the question of the game laws, and from the way in which
they received his remarks he felt sure they were prepared to go
in for their abolition, at all events so far as dealing with ground
game was concerned. They wanted them also to assent
to a proposition for an "alteration of all legal presumptions
which operate unfairly against tenan'-farmers." At the present
time, in the event of the death of a landlord or of a tenant, and
the necessity arose for the termination of a tenancy, the pre-
sumption of the law was that six months' notics should be
required; but thev contended that the presumption of the law
should be in favour of a longer notice. Then they asked that
ratepayers [should have " their legitimate share in county
government" (Hear, hear), and that ratepayers should have
that privilege appeared to be agreed upon by both Conserva-
tives and Liberals. Their last object was " to obtain a fair
proportionment of local burdens between lindlord and
tenant." Session after session uew Acts of Parliament ne-
cessitated additional rating, and the rpsult was that they had
not a fixed rate of burdens, whilst they had a fixed rental, and
their contention was that the rents and rates shonld correspond.
These were the objects of the Alliance, aud he asked if there'
was anything to which they could take exception. If there
was they had an opportunity of saying on that occasion what
it was they would have altered ; but he would suggest that the
readiest means to obtain an alteration in the programme would
be to join the Alliance, because then they would have equal
influence, and the statement of their objects was not unalter-
able, but must depend upon the will and pleasure of those
who formed the Alliance (applause).

Mr. G. W. Latham next addressed the meeting. He re-
marked that he was there as a landowner to testify that in the
programme of the Alliance there was no article which would
not be advantageous to the landlord as well as to the tenant.
He believed the programme contained nothing which would
not make the position of the landowner far more secure than
it is at present, whilst it contained a great deal which would
improve the condition of the tenant (Hear, hear). He com-
plained that those who founded the Alliance had given it a
very misguiding name. " Farmers' Alliance," he said, would
seem to mean an alliance of farmers joined tgether to obtain
something lor their own advantage as opposed to the general
advantage of the State. It seemed to him like a licensed
victuallers' or linen drapers' or trades union alliance— a com-
binaiion of men formed merely for selfish views, and not for
the welfare of the State. If such an alliance had been pro-
jected they might depend upon it it would fail, and it would
deserve to fail. He believed, however, that the objects of the
Alliance were good for the whole of the State — good for the
landlord, good for the tenant-farmer, good for the agricultural
labourer, but they were best of all lor the whole community
ofEogland (Hear, hear, and applause). If he did not believe
that every one ot the propositions would not increase the
supply of food, would not make the commercial prosperi;y of
England greater, as well as the agricultural community more
prosperous, he would have nothing to do with it. But he
believed the motive of those who founded the Alliance
and who gave it the name they h?d done, was a good one!
They wanted to avoid any idea of party political objects, and"
knowing that among farmers were some of all parties,' they
called it the Farmers' Alliance, meaning thereby that it was
a non-party political alliance (Hear, hear). It might be
said, " Why do you want a new organisation? Have you not
a Parliament in which the landed interest is already largely

210

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

r< presented ? " But Parliament consisted of a House of
Peer?, which was practically a house composed entirely of
landowners, and a House of Commons, in which the land
owners' interest was largely represented, and they wanted
this Alliance because they believed it was not sufficient
that the land-owning iuterest should be represented, but be-
cause tbey thought it necessary the land-holding interest
should also be represented (Hear, hear). It was all very well
to say the landlords were as much interested in the state of
the country as the tenants. In that town of Burton and its
neighbourhood there were a good many gentlemen who pur-
chased barley, and there were round the town a good many
farmers who sold barley. There was not the slightest doubt
it was to the common interest both of the purchaser and the
vendor of barley that there should be a good demand for beer
and that the season for crops and samples should be good,
and that trade should be prosperous ; but what would they
think of trusting to a Parliament of maltsters the laws under
which their purchases of barley should be made? Yrt that
was precisely what had takeu place ever since there was a
Parliament between ' hose who had land to let and those who
wished to take it. If they looked through the statute book
they would find laws to make the security of the landlords
more perfect, but he had failed to find any laws for the greater
security of the tenant, and surely, therefore, the experience ol
wiiat Parliament had done for the tenant should make them
think ot these matters a little. He did not blame Parliament.
Human nature in the House of Lords and the House of
Commons was the same as anywhere else, and if they wanted
to alter what had been clone they must try to get a better
representation of tenant-farmers in the douse. He then
exi.ouoded the leading features ef the Alliance programme at
considerable length, basing his remarks chiefly upon two
aphorisms laid down by Archdeacon Paley as to the princ-pies
ol landlords, which, he said, covered nearly all their pro-
gramme. The firat was to give the occupier all power over
the soil which was necessary for its perfect cultivation, and
the second was to assign the whole profit of every improve-
ment to the person by whose authority it was carri? out.
Referring in the course of his remarks to the Agricultural
Holdings Act, he said he was sorry that when the Government
gave them a law which would effect everything they could
wish they >lioiild have allowed landlords to contract out of the
Act if they pleased. There was one excuse, however, for that,
because the precent Government had always been very fond
of permissive bills. They had, indeed, been so far their
characteristic that he verily believed it the present Prime
Minister had been in power at the time the decalogue was
framed he would, after each commandment such as "Thou
shalt not steal," &c, have added in a still small voice
"except you like to contract out ot it " (laughter). In con-
clusion, he urged tenant-farmers to join the Alliance, and
to bring their influence to bear upon candidates for Parlia-
mentary honours.

Mr. J. Gkeatokfx, of S'retton, who was received with
applause, saul he had pleasure in proposing a resolution; but
at llie outset, he might tell them that he did not appear there
on political grounds. It ma'tered not 10 him who rr presented
him if he looked after his interests and those of his colleagues ;
but he thought the time had arrived when they as tenant-
farmers should look more to t'eir represents' ivea to induce
t'lera to promctp their interests in Parliament (Hear, hear).
The resolution he had to propose was — "That in the opinion
of this meeting the Farmers' Aliance, as an association of
agricultural reformeis, with objects independent of party
politics, deserves ti e support of all who .!e>irf 10 see the legtl
aud cus omary hindrances to agricultural prosperity removed."
Itelerrinsr to the question of taxation, he complained ol the
School Board ra'e as pressing heavily upon the fanners in his
district. He was by no means opposed to education, as lor 18
years he and others assisted in carrying on a day school in his
parish. At that time £40 or £45 a year was sufficient for their
requirements ; but when the School Board stepped in, the
result '»as that on his small farm of 140 acrr-s he had to pay
£8 (Shanv). He thought such burdens as these, ought to be
fairly apportioned, and that the tenant-farmer should not be
required to pay three times as much as tradesmen in a town
who made more clear proll out of bis sa es than a tenant-
farraer could hope to do. As to the Agricultural Holdings
Ac*, it was nof, as one of the speakers put i', worth the paper
it was written on; but it was an admission that somethirg

was required to g^ve tenant-farmers greater security for their
capital. Then there was the Turnpike Act, doing away with
the tollgates. They knew that in the district arouud Bunon
there was very heavy traffic upon the roads, and that the cost of
maintaining them pressed very heavily upon the occupiers of
land. There were many othtr matters upon which he could
speak if time permitted, but seeing the difficulties with which
they had to contend he would urge on all, lor the sake ol them-
selves individually, and for the sake of those whom they were
sworn to love and cherish, to unite with the Farmers' Alliance
and thus try to bring about a better state of things than at
present existed (applause). Unity, it was said, was sireugih,
aud should every trade have its, association while farmers stood
aloof Irom each other ? .No ■ the time had come lor them to
arise as one man and to be united, not -or aggression, but for
protection. He did not complain that they had to submit lo
free trade and to compete with other coun:nei; he did not
think it would be practical to return to the old sysiem of Pro-
tection ; but he cou'ended that if they had to do this or the
good of the community at large the community at large ought
to have a greater share of those local burdens which pressed
so heavily upou the tenant-farmer (applause).

Mr. Radford, of Church Bronghtuu, said I hat after the
remarks the) had heard from the various speakers he thought
it was nec-s?ary they should joiu the Alliance, and he cordially
seconded the motiou, which was put and carrisd item xmi.

Mr. B. Walker (Stretton) then proposed : —

" That it is desirable to organise local committees of the
Alliance in Staffofdauire aud Deruysi.ire with the view of
increasing the number ol members, as well as to watch
over the interests ol farmers at tile coming geueral e ection."

This was seconded by Mr. William Harriscx and declared
carried netn. von.

Mr. Bear, tiie Secretary, said he should be happy to give
any explanation respecting ttie Alliance which might be desired,
and to show that it was not a party association he mentioued
that there were eight Conservatives on the committee, aud, as
far as they could tell, about a hundred o! the members were
Conservathes. They had had sufficient provocation irom the
Coii9eivative press to have driven them into the arms ot tuo
Radicals if the) had cared to go, but they preferred to remain
true to the principle laid down at the foundation oi tue
Alliance — ihat it should he conducted ou au independent basis.
Bdiore sitting dowu he wished to propose a hearty vote of
thanks to the chairman lor presiding.

Mr. fit. A. Bans, M.P., who was cordially receivrd, said he
had great pleasure iu seconding t tie motion. He would not
detain them for a ore th iu a momei t, alter the extreuiciy
iuteresting addresses u which tuey Lad listened, because he-
was a'raid that leior- Ion,' he should have quite a» iuany
opportunities as he cculd desire to discuss the various subj.-c.s
which had been alluded to. They ail owed ihauks to Mr.
Wardle for giving i hem the opportunity ot listening 10 two
such excellent aud lucid speeci.es as they hau heard that dey,
and he w.is qu.le saU-li. d thai uo sent, em an picaenl Could now
have the excuse that lie u.d not thoroughly comprehend the
its for which the Alliance, was promoted (liear, near).
For nisown part, he heartily sympathised with aii U:e proposi-
tions of the. Alnauce, and he hoped that every tenant-larmer
in the country wouid study them aud lay tnem to heart ; aud
he hoped, il after studyiug them he considered tliem to be
reasonable and that tbey would conduce to the interests of
teuant-larraers, he would not hesitate when the election lime
came to put each proposition fairly and fully before thecaudi-
didate, and get a caitgorical answer from niai as lo whether
he would or would uot support tliem when they were embodied
before Parliament, either in bills or resolutions, aud mat he
would uot be saiUfied with aii) shilly-shallying sort of answer
or h .If approval, but would have a deliuite answer, " Yes " or
" No." to the question, " Will you vote lor reform or will you
not f> (applause).

Col. Levett, of Wychnor, in the course of a few remarks,
said he took great interest iu county business, aud he might
perhaps be permitted to say that it wou;d be to llie uagisirales
a source of the greatest pleasure it the ratepayers could be
associated wi'h them not ouly ia the laying ol the rates, but
in their distribution. In defence of llie landowners of
StHlfordshire he repuuialed an a-sertiou by one ot thespeakeis
that landlords and tenants could not meet and have equal aud
lair discussion, ami said the great body of landowners iu this
county would be grieved if ihej couL not do so (applause). As-

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

211

to'the programme of the Alliance, the eighth article sta'ed

that one of their objects was "to o tain a fair apportionment
ol local burdens between landlord and tenant," but he thought
the.v should go further and endeavour to obtain a fairer appor-
tionment of local burdens betwet-n the agricultural classes and
the manufacturing classes. lie thought, it would not be
difficult to prove that the enormous property in Burton, for
instance, di.l not bear anything like the proportion of rate*
which the surrounding landed property bore (Hear, hear). He
concurred in the views which had been expressed that the
farming interest should b better represented in Parliament —
(hear, hear) — and all he could say as to that wis t hut if any man
could be lound capable of representingfarmers' interests broadly,
aud without taking any one-sided view with the idea of
separating landlords from tenants, who would go and contest
East. Staffordshire at the next election, he would give £Ll)0
towards fighting the battle, but the battle must be fought on
broad principles, because the interests of the landlords and
tenants were inseparable (applause).

The Chairman briefly acknowledged the compliment paid
to him, and the proceedings, which had been harmonious
throughout, terminated. Saveral gentlemen present signified
their intention of joining the Alliance.

THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE IN KENT.

The first annual meeting of the Kent branch of " The
Farmers' Alliance " was held at the Star Hotel, Maidstone, on
Thursday, the 12th ultimo. The following gentlemen were
appointed the committee 'or the ensuing year: — Mr. Charles
Whitehead, J. P., Banning House, Maidstone ; Mr. Hen>y Pye,
lary's Hall, Rochester: Mr. John WiUon HaffVndon,
Mayor of Tenterden ; Mr. John May, Faruingham; Mr. John
Marten, Chilham, Canterbury ; Mr. Basil Hodges, Vincent
Margate; Mr. R. H. Bah, Whoso nt, Crayford; Mr. W.
Bailey, Sntton-at-Houe, Harford ; Mr. R. Sankey, Dent-de-
lion, Margate ; Mr. G. W. Chambers, Leeds, Miidstone ; Mr.
Edward Wood, Sidcup ; Mr. Frederic Beard, Horton, Canter
bury ; Mr. A. Bath, Halstead, Ssvenoaks. Mr. Lake, of
Oakley, Rochester, was elected president, and Mr. Aveling
hon. secretary and treasurer. Arrangements were made to
hold meetings to forward the o jects of the Alliance in different
parts of the country and a resolution was unanimously carried
that oce at least of the, representatives for the county in the
ensuing Parliament should be a tenant farmer. The meeting
aUo expressed a hope lhat the utmost endeavour will be made
on the part of every subscriber to ootain new members of the
Alliance.

THE PRESS ON THE FARMERS'
ALLIANCE AT NORWICH.

The Agricultural Ed'tor of the Norfolk News writes : —

The Farmers' Alliance meeting last week attracted a large
and attentive audience. Considerable enthusiasm was created
bv the intelligent remarks of the chairman, Mr. Henry Birk-
beck, head o1 the great Nortolk banking-house, who expressed
his opinion at the meeting that every creditor should stand on
the same footing as the landlord. In the present position ol
farming, no measure would do so much to establish a s\stem
of " live and let live" between lan»lord and tenant as the
abolition of the law of distress. We are, often told that we
have the opportunity of making our bargain wiih the landlord
or his agent. But, unfortunately, until roe present unexam-
pled distress overtook us, we were overweighted by having to
conterd against the landlords' privi'pges, and had either to
accept his terms or make room for a man of no capital, but
who would be sure to have enough on the farm to pay the rent
out of tradesmen's pockets. We fail to see how Mr. Read on
onject to the Farmers' Alliance, as we all know that the
Norfolk Chamber of Agriculure has been of very little benefit
to the larmer. There have been floods of eloquence, but hardly
anything practical has emanated from it. Have they ever
taken up the question of the law ot dis'rcss, which W";rks as
much evil in the agricultural woild as any piece of legislation
which exists ? The large landowners are genpr'Py tree from
grasping at too much. Their position enables tbera to act
mo erately and wisely, but some quantity of the land of Great
Britain is held by men who take advantage ot the land laws to
increase their rents.

The Norwich Mercury says: —

The Farmers' Alliance has been duly introduced to a Nor-
folk audience. Not one of the agriculturists present at the
meeting on Saturday in St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, would
care to dispu'e that the programme of the Alliance, as the<e
advocated, included only questions which ought to be settled.
The puzzle— which the .speaker sat the meeting failed to solve—
is how 10 bring about relorm with the least possible disurbance
and with the greatest possible speed. Tenant-farmers are now
almost wholly unrepresented in Parliament directly, and the
indirect representation is too often misrep^en'atiou. When
the day comes that party politicians see it advisable— for
their own ends you may be sure ! — to give us household
suffrage in the counties, as we have it now in boroughs, and sec-
tions ot counties nominally spoken of as boroughs, the chance
of a more complete representation of the tenant-armer will
be even smaller than it is now. Yet the fuller representa-
tion of tenant-farmers is put in the fore-front of the pro-
gramme. The remedy for this complaint would seem to be
found in tenant farmers, and all those whom ihey employ on
land, being educated to the idea that opinions rather than
numbers should be represented. This has beeu shown to be a
practical measure, but to gain it our whole system of the
election of Members of Parliament must be reformed. Here
is a field for the Alliance which will pay for the tillage ! One
other item in the Alliance programme deserves equal attention,
and it, too, requires that the public shall be educated. We
allude to the question of the incidence of taxation. The
Scotch have a much more just systtm than is in force in
England, but on this side the border we are slow to take np
new ideas. Occupiers of lands and houses evidently receive.
>only a portion of the benefits which the local rates are pre.
umed to purchase. Yet they pay the whole bill, while the
owner, who is an eqnal gainer— though his profit may
be deferred for a time — is not even asked to pay his
share. Now the Scot is free from this evil, for rates
are, in his case, equally and equitably divided. This is
reform number two, which men of all parties may join
in procuring, and to that end should discuss with their
friends and neighbours. If the Alliance could but give
us these, its organization would have been to some purpo-e.
The Chambers of Agriculture were pitted against the Farmers'
Alliance, by Mr. C. S. Read, on Saturday. So far as our
Norfolk Chamber has worked, it has been of great service to
the community, by its abstention from all that could give it
the appearance of being a sectioial body, and its free discussion
of questions of special interest to agriculturists. True, there
have been occasions when there was a manifest intention, on
the part of some of the speakers, to minimise, as much as
possible, the c'aim a Liberal Government mav have sought, by
legislation, to establish on agricultural electors. But this was
excusable. The Farmers' Alliance, however, must not be
compared with a local Chamber, but with the body known as
the Central Chamber of Agriculture. That respectable
assembly has undoubtedly shown a decided par.y bias, possii lv
because it has had the honour of Conservative Members of
Parliament taking so very ac'ive part in its proceedings that
working delegates have been placed in the background. But
so has the Alliance, may be the reply. Set one against the other
and 1«1 us look -at another view of the things to be considered,
The Central Chamber has for many years had a Standing
Local Taxation Committee.. Will anyone venture to s~y
that Committee has on any one occasion shown tint it had a
fair grasp of the most important question on which it was
appointed to report? Petty details, warnings as to the danger
arising trom threatened legislation, and supposed advantages
gained— these have, formed the staple of the several reports
of the Committee. The public have looked in vain for an
exhaustive statement of the reasons why the Government
should not be pressed to agree to such a Bill as that by which
Mr. J. G. Hubbard sought, to equalise the burden of local
taxation on real and personal estate. The Committee has not
to our recollection, attempted to formalise a scheme by which
the mansion and park of the wealthy shonld be brought
under an equal pressure with the smaller occupation of the
tenant-farmer. Yet these two matters are of the essence of
good local taxation. If we understand the Alliance, programme,
silence is not to be main'ained on such topics. By so much then
may the Alliance be eons:dered the more valuable association
for the practical purposes ot agricultural politics.

212

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

The Suffolk Chronicle remarks : —

The Farmers' Alliance is to be credited with bringing about
a very capital meeting at Norwich. The multiplying of
societies is not of itself a thing to be desired ; but this latest
horn of the agricultural societies is certainly doing a good
work in getting together these meetings, at which agricul-
tural grievances get well aired. On this ground it deserves
the support of all farmers who are in favour of agricultural
reforms. The Alliance has take i up a branch of work which
no other organisation has ventured upon. The results will
probably be seen in the work which will be done by the nest
House of Commons.

We are sorry to note that Mr. C. S. Read took np an
attitude of hostility, when we should have thought he would
have welcomed an ally. It is little enough that Government
has done for farmers yet. Perhaps pressure will bring what
the "don't-make-'hings-unpleasant" policy of the chambers
of agriculture has failed to obtain. The eve of an election is
the best of all times for speaking out. The election that is
approaching appears likely to be an unusually lively on*. It
will be a pleasant relief after the dead monotony of stagna-
tion which has characterised the home policy of the last six
years, and will result, we hope, in filling the House of Com-
mons with men who will at any rate try to do something
besides spending the country's money.

PHOSPHATES.

The following paper was recently read by Dr. Prevost,
Professor of Chemistry at Cirencester College, before the
Cirencester Chamber of Agriculture : —

It was in 1875, and in two succeeding years, that the Aber-
deenshire Agricultural Association caused experiments on the
growth of turnips under different circumstances to be made,
and the results np to the present time I give in the words of
their chemist, Mr. Jamieson : "Soluble phosphate is not
superior to insoluble phosphate to the extent that is generally
supposed. Nitrogenous manures have little effect on turnips
used alone, but when used along with insoluble phosphates
increase the crop, and the addition of nitrogen to soluble phos-
phates does not seem to increase the solids or dry matter in
the crop. Fineness of division of the manure seems as
nearly effective in assisting the braird and increasing the crop
as the addition of nitrogenous manure*. " These are
the statements that I wish to lay before you, and to
show yon where I believe a saving may be made. It is
a difficult matter, and almost impossible, to compare
with any sort of accuracy two sets of experiments performed
on totally different soils, in a different climate, and with
different onantities of mauu'es. Tne experiments of the
Aberdeenshire Agricultural Association were made at five
different stations, having different soils and climates, so that
we thus obtain a fair average. The manures employed were
ground cnprolit.es and bone-ash. The. results in the year 1875
were that an average yield of bulbs was obtained of 16 (-opro-
lites) and 17 (ash) tons per acre, whereas the experiments at
Rothamsted in 18+3, manured with calcined bones, produced
only 10 tons 4 cwt. per acre. It is obvious that no compari-
son between these two results can be drawn, wnen we consider
the great difference o! soil, the soil of Rothamsted being very
unfavourable to the growth of turnips. Not only are there
these influences affecting t he result, but aLo the land in
Scotland had been well manured with salts previous to sow-
ing, while at Rothamsted i he soil had been exhausted by pre-
vious cropping by wheat, clover, wheat, and no return had
been made to the soil, except that at the time of manuring
clay and weed ashes were added. But now let ns look at the
results obtained when in both series superphosphate v. as added
alone. At Rothams'eri an average yield of 10 tons 6 cwt.
(maximum, 12 tons 13 cwt.) was obtained, v. hile in Scotland
18 tons (coprolites) and 17 tons (ash) were produced (maxi-
mum, 21 tons, minimum, 11 tons). The Scotch experiments,
there ore, point to an increase of yield by the u^e of super-
phosphate, while at Rothamsted the increase is not so great.
"i he results then obtained iu Scotland showed on an average
the superiority ofthesolub'e phosphate to the extent of 10 per
cent., fin 1 the. experiments of the lollowiug year show the
superiority not to rise above 20 per cent. The RHhamsted

experiments give a somewhat similar result, for if I may be
allowed to take the maximum yield with superphospha'e, and
compare it witti the only experiment with insoluble phosphate,
we shall find an increase of 20 per cent. This increase
appears to me to be insufficient to warrant the use of expensive
mauures, if what I have already said, and what I 3hall say
further on, is to be trusted. I proceed now to show the effect
of insoluble and soluble phosphates when nitrogen is present.
Again I find that Lawes and Gilbert's and Jamieson's results
are not quite comparable for the reason that equal quantities
of the manures were not applied. However, I lay before you
average crops as obtained by both, and we may then see if
there be any material increase of yield when solubles are
used. The subjoined are the results of the Scotch ex-
periments : —

INSOLUBLE PHOSPHATES.

With Am. Bone Bone

Sulph. With Nitre. Powder. Flour.

Average 20 tons 18 tons 16 tons 20 tons

Max. 24 „ 22 „ — 26 „

SOLUBLE PHOSPHATES.

Average 20 tons 21 tons

Max. 21 , 26 „

Lawes and Gilbert's results are thus stated :—

INSOLUBLE PHOSPHATES.

Average 10 tons.

SOLUBLE PHOSPHATES.

11 tons 1 cwt. average of seven plots. Striking out plot 5

in 1844, we find average 12 tons.
Now apparently we have here discordant results which I do
not attempt to explain here, merely pointing out that insoluble
and soluh'e phosphates, with ammonia, appear to have like
effects. But with Lawes and Gilbert there is again an increase
of 25 per cent. Again nitrates appear to have a greater
effect with soluble phosphates than with insolubles, the
increase being on the average 17 per cent. Likewise ammonia
and nitrates with soluble phosphates have, an effect ve'y
similar to ODe another, the maximum difference being onh 4
per cent. Paying attention to the rest of Jamieson's table we
fiud some matter worthy of consideration, viz., by Aising bone
flour and powder with insolubles, a yield is produced not
greatly differing from that produced by ammonia and nitrates.
In the case of bone powder, raw bones were employ d, con-
taining 4-3 per cent, of ammonia, whereas the bone flour
contained only 3'6 per cent, of ammonia ; yet the yield is
higher.in the latter case. This is attributed to the fluent sa
of division of the flour. One mure point before I priceed to
the next division of my subject. Iu the second year of the
expeiiments turnips were again grown on the same soil, with
no further adilit n of manure, and the. re>ul s were asLllows :-

INSOLUBLE Til iSrilATES.

With am. sulph. With nitre. Bone powder. Bone flour.

210 ... 32 ... 5-17 ... 5-10

SOLUBLE PHOSPHATES.

3 7 ... 3 5 ... — ... —

As was to be expected, the yield was very poor, but re-
mark the difference of the jield of the bone powder
compared to that produced by the ammonia — that whereas in
the former season bone powder had yielded the lowest result,
now it shows highest, due to the slower decomposition of
bones. Before examiuing the feeding value ol the roots grown
in Aberceeushire under the en cumstances already mentioned,
it will, 1 thins., not be out of place to see what is the actual
weight o( bulb produced, for the weight has considerable in->
flueuce in the pfice obtained per acre. I shall quote but four
examples, comparing them with results obtained by Lawes
and Gilbert. V\ ith hone-ash the bulbs amount to l'Olb. ;
with ash and ammonia to 2-241b., Lawes and Gilbert stain-
ing '92 in the first case, and "95 in the second case. But when
soluble phosphates were employed the weights were 2 lb. each
with bone superphosphate, and 2"2S lb. with bone super*
phosphate and ammonia. Lawes and Gilbert obtained in these
two cases 1-21 lb. and 1-21 lb. respectively. The advan-
tage of employing ammonia and soluble phosphates is
very evideut, and we see that both the results are in
agreement. Bur. .Ismiesou finis that bone flour produces a
heavier bulb (2 29 lb.), and soluble phosphate with nitre
heavier s'ill (235 lb.) Now the weight of a turnip depends
on the solids and water it contains. O;' these two constituents
we have only to consider the amount of solids, as these, are for
t .c most pait the lecding portion by which the price ought to

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

213

be regulated, the water only adding to aud increasing the bulk
and gross weight of the root. With bone ash, Jamieson
obtained bulbs containing 8'7 per cent, of solids, and Lawes
and Gilbert 8'71 per cent. With bone, ash an : ammonia bulbs
were obtained containing on the average 8.29 per cent, of
solids by JarniesoD, and by Lawes and Gilbert bulbs containing
7'77 per cent. But wiien soluble phosphates were used,
Jamieson obtained bulbs containing 9-84 per cent, ol solids,
bone superphosphate produced bulbs with 931 per cent, of
solids, bone superphosphate and ammouia brought 8'29
per cent., and bone superphosphate and nitre 7'72 per
ceo'. With Lawes and Gilbert, bone superphosphate
produced bulbs containing 8 75 per cent., aud when
aniinoi'ia is added 8-5 per cent, of solids. By this
we see that both sets oi experiments are in ac-
cordance when tney show that the use of phosphates without
nitrogen is productive of bulbs having less water in them. But
Jam eson's experiments show more, for they show that nitrates
produce a watery bulb, and that dissolvtd coprolites or ash
are productive of a bulb richer in solids. Jamieson in the
year following i.e., 1877, repeated experiments expressly with
the object of showing the best manure for producing solids.
The results corroborated those of the former year. In that it
was found that the highest amount of solids was produced
when no nitrogen was employed, and when the mauure was
in the form of coprolites or ash, but the advantage of
soluble over insoluble is not corroborated, so that point still
rem ins open. So far I have only spoken of the solid", and
have made no reference to the fact that these solids may be
al'ered in their composition by manuring. Now the
portious of the solids which are of value to the farmer
are the sugars (carbohydrates), and oil, or heat pro-
ducers, and the albuminoids, or flesh formers, aud
bcsiue.o these two there is the indigestible fibre. Now
it is 'ound that the highest amount of albuminoids is pn>duc< d
whm bone ash or coprolites are used with or without niirogen
(viz., 11 '7 and 107), and that bone ash gives rather a higher
average (ID'7) than coprolites (10'4) ; while soluble phosphate
p.-oduces much less. Exactly the opposite is the case as
regards the heat givers, for here the soluble phosphates pro-
duce most sugar (coprolites 52'7, ash 47'6), whereas insoluble
prooucrs least sugar (ash 30'2, coprolites 304, coprolites
aud nitrogen 371). As regards the fibre, Jamieson has found
no relation to the manure employed. I now come to the part
of my sulij-ct which isol far more importance to the practicnl
agriculturist than the above experimenta. facts. First, I w 1
put before you what may be considered to be the composition
of (a) poor turnip, or one poor in feeding matter, and (b) a
rich turnip, or cne having more feeding material in it and le.s
water: —

Poor turnip. Rich turnip.

Water 92-0 ... 90-5

Albuminoids 0'8 ... l'O

Carbohydrates and oil ... 5-4 ... 07

fibre 1'2 ... 1.1.

Ash 0 6 ... 0 7

lOO'O 100-0

or expressed in pounds per acre, if I take the yield to be 15
tous : —

Water

Albuminoids
Carbohydrates and oil

F.b.e

Ash

Poor turnip.

30,912-0

268-8

1,814'4

4H3-2

1916

Rich turnip.

. 30,4U8 0

336 0

2,251-0

369-6

235-2

33,5900 33,599 -S

Now from these figures it is very evident that what I hav
called a poor turnip is deficient in feeding matter, and 'con-
tains an excess of water which is useless. Now if I make a
further calculation, and if I give to the rich turnip the amount
of water which i1 might have if it were, a poor turnip, we
have : Water, 38 642; albuminoids, 336; carbohydrates,
2,251; fibre, 369 ; ash, 286 ; total, 41.833. This represents
approximately, then, the composition of a fictitious turnip crop,
and subtr ictog from this the yield ol rich turnips, we have
41,833— 3°., 5'JU, equals 8,2431b. per acre. Thisyou will see is
the difference ..f weight of the two crops, and represents the
water which a poor crop has taken up, over auu above what

is advantageous. To pnt this in a simpler form, let us make a
rough approximation of the two cro,js. We will assign the
following values to the different constituents; Id. for sugar,
2d. for flesh formers, aud 2^1. for oil. This, then, shows us that
the value of fifteen tons oi poor turnips, which contains much
water, is only £14 6d., while of the better turnips the
price is .£18 5s. Here is a clear gain of £3 19s. per acre
Now let us consider the price paid for the manure. For the
sake of calculation we will suppose that 4 «wt. of superphos-
phate, contuuing about 30 per cent, soluble phosphates, and
1 cwt. nitrate of soda, costing £2 2s., or 4 cwt. superphosphate
aud 1 cwt. of sulplute of ammonia, costing £2 4s., are applied
in the one case; and 8 cwt. of bone ash, costing £2 8s., in the
other. The loss per acre according to this is 4<., and is but
trifling, and we must remember that the manuring with bone
ash is excessive, the amount of phosphates being four
times that contained in the superphosphate, and this propor-
tion is considerably above that employed by Jamieson. Also,
though I have chosen bone-ash, I might have taken ground
coprolites, which are far cheaper, and do not give a yield
widely differing from boue-ash. These figures will thus repre-
sent the extreme expenses. Now if we take for granted
that this last manuring will produce a yield of 15 tons of
the turnips, there will be a clear gain of £4 into the producer's
pocket. Of course, this is very theoretical, but there is a
basis of fact upon wnich this theory is founded. In short, it
would appear that insoluble phosohatas should be employed in
preference to superphosphate and nitrogenous manures when
it is desired to proJuce a good feeding turnip, but if it is
desired to produce a bulky root, having considerable weigh',
and therefore realising more money per acre, by all means use
superphosphate and nirate. Yet until further experiments
have been made it would not be advisable in me to recommend
a radical change in the present system of manuring with
phosphates. In conclusion, I trust that what I have said may
induce a few to put to the test this new theory, and I regret
that I have not been able to bring before the Chamber any-
thing better than this short resume of part of the Aberdeen-
shire experiments, which I have in no way attempted to
criticise — and they are open to severe criticism — thee iticisras
having been made elsewhere by other and more able hands
than my own.

" RORY " IN ENGLAND.— D-. Henry H iyman, Rector
of Aldingham. Lancashire, aud ex-Master of Rugby School,
writes to the Fall Mall Gaz.lie iu reference to the following
singular circumstance : — The following circumstances are so
unique in some of their features that no apology seems
neci ssary for seeking publicity for them. On the 9th of
December a letter of mine appeared iu your contemporary the
Tildes, iu which 1 pointed out, from facts well kuo>vn iu this
neighbourhood, the effects of Irish turbulence in deranging
English commercial relations. The very next morning I
received an annonymous letter with a London postmark, con-
taining, more Wbernico, a rude sketch of a skull and cross-
hones, aud under it the following threat ; — You will get a bulet
{sic) thru (tic) your pcuI (sic) if you write agaiu to papers."
I should add that, having lately had occasion to visit Liver-
pool, I was there informed that a gentleman holding some
official position there had received a similar anonymous menace
in consequence of speaking his rniud on Irish affairs. It seems
astonishing to us in free and peaceable England that such
things should be in the air. I think it due, however, to all
loyal and well-disposed Irishmen, and to the Irish peasantry
themselves, many of whose virtues I lervently admire, that
when they occur they should not be hushed up.

LATEST CRAZES.— The latest notion of young gentlemen
is to discard the Albert chain, and to wear their watches in a
fob wiih a chaiu and seals, alter the fashion ol our grandfather
It is amusing to see one of these youihs continually hauling
his watch up, and solemnly lowering it uuriug a
theatrical performance. Perhaps after all it is a more
harmless piece of insanity than the crutch and
toothpick nonsense. Certainly we are becoming rabidly
Oriental. Ladies trom the turban have now adopted the
auklct, of which a complete assortment (with and without
beil>) miy be seen at Thornhill's in Bonn-street. May we not
soon exp. ct the rest of the charming costume, of which the
auklel may be s»id to supply the Jix-t link? — Wudd.

214

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

THE LATE MR. ALEX. M'XWEL-CAIRD.

Mr. Alex. M'Neel-Caird, Ions a promiuent raaa in Galloway,
and vi ell known throughout Scotland as an advocate of land
tenancy reform, died at his residence, Genoch House, near
Stranraer, on February 1±, a'ter a severe a ;d protrac ed
illness. Mr. Caird was a native of Stranraer, where lie was
born about 1804. After practising for seme years a- a solicitor,
he wa<, in 1838, appointed Procurator-Fiscal for the Pthins
division o( Wigtownshire. For man1, years he took a leading
part in municipal matters in Stranraer, and oc< upied the
posit on of Provost of the burgh from 1852 to 1853. During
liis term of civic office extensive improvements were effected
upon the harbour, in the erection of what is no'.v known as the
breastwork and the west pier. These works have proved of
great advantage to the shipping trade of the port. His
engaging in this undertaking was the means of directing Mr.
Caird's attention to the unsatisfactory state of the law as
regarded harbours in this country. He lest no time in direct-
ing public attention to this matter, and the result was the
passing of the present Harbours Act for Scotland — an Act the
first draft of which he recently 'old a Stranraer audience was
prepared by his own hand. Since he resigned the Provostship
in 1858, Mr. Caird has taken little or no part in municipal
matters, but has devoted his attention more and more to pub ic
qnestions, more particularly those affecting agriculture. He
h id long stud ed the laud laws in their beariug upon the
various agricultural interests, but it was not till some ten years
ago that he took any active steps for their reform. In or
about the year 1870 he, a'ong with tie 1 te Mr. George Hope,
Fenton Barns, Mr. William Goodlet, Bolshnn, and other
noted asricultu'-Uts, issued a letter on the suhjjct, which
attracted a good deal of attention at the time. Shortly after-
ward* Mr. Caird was invited by the directors of ihe Sc 'ttish
Chamber of Agriculture to reliver an address on " The Lind
Tenancy Laws," whkh he did in the course of 1871, his object
being to show the baneful effect of the laws in question in
relation not only to farmers, but to the commercial classes and
the general body of the people. This address was published by
the Chamber, and attained a wide circulation. The author
wa«, on the earliest subsequent opportunity, elected a director
of the Chamber, and in 1874 he was called upon to fill tie
post of president — an office to which he had the unprecedented
honour of being reappointed in November last. During all
the time he was connected with the Chamber, Mr. Caiid
approved himself one of the most useful of its office-bearers;
and he was the compiler of the pamphlet issued last year by
the directors, " addressed to the constituencies," on " The
Land Laws, as they affect Landowners, Farmers, Workers, snd
Consumers." In this paper, as in all his earlier addressns, Mr.
Caird pointed out the evil effects of the Scotch Law of Agri-
cultural Hypothec and the English and Irish Law of Distress,
which he held not only crea'ed undue competition for the
tenancy of land, but by arbitrary and unreasonable presump-
tions interpreted the tenant's agreement unequally against him,
and decided again«t him when his agreement was silen' ; the
severity of the law of " caution " as applied in ca-es in which
a landlord sued a tenant to quit ; the necessity for providiug
compensation to tenants for unexhausted improvement* ; and
the desirableness of reform in regard to the law of " strict
entail " in Sco'land. One of 'he first to advocate the abolition
of the law of hypothec, Mr. Caird had the ere tit o' making a
converr on that subject of the preset member for Wigtown-
shire, Mr. Vans A^new. A member of tie H ghland and
Agricultural Society since 1869, he contributed the article on
" Land Ownership and Tenure " iu the ' Report on the
Present Slate of the Agriculture oi Scotland," compiled under
t tie anspices o 'he Society for presentation at the Interna
Agricultural Congress of Paris in June L878. Mr. Caird took
a deep interest in the administration of the Poor-law; and
shortly after the passing of the Poor-law Amendment Act he
issued a work which was long a recognised authoritj on the
sibject, but has latterly been, to some, extent at least, dis-
placed by more modern publications. Some tears since h*
delivered (o the Sociai Science Congress at Glasgow an address
on Poor-law administration, which was subsequently repro-
duced in the form of a pamphlet, and attained a wid^
circulation. Mr. Caird also publuhtd numerous other
pamphlets bearing u, on agrical ure, the Poor-law, and o her
cognate snhj cts. Many years ago, venturing into a very
differeut field, he gave to the world a life, or rather a vin-

• dicatioa of Queen Mary — a book which seems now to have

, dropped out ot pub c notice. As a solicitor Mr. Cord

1 enjoyed a large and lucrative practice, and was looked Dp to by

his legal bretheren as an anthority on Sheriff-Court law.

Prior to the passing of the latest Law Agents Ac , lie was one

j of the offkial examiners of entrants for admission to the

I Society of Law Agents, the examinations of whitli were held

j alternately in Edinburgh aud Glasgow. Mr. C'-ird was a

forcible and persuasive public spencer, and could secure a

hearing from a meeting o' Galloway farmers, more readily

perhaps, thin any local man of his time. A Liberal in polit c.s,

hejoid yeoman service for the party both io the couuty and

the burghs. — Scotsman.

THE

GRAIN" BLOCKADE IN
AMERICA.

Mr. A. Montgomery, of the firm of Montgomery
Brothers, New York, who tells us he has been an exporter
of breadstuff's over 32 years, seuds us a letter which he
has published in the New York Commercial Bulletin,
' After stating that he is not interested " long or short "
one bushel on this season's crop, he remarks : —

The so-ealed "Syndicate," as I understand it, have, no
doubt, the pecuniary ability to hold as long as they may see
fit ; bu' I nive them credit for more sagacity than to suppose
they will continue to do so when convinced, a; they must soon
be, that it js a hopeless, and, in my opinion, an ill-advised
operation. Hilding grain subject to heavy s orage and other
expenses, and liable to get out of condition they will find very-
different from filling their vaults with bonds, stocks, and other
portable securities ; for, as I understand if, it is Wall-street
that holds the bulk. The fact that European crops last year
were largely deficieut and of poor quality none dispu e, but
that the British crop was only five million quarters must,
I think, be taken with a lar^egraiu of allowance. In Ins open-
ing remark', your correspondent see;ns -o blame the pre-s of
this country lor sounding the alarm so early as July, and
pointing to 2<i|) dollars a bushel » r wheat "daily and per-
sistently." If so, apparently it made litle impression on tha
minds of exporters, who vied with e.ich other in offering
"John Bull" millions and millions oi bu liels at the lowest
point, discounting our bountiful harvest, not ouly for imme-
diate shipment but for months ahead, which our British
cousin» were shrewd enough to pick up and stoek themselves
lor months ahead. And nere I wid allow each exporter to
give his own experience, simply remarking that many weris
unable to til the contrac s thej had made and had to
succumb, entailing heavy losses, not oaty on themselves but
on innocent parties, by s':ch operations; selling what they
had not, and uot sag; c ohs enough to cover, being caught ou
the advance — a lesson which I trust all wiil profit by in the
future. He further a^ser.s ihat farmers stopper Belliug and
country dealers, instead of marke,tiug their oCock, acually
bonght wheat in Chicago. The simple fact that warehou-es
Etst, West, North, and South are full to oteiflowing as aever
known be. ore, and the amount in Bight unprecedented, I
think sufficient to upset am sucn theory.

The " nulls" started on the assumption, and they had the
figures of experts not only here but iu England, that the world
was short 37,000,000 bushels o* wheat — a great mistake in my
opiuion, as 1 pointed out a^ early as iNovember last, while they
are now williug to concede that there is euough to go round,
il not to Bpare, for .ill purposes ; and at the end of theocieal
year it will be interesting to note the result. * * * *

One word for die shipping intere>t which my export friend
refers to very briefly, and I fear underr-ites. With an
abundant harvest and the wants o Europe well understood, it
was quite legitimate for shiponneis to expect reasonable aud
payable rates of Ireiyht, in wlncn they have been grievously
disappointed, and, if I am uot mistaken, «i.l noi bi caught in
the same trap again ; and the export tra..e may be seriously
embarrassed he. ore anotl ei imlie mouths furwantoftonuage.
Iu fact, the season is uow so far advanced that ouly a few
of the present fleet could make a second voyage before the end
of the cereal year, and no appearance yet of B let upon the part

of the " syndicate," a point not unworthy ol consideration. I
do not trouble you with ;. long array ot figures in tins coin*
mimical ion, but they are at your service, if dtrsired,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

215

Jf armors' Clubs.

BLANDFORD.

The first meeting for reading papers and discussion for 1880
in connection with this club was held recently at Blandford.

The Chairman asked Mr. Charles Rickman to introduce the
subject for discussion — " Science as applied to Agriculture,
and as Illustrated by the Microscope and Telescope. '

Mr. Rxkman, after some preliminary remarks, said : — " By
the aid of the microscope you may ascertain the proportionate
qualities of the milk of every cow in your dairy, and test the
average of the butter vesicles contained in the cream. Again,
its usefulness is illustrated in the detection of adulteration in
seeds and manures, and also iu many articles of domestic use,
such as flour, pepper, mustard, and sugar ; by its aid you may
trace the true fungoid character of the smut and the nature of
red rust in wheat, not to omit the parasitical nature of that
most destructive agent, "the dodder in clover." Now
taking as the basis of our deduction 1,000 parts of the
following suhstances, we find the comparative amount of
nutrition in each to be as follows: — Almonds, 656; apples,
170 ; apricots, 260 ; barley, 920 , beans, 800 ; beetroot, 148 ;
beef, 260; blood, 215; brain, 200; bones, 510; bread, 800;
cabbage, 78 ; carrots, 98 ; cherries, 250 ; chicken, 270 ; cod-
fish, 210; cucumbers, 25 ; eggs, 140; eggs, white of, 140;
gooseberries, 120 ; grapes, 270 ; haddock, 180 ; melons, 30 ;
milk, 72 ; * morels, 896 ; mutton, 290 ; nuts, 930 ; oats, 742 ;
peaches, 200; pears, 160; peas, dry, 930 ; plums, 290 ; pork,
240; potatoes, 120 ; rice, 880; rye, 792 ; sole, 210 ; straw-
berries, 120 ; tamarinds, 840 ; turnips, 42 ; veal, 250 ; wheat,
950. Now, it is at once apparant that wheat — 950 parts out
of 1,000 — stands the highest in the nutritive scale ; peas,
930 ; barley, 920 ; beaus, 890 ; oats, 742 ; rye, 792 ; and
rice, 880. These illustrations, as far as grain is concerned,
will suffice. Now, we will turn to roots and fruit : — Apples,
170 out of 1,000 parts ; apricots, 260 ; beetroot, 148 ; carrots
98 ; cabbage, 78 ; cucumber, 25 ; potatoes, 120 ; turnips,
42. Now, we will proceed yet a step further, and take
another table showing the constituent parts of 100 of the
following cereals aud food, ranged under the following
heads : —

1001b. contains.

Fat or
Oil.

tab

rn

fi-

be
a .

a. qj
§■«
CO

~3

° »

Water.

Barley

2

ll

60

2

14

11

Beans and Peas

2

25

48

2

8

15

Indian Corn ...

8

11

65

1

5

10

Middling,fine )
Bran /

6

18

53

5

4

14

Milk

3

4*

5

3

0

87

6

6

A trace

18

15

7

63

47
80

2

2

A trace

2

20

0

9

Chts

H

10

It will be at once perceived that to the farmer we are indebted
for the cereals that contain by far the most elements of nutri-
tion, and by far the most of those elements which go to
generate the vital heat which is the real object of alimentation.
Mr. Rickman then went on to speak of science as illustrated
by the use of the telescope.

* A peculiar kind of edible fungus.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS.

The usual meeting of this Clnb was held at Tnnhridge
Wells on February 20, when, in the absence of Mr. J. Noakes
(the president) Mr. T. Williams was called upon to preside.

The Chairman said that the object of their meeting to-
night was to bear a little from Mr. Roper respecting " Tithe
Rent-Charge." He had no doubt in his own niiud that his
remarks would be very interesting, that he would do justice
to the subject, and that they would all go home very much
enlightened from what he would tell them about it.-

Mr. Roper faid that he had ventured this evening to invite
their attention for a few moments to the subject of tithe rent-

charge. They were all aware that, in this period of agricultural
depression and difficulty tenant-farmers had sought to ascertain
what burdens they l«b>ured under, and whether by taking
action in any one of them they could improve their future
position and prospects. The tiihe rent-charge had been the
subject of much correspondence in agricultural papers, and
had elicited a great amount of feeling, especially in the county
of Keut, and, perhaps he might include the hop-growing
districts epecially. It appeared to him that they ought to be
called upon to consider the great measure of the tithe com-
mutation, which was the first reform Parliament grappled with
nfter settling that most important one, the Poor Law, in
1835-6. He did not p -opose to ask them to go back, as h:s
friend Mr. Stonham did in introducing the subject to the
Sevenoaks Farmers' Club, to the origin of tithes, because he
felt that the tithe on the produce of the land, which the
occupiers of it under the old system had arranged with the
respective tithe owners, was quite done away with by the Act
which he had spoken of— the Tithe Commutation Act.
Tithe on the produce was completely lost, and by the Act in
question was commuted with a fixed rent-charge by a system
based upon the averages of the price of corn. Now, he
wanted them to consider what was really done by the Legis-
lature at that time. The old grievances were a great bar to
agricultural improvement under the old system, and were so
onerous that a change was felt to be indispensable for agri-
cultural development. The Act prescribed that in every parish
in England and Wales — but he did not think that it applied to
Scotland and Ireland— the land owners and tithe owners were
required to carry out the Act, which laid down a basis for
their uuited action. He happened to be at that time an on-
looker, twenty years old, when his late father acting for the then
Marquis of Camden, commenced carrying out the Act. The first
step of the land owners or their agents was to ask the tithe
owners to give them a statement of their receipts under the head
of tithe for 1829 35. The land owners or their agents, furnished
by the tithe owners with these particulars, after duly con-
sidering them, came to an arrangement for future rent-
charge, submitted the rent-charge to the approval of the
Tithe Commissioners in London, and after that a map of the
parishes under the seal of the Commissioners, was furnished
and approved. The sums agreed upon for the rent charges
were distributed by two appointed valuers. In the first stages
he believed that there was an occupation apportionment, but
certainly in the later stages of the carrying out of the Act
there was a field apportionment. Every field was numbered
in the parish map, with its proper apportionment of the rent
charge, and he presumed that the whole work was carried
out by landowners and the tithe owners. They knew that iu
most parishes tbere existed a rectorial tithe which was a tithe
originally for arable land, and was a corn tithe. The valuers
placed the rectorial charge agreed upon solely npon the fields
that were under the plough, during the years of average. The
vicarial or small tithes were in most of the parishes in this
district divided into ordinary and extraordinary tithes. The
extraordinary portion arose from the fact that the vicarial
tithes had their chief value from the cultivation of hops and
fruit. As the cultivation of hors and fruit progressed in this
neighbourhood and throughout Kent the vicars found that a
large portion of their receipts during the years ot average was
derived from hop growing or fruit. (Mr. Barton asked
whether fruit was subject to an extraordinary tithe). Mr.
Roper believed that it was in Kent, but it depended upou
custom. Why, it might be asked, did the wisdom of the far-
mers of the Commutation Act induce them to divide the
vicarial into ordinary and extraordinary tithes. It was felt
and properly so, by those representing the landowners that the
growth of hops being not only important, hut somewhat
risky, that it was very desirable, and the duty of the agents of
the landowners to ask the vicars to accept as extraordinary
tithe as large a sum as they could fairly ask them to take,
because if any change occurred in the necessitous requirements
of the country so that the growth of hops was transferred like
some of our great industries from one part of the kingdom to
another, like for instance, the iron, which in the days of their
forefathers was worked in this neighbourhood, was transferred
to the coal bearing districts — the landowners w. re almost of
necessity compelled to guard against a burden on their estates
which aiight exist after the remunerate crop might cease to
he grown, was a reason why the extraordinary tithe should be
fixed at a good round eum. He considered that was sufficient

R

: THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

216

explanation why the vicarial was divided iuto ordinary and
extraordinary tithes, and the landowners or their agents as he
eaid before, carried it out. Having asked t^eir attention to the
can-vin^ out of the Tithe Commutation Act, he would ask
them to agree with the opinion that the rectorial and vicarial
tithes were purely a charge upon the land. The feeling
which might prompt Nonconformists to look upon the rent
charge with jealous eyes was really without proper foundation.
The National Church had been given by the State for genera-
tions past a tithe on the produce of land. This great Act,
which he spoke of, by changing that to a charge upon the
owners of the land seemed to him to have taken it out altogether
from the category of religious feeling. He could hardly
imagine that the Nonconformists, whether they succet ded to
landed property or purchased it, could be in any way
aggrieved. Of coarse, in purchasing, the rent charge, which
they had to pay to the National Church, was deducted from
the value of the land which they had to pay. This great
change was made 40 years ago, and there had been ample time
for all parties to thoroughly harmonize and agree with this
important change. The landlords were in the correspondence
he had alluded to pretty generally, and lairly called upon to
p*y the rent-charge they had agreed upon with the tithe
owners. Before that Act, the tenant farmer was in the habit
of paying tithe, but to have effected a change the landowner
should have taken upon himself the payment ; this, however,
would have involved in all cases a revisal of their respective
farm agreements. Then there was a difficulty attaching to
the variablecess of extraordinary tithes, because it depended
so much on the will of the occupier in the hop cultivation.
However, many cases existed in which the landowners took
upon themselves the payment of the tithe rent charge, and a
few months ago he saw in the papers that the Hon. Mr.
Brand, the Speaker, did so. It appeared that he (Mr. Brand)
reduced the rents of his tenants 20 per cent., and not only
that, but paid the tithe rent charge in full. Mr. Walter, one
of the members for Berkshire, in a speech, said that he
had undertaken to pay tlte whole of the rent charges on his
estate. The Duke of Grafton also paid the rent charges, and
let his land tithe free. Mr. Cazalet, in speaking recently on
this question, said that the f rmers should have nothing to do
with the ordinary tithes, which were a tax upon the land, as
they really ought to be paid by the landowners. Then he
(Mr. Cazalet) said, in contradiction, that extraordinary tithes
were not a landowners, but a farmers' question. He (Mr.
Koper), however, thought he had shown them that both ordi-
nary and extraordinary tithes were sol»ly a landlords' question.
They knew what they had to escounter when they planted an
additional acre of hops, and they knew very well before
hand that by an arrangement of the pirish they would be
subjected to extraordinary tithe, and it was extremely
difficult and not right in principle that one should be Sept-
ra ed from the other. He did not kuow why the tithe, owners
should not, in a small degree, share iu the general prosperity
of the country ; it had evidently not acted as a bar to the
extension of hop cultivation, and there appeared to him no
reasonable grounds for objecting to pay it and separa e it
[t struck him that Mr, Cazalet did not thoroughly under-
stand the nature of the question— a most important question.
He (Mr. Roper) pointed out that the basis of the Tithe
Commutation Act was taken on a seven years' average, and
that system had been carried out to the present day. It
seemed to him that the mode of taking the averages, and the
time over which they should extend, waa the general question
they had to deal with, as it was the only one that could, with
justice to all parties, be the subject of agitation. The corn
averages were, as they knew, taken from returns obtained from
160 market towns in England. Whether the number of towns
from which returns were made could be multiplied, whether
from returns from corn merchants or farmers, or others, the
returns could be made more accurate was certainly a matter
which could fairly be discussed. He found that Mr. Walter
stated that within the last few years Parliament had been
requested to consider the system, and appointed a committee,
but that committee could not recommend any change in the
aystem. This question cropping up as it did now, during a
time of great depression, which they must all deplore, showed
that the Legislature had considered the question far more
recently than the Act itself; but the committee appointed
thought it unnecessary, or unwise, to go on with it: He
auigfet feature to say' that his own feeling was that it was

scarcely worth while conteSipla'ing the results of the inquiry,
as he did not think at all that the benefit would be anything
like commensurate with the cost and difficulty. Surely they,
as paypra of the tithe rent charge, might fairly leave the
owners of the rent charge 'o part'c;pate to the trifling extent
which they had done in the wonderful increase in the value of
property in this country. It appeared from a statement of
Mr. Snaw Lefevre, president, he believed, of the Statistical
Socirty, at a recent meeting, that on Mr. G'.ffin's returns
during the last ten years, from 1867-77, the growtli of the
national wealth had been at the rate of 24,000,000 per year.
It struck him that it was poor and mean to ask for a change
in the measure which had worked so well, on the whole, both
to the tithe owners and the landowners — reducing them to the
disadvantage of the tithe owner — the landlord or his agent
would be in duty bound to take the earliest opportunity to
secure that value for his employer ; whatever they succeeded
in obtaining, it was a payment which they were called upon
by agreement to make to the landlord, and if they obtained
any reduction it was the plain duty of the agent to secure the
amount of that remission for his employer.

The Chairman remarked that Mr. Roper had not detailed
the working of the Act, which was a very important part of it.
Mr. Roper said that the Tithe Commutation Act had
existed now for well nigh 40 years, and during that period
the £100 rent charge had never fallen in value lower than
£89. During the last seven years, owing mainly to the
prosperity which Mr. Gladstone said went in leaps and bounds,
the £100 had really been worth £112. They would find that
duriug the seven years ending in 1878, the average price of
wheat had been something like 6s. per bushel, whereas at the
time of the Tithe Commutation Act wheat was 7s. OJrd.,
Barley 29. ll^d., and oats 2s. 9d. per bushel. To show why
the £100 rent charge was now worth more, he might state
that the average price of wheat for the seven years ending
31st Dec, 1878, was 6s. and a fraction, 3s. lid. for barley,
aid well nigh 3s. for oats. They must, therefore, bear in
mind that it was chiefly the increased price for barley and oats
in the seven years that made the £100 rent charge of the valua
it was. If the average had been on wheat alone, they would
have found a very differeut state of things, as the £100 rent
charge would not have been nearly worth its nominal value.
However, the enhanced price of barley and oats was higher
than the commuta'ion average. He attributed the high price
of barley to the increased wealth of the country, as barley
entered very largely into the composition of our national
beverage. It was the barley growing that sustained the
income of the tithe owners really, and that carried with it a
good deal that might be said and thought of, but he would
not travel beyond the question of the rent charge. He did
not think that much benefit was likely to be derived from
agitation on this subject ; of course, one was deeply grieved,
and sympathised most fully with the position of the tenant
farmer in everyone of their outgoings, as a matter of consider-
ation, but at the same time he did not think the question of
tithe rent charge was one from which they could iu justice to
all parties seek for much relief. It would be far more right
for thfm to agitate for a revision of rent, if necessary. He
was quite unable to separate one from the other, but it could
not be in all cases, and he considered that it was a pity for
the tenant farmer to forbear from raising it, under tlve impres-
sion that in agitating this question he would disturb the mind
of the landlords and land agents, for they might with less
difficulty and less compunction enter into it. It was a mistake,
he thought, and he did not suppose for a moment that the
Legislature, with all these things before it, which would be
thoroughly sifted by an intelligent Press, he did not believe
that a statesman would be found by either party to re-open
the grand settlement of the question which was made by the
Act in 1835. He, however, thought that it was high time
that the farmers should be invited to consider what was
actually done in 1835 in settlement of this question.
The Chairman then invited questions and discussions.
Mr. Roper, in reply to a question by Mr. Batchell t, said
that the tithe had been in vogue from time immemorial. He
read, some short time since, in the Saturday Bevieio, that
in some of our old country towns might be found on the Dutch
tiles around the fireplaces a picture of a comically-attired
person, with a beaming face, carrying under his arm a small
pig, and the other side of the picture was supposed to be some
vicar, with an air of disgust, holding oat a small baby. They

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

217

had of coarsn, heard their fathers speak of the tenth baby
being supposed to belong to the vicar as his tithe. The ques-
tion of the maintenance of the church was quite set aside by
the new Act.

Mr. Ash by asked what the tithe was originally meant for
whether to keep up the church or not?

Mr. Roper explained that rent charge was one thing, bat
tithe, which was another, had existed from time immemorial.
T'iat was meant tor the maintenance ot the religious pastors of
the people.

Mr. A.8HBY wished to know, if that was so, why it was sold
out of the parish altogether ?

Mr. Ruper said that one-third of the rectorial tithes had
been sold, and were in the hands of laymen.

Mr. Asuby wi4i°d to know why it was sold out of the
parish and the church le't nak»-d ?

Mr. Roper said that no doubt our fore'athers, at the time
of the disposal of the monasteries and other religious houses,
did allow a great portion of the rectorial, or corn tithe to pass
into the hands of laymen, but a good deal of it was held by
colleges and religious corporations.

Mr. Ashby knew of a parish where only £60 was left to
keep the clergyman, and the greater portion of the tithe was
sold away and the parish left naked.

Mr. Ruper said that was, he had no doubt, in a small
parish.

Mr. Ashby — No, a large parish. Lingfield, which is not far
from here.

Mr. Roper — They are the misdeeds of our forefathers. The
tiihe rent charge was introduced 40 years ago, in lieu of tithes,
so that when a man improved his land he might do so without
paying titt es on it.

Mr. Pain did not consider that the tirhe average was
fairly computed. His friend Mr. Batchellor might grow
40 quarters of wheat, and out of that, 20 quarters might be
so'cl in the market fur 40s. per qr. The other 20 quarters,
by reason of the season, might be damaged, aad not worth
m re than 2'K per qr. Tiien the wheat might not, be, sold at
all, but us> d up on the farm for feeding purposes, but I e
wmld have to pay his tithe average on the beat wheat, which
he sold, which he uid not think lair, as he should only be
charged on the average value of the whole crop, uot on the
best q'lality. The iulerior wheat did uot go to ie luce the
average, which he considered it should do.

Mr. Roper said that it would be very difficult to furnish
tie controLers ot corn returns with all particulars. They had
ti make their averige from the gross returns collected from
150 towns, and thi se transac ions and the wheat sold was only
of the best quality.

Mr. Pain said that the returns were always made on wheat
of the best quality.

Mr. W. Aknoid observed that it might be on the same
wheat if it was sold two or three times over in different
markets.

Mr. Roper said that the Legislature had been asked once
to revise the system of average, and it appeared to him to be
a question of open inquiry. That was the only question con-
nected with the tithe rent charge which was practical for dis-
cission. It struck him as rather unmanly and a poor thing
to a^k to be allowed to make a return of produce which he
only considered fit to keep animals on.

Mr. Pain remarked that it seemed very unfair that they
should be called upon to pay tithe on the corn they got the
highest price for.

Mr. RoPER explained that wheat was supposed now to fetch
6s. Ojl. per bushel, whereas the average for the years 1829-35
was 7s. 0\'\. per bushel.

A Member — We can only make 5s. per bushel.
Mr. Roper said that they did not grow enough feeding
barley to bring down the averagp, which was kept up by the
price obtained for malting barley in other parts of the king-
dom .

Mr. Stapley asked whether it was a fact that in the dis-r
tricts where malting barley was grown the first quality was
sent to the London markets for malting purposes, the second
was retained for seed, and the other for feeding purposes.
Mr. Roper— That ia so.

Mr. Stapley observed that although the worst quality was
kept at home, they had to pay on the best.

Mr. Roper pointed out that if the barley was not good
euouglL to iake to market and sell it could not enter into the

returns. In consequence of the bad harvest mil'ers wcu'd
only buy corn by weight, ami he read an instance at Bury St.
Edmunds where 35 quarters of wheat were sold at 42s. per
quarter, and the farmer had to add nine bushels to make up
the weight.

Mr. Stapley said that in many instances they could not
sell at any price.

Mr. Pain saw a large <prmer at Brighton market who was
offering his whole crop of 70 or 80 quarters ol wheat, and was
offered 28s. per quarter. At the end of the market he came
up to the dealer who mad2 the offer and said that he could not
get a single bid beside the one he offered him. Yet he would
have to pay tithe at the rate of 46s. per quarter.

Mr. Roper — This is very awkward, but we have had our
gord times.
Mr. W. Arnold— When ?
Mr Pain — I am very glad you have, sir.
Mr. Roper said they all had iu barley and oafs.
The Chairman said that his views did not correspond with
those of Mr. R-per. He believed that the Tithe Commutation
Act was the very best Act for agriculturists that the Legisla-
ture ever passed. Till that was passed it was very unsatis-
factory, lor the tithe owner came and took the tenth of the
produce of the soil after it was cut and ready to take away.
If a farmer at the time laid his money out in manure the tenth
of that went to the tiths owner as well in extra crops. He
quite agreed with Mr. Pain that the averages were taken un-
fairly. When the commutation was carried out £300 might
be agreed upon to be paid on a certain farm. That being so
according to the seven years' average so much was put down
to wheat, oats, and barley, and the amount of each kind was
put down to produce say £100 for each kind of corn. He
thought that there they had a grievance, as wheat was not
put down in large enough proportions as against oats and
barley. He did not know whstlier it was possible to get
the exact figures,

Mr. Tain— We might easily do so from the returns.
The Chairman continued that the value of wheat in this
country must be more than that of other kinds of corn, and
he, therefore, thought that there was a grievance that required
rectifying. He did not agree with Mr. Roper that, if the
tithe was taken off, it woud be the duty of the landlords or
the agents to see that they paid more rents. He did not com-
plain about the tithe so much as the way in which it was
collected, which had defects in it the same as everything else.
He occupied land in Gmdhurst and Wadhurst parishes, and
there was a great difference in the quality of the wheat grown
there ; and, according to the present system of taking averages
he paid far more per quarter in one place than he ought to
do. His plan for get'ing rid of the difficulty was that, on a
certain day in each year he should send a note to the tithe
owner, to state the price he was willing to take for his wheat
oats, or barley, if he did not think that his price was a fair
one. he should be allowed to take the corn. The tithe owner
would then have his choice ; if he did not like to accept the
price he could take the corn. That would be fair to both
parties.

Mr. G. Arnold said that would be going back to the old
system, aud would be the old principle over again.

The Chairman, continuing, said that the tithe owner could
see the corn growing, and if he thought that the price he was
willing to pay upon it was too low he could take it.

Mr. Pain pointed out that .such a syotem would make, titha
owners and parsons com dealers.

The Chairman canside.red that the fairest way of taking
the averages would be for every farmer to make a return of
what he sold his corn at.

Mr. Pain : And also a return of what he keeps, as he in-
variably keeps the worst.

The Chairman considered that the best way would be to
allow the tithe owner to take the corn if he thought fit. He
had hardly given the matter sufficient consideration. The
extraordinary tithe was equal to what the money tithe would
have been on the flour, he supposed.

Mr. Roper hardly knew how that was, as his farm was in
Frant, which was a rectory. He supposed that the extraor-
dinary tithe on hops would be an advantage of something like
15s. per acre. The teuants, if they discontinued growing hops,
got rid of the extraordinary tithe, and they could always get
rid of it by giving up growing that somewhat speculative
crop.

218

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Mr. Stapley thought that Uie average extraordinary tithe
was about 16s. or 17s. per acre.

Mr. Roper explained that there was no doubt that hop
growing had added largely to the wealth of the vicarages in
this part ot' the country, aud hence, when the tithe was taken
in kind, the vicar had the largest portion of his income from
th.e hop crop. Had it not been for the hop many lands would
be almost valueless. They knew that if they had a bad field
on the farm, the aspect of which was favourable, and there
was a decent amount of soil, it was generally planted with
hops, and it never forgot it. That was one reason why the
utmost was charged for extraordinary tilhe. If it had not
been for the hop they would be a hundred years behind in this
part of the country.

Mr. Stapley thought that it would have been well for some
of them if they had left hop growing alone.

Mr. Roper: There are two sides to the question.
Mr. Arnold asked whether, if they gave up hop growing
in the parish of Wadhurst, for instance, the land would lose
the extraordinary tithe ?
Mr. Roper said that it wo»ld.

The Chairman sa d that to many people the extraordinary
tithe appeared a very great hardship. As he understood it,
when the tithe was commuted a certain sum had to be raised
on each farm ; and if, tor instance, £800 had to be raised
£600 would have been put for ordinary tithe and £200 for
extraordinary tithe.

Mr. Roper was inclined to think that nearly half was
charged as extraordinary tithe.

The Chairman pointed out that the most strange part of it
wis that the extraordinary tithe on hops was regulated by the
P'ice of corn. If, for instance, the price of corn went up 100
p-r cent., and hops went down below par, it they were paying
15s. per acre for extraordinary tithe before, the increase in the
pr.ce of wheat would raise the tithe to 30s.

Mr. Roper said that was so, and if, for instance, wheit
feiched Hs., barley 8<. and oats 3s. 6d. per bushel, they would
have to pay double the extraordinary tithe.

Mr. G. Arnold said that, although hops did not enter into
the average, the most extraordinary thing was, the tithe went
up and down with the average. When the £100 rent charge
was only worth £89, the extraordinary charge was lower. They
must take the rough with the smooth.

Mr. Roper pointed out that the Legislature would not be
likely to legislate in this respect for one corner of the king-
dom. The Chairman, by his plan, as Mr. Arnold had pointed
out, would send them back to the old system. Under the old
system, the first civil duty that a clergyman had to perform
alter being presented to a living was to go round to all the
tenant farmers in his parish, and haggle what compensation
he should reeeive for his teuth of the crops. That put him in
an invidious and disagreeable position, and did not enhance the
va'ue of his pastoral ministrations in any way. It was a
grand thing on the part of the Legislature when that was done
away with. A man who was now presented to a benefice of the
Church of England kuew what he was to reeeive. It was
purely natural for them to look to the owners of the land to
p ly the tithe, and they (thetenaut farmers) must remember
that they really paid the tithes lor theowuers. The tithe w*s
originally granted for the pastors of the National Church
Now we had religious freedom, and the Nonconformists could
elect their own pastor, and pay him. The question of tithes
did not affect them in the least. The landowuers had under-
taken to pay the pastors of the National Church, and simply
dsputed their tenants to pay the amount for them. The
estates were charged in perpetuity with the payments of a
certain amount. He considered that the clergy of the Church
of England made goid use of the money en rusted to them,
and alluded to the way in which they had taken up the educa-
tion question and charities, to w.iich they subscribed very
1 he-ally, and very often gave a large amouut ol their property,
lie thought that it would be very wrong of them to grudge
them what was left ostensibly for their support. Then the
clergymen in Kent did a great deal ol good, and worked hard
themselves, supplied Scripture readers, and did all they could
to civilise the population that came out of London and other
pans every year, to help gather the hop crops. He did think
that the least the hop growers could do would be to pay un-
grudgingly the extraordinary tithe on hops.

Mr. Clifford asked whether the extraordinary tithe w»«
piid on hops which he saw advertised, £3 per ton for manure ?

Mr. Roplr said that was paid long ago.

The Chairaian exulaiued that the tithe was not on the
crop, but on the ground where they grew.

Mr. G. Arnold said it was a cunons point that wood land
was not subject to tithe, but if it was grubbed and planted
with hops the extraordinary tithe was charged.

Mr. Roplr ■-aid that k was a curuus anomaly. At the time
of the Tithe Commutation Act it could not be shown tl at any
tithe had been received for wood land, and therefore, it was not
charged. It was very curioup, because the wood land in this
part of the country was not the least valuable part of the
estatis, and it struck him as singnUr that when the wood was
cut and sold every tenth year, the ten h was never cLiined by
the clergy. TV' hen a man grubbed an acre of wood land and
planted it with hop", he knew, by the custom of the parish,
that he would have to pay tithe on it.

Mr. Pain said that when anything else except hops was
planted it was not tithahle, or grubbed wood land. He >-aid
that he was sure, whether they agreed with Mr. Roper's views
or not, they would all agree in giving him a hearty vote of
thanks for bringing the matter before the club. It was very
beneficial to the club to have discussions, and very much to
their benefit that they should disagree in their opinions. As
far as the tithe was concerned, he thought that the tenant
farmer had got the worst of it. He was sure they were alt
very much obliged to Mr. Roper for bringing the matter
before them.

Mr. Clifford had much pleasure in seconding. He was
si:re that tho.-e discussions tended to strengthen them.

The resolution was carried, and Mr. Ropek having suitably
responded, the proceedings terminated.

DISTRAINING ON A FARM FUR INCOME TAX.—
A sale took place at Messrs. A. and E. Bntli's. Colgates Farm,
Sevenoaks, on Feb. 20th, for the sum of ^£16 3s. 4Jd. income-
tax. They had been surcharged at the rate of 28 per cent,
and appealed at Sevenoaks, but to no purpose. The surveyor
of taxes at Tunbridge Wells having made one error (which he
acknowledged by a letter) iu another parish where they farm,
they told the income-tax collector for Shoreham that they
would first see the surveyor for that parish, and then give him
a decided answer in a week, but the day after he seized and
distrained upon two fruit vsds. Murh dissatisfaction at this
shatp practice at so early a date has beea expressed iu the
neighbourhood, and also at the aec'ion sale. Previous to the
sale Mr. Albert Bath said some of his friends had advised him
to pay when his van was seized and distrained ; but after the
singular course taken by the tax collector (Mr. Geo. R d nan,
Shoreham), he was determined to let the sale take pUce. Mr.
Cronk, of Sevenoak-", then offered the van for compe i-ion, aud
it realised £35.

SELLING UNWHOLESOME MEAT.— Several charges
of exposing unwholesome meat for Rale came before London
magi trates recently. At the Guildhall a slaughterman
named Fisher, of Norwich, was fined £10, with the option of
a month's imprisonment, for sending to market a large
quantity of unwholesome mutton. He had bought forty
sheep which were suffering from the rot for 15s. each. A
dealer named Daniels, also of Norwich, was fined £10, and
two guineas cos 's, for sending to the Central Meat Market
four quarters of beef which were unfit for food. At Worship
S'reef, Henry Ballard, a general dealer, was fined £10, and
12s. 6d. costs, for exposing for sale a quan'ity of diseased
mutton in a shed in Bethnal Green. At Cierkenwell, on
Thursday, Mr. George Cooper Peacock, sanitary inspector of
St. Andrew's, Holborn, applied to Mr. De Rutaen lor an
order to condemn a quantity of carcases of sheep and the
carcase of one calf that he had seized near the Metropolitan
Meat Market. Whilst on duty this attention was called to
some baske s of meat that were cotmifned to a salesraau, and
which had been delivered from a Great Western Railway van.
I The meat was thiu, wet, rotten, and quite oufit for the lood of
| man. He had never seen so bad a specimen. It was properly
dressed as if intended for sale. Noue of the bodies of the
sheep had any fat or kidn-ys in them, and the in>ides were
full of ulcers and globules of water. There could be no doubt
i that, the animals, the carcases of which had been seized, had
. died of the rot. The label on the meat was "John Wake-
j man, Broading Hotel, Bratton Cloveley, Devon." Mr. De
' Rntzen, having viewed the meat, made an order for its imme-
diate destruction.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

219

REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE.

From the Murk Lane Express for the week ending Feb. 23
A boisterous gale, followed by a heavy fall of
raiu, took place at th« beginning of the week, and
although a mild springlike temperature has pre-
vailed, the sky has been frequently overcast, and
the subsequent weather more or less windy and
wet. In the Midlands, and some other parts of
the country, the rivers have overflowed, causing
extensive floods. Some brief intervals of brilliant
sunshine have nevertheless occurred, which have
been very welcome after such a long and severe
winter ; but although the days are beginning to
lengthen perceptibly, vegetation has shown few
sigus of reviving vitality. Ploughing and sowing
have been carried on in spite of considerable
interruption, and a fair breadth of land has been
planted with wheat and beans. Reports are vari-
able as to the condition of autumn-sown wheat,
which is stated to be progressing well in some
localities, while in others the scantiness of the
plaut seems to indicate partial destruction of the
seed. A week or two of fine suuny weather
would, however, set all doubts at rest, and enable
a more trustworthy opinion to be formed as to the
prospects of the crop. A cursory inspection of
Borne fields in Surrey and Buckinghamshire shows
the general growth of the seedlings to be backward,
bat the plant appears stronger near the hedges
and other places somewhat sheltered from the
weather than in more exposed positions. Farm
work generally is in arrear, although active steps
are now being taken to make up for lost time.
Cattle have thriven fairly, but the stock of roots
is rapidly diminishing ; indeed, in some places
turnips are quite exhausted, and the present is an
anxious time for sheep farmers. In Scotland the
weather has been variable, and although the soil
does not work so kindly as it did a week ago, the
ploughs have been pretty busy. Spring tillage
generally is not much behindhand in the North,
and winter wheat looks healthy, the braird being
thick, if somewhat backward. The price of
potatoes has been steadily rising, mainly owing to
the increased demand for seed for Ireland, where
stocks have been consumed by the famine-
scourged peasantry. English wheat has been
marketed in small quantities and unsatisfactory
condition both at Mark Lane and in the provinces,
and as growers have not been able to make up
their minds to accept the lower rates at which
buyers have expected to purchase, business has
been very dull. Sales have only been practicable
at a decline of 6d. to Is. per qr., although the
reduction has principally affected badly-con-
ditioned parcels. The imports of foreign wheat
into Londou have been on quite a moderate scale,
last Friday's list showing an arrival of only
22,000 qrs. The demand has been chiefly of a
retail character, as the town millers seem
determined not to operate until they see some
better ground for the existence of present quota-
tions in America than the artificial support of
speculative enterprise, however large and well
sustained. Judged from a statistical point of
view, the apathy of European buyers must be very
trying to the "ring," which, nevertheless, has held
its own very patiently hitherto. Each week of

lightimports small shipments fromthe Atlantic sea
bo.ird, and steadily diminishing stocks in Europe
strengthens the hands of the manipulators of this
gigantic " corner," and brings them nearer success.
The game, however, is not yet played out, and it
yet remains to be seen whether the Americans
are to be left masters of the situation. Last
week's shipments to the United Kingdom were
only 54,000 qrs., and the visible supply has
decreased by about the s mie quantity. The course
of business at Mark Lane throughout the week
has been quiet, but fairly steady, and although
speculation is wanting, consumption goes on, so
that values have shown no depreciation, except in
the case of Kussian wheat, which has met with
little inquiry of late, aud for which sellers have had
to accept rather less money. The position of maize
remains unaltered, but the shipments from America
have been heavier, notwithstanding which the
supply in sight has increased 1,200,' 00 bushels.
Spot corn is still scarce, and prices have improved
in both London and Liverpool. Barley and oats
have ruled quiet, but for the latter an occasional ad-
vance of 3d. per qr, has taken place.

The sales of English wheat noted last week were
34,530 qili, at 43s. Id., against 56,550 qrs., at 37s.
7d. in the previous year.

The London average for the week ending Feb-
ruary 19, was 46s. 4d. on 564 qrs.

The imports into the United Kingdom for the
week ending February 14th were 1,112,958 cwt. of
Wheat, and 210,301 cwt. of flour.

Notwithstanding the large attendance of millers
and country dealers at market on Monday last, the
course of trade at Mark Lane was of a dull and
uninteresting character, with a very limited
demand for all articles, and in many cases a weaker
tendency in prices. At the opening of the market
sales progressed very slowly, but towards the close
there was some inquiry for foreign Wheat,
although the sales made were mostly in retail.
The tone was doubtful and uncertain rather than
listless, as the lage millers seemed determined not
to operate, awaiting some further development of
the situation in America. The week's arrivals of
home-grown wheat amounted to 3,280 qrs., and
the supply fresh up on factors' stands was very
small, the bulk of the samples showing no im-
provement in condition. A few dry lots found
buyers at the extreme rates of the previous Mon-
day, but inferior parcels were neglected and the
turn cheaper to sell. The total arrivals of foreign
were 76,220 qrs., of which America supplied about
two-thirds. India contributed 16,735 qrs. and
Germany 5,806 qrs., the remainder being from
New Zealand. A moderate consumptive demand
was experienced at about former rates for all
except Russian descriptions, for which there was
little inquiry, and prices receded 6d. per qr. on the
week. The exports were 3,635 qrs., against 761
qrs., in the preceding week. The supply of barley
consisted of 3,695 qrs. of home-grown and 12,105
qrs. of foreign. Malting sorts met a disappointing
demand, but were not quotably lower, and grind-
ing qualities were the turn cheaper to sell. Maize,
with imports of 7,038 qrs. and exports of 1,595
qrs., was firmly held on spot and fully as dear,
owing to scarcity, and there was a good business

220

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

done in mixed American at about 25s. — American |
terras for February -March shipment. The im-
ports of oats were chiefly from Reval and Gothen-
burg, and amounted to 30,708 qrs A rather firmer
feeling was noticeable in the trade, although no
actual advance could be established. On Wednes-
day the return showed 670 qrs. of home-grown
wheat and 12,990 qrs. of foreigu. There was a
poor attendance of buyers, and the trade ruled dull
at nominally Monday's prices. Maize was steady
and spring corn quiet at unaltered currencies.
On Friday the supply had increased to 950 qrs. of
English wheat and 22,180 qrs. of foreign. A
decidedly stronger feeling was noticeable in the
wheat trade, and with a good comsumptive
demand Monday's prices were exceeded by 6J. per
qr. Maize was the turn against buyers, aud oats
brought 3d. per qr. more money.

The following are part of the reports from Mark Lane
during the past month : —

Monday, February 2.

The arrivals of Wheat cargoes at ports of call during
the past week have been small, and although only a
moderate business has been done red winters have shown
rather a firmer tendency, while Ghirkas have improved
about Is. per qr. Maize, with very few transactions, has
maintained late rates. Business in "Wheat for shipment
has beeu very inactive, and buyers seem quite indifferent to
the speculative fluctuations cabled from America. Barley
remains steady, but Maize attracts little attention.

The arrivals into London during the past week have
been : English Wheat, 3,424 qrs. ; foreign, 36,017 qrs.
Exports, 1,322 qrs. There was only a small supply of
English Wheat at market this morning, and many of the
samples were in very poor condition. Sales progressed
slowly, and factors had to submit to a reduction of Is. per
qr. Of foreign (he arrivals were moderate, and with a
lair attendance of millers the trade rnled quiet at barely
last Monday's prices. Where sales were pressed, how-
ever, Is. per qr. less money had to be taken.

Country Flour, 18,169 sacks ; foreign, 14 458 sacks
and 2,504 barrels. With a quiet demand last Monday's
currencies were maintained for both sacks and barrels.

English Barley, 2,870 qrs. j Scotch, 1,782 qrs. ;
foreign, 4,384 qrs. Malting descriptions favoured
buyers, while grinding sorts receded 6d. per qr. on the
week.

Monday, February 9.

The arrivals of grain-laden vessels at ports of call
during the past week have been considerable, although
red winters have become very scarce. Great depression
prevailed early in the week, but since then, owing to the
advance cabled from America and the large quantity of
"Wheat taken from the coast for continental ports, a
decided improvement has set in and prices have advanced
6d. to Is. per qr.; with more demand both from United
Kingdom and Continental buyers. Maize has met a fair
inquiry at an advance of about 6d. per qr. Despite the
better tone for arrived cargoes, buyers show no disposition
to enter into forward business either for Wheat or Maize.
The quantity of American Wheat now afloat is in an
unusually narrow compass.

The arrivals into London during the past week have
been :— English Wheat, 3,110 qrs. ; foreign, 32,202 qrs. ;
exports, 761 qrs.

There was a fair supply of home-grown WTheat at market
this morning, but many samples were in defective condition ;
sales progressed slowly, and the currencies of last Monday
were fully supported. Of foreigu the arrivals were quite on
a moderate scale, and with a large attendance of millers, an
active demand was experienced for all varieties at an

occasional advance of 6d. to Is. per qr., the trade closing
very firm.

Country Flour, 15,948 sacks ; Foreign, 23,128 sacki
and 10,157 barrels. Business was quiet, but there was no
quotable change in the value of either sacks or barrels.

English Barley, 2,649 qrs. ; Scotch, 4,450 qrs. Foreign
12,916 qrs. The trade ruled slow for both making and
grindiug descriptions, but in the few sales made last Mon-
day's prices were repeated.

Monday, February 16.

The arrivals of grain-laden vessels at ports of call during
the past week have been very light, and iu the earlier
part of the week the Wheat trade showed great firmuess,
and 57s. Continent was paid for a large cargo of red
winter. A quieter tone has since prevailed, with
easier prices from America and the Continent. Maize has
met a steady demand at about 26s. 9d. for nvxed American
and the coast has been cleared thereat. Wheat for shipment
has been in active request, and a larger business has been
done than for some time past. The feature of the week
has been the active trade in Australian Wheat for
February-March shipment at comparatively moderate
prices. American quotations for red Wheat remain above
market level. Maize has also met an active inquiry at
about 25s. American terms.

The arrivals during the past week have been : English
Wheat 3,280 qrs.; foreign, 75,220 qrs. Exports, 3 635
qrs. The supply of English Wheat fresh up to market
this morning was very small, and no improvement could
be noticed in the condition of the samples ; a few dry lots
changed hands at last Monday's prices, but as a rule the
tendency of values was against sellers. Of foreign the
imports were on a liberal scale, an J with a fair at'endance
cf millers, a moderate consumptive demand was experienced
at about late rates.

Country Flour, 17,560 sacVs ; foreign, 17,685 sacks
and 9,867 barrels. Bo'h barrels and sacks met a slow
sale.without material alteration in price.

English Barley, 2 760 qrs. ; Scotch, 935 qrs. ; foreign
12,105 qrs. Malting descriptions met a disappointing
trade, but were not quotably lower ; grinding sorts neg-
lected and the turn cheaper to sell.

Monday, February 23.

The arrivals of Wheat cargoes at ports of call during
the past week have been moderate, and there has been a
steady demand, chiefly from United Kingdom buyers at
an advance of Is. to Is. 6d. per qr. Only one cargo of
Maize has arrived, for which 27s. 6d. was paid, showing
an improvement of 9d. per qr. The business in Wheat
for shipment has been limited, owing to the indifference
generally exhibited by buyers as well as the advance
asked by sellers. Maize has met an active demand, chiefly
for February and March shipment at prices ranging from
25s. to 25s. 6J., American terms.

The arrivals during the p-ist week have been : English
Wheat, 3,963 qrs.; foreign, 22,221 qrs. Exports, 3,300
qrs. The supply of Euglish Wheat fresh up to market
this morning was again very small, but with a decidedly
stronger tone in the trade, sales were readily effected at
an advance of fully Is. per qr. on the week ; of foreign
the arrivals were also very moderate, and with a large
attendance of millers a steady demand was experienced at
a similar improvement, but business was rather restricted
by the advanced views of holders.

Country Flour, 20,206 sacks ; foreign, 7,508 sacks, and
171 barrels. The trade ruled steady, and Is. more money
was obtainable for both sacks and barrels.

English Barley, 2,601 qrs. ; Scotch, 379 qrs. ; foreign,
12,974 qrs. Sales progressed very slowly, but last week's
prices were repeated for both malting aud grinding sorts.

Printed by IIazell, Watsok, & VlNET, 265, Straud3 Loudon.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

C ONTENTS.

MARCH, 18 8 0.

Plate.— A CHANCE SHOT.

American Production of Wheat Meat . .

An Illinois Stock Farm

Farmers' Clubs ....

Chambers of Agriculture . . .

Land Law Reform Conference . . .

The Depression in Agriculture and Trade

Purchase and Sale of Stock by Weight. ,

Farming in Manitoba ....

Professor Blackie on Landlords and Land Laws

Mr. Brassey, M.P., on the Colonies

Kingscote Agricultural Association

Mr. John Bright, M.P., on the Irish Land Question

The Bright Clauses of the Irish Land Act

Peasant Proprietorship and the Irish Church Commissioners

Trichiniasis or Trichinosis in England

Irish Farms and Farming

Agricultural Societies. . . .

The Farmers' Alliance at Norwich

Ditto at Burton-on-Trent

Ditto in Kent.

The Press on the Farmers' Alliance at Norwich
Phosphates .....
The Late Mr. Alex. M'Neel-Caird
The "Grain" Blockade in America ,

Review of the Corn Trade

Page.

143
146

14G, 185, 215
149, 197
152
155
156
157
159
160
161
163
166
168
169
169
175
200
208
211
211
212
214
214
219

CHAMPAGNES.

GRAND VIN DE L'EMPEREUR

trade mmmwS, mark.

NONPAREIL.

Splendid "Wine equal to the Finest Brands, at half the usual Price.

Sole Importers of the Celebrated

GRAND VIN DE CHAMPAGNE

TRADE <SB| MARK.

ROUSSEAU AND CO., REIMS.

MADEIRA

Of the FINEST QUALITY, in Quarter Casks and in Bottle and every
other description of "Wines at the

LOWEST POSSIBLE PRtqe,

CAN ALWAYS BE HAD OF

TUXFORD AND CO.,

WINE MERCHANTS,

48, Fenehureh Street London, EC.

Established 1847.
SAMPLES ON APPLICATION.

THE

ROYAL FARMERS' AND GENERAL FIRE LIFE
AND HAIL INSURANCE OFFICE.

ESTABLISHED 840

TO INSURE AGAINST LOSSES BY

FIRE AND HAIL STORMS,

AND TO GRANT

INSURANCES ON LIVES.

DIRECTORS:

ChairmaH— ALFRED DENISON, Esq., 6, Albemarle Street, Piccadilly.
Deputy-Chairman — B. P. SHEARER, Esq., 47, Gloucester-place, Portmau Square.

Richard L. Loveland, Esq., 4, Hare Court, Temple.
John Reddish, Esq., 9, Highbury New Park.
Major F. Auderson Stebbing, 4, Cleveland Gardens,
Castle Hill, Ealing.

Thomas Henry Burroughes, Esq., 16, Lower Berkeley

Street.
"William Clntton, Esq., 7, Clifton Villas, Penge.
A. J. Duff Filer, Esq., 10, Aberdeen Park, Highbury.

E. J. Hawker, Esq., 37, Cadogan Place, Sloane Street

FIRE. — Insurances at moderate rates.

LIFE. — Inaurauces on equitable terms. Profits divided every five years.
HAIL. — Crops insured against Hail Storms at 5d. per acre.
LOSSES.— Settled promptly and liberally.

AMPLE CAPITAL AND LARGE RESERVES.

Prospectuses and Reports may be obtained of the Secretary, JOHN SHARP, 3, Norfolk Street, Strand
London, W.C., or of the Agents.

J. C. NESBIT & SON,

Analytical, Agricultural, and Consulting Chemists

(Manager A. ANTHONY NESBET, F.C.S., 4c.)
Undertake the analysis of

MANURES, FEEDING STUEFS, 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, Graeeehurch Street, E.C.

A list of fees sent on application-

No. 4, Vol. LVI.| APRIL, 1880. [Third Series.

THE

FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

AND

ONTHLY JOUKNAL

OF

THE AGRICULTURAL INTEREST.

IBetiuateD

TO THE

FARMERS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.

LONDON :
PUBLISHED BY ROGERSON AND TUXFORD, 265, STRAND.

PRICE TWO SHILLINGS.

HAZELL. WAC30M, & TIOTT.] [PRINTERS, 266, STRAND.

IMPORTANT TO FLOCKMASTERS.

THOMAS BIGG,

Agricultural & Veterinary Chemist,

By Appointment to his late Royal Highness
The Prince Consort, K.G.,

LEICESTER HOUSE, GREAT BOYER 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
destroying the Tick, Lice, and all other insects injurious 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 follows, 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 1b. 60 ,, „ 0 6 0

20 lb. 100 ,, ,, (Cask and measure 0 10 0
301b. 150 „ „ included) 0 16 0

401b. 200 „ „ „ 10 0

601b. 260 ,, ., 13 6

60 lb. 300 „ „ , 17 6

80 1b. 400 ,. „ , 1 17 6

1001b. 600 ,, „ „ 2 5 0

Should any Flockmaster prefer boiling the Composition, it
will be equally effective.

MOST IMPORTANT CERTIFICATE.

From Mr. Hbbbpath, the celebrated Analytical Chemist : —

Bristol Laboratory, Old Park, January 18th, 1861.

Sir, — I have submitted your Sheep Dipping Composition to

analysis, and find that the ingredients are well Hsnded, and

the mixture neutral. If it is used according to the directions

gi^en, I feel satisfied, that while it effectually destroys vermin,

it will not injure the hair roots (or "yolk") in the skin, the

fleece, or the carcase. I think it deserves the numeroa
testimonials published. I am, Sir, yours respectfully,

William Hebajpath, Sen., F.C.S., &c, 4c,
To Mr. Thomas Bigg Professor of Chemistry.

Bicester 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 thirty Sheep (according
to the virulence of the disease) ; also in wine quart bottles,
Is. 3d. each.

IMPORTANT TESTIMONIAL.
" Scoulton, near Hingham, Norfolk, April 16th, 1856.
"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 ' Xox-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 PpBciFic proved itself an invaluable remedy, for is
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 TINGET, Esq-
" To Mr. Thomas Bigg. ' "R. RENNET.

B3S" 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-poisonons "
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 useless.
or they are not what they are represented to be.

DIPPING APPARATUS £14, £5, £4, A £5.

THE

MARK LANE EXPRESS

AND

AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL

LARGEST AND THE LEADING FARMER'S AND GRAZIER'S NEWSPAPER.

PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY EVENING, IN TIME FOR POST.

Oftoe of Publication and for Advertisements, 265, Strand, London. May be had of all BookseHera

and Newsmen throughout the Kingdom, price 7d., or £1 10s. 4d. per annum.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

223

(lOJd.) per pouud, and 17 pounds for the rams at 15
cents (7id-) pei" pound. The oue-year old lambs average
four pounds at 21 cents (lOJ-d.) per pound. Thus it is
seen that there is profit iu sheep husbandry to a care-
ful, practical man with some capital to iovest, enough to
go at once into business without delay of fitting up, and one
may gather, from these lads, something of the nature
of the business in the middle Western States.

The decline of the sheep-breeders' iudnstry in the
colony of Queensland has been made the subject of
editorial comment in the columns of the Queennlander
(Brisbane), Jauuary 10. It is therein stated that there
has been a gradual decline during the past ten years.
" And yet" continues the Queenslandcr " there has beeu
nothing in the soil, herbage, or climate of Queensland to
forbid — rather everything to have encouraged — the ex-
pectation, in any person reviewing the condition of the
pastoral industry ten years ago, that we should by this
time have been able to reckon on a total number of
20,000,000 instead of something like 7,000,000 sheep.
The falliug off iu the number of sheep is the result of
our own acts, it has not in auy way been forced upon us
Wy circumstances. Except a comparatively small belt of
c last country, the whole of Southern aud Central
Queensland is well adapted for sheep raising, most of it
being unequalled for quality in Australia. In fact, owing
to the elevation of the interior plateaux the winter frosts
necessary to maiutaiu the quality of wool extend far to
the north of the tropical fine. Nor can tiie waut of
railway communication be admitted by any person who
takes the trouble to investigate the matter as a suftL.uent
explanation of the decrease. In the districts naturally
fitted for sheep that are within sufficiently easy distauce
from port there is ample room for twice our present stock.
The Darling Downs, Maranoa, Lsichhardt, Kennedy, aud
Eastern Barcoo, when first taken up were unmistakably
sheep districts, aud, during the ten years that our stock
has been declining, the prevailing rates of carriage there
have never been sufficiently high to prevent sheep-raising
from being profitable; and no one will deny if their
grar'ng capabilities were fully used they would maintain
fourteen million sheep. It tuay be urged that some parts
of the country named are no longer good sheep country;
they are spoiled by too much grass seed, too many walla-
bies, aud other uuisauees to the sheep farmer. But the
fact supports, it does not disprove, our conteutiou — it was
good sheep country when first occupied. Overstocking
aud reckless mauagement have spoiled it. -Nature had
done her part, but man ia his blinduess wasted her boun-
ties. We have no means of ascertaining how far the
process of deterioration has gone, but we have it on the
authority of the Premier that the sheep are goiug further
west, and that we must follow them with our railways.
If we are to understand that the transfer has been
rendered necessary by any general deterioration of coun-
try admirably fitted only a few years ago (or sheep- raising,
then the prospect would be indeed a deplorable one. For,
it we are to spoil country at 60 rapid a rate, we shall
.hardly be able to overtake good sheep country with our
ii always — it will recede before them as the mirage which
deceives the eyes of thirsty travellers ou our Western
plains. For our part we see uo reason to believe that the
process of deterioration has either goue far or wide
enough to account for the decline iu the number of sheep
in certaiu districts. Statistics show that the newer dis-
tricts have not gained anything like what the others have
lost when the natural increase ou the recently formed
stations is taken iuto accouut. The decline has been
general. Our squatters have deliberately got rid of their
sheep, not because their country had been spoiled, or be-
cause it was unsuitable, but because they preferred to go
into cattle, aud that during a time whea our squatters

found sheep a more profitable description of stock. This
brings us very near to the root of the evil. The pre-
lereuce for cattle over sheep is due to the fact that the
former require very little expenditure in the shape of
permanent improvement. Cattle can feed long distances
from water ; a run on which there are one or two per-
manent waterholes will do for this kind of stock. Sheep
require water close to their grazing grounds, aud a sheep
run must ha/e permanent waterholes in a great many
places. This, in country like our3, demands the expendi-
ture of capital in water storage. Besides, the appliances
for working a sheep run successfully are much more costly
than those needed (or cattle— proper machinery for wash-
ing wool clean, well-arranged shearing sheds; and ini-
provemeuts of tlm kind cost a great deal of money.
The attractions possessed by cattle for a Queensland
squatter lay in the fact that wheu lie had purchased his
herd he was not compelled to go to auy appreciable ex-
peuse iu preparing his country for their maintenance.
The extremely liberal terms on which pastoral country is
leased by the Government enabled such a one to command
a wide exeut of grazing grouud for a trilling annual pay-
ment, aud when a dry season came oa his cattle could
travel mnny miles from water iu search of pasturage.
Sheep owners on the contrary, have had to begin with a
heavy outlay, aad to provide for a considerable annud
expenditure. In short, of the two great divisions of the,
pastoral industry, the one — sheep breeding, with its
great ultimate profits — would possess most attraction!
for the man who intends to remaiu in the country, aud
can aff >rd to wait for wealth ; cattle raising, for the
impatient 'occupant of a bush tract in a colony which ha
never regards as a permanent home, and who is auxious
to realise quickly some profit which he can take elsewhere.
The advantages offered to squatters by this c dony are
greater than in New South Wales ; their rents are lower,
their tenure more secure, and it can scarcely be main-
tained that the climate of the interior in Queensland ren-
ders it more objectionable as a place of residence than the
great sheep districts of the mother-colony. It must be
remembered that there is a radical difference between
New South Wales and all but the older settled parts of
Queensland. There tquatting preceded the squatting
tenure. The country was occupied by the graziers before
the Government begin to define their po3itiou by legal
enactments. Hence the grazier took root in the soil
naturally, aud pastoral occupation became settlement of a
very real kiud. When the free selector came subsequently
to ask for his share of the soil he found men firmly settled
on it who resented his intrusion, aud subsaqueut legisla-
tion defiued the conditions on which the struggle betwien
occupier and intruder should be carried on. With us ou
the contrary, the squatter vveut out into the wilderness
uuder the direction of laws which contemplated extinetiou
of his teuure at some uudefiued date, which might be
distant, or which a gold rush or some exceptional move-
ment of population might bring very Dear. Hence the
Queensland squatter never felt himself bound to the soil,
he never for a moment lost sight of the fact that his occu-
pation was iu its very nature trausitory. The New South
Wales squatters have always had a tendency to regard
their runs as estates in their permanent occupation ; ihe
Queeuslaud ruu-holiers, as stretches of pasturage from
which they ought to make as much profit as possible before
it was taken from them. Heuce the tendency iu the one
colony to sheep, in the other to cattle ; permanent iuvest-
meut iu the hope of a large future profit as against small
temporary expendituie with the hope of smaller but mora
rapid returus. There cau be little doubt that ou a Queens-
laud grazing farm, where the excelleut native herbage cau
be supplemented by any description of feed that it m ay he
thought advitablc to cultivate, it is easy to make suie of

T 2

224

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

plentiful food for cattle throughout the year, where no j
frosts and snows come to pinch the stock. It is sufficiently
evident that we can have plenty of settlement in this ,
colony, but very little of it will be, strictly speaking, j
agricultural settlement. On a great deal of the freehold
laud the main industry must be the rearing and fattening
of stock ; for crops cannot be profitably grown at any
considerable distance from market. At present the
holdings are for the most part used as grazing paddocks,
and the holders lead a very shiftless and precarious life."

The schedule of prizes offered for competition at the
seventh annual horse show to be held at the Pomona
Palace, Manchester, on the 6 h of May and four following
days' has been issued. As usual, prizes are offered for
roadsters, agricultural, cart, and pony stallion3. There are
four classes for hunters, aud prizes of £50, £20,
and £10 are offered for five and four-year-olds. Hacks
and roadsters have two classes, sobs one, harness horses
four, and ponies four. There is a class for agricultural
geldings or mares, one for gelding or mare for dray pur-
poses, and two classes for donkeys. Special prizes will
he given for trotting either in saddle or ia harness ; as
well as for jumping and racing. No horse that has won
a first prize at a previous Manchester Show will be eligible
to compete in the same class thi3 year. All entries must
he made on the official printed forms, and be accompanied
by the entrace-fee.

Irish horses form the subject of a letter to a contem-
porary by a writer who evidently understands his subject.
He says:— Mr. Hill is qu;te right in saying that the
average Irish farmer of any position knows more about
high-class horses for the field — and, therefore, as I thick,
for every useful purpose — than does his English brother ;
but I think he errs in ascribing any Arab origin to the
native Iri3b horse pure and simple, He was, I fancy,
■merely an enlarged hardy pony, of utterly untraceable
development. The causes of the long proverbial excel-
lence of the Irish hunter arc not far to seek. Except on
the home farms of the nobility and gentry, the tillage is
imperfec*-, the ploughing shallow ; light horses suffice for
the work. There is 'blood' in every Irish horse — the
English thoroughbred having been used almost since it
acquired a name. For the Irish have taken a wild in-
terest in real sport from time i in memorial. I may add
that their fences are not so well kept as those in Eugland
aud the young thiugs soon learn to jump con amove over
obstacles" impossible to average English hunters. I have
seeu a pair of Irish plough horses, loosed from work aud
feeding behind a hedge at dinner-time, 'join the hunt,
chains, traces and all, but riderless, and, with their long
dirty, sweaty coats — dirty our tops for a couple of miles,
at first with their heads in the air, at last blown, when we
were glad to leave them behind. Another time, I saw a
ewe necked bay, about 15.3 high, up to his knees in a
pond, drinking, with cart harness on, as he trotted with
the hounds through the yard of the farm, tike a standing
jump to the top of a bank oft. high. This horse was
bought then and there by an astute Irish sporting land
ageut for £20, and sold next season to a crushing Dragoon
rider for £150. Fancy English farm horses doing these
things ! The perfection of English tillage, and the re-
quirements of cartage in manufacturing towns, accounts
for the iguoranee of many Englishmen of high- class
horses. Excepting among private geutlemen and officers,
I noticed little bettiug at the Curragh or at any of the
many steeplechases. Here crowds of men bet who know
no more of a horse than they do of a bullock. Aud few,
saving real sportsmen and exceptional dealers, know any-
thing of the better-class horses. Hence our weeds, aud
mkal some writer called ' our squabby cobs.' "

A correspondent of the Albany Cti!tieatoraik% whether
a new wheat pest, which many thiuk will utterly destroy
the wheat crop, is likely to isjure clover. Professor
Lintver replies : — Until the history of the new wheat
pest, the Cicddula exitiosa, has been worked out, it will
scarcely be prudent to predict what crops it may attack,
and the extent of its ravages. It has just come under
scientific investigation, and even its name, as above given,
is only a manuscript one. It has been observed for several
years, infesting wheat in Maryland, and has been popu-
larly referred to as the " hopper." I do not know that it
has been recorded as attacking clover or corn. If it should
prove to have but a single brood annually, then, from its
abundance so early as the latter part of January in North
Carolina (see Country Gentleman of Feb. 19th, page 120),
there is but little probability that its period in the winged
state would extent to a growth of clover sown about the
middle of March, or to the young com.

Investigation may show that its depredations are con-
fined to wheat alone, or that they extend to other and
quite different food-plants. Thus the chinch-bug {Micro-
pus leucopterus), which belongs to the same order of
insects with the Cicadnla, feeds upon several of the grasses,
and on wheat, barley, rye, &<;. But as a rule, our more
injurious insects are confined to a single food-plant.

In relating to wool growing, the Albany Uivator
says: — "There are in Great Britain aud Ireland 120,000
square miles, and iu Texas alone of the United States
274,356 square miles, yet the former produces very nearly
as much niarketable wool as the whole United States.
Last year we imported over G5, 000, 000 pounds of wool,
and over 35,000,000 the year before, although the area
suited to wool growing is practically unlimited. The
risks in sheep farming are tew in immense tracts of this
country, and the business is attractive from its compara-
tive freedom from the excessive toil and anxiety conse-
quent upon other agricultural pursuits. As bearing upon
the future prospects of this industry, the following from
the Uuited States Economist is in point : —

" There never was a time at this periodof the year when
stocks of domestic fleece and pulled wools were sold up as
clean in all markets, aud were it not for the large quan -
tities coming from all foreign countries it is fair to conclude
that prices would have ere this risen to exalted figures.
Prices are advancing in the markets abroad for all classes
of wools adapted to our necessities in consequence of the
large demand for this country, and it is gcttiug more
difficult every day to obtain the grades of wool we require
unless at prices which will materially enhance the cost of
the scoured pound. There is no safety left manufacturers
but to diversify production (if a modification of the wool
tariff is not reached), because it is now clear that any
class of fiue wool when scoured will cost from 80 c. to
1 dol. 50 c. this season, while last year manufacturers were
enabled to purchase the bulk of supplies at from 40 c. to
75 c. scoured. The cause of this enormous advance is
founded on demand and supply. We do not grow suffi-
cient wool for the wants of manufacturers, and the result
is seen in the sharp competition to obtain the necessary
supplies adapted to the wants of our woollen mills.' "

The following circular removing the prohibition against
the importation of neat cattle into the Uuited States
from Canada has been issued from the Treasury Depart-
ment : —

Treasury Department, Washington, D. C, Feb.
26, 1880. — To the collectors of Customs and others- —
It appearing to this Department that by an order iu
Council of the Dominion of Canada, of the 4th of October,
1879, all neat cattle coming from Europe are subjected
ou entering the ports of Quebec, Halifax, and St. Joha

THE FARMER'S MA >AZINE

225

to a quarantine of ninety days, the order of Xov. 3, 1879,
prohibiting the importation of neat cattle from t Lie
Dominion of Canada, is revoked. By authority of See.
2,493 of the Revised Statutes it is ordered that the oper-
ation of the first clause of that section, which prohibits
the importation of neat cattle from any foreign country
into the Uuited States, be suspended as to the Domiuiou
ol' Canada, the Secretary having officially determined that
such importation will not tend to the iutrodnctiou or
spread of any intectious or contagious diseases among the
cattle of the United States. This order will take effect
ou March 1, 1880.

H. F. French, Assistant Secretary.

An essay was read at the list meeting of the Colorado
Farmers' Institute on " Sheep Husbandry in Connection
with Farming," by A. T. Wilbur. From the essay the
Pacific Rural Press condenses the following '■ — Very early
in our operations here I became Couviuced of the need of
some more varied farming, and especially to add to our
vegetable crops the more profitable and concentrated
animal products. The result of all efforts vva3 convincing
that the farmer must control a flock of sheep in order to
secure success in combining the raising of animal and
vegetable products. Accordingly, a flock of 800 Cali-
foruias, 200 half-bred Mexicans, and 470 Merino grades,
were procured by purchase and rental, and the 1st of
November the experiment was begun — an experiment to
me at least.

Up to date the flock bas used —

Ordinary plain gras3 200 acres

Wheat stubble 240 ,,

Corn stubble 20 „

Total.

460

This is about the same as 1,500 sheep to 500 acres of
mixed pasture, or 300 sheep to the 100 acres for two-
thirds of the winter season, or two sheep per acre for the
whole winter.

Those sheep have greatly improved on this range. The
Californias having just coine across the desert were thiu,
aud the Mexicans were a lot a man sold because he thought
he could not winter them. Some of the latter have
already gone for mutton, and all have improved. At
first it was easy to put the whole flock of 1,450 into the
shoot, but at the time of speaking it is difficult to put
200 less in the same pen, 90 much have they increased in
size.

I have long estimated the usual waste on an acre of
wheat laud at 300 pounds, by comparing the amount
oa the ground dry or growing, with seed or growing
crop. This gives each sheep 150 pounds of grain for the
winter, besides rough feed. The corn fields would yield
less grain but better rough picking, and the grass is used
as a fast. This is high feed, for Randall's estimate of
what a sheep fattened in the field will eat and waste, is
180 pounds.

So far as I can learn, flock masters expect their flocks
to fall off somewhat in the winter. Ou the contrary these
have steadily improved. The great fault of Colorado
wool is that it has the " spring pinch," as the weak place
in the fiber, caused by poor feed, is called. By such
winter feed the "spring pinch" is avoided and the
quantity of wool greatly increased. When we consider
that this is also the period of gestation, and that the young
must be greatly improved by the fine condition of the
ewe, and the flock thus improved year by year, it does
not seem that two pounds of wool per bead a year is too
high an estimate for the benefit received from good winter
feed. Siity thousaud sheep, if the above estimate is
correct, could be wiutered iu the colony, bringing 120,000

pounds of wool as profit, compared with its entire waste,
or eveu as iu some parts of the field where cattle ana
horses are introduced, destroying as much as they gain,
and rendering the country insecure, in appearance at leas'.-
Cattle, even when honestly herded (I know one such herd)
are difficult to control, and cannot be kept from trees and
buildings, while sheep are a civilised and
controlled flock.

easily

We have news from the Argentine Republic to Feb.
18. The Buems Ay res Standard of that date says that
the most favourable advices have been received about the
maize crop, which is the largest ever gathered iu the
country. More than four times the acreage of the previ-
ous year was put under this crop, and the yield is in even
still more favourable proportion. It i3 also confidently
stated in well-informed circles that the wheat crop will
prove fully equal to that of last year, the failure in several
of the Santa Fe colonies being counter-balanced by the
larger sowings aud splendid yield elsewhere. The present
rise in price is by many considered to be purely speculative
aud not likely to last.

In the Banda Oriental (Republic of Uruguay), the grain
is all cut ; it is stated to be of splendid quality, aud the
yield is reported to be good.

LITERARY NOTICES.

THE HISTORY OF BRITISH COMMERCE*
FROM 1763 TO 1878. By Leone Levi. Loudon:
John Murray.— This second edition of Professor Levi's
valuable work has been revised throughout, and several
new chapters have been added, as well as a decennial sum-
mary of commercial and economic progress, and several
documents and statistical and graphic tables. It is an
historical account of the principal events by which com-
merce has been affected, and of the influence which com-
merce in its turn has exercised on the economic condition
of the country. The first chapter deals with the founda-
tion of Biitish productive industry, and this is followed
by one on the development of national resources, thus
showing the plan of the work, which not oulv gives the
history of commercial enterprise, but shows how the
national welfare has been affected thereby. It is im-
possible in the space at our command to do justice to a
work so elaborate aud exhaustive as that before us. It
is a text-book of the historical student uneqmlled within
its scope of topics. Agricultural students will turn
with special interest to the history of the Corn Laws and
the long contest for their abolition, with its ultimate
triumph. The intimate connection between agricultural
and commercial prosperity is here clearly shown, and the
advantages of Free Trade are conclusively maintained.
Other peculiarly interesting portions of the book are those
which give the history of industrial exhibitions, com-
mercial treaties, and conflicts between capital aud labour.
In the chapter on " Work and Wages " the action
of trade unions and the results of recent strikes
are criticised, and some valuable tables showing
the advance of wages in different trades are given. To-
wards the end of the volume will be found two graphic
tables, the first showing the amount of iucome per head
from agriculture and industry assessed to income-tar
under schedules A, B, and D in 1S14-15, in proportion to
population according to the census of 1811 iu England
and Wales ; the second giving the same particulars for
1876-7, according to the census tables of 1871. The
accounts are given for the several counties separately.
In Aopendix A similar information is given with still
greater detail, the counties beiug separated into groups
classed as agricultural, industrial, mining, textile, and
Metropolitan. Appendix B gives the declared value of
British and Irish produce exported to various fore

226

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

countries and British possessions in 1840, 1850, 1800,
3870, and 1878 respectively. As a book of reference
Professor Levi's work is simply invaluable, and should be
in the library of every student and politician.

FREE LAND. ByAKTHljE Arnold. London: C.
Kegan Paul and Co. — The interest which questions of
agricultural reform are now exriting in the public mind
is iu nothing more clearly shown than in the number of
books and pamphlets recently issued on what is especially
known as the Land Question. By " free land" Mr.
Arnold means land free to be sold, improved, and other-
wise dea't with for the public advantage with the most
perfect attainable ease and simplieity. Iu answering the
question, "Who has the Land?" he gives scrme figures
Irom the "New Domesday Book" and comments on them.
He next tells us who the landlords are, then bow the land
passes to limited owners, and what, these do with the land.
There is a g-eat deal that is true and little if anything
that is new in these chapters ; but they follow the ad-
mirable trea'ises of Mr. Kay and Mr. Lef'evre, md help
in teaching the same useful lesson*. The evils of the
existing bind system are farther illustrated in a chapter
entitled " What tfce Tenant Fanners do with the Land."
Mr. Arnold does not know much about farmiug, as we
have often had occasion to show in these columns, and
the authorities he cites are not always the highest ; but
he has been fortmate on this occasion in avoiding the
flagrant errors which it has sometimes been necessary to
point out when he has ventured into the domain of
practical asricaltnre. Iu dealing with Tenant Right our
author advances nothing new or especially forcible,
though he is on the right side of the controversy upon
the subject and amongst the right section of the advocates
of that side — those who are in favour of compulsory
compensation for unexhausted improvements. He deals
jit considerable length with primogeniture, entails, settle-
ments, and transfer cf land, following the same lines as
those tak^n by Mr. Kay in " Tree Trade in Laud." "We
notice that Mr. Arnold says, in relation to the proportion
of the land of this country held by limited owners -, —

I do not think there is any exaggeration in the statement
that four-ftrihs of the land of the Uuited Kingdooa are
ptrictly settled and destined to perpetual life-tenancy.
Mr. Arnold must have his fling at the Contagious Diseases
(Animals) Act, in respect of which he is as wrong-headed
as the most obstructive landowners of whom he com-
plains for resisting a beneficial reform of the Land Laws.
The most useful chapter in the book is that entitled
" How to make Free Land," and for that Mr. Arnold is
entitled to special credit, as he has more distinctly stated
his remedies for the present enslaved condition of the
land than either Mr. K;.y or Mr. Lefevre has done. We
so entirely agree with his proposals, except the last
which we think scarcely goea- far enough, that we quote
them in full : —

1. Immediate abortion of the law of primogeniture, by
directing the distribution ol real propprty in eases of intes-
tacy in the same manner as the law directs in regard to
personal properly.

2. Abolition, compulsory upon sale or transfer, and in any
case, within a period of ten years, of copyhold and customary
tenure.

3. E-tnb'ishment of a Landed Estates Court for compulsory
disposal of encumbered settled property.

4. Completion of the Ordnance. Survey, with the utmost
renronable speed, for the United Kingdom, upon requisite
scales and with airaugemeuts for periodical revision of
maps.

5. Abolition of entail and settlement of land, with excep-
tion in rhe case of trus's tor the widow, or iufaut children
(until they attain majority), of the testator.

0. Establishment of a system of registration of freehold

and indefeasible title?, corapnlsory upon the sale or trans'er

ivith voluntary register ol possessory

titles, and a reduction of the prriod for investigation of title
to twenty year*. All lesser iuterests in the property regis-
tered to be recorded.

In his advocicy of peasant-proprietorship Mr. Arnold
falls into the common error of comparing Jersey with
England, without allowing for the vast difference of
climate. It is utterly fallacious to assnrae that what is
done in Jersey cou'd be done in England or Irelaud,
except in a few spots in Cornwall and other specially
favoured districts. Nevertheless this portion of the book
is by no means the least interesting. We hope that
"Free Land" will have a wide circulation, aaJ we com-
mend it to the attention of our readers.

FARMING FOR PLEASURE AND PROFIT-
STOCK KEEPING, ROOT GROWING, AND THE
CULTIVATION OF HOPS, AND DRAINAGE OF
L\ND. By Ak-jhuh Roland. London ; Chapman and
Hall. — We do not consider Mr. Roland a good authority
on agricultural topics, and the title of his series is, as we
have previously shown, a complete misnomer. Farming
to himself, as an amateur, may hare been a pleasure ; but
he has not even attempted to prove that it has been a
profit. We find less to object to in these three vo'nraes
than in the earlier ones of the same series which we have
before criticised. Indeed, as compilations, they possess
considerable merit. Mr. Roland must he a man of great
industry, and he has gone to some of the best authorities
for his information. There is a great deal of wb*t, for
practical farmers, may not unrairly be termed " milk for
babes j" but this is too common a feature of agricultural
manuals to he remarkable. There is much in the two
last named volumes of the three before us, relating t<»
practices pursued in different parts of the country, that
may be read with advantage by experienced farmers, while
for amateurs the books are better than more advanced and
technical treatises would be.

THE SUGAR BEET. By Lewis S. Ware. Lon-
don : Sampson Low and Co. — This work by an American
writer gives a history of the sugar beet, and treats of its
varieties, suitable soils for it, tillage, seeds and sowing,
yield, cosi of cultivation, harvesting, transportation,
feeding qualities, &c. The principal object of the author
in writing it was to recommeud and facilitate the growth
of the sugar beet in America, sugar being the roost costly
as well as the most bulky article which is imported to
that country. During a residence of fourteen years iu
France, Mr. Ware, who is a fellow of L'Ecufo Centrals
des Arts, Agriculture, et Manufactures, Paris, as well as
a member of the American Chemical Society, visited the
most important beet sngar establishments of France and1
Germany, and made a careful and thorottgh investigation
of the growth of b^ets and the manufacture of beet sugar.
As far as we are aware, no work in the English language
gives so complete and trustworthy an account of the
subject in all its details. The book is illustrated with
soma excellent engravings.

DEBRETT'S PEERAGE, BARONETAGE, AND
KNIGHTAGE FOR 1880. London : Dean aud Son.
— Our old friend " Debrett" appears this year in a hand-
some blue and gilt heraldic cover, the Baronetage and
Knightage being bound up with the Peerage in the same
volume. But more important alterations are to be
noticed in the interior of the volume. Year after year
some nsefnl addition is made to this valuable work of
reference and any one who will take the trouble to com-
pare the presrent volume with one of five or six yeara
bacfe will notice great alterations and additions. The
chapter on " Titles, Orders, aud Degrees of Precedence
and Dignity," and that on " Formal Modes of Address-
ing" will he found very useful to the uninitiated. The
information given about the nobility and gentry and their

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

227

families is very full and carefully compiled, having: been
in most instances subjected for correction to members of
these families. We cannot remember ever being; disap-
pointed when consulting: " Debrett" on the subjects dealt
with in the work, unless when some change has occurred
since publication. This is very high praise to a work of
reference, and shows how carefully that which merits it is
edited.

THE SECRET OF A GOOD MEMORY. By F.
Mortimer-Granyille. London : David Bouue. — The
purpose of this little treatise, as the author tell us in his
preface, is to show how the faculties employed in memory
may be tested and their strength or weakness ascertained,
so that the method of culture pursued may be in harmony
with the law of Nature. Dr. Mortimer-Granville asks
his renders to test his methods aud to communicate to
him the results.

DICKENS'S DICTIONARY OF CONTINENTAL
RAILWAYS. London : Charles Dickens. — The puzzled
student of the '' Foreign Bradshaw" may find rtlief in
Mr. Dickens's simple and distinctly printed European
time tables. About thirty-five importaut continental
towns have been selecled, and these have been tested as
centres of travel. From each of these are shown the
rou'es to the localities most frequented by the travelling
public, about 1,400 routes being shown. A great deal of
misee'.laneous information, useful to tourists, is also
given in the little book, which is to be published
monthly.

CANADA. By Bit hop Gregg. There is very
meagre information in this small pamphlet, and the author
leaves almost, everything to be iaken on trust. He makes
in my broad statements which require verification. For
instance, he says: — " Free grants of land may practically
be procured in every part of Canada ; but the system
is not alike in all the provinces." Is this strictly correct ?
We were labouring uuder the impression that really free
grants of land were only to be had in a few undesirable
districts. As to who should emigrate, the author is a
good adviser. He says: — "The condition of success in
Canada is hard work. . . As a rule, a man who is doing
well elsewhere should let well alone-" Probably he is
right in adding that "to a hard-working man with a
family, there is a better field in Canada than in England."
That is not saying: much, and it does not fellow that
Canada is the hest field.

PERIODICALS.— The new number of the Bath and
West of England Society 'sJbwwff^ contains several. papers
of value and interest. Amongst these we mention " The
Cultivation of Oats," by Professor Buckman ; " National
Water Supply," by C. F. Gardner ; " The Composition of
Barley," by Professor Henry Tanner ; " The Contagious
Diseases Act and the Consolidated Animals Order," by
Professor Brown : " Pedigree Stock Markets," by Joseph
Darby ; " The Effects of an Excessive Rainfall on the
Health of Slock," by Professor Brown; and "The
Climate of the South of England in the Agricultural
Year 1878-9, and its effects on the crops," by N. Whitley.
The " Note book" of the Journal also contains some in-
teresting matter.

The Land and Emigration Review is a new monthly,
published by II. S. Hicks, Holborn Viaduct. Its objects,
as an introductory article tells us, are "to deal with all
questions connected with the land from a national and
social as well as a technical point of view, acd to promote i
emigration from erowded places where the struggle for i
existence has become exhaustive and hopeless to freer air i
aud healthier conditions of life, and especially to those [
quarters where land is easily obtainable, under conditions
which afford the most substantial promise of future |
prosperity." This new review may be considered as an j
outcome of agricultural depression, aad if it is conducted ;

with complete impartiality it will be useful. " Fanner
John" answers the question " What are we to do with
the boys" in an article headed " Out with them."

We have received from the Treasury Department of the
United States a copy of the annual statement of the Chief
of the Bureau of Statistics oh the Foreign Commerce aud
Navigation of the country for the fiscal year ended June
30th, 1879 ; also a report on the Internal Commerce of the
States. From Messrs. Cassell, we havereceived Part 10 of
" Dairy Farmiug," iu whi'ih the important subjeet of
cheese-making is opened, Part 9 of " The Dlustrattd- Book
of the Dog," Part 14 of" Familiar Garden Flowers,"' and
Part 42 of "The Illustrated Book of Poultry." From
the Bazaar Office we have to acknowledge Part G of
" The Practical Fisherman," and Part 8 of " British
Dogs." Messrs. Robson and Sous, of I'aiierns-road, have
published a well-illustrated skit on "The General Elec-
tion,''in which no preference for either party is pro-
fessed.

The Fifth Annual Report of the Ontario School of
Agriculture contains the restrlts of a variety ofexperiments
carried ont on the farm of the school. Part 2 of Messrs.
Letts and Co.'s wonderfully cheap " Popular Atlas" con-
tains-beautifully clear maps of England and Wales, Scots
land, and Ireland — three maps for 7d^ in a cover.

A FARM BALANCE SHEH/iY

Mr. Richardson, of York, send3 us the following letter
and balance sheet : —

I very much wish that farmers, sin ill and large, would be-
gin to keep such accounts as would clearly sh >w tliei,
and losses ; as, if they did, thev would not go on losing money
auil hoping for better times than -there seems to be a prospect
of their seeing.

No calculation thai a farmer, could make would
convince him of his true position so much as making
his own balance-sheet ; and if he did not succeed at the first,
every additional, year in winch he tried would add to the
correctness of his calcula'ion ; and if a farmer would begin by
making entries regularly in a diary (say Snrihli'ii scribiilinsr),
and ent?r there nil moneys paid and received, from this a
balance-sheet could easily be prepared for the year during
which these entries have been made. Aud if a man is losing
or has lost money during the last few years, if he can show
clearly on paper tUat it has be. n so to the Commissioners of
he Income T»x, he cm, and I knoY men that do, gat this tax
emitted for the>e years; hut T an sorry to say very few
arrners keep such accounts as would enable them to do so,
though all might with very little double^ which would be wel
repaid.

It would be very much better if a farmer or other trades.
manvas soou as lie finds he is losing money, were to employ
a person who has knowledge and had practice in such
accounts, to help him to make a balance-sheet allowing tn's
[oss, than to allow his affairs to g?t into mch a state that he
is compelled to lay them before Ins creditors, as I am afraid
some may have to do; because then his accounts would have
to be made up in a very hasty and incomplete way, and the
property might have to be realised at a great disadvantage, and
with a large deduction for legal aud other expenses.

From- the present state of the law, which allows a landlord
to distrain for his rent for six years of arrears, provided a
petition for liquidation ha9 not been filed be'ore the distraint
is made (in which case the power of distraint is limited to one
year), a tenant ought to be very careful not to allow his
affairs to get into such a position that the landlord shall step
iu and clear out the remainder of his property, to the dis
advantage and exclusion of his other creditors, wbo have quit6
as much equitable claim to a share of it as the landlord »
and who, indeed, have helped to keep up the rent, acd to
increase the value of the crops and live stock, which are some-
times swept away into the on« privileged lap, to the en
exclusion of others.

228

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

P.I.]

EXPENDITURE,

£ b.

Stock on Farm at Commencement of this
Year, v:z. : —

388

Cattle

Sheep

Horses ... ... ... ... ...

P'gs

Poultry „

Implements ... ... ... .„

Corn ... ... ... ... .,,

Straw ... ...

Manure ... ... ..,

Hay ... ... .„

Potatoes ... ... ...

Sundries ... ... ...

Tenant-right for manure made, and propor-
tion-ate allowance for manure and cattle food
purchased daring last year

Carried 07er to page 5 ... ...

RECEIPTS.

.4.

Stock on the Parm at the end of Current
Year, viz. : —

188

Cattle ... .„

Slitep ... ... ... ... ... j

Horses

Pi*e» .-

Poultry !

Implemests .

Corn ... ... „.

Straw ...
Manure

Hay .„

Potatoes „, .„

Sundrie* ...

Tenant-right for manure made, and propor-
tionate allowance for manure asd cattle
food purchased during this yeai ...

Carried over to page S

FORM OF BALANCE SHEET FOR FARM ACCOUNTS.

J*. *„J

EXPENDITURE.
To amount brought from page 1

Expenses*
Rent ... ... .. ... .»

Rates, taxes, and insurance ...
Servants' wages ... ... ...

„ board ... ... ...

„ eatra labour
Steam threshing

„ ploughing „

Tradesmen's Bill?,
Blacksmith ... ... ... .*,

Saddler „

Cartwright ... ... ... ...

Veterinary bill, and drugs bought ....

Manures Purchaser

For wheat ... ... .« ...

„ spring corn ... ... .„

„ grass and seeds ... ... ...

„ turnips ...

,, potatoes ... ... ... ...

Kainit aad salt ... ... ...

Lime ... ... ... ... ...

Stock Bought.

Cattle „.

Uoises ... ... ... m

Sheep ...

Pigs

Geese and other poultry

Cattle Food Purchase*.
Linseed cake j ...

M«ize ... ' ~

Other food ... ... ...

Seeds Purchases.
Seed corn
Clover seed
Turnip seed ... ... ...

Potato sets ... ... ... ...

Incidental Expenses.
Railway fares, expenses at market, Sc.
Interest paid on money borrowed
Rent aud other accounts owing by me

at end ol year
Profit (if any)

RECEIPTS.

y money owing to iep, &c., at eBd of last
year.

. <!.

Acres of Wheat
„ barley...
„ oats ...
„ beans ...
„ potatoes
_ straw ...

Corn Sol3>.

Cattle ,„
Horses...
Sheep ...
Pigs ...
Lambs ...

Stock Sold-.

Produce Sale,

Butter „,

Egg* .- ... ...

Poultry

Milk and cream ,. ... „, ...

Cash received on aecount of last year's book
debts .

Money owing for corn, &c, not yet paid and
not included abovi ...

Amount brought from page 4

Loss (if any) ,,, .,, ... .„

THE PARMER'S MAGAZINE

22£

FARMERS AND THE ELECTION.

We take the following article from the Daily NeiVs '• —
Sir Stafford Noithcote, after a short snd not very successful
raid ii.to the enemy's country at Hackney, has begun his
electioneering campaign in North Devon. He has opened
the attack at Barnstaple. Barnstaple has already stiown
what it thinks of the relative merits of Liberal and Conservative
policy, and we do not doubt that in the election which is
approachir g it will repeat its testimony with twofo!d emphasis.
Sir Stafford Northcote, however, was not thinking of the
borough but of the county which he lately represented, and
aspires again to represent. His speech was rather in Lord
Beaconsfield'* manner than his own. The swelling
magmloqueut, blustering vein does not suit Sir Stafford
Noithcote 'a geuius. The homely discussion of business-like
topics- is more in his line. This, however, the Chancellor of
the Exchequer avoided. Speaking to a constituency of
agriculturists he had nothing to say escept to otter a passing
lament over agricultural depression and attribute to his
opponents, by a rather incongruous metaphor, a desire to see
the land turned upside down. Sir Stafford Northcote possibly
believes that the larmeis of England are still in the acquiescent
ana submissive state of mind which has been usual wiih them.
If so, we venture to think he will presently find out his
mistake. The farmers have, indeed, hitherto been to a large
extent a non-political class ; and a non-politicil class is by the
very nature of the case Conservative. Apathy and in-
difference are stronger hindrances to reform than a more
active antagonism. You may convert a man who disputes-
with you, but you cannot make aDy impression on
one who turns a deaf ear to all you say, or who, com-
pelled to- listen, reruses mentally to entertain the considera-
tions brought before him. To one living in the
presence of nature, dealing with its steady forces,
alternating periods of excessive activity out of doors,with terms
of enforced indolence, that friction of life, out of which politi-
cal activity, like heat, is evolved, is reduced to a low point.
Political interest depends, moreover, in a great degree upon
habitual association with equals. The farmer has hitherto
lived, on the one hand, with his superiors, in the conventional
sense of the word, and his inferiors on the other. The persons
nearest to him have been his landlord and his labourers, He
has received deference from the one, and yiekled it to the other.
The weekly meetings and greetings of farmers in the market
places and at ordinaries have not counteracted the conditions
ot their daily life. They have not created and kept alive that
sense of a common class interest which is often the beginning
of a wider political concern. That mental independence which
co:nes of political association with equals has not been lostered.
The comparative seclusion of each farmhouse has been a
strongho-ld of practical Conservatism. By a curious paradox
the tenant has been the bulwark of that landlordism of which
in the fair conflict of business he is the natural antagonist.
We speak rather of the past, or of a present which is rapidly
becoming past, than of the acual and immediate future.
Reeent ehanges, social and economic, the facilities of com-
munication which brng farmers into close relations with town
lite and with other classes of the community, the penetration
among them of newspapers dealing With topics wider than
those of the parish and the county, and the education given in
agricultural colleges, are revolutionising the mental habits of
the tenant class. The attitude which the farmers are taking
at the general election is a witness to this change. The re-
turns which will be made in several counties will, unless we
are very much mistaken, testify still more conclusively to this
awakening political spirit.

The farmers have had six years of Conservative government,
and they ought by this time to have found out their friends.
If there had been any disposition to legislate for their interests,
the means and opportunities existed with a completeness un-
known during this generation. Liberal Administrations
dealing with land reforms were sure to be blocked in the Lords.
Parliamentary time would have been wasted in passing
measures through the Commons to be thrown out in the
Upper Chamber. Lord Beaconsfield in 187A found himself in
possession of a working majority, or a majority which would
perhaps have worked if he had given it any work to do, in
both Houses. Yet nothing was seriously attempted to meet
the demands of the farmers for security for their capital beyond
the paesing of a permissive Bill, which was a mere mockery of

| legislation. It left landlords as free as tliey were before to di
I as they chose. It ought to be obvious to the farmers that the
Conservative party will not introduce effectual changes. Its
business is to keep things as they are. That is iU mission,
\ and the reason why it exists. It ought further to be c'ear to
them that landlords as a dass will and must be indisposed to
| legislate against their own privileges and social advantages.
I', in spite of these obvious first truths, they choose to be
represented in the House of Commons by Conservative land-
lords— men opposed, both as Conservatives and as landlords,
to the changes demanded by the tenant-farmers — they must
accept their late. They may grumble and remonstrate, but
they will get Dothing. Moreover, they will deserve to get
nothing until they determine to have it, and use the only
means of getting it. They know very well what this method
is. They must elect Liberal members, or men of their own
order, not merely here and there, but in sufficient number to
make it nnmistakeable what their desire and intention are.
A Liberal maj irity is needed, not simply large enough to carry
its measures through the Commons, but strong enough to force
them through the Lords. The Conservative party has been
strong hitherto in the support of the farmers. That is to say,
it has been strengthened by the votes of the tenants to resist
the just demands of the tenants,

All this may be altered if the farmers choose hencsforfh to
be their own friends, vice Tory landlords dismissed from the
service. Their controversies are with Tory landlords, and to
send Tory landlords to the House of Commeus is toappoint
their adversaries to be their judges. The proposal, on which the
tenants justly in.-ist, to make the Agricultural Holdings Act
compulsory is a proposal to restrict the landlord's power. The
proposal to reform the Game Laws is a proposal to limit what
the Euglish country geutleman values as much as his power,
his pleasure asa sportsma.i,aud his opportunities of enlivening
guests whom he might otherwise feel it a doleful business to
entertain. The proposal to establish truly representative
County Boards is directed against that oligarchical ascendency
which its possessors j ield less willingly than anything else that
might be demanded of them. The proposal to abolish the law
of primogeniture and to limit the rights of entail and settle-
ment strikes at that desire to found and maintain a family
estate, at whatever expeuse of public and even personal interest,
which is one of the strongest surviving sentiments of feudalism.
On all these points, which are vi'al to any fair system of
tenure and to the proper cultivation of the land, the Conser-
vative party.and especially the landlord element iu it, which is
probably iu numbers three-fourths, and in spirit and influence
nine-tenths, of the whole, always will be and must be opposed
to the demands of the tenants. Wha ever is conceded will be
conceded reluctantly and at the last moment, and will be mini-
mised and perverted in the concession. The Liberalism of the
great towns, and of the commercial classes, and of such Liberal
politicians iu the landlord class as are Liberals in the first place
and landlords in the 3econd, is the natural allv of the tenant
farmers. Sooner or later they will see this. The speeches of
Mr. Bright, Mr. Gladstone, and Lord Hartiugtou show whence
help will come. They have it in their power by returning
Liberal candidates to get what they reasonably demand from
the next Parliament. Why should they postpone their due
satisfaction to the next Parliament but one, or the next Par-
liament but two P If they are satisfied with promises, Lord
Beaconsfield and his supporters will give them what they want.
If they need performances, they must look to the Liberal party.

THE AUSTRALIAN FRENCH MEAT COMPANY.—
It is proposed to form a company with a capital of £150,000
for importing 200 tons of frozen Australian meat per fort-
night. The success of the Strathleven experiment renders the
promoters hopeful of a considerable profit to shareholders. At
the present time meat can be bought for ljd per lb. at the
Australian ports of shipment, and careful inquiry shows that
an ample supply can be relied on at an average cost not
exceeding 2d. per lb. Estimating that the meat can be sold
here wholesale at 53d, per lb., there seems to be a fair pros-
pect of commercial success for the undertaking,

230

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

HYPOTHEC ABOLITION (SCOTLAND)
ACT.

The Bill for the abolition of the laullord's right of hypothec
for rent in Scotland has now passed both Housps of Parlia-
ment, and received the Rojal assent on March 25. The
measure, after being1 amended in Committee and on report in
the House ol Lords, has been prin'ed, and the following are
iti tt-rms :—

1. From and after the eleventh day of November,one thousand
eight hundred and eighty-one, hereinafter called the commence-
ment of this Act, the landlora's right of hypothec lor the. rent
of land, including the rent of any buildings thereon, exceeding
two acres in extent, let for agr culure or pasture, shall cease
and determine : Provided that nothing herein contained shall
apply to any claim for rent due, or which may hereafter be-
come due, under any lease, writing, or bargain current at the
date of the commencement of this Act,

2. From and after the commencement of this Act, the land-
lord of any land exceeding to ac-es in extent, and let for agri-
culture or pasture, ►hall, subject to the provisions of the pre-
ceding Sfction of this Act, have the same rights and remedies
against his tenant when six months' rent is due and unpaid as
is now provided by the law of Scotland when twelve months
rent is du • and unpaid, and shall also have the same right
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 to the fol-
lowing provision: (that is to say), It shall not be lawful for
the sheriff or sheriff-substitute to entertain any action for
caution and removing, or for irritancy and removing, unless
such actiou has bet-n preceded by fourteen days' written notice
by registered post-office letter or otherwise to the tenant that
such action is intended, nor in an action for caution and re-
moving to discern the tenant to fiud cautiou for more than the
arrears of rent and one year's rent further.

Provided also, that, in the event of the removal or ejection
of a tenant from such land in any year, under the provisions of
the Act of Sederunt anent Removings of the fourteenth day of
Pecernber, one thousand eight hundred and fifty six, and of this
Act, on account of being in arrear of rent for six months or
twelve months, as the case may be, the following further pro-
visions shall have effect :

(1) A tenant so rera>ved or fjected shall not thereby forfeit
the rights of an outgoing tenant to which he would have been
entitled if his lease had naturally expired at the date of re-
moving or ejection, or at the last preceding term of Whitsun-
day or Martinmas in the event of the removing or ejection
taking place betweeu these terms :

(2) When the removing or ejection takes place between the
belore-mentioned terms, the tenant shall be entitled to payment
of or credit for the expenditure made by such tenant since the
last preceding term on the labour, seed, and manure applied to
any crop, other than an away-going crop, falling within the
immediately preceding provision :

(3) Where a tenant is removed or is ejected between the
before-mentioned teims, he shall not, except as hereinafter pro-
vided, be liable to pay for the occupation of such land alter
the immediately preceding term of Whitsunday or Martinmas
more than a proportion of the rent effeiring to the period be-
tween such term and the date of removing or ejection : Pro-
vided always, that where any fiway-going crop to which a
tpnant. is entitled is immature at the date of such removing or
ejection, neither the tenant nor any one deriving right through
him shall be entitled to carry away such crop at maturity
until payment shall have been made to the landlord of the
proportion of rent effeiring to the land under such crop for the
period between the date of removing cr ejection and the next
term of Martinmas, the rent of such land being estimated, un-
less otherwise expressly stipulated, according to the average
rent of the whole land from which the tenant has been so
removed or ejected.

3. The provisions of the second section of this Ac*, shall not
apply in any case in which the landlord's right of hypothec
has not ceased and determined.

4. This Act may be cited as the Hypothec Abolition (Scot-
land) Act, 188Q.

OBITUARY.

Mb, Coli.inson Hall. — There has just passed away
from us at a ripe old age one of our early pioneers of agri-
cultural improvement, Mr. Collinson Hal', of Prince's-gate,
N<ve4ock, was horn in the year 1800, being the son of the
Mr. Collinson Hall who in IS 18 received from the Sjciety of
Arts the medal lor the adaptation of the percussion cap to the
fiiu' gnn then in use. From the age of thirty-three his whole
life, had been devoted to the improvement of agriculture by the
application of chemistry and engineering knowledge, A worker
rather than a talker, he never took the trouble to keep his
name before the world, but unostentatiously did good work
because he was in his own mind convinced it was worth doing.
Iu many wavs he wes a leader of progress, though very
po sibly numbers who reap the lenefit of his labours, of his
expenditure of wealth, and of his anxious and persevering
thought, do not know to whom their thauks are justly due,
Mr. Hall's range of thought embraced not only conceptions
which he put to the test of prac ical application by experi-
mental trials, but a scheme for the training of those who select
agricultural process as iheir life's work. His sc'ieme for
agricultural education was never earned into effect in the
exact form in which he proposed it, but that his mind
graiped the range of the needs ot those who have the control
of agricultural operations is not only evidenced by his outline
prospectus for a course of scientific studies, the application of
which underlies all good work, but also by similar lines being
followed in the National Institution at Cirencester. One of
his earliest studies which led to practical result was the
employment of mineral manures for land. Other distinguished
names are now intimately associated wi>h these researches,
but his early recognition of the importance of these studies is
not the less valuable, though his thought and energies were
soon directed to other channel". He helped todraw attention
to a very important subject, and as soon as it received public
recognition his ever- cive mind was directed to new studies.
In some lew cases he availed himself of the protection for the
value of inventions which the law of the land afforded, and he
iook out. patents lor steam ploughs and for apparatus to be
used in the carriage o' solid and liquid bo lies.

Mr. Hall's long labours were recognised in 1871 by the
agricultural engineers and farmers of Eugland, and a testi-
monial to him was set on foot- The testimonial was stopped
by some members of his family, but the fact that it was pro-
posed, and the steps for carrying it into effect were to a great
extent carried out, is sufficient indication of the recognition of
the value of his labours. The carefully drawn-up statement
of his work circula ed at the time cannot well be improved on.
Among the paragraphs are ths following : — " The agri-
cultural engineers and farmers of E.igland have determined to
present Mr. Collinson H<ll, of Romford, Essex, with a
testimonial to his strenuous efforts in the introduction of the
use of chemistry and engineering in the cultivation of the
soil. Siuce the year 1833 his whole life has been especially
devoted to these o'jects, and the success which has crowned
his endeavours speaks for itself in the advancement, not only
of agricultural chemistry, but of agricultural engineering. At
Havering-atte-Bower, Romford, Essex., Mr. Collinson Hall
commenced his farming career on 500 acres of light soil, and
he then found that the land required something more than
could be given from the usual farmyard manuriug. He at
once (in 1842) devoted himself to the study of chemistry and
its application to agriculture. His research for the promotion
of these objects was carried out far and near. In the. course
of his experiments he discovered that the gas works of London
were discharging into the. river, both as waste and polluiion,
valuable chemical matter in the shape of sulphate of ammonia.
This was utilised by him, and it has since been found to be of
immense benefit. In the same year he commenced a series of
chemical lectures on his farm, to which he invited the farmers
of the district, with the object of illustrating to them the
enormous advantage to be gained by the use of guano, nitro-
phosphate, sulphate of ammonia, salt, and other replenishes
of the soil. He was one of the first to adopt the use of the
horse-power thrashing machine in the place of the now
obsolete flail, and the first, a few years afterwards, to replace the
horse-power machine by the steam-engine now generally in
use. In the year 1850 the lease of his farm expired. He
conld not remain idle, and he took the Prince's Gate farms at
Xatsstock,. which had been offered f\>r a considerable time

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

231

without finding a man willing to risk his energy and capital
tipon land which had been lor years in the worst possible
Stale of cultivation. The whole of this land required to be
drained, and it was then he made the acquaintance of the lite
lamented John Fowler. Mr. Collinson Hall immediately saw
the immense benefit to be derived from the use of the steam-
draiuing apparatus, and he give most valuable aid to Mr,
Fowler in his earlier and more difficult experiments, Mr.
Fowler's steam plough ne^t took hi< attention, and in 1854 he
commenced experiments with it upon his land. Since this
date 11 diff rent patents of his own have been iutrodnced to
the agricultural engineers ol this country. For the special
use of machinery his land was early laid ' on the flat,' and by
the use. of steam culture the land has greatly improved, aud
at the present time is in the highest state of cultivation, as
will be shown by the fact that 30 acres have produced an
average of 40 tons of mangold wnrtzel during the past dry
season. Mr, Hall was one of the fir- 1 to introduce the supply
of country milk to London. In 1852 he designed and en cted
a steam flour mill, with an engine which was manufactured on
lis farm with a boiler pressure of 2201b. to the square inch.
At this early date this engine ground corn, cut chaff, pulped
mangold and turnips, and sawed wood, besides driving the
lathes in his workshops. In the year 1853 he altered his
p'onghing engine, so that it shonld propel itself. This engine
had a tubular boiler with a steam chamber, and was driven up
to the enormous pressure ot 3201b. to the square inch. He
was thus one of the first to introduce the steam road
locomotive lor the use of agriculture. His farm «as i lways
open to experimentalists with the reaping machine, and the
first grass American mowing machine was exhibited on his
land." For some time past, since the loss of his wite, Mr.
Hall's strength had been gradually failing, and his relations
and fiiends recognised that he was slowly sinking. He died
on Sunday, March 21st, at the house of his son, Mr, Collinson
Hall, Dylchleys, near Romford.

We take the following from the Times . — ■

Mr. Samuel Edward Bolder, who died on the 22d nit.,
at his »oii'a residence, Derby, whs educated as a solicitor, and
as a young man, having been broug it in contact with the elder
Stevenson, Locke, Booth, of Liverpool, and other pioneers of
railways, became so convinced of the important part that rail*
ways would play in the future that he took a very active part
in their promotion. Iu concert with John Swift, the solicitor,
Thomas Brassey, the contractor, and Joseph Locke, the.
engineer, he was prominent in carrying out the Lancaster and
Carlisle railway, which was opened throughout in the winter of
1846. It now lorrns part of the London ana North- Western
Railway and yields to the original shareholders nearly 12 per
eent. To many Mr. Bolden was better known as a most
successful breeder o' Shorthorn cattle. The son ol Mr. Johu
Bolden, of Hyui.ng, North Lancashire, a well known breeder,
he early became convinced of the value ol pedigree, and pinning
his laith to the Dachess blood, began to collect a herd in 1854.
On the death of his father he amalgamated both herds at
Springfield-hall, Lancaster, where he was the first breeder to
realze lour figures for a siDgle animal. In 1862 Mr. Bolden,
through tailing health, sold his herd; but op to his death he
continued to take great interest in Short horns,and was re^arded
as one of the soundest of judges. Mr. Bolden was for many
years an active magistrate ol North Lancashire.

CHEDDAR CHEESE.— The historian Camden, who wrote
in the reign of Elizabeth, speaks of Cheddar cheese as being
famona in his day, and of snch great sixe as to require two
men to set one on a table, from which we may infer lhat the
custom of making np the milk of several farms into one
cheese was practised in the sixteenth century as it was about
one hundred years ago, tor the holdings in the neighbourhood
of Cheddar were doubtless then, as now, comparatively small.
Here we have the first instance of associated dairying ; and it
is curious to note that the idea remained undeveloped for more
than 250 years, was then put into practical shape by an
American, that it has, after great success in the United States
Mid Canada, met with strong apverse prejudice ia the country

that gave it birth, and at the present time, arter a rria! o'
some years, seems to thrive but slowly, and to give scanty
proof ol the power it possesses to benefit the dairymen of
England. Fuller, in the seventeenth century, remarks that
"the worst lault of Cheddar cheese is that they are so few anf{
so dear, hardly to be met. with, save at some rich man's table."
These facts, gleaned from the writings of two well-known
ait' hors, tell us all we cau now learn of the early history of
the cheese and its fame. — Dairy Fur/nitty, by Piofessor
SlulJon.

" STURDY " IN SHEEP.— Our farmers are, UBfortunataly,
too well acquainted with the ravages cauied by this disease in
sheep. In some districts it is known under the name of
" Staggers ;" in France it is called " Tournis," and in Germany
" Dreher ;" these various denominations all pointing to one of
the most prominent phenomena in the disease— namely a
rotatory movement accomplished by the unfortunate animal,
which when once it becomes developed interferes with its
feeding, and eventually leads to its death by exhaustion "and
emaciation. Many years ago it was ascertaiuec be\ood a
doubt that the disease was caused by the presence in some part
of the brain of the sheep of a hydatid, often of several inches
in diameter, called canvrvt cerebrulis, which hydatid is the
larval stage of a well-known ta| e worm, /tenia eaturut. The
eggs of this worm have hard resisting coats or shells; they
can preserve their vitality for months together, and, passing
often through many strange vicissitudes, they come at last to
be spread upon our fields and meadows ; from which some may
be washed into streams or hrooks, and thence be taken up wiih
the water when this is used for drinking purposes ; hot in the
case of the sheep it is those which get during wet weather
npon the leaves and stems of plants that are conveyed into
the stomachs of sheep when these come to crop the herbage
lad n with a morning's dew. Perhaps unwitting'y, most
shepherds protect their charges from the attacks of many such
parasites by their old-stauding custom ot not letting their
sheep out in the morning nnti! the dew is off the grass, nor
them yet of letting graze in low, damp pastures. The operation
of trephining the sheep's skull and removing the cyst, when
skilfully performed, is often successful ; but, in this disease,
prevention is very much better than such a cure. Iu a thesu
recently presented for the degree of M.D, of the University of
Edinburgh, Dr.; G. T. Beatson has, in a very interesting
manner, called attention to this disease from a new p iut of
view, showing its relations to Cerebral localization, and how a
study thereof might elucidate some points connected wi'h the
physiology of the nervous system. It will be remembered
that r/errier has assigned funtrions to certain portions of the
brain, chiefly as the result of experiments, complicated and
distressing; but by the gradual gro*th of larvae of a ve-y
minute size which have located themselves in various parts of
a sheep's brain gradually, without shock, bleeding, or in.
fluiimation, tbe functions ot these parts get interfere! with, and
certain phenomena are witnessed the importince of a
knowledge of which may often be, in the treatment of disease,
of very great moment. In both instances the reasoning is
based on facts : thus, certain marked phenomena are mani-
fest! d and noted, aud afier death the part of the brain irritated
or destroyed can be accurately ascertained. A sheep is found
to separate itself from the rest of the flock, to be easily alarmed
and excited ; soon the rotatory movement (from right to left
in this instances) showed itself; then there was loss of sight,
first in the leit eye, and then iu the right one. It would now
stand in the field with its head pushed forward, qnite listless
and refusing to eat, and so it became quite emaciated, and
th< «ih in the midst ot plenty would have died of s'arvation ;
a lighted candle held to the eyes had no effect on the pupils,
sudden noises caused no start. This sheep was o, erated on by
Dr. Beatson with marked success. At the end of a fortnight
it grazed with the other sheep as if nothing had happened ;
its vision was apparently good, the pupils responded to light.
At the end ol six week's feeding it was killed, and the cyst
that had been removed was found to have occupied the
right posterior convolution ol the brain, thus approximating
closely to Ferrier's centre fos sight. In every way interesting
and instructive are such investigations, and those interested in
the localization of brain fuucti-ns will find a record ol several
such investigations in the thesis from which the above is
quoted.ar-d which appear in the current number of the Journal
of Awiowy and Vhytiology,

232

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

INTERNATIONAL POTATO EXHIBITION,

When it became known that pure' ases of seed potatoes
would be muU far restocking those districts of Ireland which
had suffered most severely from tha failure of the potato crop
last year, the Committee of the luteruational Potato Exhibition
determined to olfer their services to the Government, both as
advisers and agents, if need be, in this matter. After some
communication with the Government a sub-committee was
appointed, which issued the following recommendations;—

1. Tne land intend d to be planted with potatoes should be
effVctnally drained, tor if it becomes saturated with moisture at
any time while occupied with the crop, disease is likely to
ensue. The neglt-ct of drainage in potato culture has been so
largely attended with disappointment and disaster that it is
impossible to overrate the importance of the subject.

2. The land should be prepared by deep digging and liberal
manuriug with whatever cheap fertilizers the district will
readily afford. The cow-byre and pig-stye should be regarded
as supplying life to the potato crop. Weeds and parings of
heath soil burnt in small heaps carefully stopped with earth or
clearings of ditches to prevent flime, will furnish an excellent
fertilizer at little cost and suitable for every kind of 3oil.
Where the land is poor and sandy, a mixture of kainit and
superphosphate of lime, to be used at the rate of from three
to five hundredweight per acre, would be likely to prove highly
valuable in aid of the crop. In places contiguous to the sea,
the people should be encouraged to manure their potato plots
with sea-weed, wrack, shells, and sea-sand, all of which
coutain minerals which conduce directly to the healthy growth
of the potato.

3. Only on dry, sandy soils should the dibber be used in
planting po'atoes. The best mode of planting is to open
shallow trenches with the spade or plough, and lay the seed
therein at regular distances, to be covered about four inches
deep only in the first instance. Wuen the shaws first show
the ground should be well worked between with fork, hoe, or
plough, to keep down weeds and admit air iuto the body of the
soil. lu about three weeks afterwards they should be moulded
up. It should be impressed upon all cultivators that to mould
the plaut overmuch is injurious. It is sulficient if the
growing tubers are fairly covered. Iudeed, if a few are
exposed, and become green in consequence, there is no loss
entailed, for they can be saved for seed.

4. In planting on the poorest soils, a distance of at least
20 inches from row to row, and of 9 inches from seed to
seed should be allowed. Generally speaking, with land of
average quality and sons of average growth, a distance of 2
feet 6m. between the rows, and of 1 ft. between the seeds
will be fouud the best. Sorts that are knowu to be rank
in growth must have ample space allowed for the spreading
of the shaws to the light and air, and with these a distance of
3 ft. or even 4 ft. between the rows will be requisite. So far
as may be possible, planting on light dry lands should be
completed during the month of March, and on heavy lands
during the mouth of April. Good crops may be expected
from seed planted in May if the work is well done, but the,
danger of delay in the planting is that the iucrcas:ng warmth
®f the season compels the seed to sprout unduly, and thus leads
to a waste of energy. Every detail of potato culture should
have in view to conserve the original vigour of the plant.

5. The sorts specially recommended lor general culture on
heavy soils, and for districts where the rainfall is considerable,
are Scotch Chajipion, Redskin Flourball, Magnum Bonum,
Irish Cup, Perthshire lied, and White Rock. The sorts
specially recommended for light land and for districts that
have a moderate rainfall are Early Rose, Late Rose, Beaut,
of Hebron, Manhattan, Victoria, Grampian, Skerry Blue
All those recommended for heavy land may be planted on
light land, but those recommeuded for light land should not
be planted on heavy land.

6. The practice of planting small refuse seed has contributed
in a most material de'gree to the deterioration of the potato,
not only in Ireland but throughout Europe. Any seed tuber
weighing less than an ounce and a half is unfit lor planting,
and it is to be preferred that tubers averaging two to four
ounces should be selected. Seed that has sprouted but little
or not at all is to be preferred to that which has made much
growth in store.

7. The proper cultivation and improvement of the potato
may be greatly promoted by means of competitive exhibitions,

at wh'ch prizes sh u i be awarded for the best samples, trae 10
name, presented in a clean aud attractive manner, ]u the
: schedules of all agicultural and horticultural exhibitions,
1 classes should be provided for potatoes, with a view to quicken
inquiry and pron ote a pemanent interests in the rational
treatment of the plant and the selection of the most useful
varieties for particular soils and climates.

8. The so-called Lazy Bed system of potato growing should
be discouraged except in cases where proximity to to*i>s
ensures a ready and profitable market for early crops of small
growiug sorts of high quality. Tne robust habited kinds, on
which alone dependence should be placed for main crops in
agricultural districts, are scarcely amenable to the systtm,
which necessitates close planting, and tends directly to
degeneracy of the stock.

1
The Committee of the International Potato Exhibition wil
at all times gladly advise as opportunity may occur, and as
circumstances may suggest, i>.nd are prepared 10 comply wi'h
auy requests that, may be made to them by the Local Govern-
ment Board, Dublin, so far as lies in their power in respect
of potato culture. I have the honour, &.?.,

J. A. MdvENZiE, Secret ary.
Tower Chambers, Moorgate Street, London, E.C.

— Gardener s Magazine '.

VALUATION OF MANURES FROM ANALYSIS.— Tt
is now more than 20 years since Prof. Nesbitt, who was then
one of the leading Agricultural Chemists in the country, gave
a good deal of attention to the valuation of manures from their
analyses, with a view to enabling intelligent farmers to form
an opinion as to the money value of any manures which they
might seud for analysis. In a pamphlet on Peruvian guano
published in 1859, 1'rof. Nesbitt gave a table of the prices or
"standards of value " he had beei led to adopt in the valuation
of manures. At that time, and for some years after, these
standatdi of value represented pretty accurately the commercial
values of the various ingredients in artificial manures. These
standards were used largely for many years, aud we tiiink they
served a useful purpose. But since that time the commercial
values of most of these ingredients have altered considerably,
are are still continually fluctuating. Tnus many fresh sources
of phosphate ol lime have been discovered since Nes Liu's day.
Phosphate rendered soluble, commonly called " soluble phos-
pha'e" is valued in his table at £24 for absolute purity, which
is about 4s. 9£d. for each unit of the analysis; whereas the
retail value is now only 3s. per uuit in bone, aud 2s. lid. in
mineral superphosphates. On the other baud, the supply of
ammonia has not kept pace with the largely increased'demand.
It is valued in Nesbiit's table at £60 per ton, which is 12s.
pt-r unit ; but at the present value of sulphate of ammonia,
(about £21 for the best quality, contaiuirg 2t per cent
ammonia), it is now worth 17s. fjd. per unit, or £S7 10s. per
ton for pure ammonia. It is therefore evident that these-
standards of value must be corrected from time to timerif they
are to continue to be of much use in enabling a farmer to
estimate from its analysis the proximate commercial value of a
manure, or rather the price he may expect to have to pay for
it. The strictly agricultural, as distingui-hed from the com-
mercial value of any particular manu-e, must of course depend
in each case on the special deficiencies of the soil, and the re-
quirements of the crop to which it is applied ; and this, no
tables of standards, however accurate, can gauge or test. Thus
on a soil specially deficient in lime, or salt, or gypsum, which
are of very small commercial values, the application of these
cheap materials to crops requiring tliem would prove of greater
agricultural value, than would the more costly phosphates or
nitrates, or ammonia salts. — Richardson $• Co.,s Circular,

POTATOES FOR IRELAND.— Messrs. James Carter
and Co., of Holboru, have received an order through the
Lord Mayor of London on account of Her Grace the Duchess
of Marlborough's Relief Fund, for 1,000 pins of their Scotch
Champion Potatoes,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

233

THE CURING OF MEAT.

A correspondent to the i Utleman (Albany

N. Y.), writes the following I ir on this subject: —

In answer to an inquiry in a recent issue concerning the
proper kind of a brrel lor sait pork, I would stale that none.
but an absolutely clean barrel should ev.r bj use.l. It does
not pay to run any risk with pork. A b irrel once used fir
this purpose can be continually used if properly denied each
time, but in no e;ise should a syrup or molasses barrel be taken.
1 rind, in extensive travel among farmers, a lamentable igno-
rance concerning the curing of meats ; the terms pork and
bacon being used indiscriminately ; and even whole sections of
the hog-raising country sell their hogs on foot, and buy hams,
shoulders and bacon from the great packing centres. The only
xcuse for this is that the curing of meat is uncertain.

The curing of meat is not more uncertain in the bands of a
practical farmer than in a great packing-house ; indeed, there
are many reasons why the fanner has decidedly the advantage.
The curing of mess pork, or ordinary salt pork, is simple ; but
no point must be overlooked, or the result will be either entire
loss or a damage to the quality. Except in extraordinary
cases, fur family use none but clear or nearly clear pork should
be silted. Alter the hog is killed and bung up, split him down
the centre of the back-bone'; remove the lard cut off the hams
and shoulders ; divide the. side into two pieces laterally, cutting
about midway ; cat out the back bone and spare ribs to use
first, leaving on the fat portion of the back as much lean meat
as yon desire. This part of the back ot the hog is all thst is
suitable for salt pork. Cut it cross wise in strips of equal size ;
then take each piece and rub it over with fine salt ; lay it on a
bench on which a layer of line salt has beeu spread ; pile the
piece* in regular order, and sprinkle each layer with fine salt,
covering the whole reasonably well.

Let the pork remain a day or two, and the salt will draw all
the blood out of tiie meat. Then rinse each piece, put an inch
of salt in the bottom of the barrel ; pack the meat in as care-
fully and tightly as possible ; over each layer putting an inch
or more of salt, and when the meat is all in, add plenty more
salt. Put a clean board over the meat, and a weight to keep
it down ; then cover with clean soft water to a depth of two or
more inches over the board, and put the package in a clean and
cool place. If the salt is go id the pork will keep for years,
and always be sweet. One can easily destroy the flavour of
the whole by allowing small pieces to float around on top. If
Turk's Island salt is used, it will be best to make a brine to
cover the meat, instead of water ; but in no case neglect the
salt as before directed.

The hams, shoulders, and flank or belly part (the latter
makes the breakfast bacon of commerce) of the hog should be
cured in sweet pickle, or rather be made into bacon. For this
purpose a syrup or molas es barrel is probably as good as any,
and the same rule given before concerning the pork barrel
applies as well Iitc, or the same barrel can be nsed repeatedly
as long as kept clean, but never a'ter having been used for any
other purpose. The following receipt is identical, I believe,
with one published for many years by the Germantown Tele-
graph (Pennsylvania). I have used it for more than twenty
years, with invariable success : For 100 lbs. of meat take 4 gals
of water, 6 lbs. best salt, 2£ oz. salpetre, and \\ lb. Mew-
Orleans sugar, or its equivalent in molasses. Boil and skim,
and apply when cold. It is quite as well to draw the blood
from the meat by a day or two of dry saltiug, as described for
salt pork, but as meat should never be kept in this pickle long
in hot weather, this is not essential. Keep the meat in the
pickle for at least four weeks, and if the pork is heavy, at least
6:.x weeks, deducting any time that the package has been
frozen, or in a place were it was as low as freezing point. Then
dry and smoke to suit taste. Wrap each piece carefully in
paper, enclose it in a muslin bag, and hang in a dry, cool
place, and I will warrant it to give satisfaction.

A. correspondent advises smoking the barrel before packing
the meat. There is a good deal of fallacy about smoking meat.
All the smoking usually given to meat now-a-days, does not
add a fraction to its keeping qualities, and I do not see any
particular advantage to the flavour. If your meatis welicured
it will keep without smoking. If not, it will spoil with any
quantity of smoking. Probably the best place to keep haras
and bacon is in a nicely constructed smoke house, but even
then I should bag it as described above. The great bulk of
cut meats, if not absolutely all, that are shipped abroad from

the great packing centres, are nnsmoked, until just before
tin y ar» offered to the cen^umer at retail.

A piece ot unsmoked bacon broiled, alter being two-thirds
or more cured after the above receipt, will commend itself to
any of your readars who will try it. The sweet pickle receipt,
given for haras aud bacon, is the best I know of for curing
beef, but is not strong enough to keep beef sweet during the
hot months; and beet that is cured so that it will keep i3 not
usually relished.

In closing this answer to your correspondent, let me advise
him to take a new barrel for his salt pork; a goo 1 molasses
barrel for his b .con, and the same for his beef, and in order to
be sure that he makes no mistake, let him paint the words
corresponding with the use plainly on each package.

DRAINING IN HERTS.— At Brent Pelham Mr. J. C
Barclay is having 450 acres of land thoroughly well drainer1,
under the able superintendence of Mr. Thomas G. Scott, cf
Moorgate-street, London, and Surrey, a well known land a^ei.t
and cg'icultural authority. The work was begun in Novem-
ber last. About 100 acres of land drained are grass, and these
were all finished and well turfed before Christmas : here the
drains on the grass were 33 feet apart ; on the arable land
they are 16^ feet apart, and all are three feet deep. Tne
drain pipes are 2-iDch, and the larger main and outlet pipes
are 4, 5, and 6 inches diameter. The pipes are from Arls^y,
Albnry (near Bishop Stortford), Cambridge, Barrington'
Cambs, Sr. Ives, and Oundle ; and 1,500 tons have bten partly,
and will be used altogether. There have been 200 men em-
ployed the greater part of the time and 150 are at work now.
Of course the work was stopped during 1 lie frosts, but the men
were well at work again directly the frost was so much out of
the ground as to permit the laving of the pipes to be resumed,
and in six or seven weeks time it is expected all' the draining
will be finished. The men have done ten acres a day, and it
is a nice and cheering sight to see so many at work in the
fields, which extend a mile west and above half a mile north
of the village church. The labourers find lodgings in the
village, also at Meesden and Anstey ; they come from Hert-
fordshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, Oxford, and Surrey.
The work is w.-.ll done. An iron pipe with a semi-swivel
grating slides over the end of the main drain pipes at each
outlet, and the end of each outlet is faced with good brick-
work. At these places the water is seen actually running into
the open watercourses by the roadside and in the field hedgerows.
Mr. Barclay and his sous came to s> e the works in progress on
Thursday week, the llih, and were highly gratified with all
they saw and wi'h so much labour use'ully employed with
their capital. Mr. Bu-ton, of the Owles, Buntingford, ia
about to take the land, the Hall Farm (which of late has been
occupied by Mr. Topman), and we hope, the enterprising pro-
prietor will be reimbursed for his spirited outlay.

"TIE^ EARL OF LEICESTER ON AGRICULTURAL
PRODUCTION. — In answer to a question as to whether lie
ever said, as stated by a Liberal candidate, that under a
proper systeii of cultivation the land would produce nearly
double what i slid at present, Lord Leicester writes to his
correspondent stating that he did not intend any remarks he
made on the subjeL Uiapply to each individual acre of arable
land, or to any parties.,.- country. He proceeds, *' I believe
that if the pastures of the Jnited Kingdom were thoroughly
drained and efficiently farmed ihey would produce double the
quantity of food they do at present, and in wet summers the
serious loss in sheep would be greatly diminished. How few
of the arable fields are laid out to meet that thorough system
of cultivation which is necessary lor the production of large
crops. In considerable districts of England the useless fences
and trees, neither profitable nor ornamental, deduct consider
ably from the area for cultivation and from the produce of the
soil. How few farm buildings are adapted for the economical
production and the proper preservation of the manure, and
how much of the land is nndrained or only partially dra'ined
If to these obstacles we add these grievances which the farmers
of England are now justly seeking to be remedied— the in-
security of tenure, the insecurity for capital, the want of free-
dom for cultivation, and the injury from gronnd game— I
think that if these and other obstructions were removed and
owners and occupiers of land had ample capital, the power to
use it, and the knowledge how to apply it, the United King,
dom might, more especially in the prediction of meat, nearly
doublejthe present amount of food," '

234

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

AGRICULTURAL MEETINGS IN 1880.

APRIL 1 -Royal Jersey Agricultural Society's Show of
Horses, Bulls, and Pigs— Meeting at St. H elier's. Entries
close I. President, Gervaise Le Gros, Esq. Secretary •
Mr. Fra. Labey, Le Patrimoine, Jersey.

APRIL 27 and 29.— Ayr-hire Agricultural Association—
Meeting at Avr. President. The Karl of Eglinton and
Winton, Kntries close a fortnight previous. Secretary,
Mr. James McMurtrie, 70, Newmarket Street, Ayr.

MAY 5 and 6.— Glasgow Agricultural Society— Meeting at
Glasgow. Entries close April 21. President. The Duke
of Buccleuch. Secretary, Mr. Mark Marshall, 145, St.
Vincent Street, Glasgow.

MAY 7 to 12.— Manchester Hone Show. Secretary, Mr. T.
Douglas.

MAY 13 and 14.— Newark Agricultural Society— Meeting at
Newark. Entries close M*y 5. President, John
Orosslev, Esq., Mayor of Newark. Secretary, Mr.
Thomas Earp, the White House, Newark.

MAY 14 and 15.— Wharfdale Agricultural Society— Meeting
at Otlev. Entries close May 1- President. A. Fawkes,
Esq.. J.P. Secretary, Mr. John Lee, 8, Ashfleld Place,
Otlev.

MAY 17, 18, and 19.— Devon County Agricultural Association
—Meeting at Totnes. Entries c'ose : Stock and Imple-
ments, April 15; Poultry, April 22 ; Butter and Ct earn,
May 1- Secretary, Mr. John L. Winter, Bridgetown,
Totnes.

MAY 19 and 20.— Oxfordshire Agricultural Society— Meeting
at Oxford. Entries close April 21. President, Lord
Norreys. Secretary, Mr. T. F. Plowman, 65, Corn
Market Street, Oxford.

MAY 21 — Hadleigh Farmers* Club and Agricultural
Society. Meeting at Hadleigh, Suffolk. Entries close
May 1 '. President, Lieut -Col. Rowley. Secretary, Mr.
W. Grimwade, Hadleigh, Suffolk.

MAY 27.— Roval Jersey Agricultural Society's Show of
Cows, Heifers, Butter, &c— Meeting at St. Helier's-
Entries clo<e May 22. President, Gevaise Le Gros, Esq.
Secretary, Mr. Fra. Labey, Le Patrimoine, Jersey.

MAY 29, 31, JUNE 1, 2. 3, 4.— Agricultural Hall Company's
Horse Show— Meeting at the Agricultural Hall, Isliugt >n.
Entries close May 17. Presi lent, Robert Leeds, Esq.
S cretary, Mr. S "Sidney, Agricultural Hall.

JUNE 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7.— Bath and West of England Agricul-
tural Society— Meeting at Worcester. Entries close for
Stock and Implements, April 21 ; Poultry, May 5.
President, The Earl of Coventry. Secretary, Mr Josiah
Goodwin, 4, Terrace Walk, Bath. [There will be no
separate meeting of the North WorcsstershireAgricultural
Society this year.]

JUNE 3.— Stirlingshire (Eastern District)— Meeting at
Falkirk. Entne- close May 27. President, John Russell,
Esq. Secretary, Mr. Thomas Binnie, Falkiik,

JUNE 10 and 11.— Essex Agricultural Society— Meeting at
Manningtree Entries close May 15. President, T.
W. Nunn, Esq. Secretary, Mr. Frank Whitnore, 22,
Duke Street, Chelmsford-

JUNE 15 and 16.— Peterborough Agricultural Society-
Meeting at Peterborough. Entries close May 29. Presi-
dent, Earl Fitzwi.liara, K.G. Secretary, Mr. J. E. Little,
Queen Street, Peterborough.

JUNE 15, 16, and 17.— Herefordshire Agricultural Society-
Meeting at Hay, Breconshire. Entriescl se May 8. Presi-
dent, Sir Henry Scudamore Stanhope, Bart. Secretary,
Mr. T. Duckhain, Baysham Court, Ross.

JUNE 16 and 17.— Royal Cornwall Agricultural Society-
Meeting at Lostwithiel. Entries close May 12. Presi-
dent, Digby Collius, Esq. Secretory, Mr. Henry
Tresawna, Lawellyn, Probus.

JUNE 16 and 17.— Norfolk Agricultural Society's Summer
Show — Meeting at Downham Market. Entries close Mjy
8. President, H. Villebors, Esq. Secretary, Mr. James
Bacon, Attleborough.

JUNE 22, 23, 9.4, and 25.— Royal Counties (Hants and Berks)
Agricultural Society— Meeting at Portsmouth. Entries
dose May 15. President, Major-General Sir F. W. J.
Fitzwigram, Bart. Secretary, Mr. Henrj Downs, Maun
House, Basingstoke.

JUNE 23, 24, and 25.— Doncaster Agricultural Society-
Meeting at I)onca>ter. Kntries c! ise May 29th. Presi-
dent, The Right Hon. Lord Auckland. Secretary, Mr.
George Chafer, 9, Marmot Tlace, Doncaster.

JUNE 24 and 25. — North East Agricultural Association of
Ireland— Meeting at Belfast. Entries close May 17.
President, General Viscount Templetown, KCB.
Secreiary, Mr. G. Gerald Bingham, Ulster Buildings,
Waring Street, Belfast.

JUNE 24 and 25. — Suffolk Agricultural Society.— Meeting at
Bury St. Edmuuds.

JUNE 24 and 25.— Suffolk Agricultural Society— Meeting
at Bury St. Edmunds. President. The Duke of Gralton.
Secretary, Mr. Robert Bond, Old Bann House, Ipswich.

JULY 1.2, and 3.— Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society.
Meeting at Nottingham. Entries close, for Stock and
Imp'ements, June 5 ; Poultry, June 12. President. Duke
of St. Alb*n's. Secretary, Mr. John Barron, 16, Market
Street, Nottingham.

JULY 2 and 3. — United East Lothian Agricultural Society —
Meeting at Prest mgrange Policies, near Prestonpans.
Entries close, fir implements, June 1; stock, June 11.
President, the Earl of Haddington. Secretaries, Messrs.
Richardson and Gemmed, Haddington, N.B.

JULY 12. 13, 14, 15, and 1R.— Royal Agricultural Society of
England— Meeting at Carlisle. Entries clo=e, for Imple-
ments, April 1 ; Stock, May 1. President, The Duke of
Bedford. Secretary, Mr. H. M. Jenkins, 12, Hanover
Square, W. [There wil; be no separate meetings of the
Penrith or East Cumberland Agricultural Socie-ies this
year.]

JULY 13 — United Banffshire Agricultural Societv — Meeting
at Banff. Entries close July 3. Piesidents, The Earl of
Sea6eld and Duke of Richmond and Gordon. Secretary,
Mr- George Gumming, Banff.

JULY 20. — Malton Agricultural Society — Meeting at Ma'ton.
Entries close July 3. President, W. H. St. Quintiu,
Esq. Secre ary, Mr. William Constable, Malton.

JULY 21, 22, and 23.— Lincolnshire Agricultural Society-
Meeting at Brigg. Entries close June 14. President,
Sir John D. Astley, Bart., M.P. Secretary, Mr. S.
Upton, St. Benedict's Square, Lincoln.

JULY 21, 22, and 23 — Shropshire and West Mid' and Agri-
cultural Society — Meeting at Bridgnorth, Shropshire.
Entries close June IS. President, Edmund Wright, Esq"
Secretary, Vr. W. L Browne, ■ ast e Mills, Shrewsbury.

JULY 22. — Bedfordshire Agricultural Society— Meeting nt
Biggleswade. Entries close June 19. President, Samuel
Whitbrea1, Esq., M.P. Secretary, Mr. Henry Ricnard
James Swaffield, Ampthill, Beds.

JULY 22.— Northumberland Agricultural Society — Meeting
at Newcastle-ou Tyne. Entries close June 24. President,
the Duke of Northumberland. Secrptary, Mr. Henry
Wallace, Trench Hall, Gateshead -on- Tyne.

JULY 27. — Hunts Agricultural Soc:ety — Meeting at Ramsey.
Entries close July 6. President W. Wells, Esq. Secretary,
Mr. Arthur George Dilley, Market Place, Huntingdon. *

JULY 27, 2«, and 29.— Gloucestershire Agricultural Society-
Meeting at Gloucester. Entries close June 11. Secre-
tary, Mr. Edward Tiinder, Cirencester.

JULY 27, 28, and 29. —Glamorganshire Agricultural Society.
Meeting at Cardiff. Entries close June 29. President,
Marquis of Bute. Secretary, Mr. W. V. Huntley, Welsh
St. Donatts, Cowbridge.

JULY 27, 28, 2i, and 30.— Highland and Agricultural Society
of Scotland — Meeting at Kelso. Euti ies close for Imple-
ment-', June 4 : Stock June 11. President, The Marquis
of Lothian. K.T. Secretary, Mr F. N. Menzies, 3,
Georpe IV. Bridge, Edinburgh. [There will be no sepa-
rate meeting of the Border Unicn Agricultural Society
this year.]

JULY 28 and 29. — Leicestershire Agricultural Society —
Meeting at Leicester. Entries close July 1. Presidents,
The Duke of Rutland, K.G. ; Tie Karl Howe- Secretary,
Mr. J. T. Ardron, Syston, Leicester.

JULY 28 and 29.— Cambs. and Isle of Ely Agricultural
Society — Meeting at Cambridge. Entries close June -'8.
President, Ebenezer Bird Foster. Esq.. Anstey
Hall, Trutnpington Secretary, Mr. Uobt. Peters, jun.,
30, Bridge Street, Cambridge.

JULY 29 and 30.— Smith Durham and West Yorkshire Horse
and Dog Show— Meeting at Hummcrsknott Park, Darling-
ton. Entries close . President, the Earl of
Eldon. K.G. Secietary, Mr. W. Sewell, Northgate,
Darlington.

JULY 29 and 30.— South Durham and North Yorkshire
Horse and Dog Sba.w. Meeting at Darlington. Entries
ciose July 5, secretary, Mr. W. Sewell.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

AUGUST 3, 4, and 5.— York-hire Agricultural Society—
Meeting at Barnsley. Entries olose June 26. President,
Walter T. W. S. Stanhope, Esq., M.P. Secretary, Mr.
Marshall Stephenson, York,

AUGUST 4.— Long Sutton Agricultural Society. Meeting at
Long Sutton. Entries close July 27. President, Mr.
John Algernon Clarke. Secretary, Mr. John Wm. Swain,
Long Sutton.

AUGUSTS— Coquetdale Agricultural Society— Meeting a1
Rothbury. Entries close July 15. President, Karl Percyi
MP. Secretary, Mr. Robert Donkin, Rothbury, Morpeth-
Northumberland.

AUGUST «.— Tyneside Agricultural Society— Secretary, Mr.
A. Wood, Corbridge.

AUGUST 7.— Thornton Agricultural Society— Meeting at
Thornton. Entries Olose August 1. President, Isaac
Wood, Esq. Secretary, Mr. T. Jarratt, Mew lun,
Thornton, Bradford.

AUGUST 10.— Durham County Agricultural Society— Mee
ing at Stockton-on-Tees. Entries close Secretary,

Mr. Thos. Wetherell.

AUGUST 11. — East Derbyshire Agricultural Society
Meeting at Chesterfield. President, F. S. Arkwright,
Esq., M.P. Secretary, Mr. Thos. Wardle.

AUGUST 11, 12, and 13 -Royal Agricultural Society of
L eland— Meeting at Clonmel. Entries close July 12.
President, Marquis of Waterford. Secretury, Mr. Sey-
mour Mowbray. 12, Upper Sackville Street, Dublin.

AUGUST 12.— Dalkeith Agricultural Society.— Meeting at
Dalkeith. Entries close July 29. President, The Duke
of Buccleuch. Secretary, Mr. James Wilson, Wester
Cowden, Dalkeith.

AUGUST IS.— Beamish, Pontop, and Consett Agricultural
Society— Meeting in Shot-ley Bridge District. Entries
close August 4 President, Colonel Joicey. Secretaries,
Mr. John Richards, Beamish; Mr. George Ridley,
Stanley.

AUGUST 26. — Penistone Agricultural Society— Meeting at
Penistone. Entries close August 16. President, W.
Spencer Stanhope, Esq., M.P. Secretary, Mr. J. N.
Dransfield, Penistone, near Sheffield.

AUGUST 23.— Halifax and Calder Vale Agricultural Society
— Meeting at Halifax. Entries close August 14. Presi-
dent, Lieut.-Col. Sir Henry Edwards, Bart. Secretary,
Mr. William Irvine, 18, Cheapside, Halifax.

SEPTEMBER 1.— Airedale Agricultural Society.— Meeting
at Bingley. Entries close August 23. President. F. S
Powell, Esq. Secretary, Mr. jesse Thompson, Main
Street, Bingley, Yorks.

SEPTEMBER 2, 3, 4, and 6.— Royal Manchester, Liverpool,
and North Lancashire Agricultural Society— Meeting at
Crewe. Entries close August 1. Secretary, Mr. Thomas
Rigby, 1, Old Ropery, Liverpool. [There will be no
separate meeting of ihe Cheshire Agricultural Society
this year.]

SEPTEMBER 7 — Cartmel (Lancashire) Agricultural Society
— Meeting at Cartmel. Secretary, Mr. W. Cragg,
Cartmel.

SEPTEMBER 7.— Wolsingham and Wear Valley Agricultural
Society— Meeting at Wolsingham. Entries close August
28. Secretary, Mr. William Rutter, Willow Cottage,
Wolsingham, via Darlington.

SEPTEMBER 7 and 8.— Warwickshire Agricultural Society
— Meeting at Leamington. Entries close August 14.
President, The Earl of Warwick. Secretary, Mr. John
Moore, Northgate Street, Warwick. A .sistant Secretary,
Mr. Frederick H. Moore.

SEPTEMBER 8 and 9.— Wirral and Birkenhead Agricultural
Society. Meeting at Birkenhead. Entries close Aug. 25.
Secretary, Mr. J. S. Lewis, 28, Hamilton-street, Birken-
head.

SEPTEMBER 9 and 10.— Northamptonshire Agricultural
Society. Meeting at Towcester. Entries close Aug. 7.
rresideut, R. Loder, Esq. Secretary, Mr. George M.
Dann, Great Billing, Northampton.

SEPTEMRER 14. — Cartmel (Lancashire) Agricultural
Society— Meeting at Ca-tmel. Entries close Sept. 1.
President, Lord Erlward Cavendish. Secretary, Mr.
William Cragg, Cartmel. Grange-over-Sand, Carnforth.

SEPTEMBER 1."..— Wayland Agricultural Society. Meeting
at Watton. Norfolk. Entries cloae September 2. Presi-
dent, Lord Walsingham. Secretary, Mr, Henry F.
Gxigsoiij W&tton, Norfolk,

SEPTEMBER 15. — North Cardiganshire Agricultura
Society— Meeting at Aberystwyth. Entries olose, for
Green and Farm Crops, Au ;nst 20; Stock, August \'~.
President, VaiiL'han Davies, Esq. Secretary, Mr.
William Morgan, Cardigan House, Queen's Road,
Aberystwyth.

SEPTEMBER 21.— Alfreton Midland Agricultural Society
— Meeting at A'freton. Entries close August 28. Presi-
dent, 0. R P. Morewood, Esq.. J. P. Secretary, Mr.
Arthur Milner, Stretton, near Alfreton.

SEPTEMBER 22 and 23 —Staff rdshire Agricultural Society
— Meeting at Stoke-on Trent. Entries clog", for Stock
and Implements, August 21; Poultry, September 4.
President. The Marquis of Stafford. M P. Secretary,
Mr. W. Tomkinson, Newcastle, Staffbrdshiie.

SEPTEMBER 27.— Ludlow Agricultural Society— Meeting
at Ludlow. Entries close September 13. President"
Edmund Bluck, Esq. Secretary, Mr. H. T. Weyenden,
Ludlow.

SEPTEMBER 29.— Frome Dairy Show and Agricultural
Society— Meeting at frome Emries close August 27 to
Seotember 10, President, T- K. Harding, Esq. Secre-
t .ry, Mr. Walter Harold, Frome.

SEPTEMBER 29— Chapel-en le-Frith Agricultural Societv—
Meeting at Chapel-en-le-Frith. Entries close September
4. President, W. H. G. Bagshawe, Esq., J. P. Secretary.
Mr G. H. Swift, Chapel-en-le-Frith.

SEPTEMBER .—North Lonsdale Agricultural Society-
Meeting at Ulverston. Entries close . Patron,
Duke of Devonshire, K.G. Secretary, Mr. J. Atkinson'
Queen's Court, Ulverston.

SEPTEMBER .— Carlow Agricultural Society— Meeting at
Bagnalstown. Co. Carlow. Entries close September
Secretary, Mr. T. P. Butler, Ballin Temple, Tullow, Co.*
Carlow.

SEPTEMBER .— Bakewell Farmer's Club— Meeting at
Bakewell. Entries close September . President
George W. Furniss, Eoq. Secretary. Mr. W. Smith!
Bakewell.

SEPTEMBER .—Vale of Conway Agricultural Society-
Meeting at Llanrwst. Entries close August 12. Pi esi-
d3iit, Chares Mainwaring, Esq. Secretary, Mr. H.
Pierce, Brynhyfryd, Llanrwst.

OCTOBER 6.-Royal South Bucks Agricultural Society-
Meeting at . Entries close for Roots July 1
Secretary, Mr. R. H. Barrett, Slough, Bucks.

OCTOBER 13.— Royal Jersey Agricultural Society's Show o
Agricultural Produce— Meeting at St. Helier's. Entries
close October 9. President, Gervaise Le Gros, Esq
Secretary, Mr. Fra. Labey, Le Patrimoine, Jersey.

OCTOBER 28.— Ayrshire Agricultural Association— Show of
Dairy and Farm Produce at Ayr. President. TUe Earl
of Eghnton and Winrer. Entries close a fortnight pre-
vious. Secretary, Mr. James McMurtrie, 70, Newmarket
Street, Ayr.

NOVEMBER, 24 and 25.-Rutland Agricultural Society-
Meeting at Oakham. Entries close November 1. Presi-
dent, the Earl of Gainsborough. Secretary Mr
Benjamin Painter, Burley-on-theHill, Oakham. '

NOVEMBER 25 and 26— Chippenham Agricultural Society
— Me-ting at Chippenham. Entries close November 19.
President, Algernon W. Neild, Esq. Secretary Mr"
Edward Little, Lanhill, Chippenham.

NOVEMBER 27 to DE 'EMBER 2.-Birminghnm Exhibi-
tion Society— Meeting at Bingley Hall, Birmingham
Entri-s close, implements, October 16 ; stock November
1. Secretary, Mr. J. B. Lythall, Bingley Hall.

NOVEMBER -Webb's Great Root Show— Meeting at
Curzon Hall, Birmingham. E. tries close November
Proprietors, Messrs. Webb and Sons, Wordsley Stour-
bridge. '

NOVEMBER —Tredegar Agricultura' Show -Meeting a
Newport. Monmouthshire. Entries close November 1»-
P.esident, Lord T-edegar. Secretary, Mr. J G Pallin^
Tredegar Estate Office, Newport, Monmouthshire. °'

DECEMBER l.—Sturminster Agricultural Society— Meetir«
at Sturminster Newton. Entries close November 27
(about). Secretary, Mr. H. C. Da&hwcod. Sturiainaev
Newton,

nm

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINI

DECEMBER 1.— Stnrminster A-grricultural Society. Entries
close November 27 [about). Secretary, Mr. H. C. Dash-
wood, Sturminster, Nevrton.

DECEMBER 6 to 10— Smithfield Club Eat Cattle Show, at
the A<mcnlttral Hall, Islington. Entries close : Imple-
ments. 4c, Octoljer 1st; Live Stock, November 1st.
President, Lord Tredegar. Kon. Secretary, Sir B. T.
Brandreth Gibbs. Assistant Secretary, Mr. H. J. Hine,
12, Hanover Square, W.

DECEMBER (1st or 2nd week).— Edinburgh Fat Cattle
Show— Meeting at Edinburgh. Entries close November
President, The Duke of Buccleuch. Secretary,
Mr. Hugh Martin, 7, Hope Street, Edinburgh.

DECEMBER 7, 8, and 9.— Yorkshire Christmas Fat
Sfck fto., Show— Meeting at York. Entries close Nov.
19. President. Ralph Creyke, Esq. Secretary, Mr.
John Watson, Lendal Bridge, York.

[We shall continue the occasional insertion of this Lis
throughout the rear, and add to it as other Societies make
their arrangements, of which we shall be obliged by early
notice.— Eeitob, M. L. E.~[

SOLUBLE VERSUS REVERTED
PHOSPHATE,

In the TrilMne of last year Igave an aeciunt of some ex-
periments that had been performed in Belgium and France by
Petermann and Grandeau, the results of which went to show
that phosphoric acid m the form of the so-called reverted
phosphate was just as valuable for producing crops as that
existing in the fertil zer in the form of soluble phospha'e ;
consequently, in those countries the. two are rated as of equal
worth, under the name of assimilahle phosphoric acid, in the
trade valuation of manures ; in Germany, on the other hand,
the reverted acid is generally reckoned with the insoluble acid,
or, if noticed at nil, it is rated at three -fourths the value of
soluble acid. In England the reverted acid appears to be
always reckoned with the insoluble acid. In this country the
two forms of combination of the acid are considered as equal
in value in Georgia, 1- cents per ponnd ; but in Connecticut as
worth 9 and 12^ e nts re-peotively.

It is unfortunate that there should he such a discrepancy of
opinion among agricultural chemists in regard to so important
a matter and I turned to the minutes of the discussion on this
subject in the meeting for 1879 of the Directors ol Experiment
Stations in Germany, with the hope of finding that new experi-
ments had given such decided results that the question might
be considered as settled. Dr. Petermann read a long paper,
previous to the discussion, in which he brought together the
results of all experiments hearing on the question, both in pots
and in the field, including those of 1*79 which had been com-
pleted at that time, and summed them up in this wise: Pot
experiments continued through several years at Gemblonx,
Belginm, in both clay and sandy soils, with oats, wheat, barley
and peas, field experiments at Nancy, France, with potatoes,
rye, rape, wheat, fodder roots, barlev, and Indian eorn, field
experiments on a clay marl soil at Mainz, Germany, with oats,
barley and wheat, on a sandy soil at Darmstadt with barley,
and on a reclaimed bog with all crops, all unite in showing
that these two forms of phosphoric acid have equal value as
plant food, and, furthermore, there is not a single experiment
that clearly shows that one i« any less valuable than the
O'her.

More than this, he elaims that in some c^ses the reverted
phosphate ha8 proved to be a better manure than the soluble,
and that this may be the case especially in sandy soils. In
soils containing much lime, or iron and alumina, the. soluble
phosphate soon passes back again into d fficnlty soluble forms,
and is thus saved from being leached out; in a sandy soil,
there being nothing to absorb and fix the soluble acid, it may
be carried off before the plant can make full use of it. To all
these views as to the relative value of the two forms of the
acid a very few German agricultural chemists gave their
support. Dr. Adolph Mayer, one of the most prominent of
them, allowed that the later experiments by Dr. Petermann
were not open to the obj ction which he himself had brought
forward against earlier ones, and that his own opinion was
materially changed by this last presen'ation of the case for
reverted phosphate. The majority of those present at the
meeting were, however, not fully convinced by the evidence

presented, and the following resolution was finally adopted,
and it may reasonably be taken as representing the pre-
sent state of the opin'ens on the subject in Germany.

Resolred, That tins meting recognizes the value of reverted
acid for soils of a certain character and will not oppose the
quantitative determination of it in corn nercial fertilisers if
demanded by farmers or manufacturers ; but it doe» not con-
sider that the experiments which have thus far been performed
have yit-lded results that are sufficiently decisive to furnish re-
liable data for the estimation of the value of reverted
acid ; it pledges itself to do what it can by immediate tnrther
experimentation to contribute toward the satisfactory settle-
ment of tbe question of this value.

We shall have to wait, therefore, a while longer before we
can say positively that the practice in Connecticut or that in
Georgia is the right one; and perhaps we in this country can
also contribute something toward the solution of the question
by field comparisons or superphosphates made from the stime
kind of insoluble phosphate, and containing the same to;al
quantity of soluble and reverted phosphate, but different
relative proportions of the two ; there certainly cannot be too
many carefully executed experiments in this direction. —
New rwi Tiibunz.

IRON PIPES FOR DRAIN OUTLETS.— I attach ranch
importance to this. More than thirty-five years ago I drained
the whole of this farm, some for top water, others for spring
water, rising from below. I have resided here ever since, and
the condition of the outlets has been my watchful care, for I
know how soon an outlet might be lost sight of and neglected
when covered in by mud after a flood, or hidden by vegetable
growth, or destroyed by the working of moles, or hy the decay
and collapse of an ill-burned clay pipe. There was one outlet,
which, bt-iug neaT a footpath, was a frequent target for mis-
chief loving small boys; but a happy thought occurred to me,
so I iuserted a 2-inch iron pipe (ihey are cast in lengths of 6
feet) so that 5 feet 3 inches of its length is firmly embedded
in the solid soil, while 9 inches of projecting nozz'e defies the
boysj frost, or any other impediments, and is always findable
and visible. It has been a real comfort to me, and for larger
outlets I use 3-inch pipes, which are cast in 9 leet lengths, so
that 8 feet 3 inches are safely embed. led in the firm soil, and
are undistributed by man or beast. How important is this
matter, when we know that the drainage of an acre, which
prcbably costs £7 or £8, may be ruined by the loss of an out-
let, but also a great loss of crop resulting from obstructed
drainage. These 3-inch 9 feet loug cast iron pipes cost me,
in quantities, only 5s. each, or £5 per ton, lor they each weigh
1 cwt. The 2-ineh ones would be much less in cos'. A
3- inch pipe would more than suffice for the outlet of "2 acres
of top water drains, and thus only add 2s. 6d. per acre to the
cost of drainage. The difficulty I have had for over thirty
years is to find, by sight, the numerous drain outlets, in the
open ditches or watercourses, alter winter floods. This may
be rendered per'ec'ly easy by these immovable, projecting iron
pipes ; vegetation and moles shun the projecting iron tube. It
is a real comfort, for one feels no uneasiness about the drains.
I attach great importance to a frequent outlet — that i*, tor a
small area of drainage — because a defect in the drainage is
thus quickly ascertained, and the air circulates more freely. I
did wrong in closing some open ditches into which outlets dis-
charged their water filter rains, fur although I inserted a
leading pipe as a receiver, I find the drainage more slow and
the land less dry. The circulation of air within the drains
after rains is thus proved to be advantageous. No doubt
drains should be ventilated, but these ventilations should be
of unbreakable iron vertical pipes, for clay pipes or bricks are
soon destroyed. I found that the ponderous steam plough
engines passing over drains near the ditch outlets crushed and
displaced some of the clay drain pipes and stopped the drains,
but the 9-foot iron pipes prevent this danger. When the land
is mellow and the outlets rather near the surface the ponderous
weight is very dangerous. My great spring drain was thus
compressed, but I happened to b? present, and at once saw a
mass of saud rushing out with the water as soon as the trac-
tion engiues had passed oter it. It is much too usual to find,
after a lapse of years, the drains of a farm lost sight of,
choked, or neglected — a most costly neglect. Eight or nine
| inches of projecting iron nozzles would prevent much of
this.— J. J. Meciu.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZfNE.

237

THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE AT
READING.

On Saturday, February 20, a public meeting; was
•".eli1 at the Reading Town Hall, to explain the objects
of ..he Fanners' Alliance.

Alter a lew introductory remarks from the Chair-
man,

Mr. BA.RCL&T, M.P., addressed thfi meeting, saying at the
outset tliat ;he was a tenant-farmer and a representative in
1'arliament of the tenant-farmers of Forfarshire; hut he need
not tell them that in these I) id times lie was something else
besides, or otherwise he doubted very ra-ich if lie should
occupy the position he did. One ol the difficulties of tne
Alliance was in finding men who were only tenant-farmers
with the leisure and means which would enable them to olfer
themselves as representatives of the tenant-farmers. While
he should speak ihat afternoon principally from the tenant's
point ol view, he assured them tiat in the objects of the
Alliance there was nothing that was not advantageous to the
landlords, the labourers, and the community at large, as well
aa to the interest of fie tenant-farmers; and he was quite
willing that the propositions he was about to advance
should be tried by that test. Wuile no doubt mac l of
the present severe deprpssion in the agricultural worll
depended upon the very bad seasons we had had of late,
he could not agree with those who thought that with good
seasons the present depression would entirely pass away.
Such people forgot that even before the late disastrous
seasons began the position of the tenant-farmer was be-
coming oue of very great difficulty indeed, lie was being
pressed between higher rents, largely increased cost of
labmr, and higher rates on the one hand, whila on the
oilier there was no corresponding increase in the price
of the articles he produced (Hear, hear). The depres-
sion at first fell on the tenant-farmers alone, but within
the last year or two it had been coming on the labourers,
and now at last it had fallen on the landlords themselves-
(Hear, hear). Assuming that we were going to have a
recurrence of fairly good seasons, he had considerable
doubt whether it would bring back the good tunes which ex-
isted with farmers ten years ago. Within the last three or
four years many new sources of food supply had beeu opened
up, and the facilities of transport had been wonderfully in-
creased. Thev had been for some years accustomed to the
competition of America, more particularly with regard to
wheat, and within the last year or two beef and mutton ; but
during the last month or two the successful importation of
fresh meat from Australia had beeu opened up, and it was now,
if they accepted tiie statements of the importers themselves,
practicable to import fresh beef and mutton from Australia,
aud sell it wholesale iu London at between 4d. and 5d. ger lb.
As to American competition, he could speak fro n some ex-
perience, having been to the States ou three occasion*, his
last vis:t being paid during the past autumn. They mus
recollect that the farmer in \merica was-, in ninety-nine cases
out of a hundred, the o-vner of his farm, and had therefore to
pay no rent. Secondly, he cultivated virgin soil, and, so far as
experience had gone, in the Western States, he had not the
slightest occasion to pay for manures. In the third place,
though he bad to pay very considerable customs duties on
groceries and clothing, his local taxation was covered by 6d.
an acre, including the cost of Iree education ; and lastly, the
land was more easily cultivated, aud the farmer could work
more days in the year than was the case in this couutry. Ii
they compared those conditions with those under which the
English farmer had to cultivate his land, they would not be sur-
prised to find thatafier allowing 10 per cent, interest on capital,
and charging all the work on the farm at contract prices, the
farmers of the Western States could, ou an average, produce
wheat at 25s. per qr. The co~t of transport to Liverpool and
London certainly dio not exceed 10s. per qr. ; ami he thought
that figure would be considerably lessened within a few
years. After looking into it as closely as he could, his con-
elusion w s that if the trade in dead meat, and still more in
live cattle, were more developed, they might exp°et stead'ly
increasing quantities of beef from America at 5£d. to 6d.
a pound. Adding to that the additional supp'y from
Australia, be thought it safe to conclude that (or two or
three years to come at least steadily increasing imports

of all kinds of agricultural produce might be expected at
almost whatever prices they might fetch in the English
market. The question arose— if those facts were so, were
English farmers going to fold their hands and submit to
ultimate ruin without making an effort? Why should they
not take counsel together, fanners and landlords if they chose
to joiu, and consider the causes of the present state ol matters,
whether there was any possible remedy, and whether they
should not unite in endeavouring to carry out what remedy
might lie beforo.them ? (Hear, hear). That was, in short, what
the Farmers' Alliance proposed. The causes ol the depression
miijht be inferred from the remedies he was about to suggest.
Iu the first place, to meet foreign competition it was absolutely
necessary that, something should be done to st.niiulite the
farmers of England to renewed exertious and fresh hopes.
The means of doing that were — a very decided and material
reduction iu the reins of the land, c dispensation for improve-
ments, and greater freedom in the cultivation of land
(applause). The landlords appeared to discuss the question
as if r;nt was a fixed quantity ; hut according to the doctrines
of political ec momy, it was the point ou which 'here ought to
be ihe greatest flexibility. The costol labour, the interest on
the farmer's capital, and the return for management were the
other important points in the cost of production. They could
not reduce the labourer's wages below the cost of living, and
they were not very much above that level at preseut ; and it
was quite clear that the profits of the farmer could not lie
reduced much below what they had been of late (laughter and
Hear). Therefore any reduction, under the present slate of
affairs, must cone out of the rent (Hear, hear). He dared
say he should be told that rent was a question b tweea land-
lord and tenant, witii which the puiilic hid no right to
interfere (Hear, hear). He, entirely agreed with that view of
the question ; but the law of iiis'raint did at the prese.it
moment interfere in the landlord's behalf, and assist him in
driving a birder bargain with the tanner than he other-
wise could (Hear, hear). The landlord under the effect of
that law was free from the usual restraints of prudence in
accepting a tenant, i.e , he might be inditf-ren' to tlu»
amount of cipital a tenant possessed, because he knew
the lull rent was secured. That,, is a matter of course,
increased the number of competitors for a farm, and in pro-
portion to the number ol competitors was the rant. The
Alliance said that in order to put the landlord and the tenant
on a fair level, the landlord should be placed on exactly the
same footing as the other creditors of the tenant's (Hear,
hear). That would lead him to accept a lower rent from \
tenant with large means than he would from one who made a
higher offer but whose capital was inadequate to deal properly
with the farm (appiausi). The question of compensation for
unexhausted improvements was nothing new ; but for the last
few years little had been said ou if. [t might be said the
Government had redeemed their pledge by the Agricultural
Holdings Act, but he would leave it to the fanners to sav
whether the Act had been any benefit to them, and whether it
really redeemed the pledges which the present Government
party gave when they went into power. The proper basis of
compensation for imprnveman s of holding., in his opinion —
as he said the other day at a meeting in Norfolk, though Mr.
Clare Sewell Read took exception to it — vas the additional
value given to the holding by improvements effected by the
tenant at his own cost (Hear, hear). If compensation were
to goon the outlay of the tenant simply, whether that outlay
were judicious or not, he would not hive tree hands to make
that outlay without the control of the landlord's agent; and
what he insisted on as a prime necessity of any reiorin iu
agriculture wis that the farmer should escape from under the
tutelage of the laud agent (Hear, hear). That brought him
to the third point — freedom of cultivation. The Marquis of
Salisbury lately advised the farmers to put more brains into
their business ; but laudlords, or probably thier agents, would
not allow them to do so. How was it possible to conduct any
business success ally under such conditions and restric-
tions as were put on the farmer by the covenants of his lease
as to cultivation? (Hear, hear). Then the Alliance, had a
provision lor the reform of the game laws (Hear, hear ) He
would not enlarge upon the social aspects o! the questiou, but
would merely say that so far as the tenant-farmer was con-
cerned he thought it would be generally accepted as a com-
promise that he should have a joiut and indefeasible right
along with his laudlord to kill tne hares and rabbit, ou lua

T

20*

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

fVip, ind so protect his crop? from dampge (Hear, hear.)
Then there was the grcn- question of local taxation (applause.)
In regard to that, <he Alliance thought there ought to be, iu
the first place, whatever might ultimately happen, a fairer
revision of its incidence as between landlord and tenant
(Hear, hear.) In Scotland all the. rates imposed within a
modern period, such as education and highway rates, had been
divided equally between landlord and tenant. He did not
think there was nee.l for a Stronger, proof that the teuant
farmer* of England were not adequately represented at present
iu Parliament, than that the whole of those rates in this
country had iieeu placed upon them. It was said that those
burdens ultimately came upon the land ; it such were the case
why should not the laud pay them direciy, iu the first instarce ?
(Applause). The statement ould not be true in the case of
existing leases, for no ore could explain how a tenant under a
lease got any relief for the taxes imposed upon him during the
currency ot that lease (Hear, heir). It was his opinion
that the question of local taxation generally was intimately
bound up with that of local representative government
(Hew, hear). It was surely refl-c'iug very discreditably upou
the tenant larraers of England that although the people in
towns had local self government conferred upon, them 50 \ears
aafo, up to the present lime no serious endeavour had been
made to give the agricultural population that power (Hear,
hear). The objects of the Alliance might be briefly summed
up tlius— to hive free land. By that he meant, in regard to
the landlords, that the life, tenantor the limited owner should
have power to deal with, sell, or improve his estate without
having recourse to elaborate Acts of Parliament or to a
roundabout system, the cost of which was so great that it
deterred any one trom takiug advantage of it (Hear, heir).
All other existing interests in the estate should be duly
conserved ; but he did not think there would be any satisfactory
settlement of the question until Parliament declared that the
whole of the land of the country should be only held in fee
simple (Hear, hear). As rngardel the tenants "free land "
meant liberty to exercise their judgment, intellect and skill in
making the most out of til* land, and security for such
improvements as were effected upon if (applause). In
regard to the labourer he thought free land would be to him
an assurance, that in exchange for fair labour and industry
he should have some better future in prospect than the
workhouse in his old age— (Hear, hear,) — and to the public it
meant an increased supply of home produce of the soil, and
along with that the largely increased d-iraand for home
manufactures (Hear, hear). The qiestion arose—What
were, the means the tenaut-farmers proposed for accomplish. ng
those objects? The Alliance proposed first, a better
representation of tenant farmers in Parliament, for
at. present— when they had on the one side two or
three hundred landlords, aDd on the other only one or two
tenant farrnere — the disproportion was altogether too
great (applause). In the absence of tenant-farmers' re-
presentatives it seemed to him the wiser course would be to
select someone unconnected with the land. He agreed that
the interest of the landlord and the tenant might be identical
in the long run ; but he must assert strongly that in that case
the landlords took a very narrow view of what their own
interests were (Hear, hear). Mr. Read, the other week, at
Norwich, stated fully the objections to tie Farmer** Alliance.
He said it was, first, unnecessary, because the subjects it pro-
posed had been aud were being dealt with by the Chamb-rs of
Agriculture. It was the opinion of many farmers, however,
that the chambers had not accomplished very much, and were
ia much need of assistance from outside (Hear, hear). The
Alliance did not wish to interfere with them, but to give them
what assistance they could in promoting their objects. Mr.
Head also objected that the committee of the Alliauce belonged
to one prty in politics ; but so fxr as that was concerned, if
Mr. Read aud two or three of his friends would join they
would cure that evil (Hear, hear). He felt that if English
farmers were to compete successfully with their foreign com-
peers thiy must adopt a new system of relations between land-
lord aud tenant such as he had endeavoured to ind cate as
being the programme of the Alliance. In any cass he thought
it was the duty of the farmers to unite— as they were invited
to do by the. Alliance. — in an effort to consider whether the
pre cat depression might not be overcome, and to consider
Bot merely their own selfish interests, but the interests of the

landlords, of the labourers, and of all classes of the com. naunity
(loud applause).

Mr. Wi.ngfielu moved the first resolution — "That in the
opinion of this meeting the Farmers' Alliance, as an as-ocia-
tion of agricultural reformers with objects independent of
pariy politics, deserves the support of all who desire to see the
legal and customary hindrances to agricultural prosperity re-
moved " (Hear, hear).

Mr. T. Rogers seconded the motion.

Professor Hunter then addressed the meeting in support
of the resolution, speaking fioni the point of view of the con-
sumer. In the cou^e of In rem rks he said tiiai Mr. Caird
had estimated that land in this country had increased iu va'ue
by 331 millions during the past 20 years, out of which he
allowed some 60 millions for the capital spent upon the land,
leaving the actual net profit on the land at 270 millions in 20
years. That showed that farming had not been an unprofit-
able business for the landowner, it it had been to the farmer.
Two thousand years ago the great Roman jurists laid down
the principle that a teuant should be compensa'ed for unex-
hausted improvements to the aaiount of the increase he had
effected in the value of the land. II« believed that principle
was not found iu the law of Euglaud entirely through the
accident that whea the old English law ju iges drew their in-
spiration from the, Roman law they unfortunately had oulv a
lit tie book to guide them, and did uot know of the big book in
which thote priacipies were contained ; and so, from their
scanty knowledge they laid down the principle that whatever
bec-me fixed to the land became the property of the landlord.
About a hundred years ago the traders got rid of that princi-
ple, but it was not until 1875 that it was laid down in favour
of the farmers. He attribu'ed that to the fact that there had
not been the same represe atatioa ot farm rs iu Parliament as
there had been of the trading class (Hear, hear).

Af'er Mr. Darke had spokeu the resolution was carried
unanimously.

Mr. Palmer, M.P., next moved " That it is desirable to
organize a committee of the Alliance in Berkshire, with a view
to increase, the number of the members of the association, and
to promote tie oojects " (Hear, hear). He said the speeches
made that afternoon had proved beyond auy kind of djubt
that such »n orginiza'ion was wauted, and that the Allimce
wis an association winch the farmers were not only justified
in organising, but which their interests demaud^d they khould
support (Hear, hear). The, present difficulty in getting tenant-
farmers to represent constituencies in the House of Commons
w.«s a strong argumeut in favour of the Alliance. He hail
not had much experience of Chambers of Agriculture, but h;
at ten led a meeting at Ne.whury the other day, and there saw
no evidence that that Chamber was taking up the business it
was intended that the Alliance should take up. It was clear
beyond dispute ihat however good the men might be whom
they sent to Parliament, they would have to look after the..i,
or their interests would not be. eared for as they should be,.
The only interest he knew ofthar was not specially locked afier
in the House of Commons was the agricultural interest ; and
for the sake of the country, independently of their own
interests, as it was uecessary that that should be altered
(Hear, hear). He, felt that the Alliance was the right thing to
enable them to unite with a view to improving th.'ir con-
dition as tenant-farmers, and making it tolerable. They would
improve their condition, their knowledge, aud their circun-
stanc-s by getting together as otlier people did, and discussing
the questions that affected thcra ; while if they took care of
their own interests, honestly looked at, they would become
philanthropists aud benefactors of thcircouutry (applause).

Mr. Mixchix seconded the resolution.

Mr. Wheble then addr-wd the meating, advocating an
alteration in the method of taking the coru averages, which
would, he said, reduce the, tithes 24 per cent., and an alter-
ation in the poor laws. Oae means towards the latter end
would be, as M-. D .rke had hinted, that every young man and
woman should subscribe for a provision against sickness and
old age ; and another that all rates and taxes should be paid
by Income, Tax, derived from all sources.

The reiilution having b'len unanimously agreed to, the
meeting closed \v ilh ■x vote of thanks to the Chairman.

Tins FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

239

TIIE FARMERS' AI LIANCE
CALLINGTON.

A meeting of farmers was held at Ctllington on Wed-
nesday, for the purpose of hearing addresses from a depu-
tation of the Farmers' Alliance, and for further
considering the question of selecting a tenant-farmer to
contest the representation of East Cornwall. The
meeting was very numerously attended, and the proceed-
ings were enthusiastic and unanimous. Mr. W. H. Nattle
presided.

Letters of apology having been read from Messrs. Tre-
mnyne, M.l'., \gar llohartes, Pole-Carew, Digby
Collins, E. Carlyou, I. Latimer, and E. Brydges
Wi I (yarns,

The CHAIRMAN observed that Mr. flnell, the leading agri-
cultural reformer in the district — (applause) — wis requested
to preside, but that gentleman felt he could not do so without
the concurrence of the committee in whose hands had been
placed tl.e question of a tenant-farmers' representative (Hear,
hear). The presidency had consequently devolved upon him-
self— % young man ; but although he was a young farmer, he
was an old taxpayer, and he shared the common lot of farmers
in bearing the natural burdens of ordinary taxa'ion, in feeling
the effect of competition, and in sustaining losses by sheep rot
(Hear, hear). But there were the unnecessary burdens of
the police, highway, sanitary, and education rates. At first,
the poorer classes complaiued that they were the sufferers, in
having to send their children to school. But now the farmers
perceived that they were the real victims, inas nuch as they
had to pay for the education of their own children and other
people's as well. The Education Act of the Liberal Govern-
ment was to f (feet a national education ; and if we were to
hive a national education let the nation pay for it, and not ask
the land to defray the whole. L"?t the cost be borne by the
Income Tax. In the times of Elizabeth the support of the
poor was shared by the people according to their means; but
now things were very different. The burdens were getting too
much for the farmers, and he was inclined to strongly advocate
relief (Hear, hear). When the Liberals were in power Mr.
Lowe proposed to tax the matchmakers. But the match-
makers would have nothing of the kind, and demanded that
they should not be taxed. Why, the match makers were
quite an example for farmers (laughter). Let the farmers
uuite in a body, like the match-makers, and insist on being
relieved (Hear, hear, and laughter). The speaker dealt
with the various remedies proposed for the relief of the
farmers. He was not putting class against class, because he
believed there were wise landowners as well as 'oolish ones.
The wise ones did not talk of " expensive daughters," and
that kind of thing, but promised to retrench themselves
instead, in order to relieve their tenants (applause). Their
great specific was to get a representative of their own class to
espouse, their cause in Parliament, or to send someone there
who would represent those views for them. He believed it
had been beneficial to their interests to go to the meetings of
the Devon and Cornwall Chamber, at Plymouth and Liskeard,
to speak and pass resolutions, but they must now' he-i:ate no
longer and go to the fountain head (applause). That was the
programme of the Al iauce (applause).

Mr. Jau.es You.xgm.vn regarded it as a good sign of the
times to witness the farmers bestirring I hems Ives. They had
too long neglected that most important part of their business
— seeing that they were well represented. If they were
underlings, it was their o»n fault (tpplaus). He li ed in
a county onstitaency where they were open to return one, if
not two, tenant-farmers — (cheers) — and he was proud to say
that he had heard Conservative tenant-farmers promising to
vote for a Liberal tenaut-'armer candidate, and the Liberal
tenant-'armers had promised to vote for a Conservative tenant
farmer, if one could be found (app'ause). Let them black-
ball the man who introduced party among theao (Liear,
hear, and laughter). The larmers had had bad seasons and
Other difficuHes to deal with, hut, above all, there had been
the Parliamentary legacy of past years. He had a good deal
of faith in the indomitable energy, and in the perseverance of
Englishmen, and, with liberty, with fair piay, if they were
not (et'ere*! by ridiculous conditions they might do well in these
difficult times. He had nc doubt that with such reforms as they

AT | demanded acceded to they would yet see English agriculture

again successful. Wherever he went among the farmers he
law the absence of party spirit — that superiority to party he
almost had said — and that absence from wild and reckless
schemes which was the best hope of their being victorious
(applause). They were not Irishmen — they were Englishmen
(applause). They looked at the difficulties of the case, an I
felt sure of how powerful would become their influence ii they
once succeeded in obtaining a substantial footing in Parlia-
ment (applause). He did not stand there to find fault with
the landlords. He knew that their laws had been made by the
landlords for generations. It was not so very long ago that it
was possible for none but landlords to get Parliament and the
vast number of them, he was afraid, had net been accustomed
to look at these matters with other than the eyes of landlords
(applause). Now, he did not ask for a Parliament of
tenant-farmers, but he should like to see a good admixture of
the two classes (applause). Farmers had not proved in the
past, to be the most apt at combinations ; they had not been
conveniently placed for the purpose, and their peculiar habit
of life had induced a spirit of isolation and selfishness. That
was one of the things that would have to be broken through —
that would have to be got rid of — that that era of depression
would tend to dissipate (applause). Henceforth 'hev must
put shoulder to shoulder and help one another. He trusted
" the Fanner's Alliance" were teaching them to do this. He
was a determined opponent of setting class against class, bnt
he knew pn more flagrant illustration of our class legislation
than the existence on our statute book of a law giving the
landlord the power of making a clean sweep over his sinking
tenant's property to the exclusion of all who had as much
moral right as had he to Bhare in the property — (applause).
He did not like the law ei'her, because it tended to make rents
artificially high. It was occasionally said that the tenant*
were responsible for the high reuts. But that was scarcely
so. It was the worst portion of the tenants who had had the
setting of the rents, and landlords had felt that they had this
protection against bad tenants by pouncing upon the stock.
It was this class of men who were responsible lor unduly en-
hancing reuts (applause). It would be better for all parties
if there was security (applause). Let there be security, and there
would be twice as nmoh capital emp'oyed, and there would ba
twice as many farmers, and successful ones too (applause).
Who would he the worse off for this security, he should
like to know ? Not the landlord, unless the man was
supposed to be better off who unfairly appropriated the
property of another (applause). There were, he believed,
however, but few landlords who consciously appropriated
what was equally the right of o'hers (applause). But, they
were told, the landlords are such good fellows, that they
should let them aiotm — '• let there be freedom of contract."
Bnt no one should be free to pick the pocket of another, and
at present the landlords legally possessed the licence to pick
the pockets of others with impunity (applause). Not one in
a hundred, perhaps, would do so (Hear, hear). But there
was yet the possibility, and that was the worst feature of the
case. Men knew they were exposed to this kind of thing, and
the result was most daiuagiug. Let there be none among
them carins nothing for others provided they swam
(applauRe). Farmers were proverbially accused of grumbling.
It was not a bad thing to grumble. But they had acted as
political monks, and shut themselves up to pray to their
politic tl Jupiters (laughter). Enough of that (cheers). Let
them stop that, and put their shoulders to the political wheel
(cheers). He was glad to hear the subject of local taxation
introduced, but when Robert Lowe suggested the Income-
Tax assessment as a basis for the education rate there were
not six farmers to back him up (Hear, hear). If their
tithes be released from unfair averages, a deal would hava
been accomplished (app'ause). It might be said that the
farmers were going ahead a little too fast in this matter of
the AHiauce, and should trust to Chambers of Agriculture.
But he had come to regard Chambers of Agriculture as a
moon in its fourth quarter. He did not say a mouse had
come out of the mountain — not even that — (laughter).
They hiid disappointed him. They did well for talking, and
wou.d be useful as rival debating societies (laughter).
What w^s required was action (applause). The. Chambers
had hammered at local tixa'ion for years, and thev had
succeeded in getting a little taken off and a little mom put on

T

MO

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

'(laugher). New Tns the time for action. The times were i
urgent. There never had been snch a period for stirriug up [
up th. farmers, and he hi.ped those of Bast Cornwall would |
think and act successfully (cheers).

Mr. TV. £. Bear, first explained his ': presumption " in
statin?, in hi* siinrnons convening the mee'ing, that the
question of atenon'-farmers' candidate would be discussed at
1 he meeting. He had no intention of intruding upon the
province of their committee, but he wan'ed to attract a good
libeling, and he was rather proud of the success of his experi-
ment (applaiis?). He now found that the aims of their com-
mittrc and the Droer?.mme of the Alliance were very similar,
and he hoped the two associations would be able to render one
another a good deal of assistance (applause.) Their primary
object was to secure the representation of tenant-farmers in
Parliament. This did not necessarily mean that, farmers should
represent farmers, but ihat the candidate should go in (or the
principal objects of reform which they were desirous of seeing
achieved. Before he came down to that meeting he was labour-
ing under the. impre-sion that Mr. Snell was likely to be brought
forward as their candidate, and if he was the Alliance would
ertainly support, him most hearlily (Hear, hear.) For many,
years he had been io theha'nit of reading Mr. Snell's speeches,
and he had always regarded him as a thorough agricultural
reformer (Hear, hear.) It did not matter to him that Mr.
Snell was a Conservaiive. As a Liberal, he unhesitatingly
told them that he should vote for the best tenant-farmers'
candidate, whether he was a Liberal or a Conservative
(applause). There was nothing unpatriotic in this. The state
of agriculture was ;he most important question of home poli-
tics at the present time ; and it was quite consistent with
patriotism to say, ''Tries'? things have beeu neglected so long
that we will leave the trammels of parly and go in for these
reforms " (applause). They had some excellent gtntlemen in
that county, who had long been members of the Alliance.
The candidate for Lauuceston — Mr. Collier — whs one of the
first to join them (applause). And he should not be doing his
duty as the Secretary of hie Farmers' Alliance, if he did not
tell them that Mr. Collier was thoroughly in favour of their
programme, and in urging those farmers who had votrs for
Launceston to support him. It Mr. C'llier had happened to
be a Conservative he should have breu happy to have told
them the same. Tho electors of Liskeard, too, possessed in
Mr. Conrtnpy one of those who joined the Alliance in its
younger days (upplaiidc). He was one of their most able
supporters, and he hoped that the hon. gentleman would
be returned at the. next election as he was at the last
(applause). lie was sorry they had not a tenant-
la.nier among them whom they could belect as a candidate.
There were more yeomen in Cornwall than in most
counties, and he regre" ted that Mr. Snell had decided not to
come torward, tor he felt pretty confident that he would do
them credit if he did (applause). A charge had been preferred
against the Alliance that it was a Ridtcal association. For the
charge there was no foundation. When it was started l.e sent
invitations to Mr. Read and Mr. Pnipps, snd other prominent
'Conservative agriculturists, asking them to attend the con-
ference. The Conservatives, therefore, were invited to join
tr-ero and if they did not do so, the only conclusion he could
draw was that the C'onscrvadves were not so much in favour
of reform as the. Liberals (applause and laughter). At least,
lie judged se by results (Hear, hear). In spite ot all libels to
the contrary, the members of the Alliance were resolved to
keep tree of patty, and to freely critic.se whichever Govern-
ment came into power. There were some landlords who con-
curred in their demands, but, as a rule, they did not find many
in favour of their programme. He had often been asked to
explain the meaning of the objects of the Farmers' Alliance.
One might have supposed that, the«e objects have beeu often
enough disenssed in Chambers of Agriculture and iu agri-
cultural newspapers to_enable all who take an interest in agri-
cultural affairs to understand them. Still, as there was plenty
of saope for difference of opinion as to the mode of carrying
out those objects, and the extent to which they should be
carried into effec% it might be. not amiss to explain what those
who framed the programme of the Alliance are aiming at.
The first object is " to secure the hetter representation of
farmers in Parliament." That is plain enough ; but it has
been taken by many people to mean the representation of
farmers by farmers. Now, it is the. wish of the Alliance that
.as many farmers as can be induced to btcjrne candidates

should be supported, and, if possible, sent to Parliament ; but
as these are limited in number, it was considered desirable to
support any good candidate, to whatever class be might
belong, who agreed iu the main with the aims of the Alliance.
He was happy to say that there were a few landlords who were
eligible from this point of view ; but, as a rule, he considered
landlords to be about the least desirahle representatives that
tenant-farmers could have. It was said that as the interests
of landlords and tenants are identical, laudlords are suitable
representatives for tenants. He admitted that the interests of
the two classes were to a great extent identical, though not
entirely so ; but it was nothing to the purpose to nrge that
their interests are idntical as long as their aims are diverse.
Take the important question of compensation to tenants for
their unexhausted improvements. It was undoubtedly to the
interest of landlords, in the long run, to encourage stood farm-
ing by giving security of capital to their tenants. Yet when
an Act was passed to bring sboutthat result, at least 19 land-
lords out of 20 — he might almost say 99 out of 100 — set it aside
as far as they and their tenants were, concerned. Again, taking
the question of game, nothing could be clearer than that it
was to the pecuniary interest of landlords, at well as to that
of tenants, tor game to be kept down, because a farm with
little game upon it will almost always let for more rent than
it would if game were swarming upon it. Yet a large pro-
portion of landlords re.'use to let their tenants kiil even ground
game, and oppose any reform of the Game La .vs. Once more,
landlords would undoubtedly be better off if they had po*er
to sell portions of their estates in order to get free from
encumbrances, and to have ; he means of doing their duty as
owners by the remainder. The value of the laud would be
greatly increased if the laws which encounge Entail and
Primogeniture were abolished. Yet the great majority of
landlords were opposed to a thorough reform of the Land
Laws. Thns it was idle to talk of the interests of landlords
and tenants being identical, so long as landlords
loved power, presti?'', and sport more than they loved
monev, and deliberately sacrifiord their pecuniary
interests for the sake of social and polnicil position. He did
not say that, on that ace rant, no landlord should be accepted as
a candidate by tenants. As already observed, any landlord who
was an earnest agricultural reformer was well fitted to
represent tenauts in Parliament. But he did say that the
day had passed when an. man should be uble to command the
al'egiance of farmers at the polling booth simply because he
was a large landowner or a member of a great ounty family, and
he further said that, as a general rule, farmers should choose
any representatives rather than landlords.

Tiie second object on the programme was, "To stimulate the
improved cultivation ol thelsud, especially by obtaining security
for the capital of tenants invested in the imnruvement of their
holdings." There were some members of the Alliance who
professed to believe that this object cuuld be obtained without
interfering with what was called ireedom of ontract, but which
very often meant licence of contracf. Of course if the object
was attained, it was a matter of no importance how, so long
as the means were fair. But for his part — and he knew that
a very large number of our members agreed with him, he did
not believe it was possible to give security of capital to all the
tenants in the country without interfering with freedom or
licence of contract. Still, no member ot the Alliance was
committed to this compulsory plan simply as a member. If
he objected to compulsion, and thought he could ob'ain security
for tenant's capital without it, by all meaus let him try to get
it in the manner that pleased him best.

His interpretation of the the third obj-ct of the Alliance—
"To promote the reform of the laws relating to theownership and
trans er of land," was the abolition of the Law of Primogeni ure,
the prohibition of limited ownership, and the simplification and
cheapening of trausfer. The Lord Chancellor's Bills to per-
petua'e entail did not satisfy the desires of the Farmers' Alliauce

The fourth object explained itself. " To encourage greater"
freedom in the cultivation of the soil and the disposal of its
produce" — every one knew what that meant. It was, how-
ever, desirable to state that the Alliance did not propose to
attain that object by legislation, but by persuasion. These
were not times lor tying a farmer's hands. Give him com-
pensation for his unexhausted improvements, and make him
pay his landlord for deterioration, and he may safely and ad-
vantageously be allowed to farm cs he pleases, at least until
the year of quitting.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

241

The fifth ohjeet was, " To obtain the abolition of class
privileges involved in the Laws ot Distress and Hypothec."
Nothing could be plainer than that. There were people who
said, "This is a bad thing ; let us keep a little bit of it."
Thus it was proposed to abolish the landlord's power of dis-
traint except for one year's rent. This would not do, because
it would leave the chief evil of this Law of Distress intact.
That chief evil was, as Mr. Youngman had pointed out, the
artificial enhancement of reuts, by means of the unnatural
competition fostered by the law. As to the Law of Hypothec,
that was to all effects and purposes equivalent to the Law of
Distress, and Scottish tanners were almost unanimous in wish-
ing to get rid of it.

The sixth object was, " To promote the reform of the Game
Laws." The least reform that would satisfy the Alliance was
one that would give to every occupier an indefeasible joint
right with his landlord to kill ground gamp, and a claim for
compensation for damage done by over-preservation of winged
game.

The seventh object had puzzl»d many and given rise to some
misunderstanding. It was, " To obtain the alteration of all
legal presumptions which operate unfairly ag linst tenant-
farmers." That object was inserted chiefly to please
Scottish members. In Scotland the law presumed
that a tenant could not transfer his lease, and
he believed that his widow could not (arm his lease out if he
died. This was very unfair. Again, the law of Scotland pre-
sumed that the game and the right to kill it belonged
exclusively to the landlord. There were also other presump-
tious of law m Scotland wbicli are thought to operate unfairly
against tenants. In Englaud, too, there were unfair legal
presumptions, lu the absence of contract to the contrary the
law presumed that a yearly tenant could be turned out with
six months' not'ee only. That was unfair, it would be mure
just to assume, where there was no fpecificatiou in writing,
that a tenant was intended to remain till he had farmed out a
course of cropping. "To secure to ratepayers their legitimate
share in County Government." That meant " representation
with taxation " — a good old motto which was at the founda-
tion of the British Constitut on. It meant that county rate-
pavers should have power to elect the administrators ol county
expenditure, as the ratepayer* iu towns elect the administrators
of borough expenditure.

The ninth and last object of the Farmers' Alliance was
" to obtain a fair apportionment of local burdens be-
tweeu landlord and tenant " That was somewhat vague,
as "a fair apportionment " might mean a very differeut
proportionate division toonepersou from what another took itto
be. The apportionment he proposed was that the
tenants should he rated on their houses, farm bnildings,
gardens, and orchards only, and landlords on the rest of the
land, and that all landlords' rates should be collected directly
from landlords. When people said that rates were burdens on
landlords, he answered, Then collect them from landlord-!,
and do not compel tenants to pay them in the first
nstant. If tenants were rated only on their houses, farm
buildings, gardens, and orchards, they would then be treated
as tradesmen and other occupiers of houses were dealt
with, and landlurds might safely be left to deal with
the question of excessive rates on laud. These, theu, were
the objects of the Farmers Alliance, as he understood them.
It was not pretended that these were exhaustive. They had
nine points, and when they had gained them they were open
to ask for nine more. (Laughter and applause). But they
had been pressed to take up the tithe qu- stion. (Applause).
His own opinion was that the tithes should be fixed at par, or
a little b°low par, and then collected direct from the landlords,
as they'were intended to be under the Tithe Apportionment
Act. They could then leave the landlords and the parsons to
se tie the matter between themselves. (Applause and laughter).
'"Tne Alliance" had been prompted to advocate the repeal of
the malt tax. Mr. Read had discoursed that noiion since
the pre>ent Government came into power. (Hear, hear, and
laughter). For his part he should like to see the tax shifted
on to tr.e beer. (Applause). At the Norwich meeting of
the Alliance Mr. Head asked why the repeal of the malt tax
was not iuclnded in the Alliance programme, and Mr. James
Howard replied, "Because you ran away from it." Since
then Mr. R ad had brought forward a motion iu the Norwich
Chamber of Agriculture in favour ol traiiofering the t*x, on to

the beer ; so the Alliance had succeeded in stirring up Mr.
Read on that question.

Mr. S. Davey (Stokeclimsland), moved the first resolution,
"That in the opinion of this meeting the Farmers' Alliance
as an association of agricultural reformers, with objects
independent of party politics, deserves the support of all who
desire to see the large and cu-totuary hindrances to agricultural
property removed." He expressed the firm conviction that
the Alliance was in no respect a party organisation, and in
that sense he recommended it to the support of Cornish
farmers. In order to keep American competition out of tins
country they must produce more food themselves, and
if they kept their markets filled there would be no
room for the foreigu competitor. But to do this they
must be prepared to raise and sell beef at from £3 to
£3 10s. per cwt., and mutton at from Gd. to 8d.
per lb. Australian meat c -uld now be shipped at 2d.
per lb., aud sold iu the Loudon market for 4d. per lb., with a
profit to the sellers. How could they compete with this?
For his own part he could scarcely sse. At the same time
they did not ask for protection ; they believed that the world
should be an open market, and rather than re'urn to protec-
tion they were willing to wait until they could educate other
nations up to the standard of this country, in the principles of
free trade (applause). But they did ask for fair play. They
wanted a system of protection which would enable them to
produce a greater amount of food from the soil. They wanted
protection ot their capital, and, if they obtained this and a
fairer distribution of local burdtns, they would be able to meet
the foreign competition and to hold their own.
Mr. HlCKS (Lancy) seconded the motion.
Mr. B. Collier, who was received with applause, sup-
ported the resolution. H» remarked that he was not a tenant
farmer himself, and he, perhaps, had no right, therefore, to
attend that meeting (" Yen"). However, he did not intend to
follow the example of distinguished politicians who had been
recommending them to grow strawberries and poultry
(laughter). But, as one. of the, original members ot "The
Alliance," he should like to say a few words to them upon the
subject-. Not being a tenant farmer, it was perhaps Ins mis-
fortune that he did not look upon this movemeut Irani a
purely tenant farmer's point of vie*. He did not support the
movement only because it tend. id to do justice to the tenant
farmer. He supported it because, in his opinion.it was a
movement of the utmost benefit to the public (applause), lie
bslieved, if they did but know it, that there was uo single
person in the United Kingdom that ought not to take the very
deepest interest in the success of such a movement (applause).
He believed that in the long run the adoption of the reforms
advocated by "The Alliance" would benefit everybody—
not excepting the landlords themselves. Bnt although
they were all convinced that these reforms would effect
so much good to the whole country still they knew per-
fectly well the combined force of the opposition which they
had to encounter. They knew that the opposition was united
that it was strong, and they knew very well how influential it
was. How were they to vanquish this opposition ? Their
opponents coinbiued— must not they combine too ?. (applause.)
What was to be gained by the farmers splitting themselves in
various sections? It was no use for them to take up this
matter lj one said <; I don't, a^ree upon one point," and another
said, "I disagree upon that,"— it one tarmer said " l'hat man
is too Radical, and that man too Conservative " (applause.)
The Electoral Committee had gone a long way iu
the right direction, and they had taken an enormous
step in putting to paper certain questions resolving
to exact from candidates plain answers (Applause), They
were beginning to see that they must have these plain answers
and not be put off with undecided expressions nor by such
evasive answers as " Oh, my dear Irteuds, you know your
interests are mine, and I shall wetch them carefully," &c.,
(Laughter). He, was glad to see that as farmers, tn'ey had
nailed their colours to the mast, as they bad never done before
and united they must sureeed (Applause). He did not know'
what other people thought when they joined it, but he did so
with his eyes open, and he pledged himself without dis-
tinction of party, to look fairly and 'honestly at agricultura'
reforms, and if he should have the good fortune to be returned
to Parliament he would support such reforms, whethe-
brought, forward by Liberals, or Conservatives. or' Radical*
(Laud applause).

42

THE FARMEiTS MAGAZINE.

Mr. Na>sc,\wfn (Lindulph) moved, "Thin it is desirable
to organise a committee of the Alliance in Cornwall, with a
vie* to increase the number of members of the association, as
well a« to watch over the interests of farmers at the coining
general election." He challenged the argument that the
legislating of the landlord was ever (or the benefit of the
tenant farmers. Self was the leading principle in the House
of Commons. When they found that every other interest in
the cruatry was represented, it was time for tenant farmers to
move. If they only united they had ttie power to return fifty
men of their own standing to the House of Commons.

Air. Lyme (Landalph) seconded the motion, and it was
agreed to with unanimity.

Air. Rattebbub? (Stokeclimsland) moved "That we who
are present at ttiis meeting plpdge ourselves to do all that lies
in our power to secure two rep-esentatives for Earl Cornwall
who are earnestly in favour of agricultural reform."

Mr. Bawling (S. u'hpetherwie), seconded the motion,
which whs agreed to nem con.

Mr. E. Xicolls (Callmgton), in moving a vote of thanks
to the chairman, expressed the fear that, however much they
might appear to agree, there would sure to be something upon
which tlipy would split whenever a general election came,
because beyond the points discussed that day there were still
others to be considered. At the same time, if they only
resolved to act in unity to the fullest possible ex'ent there
was no doubt but what they could return to Parliament what-
ever representative they cho^e.

The Chairman, in reply to the vote, pointed out that the
rateable value of the Liskeard, Lanneenton, Bodmin, and Sf.
GerniHiis Unions amounted to £393,6+7. A halfpenny rate
upon these four parishes would re.lite £820, and he thoug'.t
they could well afford to contribute that aniuuut tovrards the
maintenance of their own representative.

The proceedings ther upon terminated.

Agricultural (Societies.

ROYAL OF ENGLAND.

Monthly Council, Wednesday, March 3rd, 1SS0.
Present— Colonel Kingscote, C.B., MP., trustee, in the
chair, Earl Cathcart, Earl of Powis, Lord Cliesham,
Lord Skeltnersdale, Lord Vernon, the Hon. W. E'erton,
M.P., Sir T. l)vke Acland, Bart., MP., Sir A. K. Mac-
donald, Bart., Sir Watkin Wynn, Bart., M.P., Sir
Brandeth Gibbs, Mr. Arkwright, Mr. Aveling, Mr.
Cantrell, Mr. Chandos-Pole-Ge.il, Mr. Davies, Mr. Dent,
Mr. Druce, Mr. Prankish, Mr. Gorrringe, Mr. Hemsley,
Mr. J. Howard, Mr. Leeds, Mr. M'lutosh, Mr. Martin,
Mr. Neville, Mr. Odams. Mr. Pain, Mr. Uindell, Mr.
Rawlcnce, Mr. Russell, Mr. Sheraton, Mr. Shuttle worth,
Lieut-Col. Picton Turbsrvill, Mr. Jabez Turner, Mr,
Wakefield, Mr. Wells, Mr. Jacob Wilson, Mr. Wise,
Professor Simonds, and Dr. Voeleker.

On taking the chair, Colonel Kingscote said that the
President the Dnke of Bedford) was unable to be present
in consequence of being engaged on a committee in the
House of Lords ; and his Royal Highness the Priuce of
Wales, as ex-presidtnt, would have naturally presided in
the absence of his Grace, but he desired him (Colonel
Kingscote) to express his great, regret at being unable to
do so, having to be present tt an important meeting of
the Governors of Wellington College.

Lieut-Col. Pictou Turbervill, of Ewenny Priory, Bridg-
end, was elected a Life-Governor of the Society ; and
several new members were elected

FINANCES.

Colonel Kingscote (chairman) presented the report,
from which it appeared that the Secretary's receipts dur-
ing the past mouth had been examined by the Committee,
and by Messrs. Quilter, Ball, and Co., the Society's
accountants, and tound correct. The balance iu the
hands of the bankers on February 2Stli was £1,226 Os. 2d.
and £2,UU0 on deposit.

The Committee recommended that the names of twelve
members whose subscriptions were not recoverable be re-
moved from the list. The Committee were now in a position
to state that the actual loss on the Kilbnrn exhibition
amounted to £15,064.

This report wa3 adopted.

journal.

Mr. Dent (Chairman) reported that the Committee had
re-considered the contents of the forthcoming number of
the Journal, and they recommended that permission be
given to the Smithfield Club to re-publish Professor
Simonds' paper on the dentition of pig*.

This report was adopted.

CHKMIGAL.

Mr. Wells (Chairman) reported that Dr. Voelcker
bad brought before the Committee several cases of
adulteration in manures and cakes, some of which were
ordered to be printed for consideration at the next
meeting.

The result of one year's work in the Laboratory shows
that the actual expenses 'or 1.200 analyses — less the fees
receivtd — amounted to £527 5s. 6d., while the annual
expenditure was estimated at £77, on the supposi'ion of
only 800 analyses being made. Under the new arrange-
ment, therefore, while the expenses for the chemical
establishment have practically remained the same as'in
former years, the cost to individual members of the
Society had been reduced one-half. The Committee
recommended, on the suggestion of the Wobmn Sub-
committee, that the offer of the Duke of Bedford of a
field adjoining Crawley Farm be accepted, for the purpose
of carrying on experiments ou ihe comparative value of
soluble and insoluble phosphates.

This report was adopted.

EDUCATION.

Mr. Dent (Chairman) reported that the Committee
had revised the regulation* as to the Society's Juuior
Scholarships, and recommended tbeua for adoption, ia
order to carry out the resolution of the last Council to
extend the advantages of these scholarships. The followiug
are the amended regulations .- —

I. — In addition to the present examinations of advance
students, a more, elementary exaiuiuat ion is held annually iu
November by the Royal Agricultural Societv.

II. — Ten Scholarships of £30 eaeh are offered on condition
that the Scholar remain at school until the end of the summer
tiirra iu the. following year, or .»peml the ensuing year with a
practical agriculturist, to be approved by the. Education Com-
mitter, or at one of the Agricultural Co leges — such as
Cirenrester, Glasnevin, or the Agricnlturnl department at
Edinburgh — orpar'ly at a school and pirtly with a practical
agriculturist or at en Ayr ad'itrd Cnlleg*,

|_Note. — In the event ot the Scholar proceeding to Ciren-
cester, he will be entitled o compete for one ol the Three
Middle-class Scholarships, given by the Co'incil of the Agri-
cultural College, of the value of £30 per anaum, tenable for
two years.]

III. — The Scholarship for any year w ill not be paid until
after a testimonial as to gr od conduct and industry be
produced, after the expiration of that year, from the head
master of the School, principal of the College, or the practical
farmer with whom the Scholar has complied with the pre-
ceding regulation.

IV.— Candidates for the Scholarships mast be between
fourteen and eighteen years of age.

V. — Candidates still at school can ouly be entered for
these Scholarships by the h'-ad masters of their ^pective
schools. O her candidates must satisfy the Eiuca-ion
Committee of their fitness to compete bv sending certificates
of education, or o' their having passed any ex iminations in
connection with the Sc;ence and Art Department, or of any
University iD the Unitrd Kingdom.

VI. — Any head master intending to euter candidates for
these Scholarships, and any candidate iute ding to enter
himself, must inform the Secretary of the Royal Agricultural

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

243

Society of his intention to do so, on or before the 1st of
October in each ?ear. AH entries must be made on or before
October 15th ; and these final entries must give the Christian
and surname as well as the date of birth of each candidate
entered.

VII. — Animal examinations will be held in the month of
November simultaneously at such schools as have candidates,
and at the Society's Room*-, 12, Hanover Square, London,
W. ; and the Scholarships will be awarded to the boys who
obtain the highest aggregate number of marks.

VIII. — The subjects for examination for the Scholarships
will be : — 1. Laud Surveying. 2. Elementary Mechanics, as
applied to Agriculture. 3. Chemistry, as app'ied to Agricul-
ture. 4. The principles of Agriculture, especially with
reference to the Rotation of Crops, the Nutrition of PUnts
and Animals, and the Mechanical cultivation of the Soil.

IX.— For the conduct of the examination at each school
having candidates, a local secretary will be appointed by the
Royal Agricultural Society.

Sealed packets of the examination papers will be sent to
the local secretary; these packets will be opened and dis-
tributed to the candidates in his presence, or in the presence
of some one specially deputed by him.

Daring the time the papers are b»ing tnswed there will be
pre«entthe locil secre'ary or his deputy, who will, at the
end of the time appointed hy the examiner for answering,
collect the paper-", seal them in packets, and forward them to
thp Secretary of the Royal Agricultural Society.

X. — This Ksherae does not interfere with the Royal Agri-
cultural Society's Seuior Examinations, which are also in

Op -ration.

The report was adopted.

SHOWYARD CONTRACTS.

Mr. Jacob WlLSON (Chairman) presented the report of
the Committee upou several matters of detail, and stated
that thev rind received an assurauce from the authorities
of Cavli'sle that the bridges across the Caldew will be
constructed iu accordance with the requirements of the
Society. The Committee recommended that the Show-
yard Works for 1881 be constructed by the Society as
their own contractors ; and this recommendation haviug
been adopted; the Committee asked lor authority to engage
a competent person to undertake the joint duties of Snper-
iutendcut of Works and Surveyor.

This report was adopted.

&RNBBAL CARLISLE.

Sir Brandketh Girbs reported the recommendation of
the Committee that a grant be made to the British Bee-
keepers' Association, to enable them to exhibit bee mani-
pulations at the Carlisle Show.

This report was adopted

VETERINARY.

The Hon. W. Esebton (Chairman) reported the re-
commendation of the Committee that for the future the
Members' Veterinary Privileges should read as follows; —
I.— Visits or the Veterinary Inspector.

1. Any member of the Society who may desire professional
attendance and speeial advice in case9 ot disease among his
cattle, sheep, or pigs, should apply to the Secretary of the
Society, or to the Princioal of the Roval Veterinary College,
and Consulting Veterinary Surgeon, Camden Town, London,
N.W.

2. The remuneration of the Consulting Veterinary Surgeon
or Inspector will be £2 2s. each day as a professional fee, and
the charge for personal expenses, when sueh have hem incurred,
will in no case exceed one guinea per diem. Be will also be
allowed to charge the cost of travelling to aud from the locality
where his services may have been required. These charges
may, however, in cases of serious or extensive outbreaks of
contagiosa disease, be reduced or remitted altogether, as far
as the members of the Society a>-e concerned, at the discretion
of the Council, on such step being recommended to them by
the Veterinarj Co'nmitlee.

3. The Inspector, on his return from visiting the diseased
stock, will report to the member, and, through the Principal
of the Royal Veterinary College, to the Committee, in writiug,
the results of his observations and proceedings, winch report
« ill he laid before the CouuciL

4. When contingencies arise to prevent a personal discharge
of the duties, the Consulting Veterinary Surgeon may, subject
to the approval of the Committee, name some competent pro-
fessional person to act in his stead, who shall receive the same
rates of remuneration.

If.— Consultations without Visit.
Personal consultation with Veterinary

Inspector 10s. G\l.

Consultation bv Letter 10s. Gd.

Post-mortein Examination,, and report

thereon 21s.

A return of the number of applications from members of the
Society during each half-year is required from the Veterinary
Inspector.

III. — Admission of Diseased Animals to- the Royal
Veterinary College, Camjjeh Town, N.W.;
Investigations ami Retorts.

1, All members of the Society have the privileee of send-
ing cattle, sheep, and pigs to the infirmary of the Royal
Veterinary College, on the fo'loving terms, viz., t-y ps\ing for
the keep and treatment of cat'le 19*. 6d. ptr week each animal
and for sheep and pigs 3s. 6d. per week.

2. A detailed report of the cases of .attle, sheep, and pigs
treated in the Infirmary of the C'ol'ege or on larms in the occu-
pation of members of the Society will be furnished to the
Council quarterly ; and al o special reports from time to time
on any matter ot unusual interest which may come- under the
notice ot the Officers of the Coll-.ge.

The Committee also recommended that Professor
Simonds be granted gratuitously a further supply of 200
copies of his paper ou Sheep-rot. The Committee pre-
sented the followiug report from the examiuers for the
Society's prizes aud medals for proficiency iu cattle patho-
logy : —

Gentlemen,. — We have the honour to report that the
examination lor the prizes offered by the Royai Agricultural
Soe;ety took place on Thursday, the 22nd January at the
Lhngton Cattle Market and the Royal College of Veterinary
Surgeons, 10, Had Lion Square.

Sis candidates were eligible ror competition. Of these, one
declined; one, in con equence of the- regj neat in which he
holds his appointment having been, removed from Aldershot to
Leeds, did not receive his notice sntil too late ; and one sent
no reply..

Three presented themselves,. and these hating afforded such
proofs of their practical acquaintance with the subjrcU
brought under their notice, we adjudicate the prizes in the
following order:.— First prize, William Alston E lg*r, 1,000
marks ; second prze, William Frank Smith, 8?5 marks ; third
prize, JNicholson Almoud, 73-5 marks; out of a maximum of
1,21'Q- marks.

It is a sar-jpet for great regret that the liberal inducements
offered by the Royal Agricultural .'Society have not been more
appreciated by the recent graduates of the veterinary profes-
sion. Possibly this may in some measure arise from the
expenses occasioned by a journey to London, and we would
therefore suggest that some allowance for travelling expenses
might overcome thi<j difficulty.

Thomas Walton Mayer.
D. Gresswell.
William Dugujd.

The Committee had received reports on anthrax
experiments from Dr. Bur-don Sanderson aud Dr. Greeo
field, which they had recommended to the Jonrna
committee for immediate publication. They recommended
that Mr. Arkwright be. added to the Committee.

This report was adopted.

Mr. Martin said he should like to remark that a^
outbreak of foet-aud-rnouth disease was reported to the
local authority at Ely the other day. The inspector
reported to the Privy. Council, and Mr. Duguid treat dowa
from the Veterinary Department. They were, however,,
quite at a loss to know how it had arisen- If the
Veterinary Committee would place themselves in con:
liimiicatioii with Professor Brown, they might be able
obtain some information which would prove oi value

24.4

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Mr. Dkxt asked Professor Sirnonds whether it was
true that the same disetse as Rot in sheep had attacked
cattle, and even horses.

Mr. Cuandos-Pole-Gelt, and Mr. Nville said
they had known instauces of the disease in cattle.

Mr. Rawlence said he had never before known a cow
die of a fluke liver during -15 years' management of
estates in the West of England, but now the disease was
extremely prevalent all over his district.

Colonel Kingscote was sorry to say that he had heard
of three youug horses in his neighbourhood dying from
the disease.

Professor Pimonds said there wa9 no doubt that, in
consequence of the long- continued wet weather of last
year, many cattle are affected, as well as sheep. He did
not anticipate that aged cattle would suffer materially from
the disease, because there were plenty of instances o
animals sent to the butcher havinz flukes in the liver at
the same time. Those which would suffer most were
young cattle. With reference to horses, veterinarians
very rarely fonnd flukes in the liver of a horse : aud he
did not anticipate that thtre was any truth, practically
considered, in horses beiug so affected. Of course, one
could readily understand that, under the circumstances in
which sheep aud cattle had suffered so much, flukes
might have entered into the liver of a horse ; but it
would be a new feature iu veterinary pathology if they
found horses dying in consequence of a large number of
flukes in their liver.

IMPLEMENTS.

Mr. TIemsley (Chairman) reported the recommendation
of the Committee on several matters relating to the Im-
plement Yard, and that a copy of the Secretary's letter,
dated August, 1870, in reference to the proposed exhibi-
tion of examples or specimens of agricultural engines and
machines, and parts thereof, damaged through the negli-
gence of the men iu charge, be again sent to each exhibitor
of steam engines. This report was adopted ; and

On the motion of Mr. Randell, secouded by I>ord
Vernon, it was resolved that Sir Braudreth Gibbs, the
Chairman of the Implement Committee, and the Stewards
of Implements, be appointed as a Sub-Committee, em-
powered to decide the space allotted to each exhibitor,
aud to disqualify any of his proposed exhibits.

STOCK PHIZES.

Mr. Chandos-Pole-Gell (Chairman) reported that
flie Committee had considered the memorial from the
breeders of Hereford cattle rererred to them by the
CoiiDcil at their last monthly meeting, and they recom-
mended that after the show of 1881 the cattle classes in
the prize-sheet be arranged according to the years iu
which the animals are born, without refereuce to any
other date.

This report was adopted.

A deputation from the authorities of Derby, consisting
of the Mayor (Mr. Unwiu Sowter), Sir lleury Wilmot,
Bart., M.P., aud the Town Clerk (Mr. II. F. Gadsby)
then hud ao interview with the Council, in reference to
the proposal to hold the Koyal Show of 1881 in that
locality.

Lord Vernon having introduced the deputation, the
Mayor replied to a number of questions put to him by
the Chairman.

Mr. Ranukll said that the answers were very satis-
factory, and added that wheu the Inspection Committee
visited Derby they were answered in the same ready and
satisfactory manner. Iu fact, the Inspection Committee
h.id never met with a more agreeable reception than that
accorded to them by the authorities of Derby.

The CHAIRMAN expiessed his gratification at the
answers given by the Mayor, and his hope that in the
event of the Society visiting Derby utxt ye r, all matters

connected with the exhibition would continue as favour-
able up to the time of the show. lie trusted we should
have propitious weather, and that the Show of 18S1 would
be everything that could be desired.

The deputation then retired, whereupon —

It was moved by Mr. Randell and seconded by Sir
Brandreth Gibbs, and carried unanimously —

That the show of 1881 be held at Derby.

Mr. Jacob Wilson moved, " That the Stock Prizes
and Implemeut Committees form a committee for recom-
mending judges of stock and implements." This was
seconded by Mr. Randell and unanimously adopted.

The Chairman said he regretted to announce the death
of Mr R. H. Masfen, a Member of the Council of the
Society.

A letter having been read from the Secretary of the
Meteorological Office, thauking the Council for aid id
checking Forecasts of Weather during the hay-harvest of
187'J.

Mr. Dent said that if the Government are disposed to
make a grant tor a similar purpose this year, it would be
of great service if Members of Council would receive t lie
forecasts, and post them in their own neighbourhood, in
the same way as was done by Mr. Davies. This would
cost abi.nt £5 or £10 in each case, but it would be a very
valuable addition to our meteorological knowledge. He
theu read the following letter from Mr. Davies, detailiug
the method adopted by hiui iu order to give publicity to
the forecasts '•

Agden Hall, Lyrom, Warrington, 1st March, 1880.

Pear Mr. Dent, — At the suggestion of Earl Cathcart I
have much pleasure in giving you some particulars of the
weather torecasts which were obligingly supplied to me from
t tie Meteorologicd Office (Government Department) during
the hay and corn harvest mouths last season. Their remarkab'e
arcursey rendered thera most popular over a considerable agri-
cultural district in my neighbourhood, and their daily arrival was
looked for each evening with much interest, not only by the
farmers themselves hut by their labonrers also, who could be seen
collected in groups at eacli station after their day's labour, to
learn the prospects or promise for the following day.

I hsve reason to believe these forecasts were of much use
and real practical value during a season so fickle and disastrous
generally. Trie better classes were also much interested, and
many could be seen driving in their carriages in the. directum
ol the stations to inform themselves for the following day's
plans.

The forecasts were despatched daily (Sundays excepted)
from the Loudon office between •!• and 5 o'clock p.m. to our
nearest station — 1 j mil — distaut about three miles from my
residence, aud they usually reached rae about 5.45 p m., by a
messenger who travelled on a velocipede. First a copy of the
telegram was retained at the Lyunii Post-office (Ljmm being a
village with a considerable population), theQ over a district
letter-box on the highway from Warrington to Manchester, and
at, the meeting of cross-roads 2^ miles from Lymm. I had a
small box with glass face, under lock and key, affixed over the
letter box, where the messenger deposited another copy of the
telegram on his way here. This was again repeated two miles
farther on the same highway, and the meeting of cross roads
in the village of Bollmgton, over the letter box there. A copy
from here was again posted a mile off in another direction.
By this means a tolerably wide circulation was obtained, most
aeceptahle to my neighbours, and for which 1 was repeatedl
thanked.

The N.W. district over which these forecasts are made'
covers a very large area, from CumherUud over Lancashire,
Cheshire, and part of North Wales, and this considered, their
extreme accuracy is the more, remarkable ; and in vie* of their
practical utility, I should be glad if by means of increased
grants the operations of the depigment could be enlarged by
an additional number of stations for observation, so as to se-
cure even better results for the information of agriculturists
aud others. As you have always evinced so deep and intelli-
gent an interest iu all that concerns agricjlture, I venture to
hope this matter may have the advantage of your advocacy as
tliu Chairman of the Journal Cuunuiiltee ol the Royal A^u-

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

245

cultural Society of England. — 1 am, dear Mr. Dent, yours very
taiilifully, D. Reynolds Davie?..

J. Dent, Esq., Chairman ot the Journal Committee,
Royal Agricultural Society of England.

BRITISH DAIRY FARMERS'.

The usual monthly Council meeting was held on Tues-
day, March 2nd, at the otlices, 446, Strand. Freseut :
Lord Chesham (vice-presideut) iu the chair, Mr. J.
Treudwell, Mr. George Simpson, Mr. T. Nuttall, Mr.
H. Tail, Dr. Voelcker, Messrs. E. C. and A. Tisdall, Mr.
H. Simmons, Mr. E. Dale, Mr. H. S. Holmes- Pegler,
hou. sec, and the assistaut secretary, Mr. F. Morrison.

Mr. G. E. Rouraieu, of Bruuswick House, Earuham,
was elected a member of the Council, in place of the Hon.
E. K. Coke, retired.

Considerable discussion took place as to the exact
meaning of the amendment passed at the last meeting
with reference to the awards in the Leghorn poultry
prizes, at the Dairy Show. The question was at length
definitely settled by a proposition of Mr. Nuttall's,
seconded by Mr. Simpson, and carried, that Mr. Gibbs
should receive the tirst prize, Mrs. Troughton the second,
and Bradbury Brothers the tt'ird priz \

The Hon. Sec. read the report of the Journal Com-
mittee, which stated that the committee had met twice
and discussed the subjects for the third volume of the
Journal.

In consequence of a letter received from Mr. G. T.
Day, of Horsford Hall, Norwich, suggesting that members
be invited to contribute their observations upon the causes
of abortiou in cows, with the view of a paper being
devoted to that subject in the Journal, the committee
proposed to print and circulate a series of questions,
which Professor Axe had undertaken to draw up, for
replies and observations to be furnished thereon. A part
of the bye-laws which had been arawn up by the com-
mittee were read, and a resolution passed that, when
completed, the whole should be printed, and a draft copy
sent to each member of the Council for discussion at the
next monthly meeting.

The Hon. Sec. reported that the Show Committee had
met twice, and completed the stock portion of the prize
sheet. It was stated that the question of milking prizes
had been carefully considered, with a view to adopt the
recommendations made by Lord Richard Brown ; and it
was proposed to take into account, in awarding these
prizes, not quantity alone, but also quality, and length of
time since calving ; Dr. Voelcker having kindly under-
taken to investigate and carefully test each sample of milk
entering into competition. The committee proposed to
considerably increase the number of milking prizes,
distributing them according to the following classi-
fication : — Shorthorns, Ayrshires, Jerseys and Guernseys,
Ken ys, and Dutch or Holstein cattle, with any other
pure or crossed or mixed breeds ; and awarding in some
cases a tirst and secoud prize ; also to offer a champion
prize to be competed for by the whole collectively; the
milking competition for heifers to be arranged as last year,
only adding a second prize.

The draft proof of the stock prizes was then read and
discussed at length; and, after several alterations and
additions, adopted.

The next meeting of the Show Committee was fixed
for Monday, March loth, at four o'clock.

candidates being required to lodge intimation on or before
the 16th.

It was remitted to the secretary to arrange the days for
the examination of candidates lor the Society's veteriuary
certificate.

The Secretary read a letter (rom Mr. Walker, geueral
manager of the North British Railway, stating that the com-
pany have secured possession of the necessary land for
additional accommodation at KeLo, and that the plan is in
course of preparation by their engineer.

The Secretary reported that Messrs. Thomas Penny, Bir-
tlehill ; John Usher, Stodrig ; and Adam Smith, Stevenson
Mains (the judges appointed to select the stallion to serve in
the district connected with the Kelso Show) had, at the cjm-
petition at Glasgow on the 2tth Eebruary, awarded the prize
of £i50 to Mr. Joseph Bulli.ck, Cockmuir, Springborn, lor
his bay horse " Zulu." The charge for service to be £2, and
groom's fee 2s. 6d., to be paid at the end of the season, and
£2 extra for every foal. The horse to be shown at Kelso
market on the first Friday in April, and to commence then to
travel the district — the counties of Berwick, Roxburgh,
Selkirk, and Peebles. The travelling to cease on 10th July,
but the horse to reuiaiu at Kelso till after the general show-
viz., 30th July.

It. was resolved that Galloway cattle at the Stirling Show
in 1881 must he entered in the Herd Book, or the exhibitor
must produce evidence that his animal is eligible to be entered
therein.

HIGLHAND AND AGRICULTURAL.

The monthly meeting of the directors of this society was
held on Wednesday, March 3, in their chambers at Edinburgh.
Mr. Smith, Stevenson Mains, in the chair.

The Board approved of the examinations in agriculture
and forestry being held on the 29th, 30th, and 31st current,

SHORTHORN.

A meeting of the Council of this Society was held at
the Society's Rooms, 12, Hanover Square, W., on
Tuesday, the 2nd March. Present : Lord Skelmersdale (in
the chair), the Earl of Bective, M.P., Mr. B. St. John
Ackers, Mr. H. Chandos-Pole-Gell, Mr. D. M'lntosh,
Mr. E. W. Meade-Waldo, Mr. H. J. Sheldon, and Mr.
Jacob Wilson.

The following new members Here elected : —

Australian Agriculturil Conpany, l'J6, Gresham House, Old
Broad Street, E.C. ; W. Robinson, secretary.

Cock, Henry, Coat Green Farm, Burton, Westmoreland-
Gordon, Mrs., Cluny Castle, Aberdeen.

Grant, W. J., Hope. End, Ledbury, Herefordshire.

Lloyd, John, Kingsbury, St. Albans, Herts.

Lyle, J. G. Winder, Donaghmore House, Donaghmore, Co
Tyrone.

Robson, J. W., Ascot House, Strandtown, Co. Down.

Sanderson, H. M., Moultoa Hall, Richmond, Yorkshire.

.EDITING COMMITTEE.

Mr. H. Chandos-Pole-Gell reported that 5,422
entries had been received for insertion in Volume 2G of the
Herd-book — viz., 1,635 bulls and 3,787 cows.

That the Committee had considered the Solicitor's re-
port and the Judge's sentence in the case of Reg. v.
Hopkins, copies of which they recommended should be
sent to the members of the Society.

That the Committee had had before them a catalogue
and papers proving that the progenitress of an animal
entered in Volume 25 of the Herd-book could be traced
further back for four generations, and such evidence having
been corroborated by entries in the fifth volume of the
Herd-book, the Committee had allowed such additional
crosses to be added.

That a communication had been received from a member
of the Society recommending a better style of binding
for the Herd-book. The Committee, however, recom-
mended that the present style of binding be continued, as
many members liked to rebiud their volumes.

That the Committee had considered an estimate from
Messrs. Taylor and Francis, the Society's printers, for
priutiug the Herd-book, and they recommended the Council
to accept this estimate, which was slightlj below the esti-
mate for the past five volumes.

The report was adopted.

21G

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE.

Lord Skelmei;sdale reported that the accounts for
the month of February 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 had been examined and passed, and showed au
expenditure o! M 10s. 9d. during the past month. That
the receipts for the same periods had been £524 7s.,
the balance of the Society's current account at the banker's
being £872 3s. 6d., and that the Committee recommend
the cheques be drawn for various accounts and salaries
amounting to £279 3s. 2d. That the Committee had had
before them statements in writing of a dispute which
had arisen between two members of the Society. The
parties to this dispute desire to refer it to the Council
for arbitrament under Bye-law No. 26, and the Commit-
tee were of opinion that prima facie the case was one
which the Council might properly undertake.

This report was adopted.

The following report was presented by the Society's
solicitor, with refereace to the proceedings in the case of
the Queen against Hopkins, at the Winter Assizes held at
Warwick, on the 18th of February last -.—Henry Joseph
Hopkins, formerly of Moulton Grange, near Northampton,
and afterwards of Yeltertoft, near Rugby, farmer, was
tried before the Lord Chief Justice for receiving money
under false preteuces. The prosecution was conducted by
the Birmingham Agricultural Exbibitiou Society. Hop-
kins exhibited at the Shorthorn Show of the said Society
in March, 1875, a bull called Grind Patriot 2nd, and he
represented that this bull was a pure-bred Shorthorn
bull, and certified that it had a pedigree of five crosses.
The bull gained a prize of twenty pounds. It was after-
wards discovered that the bull was not a pure-bred bull,
and that the pedigree was fabricated by Hopidus, and the
charge in the indictment was for fabrication of this false
pedigree and the receiving the prize of twenty pounds
awarded on the faith of that pedigree. Hopkins was
found guilty, with a recommendation to mercy, and was
sentenced to imprisonment, with hard labour, for three
calendar months. ,

A letter from the President of the Society, Colonel
Kingscote, C.B., M.P., was read, expressing his regret
thatTowiug to urgent duties at the House of Commons,
he was prevented from presiding over the meeting ; and
stating that had he been present, he intended moving that
a substantial grant should be made to the Birmingham
Agricultural Exhibition Society to assist them in defraying
the costs of this important prosecution ; and further
urging the Council to take the matter into consideration.

A letter from Mr. Edward Bowly, a member of the
Council, to the same purport, was alto read.

Thereupon, on the motion of Mr. Jacob Wilson
seconded by Mr. David M'Intosh, it was unanimously
re»olved : — •

That as one of the principal objects of this Society is "the
maintaining unimpaired the purity of the breed ot cattle
known as Shorthorns," the sum of £500 be paid to the Bir-
mingham Agricultural Exhibition Society as a contribution
toward- the cjsIs incurred by that Society in this prosecution.

Mr. H. Chandos-Po'c-Gell presented to the Society's
library a copy of the last volume of the Clydesdale Stud

The next meeting of the Council was fixed for Tuesday,
April 6, at 3.30 p.m.

The dispute between two members of the Society
referred to the Council for arbitrament, was then takeu
into cousideratiou. The noble Chairman, Lord Skelmers-
I>ale, hereupon stated that, as he was interested in this
dispute he begged to retire from the meeting. Upon the
motion of Mr. II. Cuandos-Pole-Gell, seconded by
Mr. B. St. John Ackers, the Earl of Bectiye, M.P.,

was voted to the chair. The bye-laws of the Society
requiring that on tbe Council undertaking the arbitrament
of any dispute, the case should first be submitted to a
Committee, who should investigate the facts, aud report
thereon to the Council at the next meeting, the Council
thereupon resolved itself into a Committee, and considered
the facts of the dispute in question. The report of this
Special Committee will be presented to the Council at ita
meeting on April 6th next.

YORKSHIRE.

A meeting of the Council of the Yorkshire Agricultural
Socie'y was held on March 4, the Hon. Admiral Buncombe in
the chair.

The Secretary (Mr. Marshall Stephenson) reported that
the society's transactions for the past half-year had been
printed, a copy of which was now being issued to every member.
The Show Sites Committee had met on the 12th of Fe-bruary,
to opeu tenders for the timber required in the society's show-
yard at Barusley, and had unanimously decided to accept the
tender ot Messrs. R. Wade, Sons, and Co., of Hull. Since the
last meeting of the council there nad been communication with
the Local Commi.tee at Barosley as to the provision of a
railway siding direct on to the show ground for the delivery of
all stock and implements sent for exhibition to the Barusley
meeting, and although final arrauiemen's had yet to be con-
cluded with the railway authorities, there was every reason to
suppose that this would be carried out.

The Auditor (Mr. C. M. Ludeu) reported that he had
audited the accounts of the society for the past year, and had
fouud them most r gnlarly and accurately kept. The b«l»nce
in the society's favour, which in 1S78 was leuueed to £1,496,
was now £3,043.

Tenders for the supply of refreshments for the Barnsley Show
were opened, and that of Mr. George Dysoo, Leeds, was
accepted. The tender for the printing of catalogues, &c, of
Messrs. Johnsou aud Tesseymau, of York, was accepted.

Mr. J. Dent brought forward the t>u! j.ci of tbe ages in the
cafltle chsses, and gave notice that at the next meeting of the
council he should move the following resolution : — " That the
Ro.\al Agricultural Society of England, having passed a
res' 1 ition that after the show of 1881, the cattle classes in the
prize-sheet be arranged according to the years in which the
animals are born, without reference to any other date, it appears
desirable that for the sake of uniformity the same rule should
be adopted by the Yorkshire Agrku:tural Society."

Jfaniurs' Clubs.

CENTRAL.

The usual monthly meeting of the Farmers' Club was
held on Monday, March 1, at the Iuus of Court Hotel,
Mr. J. Treadwell presiding. The subject appointed for
discussion was Heredrtary Diseases in Cart Horses, the
introducer being Professor Pritohard, of the Royal Vete-
rinary College.

The Chairman said: Gentlemen, — The subject for
discussion seems to me a very appropriate one, especially
as the Horse Show to be held in the Agricultural Hall
coramcuces this evening under the auspices of the English
Cart Horse Society, which I might almost venture to call
a branch of our own Club, its formation having oritciuated
in the reading of a paper before tbe Club by Mr. Frederick
Stieet, whose duties at the Hall will, 1 fear, prevent him
from taking part in the discussion. 1 have no doubt that
we shall have a good paper from a gentleman who has had
so much experience as Professor Pcitchard has had with
regard to the diseases of horses, and as there are so many
gentlemen present who take great interest in the subject,
1 trust we shall also have a good discussion.

Professor Pritohard said : Gentlemen, — I wish to
preface my paper by remarking that, owing to circum-
stances over which I had no control, I have been obliged

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

247

to devote but very little time to the preparation of my
paper, and I am afraid it will appear rather meagre ; but
if 1 cau iupplemeut it in any way, aud if it shall give rise
to a good discussion, aud one which is calculated to
improve the position of the cart horse in this country,
however poor my paper may be, something will, I trust,
have been done which will, to a certain exteut, be credit-
able to the Club. Professor Piitchard then read as fol-
lows : —

I thick I shall best further the object I have in view in
bringin/ this paper belore you, namely, the improvement of
the h-altli and usefulness of our curt horses, by at once stating
that I am desirous, if ouly to a slight degree, of arousing the
breeders ol such auimals to a knowledge of the folly, if not the
mischief, they incur when carelessly using sires and dams
tainted with hereditary disease.

1 shall elect to do this by making a few general comments
upon the subject of hereditary predispositiou, drawing attention
to phenomeua in connection therewith, by speaking particu-
larly of some of the diseases which are rife auioug our cart
horses owing mainly to hereditary taint, which 1 am bold
enough to think might be to a very large extent eradicated,
and by venturing to suggest measures for the guidance of
present and future breeders which I believe worthy of con-
sideration. I ful y hope that what I shall advance will have
the effect of giving rise !o a thorough ventilatioD of the subject
by creating h warm and practically use'ul discussion.

Tiitre can, I think, be do dount existing on the mind of
any re •sunabh' person who thinks at nil for hicnseK, that there
is an hereditary tendency in many of the qualities of both man
nnd the lower animals both of a mentai and physical character ;
in other word', 'hn dams aud sires do transmit to their young
— at leas! to some extent, and in many instances to a very
great degree — colour, particular marks, as stars on the fore-
head, white on the legs, &c, siz*;, form, physique, mental
capability, temperament, and even virtues and vices. And
hor»es in no way form any exception to the ml? ; many
instances might be adduced, but a 'ew will suftic". For tei e-
rations ttie grey cotmr ol the " chanticleers " and lopped ears
of the -l Me.lhourues " were handed down ; how frequently a
Koman-nosed loal is the progeny of a similar shaped sire, a
bad tempe.ied one the offspring of an irritable or vicious dam,
" a good stager " aud the horse possessed of great speed the
produce of the like, are facts which ail breedeis of horse are
acquainted with. Si marked is this hereditary tendency that
families of horses may be, by those acquainted in such matters,
readily rec"gnised, and eveu the peculiarities of a family may
be detected. With these facts before us, and knowing that
they are bnt a minimum of what might be advanced, I think we
must come to the conclusion that what occurs iu connection
with the conlorraation, the functional capability, or mental
power of an animal under ordinary normal circumstances, may,
aud absolutely does, happen when the system of the parent or
parents is or are affected with certain forms of disease.

There are maladies which, from the fact of their making
their appearance, and prevailing for a period of some length
in a breed of animals, have been mistaken for those of heredi-
tary character, but which have proved to be, on thorough and
complete investigation, entirely due to surrounding circum-
stances quite extraneous and foreign to hereditary predisposi-
tion, and circumstances which, when uuderstood, can easily be
combated; but by the expression that a disease is hereditary,
we mean that the malady, or a predisposition to such malady,
may be transmitted from the parent to the offspring, and iis
strict meaning I limit to thif. It is, however^ a subject which
admits of great difference ef opinion, and one a thorough
ventilation of which is attended with much difficulty. How-
ever, I take it that on this occasion the definition will be suffi-
cient lor my purpose.

Hereditary disease may be transmitted by the dam or the
sire of the progeny, and usually gives evidence of its existence
early in life, although many exceptions to this rue occur,
attributable to the kiud of general treatment under which the
auimal is pl«csd ; for example, a horse hereditarily predisposed
to roaring, suffering from the effects of severe cold
early in life becomes a roarer, vwiile another so predisposed,
who escape> the acute attack of illness, probably remains for
years without giving evidence of his infirmity. la the event
of both pareuts being tainted there is even a greater proba-
bility of the particular malady sojq making itself manifest,

and appearing in a more decided raauner. In many cases it
has becu found not to make its appearance in successive
generations, as if it were coguate, hut to pass thruu^h uue, or
even more, without showing auy signs of the existeuce of
such a predispositiou ; it may be, aud probably frequently is,
due to the fact of the animal beiug subjected to circum-
stances unfavourable to the elaboration ot the embryonic
morbid condition which nevertheless was present. Iu cases
where hereditary disease so disappears for a time, the tendency
and its phenomena are nevertheless transmitted, aud will,
even when care has beeu takeu to select the animals from
which to breed, to use the cominou expression " throw back "
to a remote existeuce, and occasionally become apparent with
all their characteristics.

To deal with the whole of the hereditary diseases which are
met with iu our cart horses would form subject-matter sufficient
for)a number of papers. I shall, therefore, confine my remarks,
and these must be of a general nature, to a few of those most
frequently occurring, uaiuely, bony enlargements as seen in
" spavin," "splint," and "riugbone," roaring and whistling,
"cataract," aud ossification ol the lateral cartilage of the foot,
or, an it is coiniuoniy termed, ' side.bone." A boue spavin
consists of a bony deposition on the inner and lower part of
the hock, in some cases iuclined to the front, in others to the
back of the joiut. It is usually attended during its p.oductiou
with inflammation ol the structures in the immediate vicinity,
and with consequent pain and lameness. The exciting causes
giving rise to it are concussion, sprain, injury from external
violence, ovar-exertiou, &o. The disease is of a very serious,
n iture, and very frequently gives rise to permanent defective
hook action, if not also to decided painful lameness. A
"splint," a transformation of the ligamentous tissue, uniting
the splint hone wi'h the cannon boue, is commonly associated
with a bony enlargement on the inner or outer, more commonly
the former, surface of the leg a liitle. below the knee. They
are very common in horses' legs, and frequently exist without
giving rise to any apparent inconvenience to the animal,
although in many cases during the process of formation they
give rise to acute lameness, while in a le^, owing to the size or
position of tne enlargement, they occasion incurable lameness.
The exciting causes of this disease are eimilar to those of
spavin. A ringbone is a bony enlargement in the region of
the coronet, commonly in front, but njt unfrequeutly inclined
to one side of this portion of the limb. It occurs to both the
hind and fore legs ; but in cart horses it is more usually seen
in the hind. It frequently gives rise to lamen.ss, aud in some
instances of a permanent nature. Its exciting causes are similar
to those of the two previously named maladies. Each and all
of these bony enlargements, although they may decrease in size
to some extent, are of a permanent character, and remain
throughout the animal's life'ime. .Roaring and whistling are,
unusual sounds made by the horse during the act of inspiration
due to the existence of some impediment to the passage of air
towards the lungs ; i his impediment may be produced in a
number of ways, but in a very large majority of cases it is attribu-
table to paralysis affecting the muscles, which, under ordinary
circumstances, act to increase the area of the eutraace to the
windpipe —a condition which very frequently seriously interferes
with the animal's powers of endurance. The exciting causes
are cartarrh, laryngitis, strangles, inftueDZi, &c. A cataract
is on opacity of either the capsule or of the crystalline leus of
the eye, which may arise from injury or auy other accidental
cause of severe iiiflainma'ion of the eye, but in a very large
majority of cases is owios» to a systematic malady designated,
among other names, constitutional ophthalmia. On this ac-
count, however small the opacity should be, its existence should
be dealt with as a very suspicious circumstance. In many in-
stances it is associated with other structural affections of the
eye, and then is easily recognized ; but it not unfrequently
happens that the organ in other respects is healthy in appear-
ance, when, particularly if the cataract be small, the abili y of
an exoert is needed to detect iis presence.

Sidebone is a disease affecting the lateral cartilage of the
foot. The basement structure of the posterior half of the
horse's foot consists of cartilage, in order that an amount of
elasticity, or capability to yieid, should he possessed by this
part. In tiie above uamed disease this cartilage becomes
either partially or to'aUy converted into bone. This condition
is seen in both fore and hiud feet, but. it is far more frequently
present in the fore, and it is rife in cart horsep. Its existence
may be easily detected by manipulating the hack parts ol tha

248

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

coronets in close proximity to the hoof, which under healthy
circumstances are pliable, aud readily yield to pressure, bnt
are hard and nnyie'ding when ossification has taken place. It
commonly (fives rise to lameness, and frequently of a permanent
na'ure, particularly if the animal's feet have a tendency to he
flit and low at the heels. The principal exciting causes to this
pathological condition are injury from external violence and
concussion.

I am of opinion, and I believe that it is generally admitted
on the part of experts, that each and all of these maladies
may affect the horse purely as a consequence of accidental
circumstances ; a horse may become affected with bony en-
largements in any portion of his skeleton, as the result of a
local injury ; with cataract as a consequence of severe
inflammatory action following upon the introduction of some
foreign agent on to the front of the eye, with Bidebone as the
result of a tread by the other foot, or he may become a roarer
or a whistler, owing to the presence of a polypns in his nostril,
or to fracture of the rings oft he windpipe ; in all such like
cases animals may be bred from without any chance of the
defect, whatever it may be, being transmitted to the offspring ;
but while knowing this, the fact that all these diseases are, in
a very large majority of cases, the result of hereditary
dispnsition, must not be overlooked ; and I would strongly
counsel all breeders of horses (who must not forget that it
costs quite as much to rear ao unsound and low-priced
yearling as it does a sound and vauable one), that unless it is
unquestionably known that the stallion or mare, in which
exists any of the foreuamed defects possessed such defects
simply and purely from accident0.! causes, such animals should
be abandoned for breeding purposes.

It is an undeniable fact that in many esses the mare is
chosen for breeding because she is old and worn out for
further working purposes; or simply because from hiving
possessed her for a long time her owner has become attached to
her, and dislikes the idea of having her destroyed (circum-
stances such as these should be of the last consideration), and
thus it u that such maladies as I have spoken of, and others,
are fouDd affecting our horses far more frequently than would
bd so were better judgment exercised. Speaking more
especially of sidebone, I am glad to know that recently some
care has been taken not to breed from animals so affected, but
I am surprised at the little importance attached by many
individuals, and men of some considerable experience too, to
this bsne'ul condition of the horse's foot, many looking upon
it almost as a necessary consequence in connection with a
curt horse's fore foot; and it is argued that on account of the
kind of work which the animal is called upon to perform, and
also to the great weight of his body, this affection is an un-
avoidable evil. I, on the other hand, believe that its frequent
occurrence in this class of horse is due to hereditary taint,
and am firmly of opinion that if as much care were taken in
selecting the sire or dim of the cart horse, with regard
to this disease, as is obsarved in respect to other breeds of
horses, although it may take years to bring about, it would be
as uncommon in the foot of the heavy draught animal as in
that of ttie hunter or the hackney.

Mr. R. Garrett (Carleton Hall, Saxmundham) said that
he much appreciated what Professor Pritcha'd had said about
the hered'tary diseases of cart-horses ; but that there was a
very commou source of lameness in horses on which the Pro-
fessor had not touched, connected with the internal structure |
of the foot. He did not kuow whether this was an omission
on the part of the Professor. He alluded more particularly
to what was known as navicular lameness, aud he was anxiou3
to he informed whether this, associated as it usually is with
a narrow contracted hoof, came under the denomination of
hereditary diseases.

Mr. J. Wood (Ockley Manor, Keymer, Sussex) said the
paper appeared to him a very uselul one, and he hoped it
would make them all more careful in selecting hor»es for
breeding. Soch was the nature of the diseases which most
affected horses, that though he had heard of them lor a great
many years he must candidly confess he was unable to detect
them, and it was not always that persons in his position had
an opportunity of consulting a veterinary surgeon. He
thought it would be well if there were some publication
enabling them by means of a diagram to inform themselves of
'he presence of those defects. A.s he understood the matter,
navicular disease was caused by injury to the tendon, so that
'V was not hereditary. He would be glad to have that

point dealt with rather more distinctly. He would be glad if
the Professor would supply them wkh some kind oi diagram
for detecting the^e diseases. He thought it was of national
importance that the breeding from animals with hereditary
defects should be checked by legislative measures, and that no
sire shou'd be aiowed to cover a mare not belonging to his
owner without an annual license, which should contain a
veterinary certificate with a list of certain hereditary defects
such sire possesses or are free from.

Mr. George Street (Maulden, Ampthill), said he did not
quite agree with the hut speaker on one point. He thought
that almost everybody who had bought a horse, or a number
of horses, must know something about those diseases which
were referred to in the paper, and it struck him that when
those who purchased paid dearly for their whistle they were
more likely to remember marks upon animals than they would
be from seeing them in any diagrams which might he placed
before them. He thought the chief difficulty of a discussion
on the. paper was that Professor Pritchard had put before them
a number of hereditary diseases which had so lung b«eu known
as such there was really very little to discuss. He. knew,
indeed, that there was a difference of opinion as to whether or
not some of those diseases were hereditary ones or not. Just
by way of exciting a little discussion on that subject, he would
remark that on one occasion he bought a young horse which
evidently had a bad cjld, which, alter a short time, developed
into ophthalmia, the result being that some three or four
horses, previously healthy, fell into the same, condition. He
would be glad if the. Professor would state whether he con-
sidered that horses which thus took ophthalmia through acci-
dental contact with one that had been freshly introduced
into the stable would propagate it. His own experience tended
to show the contrary. Then, again, with regard to splint.
Although he hid frequently seen splints on young horses, and
had known many horses to be lame from thit cause, he had
seldom found old horses affected by those '"bony enlarge-
ments," which the Professor said "could not be got rid o
when once formed." With respect to sideboues, he would not be
so presumptuous as to set up his own opinion against that of
such a man as Professor Pritchtrd, or any of his learned
brethren, and he quite agreed with them that to a very con-
siderable extent tnat disease might be propagated, aud that the
danger of that ought to be carefully avoided. But there was
one fact which hadjstruck him very forcibly, and that was that
the heavy horses which were constantly used along the stones
in towns almost invariably had sideboues, while the same kind
of horses used on farms were not half as much subject to
them. Further, he would remark that whereas such horses
when used over stones, frequently beeame lame, he had never
scarcely known an instance of that kind on his own farm.
That appeared to him to show that although that disease
might be, and, he believed, was hereditary, and although they
ought to be careful to avoid breeding with hones or mares
which had sideboues, yet that disease might frequently have
been caused by concussion, in consequence of the manner iu
wh-'eh the horse was used.

Mr. Folay Dun (2, Portland Place, W.) said he was sure
the CluS was very much indebted to Professor Pritchard for
bringing before it so useful and practical a paper ou a subject
which was really of great importance, not only to agricul-
turists and stock-breeders, but also to men of science. It
certainly appeared very singular that so minu'e a thing as the
ovum, and so small an amount of fluid as was given off for the
production of the horse, should so form and shape itself that
out of that small beginning sprang diseases which were de-
veloped years afterwards ; that there was impressed upon the
ovum of the female, or contained in the spermatic fluid of the
mile, powers of development and functions which operated
for weal or for woe, and led to an approach to absolute per-
fection of form, or the reverse. There could be no doubt that
domesticttiou has to a great exleut intensified the tendency to
these diseases in horses. In a state of nature animals were
certainly subject to some adverse conditions ; but owing to
the survival of Hie fittest among wild native herds o; horses
diseased and weakly animals were prevented from propagating
their species, and the race became more vigorous and capable
of enduring greater hardships. There was another way iu
which domestication told powerfully in favour of the develop-
ment of hereditary disease. They were /ery apt, as Professor
Pritchard had reminded them, to be too fond of particular
animals, and U cling to them agaiu&t their better judgment

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

240

for breeding purposes, instead of jjetfinpr rid of them in favour
of others which wpre more desirable. There was also a
tendency among breeders generally to breed in and in, and
thai increased the amount, of hereditary disease. There bein<
for instance, a very slight taint iu a family, two members were
brought together, and the. result was tl.at imperfect ious
diseases and tendency to diseises were perpetuated. Then,
again among domesticated animal?, the young ones were some-
times kept artificially, and early forcing v. as likely to intensify
and increase disease. There was one particular form of disease
notably hereditary but not alluded to by Professor Pritchard.
A 'aige. proportion ol underbred horses of the heavier breeds
in consequence of early feeing, with careless selection in breed-
ing, hud round, soft, badly formed limbs often covered with
rough coarse hair, li such subjects have hard work and ir-
regular feeding, attacks of weed are apt to occur,espt cially after
a day's rest. A large amount of food is taken without there
being sufficient power ol getting rid of the assimilated mater-
ials. The hereditary nature of such diseases depended, as the
Professor hid pointed out, upon certain conformations that
were hereditary. There was a cognate, disease called " grease,"
which he had often found hereditary aiming animals of weak,
lymphatic, faulty constitution. Animals long and light iu the
carcase and open iu the loin had an unhappy hereditary ten-
dency to deranged and relaxed howt-ls. As regarded domestica-
tion, it was curious to notice how influences whiclj had been
brought to bear upon one or two generations had modified the
type of the race. There had lately been a number of interest-
ing investigations with respect to the weight of the brain of the
tame duck as compared with that of the wild duck, which had
to fight for its living in order to preserve its existence, and the
result was to show that the brain of the wild duck was gener-
ally double the size of that of the domesticated duck. The wild
duck was, in fact, in every way the superior animal. The tame
duck was about double the weight of the wild duck, but the
brain is only half the weight and imperfectly developed as to
grey matter and convolution. The wild bird has^constantly to
use its laculties ; its brain accordingly is bulkier and better ;
to collect food for ii«elf, and often to fly for it to a great dis-
tance, while the tame bird carefully supplied with food has its
braia with its perceptive powers and energies dwar'ed. Such
was one of the results of the recent investigations of Dr.
Crichton Brown. Another illustration of the effect of domesti-
cation was afforded by a comparison of tame cats with wild
ones. The wild cat, living as it did on food of a very concen-
trated kind, did not require as long aa intestinal canal as the
tame one, which was accustomed to a good deal of food of soft
bulky character, the difference in length being something like
a yard. If such effects were found to arise from domesticition
in the ease of such animals as he had mentioned, they might
reasonably expect fo find similar effects produced by domesti-
cation in the case of young horses. This showed also how
plastic animals were under proper manipulation, while it also
testified how careful they should be in their selection for breed-
ing purposes, in order that they might have a race of horses
which were sufficiently vigorous and symmetrical, and capable
of rendering the services which were required. He would here
mention something which had struck him very much in
America. Last autumn, while he was looking over some of
the srsre breeding farms of Kentucky, he saw comething like
400 breeding glares on one farm where there was one horse
in which he took a special intere't, a son of the famous old
Blair Athol. Like his sire, this horse was chestnut with
white stockings and like him also, he was a little taken in
under the knee. That famous horse showed his good breeding
in his capability of reproducing himself in his progeny, most
of which, whether from chestnut, brown, or blacn mares were
chestnut and had a good deal of white on the face aud limbs
and although gifted with the speed and staying powers lad
a so the lightness of bone under the knee. One peculiarity
which he noticed among the American horses was that they
were accustomed to be driven more by word of mouth than
English horses. The wild Indian ponies, and many other
breeds seemed never to have had a bit in the month ; they
were used lo obey by word of command, and that became here-
ditary as it also is among the Norwegian horses which for
generations being unused to the bit can scarcely be got with
good mouths. Thpre was another instance of the same kind
among the Mexican horses of the Cordilleras. A very long
time ago great pains were taken to train some of the stud
horses there to Spanish ambling pace, and the result was that '

yon'could now hardly find a horse in that part of America
which did no' naturally have peculiar] arubling movement; it
had become fixed and indigenous as it were, iu the race. He
thought that such instauces as these held out to breeders in
this country a good hope that if thev paid reasonable attention
to pr. per selection the results would be satis'ac'.ory. There were
two or three points which seemed to him to require morecare-
ful consideration from bree .era thau they had yet received. H^
thought that at present there was a tendency to look rather to
size aud weight than to solid texture. They all knew that the
bone of an ordinary cart horse did not weigti anything like as
much in proportion to its bulk as the corresponding boue of a
thorongh-bred. What was wanted was more weight and sub-
stance in the boue and firmness of muscle instead of so much
soft flesh and encumbering fat. A proper selection for breeding
would secure better pace and action. What was the use now-
a-days, when there was so much activity in connect ion with
all the business of life, of having a horse that could only go
about two miles an hour. They wanted horses that could
walk four miles an hour, and it would be quite possible, to
secure lhat pace if proper care were taken iu the selection of
sires. Another matter which well deserved consideration was
the seeming of good temper and education in the horse. Then?
could be no doubt that the horse might be educated far more
than many people had supposed possible. If more pains were
ttakan in the f arly training of these docile and useful animi's
ihey would u-e more serviceable to man and would be less apt to
njure themselves. Improved qualities reappeared in a marked
degree in the progeny. That was remarkably illustrated in
the case ol the dog. It was no more dilfieult to train a sheep
dog than it was to train a pointer or setter. The breeds of
horses might, by means of training, be considerably improved
and the better they were trained the more valuable would be
their services.

Mr. J. K. Fowler (The Prebendal Farm, Aylesbury), said
some years ago he read a paper in that club, upon " Breeding
Facts and Principles," and the main point which he attempted
to prove was that the male animal exercised the greatest
influence over the external and the female over the internal
organisation — a proposition which he thought commended
itself at the time to everyone present, and which he believed
was in accordance wiih the paper just read. Since then, and
especially during the last year or two, he had been trying to
bring that theory still further in practice, especially in con-
nection with his large stock of poultry. In that department
he had had an extraordinary proof of the correctness of the
theory. During the last year he put some Cochin China
hens to a Crevecceur cock, and the result was that while the
externals followed the male, the resemblance to the female in
the internal organisation was such that the eggs were of a
buff colour alihough the eggs of the Crevetosur were white. It
was remarkable that the organisation of the voice through
the larynx and throat being internal the sounds followed those
of the female in a wonderful manner, the bird crowing like a
Cochin China. Similar results had been seen with «attl«.
In the case of Shorthorns, if they bred from a thoroughly
good milking cow they would inevitably have good milking
offspring, especially if the bull were descended from a deep
milking cow. In that ca.-.e there was, he believed, a tendency
to reproduce the female internal organisation to a remarkable
extent ; and he feared that many breeders of Shorthorns had
been so much in the habit of seeing how much flesh they
could lay upon animals that they had largely neglected the
question of milking capabilities. He 'thought he had heard
Mr. Dackham say much the same with respect to Herefords
as he. had said in reference to Shorthorns. In horses it was
remarkable how the action and movement followed the male. In
all their breeds of animals it was most important that they
should get the very best male, as well as the best female, that
they could obtain — the best ram, the best boar, the best horse
from all external appearances, and they might rely upon it
that the character of the male animal would produce a very
great effect upon the progeny. Professor Pritchard forgot,
he thought, to mention curbs in the horse. A curby hock
was very easily seen, but he had known persons not object te
breeding hunters with curbed hocks. A curbed hock wcnld,
he believed, be almost invariably reproduced. As regarded
cart horses he quite agreed with Mr. Finlay Dun that they
wanted a more active race of animals ; but, unfortunately, in
the present day, when horses had a great deal of hair on their
legs, they sold on that acconnt for £10 oi £20 more than a

2-50

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINl

clean legged animal. He had no doubt that Mr. Pickering
Phipps would much rather have a light active aninnl thru
one of those great heavy cart horses which were »een moving
so slowly over the stones of the streets of London.

Mr. Pickeries Phipps, M P., said he was afraid he might
be thought presumptous in offering a few remark* on the very
valuable naper which had been read by Prof. Pritchard. ("N<\
no.") Very often when there was a valuable exhaustive paper
one consequence of that wa«, that the discussion was not quite
so good as it otherwise might have baen, but on that occasion
the gentlemen who had spoken had expressed themselves so
felicitously, and had shown such a thorough knowledge of the
subjsct, that it seemed like presumption for one who had had so
little to do with the breeding of horses to venture to express
an opinion ; but of this, he thought, they might all be sure,
that there was a great amount of disease in horses which
might he prevented by careful attention to the selection of the
dam and the sire. It had often struck him in reference to
that matter that people who intended to do a great deal of
good diJ a great deal of harm. For instance, it had been a
practice with several noblemen to keep a good horse in order to
encourage the breeding of good horses amongst persons who
were their neighbours, and, generally speaking, a mare could
be brought to that horse without any great expense, perhaps
simply for the payment of a fee of half-a-crown to the groom.
He had noticed that in one or two cases of that kind the result
WM not at all satisfactory. The fact that there was a sire of
some degree of reputation had encouraged persons to send to
that sire a number of mares which were totally unfit for the
purpose of breeding, and the effect was that instead of what
was desired, an improvement in the breed of horses, there had
been a great deterioration. He was particularly struck with the
remark of Professor Pritchard that the sire left a strong impress
for a very great length of time upon the production of animals.
Iu going 3long the road in a particular part of the country,
he had often been reminded, as he looked in the fields, of a
well-known bull which was in that locality about twen'y years
ago. A gentleman in that district who took great interest in
the breeding of shorthorns, and who was in the habit of ob-
taining prizes, who had a herd of four or five «attle, bought a
good blood-red shorthorn bull, and one coold not help being
struck, even now, with the striking resemblance found in all
the progeny. Another point which naturally attracted atten-
tion was the great difference between buying and selling wheu
there was a horse to be disposed of. He was unfortunately,
or fortunately, as the oase might he, a large buyer of cart
horses, that whs to say he often bought a good cart horse to
keep op his stnd. He was oh iged to buy a horse for his
business about every three weeks. In fact when he saw what
appeared a good cart horse, he purchased it whether he actually
wanted it or not, and he thought that was the best way of ac-
complishing his otject ; but when he went to look at a horse
and pointed out what appeared to him to be its faults, he al-
ways found that he was considered to be wrong. For
instance, if he spoke of sidebones, and pointed to a par-
ticular formation of the foot as a proof of the defect, the man
who hud to sell would not admit the existence of anything of
the kind. He did not think it would be possible to have dia-
grams, as was suggested by the first speaker that evening,
which would determine such questions as between buyer and
seller. The great matter, as Professor Pritchard pointed out,
was to take*care in selecting animals for breeding, that there
was nothing in the shape of hereditary disease either in the
Eire or in the mare.

Mr. Wai/thi GlI-BET (Elsenham n«ll, Essex) said he
believed there would be no lack of improvement in the quality
of the mares in any locality where there were good sound
stallions. Four or five years ago, there was a scarcity of mares
possessing size and quality in hisneigtibourhood. Efforts were
made to supply stallions through the medium of a Limited
liability company, and two animals, the best to be procured,
were brought into the neighbourhood, £."> 8<. being fixed upon
as the service fee. The eff-ct was to induce the breeders to
posse-s an improved class of nrnret to send to the horses. It
was not always that people could be got to take the initintive
in such matters, hut it whs taken in that esse, and every one
now felt that the result had proved most satisfactory. He was
satisfied that if really good sized, sound stallions were imported
into any localily, there wouM be a demand on their services
at remunerative tees. T e paper which had been read that
evenirg was an admirable one, and he hoped the result of it

and the discussion wou'd be t> give a great impetus to (he
movement for the breeding of the '" Shire horse," for which
there is an undoubted demand, aud which, also, is remune-
rative to the farmer to breed.

M*. Avelivc- (Rochester) said horses did not seem to be
anything like perfect yet ; on the contrary, they appeared to
gite a great deal o' trouble. O-ving to some cause or other a
great number of cases of disease* occurred, and it might
perhaps be well to consider whether it would not be possible
to substitute for the horse something that would give a little
less trouble. Some years back he had unfortunately
a great deal of experience with regard to the diseases to which
Professor Pritchard alluded, and had suffered from all of them
in a more or less degree. He had also had a little experience
in the early part of his life with regard to brerding, and he
had lound that it sometimes happened that even when the best
sire and the best mare were put together the result was not
quite so satisfac'ory as it might be supposed from some of the
remarks made that evening. In the case of the iron horse
there was nothing of that kind. If anything were
wrong with his tubes it was easy to put it right ; there was in
that case no difficulty in making a diagnosis of the disease and
applying a remedy. Those whom he was addressing, might
say it was natural that he should talk iu that way because he
was interested in the matter. They were quite right in doing
their best to improve the cart horse as far as possible, but it
was not horses that would do the chief work of the future in
farmiug. It should be remembered that, however good their
horses might becomp, they would always be dependent to a
great extent upon the skill of their men, and if they had ever
so good a horse they must have a man who was eqmPy good
to manage him. A great deal of care and atten'ion was
necessary to keep a horse in good condition, both on the part
of the owner and on the part of those whom lie employed ; even
when horses were properly broken, it was not easy to hammer
into i hem hnw they oiiiht to be managed. He knew that
what he was saying rcighr sound to some rath»r shoppy, bu' he
repeated that the bulk of the future work ot agriculture would
not be done by horses.

Mr. T. C'aiiuoll (Longcliffe Lodge, Loughborough),
thought the great thing to be aimed at was the impressing of
fixity of type in the cart horse. That question had been under
consideration for some time, but the effjrts made to solve it
had not yet had a successful issue. He had understood that
a book of pedigree was about to be published, and he hoped
that that would be made use of by meu iu various parts of the
country, and that most persons would try in future to breed
from pedigree. It was in that way that they might expect lo
get a good type for the cart horse. He agreed with Mr. Finlay
Hun with regard to the importance of attending to temper in
horses. There had been neglect in referercc to that matter.
He thought it would be well if Professor Pritchard or some.
one would be good enough to give them iuformatiou as to the
breeding of cross-bred horses. In his opinion the action of
the Shire Cart Horse Association would do a great deal of
good.

Mr. S. Smily (Upper Clapton, N.E.) said he should like to
know whether, ii a very good stallion went to a mare having
an hereditary disease it would be likely afterwards to com-
municate it to other mares.

The Cu.vinM.VN, in closing the discussion, said he should
not trouble the meeting with any remarks of his own, because
he must say, like his friend, Mr. Wood, that he kuew very
little about it. Mr. Fhdpps said that when he went to buy
horses the sellers seemed to know nothing about the existence
of such a disease, as sidebones. He had un ortunately found
himself in a similar position ; but, ou the oilier hand, when he
had had to sell a horse, dealers had taught him that there;
was such a thing ; he learned it from the fact that so much
less money went into his pocket.

Professor Pritchard theu replied. First, he said, he would
observe, iu answer to Mr. Garrett's question whether lavic Jar
disease was heredi'ary, that at the present time very few
persons who had studied the matter seemed to have any doubt
that it was so. indeed it had been proved, he feared, over and
over again by female and male horses becoming affected, they
having been bred from sires and dams which were subject to
it. Even after an experience extending over thirty or forty
years a man might entertain doubts as to whether a horse was
affected wiih bone spavin or with navicular dis'ase ; but in tlie
case of sidebones thtre could be no reasonabit doubt. A

THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE.

man had only to draw f he hand open down the hack
of the leg on to the fleshy pirt of the heel. If th?re
were an absence of sideboue the part, would readily yield to
pressure, while, on Iheothei hand, ifsidcbone existed the part
would feel as hard as the bones in auy other part of ths body.
As regarded what Mr. Srreet said respecting the contagious
character of the disease among his hor.-cs, if the disease
did not become chronic he should doubt whether ifc was in
fact ophthalmia at all. He should rather think it was
simply a b»d esse of influenza in which the eyes got
into an inflamed condition, than that it was due to any
contagion or infection. As respected bony enlargement, he
would remark that when an animal once became affected with
splint, or ringhjne, or sidebone, he never got rid of it.
When once an animal became affected with splint it
was always affected, and the same remark applied to
spavin and to sidebone. What had been said with
reference to sidebone giving rise to lameness, and making its
appearance more frequently in horses which worked on roads
than in horses employed in farm work, he might observe that
that clearly illustrated part of the theory in his paper with
regard to the transmission of hereditary diseases from the sire
a id dam to their progeny. lie said that if an animal were
not subjee' to an exciting cause, which was calculated to de-
velop a disease, one or two generations might pass avtay
without that disease making its appearance, but that all the
while it existed in the. animal system, and only required an
exciting cause to make it seen. A horse accustomed only to
farm work was put to hard road work, and then side-
bones made their appearance, and the result wuuld
probab'y be lameness. There were high-stepping

carriage horses and other kinds of horses hammering their
feet in London week after week, and year after year. Not
one in fifty of thoi-e horses had sidebones, because no predis-
position existed. If a cart horse had beeu bred from a sound
animal they work him on the stones as other horseg were
worked npou them, without sidebones being produced. He
did not say that sidebones might not occasionally be produced
in sound animals, but he believed that in nine cases out often
they were the result of a predisposition. He had stood with
astonishment alongside judges at horse shows when horses
having sidebones had beeu pLced before them and they had
said, " Oh, it's only a nut or something of that kind," and
had awarded to such animals a prize. While such things
took place it whs not to be wondered at that so many
cart horsrs were affected with disease. He had lis-
tened with great pleasure to the remarks of Mr.
Finlny Dun with reference to the effects of hereditary pre-
disposition, not only on the conformation of cart horses, but
also on the temperament. As regarded American hors s some
gentlemen present might have formed the idea that people in
America drove their horses without any bit. He did no
think, however, that Mr. Dun could have meant that. [Mr.
Finlay Dun : " No. "J What he meant, no doubt, was that
the aniraabj depended more upon the voice of the driver than
upon the handling of the reins. He was inclined to agree
with Mr. Fowler that the physiqie and form of the horse
depended mainly npou the sire ; and he thought that the
temperament— he could not go so far with Mr. h'owler as to
say the internal organisation — depended to a considerable
extent on the dam. There *rere, indeed various opinions oa
that point, and many altogether disbelieved in the
correctness of Mr. Fowler's theory. As to curve,
that was a disease of the hock which some regarded as iu
some way hereditary and others would not admit to he so.
He looked upon it as hereditary, not. on the same grounds as
some considered it. to be so, but si.-np'y because the fonu of the
limb was hereditary. If there were a limb whsc'i had not a
sufficient angle at the hook, or a limb in which the angle at
the heck was greater than the ordinary angle, he thought
there must be an hereditary disease that, gave rise to the curve.
There were different epimous with regard to the cause of the
carve. Some pertons held that it arose from a sprain of oce
of the ligatures at the hack of the calci?. His own opinion
was that the membrane — the membrane which assisted very
much in the lubrication of that partofthe animal,had undergone
a strain, and although the disease might not be hereditary,
a want of proper care often brought out a predisposition
to sprain, and he maintained that in that sense t he
disease was hereditary. He fully concurred with
Mr. Phippa as to the difference between buyers and

261

sellers, but that applied not merely to (he buying and Belling
of horses, but of other kinds of animals as wall. He also
agreed with that g.-ntleman that the keeping of a cheap sire
in a locality often exercised a most baneful influence over the
character of the horse*. Mr. Aveling said something about a
rood mam being required to manage a horse proper y. He
admitted that a good deal depended upon careful manage-
ment, but on that point he wou'd throw out a hint,
attention to which would, he thought, prove advantageous.
He was of opinion that if animate were properly
attended to as regarded th« materials upon which they were
fed, were fed at regular hours, and were worked regularly and
moderately, no advantage being taken of them, and nothing
being done beyond what a horse might be fairly expected to do,
very little raoie would be required to keep them in good
condition. He would give them an example of that. Only
the night before he inspected professionally something like
650 horses. Those horses were nearly all at work every day
— he believed that of the whole 650 not six rested one day in
a fortnight; and during the last winter which was so trying to
horse flesh generally, there were, he believed, not more than
twenty cases of illness among all those horses If asked to
what he attributed that satisfactory state of things, he would
reply that he attributed it to regularity of feeding and
thorough regularity of management, He hoped that that
hint might prove useful to many owners of horses by showing
how horses might be kept in good health, although they per™
formed a large amount of work.

Major Dash WOOD (Kirtlington, Oxford) said, in moving a
vote of thanks to Professor Pritchard for his very excellent
pap°r, that it should be borne in mind that that gentleman
had a very large experience in connection with the manage-
ment of horses in Loudon. A questiou haviug been asked iu
regard to the Cart Horse Stud Book, he wished to sav that he
would be in the hands of all the members of the Association
on the following day. Iu reference to Mr. Fiolay Dun's
interesting remarks with regard to the mouth of the horse, he
would observe that he understood him to mean that the
formation of a good mouth depended very much upon the
judgment and skill of the man who rode or drove.

Mr. E. Stanford, in seconding the motion, said he
should have been glad to have heard the Professor's opinion
with regard to what was called " bug spavin."
The motion having been carried unanimously,
Professor Pritchard, in returning thanks, after again
apologising for the brevity of his paper and expressed his
gratification that there had been such a good discussion, said,
in reply to Mr. Stanford, that bog spavju was simply an en-
largement ol the capsule of the principle joint in the hock,
and was due to the secretion of a considerable amount of fluid'
there, and that it was of very little consequence, adding that
he had seen hundreds, and he might even say thousauds, of
cases, and that he could not call to mind more than one or
two in which that form ol spavin caused a serious defect in the
animal.

The proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the
chairman.

IXWORTH.

A roe-ting of the Ixworth Farmers' Club was held on
March 1, at Ixworth, to listen to a paper introduced by
Mr. J. C. Buck-master, F.CS., upon " Government Classes for
Teaching the Principles of Agriculture." E. Greene, Esq.
M. P., President of the Club, presided.

Mr. Buckmastbk. said that the Science and Art Depart-
meat was now controlled by the Committee of Couucil on
Education, and, uuder its direction, a sum of money was
devoted to the purpose of promo'ing classes in the various
branches of elementary science. The principles of agriculture
had recently been added to these. In order to form one of
these science classes it was necessary that a local Committee be
formed, to consist of at least five persons, one of whom must
be the chairman and another the secretary. The duties of the
Committee were to communicate with the Department and
m«k« all the necessary arrangements tor the tuition and
examination of pupils. The Science and Art Department had
nothiug to do with the arrangement with the teacher. Tha
clas es must be held in a suitable room, and with regard to
any necessary apparatus, the Department was prepared to
assist to the extent of 60 per cent. Instruction must b* given

252

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

by a qualified teacher, who had passed the examinations or
held the certificate of the Royal Agricultural Society or the
ttiploua of tlie Agricultural College at Cirencester. With the
help of some text-hooks an elementary teacher of average
intelligence would liave no difficulty in qualifying for these
examiuatious. The lessons wonld bs given by
the teacher in accordance with the syllabus issued by the
Science and Art Department. The elementary syllabus was as
follows: — T - •

(1). Soils. The different kinds of soils. Variations m
their composition. Variations in their texture aud condition.
Substances found in plants. Source from which these are
obtained. Exhaustion of the land. The essential differences
between good and poor land. The necessity for manure. The
productii n and waste of farmyard manure. The use of
artificial manures; how manufactured, and the reasons for
their employment. Lime, marl, chalk, as manures. (2).
Tillage operation*. Reasons for ploughing and mowing land
by imple.men s. Any changes produced in the soil and their
influence on the growth of crops. Drainage of the land, when
necessarv, and its mode of action. (8). Crops grown on
various kinds of soils. Succession or rotation of crops, how
selected and arranged. Good courses of cropping. Bad
courses of cropping. (4). Livestock. Best kinds of stock
for various farms. The economy of good stock management.
Ordinary rules for preservation of health. Special require-
ments for making land either a good dairy farm, or a good
sheep farm, or good grazing la .d. (5). Food. Chemical
matters present in various kinds of food, in milk, green food,
hay and corn, &.c, &c. The different materials necessary for
the growth of the body. Maintenance of heat. Process of
fattening animals.

MIDLAND-

The annual mretkg was held recently, at the Midland
Hotel in this town, Lord Ernest Seymour, the presi-
dent, in the. chair, and was numerou-ly attended.

Ou the motion of Aldkrman BltiGs, seconded by Mr..
Freer, Mr, Henry Wiggiu was unanimously elected vice
president of the club for the ensuing year.

Mr. Finiay Dun read a paper on " American Agricultural
Imports and their effects on British Farming.' ' He commenced
by showing that, besides supplying the wants of forty-five
millions of the population, America had last year a surplus of
7A million cwts. to spare for Great Britain, being double the
quantity we imported in 1878, and four times what we received
in 1877. Two years ago the United States could only spare
one-fourth of her wheat crop ; but so rapidly have her
capabilities for its cultivation increased, that she can export
one-third of her large yield of 448,000,000 of bu.-he.ls, of which
large total Great Britain has taken annually about niue million
quarters. Within the last seven years America commenced the
export of live cattle, upwards of 30,000 being sent over here
during 1879 ; and this year they are on the increase, notwith-
standing the advance of shipping rates. Still more recent and
equally rapid has beeu the growth of the dead meat trade,
2,000 carcases of beef and about 1,000 of mutton being at
present imported every week. Within the last five years there
has also been developed an enormous trade in canned, preserved,
and salted meats, for which it is estimated the British public
last year paid two millions sterliug. The pigs of the Uuited
Kingdom, although they number a little over three millions,
do not half suffice for the demands for bacon, pork, and lard,
for which we annually pay ten millions sterling to the United
States. About two-fifths of our cheese is foreign, ranch the
larger part oi it, which costs us ten millions sterling anuually,
coming from the Uuited States. Two-thirds of the butter we
cousume is foreign. The bills for imported eggs amount to 2%
millons annnally ; while about the same amount is spent in
potatoes, and half a million in onions. Such facts demonstrated
that it was not from want of good customers that farming in
this country had of la'e years paid indifferently. The seasons
kad been against the farmer. His expenditure, too, had been
steadily increasing ; rents, rates, and labour had advanced ;
his crops had been s'eadily waning, while keen foreign com-
petition, ainplv supplying deficiencies, had prevented increment
in the value of home produc, which, in the old times, would
have made up for shortened quantity. The straits to which
the British agriculturist had been reduced were too well known
and widely felt to require description. The great question

I was, can they be diminished and remedied? Rents would
j right themselves to altered circumstances ; rates aud taxes
( would be equitably adjusted. We should tide over the pro-
tracted period ot bad trade, which had beeu intensified anj
prolonged by the continued series of five bad harvests. There
was no probability that the keen competition of America
would diminish, but it did not follow that British agriculture
was doomed, that all farmers mu4 emigrate, although many of
them would be better for so doing, or that English land «ould
go out of cultivation. We had great natural advantages,
wealth, enterprise, experience, and proximity to the u. st
markets in the world. Did the British agriculturists ma. e
the most of these advantages ? Amertci is zealous ana
untiring in developing her great capabilities. Musters and
men, especially out west, work harder, and are not so chary
about Ion* hours as most Briti.-h workmeu are. Labour-s iviug
machinery is much used even ou the smaller farms. Was it
not possible for British agriculturists to imitate ttie Americans
iu tiiese respecs.

TRADE IS A LITTLE DULL.— One of those eentlera?n
who has receuily returned from a trip for Thistle Brothers &
Co., of the city, did not show a very large exhibit ol ordeis
to balance the hheral expense aceouut allowed turn by the
firm, and Mr. Thistle, after looking over his returns, says,
'' Mr. Rataplan, 1 am afraid you did not approach the dealers
in the right way. I used to be very successful in this line.
Now, just suppose me to be Mr. Bighor, of Sellout, III., and
show me the way you introduce the house." Aciordingh ,
Mr. Rataplau stepped out of the counting-room aud then re-
entered, hat in hand, inquiring, " Is Mr. Bigher iu P " That
is my name," said Thistle, urbanely. " My name is Rataplan,
sir. I represent the house of Thistle Brothers & Co., of
Boston." Tnistle, iu his character of a Western merciiant,
here rose, offered the salesman a chair, and exp-essed his
pleasure at seeiug him. "1 am stopping with O'ercharge at
the Siekem House, aud have a line uutjroken lot ol samples,
which I would like to snow you ; thiuk we can offer you
especial advantages," &e. Aud Rataplan deiivered himself of
a neat speech in professional style. "Very well, very well,"
said Thistle. "I don't see but that you understand the way
to get a custtmes. " Excuse ihp, Mr. Thistle," said Rata-
plan, "I am afraid jou don't understand the style of
Western merchants just now. Suppose you exchange
places with me and repeat this rehearsal." Certainly," said
Thistle, and, picking up his hat, he btepped out. Returning,
he fouud Rataplan with the chair tihed back, hat cocked
fiercely over the right eye, his heels planted on Thistle's polished
desk, and a lighted cigar between his teeth. Thistle looked
a little staggered, but nevertheless he commenced, "Is Mr.
Bigher in ? " " Yes, he is," responded Rataplan, blowing a
cloud of pure Connecticut into Thistle's eves. ,: Who the
devil are you? " " I represeut the house of Thistle Brothers
and Co.," said the astonished employer, coughing about a
quart of smoke from his throat. "The biases you do. Are
you one of that concern ? " " No, sir, I am not," said

Thistle. "Well it's d d lucky for you that you are not ;

for I have had two drummers to one customer in my store lor
the last two mon lis, and if I could get hold of one of the

d J fools that seud 'em out here at this time, I'm darned if

I wouldn't bjjt him clean out of the town of Sellout."
" That'll do, that'll do, Mr. Rataplan," said Thistle. " I have
no doubt you did the best you could for the interest of the
house. Trade is a little dull.— Bulletin.

COMPROMISE. — While occ of the sanitary police was
moving through the alleys of Casi--aveuue, New York, the
other day, he came upon two bad nuisances at once. One
family had thrown a heap of garbage over the fence, and the
other had dumped over an old mattress, and two or three, dead
cats. The citizen living between the two heaps came out to
the fence holding his nose, and the officer asked, " How long
have these nuisances existed?" "Oh, about a month," was
the reply. " And you haven't lodged a complaint at the Cily
Hall?" ''Nit." '• Why this horrible stench must float right
into your house." " Yes, so it does ; but I wasn't fixed to say
anything. Tne man over here lends me his lawn-mower
twice a week, and my wife borrows most of our tea and coffee
of the other one. I kinder figured on it, and concluded not to
raise a row unless the mower got too dull or the brand of
coffee ruu down."

THE FARMER'S MAOAZINE

-25&

FREEDOM OF LAND.

We give the following extracts from Mr. G. Shaw
Lefevre's valuable book '' Freedom of Lind " : —

Tlte modern Domesday Book, as the Parliamentary Return,
giving tlu: list aud acreage ot the landowners of the United
Kingdom, has been happily termed, enabled the country for
the, first lime since the D imesday of the. Conqueror, to form
an esiimate of the ownership aud distribution of its landed
prop-rtv.

C'lnpared indeed with the original, it is verv d< fteient in
de'ails. It is is so framed as to give very little local informa-
tion as to the ownership of land in particular parishes or dis-
tricts, or the number of tenants of the various owner?, or as
to the nature of the ownership?. It does not distinguish
between leaseholders, copyholders, and own rs in fee ; it omits
all reference to the owners of land let on long lease; it does
not distinguish what is mere house property from lauded
property; it does not enable us to estimate how mmy
members still exist of the class formerly so numeious, the
yeoman of England, cultivating their own lands, or how many
can be considered as forming a class of peasant, proprietors;
it is admittedly ii accurate in many of its details.

These inaccuracies, however, do not, it is believed, disturb
t1 e g.mertl results ; and faulty though it may be in many
respects, it is still mo't valuable ; it enable* us to compare the
numbers of landowners of different classes in the three king-
doms witn the number of owners in other countries. At
first sight inde d the aggregate is apt to mislead. It appears
to indicate a much larger number of proprietors thau was
supposed to exist. A gross total of 1,153,816 landowners is
giveu lor the United Kingdom : of these, howev r, no lessthan
852, 138 are entered as owners or leasees of less than one
aire ol land, with an aggregate of 188,000 acres only, valued
at £36,300,000 per annum. It ii obvious that with rare
exceptions these must be owners, and most of them leaseholders,
of mere house properties. From the 301,378 entries of
owners of above one acre, further reductions must be made in
respect of duplicate entries, holders of glebes, corporations,
aad chari ies. A careful examination of the return h is showu
that, after making these deductions, there are certainly no:
more than 156,000 owners ol laud, as distinguished from
houses, in England and Wales; 21,000 in Ireland; * and
8,000 in Scotland.

It may be safely stated then that the number of landowners
of the United Kingdom is under 200,000. How then is the
laud divided among these owners ?

A cre'iil anahsis has shown that 9J5 persons own between
them 29,7+3,000 acres out of the 72,"00,000 acres accouut>d
for, exclusive of manors, woods, torests, property let on long
lease, property within the metropolis, and house property
generally ; giving an average to each of nearly 30,000 acres,
consisting ol estates situate generally in two or more counties.
A further analysis has shown that about 4,000 persons, in the
next rank of landowners, own between them about 20,000,000
acres, with an average of 5,000 acres each; that 10,000
persons own between 500 aud 2,000 acres, with an aggregate
of 10,000,COO acres; that 50,000 persous own between 50
and 500 acres with an aggregate ot 9,000,000 acres; and that
130,000 own between one acre and fLty acres with an aggre-
gate of 1,750,000 acres. These figures, however, rather under-
state than overstate the proportion of land held by large
owners as compared with small owners. An addition should
be made to the acreage of the former, in respect of woods and
manors which are not accounted for iu the return, and which
probsbly amount to nearly 4,000,000 acre". M iking an addi-
tion on this account, it may be safely said that 15,000 persons
own between them 61,000,000 acres out of a total 76 J
millions ; of the remainder about 1,500,000 acres are held in
mortmain, by the Crown, the Ecclesiastical Commissioners
and other Church Corpora io is, the Universities, Public
Schools, Hospitals, and Charities.

It will be seen, ho*ever, from the above figures, that the
distribution of land is very different in the three countries. In
Scotland more thau half the country consists of mouutain and
nioor, ol little fgricultural value, and held in immense blocks.
The remaining half is owned by a very email number of per-

* Including about 6,000 holdings bought by their tenants I
under tbe Bright, clauses of the (Jhurch Diaeotablishmeat Act i
(13.I9J and the Irish Land Act (1870). 1

sons; pr as-.nt propr'eto-s do not exist there. One person only
out of every 400 owns laud; aud one in tweni) -eight owns a
hou-e.

In Ireland the proportion of landowners would have been
about the same as in Scotland, but for recent legi latioa
promoting the purchase of land by tenants, wl.iuh has
added about 5,000 to the number of small owur.rs, or nearly
30 per cent, of the previous number ; with this addition, one
person iu 257 owns land, and oue in 120 owns a house.
^.In England and Wales the number of owners of land is
p-oportionally larger than in the o'her countries. There are
parts ol the country, such as Cumberland and Westmoreland,
where the class of yeomen has not altogether died out. There
are considerable numbers of owners of small properties in the
neighbourhood of towns, which would be more properly
ela<sed as owners of villas. In Lincolnshire and Cambridge*
snire there are a certain number of owners of small holdings.
Witn these exceptions there cannot he said to exist a class of
ye 'men farmers or of peasant ( roprietors. One ( ersou out of
130 is probably an owner of laid, and, omitting Loudon, oue
person in tweniy-six is probably the owner of a house.

In a chapter on "Landowners in Other States," Mr.
Lefevre gives the lollowing tables : —

FRANCE.

owners. Total Acres.

5,000,000 owners averaging 3 hectares (7\ acres) 37,000,000
500,000 medium sized owners averaging 30

heetares (75 acres) 37,000,000

50,000 large proprietors averaging 300

hectares (750 acres) 37,000,000

5,550,000

State domains and Communal property.

111,000,000
10,600,000

121,600,000

AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS.

1,815,000 occupiers of less than 5 hectares (7£

acres)

1,256,000 occupiers ol between 5 hectares and

40 h.etares (100 acres)

154,000 occupiers of over 40 hectares(ie0 acres)

3.221,000

Woods and forests

Moors and uncultivated land

UNITED KINGDOM.

OWNERS.

130,000 small owners averaging 13 acres .
50,000 medium sized owners with an averaj

of 180 acres

15.000 large owners averaging 4,260 acres.

195,000
Crown lands and lands in mortmain

AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS.

750,000 oscopiers of less than 10 acres

316,000 occupiers of from 10 acres to 100 acres
92,0o0 occupiers of above 100 acres

1,148,000

Mountains, moors, and woods.

Total Acres.

12,51-0,000

43,800,000
27,112,000

83.482,000
IU 980,000
18,200,000

121,662,000

Total Acres.
1,750,000

9,000,000
64,000,000

74,750,000
1,600,000

76,350,000

Total Acre'.

4,500,000

14,700,00'J

28,000,000

47,400,000
29,000,000

76,400,000

ORIGIN OF THE ENGLISH LAND SYSTEM.
In England, as in most parts of the Coutinent, there ex:sted
prior to the feudal system, a very different state of thin s to
that siuce brought about. In Saxon times England "was
undoubted.y a country of very numerous landowners: they
consisted of " eorls," or larger owners, who held und»r tua

u

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Crown, and "ceorls," a very numerous class, tilling the land
they owned, and answering to the modern c'ass of yeomen,
" the root," as Hallara says, "of a nohle plant, the free-
soccage tenants, or English yeomanry, whose independence
stamped with peculiar features both our constitution and our
national character." These two classes owned the cultivated
land ; beyond were the common lands and forests, then called
'■ folk land," the land of the people, the property of which
was vested in the village community, and where the villagers
had the right to turn out their cattle, dig their turf, or cut
firewood. The property laws of these people were not different
from those now prevailing among our colonists. There was
equal division of land upon death among the children ; the
power of alienation and of williug was fully conceded ; there
was a pnblic register of all deeds affecting land ; alienation was
simple and public. These distinctive features of the Anglo-
Saxon land laws were swept away after the Conquest, la
their place was introduced the feudal system of laud tenure,
with its web on relations between the sovereign, the nobles,
the knights, the villeins, and the serfs. The great-r part ot
the land of England was confiscated after the batle of Has'ings
and was granted out by the Conqueror to his military chiefs.
These chiefs or lords again, on their part, granted portions of
the lordships thus confided to them to their principal knights
and retainers below them, to he held on the condition of mili-
tary service.

Some of the Sixon landowners survived this process of
confiscation, and were brought under the system as free tenants
of feudal superiors subject only to military service. Much
greater numbers were relegated to the pos.tion of villeins in
the fendal system, a position under which they coutinued to
cultivate their lands for their own use, but subject to dues and
bcrvice*, mostly of a personal or agricultural character, to
their lords, and were considered to have no rights as against
such superiors. Below these was a class of sens, or slaves
without any rights of property, the mere menial servan's of
their lords and masters. The. feudal system being of mili ary
origin, founded on conquest and maintained against internal
diffi 'ultiss and foreign foes by force, had necessitated the
maintenance of military commands, or fiefs, in strong hands;
tl e principle of primogeniture, therefore, by which the fief
was inherited by the eldest male dependent was also a
necessity ; and equally opposed to the system was the power
of alienation, without the consent at least of the superior
lord.

The general state of England, then, shortly after the Con-
quest, was this. Tne country was divided into a great
nnmberof separate lordships or manors. The lord of each
manor euiiivated a portion of the land, entitled Ins demesne,
by himself Jor by his bailiff, partly by the assistance ot the
villeins or small farmers of his manor, who were bound to
render him service — some of so many days of labour, and
others of so many days of team work — and partly by the
labour of serfs or slaves. The common lands or wastes
were arpropriated in a sense by the lords, but subject
to the rights of the freehold and other tenants of the manor to
Turn out their cattle or dig their turf there.

Other portions of the land within the manor were owned by
free tenants, who owed only their military service, or in many
a ses fixed rents, to their superior lord, and who in every other
3»nse were independent owners of their holdings. The
remaining lands of the manor were held and cultivated by the
c'sss of villeins. Many of them had originally been owners of
their lands, but by commendatiou or confiscation they had been
completely subjected to the will of their feudal lords, and had
lost all rights as against them. In theory and often iu prac-
tice they were completely at the m*rcv of their lords "t dill Me
ct corcealU sint merci tii misericords," (subject to dues and
burthens without mercy or pity), as the old lawyers dessribe
them ; they were, however, rarely or never disturbed in the
o:cnpation of their lands. They were allowed to <lienate them
•with the consent of their lords, and to bequeath them to their
children ; and for a time at least the old Saxon principle of
equal division among such children oa death of the owner
.without a will was preserved. In those days the number of
retainers a lord could muster was a sourca of power and
a'reugth to him. He had no object then iu dispossessing tLe
tenants of his manor, neiiher did he undertake for them any
of the duties which pertain to the modern landlord, of builJmg
houses for his tenants or improving their land ; when, there-
CfUf), the country became more settled and the law)ors

began to study the Roman law, they drew principles from it
which recognised the right of such tenants to what we should
now call fixity of tenure, a right to continue in possession of
their holdings npon payment of the customary dues, services,
rents, or fines, and no longer to be merely tenants at the will
of their lord.

Certain it is that between the time of the Conqueror and of
Edward the Third these Tilleins acquired a clear and absolute
right to their holdings, and as teuants on the RjII of the
Manor, or copyholders, have ever since been recognised as
having an interest scarcely inferior to that of freeholders.
And it is this body of small owners who constituted a large
proportion of the small proprietors, who at one time were the
boast of this country.

Domesday Book, the most valuable record of the state of
landown°rship and of the relation of various classes of a
population which any country has ever possessed, in'orms us
that about twenty years after the Cooqnest the number of
lords of manors holding direc'h from the Crowo, or indirectly
from some superior lord, was 9,271 ; that the number of free-
holders holding under these lords of manors by military service
was 13,700; and that the number of freemen holding from
loHs of manors bv fixed or determined rent service was 30,831
r total of 53,802 freeholders. The number of villeins, as'di*-
tinguished from burgesses and serfs, and who were therefore
reapers of land in rural districts, is stated to hive b*»>a
101,4-07. The four northern counties and Wales, comprising
one-fifth of the country, were not included in Domesday.
Adding one-fifth then to th» number, there must at thi< time
have been not short of 200,000 heads of lamilies in'erested in
the soil either as Ireeholders or villeins. The. relation of land-
lord and tenant, such as we now know it, did not exist.
There is little trace of land having been let on lease to farmers
befere the reign of Edward I. The priociple of urimogsniture
did not in these early times apply to any property but fie s, or
lands held uuder fiefs by military service; it did" not apply to
that freehold property known as freesoeeage 'and, which had
escaped confiscation at the Couqnesr, nor did it apply to the
prop>rty of villeins. It is clear, then, that between the date
of Domesday and the time of Edward III. there must have
ben a grsat increase in the number of persons wlso had an
absolute right in the soil of their na'ive country. Certain it
is that Sir John Fortescue, writing in the time of Henry VI
about a hundred years later, speaks of the number of its free-
holders being one of the chief boasts of Englaud of his day.
He aids, that although there were some noblemen of great
estates, yet that between these estates there were great numbers
of small freeholders. The number of parish churches, the
entries in old registries, and many other indications, point to
the tact of England being, before the Black Death, very
thickly populated in its rur.il distrefs. And Professor Rogers,
who has investigated many oil records and manorial lists of
the fourte-nth century, has found that the land was greatly
subdivided, and that most of the regular farm servants of that
time were owners of land.

It would be interesting to trace, through succeeding periods,
the gradual reduction of this element of English lFe. Statistics*
are at no period to be ob'ained, so that anything like an
accurate tracing of the decline is impossible.

It is worthy of notice, however, that, unlike most other
countries in Europe, where the principle of primogeniture was
confined to feudal fiefs and lordships of manors or to the
property of the nobility, and was not applied to the property
of inferior classes, in England this principle cams to be applied
to every species of landed property and to all classes of land-
owners, however small. It was probably extended to copy-
hold property about the time of Henry III.

THE HISTORY OF ENTAIL.

It is howewer to the principle of entail that we must mainly
ascrioe the reduction and disappearance of small owners.
This principle was by no means oae of the . arliest features of
feudalism. Fiefs and Lordships of manors being in the first
instance connected with military duties, even the
hereditary principle was not at £r3t recognised, and was for a
time resisted by the feudal superiors ; but when fully recog-
nised every effort was made to secure the perpetuation of these
functions and properties in the male line of the family. The
Norman barons endeavoured to introdnce this principle
shortly after the Conquest, but they met with great resistance
from •" e Crown and the Church.

THE FARMEKS MAGAZINE.

355

The main object wliich the feudal chief* had in view was to
secure their fiefs aud property to their successors free from the
chance of forleiture in case of treasonable acts of their own.
Conviction for treason was followed by forfeiture of property.
Entail would preserve the property for the. family, though the
present holders might suffer forfeiture during his lifetime.

On the other hand, the sovereign, representing the principle
of oider and of imperial interests, as opposed to those of the
fendal lords or petty local chiefs, was much concerned in main
taming the principle of forfeiture of property in case of
treason, as one of the main securities against rebellion. Any
r. durti in therefore of this penalty was to be resisted. A
pow«rfully ally iu this instance was found in the Church. The
principle ol entail if once admitted would deprive the Church
of the main source of its wealth, the gifts of land by its p'ous
sons. The clerical lawyers therefore agisted the sovereign in
his efforts to prevent the introduction of this priuciple., and we
find that they borrowed principles from the Civil Law with
great ingenuity to upset the gran's which had been obtained
by the nobles with the object ot creating entails.

For the first 200 years after the Conquest, the noMes failed
to secure 'heir obj»ct, or to effect entails. .During the whole
of this time therefore land was practica'ly alienable ; and no
doubt this contributed greatly to the increase in the number of
owners of land.

In the year P>35, however, the nobles fonnd themselves
strong enough to force upon the Crown and the country a law
which overrode the interpretation which had been given by the
lawyers to the words of entail, and practically enabled
perpetual entails to be created. It is worthy of notice that
this statute of Edward I. known as"De Donis,"an Act still on
the statute book and part of the law of this country, never ob-
tained the consent of the Commons. This vicious principle of
p-rpetual entail speedily came into eoramon use, and it was
not long before grave inconvenience and mischief arose from
it, and from the consequent withdrawal of a great part of the
landed property of the country from free commerce. The
ee'ebrated Lord Coke, speaking of the statute "De Donis," said
of it—

" The true policy of the common law was over-tnrned by
this statute, which established a perpetuity, by art for all
those who had or would have it ; by force, whereof all the
possessions in England were entailed accordingly, which was
the occasion and cause of divers other mischiefs ; and the
same was attempted to be remedied at divers Parliaments, and
divers bills were exhibited accordingly, but they were always
on one pretence or oiher rejected. But the truth was that
the Lords and Commons, knowing that their estates in tail
were not to be forfeited for felony or treason, as their estates
of inheritance were before the said Act, aud finding that they
were not answerable for the debts and incumbrances of their
ancestors, and that the sales or alienations and leases of their
ancestors did not bind them, they always rejected such bills."
The bad effects of this statute are also described by Black -
•tone in a well-known passage : —

" Children grew disobedient when they knew they could
not be set aside ; farmers were ousted of the leases made by
tenants in tail ; creditors were defrauded of their debt* ; in-
numerable latent clauses were produced to deprive purchasers
of land they had bought and paid for, and treasons were en-
couraged as estates tail were not liable to forfeiture longer
than lor the tenant's life."

These evils continued without remedy for another period of
200 years. After this long interval the reviving power of the
Crown aud the ingenuity of the lawyers combined to upset
these perpetual entails, and a method was discovered by which
the celebrated statute of Edward I. was circumvented and de-
feated. The process by which this was arrived at, and carrifd
out, was so subtle, technical, and ingenious, that it would be
impossible to explain it in popular language, or to make it in-
telligible to others than lawyers and logicians. It is sufficient
to say, that by a kind of collusion between the coutts of law
and the immediate holder of an entailed property, the obj ct
of the entail could be de'eated, and landed property subject to
it could be sold.

Later the Tudor kings, Henry VIT. and Henry VIII., suc-
ceeded in inducing Parliament to give legislative sanction to
this curious device of the lawjers, and also to deprive entailed
estates of their freedom from forfeiture in the case of the
treason of their holders. These acts again gave great freedom
to the sale of land, and though entails were not wholly de-

stroyed and wer1! still valid for certain purposes, they were not
effective to prevent the alienation of land. Thenceforward for
another 200 years I: nd again become freely alienable, and en,
tails were practically rendered innocuous.

It may be not unworthy of notice that these 200 years, when
land was practically free from the shackles of entail, when the
holders of estates Were really their owners, and not merely the
ostensible owners or temporary enjoyers of them, were not the
least memorable years ol English history or the least fruitful of
great Englishmen. They embraced the Elizabethan era, and
they spanned the lives of Bacon, Shakespeare, and Milton ;
of Sydney, Raleigh, and Blake ; of Cecil and Walsingham, of
Hampden and Pim, of Cromwell and Vane, of Strafford and
Falklmd. It does not appear that, even in those days, not-
withstanding the absence of eff-c'ive entail, men had any fear
of being unable to hand down to a remote posterity the pro-
duets of their fortunes in lands and houres. Burleigh, Hat-
field, Longleat, Audley End, Holland House, and Brarashill,
and numerous other greit mansions, were built in this period,
and still survive as evidence that tvea in days when landowners
were in full possession of their property, they did not fear to
build for a long future.

Frequently during this interval attempts were made by
clever lawyers to restore the priuciple of indefeasible entail ;
the courts ef law, however, uniformly resisted such attempts ;
in a well-known case which came before them, and which was;
known as the " Perpetuities case," it was attempted to create
an entail or settlement upon an unborn person, not dissimilar
to our present famiy settlements, by giving a life-interest to a
father and vesting the property in his unborn eldest son ; the
judges, however, rejected the scheme, alleging that if this were
permitted the following evils would arise.

1. That the owner of the property would be prevented pro-
viding for his widow and youuger children in such proportion
as he should think fit.

2. That the eldest son being certain of his inheritance, and
therefore independent of his father, would not be subject to
parental control.

3. That such settlements would lead to complexity of title,
and there'ore to uncertainty and expense of transfer.

It is most important to recollect these objections of tha
judges to the introduction of the first germs of a system
wSich afterwards unhappily was established, and which, as
will be shown, has led to the "very evils which were thus
foretold.

The p-riod of freedom of land from entails lasted from the
date of the discovery of/the means of elu ling the Statute deDoni?,
in 1 ±72, till about the time of the great Rebellion, another
period of nearly 200 years ; it might possibly have lasted till
our own time, but for the accidental effects of that great
poli ical crisis upon the views of lawyers and landowners. It
again became a great object to the owuers of land to protect
their properties from the possible results of their acts if con-
victed of treason ; and at a time when almost every landowner
was forced, either by inclination or public opinion, to take oue
«ide or tha other in the great nat'onal straggle, there was
almost equal danger of the enforcement of this forfeiture for
treason, on either side, as now one party and now the other
prevailed.

It is interesting to observe that the lawyers and judges who
had previously favoured freedom of alienation, and had exer-
cised all their ingenuity to prevent entails, or to find the means
of llluding and breaking them, now shifted their advocacy, and
lending their subtleties to the opposite principle, aided the
landowners in protecting their family estates from forfeiture,
and succeeded in forging the system of entail through family
settlements, from which the country has ever since suffered.

A royalist lawyer, of great learning and ingenuity, Sir
Orlando Bridgeman, the ancestor of the Earls of Bradford,
was the first to devise a plan by which landed property could'
be settled upon an unborn eldest son, in such a way as to illude
both the statute law against entails and the common law
doctrine against perpetuities, and to lay the foundation for the
family emails such as we now have them. It is said that Sir
Orlando, whose reputation as a lawyer was so great that he
became " the oracle of both parties, his very enemies not
thinking their estates secure withoat his advice," himself
assisted in giving currency to his own coinage, when he was
raised to the Bench of Judges after the Restoration ; in other
words, he upheld by decisions from the Bench the devices he
had invented as a lawyer. Hcwsver this may be, it is certain ,

U %

2513

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

that about this period there was invented by the lawyers and
accepted by the judges as a valid a system of entailing property
on unhorn persons wholly alien to the principle which had
induced Parliament 200 j ears before to break the system of
entails, and utterly opposed to the doctrine of freedom and
ulienabihty of land which had been the happy condition of the
country during that period.

The essence of the new principle thus introduced was the
settling of property upon an unborn person, against which the
courts ol law had previously struggled. The effect of thus
permitting the vesting of property in the unborn was to con-
vert the immediate possessors of properties hampered
by these arrangements into mere life-holders, without
any real power over the property, without power to sell, or
even to lease for any period beyond their own lives, and wi h-
out any power of bequest in favour of other children than the
one named in the settlement. It had the great merit however
at such a period, of preventing the forfeiture of more than the
life estate in the event of the life-holder being convicted of
treason.

It would be difficult, if not impossible, to make intelligible
to other thau lawyers how this was effected, and how the old
traditions an! doctines of the law were ev*ded, or to describe
all the subtleties and difficulties which have since grown out
ot it. It is sufficient to say that it led direc'y to the system
known as that of family entail under which landed properties
are now gpnerally held. It will be observed thst this system
has never received the assent of Parliament. It has never
fairly been brought under review of the legislature. It was
the invention of lawyers, aDd was sanctioned by the court*
of law, but has never been subjected to popular control.

MODFRN ENTAILS.

The general object of such family entails may be briefly
stated as follows : — To secure that the landed property which
is the subject of them shall descend in the direct male line by
the order of primogeniture, iu'act and undiminished, for a
long a period as possible ; to prevent the holder, the teuaut
for life, and successive tenants for life, from alienating the
property, or bequeithing it to their children in such proportion
as they may think fit.

It is customary fur hwyers, in representing this system, to
speak of it as very limited in its operation, auu as tying up
estates for a comparatively short period. They say that once
in every genera'ion it is possible to break the entail, and lor
the persons interested to join in freeing the proper'y, and
selling or disposing of it as they think fit. It is true that
when the tenant in tail, as he is called, the unborn son in
whom the property is ultimately vested, after the death of his
father and perhaps hi* grandfather, reaches the age of
twenty-one, he and his father can agree together to break np
the entail, and to cut off all other contingent interests or
collateral chinis.

In fact, however, the system is so curiously and artfully
advised, that when this plinux is reached, when after the lapse
of years there are co-exi3tiog two or more persons in different
generations, who by agreeing together can cut off the entail,
there arises out of the very nature of the arrangement the
greatest inducement to all concerned in such a family settle-
ment to take this opportunity, not to free the estate from its
cumbrous shackles, but to prolong the entail, and to make a
new settlement which will carry on the entail to another
unborn generation.

The process has thus been described by an eminent legal
■writer: —

" Upon the majority or marriage of the son who is tenant
in tail under a family settlement the estate is commouly re-
settled, he receiving au immediate provision, and by his estate
being reduced to a life-estate with remainder to his issue in
tail, parting with Ins prospective powers of alienation. By
such a process as is here roughly described, the bulk of family
estates in this country are kept in settlement from one genera-
tion to another, the new fetter being added at that epoch at
which the power of alienation arises."

And the late Lord St. Leonards, a powerful advocate of the
system, spoke of it as "from its own nature leading to
successive settlements." Although, therefore, in one sense,
smb. settlements may appear to be limited in duration, the
truer view is that they embody all the vicious principles of
perpetual entail. They are intended to preserve the family
property intact through succsssive generations, and to prevent
the head of the family, at any time, from either reducing the

corpus of the property, or from exercising nay option in f»vonr
of a more equal distribution among his children ; and subject
to some perils, which will shortly be pointed out, they cer-
tainly succeed in doing this.

It has been already shown that from the time of the Nor-
man conquest till the present time there have b-en four nesriy
equal periods of 200 years each. In the first 200 years
entails could not be effected. In the nest 200 yeirs they were
permitted by law, and their evils were notorious, and admitted
to be most disastrous. In the third period the system was
again broken down, entails were practically inoperative, land-
owners were again masters of their own property, and land
was again brought into free commerce. In the last period
entails have again been permitted, through the medium of
family settlements which, if not perpetual as they were in the
former period, have tended to perpetuities, as L)rd Sf.
Leonards has told ns.

T.'iis power and the consequent enstom to enfail land has
now existed for rather more than 200 yearn. It is commonly
admitted that about three fourths of the landed property of
the country is subject to such entails. What effect have they
had upon the distribution and ownership of property ? Have
they been the cause of the accumulation of land in few hands ?
Do they tend to prevent the aoplicstion of capital to the land ?
Have they been in the interest of the families concerned ?
How have they affected the position and well-being of the
labouring class P

(To be Continued.)

THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE AT
SPALDING.

A public meeting was held in the Corn Exchange,
Spaldiug, on Tuesday, March 9, to explain the objects
of the Alliance, and to induce, if possible, the farmers of
Lincolnshire to enrol themselves in the Society. The
chair was taken by Mr. H. H.Tatam.

Tbr> Chairman, in introducing the subject, sail he wished
to impress upon the audience, with the utmost sincerity, that
the meeting was not a political one in any way. The Farmers'
Alliance had come there to advocate the interests of the
farmers according to their ideas. Perhaps those whom he
addressed might not agree with the deputation iu all or any-
thing they had to say, hut hi could assure the meeting, so far
as poliiics are concerned, they would advocate the interests of
the farm' r whether L beral or Tory. They wanted soiieone to
support the farmers' interests in Parliament ; somebody who
would make that their principal object ; so nebody who wonld
not throw over the Malt Thx, or any other tax, as both sides
had done several times within a very few years ; or who would
not contract themselves out of an engagement entered into
under the Agricultural Holdings Act. No one of that sort.
It must be a man, if possible, who wonld go iu for removing
all unnecessary burdens from the farmers, and seeing that they
have fair play under the altered state oft bines, so that they might
have, a chance of getting a living, if possible. He was not a
member of the association, but he could only say that if they
could show him how they could improve their prospects he as
one of the farmers of that district should feel uncommonly
obliged, as they were, no doubt, sailing agaiust a strong wind.
He then called upon Mr. Howard, of Bedford, to explain the
system advoc tted by the Farmers' Alliance. That gentleman,
he added, was well-known to the agricultural work, and was
at one time a M^rauer of Parliament, but was compelled
through ill-health to resigu his seat.

Mr. Howard, who received a warm welcome, said when he
opened that morning's paper and saw the startling announce-
ment that a Dissolution was to take place immediately, he con-
cluded that there would he little interest taken in that meet-
ing, but on reaching Spalding he was assured that it would
rather enhance the interest therein than dimiuish it. With
reference to one remark that fell from the chairman, he wished
at the outset to say that he had not come to the famous
county of Lincoln to prescribe a remedy for the exisiting de-
pression in agriculture. The Alliance programme was not a
panacea for the evils that at present afflicted that greatest of
industrial pursuits ; for as practidl men they knew full well
there had been causes in operation over which no human
effort could eiercise control. There had been inexorable laws

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

257

in force over which remedied legislation could exercise but
little influence ; but at the same tine great changes had been
going on around to which they ought not to shut their eyes,
lie referred to the importation of corn and cat'le from America,
which he said was brought across tlie Atlantic at so small a
cost that every thoughtful man must perceive that they were
tn the evp, or had already entered upon, a new era in agri-
culture. Seeing that they were on the eve of a great change,
the. Alliance ltnintained that it was very desirable to start
fair, and that auv impediments, whether in the shape of laws
cr customs, which impeded the progress of agriculture should
be moved out of the path of the British farmer? There were
grave uud important issues at stake with regard to the present
position of affairs, that it behoved every man who had any stake
in agricultural interests to calmly consider what w*s the best
to he done u-ider the circumstances, and to look the position
fairly in the face, without political or party bias What, he
asked, would be the position of the passeugersof a ship caught
in a violent gale and in danger of foundering if they were to
concern them-elves as to the political opiuious of the captain
and engineer ? Would not their chief concern be whether
the captain and engineers possessed the requisite a'uiliiy
to bring the vessel xa'ely iuto port P And dow that there
was danger of Bri'ish agricultural interests fouudering or
becoming permanently crippled, the great object ot the farmers
of this country should be whether the men sent to represent
them in Parliament were capable of steering the vessel
into a safe haven (Hear, hear). Before entering upon the con-
sideration of the obj-cts of the Alliance, he wi-hed to say that
his whole intereits were bound op in the welfare of agriculture.
Perhaps no man in that room had more at stake in the success
of agriculture, both directly and indirectly, than he had him-
self (Heir, hear). He mentioned that merely as a reason why
he should not be likely to stand upon that or auy other plat-
form to advocate measures that he did not believe or feel were
advantageous to the prosperity of that great branch of industry
with which he was intimately connected (cheers). He had
already observed that it was obvious that every man should
look at the present condition of agriculture apart from all
political party bias, for he regarded the agricultural interest of
this great kingdom as too important and too serious a matter
to be made a shuttlecock of by either of the two great po i ical
pities of the State (Hear, hear). Whatever might be said
to the contrary by interested or ignorant parties, the motto of
the farmers' Alliance was " Agricultural interests first, and
politics afterwards " (cheers). They might be mistaken as to
the objects they had in view, or their means of carrying them
into effect, bur he unhesitatingly declared that the sole desire
of the founders of the Farmers' Alliance was the advancement
of agriculture and to benefit the tenant-fanner. They were
there that day to make a plain straightlorward statement as to
the objects of the Alliance, to justify its foundation, and to
define its programme; and all they asked of gentlemeu was to
dismiss from their minds auything which they might have
eard to the prejudice of the Alliance, and to depend upon
their own judgmen's only as to whether the objects it had in
view were worthy of their support (Hear, hear). It might be
asked what need there w>.s ior ano her agricultural association
Bering that so many existed already. Tnat was a very simple
and a very natural question, and the natural answer was of a
two fold character — first, not one of the existing agricultural
associations has attained or sought to attain the objects set
forth iu the. Alliance programme ; and secondly, not one of
the existing agricultural associations is charged specially with
the duty of looking after the interest of tenant-farmers (Hear,
hear). That was perhaps a bold assertion to make, and
some might think it a startling one ; but he said if there
was any other association charged with the duties of
looking after the interests of the tenant-farmers — if there
was an association whose object it was to promote the objects
set forth in the programme of the Alliance, let it be named.
He made that challenge last October, hut up to the present no
reply had ever been given to it. The Alliance had been
started to supply that wanf,. and to look after the interests of
tenant farmers both in and out of Parliament, and to see that
no additional burdens were placed upon their shoulders,
without raising a note of alarm and resis ing it (Hear, hear).
They had no wish to interfere and cry down existing associa-
tions. They had their own w jrk to perform. Most of the
agricultural societie* were doing good work, and they wished
tiiem God speed. As to the wisdom and propriety of, this

new organisation, he would ask— are not the great interests ut
the vast tenant, farmer class of the Uuiied Kingdom sunn-it at
to warrant the formation of associations to look after their
interests? The tenaut farmers, he would remiud the meetiugr
were the only class not directly represented in the House of
Commons; and be it remembered that there were (500,000 of
them in England and Scotland, with a capital of £3UU,U'J0,i. 00
sterling. Or rather he should say they had that amount, for
he was afraid, a good deal of it had vanished during the
last two or three years (laughter). The wonder to him
was, not that associations such as the Farmers' Alliance had
been formed, but that they had not been formed many years
ago (Hear, hear). For ever since he re nembered or took
part in public affairs the farmers had complained, and juttly
too, he thought, that no matter what Government was in
power whatever they had demanded had been either unheeded
or evaded, and the Farmers' Alliance felt that such would
continue to be the case until the farmers make up their
minds to one of two courses. First, to determine to send
men of their own class to look after their own interests in
Parliament (Hear, hear). Now that was the most obvious
course. But there was an alternative course, and that was
to agree upon a programme and refuse to vote for any can-
didate who would not pledge himself to suppoit it. The
Alliance had been formed with those objects in view, and he
believed it would commend itself, that was the programme,
to the jidgraent of every right-thinking man if he viewed
it calmly, apart from prejudice (Hear, hear). He would
remind them that never before in the history of this country
had a programme been put into the hands of farmers by which
they c mid lest the sincerity of the candidate for their suffrages.
He did not say that the programme was perfect, or that
it was complete. It might be susceptible of a good deal of
ameudmeut; but the farmers of England bad it entirely in
their own hands to make the programme what they thought
right. There ought to be no wire-pullers in this movement.
Ti.e great majority of the committee of management were
tenant farmers, and they appealed to the support mainly of
the great body of tenant farmers, and the future of the Alli-
ance was entirely in their owu bauds. Oi' course, as practical
men, they knew full well the difficulty of returning tenant
farmers to Parliament was not so much in finding capable men
amoug the great tenant farmer class, but the question of ways,
and means, for to contest a county at, the present time was
very expensive and sometimes a ruinous matter. But the
Ailiance contended that that ought not to be the case. It
was unnecessary waste, and the Alliance, say if farmers will
only unite to demand that this inequality should cease it
would soon coma to an end. After reminding the meeting
again that all interests — even the miners had two representa-
tives— except the tenant farmers and labourers, were repre-
sented in Parliament, he proceeded to state the programme of
the Alliance, and to commsnt on the different subjects, which
are as follows ;— 1, To secure the better representation of
tenant farmers in Parliament ; 2, to stimulate the improved
cultivation of the land, especially by obtaining security for
the capital of tenants invested in the improvement of their
holdings ;. 3, to promote the reform of the laws relating to
the ownership and transfer of laud ; 4, to encourage greater
freedom in the cultivation of the soil and the disposal of its
produce ; 5, to obtain the abolition of class privileges involved
in the Laws of Distress and Hypothec ; 6, to promote the
reform of the Game Laws ; 7, to obtain the alteration of all
legal presumptions which operate unfairly against tenant
farmers; 8-, to secure to ratepayers their legitimate share in
County Government ; 9, to obtain a fair apportionment of
local burdens between landlord and ten.mt.

Mr. James Young-man, of ChaLrield Hall, Wickham
Market, next addreise- the meetiug, and in a telling speech
which is very brirfly reported in the S.amfuid Mercury, from
which we take this report, brought prominently before the
meeting the objects of the Farmers' Alliance, and dealt with
the various matters mentioned in the programme.

Mr. Charles Sharps, of Sleaford, at the request of the
chairman, then briefly addressed the meeting. He was
not, he said, a member of the Alliance, but he hid heard
a great deal said with reference to it. Some distinguished
agriculturists had spoken rather sn-eringly about it, and
hej thought he would come and hear for himself what
there was to be said respecting it. Although the chair-
man might not consider the meetlig a very enthusiastic

m

THfi FAKUER'S MAGAZINE.

one, he was sure the visitors would coDtiJer it most
thoughtful ; for though it had not been very noisy he
could see that they were taking mental note of everything
that was said, and that tl eir attention had been rivetted a
pood deal by what was being explained. He was not
there to say much on behalf of the programme of the
Alliance, but he n.nst admit he saw very little in ;t to ob-
ject to. On the contrary, there was a great de4 of good
to be got out of it for the agricultural interest, for if ever
there was a time for farmers to unite together and see
whetler they conld not remove some of those obstacles
which prevented the flow of capital into the land and the
free exercise of their interests it was now (Hear, hear).
But this was not a tenant farmers' question only ; it was
equally a landlords' question, and a public one also ; aud
he felt snre that there was no landlord, if the matter were
cnt before him properly, who would not be glad to era-
brace the opportunity of getting some good business msn to
assist them to represent the agricultural interests of this
country (cheers). There was another reason why he felt glad
to come there that day. Although he had taken no interes"in
the Farmers' Aliianee before, he felt an interest in the gen'le-
mtn who had always been the tenant-farmers' friend, and who
o 1 several occa ions hs had heard i o ne forward to champion the
tenant farmers' caure— Mr. Howard (cheers), lie was not at
all surprised at the Alliance coming into Lincolnshire, for he
thought there was no part of the United Kingdom that conld
compare with the county of Lincoln, and if there was one spot
better than another ia it it was South Lincolnshire (Hear,
hear). They had given a welcome to the Alliance, aud he
hoped they would see them Benin. It was a large county, and
there was plenty of work for the Alliance. He would not
occupy the time of the meeting any longer, as there were other
speakers to follow aud the time was limited ; but he assured
the Al'iance that he should have great pleasure in giving
attention to their programme, and he hoped he and others
would find themselves able to support the Alliance consistently
with those ideas they held respecting the good of the agricul-
tural busioes3of this country (cheers).

Mr. Lawrauce, Q.C., at the request of the ehairman, next
addressed the meeting. After assuring those present
that his attendance there that day had nothing whatever to do
with the startling news of the dissolution of Parliament, lie
ran through the programme, and briefly expressed his views
on the different subjects, except the first on the list, about
which he bad nothing to say that day. With regard to the
second, he said he had from time to time for years expressed
his astonishment that the system of Tenant-right that hadjbe n
in operation in the county of Lincoln for so many years had
never been ex ended into other counties. He hud never con-
cealed from those whom he had had the honour to address his
wi*h that the Agricultu.al Holdings Ac. should be aaade coaapul-
Baiy. He did not, in making that remark, wish it to be under,
etoud that he desired to interfere with the freedom of contract,
especially between landlord and tenant; but where a person
was not alive to his own interest a law should be passed to
make him so. With respect to the third, he thought it a
very difficult subject to deal with, and one that would take a
Jot'g time to explain ; but he mint say that an improvement
in the land laws was desirable, aud he never had the slightest
doubt that the Bill now before Parliament would tend in a
gnat measure towards that object. Any step that simplified
the transfer of land and made it less expi-n-ive than before
was a step in the right direction ; but he did not think that
Wou'd compensate for want of suushine and bad harvests.
He thought transfers might be made easier than at
present. He had no objection to the next question as it
stood on the paper, and the only objection that coa-ld be
taken to it was that it was a direct in'erfereoce with the
freedom of contract. He expressed himself in favonr of
an alteration in the Laws of Distress a id Hypotliec, the Game
Laws, of ratepayers having a share in county government, and
a fair apportionment of local burdens between landlord and
ten u tit.

Mr. J as. Hubbard, of Ewerby, moved the following reso-
lution :—

"That, in the opinion of this meeting, the Farmert,'
Alliauce, as an association of agricultural reformers, with
objects iiidi pendent of parly politic*, deserves the support of

all who desire to see the legal and customary hindrances to*
agricultural prosperity removed."

He thought the Alliance would do a great deal of good to
the tenant farmers, who ought to join it. They had for many
years been unduly oppressed <n many wa;,s. They ought to
have short leases aud inconvenient restrictions removed, aad
to encourage persons to invest their money in farming they
shonld have leave to make what improvements they liked, and
compensation for them on leaving.

Mr. Ezra Woods, of Whaplode, rote to second the resolu-
tion, bnt as he endeavoured to make a speee i, aud the meeting
was rapidly breaking up, the noise prevented him continuing;
his remarks. The Chairman therefore put the resolution for
aud against, and it was carried item. con.

The (JHAlRaAr* then at once pot the second resolution to
the meeting, which was from the same cause seconded without
a word of comment by Mr. Colk, of Broxhana Hall, and aUo
carried nem. cen. It was as follows ■■—

'• That it is desirable to organise a committee of the Alli-
ance in Lincolnshire, with a view to increase the numbers of
members of the Association, as well as to watch over the
interests of farmers at the coming general election. "

A vote of thanks to the chairman of the meeting and to the
chairman of the Alliance closed the meeting.

KINGSCOTE AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIA-
TION.
FLUKES IN SHEEP.

A meeting of this association was he'd at Hunter's Hall,
Kingscote, recently, when there was a good atten-
dance of members to listen to a paper by the Right Hon. the
E^rl of Suffolk and Berkshire, upon " Flukes in Sheep."
Colonel Kiugscote, MP., president. We take the following
full report of the paper from the Wilts and Gloucester
Standard :—

The Earl of Suffolk said: Mr. President and gen-
tlemen,—No doubt you must think it very ambitious,
if not impertinent in me, to come here and pretend
to instruct you in a subjee: with which, so far at
leas' as praetic il experience goes, you must almost necessarily
be far more conversant than 1 am, but you will modify your
opinion of my conceit, when I say that I stand before you a
confessed plagiarist. The seieutific facts which I propose
submitting to you this evening, I have what is politely
called collated, or in the directer phraseology of the schoolboy,
cribbed, chi<-fty from the writings of Dt. Andrew Wilson,
lecturer on Zoology and Comparative Anatomy in the Edin-
burgh Medical School, and partly from a work on sheep by
P:oressor Spooner, of tbe Royal Veterinary College, a book
to which ray attention was first called by Mr. Henry Holborow,
a few weeks ago. In some places I have used the actual
text of these authors; so that you will clearly understand
from the commencement, that the statements which I advance
as facts are not founded on my own experimental observation.
The conclusions, or rather guesses whicil I have drawn from
those facts are my own. I set no great store by them, but
such as they are, I offer them to jou for consideration and
discussion. I have no further apology to ranke. We are all
farmers here together, or people whose interests are closely
identified with farmiug. There is, in truth, nothing presump-
tuous, in a farmer who has time to read, giving the benefit
of his studies to those who have not that time at their disposal,
so without more preamble, I will proceed at once to the
history of the common liver flake. Fusciols Hepatica is its
Latin name, bnt I will endsavour to use as lew scientiiic forms
as possible, and it is both by repute and appearance probably
but too well known to all of you. It ka» teen ou record (or
the last 300 years as one of the most fatal aud roost universal
of the diseases which flock masters have to fear, and not flock -
masters only, for though I have never heaid of a well authen-
ticated case, this parasite is said to infest horses; it also
at' acks cattle and deer, U,c ssaniel apparently oaly amongst
dogs, but it is eommon enou<h iu hares and rabbits, aud
perhaps some of >ou may think that if the flake were to>
cultivate his taste for game a little more, and for mutton and
beef a little less, he would not be considered quite the iutoler-
sbit nuisance he is at present. There are also nuisances.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

250

however rare, of his occurrence in the human frame, and it is
suspected h« would be oftener found there, if ofteuer inquired
a'ter. Be that as it may, the destruction he causes amongst
kiiepp is an unquestionable fact, and never in England at any
late has he niul iplied so exceedingly as during the past year ;
indeed, though it is nonsense to repeat what we sometimes
hetr, that every sheep in the country is rotien, yet it is very
doubtful if auy sheep has his liver absolutely and entirely
free from fluke. I went into a butcher's shop the other day
and asked the butcher to show rae a fluky liver. He said " I
don't think I have, one at present, there's a liver hanging up
there, but I believ.- it to be per eetiy sound." However, he
good-naturedly to.>k it down, laid open the ducts with his
knife, and squeezed out two very flourishing flukes. Of course
those two would make no difference to the health of the sheep
wlr'lst living, nor to the condition of the meat when dead,
but this seems to support my assertion that it is absolutely
impossible to predicate of any sheep, that it is entirely free
rora all trace of rot. And yet, though this disease has been
■o long kuown — (in all likelihood it was plaguing Enrypt in
he tinie of the Pharaohs, for Egypt is the very chosen home
and abode of rot) — it is, I fancy, only comparatively recently,
that any scientific inquiry had been made into the natural his-
tory of the fluke ,1 mean as to his birth and means of reproduc-
ing his species ; or the inquiry, if made, had not been attended
with any amount of mccess. Professor Spooner, who wrote
oathe suhjet in 1811, seems to have been in the dirk on the
matter, lor he mentions, without cas'ing any doubt on its
probability, the theory that the fluke eggs deposited on the
grass in the dung of rotten sheep, are by means of the sun and
moisture, enabled to restrain their vitality, until they are
picked up with grass by other sheep, iu whose stomachs and
intestines they are hatched. Now, this at least I hope to
sh iw you is, luckily for ns, an impossibility, for were it the
ca<e, the chances are that there would be no sheep in England
at ;his moment. To be sure, they might have been extinct so
many years ago, that we should practcally know nothing
about them, and miss them no more than we do mastodons
and megatheriums. The fluke derives hi« name from his re-
semblance to the flounder, ctlled "fluke" all over Scotland,
and also in many parts of England. He is not a particularly
formidable-'ooking fellow, ha9 a flat oval body r.bout, three-
quarters of an inch in length — he g--ts shorter and thicker
with good living- — and a well marked head and nack ; the
margin of the body is clearly defined, and of a darker hue
than the in'ernal parts. He has two or. flees, or su< ke.rs for
adhesive purposes, one at the end of the, head, and (lie other a
little below the neck on the ventral surface, tie is herma-
phrodite, which, as you kuo*, means tha he posses es wiihin
himself the orynns of generation of both sexes. They a>-e said
to be very distinctly revealed uuder microscopic examination,
but as we are. steering as clear as possible of technical language,
1 will not describe tleni, suffice it to say that a fluke can pro-
duce his own eggs, impregnated, and ready if favoured by
circumstances for lurther development. He has a digestive
system in the shape of a tree-like arrangement of tubes, but
no circulation in our sense of the term. There yon have as
shortly as it can be put, the exterior appearance, and interior
economy of the fluke, in the m.st perfect and fully developed
stage of flukehood. BuMn order that you may understand how
arduousis thestruggle forexistence in parasite life, we. will fol-
low the career of a flake from the egg upwards. It seems
certain tha*, as a first condition, the egg on leaving the bod?
of the sheep must find its way into water, otherwise it would
speedily luose the vital priuciple; so let us suppose that it has
somehow got into water — not a very difficult matter during
Lu»t summer ; then there is presently hatched the young fluke,
as what is culled a free-swimming body, in the shape of an
inverted cne, which swims easily and quickly abou1, by means
of what looks like a sort of hairy fringe round it ; but after a
time it loses the power of swimmins, I suppose this h airy fringe
drops off, and it brcomes oval shaped, wriggling and crawling
over the bottom of the pool. It then becomes a matter of
absolute necessity to it to find a host, that is, another living
creature into whose body it may rjiurow, and continue its train
of devolopment. This liost is usually fonnd in the person of
a watersnail, ii.to whose breathing apparatus it enters (which
must be pleasant for the watersnail), and becomes transformed
into a i-ac or bag, within which other yonng may arise, by a
veritable process of budding. This may seem odd to those of
you who have never heard of it before, but it is a scientific fad

that in many low o-ganur.-.s there is a pow?r of rcproduc ion
of spreies, by an absolute phut-l.ke budding. Well, ia<
the case of t lie fluke, the issue of this buddiug
is a smill body with a vibratile tail, aud here yoa
have at last the real true liver fluke again, who, as
soon as he escapes from the body of the snai',
which he v ry soon does, is ready and willing to enter upon <t
fresh career, as the guest of some warm-blooded animal, whose
b 'dy he enters by being sucked up iu the water, or picked up
olf the damp grass ; then, probably by boring, he passes from
the stomach to the liver of the animal, and becomes trans-
formed into the mature and fltttened fluke. Thus you seethe
various risks which have to be encountered before fresh flukes
can be prepared to endanger animal life. Eirst, the egg must
drop into wa'er ; next avoiding the perils which environ
infancy, the first edition of young must find its cold-blooded
host; after which there is another period of babyhood, with
the chance of not being swallowed with food or drink by any
creature, and when we consider that in the hver of a badly
diseased sheep seme hundred? of these flakes might be found,
it seems impossible to realise the energy of reproduc ion.
which must exist during a vy,ef season like that through
which we have just passed. Yju will probably remark
this is very interesting, but, what is the good of it
all ? Can you tell us how we are to prevent our
sheep being attacked by these parasites, or how to effect a
cure when they are attacked ? Honestly I tell you I can,
with certainty, do neither one nor the other — the remedies
are palliative, and prevention is rather more than less,
speculative, nevertheless, you may not have expended your
attention in vain. I have laid what 1 believe to be scientific
facts be ore you_ 1 have told you the sonrces from which I,
who am in no sense a man of science, have gleaned these facts;
so far as they are accurate you will have gained iu knowledge,
and knowledge is always power. It seems tolerably certain
that there is no cure for rot, that is to say, when once the
flukes are established iu any number in the liver and bile ducts
of the sheep, nothing but the butcher's knife will give relief;
but it doss not appear by any means so certain that the
stomach may, or might not be, rendered such an unhealthy
residence for the fluke, as to cause his death before he had
time to bore his way to the liver. Anything which would. a6
all surely effect this would be an immense boon aud discovery,
and here is still a wide field of research for chemists. We
read that in Egypt, when the first symptoms of rot appear,
the Btdouins, who are the shepherds of that country, loje not
a moment, they re-assemble their flocks, and drive them back
to the desert. In the midst of the sands their principal food
is saltwort, or kali ; after some days the symptoms of the rot
gradually (Fsippear and the sheep legaia their former health.
There is al>o on the same authority a sort of recipe given of
soup made from the carcases of dead sheep, a kind of rotten
mutton broth in fact, with a pound or two pounds of which
the diseased she?p are to be drenched ; but this sounds too
much likea nostrum to be very worthy of attention,

The salt cure, oa the other hand, is very easy of experiment,
and 1 have understood from our friend, Mr. Holborow, of
Willesley, that he believes his shetp to have derived consider*
able benefit from Urge bais of sa!t put out in the fields for
them to munch at as the.y please. Whether this treatment is-
preventive or curative, in his opinion, perhaps he will kindly
t«U us not. that it very much signifies .-o long as the desired re-
sult is obtaiued. Processor Simoi.ds, in an able and exhaustive
treatise on Rot, published ongiually in 1862, and now quite
recently republished by desire of the. Royal Agricultural Society
calls '-Common salt the. sheet-auchor of the practitioner," and
again says, '' Salt cannot be dispensed with."' Some of you
may think it strange that L do not here make more copious
extracts from this work of the Professor's, and I should have
felt obliged to do so had not the Wills and Gloucestershire
Standard forestalled me, by giving in the issue of February
7th a paragraph contaiuiug the very pith of Mr. Simouds'
treatment. You all of you either t»ke in or have access totho
Wilts and Gloucestershire, and I should strongly advise you to
cut out and keep by you the paragraph in question for the pur-
pose of haing always at hand the excellent prescriptions
therein given, and I will only now. mention that sulphate of,
iron aud aniseed are, iu conjunction with common salt, the
principal ingredients upon which the Professor relies^ to com-
bat, as he puts it, the perfect development of the flakes in the
sheep's interior, or, as I imagine, to ckstroy thorn in. the Srst os.

200

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

second stomach, before they have time to bore their wiy to
the liver. But after al), prevention is better than cure, and
here I had hoped to hire be^n able to give you some useful
hin's. There seems to be no reasonable donbt that moisture
in very considerable quantity is absolutely requisite for the
existence of the fluke in the various stages of his progress from
the egg to maturity, and the possible duration of his life, sup-
posing him to be lett high and dry after emerging from the body
of the watersnail, strikes me as one of the most important ques-
tions connected with the matter. I have already acknow-
ledged my indebtedness to Dr. A.. Wilson, for the iaiger part of
the information I have been able to gather, and when I first
contemplated compiling a paper on this subject, though per-
sonally unknown to him, I took the liberty of writing and
asking him if he could at all assist us wiih any approximate
idea of the length of time the adu.t fluke could live if partially or
entirely deprived of surrounding moioture whilst awaiting the
chance of recep'ion into the stomach of some warm-bholed
animal. Dr. Wilson, with the kind courtesy almost invariably
shown to the ignorant by the scientific man, the man " who
knows,'' replied, acknowledging the very important and wide
field of research thu3 opened out, and promising to give the
matter his attention when he retained to Edinburgh, and had
access to his notes and books of reference ; so I had not in-
tended producing this paper until I had again h°ard from kill
but our gallaut President was ans;ous to have a positive
answer, whether or not such paper would be forthcoming
before the end of the Kmgscote meetings for this winter, and I
was therefore obliged to write it at once that I might submit it
to his judgment before giving it publicity. However, the on-
precedent ed increase of rot amongst sheep, following a summer
of unprecedented wet, points clearly enough to the fact that the
fluke cannot have too much moisture, though he may easily
have too little, and where it is in any way practicable, one
ca i hardly question that it would be well for the farmer, even
at c msid rable inconvenience, to keep his sheep for as line a
ji ri id as he c.n possibly manage away from land which has
been flooded, or where the rain water has been standing, so as
at any ratfl to c;:ve the flukes every opportunity of remaining
out in the cold, and dying without effecting a lodgment in
their w trm-blooded hosts. Of course during such a summer as
that of 1379 this care was not praelicable, or practicable only
en a few farms, as there was hardly a field, however dry in an
ordinary season, where the water was not constantly standing,
and i n ler such circumstances, failing the discovery of a remedial
feed or drug, it seems as if the poor sheep must take their
chai'ce, and a very bad chance it is.

As to food, I cannot do better than once more refer yon to
It. 'lessor Sitnonds' advice in the paragraph to which I have
previously alluded. He says that to meet the waste of the
tissues c used by Chid disease, a supply of f tod mu t be given
rich in fi sh-forming and heat-giving properties. The pasture
must be changed frequently, " manger food must be supplied,
and this should consist in part at least, of crushed corn, of
which the leguminous plants, beans, p»as, lentils, &c., are to be
preferred. Oals and maize are aho good, and to these, a
m (derate allowance of oilcake maybe added.' ' Continuous
folding on turnips should, if possible, r-e avoided," but where,
" owing to the character of the farm this has to be done, great
c*re must b • exercised in regulating the quan'ity of turnips
aciording to the condition of the cr »p,the state of the weather
&3,and uider such circumstances an allowHn"e of good hay,
i a addition to the other lood, will be imperatively required."
A lOther point on which we. may hope to hear some o those
present favour us with their opinions and experience is, whether
t lere is any particular plant, or class of herbage, which veems
soecially to encourage the rot. Mention is made to Professor
S iooner's book of a pls.nt called the " sheep rot weed," grow-
ing on soil where bog underlies a deep stratum of clay, and it
may be that this weed, from some property of retaining mois-
ture, is greatly resorted to by the expectant fluke ; but the
probability rather is, that the " eheep rot weed 'Tis the danger
flsg, indicating the spmgy water logged ground, such as
wou'd be the fluke's natural abode. 'Xon may expect to get
your feet wet where the grass o Parnassus grows, but it is the
bog beneath, and not the pretty white flower above, which
docs the mischief.

Once more let me quote the words of Pro'essor Simonds.
He says, ' We see that in some localities rot is always to he
niet with, while iu others it is ouly an occasional visitant. It
peraiots in wet and uudumeJ, <>r it may he in badly drained

land, independent of the state of the weather, bocirning a
course augmeoted in severity, and more rap'd ia its pro-
gress ia wet years, than in dry. The improvements which are
gradually, but far too slowly, being rrad= by con'p'ete under-
draining, will do more on many farms to prevent rot than tho
driest season does now to retard its progress, while on cf-rtain
farms it will exterminate the malady. In this respect under-
drainiug becows a national question, without reference to any
other point, and if the wealth of the country is to be main-
tained, and food p-eserved to the people, every facility must
be given to the effectual removal of all surface water from our
cold retentive soils. Water must be made to perco'ate these
soils, and yield the nutritive materials it holds in solu'ion to
the growing plants, lustead of beiug left as now to stagnate
on the surface — weakening vegetation, rotting sheep, and pro-
ducing rheumatism and ague among our fellow men." It seems
almost superfluous to say anything to practical farmers like
yourselves about the symptoms which accompany this dire
disorder. Most of you have probably witnessed the dull,
jaded, and heavy-eyed appearance presented by the poor sheep
when the rot has really got hold of them, and you have seen,
what I am told is an almost invariable feaiure in the case, the
large swelling or water jug under the jaw, and perhaps so ue of
you may be able to offer an explanation of the strange fact,
that in the earlier stages of the malady, the sheep seem to
thrive and fatten better than when in ordinary healthy coudi-
tion. So well known is this, that I believe it is not uncommon
for owners to send sheep they wish to fat off quick on to laud
notorious for its rotting powers, or in other words, some cele-
brated fluke-breeding ground. This practice, however, seems of
doubtful prudence, or indeed of morality, as it must almost
certainly end in enlarging more or less the area of fluke distri-
bution. And now, gentlemen, I must conc'ude, and it you have
been interested or amused, I am more than rewarded for the
slight trouble I have taken. The study of this subject, with
such means as were within my reach, has been a great interest
acd amusement to me. To those amongst you to whom the
life history of the fiuke may sound like a page of fiction, and
incredible from its complexity, I can only say that it has many
parallels in parasite life, and that so lar from being excep-
tionally complex, the fluke is rather simple and straightforward
in his proceedings ; the wonderful stages through which the
various sjrts ol tapeworms arrive at their de-tined end being
absolutely romantic in their ingenuity. Fancy romance in a
tapeworm I Once more I must repeat, the facts which I have
narrated I myself believe, and I have mentioned to you the
sources from which mv information is derived. I do not pre-
tend to know these things from personal observation and ex-
periment, and as I claim no merit as a d'scov^rer, neither am
I to be held responsible if (which however I do not believe) I
have unwittingly promulgated any false doctrine.

THE EXAMPLE OF CANADA.

The movement in the British Is'es for reform in the land
laws recalls the struggle wag»d in Lower Canada for the ex-
tinc ion of the. seigniorial tenure ; and our case might in many
important respects serve as an example and a preee ■lent tori
the Imperial Parliament. In the early days of New Prance,
the colony was male over to the Company of the Associates,
and by the contract between them and his Most Christian
Majesty the feudal system wmic'i then prevailed in the mother
land w is established with some modiftcatioas. Through all
the changes that took plic; in the government of the colony,
the feudal tenure remained intact ; and it was not autil 1S5*-,
after it had been in force for over two hundred \ears, thai it
was swept away by a cons'i'utional agitation conducted with
a w'sdora and moderation Mr. Parn.41 and iiis associates would
do well to imitate. The Custom of Paris to which the Cana-
dian tenure on'ormed, contained enactments almost equalling
in barbarity the penal laws that one ground the Irish peasan",
bat there was this mark»d difference in lavour of the seignio-
rial code — it was framed and a.i<ninis ereil by French Catholics
for French Catholics, and not by aliens for a conqnered raie.
The seignior was absolute lord and ma-ter over his nnno".
He. administered jiis'ice in i's three form*, hatii*, -MjjrWMW ei
basse; and, besides his rent, he could ex ct tithes ot the ftMi
the vassal caught in the creek, or of the game he killed iu fcha
forest. The vassal was compelled to do cjrvee or statute
labonr on the seignior's highway, and to go to the military

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

261

posts on tks uttermost froati -rs in case of war with the
hborigin 's( and he had no claim for liis services. In short,
he vras, to all iu'euts and purpjaes, the seignior's slave ; hut,
wi'.hal, the ays'era had its good points. The seignior let
many of the druits in his patent remain a dead-'et er, aud
strove to make the serf not an enemy bat any ally in a Iv mc-
iug t:ie interests of their common oouutry. Sjme of the
privileges granted him, although, at first sight they appear
outrageous, were in reality well intended; for example, the
droit de bandtle under which he alone could erect a grist mill
on the manor, and by which the peasants were compelled to
carry their gnst to nis mill and to pay him a stated toll for
the grinding, was rather a beneficent enactment, providing, as
it did, mills within easy reach of the poor tenant, who other-
wise would have been forced to trudge mauy a league to and
from the nearest village, and to submit to the extortions of a
monopolist. Tlie greit object of the French kings, of their
viceroys, and of the two companies, the Associates and the
West India Company, which possessed the land for some years,
was settlement and colouisatiou ; aud while the feudal system
would be accounted inhuman at this day, beyond doubt it
suited that age, aud the circumstances of the country.

In 1851 the Legislature adopted the two famous resolutions
of Lafontaiue, the fiist setting out the necessity lor abolishing
the feudal for a Iree tenure, aud the second declaring that that
could only be done ou the principle of iudemnilying those
whose legal rights were affected by the charge. A commission
composed of the ablest men in Lower Canada was appointed
to proceed with the indemnification, a tribunal comprising
Judges of the Court of Appeal aud ttie Superior Court having
first decided the poiuts of law relating to the righls of the
seignior and the censitaire. Ten million dollars — a vast sum
for a poor colony, as Canada was in tho e days — were applied
in extinguishing the seiguiorial title; aud this great problem
\»as solved without a drop of blood being shed, or a harsh
word passing between landlord aud tenant. It w is a splendid
victory for agitation, moderation, and arbitration ;, and
though the laud question in the Mother Country is much
more complex, statesmen there may read this page of our
history with infinite profit. — Ontario Mail,

SHORTHORN SHOW AND SALE, BIR-
MINGHAM.

The twelfth annual exhibition and sale of pure-bred
Shorthorn cattle in connection with the Birmingham
Agricultural Exhibition Society was held at Biogley Hall,
Birmingham, March 10 and 11. The entries numbered
411 against 383 in 1879, and the quality of the animals
exhibited was of the usual varied character. There were
a few really good Shorthorns, and a very creditable
proportion of fairly good and useful animals, likely to do
good service to farmers' herds, hut there was also a large
proportion of animals that did no credit to the Shorthorn
breed, aud whose only claim to merit was a high sounding
pedigree that at one time would have sold thetn at high
figures. The value now placed on the merit which such
pedgrees are supposed to confer is a very low one, aud
some of the most "aristocratic" of these fancy Short-
horns would have made the very lowest rates current at
a lair or market, simply because there was no excellence
that could be seen or felt, and few people can now be,
persuaded into the belief that so long as the breeding is
aecordiug to the creed of the fanciers the animal itself
may be either bad or indifferent to look at, or to handle,
wituout detracting materially from its value. It is the
acknowledged fallacy of this principle which has brought
the market price of pure-bred Shorthorus from four
ligures down to two. Bad as the times are, there is a
healthy demand for really good and useful pure-bred
Shorthorn bulls at fair commercial values; hut the men
who want such animals do not care about their being
" magnificently topped with fashionable Bates sires."
The Shorihorn mania is on its very last legs, and it
will collapse the sooner for ill-judged attempts to keep
up the delusion, suoh as that made at Binglcy Hall, to in-

duce the Press to withhold the prices of individual
animate except where they made long figures, and to
give ouly the averages of the several classes. Of
course the sale of a few high-priced animals will
raise these averages to a sum which does
not at all represeut the selling price of the great
majority of the animals. The reason assigned
for this proposal was that foreign buyers objected
to have their names and the prices of their purchises put
in print before their customers. These middle-men, it
appears, find their profits reduced thereby. That
may be unforluuate for them, but it would be more uu-
fortuuate for the public if the representatives of the Pres9
were to consent to the ignominious proposal to suppress
facts for the purpose of serving any object other than the
public good. This Show and Sale is a very
useful institution ; it increases in importance, and it
meets a want. It has stood ou its merits and must still
stand on its merits, or fall. A Society which
has prosecuted a man for entering a bull in its exhibition
and sale with a false pedigree, and earned the thaaks of
the Shorthorn Society (accompanied by £500) for so
doing, should be the last to withhold the fullest informa-
tion,and to place au incomplete record of its own trans-
act oris before the public.

Class 1 for cows and heifers exceeding three years old
consisted of 33 entries. It did not contaiu anything of
more than ordinary merit, aud most of the animals would
be called " crocks " if they were seen in a fair or iu tha
herd of anybody but a faucier. There was not a good
udder amongst the whole lot. Mr. S. Lewis Norton took
first and second prizes with Little Duchess 3rd and Little
Duchess 4th (twins), a pair of cows which have won once
or twice at the Shropshire and West Midland shows.
They are both of them of good quality and of good charac-
ter, though small ; the first has one quarter of her udder
gone. Mr. Wakefield's Britijh Quean which holds the
reserve number, has well-placed teat3, but a small bag.
A Charmer cow exhibited by Mr. J. Roberts, of Lower
Clapton, had very little merit, and a Kuightley from the
same herd had less. Lord L~igh showed a useful cow,
with wide and deep quarters, long and level. Mr. Croud-
son's Olga 2ud is a flat- ribbed cow, unpleasant to the
hand, but she has done more lo show for her keep than,
some of the rest of them. She is by Grand Duke of
Cambridge(2t3285), but does not inherit much ''grandeur."
Olga's Ktrklevington, by 6th Duke of Kirklevington.
(30982), is another flat-sided narrow-chined cow, ex-
hibited by the same breeder. Mr. G. JouesJs Conceit is a
big Yorkshire-looking cow, but her udder spoils her. Mr.
Roberts's Ruby Lips 3rd is another of the bad udder lot,
and has a steerv head ; but she has a mellow hide and a-
good coat, aud took a commendation from the judges.
The Rev. Bruce Kennard's GaLtea is rather leggy, but
otherwise, like all the Marnhull stock, very pleas-
ing to look upon ; she evidently has never had a calf,,
and does not look as if she ever would. Mr.
Roberts's Royal Charmer 5ih by Archduke Ganeva
(30396), made 50 guineas at the sale to some one who
mast have thought more of her pedigree than of her
personal merits. Class 2, for the best heifer exceeding
two aud not exceeding three years old contained 8 entries*
Mr. Betteridga's Pure Gem, the winner of the first prize
was of a light roan colour, straight* and of nice character*
but flat-ribbed, and hollow behind the shoulder. The
Shorthorn3 at Bingley Hall certainly showed that charac-
teristic defect to a degree which does not indicate that
breeders are improving their animals in that respect.
Th?y get worse and worse ; aud no wonder when it is
said by fanciers that it does n>>t master, so long as the
blood is right. The second prize fell to Mr. Ruberts's
Grace Barrington, a level, useful heifer* but uot to lit

262

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

mentioned beside Mr. J. J. Sharp's Gaddesby Duchess,
a good heifer with excellent hair and hide, pleasant to the
touch and pleasing to the eye— all over a good Shsrthorn.
The best heiter of the lot, to our mind, was Mr. Brier-
ley's Miss Bright, a long, level heifer of fine quality
and good character, haodliug to perfection. Class 3, for
heifers over one and not over two years, contaiued 13
entries. The first prize winner, Lady Oliver, bred and
exhibited by Mr. Briscoe, is a level and promising Short-
horn ; her nose is a little stained. A better heifer to our
mind was his Princess Mary, and she fetched 50 guineas
at the sale, 5 guineas more than the other. The Rev.
Bru;e Kennard's Lady Marnhull 10th is a good heifer,
very good along the top, good hair and hide, and of the
best style and character. She was only highly com-
mended by the judges, but realised 54 guineas in the
sale ring. Mr. George Fox's Mos3 Rose is a very useful
heifer and a fairly good Shorthorn. Class 4, for heifer
calves, numbered 9, and the wiuner was Messrs. Horseley
and Sons' Lady Bates 19th, a very small aud fiuely-bred,
neat and pretty heifer, about half the size and apparent
usefulness of Mr. J. J. Sharp's Joan, which is only one
month older. There was not a very good class, but some
of the animals were useful. The Shorthorn females were
nothing to boast of, and as a whole, were of a sort
one would rather sell than buy.

The classes for bulls were well filled, and amongst them
were some really good Shorthorns ; but there were a great
many with serious defects, and a still larger number
with no merit at all. A considerable number of them
were purchased by butchers to kill, and there was one not
good enough even to make sausages. It is s-trange that
breeders will expose such animals to public view. But
they do. Chss 5 (to follow the catalogue), for bulls above
20 and not exceeding 30 months old, numbered 32 entries.
The first prize fell to Mr. A. Game for The Beau, a bull
built on a very good scale, and very level, and of a light
roan colour ; but he is rather too high on hi3 legs, and
too shelly to come up to our notions. Nevertheless he
may furnish and come out useful. The second prize fell
to Mr. Mcintosh for Duke of Carolina 4th, a rather plain
bull, and coarse in bone, though possessing some good
points ; not one of the front rank, or anywhere near it, yet
he made 77 guineas. A Kirklevington bull, Duke of Kirk-
levington 3rd (41400), was dear enoogh at 44 guineas.
Mr. A. Game's Marlborougn Squire (41976), a bull with
his merits all on paper, where they tell up to a large total,
only made 25 guineas, which was quite enough for him.
Sir George Jenkiuson's Emperor took the reserve uumber,
and sold for 51 guineas; but a far better stamp of bull
was Sir John Smyth's Lord Somerset by Duke of
Counaught (33.061) which made the same price. This
bull is a Shoithorn of the first water, full of quality and
of the best possible character, together with fine masculine
appearance, but his girth behind the shoulders is small, so
much so as to spoil him entirely. It is monstrous to
see nineteen out of every twenty Shorthorns bad tlnre.
Blushiug Duke 3rd, a bull bred and exhibited by the Rev.
Hult Beaver is very bad in that respect aud in some
others. There was nothing in the class to compare with
Lord Somerset (40244) iu style or quality, and yet he
had the Shorthorn complaint badly. The class for bulls
exceeding 30 months old contained 18 entries, and
was a poor one. Mr. Ackers' Crowned Victor, a well-
known animal, easily secured the first honours, and sold
for 125 guineas. Duke of Charming Land 8:b (4i367)
bred by Mr. H. J. Sheldon, bad over the chine and
nothing through the heart, with a very fashionable
pedigree, made 23 guineas ; but whether purchased by a
butcher or not we cannot say. Kirklevington Duke
(40070), bred and exhibited by 'Mr. D. A. Green, had a
good head, a mellow hide, and an unexceptionable pedigree ;

hut no other visible merit. Lord Tredegar's Prince
Charlie, the winner of the second prize, was rather short,
but otherwise not a bad one. Class 7> lor bulls exceeding
15 aod not exceeding 20 months old was a very middliug
one, containing 76 entries. The winner of the first prize
and the Champion prize as the best buil in the show was
Mr. J. J. Sharpe's Chancellor, a good useful type of
Shorthorn, with plenty of hair and a good bull's hide, but
of rather plain character. He aid not make his claim to
the distinction very apparent, aud this was not the only
case in which the judging was incomprehensible to out-
siders. The pedigrees iu this class are quite appalling ; and
so are the prices realised for the animals, as will be seen by
referring to the appended sale list. Mr. H- Allsopp's Rem-
nant, the winner of the 4th prize and 60 guineas uuder the
hammer — or rather the glass — looks like making a better
bull than any of those placed before him. Another level
and very useful bull from the Hindlip herd, Eirl of Arvon
(41470), was not noticed by the judges, but made 90
guineas iu the ring. Mr. Taylor's Lord Geneva Blanche,
and Mr. G. Game's Prince of Marlboro, have both very
long pedegrees of the orihodox character, and very little
merit to show for them ; the latter sold for 30 guineas,
whereas the '' own brother " to the sire of his dam cost
2,000 guineas. Ruby's Graud Duke, got by Grand Duke
29th (38372) which cost 1.000 guineas, sold at 30 guineas.
Clarence, by Earl of Geneva 2ud (38224), a bull whose
pedigree traces right dowD to Hubback (that famous lane-
side wonder), sold for 24 guineas. Duke of Bedford 4th
traces to Sockburn Sail, and fetched 29 guiueas. Beau
of Oxford, 21 guineas. Gwyane Boy, bred and
exhibited by Mr. D. A. Green, has a very "attrac-
tive " pedigree, which traces to Favourite, Hub-
back, Snowdon's bull, Waistell's bull, Masterman's bull,
and the Studley bull, realised 83 guineas, although a very
poor Shorthorn to look at. The list will show how the
rest sold. Class 8, for the best bull exceeding 10 and not
exceeding 20 months old, brought out 14 entries for the
£50 first prize. The winner here was Mr. J.J. Sharpe's
Oxford Rose, a bull good all over, and very handsome,
h:s quality being of the very best. He was to our mind
a long way before the wiuner of the champion prize in the
previous class, and the best bull in the yard. Buyers
seemed to think so too, for he made the highest price of
any animal in the sale, uamely, 18-3 guineas. The second
prize fell to Caractacus, bred and exhibited by Mr. Mytton,
not a very taking bull, and the third prize to Mr. Att-
water's Venison, which sold for more money. Bur a better
bull than either of these two was Mr. H. J. Sheldou's
Earl of Fawsley 8th. and he made 100 guineas. Class 9,
for bulls exceeding 12 aud not exceeding 15 months old,
numbered 111 entries. Mr. Arkeil's Fuzwilliam was
placed first, aud he is not a bad bull, but he has the
Shorthorn complaint rather badly. There were a few
useful bulls iu this chss. The bull calves, exceeding 8
and uot exceeding 12 months old, were a long string of
127. Some of these are very promising, and the class
was about the best iu the show. Certainly the most
creditable lot of young bulls in the show were those bred
aud exhibited by Mr. Pilgrim, of Hiuckley, to which the
extra prize of £10 was very justly awarded. Tbey were
the most useful type of Shorthorn in all the show, and no
better farmers' Shorthorns could well be found. They
look like bn'lock breeders.

Messrs. Webb md Sons, of Stourbridge, had a stand
of roots, sieds, &c, and the only other exhibitors of
this class were Messrs. Day, Son, aud Hewitt, and
Messrs. T. Bowiek aud Co.)

Tut following is a list of the awards of the judges (Mr.
Stiles Rich ; Mr. John Lyun, Ltroxton, Grantham; Mr.
R. Stratton, The Duffryu, Newport ; and Mr. R. Woods,
Clipstone, Mansfield) : —

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

2(33

Cow* or Heifer*, above three years old. — 1 and 2, S. L,
Horton, Park House, Shifnal, (Little Duchess 3rd, Little
Duchess 4th).

Heifers, between two and three years old. — 1, H. Bettridge,
East Hanney, Wantage (Pure Gem) ; 2, J. Roberts (Grace
Barrington).

Heifers, between one and two years old. — Priz.e, Mr. J.
Briscoe, Hill Croome, Worcester (Lady Oliver).

Heifer Calves, between t.i and twelve months old. — Prize,
Horseley and Sod, Colton Manor House, Rugeley (Lady
Bates 19th).

Bulls, between twenty and thirty months old. — 1, A. Game,
Churchill Heath, Chipping Norton (The Beau) ; 2, D.
Mcintosh, Havering Park, Romford (Duke of Carolina
4th).

Bulls above thirty months old. — 1, B. St. John Ackers,
Prinknash Park, Painswick (Crowned Victor) ; 2, Lord
Tredegar, Tredegar Park, Newport (Prince Charlie).

Bulls, between fifteen and twenty mouths old. — 1, and extra
prize as best Bell in Classes 7, 8, 9, or 10, J. J. Sharp,
Broughton, Kettering (Chancellor) ; 2, W Arkell, Jan.,
Hatherop, Fairi'ord (Umpire); 3, Sir G. R. Philips, Bart ,
Weston House, Shipston-upon-Stour (Jupiter); 4, H.
Allsopp, M.P., Hindlip Hall, Worcester (The Remnant).

Bulls, between ten and twenty months old. — 1, J. J. Sliarp
(Oxford Rise) ; 2, D H. Mytton, Garth Hall, near Welsh-
pool (Caractacm) ; 3, J. G. Attwater (Veuison).

Bulls, between twelve and fifteen months old. — 1, W. Arkell,
jun. (Fitzwilliam 2nd) ; 2, J. Garnp, Rissington, Burford,
(Emperor) ; 3, Earl Spencer, K G , Althorp Park (Duke of
Venice 3rd) ; 4, Colonel Kingscote, C.B., M.P., Kingscote,
Wotton-under-Edge (Lord Sandgruve 7'h).

Bull Calves, between eight and twelve mouths old. — 1, S. L.
Horton (Sir Bevis) ; 2, Col. R. Loyd Lindsay, C.B., M.P.,
Lockinge Park, Wantage (The Cid) ; 3, J. J. Sharp (M r-
roaduke 3rd) ; 4, S. C. Pilgrim, The Outwood, Hinckley
(Promotion).

The extra prize for the best lot of not less than five Young
Bulls, in Classes 7, 8, 9 or 10, bred by and the property of
the exhibitor — the prize-wiuuing bulls iu the several clas es
being excluded — was awarded to C. S. Pilgrim, for five bulls,
Patriotic, Proctor, Peregrine, Pilgrim's Progress, and
Piscator.

THE SALE.

The following is a list of prices in guineas :

Cows or heifers, exceeding; three years old.

1. — J. Roberts' Roya! Charmer 4th, calved Mar., 1.

2. — J. Robert*' Ruby Lips— Mr. Sliarp, 35.

3. — Lord Leigh's Miss Worsey — 25.

4.— J. Croudson's Olga 2od— 22.

6. — J. Roberts' Seven Knightley ") Lord Moreton,

6.— J. Rober's' Cow Calf > 34 the pair.

7, — G. Jones' Conceit — Mr. Wiggin — 27.

8.— W. Wakefield's British Q.ieen— 27.

9.— J. Croudson's Olga's Kirklevington 2nd — 23.
10.— R, Walrasley's Claret Jelly— 25.
11. — R. Walmsley's Butttrmaid — 25.
12.— J. Taber's Peach Bud— 34.
13.— J. Roberts' Ruby Lips 3rd— 50.
14.— R. Walmsley's Cherry Ripe - 25.
16— J. Roberts' Oxford Sweetheart— Mr. Sharp, 37.
17. — Rev. R. Kennard's Lady Marnhull — 26.
18. — R. Kennard's Galatea — Mr. Cridland, 35.
19 _W. Wakefield's Virtue— 21.
20.— J. Roberts' Ruby Lips 4th— Mr. Sharp, 37.
21.— J. Roberts' Princess Oxford— 28.
23.— J. RoberU' Royal Charmer 5th— 40.
2+.— J. Roberts' Cow Calf— 20.
25. — Walmsley's Maid of Manor 2nd— Wiggin, 33.
26.— Lord Leigh's Alice 2nd— Mr. Ackers, 30.
27. — S. Horton's Little Duchess 3rd— Larkworthy, 61.
28.— S. Horton's Cow Call— 11.
29.— S. Horton's Little Duchess 4th and ralf— 4&\
31. — G. Jones's Lady Beaumont — 21.
32.— W. Wakefield's Vintage— 30.
33— W. Wakefield's Vine Leaf— 3>.

Heifers excee"ing two and not exceeding three years old.
34. — J. Sharp's Fragrance— 33.
35.— J. Sharp's Gaddciky Duchess— 33,

36.— J. Roberts' Princess Barriogton — 31.

38. — J. Roberts' Grace B irrington — 44.

39.— C. Brierley's M:ss Bright— 50.

40.— VV. Wakefield', Vmery— 35.

41. — H. Betiridtte.'s Pure Gena — 45.
Heifers exceeding one and not exceeding two years old.

42.— W. Wakefield's May Rose- 22.

43. — J. Briscoe's Nelly — 32.

44.— G. Fox's Julietta— 36.

45. — J. Briscoe's Pincess Mary — Cumberland, 50.

46. — J. B'iseoe's Lidy Oliver — 45.

47.— H. White's Adrastia— Attwater, 30.

48.— G. Fox's Moss Rose— 36.

49.— J. Roberts' Roan Ruby— 28.

63. — C. Brierley's Warwickshire Flower — 21.

51. — C. Brierley's Lady ot Venice — 31.

52. — J. Roberts' Ruby Sweellips— 36.

53.— J. Roberts' Lidy Furbelow— 38.

54. — R. Kennard's Lady Marnhull 10th— 54.
Heifer Calves exceeding six and not exceeding twelve raontli9
old.

55. — A. Robothara's Countess 5th — 42.

56. — J. Roberts' Clopton Sneeiheart — Hutchins, 31.

67. — J. Sharp's Joan — 30.

58. — Horsley and Son's Lady Bates 19th — 61.

69. — G. Fox's Airdrie's Australia 1st — 22.

60.— J. Roberts' Ruby Charmer— 35.

61. — A. Robotham's Countess 6th — 21.

62.— A. Robotham's Butterfly— 21.

63.— A. Robotham's Eleanor 3rd — 20.

Exceeding 20 and not exceeding 30 mouths old.

64. — E, Fawcett's Memorial — 25.

65.— C. Bayes' Wizard— 27.

66.— Rev. W, Beever's Blushing Duke 3rd— 48.

67. — Sir J. Smyth's Lord Somerset 2nd — 51.

68. — Sir G. Jenkinson's Emperor 8th — 51.

69.— T. Bland's Btron Sartoris— Mr. Henderson, 27.

70.— J. Casswell's Kildare— 39.

71. — A. Game's Marlborough Squire — 25.

72.— J. Waiter's Julius— 35.

73.— N. Stilgoe's Lord Havering— 23.

74.— Rev. H. Beckwith's Chamouny — 20.

75.— M'lntoch's Duke ol Carolina 4th— Mr. Smith 77.

76.— A. Darby's Sun Flower— 40.

77.— H. ohttldon's Duke of Cleveland 2nd-Russe.il, 67.

78.— T. Nash's Duke of Kirklevington 3rd— 41.

79. — C. Hohb's Freemason — 28.

80.— E. Fawcett's Keepsake— 20.

81.— Major Charley's Cleopatra's Duke of Gloster— 23.

82. — C. Brierley's Warwickshire Champion — 30.

83.— J. Mumford's M.C.— 30.

81. — R. Wood's Lord Kestevon — 31.

85. — T. Bland's Sir James Dickens — 21.

87.— D. Green's Frank— 51.

88.— A. Game's The Beau— 38.

89.— W. Edmond's 3.-d Young Swell— 29.

90.— W. Edmond's 4th Maser Swell— 25.

91. — Sir G. Philip's Lord Leicester Surmise — 70.

92.— E. Pease's Park Fawsley Lad— 37.

94.— C. Maeniac's D.ikeol Bedford— 21.

95.— Mrs. Mace's Lord Beacousfield— 27.

Bulls, exceeding 30 months old.

96.— C. Bayes' Claro's Rose— 21.

97.— C. Brierley's Oxford Duke 10th— 42.

98. — Ackers' Crowned Victor — Tredegar, 125.

99. — Sir G. Jenkinsou's Grandee — 44.
100.— E. Fawcett's St. Alban's— Mr. Sliarp, 26.
101.— T. Cadmai.'s Duke of Sandale 2nd— 33.
102.— E. Fawcett's Albion Butterfly— 26.
103.— Mr*. L. Knowles'Park Emperor— 32.
104. — K Fawcett's M>uter Butteifly — 27.
105.— J. Tickle's Pergolesi— 30.
106.— Miss M. Booth's Ser*pis— 32.
107. — Lord Tredegar's Prince. Charlie — 5.2.
108. — A. Gruggen's Duke of Charminslaud 8th — 23.
109. — M. Savidge's Grand Junction — 32.
110.— D. Greeu's Kirklevington Duke— 32.
111. — Hon. Baron Carbery's Honeycomb — 23.
112. — T. Hopkin's Duke of St. John's 2nd— 40
113.— E. Fawcett's Facility— 23.

264

Bulk exceeding 15 and not exceeding 20 months old.
115.— W. Faulkner's Figaro— 41.
1 17 —Sharp's Chancellor— 99.
118.— C. Magniac's Duke of Bedford 3rd— 25.
119.— T. Bland's Earl of Dudley— 26.
120.— S.r G. Philips, Bart's Ro»y's Grar.d Duke— 24.
121.— G. Game's Prince of Geneva 18th — 44.
122. — W. Hawkes's Vulcin — 31.

123. T. BUn-i's Earl of Browubw — 35.

126.— T. Peer's Liglitfoot— 25.

127.— J. Chaffey, Regal Niblett— Mr. Turner, 34.

128.— Greene's Gwynne Boy— G. Jenkinson, 83.

129.— G. Game's Prince Geneva 19th— Walkley, 33.

130.— R. Kennard's 8th Marquis of Blandford— 22.

131.— B. Allen's Brecon— 21.

132,— J. Casswell's Gerald— Mr. Johnson, 32.

133.— Col. Loyd-Lindsay's Rockingham— il.

134-.- Morris's Standard Bearer— Mr. Haukins, 52.

135 — T. Walker's Sentinel— 22.

137.— T. Walker's 3rd Bean ot Oxford— 21.

138. -Korsley and Sot's Noble— 21.

139.— C. Magniac's Duke ol Bedford 4:h— 29.

140. — J. Caswell's Orange Prime— 6L

14.1. — Sir G. Philip's Ruby's Grand Duke- 30.

142.— J. Caswell's Clarence — Duke, of Sutherland, 36.

I4.3 — E. Pease's Park Britanuica Lad— 31.

144.— C. Hobbs'a Red Knight— 40.

145.— Re*. H. Beckwith's Oliver— Mr. Haynes, 42.

147.—T. Peer's Aurelian— Mr. Edmonds, 21.

148.— W. Arkell, juu.'s Umpire— Russell, 07.

149 _ C. Bayes's Conqueror— 31.

152.— Sir G. Puilips's Jupiter— 51.

153.— D. Mytton's Tac.tus— 40.

154. — J. Croudson's Barrington Blanche.

155. — 11. Allsopp'sThe Remnant— 60.

156.— R. ilobbs's Tenor— 32.

158. — R. Oliver's Valorous— 35.

159.— E. Pease's Park Ruby Lad 4th— 40.

160 — G. llewer's Conqueror — Mr. Smith, 32.

162.— G. Game's Captain Pirn— 27.

163. -G. Game's Marlborough Kuight— 40.

104.— D. Mcintosh's Baron Bavering 20th— 55.

105.— H. Allsopp's Earl of Avon— 90.

166. —Colonel Webb's Lord Edgcott 2nd— 32.

168.— C. Sievens' Organist— Mr. Billings, 38.

169.— J. and E. Denchfield's Guy— Mr. Fowler, 26.

170.— T. Bland's Sir B-njamin Brudie— 29.

171 _W. Game's Duke of Warwick 2ad— Herbert, 27.

172. — G. Hewer's Prince of the Pinks 2nd — Carriugton, 45.

174.— S.' Bliss' Prince Charming— 21.

175.— W. Game's Young Emperor— Mr. Bell, 26.

177.— Lady de Rothschild's Yuuug Elxir— 43.

178 — G. Game's Prince of Marlborough— 30.

179,—G. Hewer's M jor-General— 41.

180.— D. Green's Wild Lad— Mr. Matthews, 21.

182. — Earl Beauchamp's Ravensworth — 2rt.

183.— J. Casswell's Oberry Prince— Mr. Marks, 50.

184.— Attwater's Golden Cherry— Russell, 51.

185.— R. Game's Monogram — Mr. Alcock, 39.

186.— J. Briscoe's Duke of Bedford— Batchelor, 44.

187.— A*. Darby's White Buck— 28.

139.— G. Hewer's Prince Rupert— 34.

Bulls exceeding Ten and not exceeding Twenty mouths.
190.— W. Hawkes' Freeholder— 48.
191.— J. Thompson's Lord Darlington lbth— 75.
192.— J. Sharp's Oxford Rose— Mr. Wood, 185.
Iy3.-H. Sheldon's Earl of Fawsley 8th— 100.
195. — D. Mytton's Caractacus - 56.
196. — J. Att water's Veuison — 67.
200.— HorUev aud Sou's Z alu— Mr. Godwin, 38.
201.— R. O'liver's Cherry Gd. Duke. 9th— Graham, 70.
2,)2. — A. Longman's Ld. Shendi-h Fawsley 2nd— 47.
203.— H. tie Titer's Blushing Joe— Mr. Lee, 21.

Bulls exceeding twelve and not exceeding fifteen months.
205.— T. Bland's General Frolic— 21.
206.— T, Hand's Baron Canley— 31.
207. — W. Nevett's Cherry Prince 3rd— 2 L
2u3.— A. Longman's Bn. Shendish 5th— 25.
209.— Col. Kingscote's Ld. Sandgrovt lib. — 68.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

210.— W. White'* Lord Marmion— 21.

211.— W. Nerettfs D. of Towneley— 33.

212. — A. Hurt's L ncastrian— 29.

213.— T. Bland', Major P,ulrtt— 33.

214— II. Ail>oup's Vi. Wild Eves 2nd— 36.

215. — N. Dyer's Bieuou Butterfiv — 44.

216 — W. E:mond'= 6th Young S*e)l— 38.

217-— L. Lentin's Oxford Gonerii — Mr. Horsley, 31.

218— J. Rolls' Monmouth— 60.

219. — H. Sheldon's Ld. Rothesay Sweetheart 2nd— 31.

220.— G. Hewer's Colonel Crispin— 34.

221.— Mrs. Mace's Thorndale Duke— 32.

222.— M. Savidge's Master Wheedle— 21.

223. — Mrs. Severne's Forester — 51.

224.— S. Addison's Lord Ellenhall— 40.

225. — J. Linton's Buckdeu Waterloo — 26.

226 — W. Arkell, jun.'s Fitzwiiliam 2nd— 58.

227.— Col. Kingscote's D. of Haz.ecote lOtli— 45.

228. — Sheldon's D. of Charmingland loth — 50.

229.— W. White's Merry Christmas— 33.

230.— J. Ua'dman's Dake Ruby— 35.

231. — Earl Beaucharap's Dorrin^ton — 41.

232.— W. Nevett's Duke of Cambridge— 21.

233.— H. Bettri.ge'sRoao Rock— 41.

234.— G. Game's Prince of Marlboro' 2nd— 41.

235. — E. LylhaU's Valiant Duke — 35.

236. — G. Hewer's Colonel North — 22.

237. — H. Langham's Marquis 3rd — 41.

238. — Sir G. Tenkinson's Waterman 3rd — 34.

239. — Sir G. Jenkioson's RiyalistSth — 34.

240.— Mrs. Mace's Baron York— 23.

241.— T. Morris's Stockwell 7<h— 30.

243. — J. Gurcu's Emperor — 72-

244.— J. Adkiu's Dick Milcote— 27.

2 45. —Col. R. Loyd-Linsay's D. of Bordeaux— 30.

247.— T. Pears's Alerope— 23.

243.— Co!. R. Loyd-Linsay'a Don Frederick— 22.

249.— T. Nash's Emperor— 38.

250 — J. Sharp', Lord Cambridge— 39.

251 — G. Taylor's Farnley Prince — 55.

252 — Horsley and Son's Afghan — 25.

253. — Mrs. Mace's General Grant — 22.

254. — J. Sharp's Buccleuch — 39.

255. — T. Hopkins's Lindley — 23.

256. — J. S'rattou's Alliance — 23.

257.— Mr. Wakefield's Prince Victor— 27.

258. — R. Loder's Lord Tregunter — 22.

259. — Sir G. Piiilip's Jingo — 26.

2oO. — H Tsley and Sou's Snowball — ~C>.

261. — M. Savidge's Sarsden Clipper — 23.

262. — Col. Loy'i-Lindsay's Baron Kuigmley — 35.

2 68.— G. Hewer's Enterprise — 28.

26V. — Col. Kmuscote's Dohe ol ll«zlee»te 7th — 46.

265. — D. Mytton's Prince of Pow\s — 27.

26 1. — J. Altwater's Commissioner — 28.

267. — C. Durham's Girnet — 26.

263. — R. Game's Prince Valentine — 30.

269.— C. Ilobbs's Clarence— 91.

270.— S. Horton's Cherry Prince 6th- 30.

271. — Col. Kingscote's Lord Lincoln — 36.

2/2.— II. Bettndge's Lord R-dliglu— 29.

273. — T. Harris's Paxton — 45.

274. — E. Bj*ly's Lord Acornbe — J. Thornton, 45.

275. — Horsley and Son's Premier — 24.

276.— R. Oliver's Lord Daere— 26.

277- — Eail Beauchamp's Clarence — 66.

279. — W. Edmonds' liomeleaije. Lad — 21.

230.— Col. Webb's Duke of EHord 4th— 36.

2S1. — E. Freeman's Sir Natty — 23.

283.— W. Edmonds' Earl of Southrop— 26.

284.— a. Loyd-Lindsay's Rubicon— 29.

285.— T. Hopkin's Benedict— 21.

286.— G. Fux's Mazurka Lad— 26.

287.— K. K-nuaru's Miruliull Duke 2nd— 30.

288. — Lord Moreton's Virginius— 22.

239.— J. Pulley's Claro 10th— 26.

280.— ti. Ahsopp's Count Waterloo — 41.

291.— T. Bland's Blondin— 27.

292.— T. Bland's Duke of Thorndale B— 22..

293. — E. Freeman's Border Chief — 24..

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

205

224..- M. Sividge's Young Blithesome— 21.

295. — S. Addison's Darlington York — 35.

296.— J. Crouisou's Culone] Gunter— 3t.

297.^W. Lauibe's Dakeof Richmond— 41.

298.— T. Hopkins' Rossini— 21.

2!J9.— Col. Kingscnte's Lord Suspicion 6th— 29.

300.— J. Wilkes's SUtesman— 25.

301.— A. C. Duncomhe's Pearl Diver— 21.

304.— C. Hobbs' Wellesley— 25.

305. — Earl Beauclismp's Welford — 45.

307. — Sir G. Jenkinson's E uperor 10th — 21.

308.— C. Steven's Choir Boy— 27.

311. — Earl Spencer's Dike of Venice 3rd— 50.

812.— H. Allsopn's Heir of Thorndale— 28.

314. —Mrs. Mace's General Roberts — 26.

Bull Calves exceeding Eight and not exceeding Twelve
months.
315.— W. Faulkner's Rodney— 35.
316. — Sir G. Jenkinson's Emperor 11th — 22
317.— Mrs. Mace's Sir Roger— 22.
320. — W. Brown's Verbose— J. Thornton, 46.
221.— W. Faulkner's Ravleigh— Mr. Home, 23.
322.— H. Sheldon's Duke Furbelow 2nd— 23.
323.— A. Game's Duke of Teck— 21.
324.,— W. Arkell, j-in.'s Merry Monarch 2nd— 24.
325.— D. Mytton's Sir Charlton— 27.
826.— T. Nash's Young Lancaser— 24.
327. -H. Sheldon's Lord Tregunter Rosy— 21.
328.- J. Stratton's Ganymede— 35.
329.— D. Arkell's Statesman— 30.
332.— D. Arkell's Baron Lechlade— 23.
333.— W. Arkell, jun.'s Julius 22.
334.— S. C. Pilgrim's Paruell— 25.
335.— J. Wo >d's R .yalU— 21.
338.— S. C. Pilgrim's Patriotic— 38.
341— W. J. Edmond's 2nd Earl ot Southrop— 25.
342.— W. Lambe's Grandee— 30.
343. — J. C. Croorae's Viscount Cherry — 21.
344.— J. Pulley's Claro 9th- 22.
345.— J. Wood's Rifleman— 22.
349.— J. Wood's Vanguard 2nd— 21.
347— Rev. W. H. Beever's Blushing Duke 5th.
350.— S. C. Pilgrim's Proctor— 31.
354.— H. Holborow's L'onel— 27.
356. — S. C. Pilgrim's Peregrine— 4*.
357.-Sir J. H. G. Smvth's Musical Boy 34.
358.— Earl Spencer's Earl of Beaconsfield 3rd— 27,
359.— J. Harbage's Lord UfBugtou— 21.
360.— E. L\thali's Virgil— 21.
362.— D. Arkell's Baron Lechlade 2nd— 22.
365. — S. C. Pilgrim's Promotion — 50.
367.— Mrs. Mace's Rafus— 21.
369.— D. H. Mytton's Lord Cobham— 28.
371.— S. C. Pilgrim's Pilgrim's Progress— 38.
872.— J. J. Sharp's Darlington Rose— 27.
375.— R. Loder's Baron Fawsley— 24.
377.— S. C. Pilgrim's Piacat »r— 32.
378.— J. II. Casswell's Kildare Duke— 22.
384.— R. E. Oliver's Grand Duke of Waterloo 3rd— 71.
388.— T. Briggs' Mayduke— Tucker, 43.
389.— W. Lambe's Favonius— 25.
390.— E. Bowlv s Lord Holker— 31.
397.— J. Owen's Baron Sirawberrj— 24.
398.— W. Game's Duke of Warwick 3rd— 22.
403.— S. Bliss' 3rd Duke of Arborfield— 21.
409.— Lord Moreton's Chiefiaiu — 21.
410.— Lord Braybrooke's Haydou Duke 10th — Sharpe, 60.
414.— J. Sharp's Marmaduke 3rd— 40.
416.— E. Lythall's Premium— 21.
4-19. — Earl Beauchamp's Matchwork — 21,
420.— T. Walker's Nimrod 3rd— 21-
429.— S. Horton's Sir Bevis— 71.
438.— R. Loyd-Lindsay's The Cid—37.

[This list is not quite complete.]

A LOSS OF ART.— Raphael died without knowing the
lapture it is to catch the expression on the face of a man who
chases a street car tiiree blocks, and then, just before he makes
the jump L-r the step, pulls up suddenly and goes back to the
side-walk, trying to look as though he hadn't just discovered
that he hadn't a solitary, lingering red cent about his clothes.

FARMING IN IOWA.

The following latter on "Farming in Iowa," from Mr.
A. Pcddie, of Emmetsburg, Palo Alte Co , Iowa, United
States of America, has appeared in the Scotsman. Mr.
Peddie has been nearly eight years iu Iowa : —

I have been much interested in reading the recen*
articles on " Emigration" and " Farming " in Canada,
Mauitoba, and New Zealand, published in the Weekly
Scotsman, and especially the one on " Farming in Iowa,"
by Mr. R. G. M. Grahame, of Le Mars, Iowa. Le
Mars is about 85 miles scuth-wc3t of this town, and the
country round it is very similar to this. Mr. Grahame'a
letter is good, and I hope will cause many to think about
North-West Iowa as a home for the emigrant. Io«a is
not now one of the new States, but has all the advan-
tages that can be gained in the East. It has no State
debt, and in point of prosperity stands second in hogs,
third in cattle, second in corn, and fourth in wheat of all
the States in the Union.

In the first place, the climate of North-West Iowa is
better adapted to Scotchmen than any of the other States
in which I have travelled, being about the 42nd parallel,
nearly the centre of the American continent, with the
happy medium of being neither too hot nor too cold.
There are no malarial diseases ; its dry bracing atmos-
phere has been the means of restoring rnauy to health
and strength ; and many who have been supposed hope-
lessly consumptive have entirely recovered. The sum-
mers are warm, but have always a refreshing breeze, and
the nights are cool. During the hottest weather men can
work out of doors. The winters are cold, clear, and
bracing. Iowa has less waste land than any in the
Union, and, according to the report of the State
geologist, " ninety .five per cent, of the surface of Iowa
is tillable land." The soil is a rich alluvial loam from
two to four feet deep, exhaustless in its fertility, and easy
to work.

The crops grown here are wheat, oats, barley rye
corn, llax, and potatoes. ' '

Wheat yields from 15 to 30 bushels per acre.
Oats yields from 45 to 80 bushels per acre.
Corn yields from 35 to 75 bushels per acre".
Flax yields from 12 to 20 bushels per acre.

There being no stones or stumps, ploughing is very
easy. Hay is cut and stacked by the farmer at a cost of
60 cents per ton. Stock raising is the leading industry,
herds of cattle feed on the prairies from May till the'
end of October, the only expense being a " bov" to herd
them.

_ The grass is what is called " blue joint," very nutri-
tious, yielding from 1£ to 4 tons of hay per acre. The
following statement is what a farmer can do with a capital
of £1,000— that is, 5,000 dollars. This calculation is
made up at the same rate3 as I can hire the work done in
this and other counties, giving fair wages to those that
do the work, and providing the teams and machinery. If
the farmer does his own work, or by the help of men
hired by the month or season, it can be done at less ex-
pense. Again, it does not include stock, simply the farm
account. Should he buy cattle and feed them on the
products of his land, his profits will be still greater
This calculation is made for a farm of 320 acres (one-
half section of land) 300 of which he puts into cultiva-
tion, leaving 20 acres for a building spot, cattle yards
garden, and grove. It is supposed that he purchases in
May, and sells his crop in November of the next year
The cost of the land is put at 6 dob. per acre, which is
the usual price for good land : —

266

Dt

THE FARMER
dob.

To purchase 320 a., at S dols. per a., May,

1830

1920.00

„ 6 per ceat. interest od game to November

1881

„ Breaks up 300 acres, at 2 dols. per acre

Interest on same to November 1831 ...
Backsetting his 300 a. in September and

O.tober, at 1 do1

Interest on same to November 1881 ...
April 1881— He puts 150 acres in wheat and

150 acres in oats.
To seed wheat, \\ bush, per acre at 1 dol.

per bu-h.
,, Interest on same to November, 7 months
„ S<»ed oats, 2 bush, per a., at 20c. per bush

Iutereston same to jNovembeT 7 months
„ Seeding and harrowing on 300 acres, at

75c. per acre

Interest on same to November
„ Harvesting, stacking, hauling, and help ...

Intere-t on same three months
„ Thrashing wheat, 15 b. per acre ; 2,250 b.

at 4c.
„ Thrashing oats, 40 b. per acre : 6000 b.

at 2 c.

„ House and barn, built May 1S80

Intprest on same to November
„ Taxes on 320 acres, at 10 c. per acre
„ Extras of all kinds

Cr.
By first crop wheat, 15 b. per acre ; 2250 b.

at 80 c.

.. first crop oats 40 b. per acre ; 6000 b. at

20 c ... ... 1200 00 3000-00

dois. I dels.

Land 1920.00' Receipts. ..3000.00

Breaking ... 600.00!

Houses ... 450.00 Working Capital. ..2140. 69

2970 00 859.31 over and

Working capital 2140.69; abo^e.

- — 16 per cent, interest as profit on invest-

5110.691 ment in the land and buildings.

NEXT YEAR'S CROPS.

Seed— 100 a. wheat, 100 a. oats, 100 a. com

To ploughing up 300 a. in fall of 18Sl,at 80 c. 240.00

Interest on same, 1 year ... o. 14.40

172.00

600.00
54.00

300.00
19.50

225 00

788

60.00

2-10

225.00

7.88
675 00

9.83

90.00

120.00
450.00

40.50

33.00
100.00 5110.69

1800.00

,, 100 acres wheat seed, 1£ bush., 150 bush.,
at 80 c.

„ 100 acres oat seed, 2 bush, per acre 200
bush, at 20 c

„ Seeding and harrowing of 200 acres

Interest on same, 7 months

100 acres corn seed, takes 16| bush, at lc.
Working, planting, and harrowing
„ Cultivating ...

254.40

323.85

Interest on same, 5 months ...

„ Harvesting 200 acres, stacking, is., &c.
Interest on same, 3 months

„ Thrashing 15 bush, per acre, 1500, at 6c.
,, Thrashing 50 bush, per acre, 5000, at 2 c.
„ Help, hauling, and all extras

„ Husking, hauling, and cribbing, at 6c-...
„ Interest on land and improvements, 1 year
„ Taxes on land and improvements

Cr.

By 1500 bush, wheat, at 80 c.
„ 5000 bush, oats, at 20 e.
„ 4500 bush, corn, at 20 a.

120.00

40.00
15U.0O

310.00
13.85

16.67

50.00

125.00

191.67

4.80

193.47

400.00

6.00

406.00

60.00

100.00

80.00

1921.27

3100.00

3 MAGAZINE.

dols.
3100.00 receipts.
1921.37 disbursements.

1176.63 profits above 6 per
cent. int. on lair
and improvements.

If we take a third year on tin

same basis as this seoond crop

would have 1st j ear... 859.31

2d „ 1178 63

3d ,, 1178.63

3216.57

Farm more than paid for in 3 years.

A Scotch farmer with less capital than that above
mentioned should buy at first less land, say 160 acres,
making a payment down on it, and putting the balance
into cattle ; and would soon, from the profits of both,
pay for his farm aud be well off before long. In the
case of a farmer buying his own horses, and doing his
own breaking and backsetting, the amounts allowed in.
my statement would give him good wages for bis time
and expenses. Men have come here without more than
enough money to make their first payment on their land,
who, by industry and economy, have in four years paid
for their farms and got comfortable houses, a team of
horses, and a few cattle, besides having provided for their
families, while the farm has advanced three times in
value. I could show voua number of such instances. A
farmer with £200 (1,000 dols ) could buy a farm of 160
acres at 6 doh. per acre, 960 dols. ; pay a fourth cash
down, 240 dols. ; buy his team and waggon and ploughs,
build his Own house, aud, by exchanging work with his
neighbours, get his land iu crop without much expense,
and in a few years have everything paid for. In the
same manner a man with less money could buy 80 acres on
time, and pay for it out of what he raises.

I think that North-West Iowa is the most suitable home
for Scotch farmers not on'y on account of climate, soil,
cheap lands, and nearness to markets, but also because
schools are free, and as good as can be found in the rural
districts of Scotland. In this county alone there are
sixty schools. There are churches of all denominations
in the towns, and services are held in a great many of
the country school -houses.

Having the facilities of railroads and markets, we get
a good price for all that is raised. Batter and cheese are
made in great quantises, cows costing from 20 dollars to
25 dollars each (£4 to £5), and summer pasturage being
free, make quite an item in the business and profits of
the farm. Lands can be got at prices ranging from 4
dollars 50 cents to 7 dollars per acre, in lots of 80, 160,
320, aud 640 (the latter is called a section). The usual
terms of sale are a quarter cash down, «nd giving three
to eight years' time ou the balance. The only thing that
this country needs is people to settle in it. I should
advise people to come here in colonies of five
to a hundred families ; then they can keep together, have
their own church and minister, schools, and teachers,
helping each other in their work.

I know that arrangements can be male so that colonists
can have through tickets from Glasgow or Liverpool to
this part of Iowa without being interfered with or having
any of the annoyances so clearly expressed in the letter of
the Rev. Dr. Sandford of December 9th (Scotsman).
Colonists can here get large tracts of lands at low rates
and on easy terms, containing from 5,000 to 25,000 acres
in a body.

I hope before many years to see two or three " British
settlements" in North West Iowa as prosperous as those
now here from Germany, Norway, and Sweden. At
another time I will write you what can be done in cattle
and hogs, as they and dairying are the chief sources of
successful farming in North Wist Iowa.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

267

NOTES FROM NEW ZEALAND.

Sir, — Oar New Zealand correspondent writes under dat
Jaouary 31st : — The exceedingly mild and generally
moist character of the past spring and summer has had
the effect of making 1880 a year of plenty in this country,
growth having been continuously vigorous, so that live
stock have all through the year enjoyed abundance, and
crops nearly of all kinds have gone on from the time they
appeared above ground to maturity almost without the
sligh'est check. Grass has been especially abundant, and
in consequence cattle and sheep have come forward to all
markets in the North and Middle Islands in immense
numbers, and in splendid condition, iu too many cases
sinking the value of both beef and mutton considerably
below the paying point. Although within the past month
there has been a reaction for the better, prime beef is
only worth from 27s. to 30s. per cwt. of 100 lb. ; prime
mutton, top, 2s. 4d ; ewe and middling little over a penny
a pound. The bulk of the season clip of wocl has gone on
to the London sales, the various shipping companies and
the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company and
many others giving such liberal advances on the shipping
notes, that any one who has a mind may take chance
of the London market. The prices realised out here at
the various public auctions have scarcely been an im-
provement on those of last year, notwithstanding the
favourable accounts received by cable, 6^. to 7d.
in the grease, and from 9£d. to lid. for washed. The
clip everywhere has, however, fiuished up well, and the
extra weight alone will be a great aid in making the re-
ceipts from this soarce over the average of years. The
hay crop suffered considerably from the continued wet
weather, there being no escape from it, those who put off
cutting until the seed was shed through over ripeness
having had almost worst luck than those who began at the
U3ual time. The consequence has unavoidably been hay
of inferior quality for the most part, not worth, however
use! or disposed of, the money it cost to cut and save it,
expenses quickly running up to a large sum total in a
country were extra men get 8s. a«day and found in food
and drink, even should the latter be tea, which is a safe
and excellent drink in this warm climate, many farmers
giving it to their hay and harvest hands in preference to
all other drinks. Probably never before were the forecasts
of Captain Edwin, the Government Meteorologist, looked
for with such anxiety, as they have been during the past
few months, and probably they were never so continuously
disappointing; twice a week at least the ominous words
were flashed from the "Bluff" to the North Cape,
" Further fall in the barometer may be looked for in a few
hours ; will be followed by much rain," which much too
often proved correct ; so disheartening did it at last be-
come, that many wished that Captain Edwin would go
home for his holidays, and permit them to have at least
the peace of mind that proceeds from ignorance of the
future. Much anxiety was naturally felt as the harvest
approached, and not altogether unnecessarily, as it was
actually begun, while the weather remained unsettled,
but since the middle of January considerable improvement
has taken place, and few interruptions have occurred to
the severance of the grain crops. Harvest operations are
now rapidly being proceeded with from north to south,
and the crop of wheat particularly is confidently expected
from its present appearance and promise to turn out the
finest and most productive that has ever yet been reaped
in the colouy of New Zealand.

Notwithstanding the heavy rains, the straw, which is
immense in bulk, came to harvest perfectly unbroken, and
straight as an arrow, a sure and certain sign of soundness
and health in the plauts, and on much of the finest wheat
soils of the colony 70 bushels to the statute acre are confi-
dently expected ; 60, 55, and 50 bushels will be very fre-

quent, imd from 35 to 40 on all but miserable or neglected
land. The work of cutting proceeds with astonishing
rapidity, the self-delivery reapers sweeping down an
astonishingly large breadth from sunrise to suuset, when
the horsey are changed a couple of times. The self-binders
which have been introduced this season all use string,
wire being perfectly useless, so far as New Zealand
is concerned, as no one would have aoything to do
with it, on account of the annoyance it caused in cutting
up the straw for fodder, and the difficulty of getting rid
of it afterwards to their customers. The machines that
have attracted most attention are all American " Woods
Reaper," " The Johnstown Harvester," aud the " Deerin^
Twine Binder," being the most prominent, and while all
have done the work admirably, the latter amongst the
bulk of farmers seems to be looked upon as the tie plus
ultra of all that is requisite in the combination of reaper
and binder. With its five feet of a cut, and kept con-
tinually going, it clears easily 16 acres a day at the
moderate cost, twine included, of £3 2s. — whereas, with
the very best side delivery, the binding would cause suoh
an increase of expsnse, as to raise the cost for that number
of acres to £8 odd, or say an average of about 10s. an
acre, as against 4->. or thereabout, when the work is done
by the self-binder, the cost of the latter machine being
£75, and of the former £40. With the wonderful facilities
for thrashing now afforded by the steam-thrashing
machines, and accompanying straw elevator, which are
now literally everywhere, the railways will in a few weeks
be employed day and night in forwarding the grain to the
ports of shipment, and before this has time toappiar
in your journal many a heavily wheat laden ship will be
ploughing the seas abreast of Cape Horn, en route for
London. Freights, through various causes — reviving
trade at home, increased demand fjr shipping
at South American ports, and extra inquiry here in view
of the wool and corn seasons— have risen considerably
within the past month, on which account the farmer will
be a loser of better than 20s. a ton on his corn crop, no
inconsiderable tax to fall on his year's industry at the last
moment. As usual, the farmer's greatest annoyance at
seed time and harvest hts been the small birds, sparrows
particularly, and although they have been poisoned by the
bushel, and a price set on the head and eggs, l£d. each
for the former, and 3d. a dozen for the latter, giving
pleasant and remunerative employment to all country boys
when at home, during the recent summer holidays, the
nuisance is not visibly abated, as in spring the surface was
too often white with the shells of the newly sown corn,
and at present whole acres round the hedges of the fields
stand with the heads empty, myriads of sparrows having
for the time being taken up their residence in the hedge
rows. The same cause, extreme beneficence of climate
which promotes this marvellous fertility of bird life,
operates, of course, equally on that of insects, the destruc-
tiveness of the latter, which was a hundrtd-fold more than
that occasioned by the birds, as they cleared all before
tbera, having now virtually ceased, so that the total exter-
mination policy now fairly inaugurated may in time to come
prove to be a mistake if effected.

Trade and commerce in every province of the colony
still continues depressed, and hundreds of mechanics,
railway and other contract laboure;?, still go about idle,
causing much distress in the large centres of population,
a melancholy state of things in a young country so choke
full of natural resource as New Zealand, in, first of all, a
a fertile soil, inexhaustible minerals, and valuable forests.
It was fondly hoped by the founders of the colony that
destitution would be an unknown term within its bounda-
ries, and that any knowledge of what it practically meant
should come to those who were co'onial born or bred only
by description from far-off lands, an idea which has beea

2C3

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

shared in by successive governments, but which has
unfortunately proved to be fallacious. The immediate
cause of the universal slackness of aU kinds of business or
enterprise is, of course, the scarcity and dearness of money
a union which brings misfortune in it3 train all the world
over. Capital, however abundant, is valueless, without
strong arms and willing hearts to carry out its behests in
clearing the forest, tilling the soil, and opening; up the
treasures of the mine ; but then, on the other haud, labour
without capital is equally unproductive, and ha3 the
terrible disadvantage, while waiting for the aid of
capital, of raving to endure many straights, and too often
much suffering. Now, that this is the exact position
of affairs in New Zealand at the present moment, is
the general opinion out here — that in point of fact, the
" Vogel," "Grey," aud other Ministeries, in their anxiety
to populate the country, carried a good idea too far, and
by means of the nell-knowa system of free emigiation
from the old country have permitted the introduction of
labour to outrun that of capital, and henee large numbers
of unfortunate people have lately been landed, often to the
extent of a thousand a week, during the closing months of
the past year, at ports where the first sight that greeted
their longing eyes was groups of idle men standing on
the quays, and at all street corners. Mr. McA.nc.lrew,
who held the portfolio for public works in the Grey
Ministry recently dissolved, and who is as thoroughly
hard, practicable, and sensible a Scotchman as ever left
Aberdeen, made the remarkable reply co a question ad-
dressed to him at the late election on the subject of over
emigration, " that the more people in the colony the
better." This sta'erneot, given without I he slightest
qualification whatever, as to the means of the people thus
introduced, may be taken as the idea which, acted on too
lite'ally, led the Ministry, of which he was a leading
mcuoer, into such a serious mistake. The most melancholy
feature of this painful subject, which has come u'idcr my
own personal observation, was the landing of 50 families of
miners from the North of England, at Nelson, emigrants
per the "Opana," who had come out, as th"y supposed,
under a three years' engagement at the West C jast colleries
at 10s. a day, but which engagement, on the strength of
which they had many of them broken up comfortable
homes to cross the seas was repudiated by the representative
of the company to which they were proceeding, not taking
even one man. In consequence they were forced to
remain in the barracks in utter idleness, for upwards of
two months, sympathised with and assisted in many ways
by the kind and charitable, but completely helpless.
Ultimately the " Hall" Government taking pity on their
unfortunate position had tbem removed free of expense in
small detachments to ''Blenheim," Christchureh, and
other mining centres, where employment had been found
for them by ministerial agents.

THE INFANT AND THE MAN.— It was the practice,
old S ;muel Butlrr tells us, amongst a people whom he calls
" Chiueses," who, whoever they may have been, were many
centuries nearer the acme of civilization than ourselves, for the
father, on the birth of a child, to retire to his bed and receive
the codolences of his friends, while the mother was sent about
her duties as usual. This is sensible; but what a lamentable
inversion of this practice exists with us ! Upstairs the father
is treated with ignominy, insulted by a stranger whose sex
prevents him from retaliating, regarded as an interloper, and
scarcely even allowed to inspect the origo mali. He retires to
his library, and seeks consolation in study, looking forward to
meal time in order to break the monotony of the day. Time
wears on. He rings his bell, which is not answered ; he
wants coalf^but is forced to do without them ; the fire goes
out, and he puts on an overcoat ; he hears the frequent slam
of the area gate, and the sound of strange male laughter in
the basement. Dinner time arrives ; he has ordered a simple j

meal in order not to give trouble; the cover it lifted, ani
discloses a chop. The servant departs in haste, as well she
mav, for when he inserts the knife the result is too nauseous for
description. The meal has evidently not given much (r wble.
H* rings the bell, and, with a satirical emphasis worthy of a
more intelligent audience, requests that *■ that m«y be removed
and have the chill taken off." Next ni;ht he dines with a few
friends at the c!nb, goes to the pi ay, and returns to find the
doors barred against him. From this periol of a man's exis-
tence might well be dated the commencement of a depraved
career. Such being the attend mt circumstances, it cannot be
imagined that a father is naturally predisposed to be favourable
to his offspring ; the treatment he experiences duringthe short
and scanty interviews he has with it is not calculated to increase
his feflings of paternity towuds it. If he asks questions,
they are answered with a cu'tuess amouu'ing to iucivility ;
if he makes remarks, they are regarded as the gibbering of a
babmn or the mut'erings of a lunatic, while it is dinned into
his ears that the child is an exact reproduc iou pf the mother,
and bears no reserablauce whatever to himself. This is
evidently meant for an insult, and, whether it may mor ify
the parent's feelings or not, the obvious malevolence wi h
which the sentence is pointed cannot fail to be unpleasant.
Let it be granted, then, that a father who loves his newborn
child must indeed have a partiality for babies. Now a bany
per $e I have a rooted objection to, an objection founded on a
long and varied experience. Who does not know the misery
of paying an afternoon visit to a yonngand charming mo' her,
who thinks "yon must just see baby before you go ? " The
hell is run?, and nurse and baby are sent for. The interval is
lengthy. The rao'her hints that " nurse does not like bringing
baby downstairs." 1'ou begin to imagine that" nurse " must
be a sensible sort of p»rson. The moments lengthen, and
conversation becomes more and more impossible ; you botli
sit facing the door in a sta*e of nervous anxiety. Presently
footsteps are heard, and likewise those unearthly sounds which
nurses imagine to be pleasing to babies. The door opens.
Now the momentous question flishes across you in all the
terrible earnestness of reality : Are you to rise and rush to
the door with outstretched arras and mingled expressions of
joy and gratitude ? If so, be sure you can sustain your effusive
attitude, for a collapse will entail upon you untold ignominy.
Ou the contrary, stop where yon are, and you lay yourself
open to the charge of brumal indifference. Here is a fit occa-
sion for the intervention of the heavenly powers! So, when
at, leng'h you are bronght face to face with this terrible
object, what course are you to pursue? The same dilemma
again. Your inaction begets suspicion on the part of your
friend, while facetious interference brings down on you the
wrath of the nurse and the squalls of the infant. I am
peculiarly unfitted to deal with humanity in this embarrassing
stage. Some years ago I was travelling by train in a full
carriage which contained, amongst other people, a nurse and
a baby of some t*o years of age. This ill-starred brat fixed
its eves steadily upon me ; so in a good-natured wav, wishiug
to afford it some amusement, I made a grimace. The conse-
quences, though flattering to ray powers of facial expression,
were disastrous in the extreme. Howl succeeded howl. Nurse
caught the babe, to her bosom, aDd me in flagrante delicto.
The thrilling nature of the sceue caused all the occupants of
the compartment, hitherto strangers, to become linked together
as it were by common sympathy against a comaion enemy. I
never should have believed that mere looks could be so
pregnant. I was the base man ! I was the desecrator of
hearths and homes, the oppressor of the widow and the
orphan ! . . . I changed carriages at the next station. — Corn-
kill Manazine.

PAYING THEM OFF.— A pretty American girl in
Rome went frequently into the streets unattended, contrary to
the custom there. The young Romans followed and annoyed
her, nn'il she invented a novel method of rebuffing them.
She provided herself with a pocketful of centesirai, each the
value of a fifth of a cent., and whenever a roan spoke to her,
pretending to utterly mistake his words, she gracefu'ly
extended her hand and dropped this fifth of a cent in his
hand, saying, in her broken Italian, " Hungry, are you, j.oof
man P Well, take this aud buy some bread."

Speak of a man's marble brow and he will glow with
conscious pride, but allude to his wooden head and he is mad
in a minute. Language is a blippery thing to fool with.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

2G9

THE "DUCHESS" SHORTHORNS.

The following able and interesting history of " Duchess "
Shorthorns is from the pen of Mr. A. a. Matthews, and
19 condensed from the columns of the National Lice Stock
Journal (Chicago) for February : — Of the eleven Duchesses
sold at New York Mills sale, Sept. 10, 187:5, six
were bought and kept in the United States ; namelv, 1 2 h.
Duchess of Thorndale, of 1865,5,760 dollars (31,187
10s.) ; she had a Booth cross from her sire, and her
gianilsi'e, Imperial Duke (18 >S3 ) , and was out of the
pure Kuightley cow Mrs. leathers. Duchess of Geneva
8ih, of I860, pure, was bought by Mr. Kello, for Mr. It.
Pavin Davies, for 40,600 dollars (£8,458 6s. 81.) to go
to England, but afterwards sold to Colonel L. S. Morris,
of New York, for 30,600 dollars (£6.375)i Dneh.-ss of
Thorndale 13th of 1867, pure, 15,000 dollars (£3125) ;
/Duchess of Oneida 4th, of 1872, pure, 25,000 dollars
V£5208 6s. 8J.) ; Duchess of Oneida 7th, of 1872, pure,
19,000 dollars ((3 958 6s. 8,1.) ; Dnchess of Oueid* 10ih,
of April 7, 1873, pure, 27,000 dollars (£5,625) ; and
Duchess of Geneva 15th. of 1870. pure, '' breeding un-
certain and withdrawn," afterwards sold p-ivately for
10,000 dollars (€2,083 6s. 8d.). The three bulls were
kept iu the United States. Duke of Oneida 2nd, of
August 3, 1870. pure, 12,000 dollars €2 500 ; Duke of
Oneida 4th, of 1871, pure, 7.600 dollars (£1,583 6*. S I.) ;
aud Duke of Oueida 7th, of 1872, Booth and Kuightley
cross 4,000 dollars (£833 63. 8d). Mr. Matthews goes on
to say : — "None of these produced anything after the
sale, except 8th Duches3 of Geneva, who had a calf the
next February, and she and her calf both died, and 4th
Duchess of Oneida, who produced a bull calf in the fall of
1874, died soon after. The calf was called Duke of
Woodlauc?, and Mr. Bedfoid sold his calf by him to his
partner, Mr. Megibben, 'or 9,000 dollars (£1,875).
Owing to certain circumstances, Mr. Megibben required
Mr. Bedford to warrant the bull to get calves. Mr.

I it is said in giving th« prices they sold for: — ''Grand
Duke 9th and Grand Duke 15th were composedly rheu-
matic ; but Colonel Guurer gave 100 guineas for the one,
and the other — which is considered a hopeless case — was
left, unsold." "GEM." speaks highly of the two
I bulls Colonel Guuter has selected to cross his
: his Duchesses — Duke of Gwyune (,39701-) by Duke of
J Underley (35745), aud from oue of l«] irl Zetland's line of
Gwynnes ; and Village Squire (37630) by a Ivuightlev
bull. But, says " G. E. M.," •' in a small field adjoining
the stables, grazing on quite poorgras.s, we found two year-
ling Du 'hess'S, a red auda roan, go id, but not rem likable
calves of their age. Of the cows he says there were three ;
aud of the first he says : — " Unfortunately, she had been
badly out of condition, and, while improving, was still
not at all in good shape." He speaks of the next as
"aaother Da. :hess cow in good condition, and showing
herself to be a very creditable, medium sized Shorthorn,
of apparently good constitution and good feeding qualities.
The third Duchess was away to be bred." This last was,
I suppose, Duchess lllfh " sent for service to 3rd Duke
of Underley (38196) at Kimbolton." The service fee of
3rd Duke of Underley is 80 guineas, and that will buy a
first-rate bull, probably as good as tbhd Duke of Underley
for all useful purposes, especially as mauy of the calves
of these fashionable Dukes, even when the dams are of
first-rate pedigrees, dou't fetch half the price of the service
fees. Col. Gunter will get a little fresh blood from 3rd
Duke of Underley, as he is from the New York Mills
branch of the Duchesses, his dam being Duche33 of Oneida
8th. for which E.rl Bective paid 15 300 dollars (€3,187
10s.), and his graadam Dnchess of Geneva 10 h, for which
he paid 35 000 dollars (£7.291 13s. 41.) The latter had
two crosses of Romeo (13619), for which the Duke of
Manchester is said to have paid 3,000 guineas. li G.E.M."
says: — " Going to Whetherby without conscious prejudice
I must coutess to disappointment.

The average merit, us
he did not, and sued Mr. Bedford l"'!';'''3^13' °f th* ^™<^™ °f ^ family seen, is fair,
for 15,000 dollars (£3,125) damages. The Duke of bat that 13 all. No one ot them would be selected as an

Woodland died Decembe: 7th, 1879. The 2nd Duke of
Oneida died in the spring of 1876. The 4th Duke of
Oneida was warranted to get calves, but was returned to
Mr. Campbell as uselpss. The 7th Duke of Oneida is at
Mr. Alexander's, in Kentucky, and so id the 10th Duchess
of Oneida, now nearly seven years old, which has never
produced a calf, and is considered to be hopelessly barren.
These dukes acd duchesses that were kent in the United
States, sold for 155 900 dollars (£32 479 3s. 4d.) ; and
all that is left is 7 h Duke of Oueida, ekht years old,
aud a barren heifer ! 1 will say nothing of the Dukes
and Duchesses of Airdrie ; there are bnt few of them, and
they would hardly be admitted into the '. aristocracy of
the bovine race ' as they have a touch — a very slight one
■ — of Booth, which is nearly as fatal as would be- a touch
of ' nigger ' in the white human race. Many, however,
consider the Du'>es and Duchesses of Airdrie superior to
the New York Mills branch. The best bull I ever saw
was the 24th Duke of Airdrie, bought of Mr. A. J.
Alexander by Mr. George Fox. and taken to E igland.
He has but little Booth blood, but he looked a great deal
more like a Booth than a Bales." Mr. Matthews goes on
to quote a correspondent to the Journal, " G.E.M." (Pro-
fesor Morrow ?), in reference to the Dukes and Duchesses
he saw at Welherby, who says :—" There were five
Djche3ses and two Duke bulls. We first saw a red Duke
bull, just past his first birthday, and possessing a good
deal of merit. The Duke bull now in use is a roan,
between two and three years old; unfortunately, he has
suffered greatly from rheumatism — is lame from that
cause — and does not appear well." At the celebrated
Willis' Rooms Sale, June 7, 1865, the Graud Dukes and
Grand Duchesses belonging to Mr. Hegan were sold ; and

especiil good Shorthorn ; no one of them is especially a
poor Shorthorn ; neither of the bulis is as good as either
of the bulls not Dukes ; no one of the females would be
put anywhere near the top of the herd. Theje seem to be
the simple facts, judging without regard to pedigree."
At Mr. Bates' sale, May 9 1850—40 years after he had
bought Duchess 1st at the Kelt m sale — .here were only
eight females sold. Earl D.icie bought Duchess 55th,
59:h, and 64th. After Earl Ducie's death the Tortworth
herd was sold, August 24, 1853, aud Mr. Thome of New
York bought Duchess 59ih, six years old, and Duchess
64th four years old; M.ssrs. Morris and Becar, of Ne.v
York, bought Duchess 66th, three years old ; she had a
heirer calf, and all four were brought ove.- to the States.
After Mr. Becar's death, Col. L. S. Morris became
owner of Duchess 66th, and her three heifers (Duchess
71st, Duchess of Fordham, aud Duchess ), and

sold them to Mr. S. Thome, who afterwards sold
them to Mr. J. O Sheldon, and he sold them to Walcott
and Campbell, Dnchess 64th had two heifer calves —
1st aid 2ud Duchesses of Thorndale — but all the
New York Mills Duchesses were descended from
Duchess 66th. Before the sale to Walcott and
Campbell, Mr. Sheldon had sold three Duchesses that
went to England— 7ih Duchess of Geneva to Mr. L-vev,
and Uth and 14th Duchesses of Geneva to Mr. Chenay.
At the New York Mills sale, September 10, 1873. Earl
Bective bought 10th Duchess of Geneva for 35,000
dollars (£7,291 13s. 4d.), 8th Ducbss of Oneida for
15,300 dollars (£3,187 10s.), and 9th Duchess of
Oneida for 10,000 dollars (2,083 6s. 8d.) ; the first two
had two crosses of Romeo, and the last the Booth and
Kuightley crosses. Ljrd Skelmersdale bought 1st

iW

-270

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Duchess of Oneida, pure, for 30.000 dollars (£6 250\
and Mr. T. Holford bought 3rd Duchess of Oneida — very
■slight Booth cross— for 15,600 dollars (£3, -250). At the
Tortworth sale Colonel Gunter bought Dacliess 70th, Gut
of Dachess 66th, abont sis weeks old. At one of his sales
Mr. Strafford said there had been sold £100,000 worth of
stock descended from Duches3 66th. I should like to
know how many females there are in England descended
from Dachess 66th, and then we can tell better whether
£100,000 \rorth ofstock is descended from her. There
is but one female living in the United States, the 10th
Duchess of Oneida — now seven years old, has never pro-
duced a calf, and considered hopeless — and ouly one bull,
7th Duke of Oneida, and 3rd Duke of Oneida in Canada,
that descended from Duches3 66th. At the Tortworth
sale, Col. Gunter bought Duchess 67th, about 15 months
•old — she was by Usurer (0763), dam Duchess 59th — and
'Duchess 70th, by Duke of Gloucester (11382), dam
•Duchess 66th, about six weeks old. Mr. Tanqueray
bought Duchess 69th by 4th Duke of York (10167), dam
Duchess 50th, and afterwards sold her, when about nine
months old, to Col. Gunter. So Col Gunter commenced
breeding, 1S33, with three young Duchesses, and I
Relieve they all bred, and in 1S70 — twenty-six years
afterwards — he had three cows and two yearling heifers.
I hardly suppose he ever sold any heifers, except the
three he sold to Mr. Cochrane, of Cinada. Col. Gunter
sold to Mr. Cochrane Duchess 97th, calved 1S67, for
1,000 guiaeas, and Duchess 101st and 103rd, calved
1S68, for 2,500 guineas. The last two had heifer
calves— Duchess 107th and lOSth— soon after Mr.
'.rane got them to Canada, and Mr. Cochrane
sold I the calves to Ivirl Dunmore for same sum —
■2,500 gs. Mr. Cochrane afterwards sold to Earl Dun-
more Duchess 97th, Duchess 101st, and Duchess 103rd,
and they were taken lo England, August, 1873. At Earl
Dunmore's sale, August 27, 1879, only two Duchesses
were sold — Dachess 114th by 6th Duke of Geneva
f30959), and her daughter, Duchess 117th, about 15
months old, by 2nd Marquis of Oxford (37055). They
were both purchased by Mr. Alsopp ; the first for 2,700
gs., and the last for 3,700 gs. It is stated— " Except
several f.it cows, not in a breeding state, and Duchess
108th, the catalogue comprises the whole herd." It was
also stated, in the Euglish papers : " After a lapse of five
years, Lord Dunmore's Duchess lOSth lias been got in-
calf, and is due to calve this month. This cow's last calf
was the 4,500 gs. bull, Duke of Connaught, whose heifers
have taken distinguished positions at our recent shows."
And it was stated, not long afterwards : " We understand
.Lord Dunmore's Duchess 108th calved a roan bull calf on
Monday last (July 28th), which only lived a few days
The calf was some days overdue. The Duchess, however,
is going on all right." Lord Dunmore, I believe, never
sold a Duchess, and seems to have had only Duchess 108th,
Duchess 114th, and her daughter 117th. Duchess 101st,
103rd, 107th, aud lOSth seem to have left no females,
and Duchess 97th.only one, Duchess 114th. But are not the
-three cows and two yearling heifers, which " G. E. M."
saw at Wetherby, and Duchess lOSth and the two which
vwere said a Lord Dunmore's sale last Aug., Duche9s U4th
117th, all the females that are now living — eight in all —
that are descended from Duchess 67th, 69th, and 70th,
bought by Colonel Gunter in 1853, twenty-six years ago ?
There would be eight descended from three, after twenty-
six years' breeding ; and there were (8) descended from
Mr. Bates' Duchess 1st after forty years' breeding- " The
Duchesses bring big figures and but little increase." 1
hope Colonel Gunter may be successful with his out-
crosses, hut a family that has beeu so incestuously bred
as these Duchesses for more than eighty years will be
difficult to restore to fertility by out crosses. Has not

Colonel Gunter already used pretty strong out crosses ?
The most of his Duchesses have several crosses of Usurer
(9763), and bebought ISth Duke of Oxford [25995) calved
August 12, 1363,^ at a sale of Mr. II. J. Sheldou's,
August 8, 1373, and used him to his Duchesses. The
bull vonld, I suppose, be called an Oxford, but his sire,
Grand Duke 10th (21343), had three Bmjth crosses,
besides the Cherry Duke cross, and was l-16th Booth's
cow Bridecake l-33rd l-32ud Boothcow Fame, nnd 1-Stb
Cherry Duke (125S9). and 18th Duke of Oxford was a
grandson of Priam (18567), and great grandson of Eirl
of Warwick (11412), both entire out crosses- It is
claimed that Mr. Bates, " by the nseof Belvedere (1706),
restored his Duchess tribe to fertitity, when from a long
course of in-and-in breeding they had nearly all become
barren." Belvedere was one of the most intensely in-
and-in bred bulls that are recorded, and crossed the
Duchesses equally as strongly in-and-in bred, and both
in-and-in bred to Favorite. But were they by this cross
restored to fertility ? Mr. Bates had nine Duchesses that
were daughters of Belvedere, as follows: — Dachess 33rd
by Belvedere, dam Dachess 19th by 2nd llubback ;
Duchess 3ith by Belvedere, dam Duchess 20th by Bad
Hubback ; Duchess 36th by Belvedere, dam Duchess 19th
bv 2ud Hubback : Duchess 37th by Belvedere, dam
Duchess 30th by 2ud Hulsback ; Duchess 39th by
Belvedere, dam Duchess 30th by 2ul Hubback ; Duchess
40th by Belvedere, dim Diehess 30th by 2nd Eiuhback ;
Duchess 41st by Belvelere, dam Duchess 32ud by 2il
Hubback ; grandam Dw-hess 19th by 2ud Hub-
back ; Duchess 42ud by Belvedere, dam Duchess 30th by
2nd Hubback; Duchess 43rd by Belvedere, dam Duchess
34th by Belvedere, grand. im Dii'hess 29th by 2nd llub-
back. Duchess 33rd, calved 1832, produce! one calf,
Duchess 3Sth by Norfolk (2377). Dachess 84th produced
tive bull calves and two cow calves, Duchess 43rd and
Duchess 46th, and had one premature birth. Duchess
36th was barren. Duchess 37th produced three bull
calves — one of which, Earl of Beverly, was made a steer
of — and two cow calves, Duchess 44th and 47th, both of
which proved barren ; they were by Short Tail (20,21),
another in-and-in bred bull by Belvedere (1706), dam
Duchess 32nd by 2nd Hubback (1423), grandam Duchess
19th by 2nd Hubback (1423), &c. Duchess 39th aud
Duchess 40th both barren. Duchess 41st had two pre-
mature births, Duchess 51st and bull calf Duke of York,
and, 1812, twins, Duchess 53rd and bull calf 2nd Duke of
York. Duchess 42ud had one calf, a bul1, made a steer of.
Duchess 43rd had two bull calves, one of which was made a
steer of. There were ouly two of the daughters of Belve-
dere, out of oiue, that bad any descendants that were sold
at the sale, May 9, 1S50, Duchess 41st and Duchess 33rd.
Duchess 51st was a daughter of Duchess 4lst. She was
sold, and two of her daughters, Duchess 56th and
Duchess 61st, and her two grand-daughters, Duchess
i 59th aud Duohess 62ud. Duchess 55th a grand-daughter

of Duchess 33rd, was sold, and her daughter, Duchess
64th. Duchess 54th was sold, but she does not trace to
any of Belvedere's daughters. There were only eight
females sold. Of the six bulls sold, the 3rd, 4th, aud
5th Dukes of York trace to Duchess 41st., the Duke of
Richmond and Grand Duke to Duchess 33rd, and Duke
of Athol was a son of Duchess 54th. " G.E..M." further
remarks : " It is not because of pestilence, nor because of
unac3ouu table and continuous accidents, that the Duchess
family is so few in number, and that of these few a too
large proportion are not regular breeders." What is it,
then ? It is often said that the Duchess tribe produce a
much larger number of bulls than heifers ; but let us see
about that. Charles Colling bought the Stanwick cow of
the agent of the Duke of Northumberland, June 14, 1784,
and twenty years afterwards he had oqo Duke (224) aud

TEE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

two Du'besses — Dnr-ness of 1 804, or DuchessJ by Daisv
Bull (ISO), calved March 12, 1800, and her heifer calf,
both of which he sold to Mr. Bates, who gaid he let Mr.
Calling hare the calf back. At Mr. C. Colliag's sale,
October 11, 1510, he had one Duke (220), and one
Duchess, own brother and sister by Comet (155). One
of the calves Mr. Bites let Mr. Colling have back.
Mr. Bates bought Duchess 1st, then two years old. Mr.
Babes died July 26, 154J, and had bred in thirty-nine
years sixty-three Duchesses; and Duchess 6tth wa3
calved soon after he died. He had bred tweoty-nine
Dukes that were named, aud sixteen that were not named;
or made steers of; eight of the Dukes were made steers
of, one from Duchess 0:h Hv The Eirl (6 40), oue from
llih by 2nd Hubback (1123), three from :)jth, one by
Belvedere, and two by C'.eveland Lad (3407 J- These
ware called 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Duke of Rjxboroagh ; oie
from Duchess 37th by Cleveland Lad [34117), and one each
from Duchess 42od and Duchess 43rd 0y Prince Albert
(4751). Prince Albert was an entered out-cross, with not
a drop of Djke or even Bates blood, and yet Mr. Bites
bred two of his best Duchesses to hi-n, in 15 Hit, only
nine years before he died. Duchess 43rd was own sister
of Duke of Xorthumberland. Earl Ducie bought three
Duchesses and one Duke at Mr. Bate*' sale, and iu three •
years he bred five Duchessea and one Duke. Prom the
Duchesses which, were brought to the United States,
Duchess 59th, Du-hess 64th, Duchess 66th, and her
daughter, Du?he=3 7 1st, there were bred fourteen Dukes
of Thorndale, eleven Dakes of Geneva, and seven Dukes
of Oneidi, or thirty-two bulls ; there were thirteen
Duchesses of Thorndale, fifteen Dudusses of Geneva,
and ten Duchesses of Oueiua, and Duchess GGth had
two that were not numbered, making forty, or eight
more females than bulls, and Mr. Bites bred nineteen
more females than bulls. Mr. Bites bought his first
Bed Rose 1S19, and in thirty years he had bred nine-
teen females ; and at his sale there were on'y three sold,
Cambridge Rose 5tb, calved 1546, her daughter, Cam-
bridge Rose 6th, calved 1845, and a calf, Cambridge
Rose 7th, a daughter of 5th. Had -Mr. Bates lived a
few years longer, and continued his excessive inter-
breeding, it is highly probable his Duchess aud Red
Rose tribes would have become extinct, as the New York
branch of the Duchesses, descended from four Duches=e;,
and the Oxfords, descended from four Oxford cows and
heifers, brought over iu 1553, have become extinct in the
United States.

Tha above interesting account of the Duchess family
of Shorthorns will be read with interest by stock-breeders,
and the lessons taught in it are such as cannot fail to be
understood. The writer evidently has his subject at his
finger-ends, and knows what he is writing about. The
account affords striking evidence of the pernicious influ-
ence whieh has been exerted on the stock-breeding of the
country by Shorthorn fanciers ; and the plain outcome of
all this '' fashionable " nonseuse is infertility. We have
been told that Shorthorn breeder* cannot afford to sell
12 months old bulls at £2U to £3U a piece, but that wil
depend entirely on the way they are bred. Mr. Mathews
points ont that bulls of more practical usefulness than
these " fashionable" Shorthorns can be sold at half ths
cost of the service fee of such sires. We have been told,
too, that our disbelief in the real value of these fashion-
able animals results from a want o'~ knowledge. But we
are content to believe only in what we can see in Short-
horn matters ; aud we have seen pure-bred Shorthorns,
better in every tangible sense than fanciers' animal*, that
could be sold at a profit at the prices we have named. It
is to be hoped that when the Duchesses die out the
Shorthorn "fancy" will die with them. Mr. Mathews
refers to the absurd ttrms used iu describing " the

aristocracy of the bovine race " on both side3 the Atlantic;
and, with the disappea-anct of this mushroom bovine
aristocracy, we look with confidence Kr an cud to be put
to that also.

MR.

GLADSTONE ON AGRICULTURAL
REFORM.

At Ratho, Mid-Lothian, oa March 13,
Mr. Gud«TOSB «aid: — When I was h're in November,
I stated ai Dtlkeitlt that in my opinion the law of H.p.
mas' be radically altered. It must be altered ia such a w,y
as to sweep a*-,y bod iy, while leaving to the landlord everV
etfective security for his rights the whole grievance of wludi
thetenints in Scotland hare been complaining. But ■
is now being done with the B':l? I do not know if .Mr.
Melvin (the chairman) knows, wbo nnderstan Is that questioa
e ninently well, and 1 frankly tell you 1 cou:i not say what
I icy a-e doing. Tne B 11 was in Parliament hit year. Tne
in <\ «r ty of the inenb°r- of the Gjverament voted against the
second reading of the B II. Fue member? voted with tiie
L ird Advocate lot the B.ll, and 11 or 12 rated again=t it. I:
is delght'ul to see this eonver-u m of ra-mbers of the Gover i-
ment from errer to troth in regard to the Law of Hypo
Gentlemen, that is owiug to the impending dissolution. Great
terror is felt by the Government about that, Tne minority of.
the gent ernea who snpp irt then come from Scotland. You
know tint the Tory caudiiates have had to consent to the
abolition of the Law of Hypothec as the condition of having
so much as the chance of fitting for a Scjtch county, and tha
G ivernmen', not able, not willing to dispense with the ser ■
of these geutleraen, wish to give them the best chance they
can. In-tead of having deliberate, quiet legis'atio-i the Bill
is being burred on Irom day to day, and it is impossible to
know wnat i's exact etfe~t will be. But this I will say, that
whether its eff-ct t>e satisfactory or not, you may depend upon,
it that tha' is a subject which, V you reiura an enlighteued
Parliament to act for you at St Siephea'a, need and will noc
be longer delayed. It ought tj be deat w th eff-xtual j. If
I am able to obtain such information on this measure while I
am speaking in Mid-Lotluan as will enable me to give an
opinion I will do it. In the meantime, 1 ask you to acsept of
W.z general view that I will consider tnat matter. I will
reserve Myself until I have ace ir^te information. If it is
sufficient we shall be glad ; on the otner hand, if it is insuffi-
cient aud unsatisfactory, you msy depend upon it a Liberal
Parliament will set the matter right. There is another
subject into which I will not enter fully to-day, bat I th'nk it
very important, and oa another occision I will bring it tully
belore the constituency, and that is the alterat'on being
made in the inventory du'v. 1- is a most remarkable pro-
ceeding that in the*e last dtys of this Parliament one of t«e
■uoo. c .rnplicated fiscal questions that it is possible to bring
b?fore Parliament is pacing fall gallop through :he House of
Commons, cannot be touched in the House of Lords, and is
intended to lay npon the people a burden of at leas" t
or £800,000 a year. Tiiat is not the only fact. I mean to
show the gross injustice with which this burden is going to be
laid. That is the third subject wlrch this Parliaraenr, attended
by a hand ul of members wno are thinking a great deal more
»ery natoraih, about their own seats than any other matter*
are dealing with— mat'ers of great importance' — and with this
mater in particular, in a manner which I will venture to im
deserves your careiol attention and severe condemnation. lc
is quite true it does not touch you individually , it touches
your sons. We are all mortal, and somebody or other will
succeed yon in what you leave behind ; and I coaceive it is a
in itter ot interest under what circumstances the succ-ssioa
will t<ke place. Now, let me say a few words to you upon a

general question wnich Mr. Mjlvin has touched upon the

condition of the agricultural interests. I hold in my hand a
list of questions proposed to be put to me in Edinburgh yester-
day. They are extremely w-ll written ont, and there are
plenty of them. Judging of tnem as well as I can from ex-
terior features, 1 tnink a lawyer has had his hand in them. I
am on'y grnng to ref r to one of them — namely, '• Do you still
adhere to the sentiments wh;ch you expressed at Mid Calder ?"
1 was never there (a Voice : " \Ve-t Calder ")— I know I was
at West Calder, but ths lawyer ought to have known that— "m

W 2

272

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

reterence to raising the agricultural interest from its present
wry depressed condition — namely, a peasant proprietary and
the growing of various kinds of Iraits, strawberries, &c, not-
withstanding the variableness of our climate and the poverty
of our soil." Now, you observe how this lawyer insinuates
that I stated that agriculture was to be raised from its de-
pressed condition by the creation of a peasant proprietary and
by the growing of strawberries. I never mads any such
statement at all. What I did was this. I could not bring
myself to treat the subject of the depression of agriculture
merely as a party question, or merely as a political question ;
it is a social ques'ion of the greatest interest to us all. I my-
self, with my {ami y, are priacipally dependent, as you are,
upon the produce of the land. As one dependent on the pro-
duce of i he laud, I look forward with the gravest apprehension
to the future. I think that the relation of landlord and tenant
will suit iself according to justice. The standarJ of rents will
unquestionably be decided by fie real, the true state of the
market. (Hear, hear). Men will give for land what land
is worih uuder current agreements. Under current leases
there may be great inequalities; and there may be suffering
under these current agreements, just as, when there came a
tremendous fall a few years ago in the price of iron, those
who had undertaken to make delivery at certain rates were
liable to suffer grievou lv upon the change that took place in
the curreucy of practical contract. But what I think is this,
that it would be impertinent in me to attempt to instruc
agriculturists in the mode in which they are to conduct their
business, t had not time, nor have I now time, to enter very
fully or very largely into the question ; but I referred to
principles, and I entered on some suggestions which appeared
to me to be matter of great interest. Among the^e are
the two questions here named. They do not embrace the
wliole suljpct, perhaps ; for most of you they embrace only a
very limited pon ion of the suhj-ct; but siill they are verv
important que.-tious, and I hey are most important qnestions in
8'jine parts o! the United Kingdom. The question wh-ther it
is desira'ilc to give faciii'ies as far as can be giveu for the
gradual formation of a mull proprietary is a question of
extreme interest. Many people say that small proprietors
are very wasterul and incompetent proprietors. They deliver,
I think, a very rasb and hasty judgment on a very large ques-
tion, ii Ireland 1 have not the b'ast hesitation in saying it
is most desirable to eui-ourage the formation of a small pro-
prietary. In England and Scotland I do not see evidence of a
general or extensive desire on the part of the people to become
small proprietors. I see great evidence in both countries of
the desire of the people lo become, proprietors if they cau, or
virtual proprietors as feuars, of their own houses; but that is
a different matter to becoming small proprietors as cultivators
of laud, and I do not see that they have a great desire for
that. In Ireland I look on it as very important how 'ar this
cin be executed. I cannot undertake to say how far, and
much remains to be done, but [ believe that in Ireland there is
an opening. I helieve much requires still to be done for the
imp-o\e nent of the condition of the people in that portion o!
the United Kingdom. I am not at all ashamed, notwithstand-
ing that the lawyer may scoff at me in speaking of this sub-
ject of the creation of p-asant proprietary, not as a question
of vital imparlance in Scotland, for I have never so spoken of
it, but as a question well worth the attention of the Legisla-
ture, and desirable to be put forward in all cases when it can
be done. Now with regard to the growing of striw-
berries. If I recommended the growing of strawberries it
w is not an original suggestion. It was suggested bv some
tolerably long-headed people in Scotland, I believe. Even in
the county of Perthshire many men have done so, and in
Aberdeenshire m tny more have taken to it as a fanner's pur-
a it, notwithstanding that this lawyer says that the variable-
ness of our elima'e and the poverty of our soil is such an
obiection to it. Will you allow me to tell you a fact of con-
sid Table i terest and importance? — though, again, do not
suppose I am come among you as a quack doctor and with a
nostrum in ray poeket which I am ready to offer to you as an
i itallible cure for agricultural dilli ulties. It is this: I hope
that those who have lately visited America ou the part of the
Scottish farmers, if they had time to pay attentiou to the con-
dition of the estates of New England— if they had time, I
have no doubt that they brought home information of consider-
able interest to yon. The pressure you are experiencing tells,
of course, upon wheat and upon corn. Now I do not lay much
value upon my own opinion in this matter, but I have paid
lengthened attention to public affairs and to observing what
.'.n 3 opens to various interests of this couutry. I do not think

it in the least degree likely that yon will ever see the price of
meat reduced in these markets to what it was under the reign
of protection and to what it would have continued to be if the
Tories had succeeded in their efforts to keep you under the
reign of protection ; for always remember that these Tories
who call themselves farmers' friends are the men who wanted
to continue the reign of protection. 1 dismiss the matter
because, while on the one hand I am very glad to see the great
increase in the means of transmitting meat to this country —
for certainly some years ago there was great fear of its becom-
ing terribly scarce — yrt, on the other hand, long observation
of the operation of free trade in animal products has convinced
me that if you can keep the people of this coun'ry in good
condition, the demaud for meat will be such as will bring you
a good price, if you can keep affairs active, i'" you cau abs'ain
from destroying confidence, if you extend the commerce of -he
country — and it has been extended largely. If the people are
secured in good wages, the people will lay out a large potion
of it in the purchase of animal meat, and you will besure of
good prices. In regard to corn I mustlimit myself. Scotluil
as an oat-growing country, is in a different position, to E ig-
land. The proportion of oits grown in Scotland is very large,
and it is plain that the pressure upon grain is different fro a
that upon wheat. Since we have had our mirkets opened to
all the world the price of barley has riaen considerably, and it is
with regard to wheat that ihe qu'stiou now presses. Tiie
Eistern States of America are in the condition of the ol I
couutry relatively to the Western States. Yon have this
advantage over them, that the wheat of the Western States of
America comes into the Eastern Americau markets witluut
paying any freight ; consequjutly the tanners of theEiSteru
States have felt this pressure more than you have, au4 I am
told that they have to a very coiisi lerable extenf met the
pressure by changes in the articles cultivated, and that the
transition in a considerable and important degree is in a
larger growti of what may be called girden produce-
vegetables, fruits, and flowers of different kinds, and the
cultivation of that produce has now become a very considerah e
resource of the agricu'turists of the Eistern S ates o' America.
Now, do not think that in saying this — in eucouragiug you to
examine this matter when you have the oppor unify — that I
preteud to say that it is to be a universal remedy, or that I
ever (ell into the ridiculous blunder of saying that it was to
rane the depressed state of the country into prosperity. I
think I dii express the opinion, which was a sound opinion,
that even pruient Scotchmen 50 y?ars ago for the moment
forgot their prudence, and at that time short leases of hill
farms were renewed at such an increase of rent as circumstances
did no t really justify. I believe there is very little doubt of
this. Well, I think that after what, bis happened you and
your brethren all through Scotland will be tolerably well oa
your guard against falling into any error of that description,
if such an error was then committed. Now, what have you
to ask from a candidate, or from a member of Parliament or
from a Parliament ? You have not to ask from them, or from
any but yourselves, that your trade and occapatiou shall be
profitable. It is your own intelligence, care, thrift, and
industry which alone cau insure success iu your sphere of life,
and if it were possible lor you meiely to lold your arms and
to throw upon your candidates and members of Parliament
all the responsibility of finding you a lucrative occupation,
then not only would you fail in that end, but you
would also lose the masculine qualities which have
made Scotland famous, and you would become really un-
worthy of being citizens of such a country. What is it,
then, that you have a right to ask ? I have said before
that you have a right to ask perfect freedom in what
you buy and what you sell ; aDd so far I think the
law has tolerably met your free and just demands.
There is nothing that you buy, for which you pay a price,
enhanced by anything except the real necessities of Govern-
ment. You no longer pay prices enhanced against yon for
the supposed interest of particular classes. In what you sell
you are met by no burdeus ; you have a choice of the markets
of the world ; and if the markets of your own country are not
satisfactory, at any rate there is nothing in the state of tlje-.e
markets which turus them against you by Act of Parliament
or b( the unjust desire of the Legislature to create a pre*
ference to your ilis'avour and your disadvantage. But there
is more behind. Yon have a right to expect that as cultiva-
tors you should be thoroughly secured in the free use of the
land you undertake to manage, You have a right to expect
that the land should not be laid waste by wild animals for the
sport and amusement of the landlord and his friends. Now

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

273

let me say one word. When I was here before, and had so
much to say, I passed very lightly over the subject of the
Ga ue Laws, simply beoaa.se the pressure of other matters was
severe. It has been my happy lot as a proprietor ofland.and
witnessing the working of an estate, never to have a dilfereuce
of any kind with any siugle tenant on the subject o( game;
hut then every tenant wilh whom I have had to do knows
perfectly well that the ground game is perfectly at his mercy.
1 do not speak ot winged game now, because the cultivators
of the soil have raised no question and do not seem to think
they have any serious grievance in connexion with it. When
that question is fairly raised let us then examine it. But I
do think it is a grievous hardship on the tenant that he should
he liable to have, his crop laid waste by the ravages of ground
game. But they say the tenant can make his arrangements
With the landlord accordingly. lam not satisfied with that
argument. I am not sure that the tenant is strong enough
in his position at all times to make his ag reement on equal
t rins with the landlord accordingly. The subject ol contrac s
is a subject which men treat very differently, according to the
position upon which they treat. The Tory party in particular
boasts of having passed Acts about mines and workshops and
factories. Every one ot these Acts, without exception— and
I am not condemning them — is an interference, and a
violent interference, wilh the freedom of contract.
These Acts, then, t.llow the labouring population of
the country to make their owm contracts, but
la\s down fixtd and rigid rules beyond which they
m y not tto, be' oud which they may not sell their labour, and
w! ich rules determine the condition of the sale of that labour
to the employer. Why is not the same principle applied to
the land ? The Tory party, who tremble at freedom of
confract, who have very little scruple in interfering in the
name of humani y an'i justice when it is a question of dealing
with trading and m»nu'aciuring interests, when they come to
deal with their own tenants suddenly become al ve to the
great »anctity of freedom of contract. I value freedom of
contract very much, but in my opinion it should be a real
freedom, and between pariies meetiug on a footing of equality.
It would be very absurd to provide by law that a hosier should
sell me a pair of gloves at a certain price, because in h's shop
he meets me on terms of equality ; but where the contracting
parties do not meet on terms of equality it is a matter of
expediency. Theu the question of interfering with freedom
ot contract is one of puce policy and expediency. I am not
satisfied that the position of the farmer is one of perfect
equality of footing on this question of game with his landlord.
It appears to me that much lias yet to be said on that point ;
aiid I kn >w no sullieient argument against investing the in-
alienable right in the tenant over the ground game. What
is to be the position of the landlord in regard to the ground
gam-' ? 1 believe, gentlemen, it would be most convenient
thai tbe landlord should have a concurrent right with the
tenant — that he also should be entitled to destroy the ground
game on the land. You will say, " Why should the landlord
have any right at all ? " Now, speaking as a landlord, I
should te perfectly content, were I young enough, to go
abroad and enjoy shooting, which is hardly now within my
contemplation. I should be perfectly content to take ttie
shooting by permission of the tenant. I am quite satisfied
he would give it me within the bouuds of reason. The
danger is in England that the farmers themselves, as
some of them are such genuine sportsmen, would pre-
serve the game if they had the exclusive right to
ground game upon their farms, and that game would
soon become a nuisance to the farms of others. I
know no way of prohibiting that except by giving a
concurrent permisMon to the landlords ; but that right is a
right o1' des'ruc'ion, not a right of multiplying; it is
a right to prevent raul-iplying to the prejudice of the tenant.
Then comes the question of improvement. The friends of the
farmer have now been in power six years, and what have
they done ? Well, they have parsed a measure which I am
afraid is a very inifli.;ient measure. The right of the tenant
to the improvements which he makes, the improvements which
really improve, is in ray opinion entitled to the lull protection '
ol the L -trisktnre. I mentioned when I was here before a
particular kind of lease which I believe to be a good and wise
form, and intended to give to the tenant the power of directing
his own method of cultivation without injuring in any manner
t!ie iuteresU of the landlord. That was a form ol lease under

which, supposing the length of the lease (o be 21 years, l> e
tenant should absolutely pursue his own methods ol cultiva-
tion, his own method of manuring and treatment of the soil,
and within four years of the end of the lease the tenant should
say whether he wislie* to take a new lease, and if ha and the
landlord agree on a new lease he should take tiie new lease
with the same treedom, and the same process be renewed as
o'ten as the time comes round 'r but if tne teuant said " No,
I'm i oing to leave this land, I will not have a new lease,"
then I do not think it would he just and lair to the landlord,
and yon will agree with me, that the tenant should have during
these four years the right of taking anything out of the laud
that he pleases, and the landlord have no po *er of securing ita
being left in good condition. I will not enter more into
details on this matter, but this I will say : — We legislated for
the rights of the farmer in Ireland, and we succeeded in giving
to him a practical security for the value of his whole improve-
ments ; happily, the circumstances ol Scotland are very diifereot
from those of Ireland, but I think you may understand that
the party which was willing to secure, and has secured, the
improvements of the Irish farmer is not less willing to secure
to the Scotch farmer the benefit of his own improvement.
Probably in saying that and in pointing to what has actually
occurred in Ireland I am saying something which is better
than en ering on details ol which I am not a master, and de-
taining you with expositions which after all might appear to be
incomplete. Surely the free choice of means in tiie prosecu-
tion of improvements J3 what the tenant is entitled to. Tne
free use of laud, the free purchase of materials, the Irea sale of
his products, these three are fundamental and cardinal princi-
ples which, on the whole, consiitute the ode of justice as
between the Legislature and cultiva'ors of the soil. If you
desire more I will enter on further explanations vvii.li you. You
have been detained here long enough, and I have said enough
to indicate the general spirit with wh ch I desire to approach
the consideration of every agricultural question. The fact is
when I go to such a subject I forget I am a Parliamentary
candidate. Interested in the land myself, and hviug, as I am
happy to say we do, in closest bonds of goodwill with our
cott igers, our tenantry, and our neighbours, regarding them
all as frieuus, united to us by loud recollections as well as by
common interests, I feel that the matters in which the interest
of landlord and tenant are in apparent conflict are so sluht
that they vauish out of view in competition with these matters,
in which I regard them as one rural community, joining to-
gether and assisting each other in the discharge of overy good
office with the view of the prosperous and the successful pur-
suit of that which is the most delightful of all the ordinary
professions, viz., the cultivation ol the soil for raising the food
of man. 1 hope, gentlemen, you will never lose the high
position you have all along occupied in that respect, aud I
don't believe you are likely to looe it. You may have severe
competition to meet, but the resources of skill and ingenuity
and your just disposition to offer no more when you take a
lease of land than you believe the land to be worth will carry
you through, provided ouly the Legislature gives you juitico
in the fundamental principles to which I have referred ;
and that justica I deem it not a burden but an
honour and a satisfaction to co-operate with you in
securing. Gentlemen, I won't detain you further upon
these matters at present ; if I am able — and I possibly
may be able — to obtain a clearer view of the nature of the
present legislation on the importont subject of hypothec I will
return to it on an earlier oceasion. Eor the present I will
bid you good evening, with hearty good wishes, and expressing
to yju the conviction which I have not scrupled to express
elsewhere, that I have not come in vain to this county ; that
you dil uot invite me in vain to this couuty , that
you thought it material that yon should make an effort to
place the representation of the. couuty in Liberal hands ; and
all that I have seen, all that I have heard, all that I have
known, may well convince me that you have the strength to
carry through your purpose, and that when we arrive at the
day o' nomination, at the day of the poll, that purpose will
in questionably be attained. An opportunity having been given
for asking questions, Mr. Gladstone, replyiug to a question by
Mr. Allen Clilten in re-ard to taxes exacted from farmers in
Scotland, said : — This question, which you have opened in a
most kindly and becoming spirit, as you yourself, I am sure,
perceive', involves matters of a good deal of complexity..
The basis of the income Tax is this — that it is a tax ua

274

THE FARMER'S MAGAZIN1

the individual in respect of his personal profits. The
basis of our system of local rating is that it is a tax
upon the land. In England, as yon are aware, the.
entire tax is levied from the tenant, the landlord pays none of
it. In Scotland the landlord pays lialf and the tenant half.
When a lease is about being formed I apprehend the thing is
nearly as broad as it is long. We think that in Eigland we
proposed a very great improvement in 1870 or 1871. Under
the lake Government it was proposed that instead of tenants
paying the whole rates, half shonld be paid by the landlord.
Well, then, I am bound to say that ultimately I think the
■whole incidence of the rate is on tlie landlord in a rural district,
because when you make a lease you reckon the rates beforehand.
If the rates are £50 a year on the land, yon give £50 less
than if there were no rate'. I can admit that a very
considerable grievance has arisen from tire rapid increass of
rates during the currency of existing engagements. That,
I think, is a question of a very serious character. It
does not admit, in my opinion, of categorical, rapid, or easy
answer, but it is a subject that ought to be largely considered
in connection with the great questions of the loe*l govern-
ment of the country. I should tell you that I am for
a great extension of the powers of local govern-
ment, and for enabling the people themselves of
ttie country, not only in the Parliament of Westminster, but
in other subdivisions of the country, to deal with many subjects
on popular and representative principles which they have no*
no power of doing. It is in connection with that form of
institutions that in ray opinion the fair claims of all classes
would best be considered and brought into adjustment, and to
enlarge the franchise of the people by introducing such a
measure, or helping its passing, would be one of the greatest
honour* that not only could attach to my life, but could attach
to any legislator in the British Parliament. la auswer to
another question as to the law of entail, Mr. Gladstone said ;
3 need not be long in my answer, I have only to say I am
opposed to the law of entail, and desire to see it remedied.

On the motion of Mr. Forman, seconded by Mr. Brash,
the following resolution was unanimously carried : — "That this
meeting of electors of the Ratho district desires to express its
most hearty pleasure at seeing Mr. Gladstone on the present
occasion, earnestly approves of his candidature, resolves that
he is in all respects a fit and proper person to represent the
county of Mid-Lothian in Parliament, and pledges itself to
use the most strenuous efforts to secure hi» return." This
closed the proceedings.

FREEDOM OF LAND,

(Continued from ptge 256.)

RESULTS OF THE SYSTEM OF ENTAILS IN
ENGLAND.

The same laws with respect to inheritance BDd entail have
led to the same general result as in Ireland in the distribution
of lauded property, although the circumstances of its early
history were more favourable in England to the creation of
small proprietors, who have not wholly disappeared in some
rural districts. It is admitted, however, that even these are
destined to be merged in their larger neighbours nnder the
present system.

A wholly different system, however, has prevailed in England
as regards the management of lauded property aDd the distri-
bution of land among the tenants. It has been shown that
Ireland is a country of peasant farmers, where the landlords
do nothing as a genera) rule towards the improvement of the
farms. In comparison, England is a country of large farms,
and the custom is for all improvements to be effected by the
landlord and not by the tenant.

It must not, however, be concluded that England is wholly
a country of large farms. There, are large numbers of small
holdings. Accordiug to the Agricultural Returns, of 37,000,000
acres of land 27,000,000 are cultivated and improved, the
rest being mountain, heath, commons, woods, &c. The
cultivated land may be thus divided into four classes of
holdings ;—

Numbers. Avera*e Total

in acres. acreage.

Small holding's below

50 acres 333,630 ... 12 ... 4,181,346

Small farms from 50 to

100 acres 54,493 ... 72 ... 3,957,989

Medium - aiztri farms

from 100 to 300

acres 65J6G ... 170 ... 11,183,618

Large farms above 300

acres 16,106 ... 472 ... 7,512^72

470,000

26,835,925

KISSING EM. — A Detroiter, who dresses well and has a
reasonable share of good looks, had occasion last week to make
a trip to the country, and one night he found himself at a |
farm house at which a party was to come off. He was invited ,
to participate in the festivities, and after he had consented, the
old farmer took him round the corner of the house and said : i
"The young folks are mighty fond of any game with kissing in
it. They'll get up something and fix it to make you kiss the
handsomett gal in the room." " Well, I'll kiss her," was the
prompt reply. '• l'es, but hold on a little," continued the old
man, " there's my gal Emma. Wre think she's as purty as
any of them, but certain folks around here kinder sn If at her
cause her nose crooks a bit aud her hair is a trifle high
coloured. Now I want you to kiss Em lor the handsomest
gal in the room. It'll do the ole woman g >o>l, do Em good,
and kinder set those 'ere saiffers back a little. 1 don't ask
you to kiss her for nothing, but if you'll do it I'll throw
fifteen cents off'n your bill in the moruing. What d'ye say ? "
The young man said he'd do it, and the father continued ;
•'That's the checker. Don't have any make-believe about it,
but kiss her right pop out, so that we can all hehr the smack '.''
The game was played, the Detroiter was " fixed," and he
kissed Em like the pop of a pistol. He felt all the happier
lor it that night, seeing how greatly the old woman was
pleased ; the next forenoon as he jozged abng hi ha 1 to run
the gauntlet of a score of farmers' sons waiting in fence
corners to lick him because he had passed their "gals" by
for Em. He was struck by thirteen stones, s;x clubs, and
about a bushel of potatoes before he could get out' of the
;u'i„'hbourhood, and when he carae to figure up he realised that
0 cents was no inducement at all.

The number of agricnltural labourers and shepherds is stated
to be 787,897. It will be seen from this table that England
is by no means so fully the country of large farms as it is otten
represented to be. About one-third of its area is held in small
holdings and small farms, numbering about 383,000, and two-
thirds in large farms, numbering about 82,000. Ilow many
of the small (arms and ho. dings are owned by their cultivators
we have no means of knowing ; it is believed the number is
very small, and is being gradually reduced. In lieu we have
an admitted tendency to substitute for ownership the
relation of landlord and tenant. How far then does this
relationship satisfy the economic conditions for the best cul'i-
vation of the soil, and what are its effects upon the various
classes of the community ?

The ideal of the English system of large proprietors and of
tenants hiriug the laud they farm in lieu of owning it, is where
the landlord, being a capitalist, is able to relieve the tenant of
all expenditure of a permauent character, and to leave him
the full employment of his capital in his trade of farming, in
stocking and cultivating the land. This ideal inTjlves a con-
siderable expenditure on the part of the landlord, in building
farm-houses and farm-buildings, in draining ar.d other per-
manent improvements, and in building, labourer's cottages. If
these functions are performed by the landlord, if he has the
capital to expend and does what .is recognised as a duty,
nothing can be better from the economic point of view than
the condition of the property and the relation of landlord
tenant, and labourer.

The farms in such a rase sre parcelled out in the size which
is most suitable to the full development of the soil ; the neces-
sary capital of a permanent character isexpendtd by the land-
lord ; the capital of the tenant is set free to stock and culti-
vate the farm to the best advantage ; the tenaut, iu order to
pay full reut upon the capital laid out, must exert himself to
the best of his elfor's ; if he prove a sloveuly farmer, the land-
lord gets ria of him.

The labourers' ojtlagcs arc built with due regard to the re«

ME FARMERS' MAGAZINE.

273

quifefnenfs of the property. Some of them are it ached to
the farm for the coDTenieoce of the tenant, who wishes for
full control ot those labourers who are mast necessary to him ;
others are retained iu possession of the landlord, tjat too
much power over the labourers may not be vested in the
farmer. The labouiers themselves are stimulated to work by
the certainty that they will lose their homes if negligent and
idle.

From an economic point of view, then, the agricultural
machine in which the landlord, fanner, and labourer play
respective ptrts, and the land, capital, and wages have their
share in the produce, works to the best advantage. That there
are many such cases no one can deny. That many landlords
most fully recognise their duties, and act fully up to the
highest ideal, cannot be doubted- Many, ind-ed, pinch them-
selves in other expenditure in order to perform their duty ; and
few there are who would not do it if they could.

If all estates were maintained up to this ideal, there would
be little to say against the system from the economic
point of view; thougn even then there might be somethiug to
allege in favour of more distributed ownership, and more in-
dependence of individuals, especially of the labourer?, than is
consisteut with soch an ideal system.

The whole system, however, depends upon the owner of the
property being able to provide the capital for permanent im-
provements, such as buildings, drainage, aud laboun P*' cottages.
If this capital be not (orthcoining the system breaks dowu at
its central point, on which the economic success of the whule
Bystem hinges. If the landlord caunot provide the necessary
capital for these permauent improvements, no one else will ao
so. The farming tenant cannot be expected to do so upon any
length of lease winch is ordinarily given to hira, and still less
can the labourer be expected to build or improve his cottage.
It has already been shown that it is of the essence of such
family arrangements kuowu as settlements and entails that they
lead to encumbrances. The land goes to tin eldest son, per-
haps free from- charge in the first instance ; the personalty is
divided among the other members of the family. Iu the next
generation, however, the land must be charged for the benefit
of other members of the family.

It is also well recognised that the owner of a landed estate
cannot do full justice to it, uuless he is able to draw upon
other property for its improvement. Sir Robert Peel used to
say that every landowner ought to have at least as much
property iu consols or other securities, if be wished to do his
best by the land. The meaning of this is, that there is a
constant drain upon the landlord for fresh outlay for improve-
ments or for the maintenance, of previous improvements, if
tiie machine is to be well worked.

What, however, is the condition in this- respect of the
average landowner ? How many of them have other means
in this ptoportion to their laad ? How many are unencum-
bered as regards their family estates? How many of them
are able to do their duty by the land r1

It is certain that the greater number of them are utterly
unable to perform their duties.. They are the ostensible and
temporary owners of family estates, for the most part already
heavily charged with debts, or with charge? for other members
of the family, and1 wholly unable to expend further sums in
draining and improving, still less in building cottages, which
at best give but a poor return on the-outlay.

Most of them are m this false position, that as tenants for
lile uuly of their property they cannot expend capital on their
estates without subjecting the money thus spent to the same
entail as the estates themselves. The limited owners thus
have the alternative before them either of neglecting their
properties, or of spending money upon them which they would
otherwise intend for their younger children, to the ultimate
beuefit of their eldest sous who are already entitled to the
estates. If such persons were absolute owners of their pro— ,
perty, and without other means of improvement, they would
probably be induced' to sell outlying parts of tire property,
and invest the proceeds in draining and improving the main
portion of the estate.. They would gain in income by doing
so. The investment in land, we are told, produces iin
average of only two per cent. ; the produee of a sale if spent
on drainage would entitle the owner to raise his rents so as to
pay five per cent, or more on the outlay, But he is tenant
for life only, and he can only sell with the consent of trustees
aud reversioners, to re-invest in other land, or to pay off
Mortgages,

Is it possible fo conceive a system better calculated to pre-
vent capital finding its way to the land ? That it has this
result can scarcely he doubled. This is what Mr. Caird said
a few years ago on the subject in his Agricultural Survtifi
of England : — " Much of the land ot England, a far
greater proportion o! it than is generally believed, is iu the-
possessiou ol tenants lor life, so heavily burthened with settle-
ment encumbrances that they have not the means of improviug
the laud which they are obliged to hold. It would be a waste
of lime to dilate on the public aud private disadvantages thus
occasioned, for they are ajkuowledged by all who have studied,
the subject."

A Committee of the House of Lords in 1873, upon the rm*
provement of land, reported, that what had already been ac-
complished in the way of drainage and other improvements-
was " only a fraction of what still remained to be done."

Mr. Bailey Denton stated before this Committee, as ther
result of his calculations, that out of 20,000,000 acres of land-
requiring drainage iu England aud Ireland, only 3,000,000-
had as yet been drained. Mr. Caird, before the same Com-
mittee, speakiug not only of drainage, but of all kinds of im-
provements, estimated that only one-fifth of vUiat was required
to- be done was accomplished.

The improvements thus spoken of are of a remunerative
kind ; improvements such as drainage aud farm-building* ar J1-'
generally paid for by an increase of rent fuily conipensatii:^*
for the outlay. "Unfortunately, however, the building of
labourers' cottages by landlords is a most uuremunerative ex-
penditure. It selJom returns more than two per cent, on the
outlay, very often less. If, therefore, we find the outlay o't
capital for remunerative improvements very much in arrear/
it is only too certain that it will bj far worse in the case of
cottages.

The Report of the Royal Commission of I860; as to the
condition of women and children employed in agriculture,,
contains the most full information on this subject. The evi-
dence was collected by Assistant Commissioners who visited
every part of the rural districts of England, and wha ar*
unanimous in their testimony.

Mr. Fraser, now Bit hop of Manchester, who visited Norfolk
Essex, Gloucestershire, and Sussex, describes the cottages in.
one disrict as ' ' miserable ;" in a second as " deplorable ; " in
a third as '''detestable ;" in, a fourth as "a disgrace to a
Christian community.." He says that "even wlujre adequate
in quality, they are inadequate in quantity ; aud some rich,'
landowner, ' lord of all he surveys-,' iiaving exercised 'his lord-'
ship by evicting so much of his population as were an eyesors
or were likely to become a burthen to him — still eraployiug
their labour,. but holding himself irresponsible for their domi-
cile— has, by a most imperfect system of compensation, buil'"J
a limited number of ornamental roomy cottages, which he fills
with bis own immediate dependents. Cat of the
300 parishes which I. visited I • can only remember
two where the cottage accommodation, appeared to •
be both admirable ia quality and sufficient in< quan-
tity,. The majority of the cottages that erist in
rural parishes are deficient ia almokt every requisite that
should constitute a horae for a Christian family in a civilised
community,. It i» impossible/' he a Ids, " to exaggerate the
ill-effects of such a state of things iu-every respect— physical,
soeial, economical,, moral, intellectual. 1'nysically a ruinous
ill-drained cottage, 'cribbed, cabin'd, confined,' and over-
crowded, generates any amount of disease — fevers of every type, .
catarrh, rheumatism- — as well as intensities to the utmost that
tendeucy to scrofula and phthisis, which, from their frequent •
intermarriages and ibeir low di«t, abuuads- so largely among .
the poor. Economically,. the imperfect distribution of cottages -
deprives the farmer of a large proportion of his effective
labour power ; when he gets bis man, he gets- him more or less
enfeebled by the distance he has to travel to his work. The
moral consequences arc fearful to contemplate. Modesty must be-
an unknown virtue, deseucyan imaginable thing, where in one
pmall ohambsr two, and sometimes three, gsuerations are herded
promiscuously, and where the whole atmosphere is sensual,,
and haman nature is degraded into something below the level
of the swine. It ia a-hidecus picture, and the picture is drawn
from the lit' .'.'

As to the deficiency of cottages, he mentions the parish of
Spixworth, where "there are only three cottages to J,20l
acres there, might well bo twenty-live , at Warterdou oulj

276

TEE FARMEK'S MAGAZINE.

cotta-es to 750 acres, fifteen would be no excessive supply ; at
Markshall only five to 830 acre-, at the usual Essex rate there
Bhuiild be 25. At Buckeuham Tofts there are only two resident
labours ou 650 acres ; at Didiington no more on 1,850 acres.
At Sedgeford the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have an estate
of 2,000 acres without a single cottage, and in this parish we
liear'of ten and eleven persons sleeping in a single room. At
Trtchwell, Magdalene College, Oxford, the chief owner and
lord of the m-ioor, has not a single cottage. At White Colne,
in Essex, the chief landowner has not one either." " In-
stances," he adds, " of this kind could be accumulated ad

infinitum." ,,.,-. j c

Tne Bishop recogirsed that a great deal had been done ot
late years, especially by the largest landowners. Unfortunately,
however, the remedy did not rest with the wealthiest land-
owners. Mmy cottages belonged to proprietors too indigent
to have any money to spare for their improvement ; some to
absentee and embarrassed landowners ; some to mortgagee?.
Mr. Portman, another Assistant Commissioner, who reported
upon Ca nbrid^eshire and Yorkshire, say, "The opinion
appeared to be universal that the bad state of the cottages and
the overcrowding of the sleeping-rooms is the root of the
demoralisation of both sexes." He states that * one
of the principal causes is ' absenteeism,' under which
I include not merely non-residence of the owners
in the county where I is estate is situated,
but that which is ecmally bid, viz., non- attention to the out-
lying portions of that estate. On many occasions when,
being struck by the poor state of the dwellings, I have inquired
who'ia the owner, I have been told he is some one living
perhaps in the county, but ''rarely, if ever, visiting the village
or taking any hetd as to the condition of the people." Of
one very large property he reports, ''The tenements are
wretched ; although the rents paid are siiall, the whole repairs
have to be done by the cottagers, and so the rents become in
fact very high; and »s one of them told me, 'The landlord
does not care i they all tumble down.' On other portions of
this estate there was a great wa^t of cottages, many having
been pulled down and scarcely a new one built." Ot another
p irish in Wales he says, " No Irish property can present more
wretched consequences of absenteeism than this. The only
consideration the parish receives from the owners of property is
the regular collection of rents." The statement of Mr. Port-
niin as to absenteeism is important as confirming what has
been already stated as to the number of parishes without
resi!ent landowners.

Mr. Edward Stanhope, now "Under-Secretary of the India
Office, reports also as to the general bad state of cottages,
♦hough making many exceptions, especially in Lincolnshire,
the C3umy where it msy be observed small peasant owners
most abound. Of Leicestershire he says, "The cottages must
be described as generally bad." He adds, " There is a strong
feelin" in Lincolnshire that Government should give assistance
in providing cottages for the labouring class, and especially on
entailed es'ates." . .

Mr. Cnlley, another of the Assistant Commissioners, says,
"There constancy arises to me, and, I doubt, not, to my
colleagues, the feeling that in speaking of that state of the
cottages, I am exhibiting a dark picture, as if it was the
fault of a class, many of whom are powerless to change it, and
few of whom areausweraMe for it."

" What has led to the state of the labourers dwellings
being such as to justify me in speaking of it as a national
disgrace? And why are so many landowners now powerless
to deal with it ? If I were to answer these questions, judging
from the history of the estates I have visited, I would answer
ar, once— the encouragement given by hw to the crea'ion of
limited interest in land, and the power of entailing burthened
estates. What can the poor life-tenant, especially i> his estates
be burthened, do towards providing good cottages tor ^is
labourers? Nine times out o! ten lie strives to do his duty,
and surfers fully as much as the ill-housed labourers on Ins
e- tales. The unhappy propensity to create limited interests,
aid entailed and burthened esta'es, tells hardest against the
snail properties, while if the owner lives as all the world
expects him to live, there is no margin left for estate improve-
ment, especially cottage improvement. Even the large estates,
by tne. time all is done for which farm tenants most loudly call,
unless burthens be light or the owner unusually self-denying,
iherr is very little left to expend in the expensive luxury ot
cottage buiidiug. The ease ol »uit»ll estates, however, is the

worst, and in spite of the supposed protection of the fa"W of
entail, they are being swallowed up by their larger neighbour-^
or passing into the bauds of men whose sole means are not
inve ted in land."

Mr. Portman says upon the same subject, " I would venture
to suggest, for your consideration, whether it is not espedien"
that legUlation should take place iu such a direction, as to
bring into the market those tracts of encumbered land,
enacting those who have capital to acquire such lands if tbey
desire to do so, and conferring a boon on those who now
possess them by giving them money to spend on such an amount
of territory as they wish to concentrate round their homes,
while at the time the curse of poverty and misery will be re-
moved from these districts whence all the profit is drawn and
to which none returns. Bad cottages would, [ think, then
become more rare ; a portion at least of the profits would be
spent on the spot, a more contented race of farmers and of
labourers would be found, and the education of the people, now
fhgging for want of lunds, would progress. Some may say
that this qnes.ion of the dwellings of the poor in agricultural
districts is a passing question of the hour, and that it is not
really so great an evil as is represented. I would answer, Go
into the country and see for yourself. Use your common
sense, and call to mind the effect of absenteeism on Ireland ;
and say whether or not in those portions of England where
poverty and mis ly arising from the same cause met you at
every st"p, there is uot urgent reason ior dealing with the evils
now existing by some legislative enactment, which shall put an
end to a state of apathy and indifference in many holders of
encumbered estates, and open the doors for the spenJiug of
capital on lands by those who are able, in the place of those
who are now unable to do so."

It is only fair to add, that it is not only upon entailed
properties that cottages are bad. Some of the wjrst cases are
to be found on land which has been bought by speculators,
and whole rows of cottages have been buiit of the most flimsy
material with insul&eient accommodation, without gardens, and
which are let at exorbitant rents. Most of these cases have
aria, n in what are called open parishes, at joining those close
parishes where, before the alteration of the law which threw
the burdeu of the support of the poor upon the whole Union,
it was the interest ot landowners to neglect to provide cottages,
or to pull down existing cottages, in order to avoid giving to
the labourers a claim for settlement, which would throw the
cost of maintaining them, when paupers, upon sueh parishes.
The census ot 1361 showed that ia tlve previous ten years,
in 821 English parishes a decrease o' houses was accompanied
by an increase of population. Tne last census shows that this
action lias been stayed by the Union Changeability Act, but
there was nothing in the Act to uudo ttte mischief which bad
already been effected.

Other bad cases are not rare, where c>ttages have been built
upon patches of land cribbed from the waste of a manor, or
roadside waste, and wh'ch the labouring occupiers claim as
their own ; these, bo.vever, are hardly [air cases ot individual
ownership.

Let it uot also be said that all landowners are to blame
for this state of things. Nothing could be more uufair.
If they were absolute owners of their property, with power
to sell or to charge their properties as they miglit wish, there
would indeed be ground lor complaint if such a state ol things
were allowed to remain nuredres-eJ. But the system uuder
which the great bu'k of them hold there properties as mere
nominal owners, wr «out real power over them, is devised with
the certain result that it can never be their interest to expend
money on cottages, And rarely in their power to do so.

Many efforts have been made by Parliament to find a remedy
for these evils, short ot interfering with entails or simplitying
the transfer of land. The tenant for life (he limited owner,
as he is very significantly called) had originally no power to
bind his successor, either by leases or by charges on the
property for its improvement. Parliament, however, has in-
terfered to give him these powers, su'ij.tct to the approval of
public boliee, who are to have regard to the iuterests of the
reversioner.

Short leases for agricultural purposes can now be given by
tenants for life. Longer leases can be given with the
consent of the Court of Chancery. Charges can be
made on the entailed property for certain improvements with
the consent of the Inclosure Commissioners. The charge,
however, must be made iu tuch a way es to rcpuy the prinui*

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

277

pal by instalments in varying terras of years according to
tne naiure of the improvement. The result is that drainage
gene. all) involves au annual charge of 7i per cen\ ou the
outlay, as much or more than the tenaut will pay iu the
shape of increased reut. The building of cottages involves
an annual charge which averagts three times the amount of
the reut which can usually be obtained for them. Sales may
also be effected upon applications to the courts of law, where
there are no powers lor this purpose contained in
the settlement ; but the cinseut of tenants lor life
and of reversioners must be obtained ; the proce:ds must
be expended in payiug otf mortgages or in buying other
land to be settled in the same manner, and can never be
expended in agricultural improvements, however necessary.
Tue»e, however, are mere paniaiives, and not remedies. They
ha»e tailed to effect auy substantial result. They tend to
knb titute for the real owner of the property a Government
department, a State inspector, or a judicial tribunal ; they
entail troublesome and expensive applications to courts of law
and Government officials ; they involve friction and delay.
From their very nature they are dsstined to failure. The
svstein, however, which needs such remedies stands condemned
by their proposal, and, as the late Mr. Wren Hoskyns well
said, " Wherever a series of supplementary devices is needed
to meet a law at variance with the time, it itidicates the under-
current of another law struggling agaiust worn-out bar.iers
that will not long withstand it."

What is this other law, struggling against the worn-out
system, which has thus signally tailed to meet the demands ol
tlie country aud the claims of the laud for the outlay of
cipiial ? It is freedom of sale, the alienability of land, the
free commerce of land ; the pruicip'e that laud shall be owned
by those who can give full title for it, and who can either
borrow for improvements or sell what they cannot improve ;
the principle that land shall belong to the present generation
and not to au unborn generation ; that landowners shall be
full mas ers of their own property, and not be. obliged to
obtnin the consent of the unborn for improvements or sal*,
through the medium of courts of law and Government offices.
it must be here free.y admitted that some ol the, larg. st
properties are exceptions to this general condemnation, both
in respect of farm improvements, larm bu'ldings, aud
labourers' cottages. St'ch properties as those of the Dukes of
Bedford, Devonshire, and Northumberland, and others that
Could be named, are models of all that conscientious and
intelligent landowners should aim at. It is obvious that as
there is a limit to the possible personal expenditure of families
with such great loitjnes, the margin which is lelt lor improve-
ment ot their properties must be greater m proportion than on
smaller estates ; it will generally be found also that these
very great lauded properties are supported by great
ncomes from other sources, such as housa property or
miueraK It is often argued from such examples, that the
larger properties are the better prospect there is of capital
being expended on the land by their owners ; and hence a
conclusion that it is well to encourage the creation of large
propeitiesand to regard with indifference the disappearance ol
smaller properties. The argument, however, is a dangerous
ODe ; the logical conclusion of it is, that it might be well to
merge all large proprietors into one still greater proprietor,
namely, the State itself. If the. State were sole and supreme
landlord, it might spend all the rent iu local improvements, in
farm buildings, and cottages, and in such a case the whole of
the rent would remain on the land from which it is due. This
is obviously a reduc/io ad absurdum, but it suggests to us the
necessity fur bearing in mind the piinciple on which alone
private property in land exists and can be defended.

If the English system fails in bringing to the land the
capital which is so essential for its development, or for build-
iijg cottages so necessary for the accommodation, comfort, and
even decency of the labourer, what is its eff-ct upon the
labouring class ? The failure to spend capital ou the land to
them irnans low wag.s; low wages and bid cottages combined
means a poverty-stricken life, which tells upon the whole
existence of the labourers.

It may be con tideutly said that the agricultural labourers
are divorced from any permanent interest, howev«r, suull, in
the land, or even in the villages in which they live. With
rare exceptions, it jg impossible for them to become possessed
of a plot of land or even of a cottage. The sense ol property
tlieretote never comeb home to tlicni.

Can we wonde', then, at the thriftless, hopeless, and aimless
condition iuto which so large a proportion of then have
urilted P The effect of the English system upon them may be
best judged by the results in those counties in the south
where it has beeu longest in existence, where it is carried out
most fully, and where it is undisturbed by the growth of any
a ijoiuiug mdusti ies ; such counties as Sussex and Dorsetshire,
Who can be satntied with the couditiou of the agricultural
labourers in these uistricU? or who can suggest auy remedy
consistent with the ideal ol the present system ? What hope
for advancement is there in their owu country P what pro-
spect of rising from the lowest steps of the ladder
to the higher P An impassable barrier separates the labourer
from the farming class immediately above him, and a still wid r
gull from the owner of land who crowns the social edifice
Whal wonder, then, that the labourers should be thnltless aud
without energy ; that education only induces the best of tliem
to leave the ouutry districts for other employments, and that
by a process of naural selection the average of those who
re i.ain is being gradually deteriorated ?

This condition is not the result of a harsh Poor Law, nor
of the want of charity. The Poor Law is in most agricultural
districts administered with benevolence, and probably there is
no other couutry where local endowments for the distribution
of doles and chari'ies aud where priva'e charities are so
numerous and liberal. It is, however, confidently stated that
in those parishes where charity is most frequent, where there
are most endowments for the distribution ot doi>-s, where t e»
clergy and squires, actuated by the best intentions, are must
active in private charities, there the coniitiou ot the lauourer
is the most depressed, and the least satislactory ; anJ there
alao is )e.;st thrift, and leaH energy lor self help and indepe. -
dence ; in too many of such parishes excessive charity hua
succeeded in undermining the self-help, thrift, aud iudepeu-
denee of the labourers, and has encouraged wastefulness and
intemperance.

What then appears to be most needed in the agricultura
districts of England is an element of independence, which can
only be obtained by the sense of property ; and of all t'.e
means of giving this seuse ol property and this feeling ol inde-
peuuence, the ownership of land, even tiiough limited iu ex ent,
and the ownership of a house and home, wuh its garden, woaid
be the most powerful and effective.

In what has been thus said, it is by no means intended to
convey the expectation, promise, or even the hope, that
England, under an altered system of law, will become a country
of yeomen farmers or ol peasant proprietors. In the main
and for such a period as any legislator can prospectively look
forward to, it would be impossible to realise either ot these
subjects. England will cerfaiul) continue to be, as it has
been iu the past, a country in which there will be many large
properties. Even it all landowners should have secured to
them the full power to dispose of their property as they thiuk
fit among thur children, it may be confidently expected that
the great bulk ot them will continue to leave the main portion
to their eldest sons ; and it will be long belore any custi m of
a different kind grows up in a country so essentially conser-
vative. What we may look forward to is, a considerable
increase in the number of landed proprietors of all classes, ai.d
especially of small owners. Without aiming at a system of
ownership such as we see in France, and other countries
organized on the same plan, it is not beyond reason to expeit
that some nearer approach may be made to the system which
prevails in Germany, where, as already explained, although
there are uiauy large proprietors, there are also many small
owners, where there is a large class of yeomen farmers, and
where a very large proportion of the agricultural labourers ate
also owners of small holdings, varying from half an acre tr>
five or six acres. Of the effect of this distributed ownership
and this interest in the soil upon the labouring class general!},
there cannot be doubt to any one who reads the reports from
the countries where this prevails.

It is not too much to say that if landowners, who are unab'e
to do justice to their proper ies, were empowered to sell, and
should avail themselves of this power, in respect only of a
small portion ol their properties, a very great change might
soon be effected in the state ot landownership in England and
Irelauri, and the landowners themselves wou-ld be the first to.
benefit.

m

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

GENERAL CONCLUSIONS.

If then the arguments already adduced, have any weight in
them, the conclusions from them and live objtcts to be aimed
at will Dot be doubtful-

These are. that the distribution of ownership of land is such
that it is held in amounts far beyond the average means of its
holders to perform their duties according to the ideal of the
English system, in the outlay of capital on it and the build:ng
of ottages ; ai.d that the most is not bnug made of the land
as an incentive to individual exertion and as the most power-
ful a^ent for the promotion of individual industry and
thriff.

It has also been shown, from experience drawn from every
part of the world, equally from Europe as from countries of
Anglo Saxon descent, that land is not necessarily the luxury
only of the rich, and that if it should be placed within the
reach of other classes, and the means be given of dealing with
it in a simple and expeditious manner, it will hscome the
luxury of a much wider class, and indeed of all classes pro-
portionate to their means. The same experience has also been
gathered from recent experiments in Ireland, It has been
shown that while in every part of the civilized world efforts
have b^eu made successfully to free land from tlie obstructions
and impediments of an obsolete feudal »ystem, to withdraw
the sanction of law to its accumulation in few hands, and to
pla^e it, as far as is consistent with the rights of property,
within the reach of all classes, and to promote its ownership
by the many rather than the few, in this country little or
no'hing has been done in this direction ; all the influence of
the State and of society has been in lavour of the concentra-
tion of land in few hands, our laws of tenure sanction and
assist this, the system of trans'er fosters it. It has been
shown that as a result we have a state of laudownership such
as is almost unique in the civilised world.

The objects to be aimed at by any legislation are not novel
or destructive; they are not opposed to the tights of property,
but in support of them ; they savour not of communism or
socialism, but are on the lines of individualism ; they seek to
make the best of individual property, for all its functions, and
in all its actions on the social system ; they are such as other
couutries have pursued with success; they claim that the
State has some control over its owu destinies, some voice in
the disposition of its area, and that society is not necessarily
the f port of an economic law favouring only accumulation,
which, however we may disapprove it, we are powerless to
resist. The objects then to aim at, are a wider distribution of
landed property, to the eatent that it shall m the main be held
by those who have the means of performing their duties, and
that it shall be brought within the reash of all classes of the
commuuity according to their means.

The means by whieh these objects may be attained may fce
summed up under the following heads '• —

1. The withdrawal of the State sanction to- the accumula-
tion of land by the law of primogeniture.

2. The limitation of family settlements to the extent of
prohibiting entails in the manner invented by Sir Orlando
Bridgemao, by which property can be settled upou unborn
persons, and a family law of primogeniture secured.

3. The requirement that there shall be for every property
some person or persons who shall have full power of dealing
with the property by sale or otherwise.

4. The assimilation of the law relating to land and other
property, and the. simplification of the law relating to land
tenure, so that its transfer may beeome simple aud inexpen-
sive.

5. The withdrawal of all State influence and sanction rn
favour of accumulation of land, and the exercise of it in future
in favour of a numerous proprietary of land, consistently with
the full recognition of existing lights.

It can easi'y be shown that these measures hang together ;
and that the pivot of them all is the abolition of primogeni-
ture.

(1.) By the abolition of primogeniture is meant the
removal of the; State' sanction to an arrangement by which, in
the absence of a will, property iu laud descends to the eldest
son of the iutestate to .the exclusion of the other children,, a
l.iw which seldom operates without producing injustice. It
is not contemplated that the property shall be compulsorily
divided, among the children against the will of the parent.
The freedom of willing would be retained and preserved ; and
any interference with it would, it is believed, be alieu to the

feelings of the great majority of Englishmen. It is only possil'e
in France and other countries because, as already shown, the
custom of eqial division of property is so universal and so
entwined in the feelings of the people, that it is scarcely
possible for them to conceive an equal distribution, and because
public opinion considers that a parent who does not provide
tor all his children according to his means is neglect 'ul of hit
pareutal duty. Where such is the public opinion compulsory
division by law is possible ; but tiiat is very far from being
the opiuion of Englishmen in the exis'ing social conditions of
England, where historical and family traditions so largely
affect the opinions and habits, not only of the wealthy, but of
all classes, that it would be absurd to expect either that a
custom of equal distribution would speedily grow up, or that a
law compelling it would be acceptable. An.his'oric family has
to be, maintained, an ancient residence in and about which the
traditions of a family have centred has to be preserved, the
political institution of the peerage has to be regatded; these
and many other causes will long sustain aud prob.ih:y justify
the custom of makiug a difference in favour of eldest 6ons in
many families ; though possibly not to the extent which is
now often the case.

(2.) When it shall be determined that the law itself will
not sanction or invite inequality, it will follow almost as a
matter of course, that it must be forbidden to individuals to
make a family law of succession different from that of tlies
State. Freedom of willing will be permitted, and every per-
son will be allowed to make what distinction he thiuks right
among his children or relatives, bat he will not be permitted
to trausmit these distinctions to another unborn generation.
If freedom of willing is conceded to him, he must not in his
turn deprive the next generation of the same privilege. The
freedom of willing is a part of the paterual authority, and no
parent should be deprived of this power by an antecedent
generation,

(3.) The last principle being decided on, the next one be-
comes easy of accomplishment. The distinction in favour of
an uuborn person being cut off and prohibited, it follows that
the present generation must have more power over the pro-
perty, and the power of sale is one of the first and most im-
portant attributes of property.

(4.) The two last principles are indispensable to the next,
that of simplifying the trausfer of laud. The tnaiu d fticulty
in the transfer of land arises out of the c mplications due to
the law of settlement or eutail ; so long as these exist, and so
loni» as ownership may be divided between the present aud the
future, between the living and the unborn, it i3 impossible to
expect or to hope for simplicity of title. Even the late Lord
St. Leonards has said that " no young State ought ever to bn
entangled in the complication of our law of real property."
Why then, it may be a^ked, should auy old State maiutain
and preserve these entanglements ? They are retained only
because they are necessary for our present system of family
' settlements. It will be easy enough to get rid of these diffi-
culties if we come to the couclusiou that these entails are in-
jurious equally to those who are the objects of thein, and to
i the community.

(5.) But not leas important than all these is it that the genera
iuflueuce of the State shall no longer be used in the direction
of the. accumulation of land. It is unnecessary to suggest t l.er
subj-cts where an opposite influence might be used, aud where
it will be po«sible for a very different policy to be pursued by
Parliament than has hitherto been done.
, The action token under the Bright clauses in Ireland has
' already shovtn how it is possible with the unanimous consent
of all parties to make a most important move in the direction
of giving ac1ive assistance for the conversion of tenancies
into ownerships. This particular method may not be appl:-
I eable to England ; but an al'ered public opiuion on the subject
liny justify other measures ; and it need hardly be poiuted
out that the land held in mortmain in England and Wales
amounts- to 1, 300,000' acres,, of which no less- thau 500,000
belong to charities.

As a preliminary,, however, to any actiou, it is necessary
that public opinion should pronounce itself strongly on the
broad question, whether it is satisfied with the present condi-
tion of hndownership in this country- Public opinion may
even without a change of law produce considerable elf t ct. It
may induce not a few of those who have hitherto considered
that the interests of a rural district are best concerned where
all the laud iu a parish or distriet is concentrated in one hand,.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

279

0 change their opinion, and to hold that as a matter of safety i
to the owners of property generally, as well as in the interest |
ot all classes around them, it will be wise to favour the multi-
plication of landowners, and to give facilities lor the creation '
of small owners of all classes rather than continually to reduce
them. Such public opinion can, however, o dy be formed by
a fnll and free discussion of the subject.

Does the land of this country produce what may reason-
ably be expected of it by a proper outlay of capital and
labour on it f Does it act to its full extent as a stimulus to
industry, thrift, aud prudence ? Is it a stable and satisfactory
state ot society where land is, or is considered to be, only the
luxury of the rich P Is it not expedient that land should be
brought witiiin the reach of all class, even at the risk of losing
something of its value as an article of luxury ?

It has been attempted to answer these questions by argu-
ments and illustrations drawn from the history and experience
of this and oiher countries. It is believed that the result of
all this experience is that a country is happiest, and its econo-
mical, social, and political condition most sound, where there
is a numerous and varied proprietary of its laud, and where
no class is divorced from the soil. This state of thing*, it is
believed, will and can only result where the trade in laud is
free; that is, where the transfer of land is simple and uncostly,
where all dealings in it are reduced to their simplest form,
whsre each successive generation has full and unrestricted
dominion over it, where the State gives no sanction or facilities
to an accumulation of land lor successive generations, and
where the laws give equal facility for its dispersion as lor its
acquisition. Under such conditions, when artificial stimulus
is removed, free competition will have its lull effect, and will
on the one hand prevent the undue sub-division of land, and
on the vlhcr its too great aggregation.

THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE.

WHAT THE NORFOLK FARMERS SAY ABOUT
IT.

The following excellent article has appeared in that
capital journal, the Norfolk Xews : —

The writer has rec°ntly had an opportunity of conversing
with a great many farmers in the county ot Norfolk with a
view to ascertain their opinions of this association ; and the
result may be very brielly epitomised. Norfolk farmers ap-
pear to share the opinion obtainiug amongst farmers all over
the country that tometlung requires to be done ; but they
also share the divided opinions held by farmers in other
counties as to what is to be clone, and the best way to do it.
I do not remember to have met with one who considered Mr.
C. S. Reau's speech at Norwich to be other than a homily to
landlords, yet nearly all were impressed with his statement—
to the effect that the Alliance was a Radical movement ; not,
as Mr. Dirkbeck explained, radical as sinking at the roots of
Kvils, but politically Radical as emanating from " the extreme
left of a certain party." Mr. Read succeeded in convincing
many of the Norfolk farmers that he was representing land-
loids, and not tenants, in the House of Commons ; but, at
the same time, he succeeded in diffusing the idea that the
Alliance was a movement having fur its ulterior object the
furtherance of party politics of an extreme character, to serve
the tactics of the Radical section of the Liberal party. No-
thing can be further than this from the liberal truth, as the
Alliance will be able to prove to the Norfolk farmers loug
before they will be convinced — by anything he may now tell
them — that he is an advocate for agricultural reform. He
may have injured the Alliance for a time, but his own status
with Norfolk farmers, and with the whole agricultural world,
I believe now to be irretrievably lost. The Alliance platform
is one upon which politicians of all kinds and creeds may —
aud do — meet with the one sole object of relorming agriculture
for the benefit of the country. Amougst its members are men of
the most diverse political opinions, who have banded them-
selves together for an object which is outside all party politics,
aud that object can only be attained, that I can see, by the
members ot the Alliance refusing to vote for any Parliamentary
cauuidate who will not pledge himself to support the vital
portions of the Alliance programme. One of the first objects
of the Farmers' Alliance is to obtain direct representation in
l'arliament, by lending its support to teuauMarmer candidates,

or independent candidates who "pledge themselves to support
the Alliance programme. In the event ol such candidates
being secured, the course for Alliance members to pursue will
be plain enough ; hut a general election is not far olf, and
in the majority of county constituencies the only candidates
will be the usual landlord, or their nomineet, and in that case
I have been repeatedly asked— Wh it are members of the
Alliance to do? To my mind the course to be pursued i a
simple enough— vote for the men who will support the objects
of the Alliance ; or, in case neither will undertake to do that,
do not vote at all. That is what / mean to do. As a Consei-
vative, I End it hard to vote against the party to which I have so
long belonged, but if the Conservative candidate will not support
the programme of the Alliance, and the Liberal candidate will
do so, I" shall vote for the Liberal. I mention this because I
know others will feel it equally difficult to kick against the
pricks of this sort. It would be impossible for the Alliance to
support any political party, because its members are of all
shades of political opinion. Each member will best serve
the objects of the Alliance by inducing the candidate re-
presenting his own|political party to support the prograromme
of the Alliance, and positively refusing to vote for him if
he will not do so. An immense power cau be exerted by
farmeis in this way if they will only consent to act in this-
way, and in concert. The representation of four-fi ths of
the County constituencies is entirely in their own baud* ;
they have the power, and all the Alliance seeks is to
induce them to use it in this particular manner. The pro-
gramme of the Alliance is based on the public good ; it seeks
to benefit the community through the farmers, not to benefit
the farmers (as a class) at the expense of auy other class. This-
»hou!d be thoroughly understood. Tne Alliance dares not
trust auy political party. The Conservatives have made many
promises, have called themselves the " Farmers' friends," and
have passed one really useful measure in the interests of agri-
culture, namely, the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act of
1878, which was marred by the Radicals. Rut they have
tricked the farmers more than once, as for example, by the
Agricultural Holdings Act. which was a deliberate swindle ;
and they are trying to trick them again with their projected
Land Law Reform. The Whigs are more constitutionally
opposed to agricultural reform in any shape than even Tories
of the old school. The Liberals (proper) have never promised
anything, and have never done anything lor farmers. And
the political Radicals— " extreme left"— have, on more than
one notable occasion, found themselves to be the deadly
enemies of progressive agriculture. Nevertheless, some farmers
cannot see through the sophistry of the member for South
Norfolk, who has styled the Alliance a movement connected
with the Radical section of party politicians !

Very few Norfolk farmers have any faith in Chambers of
Agriculture, as now constituted, being able or willing to effect
the objects of agricultural reformers. Yet some have said,
prompted no doubt by Mr. Read's speech, " What is the use
of the Alliance? " "What can the Alliance do ? " _ And the
obvious answer to such questions is that its aim is to unite
farmers together on one coramun basis, for one common object
which must of necessity lie outside their political partisanship.
Unity is strength ; and the greater the number ot members the
greater the strength of the Alliance will be. It does not seek
to give farmers any fresh power, but merely to induce them to
utilise the power which they already possess. There is nothing
very dreadful in that— nothing which need frighten good Con-
servatives into the belief that the Alliance is a democratic in-
stitution, formed lor the express purpose of overthrowing the
aristocracy, and undermining the constitution of thecountry. It
is nothing of the kind. Its chief objects, when attained, will
strengthen the hands of the landowners, and maintain the
stability of the nation by placing its agriculture on a firm and
lasting basis. The vital points" in the programme of the
Alliance I take to be these:— The abolition of the laws of
entail and settlement, the abolition of the Law of Distress,
and the securing to the tenant compensation for unexhausted
improvements, freedom of cultivation, and the indefensible
right to the ground game. The abolitiou of the laws of entail
and settlement would, I apprehend, make landowners rich in-
stead of poor, enable them to do their duty for the land, and
remove most of the existing artificial hindrances to the profit-
able cultivation of the toil. The abolition of the Law of
Distress would put an end to more money being paid for the

280

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

rental of land than it is really worth by men of straw, and it
would result in the land being let for ail it is really worth by
men who possess sufficient capital to farm it properly. The
freedom of cultivation and security for the vested interest of
the teuant would conduce to a progressive improvement in
the agriculture of the country which would be for th welfare
of the nation, but which is quite incompatible with the pre<
servation of ground game. I can see nothing revolutionary
in such a programme as this ; nothing which is inconsistent
with true Conservative principles. And, as I haveolten said,
if these are not sound and orthodox Conservative principles I
think they ought to be. No one cm be a s'ronger politic:!
partisan than I am in matters affecting the position which
Great Britain holds amongst the naticna of the world ; and I
am not slow to avow that partisanship to be Consetvative. I
fail entirely to see that I sacrifice one iota of Conservative
principle in associating myself with the band of earnest men
who have pledged themselves to dig unremittingly at the roots
of what they consider to be the evils which are threatening
the well-being of the community, through the agriculture of
the wuatry.

The light-land farmers of Norfolk appear to have suffered
less than the majority of agric.liuri»t» throughout the couutry
during the past year. In a season of that kind, those who
f rm tight land will naturally come so newhat belter otf than
those who farm heavy land. And this may, perhaps, have
induced many of them to regard the present depressed state of
a^ricu'ture as a matter which " sunshine " and a general re-
vival of trade will speedily counteract. I' that were really so,
the Alhancp, in^ead of being, as Mr. ll-ad sail, fifteen years
loo late, would be all fifteen years too soon. The Alliance is
tho outcome of the times, and the, times are the outcome of a
combination of circumstances w ich have had no precedent in
the anuals of the country. Bad seasons have undoubtedly
hastened the crisis, but sooner or later this crisis must have
come. We are now face to face with a competition which
has already overwhe'me.d British agnculiure. We can now ob-
t in (rom extraneous sources sufficient wheat to supply the
population of this country with all the breai'-stuffs they require
over and above home production, and, beyoud that, a suffi-
ciency to rule completely the price of our home growth of
bread-stuffs. So that the grain grown in Britain is sold at
the price at which an equivalent can be purchased from
abroad. And that price is lower than that at which British
farmers can produce it, under the present cndition of land
tenure. Rents must come down, and they will come down to
a purely commercial level as each tarm becomes vacant. This
is not a matter with which the Alliance has anything at all to
do. But the conditions under * Inch the soil of the country
is let to cultivators is a matter with which the Alliance has
everything possible to do. The tenu e of land is influenced
by legal impediments to the free cultivation ol the soil ; the
limited owner is incap ble of fulfilling the duties of his posi-
tion, to make permaueut improvements (except at a ruinous
cost), or to graut compensation c aims to his leases ; the land
agent and the family lawyer hamper the teuant by their anti-
quated covenants and absurd restrictions ; the game laws
Uestroy the fanners' crops and rob the people ot their
legitimate food to provide sport for the tew ; and the '' dead
baud " of the law is over ah the agriculture ot the country,
hindering its progress and blighting the energies ot the tanners.
Ttie Alliance says that all this must be chauged. The pros-
perity of the country must depend on the prosperity of its agri-
culture ; it is a question of food versus class privileges — and
food will win. It is not only in corn growing that British
producers caunot now compete with foreign growers, but
foreign meat, is now affecting the price of home produce.
We have seen the development of great and increasing trad;
in live cattle and dead meat from the United States ot America,
and no one can tell the proportions into which that trade may
yet grow. It is useless to speculate on the cost of production
in America. The wealth of a newly-developed couutry must
be in the production of its soil, and we know that the
United States has, and will have for years to come, a surplus
produce of grain and meat to dispose of. This is their best
market, and they will undoubtedly send it here. Any young
e untty that can find a market lor its surplus produce will
sell that surplus. It is because Australia has had no outlet
for her meat surplus that the colonies are making compara-
tively flow progress. But they have now sent us frozen
sutat, and it has been marketed successfully ; and frozen butter

wi'h a like result, And this result will before long floo"
the British market with Australian fresh meat and butter*
Not only that, but South America has twice sent Irozen niea'
successfully to France, and will now go to work in earnest.
Si that British Agriculture has now to c intend with nearly
all the waea'. growing couutries of the world in the production
of bread-stuffs, and with the United States, Australia, South
America, Canada, and part of the continent ot Eurupj, in the
production of fresh meat. Something must give way under
this strain ; and that something will be the artificial hind-
rances to agriculture which are held together by a system of
land laws which is not in accordance with the necessities of
the times, and incompatible with England's progress. Eng-
land's food products will not, under any circumstances, en--
tirely suffice to feed England's people. But it must be per-
mitted to supoly the greatest possible amount of food for the
country. Such changes are needed as will enable farmers to
grow all the soil will produce, and to sell it at the rate at
which its equivalent can be imported. The Land Law Ha.
form proposed by the present Government, and supported by
the law lords of the Oppo.-ition, is an attempt to retain the
po ition of the limited owner with all his feuialistic privileges ;
and, with all its plausibility, it is meant for a deadly thrust at
agricul ural reform, and at ihe Farmers' Alliance. But the
Alliance seeks to save the agriculture of the country and to
secure the Imit of Free Trade for consumers ; and it will pre-
vail. The question at issue is beyond the control of all the
law lords on either side the woolsack ; and food will icia.

I notice with much pleasure that one result of the .Norwich
meeting of the Alliance has beeu to refresh Mr. Read's
memory on a subject he Ins so long neglected — the Malt las.
He has made haste to unfurl the banner of Malt Tax Repeal in
the Norfolk Chamber ol Agriculture — both for his own cred.t
and that of the Chaniier. Tue Worcester Chamber has aiso
done the same tiling. Mr. Read has been a very slow Malt-
Tax Repeal advocate, bu' such a reform is better late than
never, and farmers will not care whether it comes williugly or
unwillingly so long as it does come. If the amount ot the
tax cannot be spared by the Exchequer, by all means let us
have it on beer instead of malt ; a tax ou • a manufactured
article is more on the line of Free Trade than a tax on
raw material. Same of the Norfolk farmers toid me they
would rather see an equivalent duty on foreign barley ; but that
would be Protection, pure and simple, and Protection iu this
country is " as dead as Queen Auu."

THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE IN EAST
SUFFOLK.

A meeting connected with the Farmers' Alliance was
held at the Lecture Hall, Djbeuham, ou March 12th
when there was a large gathering of the agriculturists of
the neighbourhood. The chair was occupied by Mr.
Caleb Kersey (Framsden). After the Chairman had opened
the meeting, Mr. Youngraan read the following letter
from Mr. W. E. Bear, Secretary of tbe Farmers' ALiauce,.
dated Loudou, March 11th, ISiO : —

It is with great oleasure that I learn that Mr. R. L. Everet
is to be brought forward as a tenant-farmers' cauuhate lo
East Suffolk. He is eminently fitted to act as a fanner
representative, and would do high credit to hi; constituent
in the House of Commons, if elected. I am sur«» the Com-
mi'tee of the Farmers' Alliance, of wnich Mr. Everett is a
valued member, will do their utmost to promote his success
in the coming election. The farmers ot East Suffolk, like
those of most other county divisions, are, in my opinion,
entirely misrepresented in Parliament, and it is earnestly to
be hoped that they will not neglect the excellent opportunity
which t'uey now have of sending a member of their own class
to the House ot Commons to look alter their interests. By
so doing they will not only be acting for their own interests,
but for the interests of the farmers ol the whole kingdom, and
I may add, for the interest of the public generally, as the well
being ol all rests to a very great extent upon the prosperity of
British agriculture. I am sure that it the tanners ot Fast
Suffolk will sink party differences in this great crisis ol agri-
cul'ural history, and work unitedly and heartily, they will
place the tcnant-faraicr candidate triumphant y at the head

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

281

of the poll. Tliey can also greatly diminish the cost of a county
election by doing the canvassing, and conveying voters to the.
poll in their own veh cles.

Mr. R. L, Everett, who was received with loud applause,
thanked the meeting for the flattering reception accorded
him. The General Eleciion, he sad, gave the farmers the
greatest opportunity they had yet had to get their grievances
finally and satisfactorily dealt with. If they neglected the
opportunity they might expect to be saddled and burdened
w th their grievances for the remainder of their lives. Lke
the Chairman, he gave the first place to the Malt Tax. Birley
was one ol the chiei articles of their produce — it was the most
important article of the farm, and there was no article manu-
factured which had to bear such a heavy duty, and jet the
farmers, numerous and powerful body as tliey werf, had sub-
mitted for generation afier generation to bear a tax which
injuriously alfected the sale of their producj, and restricted
the lib.-rty of the farm. The Malt Tax was a verj unscientific
tix, aud he advocated its total repeal, and the substitution of
a duty upon beer instead. In this duty he would exclude poor
men, but would make those who occupied houses of a certain
rateable value t;ike out licences, as they did for dogs, for
brewing. The next important question was tenant rigiit. The
Agricultural Holdings Act was passed to secure that, hut, un-
fortunately, it was made permissive, and its usefulness destroyed,
Mr. Everett next alluded to the question of the Game Laws.
Ttiere were lew counties iu England where game had been a
8 >urce ol greater annoyance and difficulty between land ord
a id tenant than in Suff.dk. If they did not take advantage of
tne great opportunity they now had to bring this question
home and get the law put into a proper condition, they would
not be able to do it with a return to prosperity. He. did not
object to the landlord having gam°, but a tenant ought not to
si/u away his rights without an agreement tlftt the game was
not to be preserved to such an extent as to entirely ruin his
crops. The law of distraint, Mr. Everett showed, acted pre-
judiciously to the land, as it encouraged men to take farms
who were not in a position to carry them on. As to the
educttion rate no one more appreciated the advantages ol
education than he did, and up to the age of 11 years he wculd
have every child kept at school, but not beyond that period,
unless the parent could afford to pay for its education. Where
Board Schools had been established the, cost of education fell
upon the larmers ; the farmer had to bear lie burden, and in
some parishes a very grievous burden it was. It was a burden
which should have been borne by the Imperial Exc equer.
Aa to the tithe in this time of depression landlords generally
had shown a disposition to help the farmers, and it would
have been well if many of the tithe owners had done so too.
All these grievances had existed during the greater part of
this century, and some of them even longer thau that. They
were grievances which pressed upon the farmer rather thau
upon the landlord, and had continued because they had been
represented in Parliament all these past years by the owners
of land, and not by the occupiers. Looking at how little had
leen done it was qui'e time that they tried a change. They
must now put their hands to the plough and determine that
they would no longer sit, down contented with representatives
such as they had had, but would have someone of their own
class iu the House of Commons. He was persuaded that if
the farmers of this constituency would unite and sink their
party differences, and fight for men of their own class
as he was glad to say many of the constituencies in
England were going to do, and only get a dozen
good sensible, eomrnon-sense men of their own class in the
House of Commons, they would not let. their grievances last.
He was very glad to see in the papers that his friend Mr.
William Biddell was coming forward lor West Suffolk. In him
the farmers would have a man of good common-sense to help
in getting rid of some of their burdens, to try aud rectify their
grievances.

Mr. ¥oungma.x explained the programme of the Alliance,
and stated that the Committee had just decided to consider the
action to be taken on the tithe question. In the course of his
remarks he said that the farmers had been ignored because
they had ignored themselves. If any man tried to intuse
divisiou in their ranks, let them black-ball him with a vengeance,
and let them resolve that they would be represented by meu
who understood their case. In Mr. Everett they had such
a man, and he had pleasure in moving the following
resolution ;—

That this meeting hereby approves of the principles of the
Farmers' Alliance, and pleuges itself to support them, and that
this meeting earnestly hopes that Mr. Everett will bee rae
the farmer*1 candidate for East Suffolk, and be triumphantly
returned.

Mr. Chase seconded the motion, urging upon E>st
Ruff .Ik to do itself credit, and return Mr. Everett to
Parliament.

Mr. Roberts suggested that a duty might be imposed upon
imported bariey.

Mr. Everett said a duty upon imports was as little objec-
tionable as an excise duty, but the people ol England would
not permit any impost upon grain, aa<\ he (Mr. Everett)
entertained that belief, witii Mr. Read. The people' would go
to the cheapest market, and would not ag-e-* to anything
proposed witli the iutentiou of putting an artificial price upon
any article for the benefit of the producer at the expense of the
consumer.

The resolution was then carried unanimously.

Mr. EaSTON proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman,
Mr. S. T Harwood seconded it, and it was carried, and the
meeting terminated.

Jjitrmtrs QLlttbs.

■ O.

DORCHESTER.

At the monthly meeting recently, Mr. H. W,
Hawkins (the presiden') presided.

M-. Vessey, M.R.C.V.S., real the following paper:—
Contagious diseases have for many years played a very im-
portant part in this country; they have at times been the
cause of great loss to many persons, while to others it has been
absolute, ruin. I have, therefore, chosen this subject to say a
few words to you to-night, and I will try as far as I can not
to make the subject a tedious one. A contagious disease may
be defined to be a morbid condition of the anunal body,induced
generally by the operation of a spec.fi; virus termed a' poison,
derived from an animal similarly diseas-d, and communicated'
either by inoculation, contact, or through the medium of the
air; sometimes, however, contagions diseases originate spon.
taneously (that is to say of one's own freewill), a term ap-
plied to any physiological phenomenon which takes place
without external agency, such as rabies in the dog, and
that is communicated ouiy to other animals and to the human
subject by inoculation, but as a rule they are, as I said before,
communicated by contact, inoculation, and infection — i.e., by
diffusion of the specific virus through the atmosphere. When
a contagious infection is established it may be kept up by a
constant supply of healthy susceptible animals, without any
fresh introduction of diseased ones, and in this way pleuro-
pneumonia and foot-and-mouth disease must have been kept
up, when no foreign animals were allowed to be landed in this
coun'ry, and in the same way they may be continued for an
indefinite period. I think there is no doubt that some conta-
gious diseases, such as glanders in the horse and rabies in the
dog, do sometimes originate spontaneously in this country,
and we mu4 admit that bad feeding, bad ventilation, bad
drainage, particularly in large towns, are powerful predispos-
ing causes to glanders ; this disease also occurs as a sequence
to exhausting diseases, more especially if the animals be old,
or of bad constitution. I have seen several horses attacked in
a stud by disease, ''influenza for instance." S>m^get better
some remain debilitated, unthrifty, lose condition, they hang
fire, as it is commonly termed ; in the course of a week or two
or as many months, a suspicious discharge appears at the nose,
and after a time unmistakaole symptoms of glanders are seen*
or farcy buds may appear on the body, which is only a variety
of glanders, there'ore the causes I have mentioned, and a
general vitiated condition of the animal's system, may be said
to produced glanders. Bat the question will no doubt natu
rally arise to your minds—" Why should that be so?" (i).
By causing the introduction into the blood of vitiated, or
decomposing material, generated in the external surroundings
of the auimal. (2). By indue. ng the formation'of degene-
rated material within the animal system, (3). By preventing
the excretion of the degraded constituents normallv generated
within it by the natural tissue changes, or excessively formed
within it by various disordered functions. Thus, gentlemen,

232

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

you see a e^ntaeiotis Centra is net up. I think that all impar-
tial men wilt admit the possibility of the spontaneous origin
of some contagious disear.es, whilst sufficient proof is furnished
of others, that they never originate in this country, and that
they become developed by contagion and infection only. I
refer to " Rinderpest or Cattle Plague." Sheep-pox, pleuro-
pneumonia, and foot-and-mouth diseases, or the morbific
material, when once developed in the organism of an animal,
possesses the property of causing the formation of an identical
material iu the body of another animal, when it is there im-
planted by direct inoculation or contact, or indirectly through
various channels, such as the water the animals drink or
through the medium of the atmosphere. The infection is
termed a contagion, " Specific disease poison," " Virus," and
is supposed to consist ofgerms,albumiuoiJ substances in various
molecular but undefined conditions. A pariicle of living
matter, less than one-thousandth of an inch in diameter, is a
living germ, so that a germ is hut a partic'e of living matter,
which has been detached from already living matter,
and this living matter came from some mat'er of some sort
which lived before it. The action of specific disease poisons
are compared to that of ordinary ones ; they seem to follow
certain definite laws, the most important of which are — 1st.
That they hsve all ceitain definite and specific actions ; 2nd.
That they lie latent iu the system a certain but varying period
of time before the actions are set up; and 3rd. That the
pheuomena resulting from their action vary in some degree
according to the receptivity of the patient. In 1877, fur a
period of nearly six months, this country was kept in a state
of apprehension owing to the gradual extension of cattie
plague in the metropolis and its vicinity, and ur.ent represen-
tations were made to the Government by influential agricul-
tural bodies and stock owners as to lead to au almost
unanimous demand that the Privy Council should take charge
of the counties bordering on the metropolis, and adopt striugent
measures for the repression of the. disease, and it was very
fortunate they did so, for if that disease had assumed the pro-
portions that it did in 1865, and coming just previous to I he
bad times that have so lately been experienced, it would indeed
have been most disastrous to the agriculturists. Cattle plague
is a specific malignant and contagious fever, indigenous to the
Asiatic steppes of Russia, never occurring in this country, but
as a result of direct or indirect communication between im-
ported ca'tle which have been exposed to contagion, and those
of our owu shores. The disease has a period of incubation of
from four to eight days. It runs a definite course, and usually
terminates fatally, as a rule, in about eight days ; in 1SR5 there
were attacked in this country with cattle plague 73,549 cattle.
In 1877 cattle plague existed in this country from January
31st to July 15th : the disease occurred in five different coun-
ties upon 47 different farms ; the number of cattle upon those
farms was 1,099 ; there were 264 attacked with the disease,
and 835 killed to prevent it spreading, and had it not been for
the prompt measures issued by the Privy Council I have no
doubt that the calamity would have been as great as that ex-
perienced in 1365, and I will here say a word with regard to
the officers of the Veterinary Department. We have at its
head one of the most eminent men in the profession. I am
speaking of Professor Brown, and had it not been for him and
the staff connected with the department I have no doubt that
it would have spread over a great portion of this country ; and
why? Because the local authorities found they were unable
to cope with it. The Privy Council took the matter in hand
on April 12th, and by July loth it was totally stamped out.
Now, gentlemen, having given you a short history of cattle
plague as it has existed in this county, on the narrow escape
our herds have so lately had, I will pass on and say a few
words to you on pleuro-pneumonia. I am happy to say there
was a great decrease in the number of animals attacked with
that disease in 1878. Compared with previous years in 1874
there were 7,740 animals attacked with this disease, and that
number has gradually decreased, so that in 1878 they were
reduced to 4,593. Pleuro-pneumonia is a coutagions and febril
disease peculiar to horned cattle, having an incubative period
of from two to three weeks to as many months, at the end of
which local complications arise in the form of extensive in-
flammatory exudations within the substance of the lungs and
upon the surface of the pleuro, finally resulting in consolida-
tion of some portion of the lungs and adhesion of the pleural
surfaces. In some cases we find there is extensive and rapid
destruction of lung tissue, but most commonly the disease is

1 of a lingering character, the oniet, course and termination of
the disease occupying a period of from four to eight weeks, or
I even longer. It is of great importance to owners of stock
during the prevalence of pleuro-pneumonia that observations
j be taken with the thermometer, and it is only by that we are
able to discover the end of the incubative and the beginning
] of the active stage. In a suspected herd all anim ds showing
a temperature above 102 degrees should be carefully watched,
j and if the heat rise above this there is little doubt that disease
, is at work, and the animal should at once be isolated. The
: course of enquiries held in various parts of the country has
| led to the belief thst outbreaks of " Pleuro pneumonia" are
not uncommonly reported on insufficient evidence; cases of
j scrofulous deposits in the lungs, and even instances of disease
I of those organs by the invasion of parasites,have been certified
as cases of " Pleuro-pneumonia." Fortunately no serious
j difficulty would present itself in the course of an investigation
! of this disease by competent persons, as it may be recognised
! with absolute cer'ainty if Ihey will only take the trouble to
make a post mortem examination. In the Netherlands the
Contagions Diseases (Animals) Act is somewhat similar to that
in the United Kingdom, and for some years pleuro-pneumonia
has been decreasing in that country. For instance, in 1871
there were 6,079 animals affrcted with that disease, and they
were gradually decre sed every year, so that in 1873 there
were only 698 cutle found to be affected with pleuro-pneu-
monia. Now, gentlemen, it must be very satisfactory for you,
as the owners of stock, to know that there is every rea«ou to
believe that some contagious diseases (which have at times
been so disastrous to the farmers of the country) can be
exterminated, and it behoves all of you to do all in your
power, if any contagions disease breaks out upon your farms,
to assist the authorities to stay the disease. It rniy be a loss
to you at the time, and no doubf, people are loath to re-
port cases, but ^t would be for the good of your neighbour
and the country at large were you to do so ; aud I hope you
have not lost sight of the great numbers destroyed every yeir,
as it is not only those, but their progeny are destroyed also.
Now, gentlemen, I will not trespass on your time and patience
by saying anything further on contagious diseases, but will
give yon a little iusight into the immense proportions the foreign
trade has assumed with this country. In 1878 we received
from European countries 163,049 cattle, 808,378 sheep, and
37,048 swine. From Canada and the United Scales 86,439
cattle, 84,172 sheep, and 17,938 swine. From the Channel
Islands 2.690 cattle and 66 sheep ; and from Irelaud 729,221
cattle, 642,999 sheep, and 471,547 swine; making a grand
total of 3,043,090 animals. As to the amount of dead meat
brought to this country, I cannot give any information, but
the present price of meat and the measures that are adop'ed
to protect the country from disease give every encouragement
to the farmer to breed more stock, and I think not only the
farmer, but all classes of society — because whatever alerts
the farmer affects the tradesmen and the working Classes also
— should feel thankful to the Duke of Richmond for introduc-
ing such measures into the Contagious Diseases (Animal*)
Act, for there is no doubt that they will prove an everlasting
benefit to this country.

MAIDSTONE.

A meeting of the. Maidstone Farmers' Club and Chamber of
Agriculture was held at the Royal Star Hotel recently,
Mr. G. Marsham presiding.

Mr. J. T. Hatch read a paper on the subject of " Local
Taxation." A ter observing that all taxation, whether local or
imperial, represented the expenses incurred in carrying out, by
a community, laws for the protection of life Hnd property and
for the development of civilisation, he took up two points of
argument ; first, that no one class of property should have an
undue share of such taxation, and secondly that no exemp-
tions should be allowed, or only under special and exceptional
conditions. Property, however unequally possessed, if taxed
for its own security ought certainly to bear the burden pro
rata, and the preservation of life, being of equal value to all
persons whether rich or poor, and the State machinery for
this purpose being a very costly one, it necessarily followed in
the general financial account that persons of limited means
actually contributed less than their share to the national ex-
penditure, without being exempted wholesale from any par-
ticular items of imperial taxation. Opinions differed as to

THE FARMER'S UAGAZINE.

283

the expediency of direct and indirect taxation, bnt they were
to deal that evening more particularly with those necessary
items of national expenditure which — while classed under the
head of " Local Taxation" — were levied on them as " direct"
taxation, and mainly upon one class of property— house* and
land. The Roval Commission upon agriculture were receiv-
ing evidence upon the effects ol local rates, and he believed
that their inquiries would produce convincing proof that the
enormous burdens concentrated npon land acted direc'ly as
protection to foreign producers, tended to diminish the quantity
of home-grown food, and strangled the enterprise of the
British farmer. The necessity of providing cheap food for
the people had doubtless, through Free Trade, caused that
anomalous state of things, and with their enormous aud
increising population it was neither desirable nor possible to
create enhanced aud artificial prices as a means of enabling
the British farmer to make both ends meet by imposing
duties on foreign corn ; hence lie was irresistibly led to the
conclusion that they must have the expenses of cultivation
lessened, if they were to escape the national disaster of a
partial destruction or even suspension of English agriculture.
Mr. Hatch then proceeded to show how every succeeding
Parliament imposed iresh taxes on the land, and stated that
from statistics he had looked into, he found England to be
the most heavily taxed country in the, world, and agriculture
to be the most heavily handicapped industry in the kingdom
in the race for wealth and power. While holding that the re-
iraposition of protective duties would be impolitic and, indeed,
imposible in this country, lie pointed out how other nations —
France and America for instance — prospered exceedingly under
those fiscal arraugeroents, levying the sums required ''or
G vernraent upou the whole population who consumed the
laxpd articles, whereas English agriculturists had to eompe'e
with the producers of all the world, who contributed nothing
to the revenue of the country. Of the total expenditure for
local taxation in England and Wales in 1877-8, rather
more than S.j millions was under Poor Law Authorities,
about 3J millions for education and School Boards, and
about 5^ millions classed as country expenditure, under the
heads of lunacy, police, highways, and sanitary works and
other objects. Now as town expenditure, under municipal,
urban sanitary, and metropolitan authorities was not included
in those figures — except in the item for edncition which com-
prised the towns — it followed that they had a total of nearly,
eighteen millions levied mainly upon one class of property
which ought in reason to be equally borne by all . He would take
for example the area of the Hollingbourne Poor Law Union.
The district comprised 23 parishes with 57,000 acres; the
population was 14-, 047, and the area was rated to the poor at
£91,426. The district was entirely agricultural, except where
covered by poor woodland, and the population was so scattered
that in no one place «ould more than 500 inhabitants be found
within a radius of a quarter of a mile ; yet no area of land and
no farm building could be found on the whole of that area
that was not changed with local taxation for the maintenance
of the poor (including wanderers from towns known as casuals),
county and police expenditure, maintenance and repair of all
highways including ex-turnpike roads, sanitary expenses and
public health, for the erecMon of schools in every parish (either
voluntary or otherwise), and for the expenses incurred under
the Education Act. Certainly imperial taxation was credited
with a portion of the cost of medical officers, with Government
grants after inspection of schools in aid of educational ex-
penses, and with a portion of the cost of maintaining lunatic,
but the main portion fell upon the land, and it was of that
he had to complain. The expenditure for the year ending
Lady Day, 1879, under the common charges of the Poor Law
was £6,535 10s., and after an outlay of many thousands of
pounds in erecting the workhouse, which had since 1S36 been
continuously altered at the instigation of Local Goverment
Inspectors, and was now as far as ever from giving satisfaction,
then there was an expenditure of £4,000 a year on highway
and turnpike roads, and of £2,000 for county and police rates.
Then to these suras had to be added the cost of sanitary work
and education, and thus they got a total of £15,000 a year
charged upon the land, being equal to a rate of 5s. 3d. per
acre, houses thereou included. Curiously enough the sum was
just about equal to the tithe payable in all the 23 parishes, so
that patting the two together they were confronted with a tax
of one entire fifth of the produce of the soil. Now he
submitted that as many of the charges he had mentioned were

for Imperial purposes, and in which the while of the, nation
were, interested, it would be only just and fair if property other
than laud and houses were made to bear a share of these
burdens. Mr. Hatch then asked why a gentleman possessing
£10,000 a year should only be rated for his residence, white
the whole of the tenant-farmer's capital was taxel to make
good ro;.ds forhii carriage and to educate the class from which
he drew his domestic servants, and why should a farm far
away be taxed in order that the sewage of his mansion should
not pollute some stream ? Why should carriers, proprietors
of public and private carriages, and traction engine owners
have the use of roads towards the support of which they con-
contributed nothing? Those were questions worthy of serious
consideration. After commenting on the heavy charges
arising from education, and the necessity for checking the
growth of expenses falling on the land, if thev wi«hed to re
store prosperity to the agricultural iuteres', Mr. Hatch con-
cluded an interesting pap-r by pointing out that after all the
charges he referred to had been paid, the tenant-farmer's
money, whatever was left, was still further decreased by the
iron grip of taxation in the form of an increased probate duty
upon wills. A discussion followed.

SUGAR AND MALT USED IN" BREWING
At the meeting of the East Suffolk Chamber of Agri-
culture, the following speeches were delivered : — ■

Capt. Delf, said he considered the subject was of pararaoui t
importance, whether it was for the purpose of endeavouring
to remove any hindrances which controlled the raw material,
or the removal of any fiscal burdens imposed upon the produce
of the soil. It behoved every one at the present time who was
interested directly or indirectly in the ag-iculture of this
country to do what was pos-ible to urge the removal of these
burdens. He had his own opinion with regard to the Malt
Tax question, and he considered it was one which was hardly
to be dealt with at a meeting of this kind. He thought the
wisest course to pursue would be to bring their influence to
b ar in reference to the sugar which was now used in breweries
to a large exteut, to show how it affected the agriculturists as
growers of b*-ley. The use of sugar in breweries had been
legalised since 1847, but it was not until 1855 that any ap-
preciable quantity of it was used. In that year there were
122,00t)lbs. weight of sugar us<?d. That went on increasing
till 1874, when the Customs duty on sugar was entirely re-
moved. After that time the use of sugar increased to some-
thing like three times as compared with three years previously
henc^ it was undoubtedly proved by the very large increase
that took place at that time that there was a manifest advan
tage in the use of sugar, inasmuch as the price of sugar fe 1
in 1855 from 26s. per cwt. to 18«. per cwt. in 1874. At the
time the Excise admitted sugar into breweries it was estimated
that two cwt. was equivalent to one quarter of malt. The
price of sugar at that time was 26s. a cwt., and the' Excise
placed a duty of 7s. 6d. a cwt. on all sugar going into
breweries. Bnt there were various Acts of Parliament passed
extending over a number of years that related chiefly to the
reduction in the amount of duty charged until 1874, when, as
he had said, the entire customs duty on sugar was repealed.
Last Wednesday he had sent down to him by the Commis-
sioners of the Inland Revenue some statistics which he thought
were somewhat start liug. Tiiey gave the quantity of sugar
used for the London districts, the quantity used in the pro-
vinces, and in Scotlaca and Ireland, but it would serve his
purpose to give the aggregate for the whole kingdom. In the
year ending the 30th September, 1878, there were 125,441,
9911bs. weight of sugar used iu breweries. In the year ending
30th September, 1879, there was 116,927,019 lbs. weight
It would be observed that there wag a small decrease last year
but he had been informed from official sources that, it was
believed when the present year was complete, in consequence
of the deteriorated quality of barley in this country, that the
qnmtity of sugar used in breweries would exceed that of 1878.
He would now contrast this large increase in the quantity of
sugar used with the duty paid in those two years. The
amount of duty charged on ma't in the year endiug 31st of
December, 1878, for England, Scotland and Ireland, amounted
to £7,967,912 lis. 0£d. ; in 1879 at the same date, the
amount of duty that was paid w»s 66,994,259 16s. 3Jd., show,
iug a decrease last year of £973,252 14s. 8fd. ; so that in

284

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

roual fijjurea there was a decrease of nearly a milliou pounds
10 moaey. Now, he thought tliose were two significant state-
meats. There was on the one liaad an immense increase in
the amount of sugar used in brewing, and ou the other hand
you had a deficit of nearly a million sterling. It was not
n-cessary for him to take up the tine of the C.iaraoer by
going more into detail in the subject, because it was a ma'ter
almost b yontf argument that there was an enormous increase
of su*ar being used in the country year after year. There
must"surely be a manifest advance to brewers in the use ol
sugar over that of m«lt. It also required but very little
argument to show it whs manifest hardship, to use no Wronger
term, that, an article of home growth, which shoul 1 oe
primarily grown in this country, should bear such a heavy
impost di.ty, while at the same time a foreign product—
although a great deal of it was made at Southampton under
the name of saccharine — was allowed to be u<ed in the minu-
factr.re of beer. This he considered a great hardship, for he
maintained that this was a reckless adul eration, for b-er or
milt liquor should consist of malt and hops, and nothing else ;
and he cou'd not see why any latitude should be given to
brewrrs more than to manufacturers of any other articles. A
man coull not sell mustard and starch without dec aring it
was a mixture of that kind, nor could a man sell mixed coffee
and chicory without declaring the mtu-e of the mixture, and
whv a brewer should be eoabled to sell beer or malt liquor
without declaring that there was sugar in it, he could not
underhand. The other day at a meetiug a bre *er sta ed that
the brewers used sugar bee mse the public 'as'e dera .nded it,
because it was liked a great, deal better. He (Captain D^H)
was not going to dispute the public taste. There were tastes
and tastes, and some of them very singular tistes—
and he had heard of individuals of whom it h id been said
that they would not know the difference between the
besr '4,7 and a glass of Day an I Miriiu's baking.

He thought we hardly ought to c irae down to the
brewers' idea of the public taste ; he should much p-efer
beer made from malt, hops, and water, of those ttrfciclia alone,
and he firmly believed that if the beer that was soil in this
country was composed of those three, element-, we 8liould not
have the amount of drunkenness that existed amongst u •, nor
the amount of immorality. He contended that there w*s a
great ch.rge laid at the door of men— whether bv sane' ion of
Government or public sanction— who introduced impure and
obnoxious materials besides sugar, which beer ofteu contained.
He felt very strongly upon this point. A brewer had recently
told him that he had increased his holding of public-houses to
the extent of £17,000, which would, he supposed, represent a
large interest in the brewing trade. He (Cp\ Dell) asked
this gentleman what he considered w is the profit in the use ol
engar instead of malt. He said about 9s on the two cwts.
of su*ar to the q -arter of malt. This was a great hardship lo
the growers of barley, and if the brewer used so many hundred
thousand tons of sugar, it meant a demand for so many hundred
thous-ndtons less of malt, and that, undo ibtedly, was one
reason why this sea-on farmers had had so much difficulty in
getting rid of anything but first-class barley, of which, he was
sorry to say there had been but few samples. If tl ey could
show the Chancellor of the Exchequer that he was a lo er ol
half a million during the present year by the pr?s-nt &J»tera,
that would be a strong argument to go to him with ; and he
(Capt Del ) thought there was no difficulty in proving that
this svstem had for many years past exercised a most injurious
effect 'upon the landowners and the tenant-larmers, as well as
the public and the tax-payers generally. Captain Delt pro-
ceeded to quote authorities to show that there was a great
deal more sugar used in breweries than that upon which duty
was paid.

Mr. R. L Everett said he thought one thing was mcon-
testibly clear, and that was that the use of sugar for brewing
had been greatly on the increase of late years, but when they
came to the reasons of that increase they were not perhaps
quite so clear, and everybody would not be able perhaps to see
eye to eye upon that subject. There were several points in
connection with the subject in reference to which they, as
farmers, had not sufficient technical knowledge, to be very
accurate judges of. Some said it was because the saccharine
in sugar was no* taxed so heavily as the saccharine in malt,
but a brewer in this town was good enough to lay all the
facts before him, and if that gentleman's facts were to be
relied upon, and undoubtedly they were, those facts

would show tint the reverse was the case, that the sac-
charine in a cwt. of sugar was less than the saccharine in a
coomb of malt made in the ordinary season. This gentleraai
aUo said that the duty on the saccharine iu «u;ar was heavier
than the duty on the saccha.'ine in malt. On the other hand
it had been said that the duty on sugar was greatly evaded.
Strong arguments had undoubtedly beep brought forward to
convince ns that such was the case, that there was not the
careful supervision over the use of sugar that there was over
milt. The nature of the materials would make it almost im-
possible that there should be the same scrupulous care witti
regard to the use of the oue that there was with the use of the
use of the other. There was another reason be«ides the eva-
sion of the duty that might possibly come into consideration
with reference to this qies ion, and that was that the sac-
chirine of sugar might possibly be brought out cheaper than
the saccharine, in barley — that was to say, it made a cheap -r
article even with the ex'ra rhjty on than the barley. How-
ever, those were the points that bore upon the question, but
there was one thing that he felt certain of, and that was, that
no law would be likely to stand in this country which woul I
have for its object the compelling of the brewer to u-e an article
which was dearer than another article, which, but forth it
law, would be accessible to him. If it was a fact that tha
brewers, by the use of sugar, could make beer more palatable
to the public taste, and cheaper, than by tl e use of mall, the
whole tendency of legislation was to allow a man to produce
an article in the cheapest way, and would not restrict, him
from the use of sugar if su;pr was a cheaper article for hiia
to use. If the saccharine iu sugar contained essentially differ
ent e'eraents from the saccharine of the mal', then they migh.
ask the brewers to make a declaration of which kind of be r
he was selling, as io the cise of othe r articles in re-ereuce to
which it was required to bs declared of what bases they were
ma 1p. As to how it was possih'e to put these two things upon
a level was no doubt very difficult, but unquestionably tin
simplest, fairest, aid roo<t satis'aetory way would be to change
the revenue of the tax altogether — in fact, to change the. tax
on the raw material and to put it on to the beer. He felt
confident now, from what had trauspired of late, that they
wore nearer the end of the Malt Tax agita'iou than they had
ever yet been. If it could be shown that it touc'ied tha
revenue that would be the way of bringing the matter nearer
home to the Chancellor of the Exchequer or the Government
than anything else. No doubt during the next three weeks a
good deal would be said upon this subject, Hnd it was hoped that
the. question which had b°en agi ated through many years
might be speedily settled aud dealt with. The key of
the whole thing was in the end of Mr. Cooper's amendment,
which suggested that the duty should be transferred from lha
malt to the beer. In this way you did not affect the revenue,
as the total abolition of the tax would do, while it would ha
an admirable method of getting rid of a burden whirh lid
always been looked upon as unfair aud unjust ever since it
had been imposed.

MANNERS. — Master George (a very naughty boy to n»w
French Nurse). " Caroline, comprenny-vous l'Ouglay ? "
Caroline. " Non, Monsieur Georges." Master George.
" Quel dommage! pas tin Mot?" Caroline. " Pas nn Mot,
Monsieur Georges." Master George. " Alors apporty-moi
mes Bottes, si vous play, you old Beast ! " — Punish.

TH VT " YELLER " CAT.— The New York News got the
following Irom a small boy : " The cat which we had fore we
got. Moie was yeller, and didn't have no ears, and not eny tail,
too, cos they were cut off to make it go away from where it
lived, for it was so ugly, so it cum to our house. One day my
mother she sed wudent my father drown it, cos she knew where
she ende git a nicer lukin oue. So my father put it in a bag,
and a brick in the bag too, and threw it in the pond, and
went to his office, ray father did. But the cat busted the bag
string, and wen my father he cum home it was lying under the
sofa, but cum out to look at him. So they looked at one
another for a long wile, and bime by my father sed to my
mother : " Wei, you are a mity poor hand to goashoppin' for
cats. Thisu is a site uglier than the other !''

THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE.
A NEW INVENTION.

The Macclesfield Courier says : —

28!.

teir enecti»_ ..
highly approves of the grass cutter, and hereby reoords its
opinion that it is a very valuable and useful invention • time
it is well adapted for cutting verges, lawns, &c, is so light in
construction as to be adapted lor ladies' use, and likely to
i given the patentee-* local man become in general me for cutting grass in iccesaible o other
y of myenors We have now machine., and also to households liavin* ,,nalle lawns aria.

We some months ago called attention to an invention
which, simple and cse'ul in its character, has since attained
world-wide celebrity, mid has given the patentee — a local man
— rank in the great arm

pleasure in noticing another, and probably it will be lound
more important invention in a similar direction. Since the
introduction of his new hedge clipper, which so entirely super-
sedes the old method of keeping the hedgerows in a trim con-
dition, Mr. Allred Itidgway, of Macclesfield, has directed his
atteu ion to the accomplishment of a purpose which hKs, we
believe, hitherto foiled the inventive abilities of mechanic ans
who have given time to the subject He claims to have suc-
ceeded in producing upon a series of blades a "clear scissors-
Jike cut." This apparently simple accompli hnient fe of tire
highest importance in such operations as sheep shearing, horse
clipping, &o. Ti;ere are ut present instruments which are
used in horse clipping and sheep shearing, which,
at fir>-t sight, appear to be similar to Mr. Ridgway's plan of
manipulation. But the difference betwetn the two is that
while in existing instruments the hair or wool is as it were
bitten off by the action of a series of reciprociting plates with
apertures cotresponding to teeth, this machine consists of a
series of tempered blades, which, by the simple action given in
workiug it, are caused to cross each other at the slight angle
necessary to produce a clean cut as in the case of single shears
or scissors. The idea appears to have been very ingeniously
worked out by Mr. Ridgwav, who has taken out letters patent
protecting his invention. On Saturday last, Mr. Ridgway ex-
hibited several of his machines, constructed on this principle,
made applicable to the cutting of grass on lawns, verges, or
the sides and corners of footpaths or grass plots not easily ac-
cessible to other instruments. The experiment look place at J
the Public Park, in the presence of the Park Committee, Mr, j
Roscoe, the park curator, Mr. Wright, borough surveyor, and
others. The instrument is somewhat of the pattern of the
hedge cutter, the working motion being the same, and it
seemed to make its way easily, rapidly, aud surely over uneven
grass, leaving behind a consecutively sraooii and "eyeable "
surlace. Instruments in different sizes were shown, some so
easy of manipulation by the hand as to be adapted not only for
shearing the close wool off the back of a sheep, but to trim the
whiskers of ttie gentlemen who assembled, some of whom,
amid laughter, attempted the experiment. Whether wiih the
fluffy wool experimented on, or the hirsute adornments of the
Committee, the cuts of the instrument wen as clean and cer-
tain as with a pair of good Sheffield blades. The great merit
of the machine is its simplicity, and (because of its compara-
tive cheapness) its adaptability lor general use. It is light in
construction, and the ordinary cutting motion of shears is all
that is necessary to work it,

At the close of the experiments the gentlemen present, some
of whom put practical and testing questions, expressed a high
opinion of the ingenuity which the mschiue exhibited, and its
probable extensive adaptability in the farm, the garden, and
the homestead. The following complimentary resolution was
placed upon the minutes of the Park Committee, and read at
the meeting of the Local Board of Health on Thursday evening
last :—

"At a meeting of the Park Committee, on Saturday,
February 21, present Alderman Smale ; Councillors Hordern,
Rowbotham, J. Smale, Fowler, Stannitorth, and G. Walker,
Mr. Ridgway, of the Market-place, attended and submitted for
the inspection of the committee his recently invented Patent
Manual Grass Cutter, a light and convenient implement adapted
tor cuttiBgthe grass of verges, lawns, and uueven surfaces ueatiy
and with the dispatch hitherto onlyattaiued bymowingniachines.
Some difficulty was experienced in finding long grass to experi-
ment upon, the herbage not having yet commenced growing.
Patches of old long grass of last season's growth were cut with
the implement, as was also the grass on the top of a sunken
Will, not accessible to scythe or machine, the effect being a
clean cut made with the greatest ease. The manual grass
cutter, the principle of which Mr. Ridgway showed was applic-
able to sheep shears and horse clippers, possesses the cro-s tut
scissors, each blade crossing its opposite, one, and producing a
clean cut Irom base to point. Mr. Ridgway also exhibited
veral pairs of multiple shears for shearing sheep and other
\t uses, aud after a careful inspection, and witnessing

....ig smaller lawns areas
which they may desire to trim up themselves.'

MR, READ AND TUB MALT TAX.
A correspondent of the Xonclrh Mercury, under th
heading " How Mr. C. S. Head ' slumped ' the Funacrs.e
says : —

At an election meeting held fit Atfleborough last week, Mr
C.S. Read, bemg much opposed, challenged his opponents to
point out a single act of his where he had not fulfilled hi*
promises. It is well known that at his first eleclioo Mr. Read
was largely indebted lor his return to his advocacy of the
repeal of the Malt Tax, and the following facts will show how
he h .s slumped the farmers on tins question : —

Go April 16th, 1874, Sir Stafford Nnniicote introduced
his first Budget, and disposed of the Si* Millions Surplus leit
by the Liberal Government without any attempt to deal with
the Malt Tax .'

Colonel Barttelot (Malt Tax Repealer) in the discussion
condemned the retention of the Tax.

_ A week later, Mr. Fielden, true to his constituents, moved
in the House, " That in the opinion of this House, the Malt
lax ought to be reduced."

On that, occasion Colonel Barttelot asked the hon. meinb r
not to divide the House.

In the division, 17 voted for the motion, and 2-14 against
Mr. Read did not vote at all !

A fortnightlater (May 5th) the Central Chamber of <Wi-
culture met at the S .lisbury Hotel, aud, on ihe motion of Mr.
Hermann Biddie (Conservative) passed the following resolutiou
by a Urge majority, " That this Council h»s seen with surprise
a surplus of six milii. ns distributed by the Government without
anv attempt to reduce or repeal the Malt Tax."

Mr. Read was present and said, " When' he sat iu tint
chamber there was no padlock oa his lips (!) He confessed hi
was, »s an agriculturist, disappointed at the Budget, but he
was & .t surprised at it. Budgets, in thee dsv3, were made to
pass, as the razors sola in fairs were said to be made not to
shavebut to sell " (! !)

The Norwich Mercury, iu a leading article says : —
Mr. Read, in his Norwich speech of Saturday last is ;e-
ported to have said that the Liberals had allowed sugar to ba
used in brewing. He ought to have given either more or less in-
formation. To what period does he allude ? The Act of 1854,
in fixing the duty to be paid on ma t, also fixed that to be paid
on sugar, "in lieu of previous duties,"— so that the use of
sugar in brewing was not then unknown. A return, moved
for three weeks ago, by Mr. Watney, shows a steady increase
in the use of sugar by brewers, from 1,790,000 lb. in 185b- to
over nine millions in 1863. In the two following years, th<j
consumption fell to 5£ million lb., increased in 1863 to 104
millions, and in 1867 to 41 millions— the Conservatives th. u
being in office ! From that time the consumption has never
been less than 29£ millions. In 1873 there wis au increased
use — going up to 63 millions ; and since the present Govern-
ment has been in power the consumption has increased from
that amouut to 125 million lb. If it be so very wicked a
thing to permit the use of sugar instead of malt, how tomes ic
about that Mr. Read's friends in office have been so unmindful
of what is due to the growers of barley ?

Mr. Re d also makes a point, as, we not«, have other Con-
servative candidates, of Mr. Disraeli'* proposal— December
1852— to repeal one half of the Malt Tax. He, however, is*
s.lent on the fact that it was part of the same scheme to remove
the then existing prohibition upon foreign malt, which was to
be used on paying equal duty with English malt. And
he also conveniently forgets that the proposa Jwas uot even
fairly discussed by the House, the Ministry n.aking the choice
of battle to depend oi their proposal to levy double duty ou all
houses and shops rened as low as £10. Ou that proposal and
on that alone, was a vote taken. These facts do not warrant
Mr. Read in his discreditable attempt to damage the Liberals
iu the opinion of .Noriolk farmers.

296

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

THE FARMERS AXD THE LIBERALS.

The Spectator of Saturday last says : —

It is becoming very dear that the old fallacy, so triumphant
hitherto at county elections, that the interests of landlords
aiiJ farm-rs are identical, and that the farmers are best
represented in Parliament by their landlords, is at last pretty
-we;l woru our. Tne proceedings and addresses of the Farmers'
Alliance, and the appearance of tenant-farmers' candidates for
various counties (who would have been more numerous, if the
Dissolution had been put off till the au'umn), alike give proof
of thin. The weather is that the farmers have remained
under such a delusion so long. That there are points upon
which legislation which profits the landowners profits sl»o
th. ir tenants is, of coursr, plain enough, and upon these
points tl'.e laud'ords in Parliament have not shown themselves
remiss. Bit how farmers cou'd have been brought to believe
that upon the vital questions of compensation for unexhausted
improvements, of the law of Di.-tress, of game aed game pre-
servation, of the apportionment, of rates between landlords and
tenants, and of giving a voice to farmers in the expenditure of
r iti-a by County Boards, the legislation likely to be pro noted
Uy landlords could ever be really favourable to the interests of
Tenants, is a puzzle hard indeed lo solve. However, six years
of absolute landlord ascendancy, in both Houses of Parliament,
have at last brought most intelligent farmers to the conclusion
that the landlords they have sent to represent them have
■proved to be but as wolves set to guard the sheep.

It would be unwise to over- estimate the gain (though, no
doubt, there will be some considerable gain) to the Liberal
cause at the present election, from this change of feeling
amongst the farmers. Between the Liberals aud the farmers
tlvre ha8 hitherto b°»n but little sympathy, and sj ropathy
takes time to grow. Several of the tenant-farmer cand. dates
•now coming forward, as well as a large proportion of the pro-
moters and members ot the Farmers' Alliance, are, in general
politics, staunch Conservatives. The Liberals, on their side,
have hitherto taken much too little account of the farmers,
looking on them as wholly wanting iD independence, as too
t.mid to tigh' for, even if not too s' lipid to form anv political
creed of their own. In such a view there, is surely much
that is unjust, as well as much that is impolitic. Tne farmers
— (at all events, no* that the Ballot has given them for the
first ti ne independence) — ae, at the worst, not so politically
.hopeless as some other portions of the community, say, for in-
■xunce, aa the thousand cjuimoa-placj midd e-clasa electors in
and rouHd London, who, without, any politic il aspirations
whatever of their own, vote steadily for the Conservative',
either because they fancy it more genteel or fashionable, not to
say aristocratic, or because in their eyes patriotism is mostly
hii affair of fighting, and they think it traitorous to discoun-
tenance even such wrcc-hed and inglorious wars as those iu
Zululand and Afghanistan. . . . Iu the main, farmers could
urn have a better guide to what is practicable in the way of
legislation 'or the relief of agriculture, or to what the Liberal
pary can and ought to help them in, than in the series of
'• Q 'estions to be put to Candidates," drawn up and circulated
by the Farmers' Alliance.

Both with a view to the coming elections, and still more if
we extend our view somewhat beyond these elections, we would
earnestly impress upon all Liberal county electors the wisdom
and importance of cordially lending a helping hand, whenever
po sibltt, to the farmers. Liberals cannot, of course, endanger
rl.e seat of a Liberal candidate for the sake of a Conservative
lmaut- farmer, but this seems the only reservation ne.fded.
As between a candidate of the type of the Conservative
.11 ijc rity in the la'e House of Commons and a Conservative
teuant-farmer, there should be no hesitation whatever in giving
hearty support to '.he latter. Let Liberals n liect that if the
numerical majority of tenant-farmers are still Conservatives,
the active aud leading minds amongst them are, in their utter
disappointment at the aciion ol the Parliament just dis.
t ihed, fast gravitating towards Liberalism, that upon the
opinions of the intelligent leaders will ultimately depend the
opiuions of the general body, and especially of the new genera-
tion of farmers, and we. think they will see good reasco to
believe that, in the elegant phrase newly introduced into our
language, the Liberal party have every possible motive to
" consolidate co-operation " with the farmers.

WOODBRIDGE HORSE SHOW.

The Woodbridge annual show was held recently, on Mr.
3. Grout's Fair Field. There were nine silver cups of the
" Woodbridge Horse Show " pattern. The judges were, Cart
Horse Classes, Mr. J. A. Hempson, Erwarton Hall ; Mr.
James Toller, Blaxhall H41. Riding Horse Classes : Mr.
Hervey A. Oakes, Hill House Siowmarkef; Mr. Richard
Garrett, Carleton Hall, Saxmundham.

Class 1. — Best Suffolk cart stallion, above three years old. —
1st (silver cup, value £10), Cupbearer the 3rd, Mr. Richard
Garrett. Car'ton Hall, Saxmundham ; 2nd (silver cup, value
£5), Ben, Mr. M Biddell, Payford. Commended, Raglan,
Mr. John Gront, Woodbridge. This was a large class 16
entries. The -first prize was taken by Cupbearer the 3rd, who
stood far above all the rest of the class in point of merit.
The second prize went to Ben, who has so often en'ered the
ring against Cupbearer the 3rd. The next horse that seemed
most to please the spectators was Champion, belonging to Mr.
Jos. Balls, of Rushmere.

Class II. — Best Suffolk cart stallion, three years old and
under. — 1st (silver cup, value £8) Chieftain, Mr. Samuel
Wolton ; 2nd (silver cup, value £4), Rodney, Mr. M. Biddell.
The Cupbearer blood was most proa.inent in the ring, and
was selected at once as showing more bone and substance
than the others. Three were specially selected. One was
Chieftain, the property of Mr. Samuel Wolton, by Cupbearer
2nd, and consequently half brother to Richard Garrett's cee-
brated horse. Chieftain is a particularly good-looking oolf,
deep in his girth, but was thought to bo a little too high off
the ground. He has, however, hard flat legs and capital feet,
hut is r-ither cut away in his thighs. However, as he is a
descendant from the cslebrated Moggy stock, he will un-
doubtedly grow into a grand horse some uay. The seaood
horse was Roduer, belonging to Mr. M. Biddell, a son of Cnp-

, bearer 3rd, and is a wonderful constitution colt, on remark-
ably short legj, which, however, sre not so hard and fiat aa the

I winnrr's. He is a trifle lo'ig in his back and short in his hind
quarters. The third horse was Zulu, also bv Cupbearer 3rd,

| and the property of Mr. Richard Garrett. He is a very smart
colt, and moves the best ot the. three, but looks a trifle low in

| the back, and does not stand quite so firm on his legs.

SwF.EPSTAKr8 of 10s. each, with £3 added as a 1st prize,
and ^£2 as a 2nd prize, tor Surf ilk cart stallions, 2 years old
| and uniter. — 1st, Vanguard, Mr. W. Wilson ; 2ud, Edward the
First, Mr. Juhu Grout. The be>t of his class was thought by
nmny to be. Oriental, the property of Mr. Horace Wolton, but
he went lame.

Class ITT. — Best thoroughbred s'allion. — 1st (silver cup
value i;8), Falliero, his Grace the Duke of Hamilton and
Brandon, K.T. ; 2nd (silver cop, value £+), Greenback, his
Grace the Duke of Hamilton and Brandon, K T. His Grace
the Dike of Hamil'on ?nd Mr. John Grout had two eJich,
Those belonging to Mr. John Grout were only two-year-olds,
which stood hut little chance against the well-furnished aged
horse ot the Duke of Hamilton, and consequently the first
prize went to Faliero, and the second to Greenback.

Class IV. — Best Hackney Stallion. — 1st (silver cup, value
£8), Black Prince the 2nd, Mr. John Grout; second (silver
cup value £4), Little John, Mr. John Grout. The hackney
stallions were not so high a cla*s as usual. The judges gave
their opinions more from the standing position than from
ac'ion. There were seven entries and only two exhibitors,
Mr. John Grout and Jos. Flinthara, Aldborough Hal The
latter had one out of seven showed, a very smart good-lookiug
horse of Phosphorus strain. He promises to be as fine a gcer
as his sire, but as be stood nearly 1G h.h., the judges thought
he would be better adapted for the coaching class than for
hackneys. He seemed a great favourite with the outsiders.

Class V. — Best Coaching Stallion. — 1st ^silvercup, value
£6), Dalerman, Mr. John Grout. The coaching stallions
numbered oc'y three, and all Mr. Grout's, the first, prize going
to a grand-looking roan, a descendant of the celebrated
Dalesman.— Norwich Mercury.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

267

AN EXPENSIVE GOVERNMENT.

TO THE FDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — I will not ask to intrude much on the valuable
space of yonr widely-read journal, but I hope you will
allow me to remind yon that the English farmer has now
to compete with all the world, and that for him to do so
successfully two things are essential — cheap land and
rheapgovernment (or, in other words, low rates and taxes).
For laud farmerB are paying annually in this country per
acre for rent about double the amount that land of similar
quality can be bought for in America, and many will no
doubt see it to be their interest to pay half the amount in
purchase rather than to continue to pay yearly double the
amount o( purchase for rent.

Cheap government, I fear, we are not likely to have
under the present Ministry. In the early days of their
career, in making their financial arrangement for purchase
of shares in the Suez Canal, they paid for £4,000,000 of
money at the rate of 15 per cent, per annum, while
traders and others were at the same time discounting at
the rate of 2J- per cent, per annum, and they have quite
recently proposed to pay thirty millions for shares iu
water companies, the value of the whole of which on the
market was seventeen millions. Extravagance appear* to
aitend all their arrangements. From 1869 to 1$73 the
average Government expenditure was seventy millions
annually. Uuder the present Government it rose in 1875 to
£74,000 000,187fi'»£76 00.1000. 1877 to £78.000,000;
1878 to £82,000,000, 1879 to £85,000,000. The present
Government inherited a surplus of £5 000 000, ihey have
a ided £7,000,000 to our taies, and they come before the
c 'iintry with a deti-ir of £8,000,000. When in opposi-
tion we heard much from the Conservatives about reliev-
ing the landed interest. Since thev have been in "power
tins subject has been prohibited. Put them over to the
other side of the House, and we may hope their interest
for the formers will be quickly revived. We snail then no
doubt agaiu bear something of the Malt Tax.
I am, Sir, &c. ,

One who has Farmed but who is glad to say
He Farms no Longer.

HEALTHY PIGS.

I of'en re d wi h n gret, but not surpr'S", of diseased pigs
—and know, 'rorn extensive experience, that it is avoidable.
For some years I kept large numbers, un'i', owing to their
proximity to the house, they became a nuisance to my grow-
i g tamily. But, although I h d so miny, and so closely
packed,, tliey were excep ionally healthy — and I will now give
reanjiis for their being so. I was frequently told that owing
t'i my having so many (some 200) there wou d be disease, but
] f. It perfectly sure it woulu not be so, seeing the cause for
disease was not present.

Pigs have a desire to huddle together, and they tl us create
a putrtscent atmosphere, especially if on soft straw ; and
tuat is why farmers prefer strong reedy wheat straw,
frequently changed, to admit air under them. In my case
they were always on spirred wooden floors, the spars being
three inches wide, with an interval between each spar? and
a deep pit under them, so that the change of temperature
caused by the heat of their bodies and their breathing is con-
tinually c ronlatirg and changing the atmosphere around,
uuder, and above ihem — there should I e, of e <urse, escape
openings for the heated air in the upper part o( the stye or
shed. There can thus he no stagnation of air — so fatal to
mm and beast. In cold weather they rosy be very closely
packed or enclosed, rs they have no woollen j-icker, and have
no long nnd strong bristles, like the hogs of cold cmntries.

Of course the urine all faUa between the spars, and the
solid they generally deposit in one corner.

In hot, summer weather I was most succossrul in fattening
hoys, without fear ot fever (frequently so destructive). In a
slied that would hold forty or nftj (jparred floor, with deep

pi' under it), I turned on my jet, a« from a fire engine, and1
in a few mil utes they were all washed clem and refreshed,
and would rub their skins as c.e in as the back of my hand.
A- fresh lot, coming in from market dirty, were soon cleaned
nnder a shower ot fiO gallons per minute. Tho e who prefer
pu'ting a little straw on the. boards in winter can do so — the
urine will still run through, and the air Circulates, which is
the great desideratum. Boarded floors have beeu long used
in L*sex for fattening calve*, experience proving the advan-
tage of the practice.. ' Almost all animals do best on sparred
floors — from a bullock to a rabbit. They greatly economise-
our straw, and set it free for nurket or tor food. It is lamen-
table to see pig mismanagement. Burrowing in manure,
getting heated, and then by exposure catching cold and lung
disease (Heaves) • or lever. - Pigs are gross feeders, and soou
poison a nou-circnlatiug atmosphere. The labourer's pig,
being alone, escapes the danger of close company, and con-
sequent poisoned atmosphere. .

I- have fattened hundreds of cattle, on sparred floors
without a particle of straw or auy sweeping of fliors, the
excreta all passing between the spars to the pit under them,.
I once had twelve' white catile on these spars from the time
they were six months old until sold fat at mo years old, and'
they were always clean and healthy. In 'act, from calves
until full-grown for the butcher, ray cittle were constantly
on sparred floors. They always fattened as quickly aud grew
as well as those on straw or covered yards, and were especially-,
healthy.

This system of sparred floors is a most important one where
straw is dear and scarce, also where the excreta are washed
on to the bnd by sewage, and particularly !.s a prevention of
disesse. Sparred floors economise much labour. It is well
to put animals on th-era when young. Ihave fattened sheep
on them very successfully. Sheep require more ventilation
turn h iry animals. It is worth nothing that sheep on straw
under cover do not get foot-rot, aid can do with little straw
but in opea yards, exposed to rainfall, they will get bad feet
unless very lr< quently littered. Urine does not rot their
feet. When farmers give up the belief that Mr. M^chi is a mere
theorst, it. will he better tor ttieir pockets, aud then I shall
be much gratified. The op°ni"g between 'he spars may be
ocording to the size ot the animals ; a quarter inch of open-
ing would permit tree circulation of air; one and a half inch-
is a guod size for- cattle. — J. J. Mlchi.

ELECTION HUMOUR AND P-EPARTiiE.— Sometime*
a happy repartee has been kno^n to wiu a vote even from il.e
most stolid of voters. For example, the late Sir Henry Smith,
who was for many years member tor Colchester, when can-
vassing in person on one occasion, asked a big dull-lookiug.
Essex farmer for his vote. The tarmer was a line specimen
of rainghd bucolic independence and thickheadedness, re-
nowned, too, for his brusqueness, and he said b uut'y, "I'd
vote for you, Sir Henry, as usual, only folks tell me you're
such a fool." "Fool, ami?" referred Sir Heury ; " tnen,
ray good sir, I'm the very man to repre ent you " Down
came the farmer's heavy hand upon Sir Henry's shoulder as
he exclaimed, with a hearty laugh, "Come, I'm gormed if*
that aren't a good un I Your'e not such a Icol as I thowt; .

and you shall have my vote, here's my hand upon it."' The

following anecdote is told of Lord Aberdeen and the way in
which he suppressed an o> jecti >n-ible elector. M. Gtiizot,
was on a visit to Haddo House, the seat of L>rd Aberdeen
and was walking iu the park with host one day discussing the
English system of election. All at once L -rd Aberdeen,
stoppe before a cottage of very modest apprarsnee. " Do you
kuow," said he, " that this small house recalls to my mind a
great shame in ray political life." "An set of violence ?"
asxed M. Guizot. "Hear the story and judge for yourself.
I had in that cottage as tenant an independent fellow who
annoyed me horribly ; in every election contest he sytemati-
cally opposed roe. I made up mind to get rid of him." " Ah,
aud you tamed him out ? " " No ; I reduced his rent by one'
guinea, and destroyed his qualification to vote. A m»an de-
vice, was it Dot ? and I've been heartily ashamed of it evsr
since."— The General Eled'wn.

m

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

THE DEFINITION OF LODGINGS.— A sleek in-
dividual (says aa American paper) with his seedy coat
buttoned up to the chin, and having the appearance of a
Statesman in impecunious circumstances, unlatched the police
station-house door, walked oyer to tl e stove, and picking out
the easie.'t chair, 3ank into it with the air of a man who felt
that he was of importance to the world. After toasting his
Bhina and wanning the soli s of his feet, he arose, and turning
liis back to the stove, placed his hands under his coat-tail*,
spread his feet apad, and viewed his surroundings with grear*
satislaction. The door was again opened by a hesitating
hand, and a tramp with a ducted countenance shuffhd up to
the railings and muttered ihat he wan'ed lodgings. The
station- keeper was about to enro'l the new corner's name
among the legion of tramps who had had lodgings before him,
when the- man at t' e s ove cleared his throa*v Then he
paused and remarked, " Lodgings! Do you know, my friend,
of what lodgings consist ? Do you know the legal definition
of lodgings? " Tne tramp murmured that all he wanted was
a place lo lie down until mcrniug ; but the man at the stove,
a .t iieeding the interrup'ion, withlrew oce of his hand* from
beneath his oat tail, and describing a graceful parabola in
the air wi'h it, preceded— " Do yon know that the word
• lodgings ' has been clearly defined inr*erpre'ed, and ex
Plained, so that no mis'ake can be made in the meaning of
tie term ? It has. When a traveller drops into a station-
honse, and asks for lodgings, wht.t d es he get P* He is per-
m tted to perch on a bench all nigh', and wait till the jtnitor
comes in the morning aud turns him out into the street. Is
this lodgings ? The law says no." The dejee'ed tramp
brightened up a little as the i rator proceeded, aud he dropped
hie little > undle and oppiW M< month in wonder. "In the
case of Skimrnerhorn rersui Bu :lehorn," continued the man
at the stove, " a case which I had the honour to d»cMe when
J was on the bench — the opinion of the ourt wa» fhff tie
Jaw rrquireo the station-houses to furnish lodgings ; auu, as to
lodgings, the. opinion was that lodgings means a warm place
by the ftove until such a tiin-. as the lodger desires to retire ;
t-ome oue to look after your b iggage, a teal her bed with clean
sheets and three q :ilts, aud so ne oue to blacken your boots in
the morning. Thai's the law, gentlemen. If you go to an
hotel and py (or loggings, wouiil you consider that you had
received lodgings, i, the Clerk put you out in the cellar and gave
you a corner of a bench to sleep on ? No, sir ; you would
demand jour money back, and any court in the land would
sustain you. Now, lodging is lodging, whether it is in an
hotel or in a statioa-house. Law, majestic law, that holds
liie universe together, interposes ana says what lodging
means." The df jecttd look had now left the tramp's face, and
*s the last words dropped from the mouth of the man at the
S'ove, be shuffled over to him and grasped him by the hand,
looking up to him as a great benefactor. Then he shuffled
hack to the rail, and throwing his bundle upon the desk,
r-marked to the Bta! ion-keeper : " Look here, Cu-Hy, I guess
I will stay here to-night."" "What?" ,f I want lodgings
—Jo yon understand ? and you can', fool me, I want a bed.
Vuu had be tter hustle around and shake up a bed for me
while I sit down and warm nvsel'." And the tramp drew a
i-hair up to the stove and proceeded to divest himself of his
s'loes. The station-keeper smiled a strange smile as he
sarte.J upstairs. The tramp shouted after lura, "Be a l'ttle
careful of the sheets, Culiy, for I am very particular about
the sheets ; aud, mind you, 1. 11 the boy to be gentle with these
shoes when he hlacks them, for they are a little shaky.'
Tnere was a noise of feet on the. staiwaj.aud the staticm-
) eeper returned. He was accompanied by two policemen.
The stat.nn-keeper stood over the tramp anJ remarked, " He
wants a bed." There was a momentary smuggle, and a
hurrying toward the door, and the. next moment the tramp
■was lauded with his bundle in the middle of the street, H<j
Jelled hack at the officer?, " Ye , 1 want a ted ?" And the
door was elosed. The sleek expounder ol the law th.n moved
t.p to the rai;, r ad his name put. down in the book, and as he
stretched hims.lt on the htn^li in the lodgers' room, it is
reported he chuckled several times and remarked, "The born
joois are still unite numerous."

PRESERVATION OF THE TEETH.— Mr. G. H. Jones
of 57, Grtai Rua»< 11 Street, London, one of the most eminent
and experienced of our surgeon-demists, has issued a little
pamphlet iu lour language*, as an accompaniment to his
elegant G aiueu Cabiutt ui deuul piepar*t<ous. Iu it he sa) t

— That " Prevention is better than cure " is universally
accepted to be a truism ; and yet how seldom it is acted npon.
Tha<, to prevent dental decay would undoubtedly be hell to be
far bttier thau to be obliged lo have recourse to "stopped"
or artificial teet?i ; and yet how few persons endeavour to
preserve the jr natural masticators intact. Possibly one re ison
of this neglect may be lound in the tact that the> do not know
what ciure to puf»up, of if they do follow the plan of cleaning
the teeth it is most likely that the remedy is worse than the
disease. For dentists agree that most of the dentifrices u-ed
to whiten the, teeth are mo»t pernicious. The nuner >us
examples of thr3 sad fact winch have come un er my uotice
harve led me, after long experience, to the convickm that few
diseases of i he tee' h and guns are morecimmos than those
caused by these injurious preparations. Powders and pastes are
often gntty, and scratch the enamel, and when once thrs
delicate armour is penetrated the tooth must iuevitably decay.
Then liquid dentifrices frequently contain acids, which slowly
but surely burn away the coverings of these useful organs-.
Few things are more necessary,, either for health or personal
appearance, than white and souud teeth. Bacon says that a
pleasing face is a never-'ai'mg letter of recommendation ; vet
how can the countenance \n claarrc-iiwf without good teeto ?
And how can digestion be unimpaired without sound masti-
cators ? I have now one of the laraest practices as a surgeon-
demist in the world, and therefore my experience of the sad
results ot injurious deu>ilrices is enormous.- I have iieeu
frequently solkiedby my patients to bring forward a dentifrice
that whilst it shall cleanse and Vsautiiy the teeth and gums
shall a' the saint- time be periect y innoceat iu its action, but
it was no easy tasx to achieve so desirable a resul', and now
af'er years of st'idy and research I may claim to have produced
it for the benefit of the public in general and my patients in
particular.

WAiF5 FROil THE WATER-BUTT.

70 DAY'S HAUL.

"Companies which have only pecuniary gain fir their
object may continue to provide a commodity so polluted by
organic matter aa to be unfit for drmiltng or cooking." —
Times,

Is that Analytical Chemist in (he cistern ?

"Why does this coffee taste of gasworks ?

Ah ! here comes the doctor with the antidVit»s f

I would prefer the soup without the Bac eritt.

Why does the Water Compsuy evade the provisions of the
Poisonous Drugs Act ?

I am afraid the Teeto^aMer will not get through the night.

It is extremely expensive to feed the pig on Apollinaris.

I ne»er saw the gold-fish look so ill.

This paper is a summons for the water-rste.

The symptoms you describe are of a disttecttTelT typhord
character.

You may show in the Coroner.

tO-MOKRCW's-.

"But the Water Trust will fail signally to realise expecta-
tions if it does not make a great change for the better. The
ratepayers will demand at its hands pure water for house-
hold purposes, and a supply abundant enough for all trie
exigencies of the largest city in the world."— 'Timet.

Phis is t>is best cascade on the terrace.

I have sent the whole of the champagne to the Lunatic

Asylum.

Is that the Soda-Water Manufacturer in the Bankruptcy

Court ?

Why does the fllter-maker jumti off Waterloo Bridge P

I never saw the Teetotaller iu better condition.

The Lake's Wedding-breakfast must have been a great

success — -with »nch a pump !

It is quite pleasaut to see the death-rate steady at 13-0t per

l,OHf).

What do you say to seven warm baths a week P

Ah ! here is the good old Water-Rate Collector. Heavtn

bless him ! — runch.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE
REVIEW OE THE CORN TRADE.

From The Mirk Line Express, for the week ending March 29.
0«ing to the prevalence of unusually keen March

280

winds, the temperature has been low during the past
week, and little or no rain has fallen. In its general
characteristics the weather has undergone little change,
a succession of bright sunny days having proved of
incalculable benefit to the couutry. The power of the
sun having bet-.n tempered by the cold wind, vegetation
has not been unduly forced, but a steady advauce has
been perceptible, which augurs well for the future
development of all agricultural produce. Sncli a
favourable spring as the preseut ha9 not been experienced
in this couutry for many years past, and should the
weather prove equally seasonable during the next two
mouths farmers may justly anticipate abundance where
they had recently to lament scarcity. Spring tillage,
favoured by suushine and uninterrupted by showers,
has made most satisfactory progress, barley sowing
especially having been accomplished under conditions
seldom vottrhsafed to growers of this delicate cereal.
Iu the southern counties it may be said that the
so *ing of spring corn is rapidly approachiug completion,
aud ouly a few weeks more of such tine weather as we
are now experiencing is wanted to secure an unsurpassed
seed time to- the United Kingdom. Scotland being
colder, is, of course, more backward ; but even there
ploughing is forward, and great preparations are being
made for the sowing of oats and the planting of potatoes.
A marked improvement in the condition of English
wheat ha3 been another benefit conlerred by the day,
bright weather, but of course nothing could improve the
quality, which is in most cases is wretched, the grain
light, shrivelled, and discoloured, and greatly deficient
in milling properties. The deliveries throughout the
kingdom have been on the most meagre scale, and if
any proof were wanting of the desperately poor out-
come of last season's crop it would be found in the fact
that, during the period elapsed since last harvest,
farmers have delivered nearly 3,000,000 qrs. less
than they did during the corresponding time in 1878 9.
This great scarcity at home has rendered holders very
tenacious of the little really sound wheat to be had,
and a further advance of Is. per qr. has taken place m
several important couutry maikets. The improvement
Ins not, however, been felt at Mark Lane, where
the quantity of 9ound native wheat on offer has been
very small, and the attention of millers directed almost
exclusively to foreign. A review of the trade in
London during the past week can be given in few
words.- In fa:e of rapidly diminishing stocks and un-
usually light arrivals to replace them, a decidedly improved
c iMStmiptive demand has been experienced for all varieties
of foreign wheat, but it has only been a demand at former |
prices, any inclination on the part of holders to raise their '
pretensions having been strenuously resisted by buyers.
The operations of millers at the beginning of the week
were on a somewhat exteusive scale, but this was probably
due to the fact that with the arrival of the Easter bolhlays
two market days would be lost, and so, while carrying
out tbeir reserved policy of hand-to-mouth purchases,
freer>buyers for the time became necessary. With regard
to the fu ure the position remains unchanged. America
clings to her reserves in spite of a lower tendency in
prices in New York and little encouragement from this
side ; but it must be admitted that she has hitherto
played a waiting game well, and one which it is not im-
p robable may be rewarded ere long with some measure of
s access. A noteworthy feature in last week's list of
inports was the large proportion in which the arrivals
rom Geriuany fi^uied. Out of a total supply of 37,637

qrs. no le9s than 9.1,000 qrs. were from German ports, a
fact of considerable significance as indicating the willing-
ness of the nations who have wheat to spare, aud who are
not aa, fait at formation of " rings " to seud their pro_-
dnce to the Loudoi market at the preseut rates ruling
therein. With regard to maize, the supply ou spot was
practically nil, and quotationa are consequently nominal.
As there is little near at hand the tendency of prices con-
tinues upwards, but buyers are extremely chary of making
"long shots," or, in other words, buying corn for future
shipment, a9 present prices are far too high to warrant
such operations, with America's large crop in the back-
ground. Oats improved GJ. to Is. per qr. on Monday
last, an advance which they have since maintained,
supplies being unusually light, and in the present scarcity
of maize any reduction in the price of feeding corn is un-
likely.

Owing to the near approach of the Easter holidays and
consequent loss of two markets the atteudance of buyers
and country millers at Mark Laue on Monday last was
unusually larre, and increased activity prevailed in all
branches of the grain trade. The supplies of foreign
wheat were quite moderate and insuffi:ieut of themselves
to exercise any depressive effect upon prices, while the
imports of other articles were on a quite a small scale.
Holders of wheat showed much firmness, but as they did
not raise their limits millers wene couteut to operate with
a considerable amount of freedom, so that the dav's sales
indicated a marked improvement in the consumptive
demand, previous prices being well maintained. The
week's deliveries of English wheat amounted to 2,978
qrs., and the supply fresh up on factors' s'anb was again
very small. Owing to the fine dry weather the condition
of the majority of the samples weie satisfactory ; but the
quality was uneven and in many cases very iuferior.
Such parcels as were suitable for milling purposes met
a ready sale at the full currencies of the previous Monday,
but there was a good deal of inferior produce left unsold
at the end of the day. Of foreign the arrivals amounted
to 37.637 qrs., of which quantity Germany contributed
21,000 qrs , and America 13,024 qrs., the remainder
being from Vustnlia and the East Indies. There was
an active consumptive deraiud, chiefly from country,
m illera, and a large quantity of wheat changed hands
albeit without appreciate advance in value. The exports
were 1,766 qrs., against 4,472 qrs. in the preceding
week. There were 2 717 qrs. of home-grown Bnr!ev and
15,101 qrS. of foreign. Quotations were nominally un-
changed, but the trade was exceedingly dull for both
malting and grinding sorts. Maize, of which the imports
were 6 368 qrs. and the exports 5S1 qrs., was without
quotable alteration, and ai the supplies had all b?en sold
before arrival the market was bare of rnixe.l American on
spot. To arrive prices were again higher, and, with very
little close at hand, 27s. 6'i. per 5S01b. was the closing
quotation. A more active demand was experienced for
oats, and sellers succeeded in establishing an advance of
6d. to Is. per qr. on the week, owing to the unusually
light imports, which ouly amounted to 4,573 qrs. Oa
Wednesday the return showed 200 qrs. of home-grown
wheat, and 4,750 qrs. of foreign. The steadiness of
Monday was maintained as far as prices were concerned
but the market was thinly attended, and little business
was done either in wheat or feeding corn.

The imports of flour into the United KiDgdora for the
week ending March 20th were 162,057 cwt., against
161,616 cwt. in the previous week. The receipts into
London were 16,458 sacks of English and 6,618 sacks
and 53 barrels of foreign. The best sorts of country
made have met a rather better inquiry, but quotations
have not varied. Foreign ft jar, both sack and barrel, has

290

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

also been unaltered in value, but business continues to
move within narrow limits-

The week's arrivals ot beans were 27 570 cwt., and of
peas 35,114 cvvt.. showing an increase of 9,563 cwt. on
the former, and 13,929 cwt. on the latter. Both articles
have been in moderate request, and the few sales made
have been effected at previous currencies.

The increased activity noted last week in the demand
for agricultural seeds has continued, and, with fine spring
weather, a fair business has been doue in the principal
varieties at former prices. Red clover seed is now pur-
chasable at unusually low rates, but white clover is rather
dearer on account cf scarcity. Grass seeds have under-
gone no alteration, while spring tares have advanced 2s.
to 3s. per qr.. with a brisk demand. Hemp continues to
meet with little attention, although offered as low as 31s.
per qr., and canary has tended upwards.

The supplies of' wheat at the country markets have
again been very light, but improved condition has been
noticeable in many instances, and the trade, although
manifestly restricted by holiday causes, have neverthe-
less, ruled steady, and Is. per qr. more money has been
obtainable for the best parcels. Seed oats and maize,
have also advanced, but there has been no change in
barley, beans, or peas. At Liverpool, on Tuesday, the
market was scanti y attended, and only a moderate retail
business passed in wheat at a decline of Id. per cental on
white descriptions. Flour was also slow, but without
change in value, but beans were held for 6J. per qr. more
money. Maize was more freely offered, and scarcely so
strong as at the close of the previous week, but prices
showed an improvement of Id. per cental, new mixed
bring quoted at 6s. and old at 6s. Id. per 1001b. The
week's imports included 60,000 qrs. of wheat and 28,000
qrs. of maize. At Newcastle a rather weaker tone has
been noticeable in wheat, although the decline has been
scarcely quotab'e. Flour has ruled dull, but oats and
maize have fully snpported late rates. At Hull and Leeds
a fair retail demand has been experienced for both Eng-
lish aud foreign wheat at fully previous prices, while oats,
beans, and maize have sold steadily at rather higher

quotations.

^ March 24.

There was a further arrival of 200 qrs. of home-grown
TYhrat since Saturday, and the trade ruled quiet, but
Monday's prices were' well maintained for the few parcels
of line quality. Of foreign the imports amounted to ouly
4,750 qr*., and with a scanty attendance of millers a
retail consumptive demand was experienced at about
J rmer currencies.

The arrivals of Flour consisted of only 10 sacks o
foreign. Business ruled quiet for both sacks and barrels
without quotable change in values.

The supply of Barley consisted of 150 qrs. of home-
grown, and 3,280 qrs, of foreign. Prices were nominally
unaltered for both malting aud grinding sorts, but there
was little or no demand for either. The return showed
no further arrival of Maize, and the market was quite
bare of mixed American on spot. The nominal quotation
was 29s. to 30s. per 4301b. To arrive, Monday's ex-
treme prices were insisted ou, as there is very little near
at haud.

The imports of Oats amounted to 15,920 qrs., and
and sales progressed steadily at Monday's advance of &d.
to Is. per qr.

Malt was neglected and without change in value.

There were uo fresh arrivals of Beans or Peas. Both
articles were firmly held, but there were very few
buyers to be found.

The seed market was well attend d, and, with an
actual consumptive demand, a steady trade was done m
the leading varieties of agricultural seeds at late rates .

PRICE3 CURRENT OF BRITISH GRAIN AND FLOUR
IN MARK LANE.

Shillings per Quarter

WHEAT, Essex ft Kent, white old — to — new *6 M)

„ ,, red old — — new 14 5-i

Norfolk. Linclnsh., and Yorksh. red old — new 48 68

BARLEY Cheva ier new 34 64

Grinding 35 tn 42 Distilling 36 4a

MALT, pale new 62 to 71 old brown 50 53

RYE 32 38

OATS, English, feed 23 to 25 , Totati 25 2&»

...Potato — —

28 Fine -= —

26 , Potato — —

35 Ticks 36 39

— Pigeon.old 42 60

38 Maple 38 to40 Grey 35 37

FLOUR, per sack of 2801b., town households 44 50

Best country households 43 44

Norfolk and Suffolk 39 43

Scotch, teed .

Irish, teed, white 26

Ditto, black 25

BEANS, Mazagau... 33

Harrow —

PEAS, white boilers 34

FOREIGN GRAIN.

f hi'UVga per
WHEAT, Danzig, mixed 60 to 62 extra

Konigsoerg 59 62. extra

Rostock 56 60 old

Pomera, Meckberg, and Uckermrk red

Gbirka 50 to 52 .. Russian, hard, 52 to 55,Saxonska

Danish and Holstein, red — — ...red American

Chilian, white, OO...Caiifornian55 57. ..Australian

East Indian, No. 1 Club white 65 to 66; No. 2 ...
„ Old. white 49 to 61 ; red 47 to 49 ; hard

BARLEY, grinding, 25 V-. 26 distilling

OATS, Dutch, brewing and Polands 22 to 24 feed

Danish and Swedish, feed 20 to 23 ..Straslund ...

Canada 00 to 00 Riga 19 to 20 Petersburg...

BEAN.-*, Frieslandand Holstein

I alian 37 to 39 ..Egyptian

PEAS, Canadian 35 36. ..Prussian

MAIZE, Black Sea 31 33. ..Mixed American

FLOUR, per sack, trench 38 44 ..Spmish, p. sack

Hungarian, per sack. ..45 60... American barrel
TARES, Spring.

Quaiter.
— S3

58
F7
60
61
63
49
44
24
21
23

37
30

33

A COMMON SENSE CANDIDATE.— (In reply to a
requisition irom a body o' Elec'ors inviting linn to become a
Membi r of Parliament.) — Gentlemen, — I hereby acknowledge
the recript of your appl ra'iou requesting me to stand for the
representati n of our County. As the uthce of a Member f
Parliament is laborious, tiresome, and unpaid, I am very lolh
o accept it. However, since tli? men who solicit it are u -t
fit f<r it, whereas I am, and, being well-cff and nnemployed,
can afford to take it, if [ were to refuse it I shoild decline a
duty But the work of a Member oi Parliament is so bard
and so heavy, that of the two situations I would really rather
be saddled with that of High Shrriff. I hope, therefore, you
will all unders'and that, in consenting to let myself be pro-
posed as \our ref>resen:a'ive, I c mler up'in yon a very great
favour. As my pulitic«l principles may not be kn'>wn to every
vo'er, I will send a sta'emeut of them to a newspap-r, whence
you can, if you pleas?, px'ract it, and print it for dis'rib'ition.
If Decessary, 1 will also declare my opinions at a public
meeting, which can bt ea'led for that purpose. But, as tliey
can be expressed in few word", I shall make only a short
speech, not wishing, when I have little ro say, to let myself
be known for a tool by my much speaking, lu m iking that
speech, if I am interrupted hy any thouts, cries, ur idle
questions, I shall immediately hold my tongu*, and retire.
The expenses of printing aod publishing cards, circulars, and
other advertisements requesting people to vo'e for me mast be
paid by those who desire to have me returned. My con-
stituents, or would-be consli uents, must also defray all other
charges incidental to my election, or their attempt to effect
that object. In conclusion, I can only say, that nothing but
a strong sen«e of the obligations of my position as an
independent man could induce me to undertake an employ-
ment, which will withdraw me from my occupations and
amusements lor six munths iu the year, be-ides compelling me
to breathe much bad air aud listen to much idle talk,
nearly every night till past twelve o'clock, and often till
three or four in the morning. I am, gentlemen, your servant
to command, Corioianus Caxdidus. — Punch.

Priiited by IIazill, Watso.n, Sc Vi.slv, 255, Strand, London.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

CON T E X T S .

APRIL, 18 8 0.

Plate.— MULES

Literary Notices

A Farm Balance Sheet.

Hypothec Abolition (Scotland) Bill

International Potato Exhibition

Agricultural Meetings.

Soluble v. Keverted Phosphate.

The Farmers' Alliance at Reading

Ditto at Callington

Agricultural Societies .
Farmers Clubs •
Freedom of Land
Farmers' Alliance at Spalding.
Kingscote Agricultural Association
The Example of Canada
Shorthorn Show and Sale, Birmingham
Farming in Iowa
Notes from New Zealand
The " Duchess" Shorthorns
Mr. Gladstone on Agricultural Reform.
The Farmers' Alliance in Norfolk

Ditto in East Suffolk

Sugar and Malt Used in Brewing
A New Invention . '

Mr. Bead and the Malt Tax .
The Farmers and the Liberals .
Woodbridge Horse Show
An Expensive Government
Healthy Pigs.
Review of the Corn Trade

Page.
225
227
230
232
234
236
237
239
242
246, 281
253, 274
256
258
260
261
265
267
269

271
279
280
283
285
285
286
286
287
287
289

CHAMPAGNES.
GRAND VIN DE L'EMPEREUR

trade mmm mark.

NONPAREIL.

Splendid Wine equal to the Finest Brands, at half the usual Price.

Sole Importers of the Celebrated

GRAND VIN DE CHAMPAGNE

TRADE JHHl MARK.

ROUSSEAU AND CO., REIMS.

MADEIRA

Of the FINEST QUALITY, in Quarter Casks and in Bottle and every
other description of Wines at the

LOWEST POSSIBLE PRTCE,

CAN ALWAYS BE HAD OF

TUXFORD AND CO.,

WINE MERCHANTS,

48, Fenchurch Street London, EC.

Established 1847.
SAMPLES ON APPLICATION.

THE

ROYAL FARMERS' AND GENERAL FIRE LIFE
AND HAIL INSURANCE OFFICE.

ESTABLISHED 1840.

TO INSURE AGAINST LOSSES BY

FIRE AND HAIL STORMS,

AND TO GRANT

INSURANCES ON LIVES.

DIRECTORS:

Chairman— ALFRED DEN I SON, Esq., 6, Albemarle Street, Piccadilly.
Deputy-Chairman — B. P. SHEARER, Esq., 47, Gloucester-place, Portmau 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 Heary Burroughes, Esq., 16, Lower Berkeley

Street.
"William Clutton, Esq., 7, Clifton Villas, Penge.

A. J. Duff Filer, Esq., 10, Aberdeen Park, Highbury.

B. J. Hawker, Esq., 37, Cadogan Place, Sloane Street

FIRE. — Insurances at moderate rates.

LIFE. — Insurances on equitable terms. Profits divided every five years.
HAIL. — Crops insured against Hail Storms at 5d. per acre.
LOSSES.— Settled promptly and liberally.

AMPLE CAPITAL AND LAKGE RESERVES.

Prospectuses and Reports may be obtained of the Secretary, JOHN SHARP, 3, Norfolk Street, Strand
London, W.C., or of the Agents.

J. C. NESBIT & SON,

Analytical, Agricultural, and Consulting Chemists

(Manager A. ANTHONY NESBET, 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, Graeeehurch Street, E.C.

A list of fees sent on application.

No. 5, Vol. LVI.] MAY> 1880' [Thibd SerieS«

THE

FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

AND

MONTHLY JOURNAL

OF

THE AGRICULTURAL INTEREST.

IBefcuateU

TO THE

FARMERS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.

LONDON :
PUBLISHED BYROGERSON AND TUXFORD, 265, STRAND.

PRICE TWO SHILLINGS.

HAZELL, WATSON, & VINEY.] [PRINTERS, 265, STRAND.

IMPORTANT TO FLOCKMASTERS.

THOMAS BIGG,

Agricultural & Veterinary Chemist,

By Appointment to hie late Royal Highness
The Prince Consort, K.G.,

LEICESTER HOUSE, GREAT DOYER STREET,
BOROUGH, LONDON,

BEGS to call the attention of Farmers
and Graziers to hia valuable SHEEP and LAMB
DIPPING COMPOSITION, which requires no Boiling, and
may be used wit% i Cold Water, for efiectuall-

destroying the Tick, Lice, and all other insects injurious to
ha Flock, preventing the alarming attacks of Fly and Ehab.
and cleansing and purifying the Skin, thereby greatly im-
proving the Wool, both in quantity and quality, and highly
Contributing to tie general health of the animal.

Prepared only by Thomas Bigg, Chemist, 4c., at his Manu-
factory as above, and sold as follows, although any other
quantity may be had, if required:—

i lb. for 20 sheep, price, jar included. .£0 2

eib.

30

8 1b.

40

101b.

60

201b.

100

SO lb.

150

200

601b.

250

001b.

300

M lav

400

1001b.

600

(Cask aod measure
included)

0 3
0 4
0 6
0 10

0 15

1 0
1 3

i r

1 17

2 6

8hould any Flockmaster prefer boiling the Composi".-
will be equally eflV.

MOST IMPORTANT CERTIFICATE.

F:a Mr. Hzshith, the celebrated Analytical Cbemi- —

Bristol Laboratory, Old Park, January lSiih, ISsei.

Sir,— I have submitted your Sheep Dipping Composition jo

analysis, and find that the ingredients are well blended, ard

the mixture neutral. If it is used according to the directions

giren, I feel satisfied, tbatwhileit effectually destroys vermin,

it will not injure the hair roots (or "yolk") in the skin, the

I Seece, or the carcase. I think it deserves the nnmerou
I testimonials ; I am, Sir, yours respectfully,

Wm.iA.if HnipuB, Sen., F.C.8., 4c, 4c,
To Mr. Thomas Bigg Professor of Chemistry.

| '^r cester House, Great irever-street Borough London.

I He would also especially call attention to his 8PECIFIC,
or LOTION, for the SCAB or SHAB, which will be found
a certain remedy for eradicating that loathsome and ruinous
disorder in Sheen, and which may be safely used in all
climates, and at all seasons of the year, and to all descriptions
I of sheep, even ewes in lamb. Price FITE SHILLINGS per
gallon — sufficient on an average for thirty Sheep (according
a virulence of the disease) ; also in wine quart bottles,
! Is. 3d. each.

IMPORTANT TESTIMONIAL.
" Scoulton, near Hingham, Norfolk, April 16th, 1855.
"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 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
ihe ' No»-*oisosors 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 Srscinc proved itself an invaluable remedy, for in
three weeks the Sheep were quite cure<l ; and I am happy to
say the young iambs 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. RENNET.

HT 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 De thoroughly convinced that no " Non-poisonous "
article can poison or destroy insect vermin, particularly such
is .he Tick, Lice, and Scab Parasites — creatures so tenacious
o. life. Such advertised preparations must be wholly i
or they are not what they are represented to be.

DIPPING API ARATD8 4V4. tS, «4, 4 £3.

1UL

MARK LANE EXPRESS

AND

AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL

LARGEST AND THE LEADING FARMER'S AND GRAZIER'S NEWSPAPER.

PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY EVENING, IN TIME FOR POST.

Office of Publication and for AdvertiBementB, 265, Strand, London. May be bad of all Bookseller*

an -i Newsmen tbrougbout tbe KiDgdom, price Id., or £1 10b. 4d. per annum.

I

jm ik'--

t

Or"?

■'ii'" '*-'

■tilt

OUj

THE FARMKR'S MAGAZINE.

293

has been made. The proposal lo connect Glebe Island | others connected with the pastoral interest, and is also of

with the present main railway line, aud to construct on
the island sale yards and meat stores, has undoubtedly
gained force by the late news. If shipments of meat
are to be made, the fessels should have wharves to rest
at, and cool stores should be close to these wharves. If
the business of sale of live stock, storage of country-
killed meat, aud slaughtering cau be carried out on
oue spot, it would appear well to allow the busi-
ness to be centralised. The matter is not one to
wrangle over, nor to hiuder by idle talk. Prompt
action is required, and late proceedings lead us to
infer that such action must be takeu by the Government.
In average seasous the supply of meat from the increase
of our flocks and herds far exceeds the demaud. Last year
alone, after deducting all the fat stock seut to Sydney,
Melbourne, Adelaide, aud other markets, there was an
increase in sheep of over four million head. The boiling
down process is a waste of food that ought to be avoided,
if possible, and is only justifiable under the necessity of
preventing a greater waste. Here it is cheap because we
have an annual grass crop capable of feediug a hundred
million head of live stock under proper management, and
that grass crop would be absolutely lost unless anuually
eaten off and converted into wool aud meat. Kill the
meat close beside the pastures where it is grown, surround
it immediately after killiug with cold air at a proper
temperature, maintain that temperature in railway cars
and storerooms and ship all the way to London or Liver-
pool, and then distribute to the millions of English con-
sumers the surplus produce of our rich natural pastui'es,
and the whole problem is solved. Between the English
and the Australian retail price ttere is a difference equal
to about three times the cost of production in this colony
at the place of production; and uothiug but bad manage-
ment or a corrupt combination of " vested interests " can
prevent remunerative exportation in such a state of
things. It is true "two swallows do not make a
sumtner," and the experiment with the Strathleveu may
require to be followed by several more successful trips
before growers can operate with confidence. But the
conditions of success have now been well ascertained, and
the result should be to bind together more closely than
ever the Mother Country and her Australian Colonies by
those ties of mutual dependence aud mutual beuefit which,
more thau all parchment treaties, tend towards the amity
aud unity of mankind.

Iu the face of such testimony as the above, Mr. B loot's
statement, in a letter which appeared in the Standard
April 5, that "on the whole, Australia canuot do much
more thau find her own beef-eating population," is a
palpable absurdity. It stands to reason that countries
like Australia, or South America, which can grow cattle
and sheep for the sake of the export value of their hides,
wool, and tallow, can do more than find their own popu-
lation ; aud even Id. per lb. of the dressed carcase would
be very nearly all extra gaiu in respect of the beef,
aud quite one-half extra gain in respect of the mutton.

In Sydney has beeu proDosed — 1. The slaughtering of
cattle in the interior, as near their pasturage and the
line of railway as possible. 2. The chilling aud setting
of the meat where slaughtered. 3. The carriage to town
in properly constructed refrigerator cars. And 4. A re-
frigerating depot iu town where the meat could be re-
ceived, retained, and distributed to the trade. And yet
nothing of the kind has beeu done in England, or even
talked about.

Treating the same subject the South Australian
Chronicle (Adelaide) says: — "The news of the highly
successful result of the experimental shipment of fresh
meat from Sydney to London by the steamer Strathleveu
canuot fail to afford fpecial gratification to squatters and

great importance to Australians generally , as opening a
new source of wealth. Notwithstanding the large growth
of population in these colonies there must for very many
years to come, except in seasons of general drought, be an
immense surplus of fat cattle and sheep beyoud what
cau be required for home consumption. Within the last
few weeks beef in Sydney has been down to prices fully
as low as iu the old boiling-down days, before the
diggings. The wholesale quotation was only about a
Denny per lb., and it was not unnatural that renewed
efforts should be made to discover a mode of exporting
what is so very cheap to a country where it is so very
valuable. Australia is pre-eminently a fine pastoral
country, but there are large tracts of country on which
it is more profitable to grow sheep and cattle than corn,
and even now fresh regions are occupied by the grazier
with his flocks and herds. The increase of live stock is
so enormous and rapid that it must necessarily far out.
strip the local wants of two or three millions of people,
or twice that population. How to get rid of the surplus
is the question that has engaged the attention of pastoral
settlers for more than thirty years. Before the dis-
covery of the Victorian goldfields fat cattle and sheep
were boiled down for their tallow, all the lean of the
carcase being of course wasted. At that time in this
colony prime legs of mutton could be purchased at the
boiling down works for sixpence each, and mutton
generally was sold at from a penny to three halfpence a
pound. In Victoria, we believe, the late Mr. Clark,
afterwards the well-known millionaire, could find no
better use for hundreds of his horses than to send them
to the mdting pot. After the great diggings rush, how-
ever, a great change came over the posit iou of sqmtting
affairs. The influx of population caused the price of meat
to rise greatly, and theu for years afterwards there was an
immense demand for sheep and cattle to stock the new
country that was taken up in all directions for pastoral
purposes. This heavy drain upon the established (locks
aud herds could not last for ever, aud prices came down
to something like the old standard. It was in South
Australia this change was last experienced, as the cattle-
dealers here alwavs managed to outwit the consumers ;
but at last, in 1869, Adelaideans purchased mutton at
about l£d. per lb., and soon aftewards we had both
boiling-dowu and meat-preserving works iu operati in.
At times we have a glut of fat sheep iu South Australia,
and as the Northern Territory is a good fattening
country, the lime may come when there will be large
shipments of frozen beef from Port Darwiu."

New Zaaland, too, is looking forward to joining iu this
new trade, and suggests that it rnuht be cheaper to send
the meat by sailing \es els. We do not know how that
may be. The longer t e journey the greater the cost of
maintaining the process, but the extra time would not
affect the meat in any way.

The fact of fresh meat and dairy produce from the
Australian Colonies having been successfully placed in
the British markets has set American producers
thinking. The Pacific Rural Press (San Francisco)
of March 13, in discussing the eveut, says : — " It may
be said in a word that the effort yielded success, and
that meat slaughtered in Australia iu November last was
served on London tables during the first week iu Feb-
ruary, in good, fresh, and palatable condition. This cei-
taiuly is one of the most notable events of the centurv ,
and oue which will awaken the interests of stock
breeders everywhere. This new experience in the fu. -
nishing of fresh meat to England is calling for a recast-
ing of cost of production, both among English cattle,
growers and meat shippers from our Atlantic ports. It
is claimed that beef cau be profitably produced iu Aus-

Y 2

294

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

tralia at Id. to Hd. per lb., and shipped by the freezing
process so that it can be laid down iu England for 2d.
per lb. Of the bearing of this experiment npon our
coast, it can only be said that at present it is merely a
matter of general interest. We cannot at present produce
beef and mnttoo that would satisfy English consumers at
two or three cents a pound. It is probable that the
grazing regions of Australia and South America will
enjoy this traffic, and our producers will perhaps be for-
tunate if the Australians do not dose San Francisco with
cheap meat."

Our contemporary nnder estimates the cost of transit in
the above statement. It is trne that good meat can be pro-
fitably produced in Australia at from Id. to l^d. per lb.
of the dressed carcase, but when all expenses are reck-
oned it will probably cost 4d. in England.

With reeard to the butter sent by the Strathleven, the
South Australian Chronicle (Adelaide) says: — "It is
satisfactory to learn that a quantity of butter was taken
in along with the fresh meat before the ship left 'Australia,
and that it arrived apparently in good condition. Onr
telegraphic information does not explain fully the condi-
tion of the butter as placed upon the market, and we have
no particulars as to the quality of the sample when put on
board ship, but the fact that over 13. per lb. wholesale
was realised, a price considerably over the ruling values
of American parcels, is eminently satisfactory. During
onr spring season less than Cd. per lb. has to be accepted
for the best fresh butter at the inland towns, and even at
that rate a market cannot be found for all that can be
made, so that many dairymen turn to cheese making, and
others give over milking the cows as unprofitable. When
however, more thaj Is. per lb. can be realised for the
produce of the dairy in England, the margin is sufficiently
large to yield a handsome profit after paying for even a
somewhat expensive system of exportation. Ships leav-
ing here at the season of the year when cur butter is a
drug in the market would reach England towards the end
of winter when the prices are generally high. It is pro-
bable, therefore, that a difference of nearly fid. per lb.
between the prices here and in England could be depended
upon.and a much less margin than this should be sufficient
to create an export trade which would do much to relieve
our local markets and extend our dairying industry.
With fresh butter preserved according to some such pro-
cess as already referred to, and placed in tins instead of
casks, all that would be necessary would be a sufficient
degree of cold to prevent melting in the tropics. With
the improvements in preserving and tinning fresh bntter
which have been made, and the application of the refrige-
rating process, there should be no difficulty in the way of
largely developing our dairying industry by placing its
most valuable product in good condition upon the English
market."

The Daily Telegraph, commenting on the successful
venture with frozen meat, says "there is nothing at all
extraordinary in the voyage of the Strathleven ; what she
has done other ships have done before," and the only
novelty is in the freezing process. It is true frozen meat
has been sent into Europe from the La Plata States, and
ouccessfully marketed, but the cargo of the Strathleven
was the first fresh meat from Australia ever put on the
English or any other European market. Herein lies the
novelty, which is a very momentous one although it is not
perceptible to the Daily Telegraph. That jonrnal also
tells its readers that England is mainly dependent onDeo-
mark and Spain for its roast beef ; a palpable error, as
those two countries together do not send a third of the
•quantity we now receive from the United States of
America. The Telegraph says " the butchers have little
-cause to be agitated about the incident " ; hut, evidently,

one of the few things not known by that well-informed
journal is the difference to the butcher between selling
dead meat and slaughtering live animals. Nevertheless,
it is not the butchers who will feel this competition most;
those who live by farm rents will find their income
reduced down to the level at which those who cultivate
the soil can successfully compete with foreign importation
— their game and other privileges being, for the most
part, done away with into the bargain. This is where the
shoe will pinch.

NEW ZEALAND NOTES.

Our New Zealand correspondent writes under date March
2: — The weather during the past month has been exceed-
ingly fine.and eminently favourable to the harvesting opera-
tions in which all have been engaged during that time.
Days of sweltering heat, in which, during the mid-day
hours, the perspiration poured off the busy workers in the
harvest field in streams, but almost invariably succeeded
as the alternoon wore on by a delightfully cool and re-
freshing breeze from the sea, making the close of the day
very pleasant. Scarcely an interruption took place, and
with the extended use of harvesting machinery, the cutting
and saving of the corn crop of 1880 has been got through
in a marvellously short period. The general practice
throughout the colony being to thrash on the field,
weather permitting, whenever the cutting has been com-
pleted, much of this work has been got through also, the
steam engine, and invariably accompauying straw tLvator
having beeu leading features in the landscape on all agri-
cultural districts during the past fortnight. Not only has
much corn been thrashed, but large quantities have
passed from the farmer to the merchant, and already the
railways begin to feel the strain, which will keep theiu
03cupied day and night for the next three months, par-
ticularly in the Southern Provinces. At Port Lyttletoa
alone, uo less than nineteen of the New Zealand Com-
pany's ships are already engaged for London, 50s. per ton
being fixed as the freight rate for the season, a rate which
cannot by any means be considered exorbitant at a time
when there is such a pressure of business. Large growers
of wheat complain of raerchauts forming a combination or
ring to keep down the prices, and an effurt has been made
to defeat them by the farmers shipping on their own
account, and taking their chance of the London market.
In the great wheat-growing districts of Limaru and
Oamaru a beginning has been made, and a few ships are
chartered, but it is exceedingly doibtful whether this pro-
cedure on the part of a few will benefit the great bulk of
the farmers, who must of necessity sell to the colonial
merchants by raising the price a few pence in the bushel. At
preseat 3s. 9d. in the Southern, and 4s. 6d. in the Northern
Provinces are about the highest rates per bushel of 601b.
for wheat, and even with the admittedly fine harvest, the
best probably ever reaped in the Colony, there is a good
deal of dissatisfaction with the prices, at least or.e-fourth
more having been confidently expected. Thrashing
has in a great measure confirmed the expectations
formed of the crops when growing, and some remarkable
returns have been disclosed ; 80 bushels of wheat and 90
of oats to the statute acre seem to be the top yields, the
quality being superb. The latter feature of the season's crop
causes no surprise, however, now that New Zealand has
beaten the world at the Sydney Exhibition for both wheat
and barley. The price of live stock remains very quiet,
indeed, uuless for well finished beef, which may make
32s. per cwt. of 100 lb., but middling and inferior aie
not much account. Very fine wedders, and superior lambs
may at times go slightly over 2d. a lb. at the auction yards,
but for all ewe mutton the price is not more than a shade
over a Id. a pound. New Zealand stock owners have

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

295

watched with much interest the experiments instituted by
their neighbours of Victoria and New South Wales iu
taking fresh meat through the tropics, and now that the
difficult problem seems solved by the successful result at-
tained by the Strathleven cargo, they hope at some time
or other to benefit by the most favourable conditions.
However, they cannot do so for an indefinite, probably
somewhat extended period, as there is no direct steam
service to this colony from any part of the United King-
dom, and so little prospect is there of its proving self-
supporting, that the (Scotch shipping companies, with
which this Government has been in communication on
the subject demand to be guaranteed a subsidy of .£80,000
a year before venturing to organise a line of steamships.
This sum being considered too high for the present re-
sources of the colony, tbe matter dropped, and the New
Zealand trade will have to be conducted solely by sailing
vessels for some time louger. The labour question still
occupies much of the time, and very serious atteuiiou of the
" Hall Ministry," and they have certainly grappled inde-
fatigably with what has proved to be an onerous, difficult,
and to some extent thankless labour. At the commencement,
five shillings a day were offered to all who should present
themselves for employment, a rate of payment which not
one would accept. In Ashburton, where 200 men gave
in their names, as being out of employment, six shillings
a day were offered, and a free pass on the railway ^ to and
from their work, and of the entire number but two ac-
cepted. At the Empire City of Wellington, where things
were so bad that something should be done, the Govern-
ment have begun to make roads, giving the married men
7s. 6d. and single men 7s. a day, it being impossible to
rid the streets of idle men at a lower rate In the Man-
gere district, a few miles out of Auckland City, a number
of the largest wheat growers arranged to assist the town
authorities in clearing off the unemployed by taking them
as extra harvest hands, offering 6s. a day, and all found
in food and lodging, as long as they required them. The
men however had worked only a couple of days when
thinking the farmers had got the best of the bargain, they
struck work for another shilling a day, a demand which
their employers indignantly refused, and they were at once
allowed to return to their old quarters at the street
corners in Auckland, to await higher wages on the next
Government contract. It has thus become abundantly
evident that men will not in this colony work for even
moderate wages, nor for a high waj.e give moie than a
short day's work of eight hours, under almost any pres-
sure, even that of positive destitution, and they at once
fall back on the Government which by its system of free
immigration brought them here in thousands, and demand
to be supported. There is no getting out of their claim,
as in a country where there is no special provision made
for the poor or unfortunate, starvation would stare thou-
saulsinthe face at this present moment, even in this
land of abundance, if not assisted to tide over a period of
general depression by having work cieated especially for
them. Anxious to do their utmost for the good of all,
the Ministry has even tried another plan to aid in the
solution of the labour question by endeavouring to place
meu with families on Government land. Last sessiou a
bill was brought in, and successfully carried, to reduce the
minimum price of land from 20s. to 10s. per acre, the
payment to be made on the deferred system, which renders
it a peculiarly easy burden. An association of working
men has been formed to take advantage of these and other
concessions relative to the settlement of working men on
land but as with the wages questions, so with this, a
difficulty was raised at the very outset which, prevents any
thing worth while being done. The Itaders and advisers
of the men demand two years support from the Govern-
ment, from the day they enter their holdings or as they

are called by the words of the Act homesteads, a proposal
at which the authorities stood aghast, being entirely
original aud without precedent. However unconstitu-
tional such a demand may be, it is after all eminently
consistent with sound reason and common sense, that a^
poor man going into the bush to do his best to carve out a
home in the wilderness, should have himself and family
fed, until able to reap the fruit of his own labour. It ia
evident beyond all dispute, that someone must supply him
with the necessaries of lite, otherwise, however willing he
might be, small progress would be made in draining the
swamps or clearing the forests, and the stale whose pro-
perty he is reudering productive by his labour, seems to be
the likeliest to make this advauce, makiug the repayments
for this, as easy as the price of land. Large numbers of
people continue to pour into the colony, some ships recently
bringing as many as 350 passengers paying full fare.
Mauy of these are doomed to considerable disappointment
on lauding and/reely express their indignation at these
men who have takea it upon them to paint the prospects
of the working man iu this couutry in roseate hues. The
New Zealaud Press has been unanimous in condemning
this failing on the part of those who have lectured or
written on this country, as it has been the means of
making many men give up comfortable homes in the old
country, and permanent employment to come out here and
find only enlorced idleness. Splendid 9cenery and a
magnificent climate are very well in their way, but house
rent, food, clothing, take precedence even of these advan-
tages, and no man who finds the latter deficient has the
slightest enjoyment in contemplating the former, or gives
himself any trouble about them. One recent lecturer
whose style partook largely of embellishment, however
unintentional or well-meant, has found himself in very
hotwater since returning to the colony, having been con-
fronted by men, who, charmed by his representations,
broke up happy homes, and came out only to swell the
ranks of the unemployed in Dunedin and elsewhere,
9ome of them haying been here for months without
having done a single day's work. His book has been held
up to him and quoted from, and he has been asked to
point out now that he is on the spot where the abundance
of work, and high wages were to be had, a very awkward
predicament surely for anyone and especially so for a
clergyman. Things have even gone so far in this direc-
tion, that a deputation has actually waited on the
Premier, calling upon him to make arrangements to ship
them back to England. The exclamation " save me from
my friends," is thus ^shown to be equally applicable to
states as to individuals, and to all inteuding lecturers and
bookmakers for some time to come, on the colony of New
Zealaud, its Press unites in cordially giving them the
laconic advice " don't."

WHAT'S IN A NAME ?— The Lnndon correspondent
of the Suffolk Chronicle writes : — I hear a good story
about the. new members for a Lotteries constituency. One
is a gentleman of position in the town, the other is Mr..
Broadhurst, a working man of high personal character,
who is likely to do credit to his class and his constituency.
The brother of the first member lives in London, aud on the
morning after the election was congratulated by a friend on
his brother's success. " But," said the Iritnd, "what a
pity he should have as colleague a man like that — a notor-
ous Atheist." *« Why, what, do you mean ? Who P" said
the astonished brother. Mr. Bracilaugh," said the friend
confident in his accuracy. An hour later, whilst vet pondering
on these things, the brother met another Iriend, who repeated
the congratulation. " But," he auded, "what a pity your
brother should have a colleague liki that — little less thau »
murderer." "Why, what do >ou mean ? said the bewiidsie
man. " Why, Mr. Broadhead." Tableau*

296

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

MANITOBA.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MABK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, I believe there is no part of this continent where

good lands can be had on easier terms lhan in the vast
north-west territory, which the Dominion of Canada pur-
chased a few years ago from the Hudson's Bay Company.
About one-third of the rich valley of the Red River is in
the Canadian province of Manitoba, and that is merely
the eastern extremity of an immense fertile belt nearly
300 miles in breadth, which sweei s in a north-westerly
direction along the Assiniboine and both branches of the
Saskatchewan, for nearly 1000 miles, to the base of the
Rocky Mountains. For about 500 miles north of the
international boundary line along the Peace River to the
Great Slave Lake, the land for the most part is rich and
fertile, and on account of the warm south-west winds
which sweep along the slopes and through the passes of the
Rocky Mountains, the climate is temperate for a great
part of the year. In many districts round the Hudson's
Bay posts and the missionary stations there are the
miclei of settlements, and in connection with the Cana-
dian Pacific Railway, now in course of construction, the
entire country has been thoroughly explored by scientific
men and practical agriculturists, who have ascertained
beyond doubt that it contains fine pasturage and at least
Uo hundred million acres of the finest wheat land in the
world. The long and rigorous winter will no doubt deter
people Bccustomed to mild and temperate climates from
settling in those northern countries. Still but for the
in ense winter frosts the soils of the river valleys here are
so deep and rich that people who would settle on them
cmld not enjoy good health. This winter has been excep-
tionally severe all over the north-west. In several parts of
Minnesota and Dakota the thermometer at times registered
more than sixty degrees below zero, and in Manitoba
duringDeeemberthemininibmrangedfromfivetofifly-eight
degrees. Many persous travelling on the open prairie or
working in exposed situations h. ve been badly frozen, and
several persons perished with cold. But while the howling
blizzard sweeps across the open prairie, and all the lakes
and rivers are ice bound, it is some satisfaction to know
that the frost, which penetrates the earth for several feet,
and the intense cold which at times prevents out-door
work, are largely contributing to the fertility of the soil
aud healthfulness of the climate. However, since the
new year the weather has been rnode;ately temperate, and
miny days were clear, bright, and beautiful. I have seen
meu work out doors in Winnipeg during very cold weather,
and it is very noticeable what little luel will keep a well
constructed house warm, the air is so clear and dry. I
believe the rain interferes with out-door work in Great
Britain quite as much as the cold d )es here, but be that as
it may, the farmer in Manitoba has fine weather enough
to cultivate the land and sow his crops, and he has plenty
of employment during the winter to house and teud his
cattle, and good sleighing to haul his fuel and other sup-
plies. The variations of the seasons are opportune. In
June or July, when the sod is soft and friable, the farmer
breaks his prairie laud, and the following spring, when
the frost is out of the ground a few inches, he reploughs
a id puts in his seed. The gradual thaw of the deep-frozeu
earth moistens the roots of the plants until the rains in
early summer, after which there comes dry warm weather
to ripen and harvest the crops. The average yield of
agricultural products in Manitoba last ranged as follows
per acre : — Wheat 23 bushels, barley 42 bushels, oats 50
bushels, potatoes 290 bushels, and turnips 662 bushels.
Other crops were good in about the same ratio, and two
years ago the Meunonites sowed about 240 bushels of
llax seed in their settlement near Emerson, from the
I rod tot of which they saved 8,000 bushels last year. I

think these returns are very fair for a new connlry, where
very little capital and labour are expended on the cultiva-
tion ; and the land appears to be more prolific as you go
farther to the north-west. At the farm in connection
with the mounted police station at Battleford, 600 miles
from here, on land broken last spring 492 bushels of oats
were raised on twelve acres, 109 bushels of barley were
raised on four and a half acres, and 602 bushels of potatoes
on two acres. At another farm in the vicinity of Battle-
ford, the second year after breaking the land, 1,300
bushels of potatoes were raised on less than two and a
quarter acres. One tuber, smooth and well shaped,
measured 14^ inches in circumference one way, by 15^
inches the other way, while twenty taken without special
selection, averaged over thiee pounds each. At Edmouton
180 miles east of the Rocky Mountains, the grain ciop of
one farm of 180 acres was esiimated at 6,000 bushels, of
which 4,000 bushels were wheat; and at the exhibition
held there in the fall, carrots were shown which measured
from Z\ inches to 4i inches in diameter, and from twenty
to twenty-four inches long. The average yield of
Manitoba is not surpassed by any of the United States.
Minnesota, one of the best wheat-growing Sta es iu the
Union, according to the latest return available, only pro-
duced 17 bushels of wheat to the acre, 32 bushels of oats,
and 26 bushels of barley, while the average for the
entire Union gives only 13.9 bushels for wheat, 31.6
for oats, and 21.3 bushels for barley. Wheat can be easily
raised in Manitoba at 11 dollars per acre, including tbe
breaking of the prairie, and at 8 dollars per acre after the
land has been broken, so that at the present average yield
the cost at the outside will not exceed 40 ceuts a bushel,
and in about two years, when the railways now in course
of construction are completed, wheat can be shipped to
Europe through the great lakes and the St. Lawrence at
45 cents a bushel, that is, wheat can be produced in any
part of Manitoba and delivered iu Liverpool, inclnding
all charges, at 85 cents a bushel, or 28s. 4J. per quarter.
However, some time must elapse before there will be any
surplus to ship, for, although there was a large area
under crops last year the yield will scarcely meet the
home demand and the requirements of increasing settlers ;
but there is a good deal of new land broken, aud the
cultivated area will be largely increased this year. Stock
raising is a profitable pursuit farther West, especially in
the Bow river and Edmonton districts where the cattle
can graze during winter, and many farmers in Manitoba
are now engaged in the business, but only in a small way
as yet ; still all over the province there are excellent grades
of cattle which were imported from Ontario and Quebec.
The grasses, which are highly nutritious, will sustain
stock from the middle of April until the end of Novem-
ber. Good hay can be cut and saved for a couple of
dollars per acre, and fine roots and grain far winter feed
can be raised at a moderate expense. There are few
large farms specially devoted to wheat raising and a few
to stock raising in Manitoba ; but the great bulk of tbe
farmers combine wheat aud stock raising, which enables
them to have a rotation of crops and manure for land
that may require it. I think they are wise not to put all
their eggs into one basket, for if the sua shines bright on
the British Isles this year wheat will probably be cheap
oa this continent, which produces so large a surplus for
exportation. There are about 400 townships already
surveyed in Manitoba and the North-west, each of which
comprise thirty-six sections of 640 acres each, and these
are divided iuto half and quarter sections. The Govern-
ment give a quarter sectiou or 160 acres free as a home-
stead to actual settlers with the right to pre-empt 160
acres more at a dollar an acre. Last year 8,000 home-
steads and pre-emption entries were made in the laud
offices, aud the Government, the Hudson's Bay Company,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINI

297

and speculators sold more than half a million acres.
Many of the settlers are experienced farmers with some
capital, but it was so easy to acquire land which was easily
cultivated that a number of energetic industrious men
without capital setlled on it, and, although they had to
struggle hard at first many of them have now line home-
steads. Still to ensure success an emigraut from the old
countries should have at least 100 dollars when he takes
op land wherewith to build a small house and to purchase
oxen, some farm implements, seed, and food unt:l he
saves his first crops. But an agricultural emigrant with
£1,000 may safely take up an entire section of G10 acres
and make a good farm and homestead in a few years.
An emigrant should n'ot be encumbered with luggage, for
on his arrival here he can purchase articles suited to the
country cheap enough. In Manitoba, which is only about
100 miles square, nearly all the good lands are occupied
by setilers, or in the hands of speculators, but there are
many townships surveyed west of the boundary where
there is plenty of free land. Last year a large number
of people from the old countries settled the little Sas-
katchewan ISO milest of Winnipeg, and built about 40
houses, a grist mill, a saw-mill, a good hotel, and a news-
paper office, and there are a large number also settled in
the Pembrina district, a fine section of country close to
the International boundary line, and although many of
them are young men who had not been trained to indus-
trial pursuits, they take to fanning very well. In the
neighbourhood of towns and projected railroads the value
of land is rapidly increasing; still good farms can be pur-
chased from the Hudson's Bay Company, and from specu-
lators at from five to ten dollars an acre, but the intending
settler can get land quite as good a little farther west at a
dollar or two an acre. Good town lots command very
high prices, and outside the bounds of this City they ask
100 dollars an acre for land. The progress of Winnipeg i
has been marvellous, no city in the Dominion has a more !
intelligent and orderly population, and there is no place \
of its age on the Continent has better shops and stores, j
or more commercial activity. Many wooden structures '
were replaced by substantial brick buildings last year, and I
they will commence extensive buildingj operations again |
when the season opens. The Hudson's Bay Company will J
build a large store on Main Street, and Mr. Ashdown I
paid 15,000 dollars for a plot of land opposite the Post j
Office, 50 feet front and 200 feet deep, on which to erect
a hardware store. Mr. Ashdown, who commenced busi* |
ness eight years ago with 100 dollars and a kit of tinkers' j
tools, has the most complete hardware store in the J
Dominion, and branch stores in several parts of this I
province and the north-west. Winnipeg is well situated
for a trade centre, being on the left bank of the Red
River, near the confluence of the Assiniboine. A branch
railway 63 miles connects it with the railroad system of
the United States, but its terminus is on the opposite
bank of the river at St. Boniface, where an important
Roman Catholic mission has been long established, how-
ever there is a bridge in course of construction to connect
both places, and before the close of the year the railroad
will be built 100 miles west. The immigration of last
year must have added fully ten thousand to the population
of Manitoba and the North-west, but there is plenty of
good land for many millions here beneath the "Old Flag'
amongst a kindred people.

I am, Sir, &c,

Thomas Connolly.
Canadian Pacific Hotel, Winnipeg,
March 12, 1S80.

ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.— The results of
the Senior Examinations, held recently, will not be made
known until after the next meeting of the Education Com-
mittee.

THE DUBLIN SPRING CATTLE SHOW.

(FROM A DUBLIN CORRESPONDENT.)

The annual Spring Show of the Royal Dublin Agricul-
tural Society was opened to the public on April 13,
though the exhibition was open to those officially inte-
rested on the previous day. There was every element in
the Show to eusure a success equal to auticipation,
although, for obvious and unavoidable reasons, it cannot
be fairly numbered amongst the distinguished successes
thathavecharacterised some former years. These reasons, it
isalmost superfluous to remark, are unfortunately to be found
in the terrible, if not unprecedented, crisis or crises through
which this country, agricultural and commercial, has
passed. The eud, indeed, of the untoward contingencies
referred to has not as yet arrived. The fact remains that
the disastrous and depressing consequences of the imme-
diate past, so far from being obliterated, are daily
apparent, and they cannot fail in making themselves
acutely and disadvantageous^ and widely felt in agricul-
tural affairs, for a period whose limits no prescience can
define. With reference to the Show under notice, how-
ever, there were features suggestive of encouragement,
the only matter for surprise being that such a collection
of animals of merit could be got together in the Metro-
politan City at a time like the present. The breeding
cattle were exhibited in the Agricultural Hall, aud the
arrangements in this department, as throughout the
' Show, were admirable alike as regarded the comfort of
j the exhibits and the facilities afforded to the public for
| inspection. The entries of Shorthorn bulls numbered
; 154, as compared with 197 in the previous year, aud thia
'{ class was divided into three sections. There was a still
j more conspicuous falling off in the show of cows and
heifers, as the entries numbered only 17, as compared
| with uearly double that number last year. In the section
| of Hereford bulb there were four competitors, but in one
I class there was no entry. The other miscellaneous entries
j numbered ten, against eight last year. For the best bulls
j of this breed a special prize of £20 was offered, a special
condition of the premium award being that the animal
j selected must be considered by the judgea to be of superior
I merit. In the Hereford cows and heifers class there were
j but three entries, being one less than las: year. In
j Polled Angus bulls there were three entries also, being an
I increase of only one on those shown at the immediately
j previous exhibition. Of this breed there were also two
j heifers entered, and the entries last year numbered two.
j The Devons and Ayrshires were not, in the strict sense
of the word, competing, as there was but one solitary
| heifer shown. This pretty nearly reflects the state of
things at the Spring Show of 1879, when there was not a
single Devon aud only one Ayrshire exhibited. In the
Kerrys the state of affairs was much more inspiriting, as
the numbers were eleven buils and eighteen heifers and
cows, as against eight bulls aud ten cows and heifers in
1879. The Dexter bulls entered numbered five, and cows
and heifers fifteen, whereas last year in the same class the
numbers were three and eight respectively. One bull
represented the show of West Highlauds, bu,t last year no
specimen of this breed was presented. There were one
Aluerney bull and four heifers, as against two bulls and
three heifers last year. The fat cattle were exhibited on
premises adjoining the Melbourne Hotel. Amongst them
were two Shorthorn oxen and ten heifers, as against two
and fifteen respectively last year. There were one Kerry-
ox and four heifers aud cows, showing a slight increase on
the previous year, when only one cow and one heifer
were shown. Herefords were conspicuous by their
entire abseuce, whereas last year four oxen and five cows
and heifers put in an appearance in this class. In the
section set apart for the best oxen, cows, and heiferi of

298

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

any other pure or cross breed not included in any of those
above mentioned, there were two oxen and three heifers,
the entries last year being seven oxen, one cow, and three
heifers. In the class allotted to the best pair of fat oxen
of any breed that had been worked as plough bullocks up
to the previous May, there were no entries, but last year
there were. The swine, which were exhibited in the
Clare-lane premises, unn.bered nineteen as agaiust forty-
six last year. The sow class of breeding swine was a very
good lot, and prizes were awarded to nearly every exhibit,
the merits being obvious to all.

Some of the cattle were pronounced of unusual
excellence. As a rule they were fine specimens of their
respective breeds, and the representatives of no class or
section can be described as second, in all essential points,
to the animals which have in days not long past carried
off honours from this society's shows. It is satisfactory
to those who are more directly interested in the success of
the society that the judges were undivided in opinion,
that, taken as a whole, the show was a good one- This
opinion has no exclusive application, referring as it does
to the implements, machines, and other accessories of the
exhibition as to the animals in competition. The most
distinctive feature of failure in the show was in the Short-
horn class, but still there were some first-class specimens
of cattle-breeding from various parts of Ireland. The
animals entered for competition as Short-horned bulls
calved iu 1879, numbered 106, and it is perhaps some-
A\hat noteworthy that, independently of the fact a
great proportion of the cattle was placed in competition
by the elite and geutlemen farmers, Mr. James
Masterson, of Curraghtown, county Monaghao, carried
off the laurels with his Shorthorn roan bull Royal Meath,
and the distinction is enhanced by the circumstance that
Mr. Masterson bred the animal. A somewhat similar
rtmark applies to Mr, W. Low who, with his white bull
Prince Charley, bred by the owner, had no difficulty in
securing a second position. The next attraction in the
Show were the bi lis of the same breed, which were calved
in 1877 and 1878 respectively, and the successful efforts
of the representatives of the late Major O'Reilly, of Kuock
Abbey, Dui.dalk, and of Sir Victor Brooke, Bart., to
obtain prizes were duly recognised by competitors as
equitable and deserved. Certainly by no means the least
interesting feature in the manner of bestowing tbe awards
was that baring reference to the Chaloner Plate — a plate
of the value of £155 — for the best bull of any breed.
This trophy, it will be remembered, was carried off on
two successive years by the bull Anchor, the property of
Lord Ralhdonnell. This prize has invariably been looked
upon as perhaps the highest honour at the command of the
executive to bestow upon the Shorthorn breed. It has
now fallen into the hands of a Hereford. Rifleman, bred
from Sultan, is the prize beast. It was bred out of
Sultan strain, and calved in March, 1875. Mr. George
N. Purdon, of Lisnabio, Killncan, is the fortunate pos-
sessor of this animal. The Gibbs and Company
Challenge Cup, of the value of ten guineas, and which is
given by Messrs. James Gibbs and Co., of Loudon, for
age, the best Hereford bull over two and under six years of
was also carried off by Rifleman. It is somewhat remark-
able that the same competitor also obtained a premier
prize in two other sections, and the value of these suc-
cesses is enhanced by the fact that the prize-winners were
all of his own breeding. R firman deserves more thau a
pissing remark. He is symmetrically formed, bearing a pro-
fusion of red curled hair, and it was the opinion of several
breeders of stock and i h rs of the cognoscenti that a cross
v onid be agreat desideratum in affording auimalsa sufficient
natural covering to protect tbem from any climatic influ-
tuce, however severe. Of the Polled Angus bulls nothing
but commendation can be advauced. Numerically they

were small, but their condition and natural form were the
acme of perfection, and the prizes were well bestowed.
" Rosie the Twenty-ninth" was a good, well-condi-
tioned, sleek, Aryshire cow. There was no competition
in the class in which it was entered, but if there had been
it is questionable whether any successful competitor could
be found. The judges, having no appropriate or available
prize at command, recommended it for distinguished
merit, and the executive are favourably inclined to award
it a special prize, if such a distinction can be conferred
with a due regard to the rules of the Association.
"With regard to the Kerries, the exhibits are
strikingly contradictory of the forebodings or
anticipations of many. Indeed, it is the largest,
numerically speaking, that has been congre-
gated here, and, what is of infinitely greater
importance, the quality is not only equal to that now
shown in other centres of agricultural competition, but it
is pronounced to far exceed the average. The principal
prize-takers were Mr. Robertson, La Mancha, Malahide,
with his heifer Maple, and Mr. Butler, of Priestown, County
Meath, with his Kerry bull " Snowball." It was pro-
nounced upon all hands that Maple was one of the prettiest,
if not the prettiest cows exhibited in shows of receut
date. The Alderneys were as a whole, a collection of
which nothing praiseworthy can fairly be spoken, but
there was an exception or two, and the better-favoured
exception was a fine animal giving milk and in calf ; at
any rate, the judges recommended it in the point of merit,
on the barren ground that there was no real competition.
The fat cattle were not numerously represented, but the
specimens were a fair average of what might be expected.
The silver medal was awarded to Sir Charles Coote for
his thoroughly well-conditioned Shorthorned white-and-
red ox, which had not to encouuter opposition, as there
was no other entry. This ox was shown by tbe breeder,
is an animal of large proportions ; its keeper avers
that it every day disposes of provender consisting of an
inordinate quantity of turnips, linseed cake, and bruised
oats and hay. Princess Maude the Filth, a Shorthorn
fat cow, the property of Lord Claremont, obtaiued first
prize, from amongst a number of its class. The judge had
no small difficulty in arriving at their conclusion as to the
respective claims of Bezique (red bull, white face, by
Rifleman) exhibited by Mr. Purdon, Killucan, and
Downton Boy (who took second prize at Kilburn), the
property of Mr. Stephens, Greeuwood, Co. Dublin.
The decision was finally made in Bezique's favour, to the
surprise of many present. The atmospheric influences
were sufficiently auspicious to guarantee a numerous
gathering, but the prohibitive tariff of admission
for the opening day, namely, ten and five shillings,
had the effect of reducing its visitors to small, but at the
same time select, proportions. The Lord-Lieutenant and
party visited the show, and took great interest in the
exhihits, especially those where a high degree of excel-
lence had been attained.

The following is a list of the awards : —

The Chaloner Plate, value £155, won by Mr. G. Ni
Purdon'g (Killucau), Hereford bull, Rifleman. Gibb's and
Co's challenge cup, value 10 guineas, wod by Mr. Purdoa's
Rifleman.

BREEDING CATTLE.

Shorthorn bull, calvtd in 1879. —1, J. J. Masterson, Cur-
raghtown, Moynalty, Co. Meath, (Royal Meath); 2, W.
Low, Kilsaae, Tipperary, (t'rince Charlie) ; 3, J. Atkin-
son,

Shorthorned bull, calved in 1878. — 1, Representatives of the
late Major O'Keilly, Knock Abbey, Dundalk, (Warbling
Prince) ,2, Sir Victor Brooke, Brookcborongh, Fermanagh ;
'6, Lord Rathdouncll, Tulluw, Co. Carlow (Anchorite).

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

209

Shorthorned bull, calved in or prior to 1877- — 1, Sir Victor
Brooke, Bart., Colebrooke; 2, B. Hayden, Grenagh,
Killurney.
Shorthorned heifer, cilved iu 1879.— 1, C. W. Wise, Roche*-
town, Calhir; 2, W. i, Budds, Courtbtown, rreshford, (Jo.
Kilkenny.
Shorthorned heifer, calved ia 1878. — R. J.M. Gumbleton,

Gianatore, Tullow, Co. Waterford, (Cassia).
Shorthorned heiier, c*lved in 1877, g'ving milk or iu calf. —

R. J. M. Guiobleton, (Emma Gpoponax).
Shorthorned cuw, of any age, either in calf, or having had a
living call within twelve months preceding the date of the
show. — 1, W. Scott, Coolnagour, Mountratii, (Daisy); 2,
B. Hannau, Riverstown, Killucan, (Jenny Liud the fifteenth,
alias Susan).
Hereford bull, calved in 1879. — 1, G. N. Purdon, Lisuabin,
Killucan, (Fusilier) ; 2, Major Kearney, Miltown House,
Clonmellon, (Sir Justice).
Hereford bull, calved in 1878.— 1, G.N. Purdon, Lisnabin,
Killucan (Besique) ; 2, G. A. Stephen", Greenwood, St.
Dolough's, Dublin county (Downton Boy).
H-re'ord hull, calved in or before 1876.— 1, G. N. Purdon

(Rill-man) ; 2, ivlajor K arney (Truro).
Here'ord heiler or cow, either in-calf, or having had
a living calf within 12 months before the date of shuw. —
G. A. Stephens, Green wooH, St. Ddoch's (Miss Lee).
Polled Angus Bull.— W. Oweu, Blessingtou, co. Wicklow

(T. e Viscount).
Polled Angus heifer or cow, any age, either in calf or having
nad a living calf within twelve months prior to date of show.
— 1, W. Owen (Waterside Belle) ; 2, W. 0*en (Maggie the
Thud). ;

K-rry bull, of any age-— 1, T. Butler, Priestown, co. Meath

2, II. Good, Aberlow, Cork.
Kerry heifer, not above three years. — 1, J. Robertson, La
Mancha, Malahide (Maple) ; 2, R. Good, Aberlow,
Cork.
K>rry cow, either in-calf, or having had a living calf within
12 months before date of show. — 1, T. Butler, Priestown,
co. Meath (Snowdrop) ; 2, The Karl of Cloumei, Strathan
(Colleen Duo Dabs).
Dexter bull of any age. — 1 and 2, T. Butler, PriestowD, Co.

Meath.
Dexter heifer calved in 1878. — J. Robertson, La Mancha,

Malahide (Petervia).
Dexter heifer calved in 1877, giving milk or in calf. — The

Earl of Clonmel, Strathan (Mavourneen).
Dexter cow, either iD-calt or having had one living calf
within twelvemonths before the date of show. — 1, W. G.
Henry, Oaklands, Sandy mount (Gyp) ; 2, the Earl of
Clonmel (Kathleen).
A'deruey or other Channel Inland cow, of any age, either
in-calf or having had a living calf within twelvemonths
before the date of show. — 1, R. Hill, Donadea, Kilcock ;
2. J. Kelly, Newbliss, Co. Monoghan (Ayaba).

FAT CATTLE.

Shorthorned ox, calved before April, 1877, — 1 and prize for
eest fat ox, Sir O. H. Coote, Bart., Muuutrath.

Shorthorned cow of any age. — 1 and prize for best fat cow,
Lord Claremont, Duudalk (Princess Maude the 5th) ; 2, J.
Radcliffe, Wilinount, KelU.

Shorthorned heifer not exceeding four years. — 1 and prize for
best fat heiler, the Marquis of Headfort, Kells; 2, Major
Barton, Strathan House, Co. Kildare (Snowdrop the 4th).

Kerry ox, calved belore 1877. — Earl of Longford, Castle-
pollard.

Kerry cow of any age. — The Earl of Clonmel, Strathan.

Kerry heifer not exceeding four years. — 1, R. W. Raynell,
Killercon, Kilulcan ; 2, the Earl ot Clonmel, Strathau.

Ox of any other pure or cross-breed, not included ia the fore-
going sections, calved prior to 1877. — 1, J. Leaward, Clon-
dalkin ; 2, E. Morris, Dunshaughnn.

Heiler of any other pure or cross-breed, not included in the
foregoing sections, calved prior to 1877. — F. O'Reilly,
Carlonstown, Co. Meath.

BREEDING FIGS. COLOURED BREEDS.

Boar, six months aud not exceeding twelve. — 1 and 2, Lord

Claremont, Newry.
Boar, exceeding 21 and not 36 mouths old. — R. H. Metge,

Navan.

Breeding sow in pi^, or having had a litter within six
months. — 1, Lord Ciaremuut ; 2, J. Mulloy, 72, Mountjoy-
stree', Dublin.

Three breeding pigs, of the same litter, uuder ten months old.
— L-ird Claremont.

WHITE BREEDS.

White Yorkshire b >ar. — The Earl of Clonmel, S'rathan.
Boar, exciediug twelve and not twen'y-tour months old. — 1

and 2, J. b. Naper, Oidcastle.
Boar, exceeding twenty lour and not thirty-six months old. —

J. T. O'Shaughnessy, Ballinasloe.
Breeding tow, in pig, or having hud a litter within six months.

—John Molloy.
Three breeding pigs, same litter, under ten months. — 1, J. L,

Naper, Largherew, Oldcastle ; 2, the Earl ol Clonmel.
Litter of not le s than six pigs. — 1, John Mjhoy ; 2, the Earl

of Clonmel.

SIR RICHARD GILPIN AND
FARMERS' ALLIANCE.

THE

The following correspondence has passed between the
Secretary of the Farmers' Alliance and Sir Richard
Gilpin : —

The Farmers' Alliance.
Offices,
265, Strand, W.C., London, April 13, 1830.
Sir Richard, — At a meeting held at Bedford on the
3rd iust., you are reported to have said that at a meeting
of the Farmers' Alliance held in London during the Cattle
Show week, the remark was made " that the land most
be taken away from the proprietors and divided among
the people."

As 1 was present at the meeting referred to, and heard
no such statement, I shall be glad to know your authority
for your statement.

I have no doubt that, through some person's falsehood,
you have been unwittingly led to utter a gross libel
against the members of a society whose objects — whether
you agree with them or not — are entirely fair aud
reasonable.

I am, Sir, yours faithfully,

William E. Bear,
Sir Richard Gilpin, Bart. Secretary.

Hockliffe Grange, April 14, 1880.

Sir, — In reply to your letter, received this morning,
haviug reference to some observations supposed to have
been made by me respecting the Farmers' Alliance, I
have to state what I said was " that notwithstanding it
bad been reported in a newspaper correspondence that
the Alliance was not a political party, I should like to
know whether, at a meeting held at the Freemasons' Hall
during the Cattle Show week, communistic sentiments
had not been expressed, to the effect that the land ought
to be taken from the proprietors and divided amongst the
democracy, as I bad beeu credibly informed such was the
case."

My informant is a person of the highest respectability,
a tenant farmer, a man of mark among his class, and for
some years the chairman of a Board of Guardians. He
was present at the Bedford meeting ; we accidentally met
afterwards, and be did not attempt to qualify anything he
bad said.

I am about to write to him for further information on
the subject, as it is extraordinary that such a statement
should have been distinctly made by this gentleman, for
which there was not the slightest foundation — if that
be so.

I am, Sir, obediently yours,

R. T. Gilpin.

William Bear, Esq.

300

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

2G5, Strand, London, April 16, 1880.
Sir Richard, — I can only repeat that yon have been
entirely misinformed. The farmer you refer to is pro-
bably a gentleman possessed of a fertile imagination, and
he seems to have put a very misleading gloss on what he
heard at the annual meeting of the Farmers' Alliance.

On behalf of the Association I emphatically repudiate
any such object as that wrongly attributed to one of our
members.

I am, Sir, yours faithfully,

William E. Bear.
Sir Richard Gilpin, Bart.

P.S. I presume you will have no objection to the
publication of this correspondence.

Hockliffe, Grange, April 16,1880.
Sir, — I have this morning received a reply to my letter
from my informant — Mr. Crouch, of Ridgmount, near
Woburn — a gentleman well-known to Mr. Howard if not
to yourself. He writes thus :

Ridgmount, April 15, 1880.

Dear Sir, — In answer to your letter received this
morning I have to say I heard your speech at Bedford in
the Corn Exchange on the 3rd instant, in which you
referred to the communistic and democratic opinion of one.
of the speakers at the first annual meeting of the Farmers'
Alliance, which took place at the Freemason's Hall, Great
Queen-street, last December. I was present at that meet-
ing, and have no hesitation in saying again as I have said
many times before that the speech of Mr. Freeman, a
member of the Committee of the Alliance, on the land
question was decidedly what is commonly understood as
democratic and communistic. So far as the landed pro-
perty in the United Kingdom is concerned I have no wish
to urge a wordy war with Mr. Bear, but you have my
full permission to use my name as your informant on this
question. I have already publicly expressed my opinion
in the Standard newspaper that the so-called Farmers'
Alliance is no longer a society farmers will join — and there
as far as I am concerned the matter end9.

You have now my final reply to your letter of the 13th
instant, and are in possession of the authority on which my
remarks at Bedford were based.

Obediently yours,

R. T. Gilpin.

The Secretary Farmers' Alliance.

265, Strand, London, April 17, 1880.

Sir Richard, — Mr. Crouch does not attempt to verify
the statement which he led you to make. His vague idea
of democracy and communism led his fertile imagination
to attribute words to Mr. Freeman which that gentleman
never used.

I am, Sir, yours faithfully,

William E. Bear.
Sir Richard Gilpin, Bart.

Hockliffe Grange, April 18, 1880.

Sir, — I am unable to adopt your view of Mr. Crouch's
letter. It is very full and explicit, and in my judgment
amply rectified the observation he led me to make.

Mr. Crouch was present at both meetings, and heard
what passed. He is perfectly competent to interpret the
English language, and notwithstanding your bombastic
remarks about " Vague ideas, fertile imagination, mis-
leading gloss, &c," his veracity cannot for a moment be
doubted.

The matter on which you sought information having
been fully explained, I decline all further communication
with you on the subject.

I am, Sir, obediently yours,

R. T. Gilpin.
P.S. You are at perfect liberty to publish the corres-
pondence if you think proper to do so.

FLUKES LN SHEEP.

A lecture was delivered recently, in the Corn Exchange,
Grantham, with a view to forming classes for teaching the
science of agricnltnre. Mr. John Lynn, of Stroxtou,
occupied the chair. After Mr. Buckmaster's address, refer-
ence was made to the contradictory opinions entertained with
reference to 'he transformations of the fluke. Mr. Buckraaster
said these diflVrent opinions were the remit of imperfect
knowledge. Thpre was no difference of opinion about the
transformations of the silk worm, the hatching of a bird's
egg, the habits of bees and ants, or the circulation of the
blood, because these things had been more carefully studied
oat, but oar knowledge of the fl jke, the turuip fly, the wire-
worm, and other almost invisible forms of life i» very limited.
Iu ODe night a crop is destroyed by insects. The peiiodical
destruction of food through the ravages of the fluke might be
considerably diminished, if not en'irely stamped oat, by more
knowledge. The lecturer proceeded to say : — "Here you have
a living thing the shape of a sole, about half an inch in
length, of a dark brown colour, apparently without nervps,
legs, eyes, or sex. This thing finds Us way through the
stomach and fattens itself by a sucker in the liver of a sheep.
Here it lays eggs, some say two or three thousand, others
40,000. These eggs pass out of the body and are distributed
over the land ; but hens' egijs scattered over the fields would
never become chickens ; nor can these eggs become flukes
without the favourable couditioos of moisture and warmth.
The egg bursts and the embryo of the luture fluke floats or
swims about. In passing through other changes, some say
four, others six, it becomes what is called an cicysted cercaria.
It is now taken with the food into the stomach and develops
intJ a perfect flake in the liver, where it lays eggs, which pass
through the same round of development. It is said that if
taken into the stomach in any intermediate condition between
the egg and the encysted 'cercaria it never develops into a
fluke; others have stated that it can be developed direct from
the egg. Would it not be a good thing to study oat the
na'uritl history of the fluk«, aud, instead of a picture iu a
village school of men in the Fiery Furnaces could we not Imve
good diagrams of the transformations of the fluke, the wire-
worm, the turnip fly, and other things which try the patieuce
and temper ot a farmer ? Lincolnshire his been happily free
from fluke, but in Somersetshire, Wiltshire, Dorsetshire,
Devonshire, and other counties whole flocks have bei-n
destroyed. There may be something in the Lincolnshire
breed, but our knowledge of the^e things is very little, aud the
remedy is not to be louud in the continuance of the ignorance
but in the extension of our knowledge." He did not profess
to know more than was accessible to every person interested
in the subject. If Lincolnshire sheep were free Ironi fluke,
its lambs were periodically attacked with something almost as
bad as fluke. Hundreds died from worms in the windpipe, but
of the origin and natural history of those worms we knew next
to nothing. These were some of the things the Science and
Art Department encouraged young men to study, and any one
who by knowledge could arrest the ravages of these insects
would take rank with the greatest of our time-

Dr. Spencer Cobbold writes to the Times : —
Dr. John Harley's statements are so utterly contrary to all
the deductions of Leuckhart, Van Benedeu, La Vallette,
Pagenstecher, and others who have experimentally worked at
the development of these parasites that I ask you to permit
me to contradict his views in every essential particular. No
fluke can arrive at sexual maturity unless it passes through
the cercarian stage, and this tailed-larval state is only
acquired by passing through an intermediate molluscan
bearer. The investigations of the lamented Willemoes-Suhm
render it almost certain that Cercaria cystophora infesting
Flanorbis raargiuata is the higher larval state of the small

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE.

301

flake (Distoivi lanceolatum) ; and the still later researches
ot Leuculurt point to the mollusc called Lymncea truDca ula
an the hearer of the cercarian stage of Fa*ciola hepatica or
the common fluke. A change of host is essential.

K. F. F. B. writes to theTimes : —

In the present circumstances it may be useful to give
American opinions upon this disease, and I therefore tran-
scribe the following from the standard work of the Wes'ern
States (" The Skfpkerd's Manual" by Stewart, published by
Orange, Judd. and Co., New York). I may add I have seen
whole flocks destroyed in the West from this disease, caused by
feeding near stagnant waters. I have occasionally saved a few
in the first stages with the receipt end aed herewith, plus a
little whisky, but always gave up hope directly the wool became
loi'se.

" The fluke is a member of a family of socking worms
(-i nilar 10 the leeches ), known as disloma. It is a flat,
oval-shaped animal, more thickly conical in front, and has a
sucker or mouth. Where the thicker part j >ins the flatter
hinder part, there is a second sucker upon the under side.
In fun re 78 are sh >wn the fnll-grown flukes as taken from the
gnll ducts of a sheep, and in figure 79 are represented imma-
ture, flukes fiom the same animal. The fluke is a highly-
organised animal. It possesses a branched intestinal canal
and digestive organs, seen at figure 80, and a fully developed
circulatory system, seen at figure 81. These fuureR are life-
size. The fluke possesses the power of self impregnation
should a second individual not be present. It propagates by
means of eggs, which are produced in great numbers, and
which pass with the bile into the intestinal canal, from whence
t' ey are voided with the dnng ol the sheep. The eggs need
to be washed by rain or flood into stagnant water to become
developed. The embryo, covered with cilia; or arms — the
loc 'motive organs — leaves the shell and swims in the water.
It is then believed, from our present knowledge of its habits,
to penetrate the bodies of snails or other amphibious molluscs,
and thus pass a s'age of its existence. These sott-bodied
molluscs teing swallowed by the sheep, which graze in low,
moist pastures, along with the herbage, the parasites contained
in them are introduced into the stomach, from which they
pass by the gall ducts into the liver, and thus complete the
round of their exigence. They collect in masses, sometimes
closely packed in the gall ducts, obstruct the flow of the gall,
and set np initation, and thus produce jaundice, by which the
membranes are coloured yellow. At this first outset of the
disease the animal seems to thrie and make fat rapidly, but
the fat is highly coloured, especially that of the kidneys and
brisket. Some English feeders have purposely exposed their
slieep to the flukes to hasten the fattening. But, this stage
passed, the structure of the liver becomes changed from the
irritation and pre.-sure; the gall duels become enlarged into
extensive cavities, which are filled with ft-ikes and their eggs.
The pain thus caused makes the animal restless and thin.
The partial destruction of the liver, and stoppage of its
functions, causes diarrhoea, dropsy, and the disorgan zation of
the blood, which constitute the latal rot. The course of this
disease is rapid. At the latter end the whole system is de-
ranged. The breath is offensive ; a deep, distressing cough,
with fever, racks the animal, the skin is covered with yellowish
and black patches ; the abdomen enlarges from the accumulated
fluid ; tha animal is very weak, and lies with its head thrust
out, solitary and separate from its fellows, until it dies. On
opening the sheep the « hole carcase is literally rotten. Yellow
serum I0II0W8 the kni'e everywhere, the abdomen being filled
with it. The liver is fonnd full of hard spo's and ulcers, and
the ducts filled with flukes. The treatment consists wholly in
prevention or in attention at the first stages. When the rot
has become developed no medicine avails anything. It is
wholly and surely prevented by keeping the sheep on dry
pastures and away Irom stagnant water. The fluke there can
find no development. Low pastures should be drained, ponds
fenced off, and well water used for drinking purposes. Hay
from low grounds may even communicate this disease. When
these preventive measures cannot be wholly carried out, the
sheep should be abundantly supplied with salt, and on the first
appearance of suspicious symptoms the following mixture
should be administered — viz., saltpetre, l^oz. ; powdered
ginger, loz. ; carbonate of iron (colcothar ol vitriol), ^oz ;
salt, 1 lb. ; boiling water, 3 quarts. The above to be mixed,
and when nearly cool 9 oz. of spirits of turpentine are to be

added. Tlie whole ;s bottled in quart bottles for use, and
when administered should be well shaken to mix the ingredi-
ents thoroughly.

" Infected sheep should be kept from food all night, and on
the following morning, before feeding, each should receive
two ounces (a wineglassfull) of the mixture by means of a
horn. No food should be given for three hours. The medi-
cine is repeated every lourth day for two weeks." — (Pages
'Z'~ J ~~1.)

Mr. George Rolleston, F.R.S., writes : —
The English Lake District presents us with as simple a
case for the investigation of the cause of rot in sheep as any
other portion of the wide area over which that disease has
spread, with, pirhaps, the exception of such isolated localities
as the Faroe Islands ; for sheep» abouud upon its thousand
hills, while the species of snails and slugs are but few, and
the conditions of its geological formation, of its fauna, and of
its flora, differ as widely from those of many other regions
within our four seas similarly affected as it is, all things con-
sidered, possible for them to differ.

Having occasion to visit the di-trict in question last week,
I used the opportunity for making a fr-w inquiries of the
farmers and shepherds ihere as to the natural history of this
plague. These inquiries were of the simplest kind, anybody
can repeat them, and I cannot but think that the answers he
will receive will incline such an inquirer to think that a
strong a priori case is made out in favour of the view put
forward ia the Times of Wednesday last, April 7, to the effect
of indentifying the black slug {Avion ater) or the gray slug
(Limax agrest>s) as one necessary link in the chain of causes
concerned. In a very few weeks these animals will again
become dangerous, and while becoming so will furnish oppor-
tunities for strict scientific examination of the suspicions cast
upon them ; the case as it stands is iroperfeci, but it is, I am
well assured, strong enough not only to direct the attention of
scientific experts upon their life history, but to justify agri-
culturists in taking special precautions for curtailing their
activities. I found the natives, though not in all cases as
intelligent upon the political questions then agitating their
valleys as I could have wished, still as intelligent and obser-
vant, as I have found them to be any time during the last 34-
years 1 pon na ural history questions; and I very rapidly got
the following facts deposed to by them without any prompting
on my part :—

1. The fluke disease is a disease of low ground', and not-
ably of pastures liable to be flooded.

2. But not exclusively of pastures liable to be flooded ; for
what is of special consequence as going some way towards
eliminating the pond snails (Limi/a/is pereger) and others from
the charge of sharing in the causatiou of fluke disease, the
pasturing of sheep in a stubble rich in the " melancholic poi-
sonous green" which a wet autumn often produces, is a
very sure way for producing the disease.

3. The words just giveu in inverted commas are not
the exact words employed by ray informants ; those which
follow are pretty nearly so— "A single bellyful will give
the disease."

4. " A pasture will give the disease at the back-end of the
year which wou'c give it after Candlemas." This means
that the winter cold and rains destroy or wash away the
larval or other forms of flukes which the slugs brought with
them in the autumn.

The first of these observations i», like all other observations
and all experiments concerning the matter with which I am
acquainted, utterly destructive of Dr. Harley's suggestion as
to the self-infection of sheep from their own droppings or
those of their fellow slieep. If this were possible, why should
it not take place on the uplands, or '' commons," as the Lake
shepherds call the unenclosed mountains, where the sheep, for
the sake of food on those otten limited grazing spaces or
" alps," or for the sake of shelter, often huddle together as
closely as they do or can do elsewhere ? It is destructive
also of the often uttered ascription of rot to damp and mois-
ture, the mountain ridges of Westmoreland being "many
iountained " to a degree never dreamed of by Theocritus in
Mediterranean districts, or realised by our own Laureate out
of these "rainy isles." It is, on the other hand, confirmatory,
as are all accurate observations on the subject, of the view
which asserts that the presence of snail or slug is a necessary
factor in the causatiou of rot. Snails and slugs are but

302

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Beam ily represented, if present at all, on mountain tops;
there are no slugs in Forbes' and Tschudi's lists of higli
Alpine ranges ; and these districts, like salt marshes,
o»e their character for considered " soundness," as the
phrase is, as regards the most destructive of sheep dis-
eases, to this absence, or paucily of, at least, certain
mollusca.

I was first put in this pursuit upon the slimy trail of th
slugs and snails specified by various well-known facts which
it is here unnecessary to speciiy. The number of the num-
berless species ot these mollusca wnich it is necessary to
t ouble about appears to me to be very distinctly and
very conveniently limited by the fact pointed out by the
late Willemoes-Suhn, one of the " goodly company of
famous knights," upon Her Majesty's ship Challenger, as to
the Faroe Islands. The Faroe Islands are f-fflicted by the
rot, but they have only eight snails and slugs, all told, out
of which to choose the guilty party or parties. These are, as
enumerated in Siebold and Kolliker's Z Vsehrift for 1873 —
vol. xxiii., p. 339 — Limax, ayresiis, Limax marginal us,
Fitri/ia pellucida, Hyalni alliaria, Lim/iaus ptreger, Limnaus
iruncatulus, Anon ater, Ario/t cinctus. That the fluke
of the Faroe Islands sheep spends a considerable part ol its
li e as a parasite in one or more of these mollusca admits
of about as much doubt as the staiemeot that the "giddy "
disease, the" sturdy," as the Lake District shepherds pro-
nounce the French word ' etourdi,' of the sheep is simiUriy
dependent upou a to-and-fro shuttlecock alternation of one
auimal between two others. I do not say that it is uecesserily
in one, and one only, of the specified eight mollusca. Un-
doubtedly the fluke, like other parasites, may, in its sporting
tour, inlest many hosts. As a master ot fact, this par-
ticular fluke (Fuscw/u kepatica) in its adult stage infests
some dozen mammals besides the sheep and ourselves. But, as
a matter of speculation, I incline to think that the fluke
in its younger days is, like some other animals, a little, or
indeed a good deal, more particular as to where it
lodges than it is in later li'e. As a matter of practice, at
any rate, there is no need to tell farmers to be on their
guard against snails which do not infest their pastures, and
of the eight just spfefied they need, usually in England,
only look to the black slug and the gray slug. Willemoes-
Suhm suspected the. gray slug. I suspect the black slug,
partly on account ot its very wide distribution iu space — it
having been found as a spectre voir in Prince Jerome Bona-
parte's voyage to Jan Mayen's Island— partly from the
facts furnished to me by Mr. D. Ofsswell, M.R.C.V.S., of
Louth, to the effect that sheep which have been feeding on
turnips harbouring " black jacks " will die of rot even when
shifted on to salt marshes. Any inhabitant of the Shet-
land Islands who will inform us that the sheep-rot does
infest his country, or any inhabitant of Siberia who will
inform us that it does not infest his, will settle the question,
in a preliminary way at least, in favour of the black
slug. For " this very common, beautiful, and exceedingly
variable slug,'' as Forbes calls it, is not found in Siberia, and
the Umax agreslis is ; while in the Shetlands the case ol dis-
tribution is" precisely reversed. Whoever will furnish us with
the information required will be indeed a " true farmers'
friend."

Anyhow, the line of prevention indicated in my letter
published by you on Wednesday is the same whichever animal
i< the one to be blamed, or il both are. And, in confirmation
of what I there recommended, let me say that rot is compar-
atively rare in the Lake District, while the pasturage of ducks
aad geese on marshy ground is a branch of agricultural industry
greatly developed. It was with much pleasure that I saw two
1 irge flocks — one of ducks, the other of geese — echelotined,
sjme 100 yards or less apart, on such ground there last Friday.
They will keep down both black and grey slugs as fast as they
appear, and, menageries though these birds often are found to
be as to other parasites, without, so far as is known, incurring
any danger from this fluke.

This letter has been very long, but I cannot conclude with-
out expressing my regret that Dr. Harley should have seen
his way towards expressing dissent from the views on this very
important subject which Dr. Cobbold only too shortly hinted
at in his letter to you of Wednesday last. Dr. Cobbold could
not spenk of his own claims to be heard upou this matter ; it
would be an impertinence in me to say more of them than

that they rest upon a laborious and not unfruitful work, exper-
imental and observational, of more than 20 years, and that
out of this country as well as in it he stands in the list of the
first authorities on the su!ject.

THE WILTS AND HANTS AGRI-
CULTURAL COLLEGE.

We are glad to assist in the formation of Professor
Wrighson's new undertaking by the publication of the
following extracts from a prospects of the Wilts and Hants
Agricultural College which has been sent to us : —

Referees. — Tne Right Honourable Earl Nelson, Trafalgar
Park, near Salisbury ; Sir Harcourt Johnstone, Birt., M.P.,
Hackness Hall, Scarboro' ; W. W.B. Hulton, E>q., Hulion
Park, Bulton-le-Moors, Lane shire ; H. M. Jenkins, Esq.,
12, Hanover--quare, Lnuaon, W. ; Messrs. Riwlence and
Squarey, Land Agents, Salisbury, and 22, Great George-street,
Westminster, S.W. ; Henry Willett, Esq., Arnold House,
Brighton.

Professors and Lecturers. — Agriculture ■ John Wright-
son, F.C.S., M.R-A.C, late Prolessor of Agricul ure in the
Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. — Dairy Farming : J.
P. Sheldon, author ol CasseiPs " D >iry Farming" late Professor
of Agriculture in the Royal Agr cultural College, Cireuc-'ster.
—Chemistry: A. Church, MA, (Oxon), F.C.S., F.IC,
Professor ot Chemistry in the Royai Academy of Aits, ana
late Prolessor of Chemistry in the Royal Agricultural Coile-c,
Cirencester. — Natural History : W. Fream, B. Sc. L aid.
F.G.S., Late Professor of Natural Histo<y in the Royal Agri-
cultural College, Cirencester. — Esta e Management : C. E.
Curtis, author of "Estate Management" (Fie/i office).—
Veterinary Medicine : A course will be arranged for the two
winter terms.

The object of the Wilts and Hants Agricultural College is
to afford sound and practical instruction iu Agricultural sub-
jects, so as to qualify the students to occupy the positions of
landowners, farmers, land ageuts, surveyors, and colonists.

The instruction is both scientific and practical, and is im-
parted in the form of lectures, out-door and indoor classes, and
is tested by regular examinations.

The general management of the whole establishment is unJer
the directiou of Prolessor Wrightson, who also arranges and
superintends the farming operations, and conducts practical
field classes on all matters pertaining to farming.

The farm (wh'ch is in the occupation of Prolessor Wright-
son) is 535 acres in extent. It is admirab'y adapted for pur-
poses of instruction on account of the varied character ot its
soils and produce. It is bordered on the south east by the
Christchurch Avon, which is employed for the irrigation of +5
acres of water-meadows. There are also a?out 50 acres of dry
pasture and marsh, which, together with the dry water
meidows, yield pasturage for a dairy or 25 cows. The meadows
also supply sheep feed in the spring, and a large quantity of
hay lor winter nse.

There is a considerable extent of flat productive soil of
alluvial character, continued with a gradually rising series of
fields up to the Downs.

The course of cropping is planned with a view of maintai: •
ing a heavy stock of sheep and growing about 200 acres of
corn. The sheep are of the Hampshire Down breed, aud co: ■
sist of a permanent breeding flock of 700 ewes and ewe teggs.
The lambs fall in January, February, and March, and axe sold
in fat or forward condition at the autumn fairs.

The cultivation o! greea crops for sale off the land is pursued
with good results. The artificial incubation and the rearing
of poultry form a feature iu the management.

The college is two miles from Downton, and is situated in
the midst of gardens and orchards. It is about a quarter of a
mild from the river Avon, aud commands views of the confines
of the New ,forest. The road from Salisbury to Bournemouth
passes within half a mile on the west. The building at present
affords accommodation lor about twenty Iu-Students, and is
provided with a comrao lious dining hall, lecture room, library
and other offices. Professor Wrightson also receives several
gentlenien as students into his private residence.

Gentlemen above twenty-one years of age will be received
as out-students Excellent lodgings may be obtained in the
neighbouring village of Dowuton. Salisbury is eight miles

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

303

distant, and the train service to Downton is regular and con-
venient.

In order to bring the advantages of the College course
within reach of the aericulluri»tsof the neighbourhood, cards
of admission are issued on moderate terms to each course of
lecures. By this means farmers' sons, or other young men
interested in agricultural science are enabled to attend courses
of lectures on all or any of the subjects. A separate fee is
charged for the privilege of observing and inspecting the
various farming operations and attending the practical farm
classes.

There are three sessions or terms and as many vacations in
the year. The first term commences on January 20th, and
euds on the Wednesday nrxt before Easter. The second term
commences after a vacation of one month, and euds on
August 29th. The third term commences on October 6th.
and ends on December 22nd. The major part of the indoor
lectures and classes will be reserved for the two winter
sessions ; and a preponderance of out-door work and field
classes will characterise the long summer term.

We are glad to see that the charges vary according to the
following scale ; — For students who are willing to take part in
the manual work of the farm with the view of obtaining a
minute knowledge of all farming operations, £100 per annum.
This course is highly recommended for young men intending
to farm in England or the Colonies. For students who require
to devote their tine more exclusively to study, £125. Such a
course is recommended for young men intending to be land
agents. For students requiring a private room to be used as
sitting-room and bedroom combined, £150 per annum. For
out-tudents, £50 per annum. Those students who enter in
the £100 per annum class will have the opportunity of attend-
ing all lectures and classes.

Instruction is imparted by lectures, field classes, practical
work, and catechetical lectures ; and the results of the teach-
ing are tested by periodic examinations, conducted in part on
the farm, and in part by means of printed papers. Each
student is expected to keep a farm journal, and these books
are inspected and reported upon at regular intervals.

The following subjects form thecuriculumof instruction : —
Agriculture, estate management, dairv and pastoral farming,
chemistry, botany, zoology, geology, veterinary medicine,
surveying, levelling, architectural drawing, mensuration, and
book-keeping. Facilities are also offered for improving the
general emcation of students who may require such assistance.
This is doue by special arrangement and is uot included in the
charges alteady mentioned.

WHO ARE THE FARMERS' FRIENDS ?

At Spalding recently, in supporting the candidature
of Mr. Sharpe for South Lincolnshire, the Right Hon. H.
C. E. Childers said —

I am told that the Conserva'ive party have done great
things for the farmers, that they have shown their
anxiety to consult the interests of the farmers, whilst the
Liberal party have been just the reverse. I saw that in a
speech delivered not far from here the other day. Reference
was made to the Malt-Tax, and it was Baid that the Conserva-
tive Government proposed to repeal half of that tax, and that
the Liberals threw out the proposal. Now it is true that 28
years ago a Conservative Government was in office — it was
the first Government of the late Lord Derby — they brought in
a Budget which they well knew it was absolutely impossible
to carry in the House of Commons. They made a proposition
to add to the tax on houses on the one hand, and to reduce
the tax on malt on the other. They knew that they had
already a party minority in the House of Commons, and that
it was hopeless to expect inhabitants of houses to tolerate an
increase of the house tax. Their Budget was defeated ; the
Government went out of office; and ftom that time to this
no Conservative Government has ever framed a proposal for
the repeal, or the reduction, of the Malt-Tax. There were
times when a Liberal Government was in office, and the Con-
servatives in opposition, at which proposals were made to
reduce that tax as soon as the indirect taxation would warrant
it. The revenue was never in a condition to admit of the
proposed reduction un'il 1874- ; and what happened then ?
The Conservatives cainc into office with a surplus of between

five and six millions sterling. The income tax had been re-
duced from time to time.iwo thirds of -he Migar duty had been
taken off; and if everthere was a time for ihe Conservative party
to make good their promises to the farmers it was in 187+
But they did not tonch the Malt-Tax, and when M'. Field. n
brought forward proposals for its repeal, only sixteen o' the so-
called fanners' friends were found supporting him. Then it was
said that yon have received much more benefit from Ihe Con-
servative Government in regard to rales. Who of you does
notknow the contrary P Who, that has compared the rates in
18/0 with the rates in 1874, does not know that you are pay-
ing more now than you did then ? I believe that is the case
in almost every county in the kingdom, for I have looked care-
fully into the matter. Let me now refer for a moment to that
great boon which was promised to the farmers and the
inhabitants in the counties in 1874, namely, such a share of
local government and administration of their own property as
is enjoyed by the great towns. Who is there that does
not know that nothing of that kind has been done ? As Mr
Howard has told you, two most ineffectual and wretched
measures was proposed by the Government, and absolutely
abandoned. Now, on this point the most explicit declarations
and promises have been made by Lord Hartington and the
other leaders of the Liberal party. We have pledged ourselves
m the clearest terms to give a satisfactory measure of LochI
(jovernraent to the counties. That is a measure in the interest
oi the farmers which ought to be well weighed. Ton will
never get such a measure from a Conservative Government
who are too anxious to retain the existing po*er of the
magistrates over county affairs. If, therefore, you really
desire to have that share in the management of your affairs
which has been granted now for 50 years to the inhabitants of
incorporated towns, return to-morrow a gentleman who will
assist the Liberal party in bringing about such a reform, which
is one of the most valuable that can be granted to the people.
Ihe Liberal party are pledged also to give vou a sound Land-
lord and Tenant Bill. The other side have given you a
measure whch is inoperative, because every landlord who
chooses can contract himself out of it. That cannot be the
character of the Landlord and Tenant-right BUI which should
be proposed by a Liberal Government.

Ou the same occasion Mr. James Howard, M.P., said :—
When on that platform five weeks ago, he (Mr. Howard)
stated that no matter what the far.aers "demanded in the past
and no matter what Government had been in office their'
cernands had been rejc'ed or evaded. But there was this
difference between the present and former Governments The
present Government was returned to power and to office'mainly
by the instrumentality of the tenant-'armers— who had there-
fore a right to expect from the Government a recognition of
their services. Now he would prove that there had been no
such recognition by the Government. In regard to cattle
diseases, for instance, when the present Government went
into power, Mr. Read was placed in office, and it was hoped,
that his presence in the Gjvernment would induce them to
introduce the amendments iu the law nece<s*rj to prevent the
ravages of disease amongst cattle. But Mr. Read had told
him time after time that he found his own Government far
more obstinate than the Government which they had suc-
ceeded. There was no need, however, that he should repeat
conversations between Mr. Read and him-elf, in the face of
the fact that Mr. Read retired from the Government, and
although a comparatively poor man, sacrificed £1,500 a v<ar
because the Government refused to follow up the recommen-
dations of their own Select Committee in regard to contagious
diseases. It was not until after Mr. Read's retirement that
the Djke of Richmond woke up from his apathv, and that
the Government were stimulated to pass the recommendations
of that committee. He challenged Mr. Chapiin or any other
Tory Member to gainsay that statement. The present Govern-
ment were pledged to deal with the question of local taxation
not only by their promises before they were elected to power',
but by a resolution brought forward in the House of Commons'
by Sir Massey Lopes. How had they dealt with the ques-
tion? Beyond the two millions which they inherited from
their predecessors they had not touched the local burdens
resting upon the shoulders of the farmers with so much as the
tips of their fingers. Thty found local taxation in a state of
chaos, and they had taken not one st*p to redeem it from that

304

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

position. They were pledged also to deal with the question
ot county government, and they brought fotward two little
bills orrthe subject, which were an insult to the fanners and
to the ratepayers at large. In the Q.ieen a Speech, upon the
accession of the present Governmen to office, the farmers were
promised a measure of tenant-right, and they had really ap-
propriated a bill which he previously introduced on the
subject, omitting, however, the kernel of the bill, and lntro-
dacing a clause in its place which was simply an invitation to
the landlords to contract themselves oat of it. Tlie Agricul -
tural Holdings Act was an insult to the farmers, and they were
not the shrewd men he had always found them if they allowed
themselves any longer to be bamboozled even by such a skil-
ful, cunning man as Lord Beaconsfield.

PRICES OF WHEAT AND BARLEY IN
THE UNITED STATES FOR TWENTY
YEARS.

Air. S. W. Tallmadge, of Milwaukee, U.S.A., sends
us the following table, showing the highest and lowest
prices of Cash Wheat and Barley in Milwaukee market
each year, for twenty years : —

No. 2 Wheat.

Highest. Lowest,
dol. c. dol. c.

1860 1 15 Go

18G1 93 68

1862 1 Ot 70

1863 1 35 88

1864 2 26 1 14

1865 1 77 98

1866 2 29 1 16

1867 9 96 1 62

1868 2 11 1 15

1869 1 48 78

1870 1 35 73

1871 1 32 1 01

1872 1 56 1 02

1873 1 41 95

1874 1 31 84

1875 1 34 85

1876 1 28 90

1877 1 90 1 03

1878 1 30 77

1879 1 31 82

No. 2 Barley.

1860 80 40

1861 60 35

1862 1 12 30

1863 1 45 60

1864 2 50 1 12

1865 1 80 50

1866 ... 67 60

1867 1 90 1 20

1868 2 65 1 00

1869 2 10 85

1870 1 10 44

1871 85 45

1872 77 50

1873 1 46 58

1874 1 80 9t

1875 1 35 91

1876 98 60

1877 ^ 63

1878 1 30 52

1879 89 66

TWITCHING v. LUNG FALLOW.— I hear frequently of
the d fueulty of keeping land clean under constant cropping,
but hive not found it so, provided I keep under oar great
enemy, couch grass. The surest and cheapest way to do this
is to fork it out and carry it off the land, taking care not to
let it get ahead. I have just finished a very difficult field,
intended for late peas, at a cost of 15s. per acre, and I leel
sure that we have done " the correct card." Twitch is an
insidious and ruinous enemy to the farmer's profile, and yet
how it is permitted to flourish I— J. J.Mcchi.

AMERICAN MEAT PRODUCTION.

The cheap lands of Western America have for many year*
forwarded to Great Britain increasing quantises of breadstuff-",
and are no* extending their production and eip >rt of beef and
bacon. Notwithstanding the compulsory slaughter of cattle,
sheep, and pigs at British ports within 14 days after landing,
the imports of live animals show no falling off. They have
increased 80 per cent, since 1877. The exports of horses and
mules have advanced. Great Britain last year received nearly
three thousand horses and a hundred mules, which, following
the American practice, are being tried by various of the tram-
way companies. During fine summer weather the traasmission
of live cattle and sheep continues to increase ; the cattle
approach 30,000 annually, and will still further increase when
contagious lung complaint is exterminated in the Eistern
States and American cattle can be safely allowed transmission
throujhout Great Britain. From the cheap rearing-grounds
of the Far West well-3elected store cattle may then be broneht
to England. With her cheap and abundant hog production,
America has certainly the control of the markets o! the world ;
60 per cent, of the produce raised is exported. Of American
bacon, pork, and hams, Great Britain buys annually
£10,000,000 ; of good bacon the wholesale price is little over
3d. per lb. The trade is extending not ouly in this country,
but throughout France and Germany. A like enlargement of
the berf business is steadily going on. IntoB'iti»h ports there
is received tolerably regularly every week 2,000 carcasses of
beef, averaging 7001b., and about the same weight of carefully
canned meat, chiefly prepared at the ereat establishments of
Chicago, St. Louis, and New York. Of cheese and batter, the
annual exports now reach a value of two and a half million
pounds sterling.

This great growth and export of American r.nimal products
is the development of a few years, and it appears destined still
to extend. In the Eastern and Middle States, under a system
of mixed husbandry, cattle, sheep, hogs, and horses are reared
much as they are in Great Britain ; but even in these older
se'tlements production has not reached its limits. There is
still a good deal of waste land and mach more imperfectly
cultivated. The great dairy State of Mew York totals one
million and a half of milk cows, the same numbers as are
ennmerated for Ireland and nearly as many as are returned for
all Eugland, and supplies milk, bntter, anl cheese for the
neighbouring industrial population and for expert; 828.400
cows are similarly employed in Pennsylvania. Ohio, Illinois,
and Iowa return upwards of 700,000 o»i e>»ch, or together
nearly as many as are enumerated in Great Britain. The
official returns of the United States give a total of nearly
twelve million mill cows. Of cour*e, probably two millions
are in Texas, Nebraska, Nevada, Colorado, and the other terr-
tories where the exact numbers are at present unattainable.
Twelve million cows in the favourable surroundings which
obtain generally throughout America should soon multipl
largely. At present the census further gives 22 railli >n ox*v
and other cattle ; it exhibits an annual increase of one millionn
it shows most growth throughout the vast cattle-breeding
States and territories along the banks and west of the Missouri
twenty years ago in undisturbed possession of bison, wapiti
deer, and antelope. According to the official returns the
average value of the cattle of the United States is only
£3 5s.

The great catlle and sheep-raising regions begin 150 miles
nest ol Omaha, the starting-point of the Union Pacific Rail-
road, 1,400 miles west of the Atlantic. Tiiey extend west
through Nebraska and Wyoming over the fertile Liramie
Plains to the Rocky Mountains, and a thousand miles on
towards the Pacifi1, through Utah, Oregon, aud Washington
territories, where there is ample room for more than five times
the live stock now raised. Starting from the warm shores of
the Gilf of Mexico, the great American grazing grounds run
1,500 miles north, over the international boundary line into
Canada. They include large portions of Texas, which musters
5| million of cattle ; Colorado, with 30 million acres adapted
for the growth of grain, catie, or sheep ; Wyoming, estimated
to contain 55,000 square miles of grazing; Montana, larger
thau the British Isles, aud half of it understood to consist of
fertile valleys and grass-covered plains, much of it unsurveyed
and unoccupied. Throughout the well-watered river valleys
aud green plains of this enormous area cattle and sheep have
extended irregularly and sparsely during the last 20 years,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

335

gradually displacing the wila herbivora. Since I860 it is
stated that 16 million bison have been killed, and a propor
tiouate number ot deer and antelope. Over 8uch a wide area
the management is somewhat diversified ; the herds vary from
less than 1,000 to more than 50,000 head. They occupy the
higher grounds in summer, the lower and more sheltered in
winter. Everywhere they are reared and fed at a minimum
of expense and trouble. The cattle are offshoots from another
h^rd, or bought often as yearlings or two-year-olds from Texas
or Oregon, and are driven to any unoccupied valleys or plains,
O'" which plenty still remain. On the principle that possession
is niue points of the law, by threats, or occasionally by small
payments, cattle masters already in possession of desirable
ranges warn off new comers. But the State or territorial
authorities are not consulted regarding the grazing of their
linds. A promising locality is chosen, well watered, with
bo ne sheltered spots for winter, at a respectful distance from
previous settlers. Huts, a few sheds, and corrals are run up.
Each herdsman or shepherd receives 28 to 32 dollars per
month, with lodgings and rations, and takes charge of about
1,000 anima.s. The ordinary work consists in riding through
plains, parks, and valleys, to see that food and water are suffi-
cient, huuting up stragglers, and on some runs providing salt.
The arduous work connected with the cattle ranche recurs
twice a year, when masters and men, well mounted, " round
up " for miles all the cattle they can find, drive them into
cmvenient natural gorges or corrals, brand the young ones,
and all that are unmarked, separate and forward strays from
neighbouring ranches which are marked, and select animals
for killing or sale. For the best managed runs, numbers of
well descended, usually pnre-bred Shorthorn or Hereford bulls
are purchased from Kentucky or the more Eastern States, at
prices varying from 89 to 200 dollars. By selection of good
sires and dams, by weeding out the narrow, thriftless Scallo-
way, great improvement has of late years been made even
among the Texan cattle. The natural grasses vary somewhat
in different regions. In Texas, _ scorched with an almost,
tropical sun, they are bunched, dry, and often coarse ; in
North-eastern Colorado a great deal of blue joint grass is met
with ; in the cooler reg;ons of Wyoming and Montana, whence
some of the best cattle are now brought, there occurs a more
uu'form, English-like carpeting of mixed grasses, which start
ia April and soon attain a height of 12 or 18 inches. The
aiimals are never housed ; the winter is seldom severe, even in
m iny parts of Montana the cold season is tempered by the
Japan current which come over the Rocky Mountains ; snow
does not fall so heavily or lie eo deeply as it does
nearer the Atlantic. Excepting in northerly localities
or at high altitudes, li'tle provision is made for
winter feeding ; the luxuriant grass, nncropped,
dries where it stands and leaves a natural, well
preserved nutritive hay, from which the cattle scrape the
lijht covering of snow. During spring and summer, from
Texas, through the Indian reservation, thousands of cattle are
driven northwards; the yearlings are sold at 7 or 8 dollars,
the two and three year olds at 12 to 16 dollars, the cows reach
as high as 20 dollars. From Oregon increising numbers of
compact and shapely beasts, many of them still three and four
years old, and a better stamp than the Texans, are driven east-
ward over the Rocky Mountains and grazed for a year in
Wyoming, North-eastern Colorado, and Nebraska. The profits
of a well-managed station are large, sometimes reaching 20
per cent on the invested capital. Of rent and taxes there are
none except the head-tax, which in various territories is 5c.
each for two-year-olds and 7c. for three-year-old and other
cittle. Yearlings are untaxed. There is understood to be
considerable latitude in making these returns, and there are no
surveyors of taxes to institute impertinent inquiries. The
money thus collected is chiefly employed in building and main-
taining law courts and carrying out the administration of
justice. The expenses of email herds of 1,000 head average
lfc dollars annually for each beast, but for larger herds,
numbering 10,000 and upwards, they do not exceed 1 dollar.
The losses from deaths, straying, and plundering by Indians
and unscrupulous neighbours, which in many localities is the
chief cause of loss, vary from 2 to 3 per cent. On many larger
ranches the principal stockmen are allowed a percentage on
profits. Eastern capitalists are often shareholders in these
Western ranches. To men of known steadiness and judgment
desirous of ex'ending their business the banks often grant
adrancea frequently at the rate of 2 per cent, per month, aad,

even when thus weighted, good profi'a, I am assured, are
mnde.

During the summer and winter, from their western pastures,
two, three, and even four-year-old cattle, generally in good
condition, some of them fat, are steadily driven, grazing by
the way, to some depot on the great trunk lines which "pass
eastward. At various stations along the Union and Northern
Pacific Railroads 1,000 cattle are now loaded between Juue
and the end of October. About 20 fill one of the covered
cars. One or two stations make up a train which travels
express, usually stopping every 12 or 15 hours for feeding and
watering the animals, and allowing them 10 or 12 hours' rest.
They are chiefly consigned to Chicago. Kansas Ci'y, St. Louis,
or to Atlantic ports. Oa the ranches or at the Western Rail-
way stations the best are purchased at l£d. to 2d. per lb. liva
weight. As is general throughout America, cattle, sheep, and
hogs, whether fat or stores, are bought by weight, usually
alive, or on the hoof, as it is termed. At every farm, every
market, and every loading depot are Fairhank's scales, on
which one, twenty, or even forty animals can be weighed. The
seller usually endeavours to have the weighing effected imme-
diately after his animals have been fed and wa'ered; the
buyer manoeuvres to scale them when just unloaded, hungry
and thirsty. The railroad transit of these cheaply-reared
cattle to the eastern markets or to Europe is very moderate.
For example, from Cheyenne, in Western Nebraska, now a
great centre, whence cattle are brought for several hundred
miles, the railroad rate per head, 1,000 miles to Chicago, is
28s. From Chicago, 9U0 miles to New York, the rate is 16s.
Feeding and superintendence in transit, including 2s. per head
for commissions for selling many of the large stockyards, is
defrayed by 8s. Transporting these western beeves to Great
Britain, their passage last year woull cost £1. The best
companies have, however, recently raised their freight to £5 ;
25s. is absorbed in food and attendance during the voyige,
insurance averages 6 per cent., and, with incidentals, will cost
39^. a head. The rates to London are still higher. The
best Canadian lines have in'imated that their freights to
London for the present year will be £5 10s. The charges at
the Victoria Docks, to which the vessels come, are high; the
dues are 6s. per head ; 5s. is exacted for transferring 'each
beast in the barge from Victoria Docks to the slaughterhouse
at Deptford ; on the Hudson, from New York or New Jersey,
similar service in distributing the cattle is done at 10 cents
per head. The charges for lairage and slaughtering are also
very high , 10s. 6d. per hour extra is exacted for all work
done even by one's own men after 6 p.m. Messrs. Bell and
Son, the cattle agents, inform me that during the week from
June 23 to June 30, 1879, instead of allowing their live cattle
to proceed to Victoria Docks, they disembarked them at
Gravesend. The actual cost of the week's work and expenses
was £9 2s. Had the cattle been forwarded to Victoria Docks
and the work done by the dock authorities' servants, the
charges for the same service, I am informed, would have
amounted to £113 19s. 9d. Slaughtered with these heavy
charges at Deptford, the cartage of the beef to the metro-
politan markets costs 12«. 61. per ton. These charges cut
deeply into the profits of the live cattle trade. In endeavouring
to reduce them, some shippers have recourse to cheaper and less
trustworthy vessels, and hence arise such frequently recurring
mishaps as 250 beasts thrown overboard from one vessel during
the storms in the middle of February, Some trast to ineffi-
cient attendants, or sail with insufficient food supplies tor
their hungry cargo. The total charges of transport of a
beast, say from North-Etstern Colorado, Wyoming, or Mon-
tana, over 2,000 miles of land and 3,000 of ocean, and land-
ing him in Great Britain, would thus amount to £10 or £12.
Presuming that he weighs 1,2001b., this will be fully 2d. per
lb. on his gross weight, or 4d. on his carcass of beef. Tuis
is not very encouraging to those who propose, when the States
show a clean bill of health, to import American store cattle,
to be finished off in England. The business h»s obvious
drawbacks ; it would be irregular, the demand probably un-
certain ; the cattle can only be brought over safely in the
best of vessels, under careful, experienced supervision ; even
if well selected, all would not take kindly to their altered
dietary and management ; the food necessary to fatten them
costs, besides, more than double the price here that it does ia
America, while the cost of transit of the living beast is more
than double that of the meat in carcass. Such considerations
must limit the importation of American lean stock, which eer*

80S

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE.

tainly would not be requi-ea1 if British and Iri-li cattle
breeders generally devoted themselves, 83 they mux' >'o, to
the rearing of larger number* of profitable young stork. Nor
should there be. much difficulty in developing Bri'ish agricul-
tural capabilities in this di-ec'ion, inasmuch as breeding has
for years admittedly paid better than feeding.

Thousands of the best two and three year old cattle from
the western grazings are every autumn distributed over the
great Indian corn regions of Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota,
and Missouri, where in large yards, containing 60 to 100
beasts — on corn costing about Is. per bushel, on oats about
the same value, with bran at 20s. and hay at 10s. per ton —
they are cheaply fed. Big bullocks, fairly started, eat half a
bushel of grain daily. They are bought at 1,1001b. to
1,2001b. at about l£d. per lb. live weight ; pigs are economic,
ally run in the yards alone with the cattle, which bo out fat
in the latter winter and spring months, weighing 1,4:001b. to
1,6001b., and bringing 2d. to 2£c\ per lb. gross. Frequently
the smaller farmers take in a yardful of cattle, feeding them
on corn and hay, furnishing also some bran and salt, and
receiving abont Id. for every lb. of increased weight when in
spring the stock is scaled out. Consigned to the Eastern
markets, these corn-fed cattle vield 561b. to 601b. of beef for
every 1001b. of live weight. Such carcasses, usually weighing
8001b., to the number of about 2,000, are now forwarded
every week to British markets.

From June until November an important and rapidlv-
growing department of the cattle trade — the salting and
canning business — is in active operation. From Texas,
Colorado, and other S'ates thousands of three and four-year-
olds are forwarded to Chicago, Kansas Citv, St, Lonis, Phila-
delphia, and New York. They cost from l£d. to 2d. per lb.
live weight, which reaches 8001b. to 1,200 b. They are sound
and healthy, although sometimes rough and not over-encum-
bered with fat. In some of the larger establishments upwards
of 1,000 cattle are slaughtered daily, and carefully and
systematically disposed of. Through the great Chicago stock-
yards upwards of a million cattle and seven million hogs pass
annually. A"; Nelson Morris's, at Chicago, the cattle are
killed by the spear, dexterously severing the spinal cord ; 75
are slaughtered and dressed in the hour. Messrs. Lilby,
M'Neill, and Libby put np daily in Chicago 40,000 to 50,000
cans ol beef, earefully and cleanly cooked, in tins made on the
premises and containing 21b. to 281b. each. R-jecting bone,
gristle, and refuse, and allowing for shrinking in cooking, it
takes about 21b. of beef in the carcass to yield lib. of meat in
the tin. Three hundred beasts are often dressed, cut up,
cooked in tl e 80 great cauldrons, and canned in one day ;
while 150 to 250 tons of beef are also daily pickled, some of
it snnoked, and packed in barrels. More than half of Messrs.
Libby and M'Neill's canned meats and a fourth of the salted
and smoked heef are forwarded to Europe. This business has
been established five years; the export trade only began four
years ago. In convenient situations other great beef-packing
establishments are rising. The St.. Louis Beef Canning
Company have admirable accommodation adjacent to the
stockyards for slaughtering 1,000 cattle daily. Between the
beginning of July and November, when the Fupplies of cheap
grass-fed cattle cease, they last year slaughtered 80,000 beasts,
bought at an average of ljd. per lb. live weight. Any one
who has watched the clean and careful manner in which the
wholesome meat, is handled and put up foresees that the pre- |
jndice with which American meat is still sometimes regarded j
must speedily disappear. Carefnl, systematic arrangements
are adopted to make the best of the so-called waste products,
and the large scale, on which slaughtering is condoc ed, and
the concentration of the abaf/uirs enable this to be more
economically and effectually done than in England. Cheap I
rail, lake, and ocean transit secures the transmission of these
valuable concentrated me its from the American manufactory j
to Great Britain at a cost of less than \\. per lb. Through I
agents in Europe the goods are placed very directly, and with-
out repeated commission", in the hands of the consumers. So !
great's now the demand tor this concentrated, nourishing food I
that during one week recently in London alone 150,000 cases, i
each containing 8 Ub. of beef, were disposed of at 37s. 6d. per
case. When the Texas and coarser, commoner cattle of
America are graded up, which, however, will obviously take
some time to accomplish, it has been urged that the advanced

prices obtained for superior cattle, will interfere with the
packing trade. Improved stock are, however, scarcely more
costly than the commoner sorts to breed, and are certainly
more cheaply and quickly reared aud fed, and for many years
to come large supplies of beef must continue to be available at
much the sa're prices as are now current. The cattle through-
out America are increasing considerably faster than the
population, and there is an annually augmenting surplus for
exportation.

The trade for fresh meat is also steadily growing. The
weekly supplies reach 2,000 carcasses, weighing 7001b. to
8001b. The best-fed come during winter and spring. The
cattle cost at New York and other shipping ports about 3d.
per lb. on the hoof, or about 5^d. per lb when hung up. The
chief shippers are Messrs. Sherman and Gillett, of New Jersey
City ; Mr. Eastman, of New York ; Mr. S. W. Allerton, of
Chicago ; and Messrs. Martin and Fuller, of Philadelphia.
After hanging for a few hours the carcasses for exportation
are transferred to a chamber cooled in summer wi'h ice and
salt to the temperature of 34deg. or 35deg. where they remain
for one to three days, when they are cut in quarters, rolled in
calico, and transferred to th° ocean steamer, which u«utll/
conveys from 800 to 3,000 quarters. The refrigerating process
is now very perfect and trustworthy. The meat, ia chambers,
surrounded with pipes containing briue chilled with ice and
salt, is kept at a uniform temperature of 344eg. to 3Sdeg. ,and
is landed in good condition. A few sheep and pigs are mmlly
hung among the quarters of beef. Freight from New Ifork to
Liverpool. Cardiff, or Glasgow is 32s. per ton ; bu'k freight to
London is 37s. 6d. The most skilful packing, cannot, how-
ever, hang half a ton of meat in the 40 cubic feet of space
allowed for the ton. The freight on each ton weight of beef
accordingly averages abont 80s. ; 2s. 6d. per ton is charged
for dock dues at Liverpool ; at London they reach 6J. 2d.
Commission is covered by gd. Meat rai'ed from Liverpool to
London costs about \i. per lb. For less than 1<I. per lb. fresh
meat in the carcasses is thus conveyed from America to Bitisli
ports, where it can be sold with a profit at about 6d. Now
that the risks of spoiling in transits are minirased, the Ameri-
can meat supplies are only kept in thcr present mod°rate pro-
portions by the sensitiveness of the British markets, which, if
glutted bv a few extra hundred carcasses, are run down a Id.
or even 2d. per lb. Indeed, rep<at^dly during the last six
months, in spite of heavier consignments being pushed on to
the Lancashire aad Yorkshire towns, superior American bpef
has been sold in Liverpool at 4J-I., and the same thing occurs
with the metropolitan markets. This ready glutting of the
British meat market, and consequent serious deprecittion of
value, is the British farmer's best protection. B it with
American mea* available iu quantities greatly in excess of the
present supply, and imported profitably at about fid. per lb., the
British farmer must adapt his arraugemeuts to produce meat
at 7d. The superior quality of t'ie best home meat, the near-
ness of markets, the convenience of killing cattle and sheep
when needed, will probab.y always secure for home grown
meat fa 'y Id. per lb. more thin can be got for the American
meat. With the enlarging production of cheap American meat
and the certainty and cheapness of its safe, transport over the
Atlantic, there is, however, snull prospect of any enhanced
price for British meat. But farmers 20 years ago were able
economic illy to produce b »th beef and mutton at 7d. per lb.
They must endeavour to do so again.

American mntfon is not so °rood as American beef. The
sheep, mostly of Mexican and Merino descent, have bepn bred
chiefly for wool, but in many quarters they are mated with
English Downs, Lncesters, and longwoo's, and much more
attention is now paid to the weight and quality of the mutton.
The flocks pay well, and yield 51b. to 61b. of wool, which is
regarded as fair remuneration for 12 months' keep. They show
a census of 40 millions, are increasing at the rate of a million
annually, but their average individual value is only 10s. 6d.
About 1 000 picked carcasses, weighing 701b. to 80!b., conve-
niently hung among the quarters of beef, are imported to
British ports every week, aid pay if disposed of at 6d. During
the next 12 months these supplies will, however, be readily and
largely augmented to make good the sad slaaghter which the
widely-prevailing liver-rot has made among British flocks.—
Timet.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

307

RENT IN ENGLAND.

We take the following extracts from an article in the
Contemporary Reokic for April, by J. E. Thorokl
Rogers, entitled "The History of Kent in England" ; —

The modem farmer's rent, i.e., the rent which rises aud
fills by competition among intending occupiers of land, is
firot discerned in the reign of James I. There in no trace of
improvement iu the arts of agriculture during the times of the
Plantagenet and Tudor sovereigus. Some attention was paid
to selection in breeds of sheep, for rams always bear high
price", a sign that fu;di a selection was practised. But iD
the many tbous ind accounts which I have read of farm
produce and agriculture, dated from the thirteenth to the
sixteenth century, I have only met with oie instance in which
an attempt was made to improve seeds, and ibis is an im-
portation into Norfolk in the middle of the fift> enth century
of some seed oats from Franc, li^t in James I.'s reign,
after the Dutch hart, in 1609, practically secured their
independence from Spain, that industrious people began to
practise agriculture with great assiduity and success. They
are the real originators of modern agriculture, the people
to whom civilisation owes more than to any other. Their first
attempts were made with roots, and they soou produced those
familiar products, the carrot and turnip plants, which have
effected so prodigious a change in agriculture, but were
wholly unknowu in the cen'unes preceding the seventeenth.
The discovery and use of these roots rendered it possible to
keep far larger quantities of stock, to get land iuto better
condition, and to bring a larger breadth uuder culture, By
enabling the people to supply themselves gradually with
fresh meat all the year round, and by being used as food for
man as well as for animals, these two roots were the means by
which the two moat serious of endemic diseases in England,
scurvy and leprosy, were mastered and finally extinguished.
And as land became a more profitable source of income, the
trad'tional rents, where they had not been fixed by unalterable
custom, and therefore cou'd not be raised without inflicting a
wrong, rose by competition, and a new system of tenancies
was introduced. The seventeenth century was, on the
whole, unprosperous to tlie agriculturist, for the price of
food -aas very high on an average throughout it. The
seasons were unpropitions aid the crops defic:ent ; bu%
owing to the introduction of those agricultural improvements
of which mention is made above, the population increased.
Nor was agriculture iudeb ed alone to the adoption of results
derived from foreign enterprise. The cost of iron and iron
tools was a serious d lticulty in med'aeval husbandry. Yv'heu
iron implements were worth twopence a pound, that is to say,
at least two shillings a pound in modern mouey values, the
culture ol the soil was superficial, and the f-rlility of the
surface was rapidly exhausted. Before the middle of Eliza-
beth's reign the art of smelting cast iron was discovered, for a
good deal of the Queen's heavy ordnance was made from this
material. Nor is the pi ice of wrought iron trebled as that of
most other commodities ij. In the fifteenth century it was
worth from £5 to €8 a ton, in the reign of Elizabeth from
£10 to £14. for, as the success of agriculture is a measure
o! the success with which, other employments can be prose-
cuted, as well as a leisure class can be maintained, so the inven-
tions of the mechanic materially assist the progress of agri-
cultural art, and lessen the cost of its operations. Now, what-
ever theoris'8 may say say, it is certain that, everything which
h is diminished the charges to which the agriculturist is put
has pari passu, and, in fact, raised rents. Another ihfluence
was, however, brought to bear on agriculture. The Tudors
had prohibited the exportation of corn when the pr'cs rose
above a certain amount. The Parliament of the Restoration
prohibited the importation unless the price of whpat was over
4-Ss. the quarter, aud began to encourage its exportation. In
liii'l the importat'on of Irish cattle was absolutely
prohibited, one ol that long series of Acts which, passed in
the interest of the English landowners, have had the effect
of making disaffection in Ireland chronic. It was in connec-
tion with this Act that the Duke of Buckingham — the
Buckingham of D-yden's and Pope's satire — observed that no
one could oppose it unless he had an Irish interest or an
Irish understanding. But, though agriculture was compara-
tively unprosperous in the seventeenth century, great pro-
gress w.ts made in trade, and thus land became a favourite in-

vestment. Rpnts increased by four to six fold in this century.
In the beginning of the eighteenth century another great
improvement wasj introduced into England, aud as bsfore
'ram Holland, in the use of the so -called artificial grasses
clover, sainfoin, and ryegris", the newspapers of the timt b-ing
full of advertisements of the new appliances. Not only did
the new grasses increase the stock of winter fodder, but eufe--
ing into the system of rotating crops, narrowed still fuithertl e
quantity set aside annually for fa'low. At the s'uiic tine,
also, there begau that series of private Acts of Parliament
which constitute so euormous a mass of legislation in the
Supplementary Statute Book?, the p. ivate enclosures. The
fir^t of these was the enclosure of Ropley, in Hampshire, iu
17<-'9. Between 1725 and 1851, 4,1-11 such bills were passed.
There is no doubt that this expedient checked what would 1 ave
naturally happened, a great rise in rents, for the result of
these enclosures was to enormously increase the area of arable
land. But though Arthur Young, a generally acute observer,
is uuder the impression that no great increase occurred in
rents during the first three-quarters of the eighteenth century
— that is, during the period in which {.rices of product were
exceedingly low, and the country had a considerable export
• rade in corn — yet the facts, even on the showing of his own
tours, are anains*. him, for rents doubled ia the period referred
to. The discoveries of Watt, Arkwright, and others had a
prodigious effect on the distribution of labour and the growth
of population, and a real though artificial scarcity, induced not
by the pressure of population on the means of subsistence, nor
by the necessity of having recourse to inferior soils, ensued
under the agency of the Corn Laws, which were a perma-
nently disturbing forc.fi in the economy of agriculture. . .
The chief feature of English agriculture during the period
between 17'JO and lSlb' was the extent to which corn was
grown. As an artificial scarcity Whs induced on the food of
the people, it became an ohj ct with every farmer to sow tli3
largest breadth possible. On some fields of more than ordinary
fertility it was the custom to sow white crops year after year,
Kid even wheat. 1 remember when a youth to have seen such
fields pointed out to me by my fatl er, who lived through, and
remembered all the facts of that disastrous epoch, when the
demand lor labour and the high pries of food told with terrible
effect on the poorer classes, who, as Mr. Porter well observed
in his " Progress of the Nation," actually bore, though
indirectly, the burden of that terrible war. At the same timr>,
the evil was not without its eompen ations. Under the extra-
ordinary stimulus of high prices, farmers discovered that land
hitherto uncultivated possessed such qualities as would give
them a greater return, relatively to cost, than land long under
cultivation affirded, the real reason why new land is put undi-r
the plough. For as it is cer'aiu that new processes and new
materials are manipulated by manuracturers, not with the hope
of obta ning equal profits with those obtained by old processes
and old materials, but with the conviction that greater profits
are to be obtained by (he change, so wa may be sure that,
unless the motives which ii fluence agriculturists are wholly
different from those which are dominant with the rest of man-
kind, the bieakiug up of old pasture, especially hill pasture,
the sell ction of seeds and breeds of cattle, the adoption of
mrc'ianical aids in lieu of human or animal labour, are du<",
espc cially in a class which is peculiarly conservative in its
habits, and averse to change, to a clear apprehension of their
own fu'ure profit on the transaction.

The directions in which agricultural science has bren im-
proved during the last fifty years are, as might be expected,
chit fly those of an economy in cost, and especially in the cost
of bringing animals to maturity. Just in manufactures, the
fi'st man who finds out some great economy in the cost of
production reaps as ranch of the benefits of his discovery as
arises from the difference between the new scale of charges
aud the price at which he is able to command the markets by
underselling his competitor?, so the agriculturist who invents
or improves has at first all the profit to himself, for tbe land-
owner cannot bring to bear on him the competition of other
occupan*s. But unlike other iuventors, he caunot protect his
process by a patent, or even by a secrecy. All his operations
are in the open, and his neighbours may copy them. It is
possible that his landlord may in->tan-ly appropriate them.
Some years ago, a tenant-farmer in the Dunkeries, unable to
make head against the ravages of gam0, determined on grow-
ing potatoes for the Nottingham market, for it seems that
g-ouud game do not care for potatoes, and winged animals do

V

308

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

net damage (lie-crop. But the invention— no great one— was
so easily imitable, that the ve ry next year the Duke's agent
quadrupled his rent, putting it at nearly the rate of market
gardens. Hence the tendency ofthe farmer's invention istowards
those brauches of his art the advantages of which he can long
retain, or retain permanently, ana particularly towards the
br»e;iug of stock. Ii is a common-place to point to the
rapidity with which animals in modern times are made fit for
the market, the size to which the ox or sheep is brought, and
tbe weight of the fleece iu the latter. Iu the fourteenth
century, the average weight of the fleece was under one and
a-half pounds. The avirage weight of the four quarters of
an ox was under four cwt., of a sheep thirty-three pounds,
av.d three or four years were passed before the animal was
brought to maturity. During the la»t hundred years the
weight of the Leicester fleece has nearly been trebled in
amount. And the same phenomena have occurred in root
crops and seeds. It may be confidently averred that, owing to
the improvements in stock and seeds, agriculture in the
United Kingdom is at a higher le.vel than in any other conutry.
But people do Dot trouble themselves enough about the
economical cause of the fact.

•In the fifteenth century, and in the first quarter of the
eitteenth, the agricultural labourer's wages could frequently
Ftipplv him with a quarter of malt or four bushels of wheat a
week, for he seldom earned less than two shillings a week, and
malt was often sold for two shilliogs, wheat for four shillings
a qnarter during this period. In the sixteenth century his
wages rose to eightpence a day, but the price of wheat was
generally, alter the full effect on prices was induced, over
twenty shillings a quarter. His condition became worse in
tne seventeenth century, was betteied in the eighteenth, and
was worst of all in the first half of the nineteenth.

The most remarkable effect on English rents was induced
by the rep.-al of the Corn Laws. Till within the last year
or two, the reut of land has steadily ris«n, notwithstanding
the ominous predictions which were made in 18 i6 as to the
effect of that salutary statute on the landed interest
A succession of bad harvests— the present, I b lieve, without
a parallel since tho<e of 1315, 1310, 1138, 1569, 1597, 164'J,
1709-10, 1799-1801, and 1609-17— has arrested this progress,
and maue it even necessary, probably only as a temporary
measure, to remit part of the rent which the tenant has bar-
gained to pay. It is probable also, that, just as the enormous
extent of open ground which was enclosed in the eighteenth
century checked the nitnral rise in rents during that period ;
so, practically, the addition of an enormous aud increasing
area of wheat-growing land in Western America, the construc-
tion of extensive rail »aya in that country, and the cheapeuing
of freights, will check any rise above the old rents, and even
drive them lewer than they have been. But this is putt of the
risk which all investments of capital ran, land not excepted.
It is as reasonable, lor the ltndo>vner to claim th;.t lie should
leim pose a bread tax, or transfer charges on his laud which
coniiiensa'e beneficial OUtla», or the satisfaction ol purely local
duties, as it wovJd be for the owner of canal property to de-
mand that his interest should be paid, when the function
which he once perloruied is superseded hy another which is
cheap r and better. There is, and there can be, no reason
beyond illegitimate and selfish power, to be. alleged in favour
of keeping certain peoples income up hy taking something
away Irom everybody else's income. It is true that there are
some people, who make the claim, but there are no claims too
impudent for some men's cynicism. But the audacity
is the greater when, much of the home crops being
destroyed by game, the people are to be told that, in
addition to this destruction and consequent enhancement of
natural valve, a further and more vexatious charge should be
imposed upon the consume. . . . That which has
been characteristic of English agricultural life, the common
outlay of owner and tenant, has been wholly wauling or
absent in Ireland. That there have been, especially during
the last thirty years, improving Iri-h landlords, may well be
believed. But such persons are rare exceptions, aud a late
growth. As the English imported their Church into Ireland,
so they imported an English aristocracy into that couutry,
and an "English land system, which was not, like that of this
country, a slow growth to which English social life has more
or less conveniently accommodated itsclr, but a violent expedient.
imposed by a decision of the Irish King's Bench, as late as the

reign of James 1. It is very likely that the tribal tennrp of
Irish land was unfriendly to agricultural progres*, a lewd
custom, as the lawyers of the day al egsrt. But it is quite
ceitain tnat the substituion of English for Irish tenures
was the first and the most endunug cause of that agrarian
dissatisfaction which either breaks out in acts of local ferocity
or organises resistance to the landowners' rents. Tne Irish
landowner has never improved his estate, except to the extent
of building his own mansion. Some time ago an Irish land-
owner complained to me that his class had been stigmatised as
vermin by some agrarian orato". I conld only answer that
the epithet was very rude, and probably very irritating, but
that there seemed no better definition of vermin than
that of animals who live on the soil and do not contri-
bute toils fertility and usefulness, aud that this had unluckily
been also very much an accurate definition of an Irish
landowner. The matter was aggravated when the land-
owner was an absentee, and therefore seemed not un-
naturally to be levying a tribute, or exacting a tax, for
which he rendered no equivalent service wlutever, and
which had to be pnid, as adverse balances must bs paid,
hy forcing exports and lowering prices. It was in Ireland
that the maxim was first enunciated, that property has its
duties as well as its rights, but there is no country in the
world where the right has been so severely eufnrced, and the

duty so steadily omitted Tiiere is yet another

set of fac's connected with English rents which has to he
briefly handled, the relations past and present, of the farm
labonrer to his employer. After two centuries of vain legis-
lation upon the rate of wages, the Parliament of 1503, by the
famous Statute of Apprenticeship, put the regulations of the
rates of wages info the hands of tne magistrates in Quarter
Sessions. It is not uecessa'V to assume that the Queen in-
tended, in her assent to this measure, to confer the right of
fixing wages on those who-e interest it was to keep them low,
for in the age of this Queen it was believed to be expedient
that prices should be fixed by law, and that such p. ices as
wrre fixed should be enforced hy competent authority. It
takes a great denl of experier.ee, coupled with a greet deal of
wisdom, to see that authority in matters of bargain aud sale
should be generally used for the purpose of enforcing, of in-
terpreting, aud occasionally of modifying contrac's, in the
light of equity, and that it should rarely, and only under
special circumstances, interfere with freedom of contract.
The experiment which Elizabeth made was disastrous, for the
recurrence of low prices, though fully expected, never arrived,
and after other expedients had been tried, the legal relief of
destitution appeared to be the only remedy for low wag s,
though a law assigning a certain quantity of land to every pea-
sant's cottage, enough, that is tisay, to maintain him, had been
passed, and was allowed to fall into desuetude. Tne English
Poor Law is historically a bargain by which the poor.in consider-
ation of having been ousted from their inheritance in the soil
of their country, were to be maintained from its produce. Prac-
tically, however, the legal relief of destitution enabled the
landowners to procure cheap labour at the commou cost of all
occupants, and thereby put much of the charge of lab' ur on
those who do not employ labour with a view to profit ; and,
under the law of parochial settlement, tied the peasant dowu
to a serfdom more degrading and more hopeless than any form
of feudal servitude short ot absolute slavery. The wages of
labour have 1 een increased of late years. Lord B°.Hcou<fie'id
says they have increased 40 per cent, in the last forty years.
The statement may be true, but the figures are suspiciously
round, and Lord Beaconsfielj is very apt to get his facts and
quotations second-hand. But it the fact be indisputable, it is
also certain thatj with the exception of bread and clothing, all
other articles of ordinary consumption have risen much more
than 40 per cent. Till within the last year or two, meat,
butter, cheese, bacon, aud milk were fully double, sometimes
treble, the prices at which Ihey stood before the repeal of the
Corn Laws took place, and before the extensiou of the railway
system made these provisions dearer in country than in town.
The peasant's house-rent, once nominal, is now a serious itam
in his expenditure. He is rarely seen to be in possession, as
he once was, of a half acre piece attached to his cottage. ; but
if he gets any land at all, is lucky if he p sses^es an allotment
of the poorest soil of the parish, at a rem double or three times
that of the best. His wages may have been increased without
any increase in their purchasing power, and the increase
may be, probably is, due to the increasing and necessary

THE FARMER'S MAGA&INl

SCO

tric'nrss with which Poor Paw relief is accorded to the able-
bodied, it cannot be doubted that such an increase has
affected, and will aff-ct, rents, though, (Wing to the fact that
tlie prices obtained for tin- secondary products ol agriculture,
meat Hud dairy prodoce,havi:»g increased so enormously, ren's
have till latterly rhen, notwithstanding the increased cost ol
labour. Suppose, on a farm assessed i.t £500, poor rates have
been diminished by <5d. in the pound. The farmer or land-
owner, as the caae may be, will have. saved £12 Ids. m hu
outgoings. Bat if the wishes of labour are increased 25 per
cent., and he has 20 hands on his farm, at an average of 15s.
a week, it is easy to see that the CO.t of labour has been
greatly increased on the one hand, ami very slightly lcsseucd
on the other. Still less is he benefited if the charges of the
Poor Law are transferred to the Consolidated Fnnd.and he pays
income-tax on his profits. Much that he has saved, or seemed
to save, (roes nit niately to the landowner, and he has to pay
the cost which has been transferred from his poor-rate to the
income-tax out of his peculiar prod's, and fro.n which tax lie
cannot escape. It is wonderful that English farmers did not
see that when Sir Stafford Norihcote candidly told them that
tlie first addition m id • to the income-' ax by the preseni
Government was due to the cost incurred by paying the extra
charges of pauper lunatic asyluuu, they were compelled to
improve the landlords' rents at the cot of the farmers'
profits.

MEAT FROM AUSTRALIA.

II. S. L. writes to the Standard : —

The pissiVi'ity of p'ae'ng Aus'ralian fresh me; t on
th i English m rk*t has now been proved beyond a doubt.
We have rec in ly seen fresh mutton and heel' from the Anti-
podes exposed fir sale in the Suiithfield Market, and realising
satisfactory prices.

It may be, therefore, a matter of great inte-cst to many of
your readers to kno.v uhat is the extent of this new supply
which has suddenly becimc available for consumption here,
and whether its introduction is likely to bring ;idditional diffi-
culties to the farmers and landlords by bringing down the price
of English meat.

Toe Colonies wlvch will supply the Engli-h market with
met are Queensland, New Sou'h Wales, Victoria aad South
Australia. New Zealand cannot export ; her own require-
ments are yearly becoming greater than her supply. In July
last arrangements were being made for the first of a series of
shipments of cattle from Sydney to Dunedin. Tasmania also
imports cattle from New South Wales.

S'nce cattle are freely interchanged between these four
Colonies, notwithstanding the enormous distance tobe travelled
over in the process, they may, for the purposes of calcula-
tion, he treated as one country.

On 'Ust December, 1S78, the published Government returns
give for this group a population of 2,032,490, 6,141,749 head
of cattle, and *5,288,606 sheep.

Now. leaving out the qiestinn of sheep, it is likely that of
those 0,141.719 cattle, one-fi:th only are suitable lor fattening
purposes, the remainder being either too young or breeders.
This will give us 1,228,350, or say 1,000,000, as the balance,
from various reasons, will not have reached a market standard.
Of this million, calculating the average weight of each at
730. b. aud the consumption per head of population at §' b of
beef (independently of mutton) p°r day, we find 711,858 head
per annum will be required for home consumption in the
Colonies, and from a calculation based on the Government
returns of the export of tinned meat, a further deduction of
50/(00 head must be made for this requirement, leaving for
the export of fresh beef the handeome number of upwards of
200.000 bullocks.

It nuy be contended that Jib. of beef is a great allowance
per head of population, hut it dees not seem to lie excessive
when it is remembered that good wages and an absence of
poverty are universal. Also, it must be borne in mind how
large a part meat must take in the food supply of a country
where butter and cheese are not extensively used (as in Eng-
land) to promote the use of bread, and where hacon as a staple
of food is ncarely known. Moreover, the heat in summer is
the eause of a great, loss of meat, aud ihe rough handling of
cattle, which are dealt with in a comparatively wild Btate aud

in lirge bodies, is a source of further loss, all of which for
tie purpose of this calculation may be considered as con-
sumed.

So much for the p-esent resources of Australia. This
hi plus, however, is an ever increasing one. Cattle are in-
creasing in the above-mentioned Colonies vastly in excels of
population. In the year 1872 the aggregate nuroier of cattle
per head of poyulation »as 2,719; in I . 3,021. In

other words, not to inundate the reader with figures, if the
supply in 1S72 was sufficient for the requirements of the
populations at that timff, and for the export trtde of tinned
meat, theie would have been In 1878 a proportionate increase
f G .'0,000 head in excess of the increase, of population.
Making the same four-fifth allowance as before fur beei
and young cattle, this represents au increase of 17,000 fat
jattle yearly.

It may be thought that many of these cattle, pasturing as
• hey do hundreds of miles from a port, cannot be utilised for
flipping purposes. This, however, ia a great fallacy. Sne'i
s the wonderful fattening quality ol the natural grasses in ihe
far interior that, fat cattle are regularly driven six hundred
and eight hundred miles to market, and delivered in finer
condition than the fat otttle bred on the coast, which have
only to walk from fifty to one hundred miles. An instance
can be quoted wheie oue or two beasts out of a drove which
had travelled six hundred miles from their pastures were entered,
on their arrival in Melbourne, in a fat cattle show and ob-
tained prizes. Moreover, there are now some seven or eight,
separate railway Hues from the east and south coast direct to
the interior, tapping the ferale plains and downs out West,
makino- everv f ere of pasture land in the heart of the Islam)
Continent additionally valuable for stock, and facilitating their
transit to msrket.

Shortly, then, then, the euprdy of fat cattle which would
I seem to have been available in 1878 for foreign export was two
hundred thousand head, and this surplus was increasoig at the
rate of seventeen thousand yearly.

The question then arises, and is asked by many in alarm-
Will not the introduction of all this meat ruin our farmers and
our landlords ?

In the first place, no present alarm need be felt, because it
must tslw several years before operations on a sufficiently
large scale to utilise the above-mentioned surplus can tie
brought iu'-o full plav. Again, after a certain number of years
the price will have risen in Australia, so that the, margin he-
tween the prices on either aid* of the world will have been so
reduced that import a ion by a natural course of things will fall
off. But, in the meantime, it may be thought that there is
cause for some anxie'y whei Anstralia is able to supply with
beef alone one twenty -third of the whole meat consumption ot
Great Britain.

I beheve there is no cause for this fcar, and to support
this view I would turn t.j the somewhat analogons ca ■■>•. of
wheat, which, sh:ce the repeal of the Corn Laws more than
thirty years ago, has been imported in rapidly-increasing
quantities.

On examining the nub'ishe.'l returns of the average prices
of wheat aud the yearly quantities imported, we find that from
1847-56 the average price of wheat was 55 3 10 shillin?8 per
imperial quarter In the succeeding decade from 1857-60, it
is true, the price had fallen to 48 1-10 shillings. But iu the
third decade., from 1867-76, when by far the largest amount
of wheat was imported, the average price of wheat had risen
to 54 2-10 shilling'. And it we push on these decades two
years, so 'hit the last should include the low prices of 1878,
we still have a rPe in favour of the ten years from 1869-78,
and a reducjd difference between the aver .ge prices of the two
first decades. This does not lock as if importation had
brought down the price of wheat.

Again, if we look at individual years, we shall find in 1873,
when the importation reached, according to the figures of the
Manchester Statistical S' ciety, no less than 50£ million cwt.,
by far the largest qnanity imported up to that time in any
one year, that the average price in that year is the highest
reached since the year" 1869. Here also the price of
wheat does not seem to have suffered from importations.
Win, then, should we. expect a different state of things as
regards me it when that also reaches our shores in increased
quantities ?

Let us now turn to the actual facts connected with the
me it market, and again we have the reassuring discovery that

Y 2

S 10

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

up to 1875 meat had steadily gone up, although the importa-
tions of meat had increased from 2£ million c»t. in 18R7 to
the enormous quantity of Gi million cwt. in 187^', which was
also the largest quantity ever imported up to thai time. Here
also we find that large importations of meat did not have the
effect of reducing the pr'ce of that article.

There are, however, additional grounds, independently of
the results arrived at by the examination of the statistics of
wheat and meat, for believing that the dreaded depreciation
of stock cannot be permanently effected. In the deplorable
tact that millions of onr population are too poor to eat meat
daily, often not more than once or twice a week at most, that
consequently there is an enormous untouched market in onr
midst— lies the safeguard against any sensible depreciation in
the price of the home srticle. Every time meat fails below a
certain price this rrnrket is touched, and the latent demand
becomes active. The richest of these poor become pur-
chasers, and thousand* are immediately added to the numbers
of those who make the ordinary demand ; the supply is
checked, and immediately the commodity is raided to its normal
value.

■ This prccAPB, I am informed, can be actually seen going
on in a small scale at Sraithfield Market when the American
meat may happen to fall to a very low price. Costermongers
then flock in and buy their little quantities of meat, to retail
hgain in (he Rtreets and alleys of London, When the in-
creased demand has forced np the rates, the costermonger for
a time disappears till meat is again fortunately brought within
the financial reach of his customers. This presence of an
untouched market in our midst is perhaps one of the strongest
reasons for supposing that stock-rearing in this country
must always be profitable, notwithstanding foreign and
colonial competition. Shortly, the supply will never equal the
demand.

It is not my oVject to point ont the causes of the present
reduced value of stock, but I msy be excused for suggesting
that the very figures before us clearly indicate that it was in
prosperous times the demand was gteatest, and so in these
depressed times we find the return to the stock-rearer smallest.
Independently, hoxever, of this law of demand there is the
uestion of home supply, which at this moment is unduly
qtimulated, for farmers are forcing their stock into the market
so pay the rent, or because bad seasons have curtailed their
power of feeding them, and as regards mntton, because many
are sacrificing their sheep rather than lose tliem by the frightful
epidemic of rot now prevalent.

I trust the expression of these views may relieve the
anxiety of those agriculturists who have heard with dismay
of the eight million head of cattle which are to be poured
into the English market and offered to the consumer at four-
pence per pound. I heartily hope the trade will rapidly
prosper. It will throw hundreds of thonsands of pounrls
into a country which is sorely in need of it just now, without
doing any greater harm to the rival English cattle breeder
than to check the increasing value of his commodity. It will
but transfer money from the pockets of Englishmen in these
islands:, who w ill get a good article in return, to the pockets of
Englishmen in Australia, who at this moment have that
article lying comparatively valueless on their hands.

FEEDING FOR EGGS.— A correspondent of the Albany,
U.S.A., Culticiiior v. rites : — I have tried different ways of
feeding liens, and am convinced that I get most eggs by feed-
ing wheat screenings. I have fed sorghum seed, corn meal,
oats, corn and middlings, and have concluded that feeding
wheat in the morning and shelled corn at night, with a feed
of slupstiiffa wet up, having a good dose of ground pepper put
in, and then baked and fed twice a week, and once in a while
substituting powdered sulphur in place of pepper, is the best
plan. I give good shelter aud good clean nests ; feed regularly,
and allow them a good range with plenty of gravel to scratch
in. I sell the fowls when they are two years old, and always
keep the best cocks and the best hens for hatching. I have
lost only one hen in a year, and am satisfied that my fowls
l>ay a larger per cent, for tke care than anything else.

MEAT DISTRIBUTION.

The following is a paper on " The Existing System of
Selling Home-Grown Meat, with Suggestions for its
Improvement," read by Mr. D. Tallerman, at the
Conference of the Representatives of the Agricultural and
Industrial Interests, held at the Market Hall, Upper
Thames Street, London, E.C., March 3, 1SS0 :—

In inviting your attention to the consideration of the exist-
ing system of selling home-g'own meat, I propose to deal with
the surj'ct entirely from commercial and economical stand-
points ; and I hope that all who take part in the di>cus>ion
wi 1 join me in that view, and under no consideration encumber
the subject by the introduction of political views or opinion?,
which can only have the effect of distracting attention Iroiu
points upon which it should be concentrated.

It is well known that a great difference exists between the
prices which prodacers receive for their live stock and those
which cousumers p<y for their meat, and this difference has a
tendency to increase. While the wholesale prices have either
decreased or remained comparatively stationary, the retail
prices have increased to an enormous extent. The whole
i-ystem of trade in animal food has assumed the singular shape
that wholesale prices do not now in any way iailuence the
retail prices. As a marked instance of this, I would poiut
out that during the principal part of last year the wholesale
priie of meat in the Metropolitan Market was cheaper than
it has been for the pist twenty years. But no part of this
benefit was enjoyed by the consumers of London.

I neither propose nor think it right to joiu in the general
outcry against the butcher. I fully recognise tha fact that,
call him by what name we may, he must continue to exist in
some form, as a practical tradesman or expert, and therefore a
necessary member of the community, fully entitled to a fair
and legitimate remuneration for the. servicj he renders. I
propose, however, to show that the condition of things which
afford just cause for complaint is not so much owing to the
intervention of the butcher between the farmer and the con-
sumer as to the number of pari:s unnecessarily interposed
between the farmer and the butcher, all of whom assist in in-
creasing the prices that the consumers pay, but which the
producer does not receive, and none of whom are essential to
enable meat to be transmitted from the former to the latter.

Look at the subject how ne may, the question of
the system of trading really reduces itself to that
of superfluous middlemen. The chief obstacle in grappling
with this difficulty lies in the fact that they ex'st in so miny
forms, and do not constitute any definite body of tradesmen.
They are to be found as jobbers in live st ck, and again as
jobbers in dead meat. Tuere are wholesale carcase butchers
who form a distinct class from the ordinary meat salesmen.
They are occasionally found as a great railway company,
charging more for carriage than they are fairly entitled to
charge; at another time it is a great corporation or munici-
pality centralising trade, ceatiug monopolies, and levying
dues, without considering the benefit of the community at
large — the promotion of suitable facilities for bringing pro-
ducer and consumer together upon a common platlonn ; aud I
woald here remark en passant that whatever may have been
the intention of the Corporation of the City of London, in
erecting its magnificent series of markets, the effect has been
to place an insurmountable barrier between the farmer aud the
batcher, in the shape of a salesman, now almost impossible to
be got rid of. I content! that a very grave error has been made
in uot reserving some space as au open market, where any
farmer desirous of doing so might take his own meat into the
market and sell it himself to the butcher or consumer.

To obtain a substantial and effective remedy for the state of
things to which I refer, it is necessary that attention should
be first directed to the point— How fanners can be best
brought to deal with butchers direct, in the large, centres of
populations. That such a system is possible with home-grown
meat is evidenced by the fact that it has been aud is still
actually carried ont in the case of Foreign Meat, and that,
with the sole exc°ption ot the London market, no middlemen
practically exist between the shipper in America and the
butcher in this country. Live stock, killed iu the Western
States of America, is consigned on a through bill of lading to
the shipper's own agent, by whom it is sold direct to the
butcher irom the ship at all ports of arrival, eieept only in

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

an

London, where t he whole oft lie market is occupied by sidesmen
and jobbers. If tbii can be done with meat that, in many
instances, has to be conveyed a thousaud miles by rail in
America to the shipping port, and th-.n lias to be brought
across the Atlantic 3,000 mites by sea, surely it cart be
done with home grown meat — the produce ol
British farms— all of which are within a few hours
of the great metropolitan and other large centres
of consumption. That th'S can be done is bejoud
argument, but whether it will be done depends entirely upon
the ability ot the farming class to un ierstaud for themselves
the position in which they are placed. This, it is clear, they
do nut now kuow. If they do, the course Ihey pursue is iu-
excu«ab'e. I am prepared to maint-in the whole system of
meat distribution in this country has been allowed to drift into
the most disorganised, extravaganf, and was'eful condition
possible to be conceived ; disgraceful to us as a great commer-
cial nation. This vicioui sjstem is upheld by a mass of
"vested interests" on the oue hand, and the difficulty
of introducing any change on the other. From the
farmer to the markets, and hence by circuitous routes to the
utcher, and from the butcher to the consumer, a continual
and unnecessary expenditure of labour and material takes
place.

The statement I make, that the meat sys'era is disorganised,
may appear somewhat remarkable in these days of m iguifioent
and substantial markets and of public abattoirs — iu Lmdon at
least ; one startling lact, however, cannot be evaded, which is,
that neither producers tor consumers have any meins of ascer-
ta ning the correct current market value of what the one sells
aud the other buys. The very first and essential necessity to
ligitimate trading is that both buyer and seller should know
the current market value of their commodities If this condi-
tion is not absolutely complied with, one party is iu a posi ion
to o'otaiu an advantage over the other. The raeaf trade is in
so peculiarly anomalous a condition tint neither party knows
anything of the current market value of their commodity, and,
moieover, it is next to imp 'ssible fir them to ascertain it. I
can readily understand that farmers may at once Ihiuk I
am not right in this assumption, and they may perhaps
point to the market reports which are periodically
published in the press, and sent throughout the country.
Markrt reports are of course published, but are of so extraordi-
nary a character, that it is impossible for any larmer to learu
from them whether his salesman has ob ained tor him the
correct market value of his stock ; while it is equally difficult
f r the consumer to learn the wholesale valued the meat he
buys, These reports are all of the same indefinite character.

Taking one of the most important of our agricultural papers,
I find from its market cattle reports, that at

Berwick, Stirks sold at ..
Carlis'e, they were
Doucaster, Heifers were ..
Dorchester, they fetched..
Bristol, Beef bold for
Truro, from
Dublin, from
Birmingham, Beef
Gloucester, ditto ...
Liverpool, ditto ...

Wakefield, ditto

Worcester, ditto

Leeds, the prices were ...

Norwich...

Stockton

York

Southall ...

Dorchester price was

Southampton

Reading, Beasts were from

Leicester...

£3 to £10 each.

£5 to £14 each

£11 to £16 each.

£13 to £22 each.

70s. to 74s. per cwt.

67s. to 70s. per cwt.

75s. to 77s. 6d. per cwt.

7|d. to 8fd. per lb.

. ... 8d. to iM. per lb.

6id. to 8K per lb.

7£d. to 8±d. rer lb.

8£d. to yd. per lb.

8s. to lis. 4d. the stone of 16 lb.

'Jr. to lUs. the stone of 14 lb.

6s. to 9s. the stone of 14 lb.

8s. to 9s. 3d. the stone.

5s. 8d. to 6s. the stone.

14e>. to 15s. the score.

13". to 14s. the score.

£14 to £20 each.

£14 10s. to £16 10s.
£20 to £26-

Newbury, Irora ...

While in London Meat is sold by the stone of 8 lb.

The variation of the selling denomination adopted in
different parts of the country, and the bare information to be
gathered irom the published reports, cmtrast strongly with
tha practice in use in America, where all meat is sold by the
pound and tbe details of every transaction published in lull,
lu. only lur the mlumiatiuu of the psuticular consignor, but

of every one interested. The American cattle reports furnish
not only the names of the salesman and seller, but the. e*aet
prices and the actutl allowance (if auv) made on any transac-
tions:—

"Ntw York Cattle Markets, Feb. 9, 183 J:— Gouey
McPiiersun sold for A. Griswold. 30 Iiliuois steers, 5 at 9 j
cents. ; 10 at 10 dirto ; 15 at 10£ ditto ; with 5 dollars off 6
head. S. W. Sherman sold for S. W. Allerton. 16 Illinois
steers at 9 csnts per lb., with 5 dollars on the lo% weight 6[
c*ts."

From this it will readily be understool how, with the varia-
tions in styles and prices ruing in England, no farmer can tell
whether or no he has got the market value for his stock. And
not only does he not kuow whether he gets the market value,
but he is equally unaware if he obtain* the lull allowance for
the cattle he sells. Tne system upon which the li itish farmer
deals with his cattle isoua peculiarly his own ; the basis of it
which is to ascertain the valu-i of the beast by determining its
weight by guess or measurement. Tuis is callod '• judgment"
but to my mind is unpardonable folly. Of course every farmer
considers himself a perfect julge and master of his business,
and should know all about the value and weight of the cattle
he has reared. It is quite the cue of the cattle jobber to lee
him think so ; but how far does the farmer do himself justice
thereby ? The cattle j ibber having continued opportunities of
comparing the carcass with the animal he purchases, is seldom
deceived in his judgment, aud cui form a very correct esti-
mate of the value ot a beast from its appearance; but the
farmer, being ouly acquainted with the oecrsiuaal sales of the
catle he rears, cannot — whatever may b? his own opinion —
be in a position to form as correct a judgment as the jobber
who is constant' y practising his business. The relative parties
do not therefore enter into their trans ictious on equal terms,
and the sooner the farmer relinquishes acting upon his own
judgment, aud adopts scales aud weights by which to sell his
stock, the sooner he will be in a position to learn accurately the
yield of that stock. In selling, however, he must not stop at
the live weight of the aininal but should know and be paid
upon the actual weight of meat the ca cise yields. For while
there is the element of risk in the transaciou, there is the
opening for middlemen to exist; and this element of risk must
continue while the system of siukiug the olf.il continues. On tl.e
Coutinent the practice is very simple. The price to be paid per
lb. having been arranged, the cattle are kept without food or
wster for twenty-four hours. They are then weighed alive, the
yield of meat estimated and the cattle paid for, they
are then slaughtered at the public abattoirs, when the
actual weight of meat n ascertained, and the final
adjustment of pajment takes place. The organisa-
tion is thus complete, the butcher pacing and the grazhr
receiving the exact amount that is dur', such amount being
ascertained, not as a matter of opinion, but from the actual
weighing of the stock before and after its slaughter.

It is beyond question that the present system of meat;
d stribution is extravagant and wasteful iu the extreme, since
the. characteristic features of both are apparent at every stage-
of it. The moment live stock leaves the larm it commences
to lose in weight and value, and to increase in costs and
expenses to the farmer, who, whatever market his sto?k goes
to, has no coutrol over its pricp, but must inevitably take
what the jobber chooses to give him under the penalty of
incurring the expenses that accrue lor holding over to another
day, or reluming to his larm. Taken from first to last the
trade appears to be simply gamble, the farmer being continu-
ally on th look-out for the chance of sending his stock to a
bare market, to get a long pi ice, but much more frequently
being caught in a full market, and having to submit to a
lower one. Cattle often go from one lucal market to another,
and then to London for slaughter, to be sent back as meat to
one of the large towns iu the immediate vicinity of the point
from which it started. This great waste arises solely from the
disorganised system of selling.

Tire results from slaughtering vary a geit deal. When
effected iu.Ljudon-the expense olbriugiug cattle up is incurred,
In small private country slaughterhouses there is a waste ot
much valuable material denominated "offal," which could be
utilised as a food or a commercial produc;. Very few per»ons
kno* that the term "offal" means every part of the beast
except the two actual sides of beef. The buyer of the beast
pays the price, of the estimated weight of meat, deducting the
"offal," which is thrown in. This in a bullock . consists uf

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

the hide, <ongUP, head, f-ii, kidney, and skirt, heart, livir,
tripe, fat, blood, leus — its vtlue varies from £3 5s. Ui £3 15s.
per o'ullock. The offal of sheep depends upon the quautby of i
wool they carry at the. time of slaughter. Why should an j
item of such a proportionately heavy amount be omitted from .
all the trade references to pric ? j

Included in the offal is about COlb. to SOlh, of fat, valued |
a! 3d. per lb., fir making into caudles and soap. In America j
and on the Continent, wliere opportunities exist for its being I
obtained fresh, early after the slaughter of sattle.it realises \
a very muc i higher price, and is converted io'o butterine, j
toliien we import to a very large extent, and pay for at various j
prices, ranging from Is. to Is. bj. per pound. A bullock also i
yields about y'JIb. ol blood, valued at about Is., and this is i
almost invariably wasted.

Tlie expense of the collection of hides and horns reduces
their value about 5°, each, aud thus all the uems of which the
so-called offal consists do not yield so much, by 30s. to 40«.
per betst as they might do were a proper system to be
adopted in slaughtering cattle, and utilising these waste pro-
ducts.

The means for bringing about a change in the state
of things to which I have drawn jour attention are
.simple, and comparatively easy of attainment. Let
the authorities of every county e'ect a pablic slaughter-
h nise, with "chili-rooms" attached, where the farmers
of the district can -end their stick to be slaughtered,
aud keep their meat without risk of deterioration until required,
and at which butchers can buy their meat of tire farmers direct
by weight. Let all carcases be examined and branded —
according to their quality and character — the same as is done
with butter at the Cork Market ; bo that the farmers who raise
the best meat get tha best pried lor it. Let the selling prices
at which meat is sold be published in market reports, in a
clear, plain, and explicit manner, so that the general pub ic
may know what the butcher pays the farmer for each particu-
lar quality of meat and charges the public for it. Let the
offal be, sold by itself on its merits, and it will scon be found
that the change widen would fnliow the introduction of such a
system would bring about beneficial results- of a lasting cha-
racter. If I were asked who should provide these slaughter-
houses, 1 should at once siy it is the duty of the local county
authorities to do 80. Abattoirs are a public necessity, and
should be worked for the public good, and not on a basis that
enables them to be converted into private monopolies. They
not only supply a great public want, but are self-supporting
aud remunerative establishments ; and it is on this ground,
more 'ban any other, that they should remain in the hands of
the public authorities. To procure the erection of these
necessary buildings in proper districts is a movement on which
the industrial and agricultural classes can unite, and I am
satisfied that their doing so would soou lead to permanent bene-
fit to the country.

Having pointed out what I consider the defective portions
of the. system of selling meat in its first stage, I wonld now
direct your attention to the unnecessary waste that takes place
in the second stage. I refer to the period of its transmission
lroin the butcher to the consumer. I more especially direct
your attention to the Waste of fat, meat, and boues. These
are generally thrown to a corner until they stink, and are
collected by the bone boiler, the price paid being merely a
nominal sum : i! these were handled cleanly aud boiled while
fresh aud sweet, they wonld yield a large amount of food
material to the country, and a satisfactory pecuniary result to
the batcher. This is to a great extent the business of the
butcher only, but it is an essential consideration lor the con-
sumer that all parties should utilise their produce as much as
possible, for they might then rely on participating in the
mult by the ordinary equalisation of trade and of prices.

Much of t tie high or low price of meat depends upon the
consumers, in uin.se hands the price of raeat exists, ^and who,
by the course they pursue, iu reality fix them, i do not wish
it to be here inferred that I am laying down a propo-
sition varying from \vh it I previously s ated ; for it must
be borne, in mind that I have referred previously to
llie. actnal saving of waste that might be made by
the farmer, without in anv way encroaching upon the price
paid by the consumer. 1 am able to say that the high pric- of
uibdt is to a very gieat txlent due to the public requiring
joints whieh form but a small portion of the animal, and to
which the retailei baa not only to add his profit, but all the

amount of loss incurred in the realisation erf the remain'
ing portion of the c-ircass. I know that public demaud is
m"Slly for sirloins and ribs, and that it greatly increases. To
supply it a larger amouut of cattle than necessary must be
slaughtered, aud it i. dear that the re uainiug poriio i of the
animal must te sold at any price, and all loss oa that head
must be. made good by the purchaser of the favourite, parts. If
consumers beeome impressed with the trne idea llrat every j-art
of the flesh of an animal must be at least equally wholesome,
and that to buy nothing but sirloins and ribs is mere prejudics
a great deai will be done towards equalising prices. The de-
maud for sirloins and ribs is to a great ex'ent the creation of
recent years. If we look Uaek a comparatively short period
and compaie the relative prices that exis'pd then and now, the
examination affords abundant material for rejection. For
ths sis years ranging from 13-45 to 1SS0, the wholesale price
of beef in Newgate Market was 4^d. to ->|d. pa: pound for
second quality, and 4jJ, to 5d. for prime, showing hue an es-
trerae variation of ^d. per ijound. In the eight years, 1S64
to 1871, the price rose to 5|d. to 6d, per pound for second
quality, to Ojd. to 6fd. per pound lor prime, beiug a
general iuerease of §i. per pound in second to
lfd. per pound for prime quality, showing ait
extreme variation in the wholesale priee oi l£d. Up to the
preseut time the price of second Quality raeat has reaniued
stationaiy, while the prime quality has iucrea^eJ, aud may
now be taken to remain at about S^l, to Hd. per pound
difference upon the whole carcass. But it must be remembered
that this difference is not maintained throughout, lor marj
of the boiliug portious of the carcass have very little difference
iu value.

Having now directed attention to the advantages)
to the farmer of public abattoirs with chill rou/iet.
I would point out how they could prove of equal value to the
consumer, by the exteusiou of the facilities for buying of the
farmer, with as few intermediaries as is cousisteut with possi-
bilities. I by no means suggest that the farmer should also
become butcher, and sell his cattle in j 'iu Is. Ou the con-
trary, the tradesman must always exist, but the public
abattoirs, with their h chill-rooms,'' would enable the con-
sumers, aud more especially the working classes, who, afier
all, form the chief spending power in the community, to come
into closer contact with the article they buy, and with tlie
producers of the food they eat ; this they could readily do by
means of the existiug orsaoisauous both possess throughout
the country. Iu every distr.ct there now exist Clumbers «f
Agriculture and C&mrntrce, Farmers' and VVorkiug Men's
Clubs, together with Alliance* and Uuious, The concentra-
tion of slaughtering would facilitate the mutual supervision
and control of the meat trad-! by the representatives of these,
that could only fail to produce results of an advantageous ami
permanent character, not only to tlie particular classes, but to
the country generally.

" In conclusion, 1 would recommend that na effort be made
to unite the representaives of agricultural and industrial
classes ia a movement for the protection of their mutual
interests.

1st. To initiate and permanently establish a system
by which accurate, prccisp, and distinct information of all meat
aud cattle markets may be procured aud published throughout
the couutry.

2nd. To promote the erection of abattoirs with chill-
rooms in every county, and chill-rooms iu connection with
existiug abattoirs.

3rd. To encourage a system of direct dealing between con-
sumer and producer in all districts, in connection with a
central organisation in London.

•ith. To obtain open market accommodation in London for
producers to meet consumers if they desire it, without the
intervention of middlemen.

5th. To tike steps to ensure from the railway companies all
the facilities aud advantages for English farmers placed at the.
disposal of foreign shippers.

One of Gavarni's dr.wings represents a picture-dpalcr nnd
a poor artist i.aggling over a work of art. The dealer offer-
ing live Iraics lor it, the artist meekly replies that the cauvas
itsell had cost him more thin that sum. "That is quite
possible," said the dealer, but then )0U had not spoiled, the
canvas by painting upon it.

THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE

3W

SHORTHORN NOTES.

We have received (March 22), Mr. John Thorntou's

Shorthorn Circular, vol. 6, No. 47, being a record of
Shorthorn transactions, dating from October 1 to De-
comber 31, 1879. From it we take the following

summary of Shorthorn auction sales during the year
1879 :—

No. of

Name Lots.

Sir \V. Mile*, Bart, (deceased) G2

Pi'twilliam Welsh 8

Mersrp. Christy 93

G. G. Blautern and J. J. Bibby 57

Lord Fiizliardinge (selection) 32

Col. Kingscote (selection) 48 1

Rev. K. (). Wilson (deceased) 9

Rav.W.tt. Beeverit J. A. RolW (Aor) 4.1

Sir W.C. Travel* an and others 70

K. Tweed \^Scitlmd 40

Donild Fwh«r, Seatland 49

H. LivAtt (selection) 42

J..G. Ward 45

A* Gtrrir, 4t

A. fc'awkes (por/io'i) 23

Messrs. Birroby and Mason 53

&. Wardle 53

Sir W. C. Trevelyan (deceaS'd) 47

W. Bliss {portion) 49

Geo. Marr, Scotland 1U5

G J.B.ll 42

W. G. Game & G. Hewer (portions) 61

Nicol Milne (deceased), Scotland ... 23

W. Lavender 48 5<5

li. Botterill {portion) ... .. 37 66

F. Lene.y and Sons (tclec iuu) 34 515

D. Mclnlosh (selection) 3t 115

Lord Braybrooke {sdectiun) 3+ 1,00')

11. Aitenborou.'li 46 67

H. A. Brasiey {selection) 39 160

J. A. M. Cope {portion), Ireland ... 23 40

W. A. Mitchell, Scotland 77 33

Lord Dunmure, Scotland 51 3,200

Lord Skelraersdale {selection) 23 2,000

Lord Lonsdale and others 59 235

W. Arkell {remainder oj herd)

J. C. Mauuiu.

11. J. Sheldon (sel cliuu)

W. Muntou (selection)

W. Liutou

E. B. Cheney

W. II. Brown

W. Goiuersall

Earl of Lichfield

A. H. Browne

A. J. Camp ell (deceased) Ireland,..

Messrs Puudicg

J. M. Erudd

G. Allen and C. E. Lyon

Col. Williamson, Scotland

U.S. Belts

Highest
1'rke. Average

Gs. £. d.

47 22 9 0

59 47 12 10

61 21 5 4

4I.V 23 13 9

770 147 9 10

,10) 99 5 6

29 2 2

96 15 3

38 11 5

27 3 4

35 1-2 1

87 3 0

2t 18 10

41 19 6

27 8 9
23 1 0
37 13 0
45 3 0
26 10 4
21 11 1
18 3 6

28 11 1
21 8 4

46

350

120

68

100

395

40

305

46

4t

220

110

52

47

40

70

28

85
23
33
18
42
65
40
49
35

42
3 8

205
35
95

310
92
50
45
59 800
46 85
60
42

170
61
35

35
17
84
44
50

27 16 6

38 9 8

72 4 0

47 13 8

181 8 0

30 6 6

44 19 9

20 14 1

21 11 7
241 18 2
282 10 0

62 11 6

20 2 4

23 12 6
67 9 I

24 1 3
38 6 9
72 17 5
33 15 0

19 15 0
27 7 2
90 9 6
2t 11 0

22 1 4

21 9 2
35 16 9
33 3 5

20 1 0

Total 51 Sales 2,354 Average 47 19 9

From which it will be seen that 51 sales comprised
2,354 head of stock, which averaged £47 19s. 9d., and
amounted to a total of £112,960 19s. The decrease in
average as eompared with 1878 is £9 63. per head. Iu
1878 the average was £57 5s. 9d. ; in 1877 it was £54
14s. 8d.; and in 1876 it was £51 19s. Sd. To show the
relationship of this mean of £47 19s. 9d. to the actual
selling prices of the bulk of the pure-bred Shorthorns sold
:u 1879 we have compiled the following table ;. —

No. of s.les.
a

23

9
5
2
2
1
3

47

No. of auimals.
91
1,112
465

172

92

89

42
148

Averaged under.
£20
30

2.211

32
34

54
23

40
50
70
80
90
100

Averaged.

£.

s.

d.

147

9

10

181

8

0

2n

18

2

282

10

0

51 2,354

By which it will be seen that, 47 of these sales — nearly
sixteeu-seventeeuths of the wjole — comprise 2 211 of the
animals sold, or nearly 95 per cent of the whole. The
aggregate amount of these 47 sales is £79,510 0s. 6d., and
the average realised for each of these 2,211 auimals is
£38 13s. 7d. ; of these, 1,203 animals — or nearly four-
sevenihs — .-old at an average of uuder £30. The remaining
4 sales comprised 143 animals at an average of £233 Ls^;
mie animal having been sold for £3,360." Ou January >j\
1879, we published a corresponding table relating to the
Shorthorn sales of 1S?8, which we reproduce for com-
parison with the one given above for 18/9 : —

No. of sales. No. of animals. Averaged under.

1
25
11
8
2
2
3
1

56

1
1
1

1
1
1
1
1

64

45

9 SO

769

408

64

60

128

54

2,514

44
56
43
52
15
5
52
30

2,811

£20
30
40
50
60-
70
90

100

Averaged

119

19

2

123

1

1

136

7

6

152

7

9

290

3

0

301

7

0

311

8

6

664

1

10

In explanation of this table we said at the time : —
" The sales given date from January 26th to November
12th. The number is 64, the total amount realised is
£161,042, and the average price is £57 5s. 9d. It will
be seen that 56 of these sales— seven-eighihs of the whole
--represent 2,514 of the animals sold, or more than
ninety -eight per cent, of the whole. The aggregate
amount of these 56 sales is £93,108 0s. 3d., and the
average is £37 0s. 7d. The remaining eight sales in-
rlude 297 animals, showing an aggregate of £69,933
19s. 9d., and an average of £22S 15-s. Id, ; oue animal
(Baroness Oxford 5th) sold for 2,660 guiueas, aud nine
animals of the Oxford tribe made an average of £1,636 5*.
It may be learned from these figures that the great bulk
of the sales, iucludiug nearly ninety-nine per cent, of the
animals sold, averaged only £37 0s. 7d., aud two-fifths dt
Ikesu uiadeau average under 130," Our object in can>

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

piling these table3 is solely to show that the mean of the
averages does not convey a correct idea as to the average
gelling price of the great bulk of the animals sold, the
figures being raised out of all direct proportion by the
sale of a very few animals at very high [/rices.

In commenting on the above summary Mr. John
Thornton remarks : — " The summary of the sales, held
during the almost unprecedented wet season of 187 9,
shows that a less number of animals have been publicly
sold ; indeed, since the great jears of 19/4-5 a consider-
ably lower uumher of sales have taken place. The table
does not include the annual sales of bulls and draft
heifers ; neither does it include the large number (380)
cntertd for the Birmingham bull sale ; nor those sold at
Swindon, York, and other places. The general want of
money has led to collective sales becoming more numerous
and of 1 rger extent. Prices on these occasions are not
encouraging; and, with a good beef trade, it would often
be more profitable to graze off any surplus animals thaD
incur the risk and expense of sending them to a distant
auciion. For yoang balls and in-calf animals showing
some character and condition, there was, in the spring of
the year, in some cases a fair trade. Yet buyers have
seldom the opportunity of seeiDg at draft sales the
parents of the bulls j nor can they ascertain the personal
merits of the dam and the character of her near relatives,
a point which has hitherto been thought one of great im-
portance in sustaining the high character of the breed,
la Scotland a large number of animals were eipo3ed, and
the prices prove a serious decline on former years. In
Ireland great depression has been felt, not only at aoctrens,
but even at the Royal Dublin Spring Show, where low
prices ruled. The only exceptions were the prize ani-
mals, and at Ardfort Abbey, where the 24 youDg bulls
and bull calves made the excellent average of £51 19s. 9d.
The year will be noticeable for the dispersion of two
breeds collected during the last ten years, and which have
been among the most celebrated of their day, namely, that
at Duuinore, and that at Gaddesby belonging to Mr. E.
H. Cheney. Eaeh had been largely recruited from
American and Canadian stock ; frequent sales had taken
place from both, and each had realised the highest average
of the year. The result of their dispersion was looked
Bpon with much interest by many possessing valuable
htids. Lord Dunmore's sale took place under the most
unfavourable weather > a heavy rain continued throughout
the day, spoiling the appearauce of the animals and damp-
ing the spirit of the very large company. Duchess
117th realised 3,200 guineas, the highest price of the
year; and although many animals appeared to sell low in
comparison with previous sales, yet the prices, consider-
ing the year, must not be looked upon as unsatisfactory.
1. may not be oul of place to mcutiou that from the time
this herd was started iu 1308 until 187'">, a little over
.£29,000 was expended iu the purchase of animals; and
the result of three public and several private sales has
b en considerably over £59,000. The Gaddesby herd was
brought out in low condition ; most of the early lot9
were old cows iu an unsatisfactory state. Several cows
and heifers, of American branches of the Priucess tribe,
realised from 100 to 300 guineas; and ih<- 3rd and 6th
Dukes of Glo's'.er brought respectively 150 guineas and
280 guineas. There were mauy animals of the Kuightlcy
and Seraphina tribes, but they attracted no special com-
petition, and made much lower prices than have been
realised iu previous years. Selections were made from
the celebrated herds at Berkeley Caslle and Kingscote in
Gloucestershire; from Lord Braybrooke's in Essex, a nil
Lord Skthnersdale's in Lancashire. All went off satis-
factorily, Lord Fiizhardinge's, averaging nearly £150,
were mostly the produce of that excellent sire Duke of
Cuuiiaugut (33004), bred by Lord Duuinore. A heifer

of the Siddington tribe realised 770 guinea*, Mr. A igtf3
bought seven lots to go to Australia, aud one heiler went
to France. Colonel Kinescote's sale was greatly en*
banced by the prices of 1,100 guineas for iJxford Belle 5ih,
of the Oxford tribe, and &75 guineas for Oxford Beau 7lh,
of the same family. The Houey tribe, so long brtd at
Kingscote, realised an average of £64 13s. for twi sty-
one head, /or many years no females of the E igl.sh
branch of the Red Rose tribe have been publicly offered.
In consequence, Lord Braybrooke's sale, containing
several speeiiueus, created much attention. One of them.
(Thorndale Rose 7th) brought 1,000 guineas ; the seveu
averaging £590 5s. The Lathom sale shonld take pre-
cedence, however, as realising the highest average of the
year. It was otherwise remarkable ; inasmuch as every
animal was bred by Lord Skeln>3rsdale, on the farm.
Duchess of Ormskirk, having been sent away for service,
was in indifferent condition, and did not sell as well as
the public anticipated > nor, indeed, as her hisch breeding
deserved. The spring sales received much eclat from the
great success attending the sale of the bulk of the Rev,
W. H. Beever's and Mr. J. A. Rolls'' herds. The-se ani-
mals were all of the Daisy tribe •■, which, like that of Mr.
Bates' Duchesses, is in direct descent from Mr. Charles
Colling's stock. They were uniform and good, much
admired, and keenly competed for by a large company of
breeders. This encouraging event of nearly £100
average was not fruitful ; the sales afterwards were flat
and discouraging, even late into the autumn, uutil the
sale at llawlihill of the herds of Mr. A. H. Browne aud
Mr. L. C. Chrisp, which, like that at Pencraig, was
numerously attended and gratifying in its result. Oue
cow of the Anna tribe sold for 800 guineas, and fifty -
nine animals realised over £90 each. The sale of Mr. W.
Linton's herd calls for some remark ; it wa9 a very old-
established herd, having been bred at Sheriff Huttoa for
forty-two years ; it had sent out prize-winners, at its
commencement and for ten years before its finish, to the
Royal and county shows with singular success. Some
crosses had been introduced iu the iuteriin which were noi
favourably considered, aud though the same line of blood
as that from which the dams spiaug had been resorted to
during the last few years, it was not the best of that line.
This fact, and the removal of the herd from the farm to
York, had a prejudicial influence on the sale ; although
many of the animals, particularly the cows, were singu-
larly good, aud deserved higher prices. But the com-
petition here was similar to that noticeable all over this
country, no less than in Ireland and Scotland. The
yeomen and farmers of the nation at large, great
as their taste aud spirited as their
be for a good beast, do not
money to invest which they had five
Mr. Thornton reviews the history of the
depression, and goes on to say : — " That the averages of
highly -bred stock, nuder such circumstances, should be
as good as they have been is the more remarkable. Yet
these averages are, in a measure, due to the fashion that
has been introduced into the breedingof high-class stock;
aud to the euconragiug prices given during several yeais
by Colonial aud American buyers. Excepting the pur-
chases made for Australia this season, no such high
prices have been giveu for auiinals going abroad. Iu the
spriug many animals were bought to go to Frauce,
Belgium, Piussia, Mid Moldavia, and a few to >ie\v
Zealand ; they were principally good thick-lleshpd bulls,
bought at moderate rates. But a large number (consider-
ably over a hundred) have been quietly sent to Buenos
Ay res, chiefly, it is reported, ou speculation. There has
been, it is said, a large trade lor good red yearling bulls.
America has imported nothiug; and ouly a few have
ttouc to Canada." Mr. Thorutou recounts the l'avouiabk

desire may
possess the
years ago."
ricultural

THE FARMEE/S MAGAZINE.

315

prospects for ll e future of Shorthorn in'erests, and erdj
by saying that "although high pries mutt not bj
anticipated, yet we may look for the dawn of belter
seasous, and of limes more encouraging both to breeders
aud farmers tbioughout th-i country."

Breeders of Shorthorns, and the agricultural public
geuerally, are indebted to Mr. John Thornton lor the
very complete information respecting Shorthorn trans-
actions which is furnished in his Shorthorn Record. He
gives the fullest details and does not seek to hide any-
thing. We do not agree with all the deductions he makes
iu the paragraph quoted above, but at the same time we
consider them to be fairly made ; he does not attempt to
explaiu anything away. He freely admits that the sale
averages are heightened, and high prices realised solely
by that ''fashion " in Shorthorn breeding which we have
so many times had occasion to^deplore. Mr. Thornton,
in his report of the transactions for 1878, said some very
plain things to Shorthorn breeders, and boldly stated
that a pedigree should be something more than a string
of names. Mr. Thornton appears to attach more value to
certain strains of blood than we do, but there is nothing
iu his published statements which would lead us to thiuk
that he believo in a return to fauey prices. If fancy
prices do not return fancy breediug will soon become a
thing ot the past. We should hail such a result with
great pleasure, not because we wish to sec the aristocracy
tire of breeding Shorthorns, but because they have bred
them, as we think, in an artificial maimer, to the detriment
ol the Shorthorn breed of cattle. An attempt has been
made to show a triumph for Shorthorn fanciers out ot the
Birmingham sale. We take the result of that sale to
be anything but a triumph for fanciers. It showed
plainly enough that pedigrees without corporeal excellence
ar« uo longer thought anything of by ordinary stock-
breeders. But pure-bred bulls, with evidence of consti-
tutional vigour aud possessing real merit — such animals
as Mr. Pilgrim's bulls, for example — sold readily for
good commercial values. We agree completely with
Mr. Thornton as to the benefit to the stock of the country
which will accrue from the dispersion during the past
year of so many really good and useful pure-bred animals.
1'rom the tables given above, and from the Scotch reports
which will be found below, it will be seen that puttiug
" fashion " aside, and reckoning ocotch and collective
sales, the average price of pure-bred Shorthorns
at the present time is under £30, probably nearer
£25 than £30 ; at this price they will pay to breed, and
be readily purchased — if really good animals — by farmers
even iu a time of unexampled depression like the present.
We are by uo means singular iu regarding the decliue of
'"fashion" in Shorthorn breeding a3 indicative of the
commencement of an era of far greater usefulness for the
Shorthorn breed of cattle. From various sources we
iiud similar opinions expressed. The Leeds Mercury
bays : — '• At Birmingham the healthy reaction against the
excesses of fashion in breeding was happily shown in the
prices realised, as animals of real merit sold at fair prices,
considering the depression of the times, while fashionably-
bred failures were neglected. The fictitious values
reached by scions of favourite tribes or families, when
the " Shorthorn fancy" was at its height, will probably
never be attained again. Well-bred animals will bring
their full commercial value, and that will be sufficient en-
couragement to good breediug." And the National
Live Stock Journal (Chicago) for March, referring to a
sale of pure- bred Shorthorns shortly to take place there,
says : — " It is a good omen, and one aaguring well for
the Shorthorn interest, that the senseless furore aud
speculative mania about so- called 'fancy,' or 'gilt-
edged' pedigrees has received its (midus. The coinmoa

sense and good judgment of intelligent meu have revolted
agai i st the absurdity of a pedigree without hrx animal,
and the tide in the right direction m iy be said to have
fairly set in. Hence it is that we predict a successful
sale for our West Liberty friends, for theirs is a lot of
cattle possessing real, practical value — individual merit,
backed by good, honest, time-tried pedigrees." There is
proof on every haud that these purely arbitrary pedigrees
—mere strings of names representing theoretical purity
of blood without reference to the actual merits of the
animals themselves— are fast losing commercial value, and
Shorthorns will no longer sell from paper records only.
More than this, the records themselves will have to show
descent from good ancestors, instead of " fashionably-
bred " weeds.

EXAGGERATIONS OF MEMORY.-We tend to project
our present modes o! experience into the past. We. p*ini our
past in the hues of the present. Thus we imagine that things
which impressed us iu some remote period ot life must
answer to what is impressive in our prerent sta<*e of men al
development. For example, a person recalls a lull near the
home of his childhood, ami has the conviction that it was of
great, height. On revisiting the place he fn.ds that ih«
eminence is quite insignificant. How can we keconnt for
this? For oue thing, it is to be observed that to hi* u„d.-
veloped childish muscles the climbing to the top meant a con-
siderable exoenditure of energy, to be followed by a sense of
fatigue. The man remembers these feelings, and uncon-
sciously reasoning by present experience, that is to say by the
amount of walking which would now produce this sense of
fatigue, imagines that the height was vastly greater than it
really <vas>. From this cause arises the tendency generally to
exaggerate the impressions of early life. Youth is the period
of novel effects, whea all the world is fresh and
new and striking i.npressions crowd in thickly on the 'mind.
Consequently it takes much less to produce a given amount of
mental excitation in childhood than in after-life. In lookin"
back on this part of our history, we recall for the most part
just those events and scenes which mostly stirred our minds by
their strangeness, novelty, &c, and so impressed themselves
on the tablet of our memory ; and it is this sense of some-
thing out ot the ordinary beat that gives the characteristic
colour to our recollection. This being so, we unconsciously
transform the past occurence by reasoning from our present
standard of what is impressive. Who has not felt an un-
pleasant disenchantment in revisiting some garden or park
that seemed a wondrous paradise to his young eyes ? All our
feelings are capable of leading us into this kind of delusion.
What seemed beautiful or awful to us as children is now
pictured in imagination as corresponding to what moves our
mature minds to delight or awe. People who a little outshone*
our own cire'e of friends, perhaps, in style of dress and living
seemed to us as children little short of Priuces and Princesses.
Could we actually see them with our present eyes, we should
alas, no longer find the glory in which our young faucies had'
encircled their heads. While the phsc may thus take an
illusory hue from the very changes which our emotional life
undergoes, it becomes still further transformed by the idealis-
ing touch of a present feeliug. This is so familiar a fact
hardly to need illustration. Our emotions of love, of reverence
of aesthetic admiration are artists that employ the past as a
kind of canvas ior the exercise of their imaginative skill.
We instinctively tend to idealise the objects of a past love.'
The old rule tie mortuis nihil nisi Loiutm has its foundations
deep laid in our emotional nature. It is much the same with
the emotions of beauty and sublimity that attach to objects of
inanimate nature as well as to human beings. Even a painful
emotion as lesentment aud hatred, may to some extent affect
this result of transformation. By duelling habitually on the
wrongs done us by an old friend, and forgetting all the good
things we know of him, we may come to trans'orrn this person
into a monster very unlike the reality. — Corn-hill Magazine.

A grocer coinpiaiuing that he found it diflicult to find
customers, a neighbour responded : "That ia curiom, a3 you
are always lying ia kc'ijIU for them!"

316 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE IN ESSEX.

On Thursdav, March 25, a meeting of the local branch of the
Farmer*' Alliauce was held in the Public Hall, Maldon, in
support of the candidature of Mr. C. Pa*e Wood, the
tenant farmer*' c mdidate lor East. Essex. Mr. George Court-
auld occupied the chair, and there was a crowded attendance,
ruauy ladies being among Uie audience.

The CttAlKMAN, who was very warmly received, paid that
being a number of the Alliauce and thoiounhly approving its
ohjtcts, he felt he could not, as member until the previous
day for MaldoD, absent himself from the meeting. When, too,
he knew that it was to be held in support of the candidature
of his friend, Mr. Tage Wood, he determined that Done but
very strong reasous should prevent lis. attendance. He had
very great pleasure in being there, and in doing whatever he
could in advancement of the objects of the Ailiance and in
support of the candidature of Mr. Wood (cheers).

Mr. James Young Man said he appeared that evening as
the reprtsentative of the National Committee of the
Farmers' Alliance. Alter rererriug to the Alliauce as being
unid<n<iiied with party politics, he said he was not a very
ardent advocate o( class representation. He would like to
see the best men successful, whatever their politics or pro-
lessions (Hear, heat). He thought, however, that it must he
very useful to hive men in Farlaruent who were well
acquainted with the wans of the constituencies they
represented (Hear, hea). It struck him thai the tenant-
farmers' to n had come at last (applau-e). They had
experienced such a succession of bad harvests that they were
now saying something must be done. He trusted that they
would make use. of the opportunity which the general
election i lfordt d them of making their power felt, and, so far
as could be judged at present, he believed they were making
good use of it (applause). He was uow residing in the
eastern d. vision ol the county of Suffolk, and he had taken
an active part in promoting the candidature of a tenant-
farmer -Mr. Everett— for the diviti m (Hear, hear). In
canvassing the electors in the country districts he had found
that certaiuly more than half the Conservative tenant-
farmers were prepared to vote for Mr. Everett, although he
waB a Liberal in politics (applause). Mr. Youngman then
staled the. objects of the Alliance, which are
already well known. He contended that every tenant-farmer,
whether Conservative or Liberal, ought to support the move-
ment aud to vote for the man who would best serve his
interests in parliament. Let the farmers look out for men who
were interested in agriculture and would do something to add
brightness to their prospects for the lulure. He knew it was
said that all the farmers wauted was sunshine and shower,
and that these would set matters right. He was not one to
depreciate the blessings resulting from sunshine and rain, but
he was convinced that the principal cause of the depression
was the operation of bad laws. This Alliance had been
established to assist not so much in procuring new laws as in
the unmaking of old ones (U.?ar, hear). It the farmers were

allowed a lair field and no favour they would, with the pluck

snd spirit of Englishmen, be able to compete with the whole

world (applause). Pieferring to the Law of lMstn s*, he said

it was the cause of landlords taking higher reuts than the land

was worth, and it induced the landlord to become iudifferent

as to the success of his tenants. lie spoke strongly

in favour of compensation being allowed for unexhausted im-
provements, and said that uuder existing conditions the land

of this country wis not worth farraiug. With all the com-
petition which they saw before them, the farmers must

be free if they were, to be successful (applause). They

must liberally invest capital in their holdings and

they must improve their homestei.d-, but who dared to do that

w.thout tenant right ? (Hear, hear.) It the land were allowed

to go out of cultivation or to be half starved, the working

men from the ouutry districts would be driven into the

already crowded alleys and streets of our great towns, and

«Tery avenue of employment would be overcrowded. To

prevent this, and to make agriculture successful, the farmers

should vote at the forthcoming election for those meu who

were on a level witli them, and who felt for and sym-
pathised with them (cheers). One of the two great politi-
cal parties had deceived, and the other hud ignored them

(laughter). If liny wanted pru»f that one party had deceived

them, let them think of the Agricultural Holdings Act (Hear,
hear). Bad as it was, however, there was something valuable
in it, inasmuch as it was an acknowledgement of a debt. But
what would they think of a man who acknowledged a debt,
and then tried to pay it wi'h counterleit coin? (laughter and
applause). 1 his described the working of the Agricultural
Holdings Act. The farmers had themselves to bhme to a
certain extent for the d'flioul'ies under which they now
laboured. Tney had been too much like "dumb driven cUtle,"
and they had not looked after their own business politically
(Hear, hear). Ttie result was that they had been done by
as perhaps they deserved (laughter). Tne Liberal party
had ignored them because they had ignored themselves
(Hear, hear). But times had now changed, the. farmers
were exerting thenselves, and he was glad to see
that there were 52 members of the Farmers' Alluuce
contesting seats in Parliament (applause), lie now had
hope for agriculture. What would benefit the tenant would
also benefit the the landlord and labourer. He trusted that
in Mddon, and all over E^sex, the electors would not be in-
fluenced by gold, but would be guided by the higher sentiment
of patriotism aud dufy to man and God (cheers). He asked
for support for the Alliance because he beheveu it would do a
great and good work. It had not been in existence twelve
months, but it was making au impressiou all over the land.
In regard to Lord Beacon^iield's speech on Monday night a
farmer had told him (Mr Youngman) that he almost swore
when he read it (laughter). Lord Beaeonsfie.ld said there
were mauy things to which the farmers were entitled, but
they must wait, and he then told them in honeyed words that
they were very patient (laughter). Que would think when
the. Premier began to speak to farmers that he had kissed the
Blarney stone (laughter). Bat with it all there was to his
(Mr. Youngman'.-) mind a heartless and cruel mockery of the
farmer and his present condition (cheers). If one political
party continued to ignore the farmer and the other to deceive
them, he should not wonder if the Alliauce became a party
movement (eheers).

Mr. Wood, who met with an enthus astic reception, the
whole of the audience rising and waving their hats, while the
ladies waved their handkerchiefs, said that, if auything could
reward a nearly worn-out worker who had just returned from
Harwich, where he had been endeavouring to enlist the
sympa'hies of the Harwich folks, it would be the very cordial
and kind reception which they had given him (applause)
Alluding to Mr. CourtauWs remarks as to his prospects at
the election, Mr. Wood saul that, although at first a great
number of the Conservatives said he had no chance, and tint
he lad no right to inflict a contest upon the constituency, he
was happy to say that a great number ol them now said he
might have a chance, but that he could not win (laughter).
They appeared now to be altering their tODe ahogrther, and
he was so convinced of the justice of his cause that he
looked forward to the polling day with the. greatest con-
fidence (cheers). lis was very pleased indeed to have
heard Mr. Youugmau's able exposition of the principles
of the banners' Alliance. The Alliauce had his complete
sympathy (npplause.) When he at. ended its lirst
meeting in Essex, at Chelmsford, he expected that
the Parliamentary representatives of East Essex would
certainly have been there to hear what its objects were
(Hear, hear). He thought that, as representatives of an
agricultural constituency, Mr. Round and Col. Brise — who had
been too long the sitting members for that constituency, but
were so now no longer — (applause) — might fairly, without
pledging themselves in any way, have attended that meeting
and heard the arguments adduced, and have subscribed to them
if they approved, and criticised them if they disapproved (Hear,
hear). He believed some oue had suigestrd that he was the
nominee of the Farmers 'Alliance, but he assured them tint
the idea of contesting East Essex was iu his mind long below
the Alliance came into existence (Hear, hear), lie was a^kul
to stand (or the divi-ion iu a n qnisition which contained 1,201'
signatures (cheers). He had lound land'ords very jealous of
the position which be had taken ttn, and tl.ey seemed to be
following a sort of dog-in-the-manger policy. They were not
disposed to do anything to assist the farmers, ueithsr would
they allow him to go into Parliament to help to assist then'.
The landowners in the House ol Commons had had ample
opportunities iu the late Parliament of helping farmers if liny
hud availed themselves of tuc.il. There were a L-r^e number

TflE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

;j!7

n' Conservative landowners in t lie House, and, with the large
majority which that party possessed, they conld hi.ve done
what thej 1 krd on behalf of th.e farmers (applause). He did
not wish to make use of any li-ird words ; he was happy to say
that he was on very good terms with the members 'or
tlie division, ami with nearly the whole of the constituency,
but he could not help telling them an appropriate ane.c-
do , A friend of his, now no more, who was
in he habit of spending more money than he
ever received, and who was consequently always
in difficulties, called upon him once, and cougratula'ed
him upon the Dumber of stacks he saw in his (Mr. Wood's)
yard, and insinuated that he must be very wealthy. He did
not know whether he had a loan in view (laughter). He was
obliged to explain to his friei.d, who was not a farmer, that the
stacks he saw were not all corn stacks, but, that, holding straw
to be a very valuable commodity, after lie bad thrashed his
corn he had thatched the straw. His f.iend, prolific in ex-
pedients for avoiding the claims of hi* creditors, jumped at the
idea. He said, '"Capital ; I see. They are dummies. You
make them look like corn stacks to keep away jour creditors''
(much laughter). As he had said, he did not like to use hard
words, but he thought, as far as regarded the ttnant-farmers
ol Bast Essex, that the two late members were not good corn
Stacks, Imt were merely "dummies" (cheers and I uj liter).
Both thooe, tallant officers knew military movements far better
than he did, and must be acquainted with the interesting
manoeuvre called " marking time." That Ir d been prectsrh
the policy of the late members for the division. The Prim'*
Minister, who had very little ip.gard for the farmer, had
suggested that they shnald continue to live upon hope
(laughter). They had been doing that for a long time, and
he thought the : supply must be very nearly exhausted (applause)
lie |wouhl remind them lhat " hope deferred maketh the
heartsick," and in the case of the farmer, hope had bi-eu
deferred for so long that they had all been made really sick
at heart (cheers). He was reminded of the old Latin line : —

Rustieus expeciat dum clcaust amnis.
The countryman, who was, he supposed, a poor simple fellow
sat still by the side of the river, waiting until the water had
all flown by (laughter). They, too, were waiting for some-
thing, but they did not do aaything ; now was the time tor
action, Farmers were bound to be up and doing, and to help
themselves (applause). The best way for them to do this
was to send a representative of their own to Parliament (ap-
plause). He shuuld have been far more modest than he had
been if any other tenant, farmer had offered himself. He could
not say that he looked forward to a period of unparalleled
happiness if he got into Parliament, but, if no one else pre-
sented himself, there he was (cheers). It could not be
disguised that many questions affecting the landed interest
might arise, iu the uew Parliament. It was absolutely certain
thai there would he a large number of landowners in the new
House, and he asked them if it was not imperatively necessary
that there should also be some representa'ives of the occupiers
of laud (applause). They had no right to procrastinate any
longer, fur they h„d come to such a desp. rate state of affairs
that great efforts must be made, aud they must themselves
as-ist those who would stick up lor them (applause). Now
or ne\er was the time -it was useless to wait for prosperity to
return.

Mr. Jos. Smith commended the objects of the Alliance,
and pointed out that nearly every important interest in the
country, except the tenant farmers', was well represented in
Parliament. Farmers had been losing their money year by
year, and in IST'J came to the climax of their misfortunes.
if they could return 20 men to Parliament who were con-
nected willi the Alliance they would be doing themselves more
good than would come to them through the Royal Commission
(applause). He hoped all present wju'd do what they could
to return Mr. Courtauld to Parliament, for he was the only
member lor Essex who voted for the appointment of a
Minister of Agriculture (cheers). If such a Minister had
been appointed he believed that many abuses under which the
tanners were Buffering would have, been remedied. Since the
Alliance had beeu formed their present members had been
willing to promise anything and everything (applause and
laughter). Some of them said they would go as far and
farther than members of the Alliance, but they hud said so
only since pressure had been put upon, tlicni (hear, hca.i).

Mr. Smith concluded by u-giog tlnse present to do their

utmost to return Mr. Wood, and meutioned that a subscription

had been raised to pay the expenses of the contest,

aud it was hoped it would cost Mr. Wood very little

(applau-e).

Capt. Dtn' proposed :—

"That this meeting approves of the principles of the
Farmers' Alliance, and urges farmers iu this district to give it
their support."

In the course, of his remarks, Capt. Delf remarked that he
was one of six agricultural reformers who met in London to
inaugurate the Farmers' Alliance. He believed that the
Alliance had already done an immense amount of good, as
was shown by the fact that over fifty tenant-farmers candidates
were itandiug for various constituencies at the preseut elections.
Mr. Wood was eminently fitted to represent East Essex, and
h»d gone about his work in a manly and geutlemaulike
manner (applause). The speaker gave his reasons for not
b«ing an advocate of the repeal of the Malt-Tax, and strongly
advocated the giving of tenants compensation for unexhausted
improvement", and the abolition of the Law of Distress, lie
believed that the action of the Essex Chamber of Agriculture,
in passing a resolution in favour of the total repeal uf tiie
Law of Dis'ress, would have much to do willi bringing about
that result (applause). He thought farmers would I ave to
wait a very long time before they gjt any relief froui a Con-
servative government (appliuse).

Mr. Edwaku Fitch seconded the resolution.

The resolution was carried unanimously.

Mr. C. W. Gray, lion, sec. of the Esex branch of the
Farmers' Alliance, proposed—

" That this meeting pledges itself to use its utmost en-
deavours to obtain the return of Mr. Charles Page Wood, the
tenant-farmers' candidate, at the ensuing election."

Mr.GKAV. criticised some remarks of Colonel Brise made
at Braintreea iew months ago, in which, said the speaker, the
gallant colonel spoke of the members of the Farmers' Alliance
as " grasshoppers." Why Colonel Brise applied such a de-
scription to them he could not imagine, unless he meant that
they were so addicted to jumping that some of them were
going to jump into the House of Commons (laughtei). Col.
Brise also said that if 200 tenant-farmers were sent to Parlia-
ment it would make no difference to the interests of farmers.
If they could believe that he could not ( aughter and applause).
The best advice he could give to the tenant-farmers of East
Essex was to plump for Wood (cheers).

Mr. Edward Holton seconded the resolution. He said
that if they had searched the country through they could not
have found a more suitable man for the honour which they
hoped to confer upon Mr, Wood (applause). He trusted they
would all vote for and use their lLft.ience on behalf of Mr.
Wood, and that, when the poll was declared, the tenant-
farmers' candidate wou'd be found to be hundreds ahead aud
at the top of the poll (iheers).

The resolution was carried unanimously.

THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE IN KENT,

On Thursday, April 1, a meeting called under the auspices
of the Farmers' Alliance was held at the Assembly Rooms,
Ashford, under the presidency ot Mr. Robert Lake, of Oakley',
Rochester, chairman of the Kent County Committee.

The Chairman in opening the proceedings, expressed his
pleasure at seeing the two Conservative candidates present.
The object of the Alliance was to consider the political re-
quirements of the farmer, and it was desirable that farmers
before going to the poll, should kuow what other agricul-
turists in the kingdom were doing (hear, hear). lie did not
belie\e the present distress was entirely due to bad seasons
and the. question was whether their grievances could b,
remedied by political action. Lord Beacousfield in his ree
cent utterances had admitted there were grievances, and the
organisation which he now advocated sooglit to briug them
lorward in a united form. No special organisation was
charged with the duty of looking alter the interests of the
tenant-farmer, and the Alliance would take upon itself that
duty, both within and without Parliament (Hear, hear). They
must all pull together iu the matter, aud be for one would
support the Alliance till they found something better
lie strongly denied lhat the association had a politka

318

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

bearing ; no man was a better Conservative than he
was (Ll'ar, hear), but in the present condition of things
let them be tenaut-farmers first and politicians afterwards
(cheers). Tiiey had no desire to set class agaim-t class, but
wished the interests of landlord and tenant to be truly identical.
He had the highest respech for their country gentlemen, but they
were not sufficiently practical in many instances to represent
the tenant-farmers. Sir Edmund Filmer, speaking at a meet-
ing the other day, said '.hat he should be very anxious indeed
for the charges on the roads to be paid out of the county rate,
but to take a charge from local ra.es and put i. on the county
rate would be very much like taking it off one shoulder and
putting it on the other (hear, hear). If the farmers thought
that they had not bten represents in the way they ought to
have been, and sought direct representation by one of their
own class, he would ask their present representative whether
he would not prefer a tenant-farmer to be his colleague ? It
was, however, too late to take such a step at that election (no),
but they might ha>e another election before long, when they
would find plenty of tenant farmers to come forward (hear,
hear). Sir Wi'l am Hart-Dyke l.ad peculiar views as
regarded tenant-farmers' candidates, and did not appear
anxious for them to come to Parliament, lie. had said he could
imagine the time when the poor British landjwners should be
wai ing iu the lobby of the Hou*e of Commons for the tenants'
representatives to erne out, and ask how the Bill progressed
'.vliich was brought in for their benefit. Now that was not the
way to treat them (Hear, hear). Tenant-farmers could not
get into Pailiaiuent without being paid for, and Sir William
Dyke, need not have been very anxious about them. In the
past the tenant-farmers had been a shuttlecock between the
two parties and now they must help themselves (Hear, hear).
If they got a tenant-farmer as their representative, he hoped
they would induce him to come down amorgstthem oftener.
Fir himself he had not seen Sir W. Hart Dyke or Lord
Home-dale since 187+. What the tenant-farmers wanted was
freedom and security (Hear, hear) ; and in the face of the
foreign competition against which they had to contend they
must have no restrictive laws or be handicapped in the race
(applause). The Agricultural Holdings Act was permissive ;
it was therefore useless, and required araeuding. As to the
Game Laws, the Alliance did not want to do away with them,
but wanted them put into such a form that the tenant-farmer
should not suffer Irom their action (Hear, hear). Then they
wanted representation in county government, while the question
of local taxation also demanded attention, and he believed they
could not better further these matters than by assisting the
Farmers' Alliance (cheers).

Mr.T. Aveling said there were quite as many Conservatives
present as Liberals when the Alliance was started, and it was not
true that it was a political dodge. Sir Edmund Filmer said
that the name and objects of the Alliance were good, and that
he would join it but there were so many Liberals who were
starting it (laughter). But if a man were drowning, and saw
a hand stretched out to help him, would he ask whether it was
a Liberal or Conservative hand ? (Hear, hear). The future
of the Alliance depended upon what they made it. He believed
t.ie time was gone by when the towns would Icel they had an
object antagonistic to the tenant-farmers — (Hear, hear) — but it
this latter were to be represented it must be among the 200
me abers whom the counties returned ; and if they wanted any
alieration it would be absolutely necessary that they should
either return tenant-farmers or men in whom they had
t orough confidence (applause). The landlords subscribed
tiwards the expenses of the county representatives, and not
t le tenant-larmers, and when the members got into Parliament
they looked after the class who sent them there. He did not
raaan to say they entirely forgot the tenant-farmer class. It
did not matter whatever Government was in power, they had
not paid attention to the tenant-farme-s, and they must be
better represented, for the success of the tenant-farmers of
England meant the success of the trade of the country (Hear,
hear). Previously they had only one tenanffarmer in
Parliamtnt — Mr. Head, but up to the present time the
Farmers' Alliance had 53 candidates in the field
w io had promised to support the objects they had in view
(cheers). These objects were not improper objects. As to
the Law of Distress, which it sought to alter, it damaged the
credit of the farmer, while the laudlord of all others required
less security than anyone, lor lie could ouly lose the interest on
his land, lie would runind them of the ease of Lake v.

Duppa, and he thought stockholders were much indebted to
Mr. Lake for the way iu which he had fought out the matter
(cheers). Sir W. Hart Dyke said at Rochester that the Lord
Chancellor's Bill, which would have his support, would reduce
the time from six years to three, but he was surprised that the
county members who knew the case of Like and Duppa had
not introduced a clause in reference to the property oi a third
person on the land (hear, hear). He felt certain that Mr.
Pe.nberton, being a lawyer and understanding the matter
thoroughly, would not allow the Bill to pass in its presen
state, and he should have been glad if he had seen the Lord
Chancellor when the Bill was brought forward and had a
clause inserted in it. Sir Edmund Filmer and Mr. Pemberton
were in favour of reducing the time to two years, but Mr.
Akers-Djuglas thought the Law of Distress more in favour of
the occupier than the landlord, and he would be sorry to see
it abolished (Oh !).

Mr. Akers-Doi;glas said he had stated that he would
further any measure which would reduce the time lotwo years
or one year, and would support any measure which would pre-
vent the landlord distraining on the goods of a third party
(Hear, heat).

Mr. Aveling said he was gkd to hear that statement, bot
he quoted Irom the Maidstone Joiir/i il} which he, presumed
was incorrect in its report. (A Voicb : "You havu't t..ld us
what Mr. Davis said to the question.") He did not know
what Mr. Davis had said to it ; lie was not there electioneer-
ing or to advocate Mr. Davis's or any one else's caudidature,
for they were quite capable of selectiug their own representa-
tives (Hear, hear). Mr. Aveling then proceeded to deal with
the question of the Land Laws, urging that by their revision
the country might produce much more than it at present did.
He also condemned the Law of Primogeniture, by which a
man's property weut to his eldest son. (A Voice : " There
is the law of gav( 1-kind.") That was so, but a good deal of
land in Kent was disgavelled.

Mr. Pemberton, who rose amid cheers and cries of
" Chair," said the law of gavel-kind applied all over Kent in
the absence of an Act of Parliament relating to some par-
ticular districts.

Mr. Aveling, continuing, said that he did not think that
even if they had gavel-kind in Kent, they would be satisfied iu
allowing themselves only to have the advantage (cheers). He
instanced a case of injustice under the present Law of Primo-
geniture, and proceeded to dilate on the evils arising from the
Law of Eutail and the Law of Mortmain. These Laws
existed nowhere else than in England, and, pressed as tins
couutry was to produce every cle>el of wheat and every pound
of meat, why should they remain iu force (cuter?) ?

Mr. J. Marten, in moving '• That this meeting approves
of the objects ol tile Partners' Alliance, and pledges itself to
support the movement," said the Law ol Gavel-kind was
obtaiued by the exertions of the farmers of Kent, and it was
necessary for them now, as then, to stick together (Hear,
hear).

Mr. R. J. Sankey, who said he was a Conservative tenant-
farmer, seconded the motion, and in doing so complained that
the present system of taking the coin aveiages was unjust.

Mr. Pemberton, to whose wish to address the meeting the
Chairmau assented, said he d:d not intend to make use of that
gathering as a political meeting (Oh I), and he was glad, with
Mr. Akers Douglas, to accept the invitation Mr. Lrke had sent
them, though they had had to give up other engagements. He
was delighted that be did come, because so far as he understood
the objects of the meeting and the programme so ably enun-
ciated by Mr. Lake and Mr. Aveling, there was nothing what-
ever that he could see to object to (Hear, hear) ; but on the
contrary, although he did not feel in the position of a drowning
man ready to catch at any straw, hG was only too glad to say,
alter hearing the views then expressed, that he claimed his
friends as his supporters on the present occasion. If the Col-
servative party had had the slightest idea that there was a
wish for a tenant-farmer to stand be lor one would never have
stood in his way (Hear.hear ; and a voice " Yourd better retire
now"). He thought the objects of the Alliance were those
which they might all support, whether Liberals or Conserva-
tives (Hear, hear). It they wanted better representation for
the tenant-farmers he behged them to accept Mr. Akers-
Douglas and himself, for they would be the best rtureseuta*

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

310

tivps they could got (Oh ! cheers, and cries of " Canvassing") ;
and would, subject to sliaht limitation, support their pro-
gramme (Hear, hear). It must not be supposed, however, that
he supported it on the identical reasons which had been
advanced.

Mr. Avelixg asked Mr. Peruberton whether he would join
the Alliance.

Mr. rF..\;i;r.KTON' replied that he would, if his explanations
as to his reasons were accepted (Hear, hear).

.Mr. Akers-Douglas, who also said he had not come to
make an election speech, expressed himself as favourable to
the demands of the Alliance, though not for the reasons
given. As to county government, it those who paid the rates
wished to he represented he thought they should be. At the
request of Mr. Aveling, he also consented to join the Alliance.

A gentleman in the room asked why Mr. Davis had not
been invited to the meeting?

The Chairman said he was not invited, for he was a
member of the Alliance and was in favour of its principles
(cheers and a voice " lie ought to have had an opportunity
to be here.")

Mr. J. Sayer, J P., said he was quite ready to vote for
the resolution, on the understanding that they were not
plfdired to the reasons.

Mr. Akers Douglas said they agreed to the objects, but
not the reasons.

The resolution was put and carried unanimously.

Chambers of ^giiailiute.

SOMERSETSHIRE.

Professor Buckmaster, of the Science and Art Depart-
ment, Sjuth Kensington, delivered an address at Dorchester
ou Thursday, April 1, under the auspices of the Somersetshire
Chamber of Agriculture. Mr. James Curtis was voted to the
chair. Professor Buckmaster said he proposed in the first
place to brine under their consideration some of the srrauge-
ments which had been made by the Science and Art Depart-
ment for the purpose of establishing classes for teaching the
principles, or science, of agriculture. The department, which
was now connected with the Council o! Education, received
from Parliament a sum of money which was expended in the
promotion of classes for teaching various branches of elemen-
tary sciencp. This work had been carried on 8uccessrully for
about 20 ypars, and upwards of 7,000 classes had been estab-
lished. The department had recently extended its sphere of
operations so as to include the science of agriculture. The
Professor referred in detail to the manner in which these
classes were conducted, pointing out that the teacher must be
properly qualified; he must either have passed an examination
on the subject or he must hold a diploma of the Royal Agri-
cultural Society, or a certificate of the Royal Agricultural
College of Cirencester. The examinations of pupils took place
in May, and the teacher was paid according to the number of
scholars that passed. The lecturer then proceeded to refer to
the importance of study of the kind for which these classes
afforded the opportunity. The ability of this country to pro-
duce food more cheaply than other countries must be the great
problem of the future. A command of capita', long leases,
favourable soil, and even a genial climate would not ensure
success ; to these must be added industry, skill, and scientific
knowledge of the principles of agriculture, and successful farm-
ing now without these qualifications was uo more to be expected
thau good crops without manure. He was quite satitfied the time
had arrived when it was of the very first importance those
engaged in the cultivation of the soil should have a better
technical or scientific knowledge ; to a good general education
there should be added a special professional education. Such
education was often shirked, farmers' sons were not unusually
sent to inferior schools, and on being taken away, perhaps,
before they attained to the filth standard of an ordinary ele-
mentary school, they were put to farm work, and naturally fell
into the habits and customs of their fathers without
endeavouring to make any improvement whatsoever. It need
surprise no one if within a few years such young men found
themselves face to face with accumulating difficulties which
they had neither the courage nor the skill to overcome, He

regretted much to know the haMfs of rood-rn life were
growiug more and more nnfavourable to hard work, aid if
there was one thing for which he was more thankful than
another it was that in early life he was trained by his father
to hard work. Young men should be made to do mental
labour as well as physical. Farming involved a continual
conflict with natural laws and forces, and it was only by a
knowledge of these that a man was able to subjujate them to
his uses aud employment. He (the lecturer) believed cheap
food might not be inconsistent with profitable agriculture, for
he would not pretend to say perfection had been attained in
the cultivation of the earth, or that the e*rth now produced
all that it was capable of producing. The happiness and
welfare of a people largely depended upon the progress of its
agriculture, and a country could not long continue prosperous
where agriculture was in a gradually declining condition.
Having briefly reviewed some of the leading facts in the pro-
gress of agriculture, the lecturer passed on to urge that ia
farming science should be combined with practice ; this
knowledge was to be gained by observation and experience, or,
in other words, by observation and experiment. Agriculture
of the future must depend more largely on experiments, aud
every farmer, for his own instruction, should be in the habit of
making simple experiments. A small piece of land in con-
nection with a village school, under the direction of an in-
telligent teacher, might often be made the means of very
valuable instruction to the pupils. It was of the greatest
importance all farmers should have a knowledge of natural
laws and forces. Nature never varied, and if at any time
manure did not fulfil its purpose the fault was not
necessarily with the manure itself hut often with the man
who used it. In conclu«ion Proft-ssor Buckmaster said
although this scheme might not accomplish all they would
like, yet it would do a great deal, and the department
wanted the sympathies and co-operation of agriculturists.
If by a scheme of this kind they cou'd get the young men
of our towns and villages to attend these classes during the
winter evenings, and could give them something to think
about and something to do more elevating than idling aim-
lessly about the fields, they would have accomplished some-
thing towards the education of those who were to succeed
them. He knew of nothing so calculated to discipline the
minds of young men as the study of nature. The Goverment,
through the Science and Art Department, was prepared to
help on this work, but its success depended entirely upon their
sympathy and co-operation.

The Chairman having invited discussion,

Mr. Brown (schoolmaster, Maiden Newton) announced his
intent-on of starting a class such as that recommended by the
Department. As he understood it, the intention was not to
teach pupils new systems of agriculture, but so to instruct
them that they might understand the principles upon which
the agriculture practiced by their fathers was based.

Mr. Crocker (Ilminster) asked the lecturer how it was
that our forefathers, notwithstanding their ignorance, were
much more successful than farmers in the present <fa> ? '

Professor Buckmaster, before answering this question,
wished it understood that what they meant by the science of
agriculture was simply the systemafised experience of practical
men. Therj was no antagonism between science and
practice. The science of agriculture might be well taught at
evening classes such as he had referred to, but pupils must go
out into the fields to learn the practical application of this
knowledge. With regard to Mr. Crocker's question, he would
not admit our forefathers were more successful than farmers
now ; the agriculture of the present day was greatly ia
advance of what it was when he was a boy. Our forefathers
would probably, like themselves, have been more successful if
they had had more knowledge. The lecturer then asked Mr.
Higham to state the result of classes with which he had been
connected.

Mr. Higham said a class was started in Yeovil last year,
and of 17 young men who competed at the examination
seven obtained Queen's prizes and certificates, and the others
with one exception obtained certificates. He received from
the Government for that teaching £24, besides what the
yonng men paid themselves. The classes were being con-
tinued during the present season, and he had similar classes
at Axmiuster,

320

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Several gentlemen present expressed their surprise that
classes had baen carried on in Yeovil, and Mr. HigiiaM
invited tliera to visit the class at Rackleford School on any
Thursday evening.

THE GOVERNMENT AND THE
FARMERS.

The Marquis of Huntley writes to the Daily Xcvs : —

Ou the 2St'.' March, 1879, 1 asked the Government in the
House of Lords whether they would appoint a Committee or
Royal Commission to enquire into "agricultural depression,"
and after proving the existence of the distress (which no one
atte-npted to deny), I am reported as follows :

"I have no doubt that many estates will have to be dealt wi'h
in the same way as Irish estates under an Encumbered E-tates
Court, but there were three things the legislature could do for
agriculture— they could protect the flocks and herds from the
importation of disease ; they conld give security and compen-
sation to tenants for capital invested in improvements; and
they could equalise or remit taxation and remove certain
uuequal burdens upon the land."

In a lengthy reply, mainly attributing (apart from the bad
seasons) the depression in the value and profits from land to
the depreciation of gold, Lord Beaeonsfield terminated his
speech thus :

" It is not impossible that as affairs develop f lie country may
require that some formal investigation should be made of the
c:iu^es which are affecting the price of the preci >us metals and
the effect which the change in the price of precious meUls has
upon the industry of the country and upon the continual fall
ol prices. I do not think such au inquiry need grow out of
the discussion this evening. The noble lord has not laid any
ground for it. The noble lord his brought forward, but only
imperfectly, a case t'.at has heen submitted to Parliament
be/ore, that has been submitted to committees and to commis-
sions. The opiniou of Parliament upon all these questions and
the conduct of Parliament are, I think, an answer to the
inquiry of the noble lord. What he wants done has, in fact,
been done, and what he indicates as yet possible to do would
be additional injuries to those very classes whose interests he
wishes to serve."

But the chambers of agriculture and farmers' clubs
throughout the country unanimously joined in demanding an
inquiry, and on Mr. Chaplin bringing forward a motion for
the appointment of a Commission in the House of Commons
in July it was, under pressure from their own supporters,
agreed to by the Government.

In answering the Duke of Rutland, on the 21st March, 18S0,
the Prime Minister take3 credit to himself in the following
terms :

" Her Majesty has appointed a Royal Commission, which is
now engaged in examining into this subject, and from the
labours of that body I augur consi ierable results. I think
that from them we shall obtain much information as to the
productive powers of the American Continent which may
guide us in our decision with great advantage, and that they
will also lay before us the opinions of some of the most
experienced and practical men in Ensrlaud as to the conditions
under which the. cultivation of the soil can be most beneficially
carried on. My lords, T shall be deeply disappointed if one
result of the labouis of that Commission is not to afford the
farmer the mo-t complete and absolute security for the capital
which he has invested in the cultivation of the land."

In 1879, what I wanted " had been done." In 1880, the
Commission is to afford " the most complete and absolute
security " to the farmer.

If this is necessary now, what foundation was there for the
argument a year ago that my proposals would inflict
" additional injuries on those I wished to serve?" What is
the reason for this curions change of opinion ?

AN AGED BEAST —In a township up the Darliog river
there is a lively young Irish doctor. Bertie Campbell, the
sqnatter, drove him out to the station to prescribe for his sick
overseer. Going 'trough a mob of cattle taid the doctor,
"By George, that's an old fellow," pointing to a bullock.
" What the mischief do you know about the age of bullocks?''
retorted the owner. " Sure there's the brand on him," said
he doctor, " B.C. 77"

THE FARMERS AND THE {FRANCHISE.

A remarkable feature of the contests now impending in the
counties is the number of tenant-farmers' candidates who
present themselves to the choice of the cons' iuencie-. At no
previous electton has anything like this been witnessed; and
the fact is the more noteworthy when it is considered that of
the 172 connty members returned by E igland to the hte
House of Commons, only two were rr girded as representing
more especially the interests of the tenant farmers, viz., :Vlr.
C. S. Read (South Norfolk), and Mr. Albert Pell (South
Leicestershire). The remaining 170, with 15 more seut bv
Wales, went to Parliament as the representatives of la ided
property, although the tenant farmers now constitute such a
large proportion of the county electoral body.

The distinction between knights of the Shire, to be sent by
the freeholders, and citizens and burgesses, returned to guard
the commercial in'er.s s of the. towns, was first made in 12o"> ;
and, until the passing of the Reform Act of 1832, the. tenant-
farmers were totally excluded from the register. The right
of voting for knights lay with freeholders possessing property
of the annual value of forty shillings and upwards, who proved
their qualification when they recorded their votes at the county
town. Each connty returned two members, so that Rutland
was on a level with Yorkshire. The county representation in
those days had a very strong Liberal element. The forty-
shilling freeholder, as a rule, had no sympathy with Tory ad-
ministration, and the Ministerial majorities consisted chiefly
of borough members. The latter were largely composed of
nominees of the Crown : (or to Cornwall aloue £t»ard VI.
added twelve representatives, Miry four, and Elizabeth ten.
Earl Russell, in his History of the Constitution, has pointed
out that Cornwall was chosen as the best place to fix these
members because the Crown, in right of the Duchy, h-td great
influence there, by means both of mines and lands. But the
counties, open to no such influence, were far more Liberal a
century ago thin they ars to-day. For instance, on .Mr.
Dunning's motion in 1730, directed against the growth of the
power of the Crown Ministers, out of 215 supporter*, had only
eleven county representative", whilst their opponents out of
233 had G9. On a motion censuring the Walcheran expedition
the English county members agaii.st Ministers were nearly as
three tj two, but tbe majority of the whole Ilou^e was in
favour of the Administration. In 1817. on the question of
appointing a Finance Commi'tee with less than five placemen
upon i', the county members divided 27 to 15 for the Whig
Opposition ; the House at large 173 to 130 for the Tory
Government. On a motion for reducing two Lords of the
Admiralty the county representatives were 35 to If! ; the
House 203 to 152 the other way. In the divisions which
carried the repeal of the Test and Corporations Act and ad-
mitted the Roman Catholics to civil rights it was the conn ies
which inclined to the side of liberty, and tiie towns that gravi-
tated iu thrt direction of intolerance, the Corni-.li boroughs
orten going 10 or 17 to one iu favour of the Tory Administra-
tion.

The Liberal element in the unreformed House of Commons
was thus largely contributed by the counties until the admis-
sion of the Chandos clause into the Reform Act of 1832. Iu
drawing up his pian for amending the representation of the
people, Lord John Russel! made no difference in the forty
shilling freehold qualific.tion ; but by way of adding to the
county electoral roll proposed that copyholders and lease-
holders having an interest of more than twenty-one years,
should be entitled to vote. This was approved by Earl Grey's
Cabinet, but the Marquis of Chandos, on the part of the Tory
Opposition, moved the famous clause which have ever since
been known by his name, conferring the right to vote in
counties upon all occupiers of £50 a year ; and upon this b«ing
carried, the tenant-farmer was placed upon the regs'er. F on
that period the Liberal strength in the shires of England
gradually declined ; and by the time a Conservative Ministry
was called upon to draw up a scheme of Parliamentary reform
in 18(57, the Tory complexion of the counties had become so
decided that these received t*enty-five additional members
taken from the small towns. The principal adopted in 1832,
of dividing counties, was extended by splitting them into three
parts ; and, as it will be seen by the list, it was carried out
mostly in Tory shires, each of the following having received
two extra members — Cheshire, Derby, Devon, Essex, Kent,
Lincoln, Noifolk, Somerset, Stafford, Surrey, and the West

TTTE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

521

Riding of Yorkshire. This accounts for the twenty-two, and

the three others were given to Lane ishire. The selection, it
will be observe;!, was for the most part agricultural aDd Con-
servative, Liberal and mining counties like Durlum and
Coanwall having been excluded. The m iterial advantage of
this distribution of seats was manifested, more especially at
the last general election, when the Eaglish counties n turned
145 Conservatives and only 27 Liberals to the House of
Commons. Durham, which had had uo share in the favours
conferred by a Tory Reform Bill, sent two Liberal members for
each of its division^, the population of both being 370,000.
But the three divisions of Somerset, containing altogether a
population of 3 to, 000, or 40,000 less than Durham, sent six
Tories; the three divisions of Cheshire, with 350,000, also
returned half a dozen Conservatives ; and the three divisions of
Norfolk, with 351,000 inhabitants, found no room for a
Liberal. And besides these the additional merabe.rs which had
been given to Devon, Ej.sex, Kent, Lanctshire, Lincoln,
Stafford, Surrey, and the West Riding, all took their places on
the Conservative benches.

Between tha enfranchisement, of the £50 occupier in 1833
and the reduction of the qualification to £12 in 1867 attempts
were made in that direction by both political parties. The
most remarkable of these was embodied in a provision of the
Conservative Rdorm Bill of 1859, which proposed to equalise
the borough and county franchise by reducing the latter to
£10 and leaving the former unaltered, the growth of political
life in the town3 being recognised by the creation of a series
of qualifications denounced by Mr. Bright as "fancy fran-
chise*." At. the same time the forty-shilling freeholder
resident in a Parliamentary borough was to be disqualified
from voting in the countv. Upon the proposed equalisation
of the sult'-age, Mr. Walpole and Mr. Henley seceded from
the Cabinet, and upon the other proposals Lord John Russell
earned against the Government, a resolution declaring that it
was neither just nor politic to interfere with the exercise of
the freehold franchise as hitherto enjoyed in the counties of
England and Wales, and that no readjustment would satisfy
the House or the country which did not provide for a greater
extension of the suffrage in cities and boroughs than wa3 con-
templated in that measure. M». Locke King's annual motion
for reducing the connty franchise to £10, and its fate f'uring
several sessions in the secjnd administration of Lord Talmer-
s'on, will be well remembered. In the IM'orm Bill of 1865
Mr. Gladstone proposed to make the county occupation
suffrage one of £lt ; and in the measure of the following year
the qualified ion was finally lowered from £50, as fixed by the
Chandos clause, to £12, as a compromise between £10 aud
£14, the franchise in boroughs being given to householders on
the personal piyment of rates.

The dist'netion thua drawn between the county and the
borough occupier is felt more especially in the suburbs of
growing towiis, whose boundaries were settled many years
ago. While no rental qualification is required from a voter
within the limits of the Parliamentary borough, one. of £12 a
year is necessary outside it, although the owner of the latter
is a member of the same community, and subject substantially
to the like, local burthens. This inequality was brought
before the late Parliament iu six successive sessions by Mr.
Trevelyan with the result that the majorities against his
motion for a household county franchise were largely
diminished as time went on. Populous suburbs of Birming-
ham, which go practically to make up the population of that
great community, are, for electoral purpose5, included in North
Warwickshire and Worcestershire, while iu 1-trge and scattered
agricultural boroughs, such as Aylesbury and Cricklade
Retford and Shoreham, Wenlock and Wilton, no rental quali-
fication is demanded from the humblest householder as a
condition of his exercising the franchise. At present the
artificial line between the county and the town excludes from
electoral rights a large number of those who are. perfectly
qualified for them ; and there can be little doubt that one of
the foremost questions for the consideration of the new
Parliament will be the abolition of the £12 county qualifica-
tion, and placing the bondholders in the shires on a level
with those in the Parliamentary boroughs. — Daily
News.

GRAIN CARGOES.-The official repo-t l,aa j,lst been
ssned pi a form I investigation held at Glattgow into the
circumstances at'ending the abandonment of" the British
sailing ship DuartBiy. The annex to the report states-
" She loaded a cargo of about 1,303 tons of rice and paddy ia
bags, which was stowed as follows -.—The holds were first
fitted with shifting board-, 20ft. to 25ft. in length, lin to
liin. thick, and 8in. to 12in. broad. These were nailed to
upright planks placed on each side of the iron hold stanchions
and also lashed to the stanchions at different places, there
being a space of about 4in. between each board, and
about 4- inches between each set of boards amid-'hip»
thus forming a kind of central ventilator. The shifting
boards were fitted the whole length of the hold, and fro n
keelson to lower deck beams and between decks, from tho
lazan-tte bulkhead aft to the fore hatchway, and' from deck
to deck. Dunnage planks of teak and jungle wood were
placed on the ceiling to a depth of 9in. amid hips and 12in.
at the bilges, covered with matting. The lojve.r hold was
completely filled, the bags being stored lengthways fore and
alt, and occasionally athwartsbips. A trunk ventilator of
9tn. to 12in. square was fitted on each side fore aud aft
through the cargo, with leaders to the central ventilator
formed by the shifting boards. The cargo in the 'tween doeks
was stowed and fitted with trunk ventilators in the same
manner, and extended from the lazarette bulkhead to the fore
hatch, where it sloped from the lower deck upwards, and it
was stowed nearly up to the upper deck beams. With the
cargo on board, her draught was ISi't. aft and 17it. 9in.
forward." It is also stated, "The Cirgo appears not to have
racved from its original position until after that from the port
side had been removed, when it was observed that it had
moved bodily away trom the starboard side to the extent of a
few inches, variously estimated, consequent on the support on
the port, side being taken away The captain stated th it the
cargo did not move." The report concludes—" The attention
of the Court was called by the Biard of Trade to the fact of
the number of rice-laden vessels which of late years have, gone
amiseing, asking for their opiuion as to the method and
efficiency of the stowage, practised at the rice ports as instanced
in this case. The opinion of the Court is that the cargo of
the Daart Bay was most efficiently stowed, that it did not
shift, and that the stowage did not in any way contribute to
the casualty ; and if the same method of stowage is adopted
at all the rice ports, the cause of the said vessels being amisiino-
cannot be attributed to the same."

AN AGRICULTURAL SHARPER.— A rather smart,
though not very honest, trick has recently been perpetrated
by a Dorsetshire farmer, who had a large holding under a
certain noble lord. At Mihcaelmas last he was granted a term
of grace in which to pay his rent, the plea for delay being the
well known complaint " agricultural depression." The land
lord, with due consideration for his tenant, consented to re-
ceive his rent at Lady D.iy, and, therefore, the farmer was not
troubled in that quarter. He wanted to raise some money, so
he went to a Bristol money-lender and got £600 on security
of his stock. The Bristol'an understood farming transactions
and used to send periodically to inspect the stock to see that
the loan was safe. This did not exactly suit the agriculturist
and he obtained another loan from a London firm to pay off
the Bristol monetary agent. The Londoner was not quite so
sharp as the Bristolian, and the farmer at once got rid of
sixty fine heasts, which were sold at various repository sales.
lie disposed of two or three ricks of hay, a step which attracted
the attention of his neighbours, who were told he was getting
money to pay his rent and tithes. His horses were uex't
sold, the last being driven awav by his sons only a few days
ago. Various household goods were quietly got away, after
which the farmer sent a fly from Sheroorne for bis wile, and
they took train for a seaport town, and are now on their way
to an English colony with the proceeds of the farming s'ock in
their possession. So quietly was the affair managed that no
one outside the house suspected anything — for, of course the
servants knew, as when the agriculturist's fellow-churchwarden
went to consult him about some rates, he found them in " high
jinks" drinkiDg the beer and cider that were left in the cellar.
Then the whole transaction came out, and the landlord and
the London money-lender are left to grin for their cash.—
Bristol Mirror.

322

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

ELECTION EXPENSES.— It is difficult to realise now
what enormous sural were spent over contested elections
before the Reform Bill of 1S32. It was no uncommon thing
for a candidate to spend £30,000, £10,000, or £50,000, in
contesting an election. How the money went may be to some
extent gathered from the following particulars of Mr. Beau-
mont's expeuses in 1326, when, with Mr. Matthew Bell, he
unsuccessfully contested Northumberland against Lord Ravens-
worth, then Mr. H. T. Riddel!, and Earl Grey, then Lord
Howick. Mr. Beaumont's " illegitimate" expenses, i.e. those
which woulJ be held distinctly and outrageously illegal under
present sta'utes, and wholly exe'usive of charges f>r the
services of agents and raanv other " legitimate" items of expen-
di'nre, amcunted to £49,601 17s. 4d. ! Am ng the items
the following may be enumerated as curiosities !

Innkeepers and carriages
Cockades and flags ...
Printing and stationery
Private lodgings
Bands

£ s.
26,551 17
5,6*5 18
1,582 12
2 3+8 I
953 5

d.

4|

4

3

1

4

Those are the principal figures ; but under the vague term of
" sundries " some thousand of pounds are set down which
were probably never vary strictly accounted for. What a
trade the innkeepers must have done at an election in those
days ! What a golden harvest they must have reaped ! And
if there be any survivors of the old school, how poor and
insignificant a thing an election must seem to them nowadays
compared with what it used to be ! Nor are the days of
tremendous election exp°nses so very remote : for no longer
ago than 1866 wo find Mr. Bright thus describing the state
of things existing at Yarmouth : " Have you read," he said
to his constituents in Birmingham, '• the report of the pro-
ceedings at the Commission for Yarmoutli ? Did you read
that a late member for that borough is said to have spent
£70,000 to maintain his seat? Did you read that one gen-
tleman, an inferior partner in a brewery, contributed £4,000
for the election of his partner; and that another gentleman,
knowing nothing of that borough, went down there and
supplied £6,000 to fight a contest spread only over a few days ?
Remember that when Yarmouth or any other boroogh is thus
brought before the public, it is only a sample of a very con-
siderable sack." Mr. Lowe, speaking the same year in the
House of Commons, gave further samples of what were then
considered "legitimate" election'expenses. He said :— " We had
a paper laid upon "our tables this morning, giving an accouutjof
the expenses of elections from 'S' downwards. I take the
first few large boroughs, and I will read the expenses. The
expense of the election for Stafford is £5,400 ; Stoke-upon-
Trent, £6,200 ; Sunderland, £5,000 ; and Westminster,

£12,000 1 will now call attention to two or three counties.

I will take the southern division of Derbyshire. The election
cost £8 500, and this is the cheapest I shall read. The
northern division of Durham cost £14,620 ; and the southern
division £11,000; South Essex cost £10,000; West Kent
cost £12 000; South Lancashire, £17,000; South Shropshire,
£12 000'- North Staffordshire, £14,000; North Warwick-
shire £10 000; South Warwickshire, £13,000 ; North Wilt-
shire' £13', 000; South Wiltshire, £12,000; and the North
Riding of Yorkshire, £27,000; all legitimate expenses but by
no means the whole expense. Now 1 ask the House, how is
it possible that the iustitutious of this coun'ry can endure it
this kind ot thing is to go on and increase T'—The General
Election.

MISUNDERSTOOD.— The other night a nervous m;tt in
Burlington was awakened by a hearing a marauder in his
chicken-house. He hastily dressed himself a little, sneaked out
to the hen-house, grasped hi3 club firmly, put his head m the
door »nd shouted, " Come out of there, you son of a sea-cow,
or I'll chaw the heart of you !" and then, before he could see
which way to strike, a big dug, with a jaw like an alligator,
sallied out of the hennery and bit him fcur times in the legs
before the astonished man could reach the hall do: r. Ihe
man is now writing a pamphlet to prove that, owing to the
untrained and limited intelligence of the lower order of
animals, language calculated to inspire man with terror may
be addressed to a strange dog with no effect beyond that of
enraging hira.— Hcwkcyc. '

ACID IN CHEESE-MAKTXG. -Consciously or uncon-
sciously, most cheese-makers employ acid more or Irs*. The
Cheddar dairymaid produces it by " slip-scalding " and the use
of sonr whey ; the Cheshire by allowing the curd to remain
unpressed and warm for a day or more ; and the Derbyshire by
pressing the fresh curd, and later on saltiug it on the outside.
But the great thing in cheese-making, where acid is inten-
tionally employed is, or ought to be, to make the acid subordi-
nate to the rennet, not the rennet to the acid ; and as the acid
in a high temperature is much more rapid and powerful in its
action, it can easily overwhelm the rennet if it is developed too
far. S lit checks the action of acid and rennet alike, and acid
checks the action of rennet ; hence it follows that the rennet
should not be subjected to both checks together, except to a
moderate extent. While very fine cheese i-< made by the aid of
acidity directly develops d, equally fine is made at a rather low
temperature throughout, with a liberal use of rennet and a
little or no acid ; this gives the rennet the advantage it needs
over the acid, because it comes into play faster than acid does
at a moderate heat ; and where the salt is not applied till the
following morning, even though the temperature be low, the
result is frequently found to be a cheese of a very good
quality. Excessive salt and excessive acid each prevent the
ripening of cheese ; hence it follows that the rennet, which is
the ripening agent in the cheese, should have a chance of
getting good hold of the curd, and be well forward in its
work, before either acid is developed or salt is applied. This
it does very successfully in several mothods of cheese-making
which are quite distinct from each other. Mauy cheese-
makers, knowing the effect of acid in expelling the whey
quickly from the curd, have employed it too freely, with the
view of saving trouble to themselves. They have succeeded in
this, but they have nearly ruined the cheese. Acid in cheese-
making is indeed a good servint, bu' it is a bad master ; it
mu-t always be used with the greitest discretion. — Dairy
Farming, by Professor Sheldon.

TOO ROUGH ON THE TIGERS.— We do not know
from which paper the following characteristic American story
is taken: — "The other evening at Denver, Col., after the
performance of Chiarini's circus was over, a young man called
on Chiariui, and said he wanted to see hira on private
business. The old veteran took hira into his office, and
received him with his usual politeness. ' I came up all the
way from Carson to see the show, and I'd like to join,' said
the young man. ' Oh, I see,' said the c:rcns man, ' yr in are a
well-formed, healthy-looking young fellow ; and I like to
encourage such as you.' The youth's face brighteued. 'Yon
don't chew, smoke, or drink, I hope?' 'Oh, no; honour
bright— except soda and beer.' ' Fon must leave off theie
bad habits. They weaken the muscles and paralyse the
nerves. You can soou stop drinking, but your salary will not
be large, until you overcome these teudeuciea. A little
lemouade — circus lemonade — is all the performers drink. Call
at eleven o'clock to-morrow morning, and I will see what I
can do. You mustn't i xpect over 50 dollars a week, though,
at firs*. We never pay high salaries until we know just what
a man can do.' The delighted Carsonite went uway, and was
on hand the next morning. Chiarini took him to a tent
where three immense Bengal tigers were caged. Handing hira
a currycomb and a pair of shears, he remarked : ' Your duties
will be comparatively light at first. You will go into the csge
and curry the tigers down every morning, and about once a
week cut their claws ; ke> p 'em down pretty short, so that
when they attack the lion tamer, Mr. Wilson, they won't
lacerate hira much. Sometimes, but not more than once a
month, you may have occasion to file their teeth. \ou just
throw the auiraal on his back, and hold his head between your
knees. If he acts rough, belt hira in the nose a few times.
Keep belting him till he quiets down.' ' Haven't you got a
vacancy in the art department?' asked the young man from
Carson. 'Is art in jcur line?' a-ked Chiariui. 'Yes.'
drawled the youug man. 'In the circuses I've always rnn
with I was emploped to paint the stripes on zebra*. I killed
so many tigers keeping 'em straight that the boss wouldn't
let me handle 'em. He said I used 'era too rough.' Chiarini
swears that the terror from Carson shall have the first
vacancv. "

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE.

323

Agricultural Societies.

ROYAL OP ENGLAND.

Monthly Council, Wednesday, April 7th, 1830, pre-
sent the Duke of Bedford, President, in the chair ; Lord
Che9ham, Sir A. K. Macdonald, Bart., Sir Brandreth
Gihbs, Mr. Aveling, Mr. Bowly, Mr. Cantrell, Mr,
Chandos-Pole-Gell, Mr. Druce, Mr. Evans, Mr. Prankish,
Mr. Gorringe, Mr. Leeds, Mr. Martin, Mr. Odams, Mr.
Russell, Mr. Sandy, Mr- Shearaton, Mr. Sliutlleworth,
Lient.-Colouel Picton Turbevill, Mr. Wells, Professor
Siuionds, and Dr. Voelcker.

The following new members were elected.

Armstrong, William, of Lanercost Abbey, Brampton, Cum-
berland.
Atkinson, James, of Brackenthwait, Ilayton, Carlisle.
Barclay, A. U., of Scraptoft Hall, Leicester.
Barrett, Robert 15., of He.ighington House, Burlington.
Batt, Charles Thomas, of Cottage Grove, Southsea.
Blackburu, David, of 1, Cbats^orth Square, Carlisle.
Body, William, of Wittersham, A«hford.
Bourne, Robert, of Cowarne Court, Wittick, LedSury.
Bowrain, John Charles, of Barkway, Royston, Herts.
Bra>n, John, of Broughall, Whitchurch, Salop.
Brentnall, Charles, jun., of Uttoxeter, New'Road, Derby.
Burgess, Charles Thomas, of Shenfu-dd, Brentwood.
Carr, George T., of Silloth, Cumberland.
Clemeutson, Joseph, o Pringle House, Skelton, Penrith.
Cock, Henry, of Coat Green Firm, Barton, Westmoreland.
Courage, Robert, of Milford, Goldalraing.
Creighton, J. R, of The Snabs, Scot by, Carlisle.
Cross, John Edward, of Eccle Riggs, Broughton-in-Furness.
Carrie, George Alfred, of St. Nicholas, Carlisle.
Dickinson, Joseph, of Red How, Lamp'ugh, Cockermouth.
Erararrsoi, Charles, of Dinsdale, Darlington.
Harvey, William, of Stretton on-Diinsmore, Rugby.
Hill, Captun Joseph, of Wollaston Hall, Wellingborough.
Hogg, Thomas, of Uope Park, Coldstream, N.B.
J allies', Thomas, of Reading.
Langrigtf, William, of Grevstoke, near Penrith,
Louadale, Claud, of Rose. Hill, Carlisle.
Lonadale, Horace B., of Rose Hill, Carlisle.
Mackeretb, Richard, of Water Side Farm, Ashton-with

S'odday, Lancaster.
Matthews, John, of Ivy Cottage, Weston-super-Mare.
Nicholson, Herbert Ismay, of O-iklea, Wimbledon Park,

Wimbledon.
Parker, William, of Thrislington Hall, Ferry Bill, Durham.
Tarry, Edward, of 18, New Bridge Street, Rlackfriars, B.C.
Piggot, David, ol 59, Bishonsgata Street Without, B.C.
Tiiik, William, of Shr >ver House, H rndean, Southampton.
Ramsden, Richard, of Woldringfold, Horsham.
Richardson Joseph, of Cumcateh, Brampton, Cumberland.
Richardson, Joseph Monkhouse, of 47, Cavendish Place,

Carlisle.
Robinson, William, of Wetheral Green, Carlisle.
Smith, Henry, of Bankfield, Urswick, Ulverston.
Stanley, Edward, o' Up'on, Shifnal, Salop.
Thor'ey, William, R., of Thoruhiil Bridge, Caledonian

Road, N.
Wardman, R., of Great Corby, Carlisle.
Westly, Jo^eph, of Streatham, fladdenham, Ely.
White, John L., of Ivy Uuu.se, N >rth End llimpstead.
Williamson, Herbert Caldwell, of Fenulre, Penrith.
Wiluot, Sir Henry, B;irt., ol" I haddesden, Derby.
Wilson, Thomas George, of Thistlewood, Carlisle.

FINANCE.

Mr. Sir'ttlewoetii presented the report, from which
it appeared that the Secretary's receipts during the past
month had been duly examined by the Committee, and
Messrs. Quiltcr, Ball, and Co., the Society's accountants,

and found correct. The balance in the hands of the
bankers on March 31st was £2,063 7s. 4d„ a id £2,000
at deposit. The quarterly statement of subscriptions aad
arrears to March 31st was laid on the table, the amount
of arrears being £992. The Committee recommended
that the names of twenty-three members whose subscrip-
tions are iu arrear be removed from the books.
This report was adopted.

CHEMICAL.

Mr. Wells (Chairman) presented the quarterly report
of the Committee as follows, and recommended that it be
published iu the agricultural uewspapers : —

1. A sample of manure, called British Guano, was sen-
last May by Mr. W. P. Burbery, The Crofts, Stratford-
on-Avon, aud on analysis showed the following composit
tion :—

Moisture 16-8S

*Organic matter ... ... ... ... 17'37

Monobasic phosphate of lime ... ... 1 62

Equil to trihasic phosphate rendered soluble (2'el)
Oxide of Ir n and alumina and a little phos-
phoric acid ... ... ... ... 8 71

Sulphate, of lime, &c 34-27

Insoluble siliceous matter (sand) 21'15

^Containing nitrogen. ,,
Equal to ammonia ...

loo-no

•21
•25

This so-called British Guano it will be seen contained
only i percent, of ammonia and but little phosphate of
lime. It was sold by the makers, Messrs. C. F. Jones
and Co., 4, New Street, Mark Lane, E.C., at £3 per ton
on rail at London, and iu Dr. Voeleker's judgment is
not worth the carriage to any considerable distance. Mr.
Burbery wrote as follows : —

" The manure was sold without guarantee. You
analysed sample of manure lor me the year before. I
refused to pay for the manure the year before, as I could
find no benefit. Mr. Jones came to see me, aud ulti-
mately agreed to have two tons more and not to pay for
the three tens I had used. I settled it in that way, as
I thought that four tons for £* would be better than
paying for the two tous; as I had no guarautee with the
mauure he could have compelled me to pay."

2. The following is the composition of a sample of an
adulterated linseed cake, stamped (n), seut by Mr. 11,
Stephen Alleu, Eastover, near Andover :—

Moistu-e

... K>09

Oil

... 8-46

*Alhuminous compounds

... 25-69

Mucihge, sugar, and digestible fibre...

... 3478

Woody fibre (cellulose)

... 9 23

Mineral Matter (isb)...

... 5 75

100 00

*Containing nitrogen ...

... 4 11

This cake was poor in oil and adulterated with earthnet
cake.

Mr. Allen wrote:—

" I bought a ton as a sample of an agent. Since
receiving your opinion 1 asked him whether he considered
he was selling pure linseed cake, and he answered in the.
affirmative. I also wrote to makers asking if it was 'their
best make and pure ;' they in reply said it was their best
make, but made no allusion to the ' pureness.'"

Z

324

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

3. Another adulterated linseed cake, sent by Mr. J. C
II. Robinson, Stevington, Bedford, on analysis gave the
following result : —

Moisture

Oil

^Albuminous compounds
Starch, mucilage, and digestible fibre
Woody fibre ...

fAliueral matter (ash)

^Containing ni rogen ...

fContaining sand and silica ...

This cake, it will be seen, is very poor in oil and
albuminous compounds. Dr. Voelcker found that it was
-adulterated with rice-meal, and was made from dirty
linseed.

In answer to the usual inquiries, the subjoined letters
were received from Mr. Robinson : —

Stevington, Bedfordshire, Dec. 5th, 1879.

Sir, — The name of the seller of the cake in question I
should not like to give until I have seen him and made
him acquaiuted with your analysis. I bought it last
June (I believe that was the month) for pure linseed
cake, to be delivered at Oakley station in the following
November, at £9 9s. per ton, and to be paid for within
28 days after delivery. Cake was much cheaper than
now. The cake is branded '•pure." I will write
further to-morrow when I have seen the seller. — Yours,
&c., J> C. H. Robinson.

A. Voelcker, Esq.

Stevington, January lGth, 1S80.
"linseed cake dispute."

Sir,— I have pleasure in informing you that this matter
is settled by the makers having the cake back and paying
me all expenses incurred, also the difference in the value
from the time it was bought to the time of delivery.—
Yours, &c, J. C. H. Robinson.

Dr. Voelcker.

4. Mr. Rowland Tayler, M.R.C.V.S., Queen Street,
Colchester, on the 8th December, sent a sample of linseed
cake, stating at the same time that he had lost several
sheep fed on the cake, and attributed his loss to a poison
in the cake.

The subjoined report shows that the cake was adulter-
ated with castor beau cake, and extremely poisonous. No
information respecting the vendor and price of this cake
could be obtained.

Laboratory, 12, Hanover Square,
December 19th, 1S79.

Dear Sir, — I have the pleasure of enclosing an analysis
of the sample of cake which you sent to me a short time
ago. The cake, I regret to say, is not a genuine linseed
cake, and contains niger cake and castor bean cake, and
in my judgment is rank poison to sheep or cattle. It has
a foul smell like that of rotten tea-leaves and similar
vegetable substances, and contains dark-coloured bits of
vegetable matter, not found in genuine linseed-cake. Un-
like good linsccd-cake, it does not get nearly as mucila-
ginous when mixed in a powdered state with water as
linseed-cake of fair average quality, and it has a nasty
taste and disgusting smell.

The most serior.3 cculaminaticn of the cake is that
with castor-cake, the presence of which I have unmis-
takeably verified by repeated microscopical observations.
I have also found castor-cake in the meal or powdered
cake which accompanied the bits of cake you sent me,

and as far as I can judge the powdered cake is of the same
character as the unbroken cake. Castor-cake might have
been accidently mixed with linseed cake in shipping, in
which case the powdered cake would contain castor cake
powder, whilst the linseed cake itself might be free from
castor. As the determination of this point is of import-
ance, I examined the meal and the unbroken bifs of cake
separately, and find castor-bean husks in the interior of
the unbroken pieces of cake ; it is clear, therefore, that in
the making of the cake castor-beans have been crushed
along with the linseed, and that castor cake did riot
merely accidentally get mixed up with linseed cake in the
shipping.

My experience with regard to castor bean cake is that,
whilst castor oil, as you well know, is a purgative which
may be given to man or beast in considerable quantities,
the expressed b°an is a most virulent irritating poison.
A single bean is enough to cause vomiting, purging, and
utter prostration, from which the patient does not recover
for days. I have therefore no hesitation in declaring the
cake as very poisonous. Probably less than 1 lb. will
cause the death of a sheep. — Believe me, yours
faithfully.

Aug. Voelcker.

R. Tayler, Esq.

Dr. Voelcker also directed attention to several samples
of oats which had been sent to him for examination,
and which he found had been subjected to sulphur fumes
with a view of bleaching or brightening discoloured
unsound old oats, and giving them the appearance of
sound new oats.

The Committee had received and approved of the re-
port of the Woburn Sub-committee.

This report was adopted, and, on the motion of Mr.
Wells, seconded by Mr. Chaxdos-Pole-Gell, it was
resolved that the quarterly report be published in the
usual agricultural newspapers.

veterinary.

Sir Brandretb. Gibbs reported that the Committee
had received a letter from the Secretary of the Riyal
Veterinary College approving of the new schedule of
Veterinary privileges as approved by the Council ; and
the Committee recommended that the same be now
printed, and issued to the members of the Society in the
u^ual manner. The Committee had also received the
following letter from the Highlaud and Agricultural So-
ciety of Scotland: —

"The Directors have to-day had the report of the
Veterinary Committee before them on the subject of
joining with your Society in giving prizes to veterinary
students, and after careful consideration they have arrived
at the resolution not to alter the present arrangement of
giving prizes in the three veterinary schools in Scotland,
and also at onr examinations. The sum required for these
prizes is as much as the Society can devote to vetcriuary
encouragement, and, therefore, the Board determined to-
day not to j<»iu with your Society in the scheme proposed
in your letter of the 80th January — at any rate, not till
after our examinations cease, viz., in 1SS1.

Dr. Glenfield, of the Brown Institution, Wands-
worth-road, S.W., had expressed his desire to have sent
to him any animals or fowis suffering from the epidemic
diseases now so fatal in many districts, and Professor
Simouds had also expressed a similar desire on behalf of
the Royal Veterinary College.

This report was adopted.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

325

IMPLEMENT.

Mr. FrANKisn reported that in consequence of the
manufacturers not having preserved damaged boiler-plates,
and the impossibility of getting together a colleeiion, tbe
Committee recommended that no special provision be
made for the exhibition of such things in Carlisle, but
(hat exhibitors be invited to show them at their own
stands, and to preserve specimens in future.

This report was adopted.

GENERAL CARLISLE.

Sir Brandreth Giuiss reported that the Secretary
had received a letter from the Uritish Beekeepers' Asso-
ciation agreeing to accept ±.20 towards the expense of
exhibiting their bee manipulations at Carlisle. The Com-
mittee considered it desirable that there should be an
exhibition of dairy appliances at work, and that the Secre-
tary should make inquiries as to the practicability of this
being carried out-, and report to the next meeting of the
Committee. Letters have beeu received offering to con-
struct a short tramway, as at Kilburn, but the Committee
did not consider this advisable at Carlisle, in consequence
of the shape of the showyard not being adapted to it. The
Committee rccommeuded that the offer of Messrs. Joseph
Davis and Co. to leud barometers and other scientilic
instruments, and of Messrs. Bland and Sinclair to lend
fire extincteurs, as at Kilburn, be accepted ; also that
12,000 stock and 8,000 implement catalogues of the
Carlisle Show be printed.

This report was adopted.

judges' selection.

Mr. Trankish reported that the Committee had
selected a list of judges to be invited to act, on the usual
terms, for steam ploughiug and cultivating trials, and for
miscellaneous implements, at the Carlisle Show. In con-
sequence of the small attendance at their meeting, the
Committee recommended that they be empowered to
appoint the judges of live stock at their next meeting, in
lieu of the usual course of nomination one month and
appointment at the next. This report was adopted.

selection.

Lieut.-Col. Picton Turbeaill reported the recom-
mendation of the Committee, that the nomination of a j
member of Council in the room of the late Mr. Masfen be '
postponed until the May Council. This report was
adopted.

On the motion of Lieut.-Col. Turrevill, seconded by
Mr- Ciiandos-Polk-Gell, Mr. Alfred Askworth of
Poynton, Cheshire, was elected a member of Council in
the room of the late Mr. Torr, M.P.

The following list was prepared of members of Council
who retire by rotation, but are desirous of re-election,
showing the number of attendances at Council and Com-
mittees of each of such members during the past two
years in accordance with the following section of Bye-
law No. 33:—

(i) A list of the Members of the Council wlo retire by
rotation, but are desirous of re-election, showing the number
of attendances at Council and Committeo Meetings of each
of such Members dnri ag the past two years, shall be prepared
at the April Council, and published immediately in at lea^t
two agricultural papers. Any two Governors or Members
may nominate in writing to the Secretary before the first
day of May following a Member or Members of the Society
desirous of being nominated for election on the Council ;
nerainations, with-; the names of the proposer and
seconder, shall also be added to the previously publish'
and the entire list shall be published in the same agricultural
papers immediately after t! oil, and be also

printed for the use of Members ut the General Meeting in
May. {Bye-law 13, Sec. a.)

Attendance, rcoir the Rising op tiie Bbistcl Meeting,

IN 1878, TO THE PltBSENT Time.

Names.

Mon. 'Committees.
Conn-

Amos Charles Edwards, 5, Cedar's Road
Clapham Common, Surrey

Arfcwright, J. Hungerf>rd, Hamptoi
Court, Leominster, Herefordshire

Bowly, Edward, BiddingtOU Housc.Ciren
cester, Gloucestershire

Druce, Joseph, Eyraham^ Oxford

Ed'i uuds, William John, Southrope
House, r.<echdale, Gloucestershire

Egerton, The Hon. Wilbraham, M.P.,
Rostherne Manor, Knutsford, Cheshire

Post, r, S. Porter (elected Dte. 10, 1878)
Killhow, Carlisle, Cumberland

Prankish, William, Limber Magna,
Ulceby, Lincolnshire

Hemsley, John, Shelton, Newark, Not
tinghamehire

Howard, James, Clapham Park, Bedford-
shire

Leicester, Earl of, Holkham Hall, Wells
Norfolk

Lindsay, Colonel R. Loyd.M.P., Lockinge
Wantage, Berkshire

Neville, Robert (elected Dec. 10, 1878),
Butleigh Court, Glastonbury, Somer-
setshire

Odaras, James, The Grange, Bishop
Stortford, Hertfordshire

Raitdeil, Charles, Chadbury, Evesham,
"Worcestershire

Rawlence, James, Bulbridge, Wilton,
Salisbury, Wiltshire

Sanday, George Henry, Weusley House,
Bedale, Yorkshire

Sheraton, William, Broom House, Elles-
mere, Salop

Shuttleworth, Joseph, Hartshotme Hall,
Lincoln

Slratton, Richard, TheDuffryn, Newport,
Monmouthshire

T urber vill, Lieut . - Colonel Picton , E wenny
Abbey, Bridgend, Glamorganshire

Welby-Gregory, Sir William Earle.Bart.,
M.P., Denton Hall, Grantham, Lincoln-
shire

Whitehead, Charles, Banning House,
Maidstone, Kent

Wi-c, George, Woodcote, Warwick

26

22

20

39
4

70
63

22

5

7
28

b
30
10
37

t>:,

58

A letter was read from the Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs enclosing copy of a programme of au
Agricultural Exhibition to be held at Lucerne next year.

A letter was also read from the Foreign Office, trans-
uiittinc; a despatch from Tier Majesty's High Commissioner
in Cyprus, respecting the " Sirivil " insect, accompanied
by specimens of it preserved iu spirit, and asking tor
advice as to the best manner of destroying this insect,
On the motion of Mr. Wells, seconded by Sir Br i \ .-
reth duns, the matter was referred to the Society's
Consulting Naturalist (Mr. Carruthers.)

BOROUGHBRIDGE.

On Saturday, April 3, a quarterly meeting of this societj n us
held «t the Crown Hotel, Boroughbridge : Mr. Pow.
Crowe in the chair. — Mr. Jicob Smith (Huniburton) moved
the following resolution, which was passed unanimously .- — ■
<: The Boroughbridge Agricultural Society hereby records i?s
g'fht regret at the loss it has sustained by th; death of Mr.
Thomas Scott, twenty-three years a member and twelve yi ars
secrft^rj of the society ; and acknowledging the great ability
tip displayed, they offer to the widow and her family their
shc-re sympathy and condolence." — Mr. J. Ford (Whixlej)
rtii-d an exhaustive paper on " Ratal Reform." This sublet
had hern taken up with considerable PDergy by an association
formed for the purpose at K. t.'ord, and the council renewed

Z 2

326

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

its protest against the injustice done to the owners and occu-
piers of land by the present incidence of local taxation, and
trusted that the attention of Parliament would be immediately
called to the question with a view of securing comprehensive
relief, and also declared that the imposition of new rates for
highways and national education had increased the existing
agricultural distress. He contended that a similar feeling to
this pervaded the whole agricultural community, and said '.it
was a fact that those who p*id the least to alleviate local
burdens were often those who were the best able to pay. 'A
farmer might farm 500 acres, and his rateable value be |£750
which, at 2s. in the pound, amounted to £75 per year. Now,
how much profit might such a man be assumed to have derived
from his holding during each of the last few years? If an
average were struck he thought it would be very probable
that his farm had not only left no profit whatever, but on the
contrary had caused him to be a considerable loser, by which
he meant that his available capital woald be so much less.
There were many such cases. The operation of the Poor Law
Act fell with great injustice upon the landed interest, and
also the Highway Act. After enlarging upon this aud other,
questions bearing nnfairly, as he considered, upon land, he
moved the following resolution •■—

" That this society pledges itsell to endeavour to alter, by all
lawful means, the present system of rating, and to place the
maintenance of the poor and other local burdens on the in-
come ofthe couutry, iustead of on the occupiers of land and
herrditaments as at present."

This resolution was adopted unanimously.— Mr. J. Mason
Dishforth, Mr Bennett, Heaton House, and Dr. MacCoskie
Oustbum,took part in the discussion ; and after some remarks
Ironi the Chairman and others, a vote of thanks to Mr. Ford
4or his paper was ajreed to, aud the proceedings terminated.

HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL.

The monthly meeting of the directors of this Society
vras held at Edinburgh on April 7th, Mr. Hog, of New-
listoD, in the chair.

On the recommendation of the committee in charge of the
Argyll Naval Pund, a fifth naval cadet (Mr. Louis Wentworth
Chetwynd) was added to the list of recipients.

The reports of the Agricultural and Forestry examinations
were submitted, from which it appeared that the written ex-
aminations were held on the 29th and 30th, and the oral ex-
aminations on the 31st March, and resulted in two candidates
passing for the diploma, four for first and four for second class
certificates in agriculture ; two for .first and one for second
claps certificates in forestry. It was announced that Professor
"Wilson had awarded, after special examination, the two prizes
of £6 and Mb, given by the Society in books to the class of
agriculture in the University of Edinburgh, to (Lt) Andrew
Uhapman, -Dumfries-shire ; and (2nd) 11. Colley Smith,
Lanarkshire. .

It v. as reported that the examinations for the Society s
veterinary certificate took place on the 5th, 6th, and 7th
instant, and resnlted in twelve out of twenty passing. The
prePminary examination of younger students was held at the
same time, when tweaty-aix entered their names and twenty-
five passed.

Letters to the conveners of the counties connected with
show— Berwick, Roxburgh, Selkirk, and Peebles— and to the
chief magistrate of Kelso, in regard to the nomination of the
local committee, were submitted and approved of.

The minor gold medal was awarded to Mr. Wm. Sloan
Hamilton, Springside, Kilmarnock, for a report on an econo-
mical method of thrashing grain combined with efficiency.

The annual examinations for the Society's Veterinary Cer-
tifkntes were held on Monday, Tuesday, and yesterday. The
examination on Monday, which was held m Mr. Buiat s
Auction Mart, Lauriston, -kindly lent for the occasion, was
upon the practical branches of the course ; and , those on the
two subsequent days upon the theoretical subjects. The
distribution of certificates and medals to ihe successful eandi
dates took place on Wednesday in the Society's Hall. Major
Wauchope of Niddrie Marischall, chairman of the Society s
Veterinary Committee, presided.

The Chajkma.N congratulated the successful students on
their having obtained the certificate of .the society, aud wished

them every succpss in lifp. He tht-n di»triboted the certificate*
and medals to the following successful candidates: — Merars
Christopher B'ack, Meath;" William Calvert, Middleham ;
Joseph Donald, Cumberland ; James J. Fraser, Keith ; James
Wood Ingram, Manchester ; Frank Mil or, London ; Archi-
bald Munro, Holytown ; William Ryan, I Limerick ; George
Whitehead, Barmdey ; Joseph Woods, Kirkland, Lancashire ;
Jitres Chalmers, Annan ; and Edward J. A. C. Yorsten,
Manchester. The medal for the best practical examination
was awarded to Mr. Yorston, with 39 marks out of a possible
40. In the best general examination two candidates were
equal — each having obtained 44 marks; and the chairman
intimated that the society would grant a medal to each.

Drs. Dtcer and Cbaig each briefly addressed the students.
The latter referred to the high standard of efficiency, as mani-
fested by the examination, which the students had attained to ;
very few having failed in both departments.

^nxmzxB Clubs.

CENTRAL.

The usual monthly meeting of this Club took place
on Monday, April 7, at the Inns of Court Hotel, the
attendance being, ia consequence of the elections, far less
than usual. .The chair was taken by Mr. John Tread-
well. Captaiu Craigie introduced the subject fixed for
discussion, viz., " Prices of Corn and the Official
Averages."

The Ciiairmax said : Gentlemen, I am sorry that we
have so small an attendance of members to hear the paper
which my frieud Captain Craigie is going to read on a
very important subject, but I think you will all very well
understand that the smalloess of the attendance is owing
to the elections which are now going on at the present
time almost all over the kingdom. Under such circum-
stances it was not to be expected that we should have a
large meeting ; but it was thought that it would not be
well to put off the meeting, because that would be estab-
lishing a precedent which it was not desirable to set. It
was thought best that we should stick to our programme,
especially as, if we should not have as ample a discussion
as we generally have, the members would all receive a
copy of the paper in the published report of the Club.
We all know that Captain Craigie is a gentleman who has
given a great deal of time to agricultural questions. The
question bafore us is one in which he has taken a special
interest. I am sure we shall have an exhaustive paper
from him, and I hope we shall have a discussion worthy
of the subject.

Captain Craigie, before beginning his paper, apolo-
gised for it not being in such a condensed and complete
form as he should have liked it to be, owing to the cause
alluded to by the chairman, namely, the enormous amount
of work connected with elections ; adding that, though
he should on that account have been glad if the meeting had
been postponed, he concurred in the opinion that it was
undesirable to establish a precedent of that kind. He
then proceeded to read as follows: —

It would not perhaps be easy to name any subject coming
more legitimately under the scope of the discussion of the
Farmers' Club than one which relates to the prices of British
?gricultural produce, the accuracy or inaccuracy of the official
register which records the value of our corn, and the conse-
quences to the farmer of an imperfect and more or lew iuflated
series of weekly averages.

In restricting this paper to the limits which are most con-
venient for the purposes of debate, it is necessary to exclude a
good many matters which might claim a place in any state-
ment of this sort. It might be interesting to go back over
the records of antiquity, and trace as we may the course of
prices, especially those of wheat, in years long goae by. A

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

G27

mere list of figures would be, however, out of place, and the
explanations which any such full list roast involve, would take
up too much time ; for prices quoted in the current mouey of
certain periods of our history require large discount and con-
sideration for the fluctuating value of money itbelf.

As to the official prices I desire chiefly to direct your atten-
tion, it may be best to begin by a sketch of the origin of that
machinery for collecting corn returns wliich, as you are all
aware, is at present the subject of no litt'e animadversion.

The collection of official information concerning 'he prices
of corn is a practice which in England boasts no little anti-
quity ; for in the statutes, thamselves more than a hundred
years old, to which we must refer for the instituiion of the
present system, we find references made to an Act of James
IT. (1 Jac. II. c. 19), as containing provisions bearing on
the subject.

It is, however, to a period little more than 100 years ago
that I would ask you to refer as the date when a real register
of prices was first set up. It is noteworthy that when the 10
Geo. III. c. 39 instituted in 1770, a new office under the
Treasury for the purpose of securing a central register of
locally ascertained values, the preamble to that statute recited
the public interest and advantage in correct records of the
prices of corn, rather than the specific benefit to the State
Exchequer, from thus establishing a basis for taxes on foreign
or bounties on British corn, although no doubt this was the
leading and practical cause of the greatest part, if not the
whole, of our regulations on this question.

A system was then in vogue whereby at least in maritime
counties a series of county prices were determined — the
earlier laws do not say in what manner — by officers appointed
and paid by Quarter Sessions, and quarterly reporting to that
court. This practice prevailed for a considerable time. An
Act of 1781 amended in several particulars the statute just
referred to, and explained the way in which the local officials
were to obtain a record of current transactions in the markets
of the groups of maritime counties, within which aloue the
measure seemed operative, and within which alone the prices
were required for determining the duty on foreign importations.
In 1789 we find these several maritime districts separately set
out, Suffolk and Cambridge constituting the 1st district,
Norfolk the 2nd, York and Lincoln the 3rd, aud so on. The
chief attention of the acts seems concentrated on the Metro-
politan district, where doubtless grain was then chiefly
imported — London, Essex, and Kent, and sometimes Sussex,
being included in this group of counties. By the year, above
mentioned, also it had been discovered that quarterly returns
were too far apart to represent the rapid and considerable
fluctuations which occasionally disturbed the grain trade; the
county reports accordingly were to be thenceforth made every
six weeks.

It is, however, to 1791 that we must look for the most com-
plete formation of the official system of Corn Returns. The
statute of that year, 31 Geo. III. c. 30, consolidates and re-
enacts the whole law on the subject. There, too, in sections
62 to 66, may be found, apparently for the first time, the re-
cognition of the need of learning what »as going on in inland
as well as in maritime counties. And here again we come
across an illustration of wider interest than one merely fiscal in
the collection of statistical data. Just as it i3 desirable now
to have the question of the official prices of corn put on a
sound basis in view of the variety of arguments fouuded on
such data, and not merely in reference to questious of tithe,
so before the last eenturv closed it was found that these inland
counties ought to be included in the returns " for the in'or-
mation and benefit of His Majesty's subjects." At this period
also a ge eral average was required to* be published weekly in
the Gazette. Several clauses of this old statute deserve
special mention. I find that they contain- provisions which
have been sinee omitted, but which are again needed. By the
82nd section, where equivalent weights were specified for the
Winchester bushel (l-31st part less than our present
bushel) —then the legal standard — all corn sold by
weight having to be converted into equivalent imperial
measure at the rate of 57 lb. for wheat, 49 lb. for barley, and
33 lb. for oats ; weight which reckoned sn our present bushels
would be 58£ lb., 50£ lb , and 39£ lb. respectively. The sec-
tion of the old act wliich thus provides for the very thing we
accuse onr present system of omitting runs thus: —

82. "And be it further enacted, that the bushel by which all
fiom shall be measured and computed, ia pursaance of the

directions of this Act shall be the Winchester bushel, and that
a quarter shall be deemed to consist of eight such bushels ;
and that the justices of the peace of each cjuuty, riding, aud
division, aud the mayor or other chief officer of the cities, or
towus which are couuties of themselves; or have or enjoy
exempt or peculiar jurisdiction in that part of Great Britain
c-illed Engliiid, and the sheriff or steward depute or substitute
of the counties, and of the said stewarty in that part of Great
Britain called Scotland, shall cause a standard Winchester
bushel to be provided and kept in each city and town from
which any returns of the prices of corn are by this Act
directed to be made; and that all duties be paid, and all
bounties be paid and allowed, and all computations by measure
to be made for the purposes of this Act, be made by the
stricken and not by the heaped bushel ; and that in all cases
where corn shall be sold by weight, fifty-seven pounds avoir-
dupoise of wheat shall be deemed equal to every such Win-
chester bushel of wheat, and that fifty-five avoirdupoise -
pounds of rye shall be deemed equal to every such bushel of
rye, and that forty-nine avoirdupoise pouuds of barley shall
be deemed equal to every such bushel of b*rle.y, and that
forty-two avoirdupoise pounds of bere or bigg shall be deemed
equal to every such bushel of bere or bigg, and that thirty-
eight avoirdupoise pouuds of oats shall be deemed equal to
every such bushel of oats ; and further, that fifty-six avoir-
dupoise pounds of wheat meal, and forty-five avoirdupoise
pounds of wheat flour, shall be deemed equal to every such
bushel of ungrouod wheat, and that fifty-three a»oirdupoi-e
pounds of rye meal shall be deemed equal to every such
bushel of unbound rye, and that forty-eight avoirdupoise
pounds of barley meal shall be deemed equal to every such
bushel of ur ground barley, and that forty-one avoirdupoise
pounds of bere or big> meal shall be- deemed equal to every
such bushel of unground bere or bigg, and that twenty-two
avoirdupoise pouuds of oatmeal shall be deemed equal to every
such bushel of unground oats ; and for greater expedition in
measuring ground corn of any sort that shall be in sacks, the
proper officr may make choice of and^weigh two sacks out of
any number not exceeding twenty sacks, and so in proportion
for any greater quantity, and thereby compute the quantity of
the whole ; and if any doubt shall arise whether ground
wheat entered to be exported on Bounty ought to be considered
as wheat meal, or wheat flour, such officer is.hereby authorized
to require that a certain reasonable portion'of every sack not
exceeding one peck out of each sack shall be passed through a
sieve or cloth, commonly called fourteen shilling cloth, and
if such ground wheat shall not pass through such sieve or
cloth, the same shall not be considered as wheat flour."

Nor does the merit of the old law 'Stop here. We are all i
familiar with the babel of conflicting local weights aud
measures employed to this day, in spite of Acts for achieving
uniformity. Substituting the imperial for the Winchester
bushel, might it not be well to have now such a clause as ■

that which in the Act of George III. ran thu3 :

" And be it further enacted, that every inspector of coru
returns shall and he is hereby required to make a comparison .
between the Winchester measure and the measure commonly
used in the city or town for which he is appointed inspector ;
and within one month after his appointment to cause a state-
ment iu writing of such comparison, to be hung up in some
conspicuous place in the market and Town Hall of such city
or town, and from time to time renew the same if it shall be-
come defaced or illegible, and shall return a copy of the same
to the receiver of corn returns."

Yet one more lesson may be extracted. The rigid and ob«o-
lete character in some respects of the list of returning markets
is a matter of complaint in 1880. As long ago as 1791 our
forefathers were wise enough to decline to be bound by a
statutory unalterable set of towns, and they enacted :—

"And be it further enacted, that in case the Justices of the
Peace at any Quarter Sessions shall think it necessary or
expedient that any other cities or- towns should be appointed
either in the maritime counties, ridings, or divisions, or in the
counties, ridings, or divisions last mentioned in that part of.
the United Kingdom called England, for taking the prices of.
corn and oatmeal in manner hereinbefore directed, instead of -
any of the cities or towns named in this Act, and sucb Justices
at their said sessions shall direct a representation to be made
to His Majesty for the above purpose, such city or town so.
proposed aud named by them in such representation shall upoa

'626

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

the approbation of Ilia Majesty iu Council being siguified to
them, be deemed to be and become a city or town for taking
the prices of corn and oatmeal in manner hereinbefore
directed, instead of any of the cities or towns proposed by
them to be omitted."

It is clearly to be desired, if onr system of corn returns is
to be made more real and effective, that some such power to
vary from time to time and add to the list ot returning mar
kets those which are most representative of the county, should
he again conferred on the Board of Trade, or some other com-
petent authority.

At the date of this statute the towns, which were called on
to supply the prices for the efTicial register, numbered in
England and Wales 224. Of these 139 were si'mted in the
twelve mari.iiae groups of counties, the local price in each
group deciding the duty to be imposed, and seventy-five towns
represented the inland counties. It is noteworthy that,
■while Loudon alone represented the first maritime district,
which comprised, in addi'ion, Esses, Kent, and Sussex, except
so far as nine markets in these counties are to be found
among the ''inland" group, the second, third, and fourth
maritime districts, which embraced the great corn-growing
counties of Sutfulk, Cambridge, Norfolk, Lincoln, and York,
had allotted to them thirty-nine markets. The names appear-
ing in this old list for Suffolk, Cambridge, and Lincoln are
precisely those which make returns at the present day. The
Norfolk dozen of returniug towns are, with one exception —
Dies in place of Wymondham — identical also. To the York-
shire list of seven should be added three in what are called
the inland parts of that great county, and, so adjusted, the
names in 1791 are the same as those iu 1886, except that the
present ten Yorkshire markets ineln le Wakefield and Sheffield,
and do not include Halifax and Djncaster, which occupied
their place ninety years ago. It would take too long to make
a close comparison of the old list anl that now used, but it
should be mentioned that no less than twenty-seven Welsh
Markets appear in 1791, some only small places, while only
six are now allotted to the principality.

It ought also to be pointed out that among the inland '
t >wns which it was ninety years ago thought expedient to
e-nbrace in the list of returning markets, Berkshire coutiined
Newbury as well as Windsor and Reading, its present allow-
ance of markets, Bedford contained Woburn and Potton, in
addition to the one market of Bedford now allowed to that
county. Wycombe and Newport Pagnel were allowed to
Bucks, as well as Aylesbury, Cliesterfield and Ashbourne as
well as Derby appear in Derbyshire ; Bishops Stortford was
included as it is not now in the Hertfordshire markets.
Herefordshire which now has no returning market at all, was
allowed three at Hereford, Leominster, and Ross. St. Neots
wa3 also added in Huntingdonshire, Ashby de la Zonche and
Hinckley returned in Leicestershire, as well as the county
town ; Staines and Brentford were honoured with a place in
Middlesex as well as Uxbridge only; Peterborough and Wel-
lingborough as well as Northampton appear in the county of
that name ; Mansfield as well as its present two markets made
rahims in Notts. Burford and Henley in Oxfordshire, and
Uppingham iu Rutland, appeared in 1791, but are not now on
fie list. Shropshire, which now makes no return, then sent
prices from Shrewsbury, Ludlow, and Whitchurch. Stafford-
shire, whiahis now also a blank, then possessed three return-
ing markets. Croydon, Kingston, and Reigate stood for
Surrey, in which county Guildford, now its only returning
in rket, did not appear in 1791. Warwick was not _ then
o uitted in the county of that name. Evesham and Kidder-
mi .ster made returns in Worcestershire, Salisbury, Devises,
and Marlborough were the Wiltshire towns— this county being
now represented by Warminster only, while none of the six
Welsh inland markets mentioned in the old statute now make
returns.

Scotland was in these tiroes included in the corn return
system, and in the interesting record of local prices appearing
in the Gizette the four week's summary of the prices in the
Scotch counties, marshalled like the English in districts, duly
found a place. It is curious to observe the very considerable,
difference between the Scotch and English values. Thus in
Ihe returns made for some years alter this iu the four weeks
ending October 15, 1801, wheat was 62s. 8d. in Scotland, and
77s. 2d. in England, and barley was 32s. 7d. in Scotland,
against 43s. Gd. here. While it would be a matter uot per-

haps unworthy of further investigation to compare the record
of what I may call this system of consumers' coru prices with
that other Scottish system of *' fiars " prices — which are really
growers' prices, and to which 1 may have occasiou a^aiu to
allude.changes seem to have, been frequently made in the list of
returning towns. That published in 1821 in the 1 and 2 Geo.
IV., c. 87, contains the mystic number of 150 on which we
now rely, but though the number is the same this list by no
means agrees in detail with that now fixed. Much more close,
and, in fact, practically identical with our existing list, is that
given in 1823 in the 9 Geo. IV., c. 60, sec. 8. This is a mat-
ter worthy of special remark, for it shows how long ago our
existing basis wasfised upon, and it must not be forgotten either
that this list of 182S was practically that in force when the
Tithe Commutation Act was passed, and the average thence
obtained used for the purpose of the rent charge.

It is true we have had an interval in which a different and
a larger list held good during this period. Iu 1S42 it was
deemed right, not in connection with what was then the sub-
sidiary question o! the use of the corn returns for tithes, but
in view of their more immediate use in determining the sliding
scale sluty on corn, to add 140 markets to the official 150, with
the distinct object of preventing the possibility ol dealers
manipulating prices with a view to taking advantage of the
fiscal scale. From 1842 until 1864, therefore, the basis from
which the returns were obtained was ranch larger than at
present, many of the towns named in the old Act of 1791 being
again resorted to.

There has been some disposition to attribute the failure of
the official average correctly to represent the prices received by
the larmer to the absence of returns from the whole 290 towus
introduced in 1312. 1 do not myself imagine that the quota
supplied from the 140 temporary added towns very much
affected the general results, although 1 for one contend that
several of the now rejected 140 would be much better market
centres than those now returning.

I would, however, call attention to the fact that whatever
defect is due to the reduced quantities of grain sales now re-
corded, the falling off is to be ascribed 1 1 some other cause than
the change of towns, for in the years 1840-2, when only 150,
and practically the same 150 as now, made returns, the sales
were much larger.

QUANTITIES OF CORN

RETURNED AS SOLD

IN THE UNDER-

MENTIONED YEARS.

Year.

1840 .

1811

1842

1S53

1854 . ,.
1855

Wheat.
Qrs.

3,850,278
3,913 972
4,021,235
4,560,912
3,913,257
5,256,874
3,579,623
3,134,557
2,724,673
1,912,688
2,141,759
..2,022,121

Barley.
Qrs.
... 2,291,427
... 2,225,460
... 2,576,616
... 2,474,206
... 2,207,997
... 2,008.862
... 1,768,277
... 1,723,646
... 1,575,733
... 1,795,049
... 1,732,075
... 1,421,243

Oats.
Q^s.

.. 2,015,170
2,205,71!)

... 2,202,099
880,408
765,438
816,683

1865 ,., ,

1866 ,...

1867 , ,.
1S77

217,315

251,722
284,776
176,092

1878
1879

181,041
161,693

There is perhaps no more striking illustration of the failure
of the returns to represent a uniform percentage of the grain
transaction of this couutry than the changes in the quantity of
grain on which the returns are based. Thus, even before the
140 towns were added at all, a three years' average of the
quarters of wheat returned as sold stood ciosenpon 4,000,000
quarters. Selecting another triennial period when the returns
come from 290 towns, viz., 1853-5, the average sales of wheat
increased with over one-eighth in the aggregate or some
4,577,000 quarters annually. Allowing another ten years to
pass, the next triennial period shows, with the tiwus reduced
to the same uumber as in 1840-42, an average sale of 3,1 17,000
quarters only in 1866-7 ; and from this level again, after
another decade has gone by, we have an average sale, for 1877,
1873, and 1S79 of barely over 2,000,000 quarters— just one-
half the wheat snles of 1810-2 from the same markets. Iu
the same triennial periods of barley there were recorded as sold
in the 150 towns in 1810-2 an average of 2,3(51,000 quarters,
the added towus only brought this up to 2, 150,000 quarters in
1853-5 ; while the returns to the 150 markets iu 1861 weie

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

329

followed by average sales of only 1,689,000 quarters in 1865 7
while between that date and the last three years there has
been m such falling off as in the case of wheat, the average of
1877-9 being 1,049,000 qrs.

A much more remarkable change has taken place in the
recorded sales of oats. In IS 10-12 the 150 corn inspectors
sent to the Central Office the record of an average yearly sale
of 2,141,000 qrs. of oats. In eleven years' tune the inspectors
even of 290 markets report no more than an average of 820,000
qrs. in 1853-5. In ten years' more, 1865-7, there were but
the old 160 markets to make return", and their average re-
corded sales had fallen as low as 252,000 qrs., while in 1877-9
we have seen the official data supplied for determining the value
of one-third of the whole tithe rentcharge reduced to the
comparatively insignificant total of 174,000 qrs., not one-
twelfth part of the transactions recorded in the same districts
forty years ago.

Mr. Giffen attributes the falling off in the bulk of returned
sales to the bad harvests, poor yields, and lesser area on which
we are growing wheat. To some extent this is very true. Thus
the 46 per cent, drop in wheat sold since 1865, Mr. Giffen
meets by pointing to the fact that we grow 10 per cent, less
acres of wheat than we did when agricultural returns were
first collected in 1867, and that according to Mr. Caird's es-
timates the gross wheat yield has declined in these later years
by 37 per cent, lu answer to this argument it has been urged
that the ratio of recorded sales to estimated wheat crops has
been by no means constant or uniform, that it is unmistak-
ably less now than it was ten years ago. But even if he is
right on this point, and that we sell, roughly speaking, less
wheat because we grow less, can he, on the same hypothesis,
account by a lessened production for the drop in barley sales?
In any case no snch explanation is possible as to the failure
ol the official record to discover, including sales and resales,
that a larger yearly quota than 174,000 qrs. of oats changes
hands in the returning markets.

The greatly reduced returns of sales are, however, by non-
official critics of the averages, referred more specifically to other
causes. There can be little doubt that the duties of corn
inspectors at the various markets are by no means very
laboriously and exactly discharged. A vast, and it is believed
an increasing, number of actual sales fail to be recorded. The
law, with its penalty on dealers failing to make returns, is not
put in force, and no one who takes the trouble locally to in-
vestigate, as several local committees have lately done, (he
state of their own markets can fail to perceive the. extreme
deficiency of the returns. A committee of the Worcestershire
Chamber of Agriculture recently made public the statement
that out of forty dealers attending the Worcester market " not
more thau four, and frequently a less number,'' make the
returns required by law ; while a committee of the West
Riding of Yorkshire Chamber recently reported that for six
weeks no siugle sale had been reported to the inspector even
at ouch a market as that of Wakefield. It would, however, be
needless to multiply instances of what is so widely recoguised.
It is, however, to the great chaDge in the practice of British
farmers in the past forty years that I believe a very large part
of the falling-off in the recorded sales is du<>, and this seems
to me a matter of considerable moment, both as affecting the
statistical continuity of the returns and the financial results in
the tithe rent-charge.

I am not about to contend that when the prices of corn
were first officially recorded the object was to ascertain the
values received for all his produce by the farmer. The con-
sumer, not the farmer, was (as in not a few later cases) the
sole concern of the Legislature in setting up the system. It
was, as the oldest Acts have it, "middling English corn and
grain," that is to say, corn of average value, that was to be
returned, and it was of the value at t/te markets, not on the
farm, which was to be recorded. This, of course, arose from
the fact that the corn returns were primarily required to deter-
mine what duties were to be imposed on foreign grain, and
those duties were, from time to time regulated so as to bear a
very distinct relation to the prices at which it was considered
the people could buy their corn for bread. The price to
the consumer, of course, included all earlier prices plus the
profit and carriage charged by dealers.

Whether it was right to take a scale of prices so determined
as the basis of the, corn rent substituted for tithe in 1836
is a totally distiuct question, and one certainly to be argued
on its own merits ; but, irrespective of this, there arc two

matters which I am disposed to believe sffect the accuracy < f
the returns in consequence. The first of these is the multipl -
cation of transactions in corn, and the second and large: t
matter is the change of farming practice, whereby so very
much larger a share of British corn is consumed on the farms
where it is grown than was formerly the case.

On the first point th;j.re is room for some dispute ; it may
be said that tlie reductiou of the cost of carriage by improved
locomotion has balanced the additional profit arising from
nore frequent resales. But against this I think it must be
urged that, while the returns generally have fallen off, there
is some ground to suppose that the percentage of re-sales by
dealers is very much greater than it was, and that the bulk of
the transactions now recorded at the larger and more important
markets consist of such bargains, and tend to raise prices to a
level they did not occupy formerly.

As to the greater ratio of home consumption, there can be
little dispute among practical men, but as the department
concerned with the defence of these returns is not, we are
told, in possession of evidence on this point, 1 would appeal
to such a practical body as this Club to procure and tabulate
the results of their own practices wherever tbey can. It has
been argued by the Lincolnshire Chamber of Agriculture that
there is now from 80 to 100 per cent, increase since 183G in
the corn consumed at home, and this is, in part at least, attr.-
buted to the use of steam machinery, grinding, and other mills.
Many other causes have contributed to this practice, the
greater attention now paid to btock feeding as the most
profitable part of farming, the refusal of the labouriug classes
to be content with the Hour of the grade, colour, and quality
once in demand for bread, the low prices of corn, and the
effects of bad weather on our crops, all add to the inducements
to lessen the quantity now brought actually to market.

If, therefore, with a declining quantity of sales on which to
strike average prices, there is at the same time an increasing
percentage of the recorded sales, which are sales by speculators
and dealers, and of the highest class of grain ; and if there be a
material diminution of the supply in the markets of inferior
qualities, it is impossible to resist the conclusion that the price
is augmented, and that the returns are not really continuous,
the official prices now being the prices practically of a more
restricted and higher class commodity than some thirty, forty,
or fifty years ago was the case.

This distiuct enhancement of price not only raises the data
for tithe, but it, makes all the many estimates we see now so
frequently made of the value of the farmers' grain produce
wholly illusory, as the price taken is not either by the intention
of the corn returns or by the narrowed basis on which these
returns now rest, any criterion of the average value. The
dissatisfaction with the official returns which has found snch
unanimous expression is not, however, confined to the wrongful
selection, to the unreasoning retention of certain markets, aud
the exclusion of important corn centres, n&r to the generally
reduced area whence the returns of grain sales, and especially
of oat sales, are drawn, nor even to the shifting basis and
artificially enhanced prices I have described.

There is a very strong case, practically and statistically,
against the returns in the results of the prevalent use of
weighed measures. Now, sales by measure and sales by
weight are both legal, but to sell grain by a measure which is
not precisely that sanctioned by the State, or to sell by weight
uiider the name of a measure, both appear to an ordinary
reader of the law as illegal, but by favourable construc-
tions and assumptions the irregularity committed daily
in this matter is overlooked, and v/e all know such sales
abound.

It is as much the returning officer's duty to take note of
all departure from the imperial standard in recorded sales as
it ever was, but I cannot, m the face of the evidence now sup-
plied, believe ihat weight sales are really in ordinary cases
c averted, or at least, truly converted, into their
imperial measured equivalents. Farmers hardly need to
have pointed out to them the consequence of selling
practically 9 bnshels for a price which is too often
officially recorded as the price of 8 bushels. The controller of
the corn returns, in his able memorandum, endeavours to
minimise the possible error arising on this account. His cal-
culations are, however, defective, in so far as they rest on the
basis of the proportion of weight sales acknowledged by the
corn inspectors in a recent return to occur. This returu has
been challenged as to its accuracy, while it lias heen Qpioted

£3)

THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE.

oat that no possible means exist whereby the loca
inspectors could, if they so desired, make the accurate
conversion.

Oq this point clearly we ought, if the returns are to be kept
upon their present form as the very minimum of reform, to go
back to the statute of 1791, and have a statutory assumed
equivalent of weight for measure, although it is not unlikely
that 60 lb or 61 lb. per bushel now used in Custom House
figures ;n respect of i.nported grain wcnld be nearer the mark,
at least for wheat th <n the 58| lb. fixed ninety years ago. The
8UggC3tion has been made in some quarters, and it is one
which a practical body like this Club might fairly debate,
t'i»t601b. forwhat, 501b. 'or barley, and 40 lb. for oats
would be not unfair equivalents. Various calculations have
been made by many of the chambers of agriculture who have
considered this bieuiish of the existing retorns, and some have
tstimated the excess of pr'ce due to weight being improperly
and insufficiently allowed fur as much as 6 and even 10 ger
cent, in the price.

I had proposed to insert in this paper some reference to the
mode in which out neighbours on the other side of the Tweed
obtain their yearly tegister of corn price?. But time will not
permit me at all fully to explain the practice. I may however
note, that while, as we have seen, the law as to returning
markets was at the end of the last and the beginning of this
century in force in Scotland as well as in England,there must
have been going on coincidently in that country a double
system of corn returns — one decid/ng for the purposes of
general taxation the consumer's prices of grain;, another de-
ciding locally, county by county, the grower's valuation by
means of fiars' prices, what were to be the once frequent and
still occasional M corn rents " of farms, and the local payment
ot teinds, as tithes are called in Scotland.

The Scotch system of fiars is a very ancient one. We hear
of it in acts of King James VI. iu 1531 and 158t. The pre-
sent practice even dates from 1 7 23-. In details some latitude
prevails between the modes of determining the averages in
different counties. Briefly expressed, however, the distinguish-
ing marks of the system are the summoning of a jury com-
posed of owners and occupiers of land in the spring of each
year, and the procuring and laying before this jury tabular
returns obtained from all dealers in corn and from a'l the
largest growers in the county. On these statements ar»
named the precise price of every bargain relating to the last
season's crop, the natural weights being in every case required
to be carefully stated. This jury of practical men, on the
evidence laid before it, decides the " fiars price " for their
county for the year, and thus teinds — that is to say, tithes —
are paid on the values not for the whole country, and not for
an average of successive years, but for each separate year and
for each separate county. The result of this system gives,
no doubt, wide diversities between different disfricts,and I find
that while land* in Argyllshire were in 1866 paying teinds on
a wheat value of 49s. 6d. per qr., other estates in Dumfries-
shire paid on the assumption that their wheat crop was worth
60s. 5d. per qr. The barley averagps varied from close cm
40s. in the same year in some districts to below 27s. in others ;
while oats, too, varied from 28s. 3d. in the far aorth of
Sutherlandshire to 22s. 10^d. in Ayrshire. Two points are of
special interest in the Scotch system. There is a much larger
relative basis of returns on which to caleula?e an average
price, and there is usually a lewer, or at all events a distinctly
growers' value plaeed on the grain, since only first transactions
are allowed to be recorded. Thus for last year's crop we find, as
against our English yearly average, the prices struck in
several Scotch counties stand as in the subjoined table, in all
instances, it will be observed, except in the ease of oats, lower
values are recorded :—

Wheat. Barley. Oats.
8. d. U d. s. d

English official average 43 10 ... 34 0 .„ 21 »

Clackmannanshire, " fiars *

prices 32 3 ... 31 11 ... 22 6

Forfarshire, "fiars" prices Hi 4 ... 26 9 ... 22 0-

Stirlingshire „ 34 11 ... 31 4 ... 22 3

Dumbartonshire „ 38 0 ... 30 8 ... 21 6

<■ The mention of the Scottish system, and its use for the
payment of teinds or tithes, will no doubt lead to the question
■why I have omitted thus far to refer more explicitly to thg

effect of the high average of the recorded train price
on the growth of the tithe rent charge in England.

Now I am well aware that as a practical matter this efTect
on the tithe is the one which has caused mest feeling on the
whole question, but yet I contend it stands, strictly "speakir.;;,
apart from the precise terms of my subject to-day ; neverthe-
less, it is impossible to omit all reference to the matter.

As regards paymrnl of tithe, I own I would like to see the
Seottirth practice entirely followed, so that this rentcharg%
whkh is pre-eminently now a charge on the land itself, should
be paid directly by the owner of the soil himself, instead of in-
directly by the tenant. There is no doubt the tithe rent-
charge has risen materially, and that it s'ands huh wheu
prices are low. There are many suggestions concerning it
which are fair matters for debate; the right or the wrong of
the principle on which the old corn duty prices were selected
as a measure of payment in 1836 may be disputed.

Bat there is, sometimes, I think, a little misunderstanding
as to the chiei' causes of the rise in the tithe rent, and the
maintenance of that rise at a high level during sach years as
those with which we have lately been familiar, wheu very low
prices for wheat have prevailed.

It mast never be forgotten that the rent-charge is not a
simple but a triplicate corn reBt sliding on a scale of a long
septennial average, so that the rent-charge at any one moment
depends equally oa the price of three distinct commodities-
wheat, barley, and oats, and the official annual values of each
one of these for seven consecutive yer.rs.

When Lord John Russell brought in his Tithe Commutation
Bill, on February 9, 1836, he told the House of Commons
that he based, to a large extent, his measure on the proposals
which, in the previous session, had been made by Sir Robert
Peel before he quitted office in the preceding year. Those
proposals were submitted to the House in the form of a
raotioB declaring the expediency of the long-mooted question
of commutation. It was in this proposition of Sir Robert
Peel, set forth that the substituted money payment should be
"acorn rent" varying with the price of corn, and "not
with the price of wheat only, which" Sir Robert Peel said,
" had not of late formed a fixed proportion in value to the
value of all other corn."

Lord John Russell defended the tripartite apportionment of
the rentcharge between eiptal values of the three specified
graius as allotting to each a fair proportion in the gross
amount, and he maintained that it was just to the tithe-
owner to select not a money payment alone, but a yearly
payment, fluctuating "with the value of grain, which must be
taken to represent the fluctuations in the value of money." It
was not, it would seem, so much a pteference for wheat,
barley, and oats on their own merits, as articles of farm
produce bearing any specific relation to the former share of
tithe produce, for which the tithe rentcharge was substituted,
as a mere selection of a composite slid ng standard made up
of these grains as a sort of more reliable currency for the
payment of a perpetual and ascertained debt.

Very little attention seems to have been given to the details
of the adjustment, so far as the repots, at all events, tell us,
cf this part of the settlement. It is true Lord Lansdowne,
who introduced the bill into the House of Lords, referred to
the fact that " Mr. Audrew Knight, president of the Hor-
ticultural Society, and others, had thought it better that the
price of wheat alone should be taken as the element to
calculate (he rentcharge on, instead of taking it jointly with
the price of barley and oats." But these opinions did not
seem generally accepted. Some critieisms, no doubt, were
passed en the proposal in the House of Commons, Colonel
Thompson suggesting, " in the mauu'acturing interest," tint
the rentcharge should be ""half in money and ball' in corn,"
and Mr. Joseph Hume proposing to alter the rentcharge to-
half wheat, quarter barley, and quarter oats. Nevertheless
the tripartite division was accented by Parliament, and em-
bodied in the Act of 1836.

I have prepared, and placed in yoar Chairman's hands,
three tables showing, as eannot nearly so well be done by
words, the effect separately of the three elements in the
renteharge.

Apart from any artificial enhancement which the recorded!
values of the several sorts of grain have suffered from the
increase of the averages, due to the causes I have mentioned,
there is a great part ol the rise which must be ascribed to the
use yf barley aud oats, as well as wheat, iu working out the

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

381

septennial calculation. To barley alone, indeed, the largest
share of the present height of the average is due.

Without the aid of a diagram, indeed, a statement of the
course of septennial prices such as may perhaps be best
embodied in a paper of this sort places the matter in a
tolerably clear light. I subjoin, therefore, a tab'.e showing,
not the annual prices so olten quoted, but the seven years'
average value of the three sorts of grain, as declared at the
close of each year of the series for the past forty-four years,
and this will illustrate the meaning of my remarks, remember-
ing, of course, that the values taken in 1836 were, for wheat,
5Gs. 21. ; for barley, 31s. 8d. ; and for oats, 22s. per qr.

Table showing the Average Prices ter Quarter
ot Whuat, Barley, and Oats, during the Seven
Years Preceding each or the Years specified in
Column No. 1.

Year. Wheat. Barley. Oats,

a. d. s. d. s. d.

1837 53 8 31 10 22 0

1838 62 6 31 6 21 10
1S39 52 2 30 6 21 *
1840 54 0 31 6 22 2
1S4-1 55 10 32 8 23 4

1842 58 6 33 4 23 6

1843 61 0 32 10 23 0

1844 61 2 32 4 22 4

1845 60 8 32 10 22 0

1846 58 8 33 0 22 0
18 W 56 4 32 0 21 8

1848 56 10 33 0 22 2

1849 54 10 32 10 21 10
1S50 53 0 32 10 21 8

1851 51 6 32 0 21 4

1852 49 10 30 10 21 0

1853 48 4 30 4 20 6

1854 40 8 30 4 20 2
1S55 48 6 29 2 20 0

1856 52 0 29 8 21 0

1857 55 6 31 6 22 2

1858 57 10 34 4 23 4
1359 58 8 35 8 24 2

1860 59 0 36 4 24 10

1861 69 0 36 10 25 4
18o2 56 6 36 10 24 8

1863 63 10 37 0 24 0

1864 50 4 35 10 23 6

1865 48 0 34 2 22 8

1866 47 8 33 6 22 4

1867 48 6 34 0 22 6

1868 50 2 34 6 22 10

1869 51 6 35 6 23 4
1670 50 4 36 2 23 10

1871 50 8 36 2 24 2

1872 53 0 37 2 24 10

1873 55 2 38 2 25 0

1874 66 0 38 8 25 2

1875 55 2 39 4 25 6

1876 52 6 38 8 25 8

1877 52 2 38 0 25 8

1878 53 8 38 10 26 2
1279 52 2 39 4 26 0
1880 60 4 38 10 25 10

The precise effect of the relative changes of valae in wheat,
barley, and oats during this period of forty-four years ought lo
be very c»refully regarded by any inquirer into this by no
means simple question. For the entire period wheat has
averaged 53s. 4d. only, that is, 2s. lOd. below the value agreed
on as current at the commencement of the tithe settlement.
Barley has throughout the same period averaged 34s. 4d., or
2s. 8d. above the original fixtures ; while oats also has risen on
the whole, though not so greatly, the forty- lour years' average
being now 23s. 2d.,or Is. 3d. above the par value. Fur the most
recent years of the whole period thus accounted for, the diver-
sities are even more marked ; the septennial average of wheat
has scarcely exceeded 52*. lOd. for the past eleven years,
while barley for the same years stands at 38s. Id., and jats
even more distinctly above the average for the longer period
or at 25s. 3>1.

When it is remembered how the rent-charge was ori/inally
constituted, the average of each act of payments for the pre-

ceding years being the basis, and a flypd quota of wheat,
barley, and oats being Bxed on as the measure for all future
times of the charges, it is easy to see how the present high
level has been reached.

Perhaps no clearer idea of the way in which the rise on two
of the " thirds" of a £100 rent charge has neu'ralized the drop
in oue of them, and pushed up the total to the present figure,
can be found than by giving the following table :—

Tithe Commutation Value.
Quantity. Price

Bushels. per Bushel.

s. d. £ b. ri.

Wheat 9t.93 7 0* 33 6 8

Barley 168.42 3 11£ 33 6 8

Oats 242.42 2 9 33 6 8

100 0 0

Value.

Value.

Value of Rent Charge, 1880
Quantity. Price

Bushels. per Bushel,
s. d.

Wheat 94 95 6 3£

Barley 168.42 4 10£ 40 17

Oats 242.42 3 24 39 2

£ 8.

29 17

109 17 9
Here, iu terms that I think explain themselves, may be
traced the reason why we pay £109 17s. 9d. now in place of
the £100 of 1836.

But in the fact that in the excess of recorded valnes of birley
and outs lies the real cause of our present high payments, it
becomes all tne more a matter deserving clo»e inquiry, how
these high prices are obtained, and how for tne defects
in the official system which I have enumerated have
arisen, and how they may be removed. Especially
the apparently growing tendency to register only the
highest class ot each grain must effect the results thus
showu, particularly when we remember that, as has been
shown, the sales of only some 1,600,000 quarters of our whole
barley crop enter into the averages, and that sales of no more
than 174,000 quarters of the whole oat crop of England are
taken account of, while a much wider and less exclusive basis
existed in 1836.

In the attempt to investigate the history of the corn ret urns
system, and to understand its merits and its deficiencies, I
have received, I am bound to add, the freest information and
the utmost courtesy from the officers of the Department of
the Board of Trade specially concerned with this question, and
in particular from Mr. Gitfen and Mr. Bateman. 1 hope 1
have laid before the Ctub a fairly intelligible statement of the
characteristics, the faults, and the results of the entire system.
Before the late Parliament was dissolved, Colonel Brise, M.P.
for East Essex, had given notice of a motion for a select com-
mittee to inquire into this matter, and Lord Sandon took
occasion to make it known that it was the intention of the
present Government to grant the inquiry desired. Gra^e
political events have transpired, however, in the past few day*.
I only trust, when the new Parliament re-absembles, we may
find that the new Ministry whom we may then expect to see
in power will be equally ready to listen to the complaints we
pre er in this matter, and grant an exhaustive inquiry into the
working of a system which is so widely believed to be ansatis-
factory, defective, and misleading.

Mr. W. Brown (Triug) said : Having taken great interest
in the subject for some years past, and being much mixed up
with tithe matters, he wished to make one or two observations.
Before the Tithe Commutation Act was passed corn returns
were chiefly used for corn rents. Corn rents were paid in the
case of enclosures with no open field-lands, the amounts being
fixed for periods of fourteen or twenty-one years, and then re-
vised after notice had been given on either side. He had been
employed on many occasions to make fresh calculations, and in
such cases there had always been some di3i;iilty connected
with the Winchester bushel. They always had to make it in
accordance with what the Act of Parliament required it to be.
With regard to the diirerence between the corn used on the
farm and that sold iu the market, he had taken the trouble of
going into that question with a farmer in his own neighbour-
hood who kept good accounts of his produce — which was not

332

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

a common thing among farmers — and was able to tell wh»t
quantity was thrashed and used on the farm, and what quantity
was taken to market ; and in that case it was found that, tak-
ing the average of all the corn thrashed, brought down the
amount last year from £110 to £100. There was another
tiling which "had been mentioned to him by a corn buyer, and
that was the difference between the weight this year and that
iu former yta.Tr. Wheat, for instance, was sold to make up
621b. or 631b., when it probably did not average more than
651b., and it seemed that on the whole there was a d.fference
in weight of 10 per cent. He belonged to a large body of
valuers in his district who met once a year to settle many
points connected with the corn averages, and, taking into
account all kinds grown and thrashed on a farm, they fonud
that the offal, which was very seldom included in the average,
made a difference of 2s. a qr. He should like to urge more
strongly upon the public the desirability of owners paying in-
stead of occupiers. He did not think the occupier ought to
know anything about the tithe. There were unpleasant cir-
cumstances which brought the occupier iuto collision with the
clergyman, and he thought that evil onght to be prevented.
When asked what would be the rent of a farm, he (Mr. W.
Brown) liked to be able simply to say "So much per acre,"
and he thought it would be much more satisfactory if owners
generally were to pay the tithe charge, which he was happy to
say they did generally speaking so far as he was concerned in
the matter.

Mr. T. Owen (Clapton, Hungerford) said he thought the
averages were most unfairly taken. In his own county of
Berks, one of the largest towns, where there was a pitched
market, was entirely left out. He lived between the two towns
of Hungerford and Newbury, having most to do with New-
bury. In each of these towns there was an excellent corn
exchange ; every desk was occupied by a dealer, and dealers
were now so common in the market that it was most unfair to
leave the making of returns in their hands. The returns were
made from all the best samples of corn purchased by the
dealer, the inferior and the tail being generally consumed on
the farm. Corn is bought by many dealers at Newbury to be
resold at Beading, and even as far off as Uxbridge. Newbury
was one of the principal markets out of fifteen that made no
return. In 1790 it was a returning market as well as Beading
and Windsor. Mr. Little would bear him out in saying that
a great deal of the corn purchased at Newbury was forwarded
on to other places, and when they came to add an expense of
transit and the commissions to the actual value of the corn,
they must all feel that the present system was most unfair.
He for one would be very glad to see a change made, and he
thought the best course would be to leave the making of the
returns to the seller instead of the buyer.

Mr. T. Aveling (Bochester) said it appeared to him that
tithes conld only be dealt with satisfactorily in the manner
suggested by Mr. Brown, and that was through the landlords
being required to pay. Landlords would then very soon find
out some better mode of taking the averages, beoause they
could act together and do more to effect improvement than
farmers were able to do. They might rely upon it that if once
the landlords of England had to pay the tithes they would take
care that the averages were properly taken. He quite agreed
with Mr. Brown as to the inexpediency of continuing the
present system. Sectarian prejudice was brought to bear upon
the matter. There were a great many Nonconformist farmers
who did not like paying tithes simply because the money went
to the clergymen. The payment of tithe was, in fact, just as
fair as the payment of rent. When a man purchased a farm
he only bought nine-tenths of its value, and consequently the
tithe remained as a charge on the land. He thought that
every landlord should pay the tithe rentcharge on account of
the feeling against the Established Church that exited among
Nonconformist farmers. In his opinion such a change wonld
be advantageous in many ways. He wished, indeed, that the
landlords could be persuaded into consenting to pay hf»lf the
rates. If the landlords paid one half and the tenants were
left to pay the other, that would get rid of many difficulties
that now prevailed.

Mr. F. Suerborn (BeKont, Hounslow) said he quite
agreed with Mr. Owen that the averages were not taken fairly
at the present time. There could be no doubt that originally
tail corn was not included in the returns any more than it is
bow. But at present, as Mr. Owen remarked, com was resold
over and over again, and a great deal of com which was pur-

chased at Newbury was afterwards sold at Uxbridge and other
places two or three times over. He hoped that tenant farmers
WGuld not in any way be encouraged to rob the Church. One-
tenth was fairly due to the Church from the land, and on that
account it remained as a permanent charge on the land. A
great many landlords in his neighbourhood had land on which
they were now compelled to pay tithe, and it would be very un-
just if they did not pay. (A member : " They must pay.")

Mr. Coleman (Biccoll Hall, York) said he entirely
endorsed Mr. Brown's opinion that it was very desirable, for
the reasons to which he alluded, that the landlords should pay
the tithes, and he was glad to say that in his part of the
country it was very much the practice for them to do so. He
was not quite sure that that practice had stimulated the land-
lords to take the keen interest in the subject which they ought
to take, but the discussions which were now taking place in all
directions might lead to their doing so. Captain Craigie had
well pointed out the liability to errors arising from the variety
of measures and the different modes of selling. He (Mr. J.
Coleman) thought it would be a very great advanUge if
farmers could get some union basis of measure or weight. He
could not help thinking that they took a very mistaken view
when the question of the adoption of the cental was under dis-
cussion, not merely in that club, but in the country generally.
It would be a very easy thing to arrive at the number of
bushels of corn under a system of that kind. He entirely
agreed with Captain Craigie as to the Unfairness in principle
of taking the sales for the purpose of making returns and
omitting the corn consumed on the farm, but he had not yet
been able to see how the Government could avoid that arrange-
ment. He was afraid that the system which was in operation
in Scotland would not be found to answer in this country.
Self-interest was such a verv powerful lever, that he doubted
whether men were as a body honest enough to be safely left to
make their own returns. At the same time he thought that
bodies like the Farmers' Club and the Central Chamber of
Agriculture mieht do great service to agriculture by obtaining
statistics as to the proportions of different kinds of grain and
the comparative value of what was consumed on the farm, and
what was sold. Such statistics might lead to a basis lor deduc-
tions being made from the prices of sales which would remove
much of the injustice under which farmers were now suffering.

Mr. J. Wood (Ocley Manor, Keymer, Sussex) said he
believed that some tenant farmers preferred paying the tithes
themselves to having them paid by the landlord, because it
gave them an opportunity of badgering the parson (laughter).
He owned so little land that he was able to take quite a dis-
interested view of that question. He quite agreed with Mr.
Owen that it was very desirabl that the grower of grain should
make the return. He knew from his own experieuce that
many buyers made no returns, and it would therefore much
facilitate the operations of the revenue oilieers if the growers
made the return iustead of the purchasers. For some years he
carried on a mill, and was in the habit of buying corn regularly
and during that period he never made any return, and was
nrver asked to make one. That was an illustratiou of the
fact that a great many people who bought corn made no re-
turn of it. As to the question who should pay the tithes,
that must be a matter of bargain between the landlord and the
tenant; but, as he had before intimated, there were tenants
who seemed to like to have a sort of pull on the parson
(laughter). At the present time a great deal of wheat in the
county of Sussex was sold at 60 lb. per bushel, though it did
not weigh more than about 50 lb., the object of the owner
being apparently to make it appear that they made thus much
of their wheat. Now that wheat was thrashed with the aid
of steam power, different parts of a stack often varied very
much in quality. Farmers on selliug their corn by sample
ought to give correct information respecting it to the buyer.
He (Mr. Wood) invariably had three sacks taken from an,
average parts of the stack measured up and weighed, and at
the average weight of these three stacks the bulk was weighed
off. The millers were always willing to buy of him and ha
thought they frequently gave him a better price than they
would if they were left in uncertainty about the weights. He
thought all corn should be sold per Imperial bushel but the
aproximating weights if declared ought to be delivered as a
bushel ; this would facilitate business. The Government had
been aiming at that, but they had not yet been able to itiduce
people in all parts ol the country to sell by the same measure.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

333

Mr. T. Rose (Melton Magna, Norfolk) said that had been
a rather pet hubj'-ct of his, and some year-j since lie wrote to
show that all returns should be given by the seller imd not by
the buyer. They had not yet come to that state of things, and
it almost appeared as if they never would. It now seemed to
be a general opinion among farmers that the tithes ought to
be paid by the landowners. If such were the case, he did not
think the £100 would exceed £100, but he felt certain that
the averages would be taken in a more satisfactory manner. If
tenants were to continue paying the tithes, let the amount be
fixed at £100 for the clergyman, nothing more and nothing
less.

The Chairman, in his closing remarks, said he thought
they had had a very fair discussion on the excellent paper of
Captain Craigie, and he would only add a few observations as
to the unraimess of the averages as now taken, in consequence
of much inferior corn used at home by the farmer not being
taken into consideration at all. He happened to live in a
district where corn returns were taken at his market — Ayles-
bury. He had sold 104fc qrs. of wheat this year at an average
of 43s. per qr. ; he had used for stock 123 qrs., valued at
33s. 3d. per qr. ; he had sold 111 qrs. of barley, at an average
of 45J. 6d. ; and had used 123ij qrs., valued at 313. per qr.
That was his own experience in the last year, and he had
found that what had occurred in his own case generally
occurred to others who were engaged in the same line of
business. He thought that when the averages were taken in
that way it was a very fictitious affair, leading the country at
large to suppose that farmers were getting a price for their
corn which they were not getting by some shillings per
quarter. He did not know much personally about tithes,
never having had a farm in respect of which tithes were pay-
able. In his case the tithe was merged, in the manner
referred to by Mr. Wood, in the land, so that he did Dot get
either an advantage or a disadvantage. If a landlord did not
pay tithe the tenant paid so much less rent ; it was sure to be
taken into acconnt. They were all very much indebted to
Captain Craigie for the trouble which he must have taken in
collecting his statistics, and he wished there had been a
larger meeting to listen to the paper.

Capt. Craigie, in replying, said he had in fact very little
to answer. He had intended to provoke criticism, but there
had been very little of it, partly, he supposed, because his
paper was full of figures, which could not be readily
appreciated at the meeting. The discussion had insisted
chiefly on the question whether it would not be better if prices
were obtained from the grower instead of the buyer. He had
purposely avoided entering very fully into the question of
remedies, his main object being to show how the present
system had grown up and what was its effect. He
wished to impress upon those whom he addressed what was
the idea or. intention of the Legislature in makicg the tithe
dependent upon so much wheat, so much barley, or so much
oats. Instead of a currency of so many pounds, shillings, and
pence, what was taken as the basis was a substitute in the shape
of corn. The commutation represented the exact equivalent of
money formerly paid, and tail corn not being originally included
it was only the increase in home consumption since 1836
which made the official values wrong- Under the Scotch
system of making returns, referred to by one of the speakers,
returns were made both by the grower and the buyer, and that
afforded some security for honesty. Whether the landlord
should pay the tithe or not was, of course, open to argument,
but he did not think the point introduced by the chairman
affected the matter. If an alteraaion were made the rates
could be easily adjusted. He did not agree with Mr. Brown
that corn returns were originally chiefly used for corn rents ;
he thought they had more directly to do with the sliding
scale of duties on corn.

Mr. Glenmy proposed a vote of thanks to Capt. Cragie for
his able and exhaustive paper. The subject had been dis-
cussed at various times and in various places ; but Capt,
Craigie had given them a great deal of valuable, information
which they did not possess before, and had placed before the
Club in an interesting shape a mass of useful and instructive
statistics which he felt sure when printed would be appreciated
by a large cumber of readers. He desired to reecho what
had fallen from their worthy chairman, when he said that
doubtless the excitement around and in the provinces had
tended to diminish the audience oh this occasion. But those

who hnd attended had been well repaid by the way the sub-
ject had beon treated.

Dr. Voelcker, in seconding the motion, said ha was sure
that when the paper appeared in print it would be read with
considerable interest by the members generally, and he hoped
it would lead to discussion on the sabject in the agricultural
papers. He would be glad to see grain sold, as almost every-
thing else was, by weight. He could never understand what
were the objections to the sale of corn or anything else in
that way, nor could he understand why the cental had not
been accepted. In a season like the last, when the weight of
a bushel of grain varied as much as the Chairman had stited,
it would be a useful thing if they could avoid the old false
results of measure. At Wuburn in the last harvest the best
samples of wheat did not come up to more than 541b. per
bushel, while a large portion was only fit to be used as chicken
corn. Some of the wheat weighed as low as 601b. per bushel.
With such variations, how could there be correct returns of
corn without weight ?

The motion was then put and carried, and Capt. Craigif
afterwards returned thanks.

On the motion of Mr. J. Druce, seconded by Mr. Chef-
fins, a vote of thanks was given to the Chairman for coming
up to London to preside at such a period, and the meeting
then separated.

THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE AT

LEWES.

On Tuesday, April 6, a meeting of the Alliance wa3
held at the Star Hotel, Lewes, for the purpose of ex-
plaining the objects of the Association. The chair was
occupied by Mr. William Egerlon Hubbard, jun.

The Chairman said the object of their meeting that day
was to form, if possible, a Committee of the Alliance in
East Sussex ; and it was not his part to explain the pro-
gramme, or to do anything more than to introduce the subject
to them. He thought that the importance of the subject
would be admitted by all, and that the gravity of the crisis
which they had reached in agricultural matters fully justified,
at all events, the free discussion of any means which could be
proposed to alleviate the present distress, for one could not
speak of it in lighter terms than that. If they looked over
the papers of the Farmers' Alliance, they would see on it
names that were a guarantee that it was a movement spring-
ing solely from farmers, and was a bona fide movement. He
thought the names of Howard and Fowler, and many others,
were a guarantee that it was a bona fide movement, started
by farmers for the benefit of farmers. He dared say that in
these days, when they had been so long in the thick of
elections, and had still an election pending in that very place,
it was difficult to get people to believe that it was not a
political dodge on one side or another. He could only say it
was certainly not so. If it ever became a party movement,
it would be the fault of whichever party first repudiated it
(Hear, hear). The Alliance had been brought forward by
farmers for certain objects, and certainly those were political
objects, but it was not necessary that all politics should be
necessarily party politics (Hear, hear). All the items put
d'jwn in the programme were acknowledged on all sides to be
matters of urgency, and on distinctly political matters
it had been acknowledged by both sides to be necessary
for some movement to take place. As far as regarded the
agricultural matters, an Agricultural Holdings Act had
been introduced into the late Parliament, a Couuty
Government Bill had been introduced, and the reform of
the Land L;iws was the first ohject put forward in the
Queeu's Speech ol this year. Therefore he thought they
might fairly say that the object for which tie Farmers' Alli-
anco was formed was not and should not be considered as the
means to put forward the politics of any party, but as the
politics of the greatest interest in this nation (Hear hear).
He did not think he need say anything more belore introduc-
ing a gentleman who would better explain than he could the
objects of this Association. There was something over half
a million of tenant farmers iu England, and it was believed
that something like three-fourths of the land in Eugland was
farmed without any leases, and simply on the sis mouths'

334

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

notice The arrangement or bills for improving the state of
the tenant farmer— he did not mean to say his material state
but the state of contract and the sort of contract he entered
into and under *hich the soil of England was tilled and
farmed— had been the subject of discussion in the House ot
Commons for very many years. They might go back 30 years
when Mr Pueey's Bill was passed by the Commons, and
thrown out by the Lords, and at one time or another this
subject had been continually before the House. The Land-
lord and Tenant Bill introduced some time ago by Mr.
Howard and Mr. Clare Reade, who were practical farmers, in
order to solve a difficult question, was taken up by the present
Government and formed the basis of the Agricultural Holdings
Act They were not there that afternoon to discuss that Act
or any other Act of Parliament ; but they were there to discuss
matters upon a broad and practical basis, and not to air any
particular crotchets of their own, or upon local matters ; but
to discuss simply whether any change could practically be
made in the tenure of land and in the contract between land-
lord and tenant, as well as certain other questions. Those
iiuestions would be. explained to them by Mr. James Youngman,
a farmer, of Suffolk, and a member of the Farmers' Alliance
Committee, whom he would now introduce to the meeting.

Mr James Youugman said he thought he should do right
by commencing his remarks bv reading the nine items in the
programme of the Farmers' Alliance. He was not sure that
the farmers in this part of the country had anything to com-
plain of. They may have been fortunate enough to have
lived all their lives without having much to grumble about (a
laugh) • but he confessed to them that having been a tenant
farmer for some 25 year«, he had had reason to complain of
many things and he had noticed thut there were farmers on all
sides who had had very good reason for grumbling but never
had they had so much reason for grumbling as at the present
time (cheers). And what was to be done on their behalf
was the question which should be most seriously considered by
them (Hear, hear). Not that there were not some farmers
who were thriving ; and it might be that there were some who
were so thoroughly contented that it might be thought that
every provision was made for their requirements, politically
and commeicially, that they would not move in the matter;
but his experience had been of late in attending the meetings
of the Farmers' Alliance that there were a great many farmers
who were dissatisfied, and they did take.very much interest in
what was brought before them as likely to lead to their advan-
tage (Hear, hear). He had been in the habit of attending
many meetings of fanners for many years. For instance, he
had attended many meetings of one of the largest
chambers of agriculture in the country and he
had been a deputy for that chamber to the Central Lharaber
of agriculture. While, however, he did not wish to speak in
disparagement of chambers of agriculture, he had expected
something of them, but he must coufess that they did not do
m uch , and he could only now look upon th im as very respectable
debating societies. As such they would probably tend to the
education of some of the farmers, but tor real work, he
confessed that he had no hope for the chambers of agriculture.
He had looked to the Hoase of Lords for something to be
done for tenant farmers, for surely there, where the landed
interest was so largely represented, the farmers, he thought,
had a right to expect something (Hear, hear). But nothing
had come. He had looked, too, to the House of Commons,
and he thought the farmers were warranted in
expecting something from that quarter, but so far as the
House of Lords and the House of Commons were concerned,
notwithstanding the promises which hud been given, very
little had really been done (Hear, hear). He should like to
see the farmer who could tell him what had been done for the
good of the farmers. He thought the House of Lords had
been utterly indifferent to the requirements of the farmers. It
was not so much, perhaps, from want of heart as want of
thought. It was, perhaps, for the want of a few practical
farmers by them that they had not from time to time done
something for the farmers. With regard to the Agricultural
Holdings Act, which the Chairman had alluded to, he regarded
it as a confession on the part of the House of Lords that
something was needed, and that the conditions under which
farmers held land were not what they should be (Hear, hear).
His opinion was that something like what used to be called
Temnt Bight ought still to exist. He liked that term,
because be did not think that Tenant Right meant the land-

lord wrong, or wrong to anybody (Hear, hear). They had
been cheated by the Agricultural Holdings Act but although
that Act was drawn so much in favour of the landlord?, and
gave the landlords so much power over the tenant, still that
landlordly Bill was rejected by the landlords themselves,
almost as soon as it was put before them (applause). He
had known men, however, who, being tenant farmers, had
been indifferent to the wants of farmers, although nine out ot
ten of them had had cases under their own eyes in which the
farmers suffered v.-ry considerably from want of freedom in
their operations and compensation for unexhausted improve-
ments. Aud why should farmers be exposed to such things p
It was true that he had been told that the matter was in their
own hands, and that the farmers could make their own bar-
gains. WeP, there was more truth in that statement now
than there had ever been before. They hoped that better
times would come for the farmers soon, but he feared that
when the better times and hetter seasons did come, unless
they had better Land Laws, too, tenant farmers would again be
very much at the mercy of the landlords, and wt^uld not be
able to derive that benefit from the better times which they ought
to. They might be able to make their own bargains as was
sa'd, but no man had a right to be free to wrong another
(Hear, hear). To license a man to be a pickpoeket.or to give
a man the security ot the law to take from another man what
did not belong to him, was a thing that ought not to be. But
he asked thein what the state of things was with regard to
landlord and tenant ? Was it not as he had indicated, that
the landlords were licensed to pick the pockets vf their tenants
with impunity ? He did cot say this with any spirit of
censure towards the landlords ; nor did he say that all land-
lords did take advantage of their tenants, but the very fact
that tenant farmers were exposed to that kind of thing was
what they objected to. The fact that tenants were not sale
was what they complained about (Rear, hear). And while
these things existed, they knew that agriculture could not
thrive in this country, exposed as it was to the competition of
other countries. They might have good seasons asain, such
as they had in times gone by, but he could not look forward
to agricultural prosperity so long as there was any law
remaining which made tenants unsafe— (Hear, hear) — and so;
long as lie could not be compensated from getting out of the
land all that science and good seasons would enable him to-
produce. He wanted the tenant farmer to be free to nse all
his skill and all the eapital he could upon the land he rented,
and to lay it out in a better manner than he could now do.
There were some good landlords, and some, he knew, who
were almost ready to let their land rent free to get it weir
cultivated, and the farmers who rented under such landlords
were able to thrive evfn in the bad times which they had
latterly gone through ; but he was sorry to say that toe*
miny tenant farmers of that class were too roneh disponed
to fold their arras and show themselves indifferent to the-
sufferings of their less fortunate fellow farmers. He had
heard such men say that they had nothing to complain of, and
they had no need to stir themstlves in such matters, but he
thought that sounded too much like the cry of those who
said, '' I rare not who sinks so long as I swim." He thought
a f«r nobler feeling was that of the old Roman, who saidr
" Whatever concerns my fellow-men concerns me" (Hear,,
hear). He thought it was wrong that tenant-farmers, even
though they might have little to complain of themselvesr
should be indifferent to the injustice suffered by others ; and
it was time they should be combined together with a view t(v
obtain the redress they required (Hear, hear)*. That wa9 what
the Farmer/ Alliance had been established for. As far as he
had been able to learn, this was a combination entered into
for the simple purpose of benefiting the tenant-farmers of
this country, and he had not seen that it assumed anything'
of a party colour at all (Hear, hear). As their Chairman
had said, there was that tendency in politics afe the present
time which induced men to make a party cry of almost any-
thing, and he had recently seen the cat-o' -nine-tails lifted to
the dignity of a party flag. So it was possille for one party
to construe this movement into being the psrty cry ol another
party, and it might be that one party might predominate ; but
he hoped that the. things asked for by the Farmers' Alliance
were things such as would be taken up by both parties
(applause), and tha.t both would endeavour to see the pro-
gramme carried out. He had seen Conservative candidates
and Conservative Members who were ready to support these

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

335

que.8'ion8. lie confessed, however, that thry were matters
which were more readily takpn up by the Liberals (?*ear,
hear). But the wants of tenant-farmers had been ignored on
both sides. He believed, too, the farmers had ignored their
own wants to a great extent. The farmers, as far as he knew,
had never taken a position for themselve*, they had never put
their foot down and said, " We want such-and-such a thing,
and we will luve it." He believed in the old saving that
Heaven helped those who helped themselves, and if the tenant-
farmers would not help themselves they could not expect
others to help them (Hear, hear). Therefore, as they had
not helped themselves the Conservatives had not helped them.
They had found many who were ready to say they would
support this and that measure ; but he wished he could say
that many of those had not deceived them (Hear, hear).
Referring again to the Agricultural Holdings Act, he said
he was in despair when he read the last speech of Lord
Beaconsfield in the House of Lords. When he heard
that Lord Beaconsfield said he would come back into power
again, how he flattered the farmers, and spoke of their
patience and perseverance, and said they must wait for better
times, he never felt more mocked in his life (Hear, hear). He
confessed that he felt indignant, and he should be inclined to
rejoice that Lord Beaconsfield was going out of power now
that another party was goiug to take np the Government of
the country. But if this ne*v party should prove themselves
to be no better than the party going out, he hoped they would
soon have the " good bye " given to them, too (Hear, hear)
There was land in this conntry that was not worth cultivating
unless there was a Tenant Kight, and he had seen some of the
sort in his way from London that day. He did not wonder
that tenant farmers did not invest their capital in such land
under present conditions. Many tenant farmers would have
done better if they had taken 200 acres instead of 400, for
they could then have expended all their capital on that land
aud niHde the homesteads yield four times the produce it now
yielded. If they worked out the problem they would see how
much this would benefit not only tenant farmers but farm
labourers, because there would be more of them employed, and
not only in the country but in the towns also. With better
land law ^ ^riculture might yet achieve prosperity in this
conntry. vVell, they must combine together. They did not
ask for protection. They only asked for a free field and no
favour — (hear, hear) and they mnst get the House of Commons
to give it them. They did not want protection. That would
bring hunger to some, and it might bring a " burst" toothers
but they might depend upon it that the hunger would come
to too many. He thanked God that reciprocity and protection
had gone from them ; and if they had the other rights and
advantages which they were entitled to, they would be able to
compete with America ; and there mnst be something wrong
if they conld not do as well as their fathers had
done if the? had favourable seasons (hear, hear). Allud-
ing to the reforms which they required in regard to the Game
Laws, he said he did not object to a gentleman taking his gun
ont to make a bag of game, so long as he did it to earnhealth
as well as his bag of game, but when he saw a waggon going
with him, he could not stand that (Hear, hear). True sport
was when a gentleman would honestly walk for his bag of
game, and earn hea'th at the same time. Bat to have their
land overrun with game was not all. Thefamers suffered great
annoyance from the gamekeepers, who were constantly slan-
dering the labourers, and farmers had sometimes to discharge
their best labourers through the interference of the game-
keepers. Further than that the gams induced many young men
to become poachers, the temptation being too great for them.
Another consideration was that half of the time of many
country magistrates was spent in hearing poaching cases, and
if the Game Laws were abolished their occupation would be
gone. They wanted the landlords to study the interests of the
tenants. He was afraid to say what those who had promised
to be their friends had done for them, for what they had done
really was that where they had managed to take 9d. off, they
had put Is. on (Heat, hear, and laughter). Then, again, the
Education Act was not what it should be ; and if there had
been a sprinkling of tenant farmers in the House of Commons
it never would have been what it was now. Mr. Lowe had
given the right warning *ith regard to education when he said
that the proper basis for the levying of an education rate was
■ M lucome-Tax (Hear, hear). He concluded by urging upon
the tenant farmers to return men to represent them iu Parlia-

ment, and he hoped there were many present prepared to join
the Aliance and to form a local organioation (applause).

Mr. William B. Bear, the Secretary of the Alliance, in
addressing the meeting, said unfortunately it had been fixed
during the General Election, and, therefore, many of their most
active friends in Sussex were unable to be present, beiug awiy
voting in Mid-Kent. One gentleman, he might mention, had
written to him to say he had obtained 15 new members of the
Alliance, but he conld not be present upon that occasion for
that very reason. The election when announced had fallen
upon them as a surprise. They were not prepared for it.
The Alliance had only been established nine months, and it
was their wish to have Committees in every county, so that
pressure might have been placed upon candidates by local
men. That, however, they had not been able to accomplish
but still, in spite of it, it was quite astonishing the amount of
influence the Alliance had exercised in the county elections.
Having read the questions which the Alliance had put to
candidates, he naid a large number had answered them. In
East Kent all three of the candidates had become members
of the Alliance. In Mid-Kent the two Liberal candidates had
answered very satisfactorily the others had not. Iu West
Kent, one member of their Alliance had unfortunately failed
to get returned, and the other candidate, Mr. Bompas, had
put their programme pretty well into his address. The
Alliance, altogether, he thought, had shown that it had had
a very great influence on the elections. Sixty-one members
of the Alliance had been or were candidates for Parliamentary
honours; 32 had already been returned, and 11 had been de-
feated, amongst whom, he was sorry to say, had been their
friend Mr. Hubbard, whose election they were very
anxious for. But he had made a very good fight (a Voice
" He's sure next time "). They expected to get over 40 Mem-
bers into the House, and if they did that a very great fact
would have been accomplished, considering the short time
they have been established. It was quite sufficient to show
farmers what they conld accomplish by combination (Hear,
hear). This, however, would not bear comparison with what
they could have done had they had a Committee in every
county and in every division. He was sorry to say that in
some counties where they had members, either through in-
activity or apathy, no such Committee had been appointed.
They were desirous of getting one in Sussex, and would try
to do so after the election was over. There were 219 county
Members in England, Scotland, and Wales, and the farmers
had it in their power to choose nearly the whole of these. If
farmers would only combine they would have such an enormons
influence in the House that they might carry everything before
them (Hear, hear). Now was the time for farmers to join
together, for never had such an iuterest been taken in agri-
cultural reform as at present (Cheers).

Mr. Roper, one of the electors for East Sussex, and living
in the neighbourhood of Tunbric'ge Wells, proposed the fol-
lowing resolution : — "That, in the opinion of this meeting
the Farmers' Alliance as an Association of agricultural re.
formers, with objects independent of party politics, deserves
the support of all who desire to see the legal and customary
hindrances to agricultural prosperity removed. " He happened,
about two years ago, to receive from this soc:ety an invitation
to attend one of the earliest meetings held for the formation of
the Alliance. He met on that occasion their chairman, Mr.
James Howard, who was one of the most able representatives
of the farmers of England. He had been already most favour-
ably known in the House of Commons, and his utterances on
all occasions had shown that he was well aware of the im-
portance of the tenant farmer class of England (Hear, hear).
Associated with him, they had the representative of the
Northern Isle, Mr. Barclay, the Member for Forfarshire, and
Mr. R. P. Blennerhas8ett from Ireland.

Mr. William Hall seconded the resolution, and in doing so
stated that he approved of the general programme of the
Farmers' Alliance. With reference to the question of the
Alliance beiug a movement quite irrespective of anything like
party politics, he remarked very likely it was, but he ventured
to lay before that meeting two propositions upon the subject.
First, that the tenant farmers of this county were very unlikely
to have anything done for them until they exerted themselves,
and next, that according to the necessities of party warfare
there were very few things of any importance that were only
obtained by a strict alliance between the farmers, It must

333

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

be admitted, without going into any detail question that the
one great thing which was proraineut beyond all others was
the question of security, botli for the tenure of the farmers
holding land, also for the capital which might he invested.
That was the basis of the whole thing (applaud), and the real
question therefore was, what was the use of a great power,
whether it be in County Government Boards or m the
selection of a reprenentative to serve, in the House of Com-
mons unless their franchise was based upon security of tenure
in the holdings which they mu*t have. They would tend as
time went on and tenant farmers had greater becurity of tenure
and less risk, that thev would become a large and important
factor, whore opinions would be sought and asked m all
political matters. To the accomplishment of that end he
should be very glad to devote any political power he possessed
(applause).

Mr. T. Bolton, of Heathfield, moved the second resolution
—"That it is desirable to organise a Committer of the Alii.
ance in Sossr-x, with a view to increase the number of mem-
bers of the Association, as well as to watch over the interests
of farmers in the county." He thought the fact that this
meeting had been held as it were a day or two after the fair
— after the majority of polls had been taken those most inte-
rested had not thought it worth while to come. No doubt
it had been caPed at an exceedingly inconvenient time, and as
it had been called without reference to party politics, co doubt
it did not interest party politicians. It did not interest the
men who were contesting two of the seats of that county. He
was not going to make anything like a party speech himself.
He was a decided politician, and as far as he could in his
own district, which was about 15 or 16 miles from there, he
did all he could to give practical effect to his own views on
the questions of the day (Hear, hear). They had had six years
of Conservative Government, when they supposed they had
their friends in power. Now, no donbt, they were about to
have a period of Liberal Government, and after the experience
they had had of their connection with Conservative politicians
and the care they had taken of the farmers' interests, they
would be bound to take some action to bring pressure to bear
upon the Liberal Government, and if they were willing to
carry out their views and support the agriculturist— which
time would show— the agriculturists must take their stand
with them (applause). That could only be done by forming
committees. If they had had a strong committee in East
Sussex, which he believed they might have done if the matter
had been taken in hand in time, he thought it would have
been possible to have had politicians before the constituency
who would have commanded a larger amount of support than
perhaps those gentlemen did who were now before them. He,
in conclusion, called upon them to organise.

Mr. White seconded the resolution, and a vote of thanks
to the Chairman terminated the proceedings.

MR

C S. READ'S VINDICATION OF HIS
PARLIAMENTARY CAREER.

At Diss on April 1st, Mr. C. S. Head spoke as
follows : —

Mr. Chairman and gentlemen: I thank you very much for
the kind reception that you have given me on this occasion.
It is very cheering indeed to be so well received in this room,
because you are perfectly well aware that in this election con-
test the whole force and strength of our adversaries has been
devoted to damaging me. The other day, at Harleston, a
gentleman said to me, " Don't come here to praise yourself,'
and I answered him that I came there on purpose. I
come here for the same reason— not, I hope, in a bumptious
aud conceited spirit, but really to answer those indefinite
charges that have been brought against rae. You must very
welfknow that during the last year or two, in the extreme
Radical press, I have been subjected to a course of anonymous
criticism that I do not think I deserve, and to which I hope
you will say that I did not ought to have been subjected. I
do not care so much about those anonymous scribblers— but
as my hon. opponent, Mr. Gtirdon, has at his public meetings
asked what have I done for the farmer during the last sis
years in the late Parliament, I come here to tell him and to
tell you, what I have done. I will say this, and I hope you
will not think it very egotistical, I believe that I have done

more than any other private member of Parliament — not,
mind you, in consequence of my ability or assiduity, but s-.mply
by the peculiar position that I hold there. I am the only
English tenant-farmer in the House of Commons — and, there-
fore, a certain amount of work generally devolves upon me
which wonld, in the usual way, be distributed among several
members. When Mr. Gurdon asks me what I have done, I
say this — that during the last six years, and also during the
fifteen years that 1 have had the honour of representing this
great agricultural constituency in Parliament, I ha«e en-
deavoured honestly and earnestly to serve yon. Yon must
remember that when a new member goes to Parliament, he
must take some notice of the leaders that are there — I don't
mean the political leaders exactly, but the leaders of certain
different — well, what some people call crotchets, or, a? I would
aay, difft-rent farmers' grievances. When 1 went to Parlia-
ment first, Sir i)'itzroy Kelly was the leader of the Anti-Malt
Tax movement, and when he became a judge, his mantle
descended by right upon his lieutenant, Sir Walter Barttelot ;
and, therefore, [ was only a subordinate Malt Tax repealer in
the House of Commons. In the same way, with regard to
Local Taxation, ray friend, Mr. Albert Pell, the member for
Leicestershire, has always been justly regarded as the leader
of that movement. There are other gentlemen, like Mr.
Chaplin — who claim, and justly claim, a fore-
most position in the advocacy of agricultural
matters. For myself I can only say that as I happened,
directly after my first return to Parliament, to be placed upon
the Cattle Plague Commission, it seemed to me to be some
part of ray mission to look after the cattle diseases of this
country, and to protect your flocks and herds from foreign
diseases. That position I have maintained, and I believe
successfully maintained ; but, with regard to other matters, I
consider myself only one of the rank and file of the agri-
cultural party in the House of Commons, and it would be
impudence in rae if I was to assume to lead the agricultural
party on every question. Well, you must remember that
directly after the last election I had the honour of lei ig
offered a seat at the Local Government Board by the Prine
Minister. I consulted a good many of my friends in the
country, and they said that I ought to accept it. I acc< pt 'd it
conditionally — the condition being that when I spoke to my
constituents I should be at liberty to express my own vie*s—
but I told them at the time, as I knew, that whin in the
Honse of Commons I could only speak when allowed and vote
as I was told. Of course when certain matters came before
us which I did not approve, and which were supporled bv the
Government, I was nnder the necessity of walking out of the
House, and not voting at all ; but I would say that during the
eighteen months I was in office I think that the Government
did a good stroke of business for the general public, and also
for the farmers of this country. You must remember, as my
hon. colleague, has told you, the first thing they did was to
transfer two millions of money from our rales to the Imperial
Revenue. My hon. opponent, Mr. Gurdon, says this u is a
legacy of the Liberal Government, and, therefore, one would
think that it was paid only once, but it is paid annually ; it
has been paid six times over ; it is not a legacy that iB paid
only once, but every year these two millions come from the
national exchequer in aid of local rates. Then the Govern
ment, in the interest of the community, abolished the sugar
duties, something like two millions and a quarter. I do not
for one moment dispute that this has been an advantage to the
consuming public, but I will also honestly confess that if I
had not been in the Government I should have tried to run
malt against sugar ; I think the farmers should then have had
a turn, and instead of the two millions and a quarter being
taken off sugar that sum should have been applied to tho
reduction'of the Malt Tax ; still, iu justice, I ought to say, that
considering the way in which the sugar duties had been so
largely rednced, and the small revenue they brought iu, it
was a pity to hamper an important trade and manufacture
with these fiscal restrictions, in order to raise only two millions
ana a quarter of money. It was well if it could be spared
to emancipate the trade asd manufacture of sugar from these
restrictions, and the Government no doubt acted wisely, buf at
the same time I think they wouM have done more wisely had
they given ns the benefit instead of the general public. Then,
the Government abolished the horse duty, which brought in
half a million, and although, perhaps, that was not such a
great boou to agriculturists, to the hard-worked professional

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

337

men and traders of a town like this it must have been a very
considerable benefit. There was the Agricultural Holdings
Act, which it his pleased some to term a useless and inefficient
measure. During the passage of that Act, when a motion
was nndetn'it it should be compulsory, I of course thought
that it ought to be made compulsory, and being in the
Government I did not vote ; but, after that was settled, I
thought it my duty to assist the Government in Committee
in passing the Bill. It was a Bill almost word
for word, and clause for clause, similar to one that Mr.
Howard and I introduced in a former Parliament ;
I consider that, as far as it goes, it is a good Act—
and I do trust that when the new Parliament assembles the
suggestion of my hon. colleague will be carried out, and that
it will be made compulsory. My ideas have never been shaken
on this one point — that compensation for unexhausted im-
provements should be given to the tenant, either by lease, by
agreement, by the custom of the country, or by this Agri-
cultural Holdings Act ; in some form or another he should be
as secure of the money which he puts into the soil as when
that money is in his breeches pocket. I don't think I need
tell you much more of what I did when I was in the Govern-
ment. One year I sat on the Adulteration Committee — I
was chairman of the committee— and the next year Government
brought in a Bill, which I think, since it was passed into an
Act, has done considerable good. It has prevented an immense
amount of fraudulent adulteration which was practised,
especially upon the common food of the peoplp, and I believe
it has done this without inflicting any vexations restrictions
upon the manufacture of any article. There was a little Bill
which probably you may have forgotten, that was brought in
by the Local Government Board when I was there — a Bill for
the Assessment of Game, Woodlands, and Mines. I believe in
this part of the world we have not much game, but in certain
districts there is a good deal, which greatly depreciates the
a gricultural value of the land. Now, before the passing of
that Act, if the landlord kept this game in his own hands, you
could only assess the land at what it was worth with the game
upon it ; but this Act enables you to assess it at what it is
worth to let to the tenant if the game was not there. The
consequence has been in some cases the assessments have been
raised 5s. or 10s- an acre. la the North, too, there were
thousands upon thousands of pounds invested in mines that
did not pay one sixpence towards the local rates, and which
have now to contribute their share. This was a very consider-
able improvement, and one which though not particularly
benefiting to this county has effected a targe measure of justice
in other districts. You will remember that I was not at the
Local Government Board above eighteen months. I considered
that the Government certainly did not attend sufficiently to
the cattle diseases in Ireland ;— we had very strict regulations
here for the slaughter of all cattle when they were affected
with pleuro-pneumonia, and received only half the value in the
shape of compensation, whilst in Ireland there was no law at
all in force, and, with regard to the extinction of pleuro-pneu-
monia, I said it was ridiculous to suppose that we in Norfolk
should go on burdening ourselves to try and get rid of the
disease unless it was attacked at its source in Ireland ; I said
the experiment ought to be tried, and the officials in London
said it could not. I replied that I was certain it could be tried in
Ireland as well as here.but the Government stood by the officials.
The result was Iquitted theGovernment. The moment I was out I
submitted a resolution to the House of Commons, in which I
said that all the Privy Council Orders should cease to be
varying, and that they should be universally extended to all
parts of Great Britain and Ireland. The Government
accepted that resolution in its spirit, and the result was that,
six months after I left the. Government, the very thing that it
was said could not be done was done — the legislation that was
considered impracticable wa3 extended to Ireland, and has
acted very well. Then, at that time, we had an outbreak of
cattle plague, and I considered that the Privy Council had not
exercised those special powers given it under the Cattle
Diseases Act, Mr. Pell and I went to the Duke of Richmond.
We said that if he did not at once put in force those extraor-
dinary powers, and supersede what we considered the
inautlicient action of the Local Authority in the Metropolis,
we should certainly brin» the question before the House of
Commons. The result was that the Privy Council did take
those extraordinary powers ; it proceeded to " stamp out " the
cattle plague, which in a very few weeks was extinct. The

question also arose whe'her the old Cattle Diseases Act was
sufficient. I considered that, it never was. We had a debate
in the House in which I pointed out thtt it was necessary
that steps should be taken to appoint a committee to investi-
gate it. The Government granted the committee. They were
good enough to ask me to sit on it; bnt I thought I could
best serve you by giving evidence before it. I did so ; I was
under examination by the committee one whole day, aud I
felt proud to find, when they gave their report, that every
suggestion I had made was embodied in their recommendations.
Well, next I took upon myself to move a resolution in the
House of Commons to the effect that no settlement of Local
Taxation would be satisfactory that did not include a good
County Representative Board, and, although the Government
in the first instance did not very much like it, they came to
see its force before the division ; they acceded to it, and it
was passed unanimously by the House of Commons. There
it stands, a record that we ratepayers throcghout England
consider it necessary that in the expenditure of our county
rate we should have a voice and a representation, which, as
you know, we don't now possess. After the passing of this
resolution, the Government brought in two bills, which I
considered perfectly inadequate to meet the case, and I did
not hesitate to criticise and to condemn them. Therefore,
when my opponents tell me that I have done nothing, and'
said nothing, and that I am so much of a party man that I
don't say when our party is in office what I say when they are
in opposition, I contend that I have proved to vou already
that I have taken a most independent, and 1 would also say,
manly and straightforward, course in vindicating what I con-
sidered the just rights of my constituents. Well, the Govern-
ment introduced two Valuation Bills, and I opposed both. I
most seriously object, and I think the ratepayers, and
especially Boards of Gnardians, would very much object to
the Surveyor of Taxes being introduced into Assessment Com-
mittees. He may be an extremely good servant to Assessment
Committees, but if he is to be their equal, which means that
he is to be their master— I am quite Bure we are better with-
out him. Then we had the Highways Act, which is not, I
believe, very popular in the county of Norfolk. I objected' to
that measure as far as I could, and I introduced one clause in
it, which I believed, if it could be worked, might be of some
benefit. There is always a question after you have
passed an Act of Parliament whether it will work or
not. I suggested a clause in this Act with regard
to exceptional traffic— that if you have a traction engine
continually running over the same road and destroying
it, or_ if there is extensive building going on, or if
wood is felled and the removal of the timber cuts up the road
it should be in the power of the surveyor of the district to
summon the party before the justices, and make him contri,
bute towards th* repairs of the road which he had so greatly
injured. As my hon. colleague has told you, we had the
other day a game debate iu the House of Commons, and he
and I voted with Sir William Harcourt, who moved " That
it is expedient now to amend the Game Laws." I took up
the Norfolk News just now, and observed that some ignorant
man has called attention to how I voted. Wei', that is how
I voted, and I believe that is how you wished me to vote. I
was consulted by the Chancellor of the Exchequer as to the
Dog Tax. He did not quite take my view, which was that I
thought all fancy and sporting dogs should pay a tax of 10s.,
and that our stock and shepherds' dogs ought to be entirely
exempt from taxation. He has been good enough to remit us
that taxation, and I also hope that some day or other he, or
some other Ciianuellor of the Exchequer, will be good enough
to say that the guns we use for the purpose of scaring rooks
and birds from our corn should not pay the very disagreeable
Gun Tax. Theu I voted for the abolition of the Law of
Hypothec in Scotland, which is something like our Law of
Distress ; and when an Irish gentlemen brought forward a
resolution in the House of Commons, saying that the Law of
Distress should be abolished in England, I ventured to enter
an amendment, saying that the rights of the landlord to dis-
train should be restricted to one year's rent, and should not
extend to the stock of a third party grazing on the farm, nor
to machines and implements hired of a neighbour. I ven-
ture to say that such a clause as this would meet the injus-
tice now complained of, without interfering with any covenant
whereas, if you abolish the law all at once, every agricultural
agreement in the country would have to be remodelled,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

becanse it would be impossible for tbe landlord to give the,
long credit he does now for rent unless he has some
security. I was the first to call the attention of
the President of the Board of Trade to the unfair
way in which the Corn Averages ac'ed upon tithes, and ha?.
in" done so I had (he misfortune to lose the support of one or
two of my clerical friends, as they thought I ought not to
interfere in this matter. I hope, however, that I shall not
lose their valued support on this occasion. My proposition
•would be simply this, — that you should take the tithes at tbe
price at which they are commuted, and that the landlord, and
not the tenant, that should pay the paraon. I am quite sure
if yon did that it would he a very good bargain forthe Church,
and I am equally certain that it would remove some of those
differences and unpleasantnesses which now arise in conse-
quence of the no doubt great unfairness with which the aver-
ages are at present strnck. 1 do not want to go into this
qnestion.which, perhaps, you understand belter than I do ; bnt
I say, when we look at the weekly averages as published in the
Gaze'ie, we know that all they do is to represent the very best
corn that is sold, and which may be sold two or three times
over, whilst all the vast quantity of inferior corn, which we
kpep at home, sell to our neighbours, or consume ourselves,
never comes into the averages. The very last thing I did ia the
expiring Parliament was to move an amendment to Mr. Mun-
della's Bill, which provided, amongst other things, that there
should be no property qualification for a Guardian of the Poor,
and I thiok I did good service by moving and carrying that
amendment. I mean to say that it is perfectly ridiculous to
suppose that Guardians are to be elected from a class that
may, perhaps, be hardly above the verge of pauperism them-
selves. You must remember what they are to do. They are
not to dispense charity— they are simply to relieve destitution
—and when it is s»id that a Guardian is a hard-hearted man,
80 in my opinion he ought to be, because he is not dispensing
charity ; he is simply dispensing the rates of neighbours, some
of whom, perhaps, are almost as unable to pay them as the
pauper who receives the dole. Now, this U what I have done
since I was last returned to Parliament, — this is what I have
done in the past six years, — and I ask you whether that is not
a fair amount of useful work for one member to do, — and
whether I have not given you a pretty fair and satisfactory
account of my stewardship. There are other things that I
have done in the House, but I need hardly mention them.
I supported and voted for Mr. Samuelson's motion to
inquire into the working of the Agiicultural Holdings
Act. I spoke for and upheld Mr. Chaplin's motion
for a Royal Commission, which was accepted by
the Government and agreed to almost unanimously by
the House. The Government of the day were good enough
to ask me to take a seat on that Royal Commission, but I felt
confident that the labours of the Commission could not be
euded in one year, and would probably extend to two. I felt
that they would sit probably during the Session of Parliament,
and that it was quite impossible for me to be all day on
the Commission and aUend to my duties at night in the House,
and therefore I declinsd the proffered seat. But I immediately
accepted the proposition from the Government that I should
go to America. I was there four months, and I think I
obtained, in conjunction with my colleague, a very valuable
stock of interesting information. I see, however, that one of
my kind friends at a recent Liberal meeting said I am some-
thing like the spies that came back from the Promised Land
— only instead of offering to you the choicest bunches of
grapes I have kept them in my carpet bag. You know what
answer I can give to this. My colleague, unfortunately, a
fortnight before we left America, was smitten with rheumatic
fever. I had the greatest diiliculty, poor dear man, to bring
him home to England and deposit him at his own house ; for
Bome weeko he was confined to his house and bed, and has
not been since able to transact any great amount of business j
but we have got the information, and 1 tru4 that in course
of time we shall give it to our lords and misters. Now, gen-
tlemen, I do feel that the attack that has been made upon me
is not only unkind and ungenerous, but is untruthful and
UDjust. When they say that I have neglected your interests
for party, I deny it in toto. Mind you, if I had done this — if
I had sat for the last six years at the Local Government
Board, if I had pocketed that comfortable fifteen hundred a
year, and if at the expiration of this Parliament I had obtained
some permanent life appointment then you might have Bfid !

all yon liked nbont me, and my back ought to be broad enough
to bear it. But when I have given you this proof of my
disinterestedness and desire to serve yon, I say that my oppo-
nents have no business to m ike this aspersion upon my
Parliamentary character. But I do believe, gentlemen, that
this will recoil upon their heads, like all the unnecessary
abuse that has been heaped upon the foreign policy of the
Government, and that there are a good many sound, honest
Liberals who will say, " That man has not been treated fairly,
we will give him a split vote at this election." The G >vern-
raent in this Ute Parliament have only sustained two defi-a's,
and on both tho^e ooc isions I voted against them, because I
thought they were wrong. The first was with regard to the
amendment of the Scotch Game Laws. My friend, Mr
McLagan, brought in a Bill which the Government did not
think was exactly suitahle for the occasion. I voted for the
second reading of that Bill, and we defeated the Government.
On another occasion the Government were beaten, when Mr
Sampson Lloyd moved that a Minister of Agriculture and
Commerce should be appointed, who should have a seatin the
Cabinet. The Government resisted this ; they thought it an
interference with the province of the Prime Minister ; we,
however, carried it in the House of Commons against the
Gavernment, and T do not doubt some good will result from it
some dty. In both those divisions I was supported by my
hon. colleogne. I need not say, gentlemen, what I have done
outside Parliament. I have tried to serve you outside as well
as within the walls of Parliament. I have endeavoured at
Quarter Sessi ns to protect the interests of the ratepayers and
to extinguish cattle diseases in the county. I am connected with
all the agricultural societies in London, and although a good
many of you might not, perhaps think it, there is an immense
amount of work on committees. On the Local Taxation Com-
mittee of the Ccn'ral Chamber, the Business Committee, and
the Weighta and Measures Committee, I have speni a good
deal of time, and I hope (not altogether unprofifably. I am
also a member of the Council of the Saaithfield Club, and am
on the committee of the Farmers' Club. I believe iu all the
discussions that take place I generally strive to vindicate the
rights of the tenant-farmer — and I am quite sure that iu these
societies political parties arc unknown — that we really speak
there what we feel, independent of any political bias — and I
think this can be hardly said with regard to a certain new
society wh;ch aspires to the support of the tenant-farmers.
I want to know why I, of all people, should be accused of
being a strong party man ? I don't at all object to }hat, raiad
you, because I think it is rather a good thing to be a strong
party man. Why, my friend, Mr. James Howard, who is an
extreme Radical, and poor Mr. McCombie, who was an
advanced Scotch Liberal, were both good agric lltural members
of the House, but no one twitted them with their being such
extreme Radicals, and their constituencies did not find fault
with them. I say the constituency that sends me to Parlia-
ment, which is a constituency in the main Conservative, should
be rather pleased than otherwise that I am a strong party man,
because I am sure that our interests are bound up mainly with
the Conservative party — but I would most emphatically add
this — that I am a farmer first and a Tory afterwards.

WHO ARE THE FARMERS FRIENDS?

At Doncaster on April 7, Mr. Childers, M.P.,
said : —

A good deal h id been sai 1 as to which party in the State
were the famers' friends. He. was add'essing a body no doubt
consisting of the inhabitants of Doncaster, and also of gentle-
men from this neighbourhood who were interested in agricul-
ture, and he would address a word or two to the latter class.
They had^seen a good deal in the last few days, in speeches
delivered up and down the country, of the pretentions of their
opponents that they were almost the only farmers' friends.
There had been occasional refereuci'to the Malt Tax of a very
ambiguous character, as if the speakers were not quite sure
that the ground upon which they were standing was altogether
safe. On the previous day he saw a very deliberate speech by
a candidate in a neighbouring county, that oil those douhis
were unfounded, because, said he, had they forgotten that it
was a Conservative Government which proposed the repeal of
a moiety of the Malt Tax, and that it was a Liberal Opposi-
tion which rejected that appealP If that were true, and if that

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

3.33

was a Government of which Lord BeaconsAeld was Chancellor
of tlie Exchequer, surely the fanners must look to him as
their best friend ; but what were the real facts ? It was quite
true that twpnt.y-eight years ago the late Lord Derby and Mr.
Disraeli appealed to the country on the question of Protrc'ion
and Free Trade, and that a great many members were elected
by the farmers, who were anxious to return to the system of
Protection, a»d to get rid of Free Trade, which Sir Robert
Peel had established six years before — in 1816. But when
Parliament met heads were counted, and it turned out that
the Government were in a minority, and that Protection was
in a still greater minority. What did the Government theu
do P They gave up Protection, which they had gone to the
country to induce the farmers and others to help them to
restore. They gave up Protection, and accepted a resolution
moved, he thought, by Lord Palmerston, which established
Free Trade from that time forever. But they did something
more knowing that they were certain to be turned out of office
in a few weeks by the majority of the House of Commons, and
having no surplus to dispose of, they positively proposed an
impossible budget, the main proposals of which were on the
one side to have a House Tax, and on the other to have a
reduction to a certain extent, of the Malt Tax. Every one
knew that the proposal to increase taxation in the towns, and
to reduce by a certain amount the Malt Tax conld not be
accepted by Parliament ; and this impossible budget was rejected
by Parliament after that wonderful speech of Mr.
Gladstone, which raised him. to the highest point as
an orator. Since that day the Conservative leaders had
never proposed, when they had the power, either the repeal
or the smallest redur.tiou of the duty on malt. The present
Government took office in 1874 with a very larje majority,
and with that surplus of between five and six millions a year,
left them by Mr. Gladstone. Why did they not deal with the
Malt Tax then ? It would not have been in the least degree
necessary to add any other tax, for they had far more thau
was wanted for that purpose had they wished to recur to the
proposal of 1852. But no, they did not wish to do anything
of the sort. Tuey might rest certain that the repeal of the
Malt Tax was not an object of any present or future
Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer. It was dangled
before their eyes when an election was going on, but when
that was over it was pot back into the despatch box of the
Minister, whoever he might be, and they never heard a
word of it again until the next election. Let the farmer
b* warned not to trust any Conservative Chancellor of the
Exchequer for anything in the shape of a reduction of the
Malt Tax. But that was not the only farmers' question.
They had heard a good dial about compensation for
unexhausted improvements, and about putting the rela-
tions between landlord and tenant on a more satisfactory foot-
ing. What had been done? Nothing. An Act had been
passed called the Agricultural Holdings Act, but that Act was
not compulsory, and he appealed to any farmer present as to
whether he had obtained any benefit from it. It was the purest
dead letter, and was only dangled before the eyes of the
farmers, two or three years ago, in the hope that the fanners
would give their support to the Government, and they knew
that the great majjrity of those who supported the B.ll in
Parliament, and even the Government, took great care to con-
tract themselves out of its operation. They might rest
assured that sound finance was better lor the farmers than the
miserable finance of the last six years. Was it not the wish
of the farmers to obtain some share in county government ?
The Liberal party were those who were, prepared to give it
freely, largely, practica'ly, in a sense which wonld fairly give
them a chance iu the management of county matters. As to
the Agricultural Holdings Bill, tho-.e who had read the debates
of the last two years, especially on the motion of Mr. Lerevre
and others, would know what the Liberals were prepared to
do, and what they would never get from the Tory party.

FARMS TO LET.— A recent number of the Estates Gazette
contained notices of lol far mi to let. In the corrcsponi'iug
week teu years hack, viz., Stii April, 1870, only 27 forms to
given.

FLUKES IN SHEEP.

Mr. T. Bowick, of Bedford, sends us the following
remarks, which have already appeared in the Times :—

The address of the Eirl of Suffolk and Berkshire to the
K'ugscote Agricultural Association, recent'y noticed in your
columns, formed an excellent compendium of the present state
of our knowledge on the subject. And although it stopped
short, in my judgment, at the exact point where it is desirable
to go firward, yet there are several suggestions that ari.o
collaterally from it.

Thus the full recognition of the fact that the parasite has f 1
run the gauntlet of many difficulties and dangers before it
a'tains full development in its natural habitat, the liver and
bile ducts of the sheep. Then the very practical suggestion

that the attack should be made before it gets there viz.

while still a resident iu the first or second stomachs.

Butth-re might be — I submit should be — a clear enuncia-
tion of the fact that neither the fluke nor any other animal
parasite can find a lodgment unless there are previous un-
healthy conditions. Take the case of worms — No one will bn
found n iw, I think, to uphold the idea that they are a cause
of disease. They are only a consequence of abnormal condi-<
tiniis iQ the visceral orgins, invariably accompanied with heat,
which is recognisable by the thermometer. Therefore with
regard to worms, or any other parasite, remove the C'U-e and,
the effect will cease ; elevate the tone of the general health,
and the g^rms will die off without development. That is, the
gerius of parasitic life are always present — sometimes in
greater abundance than others. But they ouly develope when
the conditions are favourable — that is when the health of any
organ is under its normal state. Take the case of a drop of
ordinary drinking water. It will first be found free from
microscopic life; but allowed to remain stagnant, exposed to a
temperature of 100 deg., in a very brief period it is found to be
full of moving organisms. Under some conditions the fluke
will dev.ljpe, under other conditions development will not
takp place. But in a long continued wet season — with the
artificial state in which our flocks are kept, hardly any sup-
posable conditions will prevent its development. Even tha
salt marshes are not a sufficient preventive. Ag;,in, laying
aside the question of proof, I have to submit that the rot state
is always preceded and accompanied by congestion of the.
spinal nerves radiating to the stomach and liver regions.
And hence — getting a step further back — we arrive at the
conclusion that these last named conditions have to he reme-
died before there will generally speaking be any appreciable
amendment. 01 course the nerves can be acted upon by the
internal application of medicines ; but that is only half the
battle, and a more certain method of attack will be found iu
conjunction with <-xternal applications. There is this advan-
tage also, in that by absorption through the skin, more readily
than in any other way can the parasite itself be kdled. And
unless the fluke is thus destroyed your cure can be only half
accomplished. The fact will not be disputed that external
applications can be found to act with great energy. A strong
dressing of mercurial ointm.nt well rubbed into the spine of
any of our domestic animals has ere now affected life itself. Sj
of arsenical washes. But these agents are in themselves un
desirable in character.

The liver is the largest depurating organ ; the skin is no
only the most extensive, bat the most available excreting
organ — and both these organs act in the greatest possible
sympathy.

I have said it is needful to destroy the existing internal
parasite. And this may be done, and the sheep recover while
the liver itself shows, months afterwards in the butcher'*
shop, that partial organic destruction had occurred. Again
and again a patient recovers from consumption and enjoys
good health, whose lungs, one or other, or partially both, have
been wasted and destroyed to a certain extent — and which
des' ruction is not built up again.

There are on'y two other points ia his Lordship's address —
food and medicine — on which I desire to remark. The
strong nitrogenous articles recommended, beans, peas, lentils,
and oil cake, are far beyond 'he animal's digestion. It cannot
manufacture gastric juice of sufficient strength to assimnlatr;
them, and hence internal heat and irritation are kept up. Ha*
his Lordship never seen a person in dyspepia whose disease
was merely aggravated by stroug stimulative food — who coulj,

JDB

340

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

make no more nourishment out of roast beef than he conld
from gravel or flint ? But give that individual the blandest
and mildest of food till the weakened organ has regained its
tone, and yon have great hope of recoverance. Never give a
man with a broken iimb a heavy weight to carry. Practically
speaking salt doss not help the blood-making when the condi-
tions referred to are present. It only augments these condi-
tione. As a trader I have never sold so much rock salt as
during the present year — and yet I have not heard of a case
( -vhere the disease was already developed) in which its use has
done the least good. The one food which of all others comes
nearest ray ideas of what is right in the state referred to, is
crushed malt, with any mucilaginous addition — given to the
animal in a bran mash — and a fair supply of warm wuter at all
times to drink.

Medicine : " When the Fluke is established," says his Lord-
ship, "nothing but the butcher's knife can give relief." And
then follows a formula of sulphate of iron, aniseed, and
■common salt, which as far as my observation extends has not
proved a curative agent of material value. Of salphate of
iron, the most recent work on Materia Medica, which can be
found in the library of the College of Surgeous says " In small
doses it causes mora or less constipation, is absorbed, and acts
a? a tonic, astringent ard emmenagogue : it blackens the stools.
In large doses it causes pain, heat, uneasiness at the pit of the
stomach, and retchings and emesis. In excessive doses it is
an irritant poison, acting chemically on the albumen and other
organic constituents of the tissues. The stomach is more or
less injured by a long continued use of it." Aniseed is a use-
ful stimulant and carminative, much affected by practitioners
and cattle food manufacturers to improve the flavour of less
palatable articles.

I regret to find so many flockmasters feel entirely paralysed
by the present difficulties. But the losses have been so great
that this is not to be wondered at. With sunnier skies and
•better health conditions, we shall, I trusf, be able to get round
"this dark period of trial. But the very last advice I could join
in giving would be the use of the butcher's knife.

It seems to me that the Royal Agricultural Society of
England could not do a wiser thing than at once to institute in
association with the Royal Veterinary College, a series of
exhaustive experiments on the various methods of treatment
that have been suggested, and several of which have been
very favourably reported on. We should at least get some
additions of great value to our at present limited acquai*tance
with the subject.

Dr. Edward Crisp writes to the Titnes : —
As I have for many years paid much attention to the diseases
of the lower animals with a view of throwing light on huir*u
pathology, you will, perhaps, allow me to say a few words on
the misleading letters, as I believe, of Mr. Bowick and of Dr.
John Harley on the now important question of flukes in sheep.
The state of health of the sheep, as assumed by Mr. Bowick,
has really little or nothing to do with the matter ; any sheep,
-as is well known, may be fluked in two hours by turning them
into certain wet meadows where they get the embryo or baby-
fluke from which the Bis'oma kepaiirwH springs. Bakewell,
the celebrated breeder of sheep, used to flood his pastures to
fluke some of his sheep, finding that in the first stage, before
'the liver duets were distended, the sheep fattened better, a fact
readily explicable.

Dr. John Harley's statement {The Times, April 5, 1880)
that flukes in the liver may be produced by feeding lambs on
flukes is quite new to me. If the ova were fructified in this
manner I fear that few of our flocks would escape, and the
life history of this parasite, such as is known, must be re-
written. Gerlnch, Professor Simonds, and others gave the ova
of these flukes to sheep and no such result followed. I have,
moreover, known many examples of fluked sheep taken from
■wet pastures to dry leeding grounds and turned in with olher
sound sheep and these have never been contaminated.
Sab'jits in seme wet localities have often been affected with the
Bame parasites, but I have never known the disease extend
into districts where the ground was high and dry.

Without wishing to infringe upon the province of the vete-
rinary surgeon, perhaps you will allow me, in a small space
and in plain language, to give the leadiug .features and results
of this formidable disease.

Like the tape worms and others of the entozoa, this flake
•come perfect must eater Iks bodies cf two animals, la

the case of two of onr human tapeworms, for example, tke
hog and the ox are the recipients of the animals in their first
stage, where they remain small and uojoin'ed, but when they
enter the body of man they b-gin to form joints which
quickly multiply, not nnfrequently attaining the length of 20ft,
to 4Qlt. The embryo or baby-fluke, the egg being hatched in
water or wet herbage, probably enters the body of some small
mollusc or insect ; is taken into the stomach of the sheep,
finds its way into the ducts of the liver, and there attains its
adult form, sucking the juices of the animal, after a time
producing enlargement ana thickening of the hepatic ducts
and all the train of symp'ons occasioned by impoverished
and watery blood, as shown by the general emaciation, the
wateiy eye, pale gums, serious effusions, falling of the wool,
fee.

I believe that thousands of fluked sheep have been eaten of
late in the United Kingdom, but happily there is nothing ia-
jurious in the flesh as regards human being, except that it
is tasteless and less nutritious. The adult parasites are con-
fined to the liver ducts.

What is to be done ? In all wet seasons, the disease, as
seen in the epidemics of 1824, 1860, 1869, will prevail, and
the best plan in the greater number of instances is to kill the
sheep when they are fit to eat and can be turned to profit.
Waiting is useless, and the dependence upon empirical
medicines worse than useless.

Much may be done in the wiy of prevention by underdraw-
ing and sunace-buming when practicable ; indeed to prevent
" rot " avoid wet land and keep the pastures dry.

AN AMERICAN FARMERS' ALLIANCE.

The following letter has been addressed to the Secretary
of the United Kingdom Farmers' Alliance : —

My Dear Sik, — I notice in the St. Louis Journal of
Agriculture a letter from yon making some inquiries about
the Farmers' Alliance in this country. As I am in a posi-
tion to give you some information on the history of this
organisation, I take the liberty of writing ycu.

The Farmers' Alliance is a political, not partisan,
organisation of farmers for the protection of their interests
and the promotion of their welfare. It embraces men of
both or all political parties, and the aim of its members is
to influence the action of each party in favour of measures
on which farmers are agreed. It thus becomes the
political organ of the Granges, Farmers' Clubs, and other
non-political organisations of farmers.

The movement originated in this State. The Western
New York Farmers' Club, of Rochester, New York, called
a meeting of the farmers of the State to be held iu
Rochester, March 21, 187.7, barely three years ago. At
this meeting a State Alliance was organised, and the next
meeting was held in Syracuse on the 1st Wednesday of
September following.

Federick P. Root was the first president, and A. A .
Hopkins was the secretary. In 1878, Hon. Harris Lewis,
of Hecktimer County, was chosen president, audMr.Wui.
J. Fowler secretary.

I send in another envelope the platform and address of
the New York State Alliance in 1878 and in 18711. From
these you can get a fair idea of the objects which we are
aiming at. Of the address in 1878, 10,600 were circu-
lated in separate sheets, besides being published in leading
agricultural aud other newspapers of this State. Of the
address of 1879, 15,000 were sent out, mainly to the
438 Granges, aud the local alliances and farmers' clubs of
the State.

We have local alliances in most of the leading agri-
cultural counties of the State. I send you the constitu-
tion of the Monroe County Farmers' Alliance, organised
December 5, 1S77, of which I have been secretary from
the first. The fee for membership is only about Is. iu
ve t money. The membership iu the State Alliance is
1 doL, about 43. in English money.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

341

F can hardly give an approximate estimate of the
number of our members. The Monroe County Alliance
has about 200 members, and I think it is stronger in 3ome
other counties than here.

We have secured the legislation desired relative to farm
insurance companies, so that this issue may be considered
disposed of. There is new before the New York Legisla-
ture a Bill to secure protection against railroad discrimina-
tion on freights. It will perhaps pass one branch, but will
■'nil in the Senate, 1 fear.

The taxation question is elieiting. vigorous discussion,
but there will' probably be no legislation this winter. Our
Legislature is elected in one branch every November, and
in the Senate every alternate year.

Western farmers have an equal interest with those of
this State iu taxation reform.. Fait of our complaint
against the railroads is that" they favour western freight,
and discriminate against our own citizens. But western
farmers in their own State have the same interest as those
of New York against discrimination, though on the long
through freights the discrimination is in their favour.

On general principles we believe that increased influence
of farmers in legislation will' fa7our honesty and- economy
in Government, and this, I< think, is true in every country.
Farmers emphatically earn their own bread by the sweat
of their brows, and this alone is sufficient to prevent
them from favouring extravagant and unnecessary expendi-
ture.

Besides, all the Alliance papers I have now at hand I
send you a few other circulars which I have issued at
various times for the purpose of influencing public opinion.
As you will sec I am decidedly Democratic in politics ;
but I was a Republican from 1855 down to 1872-, when I
left a Republican journal (the Rochester,. N. Y., Express)
because I would not support Grant- Since then I have
been farming, and writing for various agricultural and
other papips.

Hoping I have givenyou facta enoughabout the Alliance
to induce you to excuse what 1 have written about my-
self,

I am, Sir, &c,

William. J. Fowler,
Pitts/or^ X. F, Maveh 20.

The following is the platform of the New York State
ifarmers' Alliance,, adopted at Syracuse, N.Y~., Sept.
5th, 187.8 :—

Resolved,. First — That all the property,. real and personal,
not devoted to public nser protected by law, should be subject
t» taxation based on its real value.. Real estate to-be assessed
as now required by law — personal property to be assessed,
where found, on the first day of June in each year, without
any deduction from its value on account of any debts of the
possessor or owner thereof. The real estate of railroads to be
taxed where situated ; the value of their personal property, in
oases where the corporation extends ownership into more
than one county, to be ascertained by the State Assessors, and
tax levied and collested by the Controllers

Second — That the railroads authorised to be constructed
and operated by corporations under the laws ot this State,
were designed to promote the public welfare, and taking the
lands of individuals against their will, on which to construct
nich roads, can only be justified by such public benefit. That
in all charters and all general laws authorising the formation
of such corporations, the right to repeal, alter or amend' the
ohartered power conlerred, has been expressly reserved. That
whenever the corporations so manage the roads as to operate
oppressively, partially or unjustly to any part of the citizens
of the State, it is the duty of the Lpgisla'ure to deprive them
of the power to commit such wrong. That making special
rates with combinations designed to monopolise certain articles
oi necessity, and favoring one locality with low rates and |

oppressing another by high rates, by carrying freights for
citizens beyond the S'.ate at much lower rates than charged
on the products of the State, in the judgment of the Alliance-
calls for legislative interference.

Third— That we ask as our just right the passage of a law
authorising the formation of companies to insure our property
against loss or damage by fire and lightning, on the basis of
mutual obligation on the part of all concerned, to contribute
to the payment of losses in proportion to the amount of
property entered for protection, aud that such companies have
full recognition in the courts as corporate bodies empowered
to do the business specified, without regard to existing laws
requiring the establishment of cash capital as the basis of'
operations.

Fourth — That one of the reforms demanded at the present
time is a reduction in the cost of being governed, aud that to
this end there should be a reduction in the salaries paid to the
official classes, inc'uding the Judges of our Courts, State
officers, Senators and Assemblymen, and the abolition of all
needless otS.«es.

Fifth — We ask a change in our postal laws, decreasing
postage on seeds, plants and other third-class matter, to four
cents per pound.

Sixth — That the Executive Committee of this Alliance be
instructed to secure, when they are furnished the means, the
services of one or more competent lecturers to visit, during
the coming winter, every county in the State, and by lectures
and other means to interest the farmers of the State in the
work of the Alliance.

Seventh — That the Executive Committee, when they are
furnished the means, employ a suitable person to go to
Albany, and urge upon the Legislature the passage ot such
laws as will carry into effect the reforms sought by this -
Alliance

Eighth — That we recommend the members of all agricultural •
associations throughout the State to attend the primary
raertings of their respective parties, ana labour tor the
nomination as candidates for the Legislature of men of un-
questioned honesty, fitness, and known fidelity to the interests
of the producing classes, who will put right before party, and
who can not be bribed to betray the trust committed to them
by either pecuuiary rewards or party considerations ; and
that we will so far discard party obligations, that we will vote
for those- only to-repr sent us in our State Legislature who .
are known to be identified with the objects and purposes of-
this Alliance.

The following Address was issued at the same time :

To the Farmers of New York : The Farmers' Alliance of
this State was organised in Rochester, March 2 1st, 1878, to
unite farmers for the protection of their interests and to
remedy evils of which we justly complain. First of these
is the unequal assessment of taxation, whereby most personal
property is untaxed, and the burden of supporting the state
and local governments is borne mainly by real estate. This
inequality yearly grows greater. In 1871, the real estate of
New York was assessed at 1,599,930,666 dols., and personal
property at 422,607,732 dols. As the personal property of
New York equals, if it does not exceed ihe value of its real
estate, these figures show that seven years ago three-fourths
of the personal property of New York was untaxed. In 1877,
real estate had swollen on the assessment rolls to 2,376,252,758
dols^and the personal property had declined to 3791488,H8dols.
Taking the same rule as before, that personal property equals
or exceeds the value of real estate, it sho.va that six-sevenths
of Buch property is untaxed. Real estate increases iu assessed
value more than 100,000,000 dols. yearly, while personal
property has decreased 10,000,000 dols. a year. The burden
on real estate grows heavier, though it is known that th;s
property is least productive, least able to pay taxes, and costs
least for its protection. Personal property, six-sevenths of
which is untaxed, costs most for protection and is best able to
bear the burden of taxation. We demand a law that shall
reach the untaxed personal property of tiie state, and place it
on the assessment rolls. We ask that there be one rule for
the exemption or non-exemption of indebtedness on person; 1
property aud on real estate. Either allow owners of real
estate to deduct their indebtedness as owners of person. 1
property now do, or else require the latter to pay taxes on ail
property winch they hold, without regard to indebtednusc ,

842

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

Under cnr present laws, any real estate owners pay taxes on
what they owe. Justice dtinands that the same rule apply to
both kinds of property. ,,..-.• • 4.

A second evil complained of, is the discrimination against
local freights by the through Hues of railroads. The products
of the great west are carried through our state at lower rates
than are clnrged to our own citizens. The corporations which
So this owe their existence to the people of this state. I his
discrimination largely decreases (he value of farming lands in
this state, and paralyses not only agricultural, but every kind
of productive industry. We demand just rates for local
freight, and in this demand we have the earnest and active
support of all classes ot business men.

The third grievance which our Alliance seeks to remove is
the monopoly in the insurance business, whereby farmers are
compelled to pay excrbitant rates for insuring their property.
We demand a la* legalising such insurance companies as the
granges have organised in some counties in this state. With
B-ich a law the insurance monopoly will be broken, three-fi.ths
of the cost of insuring farm buildings saved, and the security
will be at least as good as now.

Farmers of New York, these are the measures which yoor
alliance was organised to secure. If the evils we would
remedy affected any other class of citizens, a general uprising
of that class would demand and effect their removal. Un-
fortunately farmers have been too isolated to combine and
protect their interests. With the organisation of granges,
fanners' allianeex, farmers' clubs and other agricultural
societies, united effort becomes possible. In the measures
above outlined we can all certain'y unite. Their adoption will
add several hundred millions to the value of farm property in
this state without injustice to any one.

The number and natural political influence of the New
York farmers insure success in any measures which we unitedly
ebmand. All that farmers need do to secure their rights, is to
so far forego party prejudices that they will not vote for
candidates for legislative ofSces, who are not identified with
oar interests and fully pledged to secure the reforms which we
ask. If this is done now, the next legislature will contain a
majority favourable to the interests of farmers. We ask
nothing but what i3 right, and our reforms commend them-
salves to every sensible mind. If farmers will not forego
pa.ty to protect themselves, the dominance of rings adverse
to the agricultural interest will be more decided than ever
before.

What we wish is this : .

First_That every farmer shall urge the nomination of
legislative candidates fully identified with the interests of
farmers. Failing in this in their own party, farmers should
vote for good aud true men nominated by other parties.

Second — We need some money— not much. All that is
required, is that the attention of farmers be aroused to the
effort now being made. When this is done, the organisation
of local Alliances to promote the reforms we ask, follows as a
mat ter of course.

If this address, and the platform of the State Alliance can
be placed in the hands of every farmer in the state, all after
work will do itself. To distribute these documents and to
furuish money we rely upon existing organisations. By a
resolution adopted at the last meeting of the State Alliance,
the secretary was instructed to issue an address, and to
call on every grange farmers' club, local alliance or other
agricultural society, for the sum of three dollars, to be sent
t . the treasurer, Jesse Dewey, Churchville, Monroe County.

This appeal is issued in accordance with the instructions of
the State Alliance. Let me add an earnest personal request
t int the small sum ot money asked for, be promptly forth-
cjming. Three dollars is not much to pay for each of 600
or more agricultural organisations ; but it will furnish a fund
which will enmre success to the reforms that we propose.
Besides, I am very sure that when any body of farmers take
e lough interest in this cause to help it three dollars worth,
they wili follow up their work and do whatever is needed to
make it entirely successrul. If they wili not do so much
;is to send three dollars for this reform, it will be absurd to
eipeot them to take any further interest in the matter.

To distribute this address so as to leave a copy in the hands
of each of the 400,000 farmers of this state, will be an
;uduous work. Any help thereto will be regarded as a great
favour. Agricultural ai.d other journals in sympathy with
this movement, are reverted to yuWish this uddrc.s.

Copies will be sent to every grange, farmers' c'ub, local
alliance, or other agricultural organisation in the state.
As many additional copies as are needed will be sent on ap-
plication.

Harms Lewis, "Frankfort, N.Y ,

President.
William J. Fowler, Pittsford, N.Y.,

Secretary,

The following Address to the people of the State was
prepared by a Committee consisting of W A.. Armstrong,
of the Executive Committee of the N. Y. State Grange,
and Wm. J. Fowler, representing the Executive Committee
of the State Farmers' Alliance. It was read before the
State Alliance, August 20th, 187'J, and on motion of
Harris Lewis was unanimously adopted as the address of
the Alliance :

To the People of the New York State.— The issues
of the coming election are so important that they
warrant an appeal to the people irrespective of party with
regard to their material interests in the matter of railway
transportation.

The facts shown before the legislative investigating com-
mittee fully justify complaints of oppressive freight discrimin-
ations long made by the agricultural, manufacturing and
eommerci >1 classes. It is inown by their own testimony that
railway managers have for years pursued a policy destructive
to industrial interests in this state. Now, when these facts
can no longer be succiSofully denied, railway magnates-
imolently turn, to the people with Tweed's query—" What are
you going to do about it ?"

Such an answer makes an issue that must be promptly met.
It becomes a question whether these great corporations, vested
with valuible franchises for the public benefit, shall assume
the airs o' sovnelgnty and defy the power which crea'ed them.
Against railway supremacy in our state government we appeal
to all good citizens io unite in defence of popular liberties. If
corporations are to rule the state, the forms of free government
will become only a farce.

I: has nearly come to this already. Railway corporations
defy the popular will because they control the political parties
in this state. Even now, drspite the strong popular feeliug.
aroused against freight discriminations, both parties seem*
likely to nominate tools of the railway corporations. It can
hardly bs otherwise, when nearly all who enter public life
receive public favours which, to a greater or lass degree, retail
them in the interests of the railway managers. If such men
are nominated by both parties — as now seims probable — these
corporations can look on with indifference while the hood-
winked people.are quarrelling over the petty differences between
Republican and Democrat. The railway maguates propose to-
name both candidates for a governor, so that whichever party
succeeds, they will have in their interest the veto power over
legislation for the nest three years. Prompt action is needed
to avert this danger. We urge every citizen who reads this to
attend the primary meetings of his party, and help nominate
men honest, capable and faithful to the interests of the people.
Let it be understood that fair promises will not avail any party
unless it gives pledge of its sincerity by nominating men known-
to be in earnest support of the popular demands. We gi»e
fair warning to the political managers that they cannot safely
disregard the wishes of the industrial elasses. The organiza-
tions which we represent comprise a large body of voters whom
stump speakers love to call " the bone and sinew of the
country." This year the question of corporation supremacy as
against the supremacy of the people, we regard as much the
most important issue to be decided. We will not vote for
any candidate of either party who does not maintain Use right*
of the peaple as against railway corporations.

If we only rtgarded our money interests, no other issue this
fall is so important as this. Tire discrimination against local
freight has caused a yearly loss of millions of dollars to the
farmers of this state. It has depreciated the value of farm
lands hundreds of millions of dollars. It has destroyed or
driven West many important manufacturing industries. Theso
results necessarily injure the city of New York, whose pros-
perity is largely dependent upon that of the state and whoso
people are scarcely less interested in this tyiestioti than arc the

THE FARMER'S MA.GAZINI

343

farmers And manufacturers of the interior. Even the railway
corporations disregard their best interests in pursuing a policy
which cripples the agricultural aud other iudustiies of the
1 icalities through which they pass. In this case, as in many
others, selfishness defeats its own ends.

Under the present system, while through freights are carried
at cost or less, all the profits, from which come dividends on
watered stock and interest on indebtedness, are extorted from
om own citizens. This transportation tax borne by the agricul-
tural, commercial, aud manufacturing industries of this state
is larg r thai that paid to support state and local governments.
It is estimated at not less than 40,000,000 dollars yearly, taken
from the products of our industries and given to those in com-
petition with as in eartying their products at or below cost.
tax is levied by a power which owns no responsibility to
those who have to bear the burden, and it has for years in
fanning, and perhaps also in other industries, taken more than
the profits of labour and capital. Thus our own people have
been impoverished, while corporations which we have created
have discriminated against us. Among our own citizens a like
unjust discrimination is made in rebates and special rates,
governed by no rule, except the favour or caprice of magnates.
This favouritism increases the oppression of the general
public. Wtiat is gained to the favoured few is offset by higher
rates to all others.

This system must be wholly changed. It is monstrous that a
few men, by virtue of franchises given for the public use and
benefit, shall arbitrarily wield powers greater than those of
any European monarch. The New Xork Central and the
Erie railways can at will impoverish one man and enrich
another. They can build up, or they can utterly destroy the
industries of a thriving community. They can make land dear,
or largely depreciate its value, as interest or caprice may lead
them to favour oue locality or punish auother. Such powers
as these must be guarded against and carefully restricted. The
railway corporations must be held strictly to the contract in
their charters and operated for the public use and benefit.
Special rates, and unjust discriminations of any kind against
localities or individuals must be strictly prohibited. And more
important than aught else, the supremacy of the people of this
state over the corporations which they have created must be
vnidicated.

The farmers of New York demand a redress of notorious
inequalities in taxation which are oppressive to all real estate
owners. But the two questions are really one. The great
obstacle to a just apportionment of taxation lies in the dom-
inance of the railway and other corporations in the legislative
and executive branches of our state government. When we
vindicate the supremacy of the people as against the railway
corporations the difficulties in securing a just and equal system
of taxation will disappear.

To accomplish this will require a sharp contest, but the
final result caunot be doubtful. Arrogant as railway mandates
have grown, the people are stronger than they whenever they
choose to exercise their power. The losses in business and
depreciation in value of farm lands because of excessive trans-
] otation charges, will arouse the people more thoroughly and
surely than will the most eloquent appeal. When grievances
touch men's pockets as these do, their redress is not far distant.
With the facts concerning railway abuses now before them,
the proper action thereon is confidently left to the intelligent
people of this state.

lion. Henman Glas?, of Monroe, presented the following
resolutions, which were adopted :

llesolved, That we reaffirm the grievances previously recited
by this Allianee, and again declare our purpose to secure their
early and complete adjustment.

.Resolved, That with due regard for all vested interests, we
will stedfastly labour to bring the railroads of this state to a
proper responsibility to the public; that the citizen, be he rich
or poor, shall be respected upon public highways; that in the
transportation of freight, as with passengers, tire charge should
be to all citizens alike, and in bo case should more be charged
far a short than a longer distance.

llesolved, That contributions by railroads to defray election
expenses of candidates or to party campaign funds and the
granting of free passes are demoralising and dangerous to the
public interest, and should be prohibited by law.

llesolved, That we recommend farmers and manufacturers
to meet in mass convention ia each couuty iu this state, to
uakc advisory uow.inu.tkms for the legislature, aud that we

urge every couuty A'liance early to call such a convention, and
to put forth active efforts to determine the end sought, with
the assurance to all concerned that these advisory nominations,
and these only will hs supported by Alliance members and all
electors in sympathy with tbeni,. upon whatever ticket they
appear.

The following are officers of the Alliance for 1870 :—

President — Hon. Harris Lewis, Frankfort, N. Y. Treasurer
— L. F. Crowell, Seneca Falls, N.Y. Secretary— Wm. J.
Fowler, Pittsford, is. Y. Executive Committee— J. G.
Shepard, Attica, N. Y. ; J. S. Shattuek, Norwich,. N. Y. ;
W. S. Carpenter, Big Flats, Chemung Co., N. Y. Vice-Presi-
dents—1st, F. B. Thurber, New York ; 2nd, C. M.Thompson,
Campbell Hall, Orange Co.,,; 3d, S. O. Potts, Livingstone,
Columbia Co.; 4-th, MUo Ingalsbee, So. Hartford, Washington
Co.; 5th, Lorenzo Rouse, Clinton, Oneida Co.;. 6th, j . P.
King. Trumansburg, Tompkins Co. ; 7th, W. T. Reaaer, Penn
Yan, Yates Co. ; 8th, George D. Hinckley, Frejlouia, Chau-
atuqua Co.

PROFESSOR HUXLEY ON DOGS.— Professor HuxVy
delivered iu the Theatre of the Royal Institution, recently,
a lecture on " Dogs, and the problems connected
with them," He remarked that this was a large subject, in-
volving many remote considerations. Comparing the dog and
the man, he spoke as if there were a fundamental similarity
between the members of which they were respectively composed,
and used the same terms in speaking oftheanatomical formation
of the dog as might be applied in speaking of man. lie wished to
point out that all the results of modern science strengthened
ihe ideas of common sense, and tended to show the striking
character of similarity between the dog and the man. The
learned Professor referred to diagrams placed upon the walls,
displa>ing sketches of mau and dog, to show how far the
anatomical construction of one corresponded with the other,
and called especial attention to the formation of the
vertebral column, and of the ribs. There was a dif-
ference as to the collar-bone. The dog had no collar-
bone. So far as their bony structure was concerned, the
man and the dog were constructed on the same plan,
and the indifference between their powers aro3e from differ-
ence of development. The principle of construction was the
same, with certain exceptions ; one great difference between
the man and the dog was that the dog took the horizontal
attitude, supported itself on its forepaws. Professor Huxley
then proceeded to treat of what he would call the mind ot
the dog — for like effects produced like causes, and this maxim
he would apply in the case of the dog. The power of hearing
of the dog seemed to be differently constituted from that of the
man, for dogs seemed to suffer pain while listeuing to
music. The dog possessed special delicacy and refinement of
smell. When he had walked in the Regent's Park, having
taken a dog with him, he seized the opportunity of hiding be-
hind a tree while the dog was running about ; but the dog
seemed to possess an occult power of lidding his master. It
might seem as though, while in every hundred yards of space
traversed by man a different appearance was presented to his
eye, so in the same distance the dog possessed peculiar powers
of scent. Comparing the frame ol mau with that of the dog,
though there was a resemblance of the vertebra;, there was a
difference as to the brain development, and there was also a
marked distinction between the erect position of man and the
horizontal attitude of the dog. The cat, the hjrena, aud the
bear were constructed on the same anatomical plan as the dog.
But though there were these points of resemblance between
the man and the dog, there was this very wide, and, using the
word in its more eireful sense, infinite difference between
them— he alluded to the gift of speech. The moment thut
the power of speech existed there was the opportunity of what
he might call the capitalisation of intellectual power, lacou-
clusion, he observed that there were dog-like animals in various
parts of the world, and the number of the species might be
taken as from 3t' to 50, and among these remarkable differeucts
were to be found. The learned l'rofessor will continue his
discussion of the subject next Tuesday, when he designs to
descant upon the problems of the origin of the domestic do^a
aad of the dog-like a»i'uals iu- geuer&l.

3i4

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.^

AGRICULTURAL. ENTOMOLOGY.

Last April we directed the attention of our
readers to the annual Reports prepared by Mss E.
A. Ormerod on what may be termed agricultural
entomology ; and the appearance of the Report for
1879, entitled "Notes- of Observations of Injurious
Insects," gives us an opportunity of referring again
to a subject much neglected by farmers, but which
ie, nevertheless, one of gTeat importance. The in-
juries inflicted on growing crops by insects in
various stages of their development are usually
noticed by farmers only at such times as they have
assumed serious proportionsr and even then, when
the mischief is but too apparent, few of our agri-
cultural friends know anything of the life-history
of the creatures by which it is caused. Insect
depredations generally present themselves in a
form with which man is powerless to deal ; but this
helplessness is to a very great extent the result of
a want of knowledge which habits of observation
and interchange of notes would in time supply.
The object which Miss Ormerod has in view, and
for which the thanks of the entire agricultural
community are due to her, is to induce farmers to
record their observations of insects and their de-
predations, and from- the information thus obtained
she, with the assistance of other entomologists,
compiles these reports for the benefit of the pub-
lic. It is singular bow few farmers there are who
will trouble themselves to reeord observations of
this kind, or indeed of anykind, although the ad-
vantages to be derived from Reports based on a large
number of individual experiences,, noted simul-
taneously in various localities, are evidently
very great. To assist in a work of this kind
does not necessitate a knowledge of the science
of entomology to begin with ; and it does
not necessarily entail the publication of the
names and addresses of those who furnish the
notes. All that is needed on the part of farmers
and others who wish to assist in this good work is
careful observation, and the trouble of making a
few notes. It does not matter how crude and un-
scientific these notes may be, so long as they are
exact. Simple facts, stated iu the simplest possible
words, are of the greatest possible value. De-
ductions made from these facts by the observers
who supply them are of value to the compilers of
a report, and in this case are especially solicited ;
but care should be taken to keep facts and theories
entirely separate. Attention to this detail will
materially enhance the value of contributors' notes,
A printed form is issued by the compilers of the
Reports, gratuitously to those who write for them,
and the trouble of filling it up will be well repaid
by the pleasurable knowledge which will inevitably
result from a greater familiarity with insect life.
In the introductory remarks with which Miss
Ormerod prefaces her Report, it is pointed out that
even the shortest notes, though possibly thought
little of by the observers themselves, are of great
value when collated with others ; and any notes
respecting the amount of insect injury, coincident
circumstances, weather, state of the soil, nature of
district &c.r and facts of any kind in connection
with insect injuries, will be of interest and value
to the compilers, if accompanied by dates,^ And to

this end the Report urges the importance of noting
down the observations as they occur, with the
date to each, so that the first appearance of the
insects, the period of their greatest numbers, and-
the time of their disappearance may be known with
exactitude..

Our readers will remember that we pointed out
the fact of a cold winter being favourable rather
than otherwise to the preservation of insect life,,
for the simple reason that metamorphoses are-
theseby retarded until the season becomes far
enough advanced to afford a comparative certainty
of the means of existence for insects in the last
or perfect stages of their development, or the
first hatching of larvae, whereas, a mild-
winter may cause these changes to- occur
at an unseasonable time, and so result in
the destruction of a great many forms of
insect life. In addition to this, excessive cold
does not appear to exercise any deleterious influence -
on the larvae and pupae of insects — grubs and
crysalides — when occurring at a seasonable time.
The Report says r — " The weather characteristics
of the observer's year, beginning with November
1878, have been temperature below the average and
rainfall above the average, with but little sunshine;
and the returns show insect attacks fully up to the
usual amount, and insect presence often exceeding
it. The unusuul cold of the winter, and the depth-
to which the frost penetrated the ground, do not
appear to have acted prejudicially on larvae sub-
jected to themr either at the time or in subsequent
development \ and the only case in which weather
appears notably to have had effect in ridding us of
insect attack is- where the persistent rainfall, or the
tremendous downpour of summer storms have fairly
swept the insects from the plants, or,in some cases of
leaf-feeders, where plant-growth has (conjecturally)
been driven on past the power of the larvae. An idea
being prevalent that 'cold kills the grubs,' I took
the opportunity, whilst the great cold lasted, of
examining the state of all larvae and pupae I could
fiud fully exposed to its influence, whether un-
sheltered, under bark, or iu frozen ground, and
found that in all cases, even where the earth was
frozen so hard that the mass had to be broken up
with a hammer, and the larvao or pupae were per-
fectly rigid* on thawing they did not appear
to be in any way injured. In other respects the
extreme severity of the winter was favourable to*
insect preservation, as large numbers were secured
from bird attack under the snow or in the frost-
bound grouud; and the excessive cold caused an
almost unprecedented mortality amongst birds,,
especially blackbirds, thrushes, and starlings. The
general returns do not show that any kind of in-
jurious insect has been lessened iu amount or
appearance by the winter cold.'/ From this it will
be safe to assume that the past winter has been ex-
ceptionally favourable to the preservation of insect
life, and tho further mortality amongst insec-
tivorous birds, which has resulted from sheer
starvation during the long continued severity of"
the winter of 1879-80, will probably leave us ex-
posed in an unusual manner to insect depreda-
tions.

The Report gives wood-cuts of various injurious
insects, with their larvae (grubs or caterpillars) and

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

3l5

pnprc (crysalidos), with a descriptive account of
their habits, and notes on their prevalence or the
reverse during the past year, which should be read
with interest by farmers and gardeners. Into this
part of tbe Report we cannot enter in detail, but
we can confirm many of the general conclusions
arrived at by the compilers as to the prevalence or
scarcity of some of the insects mentioned. The
crane fly, for example, was unusually abundant in
the month of August in several localities in Eng-
land, so much so that the "daddy-long-legs"
swarmed indoors to an extent which became a
great nuisance,the " daddies" being more numerous
than house flies. The grubs of this insect are
very destructive to grass and cereal crops,
and are known as u Leather Jackets." They
tire most common on wet clay. With
regard to wire-worm, the well-known larva of the
•click beetle, which remains in the grub or wire-
worm state for several years, the Report
mentions a case in which a beneficial result was
noticed after repeated use of the Crosskill roller,
and another in which a portion of a field which
had had timber carted over it from a neighbouring
plantation was singularly free from wire- worm.
And from these facts the deduction is suggested
that the wire-worms are prevented from passing
from plant to plant by the compression of the soil.
As we have previously pointed out the
result is probably due to the fact of the wire-
worm coming to the surface when meet-
ing with obstruction caused by the
solidification of the soil from the rings of a heavy
roller, or the track of a cart wheel, and, when en
the surface, falling a prey to insectivorous birds.
Many suppose that rolling the land destroys the
wire-worm by the pressure, but that cannot well be
the case as wire-worms are almost indestructable
by such means. Aphides, or plant lice, have been
very plentiful in some districts, but comparatively
scarce in others during 1879. The scarcity
of turnips caused a corresponding scarcity of
the beetle called "turnip-fly," but the pre-
sence of wild plants of the same natural order
as the turnip will probably have sufficed
to provide a sufficient number of them with
food, and so preserve the species from that amount
of diminution which might otherwise have
resulted from such a general scarcity of their
principal means of subsistence. The Report gives
a list of insectivorous birds which are of especial
service to farmers and gardeners, and we should
be glad to know that these real farmers ' friends
receive a larger share of protection than has hitherto
been afforded them. The Report is published by
W. Swan Sonnerscheim and Allen, 15, Paternoster
Square, London, and we strongly recommend our
readers to procure it for their own perusal.

It will not bo out of place to mention here that
the yeast fungus is now supposed to be identical,
or nearly so, with the fungus which kills
the common house fly. Every one must have
noticed flies sticking to the window-panes, and
covered with a white mould. The spores of this
mildew germinate on the bodies of the flies, and
the plant feeds on their substance, causing their
speedy death. It is now proposed to sprinkle or
a\ Hugo insect-infected plants with diluted yeast,

for the purpose of causing the death of the insects
by the aid of the fungus. It is stated that success-
ful experiments have been made in this direction,
and if this plan is found, after repeated trials, to bo
effective, its simplicity aud freedom from danger
will especially commend it to gardeners and others.
It certainly is worthy of an exhaustive trial.

PROFESSOR HUXLEY ON THE DARWINIAN
THEORY. — At the Royal Institution, recently, a
discourse was delivered by I'rofessor Huxley to a crowded
audience, among whom were M. Renan, the Marquis
of Bland ford, Lady Stanley of Alderley, Sir F. L tighten, S'r
F. Pollock, Professor TvndaH, Sir R, Peel, and Sjr W. Fraser.
The title of Professor Huxley's discourse was "The Coming
of Age of the Origin of Species," and its object w is to inquire
what were the grounds of the remarkable change of opinion
in favour of the theory propounded in Mr. Darwin's book
since its publication, nearly twenty-one years a^o. Setting
himself to examine the cause of this change, the lecturer said
tbat our acceptance of any proposition depeuded on two factors,
the one being the state of mind to which the evidence was
offered, and the other unfortunately the subordinate factor,
generally the nature of the evidence itself. As regarded the
Darwinian theory, it would be found in the first place that in
the year 1859, when " The Origin of Species " was published,
the state of mind of the biological world was absolutely dif-
ferent to what it was now, and, in the second place, that the
evidence of the truth or falsehood of the main proposition
contained in that work was totally different then from what it
is now. The progress of geological investigation in the past
quarter of a century had destroyed what was known as catas-
trophic geology, and the origin of species could be seen at
once by any one conversant with trie history of science to
be, as it were, the natural supplement of Sir C. Lyall's
principles of geology. These principles were that we
must explain the condition of the past by those of the
present. Darwin's book was the application of the
same principle to the phenomena of organic life. The essen-
tial foundation of his book lay in the propositions that the
innumerable species, genera, families of organic beings with
which this world is peopled , have all descended, each within
its own class or group, from common parents, and have all
been modified in the couise of descent, and that all the exist-
ing forms of life are lineal descendants of those which lived
before the Silurian epoch. If these propositions were true,
the book that contained them was the most considerable
contribution to biological science since the time of Harvey ;
if false, the rest of the book was of no consequence. In
1859 it was objected to Mr. Darwin's theory that it got over
difficulties by assuming a process of animal extinction for
which there was not a shadow of a ground of evidence. It
was true then that we knew of no sort of natural transition
between birds and any other creatures in the animal kingdom,
But now science had traced the precise stages of a transition
from reptile forms to bird forms. There was a perfect series
of these transitional forms. Investigation had also filled up
the apparent gap between vertebrate and invertehrate animals.
Since 1859 also, scientific investigations had shown how
utterly impossible it was to draw a line of demarcation between
lower animal and lower vegetable life. While in 1859 Mr.
Darwin could speak of the imperfect record of palaeontology
as being his chief difficulty, it was now possible for paleon-
tologists to parody a well-known saying and to declare that if
evolution had not existed it would have been necessary to
invent it. As matters now stood the doctrine of evolution was
no longer a speculation, it was historical fact. When, there-
fore, the anniversary of the publication of the " Origin of
Species " came round in October, all that it remained for
them to do was to congratulate the venerated author of thjs
work on the fact that not only had he by his achievements in
the world of science and by the influence of the dootrine he
had propounded won for himself a place beside our Harvey,
but that he had the singular good fortune to outlive storms of
envy and detraction, and to see " the stone that was despised
of the builder become the head etoae of the comer,"

34G

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

M ALT.

Mr. J. II. Crossnian writes to the Tlnm :—

Mr. Fielden is quite riD'ht in saying that malt- making for
cattle purposes is almost inoperative owing to the Excise
restrictions. But perhaps he is not aware of this fact that
some of the maltsters make malt from the most inferior bar-
ley, and which is totally unfit for the brewer's use, and export
it to France, receiving the drawback of 21s. — 8Jd. per quarter
—the amount of duty they have already pa'd. They are thus
able to sell it to the French farmers less the duty, who feed
their cattle upon it and then are able to send them to England
iu fine condition and sell them under the prices the English
farmers can possibly afford to take for their s'ock.

If the malt manufacture were free from all conditions and
supervisions the farmers here would then be able to compete
on equal terms with their French neighbour?, who, under the
present system, are able to buy such malt as they require for
cattle-feeding free from the conditions of "Gladstone's Act.

If the malt-tax is to be transferred to the brewer, it ongl t
to be charged, as I suggested a few week's ago, as a licence
upon the quality of malt used by him during the year, and not
upon the beer or the spirit contained in the beer, as proposed
by " A Barley Grower." The quarter ot malt is the simplest
and easiest basis.

ELI PERKINS ON CHILDREN.— To-day I sat in a car
s -at on the Lake Shore-road, behind a pa'e, care-worn lady,
who was taking a little boy from Cleveland to Ashtabula. As
the little boy was of a very inquiring mind, and as everything
seemed to attract his atteution, I could not help listening to
some of his questions. " What is that, auntie?" the little
boy commenced, pointing to a heap of yellow corn. "Oh,
that's corn, dear," answered the carp-worn lady. " What is
corn, auntie P " " Why, corn is corn, dear." " But what is
corn made of?" " Why, corn is made of dirt, and water, and
air." "Who makes it?" "God makes it, dear." "Does
He make it in the daytime or in the night ? " " In both,
dear?" "And Sundays?" " Yes, all the time." "Ain't
it wicked to make corn on Sunday, auntie ? " " Oh, I don't
know. Do keep still, Freddy, that's a dear; auntie is tired."
After remaining quiet a moment, little Freddy broke out :
" Where do stars come from, auntie ?" " I don't know ; nobody
knows." "Did the moon lay 'em?" "Yes, I guess so,"
replied the wicked lady. " Can the moon lay eggs, too ?"
" I suppose so. Don't bother me." A short silence, when
Freddy broke out again : "Fanny Mason says oxins is a owl,
auntie; is they ?" " O, perhaps so!" "I think a whale
could lay eggs — don't you, auntie?" ''Oh, yes— I guess so;"
said the Bharaeless woman. "Did you ever see a whale on his
nestW' " O, I guess so." "Where?" " 0, I don't know ;
do be still Freddy !" And the lady gave a sigh as she looked
out of the window. A moment afterward Freddy looked out
of the window and saw a man milking a cow. " What is he
doing to the cow, auntie ?" " Milking her, dear." "Where
do they put the milk in, auntie?" "Oh! in her mouth!"
" Did you ever see them put the milk iu ?" " Oh, yes !"
" Where ?" " I mean no. Freddy, you must be quiet ; I'm
getting crazy !" "What makes you crazy, auntie?" "0
dear ! you ask so many questions." The little boy seemed
to be puzzled and thoughtful a moment ; but soon his
curiosity got the better of him, and as the cars passed a
pasture in which were a sheep and a lamb, he asked:
" Where do lamb3 come from, auntie ? " Oh ! from old
sheep. The old sheep has them." " Can little boys have
lambs ? " " Certainly. I'll let you have a lamb, Freddy
when you get home." " Will it hurt me, auntie ? " " What
hurt you— the lamb? " " No, will it hurt me to have it ? '
" O Freddy, do stop! You ask such foolish questions. I'm
a'l tired out." " Did you ever have a lamb, auntie ? "
Freddy, stop ! Don't you speak again for half an hour ! "
Then the poor worn-out woman sighed and leaned her aching
head on the back of the forward seat, while Freddy busied
himself placing his month agaiust the window and soliqaised
in a sing song tone : " Mary had a little lamb ! Sheep had
a little lamb! Auntie bad a little lamb!" "0, auntie!
auntie ! " " What is it, Freddy ? " asked the poor woman,
waking up. "Did you ever tee a little fly eat sugar?"

" Freddy ! sit down on that seat and be still or I'll shake ynn.
I won't be tormented to death. Now not another word" ! "
and the lady pointed her finger sharply at the little boy, as it
she was going to stick it tlirough him. If she had been a
wicked man she would have sworn, and still, notwithstanding
we have eight million little boys like Freddy in the United
States, each one causing more or less profanity, the
Y. M. C. A.'s throughout the country denounce Herod as a
biased man when he ordered all the children killed — except
his own. — Eli Perkins.

A CROOKED ANSWER.— A clergyman asked his Sunday
school: "With what remarkable weapon did Sam sou at one
time slay a number of Philistines ?'' For a while there was no
answer, and the clergyman, to assist the children a little, com-
menced tapping his j iw with the tip of his finder, at the same
time sayinp, " What's this ?" "What's this ?" Quick as
thought, a little fellow innocently replied, "The jaw Done of
an ass, sir."

AND MORE COMING.— He was a well-dressed, pleasant-
faced man, and he carried a small black box in his hand. Ho
entered an insurance office in Congress-street with fnmiliar
air, walked np to the sole occupant, who was writing a letter,
and began : " Excnse me, sir ; but I represent four different
kinds of pads, viz.:— Lung — " "I am busy," interrupt the
letter-writer. " Viz. : Lung, liver, stomach, and in a few
days we—" "Did'nt I say that I was busy ?'' demanded the
citizen as he put down his pen. " You did, sir, and in a few
("ays we shall bring out the heart-pad, the throat-pad, and the
ear-pad. Excuse me if I sit down. Piease let me feel your
pulse." " I want none of vour pads, sir ! I am busy, sir, and
I want my office to myself!" " Neverthelss you do want a
pad, and I can prove it. A healthy pulse should not beat over
eighty-five per miuute. I'll bet your's goes to a hundred. Auy
one can see that you are ailing. I can sell you a beauti'ul
stomach-pad at reduced rates. How much do you • ? "
" Didn't I say I didn't want any of your pads, sir t" " Cor-
rect, you did. Do your luDgs trouble you?" "No sir!"
" Heart all right ?" " Ye«, sir !" " Hearing good ?" "Yes,
sir!" "Ever have the backache?" " No, sir!" "Spleen all
right?" "Yes, sir!" " Throat bother you ?" "No, sir! I
tell you I don't want any of your pads ! I want to be let
right alone ! I've got a headache this morn — ." " Eureka !
Keep still — not a word ! You furnish the capital and I'll pat
in ray time and we'll hring out a headache pad. Capital idea
— rich thought ! Go ahead and write your letter, and I'll
oe — " The citizen ran for his cane in the corner, but the
pads had walked out to hunt for ailing humanity. — Dslruit
Free Press.

THE WORLD IS HONEST.— A dozen men were loafing
away the rainy hoars in a business place near the ferry dock
at Detroit, when the conversation turned upon the subject
of general pnblic rascality. A citizen said he had given a boy
a quarter to get changed and had never seen him again ;
another 6aid he wouldn't trust his own grandfather, and a
third would give 100 dols. to see an honest man. " I have
not yet lost my faith in human nature," finally remarked a
man on a back seat. "Any of you may call iu a stranger to
us all, and I will give him a five-dollar bill to go and get
changed. If he fails to come hack I lose the money ; if he
returns you will see how foolish your assertions are." Half a
dozen men rushed to the door. A seedy, gaunt, and evil-
looking African was paddling by in the rain, and he was
selected to make the test. "Stranger," said the man, who
hadn't lost confidence, " lake this five-dollar bill round the
corner and get it changed, and I will give yon ten cents." The
black man departed without a word, and for the nrxt ten
minutes the laugh was on the man who sent him. It died
away, however, as the African slouched in, handed oat the
bill and said, " I runned all ober an' nobody could change
him." He was given his ten cents, and the man who lost the
quarter by the boy said he could have believed such an exhibi-
tion of honesty if he had not witnessed it, and he was willing
to buy the cider for the crow«. It was only after the cider had
been destroyed and paid for that he learned that the bill
given the negro was a base counterfeit which no one would
accept.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

347

MR. GURDON, M.P., AND THE GRUNDIS-
BUKGH GAME CASE.

During the canvas* of Mr. C. S. Read in South Norfolk,
he made a statement as to letting game on the Suffolk estate
of Mr. Robert Gurdon, his successful opponent. This was
denied by Mr. Gurdon, and it was hinted that the statement
whs Mr. Read's invention. The latter gentleman put himself
into communication with Mr. Herman Biddell, who has replied
as follows : —

" Playford, Ipswich, April 8th, 1880.

" Dear Mr. Read, — And so Mr. Robert Gurdon denies the
game case you mentioned as having occurred on his Suffolk
estate — says there is not a word of truth in it !

" I see one of his supporters broadly hints that you invented
the statement. You may tell' An Elector of South Norfolk '
it is no invention ; it is no fabrication : it is no hoax ; but a
too common instance, not of the injustice of the Game Laws,
bat of the mischief which comes of a non-resident landlord
1-tting the shooting over the heads of the tenantry. The facts
are these — Mr. Gurdon has an. estate in Stiff ilk. He lets the
mansion, with the shooting, to a gentleman, with gime
rabbits, &<\ The tenaut of the farm claims the right to kill
rabbits — sHys he always has killed them. A dispute arises
between the gentleman who liires the shooting ami the tenant
of the farm. The dispute ripens into aquarrrl. The landlord,
through his agent or whoever manages the estate, takes the
side of the gentleman who lives at the hall. The tenant of
the farm, whose family has lived there 99 years next Michael-
mis, wou't give in; the agent serves him with a notice
ti quit, the farm is relet to another, and the old tenant,
who has lived there nearly sixty years, has to seek a new
home.

" The farm adjoins my own. I have known the tensnt
thirty years. I am on iutimate terms of friendship witli the
gentleman who hires the shooting. I heard the tale directly
from the tenant's ovn lips, and I should no more think of
doubting his word than I stiould your own.

"This is no clap-trap story. It was talked of in the neigh-
bourhood weeks belore Parliament was dissolved. It is not a
ca»e of 'Tory domineering,' or 'An Elector of South Nor
folk ' would have heard of it through the M 'rk Line Express'

" This is no politics! quarrel, for all the three parties are
Liberal* ; but it is simily a game cse — and a very flagrant
one. I should like Mr. Robert Gurdon to explain what he
meaus by stating ' there is not a word of truth in it.'

" You raiy publish this statement in ail the papers in
Norfolk if you like. I am not a man to stand by and see
another maligned, as you appear to be, by anonymous corres-
pondents in the Norfolk pipers, and not state what I know
about the matter. I have no wish to interfere in elections
beyond the county where my vote is registered ; but as an
English larmer I protest against a landlord throwing our as a
claim for support that he is in favour of givin? a tenant legal
nght to kid ground game when on an estate which (virtually)
belongs to himself, he lets the shooting, hares and rabbits
included, and when a dispute irises, cists out. of the rent-roll
a tenant who has lived halt a century on the estate rather
thau offend a stranger who hires the shooting.

" Let me congratulate the South Norfolk farmers who see
in such an one a champion iu whose hands to trust their game
law grievances in the House of Commons.

" I am, dear sir, yours faithfully,

" Herman Biddell.

" C. S. Read, E-q."

Mr. Gurdon, M.P., writes to the Eas/em Daily Press:—

Sir — My attention has been called to a letter from my
old friend, Mr. Herman Biddell, in Monday's Daily Press.

I am sorry that he should not have a-c^rtained the facts
eorrectly.

He accises me or my lathei's agent —

1st. Of having let the killing of the hares and rabbits ou
our Sutfolk estate to the tenant at the Hall.

2nd. Of turning out an old tenant for having insisted on
shoo in; the rabbits.

To both statements 1 give an unqualified denial.

Yonra faithlully, R. T. UuRDON.

April loth, 1880.

Mr. William Fraser has published the following letter in
the Bittern Daily Press in reply to that of Mr. Herman
Bidd< II :—

"Sir, — My attention is called to a letter in your paper,
signed ' Herman Biddell,' on the subject of a Game- law
monstrosity on Mr. Gurdon's estate in Suffolk. He is quite
correct in saying that I |am tenant of tli3 .Hall, that Mr.
Gurdon is landlord, Mr. Philip Harris is a tenant-farmer on
the same estate, and Mr. Herman Biddell is a neighbour w ith
whom I have, lived aud acted on friendly terras. Beyond
these facts I can confirm Mr. Gurdon's remarks, that there is
not another word of truth in the letter.

" One of the terms of my occupntion is that the ground
game is reserved by the landlord. I have cared little about
it, for I never handled a gun in my life. It is notorious that
there is scarcely a rabbit on the estate ; and, moreover, I
would sign a petition to-morrow for the total repeal of the
Game-laws.

" It is true Mr. Philip Harris has been tolerated as tenant
on this farm by a forbearing landlord for a number of year?,
but also that Mr. Philip Harris is a gentleman — to put it
mildly —of not very amiable temperament. I am not the only
oc 'upant who has suffered from i', and so far Irora my obtaining
Mr. Harris's dismissal, the simple truth is that I adopted the
course of ray predecessor, and gave Mr. Gurdou notice to quit
unless the nuisance of which I had complained was abated.
This nuisance was the constant practice of some of Mr.
Harris's relations, to whom he gave gun licences, shooting at
all hours around the Hall, waking us up at 4.3U in the morn-
ing and at late hours in the evening, setting the dogs barking
and alarming the women aud children. Altogether Mr. H irris
is not a very amiable neighb mr and had, I believe, offered Ins
re«iguation previously. Certaiuly the question of the Gime-
Law« had nothing to do with if. Mr. Gurdon preferred
retaining me as a tenant to Mr. Philip Harris. As to Mr.
Herman Biddell, I should be very much astonished at his con-
duct did 1 not know how liable lie is to get hot at election
times. Mr. Gurdou is a good landlord. All the other tenants
on the estate will confirm what I have written about Mr.
Harris and myself.

•' I hope the farmers of Norfolk will take a little discount
off Mr. Biddell's Gime Law cases hereafter, and not allow
them to prejudice so good a member as Mr. It diert Gurdon.

*' I am, &.?.,

" Wu. Fraser.

"Grundisburgh Hall, 13th April, 1880."

Some time aaro the tenant in this caae gave U3 the par-
ticulars. We asked for permission to publish them, with
the landlord's name, which had been withheld ; but he
declined to have them published or to give the name. He
intimated that there were some extenuating circumstances.
Mr. Biddell may depend upon it that no question of the
party politics of the landlord would have prevented us from
publishing the name if we had known it. Now that it is
published we recoguise the description given by our corres-
pondent. Mr. Biddell should not attribute to us the ex-
treme party hias which appears to rule his own eouduct
aud utterances.

RECRIMINATION.— The East Essex Election has pro-
duced a very pretty little scandal in hunting circles in that
division. Sir William O'Malley, Bart., made a speech recently
in which he laughed at the chances of success possessed by
Mr. C. Page Wood, the L beral candidate. He said that Mr.
Wood spent the whole of his time in hunting, racing, and
playing billiards. Mr. Wood retorted that for some fifteen
years Sir William O'Malley had hunted with the East Essex
hounds, of which Mr. Wood has for nearly twenty years been
secretary;bnt thst.although he had not been without invitation?,
he had never contributed a single shilling. Sir William replied
by denying that he had ever been asked to contribute. There-
upon Mr. Wood explained that he wrote to the baronet asking
lira fir a subscription, but received no reply. Howe\er, lie
m«t Sir William a few days after, wiien the latter said that
the letter which he had recived from Mr. Wood had "taken
away his apn-ti'e for breakfast." The story is besileit without
comment. — World.

c c

348

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

TUBERCULOSIS.
The following is a resume of a paper read by Mr.
George Fleming, M.R.C.V.S., before the Norfolk and
Eastern Cunuties Veterinary Association : — ■

In commencing his paper Mr. Fleming pointed out that
white medical science is combating, with some degree of
nieces*, many diseases which have long been a scourge to
mankind, and finds the prospect of complete victory more in
the way of prevention than in cure, there are hydralieaded
disorders which strain to the utmost the skill and ingenuity of
man. To discover the cause of disease is a grand object in
medicine, and especially with regard to those maladies whose
c nirse is so insiduous, rapid, or destructive that all attempts
at remedying them are (utile. Hence it is that in recent
ti nes far more attention has been devoted to the pathology of
d sease, and particularly to its causation, than formerly. Ex-
perimental pathology, a creation of modern days is destined
to play a leading part iu all pathological investigation.
Helped by the accessory aids, it has already thrown a flood of
light on what was before obscure, while it has revealed most
startling facts which were never suspected, and which places
it in the power of man to understand the manner in which
morbid processes are set up and extend d, to avert them, and
to re uedy their effects. To seek out means of prevention,
and to thoroughly investigate the influences which lead to the
production and perpetuation of disease, whether in man or
beast, is a far higher, nobler, and more Mfttefotfof) task than
attempting to discover cures; it is the sptcial and sacr- d
duty of the sanitarian, no less than the pathologist. The
disease he was about to bring to notice — tuberculosis— though
po-sibly sff cting bovine animals for a very long time, has
only recently .started into prominence, and is receiving great
and deserved attention, though not iu this country, be feared.
Eor many vrars Ins attention had b?en particularly drawn to
the greater frequency of this nv.lidy among cattle, and his
acquaintance wi h what was going on in veterinary science on
the Continent led liiit still further to inquire into this pro-
gressively extending disease. Fillemin had experimentally
demonstrated the inocnlabiiity nl human tnbere'e, and Conti-
nental veterinarians— notably, Chanvan, G*rlach, and Coleir

aware of the analogy, il not identity, of this tubercle to that

found in cattle, instituted not on'y inoculation, Out also feed-
ing experiments with the tubt-rculoiis matter, rs well as the
milk and flesh of tuberculous cows. In 1874 the evidence
seemed to be so strong and decisive that he wrote a long
paper on the mala v, ffbiqh showed there, was great reason to
ayprehend that, it" it cwuld be produced experimental:)' by
faeding aniin .Is on the flesh and milk ol cattle wqioh had been
tuberculous, the tame result might occur accidentally iu our
«*n s-ecies. lie also rererred to the possibility of the large
mortality among infants from what is known as "infantile
diarrhoea" being due, at least to some extent, to their receiv-
ing the milk of tuberculous cows. In " Veterinary Smitary
Sjience and Police ' (vol. ii), published in 1875, he also
included it as one of the diseases which caused great, destruc-
tion among the cattle by its infectiousna-s, and treated n as a
malady which, for this reason and also because of the grave
risk of injury to mankind, should be made the subject of
Government coutrol. Nothing., however, has been done to
protect, animals or people from the disorder, nor did he sup-
pose there would be, until pub ic pressuie w as brought to b ar
on the Government, when the mortality among people trom
«jnsumption and other morbid conditions due to this cause,
has reached au alarmiug extent. Whatever amount of indif-
ference or absence of knowledge the Government may manifest,
it is nevertheless ii.cumbeut on the veterinary profession, as
guardians of the animal wealth of the country, so far as
sanitary science is concerned, and also to some extent, ot the
public health in the matter of food, to not only keep this very
terious matter in view, but also to ascertain all they can with
regard to it. To what extent the disease prevailed in this
country he knew not, neither did he know how ialonnation
could he obtained. There is no sanitary inspection of dny
stock ; our public abattoirs are, he regretted to say, exe -ed-
ingly lew, and ha was not aware whether the circa.ss^s of all
animals killed therein are inspected while being dressed, or
what sleps are adopted to discover disease in them. I he
private slaughter-houses afford ample opportunity for killing,
dressing, and disposing of diseased animals without observa-
tion, and until public abattoirs can be generally instituted,

placed under regular sanitary surveillance with regard to the
condition of the animals ki led in thero, and statistics drawn
np with respect to the diseases observed, they would have no
conception of the extent to which this and other disorders
prevail among animals destined as food for man, especially in
our large towns. Mr. Fleming then referred to some
statistics collected on the Continent, giving soije idea as to
the prevalence of tuberculosis, aud Iroin which an inference
might be drawn as to the state of things in our own country.
He mentioned that in 17?9, 1791, and 1794, it appears to
have been very prevalent in the neighbourhood of Paris ; in
1791 it caused much destruction of cattle in the department of
la Meurthe ; in the departments of the Jura, Doubs, Vosges,
and others in France, it has also at various times caused
alarming loss ; aud Hurtrel d'Arboral estimated that one in
every eight or ten head of cattle was destroyed in Brie,
Beauce, C ux, and other parts of that kingdom, by this so-
called " Phthisiepulmouaire." In Germany the disease is also
very prevalent ; Wolff asserts that in the County of Leignitz,
Saxony, 15 to 20 per cent, of the cattle was affected. At he
aba'toir of Munich, in 1875, Drechsler found 704 cattle
tuberculous out ol 55.S32 head, those with i-olated tubercle
not being inc'nded. At Mannheim Fuchs discovered that in
1,831 catile, 65 were tuberculous. Zippelius, of Obernburg,
about ten years ago commenced an inquiry, aud after the most
careful observations in a number of district abattoirs up to
January 10th, 1873, he estimated the number of cases at
2'50 per 1000 of the bovine population throughout his part of
Germany, and he only took n ites of those cases which
appeared on the registers of the abattoirs as undoubted tuber-
culosis. As the result of his enquiry he cime to the following
important conclusions, which were derived from iuves igatious
carried on in thirty-six different localities:

1. That bovine tuberculusis is most common in poor
localities.

2. Tnat the localities in which (he disease is frequent are
all situated iu valieys, and tint it is all the more common as
the valleys are narrow and deep.

3. That ,the mortality caused by tuberculosis is less, all
things being eqnal, in the parts of the narrow and deep
valleys where the dwellings are widely separated than in those
where they are not so.

4. That the localities situated iu elevated plains freely
exposed are seldom visited by the malady, even if the cattle
ere maintained in conditions little favourable to health.

5. That the mortality from this affection is, all other con-
ditions being equl, greater iu lociii ies euclosed by walls
fian in those winch are open,

(3. That in those places where tuberculosis is most frequent
the largest number of tumours about the, head are met Willi.

7. That iu the seven localities in the district ot Oberuburg,
where, the smallest number of cases is seen, there were. 47,98 L
cots, while in that where they are most common there weie
57,083 cows per 1000 head of cattle.

8. That the frequency of tuberculosis in man is in general
independent of the use of the fl-sh or milk of tuberculous cat-
tle ; at least, no relation could be established between these
two factors, though no restriction is placed upon the consump-
tion of the fl> sh and milk.

9. That the mortality from tuberculosis in man in the
Oberuburg district is 3 32 ; that i->, higher than the average
moitaliiy from the malady in the other parts of the kingdom
(in which it is 2" 16) ; that this malady in man generally
depends upon the same local conditions as bovine tuberculosis,
though in a le^s degree ; that iu none ol the localities has the
mortality from the disease in man attained the proportions of
that in cattle, but that it is more uniformly spread in the
different localities. Dr. Hoffman thinks, and with good
reason, says Zippelius, 'hit the frequency of marriages has a
noted influence on the great number of deaths fron tubercu-
losis, occurring amongst the inhabitants of that district.

Mr- Fleming next directed his attention to Bavaria, where
a'l doubt appeared to have been removed that this disease, so
common in this country, is identical with phthisis in mankind.
If the conclusions arrived at by Gerlac.h from his feeding ex-
periments— (namely, that the flesh and milk of tuberculous
animals must be excluded from human food on principle, since
by using it iu its raw aud half-cooked state, tuberculosis is
liable to be reproduced in man) — were carried into practice,
aud the connection of tuberculosis iu cattle with that of lha
human subject be firmly established, it was felt that the retft't

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE

Sid

would he *o furnish the eaDitary and veterinary police with a
very dilfi u't task, as well as involving serious loss and injury
to the agricultural interest, Gerlach's view?, however, were
bo far at varimce with the German veterinarians, but his ex-
periments relative to the transmissibility of tuberculosis to
man, although no doubt worthy of great attention, could not
yet be regarded as thoroughly conclusive. From statistics
collected, it appeared that in 1877 there were 4,976 cases of
tuberculosis n ported, as folio vs : — Upper Bavaria, 1557;
Lower BivuU, 396 , 1'fals, 602 ; Upper Pfalz, 425 Upper
Franconia, 270 ; Middle Franconia, 227; Lower Franconia,
417 ; and Swabia, 1,096. Upper Bavaria and Swabia had
mor • cases (2,633) than all the other counties (2,323) in
Bavaria. Touching upon some of the results of the inquiry
in that country, Mr. F.eming stated that the hereditary teu-
dencv ot the disorder appears to be established in nearly all
the reports. In-aud-iu breedin-f was a cause assigned in a
number of the reports, and ill others the consorting of the
sexes and the abundant secretion of milk. Tne general re-
sult gops to show that 581 out of every 1000 cattle iu Bavaria
are affected with tuberculosis. In I'aly, Holland, Switzer-
land, a>td other temperate countries, Mr. Fleming proceeded
to remark that tuberculosis makes more or less havoc among
bovines; and in Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and
A:nenca States and Canada, it is well kuown. S range to
By, it do«s not appear to be a disease of cold climates. There
i< L'ood reason for thinking that it exists as widely and
generally in England as in any other country. Our dairy
St ck are probably largely infected, and among high-bred
cattle it is not only prevalent, but from what he c >uld learn,
it is on the increase. A'sumiug the disease to he as common
in this country as in Bavaria, we may reckon 5 per cent, of
our bovines as infected. With regard to the pathology of
b ivine tuberculosis, it seems now to be admited by all those
authorities who are most competent to give an opinion, th t
it bears the closest analogy to, if it is not absolutely idei.t cal
with, human tuberculosis : the majority incline to the latter
opinion, and anotomically, clinically, and experimentally, as
well as etioiogically, they must be looked upon as the sa ne.
The malady has scarcely beeu studied in this country, hut it
has long been known by various local names amongst farmer1!,
farriers, and bu'chers, while its external inanimations have
be-n looked upon as something akin to scrofula by those
veterinarians who have r< c agnised it. Mr. Fleming, fortifying
hi n-elt hy the opinion of eminent authurit es, put red into a
fu'l pathological descrip ion of the disease, observing specially
th it the lymphatic glands appear to be the p cnl ar seat of
111 linry tubercles — a tendency which affords a good aid to
diagnosing the presenc- of the disease iu a living animal
Such organs as t'-e lungs and liver sometimes attain great
dimensions by the tubercular infiltration, while their density
is immensely increased. Mucous, in aoditi-jn to the serous
membranes — the brain, uterns, testicles, kidneys, ovaries,
he-r'-, &■•. — are all liable to be, intiitrat-^d with malignant
tuberculous formations. As to the frequency of the diease in
virions tis-iips aud organs, Adam found in 109 bovines the
luosis and serous membranes chiefly involved; in 117 the
lungs solely affected, anc in 28 the serous membranes alone.
In all the tuberculous cattle there was more or less affection
of the bronchial g ands, which were greatly enlarged from the
presence of luhercle, and in GOauimals the liver was inf-cted
with these formations, while in some instances a number of
t ibercles were found in the tongue and the udder. They have
b •••n foun I by others in the mucous membraue of the roof of
tae vagina, and their presence there, as well as in the udier,
lias been considered useful from a diagnostic point of vie.it.
Tuberculosis, then, said Mr. Fleming, in continuation, is an
infective disease, and appears to be almost peculiar among the
lavver animals to Ihe boviue species ; it is very rarely seen in
the sheep and goat ; it is as rare in the horse ; in the pig it
h«s been observed, and particularly «s the termination if
scrofu;a, with which it is identified ; in carnivora it is very
infrequent. With regard to the etio'ojy of tuberculosis;
very many of the causes which have been supposed to operate
in its production do not b ar any relation to it, except as pre-
disposing causes of those which facilitate the transmission of
its virulent principles. Over-crowding, mal-hygiene, and
poverty, are pr- di pOBlog causes, while they hurry "the course
of the malady when it i« developed. Toe same may be said
of damp and cold, an 1 it may be mentioned that while it pre-
vails in warm aud dry as well as cold and damp situations it

is rarely observed iu the steppes of Russh and Siberia.
Hyper-lactation has been blamed, chiefly, bethought, because
milch cows are often affected ; but it must be remembered
there are two or three times more milch cows than males, so
that the latter are probably as much affected as the former.
It must not be forgotten, also, that cows are kept alive, a,
longer time than bullocks or bolls, and are, besides more ex-
posed to infection by cohabitation. Food of dilfreut kinds
of qualities will not produce ihe disease, neither will any other
antecedent ma'ady. Suppnr.tive diseiae*, or accidents, are
f.r more c immon in the horse than iu the oovine species, and
yet the existence. o1 tuberculosis is sca-cely ever noted iu the
former The malady is also said to complicate certain diseases
such as pleurisy, pneumonia, bronchitis, catarrh &o., but tuey
have no relationship to it, and when they are preseut are
only evideme of the uisea e tself which has produced thera.
The disease is looked upon as hereditary, and there are strong
points which bear iu favour of this view ; it is certainly a
transrnissable malady from mother to foe us. The question
of heredity, except entailing predispositiou to the disease, is
not, however, easily solved, for its transmission by infection
only too often complicates the inquiry. Mr. Fleming now
came to the, perhaps, most importaut part of the paper — the
infectiousness or contagiousness 0' tuberculosis. This un-
fortunate property of this serious disorder had only recmly
been demonstrated. From the facts before thim there is
reason to think that, like glanders, which it so much resembles
in many points, the disease may, in exceptional circumstances,
be conveyed by the breath from diseased t) healthy animals.
To a certain extent the truth of this has been experimentally
demonstrated by Tappoinier, who produced the disease by
causing small animals to inhale the dried sputa of phthisical
people. On inwvoc aiio.19 it has b^eu 11 j ed chat t"e e was
a strange persistency of tuberculosis in certain cattle sheds,
which, so far as hygiene was concerned, left, little to
be desired ; while in other sheds, under far less favor-
able health conditions, but into which the disease
lad not been introduced, the cows remained free from it.
Haushalter has noticed that when young animals are placed
near diseased ones they readily become infeced. The infec-
tiousness of phthisis in mankind, long suxpected, is now
a-serted by high medical authorities. As to the inocuiab lity
of'the disease, fiere are now hundreds ot positive experiments
to prove it. It has been shown in an nude liable manner
that, hlte glanders, tuberculosis can be prod no -d in healthy
animals bv inoculating them with tnberculous inatrer from
man or other creatures. Transmission can be effected not
o ■ •y ny tne tuberculous matter, but also by the bronchial
secretions and the blood, the same as the must characteristic
virulent miladies, su:h as glanders. Toe disease can be pro-
duced through the intact inncous membranes — as that of the
digestive canal, and this renders this particular disease all the
more formidable. Many experimenters (as lie had showed)
had produced the disease by feeding animals with the human
or bovine tubercle, and the fi-sh and milk of tuberculous ani-
mals. The alterations produced ware sometimes slight, in
others quite startling, and rarely were they negative. Oaly
the other day he received an account of some most interesting
experiments perfo med by Bollinger, of Munich, on swine
goats, monkeys, and guinea pigs with the mlk of tuberculous
cows. In one instance, three pigs, s;< weeks old, were Fed
wi b the milk of a cow whose lungs were recognised to be
tuberculous, and at whose autopsy these organs were found to
be adVcted with caseous pneumonia, and there was also
tuberculosis of the pleura, and bronchial, mediastinal, and
mesen eric glands, as well as the uterus. The piasdied early
in the experiment, unfortunately, a d only in one were the
laryngeal lymphatic glands enlarged and softened. Iu another
instance milk was obtained from a cow which, after death,
showed tuberculosis of the liver, pe i'oneum, ovaries, thoracic
and abdominal glands, and pleura, with cheesy deposits in tie
lungs; this milk was given for ah .ut ten weeks to four
heal: hy three weeks old svvme, uncooked, and from 1^ to 3
li res daily. Daring this period the throat glauds were ob-
served to enlarge. When from ;our to live months old they
were killed, and found in advanced tuberculosis ; more espe-
cially were the lungs, liver, and spleen affected, while the
throat, bronclral, epigastric, aud portal glands were extremely
swolleu and cheesy. Iu two of the swine there were small
caseous folicular ulcers iu the ileum. Controlled swine (same
inter, but fed on other food) were healthy. A young pig,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

350

fed for fourteeQ days longer with milk from the same cow
gradually wasted and died when 3* month, old three weeks
Iter the termination ofthi. feeding Tie autopsy revealed
more especial y c.seous inflammation of the large I .testioe,
ao exquisite mihary tuberculosis of the lungs with great en-
largement and edification of the bronchial glands. In
another ..stance, six pigs of the same litter from a healthy
ojw were experimented upon, four being fed with this cows
milk al»o two with uncooked milk, two with cooked, and the
other two were kept as controlled animals. After five months
the controlled animals were killed, and found to be healthy;
those fed with the. cooked milk when also killed were found
to be aff-cred with severe generalised tuberculosis ; while of
th.»se led with uncooked milk one that died showed caseous
(c.ol'ulous) enteritis, and the second, very unwell, was still
alive From these experiments, confirmed by an account of
accidental infection of pigs recorded in Walley's work, it
would appear thai in swine scrofula is first developed by the
milk then tuberculosis-the one being only an advanced
.tape of the other. These sartling facts of transmission
account for the increasing increase of the disease. loung
animals reared upon the milk of tuberculous cows will receive
the infection, and develop the malady, after a long or short
iu'erval according to circumstances. This impresses the
necessity for not breeding Irora animals tainted with the dis-
ease nor allowing them to suckle young animais, if they are
bred from— neither should their milk be given for consumption
t» any creature ; they ought to be killed, and if not much in-
fected, certain portions of their flesh allowed for consumption.
Toe dwellings they inhabited should be treated as infected
p aces and cleansed and disinfected. Very serious risk man-
kind incur through using the flesh and milk of infected animals.
Wnen animals are in good condition, the tubercles localised
aid the lymphatic glands not generally involved, then the fl-sn
miy be allowed to be used for consumption; but wnen there
is generalised tuberculosis, or even an advanced stage of the
disease in any important organs, it should not be consumed
as food. M.re particularly should this be observe! when
there is emaciation. In any other disease the flesh of
emiciat.d animals is innutritious ; in this it is so, and yiru-
leat as we 1. With regard to the milk, this should mvariab y
be condemned a. highly dangerous All dairy stock should
be ere ully and regularly inspected by thoroughly competent
veterinarians, with a view to discovering the earliest indica
tio.is of the ditease, and to preserve not on.y the lives o
animals in contact with them, but also those of the people
who consume their milk ; for, judging from the close relation-
ship between the pig and mankind,; physiologically and
ana omically speaking, there cannot be a doubt that our own
species would be as readily affected as the porcine. The con-
clusions to be drawn from the facts contained in the paper
Mr Fleming left to the consideration ol the association, but
ol 'their importance to his mind there coald be but one

o ii ion. . .

Mr. Fleming, in the course of reading his paper, was Ire-

quently applauded.

EMIGRATION FROM THE MERSEY.— The Daily News
■avs — " Th.- general revival of trade throughout the country,
well .8 abroad, has had a marked effect upon the emigra-
u from the Mersey, the returns of which lor the past

tlOU IIUUI mo l*L'i°i-J, »..- -

q larter show an enormous increase up.m recent figures, the
steamships of the regular Transatlantic hues have had al
their pas>enger accommodation occupied on their eastward
vovages for some time past, and there are no signs of a
d mi utiou of the exodus. The Governmeut emigration
o-hcer at Liverpool yesterday issued his statement for ..larch,
which showed that during tha month 83 vesse.s left the
Mersey with no fewer tnau 13,363 passengers, ol whom

12 167 proceeded to the United S.at s, 812 to Britt.li North
America 170 to South Araerici, 28 to Australia, 67 to the
East Indies, 21 to lh^ West Indies, 62 to China, aud 3b to
t le West Coast o' Africa. The. nationalities ol the emigrants
were -English, 5,053; Scotch, 82; I.i,h, 2,887 ; lo-eign,
6 ($14 Ol 327 the nationalities were uot given, lhe returns
for the uua.ter euded March 31 showed that during that
peri d 23 7-U emigrants sailed from Liverpool, as compared
w.tli 10,327 in the same peri.d of 187lJ, au increabe of

13 137.'— We cau scarcely take thegre.it increase ol eungra-
loii as a sigu of the revival ol trade in this country.

Jfnmurs' Clubs.

BLANDFORD .

In consequence of Profe-sor Buckman having postponed his
lecture till the April meeting, Mr. Galpin read the following
paper :—

WHAT ALTERATIONS ARE NECESSARY TO MEET THE RE-
QUIREMENTS 01 THE PRESENT STATE 01 AGRICULTURE.

" Ton have been grumbling for the last 20 years, but now
I believe you hive some cause for it, so I will throw >ou back
20 per cent, off your rent " Such was the answer of a land-
lord to his tenant, who had asked tor some reduction on
account of the haid times. However ungracious the answer
might have been it had a good practical application, and the
fiuale was better than the beginning. There is no doubt about
the present wide-spreaa depression in agriculture. Public
sympathy has been enlisted on behalf of the farmer, and it fua
shown itself iu various ways, sometimes in the giving of a
great deal of gratuitous and often well meant but impracti-
cable advice; in others in endeavouring to ameliorate ihe
political condition of the farming interest, and in the great
majority of cases the landlords themselves have voluntarily come
forward and assisted the tenants to meet the times by remission
of rents. Now, the causes for ihe present depression in agricul-
ture are not far to seek. Two or three successive years of drficient
harvests have been far exceeded by the disastrous seasou of 187'J,
than which I suppose within the memory of theoldest inhabitant
no such untoward season has been known. The other cau.-e is
the enormous and yet steadily increasing foreigu competition,
lhe British farmer, weighed and bound down witli foreign
competition, high rents, dear labour, heavy taxatiou, finds it up-
hill work to compete with the foreiguer with his boundless extent
of virgin soil at nominal rents, aided as he is by low freight*
and freedom. Wuh regard to the first cause men ioned, we
must look forward hopefully. Tnere always have been good
seasons and bad seasons, and, as we have had a spell of
bad, let us hope the good ones are in store for us ; then if we
can grow goof simples of c.ru we sha 1 at least have a mark' t.
for it at a price, notwithstanding foreign competition. But
with regard to the other cause — foreign compe ition — I fear we
must make up our miuds to have to meet it, not only in its
pre:^ it state, but also iu increasing dimensions, both as regards
corn and meat, and o her productions as well. No*, what
can the far ner himseli do to meet the times ? First of all he
must not rent the land so dear ; I know very wel the great
competition there, is, or rather has been, for farm*. The land
d >es not increase, but farmers' sous dj, and I cannot help-
thinking that a young man just commencing life with a limited
capital has, with valuable experience gained on his lather's
farm as to the treatment of slock and other particulars con-
nected with farm life — if instead o; looking out for a farm in
this country, where at the most he could ouly expect to make,
both euds meet, he vtere to take his capital aud energy aud
experience to our own colouies or to America, l.e wou d soon
attain a much b.-tter position than ever he could hope to do
i i the mother country ; for it must be remembered that a
farmer's son, brought up as most ot them are, aud gaining
practical experience day by day, would start in a new
country on mueh more lavuurahle terms than one who had
no experience iu such matters. But supposing a fanner
has the offer of and wishss to take a farm in llus country
naturally he would first try to ascertain what amount of com
he couli reasonably exptct to grow, taking the average of
seasons, and what amount of stock he could keep ; and here
let me say I do uot thiuk auy one will be justified in putiing
the selliDg price of his best wheat at more than 40s. per qr.,
barley at 35<., and oats at 22*. Now lor the outgoings —
what capital is required for the sm cessful working of the lann ?
IL/w many men aud horses (labour) are required ? What
m mures, tradesmen's bills, rates and taxes, interes. on capital,
kc ? Then, after these d his are put against the credit.-, what
reut can he afford to give? ll is of no use to say such and
suc'.i land is worth so much p"r acre if you liud that the. work-
iug expenses counterbalance the piofils to be made. We are
told ou all si es that the panacea lor agricultural depressi >u
is to invest more capital iu the soil. One, cau hardly see ihe
force of this argument ii ihe present capital invested does not
pay a legitimate luterest. It a manufacturer cannot produce a

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

351

certain article at a profit in consequence of the expense of pro
Auction, how are Iim profits to be increased by increased pro-
duction, ubtaiued by an increase ill the cost of production ?
But lor whatever capital the tenaut has invested in the farm
he should have ample security to give him confidence in his
undertaking, and in the event ol his quitting he should
have compensation for its improvements, and also for any
legetimate expenses incurred, but of which he has not rtceived
the full benefit. With regard to the Agricultural Holdings
Act, I believe in the framing of that Act it was a case of the
niountaiu in labour, and any good arising from it is of the
negative kind — that is, it obliges those parties who were con-
tent to goon without an agreement till they came to a disagree-
ment to make one lorthwih, otherwise they come under the
operatiou of the Act. Further than this 1 can see very little
good in the Act, and that this is the geueral opinion is shown
by 99 out ot eve.'y 100 landlords contracting themselves out of
it. As regards the Game Laws there is a great deal of maud-
lin seutimeut mixed up with a little common sense in the
arguments lor their repeal. As it affects the farmer, is it not
a question between landlord aud tenant ? If a man knowingly
giii'.- to a nuisance, has he any right to coniplaiu of that
uuisanc ? Aud if a tenant takes a farm knowing it to be a
gaum larui has he any right to complain of the game on the
farm ? But the ca*e is altered if the nuisance comes to the
man after he is in possession, and if a landlord deceives a tenant
by false represeutatiou either as to the amount of game or by
increasing the amount after the tenant is in possession, then
the tenaut should have redress, and this without invoking the
aid of the law or endangering the good understanding which
should always exist between landlord and tenaut. for my
own part, I cannot help thinking that if the tenant were
in all cases allowed to kill the grouud game much cause of
disagreement between landlord and tenant would be
avo ded, nor would the landlord lose by the bargain, for
no well-disposed tenant would encourage po iching or have
any sympathy with poachers, and when we hear of the great
nimuier of poachers who are convicted is it not because the
law is too lenient on the snbject rather than otherwise ? Now,
with regard to the details of farming, must we not look to
the curtailing of our expenses ? Some of the best land — land
suitab e to be laid down to permanent pasture, some of the
light poor land to be laid down tj pasture for three or four
years, instead of one or two years as at present, so as to reduce
the iabuur botn in men and horses. Then, why not pay more
attention to growing seeds instead of so much corn, keeping
mo e poultry, &c, breeding horses, especially cart horses. I
merely throw out these hints in the hope of provoking dis-
cussion. There is one subject which has given rise to a great
deal of di."Cussion lately — namely, the relative merits of large
or small farms. No oue will be inclined to deny that a farmer
should limit the extent of his holding according to his avail-
able capital. If a farmer has to work with borrowed capital
and to pay inteiest on that capital he will be a poor man all his
life. Farming is not like trade, for whereas in commercial
undertakings your capital may be turned over many
successive times in a year ; iu farming it is not so. The
farmer has to bury his capital in the soil and wait lor
the former aud latter rain before he can expect to reap
his harvest. Now, in the argument as to large or small
farms, it is too often assumed that the mau occupying a
large business is deficient in capital, whilst the smaller
holder has enough, but is it not very o!ten that the
o,>posi e of this is the case, and it is the small holder
who, as a rule, is deficient in cipital? As a general rule
moderately large farms are better mauaged, more economically
worktd, and pay a belter return than the smaller larms, be-
sides winch the outlay on the landloru's part in buildings and
horses is less comparatively on lar^6 thau on small farms.
Now as regards the political staudiug of the tenant-farmer.
As a general rule no class of men take less interest iu poli-
tics than does the tenant-farmer. He grumbles at the market
table over the rates aud taxes lie has to pay and his con-
stantly increasing expenses, but he has betn so long accus-
ton el to leave others to think for him, to look up to his
s>U| enurs to do what they think right lor him, that the etlort
rei,u,red to think for ot.esell is too much for him, and so he
al ows things to go on without troubling himself about it, till
one fine morning he wakes up to find (when it is too late to
remonstrate) that there is another sraw laid on the camel's
back. Now there are pleuty ol institutions ready to take up

and plead the farmer's cause if they be only properly sup-
poried by himself, but he must not expect others to interest
themselves in his matters if he is lukewarm himself. There
are Farmers' Clubs, Chambers of Agriculture, and lately the
Farmers' Alliance has been called into existence to plead the
farmer's cause. With regard to the latter, I cannot see but
that I he programme put forth by that society is perfectly legi-
timate, and worthy of support, but we all know the fable of
the bundle of sticks, and the question arises whether it would
not have been better to support more energetically the
existing institutions, to work them up to take greater
interest in what they profess to do, than to have a division
in the camp and bo expose our weakness to the enemy. With
regard to the Malt Tax. The Malt Tax is an unjust tax, and
as such ought to he done away with. The country has elected to
go in for Free Trade, and yet we have one of our staple
home productions taxed, and that heavily. The tax presses
heavily on the farmer in more ways than one. If we could
ensure good weather in harvesting our barleys (which, of
course, we cannot) it would not press so heavily on the
farmer as it does, for this reason. The ma tster has to pay the
same duty whether it he good or bad ; on the good barley he
gets a greater increase than on the inferior, consequently the
percentage of duty is less on the good than on the bad. You
will say then the price of the good is enhanced, and so it is,
but at the same time the price of the inferior is unduly de-
preciated, and the farmer who has been unfortunate in
harvesing his barley has to bear another loss in the undue
depreciation of value of his indifferent barley. This has been
abundantly shown this year, for as a matter of fact the
barley is not good ; the brewer consequently uses more
sugar and less malt, and there is no demand for the
barley. Barley is quoted in the market reports lor this
week as ranging from 20s. per quarter to 45s. How
few have 45«. barleys! But it is in the matter of
local taxation that the farmer is most interested, and
why ? Because he is more heavily rated in proportion
than others. A farmer with a capital of £5,000 and rent-
ing a farm at £500 a year is rated at the gross rent
minus a deduction for repairs, &c, whereas a manu-
facturer or tradesman erauloying the same capital, and
perhaps turning over that capital four times to the farmer's
once, is rated one-fifth the sum the farmer has to pay ; and,
further, the gentleman with ten limes the income is more th«n
likely rated less than either. We were told that if we paid our
labourers more the poor-rates would be less, but it is not the
amount doled out to the pauper which constitutes the great
burdens of the so-called poor-rates. It is the establishment
charges, the salaries paid to the multitude of officials ; the
maintenance of grand buildings, many of which, as our friend
the late Mr. R. Fowler conclusively proved, could be dispeused
with, and the constant addition of fresh sources of expense,
such as sanitary matters, education, and the maintenance of
the highways. These are the items which swell up the calls
for the ratepayers' money. Lord Beacons-field, in reply to a
memorial recently forwarded to him by owners ?nd occupiers
of land in Wiltshire, denies there has been any increase dur-
ing the six years ending 1878 — on the contrary, there has been
a decrease, as the paragraph shows. Now, I kave
here some figures taken from the receipt and payment
book of a parish, Irom which it appears that the
actual amount paid in the shape of poor-rates (except
highway rates, of which I cannot find the account), for
five yean, ending 1853, averaged £142 yearly, and for five
years, ending 1»78, averaged £269 yearly — increase £127, or
nearly 90 per cent. To the first five yiars must he added the
cost of maintaining the highways, which I have no doubt
under local management does not average more than £15 a
year. In ihis parish I ought to state there is no education-
rate, as the school is maintained at the cost of the lord of the
manor, so that this item o' expense is saved to the ratepayers.
But we are threatened with another great addition to the
rates in the disturnpiking of the peblic roads and making
them highways, to be kept in repair by the several parishes
through which they pass. True it is some of them are made
trunk roads, and the cost of repairs is spread over a larger
area, but this is only shifting the burden Irom one shoulder to
the other. The old principle of making those who me the
rosds pay for their maintenance is the correct one, and why
cannot the same priuciple be carried out by levyiug a tax on
horses to be applied to the maintenance of the roads, and

852

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

this not only the at present turnpike-roads, but all the high-
ways of the country. Lord Derby has said that as the rates
ultimately fall on the owners of property, the occupiers have
very little to do with it, but if a man has a lease of the pro-
perty he is bound to pay all rates imposed on that property,
and even if he has no lease he cannot be making a fresh agree-
ment with his landlord every year. It would be bnt a poor
satisfaction to the tenant, who, ruined by extra bnrdens thrown
upon his holding, is at last obliged to relinquish his farm to
find that the landlord in making a new bargain with another
tenant would have to take into consideration the extra rates
imposed on the farm. Therefore it is high time for the
farmers to think for themselves, and whenever they have an
opportunity of recording their votes to sink party politics
and vote for the man who is likely to look after their own
interests.

Agricultural ^erratics.

CLYDESDALE HORSE.

The monthly meeting of Council of the above Society was
held at Glasgow, on Apnll 14. The Hon. Lord Arthur
Cecil presided.

Letters intimating acceptance of office were read from
the Rieht lion, the Earl of Strath more, President-, and
Messrs. James M'Q teen and John Marr members of Council.

The following were unanimously elected members of the
Society : —

LIFE GOVERNOR.

Archd. Orr Ewing, Esq, of Bally kiurain, M.P. for Dumbar-
tonshire.

ANNUAL MEMBERS.

William Moir, Wester Leddri green, Strathblane.
Silvester Campbell, Kinellar, BUckbnrn, Aberdeen.

Mr. James HbnteR reported that the Committee met that
dav at twelve o'clock. The conditions of entry for third
vo ume were discussed, and the following new rule regulating
the entry of prizes was approved of: — 12. Only those
prizes gained at shows lor which detailed catalogues are
published, and open at least to a whole county, will be
entered in the Stud-book. Prizes awarded at H. and A.S.
Shows under Class 6 (class for mares in foal), will only be
given after the mare has proved in foal, and the Directors of
the H. and A.S. Society have received satisfactory information
to that effec\

The other busines* was formal.

This report was adopted, and the Secretary was instructed
to advertise the last date for receiving entries to Volume III.,
and to proceed with the collection of pedigree".

Mr. John Hendiue reported that he examined Secretary's
petty casli account and receipts and found both correct. The
amount of expenditure o' petty cash during the month was
£i 6s. 4d., the payments by order of Council, £19 lis. lid.
The cash received during March amounted to £'22 Is. 6d., and
the balance at the Society's credit at 21st March was as
follows : — On deposit receipt, £780 ; on current account,
£117 Is. 4d. ; and in S clary's hands, £4, Is. 2§d.

As several of the entrants of stuck into Volume II. have
not yet paid their fees, the secretary was instructed to intimate
that no entries would be accepted Irom them for Volume III.
until the arrears were cleared off.

Payments to the amount of £18 were authorised, and a
cheque granted by the treasurer for that amount.

The report was adopted.

The Secretary was instructed to forward a copy of the second
v >lume of the Stud book to all the agricultural societies which
hid been presented with copies of the first volume, and at the
time ot lorwarding, to request the several secretaries to be so
good as to scud a catalogue of their shows with the prize
wiuners in horse classes marked in return.

ENGLISH CART HORSE.

The Council meeting of this Society was held at the Inns
of Court Hotel, Holborn, London, on April 13, Mr. W. Wells
in t'ie chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

On the motion of Mr. F. Street, seconded by Mr. Walter

Gilbey, Earl Spencer, E.G., was unanimously elected presi-
dent tor the ensuing year.

Oa the proposal of Major Dashwood, seconded by Mr.
Thomas Bkown, the Hon. E. Coke was unanimously elected
vice-president.

The Earl of Ellesmere was unanimously elected to fill the
vacancy in the Council occasioned by the Earl of Macclesfield
declining to accept office.

The three vacancies occasioned by non-attendance of mem-
bers were filled up by the election of Mr. William Thomp>on,
Thorpe, Essex, in room of the Rev. L. Wood, Singletoa,
Lancashire; Mr. William Fookes, Wiltshire, in room of Sir
Gilbert East-, Bar'., Maidenhead, Berkshire ; Mr. William
Love, Wolsingham, Durham, in room ol Sir J. D. Astley,
Bart.

Messrs. T. Brown, R. S. Reynolds, F. S'reet, William
Little, and T. W. L^rnb »ere appoiuted Editing Commitiee.
Major Dashwood, Messrs. W. Giibey, C. Howard, T.
Lambert, and Juhn Mureton were appoiuted Finance Com-
mittee.

The committee congratulated the Society on the great
success of the first show held at the Agricultural Hail, tinker
the auspices of the society. They believe it will be the
means of widely extending the nselulcess of the Society, aud
that the holding of an annual spring tliow will be very benefi-
cial to the breeding of cart horses.

Mr, Joseph Martin proposed, iu order to carry out the
recommendation ot the Horse Show Cummi tee or holding an
annual meeting at the Agricultural Hall in 1831, that the
following gentlemen form a committee for considenug the best
means lor making the necessary arrangements, aud report to
the May Council ; — The President, the V.ce-President, Mr. T.
Brown, Mr. W. Gilbey, and Major Dashwood.

THE FA1RLAMB PLAN OF BUTTER
MAKING.

The Fairlamb can is in general appearance like a tall tin
pail. It is 20 inches deep, a foot in diameter at the top and
10 inches at the bottom. It stands upon three short knobs or
feet, so as to raise it an inch or two from the floor. From the
centre of the bottom a 4-inch tube rises perpendicularly to
within 3£ inches of the top of the can, and near the top of
this central tube a one-inch tube enters ind runs horizontally
to the side of the can. Both of these tubes opeu on the outside
of the can only, the object being to create a circulation of
water through them aud carry olf the heat from the central
portion of the m Ik. A graduated glass slot is arranged in the
side of the can for the purpose of showing the depth ot cream.
The can is provided with a cover, haviug a rub'ier baud on its
edge, so as to exclude anything objectionable coaling in contact
with the milk while the cream is rising.

These cans cost about 1 dol. 50c. each. They are designed
to set in a water box, made of common inch boards, aud
which any farmer can construct at small cost. The cans are
to he surrounded with water, or water and ice, the same as
with other pans ot deep setting.

Now the Fairlamb plan is to have a building or creamery
simply for receiving the cream, churuiug it, and picking the
butter. The cream is to be raised at the tarm, aud the cans
are so arranged that when filled with milk and treated with
water in a uniform manner, cue inch ol cream — as seen on
the graduated glass in the side of the can — will make one
pound of butter, and the sales of cream are so regulated. Teams
with waggons and cans for collecting the cream are connected
with the lactory, and they are sent out daily with trusty men
to collect the cream. Tne glass slide at the side of the can
records the quantity of cream raised, and the uumbe.r of inches
is credited not only on the book of the collector, but ou a book
kept by the dairyman.

Among the advantages claimed for this plan are the follow-
ing:— It saves the labour of hauling the milk, aud the
skimmed tuiik remains at the (arm, where it cau be Used as feed
for domestic animals. As there is more or less liubilityol i >j iry
to milk by being carried long distances_to the factory, and as is
agitation and the time employed in transportation tends to
lessen the quantity of cream, the raising of the cream at the
farm ought to give the best results.

The creamery buildiugs need not be elaborate or expeusivr.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

36a

The cream cau be collected over a much larger territory than
it would be practicable to carry the milk it delivered to one
factory. The dairyman known from day to day what his cows
are yielding, and as prices for butter are regulated from week
to week, he. gets the advantage of quick sales.

One team in collecting cream will travel 20 miles a day,
and will collect sufficient cream to make 250 pounds of butter.
In Iowa, where this plan is adopted, a man with team for
collecting cream is paid at ths rate of 40 dols. per month,
and he is to bear the expense of keeping his team. He is
required to do a certain amount of work — crediting the cream
as he gathers it, and noting defects, if any, and rejecting that
which is filthy or not properly cared for. In Illinois the cream
gatherer, furnishing team, gets 45 dols. per month. In these
States a company builds creamery, furnishes cans to farmers,
collects the cream, paying the farmers for the cream at a
pric« agreed upon from week to week, according to the price
ruling for butter. The cost for making butter in a large
factory is said to be about one cent per pound. The whole cost of
collecting cream, making the butter, with packages, salt, &c,
is calculated, and the dairyman is paid so ranch less per inch
of cream or pound of butter as this cost amounts to — the price
of butter being regulated by highest quotations in market.

The dairyman generally realises considerably more than he
could were he to manufacture his butter at the farm and sell it
on his own account. High skill being employed at the
factory, , a very fine and uni'orm product is made, which, on
account, of its quality and uniformity, as well as large quantity,
com'Tiands a very high price. The plan is attracting attention,
and is said to be well adapted to new districts. — A. Willabd
in Albany Cultivator.

fEistellanwms.

EDUCATIONAL PRESSURE.

Mrs. Garrett Anderson, M.D., writes the following
excellent letter to the Times : —

Tne question now under discussion in the Timet, as to
whether the remarkable and valuable advance made
during the last few years in secondary education is not
tending to overstep the limits consistent with health and
vigour in children now of school age, is one of very great
importance.

There is no true opposition of interests among those imme-
diately concerned. I; is to the interest alike of parents and
teachers to fiud out how much children may safely be taught,
and to stop short O' the point at which eff.irt is being worse
than wasted. It is also certainly to the interest of children
that their intelligence should be developed as much as is
possible without any sacrifice of present or future health.
Parents and teachers both wish to do the best that can be
done for the children. If they differ, it is from looking at the
subject from different standpoints. If they make mistikes, it
is from over-zeal for the supposed good of the children. It
is necessary to bear this in mind, because the cry against
overwork, which is both louder and deeper than teachers are
willing to believe, comes mainly from parents, and seems
superficially to be directed against the teachers by whom the
educational pressure is mainly applied. They, in their
turn, blame the parents for any evils which may
appear to result from it. The mistresses blame the
mothers, and the mothers the mistresses, and between them
a good many children, I am constrained to believe, are seri-
ously injured. I use the word mistresses because, knowing
nothing directly of boys' schools, I am thinking ouly of girls,
and mainly of girls attending good day schools, where they
are under the double care of mothers and mistresses. This
arrangement, which ought to be the ideally best for al! child-
ren, has dangers of its own, and in adoptiug it mothers ought
plainly to recognise that they are charging themselves with a
considerable responsibility, which in a boarding school is ac-
cepted by the schoolmistress, and which must be taken by
some one unless the child is to suffer. It is the mother's duty
to see that children going to a day school have a quiet room
and a set* led time for their home work, and that no more than
a reasonable time is spent upon such work. Whenever a child

has been injured by overwork the mother is primarily to blame
for allowing it. She ought imperatively to forbid any excels of
time (varying, of course, wiih the chihi's age and strength)
being spent in the preparation of lessons, or even the necessary
and proper amount or work being done at all in the evening.
Where mothers do not forbid this, it is they, and not the
school system or the teacher, who are mainly to blame.
Whenever a mother complains to me of her child being overi
worked, I scold her. She is the one upon whom the responsi-
bility of preventing over- work must always rest; she kuows
or ought to know, the individual power of each child, the ease
or difficulty with which its work is done, the degree of bodily
vigour, the rate of the child's recent growth, the family
tendencies to various forms of ill-health or weakness, and it is
her duty to prevent absolutely any undue strain upon the
child's powers, especially in the direction of night work and
cramming for examinations. On the other hand, the teachers
frequently with great justice, blame the mothers for sending'
the children to school too ignorant of everything to take even
a very moderate school course without undue effort, and for
requiring them, in spite of this, to study a great many various
subjects. Where, from ill-health, early neglect, or any other
cause, a child is not well abreast of her age at nine or ten, the
parents ought to allow for this, and require her to take up the
minimum number of subjects upon entering school, instead of
trying, as they too often do, to get their pe myworth in lull
by imposing upon the child everything included in a liberal
school course arranged for carefully prepared children.

It is, however, in my opinion, a grave question whether,
even for these, the curriculum in the best day schools is not
now too extensive. After looking over the time tables of
several of these schools and cross questioning parents, children,
and teachers upon them, my conviction is that too many
subjects are taught at the same time, and that the curriculum
for the rank and file of the children is one which would be
m >re suitable to hose of unusual ability and vigour. One
great danger of a very diversified course is that the child is at
the mercy of many different teachers, each of whom is
aDxious to push her on in her own subject, forgetting that it
is but one of many the child has to overtake. An instance in
point came recently under my notice. A little girl of eleven
attending one of the best day schools was obviously findina- it
very difficult to overtake her work. The German lessonfor
one day was found to include the translation from English into
German of a page of print, the translation of a similar page of
German into English, and learning nine irregular verbs°anl
two pages of phrasps. This was one lesson among several for
one day's preparation out of the school hours. With a care-
less mother the child, if zealous, would have tried to per'orm
even this ridiculous amount of work, and as it was when the
mother interfered and stopped it, and went next day to com-
plain to the head mistress, all that was said was, " Ah !
Fraulein is apt to give too long lessons" It is almost im-
possible for any head nvsfress realiy to check the tendency to
overwork if a child takes many subjects at once. Safety lies
in preparing carefully from the first in the rudimentary sub-
jects ; in allowing the child to take only a very moderate
number of subjects, at any rate till she is used to school life ;
and in the mother exercising without hesitation her authority
against too much home preparation, and against all eveniu »
work. A new danger arises when the girl is old enough to be
examined. Here, again, I would urge the parents to stand
stoutly to their ground as against examinations, to this
extent: I would have them say, " Examine the school work
a9 much as you like, but let there be no special or exciting
grinding for examination, nor, in the view of it, prolonged
hours of study. Let it represent a fair test ot what has been,
quietly and fairly gained during the year or term." The oys.
tem of putting young children— or even boys and girls uuder
18— through one test after another, all more or less competi-
tive and exciing from 12 or 13 onwards, seems to mc to be
one from which much mischief cannot but ensue. Not of
course, to the strougest— they will, perhaps, go through'the
mill without injury — but to those to whom long-continued
efforts mean strain and conscious fatigue. To these it must be
in a high degree, injurious. But not only do the physically
least strong suffer ; clever, precocious children are probably
as a rule in still greater risk of being injured. Much of the
difficulty of the question lies in the natural and permanent
difference in individual powers — a difference not less marked

364

THE FARMER'S MACxAZINB

io children than in sdults. Some children can work hard and
long without harm ; others cannot. A good many children
want most of their nervous force for meeting the daily
demands of growth and development, while others ha?e Urge
reserves of nerve force which really need to be employed.
But, speaking broadly, these are the exceptions. It is wise to
remember as a general rule that with children and adolescents
generally we are not dealing with completed organisms from
which all they can perform may safely be demanded without
reserve but with organisms still, as it were, engaged in the
process of self-construction. The machine is not ready for use,
because it is still itself in the workshop. What does it signify
to a young man or woman that at 18 or 19 they know a little
more of one or two subjects, in comparison with the invalu-
able blessing of coming to mature life strong and vigorous,
with a well developed and well-balanced nervons system, and
with the power of working hard without being the worse
for it ?

HOW WE HUNTED A MOUSE.— I was dozing com-
fortably in ray easy chair, and dreaming of the good times
which I hope are coming, when there fell upon my ears a
most startling scream. It was the vo ce of my Maria Ann in
agony. The voice came from the kitchen, and to the kitchen
I rushed. The idolised form of my Maria was perched on a
chair, and she was flourishing an iron spoon in all directions,
and shouting" shoo," in a general manner, at everything in
the room. To ray anxious enquiries as to what was the matter
she screamed, "Oh, Joshua! a mouse, shoo — wha — shoo
—a great — ya, shoo — horrid mouse, and — she— ew — it ran
right out of the cupboard — shoo — go away — O Lord — Joshua
— shoo — kill it, oh, my — shoo." AH that fuss, you see, about
one little harmless mouse. Some women are so afraid of mice.
Maria is. I got the poker and set myself to poke that mouse,
and my wile jumped down and ran off into another room. I
found the mouse in a c >rner under the sink. The first time I
hit it I didn't poke it any on account ef gettiug the poker all
entangled up in a lot of dishes in the sink ; and I did not hit
it any more because the mouse would not stay still. It ran
right toward me, and I naturally jumped, as anybody would ;
but I am not afraid of mice, and when the horrid thing ran
up inside the leg of my pantaloons, I yelled to Maria because
I was afraid it would gnaw a hole in my garment. There is some-
thing disagreeable really about having a mouse inside the leg of
one's pantaloons, especially if there is nothing between you
and the mouse. It< toes are cold, and its nails are scratchv,
aod its fur tickle0, and its tail feel* crawly, and there is nothing
pleasant about it, and you are all the time afraid it will
try to gnaw out, and begin on you instead of on the cloth.
That mouse was next to me. I could feel its every motion
with startling and suggestive distinctness. For these reasons
1 yelled to Maria, and as the case seemed urgent to me I may
liave yelled with a certain degree of vigour ; but I deny that
I yelled fire, aod if I catch the boy who thought that I did, I
»hall in fl ct punishment on his person. I did not lose, my
presence of mind for an instant. I caught the mouse just as
it was clambering over my knee, and by pressing firmly on the
outside of the cloth, I kept the animal a prisoner on the in-
side. I kept jumping round with all my might to contuse it,
so that it would not think about biting, and yelled so that the
m:ce would not hear its squeaks aud come to its assistance. A
man can't handle many mice at once to an advantage. Miria
was white as a sheet when she came into the kitchen and
asked what she should do — u though I could hold the mouse
and plan a campaign at the same time. I told her to think
of something, and she thought she would throw things at the
intruder ; but as there, was no earthly chance for her to hit
the mouse, while every shot took effect on me, I told her to
stop, after she had tried two flat-irons and the coal scuttle.
She paused for breath j but I kept bobbing around. Some-
how I felt no inclination to sit down anywhere. "Oh,
Joshua," she cried, " I wish you had not killed the cat." Now
I submit that the wish was bom of the weakness of woman's
intellect. How on earth did she suppose could get where that
mouse was ? — rather have the mouse there alone, anyway,
than to have a cat prowling around after it. I reminded Maria
of the fact that she was a fool. Then she got the te»-kettle
aud wanted to scald the mouse. I objected to that process,
except as a last resort. Then she got some cheese to coax the
mouse down, but I did not dare to let go, for fear it would run
up. Matters were getting desperate, I told her to think of
something else, and I kept jumping. Just as I was ready to

faint with exhaustion, I tripped over au iron, lost my hold,
and the mouse fell to the floor very dead. I had no idea that
a mouse could be squeezed to death so easy. That was uot
the end of the trouble, for before I had recovered my breath a
fireman broke in one of the Irout windows, and a whole company
followed him through, and they dragged hose around, and
massed things all over the house, and then the fireman wanted
to thrash me hecaase the house was not on fire, and I had
hardly got him pacified before a policeman came iu and ar-
rested me. Some one had run down and told him I was drnck
and was killing Maria. It was all I and Maria could do, by
combining our eloquence, to prevent him from marching roe
off in disgrace, but we finally got matters quieted and the
house clear. Now, when mice run out of the cupboard I go
outdoors, and now let Maria " shoo " them back again. I can
kill a mouse, but the fun don't pay for the trouble. — Ontario
Mail.

THE OPIUM TRAFFIC— The Society for the Sap
pression of the Opinm Trade has issued an address to the
Electors of the United Kiugdom, which is signed on behalf
of the Society by the Earl of Shaftesbury, the Dake of
Westminster, several of the Bishops and Peers, Cardinal
Manning, Dr. Bennett, President of the Royal College of
Physicians, thirty-seven Members of Parliament, Herbert
Spencer, James Martineau, C. H. Spurgeon, the Secretaries
of the great Missionary Societies, &c, &c. The address
points out that the opium traffic is not a party matter, both
Conservatives aud Liberals being equally responsible for it ;
that the trade is carried on directly by the Indian Government,
and minis'ers notoriously to the vices of the Ohiuese, the
Chinese Government having repeatedly declare d that opium is
most injurious, and that the trade in it is a most serious
provocative of ill feeling against our country. China, in
spite of repeated protests, is still obliged by the Treaty to
admit the drug, although we have allowed the Japanese to
exclude it. "The opium trade injures our own commerce.
China sends ns tea and silk, and takes but a small quantity of
our calicoes and hardware. In return for the ten millions'
worth of innocent and refresh ng tea whieh comes to this
country, India sends to China ten millions' worth of a
deleterious drug, which impoverishes those who use it, and
excites hatred of Great Britain We submit that it is worth
the while to make friends of three or four hundred millions
of possible purchasers of your manufacturers." " Tnis tr iffifl
is constantly thrown in the teeth of Christian Mission-tries.
The Chinese say to them, ' Y >u sell poison to tha people,
and yet yoa come to teach us virtue !

THE IRtSil WOLFHOUND.— As the Deerhound
of the present day is to the ordinary Greyhound, so
is the giaut Irish Woll hound to the Deerhound.
An Irish paper, waxing enthusiastic on the su'jert,
sats, not long ago, regarding the IrHi Wolf dog: — " This
animal has become crle.brat d as the heraldic protector of
our country. Fair Erin sits pensively beside her harp, the
round tower stands near, aud guarding all three, reclines the
Wolfhound. Scotland's lions have been famed in story ;
England ' stole' one ol them, say some, and joining bin in
company with the unicorn, committed to his trust the hononr
of Albion ; but the unicorn is a beast which even Dr.
Houghton has never seen, while we must go back to the
antedeluvian era to find lions in G eat Britain. But the
Wolfdog is no mythic beast in Ireland ; he was and wi trust
will agaiu be, included amongst the undoubted, exclusive, and
most, distinguished specimens of the Irish fauna." In the
British Museum theie is a Grecian vase, some 450 B C, on
whieh Aclse in is depicted surrounded by his dogs. Some of
them would appear identical with what the Irish Wolfhound
wa«, save, perhaps, in the matter of coat. On some ancient
frescoes at Easton Neston Hall, near Towcester, are depicted
various hunting scenes. In one of the>e two vast dogs of
Deerhound type are represented as se. zing a boar, and these
frescoes having been painted at a time when the Irish Wolf-
hound existed, may he looked upon as throwing considerable
light on the real type of that breed. They are shown to be
vast Deerliounds, with rough wiry coats, of a dark blue-grey
colour ; ears small aud falling over. — Cassell's " BouL of
the Dog."

SYDNEY EXHIBITION.— Messrs. James Carter and Co.,
the Queen's Seedsmen, 237 and 238, High Holborn, Loudon,
W.C., have been awarded the first prize for seeds.

rHE PA R M ER'S M A GAZ1 NT E.

355

DORCHESTER.

A meeting of this Club was held on Apr'.l 17. The
President (Mr. H. W. Hawkius) occupied the chair,

'Ihe Chairman read a short paper by way of introducing tha
subject announced for discussion, viz., ' Tiie imperfect manner
in which corn returns are made, and its effect" : —

He said : At our last meeting on February ~ 1st we agreed
to discuss on 27th March t h is Bunject ; but in consequence of
the election it was put off till to-night. Now I don't think
any subject can be more interesting to us, as farmer*, than
ooe which brings before us the price of our own produce, and
the manner in which those prices are recorded and seut to the
Board of Trade for the purpose of fixing the rent charge from
the market returns, and the effect those returns have made
upon us. That there is a grievance, and that this is a subject
worthy of our consideration, seems to be pretty generally
admitted. There are a certain number of markets in the
kingdom from which returns are made. Now do you consider
that those markets are a fair average of the country ? Corn
bought in some of those markets, where returns are not made,
is, £ understand, taken and sold iu other markets, dealers'
commissions and freight being added to the cost price, and
then the increased price returned. Since the list of markets
was made, trade most likely has become more or less in many
of them, and, consequently, they may not be fairly repre-
sentative. Yet, as to the selection of markets which are to
make returns, there has been very little change since 1791,
when these returns were made " for the information and
benefit of His Majesty's subjects." When the Tithe Commu-
tation Act was passed, the list of towns made in 1S2S was in
force, and the average taken from those returns used for the
purposes of rent charge. In 1842 the 150 markets from which
returns were made had 140 markets added to them, and this
arrangemeut was in force till 1864, whenthe 140 were dispensed
with. The original 150 are, I believe, still the returning
markets. Before the addition of 140 towns, a three years'
average of wheat returned as sold was about 4,000,0 )0 qrs. ;
from '53 to '55 the average sales returned were -4,577,000, an
increase of about ^th for the 290 markets ; from '65 to '67,
3,147,000 qrs. only were returned, when the markets were
again reduced to 150, and for the last three years only about
2,000,000 qrs. were returned on an average, or just half the
Bales of '40 to '42 in the same markets. Barley sales — '40 to
'42, 150 towns, 2,364,000 qrs.; '53 to '55, 290 tovns.
2.450,000 qrs. ; '65 to '67, 150 towns, 1,689,000 qrs. ; 77 to
;:•. 150 towns, 1,649,000. O.its sales— '40 to '42, l50 towns,
2, 1 41,000 qrs.; '53 to '55 290 town-, 820,000 qrs. ; '65 to '67,
150 towns, 252,000 qrs. ; 77 to 79, 150 towns, 174,000 qrs.
Now, gentlemen, we have to accouut for tiiis falling. off in the
return of sales. In the first place oar country grows a less
breadth of corn than formerly, iu the next place we consume a
much greater proportion of corn at home, and thirdly, the
sales effic'ed are not, in a great number of instances, returned.
In one large market (Wakefi«lu) no return was made for six
weeks. There can be no doubt that the averages are taken
most unrairly, because the returns made are only of the best
corn, the middling and inferior being fed at home. Take the
average of the corn used at home and that sent to market on
any farm, you will find nothing in excess of £100. Then
again corn sold by « eight is returned as bv measure, and this
\ear this makes considerable difference. O tght not sellers to
re' urn instead of buyer-. ? When the tithe was paid iu the
kind parson took his tenth sheaf of wheat as it was, best,
tailing, chicken corn, &.:., altogether ; but now his tithe is
paid only on the average of the best sample, the system being
so decidedly in his favour that I fancy he will object to ai y
alteration. With these few facts, gentlemen, I will leave the
matter in your hands for discussion.

Mr. T. C. Saunders said the. question was'one of great
importance as effecting both landlord and tenant. The
present system was undoubtedly very unfair and required
alteration. He thought, however, the e would Lc very great
diffi uliies in the way of buyers making returns. His onn
idea was that rome fixed value should be set upon the tithes,
to be readjusted every seven or teu je r-. As regard-, the
returns made for Dorchester market he was in a position to
prove the average given was 20 per cfnt. above the actual
value of the bulk of their produce sold.

Mr. Gehge held it to he most important that correct returns
should be. made, as so many valuations were dependent upon
them ; but nothing could possibly be mare misleading than
the present system, which whs another proof of the inutility
ol permissive legislation. They had hoped for some improve-
ment from the Agricultural Holdings Bill, but they now
found that the act was virtually inoperative from being per-
missive. He contended that if they want: d the thing properly
done some rule must be laid down giving power to the c erk
of the market to check all tales which took place. As to
tithe averages he thought seven years was too long a period
he was iu favour of three or five years. He advocated the
adoption of some scheme for a fixed value, and then there
would be nothing to complain of provided the original basis
was not too high, which was undoubtedly the case at present.
Another idea of wlrch he approved was that the tithe should
be paid by the landlord, the same as the land tax.

Mr. Vine thought the agriculturalists as a body had com-
mittfid a very grave error in not raising their voice against
the present system long ago. He held that a great necessity
existed lor having more control over the retnrns. He had
attended Bridport market for eight years before he was asked
for any return, and it was not till last year that he had been
asked to make a return for Bristol. He was at Dorchester
also for six years before any request was made to him on the
subject of returns. It was quite clear that there was too
much laxity in the present system, and people, owing to the
depression and other causes, were now becoming alive to the
anomalies which existed, and felt that they had just cause for
taking the question up. He advocated some compulsory
system, and trusted the Legisl.ture would see the advisability
of introducing some new scheme. He thought perhaps this
cl lb mght suggest some scheme with the view of providing a
renedy.

Mr. Genge alluded to the loose way in which agricultural
statistics tvere taken, and said no'hing cou'd be more unreli-
able, as some filled up their papers and some did not. Tuis
was another of the evil results ot permissive legislation.

Mr. Saunders aud Mr. Foot both expressed the opinion
that these returns ought to be made compulsory.

The Chairman said the result of the discussion was that
they all agreed upon the nselessness of the present returns.
He thought it would be b-t-er if the landlord, instead ot the
tenant, paid the tithes, because if they suffered any injustice ia
doing so they would be able to get their grievance remedied
more easily than they could as tenan's.

Mr. Stiey then called attention to the injustice of the
present highway system, and asked the club to support the
peftion of tlwCerne Highway Board, presented it the last
Quarter Sessions, praying for the dissolution of that Board.

IXW0ETH,

At the last meeting of the Ixworth Farmers' Club,
Air. E. R. Cooper, of Stowinarket, read the following
paper : —

FOREIGN COMPETITION.

What with my friend Mr. Maufield's persuasion, and the
interest I take in agriculture, I have been iuduce.d to address
you. Naturally I am very much of the opinion of the mole,
in the fable of the mole and the buiteiflv, hut 1 consider it
an actual duty of anyone, and everyone, "who can offer any
soggenti (lis that may turn out a help to the farmer to do so
at this critical time. My story may all be old to yon, but be
it as it may, my notions have be^n arrived at from my own
personal observation', and I simply ask you to judge me
charitably, and believe that whatever I nay is tempered" with
the very kindest feelings towards the farmers of England,
amongst whom I claim many good friends, and I hope not a
■ingle enemy. The depression in agriculture which has
made itself so fearfully felt is, I take it, attributable to many
causes, and the first and foremost of these is the inclement
seasons we have had the last few years, against which we
are all powerless. But " Hope on, hope ever," is my motto,
and I believe that " behind a frowning Providence there
shines a smiling face," and good seasons are in store for as. But
this does not do away with the, fact tiiat farming is a risky
business to embark in, and requires to be looked upon as one.
I mean thi», in good sea-ons provisions must Oe made for bad
one-, and farms must be hired so tliut these provisions can be

D D

356

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

made. When we finish with the weather, the next difficulty |
that stares us in the face is foreign competition— a difficulty
the Euglish farmer will find most troublesome to battle with,
as I consider him more heavily handicapped than any of his
competitors. We will take the most formidable competitor
he has— the American— and carefully consider him. Well,
where does he get his first advantage ? He gets his land for
a mere song in comparison with the English farmer. The
farmer of the Western States can buy land at what would be
considered a low rent for it here ; and they are the people
to-day who are furnishing us with the bulk of so-called
American produce. The next place, the lands are chargable
with no tithe, and the taxes, including the tax which provides
a liberal education for all his family, are a mere bagatelle.
The land, being virgin soil, or next to it, requires no renew-
ing, and produces the different crops without the necessity of
manuring the soil, or growing crops in rotation to acquire
crops. The tillage is also greatly in the American farmer's
favour; for wheat, harley, and oats, one ploughing generally
suffices, aud then the seed ib sown and harrowed in. There
are lands in the West that have for twenty years in succession
grown wheat, with no more tillage than I speak of now.
Poor lands, lands that require draining, are not cultivated till
after all the good lands are gone. Thus, I contend, statistics
only mislead a person, when the average crop of wheat per
acre of America is given in comparison, and in support of an
argument favouring English soil. Now, who is the American
farmer ? He mostly hails from this side of the Atlantic, and
principally corae3 from either England, Ireland, Scotland,
Germany, Sweden, Norway, or Denmark, some few from
France ; it is a most cosmopolitan community. He generally
is young, with ambition to improve his position in life, aud
possesses a good deal of determination ; and my experience
leads me to think that if a man is determined to do a thing,
he generally gets very nearly through with it. The partner of
hi3 j-jys (as they generally are married) is prepared not only
to work in the house, but in the field, if necessary, and their
object being one, that is, to get on, they succeed. From the
time they leave their own homes they pass through many
stages roughing it, and often get a heartache till they feel
settled and are glad they have come. Emigrating is not all
beer and skittles. But when a man is young, with the right
stuff in him, he finds power to fight difficulties, grows with
difficulties, and at last he gets master of them. The first
instalment made in payment for the land, which is mostly
bought of some railway company, who acquire very large
tracts of land from Government and the State in which their
line pisses through, he builds a shelter for himself and
family. The house is built after he has saved some money,
that is to say, a building which looks more like a house than
a cabin. He then buys a team of horses, a few cheap cattle,
a pig or two, and some chickens, and, with a barrel of flour,
a little meat, some tea, and only real necessaries to live most
simply on, some seed corn and vegetables, his payments are
for a time, at least, over, and the chances are his money is all
gone. He sets to work with a will, gets his land gradually
- ler cultivation, his surplus produce goes towards paying his
nominal taxe j, and the different instalments as they fall due
on his land. The cow, the hens, and garden, with the aid of
a barrel of flour, some tea and sugar, he keeps his house
together ; his toilet is very much neglected, for the reason
that outward appearances are not required to make him a
respectable member of society. Well, by diut of hard work
and with the help of his family, by degrees this farmer
possesses his farm in fee simple, without any rent or interest
to pay. Being possessor of the land he makes all the per-
manent improvements he possibly can to his occupation, and
benefits by such in the enhanced value of his property. Now
it is not the actual business of farming that makes the Ameri-
ctn farmer a'ter a given time a well-to-do man ; it is his great
frugality, and the increased value that his land by degrees
gets by force of emigration as the adu'.t population increases.
Jn a country like America, with so great an area, so must its
land increase in value up to a point. Land that to-day may
be considered on the frontier of civilization, and can be
bought for 1J dollars an acre, may in ten years be intersected
by railways, and be within an easy ride of a large town, and
be worth 40 dollars an acre. The frugal manner in which
circumstances allow this farmer to live favour him immensely ;
he ha» no show to make, or false appearances to keep up ; if
lie takes his gun out it is to bring home something for the

pot ; if he goes out on horseback it is to herd his cattle, and
his carriage is his waggon, with a spring seat fitted into it to
sit on ; he has no heavy school, milliners', dressmakers', or
tailors' bills to pay ; and in very many instances no wages to
pay, as he and his family do all the work on the farm ; should
he require hired help they generally live in the house with
him, and he takes good care they turn ont early enough in
the morning, which means a little after daylight, and they
work till it is dark. Well, you see, the farmer being very
little else than a seller, he does not find it necessary to attend
two or three markets a week, and absent himself from
business ; and, perhaps, he is not away from home a half-
dozen times in the year all told, unless it is on a Sunday,
when he visits the nearest church if he feels like it. A com-
petitor like this, who is always in the collar, and spends little
or no money, must be a difficult man to compete with. I
know the great cry is, at what price can the American produce,
wheat, beef, &c, &c, be sold at a profit. I am anxiously
looking forward to Mr. Clare Sewell Read's report, though,
to be candid with you, I, unlike my Lord Beaconsfield, have
very little faith in any good that will accrue from a hurried
visit to a large country to get reliable data. My experience
of the Yankees is that they show you what they want you
to see, particularly when you are advertised to come, as
they have time to get ready for you ; and if you would see
the other side of the picture, you must spend some while
there, and peep at it when they are not looking. I hardly
think that if figures could be determined upon now, which
showed what the American farmer should get for his pro-
duce to make his business look like a profitable one, that
they would be safe figures to make a calculation on in
hiring or purchasing land in England to-day. So long as
the productive power is so much more than the consump-
tive power of a country, and there are settlers to be found
who are prepared to cultivate the soil at all risks, the sur-
plus products of the country must find their way to the
gold market, if their saleable value will piy their travel-
ing expenses. You will gather from wlut I have said of
America I consider to be a very hard nut to crack ; and not
only have the farmers of England to apprehend danger from
her, but also our manufacturers on all the markets they sell.
The American is very thorough in his business ; he makes a
point of knowing his business ; sees no shame in acknowledg-
ing he is ia trade, harbours no old- fashioned notions before
determining there are no better modern ones ; in all the ma-
chinery he makes use of the latest improvements are introduced,
and he is, take him all round in business, " a good 'un to
follow, a bad 'un to beat." There are many other countries
further off than America from us which yearly have surplus
productions that must be exchanged for gold. The most
threatening of these far-off countries is Australia, for indepen-
dently of the fine wheats she is sending us, which bid fair to
come over to Europe in very large quantities, she has com-
menced sending us fresh meat. Time alone will prove, after
receiving several cargoes, if this meat takes any appreciable
harm during its long journey ; it all looks at least serious.
From the Continent of Europe England receives large quan-
tities of grain and different kinds of farm produce. Time will
not allow me to expatiate minutely or severally on the different
countries and their productions, bat I will just touch on the
habits of some of the people, aud the changes I have observed
within the last few years, and will take a glance at Northern
Europe. There one finds the farmers are all hard workers and
hard livers, and seem to make no headway ; yet I find they
have made within a few years great improvement in the mode
of cultivating their land by the use of modern implements and
machinery, and improving their different kinds of cattle by
the! introduction of English food. I remember going to stay
with a large farmer, some fifteen years ago, in Mecklenburgh
Schwerin ; it was after the Stettin Agricultural Show, when
the Germans began to wake up and get out of their primitive
notions. My friend had such an assortmeut of implements
that an Englishman would never have guessed what half of
them were intended for. I made a small model of a plough
that, had Adam built it, would have been no credit to his
inventive powers, aud sent it to my poor father, who kept it
on show for some time in his office. I wish I had it here
to show you. Since that time a great deal of English agri-
cultural machinery has been introduced on the Continent, as
well as manufactories started to produce them. Independently
of us, these circumstances have led to great strides in agricul-

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

;«7

tare being made by crar European neighbonrs. Germany has
many 'arge occupiers ot land, but tlieir expenses are very
limited in comparison to ours. Tlieir labourers that are
married live in a hnt very little better than au Irish cabin, near
to the homestead, and the single men and women live, as it
were, in the hoose. They don't, as in America, make use of
the same rooms as their masters, but they are lodged and fed
fcy the farmer, a«d the food costs wry li'tle — the chances are
that they don't get meat once a week. The married man is
paid principally in kind and by privileges — for instance he has
the run for a cow, a pig ot two, a few geese, and has perhaps
an acre of ground rent free, on which he grows potatoes,
flax, rye, &c, but he gets very little money. The board and
lodging of the single people nearly settles witk them, aud the
occupier — perhaps a Baron, or one rejoicing in some other title
from which he seems to derive a great deal of pleasure — is a
man easily pleased and amused. _ie does the Digby Grand
very cheaply. The title is abcct the biggest thing he has got.
Now, outside Southern Russia and Germany I have alluded to,
the occupiers of the soil in Europe generally are small holders
Look at the Dane, who is sending us so much malting barley
and other farm produce, not forgetting butter. At the Royal
Show, held at Kilburn last year, if I mistake not, the Danes
took the first priee for butter. Well, these people are hard
workers ; every one of the farmer's family works either indoors
or out You can't go through Europe as you can
England, and hardly ever see a woman in the
fields, and yet these people don't amass fortunes or get
really more than a living, and if I may credit all a large
merchant I met in Copenhagen once told me, there are many
not getting a living. Then there is Sweden and Norway. The
farmers here, like the Danes, work hard and live very hard,
and do no good for themselves. When they can manage it,
how many of them emigrate to the United States. Agricul-
tural land, I have been assured by Swedes, has fallen in value,
the last two or three years in some districts 30 to 40 per cent.
Now we will cross the Baltic, and see what good the Russian
farmer is doing, and we will take the best land and the best
farmed section of the Northern country, outside of Siberia —
the Baltic provinces. Here (with the exception of some
German barons, members of old families, who lived here when
these provinces belonged to Germany) the farmers are small
occupiers, and I suppose there are many of them that eat
little else by the week together but black bread and salt ;
who go about barefooted, or, if the weather is too cold, they
strap their feet up in old sacking or any old rag they can find,
which they tie on as an Indian does his mocassin. Added to
these adornments, he wears a linen shirt and trousers
and a sheep-skin coat, and his inexpensive toilette is
complete. I don't say all the farmers dress so, but many
do; but one aod all live not in luxury, neither do they
die in affluence. Now, what I want to show to the Eng-
lish farmer is this. That, owing to cheap and rapid tran-
sit, he is brought in close proximity to a very cheap lot
ol working farmers. Will you believe me when I tell you it
costs more to send a ton ot artificial manure from Ipswich to
Norwich than it costs to send the same quantity from Ipswich
to Riga? Water carriage is very cheap on our seas, and rail-
way carriage in America phould be very much less than it is
here, looking at the conditions of constructing a line in one
country and in the other. If we take the actual position of
things, and look them fairly and without prejudice in the face
— I say prejudice, advisedly, it is only an off-pring of ignor-
ance— I maintain that it becomes the landowner and the far-
mer to work in perfect unison. Their iuterests are identical ;
the land must have a value; the farmer must get a living, if
he emp'oys his capital and time in agriculture. The one
must not be proof against reason, and the other must know
hie bu-ineBS, and conduct it on acknowledged business princi-
ples. One-sided leases with clauses in them that are neither
practical, or anything else that is good, must be abolished, and
unexhausted improvements must be paid for fully. What a
farmer grow6 he should have power to sell, and cropping by
printed rules should be done away with. No business can be
worked by such rules ; circumstances must be the working
roan's as well as the farmer's guide in the management of
his business. Certainly the landowner must have his land
returned to him in as good condition as when he parted with
it for a given number of years. A contract must have two
sides to it, and fairness must be its aim. Live and let live is
the motto we must all work up to. The farmer must not thro*

any chances away ; he wants all he can sive by judicious
management, and with this notion in view, I will tell you of
something the foreigners manage far more economically and.
better than the English farmer— that is, the purchase of their
artificial manures. It has become necessary with us to renew
the soil that has for so many years been cropped aud become
deficient in phosphoric acid and nitrogen, aud to do this
artificial means have been resorted to. Now it is the practice
in England to give a manure a name, and sell on that oainp,
but on the Continent, where a great deal of artificial manure
is used, analysis is the only thing spoken of, and the. poor
nrnerauly-clad Russian is buying his artificial manure a g eat.
deal better and with far more security than the generality of
English farmers. The Russians are not, manufacturers, and
have to look to England, |Germany, and Sweden for the.r
supplies. The merchant who deals in machinery aud farmers'
requisites buys his artificial manure on analysis, aud on
arrival of the cargo to his port, has samples drawn and sub-
mitted to the chemist of the Polytechnic or Local Government
School, who, after making a careful analysis of the same,
Bends the said merchant an official document stating that the
cargo of such and such a ship showed by analysis so and so
much of phosphoric acid, and so and so much of nitrogen, as
the case may be. This document the merchant posts in his
office for the perusal of the buyers, who get his price and other
merchant's, and finally decide whose price is the most favour-
able, and make their purchases accordingly. Now the buyer,
to satisfy himself that there has been no foul play, draws
samples ol his purchases and sends to the Po'ytechnic as pur-
chased of Mr. So-and-So, and gets in the course of time au
analysis of his sample gratis, whieh, if it shows to be up to
what he eontrtcteu. for, nothing is said, but if not he makes a
claim 01 the merchant and gets it allowed. By this mode of
doing business a buyer has perfect security, but by any other
he has not, nor ever will have. I was in Brussels a few weeks
ago, and there I saw what I thought a capital plan adopted.
On an advertising board of one of the large makers in Belgium
hangiug up at the railway station, there was a notice under-
neath or at the bottom ot this board, that all buyers of half a
ton and upwards of the said makers of manures were entitled
to a free analysis at the nearest Government analytical station.
Stations like these also exist in Holland. Now, these stations
are not supported entirely by Government, but as every insti-
tution must have a recognised head, so these stations have the
Belgian Government as their head, which has the appointing
of the different chemists, to insure as far as possible the
appointment of honest men, who will show no favour cr
countenance any swindling. The landowners as well as the
manure dealers subscribe to the support of these institutions,
and by this means they are kept up. Now, at the Polytechnic
in^ Riga the merchants alone subscribe, so to secure tha
privilege to their customers as well as to themselves of analysis
being made as often as is required, and their subscription is
based upon the cash value ot the sales made by the merchant.
Now I know men will turn round and tell you when you ask
for an analysis, "My name is sufficient guarantee that the
manure is that and the other ; " but don't you believe such
nonsense. When you buy entirely on analysis you will have
better results than you ever had before, and your manure bill
will not be so large. I tell you what it is — the world wants
a lot of watching to keep it anything like honest. Joih
Billings, the American humourist, gives it as his opinion
that " honest men are scarce, and are going to be scarcer ; "
and I contend it behoves the farmer not to taKe too much on.
trust. He must buy in the best market and see that he gets
what he buys, and he must try and find the best market to
sell in. Many years ago ray poor father started a weigh
bridge, and he declared that it paid for itself in less than two
mouths. Everything he bought in the shape of coals, cake,
&c, came short weight, and it was only last Wednesday I
wts talking to his old bailiff, who told me whenever he made
a claim on people who ought to have known a deal belter it
was allowed without a murmur. I say it will not do to trust
too blindly anyone, but look out after yourselves with both
eyes wide open. A gentleman came to me the other day and
said if we could only get rid of the middle man we should
get on. How is it to be done? What do you think 1 told
him ? There mnst be some, and if people will only learn tluir
business properly, keep trait of the rises and falls on their
markets they deal in, they will soon reduce them to their
proper proportion. It is a notorious, fact that at many

CC2

358

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

count' y markets there are as many cattle dealers and corn
merchants as farmers. Can this be necessary? Your foreign
competitors won't allow these extra charges on English soil
to exist, aud I further maintain that to succeed in farming in
the future the farmpr must have capital enough of his own to
enable him to buy in the best market aud not be compelled
to sell till he is ready. I fear I have wearied you with ray
tale. It has not been the most cheering one you ever
listened to, but it is the truth. There is an old German
adage which says <; Truth often rings very harsh," but to
listen to anything else is only likely to mislead ycu. I
it with all the breakers ahead. The farmer has simply
to take the ball by the horns, and with Providence on his
side, his so-called troubles will come within the limits of
control.

MAIDSTONE.

A meeting of the members of the Maidstone Farmers' Club
snd Chamber of Agriculture was held at Maidstone on
Thursday, the 15th ult., Mr. G. Marsham, J. P., presiding.

Professor "Voelckee, of the Royal Agricultural Society of
England, delivered a lecture upon "Field and Feeding Experi-
ments." The subject was, he said, one of very great practical
importance, and, in addition, a very wide one, affording ample
scope for discission. It had often been stated that the mrst
successful agriculturists were experimental farmers, yet for a
man to secure success it was necessary, from the changeable-
ness of seasons and the introduction of novelties in the
shape of machinery and mannres, and new systems of
cultivation, for him to try experiments, not in an irrationa
way, but in a sensible manner. He had often noticed that
really good, sound, practical money-making men were, in the
best sense of the word, experimental farmers. When he began
making experiments in the field and feeding stalls he thought
he had an easy matter to deal with, bat, after an experience
extending over 25 or 30 years he had come to the conclusion
that it was one of the most difficult things to institute an
experiment in the field and c rry it out in such a way as to
derive from it truly useful information, because of the many
circumstances which interfered materially with the result.
There was but one of the circumstances to which he nee^, in
passing, allude, and that was the seasons. Now the effects of
their variableness at Woburn had beeu that whereas in one
year he obtained something like 13 tons of mangold from an
acre to which a certain manure;hadbeen applied, the following
year he had less than one half that quantity. And he could
"multiply in-t^nces where the season alone had materially
affected the results of experiments. The question they had
often to put to themselves was not what experiments they
should make but whether they could try them. He would
allude, for a moment, to the experiments relating to the con-
tinuous growth of corn. It was all very well to say that one
onght to try and see how long it was possible to grow corn in
successive years without exhausting the land, but was it
actually possible to do it on many soils? He had found on
lliR light lands at Wobnm the greatest difficulty in growing
wheat three or four years in succession because of the ravages
of the wire worm. But some very instructive experiments
wers being made on Mr. Prout's farm at Sawbridgeworth.
That gentleman's first experience was that he could not
produce successive crops of wheat with London dung
profitably, so he consulted him (the Professor), and he visited
the farm in 18ii5, and p;ave his advice. Two years ago he
made a second analysis of the soil and he found, to his
astonishment, that instead of its fertilising properties showing
auy sign of deterioratiwn, they were if anything greater, thus
confirming the report of the practical land valuers who
estimated that the land had doubled in value since Mr. Prout
purchased it. Mr. Lawes had for more than 30 years beeu
carrying on experiments at Ilothamstead, but while those
conducted by Mr. Prout were of a practical charater, Mr.
Lawes's partook more of a theoretical nature ; the object of
one was to ascertain the valne and effects of certain manures
without rercrence to profit in the experiment, while the other
— Mr. Prout — sought to farm at a profit and had succeeded, he
was bound to say, at times when nobody else did. The main result
oi Mr. Lawes's experiments on the continuous growth of corn
was the discovery that nothing like the fertilising value put
into laud in the shape of farmyard m inure was recovered;
indeed aa much as 40 per cmt. was lost, and au investigation

of the drainage waters of a permanent wheat field disclos d
the fact that a very lanre proportion of the valuable portion
of the dung passed away with them. The same, too, had
been proved to be the case with artificial manures such as
nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia, and guano. But the
waste was especially noticeable in the case of farmyard
manure, and he had therefore drawn the following conclu-
sions : — First that the agriculturists should use only those
artificial manures which gave a profit at once, and second that
the quantity to be used and the period of application should
be a matter of careful study. That opened up a very wide
field for enquiry. For instance, should they apply nitrate of
soda to their corn crops in one or in two lots, and when should
the application be made ? Now it was very discouraging to
find shortly after it had been used, a heavy rainfall having
supervened, that the fertilising value was running out of the
drains, and therefore it was suggested that the manure shon'd
be applied in two doses instead of one, because there was less
chance ot the greater portion being thrown away. They well
knew that nitrogen was one of the mo3t valaable fertilisers for
application to corn crops, but the question was as to the form
in which it should be applied, and there again they had ample
scope for experiment ; indeed it was only by experiment that
knowledge could be gained which would be advantageous to
the farmer. Solitary experiments in the field were worse than
uselesss ; and, if possible, a manuring experiment should re
kept op over the whole rotation, so that, it might be seen what
was left in the soil for the succeeding crop. The question as
to the form in which nitrogen should be applied to the land
was one of very great importance |in that county, and he was
glad to hear that in some parts of Kent the farmers seemed
inclined to experiment with their hop?. As a matter of
practical experience he knew that if they applied nitrogen to
their hops in a form in which it was too stimulating, too
readily soluble and too active chemically, they ran a great
chance of getting them blighted, for it pr^d'iced an exuber-
ance of leaf which at the slightest check from cold weather
or heavy rain suffered and became blighted. As a rule slow
acting manures were more favourable to the growth of plants
constantly kept in the laud than quick acting ones. Wool,
in the shape of shoddy, was an excellent manure for hops, pro-
viding they gave with it the necessary mineral matters ; and
Peruvian guanos and superphosphates, if judiciously applied,
would prove advantageous to the plant. Auother point of
great importance was as to whether lime was of any
value to hops, for he had known cases where its appli-
cation had been productive of more good than any-
thing else. If the garden were on a chalk or limestone
formation it did not necessarily follow that lime was not
required, for at Cirencester, in a field in which there was a
limestone and gravel pit, he found that more good resulted
from the use of country road scrapings than from all the
manures that had been applied. Those scrapings were, on
examination, found to contain a considerable quantity of lim?,
and an analysis of the soil of the field showed that although
the lime stone and gravel came up to within four inches of the
surface yet there was hardly a particle of lime in the surface
soil. Time would not allow him to tell them all he would like
to as to his field experiments, but if they would do him the
honour to pay him a visit at Wbburn, a month or two later
on, he would be in a better position to illustrate to them the
effects of certain manures upon certain plants, aud would give
them a field lecture which would be more palatable than his
remarks that day. What little time remained he would devote
to some observations on fattening or feeding experiments.
And if field experiments were difficult to make, in those relating
to living animals, where a higher organisation had to be dealt
with, the difficulties were very largely increased. In the pre-
ceding ytar ha tried some fattening experiments at Woburn,
partly with a view of producing manure of a definite composi-
tion, which could be accomplished to a nicety. They had some
excellent feeding boxes for conducting these experiments, and
when the point they sought had been gained, it occurred to
him to try and fatten eff the halt- fatted bullocks in the most
profitable way. He experimented with eight bullocks, four
being fed upon linseed cake supplemented with turnips and
wheat chaff, and fonr upon decorticated cotton cake and maize
meal supplemented in the same manner as the linseed cake.
In nine weeks four bullocks consumed IScwt. 3jrs. 2iib. of
decorticated cotton cake, lOcwt. lqr. 201b. of maize meal,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

359

16c*vt. 3qrs. 4!b. of wheat chuff, lOcwt. of white turnips, and
4to»9 7cwt. 21b. of swede turnips. The second lot of bullocks
had the same quantity of roots and chaff, and in addition lton
lkiv', Iqr, 51b. of linseed cake. What wax the result P The
bullocks led on the mixture of decorticated cotton cake and
maize meal made an increase of 5cwt. 2qrs. 24lb. in weight
equal to 2£lb. each per day, while those which had the linseed
cake gained very little less, viz., ocwt. 2qrs. 171b. But the
difference was in the expense. The cotton cake, taking the
market price at £7 los., cost £7 6s. 10d., and maize meal,
J66 12-. market price, cost £6 8s. 8d. The linseed cake, how-
ever, cost £16 us. 10d. calculating the very moderate price it
sold for in 1878 (£9 10s.), and thus there was a balance in
favour of the cottoa cake and maize meal of £2 10s. 4d. It
might be said that that was only a solitary experiment, and
that it was not reliable, but he had tried it again in the pre-
sent year. On the second occasion, finding one of the bullocks
v. ry intractable, he confined the experiment to three animals
on each side, with the result that the increase in nine weeks
iu the weight of those fed on cotton cake and meal was 4cwt.
1 jr. 2Glb., as against 3cwt. 3qrs. 31b., the improvement of
those fed on linseed cake. Each of the tirst three animals con-
s imed daily 151b. linseed cake, as well as mangolds and a mix-
ture of hay and wheat straw chaff, while the second lot of three
each had 7|!b. cotton cake and maize meal instead of the
linseed cake, in addition to the chaff and roots. The linseed
cake consumed in the experiment cost £14 12s. 6d., while the
mixture of cotton cake aud maize involved an outlay of
£10 8s. 'Jd. only, and yet for the lesser outlay there had been
a larger production of meat. Doubtless that result would not
be obtained by thos9 who did not know how to make the
experiment properly, for unless they gave the cake to the
animal well ground, almost reduced to meal, it was liable to
do injury to instead of fattening the bullock. It was a most
indigestible food when given in large quantities and in a
rough state, but many to whom he had recommended the
mixture had highly approved it, and had found it to answer
remarkably weH. The example he had given them would
serve to show the utility of carrying on feeding experiments
with the distinct practical oiject of ascertaining the most
profitable kind of food. One inuht ask — But is it not a great
waste to give an animal 71b. of cake and 7lb. of mev.1 daily ?
His answer was that if they wanted to keep store cattle they
must give a cheaper food, but if their object was to fatten an
animal then the more tney crammed it with food o'' the most
dige« iuie and of the richest kind the sooner they would have
it off their handi. In the mat er of feeding animals, therefore,
they had a wild field for experiment, for they must see to it
that the food they gave did not injure the health or endanger
the life of the bullock. The Question of the best mixture to
produce a rich and good supply of milk had also come
prominently 'orward of late years, and in that matter too there
wis ample room for experiment. In conc'usion he said he
wis convinced that no g:e;t progress would he made unless
scientific men worked in unison witli really good, sound,
intelligent, and practical farmers. Tney must understand
eac'i oiher, they must meet half way, the scientific men must
learn in a great mf-asure the routine of farming, and become
acquainted with sufiieient details of the practice as to enable
thrin to avoid making great blunders, and the, possessors and
c ;1 ivators of the land must have sufficient chemical knowledge
to understand that such experiments were nude not merely
ont or cirioa !y, but that tli^y aff cted the profit of firming in
a considerable degree. In the present trying times, in these
days of conpeition with A ner;ca and other cheap wheat
producing countries, in these days when everything was to
unsettled, when there was no fixed security of laud tenure, and
when the old land system was gradually tumbling down, the
ouly plan for farmers to make both end? meet was on the one
haul to seek benefit from the lessons taught by scientific
investigators, who had sufficient practical knowledge not to
indulge iu wild theories, and on the other hind to take ad-
vantage of the fluctuations in the prices of the artie'es they
used, to become more calculating than they hid hitherto been,
and to introduce into ordinary farm practice the principles of
a sound commercial policy. For instance, a? its value b-came
more widely known the price of cotton cake would rise ; it was
the early bird that got the advantage, and in that as in other
matters the first in the market would come best cff. lor that
if for no other, he would urge upon them to see that
their sons had not only a sound practical education, but that

their minds were stored with as much scientific knowledge as
they were capable of holding.

Dr. Voelckfr, in reply to some remarks, said it was not
necessary to break the cake into fine powder; it was 8iillk';e;,t
to have it about the size of peas, and then the animal could
eat it without waste. The groat point was to mix it with food
of a rapidly digestible character. Decorticated cotton cake
contained as much as 43 per cent, of albuminous mall
while maize meal contained only about eight or ten per cent.
These matters were indigestible, but in the meal there was a
very large proportion of starch which was easily digestible,
and the result of mixiug a pound of cake with 21b. o! Indian
corn, was that they got a fattening food approaching iu pro-
portion the albuminoids and starchy matters in linseed cake
at a much cheaper cost. Unless the food was readily digestible
and unless tluy gave it in a palatable form, it was useless to
give it to cattle, but if those qualities were secureJ, then the
more they gave to the animal the better it would come out.
He wished to warn them agaiust using damaged decorticated
cotton cake, because il it arrived iu Euglaud in a mouldy state
if an orange coloured fungU3 were observable upon it, it was
rank poison. As to the value of dung from maiz? and cotton
cake he had as yet come to no conclusion, but its application
to roots had proved favourable to the cotton cake. In regard
to wheat and barley, however, he was not prepared to state
the comparative manurial values of linseed and decorticited
cake, .Replying to Mr. Powell, he thought that the qnantity
of roots given was too small to have a relaxing effect, and
with regard to Mr. Lake's experience in the use of decorticated
and undecorticated cottou cake, he painted out that the latter
was adulterated with husks and other substances which made
it more digestible. As to the best food lor dairy cows, that
was a point deserving of great attention. Un.:oubted;y the
most expensive manner to keep such animals was unoa natur 1
pastures. The.addij^iea of meal and cake would produce a
larger quantity of milk of richer quali:y, and one of the best
foods or dairy cows was a mixture of pea aud oatmeal. Grains
chiton cake, and maize and rice meals were also valuable foods.
What was uecsssary to be given uas food supplying the
materials of which the curd of milk was formed, and they
must have that wiiich was readily transformable into fat-
Food, rich iu albuminous matter, should also be mixed with
some containing a larger proportion of starch and sugar. In
that matter, too, they must keep their eyes upon the market
and buy at the most favourable periods.

(Ehambtts of Jigrkultttte*

B E D A L E-

The quarterly meeting of this Chamber wis held recently
at. Bedale, Mr. Clarke, the President, in the chair. There wss
a large attendance.

The Ciiukman read a letter received some weeks ago by
Mr. Lipscorabe, of the West R ding Chamber of Agricul ur- ,
from the late Dr. Heaton, on behalf of the council of the
Yorkshire College at Leeds. It, stated that at a meeting of
the council, held to consider the expediency and practicability
of establishing a Chair of Agriculture in connection wi h the
College, it appeared to be. desirable to obtain certain pre-
liminary information for their guidance in the first instance.
For this purpose it was resolved to ascertain from various
Chambers of Agriculture as to the probability that students
would be forthcoming from the agricultural districts tore
instruction in the principles of agriculture, in case such
leaching were provided; aud also whether such chambers or
associations would kindly give thtir co-operation in promoting
the success of such an effort. The Chairman remarked that
he thought the establishment of sacii a chair in the, Yorkshire
College would be a step in the. right direction, lie suggested
that they shoald take the matter up, and ascertain from a
number of tha landowners what support they wuulJ give to
it.

Dr. Fotiiergill said he thought it would be premature to
commit themselves to the project until they had further
information about it. He did not at present see a probability
of many students going from that district.

Captain OTHER said he thought the establishment of s
a chair as was proposed woull be beneficial. He had no
doubt that gotd would come of lectures and classes at I

mo

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Torkshire College upon the science of agriculture, and lie
therefore thought that they should assist the project as far as
was in their power.

It was then agreed to reply to the letter that the Chamber
w»re favourable to the establishment of a Chair of Agriculture
in the Yorkshire College, but desired further information as
to how it was proposed to carry out the project.

.INOCULATION AS A PREVENTATIVE OF PLEURO-PNEUMONIA

Mr. Nettleton, M.R.C.V.S., and Veterinary Inspector
to the Privy Council, Northallerton, read a paper on this
subject, in which he said — The increase of trade during
late j ears between various countries has doubtless been
the greatest means of carrying the disease from the regions
in which it originally prevailed and spreading it over the
four quarters of the globp. It was firstly taken to Aus-
tralia from England by the importation into Victoria of
two bulls for breeding purposes. One of the greatest
obstacl '8 which prevent* the adoption of full and adequate
legislative measures for the prevention of this pest is the
fear that legal restriction wonld injure trade and cause a
diminished supply of cattle. The old Contagious
Diseases (Animals) Act has been found totally inadequate
to prevent the spread of this disease, the restrictions put on
traders have been almost inoperative, and what might with
care prove effective for some diseases has been found to have
little or no beneficial effect in the case of pleuro-pneumonia.
The prohibition of the importation of lean cattle ought to be
rigidly enforced in the case of scheduled countries, and the
quarantine should be for a lengthy period. The slaughter of
lat animals, which is now carried out at the port of debarka-
tion, and the disinfecting of hides, have had a beneficial effect
in preventing any outbreak of cattle plague, or eczcxma
contagiosa of an extensive character. To prohibit the im-
portation of cattle, either lean or dairy stock, from coun ries
that are known to be free from the disease, is a great in-
justice, for the import of dairy stock from these countries
is the best means of keeping up our own supply. If any
animal while in quarantins should be found to be diseased,
the whole lot should at once be destroyed ; for even after
a lapse of from two to six months the disease may aga'n
break out amongst some of the other animals, after
they have been moved away and located in the
country. The Contagious Diseases (Animah) Act of
1878 has, up to the present, answered the expectations
formed of it, but great care will still be required to guard
us against this one fatal disease. Turning from the
foreign aspect of the question, and looking at the regula-
tions and the system ol inspecting at home, we find a
great difference. The preventive means and regulations which
constitute the present Act are not sufficient to prevent an
outbreak of pleuro-pneumonia in England ; for nearly every
outbreak which has occurred in this country can be traced to
the importation of Irish catile. At the same time, I am a
maintainer of the theory that plenro-pueumoniac<?«/fl^'«»a can
and1 does originate spontaneously in Enghnd. Accepting this
to be true — though I must admit that this is a disputed point
— we ought to have some better means of protecting ourselves
from ourselves. It is a frequent pr;:c'.ice that often in Ireland
when a farmer detec's symptoms of disease among his cattle,
instead of reporting them, he gets as many as he can into the
market for sale, and in a very short time they find their way
into our English markets, and the consequence is that the
disease often breaks out amongst these animals after they
have been located on English farmsteads. They are inspected
by a veterinary surgeon both before they leave Ireland and
when they arrive in England, and may even be a certain time
in quirai.tine; but wlieu we take into consideration the great
length of time that the \irus may lie dormant in the system,
the uncertainty of its inchoative stage, which may be wee' s,
or may be months, it must be obvious to every one that some
better and stricter means of inspecting our markets should be
enforced, for as it is one half ot the cattle thus coming into
our markets are left without inspection at all. When a
diseased animal enters a fair or market it, of course,
comes into contact with others, which also, in all proba-
bility, become contaminated, and being sold, are removed into
d fiVrem localities, where they contaminate others in their
turn, and in this inauner the disease is spread over the country.
E.ery animal, before entering the market or fair ought to be
thoroughly inspected, and any animals fouud diseased

destroyed at oucp, whilst the rest of the animals which have
been in contact with it ought to be placed in quarantine and
inoculated. I am a believer in the spontaneous origin of
pleuro-pneumonia in this country. From this point of view
we are all well aware that all legislative measures or restricted
importation will turn out palpable failures unless we are
fortunate enough to discover a better system of prevention and
eradication at home. It may appear to some people that the
loss from this disease is not very great ; bnt when we take
into consideration that it has been prevalent in England, either
in one county or another, for a period of nearly forty years,
and this without any intermission whatever, they may perhaps
be led to take a differeut view of the mortality it causes.
Fleming says that '* in our own country the loss in six years
has been estimated at a million head ; while in Holland in
230 parishes the yearly loss has been reckoned at 49,661 ; and
that in France the disease has caused greater loss, chiefly in
the Northern Departments, where there is more importation
and movement of cattle, owing to the facility with which they
can be fed on the residue of distilleries and sugar refineries."
In Australia the loss caused can be estimated at not less than
30 to 40 per cent, of the whole number of cattle, or about
l,40t,000 head, which, if valued at only £6 each, would
amount to about £8,500,000 through this disease only. In this-
country since its introduction, we c in form but a very im-
perfect notion of the serious destruction wrought by the
disease. It must have been enormous. Gamgee estimated
for Edinburgh only the annual loss equivalent in money
value at £200,875. ior six years ending with 1860, it has-
been calculated that there perished considerably more than a
million of cattle in the United Kingdom, the value of which
must have amounted to at least twelve million pounds, i
believe that the Contagions Diseases (Araimals) Act of 1873
will be found sufficient to protect us from cattle plague,
epizolis aplha (foot-and-mouth disease), and for this reason,
that the period of incubation is more defiaably fixed and much
shorter ; whereas the incubation and dsration of pleuro-
pneumonia is so indefinite and much longer that it will often
break out after the 56 days' restriction required by the new
act. Various, and indeed mani'bid, are the means which have
been tried at different times for the prevention and cure of
this troublesome, and fatal disease. Nearly every drug in
the British Pharmacopoeia has been resorted to, but with little
or no beneficial effect. Of late the operation of inoculation
has come to the front. Tnis method of prevention has, both
at home and abroad, obtained for itself a considerable amount
of favour among the most eminent ot the veterinary profession
aud has proved itself, in my opinion, by far the best means of
preventing the propagation of pleuro-pneumonia. It is no
mere hypothesis, as I would have you believe, but an ac-
knowledged fact, that inoeilation is the best, and, I must add,
the only means by which this bovine malady can be stamped
out ; the only means, moreover, by which we may confidently
hope for a universally successful result. Therefore I earnestly
think that a sys'em of inoculation should be undertaken by
the Government, as it is done in some continental countries -t
competent veteriuary surgeons ought to be appointed to per-
form the operation, aud the cost of their services defrayed
by the State. The expense would be very small in comparison
to the compensation money which is at present annually paid :
and I may say further that, were inoculation carried out in
conjunction with the Act of 1878, along with a better system of
inspection, we should soon hear the last of pleuro-pneumonia
(except where it is of spontaneous origin), and compensation
soon reduced to a minimum. The mere slaughter of disease-i
cattle, and isolation ol diseased centres for short periods of
time, will not prevent the scourge ; hut were inoculation
added to these precautionary measures, the great object of
our labours would then doubtlessly be achieved, and the
country saved thousands of pounds annually. Although the
operation is an ex'remely simple one, it should still, for
various reasons, be left in the hands of scientiSc veterinary
surgeons. The. greatest precaution is necessary in collecting
and preparing the rim for inoculation. The great measure
of success which the operation has had on the Continent will,
it is hoped, cause it to be less tabooed in this country. It has
alrearly managed to gain a firm frnting in Cape Colony, and
is very extensvely practised. Nearly every animal in Aus-
tralia now undergoes the, opposition, but it is only fair to ai«y
that m these countries it has met with some opposition, aud uo

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

•001

doubt, deservedly, since animals were operated upon at any
season, and the operation performed by persons who pos-
sessed a very crude knowledge of both it and its after-treatment.
The greatest results have lately been attained by the labours
of Mr. Rutherford, of Edinburgh, a friend of my own, who
has been the means of placing it on a firm footing in that
city. Duriog the last three years he has inoculated upwards
of 5,000 animals in the city and surrounding dairies, and he
has brought down the mortality from 75 to about 5 per cent.,
and he not only hopes, but is quite confident, that he will
ultimately reduce it still further. If animals can be inoculated
with little or no risk, and that they will afterwards resist in-
fection virus of pleuro-pneumonia contagiosa with immunity,
and I hold m> self responsible for the assertion that it can, why
should we not make an attempt to"carry out the practice of in-
oculation? For now that the veterinary profession have it in
their power to serve the country, the loss of thousands of
head of cattle annually which are now doomed to pitiless mas-
sac-e and continual slanghter, the loss of which tends to
terrible embarrassments among agriculturists, it will amount
almost to a crime to remain satisfied with the present in-
sufficient means of protection, in the presence of the absolute
immunity and humanity which are the attributes of protective
i'loculation. The following statistics, which are from the
North Riding returns for four years and three months ending
March 24th, 1880, will show that the mortality was at its
lowest in 1878, and that it has been gradually on the increase
ever since, not through importation, except from Ireland, but
through spontaneous origin. For the four years and three
months we find that in the North Riding 442 animals were
slaughtered and six died, and that the compensation fund
during this period amounted to £5,177 18s. 6d., at the rate of
three-fourths of the full value, excepting a sum of £274
which was paid at the rate of two-thirds value. The last three
months' average was much greater than during
any equal period during the previous year, and I
am much afraid that it is gradually on the increase.
I am aware that there are certain members of our profession
who have done their utmost to descredit inoculation, but they
have never been able to explain its phenomena. I maintain
that it is as protective, if not more so, than vaccination is of
the human variola. It is not too much to say that the
slaughtering ot cattle has now had a lair trial single-handed!;
but it has never yet been able to stamp out this especial bovine
pest, and I am certain that it never will stamp it out, and that
the disease will never be eradicated from our midst until some
better means are adopted. Now, when slaughtering is so
clearly a failure, and the advocates of inoculation can give so
many proofs of its advantages, it is surely worth the attention
of the Government, and their duty as well, to grant them an
O >portunity of trying to benefit the Eiglish cattle owners and
t ie ratepayers also, by lessening the annual expenditure in this
d partment.

Mr. G. J. Robinson, one of the vice-presidents, expressed
his gratification at hearing so able and exhaustive a paper read
by a townsman who had carefully studied the subject. He
agreed with Mr. Nettleton in believing that in some cases
pleuro-pneumonia was spontaneous, and had originated in
what seemed like a cold. Considering how valuable inoculation
had been in saving human beings from small-pox, he did not
see why the same principle should not be efficacious with
animals in the prevention of infectious disease.

Mr. J. Smith said he wished the reader of the paper had
been able to give them some id ?a as to what was the chief
cause of what he considered the spontaneous origin of pleuro-
pneumonia. If they had had information upon that point,
perhaps some of them might be able to apply a remedy. A
large number of cattle came to Yorkshire from Ireland, and
perhaps the disease might from time to time be spontaneous in
some of these, instead of being simply carried from a
distance by infection. We should do badly without imported
cattle.

Mr. Fryer (V.S.) said he believed that pleuro-pnenmonia
was more contagious than infectious, and could not be carried
a great distance by the atmosphere. Many imported animals
might bring with them the elements of the disease, which
might not develop themselves until they were exposfd to some
exciting cause in this country. He thought that the Coutagious
Diseases (Animals) Act had not yet had sufficient time for trial,
and he believed it would yet serve to keep the disease in
check ; but did not think the disease would be entirely eradi-

cated, siuce it sometimes originated spontaneously. We had
scarcely yet had sufficient experience of inoculation to jud^e
with certainty of its value as a preventive. Inoculation was
generally supposed to convey the germs of a disease in milder
form ; but inoculation for pleuro-pneumonia produced in the
tail — which was the part inocuiated— what he coHd not see to
be analagous to pleuro-pneumonia. There might be no harm
in trying inoculation in some cases ; but it was undesirable to
run any risk with it, except where a herd was already inlected.
Out of 153,000 cattle in the North Riding only 118 had last
year fallen from pleuro-pneumonia, of which "three died and
115 were slaughtered. To the owners of stock the loss would
not, after all, be very serious, as three-fourths in value, or
about £1,416 was paid to the owners in compensation towards
a total loss of £1,888. He thought Mr. Rutherford was
almost the only person in this country who had practised
inoculation to a large extent, and it minht bedoub'ed whether
that gentleman's experience in Edinburgh was a sufficient
criterion.

Mr. Nettleton, in reply, stated that Edinburgh was a
fatal centre of pleuro-pneumonia belore inoculation was
adopted. There had not been a single case in which inocu'u
tion had produced coutagious pleuro-pneumonia in the animal
inoculated.

Mr. J. Smith said it might be feared that healthy animals
would be to some extent deteriorated by inoculation ; and
moreover, the cost of the operation at the rats of Is. per head
lor all the 153,000 cattle in the North Riding would make
some of them doubt whether it was worth the expense.

Mr. Nettleton said he did not advocate inoculation for
all the animals of a large district, but only for herds in which
there had been an outbreak or exposure to contagion.

Captain Other said he thought that the statistics quoted
by Mr. Nettleton should recommend inoculation to their
serious attention. He moved a vote of thanks to the reader
of the paper.

Dr. Fothergill expressed a similar opinion, and seconded
the motion, which was supported by Mr. Robinson, and un-
animously passed, after which the proceedings concluded with
the usual vote of thanks to the Chairman.

LEICESTERSHIRE.

A m°eting of this Chamber was he'd at Leicester, on
April 17, to take into consideration the subject of local
taxation.

The Chairman (Mr. T. Nuttall) announced that he had
received a letter tiom Mr. Hussey Paeke, asking that his
name might be taken off the committee that was appointed to
give information to the Assistant Agricultural Commissioners,
and that some other gentleman should be chosen in his place'
— T he Chairman intimated that at the last meeting ot the
Chamber the desirableness of holding meetings at different
localities, was briefly considered, but no action was arrived at.
The time had now come when he thought they ought to come
to some decision, there being a feeling at Ashby, Lough-
borongh, and other centres that the Chamber ought to hold
the sittingi there.

After a protracted discus»ion, it was agreed, on the motion,
of Mr. Glover, that the Chamber should hold meetings at
other centres in the county when the Chairman thinks it ne-
cessary, in accordance with the rule.

Mr. 8. Bird, of the Coppice, Queniborough, and Mr. J. C.
Main, of Kirby Mallory, were proposed as members of the
Chamber.

Col. Burnaby, M.P., in introducing the question of local
taxation, directed attention to the annual report of the Lucat
Taxation Committee published in November, 1S79, and
argued that the time had now arrived when they must do all
in their power, by meetings and discussions, to obtain what
they considered their just right3 — namely, that such heavy
burdens should not be continued upon land. By the quota-
tion of statistics he showed the inc-eases in the rates which
had been made for various purposes and said ht, did not think
there was any person present who would wish to see the poor
neglected, insufficient education given, an inefficient pjlice
maintained, or the health of the country not looked after ; bat
what they all felt was that those were national necessities, and
they held it only right that they should be met by Batiooal
obligations. He therefore proposed "That the thus W

362

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

arrived when this Chamber shall fake action to obtain justice
to the ratepayers in the matter of local taxation."

Mr Wright seconded, and the motiou was support d by
Mr. Pell, M.F., Mr. W. U. Heygate, Mr. Kendall, Mr.
I.mglu, Mx. Willson, aud others, and the proposition was
earned.

On th.9 motion of Mr. Bassett, seconded by Mr. Ingle, it
was ordered that a petition to the same eff-ct as the resolutions
shou'd be prepared, aud copies forwarded to all the members of
the Chamber to be signed by landowners, tenant farmers, and
others who are concerned in the question ; the petitions to be
ultimately forwarded to the members of Parliament for the
'ounty.

MID-SOMERSET-

The members of the Mid-Somerset Chamber of Agriculture
in connexion with the Evercreech Farmers' Club, met at
the Jlu ic Hall, Sheptoo-Mallet, on April 16, to tear
a paper read by Mr. E. Ii. Clerk on " The Present and
Future of Agriculture." Major Paget, M.P., presided.
The Chairman having opened the proceedings, Mr. Clerk read
with his paper, and prefaced his subject by a retrospective
view of (he farming interest. He traced the commencement
ol the present depression back to 1S74. During the pros-
pen us season, when prices were high, applicants for larrus
outbid each other, and rents went up. It was not then calcu-
lated with the value of produce wages also rose ; and while
local rates were increasing to remain high, and wages would
not go down, a depression might come. In 1871 a reaction in
trade took place, and agriculture felt the change. The various
causes of the depression he wa3 of opinion were land taken
bejocd its value when prices were hi^h ; the stagnation of
trade in manufactures ; importations of agricul'ural produce ;
aud the disastrous season of the past year. In 3peaking of
the future Mr. Clerk dilated upon the necessity of lan-Uord
and t-nant being at one. He believed America would be in
a poition for years to come, in food seasons, to supp'y them
wi h wbeat at from 40s. to 42s. per quarter. He did not look
}<>r any marked change in the value of store c.'.tle. As for
American cheese, he believed a great deal had been recently
sold at a loss to the manufacturer and importer. Butter had,
in 1878, been imported in the same proport:on as cheese, but
the price was not altered. To better the state of alfairs he
suggested the general adoption o> moderate farms large farms
entailing large losses when losses did occur, and not Boding
frequeut tenants with AT0,000 or £20,000 capital to invi Bt.
lie agreed the landlord should give the tenant security for bin
unexhausted improvements, that he should antul all obsolete
documents, and allow the tenant to utilise the ground in his
own way, provided the soil be kept in good condition ; that
the sale of straw should be allowed off the estate on conditions
and that suitable buildings should be provided for labourers
and stock. On the part of the tenant, he should not take more
than he was able to properly manage ; and when he had a
good labourer he should eudeavour to keep him. The Con-
servative Government had dote much for them by a subvention
of 4s. weekly towards the maintenance of pauper lunatics, by
the contribution of half the police cost*, and by the transfer
of the prisons. He C nsiilered the Highway Amendment Act
to be a failure, and the sconer it was amended the better la
c Delusion Iik looked for better times, though they might not
he distinctly seen at the present. After the reading ol the
paper the Chairman invited discussion, which was taken par
in by Mr. Olorenshaw, Mr. J. Lewin (Downhead), Mr. Gore1
Lan^ton, M.P. (who dwelt up in the advantages of landlord
and tenant having face to face transactions), Mr. J. Keen,
Mr. S. Craddock,"and the chairman. Mr. Cierk and the chair-
man received at the close of the proceedings the cordial
thanks of the meeting.

STAFFORDSHIRE.

A general meeting of the members of the Staffordshire
Chamber of Agriculture was held on Satunay, April 17, at
Si -fluid, Mr. W. Carrington in the chair.

The report of tlie committee appointed to consider the
qu stions drawn up by Mr. Doyle with respect to the depies-
sion in agriculture was taken as read. The committee BUg-
ge ted, as remedies to relieve the depression, the lessening of
the burden o! Loci Taxation, the equal dnision of local rates

between the owner and occupier, and a moderate reform of the
Land Laws in the direction proposed in the Bills introduced
by the Lord Chancellor ; and freedom from all removable hin-
drances to economical production, so that alarmer could pro-
duce that which paid best.

The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, naid
the idea of the committee had been to prepare a report which
would be acceptable to tenaut and owner alike. Had he con-
sulted bis own feelings he should have goae a little further,
and suggested as one of the remedies for the present depres-
sion the compulsory enactment of the compensatory clauses of
the Agricultural Holdings Act in every case where equivalent
compensation was not otherwise provided for by lease or agree-
ment. Ailuding to the approaching change in the Govern-
ment of the country, aed to the possibility of Mr. Gladstone
being the leader of the Liberal party, he asked Mr. Do>le
whether he thought the Royal Commission was likely to be
continued in the same raanuer as heretofore, and go on to its
legitimate conclusion, or if it would come to a premature and
ignominious end.

Mr. Doyle said, as far as he could form any opinion, the
business of the Commission would proceed. He did not think
it would come to a premature end, and he was certain it would
not come to an ignominious end.

Mr. Neville briefly seconded the adoption of the report.
Mr. J. C. Smith, in supporting the resolution, adverted to
the question of unexhausted improvements, and said he dis-
agreed with the view taksn ou that point by Mr. James
Howard. He held it would be iinposs ble to draft an Act
which could he applicable to the whole of England, and it
would be absolutely necessary for owners and occupiers to have
a valid agreement between themselves. At the same time, he
thought some further legislative action would have to be taken
in order to secure to all tenants the right of compensation for
the unexhausted vidus which had accrued to a freehold in con-
sequence of the action of the occupier at his own expense. As
to ground game, he thought it would be necessary to take
away the protec ion of the law entirely fron rabbits, and
farmers must agree amongst themselves — aud the Legi>iature
must back them in the opinion — that the rabbit was a noxious
auimal, and that he who killed it did ipso facto a good action.
As to the hare, be would take it out of the game liit, and give
it a clo.se lime, and it should be an offence lor anyone to kill a
hareor leveret during such time. They would then have sufficient
hare* lelt lor counting and banting, hut not sufficient to make
a b g bag with the gun. He held it was a great mistake
to make name property, and considered a great immorality had
arisen through the L gt-1-uure bringing the policeman into the
question. He. felt convinced that by the importation of the
policeman iuto the matter of the preserva'ion of game they
had made, some policemen game-keepers and others poachers.
The most awkward (act iu connection wiih the preservation
of ground g*me was that the greatest part of hares aud rabbits
got into illicit consumption ; they were not killed by the
owner or occupier ; they were killed principally dur;ng the
night, and if they wauttd to know what became of thera, let
them apply to the low beerhou*e-keepers and under keepers. If
they wished to reui' dy this state of things they must do away
entirely with the preservation of ground game, and cut the
Gordian knot.

Mr. Hill. M.P., said that it. was most unfair to leave the
Agricultural Holdings Act in the position that either party
could contract himself out of the spirit of the Act, and upon
the re-assembling of Parliament he intended to give notice of
a resolution to amend the Act.

Mr. Doyle, at the request of the chairman, briefly addressed
the meeting as to the reports he had received frjrn other
Chambers of Agriculture. He remarked that the answers
he had received from owners and occupiers throughout the
county of Stafford tended very much to the same, conclusion
as that arrived at by the Clumber, aud the same remark
applied to the reports he had received from the various
couu'ies under h s charge. The general sta'ement with
reference to agricultural distress was that depression existed to
an unpreei dented extend, and that it affected every class of the
Community. The evidence he had received rrotn owners in
various parts of England was to the effect that many farms
had been thrown upon their hands, and that, they had been
obliged to make considerable temporary reductions in their
leuts. Prom tenant farmers he had received a eoiibiderable

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

363

number of balance-sheets, and, unfortunately, the balance
was always ou the wrong side, in some cases to a most
deplorable extent; aud he had goue carefully through the
accounts, and he con 'eased that, with the assistance of an
experr, he had been unable to pick a hole in them. He
found by the balauce sheets that the losses sustained by many
tenant farmers during last year averaged from £500 to £ 1,000.
He had received a very considerable number of forms of
agreement that had been entered into by owners of property
who had contracted themselves out of the Agricultural Hold-
ings Act, but as a general rule they had substituted agree-
ments, some of them quite as liberal to the tenants as that
contained in the Agricultural Holdings Act itself. It was
right to mention that upon examining the stipulations, iu
many of these agreements he found that landlords had
anticipated the action of Parliament by themselves framing
agreements which many of the tenants had declared to be
much inure satisfactory to them than even the compulsory
clauses of the Agricultural Holdings Act.

After a few remarks by Mr. Stubbs aud Mr. Norms, the
resolution was passed.

A discussion afterwards took place on the three resolutions
to I e introduced in the House of Commons b) Mr. Chaplin,
M.P., on the injurious effects of the Malt 'Tax upon agricul-
ture in Great Britain, and a resolution was passed approving
ol the two declaring the Malt Tax to be an unjust burden on
agriculture, aud that it should be repealed and a tax on beer,
if necessary, levied instead. The Council declined to support
Mr. Chaplin's third resolution, which declares it to be the
opinion of the House that, if it be necessary lor purposes of
revenue, to continue to tax agricultural produce, then the tax
ought to be levied on agricultural produce which c ines from
abroad, and not on agricultural produce of farmers at home.

There was no other business belore the Chamber.

A COMPARISON BETWEEN ENGLISH

AND NORMAN TENANT FARMERS.

(By a French Farmer.)

At a time when the condition of farmers in this country is
so much under consideration, when so mauy articles are appear-
ing every day in almost every newspaper, describing, with or
without knowledge ol the case, the position ot their brethreu
farmers in loreign countries, it may, perhaps, be found worth
while to review the actual state of matters iu an agricultural
c iuutry still closely allied to England by many old cus-
toms aDd habits, namely, Normandy. Son of a tenaut farmer
in Normandy, and having had up to a certa'u age to put my
shoulder to the wheel in a very practical way, both in the
management aud the actual labour of my fathers farm, I
may perhaps with justice claim a certain knowledge of the
business of a farmer as carried on over there. On the
other hand, I have had the privilege of travelling a great deal
through almost every part of this country, from Kent to
Hevoashire aud from Devonshire to Suffolk and Yorkshire,
aud naturally, though engaged in a totally different pursuit,
whilst so travelling I could not prevent my mind wandering
back again to that which had made impression on its youth,
and hence comparisons.

1 mu-t at once admit that I had but few opportunities of
examiniug the internal rmnagement of farms in England; hut
I had mauy occasions to closely scrutinise the outside pro-
gramme of operations, and this may be sullicient excuse for
my venturing to give my impressions. Be'ore entering into
the subj ct as I propose to treat it, let me at once say that in
Norrraudy, nay, in the north of France — that is, the truly agri-
cultural part of that country — the peasant proprietor is but little
known. So many beautilul speeches, so many leading articles,
even so great an amount of statistics have been made aud
published on this happy individual, the peasant proprietor, that
it is really presumptuous of me to try and disabuse the speakers,
writers, and statisticians, aud tell them that they have been
sneeciiitying, writing, and compiling ou the back of a very
poor slave. Mo, there is no greater slave than the peasant
proprietor. Of him can be said —

la gabelle, les impots, la corvee,

Vous fait clu malbeureux la peinture achevee.
He hardly makes his own laud produce enough for himself and
family. True, many peasan's are possessed of a house and
gardeu, hut that is all the extent of their landtd estates.

Perhaps the theory ol the speakers, writer?, and statisticians
above referred to is based on the fact that a peasant, as soon,
as he is posss-sedofau extent of ground large enough to stretch
himself on, has his letier addressed to "So-and-so, pnprie-
taire." I have known several peasant proprietors, it is true,
but they were one and all obliged to pay handsomely to the
nearest tenant farmer for the tilling of their land as well as
for other operations ; but also one aud all had to follow a
profession of some kind, and, that failing, to be labourers of
the tenant farmers. No-; with my experience of peasant pro-
prietors, and that of my father before me, I can safely sav,
wit bout fear of being put iuto the wrong by events, the remedy to
the present depression of agriculture iu this country is not to
be touud in the establishment of peasant proprietors; quite
the reverse, "Mais revenous a nos moutons." For the sake

of clearness I shall divide my subject into two heads • 1.

Relations between landlord and teuant, social and legal. 2.
General management of the farms.

1. Landlord and Tenant.— Nearly nine-tenths of the farms
in Normandy are held from one or several landlords, and in
nearly all cases the <: bail" or lease agreement is substantially
the same. In the first instance, the agreement is for three
six, nine, eighteen, and even thirty-six years, according to the
extent of the holding; rarely, however, is an agreement made
for less than nine years, and each contracting party binus
himself to give three years' notice to the other. Toe reason
why thr-e years' notice is required on either side is based on
the system of husbandry, which is triennial, and which requires
lb »t one-third of the land should be manured every year. So
well is this manuring clause carried out that au ouf-goin"
tenant always carries to the land or leaves behind him in the
farmyard the manure required for the year his tenancy expires •
for example, all tenancies expire either at Easter or at Michael-
mas, aud the ingoing tenant is sure to find the necessary
manure on the land if he goes in at Easter, or in the yard if
he goes in at Michaelmas. A tenant-farmer over there is not
allowed by his agreement to sell any straw unless he brings
unto the land a quantity of mauure equivalent, and to°a
great extent similar to that which the s' raw would produce.
Now this, at first sight, would appear to be a hard clause, but
in practice it is a very salutary one. Straw is manure in i'tself
and, besides, it has a very good effect upon heavy soils as a
draining medium. The farmer himself, if he happens to have to
manage dayey soil, is the last o je to think of disposing of lis
straw otl erwise than by making with it a bed for his horses
cattle, and sheep. He knows that if he were not to apply lon^
manure to his land his crop would rot if the weather was wer
or would not grow if it was very d-y, as the soil would dry up*
too compact. The landlord generally receives his half-year's
rent sometimes between the expiration of one term and the
time at which the nex> one becomes due. Generally speaking
the Norman, aud, for the matter of that, the French, landlord
(of course I only refer to agricultural districts) is very ieuient,
tor the simple reason that, not being possessed o! large landed'
estates, he is more dependent on the welfare of his tenaut
than his English prototype; he will therefore allow the latter
to choose his time, as far as lie can help himself, and to take
advantage of the best market.

Although a Norman farm is, generally speaking, cultivated
according to long-established customs, and although these
customs or rules are pretty generally followed, jet they are
not hard and fast, and it is seldom that a landlord requires his
tenant to strictly follow such rules. Landlords and tenants
are by common though tacit consent free from each other, and
I believe that this better feeling between them is almost en-
tirely due to the non-existence of a third party, namely, the
bailiff or agent. I have known of estates managed by agents
but I am bound to say that ou not one did 1 ever hea/'of a'
successful tenant. The landlord was always grumbling over
the amount of repairs done and taken out of his rent ; the
farmer, also, was always grumbling that repairs were never
doue; and, generally speakiog, the agent was grumbling
louder than the two put together. A teuant farmer has, ipso
fucto, the right of killing game on his tenancy, unless the
landlord put chasse restrves iu the " bail," in which case there
is an agreed rebate on (he rent. Proprietors of woods or
forests, too, are by law compelled to pay to the rizerain
tenants a certain sum, as decided by arbitration, lor damage
doue by ground game when complaint is lodged against them.
To complete this expose ot the position of a tenant farmer in
Normandy, I have only to say in what condition he stauds

364

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

towards the authorities in so far as taxes are concerned. The
tenant farmer over there pays no income tax ; but he pays a
tax on his windows and doors ; he does not pay poor rates,
bat he pays so much on goods he takes to market, in the shape
of octroi duties. Beside*, he pays on two-thirds of his horses,
on one-half of his ordinary ca.ts, and on all light carriages,
and he has to pay 4s. every year for himself and 4s. for every
one of his male servants above 18 years of age towards the
maintaining of roads ; this last tax he generally makes up by
carting stones, &c, in winter time on account of the adminis-
tration Des Ponts et Chanssees. That being said, perhaps
many an English tenant-farmer will think that his Norman
brother is much better off than himself; let him try, and he
would soon find his mistake if he were to manage his farm
over here in the expensive way he is following. This it will
bs my task to show him in my next heading.

No. 2. — Farm Management in Normandy, compared wi:h
that followed in England. — Farm Labourers : All the regular
farm labourers employed in the Norman farms live on the
premises ; they are lodged and fed, and they hire themselves
tor one year. Taking a farm of middle size — that is, of about
200 acres — the regular labourers consist of 2 horse drivers, 2
yard labourers, 2 boys, 1 shepherd, and 2 servant girl", and
the yearly wages paid to them are — To the horse drivers, £15
each ; to the yard labourers, £20 each ; to the boys, £3 to £1
each ; to the shepherd, £35 ; and the servant girls, £5 to
£7 10s. Therefore, the regular and annual wages on a farm
of the extent as that instanced is : —

la. Irregular labourers, harvesters. — The harvesters are
naturally engaged for a certain time, and " a forfuit," that is
to say, they fulfil the operations iucidental to the gathering in
of all the different crops, except roots, for a certain stated snm,
and they take the weather chances. The price generally is
£100, or 10s. per acre.

2a Planters. — There are women and boys employed in
planting colza, beetroot, and the like, and the cost if generally
reckoned at 6s- per acre, or for 12 acres, the proportionate
area under such crops, £3 10s. These items constitute the
whole of the labour expenses of the farm, and amount, there-
fore, to 32s. 6d. per acre. Then come the food expenses for
the 9 regular labourers, at 4s. per head per week, or per year
£13 10s., or per acre, say 10s.; and six days' planting for
fourteen women and children at the same ratio 50s , or per
acre 5s. ; total expenses for labour, &c , per acre, 47s. ; the
rent varies between £2 and £3 per acre, say, then, 50s. ; and
we have all the expenditure a Norman farmer must bear before
he can put one penny to his own account, 97s.

With such an outlay he yet manages to support himself
and his family well, but he and his wife and children must
and always do put their shoulders to the wheel. He lives
well, but is far from being extravagant. His wife and his
daughters must personally superintfnd and work in the farm-
yard, in the garden, in the orchard, whilst he and his sons
are out in tbe fields from morning till evening. They are all
up with the sun in summer, and in bed at 10 p.m. In winter
bv 5 a.m., and in bed at 9 p.m. ; they all work hard, in fact.
Now he makes his income in this way : —

£ s. d.

Two horse drivers 70 0 0

Two yard labourers 40 0 0

Two buys, say 7 0 0

One shepherd 35 0 0

Two servant girls 12 10 0

£161 10 0
Or 16s. 6d. per acre.

The proportionate number of heads of cattle for such a farm
is 60—30 c >ws, 20 heifers, and 10 fillies a year old ; 10
fattening bullocks every year, 600 sheep or thereabout, 800 to
1,200 head of poultry of all sorts, 20 to 30 pigs, and about
100 pigeons. He generally sells every year at least

5 5-year-old cows, £18 each £90 0 0

5 fat bullocks, £30 each 150 0 0

6 young calves, £4 10s. each 27 0 0

100 sheep, £1 10s. each 150 0 0

30 pigs, 15s. each 22 10 0

200 to 300 head of poultry, 2s. each 30 0 0

100 pigeons, 41. each 1 10 0

5 horses (youug), £25 each 75 0 0

Besides every week, for six months in the year —

120 lb. butter, at SJ. per lb 104 0 0

500 to 600 eggs, at 4d. a dozen 52 0 0

Out of 'he farmyard alone. . . . £702 0 0
Or £3 10s. per acre.

His 12 acres of colza or beetroot bring him, bon an mat an, £5
to the acre, and that, with his odds and ends, such as apples,
pears, cheese, &c, make up the rent and labour expenses, and
he can then look to his own income in the shape of wheat,
oats, barley, peas, vetches, &c. For six months in the year
the cattle are grazing in the meadows, which, for the purpose,
are divided into several equal parts whenever the cattle are
put in succession. At night, however, the whole of them are
gathered into an artificial enclosure, whieh is moved from one
place to the next evpry day; thereby the meadows are regularly
manured, and no patches can exist ; the dung is spread every
morning by the cattle boy, and the grass grows uniformly
everywhere. The same system is followed with the flock of
sheep. They are out grazing from the beginning of Mirch
till the end of November, if weather permits, but are always
kept in flock under the continual care of the shepherd and
his dogs. The advantages of this system are obvious under
many heads. Sheep do not run, nor can they be desoyed,
away from their master. The fields are systematically grazed
upon, and if one of the anima's fall ill, immediate attendance
is at hand. I do not certainly admire the English system of
allowing sheep to go about where they like. The flock sleep
out generally for six months in tbe year in the artificial
enclosures, allowing sufficient yet not too much room for each
individual member of the company. Close by always is the
woodeu house of the shepherd, which is not very different
from the wooden hut of the Fire Brigade one can see at
night in various quarters of London. A great advantage
of the enclosure is, of course, regularity in manur-
ing. The farmer knows what area a flock of 600
sheep will manure, and he acts accordingly in manuring
the other area coming under treatment for the year, I
have no doubt that if British farmers would only follow the
same system they would save a great part of their manure ex-
penses. Another point that I must not pass over without uotice
is this : That almost every farmer has, under his heap of yard
manure(which, by-the-by, is always put in an excavated place),
a large cistern, which receives not only the drain of all the
stables, but also the rain water falling within the area of the
yard. He thereby secures a capital liquid fertiliser, which is
carried to the meadows or fields of sickly wheat, or to thfr
artificial pasture*. Rarely a Norman farmer buys guano,
nitrate of soda, or biphosphate of any sort.

Tilling, &c. — Under this head I think I can show where
again the Norman, aye, the French farmer, is more economical
than his English brother. He saves his labour. Such a farm
as the one I have instanced will require twelve horses for
traction labour. These horses are divided, for tilling purposes,
into four teams of three, two teams to each driver. The
driver takes out his No. 1 team from 7 a.m. till 12, and the
second from 2.30 p.m. till 6.30 p.m., for ploughing. There-
fore with two drivers, six horses are always out ploughing,
and out of the six others four are drafted for raking, or
carting, or odds and ends, and al". ays, except in harvest or
sewing time, two horses have one half day's rest. Now there
is the saving in wages to labourers, viz., that one man only
attends to each plough and his three horses, whereas in Kent,
Gloucestershire, Suffolk, Yorkshire, in fact everywhere in
Eugland, I have seen two and sometimes three men doing the
same duty. If these two or three men were to do two or
three times as much work, of course there would be nothing
to say against the practice, but it cannot possibly be so ; there
is more talk between two or three men than can possibly be
carried on between a mau and his three horses. A boy with
four horses attached to as many rakes levels the ploughed field
here ; in England I have often seen a boy or a man attending
on every horse and rake. I have myself driven six horses
attached to as many rakes, and really I do not see more
difficulty in so doiug than in leading a plough and three horses,
which also I have often done when 15 years of age. The
same remarks apply to carting general y, bnt specially manure.
Manure is carried from the farmyard to the fields in large
special carts drawn by five horses, and one man, the driver, is
the only attendaut.

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE.

305

I think I have said enough to show that the Norman farmer
is irore economical than the average English. I am far from
pretending that the English farmer is inferior to the other,
but he wastes more. If I were to go into every detail, it
would be easy for me to show that the English farmer does
not so well utilise all his opportunities of saving expenses, or
of increasing his returns, as the Norman. On one point they
are equal — they can both grumble. I do not claim great
knowledge of political economy, but so far as the farmers'
position is concerned, I caD safely say that no law will improve
it if the farmers themselves do nothing towards such a desirable
end. No doubt the abolition of tenancy at will would be a
benefit to them ; but practically, they have the remedy in
their hands. They have only to refuse to enter a farm as
tenant on terms they do not approve. They have their agri-
cu'tural societies to defend their interests, and surely these
same societies could frame general rules for every farmer to
follow either in entering or leaving a farm, or even for the
time of his tenancy, not indeed to curti.il his freedom of action,
but rather to protect himself as well as the one he succeeds or
the one who will succeed him. Such an arrangement amongst
themselves would be more beneficial to farmers than any new
Act of Parliament through which lawyers will always
find means of riding if they are sufficiently paid for so doing
— Globe.

[ fliis article is given here because of its interesting account
of the mode of working, and the proceeds of, a Norman farm.
The comparison with English larming is of no value, because
the writer obviously knows very little about it. Keeping 12
horses to cultivate 200 acres is not a striking example ol
economy. — Ed. M. L. E]

EX-PRESIDENT GRANT ON A.RBI IRATION.— The
briel telegrams recently published respecting Ex-President
Grant's words to the Pennsylvania Peace Society, omitted
much that was interesting in his reply. He said : — "My views
on this subject of peace and the resort to the conflict of arras
iiave been well knowD, haviug been made public in an official
way. Although educated and Drought up a soldier, and hav-
ing, probably, been in as many battles as anyone, certainly as
many as most people could have been, yet there was never a
time, or a day, when it was not my desire that some just and
fair way should be established for settling difficulties, instead
of bringing innocent persons into the confl ct, and thus with-
drawing from productive labour able-bodied men who, in a
large majority of cases, have no particular interest in the sub-
ject for which they are contending, I look forward for a day
when there will be a Court established that shall be recognised
by all nations, which will take into consideration all questions
of cifference between nations, and settle by arbitration, or de-
cision of such Court, those questions, instead of keeping up
large standing armies, as in Europe, although we are roc
troubled ourselves in that way. In the course of my travels,
lrora what. I have seen, I am constrained to believe, ho* ever,
that the day is yet distant when such a result may be hoped
for. The differences between some European electors are
such, at the present time, that if one was to reduce its arma-
ments it would be in danger from those who are stronger.
This is the gravest objection. The Eastern question is one
which it will be a long time before the nations interested will
consent to arbitrate. The European powers have to look
abroad, beyond their own continent, for trade and support.
They each and allot them ate looking, more or les*, to the
East. Each nation is jealous of the advance made by all the
others in that direction, in the acquisition of territory, or the
establishment of commercial relations. I do not think, how-
ever, that this should be any cause for the abatement o! efforts
on the part of the Peace Society. What they look lorward to
is a great reform, and such reforms are not accomplished in a
day. 1 only wish it was susceptible of speedy solution, but, as
I remarked, I do not think it is." A member of the Peace
Society remarked : "It will be a longtime, I fear, before ar-
bitration can be established." "True," replied the Ex-Presi-
dent, " but you need not be discouraged. You must work on
— you must agitate ! agitate !" The secretary of the Society
asked the Ex-President, " if some system of simultaneous and
proportional disarmament were not, in his estimation, possible
even in Europe." He replied, "Oh, yes, each nation can re-
duce i he army gradually and in equal ratio, just as easily as
increase it."

THE FARMER'S LIFE.

The following admirable translation of one of Horace's
most charming epodes is from Mr. T. Thornton's " Word
for Word from Horace,'' published by Macinillon : —

Happy is he, who, far from broil

Of traffic, like the earliest race

Of mortals, through ancestral soil,

Unmortgaged, guides his oxen's pace.

He starts not at the trumpet's call,

Nor shudders at the angry sea :

The law court and patrician's hall

Alike he shuns, — no suit has he.

But, to the poplar tall, for spouse,

He yokes the marriageable vine,

And, pruuing off the useless boughs,

Graffs in their place a fruitage fine :

Or, in secluded valley, watches

The lowing herd their pasture choose ,

Or, in clean jam, squeezed honey catches,

Or shears the unresisting ewes.

And when, in the ripe fields, appears,

With brow fruit-laden, Autumn's shape,

How he delights to pluck the pears

Of lis own growth, or purple grape,

Gilts for thee, Sylvan, thee, Priape

Sometimes, beneath an old oak's shade,

Sometimes, on the thick grass, he lies,

And, while the clink of the cascide

Joins with the grove's bird melodies,

And tune by purling brooklet played,

Slumber lights gently on his eyes.

But when the stormy mouths arrive,

Full fraught with wintry snow and sleet,

He and his dogs fierce wild boars drive

Upon strong nets laid opposite;

Or, on light twigs, a meshy snare

He hangs, the greedy thrushes' bane,

And traps, beside, the timid hare,

Choice prize, — and migratory crane.

Who does not, leading such a life,

Set Love's anxiety at naught ?

But if withal, he have a wife

Who for the house and bairns takes thought—

A faithful Sabine mate, suppose,

Or one embrowned by Dauman sun,—

Who, on the fire, dry billets throws

To cheer him, when the day's work done,

He comes in tired, and milks the kine,

First penning them in wattled ward,

And, drawing forth last season's wine,

With unbooght viands decks the board :

Not oysters, then, from Lncrine meer,

Nor turbot, no, nor sturgeons rare,

If Euxine storms drive aDy here,

Should I regard as daintier fare.

Not Afric's bird would theu.iuto

My stomach glide more gratefully,

Nor Lydian partridge, than what due

Of fruit, fat olive trees supply,

Or sorrel, meadow-loving weed,

Or wholesome mallows, or the lamb

Ordained at Terminal feast to bleed,

Of wolf-saved kid. Ah ! pleased I am

At such repasts to sit, and see

The pastured sheep returning home,

And weary steers, that o'er the lea,

Dragging the inverted ploughshare, come,

While the farm-servants, at the board

In order placed, and just degrees,

Around the fire, below their lord

Are clustered like a swarm of bees.

After old Alphius thus had spoken,
In language seeming to betoken
A settled purpose to retire
From business, and turn country squire,
At Ides he called in all he'd lent,
But before the Calends came and went,
Whatever cash the churl possessed
Was out again at interest.

306

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE.
From The 21 ark Lane Express, for the week ending April 26.
From time to time during the past week high
•winds have blown from a cold quarter, but -with
this slight exception the weather has offered little
opportunity for the most captious to find fault
with it. The temperature has continued mild and
springlike, and sunshine alternating with genial
April showers, has revivified the face of the
country by ending plant life with a vitality which
has o-laddened the hearts of farmers, and which
promises to make 1880 a year of cereal abundance.
It may be confidently asserted that for the last five
years no such thoroughly seasonable weather has
prevailed as that which has been experienced dur-
ing the past two mouths, and the hopes of a
favourable spring, based upon the passing of an
undisturbed Equinoctial period have hitherto
resulted in full fuition. A warm May will do
wonders for the pastures, as the grass is thick and
full of life, while the fruit trees are covered with
the promise of a heavy yield. Spring-sowing has
been finished under circumstances affording general
s itisfaction, and farm work has been divided
between the harrowing and rolling of winter wheat
aud the preparation of the land for root crops.
The general tenour of agricultural reports is still
distinctly satisfactory as regards both wheat and
spring corn, and after the gloomy experience of
past years it is gratifying to be able to record a
state of affairs that augurs favourably for the
interests of the farming community. It has
seldom happened that advices from the rural dis-
tricts as to weather, work, and crops have recorded
»o few complaints as at the present time. The
young wheat plmts are beginning to tiller
well. B. rley is showing above ground, and beans,
if a little backward, look nevertheless healthy and
promising. Scotch advices report the termination
of spring sowing, and that a finer or earlier seed
time is not on record. Farmers north of the Tweed
are now busy preparing the land for turnips and
sowing potatoes. To this promising state of agri-
cultural affairs must be in some measure attributed
the feeling of extreme depression which has fallen
upon the grain trade during the past fortnight.
With tneprospect of a good crop before them,
farmers have ceased to attach much importance to
the retention of their remaining stocks of home-
grown wheat. The supply has consequently been
on a more liberal scale, bo'th at Mark Lane and in
the country markets, although the offerings have
been by no means large when comparedwith those
put forward at the corresponding time in ordinary
years, by reason of the great deficiency of the last
crop. Although nothing can improve the quality,
the condition of the samples has been decidedly
fair ; but this has been no inducement to millers
to purchase, and sales hava been effected with
difficulty at a decline of 2s. per qr. With regard
to foreign wheat, the actual imports, both at
London aud Liverpool, have not in themselves
been sufficient to depress the trade, but the
arrival of a large fleet of grain-laden vessel
at ports of call, liberal shipments from, and
a most marked decline in America, have
combined to overthrown the confidence based on
the statistical requirements of the country, and

reduced business to a state of panic. The opera-
tions of holders have been utterly disorga'-ised by
the release of the immense accumulation of stocks
on the Atlantic seaboard resulting from the callapse
of the speculative combination in America, and
the instructions given to factors have been simply
" Sell — take the best price you can get — but sell."
Such conditions obtaining, it is scarcely necessary
to record the fact of a heavy fall in wheat. Iu
such a demoralised state of the trade, when millers
can be scarcely induced to look at wheat, it is not
a very easy matter to chronicle the exact decline,
especially as the lowest point does not yet appear
to have been reaDhed, but it may be stated that
since the acknowledged failure of the "ring" the
value of white American wheat has declined 5s.
per qr., and that of red 4s. per qr. From all that
can be gathered at present, Russia does not pro-
mise anything great in the way of exports, and to
this fact may be attributed the diminished force
of the decline on this country's produce, which has
not exceeded 2s. 6d. per qr. The actual sales of
all descriptions have been entirely of a retail
character,and up to the time of writing the demaud
has been but little stimulated by the decline in
prices. The future is, of course, uncertain, and all
that can be said at the moment is that so sharp a
relapse may be followed by a sharper reaction.

The sales of English wheat noted last week were
29,333 qrs., at 48s. Id., against 35,483 qrs. at
40s. lid. in the previous year.

The Loudon average for the week ending April
22nd was 40s. 10d. on 1,547 qrs.

The imports into the United Kingdom for the
week ending April 1 7th were 801,358 cwt, of wheat,
and 111,342 cwt. of flour.

With a continued decline cabled from America
brilliant weather, and heavy arrivals of graiu ladeu
vessels at ports of call, extreme depression charac-
terised the trade at Mark Lane on Monday last, and
although the attendance was fair and the week's
imports moderate, the business passing was on a
very limited scale, attended by a marked decline in
the value of nearly' all descriptions of cereal pro-
duce. The wheat market specially was disorga-
nised, indeed almost panic-struck, but the sudden-
ness and rapidity of the decline in New York,
and millers were evidently afraid to buy, except
in the merest retail, notwithstanding the liberal
concessions offered by holders. English wi
of which the week's deliveries amounted to 3,333
qrs., was scarcely saleable at a decline of 2s. per
qr., although the supply was anything but large
aud the bulk of the samples in tolerably good con-
dition. The imports of foreign were 36,555 qrs.,
of which quantity America furnished 12,370 qrs.,
and Germany 10,020 qrs., Russia contributed about
9,000 qrs., and India and Australia the remainder.
Sales progressed very slowly, as in such a demora-
lised state of the trade millers abstained from buy-
ing, except in such quantities as the moment's
needs dictated, aud the decline was heavy, but
somewhat irregular. White wheat suffered most,
and the business done was at 2s. to 3s. per qr. less
money. After this came red American sorts, ou
which a concession of fully 2s. per qr. was made ;
while on Russian varieties the decline did not
amount to much more than Is. per qr. The market

THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE,

36!

closed with the downward movement in further
propres*!. The exports amounted to 3,050 qrs.,
against 2,^05 qrs. in the previous week. The sup-
ply of barley consisted of 1,150 qrs. of home-
grown and 0,783 of foreign. There was no demand
for malting sorts, the season being practically over,
while grinding descriptions were neglected, al-
though quotably unchanged. Of maize the supply
barely exceeded 5,000 qrs., and the sales made in-
dicated a decline of 6d. to Is. per qr. on the week,
258. to 25s. Od. being the utmost value of mixed
American, ex ship. The arrivals of oats were
41,707 qrs., and only in occasional instances was a
slight reduction necessary to effect sales, the con-
sumptive inquiry being fairly sustained. There
was uo further arrival of English wheat on Wed-
nesday, but the return showed 45,130 qrs. of
foreign. With a very thin attendance, business
was almost at a standstill, and red American wheat
suffered a further decline, to the extent of 0d. to Is.
per qr. The trade in feeding corn was too small
to warrant the quotation of any change in value.
On Friday the supply had increased to 470 qrs. of
English wheat and 01,000 qrs. of foreign. There
was some slight improvement in the demand for
foreign wheat, American sorts bringing Od. per qr.
more money. Maize was rather easier, old mixed
corn being purchaseable at 25s. per 480 lb. ex ship,
while new mixed, for prompt delivery, was offered
at 24s. 9d.

The imports of flour *nto the United Kingdom
or the week ending April 17th were 111,342 cwt.,
against 174,308 cwt. in the previous week. The
receipts into London were 15,193 sacks of English
and 980 sacks and 8,911 barrels of foreign. The
course of prices having naturally followed that
of wheat, sales have only been practicable at a de-
cline of fully Is. per sack and barrel, and even
at that very little business has resulted, as the
extent of the fall in New York has utterly disorga-
nised the trade.

The week's arrivals of beans were 12,331 cwt.
and of peas 15,331 cwt., showing an increase of
091 cwt. on the former, and a decrease of 3,130
cwt. on the latter. Beans have met at a quiet de-
mand at unaltered prices, while peas have been
firmly held, and quotations have favoured sellers to
the extent of about Od. per qr.

The deliveries of malt were 22,037 qrs. and the
exports 838 qrs. No actual alteration has taken
place in this branch of the trade, although like
most other articles, the tendency has been adverse
to sellers.

Agricultural seeds have met a fairly steady
demand during the past week, and previous rates
have been maintained for the leading varieties,
although as the season is now approaching its ter-
mination the trade has lost something of its recent
activity. American red clover has commanded
attention from its unusual cheapness, and the same
may be said of alsike and trefoil. There has, how-
ever, been little business done in rape or mustard,
while hemp and canary have been difficult to move,
even at the low currencies now ruling for these
articles. The fall in the price of wheat at London
and Liverpool has naturally been followed by a

corresponding decline in the country markets,
where quotations have receded Is. to 2r<. per qr. in
f'-ice of small supplies and improved condition.
Barley has attracted little attention, but oats,
beans, and peas remain firm. Tuesday's market at
Liverpool was well attended, but a very depressed
tone prevailed, and with large arrivals off coast
wheat met a slow sale at a decline of 5d. to
0d. per cental on the week. Flour also sold slowly
at Is. per sack and barrel less money. Spring corn
was without change, but maize receded 3d. per
eeutal,being more freely offered, the closing quota-
tion for new mixed American being 5s. 5d. to
5s. Od. per 1001b. The week's imports included
32,000 qrs. of wheat and 38,000 qrs. of maize. At
Newcastle there has been scarcely any demand for
wheat, which has been offered at Is. to 2s. perqr.
less money, while oats and maize have also given
way Is. per qr.. At Hull and Leeds a similar
decline has occurred, but in the latter market
millers have shown some desire to take advantage
of the reduction. At Edinburgh there has been a
rather better supply of wheat from the farmers,
and sales have progressed slowly at a decline of
2s. to 3s. per qr. Barley has also receded Is. to 2s.
per qr., but in other articles there has been no
quotable change. At Leith the weather has been
seasonable, and field work has been in no wise
delayed. At market on Wednesday the trade ruled
slow for both Scotch and foreign wheat at a reduc-
of 2s. to 3s. per qr. on the week, and flour was also
fully Is. per sack cheaper. Oats, beans, and peas
were firm, but maize and barley favoured buyers.
At Glasgow the week's import of wheat have been
small, and a moderate business has been done at a
reduction of 2s. per qr. Maize has receded 0d. per
qr., and flour Is. per barrel and 2s. per sack on
the week. At Dublin the weather has been
been exceedingly fine, and in the limited business
passing prices have favoured buyers of both wheat
and maize. At Cork there has only been a local
consumptive demand for wheat at a decline of Is.
to 2s. per qr., and a reduction of Od . to Is. per qr.
has been necessary to effect sales of maize. At
Watsrford considerable quantities of foreign grain
have changed hands, buyers having been attracted
by the concessions.

PRICES CURRENT OF BRITISH GRAIN AND FLOUR

IN MARK LANE.

Shilling? per Quarter

WHEAT, Essex & Kent, white old — to — new 43 53

» >, red old — — new 45 56

Norfolk. Linclnsh., and Yorksh. red old — new 46 56

BARLEY Chevalier new 30 50

Grinding 35 to 42 Distilling 36 48

MALT, pale new 62 to 71 old brown.. 48 50

RYE 32 3S

OATS, English, feed 23 to 25 rotato 25 29

Scotch, feed — — Potato — —

Irish, feed, white 26 23 Fine — —

Ditto, black 25 26 Potato — —

BEANS, Mazagan... 34 36 Ticks 35 38

Harrow — — Pigeon.old 42 50

PEAS, white boilers 31 38 Maple 38 to 40 Grey 35 37

FLOUR, per sack of 2801b., town households 44 47

Best country households 42 41

Norfolk and Suffolk 39 43

366

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Quarter.

—

60

52

64

62

64

60

64

61

55

49

60

44

46

30

40

22

24

22

24

20

23

38

39

38

37

24

25

24

30

38

40

FOREIGN GRAIN.

Philling* per
WHEAT. Danzig, mixed 66 to 58 extra

KonigsDerg 65 68 extra

Rostock 53 50 old

Pomera, Meckberg, and Uckermrk red

Ghirka 47 to 48... Russian, hard, 48 to 62,Saxonska

Danish and Holstein, red — — . . .red American

Chilian, white, 00...Ca!ifornian50 52. ..Australian

East Indian, No. 1 Club white 52 to 63 ; No. 2 ...
„ Old. white 46 to 48 ; red 44 to 46 ; hard

BARLEY, grinding, 25 to 26 distilling

OATS, Dutch, brewing and Polands 22 to 24 feed

Danish and Swedish, feed 20 to 23 ..Straslund ...

Canada 00 to 00 Rigal9 to 20 Petersburg...

BEAN3, Frieslandand Holstein

Dalian 39 to 40 ..Egyptian

PEAS, Canadian 36 36. ..Prussian

MAIZE, Black Sea 28 29... Mixed American

FLOUR, per sack, French 38 44. ..Spanish, p. sack

Hungarian, per sack. ..45 60... American barrel
TARES, Spring

April 12.

The arrivals of graii ladtn vessels at ports of call during
the past week have been moderate. The disturbing in-
fluence of the general election has continued throughout
the week, and the course of trade has remained very
quiet. The decline in cargoes of Wheat off coast
noticed last week has made further progress, and
prices must be written Is. to Is. 6d. per qr. lower,
with only a moderate demand at the decline. It is,
however, noticeable that the Continent has taken a con-
siderable proportion of the late arrivals. Maize has
gone steadily into consumption at last week's prices, but
the tone at the close is weaker. Wheat for shipment has
been offered freely, but buyers have continued to exhibit
an indisposition to to operate, and values have receded
firily Is. 6d. per qr. Maize has met a restricted demand
at about 6d. per qr. less money.

The arrivals into London during the past week have
been : English Wheat, 2,161 qrs. ; Scotch, 44 qrs. ;
foreign, 72,055 qrs. Exports, 205 qrs. The supply of
English Wheat fresh up to market this morning was
again very small, and the few *amples of suitable milling
quality changed hands slowly at barely late rates ; inferior
parcels were practically unsaleable ; of foreign the
arrrivals were large, and, with a fair attendance of
millers, a steady consumptive demand was experienced, at
at a decline of Is. 6d. on the week.

Country Flour 12,896 sacks ; Foreign, 8,583 sacks,
2,828 brls. Sales were difficult to effect even at a
reduction of 6d. per barrel and Is. per sack on last Mon-
day's currencies.

English Barley, 417 qrs. Scotch, 840 qrs. ; Foreign,
5,159 qrs. Malting qualities were unsaleable, and grind-
ing sorts favoured buyers to the extent of 6d per qr.

Malt: English 13,097; Scotch, 320 qrs.; Irish 75
qrs. Exports 1,181 qrs. There was no quotable change
in the trade, which ruled quiet at about late rates.

April 19.

With a daily decline in quotations from America, com-
bined with favourable weather for the growiug crops both
here and on the Continent, and heavy arrivals at ports of
call, the off-coast Wheat trade has been depressed, and
prices have fallen 2s. to 3s. per qr., the full reduction
being on white descriptions. The demand throughout
the week has been quiet, with only a very moderate con-
tinental inquiry. Maize has met a steady sale at slowly-
yielding prices, closing 6d. per qr. on the week. Wheat
for shipment has also given way 2s. to 3s. per qr., but
has not been freely offered at tbe decline. At the same
time buyers have held almost entirely aloof. Maize has
receded 6d. to 9d. per qr. without attracting attention,
and the business passing has been on a most restricted
scale.

The arrivals during the past week have been: English
Wheat 3,333 qrs., foreign 36,555 qrs., Exports 3,056 qrs.
There was a rither more liberal supply of English Wheat
at market this morning, and notwithstanding the generally
good condition of the samples, sales were exceedingly
difficult to effect at a reduction of 2s. per qr. Of foreign
the arrivals were fair, and with a moderate attendance of
millers a quiet consumptive demand was experienced at a
decline of 2s. to 3s. per qr. on white sorts and Is. to 2s.
on Russian and American reds.

Counrry Flour, 15,193 sacks ; foreign, 986 sacks and
1,911 barrels. Under the influence of the depressed state
of the Wheat trade, prices receded Is. per sack and
barrel on the week.

English Barley, 706 qrs. ; Scotch, 450 qrs. ; foreign,
6,783 qrs. Business was exceedingly inactive, and next
to nothing was done in either malting or grinding sorts.

April 26.

The arrivals of grain-laden vessels at ports of call
during the past week have again been large. The recent
heavy decline in the price of wheat had the result of
bringing forward buyers, and a large demand has been
experienced throughout the week, prices recovering 6d. to
Is. on red descriptions, and Is. to Is. 6d. on white, the
latter having previously given way most- There has only
been a moderate Continental demand. A quiet trade hss
been done in maize, and prices have continued their
downward course ; to-day's value is 24s. 6d- for perfect
cargoes of mixed American, showing a decline of Is. perqr.
The offers of Wheat for shipment from America have con-
tinued restricted, and with the recovery in the value of
arrived cargoes quoted above quotations have advanced Is.
to Is 6d. per qr. Some little business iu red winter on
passage has been done at 48s. 6d. to 49s. 3d. per qr., but
buyers in general displayed the same indisposition to
operate which has been noted for a considerable time past
Maize has remained very dull and must again be written the
turn lower. Barley has also been exctedingly inactive
with prices tending in buyers' favour.

The arrivals during the past week have been : English
Wheat, 3,676 qrs. ; Foreign, 78,430 qrs. ; Exports, 2,859
qrs. The small supply of home-grown Wheat fresh up to
market this morning was held by factors for last Monday's
prices, but sales were difficnlttoeffect exceptataslight reduc-
tion ; of foreign the arrivals were large and with a good
attendance of millers a quiet demand was experienced at
the quotations of this day week, the intervening depres-
sion of Wednesday last having been recovered.

Country Flour, 15,906 sacks; foreign, 15,029 sacks
and 3,724 barrels. The trade ruled quiet at about late
rates for both sacks and barrels. The nominal top
price of town-made was reduced from 50s. to 47s. per
sack.

English Barley, 979 qrs. ; Scotch, 269 qrs. ; foreign,
4,274 qrs. There was no business passing iu maltiug
descriptions, and prices were the turn easier where sales
of grinding sorts were pressed.

Malt English, 16,110 qrs.; Scotch, 351 qrs. Ex-
ports, 1,223 qrs. A dull trade at about last week's
currencies.

Maize, 49,117 qrs. Mixed American was Is. per q-t
cheaper ex ship, but buyers came forward at the reduc-
tion and a considerable quantity of corn changed hands
during the day.

English Oats, 326 qrs. ; Scotch, 20 qrs. ; Foreign,
33,101 qrs. There was a rather better demand for all
descriptions, and iu some instances a slight advance was
obtainable.

Printed by Hazell, Watson, & Viney, 265, Strand, London*

THE FAKMER'S MAGAZINE,

C ONTENTS.

MAY, 18 8 0.

Plate.- OUR REPRESENTATIVE.

Farmers and the Parliament . .

The Strathleven Experiment .

New Zealand Notes ....

Manitoba .....

The Dublin Spring Cattle Show

Sir Richard Gilpin and the Farmers' Alliance .

Flukes in Sheep ....

The Wilts and Hants Agricultural College

Who are the Farmers' Friends?

Prices of Wheat and Barley in the United States for Twenty

American Meat Production .

Rent in England ....

Meat From Australia ....

Meat Distribution ....

Shorthorn Notes ....

The Farmers' Alliance in Essex
Ditto in Kent

Chambers of Agriculture
The Government and the Farmers
Agricultural Societies ....

Farmers Clubs ....

The Farmers' Alliance at Lewes

Mr. C. S. Read's Vindication of his Parliamentary career

Who are the Farmers Friends?

An American Farmers' Alliance

Agricultural Entomology

Malt ......

Mr. Gurdon, M. P and the Grundisburgh Game Case
Tuberculosis .....

The Fairlamb Plan of Butter Making .
Miscellaneous .....

A Comparison between English and Norman Tenant Farmers
Review of the Corn Trade

Years

Page.
291

292
294
296
297
299

300 339
302
303
304
304
307
309
310
313
316
317

319 359
320

323 352
326 360 355
333
336
338
34o
344
346
347
348
352
353
363
366

CHAMPAGNES.
GRAND VIN DE L'EMPEREUR

TRADE 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 Mfmt MARK.

ROUSSEAU AND CO., REIMS.

• MADEIRA

Of the FINEST QUALITY, 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.C.

Established 1847.
SAMPLES ON APPLICATION.

THE

ROYAL FARMERS' AND GENERAL FIRE LIFE
AND HAIL INSURANCE OFFICE.

ESTABLISHED 1840.

TO INSURE AGAINST LOSSES BY

FIRE AND HAIL STORMS,

AND TO GRANT

INSURANCES ON LIVES.

DIRECTORS:

Chairman— ALFRED DEN I SON, 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 F. Anderson Stebbing, 4, Cleveland Gardens,
Castle Hill, Ealing.

Thomas Henry Burroughes, Esq., 16, Lower Berkeley

Street.
William Clutton, Esq., 7, Clifton Villas, Penge.
A. J. Duff Filer, Esq., 10, Aberdeen Park, Highbury.
E. J. Hawker, Esq., 37, Cadogan Place, Sloane Street

FIRE. — Insurances at moderate rates.

LIFE. — Insurances on equitable terms. Profits divided every five years.
HAIL. — Crops insured against Hail Storms at 5d. per acre.
LOSSES.— Settled promptly and liberally.

AMPLE CAPITAL AND LAEGE RESERVES.

Prospectuses and Reports may be obtained of the Secretary, JOHN SHARP, 3, Norfolk Street, Strand
London, W.C., or of the Agents.

J. C. NESBIT & SON,

Analytical, Agricultural, and Consulting Chemists

(Manager A. ANTHONY NESBET, 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, Graceehurch Street, E.C.

A list of fees sent on application-

■I

No. 8, Vol. LVII.] AUGUST, 1880. [Third Series.

THE

FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

AND

MONTHLY JOURNAL

or

THE AGRICULTURAL INTEREST.

iBeUttattix /

TO TBS

FARMERS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.

LONDON :
PUBLISHED BYROGERSON AND TUXFORD, 265, STRAND.

PRICB TWO SHILLINGS.

HAZRLL, WATSON, ft VINKT.] [PRINTERS, 266, STRAND.

IMPORTANT TO FLOCKMASTERS.

THOMAS BIGG,

Agricultural & Veterinary Chemist,

By Appointment to hia 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
destroying the Tick, Lice, and all other insects injurious to
he 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, 4c, at his Mann-
factory as above, and sold as follows, although any other
quantity may be had, if required : —

i lb. for 20 sheep, price, jar included £0 2 0

61b. 30 „ „ „ 0 3 0

81b. 40 „ „ 0 4 0

10 lb. 60 „ „ „ 0 6 0

201b. 100 „ ,, (Cask and measure 0 10 0
301b. 160 ,, ,, included) 0 15 0

401b. 200 „ „ 10 0

601b. 250 „ ., 13 8

601b. 300 „ „ , 17 6

801b. 400 ,. „ 1 17 6

1001b. 600 „ „ „ 2 6 0

Should any Flockmaster prefer boiling the Composition, it
will be equally effective.

MOST IMPORTANT CERTIFICATE.

From Mr. Hbbbpath, the celebrated Analytical Chemist :—

Bristol Laboratory, Old Park, January 18th, 1861.

Sir, — I have submitted your Sheep Dipping Composition to

analysis, and find that the ingredients are well blended, and

the mixture neutral. If it is used according to the directions

g-i/en, I feel satisfied, thatwhileit effectually destroys vermin,

U will not injure the hair roots (or "yolk") in the skin, the

fleece, or the carcase. I think it deserves the numerou
testimonials published. I am, Sir, yours respectfully,

William Hbbapate, Sen., F.C.S., 4c, 4c,
To Mr. Thomas Bigg Professor of Caemistry.

Leicester House, Great 1/over-street Borouerh 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 thirty Sheep (according
to the virulence of the disease) ; also in wine quart bottles,

IMPORTANT TESTIMONIAL.
" Scoulton, near Hingham, Norfolk, April 16th, 1856.

"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 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 ' Now-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. Beiug determined to have
the Scab cured if possible, I wrote to yon 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 Spbcifio 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 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 TINGET, Esq.,

" To Mr. Thomas Bigg. ' " R. RENNEY.

IW 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 must be wholly useless ,
or they are not what they are represented to be.

DIPPING APPARATUS 414, £5, £4, 4 £3.

THE

MARK LANE EXPRESS

AND

AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL

IS THE

LARGEST AND THE LEADING FARMERS' 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
annam,

EIGHT PRIZE MEDALS.

EIGHT PRIZE MEDALS;

ADVANTAGES.
Are entirely free from SMELL
Are not POISONOUS

Are manufactured without PHOSPHORUS
Are perfectly harmless to the OPERATIVES

EMPLOYED
Are very Damp Proof

Are not liable to Spontaneous Combustion
Light only on the Box.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

AUGUST, 1880.

CATTLE DISEASE RESTRICTIONS.

The Deputation which waited on the Lord
President of the Council on July 19, elicited
from him a statement of the policy which the
Government is prepared to pursue with regard
to restrictions on the importation of foreign
animals. And as this policy is based on com-
mon-sense deductions from carefully ascertained
facts, the Deputation has been of service, inas-
much as it has afforded Earl Spencer an oppor-
tunity of giving assurances on the part of the
Government which will be very acceptable to
farmers, and to all who have made cattle disease
matters a careful study. The Deputation con-
sisted of men who had special interests to plead
for, and not one of them can pretend to have
any scientific k owledge of contagious cattle
diseases. Mr. Jacob Bright, in introducing its
members, has given one more instance of his
marked ability in displaying his complete igno-
rance of matters with which he attempts to deal.
As the " apostle of the women," he has not
proved himself to be a bright and shining light,
and as the champion of the butchers' ring, he is
a very distinct failure. Mr. Arthur Arnold,
who claims a knowledge of everything, never
fails to make himself ridiculous when he speaks
of agriculture, apart from the Land Laws
—which he often does, and he evidently
knows no more about cattlo diseases than
a monkey knows about Greek. Mr. Mark-
Price is by no means disinterested in the matter,
and his heroic contempt and disregard of cattle
diseases is not new to us or our .readers. Mr.
Whitehead, as President of the Foreign Cattle
Trade Association, must know something about
the extent to which contagious cattle dkeises are
found to exist amongst imported animals ; but his
statements are contradicted by Mr. Juhn Irwin,
the Secretary of the Association, who very
honestly admits that there is seldom a cargo of
United States' cattle which does not contain one
or more diseased animals. In fact, the Deputa-
tion represented a trade interest only — the inte-
rest which has fought so stoutly against restric-
tions of every kind on cattle traffic, and advocates
Old Series.

free trade in contagious cattle diseases. Their plea
is ostensibly for the consumer, and the substance
of their argument is that, in order to cheapen meat,
the herds and flocks of this country — from which
the bulk of the supply comes — must be exposed
to contagion, their real object being to
enable butchers and others to make a profit
out of the inland transit of the comparatively
small foreign supply. It must be borne in
mind that the restrictions which have been found
to be absolutely necessary to maintain the bulk
of the supply, which, as we have said, is grown
at home, have not, in effect, decreased the
supply from abroad. The imports have in-
creased, are still increasing, and are likely to
increase in the immediate future, notwithstand-
ing the restrictions ; so that the whole plea re-
solves itself into a request that the country
should suffer for the sake of the butchers in the
inland towns, and the associated interests of
salesmen and importers. The animals come
here, to be slaughtered at the ports, and
fre^h meat comes also ; but in both these cases
the inland butcher loses the profit he would get
out of the offals — the "fifth quarter," which is
veiy literally "sunk" to the producer when the
animals ace purchased alive. So long as the
foreign supply is increasing, it will be difficult
for butchers to make good their plea for consumers'
interests.

These trade interests are not without outside
support in their demand for the free importation
of contagious diseases. The Daily News is bold
enough to say that it would be even better to
have rinderpest again than to hinder the im-
portation of meat ; forgetting, or not knowing,
that this importation is not being hindered, and
that the price of meat has been greatly enhanced
by the influence exercised by contagious cattla
diseases on the breeders' idustry in this country
The Daily Telegraph thinks that with efficient
inspection there should be no difficulty in kee^ -
ing out diseased cattle ; and here, again, is very
apparent ignorance of the nature of these
diseases, and of th*. impossibility of detecting
II Vol. LX XX VI 1 1.— No, 2,

80

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

them in their incubatory stages. The Daily
Telegraph goes on to say that pleuro-pneumonia
"hardly exists in America," and the Hon. T. C.
Jones, of Ohio, writes to the National Live Stock
Journal of Chicago to the effect that the opinion
of " dealers " here in England is that there is no
disease in the United States. But we know
better than that, and so does Judge Jones, if the
Telegraph does not. The National Live Stock
Journal, quoted by Earl Spencer, puts the matter
very plainly, and regrets that Congress has
adjourned without taking any action towards
stamping out the diseases which are known toexist
in the States. We take the following extract from
its columns as a complete refutation of such
statements as those referred to above : — " Now,
what is the situation in the United States ? Our
veterinary authorities agree in asserting that the
contagious pleuro-pneumonia exists in several of
our States near the Atlantic coast, and we are in
no condition to deny this assertion. This being
accepted as true, what assurance have we that
any of our States, now confessedly free from
the contagion, will remain so for another week ?
What law, rule, or regulation is there in exist-
ence to prevent any one who chooses from buy-
ing cattle in these infected districts and taking
them to Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa,
Kansas, or Colorado 1 This has been done
repeatedly within the past few years, and that
the contagion has not already been scattered
broadcast all over the Western States seems
little less than a miraculous interposition of
Providence. We have positively no assurance,
no protection, and the disease is liable at any
day to be transported to each and every one of
the States now happily exempt." And it is im-
possible for the Gouernment or the Press of the
United States, under the circumstances, to
guarantee that the Western States are exempt.

Earl Spencer gave a very complete and satis-
factory answer to the Deputation. He told
them, virtually, that they need not reckon on
Mr. Mundella's assistance, for that gentleman
was now perfectly quiet and harmless. And he
told them, too, that the Privy Council positively
could not, under the Act of 1878, remove any
of the restrictions from the importation of
American cattle until the United Statss could
show a clean bill of health. The extract we
have quoted from the leading journal connected
with live stock matters in America will prove to
our readers, as we have many times pointed out,
that it will be impossible for the United States
Government to give a clean bill of health until
a proper system of investigation and repression
—under competent veterinary direction — is re-
sorted to, and carefully carried out. When this
will be we cannot tell ; perhaps Judge Jones
can give us an idea. But until that time, how-
ever far distant it may be, cattle from the United
States will have to be slaughtered at the ports
of landing. Earl Spencer pointed out that if
meat can be sent from the United States to
England, and from Aberdeen to London, it can
be sent from Liverpool and other ports to the
inland towns*, which are but a few hours dis-
tant. And this is a common-sense way of

looking at the matter from a consumers' point of
view. If these butchers and salesmen would
set themselves to work to obtain a better system
of meat transit, and to erect refrigerating stores
in suitable localities, they would in reality be
studying the interests of consumers. But that
is the last thing they will be likely to do, as it
would give a death blow to their monopolies.
It is, however, the direction in which reform is
needed, and we hope ere long to see it carried
out. __

"A QUEST/ON OF PRIVILEGE."

(From the Mark La, e Express .)

We must not any longer delay thanking some
hundreds of friends and contemporaries, in the
Metropolis and in the Provinces, for the kind and
appreciative notices of the alteration in the form
of our journal which we have seen. Probably
not half the friendly remarks that have been
made have come under our notice, and we
therefore thank friends unknown as well as
known for the good wishes and favourable anti-
cipations which they have expressed in relation
to our efforts to render the Mark Lane Express
a more efficient representative of the agricultural
interest. It would not be in good taste to quote
from the very numerous encouraging remarks
which our contemporaries have made ; but we
may say that the hearty welcome with which our
endeavour to make our journal more attractivehas
been met has stimulated us to do our utmost
to merit the approval of friendly critics. We
must confess to an agreeable surprise at the very
general good wishes which have been expressed
by our contemporaries — not only by those of
them who may be reckoned as allies in the
propagation of the objects which we have made
prominent, but also by many who are, to some
extent at least, opponents. It has not been our
custom to " mince words" in the expression
of earnest opinions, and the friendly notices
of those who are more or less opposed to
us is, therefore, all the more gratifying. The
old Mark Lane Express had obviously
secured a place in the affections of readers of
various predilections, and we hope that the new
series will be at least as successful. Only one
critic, so far as we have seen, has expressed the
opinion that the change we have made is not an
improvement. He fears that we shall not have
space for the lengthened reports of agricultural
meetings and speeches which rendered the old
Mark Lane Express peculiarly valuable. It is true
that we have now so much more original writing
in our columns than of old that we have some
difficulty in finding space for the "scissors and
paste " which is often valuable ; but we must
point out that our journal is increased in Bize,
and not diminished, in spite of the larger type
used for the greater portion of its contents.
Our pages are smaller than heretofore ; but there
are more of them, and the paper is almost ex-
actly the same size as the old series, including
the supplement. Therefore, as we still give a
supplement when occasion requires, an annual
volume of our journal will be considerably

THE FARMER'S M1GAZINI

SI

larger than it over before has been. Thus, while
we shall give more original matter and mere
special reports, we hope to leave out no im-
portant details of agricultural affairs that we
have b.-en accustomed to publish. We trust that
this " personal explanation," made once for all,
will be received with the indulgence which is
accorded to similar expressions in Parliament
It is not our habit to introduce anything of the
nature of advertisement into our editorial
columns, and all that we have desired to do on
the present exceptional occasion is to record our
sincere thanks for a strikingly cordial re-
ception, and to remove the few apprehensions
which have been brought to our notice.
We are glad to say that the reduction of
our eld and almost prohibitory price, accom-
panied as it has been by new efforts to im-
prove our journal in every way, has resulted in
a sudden and more than expected increase in
circulation. Some time ago one of the most
respected of our contemporaries showed that not
one farmer in ten took in an agricultural paper.
Ilia argument from this was that there
was plenty of room for his laudable efforts to
extend his circulation without making any in-
roads upon that of any paper which might be
considered a rival publication. Precisely in this
way do we seek to place our journal in the
hands of those who have not hitherto regularly
subscribed to an agricultural paper. It must be
a poor journal indeed, which, devoted to the
interests of a particular class, cannot make it
worth the while of the members of that
class to invest a few shillings a year in
obtaining it regularly. We have repeatedly
seen in a single number of an agricultural
paper — and that not always our own — enough
useful information to render a whole year's
subscription a perfectly insignificant amount
to be paid for the knowledge thus made public
property — divulged, perhaps, by some experi-
enced farmer whose knowledge would never
have penetrated beyond the circle of his imme-
diate acquaintances if it had not been for the
agency of the Agricultural Press.

The Compensation for Disturbance (Ireland)
Bill. — On the consideration of this Bill, as amended,
Mr. Gibson has given notice of his intention to move
the following clauses : — Right of Redemption. — " It
shall not be lawful for any tenant who claims com-
pensation for disturbance under this Act also to claim
under the provisions of the 23rd and 24th Victoria,
cap. 154, or otherwise, to be restored to the possession
of tbe premises included in the ejectment for non-
payment of rent, provided always that this provision
shall not interfere with or prejudice the rights of any
mortgagee of such teuant." Arrears of rent. — " The
amount of rent which may be allowed by any landlord
to accrue during the period of the operation of this
Bill shall not be reckoned against him in calculating
the arrear of rent which might in any case of eject-
ment for non-payment of rent be sufficient to subject
him to damages for disturbance under the 9th
section of the Landlord and Tenant (Ireland) Act,
1870."

MARKET GARDENING FOR

FARMERS.

No. in.

By Charles Whitehead.
(For preceding papers see pages 112, 148.)

Agricultural labourers are decreasing in num-
bers in all parts of the country. Emigration
and the absorption of the young men by the
army, navy, the police service, the railway com-
panies, manufactories, and various industries —
with their higher wages with fewer hours of work,
and the work of a loss laborious character — have
materially tended to lessen the agricultural
population. Lads at an early age turn up their
noses at what they consider the somewhat ignoble
duty of tending and leading horses, so that it
has been difficult in some counties to get boys
to "go with the horses.'' Things have some-
what changed lately. Stagnation of trade has
lessened the demand for hands from the pro-
vinces, and the inevitable reaction from the
Utopian dream of the agricultural unionists, who
fancied that they were beyond the ken of politi-
cal economy, has arrived. They find now that
they cannot by artificial means, by combination,
or agitation increase by one penny the amount
of money available for labour wages, and the
lesson, it is feared, has been somewhat bitterly
iterated during the last winter. Many men were
out of work in the sharp weather, and not a few,
even in the more fortunate districts in the
spring-time, after the frosts had been dispelled,
found it difficult to get a job, although there
has been, as is pointed out above, a decided
diminution in the number of available farm
hands. It is not good for a district or for a
country to be obliged to deport workers who are
the main sources of wealth. The best possible
condition, according to economical laws, is that
represented by a teeming and increasing, a well-
fed and well paid working population. Agricul-
ture in late) 3'ears has not been able to maintain
this happy state. The value of the produce of
the land has been seriously diminished by the
competition of foreign commodities, while local
burdens and expenses of all kinds have con-
siderably increased. Agriculturists have only a
limited sum at their disposal for the payment of
wages, which is distributed according to local
circumstances. They know that a limited wage
fund means limited production, and they would
prefer, or at least the most enlightened amongst
them, to be in a position to pay away a much
larger sum, and that each individual in their
employment should got the maximum wage
rate. Anything, therefore, that will tend to
keep labourers in their native villages and to
increase a thriving and satisfied population must
be hailed with satisfaction as calculated to benefit
the whole community. Market-gardening, or
the' growth of vegetables, if it is successfully
extended to farms, must necessitate the full
employment of the labourers in those districts
where it is undertaken. Importation of labour,

H 2

82

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

rather than deportation, will be encouraged ;
which means directly increased trade to the
neighbourhood, and will conduce to the Avell-
being of the landlord, the land-occupier, and
society generally. There are some places where
the supply of labour now is hardly sufficient for
the actual requirements of the land, and there
are many places where the existing supply would
not be sufficient for much extra work such as
would be entailed by the cultivation of vege-
tables. In these cases, if all the other requisite
conditions of the soil, climate, and situation
were present, it would be essential to enter upon
the new -system with caution, and withal gradu-
ally. After a time labour would be attracted to
the spot by the increased rates which the em-
ployers •could give, as in these days the facilities
for the migration of labour are great, and might
be made far more useful to the working classes by
judicious systematizing, so as more frequently
to obviate the necessity for emigration. Upon
many farms where a certain staff is maintained
all the year round, and where it is necessary to
maintain this staff with a view to harvest and
other work at special seasons, there are slack
times both for men and horses in which opera-
tions connected with vegetable culture might be
proStably carried out. Women and children
also would be able to find remunerative employ-
ment in various ways in connection with this
culture, and not of so irksome a nature as that
of ordinary farm work. Women and children
do a great deal of the work of the market-
garden and market-garden farms in Essex, Surrey,
Kent, and Middlesex, being either residents, or
coming in the spring when the hoeing begins, and
keeping on until the early autumn. The wash-
ing and preparing r U-egetables for market is
especially woman's work, and there are m?ny
other duties, sucl) »s r>vking, that vn'{vt be
done by the wives of the agricultural labourers,
after a little instruction. Women, it is said,
dislike out-of-door work, and it is also said that this
dislike is increasing. But it is held rather that
women think itisnotmuchto their advantage to go
couching, or weeding, or turnip and mangel
pulling at 9d. to Is. per day, and that they would
eagerly avail themselves of lighter labotir, at the
higher rates. In Kent the women earn close
upon 2s. per day at hop-tying, and is. Gd. to
Is. lOd. at fruit-picking, and much more at hop-
picking, and there is never any difficulty in
getting plenty of hands. In the vegetable-pro-
ducing localities women earn from Is. 3d. to 2s.
per day. The supply of labour in the market-
gardens on all sides of London is very good, and
the wages paid there run from 3s. to 33. fid. per
day. More money is earned at piece work. No
difficulty has been experienced in getting hands
in Bedfordshire, where the wages are almost
equally as good as those in the neighbourhood of
London. Nor do the Essex market-garden
farmers find a scarcity of labour. Gangs of men
and women come to the farms, where the home
supply is insufficient, and stay until the work is
finished, doing many of the jobs by piece work.
Cont made with the labourers to keep

1 free from -■■■■ ■

for the season, as much as £5 being paid per acre
for keeping onions clean throughout the spring
and summer, and from £3 to £4 for carrots sown
broadcast, and £2 5s. to £2 10s. per acre for
carrots and parsnips drilled in. After a time,
it is thought, there would be no great difficulty
in obtaining plenty of labour in any district
where market-garden farming may have been
adopted, and that such adoption would prove a cer-
tain remedy for the low wages which, not unnatu-
rally, make the agricultural labourers discontented
with their lot, and lead them, as well as their em-
ployers, to seek a better state in the various
lands of Goschen, to which they are invited
by emigration agents. It must not be
imagined that it is intended to discourage
emigration, or to throw cold water upon the
ardent aspirations of any who wish to better
themselves, whether they are farmers suffering
from depression in agriculture, or labourers
alike afflicted from the same cause. On the
contrary, emigration is a great resource, a very
refuge for the destitute in some circumstances
and under certain conditions. ; but it
must be far better for them and the whole
community if the " surplus population " of a
community can be set to work profitably in their
own land, and not have to risk these changes
and chances of a fresh start in a strange
land, nor to " fight the Avilderness," to quote
the eloquent words of Mr. Holyoake — "a
mighty, tongueless, obdurate, mysterious
adversary, who gives you opulence if you
conquer him, but a grave if he conquers you. "
There is not, it is contended, a "surplus popu-
lation " of agricultural labourers in England.
There are not more than enough to cultivate the
land properly, and to make her bring forth her
full increase ; and, instead of preaching emigra-
tion, and encouraging emigration, according to
the present hap-hazard, promiscuous method, we
must set our wits to work to find employment
at once remunerative to them, and profitable to
their employers. It would be far better for the
welfare of the old country that the labourers
should become occupiers of as much land as they
could manage to cultivate, than that they should
be obliged to emigrate in consequence of the in-
ability of farmers to employ them, or to pay
them adequate wages. Their technical skill and
habit of hard work, coupled with the magic
charm of possession, which exercises such partial
influence upon the land-occupying peasants of
Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, and Lombardy,
would ensure success and large returns from the
soil. There are instances in all parts of the
country, fully illustrative of the change that
comes over labourers when they till land upon
their own account. In Kent these instances are
numerous, and highly instructive. A labourer
will save a little money from the sale of the pro-
duce of a few fruit trees that he may have in his
garden. He then buys a " cant," or division of
underwood, at one of the numerous wood sales,
and cuts it himself, and makes a profit by selling
the hop-poles, faggots, and other things from it.
He then takes a little land and plants fruit trees
and vegetables, to supply the immediate neigh-

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE.

83

bourhood. After a time, in many cases, such a
one gets more land, and keeps a horse and a
cow, and sends his fruit and vegetables to
London, or to other large markets. Generally
speaking, these men are models of industry and
perseverance. Many young farmers have lately
emigrated. Many are thinking of emigrating.
Why should not these- first try to work a small
market-garden, or cultivate a few fruit trees ?
They would have to work hard and long, as do
the market-gardeners near London, in Essex,
Surrey, Kent, and other counties, working with
their hands continuously, as well as with their
heads ; but, after all, their work would not be so
hard as the task of clearing and cultivating " the
forest primaeval. " Before farmers emigrate let
them try the production of small things, such as
vegetables, fruit, herbs, poultry, eggs, milk, and
butter. They could begin in a small way, and
must use the same amount of work and
energy that would be essential to ensure success
in a new country, and there is no reason why
they should not be as prosperous as the typical
metropolitan market - gardener, whose profits
and system of cropping will shortly be detailed.

Dairy Farming.

An important question for dairy farmers, and
one upon which opposite opinions prevail, is how
far the capacity to yield milk freely
is capable of being associated in the same animal
with excellence for the production of beef.
Some practical men strongly maintain that
these two qualities are essentially antagonistic,
that it is practically impossible to secure them,
to a high degree in the same animal, and that the
nearer you get to perfection as to dairy
qualities the less adapted are your cattle for fat-
tening purposes ; and, conversely, the better they
are to feed for beef, the worse for the dairy.
Again, on the contrary, we find dairy farmers
of large experience affirming that there is no-
thing essential'y antagonistic in the two qualities ;
that to secure excellence in either of them, a
good constitution and power of assimilating
food is necessary, and that where cattle are
properly managed, and have been bred with a
view to the perpetuation of both these desi-
rable qualities, it is possible to obtain cattle of
first-rate dairy merits, and at the same time ca-
pable of being fattened quickly to a large size,
making beef of prime quality, at any time when
they are no longer wanted or desirable for the dairy.
Each of these divergent opinions finds nume-
rous supporters amongst dairy farmers, and
strong reasons can undoubtedly be urged in
favour of each. Where dairy farming is tthe
chief business of the occupation, it is of the
highest importance that the cattle kept should
be well adapted to the end in view, viz., the
production of a large quautity of milk of good
quality. There is the same expense of keep and
management with poor milkers as with more pro-
fitable animals, and often with less than half the
returns. We do not hesitate to assert that much
money is lost by dairy farmers from not dis-

poning of cows when they hare proved them-
selves comparatively unprofitable tor the dairy.
Even with such purely d iry breeds as the
Ayrshire or the Channel Islands cattle, some
animals prove themselves but indifferent milkers.
It is of importance to recognise and to get rid
of these unprofitable animals, and to keep only
from year to jear those cows which can be relied
upon to yield a profitable quantity of milk. The
necessity of selection and the drafting of inferior
animals is not avoided by keeping cattle of a
breed not adapted for beef, and the loss in value
which results in those cows which from abortior,
diseases of the udder, or from failing to breed, bi -
come unprofitable for the dairy, is iwuch greater
in those breeds which are not good for beef.
There are many instances to be found of coy s
of Shorthorn breed more or less pure, of admii -
able dairy merit, just the sort that Londi n
dairymen love, with large, handsome frames, ai d
excellent quality of fiesh, which will fatti n
readily when they cease to give mill ..
We maintain that no more profitable oows for
the dairy than these can be kept wherever the
pastures and supply of food for the stalls are
adequate. If a good Shorthorn bull is kept, the
increased value of the calf is from.£l to £2 above
that of calves from Ayrshire or common bred
cows. In the value of the bull calves -
especially is the difference in value apparent.
The extra feeding value is also a decided ad-
vantage. Cows of all breeds will sometimes
abort, or prove barren, or have affections of the
udder, and thus become unprofitable as milkers.
Even the best milkers as they grow old will
not pay well for their keep, and will require
drafting. The value of the cow for feeding i»
therefore an item of importance to every dairy
farmer.

We think that upon the best dairy farms of
the Midlands, the West, or the North of Eng-
land, there is little likelihood of the dairy cows
at present most in favour, with a considerable
infusion of Shorthorn blood, being supplanted by
such breeds as the Ayrshires or Channel Islands
cattle, whiph, admirably suited as they are for
special districts and special purposes, are not as-
good for every purpose as the Shorthorn dairy
cross. We think that much may be done to in -
prove the character of these hitter cattle, by
drafting all inferior milker's as soon, at least, as
they have arrived at full growth, by using bulls
descended from cows of some dairy merit, by
stimulating to the utmost the dairy capabilities
of the cows, and thus increasing the milking,
powers of the race. Many farmers are apt to
keep a good-looking Shorthorn cow from year to
year, although her yield of milk, and the length
of time during which she keeps it up, may be
scarcely half what it should be.

One advantage of the plan of registering
daily the yield of milk of each cow, which, we
fear, involves too much trouble to be adopted in
large dairies, is that the inferior yield, and
therefore unprolt ib'e character, of some CO' f,
is more apparent when brought to the test or
a<.c irate measurement. The plan of taking

S4

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

these daily registers is carried out in some large
c mtinental dairies, and, we believe, in at least
one London dairy, and the published returns
show remarkable difference in the yield of in-
dividual cows. Occasional comparative tests by
actual measurement are quite practicable in
ordinary farm dairies, and if the results were
registered, we think they would prove useful and
i istructive.

In expressing our preference for dairy cows
combining flesh with milk, we do not under-
value the merits of Ayreshires, which in then-
own county, and on many poor farms in other
districts, thrive better, and probably yield more
milk, than larger cattle would. Many of the
Welsh cattle are also excellent milkers, and are
very hardy, some of them proving the best
possible "poor man's cows." We know one, the
property of a cottager occupying a small pi t of
land, which, during the early part of this sum-
mer, gave for weeks together a yield of 111b. of
butter per week. Many of the Dutch or Hol-
stein cattle, black or dun, and white in colour,
are great milkers, perhaps the most abundant
milk-producing race known ; but the milk is not
up to the average in quality, and the cattle are
generally undesirable for beef. The restrictions
upon their introduction to this country conse-
quent upon the prevalence of pleuro-pneumonia
amongst them, prevent their being more largely
kept in this country, or, we think that, crossed
with the Shorthorn, they would prove very
useful cattle. Of the admirable character of
the Channel Islands cattle for butter production
in the warmer climate of the South of England,
there can be no question ; but the small value of
the majority of the bull calves, and the loss in
value which follows when they have to be sold
for beef, are objections to them. Many cattle
of no distinct strain of breed aie excellent
milkers. A good udder will sell a cow of any
breed or form when she is at profit, and we are
convinced that attention to the cultivation of
the dairy properties of cows is worthy of much
greater attention than it now generally receives.

Practice with Science.

The Wheat Midge.
A few days ago we received some ears of
■wheat, with a request from the grower that we
would inform him what had gone wrong with
the crop. He said that until quite recently the
plant had been going on in a most satisfactory
style, and that he looked forward to a fine heavy
crop ; but he had since observed that many of
the ears had turned quite pale, that the glumes
had become somewhat dry and shrivelled in
appearance, and that when pressed between the
fingers the ear, instead of feeling firm and solid
as it should in the middle of July, was thin and
soft. The wheat was three-chested. We
selected the middle floret of one of the spike-
lets, laid opon the glumes with a needle, and
brought a moderate magnifying-glass to bear on
the contents. The three shrivelled stamens of
the floret were still visible, but in placo of the

plump, green grain which should have been
present, we saw an orange-coloured ma3S of
some soft substance. By aid of the mounted
needle the coloured substance was teaBed out,
and was then found to be made up of
a number of little maggots, each about one-
sixteenth of an inch in length. The body was
composed of a aeries of ring-like segments, like
that of an ordinary worm, and each little grub
had the bright orange-colour already referred to.
From within the glumes surrounding one grain
we worked out no less than twenty of these grubs,
while from another we obtained eighteen The
grain had been utterly destroyed, and nothing
remained but a small brownish mass of decaying
substance, and every grain was in an earner or
later stage of destruction.

Our readers are acquainted with the changes
which occur in the life history of insects, or at
least, with the ordinary distinctive character of
these changes ; the egg, the larva (grub or
caterpillar), and the perfect insect. The orange
coloured grubs or caterpillars which we got out
from the wheat grains are the larvae of the wheat
midge Cecidomyia Tritici. The eggs are laid on
the stems of the young wheat plant, at about the
time of flowering, by a gnat which is not more
than from one-eighth to one quarter of an inch
long. As soon as the grubs are hatched out
they find their way between the glumes of the
flower, and in this early stage they are known as
" red gum." It is said that the smoke from a
burning couch heap is a good check at this
period, which is not at all unlikely ; therefore,
if at about the middle or end of June there
happens to be a heap of couch near a wheat
field, it would be well to fire it on an occasion
when the wind would take the smoke across the
wheat. The grubs live on the juices intended
for the nourishment of the grain, which is
utterly destroyed, or becomes "tail corn."
Many of them travel down into the soil previous
to taking on the chrysalis form, which eventu-
ally gives rise to the little gnat which lays the
eggs. Mr. J. B. Lawes, of Rothamsted, in his
account of the wheat crop of 1878, states that
the wheat in his experimental field stood up well
at the time of cutting, but that, just before
blooming, portions were covered by small gnats,
which deposited their eggs in the ear, and these
developed into small orange-coloured maggots,
which fed on the young grain. The unmanured
crop came into ear some days later than the
manured crops, and escaped injury from the fly,
whereas the plot manured every year with four-
teen tons of farm-yard manure suffered severely,
and yielded only about two-thirds as much grain
as in 1868, when the weight of straw was about
the same as in 1878.

There is no doubt that the yield of wheat in a
crop may suffer to a very serious extent from the
ravages of the wheat midge, while the quality may
be depreciated as much as the quantity. VYe
have not yet learnt how to exterminate the wheat
midge, but such precautions as are known should
always be observed. It is a fact that the crysalis
is frequently carried away in quantities in the
cars of harvested corn, and after thrashing the

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

83

wheat it is to be found in the chaff. The ques-
tion for the wheat grower is, what to do with
this chaff. If used as cattle-feed, well and good,
but if thrown about to decay, with the ultimate
view of increasing the manure heap, then the
grub is provided with good shelter all through
the winter. The most radical remedy is to burn
the chaff, when it is once ascertained that the
crysulides are amongst it. The destruction of
the pest is then an absolute certainty.

It is a matter of common observation that late
wheat suffers much less than early wheat. The
latter is just in ear about the time the
midge lays iia eggs, and inside young glumes
is the place it prefers for this purpose. By
the time the late wheat is in flower this
gnat has become scarce. The wheat midge
usually confines its attacks to the wheat
plant, but it does occasionally infest the barley
plant, though fortunately this occurrence is rare.
Farmers would render useful service if they
would make notes of observations on its increase
or decrease as influenced by the time of sowing,
the period of flowering, any peculiarities of the
sjil and of the weather, and the mode of disposal
of infested chaff.

Poultry

Very little attention has been paid to the
breeding of ducks, and yet they are by far the
most profitable birds to keep under almost any
conditions. We are not sure whether the breed-
ing and fattening of ducklings for the while
cannot be made a more remunerative business
than either the fattening of Btore cattle, or the
breeding or fattening of any other kind of
stock for young ducks are such marvellous
eaters, and grow so quickly, that at the age of
ten or twelve weeks they are quite fit to kill ;
and in fact, if they have been properly fed they
are almost as heavy at that early age as they
will be at the end of another six or eight
months. Possibly some readers will open
their eyes in astonishment to find it stated in
the columns of the Mark Lane Express that ducks
are as profitable to rear as cattle, but it
will not be difficult to prove the truth
of the statement. The fact is, duck rear-
ing as the breeding and management of
f>wU has hitherto been left to the care
of some ignorant and careless individual, with
the result that a large number of the birds die
at an early age, while those which manage to
live take months before they reach any size, and
when ready for killing, the season is passed for
them to sell for anything like a good price.
Many tons weight of ducklings are yearly sent
to London from the neighbourhood of Ayles-
bury, but these mostly have been killed and
eaten before the majority of people have
even thought about setting any eggs. The
plan is to hatch early in the year, so as to
have the brood ready for killing in March
and April, when a good pair ef ducklings will
fetch as much as fifteen shillings, and we know
for a positive fact that early this spring a guinea
w;.s asked for a pair by a London poulterer. A

guinea for a pair of birds, with only their feathers
removed, and not weighing more than 121b. or
1311). , is a long price, especially when it is remem-
bered these birds had only been living about as
many weeks.

There is a good demand for ducklings, the
same as there is for chickens, and they both
realise good prices if they can be got into the
market early in the spring. At the present time
poultry of all kinds is cheap, and it is no uncom-
mon thing, when there has been a glut of Irish
birds sent into the market — and, of course, they
must be used — to see chickens cooked and ready
for eating, offered for sale in the eating-houses
for fifteen or sixteen pence each, whereas if these
birds had been fit for selling in April or May,
at the commencement of the London season,
instead of the end, they would have sold for three
or four times as much as they do now. To breed
chickens, feed them, and then sell them, so that
they may be bought by the consumer for the
sums named, is a losing game ; and here we have
the explanation of the oft-repeated statement
that poultry are not profitable to breed.

But to return to the subject of ducks. The
best time for killing them is when they are be-
tween eight and twelve weeks old ; when they get
beyond this age they commence to drop into
their first moult, and instead of putting on llesh.
they actually lose weight, as all the food con-
sumed, and more, is required to keep up the
system during the time they are obtaining a
fresh lot of feathers. Ducks will eat almost any
kind of food — nothing comes amiss to them ; but
if they are to be pushed along quickly, and when
killed be fat and plump, then soft food, con-
sisting of meal, must be their principal food-
This, however, is a subject, as well as their-
general management, which must be left for
another occasion.

The summer poultry shows are now in full
swing, and hardly a day passes without two or
three shows being held at different parts of the
country. These are generally held in conjunc-
tion with the exhibition of stock, implements,.
&c. ; but at this time of the year most of the
birds are rough and broken in plumage, and do
not look, their best by a long way. At some
shows a few very good and forward chickens
have already been exhibited ; but these early
hatched birds seldom'prove the best for exhibition
purposes. They may win a few prizes during the
summer ; but at the important shows, such as
the Crystal Palace, Birmingham, and Oxford, it is
the brood hatched in March and April which
carry off the chief prizes. At the Newcastle-on-
Tyne show last week, four classes, with three
prizes to each class of 50s., 20s., and 5s., were
made for dead poultry ; but unfortunately they
proved a failure, so far as the entries were con-
cerned, as they only brought together six speci-
mens,and some of these were verymoderate indeed.
This year I hear it is the intention of the mana-
gers of the Crystal Palace Show to offer prizes
for the most suitable birds for table purposes,
and as there will also be classes for dead poultry,
some encouragement will be given to the breed
ins °f useful as well as ornamental fowh.

85

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Agricultural Societies.

♦

BEDFORDSHIEE-
meeting AT BIGGLESWADE.
The rain, which has marred or spoiled most of the ;
Agricultural Shows so far this season, did not make '_
an exception in favour of Biggleswade, and com- i
menced early enough in the morning to prevent a i
great many from coming who lived at any consider-
able distance in the neighbourhood. However, after
making some of the judging and on-looking about as
uncomfortable as it could well be, the weather cleared,
and the afternoon was intensely hot. The bright sun
brought out the ladies as quickly as it brings out ]
butterflies, and during the after part of the day the
grounds were crowded. The parade of the prize-
winning horses and cattle, and, above all, the
competition for the jumping prizes, was witnessed in
brilliant weather, under the very favourable circum-
stances oi a good ring situated in a very charming
locality, so that the Show passed off in a very enjoy-
able manner, and gave great satisfaction all round.
It is one of the smaller County meetings, and its chief
feature is the display of horses, which forms a great
attraction. On this occasion there was a good show
of horses, especially cart horses, and the judges had
n)t at all times a very easy task before them.

The cart horses were judged by Mr. T. W.Lamb
and Mr. Joseph Martin. There were no stallions
shown. The yearling cart colts made a very creditable
class of nine, and Mr. F. Street, of Somersham, made
the first score with a very promising black colt of
Stoke's Champion, and Mr. Ward's colt was not far
behind. Mr. Dudly holds the reserve number, and
the Messrs. J. and F. Howard showed two very useful
colts. The yearling fillies were eight in number, and
Mr. F. Street was again the winner with a roan of
Stoke's Champion, likely to make a very good mare,
as her legs leave very little room for fault finding.
There were some very useful fillies in this class,
creditable to their breeders and to the Society. Two-
year-old cart geldings formed a very fair class, and
the first place was very well earned by Mr. Ransom.
Mr. C. Howard showed two very good animals,
one of which won second prize, and will make
a very powerful horse another day ; the other,
which has excellent quarters, and looks of a very
useful stamp, was awarded a high commendation.
The two-year-old fillies were a particularly good class,
and the competition was very close. Mr. G. Street
was fortunate enough to get to the top of tjiis class
with a very good animal indeed, and there is not a
great deal of fault tj be found with Mr. Horrell's
second place. There are several other good fillies in
this class, and nearly all of them received some mark
of favour from judges' hands. Pairs of cart horses for
agricultural purposes made a capital show, and took
a long time to judge. It was not difficult to see from
the first where the chief award would fall, as Mr. D.
Fuller's pair of bay mares, bred by Mr. T. Jones, of
Bcnwick — the one four and the other five years old —
were conspicuously better than the rest. They were
capital sj lecimens of the Shire-bred horse. The second
and third awards, however, were not so easily divi-
ded, but at length Mr. Scorer's pair obtained the
■eeond place, evidently from good feet and legs and
good free action, and Air. F. Street's pair took third
prize. In this latt it case the mares were not well
matched, one being a very fine mare with first-rate
action, and the other being about like other people's
hersrs, and not a very free mover. As a pair Mr. All-
wood's two five-year- old geldings were better than Mr.

Street's ; both of them were better than the chestnut
in Mr. Street's pair, and Mr. Street's bay was better
than either in the second prize pair belonging to Mr.
Scorer. When animals are entered in pairs it seems
but reasonable that uniformity should be made a
crucial point in the judging. Even two good horses
of dissimilar type do not constitute a good pair. Mr.
George Street's pair received a high commendation,
and both, the dun especially, were good walkers.
One of Miss Trevor's mares was a very good one, and
the class throughout was one of the best in the Show.
The mares with foal at foot proved the best class of
all. .After a very lengthened and careful inspection
the judges pronounced in favour of Mr. "\Vm. Horrell's
grey mare, whose only conspicuous fault is a big
head ; she is well put together, and her feet and legs
are good. Mr. Purser's four -year -old bay was
next in favour with the judges, and the reserve
fell to Mr. George Brown for a capital mare — Smart
— by Honest Tom 2nd. Miss Trevor showed an ex-
cellent mare, and good animals were also sent by Mr.
C. Howard, Mr. Ransome, Mr. T. W. Grant, Mr.
James Long, and Messrs. J. and F. Howard. The
prize offered for the best cart foal shown in this class
was won by Mr. James Long, and the reserve is held
by Mr. A. Squire. There was also a well-filled class
for cart mares or geldings of any age.

Light horses included some very fair entries of
hunting horses, hacks, cobs, and ponies, and this part
of the Show was, as usual, the source of greatest
attraction. The leaping was tht thing the people
wanted to see, and the contest was a very keen one.
There were some seTen or eight horses entered for this
special prize, one or more having been entered on the
day of the Show, and whose names, consequently, do
not appear on the catalogue. There were some very
fair performances nude over the artificial fences — one
a double one — :<n I the water jump, which was a ratln r
ugly affair, badly constructed on the landing side,
although the takiag off was not bad. Th« first to
take this was Mrs. Williams on Dr. Waller's Ravely,
a very clever mare over hurdles, when the jumping is
not of two severe a character. This lady also rode a
little chestnut belonging to Air. Goodwin, of Whet-
stone, and for which she ultimately obtained a high
commendation. This is a plucky little horse, and as
the pluck of the rider is well-known, it may be
imagined that they negotiated the water-jump in very
creditable style. There was a grey cob — Grey Nimble
— belonging to Mr. R P. Davis, which jumped well,
and made a very fair record over the water. Mr. J.
W. Ayres' chestnut hunter was well ridden, and took
his fences in a very matter-of-fact sort of way, but he
did not exert himself enough at the big jump, and
consequently made a splash or two. The real contest
soon lay between Mr. James Flack's eight-year-old
chestnut gelding Emperor, a black steeplechase mare,
Merry Duchess (entered at the eleventh hour), and
Mr. Goodwin's chestnut gelding, Young Recruit,
mentioned above. The judges gave the lady all
the chance they could, and both she and the little
chestnut tried all they knew. Mr. James Flack's Em-
peror, a slight, Gallowa) -looking little horse, was very
ably ridden by a boy, who went for the water jump
hand and heel, and threw his beast over in grand
style. His light weight and good riding had as much
to do with his victory as the merits of the horse,
which is, however, a very perfect fencer. Merry
Duchess took second prize ; she rushed at her fences
iu true steeplechase style, and, no doubt, would have
won — from her greater power — had the boy been on
her back. The show of horses at Biggleswade must
b>' considered a very good our, taking it as a whole,
and was, as usual, the great attraction of the Show.

THE FAKMER'8 MAGAZINE.

87

The cattle were pure and portly -bred Shorthorns,
and were not in very great numbers. There was a
poor show of bulls, and none of them call for men-
tion, excepting, perhaps, two or three young ones
from Mr. Sharpe, of Kettering. The class for cows of
any age was very well filled, and made a very decent
show in the ring. All of them were pure-bred Short-
horns, anil the judges, as usual, gave the prizes to the
fattest. Yearling heifers, too, proved a very decent
class. A class for groups of three — not necessarily
bull, cow, and offspring— was made up from animals
entered in other classes, and the award fell to Mr. T.
Kingsley, whose group included the cow, Queen of
Hearts, the winner of the first prize in cow class.

Slurp were a very small and very poor show. Ox-
fordshire Downs and Liueolns were the only breeds
shown, and there were a few entries of cross-breeds.
Mr. F. Street, Messrs. J. and F. Howard, and Mr. Tread-
well had it nearly all to themselves with Oxfordshire
Downs, and Mr. F. Allwood the same with Lin-
colns

Pigs made another small division of the Show ; Mr.
Sanders Spencer and Messrs. J. and F. Howard being
the chief exhibitors.

There were a few entries of butter, a very small
display of agricultural implements and machinery,
and a half-dozen or so of Collie dogs.

The following is a list of the judges, and of their
awards : —

FRIZE LIST.

HORSES.
Yearling cart colt.— 1, F. Street ; 2, J. Ward.
Yearling cart filly.— 1, F. street; 2, H. Purser.
Two-year-old cart gelding. — 1, A. Ransom; 2, C. Howard.
Two-.) ear-old' cart fily.— 1, G. Street ; 2, W. Horell.
Pair of cart horses for Agricultural purposes. — 1, D. Fuller ;

2, J. W. Scorer; 3, F. Street.
Mare and foal for agricultural purposes. — 1, W. Horrell ;

2, H. Purser.
Cart foal. — Prize, J. Long.

Cart mare or gelding of any age. — 1, H. Cooke ; 2, G. Street.
Hackney, above 1-1 hands 2 inches, of any age. — Prize,

11. Hoirell.
Cob, not exceeding 15 hands. — I, A. R. Adcock ; 2, T.

Lester.
Pony, not exceeding 13 hands. - Prize, C. Konow.
Harness horse, not under 15 bands I inch, to be shown in

single harness, the property of an exhibitor residing in

the county of Bedford, or an adjoining county. — 1, W.

Nichols; 2, R. Horrell.
Cob, liot exceeding 1 5 hands, ta be shown in single harLess.

— Prize, A. H. Adcock.
Pony, not exceeding 13 hands, to be shown in single har-
ness.—1, C. Konow ; 2, W. H. Jelly and Son.
Mare, in foal or with foal at foot, suitable for breeding

hunters, the foal to be bv a thorough- bred horse.— 1, H.

Purser ; 2. J. R. Whitworth.
Fonr-j ear-old horse or mare, for hunting purposes, bred ra

the county of Bedford.— 1, J. Marsh ; 2, G. Woodward.
Hunter, not exceeding 6 years old last spring, up to 13

stone, being the bona fide property of a tenant farmer or

his son residing withiu the limits of the Oakley country.—

1, A. t. Davis ; 2, G. E. Brown.
Hunter, not exceeding 6 years old last spring, up to 15

etone, being the bona fide property ot a tenant farmer or
! his son residing within ihe limits of the Oak.ey country. —

No c mpe ition.
Hunter, not exceeding 6 years ©Id last spring, up to 13 stone,

being the bona fide property of a tenant farmer or his son

residing within the limits of the Cambridgeshire Hunt. —

Prize, C. C, Hay ward.
Horse, of any age, that jumps his fences in the best manner.

1, J. Flack ; 2, Mr. Negus.

CATTLE.
Bull, »bove 2 and not exceeding 3 years old, — 1, F. Fowler ;

2, J. J. Sharpe.

Bull, above 1 and not exceeding 2 years old.— 1, T. Chalk :
2, F. Fowler.

Bull calf, above 6 months and under 12 months old.— Prize,
J. J. Sharpe.

Shorthorn bull, eligible for tho Herd Book, not exceeding 3
years old, the property of an exhibitor lesiding within
the county of Bedford— 1, F. Fowler : 2, J. and F. How-
ard.

Cuw.of any age.— 1, T. KiDgsley ; 2, C. W. Uriu n.

Cow or heifer, in-calf or ln-imlk, not exceeding 3 years old.

— 1, J. J. Sharpe; t, C. W. Griffin.
Heifer, above one year and not exceeding 2 years old.— 1, J.

J. Sharpe; 2, F. J. Fowler.
Heift r calf, above « months and under 12 months old.— Prize,

J. J. Sharpe.
.Three animals of the Shorthorn breed, including a bull, a

cow iu-ca f or in-milk, snd a heiter not less tbau 12

monehB < lu.— 1, T. Kingsley ; 2, C. W. Griffin.
Dairy cow in-milic or iu-cali.— 1, J. Rogers ; 2, P. Battock
Three dairy cows of one herd in-milk or in-calf.— 1, J. Rogers;

2, G. Streot.

FAT CATTLE.
Fat ox, cow, or heifer.— J. and F. Howard.

SHEEP.
Long-woolled shearling ram.— F. Allwood.
Short-woolled shearling ram.— 1, F. Stteet; 2, J. and F.

Howard.
Pen of 6 long-woolled shearliDg ewes.— Mrs. Wingfield.
Pen of 5 Down or cross-bred shearing ewes.— i, F. Street;

2, .1 . and F. Howard.
Pen of 5 breeding ewes, of any age or breed, which shall

have sujkled lambs up to the first day of June, 1880 —

1, F. Street; 2, T. W. D. Harris.
Pen of 3 lat long-woolled shearling wethers. — Mrs. Wine-
field. b
Pen of 3 fat Down or cross-bred shearling wethers.—

1, J. and F. Howard ; 2, W. Cooper.
Pen of 5 long-woolled ewe lambs.— F. Allwood.
Pen of 5 Down or cross-bred ewe lam:js.— 1, W.

Cooper ; 2, F. Street.
Pen of 5 long-woolled wether lambs.— Mrs. Wingfield.
Best pin of 6 Down or cross-bred wether lambs.— 1, F,

Battock ; 2, M. Reynolds.

PIGS.
Best boar about 12 months old, intendedfor use.— 1, S. Spen-
cer ; 2. J. and F. Howard.
Boar under 12 months old, intended for use.— 2, T. W. Grant.
Sow with pigs.- 1, S. Spencer; 2, J. and F. Howard.
In-pig sow. — 1, and 2, S. Spencer.
Peuofthreo sow pigs under 12 months old, intended for

breeding purposes.— 1, S. Sanders ; 2, J. and F. Howard.

BUTTER.

31b. of butter in lib. lumps.— 1, T. Joyce; 2, G. Stteet;

3, J. and F. Howard ; i, J. Miller ; 5, VV. Pedley.
SHEPHERDS' DOGS.
Dog, the property of a shepherd or his employer.— 1, H. W.

Sworder ; 2, F. Fowle-, jun.
Bitch, the property of a shepherd or his employer.— 1, T. W.

Grant; 2, J. Pope.

LINCOLNSHIRE.

The Brigg meeting of the Society was fortunate to
have a really fine day on July the 21st, when the
show was opened to the public. Not a drop
of rain fell on that day, and after so many muddy
showyards, that at brigg was particularly enjoyable.
The ground, however, had been cut about consider-
ably after the rains of the previous week, and it was-
of such a nature as to give the idea of something un-
usually dreadful in case of very wet weather. On the
whole the Brigg meeting, which is the twelfth in the
annals of the Society, was a very good one. The
implement stands were fewer than usual, and the
cattle, sheep, and pigs were none of them in large
numbers, but the horses were in great force, and made
a display which was not equalled at the Carlisle
Koyal. Of course, one expects to see a good lot of
horses at the Lincolnshire Society's Shows ; but, in
numbers and in quality, the horses at Biigg were
probably better than at any former meeting.

The agricultural horses were Shiie-breds, of course,
and a hue show they made. The aged draught
stallions were eight in number, and occupied the
attention of the judges a long time Amongst them
was the Stand Stud Company's famous old chestnut,
Young Champion, which stood second at Carlisle the
other day, and first in his class at the Agricultural
Hall Cart-horse Show a short time since. This fine
old horse is 13 years old, sound as a bell, active as
a four-year-old, and has good feet and plenty of

88

THE FARMERS" MAGAZINE.

feather. However, he did not take the fancy of the
judges— Mr. Garrett Taylor, Mr. John Scarby, and
Mr. W. T. Lamb — who threw him out entirely, and
ultimately handed the red riband to the leader of
Mr. Phillipson's Young Wiltshire Champion, a six-
year-old brown horse, of considerable merit, but
nothing about him to compare with the old chestnut,
except age. He is a good mover, and a good Snire-
bred, but few would consider him the better horse.
The second award fell to a massive roan five-year-old,
Roan Boxer, bred by Mr. Ealand, and exhibited by Mr.
Blanshard ; he is well ribbed, and carries great sub-
stance, but he is a shuffling goer. Sir D. Astley's
old brown horse, Lion, has many merits, but the
judges would not have anything to do with old horses.
This was very similar judging to that at Bingley Hall
last year, when all the old horses were passed over, or
nearly so ; but the judges at the Cart-horse Show, as
will be remembered, made soundness and symmetry
their great points, and from other points of view the
older the horse the greater the credit. The others
say that the old horses have had their day, and done
their work, whilst the young ones must be looked to
for present and future service. That may be all very
■veil in its way, but in an aged class an
old horse should win if he were deserving.
Mr. T. Cunningham showed a very useful
roan, Little Wonder, and Mr. Shepherd's horse,
Wei bourne Sweep, was the only bad one of the lot.
The two-year-olds formed a good class of eight, three
or four of the entries having failed to put in an
appearance. Here the Stand Stud Company won
first prize with Crowland Hero, which was third in a
similar class at Carlisle. His fine action and good
show form was preferred to the claims of another good
horse, Mr. Crosby's Cultivator. The latter walks
well, and leaves very little to find fault with until he
begins to trot, and that he can't do in good form. The
cart colts were six in number, and took a very long
time to judge, in fact, the draught horse judging was
very slow indeed. Mr. Torr's colt was not the
handsomest of the lot, nor the biggest, but he was
probably the best, and the judges evidently held the
same opinion. This colt, Jacob Wilson, is well put
together, and may greatly improve in another year ;
his head is not the best part of him, but his legs,
arms, and feet are first-rate, and he knows how to
use them. Another colt belonging to Mr. Torr was
put second, and the two are of very similar character ;
both are good movers, and they can walk well. Mr.
Clark, of Spalding, showed three very promising
colts, to one of which the r*hird prize was awarded,
and one of the others is particularly smart and natty.
Mares with foals at foot made a capital show, both as
regards the mares and the foals, which were entered
separately. Sir H. B. Bacon's eight-year-old grey
mare, to which the first prize was awarded, is one of
the best draught mares we have seen lately, and the
foal to which tire first prize was awarded is certainly
a good one, by Young Honest Tom out of a rather
light stamp of roan mare, shown by Mr. F. Robinson.
The four cart fillies were good ones, and one might
choose the winner of the second prize, Mr. T. Alvey's
grey, before Mr. Freshney's bay, which is shorter on
the leg, but not so roomy, nor built on such a good
scale. The two-year-olds were five in number, and
the yearlings four. Amongst the latter was one from
Mr. Torr, with very excellent feet and legs, and a
very promising bay from Sir H. B. Bacon.

Hunters made a very excellent division of the Show.
In the class for Stallions for getting hunters, the
Stand Stud Company were victorious with Meteor,
who won first in a similar class at Carlisle the other
day. Next him came Mr. Chaplin's Snowstoim, a

horse that looks like getting park hacks rather than
hunters, and he is getting a little shaky on his fore
legs ; but he is a very showy horse, with good
shoulders, and other points of real merit. Air. H.
Flower's Harmonides is a good horse, and apparently
of great jumping power. Sir D. Astley's Highborn
has good quarters, but his ribs are not deep enough,
and his middle-piece generally small and defective.
Scamp, another of Sir D. Astley's horses, is of abetter
stamp, and his stock should be useful. In the class
for mares with foals at foot, Sir D. Astley was success-
ful with a deep bodied and rather heavy mare, and
the animals shown by Mr. Dixon, Mr. Torr, Mr.
Young, Mr. Hudson, and Colonel Fane, were all of
them good animals. The foals were entered separately,
and Mr. Torr took first prize with the foal of the
mare with which he took third prize in the mares'
class. Mr. Hudson was second with a very promising
foal out of a roomy aged mare, and Dr. Wader came
in third with a very useful chestnut. These two
classes were excellent. The three-year-old fillies wero
one of the chief attractions of the Show, and the two-
year-olds and yearlings, were not far behind them in
merit. The rest of the classes for hunting horses,
mares and geldings were very large and very good,
and the jumping trials on the second day of the Show
were expected to prove very attractive. If the York-
shire Society can show a better lot of hunting horses
at Barnsley in a fortnight's time, then their meeting
will indeed be a good one.

Roadsters formed another very attractive part of
the Show. In the class for Stallions suitable for
getting such horses as these, the Stand Stud Company
were first, as at Carlisle, with Star of the East, an
eight-year-old, very showy, and with first-rate action,
of the steal-away type. Mr. T. Wakefield's Fire-
away, an eight-year-old roan, took second prize ; he
is a very showy goer, of the fire-eating, sky-scraping
sort — one that would hammer his legs all to pieces on
pavement in a short time ; his arms are small, and
he has a light middle-piece. Mr. Munson's Young
Shales is a plain horse, but a good goer. The numerous
classes for roadsters of all descriptions, both for saddle
and harness, and the classes for ponies were large and
well filled ; and the horses, as a whole, were a very
excellent division of the Show.

CATTLE.

Shorthorns are the only breed of cattle exhibited
at the shows of the Lincolnshire Society, and usually
there are some very choice specimens to be met with.
This year the classes were not so well filled, and the
numbers fell short of an average entry. There were,
however, some very useful animals amongst them. In
the class for bulls, three-years-old and upward, Mr.
Willis' Vice Admiral easily7 secured first honours, and
afterwards was awarded the Marquis of Ripon's Chal-
lenge Cup, value twenty7 guineas, as being the best bull

:arty n£c in th« Show. A big, useful sort ot bull
Baron Ashton, bred by Sir T. C. Constable, and exhi-
bited by Mr. Jonas Webb, took second place. Mr.
Soame's Duke of Charmingland 7th, a bull of Mr. H.
J. Shieldon'sbreeding, was put third, and the other en-
try was Revolter, bred by Mr. Pears, a ratherslack bull,
with good quarters, likely to be useful. The class for
two-year-old bulls consisted of two entries only, Mr.
Rowley's Lord Arthur, and Mr. Cooper's Rosamond
Bean ; the former was bred by Mr. W. Linton, and
is in almost every respect very like his sire, Sir Arthur
Ingram, defects and all. His character, scale, quality7,
and colour, are all very7 similar to that of the famous
old bull, but his hide is not quite so thin ; he is likely7
to make a first-rate Shorthorn. The yearlings were
only two in number, and the calves six. In the latter

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

8ft

class Air. Garfit's Orange was very deservedly
]>ut first. lie promises to make a first- rate bull,
and his hide, hair, scale, character, and quality
leave but little to be desired. Captain Ashby-
Ashby's Geneva Faraley, a tive-months-old call',
was placed second, and a more useful stamp of animal,
Mr. Acl-er's Lord George Hamilton, took the third
place. The Duke of Portland's Lord Windsoi, a big
and rather coarse calf, and a rather harsh handling
hull flora Mr. Pears, were the only others calling for
mention. Shorthorn cows were a much stronger and
batter class than any of the bulls ; Mr. Acker's
Piiuccss Georgie scored another victory, and next her
came a very heavy-fleshed cow, Georgina 2nd, bred
by Sir S. VVormbwell, and exhibited by the Duke of
Portland. Captain Ashby-Ashby's Innocence took
third pr ze, and Mr. Acker's Lady Carew 2nd was
throws out. Mr. Hutchinson's Grateful was entered
but not sent. Mr. Jonas Webb showed a very useful
cow, Babraham Rose, bred by Mr. Henry Webb, an
animal of nice quality, with a good bag, and not over-
done. Mr. Groseman's Polly is one of the old sort,
with many go d points about her. Three three-year-
old heifers and two two-year-olds did not make much
of a show ; the cattle were both from the herd of the
Duke of Portland. Mr. Hutchinson's Gainful was
not in her place. The yearlings were six in number,
and headed by a very deep and well-furnished, but
not very level heifer, Bright Musidora. Mr. Jonas
Webb's Queen of May is a nice heifer, with an excel-
lent coat of hair. Mr. Foljambe and Mr. Garfit
were also exhibitors. The heifer calves were a fairly
good lot. There were one or two classes fur fat cattle,
and in one appeared Mr. Foljambe's Aznuna, first
at Kilburn last year. If she is not intended for the
butcher — that is to say, if she is still considered to
be a breeding animal — she ought not to have appeared
in this class. However, there she was, and she took
the prize.

Sheep were a small show, and all of the Lincoln
breed, of course. Mr. Henry Smith, Mr. Robert
Wright, and Mr. J. Byron were the principal exhi-
bitors and prize winners. Mr. Henry Smith's old
ram, and also his shearling, both of which took first
prizes in their respective classes, were as good Lincolns
as the writer has ever seen, both for wool and mutton.
Pigs were a very small show, and were exhibited
chiefly by the Earl of Ellesmere and Mr. Duckering.
It is strange that the large white breeds should be
spotted to the extent they were at Brigg, and yet be
considered "pure. " This is a mystery known only
to professional exhibitors and breeders.

The Implement stands did not occupy much space,
but some of the well-known large firms put in an
appearance. Messrs. Barford and Perkins, Marshall
and Sons, Hornsby and Sons, Robey and Co., Ruston
Proctor and Co.. Edlington and Co., Tuxford and
Sons, James Coutlas, Penny and Co. , J. Cooke, and
others, had specimens of the implements and
machinery for which their names are noted.
PRIZE LIST.
HORSES.

Stallion for hunters.— 1, Stand Stud Company (Meteor) ; H.
Chaplin, M.P. (Snowstorm).

Stallion for roadsters.— 1, Stand Stud Company (Star of the
East) ; 2, T. Wakefield (Fireaway).

Stallion for draught h' rses.—l, J. Phillipson (Young Wilt-
shire Champion) ; 2 A. Blandsajd (Roan Boxer).

Stallion for draught horses, two years old.— 1, Stand Stud
Companv (Crowland Hero) ; 2, J. Crosby (Cultivator); 3,
T. Shepherd (Commodore).

Entire cart colt, one year old.— 1, Executors of J. Torr (Jacob
Wilson), 2, J. Torr ; 3, H. Clark.

Mare for breeding hunters, with a foal at her heel 3 or having
had a living foal in the season of 1880.— 1, Sir J. D. At-tloy,
Bart. ; ;{, H0v. W. P. Dixon (Philla) : 8, Executors of J.
Torr.

Hunting foal.— 1, Executors of J. Torr; 2, W. Hudson; 3,

Dr. B. Waller.
Hunting gelding or mare, live or six veara old. — 1, T. H. D.

Bayly (Black Jack) ; 2, A. J. Brown (Admiral) ; 3, J. G.

Topham (Haver).
GeMing or mare, four years old, calculated to make a hunter.

— 1, A. J. Brown (Hercules); 2, L. T. Thornton ( ir

Charles) ; 8, R. G. F. Howard.
Hunter, four years old aud upwards, up to carrying not less

than 13 stone.— 1, R. G. F. Howard ; 2, B. P. Kawnsley

(The Root).
Hunting gelding or filly, three years old.— 1, E. Paddison ;

2. J. E. Brown (Locomotive).
Hunting filly, three years old.— 1 J.Lett; 2, E.H. Griffin.
Hunting colt, 2 years old.— 1, W. Dudding (Rainbow) ; 2, G.

H. Bramley.
Hunting colt, 1 year old.— 1, Sir J. D. Astley, Bart. ; 2, T. L.

Skip-worth.
Hunting filly, 2 years old.— 1, W. Chatterton ; 2, Rev. W.

Sykes (Snowdrift).
Hunting filly, 1 year old.— 1, R. G. F. Howard; 2, G.

Walker.
Mare for breeding road-ters.— 1 and 2, T. Cook (Rosalind and

Portia) .
Weight-carrying cob, mare or gelding.— 1, J. Hornsby (High

Game).
Hack, mare, or gelding.— 1, J. Robinsou (Lady Cleveland);

2, F. C. Marshall (Bay Lear) ; 3, J. Hornsby (Highty

Tighty).
Pony, mare, or gelding.— 1, W. L. Watson (The Swell); 2,

J. Hornsby (High Luckj.
Pcny, mare, or gelding.— 1, J. Hornsby (High and Mighty)

2, W. Wood.
Horse in harness.— 1, R. H. Swain (Naughty Mary Ann) ;

2, R. C. Munson.
Pony, not exceeding 14 hands.— 1, J. Hornsby (High Luck) ;

2, Sir J. D. Astley, Bart.
Gelding or mare, best jumper. — 1. J. R. Kirkham, (Shep-
herdess) ; 2, Earl of Yarborough ( Marquis) ; 3, J. Green-
ham (.Marshal Saxe)
Best animal in classes for hunters. — Prize, A. J. Brown

(Hercules).
Best pony exhibited.— Prize, W. L. Watson (The Swell).
Mare for breeding draught horses. — 1, Sir H. Bacon, Bart. ;

2, T. and J, Freshney (Flower) ; 3, Executors of J. Torr

(Jessie Wilson).
Cart foal.— 1, F. Robinson, (Old Leake) ; 2, S. and W. Pat-

tinson ; 3, J. Oxley ; 4, T. and J. B. Freshney.
Cart Gelding, two years old.— 1, E. J. Howard, (Sharper) ;

2, G. J. Young.
Cart Filly, three years old.— 1, T. and J. B. Freshney , 2,

T. Alvey.
Cart Filly, two years old.— 1, E. J. Howard, (The Belle) ;

2, T. and J. B. Freshney
Cart Filly, one year old.— 1, Executors of J. Torr; 2, Sir H.

B. Bacon.
Pair of draught horses or mare3.— 1, Sir. H. B. Bacon ;
2, H. J. Waters.

CATTLE.

SHORTHOBNS.

Bull, 3 years old and upwards.— 1, T. Willis, jun. (Vice-
Admiral) ; 2, J. Webb (Baron Aston) ; 3, A. Soames (Duko

of Charming Land 7th).
Two-year-old bull — 1, J. Rowley (Lord Arthur) : 2, P. H.

Coouer (Rosamond's Beau).
Yearling bull.— 1, C. R. Fieldsend (Lord Biilliant 4th) ; F. J.

S. Foljambe. M.P (Juniper).
Bull calf, uuder a year old.— 1. A. Garfit (Orarge) ; 2, Captain

G. Ashb.y-Asoby (Geneva Fawsley) ; 3, B. St. J. Ackers

(Lord George Hamilton).
Bull, 2 years old or upwards. — 1, J. Webb (Baron Aston);

2, A. Soames (Duke of Charming Land 7th).
Bull, under 2. years old. —1, F.J. S. Foljambe, M.P. (Juniper);

2, T. Pears (Lepiaus).
Challenge Cup for bull of any age. — T. 'Willis, jun. (Vice-
Admiral).
Cow, more than 4 years old, in milk or in calf. — 1, B.S

Acker6 (Princess' Georgie) ; 2, Duke of Portland (Georgina

2nd).
Heifer, 3 years old, havimr produced a calf at its natural

time. — I, G. M. Hutton (Cowslip) ; 2, J. Jervis (Julia) ; 3,

Captain G. Ashby-Ashby (Flirt).
Two-year-old heiier, in milk or in calf. — 1, Duke of Portland

(Oxford Rose 10th) ; 2, Duke of Portland (Catherine No.

11).
One-year old heiier. — l.Duke of Portland (Bright Musidora) ;

2, A. Garfit (Adelaide) ; 3, G. M. Hutton (New Year's Gift

4th.)
Heifer calf, under 1 year old. — 1, B. St. J. Ackers (Lady

Georgina Newcomb) ; 2, Duke of Portland (John Jervis

Sharp).
Cow or heifer, in-milk or in-calf.— 1, J. Webb (Babraham

Rosa) : 2, J. Gooseman (Polly).
Heifer, under 2vears old.— 1, A. Garfit (Adelaide) ; ", G. M.

Hutton (New Year's Gift 4th).

90

THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE.

Pair of bullocks.— 1, W. Chatterton.

Ox or heifer.— 1, P. Foljambe, M.P. ; 2, W. Chatterton.

SHEEP.

LINCOLNSHIRE LONG-WOOL SHEEP.

Shearling ram.— 1, R. Wright; 2 and 3, H. Smith; 4, R,

Wriuht; 5, H. Smith.
Two-shear ram.— 1. H. Smith ; 2, R. Wright ; 3, H. Smith ; 4,

J. Bryon.
Three-shear ram or older ram. — 1 and 2, H. Smith ; 3, J.

Byron ; 4, J. Pears.
Pen of five ewes, having suckled lambs up to the 10th July. —

1, W. Roe; 2, E. and F.J. Empaon; 3, W. Calvert.
Five shearling gimmers.— 1, J. Pears; 2, J. Byr>n;

Wright.
Pen of in she lambs. — 1, H. Mackinder ; 2, J. Byron.
Pen of five shearling wethers. — 1, J. Pears.
Extra stock.— W. Hesseltine.

PIGS.
Boar, large breed, not less than 12 months old. — 1, Earl

Ellesmere : 2, R. E. Duckering.
Boar, large breed, not exceeding 12 months old. — 1, R. E.

Duckering ; 2, Earl of Ellesmere.
Boar, small breed not less than 12 months old. — 1, R. E.

Duckering; 2, Earl of Ellesmere.
Boar, small breed, not exceeding 12 months old. — 1, C. E,

Duckering ; i, Earl of Ellesmere.
Berkshire boar. — 1 and 2, C. K. Duckering.
Sow, large breed, having had a litter since 1st March, or in

pig at the time of showing. — 1, Earl of Ellesmere ; 2, R. E.

Duckering.
Sow, small breed, as above.— 1, C. E. Duckering; 2, R. E.

Duokering.
Berkshire sow, as above — 1, C. E. Duckering ; 2, R. Sutton.
Three breeding pigs, of the same litter, not exceeding tj

months old, large breed. — 1, R. E. Duckering.
Three breeding pigs, of the same litter, not exceeding 6

months old, small breed. — 1, C. E. Duckering; 2, R. E.

Duckering.
Three breeding pigs, of the same litter, not exceeding 6

months old, Berkshire breed.— 1, C. E. Duckering.
Extra stock.— C. Pmder.

WOOL.

Heaviest clean- washed fleece of wool clipped 1890.— J. Pears.

BUTTXH.

Three pounds of butter.— I. M s. A.M. Terrot; 2, M. G.

Bartholomew i 3, Mrs. S. Rawbottom.
'. hiee uouu'lsot butter from cows other than the Channel

ie.auds breeds. — 1, Mrs. A.M. Terrot; 2, M. Pickwoll ;

3, Mrs. HerriDg,

NORTHUMBERLAND.

MEETING AT NEWCASTLE.

This Society was very fortunate in the matter of
weather on July 22, and the attendance was accord-
ingly very satisfactory. The show of Shorthorns and
of horses, for which the meetings of this society are
chiefly remarkable, was, as usual, full of interest and
quite up to an average standard of excellence, and
the management is to be congratulated on the success
of their labours to keep up the attractiveness of the
meeting.

The horses made a large and good show and the
names of several well-known animals will be found in
the prize list.

The Shorthorns were in rather strong force, and
amongst them were to be found some of the recent
prize-winners at the Carlisle Royal. The judges —
Mr. C. Smith, Mr. R. Jefferson, and Mr. John Outh-
waite — supported the Carlisle decisions with regard
to the respective merits of Mr. Ticker's bull, Duke
of Howl John, and the Earl of Ellesmi re's Attractive
Lord, and placed them as on that occasion. Mr.
"Willis's Vice-Admiral not being present, the third
place fell to Mr. Rclph's Bright Duke. In the class
for two year-old bulls the Carlisle verdict was re-
versed in the case of the two bulls, Prince Louis,
belonging to Mr. R. Taylor, and the Duke of
Richmond's Arthur Benedict, and as we think Prince
Louis to be the more useful bull of the two, we prefer
the Carlisle judging in this case. Mr. T. H. Hutch-
inson's Knight of Kars repeated his success at the
head of the bull calves, and, as we have already

spoken of him, he is a model in all but size. Amongst
the cows Were Mr. Hutchinson's Grateful, Mr. Lang-
horn's Diadem 2nd, the Duke of Northumberland's
Lady Jane, the Earl of Taukerville's l.ady Jane, and
one or two others which came into competition in
the corresponding class at Carlisle ; and, in addition,
was Mr. B. St. John Ackers' Lady Carew 3rd. The
judges turned their backs upon the latter well-known
prize winner, and sent her away with the reserve
number. This is rather a bad beginning for this
cow, and the chances are rather against her now for
winning the Challenge Cup at Towcester bye-and-by.
Still, she may meet with judges who are in her
favour, or may have nothing very formidable to con-
tend with. It is too soon yet to speculate on that
matter. Grateful and Gaiety 3rd were placed rela-
tively as at Carlisle, but Lady Jane was preferred
by the Newcastle judges to Diadem 2nd. Mr. T. H.
Hutchinson's Gainful easily won the first prize in the
class for two-year-old heifers, Amongst the heifer
calves were Mr. Archer's Lady Carew 4th, and Mr.
T. H. Hutchinson's Gratia, both of them having been
in the h.c. list at Carlisle; here, however, the 4th
Carew was awarded first prize, and Gratia had a com-
mendation only. However, as we remarked of them
at Carlisle, Gratia will be seen again and she promises
to win in tolerably good company. Gainful is
decidedly better than she was at Kilburn, where she
made a very weak champion, and Mr. Hutchinson
has made a good haul at Newcastle. The Shorthorn
cattle represented a sort of second edition of Carlisle,
and most of them have been described and referred to
over and over again in our columns.

The sheep classes were for Border Leicesters, Cheviots,
and Black-faced Mountain sheep ; the Border
Leicesters constituted the greater part of the Show,
and there were but a few entries of Cheviots and
Black-Faced Mountain breeds.

Pigs were rather a small show, and chiefly exhibited
by the Earl of Ellesmere ; the Earl of Morton and
Mr. Ackers also exhibited some well-bred pigs.

The following is a list of the awards : —

HORSES.

HORSES FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES.

Brood maros, lor agricultural purposes, with foal at foot.—

1, Marquis of Londonderry (Lady) ; 2, G. Rodger
(.Mystery).

Brood mares, in foal.— 1, Marquis of Londonderry (Flora) ;

2, J. Clews (Langton Las>).

Pairs of horses or mares for agricultural purposes. — 1, J. W.

Pease, M.P. (Albert and Ro^al) ; 2, E. Charlton (Prince

and Captain).
Agricultural ge'dings or fillies, 3 years old.— 1, J. Clews

(Maggie) ; 2, T. H. Jubling (>auny).
Agricultural geldings or fillies, 2 years old. — 1, J. Clews

(Jessie) ; 2, E. Charlton (bailey).
Agricultural colts, geldings, or filues, 1 year old. — 1, H. B.

Howie ; 2, J. Whyte (Queen Mary).

HORSES FOR THE FIELD.

Brood mares, with foal at toot, or in loal at time of show —
1, C. H. Hart (Achievement) ; 2, J. Brown (Princess
Royal).

Brood ma'-es for breeding hunters (b*>ing thf) property of a
tenant farmer in the county of Nort.humberlmid). — 1, J.
B. Lee (flying Scud) ; 2, J. Annett (The Devil).

Three-year-old goluiugs for the fie.d.— 1, F. J. Snowball
(^Eolus) ; i, E. T. Smith.

Three-year-old fillies for the field.— Prize, R. Colling (Bond-
maid).

Two-year-old geldings for the field.— 1, J. Davison (Star of
the West) ; 2, Mr. Colling (Beacon).

Two-yoar-old fillies for the field.— 1, The New Stud Company
(Princess) ; 2, H. Burn. .

YeMrliog colts or geldings for the field.— Prize, T. H. Jobling
(Parlay).

Yearling fillies for the field.— 1, J. and D. Linton ; 2, J.
Davison, jun. (BYaulein)..

Hunters of any age, confiued to the district, comprising the
counties of Northumberland and Durham, and regularly
hunted therein during the last season by the present
owner.— 1, J. B. Cookson (Old Boy) ; 2, J. C. Straker
(Gambler).

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

01

Hunters, 5 years old ami under 8 years old, qualified to
carry at last 15 stones with hounds. — 1, J. Jamiesou
(Indian Warrior) ; 2, J. H. Straker (Monarch).

Hunters, 5 years old and under 8 years old, uuaiified to carry
at. least It stones with hounds.— 1, T. Cattle (Cigarette) ;
2, H. Fenwick(lialatz).

Hunters, geldings or mares, 4 years old. — 1, F. J. Snowball
(Flower Girl) ; 2, T. H. Hutchinson (Wiuesour).

HACKNEYS.

Gel lings or mares of any age. not exceeding 16 hands high,

and equal to carry 14 stones. — 1, J. Robinson (Water

Lily) ; 3, C. W. Wilson (King Charles 3rd).
Geldings or mare* of any age, Dot ex--ee dng 14 2 hands

high.— 1, J. Robinson (Lady Tankerville) ; 2, W. H.

Mawdsley (King of the Fairies).

PONIES.

G-ldings or mares of any age, not exceeding 13"2 hands
high. — 1, W. Forster ; 2, J. Robinson (Lord Silvertad)

Geldings or mares, not exceeding 12'2 han s high, of any
aj,e — L. W- Forster ; 2, W. M. Angus (Tommy).
CATTLE.

SUORTHOHNS.

Bulls, above 3 years old. — 1, J. Ackers (Duke of Howl

J hn) ; 2, Earfof E.lesmere (Attractive Lord): 3, J. Relph

(Bright buke).
Burls, abovo 2 and under 3 years old. — 1, Duke of

Richmond and Gordon (Arthur Benedict); 2, R. Taylor

(Prince Louis) ; 3, Lord Polvvarth (Warrior Brave).
Bulls, above 1 and under 2 years old. — 1, Duke of

Noithuraberlaml (Royal Commissioner) ; 2, W. Handly

(Alex under the Great) ; 3, J. Laycock (Lion of Flanders).
Bull calves, under 12 months old.— 1, T. H. Hutchinson

( Knight of Kars) ; 2. Ea-1 of Tankerville (Gay Roland).
Families of Shorthorns, consisting of a cow of any age, and

two or more of her offspring. — Prize, H. Fawcet (Biam-

hope Darling) ; ofispring, Bramnope Darling 2 id, Royal

Darling.
Cow-.— ], T. H. Hutchinson (Grateful) ; 2, Earl of Tanker-
ville (Gaiety 3rd); 3, Duke of Northumberland (Lady

Jane).
Heifers, above 2 and under 3 years old.— 1, T. H. Hutchinson

(Gainful) ; 2, H. Fawcett (Butterbowl).
Heifers, above 1 and under 2 years old. — 1, B. St. John

Ackers (Lady Carew 4th) ; 2, J. Laycock (Lady Reve'ey).
Hefer calves, under 12 months old. — 1, T. H. Hutchinson

((jainsome) ; 2, Duke of Northumberland (Dai-y's Pride).
Shorthorn bulls of any age, the property of a tenant

fa mer resident in the county of Northumberland. — 1, J.

Nicholson (Harold) ; 2, C. StephensO'i (Paganini).
Shot thorn cows or heitVrs of any age, the property of a

tenant farmer resiient in the county of Northumberland.

— 1, T. Lambert (Princess Louise) ; 2, W. Langhorn (Lady

Anne).

CHANNEL ISLES.

Cows or heifers, of any age.— 1 and 2, Sir J. Majoribanks
(Mat Girl and Jullieth) ; 3, J. Grabbam (Daisy).

AYRSHIBES.

Cows or heifers, of any age.— 1, W. Blakey ; 2 and 3, Sir W.
M. Ridley.

FAT STOCK.

Fat bullock, of any age.— 1, R. Scott; 2, J. Laycock.
Fat heifer, of any breed. — 1, C. Stephenson (Queen of Jes-
mond) ; 2, W. Hall.

SHEEP.

BOEDER LEICESTER?.

Rams, of any age.— 1 and 2, R. Fender.
Shearling rams.— 1, T. Clark ; 2, S. Jack.
Pen of 5 ewes —1, R. Tweedie ; 2, J. Ni»bet.
Pen of 5 gimmers.— 1, R. Watson ; 2, T. Clark.

CHEVIOTS.

Rams of any age above 2 shear.— 1, T. Elliot ; 2, J. Robson.
Two-shear r.tms.— 1, J. Robson; 2, T. Elliot.
Shearlings.— 1, T. Elliot , 2, J. Robson.
Pen of 5 ewes.— 1, J. Robson; 2, T. Elliot.
Pen of 6 gimmers.— 1 and 2, T. Elliot.

ELACK-FACBD HOUNTAIN SHBEP.

Rim», above 2 shear.— 1 and 2, M. McCracken.

Rami, 2 shear.— 1, J. McCracken; 2, J. Maughan.

Pens of 6 ewes or gimmers.— 1 and 2, M. Henderson.
PIGS.

Boars of the large white breed, of any age. — 1, Earl of
Ellesmere ; 2, W. J. Wilton.

Boars of small white breed, of any age.— 1, Earl of Elles-
mere ; 2, C. Charlton.

Boars of the Berkshire breed, of any age.— Prize, B. St. John
Ackers.

Sows of the large white breed, of any age.— 1, Earl of Elles-
mere; 2, E. Thompson.

Sows of the small white breed.— 1, Lord Moreton; 2, Earl of
Ellesmere.

8o\v« of the Berkshire breed, of any age. — 1, W. Davison ;
2. 3':arl of Ravensworth.

■- ite breed, under 16 weeks old. —

Pen of 3 sow pigs, of any black breed, under 16 weeks old.—
Prize, R. Brown.

SHROPSHIRE AND WEST MIDLAND.

T'te Shropshire and West Midland Agricultural
Soci rty pitched its tents in a picturesque district for
its annual Show, and the quaint old town of Bridg-
north did honour to the occasion by displays of flags
and banners, bearing the customaVy mottoes. The
Society, considering its tender age, has made wonder-
ful progress under the management of its energetic
and courteous secretary, Mr. Browne, and now stands
in the front rank of county shows, at any rate for
cattle. The Show opened on July 21st with
brilliant weather, and although the attendance on
that half-crown day was not so large as might have
been expected, there was no reason to find fault with
the number of visitors on the two following days.

HORSES.

The show of agricultural horses was disappointing.
The stallions were not first-rate. The open class for
mares and foals contained some go >d entries. The
numbers and quality of the young horses exhibited
did not witness very favourably of the progress of
horse breeding in the district. Mr. Brierley sent a
pair of his noted cart-horses, and in a local class, two
pairs of strong horses, strange to say all roans, were
entered. Judging from the numbers and quality of
the entries, the breeding of hunters, cobs, and ponies
is paid attention to far more than that of the agri-
cultural stamp. Hacks and ponies were numerous
and good, and the various classes for hunting lu.ses
well filled.

CATTLE.

The exhibition of cattle and sheep was highly
creditable to the district, for although most of the
classes were open to the United Kingdom, the
majority of the entries, particularly in the classes for
Herefords and Shropshire sheep — two of the most

extensive and excellent departments of the Show

were from the county of Shropshire or adjoining
counties in the West Midland district. Shor horns
stand before Herefords in the catalogue, and some-
what exceed them in the number of entries, though
in average merit of the entiies we think He.-efords
were fully entitled to pre-eminence.

In the class for Shorthorn bulls exceeding two
years old on January 1st, 1880, there were°eight
entries, but of these two were absent, one bein<* old
Sir Arthur Ingram. The six which came into the
ring were all of a good stamp. Mr. Blantern's red
bull, Wild Prince of Oxford 2nd, was placed first.
He has a fine fore end, and shows style and flesh
with size, but he has rather short hind-quarters. Mr.
Beverley's old red and white Sergeant Irwin is level*
and has good masculine character. We like him
quite as well as the bull placed before him. Mr.
^'h 'taker's level, good-fleshed, light roan, Lord
Lune, was third, and two other large roan bulls wet e
commended. The judges took much time in arriving
at their decision. We notice in the catalogue the
pedigrees of some of the entries are given in full, as
many as fourteen crosses being recorded. This' we
think quite unnecessary, and only encumbers the
catalogue. The names of one, or at the most two
sires are quite sufficient. In the following class for
younger bulls Mr. Robinson's Prince Alfred was placed
first, Messrs. Birch's light roan second, and Mr. Push's
red bull Sir Charles 3rd. The fourlatter were exhibited
at Carlisle, Sir Charles winning second prize in the
yearling class, Carados being shown in an older class.
We cannot say that we agree with the award, as we

THE FARMBRS MAGAZINE.

prefer Sir Charles in spite of his coarse Iiorn. The
calf class had but two moderate entries. Cows in
milk or in calf were a good class. Mr. Pugh's
Czarina 12th, a massive roan of great size and quality,
was placed first, and Mr. P. Chester's r<jd cow,
Princess Victoria, very wide and level in form,
second. In a class for cows confined to the district,
two good-looking dark roans were entered by Mr. R.
Dickin. The class for heifers was also good. Earl
Beauchamp's very level, nice fleshed May Flower was
placed first, and Air. Pugh's Marchioness Mancravan
4th, a well-grown white of great substance, second.
Mr. Brierley's roan heifer, to which third prize was
awarded, is rather coarse, and deficient in her thighs.
We prefer Mr. Nash's white, which has a very neat
top and hindquarter. In the class for yearling heifers,
Mr. Pugh's Tulip 4th, which won third prize in an
excellent class at Carlisle, and was last year on one
occasion placed above Gainful, the champion female
Shorthorn, was here second only, the first prize being
given to Earl Beauchamp's Mackesfield Maid, a very
pretty heifer, but short. Tulip 4th is showing a little
the ill effects of undue forcing, aDd the left side of
her loin is rising higher than the other side. She is,
however, a very fine heifer, and we should have
placed her first. Another of Mr. Pugh's heifers was
third. There were some other well-grown and useful
heifers in the class. Earl Beauchamp was first and
Mr. Pugh second again in a good class of calves.
Three pairs of dairy cows competed. Two pairs of
Shorthorns were placed before a pair of Ayrshires.
None of the entries had great merit, but we think
the Ayrshires quite as worthy of the prize as were
their competitors.

There were but five old Hereford bulls ; but when
we report that these two were Grateful and Thought-
ful, many of our readers will know that the very best
of the breed were present. The former was, as at
other recent shows, placed first ; he was also awarded
a special prize of £20 as the best in the three classes
of Hereford bulls. In the next class, Mrs. Edwards'
President, a very fine bull, was placed first, as he was
at Carlisle ; another bred by Mrs. Edwards was third,
and a fine upstanding bull of very thick flesh, but a
little hollow-backed, entered by Mr. Turner, was
second.

Bull calves were a fine class. Mr. Hall's Dale
Tredegar — first at Carlisle — was here third only. Mi.
Arkwright's Broadward — much larger, but a little
plain about the tail — was second, as at Carlisle ; and
an older bull, which we did not notice at Carlisle, Mr.
Hugh's Lemon Boy, was here placed first.

A local class for Hereford cows had four useful
entries in moderate condition.

The cow class, open to general competition, was a
fine one. The judges were long in awardiug the
prizes. Nannette was placed first, as at Carlisle.
On short legs, she has wonderful width of carcase and
nice style ; she is, however, rather short and very fat,
her touch being flabby. We understand she is sold,
and starts on Saturday next for America. We prefer
Mrs. Edwards' Perfection, which has greater length
and firmer flesh, with equally nice style, though sh»
is not so wide. Sho was second here, as at Carlisle,
At Worcester, however, she was placed first. The
Earl of Coventry's cow Giantess, which is on an
immense scale, won third prize. Mr. Taylor's
Modesty, the reserve number at Carlisle, is here un-
noticed.

In the class for three-year-old heifers, Mr. T.
Fenn's Downton Rose and Mr. Arkwright's Gay
Lass 4th were placed first and second, the positions
they occupied at Carlisle. Downton Rose, a very

fine heifer, also won a special prize for the best Here-
ford in milk or in calf competing with the two other
classes.

Hereford calves and yearlings were very good, Mr.
P. Turner, Mr. J. Arkwright, and Mr. Horton, win-
ning the prizes with entries of prime quality.

SHEEP.

Shropshire sheep were one of the most meritorious
branches of the show, and the entry of them was
excellent. Mr. T. J. Mansell, of Dudmaston Lodge,
won first prize in a class of 31 entries of shearling rams,
and also a special prize as the best ram of any age.
His ram has a nicely covered head and capital frame
and quality, his underline being specially good. He
was first at Worcester, but was not sent to Carlisle,
Mr. Mansell's father being one of the judges. Wo
think him the best shearling of this breed which has
been exhibited this year. Messrs. Minton, who won
first and third at Carlisle, wisely kept their best
sheep at home ; the other one obtained the reserve.
Mr. Farmer's second prize sheep has a good top, but
is not so good under. Mr. Mansell, sen. , won third
prize and commendation. His rams in this and the
class for older sheep are very useful looking sheep,
less prepared for show than most other sheep, but of
a capital stamp. A large ram of Mr. William's was
commended. Mr. T. J. Mansell won first prize for
his old ram, as he had also done at Worcester. He
is a first-rate sheep, very good in his neck, and of great
substance. Mr. Thomass second prize ram has great
width, but drops in his middle, being exceedingly fat.
In a tenant-farmers' class, some useful rams were
shown, Mr. R. Meredith winning first and second
prize. Breeding ewes were shown in pens of ten in
four classes, two of which were confined to tenant-
farmers. These classes contained some very good
entries, and are interesting as showing the general
character of the flocks. The ewes were for the most
part in moderate condition. In many of the other
breeds of sheep the competition of pens of ewes is very
small at the Royal or other shows, and there are no
breeders of sheep so ready to exhibit their ewes as the
Shropshire breeders. Mr. Graham, whose beautiful
pen of ewes were so much admired at Carlisle, did not
here exhibit, but most of the other exhibitors at
Carlisle were represented here. Mr. Farmer, who
was second W'th five shearling ewes at Carlisle, won
the extra special prize offered for the best ten ewes in
any class with a beautiful pen. Messrs. Minton and
Mr. Thomas, both of whom were highly commended at
the Royal, were second and third here. In the class
for breeding ewes, Mr. R. Thomas, Mr. J. Beach, and
Mr. T. Mansell, were the winners. The local classes
were also creditably filled. Other breeds of sheep
were represented by one coarse Cotswold ram. Shrop-
shires are, however, the universal breed of this locality,
and except the little Welsh sheep on the hills, other
breeds are rarely seen in a wide district.
PIGS.

Pigs were a small show. There were a few good
pigs, but considering the large number of pigs bred
in the neighbourhood we should have expected a
larger show. Mr. W. Wheeler and Mr. R. Tommaa
pretty much divided the prizes. There were but two
divisions of classes for large and for small breeds.
Some Berkshire* were shown in each division, not a
satisfactory arrangement.

WOOL, CHEESE, AND BUTTER.

There was a good show of wool entered in two
classes, one for ewes the other for tegs, the best live
fleeces. The first iu each class was awarded to the

THB FARMER'S MAGAZINE

9.°.

executors of Mr. S. Amies, ami, somewhat curiously,
the second in each class to Mr. W. D. Blcchley.

There were a moderate number of entries of cheese,
in two classes. The Aston Cheese Dairy Company
took first in the class for thiu cheese, and second for
thick cheese.

By the courtesy of the judges we are enabled to
append a copy of their official report of the classes of
butter and cheese.

The entry of butter excluded from competition on
what we must consider somewhat trivial grounds, as
the full proper quantity of butter was sent, and the
chance in the competition as to quality could not be
affected by its being in half-pound lumps, was sent
by Mrs. A. Prescott, whose butter obtained second
prize at Carlisle.

The judges of cheese and butter handed in the
fallowing report : " The exhibits of fresh butter
were very numerous, showing great interest in the
show, and, considering the past week, the quality
was very good. Exhibit No. 415 was deserving of
the highest award, but the exhibitors having mis-
understood the stipulations, sent the butter in half-
pound lumps, and were thereby disqualified. We
trust that the society will pardon us referring to their
withdrawal of the premium for salt butter, but the
anxious care required in laying down butter for winter
consumption ought to be encouraged. The exhibits
of cheese were large. The Cheshire Cheddars strongly
rivalled the old make of Cheshires, but exhibit 378 in
class 50 was extraordinary ripe, considering the
scarcity of cheese last spring, and the consequent
drain on early makes. The exhibits of small cheese
in class 57 were excellent, our first award being given
to a fine quality skim cheese of Cheshire Cheddar
make. — Signed, John Valentine and James Green,
judges."

IMPLEMENTS, &c.

Having, cantrary to our usual custom with respect
to county shows, taken a detailed survey of the imple-
ments, wo will remark briefly upon some of the
exhibits not noticed at the Royal Show, several of
which we saw at Bridgnorth. Messrs. F. W.
'Reynolds and Co., of London, showed, amongst other
exhibits, a new morticing, boring, and core driving
machine, with reversible action — a very simple, safe,
and useful combination ; also a new and very
ingenious lock morticing machine, which will cut a
mortice for a door-lock eight inches deep in three or
four minutes. At Carlisle we missed seeing Messrs.
Nalder and Nalder's (Wantage) new thrasher and
straw elevator, which obtained the silver medal of
the Royal Agricultural Society. At Bridgnorth we
had much pleasure in noticing the great improvement,
which has been so deservedly honoured. The chief,
though not the only merit of this invention is that
the elevator can be turned to any angle in a few
minutes, and that without stopping the thrashing
machine. The advantage of this is as great as it is
obvious. Not only is a considerable saving of time
effected, but the elevator can be turned about to take
the straw to different portions of the straw stack, thus
assisting the men, and so enabling the work to be done
with fewer hands. Again, if a load of straw be re-
quired at any time while thrashing is going on, the
elevator can be turned away from the straw stack so
aato load a waggoa. The elevator can be taken to
pieces for travelling and packed on the thrashing
machine, thus saving the Lorse required to drag a
separate elevator. We do not hesitate to describe
thi3 elevator as the best that is made. Messrs. Camp-
bell and Co., of Thrapstone, showed vertical engines,
and Messrs. Hornsby and Sons engine and thrashing

m;. chine. Mr. R. Chipchase, of Shrewsbury, had a
very large display of implements of various desjrij -
tions, by the best makers. Mr. Spence, of Shrews-
bury, showed Howard's new wrought-iron plough,
the excellent new haymaker by the same firm,
described in our report of the Royal Show,
and a variety of other implements. Mr. Walter
Wood's and Messrs. Harrison, McGregor, and Co.'s
exhibits need not be described so soon after our
notice of them at Carlisle. The Albion Iron Works
Company, amongst other things, showed their horse
rake, of which the special feature is a screw, to be
easily turned by the hand, and by which the pitch of
the teeth can be quickly adjusted, without stopping
the horse. The new kibbling mill of this firm is the
smallest made. Messrs. Haynes and Co., of Much
Wenlock, had a very large stand of various imple-
ments and machines, amongst which, for trial by the
judges, was shown Everitt, Adams, and Co.'s
" Simplex " turnip thinner. The economical 2-horse
corn and seed drill manufactured by Messrs. Kell,
Meats, and Co., of Gloucester and Ross, has been
noticed before in our columns, but not recently, and
possibly not since an important improvement on the
ordinary plan of taking up the coulters was introduced.
By the action of one lever the coulters can be lifted
and the corn barrel stopped instantaneously. This
is a great advantage, uot only in the saving of seed,
but in the saving of time in turning, the action of
raising by a lever being more than twice as rapid as
the old winding motion. The horserake made by
this firm has a very simple lock action. Messrs. Clay
and Sons, Ellesmere, showed engines, cultivators,
mills, &c. Washing machines are not agricultural,
strictly speaking, though these are days, perhaps, in
which farmers' wives should wash at home if it
answers their purpose ; but we were attracted by the
ingenious idea on which the machine of Messrf.
Bennett and Hodgson, of Manchester, is constructed.
The washing is done on what may best be described
as a latticed concave, which floats on the water. The
elasticity gained prevents injurious friction. Mr.
Lewis, of Kiugslaud, showed farm carts, which
the judges stated they should have awarded a prize
to if any prizes had been awarded to carts. A very
useful new churn, the " Victoria," was exhibited by
Mr. Waide, of Leeds, who has been very successful
in competitions. Messrs. F. and C. Hancock, of
Dudley, showed anew churn, the "Propeller," first
brought before the public at the Bath and West
Show. It is made of block tin, and is fitted with an
arrangement for hot or cold water, and for letting
the air circulate with the cream. It is a very
cheap and handy little churn, but its efficiency can
only be decided by experience. It is a very ingenious
piece of mechanism. Mr. Henry Denton, of Wolver-
hampton, exhibited a variety of implements, amongst
which was his new combined steel tined chain harrow.
This impiemeutis made the same as the ordinary chain
harrow, with the patent steel tine worked in between
the square links, and fitted with improved flexible
expanders and dividing hooks, by means of which the
tiues cut separate tracks. Half of the harrow can be
worked if required, and it can be drawn either end first,
according to the work to be done, and is well
adapted for harrowing young seeds, old turf, gathering
twitch, spreading manure, &c. He showed also some
very nice portable garden chairs of American manu-
facture, and Shaw's patent multiplex saddle boiler.
Messrs. T. Baylis and Co. , of Stourport, showed some
horse-nails of excellent quality, and the wonderful
tin ware of the Anglo-American Tin Stamping Co.,
of Stourj ort. Some of the best farm carts we have
ever seen are those made by Mr, George Smith, of

94

THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE.

Ryton, Slnfnal. These earts are made strong in the j
parts which usually wear first, and they have an ex- |
cellent arrangement for tipping, and for taking the ;
weight off the horse's back when going down hill, j
The ladders in the harvest carts are jointed, and can
be turned up or down at pleasure. All the parts are
bolted together, nailing and rivetting being dispensed !
with. Considering the excellence of the construction |
the prices seem very low. Messrs. Robey and Co. , of j
Lincoln, and Mr. E. Humphries, of Pershore, showed
engines and thrashing machines ; Mr. E. S. Hindley,
of Bourton, engines. A great improvement in the
making of iron hurdles has been introduced by
Messrs. Miller and Sons, of Wolverhampton.
Rivets are dispensed with by cutting notches
in the bars, near the ends, and pressing the
uprights into these by machinery. The result
is, practically, that of getting a |-in. bar into a i-in.
hole. We can certify from experience that it is im-
possible to get these hurdles disjointed without
fracturing the iron, even though a sledge-hammer be
used in the attempt. Messrs. Miller are to be con-
gratulated upon a very useful invention. Amongst
the miscellaneous exhibits we noticed the round feed-
ing cakes of the Waterloo Company, of Wilmington,
Hull. These cakes are a combination of oilseeds
(with all the oil included), corn, locust beans, and
spices. Dr. Voelcker has just sent the Company a
most satisfactory testimonial as to the uniformity of
purity and highly nutritive qualities of the cakes.
Messrs. Pearson, of Liverpool, also showed cakes, &c,
Messrs. Day, Son, and Hewitt, of London, showed
cattle medicines ; Messrs. Johnson and Co., of Stoney
Stratford, cattle condiments ; Messrs. Day and Sons,
of Crewe, cattle medicines ; and Mr. George Strawson,
of Bishop's Castle, some foot- rot ointment, which has
been in use about two years, and which is very highly
spoken of by experienced flockmasters in the neigh-
bourhood. The implement awards are given below.
They were not known when this report was written.
PRIZE LIST.
HORSBS.
(Ages calculated to date of show.)
Cart stallions of any age.— 1, Yeomans Bros. (King of the

Vale) : 2, J. Edwards (King of the Vale).
Cart stallion not exceeding 3 years.— 1, Executors of the late

E. Pease (Barrister) ; 2, Yeomans Bros. (Gladstone) ; 3,

H. Hughes (Robin Adair).
Cart stal ion of any age.— 1, J. E. 8tanier (Young Shropshire

Friend).
Cart mare and foal.— 1, Executors of the late E. Pease

(Bounce aid Emperor) ; 2, J. W. Titterton (Jewel) ; 3,

G. Evans (Young Defiance).
Cart mare and foal of any age.— Prize, H. Instone (Dia-
mond) .
Cart mare or gelding foaled in 1877. — 1, T. Owen; 2, G.

McCann (Prince) ; 3, S. Lewis (Sharper).
Cart mare or gelding foaled in 1878.— 1, W. Hilles; 2, Cor-
poration of Wolverhampton ; 3, W. Hilles.
Cart yearling.— Prize, T. Scott.
Pair of carthorses.— Prize, 0. W. Brierly.
Pair of cart horses.— 1, W. Groves ; 2, W. Alien.
Thorough-bred stallion, suitable forgetting weight-carrying

hunters.— 1, M. Hulton-Harrop (Polardine) ; 2, G. Price

(Lord Berkeley).
Brood mare and foal for hunting purposes.— 1, J. E. Huddle-

eton (Patch) ; 2, W. J. Bentley (Polly) ; 3, E. and O. Howl

(Gladice).
Mare or gelding for hunting purposes.— 1, J. Paddock : 2, J.

Jones.
Hare or gelding for hunting purposes, foaled in 1878 ; 1, R.

Maesflekl (Bay Knight) ; 2, G. Hunt (Hanghton).
Cob, hack, or roadster not exceeding 16 hands. — 1, W. Looke

(Henwick) ; 2. G. Juckes (Myra).
Pony not exceeding 13 hands.— 1, VV. L. Dodgson (Tommy) ;

2, C. J. Harries (Charlie).
Mare or gelding for hunting purposes, foaled in 1876. — 1, C

Bevan (Morton Court) ; 2, Urwickand Hunt (Confidence
Mare or gelding for hunting purposes, five years old or up

wards, to carry not less than 13 stone. — 1, W. B. Oswe4

(Lady Oswestry) ; 2, C. L. Hill (Waits).
Hunter of anv ago, mare or gelding, qualified to carry no

less than 13 stone.— 1, W. T. Bourne (May) ; 2, W. Blake-
way.

CATTLE.

SnOoTHOEN.

Bull, exceeding 2 veara old on January 1. — 1, G. G. Blan.
tern (Wild Prince of Oxford 2nd) ; 2, C. W. Brierley
(Serge int Irwin) ; 3, J. Wbitaker (Lurd Lune).

Bull, not exceeding 2 years old on January 1 — 1, J. Robinson
(Prince of Martlev) ; 2. J. and W. Birch (Caradoc 2nd) ;
3, D. Pugh (Sir Charles).

Bull, not exceeding 12 months old on January 1. — 1, C. W.
Brierley ; 2, W. Handley (Alexander the Great).

Ex ra stock. — F. A. W. Whitmore.

Cow, in-milk or in-calf, having produced a calf within 13
months from date of show. — 1, D. Pugh (Czarina) ; 2, P. H.
Chesters ( Princess Victoria).

Cow. in-milk or in-calf, having produced a calf within 12
months from the d;tte of show. — 1 and 2, R. Dickin.

Heifer, in-milk or in-c^lf, not exceeding 3 y* are ol<i on Jan.
1. — 1, Earl Beauchamp (May Flower); 2, D. Pugh
(Marchioness Manoravon 4th) ; 3,C. W. Brierley (Warwick's
Fride).

Heifer, not exceeding 2 vears old on Jannarv 1. — 1, Earl
Beauchamp (Madle,-field Maid) ; 2, D. Pu^h (Tulip 4th) ; 3,
D. Pugh (\Iarchiourss Tosvyside).

Heifers, not exceeding 12 months old on January 1. — 1, Earl
Beauchami (Habnab 3rd); 2, D. Pugh (*_zarina Mano-
ravon) ; 3, C. Dicken.

DA.IBT cows.

Pair of dairy cows, in-milk, of any breed — 1. W. Nevett
(Gazelle and Launeite) ; 2, S. Diokin ; 3, E. H. Daven-
port.

HEBEFOBC8.

Bull, exceeding 2 years on January 1, 18S0. — 1, A. Rogers

(Grateful) ; 2, W. Tayl r (Thoughtful).
Bull, not exceeding 2 vara old - n January 1. 1880.— 1, Mrs.

S. Edwanls (President); 2. P. Turner (Pirate) ; 3, Mrs. S.

Edwards (Landlord).
Bull, not excee dng 12 months "Id on January 1, 1830.— 1, P.

G. Hughes (Lemon Boy); 2, J. H. Arkwright (Broad-
ward) ; 3, H. R Hall (Dale Tredeyar).
Hereford cow, in-milk or in-calf, having produced a calf

within 12 months.— 1, S. Jones (Beauty 4th) ; S. Joues

(Beauty 3rd )
Cow. in-milk or in-calf, having produced a calf within 13

mon hs.— 1, T. Myddltton (Nannette); Mrs. S. Edwards

(Perfection); 3, Earl of Coventry (Giantop).
Heifer, in-milk or in-calf, not exceeding 3 years old oa

January 1, 1880.— 1, T. Penn (Downton Rose) ; 2, J. H.

Ark*nght (Gayla*e IV.)
Heifer, not exceeding 2 years old on January 1, 1880. — 1, P.

Turner (Ruby) ; 2, J. H. Arkwright (Antoiuette).
Heifer, not exceeding 12 months old on January i, 1880. — 1,

J. H. Arkwright (Pearl III.) j 2, W. Horton (Lady Stan-

way) ; 3, A. Rogers (Curly 6th.)

SHEEP.

SHROPSHIRE.

Shearling ram.— 1, T. J. Mansell; 2, J. E. Farmer; 3, T.

Mausell.
Ram of any other age.— 1, T. J- Mansell ; 2, R. Thomas.
Shearling ram. — 1 and 2, R. Meredith; 3, R. Hronley.
Pen of 10 breeding owes that have reared lambs this season.

—1, R. Thomas ; 2, J. Beach ; 3, T. Mansell.
Pen of 10 shearling ewes.— 1, J. E. Farmer ; 2, J. W. Minton j

3, R. Thomas.
Pen of 10 Shropshire shearling ewes.— 1, P. Everall ; 2, R.

Bromley ; 3, T. Dicken.
Pen of 10 Shropshire ewes of any>ge. — 1, P. Everall ; 2, C.

Wadlow.

PIGS.

LAKOK.

Best boar.— 1, R. Thomas ; 2, W. Wheeler.
Sow in pig, or vith pigs.— 1, R. Tommas ; 2, S. C. White-
foord.

SMALL.

Boar.— 1, R. Tommas ; 2, W. Wheeler.

Sow in pig, or with pigs. — 1,W. Wheeler; 2, R. Tommas,

Sow in pig, or with pigs. — 2, J. Brown.

CHEESE.
Four cheeses, exceeding 601b. each. — 1, J. Ravenshaw ; 2,
Ashton-by-BudAorth Cheese Dairy Company ; 3, G.
Bostock.
Four cheeses, not less than 201b., nor exceeding BOlb. eaoh.
— 1. Ashton - by - Budworth Cheese Dairy Company ;
2, G. Bostock ; 3, S. Butler.

BUTTER.

Six pounds of fresh butter, in single pounds. — 1, Mrs. T.

Tones; 2, Mrs. S. S. Evaus ; 3, Mrs. P. Everall.

WOOL.

Five fleeces of Shropshire ewe wool.— 1, Executors of the

late Mr. 8. Amies ; 2, W. D. Blockley.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

95

AMERICAN EXPORTS.

The latest of the valuable reports of Her
Majesty's Consuls is that of Mr. Dnunmond on
the foreign commerce of the United States.
In its entirety it must prove of great interest to
the general reader, whilst those portions of it
which relate to the exportation of food products
will specially commend themselves to the atten-
tion of agriculturists. In dealing with the
grain trade Mr. Drummond points out that the
chief advantage which has accrued to United
States producers from the bountiful harvests of
1878-0 has depended very greatly on the demand
for l.readstuffs in the United Kingdom. This is
a point which should not be lost sight of, as it
affords a very complete answer to the arguments
of those who argue that the United States can-
not afford to go on producing wheat at the level
of prices wlrch are likely to obtain in our mar-
ket in the immediate future. In all new
countries there must be a large surplus of food
products until population has increased to a
point at which the consuming power nearly
equals the producing power ; and the prosperity
of these newly developed countries must depend,
mainly, on the facility with which their surplus
production can be exported. This is the sole
cause of the rapid progress now being made by
the United States, and we may depend, that for
years tocome,producersin that country willgladly
export their surplus of breadstutfs and meat at
the prices obtainable inEurope, whether theyare
high or low. Mr. Drummond is of opinion that
the production will increase, under the develop-
ment of the Western States, to an extent which
will cause prices to nange at a lower level than at
present, especially when there may happen to be
good harvests in Great Britain, and in exporting
countries like Australia, India, and South
America. But even in this case, the surplus, to
be valuable, must be turned into money or ex-
changed for merchandise ; and these are consi-
derations which will lead everythinkingmantothe
conclusion that British agriculture must be freed
from the trammels by which it is now hampered,
or the British farmer will no longer be able to
live. Sport and other class privileges enjoyed
by owners of land will have to give place to a
fair and just exercise of the duties which owner-
ship carries with it ; and the great agricultural
questions of the day lie, not between owners and
occupiers of land, but between landowners and
people. It is a question which will have
to be settled without delay, and we rejoice to be
able to say that the Government is fully alive,
not only to its* importance, but also to its grave
social bearings.

Mr. Drummond is of opinion that United
States agriculture has a great future in store for
it. It is true that the system of production
hitherto pursued has been an exhaustive one ;
but agriculture is now being conducted on a dif-
ferent basis, and farmers are settling down to a
system of cultivation which is based on the rules
of good husbandry. There is still a vast area
of new ground to be worked upon ; but Mr.
Drummond thinks that those in England " who

count on obtaining any happy results from the
mere facts of farmers not improving their lands
and moving on," will probably find, themselves
deceived. There will evidently be a rapid deve-
lopment of these uncultivated areas, for it is
going on at the present time ; but agriculture in
the settled districts is assuming a substantial
form, which will enable production to exceed
home demand for a length of time to come. In
the year 1879 the United States produced
28,633,000 bushels of wheat in excess of the
production of 1878, and there was an increase of
12 per cent, in the area sown with winter wheat
in the autumn of that year. The exportation of
breadstuff's from the United States in 1870
amounted to 177,008,553 bushels ; and of this
quantity wheat alone was 147,205,048 bushels,
against 134,319,066 bushels in 1878, and
92,141,630 bushels in 1877.

A very startling item in Mr. Drummond's
report is the table which he has compiled to
show what Great Britain paid to the United
States in 1879 for food products. The bill
amounts to £31,628,151, of which £15,483,677
14s. 2d. was for wheat and flour, and the
remainder for "provisions," consisting of bacon
and hams, cheese, preserved meats, lard, fresh
meat, butter, &c. , which stand in the order
given with regard to money value. All this is
exclusive of the export cattle trade, with the
items of which our readers are already familiar,
and which Mr. Drummond thinks ' ' will never
show its real magnitude until the regulations of
the Privy Council, requiring the slaughter of the
cattle at the point of debarkation are rescinded "
— in which case we are not likely to see the real
magnitude of the trade just yet. We do not
agree writh Mr. Drummond's conclusions in this
particular case, because we believe the United
States will continue to send all the suitable live
cattle she has to spare, so long as the importation
of live cattle may be permitted. Importations
of United States cattle to our ports continue to
increase in spite of the restrictions, which proves
the trade to be profitable to exporters ; conse-
quently we believe they will follow it up closely,
protesting all the time, of course. The export
prices of bread-stuffs and provisions show a
marked decrease in value during the year 1879,
but exports have increased in quantity ; and
this fact may be taken as an indication of the
probable future character of the United States
export trade in food products.

The Franchise Question. — An endeavour is
being made, in two north-western counties, by a
group of landowners who are seemingly alarmed lest
the working class should become too dominant in the
Hou3e of Commons, to start an association to counties
act this tendency. It .is professedly baaed on the
principle— " The fair, the just representation of the
territorial, the middle, and the working classes in the
House of Commons, without undue preponderance to
any class." The association is styled " The National
Constitutional Association," and the promoters do not
identify it with any existing political party.

I

96

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Practice with Science.

The Potato and Potato Disease.
No. I.

In the root, fruit, and grain shows which are
held in various parts of the country during the
autumn months, one of the commonest and one
of the most interesting exhibits, is the potato.
And the section of the show to which the potatoes
are confined is that devoted to roots, and we ac-
cordingly find the potatoes in the company of
turnips, swedes, mangels, carrots, and parsnips.
But is the potato really a root ? By the term
root must be understood that part of a plant
which penetrates into the ground thereby avoid-
ing the light, and which does not produce leaves.
If a potato is planted in March we know that in
July or August we may expect to find a number
of young potatoes of equal size with, or even
larger than, the parent. But if we, at the same
time, plant a swede or a carrot, we are perfectly
well aware that in the autttnm we should look in
vain for a number of young roots. This obser-
vation alone, then, shows that the potato differs
in an important respect from most of the vege-
table products which are popularly termed roots,
and, as a matter of fact, the potato is not a root
at all. In botanical parlance it is termed a tuber,
and it belongs to a class of structures known as
underground stems. The most obvious difference
between a stem and a root is this : the stem pro-
duces leaves and leaf-buds, whereas the root
anver does. It mi^ht, perhaps, be thought that
the turnip plant, for example, consists of a large
root sending out leaves from its uppermost part,
but it is not actually so, for a careful examina-
tion will show that the leaves really spring from
a very short stem which passes down into and
becomes continuous with the root. Look at a
potato and then at a mangel or a carrot, and
notice the difference ; the potato has at various
parts of its surface the well known spots
called " eyes," the mangel and carrot have
nothing of the sort. Compare, moreover, a
potato which has laid for months in a dark cellar
or has been buried under straw in the ground
till required for use, with any root such as a
■carrot or a turnip which has been similarly
treated ; everybody knows that the p> >tato sends
out 1 ng whitish "sprouts" or " spirts," but
that the roots never do. The sprouts originate
At the eyes, each eye producing one sprout, so
that in the latter we have what is nothing more
or less than the development of the eye. When
a. potato is planted in the spring the same thing
goes on, but under different conditions, for the
shoot can without much difficulty find its way
above ground, and, under the influence of air and
light, it produces green leaves. Even when the
tuber sends for its shoots in a dark cellar they
produce leaves ; but they ate small and colourless,
the reason being that the green colouring water
of leaves (called chlarophyll) can only be formed
in the light. The leaf stalks of the celery which
we eat at our tables can only be kept white by
heaping the earth around them, were this not
done they would be as green as the leaves which

they bear. A potato contains a great deal of
starch, and it is this which affords the nutriment
to enable the young plant to develop its earliest
stems, leaves, and roots ; as soon as the starch
is exhausted the plant commences to forage for
itself. By means of its rootlets it obtains mineral
food dissolved in water from the soil, and by
means of its leaves it takes in gaseous food from
the air. As growth goes on many branches of
the underground stem are formed, and these at
various places gradually become enormously
swollen, the swelling being due to the storing up
in the expanded part of the starch which has
been formed primarily in the leaves. It is these
expansions or swellings on the underground
stem which form the tubers known in our
markets as potatoes. If a potato plant is gently
dug up and the earth carefully removed, the
true fibrous roots of the plant will be seen to be
quite distinct form the tubers. The analogy of
the potato-tub-r to a stem will be fully acknow-
ledged if we bear in mind the mode in which a
cutting is taken from a rose-bush or a geranium
plant. The cutting is planted in soil, and under
the influence of warmth and moisture it deve-
lopes roots below ground and green leaves above.
But one thing is absolutely essential ; the cutting
must possess buds, for if a part of the stem bear-
ing no buds be cut off the most generous treat-
ment will never afterwards originate them. Large
potatoes are frequently cut into halves, and each
part is set in the ground to produce a potato
plant, but the potato sower who does this work
always takes care that he so cuts the tuber that
there shall be eyes on each part ; if by an over-
sight a set bearing no leaf buds is planted there
will be no resultant growth, and the set will
rot and die.

Leaf-buds are to be found in all plants. In
this climate they are usually produced during
the autumn months, and they constitute the
provision which nature enables the plant to make
at the end of one season for commencing growth
at the beginning of the next. In plants of one
year's duration only, as many of our common
weeds, these winter buds are not required, and
are therefore not formed ; on the other hand it
must not be forgotten that these weeds are pro-
lific seed producers, so that though the individual
plant perishes the race is kept up. Custom has
sanctioned the use of the term ' ' eyes " to denote
the leaf -buds of the potato-tuber, and has also
led us to speak of the tuber itself as a root,
which we have shown it is not. It matters
little, however, what names we employ so that
we fully under stand the nature of.that which we
are speaking about. The Jerusalem artichoke,
another so-called root, is likewise a tuber similar
to the potato. The " eye " of an apple or of a
pear consists of the withered up flower leaves,
and therefore has nothing in common with the
like-named structure in the potato and arti-
choke.

The potato is known to botanists under the
name of solarum tuberosum. It is a native
of the Cordilleras of Chili and Peru, and is now
cultivated throughout the world. The tuber is
the only part of the plant good to eat ; the leaves

THE FARMER'S MAGAZIN1

97

and the fruit contain a powerful chemical in-
gredient with narcutic properties, a fact not sur-
prising when it is stated that the potato is closely
allied with the tobacco-plant, bella donna, thorn
apple, deadly nightshade, and henbane, It is
probable, indeed, that all these plants have de-
scended from some common ancestor. The
potato-tuber contains 75 per cent, of its weight
of water, which is considerably less than the
amount contained in true roots, such as carrots
and turnips. It further contains 15 -5 percent.
of starch, and it is on this that its value as an
article of food depends. The remaining 10 per
cent, is made up of fibrin, albumin, dextrin, fat,
fibre, and mineral matter. The important fact
to remember is that 100 lbs. of potatoes contain
15 lbs. of starch, and this latter makes a good
and cheap substitute for arrowroot ; it may also
be converted into British gum, and by boiling
with weak oil of vitriol it is changed into grape-
sugar, which may be fermented into alcohol and
then sold as British brandy.

It was in the year 1565 that Sir John Haw-
kins introduced the potato into Ireland, and in
1585 Sir Francis Drake brought it to England,
Sir Walter Raleigh bringing fresh supplies in the
following year. Not to the close of last century
did the potato become a popular article « f diet in
these islands, but during the first half of the
present century it rose into such favour in
Ireland as to become the staple food of that
country. It throve well, and amply repaid the
growers for the care they bestowed on it till the
middle of this century when, in the year 1845,
with scarcely a sign of warning there fell upon
the crop a blight so devastating in its effects, and
bo far-spreading in its ravages, that the crop was
destroyed, and starvation and misery became
the lot of those whose little all was invented in
potato-growing. Many and varied were the
suggestions as to the cause of this potato disease,
and it was not till thirty years after it first ap- '
peared that by the aid of science its true
character was revealed.

RUINED CORN FARMS.

By a Wanderer.

Having business in Hertfordshire I slept at the
county town and walked next day ten miles, as
the crow flies, across a number of corn farms in
one of the back-lying parts of the county border-
ing upon Essex. I have known this district
during many years. It may be described as a
useful corn-growing country, with a subsoil of
chalk covered by six or eight feet of rather heavy
land. The staple article of production has
always been wheat, with other cereals, and beans
as adjuncts, and in past times, when the wheat
crop was abundant and the price not less than
50s. per quarter, the farming of this part of the
country was particularly prosperous. It is so no
longer. The change in the appearance of the
country since my last visit is surprising. As I
passed along through fields and farms which
were familiar to me, though I had not traversed
them during the past four or five years, I asked

myself, " Where are the prosperous tenants of
ten years ago ?" These farmers, I was told, have
lately destroyed themselves in three adjoining
parishes ; and such cases might be multiplied
ten-fold by going wider a-field. You may see at
a glance that the farming capital of the district
has shrunk terribly and is still shrinking. The
growing crop cannot be profitable, however
favourable the season may prove up to harvest ;
there cannot be an average yield of either wheat
or barley, except on a few highly favoured farms
where the soil and management are unusually
good, and where the few remaining capitalist
farmers are still farming with spirit. In the
great majority of cases the farms look worse
than I could have imagined possible. The corn
is starved, the fallows are foul. Taking the dis-
trict I passed through and the similar and ad-
joining tract of second-rate corn land in Essex,
extending from Buntingford to Bishop Stortford
and then to Thaxted, there must be, judging
from what I saw, hundreds of farms whose corn
crop will not exceed five sacks per acre, taking
wheat and barley together. In good corn years
these farms would yield ten sacks per acre and
the crop would be worth at least £10 per acre. It
used to be a common saying that the corn crop'
on farms such as I refer to, worth about 25s. per
acre ten years since, should fetch £9 per acre.
This year, if the barley is well saved and worth
as much as the wheat, say 40s. per acre, the corn
crop of these second-rate, but not by any means
inferior, corn districts may be worth £5 per
acre.

Who is to pay this rent and wages out of so
small a return ? I suspect that the loss will be
borne partly by the landlord and partly by
bankers and other outsiders, and that the capital
of these unfortunate farmers, already wasted
before the present season, will be almost entirely
swept away. In disastrous years farming capital
is soon lost, and the condition of farms leaks
away as rapidly. The lamentable state of a
country which was once so neat and trim in its
appearance, shows that for several years past
work has been left undone from sheer necessity
and want of means. The day wages have been
reduced to Is. lOd. , and the labourers, at such a
price, cannot be of the best kind. The young
men and the men of energy are thinned out by
a natural process. At 18 or 20 years of age they
become discontented. Their last summer in
their native district arrives with their earliest
maturity ; they stop through the harvest, when
they can earn perhaps £6 or £7, and a few weeks
later they become porters on some railway, at 18s.
a week to begin with, a suit of clothes and two
pair of boots per annum. Country lads, provided
they can read and write, are in great demand on
railways, in the police force, and in connection
with many industries in London and elsewhere.
They are preferred to town-bred men ; and this
is a fact bearing seriously on the future manage-
ment and restoration to good heart and condition
of all ruined corn farms, including those of Herts
and Essex. I can sympathise with the excuse
which is offered for the low rate of wages in the
districts I passed through. Eleven shilling;} a

98

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

week are quite as much as a ruined tenantry can
afford : but there are other employers, elsewhere,
who can afford more, and the stream of labour
will set in strongly towards the better paid
places. Low wages, therefore, will not prove a
remedy for existing difficulties. Other indus-
tries will draw off the best men, and they
will emigrate as well as migrate. I well remember
the surplus population in Herts, in former days,
the great gangs of labourers in the harvest fields,
and the crowded mud- built cottages. Good men
now, however, have become thin upon the
ground, and they have become as independent
as they are scarce. Altogether the agricultural
outlook is a gloomy one. Rents maybe adjusted
by the diminished competition for farms, and 25s.
per acre may be reduced to 15s.; but the price of
wages cannot be thus controlled at the will and
pleasure of the farmer. Only two roads seem
open to the farming of the future, namely, in-
creased elheiencyof labour and a reduced area of
ploughed land by the conversion of arable to
pasturage. It is clear that the exising system of
farming cannot be continued. The present race
of tenantry seem to have been doomed by the
Stress of their misfortunes. Their capital has
disappeared and themselves must follow. As I
passed along on foot, mile after mile, through
farm after farm, disregarding the law of trespass
and scarcely meeting a single soul, I saw
hundreds of ruined com farms which must
shortly pass into other hands than those of the
present occupiers.

The Times says of the farming class, " They
have all the world before them." That is what
the poet said of Adam and Eve when they were
driven out of Paradise. " If people have money
and wish to lose it," says the Times, " let them
stay at home. If they have not money and wish
i., make it, we apprehend that they will have to
goabroad." If these desperate words— desperate
for a Times leader — are true, then this second-
rate corn district must go out of cultivation. If
it cannot be farmed by tenants' capital, I am
certain it cannot be farmed by landlords' capital.
But desperate as the case is for those who have
lust their money and grown old in losing it, I
believe that new men and fresh capital will yet
be found ; but not under the present system. In
weighing the chances of the future it seems to me
that wheat growing is a game played out for the
present. Wheat, in Herts, requires manure, say
two pounds worth to produce five quarters, worth
£10. Wheat in Manitoba requires no manure,
and setting freight against rent and taxes I do
not believe that Herts wheat can compete with
American.

Therefore the staple produce of the district will
have to be abandoned in favour of barley and

stock.

In the midst of some very wretched farming,
where the produce, I was told, had been growing
lessfor years, I observed one farm in capital
order. The labourers on that farm were com-
paratively numerous and well paid, and am. >ng
them were two or three shepherds and their
helpers moving hurdles in a big field of tiefoil.
Xhi : liecp in told, the .first] had

seen for five miles ; the corn was good and the
land clean. This farmer had laid down some
land to permanent pasture. He has found, one
may hope, the remedies for American competi-
tion. He possesses capital, and he is making meat
even on heavy land. The Times says the meat
market too is open to the competition of the
world. It is, but the nearer the manufactory to
the market, in the case of such a commodity, the
better for the producer, and a farmer thirty or
forty miles from London will assuredly beat a
rival three or four thousand miles distant, if he
possesses capital aud skill. The prosperous corn
farmer of former times was not a stock
feeder, and he invariably spread his capital too
widely over the land. He held too much land
even for those days, when the sole management
consisted in alternating fallows with crops
assisted by light manures. If the sheep farmer
I have referred to has hired his farm at a mode-
rate rent, with freedom of cropping and sale, and
with covenants for securing to himself the value
of the improvements he is effecting, especially in
forming a few valuable pastures to aBsist his
stock rearing, and if he possesses sufficient
capital, he is setting an example of an agricul-
tural system adapted to the present times.

Dairy Farming.

On all dairy farms which consist of mixed
arable and pasture land, it is important to consider
how the arable land may be most suitably cropped
to inert ase the produce of the dairy, to supply
green fodder to provide for any probable deti-
ciency in the natural pastures at various periods
of the grazing season, or cabbages, roots, and
straw 'o: autumn and winter consumption. In
ordinary cheese-making dairies this c< >nsideration
has bet n hitherto much lost sight of. When from
drought or either cause the pastures became
Bcanty, no other provision has been made on
the farm, and the value of the use of purchased
food n< t having been sufficiently reeognised, the
yield of milk has been allowed to fall to a very
low point ; for although the practice of some of
our dairy farmers in taking advantage of the
capabilities of their land has left nothing to be
desired, such management has been the excep-
tion rather than the rule. Dairy cows cannot
yield milk freely without an abundant and
regular supply of suitable food, and any defi-
ciency in the quantity or quality of the supply
affects not only the present but the future yield
of milk. The capacity to yield a large supply of
milk if checked, especially in the early stage of
the milling, cannot be fully restored in the same
season by any subsequent improvement in keep.

On farms where the milk is sold the variations
in the yield from day to day are at once appa-
rent, and a regular supply being generally re-
quired, the necessity for provision of extra food
is much greater than on a cheese-making farm.
Brewers' grains are a cheap and profitable food
for dairy cattle at any season of the year, upon
those fauns in proximity to large breweries. A
continued liberal use of them, however, >>■

THE FARMERS' MAGAZLNE.

fr?

Injurious to the stomachs <>f cows. Succulent
gr ten food, which can be grown upon the farm,
and which is of o special value to milch cows, is
greatly to be preferred.

A fair proportion of arable land of a quality well
suited to the growth of roots and green forage is
a decided advantage to a dairy farm. On farms
liable to burn in a dry summer, the pastures fre-
quently become scanty in July or August. A
Hinall acreage of winter vetches, spring vetches,
and clover or ryegrass in its hrst or second
cuttings, provides a succession of excellent food
through the summer, and if not required can be
made into dry fodder. Cabbages provide the
best possible green food from Michaelmas to
Christinas. The large drumhead cabbage is
visually sown on a seed bed in August, pricked
out in September, and transplanted into the
field in April or May, for consumption in the
last three months of the year. Early quick-
growing varieties such as the early oxheart or
the dwarf driinhead, may be sown on a warm
plot of land in Febiuary or March, and planted
out iii the field in damp weather early in June,
ripening in August and September. A bed of
these early cabbages can easily be raised and will
often be useful to till up blanks in mangel or
turnip rows. Rape, either sown alone in rows,
or broadcast with a few vetches, on clean land in
good condition, produces a large quantity of good
food. It is so netimes usefully grown on the
headlands of ro >t crops, It is cut off with the
scythe as required. Cabbages when sound are
little, if at all, i ljurious to the flavour of milk
and butter, and on suitable land, heavily
manured, they are very productive, They are
often best carted on to the pastures for the dairy
cattle. They are not, however, well adapted for
keeping through the winter in average seasons, as
severe frost destroys their feeding qualities, even
when they show no signs of decay. They should,
therefore, be used in the autumn or early winter.
Mangels are the most valuable of all roots for dairy
cattle. Their freedom from objectionable flavour,
their keeping qualities, and their great succulence
combine to render them specially valuable for
producing milk. Unfortunately they cannot be
grown successfully in the majority of seasons in
the more northerly counties of England, except
in favoured soils and situations, nor are they a
safe crop generally on cold or very light
soils. The seed does not germinate freely if heat
and moisture are not both supplied, and crops are
often deficient in plant in a cold, dry spring, like
tlie past. When the plant is once fairly started, the
summer cannot be too hot for them except on
the shallowest soils. Many farmers when cut-
ting off the roots spread the tops on the land and
plough them under. They are, when used
alone, a somewhat watery scouring food ; but if
cotton cake, or other suitable dry food, be given
at the same time, stock will do well upon them.
We have seen them consumed chiefly by dairy
cows on the pastures, with an allowance of
51b. per head of decorticated cotton cake in the
stalls ; and on this diet cows milk freely and keep
their condition. Where the mangold crop is
liberally manured— as it should bo— with farm

or town dung and artificials, the land will, except
on weak soils, be left in good condition for a crop
of corn after the whole of the roots have been
removed. Where a large stock is kept it seems
bad economy to plough in that which can be con-
sumed by stock.

Swedes and turnips furnish in a large portion
of this country the most trustworthy and profitable
green crop. The flavour which they impart to
milk and butter is an objection to their use for
milking cattle, except those kept for cheese-
making. This objectionable flavour may be
prevented in great measure by giving these roots
pulped and mixed with chaff and a little malt
dust. It is found that by using only sound
roots, and giving swedes and turnips only when
pulped and mixed with chaff, reserving the man-
gels' for feeding without chaff and for use late
in the spring, all complaint of strong flavour
in the milk may be avoided. In the growth of
some of these crops the arable land may be made
most useful in increasing dairy production at all
times of the year. The value of these succulent
crops for dairy cows, is proved at some of the
various sewage farms, where large crops of
Italian ryegrass, cabbages, and mangels are
most profitably consumed in the production of
milk.

Large supplies of American cheese are now
coining in, and, as a natural result, the high
prices of the last few months are showing a very
marked reduction, prices being from 20s. to 30s.
per cwt. below those current a month ago. We
think the early make of English cheese has been
very small, and even now, in spite of the abund-
ance of grass which has at length grown on our
pastures, the average weekly production of
cheese is from various causes much below that of
most previous years. American competition will
doubtless strongly affect the prices of all except
the choicest lots of English cheese in the present
season ; but we do not think anything like the
ruinous rates of the twelve months ending
A tigust last are likely to be seen again at present.
The supplies of butter and milk, though not very
abundant, are fully equal to the restricted
demand, and prices are moderate with no prospect
of any sharp advance.

The Buenos Ay res Standard speaks of a " new
export " from Kosario. Twenty-two barrels of honey
have been sent to England from that country in the
Tenieis. In Mendoza a considerable quantity of
excellent honey is produced, and it is thought that
the large quantities of lucerne cultivated throughout
the Argentine Confederation should furnish the basis
of a considerable export trade in honey. Large
quantities of honey are exported from Chili.

The same journal says that there is a rapid develop-
ment of the sugar-growing industry in Tucuman.
" What Tucuman most needs to help this develop-
ment is English machinery for sugar refineries, as the
soil is so fertile and the cane so easily grown that
even at present the supply of the raw material is
more than sufficient for the sugar mills that are put up,
A little Euglish capital, combined with machinery
and skilled labour, would give better returns in
Tucuman than in any of the great sugar refineries in
England.

103

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Poultry Farming.

The majority of the farmers of this country
have from time immemorial looked upon the
breeding and rearing of fowls, ducks, geese, and
turkeys as matters of so little importance as to
be beneath their notice. It is true a number of
mongrel, weedy specimens of each of the above
varieties, and of all ages and sizes, may be seen
running about most farmyards ; but these are
only there on sufferance, and very little attention
is ever given to their wants, and still less in the
selection and management of the breeding stock.
In many cases the ancestors of these birds have
been allowed to breed in and in, and no cross or
attempt to improve the stock has been made for
years. The consequence is the birds have dete-
riorated in size, are less productive, weaker in
constitution, and suffer much from disease and
sudden atmospherical changes. Utterly neglected,
or left to the care and attention of some igno-
rant or careless individual, it is not surprising
if poultry kept in this manner do not pay. Our
object in these articles will be to show how, with
ordinary care and attention, and with a suitable
stock, the breeding and rearing of poultry in
farmyards may be made to return a fair profit
for the trouble and expense bestowed on their
management.

New-laid eggs at Christmas time sell for a
great deal more than they do during the summer
months ; and spring chickens, which are ready
for killing about April or May, readily sell in
London for five or six shillings each, and even
now they fetch six or seven shillings a pair.
It will thus be seen that one of the great secrets
of success in breeding poulty is to get fresh eggs
and early chickens at a time when most people
are without them, and this can only be done by
keeping those varieties or crosses which do not
suffer so much from cold and damp, and by
hatching early each season.

We will presume that an airy, dry outhouse or
shed is available as a roosting place for the
poultry, and the stock of birds, unless they are
far superior in size and stamina to those usually
found at farmhouses, have either been killed or
sold. It is now desired to obtain a hardy
variety, which shall lay well during the winter,
while the chickens hatched from their eggs shall
mature quickly, grow into large, plump, full-
breasted and fine-skinned birds, with as little
waste or offal as possible.

Poultry shows undoubtedly have been the
means of developing and perfecting certain out-
ward markings and forms of the birds. The
freshness and variety of colour and evenness of
pencilling seen in some varieties of to-day are
simply perfection. The breeder of high-class
poultry intended for exhibition has gone on for
years selecting only those specimens to breed
from which nearest approached perfection, his
sole desire being to obtain outward beauty in
plumage and shape of body. Even with Brahma
and other Asiatic breeds, mere size is of the
greatest importance ; prizes have been repeatedly
given to mere bantams, their only property being
the exquisitely fine and clear pencilling, or

richness of colour. But while the breeder
of fancy poultry has been endeavouring to obtain
beautiful specimens, he has paid little if any
attention to the useful properties. Still, in
these pure-bred varieties, the farmer and those
who keep poultry for laying or killing can, by
judiciously crossing them, produce a most useful
variety.

With these objects in view we have noticed
several experiments in crossing various pure
breeds, and in breeding without crossing ; and
after many years of careful attention to the subject
we have arrived at the conclusion that for table
purposes a cross between the Dorking and Brahma,
or the game and Brahma, produces birds which
are more hardy, arrive at maturity at an earlier
age, commence laying sooner,and make larger and
finer specimens, which sell for better prices,than
any pure or other cross-bred birds we know of.

With the Dorking-Brahma cross we prefer a
large square bodied, short legged, small boned,
dark coloured Dorking cock, put to dark
Brahma hens which are short on the leg, and
with as little leg feathering as possible. In the
game cross either a black or a brown red game
cock with dark Brahma hens similar to those
previously described. It is better to breed from
the dark Brahmas and the coloured Dorking,
rather than the light Brahmas and the silver
grey Dorking, as the progeny will be found
more even in the colour of their plumage. Either
of these crosses produces birds which in every
useful property are far in advance of anything
usually seen around farm houses, and yet they
cost no more to feed and certainly are less trou-
blesome to rear ; neither is the mortality in these
cross-bred birds so great as amongst the weedy
and inferior specimens, while they sell for a great
deal more money. It is true the first outlay in
purchasing the stock may be a trifle more expen-
sive but with proper care and judgment in buy-
ing this need only be a very small sum indeed.
A Dorking cock (which by-the-by should be a
young one and the same with the hens, or rather
pullets), such as would answer every purpose
required for breeding table birds could be pur-
chased for ten or twelve shillings, and the hens for
a trifle less. Now is the time to buy birds
cheap, as most breeders are over-stocked with old
birds and chickens ; and they are consequently
glad to part with specimens which they must
either kill or sell for any moderate price, to make
room for the more valuable birds reserved for
exhibition. Where so many people make a
mistake in poultry keeping is by retaining the
old birds year after year. These, after their
second or at the most third season, are little
better than so many drones, but cost just as
much to keep as those which produce 150 or 180
eggs per annum. For the older a hen gets the
fewer are the eggs obtained, and each year the
season gets more advanced before she commences
to lay.

We therefore advise those who have only a
moderate lot of fowls to sell off all the small and
inferior birds, and also the old and used up spe-
cimens, retaining only the young and useful. It

THE PARMER'S MAGAZINE.

10'

was our intention to have offered a few sugges-
tions as to the selection of birds for laying proper-
ties,but this we must leave for another occasion.

THE LADY-FARMERS' CLUB.

REPORTED BY ONE OF THE MEMBERS.

In the old market town of Barfield, on a bright
day last spring, the stream of country vehicles
wending their way towards the weekly meeting
place of farmers and their wives showed that it
was market-day, and therefore the day of busi-
ness, with perhaps just a dash of pleasure, to
the country folk round. Here might be seen
the time-honoured cart containing a venerable
couple who really seemed to be the original
Darby and Joan, so comfortable and contented
did they look. A large basket lay at their feet,
and the hay peeping out here and there told of
eggs and butter, on their way to the grocer's in
the High Street. Passing this modest equipage
at a rapid rate came the high dog-cart of Mr.
Danby, containing himself and his eldest son.
Mr. Danby is a farmer of the modern type. He
believes in artificial manures and pure breeds of
stock ; and it is hinted that he is going to read
a paper at the forthcoming meeting of the county
Farmers' Club. His son, as clean-limbed a
young man as you want to meet, is likely to
follow in his father's steps. Alas ! the present
prolonged period of bad seasons, has had its
effect on the father's appearance, and I fear on
his purse as well. More grey hairs, and more
furrows in his face than he had a few years ago
tell the tale of weary, anxious days and nights.
His wife had been on a visit to some relations in
London, and was expected home that day ; of
her we may hear more anon. A neighbouring
squire's carriage, with two heavy but good greys,
came thundering along ; but quickly as it passed,
any bystander might see that a coat of varnish
last spring would have enhanced the beauty if
not the utility of the respectable family chariot.
As the afternoon wore on, many and various
carriages made the road alive with their presence.
But I must not linger on the way, as it is at the
market-place that my business lies. The town
of Barfield is situated in a purely agricultural
district, and, with the exception of two or three
breweries and one unimportant paper mill, the
town is entirely dependent for support on its
agricultural neighbours. There is but little in
or around it to recommend it to the student or
antiquary ; but on one day in the week, that is to
say, market-day, the diligent student of humanity
will discover ample material for observation and
remark. On the day I am referring to the
streets were busy, the shops in the High Street
were filled with farmers' wives and daughters,
and the whole place was alive with the bustle of
tradesmen, and with meetings of friends and
relations whose daily life is led some miles apart
from each other.

In the middle of the High Street the old
hostelry, the "Stag's Head," throws wide open
its hospitable gates for the reception of its
country customers. Here squire and squireen,

large and small farmers, meet in friendly socia-
bility. Many topics of the day are talked over
by the lords of creation, the weather and the
appearance of the crops being eagerly discussed.
The farmers are often sarcastically twitted by
their town neighbours with being somewhat slow
and heavy in their perception of things in
general ; but it should be remembered that, to
the greater number of farmers the friction of
mind against mind and the consequent sharpen-
ing of the wits is a process but seldom carried
on except at the weekly market-place. In cities
the current of life flows fast, and ideas are
transmitted from one to another until intuition
well-nigh takes the place of reflection. But if
country life is thoroughly understood and lived
out in honesty of purpose there are opportunities
for thought and maturity of judgment un-
equalled in the quicker but shallower life of the
city.

But to go on with my little history. While
the husbands find brothers were bargaining,
chaffering, and perchance joking with each other
below, some of their wives and daughters were
resting in a room set apart for their use by
the good landlady of the Stag's Head. Cool
and pleasant came in the afternoon breeze be-
tween the spring flowers in the window.
Conversation seldom flairs in this room on such
an occasion, although truth compels me to say
that it is not always of such an interesting
character as it was on the day on which my
story opens. Mrs. Danby had just come in on
hf r return from visiting her brother, a successful
trader in London, and her return to the old
familiar scene caused her to ponder anew, with
an increased seriousness, over the distress which
she has seen, and indeed felt, in her own and her
neighbours' affairs. Hard thoughts of the in-
equalities to be found in life have pressed upon
the poor woman's mind as she journeyed from
town. With the honest desire to make the best
of everything, she could not but see that her
brother's children were likely to have a better
start in the world than her own ; and the
thought made her sad. "My husband works
as hard as Tom," she said to herself, "and
why should he not have the same reward
for his toil ?" The question was not an easy one
to be answered. As she was pondering over
many things, a friend and neighbour, Mrs.
Larkhouse by name, accompanied by her little
granddaughter, entered the room ; and after the
usual greetings had passed on both sides, Mrs.
Larkhouse began to speak on the very subject
which it so happened was then occupying Mrs.
Danby 's mind. Those who have lately been in
the habit of talking over every-day matters
amongst farmers and their families know but too
well the character of the conversation that would
be held. Unfavourable seasons, bad luck with
work, dropping markets, and increasing ex-
penses— these have formed the burdens of many
sad conversations. Mrs. Danby listened to her
friend's somewhat meandering talk, sometimes
taking in the whole of her meaning, and some-
times with wandering thoughts. At last, as if
suddenly waking up out of a reverie, she said :

10 J

TIIK FARMKH'S MAHAZINK.

"Is there nothing we can do, we women, to!
make things better ? The first step towards a
cure is to find the cause ; so let us see what we
can do. Now, Mrs. La'-k bouse, come to tea at
my house next Tuesday, and I will ask one or
two ladies to meet you, and we will see if talk-
ing over matters can lead to some way out of
our troubles. Theory must precede practice,
and perhaps iii our case practice will follow
theory. "

Mrs. Larkhonse, who was decidedly a woman
of parts, and had her own views on most sub-
jects, fell in readily with the proposal. After a
little more conversation the meeting was
arranged, and the two friends went to their re-
spective homes. Over the tea-table that even-
ing Mrs. Danby mentioned her plan to her hus-
band and son. " Why, mother," exclaimed the
young man, "you are going to forma Lady-
Farmers' Club." "Why not?" was the re-
joinder; " it will be strange if we talk greater
nonsense than I read sometimes in the reports of
your own club meetings."

" I quite agree with you, my dear," said Mr.
Danby; "but you will be wise women indeed
if you can show us the way out of our agricul-
tural depression. Still, if you do not teach us
how to make farming pay well, you may at least
teach each other how to make the best of a bad
business. So success to the Lady Farmers'
Club, say I, and I hope that in consideration of
the bad times, you will excuse me for drinking
the toast in a cup of tea. '

The toast was drunk with great gravity on the
part of its proposer, and the name stuck, as well-
applied titles are apt to do.

This is how the Lady-Farmers' Club came to
be formed. As it seems to me that some of the
discussions may be interesting to others as they
have been and are to me, I propose in future
numbers to reproduce them for the amusement,
and perhaps the profit, of the lady readers of
the Mark Lane Express.

The Best of Everything.

JOHN DAY : A PATHETIC TALE.

In the first number of the Ifyrk Lave Express,
January 2nd, 1832, the following verses appeared :—

John Day he was the biggest man

Of all the coachman-kind,
With back too broad to be conceived

By any narrow mind.
The very horses knew his weight

When he was in the rear,
And wished his box a Christmas box,

To come but once a year.

Alas ! against the shafts of love

What armour can avad 1
Soon Cupid sent an arrow through

His scarlet coat of mail.
The barmaid of the Crown he loved,

From whom he never ranged ;
For though he changed his horses there,

His love he never changed.

He thought her fairest of all fares,

So fondly love prefers ;
And often, among twelve outsides,
Deem'd no outside like her's.

One day, as she was sitting down

Beside the porter-pump,
He came, and knelt with all his fat.

And made an offer plump.

Said she, " My taste will never learn

To like so huge a man ;
So I must beg you will come here

As little as you can."

But still he stoutly urged his suit.

With vows and sighs, and tears,
Yet could not pierce her heart, although

He drove the Dart for years.

In vain he wooed, in vain he sued ;

The maid was cold and proud,
And sent him off to Coventry,

While on his way to Stroud.

He fretted all the way to Stroud,

And thence all back to town ;
The course of love was never smooth —

So his went up and down.

At last her coldness made him pine

To merely bone and skin ;
But still he loved, like one resolved

To love through thick and thin.

" Oh, Mary ! view my wasted back,

And see my dwindled calf ;
Though I have never had a wife,

I've lost my better half."

Alas ! in vain he still assailed,

Her heart withstood the dint ;
Though he had carried sixteen stone,

He could not move a flint.

Worn out, at last he made a vow

To break his being's link ;
For he was so reduced in size,

At nothing he could shrink.

Now some will talk in water's praise,

And waste a deal of breath ;
But John, though he drank nothing else,

He drank himself to death

The cruel maid that caused his love

Found out the fatal close ;
For looking in the butt, she saw

The butt end of his woes.

Some say his spirit haunts the Crown —

But that is only talk ;
For, after riding all his life.

His ghost objects to walk.

Fevkr in Ireland. — The British Medical Journal
has been informed by the secretaries of the Marl-
borough Relief Committee that they have ascertained
by local inquiry that famine-fe\ er has not appeared
in Foxford or "any other portion of the Swineford
district. Some cases of typhus fever exist there, and
typhus and simple fever are somewhat more preva-
lent than usual ; but there is no famine-fever.
Although the people are poor, they are not starving ;
and the cases of typhus seem to be principally among
those who have sufficient food supplies.

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE.

1C3

THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE.

MEETING AT SALISBURY.

On Tuesday, .Inly (i, a public meeting was held at
the Hamilton Hall, Salisbury, iu connection with the
Farmers' Alliance Association. It having been
announced that Mr. James Howard, M.P, for Bed-
fordshire, and other gentlemen, would address the
meeting, there was a numerous attendance. Mr. J.
Ridley, of Damerhara, occupied thechair, and among
those present were Messrs. C'oote, Hulbert (Tilshead),
W. I. y wood (Maddington), Aaron Futcher (Fovant),
YV. Taunton, J. Taunton, James Read, G. Dibbeu,
George Parham, Pinniger, Young, Jeans (Breamore),
W. Targett, David Head, W. Bead, J. Sutton,
"Williams, and Lampard (Farley).

The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, called
upon Mr. W. E. Bear, Secretary of the Association, to
read the letters of apology for non-attendance which
he had received. The first was from Mr. Walter Long,
one of the members for North Wilts, who excused
himself by saying he was obliged to be present in the
House of Commons during the discussion on the
Employers' Liability Bill. Mr. Parsons, of West
Stratton, chairman of a recent meeting at Basingstoke,
who hoped the Alliance would extend itself in Wilt-
shire as it had done in Hampshire. He added that
on the day before writing, his landlord, the Earl of
Northbrook, expressed a hope that the farmers of
England would, in tbe present critical position of
agriculture, do everything they could to induce those
who were interested to tight a good battle. It was,
Air. Parsons added, most agreeable to him to find
tbat his landlord's principles were, so far, iu accor-
dance with those of the Farmers' Alliance. If the
principles of the Alliance were carried out, agricul-
ture would soon be placed in a better position, so far
as legislation was concerned. According to the
promises made, farmers naturally expected that
justice would be meted out to them by the present
Government (Hear, hear).

The Chairman then said that, before introducing
Mr. James Howard, one of the members for Bedford-
shire to the meeting, he wished to make one or two
remarks respecting the programme of the Alliance.
At present, the first and last of its objects appeared
to him to be the most important, viz., to secure the
better representation of tenant fanners in Parliament,
and to obtain a fair apportionment of local burdens
between landlord and tenant (Hear, hear). There
Were, however, other reasons why there should be an
alliance of farmers to further their own interests. The
land laws must be altered before agriculture could
become as prosperous as other trades and professions
in which various classes of the people were engaged.
Good cultivation of the land was of the utmost impor-
tance in England, aud he was there prepared to
maintain that unless agriculture was prosperous
England herself could not be prosperous, no matter
how rich people might become by engaging in trade.
The land was the back-bone of the country, and if
th it land got into a bad condition the country must be
iu a ba>l condition also. He was an out-and-out free-
trader, but still, on this point, there was no clashing
of feeling or conviction. He was thoroughly of
opinion that the farming interest had not hitherto
been fairly represented in the House of Commons.
There were now 50 members of that House who were
prepared to support the objects of the Alliance, and
he believed that if the Alliance had existed two years
ago, the Agricultural Holdings Act would never have
been passed iu its present form (Hear, hear). That,
in his opinion, was a most unwise measure — a measure

that was insulting to the tenant-farmers of England,
however great might be the differences of opinion
between them, lie would not, lmwi'vi', detain the
meeting further, because those present were tloubtle S3

anxiously waiting for a speech that was worth hearin g.
Without further preface, therefore, Ik; begged to
introduce Mr. James Howard, one of the niembe rs
for Bedfordshire, who was well known to most of
those present, and who, he was sure, would fully au d
forcibly explain the objects of the Allianc e
(Applause).

Mr. Jamks HOWARD, M.P. , said as he entered the
room the Secretary was reading a letter from one of
the members, excusing his absence because lie was
obliged to be in the House of Commons, where the
Employer's Liability Bill was coming under considera-
tion. Now he (Mr. Howard), as many of them knew,
was a large employer of labour, if not in agriculture
itself, at all events in a cognate branch of it, and
therefore he, too, ought to have been in the House of
Commons. And he would have been there if he
thought that when the Bill left the House, it would
endanger the interests of the tenant-farmers of Eng-
land ; but he hoped that before it became law that
class would be surrounded with a sufficient number of
safeguards. He need scarcely say that as au employer
of labour, not only on the farm but in the factory, ho
had a very direct interest in seeing that no liabilities
of employers were not increased to any very consider-
able extent. But putting all this aside lie would pass
on to the immediate objects of the meeting, and
endeavour to explain the programme of the Farmers'
Alliance, of which he had the honour of being chair-
man. The Association had been iu existence some
twelve months, and from the first it had had to
encounter very fierce opposition and no little misre-
presentation. Even the farmers themselves objected
to it on three grounds— -(1) that it interfered with the
machinery of another agricultural association ; (2)
that it would have the effect of setting class against
class ; and (3) that behind the programme there were
political objects in view. Their opponents had had to
drop the bill of indictment in regard to the last charge,
for it was beyond dispute that gentlemen belonging
to both political parties bad joined the Alliance.
Political differences prevailed, even amongst the mem-
bers of the Committee, but that did not prevent their
working together for a common object (Hear, hear).
The third objection to the formation of the Alliance
might, therefore, be dismissed at once. Then as to
the other point. They had every reason to be proud
of the progress which the Alliance had made. As the
Chairman had told them, fifty members of the new
House of Commons had joined the Alliance, and had
pledged themselves to support its programme. Then
others had, to a huge, extent, succeeded iu securing
the interest of the Press in their work, the result being
that more space was being devoted to reports of their
proceedings than to those of the old Agricultural
Associations of the kingdom. They could further
boast that their list of sympathisers included a no
less distinguished personage than the Prime Minister
of England, who, at an interview a deputation had
with him a fortnight ago, agreed, in an unmistakable
manner, to the programme of the Alliance. To that
programme (which he read, he wished to invite the
attention of fanners in the neighbourhood of Salisbury.
To his mind the question of tho reform of the Game
Laws was one of the most important (Hear, hear, aid
a voice " The most important"). It had often been
asked, in regard to the Alliance, where was the ne-
cessity for another association ? His answer was the
startling fact, that notwithstanding the existence of
various Agricultural Associations for a number of

K

104

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

years, there had not, as yet, been one charged with
the special duty of looking after the interests of
the tenant-fanners of England, both in and out of
Parliament. The object of the Farmers' Alliance
• was to meet this difficulty— to see that no additional
burdens were thrown upon the shoulders of farmers,
without the sounding of a note of alarm (Hear,hear).
.He would a,sk the question — "Were not the interests
of the great class of tenant-farmers in England and
Scotland, with their invested capital of 400 millions
sterling, of sufficient importance to warrant the for-
mation of an association for the protection of their
interests (hear, hear). His only wonder was that
such an association as the Farmers' Alliance had not
been formed very many years ago. The farmers had
long complained, and justly complained, and their
voices had not been heard in the councils of the
nation. No matter what the Government in power,
their demands had been evaded or ignored (hear,
hear). Their complaints had either been burked or
shunted, and the promoters of the Farmers' Alliance
believed that this would continue to be the case until
the farmers resolved upon one of two courses — either
to return men of their own class to protect their
interests in Parliament, or to select men who would
pledge themselves to a programme which they (the
fanners) had themselves agreed upon (hear, hear).
The programme of the Farmers' Alliance had been
framed with this object, and he trusted it would be
carefully and calmly considered. If so, he believed
it would commend itself to the great majority of the
farmers of England. The great object of the Alliance
was to promote the advancement of the agricultural
interest — more particularly the interests of the tenant
fanner. Its motto was, "Agriculture first and
Politics afterwards " (hear, hear). And when this
ceased to be its object he hoped the Alliance would
cease to exist (applause). One important reason why
tenant farmers should support the Alliance was that
they required an organization to look after the various
agricultural measures that were brought before Par-
liament— an organization that would bring a pressure
to bear upon their representatives in Parliament in
relation to agricultural questions. Associations had
been established in London to promote the interests
of manufacturers, miners, and bankers, and any
measures all'ecting their interests were not allowed to
pass through Parliament unwatched. Why, then,
should the tenant farmex-s remain, compara-
tively speaking, unrepresented ? They ought to be
better represented than they were at present (hear, hear).
It was notorious that the views of the tenant
farmers had been almost entirely and systematically
ignored ; more particularly in regard to the questions
of cattle plague and cattle disease generally. Did the
last or the preceding Government pay much attention
to the matter? Were not millions upon millions of
the capital of the tenant farmers of the kingdom lost
before any efficient legislation was inaugurated and
passed ? (Hear, hear.) £ut for Mr. Clare Sewell
Head the tenant farmers of the country would never
have been listened to. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Read was
compelled to resign his position in the Government,
and it was not until then that the Duke of Richmond
came to his senses and saw the. necessity for legis-
lative measures in regard to the tremendous losses
which had been entailed upon the tenant farmers of

■ the country. If they had only had a few more
practical farmers in Parliament, they would not have
suffered to the extent they had done in connection

■ with the cattle plagues auddiseases in cattle generally.
(Hear, hear). Then as to the expenditure of county
rates, the measure recently put before Parliament was
one of the most contemptible that could be con-

ceived : many of its provisions were an insult to the
ratepayers. Take again the question of sanitary re-
form. Sanitary improvements were, of course, a great
boon to the rural population, but was it right that
the expense should fall upon those who might have
only an ephemeral interest in the parish ? Should
not the burden be thrown upon the shoulders of the
landowner who had a permanent interest in it ? Then
as to the Education Act. That Act was passed in the
interest of the general community, but whatever good
had resulted, or might result from it, had not the
costs of its operation been severely felt by the tenant
fanner ? (Hear.) The Acts to which he had referred
had imposed large charges upon the Consolidated
Fund, but he begged to remind them that they were
all contributors to that fund, and that each of them
bore a portion of the burden. Again, in the case of
Board Schools, where had the burden fallen, except
upon the shoulders of the tenant farmers ? (Hear,
hear.) But this was not the only point. Juvenile
labour had been withdrawn from the farmer at the
most critical periods of the year, and a loss was
thereby entailed which could hardly be estimated by
money. Burdens of this kind should be left
upon the shoulders of the landowner, rather
than upon those of the tenant. (Hear, hear.)
Then as to highway rates. That was a question
that affected tenant farmers still more heavily,
and he hoped and believed the matter would be
be readjusted by the present Parliament, before any
long period elapsed. He was aware that political
economists maintained that everything fell upon
owners of property, and he was not prepared to dis-
pute that doctrine in its entirety. It might be true
in the long run, but it did not apply to new rates.
"When new burdens were thrown upon any parti-
cular class, they were apt to remain upon the shoulders
of that class ; and it was one of the objects of tlie
Farmers' Alliance to see that ik> additional burdens
were thrown upon the shoulders of the tenant farmers
without a note of warning being sounded on their
behalf (Hear, hear). Then as to the Agricultural
Holdings Act. W<*uld that bear the scrutiny of Par-
liamentary history ? In introducing the measure the
Duke of Richmond discoursed most eloquently upon
the sacred rights of property ? all property was to be
surrounded by the majesty of the law ; but the rights
belonging to the tenants were to be left to the mere
discretion of the landowner J This was not as it
should be (Hear, hear). Tins point had been well
put by a Suffolk farmer in regard to the question of
local option as to the closing of ptiblic-houses.
" What is the use," he asked, " of passing a measure
in favour of local option, when you leave the option
to the publicans ? " (Hear, hear, and laughter). This
observation was especially applicable to the Agricul-
tural Holdings Act ; and it might be remembered
that in a former Parliament he brought in a Bill, one
of the clauses of which was to this effect : — " That any
contract made by the tenant, after the passing of this
Act, by virtue of which he is deprived of his right to
make a claim which he would otherwise he entitled
to make under this Act, shall, so far as it
relates to such claim, be void both by law
and equity." (Hear, hear). This was denounoed as
a violation of the rights of property, and as having
a tendency to revolutionary principles, but the
present depression, which had, unfortunately, long
existed, had brought about a change of feeling on this
subject. His clause was no longer regarded as revo-
lutionary, for two or three Bills now before Parlia-
ment, which had no chance of passing, asserted the
right of the State to interfere with the freedom of
contract. The question was an important one, and

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

105

he rejoiced to find that tho country at large was
awaking toa sense of the magnitude of a pursuit upon
which so many persons were dependent. It was a
question that must be looked upon fairly and calmly
by all clashes. It must be looked at fully in the
bee, without political feeling or bias on either
side. What would lie the end of the difficulties now
before the farmer it was difficult to foresee. All he
could say was that the object of the Alliiance was to
promote the best interests of the farmers, and to
sweep away all the hindrances that existed in the way
of prosperity to agriculture — to sweep away every-
thing that handicapped the English farmer in his
competition with the foreigner. The English farmer
ought to have a fair chance in the race, and if he got
this there would be no cause for despair.

Mr. W. E. Bear then addressed the meeting, and
said that the question of tithes was one that might,
perhaps, be advantageously added to the programme
of the association. As to the Game Laws, he trusted
they would be reformed before the end of the present
session. Farmers had been asking for reform in this
direction for many years — he believed for years before
he was born. The Government, he was glad to iind,
pad no intention to drop the Hares and Rabbits Bill.
With regard to the Allianee itself, he hoped it would
be as well supported in Wiltshire as it was in Hamp-
shire, where they commenced wilh 30 members, and
had now, he believed, about 200 (applause).

Mr. Ltwood, of Maddington, moved the first reso-
lution : —

That, in the opinion of this meeting, the Farmers' Alliance
as an association of agricultural reformers, with objects
independent of party politics, deserves the support of all
who desire to see tho legal and customary hindrances to
agricultural prosperity rem* >ved.

He was a Conservative, but he did not see that he
should be sacrificing his principles by joining the
Alliance. It was only by organization and co-opera-
tion that the farmers of England could make them-
selves heard (Hear, hear). They could do no good
by a spirit of narrowmindedness. They must act
upon general and broad principles. He thanked Mr.
Gladstone and his Government for their promise to
repeal the Malt Tax, and if they did so he would not
for a moment object to the addition of a penny to the
income tax, which he regarded as one of the fairest
taxes levied in this country. He believed that
instead of setting landlord against tenant, what the
farmers were legitimately asking for would tend to an
increase of the value of land (Hear, hear).

Mr. Charles Williams seconded the resolution,
which was unanimously adopted.

Mr. COOTE proposed

" That it is desirable to organise a committee of the
Alliance in Wiltshire, with a view to increase the number of
members of the Association, as well as to watch over the
interests of farmers in the county."

This was seconded and carried by acclamation.
Mr. Coote then moved

"That the Chairman be authorised to sign a petition on
behalf of this meeting, urgag the Government to pass the
Hares and Rabbits Bill this Session, with an amendment
extending the provisions to current leases ; due compensa-
tion being allowed for existing interests."

He believed, from the kind and courteous manner in
which a deputation to Mr. Gladstone was received
the other day, that the Government were in earnest in
tiiis matter ; and he trusted that, notwithstanding
the prospects of a short session, attention would also
u to the question of tithes (Hear, hear). He
believed that if Mr. Gladstone remained in power
five or six years such questions as these would no
longer agitate the countjy.

Mr. Lampakt>, of Farley, seconded the resolution.
He had had eighteen years' painful experience of the
injury done by hares and rabbits, and he might
mention that a petition against the existing laws had
been signed by every occupier of land in his own
parish, except one.

The resolution, on being put to the meeting, was
carried unanimously.

Mr. Howard proposed a vote of thanks to the
Chairman.

This was sconded by Mr. W. Taunton, and carried
by acclamation.

The Chairman briefly acknowledged the compli-
ment, and the meeting was brought to a close. A
considerable number of persons became subscribers
to the Association.

The Detroit Post and Tribune of May 13, 1880
contains an account of the extraordinary development
of a thoroughbred Shorthorn bull owned by Richard
Hawley, of that city. The bull was 3 years old on
the 17th of April, and on the 15th he weighed 2 270
pounds, having gained 410 pounds since Sept. 23—
an increase of two pounds per diem.

Recent sales of Shorthorn Cattle in the United
States, as reported in the Cultivator and Country
Gentleman (Albany, N.Y.,) of June 24, show- the
following averages :— Draft from the herd of Dr. W.
H. Winters, Prmcestown, Ills., June 10, 41 cows and
heifers 120 dollars (£25); and 5 bulls 132 dollars
(£27 15s.); P. D. Richardson and others, at
Jacksonville, Ills., June 3, 58 animals, 67 dollars
33 cents (£14 0s. GAd.); joint sale at Pittsfield, Ills.,
June 1, 45 animals 83 dollars 22 cents (£17 6s. 9d.)';
at the three days' sale at Council Binds, Iowa, June
9-11, the Hamiltons sold 31 heifers 105 dollars
(£21 17s. 6d.), and the bulls 80 dollars (£16 13s. 4d )
Ashby Hamilton and Ficklin 39 bulls 71 dollars (£14
15s. 10d.); M. L. Devin, 31 head 103 dollars (£21
9s. 2d.); T. H. Hewett's entire herd 125 dollars (£26
0s. 10d.); and joint sale by S, H. Morrison and
others, at Minneapolis, May 26, 60 head 153 dollars
(£31 17s. 6d.)

At a sale of Jersey Cattle at San Francisco, June 8,
of Bowley Bros., 7 bull calves averaged 120 dollars
(£25), and 9 cows (4 of them with calves at their
sides) averaged 260 dollars (£54 3s. 4d. )

The following imported cows in Mr. M'Culloch's
Glenroy herd, in the Colony of Victoria, have dropped
calves, viz. :— April 15, Cowslip 41st a white heifer
to Oxford de Vere 2nd (42,084) ; Cowslip 41st by
Duke of Oxford 31st (33,713) ; dam Cowslip 26th, by
Waterloo Duke (32,815). April 20, Lady Waterloo
28th a roan heifer by Duke of Oxford 31st (33 713) •
Lady Waterloo 28th by 9th Duke of Geneva (28 391)'
dam Lady Waterloo 19th, by 2nd Lord of Waterloo
(22,198). April 29, Miss Wild Eyes 4th a roan bull
calf by Duke of Elmhurst ; Miss Wild Eyes 4th by
Earl of Norton 10th (36,587); dam Miss Wild Eyes
2nd, by Grand Piince of Claro (28,781). May 2,
Gazelle 26th a roan heifer by Fusilier (39,905) ;
Gazelle 26th by 2nd Duke of Tregunter (26' 022) •
dam Gazelle 5th, by 7th Duke of York (17,754).'
May 8, Georgie Oxford 3rd a loan bull calf by Duke of
Oxford 31st (33,713); Georgie Oxford 3rd by Oxford
Beau 4th (34,964); dam Georgie Tregunter, by 2nd
Duke of Tregunter (26,022).

Prices for Western Cattle declined 25 to 50 cents
(Is. Oid. to^ 2s. Id.) per 1001b. live weight in the

the week ending

Chicago
June 21

U.S.A., market duriin

K 2

100

AGRARIAN

THE FARMER'SMAGAZINE.

IRRECONCILABLES.

The irony of political history has never been
more strikingly illustrated than it is in the posi-
tions of parties in relation to the Compensation
for Disturbance (Ireland) Bill. That the Go-
vernment, backed by the Times and a consider-
able section of Irish landowners, should be seek-
ing to initiate what woald in effect be the esta-
blishment of fixity of teutue, valued rents, and
the free right of sale of his interest in his hold-
ing for the tenant in all parts of Ireland, while
the Irish agitators, as represented in Parliament
by Mr. Parnell and his followers, should be
opposing the proposal, is, surely, a wonderful
instance of the transformation of opinion- It
is susceptible of explanation ; but it is not the
less remarkable on that account. The amend-
ment of the Attorney-General for Ireland,
which caused a large number of Irish members
to withdraw their support from Mr. Forster's
.Bill, would exempt from liability to compensa-
tion for disturbance, on account of non-payment
<of rent, any landlord affected by the B!<tl who
had offered to a tenant the option of selliog his
interest in his holding. Now, supposing the
amendment to be incorporated with the Bill, and
the Bill to be passed, any landlord who availed
himself of this means of exemption from com-
pensation for disturbance would introduce on his
estate the principle of a right of sale by the
•tenant of the tenant-right and interest of the
datter in his holding. Such a right, once esta-
blished, would certainly not cease with the ter-
mination of the period prescribed for the opera-
lion of Mr. Forster's Bill. It is true that valued
rents and fixity of tenure are not directly com-
passed by Mr. Law's amendment ; but they
would follow the right of sale as inevitable
■ consequences. A right of sale of the tenant's
.interest in his holding would be useless if the
• landlord had the power to force up the rent so
as to absorb the value of what the incoming
tenant had bought. In Ulster rents are not
valued ; but there appears to be a give-and-take
understanding in that Province, sanctioned by
old usage, which would not necessarily follow
the introduction of the right of sale for the
tenant in other parts of Ireland. Parliament,
in all probability, would have to step in to pro-
tect the new right of the tenant, and valued
rents would be the only effective protection. As
to fixity of tenure, that is to a great extent
■secured already by the Land Act, under which
h landlord can be fined heavily for evicting a
Tenant for any other reason than non-payment

of rent or sub-letting ; and the advocates
of fixity of tenure have never — at least
net until quite recently — demanded that
a tenant shall stop in his farm if he does
not pay rent. A year ago fixity of tenure,
the right of sale by the tenant of his
interest in his holding, and valued rents, were
the three points in the charter of the most ad-
vanced politicians in Ireland. Now that these
points are all nearly within their grasp, they
are contemptuously rejected by Mr. Parnell and
his followers. A year ago, too, there was nothing
which English statesmen seemed less likely to
grant, and Irish landlords to agree to, than this
same charter of Irish Land-law reformers. Yet we
find that in a recent debate representatives of
Irish landlords objected to Mr. Forster's pro-
posals because they did not allow of the intro-
duction of the tenant's right of sale, as an
alternative to compensation for disturbance, and
that the Government, to meet the objection,
have proposed to offer that alternative, with all
its serious consequences.

What is the explanation of this apparent
anomaly ? Obvionsly this — that Mr. Parnell
and his friends want more than what is justly
due to an evicted tenant, while English states-
men and some Irish landlords, rather than allow
that excessive demand to be granted, have practi-
cally acceded to a proposal which they had pre-
viously rejeeted. That Mr. Parnell and his
followers ask for more than is fairly due to Irish
tenants is clear to demonstration. A tenant's
interest in his holding is worth what it will bring
in the market and no more. But these Irish
irreconcilables are not satisfied with this. They
want to compel the landlord tither to do without
rent until it suits the tenant's convenience to pay
it, or to be mulcted in a heavy fine, which is
arbitrarily fixed without any relation to the real
value of the tenant's interest in his farm. Pro-
bably they rely chiefly on the landlord's fear of
incurring the fine, and hope by means of it to
enable tenants to "keep a grip on the land"
without paying rent. This truly ' ' nefarious " ob-
ject it was the purpose of Mr. Law's amendment
to defeat, and, as we have shown, a great sacrifice
of either principle or prejudice — people call it
differently according to their creeds — was made
to defeat that object. The agrarian irrecon-
cilables see this clearly, and they resent
the spoiling of their plot. We should
regard them as very shortsighted in their
resentment if we did not know that,
quite lately, Mr. Parnell and his followers have
got far beyond so old-fashioned a remedy for

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

107

Irish discontent as fixity of tenure, right of sale
of tenant-right, and valued rents. They have
openly avowed that their desire is to make land-
owning so disadvantageous in Ireland that
tenants will soon be able to get fixity of tenure
without any rents to pay, and on the easiest
))..-sil»lo terms — if on any terms, properly so
called, at all. If these men could have their way,
such meagre compensation as Irish landowners
would get for handing over their estates to their
tenants would be provided at the expense, or, at
least, at the imminent risk, of British taxpayers.
We do not believe in peasant proprietorship con-
ferred in the form of a modified system of out-
door relief ; and this appears to be what the
members of the extreme Irish party demand.

Although Mr. Parnell and his followers have
now got far beyond the demand for fixity of
tenure, sale of tenant-right, and valued
rents, the great majority of Irish tenants
still desire to have that demand granted. We
should like to know, then, what they will think
of their ostensible champions for preventing the
attainment of their object when it was almost
within their grasp. There is no doubt that the
extreme agitators, by deserting the Government
on Thursday night, have sealed the fate of the
Compensation for Disturbance Bill and all that
it would have effected with the addition of Mr.
Law's amendment. The Lords will now have
the best of all excuses for rejecting the measure,
as they will be able to say that while Irish land-
lords detest it, the representatives of Irish
tenants do not want it.

THE POTATO CROP COMMITTEE.

The outcome of the Potato Crop Committee
so far, is the issue of a report, recommending the
establishment of " agricultural undertakings "in
England and Scotland under the direction of the
leading agricultural societies, and in Ireland
under the superintendence of the agricultural
department of the National Board. In the event
of these societies refusing to undertake the work,
the Committee are of opinion that Government
should appoint in each country a superintendent
who should conduct the necessary experiments
with a view to develop new and disease-resisting
varieties of the potato. That is how the matter
now stands. Iu arriving at this conclusion, the
Committee have weighed the evidence of
scientists and practical men, and, considering
the conflicting nature of some of the testimony,
ilie.^ recommendations really represent the only

practical course open to them. The scientist*
were not agreed as to the manner in which the
spores of the disease are carried from one plant
to another, and expressed some very unpractical,
notions as to what is best to be done ; on the
other hand, the practical men — some of whom-
gave very useful general information — held
rather unscientific notions as tothe nature of the
disease, so that a series of carefully conducted'
experiments is virtually the only way by which
the necessary knowledge is to be gained.

The main- feature of this- inquky k the
accumulation of evidence as to whether any
varieties of the cultivated potato plant are-
capable of resisting the disease, and, if so, to-
what extents The evidence goes to show that no-
variety of cultivated potato is disease-proof, but
that some varieties are generally supposed to re-
sist disease to some extent. That is about the sunv
and substance of all that has been brought to
light by the Committee, and the information,
so far, i» valuable as data on which to«
establish a series of experiment*. But the
simple fact that all known varieties of the potato
are subject to the disease would suggest the
possibility of the evidence proving no more than
that the supposed immunity may arise from purely
physical causes, such as the date of maturity and-
the nature of the weather in ordinary seasons at-
certain dates of the year. We may, on a future
occasion, call attention to the practical part ofr
the evidence given before the Committee in
respect of this part of the subject ; but it must
suffice for the present to point out that, so far
as the evidence goes — and, indeed, so far as
observation has hitherto gone — the early potatoes
escape the disease in ordinary seasons, whilst the
late potatoes succumb to it ; and- when weathes
that is- precisely suitable to the development of
the disease sets in earlier than usual, the early,
sorts succumb as readily as the late ones. It has
been suggested that the potato may become
disease -resisting by inheriting a sounder con-
stitution from healthy plants well cultivated,
and that mechanical impediments may be secured
by wliich the progress of the disease may be
checked — such as a thickened epidermis on the
leaf of the plant. On. these questions we can
offer no opinion whatever, except that the ex-
perimental trials recommended by the Committee
are the only possible means of solving them.
But with regard to the disease itself,, we may
point out that the scientific evidence was not of
the clearest character possible. It is known
beyond all doubt that what is called the potato
disease is simply the destructive effect of a

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

108

minute fungus. This fungus requires warmth I
and moisture to enable it to grow, and when these
conditions occur, as tht»y naturally do in the late
summer and early autumn, it grows very rapidly
indeed ; in fact, it will cover acres in a few days,
or even hours. But neither of the scientists
explained to the Committee that this rapid growth
consists of the production and reproduction of
non-sexual spores (couidia), which are developed
after warm rain with marvellous rapidity,
destroying — living upon — the tissues of the host
plant in their course. These minute spores may
be, and probably are, conveyed by the atmo-
sphere, by insects, and by many other means ;
they are very small and very light, and are free
bodies— why should they not be so conveyed 1
S j that when one plant of the fungus gets to its
conidia stage of growth, there is material
enough to infect a whole district.

Much has been said about resting-spores —
not the conidia, which do all the mischief,
but the true spores, analagous to the seed
in a higher order of plant life ; and they
certainly are of much consequence. Professor
A. De Bary, of the University of Strasbourg,
has searched for many years for these true
spores with all the careful and laborious accuracy
for which German professors are noted; but he has
not yet found them, nor does he admit that Mr.
Worthington G. Smith has found them. The
latter gentleman, however, who can scarcely
boast the prestige or accuracy of a De Bary, and
who invented a manure, " Salus," as a
"remedy" for the potato disease, finds them
literally everywhere. However, the question of
resting-spores or no resting-spores — for it is
possible the fungus does not produce them in
this climate — affects the farmer and the potato
grower, and it can certainly be no harm to de-
stroy the dead haulm and the diseased potatoes
as a precautionary measure. But the fact that
the fungus oan and does hybemate, in the
form of its thread-like mycelium, in the seed
tuber itself, is quite sufficient to account for
all the mischief. Great care, then, should be
taken to plant sound potatoes only, and to
change the seed frequently ; and the resting-
spores may wait until De Bary can tell us some-
thing definite about the result of his careful
researches. We cordially endorse the recom-
mendations of the Committee, and trust they
will be carried out.

A stud-book for draught horses will be compiled by
the Agricultural Society of New South Wales. There
are several good studs of Clydesdale and Shire-bred

]• 'ses in the Colony.

LIVER ROT.

The following letter has been sent out amongst
flockowners : —

2, Portland Place, London, W., July 5th.

Dear Sir., — The Royal Agricultural Society of
England have commissioned me to prepare a report on
liver rot in sheep. 1 understand that you have had
considerable opportunity of observing these eases, and
you will greatly assist in clearing up some o*' the
difficulties of the subject if you will be so good as to
answer the subjoined questions, and furnish any other
information bearing on this serious disease.

1. How many cases of rot had you during the past ;
and present year ? How many in former years ?

2. What is the number of your nock ? How are |
your sheep managed at different seasons of the year
as to feeding, grazing over old pastures, or penning
on the arable land l.

3. What is the extent of your holding, the
description of your land, the amount of pasture and
arable, the proportion of wet and woodland ?

4. What class of sheep chiefly sutler ? If lambs
were affected, when did they first become affected ?

5. Can you explain why some of your flock suffered
and some escaped ? Can you explain why some flocks
have been extensively and seriously diseased, while
those adjacent were unharmed, or nearly so ?

6. Can you describe the meadows or other lands
which notoriously produce rot ? Ave there on them
any open ditches, stagnant pools, spouts, or boggy
places f

7. Have yon observed any particular plants or
weeds on the lands where rot is contracted '! Is there
any greater prevalence of the disease where the grass
is allowed to get rampant, or where it is close grazed i

8. Have any cattle or horses in your farm or in
your neighbourhood been affected with flukes 'i
Amongst these animals has there been any difference
in progress or symptoms of the disease, as compared
with what is observed in sheep.

9. Have hares, rabbits, or other animals suffered
from flukes ?

10. Do you know of any calves or lambs reared on
their mother's milk in houses or sheds being affected
by llukes ? In such cases has no grass or other
fund been furnished from possibly infected land ?

11. In what months of the year do you consider
liver rot most likely to be contracted <

12. What period e-apsea between the taking up of
the embryo of lluke — the cause of the disease — and
the manifestation of the first symptoms of rot ?

13. Can you state what snails or molluscs are
common on the lands liable to rot ? Have they
increased of late years ? Arc the birds which might
prey upon them as numerous as formerly ?

14. What proportion of your sheep, having
shown symptoms of rot, eventually recover '/

15. Have you found dry food, regular supplies of
salt doses, of iron salts, or other remedies, effectual
in preventing, checking, or curing liver-rot !

Believe me, dear Sir, yours faithfully,

Fin lay Dry.

The "Fkog Trade " in America.— The Ommu&a
Globe states that quite a trade has sprung up between
Kingston, Albany, and New York in the sale and
exportation of frogs. Nearly every day the Maud
lades to Cape Vincent a quantity of dressed frogs, for
which there is a good demand on the American side.
The frogs are captured atSharbott Lake and prepared
there for shipment.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

109

Practice with Science.

-♦

The Potato and Potato Disease.
No. II.

The potato-disease is due to one plant living
aa a parasite upon another, just as liver rot is
due to one animal (the fluke) living as a parasite
upon another (the sheep). In the potato disease
the potato plant is the "host,*' a certain fungus
is the parasite. A fungus, it must be remem-
bered, is a plant of low organization which,
being destitute of green colouring matter
(chlorophyll), is unable to obtain its food from
the soil and from the air as plants ordinarily do;
but is reduced to the necessity of appropriating
either the dead or living substance of animals
and plants. The potato-disease fungus, or, as
the botanist terms it, Phytophthora infestans, is
thus a parasite on a living plant. Let us trace
the life-history of this pest.

We will commence with a spore, and leave for
a few minutes the question as to how the spore
originated. It is so small as to require a micro-
scope to see it, it is a roundish cell consisting of
semi-fluid contents surrounded by a firmer outer
wall. It falls on the leaf of a perfectly healthy
potato-plant. Being so very minute the thin
film of moisture on the leaf is enough for the
spore to move about in. It germinates, that is,
it begins to grow by sending out a fine delicate
colourless tube which speedily finds its way into
the tissue of the leaf. For this growth of the
fungus material is necessary, and the fungus
obtains it from the potato. The fungal tube
goes on growing forcing its way through the
walls of the cells which make up the leaf, and
feeding on the contents of those cells. The
fungal tube, which is called a hypha, soon be-
gins to branch, and then the various hyphae
interlace, and thus is formed a kind of weft of
delicate microscopic tubes, and the whole is
termed a mycelium. On the surface, more
especially the under surface, of every leaf of a
plant are a great number of minute apertures
known as Itomates through which gases pass in
and out of the plant. A branch of the hyplial
tube passes out through one of these stomates. It
brandies, and each branch bears a number of
minute structures called sporangia. These burst
and liberate a large number of microscopic spores
like the one with which we started. These may
fall on to the same plant, or be carried by rain,
wind, or insects to neighbouring healthy plants.
In the plant first attacked there are now the
hyphse of many spores all contributing their
share to the dense mycelium which is finding its
way through all the leaves and stems, and finally
to the tuber itself. Here and there some branches
of the mycelium are specially adapted to act as
organs of attachment and as suckers, others
again pass out through the stomates and develop
fresh crops of spores. The potato-plant struggles
on; but it has not only its own needs tosupplynow,
but also those of the fungus. It lms moreover to
make good the wear and tear of its tissue, to re^
pair its broken cells, and restore its own vigour,
liut the contest is too unequal ; the weaker the

plant becomes, the stronger grows the fungus.
The cells of the plant are destroyed, their con-
tents are absorbed, the plant sickens, the tubers
instead of becoming storehouses of nutritious
starch are rendered rotten and watery, the
haulms become blotched by the spores with
black and brown patches, and an unhealthy
odour arises. While all this means disease and
death to the plant, it means health, vigour, and
increase to the fungus which luxuriates in the
destruction it has caused, and thrives on the
weakened plant which it has attacked. Suppose
favourable conditions — warm rainy weather in
June or July, just when the flowers are appear-
on the plant, the co-operation of rain, wind, and
insects in transferring the spores from plant to
plant, and there is no reason why a single spore
should not lead to the corruption of an entire
field of potatoes. It will be seen then that in
the potato-disease fungus we have an organism
which is extremely active during a month or
six weeks in the summer, but does not manifest
itself at all during the other part of the year.
So that the questions arose,. What becomes of the
fungus between August of one year and June of
the next? and how does the fungus commence its
growth in any one season ? It was these questions
which puzzled investigators for a long time after
the facts above related were fully known. The
spores produced by the process we have described
do not possess any special power of hybernating,
that is, of remaining dormant from one season
to another, like, for example, turnip seed ; on the
contrary they germinate at once. It was prob-
able that the secret rested in the production in
some way or other of resting-spores, spores,
that is, which can remain dormant for a period
and then take on vegetative activity. Long and •
aborious investigation by means of micro-
scopes and delicate dissecting instruments at
length proved that this was so. In the -
summer of 1875, Mr. Wor-thington Smith
found the resting spores of Phytophthora infes-
tans in the leaves of a diseased potato plant,
and in 1870, after nearly twelve months' interval,
these resting-pores germinated and produced the
mycelium such as we described at the outset.
How are these resting spores produced ? This
also was determined, and it was found to involve
what naturalists call a sexual process, the forma-
tion of the ordinary spores in the warm summer
months being a non-sexual process. Towards
the close of the season the hypha; of the fungus
develop lateral enlargements. One of these, the
female, part or oogonium swells out considerably ;
the other, the male part or antheridium is rather
more slender. These two, which may be either
on tire same hypha or on different ones, at length
come in contact with each other, and there follows
a fusion of the contents of the antheridium with
those of the oogonium. The antheridium now
withers, while inside the oogonium are formed the
black resting spores.. So that this fungus, like
many other organisms, closes up the season,
during which there have been many non-sexual
generations of spores, by producing sexually the
resting spores which shall perpetuate the race
during the next season. Having learnt what

110

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

s 'ience can tell us of the potato disease fungus,
let us now turn to practice.

The great question to ask is, where does the
resting spore pass the ten months of dormancy ?
Smith's discovery points at once to the diseased
haulm of the plant, and as these haulms are often
le t lying about on dung-heaps, or in waste places,
it is obvious that more caution should be ob-
s srved. The dung-heap, for instance, should be
well fermented ; otherwise, in carting the farm-
yard manure on to the land destined for potatoes
the deadliest foe of the crop may be introduced
at the same time. Ditches and waste places
should be looked after and kept clean. But the
best safeguard is to dry the haulms on the fields
and burn them, scattering the ashes over the
land. This means absolute destruction to the rest-
ing spores, and it restores most of the mineral
matter taken out by the crop back to the land.
But since the resting spores are probably formed
within the tissue of the plant, and not outside as
is the case with the non-sexual spores, the great-
est and probably most prolific source of danger
is that the rusting spore hybernates in the tuber
itself, and is, therefore, in the case of seed-
potatoes carefully protected from one season to
the other. As soon as the tuber is planted, and
indeed before, the mycelium commences to grow,
and, following the young shoot, spreads through
the tissue of the plant. Carelessly stored potatoes
rapidly fall a prey to the disease ; hence care
should be exercised — the potatoes should be
looked over now and then and any that show
symptoms of decay should be boiled up for the
pigs, as boiling kills the fungus. Where there
is any suspicion it is also advisable at planting
time to cover the cut sets with sulphur, lime, or
weak sulphuric acid. The best safeguard, how-
ever, is on no account to employ for seed any
tubers from a crop in which the disease appeared.
The potato may look all right ; butt-he germ of the
pest may nevertheless be there. When the
disease appears likely in warm wet weather to
ravage a field, the only preventive is to cut off
the haulms and remove them, and wait for dry
weather for digging. The potatoes will not grow
any more ; but if the mycelium has not in most
cases penetrated so far down as the tubers, it is
better to have a crop of small sound potatoes
than of large diseased ones.

That the potato disease is very much in-
fluenced by the weather there can be no doubt,
and that it recurs with renewed vigour at certain
seasons is probable, and that there is some con-
nection between the virulence of the disease and
the recurrence of sun-spots is possible ; but on
these latter points we have not enough evidence
to enable us at present to speak positively.

Recent investigations show that other minute
fungi, called bacteria, help to rot the tuber.
Potatoes grown on moist soils, and soils contain-
ing much organic matter, as farmyard manure,
are most susceptible of the infection. The starch
from diseased potatoes is yellow, but it is used
for the production of an inferior kind of British
gum. It must not be forgotten that all the
fungal Btructurea we have mentioned require

delicate manipulation and the aid of a good
microscope to enable them to be examined.

Up to 1872, the potato fungus was called
Peronoxpora vastatrix, its name was then changed
to Peroitospora infestans, and it is now known as
Phytophthora infestans; all these names, there-
fore, refer to the same thing.

Poultry Farming.

It is by nonvans so difficult a matter as many

suppose to obtain a plentiful supply of eggs

all through the year. All that is necessary is to

hatch your chickens some eight or nine months

before such times as they are required to start

laying. If eggs are wanted during the autumn

and winter months, then the chickens must be

hatched early in the year, during the months of

February, March, and April. Pullets hatched

in these months ought to be laying well in

November, December, and January. This is the

time when new laid eggs sell for threepence each

in London and around the suburbs, and people

are only too glad to get them even at that price.

A hen or pullet is, after all, something like a

machine ; get the steam up to a certain

pressure, and, all being free, away goes the

engine. When your pullet arrives at the

j age of eight or nine months if she has been

j properly fed, housed, and is in a healthy condi-

I tioii, she must lay, she cannot help herself. The

I operation may be delayed for a time by fre-

[ quently removing the pullet from place to place.

I but the time arrives when even these means fail,

and she is compelled to produce her eggs.

Of course some pullets are more precocious
' than others, exactly the same as some are far
better egg-producers than others. Thus, by only
breeding from the early or best layers, in the
coarse of two or three years a marvellous im-
provement may be made in the egg-producing
capabilities of a breed. Brahmas, ;is is well-
known, soon become broody ; and yet some
people have, by carefully breeding from*the best
laying hens, produced birds which seldom want to
sit. At the present time, we know of some hens
which commenced laying bef»>re Christmas,
and they have not yet showed any desire to sit,
although they have been laying their three or
four eggs weekly ever since, and the father of
some of these birds was so good in all Brahma
points, that he took a third prize in a class of
< eighty at the last Crystal Palace show. In the
, non-sitting varieties, such as the Spanish, the
Polish, the French, Hamburghs, and others, the
natural desire to sit has been eradicated by care-
ful selection, and there are birds of these breeds
which rarely, if ever, become broody. In a few
years any breeder could obtain the same results
by only retaining for stock purposes the most
productive hens, and those showing the least
desire tosit. But on the farm, where poultry should
be kept, not only for their eggs, but for
supplying the table, it is necessary t° produce
large-framed specimens. And this end can
easily be obtained with a little care and atten-
tion. It is the common practice at most farm-

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

111

houses to kill off, as aoon as they are big enough,
all the largest ami most forward cockerels, while
the smaller and more weakly birds are retained
for breeding. This goes on year after year, and
the result is that size and stamina and early
maturity are in a great degree lost. What is
needed is that one or two of the largest and best
cockerels should be retained for breeding, and
the slow-growing and smaller birds be killed
or sold. The breeder of exhibition poultry kills
his inferior specimens directly he notices any
blemish in them, so as to make room for the
more promising and better specimens. He never
dreams of retaining for stock purposes the small,
weedy things. It is by this selection that the
laying properties may be increased, and a supe-
rior strain of table fowls produced at a very little
expense or trouble. At the present time several
gentlemen interested in table poultry are engaged
in producing birds which shall, if possible, be
heavier and finer specimens than those hitherto
seen, ami there can be little doubt they will
succeed in their efforts.

Dairy Farming.

It is now upwards of ten years since the fac-
tory system of cheese-making was first introduced
into this country, attracting at that time great at-
tention. We think that a short review of the pro-
gressof thissystem, andastatement of the position
which it now, after lengthened experience, holds
in the estimation of dairy farmers will be in-
teresting to many of our readers.

Cheese factories were first established in
America, where their success has from the first
been remarkable. Much of the improved
quality of the American cheese appears to be
due to thesuperiormanagementof thecheesemade
in factories over that of ordinaryfarm dairies. The
fact that factory-made American cheese uniformly
commanded higher prices in our markets
attracted much attention as ear'y as 1808, and
everal lectures and papers were given upon the
subject before the London Farmers' Club, the
Society of Arts, and the Royal Agricultural So-
ciety, all of them advocating the establishment
of these factories in England, as a means of
improving the average quality and economising
the cost of the production of English cheese.
It was not, however, until the spring of 1870
that the tirst practical attempt to introduce into
this country the American co-operative system
of cheese factories was made in Derbyshire under
the auspices of an influential committee of land-
owners, agents, and leading farmers in the neigh-
bourhood of Derby. Two skilled managers were
specially brought over from America to superin-
tend the erection of the necessary buildings, the
purchase of plant, and the making of the cheese
for at least the first year. Various opinions
were held, and warm discussions took place as
to the merits of the system, and its appli-
cability to English dairy farming, some
with the conservatism and adherence to
time-honoured practices characteristic of English
farmers, criticising in a somewhat unfriendly

way any deficiencies, real or fancied, in the
working of the system and its results ; others
with the enthusiasm natural to those who are
energetically advocating a new system, in the
working of which they are personally engaged,
being somewhat impatient of criticism, ready to
ascribe all objections to ignorance or prejudice,
and confident in the expectation that British
dairy farming would be revolutionised by the
general establishment of cheeseundbutter factories
in every convenient centre. Some of the Derby-
shire factories were very successful in the earlier
years of their management. The managers
gave a huge amount of time and intelligence to
their work. Cheese was then selling very well,
80s. per cwt. being obtained, with a quick de-
mand, and the novelty of the system helped the
sale < >f the cheese at first produced at the factory.
New factories were started in various centres in
the county, and several were also established in
Cheshire and the West of England.

It is, however, in Derbyshire that the factory
system has taken the deepest root, and we think
there are now as many in that county as in the
rest of England. We cannot say that the system
has proved the unqualified success that its pro-
moters expected, although we fully acknowledge
its merits and the indirect beneficial results.
The management of some of the factories was
faulty, sometimes from causes to which com-
mittees and co-operative societies are specially
liable, and poor returns were the result,
It was found that factory-made cheese, like
American cheese, which is manufactured in a
similar way, lacked the keeping quality, and in
times of slow demand this caused heavy loss.
Contributors of milk to the factory, disheartened
by the poor returns, withdrew from the associa-
tions. The demand for milk for London, Birming-
ham, and the Yorkshire towns diverted some of
the supply, and the establishment of fresh fac-
tories received a check from which it has never
recovered. Several of the best managed associa-
tions have continued to produce an excellent
commodity, and have probably excelled in profit
the average of farm-house dairies in the district.

All of the factories which are in proximity to
a railway station now combine the sale of milk
with the making of cheese. One of them is
taken in hand by a London wholesale milk
dealer, who pays the contributors a fixed price,
and after receiving the milk and refrigerating it
sends it regularly up to London, only making
cheese when the London market is glutted.
Another factory, the one first established, disposes
of its milk for consumption in the town of Derby.
Other factories sell milk whenever they can
do so for profit, and have arrangements made
with London dealers by which milk is sent up
in the winter season, at the end of the week all
the year round, as then the demand is always in-
creased, and at any other times when extra milk
is required. By means of the telegraph an
extra supply can be promptly obtained, and
this is doubtless a convenience to those engaged
in the wholesale milk trade, in which the
demand is somewhat uncertain and variable.
The mixed milk of the various contributors

112

THE FARMER'S MAG AZ INI

to the factory, although carefully refrigerated at
the factory before being sent up to town, is not,
however, so reliable as milk properly refrigerated
on the farm and sent direct without delay.

More than one of the factories, and probably
the most successful, instead of being co-opera-
tive institutions, have fallen into the hands of one
individual, who purchases the milk from his
neighboui'3 to make into cheese. The manage-
ment of one proprietor who has thorough
knowledge of his trade and business ability is
far superior generally to that of a committee,
where the best man does not always carry his
point, where responsibility is divided, and
where the weakness of divided cousels is often
apparent.

One factory under the control of an individual
proprietor produces a large quantity of excellent
Stilton cheese, and as this, contrary to the gene-
rally received notion, is, we believe, made from
new milk without any admixture of extra cream,
the prutit should be considerable. Another private
factory turns out fine Cheshire cheese.

Space would fail us to state thoroughly the
merits of, and objections to, the factory system
as compared with well equipped farm-house
dairies. Whilst we note the fact that the factory
system is not extending at present, and does not
satisfy the expectations of its first introducers
or prove as successful as in America, we must
admit that incidentally it has done good. The
careftdly kept records of these factories have
enlightened many dairy fanners as to the money
value of milk, its variations in yield of curd at
various periods of the milking season, and as to
many other details of dairy statistics of which
before they were ignorant. In economy of
manufacture and in excellence of storage of
young cheese with a view to early maturity, and
in careful management, they have also set an
example to all makers of cheese. They have,
too, contributed to the extension of the milk
trade. Farmers having become accustomed
through sending milk to the factories, to the
punctual delivery of milk, have been the more
ready to deliver their milk at the railway sta-
tion, and by bargain with a London dealer to
secure a somewhat higher price for the milk
than was obtainable at the factory.

Samples and Patterns. — Extension of limits of
size and weight of patterns or Bamples addressed to

tiie United States of America. — In future the limits
of weight ami size allowed for packets of trade pat-
t ins or samples addressed to the United States of
America will be increased to those recently adopted
fqr patterns addressed to France, Belgium, and
Luxemburg. The maximum weight of each packet
will be raised from 8 ounces to 12 ounces, and the
m ixiunim dimensions from 8 inches to 12 inches in
length, 4 inches to 8 inches in wi lih, 2 inches to 4
inches in depth. In all other respe ts the conditions
regulating the transmission of trade patterns or
samples to the United States through the post remain
unaltered.

A correspondent to the Canada Globe (Toronto)
suggests that all travelling stud horses should be
lice selby a properly qualified veterinary surgeon
employed by the Government, with a view to improve
the bieeds of horses in Canada.

MARKET GARDENING FOR
FARMERS.

No. I.

By Charles Whitehead,

Many agriculturists utterly decline to believe
that any important help can be given to them in
these changed and still changing times, from the
adoption of market gardening, or the cultivation
of vegetables as a part of the routine of farm
cropping. Many jest at the notion, and hold it
as ridiculous, while not a few think that it would
be beneath the dignity of farmers who have large
holdings to turn their attention to the production
of cauliflowers and cabbages, and to superintend
the somewhat petty details of growing and pack-
ing vegetables and herbs for market. On the
other hand, it is evident that the idea is slowly
gaining ground, and there are not a few large
occupiers of land, who, having perchance had a
pleasant foretaste of the profits of this business,
are inclining seriously to adopt it. It has hap-
pened to some of these that they have been
lucky enough to have had fields of fine tumips,or
rape greens,or cabbages in seasons of scarcity,as,
for instance, in 1879, when all green-stuff was
exceptionally short and dear, and having sent
the produce to market, realised most satisfactory
prices for it. These fortunate " hits,'' as well
as the ru mours of the splendid returns that are
made by market gardeners proper, have set the
more shrewd or the more enlightened thinking
as to how they can best work in a system of
vegetable culture with that of their usual farm
crops. When it is discovered that this can be
eflected without a revolution, and,moreover, with-
out any loss of dignity or position, also that the
gains make an important addition to the profits
of the farm, there is no doubt that the system
will be largely adopted where the soil, situation,
and other conditions are favourable.

In the first place, there is nothing at all dero-
gatory in the cultivation of vegetables upon
farms ; nor, in the second place, need it entail
irksome supervision or laborious attention to
petty details. It is by no means suggested that
farmers should become market gardeners like
those who toil from morn till dewy eve, and till
their small holdings with marvellous elaboration,
obtaining enormous returns of varied produce —
whose eye is always watching the growth of one set
of crops while the mind is reading the chances of
others to follow them in the most rapid succes-
sion. The devotion of the market gardeners
near London to their all-engrossing gardens
almost passes the love of the Belgian peasant-
proprietors for their little farms. They think of
nothing, hope for nothing, and care for nothing
beyond these. Those who advocate vegetable-
growing upon farms do not wish to bring farmers
down to this dead level of self -absorption, nor
that they should fall in any way from their
higher estate, and give up for trifles of mint and
cummin the cultivation of cereals and other farm
crops ; but that they should, like many in Essex,
Surrey, Kent, and Middlesex, supplement these
with vegetables of various kinds. My report
in a recent volume of the Journal of the

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

113

K.'Y.il Agricultural Society of England upon
" Market-gardens and Market-garden Farms,"
shows that witliin a radius of 12 miles from
London the market gardeners confine their atten-
tion to the production of vegetables, herbs, and
flowers, upon holdings ranging in extent from ten
to lifty acres, while beyond this radius, in very
many cases, vegetables of the bulkier kind, such
as peas, cabbages, French beans, scarlet-runners,
cauliflowers, and onions, are most successfully
grown in alternation with the usual agricultural
crops upon farms of average extent. Upon
some of these market-garden farms the profits
occasionally are very large, almost equal to those
made per acre upon regular market-gardens, in
cases where they are thoroughly well done, and
there is no earthly reason why the practice fol-
lowed in the counties named above, which was
gradually evolved from the market gardening
which kept close to the skirts of the Metropolis
for nearly two centuries, should not be extended
in all directions throughout the country. Caro
and judgment must be exercised in the selection
of farms suitable for vegetable production. There
are certain conditions that are essential and indis-
pensable. No one would recommend him whom
fate had fixed with a farm upon the chalk, with
land having a slight superficial covering of soil,
on the Wiltshire or Sussex Downs, or upon the
light lands of parts of Norfolk and Suffolk
to abandon barley and the four-course shift,
and set himself to grow peas, onions, and scarlet-
runners. Neither would it be desirable that
land upon the Cotswold or Hampshire hills
should be made a garden of cucumbers, or given
over to coleworts, broccoli, and to the detriment
of the flocks of West County Downs and
Shropshires. Situation must first of all de-
termine the eligibility of land for the cultivate >n
of vegetables. It must not be many miles distant
from a railway station in direct communication
with a town. Land which is situated within an
easy distance — carting distance — of a town pri-
marily is eligible, because the growers of produce
are enabled to send vegetables in their own carts
direct to the market, and to load back with
manure. For this reason the market-garden
farmers and market gardeners situated within
15 miles of London have an immense advantage
over all others beyond the pale. Still there is
already much land in several counties of England
far away from London, and from other towns
of importance, successfully devoted to the pro-
duction of vegetables, whence the produce is
taken to market by rail, and to which manure is
brought by railway trucks, barges, or traction
engines. Thus, near Colchester, 50 miles from
London, andnear Bedford, 50 miles from London,
also at Sandwich, in Kent,80 miles fiom London,
and at Gravesend,25 miles distant, vegetables are
extensively cultivated, and pay a good profit in
spite of the distance from the Metropolis.
Cauliflowers come up in quantities to London
from Cornwall, and many also are sent from the
neighbourhood of Mount Sorrel, in Leicester-
shire, which come in well after the supply from
Cherbourg and other parts of France has pretty
well ceased. It is a curious fact that the bulk of

the vegetables grown in this country and in
foreign countries is sent straight to London, as
being a safe and almost certain market, and that
many of the large towns, such as Manchester,
Birmingham, and Liverpool, and towns of much
less Size, are to a great extent supplied from
London with some kinds of vegetables. Fish, as-
is well known, is sent from London to supply
the shops of the sea-ports at which it has been
caught or landed ; in the same way, vegetables
are for the most part distributed from the
markets of the universal centre of attraction,
which, of course, adds considerably to their cost
to the ultimate consumer. Those who are in
London, and in all towns, and those who spend
a few weeks at watering-places, know how
fearfully dear all vegetables are. In some
seasons the price of all kinds of green-stuff
and salad materials are almost prohibitory
to mechanics and artisans, while at most times
they can only be had occasionally and as
luxuries, although in addition to those grown in
Great Britain large quantities of fresh vegetables
and salad materials are impoited from Germany,
Holland, France, the Channel Islands, and other
countries. The amount of these imports has
steadily increased during 20 years from 185!), as
in that year the value of them was only £24,399,
as against £204,525 in 1878. Surely theEnglish
producers who live within reasonable distances
from railways and towns can compete with the
foreign growers of all the bulkier kinds of vege-
tables ! It is fully believed that they can, also
that there is an almost unlimited demand for all
kinds of well-grown succulent vegetables at pay-
ing prices, if only then* distribution were better
arranged, and it were not considered necessary
to crowd everything into London.

With regard to the soil, it need not be
eminently fertile by nature, nor of any peculiar
characteristics. A moderately fertile texture-
and fair properties of absorbing and retaining
moisture, with a moderately porous subsoil, are
requisite ; which combination of qualities may be
formed upon most of the geological formations.
Plenty of manure and thorough cultivation will
render soils possessing the attributes mentioned
above capital media for the production of vege-
tables. Upon most even of the very poorest farms;
there are places in valleys and near the home-
steads where these might be grown with advan-
tage. There is nothing particular in the soil of
the famous market-gardens and market-garden
farms near London, that is, as regards their
intrinsic or natural qualifications. Much of the
Essex land, for example, upon which almost
fabulous quantities of various produce are grown
inthecourseof ayear,is merely an indifferent clay
upon the London clay, three or four feet in thick-
ness,resting upon gravel beds. Without frequent
and huge application of London manure it would
be incompetent to get such increase. The real
value of the land in the market-garden farm district
is small, and a hedge sometimes divides land
cultivated as a market-garden farm, which is
worth from £4 to £5 per acre, from land of pre-
cisely the same composition cultivated in an

114

THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE,

ordinary manner with farm crops, whose letting
value is from 30s. to £2 per acre.

The same remarks apply to the noted market
gardens of Surrey, where common soil upon the
London clay has been enriched for centuries
from the stables of London, and pulverised by
perpetual spade culture. In some parts of Mid-
dlesex and Hertfordshire the land by nature is
still less desirable, and in Sandwich, in Kent, to
which place, according to old Fuller, " gardening
crept out of Holland," the soil is a useful, but not
inherently very valuable clay loam upon the
Thanet beds and Woolwich beds of the lower
London tertiaries that crop up and overlie the
chalk. Having shown that the ch< >ice of situation
and of soil suited for the purpose of market
gardening is large and wide, it is proposed to
make the consideration of climate and the kinds
of crops that are best, and other points of detail,
the subject of subsequent articles.

THE LADY-FARMERS' CLUB.

_ +

The evening of Tuesday arrived, and several
neighbours of Mrs. Dauby assembled around her
hospitable tea-table, wondering and a little
amused at the reasons she had given for asking
there. It would be tedious to enumerate the
names of all who were there. Some had nearly
played out their part in life's drama, while others
were just beginning the most active part of it ;
but the larger number were bearing the heat and
brunt of middle life. Mrs. Danby had the re-
putation amongst her friends of being one who
could, on occasion, take her own path and folio v
it out, regardless of adverse criticism, and as
she was generally considered to be a woman of
cultivated mind and intelligence, her friends were
disposed to listen to her attentively when she
expounded to them somewhat explicitly her
immediate object in bringing them together.
She told them how her thoughts had been turned
with concern to the condition of affairs around
them ; how as friend after friend succumbed in
one way or another to the pressure of circum-
stances her heart was filled with anxiety and
trouble ; and In > w thequestions came unbidden , but
too strongly to be forgotten or put on one side —
Are we wives, mothers, and daughters respon-
sible ? If not responsible for the past, is there
not a lesson we can learn for the future I Have
we in all the relations of life fulfilled our duties
to the very utmost of our power, and have we
always remembered that every privilege involves
a duty, and every duty a responsibility i " Dear
friends," she continued, "if by a little friendly
chat amongst ourselves, if by looking carefully
to our own conduct in the past we see where and
in what manner we have failed in any duty
which lay to our hands, and if by mutual inter-
change of ideas and the strengthening of each
other in a desire and determination to do better,
we in some degree help those who are dearest to us
to bear their burden, then we shall not have
talked together in vain. I propose that we
should form a Ladies' Club, and meet weekly for
a time to discuss everything thai concerns us,

and I think, if you agree with riie, that some
good may come to our homes, and perhaps to the
homes of others." A silence of some minutes
followed the conclusion of Mrs. Danby's ad-
dress, which was at length broken by Mrs.
Swayne, an elderly lady, and one of the old
schoi >1. Mrs. Swayne was a notable housekeeper,
her house being the perfection of cleanliness.
Housekeeping, indeed, was to her the business
of life, and right well she performed that duty
as far as she saw it.

" Well, Mrs. Danby !" said she, " other ladies
must have their own opinions ; but as far as I
can see, the young women of the present day
think too much of dress, fashion, and pleasure,
and not enough of their children and servants.
When I was a girl a farmer's daughter was taught
to bake and churn — ay, and very often to brew ;
but if she did not know how to brew she knew
how beer ought to be brewed, and this is more
than can be said of most farmers' daughters now.
Ottt young girls are taught to sit in the parlour
and do fancy work, and when they marry they
expect their houses to manage themselves. Like
master like servant. A careless mistress makes
a careless servant, and as the family increases,
instead of comfort within doors there is discom-
fort, and then the husband gets careless and
everything indoors and out goes wrong. I
have seen this many times, and I think it is one
of the greatest faults of the present day. "

Now Mrs. Swayne, although well able to hold
her own, was not accustomed to speak before
even so many friends as were in the room at that
time, and I dare say she was a little nervous .and
excited, and very probably did not express her
ideas with that polish and form which more ex-
perienced speakers might have used, but I am
still inclined to think there was a substratum of
truth in what the old lady said, and some of my
readers may agree with me. Not so Mrs.
Davison.

Now Mrs. Davison was a young lady number-
ing some thirty years, with eyes as dark and as
sparkling as black diamonds. She had a quick
nervous manner, which showed a temperament
of great energy, not unmixed with irritability.
She was not famed for her stay-at-home pro-
clivities. She and her husband both loved
pleasure, and managed to get their full share of
it. Field sports had great charms for him, and
she could wield the tennis racket with great
credit against many a practised player. But let
us give her her due, and she will not have small
measure meted out to her. Was there a village
bazaar, a school fete, or a school-room penny
reading in hand — who so energetic, so un-
tiring, or so clever in resource as Mrs. Davison ?
She was the moving spirit in many a good work
that but for her unflagging energy would have
fallen to the ground. Now Mrs. Swayne's re-
marks bad just so much applicability to herself
as to raise in her mind a determination to resist
the half imputation on her oavii mode of life.

"I cannot see," she said, "that we are to be
blamed for anything in these bad times. It is
all the fault of the Americans ; their corn comes
in and swamps our markets, though it is a

THE FARMER'S .d A(i A/.IS E

115

strange thing that fanners sin mid be undersold
iti tin ir own country. Of course of the political
reasons for free trade I know nothing ; but I do
know that we may slave and toil day after day,
and the end of it all is a bare living and nothing
to show at the end of the year. \Ve cannot do
more than we can, and Heaven knows that is
little enough."

It was well known that Mrs. Davison prac-
tically did not know the word " toil," and there
was a half -sup pressed laugh on some faces as
she spoke in this strain. Some of the younger
women were glad to be defended from the
charge made against them by Mrs. Swayne ; but
they wondered if the well known character of
their defender would strengthen their cause.
Mrs. Davison continued : — M Some people tell
us we farmers' wives ought to keep more poul-
try and look after our cows ourselves, and this,
that, and the other; but I say to these would-
be reformers, Let them try it, and they will find
all is not gold that glitters." It is plainly to be
seen that in all this there was no argument —
only assertion. To many members of the com-
pany this was too obvious to be passed over.
Several others joined in the conversation ; but
their remarks seemed to me scarcely worth re-
p >rting, as they were mostly illconsidered, if
not flippant. It was clear that many of the
ladies had not come prepared to look with pro-
per seriousness upon the need of careful discus-
sion. The proposal was new to them, and they
needed time to think over it in order to bring
their minds into a proper state for anything
worthy of the name of a debate. Mrs. Danby,
therefore, only gave expression to the views of
the majority when she suggested that as discur-
sive talk might not be so productive of good as
more sustained discussion, they should each come
prepared that day week with some definite
remarks, either written or prepared to be spoken,
on ' ' Agricultural Depression, and the part women
can take in mitigating its consequences." This
was put to the meeting and carried unani-
mously.

WHAT CAN BE DONE FOR
FARMERS.

The following is a condensed report of a paper read
before the Botley Fanners' Club by Mr. W. C.
Spooner : — The grievous difficulties attending English
agriculture, and those connected with it, whether
landlords or tenants, is a conclusion to which all
paying any attention to the subject must have long
since arrived ; and it is of no use to shut our eyes to
the fact or to bury our heads in the sands with the
idea that what the eyes do not see the heart does not
feel. The peculiarities attending the letting of land
in this country cause the depression to be felt more
severely by one particular class than is the ease in
other countries, where, from the very first, the
depression is shared by all the classes who are inte-
rested. Here, however, the labourer goes scot free ;
he fares alike, whether the sun or the rain predomi-
nates, and only feels the effect of bad times in the
third degree. The owner of the soil is severely
affected, but it comes on him in the second degree.
The occupier stands in the front rank, having engaged

to pay a certain rent and other charges ; he it is who
receives the first shots, although, when his ranks
are decimated or prostrated, it is the office of the
landowner, as best ne can, to occupy his place and fill
the gap. Formerly the principle was recognised by
the system of corn rents, where the rent rose or fell
according to the price of grain. Then war, unfavour-
able seasons, and other causes had the effect of raising
the price and increasing the profit and enabling the
farmer to pay increased rent, but now this is no
longer the case ; a fierce foreign competition keeps
the price permanently low, and neutralizes all other
causes. The immense losses sustained by agricultu-
rists in the last few years, and particularly during the
last, is now such a well known and universally
acknowledged fact that its assertion is like the repeti-
tion of a thrice-told tale again to record it ; and it is
doubtless true that a sum etpaal to the annual rental
of the kingdom has been swept away during the past
year, and principally out of the farmers' pockets and
those who have stood in the position of his backers.
Of this large sum we shall not be far wrong if we
assume that three-fourths is due to disastrous weather
— the glut of rain and the absence of sun, and one-
fourth to the effect of foreign competition. The former,
we may venture to hope, will pass away ; but nine out < f
every ten thoughtful men who have turned their
attention to the subject agree that foreign competition
will continue in as great or in a greater ratio than
ever. Never in the memory of man has emigration
gone on to such an extent as at the present time.
Shiploads after shiploads leave the port of Liverpool
weekly, or daily, laden with emigrants. The passage
is cheap, and the voyage is short, the promise is great
and what do they go for ? They go to mend their
condition of life, and they do not go with empty
pockets, and their principal purpose is to raise wheat
on the fertile plains of the western continent to sup-
ply England and Europe.

If you will compare the size of the vast territories,
both in the States and Canada, adapted to the cheap
production of wheat, as shown on this map, you will
be struck by the remarkable disproportion between
the country that produces and that expected to con-
sume, and it remains a remarkable problem to be
solved in the future whether the consuming powers
of the latter can go on increasing in arithmetical
progression, and how long she will be able to find the
money to pay for it. We have a great deal of accu-
mulated wealth, much of which is employed in other
countries, and a great number of people who are
living on their incomes. We have also a great many
valuable mines, the products from which tend to the
employment of labour and the production of wealth ;
but will this be sufficient to enable us to continue to
import three-fourths of our food, and to pay the taxes
of other countries in addition to our own ?

These observations lead up to the question — the
present position of agriculture. The unfavourable
position and aspect of agriculture, and the large
number of farms in the market, arises partly, no
doubt, from the vast less of capital experienced by
farmers, but still more by the uncertainty and doubt
which hangs over the future — the fierce competition
to which farmers are exposed. It is all-important to
those who wish to take farms to weigh well their
position, and, without giving way to timidity and
distrust, to reason out well the prospects of the
future, for after all it must be borne in mind that it
is the farmer who fixes the rent, although influenced
like others by competition and advice.

The favourite crop on loamy arable land in this
country has long been wheat, for which it was

116

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

thought our climate was particularly suitable, and it
was a crop that usually responded well to high farm- i
ing. Within the last few years a change has come j
over the shadow of our dream, and it becomes us well I
to consider the prospects of the future. It is found
that an enormous amount of prairie land, hoth in the I
States and Canada, is well adapted for growing wheat,
and that, although the crop in the former rarely ex-
ceeds sixteen bushels per acre, yet the expense is so
inconsiderable that the wheat can be thrashed out
and landed in this country at from 36s, to 40s. per
quarter, and that with a profit

Rent for the future must depend on what a farmer,
with capital, is disposed to give for a farm, and this
will be founded on the profit he expects to make.
Unless lie can see a fair prospect of making 10 per
cent, that is 5 per cent for his capital and 5 per cent
for his industry, skill, and risk, he would be unwise
to engage in farming.

But what are the agricultural measures by which
farming can be put on its legs ? If legislation can, by
wise and just measures, afford a certain amount of
relief, the landowners will be benefited to the extent
of this relief. The thing will settle itself by-and-by.
The country's thanks are due to those who succeeded
in passing the measures by which foreign cattle
diseases have, to a large extent, been kept out of the
country, and which, if not done, would have deluged
the kingdom with disease, and have precipitated
agriculture into a still greater abyss than is even n«W
tlie case. The defects and grievances attending the
rating of property which have long been complained
of. It is true that a good deal of relief has been
given by the rating of Government property, and
mines, woods, and game ; but unfortunately the
benefit has been neutralized by the imposition of
other rates, such as that for education and the repair
of roads, so that the total sum amounts to many
millions, one half of which may be considered to be
imposed on land and the other half on buildings. It
is a standard argument that this local_ taxation ought
not to be solely imposed on one species of property,
but that all kinds ought to share alike, and that it
should be levied in the manner of an income tax.
There is certainly much apparent force in the argu-
ment, particularly with all those new imposts, other
than the old poor laws, subject to which a large
portion of the landed property has changed hands.
This can only be dealt with by separating local from
imperial charges, and making the latter payable from
imperial sources. The main roads of the country, the
charge for gaols and lunatic asylums, police (whole or
part), and many others, should betaken from imperial
sources, and probably the support of the indoor poor
might likely be added, which, with more careful and
economical management, might afford sensible relief,
particularly if any of the schemes for the encourage-
ment of thrift (as recommended by Lord Carnarvon)
should become practical. The mode of taking the
averages which regulate the tithe-rent charge has long
been a practical grievance familiar to every one who
has had anything to do with the question. The
practice of most farmers for some years past has been
to sell only the best of his growth, and to keep the
worst at home for feeding purpose. A remedy is
urgently called for, and should have been given long
ago. The clergy, whilst they have participated in the
advantage of cheaper food, have received more than
was justly, although not illegally, due, and although
some few have set an excellent example of allowing a
rebate it is by no means general. All agree that the
returns ought to be compulsory and made by the
grower only, though attested by the buyer, and should

only be made once, not repeated in every market to
which the sample may be taken and resold. It is
most essential that the tenant should have control
over the ground game. The Law of Distress is bad
in every respect — in its principle and its operation.
The power it confers on landlords has often prevented
them from previously ascertaining the circumstances
of an applicant for a farm, and has caused themselves
or their stewards to admit men without means, to the
great detriment of the land and of trade, knowing
that at the last they could pounce upon them for rent,
to the serious injury of other creditors. The law
should be limited to a half-year's rent. Anything
more should rank with other debts. To revert, in
conclusion, to the agricultural position, the acreage
of wheat has considerably diminished of late years,
but, assuming that three millions of acres are devoted
to this crop in Great Britain, and that tlure is a loss
from foreign competition of £2 2s. per acre on this,
or 10s. 6d. per acre on the arable land throughout,
there is a sum of between six and seven
millions to be made up, or, if this were spread
over all the arable land (some eighteen mil-
lions of acres), it would amount to about 7s.
per acre. Now, if the sum of 2s. 6d. were pro-
vided or restored by legislative measures it would
then leave the sum of 4s. 6d. per acre on the arable
land, to come out of rent or other sources, which
would bring the rental back to what it was some
years ago.

The resolutions proposed by Mr. Spooner and
passed at the meeting appeared in our columns last
week.

The Harks and Rabbits Bill. — At a meeting
of the Lincolnshire Chamber of Agriculture on July
9th, at Lincoln, which was composed of some 20
gentlemen, a resolution against the Hares and
Rabbits Bill was carried by the casting vote of the
chairman. It would be of little concern that such a
resolution was passed if the members who composed
that meeting were generally known, and the report
was confined to the district ; but it ought not to go
forth that the tenant-fanners of Lincolnshire are
opposed to this Bill, because it is inconceivable and
contrary to common sense that men should not wish
to protect themselves from the loss consequent upon
the destruction of their crops by ground game. The
prominent members of our Chamber of Agriculture at
Lincoln are well known to be about as interested in
game preserving and the pleasures to be derived from
it as the most ardent game preserving proprietors ;
and the leading speakers the other day live in the low
country where a hare or rabbit is really about as
' ' scarce as a woodcock. " These gentlemen were in force,
and appeared to have overpowered the more thought-
ful and considerate of men — if any such were there.
The Lincoln Chamber is in direct opposition to every
chamber in the United Kingdom, and it must not bo
understood that the Chamber upon this question
represented the fooling of the tenant-farmers of Lin-
colnshire.— Stamford Mercury.

Contamixatkd Milk. — A serious outbreak of
enteric fever in Glasgow has been traced to a supply
of contaminated milk. Some of the attendants
having been affected with this disease, the milk
operating as a medium, conveyed the ailment to
numerous customers of a dairy in town, and many
deaths have ensued.

The Ramornie Meat Works Company arc extending
their operations this season.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

117

AGRICULTURAL MEETINGS IN 1880.

AUGUST 3 and 4.— North West of Ireland Agricultura
Society— Meeting at Londonderry. Entries close July
12. President, The Duke of Abercorn. Secretary, Mr.
Thos. W. Lloyd, Shipqtiay Street, Derry.

AUGUST 3, 4, and 5.— Yorkshire Agricultural Society-
Meeting at Barnsley. Entries closed. President,
Walter T. W. S. Stanhope, Esq., M.P. Secretary, Mr.
Marshall Stephenson, York,

AUGUST 4.— Long Sutton Agricultural Society. Meeting at
Long Sutton. Entries close July 27. President, Mr.
John Algernon Clarke. Secretary, Mr. John Win. Swain,
Long Sutton.

AUGUST 1.— Badminton Farmers' Club— Meeting at Bad-
minton. Entries close July 19. President, his Grace
the Duke of rieaufort, K.G. Secretary, Mr. Richard W.
Llovd, Badminton.

AUGUST 4.— Crook Agricultural Seeiety— Meeting at Crook.
Entries close July 22. President, Viscount Boyon
Brancyseth. Secretary, Mr. Thomas Pickering, Albert
Hill, Bishop Auckland.

AUGUST 5. — Co(raetdale Agricultural Society— Meeting a*u
Rothbury. Entries close July 15. President, Earl Percy,
M P. Secretary, Mr. Robert Donkdn, Rothbiary, Morpeth,
Northumberland.

AUGUST 8.— Tynesifle Agricultural Society— Secretary, Mr.
A. Wood, Cerbridge.

4.UGUST 7.— Thornton Agricultural Society— Meeting at
Thornton. Entries close August 1. President, Isaac
Wood, Esq. Secretary, Mr, T. Jarratt, New Inn,
Therntosi, Bradford.

AUGUST 10.— Durham County Agricultural Society— Meet-
ing at Stockton-on-Tees. Entries close Secretary,
Mr. Thos. Wetherell.

AUGUST 11. — East Derbyshire Agricultural Society,
Meeting at Chesterfield. President, P. S. Arkwright,
Esq., M.P. Secretary, Mr. Thos. Wardle.

AUGUST 11, It, and 13— Royal Agricultural Society of
Ireland — Meeting at Clonmel. Entries close July 12.
President, Marquis of Waterford. Secretary, Mr. Sey-
mour Mowbray, 42, Upper SaekvilVe Street, Dublin.

AUGUST 12.— Dalkeith Agricultural Society — Meeting at
Dalkeith. Entries close July 29. President, The Duke
of Bnccleuch. Secretary, Mr. James Wilson, Wester
Cowden, Dalkeith.

AUGUST 18. — Beamish, Pontop, and Consett Agricultural
Society— Meeting in Shotley Bridge District. Entries
close August 4. President, Colonei Joicey. Secretaries,
Mr. John Richards, Beamish; Mr. George Ridley,
Stanley.

AUGUST 25.— Ormskirt. Southport, and Battle Agricultural
Society — Meeting at Southport. Entries close August 7.
Secretary, Mr. Robert Yawesley, 19, Walton Park, Walton,
near Liverpool.

AUGUST 25.— Tarporley Agricultural Society— Meeting at
Chester. Entries close, August 11. President, J.
Blelock, Esq. Secretary, Mr. William Vernon, 4, Lawn
Ends, Tarporley,

AUGUST 26.— Penistone Agricultural Society— Meeting at
Penistone. Entries close August 16. President, W.
Spencer Stanhope, Esq., M.P. Secretary, Mr. J. N.
Dransfieid, Penistone, near Sheffield.

AUGUST 26.— Ricbmondshire Agricultural Society— Meeting
at Seyburn. Entries close August C. President, Col.
Wade Dalton, C.B. Secretary, Mr. John Wetherell,
Richmond, Yorks.

AUGUST 27.— Shropshire Agricultural Society— Meeting at
Wellington, Salop. Entries close . President,

Stanley Leighton, Esq., M.P. Secretary, Mr. John Pearce,
Market Drayton.

AUGUST 23.— Halifax and Calder Vale Agricultural Society
— Meeting at Halifax. Entries close August 14. Presi-
dent, Lieut.-Col. Sir Henry Edwards, Bart. Secretary,
Mr. William Irvine, 18, Cheapside, Halifax.

SEPTEMBER 1.— Airedale Agricultural Society.— Meeting
atBingley. Entries close August 23. President, F. S.
Powell, Esq. Secretary, Mr. Jesse Thompson, Main
Street, Bingley, Yorks.

SEPTEMBER 2, 3, 4, and 6.— Royal Manchester, Liverpool,
and North Lancashire Agricultural Society — Meeting »t
Crewe. Entries close August 1. Secretary, Mr. Thomas
Rigby, 1, Old Ropery, Liverpool. [There will be no
separate meeting of the Cheshire Agricultural Society
this year.]

SEPTEMBER 3. — Radnorshire Agricultural Society —
Meeting at Penybont. Entries close August 21. Presi-
dent, Major-General Sladen. Secretary, Mr. Jas. Hamer,
Bank House, Penybout.

SEPTEMBER 7— Cartmel (Lancashire) Agricultural Society
—Meeting at Cartmel. Secretary, Mr. W. Cragg,
Cartmel.

SEPTEMBER 7.— Wolsingham and Wear Valley Agricultural
Soeiety — Meeting at Wolsingham. Entries close August
28. Secretary, Mr. William Rutter, Willow Cottage,
Wolsingham, via Darlington.

SEPTEMBER 7 and 8.— Warwickshire Agricultural Society
—Meeting at Leamington. Entries close August 1 1.
President, The Earl of Warwick. Secretarv, Mr. Johni
Moore, Northgate Street, Warwick. Assistant Secretarv,
Mr. Frederick H. Moore.

SEPTEMBER 8 and 9.— Wirraland Birkenhead Agricultural
Society. Meeting at Birkenhead. Entries close Aug. 2.
Secretary, Mr. J. S. Lewis, 28, Hamilton-street, Birken-
head.

SEPTEMBER 9 and 10.— Northamptonshire Agricultural
Society. Meeting at Towcester. Entries close Aug. 7.
President, R. Loder, Esq. Secretary, Mr. George M.
Dunn, Great Billing, Northampton.

SEPTEMBER in.— Loughborough Agricultural Association
— Meeting at Loughborough. Entries close August 20.
Secretary, Mr. Wm, Berridge, F.M.S., Town Hall,
Loughborough.

SEPTEMBER 14. — Cartmel (Lancashire) Agricultural
Society — Meeting at Cartmel. Entries close Sept. 1.
President, Lord Edward Cavendish. Secretary, Mr.
William Cragg, Cartmel, Grange-over-Sand, Carnforth.

SEPTEMBER 15.— Wayland Agricultural Society. Meeting
at Watton, Norfolk. Entries close September 2. Presi-
dent, Lord Walsingham. Secretary, Mr. Henry F.
Grigsen, Watton, Norfolk.

SEPTEMBER 15. — North Cardiganshire Agricultural
Society — Meeting at Aberystwyth. Entries close, for
Green and Farm Crops, August 20; Stock, August 27.
President, Vaughan Davies, Esq. Secretary, Mr.
William Morgan, Cardigan House, Queen's Road,
Aberystwyth.

SEPTEMBER 16.— Waterford Farming Society— Meeting
Waterford. Entries close September 9. President, tho
Marquis of Waterford. Secretary, Mr. Robert Blee,
Watertord.

SEPTEMBER 10.— Royal and Central Bucks Agricultural
Society — Meeting at Winslow. Entries ckne, for Stock,
August 25 ; for Poultry, September 4. President, Leopold
de Rothschild, Esq. Secretary, Mr. George Fell, Ayles-
bury.

SEPTEMBER 17.— Carmarthenshire Agricultural Society-
Meeting at Carmarthen. Entries close September 4.
President, Lord Dynevor. Secretary, Mr. D. Pro3ser,
White House Farm, Carmarthen.

SEPTEMBER 17— Brampton (Cumberland) Agricultural
Society — Meeting at Brampton. Entries close September
8. President, Geo. Howard, Esq.. Naworth Castle.
Secretary, Mr. Joseph Laidler, North Rigg Hill, near
Brampton.

SEPTEMBER 21.— Alfreton Midland Agricultural Society
— Meeting at Alfreton. Entries close August 28. Presi-
dent, C. R P. Morewood, Esq., J. P. Secretary, Mr.
Arthur Milner, Stretton, near Alfreton.

SEPTEMBER 21.— North Lonsdale Asricultural Society-
Meeting at Ulverston. Entries close September 9. Sec-
retary, Mr. Jno. Atkinson, Ulverston.

SEPTEMBER 22 and 23.— Staffordshire Agricultural Society
— Meeting at Stoke-on-Trent. Entries close, for Stock
and Implements, August 21; Poultry, September 4.
President, The Marquis of Stafford, M.P. Secretary,
Mr. W. Tomkinson, Newcastle, Staffordshire.

SEPTEMBER 27.— Ludlow Agricultural Society— Meeting
at Ludlow. Entries close September 13. President,
Edmund Bluck, Esq. Secretary, Mr. H. T. Weyenden,
Ludlow.

SEPTEMBER 29.— Frome Dairy Show and Agricultural
Society — Meeting at Frome. Entries close August 27 to
Seotember 10. President, T- K. Harding, Esq, Secre-
tary, Mr, Walter Harold, Frome.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

IIS

SEPTEMBER '29.— Chanel-en le-Frith Aericultural Soeietv—
Meeting at Chapel-en-le- Frith. Entries close September

4. President. W. H. G. Ragrshawo, Esq., J.P. Secretary,
Mr G. H. Swift, Chapel-en-le-Frith.

SEPTEMBER .—North Lonsdale Agricultural Society-
Meeting at TJlverston. Entries close . President,
Duke of Devonshire, K.G. Secretary, Mr. J. Atkinson,
Queen'g Court, TJlverston.

SEPTEMBER .— Cnrlow Asrriciltural Society— Meeting at
Ragnalstown. Go. Carlow. Entries close September
Secretary, Mr. T. P. Butler, Ballin Temple, Tullovr, Co.
Carlow.

SEPTEMBER .—Bake-well Farmer's Club—Meeting at
Bakewell. Entries close Septemlier . Fresident,
George W. Furniss, Esq. Secretary. Mr. W. Smith,
Bakewell.

SEPTEMBER .—Vale of Conway Agricultural Society-
Meeting at Llanrwst. Entries close August 12. Presi-
dent, Charles Main waring, Esq. Secretary, Mr. H.
Pierce, Brynhyfryd, Llanrwst.

OCTOBER 6.— Royal South Bucks Agricultural Society-
Meeting at . Entries close for Roots July 1.
Secretary, Mr. R. H. Barrett, Slough, Bucks.

OCTOBER 13.— Roj al Jersey Agricultural Society's Show of
Agricultural Produce —Meeting at St. Helier's. Entries
close October fl. President, Gervalse Le Gros, Esq.
Secretary, Mr. Fra. Labev. Le Patrimoine, Jersey

OCTOBER 13.— Trirg Agricultural Society— Meeting at
Tring Station. Entries close, October 1. President,
Earl Brownlow. Secretary. Mr. F. J. Brown. Tring.

OCTOBER 26 to 2n.— Dairy Show at the Agricultural Hall,
London. Entries close September 1. Secretary, Mr. H.

5. Holmes Pegler. 446, Strand, London.

OCTOBER 28.— Ayrshire Agricultural Association— Show of
Dairy and Farm Produce at Ayr. President. Tbe Ear
of Eglinton and Winter. Entries close a fortnight pre-
vious. Secretary, Mr. James McMurtrie, 70, Newmarket
Street. Ayr.

NOVEMBER 2* and 25.— Oakham Cattle and Poultry Show
— Meeting at Oakham- Entries close November 1.
President, The Earl of Gainsborough. Hon Secretary,
Mr. James Wellington, High Street, Oakham.

NOVEMBER 24 and 25.— Rutland Agricultural Society-
Meeting at Oakham. Entries close November 1. Presi-
dent, the Earl of Gainsborough. Secretary, Mr.
Benjamin Painter, Burley-on-tho-Hill, Oakham.

NOVEMBER 25 and 26.— Chippenham Agricultural Society
— Meeting at Chippenham. Entries close November 19.
President, Algernon W. Neild, Esq. Secretary, Mr.
Edward Little, Lanhill. Chippenham.

NOVEMBER 27 to DECEMBER 2.— Birmingham Exhibi-
tion Society — Meeting at Bingley Hall, Birmingham.
Entries close : Implements, October 16 ; Stock, November
I. Secretary, Mr. J. B. Lythall, Bingley Hall.

NOVEMBER .—Webb's Great Root Show— Meeting at
Curzon Hall, Birmingham. Entries close November .
Proprietors, Messrs. Webb and Sons, Wordsley, Stour-
bridge.

NOVEMBER 23 and 2i.— Tredegar Agricultural Show-
Meeting at Newport, Monmouthshire. Entries close
October 27. President, Lord Tredegar. Secretary. Mr.
J. G. Palling, Tredegar Estate Office, Newport, Mon-
mouthshire.

DECEMBER 1.— Sturminster Agricultural Society— Meeting
at Sturminster Newton. Entries close November 27
(about). Secretary, Mr. H. C. Dash wood, Sturminster
Newton.

DECEMBER 6 to 10.— Smithfield Club Fat Cattle Show, at
the Agricultual Hall, Islington. Entries close : Imple-
ments, &c, October Ist^ Live Stock, November 1st.
President, Lord Tredegar. Hon. Secretary, Sir R. T.
Brandreth Gibbs. Assistant Secretary. Mr. H. J. Hine,
12. Hanover Square, W.

DECEMBER (1st or 2nd week).— Edinburgh Fat Cattle
Show — Meeting at Edinburgh. Entries close Nov.
President, The Duko of Buccleuch. Secretary,
Mr. Hugh Martin, 7, Hope Street. Edinburgh.

DECEMBER 7 and 8.— Reigate and Redhill Agricultural
Society — Meeting at Redhill. Entries close November
17. President, Lord Monson. Secretary, Mr. Wilton
Buckland, Church Street, Reigate.

DECEMBER 7, 8, find 9.— Yorkshire Christmas Fat
Stcck, Ac. Show— Meeting at York. Entries close Nov.
19. President, Ralph Creyke. Esq. Secretary, Mr.
John Watson, Lendal Bridge, York.

DECEMBER 8.— Edenbridge Fat Stock, *c. Show— Meet-
ing at Edeubridge. Entrie> close November 9th.
President, T. Nick-alls, Esq., M.S.S.H. Secretary, Mr.
J. J. Stanford. Edenbridge.

DECEMBER 9, 10 and 11.— Canterbury Fat Cattle Show-
Meeting at the Agricultural Hall, Canterbury. Entries
close, November 6. President, Right Hon. Lord Harris.
Secretary, Mr, George Slater, Canterbury.

DECEMBER 14.— Carmarthenshire Agricultural Society's
Fat Stock, Ac, Show — Meeting at Carmarthen. Entries
close November 27. President, Lord Dynevor. Secretary
Mr. D. Prosser, White House, Carmarthen.

The Best of Everything.

Ri-lf.s For Ladies Travelling Alone. — 1. Be
sure you know where you want to go before you get
on the train. 2. When you purchase your ticket you
will have to pay for it ; no use to tell the ticket agent
to " charge it, and send the bill to your husband."
And if he says the price of the ticket is 2 dol. 96c. ,
don't tell him you can get one just like it of the con-
ductor or at the other store for 2 dol. 50c, he won't
believe you, and he may laugh at you. 3. Never
travel without money. It requires broad views,
liberal education, keen discernment, and profound
judgment to travel without money. No one can do
this successfully but tramps and editors. 4. Beware
of the commercial traveller. 5. Dont give a stranger
your ticket and ask him to go out and check your
trunk. He will usually only be too glad to do it.
And what is more he will do it, and your trunk will
be so effectually checked that it will never catch up
with you again. And then when the conductor asks
for your ticket and you relate to him the pleasing
little allegory about the stranger and the baggage, lie
will look incredulous and smile down upon you from
half-closed eye and say that it is a beautiful romance,
but he has heard it before. And then you will put
up your jewellery or disembark at the next station,
tj. If you are going three hundred miles don't try to
get off the train every fifteen minutes under the im-
pression that you arc there. If you get there in twelve
hours you will be doing excellently, 7. Call the
brakeman "conductor," he has grown proud since ho
got his new uniform, and it will flatter him. 8. Put
your shawl strap, bundle, and two paper parcels in the
hat rack, hang your birdcage to the coiner of it, so
that when it falls off it will drop into the lap of the
old gentlemen sitting behind you, stand your four
house plants on the window sill, set your lunch basket
on the seat beside you, fold your shawls on the top
of it, carry your pocket book iu one hand and hold
your silver mug in the other, put your two valises
under the seat, and hold your bandbox and the rest
of your things in your lap. Then you will have all
your baggage handy and won't be worried or flustered
about it when you have only twenty-nine seconds in
which to change cars. 0. Address the conductor every
ten minutes. It pleases him to have you notice him.
If you can't think of any question to ask. him, ask
him the same old one every time. Always call him
" Say " or " Mister." 10. Pick up all the informa-
tion you can while travelling. Open the window and
look forward to see how fast the engine is going.
Then when you get home you can tell the children
about the lug cinder you picked up with your eye,
and how nice and warm it was, and what it tasted
like. 11. Don't hang your parasol on the cord that
passes down the middle of the car. It isn't a clothes
line. It looks like one, but it isn't. 12. Keep an
eye on the passenger who calls the day after Monday,
;' Chewsday." He can't be trusted a car's length.
13. Do not attempt to change a 20 dol. bill for any
one if you have only 9 dol. 25 cents with you; it
can't be done. 14. If you want a nap, always lie
with your head projecting over the end of the seat,
into the aisle. Then everybody who goes up and
down the aisle will mash your hat, straighten out
your frizzes, and knock off your back hair. This will
keep you from sleeping so soundly that you will be
carried by your statiou. — Burliiujton Hawkeye,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

110

THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND.

MEETING AT CARLISLE.

The Royal Agricultural Society haa again been
unfortunate in the weather. Not a single whole line
day has fallen to their lot at Carlisle. Saturday, the
opening day for the implement yard, was fine for
the greater part of the day ; but that was not a day
for many visitors. On Monday heavy rain came on
in the afternoon, though the morning was brilliant,
and the rest of the show days, ending on Friday
night, were days of almost continuous rain. In spite
of this, the attendance was by no means small, and it
is to be hoped that the Society will not suffer serious
loss, if any.

There probably has never been a more select show
of stock than at the Carlisle meeting. Some of the
breeds were in small numbers in cases where they
had to be sent very long distances, but the quality
was good throughout, and all the breeds were exceed-
ingly well represented by the entries. The interest
taken in the stock department of the show by visitors
seemed to be even greater than is usual, for even the
drenching rains of Tuesday did not deter them from
visiting the show, nor prevent them seeing all there
was to be seen in a most persevering manner. Many
hundreds of people waited, three and four rows deep,
in an incessant downpour, to see the horses paraded
in the ring, and when at last the animals were ridden
out, theou-lookers seemed to be prepared to endure any
amount of rain. But if the people could stand it, the
stewards appeared to think the horses and riders could
not, and this part of the programme had to be given
up for the day. Cumberland and other north country
people are used to wet weather, and they did not
appear to mind it in the least. Had it not been for
the wet weather the Carlisle show would have been a
very enjoyable one,

HORSES,

This department of a showyard is invariably the
most attractive to the many ; the cattle are interesting
to a section of those who attend Agricultural Shows,
and the sheep and pigs are sources of especial interest
to others ; but everybody takes more or less interest
in horses. The Grand Stand is sure to be full, and
crowds of people are always to be found round the
horse ring when anything is to be seen there ;
and everybody at Carlisle appeared to be
bent on seeing the horses out in the ring if they
were drowned in the attempt. The weather proved
very unfortunate for sight-seers, but, as already stated,
the North Country people thoughtnothing of the rain,
and stuck to the horse ring with a perseverance and
determination unknown in southern parts. The show
of horses at Carlisle was, on the whole, a very good
one, and the Clydesdales were to be relied on for
putting in a strong appearance, so near their own
head quarters. There was a fairly good show of agri-
cultural horses altogether, and the same may be said
of the hunters and hacks ; ponies were a source of

great attraction, and the whole of the division may be
classed as about on a par with the shows held by the
Royal Society in recent years, excepting the one at
Kilburn,

The agricultural stallions, not qualified to compete
as Clydesdales orSulfolks, four years old and upwards,
formed a small class of four— two shire-breds, the
Earl of Ellesmere's Admiral four years old, and t e
Stand Stud Company's Young Champion, a 13 year
old horse bred by Mr, Stokes, both of them well
known to our readers ; and two partly-bred Clydes-
dales by Drew's Prince of Wales, namely, Mr. Drew's
Lord Harry and Mr. Riddell's Roseberry. Admiral
won with ease, and the old horse from Whitefield took
a second place quite as easily ; both are good shire-
breds of rather dissimilar type, but both are un-
deniably good horses. The old chesnut is as sound as
a bell, and looks like winning as much as he has ever
done, especially when the judges want good feet and
legs. He is all there, and will beat half the younger
ones. Admiral is an exceedingly fine hoise, of great
scale and power, and has been spoken of in these
columns from time to timeashe has made his successes.
Mr. Drew's Lord Harry holds the reserve ; he is a
good horse, well ribbed-up, and shows plenty of
quality. The three-year-old stallions, in the same
category, weie only three in number, the Earl of
Ellesmere's Samson 4th, Captain Letts' Strawberry
Wonder, and Mr. F. Streets' Somersham Samson. The
first, a well-known horse that has taken many first
prizes in good company, was a very easy winner ;
Strawberry Wonder has beefy hocks, and not veiy
great merit ; and the horse from Somersham is leggy.
The two-year-old stallions numbered fourteen,
but there were several plain ones amongst then .
The Karl of Ellesm.-re was again first with Worsley
Wonder, a big colt bred by Mr. J. Fryer, very
powerful and smart withal ; Prime Minister, bred by
Mr. Libbett, another from the Worsley Hall stud,
was second, and this colt has the merit of excellent
fore-legs, with very powerful arms. The Stand Stud
Company's third prize winner, Crowland Hero, is a
Lincolnshire horse, bred by Mr. Horn. He is a
promising young horse, but not likely to get into the
front rank. Captain Heaton's Robin Hood is too
loosely put together to make a show horse, and none
of the rest call for special notice. Mares and foals
made a class of two— Damsel and Flora, both from
Worsley Hall. Mares, four years old and upwards,
made a fine class of fourteen. Here the awards at
the Islington Show were quite reversed. The Earl
of Ellesmere's Darling, which took fiist at the Agri-
cultural Hall, was thrown out, and Mr. T. H.
Miller's more showy mare, Princess Dagmar, which
was second at Islington, was placed at the head of
the list. This mare is shorter in her gait than
Darling, and although the haudsomer of the two, is
nothing like so good a mover. The second award fell
to the Earl of Ellesmere for Lady Worsley, a
thoroughly good mare, but not so good as Darling.
Mr. Picken's Young Darling, a capital mare, which
has taken many prizes, was third ; and the entire
class was highly commended by the judges. The
three-year-old fillies were thirteen in number, and a
fairly good class, and the same may be said of the
two-year-old fillies, eighteen in number, which were
headed by a very powerful and promising young

120

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

mare, Empress, bred and exhibited by the Rev.
Holcroft. The yearlings, too, were a nice lot, and
in each of these three classes some of the best
breeders sent representatives of their studs. The
" agricultural " horses, so classed, were not a very
mniform lot, but some exceedingly good animals were
!to 'be found amongst them.

'Clydesdales made, on the whole, a better show, as
they might have been expected to do at Carlisle. In
the class for stallions, four years eld and upwards,
there were only six competitors. Mr* Riddell's
Darnley, a very powerful horse on short legs, with a
Bhort back, excellent loin and good quarters, was a
very easy winner ; he is well-known to the Showyard,
being second at Kilburn, and a prize-winner at many
shows across the border. Mr, Moffat's Prince Henry, j
which came next, has a light middle piece, and is I
nothing outaf the way ; another horse of Mr. Moffatt's !
was placed third, and the reserve number is held by
Prince of Kirkbean, belonging to the Bowness Entire j
Horse Company — a horse with two good ends but a
bad connection between them. The three-year olds j
were only four in number, and Mr. A. Montgomery's
Prince Imperial was a very easy winner. This horse
is a good type of Clydesdale, and if he had better j
feet he would be a first rate horse ; he was first at
Kilburn last year. Neither of the others call for
special mention. The two-year-olds numbered nine,
and cannot be called a very good class. Mr. Mont-
gomery's MacGregor is too high on his legs, and Mr.
McDowall's Collingwood, the winner of the second
prize, is small in girth ; perhaps the third prize
winner, bred by Mr. Drew, and exhibited by Mr.
Riddell, will turn out to be the most use-
ful animal of the lot. Prince Edward,
bred by Mr. Drew, and exhibited by Mr. Waddell,
is not a bad horse, and may improve.
The mares and fillies in the Clydesdale classes wero
better than the stallions. The mares with foals at
their sides made a very good class of six in their
places ; Mr. Riddell's first prize mare was but a
three-year-old, and her foal promised to be as good
as herself. The second prize fell to Mr. R. Frederick's
Young Mary, bigger, and in her prime, but she
cannot move so well as Mr. Riddell's mare. The
three-year-olds, ten in number, formed a very satis-
factory class. Mr, Waddell obtained first prize for
Louisa, a very showy, well-ribbed mare, with good
quarters, bred by Mr. Murdock ; Mr, McDowall's
May Belle, and Mr. R. Loder's Darling 3rd, are both
of them good Clydesdales, and Mr. Beattie's Ada, to
which the reserve ticket was awarded, is a big and
useful filly. Sixteen two-year-olds made a capital
show and a very excellent class. The winner,
Princess, bred by Mr. McVicar, and exhibited by
Mr. Murdock, looks rather small, but she has good
style and quality, and won very fairly. She was
followed by Sir Michael Stewart s Annot Lyle, and
Lord Arthur Cecil's Vulpie, both of them very capital
fillies, the latter being second as a yearling last year
at Kilburn. The yearlings were also a very good
class, comprising thirteen entries, Mr. Beattie's
Duchess making a capital first. Good and promising
yearlings were also shown by Mr. Murdock, Sir
Michael Steward (second prize), Mr. Martin, Mr.
Vicars, and others. The filly classes were certainly
the best feature of the Clydesdale division.

Suffolk horses were a long way from home, and
therefore not in very large numbers ; nevertheless,
there were some good animals amongst them, and the
names of the breeders seemed very familiar after a
recent perusal of Mr. Biddell's Stud Book. Cup-
bearer 3rd, the Suffolk of Suffolks, bred by Mr. C.
Frost and exhibited by Mr. R. Garrett, was in his

place, and, of course, his place was at the head of the
list. A recollection of Mr. Biddell's Chart gave an
impressive idea of the length of this horse's pedigTee,
whilst his merits speak for themselves. He certainly
is a model Suffolk, and his deep ribs and massive
frame would be a credit to any draught horse of any
breed. But — and, however good a Suffolk may be,
there always is a but — his arms are small in com-
parison with other parts of his muscular development,
and his limbs have the appearance of being too slight
fer the support ef such a framework. If one could
put the feet and legs (without the hair) of the Shire-
bred horse on to the Suffolk, what a fine animal he
would be. The colour of this celebrated horse is
chesnut with white hairs intermixed, and he certaiuly
is very handsome. Mr, H. Wolton's Royalty, winner
ef the second prize, has better arms proportionately
and a very -deep middle piece. A second horse exhi-
bited by Mr. Garrett, Crown Prince, bred by Mr.
Blofield, t«ok the third prize, and Mr. Byford's
Reliance brought up the rear. The three-year-olds
were four in number, and headed by Mr. S. Woltou'3
Chieftain, a handsome bright chesnut. Next
to him came Mr. Garrett's Zulu, a chesnut of
similar colour to that of his sire, Cupbearer
3rd, and of a very similaT character in other
respects. There have been seven two-year-olds, the
winner being Mr. Wolton's Oriental, a horse with
good length of frame, but rather light in front ; the
second award fell to Vanguard, a good horse, bred by
Mr. H. Biddell and exhibited by Mr. W. Wilson.
A very neat and compact little horse, Jove, bred and
exhibited by Mr. Loffts, was awarded a high com-
mendation and the reserve number. Suffolk mares,
with foals at their sides, formed as good a class
as any amongst the draught horses. The mare bred by
Mr. C. Frost and exhibited by the Duke of Hamilton,
together with her filly foal, formed a picture that any
lover of horses would be glad to look upon. Mr. H.
Wolton's Empress of Paris, the winner of the second
prize, was not so handsome, but still an excellent
mare, and the colt by her side is very promising. The
Duke of Hamilton was also the exhibitor of another
mare bred by Mr. C. Frost, Bright Diamond, a big
useful mare to which second prize was awarded ; her
horse foal by Cupbearer 3rd has good legs and looks
like making a horse of value. The three-year-old
fillies were five in number, and there is very little
fault to be found with them ; they were exhibited by
Mr. S. Tollen (who won first and second prizes), Mr.
; Lofft, the Duke of Hamilton, and Mr. N. Catchpole.
i Mr. S. Tollen also secured first and second prizes for
, two-year-olds, which formed a small class of four.
j Altogether the Suffolk horses were very creditably
represented, and no doubt they would have held their
j own in an open competition.

Hunters, as a whole, were a good lot of horses.

| Amongst the thoroughbred stallions suitable for

. getting hunters was the winner of the £100 prize last

[ year at Kilburn — Mr. Vyner's Due de Beaufort, the

I famous old chestnut bred by Count Lagrange ; but

the judges had to pass him over for first prize, and

I award it to Meteor, a seven-year-old chestnut, bred

j by Sir S. Cholmley, and exhibited by the Stand Stud

Company, a horse with good clean legs, and of a very

serviceable stamp. Mr. J. Tait's Red Cap Sly, an

eight-year-old dark chestnut, was very fairly awarded

third place, and the reserve is held by Mr. Fleming's

Muleteer. Mares, with foals at 9ide, were a good

class, and the competition was keen. The several

classes for mares and geldings were well rilled, and

amongst them were some horses of note. The judges

did not find it a very easy task to make satisfactory

awards in all cases, and that in itself may be taken

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

121

as an evidence of the merit being rather high. Coach*
ing horses, harks, and especially ponies, were to be
found iu fairly good classes, and the ponies
seemed to be an object of special interest on the part
of the ladies. Altogether the show of horses at Car-
lisle cannot be considered below the standard of the
Royal, whilst it certainly formed the chief attraction
at this northern show.

CATTLE.
Shorthorns formed a large and very excellent
division of the stock classes. The old bulls' class
contained some well-known animals, and amongst
them the Karl of KUesruere's Attractive Lord (32968),
Mr. Willis' two bulls, Rear Admiral (37310) and Vice-
Admiral (39257), Mr. Elwell's Bainesse Windsor
(36150), Mr. A. Mitchell's Duke of Cleamburgh
(36052), and Mr. Relph'n Bright Duke (37893). The
judges soon threw out Messrs. Dalton's Duke of
Siddington (38182), a big and rather plain bull, and
some three or four others which need not be
mentioned, and after some little time awarded the
first prize to a big white bull, Duke of Howl John
(33674), bred by Messrs. Vickers, and exhibited by
Mr. John Vickers. This bull has won a local prize
or two, and was shown at the Bristol Royal, where he
received a high commendation ticket. He is a good
handler, built on a large scale, and in very high
condition, but he cannot be called a first-rate
Shorthorn ; yet he took the champion prize of £25
as the best Shorthorn bull in the show. After
him came Vice-Admiral, then Attractive Lord,
and Bright Duke took fourth place. The judging,
so far as this class was concerned, was thus about on
a par with that at Kilburn last year. In that case it
will be remembered Rear- Admiral was placed before
Attractive Lord, whereas he was only awarded the
reserve number and a high commendation at Carlisle ;
but still Attractive Lord comes third, as he did then.
It is true he is getting a little plain on his rumps and
losing the bloom of his prime ; but he is of very
much better character than either of those placed
before him, and neither of them can excel him as
regards quality, whilst for style he is far superior to
both. With regard to Vice-Admiral, who now takes
his place with the old bulls, he was always a better
bull than Rear - Admiral, and very naturally has
beaten him at Carlisle. But it will be noted that his
great run of luck has left him, and after taking
more firsts than any other bull of recent date, he
starts in the second rank as a mature animal. Mr.
Tennant's Kalamazoo was entered, but did not put in
an apj>earance ; and the same with the Marquis of
Exeter's two Telemachus bulls — the 6th and 9th. The
judges gave a commendation to Mr. Elwell's Bainesse
Windsor, but did not honour the Coanwood Coal
Company's Oberon, a very useful bull, rather high on
his legs, but likely to get good bullocks ; nor Mr. H.
Fawcett's Peter the Great (38863), another of the
useful sort, without much ornament. Mr. Mitchell's
Duke of Chambourg did not come in for notice at all,
uor did Warlaby Warrior, a very good animal bred
aud exhibited by Mr. J. Beattie. This is rather to
be wonderttd at, as hollowness behind the shoulder
does not appear to be reckoned as a great fault by
judges of Shorthorns. Mr. Relph's Bright Duke is
in high condition, and taking to the eye which loves
fat, but he is not a good Shorthorn ; however, he
took the fourth prize. The bulls above two and not
exceeding three years old were a strong and fairly
good class of seventeen. Mr. Nelson's Prince Im-
perial (421S4), the winner of the first prize, is a
well-finished roan, with good quarters, and not a few
m.-iits, but he is plain on his rump, and not very

. stylish. Second to him came Mr. W. Handler's
Master Harbinger, a young bull, whose career has
been chronicled in these columns ; he was first as a
yearling at Kilburn, ami at the Manchester and
Liverpool, and champion at Gloucester, but he has
not furnished himself as he was promising to do last
year. This bull has never deseived the praise which
has fallen to his lot, although a long, level, useful
animal, built on a good scale, as we have all along
described him ; he is now rather slight of
flesh aud shelly, and that makes his long
legs look longer still. The third prize fell to
Flag Officer by Rear-Admiral, one of Mr. Willis's
breeding, and of much the same character as the
Admiral bulls ; he is a white bull, of good quality,
and is pleasant to the hand. Mr. Taylor's Prince
Louis, bred at Tortworth, is coarse in his tail, but of
a useful sort. Col. Loyd- Lindsay's Stamboul, often
referred to in our show reports, has a fault or two,
but for all that is a better and more useful stamp of
Shorthorn than either of those honoured by the
judges, although they left him completely out in the
cold. Mr. Harold's white bull Harold (41671) is a
long, level, and stylish white bull, and would not
have made a bad second ; at least, he might have
held the reserve number instead of the Duke of Rich-
mond's Arthur Benedict. Lord Polworth's two bulls,
Warrior Brave and Rapid Foggathorpe, are of good
quality, good colour, and have a very useful appear-
ance about them. Messrs. Birchs' Caradoe 2nd is
another likely to get good stock ; he is very level,
has good quality, and plenty of good hair, but the
judges were sparing of commendations. The Priuce
of Wales showed a plain and rather coarse bull,
Young Paragon, and the rest were a fairly good and
useful lot of bulls. The yearlings were nine in
number, and not quite so good a class. The winner
of the first prize is Mr. Townley-Parker's Oxford
Rose, a good Shorthorn, pleasant to the eye and to
the touch. Mr. D. Paglis's Sir Charles is very neat,
fine in the bone, and of very nice quality. He was
bred by Mr. Hugh Alymer, and took the second award.
Mr. Porter Foster, of Killhow, took third prize with
Oxford Duke of Killhow 2nd, stylish, and particu-
larly smart bull, of considerable merit. Messrs.
Lazonby's Royal Windsor, the winner of the fourth
prize, is rather small in his girth, and not very well
furnished, neither is his scale very great, but he has
a good coat, and may improve. Mr. G. Fox entered
a bull in this class, but did not send him. There is
not very much to be said of the bull calves. They
were nine in number, and Mr. T. H. Hutchinson's
Knight of Kars is a model little calf, but he is very
small, not much more than half the size of the
winner of the second prize, a long, level, and big
white calf, Goldsmith, bred and exhibited by Mr. J.
Strong. Mrs. Fothergill's St. Swithin, the next on
the list, has good hair and good character, and may
fill up a defect or two. The Rev. Bruce Kenuard's
Marnhull Duke 3rd has the mellow hide and long,
soft coat of the Marnbull cattle ; he has plenty of
length, but is rather slight, and shows too much day-
light under him — he got passed over. Mr. Acker's
Lord George Hamilton, the winner of the fourth
prize, has the making of a good bull about him, and
may come out well.

Shorthorn cows in-milk or in-calf made a very
strong and good class, and was commended in its
entirety by the judges. Fourteen of them came into
the ring, and they formed as good a show of Short-
horns as the last few years has brought out. Mr. T.
H. Hutchinson repeated his Kilburn victory with the
cow Grateful, although she certainly was not im-
proved in respect of the faults we then noted. Next

122

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

her came Mr. Acker's Princess Georgia, a well-known
sliowyard animal, which is now in her prime at about
six years old, and in capital show form. Mr. Ackers
also showed Lady Carew 2nd, but she is now so very
ba»gy on her rumps that a high commendation was
allThe could get out of the judges. At one time she
used to beat Princess Georgia, but now the tables are
'turned. The Earl of Northumberland's Gaiety 3rd,
bred by Mr. G. Angus, winner of third prize, is a
big, useful cow, built on a good scale, and of good
quality. Mr. Langhorn's Diadem 2nd may be con-
sidered the better cow of the two, although the
judges placed her fourth. She is very wide in her
hips and deep in her quarters, has fine bone, and an
excellent coat of hair — a really good Shorthorn.
The Duke of Northumberland's Lady Jane, which
holds the reserve, is also a good cow, and the same
may be said of Mr. T. Lambert's Princess Louise.
Captain Ashby's Iunocence was highly com-
mended, and she is not now likely to do much in the
showyard, excepting, perhaps, at about Christmas time.
The Marquis of Exeter's Sea Lark was entered but not
sent. The heifers in-milk or in-calf were another ex-
cellent class of eleven in number. Mr. T. H.
Hutchinson's Gainful, the winner of the Champion
prize at Kilburn as the best female Shorthorn, took
the first prize, and Mr. D. Pugh's Tulip the 4th
the third, instead of the fourth, as at Kilburn.
Gainful is probably now at her best, as she shows
signs of inheriting the faults of her dam ; however,
she has greatly improved, and is a thick and good
heifer, light in her thighs, as she was last year. It
will be remembered that Tulip 4th beat her at the
Manchester meeting of the Royal Manchester and
Liverpool Society last year. The second award was
made in favour of Mr. Langhorn's Lady Ann, a
heifer of nice character, and very stylish-looking when
out, but bad on her back, and plain on her rumps.
Fourth on the list was Mr. J. Whyte's Gaiety 6th,
bred from the herd of the late Mr. G. Angus ; she is
a good Shorthorn and deserved the place above. Mr.
Bailie's Sweet Pea is a small heifer of fine quality,
and there were two or three others of considerable
merit. The yearling heifers were a very large class,
numbering thirty-one, and one of the best, if not
the best we have -seen of late. Lady Wild Eyes, by
the Duke of Caanaught (33004), bred and exhibited
by Lord Fitz Hardinge, was deservedly placed
at the top of the tree.; she is very thick,
ami very level, good on her back, loin, and
chine, deep in her quarters, of fine -quality,
good style, and good character, having a good
coat of hair, and being all over a first-rate Shorthorn.
Next her came another heifer got by Duke of
Connaught, and from the herd of Lord Fitz Hardiuge,
Dowager 2nd, also a very good one.; and it will be
remembered that these two heifers were very highly
spoken of in our report «f the "Worcester meeting of
the Lath and West, whftre they were admired as much
as at Carlisle. They do gpeat credit to their sire.
Mr. Peel's Casquette, winner ©f the third prize, is
another very excellent Shorthorn, and the fourth on
the list, Mr. J. Elwell's Empress Eugenie, has a very
capital coat of hair, and is a very promising heifer.
•Of the rest, Mr. Acker's Lady Carew 4th is very like
the others of that strain of blood, and Mr. T. H.
Hutchinson's Gratia will be seen again. There were
other good heifers there, and the judges might have
given a commendation or two without any harm
being done. Mr. Langhorn's Young Dinah is vet y
good along the top, and altogether very promising ;
Mr. G. Fox's Red Rose of Derwent has a stained nose,
but is a good heifer nevertheless ; and Mr. Relph's
Bright Duchess, with some others, might be men-

tioned. Altogether this was a famous class, and
Shorthorn breeders may well be proud of it. Amongst
the heifer calves, which were hardly so select a lot
as the yearlings, there were several good ones, and
some may prefer the Rev. Bruce Kennard's Blossom
5th, which took second prize, to Mr. Acker's Lady
Georgina Newcombe, which was placed first. We
shall see which comes out best next year. In finish-
ing this notice of the Shorthorn breed of cattle, as
exhibited at Carlisle, we must confess that it gives us
great pleasure to be able to speak of it with such
unreserved praise.

Herefords were not very strong in numbers, but
there were some of the best animals at Carlisle of
which the county ot Hereford can boast. In the old
bulls class there was Mr. Aaron Rogers' Grateful, who
has not yet found his match, although he is just be-
ginning to show the traces of age and service. He is
now seven years old, and is wearing exceedingly well ;
show animals cannot keep their bloom year after year,
and it is a pity seme of the best of them are not
withdrawn earlier from the showyard. Second to
Grateful was Mr. W. Taylor's Thoughtful, another
well-known animal. Mr. F. Piatt's Harrington has
improved, and has grown into a good Hereford. Mr.
Lutley's Cupid was entered, but was not there. At
the head of the next class was another animal, which
has been spoken of highly in these columns, Mr.
Arkwright's Conjuror ; he has furnished himself,
and has the making of a first-rate bull about him.
There was only one other bull in the class, Mr.
Lister's Taurus. Mrs. Sarah Edwards' President, a
first-rate yearling, was put at the head of the list in
the yearlings' class, and she also took second with
Royalist. Next came a rather short bull by Horace
(3877), bred by Mr. F. Piatt, and the reserve is held
by Mr. W. Taylor's Trafalgar, by Thoughtful (5,063).
There were four good cows of the breed, and Mr.
Myddleton's Nannette was placed before Mrs. Sarah
Edwards' Perfection ; Nannette is in excellent show
form, but the condition is too high. Amongst the
rest of the cows and heifers were Mr. Fenn's Downton
Rose, Mr. Arkwright's Gaylars 4th, and Antoinette,
and Mr. F. Piatt's Lady 3rd ; all of which have been
referred to on previous occasions as some of the best
of their kind. And amongst the heifer calves —
taking first prize, of course — was Mr. Arkwright's
Pearl 3rd, which won at Worcester, one of the most
perfect Herefords of the day.

Devons were in still smaller force, and only two or
three very select specimens were sent to compete in
each of the classes. The cows and heifers sent by
Mrs. Maria Langdon,-Mr. Walter Farthing, and Mr.
Rolles Fryer, were very excellent, Mr. Walter
Farthing's Famous 2nd being quite a model Devon.
Mrs. Maria Langdon's bull calf Duke of Flitton 15th
is another model of form and quality. Lord Fal-
mouth also sent some good Devons.

Sussex beasts were also very few in number, and as
most of them, like the Devons, are animals that
have been described on former occasions, it will not
be neeessary to go into details. As will be seen by
the prkc list, the most successful exhibitors were the
Messrs. J. and A. Heasman, the Messrs. E. and A.
Stanford, Mr. Alfred Agate, and Mr. Blake Duke.

Norfolk and Suffolk Polled Cattle were shown in
about the same numbers as the Devons and Sussex,
and we have never seen the breed shown to better
advantage at any large s how. The quality of these
animals is good, and were it not that they are such
slow feeders, the breed might come into more general
favour. The cows and heifers are smaller, apparently
less useful, and show less quality than the Sussex
cattle, whereas the bulla are not so coarse as those of

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

1?&

the Sussex breed. Mr. J. J. Column, Mr, J, Ham-
mond, .Mr. 'J\ L. Palmer, and Mr. A. Taylor were the
chief exhibitors.

Longliorns were very well represented by the
few animals sent to Carlisle, and it would be a
great pity to let such a tine old breed become extinct ;
but they have serious defects to balance against their
acknowledged merits, and they, too, are very slow.
Ju fact, they have been improved upon, and now
need only be kept as interesting specimens of out-
dated material. Sir F. W. i'itzwygram, Mr. Richard
Hall, the Duke of Buckingham, and Sir J. liarpur
CreWe are now the chief breeders.

The, Scotch beef- breeds at Carlisle were the Tolled
cattle of the North and South of Scotland,
the Aberdeeus and Galloways. Amongst the former
there were some excellent animals, Mr. Ander-
son's first prize old bull showing great substance, tine
bone, and excellent quality. The Shorthorn, weight
for weight, is much coarser, and less profitable to the
consumer. Mr. H. D. Adamsou also showed a very
smart and stylish bull. The cows appear to be very
useful. The Galloways are smaller, and the bulls
have a more masculine appearance, from the long fine
hair on their head and crests ; their hides are more
mellow, but the animals are scarcely as symmetrical
or as perfect beef producers.

DAIRY CATTLE.

Channel Island cattle have been growing into favour
of late, ami we have seen very large entries ef them
in the last few years at the meetings of the I!. A. S. and
the Bath and West, which have been held in the
Southern half of England. We scarcely expected,
however, to see many of them at Carlisle, as the cli-
mate of the North is rather too cold for these pretty,
but delicate dairy cattle. There was, however, good
competition in all the classes for Jerseys, and some of
the animals were very choice. Mr. Arkwright's 1st
~>rize old bull was sent from Derbyshire, and he is of
^.■*od frame and colour, with plenty of style. The
other prize bulls were sent from the Island. The
horns of the winner of the 2nd prize are rather
coarse. Mr. G.Simpson's reserve and highly commended
bull shows good breeding, and his colour is very
good. Mr. Wakefield, of Kendal, has the best young
bull in a good class. Mr. G. Simpson's very pro-
mising youngster, as yet only a calf, took 3rd prize.
The classes for cows and heifers are far more interes-
ting to those not versed in the various points of
merit peculiar for these breeds, than are the classes
for males. Anyone professing a knowledge of stock
can see and appreciate rare merits of a dairy cow in
full milk. The class for Jersey cows at Carlisle was
admirably filled. Mr. G. Simpson, whose position
as a breeder of Jerseys stands second to none in this
country, won 1st and 2nd prizes with entries, showing
great purity of breed as well as great milk-giving ca-
pacity. The udder of one was specially good and
well-fixed. The teats of the other prize cow were not
quite so well placed. These cows had verylittle Mesh
and very thin hides, their merits being purely for the
dairy. A very promising heifer, winner of the 2nd
prize in a very large class at Kilburn, obtained the
reserve and high commendation. She shows at a dis-
advantage in point of age, being only just over three
years, but her udder is first rate. Mr. G. Simpson
was desirous of purchasing her. We thought the
whole class worthy of commendation. There was
rather a large entry of Jersey heifers, and they were
very pretty. The age at which they are put to
breeding is earlier than that of any other breed of
cattle, and many of them calve before they are two J
years old. Mr. F. Le Brocq, from Jersey, took

1st and 3rd, and Mr. G. Simpson, 2nd prize.-
The number of Guernseys in the three classes were
rather limited, most of the entires being sent by Mr.
Baker, of Heavitree, and Mr. James James, of
Guernsey. Mr. Baker's cow was placed first. She
is a large cow, with plenty of flesh, as well as a good
bag. Mr. James's entry has, however, the best
udder. Both of them have won many prizes. Most
of the entries were ticketed " Ou sale," but the
prices asked — 50 gs. each for the best heifer and
second best cow, ami S5 gs. for the best cow and her
calf, with from 30 to 40 gs. for less desirable anbnals
— were too high for intending purchasers. The great
loss in value which results when cattle of these sorts
fail to breed regularly, or cast their calves — an
occurrence not uncommon — is a serious drawback
to the purchase of them by those to whom,
profit is important. Ayrshires ought to have been
shown in great strength at Carlisle, which is so close
to the border, and in such excellent communication
by rail with the native home of these dairy cattle.
Many Scotch breeders have, however, not as yet
joined our English Society, and possibly the know-
ledge of the probable large entries by the Duke of
Buccleugh, who wins so many prizes for Ayrshires in
Scotland, may have something to do with shortening
competition. If it had not been for the large and
excellent entries by the Duke, the classes would have
been empty. The two bulls sent by the Duke are
both noted prize-winners, having for the last year or
two carried all before them at Ayr, Dumfries, Perth,
and other places. The best of them, Lord of the
Isles, is thick and level, with plenty of good flesh,
looking more like a profitable grazier than any bull
of the breed we have yet seen.- In the class
for cows, the Duke won all the prizes and
a high commendation. Several of his cows ■
have very fine udders, hanging square and with great
room for milk. The Duke's four entries comprise the
whole of the class of heifers.. A novel sight amongst
the attendants at the Duke's cows was a country
Scotch lassie, with a smart petticoat and stockings
striped with bright scarlet, who was evidently accus-
tomed to milk the cows, which she did very well and-
quickly. The two classes for Dairy Cows shown in
pairs or single were very disappointing.. The North
of England could doubtless furnish some admirable
specimens of the Shorthorn dairy cross ; cows with
plenty of frame, flesh, and qualit}', with first-rate
udders ; and Ayrshires might also have been very well,
entered in these classes, which arc not limited to any
particular breed. They werer however, about the
weakest classes in the yard. There was one pair of.
large Yorkshire cows with fine udders, somewhat
light fleshedr but they were disqualified on the ground
of misdescription in the entry, one of the cows having
apparently been substituted tor the one entered. The
only remaining entry was a pair of very small cows of
the Kerry breed, of no great merit, and scarcely worth
the value of the prize of £20 awarded to them. We
should have thought the award of the 3rd prize of £5*
ample recognition of their merits. Three moderately
good cows were exhibited singly. The prizes were
given to two large -framed cows, with fairly good bags,,
but no particular excellence, and a good fleshed tow,
Mr. J. Stratton's Maiden, which has only a moderate
bag. had the reserve..

SHEEP..

This- department of the show was not a. whit behind
any other division of the stock. The Southdown
classes were well filled, and the general standard of
excellence was a high one. The class for shearling
rams was quite equal to what it usually is at Royal

121

THE FAUMTLKa* ITAGAZINE.

shows held further south, and far before the corre-
sponding class at the Worcester meeting oT the Bath
and West. The Sandringham flock has now come
woll to the front, and the Prince of Wales succeeded
in taking both first and second prizes at Carlisle.
B'»th sheep were of good character and excellent quality,
and some may have thought the second prize sheep
the better of the two. They are very clean and neat
S mthdowns. Mr. Gorringe secured third place with
an excellent shearling, and another of the four exhi-
bited by him was quite as good, though passed over
entirely by the judges. I^ord Walsingham could only
g ;t as far as the reserve number with a good backed
sheep of the old style and character ; one other was a
f drly good one, and the other two plain. Sir N. W.
Throckmorton's sheep that was first at Worcester
obtained a high commendation at Carlisle, which is
quite sufficient recognition of merit ; as we remarked
at the time, he made a very poor first at an important
show. Mr. Rigden obtained a commendation for one
of the two shown by him, a weak neck spoiling what
ia otherwise a capital sheep both as regards wool and
mutton. In the class for older rams the Duke of
Richmond comes once again to the front witha big sheep
heavily fleshed, that was thrown out at Kilburn last
year ; he has very greatly improved since then, and
deserves the award he obtained. Next to him came
one of Mr. Rigden's by the Bedford sheep, and is like
him, full of quality, and very much of the same
.stamp, a little short, but thick through the heart,
good in the twist, and excellent along the back. Mr.
iiigden's other sheep was commended. Mr. Gorringe
was in the third place, as in the former class, and Sir
N. W. Throckmorton holds the reserve. This was
also a good class of Southdowns. With ewes Lord
Walsingham got into the front rank, and a very
pretty pen of sheep they were, all of them being in
good form. Mr. Colman's ewes, which were placed
second, had one first-rate sheep amongst them, and
those from the flocks of the Prince of Wales and Sir
N. W. Throckmorton, though fairly good sheep,
were not quite uniform enough for show pens.

Shropshires made a very large and good show. The
shearling rams were a particularly nice lot, and there
were but few absentees in a class of 56 entries. Mr.
J. W. Minton's first prize shearling is a sheepof good
.Shropshire character, and very firm to the hand ; his
wool and mutton are first-rate. The second prize
sheep, exhibited by Mrs. Maria Barrs, has capital
wool, and is very smart and stylish. Another of Mr.
Minton's sheep was placed third, and the reserve is
held by Mr. J. L. Naper, for a very useful sheep for
farmers' purposes. Mr. Joseph Beach, Mr. F. Bach,
.sir II. Allsopp, Mr. Pilgrim, Mr. Farmer, Mr. H.
Shildon, and other breeders, sent representatives of
their Hocks, and the Jist of commendations might well
have been longer. In the class for older rams Mrs.
Maria Barrs took first prize with a long, big, useful
sheep, and Mr. Thomas's second prize ram had great
substance. The third prize ram, exhibited by Mr.
Naper, is a very useful stamp of sheep, particularly
good in his twist. The Shropshire ewes were a very
fine show indeed, and considering the nature of the
class it is not too much to say that it was the best in
any of the sheep classes. Mr. Graham's pen won
the first prize, probably from their neatness, but Mr.
Farmer's ewes, though in second place, were famous
Shrops, on a larger scale and more useful. Mr.
Joseph Beach's pen were a fine lot of ewes, and Mr.
Loder's were very useful. Thirteen pens of ewes, all
good ones, made such a show as is not often seen.

Hampshire* were few in number, representing the
flocks of Mr. Alfred Morrison, Mr. Moore, Mr. New-
ton, and Mr. Lambert. Mr. Morrisou's sheep were

quite in their usual form, and > some good animals
were shown by the other breeders. The ewes shown
by Mr. Moore, Mr. Lambert, and Mr. Newton were
all good sheep ; the latter were rather slack to the
hand, otherwise better stamp sheep than either of the
other two pens.

Oxfordshire Downs were also in small numbers, and
Mr. John Treadwell had it all his own way, both for
shearling and older rams, and capital sheep they were.
Mr. F. Street showed a fairly good pen of ewes, the
only entry in that class, and Mr. George Adams was
the only other exhibHor of the breed.

Cotswolds were in rather better force, and the
shearlings formed a strong and good class of fifteen
entries. Mr. Jacobs still keeps the lend, and his first
and second prize sheep were of first-rate quality and
character. Two other sheep exhibited in this class by
Mr. Jacobs obtained a high commendation and a
commendation respectively, and the four sheep were
as good Cotswolds as one could wish to see. Mr.
Jacobs has quite put the names of Gillett and Swan-
wick into the shade for rams, but the Messrs. Gillett's
two pens of ewes wpre first-rate.

Lincoln sheep formed a good division, and here
again the quality was very noticeable. Nevertheless
Mr. Henry Smith took all the prizes and all the honours
in the shearlings' class ; his rams are very useful and
well clothed, and were placed both first and second in
the older class. There was a particularly good class
of ewes, all the pens being of considerable merit.
Mr. Pears' and Mr. Byron's sheep were capital speci-
mens of the breed.

Leicesters have not been better represented of late
years than they were at Carlisle. In both classes for
rams, Mr. T. H. Hutchinson was the winner of first
and third prizes, Mr. Hebden Borton taking second
place ; and in both cases we think Mr. Hutchinson's
sheep the best. Mr. Borton 's sheep were smaller
through the heart, and not made out so well behind.
The ewes belonging to Mr. Brown were a very well-
matched and otherwise excellent pen, and Mr. Jor»
dans' were not far behind them, but rather smaller.
Mr. George Turner also showed a pen of ewes of fine
quality and good wool.

Border Leicesters have rather more of the character
of the Cotswold than of the Leicester breed about
them, but they appear to be a veTy useful sort of
sheep. Some of them were firm handlers and built
on a good scale, but their shanks are long, the ewes
especially showing this feature in a remarkable
degree. The classes were large, as might be expected
from the locality of the show.

Cheviots were particularly good, as remarked in
our preliminary report, and the Biack -Faced Moun-
tain sheep appeared to very good advantage. There
were a few Rents, Devons, Dorsets, and Exmoors ;
and also a few entries of Lonks, which seem a far
better breed than the Herdwieks, both breeds having
their national habitat on the moorlands of Northum-
berland, Cumberland, and Westmoreland. The
Herdwieks are spotted with black, a fringe of black
or brown hair round their necks coining down
towards the brisket, giving them something of the
character and appearance of a goat. No doubt they
are useful, and well adapted to the district in which
they are bred.

PIGS.

This department of the Show was rather small, and
the quality of the various classes was, perhaps, scarcely
up to that. of an average Royal. In the large white
breed classes some of the prize-winning animals were
spotted. Surely white pigs should not have any black
about them ! Aud it was noticeable that in the class

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

125

for breeding sows, those which had good litters could
not win against those which looked only fit for lard-
making. The Karl of Ellesmere and Mr. Sanders
Sliencer were the principal exhibitors of the large
white breed, and the small white breed was repre,
seuted by entries from the stocks of the Earl of
Ellesmere, Mr. Sanders Spencer, Mr, Duekering,.
lx»rd Morton, and one or two others. The small
black breed was in very small numbers, the entries
being from the Duke of Hamilton,. Mr. Duekering,
and Rev. W. Hooper. The Berkshire:? were, as usual,
the best of all the pig classes; and many animals
of merit were to be found amongst then*. The Pigs
were the weakest part of the stock division of the
Show.

LIST OF JUDGES-

horses,

AGRICUHTTRAL AND S-UFFOLKSv
Girling, T., Frostendenr Wangford.
Lumsden, J., Castle Heatonr Cornhill-on-Tweed.
"Wood, W., Habrough, Ulceby, Lincolnshire.

CLYDESDALES.

McFarlane, D., Torr, Helensburgh, N.B.
Mitchell, A., The Walk House, Alloa, N.B.
Ralston, A., Glamis, Forfar, N.B.

HUNTERS.

Arkwright, R., Knuston, Wellingborough.
Heathcote, Oapt. J. H. Edwards, Apedale Hall,

Newcastle, Staffs.
Howard, R. G. F., Temple Bruer, Grantham.

HACKNEYS.

Booth, J. B., Killerby Hall, Catterick, Yorks.
Clark, R. , Lintz Green House, Newcastle-on-Tyne,
Higgins, G., Castle Close, Bedford.

CATTLE.

SHORTHORNS.

Beau ford, H. W., Sudborough House, Thrapston,

Northamptonshire.
Cruickshank, J. W., Sittyton, Aberdeen,
letcalfe, A., Park House, Ravenstonedale, Kirkby
Stephen.
HEREFORDS, DEVON'S, SUSSEX, AND NORFOLK AND
SUFFOLK POLLED.

Hole, W., Winham, Cullompton.

Napper, G. , Orford, Wiaboro' Green, Billingshurst,

Sussex.
Price, J., Court House, Pembridge.

LONGHORNS AND DAIRY COWS.

Bowstead, T. , Edenhall, Penrith.

Burbery, J. H. , Montague House, Kenilworth.

JERSEY AND GUERNSEY.

Barnes, C. A., Solesbridge, Rickmansworth.
Marett, P., St. Saviour's, Jersey.

AY us II I RES.

Allen, A., Munnoch, Dairy.

Brakenridge, W., Ropethorpe Hall, Pontefract.

GALLOWAY.

Clark, Maxwell, Culmine, Crocketford.
Walton, I., Brownside House, Alston.

POLLED ANGUS OU ABERDEEN.

Ferguson, T., Kinnochtvy, Cupar Angus, N.B.
Walker, W., Ardhuncast, Kildrummy, Aberdeen
SHEEP.

LKICESTERS AND LINCOLN'S.

Clark, J. P., North Ferriby, Brough, Yorks.
Sanday, G. H., Wensley, Bedale.

BORDER LEICESTERS AND CHEVIOTS.

Grieve, W., Skeefhill, Hawick.
Torrance, G., Sisterpath, Dunse, N.B.

COTSWOLD, KENTISH, ROMNEY MARSH, DEVON, }
OTHER LONG-WOOLLED BREEDS.

Game, W. T., Aldsworth, Northleach.

Selmes, J,, Lossenham. Newenden,. Ashford.

OXFORD DOWNS.
Little, W. D., Middleton Park, Bicester, Oxon.
Parsons, W., Hill Farm, Elstield, Oxford.

SOUTnDOWNS, HAMPSHIRES, AND OTHER SHORT
WOOLS.

Jonas, G., Ickleton, Great Chesterfield,
Penfold; H., Birdham, Chichester.

SHROPSHIRE3.
Keeling, C. R. , Congreve, Penkridge.
Mansell, T., Harrington Hall, Shifnal, Salop,

BI5ACK-FACED MOUNTAIN, HKJBDWICK AND LONK.

Archibald, J. .Duddingstone, South Queensferry, N.B.
Hoirae, H. P., Chapel Hill, Mardale, Haweswaterr

Penrith.
Ingleby, J., Austwiek, Clapham, Lancaster.

PIGS,
Edwards, J., Woodhorn Grange,. Mbrpethj.
Gibbons, T., 24, Chiawick Street,. Carlisle.
Walker, S\, Chapel House,. Tutbury, Burton-on-

Trent.

BUTTER.
Burrows, G. W., 16, Tooley Street, London, S.E,
Maxwell, W. , English Street, Carlisle.
Watson, J., Cam Lane, Birmingham,

FARMS.

Little, H. J., Coldham Hally W»&ecn;.

Outhwaite, T.r Goldsboro',

Brown, W, J., Hazlebury House, Box, Chippenham.

INSPECTORS OF SHEARING.
Jobson. W., Ashfield Villa, Heaton, Newcastle-on-

Tyne.
Rawlence, James E. , Wilton, Salisbury.
Workman, J. B., Southend, Upton-on-Severn.

STEAM PLOUGHING AND CULTIVATING

MACHINERY.
Hemsley, J., Shelton, Newark.
Kimber, J. \V.t Fyfield Wick, Abingdon..
Stephenson, J,r Burnham, Barton»on-Humber..

MISCELLANEOUS,
Cantrell, H., Stoke Pogis, Slough.
Rowlandson, S., Newton Monellr Darlington,
Wheatley, J., The Dell, Latimer, Chesham,

LIST OF AWARDS,
HORSES.

STALLIONS,

Class 1. — Agricultural Stallion, four years old'and up.-
wards, not qualified to compete as Clydesdale or
Suffolk.

1, £40, Earl of Ellesmere (Admiral),

2, £20, The Stand Stud Company (Young Champion).
R, and h. c, Lawrence Drew (Lord Harry).

Class 2. — Agricultural Stallion, three years old, not
qualified tojtompete as Clydesdale or Suffolk.

1, £30 r The Earl of Ellesmere (Samson 4th),

2, £20, Captain W. H. Betts (Strawberry Wonder).
Class 3. — Agricultural Stallion, two years old, not

qualified to compete as Clydesdale or Suffolk.

1, £30, The Earl of Ellesmere (Worsley Wonder).

2, £20, The Earl of Ellesmere (Prime Minister.)

3, £10, The Stand Stud Company (Crowland Hero)..
R. and h.c, Charles Marsters (West Norfolk-

Wonder).

Class 4. — Clydesdale Stallion.

1, £40, David Riddell (Darnley).

2, £20, William Moffat (Prince Henry).

3, £10, William Moffat (Young Baldie).

126

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

R. and c, The Bowness Entire Horse Company
(Prince of Kirkheam).
Class 5.— Clydesdale Stallion, three years old.

1, £30, Andrew Montgomery (Prince Imperial).

2, .£20, T. and J. Crawford (Silver).
'•&, £10, J. Whyte (Pointsman).

Class 6. — Clydesdale Stallion, two years old.

1, £30, Andrew Montgomery (The MacGregor).

2, £'20, Andrew Macdowall (Collingwood).

3, £10, David Riddell.

It. and c, William .Miller (Sefton).
Class 7.— Suffolk Stallion, four years old and up-
wards.

1, £40, Richard Garrett (Cupbearer 3rd).

2, £20, Horace Wolton (Royalty).

3, £1U, Richard Garrett (Crown Prince).

Class 8.— Suffolk Stallion, three years old.

1, £30, Samuel Wolton (Chieftain).
^, £20, Richard Garrett (Zulu).
R., Horace Wolton (Prince Royal).

Class 0.— Suffolk Stallion, two yeaTs old.
3 , £30, Horace Wolton (Oriental).

2, £20, William Wilson (Vanguard).
R. and h.c, R. E. Lofft (Jove).

Class 10.— Thorough -bred Stallion, suitable for get-
ting Hunters.

1 , £50, The Stand Stud Company (Meteor).

2, £2f>, H. F. Clare Vyner (Due de Beaut ort).

3, £10, John Tait (Red Cap Sly).

];., Nicholas Robert Fleming (The Muleteer).
Class 11. — Thorough-bred Stallion, suitable for get-
ting Hunters or Coach horses.
1, £105, William T. Sbarpe (Merry Sunshine).
R., William Armstrong (Westerhall).
Class 12. — Stallion, suitable for getting Coach -horses.

1, £25, The Stand Stud Company (< 'nnservative).

2, £15, The Stand Stud Company (Liberal).
],'., Christopher W. Wilson (Volunteer).

Class 13.— Stallion suitable for getting Hackneys,
above 14 hands 2 inches and not exceeding 15
ban Is 2 inches.

1, £20, John B. Barrow (Young Perfection).

2, £10, Christopher W. Wilson (Star of the Garter).

3, £5, The Stand Stud Company (Star of the East).
P., William Feathcrby (Prince Alfred).

Class 14 —Pony Stallion, above 13 hands 2 inches,

and not exceeding 14 hands 2 inches.
3, £15, Christopher W. Wilson (Little Wonder)

2, £10, Christopher W. W'ilson (Lord Derby).

3, £5, Christopher W. Wilson (Nobleman).
P., Christopher W. Wilson (Sir Douglas).

BROOD MAKES AND FILLIES.

Class 15. — Agricultural mare and foal, not qualified

to compete as Clydesdale or Suffolk.

1, £30, The Earl of Ellesmere (Damsel).
R. and h.c, The Earl of Ellesmere (Flora).

Class 1G. — Clydesdale mare and foal.
3, £30, David Riddell.

2, £20, Robert Frederick (Young Mary).

3, £10, James Beattie (Rosy).

R. and c, James Beattie (Duchess).

Class 17. — Suffolk mare and foal.

1, £ '0, The Duke of Hamilton (Belle of the Ball).

2, i20, Horace Wolton (Empress of Paris).

3, £10, Duke of Hamilton (Bright Diamond).
R. and h.c Duke of Hamilton (Emerald).

( lass 18. — Mare, four years old or upwards.

1, £20, Thomas H. Miller (Princess Dagmar).

2, £10, The Earl of Ellesmere).

3, £5, James Pieken, (Young Darling).
1 , and h.c. Thomas H. Miller (Topsey),

Class 10. — Agricultural filly, three yen, old, not

qualified to compete as Clydesdale or Suffolk.
1, £20, Edward Holmes (Lady Whitlock).

2, £10, Robert Horsley (Duchess),

3, £5, The Earl of Ellesmere (Princess Victoria).
R. and h.c, John Fox (Flower).

Class 20. — Clydesdale filly, three vears old.

1, £20, JohnWaddell (Louisa).

2, £]o, Andrew McDowall (May Belle).

3, £5, Robert Loden (Darling 3rd).
R. and c. , James Beattie (Ada).

Class 21. — Suffolk filly, three years old.

1, £20, Samuel Toller (Princess).

2, £10, Samuel Toller (Duchess).
R., R. E. Lofft (Gem).

Class 22. — Agricultural filly, two years old, not
qualified to compete as Clydesdale or Suffolk.

3, £20, Rev. Vincent O. Holcroft (Empress).

2, £10, Richard L&vcoek (Beautv).

3, £5, The Earl of Ellesmere (Thistle).
K., The Duke of Westminster (Lively).

Class 23.— Clydesdale fill}*, two years old.

1, £2<», Robert Murdoch (Princess).

2, £10, Sir Michael R. Shaw Stewart, Bart.

(Annot Lyle).

3, £5, Lord Arthur Cecil (Kelpie).

R. and h.c, William Montgomery (Man- Kate).
Class 24. — Suffolk tillv. two years old.

1, £20, William Toller (Shelduek).

2, £10, Samuel Toller (Beacon).

Class 25. — Agricultural filly, one year old.

3, £10, George Shadwick (Darling).
2. £5, Thomas Miller (Metha).

R., Thomas H. Miller (Satanella).

Class 26. — Clydesdale filly, one year old.

1, £10, James Beattie (Duchess).

2, £5, Sir Michael R. Shaw Stewart, Bart.

(Leonora)
R. and h.c, Robert Murdoch (Sheila).
H.c, J. M. Martin (Bride of Lammermoor).
Class 27. — Hunter mare and foal.

1, £30, Charles H. Hart (Achievement).

2, £20, Thomas Dixon (Fanny);

3, £10, Margaret Humble (Kate).
R., George Thompson Carr (Lizzie).

Class 2S. — Coaching mare and foal.

1, £20, John Kirkby (Flora).

2, £10, Norman Stordy.

R., John Wilson Hodgson (Borealis).
Class 29. — Hackney mare and foal, above 14 hands 2
inches and not exceeding 15 hands 2 inches.

1, £20, Charles Lancaster (Maid of All Work).

2, £10, Robert Martin (Lady Mary).

3, £5, Thomas H. Miller (Belle).

P., Christopher W. Wilson (Little Wonder).
H.c, Thomas H. Miller (Mabel Grey).
Class 30. — Pony mare and foal, above 13 hands 2
inches and not exceeding 14 hands 2 inches.

1, £15, Christopher W; Wilson (Miss Constance).

2, £10, William Trotter (Lucy).

3, £5, Christopher W. Wilson (Dolly).
R., John Rutherford (Jessie).

AGRICT/LTURA* MAKES, COLTS, AND GELDINGS.

Not qualified to compete as Clydesdale or Suffolk.
Class 31. — Pair of Agricultural horses, mares or
geldings, four years old and upwards, not less
than Hi hands hi^h.

1, £20, John Waddell (('ountessl.

2, £10, The Earl of Ellesmere (Beauty).

Class 32. — Gelding four years old, not less than 16
hands high.

3, £15, Henry Dawson (Clyde).

2, £10, William Bell (Princi

3, £5, Edward Charlton (Prince).

Class 33. — Gelding, three years old.

1, £35, Robert Blamire (Charley).*

2, £10, Richard Graham (Pen).*

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

12;

Class 34.— Gelding, two years old.

1, £15, George Armstrong ^Toni).

2, £10, Thomas H. Miller.

3, £5, Thomas llooinson.

R., .fames Moffat (Sir Richard).

Class 35. — Agricultural colt or gelding, one year old.

1, £10, Charles Maraters (The Coming Wonder).

2, £5, John Whitehead.

R., P. and J. Crawford (Queensberry).
Class 36. — Clydesdale colt or gelding, one year old.

1, £10, John Waddell.

2, £5, James McQueen (Robin Hood).

If. and h.c, JohuM. Martin (Peter Peebles).

HUNTERS.

Class 37. — Mare or gelding, up to 15 stone, 5 years

old and upwards.

1, £25, Christopher W. Wilson (Rossington).

2, £15, William H. Wakefield (The Banker).

3, £10, John C. Straker (Gambler).

It. and h.c, John Metealf (The Colonel).
Class 38. — Mare or gelding up to 12 stone, 5 years
old and upwards.

1, £25, John B. Cookson (Old Boy).

2, £15, John Rickerby (Kate).

3, £10, Tom M. Carlisle (Wallace).
R. and h.c, John Brown (Baronet).

Class 39. — Mare or gelding, four years old.

1, £20, Francis John Snowball (Flower Girl).

2, £10, Teasdale Hilton Hutchinson (Winesour).

3, £5, William Anderson (The Mysterj ).

R. and h.c, John Stockdale (Polly Perkins).
Class 40. — Mare or gelding, three years old.

1, £15, Thomas Dixon (May Fly).

2, £10, Francis J. Snowball (Jioius).

3, £5, Mary E. Tyson (Juliet).

R. and h.c, Thomas Robson (CyprianV

Class 41. — Mare or gelding, two years old.

1, £10, John C. Toppin (Clarion).

2, £5, Thomas Dixon (Miss Fanny).

It. and h.c, Richard Hawkridgc (Newby).
H.c, William Graham (Orlando), John Furness
(Duke), Edward Twisaday (Annie).
Class 42. — Mare, colt, or gelding, one year old.

1, £10, Thomas H. Foden (The Marquis).

2, £5, John W. Hodgson (Rose of Athol).
It. and h.c, Mark Ann Bell (Jack).

COACH HORSES.
Class 43. — Mare or gelding, four years old and up-
wards, not less than 16 hands high.

1, £15, Messrs. Carlisle and Bell (The General).

2, £10, John Metealf (The Major).

3, £5, William Bell (Prince).
It., George Hodgson (Baronet).

Class 44. — Mare or gelding, three years old.

1, £15, John Kirby(Duke of Conuaught).

2, £10, John Grainger.

R., Thomas Backhouse (Sir Garnet).

Class 45. — Marc or gelding, two years old.

1, £10, William Bland.

2, £5, The New Stud Company (Princess).
R., Henry Fearon Moncries (King Charles).

HACKNEYS AND ROADSTERS.
Class 46. — Mare or gelding, exceeding 15 hands, up

to not less than 15 stone.
1, £20, Christopher W. Wilson (Lady Walton).
Class 47. — Mare or gelding, exceeding 15 hands, up
to not less than 12 stone.

1, £20, Christopher W. Wilson (Sunbeam).

2, £10, Christopher W. Wilson (Lady Silvertail).

3, £5, Thomas Charles Thompson (Meg Merrilees).
It., Silas George Saul (Noma).

Class 48. — Mare or gelding, above 14 and not exceed-
ing 15 hands, up to 15 stone.
1, £20, Christopher W. Wilson (Charles 3rd).

R., Christopher W. Wilson (Charles 3rd).
Class 4\). — .Mare or gelding, above 14 and uot exceed-
ing 15 bands, up to 12 stone.

1, £20, John Robinpon (Waiter I-ily).

2, £10, Francis Cook Matthews (Zephyr).

3, £5, William Roulton.

It., Christopher W. Wilson (Rod in Pickle).

i'i >n 1 i:s.
Class 50. — Mare or gelding, above 13 and not exceed-
ing 14 hands.

1, £15, William Foster (Novelty).

2, £10, John Robinson (Lord Silvertail).

3, £5, Christopher W. Wilson (Little Jack).
R., James Mofl'att (Emma).

Class 51. — Mare or gelding, above 12 hands and not
exceeding 13 hands.

1, £15, William Foster (Wonder).

2, £10, Joseph Clementson (Captain).

3, £5, William Laing (Prince).
It. , Andrew Dobie (Devynock).

Class 52. — Mare or gelding, not exceeding 12 hands.

1, £10, William Foster (Prince).

2, £5, John Blencowe (Tommy).
R., John Robinson (Mop).

CATTLE.

All ages are calculated to 1st July, 1880 inclusive.
SHORTHORN.

Class 53. — Bull above three years old.

1, £30, John Tickers (Duke of Howl John).

2, £20, Thos. Willis, jun. (Vice Admiral).

3, £15, The Earl of Ellesmere (Attractive Lord).

4, £10, John Reiph (Plight Duke).

It. and h.c, Thomas Willis, jun. (Rear Admiral).
Class 54. — Bull, above two and not exceeding three
years old.

1, £25, Thomas Nelson (Prince Imperial).

2, £15, William Handley (Master Harbinger).

3, £10, Thos. Willis jun. (Flag Officer).

4, £5, Robert Taylor (Prince Louis).

R., The Duke of Richmond and Gordon (Arthur Bene-

diet).
H.c, James Nicholson (Harold).
Class 55. — Yearling bull, above one and not exceed-
ing two years old.

1, £25, Thomas Towneley Towneley-Parker (Oxford

Rose).

2, £15, David Pugh (Sir Charles).

3, £10, Samuel Porter Foster (Oxford, Duke of

Killhow 2nd).

4, 5, £Joseph and Daniel Dixon (Royal Windsor).
It. and c, John Outhwaitc (Lord Zetland).

Class 56. — Bull calf, above six and not exceeding
twelve months old.

1, £20, Teasdale H. Hutchinson (Knight of Kars).

2, £15, John Strong (Goldsmith).

3, £10, Mrs. Elizabeth A. Fothergill (St. Swithin).

4, £5, Benjamin St. John Ackers (Lord George

Hamilton).
R. and c, William Handley (Crown Prince).
Class 57. — Cow, in-milk or in-calf, above three years
old.

1, £20, Teasdale H. Hutchinson (Grateful).

2, £15, Benjamin St. J. Ackers (Princess Georgie).

3, £10, The Earl of Tankerville (Gaiety 3rd).

4, £5, William Langhorn (Diadem 2nd).

R. and h.c, The Duke of Northumberland (Lady

Jane).
H.c, B. St. John Ackers (Lady Carew 2nd), James

Whyte (Stanwick Rose), Captain George Ashby

Ashby (Innocence), Thomas Lambert (Princess

Louise).

128

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Cla33 53.— Heifer, in-milk or iM-oalf, not exceeding

three jvars old.
1 £20, Teasdale H. Hutchinson (Gainful).

2, £15, William Langhom (Lady Anne).

3, £10, David Pugh (Tulip 4th).
4 £5, James Whyte (Gaiety 6th).

R. andh.c, Evan Baillie (Sweet Pea).

H.c, James Thorn (Comadre Certainty), Lord Pol-

warth (Wave of the Ocean).
Class 59. Yearling heifer, above one and not exceed-
ing two years old.

1, £20, Lord Fitzhardinge"(Lady Wild Eyes 15th).

2, £15, Lord Fitzhardinge (Dowager 2nd).

3, £10, Jonathan Peel (Casquette).

4, £5, John Elwell (Empress Eugenie).

R. and h.c, Clement Stephenson (Alice Smeaton).
H.c, Benjamin St. John Ackers (Lady Carew 4th),

Teasdale Hilton Hutchinson (Gratia).
Class 60.— Heifer calf, above six and under twelve
months old.

1, £20, Benjamin St. John Ackers (Lady Georgina

Newcombe).

2, £15, The Rev. Robert Bruce Kennard (Blossom

5th).

3, £10, Joseph Stratton (Ethelberta).

4, £5, Philip Ascroft (Oxford Maria 2nd).

R. and h.c, The Duke of Richmond and Gordon

(Lady Violet).
H.c, Humphrey Smith (Victoria 49th).
HEREFORD.
Class 61.— Bull above three years old.

1, £25, Aaron Rogers (Grateful).

2, £15, William Taylor (Thoughtful).

R. and h.c, Frederick Piatt (Hartington).
Class 62.— Bull, above two and not exceeding three
years old.

1, £25, J. H. Arkwright (Conjuror).

2, £15, Edward Lister (Taurus).

Class 63. — Yearling bull, above one and not exceeding
two years old.

1, £25, Sarah Edwards (President).

2, £15, Sarah Edwards (Landlord).

3, £5, Frederick Piatt (Horace 4th).
R, William Taylor (Trafalgar).

Class 64. — Bull-calf, above six and not exceeding
twelve months old.

1, £15, Herbert R. Hall (Dale Tredegar).

2, £10, John H. Arkwright (Broadward).

3, £5, Thomas J. Carwardine (Kimbolton).
R., Thomas J. Carwardine (Lord Kilburn).

Class 65.— Cow, in-milk or in-calf, above three years
old.

1, £20, Thomas Myddleton (Nanette).

2, £10, Sarah Edwards (Perfection).
R., William Taylor (Modesty).

Class 66.— Heifer, in-milk or in-calf, not exceeding
three years old.

1, £15, Thomas Fenn (Dounton Rose).

2, .£10, John Hungerford Arkwright (Gaylass 4th).
R,, Frederick Piatt (Primrose 4th).

Class 67. — Yearling heifer, above one and not exceed-
ing two years old.
1, £15, Frederick Piatt (Lady 3rd).
R. and h.c, John H. Arkwright (Antoinette).
Class 68.— Heifer-calf, above six and undertwelve
months old.

1, £15, John H. Arkwright (Pearl 3rd).

2, £10, Thomas J. Carwardine (Juliet).

3, £5, Thomas Fenn (Countess of the Teme 2nd).
R, William Taylor.

DEVON.
Class 69. —Bull, above three years old.

1, £25, Viscount Falmouth (Master Molesworth).

2, £15, Walter Farthing (Lord Newsharo).

Class 70. — Bull, above two and not exceeding three
years old.

1, £25, Viscount Falmouth (Sir Michael).

2, £15, George Turner (Aqualate).
R, William R. Fryer (Shamrock).

Class 71. — Yearling bull, above one and not exceed-
ing two years old.

1, £25, William R. Fryer (Magnolia).

2, £15, William R. Fryer (Sweet William).

Class 72. — Bull-calf, above six and not exceeding
twelve months old.

1, £15, Maria Langdon (Duke of Flitton).

2, £10, Walter Farthing (Prettvface's Duke).
R. and h.c, William R. Fryer (Carlisle).

Class 73. — Cow, in-milk or in-calf, above three vears
old.

1, £20, Maria Langdon (Temptress 8th).

2, £10, Walter Farthing (Prettyface 2nd).
R. and h.c, William R. Fryer (Azalea).

Class 74. — Heifer, in-milk or in-calf, not exceeding
three vears old.

1, £15, Walter Farthing (Famous 2nd).

2, £10, William R. Fryer (Kalmia).
R., William R. Fryer (Bouquet).

Class 75. — Yearling heifer, above one and not exceed-
ing two years old.

1, £15, Walter Farthing (Famous 3rd).

2, £10, William R. Frver (Fuchsia).
R, William R. Fryer (Hyacinth).

Class 76. — Heifer-calf, above six and under twelve
months old.

1, £15, William R. Fryer (Daphne).

2, £10, Walter Farthing (Lad} Currypool 2nd).
R. , Alfred Charles Skinner.

srssKX.
Class 77. — Bull, above three years old.

1, £20, Edward and Alfred Stanford (Paris).

2, £10, John and Alfred Heasman (Hereford).
Class 78. — Bull, above two and not exceediug three

vears old.

1, £20, James S. Hodgson (Oxford).

2, £10, Ed ward and A. Stanford (Southampton).
R, Alfred Agate (Berry 1st).

Clas3 79. — Yearling bull, above one and not exceed-
ing two years old.

1, £15, John and A. Heasman (Royal Kilburn).

2, £10, Alfred Agate (Frankenstein 2nd).
R., Blake Duke (Protector).

Class 80. — Cow, in-milk or in-calf, above three years
old.

1, £20, Edward and A. Stanford (Hardy).

2, £10, James S. Hodgson (Young Daisy).

Class 81. — Heifer, in-milk or in-calf, above two and
not exceeding three years old.

1, £15, John and A. Heasman (Peace).

2, £10, Blake Duke (Lofty the Younger).
R. and h. c , Alfred Agate (Lucy 3rd).

Class 82. — Yearling heifer, above one and not exceed-
ing two years old.

1, £15, John and Alfred Heasman.

2, £10, Blake Duke (Royal Princess).

R. and h.c, Alfred Agate (Actress 5th).

LOXGHORN.

Class 83. — Bull, two years old and upwards.

1, £20, Major-General Sir F. W. Fitzwygram, Bart.,
(Prince Victor).

2, £10, Richard Hall (Earl of Fradley 1st).

3, £5, Duke of Buckingham and Chandos (Earl of

Temple).

Class 84. — Bull, under two years old.

1, £15, Sir John Harpur Crewe, Bart. (Harlequin).

2, £10, Richard Hall (The Monk).

R. and h.c, William J. Legh, M.P. (Lord of Lyme).

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

129

Class S5. — Cow, in-calf or in-milk, three years old
and upward*.

1, £'20, Richard Hall (Bodelwyddan 2nd).

2, £10, Richard Hall (l'alefcced 2nd).

3, £5, Richard H. Chapman (Lady Upton 77th).

Class 86. — Heifer, under three years old.

1, £15, The Duke of Buckingham and Chandos

(Ladv Aston).

2, £10, Major-Gen. Sir F. W. Fitzwygram, Bart.

(First Link).

3, £5, Major-General Fitzwygram, Bart. (Fortunate).
R. and h. c, Sir John Harjmr Crewe, Bart (Tulip 1 9th ).

JERSEY.

Class 87. — Bull, two years old and upwards.

1, £20, William Arkwright (Gray of the East).

2, £10, Francis Le Brocq (Farmer's Glory).

3, £5, John le Brun (Loyal Saturday).
R. and h.c, George Simpson (Milkboy).

Class 88. — Bull, under two years old.

1, £15, William H. Wakefield (Aldston 3rd).

2, £10, John le Brun (Sir Harry).

3, £5, George Simpson (Nimrod).

R. and h.c, Robert Loder (Pride of Stoke).
Class 89. — Cow, in-calf or in-milk, three years old
and upwards.

1, £20, George Simpson (Her Majesty).

2, £10, George Simpson (Milky).

3, £5, William F. Watson (Rose).

R. and h.c. , James Ashcroft (Souris).

Class 90. — Heifer, under three years old.

1, £15, Francis Le Brocq (Longueville Belle).

2, £10, George Simpson (Temptation 3rd).

3, £5, Francis Le Brocq (Lily).

R. and h.c, George Simpson (Sans-Souci).

GUERNSEY.

Class 91. — Bull above one year old.

1, £15, James James (Squire of Les Vaub«lets).

2, £10, Robert N. G. Baker (Billy).

Class 92. — Cow, in-calf or in-milk, aboTe three years
old.

1, £15, Robert N. G. Baker (Nancy 2nd).

2, £10, James James (Rosebud).

R. and c, Robert N. G. Baker (Dolly).

Class 93. — Heifer, not exceeding three years old.

1, £15, James James (Florence 2nd).

2, £10, Robert N. G. Baker (Buttercup).

3, £5, Robert N. G. Baker (Nancy 3rd).
R. and c, Robert N. G. Baker (Nelly).

NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK POLLED.

Class 91. — Bull, two years old and upwards.
T, £15, Thomas L. Palmer (Davyson 3rd).

2, £10, Alfred Taylor (King Charles).

3, £5, Robert E. Lofft (Stout).

R. and h.c, John Hammond (Davyson (5th).
Class 95. — Bull, not exceeding two years old.

1, jC15, John Hammond (Davyson 7th).

2, Jeremiah J. Colman, SI. P. (Ben).
R., Alfred Taylor (Starston Prince).

Class 96. — Cow, in-calf or in-milk, three years old and
upwards.

1, £15, Jeremiah J. Colman, M.P. (Fanny).

2, £10, Alfred Taylor (Flirt).

3, £5, Thomas L. Palmer (Cheerful).

R. and h.c, The Duke of Hamilton and Brandon,
K.T. (Ruby)
Class 97. — Heifer, under three years old.

1, £15, Jeremiah J. Colman, M.P. (Silence).

2, £10, John Hammond (Davy 24th).

3, £6, Jeremiah J. Colman, M.P. (Cherryleaf).
R. and h.c, Thomas L. Palmer (Buxom).

AYRSHIRE..

Class 98. — Bull above two years old.

1, £20, the Duke of Buccleuch (Morning Star).

2, £10, the Duke of Buccleuch (Lord of the Isles).

Class 99. — Cow, in-calf or in-milk, above three yeaia
old.

1, £15, the Duke of Buccleuch (Juno 5th of Drum-

lanrig).

2, £10, the Duke of Buccleuch (Lady Jane).

3, £5, the Duke of Buccleuch (Blackstone ).
R. and h.c, James Duncan.

Class 100. — Heifer, not exceeding three years old.

1, £15, the Duke of Buccleuch (Eva of Drumlaurig).

2, £10, the Duke of Buccleuch (Pearl).

3, £5, the Duke of Buccleuch (Belle of Drumlanrig).
R. and h.c, the Duke of Buccleuch (Beauty of

Drumlanrig).

POLLED GALLOWAY.

Class 101. — Bull, above three years old.

1, £20, Peter Morton and Sons (Prince Charley of

Pedder Hill).

2, £10, James Little (Liddesdale).

3, £5, Sir Frederick U. Graham, Bart. (Harden).
R. , James Cunningham (Knowsley).

Class 102. —Bull, above two and not exceeding three
years old.

1, £20, Robert Jardine, M.P. (Beaconsfield).

2, £10, The Duke of Buccleuch (Stanley of Drum-

lanrig).

3, £5, John Millican (The Mackintosh 2nd).
R., Thomas Graham (Chief of Errington 3rd).
Class 103. — Yearling bull, above one and not exceed-
ing two years old.

1, £15, James Cunningham (Prince Victor).

2, £10, The Duke of Buccleuch (Harden 2nd).

3, £5, The Duke of Buccleuch (Macbeth).

R., The Duke of Buccleuch (Fanny 2nd of Drum-

lanrig).
Class 104. — Cow, in-milk orin-calf, above three years
old.

1, £20, The Duke of Buccleuch (Princess of Cul-

main).

2, £10, The Duke of Buccleuch (Hannah 3rd of

Drumlanrig).

3, £5, The Duke of Buccleuch (Fanny 2nd of Drum-

lanrig).

R., The Duke of Buccleuch (Lady Stanley of Drum-
lanrig).

Class 105. — Heifer in-milk or in-calf, above two and
not exceeding three years old.

1, £15, James Shennan (Jenny Duke)

2, j£10, The Duke of Buccleuch (Bessie 2nd of

Drumlanrig).

3, £5, The Duke of Buccleuch (Helena of Drum-

lanrig).
R., Christopher Graham (Lizzie of Breckonhill).
Class 106. — Yearling heifer, above one and not ex-
ceeding two years old.

1, £15, James Cunningham (Lady Stanley 6th).

2, James Cunningham (Mary 6th of Tarbreoch).

3, The Duke of Buccleuch (Nightingale 2nd of

Drumlanrig).

R., James Shennan (Lady of Balig 8th).

H.c, The Duke of Buccleuch (Fanny 7th of Drum-
lanrig).

POLLED ANGUS OR ABERDEEN.

Class 107. — Bull, two years old and upwards.

1, £20, Robert Anderson (Prince Albert of Baads).

2, £10, The Marquis of Huntly (Monarch).

3, £5, The Earl of Strathmore (Bombastes).
H.c, George Hamilton (His Excellency).

Class 108. — Bull, not exceeding two years old.

1, £20, Henry D. Adamson (Knight of the Shire).

2, £10, The Earl of Airlie, K.T., (Ericson).

3, £6, John Hannay (Proud Viscount).
H.c, George Wilken (Waterside General).

130

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Class 109. — Cow, in-calf or in-milk, three years old
and upwards.

1, £20, Henry D. Adamson (Sybil 2nd).

2, £10, George Keid (Isla).

3, £5, William .Skinner (Sunshine 2nd).

Class 110. — Heifer, under three years old.

1, £15, The Earl of Airlie, K.T. (Pavilion).

2, £10, Henry D. Adamson (Pride of Aberdeen).

3, £5, .lohn Hannay (Waterside Annie 2nd).
H.c, The Earl of Strathmore (Viola).

DAIRY COWS.

Class 111. — Fair of dairy cows, of any breed or cross,
in-milk, milking properties to be specially con-
sidered.

1, £20, James Watt (Iresine).

Class 112. — Cow, of any breed or cross, in-milk, milk-
ing properties to be specially considered.

1, £10, Lord Fitzhardinge.

2, £5, William Sawer.

SHEEP.

LEICESTER.

Class 113. — Shearling ram.

1, £20, Teasdale H. Hutchinson.

2, £10, Hebden Borton.

3, £5, Teasdale H. Hutchinson.
R. and c, C. F. Jordan.

Class 114. — Ram of any other age.

1, £20, Teasdale H. Hutchinson.

2, £10, Hebden Borton.

3, £5, Teasdale H. Hutchinson.
K. and h.c, Hebden Borton.

Class 115.— Pen of rive shearling ewes, of the same
flock.

1, £15, William Brown.

2, £10, Ernest F. Jordan.

3, £5, George Turner, junr.

BORDER LEICESTER.

Class 116. — Shearling ram.
1, £20, Hon. llobert Baillie Hamilton.
2,' £10, William Wilson.
3, £5, Samuel Jack.
R. and h.c, James Melvin.

Class 117. — Ram of any other age.

1, £20, Andrew Smith.

2, £10, Robert Watson.

3, £5, Samuel Jack.

R. and h.c, William Dinning.

Class 118. — Pen of five shearling eWes, of the same
flock.

1, £15, Robert Watson.

2, £10, James Nisbet.
R., William Dinning.

0OT8WQLD&
Class 119. — Shearling ram.

1, £20, Robert Jacobs.

2, £10, Robert Jacobs.

3, £5, Thomas Brown.

R. and h.c, Thomas Brown.

H.c, Thomas Brown, Robert Jacobs.

Class 1 20. — Ram of any other age.

1, £20, Russell Swanwick.

2, £10, Thomas Brown.

3, £5, Russell Swanwick.
R. and h.c, Thomas Brown.

Class 121. — Pen of live shearling ewes, of the same
flock.

1, £15, Thomas and Stephen G. Gillett.

2, £10, Thomas and Stephen G. Gillett.

LINCOLN.

Class 122.— Shearling ram.

1, £20, Henry Smith. ;

2, £10, Henry Smith,

3, £5, Henry Smith.
R., Henry Smith.

Class 123. — Ram of any other age.

1, £20, Henry Smith.

2, £10, Henry Smith.

3, £5, William Savage.
R. , John Byron.

Class 124. — Pen of five shearling ewes, of the same
flock.

1, £15, John Pears.

2, £10, John Byron.

3, £5, John Pears.

R. and h.c, Joseph Sedgwick.

OXFORDSHIRE DOWN.

Class 125. — Shearling ram.

1, £20, John Tread well.

2, £10, John Treadwwll.

3, £5, John Treadwell.
R., John Treadwell.

Class 1 26. — Rim of any other age.

1, £20. John Treadwell.

2, £10, John Treadwell.
R. and h.c, George Adams.

Class 127. — Pen of live shearling ewes, of the same

flock.
1, £15, Frederick Street.

SOUTHDOWN.

Class 12S. — Shearling ram.

1, £20, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, E.G.

2, £10, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, E.G.

3, £5, Hugh Gorringe.

R. and h.c, Lord Walsingham.
H.c, Sir Nicholas W. Throgmorton, Bart.
Class 129. — Ram of any other age.
£1, 20, The Duke of Richmond and Gordon, E.G.

2, £10, William Rigden.

3, £5, Hugh Gorringe.

R. and h.c, Sir Nicholas W. Throgmorton, Bait.
Class 130. — Pen of five shearling ewes, of the same
flock.

1, £15, Lord Walsingham.

2, £10, Jeremiah J. Colman, M.P.

3, £5, Sir Nicholas W. Throgmorton, Bart.

R. and h.c, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, E.G.
SHROPSHIRE.
Class 131. — Shearling ram.

1, £20, John Whitefoot Minton.

2, £10, Maria Barrs.

3, £5, John Whitefoot Minton.
R. and h.c, James Lenox Naper.
H.c, Richard Thomas.

Class 132. — Ram of any other age

1, £20, Maria Barrs.

2, £10, Richard Thomas.

3, £5, James Lenox Naper.
R. and h.c, J. W. Minton.

H.c, Edward Crane and Alfred Tanner.
Class 133. — ren of five shearling ewes, of tho same
flock.

1, £15, George Graham.

2, £10, John E. Farmer.

3, £5, Joseph Beach.

R. and h.c, John W. Minton.

H.c, Sir Henry Allsopp, Bart., Richard Thomas.

HAMPSHIRE AND OTHER SHORTWOOIXKD Ur.KEDS.

Not qualified to compete as Southdown or Shropshire
Class 134. — Shearling ram.

1, £20, Alfred Morrison.

2, £10, Alfred Morrison.

3, £5, Henry Lambert.

R. and h.c, Henry Lambert.

Class 135. — Ram of any other age.

1, £20, Frank R. Moot*.

2, £10, William Newton.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

131

3, £.r>, Alfred Morrison.
R, and h.c, Henry Lambert.

Class 136.— Pen of live shearling ewes, of the same
flock.

1, £15, Frank R. Moore (Hampshire Down).

2, £10, Henry Lambert (Hampshire Down).

3, £5, William Newton (Hampshire Down).

CHEVIOT.
Class 137. — Shearling ram.

1, ^10, Thomas Elliot.

2, £5, John Robson.

R. and h.e. , John Robson.

(lass 138. — Ram of any other age.

1, £10, Thomas Elliott.

2, £5, Thomas Elliott.

EL and h.e., John Robson.

Class 139. — Pen of five shearling ewes, of the same

flock.
1, £10, Thomas Elliott.
R. and h.e., John Robson.

m.ACK-FACEI) MOUNTAIN.

Class 140. — Shearling ram.

1, £10, James Moftat.

2, £5, James Craig.

3, £3, Charles Howatson.

R. and h.c., Charles Howatson.

Class 141. — Ram of any other age.

1, £10, James Moffat.

2, £5, Charles Howatson.

3, £3, Charles Howatson.

R. and h.c, Charles Howatson.
Class 142. — Pen of live shearling ewes of the same
flock.

1, £10, Charles Howatson.

2, £f>, Matthew Henderson.

3, £3, Matthew Henderson.
R. and h.c, John Irving.

IIEKDWICK.

Class 143. — Shearling ram.

1, £10, Edward Hawell.

2, £5, George Browne.

3, £3, George Browne.

R. and h.c, Edward Hawell.

Class 144. — Ram of any other age.

1, £10, John Newby.

2, £5, Edward Hawell.

3, £3, Edward Nelson.

R. and h,c, Edward Nelson.

Class 145. — Pen of five shearling ewes, of the same
flock.

1, £10, Edward Hawell.

2, £5, William Leathes.

3, £3, Edward Nelson.

R. and h.c , Thomas Ainsworth.

Class 146. — Pen of five ewes of the same flock, with

their Lambs, direct from the keif or fell.
1, 10 guineas, John Newby.
R., Edward Nelson.

LONK.

Class 147. — Shearling ram.

1, jfflO, Jonathan Peel.

2, £5, David Lambert and Son.

3, £3, Frederick Harrison.

R. and h.c, David Lambert and Son.

Class 148. — Ram of any other age.

1, ^10, Johathan Peel.

2, £5, David Lambert and Son.
5, £'i, David Lambert and Son.

Class 149. — Pen of five shearling ewes, of the same
flock.

1, .£10, David Lambert and Son.

2, £5, David Lambert and Son.

3, £3, Frederick Harrison. i

KENTISH, ROMNEY MARSH, DSVQK, AND OTHER

LONG-WOOLLED BREEDS.

Not qualified to compete in any of the preceding

classes of long-woolled sheep.

Class 150.— Shearling ram.

1, ^10, William and G. Bird.

2, £5, William and G. Bird.
R. and h.c, John Willis, jun.

Class 151. — Ram of any other age.

1, ^10, William and G. Bird.

2, £5, William and G. Bird.
R. and h.c, John Willis, jun.

Class 152.— Pen of five shearling ewes, of the same

flock.
1, ^10, John Willis, jun.

PIGS.

LARGE WHITE BREED.

Class 153. — Boar, above six months old and not
exceeding twelve months old.

1, £10, The Earl of Ellesmerc

2, £5, The Earl of Ellesmerc

Class 154. — Boar, above twelve months old.

1, ^10, The Earl of Ellesmerc

2, £5, Sanders Spencer.

Class 155. —Pen of three breeding sow pigs of the
same litter, above three and not exceeding six
months old.

1, £10, The Earl of Ellesmerc

2, £5, Robert Tommas.

R. and h.c, Alfred Crowther.

Class 156. — Breeding sow.

1, £10, The Earl of Ellesmere.

2, £5, The Earl of Ellesmere.
R. and h.c, Alfred Crowther.

SMALL WHITE BREED.

Class 157. — Boar, above six months and not exceed-
ing twelve months old.

1, £10, The Earl of Ellesmere.

2, £5, Sanders Spencer.

Class 158. — Boar, above twelve months old.

1, £10, The Earl of Ellesmere.

2, £5, The Earl of Ellesmere.

Class 159.— Pen of three breeding sow pigs of the
same litter, above three and not exceeding six
months old.

1, £10, The Earl of Ellesmere.

2, £5, Robert Tommas.
H.c, The Earl of Ellesmere.

Class 160.— Breeding sow.

1, £10, Sanders Spencer.

2, £5, Philip Ascroft.

R. and h.c, Charles Elmhirst Duckering.

Class 162.— Boar, above twelve months old.

1, £10, Rev. William Hooper.

2, £5, Charles E. Duckering.

Class 163.— Pen of three breeding sow pigs of the
same litter, above three and not exceeding six
months old.

1, £10, Rev. William Hooper.

Class 164. — Breeding sow.

1, £10, Charles E. Duckering.

2, £5, Charles E. Duckering.

BERKSHIRE BREED.

Class 165. — Boar, above six months and not exceed-
ing twelve months old.

1, £10, Edward Tombs.

2, £5, Russell Swanwick.

Class 166.— Boar, above twelve months old.

1, £10, Edward Tombs.

2, £5, Russell Swanwick.
H.c, Charles E, Duckering.

132

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINI

Class 167. — Pen of three breeding sow pigs of the
same litter, above three and not exceeding six
months old.

1, £10, The Executors of the late Arthur Stewart,

2, £5, Russell Swanwick.

Class 168. — Breeding sow.

1, £10, The Executors of the late Arthur Stewart,

2, £5, Russell Swanwick.

R. and h.e. , the Executors of the late Arthur
Stewart.

OTHER BREEDS.
Not eligible to compete in any of the preceding

classes.
Class 169. — Boar above six months and not exceed-
ing twelve months old.

1, £10, Charles E. Duckering.

2, £5, John and Joseph Nuttall.
H.c, The Earl of Ellesmeie.

Class 170. — Boar, above twelve months old.

1, £\Q, The Earl of Ellesmere

2, £5, Robert Tommas.

R. and h.c, John and Joseph Nuttall.

Class 171.— Pen of three breeding sow pigs of the

same litter, above three and not exceeding six

months old.

1, jCIO, The Earl of Ellesmere.

2, £5, Alfred Crowther.
H.c, Robert Tommas.

Class 172. — Breeding sow.

1, £10, The Earl of Ellesmere.

2, jC5, Sanders Spencer.

R. and h.c, Alfred Crowther.

BUTTER.

Class 173.— Six pounds of fresh butter (open to
makers only).

1, £6, Christopher Millican.

2, £5, Arabella Prescott.

3, £4, Anne Robinson.

4, £3, Robert Curvin.

5, £2, Mary Dobson.

Class 174.— One Firkin of Bntter (open to makers
only).

1, £6, Christopher Millican.

2, £5, Hannah Watson.

3, £4, Thomas Tweddle.

4, £3, John Barker.

5, £2, Mary Ann Fcnton.

BUTTER.
There were two classes for butter, in the first of
which, for six pounds of fresh butter ^open to makers
only), there were 55 entries, We were somewhat
surprised to find that nearly the whole of these en-
tries were from the North, and there were no entries
from the noted exhibitors of Jersey butter in the
Aylesbury district. Exhibitors in the locality have,
doubtless, an advantage in competing for prizes for
fresh butter ; as they can show their butter sooner
after it is made, and without its being made soft or
damaged in any way by conveyance by rail. We
think, however, some entries from such noted dairies
as Mr. Fowler's, or Lord Chesham's, would have won
at Carlisle. Almost the only entry from the southern
half of England, Mrs. Prescott's, of Herefordshire,
took the second prize. As both reporters and the
public are prevented from tasting, or even closely in-
specting the samples, we cannot report upon their
individual merits, but we believe the quality of the
fresh butter was very fair. As an instance of how
much buperior plans of management, and it may be
to some extent the character of the herbage, have to
do with success, we notice the fact that several of the
prizes and commendations are won by occupiers of

adjoining farms in one parish near Penrith.
Five prizes were awarded in plate or money
in each class. In class 174, for a firkin of butter,
we are informed that the judges reported very
unfavourably of the average qua'ity, and they had
some difficulty in selecting a sufficient number out of
the 32 entries worthy to receive the prizes. It is, we
fear, true, that in the making of cured butter the far-
mers of every part of the United Kingdom fall short
of success, and have something to learn from the
practice in France and Denmark. We trust, how-
ever, that the attention now being paid to the matter
will result in some improvement in quality, which is
highly necessary if the British farmer is to hold his
own in the face of foreign competition. Although
the greater part of the butter made in England is
consumed fresh, it is very desirable on many dairy
farms to be able to make perfectly cured butter at
some periods of the summer season, when the market
for fresh butter is overstocked, to be stored and sold
in winter when butter is dear. Where properly
managed the butter keeps very well, and made as it
is when cows are fed on grass, its quality is little, if
at all, inferior to fresh winter-made butter. The
power of making first-rate cured butter would also
better enable the seller of milk to large towns to denl
profitably with his milk when, as sometimes unavoid-
ably happens, he is obliged tokeep it at home, the mar-
ket being overstocked. It is worthy of note that the
winner of the first prize for a firkin, Mr. Christopher
Millican, of Johnby, Greystoke, Penrith, was also
the winner of the first prize for fresh butter.

CHEESE.

There were no prizes offered for cheese this year.
We think this a mistake. Cheese is a very important
production, and samples can be conveyed for exhibi-
tion with far less expense than live stock. The offer
of prizes should not, therefore, be dependent, as we
believe it now is, upon whether the local committee
care to take the matter up or not. A large quantity
of cheese of the Cheddar or Dunlop kinds is made
not far from Carlisle, over the border, and some is
made within the county, and we think a resectable
and useful competition would have resulted from the
offer of prizes.

An attractive feature of the Show-yard was the
Working Dairy, where daily, throughout the show,
the various operations of setting and churning the
milk and making up the butter were exhibited for
public inspection, the public being admitted to a
raised covered stand at a shilling fee. The whole
affair was under the management of the Aylesbury
Dairy Company, and Mr. Allender and his assistants
were at hand to explain the various processes, as well
as to conduct and carry them out.

The cold setting of milk on the Danish and
American plans, the working of the cream separator,
the churning of the butter, and the butterworkers
were continually in operation. The cream separator
is a most ingenious machine, by which, by centrifugal
action at a high speed, the cream is almost perfectly
separated from the milk without the necessity of time
being taken for it to rise. Although the operation is
undoubtedly effectively performed, we have no belief
at all in its general practical utility. The cost of the
machine, the necessity of providing power to drive it
at high speed, of keeping a skilled attendant to watch
it constantly, and the slowness of the operation, all
combine to place it beyond the profitable use of the
ordinary dairy farmer. Nor is there, except where
there is a possibility of selling for household con-
sumption the skim milk, any adequate motive for the

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

133

use of the cream separator. Where a large quantity
of fresh milk is delivered at a factory, it may be
possible, by means of a number of these machines
placed side by side aud worked by one engine, and
attended to by one man, to work them with economy,
but otherwise the results are not adequate to the cost.
The Cooley system of setting new milk in deep vessels
placed with slight intervals side by side, in a square
tank supplied with water as cold as possible, is a
satisfactory means of keeping the milk perfectly
sweet during the time the cream rises, an important
matter in producing butter absolutely pure. We think
the adoption of this plan in gentlemen's dairies for the
home supply of butter is probable. The Cooley tank
occupies but little space, and where a small supply of
cold spring water can be laid on, we do not doubt its
usefulness. In hot climates, or where, as in Den-
mark, Germany, and America, it is required to make
keeping butter, and where, too, ice is more readily
procurable, these cold-setting systems are a great
success, and their use results in much purer butter.
In England, however, where butter is generally sold
fresh, the advantage of cold setting milk is not so
apparent, and with care it is easy to keep milk sweet
long enough without them. We do not think they
are, therefore, likely to come into general use. A
thorough competitive trial of the weight and quality
of butter from equal quantities of milk of identical
quality churned in the same manner, after the cream
had been extracted by the separator, by the cold set-
ting system, and by the ordinary plan of setting in
shallow vessels, would be interesting and instructive.
In the working dairy in the Show-yard Mr. Allender
had no facilities for raising sufficiently the tempera-
ture of the cream obtained under the cold-setting
system previous to churning ; he was, therefore,
butter-making under difficulties, and the butter did
not come always in the proper time. The butter
workers now introduced are an improvement upon the
old plan of working it by hand, and the smaller ones
will prove useful in ordinary farm dairies. An
ingenious weighing machine for weighing milk when
it arrives at a factory or depot was amongst the various
dairy implements exhibited by the Aylesbury Com-
pany. Mr. Allender, with courtesy and consideration,
explained to numerous inquirers the details of each
eperatioiu

THE IMPLEMENTS.

As w« referred last week to several of the more
important exhibits ia the implement department,
and gave also, in our late edition, a complete list of
implement exhibitors, with their principal exhibits,
it will not be necessary, on the present occasion, to
refer to every stand. There is, indeed, very little to
be said in most cases that has not already been men-
tioned in our report of the Bath and West of Eng-
land Show at Worcester ; for we never remember to
have seen so few novelties at the Royal as there were
last week at Carlisle. Improved machines there were
in abundance ; but the gi eater part of these were at
Worcester. If it had not been for the rain and the
sodden state of the ground, it would have been a
pleasure to go round the compact and well-arranged
rows of stands at Carlisle. Wet or dry, however, the
round had to be made, and we give some references to
the exhibits which attracted our attention.

Messrs. Holmes and Sons, of Norwich, occupied
Stand No. 1, showing a finishing thrashing machine,
which separates and bags the chaff, and is fitted
with a drawguard. They showed also their famous
clover and seed sheller, which has now wrought iron
beaters and concaves improved in pattern, to enable
more work to be done with a given amount of power ;

also seed and manure drills, a broadcast sowing
machine, and a barley hummeller.

Messrs. Fowler and Co., of Leeds, had their usual
large show of engines and cultivating machiuery.
There were three steam ploughing engines shown, of
16 and 8 horse power respectively ; aud three others,
of 6 and 8 horse power were in operation in the fields
near the show grounds. The smaller engines, of 6
and 8 horse power, which are intended to work as
traction as well as steam ploughing engines, are for
this purpose provided with a bracket underneath the
boiler, which, after taking off the winding-drum, is
used as support for the front axle. The effect is that
the engine is considerably shortened, and becomes in
every respect a most serviceable road locomotive. In
all cases the boilers are of the ordinary locomotive
type, providing ample steam space by means of a
dome cast inapiecewith the steam -jacketed cylinders.
The comparatively great heating surface, especially
of the fire-box, and the correspondingly ample grate
surface, secures an economical consumption of fuel.
The WTought-iron road wheels are of large diameter and
great breadth, so as to prevent their sinking in soft
land. Besides, rings are provided, which, when
bolted to the wheel, increase the width still more.
The road gear itself is so arranged that two speeds
can be given to the driving wheels, the quicker one
being used when going long distances or doing regular
traction engine work, for which the engines, after the
winding-drum is taken down, are perfectly adapted.
One of the most striking features in these engines is
the very extensive use of steel in the whole machinery,
shafts, and gearing throughout, every part more liable
to wear and breakage being of this material. A
second noteworthy peculiarity is the exclusive em-
ployment of single-cylinder engines. An 8 horse
power double drum single-cylinder engine represents
the double drum system. This engine combines a
steam ploughing engine (working either direct along
the headland or stationary), and a perfect traction
engine, available for thrashing and other farm
purposes ; and it can at any time be used as
one of a pair on the double - engine system.
The usual ploughs and cultivators to be worked with
these engines were shown. They are too well known
to need description. Decauville's portable railway,
as improved by Mr. Greig, was also shown. The
principle on which the system is based is the dis-
tribution of the load on a great number of small
light wagons, scarcely ever carrying more than half a
ton each. This permits the employment of a very
light rail, so that two rails, either riveted or other-
wise firmly fixed to iron sleepers, are perfectly port-
able for one or two men, and, being firmly connected,
require no further adjustment when thrown on the
ground for immediate use. In the original Decauville
railway, the rails are riveted to simple flat-iron
sleepers. An improved and much stronger line is
represented by Greig's patent. In this line the
sleepers are formed of flat plates, with a longitudinal
corrugation in the middle, which much increases
their strength. Two recessed angle-irons are riveted
to this plate, against which the rails are pressed by a
bolt, which, by a hook, grasps its lower flange. By
these means the two rails form a perfectly rigid
whole, as in the original Decauville plan, whilst they
can be dismounted readily, without the possibility of
a mistake in refixing them. A double sleeper at one
end forms the connection with the next rail length.
Amongst the exhibits were crossings, curves, switches,
turntables, inclined planes for shunting wagons off"
the line, &c. ; in fact, every contrivance required for
the varying circumstances in which portable or semi-
portable railways can be used.

134

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Mr. "Walter "Wood's exhibits were mentioned last
week. His new string binder was a centre of
attraction, and people are anxious to see how it works
in the field. It has been tried with success, we
believe, in the United States, The " Junior " reaper
with mowing attachment, and the back-delivery
reaper, were the chief novelties in the self-rakers, as
described in our report of the Worcester show.

The Johnston Harvester Company's string-binder
has been so far improved as to be offered to the
public for sale, and we shall probably see it at work
in the fields during the autumn. They claim to
have been the first to introduce the system of sid*
delivery in reapers, at a great trial held at Auburn,
U.S.A., about twelve years ago, where a side-delivery
machine was considered a great novelty. They
showed also an independent string-binder, to work
after an ordinary machine or the scythe, and then
wrought-iron harvesters, and other reapers and com-
bined machines.

Mr. Stalker, of Penrith, had a double-furrow
plough for making two ridges in one operation, and a
useful-looking scarifier.

Messrs. Penney and Co., Lincoln, exhibited an
improved potato-digger, a potato-separator, and a
large assortment of corn screens, manure, gravel, lime
and malt screens, trucks, and other hand carriages.

The Koldmoos weed eradicator, exhibited by
Messrs. Old and Madison, of Darlington, has been
vastly improved since its first introduction to this
country. It is now a light, handy implement, which
we understand has given great satisfaction where it
has been used. A one-horse reaper, some screens,
chaff-cutters, churns, and mills were also to be seen
on this stand.

The Maldon Iron Works Company made a good
display of their serviceable implements and machines
of various descriptions, amongst which we particu-
larly noticed a capital combination of furrow hoe,
ridging plough, and potato raiser, wonderfully cheap
in comparison with its usefulness.

Mr. Henry Cooch, of Harlestone, exhibited his
new " Simplex" corn-dressing machine, designed on
the principle of his famous " Original" machine, but
sold at less than three-fourths of the price. We gave
further inspection to the sheaf-binders exhibited on
Mr. Spencer's stand, referred to last week ; but these
inventions are not in a sufficiently forward state to
enable us to judge of their probability of success. On
one point, however, we have no doubt — namely, that
the prongs for gathering corn by a forward movement
will not act. They will be certain to run into the
ground and double up, and they would not collect
cleanly in any case. This feature of the independent
sheaf-binder should be replaced by something better.
Messrs. Hetherington and Co. , of Manchester, intend,
we believe, to show their string-binder, attached to a
Marsh harvester, at work this year. It is a great pity
that there is not to be a competition of string-binder3
under the auspices of the Society.

Corn and seed drills, fitted with many conveni-
ences, harrows, horse-hoes, horse-rakes, and a very
useful combination of horse-hoe and five-tine scarifier
were noticeable on Messrs. Kell, Meats, and Co.'s
(Gloucester) stand.

The circular-frame grubber exhibited by Messrs.
G. W. Murray and Co. , of Banff, deserves to be more
widelv known than it is in England. No fewer
than 1,500 of them have been made, but chiefly for
use in Scotland, we believe. The tines can be readily
shifted so as to work at various widths. The two-
row potato-planter and the potato-digger shown by
the same firm, both look like business, and have done
a good deal of work in Scotland. The former was

awarded a silver medal by the judges. The " Victory"
back self-delivery reaper, with mower combined , is a
light and simple machine.

The improvement introduced by Mr. Robert P>oby,
of Bury St. Edmunds, in his screens, now hung on
spring suspenders, was referred to in our report of the
Worcester show. It is a great advantage. A horse-
rake, with 42-ich wood wheels, haymakers, and other
machines, were also to be seen on this stand.

Messrs. "W. J. and C T. Burgess, of Brentwood and
Holborn (late Burgess and Keys), did not exhibit
their new binder, although it was entered in the
catalogue. They are engaged in perfecting it before
venturing to offer it to the public, and we hope to
hear of its success during harvest, as it would be a
great triumph to make a machine of so novel a con-
struction work. Amongst their well-known reapers
and mowers we noticed the " Pioneer " mower, made
with a double-jointed cutter bar in advauce of the
machine, and a combined machine on the same prin-
ciple.

Mr. George Kearsley, of Ripon ; F. and H. Mattison,
of Bedale ; Sherwood, of Kirkbridge ; and Synnn,
of Newton, also showed reapers and mowers.

Messrs. Handyside and Co., of Derby, exhibited
several new machines for pulping, stripping, and
otherwise cutting turnips ; also a new adjustable
wheel drag-harrow, seed-harrows, and their mowers
and reapers, improved by recent alterations.

Messrs. J. and H. Keyworth, of Liverpool, besides
the ingenious " New York " hay tedder, described in
our report of the "Worcester Show, had a large exhi-
bition of " Buckeye" mowers, reapers, and combined
machines, horse rakes, and weighing machines.
Amongst the last-mentioned we noticed a bullock -
weighing machine, manufactured by the Howe Scale
Company.

On the stand of the Savile Street Foundry Com-
pany, of Sheffield, were to be seen an improved
rotary irrigating pump, an exhauster, and grain
drier, and an improved grinding mill, for reducing to
a fine state all kinds of material used in the manu-
facture of feeding stuffs, bones for manure, &c.

Messrs. Harrison, McGregor, and -Co., of Leigh,
keep on improving their successful " Albion "
reapers and mowers, of which they showed a large
selection ; also mills, pulpers, slicers, chaff-cutters,
and other machines.

The new Polygon corn, malt, and seed screens
shown by Perkins, Paternoster, and Bnrlinghani, of
Hitchin, attracted much attention, as they appeared
to do their work well. A great variety of them were
exhibited, and other barn implements also.

We have often noticed the excellence of the stable
fittings shown by the St. Pancras Iron Work Com-
pany, of London. At Carlisle they showed a patent
stall division for agricultural horses, a ventilating
division for very heavy horses, stall mangers of
various shapes and sizes, cowhouse fittings, piggery
fronts and troughs, and brackets for harness ; also a
new system of paving stables, &c, affording a good
foothold, and carrying away the drainage. The
system is self-acting.

A great display of iron fencing, hurdles, gates and
posts, rick stands, pigs' troughs, espaliers, tree-
guards, railings, kc, was made by Messrs. Hill
and Smith, of Brierley Hill, Stafford. Their conti-
nuous flat bar fencing for sheep or cattle is a great
improvement on the round shape.

Messrs. Francis Morton and Co., of Liverpool, also
had a large show of iron fencing, gates, stiles, hurdles,
thatch substitute, and roofs for barns.

On Messrs. Sawney and Co.'s (Beverley') stand we
noticed a new winnowing machine, with "JOin. riddle,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

135

titte<l with new patent flacking apparatus, manufac-
ture! by the exhibitors. It satiks dressed
com without the elevator commonly hi use, which
adds to the draught and expense ; this is done away
with by the sacking apparatus, which does not in-
crease the draught. The machine is self-contained,
and additional standing room not required. Carts,
waggons, potato riddlers, weighing machines, and
other machines were also exhibited by this firm.

A very useful garden syringe, needing only one
band to work it, was shown by Messrs. Arnold and
Sons, of London.

Messrs. Hayes and Son, of Stamford and Peter-
borough, showed a new tipping waggon — Watling's
patent — suitable for scavenging in towns, carrying
'ime, mortar, or gravel, as well as for agricultural
'ork. They exhibited also other waggons and carts.
Messrs. Crosskill and Sons, of Beverley, exhibited
heir self-cleaning clod crusher, some of their well-
known carts, waggons, and other carriages, their old
3-horse reaper, with recent improvements, and the
" Beverley " self-raking 2-horse reaper.

Wheaton's pa tent manure and seed distributor, and
a variety of farm carriages, builders' carts, horse rakes,
and a grass seed distributor were to be seen on the
stand of the Bristol Waggon Works Company. We
noticed a very useful platform weighing machine
on Messrs. Hodgson and Stead's (Salford) stand. It
will weigh from 1 lb. to 5 cwt. , and is fitted with a
polygonal steelyard, which can be graduated so as to
register any weights, English or foreign. The advan-
tage of this arrangement lies in the fact that, by
simply turning the steelyard the equivalent of English
weights can be seen in the foreign weights marked on
the other side. Thus at a glance, and without
reckoning, hundredweights and pounds can be found
expressed in centals or the weights used in any foreign
country. A cattle-weighing machine also attracted
our attention on this stand.

Messrs. Samuelson and Co., of Banbury, bad a new
self-raking back delivery reaper on their stand, called
tlte " Highland Dropper," and made specially for use
in Scotland and the North of England, where back-
delivery is preferred. Several improvements have
been introduced in their other reapers and in
their mowers. They exhibited at work in the
machinery in motion department, a portable hay
press, patented by M. T. Pilter, of Paris, which was
awarded the silver medal of this Society at their meet-
ing at Kilburn last year. In this press the hay is
thrown by two men loosely into a trough and
delivered automatically up to a circular plate, and
passes through two narrow slits, into which it is
* niformly fed by revolving cones, imparting to it a
corkscrew motion. The hay is, in fact, roughly spun
into a double-threaded screw of very fine pitch, and
forced onwards, with gentle pressure, until a sulti-
cient quantity has been collected to form a cylindri-
cal bale of the weight desired ; a pressure of about
6 cwt. to the cubic yard is then applied (this pres-
sure may, however, if desired, be increased to 8
cwt) ; the bale is then bound by two steel wires cross-
ing one another in a longitudinal direction ; on the
pressure being relieved the mass slightly expands,
stretching the wires, and the bale falls out of the press
a solid uniform cylinder, weighing from 2 to 2£ cwt.,
and measuring about 2 feet in diameter, and which
may be rolled along by one man. The operation of
forming a bale is one of the simplest character, requir-
ing only a four-horse portable engine, the laboured" three
men, and five minutes of time. The press is provided
with a pulley, which can receive motion by a belt
from a horse geir, portable engine, or any other source
of power. The principle of loosely spinning the buy,

and then winding it round a centre, thus securing a
form not only admitting of easy transport, but also
avoiding waste by rough usage, will, no doubt,
commend itself to those who are interested in the
compression of forage. Another important point in
this system is that by the gentle way in which the
hay is " handled " by the press it is not bru's d or
broken as in some other methods ; moreover, from
the peculiar mannerin which the bales are formed, the
necessity for excessive pressure, thereby expressing
the nutritious juices of the hay and rendering it com-
paratively valueless, is obviated.

Messrs. Ransome, Sims, and Head, of Ipswich, had
their usual large show of engines, thrashing machines,
ploughs, horse rakes, lawn mowers, and haymakers.
Several improvements in these machines were referred
to in our report of the Worce.-t r Show. The self-
raking reaper is not so well known as Messrs. Ran-
some's other implements, being a recent introduction.
It was shown for the first time, we believe, at Wor-
cester.

On Messrs. Hunt and TaWell's (Bail's Colne)
stand, besides horse gear, chaff cutters, various sizes
for hand and horse power, oil cake breakers, Gardner's
turnip .-utters, the celebrated "Tiny" and "Gem"
rootpulpers. maize mills, oat mills, &c, there was
shown the "Duplex" combined chatf cutter and
oat mill, and the "Triplex " combined chaff cutter,
oat mill, and bean mill. We have already referred
to this combination. The design of the " Triplex "
is similar to that of the "Duplex;" but it has two
rollers on one spindle, the hopper being divided by a
diaphragm, which is turned over from" side to side
as itis required to crush oats or beans. The rollers
are of solid steel, so that when worn they can be
easily recut, saving the expense of new rollers. A
catch is provided for the spanner, so that this article,
which is required for slacking the nut in front of
the flywheel when grinding corn may always be to
hand.

A new horizontal fixed steam engine was shown by
the Reading Iron Works Company, who also exhi-
bited the ingenious split pulley previously noticed
by us, several engines, and a thrashing

Perhaps the greatest novelty in the Showyard was
the sheaf-binder shown by Messrs. Priest and Wool-
nough, of Kingston-on-Thames. They showed a
binder for attaching to an ordinary reaper, to tie
with string. But the greater novelty, though pro-
bably a less useful machine, was the independent
binder, which is intended to pick up and bind corn
already cut. The corn is gathered by prongs as by
a horse rake ; then two revolving tines come round at
the back, gather up the sheaf, deliver it on to a lattice
platform, whence it is carried by the revolving
binding arm, encircled with string, tied with a reef
knot, and delivered behind in the same line as the
swath from which it was taken.

A patent combined steam cultivator and harrow
was shown for the first time by Messrs. J. and F.
Howard, of Bedford. The mode in which the harrow
is lifted in turning is excellent-. The new wrought
iron plough, described in our Worcester report, has
been still further improved by the introduction of a
screw head to give more -or less side to the ploughing
without stopping — an ingenious and important im^
provement. Another novelty on the stand was a new
back-action hay-making machine. The barrel is
placed at angle with the travelling wheels, which
therefore do not pass over the gr.'ss after it has been
shaken. The string sheaf-hinder, shown in the
maehinery-in-motion department, ties with two knots,
and thus dots not lose the free end of the string iu

M °

136

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

working. Xo sharp cutter :s required, as the string
is cut when at a great tension.

On the stand of the Albion Iron Works Company
we noticed a grist mill, the " British," which is
certified bv an independent authority to grind from
100 to 120" bushels of corn an hour. If anything hard
gets into the drum, the concave opens to let it out.
The drum and concave are chilled, and received no
impression from nails and pieces of iron put through
by the judges.

Messrs. Vipan and Headley's (Leicester) excellent
milk carts and railway milk churns have so frequently
been referred to in these columns that we will pass
them by with a mere mention on this occasion. The
recent improvements were described in our report of
the Worcester Show. This firm also showed a large
assortment of ploughs, whippletrees, harrows, cul-
tivators, horse hoes, cake breakers, kc. We noticed
a new lawn edge clipper, a very useful little tool, on
the stand of Messrs. Crowley and Co., of Manchester,
who also showed chaff cutters, and the horse gear
for which they received a prize medal.

Messrs. Picksley, Sims, and Co., of Leigh, Lanca-
shire, now make a combined mower and reaper with
a forward cut. They showed also a good selection of
American rakes, chaff cutters, grist mills, lawn
mowers, garden rollers, horse gear, kc. Messrs.
Coleman and Morton, Chelmsford, exhibited their
cultivators, liquid manure carts, water carts, the
excellent adjustable rotary corn screens, and other
articles. Messrs. Woods, Cocksedge, and Co., of
Stowmarket, had a large show of grinding mills, cake
breakers, horse gear, root cutters and pulpers,
vertical and horizontal engines, carts, kc. Mr. A.
C. Bamlett, of Thirsk, showed a novelty in the form
of a stook shifter, by means of which two men may
readily shift the shocks of corn in a field to dry them.
He showed also his mowers and reapers.

Messrs. Jeffery and Blaekstone, of Stamford,
exhibited their prize haymakers, a new solid-axle
horse-rake, with 3ft. lOin. wheels, and teeth made of
improved sections of steel, besides other rakes,
vertical steam engines, chaff cutters, &c.

A silver medal was awarded to Messrs. Barfordand
Perkins, of Peterborough, for their improved self-
lifting cultivators and harrows for steam power.
They showed also their new self-moving anchor,
which is reduced in weight to the extent of 5 cwts. as
compared with their old anchor, several heavy cast-
ings being done away with. In the trial field this
anchor was set to work in 3} minutes. The portable
steam cooking apparatus shown by this firm is in use
in several union houses, hospitals, prisons, and large
hotels, and the most striking testimonials as to the
economy in fuel effected by its use have been given
by masters of workhouses and others.

Messrs. Richard Garrett and Sons, of Leicester,
had a good show of their cheap and well-constructed
engines ; also thrashing machines, and elevators,
driving gear, drills, manure distributors, horse hoes,
kc. Horse hoes, grist mills, kibblers, cake breakers,
and chaff cutters were exhibited by Messrs. Smith
and Grace, of Thrapstone.

Messrs. E. R. and F. Turner, of Ipswich, showed
portable, horizontal, and vertical steam engines,
thrashing machines, corn mills and crushers, malt
mills, horse and cattle gear, cake breakers, &c.

A good array of traction and portable engines and
thrashing machines, fitted with the latest improve-
ments, was made by Messrs. Clayton and Shuttle-
worth, of Lincoln ; also elevators, chaff-cutters with
riddling and bagging apparatus, screw-jacks, &c.

Messrs. Aveling and Porter, of Rochester, have a new
arrangement of drum adapted to their strong and ex-

celloit locomotive engiues, by means of which there
is great saving in time in winding. The driving-
wheels of their engines are now very large, and
wrought-iron is used now more than ever before in the
construction.

Messrs. Burrell and Sons, of Thetford, were
successful in obtaining a silver medal for their new
patent ploughing and traction engine, fitted with
wrought-iron winding drums on either side, and
carrying 600 yards of steel rope. They showed also
a new anchor, and other appliances of steam cultiva-
tion.

Messrs. Nalder and X alder obtained a silver medal
for a new elevator attached to a thrashing machine.
They showed also thrashing machines.

In the machinery-iii-motion department Messrs.
Corbett and Son, of Wellington, exhibited some
useful-looking grinding mills, one being of new
pattern ; also a portable steam engine fitted with
recent improvements, a new-pattern digging-plough,
double-furrow plough, horse-hoe, and pulpers.

A new safety drum-guard for a thrashing machine
was to be seen on the stand of Messrs. R. Hornsby
and Son, of Grantham. It is very cheap and simple,
and can be packed up with the greatest ease and
quickness, forming immediately a cover for the drum.
They also had a new vertical steam engine, combin-
ing many important novelties in construction, and
made as simple as possible consistently with efficiency.
The flywheel is far enough oft* the ground to enable
masonry to be dispensed with in fixing as a stationary
engine on the ground or on a barn floor. The crank
shaft is made long, so as to take driving pulleys on
either side as required. The standard is open, iu
order to allow of every part of the engine to be got at
with facility. The usual large display of thrashing
machines, reapers, mowers, ploughs, and other imple-
ments were also on the stand of this firm. A port-
able and a vertical engine fitted with many improve-
ments, and constructed to economise fuel, wereshown
by Messrs. Barrows and Stewart, of Banbury ; also a
thrashing machine, and driving bands of india-rubber
and leather. Messrs. Marshall, Son, and Co., of
Gainsborough, also had a good show of steam engines
—portable, traction, horizontal and vertical, includ-
ing a new 14 horse-power portable compound engine,
with automatic expansion gear to high-pressure
cylinder. They showed also thrashing machines,
saw benches, screw jacks, and a sack-lifting barrow.
Traction and portable engines, thrashing machines, a
horizontal condensing engine, and a circular saw
bench were shown by Messrs. Ruston, Proctor, and
Co., of Lincoln. The traction engines are steam-
jacketed, and fitted with improved reversing
apparatus, self-acting equilibrium valve, patent ex-
panding stays, high-speed governors, kc, andsupplied
with all requisites.

The great sensation of the trials of steam cultivating
implements was Darby's Broadside Digger, exhibited
by Messrs. McLaren, of Leeds, to which the gold
medal of the Society was awarded. The same firm
showed the excellent agricultural locomotive engine,
improved traction waggon, and fittings of various
kinds. Beside his locomotive and winding engine
and steam cultivating implements, often noticed in
thesecolumns, Mr. P. Savage, of King's Lynn, showed
a new four-ring, self-acting presser and drill combined,
with a smill harrow attached.

A new portable steam engine, mounted on wood
travelling wheels, and fitted with Starkey's patent
automatic expansion apparatus and other latest im-
provements, was exhibited by Messrs. W. Foster and
Co., of Lincoln, also two thrashing machines with

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

13/

the exhibitor's improved sm utters an 1 barley awners,
drum guards, ami other improvements.

SEEDS, MANURES, &c.

Messrs. Carter and Co., of London, had a tastefully
arranged stand, in which were displayed their well-
known roots and seeds, including their grass seeds,
as used at Kilburn last year, at the Paris Exhibition,
at the Sydney Exhibition, and other public places.
They have been very successful, obtaining a gold
medal at Paris, atid another prize at Sydney. They
showed also specimens of their roots of last year's
growth, some very tiue " Leviathan " beans, and
"Telegraph" peas, and a great variety of farm and
garden vegetables and seeds.

Messrs. Edward Webb and Sons, of Wordsley,
Stourbridge, occupied the next stand, a very large
one. We noticed especially some excellent specimens
of cereals, field and garden vegetables, and grasses,
an grown on their seed farms ; also mangels of last year's
growth, and a great display of seeds of various kinds.
One of the principal features of the Museum is a
splendid sward grown from Webbs1 Prize Medal Lawn
Grass Seeds— shown in the centre of the stand.
The magnificent lawns in the grounds of
the Paris Exhibition, grown from these seeds, were
awarded a prize medal. To go through the list of the
various stock in this stand would occupy a column of
our paper., and as their names are well known it is as
unnecessary as it would be impossible on the present
occasion, when our space is so much pressed upon.

Messrs. Sutton and Sons, of Reading, also had a
great display, arranged with their customary good
taste. We noticed particularly some fine mangels
and kohl rabi of this year's growth, while the mangels
of last year's crop were in strikingly good keeping
condition for the time of year. The museum of dried
grasses and seeds was an attraction to visitors as usual,
and specimens of their grass seeds, as grown at the
Crystal Palace, the Philadelphia, Pans, and Mel-
bourne Exhibitions. The names of the strains of roots
and other vegetables supplied by the Reading tirm
are familiar to our readers as household words, and it
would be tedious to go through the long catalogue.

Messrs. Little and Ballan'.yne, of Carlisle, had a
large and well-tilled stand. Some very fine " Hybrid
Climax," and " Woolly Par" wheat were amongst the
exhibits.

We have little space left for the manures, cattle
medicines, and feeding stuffs. Amongst them we
notice Messrs. Day, Son, and Hewitt's (London) well-
known cattle medicines, and stock breeders' medi-
cine chests ; Messrs. Thomas Parmer and Go's (Lon-
don) chemical dissolved guano, nitro-bone manure,
dissolved bones, and superphosphate ; Messrs.
Amies and Co's (London) special manures for
various kinds of crops ; Messrs. Proctor and
Ryiands' (Chester and Birmingham) turnip, potato,
grass, kohl rabi, and mangel, clover, and cereal
manures; Messrs. T. Bowick and Co. 's (Bedford)
" Restorine " — at one time termed the "Botanic
Flavourer," " Lactina," a patent substitute for milk
for calves, and patent feeding meal ; Mr. Joseph
Thorley's famous cattle condiment ; and Messrs. F. C.
Matthews, Sou, and Co.'s (Driffield) corn cake, Drif-
field cotton cake, nitro-phosphate, ammonia-fixed
phosphate, superphosphate, and dissolved bones.

Messrs. Henry Down and Co., of Woburn, Beds,
showed sample pack(ts of their "Parmer's Priend,"
well known and largely used as a dressing for seed
wheat, barley, &c.

IMPLEMENT MEDALS.
SPECIAL SILVER MEDALS.
•J. and H, McLaren, Leeds, patent broadside steam
digger, invented by T. C. Darby, of Chelmsford,

SILVER MEDAL.

G. W. Murray and Co., Banff Foundry, Scotland, two
row potato planter,

John Crowley and Co., Meadow Hall Iron Works,
Sheffield, patent horse gear.

Barford and Perkins, Peterborough, self-lifting
apparatus, applied to steam cultivating imple-
ments.

Charles Burrell and Sons, Thetford, Norfolk, Uni-
versal ploughing and traction engine. (Everitt'a
patent,)

Nalder and Xalder, Wantage, Berks, steam elevator
attached to thrashing machine.

FARM PRIZES.

Class L— Arabic and mixed farms over 200 acres —
1, W. Handley, Greenhead, Milnthorpe ; 2, J,
Lowthian, Winder Hall, P, nrith ; very highly
commended, W. Atkinson, Burneside Hall,
Kendal ; commended, R. Tinniswood, Rose
Bank Farm, Dalston, Carlisle. The class is a
very good one, and the competition clost.
Class 2.— Small farms under 200 acres— 1, T. Donah',
Sanden House, Abbey Town, Silloth ; 2, Ti e
Executors of the late R. Parker, Moss Em1,
Burton, Westmoreland ; very highly commend© ,
Mr. Benson, Boonwood, Gosforth ; commended,
T. Kitchen, Thomas Close, Penrith. The com-
petition in this class also is very good.
Class 3. — Pastoral farms over 200 acres — 1, W.
Leather, Lamplugh Hall, Cockermouth ; 2, J.
MouHsey, High Lorton, Cockermouth. Tl e
judges regret that the competition was io
limited in this class.
Class 4. — Small pastoral farms — There was no entry.
[The judges much regret that it was not in their
power to award third prizes in class 1 to Willi m
Atkinson, of Burneside Hall, Kendal, and in clast 2
to William Benson, of Gosforth, both of whose fan a
have many points of special excellence, and tb y
recommend their ease to the consideration of tl e
Council of the Society.]

The following is a list of the Principal Exhibits on
the Implement Stands : —

Stand 1, — Holmes and Sons, Norwich, Thrashing
machines, drum guards, seed and manure drills
2. — A. Shanks and Sou, Arbroath, Steam engines.
3. — 3. Fowler and Co., Lends, Cultivating engines, turning
ploughs, anchors, locomotives, ploughs, tipping
waggons.
4.— W. A. Wood, London, String sheaf-binding harvester*
reapers, back and self-delivery reaners, frame moweif
grindstones.
6.— W. A. Fell, Windermere, Potato diggers, mowers.
6.— The Johnston Harvester Co., London, Harvester and
string sheaf binders, rake reapers and mowers.
7. — J. A. Mays, London, Revolving railways.
8.— J. Gordon, Kirkcnbright, Grubbers, harrows, mowers,
chaff cutters, mills, oil cake mills.
0. — J. Staiker, Penrith, Ploughs, hoo-i, gearings.
10.— R. and J. Linaore, Sheffield, F ul/es, scythua, files.
11— Penny and Co., Lincoln, Potato digger.-., screens,
barrows.

12.— Ord and Maddison, Darlington, Weed eradioators,
screens, carts.
13.— Maid on Iron Works Co., Maldon, Gears, cutters, mills,

hoes, harrows.
14. — J. Cooke, Lincoln, Ploughs.
15. — J. Wilder, Reading, chatf cutters, mills, gears.
16. — H. Cooch. Harlestone, Corn-dre sing machines.
17. — G. Spencer, Dutnold, Sheaf binders.
IS.— Hetherington and Co., Manchester, Sheaf-binding
machines.

M 2

138

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

19.-Kell, Meats, and Co., Gloucester, Drills, scarifiers,

20r-R8'an<l J. Beeves and Son, Wesfbm-y, Drills, water

carts, pumps, ploughs. „,„w„»~.

2i. _G. W. Murray and Co., Banff, Ploughs, grubbers,

22h— j!0,Gray and Co., Lanark, Ploughs, grubbers,

pulverisers. _ . „_

23 — H Dentm, Wolverhampton, Harrows, hoes, reapers.
"24 — Wallace and Sons, Lanark, Mowing and reaping

machines. . , • „„

26— J. Gregory, Durham, Slowing and reaping machines,

riddlers. _ . , •_,.,;„,-

26.— Teasdale Bros., Darlington, Reaping and grinding

machines. ., . A

27.— R. Boby, Suffolk, Haymaking, corn dressing, and

screening machines, ploughs.
28.— W. J. and C. T. Burgers. London, Reapers.
29 — G. Kearslev, Ripon, Mowers and reapers.
30.— F. and H. Mattison, Bedale, Reaping machines,

harrows-
31.— E. Sherwood, Kirkbridge, Mowers, cutters.
:-2.— J. Symm, Newton, Reaping and mowing machines.
S3.— Moule's Patent Earth Closet Co.
34.— Handyside and Co., Derby, Mowers, reapers, barrows,

chaff cutters. .

35.— Keyworth and Co., Liverpool, Mowers, rakes, weighing

machines. _ _ _ ,

36.— Brigham and Co., Berwick-upon-Tweed, Reapers and

mowers . ...

37.— Savile Street Foundry Co., Pumps, castings, mills.
38.— B. Page and Co., Bedford, Brick-making machines,

pipes, mills. „ ...

39.— Harrison, McGregor, and Co., Leigh.Self raking reaping

machii es, combined mower and reapers, horse gears,

pulpers and slicers, chaff cutters.
40.— Musgrave and-Co., Belfast, Manger fittings.
41.— W. Smith and Son, Kettei ing, Hoes, grindstones,

42 E. Robinson, Penrith, Churns, chaff cutters, mills.

43.— J. Williams and Son, Rhyl, Chaff cutters, mills.
44.— Everitt, Adams, and Co., Fakenham, Chaff cutting

machines.
45.— G. Graham and Co., Carlisle. Horse "boxes and stalls.
46.- St. Pancraslron Work Co., Chopped foods, manger

fittings. , . .

47.— A. Thompson, Dumfries, Horse grubbers, harrows,

diggers.

48.— R. Willacy, Preston, Manure spreaders, sowers.
49.— Whiting Manufacturing Co., Oshawa, Hay and straw

forks, hoes, axes. .

CO.— Perkins, Paternoster, and Burlingham, Hitchm,

61.— J. Richardson and Son, Carlisle, Dressing and screen-
ing machines.

62— Hill and Smith, Stafford, Fencing, hurdles, gates.

63.— Morton and Co., Liverpool, Fences, gaxes, stales,
hurdles, iron crestings, rick stands.

£4.— Armstrong, Addison and Co., Durham, Fencing,
palings, posts.

66.— Larkworthy and Co., Worcester, Drags, harrows,
("cuffles, troughs.

66.— J. Dobbing, Durham, Carts, lorries.

67.— A. Shiel, Berwick, Carts.

68.— T. Baker, Newbury, Water carts, distributors.

69.— 8mith, Parfrey, and Hitchings, London, Trolly and
cart wheels.

60.— Kinross and Sons, Stirling, Carts.

61. -W. Bellas, Stockton-on-Tees, Rollers, carts, barrows.

62.— Sawney and Co.,Beverley,Carts, winnowing machines,

63.— Kirkstall Forge Co., Shafts and spindles.

6i.— J. C. Plimpton, Liverpool, Horse-shoe nails.

■65.— European Globe Nail Co., London, Horse-shoe nails.

66.— Hydes and Wigfull, Sheffield, Fencing, hurdles.
| 67.— R. S. Moncaster, Hull, Fences.

61— A. and J. Main and Co., Glasgow, Fences, hurdles,
turnstiles.

69.— J. Unite, London, Rick cloths, nettings, tarpaulins.

70.— Staynes and Sons, Leicester, Machine bandings.

71.— J. E. Elison, Leeds, Brieks, air-diffusers.

72.— Hepburn and Gale, London, Belts, pump butta.

73.— T. Sewell, Carlisle, Harness, horse clothings.

74. -Arnold and Sons, London, Pumps.

76.— S. E. Norris and Co., London, Driving bands.

76.— J. H. Peck and Co., Wigan, Rick covers.

77.— Hayes and Son, Peterborough, Waggons, carts.

78— W. Ball and Son, Kettering, Waggons, carts.

79.— W. Crosskill and Sons, Beverley, Clod crushers, carts,
root washers, bone mills, reaping machines.

60.— C. Clay,; Wakefield, Cu tivators, grubbers, and ■broad-
shares.

81.— J. Tullis and Son, Glasgow, Beltings, laces.
82.— S. and E. Ransome and Co., London, Blocks, driving
bands, forges.
83.— R. Lmgard and Co., Sheffield, Knives, Bhears, Bcissore.

84.— J. and R. Howie, Kilmarnock, Troughs, mangers,
fountains.

85.— H. S. Crump, Gloucester, Racks, troughs.
86.— W. Hudspith. Haltwhistle, Pipes, troughs.
87.— J. Bellamy, London, Cisterns, tanks.
8". — Piggott Bros., London, Rick cloths, reins, hammocks.
89.— T. Bradford and Co., Manchester, Churns, butter
workers, washing, wriaging and mangling machines.
90. — E. Richardson, Kendal, Churns.

91. — Rimington Bros., Newcastle - on - Tyne, washers,
wringing and mangling machines.

92. — G Llewellin and Sons, Haverfordwest, Churne, butter
workers.

93. — R. Hodd and Son, London, Knife claners.
91. — Anglo-American Tin Stamping Co., Household
articles.

95. — W. Sinton, Jedburg, Churns.
96. — Hetherington and Carrutkers, Carlisle, Churns.
97.— W. ar d F. Richmond, Colne, Milk carts.
98. — M. Arnold, Brookwood, Stoves, rationing troughs.
99.— J. Watson, Ayr, Incubating apparatus.
100. — Bristol Waggon Works Co., Tipping carts, waggonettes,

spring carts, farm waggons, horse rakes.
101. — Pisken and Co., Leeds, Cultivating machi ery.
102.— J. Bisset and Sons, Blairgowrie, Mowers and reapers,

rakes.
103.— Nottingham Malleable Iron Co., Thrashing machine

fittings.
101.— White and Co., Southwark, Bird scarers.
105.— R. Hill, Stockton-on-Tee*, Sheep dioping apparatus.
1"6. Hart and Co., London, Weighing machines.
107. — Hodgson and Stead, Manchester, Weighing machines.
108. — W. Waide, Leeds, Barrel churns.
10t». — A. L7od, London, Domestic machines.
110. — Thomas and Taylor, London, Churns, dairy utensils.
111.— J. Sinclair, Manchester, Fire engines.
112.- G. Hathaway, Chinpenham, Churns.
113.— Bamber and Co , Preston. Churns.
111.— W. Atkins*n and Sons, Halifax. Churns.
115.— H. Duffield London, Butter prints. Slices.
116. — F. Grosvenor, Glasgow, Churns, Fitters.
117. — W. Gow, Glasgow, Bu'ter bowls, spoons, knives.
118. — Baines, Tait, Jand Gibb, London, Giain sorters tad

cleaners.
119. — Lloyd and Sons, London, Dressing machines, mills.
120.— J. Thornton, Worksop, Flour dressing machines.
121. — F. Nell, t-ondon. Purifiers, separators.
12 !.— Atkinson and Philipson, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Phae-
tons, harness.
12i. — W. and J. Proud, Carlisle, Lar.daus, carts.
124.— W. Robinson, Cockermouth, Ploughs, oil-cake

breakers.
L25. — ^'amuelson and Co , Banbury, Reaping machines, self-
rakers, grass-mowing machines, root pulpers, turnip
slicers. lawn-mowing mnchines.
126. — Bansomes, Sims, and Head. Ipswich, St^am engines,
locomotive engines, boilers, thrashing machines, dres-iug
machines, ploughs, mowers, rakes.
127.— Hunt and Tawell, Halstead, Horse-gears, chaff

cutters.
128.— Leeds Forge Co., Leeds, Boilers, tubes.
129.— Reading Iron Works, Reading, Steam engines, shaft-
ings, pu leys.
130.— W. anlC. Woolnoughand Co., Kingston-on- Thames,

Drills, hies, binders.
131. — T. Reay, Silloth, Mowing sad reaping machines.
132.— J. and F. Howard, Bedford, Combined steam cultivator
and harrow, potato raisers, ploughs, whippletrees, harrows
rakes, haymakers.
133.— Albion Iron Works, Rugeley, Chaff cutters, mills;

pulpers, presses, hoes, rakes.
131.— Vipan and Headley, Leicester, Ploughs, harrows,

cultivators, hoes, pulping machines, milk carriages.
135.— Corbett and Peele, Winnowers, elevators, weighing

machines eheese presses, ploughs, grubbers.
136.— J. and B. Sainty, Wisbech, Dressing machines,

feneings.
137.— J. Crowley and Co., Sheffield, Chaff cutters, horse

gear, lawn mowers, rollers, wheelbarrows.
133.— Picksley, Sims, and Co., Leigh, Chaff cutters, mills,

sack trucks, rakes.
139.— A. W. Gower and Son, Market Drayton, Drills.
140 — Coleman and Morton, Chelmsford, Cultivators, liquid

manure carts, oilcake cutters, pitchforks or elevators.
141.— J. Coultas, Grantham, Diills, steerage, potato

planters, horse hoes
142 —Spear and Jackson, Sheffield, Tools for amateurs,

forks.
143.— T. Skerriff and Co., Dunbar, Drills, sowing machines,
lit.— Ptanfleld and Sons, Car isle. Engines and boilers,

thrashing machines, mangold drills.
145.— Green and Son, Leeds, Rollers, engiaes, domestic

machines.
146.— Woods, Coeksedge, and Co., Stowmarket, Grinding rr
kibbling mills, horse gears, cake breakers, cutters, enginci
and boilers.

THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE.

139

147.— A. C. Bamlett, Thirsk, Mowing and reaping machines,

reapers, sheallug uiaoniues.

1H. — .Nicholson aud Sou, Newark, Engines, boilers,- mills,

rakes.
Ii9.— Jefferey and Blackstouo, Stamford, Haymakers, rakes,

chad cutters.
100.— J. baker, Wisbech, Winnowers and blowers, riddles.
151. — T. Hunter, May bole, Turnip tailing machines, grub-
bers, harroivs.
Hi. — bariord and Perkins, Peterborough, Cultivating

tackle, ploughs, mills.
153. — It. liarrett an.i Sons, Leiston, Steam-engines, driviag

gears, manure distributors.-
154.— J. tiarkuess, Carlisle, Ploughs, harrows, grubbers.
loo, — Siui.h and Grace, 1 hrapstoii, Hoes, iniils, cutters.
IfiB. — ll.tughtou and Thompson, Carlisle, Thrashing and

dressing machines, gears, mower*, seed sowers, rollers.
167. E. R. and F. Turner, lpsvwcn, Fiuisuing thrashing

machines, crushers.
158. — Wnailoy, Smith, and Paget, Keighley, Domestic

utensi.s.
Ia9. - Hammond Bentall and Co., Maldon, Chaff cutters,

oil cane breakers, pulpers.
160.— Bainfordaud Sons, Uttoxeter, Horse gear, chaff cutters,

sheep racks, rakes.
101. — Richmond and Chandler, Salford, Chaff cutters, corn

crushers, root washers.
102.— Clayton and Shutileworth, Lincoln, Traction engines,

chaff bagging, elevators, lilting chocks.
163.— A veimg and Porter, Rochester, 6 and 8 horse power

locomotive engines lor steam ploughing, road locomotives.
104. — burrell and sons, Thetl'ord, Traction engines, travelling

anchors, snatch blocks.

MACHINERY IX MOTION.

165 —Cochran and Co., Birkenhead, Portable engines, mul-
titubular boilers.

lt>o.— K. Jdaynard, Cambridge, Chaff engines, knife wheels

lti/. — Richmond and Chandler, Saiford, Chaff cutters.

168.— Corbett and Son, Wellington, Steam engines, mills,
ploughs.

169.— E. R. and F. Turner, Ipswich, see stand 157.

170. — Haugbtou and Thompson, Carlisle, see stand 156.

171. — R.Garrett and Sons, Leiston, see stand 153.

172. — Barioid and Perkins, Peterborough, see stand 152.

173.— iNalder and Nalder, Wantage, thrashing and straw
elevating machines.

171.— Brown and May, Devizes, Steam engines, gas engines.

1/5. — R. Horns by and Sons, Grauthain, Combined machines,
reapers, plougus.

176. — barrows and Stewart, Banbury, 8 Horse power port-
able steam engines, thrashing and finishing machines,
driving bands.

177. — Marshall, Sons, and Co., Gainsborough, Thrashing
machines, saw benches, same lifting barrows.

178. — Jeflery and Blackstone, Stamford, »ee stand 1 19.

179. — W. N. Nicholson and Son, Newark, see stand 148.

180. — Woods, Cocksedge, and Co., Stowinarket, t-eestai d 146

181. — 1 owis and Co., London, rortable engines, sawing
machines.

182.— E. S. Hindley, Bourton, Steam, engines, chaff cutters
saw benches.

183. — i>. W. Stanfield and Son, Carlisle, see stand 144.

144. — T. Green and Son, Leeds, see stand 145.

186. — Pickeley, Sims, and Co., see stand 138,

186. — iuxfoid and Son, Boston, Portable engines, pumpsr
saw tables.

187.— J. B. A. McKinnel, Dumfries, Engines, grist
mills, turnip cutters.

183.— Crowley and Co., SheffieH, See Stand 133.

189. — Albion Iron Works Go:, bugeley, See Stand 133.

lyo. — Ruston, Proctor, and Co., Lincoln, Engines, thrashing
and hnistiing dressnig machii.es.

19C— J- and F- Howard, bedford, see stand 132-

192 — ttansomes, Sims, and Head, Ipswich, see stand 126-

193-— fc amuelsouandCo-, banbury, see stand 125.

l'Jl — E- Humphries, Pershore, Engines, barrows-'

195- — Le Grand and Sutchfi'e, London, Weil - driving
apparatus.

lab.— Williamson Bros:, Vortex, turbines, pumps:

197.— Pulsoineter Engineering Col, Lonuon, Sewage dis-
tributors, pumps:

198.— A. K: Bruce, " Agricultural Gazette."

199. — J Whitehead, Pije, lile, 4c!, machines-

200 — Porter, Hinde, and Porter, Carlisle, Tile-making
machines.

201.— I. C. Fawcett, Leeds, Clay grinding pans, brick-
making machines-

20.:. — Armitage and Itter, Bury, Buck-making machines.

201. — fratchitt Bros:, Carlisle, Mortar mills, pumping
engines.

20 v. — K. Scholefie'.d, Leeds, Clay grinding mills.

205.— Bradley and Craven, Wakefield, Clay • mixing
machines.

206.— 1). ur >y and Co., Coatbridge, Stone breakors.

207.— Broadbontand Son, Stalybridge, Stone breakers.

20o.— H. R. Mmsden, Leeds, Stone breakers, bone mills.

209. — Proctor and VVallis, Loudon, Gas engines, pulleys,
pumps:

210. — H. L. Muller, Birmingham, Gas making machines.

211 — Crossley Bros-, Manchester

212 — Thomson, Sterne, and Co-, Glasgow, Gas engines, tool-
grinding machines.

213.— J. and H. McLaren, Leeds, Locomotive engines,
waggons, steam-diggers.

214. — F. Savage, King's Lynn, Locomotives, 6eli-moving
anchor ,- drills, snatch blocks.

215. — J. D. Pinfold, Rugby, Brick and tile making machines.

216. — Dunston Engine Works, Durham, bone crusher*, steam
engines.

217. — J. Gardner and Son, Birmingham, Domestic utensils.

218. — Rownsou, Drew and Co., London, Forges, porlab.e
forges and fittings.

219.— batenian and Co., London, Water gauges, safety-
valves .-

220. — Smith and Coventry, Salford, Chasing lathes, grinding
machines.

221. — J. and T. Young, Ayr, Thrashing machine, curd mill.

222. — Schafier and Budenberg, Soughgate, Guages, valves,
vent turbines.

223.— W. Foster and Co., Lincoln, Steam engines, thrashing
machines.

224 — Robey and Co., Lincoln, Traction engines, finishing
machiu s, straw elevators, mills.

225, — Buchholz and Co., Vauxhall, Roller mills, middlings
mills.

226. — C. Hopkinson, Nottingham, Flour dressing machines, ,
milstones.

227.— J. G. Walworth and Co., Bradford,. Flour dressing
machines, smut machines.

223. — Childs and Son, London, Roller mills, magnetic appa-
ratus.

229. — Davey, Paxman and Co., Cokhester, Engine and
boilers, blast thrashing machines.

230. — Clarke's Ctank Co., Lincoln, Crank Forgings, thresh-
ing machines, pump cranks.

231. — Asnley and Sons, Louth, Flour dressing machines.

232. — Pindar and Son, York, Flour dressing machines.

233. — Van Geldcr and ApshuoE, Liverpool, Grain and seed
separators.

234. — Davis and Sneade, Liverpool, Mills, millstones.

2 '5. — Hind and] bund, Preston, Flour dressing machines, belt
hoists.

236,— W. Houghton ad Co., Grimsby, Flour dressing .
machines,, separa ors.

237.— R. Dell and Son, London, Engines, corn m lis, mill-
stones, oil'al dividers.

23s. — Down and Co., Woburn, Dressing for seed wheat for
prevention of smut.

230V — Uorry and Sloper, London, Specifics/

210. — J. M. Jones, Gloucester, Foot rot specifics.

21L— Day. and Sons, Crewe, Oils, medicine chests.

212.— Walter Darkin, Bell's Weekly Messenger.

213. — T. W. Hannaford, The Farmer Newspaper.

214 — Spencer, baker, and Co., Keighley, Condiment.

215. — T. Jn'Call White, Wigton, Cattle sp ces.

246, — Jeycs's Sanitary Compound Co., London, Sheep dip.

2 17 — Bell and Riddle, Hexham, Sheep-dipping composi-
tions:

218. — F. C. Calvert and Co., Manchester, Disinfecting pow-
ders.

24M..— Day, Son, and Hewett, London,. Stockbreeder's
medicine chests, chemical extra ;ts, gaseous fluids, physio
balls, condition powders, ointments, kossolia^ salt key to
farriery.

249a. — Giaham, Maxwell, and Fairlie, Carlisle, Bones,
nitrate ol soda, seeds.

250.— Carter and- Co., London, Examples of grass seeds for
permanent pastures, <tc, in growth, and illustrating
Carter's system of suiting the seeds to the geological lor-
mation of the soil.

251. — Webb and .Sons, Stourbridge, Farm seeds, grasses and;
clovers, agricultural roots and root seeds, swedes, man-
golds, turnips, potatoes, manures.

252. — Fell and Co., Hexham, Seeds, grasses,

253. — Agricultural and Hor.icultural Association, West-
minster, Seeds and manures.

254. — P. W. Barraud Co., Liverpool, Biscuits.

255. — Sutton and fcons, Reading, Museum of agricultural,
horticultural, and liorieuitural produce, varied collection
o grasses and grass seed, mixtures, prepared lor va: ioua
soi<s, agricultural roots.

256.— W. H, Mold, Bethersden, Wheat, oats..

257. — Little aud Ballantyne, Carlisle, Seeds.

253. — Spratt's Patent, .London, biscuits,. powders.

259. — Partner and Co., Mark Lane, Chemical dissolved
guano, bone manures, superphosphates.

26o. — Laugsdtle's Chemical Manure Co., Newcastle-upon-
Tyne, Turnip, poato, and tip-dressing manures, ammo-
nia-fixcd guano, cattle spice.

140

THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE.

261.— Amies' Chemical Manure Co., Mark Lane, Mangold,

turnip, aud swede manures.
2 »2.— K. ErrinRton, Suuderland, cattle spice.
2<M.— B. C. Tipper and Son, Buiningbauj, Medicated pow-
ders.
261.— Hadfield and Co., Liverpool, Manures,
26 ..— Blaydan Manure and Alkali Co., Durham, Manures.
2fit>.— Proctor and Ry land, Chester and Birmingham, Turnip,

mangold, and potato, &c . manures.
26/.— W. and H. M. Goulding, Cork, Manures.
2tiS. — J. Wilson Tem-ith, Sheep dippings.
261 —J. Beach and (Jo., Dudley, Food tor cattle, Ac.
'. 70. — T. Bowick and Co., Bedford, Restoiine, lactina, feeding

me d.
271 — Driffield Linseed Cake Co., Cakes.
272. — J. Thorley, ondon, Catt.e Condiment.
273.— Phoenix Cake Mills Co., Louden, Mea s, cakes.
2 1.— J. Eggo, Hull, Cattle s ice.
2 5. — Phoenix Oil Mill Co., Liverpool, Cakes.
17;.— F. . Matthews, Son, and Co., Driffield, Cakes, root

crops, bones.
277. — Christy and Co., L^n'lon, Tncubators.
2/8. — J. Robinson, Carlisle, Cattle food.
279.— J. Matthews, Weston-super-Mare, Roofing tiles.
280 — A. J. Mait ami Co., Gla gow, see stand O-i.
281. — Whittle and Sun, Whitehaven, Lamps, oil drums.
282. — T. W. helliwell, Uri« house, Conservatories.
L's.i. — i'riestniHu Bros., Hull, Dredger and excavators.
2*1.— Hill and Smith, Salop, see staud 52.
285. — F. Morton and Co., Liverpool, sen stand 63.
286.— J. B. Taylor, Pre,tonpan8, Hay lifting and carrying

machines.
287.— Knott's Patent Prize Refrigerating Car Co., London,

Refrigerating cars.
2«s. — r). Inuian, tjtretford, Huts, wheelbarrow*, garden

houses.

MEETING OF MEMBERS.

At half-past twelve o'clock, on July 13, a general
meeting of the members of the Society was held in a
large tent on the ground. The Duke of Bedford, the
President for the year, occupied the chair, and there
was a huge attendance of members. Mr. H. M.
Jenkins, the secretary, read the list of awards made
by the judges in the farm competition. For
farms of over 200 acres there were six en-
tries, and the judges reported that the class was
a good one, and the competition close. In the second
class — arable or mixed farms, not less than 50 and not
over 200 acres — the judges reported that the compe-
tition was very good. In the third class — stock or
pastural farms, above 200 acres — there were only
two entries in the class, and the judges regretted that
the competition was so limited. In the fourth class

•stock or pastural farms, not less than 80 and not over
200 acres — there were no entries. The awards are
given in our prize list. The judges much regretted
that it was not in their power to award a third prize
in the first class to Mr. William Atkinson, Burnside
Hall, Kendal, and in the second class to Mr. "William
Benson, Boonwood, Gosford, both of whose farms had
many points of special excellence, and they recom-
mended their ease to the consideration of the Society.

Mr. J. D. DENT moved that the thanks of the So-
ciety, and especially of the Council, be given to the
Mayor and Corporation of Carlisle for their cordial
reception of the Society. On a day like the present,
when the elements were so much against them, every
one who had seen the show-yard would agree th.it it
could not have remained in the admirable condition
in which it was unless the Council had received cor-
dial assistance from the authorities of Carlisle.

Sir BRANDETH GlBBS seconded the resolution, re-
marking that every member of the Society must see
that everything had been done that could possibly be
done to accommodate the Society.

The resolution was agreed to.

Mr. William Wells (the President-eleot) moved
,: That the thanks of the Society and Council he given
to the railway companies for the facilities afforded by
them. " He was sure they were all able to bear wii .

ness that everything connected with the railways had
been done in the most efficient manner. In the
words of one who ought to know better than anybody,
he might say that the work of the railway companies
had, in his opinion, never been so well performed.

Mr. Oil a*. Whjtf.head seconded the resolution.
Speaking in an official capacity as a steward of stocks,
he might say that seldom had stock been delivered so
well or so punctually as on the present occasion.

The resolution was adopted.

Mr. Jacob Wilson moved a vote of thanks to the
Local Committee for their exertions to promote the
success of the meeting. He remarked that the Local
Committee seemed to have anticipated everything
they desired, and had done everything they asked.

The Earl of Ravi.nswokth, in seconding the reso-'
lution, said he never attended a place where the
arrangements had been better carried out. Alluding
to the weather, he remarked that the elements were
paying a compliment to his worthy friend and their
representative (Sir Wilfrid Lawson). He was very
fond of water, and he hoped he had had enongh of it.
There was an old saying that they must not cry ov< r
spilt milk, and they would not cry over spilt water.

The resolution was then put to the meeting and
adopted.

The President having invited suggestions, Mr.
M'LareN (Leeds) said he rose, as an exhibitor of
implements, to call the attention of the Council to a
matter which seriously affected most of the exhibitois
of implements who were in a similar position to him-
self, lie was speaking in the interests of the smaller
exhibitors. He complained that the rotation in which
the implement trials were conducted was not favour-
able for such makers as himself, who were desirous of
bringing the merits of their machinery before the
public. The Council and members of the Society
would remember that about ten years ago a rotation
was decided upon, in which the various implements
manufactured, and from time to time exhibited in
that yard, were to be tried. That rotation had not
been adhered to. They had come to the year in
which steam trials were to be undertaken ; but the
arrangement had been such as to be anything but
satisfactory to the smaller makers, in whose interest
he was speaking, aud whose, opinion he believed he
expressed. He wished to call attention to a paragraph
in the entrance-sheets, which prevented anything but
new inventions being tried before the Society. This
was an arrangement which exactly suited the larger
makers, but not the smaller makers, likehimself. It
was impossible every year to bring something new
before the members of the Society ; but he did not
think any gentleman in the room would get up and
tell him that within the last ten years they had not
largely improved upon machinery. The present
rotation was unsatisfactory, and he suggested that a
committee of the Council should be appointed, with a
request that they should confer with the makers of
agricultural machinery as to the rotation in which
their machines should be tried. He had another
subject of complaint. Nogentleman had more respect
for the judges who were put over their implements ;
but he had to ask that when the trials, which were of
great importance to the makers of machinery, took
place, there should \«- more judges appointed for the
work. Their machines were tested last week, but
they had not heard the decision on the matter. They
had now come nearly to the end of the second day OU
which the makers of implements expected to do
business, and they were not in u position to tell their
clients what was their success in tl esc trials. The
next thing he had to complain of was that they \o re
charged a vciy high sum ludeed for the description of

THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE,

1-4

iheir articles in the catalogue. "When it was remem-
bered that the Society made a profit of something like
£1,000 from the entries in this catalogue, it seemed
aid lines, when they came there with heavy expenses
for machinery and railway carriage, that they should
be charged for the description of these articles in the
catalogue. He moved that the present rotation and
mode of selecting implements for trial are unsatis-
factory, that the decisions of the judges are unduly
delayed, and that this meeting is of opinion that the
Council should confer with the makers of agricultural
machinery with the view of coining to a more satis-
factory solution and adjustment of the question.

The 1* RESIDENT said he believed the matters
referred to werestill open for inquiry, and he suggested
that .Mr. .McLaren should send his remarks in writing
to the Council.

Mr. M'Laken replied that about six months ago
he sent a letter to the Council embodying those very
ideas.

Mr. Charles R.ANDELL said he thought it was
about four years since the Council determined to aban-
don what was called the rotation trials of implements,
and they did so for the reason that the implements
included in that rotation were such as had been tried
over and over again for many years. It was then
agreed to abandon this rotation, and to leave it open
to any meeting of the Society to try any implements
which were new, or which showed improvements upon
old ones. That was what existed at this moment,
and it was more likely to be satisfactory to the Society
than maintaining trials, according to the old rotation
system, which were absolutely useless.

Mr. 13. St. Johx Ackers, of Prinknash Park,
Gloucestershire, suggested that the old rule with re-
gard to the entrance of Shorthorns should be con-
tinued. It might be in the recollection of Shorthorn
breeders that it was contemplated to change the day
upon which the ages of the animals should be calcu-
lated. As a Shorthorn breeder, he considered that
was a grave mistake. A most interesting class — the
Calf Class— which was not injured by over feeding,
would be swept away under this new rule. He moved
that the ages of the Shorthorn classes be calculated
from the 1st of July, as heretofore, until the majority
of the exhibitors of the last three years have ex-
pressed in writing their preference for some other
date.

Colonel KlNGSCOTE hoped the Council would stick
to their guns, and change the date to the 1st January.
Many of the smaller exhibitors had expressed to him
their pleasure that the Council had taken this step.

Mr. S. P. Foster agreed with Colonel Kingscote.
If they went back to what Mr. Ackers suggested they
would be encouraging people to breed their calves in
July and August, and fatten them accordingly. He
thought the Society should encourage breeders as
much as it encouraged exhibitors.

Mr. J Alois WlLSON remarked that this was no new
suggestion. He believed that if the members of the
Society were canvassed they would come to the con-
clusion that the date of July ought to be altered. As
a national Society, they ought to consider the opinion
of breeders.

Mr. Ackers said he was perfectly willing that
breeders should be consulted. He hoped the ques-
tion would be considered in a large spirit, and that
the verdict would not be the verdict of the Council,
many of whom were not Shorthorn breeders.

Mr. CROSSKILL moved a vote of thanks to the
Duke of Bedford for his conduct in the chair, and for
the very valuable services which he had rendered to
the Society and the country generally during his
year of onice. He briefly alluded to the services

rendered by his (J race in facilitating the progress of
discovery and of chemical science as applied to agri-
culture in this country.

The Hon. G. E. Lamei.les seconded the resolu-
tion, which was agreed to and acknowledged by the
President. J

Sir Wilfrid Lawson, Bart., M,P., said he felt
it somewhat dittieult to perform even the slight duty
which he had to perform under the very depressing
circumstances in which they met, but he hoped tLey
would not share the opinion of Jiis noble friend Lord
Ravensworth, and consider that he was responsible
lor the rain. He assured them that he had had
enough of it to-day, and quite agreed with his noble
iriend that too much of a good thing was good for
nothing. They had one consolation, and that was
that even though it should rain all day and night ai.d
to-morrow, yet even then the state of the grouLd
would not be so bad as it was at Kilburn last year.
He had to move that Mr. William Wells take the
chair at the close of the Carlisle meeting.

Mr. Hugh Gorbikge seconded the resolution
which was adopted.

Mr, Wells acknowledged the compliment paid to-
him, and the meeting was concluded.

Total Attendance at the Carlisle Show.

Persons.

Amount,

£ s. d.

Monday, July 12 (5s, day) 2,455 613 15 0

Tuesday, July 13 (2s. 6d. day> 9,459 1.182 7 6-

Wednesday, July 14. (2s. 6d. day) 13,164 1,645 10 0

Thursday, July 15 (Is. day) 42,682 2,134 2 0'

Friday, July ltf (Is. day) 23,9811,199 1 0

Total 91,741 6,774 15 6

To these takings at the turnstiles must be added the
£34 paid by 272 visitors to the Implement Yard on.
Saturday, the 10th inst., the amount realised by the
sale of season tickets, say .£700, the receipts at the
grand stand and working dairy, say £450, and the
catalogue sales, reckoned at £650, bringing the total
receipts at Carlisle up to somewhere about £8,600.
Hearing in mind the extremely liberal prize list, it is
therefore scarcely possible that the Society can lose
much less than £1,000. It may be interesting to add
that on the occasion of the Carlisle Show a quarter of
a century ago, when 37,553 persons paid for admission,
the receiptswere £3-, 686, and the loss sustained was
£860.

The following table shows at a glance the attend-
ance on each day of the Carlisle Show, compared
with the corresponding days of the previous eight
years. It should be explained that at some of the
shows there were one or more extra days, as at
Kilburn, for instance, when 67,009 perso'ns were
admitted during five additional days.

Place.

Cabdiff

Htll

Bedford

Tiisiox

Birmingham

LlVKRfOOL ,.

Bhistol ,

Lo.fDOIf

Carlisle

Is72
is:;t
1871
1875
[876
l>77
1878
1879
I88=i

ft

£ i

00

■si"
Is

1800

8901

12121

196J

7220

I56U

2581

7534

9585

sal

9193

5716

6801

18889

17411

mis

25071

22981

2119

19223

2-' 10 1

4 J 19

21H-

9431

2455

9159

13161

So?

£ W

o
EH

38918

2228:i

84041

60312

293H9 W4578

3512/

17056 71883

2548)

8416 47638

58381

61667 1631 15

51313

31935137976

48214

30012 12197*

351-02

50225 120281

126S2

23981

91.41

COUNCIL MEETING,
At the ratonthly meeting of the Council of the Rcv;il
Agricultural Society, held in the Carlisle Show? aid,

112

THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE.

on Wednesday, the Earl of Durham was elected a
governor of the Society, and 100 new members were

elected.

A letter was read from the judges of miscellaneous
articles, recommending that trials of sheaf-binders, in
which wire is not used as the binding material, should
take place during the harvest of 1881 ; and on the
motion of Mr. Jacob Wilson, seconded by Mr. Davies,
thj recommendation was adopted.

The recommendations of the judges of farms as to
third prizes in Classes 1 and 2 were read, and after
some consideration it was resolved, on the motion of
Mr. Wakefield, seconded by Mr. Raudell, that the
Society give two additional prizes of £10 each— one
to William Atkinson, of Burueside Hall, Kendal, and
the other to William Benson, of Boonwood, Gos-
forth.

On the motion of Mr. Jacob Wilson, a vote of
thanks was accorded to Mr. II. U. McKie, the city
surveyor, for the assistance rendered by him in con-
nection with the Show.

On the recommendation of the judges of pigs and
the stewards, it was agreed to award a third prize of
£3 to Messrs. J. and J. Xuttall. for their two-year-
old boar, No. 1462, in Class 170.

THE CAKT-I10R.SE SOCIETY.

At two o'clock on July 13, a meeting of the mem-
bers of the English Cart-llorse Society was held in
the same tent. In the absence of Earl Spencer (the
President), the Hon. Edward Coke occupied the
chair.

The Secretary read the annual report, which
stated that since the last meeting of the Royal Show,
at Kilburn, 130 new members had been elected. The
Society at the present time numbered 489 members,
comprising 89 life members and 400 annual members.
The first \olume of the Stud Book was published and
issued to members in the first week of March, and
the Editing Committee had taken steps for compiling
the second volume. In consequence of the success
which had attended the first cart-horse show, recently
held at the Agricultural Hall, Islington, the Council
had been induced to take steps with a view to the
holding there of the second annual show in the spring
of ISM. In making these arrangements, which the
Council believed would be of advantage to the So-
ciety, and tend to promote the breeding and improve-
ment of cart-horses, they at the same time felt that
annual shows would have the further advantage of
becoming, in course of time, great resorts for the hire
and sale of stallions.

On the motion of Mr. Geo. Street, the following
resolution was adopted :--

That this meeting rennet the Council of the Knpli h
Cart- Horse Society t> i-ugjrest to the Council of the Royal
Agricultural Socie'y of England that as the English or
Shire, the Clyde dale and he Suff Ik have now their own
fppa ate Stud Kooks, hoi sea should he classified in the
Boo civ's prize lists as above, an th*t only au mal eligible
(i r entri s iu their reap ctive Stud Book* should be allowed
to compete.

The Chairman suggested that there should be some
change in the worn-out names which were given to
hones. He had looked over the volume of the Stud
Book, and found that there were 87 " CI i amnions,'
80 " Samsons," and b'3 " Honest Toms." He thought
it would be an advantage if such names were less used
than they had been.

the shorthorn society,
The sixth annual general meeting of the memoes
of the Shorthorn Society of Great Britain and Ircla d
was li^ld July 13. The chair was occupied by

Colonel KlNGSCOfE, M.F., the President. From
the annual report, which was held as read, we
take the following : — M Since the general meeting
held at Kilburn this time last year, seven life
members and 26 annual members have died, 30
annual members have withdrawn, three annual
members been removed from the Society by order
of the Council, and 22 life members and 4b' annual
members have been elected. The Society now consists
of 479 life members and 648 annual members
making a total of 1,127, which, in spite of an un-
precedented number of deaths, shows an increase of
two members during the past twelve months. The 25th
volume of the Herd Book, containing the entries of
animals calved before the 1st January, 1879, was issued
tothe members in December last, the 26th volume, con-
taining the entries of animals calved during the past
year, is now in an advanced state of preparation, and
the Council have every reason to believe that it will
be in the hands of members before the end of October
next. In December last the Council issued a circular
letter with the. forms of entry for the new volume of
the Herd Hook, calling the attention of breeders to
the great importance of registering regularly the pedi-
grees of theii animals, thereby on the one hand ren-
dering the fabrication of a pedigree a more difficult
txsk than hitherto, and on the other increasing toa very
great extent the facilities for detecting such attempts.
The Council further drew particular attention to the
importance of breeders adopting such measures as
would tend to lessen, if not entirely prevent, the du-
plicate naming of animals entered in the Herd Book,
and with a view of partially obviating this increasing
evil, they suggested that in naming an animal the
name of the locality where it was born should be
combined with other names. The Council find fit m
the Editing Committee that these suggestions have in
several instances been acted upon, and they earnestly
hope that every breeder will assist the Council in their
work by adopting these recommendations. It will be
within the recollection of the members that at the
last annual general meeting special resolutions were
adopted with rtference to obtaining a reduction in the
rates for the conveyance of cattle in horse boxes.
These resolutions were forwarded to the railway com-
panies, and a lengthened correspondence ensued. As
a result of this, aided by the energetic efforts of the
President, the Council are now able to report that the
several railway companies who are parties to the
Railway Clearing System have agreed to reduce the
charge. It having come to the knowledge of the
Council that an attempt might be made to export
Shorthorns to Belgium with fabricated pedigrees, the
Council deemed it their duty to warn intending buyers
in Belgium by communicating with the English Mi-
nister at Brussels, requesting him to communicate
the fears of the Council to the proper authorities, and
tie Council have good reason to believe that the
w nning thus given was not without a salutary effect.
.-ince this correspondence took place the Council have
e -i lived an official notification of the formation in
i e'.giuni of a society of Belgian bleeders with aims
analogous to those of the Shorthorn Society, and they
have pleasure in stating that the President of the So-
iety, Col. Kingscote, C.B., M.P., has recently been
elected an honorary member of that society. Tho
Council wish to advert very briefly to a case with
whim every member of the Society is now thoroughly
finiiliar, viz., the fabrication of the pedigree of
"Grand Patriot 2nd," and tlie important trials which
resulted therefrom. Tin' tacts of this case, the re-
ports of tin- important civil action al Gloucester, of
the subseep ent criminal prosecution at Warwick, and
of the conviction ol the ofi'endei ayd his sentence to

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

lir>

three months' imprisonment, have been already com-
municated to tiie members. At the meeting of
Council held on the 2nd Match last, after due delibe-
ration, and careful consideration of the objects for
which the Society was established, the following reso-
lution was unanimously carried : —

That as one of the principal objects of this society is the
maintaining unimpaired the purity of the breed of cattle
known as Shorthorns, the BUtn of £500 be paid to the Bir-
mingham Agricultural Exhibition Society as a contrinutioo
towards the sosta incurred by that soci ty in this prose-
cution.

Tlie Council are of opinion that the value of this
case to the Shorthorn community cannot be over-
estimated. First, it decided what was previously a
doubtful point, that the fabrication of a pedigree is
an actionable and punishable offence ; and, secondly,
this decision will, in the opinion of the Council, act
as a strong deterrent against future attempts of a like
nature. The Council, through the President, have
forwarded to Sir Henry Allsopp, Bart., an expression
of their regret that, in consequence of the interven-
tion of the trustees under a marriage settlement, he
failed to secure the compensation awarded to him at
the Gloucester trial, and further thanking him lor
the important part and deep interest he has token in
this case."

On the motion of Lord MoRETON, the report was
adopted.

A vote of thanks was passed to the President for
his services, on the motion of Mr. Thomas Bates,
seconded by the Hon. G. E. Lascelles.

The following were elected members of the Council,
in room of those who retired by rotation :— Mr. H.
W. Beauford, Sud borough House, Thrapstone,
Northamptonshire ; Mr. J. B. Booth, Killcrby Hall,
Catterick ; Earl of Dunmore, Dunmore, Stirling,
N.B. ; Earl of Feversham, Duncombe Park, Helms-
ley ; Col. Gunter, Wetherby Grainge, "Wetherby ;
Duke of Manchester, Kimbolton Castle, St. Neot's,
Huntingdonshire ; Lord Moreton, Tortworth Court,
VYotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire; Lord Rath-
dotinell, Lisnavagh, Tuliow, co. Carlow ; Duke of
Richmond and Gordon, K.G., Gordon Castle, Focha-
bers, Banff, N. B. ; Rev. T. Staniforth, Storrs,
Windermere, Westmoreland ; Mr. R. Stratton, The
Duffryn, Newport, Mon.

Dairy Farming.

On Monday evening the Mayor of Carlisle enter-
tained the President and Council of the Royal Agri- I
cultural Society, the Stewards, and other visitors at I
dinner, in the County Hotel. On Tuesday night the i
Stewards gave a dinner to the Mayor and other gentle- i
men, at their lodgings, Agliouby House, Portland-
square ; and Mr. Gordon and the Misses Laing gave
a ball at Edmond Castle.

The Toronto Mail, of June 25, contains a woodcut
representation of the Sussex breed of cattle, which
wdl give a very incorrect idea of the character of
these animals to trans- Atlantic readers. In remarking
on the breed the Mail quotes Youatt, to the effect that
" the Sussex cow does not answer for the dairy," and
describes the breed as it was in his time. Perhaps
some one or other of the Sussex breeders will give a
description of these cattle as they are now, together
with an outline of the management by which they
have been raised to a standard of excellence which is
very much higher than it was in Youatt's time. It
would be interesting and useful to readers on both
sides the Atlantic, for it is but seldom we see any
mention made of this useful breed of cattle, at home
or abroad. I

An important item in the returns of every
dairy farm, where the whole of the new milk is
not sent away to town or factory, is that result-
ing from the disposal of the dairy refuse, after
the manufacture of cheese or butter. It is only
in some populous localities that skimmed milk ,
butter-milk, or sweet whey can be sold in large
quantities for household consumption ; otherwise
such disposal would generally yield the best re-
turn. One drawback to the bond fide sale of
skimmed milk has hitherto been its tendency to
go sour before consumption. After milk has
stood 24 hours, in order to throw up the cream,
it can boarcely be expected to keep sweet long
enough to allow of its convenient distribution.
The recent invention of the cream -separator,
and the modern plan of cold setting milk, on the
Cooler or Swartz system, overcome in great
measure this difficulty. The sale of fresh
skimmed milk, valuable as a cheap article of
diet though it is, does not make much progress.
The expenses of carriage and distribution are as
heavy as upon whole milk ; the difference in cost
to the consumer is, therefore, not sufficiently
great to lead him to prefer the lower-priced
article. Where fresh skimmed milk can be sold
at from 3d. to 4d. per imperial gallon on the
farm, that is undoubtably the most profitable
way of disposing of it, and we think that on
large dairy farms within five miles by road of a
large town, the plan of extracting the cream
without delay, by means of a cream separator,
churning the cream every other day into the
best milk butter, and delivering the sweet skim
milk daily for retail sale at from Id. to 2d. per
quart, may prove more profitable than the sale of
the whole milk. A cheap supply of sweet
skimmed milk sold, withoutdeception, although,
of course, far inferior to pure milk, would prove
an undoubted boon to the working population
of our large towns. Where the cost of railway
carriage is avoided, and the cheapest means of
distribution employed, it may be sold at such a
price as to create a demand.

Butter-milk, even when very sour, is highly
esteemed as a drink by some people, especially
in the Lancashire and Cheshire district, but
generally speaking, there is scarcely any demand
for it for household consumption.

The only other way in whicli these waste
dairy products can be turned to profit is by feed-
ing pigs and rearing calves. Skimmed milk,
when used in combination with boiled linseed
or oatmeal, is an excellent and economical food
for rearing calves. After being fed one or two
weeks with milk fresh from the cow, young
calves may thus be reared well, and if they are
of a good stock, will generally give a fair return
for the milk they consume. The butter-making
farmer has the special opportunity, without
diminishing his yield of butter, of rearing his calves
economically and well. In many cheese dairies,
in order to make as much cheese as possible, and
yet to rear a number of heifer calves to main-
tain the herd, the calves are taken from milk at

144

THE FARMKR'S MAGAZTNF.

three or four weeks old, and fed with Bweet whey,
thickened with boiled Hour, oilcake, or rice-
nieal. They will sonietimes thrive well upon it,
especially if supplied with a little dry linseed
cake and good grass. Some dairymaids boil the
whey, by setting it in a tin within a furnace of
water, using only the whey top, or curds, as it is
called, for the calves. Whey is at the best,
however, far inferior to skim milk, and a more
risky food. The frame, constitution, and powrer
to carry flesh of many beasts is spoilt by the
pinching they undergo in the first six months of
their lives. It is a common error of dairymen
to starve their rearing calves.

It is by feeding pigs, however, that the chief
part of the dairy refuse is consumed, and in
spite of the enormous imports of American
bacon, the demand for fresh pork and home-
cured bacon is still fairly good. Pigs are reared
or fattened admirably on skim milk and meal.
Barley or oatmeal sharps, or scalded maize-meal,
are all suitable for use with milk, and the rela-
tive price at which they can be bought will
generally determine which shall be used. The
most profitable breed of pigs, and the size to
which pigs can most profitably be fattened, de-
pends upon the market demands of the district.
In some markets small porkers, of from three to
rive score pounds dead weight, are greatly in de-
mand, whilst in the mining and manufacturing
districts of the midlands and the north of Eng-
land, bacon pigs of from eight to fourteen scores
are chiefly fattened. The very large fat pigs
common thirty years ago are out of fashion now,
and sell at low prices, giving a poor return for
the meal they consume. The Berkshires or
middle breed whites medium sized pigs, with
plenty of flesh and aptitude to fatten, are best
fitted for the present times. Opinions greatly
vary as to the value of whey for pig feeding.
Some dairymen place it very low, and when used
alone, it is a poor, washy food ; but when given to
well-selected pigs, with a proper addition of meal,
it is of considerable value, the returns, of course,
varying according to the price of meal, of lean
stores, and of pigs when fat. We know
some dairymen who value their whey at as much
as 30s. per cow per year for pig feeding, in addi-
tion to about 103. to 15s. per cow for whey
butter.

In the cheese-making districts of the Mid-
lands the best returns from the consumption
of the whey are generally obtained by the pur-
chase of good lean stoi'e pigs, at from £2 to £3
each, and feeding them with the whey, and, in
addition, an average quantity of about half a
bushel per week of cheap feeding meal, the
quantity being increased, and sometimes a
superior quality of meal being used, towards the
end of the fattening period.

In North Wales and some parts of Shropshire
large numbers of pigs are reared for sale. They
are kept in straw yards, or run about the small
farms, clover and turnips forming a large part of
their food. When from four to eight months
old they are sold to dealers, who bring large
numbers every week into the markets in the
dairy districts of Staffordshire, Derby, or

Cheshire during the cheese-making season.
Formerly these pigs were nearly all of a coarse,
sandied, or black spotted, bi'eed, but most of these
have now been crossed with white breed, and
the quality has been vastly improved. Reared
somewhat hardly, with plenty of exercise they
gain constitution, and are well fitted to bear
confinement during the fattening period. Fed
at first "somewhat sparingly on whey, with a
little meal they grow and fatten wonderfully
fast, and in from eight to fourteen weeks they
are fat, at an average weight of about 10 scores.
There is a steady demand for them even through
the summer months, in the large manufacturing
towns of the Midlands, much of them being sold
as fresh pork, pies, or sausages. The profits re-
sulting from this consumption of the whey de-
pend upon the price of the stores, the price of
the meal used, and the selling price of the fat
pitcs, as well as upon the thriving of the pigs ;
but an average return may be realised of from
3s. Gd. to 5s. per head per week, the cost of the
meal consumed being from Is. Gd. to 2s. Gd. per
head per week.

A dairy of 40 cows will require from 20 to 30
strong pigs to consume the whey, with meal, in
the full cheese-making season. Maize meal and
rice meal are most commonly used in districts
which lie within easy access to Liverpool mar-
ket. The former requires cooking or scalding,
the latter is very largely used, and answers veiy
well in the summer months. It requires no
cooking, it counteracts the purging quality c f
the whey, and the price at which good meal can
be generally bought, lid. to Is. per score pouncfl,
make it a very useful food. A mixture of one-
third bran or coarse sharps with the rice meal
also answers very well.

Pigs fed in the manner described produce a
large quantity of valuable manure on a dairy
farm. One of the objections to the factory
system is the loss to the farm of the manure
from the pigs. Many dairy farmers prefer to
rear as well as fatten their pigs, and where straw
is abundant and they have ample accommoda-
tion for them, it may prove equally profitable ;
but in the ordinary run of daily farms, which
are generally deficient in these items, fattening
strong pigs is more profitable than rearing.

We have shown that with good management
the returns from the consumption of the dairy
refuse are considerable, and we believe them to
be on many farms capable of increase. A careful
record should be kept of the actual progress of
each lot of pigs, and, as far as possible, of the
cost of the meal consumed by each lot. By this
means valuable experience is obtained as a guide
to future outlay and general management.

Sir. Rd. Shirley, of Craven Arms, Salop, would
hare foreign buyers try the virtues of the "pure old
smoky-faced Montgomerys "; he says they make ^ri>o>l
weights when fat, but does not say how long it takes
to fat them, and he is of opinion that their uniform
dark red colour and smoky faces constitute them a
very handsome breed of cattle. We are inclined to
think that the improved Hereford is a better beast on
all counts; if he is not he ought to be.

THK FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Ul

Practice with Science,

Ru.vr.

Most wheat growers are familiar with what is
tunned "rust.' The name is given to a brownish,
rust- coloured dust, which makes its appearance
on the leaves and stems of the wheat plant at
about the time of flowering. When some of this
rust is examined under a strong microscope, each
little dust-like particle is seen to be a dark-
coloured, roundish cell, and it is myriads of these
aggregated together which give the blotched and
dotted appearance to a rusted plant. Let us
trace the life history of the fungus of which
these rust-coloured cells constitute a part, and
learn, if we can, how these reddish-brown cells are
produced, and what becomes of them.

The little cells are spores of a fungus, and this
latter attacks the wheat-plant just as the potato-
disease fungus attacks its victim. The spores
are, as we have said, one-celled and rounded,
and in this stage they are known as uredospores,
the word uredo being Latin, and meaning a blast
or blight of plants. The uredospores are borne
by the mycelium of the fungus, the mycelium
beiug the long tubular cells of the fungus, which
permeate through the tissue of the wheat-plant,
and weaken the latter by absorbing the nutriment
which it had obtained for its own use Where
the mycelium breaks through and appears on the
outer surface of the leaves or stem, there the
uredospores are formed. Later on, and when
the wheat-plant has become of a decidedly rusty
appearance, a microscopic examination shows
that spores of a different shape, and structure
have now been produced ; they are longer, and
of a more cylindrical shapa than the uredospores,
and, in addition, they are two-celled, that is, each
consists of two cells or chambers, instead of one.
These new spores are called telentospores ; the
first portion of the word is the Greek word for
last, and the telentospores are so-called because
they are the last produced on the wheat-plant.
The telentospores go on increasing for a time, and
here and there brown patches may be found, con-
sisting entirely of them, and with no uredospores.
Harvest is now at hand, and the crop, such as it
is, is gathered in. The dry, dusty spores, are,
many of them, scattered about in the air, and
owing to their light, impalpable character, they
are easily carried about in the breezes. Sooner
or later they come to rest, and many naturally
fall on the leaves of other plants, amongst which
it is not at all unlikely that the common
barberry may be one.

If uredospores get carried on the leaf of a
barberry plant, they simply wither away, but
should any telentospores undergo the same
transfer, a most remarkable thing happens. It
must not be forgotten that the telentospore is
an extremely minute structure, so small that if
a solitary one were placed on a piece of paper, it
could scarcely be seen with the unaided eye ;
therefore, it is not surprising that a number of
these spores might get snugly ensconced in the
irregular surface of the leaf or stem of the
barberry, and easily remain there for a long time
undisturbed. It iu also 'puite possible that many

telentospores might adhere to the straw, and get
placed with it in the wheat stack, only to be sent
floating in the atmosphere when the wheat was
threshed. In any case, however, it happens
that in the spring, the telentospores on the
barberry leaf, no matter whether they have
recently arrived, or whether they have been on
the barberry plant for a considerable time,
germinate, by sending out a small, delicate tube,
called a pro-mycelium. This divides into four
cells, from each of which a minute cell, called a
sporidium, is cut off. Each sporidium germinates,
and forms a mycelium, which rapidly finds its
way amongst the cells of the barberry leaf,
causing destruction and decay all around it, and
ultimately forming red, swollen patches on the
surface of the leaf. If the red patches on the
under side of the leaf are analysed by aid of the
microscope, it is found that they are made up of
clusters of cup-like bodies, filled with spores, and
produced by the mycelium. Each cup-like body
is called an aecidium, from a Greek word meaning
a little house, and each secidium is veritably a
little house, for there arise from the base of the
cup a number of elongated cells, each of which
develops a row of spores, and so the secidium
becomes filled with what are called tecidiospores.
We have thus traced the history of this fungal
parasite down to the formation of the ascidio-
spores on the barberry leaf, but here, again, a
most remarkable phenomenon intervenes.

We mentioned above the transference of the
telentospores from the wheat to the barberry. The
secidiospores, light, dusty, easily transported as
they are, now get carried back, most probably
by the air, from the barberry to the young wheat
plant ! Here the aecidiospores germinate, and
form a mycelium, which at once begins to under-
mine the constitution of the hitherto healthy
and vigorously growing cereal. At places the
mycelium works its way to the surface of the
wheat plant, and then the fungal tube divides
off into a number of spores — the uredospores,
in fact, with which we started. It is at this stage
that the chief mischief is wrought, and the
wheat plant thereby sickened ; the unedospores
forai red streaks on the leaves and culms of the
wheat, and moreover, as fast as these spores are
produced they germinate and produce yet others
of the same kind. A wet season is particularly
favourable to the growth of these uredospores,
and though only one plant in a field may at Hist
be affected, the minute size of the spore, and the
ease with which it is carried about in the air,
leads speedily to the contagion being communi-
cated to all the neighbouring plants. Thus a
whole field of wheat gets infected, and crop
after crop of uredospores are produced all
through the summer, and they are, therefore,
called the " summer spores" of the rust. In the
autumn the telentospores are formed in similar
streaks, but they are of a black colour, and as
they have the property of hybernating, or re-
maining dormant all through the winter, they
are known as the " winter spores" of the rust.

The complete cycle of changes through which
this fungal parasite passes has now been traced,
and, commencing with the uredospores, wo may

14*3

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

represent it thus :— Wheat plant ; 1, reddish
nredospore (summer spore) ; 2, black telento-
spore (whiter spore) ; winter intervenes, and the
telentospore gets to the barberry plant > 3, my-
celium with sporidia ; 4, jecidiospores ; spring-
time, ascidiospores go to the wheat plant ; 5,
mycelium with uredospores.

It will be observed that the fungus as it ap-
pears on the barberry is quire different to the
stage connected with thewheat-plant. It will hardly
be wondered at, therefore, that botanists were for
a long time ignorant of the fact that the appear-
ances presented respectively by the barberry and
the wheat were different stages in the life-history
of the name parasite. Indeed, so little did they
suspect that this was so, that they gave them
totally different names, calling that on the bar-
berry JEcidium berberidis, Berberis being the
botanical name for the barberry, and that on the
wheat Uredo linearis, on account of the linear
arrangement of the spores. It is to the genius
and indomitable perseverance of two continental
botanists, Professor de Bary and M. Tulasne,
that we owe the establishment, by actual obser-
vation, of the fact that JEcidium berberidis and
Uredo linearis are really different stages of one
and the same existence, that, namely, of Puccinia
graminis, which is the name now given to the
fungus causing rust in wheat, and red mildew on
the barberry leaf, the two former names having
bjen abandoned to save perpetuating erroneous
notions. The phenomenon of a parasite passing
part of its life-history in one host and part in
another is called by De Bary heteroecism, the
first portion of the word meaning different, and
the second portion meaning house. Thus, for
Puccinia graminis to go through the whole cycle
of its life changes two houses, as it were, are re-
quired ; the wheat-plant furnishes the one and
the barberry the other. Heteroecism, as we
shall see hereafter, is by no means peculiar to
the rust fungus ; it occurs in other parasites,
both of plants and of animals.

The injury inflicted by rust on the wheat-plant
is shown, firstly, in the thin, discoloured straw,
and secondly, in the somewhat shrivelled grain.
The first effect is directly due to the devastations
of the mycelium inside the plant, and the accu-
mulation of spores on the outside ; the second
is indirectly due to the first, for the stem through
which the nutritive juices should pass to nourish
the grain becomes so weakened and exhausted
as to be unable to perform its duty, and there-
fore instead of the grain being a full, plump
" berry," it is crinkled, shrivelled, and " thin,"
presenting in consequence an appearance well
known to all buyers and sellers of wheat, for
it materially detracts from the value of the
sample.

A wet season is favourable, a dry one un-
favourable, to the development of rust. Last
year it was very common ; this year, which has
been dry, there has been none. Further, when
wheat is grown on land highly manured with
artificial fertilisers it appears to be more sus-
ceptible to the attacks of rust than wheat grown
«>ii land which has not been specially manured,
or which has been fed off by sheep previous to

the sowing of the wheat. Also a weak, sickly
plant is more liable to attack than one that is
vigorous and well forward.

Can rust be prevented ! So far as our present
knowledge goes we must answer, No. We are
unacquainted with any means either of prevent-
ing it, or of checking it after it has appeared.
The removal of the barberry plant would un-
doubtedly interrupt its life history, and perhaps
lead to its extermination, but barberry plants
are far too common, and even if there were none
within fifty miles of a fie d of wheat, a brisk
wind would easily carry the spores over such a
distance.

Rust, or, as it is often incorrectly called,
mildew, commonly occurs not only on wheat, but
on barley and oats, and less frequently on ryeand
grass, so that all the members of the grassfamily
are liable to- its attacks, but in all cases the
appearance of rust on the cereals and grasses is
dependent on the presence of plants which are
suitable for the development of the wcidia. To
the wheat-plant and other cereals the barberry
acts as a complementary ho-t, while to other
members of the grass family the borage, a very
common weed, and the buckthorn, a well-known
shrub in our hedges, are capable of acting a
similar part. Besides- Puccinia graminit there
are, moreover, other species of Puccinia, which
attack the beetroot, clover, the rose, and the
blackberry .

Any one who lias ttken part in the harvest-
ing of badly-rusted cereals will remember how
the spores fly about in clouds of dust, and how
the boots get covered as if with red brickdust.
The weather during the present year has hitherto
been so favourable that we do not anticipate
anything of the kind this season. While, then,
we have fair grounds for hoping that rust will
this year be conspicuous by its absence, the fact
remains that the farmer who finds his cereals
attacked by rust must be content to watch its
progress with mournful sadness, and hope for the
best. At the same time, we hope this brief
account will set our friends thinking and observ-
ing, and they may rest assured that if any
remedy for rust is possible, it is far more likely
to be discovered by one who understands the
"strange eventful history " of the foe he has to
contend with, than by one who is familiar only
with its external appearance on the growing
cereals.

We read in the Breeders' Live Stock Joumrtl,
alluded to above, that Mr. T. L. Miller is now in
England, purchasing Hereford cattle for exportation
to the United States.

At Mr. R. E. Lofft's annual sale of surplus stock,
held oil Wednesday, several lots of young Foiled
Suffolk cattle have sold at prices which ranged from.
6 to 16i guineas.

Mr. Rd. Keyncll, Olondrisse, Killucan, writes us
that the increase in his herd of pure-bred Shorthorus,
so far in 18S0, has been as follows : — Violet 7th,
roan heifer calf by Agamemnon (39357) ; Woodbine,
roan heifer calf by Uato (41193) ; Sweet brier, white
bull calf by Cato (41193) ; and Violet 3rd, roan bull
calf, by Favorite (41529).

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

147

Poultry Farming.

Formerly the wives and the daughters of far-
mers attended to the poultry and looked after
the dairy themselves. Then there was a personal
supervision, and an interest taken in each of
these departments, and the consequence was a
greater number of eggs were obtained, and more
butter and cheese was produced at less cost and
with less waste than is often the case now. If
poultry keeping is to be made to pay, then must
either the proprietor, his wife, or some other
person, give the matter proper attention. If
handed over to the charge of an attendant, it
must be on the understanding that he or she
retains the situation so long as the fowls pay
their own way, and that no eggs are to be surrep-
titiously taken away, as is now too often the case;
also that the breeding, fattening, and the whole
management of the poultry yard shall be con-
ducted in an efficient and business-like manner,
and not in that half-hearted and careless way
which is now so common. We see no reason
why some member of the family should not
take charge of the poultry, look to the feeding
and attend to the requirements of the birds, ap-
p lint the time for killing or selling the chickens,
and the despatch of the surplus eggs to market,
or to places in which they will realise the best
prices. These are matters which anyone could
do with little inconvenience or annoyance. The
birds, of course, require to be fed at regular
hours ; but as we shall now suppose only a limited
number are kept in or around an ordinary farm-
house, these, by means of a whistle, can be called
together at any convenient spot close to the
house to be fed, while the roosting and laying
house might also be placed near at hand, to
cause as little trouble and inconvenience as pos-
sible.

What is wanted to make the breeding and
rearing of poultry a fairly profitable undertaking
is the personal supervision of some interested
party. The whole thing consists of a large num-
ber of very small items, and each item must be
carefully looked after, or the small profit will
soon vanish. One hen, during a year, with the
greatest care could not return more than three
or four shillings profit. We are aware some
writers have stated that far larger profits are to
be derived from poultry keeping, but we prefer
being rather within than over the mark. We
know at the present moment of several breeders
who are making a clear £200 or £300 profit per
annum out of their poultry ; but these are farmers
who have been breeders for years, who have by
their care and skill hastened on the breeding of
the birds, succeeded in making a name in the
poultry world, and who consequently are now
able to command long prices for their stock and
for their eggs. Only last week a pair of light
Brahmas were claimed at Hatfield show for
£19 12s. , not because the birds were worth that
amount, but because they were exhibited by a very
successful breeder, who had the good fortune on
this occasion to win with a moderate pair of
birds.

Another great advantage resulting from keep-
ing poultry, and one which is often entirely
overlooked, is that at all times and in all seasons
a most enjoyable relish is to be obtained from
eggs served in various ways. These are so
extensively used that it would hardly be
possible to get on without them. Then, again, in
country districts where people are living a long
way from a town, great difficulty is often
experience in keeping fresh meat in a wholesome
condition during the summer months. Now a
pair of fowls, either boiled or roasted, with a
piece of pickled pork or bacon, make a dish
which few people cannot enjoy. At a farmhouse
there is generally a quantity of inferior corn,
which is hardly worth the expense and trouble
of sending to market ; this waste corn
ought to be used for feeding the poultry, and a
farmer should, by this means, be able to fatten
birds for his own table at a cost little, if any,
greater than the price of mutton or beef. There
is no cost of carriage, no middleman or shop-
keeper to swallow up the profit when disposing
of the corn or poultry ; all the profits go into
the pockets of the farmers, besides the great
advantage of always having at hand a plentiful
supply of wholesome and nourishing animal food.
The farmer in breeding poultry for home con-
sumption ought to make this a profitable part of
his concern, for the simple reason that he has at
hand the very articles for food required by the
birds. There are always some spare sheds or
outhouses where the birds could be kept without
costing any additional expense for rent, and the
birds themselves can pick up a great deal of food
which otherwise would be entirely wasted, so
that with little trouble the eggs sold during the
winter and early spring months should pay for
the food consumed thoughout the year, while the
birds consumed in the house and the birds
killed for the household should cost a mere
trifling sum.

These results can only be obtained by adopt-
ing the plan we have previously recommended, of
keeping none but a strong and healthy lot of
birds, which are ready for killing and commence
laying at an early age. Hitherto farmers have
overlooked the poultry yard too much ; but we
can promise them, if they will only treat the
fowls as they deserve to be treated, feeding them
with regularity, housing them at night in a com-
fortable and well-ventilated place, and giving
them a fair share of care and attention, that a
hen, small as she is, will be found by no means
the least profitable animal kept on a farm.

We read that a pure-bred Shorthorn bull from the
herd of the Duke of Devonshire, at Holker, has been
sold for 1,200 guineas ; also that the cow Red Rose of
Illinois, which was purchased at the Dud more sale
for 60 gs. as doubtful, has calved a heifer calf to
Marquis of Oxford 2nd (37055).

The pure-bred Shorthorn cow, Bright Countess,
met with an accident, and has been slaughtered. This
Shorthorn " death" is alluded to in a paragraph, which
is going the round of the papers, as having "robbed
the Edgehill herd, Ulverston, the property of Mr.
William Robinson, of one of its brightest ornaments."

148

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

MARKET GARDENING FOR

FARMERS.

■ ♦

No. II.
By Charles Whitehead.
It was pointed out in a preceding article, that
suitable land, or land which might be made
suitable for the growth of vegetables by cultiva-
tion and liberal manuring, may be found upon
a large proportion of the arable farms in Eng-
land, and that it is a mistake to suppose that the
amount of land suitable for the purpose is very
limited in extent. With regard to the climate, it
may be urged that in some parts of England it
would be too cold to allow of the successful cul-
ture of vegetables ; but it must be remembered
that most of these are not by any means delicate
or liable to be injured in ordinary seasons,
except by late white frosts, and these are as likely
to occur in the extreme south as in the extreme
north of this island. It will be found by reference
to meteorological statistics, that the difference in
the mean temperature of various districts of
England does not differ in any important degree,
or, at least, not nearly to the extent that might
be conceived.* For example, taking the mean
temperature for the last 14 years of the quarters
from the 1st of January to the 31st of March, it
appears that it was 39 3 degrees (Fahrenheit), in
the north-east of England, comprising Northum-
berland,Durham, York, and Lincoln ;39'8degrees
in the east, comprising Norfolk, Suffolk, and
Cambridge ; 40-1 degrees in the midlands ; 43 -1
in the south-west, Devonshire, Somersetshire,
and Pembroke ; 40*9 in the south, comprising
Middlesex, Kent, Sussex, Hants,and Wilts ; and
40 "9 degrees in the north-west, embracing West-
moreland, Lancashire, and Cheshire. In the
next quarter, from April till July, which is the
most important so far as vegetables are con-
cerned, the mean temperature was 49 -6 degrees
in the north-east, 51.7 in the east, 52 -2 in the
midlands, 52 '4 in the south, 51 2 in the north-
west, and 530 in the south-west. In the other
quarters the variations are in the same propor-
tion, except that in the fourth quarter, from
October to December 31, the mean temperature
of the south-western district for the past 14 years
was 3 degrees higher than that of the south, and
4 higher than that of the midland and north-
eastern districts. So far as the temperature is
c mcemed it would seem that vegetables may be
grown in all the districts of England, except,
perhaps, in the extreme north. Neither is the
amount of rainfall calculated to hinder their
growth in any of the districts, as it will be found
that the mean amount of the annual rainfall for
the last 14 years is larger in the south, where
vegetables are more extensively cultivated, than
in most of the other parts of England. Upon
reference, agaiu.to the meteorological statistics.it
is seen that the mean amount of rain that fell in
the southern district during the last 14 years was
31 "0 inches, while the amount in the midland
district was 29 -6 ; in the east 25-(>, and in the
north-east 26 9 inches. In the north-west and
south-west districts, the mean rainfall during the i

same period certainly was much higher in con-
sequence of their proximity to the Atlantic
Ocean ; but, as it is shown that the excess mainly
fell in the winter and autumn, vegetation would
not be much affected at critical periods. In
Cornwall, in spite of the rainfall, vegetables are
cultivated with the most complete success, and
the white broccoli grown there are among the
best and earliest that come to the Loudon
markets, and give a fine profit to the gardeners.
The Cornish market gardeners are equally cele-
brated for their potatoes, which they manage to
get to market surprisingly early. Sometimes
they get two crops in one season by adopting the
system of "sprouting," or by planting in
October and November. The first tubers come
to dig in' April, and are cleared off by May, when
the ground is planted again with late potatoes,
or with turnips for market. It is on record that
300 bushels of early spring potatoes were dug
from one acre in the Penzance district, some of
which made 20s. per bushel, and that the second
crop planted early in June yielded 400 bushels per
acre. Since the appearance of the potato disease,
that rapidly successive growth of potatoes ha-< in it
been so certain nor so profitable. With regard
to late potatoes, it is not by any means uncommon
for the Essex market gardeners and market-
garden farmers to plant them in the middle of
May, or later, after cabbages. They are dibbled
in between the rows of plants just before the
cabbages are fit for cutting, the land having
been kept mellow by constant horsehoeing.
After the cabbages have been marketed, the
stumps are cut up with a narrow scarifier going
between the rows of potatoes, and a harrow is
put in to level the ground. It frequently
happens that potatoes planted in this way after
cabbages in the early part of June have been dug
for market during August. A peculiar kind of
potato is planted, known as the "Red 13og."

Notwithstanding the rainfall, market garden-
ing is carried on in the neighbourhood of More-
cambe Bay in Lancashire, not far from Liver-
pool. Potatoes are obtained here very early, and
sent to supply the markets of Sheffield, Birming-
ham, Cheltenham, and other large towns. To
obtain early potatoes the seed is "sprouted" —
that is, has been made to throw out " sprouts,"
or shootlets, of at least an inch, by being kept in
a warm place. This gives the potatoes at least
a month's start, and they are ready for digging in
July. Not only does this give time for turnips
and other produce, but it is held that the pota-
toes escape disease as a rule, for in nine years
out of ten the potato fungus does not appear
until towards the end of July. The climate of
North Leicestershire is suitable for market
gardening, as large supplies of cauliflowers come
from there. In Bedfordshire, in the Midland
districts, at Biggleswade, Sandy, and the neigh-
bouring parishes, large qualities of onions,
cabbages, and cucumbers are grown, which bring
handsome protits to the market gardeners. In
short, it is believed that the climatic conditions
of the country are favourable for the production
of nearly all the more common vegetables in all
district;. They flourish in private gardens and

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

149

cottagers' allotments and gardens from Berwick
to the Land's End, which may be taken as a
proof that they would equally flourish if culti-
vated upon a more extensive scale. It will be
asked, if the conditions of soil and climate are
generally favourable for the successful produc-
tion of vegetables, what has prevented farmers,
and what does prevent farmers, from going into
the business ? Chiefly, we answer, the con
servatism which clings so tightly to them and
binds them to old customs and the traditions of
mediaeval methods ; a conservatism, by the way,
which has been somewhat modified of late by
the action of foreign competition, and by the
falling away of the scales from many eyes.

Tenants in many cases have been prohibited
from cropping the land as they pleased by anti-
quated clauses and covenants, and until within
the last two years, most landlords would have
been astounded had it been proposed to them
that part of their land should be cultivated as a
market-garden, and every partical of its produce
carted away. The uncertainty as to compensa-
tion for unexhausted improvements has no doubt
operated against experimental cultivation,
although it is found that in some of the market-
garden farms and market-gardens in Essex the
tenants have neither leases nor any guarantee of
any return for unexhausted value of the
enormous quantities of manure they have heaped
upon the land. The " whirligig of time " is
rapidly bringing about its "revenges." The
concessions in respect of cropping and compensa-
tion that have been so long asked for, which are
essential to enable agriculturists to cope with the
difficulties of the situation, and to adapt their
systems of husbandry to utterly changed circum-
stances, must be made ; indeed, they are now
being granted. Tenants of land must be able to
farm as they think best ; to cart green crops off
from the land, to grow any quantity of white
crops in succession ; in short, to do as they
please, subjeet to the landlord's claim in case of
undue exhaustion and unfair treatment of their
property. All the obstacles of law and custom
should be swept away, and fair opportunities
given to all who like to try the cultivation of
vegetables in alternation with farm crops. The
mere experiment will not be costly, nor need it
involve radical changes in the existing machinery
and arrangements of ordinary farm practice. At
first the more common vegetables should be
tried, such as potatoes for early digging, cole-
worts for early greens, cabbages, and cauli-
flowers ; if it is found that these pay, onions,
peas, French beans, and broad beans may be
added. Smaller things, as lettuces, cucumbers,
radishes, vegetable marrows, and celery,
perhaps, are more suited for market-gardens
proper, but these may also be successfully grown
upon market-garden farms where there is a
plentiful supply of labour, which is necessary for
their proper cultivation. The supply of labour
is one of the points to be considered by those
who think of growing vegetables upon a large
scale, and the subject will be dealt with subse-
quently, as well as the courses of cropping suited
for market-garden farming and the methods of
culture of various vegetables.

CHEMISTRY AND AGRICULTURE M

♦

Lecture by Professor Church.

Professor A. H. Church, in commencing
the course of lectures on Agricultural Chemistry
at the Wilts and Hants Agricultural College,
at Downton, Salisbury, took for his subject
the connection between the Art of Agriculture and the
Science of Chemistry. He showed in how many cases
the chemist could suggest, explain, and - improve
matters connected with fanning. With regard to
seed, chemistry had taught them many things relating
to its germination. Much depended on the chemical
composition of seeds, and it had lately been discovered
that on the possession of certain qualities in the seed
depended not only its germirating power, but also
vigorous life in the plant and even the character of
its products. An Italian chemist had also recently
found that by treating seeds with certain chemical
solutions the germinating power of the seeds of weeds,
and also imperfectly formed seeds could be destroyed
without any injury to the good seed. It had long been
known in tills country that by the use of strong poisons
in solution — such as blue vitrol — the germs of fungoid
growth in the plant itself could be killed. Certain
substances have also been found to hasten the germi-
nating process ; a fact which may probably be of in .
portance to the agriculturists at no distant date. Speak-
ing of the germination of seeds led him naturally to
the question of malting — a subject of considerable
interest now that the Malt-Tax had been abolished.
Malting was nothing more than arrested germination,
by which the starch of the grain was changed into
sugar. At present the maltster first of all lays the
grain to be malted on an impervious floor, and adds
water for the purpose of assisting germination ; but
now, with the repeal of the Malt- Tax and the re-
moval of excise supervision, the chemist can step in
and assist in more economical practice. By the use
of a perforated floor through which warm moist air
could be passed, germination would be better pro-
moted and certain soluble portions of the grain which
in the past had been carried away by the water would
be saved. The three essential conditions of germina-
tion of seed were a proper temperature, moisture, and
a good supply of air. When the young plant first
germinated it received no support from outside, but
was dependent on the seed itself for its food. Thus
the gluten, the starch, and the oil, which the seed
contained, were in reality the food for the young
plant until the time came for it to be weaned, when
it would be able to gather its own food from the earth
and the air. This would explain what was meant by
scientific men when they spoke of the stores of food
contained in the seed. The substances of all plants
can be arranged in two classes — Firstly, the volatile, or
those that could be driven off by burning, and
secondly, the fixed or mineral part, which remains
behind in the form of ash. The proportions vary not
only in different plants, but also in the same plant
at different stages of its growth. Thus, there is a
steady migration of the chemical constituents from
the lower part to the upper part especially at the
time of the ripening of the seed. They must all have
noticed how in the outplant, for example, the lower
leaves lost their colour, while the upper part of the
plant bore green leaves in vigorous growth, the ex-
planation, of course, being that the chemical consti-
tuents of the lower part of the plant had migrated
upwards to supply the needs of the parts above.
Finally these constituents are devoted to the perfec-
tion of the seed. As the seed became dead ripe the
food constituents of the straw migrated to a great da.

150

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

gree into the seed, leaving the straw with a larger
percentage of fibrous matter, and a smaller percentage
of food constituents. Thus as the grain developed the
straw became more and more indigestible. After some
remarks on the help chemistry was able to give in the
selection of the best plants for seed growing, the
learned Professor went on to speak of the soil. After
describing its composition and physical conditions,
he pointed out the difference between " condition "
and " fertility." Fertility was the natural productive
power of the soiL, while condition was that productive
power added by the ingenuity of man. He illustrated
this by pointing out that for 37 years at Rotham-
sted land had by its natural fertility produced 12 to
15 bushels of wheat per aere year by year, while the
average production of the United Kingdom was 30
bushels per acre. They might thus put down 15
bushels per acre as the natural production of the soil,
and 15 other bushels per acre as the result of added
manures and judicious cultivation. Soils might be
barren from two causes — they might be deficient of
things they ought to contain, or they might contain
matters injurious to plant life. As a case in
point he cited the condition of vast tracts of land in
the North- Western provinces of India on which
nothing could be made to grow on account of the
presence of too much soluble saline matter in the soil.
Good soils should not lose more than 5 per cent, when
treated with water, but in the case of these lands in
India 2 '5 per cent., and even more was so lost Pro-
toxide of iron was another injurious substance which
poisoned the earth and destroyed plant life. Chemistry
had, however, shown that by the application of lime
lands which were sterile from this cause could be
cured and made fertile, and he cited results that had
been obtained in the matter in the neighbourhood of
the Lake of Haarlem. Chemistry, again, was useful
in showing what new plants could be made to grow,
though here the teachings of the chemist must be
controlled by the teachings of economic botany. In
the neighbourhood of Florence no less than 15 new
plants had come into cultivation during the past few
years, and some had proved very successful, although
previously only two or three had been grown. He
saw no reason why we in this country should not
grow many plants the products of which we now im-
ported. For instance, it had been proved that chicory
could be successfully grown here, and he saw no
reason why all that we required should not be grown
at home. Personally, he objected to the use of chicory
at all, but if persons would use it he saw no reason
whatever for importing it. At Mitcham, again,
lavender was grown in large quantities, and he might
illustrate many other special crops which it had been
found perfectly possible to grow in England. Crops,
he fully believed, might be well grown here for per-
fumes, for medicinal purposes, for dyes, for textile
fabrics, and for oils, in selected localities and on suit-
able soils. Professor Church, after discussing matters
relating to the feeding of farm stock, passed on to the
work which chemistry had done generally for agricul-
ture, and claimed for it much of the credit due to im-
provements therein. He was pleased to remind them
that one of the first objectsof thatcollegewasthe carry-
ing out of experiments relating to fanning. On the
Continent much good work had been done by experi-
mental stations, of which some 127 were fully now
established. Many of these devoted themselves
entirely to research on one particular subject. In
Bavaria, one of these stations devoted itself entirely
to hops and their culture and use. Another devoted
itself to wool, its production and treatment ; another
to silk ; and another to all matters relating to wine.
Seeds, manures, and feeding stuffs had their stations,

which were doing good service. Almost every de-
partment of agriculture and of chemistry as applied
to agriculture was dealt with on continental stations,
and by their means many useful lessons had been
learnt. In conclusion the lecturer objected to the use
of the term science to designate the art of farming.
Science and art were distinct in essence. A science
cannot be deduced from agricultural practice, but only
a code of rules. Where science comes in is in sub-
mitting the observations, the phenomena, and the
materials of the farm to a critical study and analysis ;
and then in consequence of the knowledge thus gained
offeriiig suggestions and explanations.

Famine Fever in Mayo. — Three medical reports
on this subject to the Dublin Mansion House Com-
mittee have been printed, dated the 2nd, 6th, and
12th inst. The first was made by Dr. G. Sigerson
alone, and the other two by Dr. Sigerson and Dr.
J. E. Kenny. In the first Dr. Sigerson discussed the
nature of famine fever. He consid red that periods
of distress predisposed to fevers, which were mainly
of two kinds — typhus and relapsing fevers.
Relapsing fevers were ordinarily described as
famine fevers, but typhus prevailed abundantly
in the great famine period of 1847-3, as
shown by the report of the Census Commissioners.
In the second report Dr. Sigerson and Dr. Kenny
dealt with the state of the district of Ballaghaderrin
They reported that only the distressed families were
attacked by fever, and that the disease was maculated
typhus. They described the cases in detail, and held
that the predisposing cause was deficient alimentation.
In the third report they described the health-
condition of the Charleston fever district, and wrote,
" There cannot be a question as to the distress being,
here also, the principal and, in many cases, probably
the only cause in the production of maculated typhus
— the prevalent disease."

The Foreign Cattle Trade Restrictions. — A

meeting of cattle importers and dealers was held in
Liverpool on July 17, to consider the present re-
strictions on the foreign cattle trade. Mr. M.
Murray presided. — Mr. W. Nelson, of the firm of J.
Nelson and Sons, moved a resolution declaring that
the fore'gn cattle trade of Liverpool as carried on at
the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board lairages was of
great value to Liverpool and Birkenhead, and that
every assistance should be given by the board and all
others concerned to enable the trade to be safely
and conveniently carried on. — Mr. Nelson said they
wished the Dock Board to carry out thesystem in Liver-
pool and Birkenhead as was carried out in Deprford. —
Mr. Koddick seconded the resolution, which was car-
ried unanimously. Mr. Richard Hall moved a reso-
lution expressing the opinion that there was no proper
supervision by the police or otheiwise of the Dock
Board lairages, in consequence of which much
property, both in live cattle and dead meat, was stolen
daily. The want of supervision on the docks and
quays was injuring the trade very considerably. The
Chairman seconded the motion, observing that if
there was not better supervision and restriction the
trade must leave Liverpool. The resolution was
carried. A resolution in favour of a fixed charge per
head for cattle was also carried, and a deputation was
appointed to wait upon the Dock Board.

Printed by J. C. Dura^t, 265, Straud, W.C.

THE FABMER'S MAGAZINE,

C ON TENTS.
AUGUST, 1880.

Cattle Disease Restrictions

"A Question of Privilege"

Market Gardening for Farmers

Dairy Farming

Practice with Science .

Poultry ....

Agrk ultural Societies

American Exports

The Lady-Farmers' Club

The Bf.st of Everything

Ruined Corn Farms

Poultry Farming

The Farmers' Alliance

Agrarian Trreconcilabl.es

The Potato Crop Committee

Liver Rot ....

What can be done for Farmers

Agricultural Meetings in 1830

The Royal Agricultural Society of England

Chemistry and Agriculture

Page

79

80

. 81, 112, ]48

83, 98, 111, 143

84, 96, 109, 145

85, 100, 110, 147

86

95

101, 114

102, 118

97

. 100, 110, 147

103

106

107

108

116

117

119

149

CHAMPAGNES.
GRAND VIN DE L'EMPEREUR

TRADE mfifHk MARK.

NONPAREIL.

Splendid "Wine equal to the Finest Brands, at half the usual Price.
Sole Importers of the Celebrated

GRAND VIN DE CHAMPAGNE

TRADE SSI, MARK.

ROUSSEAU AND CO., REIMS..

MADEIRA

Of the FINEST QUALITY, in Quarter Casks and in Bottle and every
other description of Wines at the

LOWEST POSSIBLE PRTQE,

CAN ALWAYS BE HAD OF

TUXFORD AND CO.,

WINE MERCHANTS,

48, Fenehureh Street London, E,C.

Established 1847.
SAMPLES ON APPLICATION,

THE

ROYAL FARMERS' AND GENERAL FIRE LIFE
AND HAIL INSURANCE OFFICE.

ESTABLISHED 1840.

TO INSURE AGAINST LOSSES BY

FIRE AND HAIL STORMS,

AND TO GRANT

INSURANCES ON LIVES.

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 F. Anderson Stebbing, 4, Cleveland Gardens,
Castle Hill, Ealing.

Thomas Henry Burroughes, Esq., 16, Lower Berkeley

Street
William Clutton, Esq., 7, Clifton Villas, Penge.
A. J. Duff Filer, Esq., 10, Aberdeen Park, Highbury.
E. J. Hawker, Esq., 37, Cadogan Place, Sloane Street

FIRE. — Insurances at moderate rates.

LIFE. — Insurauces on eqnitable terms. Profits divided every five yean.

HAIL. — Crops insured against Hail Storms at 5d. per acre.

LOSSES.— Settled promptly and liberally.

AMPLE CAPITAL AND LARGE RESERVES.

Prospectuses and Reports may be obtained of the Secretary, JOHN SHARP, 3, Norfolk Street, Strand
London, W.C., or of the Agents.

J. C. NESBIT & SON,

Analytical, Agricultural, and Consulting Chemists

(Manager A. ANTHONY NESBET, F.C.S., ic.)
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, Graceehureh Street, E.C.

A list of fees sent on application-

- '

■

No. 9, Vol. LVIL] SEPTEMBER, 1S80. [Third Series.

THE

FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

AND

MONTHLY JOURNAL

OF

THE AGRICULTURAL INTEREST.

TO THE

FARMERS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.

LONDON :
PUBLISHED BY ROGERSON AND TUXFORD, 265, STRAND.

PRICB TWO SHILLINGS.

J. C. DURANT,] [PRINTER, 268, STRAND.

IMPORTANT TO FLCCKMASTERS.

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 eflectually
oj ing the Tick, Lice, and all other insects injurious to
flock, preventing the alarming attacks of Fly and Shab,
and cleansing and purifying the Skin, thereby greatly im-
ng the Wool, both in quantity and quality, and highly
rating to the general health of the animal.
Prepared only by Thomas Bigg, Chemist, Ac, at his Manu-
factory as above, and sold as lollows, although any other
<aantity may be had, if required: —

t lb. for 20 sheep, price, jar included £0 2 0

r. lb. 30 ,, ,, ,, 0 3 0

8 lb. 40 ,, „ ,. 0 4 0

10 lb. 60 ,, ,, ,, 0 5 0

20 lb. loo „ ,, (Cask and measure 0 10 0
3'.) lb. 150 ,, ,, included) 0 16 0

40 lb. 200 ,, ,, 10 0

>. 250 ,, ., 13 6

601b. 3u0 „ „ ,, 17 6

8 ■ Lb. 4(i0 ,. „ 1 17 6

loOlb. 500 ,, „ , 2 6 0

^joulrt any Flockmaster prefer boiling the Composition, it
3 equally effective.

MOST IMPORTANT CERTIFICATE.
... Mr. Kkrhfath, the celebrated Analytical Chemist :—
Bristol Laboratory, Old Park, January 18th, 1861.
■,— I have submitted your Sheep Dipping Composition to
iul find that the ingredients are well blended, and
lixture neutral. If it is used according to the directions
. . I feel t-atisfied, that while it effectually destroys vermin ,
not injure the hair root* (or "yolk") in the skin, the

I fleece, or the carcase. I think it deserves the numerou
| testimonials published. I am, Sir, yours respectfully,

William Hbuapaih, Sen., F.C.S., &c., &c,
To Mr. Thomas Bigg Professor of Chemistry .

'jeicester House, Great Lover-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 thirty Sheep (according
to the virulence of the disease) ; also in wine quart bottles,
Is. 3d. each.

IMPORTANT TESTIMONIAL.
" Scoulton, near Hingham, Norfolk, April 16th, lSo.^.

"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 o; Scab in Sheep.' The
600 sheep were all dressed in August last with 84 gallons of
the ' Noir-PoisoKOfs 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 alter
dressing according to instructions left ; but notwithstanding
the Scab continued getting worse. Being determined to ha\ e
the Scab cured if possible, I wrote to you for a supply of your
Specific, which 1 received the following day; and although
the weather was most severe in February during the dressing,
your (Specific 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 remarkably well at present.
In conclusion, I believe it to be the saiest and best remedy
now in use. " I remain, dear Sir,

" For JOHN T1NGEY, Esq.,

" To Mr. Thomas Bigg. * "R. PENNEY.

ft-v*" Flockmasters would be well to beware of such pre-
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 "
articlecan 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 unless,
or they are not what they are represented to be.

DIPPING APPARATUS «'4, £5, £4, & £3.

THE

MARK LANE EXPRESS

AND

AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL

IS THE

LARGEST AND THE LEADING FARMERS' AND
GRAZIER'S NEWSPAPER.

PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY EVENING,
IN TIME FOR TOST.

Offiee of Publication and for Advertisements, 265, Strand,

Loudon. May he had of all Booksellers and Newsmen

jhont the Kingdom, price 7d., or £1 10a. 4d. prr

EIGHT PRIZE MEDALS,

EIGHT PRIZE MEDALS.

ADVANTAGES.
Are entirely free from SMELL
Are not POISONOUd

Are manufactured without PHOSPHOBUS
Are perfectly harmless to the OPERATIVES

EMPLOYED
Are very Damp Proof

Are not liable to Spontaneous CombuBtion
Light only on the Box.

THE FAKMER'S MAGAZINE,

C ONTE N T S .

SEPTEMBER, 1880.

American Agriculture . . .

lieport op the potato crop committee .

Texan, or Spanish Fever

Practice with Science .

Poultry ....

How to Remedy Agricultural Depression

Agricultural Table Talk

The Ground Game Bill

Bulb Catalogues

Cattle Importation

The England of the Pacific ,

Market Gardening for Farmer* ,

Dairy Farming

The Lady Farmers' Club . .

Crops after Steam Digging

A '• Royal ' Adventure . ,

Agri ultural Societies

Chambers of Agriculture

The Importation of Foreign Cattle

Official Agricultural Returns

Continuous Corn Growing

The Farmers and the Employers' Liability Bill

Agriculture in Parliament

Page

.

151

.

153

.

154

155,

174, 207

157,

178, 210

.

157

•

158

•

159

160

•

107

168

169,

205, J16

.

173, 213

176, 211

179

179

180

188

189

207

•

212

■2U

218

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

SEPTEMBER, 1880.

AMERICAN AGRICUL TURE.

The long expected Report of Mr. C. S. Read,
M,P. , and Mr. Pell, M.P., on the Agriculture of
the United States and Canada has at last been
published. It is crammed full of facts and
figures, and although the Commissioners have
been to a great extent forestalled by Mr. Finlay
Dun and others, their account of their three
months' visit to the great trans- Atlantic centres
of agricultural production will be read with
interest and profit.

In Canada the Commissioners spent only two
weeks, and they have but little to tell us about
that country, rightly considering that the United
States claimed their chief notice, as the great
competing country for the United Kingdom in
the production of corn and meat. Although
they landed early in September, they tell us
that frost had already made itself felt north of
Lake Winnipeg, and it was therefore useless to
attempt to investigate on the spot the resources
of Manitoba and the rest of the great North-
west country, about which such florid though
meagre accounts have lately been circulated.
They therefore decided, as indeed the only
course open to them, to spend the best part of
their time on the plains and farms of the States
and territories watered by the tributaries of the
Missouri and Mississippi, where the agricultural
enterprise of the American Continent is most
fully developed. With the energy displayed by
the cultivators of the soil, the graziers, and by
all connected with agriculture in those parts of
the States, the Commissioners were much im-
pressed. At present settlers, their critics
declare, "are not cultivators," but "only
breakers of the soil. " Yet they are convinced
that when there is no more virgin land left to
exhaust, these men will adopt the more elabo-
rate husbandry of the mother country, and cause
the earth to give forth fruits in greater profusion
than at present.

Wheat and maize, the Commissioners remark,
are the two great crops of the United Statesi
the former being produced in greatest abund-
ance in the North-west, and the latter in the
Old Series.

more temperate latitudes. Wheat is the crop of
the prairie and the newly-broken land of the
West, as it requires less cultivation than maize,
and will yield a crop to very indifferent farm-
ing. The average produce of the crop during a
long series of years for the whole of the United
States has been a little over 12 bushels per acre.
In 1879 the yield was 13-1 bushels. This is a
very small return, but it is obtained with a very
small expenditure of capital and labour. It can
be grown and delivered at a local depot, the
Commissioners estimate, at 28s. per quarter of
4801b., 601b. per bushel being the weight at
which wheat is sold in America. To get at the
price at which it can be sold with profit in Liver-
pool the following charges are added : — Freight
to Chicago, 6s. 8d. ; thence to New York, 5s. 2d.;
New York to Liverpool, 4s. 9|d. ; Liverpool
charges, 2s. Id. — total, £2 7s. 9|d. To bring the
estimate up to the usual English weight of
5001b. per quarter, nearly 2s. must be added. Of
course, in districts near to Chicago the freight
would be less than it is here set at, and the esti-
mate is intended to represent an average case of
the cost of conveying wheat from a Western
farm. It is much higher than the estimates of
some other writers ; but the Commissioners
give the figures which they have obtained
from several of the best authorities in
the States. They admit, however, that freights
may possibly be lowered, so as to enable wheat
to be sold, at Liverpool for 44s. per qr. This
part of the Report is of great importance. If
Messrs. Read and Pell are correct in their data,
British farmers have less to fear from American
competition in wheat producing than has com-
monly been supposed. Mr. Finlay Dun, in his
paper read before the London Farmers' Club
last Februaiy, put the price at which American
wheat could be sold in England at 42s . per quar-
ter, and in the discussion this estimate was ol -
jected to as too high. The carefully-collected
figures of the Commissioners will show that Mr.
Dun was not too high, at any rate. Of course,
American farmers, like their fellows in this
N Vol. LXXXVIII.— No. 3.

r>2

THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE.

country, must, sometimes sell wheat at a loss 5
and at the time when Messrs. Read and Pell
returned from the United States wheat was
actually selling at l$d. per bushel less at Liver-
pool than at iNew York, while at Chicago it was
worth nearly as much. But although American
farmers must take what they can get for their
com after it is grown, they could not perma-
nently make a living by selling wheat at less
than the cost of its production, and if the mar-
ket price should be permanently as low as it was
in 1879, we should soon hear of our 'cute
cousins turning their enterprise to other branches
of production.

The description given in the Report of the ;
cultivation of the land, and of the work of the i
farmers and their men in the States, is interest-
ing. Farming is no mere recreation for mas- 1
ters or workmen in that country, and if the j
latter earn good wages, they have to earn them.
The use of labour-saving machinery, however,
is universal in the State, even on quite small
farms.

The prevalence of destructive insects in
America is dwelt upon at some length in the
Report, the devastation caused by locusts, or
grasshoppers, at various periods being recounted.
The injury often caused to crops, as well as to
cattle, by the extreme severity of the winter in
some of the more Northern States, is also
mentioned.

The Commissioners saw and heard but little
of the cultivation of barley, and the few samples
which they had an opportunity of examining
were almost all of a poor character, the grain
being "lean, irregular, and parched." The ex-
ceptions were samples grown at the foot of the
Rocky Mountains, these being plump, apparently
mellow, and of a good colour. The growth of
this grain does not appear to be increasing to
any considerable extent in the United States, as
there were only 1,790,400 acres of barley in
1678, against 1,580,126 in 1874. One-third of
this acreage is grown in California. The growth
of oats, on the other hand, is steadily increasing,
ever 13,000,000 acres having been grown in
1878, against about 11,000,000 acres in 1874.
The growth of potatoes has not increased much,
but fruit of various kinds is a production to
which more attention than formerly is being
directed. The growth of hops had also increased
until last year, when a considerable falling-off
was occasioned by the low prices of 1878. .

1 In commencing their observations upon Ame-
rican cattle, the Commissioners remark upon the
comparatively small number of really well-bred
animals, especially in the Eastern States. In-
creased attention, however, is being paid to im-
proved breeding, so that in time the production
of prime beef will be very large. Most of the
cattle are partially fattened on maize, and it is
chiefly in the maize-growing States that the
prime oxen are fattened for the English market,
•though few are bred in those States. It is in
Texas and Colorado that the enormous increase
in the nvsaber of cattle has in late years taken
place. The production of cattle on a large scale

the Commissioners regard as by far the nif st
profitable branch of American farming ; but they
state that cattle farming on a small scale does
not pay nearly so well, as it costs but little more
to attend to 5,000 than to 1,000. Great losses
now and then occur from the lack of water, and
occasionally from the eating of poisonous weeds.
Whole herds are also sometimes cut off through
contracting Texan fever by crossing the tracks of
Texan cattle driven northward. The well-known
statement that the cattle of other States which
contract this terrible disease do not communicate
it to other cattle with which they come in contact
is referred to.

One of the most important expressions of
opinion in the Report is that, whenever America
can show a clean bill of health for her cattle, a
large trade in store stock will be developed. The
Commissioners even go so far as to raise the
question whether, even now, " some reasonable
quarantine should not be allowed for the pur-
pose of bringing over some of the high-class
Shorthorns which are to be bought so reasonably
in America. " The Commissioners give no opinion
as to when America is likely to be able to show
a clean bill of health, nor as to what they would
consider a "reasonable quai*antine. "

With respect to the prices at which fat cattle
from America can be sold here with profit, it is,
as the Report states, to a great extent a question
of freights. " With these at £6 an ox from
Chicago to Liverpool in 1879, money was lost ;
whereas in 1878 money was made." Freights
for Western cattle through the States have gone
up considerably. In 1879 heavy losses were
made by exportation, partly owing to the fall in
1 prices, which began in July and lasted to the end
! of the year. If we may judge from the increase
of the exportation in 1880, the trade has been
more profitable recently.

The Commissioners report on the excellent ar-
rangements for the preservation of meat which
pertain in the United States, and refer to the
complaints which exporters make as to the dis-
graceful want of such arrangements here. This
is a matter that has frequently been noticed in
these columns.

Very little attention is given in the Report
to sheep, as they do not occupy an important
position amongst American live stock. America
is not likely, for a long time at least, to be a wool-
exporting country. At present she imports from
England and our Colonies. The pork produc-
tion of the United States, on the other hand, is
enormous. One establishment at Chicago alone,
the Report states, disposed of 1,000,000 hogs
last year. Unfortunately, pigs in America are
subject to various diseases, of which hog cholera
is the most fatal. The prevalence of trichinosis
is not referred to in the Report.

In summing, up the Commissioners are ex-
tremely brief. They have avoided as far as pos-
sible giving any speculative opinions of their
own, they tell us, the hasty nature of their visit
rendering them unable to speak with confidence.
They hazard, however, this general conclusion :
" That, after all, America is no paradise— that in

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

153

the Contest for agricultural supremacy, while
fresh unexhausted .soil, a level surface, and the
absence of stones, are highly profitable for the
use of modern machinery and the manufacture
of grain by a scourging course of cropping, still
drawbacks exist which tell in avour of the old
country. They may be stated in a few words.
Severe winters, putting a stop to agri-
cultural employment, dangerous droughts,
injurious insects, and, in the prairie land
(in the absence of lakes), a short sup-
ply of good water. With regard to cattle,
for the present the American stockman in the
West is possessed of singular advantages — land
for nothing, and abundance of it. In the East
good markets for dairy and other products, and
in the Middle States excellent pastures of blue
grass. . . . The Western country, however,
is poorly watered for the better class of stock,
which sutler if left short of their supply, and the
struggle for water rights for native cattle, which
suffer less from drought, threatens ere long to
become a serious difficulty ; the allotment of land
at the termination of free range will tend to make
cattle raising more costly, though, on the other
hand, the increased consumption of the popula-
tion, as it advances towards the Western plains,
will enhance prices." Lastly, the Commissioners
point to the great disadvantage which a protec-
tive tariff is to farmers in America.

An appendix contains notes taken by the
Commissioners, and a great deal of the evidence
which they collected. The whole Report is
chiefly valuable for the mass of information,
collected from various sources, which it contains,
and which is a testimony to the industry of the
writers. This, however, is so little digested that
it would be the better for a concordance and a
commentator.

REPORT OF THE POTATO CROP
COMMITTEE,

Now that the Report of the Select Committee
on the Potato Crop has been published, it ap-
pears that their recommendations do not cover
quite so much ground as we supposed they did.
The experiments which they advise to be car-
ried out are to be solely in the direction of dis-
covering new and "disease-resisting" vaiietie,
of the potato, inasmuch as the production of
new varieties of the potato from seed appears
to them to be a matter of national importance.
It is only when referring to Ireland that the
Committee inc'ude " researches on the potato
disease" with the creation, selection, and estab- i
lishment of new varieties of the potato, as part j
of the duties of the managers of these proposed
experimental farms. We had taken it for granted J
that researches on the life history of the potato
fungus was the end and object of these proposed
experiments ; but it appears that the raising of
new varieties of potatoes from seed is the one
idea which the Committee have received from
the evidence laid before them. So far as the
evidence is concerned, it may be very briefly

summed up. Mr. Dyer told them about all
there is now to tell about the fungus itself ; but he
could only say what De Bary has already sard
about it in the Journal of the Royal Agricultural
Society, Part I. , 1870. Nothing is known about
the potato fungus that De Bary has not told us
there, excepting the so-called discoveries made
by Mr. Worthington G. Smith, which have not
been verified. Yet Mr. Dyer does not believe
the conidia spores of the potato fungus are carried
by the wind, because they require moisture to
enable them to germinate. De Bary says : —
" The mature conidia fall from their pedicels,
and heing light bodies are readily carried away by
currents of air or by minute auimals." They re-
quire moisture to enable them to germinate,
but as they are produced in the air, it appears
unreasonable to suppose they are not conveyed
from place to place by its agency. In fact, so
far as the scientific evidence is concerned, the
Committee might have learned more from No.
33 of the Journal of the Royal Agricultural
Society than from all their witnesses, because no
one had anything to tell which De Bary has not
already told, and told well. With regard to the
evidence of practical men, there was nothing in
it which was new, excepting some details supplied
by Mr. Shuter with regard to the consuming
value and market demand for certain varieties of
potatoes now in ordinary cultivation. No doubt
it is desirable to obtain new varieties of
potatoes, but we should have thought the out-
come of such an inquiry would have been a
systematic investigation into the nature and
habits of the parasitic plant which is the source
of all the trouble, particularly with regard to
that part of its life history which is not yet
thoroughly understood. No variety of potato
yet brought into cultivation is proof against the
attacks of the fungus, and there is nothing which
can be deduced from the evidence laid beforethe
Committee which would warrant the supposition
that any new variety would possess this desirable
property. The recommendations made by the
Committee do not, therefore, quite meet the
necessities of the case ; and now that we have
the full text before us, they appear to us to be,
to that extent, disappointing.

A meeting of the Royal Manchester and Liverpool
Agricultural Society was held on the show ground at
Crewe, on August 26. The secretary (Mr. Rigby)
stated that the entries were very numerous in all
classes except dogs, the entries of cheese being larger
than at any show since the meeting of the Royaj
Society at Chester. Premiums were awarded for
farm cultivation and improvements, and rewards for
long service were given to several farm-servants. It
was decided to communicate with the Mayor of
Blackburn as to next year's show.

Fode hundred European settlers have arrived in
Natal Among them are the 23 families selected and
brought out from England by Mr. Methley, to settle
on the Wilgefontein Estate near Maritzburg.

N 2

154

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

TEXAN OR SPANISH FEVER.

The United States of America, which, not
many months ago, we were assured were abso-
lutely free from contagious diseases, and deserved
to be placed — indeed were placed — on the list
of clean countries which mia-lit import stock into
these islands without restrictions, are becoming
every month more dangerous customers to deal
with in the matter of destructive plagues among
cattle and other animals. Glanders and farcy
prevail among the horses ; the sheep are affected
with scab, and what is generally believed to be
contagiotis foot-rot, but which one or two autho-
rities think is foot-and-mouth disease ; the pigs
are decimated with swine plague, and their flesh
infested with trichinee ; while the cattle are suf-
fering from contagious pleuro-pneumoni a, tuber-
culosis, perhaps foot-and-mouth disease, and
Texas or Spanish fever. In fact, the United
States of America have been suddenly discovered
to be as plague-haunted as Russia, or any other
of the tabooed countries in Europe. Of course,
we are assured by those whose individual in-
terests are more particularly concerned in unre-
stricted traffic, that no such disorders are known ;
or, if they do prevail at all, it is only in a very
limited area, and there is no chance of infected
animals ever reaching our shores. This is a very
different story to that which is told by those
Americans who have investigated the sub-
ject in the States, and who understand what
animal plagues are ; and for evidence of this,
I would refer to the report of the ' ' Investigation
of Diseases of Swine and Infectious and Conta-
gious Diseases incident to other classes of
Domesticated Animals," issued by the United
States Department of Agriculture towards the
end of last year. In this report there is more
than enough to prove that the most stringent
sanitary police measures must be maintained if
live animals are to be allowed to land at our
ports from across the Atlantic.

For some time we have had importations of
pigs suffering from swine plague and harboui'ing
trichinae, and cattle affected with lung plague.
But quite recently another of the scourges —
one, it would appear, peculiar to the American
continent, as rinderpest is to the Asiatic conti-
nent— has paid us a visit, and if it be really that
disease, then there is still more reason for cir-
cumspection at our ports of entrance. I allude to
what is known as the Texas or Spanish fever of
cattle, a malady which has of late years been
gradually extending from the Southern to the
Northern and North-western States,and is causing
much alarm among those who are acquainted
with its destructiveness and contagiousness. The
name, Texas fever, is probably incorrect, as the
plague was known throughout a large portion of
the South for many years before the indepen-
dence and annexation of Texas, the name given
to it, the " distemper," being that by which it
was then, and is still, known over a very
wide extent of territory. Whether it be
this disease which affected the American
cattle recently landed at Liverpool, or
only splenic apoplexy, with which we are

familiar in this country, the disorder is worthy of
notice ; as if it has not already reached us, it
probably will do so soon, for cattle traffic has
been the chief cause of the spread of bovine
plagues all over the world. It was in view of
this probable invasion that so long ago as 1875
I included the so-called "Texas fever" in the
list of those maladies described in my book on
' ' Veterinary Sanitary Science and Police (Vol.
II., p. 201), and wrote : — "As it is not at all
improbable that cattle from the Gulf of Mexico
may find their market in this country, a brief
notice of the disease will not be out of place in a
work which aims at defining these contagious
diseases, and suggesting means for their preven-
tion."

The disease appears to be peculiar to the low-
lying malarial regions in the vicinity of the Gulf
coast, and is carried thence by droves of cattlo
from Texas, Florida, or North Carolina ; but, as
before mentioned, it has been gaining ground, and
in the low-lying regions of the North and North
west, it is fixing itself and spreading thence
steadily, if not rapidly. Its nature is not yet
well ascertained, and careful investigations are
necessary in order to arrive at definite conclu-
sions with regard to it. From the appearances
found after death, one would be inclined to think
it was splenic apoplexy, or at least a form of
anthrax ; but in its infectiousness, symptoms, and
some other features, it differs from what we
know of that disease from our experience here.
It somewhat resembles, in some respects, a very
fatal disorder of cattle in the Colony of Natal,
known as "red water," but which is not to be
confounded with the malady bearing that name
in this country.

The disease runs its course rapidly in some
cases, the first indication of its presence being
a dead ox. But there is generally a latent period
between receiving the infection and the appear-
ance of the symptoms, and this interval, it is
said, may extend to between three and five weeks,
the first notification of the disease being an
elevation of temperature. Then follow droop-
ing ears, sluggish gait, and checked secretions,
so that in cows giving milk the quantity may be
reduced to one half, or even less. The appetite
and rumination are not much affected at first,
but soon there is a disposition to lie down ; and
wherever pools exist, the sick cattle are inclined
to rest in the water. In some cases there is a
cough. The head is depressed nearly to the
ground, the back arched, flanks hollow, hind
legs drawn under the belly, and knuckling over
at the fetlocks. These are early and marked
symptoms. The skin is dry and rigid, and
though the dung is not much altered at first, yet
in some instances it is streaked with blood.
The pulse is frequent and small, and becomes
impei-ceptible as death approaches. The breath-
ing becomes hurried and often laboured. In
some animals — those with great restlessness and
tendency to delirium — the respirations have been
as high as a hundred per minute. In the coma-
tose stage they are slow,deep,and snoring. There
ai*e twitchings and tremblings of the muscles,
and in nearly all cases the animal staggers in

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

155

the hind quarters when it walks, and experiences
much difficulty in getting up. Great listiessness
and stupor are indications of approaching death,
and there is dropsical swelling at the jaw or
chest. The dung becomes deeply stained or
clotted with blood, and the mine is of a dark
red or coffee colour, from the presence of the
same fluid in it. Weakness is extreme, stupor
supervenes, and in this or in convulsions the
animal dies. When the carcase is examined, the
spleen is found to be greatly enlarged and the
flesh, fat, and organs stained with extravasated
blood.

The disease is dormant in winter, and occurs
chiefly during the hot months of the year,andheat
and drought, as well as fatigue, appear to aggra-
vate it. The malady is communicated by Southern
to Northern and Western cattle, and though the
former may be very infective, yet they may not
give any external evidence of being sick, and
their carcases may be apparently free from disease,
only a large spleen being observed. Cattle re-
ceiving the infection from Southern stock do
not communicate it to other native cattle, it is
asserted. The New York Commissioners, in
their report on the fever, say . — " We have not
heard of a single case of the disease having been
taken by any animal that has not been in contact
with Texas cattle, or with their excretions. We
have had authentic evidence that Texas cattle
that have passed over a road, dropping the
excrement thereon, have communicated the dis-
ease to native cattle that passed over the same road
forty-eight hours af terwards. " The excrement
appears to be the chief agent in infecting, and
liability to infection is so great that few exposed
animals escape. Sometimes whole herds of cattle
which have coaie in contact with Southern herds,
or been depastured on lands where these had
grazed, have perished, and the cattle of entire
districts have been swept away by the scourge, so
that the losses caused by it are very serious. The
greatest mortality appears to have been in Mis-
souri and Kansas. In 1858, the loss in Vernon
County, Missouri, was 200,000 dollars, and in
I860 and 1807 the losses throughout Southern
Kansas and South-west Missouri were widely
distributed and severe ; while in 18G8 they were
heavy and alarming in Eastern Illinois and
Western Indiana, when the Prah'ie pastures of
these States were for the first time occupied by
cattle direct from Texas. The deaths numbered
about 5,000 in Champaign County, Illinois ;
1,500 in Warren, 000 in Bentcn, and 400 in
Jasper, Indiana, many counties in these and
other States being involved to a less extent. The
mortality in 18(38 is calculated to have amounted
to at least 15,000 cattle, causing a loss of not less
than 500,000 dollars.

There was no direct evidence to show that
the flesh or milk of animals affected with
Texan fever are dangerous — at least immediately
— as food. The destruction caused by the fever
in 1868 among the Northern herds with which
the Southern cattle came in contact was so se-
rious that quite a panic was raised, and this
almost led to the total suppression of the traffic
in cattle between the States on the Gulf of

Mexico — almost entirely cattle-rearing countries
— and the Northern States. Like rinderpest,the
cattle among which the disease always prevails
suffer least ; it is when they move among herds
which are new to the disease that the mortality
is so terrible ; and it is this feature in the dis-
order that renders it imperatively necessary we
should prevent its introduction into these
islands.
George Fleming, F.R.C.V.S., Army Inspect-
ing Veterinary Surgeon.

Practice with Science

CHLOROPHYLL.

One of the commonest and most familiar
things in the world is chlorophyll, and one of the
most mysterious and least known of things is also
chlorophyll. Every cultivator grows large areas
of it every year, and when the town-tired worker
makes his annual visit to the moor, or the glen,
or the mountain, no inconsiderable part of his
pleasure is derived from his gazing upon appa-
rently unlimited expanses of chlorophyll. ' No
doubt its very abundance may account, to some
extent, for the limited investigation to which it
has hitherto been subjected, but it would be a
sad and sorry day for a farmer if his supply of
chlorophyll were suddenly to be cut short. As
its name clearly implies, chlorophyll (chloros,
green ; pkyllon, a leaf) is the green colouring
matter of plants. For ages its existence, notwith"
standing its obviousness, was scarcely compre-
hended, and it is only within the last twenty
years that it has been seriously studied as a
subject of scientific investigation. Probably had
the prevalent colour of vegetation been blue, or
red, or black, it would have been similarly
ignored.

If the green leaves of any plant are macerated
for a time in alcohol, ether, benzol, or chloro-
form, it is noticed that tbe liquid gradually
assumes a greenish tinge, which grows stronger
and stronger, the reason being that the green
colouring matter of the leaf is soluble in each of
the liquids named, and it therefore pastes into
solution. _ When the clear green solution is
poured off into a glass vessel, or test-tube, one
of the most characteristic properties of chloro-
phyll may easily be demonstrated. Thus, hold-
ing the solution between the e\eand the light so
that the light entering the eye has to°pass
through the solution, a bright green colour is
perceived ; but if the solution be held on the side
of the observer away from the light, so that he
looks at it rather than through it, the colour is
then an opaque red, and the solution looks as
though it were full of minute particles of ver-
milion. A solution of chlorophyll, therefore, is
green by transmitted light and red by reflected
light, and the reason is that when white light,
which consists of rays of many different colours,
passes through the solution all excepting thegreen
rays are absorbed, the unabsorbed ones alone
reaching the eye ; whereas, when white light
falls on a solution of chlorophyll all the rays are-

1j6

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

absorbed except the red ones, these being '
reflected to the eye.

Even in plants in which there is apparently no
chlorophyll it may be shown to be present. In i
the copper-leaved beech, for example, if the
leaves are boded in water the peculiar colouring
matter is removed and the leaves become green, |
and the chlorophyll may then be dissolved out
in alcohol or ether. In the red, olive-green, and
bluish seaweeds, again, the peculiar colouring
matters can only exist in the plants so long as they
are in salt water ; by macerating them in cold
fresh water the peculiar pigments are dissolved
out, and the seaweeds become green. Chloro-
phyll itself is insoluble in fresh water, otherwise
every shower of rain would, of course, dissolve
out some of the pigment, and all our rivers
would have green water.

All living cells of plants contain a highly
complex organic substance called protoplasm,
which is aggregated in the form of granules.
In the cells which are exposed to light,
such as those of the leaves and young
stems, certain of the superficial protoplasmic
granules become dyed a green colour by chloro-
phyll, and the protoplasmic granules are then
called chlorophyll bodies or grains of chloro-
phyll. These being very minute, and occur-
ring in large numbers, give to plants the
uniform green colour which they usually possess.
It is important to understand that the chloro-
phyll is nothing more than a colouring matter or
a dye, and that its actual bulk is very insignifi-
cant. Indeed, when, under the microscope,
green eel's are treated with alcohol, the chloro-
phyll body, after giving up its colouring matter, is
seen to remain as a protoplasmic granule, quite
unaltered in size and shape. The chlorophyll
granules are formed by the protoplasm, and
always remain imbedded in it ; when, therefore,
the protoplasm of a cell disappears, the chloro-
phyll must go also. Further, the chlorophyll
bodies grow in the same way as all other living
substances, by the process of intussusception ;
that is, the intercalation of new particles of
matter amongst those already present, the new
matter being derived from the protoplasm.
Besides growing, they divide and form new
granules, and these growing up to the original
size repeat the process. A careful microscopical
examination of chlorophyll bodies in living plant
cells shows that they contain starch granules,
the number and size of which are ever fluctuat-
ing.

The experiments of physiologists have shown
that for the formation of chlorophyll in a plant
certain conditions must be fulfilled. Thus, the
mineral food supplied to the plant must contain
iron ; if a plant be grown in a chemical solution
of known composition, but from which iron has
been rigidly excluded, the plant will not be
green, audit will sutler from chlorosis, or green
sickness. Also, if the plant be deprived of light
it will gradually lose its chlorophyll, and no
irore will form until renewed exposure to light. ;
it is then said to be etiolated or blanched. In
both these cases the protoplasmic granules form,
but they do not become dyed with the green

colouring matter. The reader must be familiar
with many cases of etiolation owing to absence
of light ; thus, where a log or a stone has lain for
months on the grass of a meadow or a lawn, its
removal at once reveals a mass of white vegeta-
tion ; potatoes, again, which sprout in a dark
cellar produce white shoots, not green ones, as
they would in the light.

What is chlorophyll ? is a question which yet
remains to be answered. Pringsheim and Karl
Kraus advance reasons for supposing it to be a
definite chemical substance, wThile Stokes, Sorby,
Fremy, and Gregor Kraus look upon it as a
mixture of one or more blue with one or more
yellow constituents. The former view seems
the more probable, and the latter idea may have
arisen fi'om the fact that none of the liquids yet
employed to dissolve chlorophyll are able to do
so without more or less decomposing it. As to
its composition, it simply resembles organic
compounds in general in containing carbon,
hydrogen, and oxygen ; but beyond this the
earlier analyses of Mulder and others indicate
it to contain nitrogen, of which element Pfaund-
ler only found 0 037 percent., which he thought
due to impurities, whereas Kromayer found 7
per cent, of nitrogen in the chlorophyll obtained
by extracting wheat-leaves with an alcholic solution
of potash. Trimiriaseff goes so far ;is to assert
that chlorophyll contains its nitrogen in the
form of an ammonia compound, which he calls
chlorophyllin. The relation of chlorophyll to
iron is most mysterious. We know for a certainty
that the green pigment is not formed in plants
deprived of iron, and yet we are quite unable
to assert whether or not iron itself entei-s into
the composition of chlorophyll.

As to its function, chlorophyll is absolutely
essential to the process of assimilation in plants.
that is, the absorption of carbon dioxide from
the air, its decomposition in the chlorophyll
bodies with evolution of oxygen gas, and the
formation of starch grains in the chlorophyll
corpuscles by the combination of the retained
carbon with the elements of water. But this
process only goes on in the light, therefore
during day-time the starch granules increase in
number, but at night they are used up either
for assisting in the formation of new cells in the
growing parts of the plant, or else they are
carried away to be stored up in reservoirs of
nutriment, such as the wheat grain, or potato-
tubers. The broom-rape, dodder, mushroom,
and all fungi, containing, as they do, no chloro-
phyll, are utterly powerless to build up their
own starch from the carbonic acid gas of the air,
and this is the reason they have to submit to
the degradation of parasitism, whereby they
abstract the starch, sugar, &c., accumulated by
the industry of other plants. Variegation in
plants is due to non-development of chlorophyll
in the albino parts, and these are, therefore
parasitic on the green parts. We have recently
seen a field of cabbage very considerably varie-
gated, and we have lately noticed traces of
variegation in rape and mangel leaves, and every -
body is familiar with the yellowish appearance
of a sickly young wheat-plant. These effect*

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

!..,

are all due to the partial or non-development of
chlorophyll, and we may fairly ask whether it is
possible that the suppression of the formation
of chlorophyll might be carried to such an ex-
tent as to affect an entire crop and cause it to
perish. And, with no desire to be alarmists, we
feel compelled to answer the question in the
affirmative. History supplies too many cases in
which diseases, the existence of which had not
even been conceived, have suddenly appeared
and wrought utter havoc. The potato disease
is a case in point ; with scarcely a premonitory
symptom, it established itself almost as suddenly
as an Alpine avalanche entombs a mountain
hamlet, and has since kept its place, as though
it had held possession from time immemorial.

Our knowledge supports us in the assertion
that the etiolation of an entire crop is at least
•within the range of the possible, and hence it is
we gladly welcome any new facts bearing on the
composition, constitution, and functions of
chlorophyll. The field is wide and the labourers
few. Nageli, Pringsheim, Baeyer, and Gorup-
Besanez are the chief foreign workers, while at
home Stokes, Sorby, Church, and Vines have
helped to advance the subject, and a few weeks
ago Ray Lankester put forth some ingenious
hypotheses, which may bear fruit in the near
future.

Poultry.

Our French neighbours have long been famous
for the immense number of eggs sent by them to
this and other countries, and there can be no
doubt of the fact. French poultry keepers have
bred useful rather than ornamental birds.
"We find in many instances that when imported
birds from France have been exhibited side by
side with the same varieties bred in this country,
the English-bred birds have generally been
superior to the foreign specimens in their mark-
ings, crests, and other properties, thus showing
how soon the outward form of the birds may be
improved, often at the expense of their value.

One of the hardiest and most precocious of the
French breeds is the Ifoudan. The plumage is
mottled (black and white), the crest is somewhat
full, the comb is what is termed a leaf comb —
something like two leaves joined together just
below the middle. Here it is a sine qua non that
the birds must have the objectionable fifth claw
on each foot, but the French are not so particular
about this useless appendage. These birds are
full and plump in the breast, carry little offal,
grow wonderfully quick, and are very hardy ;
they are also splendid layers and non-setters,
and taking them altogether they are capital
birds for rearing on the farm. When crossed with
game or the Dorking the offspring makes a
splendid table bird. There is also the Creve Cceur,
a large, massive-framed bird, with a gkssy black
plumage and large crest. These are somewhat
delicate, and the chickens are far more difficult
to rear than the Houdan. The La Fleche is kept
by a few breeders in this country, but the c'imate
here does not seem to suit them very well, as they
are subject to roup and other diseases. There

are two or three other of the French varieties
occasionally seen in this country, but they soon
disappear. As is well known, although the
French people consume vast quantities of eggs
and poultry, they are still able to raise more
than are required for their own wants, and we are
glad to take their surplus. The question then
arises, if the French people are able to do this,
why should not we at least be able to produce
eggs enough for our own consumption P In France
the land is broken up into small tenements, and
around each little farmstead may be seen a
goodly number of poultry. These are mostly
looked after and regularly fed at fixed hours each
day by the farmer's wife. Then, again, the cli-
mate being less changeable than ours may have
something to do with the health of poultry ; but
we believe the great secret of success to be in
the regular and systematic attention paid to the
birds, and the careful selection of the largest
and most productive layers for stock purposes.
This, going on as it has done for years, has re-
sulted in the production of a number of different
varieties, many of them possessing few outward
attractions, but for the table or for laying
not to be surpassed. If poultry are to be made
profitable on the farm, then must the farmers of
this country give greater attention to the subject,
and we believe it is for home consumption where
the greatest amount of profit is to be made ; for
in sending dead birds to market it often happens
that there is a glut, when, of course, the birds
must be sold for what they will fetch. If, on
the other hand, a company could be worked
with its depot in London, or other large towns, to
where the eggs and poultry could be consigned for
sale, then the prices could be better regulated. The
proposal to start such a company has now been
before the public for some time, but up to the
present no very active steps appear to have been
taken to float the scheme, or to bring it pro-
minently before those most interested in the
subject. If such a company were pro-
perly worked, it would prove of the greatest
use to all poultry breeders, by enabling them to
dispose of their surplus eggs and poultry at
reasonable prices, while the general public would
soon learn to appreciate a company which
brought within their reacli new laid eggs and
fresh young fowls, ducks, turkeys, and geese at
moderate prices.

HOW TO REMEDY AGRICULTURAL
DEPRESSION.

Mr. R. C. Coulson, of Burrigill, near Durham,
sends us a copy of a long letter he has addressed to
Mr. J. J. Coleman, of the Royal Agricultural Com-
mission. He recommends the readjustment of local
taxation, security for tenants' capital, and the giving
up of ground game to tenants. On the last-mencioned-
question he writes : —

" On this subject I feel so strongly that I hardly
dare trust myself to write. The nobleman under
whom 1 farm is as good a landlord as any in England,
but, unfortunately, he allows the hares and rabbits to
be preserved. In my case his lordship gives hi tine
on the farms 1 occupy to a neighbouring gtntl«iuan

158

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE.

who acts on the assumption that the gift of the game
carries with it the right to feed an unlimited number
of hares and rabbits gratuitously on my crop. To a
good head of winged game no farmer ought to object.
Partridges especially are great consumers of insect and
grub ; but the damage done to growing crops by
hares and rabbits is incalculable."

Agricultural Table
Talk.

At the annual dinner of the Kingscote A<.r'.eultural
Association, Colonel Kingscote, M.P., in respond-
ing for the Houses of Parliament, said : — Whether
the House of Lords is so effete as to do nothing, or
so full of vigour that the House of Commons does
not dare trust it, it certainly is the case that it feels
it is doing its duty. If I were doing my duty just
at this time I shou'd be attending to the very Bill
mentioned by Lord Suffolk, The Hares and Rabbits
Bill ; and, like Lord Suffolk I should like to know
the opinion of farmers as regards the Bill. I think
you are pretty well aware that my tenants may kill
rabbits as much as they like, and I don't think they
complain of the hares ; if they do, they ought to
course them more (applause). While, however, that
is the case I have one objection to the principle of
the Bill, and it is a strong one, and that is, that it is
entirely doing away with the freedom of contract.
1 am one of those who think that the farmer is not
such a poor tool or a such a fool as not to be able to
make his own bargain with his landlord, and 1 think
it must be left to the landlords and tenants to .settle
these matters, rather than to draw a hard and fast
line by an Act of Parliament. I do deprecate—
although my own party has done it, and I found fault
with the late Government for the same reason-
bringing in measures so late in the Session as several
the present Government has brought in, and then
hurrying them through. Mr. Howard, who repre-
sents the tenant-farmers of Bedfordshire, has written
a letter to the papers, stating that at three o'clock
on Friday morning last the Employers' Liability Bill
passed through the House of Commons, and it was
found that somehow or other the term * ' Stock-in-
trade" was found to be in the Bill, and that any
person owning stock would be liable for any damage
it might do to his servants. That the Bill included
live stock nobody for a moment supposed. Mr.
Howard upbraided county members for not being
present, and assisting him in opposing the Bill with
these words in it. Probably at that time of the night
I was fast asleep in bed, for I don't like sitting up
till three o'clock in the morning. And I do deprecate
this system of hurrying legislation on late in the
Session, by which objectionable featuies often slip
into measures, and they cannot afterwards be altered.
The sooner we return to the good old times of fighting
in Parliament between Febuary and July the better.
Although I ought to be in the House of Commons,
1 could not resist the great pleasure of being present
at this your annual gathering.

On the same Mr. H. HOLBROW said:— Last year I
spoke upon politics, and some thought I went too
far ; but now 1 will endeavour not to speak as a
political partisan. So far as my principles go I am
a Conservative ; let that suffice ; but I am not quite
a bigot. When I was a little boy, and could just
manage to write my Dame, my father got me to sign
r.n name, with others, to a petition ag;<itnt the Malt

Tax. That was in the reign of William I V. Frcta
then till now I have heard farmers complaining
about the Malt Tax, and you know there has been
much written on the subject in the news-
papers, and much speaking about it at
public meetings. It was generally considered not
only to be an unjust tax towards the farmers, but
also a very cruel one under the present condition of
free trade. Now that we have got the tax done away
with, I for one thank Mr. Gladstone for doing it.
There are three classes that object to the change ;
first, the narrow partisan who thinks it ought to
have come from the other side of the House, and
who therefore cannot accept it with a good grace ;
the second is the brewer, who seems to think it is
somehow a bad thing, and who is afraid it will touch
his pocket. The third party that objects is the
maltster, who is afraid that his business will slip
through his fingers altogether. Notwithstanding all
that these, I was going to say old fogies (a laugh) say,
I believe that the Government has done a good thing,
a right thing, and a fair thing, and that whether
barley is henceforth higher or lower in price in con-
sequence, at any rate we have now got the liberty to
do just as we like with it, and that is of very great
consequence to us. Now I will touch upon that
awkward subject, the Hares and Rabbits Bill
(applause). I suppose there are few men in a better
position to give an opinion upon it than myself. You
all know I practise as an agricultural valuer, and
therefore I get called out in various directions to do
business for people, and for perhaps twenty yeais
back I have been continually called on to assess the
damage done by hares and rabbits. And all I can say
is, if any gentleman at this table had accompanied
me and witnessed what I have, and had seen the ruin
that I have seen and heard, the heavy sighs from
the wife where the husband and family were alto-
gether ruined, that henceforth they would almost
scorn the name of a hare or rabbit. Notwithstand-
ing this I don't want tosee them all done away with, as
some seem to prophesy will be the case if the Bill
passes. The question has been asked, What do the
tenant-farmers think of the Bill ? 1 will tell you.
Never in my life can I recollect any measure brought
into Parliament that has given such general joy and
satisfaction amongst tenant-fanners (applause). It is
my belief that if the tenant-farmers could be polled
they would only return those who were in favour of
the measure, and there would not be one member on
the other side. This may seem like exaggerated talk,
but I should be sorry to exaggerate in any way. I
wish it to be clearly understood, that I hope it will
go forth as the opinion of this meeting, that tenant-
farmers are altogether in favour of the Bill, and desire
with all their hearts that it will be carried. I think
it best to give a decided opinion. I am speaking not
merely as an individual, but as for tenant-farmers
generally, otherwise I should not speak out with the
force I do. The tenant-farmers, whether Conserva-
tives or Liberals, are very much obliged to Mr.
Gladstone for bringing forward this measure.

The Improvement oe Foreign Pasture.— Enter-
prising farmers in America are giving attention to
the improvement of pasture land. For this purpose
a consignment of permanent grasses and perennial
I cloves was despatched by Mr. W. Toogood, seedsman,
[ Southampton, by the Royal Mail Steamer on the
24th Aug. to Oregon, via Panama and San Francisco,
For an English gentleman who has purchased an
. Estate there.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

1'59

THE GROUND GAME BILL

The following is the text of this Bill, "for
the better protection of occupiers of land against
injury to their crops from Ground Game," as
amended in Committee, and " on consideration
as amended ": —

' ' Whereas it is expedient in the interests ol good
husbandry, and for the better security for the capital
and labour invested by the occupiers of land in the
cultivation of the soil, that further provision should
be made to enable such occupiers to protect their
crops from injury and loss by ground game, be it
enacted, &c. ; —

" 1 ( Occupier of land to have concurrent right to
kill ground game with any other person entitled to kill
the same on land in his occupation). — Every occu-
pier of land shall have, as incident to and inseparable
from his occupation of the land, the right to kill and
take ground game thereon, concurrently with any
other person who may be entitled to kill and take
ground game on the same land, provided that the
right conferred on the occupier by this section shall
be subject to the following limitations : —

"(1) The occupier shall kill and take ground
game only by himself or by persons duly authorised
by him in writing ;—

"(a) No person shall be authorised by the occu-

{>ier to kill or take ground game except members of
lis household resident on the land in his occupation,
persons in his ordinay service on such land, and any one
other person bond fide employed by him for reward in
the taking and destruction of ground game.

" (b) Every person so authorised by the occupier,
on demand by any person having a concurrent right to
take aud kill the ground game on the land, or any
person authorised by him in writing to make such
demand, shall produce to the person so demanding
the document by which he is authorised, and in de-
fault he shall not be deemed to be an authorised person.

" (2) A person shall not be deemed to be an occu-
pier cf land for the purposes of this Act by reason of
his having a right of common over such lands ; or by
reason of an occupation for the purpose of grazing or
pasturage of sheep, cattle, or horses for not more
than nine months.

" (3) In the case of moorlands and uninclosed
lands (not being arable lands), the occupier and the
persons authorised by him shall exercise the rights
conferred by this section only from the 11th day of
December until the 31st day of March in each year,
both inclusive ; but this provision shall not apply to
detached portions of moorlands or uninclosed lands
adjoining arable lands, where such detached portions
or uninclosed lands are less than twenty-five acres in
extent.

" 2 (Occupier entitled to kill ground game on land
in his occupation not to divest himself wholly of
such right). — Where the occupier of land is entitled
otherwise than in pursuance of this Act to kill and
take ground game thereon, it shall not be lawful for
him wholly to part with or divest himself of such
right ; and if he shall give to any other person a title
to kill and take ground game on the land in his occu-
pation, he shall nevertheless retain and have as inci-
dent to and inseparable from such occupntion the same
right to kill and take ground game as is declared by
Section 1 of this Act. Save as aforesaid, the occu-
pier may exercise any other or more extensive right
which he may possess in respect of ground game or
other game in the same manner and to the :iame extent
as if this Act had not passed,

" 3 (All agreements in contravention of right of
occupier to destroy ground game void). — Every agree-
ment, condition, or arrangement which purports to
divest or alienate the right of the occupier as de-
clared, given and reserved to him by this Act, or
which gives to such occupier any advantage in con-
sideration of his forbearing to exercise such right,
or imposes upon him any disadvantage in consequence
of his exercising such right, shall be void.

"4 ( Exemption from game certificates). — The occu-
pier and the persons duly authorised by him as afore-
said shall not be required to obtain a licence to kill
game for the purpose of killing and taking ground
game on land in the occupation of such occupier, and
the occupier shall have the same power of selling any
ground game so killed by him, or the persons au-
thorised by him, as if he had a licence to kill game :
Provided that nothing in this Act contained shall
exempt any person from the provisions of the Gun
Licence Act, 1870.

"5 (Saving clause). — Where at the date of the
passing «f this Act the right to kill and take ground
game on any land is vested by lease, contract of ten-
ancy, or other contract in some person other than the
occupier, the occupier shall not be entitled under
this Act, until the determination of that contract, to
kill and take ground game on such land. And in
Scotland, when the right to kill and take ground
game is vested by operation of law or otherwise in
some person other than the occupier, the occupier
shall not be entitled by virtue of this Act to kill or
take ground game during the currency of any lease or
contract of tenancy under which he holds at the
passing of this Act, or during the currency of any
contract made before the passing of this Act whereby
any other person is entitled to take and kill ground
game on the land.

" For the purposes of this Act a tenancy from year
to year or a tenancy at will, shall be deemed to deter-
mine at the time when such tenancy would by law
become determinable if notice or warning to deter-
mine the same were given at the date of the passing
of this Act.

Nothing in this Act shall affect any special right
of killing or taking ground game to which any person
other than the landlord, lessor, or occupier may
have become entitled before the passing of this Act,
by virtue of any franchise, charter, or Act of Par-
liament.

6 '(Inhibition of night shooting,spiing traps above
ground, or poison). — No person having a right of
killing ground game under this Act or otherwise
shall use any firearms for the purpose of killing ground
game between the first hour after sunset pnd the last
hour before sunrise ; and no such person shall, for
the purpose of killing ground game, employ spring
traps above ground or poison ; and any person acting
in contravention of this section shall, on summary
conviction, be liable to a penalty not exceeding two
pounds.

7 "(Interpretation clause). — For the purposes of
this Act, the words "ground game " mean hares and
rabbits.

8 "(Exemption from penalties). — Any person act-
ing in accordance with this Act shall not be subject to
any proceedings or penalties in pursuance of any law
or statute.

9 "(Saving of existing prohibitions). — Nothing in
this Act shall authorise the killing or taking of
ground game on any days or seasons, or by any
methods, prohibited by any Act of Parliament in
force at the time of the passing of this Act.

10 "(Short fcitle\— This Act may be cited for all
purposes as the Ground Game Act, I860.

loo

THE FARMERS' ALLlANjE,

An Amendment was moved by Mr. Stanhope, pro-
posing that " only one other person besides the occu-
pier shall be permitted to use a gun for the purpose
of destroying ground game."

The Committee divided, Ayes- 91, Noes 173.

AYES.

Aylmer, J E F Finch, G H

Balfour, A J Folkestone, "Vis

Baring, T C Foster, W H

Barttelot, Sir W B Gibson, C J
Beach.RtHnSirMH Gordon, Edwd

Beciive, Earl 01 Gorst, J E

Biddell, W Hami ton, Lord C

Birley, Hugh Harcourt, E

Blackburne, Col J Hay, Sir John

Bourke, Rt Hon R Hicks, Edward

Bribe, Col R Hildys.rd, T B

Broadley, W H H Holiand, Sir H

Burghley, Lord Home, Cap D M

Burnaby, Gen E S Hope, A B

Cecil, Ld E H B G Johnstone, Sir F

Chaplin, Henry Kennaway, Sir J

Clarke, J C Kingscote, Col

Clive, Col Hon G Knight, F W
Colebrooke, Sir T E Leigh, Hon G H

ComptoD, F
Corry, J P
Crichton, Visct
Cross. Sir R
Dalrymple, C
Davenport H T
Davies, Richard
Digby, Col E

Lindsay, Col L
Loder, R
Long, W H
Macnaghten, E
Manners, L }i d J
Maxwell, Sir H
Mills, Sir C H
Monk, Chas. J

Donaldson - HudsonMoss, Richard
Douglas, A A Musgrave, Sir B C

Egerton, Hon W Nicholson, W~ N
Feilowes, W H Percy, Earl
Ffolkes, Sir W H B

NOES.

Agar-Robartes
Agnew, W
Allen, H G
Anderson, G
Arnold, Arthur
Ashley, Hon E
Baldwin, E
Balfour, Sir G
Barclay, J W
Bar.ng, Viscount
Barran, John
Bass, Hamar
Beaumont, W B
Biggar, J G
Birkbeck. E
Borlase, W C
Bradlaugh, C
Brassey, Tho3
Briggs, W E
Bright. Jacob
Bright, John
Broadhurst, H
Bi uce, Lord C
Bruce, R P
Bryce, James
Burt, Thomas
Byrne, G M
Caine, W S
Cam.ron, C
Campbell, R F
Campbell- Kan
Carington Col
Causton, R K
Cave-idish, Lord F
Chamber. ain, J
Cheetham, J F
Cohen, Arthur
Collings, Jesse
Collins, Eugene
Colthurst, Col
Corbet, W J
Cotes, C C
Courtauld, G
C airtney, L H
Cowen, Joseph
Cowper, Hon H
Craig, W Y
Cuniilfe, Sir R
Daly, J
Davies, W
Dawson, C
Dilke, Ashton
Dilke, Bir C \V

Fairbairn, Sir A
Farquharson, Dr
Fawcett, H
Fereruson, R
Firth, J B
Flower, Cyril
Foljambe C
Forster, Sir C
Forster, W E
Fort, Richard
Fowler, W
Fry, Lewis
Gladstone, H J
Gladstone, W H
Gourley, E T
Grant, A
Gurdon, R T
Hamilton, J G C
Harcourt, Sir W
Hastings, GW
Havelock, Sir H
Hayter, Sir A D
Hendeison, F
H encage, E
Herschell, F
Hill, T R
Hollond, J R
Holms, J
Holms, William
Hopvvood, C
Howard, J
Hutchinson, J
Illingworth, A
Inderwick, F
James, C
James, Sir H
Jardine, K
Jenkins, D J
Johnson, E
Johnson, W
Kinnear, J
Labouchere, H
Lawrence Sir J
Lawrence, W
Leatham, W
Leighton, S
Litton, E
Lloyd, Morgan
Lus'k, Sir Andrew
Lyons, R D
Mackie, R B
Mncirtney, J
M'intyre, »E

Phipps, CNP
Rainsden, Sir J
Ritchie, C T
Rod well, Benj.
Ross, A H
Round, James
JRoundell, G S
Sandon, VisenV
Schreioer, C
Scott, Montagu
Sinclair, Sir J
Smith, Abel
Smith, VV H
Stafford, Mrqs
Talbot, J G
Taylor, Colonel
Thompson, T G
Thornhill, T
Tyler, Sir H W
Wallace, Sir R
Walrond Col W U
Warton, C N
Waugh, E
Whitley, Edwd
Wilmott, Sir J E
Winn, Rowland
Wortley, Stuart-
Wroughton, P.

TBLLERS : —

Mr. Stanhope
Davies, D

Mathesou, A
Maxwell, J H M
Middleton, R T
Morgan, G O
Muudella, A J
O'Connor, A
O'Connor, T P
O'Gorman, Mahon
O'Shea, W H
Otway, Arthur
Paget, T T
Palmer, Hinde
Parker, C S
Peddie, 1 ick
Peel, A W
Pennington, F
Potter, Thomaj"
Powell, Walter
Powell, W K
Pugh, Lewis P
Puilej , Joseph
Ramsay, John
Reed, Edward J
Rendel, Stuart
Riehardton, T
Roberts, John
Rogers, Thorold
Rylands, Peter
Sbely, C
Sexton, Thos
Shaw, William
Shield, H
Simon, Serjeant
Slagg, J

Spencer, Hon C R
Stanley, Hon L
Sullivan, A M
Summers, W
Taylor, P A
Thomasson, J P
Tillett, J H
Tracy, Hon. F
Villiers, C P
Webster, J*
Wedderburn, D
Whitwell, John
Whitworth, B
Wiggin, H
Williams, S C
Williams. W
Williamson, S
Wills, W H
Wodehouse, E

Dodson, J G
Dackham, 'J?
Duff, M EG
Earp, Thomas
Edward*, J P
Ediot, Hon A R

M'L»ganr P
M'Laren, D
M' Minnies, J G
Uajorioanks, E
Marriott, W T
Martin, R B

Woodall, W
Wool), S

XjfcLLEBS : —

Grosvenor, Lord B
Kensington, Lord

Clause 1 :— Amendment proposed, to add, at the
end of the last Amendment (" The occupier shall kill
or take ground game only by himself or by persons
duly authorised by him in writing.") — " (b.) Every
person so authorised by the occupier, on demand by
any person having a concurrent right to take and kill
the ground game on the land or any person authorised
by him in writing to make such demand, shall
produce to the person so demanding the document by
which he is authorised, and in default he shall not be
deemed to be an authorised person" {Sir William
Harcourt): — Question proposed, " That those words
be there added" : — Amendment proposed to the pro-
posed Amendment, to leave out from the words
" Every person so authorised," to the words " to be
an authorised person," inclusive [Mr Hcneage) : — ■
Question put, " That the words proposed to be left
out stand part of the proposed Amendment '"• — The
Committee divided ; Ayes 180, Noes 29.

(The effect of Mr. Heneage's proposal was that per-
sons authorised by an occupier to kill ground game
should not be obliged to show their authority).
AYES.

Agnew, W Fry, L Munc'ella, Rt Hn A J

Ai en, H G Gamier, J C Murray, C J

/> mhurst, WAT Gibson, Rt Hon E Musgrave, Sir R C

Anderson, G Gladstone, H J Newdegate, C N

Aimitage, B Gordon, Sir A Newport, V

Arnold, A Gorst, J E Nicholson, W N

Aylmer, J E F Gourley, E T Poland, Major

Balfour, A J Grant, A NorthcoteRtHnSirS

Balfour, Sir G Grant, Sir G M Onslow, D

Barclay, J W Greene, E Paget, T T

Barran, J Gregory, G B Palmer, J H

Barttelot, Sir W B Grey, A H G Parker, C S

Beach, W W B Guest, M J Peddie, J D

Bentmck, Rt Hn G CHarcourt, E W Peel, A AV

Biddell, W Hare mrt RtHnSirWPotter, T B

Berbeck, E Harrington, Mq Powell, W R H

Birley, H Havelock-Allan, SirPower, J O'C

Blackburne, Col J I Hayter, Sir A D Pulley, J

Borlase, VV C

Bradlaugh, C

Biiggs, W E

Bright, J

Bright, Rt Hn J

Biise, Col H

Broaohurst, H

Broadley, VV H H

Brodrick, Hon St J James C

Brogden, A Jatnes, Sir H

Henderson, F
Herschell, Sir F
Hibbert, J T
Hicks, E
Hill, T R
Holland, Sir H T
Hope, Rt Hon A B
Howard, J

Renuol, S
Ricl aid, H
Richardson, J N
Richardson, T
Ritchie, C T
Rudwell, B B H
Rogers, JET
Ross, A H

Rotlu-cuiid, Sir N M
Round, J
Roundell, 0 S
Russell, G VV E
Bandon, V

Kennaway, Sir J HSclater Booth RtHn

Bruce, Hon R P Jenkins, D J

Buxton, F W Johnson, E

Buxton, Sir R J Johnson, W M

Caine, W S

Campbell, R F F Knight, F VV Sexton, T

( armgtoc, Hon R Lawrence, J C bimon, Mr Serjoant

Carington, Hon C Lea, T Spencer, Hon C R

Causton, R K Lee, H Stansfield, Rt Hon J

Cavendish, Lord FCLefevre, G J 8 Story- aiaskelyne.M

Chamberlain.RtHnJLeigh, U Sullivan, A M

Chaplin, H Leighton, S Talbot, J G

Childeis, KtHnHCELenuox, Lord H G Taylor, Rt Hn Col

Chitty, J W Levett, T J Taylor, P A

CI rke, J C Litton, E F

Cohbold, T C Lloyd, M

Coddington, W Lopes, Sir M

Cotes, C C Lycns, R D

Courtauld, G Macfarlane, D H

Cowen, J M'Oartby, J

Craig, VV Y M'intyre, ^E J

Crichton, Vet M'Latran, p

Dalrymple, C M'Laren, (IBB

Davies, W M'Laren, D

Digby, Col Hon E M'Minnies, J G

Duff, Rt Hon M E GMakius, Col
Earp, T Mappin, F T

Farquharson, Dr R Maxwell, Sir H E
Fawcett, Rt Hon H Meldon, C H
Feilowes, VV H Mills, Sir C H

Thornhill, T
Torrent, WTM'C
Tracy, HonFS A H
Vernev, Sir H
Walrond, Col W H
Warton, O N
Wedderburn, Sir D
Whitley, E
Whitwell, J
Williams, B T
Williamson, S
Willis, W
Wilmot, Sir J E
Winn, R
Wodehouse, E R
Wu.ff, Sir H D

THE FARMERS1 MAGAZINE.

Ft.. Ikes, SirWlili Monk, 0 J Woodall, VV

FitzwillUm, Hn HWM->rgan, Ht HnGO Tellers : -
Fowler, H H Mi.rley, A Grosveuor, Lord R

Fowler, R N Moss, R Kensington, Lord

NOES.

Acland, Sir T D Edwards, P Mellor, J W

Beach lit Hn Sir MH Klliot, Hon A R D O'Connor, A

Blake, J A Kilmer, Sir E Percy, Earl

Brand, H R Finigan, .r L Pugh, L P

Bryee, J Gurdon, R T Summers, W

Burnaby, Gen E S Hay, Rt Hn Sir JGDThoma-*son, J P

Burt, T Hollond, J R Williams, SUE

Colling*. J Hopwood, C H Tellers : —

Courtney L II Labouche e, H Heneage, Mr.

Cunlifife, Sir R A Lehmann, F Duckhain, ilr

Dilke, A \V Maxwell, J M H

Another Amendment proposed, to add, at the en
of the last Amendment, sub-section " (2). A person
shall not he deemed to be an occupier of land lor the
purposes of this Act by reason of his having a right
of common over such lands ; or by reason of an
occupation for the purpose of grazing or pasturage of
sheep, cattle, or horses for less than nine months." —
(Sir \V illiam Harcourt). Question proposed,
' ' That those words be there added : — Amend-
ment proposed to the proposed Amendment,
in line 2, after the word " Act," to insert the words
" where he occupies the land as owner thereof :" —
(Mr. Chaplin:) — Question put, '"That those words be
there inserted:" — The Committee divided : Ayes 82,
Noes 45. (Mr. Chaplin's object was to enable an
occupier who farms his own land to let his game and
alienate his own right to kill hares and rabbits.)

AYES.
Amherst, WAT Gamier, J C O'Connor, A

Aymer, J E F Gibson, Rt Hon E Onslow, Denzil

Balfour, Arthur Jas Gorst, J E Percy, Earl

Bariug, T C Grantham, W Phipps, C N P

Bartlelot, SirW B Greene, E Ritchie, C T

Beach, Rt HnSir M Gregory, G B Rodwell, B B H

Beach, W W B Harcouit, E W Rogers, JET

Bontinck, RtHuGCHay, RtllnSirJCD Ross, A H
Biddell, W Hicks, E Rouod, J

Birley, Hugh Hildyard, T B T Sandon, Vis

Blackburne, ColJ I Holland, Sir H T Scbreiber, Charles
Brand, Henry R Hope, Rt HonAB Sclater-Booth, Rs
Broadley, AV H H Kennaway. Sir J H Hon G
Brodrick, Hon St J Knight, *' W Scott, Montagu D

Brogden, A Lawrance, J C Smith, A

Burnaby, Gen E S Leigh, R Talbot, J G

Buxton, Sir R J Lennox, Lord H G Taylor, Rt Hon Co
Churchill, Lord R Levett, T J ThornhiU, T

Coddington, W Lopes, Sir M Tottenham, A L

Crichton, Viscount Makins, Colonel Walrond, Col W H
Dalrjmple, C Maxwell, Sir H E Warton, C N

Dieby, Col Hon E Mills. Sir C H Wballey, G H

Moss, R Whitley, Edward

Murray, C J Wilmot, Sir J B

Egerton, H"nW
Elcho, Lord
Fellowes, W H

Ffolkes, Sir W H B Newport, Vis
Filmer, Sir E
Filzwilliam, Hn H
W

Fowler, R N

Agnew, W
Allen, H G
An 'ersen, G
Armitage, B
Arnold, A
Balfour, Sir G
Barclay, J W
Baring, Vis
Barry, John
Bass, H
Birkbeck, E
Blake, J A
Borlase, W C
JBradlaugh, C
Brett, R B
BngtiK, W E
Bright, J
Bright, Rt Hon J
Proadburst, H

Bruce, RtHn Lord C Herscheli, Sir F
Bruce, Hn R Pies- Hibbert, J T
ton Hill, T R

Musgrave, Sir R C Winn, Rowland

Wolff, Sir H D
Nicholson, W N Tellers : —

Northcote, Right HnMr Chaplin
Sir S Col Briso

Bryce, J Holl'-nd, J R

Burt, T Hopwood, C H

Buxton, F W Howard, J

Catne, VV 8 Illngworth, A

Campbell, R F F James, C
Ca ington, Hon R James, Sir H
Carington, Hon Col Jenkins, D J
Oaustoi', R K Johnson, E

Cavendish, Ld F C Juhnson, W M
Chamberlaiu.RtHnJ l.abouchere, H

CUitty. J VV
Clarke, 3 C
Collings, J
Cotes, O C
Courtauld, G
Courtney, L U
Craig, W Y
Cunliffe, SirRA
Davies, W
Dilke, A W

Lee, a
Lefevre, G J S
Lehmann, F
Litton, E F
Lloyd, M
Lyons, R D
Macfarlaue, D H
Mackie, R B
M'Intyre, M J
M' . aren, C B B

Dodson, RtHn J G M'Laren, D
Duckham, T M'Minnies, J G

Duff, Rt Hon M E

Grant
Earp, T
Edwards, P

Elliott-, Hon A R D Meldon, C H
Fairbairn, Sir A Mellor, J W
Farquharson, Dr R Monk, C J

Magniac, C
Mappin, F T
Ma-tin, R B
Maxwell, J H M

151

Russell, G
Seely, C
Sexton, T

Simon, Mr Serjeant
Slagg, J

Spencer, Hon 0 R
Slansield, Rt Hon J
St'iry-Ma.skelyno, M

H
Sullivan, A M
Summers, W
Taylor, P A
Thomassoa, J P
Thompson. T C
Torreus, VV T
Tracy, H on F S A

Hanbury
Villiers, Rt Hu C P
WedJerburn, Sir D
Whitwell, J
Williams, B T
Williams, S C
Williamson, S
Willis, VV
Wodehouse, E R
Woodall, VV

TELLERS : —

Lord R Grosveuor
Lord Kensington

NOES.
Fawcett, Rt Hon H Morgan, Rt Hn G O

Fmnigan, J L
Flower, C
Fowler, H H
Fry L

Gladstone, H J
Gordon, Sir A
Gourley, E T
Grant, A
Grant, D
Grant, Sir G Mac-

pherson
Gvey, A H G
Guest, M J
Gurdon, R T
Harcourt, SirW
Hayter, Sir A D
Henderson, F
Heneage, E

M rley.A
Mnndella, RtHnAJ
Nolan, Major
Paget, T T
Palmer, J H
Parker, C S
Peddle, J D
Peel, A W
Pender, J
Potter, T B
Powell, W
Power, J O'Connor
Pugh, L P
Pulley, J
Reid, R T
Rendel, S
Richard, H
Richardson, J N
Richardson, T
Rothschild, Sir N
Roundell, C S

Another Amendment proposed to the proposed
Amendment, to add, at the end thereof, the words
' or where he occupies the land as tenant thereof,
having the right of killing game thereon, with power
to sublet that right." (Mr. Chaplin :) Question put,
" That those words be there added." The Committee
divided — Ayes, 64 ; Noes, 143. (The effect of this
amendment would have been to enable a tenant who
now has the power of letting ground to continue to
l'et it to the exclusion of his own right, conferred by
the Bill, to kill ground game. )

AYES.
Amherst, WAT Gregory, G B Ritchie, C T

Balfour, A J Hay, Rt Hon Sir JRoss AH

Baring, T C CD Round, J

Barttelot. Sir WB Hicks, E St. Aubyn. W M

Hiddel, VV Hildyard, TB T Sandon, Viscount

Blackburne, Col J IHope, Rt Hon A B Scbreiber, C
Brand, H R Kennaway, Sir J HSclater-Booth, Rt

Brise, Col R Knight, F VV Hon G

Broadley, W H Lawrance, J C Scott, M D

Burghley, Lord Levett, T J fc'eveme, J E

Burnaby, Gen E S Lopes, Sir M Smith, A

Churchill, Lord R Maxwell, Sir H E Talbot. J G
Cobbold, T C Mills, Sir C H Taylor, Rt Hon C

Crichton, Viscount Moss, R Tottenham, A L

Dalrymple, C Murray, C J Tyler, Sir H W

Digby, Col Hon E Musgrave, Sir R C Walrond, Col W H
Egerton, Hon W Newport, Viscount Warton, G N
Nicholson, W N Whitley, E
Northcote, Rt HonWilmo', Sir J E

Elcho, Lord
Fellowes, W H
Fowler, R N
Gamier, J C
Gibson, Rt Hon E
Gorst, J E
Grantham, VV

SirS
Onslow, D
Percy, Earl
Phipps, C N P

Winn, R

TELLERS: —

Mr. Chaplin
Captain Alymer

NOES.

Acland, Sir T D Dodson, Rt Hon JMagniac, C
Adam, Rt Hon WPG Mappin, FT

Agar-Robartes, HonDuckham, T

TC

Agnew, W
Allen, H G
Anderson, G
Armitage, B
Arnold, A
Balfour, Sir G
Barclay, J W
Baring, Viscount
Barran, J
Bass, H
Beach, VV W B
Birkbeck, E
Borlase, VV C
Bradlaugh, C
Brassey, T
Brett, R B
Briggs, VV E
Bright, J

Martin, R B
Earp, T Maxwell, J H M

Elliot, Hon A R D Mellor, J W
Fairbairn, Sir A Monk, C J
Farquharsou, Dr R Morgan, Rt Hon G
Fawcett, Rt Hon H O
Ffolkes, Sir VV H BMorley, A

Firth, J F B
Flower, C
Fowler, H H
Fry, Lewis
Gladstone, H J
Grant, A
Giant, D
Grant, Sir G M
Grey, A H G
Guest. M J
Gurdon, RT

Harcourt, Rt HonPulley, J
Sir W Reid, R .

Morley, S
O'Connor, T P
O'Donoghue, The
O'Gorman Mahon,

Col The
Paget, T T
Palmer, J H
Parker, C S
Peddie, J D
Powell, W R H
Pugh, L P

m

Bright, Rt Hon J Hartington, Mnrq
Broadhnrst., H Hayter, Sir A D

Brudrick, H St J Henderson, F
Brogden. A Heneage, E

Bruce, Rt Hon LordHerschell, Sir F

C Hibbert. J T

Brnce, Hon R P Hill, T R
Burt T Holland, Sir H T

Buszard, M O Hollond, J R

Bu.\ton, F "W Holms, J

Buxton, Sir R J Hopwood, C H
Caine, W S Howard, J

Campbell, R F F Illingworth, A
Camigton, H R James, Sir H
Carintfton, Hon CoUenkins, D J
Caurton, R K J hnson, R

Cavendish, Lord F Johnson, W M

C Labouchere, H

Chamberlain, RtHnLaw, Rt Hon H

J Lawrence, Sir T

Childers, Rt Hon HLeatham, E A

C E Lee, H

Chitty, J W Lefevre, G J S

Clarke, J O Litton, E F

Collings, J Lyons, R D

Coies, C C Mackie, R B

Courtauld, G M'Intyre, M J

Courtney, L H M'Laren, C B B

Cunliffe* Sir R A M'Laren, D
Davies, W M'Minnies, J G

Dilke.A W

Amendment proposed, to add, at the end of the
last Amendment, the words "(3.) The occupier
shall not, nor shall any person authorised by him,
use any firearms for the purpose of killing ground
game except between the last hour before sunrise and
the first hour after sunset ; and neither such occupier,
nor any person authorised by him, shall employ spring
traps above ground for the purpose of killing ground
game." (Sir William Harcourt:) — Amendment pro-
posed to the proposed Amendment, to leave out the
words " except between the last hour before sunrise
and the first hour after sunset." (Sir "Walter
Barttelot :)— Question put, " That the words pro-
posed to be left out stand part of the proposed Amend-
ment." The Committee divided — Ayes, 112 ; Noes,
33. — (Sir "VV. Barttelot's proposal was that
neither the occupier, nor any agent of his, should be
empowered by the Bill to use a gun in killing game.)

AYES-
Acland, Sir T D Davies, W
Adam, Rt Hn W P Dilke, A W
Agar-Robartes,HnTDuckman, T

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Rendel. 3
Richardson, T
Rod well. HBH
Roundell, C S
Russell, GW E
Sexton, T
Simon, Serjt
Slagg, J

Spencer, Hon C R
Story-Maskelyne, M

H
Summers, W
Taylor, P A
Thomasson, J P
Thompson, T C
Tracy, Hon F S A

H
Villiers, Rt Hon C P
"W edderburn. Sir D
Whalley, G H
Whitwell, J
Williams, B T
"Williams. S C E
Williamson, S
Willis, W
Wodehouse. E R
Woodall, W

TELLERS : —

LordR. Grosvenor
LorcIKensington

Agnew, W
Allen, H G
Armitage, B
Arnold, A
Ashley, Hon E M
Balfour, SirG
Barclay, J W

Marriott, W T
Martin, R B
Maxwell, Sir H
Meldon.O H
Monk, C J

Beach, lUHnSirMHGrant, Daniel

Earp, T

Elliot, Hon A R D

Farquharson, Dr R Morley, A

Fmigan, J L Morley, S

Firth, J F B

Fry. L

Grant, Andrew

Bi.ldell, W
Birkbeck, E
Blake, J A
Borlase, W C
Bradlsugh, C
Brand, H R
Brassey, T
Bright, Jacob
Bright, RtHon J
Broadhur-t, H

Grant. Sir G M
Gu don, RT

O'Connor, T P
O'Gorman Mahon,

Col The
Paget, T T
Peddie, J D
Powell, W R H

Harcourt, RtHnSrW Power, J O'Connor
Havelock-Allan, SirPugh, L P

H

Hayter, Sir A D
Henderson, ff
Heneage, E
Herschell, S r F
Hibbert, J T

Bmce, RtHu Lord CHill, T R
Bruce, Hon R P Holland, Sir H T
Bart, T Hollond, J R

Buszard, M C Holms, J

Buxton, Sir R J Hopwood, C H
Caine, W S Howard. J

Campbell, R F F Illingworth, A
C-irington, Hon R James, Sir II
Csrington. Hon Col Jenkins, D. J
Causton, R K Johnson, E

Chamberlain RtHn J Johnson, W M
Childers, RtHn H Law, Rt Hon H
Chitty, J W Lawrance, J C

Collings, Jesse Lee, H
Cotes, C C Lef«vre, G J S

Courtauld, G Lyons, R D

Courtney, L H Macfarlane. D II

Pulley, Joseph
Reed, Sir C
Reudel, S
Richardson, T
Rodwell, B B H
Sexton, T
Simon, Serjeant
Spencer, Hon C R
Taylor, P A
Thomasson, J P
Thompson, T C
Tracy, Hon. F
Verney, Sir H
We'lderbum, Sir D
Whitwell, J
Williams, B T
Williams, S C E
Williamson, S
Willis. W
Wodehouse, E R
Woodall, W

Tellers :—
Grosvenor, Lord R

Balfour, A J
Barinsr, T C
Brodri^k, Hon. St
Brogden, A
Burghley, Lord
Digbv, Col Hon E
Egerton, Hon W
Elcho, Lord
Fellowes, W H
Fowler, R N
Gamier, J C
Grantham, W

NOES.
Hav, Rt Hon Sir J
Hildyard, TBT
JHope, Rt Hon A B
Jackson, W L
Knight, F VV
Levett, T J
Lopes. Sir M
Mirray, C J
Muserave, Sir R C
Nicholson, W M
Nurthcote, Sir S
Onslow, D

Percy, Earl
Ritchie, C T
Round. J
Schreiber, 0
Smith, A

Taylor, Rt Hon Col
Tyler, Sir H \V
AVarton, C N
Winn, R

Tellers : —
Bar telot, Sir W
Newport, Viscount

Another Amendment proposed to the proposed
Amendment, in line 3, after the word " sunset" to
insert the words " between the first day of July and
the fifteenth day of February (Captain Aylmer :) —
Question put, " That those words be there inserted."
The Committee divided : Ayes 23, Noes 110. (This
was an amendment to prevent shooting by teuants,
under the Bill, from the first of July to the loth of
February. )

AYES.
Baring, Thomas C Hope, A . Beresford Smith, Abei
Brodrick, Hon St JJackson, W L Taylor, Rt Hn Col

Cnchton, Viscount Lennox, Lord H G Tyler, Sir H VV
Digby, Col Hon E Levef, T 3 Warton. C N

Egerton, Hon W Lopes, Sir Mas&ey Winn, Rowland
Elcho, Lord Marrott, WT Tellbbs :—

Fellowes, W H Murray, C J Aylmer, Captain

Fowler, R N Newport, Viscount Maxwell, Sir H

Hay, Sir John Onslow, Denzil

NOES.
Adam, Rt Hn W P Firth, J F B Martin, R B

Agnew, William Flower, C Meldou, C H

Alien, H G Fry, L Monk, C J

Armitage, BenjaminGrant, A Morley, A

Arnold, A Grant, D Morley, S

Ash cy, Hon E H Gregory, G B O'Connor, T P

Balfour, Sir G Gurdon, R T O'Goracan Mahon,

Barclay, J W Harcourt, Sir W Colonel The

Beach, Rt Hn M H Havelock Allen, SirPaget, Thomas T

Borlase, W C H

Bradlaugh, C Hayter, Sir A D

Brassey, T Heneage, E

Bright, J Herscheil, Sir F

Bright, Rt Hn JohnHibbert, J T

Broadhurst, H
Brogden, A
Bruce, Lord C
Bruce, Hn R P
Burt, T
Buszard, M C
Caine, W S

Hicks, E
Hill, T R
Holland, Sir H T
Hollond, J R
Holms, J
Hopwood, C H
Illingworth, A

Carington, Hn Col Inderwick, F A

James, Sir H
Jenkins, D J
John -on, E
Johnson, W M

Peddie, J D
Percv, Earl
Powell, W R H
Power, ;J. O'Connor
ruL'h, L P
Reed, Sir C
Rondel, S
Richardson, T
Ritchie, C T
Rodwell, B B H
Simon, Mr. Serjeant
Spencer, Hon C R
Summers, W
Taylor, P A
Thomasson, T 1*
Thonipson, T C
Tracy, Hn F S A H

Kcnnaway, Sir J HWalmnd. Col W H

Causton, R K

Chamberlain, J

Childers, HUE

Chitty, J W

Clarke, J C

Collins, Jesse

Cotes, Ch irles, C

Courtauld, G

Courtney, L H

Co.vper, Hon H F Lefevre, G J S

Dalrymple, C Lyons, R D

Dilke, A W Macliver, P S

Earp, T M'Intyre, ^Eneas J Woodall, W

Elliot, Hn A R D M'Lagan, P Tbllbrb :—

Farquharson, Dr R M'Laren, CBB Grosvenor, LordR

Ffolkes, Sir VV H BM'Laren, D Kensington, Lord

Finigan, J L

Labouchere, H
Law, Rt Hon H
Lawrance, J C
Lee, H

Wedderbum, Sir D
Whitwell, J
Williams, B T
Wil iams, S C B
Williamson, S
Willis, VV
Wodehouse, E R

Cowp6r,' Hon U F M'Intyre, JSneas J Kensington, Lord

Amendment proposed to add, at the end of the last
amendment, the words " (4.) In the case of moor-
lands and uninclosed lands (not being arable lands),
the occupier and the persons authorised by him shall
exercise the rights conferred by this section only from
the eleventh day of December until the thirty-first
day of March in each year, both inclusive." (Sir
William Harcourt:) — Question proposed, "That
those words be there added : " — Amendment pro-
posed to the proposed Amendment, in line 1, after
the words "uninclosed lands," to insert the words
"exceeding fifty acres in extent.'' Dr. Farquharson) : —
Question put, "That those words b6 there

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

163

inserted." The Coprmitte divided ; Ayes 146, Noes78.
(The effect of this amendment will be to withdraw
farms having ouly 50 acres of moorland or less from
the operation of the close season clause imposed in
the case of moorland generally. )

AYES.
Acland, Sir T D Fawcntt, Rt Hon H Mappin, F T
Adam.Rt Hon W P Ferguson, Robert Martin, R B
Agar-Robartes, Hn Finigan, James L Maxwell, 8ir H E

T Firth. Joseph F B Max veil, J HM

Agnew, William Flower, Cyril Meldon, Charles H

Allen, Henry Geo Fowler, Henry H Morgan Rt Hn G O
Anderson, George Fowler. William Morley, Samuel
Anuitage, B Gladstone, HJ Mundella, Rt Hon

Arnold, Arthur Gordon, Sir Alex Anthony J.

Ashley, Hon E M Grant, Andrew Murray, Charles J
Balfour, Arthur J Grant, Sir G Mac-O'Connor, TP
Balfour, Sir Geo pherson O'Gorman Mahon,

Baring, Viscount Grev, Albert H G Colonel The
Barran, John Grosvenor, Lord R Paget, Thomas T

Biddell, William Guest, Moatague J Parker, Charles S
Borlase, William C Gurdon. Robert T Peddie, John Dick
Bradlaugh, Charles Harcourt, RtHn SirPeel, Arthur W
Brand, Henry R W Percy, Earl

Brassey, Thomas Hartington, Mar of Powell, W Rice H
Briggs", William E Hayter, Sir A D Power, J O'Connor
Bright, Rt Hon J Henderson, Frank Pugh Lewis P
Brise, Colonel R Heneage. Edward Pulley, Joseph
Broadhurst, Henry Herschell.SirFarrerReod, Sir Charles
Brogden, Alex Hibbert, John T Reid, Robt T

Bruce, Rt Hn Ld C Hioks. Edward Rendel Stuart
Bruce, Hon R P Hill, Thos R Richardson, J N

Bryce, James Hollond, John R Richardson, T

Burt, Thomas Holms, John Roundell. C S

Buxton, Francis W Hopwood, Charles HRussell, Geo W E
Caine, William S Howard, James Simon, Mr. Serjt
Campbell, R F F Illingworth, Alfred Slagg, John
Caringtcn Hon R Inderwick, F A Spencer, Hon C R
Causton, Richard K James, Sir Henry Sullivan, Alex M
Cavendish, Lord F CJenkins, David J Summers, W
Chamberlain.Rt Hn Johnson, Edward Taylor, Peter A

J Johnson, W Moore Thomasson, J P

Chaplin, Henry Kensington, Lord Thompson, T C
Childers, Rt Hn C E Knight," F Winn Thornhill, T
Clarke, J Creemer Labouchere.Henry Tracy, Hon F S A
Collings, Jesse Law, Rt Hon Hugh Hanbury

Cotes, Charles C Lawrance, J C Verney, Sir H

Courtauld, George Leatham, E Aldam Wedderburn, SirD
Courtney, L H Lee, Henry Whitwell, John

Cowper, Hon H F Lefevre.George J S Williams, B T
Craig, William Y Litton, Edward F Williams, S C E
Davies, William Lyons, Robert D Williamson, S
Dilke, Ashton W Mackie, Robert B Willis, William
Duckham, Thomas M'Intyre, .(Eneas J Wodehouse, E R
Duff, Rt Hon MEG M'Lagan, Peter * Woodall, William
Earp, Thomas M'Laren, C B B tellers : —

Elliot, Hn A R D M'Laren, Duncan Dr. Farquharson
Fairbairc, Sir A Magniac, Charles Mr. Barclay

NOES.
Aylmer, John F F Gorst, Jonn E
Baring, Thomas C Grantham, W Norwood, C M

Barttelot, Sir W B Gregory, George B Phipps, C N P
Beach, Rt Hn Sir Hamilton, Rt. Hon Ritchie, Charles T

M H Lord G Rodwell, B B H

Beach, W W Bramst Harcourt, E W Ross, Alex H
Bentinck, RtHn G. Hay, Rt Hon Sir J Round, James

C CD Russell, Sir Charles

Birkbeck, Edward Hildyard T B T St Aubyn, W M
Blackburne, Col J 1 Holland, Sir H T Sandon, Viscount
Broadley, WHH Hope, Rt Hn AlexSchreiber, C
Barghiey, Lord Beresford Sclater-Booth, Rt

Buxton, Sir R J Jackson, W La wies Hon George
CariDgton, Hn Col Kennaway, Sir J H Scott, Montagu D
Chitty, Joseph W Lever, John O 8everne, John E

Ohurchill, Lord R Levett, John T Smith, Abel
Coddington, W Lloyd, Morgan Smith, Rt Hon W

Crichton, Visct Lopes, Sii Massey Talbot, John G
Dalrymple, C Marriott, W T Taylor, Rt Hon Col

Digby, Co1. Hon E Mellor, John W Tottenham, A L
Egerton Hon W Mills, Sir C H Walrond, Col W H

Errington, George Monk. Charles J Warton, Charles N
Fellowes, W H Morley, Arnold Whalley, George H
Ffolkes, Sir W H B Moss, Richard Whitley, Edward

Filmer, Sir E Musgrave, Sir R C Winn, Rowland

Fletcher, Sir H Newdegate, C N Wolff, Sir H D
Fowler, Robert N Newport, Viscount tbllebs :—

Fry, Lewis Nicholson, W N Mr. Brodrick

Garnier, John C Northcote.Rt Hn Mr. Onslow
Gibson, Rt Hn E Sir S.

Another Amendment proposed to the proposed
Amendment, to add, at the end thereof, the words

"and in all other cases, notwithstanding anything
in this Act contained, the periods, not being less than
four months, of the year during which, and the in-
struments by means of which, such right shall be
exercised may be the subject of special agreement
between the occupier of the land and the owner
thereof." (Mr. Sclater-Booth :)— Question put, " That
those words be there added."— The Committee di-
vided ; Ayes 75, Noes 154. (In this amendment it
is proposed that the parties may agree to restrict
rights to four months per annum, and to agree as to
the means by which game may be killed.)

AYES.
Aylmer, J E F Grantham, W Onslow, D

Balfour, A J Gregory, G B Percy, Earl

Baring, •? C Grey, A H G Phipps, CNP

Barttelot, Sir W B Hamilton, Rt Hn LdRitchie, C T
Beach, Rt Hn Sir HHarcourt, E W Ross. A H

Bentinck, Rt Hn G Hay, Rt Hn Sir J CRound, J
Blackburne, Col J Hicks, E Russell, Sir C

Brand, H R Hildyard, TBT St Aubyn, W M

Brise. Col R Hinchingbrook. VisSandon, Vis

Broadley, WHH Holland, Sir H T Schreiber. C
Brodrick, Hn St J Hope, Rt Hn A B Sclater-Booth.RtHn
Burghley, Lord Jack-on, W L Scott, M D

Chaplin. H Kennaway, Sir J HSeverne, J E

Churchill, Lord R Kniaht, F W Smith, A

Cobbold, T C Leigh, R Smith, Rt Hn W H

Coddington, W Levett, T J Talbot, J G

Dalrymple, C Lopes, Sir M Taylor, Rt Hn Col

Digby, Col Hn E Makins, Col Thornhill, T

Egerton, Hn W Mills, Sir C H Tottenham, A L

Elcho, Lord Moss, R Walrond, Col W H

Fellowes, W H Murray, C J Warton, C N

Fletcher, Sir H Musgrave, Sir R C Whitley, E
Fowler, R N Newdegate, C N Wolff, Sir H D

Gai-nier, J U Newport, Vis Tellebs :—

GibsoD, Rt Hn E Nicholson, W N Winn, R
Gorst, J E Northcote, Rt Hn SrCrichton, Vis

NOES.

Acland, Sir T D Duff, Rt Hn M E G M'Intyre, A J

Adam, Rt Hn W P Earp, T M' Lagan, P
Agar-Robartes, Hn Klliot, Hn A R D M'Laren, C B B

Agnew, W Errington, G Magniac, C

Allen, H G Fairbairn, Sir A Mappin, F T

Anderson, G Farquharson, Dr RMarriott, W T

Armitage, B Fawcett, Rt Hn H Martin, R B

Arnold, A Ferguson, R Maxwell, J H M

Ashley, JEM Ffolkes. Sir W H B Mellor, J W

Balfour, Sir G Finigan, J L Monk, C J

Barclay, J W Firto, J F B Morgan, Rt Hn G O

Baring, Viscount Fitzwilliam, Hn H Morley, A

Barran, J Flower, C Mundella, Rt Hn A

Bass, H Fowler, H H Nolan, Major

Beach, W W B Fowler, W N. rwood, C M

Biddell, W Fry, L O'Connor, T P

Birkbeck, E Gladstone, H J Paget, T T

Borlase, W C Gordon, Sir A Parker, C S

Bradlaugh, C Gourley, E T Peddie, J D

Brassey, T Grant, A Peel, A W

Briggs, W E Grant, Sir G M Powell, W R H

Bright, J Guest, M J Power, J O

Bright, Rt Hn J Gurdon, R T Pugh, L P

Broadhurst, H Harcourt, Rt Hn SirPulley, J

Brogden, A Hartington, Mar of Reid, R T
Bruce, Rt Hn Lord Havelock-Allan, SirRendel. S

Bruce, Hn R P Hayter, Sir A D Riohardson, J N

Bryce, J Henderson, F Riohardson, T

Burt, T Heneage, E Rogers, JET

Buxton, F W Horschell, Sir F Roundell, C 8

Buxton, Sir R J Hibbert, J T Russell, G W E

Caine, W S Hill, T R Sexton, T

Campbell, R F F Hollond, J R Simon, Mr Serjeant

Carington, Hn R Holms, J Slagg, J

Carington, Hn Col Hopwood, C H Spencer, Hn C R

Causton, R K Howard, J Summers, W

Cavendish, Lord F Illingworth, A Taylor, P A

Chamberlain, Rt Hnlnderwick, F A Thomasson, J P

Childers, Rt Hn HC James, C Thompson, T 0

Chitty, J W James, Sir H Tracy, Hn F S A

Clarke, J C Jenkins, D J Wedderburn, Sir D

Collings, J Johnson, E Whalley, G H

Cotes, C C Johnson, W M Whitwell, J

Courtauld, G Labouchere, H Williams, B T

Courtney, L H Law, Rt Hn H Williams, 8 0 E

Cowper, Hn H F Lea, T Williamson, S

Craig, W Y Lefevre, G J S Willis, W

Cuuliffe, Sir R A Litton, E F Wodehouse, E R

Davies, W Lloyd, M Woodall, W

DUke, A W Lyons, R D Tbllebs —

164

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

Dodds, J Mackie, R B Gwu-enor, Lord R

Dodson, Rt Hn J G M'Carthy, J Kensington, Lard

Duckham, T

Question put, "That the words ' (4.) In the case
of moorlands, and uninclosed lands (not being arable
lands), the occupier and the persons authorised by
him shall exercise the rights conferred by this section
on ly from the eleventh day of December until the
thirty-first day of March in each year, both inclusive,'
be added at the end of the last Amendment." — (Sir
William Harcourt:) — The Committee divided ; Ayes
194, Noes 23.

AYES.

Acland, Sir T D Fairburn, Sir A M*Mi~nies, J G
Adam, Rt Hn "VV P Farquharson, Dr R Magniac, C
Agar-Robartes, Hn Fawcett, Rt Hn H Mappin, F T

Burgblev, Lord
D gbv, Col H E
Duckham, T

TC

Agnew, W
Allen, H G
Armitage, B
Arnold, A
Ashley, Hn E M
Balfour, A J
Barclay, J W
Baring, T C
Baring, V
Barran, J

Ferguson, R Marriott, W T

Ffolkes, Sir W H B Martin R B
Finigan, J L Maxwell, Sir H E

Firth, J F B Mell or, J W

Fitzwilliam.HnHW Mills, Sir C H

Fletcher, Sir H
Flower, C
Fowler, H H
Fowler, R N
Fowler, W
Fry, L

Barttelot, Sir W B Gamier, J C
Bass, H Gibson, Rt Hn E

Beach, Rt Hn SirM Gladstone, H J

H Gordon, Sir A

Bi kbeck, E Gorst, J E

Blackburne, Col J Gourley, E T

I

Grant, A
Borlase, W C Grant, Sir G M

Bradlaugh, C Grantham, W

Brassey, T Gray, A H G

Brett, R B Guest, M J

Briggs, W E Gurdon, R T

Bright, J Hamilton, Rt Hon Powell, W R H

Bright, Rt Hn J Lord G Power, J O'Connor

Broadhurst. H Harcourt, E W Push, L P

Brodrick, Un St. J narcourt, Rt Hn Sir Pulley, J
Brogden, A W Reid. R T

Bruce, Rt Hn LordHartington.Marq ofRendel, S

Monk, C J
Morgan, Rt Hn G O
Morley, A
Moss, R
Mundella, Rt Hn A

J
Murray, C J
Newport, Via
Nolan, M
Northcoce, Rt Hn

SirS
Norwood, C M
O'Connor, TP
Onslow, D
Paget, T T
Parker, C S
Peddie, J D
Phipps, C N P

Havelock-Allan, SirRichardson, J N

H Richardson, T

Hay, Rt Hn Sir J Ritchie, C T

C

Bruce, Hn R P

Bryce, J

Buxton, F W CD

Caine, W S Hayter, Sir A D

Campbell, R F F Henderson, F

Carinston, Hn R Heneage, E

Carington, Hn C Herschell, Sir F

Causton, R K Hibbert, J T

Cavendish, Lord F Hinchingbrook, V

C Holland, Sir H T

Chamberlain.RtHnHollond, J R

J Holms, J

Childers, Rt Hn H Hope, Rt Hn A B

C E Hopwood, C H

Chittv, J W Howard, J

Churchill, Lord R Illingworth, A.

Inderwick, F A
Jackson, W L
James, C
James, Sir H
Jenkins, D J
Johnson, E
Johnson, W M

Clarke, J C

Cobbold, T C

Coddington, W

Collings, J

Cotes, C C

Courtauld, G

Courtney, L H

Cowper, Hn H F

Craig, W Y

Crichton, V

Cunliffe., Sir R A

Dalrymple, C

Davies, W

Dilke, A

Dodds, J

Dodson, Rt Hn J G Lloyd, M

Duff, Rt Hn M E G Lopes, Sir M

Earp, T Lyons, R D

Egerton, Hn W Mackie, R B

Elliot, Hn A R D M'Intyre, M J

Errington, G M 'Lagan, P

NOES.
Avlmer, J E F Gregory, G B
Bentinck, Rt Hn G Hicks. E

C Hildyard, T B T

Brand, H R Labouchere, H

Brise. S R Makins, Col

Rogers, JET
Ross, A H
Roundel, C S
RusseM, G W E
Russell, Sir O
St Aubyn, W M
Sandown, Via
Scott, M D
Simon, Mr. Serj
Slagg, J
Smith, A

Smith, Rt Hn W H
Spencer, Hn C R
Summers, W.
Talbot, J G
Thomasson, J P
Thompson, T C
Tottenham, A L
Tracy, Hon F S A
Walrond, Col W H
Warton, C N

Kennaway, Sir J H Weddertmrn. Sir D
Knight, F W Whalley, G H

Law, Rt Hn H Whitley. E

Lea, T Whitwell, J

Lefevre, G J 8 Williams, B T
Lennox, Lord H G Williamson, S

Levett, T J
Litton, E F

Willis, W
Winn, R
Wodehonse, E R
Wolff, Sir H D
Woodall, W

TBLLEBS : —

Grosve wr, Lord R
Kensington, Lord

Severne J E
Sexton, T
Taylor.Rt Hn Col.
Taylor, P A
Thornhill, Thomas

Nicholson, W N TSttsss :

Percy, Earl Biddell, Mr.

Round, J Chaplin Mr

Broadley, W H H Muagrave, Sir R C Williams, 80S

Amendment proposed, at the end of Clause 1, to
add the words " (5) No person shall kill or take
hares between the first day of April and the
first day of August in England and Scotland,
aud between the twentieth day of April and
the twelfth day of August in Ireland." (Mr.
Tottenham:) — Question put, "That those words be
there added." The Committee divided — Ayes, 58 ;
Noes, 148.

AYES.

Allen, H G
Avlmer, J E F
Barttelot, Sir W B
Bass, H
Beach, Sir M H
Blackburne, Col J I
Broadley, W H H
Brogaen, A
Burghley, Lord
Churchill, LordR
Coddington, W
Digby.Col Hon E
Erringtcn, G
Fletcher, Sir H
Fowler, R N
Gamier, J C
Gibson, Edwd
Grantham, W
Gregory, G B
Gurdon, R T
Hamilton, Lord G

Harcourt. E W
Hildyard, T B T
Hinchingbrook, Vis
Jackson, W L
Lea, T
Leigh, R

Lennox, Lord H G
Levett, T J
Lopes, Sir M
Marriott, W T
Mellor. J W
Mills, Sir C H
Monk, 0 J
Moss, R
Murray, C J
Nicholson, W N
Northcote, Sir S
Onslow, D
Phipps, C N P
Ross, A H

NOES.

Round, J
Russell, Sir C
St Aubyn, W M
Sandori, Viscount
Schreiber, C
Sclater-Booth, G
Scott, M D
Smith, Wm H
Talbot, J G
Taylor, Colcnel
Thompson, T C
Walrond, Col W H
Warton. C N
Whalley, G H
Whitley, E
Winn, R
Wolff, 8ir H D

Tellers : —
Tottenham, Mr
Pugh, Mr

Acland, Sir T D Egerton, Hon W Lyons, R D
Adam, W P Elcho, Lord Mackie, R B

Agar-Hobartes,HnTElliot, Hon A R D M'Carthy, Justin

Agnew, W
Armitage, B
Arnold, A
Barclay, J W
Baring, T C
Baring, Viscount
B4rran, J
Biddell, W
Birkbeck, E
Borlase, W C
Bradlaugh. C
Brand, R H
Brassev. T
Brett, R B
Briggs, W E
Bright, Jacob
Brise, Col R
Broadhurst, H

Fairbairn, Sir A M'lntryre, JEneaa J
Farquharson, Dr R M'Lagan, Peter
Fawcett, Henry M'Minnies. J G
Ferguson, R Magniac, C

Ffo'.kes, Sir W H B Makins, Colonel
Firth, JFB Mappin, F T

Fitz william, Hon H Martin, R B

Flower, C
Fowler, H H
Fowler, W
Fry, L

Gladstone, H J
Gordon, Sir A
Gof st, J E
Gourley, E T
Grant, A
Grey, A H G
Guest, MJ

Brodrick, St John Harcourt, Sir W
Bruce, Lord C
Bruce, Hon R P
Bryce, James

Maxwell, Sir H E
Maxwell, J H M
Morgan, G O
Morley, A
Mundella, A J
Newport. Viscount
Nolan, Major
O'Connor, T P
Parker, C S
Peddie, J D
Percy, Earl
Powell, W R H

Hartington.MarquisPower, J O'Connor
Havelock-Allan, SirPulley, J

Buszard, M C
Buxton, F W
Caine, W S
Campbell, R F F

Hay, Sir J CD

Hayter, Sir A D

Henderson, F

Heneage. E

Herschell, Sir F

Car ngton, Hon R Hibbert, J T
Carington, Hon ColHicks, Edward
Causton, R F Holland, SirH T

Cavendish, Lord F Hollond, J R

Chamberlain, J
Chaplin, H
Childers, fiCE
Chirty, J W
Cotes, C C
Courtauld, G
Courtney, L H
Cowper. Hon H F
Craig, W Y
Cuuli2e, Sir RA
Dalrymple, C
Davies, Vf
Dilke, A W.
Dodds, J
Dodson, J G
Duckham, T
Duff, MEG
Earp, T

Holms, John

Reid.R T
Rendel, S
Richardson, J N
Richardson, T
Ritchie, C T
Rogers, JET
Severne, J E
Sexton, T
Simon, Serjeant
Slagg, J

Hope, A Beresford Spencer, Hon C R

Hopwood, C H
Howard, J
Illingworth, A
Inderwick, F A
James, C
James, Sir H
Jenkins, D J
Johnson, E
Johnson, W M
Knight. F W
Lab uchere, H
Law, Hugh
Lefevre, G J S
Litton, E F
Lloyd, M

Summers, W
Taylor, P A
Thomasson, J P
Tracy, Hon fSAH
Wedderburn, Sir D
Whitwell, J
Williams, B T
Williams, S C E
Williamson, S
Willis, W
Wodebouse, E R
Woodall, W

Tellbbs : —
Grosvenor, Lord R
Kensington, Lord

Clause 2 : — Amendment proposed, in page 1, line
20, after the word "right," to insert the words

THR FARM FIR'S MAGAZINE

icpt blue owner of such land i"
Question put, " Thab those words
The Committee divided, Ayes 32,

AYES.
Balfour, A J Hope, Rt Hon A B

Baring, T C Jack-on, W L

B irttelor., Sir W B Level:, T J
Bbckburne Col J J Moss, B
Brottdley, W H Newport, Vis
Chaolin, H
Churchill, Lord R
Clarke, E
Cobbold, TC
Gibson, Rt Hon E
G egorv, G B
Uicks, E

Allen, H Q

Arnold, A.

Barclay, J W

Bar ran, J

Birkbeck, E

Borlase, W C

Bradlaugh C

Brand, H R

Briggs, YV E

Briaton, J

Broadhurst, H

Bruce, Kt Hn LdO

Bruce, Hon R P

Bryce, J

Burt, T

Buxton, F W

Campbell, R F F

Carington, H R

Carington, H Col

Causton, R K

Childers.RtHnHCE Howard, J

> orthcote, Sir S
Percy, Earl
Phipps, C N P
Repton, G W
Ritchie, C T
Ross, A H
Ruesell, Sir C
NOES.

Flower, C
Fowler, H H
* ry, L

Gordon, Sir A
Grant, A
Grant, Sir G M
Guest, M J
Gurdon. R T
Harcourt, Rt Hon

Sir W
Ha velock- Allan, Sir

H
Hayter, Sir A D
Henderson, F
H neage, E
Hersehell, Sir F
flibbert, J T
Hill, T R
Holland, Sir H T
Hopwood, C H

--('Sir John Hay :)
he there inserted :"
Noes 118.

Scott, M D
Severne, J E
Talbot. J G
Tottenham, A L
Walrond, Col W H
Warton, C N
"Whitlev, E
Wolff, Sir H D
Tellers :—
Sir John Hay
Lord Elcho

Chitty, J W
Ciarke, J C
Cotes, C C
Courtauld, G
Courtney, L If.

Hutchinson, J D
Illingworth, A
James, C
Jamo', Sir H
Johnson, E

Cowper, Hon H F Johnson, TV M
Crang. W Y Labouchere, H

Cunliffe. Sir R A Law, Rt Hon H
Dalrymple, C Lea, T

Davies, W Lcatham, E A

Dilke, A W Lefevre. G J S

Dodson, Rt Hn J G Litton, E F
Duckham, T Lloyd, M

Elliott, Hn A R D Lyon?, R D
Fairbairn, Sir A Maefarlane, D H
Farquharson. Dr R M'Intyre, M J
Fawcett, Rt Hn H M'Lwen, C B B
Ferguson, R M' Minnies, J G

Ffolkes, Sir W H B Mappin, F T
Filmer, Sir E Maxwell, J H M

Firth, J F B MeUor, J W

Monk, C J
Morgan, Rt Hn G O
Norwood, CM
O'Connor, T P
Paget, T T
Palmer, G
Palmer, J H
Parker, C S
Peddie, J D
Peel. A W
Pennington, F
Powell, WEH
Pugh, L P
Pulley, J
Reed, Sir C
Rendel. S
Richardson, T
Rogers, JET
Russell, G W E
Sexton, T

Simon, Mr. Serjeant
Slagg, J

Spencer, Hon C R
Sullivan, A M
Summers, W
Taylor, P A
Thomasson, J P
Thompson, T C
Tracy, Hon F S A

Hanbury
Wedderburn, Sir D
Whitwell, J
Williams, B T
Williams, S C E
Williamson, S
Willis, W
Wilmot, SirJE
Woodhouse, E R
Tellkbs: —
Lord R Grosvenor
Lord Kensington

I Bruce. Hon R P
Burt, T
Buszard, M C

Buxton, F W
Buxton, Sir R J
Came, W s
Cmobell, R FF
Cari gton, Hon Col
causton, R K
Cavendish. CordFC
Chamberlain, RtHn

J
Childers, Rt Hon H

CE
Chitty, J W
Clarke, J C
Cotes, C 0
C mrtney, L H
Cowper, H H F
Craig, W Y
Cunliffe, Sir R A
Dalrymple, C
Uavies.W
Dilke, A W
Dolson, RtHn J G
Douglas, A Akers-
Duckham, T
Elliot;, Hon AR D
Fairbairn, Sir A
Farquharson, Dr R
Fawcett, Rt Hon H
Ferguson, R

Balfour, A J
Baring, T C
Barttelot Sir W B
Biddell, W
Blackburne, Col J I
Bradley. W H H
Brodrick, Hon St J
Burghley, Lord
On urchin, Lo d R
Cobbold, T C
Crichton, Vis
Digby, Col Hon E
Egerion, Hon W
Elcho, Lord
Fowler, R N
Gamier, J C
Gibson, Rt Hon E

Another amendment proposed, in page 1, line 20,
to leave out the word "and," and insert the words
' ' in favour of any other person, without the offer of
a reasonable alternative from that person, and, except
in cases of his accepting such an alternative :" — (Mr.
Chaplin : Question put, '• That the word ' and ' stand
part of the Clause :" — The Committee divided, Ayes,
146, Noes 47.

AYES.
Adam, Rt Hn W Firth, J F B
Agar- Robartes, Hn Flower, C

TO
Agnew, W
Allen, AG
Armitage, B
Arnold, A
Ashley, Hon E M
Barclay, J W
Baiing, Vis
Barran, J
Beach, W W B
Birkbeck, E
Borlase, W C
Bradlaugh, C
Briggs, W V,
Bright, Rt Hon J
Brinton, J
Broadhurst. H
Brnce, Rt Hon Lord Heneage, E

C Hersehell, Sir F

Fowler, W
Fry. L

Gladstone. H J
Gladstone, W H
Gordon, Sir A
Grant, A

MarrioH, W T
Maxwe 1. J H M
Mollor, J W
Mink, 0 J
Morgan, RtHn GO
Morley, Arnold
Morley, S -
Norwood, C M

Grant, fir G Mac- O'Connor, T P
Otway, A
Paget, T T
Palmer, G

pherson
Guest, M J
Gurdon, R T
tfarcourt, Rt Hn SirPalmer, J H

W Parker, C S

Hastings, G W Peddie, J D
Haveloek-Allan, SirPeel, A W

H Powell, W R H

Hayter, Sir A D Power, J O'Connor
Headerson, F Pugh, L P

Pullev, J
Reed, Sir C

Hibhert J T
Hill, TR
Holland, Sir H T
Hollond, J R
Holms, J
Hopwood, C H
Howard, J

Illiugworth, A
Inderwick, F A
James, C

James, Sir H
Johnson, E
Johnson, W M
King3cote, Colon:
Labouchere. H
Law, Rt Hon H
Lawrance, J C
Lei, T
Leatham, E
Lefevre, G J S
Litton, E F
Lloyd, M
Lyons, R D
Mackie, R B
M' Arthur, A
M'Intyre, J& J
M' Lagan, P
M'Laren, C B B
M'Laren, D
M Minnies, J G
Mappin, F T

NOES.
Gorst, J E
Greene, E
Gregory, G B
Hay, Rt Hon Sir J

CD
Hicks, E
Hildyard. T B T
tLotne, Cap D M
Hope, Rt Hon A B
Knight, F W
Lennox, Lord H G
Levett, T J
Makins, Col
Maxwell, Sir H E
Mo s, R
Murrav, C J
Newdegate, C E

m

Rendel. 3

Richardson. T
Rodwell. B B H
Rogers, JET
Russell, G VV E
Sexton, T

Simon, Mr. Serjeant
Sligg. J

Speucer, Hon C R
Stausfeld, Rt Hon J
Snllivan, A M
Summers, W
Taylor, P A
1 Thomasson, J P
Thompson, T C
Tracy, Hon PSA

Janbury
Villiers, Rt Hn C P
Walrond, Col W H
Wedderburn, Sir D
Whallev, G H
Whitwell, J
Willia-ns, S C E
Williamson, S
Willis, W
Wilmot, Sir J E
Wonehou?e, E S
Woodall, W

Tellers : —
Lord R Gro3venor
Lord Kensington

Nicholson, W N
Percy, Earl
Phipps, C N P
Ross, A H
Schreiber, 0
Scott, M D
Severne, J E
Taylor, Rt Hon Col
Thornhill, T
Warton, C N
WhHey, E
Winn. R
Wolff, Sir H D
Yorke, J R

Tellers : —
Mr. Chaplin
Viscount Newport

Clause 3 : — Motion made and question put,
'•' That the clause stand part of the Bill : " — The
Committee divided ; Ayes, 169, Noes 24.

A eland, Sir T D
Adam, Rt Hn W P
Agar-Robartes, Hn

TC
Agnew, William
Allen, Henry Geo
Armitage, B
Arnold, Arthur
Ashley, Hon E M
Balfour, Sir Geo
Barclay, James W
Baring, Viscount
Barran, John
Barttelot, Sir W B
Bass, Hamar
Beach, W W B
B'ddell, William
Birkbeck, Edward
Blake, John A
Borlase, William C
Bradlaugh, C
Bra^sey, Thomas
Bright, Rt Hn J
Brinton, John
Broadhurst, H
Brodrick, Hon St J
Brogden, A
Brouce.Rt Hn Ld C
Bruce, Hon R P
Burt, Thomas
Buszird, M C
Buxton, Francis W
Caine, William S
Campbell, R F F
Carington, Hon R
Carington, Hn Col

AYES-
Fairbairn, Sir A M'Carthy, Justin
Farquharson, Dr R M'Intyre, E A
Fawcett, Rt Hon H M'Laren, C B B
Ferguson, Robert M'Laren, Duncan
Finigan, James L Magniac, C
Fir'h, Joseph F B Mappin, F T
Flower, Cyril Marriott, W T

Fort, Richard Martin, R B

Fowler, William Maxwell, J H M

F y, Lewis
Gladstone, H J
Gladstone, W H
Gordon, Sir Alex

Meldon, C H
Mellor, J W
Monk, Charles J
Morgan, Rt Hn G O

Gourley, Edward T Morley, Arnold
Grafton, F W Mundella, Rt Hn A

Grant, Andrew J

Grant, Sir G Mac- Norwood, C M

pherson O'Connor, T P

Grey, Albert H G Otway, Arthur
Guest, Montague J Paget, Thomas T
Giir on, Robert T Palmer, G°orge
Harcourt, Rt Hn Palmer, John H

Sir W Parker, C S

Hastings, G W Peel, Arthur W

Havelock- Allan, Sir Potter, Thomas E

H Powell, Walter

Hayter, Sir A D Powell. W R H
Henderson, F Pugh, Lewis H

Heneage, Edward Pulley, Joseph
Hersehell, Sir F Reed', Sir Charles
Hibbert, John T Reid, Robert T
Hill, Thomas K Rendel, Stuart
Holland, Sir II T Richardson, Thoa
Hollond, John R Rodwell, B B H
Holms, John Rogers, JET

Home, Capt D V Simon, Mr Serjt

166

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Causton, RK Hopwood, 0 H Slagg, John

Cavendish, Ld F C Howard, James Spencer Hon C R
Chamberlain, Rt Hutchinson, JD Stansfeld, Rt Hn J

Hon Joseph Illingworth, A Sullivan, Alex M

Childers, Rt Hn H Inderwick F A Summers, W

c E Jackson, W L Taylor, Peter A

Chittv Joseph W James, Charles Thomasson, J P

Ob.-r'hill Lord R James, Sir Henry Thompson, T C
CUrite J Creemer Jenkins, David J Thornhill, T
Cobbold Thomas C Johnson, W Moore Villiers, Rt Hn C P
Comoton Francis Kingscote, Colonel Walrond, Col W H
Cotes, Charles C Labouchere Henry Wedderburn Sir D
Courtney L H Lambton, Hon F W Whaller, G H

Crais? William Y Law, Kt Hn Hugh Whitwell, John
Cunliffe Sir R A Lea, Thomas Williams, S C B

Dalrvnmle, Charles Leatham, E A Williamson, S

Pavies William Lefevre, G J S Willis, William

Dilke. Ashton W Leighton. Sir B Wilmot, Sir J B
Dodson, Rt Hon J Litton, B F Wodehouse. E R

George Lloyd, Morgan Wolff, Sir H D

Douglas, A Akers Lyons, R Dyer Woodall, William

Duekham, Thomas Macfarlane, D H tellers:—

DuS Rt Hn M E G Mackie, R Bownas Lord R Grosvenor
Elliot, Hon A R D M'Arthur, A Lord Kensington

NOES.
Barine T C Hay, Rt Hn Sir J Phipps, C N P

Blackburne.ColJJ CD ^ m „ m Schreiber, C
Broadley, W H H Hildyard, T B T Scott, Montagu D
Burghley Lord Lennox, Eord L G Talbot, John G
CoddWton W Makins, Colonel Warton, C N

Crichton, Viscount Maxwell, Sir H E Yorke, John R
Diebv Col Hon E Monckton, F tbllbbs :—

EichoL-rd Nicholson, W N MrNewdegate

Fowler, Robert N Percy, Earl Mr Hicks

Gregory, G B

Clause 5 :— Amendment proposed, in page 2, line
16, after the word "Act," to insert the following
proviso: — "Provided always, that in every case
where a tenant holds under a lease existing at the
passing of this Act, and the lessor or some person
other than the tenant has the right to kill ground
game, the tenant may give notice in waiting to
his lessor that he intends under the provisions of this
Act to kill and take hares and rabbits upon the lands
occupied by him, and upon such notice being given,
and upon payment by such tenant to his lessor, during
the term or currency of such lease, of such annual
stipulated abatement or allowance from the rent, if
any, as may have been expressed in such lease, in con-
sideration of the reservation therein by the lessor of
the right to kill hares or rabbits, or where no stipu-
lated abatement or allowance from the rent is pro-
vided by such lease upon payment of such tenant to
his lessor during the term or currency of such lease,
of such compensation, if any, as may be agreed on or
may be fixed by a valuator, to be named by the county
court judge and by the sheriff in Scotland on the ap-
plication of the lessor or the tenant, it shall be lawful
for such tenant to kill and take hares and rabbits as
provided by this Act ; and provided always, that
where a lessor has by contract conveyed his right to
take and kill ground game to any person other than
the tenant for valuable consideration for any period,
the said abatement or allowance from the rent or the
said compensation shall, during such period, be paid
to such person instead of to the lessor :"— (Mr. Bar-
clay:)—Question put, "That those words be there
inserted :"— The Committee divided ; Ayes 51, Noes

127.

AYES.

Agar-Robartes, Hn Grant. A Morley, A

1- c Gurdon R T Parker, C 8

Anderson, G Hastings, G W Peddie.JD

Arnold, A Havelock- Allan, Sir Potter, T B

Balfour. Sir G H Power, JO Conn°r

Barran, J Henderson, F Pugh, L P

Borlase, W C Hollond, J R Pulley, J

Brinton, J Hopwood, C H Reid, R T

Burt, T Illingworth, A Sexton, T

Buszard, M C James, C Summers, W

Buxton, F W Jenkins, D J Taylor, PA

Campbell, R F F Knight, F W Wedderburn, Sir D

Cunliffe, Sir R A Labouchere, H Whitwell, J

Dilke, A W Leatham, E A Williams, SCI

Duckham, T Lkyd, M Williamson, S

Flliot. HnARD Mackie, R B Woodall, W
Farquharson, Dr R M'Lagan, P tellers -.—

Finigan. J L M'Lai en, C B B Barclay, Mr

Firth. J F B M'Laren, D Bruce, Mr P

Fort R Maxwell, J H M

NOES.

Adam, Rt Hn W P Fairbairn, Sir A Morgan, Rt Hn G
Atraew, w Fawcett, Rt Hn H O

Allen, H G Flower, C Mundella, Rt Hn A

Armitage, B Fowler, R N J

Ashley, Hn E M Fowler, W Murray, C J

Aehmead-Bartlett, Fry, L Nicholson,- W N

E Gibson, Rt Hn E Nolan, Major

Barttelot, Sir W B Gladstone, H J Norwood, C M

Bass, H Gladstone, W H O'Connor, T P

Beach, Rt Hn Sir Gorst, J E Onslow, D

MH Grafton, FW Paget, TT

Beach, W W B Guest, M J Palmer, G

Blackburne, Col J I Harcourt, Rt Hn Palmer, J H

Brassey, T Sir W Peel, A W

Bright, Rt Hn J Hartington, Mar of Percy, Earl
Broadhurst, H Hay, Rt Hn fcir J Phipps, C N P

Broadley, W H H CD Powell, W

Brodrick, Hn St J Hayter, Sir A D Powell, W R H

Bruce, Rt Hn Lord Heneage, E Rendel, S

C Herschell, Sir F Repton, G W

Burghley, Lord Hibbert, J V Richardson, T

Burnaby, Gen E S Hicks, E Rodwell, B B H

Buxton, Sir R J Hildyard, T B T Rogers, JET

Caine, W S Hill, T R Round, J

Carington, Hn R Holland, Sir H T Sandon, Vis

Carington, Hn Col Holms, J Schreiber, C

Causton, R K Holm, Capt D M Scott. M D

Cavendish, Lord F Hope, Rt Hn A B Severne, J E

C Howard, J Sheridan, H B

Chamberlain, RtHn Hubbard, Rt Hn J Simon, Mr Serjt

J James, Sir H Spencer, H C R

Chaplin, H Johnson, W M Talbot, J G

Chitty, J W ICngscote. Col Taylor, Rt Ha Col

Churchill, Lord R Law, Rt Hn H Thomasson, J P

Clarke, E Lechmere, Sir E A Tottenham, A L

Coddington, W H Tyler, Sir H W

Compton, F Lennox, Lord H G Walrond, Col W H

Cotes, C C Litton, E F Warton, C N

Courtney, L H Lyons, R D Whitley, E

Davies, W M'Arthur, A Willis, W

Dodds, J M'IntyreiEneas J Winn, R

Dodson, Rt Hn J G Makins, Col Wodehouse, E R

Donaldson-Hudson, Martin, R B Wolff, Sir H D

C Meldon, C H Yorke, J R

Duff, Rt Hn M E G Mellor, J W tbllbbs :—

Egerton, Hon W Monckton, F Grosvenor, Lord R

Elcho, Lord Monk, C J Kensington, Lord

BULB CATALOGUES.

Messrs. Sutton and Sons, of Reading, have issued
their Bulb Catalogue for 1880, which they announce
that they will send post free on application. It is got
up in the usual artistic style, the cover being a work
of art, and the interior containing some excellent
illustrations. One of these shows a farm in Holland,
in which Messrs. Sutton's hyacinths are cultivated.
The book contains, also, articles on the cultivation of
the hyacinth, the tulip, the crocus, the ranunculus,
the gladiolus, the begonia, and other flowering bulbs.

The Bulb Catalogue of Messrs. Webb and Sons, of
Wordsley, Stourbridge, is enclosed in a pretty and
striking cover, and is profusely and tastefully illus-
trated. Articles giving directions as to the growth of
hyacinths in pots, glasses, and borders, come first in
the reading matter ; and these are followed by similar
articles on the crocus, tulip, narcissus, liliuni, iris,
cyclamen, &c. Illustrations of these and other flowers
are given.

We have also received Messrs. Dickson and Robin-
son's, of Manchester, Descriptive Catalogue of
hyacinths and other choice flowering bulbs, roses,
clematis, kc. , containing directions as to cultivation.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

>;r

CATTLE IMPORTATION.

Only twenty members of the House of Com-
mons voted in support of Mr. Arthur Arnold's
motion to permit what to all effects and pur-
poses would be the unrestricted importation of
American cattle ; and this fact, taken in con-
nection with the very lucid statement of the
policy of the Government made by Mr. Mun-
della, will be accepted as very satisfactory
assurance that the stock-breeding interest of the
country will not be sacrificed to appease traders
or political cliques. The country will agree
with Mr. James Howard that a broad distinction
must be drawn and observed between free im-
ports and sanitary regulations. Mr. Mundella,
til common with many another wise man, has
changed his mind on the cattle disease question,
and has freely admitted the one gr^at point for
which we have so long contended, namely, that
it is a consumers' matter. It is from the con-
sumers' point of view that the whole thing must
be regarded, and not as in the special interests of
farmers more than those of the Salford butchers.
[f restrictions necessary for the prevention of
the importation of contagious cattle diseases
cannot be shown to be for the public benefit,
then, as we have said many times before, we
shall be prepared to withdraw our support from
them. The producer's interest is not altogether
a narrow basis, but the consumer's interest is a
much broader one ; and on it we take our stand.
Mr. Mundella estimates the total importation of
foreign cattle as 12^ per cent, of the total con-
sumption of meat in the whole country, and he has
used the argument which we have made very fami-
liar to our readers, namely, that it is unreasonable
to jeopardise 87 £ percent, of the supply for the
sake of the remaining 12| per cent. To neglect
the larger source of supply for the smaller is to
grasp at the shadow and lose the substance.
The United States Government must show a
clean bill of health for her cattle before they
will be allowed inland transit here. Mr. J. W.
Barclay urged the advisability of admitting store
cattle from the United States ; but it will be
time to consider that part of the question when
the United States is free from a disease which
may take three months to incubate. A term of
quarantine which is less than the possible
incubatory stage of a disease must be worse
than useless, and three months' quarantine is
altogether incompatible with any ordinary cattle
trade. The Act of 1878 has certainly been
beneficial, and has lessened our stock of home
diseases amongst cattle ; therefore we are rejoiced
to find that it will not be interfered with by the
Privy Council.

Mr. Arthur Arnold, and those who support
him in the demand for a modification or
removal of the existing restrictions on the im-
portation of foreign cattle, has simply no case
whatever. He states that these restrictions
lessen 'the supply and increase the cost of meat ;
whereas, the figures we have given from time to
time in connection with the importation of live
stock and dead meat will have convinced our

| readers that no diminution has taken place
m the supply of moat. The tables we have
published each year for the last three years, in
connection with our review of the annual report
of the Veterinary Department of the Privy
Council Office, and which will be found in our
leader columns May 17, show that in spite of all
these restrictions the importation of living
animals for food purposes is on the increase. The
figures show that, so far as the cattle trade is
concerned, importation is decreasing from the
Continent of Europe, and increasing from the
United States and Canada in more than an equiva-
lent degree. The reason of this is quite evident.
Cattle which are to be slaughtered at a port of
landing must be tolerably good, and they must
be still better if their carcases are to be sent to
our markets from across the water as fresh meat
Consequently, Continental cattle, which are
not good enough nor thick enough to b«
sent as fresh meat, are being driven out of
the market by the far superior bullocks sent
from the United Statts and Canada, and by the
fresh meat from Atlantic ports. This agitation
has no real reference to the Continental
supply : its promoters know that any attempt to
remove or modify existing restrictions on that
traffic would be perfectly useless. The demand
is made in respect of American cattle, the trade
in which has now assumed such gigantic propor-
tions, and which is so rapidly increasing. The
tables referred to show that in 1877 the United
States sent us 11,538 living cattle ; in 1878 the
number was 68,540; in 1879 it was 76,117 ;
and figures show a still higher
ratio of increase for the first six mouths
of 1880. The importations of Canadian
cattle have been on a similar scale ; in 1877 we
received from the Dominion 7,649 head of
cattle ; in 1878 the number was 17,989 ; and in
1879 it rose to 25,185. Both the United States
and Canada have increased their exports of live
sheep and pigs with the same marvellous rapidity
which has characterised their export cattle
trades. The importation of fresh meat from
Atlantic ports has also been largely increased in
the first half of 1880 ; so that Mr. Aim old's
statement is not correct. Again, the resolution
speaks of the " freedom from disease of the
stock-producing States of America ; " whereas we
have had abundant evidence to showthat pleuro-
pneumonia exists in the United States, and that
the absence of any organisation for the detection
and repression of disease renders it absolutely
impossible for the United States authorities to
give us any trustworthy guarantee as to the non-
existence of disease in any part of the Union.
For a long time the existence of plei r >-
pneumonia in the United States was denied
most positively. In the recently-published
Blue-book on this subject, which contains
correspondence between United States officials
and our Privy Council, dating from March 1, 1879,
to July 1, 1880, we find, in April, 1879, Mr. John
Welsh writing from the United States Legation,
in London, to the Marquis of Salisbury, to the
effect that contagious pleuro-pneum jnia. if it
existed at all in the Union — uf which he thought

0

108

THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE.

there was reasonable doubt — was restricted to
certain localities outside the line ol the cattle
trade ; that inspection at ports of embarkation
renders it " quite improbable that anj cattle can
leave the ports of the United Stat s that are not
free from contagious or other disease," and that
slaughter at the ports of landing must of necessity
' ' bring to an end the live cattle trade between the
United States and Great Britain." Such a result,
he goes on to say, would compel the great cattle-
breeders of the West to seek other markets,
which, when found, will take away the meat that
w«uld otherwise have come to feed the English
people. But the trade has increased instead of
c rning to an end, and the great cattle-breeders
of the West have not yet been so cruel as to
seek out other markets for their meat surplus ;
cattle diseases have been sent from the United
States ports in spite of the inspection being
carried out with that " reasonable degree of
ifaithfulness and energy " which Mr. Welsh gives
us to understand we might naturally expect from
United States officials ; and no less than 153 cases
have been detected in United States cattle during
the first five months of this year. In March last
the Senate issued an Order by which the said
inspection was no longer to be made compulsory,
and at the end of the very Blue-book which
contains these statements from Mr. Welsh, Dr.
Lyman's report appears, which gives detailed
accounts of the existence of pleuro-pneumonia
in one county in Connecticut, five counties in
New York, thirteen counties in New Jersey, ten
counties in Pennsylvania, and four countiesin
Maryland. These facts are unfortunate for
Mr. Welsh, Mr. Arthur Arnold, Mr. Jacob
Bright, Mr. Mark Price, and the twenty
hon. members who voted for Mr. Arnold's
motion. In our " Live Stock Notes," May
24, will be found Br. Lyman's report, by which it
will be seen that the examination had only been
made over a comparatively small area of the
Eastern States, and that he entertains suspicions
of the existence of the disease in Columbia and
Virginia. Yet Mr. John Sherman, Secretary to
the United States Treasury, has the boldness to
declare that "no contagious pleuro-pneumonia
now exists, or has ever existed, in any State west
of the Alleghanny Mountains. " The Treasury
does not know that much,and such statements are
utterly valueless until men like Dr. Lyman
have made a careful examination of all the
States in the Union. It is worse than useless
for Mr. Sherman, Mr, Walsh, or Mr. Arthur
Arnold to make statements— which they are
totally unable to support — about the non-
existence of disease in any part of the United
States. There can be nothing said about the
matter which is worthy of credence, except
by qualified professional men after syste-
matic and careful investigation. When the
United States Government are prepared with
that, our Privy-Council will be able to act on the
information within the provisions of the Act of
1878. Meanwhile, Mr. Arthur Arnold will be
likely to make sure of his facts before he ven-
tures to take up this subject again.

THE ENGLAND OF
PACIFIC"

THE

A very interesting and instructive pamphlet
has recently been sent to us, dealiog with a
subject which is now frequently under discussion
at public places to which farmers resort, as well as
at their firesides. Which is the best colony for
a British farmer to settle in ? is a question that
is often asked, and more frequently still silently
thought over. From time to time, then, as oc-
casion serves, we propose to publish articles on
different fields for farmer- emigrants, giving not
our own views so much as those of experienced
observers, who will write from an intimateknow-
ledge of the countries which they will describe.
Having received for review a little work entitled
" New Zealand : A Report on its Agricultural
Conditions and Prospects," by S. Grant and J.
S. Foster, we cannot do better than call the atten-
tion of our readers to it by giving a brief notice
of it. Messrs. Grant and Foster, who, we believe,
are Lincolnshire tenant-farmers, were requested,
in a petition signed by some hundreds of farmers
of Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and Norfolk, to go to
New Zealand to make an inspection of the
Colony as a field for English farmer-emigrants.
After some hesitation they accepted the task,
and the work before us is the result of their ex-
cursion. They visited the principal agricultural
districts of the two large islands, being in the
country altogether a little more than three
months. They appear to have made very good
use of their time, and to have taken a sound
judgment and a good knowledge of the condi-
tions favourable to farming to their task. They
remark that the quality as well as the price of
land varies very greatly in the Colony, and they
do not at all agree with those who say that it
does not matter much to what part a settler
goes. The upset price of Government land in
the Waikato district is £2 per acre, but they
point out that there is very little left in that part
of the country. Fenced and partially cleared
land, sown down (with grass we persume) brings
from £3 to £10 per acre. The authors warn
emigrants against purchasing from Maoris, who
will sell at 10s. or 12s. per acre, as it is extremely
difficult to get the purchase completed, or rather
to get it acknowledged permanently. In other
parts of the Colony, the price of land varies, in
some cases being much higher than the highest
sum above mentioned, when in the vicinity of a
town or railroad. In speaking of the fertile
corn land that is so plentiful in New Zealand,
the delegates remark on the need of introducing
some of our English stiff, short-strawed wheats,
as the land is apt to yield too much straw. They
advise emigrants with a capital of £1,000 or
£2,000 to hire a farm on lease rather tlian buy
one, many owners being anxious to let land on
lease at about 10s. an acre, putting up fences, and
agreeing to have all improvements valued at the
end of the term. But they recommend the intro-
duction of a purchasing clause where possible, and
J we think they are right to add this. Farmers

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

l ::>

have had enough of the tenancy system here,
and if they hire instead of bujing land when
they emigrate, it should only be a temporary
arrangement leading up to purchase. It should
not *>e forgotten that the greatest hope of future
wealth, either for the settler or his children, rests
in the probability of a rise in the value of
land. The largeness of the fields appeal's to have
surprised the delegates ; and no wonder, as they
speak of fields of 900 or 1,000 acres, and of
« paddocks" of 1,000 to 1,500 acres.

Iu summing up their observations, Messrs.
Grant and Foster write highly of the climate of
New Zealand from an agricultural point of view.
They "scarcely suppose that the people of New
Zealar«d can compete with America in the pro-
duction of cheap wheat ; " but they do believe
that these people can afford to sell grain at a
considerably cheaper rate than it has hitherto
been sold at. Like nearly all other observers
they refer to the high price of labour as the New
Zealand farmer's chief difficulty. They found
numbers of unemployed men, who would not
work for less than 7s. per day. In answering the
questions, " Is New Zealand a good field of
emigration for British tenant-farmers ? " and
"Will they be able to use thereto advantage
the capital that remains to them after the hard
times through which we have been passing, and
will they be able there to establish the home
which an Englishman, in whatever part of the
world he lives, wishes to possess ?" they answer,
"Yes,"' and add: — "We believe that any
English farmer, of industry and perseverance,
possessing a little capital and a good knowledge
of his business, may make a very good living for
himself and his family, and will have better
opportunities of settling bis children than he
would have in a country like ours, which, after
centuries of occupation, is crowded in every
corner with members of every trade, profession,
and calling. "

But the intending emigrant is warned
that, iu going to New Zealand, he must
not think he is stepping into a fortune. " Steadi-
ness and industry are necessary elements of
success there as here, but are more sure of their
reward.." Moreover, the great fortunes made
and large estates amassed belong to those who
settled several years ago, when the swamps were
undrained, and roads and bridges unmade, and
when there was fear of having one's throat cut
by the Maoris. Now the Waikato Plains are
the only district in which the last-named
danger exists, and it is not very serious even
there.

As to the part of New Zealand to which Bri-
tish farmers should emigrate, our authors are
naturally diffident in giving advice. The choice,
too, depends entirely upon the sort of farming
which a man prefers ; one district being most suit-
able for cattle-breeding or sheep-pasturing, and
another for the growing of corn or potatoes. But
wherever the emigrant goes, he is advised to
take only really good land, as "it is better to
buy this than to beg bad ;" and to work it
entirely with his own capital. The interest of
nionev is so high in New Zealand that borrow-

l ■„-
left
that

ing is a very risky game. " But," the writers
go so far as to say, " for the greater part of
English tenant-farmers, with the capital that
the present bad times have left them," they
" cannot resist a very strong impression that
the South (or Middle) Island is the place."
fortunately, there is now very little land
there in the hands of the Government, so
what is had must be obtained at second hand. A
comparatively high price, consequently, will
have to be paid ; but, as compensation, there is
the advantage of reclaimed soil, ready for profit-
able occupation at once. They add: — "Our
idea is that a man with a capital of £1,000 or
£2,000 would do best by going to Canterbury or
Otago, and taking a farm of such a size — in the
case supposed 300 to 000 acres — that lie would
have in his pocket about £3 per acre to start
with, on a lease, with a purchasing clause if
possible. There are plenty of farms to be had
on the conditions given (as to compensation for
improvements, &c.) on a previous page, at 10s.
to 12s. 6d. per acre a year, and to the majo-
rity we think a purchasing clause would be
given." Cheaper land can be obtained in South-
land.

We strongly recommend intending emigrants
to get this interesting pamphlet and read it.
They will find it full of information and valu-
able advice, of which we have been able to
give only a brief and imperfect account.

MARKET GARDENING FOR
FARMERS.

By Charles Whitehead.

No. IV.

Before giving some particulars concerning the
modes of cropping adopted by market-gardeners
and market-garden farmers it must be premised
that there is no regular rotation, but those crops
are planted which the growers think are likely
to be most scarce, or to be most in deniMid. In
the report upon the market garden and market-
garden farm competition in the Royal Agricul-
tural Society's Journal of 1879, it is remarked
of one of the competitors :- — "He has no par-
ticular rotation of crops, but he endeavours to
get as much as he can off the land, and to suit
the course of cropping to the season, as well as
to what he imagines will be the chief require-
ments of the market. Most market-gardeners
prefer to work in this manner, and grow what
they think will pay them best. . . . Occa-
sionally a market-gardener, being a lucky indi-
vidual, or blessed with a prophetic soul, makes
a grand coup by havirg furnished his garden
with a good supply of a commodity which few
others had. ' It is a good plan generally,' said
one fortunate competitor, ' to plant that vege-
table extensively of which there has happened
to be a large quantity in the previous year. N in**
men out of ten would be afraid to venture
largely again for a time.' This gentleman prac-

O 2

ire

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

tised what lie preached, and went in heavily for
coleworts and cabbages in 1879, regardless of the
losses upon them in 1878, and was reaping a rich
reward for his sagacity." Upon some gardens
winter greens, coleworts, or " collards," or cab-
bages planted in the autumn are taken first.
The greens and coleworts — which are simply cab-
bages cut in a premature state without hearts,
tor which some sorts especially suit, as the Blue
Col ^ wort, Cook's Hardy Greenland the Rosette —
are followed by peas, scarlet-runners, parsnips,
carrots, French beans, lettuces, and radishes.
Onions either are sown in the autumn after these
■crops, for " bunching" in the spring, or when
they are intended for " bulbing," they are sown
In the spring, after ooleworts and other " green-
•stuu'." As much as 501b. of Lisbon onion seed
is sown broadcast per acre, the land being
heavily manured with London dung, and fre-
quently having a top-dressing as well. Carrots
are successfully cultivated for " bunching " by
market-gardeners, following sprouting broccoli,
cabbages, or savoys. The best sorts for this
purpose are Harrison's Early Market, and
Carter's Early Shorthorn, and about 12 lb. of
seed are sown broadcast per acre. This is a very
profitable crop, and is only on the land a short
time. Sown in April, it is frequently cleared
-away early in July, so that in growing seasons a
crop of cabbages may be taken. Market-gar-
deners do not grow many potatoes, as a rule.
All they plant are dug as early as possible, and
sent to market as " young potatoes,'' and in this
way the potato disease is usually avoided ; but
the crop is not usually of a very profitable cha-
racter, or at least as compares with others.
Cucumbers and vegetable marrows are exten-
sively grown. These are set in rows, from 4 to
4h feet apart. In most cases the seed is put at
once into the ground, and it is exceptional to
have transplanted plants. Sometimes the seed
is " speared," by being put into damp flannel
before it is sown, which gives it a start forwards,
provided the weather is warm. All kinds of
small herbs, salad materials, and flowers are
grown by market-gardeners in corners and out-
of-the-way places. In the l eport already alluded
to it is stated : — "Upon a detached part of this
market-garden small things are cultivated. There
were lemon-thyme, mint, sage, parsley— quite
ornamental with its beautifully-curled leaves,
which was making 3s. 6d. per lb. in the London
markets — perfectly-shaped little Paris Cos let-
tuces, and other ' sallets,' all in a most flourish-
ing state. Rhubarb also, beet, and red cabbages
for pickling, thrived amazingly, and in a corner
was a large border of odorous wallflowers, small
bunches of whose flowers were making 4d.
each." Some gardeners grow specialities, such
as celery, radishes, and lettuces, like Mr Lan-
caster, whose market-garden was awarded the
first prize in the competition for market-gardens
above 50 acres in extent. Upon this market-
garden there are 46 acres planted annually with
celery, requiring 460.000 plants, each of which
has to be handled separately at least three times,
since the seeds are germinated in a hot-bed and
transplanted into frames, and thence taken

to the trenches prepared for them. The cost
of cultivation of this kind is enormous.
It is calculated that the average annual ex-
penses of ordinary market-garden land amount
to £30 per acre. Manure alone costs £10 per
acre, for every crop has a special dressing ; and
most gardeners spend from £12 to £14 per acre
per annum for labour. Rents are high and
local taxes heavy. On the other hand the profits
are good, and in some seasons they are very
large for certain vegetables. A crop of coleworts
and cabbages frequently make £100 or more per
acre. Onions also bring from £50 to £S0 per
acre in good seasons. Carrots are also very pro-
fitable, and often bring from £50 to £70 per acre
for an occupation of this ground for about 14
weeks. Celery is also a most r jmunerative crop
when pains are taken with it. Radishes, lettuces,
and cauliflowers are usually grown upon the beds
between the trenches and make from £18 to £30
per acre, and an average crop of celery cannot
be put at less than from £50 to £90 per acre.
But the expenses connected with celery growing
are very great. As much as from 70 to 80 tons
of London manure are put on per acre for this
crop, and there are besides the labour of trans-
planting, planting, trenching, earthing, andhoeing
them ;n their preparation for market, and careful
washings to set off the " sticks " and give them a
good appearance for market. Some gardeners
have wash-houses fitted up with boilers for wash-
ing vegetables. Those who prepare their pro-
duce best, and are particular in packing it and
sending it clean and crisp to market, invariably
make the best prices. Besides the vegetables
and herbs, and salad materials grown in the
ordinary way, many are forced in hot-beds, and
come to market early. Rose sea-kale is largely
forced , not only in gardens near London, but also
in Hampshire, near the shore washed by the
Solent, below the New Forest, between Lyming-
ton and Southampton Water. Cucumbers are
very profitably grown in quantities in narrow
hot-houses of the most simple and inexpensive
construction, 60 or 70 feet long, with rows of
earthenware socket pipes running round the
houses, affording top and bottom heat to the
plants, which are trained on trellis work, and
produce enormous quantities of the finest cucum-
bers. Lettuces and other things are forced
under bell-glasses, and come into competition
with the salad vegetables sent from Africa and
the South of France, forced by the natural heat
of the climate, and from Paris grown under bell-
glasses (cloches) in that fertile market-garden
district described by Mr. Jenkins in his " Notes
on Market Gardening and Vine Culture in the
North-West of F'rance " in the last Royal Juu m at,
as " a great hot-bed, covered more or less with
glass in the colder months, but, of course, open
to the sun and air in summer." But the
English-grown salad vegetables ought to have a
great advantage over those sent from abroad.
Being produced so near, they should be enabled
to come to market more fresh and juicy. If the
railway companies in England would only give
the same facilities to home growers as they give
to foreign growers, viz. , conveyance by quick,

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE,

171'

express (rains, and at low rates, the practice of
forcing early vegetables would be extended in all
directions, and the growth of all kinds of
market-garden produce enormously increased in
all suitable districts of this country. Unfortu-
nately the Dolicy of most railway companies is to
favour the foreigner, and to burden the home
producers with heavy charges and indifferent,
slow transit, as was recently shown at the
Maidstone Farmers' Club, by the excessive rates
charged for taking hops, fruit, and vegetables
from Kent to London as compared with those
charged from Germany, France, Holland and
America to London for the same kinds of pro-
duce. There are large gardens, and acres of
glass houses devoted to the cultivation of decora-
tive plants, notably at Bexley-heath, Ealing,
Acton, Fulham, and Tottenham, where hand-
some returns are made. At Mitcham and other
places sweet herbs, as lavender, spearmint,
peppermint, and common mint, are cultivated
extensively, also with satisfactory returns.

Enough has been written to show that market-
gardening is a most lucrative business, offering
the widest possible field to the energy and
ingenuity of practical men, who have not capital
enough to farm in this country, or who cannot
see their way to embark capital in the ordinary
cultivation of the land. The special or technical
knowledge necessary may be quickly gained,
while the work itself is most interesting and
engrossing. Even upon the small holdings within
a radius of 10 miles from London, ranging in
extent from 4 to 80 acres, there are market-
gardeners who leave the drudgery and details to
foremen, and merely find the capital and arrange
the rotation, and generally superintend thy
business. The typical market-gardener, however,
works from morn till dewy eve himself with
head and hands, and helps plant, till, gather,
and pack his vegetables, and in many cases sells
himself in one of the London markets, and has
a good balance at his banker's. After all, his work
is not nearly so hard as that of settlers in Colo-
rado or Manitoba, and he lives within sight and
sound of civilised society, the loss of which, as
Mr. Holyoake says in the Nineteenth Century,
coupled with " familiarity with danger, the
determined persistence, the iron will, the animal
struggle of the settler's life, half animalises him
also."

There is a class of market-garden farmers who
grow vegetables in alternation with common farm
crops, beyond the inner circle of market-
gardens proper, in an outer circle extending
into Kent, Essex, and Surrey. These have in
general no definite rotation, though in some
cases their rotation is more regular than that of
market-gardens. In Essex there are individuals
who hold as much as 700 acres. Upon one
garden-farm, or series of garden-farms, com-
prising 700 acres, two traction-engines and a set
of Fowler's tackle are kept, and 70 horses. As
many as 700 hands are employed in the height
of the season, and it is estimated that the capital
embarkedin thisundertakinganiountsto £30,000.
The first prize in the recent competition was
awarded to a detached garden-farm in this occu- '

pation, whose scheme of cropping is, as far as
possible, as follows : — (1) Potatoes, to come oft"
in time to plant (2) cabbages in the autumn, to
be taken off in the spring following and succeeded
by (3) cucumbers, which stay only a few weeks on
the land and give place to (4) winter onions,
after this come (5) cabbages, then (6) potatoes,
followed by (7) carrots or parsnips, (8) wheat,
(9) oats, (10) broccoli, (11) potatoes or scarlet-
runners, (12) coleworts, (13) peas, (14)Brussell'a
Bprouts, (15) potatoes. The reporter" writes
of this rotation, "This will show that the
land is made to bring forth her increase
continually. Premising from the fine crops-
that were found upon it by the judges, there
has been no exhaustion of its resources ; the
great and constant drain upon these has been
amply restored by liberal dressings of manure.
London manure is put on for almost every crop
at the rate of from 25 to 30 tons per acre " The
average cost of labour upon this farm is £14 per

I acre, and the total out-goings amounted to-
£28 5s. per acre ; but when £10J is realised
per acre for cabbages, and £70 per acre for car-
rots, for three years running, when £40 is made
per acre of cabbage plants which were only eight
weeks in the ground, when close upon £150 per
aci-e had been obtained for three years
for pickling onions, and when vegetable marrows,
parsnips, cucumbers tell in with goodly average
returns, the out -goings need not be much con-
sidered. Upon another market garden farm
the land near the homestead is cultivated al-

; most strictly as a market-garden with now and
then a piece of wheat intervening. For example,
plot A, planted with cabbages in 187-', with onions
and scarlet-runners in 1878, and parsnips in

1877. Plot B, with wheat in 1879, mangel in

1878, Lisbon onions in 1877. Upon the land
away from the homestead the course would
be wheat, potatoes, dug early and sent at once
to market, cabbages or potatoes, wheat, oats.
The expenses of this holding are about £25 per
asre, and large returns are frequently made from
cabbages, Lisbon onions, coleworts, and carrots.
A tour through the market-garden fa? m district
of Essex would make many farmers turn their
attention to the growth of hitherto " unconsi-
dered trifles."

No. V.

Although the profits from vegetable culture
are, in some cases, excessively large, and market
gardeners, as a rule, are prosperous, it must not
be supposed that there are no reverses. In this
fickle climate all crops, however well they may
have been cultivated, are liable to be destroyed
or seriously affected by vagaries of the weather.
A late frost often injures the more delicate vege-
tables. A wet week in summer will bring mil-
dew in marrows, cucumbers, and onions, while
a very cold, frosty winter, like that of 1878,
plays havoc with the coleworts and greenstuff
destirel for market in the early spring. It not
unfrequently happens also that there is a glut in the
markets of certain generally grown vegetable,
such as coleworts cabbages, peas, or potatoes,
caused either bv a favourable season for their

172

TfIB FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

growth, or by large arrivals from foreign coun-
tries. The losses in these cases are great, and it
is most disheartening to see produce actually
useless and valueless. The fact of gluts occurring
from time to time has made some doubt the
policy of adopting vegetable culture to any ex-
tent ; but it is believed that these gluts are, to a
great extent, local, and occasioned by the want
of [>n>per and regularly-organised means of dis-
tribution. It may happen that the various mar-
ls ets i »f Li »ndon — Spitalfields, the Borough, Covent
Garden, and others — are full of vegetables to
overflowing, while at watering-places and towns
within fifty miles of London they are making
excessive prices ; and even in parts of London
an 1 its suburbs consumers have to pay compara-
tively high rates for those vegetables, which are
almost given away in the heart of the metropolis.
Distribution in London is carried on by means of
the greengrocers, who lake their usual quantity
for the supply of their regular customers, and
give them little, if any, benefit from glutted or
well supplied markets. Costermongers, who
mainly supply the working classes, no doubt take
and distribute largely increased stocks of vege-
tab'es when there is a heavy supply, and give
their customers some advantage in price there-
from ; but their action is necessarily limited and
irregular, and does not ensure to the public a full
or even an approximate share of the benefits of
an excessive supply. There are too many middle
men in the trade. The salesman charges a
heavy commission, with which the ultimate pur-
chaser must be debited. The greengrocer must
be paid for his establishment, his time, and ex-
penses. Costermongers also add their expenses
and arbitrary profit to the sale price of the
vegetables. If the production of vegetables is
entertained and largely carried on by farmers,
they must alter the whole method of sale and
distribution. This should be effected by many
growers uniting together to establish either
emporium-markets on a small scale, or large,
inexpensive shops in the most thickty-inhabited
parts of London, as well as in other towns. I
will not call these co-operative societies, as the
name is not pleasing to many, and they would
diner in degree from the ordinary companies of
this kind, whose name is legion. The co-opera-
tion would merely extend to the sharing of the
expenses of sale establishments, and to affording
facilities for the wide distribution of produce.
Each grower's vegetables and their return would
be kept distinct, just as is done by ordinary
salesmen. It need hardly be pointed out that
these emporiums, or distributing media, would
serve not only for vegetables, but also for milk,
butter, eggs, chickens, cheese, fruit, and even for
hay, straw, and oats, since the supply of most
of these tilings is very far below the demand ;
and in the case of the three first-named articles,
there would be an astonishing demand for them.
When once these real necessities of life have
been put within the reich of the population as
regards price — a price that would at the same
time well remunerate the producer— and conve-
nient distance, it is believed that the eale of
them would be almost beyond calculation. Iu

the same way, though fruit is often a drug tem-
porarily at the four centres in London, to which
itiscrowded in, it is always dear to the generality
of householders. Proper means of distribution
would prevent loss to the growers, and make it
cheap and easily obtained. Though, perhaps, it
maybe considered hardly germane to the question
at issue, there can be no doubt that the health of
the inhabitants of large cities and towns would
be vastly improved if milk, fruit, and vegetables
eould be easily procured. The cause of tem-
perance might be aided by giving opportunities
to obtain milk, which is now being largely
drunk by City men and their clerks at the re-
freshment bars and buffets in the City, instead
of nips of brandy, " pick-me-ups," and glasses
of fiery sherry. The Secretary of the Royal
Agricultural Society has shown how the French
and Swiss farmer excel in the manufacture of
fancy cheese of many kinds, and that in some
instances this is carried on upon a large scale.
There is a great con umption of these cheeses in
this country, and the manufacture offers another
opportunity for British industry. There are
many things not dreamed of in the agricultural
philosophy. There are many branches of in-
dustry that may be tacked on to ordinary agri-
culture without any special change, and without
that revolution which despondent persons hold
must occur before farmers can set themselves
right again. In the coming times wheat-grow-
ing will not pay, taking an average of seasons
and of the land of this country, as Avheat can
be grown more cheaply in other lands. Mr.
Caird wrote in his lucid and comprehensive re-
view of British Agriculture, in the Journal of
the Royal Agricultural Society, " Our present
relation with foreign countries is becoming
like that of a crowded capital, which draws its
fresh supplies of vegetables, milk, and meat from
the market-gardens, meadows, and rich graz-
ings in its vicinity, but looks to more distant
lands for the corn and other commodities which
bear long transport from cheaper and more dis-
tant farms." It is necessary, therefore, for
farmers to bear this continually in mind, and to
adapt their systems to the altered requirements
of this country as quickly as possible. In
America and other countries from which wheat
is poured into England — the granary of the
world — the farms and the farming are upon a
gigantic scale. Rents are low. The taxes of all
kinds which burden English farmers are un-
known. Labour is the chief expense, and ma-
chinery is each year making this less costl}-, and
the weather, as a rule, is more certain and
favourable. Mr. Mongredien's apposite words,
taken from his pamphlet, "The Western Farmer
in America," must be quoted here. He says : —
" The American has an extraordinary advantage
over the British farmer. He has, first, a soil so
fertile as to produce freely with cheap tillage
and no manure ; second, a climate highly
favourable to agricultural operations ; third,
abundance of land, so cheap that the fee simple
costs less than is annually paid for rent in Eng-
land." Some insist that English farms should
be upon a much larger Bcale, and that English

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

173

farming should resemble that practised in the
virgin lands of Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and
Colorado. These forget that the conditions are
totally different in England. In this country
the population is more dense than in any other
country in the world. There also is more wealth
in England than in any other country, and vast
sums are available for, and are spent in, the pur-
chase of mere luxuries. The value of land
tendfi to increase irrespectively of its actual in-
herent value as a medium for the production of
ordinary farm crops. Mr. Caird says upon
this : — " Wealthy men from the mines and
manufactories, and shipping and colonial in-
terests, and the learned professions, desire to
become proprietors of laud ; and some competi-
tion exists between them and those landowners
whose increasing wealih tempts them on suit-
able opportunities to enlarge the boundaries of
their domains." With the increase of wealth
in England, and the universal desire to possess
land, especially felt by the noweaux riches, the
value of land will continue to advance, and it is
firmly believed that the tendency will be towards
a gradual diminution of the size of holdings.
Or it may be that in certain parts of the country
remote from towns, upon the poorer soils,
where corn-growing and sheep-breeding only }
can be adopted, the holdings will be upon a ;
very large scale ; while the land nearer towns,
and of better quality, will be very much sub-
divided. Mr. Caird has shown that the
gross annual value of land in England has
increased 21 per cent, since 1857 ; 26 per cent,
in Scotland, and 6 per cent, in Ireland. He
put the increase in the capitalised value of the
land at £331,650,000, and estimated that
£60,000,000 had been spent upon improvements,
leaving the satisfactory sum of £271,650,000 to
represent what Mr. Mill called the " unearned
increment." It is not easy to calculate what
proportion of this increment was due to the im-
provements of the tenants, but it would repre-
sent a very large sum. This increment has
steadily accrued, though free trade and competi-
tion have reduced the value of the produce of
the land, and it will accrue though depression
and altered conditions may cause temporary
reactions. We must be content to let America
and other countries supply, as they do now, more
than half the material for the breadstuffs neces-
sary for the sustenance of our 33,000,000 in-
habitants, and be deeply grateful for such
supplies. All we who cultivate land must en-
deavour to obtain as much as possible of those
funds which are spent upon delicacies, luxuries,
and additions to diet, and to stimulate expendi-
ture in this direction by placing them before the
public cheaply, and well grown, or well prepared.
At the present time foreign producers of vege-
tables, fruit, cheese, butter, eggs, and other
things, are carrying away a large slice of their
funds. Although many of these commodities
are perishable, thereby causing disadvantage to
the importers, the importations of this produce
are becoming larger each year, as will be pointed
out anon.

Dairy Farming.

One of the most important operations on a
dairy farmis the milking of the cows. Unless this
work be regularly, thoroughly, and quickly done
the yield of milk throughout the year will fall
far short of its full amount, and we have no hesi-
tation in expressing our strong conviction that
the inferior yield of milk on many dairy farms
is at least partly owing to deficient milking.
One of the chief obstacles to the commencement
of dairying in districts where this branch of
farming has not hitherto been practised, is the
difficulty of getting the cows milked thoroughly,
few of the farm labourers being trained milkeis.
To some who have never tried to milk half a
dozen cows in succession, the work may seem
very easy. The idea of the charming maid who
carried the milking pail singing over her work
does not convey the idea of a laborious process.
It is, however, the fact that to those the muscles
of whose wrists are untrained it is extremely hard
work, and but few who do not learn and practise
it continually whilst they are young become
really good milkers. Unless a cow be milked
tolerably fast, she will not let down her milk
freely, and a less quantity will be obtained, and
cows which are milked by weak or lazy mi kers
become hard-milked, and will not give their milk
freely even to good milkers. Poor milkers do
far more harm than their labour is worth ; any
milk left in the udder of the cow has a tendency
to diminish the future yield, and cows poorly
milked will go dry much sooner than they should
do. It is very desirable for farm boys in dairy
districts to learn early to milk ; one of the ad-
vantages of cow keeping by labourers is that the
boys learn to milk. It is comparatively easy to
learn whilst the muscles of the wrist are pliable.
Men as they grow old, and whose hands become
stiff and cramped, cannot do the work as well as
youths or younger men. In some districts, and
especially in Scotland, women do much of the
milking. We do not, however, think it very de-
sirable work for women ; their petticoats are
rather in the way, they are lass able to manage
unruly cows, a d with some exceptions they are
not as efficient milkers as men. Where the
master does not himself superintend or help in this
work,, he should see that some one of his men
upon whom he can depend takes care that all
the cows are thoroughly milked. Some dairymen
have their cows tried again, or aftered, as it is
called, directly after being milked, and this plan
is advisable where some of the milkers are slow,
inefficient, or apt to shirk their work. Cows
have the power of holding their milk, more es~
pecially when their udders are hard soon after
calving. There are occasionally cows which even
with the best management ruin their usefulness
for the dairy in this way. One objection to al-
lowingcalves to suck their damsisthataftereven a
short experience of suckling a calf, they are far
more apt to hold their milk. The only means of
overcoming this habit that we have much faith*
in, is the plan of giving the heifer or cow some

174

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

cake or other food which she likes just at the
time when she is being milked, to take her at-
tention, when she will generally allow the milk
ti flow. Bysteidy perseverance this trouble-
some habit may thus be generally overcome.
Heifers when calving the hr3t time require care-
fu attention. Their teats are often small, and
their udders hard and painful, and the milking
takes considerab'e time. If the heifer is wild,
holding by the neck and h >rn is the best way of
q tieting he-. All beating with stick and milking
Btool should be absolutely forbidden ; it is cruel,
a id does mischief. Where teats are sore or the cow
proves a kicker, a leather strap may be buckled
above the hocks across both hind legs, whichpre-
vents the milk-pail being upset or the milker
kicked. Its use is, however undesirable except
where the cow is a kicker. Firm, but quiet treat-
ment, without violence, always answers in the long
run. The temper of the animals, which is of
great importance in dairy cattle, may be ruined |
by the rough treatment of a noisy, passionate
cowman. In exceptional cases, such as that of a
newly-calved cow with a very full udder, it may
be desirable to milk three or four times daily ;
but as a rule, twice daily, at tolerably regular in-
tervals, is often enough. From 5 to 6 in the
morning, and from 4.30 to .ri.30 in the evening,
are the general hours of milking in the dairy dis-
tricts. As a rule, each milker has about seven or
eight cows to milk each time of milking. Many
attempts have been made to invent a milking
ma-chine which would enable a farmer to dis-
pense with much of the regular labour now re-
quired for hand milking. Although some of these
inventions show much ingenuity, tfte problem of
milking bymachinery is not successfully solved, as
unless the milking machines can be depended
upon to milk average cows as clean and as quickly
as they can be milked by hand, they will be prac-
tically useless. A large prize, we believe £50,
was offered two years ago by the Royal Agricul-
tural Society for a milking machine, the only
conditions of entry being such as would ensure
a thorough test of its utility ; but, in spite of the
probability that the winning of such a prize
would prove a fortune to its recipient, there was
h< it a single entry. This fact appears to us con-
clusive that none of the inventors of these ma-
chines at that time had any faith in the efficiency
of their machines, although one of them is ad-
vertised continually as a most important and ne-
cessary implement. A series of lengthy articles,
describing the various milking machines hitherto
invented, appeared some time ago in the
columns of one of our agricultural contempora-
ries, apparently written by some one connected
Avi h these inventions. In these articles we were
told that the reason why these implements were
not in general use in this country was owing to
the ignorance and prejudice of our dairy-farmers
who were said to be far behind those in America
in this respect. A challenge was made to the
writer, to give the name of one dairy farmer of
any note, either in America or England, who
was regularly using milking machines ; it
failed, however, to bring aresponse. Weholditto
be one of the duties of agricultural journalism,

Mot to lend any aid to the puffing of useless ar-
ticles, nor to mislead the agricultural public by
recommending the use of articles, however in-
genious, which will not stand the test of practice.
We doubt not that our dairy-fanners will gladly
take advantage of milking machines whenever
they are proved to be efficient. It is a common
device of disappointed inventors to ascribe the
failure of their inventions to the ignorance, pre-
judice or unfair treatment of the public IS e are
not sanguine of ultimate complete success being
attained in this desirable undertaking.

Practice with Science.

Ekgot,

Of all the fungal diseases which attack our
grasses and cereals none is so much to be dreaded
as the ergot, Claviceps purpurea. No plant is
more frequently the subject of its ravages than
the cereal rye, Secale cereale, and an account of
the life-history of ergot of rye will adequately
represent the transformations the parasite under-
goes in connection with the various members of
the order Graminete which it attacks. Ergot is
peculiar in that its destructive effects are exerted
entirely on the ovary or young fruit of the
infested plant, inasmuch as the mycelium of the
fungus is confined solely to the ear. The disease
first manifests itself by the young ovary — i.e. ,
the youngest differentiated stage of the future
grain — becoming covered here and there with
slender microscopic spores, which speedily
germinate, and thereby envelope the ovary with
a mycelium of delicate interlacing hyphse, which
grow inwards, and so pierce and destroy the
internal tissue, while on the exterior of the
afflicted grain the mycelium gives rise to a large
number of conidia spores (conin, dust). These are
accompanied by a mucilaginous secretion over
the entire ovary, called Honey-dew, characteris-
ing what is known as the sphacelia stage
{spliacelos, gangrene, mortification) of the disease.
The conidia easily become detached from the
gummy exudation, and falling on the flowers of
neighbouring healthy plants, at once germinate
and give rise to new mycelia. It has been
proved that even the rustling of grasses or
cereals in a gentle breeze is sufficient for the
communication of the disease in this way. In
time the mycelium pervades the entire tissue of
the ovary, and having thus destroyed it, forms
a hard mass of tissue similar in shape to, but
about twice the size of, the normal grain ; this
hard substance is called the sclerotium [srl,n>s,
hard) ; it is of a dark purple or violet, or even
black, colour, and is the structure familiarly
termed ergot, which is the French word for a
cock's spur, to which the sclerotium is not un-
like in shape. By the time the sclerotium or
ergot has attained its full size the sphacelia will
have disappeared, or only the withered and dried-
up remains of it are discernible at the apex of the
sclerotium. The sclerotium stage is mature in
August and September ; about this time the ergi >t
falls to the ground, and may remain there un-

THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE.

175

disturbed all the winter, but in the following
spring it develops from its surface a number of
Blender stalks, each of which is surmounted by
a single or double globular head known as a
sphau'ia or sphere. The surface of each splueria
is dotted all over with minute elevations, which
are the narrow tube-like entrances to inverted
pear-shaped chambers, placed at right angles to
the surface of the splueria, and called perithecia
(peri, around, and theca, a case), in allusion to
the little chambers or cases occurring all round
the circumference of eacli splueria. The peri-
thecia are very numerous ; they extend only
slightly below the surface, for they are imbedded
in the superficial tissue of the sphseria, and they
are best seen by placing a thin transverse section
of the latter under a high power of the micro-
scope. The perithecium is also called an ascus
[ascos, a flask), and its shape is not unlike that
of a Florence flask. To the base of each ascus
there is attached a large number of filamentous
structures, which lie parallel to each other, and
extend along the cavity of the ascus, with their
free ends underneath the aperture which com-
municates with the exterior of the sphseria. These
are the ascosporea ; they are very much longer
than broad, and, being broadest in the middle,
they are almost spindle-shaped. They are ripe
at about the time the cereals come into flower,
and by the action of the wind or rain they easily
obtain access to the flowers, and germinate on
the ovary. This is the stage in the life-history of
the fungus with which we commenced above, so
that we have now traced the entire cycle of
changes whish this organism undergoes.

As in the case of many other microscopic
fungi, investigators were long in the dark as to
the actual nature of the parasite now under con-
sideration. Thus, the sphacelia stage was looked
upon as one distinct organism, the ergot itself as
another, and the splueria as a third, no connec-
tion between them even being suspected. Hence
it happens that the various phases presented by
the fungus have received a number of different
systematic names from such observers as Fries,
De Candolle, Leveill6, Quekett, and Berkeley.
The first published notice of the disease appeared
more than 250 years ago, when Bauhin gave to
it the name of Secede luxurians, in allusion to the
great increase in the size of the affected grain.
Francis Bauer, in 1802, made a series of beauti-
ful drawings illustrating the various stages, and
came very near to the solution of the problems
connected with the fungus. It must not be
forgotten that even the fungal character of the
disease has been disputed. In Stephen's "Book
of the Farm," 3rd edition, 1871, we read that
' ' ergot is a monstrous state of the seed, not
induced by any fungus so far as is known, but by
some unknown cause which produces a change in
the structure and form of the seed." Again, on
page 226, "De Candolle considered it a species
of fungus to which he gave the name of Selerotium
clavis ; others name the fungus Sphacelia segetum,
and others consider it as a morbid alteration of
the ovarium of the rye, caused by the puncture
of an insect of the genus Musca, and which
deposits a blackish liquid. " But less than ten

years ago the French investigator, Tulasne, made
an exhaustive study of the organism, and to him
belongs the honour of having worked out the
remarkable life-history which we have sketched
above, and of demonstrating incontrovertibly
that the sphacelia, the ergot, and the aphakias
are only different stages in the life-history of the
same parasitic fungus, Clavieeps purpurea.

Rye being far more frequently attacked than
any other cereal, it is from this plant the ergot
for medicinal use is obtained. Barley and all
kinds of wheat may occasionally be found
ergoted, and though we do not know of any case
in which oats have sutfeied, in all probability
they also are liable to attack. Of cultivated
grasses, those most usually ergoted are rye-grass,
Lnliuiii perenne ; foxtail, Ahpecurus pratensis ;
cat's-tail or timothy grass, Phleum pratense ; tall
fescue, Festuca elatior ; manna grass, Glyceria
fluitans; and cock's-foot, Dactylis glome rat a; while
the most common victims among weed-grasses
are the rye-brome grass, Brooms secalinus ; soft
brome, Bromus mollis; couch-grass, Triticum
repetis ; barley-grass, Hordeum murinum ; and
darnel, Lolium temulentum. The selerotium or
ergot is always most plentiful after a very wet
summer, when it may be looked for in quantity
at the end of August and all through September ;
the appearance of the hard, blackish structure is
unmistakable, and it is certain to be found in
the weed grasses growing in neglected hedges
and ditches, and also in pastures where the
culms bearing the ears are usually refused by
sheep and cattle, and hence constitute admirable
means for the development of the ergot. It is
always most desirable, therefore, to mow such
pastures in July or August, and collect and burn
the brown bents, thereby removing the possi-
bility of the maturation of the selerotium. We
have seen not a few cases in which the neglect of
this simple precaution has led to serious results
in the illness, and sometimes death, of valuable
animals. Very likely one obstacle to the adop-
tion of this remedy is its extreme simplicity.

An ergoted grain has a scaly or somewhat
granular surface, and is usually fissured with
horizontal and longitudinal markings. The black
or purplish-black external surface contrasts with
the white or purplish interior, which has a dense
homogeneous structure, formed of spherical or
polygonal cells filled with an oily fluid, which
burns freely when the ergot is placed in a candle-
flame. Fresh ergot, gathered in quantity, emits
the smell of putrid hsh, which is due to the pre-
sence of an organic compound, propylamine. Its
taste is nauseous and rather acrid. The length
of ergot varies from half an inch to one inch aid
a half , and its thickness is between one-eighth and
one-quarter of an inch. Taylor, in his work on
"Poisons," states that ergot, administered in a
large dose, in any form (about two drachms of
the powder) is liable to cause dryness and irrita-
tion of the throat, salivation, thirst, burning
pain in the stomach, vomiting, cholic, and some-
times diarrhoea. Besides the ergot of rye, that
of wheat is also used in medicine and in veteri-
nary medicine to arrest certain haemorrhages,
and to assist iu difficult cases of parturition. So

176

THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE.

powerf ul is the action of ergot on the muscles of
the uterus that, when in ulvertently eaten by
mares in foal or cows in calf, abortion is very
likely to follow. Many cases are on record of
valuable beasts having been lost in this way. A
few weeks ago a daily paper gave particulars
of a case near Bristol, in which a flock of sheep
became every autumn afflicted with foot-rot,
whereby many were lost, and this notwithstand-
ing that the pasture on which the sheep fed was
a dry one ; most critical investigation has now
shown that the culms of the pasture are ergoted
every year, and the consumption of the ergot by
the sheep induced the outbreak of foot-rot ; the
mowing down and removal of the bents in
August might have prevented the loss. Flour
which contains a certain quantity of ergot — and
the rye-flour used by the peasantry of France
and other countries is often of this description —
is extremely poisonous, and causes very serious
diseases known as ergotism and dry caries of the
joints. Bonjean mentions two cases in which
spontaneous gangrene arose from eating bread
containing ergot. One child was 10 years old, and
it was found necessary to amputate both legs ; the
other under three }ears of age lost the right leg
by spontaneous separation. In certain very
rainy years ergotism and drycaries have raged in
an endemic form, like cholera, in various places,
notably in France. In New Granada, Dr.
Roulin saw mules, deer, and parrots seriously
injured, and even die after eating ergoted maize,
the taste of which was disguised by that of the
sphacelia, or honey-dew, which is sweet ; this
ergot is called peladero, on account of its
causing animals to lose their hair, nails,claws, and
beak.

It must be evident, from what we said at the
outset, that the weakest part of the chain which
makes up the life-cycle of Claviceps purpurea is
that in which the purple sphasrias of the ergot
lying in the soil have to get transferred to the
glumes of grasses or cereals. This, therefore, is
the stage at which we may most successfully cope
with the disease, for it is obvious that no remedy
can be applied after the ascospores have once
commenced to germinate on the glumes of the
inflorescence. Consequently, by keepinga sharp
look out in the previous autumn, and by cutting
and removing froM hedges, ditches, and perma-
nent pastures the withered bents, instead of
allowing them to rot where they are, and finally
by burning these, something will have been done
towards checking the increase of the pest. Ergot
is nearly always carried into the granary, and
owing to its marked resemblance to the dung of
mice is frequently carried out with seed-grain,
and dropped on the soil under conditions most
favourable to its development. Here again,
therefore, careful observation should be exer-
cised.

The series of changes constituting the life-
cycle of Claviceps purpurea may be represented
thus : — On the plant, germinating ascospore,
sphacelia, conidia-spores, sclerotium or ergot — in
the soil, sclerotium, sphserias, peritheca, aseoi-
pores. The fungus is classified amongst the
Pyreuoinycetes, a family of the order Aacoiny-

cetes, which belongs tothe highest groupof fungi,
the Carposporete ; its nearest allies are the mil-
dews, truffles, and lichens.

THE LADY FARMERS' CLUB.

A fortnight had elapsed, and according to the
arrangement made at the last meeting of the
Laneham Lady Farmers' Club, the members met
at the house of Mrs. Swayne. It was a warm,
sultry afternoon, for by this time July was
reached, and as the visitors walked or drove
through the meadow surrounding the house, an
observant person must have been struck with
the quiet beauty of the scene. The house, a
long, low building, seemed nestling amongst the
oaks and elms which surrounded it, one or two
chestnuts spread their welcome shade over the
lawn, and the brilliant colours of some well-
established favourites of every old-fashioned
garden broke the line between the well-kept
lawn and the kitchen-garden, where plenty
reigned supreme. The gleam of a white
cloth under one of the trees, with many
chairs andgarden-seats, showed that Mrs. Swayne
had not been unmindful of the creature com-
forts of her expected guests. The ladies
assembled punctually, for the meetings began to
be looked forward to as instructive relaxations
from the routine of daily life, and after Mrs.
Swayne had made each lady welcome, Mrs.
Danby was called upon to make some intro-
ductory remarks.

She said: "Since we had the pleasure of
listening to Mrs. Harris's suggestive paper at our
last meeting, I feel sure that the subject has
occupied the thoughts of many of you, and I
think that though some of the ideas might
seem far-fetched, yet reflection would lead us
all to see how much common sense and truth
there were in them. However, within the last
day or two it has been notified to me by our
friend Mrs. Mead that she would like to say a
few words on the subject of ' Our Social In-
fluence.' As you know, Mrs.Mead is not always
strong enough to meet her friends, and as this
glorious summer day has tempted her out, I
think it best, with your permission, that we
should ask her to give us her ideas on this sub-
ject, and, then, if any lady will make a few
further remarks our time will not have been un-
profitably employed ; it will thus be best to leave
the discussion of the paper on ' General Economy
and Thrift ' to some future time." Mrs. Danby
then called on Mrs. Mead to speak on the subject
of "Our Social Influence." But before proceed-
ing to report the paper read by her it will not
be amiss to say a few words on Mrs. Mead her-
self, and I sincerely hope our readers will like
her as well as I do. Fifteen years before the
time of our little story, Mary Mead had been
brought, a shy, soft-eyed bride, to her home at
Druid's Farm, and never once had Robert Mead
reason to regret his choice. His means were
fair, but not large. A distant relation, to whom

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

177

Mr. Mead had several years before ottered the
shelter of his home, relieved the delicate young
wife from the cares of house-keeping, and she
was fitted in every way to speak on " social in-
fluence ;" for, beyond most women's, hasher in-
fluence been for good and not for evil amongst
those with whom she dwelt. I could say much
more about her, but 1 must be content to let her
make herself known to my readers in her own
way. She spoke as follows : —

" Our soc al influence " is like the air we breathe,
always around us ; but unlike the air, it depends on
ourselves whether we make it harmful or beneficial
to our neighbours. As we meet here, not to discuss
social philosophy in its broad aspect, but only as
applied to ourselves in our daily lite, 1 want to draw
the attention of the members to the immense power
they have amongst their dependents, both in the
house and out of it. In this respect farmers' wives
stand alone as a class, in middle life at least ; and that
is all we have to do with. I do not under-rate our
influence over each other, but to-day I only wish to
speak of our influence as it can be exercised over our
domestic servants, and our labourers' wives. To
speak first of our servants, surely the daily homely
example of a mistress who is painstaking, careful,
considerate, and self-controlled must have its influ-
ence over any young girl who has such an example
constantly before her, and if she should imitate her
mistress in only one of those points 1 have enumera-
ted, some good will have been done in the world, for
in the course of time that girl will have a home and
children of lier own ; and, as I said, if she imitated
her mistress in only one good point, so far the good
seed has been sown, and will eventually bear fruit.
AVith the wife of a labourer, too, " missus " has great
influence ; for in the common joys and sorrows of
life do they not meet on equal terms ? In times of
sickness who can better sympathise, or who more
easily render timely, though, perhaps, small service,
than the master's wife ? and such service, such sym-
pathy, ought always to be a bond of union between
the two women, and will always be so if judiciously
used by her who is the better informed of the two.
I have known many cases where labourers too much
addicted to spending their evenings in the village
public-house have " turned over a new leaf," because
the master's wife had shown herself a true friend to
a sick wife, or perhaps an afflicted child, and the
husband was unwilling that his home should lose the
advantage of such a friendship. I could say much
more, but as Mrs. Danby wishes to "near what other
ladies have to say on this subject, I will stop."

There was a general silence.

Every lady present had been more or less troubled
in her domestic life about the servants, and to some
at least the idea was new, that they had imperative
duties towards them. They had always considered the
duty to lie with the servants, while theirs were ended
when the quarterly wages were paid. Something like
rebellion rose up in the minds of some.

Mrs. Mead was always a dreamer. What did she
know of management, when she had always had some
one to manage for her ! The discontent found vent
in the remarks made by Mrs. Davison, who, it maybe
remembered, was fond of pleasure, and at the same
time prided herself on her usefulness in her own
village : —

" It is all very well," she said, "to have a short
lecture, read to us on the management of servants ;
but what this has to do with poor times and sick stock
passes my comprehension. I have had as much trouble

as anyone with my servants, and when I got a good
one I do not remember that the wheat went up or the,
sun shone any the more or less ; and it is these things,
1 fancy, that have landed us where we are just now,
and a deplorable place it is ! I say it with all due
respect, and I appeal to the Chair to put me right if I
am wrong."

Here Airs. Davison turned, with a merry twinkle in
her eyes, to Mrs. Danby and Mr.*. Sway ne. The laugh
was infectious, and a hearty burst of laughter from
the younger ladies, not entirely unshared by the elder
and more responsible members of the conclave, was
the result ; but order was soon restored, and Mrs.
Davison resumed : — "The chair will put nie right if
I am wrong ; but does the question of servants and
labourers come within the scope of our inquiries ? I
am quite aware of what Mrs. Mead will say ; but I
do not think she can satisfactorily show us the link
between domestic servants, workmen's wives, and
agricul tural depression . "

There was a chorus of "Hear, hear. " One voice
from the distance was heard to say, "I quite agree
with you," and Mrs. Davison continued : — "We poor
women may talk and talk — that has always been our
privilege ; and at the end of it all we should be left
just where we were when we began — that has always
been our fate. We must endure and bear things as
best we may, but as to doing anything, I do not
believe there is anything we can do."

Mrs. Davis n sat down, and Mrs. Jessop, a young
woman, got up, and said : — " I think all Mrs. Davi-
son has said is quite right."

She evidently wished to say more, but was literally
stage-struck ! All eyes were turned upon her, which
did not help her to recover her self-possession. At
last she began : — ■

" My husband says it is all the horrid Amer "

A general murmur of disapprobation drowned the
remainder of the sentence, and poor Mrs. Jessop
sat down, fanning herself vigorously, when another
young lady, whose name I will not give, said : —

"No, no, we will not quote husbands here ; we are
to learn of them at home, but that is no reason why
we should quote them when we are out. We must
only give our own ideas here." A somewhat sma.t
tap of a pencil on the table by Mrs. Danby stopped
any further remarks from this audacious young
woman, and Mrs. Swayne, after a few moments whis-
pered talk with the chairwoman, said: — "I am, I
know, only expressing the sentiments of Mrs. Meade
when I say that she is sorry to find that her well-
meant and well-considered remarks should have been
met with a disposition to levity on the part of some
ladies present. She, I think, may be quite certain
that she has to a great extent been misunderstood, if
not in her words, at least in the spirit in which they
were intended. I have lived many more years in the
world than some present, and I am quite sure that
there is more connection between these apparently
diverse subjects than at first sight appears .
Time is going fast, but I will only say one word, and
those who care to think the matter over between this
meeting and the next will see the hidden meaning I
have in mind, and it is this — no machinery goes
without oil. Our husbands (I do not wish to ignore
them in our discussions) will understand what I.
mean, and I think the members of the Laneham
Club will also see the hidden link if they carefully
think the matter over."

In reporting the above meeting I have for-
gotten to repeat one sentiment which I overheard,
but which was not addressed aloud to the meet4*
ing. It was this ; — " If servants were taught

178

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

not to be above doing dairy work, that would be
something, and that is what I .should like to see
more of." Some around quite understood the
speaker's words, and the next meeting may give
us some hints on the practical application of Mrs.
Mead's ideas.

Poultry

Most of the ducks seen around farm-houses
are too small in frame, and have been bred in-
and in too closely, even to be worth the trouble
of trying to improve them by a cross. Far
butter sell or kill them all off and make a fresh
start with a better stock. Within the last four
or five years a new variety of duck called the
Pekin, has been introduced into this country,
chiefly from America. The breed originally
came from China, and certainly these birds are
marvellous egg producers, and grow amazingly
quick, and they promise very speedily to become
the most popular variety in this country.
During the present season vast numbers have
been bred all over the Kingdom, and every one
speaks most favourably of the fertility of their
eggs, their hardihood, and precociousness.
They are white in plumage, with just a slight
cream v tinge in the under parts of the feathers ;
the bill and legs are of a deep, rich orange
colour. The brighter the colour of the bill the
greater the purity of the birds. The bill is
much shorter and broader than the Aylesbury,
and the head rather resembles the goose than
any ducks known here. These birds are wull
adapted for the farm, as they are so very active,
and are rare seekers after their own living.

For a greater portion of the year ducks cost
next to nothing for food, as with their liberty
they will find almost sufficient to keep them-
selves. At night it is advisable to give them a
feed of barley or tail wheat, to induce them to
return home ; the rest they will find for them-
selves. As the time approaches when they may
be expected to commence laying, or during the
winter months, when the ground is frost bound,
and the ponds are frozen over, at such times as
these they require to be fed liberally with corn,
such as oats and barley, tail wheat, &c. , but the
rest of the year one moderate meal of corn will suf-
fice. Ducks are most useful in the vegetable garden,
where they destroy slugs and other pests winch
are so destructive and commit such damage
amongst the young vegetables in the spring
months. Half a dozen young ducklings from
the ao-e of three weeks or a month, will, in the
course of a few days entirely free a kitchen
garden of all slugs, &c, but the brood must
not be allowed to remain too long amongst the
vegetables, or they too will damage the cabbages
and lettuces. . ; . .

Poultry shows are now in full swing. During
the past week some eighteen shows have been
held in different parts of the country. The
chickenB are now beginning to make their ap-
pearance, and some wonderfully good ones have

been exhibited. At Redruth, in Cornwall, a
marvellously good lot of young birds were
shown, many of them almost fully matured, and
in full plumage. These must havebeenhatched very
early in the year, but the warm mild winters ex-
perienced in this part of England is very favour-
able for chickens, as it is for vegetation.

The makers -and sellers of incubators have
done a very fair business this year in finding
purchasers of their machines, but we have yet to
learn, despite all that has been said in their
favour, that they are superior and more success-
ful in hatching than a good, steady sitting hen.
Of course, those who have incubators to sell do
not like to have them run down, and can furnish
a number of returns to prove how successful
they have been in hatching. But not a word is
eversaid about the failures, and some of these, to
our knowledge, have been most complete. Then
again, the cost of the incubator would purchase
a good many sitting hens, which could be sold
for a considerable sum when done with, whereas
the incubator is useless for the greater portion of
the year, and has to be put away to depreciate
in value and perhaps rust, and when wanted
again is useless. Possibly these machines may
answer in hatching eggs from birds possessing a
vigorous constitution, but for high-class birds,
such as are now bred for exhibition, a hen will
bring off a far greater number of chickens than
any incubator. One of the largest and most
successful breeders of exhibition poultry tried a
hydro-incubator this spring ; he wasted a con-
siderable sum in purchasing the machine and
having the gas laid on, so that there might be no
deficiency of hot water, so necessary to keep up
the temperature of the incubator. In addition
he has spent two or three hundreds of pounds in
purchasing some of the very best birds to be had
for breeding, but after losing all the early
months of the year, lie had to give up the
incubator in disgust, as he could not make it
answer, and to fall back upon Nature's incubator
— a sitting hen. Other similar failures have
come to our knowledge, and these from men
who have made the breeding of all kinds of
poultry a study, and we might almost say a busi-
ness, for years, who would only be too glad to
adopt any plan whereby they could outpace other
breeders.

" Finger and-toe " is said to be working consider-
able injury among turnips in the counties of Mid-
Lothian, 'Peebles, and East Lothian. Most of the
mischief has been done in the two last-named counties ;
otherwise the turnip crop is said to be progressing
satisfactorily.

Loggerheads. — In New Zealand it is customary
before a marriage ceremony is performed, to knock
the heads of the bride and bridegroom together. A
missionary, on seeing this performance for the first
time, was" moved to write the following : —

In Christian lands it is not so ;

The bridegroom and the bride
To loggerheads but seldom go

Until the knot is tied.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

17»

CROPS AFTER STEAM DIGGING.

We have received t lit- following report from a good
agricultural authority : —

At the Carlisle Show Mr. Darby expressed
his desire that people would visit Pleshey, near
Chelmsford, and see for themselves the actually
growing proofs that digging by steam is a bet-
ter preparation for crops than is ploughing by
horses. Last week, therefore, 1 proceeded to Mr. T.
C. Darby's farm, Pleshey Lodge (where remain the
mound and moat of the Duke of Gloucester's castle,
with Roman arch over the moat to the lofty site of
the keep), and these are memoranda of what I found.
With no hint from any one I quickly lighted upon a
portion of a large field of beans, where, to a row, the
crop was shorter, very much thinner, and worse pod-
ded than the tine crop passed through. This turned
out to be a part in which the wheat stubble had been
ploughed, while on the superior part the stubble was
broken up by steam digging. The men at work hoe-
ing reported little difference in the weedinesss of
the two portions ; but though both were foul, the
dug portions appeared to show fewer thistles. The
beans are after wheat upon a fallow after trifolium,
which was preceded by wheat, and the whole piece
was dressed with five c wts. per acre of superphosphate
for the beans. A guarantee as to equal treatment
appears in the manner of putting in the beans. Mr.
Darby uses a bean drill attached to a plough, worked
in conjunction with two other ploughs, the three
ploughs following each other not up and down but
all round the field, the beans being dropped in every
third furrow, and the artificial manure was hand-sown
by men following in the same furrow. Thus the part
previously dug and that previously ploughed were
both treated alike.

On the farm of Mr. J. J. Tufnell, at Langleys, Great
Waltham, I walked over a field of mangels of the
" Gatepost " variety, a remarkably fine-topped and
clean kind of intermediate, selected and supplied by
Mr. Tabor, of Rivenhall. The crop does credit both
to the sort and to the farming of Mr. Cobb, Mr. Tuf-
nell's manager ; but the important point for us was
that, to a row, it was evident, in the much greater
forwardness of both tops and bulbs, and in the more
full and perfect planting, where the land had been
steam dug and where a breadth of twenty rows had
been sown after horse-ploughing. The same experi-
ence I found repeated on a field of mangels on the
farm of Mr. John Darby, of Little Waltham. Two
fields of barley on the same farm show good crops
upon land steam dug, heavier, and with fewer weeds
than on portions ploughed.

On the farm of Mr. James Pertwee, at Boreham,
near Chelmsford, one of the finest pieces of wheat in
the district is upon a clover lea steam dug ; and walk-
ing through the crop from side to side we found the
heaviest straw and best heads, with fewest thistles, on
the major part, which was dug, as compared with a
portion -which had been horse-ploughed.

Mr. David Christy, of Broomfield, also has grown
a remarkably fine crop of mangels after preparation
by the steam digger, the roots being small in a part
of thejfield ploughed.

In all these cases the soil is either clay or gravelly
loam, most of it corn laud of excellent quality.

A "ROYAL'1 ADVENTURE.

Most visitors to the recent Royal Show at
Carlisle could probably relate some tale of per-
sonal discomfort; but few, perhaps, could beat the
following. A gentleman well known in agricul-
tural circles, and a regular visitor at the Royal
Shows, finding no place where he could lay his
head in Carlisle, billeted himself in Penrith. On
the Tuesday evening he dined at the table d'hote
of a leading hotel in Carlisle, and then adjourned
to the smoke-room to talk over old times and
new ones with old friends, having first learnt
from the time-table that there was a train for
Penrith at 12 o'clock. Accordingly, just a few
minutes before the time, he presented himself
at the station, and inquired — " Am I in time for
the midnight train ?" " Yes, sir ; where fori"
"Penrith." "Oh ! this train doesn't stop at
Penrith !" " Bui," urged our friend, "the time-
table ." "Yes, sir," interrupted the porter,

" but the train was altered a few days ago, and
doesn't call at Penrith now." "What had I
better do then?" " Well, sir, there's a Penrith
train at 1"40." " Very well, I'll go and get a nap
in the waiting-room, and you call me in time
for the 1 "40, please. " " Very good, sir. " And
to the waiting-room the unfortunate man went,
and, laying himself down in his damp clothes,
dropped off to sleep. At length he awoke, and
looking at his watch found, to his horror,
that it was 2 "20 a.m. Out he rushed, and,
meeting an inspector, commenced heaving
imprecations at the delinquent porter, when
the official inquired, " What train did you
want, sir?" " Why, the 1.40 for Penrith,
confound it !" " Oh ! plenty of time, sir,
she hasn't come in yet." And on inquiring
he found that the 1.40 a.m. was a fish-train, and
that it was sometimes 5 o'clock before it left Car-
lisle for Penrith. While they were talking the
train arrived, and the inspector said, " Here she
is, sir, but you'd better not get in till she's ready
to start, for there'll be a little shunting. But
our friend, wary by experience, resolved to take
a seat at once, and found to his sorrow that there
tvas a little shunting. Even now it almost brings
the tears to his eyes when he talks about it, and
what he said to himself in the train while the
shunting was going on I don't think anybody
will ever find out. At last he started, and when
he got out at 4 a. m. , and walked through the
silent and deserted streets of Penrith, he thought
of his peaceful home in a sunny county in the
South of England, where there are no fish trains
at 4 o'clock in the morning ; and the thought
made him sad. On reaching the hotel a new
difficulty awaited him, for the place was as silent
as the grave, and it was only after a vigorous
and long-sustained attack on the front door that
he heard a window raised, and looking up saw a
head protruded, from which proceeded the not
reassuring words, "Oh! it's you, is it?" Soon
after the door was unbolted, and the unhappy
traveller passed in, just in time to see a pah' of
legs rushing upstairs in the grey dawn of early
morning. Closing the door, he, too, passed up-

180

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

stairs, ami then remembered, to his dismay, that
his bedroom door was locked, for he had given
up the key himself that morning, or rather the
morning before. Rendered desperate by all he
had endured, he made for the door where he
thought the pair of legs had gone, and knocked.
It was slightly opened, and while a voice said,
" S'pose you wants the key," a hand was pro-
truded bearing the key in question, which the
wretched man joyfully seized, and by 4'30 a.m.
he had slid between the sheets. — From Samples
bg a '• Man of Mark Lane."

Agricultural Societies.

ROYAL OP ENGLAND.

Monthly Council, "Wednesday, August 3, 1880.
Present : Mr. Wells (President, in the chair), Earl
Cathcart, the Earl of Feversham, Lord Moreton,
M.P., Lord Vernon, the Hon. W. Egerton, M.P.,
Sir Massey Lopes, Bart. , M. P. , Sir W. Earle, Welby-
Gregory, Bart., M. P., Mr. At,hworth, Mr. Aveling,
Mr. Cantrell, Mr. Chandos-Pole-Gell, Mr. Davies,
Mr. Frankish, Mr. Gorringe, Mr. Hemsley, Mr.
Howard, M.P., Colonel Kingscote, C.B., M.P., Mr.
Leeds, Mr. Neville, Mr. Ransome, Mr. Russell, Mr.
Shuttleworth, Colonel Tuberville, Mr. Wakefield,
Mr. Whitehead, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Wise, Professor
Simonds, and D. Voelcker.

Mr. Walter H. Long, M.P., of Rood Aston, Trow-
bridge, Wiltshire, was elected a governor of the
Society.

FINANCE.

Colonel Kingscote, C.B., M.P., presented the re-
port, from which it appeared that the Secretary's
receipts during the past month had been duly exam-
ined by the Committee, and by Messrs. Quilter, Ball,
and Co., the Society's accountants, and found cor-
rect. The balance at the bankers on July 31st was
£110 0s. 9d., and in the hands of the Carlisle bankers
£8,055 4s. 2d. The quarterly cash account was
laid on the table. This report was adopted.
selection.

Earl Cathcart reported their recommendations
that Mr. Dent be elected a trustee in the place of Mr.
Wells, elected President ; that the Duke of Bedford
be elected Vice President in the place of Mr. Dent,
elected a Trustee ; and that Mr. H. Chandos-Pole-
Gell be elected steward of forage for the Derby Show.

This report was adopted.

chemical.

Lieut. -Col. Tuebervill presented the following
report, drawn up by Dr. Voelcker, which the
Committee had received from the Woburn sub-com-
mittee : —

On the 34th of July the swedes had made great progress
on all the experimental plots. There is a good and regular
plant on all the plots. The unmanured p'o»s were much
behind the others, but they looked hcalthv. The plota
dressed with chalk were scarcely better than the unmanured
swedes.

The most forward plota were thnse manured with super-
phosphate and Peruvian guano, and the plots manured with
dung and superphosphate. The roots manured with dis-
solved coprolites. on the 24th July, were plainly more
advanced than those manured with ground undissolved
coprolites.

Redonda phosphate appeared about equal in its offects with
ground coprolites.

Precipitited phosphate and dissolved coprolites showed no
marked difference on tho 21th July.

The raw bone dust plots were behind the dissolved bone
plots and dissolved coprolite plots-

The dung and dissolved conroUte plots were more advanced
than the dung and ground coprolite plot*.

The rotation clover ha« been fed off twice, and thn sheep
are now going over the field the third time. The i-heep ard
healthy.

Thp rotation mangels have made much progress ; and
those top-dressed with nitrate of soda appear stronger aud
more advanced than the rest.

The rotation whe^t and barley look healthy and promising.

The permanent wheat is very thin on the unmanured
plots and those mannred with salts of ammonia or nitrate of
soda, or with minerals alo e. It is much better on the plots
dressed both with minerals and salts of ammonia, and with
minerals and nitrate of soda. No marked difference was
observable between the effects of nitrate of soda and salts
of ammonia.

The permanent barley plota on the whole looked more
promising on the 24th of July than the permant wheat plots.
However, the late heavy rains have much beaten dowD the
barley on the plots manured with the larger d se of nitrate
of soda and minerals, and on the plots dressed with minerals
and the maximum dose of salts of ammonia.

This report was adopted.

GENERAL DERBY.

Mr. Shuttleworth reported the recommendations
of the Committee thatthe Local Committee be desired
to take in hand certain specified works assoon as pos-
sible, and that the Secretary be authorised to accept on
behalf of the Society an offer of prizes, for best-
managed farms in connection with the Derby Show,
in the event of the Local Committee deciding to
offer them, provided that the conditions attached are
not at variance with the general rules aud practice of
the Society.

This report was adopted.

GENERAL CARLISLE.

Lieut. -Colonel Picton T r it b e b v ill reported that
the Committee had examined and passed the bills
laid before them in connection with the expenses of
the Carlisle show.

This report was adopted.

show-yard contracts.

Mr. Shuttleworth reported that the Secretary
had received the usual monthly statements from the
Superintendents of Works, as well as the summary of
income and expenditure for the last year ; and an
anticipated balance-sheet, showing the probable
receipts and expenditure in connection with the Car-
lisle show up to the period when their accounts will
be closed. The Secretary had received a cheque for
£1,850, being the balance of accounts to date. It
was estimated that there would be a further balauce
of £450, in addition to goods to the value of £650
sent to Derby.

The report was adopted.

SEKDS AND PLANT DISEASES.

Mr. C. Whitehead (Chairman) reported the
appointment of judges of the seed- wheat in competi-
tion for the Society's prizes, and that Mr. W. Carru-
thers, F.R.S., had made an inspection of the various
trial plots in the four districts in which the seed-whtat
is being grown, and will furnish a report in due course
upon any peculiarities ol growtli that he may have
noticed. The Committee recommended that Mi.
Whitehead be empowered to arrange the date of the
judging.

This report was adopted.

IMPLEMENT.

Mr. Hemsley (Chairman) presented a report re-
lating to some proposed alterations in the rules, and
the report was ordered to be printed for circulation
amongst members of the Council.

With regard to the suggestions made by Mr. B. St.
John Ackers at the General Meeting of members in
the Carlisle show-yard —

That the ages in the Shorthorn classes be calculated fnm
the 1st of July as heretofore, until a majority of the exhibit-
ors of the last few years have expressed in writing their pre-
ference for some other one date —

it was resolved, on the motion ot Mr. Jacob Wilson",

THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE.

181,

seconded by Karl CATHCART, that the suggestion be
referred in the ordinary course to the Stock Prizes
Committee.

The following suggestions by Mr. T. Bowick were
referred to the Chemical Committee for consideration,
ou the motion of Mr. C. Whitehkad : —

1. To investigate any report on the feeding value of the
carbohydrates in lood.

'1. That in any analysis or ex imitations (manures, feed-
ing stuffs, seeds) in which there is a diffe-ence between the
buyer and seller, or which may be published by the -<ociety,
Che samples shall be drawn iu accordance with soc. 14 of the
Food Adulteration Act of 1875.

On the motion of Mr. Jacob Wilson, seconded by
Mr. Da vies, votes of thanks were accorded to the
Carlisle Volunteer Fire Brigade and to the Cumber-
land Union Banking Company for their efficient
assistance during the Carlisle meeting ; and on the
motion of Mr. Prankish, seconded by Mr. Hemsley,
a similar compliment was paid to Messrs. J. Fowler
and Co., for the use of their traction engines to expe-
dite the removal of exhibits from the show-yard.

The following members of Council were appointed
to act on the General Derby Committee, in addition
to the local gentlemen previously elected : — The Duke
of Bedford (Chairman), General Viscount Bridport,
Earl Cathcart, Lord More ton, Lord Vernon, Sir M.
White Ridley, Bart., Hon. W. Egerton, Sir Brandreth
Gibbs, Mr. A. Ashworth, Mr. T. Aveling, Mr. Hugh
Aylmer, Mr. C. S. Cantrel, Mr. W. T. Carrington,
Mr. H. Chanr'os-Pole-Gell, Mr. D. R. Davies, Mr. J.
D. Dent, Mr. S. P. Foster, Mr. W. Frankish, Mr.
Hugh Gorringe, Mr. J. Hemsley, Mr. C. Howard,
Mr. J. Bowen Jones, Colonel Kingscote, Mr. R.
Neville, Mr. C. Randell, Mr. G. H. Sanday, Mr. W.
Sheraton, Mr. J. Shuttleworth, Lieut. -Col. Picton
Tubervill, Mr. W. H. Wakefield, Mr. C. Whitehead,
Mr. J. Wilson, and Mr. Geo. Wise.

The usual holidays having been granted to the
Secretary and clerks, the Council adjourned over the
recess until Wednesday, Nov. 3rd.

CASTLE EDEN.

The twenty-third annual show of this society was
held at Sunderland on Aug. 6, and in point of entries
the show was one of the best, if not the best, held by
the society. Unfortunately, before the duties of the
judges were half discharged rain commenced to fall
heavily, accompanied by thunder and lightning,
which continued from mid-day up to between four
and five o'clock. The entries of Shorthorns were
small, but they were of excellent quality. Shorthorn
milk cows were only moderate, and there was nothing
particularly good about the heifers. Dairy cows were
excellent. Sheep were few, Mrs. Tityman carrying off
the whole of the first prizes. There was a good show
of agricultural horses as well as of brood mares and
foals, although the classes were not very full. The
Marquess of Londonderry obtained the first prize for
two and three-year-olds. For the best brood mare
with or in foal, the first prize was awarded to Jewess,
shown by Mr. John Scott, of Ford Hall. The hunters
were, upon the whole, a capital lot, and considerable
interest was evinced in the judging. In the general
field horses class the first prize for the best foal was
awarded to a bay colt shown by Sir George Elliott,
Bart. In the special and open classes for the best
hunters the first prize was awarded to Mr. Straker's
Gambler. Harness horses were numerous, and gene-
rally good.

COQUETDALE.

The eighteenth annual show of cattle, sheep, horses,
tec. , in connection with the Coquetdale Agricultural
Society was held on August 5, at Rothbury, and in
many respects formed one of the most successful
gatherings of farm stock ever drawn together
under the auspices of a north country district
society.

DAIRY FARMERS'.

The monthly meeting of the Council took place on
Aug. 3, at the offices, 446, Strand. Present :— Mr.
E. C. Tisdall, in the chair ; Dr. Voelcker Messrs.
Gilbert Murray, A. Stapleton, W. Freeman, H. Tait,
H. S. Holmes-Pegler, Hon. Secretary, and F. Morri-
son, Assistant Secretary.

POULTRY AND PIGEONS.

The schedule of prizes for poultry and pigeons, as
drawn up by the Show Committee, was submitted for
adoption. The chairman reported, on behalf of the
Committee, that several alterations had been effected
as compared with last year. The value of the prizes
in many of the poultry classes was increased, and the
entry fees generally reduced.

CORRESPONDENCE.

A letter was read from Sir R. Glyn complaining,
on behalf of one of his tenants, of that portion of Rule
9 in tjhe Dairy Show schedule, wherein the Committee
reserve to themselves the right of claiming one of the
first prize cheeses in each class.

A reply was directed to be sent, stating that this
clause had been inserted this year mainly for the bene-
fit of exhibitors ; the cheese in question being
reserved for tasting by privileged persons, instead of
allowing any cheese in the class to be indiscriminately
ironed. Further, that although the " right " was
claimed, the Committee would not necessarily exer-
cise that right to the extent of cutting up or claiming
entire possession of a large cheese such as an American
or Cheddar.

PRIVY COUNCIL RESTRICTIONS ON IMPORTATION
OF CATTLE.

Mr. Stapleton moved that a Memorial be
addressed to the Privy Council, praying them not to
relax the present restrictions upon the importation
of foreign stock, and after some further remarks on
the subject by the Chairman, it was resolved to
adjourn this matter for discussion at the general meet-
ing in October, unless anything should transpire in
the meanwhile to necessitate a special general meeting
to be called for the purpose.

The Council then adjourned to September 7th.

DENBIGHSHIRE AND FLINTSHIRE.

The annual meeting of this Agricultural Society
was held at Mold on August 4. There was a large
display of the stock of the district. The cattle were
Shorthorns, crossbreds, and black Welsh, the latter
showing much dairy merit, especially in the class for
cottagers' cows. There was a large show of sheep,
Shropshires, coarse Leicesters, and the native Welsh
breeds ; but there were many inferior animals. Some
of the classes for horses were good, especially agricul-
tural mares in foal, hacks, and ponies.

HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL.

We were unable to give a report of the
general meeting of the members of this Society, held
on Wednesday, July 28, in the showy ard at Kelso. The

182

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Marquis of Lothian, the president of the Society,
occupied the chair.

The Hon. Geobge Waldegraye Leslie moved
the adoption of the following resolution : —

" That it is not desirable, in the best interests of the pur-
poses for which the Hiehland and Agricultural Society of
Scotland was founded, that so large a sum should be allowed
to accumulate as has already accumulated in the hands of the
treasurer, and that the Finance Committee should be re-
quested to devise a scheme in terms of the above resolution."

After some discussion, the motion was approved of,
and remitted to the directors for consideration.

Mr. Scott Dudgkox said he would move his
motion in two parts — the first relating to chemical
analyses, and the second to field experiments. His
first motion was based on the argument that this
national society existed simply and purely for the
best interests of agriculture in Scotland, recognising
it to be its duty to assist in providing a more ex-
tended and general use of chemical analysis in the
buying of manures and feeding stuffs, for farmers
still required to be impressed with the fact that
there was no other way of knowing anything about
the manure or the feeding stuffs except by having
it submitted to chemical examination. He held that
the question had been solved — namely, by the
establishment of local analytical associations. An
unanswerable proof of this ' fact was that while
a few years ago there was only three such
associations, there were now between twenty and
thirty doing good work in various parts of
the country from Orkney to Berwick. It was
by this system that greater good could be
effected at the least cost than by any alternative
scheme attempted by this society by doing analyses
for its members at a reduced cost. He was em-
powered to state that manure merchants considered
that such an arrangement would put their trade on
a more satisfactory basis, and would cause the
adoption of a uniform system of nomenclature,
which was much needed, and a uniform value
of manures. He moved as follows: — 1. The
society, being satisfied that the benefits which
chemical analyses are calculated to confer on agri-
culture can be more widely diffused, and more econo-
mically accomplished, through the agency of local
analytical associations, than by the carrying out of
the resolution adopted at the general meeting at
Perth, resolves to rescind such resolution ; and
further, with the view of encouraging, as well as
regulating, the conduct of these associations, re-
solves to contribute from its funds towards their
expenses. 2. That the amount of such contribution
shall be to each association at the rate of 5s. for
each full analysis, and of 2s. 6d. for each partial
analysis, of manure or feeding stuff effected, the
total sum expended not to exceed £250, provided
the association shall satisfy the Chemical Com-
mittee of the following points : — (a) That
the analyst employed is of acknowledged stand-
ing, (b) That the association is managed by a
committee of practical farmers occupying land
in the district. (c) That analyses are only made
for farmers, and that these subscribe towards the
expanses of the association, (d) That each analysis
repres mts at least two tons of bulk actually purchased
by guarantee, by one or more members,- and that the
analysis has been made from a fairly drawn sample,
of which a duplicate has been retained. («) That
with each analysis is furnished names and addresses
of the seller and buyer or buyers, the guarantee given,
the prices at which bought, and the result as deter-
mined by the Association's analyst. That all analyses
be reportad on a uniform basis, to be furnished by the

Society : and valuations of manures, if any are made,
to be calculated on a uniform standard, to be issued
each year by the Society. 3. That full details cf all
analyses made, for which contribution has been paid,
shall be published each year in the Transactions ; but
before such is done, in the case of any which shall
show an inferiority in valuable constituents of more
than 8 per cent, between the guarantee given and the
analysis obtained, there may be (at the option of the
seller, to whom due notice shall be given) an appeal
to an independent chemist, to be chosen by the
Society."

Mr. Hope, jun. (in the absence of Mr. Hope,
Leith, through indisposition), seconded the motion,
and in doing so read a statement on the subject by
his father, the proposer of the motion carried at
Perth — to the effect that the Society should subsidize
their chemist, so that the members might have
analyses of manures at the same rate as was charged
by local analytical associations.

Sir James Gibsox Maitlaxd moved an amend-
ment which, starting by way of preamble with the
first head of the motion down to the words, " Re-
solves to rescind such resolution," proceeded : —

Remit the whole subject matter embraced in the remain-
der of Mr. Scott Dudsreon's proposed resolutions to the direc-
tors, with the recommendation that they appoint a com-
mittee, composed one-half of their own body and one-half of
members who are not on the direc orate, to consider and
report to a subsequent general meeting of the Sooiety.

He thought it would be a dangerous precedent if, at
a meeting held during a local show, they passed any
such resolution.

The Hon. F. E. Villiers, Closeburn Hall, se-
conded the amendment. He thought the project,
the importance of which they all recognised, could be
carried out in a more useful and orderly manner if
remitted to a committee, than if the resolution was
passed at a meeting where it could not be satisfactorily
discussed.

Mr. Nicoll, Littleton, regretted to learn that the
directors were not prepared to accept the resolutions
of Mr. Scott Dudgeon, all the more so because if they
had done so it would have enabled them to regain
the confidence and goodwill of the membership, which
he regretted to think the}- had to a great extent lost.
Gentlemen who said " No " evidently forgot the tone
and temper of the meeting at Perth last year, and of
the feeling outside of the hall that day. Mr. Dud-
geon's proposals were not so wild and revolutionary
as gentlemen wished them to imagine. They were
simply to the effect that every encouragement should
be given to analytical associations throughout the
country. They ought not to be seduced from the
resolutions, but to bring them to a vote.

After a lengthened discussion,

Sir J. G. Maitlaxd offered to withdraw his amend-
ment, but this being objected to by Sir William
Baillie, a vote was taken on the point, with the re-
sult that the meeting declared the amendment must
be put. On a division between the motion as amended
and the amendment, 109 voted for the motion, and
127 for the amendmeut. The latter was therefore
declared carried.

The appointment of a committee was left to the
directors and Mr. Scott Dudgeon, it being understood
that Mr. Dudgeon would have the nomination of the
out^de members.

The Kev. Mr. Gillespie expressed a hope that the
report would be put in the hands of members at
least a fortnight before the general meeting.

The Chaikman said there should be no difficulty
about that.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

is;

Mr. Scott Dudoeon then moved: —

In onler to encourage members being practical farmers t<>
make experiments with different manures in the liold, the
Society resolves to defray the cost of making the ncces<ar.
analyses of soils, manures, and products for such experi-
mentalists, provided they conduct their experiments an icr
the direction or with the sanction of the Chemical Committee
of the Society.

This was unanimously agreed to.

NORTH-WEST OF IRELAND.

The annual show of cattle, sheep, swine, poultry,
and general agricultural implements, under the
auspices of the above Society, was opened on Aug. 3,
in the city of Derry. The various kinds of
cattle entered numbered about an average, but a dis-
tinguishing feauture presented itself in the poultry
department, in which every class was well filled,
showing a material increase upon previous exhibits.
In the horse department there was spirited competi-
tion, and the tendency to breed superior and finished
quality has rarely been better evidenced than in the
younger descriptions of stock brought forward. The
swine department was exceptionally well represented,
the exhibitors including victors who have borne
laurels from many more pretentious fields. The Short-
horns weie uniformly of first quality. The premier
prize was uniformly taken by Mr. Thomas M'Afee,
of Ballymoney, with the famed bull, Irish Hope,
and the Castlegrove Cup was also awarded to the
owner of the same animal. Ayrshires were a sparse
exhibition, and no entry was of sufficient merit to
call for remark; it was simply a well-conditioned
market lot. In Herefords, Mr. Gilliland, as usual,
presented, a strong and a successful front, and the
exhibits in Galloways and Kerries were as numerous
as excellent. Mr. Glenn, the extensively-known
bleeder of pigs, was unapproachable in his depart-
ment, ami his cross-breeds were deservedly recognised
by the judges. The horse department was a distin-
guishing feature in the exhibition, and it was admitted
on all hands that it was the best, if not the largest,
collection as yet brought together here. The prize-
takers were splendid animals in their respective
classes, possessing great merit, and attracting the
lion's share of attention. In the poultry department
the principal prize-takers were: — Messrs. J. A. and
M. 1'. Smith, T. A. Bond, and T. II. Graham <all of
Londonderry i. The judges were .Messrs. J. F. Bom-
ford, Kilcoeh, County Kildare ; Mr. A. Buchanan,
Whitehouse Farm, Stirling ; and Mr. Thomas Raines,
of Bridehaugh, Stirling.

SHORTHORN.

A meeting of the Council of this Society was held
at the Society's Rooms, 12, Hanover Square, W., on |
Tuesday, August 3rd* Present : Colonel Kirgs-
cote C.B.,M.1\, in the chair; the Earl of Bective,
M.P., Lord Moreton, M.P., Mr. W. H. Beauford,
Mr. II. Chandos-Pole-Gell, and Mr. Jacob Wilson.

The following new members were elected : —
Frank, It. H., Ashbourne Hall, Ashbourne, Derbyshire.
Hawkins, Edmund, Din thill Ford, Shrewsbury.
Heywood- Lonsdale, A. P., 23, Grosvenor Square, W.
Simpson, John, Vincent Place, Huuslet Road, Leeds.
Waite, Richard, Duftield, Derby.

EDITING COMMITTEE.
Colonel KlNOSuOTE reported that the Committee
had authorised the Secretary to go to press with the
pedigrees of the bulls for volume 26, and that 1,550
copies be ordered ; that the Committee recommended
that a communication should be sent to the various
Shorthorn auctioneers, informing then of a correction

in the pedigree of Mr.Cowling's Cowslip family of the
number of the bull Kitt. which should be 7,129, not
2,179 ; that the Committee had investigated the pedi-
grees of two cows, which they had a jpted for entry

in the Herd-book, but had rejected the pedigree of a
bull with only four crosses.
This report was adopted.

GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE.
Mr. If. W. BEAUFORD reported that the accounts
for the months of June and July had been examined
by Messrs. Quilter, Ball, and Co. , and the Committee,
and were found to be correct.

That the Secretary's petty cash accomrt had beeS
examined and passed, and showed an expenditure of
t'16 13s. 3d. during the past two months. That
the receipts for the same period had been £'82 17s. 6d.,
the balance of the Society's current account at the
Bankers' being £183 3s.* Id., and that the Com-
mittee recomended that eheques be drawn for various
accounts and salaries amounting to £2S2 18s.

That a letter which had been received from a member
of the Society whose subscription for the present
year was unpaid, and who was under the impression
that he had given the required notice of withdrawal,
had been considered by the Committee, and they had
directed the Secretary to reply that the subscription
for the current year must be paid. The Committee,
however, recommended that the subscription for the
ensuing year, for the payment of which the member
had become liable under Bye-law 13, be not required
from him. Thatthe Committee recommended that two
members of the Society whose subscriptions were in
arrear and whose addresses could not be ascertained
be struck off the list of members.

That the. Committee also recomended that the
Society's Solicitor be requested to write to those
members whose subscripti ins for three years and up-
wards were in arrear.

This report was adopted.

The Council then proceeded to the election of a
President and Vice-president of the Society, in accor-
dance with the Articles of Association ; and

On the motion of Colonel Kingscote, C.B.,M.P,
seconded by Mr. H. Chandos-Pole-Gell, the Duke
of Manchester was unanimously elected President of
the Society for the ensuing year. And on the mo-
tion of Mr. Jacob Wii.so\, seconded by Mr. 11. W".
Beauford, the Earl of Bective, M.P., was unani-
mously elected Vice-president of the Society for the
ensuing year.

The thanks of the Council were ordered to be sent
to the English Cart-horse Society, for their present
of a copy of the first volume of the English Cart-
horse Stud-book.

Leave of absence having been granted to the Secre-
tary and clerks, the Council adjourned ov. r the
autumn recess until Tuesday, November 2nd, at 3.30
p.m.

STRATHBOGIE.

The annual summer show of the Strathbogie Far-
mers' Club was held at Huntly, on August 5, and
was attended with all the success of previous years.
The number of entries was larger than usual, and the
quality of the stock was good. The display of horses,

Swtrticularly those shown in harness, was exceptionally
inc. The display of implements was also consider-
able.

WEST GLOUCESTER.

The nineteenth annual show of tl e West Glou-
cester Farmers' Club was held at Almondsbury on

184

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Monday. The entries for the classes, as an aggregate,
were much more numerous than on any previous year.
Of horses, there was a very excellent show ; not only
were the entries larger, hut the quality of the animals
was above the average. The collection of cattle was
perhaps, not superior to former years, hut some of
the classes included very fine specimens, and there
were cases here and there in which the competition
was tolerably keen. The bull classes were numerous ;
and of the dairy cows the classes were noticeable
more for the number exhibited than for the quality
of the beasts. In the sheep classes the entries were
not numerous, and the same remark applies to the
pigs. As is always the case, the jumping, which
commenced at two o'clock, was the most interesting
feature of the day's proceedings. A capital lot of
horses competed, and the awarding of the prizes took
considerable time.

YOKES HIRE-
MEETING AT BAMNSLEY.
The first really dry showyard of the season fell to
the lot of this Society, at their Barnsley meeting.
The opening day, Aug. 3, was beautifully fine, and
we believe the weather was equally favourable to
the close on Thursday. This was quite an unexpected
treat to those whose duty calls them to the more im-
portant agricultural meetings, and the showyard,
which was well arranged, proved a great attraction
to the people of Barnsley and its neighbourhood, the
attendance being very large. The Show may he said
to have been a very good one, though on a rather
smaller scale than some of the former meetings of the
Society. Horses, always the chief feature of the
Yorkshire Show, were smaller in numbers than for
the past few years, but the entries were, as a rule,
quite up to the ordinary standard of excellence which
has been maintained by this Society. Cattle were a
small show of very moderate merit, if the few well-
known prize-winning animals are left out of con-
sideration. Shorthorns were the only breed exhibi-
ted, and it is usual to see most of the show animals
of the year meet for competition in Yorkshire ; how-
ever, this year there were fewer animals of this class
than for some time past. Sheep proved a small, but
good show, the competition lying, as is too often the
case, between very few breeders. The same remark
will apply even more forcibly to the pig classes, where
some three breeders had it all their own way. It is
monotonous and not a little tiresome to see the same
animals competing again and again without anything
like relief from local breeders, and the remark will apply
equally well to Shorthorns as to pigs. The imple-
ments formed a compact and interesting display, not on
quite so large a scale as usual — for implement displays
are being contracted in all our showyards — but afford-
ing quite an ordinary amount of interest, the stands
representing specialities only so far as the larger im-
plement makers are concerned. Altogether, the
Barnsley meeting must not be considered as in any
way behind the former meetings of the Yorkshire
Society, except in respect of Shorthorns, and in being
on a somewhat smaller scale.
HORSES.
The show of agricultural horses was very good in-
deed, some of the classes being of unusual excellence,
even for Yorkshire. The agricultural stallions three
years old and upwards numbered seven in the ring
before the judges, who had little difficulty in placing
the Earl of Ellesmere's Admiral first ; this four-year-
old bay by Honest Tom has won many prizes already,
and has often been alluded to in our reports of agri-
cultural shows. The second prize fell to Messrs.

Fewster, for a very capital six-year-old grey, Der-
went Lad, a smart and compact horse with good fore-
hand and good middle, but rather smaller in bone
than the one from Worsley Hall. Next him came
Master of Arts, a six-year-old dark brown horse bred
by Mr. J. P. Clark, and exhibited by Mr. R. Barrett,
of a good stamp, but not likely to win in very good
company. The Stand Stud Company's Young
Champion, the five-year-old horse who has been the
hero of so many showyards, and whose merits have,
on many occasions been alluded to by lis, was tin-own
out without even a commendation so far as we
know, and in this case the "Vet." could not have
been the cause, for the old horse is as sound as a bell,
and as active as a four-year-old.

This gives an opportunity to remark that there
should be some settled and uniform plan adopted
by agricultural societies with regard to veterinary
inspection at shows. Professor Pritchard's ser-
vices resulted in more than one ticket being
pulled down after it had been nailed up, and in
at least one case it led to the shifting the tickets
in a whole class. We like to see Professor
Pritchard, or anyone else as well qualified, in the
show ring, because no hoi-se which possesses heredi-
tary unsoundness should he allowed to take a prize in
an agricultural society's show. But we think his
services were called in too late on this occasion and
one or two other instances. It is vexing to award
prizes in a class and then have them shifted one
degree lower down throughout. It is rather a difficult
matter to know bow to arrange this inspection business.
If the judges call in a professional man only in cases
where they are in doubt, or in cases where protests
are laid — after the judging — by somebody who
happens to know a something about a certain horse
which the judges were unable to discover, or to wdiich
they might not have attached vital importance, then
much bother, dissatisfaction, and disappointment will
be likely to ensue. On the other hand, if a veterinary
surgeon were to enter a ring and disqualify every un-
sound horse, then the show system, we fear, would
collap-e. The one great point is, we think, that no
unsound horse should ever get a prize, in breeding
stoek shows, if his unsoundness is hereditary ; and
to this end we would suggest that the veterinary
should be called in after the judges had made their
choice, and before, instead of after, the rosettes had
been handed. This would answer all purposes, and
prevent all unpleasantness. It was done in one case
at Barnsley, to which reference will be made in duo
course, and the result, so far as the professional in-
spection was concerned, was very satisfactory.

But to return to our review of the classes as we found
them at Barnsley. Besides the horses already men-
tioned in the class for aged stallions there was nothing
of very great merit ; and, in fact, the class as a whole
was rather a poor one. The Earl of Ellesmere's
Pride of the Fens is not, to our mind, a credit to the
Worsley Hall stud. Mr. Shaw's big black horse,
Waggoner, is leggy and slight in his middle pieee.
Mr. W. Featherley's King Walter is more of a coach
horse than anything else, and besides the Earl of
Ellesmere's Admiral and the Stand Stud Company's
Young Champion, there was not a really first-rate
horse amongst them, not excepting the grey. The
two-year-olds formed a class of nine, and were a better
lot than the older horses. The Eari of Ellesmere was
again first with Prime Minister, a horse we noticed
when he was shown at Carlisle ; he was bred by Mr.
Libbett, and not at the Worsley Hall stud. Next
him came Crowland Hero from the Stand Stud Com-
pany, another horse which we have commented on
before. Mr. R. Stephenson, of Tadcaster, showed a

THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE.

185

very useful chestnut, Lord of the Manor, by Tops-
man, and Mr. Wright's King Tom will make a big
horse of considerable merit.

Brood mares and foals numbered seven, and they
took the judges some time to place their awards. The
merit of both mare and foal had to be taken into con-
sideration in this class ; there was no separate class
for the foals, as is usual in such cases, and this made
the matter a rather difficult one. Thus the Earl of
Ellesmere's well-known and very capital seven-year-
old mare, Damsel, having a young, and not very
hist- rate foal, was <juite out of the running ; and
Flora, another mare of the same age from Worsley,
although a good mare with a really good foal by her
side, had to be placed third in the ranks. Black
Diamond, a six-year-old mare with a capital foal at
her side, very fairly earned first honours. She is a
very smart goer, and has excellent feet and good Hat
legs, with p.enty of hair on them ; she was exhibited
by Messrs. J*\ and G. Townson, of Garstang, and her
very promising foal is by Cardinal. The winner of
the second prize was a teu-year-old mare, Bounce, a
very short-legged, compact mare, with a crest like a
stallion, and a foal at her side by Emperor, that will
make a good horse or fail to carry out what is now
very great promise. Mr. Bingham's grey mare
Darling, by Bold Lincoln, with a foal by Young
Thumper, made an entry of considerable merit, and
the class altogether was a good one. Three-year-old
hllies numbered only four, the absentees being also
four in number. Mr. R. Loder's Darling 3rd (which
was beaten by a gelding at Leicester) won very easily,
and we have already described her as a good mare.
Another mare of Mr. Loder's, Jeannie Sproat, we
remember to have seen at Leicester. Second award
was won by the Earl of Ellesmere with a big-bodied
mare on rather slight legs. Mr. G. Dawson's Dia-
mond, a very smart and clean bay, with scarcely sub-
stance enough to win, is of a stamp net met with
every day, all over a good one and very handsome.
Two-year-old fillies made up a class of seven. Mr.
T. 11. Miller's Bessie, a bay bred by Mr. Shaw, took
first prize-, probably from possessing rather more sub-
stance than a better filly exhibited by the Earl of
Ellesmere ; the latter having clean hocks, good fiat
legs with plenty of hair, excellent quarters, and good
free action. Miss Champion, exhibited by the Stain 1
Stud Company, is a capital mare to look at but she
can't move. Mr. Myers, of Tadcaster, showed a good
filly, and Mr. Loder's Sonsie Queen lias merits, but
is too light in bone. Yearlings were shown as one
class, colts and fillies together — a bad plan, as fillies
have but little chance against colts. The Earl of
Ellesmere was to the front again with a big colt which
was a little hollow in the back, and perhaps a trifle
narrow, but possessing the best of legs and feet. The
judges evidently took this into consideration in
awarding the prize to him instead of to Mr. Kitch-
ing's Gladstone, a fine upstanding colt of much
greater substance, and about equally good action, but
more the character of a Clydesdale. Third in favour
was Mr. T. H. Miller's Meta, a bay filly with low,
quick action, thick set and very promising. Mr.
Loder's King of the Forest is a good colt, but a shamb-
ling goer. Mr. Kirk's Dewdrop has the making of a
useful mare about her, and may improve greatly by
another year. The Earl of Ellesmere's second entry
was not much credit to Worsley Hall, and Dr-
Waller, of Feterboro' entered a chestnut filly, which
will make a weight-carrying hunter. Frobably this
was an error in entering.

Four-year-old mares and geldings formed a class of
twelve, and gave the judges great trouble. It is a
most unsatisfactory thing to show marcs against geld-

ings. The first prize was a foregone conclusion from
the time the class was first walked round the ring.
Mr. R. Katelift'e's bay gelding Sampson, which ought
to have been left entire, won an easy victory over the
Earl of Ellesmere's four-year-old mare Darling, win-
ner of many substantial honours. It was impossible
for the judges to get away from such a horse as
Sampson. Mr. T. H. Miller's six-year-old black
mare Topsy, was high in the favour of the judges,
but she was deserted after Frofessor Pritchard had
been called in. Mr, Loder's Maggie is a fine old
mare, but is rather deficient in bone ; she made a
good third, however. The Stand Stud Company
sent a grey mare, Bonny, six-year-old, which might
have had a ticket of some sort ; but pasteboard was
very scarce at Barnsley, so far, at least, as the horse
classes were concerned. There were two other mares
from Worsley, a mare and a gelding from Earl Fitz-
william, a five-year-old chestnut mare, Jolly, a capital
mover, from Mr.- W. Baker of Moor Barns, and a big
upstanding four-year-old dark chestnut gelding,
Clyde, exhibited by Mr. H. Lawson. There was a
class for two*year-old geldings in which the re were
three entries, and a class for dray horses in which
five entries afforded the widest difference of stamp and
character. It is difficult to see wherever these horses
differed from those entered as agricultural, and the
Shire- bred agricultural horse in his perfection is the
best dray horse yet inveiued. However, the judges
gave the prizes for short-legged horses with plenty of
hair, and good feet. Quite right.

Hunters, and the classes for light horses of various
types, were a good show, and all the horses were
exceedingly well housed in preparation for the rough
weather, which fortunately did not come. The stalls,
however, were very hot. In the class for thorough-
bred stallions suitable for getting hunters, Mr. Yy net's
Due de Beaufort was disqualified after the judging
was over by Frofessor Pritchard, and his white rosette
taken from him. The winner was, therefore, Mr.
II. Webster's Glenfilloii, a seven-year-old black horse,
full of quality, and all over a hunter ; his neck, how-
ever, is rather thick and plain. The Stand Stud
Company's Meteor we should take to be the better
horse, but he was put second by the judges. Mr.
Fleming's Muleteer is a plain, good horse, useful, but
has the head and neck of a gelding. There were five
hunting mares and foals, Mr. Leighton's aged ba}',
Snowflake, taking the lead -r we think there was not
much to choose between her and Mr. Nalton's Jezebel,
a deep, roomy, well-topped, aged chestnut. The
two-j'ear-old hunting fillies were not a very first-rate
class, but the three-year- old and four-year-old mares and
fillies were capital classes. There were some first-rate
and well-known animals in the several classes for
hunters, especially amongst the weight-carriers.

Coaching stallions were ten in number, forming a
very capital class. The judges could not agree as to
the chief award, and an umpire was called in after
Professor Pritchard had given the three selected
horses a severe trial for soundness in wind and limb.
This was as it should be, and no appeal on »that score
could afterwards be made. The ehoice lay between
Mr. Kirby's two-year-old, The Fashion, bred by Mr.
T. Plowright, and the Stand Stud Company's three-
year old, Conservative, and the umpire gave the award
to the former. This decision is, of course, open to
much question, as the younger horse has rather
sprawling action, and is not such a good bodied horse
as Conservative ; but he is very showy. There were
several good horses in this class, and, as a coach
horse, Mr. Brooke's big brown horse, Young Kernp-
tewn, was amongst the best. There were four roadster,
stallions, Mr. Cromp ton's Dorrington, a dark chest.

186

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

nut with silver mane and tail, taking precedence to
the Stand Stud Company's Star of the .hast, a horse
we have several times commented on. The classes
for coaching horses, roadsters, and ponies were well
filled, and the judging in several of them was not
comjileted until the second day of the Show. Alto-
gether the exhibition of horses was a very good one,
and creditable to the Yorkshire Show.
CATTLE.

Shorthorns made but a small show, and after a few
well-known animals have been mentioned there is
nothing else to be said. There was only one family
entered, the noted Telemachus group, and that was
absent on account of the death of the cow Sea Gull,
which has bred such good stock for the Marquis of
Exeter. This is a great loss to the Bingley Park
herd, and the Marquis will not be likely to get another
such a bull-breeder. In the class for old bulls there
were the Earl of Ellesmere's Attractive Lord, Mr.
Willis's two bulls, Vice and Rear Admiral, Mr. Faw-
cett's Peter the Great, and Mr. "Wentworth's Prime
Minister. Attractive Lord was placed first and Vice
Admiral second. In the next class was Mr. Hand-
ley's Master Harbinger, Mr. Taylor's Prince Louis,
and Mr. Willis's Flag Officer, which were placed
in the order named ; all of them are known to our
readers. The yearlings and bull calves were poor
classes, Mr. Hutchinson's Knight of Ears, and Mr.
Acker's Lord George Hamilton being about the only
good ones. The cows were eight in number ; Mr.
Hutchinson's Grateful, Mr. Acker's Princess Georgie,
Lady Carew 3rd, and Lady Carew 2nd, Captain Ashby
Ashby's Innocence, and the Duke of Portland's
Georgina 2nd were placed in the order given above.
None of these animals require further comment. Mr.
Hutchinson's Gainful headed the list of the two-year-
old heifers, and the next best appeared to be Mr.
Whyte's Gaiety 6th, although she was placed third.
The yearling heifers under two years bid included
in their number the two from Berkeley Castle, which
were so much admired at Worcester, Lady Wild Eyes
15th and Dowager 2nd, both by Duke of Connauglrt
The third prize was given to Mr. J. Peel for Co-
quette, a deep-framed, but uneven heifer, bred by Mr.
W. S. Woodroffe, and the reserve number to another
heifer of Mr. Peel's, of a rather useful type. Mr.
Hutchinson's Gratia and Mr. Acker's Lady Carew
4th obtained high commendations. There were four
entries of dairy cattle.

SHEEP.

Leicesters proved a strong division, and in the class
for shearling rams, which was well filled, Mr. W.
Drown obtained the precedence of Mr. Hutchinson,
whose rams, though smaller, were of rather better
character. In the class for older rams Mr. Ho Wen
Boston was the winner. There were several entries
from Mr. Boston's flock in both classes. Lincolns
were well shown by Mr. Henry Smith, Mr. John
Byron, Mr. Pears, and the .Messrs. Dudding. Shrop-
shires were rather a small show from the Hocks of .Mr.
Baker, of .Moor Barns, the Duke of Portland, Mr.
R. Loder, and the Earl of Zetland. There were also
a few Sonthdowns from Merton and Sandringham,
making a small but very select representation of the
breed. The Lonka, Wensleydale Long-wools, Penis-
tone, and Black-faced Mountain breeds were sparingly
represented, and do not call for special mention,
except that the latter afford the famous Barnsley
chops which have a well-deserved reputation.

PIGS.

As already slated, the competition in this division

>f the Show was very much restricted, the Earl of

Ellesmere, the Messrs. Duckering, Mr. Sander8
Spencer, and Mr. Crowther being the winners, as
usual in the classes for white breeds. Berkshires and
other black breeds were shown by Mr. C. Duckering,
Mr. Ackers, Mr. Crowther, the Earl of Ellesmere, and
a few others.

The total entries of live stock were as follows :—
Horses, 217 ; cattle, 79 ; sheep, 123 ; pigs, 88.

PRIZE LIST.
HORSES.

Stallions (thoroughbred), for getting hunters. — 1, V. Webster
(Glennllan) ; 2, Stand Stud Company (Meteor) ; 3, W.
Robinson (Bourbaki).

Coaching stall ons.—l. J. Kirby (The Fashion); 2, Stand
Stud Company (Conservative).

Roadster stallions. — 1, J. P. Crompton (Dorrington) ; 2,
Stand Stud Company (Star of the East).

Agricultural stallions, three years old and upwards. — 1,
Earl of Ellesmere (Admiral) ; 2, Messrs. Fewster (Derwent
Lad); 3, R. Barrett (Master of Art--).

Entire agricultural colts, foaled in 1»78.— 1, Earl of Elles-
mere (Prime Minibter) ; 2, Stand Stud Company (Crow-
land Hero).

Hunting brood mares and foals. — 1, G. Leighton (Snow-
flake) ; 2, J. Walton (Jezebel); 3, H. Watson (Lady
Decanter).

Agricultural brood mares and foals.— 1, F. and G. Townsou
(Black Diamond); 2, Executors of the laie E. Pease
(Bounce).

AGBICrxTCRAL.

Yearling colt? or fillies.— 1, Earl of Ellesmere; 2, W. Hitch-
ing (Gladstone).

Geldings, two years old.— 1, T.H.Miller; 2, J. Creighton
(Jolly).

Fillies, two years old.— T. H. Miller (Bessie) ; 2, Earl of
Ellesmere.

Fillies, three years old.— 1, R. Loder, M. P. (Darlington 3rd) ;
2. Earl of Ellesmere.

Geldings or mares, lour years old and upwards. — 1. *1.
Ratchff (Sampson) ; 2, Earl of Ellesmere (Darling) j 3, K.
Loder (Maggie).

BEAT.

Geldings or marcs of any age.— 1, R. Ratcliff (Ghost) ; 2, T.
H. Miller (Princess Daguiar).

HC.NTERS.

Yearling colts and fillies.— 1, T. H. Foden (The Marquis) ; 2,

Q. Whitehead (Beaufort).
Geldings, two years old.— 1, W. C. Jordison (Novelty) ; 2,

H. Machin (Robin Hood).
F.llies, two years old.— 1, R. Dennison (Magnet.) ; 2, Stand

Stud Co (Miss Laughingstock).
Geldings, three years old.— 1, P. J. Snowball (.Eolns) j 2, J.

S. Darrell (Tbrixendalc) ; 3, A. .T. Brown (Gambler).
Fillies, three years old. — 1, J. Lett (Coquette) ; 2, R. Colling

(Bondmaid) ; 3, T. W. Browne (Eluby Grey).
Geldings, lour years old. — 1, A. J. Brown (Brown Prince) ;

2, A. J. Brown (Red Prince) ; 3, J, Rob-on (Chancellor).
Mares, four years Old.— 1, J. .Lett (Landlady) ; 2, P. P. New-
ton (Jewess).
Geldings, four years old.— 1, F. P. Newton (Jericho) ; 2, A. J.

Brown (Hercules) ; 3, T. Cattle (Comet).
Geldings or mares, five, six, or seven years old. — 1, C. Rose

(Noblemau) ; 2, T. Catile (Corky) ; 3, A.J. Brown (Rory).
Geldings or mares, five, six, or seven years old. — 1, T. Cattle

(Cigarette) ; 2, G. B. Pierson (Thorinanby) ; 3. A. J. Brown

(1 he Robber).

CATTLE.

SHORTHOHWS.

Families of shorthorns, to consist of cow of any age, and

two or more of hor descendants.— Prize, H.Fawcett ( Hram-

hope Darling, Bramhopo Darling 2nd, Royal I anoaster).
Bulls, of any age above 3 years old.— 1, Earl of Ellesmere

(Attractive Lord) ; 2, T. Willis, jun. (Vico-Admiral) ; 3, T.

Willis, jun. (Bear-Admiral).
Bulls, above 2 and not exceeding 3 years old.— l.W. Handley

(Master Harbinger); 2, R.Taylor (Prince Loui-) ; 3, T.

Willis, jun. (Flag Officer).
Bulls, above 1 and not exceeding 2 years old.— 1, E. F.

Jordan (Prince Ruth) ; 2, H11.H. The Prince of Wales

(Petrarch); 3, T. H. Miller (Brightonian).
Bull calves, above 5 and not exceeding 12 months obi.— 1,

T. H. Hutchinson (Knight of Kars) ; 2, Sir W. C.

Worsley, Bart. (Hovingham) ; 3, B. St. John Ackers (Lord

George Hamilton).
Cow, of any age above 3 years old.— 1, T. H. Hutchinson

(Grateful); 2, B. St.. John Ackers (Princess Georgie); 3,

B. St. John Ackers (Lady Carew 3d).
Heifers, not exceeding 3 years old— 1, T. II. Hutchinson

(Gainful); 2, 11. Fawcelt (Buttorbow); 3, J. Why te (Gaiety

Olh).

THE FARMER'S MAGAZIN1

187

Heifers, not exceeding two years old.— 1, Lord Fitzhnrdinge

(l-ady Wild Eyes 6th) ; 2, Loril Fiizhardinge (Dowager

L'H't) ; 3, J. Peel (Uas<iuette).
Heifer calves, above five and not exceeding twelve months

old.— 1 and 2, Duke of Portland (Rosiua and Lady Bidding-

ton) j 3, T. H. Hutchinson ((lainsome).

DAIBT I ATTLB.

Cows for dairy purposes.— 1, T. H. Miller (Dairymaid); 2.
F.J S. Foljambc, M.P. (Eugenie); 3, Messrs. Cowaul
(Polly).

SHEEP.

UlCBSTIBB.

Shearling rams.— 1,W. Brown; 2, T. H. Hutchinson; 3, H.
Borton.

Aged rams.— 1, H. Borton ; 2, R. W. Creswell ; 3, H. Bor-
ton.

Five shearling gimmers. — 1, E. F. Jordan ; 2, W. Brown.

LINCOLBS.

Shearling rains. — 1, 2, and 3, H. Smith.
Aged rams — 1, H. Sm th ; 2. J. Byron.
Shearling gimmers. — 1 and 2, .[. Pears.

SHROPSHIRE.

Shearling rams. — 1, W. Baker ; 2 and 3, R. Loder.
Aged rams. — 1, Earl of Zetland ; 2, Duke o' Portland.
Shearling gimmers.— 1, W. Baker ; 2, Duke of Portland.

ANT OTHER DOWN BKEBD.

Short-woolled shearling rams. — 1 and 2, Lord Walsmgham;
3. H.R.H. the Prince of Wales.

Short-woolled aged rams. — 1 and 2, Lord Walsingham.

Five short-woolled shearling gimmers. — 1, Lord Walsing-
ham ; 2, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales.

L0NK8.

Shearling rams — Prizo, D Lambert and Son.
Aged rams. — Prize, D. Lambert and Son.
Shearling gimmers. — 1 and 2, D. Lambert and Son.

WENSLEYDALE LONG-WOOLLKD.

Shearling rams. — 1, J. J. Espiner ; 2, J. Willis, jun.
Aged rams. — Prize, J. Willis, jun.
Shearling gimmers. — 1 and 2, J. Willis, jun.

BLACK-FACED MOUNTAIN.

Shearling rams. — 1, R. Wilcock ; 2, J. Young.
Aged rams.— 1, W. D. Whi taker; 2, T. Young.
Gimmers.— Prize, W. L. Whitaker.
TIGS.

TWELVE MONTHS Ol.I) AND TjrWlRDS.

Boars of large white breed. — I, Earl of Ellesmere; 2, S.

Spencer (Sampson 6th).
Sows of large white breed in pig or milk. — 1 and 2, Earl of

Ellesmere.
Boars of small white breed. — 1, Earl of Ellesmere; 2, R. E,

Duckering and Sons.
Sows of pmall white breed in pig or milk. — 1, R. E. Ducker-
ing and Sons ; 2, A . Crowther.
Boars of small black breod. — 1 and 2, ('. E. Duckering.
Sows of small black breed in pig or milk. — land 2, C. E.

Duckering.
Boars cf Berkshire breed. — 1 and 2, C. E. Duckering.
Sows of Berkshire breed in pic or milk. — 1, (J. E. Duckering;

2, B. St. J. Ackers (Snowdrop).
Boars of any breed.— 1, Earl of Ellesmere ; 2, J. and J.

Nuttall (bi 1).
Sows of any breed in pig or milk. — 1, S. Spencer (Silver

Hair) ; 2, Earl of Ellesmere.

NOT EXCEEDING TWELVE MONTHS «LD.

Boar of large white breed — 1, Earl of Ellesmere ; 2, R. E.
Duckering and Sons.

Sows of large white breed. — 1, A- Crowther ; 2, Earl of Elles-
mere.

Boars of small white breed. —Prize, Earl of Ellesmere.

Sows of small white breed.— 1, Earl of Ellesmere; 2, A.
Jackson.

Boars of small breed. — 1, J.Mollett (Young Prince); 2, C. E.
Duckering.

Sows of small black breed.— 1, C. E. Duckering ; 2, J.
Mollett.

Boa-s of Berkshire breed.— 1 and 2, C. E. Duckering.

Sows of Berkshire breed.— 1, T. Strickland ; 2, C. E. Ducker-
ing.

Bo:irs of any breed.— 1, Earl of Ellesmere; 2, J. and J.
Nuttall (Hero).

Sows of any breed.— 1, T. Strickland ; 2, Earl of Ellesmere.

IMPLEMENTS.

The space devoted to this part of the Show was
not so large as usual, but the exhibition of machinery
and implements of various kinds was none the less
interesting. The trial ot traction engines in the ring
set apart for the purpose afforded a great deal of
interest to a large number of spectators. The first
engine to perform in the ring was a six-horse-power,
very handy, manufactured by Messrs. J. and II.
McLaren, of Leeds. The driver of this, little engiu

seemed to know his work well, and turned his engine
in very small space when going at a high rate of
speed both forward and backward. Next came a
seven-horse-power, manufactured by Messrs. Charles
Burrell and Sons, of Thetford, which took greater
space to turn, and was not managed so easily. After
this Messrs. Fowler, of Leeds, sent one of their double
set six-horse-power engines into the ring. The
travelling wheel of this engine is of greater diameter
than either of the others, and the speed with which it
can travel is quite as great as there ran be any
necessity t'>r in a traction engine. This double set has
the appearance of being very useful for many kinds of
work on a farm, and in the winter time each engine
could be attached to a thrashing machine, and so be
earning money, as well as keeping the engine men
employed — a great point in all kinds of engine work
on farms. If ordinary labourers are employed to
drive engines after a term of tuition, the result is,
usually, that the machinery soon gets out of order ;
whereas a skilled driver can more than save the cost
of his labour in the item of ropes alone, besides
keeping the engines in thorough working order. In
this case, as in all others, the best labour is the
cheapest, and one great feature in the use of six-
horse-power traction engines is that they afford an
opportunity of employing skilled men as drivers all
the year round.

Messrs. Clayton and Slmttleworth, of Lincoln,
showed a 6-horse power traction engine, portable
engines, and their well-known thrashing, chaff-bagg-
ing, and finishing machines, to which they have
adapted a patent safety drum guard and feeder, which
has a set ol knives moved by a chain in such a way
that the bands of the sheaves are cut as they enter the
thrashing machine. Messrs. Marshall, Sons, and Co. ,
of Gainsborough, showed portable engines and thrash-
ing machines ; Messrs. Huston, Proctor, and Co., of
Lincoln, also had portable engines and thrashing
machines; Messrs. Robey and Co., of Lincoln,
showed traction and portable engines, thrashing
machines, and an elevator ; Messrs. Aveling and
Porter, of Rochester, had traction engines, and their
new fifteen-ton steam road roller, which can be turned
in little more than its own length ; Messrs. Bansomes,
Sims, and Head, of Ipswich, exhibited their traction
engine and thrashing machine, fitted with all their
recent improvements, also a large collection of
ploughs and mowers. Messrs. Homsby and Sons, of
Grantham, exhibited their portable engine and
thrashing machine, together with the hedge-trimming
machine (which has several times been described in
our columns), reapers, mowers, ploughs, and turnip
cutters. Messrs. Barford and Perkins, of Peter-
borough, had on their stand a. portable engine, flour-
dressing machine, and corn-grinding mills. Messrs.
Pickslcy, Sims, and Co., of Manchester, exhibited
chaff cutters, corn mills, and horse rakes. Messrs.
Richmond and Chandler, of Salford, had a number of
root pulpers, chaff cutters, and corn mills.

Pesides those well-known names we noticed
well-filled stands in various local names. Messrs.
W. N. Nicholson and Son, of Newark, showed
grist mills, and a vertical engine and boiler.
Mr. Henry Bushel, of York, had a large assort-
ment of agricultural machinery, manufactured
by nearly all the best-known makers. Messrs. W.
Foster and Co., of Lincoln, exhibited a very well-
finished portable engine and thrashing machine.
Mr. J. "Weighall, of Pickering, showed a vertical
engine, a portable engine, and several powerful corn
mills. Messrs. Jefifery and Blackstone, of Stamford,
had a large display of chaff cutters and mills for
esteani power, together with several engines for agii.

183

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

cultural purposes. Messrs. Bradley and Craven, of
Wakefield ; the Saville .Street Foundry and Engineer-
ing Company, of Sheffield ; and Mr. John Yardley,
of Sheffield, showed engines of various kinds, and the
latter had a large collection of chaff cutters, root
pulpers, horse rakes, and various other implements.

Besides these, there were also large and well-rilled
stands representing the firms of Messrs. J. B. and T.
Edlington, of Gainsborough ; Messrs. J. Firth and
Sons, of Dewsbury ; Messrs. Anns and Smith, of Hull ;
Messrs. Crossley Bros., of Manchester ; Messrs.
Tasker and Sons, of Sheffield ; Messrs. A. Hughes
and Sons, of Malton ; Messrs. Hydes and Wigfull, of
Sheffield; Messrs. Reynolds and Wadsworth, of Barns-
ley ; Mr. W. R. Stead, of Barnsley ; Messrs. Harrison,
McGregor, and Co., of Leigh ; Messrs. Haggard and
Bruby, of Rotherham ; Messrs. F. and H. Mattison, of
Bedale ; Messrs. Yates, of Doncaster ; Mr. John Robin-
son, of Leeds; Mr. James Coultas, of Grantham; and
the East Yorkshire Cart and Waggon Company, of
Barnsley.

Messrs. Crosskill and Sons, of Barnsley, showed
their clod crashers, carts, waggons, and lorries.
Messrs. Penny and Co., of Lincoln, had potato
diggers, corn screens, and sack trucks. Messrs.
Coleman and Morton, of Chelmsford, showed their
well-known cultivators and manure carts. Messrs.
R. Rainforth and Sons, of Lincoln, exhibited drills,
cultivators, and harrows. And besides these and
other stands of implements there were many stands
devoted to miscellaneous articles connected more or
less with agriculture.

One of the most attractive stands in the showyard
was that of Messrs. S. Seal and Co., of the Darfiehl
Stone Quarries, who had a large stand of mill and
other stones, the pyramid of mill stones forming a
very pleasing picture of the Show. Mr. E. Cook, of
Barnsley, had a very large show of his new
farinaceous food for horses and cattle of all kinds.
For his spice he claims that it is not meant as a sub-
stitute for corn, but to be mixed with the usual food.
Dr. A. Hill Hassall reports most favourably of it.
Messrs. Day, Son and Hewett, of London, have, as
usual, a large stand, and as their medicines are so well
known, we can only say th°y were well patronised.
Messrs. Pearson and Son, Gainsborough, exhibited
one of their new seed crashers. Messrs. Howes and
Son, Norwich, had a large stand of carriages and
pony traps, and were much admired for their style of
building and finish. Messrs. Speigh and Son, Brad-
ford, had a large show of carriages, and the most
prominent was one of their new sporting farts. It is
so built that tlie scats can be made larger or smaller,
and the body of the cart will contain guns, parcels,
&c. A brougham on this stand also deserved special
notice for its finish, &c. Messrs. E. B. Wood and
Co., Sheffield, had a very large stand of their barrels,
tubs, &c, the finish of them being much admired.

Chambers of Agricul-
ture,

BEDALE.

The quarterly meeting of the members of this
Chamber was held on Aug. 3, at Bedale. Captain
Clarke (president) occupied the chair.

Mr. Robinson read a paper on the Employers'
Liability Bill, which he said aimed at taking away
the law of common employment ; but while this
principle was overthrown by the Bill, it went further,
and said that a workman should be compensated for
injury caused by defective machinery or improper

bye-laws. So far as the farming interest was con-
cerned, only under certain circumstances would
damages be recoverable for the ordinary run of acci-
dents in farm labour, such, for instance, as falling
from a load of hay or straw, or the running away of
a horse or horses, for, unless the rides of the
employer or the act of a oreman had directly con-
tributed to the accident, damages would not be
recoverable.

The Chairman thought that if the Employers'
Liability Bill was attended with success in the direc-
tion of insurances it would do a great work, and
would go far towards lowering their poor-rates.

Mr. Robinson next introduced for discussion the
Agricultural Holdings Amendment Act, as introduced
by Mr. Samuelson, and read its chief provisions, with
which he cordially agreed.

Mr. Tkale said that as there were three Bills on
the subject before the Committee of the House of
Commons they were entering into a discussion on a
a Bill which might never be before the House, and
moved that the Chamber request the Central
Chamber not to give their support to any measure
that would be of a compulsory nature.

Mr. Smith seconded the proposition.

Mr. ROBINSON ditfered entirely with Mr. Teale's
view of the subject. He considered that Mr. Chaplin's
Bill was simply a stop-gap to legislation, ami Mr.
Staveley's Bill was not to be compared to Mr. Samuel-
sun's, which was one of the best Bills that had ever
been brought forward in the interests of the farmers.
He, therefore, moved, as an amendment, that a peti-
tion be sent to the House of Commons from the
Chamber in favour of the Agricultural Holdings
Amendment Act, 1875 (No. 5).

Mr. Smith, in seconding the amendment, said he
did so because he thought that the Chamber might
support both the resolution and amendment without
stultifying itself.

The motion and amendment were then put to the
meeting, and as each received an equal number of
votes, and the chairman declined to give his casting
vote, the subject dropped.

The Chairman then called attention to the case in.

which the Duke of Leeds was recently fined at Bedale
for cruelty to animals.

Mr. TEAXE questioned the policy of the Chamber
going into the matter. It had been before the House
of Commons, and lie did not think any good would
be gained by their re-opening the subject.

The CHAIRMAN said it was a most important sub-
ject for farmers, as it appeared there was a necessity
for a permanent mark being made upon cattle, and
an indelible one. He thought the ventilation of the
question might lead to some favourable and valuable
suggestions.

After some further discussion, Dr. Brown agreed to
bring a paper before the Chamber ou the whole sub-
ject a month hence.

SUNDERLAND.

The half-yearly meeting of the Chamber of Agricul-
ture was held on Saturday July 31, at Sunderland, Mr.
Jeremiah Abbs presided. The first business was to
consider the amendments to the Hares and Rabbits
Bill.

Captain BeCKWTTH said he had noticed that Sir
Selwin-lbbetson was bringing in a Bill dealing with
game. He had not seen it, but understood it was
simply to enable farmers and their landlords to make
agreements respecting their game.
"The Chairman said he would abolish the Came
Laws and make the game the actual property of tho.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

189

former ; poachers would thus be made thieves, and
be punished accordingly. He would make the game
the actual property of the tenants, to be considered
part of the produce of the farm.

Captain BeckWITH thought if this was done they
would have to alter the law of trespass very consider -
a:>ly. He did not think the Bill would make much
matter to the farmers.

The Chairman : Not in this district.

Mr. Lax said the farmers were well protected by
the keepers, but thought it would be much better if
the farmers had the whole of the hares and rabbits iu
their own hands.

After some further remarks, Mr. McLaren moved,

That this Chamber, having considered the Hares and
Rabbits Hill, views with satisfaction the efforts of the
Government to remove the grievances that many tenant-
farmers suffer from, and hopes the Bill, with some altera-
tions, may pass into law.

Mr. T. Clegram seconded, and the motion was
passed unanimously.

The next subject was to consider the Highways
(Horse-Rate) Bill.

The Chairman said they had received a communi-
cation from the Secretary of the Central Chamber of
Agriculture stating that the House of Lords was about
to appoint a Select Committee to inquire into the
working of Highway Acts generally, and suggesting
the propriety of acquainting the Chamber of
this step, and invite them to send for sub-
mission to the committee the names of any persons
specially well qualified to give evidence respecting
the state of highway matters in this district. They
also requested that it might be brought under the
cognisance of the Highway Board in the neighbour-
hood.

It was agreed to leave the matter in the hands of
the Chairman and Secretary to bring it before the
Houghton Highway Board at the next meeting.

Regarding the Agricultural Holdings (Amendment)
Act, the Chairman said that its object was to make
compulsory the paying of compensation for unex-
hausted improvements. He thought the principle
was a good and fair one.

Captain Beckwith said he could not agree with all
its details.

THE IMPORTATION OF FOREIGN
CATTLE.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.— Feidat, Aug. 6.

At the evening sitting, on the order for going into Com-
mittee of Supply,

Mr. ARNOLD rope to call attention to the restrictions upon
the import of foreign animals and to the proceedings 01 the
Privy Couucil under the provisions of the Contagious
Dise-ses (Aninnls) Act, 1878, as well as to the Orders in
Council made by authority of that statute. He began by re-
marking that the constituency he represented had been
disastrously affected by the legislation of the late Govern-
ment in re1 erence to this subject. That legislation arose in
the first place out of a demand made, especially by those who
were engaged in the production of meat, that all foreign
animals import d into this country should bo slaughtered at
the port o' landing. That was opposed by the present occu-
pants of the Treasnry Bench, particularly by the right hon.
members for Sheffield, Bradford, and Derby, but he thought
the substantial victory remained with their political oppo-
nents. He admi' ted that we ought to be extremely careful
with regard to any outbreak of cattle plague, and he was far
from thinking the legislation of the late Government had
been without avail. Still, at the present time that legisla-
tion had reduced the whole world, as far as the importation
of cattle was concerned, to Denmark, Sweden, Norway,
Spain, and Portugal. Throughout this country an opinion
prevailed that the Duke of Richmond and Gordon was not
thoroughly impartial in this matter, and he could not feel
surprised at tins when he remembered that his Grace, speak-

ing in December last, said, " I am interested in a r'culturv
i and in nothing else." Consequen ly his Grace was not a fit per

sun to control th ■ importa ion of foreign cattle, and it waswith
a feeling of dissatisfaction that a deputation recently leirnt
from the present Lord President that it was his intention
to follow the policy laid down by his predecessor. (" No,"
from Mr. Mundella). Tho Privy Council, in its official
character, was one of the most curious and nondescript
bodies in the kingdom. Not long ago a man who looked
like a ship's captain accosted him iu Downing Street and
6aie, " an j ou tell me the way to the Education Office?'
He pointed to the door of his right hon. friend's department,
when he noticed a puzzled look on the countenance of the
man, who observed, " l am hung up with a car o of beasts,
and they recommend me to go to trie Education Office. Is
that right?" ho replied, "Ob, yes; they deal therewith
education, cattle, and Indian appeals." This episode illus-
trated the position in which he stood, for he was referred by
the President of the Council to the right hon. gentleman the
vice President of the Committee of Council on Education,
with the assurance that that right hon. gentleman was
entitled to be held free of all responsibility in the matter.
In act, the Lord President was the Council on this subject ;
and it was not right that this power should be in the hands
of a single person, however trustworthy he mi«ht be. It
ought not to be entrusted to a single country gentleman or
to one mamber of that august body which first of all and
represented the la.ided interest of this country. The imports
of live animals into this country in the first six months of
the last three years had been as follows:— 1878, 621,590;
1879, 535.988; and 1880, 618,121. The increase in value was
more remarkable than the increase in the numbers, the rise
in value being due to the greater number of large animals.
The values for the three periods had been £2,923.378,
£2,737,069, and £1,720,582. You could not impose any re-
strictions on a trade without lessening that trade and
diminishing the supply of the article. As the right hon.
member for Bradford had said, "Live animals could wait
for the ma, k t and could follow it, while dead meat was a
perishable article, and a forced sale of it generally resulted
in a loss." It was not at all surprising that the dead in»-at
trade did not exhibit at all the same capacity for increase as
the live meat trade, and in the firsi six mnnths of this year
the increase in live animals had been four times as great aa
the increase in the dead meat trade. It was, perhaps, well
the public did not know how dead meat was treated on its
way to the inland markets. The superintendent of the dead
meat market of Manchester wrote that lar^e quantities ol
meat had often to be disposed of at a loss of Id. p<;r lb., or to
bo seized on account of its bad condition. In the London
dead meat market it was not at all an extrordinary circum-
stance for 30 or 50 tons of meat to be seized and condemned
a* unfit for food, and these quantities represented but a small
proportion of the meat which was sold at a loss because it
was approaching a condition which would render it liable to
seizure. He had been informed there was 150 tons of meat
had tieen sold in one day at a nominal price, in order to pre-
vent its complete confiscation. He found also at the Metro-
politan Cattle Market last Monday the shortest-known
arrival of British cattle was recorde 1. Taking, he might
add, the estimate of the hon. member for Forfarshire that IS
millions were the value of the meat represented by the homo
production in this country, he found that the proportion
which the foreign importation of live cattle bore to it was moro
than 20 per cent., or, more accurately speaking, ho
would say 25 per cent., for he regarded the estimate of tho
hon, member for Forfarshire as being too high. He might
further observe that a volume which had been presented to
the House that day was full of evidence to show that no
disease whatsoever of a cont igious character existod among
the flocks and herds of the Western States of America. It
was indeed stated by Professor Law that he believed the
cattle of those States to be as sound as the buffaloes of tho
plains. There could, in fact, bo no doubt as to the excel-
lence of the cattle imported from America, although quite
as much could not be said for the sheep. Pleuro-pneumonia
was, he was aware, a very serious disease, but he did not
know that there was any part of the world more enti elv
free from it than the Western States of America. He ould
quote evidence to show thet it had made its appeal an e in
only seven States, while the last report of the Privy ( ouncil
stated that it existed iD 63 counties in Great Britain. Out of
76,117 head of cattle, he might ad 1, landel in this country
last year from America it was alleged that only 137 were
attacked with pleuro-pneumonia, and from the evidence
which showed the suffering to which the cattle were
sometimes exposed, it was unreasonable to expect that
they would not exhibit some signs of < isease. After
quoting statistics in support of his contention, the hon.
member proceeded to maintain that foot - and - mouth
disease could be entirely arrested by quarantine regula-
tions. Could there, he asked, be a grosser wrong to the
consumer of meat that that caused by the restrictions that
existed upon the importation of sheep from America ? 1 he
slaughter of sheep at our ports was not necessary for the ex-

190

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Unction of the disease— an opi ion which was shared by
tUeliju member for iradford — and amounted to a wanton
misuse of the authority of the Privy Council. Referring to
section 4 of the 5th schedule of the Contagious Diseases
( Animals) Act, he said that, having regard to the general
sanitary condition of the animals coming from the western
States of America, he was of opinion tnat the rule enforced
under that section might advantageously be relaxed. At
home the Privy Council all nved the circulation of beeves
from countv to county, and it was only reasonable, therefore,
that the importation of ct tie should be m >re freely allowed
thin at present, flaring stated hid objections to the amend-
ments to his resolut on, and a*ked the House to believe that
his views were those of a very important body of the public,
ho concluded by moving :— " That, in the opinion of this
House, the compulsory slaughter at the porta of landing of
fat stock from the United States of America restricts the
supply and increases the co^ of food; and, having regard
to the freedom from disease of the stock-producing States of
America, this House deems it desirable that Her Majesty's
Government Bhould consider these restrictions, with a view
to their modification or removal."

Mr J. HOWARD, who had listened with great interest to
the address of the hon. member for Salford, could not help
wishing that the hon. member's practical knowledge had
equalled his power ot research. The hon. msmber asked
the Government to reconsider the existing restrictions
placed upon the importation of cattle. Involved in this very
modest request wore the very gravest interests of the tenant
farmers and stock-holders of the United Kingdom. When
he was iu Parliament before, and a similar motion had been
made to th«t of the hon. m mber, the prese t Prime Minister,
who was then at the head of the Government, said that he
would think once, twice, nay three times before he wouli
accede to such a proposition. He thought stronger argu-
ments than those adduced by his hon. friend would be
needed to induce the Government to accept his conclusions.
He thought his hon. friend had entirely failed to prove his
case His hon. friend had not sh own that a single animal
had been diverted from our shores by the existing restric-
tions. Cattle could not be maintained for an indefinite
period and if they did not come to English markets they
must go elsewhere— they were not like iron or manufactured
goods The remarks of his lion, frieud about the Privy
Council only showed the necessity of having an agricultural
department m the Government. His hon. friend had been
very s- vere on the Duke of Richmond. Ho was not there to
defend the Duke of Richmond. He had before then denounced
the Duke's legislation. But the Duke Of R chmond resisted
the imposition of further restrictions. It was not until
the hon. number for South Norfolk retired from
the Government that the Duke of Richmond woke
up to the necessity of more effective legislation,
or rather, of carrying out the re cjmmendations of the Select
Committee. His h in. friend had been quite unable to point
to diminished trade in support of his statements. So far
from that, the growth of trade from the Unued States and
Canada had been enormous. In support of his assertion ho
would refer to th* importation of cattle into ths country.
In 1»7C from the United States there were imported Ml head
Of cattle • in 1877, 1 1 ,ouo ; in 1878, Ud.Ouo : and in 1879, 76,000,
Ofsheep'in 1877 thcro were 13,00 > ; in 1878, 43,000; aud in
1879 11;»,000. And in the July of this year there wore imported
Irom the United States 11,113, as against 5,929 in the corre-
sponding period of last year. That did not look like
diminishing trade. From Canada in the same periods the
numbers were 1,'JU'i and 1,307 respectively. Nor did he see
how prices could have risen unless tho supply had been
diminished. This evidonco could not bo set aside on the
assertions of ignorant and interested persons. They ought
not to be le 1 astray by tho statements of cattle dealers and
butchers. Put peisons spoke as if the supply of cattle oould
bo indefinitely increased, like iron or maniUactured goo is,
or thev could be brought into the world without the agency
of fathers and mothers. His hon. friond had failed
to show how the existing regulations had either
diminished the supply or ra sed prices, or now any relax-
ation of existing restrictions could be made without danger to
our own cattle or the health of the population. His hon.
friend hid sn id that a voyage over the Atlantic acted as a
sort of: quarautiie but he fo-got that the germs of pleuro-
pneumonia sometimes took two, th ce, or even lour months
to develop. He would al-o refer to the stato of th'iigs in
America. The British CVnsul at Philadelphia had said that the
spread of that disease was awakoniug mci cased attention;
that it called for sanitary measures, ami was becoming a
matter of national concern. The cattle plague wn slowly
extending throughout the Western aud Southern States.
In the American Live Stock Journal, which was
certainly not published in the interests of tho British farmer,
as quotod in the Mark Lane Express, it was said that it was
fully admitted by the veterinary authorities that pleuro-i
pneumonia existed in sove a! of the States. It did not appear
that home rule in respect of cattle had been more successor
in America than it was in Ireland. Three ot the States
iutected had shown no disposition to net for the extirpation

of the disease. Unless the United States passed a general
law for its extirpation, it could not be got rid of.
Probably the United States might be roused from
its apathy on this question, for, as he le irned, a commis-
sion from Washington had arrived in this country to in-
quire into our regulations on the subject. It would be time
for the Government to c insider the proposal of his hon.
friend when that commission had returned and reported to
the United States, and when Congress had taken action iu
the matter. According to the Message of the President
of the United States, it appeired there were many other
diseases besides pleuro - pneumonia which prevailed over
that great continent. Hia hon. friend had said there was
no proof of the existence of cattle diseases in the United
States ; but he was practically contradicted by the
President's Message. There was not only foot-and-mouth
disease and pleuro-pneumonia, but murrain accompanied
with fever. The hon. member laid great stress on the fact
that there were only seven States in which pleuro-pneu-
monia existed ; but the cattle of other States mast pass
through those in which pleuro-pneumonia was known to
prevail to a considerable extent; aud what security ha/I we
that cattle passing t' rough diseased districts would not
communicate disease to our cattle ? Having been to the
Veterinary Department of the Board of Trade yesterday, he
had the opportunity of referring to the very interesting and
instructive report by Professor Oamjee on the disease* of
cattle iD the United States, published in 1871. He parti-
cularly referred to Spanish and Texan fever, which had
become very serious, and which, if not extirpated, would
ruin the stock-breeders of the country. Yet it wis from a
country full of dangerous diseases from which we were
told we should import cattle without the restrictions that
now existed. But leaving the diseases which prevailed in
foreign countries, he wished to say a few words on a sub-
ject which had been raised by his hon. friend— he meant
ihe proportion of the home supply of live auimals to the
foreign supply. The home supply of cattle annually
slaughtered had been estimated at 1,7 0,000; the to al
from all foreign countries was less than 350,000. Iu
the six years preceding the outbreak of rinderpest a mil-
Ton head of cattle were lost by pleuro-pneumon.a, whi'e
the to'al importations during the same period were about
600,000. He would also point to the almost total immunity
from disease which the counties of England now enjoyed.
He had been a freetrader ever since he had an opportunity
of listening to the stirring eloquence of Richard Oobden ; no
member of that Bouse revered the memory of Richard
Cobden more. He had been for years a member of the club
called after Mr. Cobden's name, and he was a member of its
committee. Therefore he was not likely to hrer'ere with
free importations. No one wish d to interfere with freedom
of importation ; all that was demanded was that the Go-
vernment should use due diligence to prevent the importa-
tion of cattle with contagious diseases. Believing that the
removal of tho present restrictions would be neither wise
nor politic, and that their maintenance was in the interest
of the great consuming public, he must oppose tho motion
of the hon, member for Salford.

Sir W. 1SAHTTELOT said the hon. member for Salford bad
failed completely to show that the proposal he had made
would be beneficial to the consumers of this country. What
thev had to look to was the price of meat, and they would
have expected that the arguments of thehon. member would
have shown that the price of meat had been increased by
the restrictions placed upon the importation of foreign
cattle. But the hon. member had sigually failed to prove
auy such thing. In the first place, the hon. member had
shown that, notwithstanding all the restrictions, cattle had
come in far more freely during the last few years thau ever
they had done before.

Mr. JACOB BRIGHT observed that, though the hon.
baronet had endeavoured to scare them by his recollections
ot the great cattle plague, the House would not wish that
the present excessive restrictions should be continued. It
was impossible to contend that those restrictions did not
limit aud re uce tho supply of foreign, and especially of
American, cattle. . . .

Colonel HAROOURT said that every good citizen,
whether consumer or producer, ought to do his best to
prevent the reversal of the wise law by which English cattle
were efficiently protected from disease. He supposed, how-
ever that the Government, in their novel character of the
farmer's friend, could hardly accede to the wish a Oi the
hon member for Southwa-k. As a 'ew facts were worth a
thousand theories, he mi^ht venture to quote some ot the
information contained in the lately-published Blue-book,
iu October, 1-78, the United States Minister had communi-
cated with Lord Salisbury respecting the American ex-
port cattle trade, and Lord Salisbury had replied that it
was impossible to modify the provisions or the Order
in Council. In the following March the British Consul-
General at New York sent extracts from the Wem
York Herald that abun 'antly confirmed tho wisdom or
the decision of the Privy Council. He also stated

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

101

that in evwv consignment there was a certain
number of feeble animals that had contracted pleuro-
pneumonia before being fed up and exported. A
second application was made by the United States Minister
to the Marquis of Salisbury in the following year requesting
that these regulations might be reversed, and his lordship
again sent a similar answer. The American Shorthorn
breeders' Convention confirmed the wisdom of this refusal
on the part of the Marquis of Salisbury. In December, 1879,
the British Consul at Philadelphia again reported cases of
pleuro-pneumonia in the State of Pennsylvania, and ex-
pressed his belief that the only source of safety w;>s the
slaughter of all cattle at the port of debarcation. It ap-
peared that no State of the Union could prohibit the importa-
tion of infected cattle from neighbouring States, and ihst,
ax at present consti'uted, the laws of America almost forbad
the possibility of getting rid of pleuro -pneumonia. In the
extracts he had read there was abundant evidence to show
that pleuro-pneumonia very extensively prevailed in the
United States. There existed in this country a class of
politicians with a political economy fitted to their own pre-
conceived ideas, who delivered remarksofsach an elementary
nature that ther almost took one's breath away. This was a
case which required very special knowledge in order to
weigh the facts and to enable u» to consider rightly the ad-
vantages aud the disadvantages of introducing live meat
in' o this country indiscriminately. Theorists did not con-
sider beyond the present loss the deeper question of the
destruction, or at all events thede erioration, of the stock in
this country. It was not merely the loss of m at that
we had to consider in this matter, but the loss of breeding
qualities, which m ght arfect our h-rds for years to come.
The theoris's were unable to appreciate the injustice to tt.e
farmers and the grievousloss to the farriers that would en-ue
if their crude notions wen? adopted. The recent immunity
from disease that had resulted from the legislation of the
late Government had been such a blessing to the country
that it must be a bold and, he would eve > add, a bad Govern-
ment which would endeavour to reverse the laws which had
been passed.

Mr. J. BARCLAY pointed out that there was one class of
farmers who bred cattle while another class bought store
cattle for the purpose of fattening them. The interests of
these two classes were in some respect* very distinct indeed,
The breeders desired that very few cattle should be imported
into the c inntry, wheeas the farmers who fattened store
cattle wanted a good supply of them, so that they might
purchase them cheap and make a good profit by the fatten-
ing of them. He had himself visited the Western States of
America, and his inqu; lies went to show that disease was
practicallv unknowu among the cattle there. Those States
were better adapted for breeding than for fattening cattle,
and he believed that, were all vexatious and unnecessary
restrictions on transport removed, animals could be imported
into this country and fattened "by the English farmer at a
profit. This was a vital question, not only for the farmer,
but for the cousnmer, and he hoped it would not be allowed
to rest. No doubt there was a considerable amount of pleuro-
pneumonia in the Eastern Stat s, but to say that no cattle
nhould be imported from any part of America because
disea e existed in certain States was like saying that no
attle should be imported from Denmark because disease ex-
cted in Spain. The truth was that cattle could he brought
isther from the West without coming within R00 miles ofanv
hifected State. He behoved sufficient evidence had been
adduced ti justify the Privy Council in, atall events, miking
inquiry into the propriety of removing the restrictions to
which lie had referred. It was far from his intention to re-
lax those re«tricti ins to any dangerous extent, bu it was
very important alike to the farmer and the consumer in this
co'intry that they should not be maintained with greater
6eventy th m was absolutely necessary. The agricultural in-
terest had, he thought, great reason to complain that the
Privy Council did not take the neces-ary steps to make in-
quiries in different parts of 'he world as to the existence of
disease, and as to where aore cattle of the best quality might
bi obtained.

Mr. CHAPLIN could not share the wish of the hon mem-
ber for Salford that we should return to the free trade in
cattle wih America which existed s me ye-irs ago. The
hon. goutleman seemed to have forgotten that severe irrup-
tion of the cattle plague which had caused so much devasta-
tion among tLe-flocks and herds of this country that we had
not yet recovered from its effects. He sympathised, r-s much
as anybody with i he toiling millions, but was it not, he
would ask, the gieatest certainty in the world that, if
disease were introduced in o the country, the price of food,
instead of being lowered, as the hon. gentleman supposed.
by the importation of foreign cattle, would be found to be
peimanently increased? Ha hoped, therefore, the House
would not assent to the motion of the hon. gentleman, which
would be regarded as a wantom and needless attack upon
them by the agricultural interest at a lime when the
unhappy circumstances in which they were placed entitled
them to general sympathy, if not to the assistance of Parlia-

ment, in an exceptional degree. As to the first proposition
or the hon member, he doubted whe:her, after what had been
said, it was necessary further to reply to it. As to the next
statement, that there was freedom from distase in the st jck
pr»ducing States of Ameiica, he did not know what the hon.
member called the stock producing States of America; but
many diseased animals came from the United States. It
was impossible for the Government to do anything else than
to give to the motion unqualified resistance.

Colonel KINGS' OTE thought the time of the House
had been taken up too long in going through hlue-b oks on
this question. He thought just caune had been shown for
standing by the A t of Parliament. The hon. member for
Salford had sneered at the Duke of Richmond, but the
present vice-pre-ideut had backed up the op nion of the
Duke of Richmond. The Act of Parliament required that
foreign animals should be slaughtered at the port, subject to
the power of the Privy Council to allow their importation it"
a clean bill of health for the exporting country could ba
shown. But could America fulfil that condition ? America,
however, had just cause of complaint with respect to the
dead meat trade. The dead meat imported was treated like
so much carrion. HLs hon. friend the member for North
Leicester hire would back him up in those assertions. He
would also remind the hon member for Salford that the
animals slaughtered were not wasted ; they were sold and
eaten as meat. The hon. member for North Leicestershire
had referred to the returns of the lait six months, by which
it appeared that 1«7 anima's had disclosed symptoms of
pleuro pneumonia. What would have been the axtent of the
disease if five or six of those animals had found their way
into this country. He thought it would be be most detri-
mental to the interests of the country to allow foreign
animals to come into the country indiscrim nate.y.

Mr. DUCKHA VI said it would be a national evil if cattle
wore allowed to come into the country without restriction.
The disease was of recent growth, and until 1S35 was un-
known. It was first introduced into this country in 1Sg9,
whence it found its way into Australia, aud had ultimately
travelled almost all over the world. He maintained that
when free trade in importation was allowed, disease spread
with fatal rapidity. The increase in the importations from
Amori"a in recent years showed conclusively that no real
loss was sustained by the nation iu c icsequenco f the
existence of the regu ations on the subject of importation- la
nine months last years, 6, ; 17 head of cattle and 192, 350 sheep
were imported iulo this country from the United States. He
held that considerable risk of contagion was run by animals
in passing from the west to the east coast of America and in
the journey to Englaud.

Mr. MUNDELLA did not regret that the hon. member for
Salford had brought this question oefore the House, because
there was a great deal of misunderstanding in many large
constituencies as to the use which the Privy Council was
making cf the powers intrusted to it. In the remarks which
he should offer to the House he should take upon himself the
responsibility of his words, and state what were his own
convictions. His hon. friend had said that the existing
restrictions on importation violated the principles of free
trade and poUtical economy. [Mr. Arnold denied having
said that free-trade principles were violated by the restric-
tions ] Like his hon. friend, he spoke as the representa-
tive of a constituency very largely interested in this matter.
The question, i-« believed, was not a farmers' question,
but a consumers' question, and he should treat it purely
from a consumer's point of view. The course which had
been taken by the P ivy Council had been most successful,
and he was prepared to stand by it. He be ieved it was in
the interest of the community that we should preserve our
flocks and herds as free as possible from the inroads of
disease. He was quite content w ith what they had achieved
in 1878. On the lstof January, 18.9, the Act of 1«78 came
into operation. The belief whs that no disease existed in
the United States, and the Ui.ited States had been put on
the same footing with other non-infected countries. Un the
very day on which the Act came into operation there was a
cargo by the Ontario in which there wee two animals detid
from pleuro-pneumonia, and 12 o hers after death were
found seriously affected. There could be no mistake about
pleuro pneumonia— there was no question about that. (Mr.
Arnold — Yes, yes ) If the eminent men who advised the
Privy Conned did not know their business, it could not be
expected that membeis who were not experts coula be better
judges. It must be recollected that the same rule as to
restrictions was applied to hime animals aa to foreign
animals ; and when they exacted these conditions from the
Enelish farmer, no complaint could be made if imilar con-
ditions and precautions were applied to foreign animals.
Bv the advice of the Veterinary Department of the Privy
Council, and after a Cabinet Council held on the subject,
the order was issued on the fourth of March. In 1579 we
had 635 cargoes of live cattle from the Unite I States. Of
these, 69 cargoes were diseased. It was quite true that only
i:t7 cases of pleuro-pneumonia wero found in the 69 cargoes,
but these sent into the markets of the interior would cany

192

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

the seeds of disease, and estab'ish all over the country a
disease which would sweep away our flocks and herds. \V hat
had been the result in the case of foot-and-mouth disease ?
Nothing could be more triumphant than the working ot the
Act At one time we had as many as 30,000 sheep imported
in one week, and for the whole of this year there had not |
been a single case of foot-and-mouth dis ase from Ireland,
and not one in the United Kingdom ; so that Professor Brown
could say in his report that foot-and mouth disease was
pract icailv extinct. From one end of America to the other they
were alarmed at the condition of their cattle with respect to i
pleuro-pneumonia, ad Secieiary Sherman, who at first
complained bitterly of the action of the British Government,
now admitted in this report that a careful consideration of
the position of both c untries with regai d to the disease led
to the conclusion that the orders in question were made in
p. rfectly good taith to prevent the importation of disease.
Professor Law, of the United Sta'es, s.id that the di?eaee
harboured in the eastern seaboard was giadually and
almost imperceptibly invading new territory, and preparing
to descend with devastating effect upon the West. There
-were plenty of extracts to the same effect which he could
read. It appeared that the Uni ed S ares laws would not
allow one t-tate to legislate against another, and therefore
-they could not have that effectual protection which was re-
quired to stamp out the disease. He wi.-hed to point out
that we had had in the seven mon hs of the present year 70
odd cases more of disease than in the whole of the last year.
We had 201 cases of pleuro-pneumonia in four months, and
that was four times more ihan we had from all parts_ of
Europe in six years. The disease was now devastating New
Zealand. These 201 diseased cattle had come in large cargoes,
and if they had got into the towns there would have been no
means cf prt venting the disease from spreading into the
country. The incubation was very much longir than the
voyage, and extended often over three months. Suppose
these diseased aniuals had come into contact with English
•cattle, and the latter were taken home, pleuro-pneumonia
might have spread into every part of tbe country. Wha»
had been the result of the operation of the Act of 1878 ?
While in 1876 the. cases had been 5,906, in 1870, 6.283, in
187?, ,6330, in 1878, i 593, in 1879, 4,414, during the first six
months of this year they were only 1,401, He was sorry to
inform the House that he had that afternoon received a tele-
gram from Liverpool announcing that five beasts mffering
from Texan fever— a disease wnich he understood was even
more fatal than the cattle plague-had had to be slaughtered
on debarcation from America, and that 13 had becu thrown
overboard on the passage. The cattle were slaughtered
promptly, and everything connected with them which could
carry infection was'desa-oyed ; but it was evident that in the
importation of animals from America there was a source of
danger which could not be ignored. The dead meat trade
fortunately had been steadily increasing. It was to be re-
gretted, however, that better means of transporting meat
fresh to London and other places at a distance from the port
of debarcation had not been devised But a more
important question than the dead meat trade was
the proportion of imported io home cattle in this
country. It would probably surprse hon. members who
bad been hearing so much ot the importance of cattle im-
portation to be to'd that the imported catt e 'ormed scarcely
12J per cent, of the whole of the cattle slaughtered for con-
sumption in this country. But so it w. is, and it was for he
House to judge of the prudence of endauge ing 87k percent,
of our slaughtered cattle for the sake of admitting without
-re triction 12$ per cent. At the same time the importation
of cattle materially supplemented our supplies, and exercised
also an important inlluence on price*. The restrictions did
not operate i-o severely as some seemed to suppo.-e, the num-
ber of cattle imported during the seven mouths of the present

the Act which had been passed by the late Government — an
Act which, he might add, was pa-sed solely with the object
of preserving the flocKs and herds of this country, and
which had be n greatly misrepresented in many of the large
towns throughout the kingdom.

Mr. PAGET said it was also a source of great satisfaction
to him to hear the Act of 1878, which had met with so
strenuous an opposition from many hon. members iu that
House, praised He wished, he might add, to point out that
America herself, had placed a prohibition on the importa-
tion of cattle from the Dominion of Canada with the object
of preventing the spread of disease. It was to be remem-
bered that the restrictions pressed heavily on the farmers
themselves ; but they cheei fuilv submitted to them, because
they knew that the law would secure them against the
importation of disease. If, however, the House legislated iu
the profes-^orial spirit, it would be impossible to cope with
the evil. Fortunately, the opinions of theorists had been
completely refuted by the practical good sense of the Vice-
President of the Council who had announced his intention
of carrying out the Act of 1878 in its entirety.

Mr. W. E. FORSTER. might remind the hon. member
that the Act to which he had taken exception in 1878 was
originally a protective measure, but, in its amended form
efficiently prevented the importation of disease. All were
agreed, of course, as to the desirability of such restrictions
as would effect their purpose without excessive stringency,
and certainly one result of the debates in 1878 had been to
demonstrate the formidable character of pleuro-pneumonia
and the necessity of legislative action. It was quite clear
that pleuro-pneumonia did exist in the United States to a
very considerable extent, and consequently that the existing
restrictions on importation could not be removed without
great danger of the spread of infection. He would be glad
if negotiations could be entered into with the United States
with a view to the isolation of that tart of the country in
which the disease was found, but he feared it would be very
difficult to carry such negotiations through. In conclusion,
he expressed his hope that the hon. member for Salford,
would not proceed to a division.

Mr. ARNOLD wished to state, with reference to the tele-
gram that had been read by his right hon. friend, that it
was declared in official documents that Texan fever was
very contagious.
The House divided, and the numbers were : —

For the amendment

Against

Majority against

20
l'.H
—174

HARES AND RABBITS BILL.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.— Tubsdat, Aug. 10.

On the Order of the day for going Into Committee on this
Bill.

Sir W. HARCOURT rose to make some observations on
the subject of the amendments which he had placed on the
notice paper, when he was interrupted by

The SPEAKER, who informed him that notice of an in-
struction to the Committee had been given by another hon.
membor, and that that notice had precedence.

Mr. LABOUCHERE thereupon rose to move the instruc-
tion to the Committee which stood on the paper in his
name. He observed that the debate on the second reading
of that Bill seemed for the most part to have been a little
family discussion amo'ig the landlords and their friends.
It would be well, he thought, to spend their time in giving
a thoroughly Radical tone to the measure. The Home
Secretary had made a number of concessions to the landed

iffVeing' 94,800, .or nearly double the number import. d i interest on that (the Ministerial) side of the House. Un
ring the same period last year. The price was already so | fortunately, he had made no concessions to the Radical

ye;

durir.,. ,

remunerative and the margin of profit to reciprocal that
Americans were glad to send as many cattle as they could
to this country. We had do-e all we could to induce tbe
Amercans t > place their country in such a condition that we
might consider proposals for the admission of their cattle,
but up to the present time nothing had been done. The
agriculturists of America complained bitterly that he Senate
had gone home without having legislated in the direction of
preventing cisease. It was impossible for us, with any re-

interest on that side. It was, therefore, his intention to
move the instruction of which he had given notice for ex-
tending the Bill t) other game besides ground game- The
Home Secretary, in bringiug in the Bill, said that the right
to destroy animals wh ch preyed on the crops should be an
inalienable incident of occupation. Now, he was not pre-
pared to say that pheasants, partridges, and other winged
game did as much damage to the crops as hares and rabbits
did, but it would be admitted that partridges and phea-

gurd to safety and to the interests of the consumers, to admit sants, and particularly the latter, did a considerable

under fewer restrictions than we had at present the impor-
tation of American cattle. The Lord President had, how
ever, written a letter to the Colonial and Foreign Offices to
draw- the a tontion of the Canadians and Americans to the
condition of American cattle. If we were at this moment
.to relax our rule with regard to the admission of Ameri-
can cattle the result would be bad for the Americans and
likewise for us. .....

Sir S. NORTHCOTE expressed the great satisfaction with
which he had listened to the very able speech of the right
hon. gentleman, which contained testimony especially
va liable, coming from him, as Lo the beneficial results of

amount of mischief to the crops. He held in his hand a
let'er from a farmer on this point, which he would quote to
the House. The writer said : —

" By my lease I was protected from damage from hares
and rabbits by the insertion of a compensation clause, but
so little was this covenant on the landlord's part regarded
by him or his agents, that through the whole of the term
protests and threats of proceedings had continually to be
employed to prevent its being a complete mockery. The
winged game was reserved unconditionally. The first
fitting of pheasants' eggs were gathered up by tbe keepers
and hatched off under barn-door fowls in hen houses near

THK FAKMKR'S MAGAZINE.

193

the keeper's lodges, and parly put. out with their cooped
ter mothers on a part of the park adjoining the tenant's
■table Ian la A- i ion as the barley began to change colour
they were lured b.y the keepers into the standing corn, and
uiight tor weeks lie seen by the hundre I leisurely and fear-
Itvsly passing and repassing the road between the park and
the rield- If, as in late years has been frequently the case,
the wheat was left uncarted long in fie fields, the tops of
the slmcks would lie matted and grown together through
the peasants turning them into perches and feeding
ground, and the rakings of wheat and barley would b9
thrashed out completely through this species of so-called
harmless game if left out long through bad weather. As
these flocks of tame birds were not supposed to have
reached their full size for the market until the end of
November, the mischief did not end when the harvest was
over The newly-sown wheat and bean fields near the
coverts furnished the next feeding-ground, and so much of
the seed corn would they gouge out with their hooked beaks,
that it was sometimes necessary to drill the field or parts of
it again. The mangel-wurzels next received their atten-
tion, and cart-loads of these would be perforated or
hollowed out to a shell before storage time came. The,
damage done by partridges is not so great as that done by
semi-domesticated phea-ants. The former are not reared
artificially, ami of late the cold and wet in the hatching
time has kept down their numbers. This bird lends itself
less to the gratification of the craze for heavy game-bags;
and were it not that the modern spo bman has substituted
driving for the good old fashion of walking ttem down,
which involves too much physical exu-tion to be in great
favour, there -vould be little probability of the partridges
becoming as great a uuis nee as the pheasants ; but there
is no question that where partridges exist in excess thev do
a considerable amount of harm. Where they are numerous
they frequently take out nearly ah the seed corn in the
drill mark of the furrow. When winter sets in the winter
vetches form a favourite pasturage for them and conse-
quently early growth is ch eked. Swede turnips left for
late feed for store sheep and ewes and lambs in swing are in
sharp weather s-ooped out by the crown, which prevents
the spring shoot appearing, or, by letting in the frost causes
them to rot "

He thought it would be admitted that the letter was a very
fair statement of the damage done. He would refer hon.
members who disputed it to the reports of the Royal Com
missions of 1815 and ls/l en that subject. It was said that
excessive preservation was the exception and not the rule.
He should say that the man who turned out one bird to feed
on the crops of his neighbours with mt allowing the right of
shooting it would be indulging in excessive game preserva-
tion. But where the game was not preserved it was let to
plutocrats from the City, and the plutocrats were a greate-
nuisance than the landlords. What was this noble sport
about which they heard so much ? Xt was, as a rule, effemi-
nate, contemptible butchery of semi-domestic creatures.
Take pheasant-shooting. They all knew what pheasant-
shooting was Partridge-shooting was carried on on the
same principle. Why, partridge uriving was the usual way.
They shot partridges as they flew overhead. He did not
exaggerate when he said that shooting was not a sport in the
fair and legitimate sense of the word. The system of shoot-
ing which existed was an abuse. The shoo'ing at Hurling-
liam— was that sport? It was an abuse. He believed that
the great mass of country gtntlemen would be thankful if
something were done with regard to the present system 01
preserving. Game was the common property of all men.
Any law which interfered with the right to take game was
an attack upon property, because it interfered with tie right
of a man to do what he liked with his own. He thought it
desiniole that one or two words should be intioJuced into
the bill to include winded as well as ground game. The
Home Secretary was not in advance of public opinion, but
rather lagging behind it. If he would grasp the whole
question he would receive the cordia lsupport of that section
of the House. The lion, menibi r concluded by moving,
'• That it be an instruction to the Committee to take powers
to extend the provisions of the Bill to all game."

Mr. P. TAYLOK said fiat in seconding the motion of his
bou. friend he had no desire to obstruct the Bill. But he was
disappointed at the small character of the measure, e pecially
as the right hon. gentleman the member for Birmingham,
who had so long takeD a prominent position against the
Same Laws, was a member of tfe Cabinet, as was also the
right hon member for Bradford, who had fought with him
in lsG2 against the Poaching Prevention Act. He hoped
there would be no further concessions on the part of the
Government in the way of weaki.ess; the Bill was weak
enough already. The Bill went on the lines of Par iamen-
tary recommendation, and especially upon ihe recommenda-
tions of a former Tory member of the Reuse, Mr. (J. S. Read.
But the Government had not even adopted all these recom-
mendations. They had not, for instance, done away w th
the xystem of cumulative penalties ; nor had they suggested

redress by arbitration in case of damage. He feared the
agricultural labourer might be in a worse position than he
was be'oro, as tho farmers themselves might become a sort,
of second-rate preservers Nothing would be easier than or
landlord and tenant to evade the prot isions of the Act ; tho
1 mdlord might, by giving the tenant an honorarium, bring
about the state ot things which existed before the Bill was
passed. He did not think the Hill would be of much value
t j the farmers, though they attributed o it a greater im-
portance than he was disposed to do. He was glad how-
ever, that the Home Secretary had stated that the Bill was
not intended as deiling with the Game Laws, and that ho
would de 1 with those laws at a future period. He was still
more glad that the right hon. gentleman had Said that the
only way in which those laws Could be dealt with was by
abolition. That indicated a wonderful change of public
opinion, as it was not very long since he was denounct d as a
fanatic for the views which he advocated. He had so far
succeeded as to have obtained irom a Liberal Government an
all but universal pledge for the ah lition of the Game Laws
the exception being his hon. friend the Secretary to tho
Admiralty, whose objection was that the abolition should be
accompanied by a very stringent law of trespass. But with
such a law, trespassers would be of two kinds -those who
trespassed in search of birds' nests, flowers, or the like, and
would remain just as they now were, and those who 1
passed in search of same, whose temptation to do so would
be enorm-usly diminished by the fact that the head of game
would be greatly kept down. They had high aul horil v for
saying that the old sentimental poacher was gone, and that
in his place they had only the villain who desired to maku
money out of game, but whose opportunity ot d< ling so would
be all but tikenaway ny the operation of an abolition Act
He was, however, heartily and thankfully m favour of the
pie ent Bill, but he wou'd not accept it" if it were to be
emasculated and disembowelled of all that was good in it.
As it was, it had blots which he hoped would be^ removed
But it would do something; and he thanked his right hon!
friend for the promises he had made to the House.

SirW. HAKCUUUT said that his hon friend who had
just sat down had complained that the Bill did not remove
all the evi's of the Game Laws. That was pei feefcly true
It did not propose to be a Bill to amend the Game Laws -a'
Bill which he hoped to see introduced one day, as those
laws ce tainly required amending. The Bill was meant to
remedy a special grievance of the farmers. It had been
charged against him by the noble lord the member for
Haddingtonshire, as if it were a mistake, if not a crime
that he avowed that the Bill was brought in in the interest
o the farmers. Well, he said again that it was a Bill for
which the farmer wished. His hon. friend the number for
Northampton desired to see the provisions of the Bill
applied to pheasants an partridgi s ; but, if he referred to
the report of the Set ct Committee, he would Ree that they
stated that the complaints were principally r.irected against
ground game, and that it was shown that little harm— and
only that which could be easily prevented— was done by
winged game, while partridges, by their cat sumption of the
insects weie a benefit to the farmer. The object of the Bill
was to secure the crops of the farmer, and not to destroy
sport. He had always regarded crops as being m re impor-
tant than sport, and held that, if the two things weie
inconsistent, the sport of tne gentleman should yield to the
crop of the fanner. So far, however, as the two could be
reconciled, he had always desired that that should be done.
He had ne?er disparaged sporting at all si long as
sporting could be enjoyed without the destruction < f
crjps. What was de ired was that sport ng shoud not
be pursued where, for the pleasure of the few, the
interests of the many were sacrificed. The Bill was me^it
to protect the crops of the farmer, without interfering
more than was necessary with the sport of other peine
—to d > as much good to agriculture and as lktie
harm to sporting as was possible. He had stated the prin-
ciple of the Bill on the second reading, with the desire of
seeing amendments put on the paper by hon. members
representing the i- -t< rests of the farmer ana of the sports-
man, and examining them with a view of deciding which he
cou d fairly adopt, having in view the interests of both
parties. As the Bill stood, its first clause declared a naked
r ght ; the proviso declared ceitain limitations of that
right. 1 he amendn euts on the paper might be grouped
nto two classes. They did not amount to no, as had been
sta* dbvthehon member for Mid-Lincolnshire, as an hon. and
ga 1 nt admiral opposite had aconsiderablsnumberof amend-
inei'ts down to aner " ground game " into " hares and iab-
b t .' The enumeration referred towas, therefore, delusive.
1 ii the proviso he had put on the paper he had dealt— he woi.ld'
not say .-at sfactorily to all hon. members, but he hoped to
many— with the amendments. He uid not think that any of
the amendments were incompatible with tho principle of
the Bil , ?ave that of his hon. fr.end the member for Stroud.
He w as not going at the present time to discuss w hether the
p oposal was in the abstract a good or a bad one : but would

*hat had proved 30 successful in Scotland - a cheap mode o j simpy say thai in his view it w as impracticable,' and c^uld

Pi

104

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

not be introduced into the Bill. The noble lord the member
for Haddingtonshire had also proposed certain amendments,
but they were, in his view, incompatible, with the scope of
the Bill. There were many lovers of sport on both sides of
the House who objected to the proposal to allow farmers the
■use of the gun in destroying the hares and rabbits on their
holdings, but he could not admit that the objection was
reasonable, and it was certainly one which, if admitted,
would render the measure unacceptable to the class for
v> hose benefit it had been foamed, and who would re-
gard the prohibition as an ungracious, if not a shabby, act
on the tart of the Legislature. He cou'd only regard as in-
congruously illogical the suggestion of the hon. member for
Leicester which it was proposed by the present Bill to create
.a close time for hares. There was no such intention on the
part of the Government in framing the Bill, and he could
not now see his way to adopting any such principle. As far
as his amendments were concerned, the first was only a mo-
difiiation oi the original proposal as to the persons who
should be entitled to kill and take ground game, and as to
the notice that must be given to the collectors of inland
revenue for the distiict in which the lands on which the
game was to be killed happened to be situate. His second
amendment would have the effect of depriving of the
power to kill game such persons as had merely common-
able rights over the land. With reference to the last amend-
ment, relatine to moorlands, it would be most unadvisable
to destroy the valuable game upon them unless it was
absolutely necessary to do so, and therefore he was inclined
to accept the proposal that the right to kill the ground game
en moorlands should be suspendod from the llthiof Decem-
ber to the 31st of March.

Mr. A. BALFOUR said that nothing could be more
•opposed than the sreech which the right hon. gentleman
had just made and that with which he had introduced the
Bill. Had the right hon. gentleman, in introducing the
measure, adopted the same course that he now did, less
aversion would have been entertained for it, because the
right hon. gentleman now appeared to have discovered for
the first time that it was not inexpedient to adopt a spirit of
conciliation. He entertained no hostility to the Bill, for his
firm belief was that something effectual'must be done. He
looked with the greatest aversion upon those game-pre-
servers by whose folly all these difficulties had arisen. He
held them responsible not only for the difficulties which had
arisen between landlords and tenants, who ought to be
united, but in part for the legislation now submitted to Par-
liament. Whether it was necessary or n t, he could not let
it go by without entering his protest against the principles
which underlay it.

Mr. WIGGIN said that many of his constituents were
greatly interested in the measure, which they regarded as a
redemption of promises made in election speeches. Within
the last few days he had travelled in the midland counties,
and had come in contact with membeis of agricultural
associations, and he found everywhere a feeling of thankful-
ness that the Bill had been brought in. The tenant-farmer
felt at last that he would have some chance of relief from
the ravages of ground game. It would have been far better
if the right hon. gentleman had gone somewhat further, and
given the tenant an exclusive right to deal with the game
rather than a concurrent right.

Sir J. KENNAWAY could not imagine that the House
would consent to the instruction moved by the hon member
for Northampton If he made a few remarks upon the pre-
sent position of affairs, it was with no desire to delay the
progress of the Bill, the principle of which, it ought always
to be remembered, had been assented to without a division
on the second reading. Therefore, the objections now
Taised to interference with freedom of contract could nat bo
entertained, as they might have been if the House was dis-
cussing the Bill for the first time. The principle of the Bill
having been assented to, thpy were to somo extent bound by
it, and that principle was this : — It was considered contrary
to public policy that the occupier should wholly divest him-
self of the right to protect his property iu the growing crops,
and that this property was entitled to the tame protection
as all other property. It was said that such protection was
never less needed than at the present time, when on many
estates ground game had been kept down to euch an extent
t tat there was no practical grievance ; but we must look
forward to a time when there would be the same competi-
ti in for farms that there had been in the past. It was desir-
able that tenants should be encouraged to lay out capital
freely and to devote their energies to agriculture. What the
tenant-farmers wanted was a protective right, not a sport-
ing right. He believed the Bill would destroy much good
fueling between landlords and tenants, and in that way
might do more harm than good. At the s«ne time they
would all thank the Home Secretary for the manner in which
he had considered the amendments on the paper, and he
hoped he would, in the same spirit of concession, give special
attention to the amendments of which notice had been
gi .-en by the members for Richmond and Sussex, which
would give the farmer all the protection that was required.

Mr. GURDOX believed the farmers of Norfolk were unani-
mously in favour of this Bill ; but they were by no means
prepared to accept the amendment of the hon. member for
Northampton.

Mr. LABOUCHERE, after the statement of the right hon.
gentleman that h>s amendment, if adopted, would render it
impossible to go on with the Bill this Session, would, with
the permission of the House, withdraw it.

Sir J. HAY said it was quie true he had placed no fewer
than H amendments on the paper, but they were for the
most part merely consecmential amendments. He had been
asked during his recent canvass whether he would support
the Hares and Rabbits Bill. He said he would not; and the
first reason he gave was that it interfered with the freedom
of contract between landlords and tenants, and the second
was that it would enable a tenant who had contracted with
his landlord not to kill game'to do that which his herd or
shepherd would be punished for doing under the regulations
of this Bill. He entirely agreed with the hon. member for
Stroud, and would, when the Bill got into Committee, move
to strikeout hares and rabbits from the game list. He be-
lieved there was no desire on the part of the tenant-farmers
to abolish the Game Laws.

Mr. J. HOWARD expressed regret that the Home Secre-
tary had listened to those who advised him to put these
amendments on the paper. It was stated that the Norwich
Chamber of Agriculture had approved these amendments ;
but Mr. Clare Read distinctly stated that he desired to see
the Bill passed exactly as it was printed. In that opinion
he (Mr. Howard) entirely agreed. No reason had been
shown for bringing these amendments forward. One-third of
the farmers of England were already in possession of sporting
rights, and the demand for the Bill came from that pop km
of the farmers who did not possess those rights. The farmers
now in possession of sporting rights did not exeicise them
in an unfair and unsportsmanlike manner, and there was no
reason to think that those who would be entrusted by the
Bill with the same rights would do so. His own little estate
was surrounded by farmers big and little, who all possessed
sporting rights, and not one of them exercised his rights in
a way which would justify the limitations which the amend-
ments would impose.

Mr. CHAPLIN said that the hon. member for Northamp-
ton having mide some remarks on the habits and disp"si-
tions of the landowners of i his country, he could not allow
the occasion to pass without saying a few woids in reply.
The hon. member had spoken oTthe eventual abolition of the
Game Laws, and he was fo lowed by the hon. member for
Leicester. These two hon. members apparently regarded the
complete change or abolition of the Game Laws as a matter
which could not be long delayed. When they made those
observations he was very much surprised to hear cheers
coming from the right hon. gentleman the Home Secretary.
[St W. Hurcourt. — " No."] He was delighted to get the
admission that the Home Secretary was opposed to the
abolition of the Game Laws.

Sir W. HAROOURT.— The second statement of the hon.
member is as inaccurate as the first.

Mr. CHAPLIN said that the right hon. gentleman having
made that exceedingly courteous observation, ought to have
pointed out in what the inaccuracy consisted. He heard the
right hon. gentleman say, "Hear, hear," to a remark of
the hon. member for Leicester in which he spoke of the
abolition of the Game Laws.

As it was now 10 minutes to 7 o'clock, the debate, by the
rules of the House, was adjourned.

Tho sitting was resumed at 9 o'ciock. Mr. CHAPLIN
concluded his speech, remarking that while he accepted the
Home Secretary's denial with respect to the abolition of the
Game Laws, it was important to observe that in the history
of the present Administration when the gentlemen below
the gangway were determined on any particular measure
it was certain before long to be taken up by the
Government. If, therefore, this hobby were pressed on the
Government the House would some day find the right hon.
gentleman in favour of the abolition of the Game Laws. He
wished to vindicate owners of land who were fond of
shooting from the attacks made upon them by the hon.
member for NorthamDton. The motion they were dis-
cussing was an instruction to add winged game to the Bill,
but the hon. gentleman proceeded to inveigh against deer
parks.

Mr. LABOTJCHERE.— All game.

Mr. CHAPLIN had thought it was winged game, and that
the hon. member was classing deer with winged game. The
hon. member was wholly (mistaken in supposing that the
clearing of deer forests in Scotland depopulated the country.
In the Western Highlands several sheep farms had been
reeently converted into deer forests simply because it was
found that the sheep eould not live in the severe winters.
These conversions icd to an increase of tho population and
the wealth of the district. .Then the hon. member spoke of
sportsmen being guilty of contemptible butchery. What did
he mean by that ? Did the contemptible butchery begin at
100 or at 1,000 pheasants a day ? He had seen some of the

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

105

finest shooting in the world displayed- in battues. Partridge
and groawe driving, instead of being effeminate occupations,
were the reverse, and some hou. gentlemen would find, after
the sedentary life of the Session, that if thoy took to grouse
driving they would be pretty well cooked before the day was
out.

Sir i. E. WILMOTsaidhe had been sent to that House by
the tenant farmers of South Warwickshire 0 obtain redress
for a particular grievance of which he had long complained.
He had long been of opinion that the tena t-farmers had
good reason to complain of ground game, of which he had
himself witnessed the ravages. He remembered seeing on
one occasion no fewer than 40 hares feeding in an enclosure.
In justice to the farmers, therefore, he felt bound to acccrd
to this Bill, as he did to the abolition of the Ma' t Tax. his
cordial support. Farmers, he might say, did not want the
abolition of the Game Laws, for they were as fond of sport as
any gentleman in that House ; they only wanted protection
for their crops.

Lord ELCHO observed that, although the hon. memb&r for
Northampton (Mr. Labouchere) condemned winged game,
he had not produced any evidence to show that winged game
was hurtful to the farmers. All the evidence, in fact, distinctly
pointed the other way. So great an authority as Mr. Clare
Read said winged game did no hann. He had, therefore,
come to the conclusion that the hon. member for Northamp-
ton had not read the reports on which he professed to rely.
[Mr. Labouchere said he had.] At all events, that was the
conclusion one might draw from his speech. If the hon.
members for Northampton and Leicester or the Home Secre-
tory thought they could render a service to the farmers by
doing away with the Game Laws or the Law of Trespass, they
were grievously mistaken. The hon. member for North-
ampton, in enumerating the persons who had property in
lai'd, placed the community first, the landlord next, and then
came the tenant. He said nothing about the labourer. Oh
no; the labourer was not mentioned because he had not yet
got the franchise. No one would deny that the State had
power to buy up landed property, as it had powf r to buy
railway property and water companies' property. He entered
his protest a_'aiust that attempt to draw a distinction between
landed and other descriptions of property. With regard to
the question of game, he reminded hon. members that
evidence laid before a committee of the House showed that
hares and rabbits in this country alone yielded 40,000 tons of
good food a year, the value being £1,000,000. He con-
b derod that it would be a great national mistake to do away
with laws which provided so much wholesome food.

Mr. LABOUCHERE asked permission to withdraw his
amendment.

On the question being put that the amendment be with-
drawn, there were again cries of dissent, and the House
divided with the following result : —

For the amendment 12

Against it "• 169

Majority against — 157

Mr. HICKS then rose to move—" That it be an instruction
to the committee that they have power to make provisions
to restrict tie buying aud selling «f eggft of game." He
proceeded to describe the bad system of encouraging poach-
lug by buying eggs of pheasants and partridges.

Sir' W. tt AR.COOR T said the speech they had just listened
to was a fair specimen of the opposition with which the Bill
was met. The hon. member was a great champion of free-
dom of cmtract; he saw in this Bill invasion of the freedom
of contract which would strike at the root of society ; and
yet, cheered by the hon. members opposite, he moved an in-
struction against buying and selling. He would read the
clause to which the instruction referred, and ask the House
to consider whether there ever was such a waste of the time
of a deliberative assembly as the making of these proposals
involved. The c'ause was, —

" It shall not be lawful foi any one to sell eggs of game
except the keeper of a registered mew or breeding-place.

" The keeper of a mew or breeding-place intending to 6ell
eggs shall register the premises with the clerk of the peace
for the county or borough ; he shall keep a register of the
number of eggs laid each day, and the name aud address of
©very person to whom he or bhe shall sell the eggs, and the
number of eggs so sold in each case, with the date of sale,
and he shall not buy or receive eggs of game from any other
person.

" Any person acting in contravention of this section shall
incur a fine not exceeding £20 and costs for each offence.

" It shall not be lawful to buy eggs of game except of the
keeper of a registered mew or breeding- place, and any one
acting in contravention of th's section shall incur a fine not
exceeding £20 and costs for the first offence, and not exceed-
ing £ .30 and costs for the second offence."
Was there ever such a deliberate waste of time of the House
of Commons as the moving of such an instruction for the
purpose of introducing such a clause? The sole object and
intention of this sort of thing was to waste time.

Mr. CHAPLIN rose to order, and asked whether it was
competent to the right hon. gentleman to impute motives to

other members. He said the sole object of this amendment
was to obstruct the business of the House. Was he in order ?
The SPEAKER : So far as I followed the right hon. gen-
tleman, no express'on fell from him which was not of a Par-
liamentary character.

Sir W. HARCOURT wished the hon. member opposite
would quote him more accurately, and not attribute to him
language bearing no semblance to that he-used. He now said
to move an instruction of this kind for the purpose of intro-
ducing such a clause was nothing but a means of postponing
their arrival at a practical decision on the Bill, which it was
inconvenient to oppose, but very convenient to delay. This
was an accurate statement of the nature of the instruction
and of the clause; and he should be curious to see on the
promised division how the champiens of freedom of contract
would vote on a proposal to restrict buying and selling.

Mr. SCLATER-BOOTH said that if the right hon. gentle-
man conducted the committee on- the Bill in the tone and
temper in which he had replied to a moderate speech, it
would be many days before they a> rived at a conclusion.
He would go a considerable way with those who urged that,
in times when there was; little competition for farms, tenant-
farmers had not the means of protecting themselves by con-
tract against the mischief arising from- the over-protection
of game. The Bill in its present shape would throw the
apple of discord between landlord and tenants. B e did not,
however, rise for the purpose of obstructing the progress of
the measure, but rather of suggesting whether it was worth
while to carry this debate further, and whether it would not
be the interest of all parties to go at once into committee.

Mr. R. YORKK thought the sincerity with which the
amendment had been moved was perfectly transparent. The
instruction was also necessary, with special reference to a
clause of which notice had been given, by his hon. friend
directed against the buying of game eggs from persons of
uncertain character, which was one of the most reprehensible
practices connected with game-preserving.

Mr. CHAPLIN was astonished at the ferocity with which
the right hon. gentleman had turned on his hon. friend fur
moving an insti notion which was necessary to carry out his
object. The Government appeared to be raising ' up new
difficulties in the way of their own Bill. The right hon.
gentleman was put up to make a conciliatory speech, and'
as usually happened, he set the whole House by the ears. Ha
had done more by the few words he had uttered to create
fresh difficulties for the Bill thananythingelsethathadleen
said in the whole discussion.

Colonel MAKINS thought the instruction which had
been moved was a very fair matter for the consideration of
the House,, and there was-really nc-occasion for the right hon .
gentleman's indignation and his talk about wasting the time
of the House.

Karl PERCY doubted whether the right hon. gentleman
had any clear notion of what was meant by freedom of con-
tract when he complained of restriction being put on the
buying and selling of game eggs stolen from neightouring
preserves. What he said was this— they were endeavuuriug
to bring in a new principlo which would protect parties buy-
ing and sel ing stolen property.

Mr. WARTON wished to join his protest to* that of other
bon. gentlemen against the tone of the Home Secretary a
speech. He was anxious to find some excuse for that tone,
and he could only do so by supposing that the souls of men
at different times animated different persons. Ho recognised
in the ri^ht hon gentleman Coriolanus redivivus. But the
difference was this, the ancient Coriolanus had to put down
agrarian agitation, while the modern Coriolanus reserved
his wrath for the country gentlemen.

Mr. HICKS asked the indulgence of the House, after the
unexpected and undeserved attack made upon him, while he
said a few words in reply.

The SPEAKER pointed ont that the hon. member was
not entitled to reply, but if he wished to make a personal
explanation he might do so with the permission of the
House.

Mr. HICKS said the object he had in rising was to 6how
that he was not open to the charge made against him of-
having brought forward this instruction for the purpose of.
obstructing the Bill. He had had these clauses under con-
sideration for some time.

The SPEAKER said that the hon. member was going
beyond the bounds of explanation..

Mr. B IHDELL said that it was not unfrequent for 15 or
20 persons to go into the woods in search of eggs, and the
evil complained of was one which ought to be corrected.

Sir S. NORTHCOTE expressed his regret that he was
not able to vote with his hon. friend. At the same time he
must bear his testimony to the interest which his hon friend
took in the matter. He had had conversations with-his hon.
friend, and he knew how strongly he felt on the point".
This Bill was brought forward to protect the crops of occupy!
ing tenants, and his hon. friend telt strongly tbat a gieat
part of the mischief arose from the over-preserving of game,
and that the purchasing of eggs was part of the svstem o£
over-preserving. Hewas^uite certain that his hon. friend'"

196

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

desire was not to delay the Bill, but mere.y to press a recom-
mendation which commended itselt 10 his mind. He did not
find fault with the Home Secretary for being anxious to avoid
delay, but having opened the matter in the way he had
done the r;ght hon. gentleman must be prepared for some
opposition.

'ihe amendment was negatived.

Mr CHAPLIN said as he had no oppo^unity of speak-

point. He then read two resolutions parsed by the
Lincolnshire and Newbury Chambers of Agriculture.
He believed he was justified in sa , ing that whatever might
be the opinion of the farmers in some parts of the country,
the3" we e by no means unanimous in their support and ap-
pro al of the Bill. II" the Bill was operative it would strike
at the preservation of all game * hatever. Every farmer was
to be allowed to employ his own men and own agent for the

inoTon the second reading of the Bill, he hoped the house desti uction of game. Howmanypersonsdidthatrepresent on,
would allow him to make a few observati ,ns on a measure I say, an estate of 50 farms? How many persons wou.d be

WOUld ....

which undoubtedly possessed considerable interest lor him-
self "and fur those whom be represented. He frankly stated
5-cntleman when he introduced this measure

en.itled to traverse such an estate day and night at all hours ?
The preservation of game under such circumstances would
be an impossibility. If, on the other hand, the Bill was not

to Hin licht hon gentleman when he introduced this measure De an impossibility. ±i, uu me wh uauu, me diu was noi,
tnatthoVh he could notcleary gather from the opening operative, it would be a sham, and such, he beheved.it would
statement "what the precise effect and character of the Bill be in precisely those ca«« where its operation was most to
would be, so far as he himself was concerned, he should cer
tiiuly offer no opposition to a measure which had for its ob

e protection of the < rops from the ravages of ,
game provided it did not interfere with the legitiina-e rights
not only of the landlords, but of the tenants as well. To that
declaration he entirely adhered. The Bill had been betore
the House for a considerable time, and now that he had had
an opportunity of reading it carefully and hearing all that
could De said in its defence, he could not conceal his disap-
pointment at rinding that so far from not interfering with the
rights of the two pa' tie? coucerned.it interfered with the rights
of both in a manner which he bad not anticipated. He was
not one ot those who was always alarmed at the idea of in-
terference with freedom of contract. Freedom of contract had
been interfered with before, and when there was adequate
cause would be interfered with again. But this was more
than interl'e ence w th freedom of contract ; it was a direct
interference with the freedom of Individuals. But thero was
another objection of still greater importance. The Bill ot
the right hon. gentleman recognised and embodied that omi-
nous disturbing principle of which they had heard so much
durinu the present bession— that it w- perfectly legitimate
u.jou the very flimsiest foundation, on the mere assertion that
it was intended for the public good, to take away the pro-
perty of one class and transfer it to another without the
smallest compensation to the class from whom it was taken.
In fact, this measure, like other measures of tins Government
again adopted this principle of confiscation, which appeared
to possess such irresistible attractions for memb rs on the
front bench. After the experience of this Sessi in he was
not surprised at the nature of this Bill. He was never sur-
prised now at any measure of the Government. The right
hon. gentleman and his colleagues were members of a Cain-
net which might be called, par excellence, the Cabinet of
Uonfi cation, a description by which it would be recognised
by every one, and by which it would go down to posterity.
These were th°. principal grounds of his objection to this
measure. He said that the Bill was a direct interference with
the liberty of individuals, becau-e he found in clause 2 that
every occupier of land, no matter what Ins circumstances
and position, whether owner h mself or tenant, was a 80-
lutcly precluded from divesting himself of the right to
ground game, and therefore from letting the shooting. Was
anybody likely to take the shooting or give a rent worth
having even for the purpose, ot preserving the winged game
alone when another person had the right of shooting the
ground game as long and as often as he pleased ? The day
this Bill was passed landlords would be dep ived of the right
of subletting the shooting. Thus a great injustice would be
done, and private rights would be improperly inter.ered with.
The argument was equally applicable to the case ot the te-
nant-farmer who had the right of shooting. He was glad to
learn from the hon. member for Bedfordshire that at least
ono-third if the tenant-farmers in E gland enjoyed the right
of sporting already, but he must remind the hon. gentleman
that tins fact was a str ng argument against the necessity tor
He could not agree with the proposition that in

be desired. People who did not mind expense would keep
the game in their own hands, and it was in those cases chk fly
that over-preservai ion occurred. But in the country gene-
rally the Bill, he believed, would tend to destroy
game preservation altogether. He ofiered these observa-
ti >ns as the expression of his conviction with regard to the
Bill, and not from any desire to obstruct the business of the
Government. If the right hon. gentleman consented to in-
sert amendments to remove the objections he had complained
of, or if he confined his measure to taking r >bbits out of the
Game Laws — not hares, for it was rabbits that did the damage
— he would give him his hearty support. Otherwise he must
reserve to himself the right to take such action in regard to
the Bill as he thought fit.

Mr. BRIGHT. — The hon. member who has just addressed
us has allitoratively described the present Cabinet as a
Cabinet of Confiscation. It is a curious thing thit he has
only just found this out. Then it is a still more curious thing
that the hon. gentleman opposite did not think it necessary
to oppose the Bill on the second reading.

Mr. CHAPLIN. — I was absent from Parliament, otherwise
I should have opposed the second reading.

Mr. BRIGHT. — Abs ut ! I will not inquire for a moment
where the hon. gentleman was spending the time that he
ought to have devoted m > the service ot .his country in oppos-
init the second read ng of a Bill which contaiued so mis-
chievous a principle as this I do not understand the hon.
gentleman's ideas of confiscation, because we have been
told by lawyers, and I be ie.e it to be time, that according to
the common law of this country, the whole of the game — not
ground game only, but all ^ame— is the property of the
tenant. And it remains his property. He has a right to
kill it in any mode he chooses, unless he consents that during
the period of his occupancy it should be in the hands of the
landlord. We 1, that cannot be considered a very dangerous
measure of confiscation which proposes to give to the tenant
only half of what tho common law declares to be his. Now,
is there any doubt whatever, judging only from the speeches
of hon. gentlemen opposite, that the time has come when it
is necessary to make some considerable change— I will not
siy in the i?ame Law, for this Bill does not in any way alter
the Game Law — but in the positi ju of tho farmer, so that he
may be sav. d from the damage ard ruin to which he is
exposed by the preservation of game on the part of his land-
lord ? There has hardly been one speaker among hon.
gentlemen opposite who has not admitted that in some cases
or in many cases very great damage is sustained, and that
the farmers have the right to expect some attention to thoir
interests in regard to the question of their suffering from
game. Tho hon. gentleman opposite, notwithstanding the
tworepoitsof the Chambers o* Agrieu ture which he has
just read, rught to be aware that the great majority of the
Chambers of Agriculture have expressed opinions strongly
in favour of this Bill. But, passing from Chambers of Agri-
culture, in which we know that in many cases one-half, if
not the majority, of thosa present are rather landowners
than farmers—go to farmers' ordinaries, meet them anywhere.

order to give "tenant-farmers the right of sporting, the House | in their markets, you will find that th y are a most without
w as iusl tin d in dealing so gravely as it was asked to do with exception supporters of this measure. If it be as you Bay,
freedom of contract If tho object of the measure were not ) why, I should like to know, have you allowed the Bill to be

a to tenant-farmers the right of sporting, what whs it ?
Could the hon. member for Bed urdshire cite 50 well-authen-
ticated cases throughout the whole country where farmers
were Buffering from the ravages of game.and were unable to
get compensation from their landlords ? Mr. Clare rievrell
Read, whose utterances had been often quoted in this
debate, said in the last Session of the last Parliament:—

"He had very great pleasuro in testifying to the decreased
quantity of ground game in the eastern counties at the pre-
sent time. In fact hares and rabbits were done away with

on man

tins w

any estates. When the hon. member for Leicester said
..„ was a year of exceptional severity in the agricultural
districts, he ( Mr. C. Read) would also observe that the year
was also ao exceptional one as regarded the small quant ty of
game inAose counties, and therefore he did not think game
could be said to have anything to do with deficiency in the
crops." . , . , ,

t ould an v one adduco.on the contrary side.evidence deserv-
ing of luoi'e weight than this otatoment made bv Mr. Read /
He denied that the farmers were unanimous on this

read a second time ? You know as well as I do that what I
am saying is" absolutely true. If that be so, if hon. members
on that side of the House are willing to delay, not daring to
strike, if they are willing to talk out this Bill, and to annoy
and to obstruct, t! ere can be no doubt that if any member
opposite were to propose au amendment which would strike
at the root of the Bill, the great majority of those whom 1
see before me would object, and would beg that they might
not be placed in the difficult position of going to a division.
That is a proof that you know perfectly well that your Cjn-
stituents are in favour jf the measure. What took place at
the last election ? A quotation was made from a speech of a
member of the late Government in which it was given as one
of the reasons for the dissolution that they thought the coun-
ties were slipp ng away from them. The counties were tired
of your sis years of office. We propose to pay them more
attention. We are not going to deal with them with mere
empty phrases, but to show them that as we have been the
friends of just legislation to all other classes, they, too, shall
have at least as much justice as we can prevail on Parliament

tub farmers: magazine.

107

to give them. Bnt the hnn. gentleman opposite says that
there is no occasion now tor dealing w.tn this question
because of the changed condition of things between
landlord and tenant. One - third of the farmers have
now, he tells us, the game in their own hands, and
if there should be another bad year they will, he
says, have one - half, and if things continue to
be bad they will have, he maintains, the whole of the game,
If that be so, it will, no doubt, ruin the country. Sporting
individuals will come to utter ruin; ai.d the ruin will be
greater than anything which could result from the passing
of this hill. But surely if there beany force in the hon.
gentleman's argument, it can hardly be possible that the
farmers' friends have no sympathy for their constituents?
What can be more deserving of sympathy, I would ask,
than the sufferings of the farmers during the last few years ?
Ti e farmer ris s early , he works during the day ; there is
hardly an.^ thing certain in his condition but the
rent day. He is subject to many trials and difficulties
from which other traders are to a great extent
exempt. The farmer may do everything that man
can do, that industry and intelligence can accomplish,
on his farm. He may plough, he may sow the land, and yet
there may come a season which may blight his crops and
blight his hopes. If there be a man engaged in industry of
any kind who has a fair demand on this House for justice
and due consideration, it is the farmer. If that be so, would
it not be better for hon. gentlemen on the other side, instead
of bringing forward trifling amendments which have no
reference to the BUI, to pursue a different course ? The hon.
gentleman opposite knows as well as I do that eggs are not
the produce of ground game. Yet in a Bid which refers only
to ground game he otters a very long amendment on the
question of eggs. Another hon. gentleman opposite was
rather ann yed because my right hon. fiiend near me felt
in some degree indignant at having the time of the House
taken up in discussing a matter which has nothing to do with
this measure, and in suggesting an amendment which,
whether in its mode of dealing with thesubject or its grammar
is one of the most remarkable propositions I ever heard. It
is admitted that this question of eggs is one of the great
evils, the numerous evils which are connected with the system
of game preservation, and with the barbai ous code by which
game preserving is sustained ; but the Home Secretary his
not introduced this Bill for the purpose of dealing wita the
Game Laws. The hon. member for Leicester had a right to
complain, from his point of view, of the mode of dealing
with the subject. 1 should have an e,ual right, because
about 30 years ago I endeavoured to persuade the House to
modify or abolish that barbarous code. But the object of
this Bill is not to deal with the game law at all. There is
no part of that question which it touches or approaches. It
is a Bill brought in by the Government solely for this one
object — to giant a small legislative relief to the most ancient,
the most necessary, and not the least hr nourab'e of the great
industries of this country. And, the Bi 1 dealing wi h that
question alone, I have listened to perhaps 20 speeches from
that side of the House, but I have heard no proposition
which offered, even in any moderate degree, to meet the
demands and ihe necessities of farmers I understood the hon.
member for Mid Lincoln to complain specia ly that the land-
lord was not at liberty to sell game over the heads of the
tenantry.

Mr. CHAPLIN — I spoke of two cases— the case of the
owner who is also the occupier of his land— owner and farmer
together; and secondly, the ca e of the tenant who is the
lessee of the shooting as well as of the farm, \vho would be
prevented trom sub-letting the shooting.

Mr. BRIGHT. — I misunderstood the hon member, but it
really does not. make much difference to the argument because
1 am afraid each of them would come under his condemna-
tion of confiscation. I wish to ask hon. gentlemen opposite
whether it would not he more creditable to themselves and
more creditable to the House, if they were to discuss this
question I'airiy, and, if they areab'e, outvote the friends of
t He measure, and not go on from day to day with discussions
of this nature, in which they are afraid to strikeatthe life of
the Bill, but are con tantly employed in finding little faults
with it here and there, suggesting nothing that is equal to it
and nothing that is better. May 1 not warn you that at this
moment, in the present condition of agriculture, in the pre-
sent suffering of the tenant-farmers throughout the country,
that their eyes are upon this House, and that they hear or read
the speeches that are made upon this question ; and may it
happen that thatslipphigawaywhichthreeorlourmonthsnot
ago was apprehended by the late Government, that slipping
away of the counties, may be realised by the slipping away
or the running away of the county constituencies ? I may
tell hon. gentlemen what I believe to be true. This Bill
does not in any way meet my view on the great game law
qnestion. It is brought in with the object of relieving
a vast multitude of farmers who are suffering and who com-
p lain ; and I trust, and believe, whatever may be the oppo-
Bition offered to the Bill, that, sustained by the majority of
the House and by a multitudiuoub majority outside the

House, before the Session closes it will become an Act of
Parliament, and it will be a message of justice and of good-
will to the ancient and honourable industry which hon.
gentlemen opposite profess to represent, bnt whoseinterests,
I am sorry to say, in my opinion, tuey have long grossly
neglected.

Sir 8. NORTHCOTE.— I do not know whether the speech
to which we have just listened was one intended to help on
the passing of this Bill, or whetlier it was conceived and
spoken in an entirely different spirit. I have hardly heard
a speech in the course of this debate, not even excepting the
one to which frequent reference has been made on the part
of the Home Secretary, which was less calcu'ated to pro-
mote that end. After listening to the last 6peech, I begin
to entertain serious doubts as to what the real object and
meaning of the Government are in promoting this Bill.
They tell us in the preamble that it is a measure to promote
the interests of gooil husbandry, tj give hotter security to
capital, and to protect occupiers from injury and loss by
ground game. These are objects which we, on this side,
claim to be as ready to promcte as hon. members opp isite,
and it was on that ground we assented to the second readi g
without a division ; and I spoke for only five minutes, be-
cause the hour was approaching at which the debate must
have stood adjourned. But, at the fame time, I stated that,
n assenting to the second reading, I did so on the ground
that we agreed with the statements made in the preamble of
the Bill, and we were willing to enter into Committee for
the purpose of seeing how the objects stated cou d be best
attained, and with the least sacrifice of what might be valu-
able in principle as to freedom of contract or other matters.
We do not deserve any of the criticism which has been passed
upon us by the right hon. gentleman for the course we have
pursued. We allowed the Bill to be read a second time, nor
do we object to your leaving the chair, but at the same time
we reserve to ourselves the right which we intend to exer-
cise of proposing amendments in Committee and endeavour-
ing to attain the professed and avowed o' ject of the Bill. I
think it not at all unfair to conclude from the observations
of the right hon. gentleman that the real object which the
Government have in promoting the Bill is not to protect the
crops of farmers, but to obtain for themselves the credit of
being the farmers' friends. I do not stand upon the
question of freedom of contract with auy superstitious feel-
ing, but I hold this, that free torn of contract between two
parties who are of full age, who have full means of knowing
what they are about, and who are competent to make a
bargain one with the other, ought not to be retrained
unless some injury is likely to be done to third parties;
When an injury is likely to be done to a third party un-
doubtedly you can restrain the action of a single man jiut
as you might restrain the act of two parties who enter into
a contract. But that is not the question which is raised now.
You are told a tenant has not the means of protecting
himsel against a landlord. You are told a tenant is such
a child, is so utterly wanting in independence, that he is
not able to judge tor himself and not able to decide for
hiraselt what are the terms upon which he should under-
take to cultivate land. Well, now,. I would only say this
— if a tenant is a man who is unable to make a bargain for
himself and unable to protect himself because he is want-
ing in courage and independence, he will not make very much
u*e of the clauses of this Bill. Any tenant who knows
v h it he is about, who understands what he is undertaking,
wnlbea'ile to make a proper bargain with his landlord.
But I must again point ut that there is all the difference in
the world between a bargain that is made between two
parties who know what they are about, and who make the
bargain so as to suit themselves, the circumstances of the
country in which they are, and the farm which is in ques-
tion, and an arrangement that is forced on them by an Act
of Parliament which certainly will not suit every case. A
suggestion has been thrown out t '-day by the hon. member
for Northampton which I think goes very much to the root
of these questions. I hope we shall be allowed to go into
committee and to csnsider the numerous amendments on the
paper. But I protest altogether again.-t thoatiempt to throw
upon gentlemen on this side of the House the odium of
defeating a measure which we think comprises much that is
bad, but yet contains a principle which it may be possible
to put into an unobjectionable shape. I deny that the •
Government have ary right to claim the monopolv ttiev ar*
now desirous of obtaining— of. the character of farmers'
friends — and I venture to say they will find if they proceed
in the way they are doing that the farmers will not be very
long in finding ihem out.

Mr. WATKIN WILLIAMS said that jthe constiuiency ha
represented had taken the deepest possible interest in that
subject— he did not say in that Bill : and he u»ed the words
advisedly. Moat of them being Welsh people, who did not
understand the English language, they looked to him for
information as to what that Bill meant. '1 heroforo he felt
uneasy about that Bill- As lie read it he feared it would
lead tj grievous disappointment. The only real and

108

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE.

effective remedy for the grievance which his constituents
suffered was the simple abolition of the Game Laws.

Lord ELCHO ob-erved that what the bon, and Jearfied
membei who had just sat down wanted was that game and
everything on the farm should belong to the occupier.
The legislation proposed by the Bill was legislation of the
worst kind. It was an endeavo r to legislate for one class,
and tha-. class not so much the tenant as the present occu-
pants of the Treasury Bench. To such legislation he h d
always been opposed. He was in favour of freedom of con-
tract between man and man, and it was with extreme satis-
faction he had heard h's right bon. friend the leader of the
Opposition explain to the House the reason why no division
had been taken on the second reading, and that in committee
he would do his utmost to maintain that freedom of con-
tract which it was the interest of every man should remain
invio ate. His right he in. friend the Secretary tor the Home
Department had upon the occasion of the second reading of
the Bill twitted those who sat on the Opposit on side of the
House with having abandoned that principle because a few
eocentric members had brought in a Bill which interfered
with freedom of contra-t. But the Conservatives as a party
or their leaders had never departed from the principle of
freedom of contract in the dealings between landlord and
tenant, and the great difference between those who sat on
both sides of that House was that while those on one side
endeavoured to uphold it, those on the other had made con-
stant efforts to render it null.

Mr. BROMLEY-DAVENPORT said it was quite true that
tho Warwickshire Chamber of Agriculture had passed a
esolution at one of its meetings approving the principle of
the Bill as regarded tho abolition of freedom of contract
between landlord and tei ant. He w s present at that
meeting, and he begged to inform the House that the reso-
lution was proposed without notice and at the close of the
proceedings, when all the principal members had left. The
resolution was then passed by a small number of members,
in spite of the strenuous protest of himself and one or two
others.

Mr. WARTON thought the right hon. gentleman the
Chancellor of the Duchy, when charging the Opposhion with
supporting what he termed "the barbarous code of Game
Laws" committed more than one breach of the forms of the
House, for the right hon. gentleman was continually saying
'"yon -io this," "yon do that," "yon say this," " yon say
that." The right hon. gentleman accost d the hon. member
for Mid-Lincolnshire of indulging in alliteration, but the
right hon. gentleman himself had been guilty of a double
alliteration in the words " frothy phrases of the farmers'
friends." To his mind, " contiscatiou" was tho correct word
to supply to tho fifth section.

The motion that tho Speaker do leave the chair was then
put and agreed to.

The preamble of the Bill was postponed.
On clause 1,

Mr. WAUGH moved to leave out from " off" to " have "
in line 11, and to insert '" cultiva ed arable, pasture, and
meadow land shall."
Sir W. HARCOURT accepted the amendment.
Mr. BRAND, who had an amendment on the paper pro-
posing to insert in line 11, the words " hares and rabbits"
in the place of the words " ground game, " eaid that he was
going to take an unusual course— namely, that of endea-
vouring to facilitate the progress of business by withdrawing
his amendment., though he believed that i s insertion would
give to the Bill a more complete character than it at present
possessed. He desired, as he had said, to facil tate the pro-
gress of the Bill, but, as he stood very much alone, and
could not expect any assistance from gentlemen opposite, he
would ask leave of the House to withdraw his amendment.

Sir J. HAY was very much surprised at the statement of
the hon. member for Stroud. He thought the amendment of
the hon. gontloman one of tho greatest possible importance.
The amendment of which he had given notice was in clause
1, page 1, line 11, to leave out "ground game " and insert
" hares and iabbits," his object being to strike " hares and
rabbits " out of the game list.

The CHAIRMAN informed the right hon. and gallant
member that by the amendment already made in clause 1,
line 11 had been struck out.

Sir W. HARCOURT said the r'ghthon. and gallant mem-
ber would have the opportunity of moving his amendment in
line 13.

Lord ELCHO said he had given notice of an amendment
which would effect two things— it would preserve freedom of
contract and make the Bill more effective as regarded the
interest of the tenant. He wished to import into the Bill all
the main regulations of tho committee which sat for two
years on this subject. He begged to move the in.-ertion of
words permitting tho disposal of ground game to be the
subject of special contract.

Sir W. HARCOURT pointed out that the amendment
would really do away with the vital principle of the Bill,
which was' that the' landlord should not be allowed to

monopolise the game in virtue of any contract. If carried rt
wou'd leave the law precisely as it was at present.

3irM. HICKS-BE 4CH said that the amendment of the
noble lord woulS not, in his opinion, leave thn law as it was,
and therefore he was unable to support it. Where there was
no reservat on of the right of game, not only ground game,
but all game whatever was the property of tha tenant.
That was the law, and the noble lord asked them to limit
that law as against She tenant. He could not support the
amendment.

Sir H. JAMES eeiiJ that the right hon. baronet had not
stated correctly the effect of the amendment. This Bill dealt
with ground game, and did not touch winged game at all.
Winged game, therefore, would be left in the same position
as at present, and the common-law right of the tenant would
remain untouched. But the amendment of the noble lord
raised the whole quest'on of the principle of the Bill, and, if
carried, would be fatal to the measure,

Mr. BRAND hoped the noble lord would not press his-
amendment to a division. He was as much opposed as the
noble lord to interference with freedom of contract, but this
amendment went to the principle of the Bill,

Lord ELCBO said that his proposal must be read in
connection with a clause which he proposed to add. What
he desired was to import into England what they had in
Scotland — namely, a system of compensation, which was a
better security for the tenant than was provided
by this- Bill, which the hon. and learned mem-
ber for Carnarvonshire, as a lawyer, declared would
be driven through in all directions. He asked Mr.
Murray, an agent who received jC2(X>,000;a year, how
this system of compensation worked in Scotland,
That gentleman said that when damage had been done
landlords voluntary made compensation, and that this
state of things would be greatly interfered with if the present
B 11 were passed. In conclusion, the nob'e lord asked the
House simply to afhrm what their Committee had recom-
mended.

Mr. J. HOWARD remarked that many things had hap-
pened since the Committee just referred to made its report.
The proposal of the noble lord struck at the very root of the
measure, and if it were to become a sham and a langhiog-
Btock like the Agricultural Holdings Act the Government
would do well to accept the noble lord's proposal.

Mr. SCLATER-BOGTH could not vote for the noble lord's
amendment, because it wonld neutr^lisM? tho whole Bill, anil
he did not think it possible to convert the Bill into one for
granting compensation. Nor did he believe that any system
oi compems>tion cou d remedy the grievance with which
Par iauient bad to deal.

Mr. CHAl'LIN, while acknowledging that the Agricul-
tural Holdings Act had not produced all the effects which
were expected, denied that it had proved worthless and a
complete sham.

Sir E. COLE BROOKE said that sereral of the suggestion*
of the noble lord might be deserving of consideration in
Committee ; but observed that for better or worse the House
had affirmed the principle of the Bill, which deals only to a
limited extent with the Game Laws. Though he agreed in
principle with what the noble lord had said about, com-
pensation, he did not think the law had been a sufficient
time in operation in Scotland to enable us to judge of its
effect.

Mr. A. BALFOUR remarked that if the noble lord west
to a division his action would be taken as mere hostility to
any Bill on this subject. If the noble lord divided on this
amendment the interpretation put upon the conduct of
members of the Opposition in the country, and certainly by
members who were hostile to his views, would be that he
and his frieuds were opposed to any legislation. At the same
time, he did not mean personally to run away from principles
he had advocated, and, therefore he should vote with the
noble 1 rd if he insisted on a division.

Lord ELCHO thought it was desirable that on questions of
this kind they should be guided by what tbey thought right
rather than by the view that would betaken of their action
outside the House.

Sir E. LECHMERE was strongly in favour of legislation
on this subject, having long felt the injury that was done by
ground game, but he would prefer legislation based on the
principle of the amendment. The evil of the Bill was, that
it treated those who were not great game preservers in the
same way as thoso who were.
The Committee divided, and the numbers were :—

For the amendment 74

Against it 212

Majoritv against — 1.19

Sir W. BARTTELOT moved that progress be reported. He
did not think the Home Secretary could reasonably object to
this course, as he h«d made fair progress with his Bill. It
was one o'clock in the morning and they had to meet again
at 12. Human nature would not stand more than a certain
amount of work, and he therefore hoped the right hon. gen-
tleman would accede to h's proposal.
Sir W. HAKCOUKT did nut wish to press the Committee

THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE.

190

unduly. There were no amendments of any consequence to
be moved upon clause 1 until line 16. If bon. member*
agreed to allow the Committee to proceed down to that lino
he should consent to progress being then reported.

Sir J. HAY pointed out that he had an amendment down
which would probably require the attention of the Committee
for some little time.

Mr. GORST hoped the Government would consent to re-
port progress. The House had now been sitting for 12 hours,
and they had to meet again that day at nooh.

Sir W. HARCOURT said that he did not wish to press the
further discussion of the amendments unduly on the House,
and if it were the genoral desire he would willingly consent
to report progress.

The motion to report progress^ was then agreed to aDd the
House resumed.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.— Wbdkesday, Aug. 11.

The House went into Committee on this Bill, resuming
progress on clause 1.

Colonel 1$ RISE moved that they should leave out the words
"ground game" from the clause, and substitute the words
" rabbits at all seasons of the year, and the right to kill and
take hares during the months of February, March, and
April." Looking upon rabbits as he looked upon rars, he
had no objection to the farmer having the power to kill them
wherever acd whenever he could find them, but he wanted
protection for the hares during nine months of the year.
Sir W. HARCOURT said that, having considered' the
matter with every disposition to make a compromise where
possible, he could not agree to limit the farmer's right to
kill hares on cultivated land. Agriculture in this country
might be expected gradually to approximate to the condition
of market gardening. Artificial crops would be grown,
which would suffer enormous damage from hares during the
close time proposed for them by the hon. and gallant mem-
ber. It was utterly unreasonable to prohibit the farmer
from touching the hares under these circumstances. Mr.
CHAPLIN thought it hard that embarrassing restrictio >s
should be put in force over the whole country in oider to
meet the exceptional districts where market gardening
pie vailed. It was not hares that did ,the damage, but
rabbits, which he would like to see maae vermin forth-
with. Mr. H. R. BRAND objected to all restricti ma
upon the tenant-farmers' right to kill hares, and remarked I
upon the fact that the close time proposed by the amend- !
nient would not affect the landlords. Mr. GREGORY |
could not go the whole length of the amendment, but sup- '
ported a shorter close time for hares. Mr. GTJRUONop- '
posed the amendment. Mr. RODWELL, though a Conser- J
vative member, announced that he would support the Bill
throughout. If this amendment were carried out it would |
render the Bill to a great extent utterly worthless. In some
parts of the country it would be necessary for farmers to I
kill the game in one month, aud in other parts in another. I
It all depended upon the character of the crops and the state i
of the farm. He did not think the farmer had any wish to I
destroy the hares, but he should certainly have them under
his control. Such an amendment as this would fritter away j
the Bill, and therefore he could not support it. Mr. HICKS
thought that though the amendment went too far, it would J
be right to have some close time for hares. Earl PERCY
could not support the amendment. Colonel BR1SE, in
the^e circumstances, withdrew it.

Sir JOHN HAY proposed the first of a series of
amendments, substituting the words '' tiares andraobits " I
for " ground game" throughout the Bill. His object in this
was to bring the language of the Bill more into conform. ty |
with its tit'.e, and to render the interpretation clause un-
necessary. The argument he would otter in support of this
would apply also to the amendment of the hon. member for
Stroud (Mr. Brand), which he was by the courtesy of the
hoo. member also about to move. It was — " From and after
tbe'passing of this Act, hares and rabbits shall not be deemed
to be game within the meaning of the Game Laws, nor
shall any of the provisions of these Laws apply to the taking,
killing, or destroying, ofhares and rabbits." There was a
general concurrence of opinio:), he sail, in the Scotch con-
stituencies and its neighbourhood, which he recently
canvassed, in favour of the amendments he now proposed.
The reason was that in Scotland nineteen years' leases
prevailed very extensively, and though it might be that in
the majority of cases excellent relations existed between
landlords and tenants, in maay cases there was not that
frequent communion and closeness ol relation which gener-
ally prevailed between landlords and tenants where these
leases were not customary. He could not understand why
there should be any objection to taking hares aud rabbits
entirely put of the Game Laws, for though they would be left
in the same unprotected condition that wood pigeons were,
yet it was well known that wood pigeons still existed in
large numbers. Indeed, he feared they did as much damage
to^the crops as did the hares and rabbits. Yet they were nut
destroyed. Nor could he understand what objection thero

could be to substitute " hare« ami rabbits" for "ground
game," wherever these words occurred in the Bill, because
it was not a "ground game" Bill, but a Hates and Rabbits
Bill. He knew thmt there were a great many hon. gentlemen,
especially among the Scotch members, who agreed with
him. and were in favour of these amendments. It appeared
to him to be entirely in the interests of the tenant that they
should give him full power to capture and destroy these
animals in the same manner as he had power to destroy
the blackbird, pigeon, or any other animal that destroyed his
crops. Thus they would get rid of a great difficulty which
at present existed where there was ill-will existing'between
landUrd and tenant. It would be a great advantage, also to
tho p^noo of the community.

Sir W. HARCOURT hoped that whatever was done in
the first amendment of the hon. and gallant gentleman, its
fate would be taken as deciding the main question, aud dis-
posing of his subsequent amendments. He (Sir William)
was not responsible for the title" hares and rabbits " whicu
had been given to the Bill. In the " short title " it was
described as a " ground game " Bill. Coming to the main
point, which was the proposal to take hares and rabbits o ut
ot the game list, he was very curious to hear the views of
hon. gentlemen sitting round the hon. and gallant member
lor Wigtown on this subject. It would enable him (Sir
William) to answer the question which had been more than
once p Jt to him, as to what his views were as to the abolition
of the Game Laws. This was a proposal for the abolition
of one-half of them, and if they accepted it it would not be
worth while keeping the other half. It would be useless to
keep up the existing mnchinery of the Game Laws for what
womd then be left of them. The remarks from the Conser-
vative side would be very instructive to both this House aud
the country. It was an important fact that there should
have come from the most recently returned Conservative
member for a Scotch constituency a proposal for the aboli-
tion of one-half of the Game Laws, and that that hon. and
gallant member should have invited the attention of the
House to the views of Scotch members of the Liberal side on
the subject. Things were changing a good deal. But he
did not think this was the remedy that the farmers wanted.
He did not believe the farmers would like that everybody
should have the right to kill game upon their farms. They
would leave the landlord at liberty to force a contract upon
the tenant that he should not destroy them, while everybody
else would be at liberty, subject only to the law of trespass,
to come upon the land and kill the hares and rabbits. The
con-equence would be, that for many years after the last
rabbit had ceased to exist they would have thousands of people
coming r.n the land to see whether there was not one still
there. Toprevent the breaking down of any fence they wou.d
only have the nominal penalties of the law of trespass. The
hon. and gallant member answered for the farmers of Scot-
land, but he (dir William) doubted very much whether the
i-heep farmers of Scotland would desire that everybody
shou.d be at liberty to go over their farms in search of
rabbits.

Sir JOHN HAY (interposing) said that by retaining the half
of the Game Laws they would retain the whole of the pro-
tection against trespass.

Sir W. HARCOURT said the hon. and gallant gentleman
was entirely mistaken in his law. Every single man in Scot-
land might then come upon a sheep farm with a gun in pur-
suit of the mountain hare. Yet the hon. and gallant member
said that the farmers of Scotland desired to see hundreds of
men upon the hills with guns. He did not think this was
the remedy the Scottish larmers desired, and he knew it was
not what the English farmers desired. These were the rea-
sons which prevented him from accepting this amendmei t.
He had before him the very instructive experience of other
nations. He thought of that famous night in 1793, when the
feudal aristocracy of France abolished the Game Laws, and
then of the fact that even in the heat of the French Revolu-
tion these laws wore re-enacted, so inconvenient had the
consequences of their abolition be n found. Then he remem-
bered thatin Germany, in 1818, the Game Laws w ere abolished,
and that they had shortly afterwards been re-enacted,
because everybody took the liberty of invading the land,
and that was found very inconvenient. These were the
reasons which made him decline to accept this proposition,
however forcible it might appear on the surface. He believed
that nothing would ever extirpate the rabbit. It was an in-
destructible animal, and thirteen months in the year would
not bo sufficient time to kill it in.

Sir W. BARTTELOT quite agreed with the Home Secre-
tary in his objections to this amendment.

Mr. LABOUCHERE looked with a good deal of doubt and
suspicion on every amendment that came from the other side
ot the House, because the greater part of them were insidious
snares to prevent the Bill being passed. But he must con-
gratulate the hon. and gallant member for Wigtown on this
amendment, and would cordially support it. The conse-
quence of adopting it would soon be that partridges and
pheasants would cease to exist,
bir fi. COLEBROOKB did not think they should carry tht

200

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

discussion on this proposal further, but that they should get
on with the practical a nendments. He, however, remarked
that he believed the taking of hares an 1 rabbits out. of the
game list would be the only effectual way of dealing with
the evil, and even after the passing of this Bill the question
would keep cropping up until it was thus disposed of. His
tear was not »hat the passing of this Bill would ant injuriously
on *he shooting of the proprietors, but that, on the contrary,
owing to the unwilingness of the farmers to press their
claims against their landlords, this Bill would be more or less
a dead letter. This was the warning given to them by the
Committee of 1873. They ought to keep in view the possi-
bility of having to deal with this matter more stringently
in the future. The evil complained of was the preservation
of game. Though the farmer might be indisposed to exert
his powers, the poacher would have none, and to permit the
depredations of the latter the landlords would be forced to
keep down the ground game. He did not agree with the
view that the adoption of the amendment would interfere
with the preservation of winged game at all. Ifthe hon. and
gallant member went to a division, he would vote with him.

Mr. B. DAVENPORT hoped that the House would not
support any such sensational notions.

Mr. BRAND said that if hares and rabbits were kept down
there would be no temptation to trespass over the land. The
trespass law would be a sufficient protection if put in force.

Colonel KINGSCOTE did not believe one farmer in a
thousand would support this amendment.

Mr. NEWDEGaTE said that if they passed a stringent law
which would destroy all ground game throu houtthe country,
the destruction of all game would follow. The trespass laws
would not be a sufficient protection.

Mr. DUCKHAM deprecated any alteration of the Bill.

The Committee divided, when there voted : —

For the amendment 7

Against 206

Majority against 199

The result was received with laughter.

Sir J. HAY abandoned his other similar amendments.

Immediately after this announcement,

Lord K. CECIL rose and intimated that he would move to
report progress in order to put himself in order, while he
asked the noble Lord (Hartington), who had just arrived,
a question about the business for the rest of the week.

Mr. PLAY FAIR (Chairman), said this was exceedingly
irregular, and that the proper time to put these questions
was after the business before them was over.

Lord E. (1ECIL said he wished to ask a question.

Mr. PLAYFAIR repeated that it was who'ly irregular, and
called upon the hon. member who had the next order on the
paper.

Earl PERCYrose to order, and said the noble Lord (Cecil)
had moved to report progress.

Mr. PLAYFAIR said the noble Lord had not moved to
report proere-s.

Mr. A. O'CONNOR asked if the Chairman had not ruled
that it would be wholly irregular to make such a motion for
such a purpose?

Mr. PLAYFAIR said that in the whole history of Com-
mittees, so far as he had been able to ascertain it— and he
was supported in this by a right hon. gentleman who had
been the Chairman for many years— there had never been a
case of this kind, Hehadstai*d that though he could not
say the noble Lord could not report progress for the purpose
he had announced, yet that he was doing what was wholly
irregular.

Earl PERCY moved to report progresss.

Lord E. CECIL thought it quite fair that he should get an
answer to his question concerning the business of the House.
He and many others wished to leave town by trains which
would be gone by six o'clock, and they ought not to be left
in a stateofuncertaintyasto what business would be brought
on.

The Marquis of HARTINGTON trusted that the Committee
wou d bear in mind the ruling of the Chairman, and would
not be guilty of the irregularity of interposing a discussion
on fie general business of the House while in Committee.
Official engagements had prevented his being in the House
at the commencement of the sitting. The statement he made
on Monday concerning the business was contingent on its
progress. Though it would not evidently be possible to finish
Committee on this Bill to day, it would be most convenient
to the House, he thought, that they should adhere to the
order of business for the remainder of the week before
announced. They would take the Burials Bill to-morrow, and
the Employers' Liability Bill on Friday.

Mr. E. STANHOPE asked if they would take the Indian
Budget on Tuesday ?

The Marqim of HARTINGTON believed it would be taken
on that day, but a'ter the experience he had had of the effect
of giving all the information in his power, he really must
decline to pledge himself.

Mr. BARCLAY expressed his regret that the noble
Lord had made himself a party to this unprecedented irregu-

larity, and had played into the hands of hon. members
opposite. The effect would be to throw the Bill over to the
end of the Sea.-ioD.

Mr. BIGGAR said they had better postpone the Bill till
next Session.

SlrW. HARCOURT said the Government had intended
no more by the answer they had given than an act of
courtesy. But he must i emark that the noble Lord opposite
had forged a new instrument of obstruction. He begged to
assure the hon. Member for Forfar that the Government had
every intention of proceeding with this Bill, but that they
attached equal importance to the Employers' Liability Bill
and the Burials Bill.

Mr. PLAYFAIR said he wished to remark, before the dis-
cussion proceeded further, that the Chair of Committees had
not the same functions as Mr. Speaker, and that general
discussions of public business before him were quite in-
appropriate. His attention was restricted to the Bill before
them.

Mr. CHAPLIN did not think they should submit to hear
his nob e friend charged with naving forged a new instru-
ment of obsi ruction. This was not the way to make progi ess
with the business.

Earl PERCY a-kod leave to withdraw his motnn to report
progress.

Mr. BIGGAR— No.

The bells having been rung, the motion was negatived
without a division.

Sir W. HARCOURT moved to insert in Clause 1, "provided
that the right conferred on the occupier by this section shall
be subject to the following limitations— (I) The occupier
shall kill an' i take ground game only by himself, or by persona
duly authorised by him in writing."

Mr. E. Sf ANHOP*., while favourable to allowing the far-
mer to employ as many persons as he liked tj snare
rabbits, thought he should only be allowed to employ
one person besides himself to shoot on the farm. He
thereiore moved that they should leave out the word
" pet sons " in the first limitation, and insert the worda " one
person."

Sir WALTER BARTTELOT supported Mr. Stanhope's
proposal, saying the Bill was not lor the translerence of
sporting rights, but for the protection of crops.

Mr. J.W.BaRCLAY said he was one of those who were quite
prepared to see a sufficient number of hares on the land to
afford an ordinary amount of sport, and he thought they
could exist on the land without materially injuring the
tenant or interfering with high farming. The tenant was to
have the power of keeping the number of hares within the
limit he thought proper, and he wished to put it to hon.
members opposite, who were anxious to impose limitations
on the tenant, that even with these limitations the tenants,
so far as hares w- re concerned, would have the power of
utterly exterminating them if they pleased. Even with all
the limitations proposed there would be this power of exter-
mination, and if the tenant found that his right wascoacedea
gr.idgintjiy by the landlord — if thfl landlord believed to put
any confidence in the tenant, but endeavoure 1 to check and
control his right — then, depend upon it, the tenant would
have his revenge, and utterly exterminate the hares iu the
three months it was proposed he should have. When hon.
members proposed limitations to ensure that there should
be a certain number of hares, they were taking a step which
would most effectually defeat the object they had in view. If
the tenant did not think he was fairly and reasonably treated
by the landlord, the latter might be perfectly sure that tno
tenant would take care to put hiimelf right within the time
during which he would have the control. The Government
Bill did not a'low sporting rights to the tenant. He was not
to have the power of inviting a friend or neighbour to shoot
on his farm. He (Mr. Barclay) was anxious to have the Bid
passed as a substantial measure of relie:', and would accept
the Bill with those limitations. But, so far as the preset va-
tion of the game was concerned, he would point out to the
hon. members opposite — who seemed much afraid of the
tenant, whose friends they professed to be, but who would
not trust him any further than they could help — that it was
a great misiakeon their part giving so much power to refuse
him their lull trust and confidence. The tenants had power
to prevent serious injury being done to the crops by t e
hares, and would aim st invaritably use the power given to
them under the Bill with discretion. If, however, Parlia-
ment limited the power of the tenants to certain parts of the
year, they would take such effective steps during that, period
as to prevent any risk during the rest of the year. For those
reasons he hoped the amendment would not be proceeded
with, and that hon. members would show reasonable con-
fidence in the tenants.

Mr. SCLATER-BOOTH said there was no desire on the
part of his hon. friend (Mr. Stanhope) to limit the killing of
hares to a specific time. All that was desired was to got lid
of the danger of clashing between the landlord and tenant,
by clearly explaining the powers of the latter. Were nil the
members of a farmer's family to be scheduled, and left . t th9
Inland Revenue Office ?

THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE.

201

Mr. WILHRAHAM EGflRTON urged that the farmer
should be allowed to make use of the rabbit-catcher of hia
landlord.

SirW. HiROOURT said thi-i amendment of tho hon.
gentleman opposite would render the Bill useless, and it
would be utterly at variance with the expressed intentions
of the Government, which wore to allow the farmer to
employ as many agents for the killing of grouud game as
were necessary for tho purpose. To limit a Scotch sheep
farmer, with a thousand acres, to the employment of one
man to kill rabbits would be absurd. Everybod}' who knew
anything at all about Scotland, knew that immense damage
was done on sheer) farms by the blue hare. This was a
grievance thatone person could not remove. On many farms
in England one person could not keep down the hares and
rabbits.

Mr. GRANTHAM said his hon. friend had referred to
English farms, which were much smaller than Scotch hill
forms. He contended that ill-conditioned and cantankerous
tenants might spoil the sport of a whole est te, if they had
the right to overrun a farm with armed men.

Mr. HOWARD said he should certaialy oppose any con-
cession, unless hon. members could prove the necessity there-
for. All the amendments that had been made by hon. mem-
bf-rs opposite were begotten of distrust of the farmers. He
objected to all the amendments put on the paper to limi
the concessions about to be made to the farmers. Alluding
to the concurrent right of shooting game which was
enjoyed by farmers of whom he had knowledge, he felt
bound to testify to the satisfactory working of such arrange-
ments

Lord ELCHO said the hon. member for Bedfordshire (Mr.
Howard) had told them he had great experience of concur-
rent rights ; but he had failed to tell them whether there was
any such legal right such as was proposed to be created by
the present Bill. The hon. gentleman had referred to neigh-
bours of his who enjoyed that " concurrent right;" but had
it been conferred upon them by law? No ; for the 'act was
that it had been conferred on then by private contract.

Mr. HOWARD : The right i- conferred by the law.

Lord ELCHO : I would ask the hon. member to say by
what law ?

Mr. HOWARD: By the common law of the country, which
vests ihe game in the tenant.

Lord ELCHO observed that if that were so then this Bill
was unnecessary. If it was the case that the common law
gave this concurrent a.- d inalienable right, then why had
thsy wasted so many hours in discussing the Bill ? The hon.
gentleman knew perfectly well that there was no instance
or it. An hon. member who was always very critics1, de-
niei this, but he chal'enged that hon. membPr to get up in
his place, and, as a lawyer, Btate that he knew of a- y in-
stance where the law had created a concurrent and inalien-
able right. To return to the main subject, he must say that
the hon. member was trving to drag a herring acro»s the
path of the Committee, because there was no such thing as
a concurrent right under the law. There were concurrent
rights given by private agreement. The law, it was said,
had given them complete control of the game, but they had
given it up concurrently — that was to sav, they had made
agreements that their landlords should have the concurrent
right of assisting them if they did not exercise it harshly.
He had no doubt of that for it could he taken from him next
year. His idea was that the tenant-farmers were not at all
disposed to destroy a'l the game That brought him to this
point, that the Bill of tr e right hon gentleman, which pur-
ported to be in the intere ts of good husbandry, would not,
as regarded uestruction of crops by game, necessarily touch
that question at all. It was quite competeut under tnis Bill
for farmers and landlords to come to a clear understanding
to grow nothing but hares and rabbits. And then what
became of all the high-soumding words which had been used
as to the iuterests of the community a .d the interests of the
public in general ? The fact was that the Bill was an effort
at sham legislation.

The CHAIRMAN.— I must call the noble lord to order. I
have not found out yet that tin noble lord is speaking to the
amendment.

Lord ELCHO asserted that he was speaking to the amend-
ment, and endeavouring, however feebly and incom-
petently, to reply to the arguments which had been held on
the other side, the argument being this — that there was a,
want of trust in the farmers, and that there was no occasion
for the amendment moved by his right hon. friend on the
Treasury bench. The whole thing, however, had come
out on the previous evening. Why was it that his right
hon. friend was anxious that there should be a limitation as
to the way in which the tenant should kid game ? Simpty
because it would conciliate the tenant ; not because of the
interests of good husbandry. To conciliate the tenant, he
repeated, and get his vote. He thought, however, that the
great object of the Bill was that it would create a bad feeling
between landlord and tenant. The only check was the gun
licence— and he was not sure that the G vernraent were not
about to repeal the Gun Licence Act for the benefit of the

farmer. Every one on the farm was to be allowed to shoot
— even the labourer. Such a proposal, he thought, would
bring about a vory bad state of things. As for game, the
effect would be bad, and if they had every tenant and every
labourer armed with a gun, and enabled to shoot, it might
be that if the Irish practice were fo .lowed, other objects than
rabbits miirht be shot at.

Mr. ASHTON DILKE rose to order.

The CHAIRMAN reminded the hon. gentleman that he
was travelling beyond the amendment.

Lord ELCHO said what he had observed already was
bringing him to his point, which was —

Mr. HOPWOOD waid he understood the Chairman to
have ruled that the noble lord was proceeding beyond
the amendment, and the course he was now pursuing was,
to say the least of it, at variance with the respect due to the
chair.

The CHAIRMAN understood that at all events the noble
lord would confine himself to the amendment.

Lord ELCHO protested against the disorderly conduct of
those hon. members who had interrupted the proceedings.
He was simply proceeding to say that this Bill, as it at
present stood, would practically destroy all sporting rights.
Well, the thing was a matter of opinion. He maintained
that, looking at the power given to the tenant and his agents
and labourers to shoot all over the farm, the result would be
absolutely destructive not only of sporting rights, which
w^re a very small matter, but of anything like good feeling
between landlord and tenant. He supported the
amendment on the ground that it was more likely to
produce good fee ing than the Bill of the right hon. gentle-
man, which wosld make the relations of landlord and tenant
most intolerable.

Sir W. HARCOURT thought they might now take a
division on the amendment. It was a great crime, no doubt,
to conciliate the farmers ; but he was afraid it was a crime
of which he could not purge tbe Bill.

Lord ELCHO -I beg pardon; is the right hon. gentleman
speaking to the amendment ?

Sir W. HARCOURT— Thatis indeed Cataline complaining
of sedition.

Mr. STANHOPE said he was not altogether dissatisfied
with the discussion, and he would withdraw his amendment.
He had no objection to any particular persons being
authorised to kill game, but he drew a distinction between
that and any number of persons being authorised to use a
gun.

The amendment was then by leave withdrawn, and the
preliminary section agreed to.

Sir W. HAKC JUBT then moved as follows—" No person
shall be authorised by the occupier to kill or take ground
game except members of his household habitually resident
on the land in his occupation, persons in his ordinary service
on such land, and any one other person bona fide employed
by him for reward in the taking and destruction of ground
game."

Mr. BARCLAY proposed that the word "habitually" be
left out. He had found a difficulty in finding out the exact
meaning of that word.

Sir W. H AR' :OURT said he had no objection to accept the
amendment. Habitually, in fact, was not a legal word, and
it miirht lead to some misunderstanding.

Sir T. E. COLEBROOKE said he did not want to renew
the discussion whether it was necessary t} have a large
army of agents for the purpose of killing game. He did not
think, however, there ought to be a limitation as to the num-
ber of persons to be actually employed. He considered that
the great object of the Bill would be defeated it it failed to
create a good understanding between landlor i and tenant ;
and if it passed as it at present stood, great alarm w uld be
created among landlords, and unfortunate consequence*
might result. We wonld urge tho Government not to go
one step beyond what was abso utely necessary for the
tenant to protect himself— and with that view he thought
there ought to be a limitation in regard to the use of the gun.
In order to raise the question he would move to leave out the
word "members" and insert " member."

Mr. RODWELL thought theamendment a very reasonable
one. He did not see the necessity for having a great number
of people engaged in killing game, and he asserted that one
of two men, according to tho size of the farm, were quite
sufficient to keep down the ravages of rabbits and hares.

Sir W. HARCOURT did not see how this amendment could
be conceded. It was supposed that the farmer was going to
allow all his servants to have a gun. The fanner would d )
nothing of the kind. They must give the farmer a little
credit for common sense, and it was not to be supposed that
he would give in writing such permission as was contem-
plated to servants and ploughmen, who had other duties to
perform.

Lord ELCHO observed that the right hon. gentleman had
asked them to give the farmers credit for a little common
sense; but he had to point out that the present Bill rested
upon the assumption that the farmers had no common Benae,

202

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

and that full-grown men had not (sufficient sense to make
their own arrangements with their landlords,

Colonel KINGSCOTK supported the amendment. If the
proposal of the right hon. gentleman were carried out, it
would lead to unpleasantness.

Mr. CHAPLIN said the amendment raised a very serious
question. It was in fact a new Bill in itself.

Sir A. GORDON thought that there was a good deal to
be said in favour of restricting the number of persons. In
support of that opinion he should like to quote a line
of a Bill brought in by himself and the present Lord Fife,
which was accepted by all the farmers of Scotland and by
the Chambers of Agriculture as a perfectly sati fac ory mode
of settling the question. The proviso in Question was to the
effect that the tenant and any one person, being a son or
farm servant, should have the right of killing ga-ue. It was
admitted on all hands that two persons were quite sufficient
to Weep down ground game.

Mr. BRIGHT said the discussion that afternoon, particu-
larly on this clause, had created a very painful impression
on his mind. It seemed to him that hon. gentlemen who
took so much interest in this matter were very inconsistent
with what they had said at former times, and with what they
had said at all their meetings in the country, for they always
contended that nothing could be more harmonious, as a rule,
than the state of feeling between landlord and tenant. He
was not going to dispute at all that statement ; indeed, it
was purely on the truth of that statement he based his
de'ence of the clause of his right hon. friend. The hon.
member for Ea <t Surrey (Mr. Grantham) spoke of what he
called ill-natured and cantankerous tenants, and the hon.
gentleman behind him had used words indicating that there
were tenants who were so bad at the bottom and hostile to
the landlords that they really could not be allowed
the ordinary liberty which might be granted to another
class. The hon. member must bear this in mind, that how-
ever much they limited the po^er of the farmer, if he were
of that ill-natured character, and lived in a state of per-
petual quarrel with his landlord and his neighbours, what-
ever limitations they put into the Bill, such a man would
still have the power to make himself very disagreeable on
the question of game. If he were a land'ord he should
rather rely on the general good feeling which had been
spoken of, and which he believed to exist to a very large
extent throughout the country between tenants and owners.
If it were proposed to insert a restriction that guns should
be prohibited altogether, would hon. members opposite be
prepared to vote for that ? He did not believe they would
be. Some people talked about the common-sense of the
peasantry. Well, he hoped there was yet some common-
sense lett among the landlords. Already there was one
limitation in this Bill which, except on "the ground of
humanity, he should object to strongly— thut was .he
limitation with regard to traps. He re ollecte 1 speaking
to a landlord, who had been a member of that House,
whom they had known as Sir Hare mrt Johnstone,
on the subject of traps. The interest of that gentle-
man centred in foxes, and he was very anxious
that foxes should|notruntheriskof puttiug 'heir feet in traps
set to catch rabbits. Sir W. Harconrt, however, admitted
that the practice was a cruel one, and that was one of his
strong arguments in favour of piuting an end to traps. But
he (Mr. Bright) put i to him whether, if they were going to
put an end to t aps, they would forbid their u«e by keepers
and landlords. On the ground of mercy, he himself thought
that there should be a certain trap limitation to the extent
of forbidding the use of traps with teeth for ground game.
He was not proposing to move an amendment on the Bill of
his right hon. friend, but he merely said this much as show-
ing thata very considerable limitation with regard to traps
was, in his view, desirable. Thene machines were not to be
placed above ground, but that was a limitation which it was
not proposed to e.xtand to keepers and landlords. There was
no limitation as to the number of people that any owner of
land might bring down upon his tenants from time to time
for the purpose of shooting game in any manner in which it
was customary so to do. Therefore there was no concurrent
right — that was to s iy, there was no equal concurrent right
according to this Bill between landlord and tenant. But
a*suredly there must be some restriction— some line beyond
which they may not go. They must not bring in a Bill
which the tenants would ultimately find encompassed with
bo many restrictions as to be far from that which thpy ex-
pected." Throughout the whole farming population, suffering
as they were at this moment, it would be found that there
was growing up in their minds a belief that their landlords,
their county representatives, were not sufficiently careful of
their interests, and were not generously disposed to trust
them. He was not going to ask them to trust to this Pill,
bocausehe believed, even with the limitations imposed by it,
they would be bound hereafter very much more to "the
generosity and good feeling of their tenants than to any
Bpecific le-islative clause. He was speaking neither as a
landlord nor a sportsman, but as one having some know-
ledge of the affairs thai pasocd in this country, and some

knowledge of the motives by which men were actuated ; and
he should say that the true policy to pursue was to deal
generously with occupiers, and to ask his right hon frier d
to make no limitations or restrictions other than those which
he (Sir W. Harcourt) had proposed. As to the noble Lord
(Elcho) who had 6poken in connection with this Bill, he
could not say that his remarks were very much to his credit.
The noble Lord had taunted himself and the Government
with having certain motives in view in bringing f >rward
this Bill — for instance, that they wished to catch the votes of
the county constituencies —

LordEliCHO at this point rose, and was understood to
dissent from the remarks of the right hon. gentleman.

Mr BRIGHT (continuing) said thaf county constituencies
were numerous and powerful, and there was no class of per-
sons who could complain with so much reason of the suffer-
ings they had endured, and the disasters which had pursued
them. All of them knew what their sufferings were better
than he himself did, but none of them knew how much they
might suffer hereafter. He counselled them, therefore, to
do towards tenants what was generous and just, and what
they themselves would wish to have done to them were they
in the tenants' position and the tenants in theirs.

Lord JOHN MANNERS said that it had not been his in-
tention to take any part in the discussion, but he must say
that if the right hon. gentleman (Sir W. Harcourt) was
anxious to pass his Bill he ought to put a muzzle on his
colleague. The right hon. gentleman — not for the first
time — had read them one of those lectures which were
characteristic of him. He was sure the agricultural commu-
nity must feel a deep debt of gratituue for the great interest
which the right hon. gentleman had taken in their welfare.
It might be that there were among them those old enough
to recollect that some of the misfortunes to which the right
hon. gentleman had so feelingly alluded were unquestionably
brought upon them by his friends. Some would doub tless
recollect that until the last three months the right hon- gen-
tleman had done nothing whatever to mitigate the sufferings
or promote those interests to which he now appealed. He
had no recollection as a county member that during the time
that the late Government were engaged in transferring
some two millions of taxation from the agricultural commu-
nity, the right hon. gentleman had rendered any assistance,
whether by voice or vote, to that scheme. While the whole
agricultural community were in trepidation lest foreign
disease should devastate their herds and flocks, a-d the
Government of the day were anxious to relieve that appre-
hension, he had no recollection of any assistance being
given by the right hon. gentleman.

Mr. PASSMORE EDWARDS rose to order. He wished
to ask whether the right hon. gentleman was speaking to the
question.

TheCHAIRMANsaidhehndnot interrupted therghthon.
gentleman because he thought that the Chancellor of the
Duchy had himself travelled beyond the amendment.

Lord JOHN MANNERS said hethrew himself on the in-
dulgence of the Committee. It was not the first timo within
the last twenty-four hours that the usual limits of debate in
Committee had been transgressed, and on which they had
been lectured as to the proper manner in which they should
discharge their duties towards their tenants, and had been
threatened with ihe dreadful consequences which would fol-
low if they disregarded such advice. He thought the license
might be permitted him as one of the class of landlords, to
tell the right hon. gentleman as he now did, to his face, that
he had not the slightest intention of being moved by any-
thing he might say in the way of threat. He believed that
he understood his own constituents better than the right
hon. gentleman did. He did not wish to pursue this some-
what unpleasant matter any further. This was the first time
he had said anything to the House on the subject matter of
this Bill. He had his own reason for not speaking on any
one of the amendments, because it would make lit tie prac-
tical difference indeed between the present rela ions of land-
lord and tenant whether the Bill was carried or not. With
the single exception of the violation of freedom of c ntract
contained in the Bill, he really did not much care how the
clauses went.

Lord ELCHO said he had been anticipated in his sugges-
tion by the hon. member for Leicestershire, aud that was,
that if the Home Secretary wished his Bill to pass, he should
not allow his right hon. iriend (Mr. Bright) to speak. He had
intended to make the suggestion that the right should be
concurrent — that the two right hon. gentlemen should have
a "concurrent" right to stap each other when one or the
other wanted to speak, in order simply to facilitate the pro-
gress of the Bill. With regard to the strictures passed upon
himself by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, he
had to say that he had not said or done anything that ho had
not said or done for the last thirty and odd years. Upon this
question of game he had not yielded one jot or tittle, and yet
he still sat in that House, and stood there to protest against
what he considered vicious legislation. He claimed the
righttoreply to the personal attack upon him, andin pursuance
of this right be begged to call the attention of the right hon.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

203

gentleman to & preface which ho (Mr. Bright) has written to
a book published by a gentleman who had contested an elec-
tion wiih him (Lord Elcho) many years ago. He referred to
a Mr. Welford, and the announcement then made to the
farmers of England was that the remedy was in their own
hands ; that the law had given them the game, and if they
Chose to part with it they signed their own deprivation. That
was a right and sensible view of the question, and he ven-
tured to say that the views of the right hon. gentleman then
— in 1817 — were more rational on this question than now.
He thought the amendment was a SJund one, and would
guard against abuse ; and, without the fear of his consti-
tuents, and unawed by the threats of the right hon. gentle-
men, he would vote fr>r the restriction.

Sir W. HARCOURT said he had no particular interest in
the proviso he had moved, and would have no objection to
withdraw it. It was not a part of the Bill.

Sir E COLE BROKE did not wish to put the House to the
trouble of a division. They were bound to consider how the
power placed in the tenants might be abused by a limited
number of them. It would be undesirable at present that
the House should be committed on the point, and he would
suggest that it should be brought up on report, and mean-
time the Government could consider whether they could not,
without any real injury to the tenant-farmer, give the con-
cession required.

Mr. A. BALFOUR said that the hon. gentleman might
withdraw his amendment, so that the subject might be dis-
cussed on the amendment which he proposed to bring for-
ward on the same subject.

Sir W. HARUOURT did not think this was a fair proposal
now that they were ready to determine the question, to with-
draw the amendment in order that it might be discussed
anew at a future period.

Mr. A. M. SULLIVAN complained that the obstruction of
the noble Lord (Elcho) and his friends had prevented the
Irish from getting to business. The Irish members had been
sitting there for two hours vainly ende ivouring to facilitate
busines-. He hoped the House would hereafter know who
were the real obstructionists.

Earl PERCY agreed with the hon. member that hon.
gentlemen who made personal remarks across the table were
guilty of conduct which had a tendency to obstruct progress

In reply to remarks by Sir Michael Hicks Beach,

SirW.'V. HARCOURT was willing to proceed with the
amendment, on condition that there was a reasonable
prospect of the amendment being fairly discussed.

Mr. CHAPLIN said there was. He protested against
being accused of obstruction. The speech of Mr. Bright had
done more to delay the progress of busi'iessthan any speech
in this discussion. If hon. members would refrain from
epeeches of that kind, there would be less of obstruction.

On Sir E. COLEBROOKE'S amendment to substitute the
words '"a member" instead of "members" of farmer's
household, the Committee divided —

For the amendment 97

Against 179

Majority against 82

An amendment by Mr. BARCLAY to omit the word
" habitually " in relation to residents at the farm was agreed
to.

Sir W. BARTTELOT moved to omit "persons in hia
ordinary employment on the land." To allow every person
on the land to kill hares and rabbits was giving greater
powers than was necessary. It would encourage every
labourer to become a poacher.

Sir W. V. HARCOURT remarked that it was the same
question as that already raised.

The amendment was negatived.

Mr. CHAPLIN moved an amendment, providing that no
person should be employed as agent for killing game who
had been within five years convicted under the Game Laws.

Mr. A. M. SULLIVAN asked whether landowners did not
employ old poachers as gamekeepers.

Sir W. HARCOURT could not accept the amendment,
because it would put an additional b and on a man who might
be trying to recover his position in society. He would rather
tear the Bill to tatters than accept such an amendment.

Mr. CHAPLIN assured the House that nothing would
induce him to employ a poacher who was known in the
Eaighbourhood to be a bad character.

The amendment was withdrawn.

Mr. STANHOPE moved an amendment, that only one
other person besides the occupier should be permitted to use
a gun for the pui prse of destroying ground game.

The Committee divided —

For the amendment 91

Against 173

Majority against 82

Sir W. HARCOURT moved, as the remainder of his
amendment to this clause, that any person authorised by
the oocupier, on demand by any person having concurrent
right to kill ground game on the land, or any person autho-

rised by him in writing n make such demand, shall produce
his document in writing, aud in default \>ill be liable as an
unauthorised person. That would enable the owner or
gamekeeper to ascertain that any person doing anything on
the land was an authorised person ; and if wriLten authority
was not pro luced. then the individual would be in the same
position as undur the former law.

Sir M. H. BEACH would prefer that the natne of the
authorised person should be given beforehand to the land-
lord.

Mr. HENEAGE also thought the amendment now pro-
posed would put the matter in a worse position than before.
It would be better to know beforehand whom the farmer had
appointed to go on the land.

Sir W. BARTTELOT considered the proposal would tend
to encourage poaching. As it was now nearly time for the
rising of the House, he would suggest that they should re-
port progress.

Sir A. GORDON thought it necessary that the Inland
Revenue officers should have power to demand the certifl
cate. This proposal materially affected an amendment he
had on the paper. In the first instauce, the Home Secretary
proposed that the notice should be sent seven days after the
authority was given. It appeared to him that the notice
should be sent before the authority was given, in order that
the landlord might make inquiry as to whether the person
to whom permission was given was fit to exercise such per-
mission. His amendment provided that the shooting should
not begin until seven days after the landowner and Inland
Revenue officer had notice, otherwise the landlord might
find in the field a person who had as much right to shoot as
himself, and there might be a collision between them. His
object was that the landlord shou d know who had the right
to shoot.

Mr. GIBSON thought that the tenant should state to his
landlord who were the persons authorised.

Mr. BARCLAY said the clause as it stood without the
amendment proposed by the Home Secretary would be
unworkable. In the first place, the farmer would have to
give written authority, not transferable ; next, to send notice
to his landlord ; and, in the third place, if the game was let,
he would have to send notice to the lessee of the shooting,
and also to the collector of inland revenue. He would have
to take precaution to post all those letters to all those
different individuals, and when all these conditions were
observed no one conld prove whether he had given written
authority or not. Tbe right hon. gentleman had done well
in withdrawing these vexatious conditions, and m rely
stipulating that any person authorised by the farmer should
have written permission, and be bound to show it to any
one who had the right to ask for it.

Mr. CHAPLIN asked time to see the amendment in
print, aud wished to know when the Bill would come on
again.

Sir W. V. HARCOURT would give the earliest information
he could, but he could not at present fix a day.

Progress was then reported.

DIVISION ON LORD ELCHO'S AMENDMENT.

In Committee. — Clause 1. — Amendment proposed,
in page 1, line 11, after the word " have," to insert
the words, "except where otherwise expressly provided
by reservation, lease, contract of tenancy, or other
contract." (Lord Elcho). Question put, "That
those words be there inserted." The Committee
divided — Ayes, 74 ; Noes, 212.

AYES.
Amherst, WAT Finch, G H Murray, C J

Aylmer, J E F Fitzpatriek, HnBEBMusgrave, Sir R C

Bailey, Sir J R Fletcher, s- ir H Northcote, Right Hn
Balfour, Arthur .Tas Folkestone. Vis Sir S

Barttelot, Sir W B Forester, CTW Onslow, Denzil
Bective, Earl of Foster, W H Patrick, R W C

Bentinck, Rt HnG CFowler, R N Percy, Earl

Birley, Hugh Fremantle.HnT F Phipps, C N P

Blackburne, CclJ I Gibson, Rt Hn E Repton, G W
Brand, Henrv R Hay, RuIInSirJCDRoss, A H
Broadley, W H H Hicks. E Russell, Sir C

Brodrick, Hon St J Hildyard, T B T Schreiber, Charles
Brooke, Lord Home, Captain D M Scott, Montagu D

Carden, Sir R W Hope, Rt Hon A B Severne, J E
Cecil, Lord E H B G Johnstone, Sir F Stanhope, Hon B
Chaplin, Henry Knight, F W Talbot, J G

Christie, W L Lechmere, Sir E A HTottenham, A L

Clive, Col Hon G W Lennox, Lord H G Wallace, Sir R
Coope, O E Levett, T J Warton, C N

Davenport, H T Long, W H Whitley, Edward

Davenport, W B Lopes, Sir M Winn, Rowland t

Digby, Col Hon E Makins, Colonel Wroughton, P
DonaldsonHudsonjCManners, Rtdn Ld JYorke, J R

THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE.

Egerton, H->n W Maxwell. Sir H E Tiu.t.kbs:—

Fei.den, Major-GenMills. SirC II Lord Elcho

Fellowes, W H Monckton, Fiancis Mr. Puleston

NOES.
Aeland. Sir T D Farquharson, Dr R Martin, R B
Aenr-Robartes, Hn Fawcett, Rt Hon H Maxwell, JHM

TG
Agnew. W
Allen. H G
Allman, R L
Arnold. A
Ashley, Hon E M
Baldwin, E
Balfour, Sir G
Barclay, J W
Baring, Viscount
Barran, J
Bns'', A
Bass, H
Bea^h, WW B
Beaumont, W B
Biddell, W
Birkbeck,!!
Bolton, J C
Bradlaugh, C
Brassey, T
Brett, R B
Briggs, W E
Bright, Rt Hon J

Ffjlkes, Sir W H B Middleton, R T
Filmer, Sir E Monk, C J

Firth, J F B Moreton, Lord

Fitzwilliam, Hn H Morgan, Rt Hn G O

W M rley.A

Fitzwilliam, Hn WJ Moss, *R
Flower, C Mundella, Rt HnAJ

Foljambe, C G S Nolan, Major

Fort. R O' Brien, Sir P

Fowler, W O'Connor, T P

Fry L Palmer, G

Gamier, J C Parker, C S

Gladstone, H J Pease, A
Gordon, Sir A Peddle, J D

Gorst, J E Peel, A W

Gower, HnEFL Pender, J
Grafton, F W Portsman, Hn WHB

Grant, A Powell, W

Grant, D Powell, W R H

Grant, Sir G Mac- Fnuh, L P

pherson Pulley, J

Guest, M 3 Ralli, P

Gurdon, R T' Ramsden, Sir J

Brise, Col Ruggles Hamilton, J G C Rendel, S
Broadhurst, H Harcourt, Rt Hn Sir Richardson, T

Bruce, Rt Hn Lord C W Roberts. J

Bruce, Hn R Pres- Hardcastle, J A Rod well, B B H

ton Hartington, Mar of Rogers, JET

Bryce, J Hastings, Q W Rou"d, J

Burnahy, Gen E S Havelock- Allan, Sir Roundell, C S

H

Burt, T
Buxton, F W
Buxton, Sir R J
Came, W S
Callan, P
Campbell, R F F
Campbell- Banner -

man, Henry
Ca'ington, Hon R
Carington, Hon Col Holms, W
Causton, R K Hopwood, C H

Cavendish, Ld F C Howard, J
Chamberlain, RtHnJJllaigwo'th, A
Cheetham, J F Inderwiek, F A

Childers.RtHnHCE James, 0
Chitty. J W James, Sir H

Churchill, Lord R Jardine, R
Clarke. J C
Coddington, W
Cohen, A

Colebrooke, Sir T E Kinnear, J
Cotes, C C Labouchere, H

Courtauld, G Lawrance. J C

Courtney, L H La' cock, R

Cowper,' Hon H F Leatham, W H
Craig, W Y Lee, H

Cunliffe, Sir R A Lefevre, G J S

Hayter, Sir A D
Henderson. F
Heneage, E
Herschell. Sir F
Hibbert, J T
Holland, Sir H T

Hollond, J R

Holms, J

Johnson, E
Johnson, W M

Russell, C
Ru'sell, Lord A
Rvlands, P
St Aubyn, Sir J
St Aubyn, W H
Sclater-Booth, Rt

HonG
Sexton, T
Shield, H

Simon, Mr Serjeant
Slagg, J

Spencer, Hn C R
Stafford, Martinis of
Stanley, Hon E L
Story-ilaskelyne, M

H
Summers, W
Taylor, P A
'1 homasson, J P

Dalrymple, C
Daly, J
Davies, D
Davies, R
Davies, W
Dawson, C
Dilke, A W
Dilke, Sir C W
Di Ion, J

Dodson, RtHn J G M'Carthy, J
Douglas, A Akers- M'lntyre, M 3
Duckham. T
Duff, Rt Hon M E

Grant
Dundas, Hon J C
Fairbairn, Sir A

Kingscote, Colonel Thompson, T C
Thornliid. T
Tillett, J H
Tracy, H on F S A

Hanburv
Trevelyan, G O
Vivian, A P
Vivim, H H
Leigh, HG Hon C Walrond. Col W H
Litton, E F Walter, J

Lloyd, M WaiiKh, E

Lubbock, Sir J Wedderburn, Sir D

Lyons, R D Whallev. G II

Mackie, R B Whit well J

Macnaghten, E Wiggin, H

M'Arthur, A Wdliams, W

M'Arthur, W Williamson, S

Willis, W
Wodehouse E R
Woodall, W
Worrley, C B Stuart

Tkllbes: —
Lord R Grosvonor
Lord Kensington

M'Minnies, J G
Magniac 0
Mappin, F T
Marjoribanks, E
Marriott, W T

As an amendment on the amendment of Sir Wil-
liam Harcourt (limiting the persons who shall be
authorised by the occupier to kill ground game to
"members" of his household), Sir E. Colebrooke
moved that the restrictions should be to " a member,"
which amendment was rejected by 179 to 97. The
following members constituted the majority : —

Adam, Rt Hn W
Agar-Robartes
Agnew, W
Allen, H G

Fairbairn, Sir A
Farquharson, Dr
Fawcert, H
Ferfjuaon, R

Matheson, A
Maxwell, JHM
Meldou, C H
Middleton, R T

Anderson, G
Arnold, Arthur
Ashley. Hon E
Baldwin, E
Balfour, Sir G
Barclay, J W
Baring, Viscount
Barran, John
Bass, Hamar
Beaumont, W B
Biddell, W
Bisrgar, J G
Birkbeck, E
Bolton, J C
Borlase, W C
Bradlaugh, C
B-assey, Tho3
Briggs, W E
Bright. Jacob
Bright, John
Broadhurst, H
Bruce, Lord C
Bruce, R P
Bryce, James
Burt, Thomas
Caine, W S
Cam ron, C
Campbell, R F
Campbell-Ban
Carington. Col
Causton, R K
Cavendish, Lord F
Chnmber.am J
Cheetham, J F
Ciirke, J C
Cohen. Arthur
Collings, Jesse
Collins, Eugene
Corbet, W J
Cotts, C C
Courtauld, G
Courtney, L H
Cowen, Joseph
Cowper. Hon H
Craig, W Y
Cunliffe, Sir R
Daly, J
Davies, W
Dawson, C
Dilke, Ashton
Dilke, Sir C W
Dodson, J G
Duckham, T
Duff, MEG
Earp, Thomas
Edwards, J P
Elliott, Hon A R

Firth, .1 B
Flowf-r. Cyril
Foljambe C
Forster, Sir C
Forster, W E
Fort, Richard
Fowler, W
Fry, Lewis
Gladstone, H J
Gladstone, W H
Gourley, E T
Grant, A
Grant, Sir G M
Gurdon, R T
Harcourt, Sir W
Hardcastle, J
Hastings, G W
Havelock, Sir H
Hayter, Lt-Col
Hendeison, F
Heneage. E
Herschell, F
Hill.T R
Hollond, J R
Holms, L
Holms, William
Hopwood, C
Howard, J
Hutchinson, J
Illingworth, A
Inderwick, F
James, C
James, Sir H
Jardine, K
Jenkins, D J
Johnson, E
Johnson, W
Kinnear, Dr
Labouchere, H
Lawrence Sir J
Lawrence, Aid
Laycock, Robt
Leatham, W
Litton, E
Lloyd, Morgan
Lnsk, Andrew
Lyons, Dr
Mackie, R B
Macartney, J
M'lntyre, M
M'Lagan, P
M'Laren, D
M'Minnies, J G
Majoribanks, E
Marriott, W T
Martin, R B
Massey, Rt Hon

Monk, Chas. J
Morgan, G O
M.rley, Arnold
Mundella, A J
O'Connor, A
O'Counor. T P
O'Donoghue, The
O'Gorman. Mahon
Otway, Arthur
Paget, T T
Palmer, Hinde
Parker, C S
Peddie, Lick
Peel, A W
Pennington, F
Potter, Thomas
Powell, Waiter
Powell, W R
Puilej , Joseph
Ramsay, John
Reed, Edward J
Rendel, Stuart
Richardson, T
Roberts, John
Rogers, Thorold
Rylands, Peter
Sexton, Titos
Shaw, William
Shield, H
Simon, Serjeant
Slagg, J

Spencer, Hon G
Stanlev, Hon L
Sullivan, A M
Summers, W
Taylor, P A
Thomasson, J P
Tillett, J H
Tracy, Hon. F
Villiers, C P
Wautrh, E
Webster, J
Wedderburn, D
Whallev, Captain
Whitwell, John
Whitworth, B
Wiggin, H
Williams, S G
Williamson. S
Wills. W II
Wodehouse, E
Woodall, W
Woolf, S

Tkllebs : —
Grosvenor, Lord R
Kensingten, Lord

The following voted in the minority : —

Avlmer, Capt
balfour, A J
Baring, T C
Barttelot, SirW
Beetive, Earl
Birley. Hugh
Blackburne J
Bourke. Hon R.
Brise, Col R
Broadley, W H
Burghley, Lord
Burnaby, Gen
Carden.'Sir R W
Cecil, Lord E
Chaplin, Henry
Churchill. Lord R
Clive, HouG
Coddington, W
Compton, F
Corry, J P
Crichton, Visct
Cross, Sir R
Dalrymple, C
Davenport. H T
Davies, David
Davies, Richard
Digby, Col E

Finch, G H
Folkestone, Vis
Foster, W H
Garnier, C
Gibson, Edwd
Gordon, Sir A
Gorst, J E
Grantham, W
Hami.tod, Lord C
Hamilton, Lord G
Harcourt, E
Hay, Sir John
Hicks, Edward
Hildyard, T B
Holland, Sir H
Hope, A J B
Johnstone, SirF
Kennaway, Sir J
Knight. F W
Leigh, HonGH
Levctt, T J
Lindsay, Col L
Loder, R
Long, W H
Macnaghten, E
Manners, L:>rd J
Maxwell, Sir H

Donaldson -HudsonMills, Sir C H

Douglas, A A
Egerton, Hon W
Elcho, Lord
Fielden, Gen
Fellowes. W H
Ffolkea, Sir W.

Moss, Richard
Musgrave R C
N ortheote, Sir S
Percy Earl
Pnippa, C N P

Pugh, Lewis P
Ramsden, Sir J
Ritchie, C I
Rodwell, Benj.
Ross, A H
Round, James
Roundell, U S
Russell, Sir G
Sandon, Viscnt
Schreiber, C
Scott, Montagu
Sinclair, Sir J
Smith, Abel
Smith, W H
Stafford, Mrqs
Stanhope, lion E
Talbot, J G
Tavlor, Colonel
Thompson, T G
Thomhill, T
Vivian, H H
Wallace, Sir R
Wa'rond. Col W
Warton, C N
Whitley, Edwd
Wilmott, Sir J E
Winn, Rowland
Wolff, Sir H D
Wortley, Stuart
Wroughton, P.

11 1 I I !::• : —

Colebrooke, Sir E
Kingaeote, CA

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

205

MARKET GARDENING FOR
FARMERS.

By Charles Whitehead.
No. VI.

Importations of vegetables have increased pro-
digiously during the last quarter of a century.
The ratio of increase during the last four years
is disproportionately greater than that of any
previous similar period. Upon reference to the
Board of Trade returns of " General Imports of
Articles free of Duty," it will be seen that the
value of the unenumei*ated vegetables, that is,
of vegetables other than potatoes and onions,
imported into this country was £24,399 in the
year 1859 ; while in 1868, the value of these had
increased to £134,376. In 1878 their value was
£264,525, and last year it amounted to no less
than £338,785, or nearly fourteen times more
than the value of those imported in 1859. Besides
these enumerated vegetables, consisting of
carrots, broccoli, peas, French beans, radishes,
cucumbers, lettuces, and such produce, the
value of the potatoes and onions that were im-
ported into the United Kingdom in 1879 was
£3,146,904, against £2,800,227, in 1878, and
against £165,471 in 1859. It is hardly conceiv-
able that the total value of the potatoes, onions,
and unenumerated vegetables imported into
Great Britain in the last year amounted to the
extraordinary sum of £3,484,461, as against
£189,870 in 1859 ! Of the unenumerated ve-
getables, to which I am now specially alluding,
something like half of the importations have
come from France, taking an average of past
years. The Channel Islands have contributed
close upon one-sixth of the supply. Holland
ranks next. Germany follows after Holland.
"Other countries," in which Africa, Spain, Portu-
gal,and Belgium are included, have inci'eased the
value of their importations of unenumerated
vegetables from £12,307 in 1878, to £32,785 in
1879. The French importers and those of
Guernsey and Jersey are most to be feared by
reason of their propinquity, their ingenuity, and
industry. The greatest possible pains are taken
by these market gardeners, the generality of
whom cultivate a few acres only, and perform the
greater part of the labour with the assistance of
their families. In France and the Channel
Islands the cultivation of vegetables and delicate
salad materials, both in the open air and under
glass, is increasing rapidly, and it is surprising
to see how fresh and crisp the various articles
come to market, considering the distances they
have travelled. They are also essentially well-
grown, as well as nicely trimmed, and artistically
packed, and "set off' to the best possible advan-
tage. In this art most of the foreign importers
excel the home producers, who have much to
learn in this respect.

It is remarkable to notice what a difference in

the appearance of produce of this kind, careful
trimming and neat packing make ; also how
these attentions to details enhance its market
value. Fruit especially gams much from ar-
rangement and tasteful surroundings, such as are
bestowed by the French producers, and English
growers of fruit and vegetables, would do well to
take many leaves out of their books. Many of
the foreign vegetables are sent from France and
other countries by fast boats and express trains
at cheap rates. In these respects the foreign
importers have decided advantages over the home
growers, whose interests are not sufficiently con-
sidered by some of the Railway Companies, as I
shall show hereafter. The wonderful increase in
the importations of vegetables into this country
during the past four or five years should not by
any means discourage market-garden farmers.
It must be accepted as a certain proof of the
very extensive increase in the demand for them.
In a great degree the supply creates this demand.
Good, cheap articles tempt purchasers.
L'appetit vient en mangeant. These things, which
have long been held as dainties, will be, indeed
are fast being, accounted necessaries, for which
there will be a ready sale, not only for the quan-
tities of them that may be imported, but also
for largely increased supplies from our own fields.
At present the foreign importers have the market
practically to themselves in the early part of the
season. Their supply begins with the new year.
Having found out a market, which the want of
energy of British cultivators had left open to
them, they speedily made themselves masters of
the situation, and hold it now triumphantly ; but
they may be dislodged. For it appears from the
report upon the market-garden farm and market-
garden competition, published in the fifteenth
volume of the Journal of the Royal Agricultural
Society, in table C. given therein, showing the
dates of the arrival of various vegetables from
foreign countries, " that the foreign supplies
come when there is comparatively little home-
grown produce in actual competition with them.
When the English season of vegetables has fairly
begun there is an immediate falling off in the
foreign importations. Directly the weather
allows the English supply to begin, prices go
down with a run, so that it no longer pays to
send consignments from abroad to the English
markets."

In addition to the demand for vegetables for
direct consumption, thousands of tons are re-
quired for the manufacture of pickles and
sauces, not only for the home requirements,
which are growing constantly, but also for ex-
port, steadily increasing, to all parts of the
world. Touching this trade, it is said in the
" Memoir of British Agriculture," prepared by the
Royal Agricultural Society for the International
Congress in Paris, and published in the 14th
volume of the Society's Journal, very large
quantities of vegetables are used in the manu-
facture of pickles and sauces, and the demand
for suitable onions, French beans, cauliflowers,
and gherkins for these purposes occasionally
exceeds the supply. The best firms of pickle
and sauce manufacturers, some of whom

205

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

employ 300 or 400 hands in the busy
seasons, take only first-class vegetables for pick-
ling ; but the smaller firms do not object to buy
(those of inferior quality, which they convert
literally into "mixed" pickles, and impart to
them a brilliant green colour with sulphate of
copper. One large firm in London takes from
12,000 to 14,000 bushels of onions in one season,
and other vegetables in proportion. There is
work cut out here for British enterprise and
energy. Strenuous endeavours must be made to
keep out the foreigner, or at least to prevent
him from getting a firmer footing- in our market.
It is believed that this can be done by growing
the right vegetable at the right time, and by
paying careful attention to every detail con-
nected with the growth, preparation, and packing
for market. We must not stand on ancient ways,
but make new roads to getting money from the
cultivation of the land.

Those who have already adopted market
gardening must follow the advice of Mr.
Page, the author of a prize essay entitled
" Manchester Fruit and Vegetable Market,"
who says, " I trust, my rural friends —
the market gardeners and farmers of this
locality — will not think me presumptuous, and
that I am travelling out of my province if I ex-
press the opinion that they are somewhat slow
in discovering and supplying many of those
things which are most remunerative to the
grower. For many years they permitted the
more heavily-rented growers in the vicinity of
London, who were handicapped with the cost of
bringing it two hundred miles to market, to
supply us with rhubarb. It is within my own
recollection that not a single cos lettuce — the
only sort fit to be eaten — could be obtained in
Lancashire but what came from beyond London,
and for many years no one In- re attempted to
grow these things ; now everybody grows them.
Probably nothing is easier than to grow scarlet
runners, and nothing finds a readier sale in the
Lancashire markets. I have seen them sold
this year at 8s. a bushel, but they came from a
distant part of the country, the local gardener
or farmer at the same time bringing a cartload
of cabbage, which sold for very little more.
Brussels sprouts are also eagerly sought for here
and bring 2s. or 3s. a peck ; but the local grower
of vegetables says, as he cnce said of rhubarb
and cos lettuce, ' I cannot grow them,' notwith-
standing that few things are so hardy. A Stret-
ford gardener's excuse for not growing Brussels
sprouts, as given to me, was, ' The land about my
neighbourhood is too rich.' Well, when we see
so many fields in Cheshire whose principal crop
is rushes, we certainly cannot allow the farmer
or gardener who occupies them to plead the
same excuse."

Many farmers will no doubt say of grow-
ing vegetables generally, " I cannot grow
them ;" and many who now grow certain of the
most easily cultivated kinds will say, " I cannot
grow these others, my land is not suitable."
Mr. Page's eBsay was written in competition for
a prize offered by the local committee of the
Royal Manchester, Liverpool, and North Lan-

cashire Agricultural Society, and was printed
and published to ' ' stimulate the efforts of Local
farmers and market gardeners in competition for
the supply of these commodities to one of the
best markets in the world." The Manchester
market is said to be the largest market extant.
Its total area, according to Mr. Page, is over
four acres and six perches, exclusive of shops.
This extensive space is occasionally inadequate
for the enormous supplies that come from every
quarter in the height of the season, and there-
fore the side of the streets adjacent to the mar-
ket are used for pitching vegetables and fruit.
Large quantities of asparagus, cabbages, pes,
and broccoli are sent to Manchester from
Evesham, Northamptonshire, Cornwall, the
Scilly Isles, and Jersey. Tons of watercresses
come daily from Oxfordshire. Peas are sent
from Algiers, Spain, France, Nottinghamshire,
and Yorkshire. One salesman, Mr. Page states,
has disposed of fifteen hundred sacks of green
peas in one day ; but the quantities grown in
Lancashire, near to the market, and in Cheshire
are quite insignificant in comparison. Six
thousand five hundred sacks of peas have been
pitched in the Manchester market in one day.
Carrots are sent from France, Holland, Bedford-
shire, Lincolnshire, and Huntingdonshire. The
first new potatoes come from France, and are
very dear at first. In May they come from
Cornwall, the Scilly Isles, and Jersey. In one
week in 1879, 22,250 loads, of 18 stone, of new
potatoes were brought to the Manchester mar-
ket. Of cucumbers, as many as from one
hundred to one hundred and twenty tons per
week are, in good seasons, poured into the mar-
ket from English growers, and especially from
Holland. The facts and figures given in this
essay ore interesting, and show that the demand
for vegetables is rapidly increasing. It appears,
however, that the foreign growers have taken
the most advantage of the requirements of the
market, and furnish far more than their due
share of the supply. Undoubtedly in most cases
they have a better climate and earlier seasons,
which enable them to steal many a march upon
their English rivals ; but as was pointed out be-
fore, the season in the North of France is not
earlier than the English, yet the market garden-
ers near Paris mainly supply the markets in this
country with early vegetables and salad materials
in the early spring, and will continue to do so as
long as they get the chance . I firmly believe that
if the English growers choose to apply skill,
energy, and capital to the undertaking, they
may obtain a large share of th« supply of early
produce, and successfully compete with the
foreign importers.

Extremes Meet. — A young girl and berlover were
accustomed to meet on an unfrequented half-mile cir-
cular race-course. When questioned as to the reason
for choosing this particular locality, she blushingly
replied, " Oh, sometimes we are interrupted ; and
then John walks off in one direction and I iu the
other, and meet ou the opposite side ? "

THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE.

207

OFFICIAL AG RJ CULT URAL
RETURNS.

The Summary of the Agricultural Returns for
Great Britain shows an increase in the area of
land under wheat for 1880, as compared with that
of 1879, of 18,904 acres, but a decrease, as com-
pared with 1878, of 309,269 acres. This is a
considerable decrease in the growth of wheat,
amounting as it does to 9.6 per cent. The de-
crease in the acreage of barley is surprisingly
large, the area being 99,345 acres under that of
1879 and 1,821 acres less than that of 1878. The
general impression was that there was an un-
usually large breadth of barley sown. It seems,
however, that oats took the place of barley to a
great extent, that crop showing an increase of
140,277 acres over the area of 1879, and of
97,998 acres over that of 1878. The growth of
potatoes has inci-eased by 9,587 over that of 1879
and 42,500 over that of 1878. Hops occupy
934 fewer acres than in 1879, and 5,052 less
than in 1878. The total net decrease in land
under t he crops named in the Summary is
175,644 since 1878 ; but it remains to be seen
whether this not very large decrease during two
years has been made up by an increase in the area
under clover and cultivated grasses or in that
of root crops. Clovers planted so well in the
spring of 1879 that it will not be surprising to
find nearly all the net decrease referred to made
up by an increase in the acreage under that crop
alone. Probably the breadth of land in bare
fallow and mangels is smaller than usual, and
that of turnips greater. As far as can be judged
at present, there seems no sign of any consider-
able conversion of arable land to pasture, and
there is still less reason to fear that the complete
Returns will show a large acreage to have gone
out of cultivation altogether.

For live stock the returns are more dishearten-
ing. Cattle alone have increased in number by
55,690 as compared with 1879, and by 173,918 as
compared with 1878. That happy result may be
attributed in great measure, if not entirely, to
the effects of the Cattle Diseases Act. Sheep
and lambs have decreased to an alarming extent,
the number being 1,535,356 less than it was last
year, and 1,784,482 less than in 1878. The
terrible liver rot will in great measure account
for this ; but we fear loss of capital, leading to
the giving-up of breeding flocks, must also be
reckoned as a factor in the case. The decrease
is a'l the more to be lamented because mutton,
at the present time, is the article of production
in which British farmers have the smallest
amount of competition, and which yields
the largest profit in ordinary seasons. Sheep
breeding .had paid remarkably well until last
season, when the rot decimated many flocks, and
caused loss to nearly all breeders. We fear that
there is no hope of the loss being retrieved for
some time to come. The conditions of the pre-
sent summer have been favourable to the de-
velopment of the liver fluke, and we shall be
fortunate indeed if we escape another extensive
visitation. Shortness of money, too, has, we

fear, induced many farmers to sell their ewe
lambs, for killing or for grazing, instead of keep-
ing them for breeding purposes. Pigs stdl de-
crease in number, which is not surprising when
we consider the quantity of cheap pork sent in
one form oi another from the United States. Still
482,526, or 19.4 per cent., in two years is a re-
markable diminution.

Practice with Science.

«-

A Grain of Wheat,

So similar is it in its general appearance to
most seed that the grain of wheat, albeit it is no
seed, is almost universally spoken of as such. It
is to the wheat-plant what the cherry is to the
cherry-tree, what the gooseberry is to the goose-
berry bush, the grape to the grape-vine, and the
pods with its beans to the bean-plant ; in a word,
it is the fruit. Botanists define " fruit" as the
mature ovary, and it only needs an observation
once a week during July to show that the wheat
grain is the ripened ovary of the wheat-plant.
The ovary, as many of our readers must be aware,
is .usually called the germen in all the older
agricultural writings. The ovary contains one
or more minute more or less spherical structures
termed ovules, which after fertilisation ripen
into the seed. The ovary is therefore, the female
part of the flower, just as the stamens, with their
anther-lobes, constitute the male organs of ferti-
lisation, the fine pollen grains being the vehicle
whereby the fertilising influence is conveyed
from the anthers to the ovary. While the wheat
is in blossom the ovary is seen to consist of a
semi-transparent, almost coloui less globular little
body, surmounted by a two-branch feathery
plume, formed of the style and stigma, the use
of which is to receive the pollen- grains and
retain them while the pollen-tubes are growing
downwards into the ovary in search of the ovules.
The ovary of wheat, like that of all cereals and
grasses, contains only one ovule, and after ferti-
lisation the style and stigma wither away, while
the ferundated ovary, with its solitary seed, in-
creases rapidly to many times its original size,
and ultimately forms the ripe "grain" of wheat.

The structure of the wheat-grain is best
understood by studying it in connection with
the examination of some more typically de-
veloped fruit, such, for example, as the drupe.
This latter is a succulent, indehiscent, one-seedi d
fruit, such as the plum, damson, cherry, necta-
rine, peach, greengage, apricot, and the almond
and walnut before their husks are removed. A
raspberry or a blackberry consists of a great
number of such drupes aggregated into a sphe-
rical head. In any one of these fruits, as the
damson or cherry, there is first a thin trans-
parent outer skin, then a thick, fleshy, succulent
layer, constituting the edible pai't, and then the
hard shells, inside which is the seed. These
three parts, the skin, flesh, and shell, form'
collectively the pericarp (peri, around, carpon, a
fruit), and every fully-developed fruit is made
up of a pericarp surrounding and enclosing one

Q

/

208

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

or more seeds. When, as in the cherry, the
different layers of the pericarp are well-defined
and largely developed, they receive distinctive
names ; the outer skin is the epicarp (epi, upon,
carpon, a fruit), the middle fleshy part is the
mesocarp (mesos, middle) ~ and the innermost
hard shell is the endocarp (endos, within) ; in
other words the pericarp is made up of epicarp,
mesocarp, and endocarp. Suppose in the cherry
the skin and flesh to be removed and the * ' stone''
cracked, there falls out the true seed, a solitary
one in this case. Reverting now to the grain of
wheat, wbich at this time of year is especially
easy of examination with the aid of a penknife,
we find no difficulty in separating an outer skin
from the soft young grain. This outer skin is
the pericarp, and properly manipulated under
the microscope it can be separated into an outer,
-a middle, and the inner layer, representing
respectively the much differentiated epicarp,
mesocarp, and endocarp of the cherry. In all
normal fruits these three layers of the pericarp
are present, and tins being so, the relative de-
gree of development of the several layers is a
matter of trivial importance, leading only to dis-
tinctive differences between various forms
of fruit. The whole of the pericarp may be
peeled off the grain, and it is noticeable that
there comes away with it at the upper part a
small silky structure, which is the withered rem-
nant of the plumose style and stigma. The
portion of the grain that now remains is the true
seed, and is exactly equivalent to the seed that
falls out of the cherry-stone, the trivial differ-
ence between the fruit of the cherry-tree and
that of the wheat-plant depending solely on the
relative degree of development of the several
parts, in the former those structures appertain-
ing to the fruit proper attaining by far the
greater development, in the latter the adverse
being the case.

The structure of the seed of the wheat-plant
is at once understood by bearing in mind the
several parts constituting a pea or a bean, each
of these being true seeds, the enveloping pod
being the pericarp. A bean softened in water
is found to possess two eoats, the outer one being
called the testa (testa, a shell), and the inner
more delicate one the endopleura (endos, within,
pleura, a wall). After theBe are removed there
remains nothing but the embryo of the future
plant, with its two thick, fleshy cotyledons or
seed-leaves, between which are the young stem
and root. This seed, then, consists of nothing
but two coats and the embryo. In the grain of
wheat, after removing the pericarp we similarly
meet with two delicate seed-coats, the testa and
endopleura, but they are so thin and so closely
adherent that they can only be separated with
difficulty. After removing the seed-coats the
whole grain is seen to be formed almost entirely
of the farinaceous substances known as flour,
but at the base of the grain towards the
outer side there is seen a very small structure,
which is the embryo, and which is equivalent to
the large embryo of the pea or bean. The out-
line of the embryo in a grain of wheat is always
apparent, even before the removal of the peri-

carp. The white granular material, or flour, is
called albumen, and it is a store of nourishment
laid up by the plant to enable the young embryo
when the seed is sown to get over the earliest
stages of its growth — a sort of mother's milk,
as it were. In the pea, this store of so-called
albumen is equally present, but it is transferred
into the embryo before the seed is ripe. Con-
sequently, when a pea germinates the embryo
converts into living tissues certain substances
which already form part of itself ; in the grain
of wheat the embryo similarly converts equiva-
lent substances, which differ only in position,
being as a matter of fact outside the embryo,
but in the closest apposition to it. These two
examples illustrate the two great classes of seeds,
the albuminous, like the wheat, in which the
albumen stored up in the seed is outside the
embryo, and the eicalbuminous, like the bean, in
which the albumen is stored up within the em-
bryo itself. But really this is a distinction
without a difference, for all young seeds imme-
diately after the fertilisation of the embryo are
albuminous, though, if in the process of ripen-
ing all the albumen gets transferred into the
embryo the seed is exalbuminous . The seeds of
all cereals, grasses, and sedges, of the butter-
cup, poppy, corn-cockle, parsnip, carrot, and
indeed of most plants, are albuminous ; those of
cruciers, such as mustard, cress, rape, cabbage,
turnip, swede, and raddish, and of leguminous
plants, as pea, bean, vetch, clover, sainfoin,
gorse, broom, and laburnum, are exalbuminous.
It should not be forgotten, by the way, that the
term albumen, as used to denote the store of
nutriment in the seed, is a most unfortunate one,
for as albumen is the name of a certain organic
compound, its botanical use would seem to imply
that in all seeds the store of nutriment consists
of the same chemical substance, whereas its
composition varies in every seed. Consequently,
the term albumen, as applied to the seed, is now
falling into disuse, and the much more appro-
priate word endosperm (endos, within, sperma,
the seed), is coming into use instead. It is only
necessary to remember that a seed containing
endosperm, like the wheat, is albuminous, and
that one root containing endosperm, like the
pea, is exalbuminous.

A grain of wheat, then, has five coats.
Passing from without inwards these are respec-
tively named, 1, epicarp ; 2, mesocarp ; 3, endo-
carp ; 4, testa ; 5, endopleura. 1, 2, and 3
belong to the fruit, 4 and 5 are the coverings
of the seed. Within the endopleura is a
very small embryo, situated basally and
laterally, and a very large mealy endosperm,
occupying most of the space. The wheat-
grain is, therefore, a dry, indehiscent, one-
seeded fruit, with a membranous pericarp closely
adherent to the enclosed seed. Such a fruit is
termed a caryopsis by botanists. The same kind
of fruit is produced by all grasses and cereals,
grains of rye and maize being precisely similar
to those of wheat, whereas in oats, barley, and
canary-seed some of the glumes of the floret
adhere to the fruit.

In milling processes the pericarp and seed-

TITR FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

209

coats of the wheat go to form the bran, the
embryo tumbles out and is called "chit" by
the miller, and the mealy endosperm forms the
flour.

Dodder.

It is at this time of year that we may most
distinctly notice the presence of dodder in
flax-fields, clover-crops, and hop-yards. If
we And a field of clover attacked by dod<ler,
it is only necessary to stand on a slight
eminence commanding a view of the entire
field, and here and there will be seen the
whitish or pinkish-white patches, contrasting
strongly with the rest of the crop, and always
drawing forth exclamations of surprise and
curiosity from those who observe this elegant
parasite in its favourite haunts for the first time.
We have called it a parasite, and this it truly is ;
but, excepting in the single adventitious charac-
ter of its parasitism, it differs in every respect
from such fungal parasites as rust, bunt, smut,
mildew, and ergot. The grasses and cereals,
which are usually the sole victims of the latter,
enjoy, so far as we know, a perfect immunity
from the ravages of dodder, which is notonly not a
fungus, but not even a cryptogam, for it is a
highly-organised flowering plant, as a very
superficial inspection will demonstrate. Viewed
in its natural condition in the clover-field, the
first point noticed is that it entirely smothers
the clover, and a litile closer examination shows
that the mass of dodder consists of long, fleshy,
intertwining, and apparently leafless stems, with
a thickness varying from one-eighth to one-quarter
of an incb. The general colour is a sickly-white
or yel'owish-white, save at the growing tips of
the stems, where it assumes "a more or less vivid
pink hue. The free ends of the stems grow ia a
curious meandering or snake-like fashion, twining
first to one side and then to the other in search
of a clover stem to act as its " host." When an
attempt is made to strip the dodder from the
ground, it is found that the growth is very dense ;
and when at length it is removed, every trace of
clover is seen to have been destroyed, and the
bare soil is exposed to view. In the process of
removal the hands become covered with a sticky
substance, and the whole parasite gives out a
faint aromatic odour.

Being a flowering plant, dodder always pro-
duces seed, and never forms spores comparable
with those of fungi. The dodder-seed being
overlooked gets, disseminated with the clover-
seed at the time of sowing, and it is in this way
that the parasite gets introduced into the crop.
Like any other seed, that of the dodder germi-
nates in the soil, but very soon afterwards it
strikes its roots into an adjacent clover-plant, and
henceforth lives the lazy dependent life of a
parasite. The parts above ground continue grow-
ing, but, the stem being feeble, it trails over the
clover, and wherever it comes in contact with
the latter it develops " haustoria," or sucking
roots which penetrate the epidermis of the " host"
and exhaust it of its nutrient juices. The twin-
ing power of the parasitic stem now comes into

play, and it coils round and round the clover
stems so closely and firmly that it is almost im-
possible to detach the two without rupture. Ac-
companying this twining is the incessant produc-
tion of haustoria, which penetrate the clover stem
at every available spot, so that it becomes com-
pletely riddled with minute apertures through
which the life juices of the victimised plant ana
sucked out. Its means of support are thereby
withdrawn, and decay and death follow. When
a clover plant dies the dodder dependent on that
plant must likewise succumb, and thus it happens
that in fields where dodder has been allowed to
continue its ravages for a long time unnoticed
and unchecked, large brown patches of withered
vegetable matter are to be seen, forming, as it
were, the centre of circular areas of devastation.
For, owing to the peculiar mode of parasitism of
the dodder, every haustoriuin is itself a centre of
independent growth, and though the twining
parasitic stem on each side of the haustorium
may be cut clean through, growth will at once
recommence at both of the severed ends, the
dodder growing in this way just like the runners
of a strawberry plant.

The flowers of the the dodder bloom in August
and September, and they are to be found oiAhe
under side of the mass of wiry filiform stems.
The pale yellowish-rose flowers are about the size
of the head of a large pin, and they are aggrega-
ted together in globular heads or fascicles°as
large as a good sized-pea. The flower has calyx
and corolla complete, with five stamens arising
from the latter, and a two-celled ovary contain-
ing four ovules, which ripens into a two-celled
four-seeded capsular fruit, bursting all round
transversely at the base. These characters show
that it belongs to the natural order Convolvu-
lacese ; so that the dodder has for its nearest rela-
tives the field convolvulus, bindweed, or with-
wine, Convolvulus arvensis a twining plant, with
aromatic pinkish-white flowers, abundant in
every corn and potato field, and the great bind-
weed, Convolvulus Septum, which climbs the
hedges, and produces beautiful flowers of a pure
white colour. The dodder belongs to the genus
Cuscuta, which in all essential characters has the
closest relationship to the genus Convolvulus.
If it be asked why plants so utterly differing in
their mode of life as convolvuli and dodders
should be placed close together and looked upon
by botanists as first cousins, the answer is that
the parasitic habit is an accidental one which
various flowering plants have acquired, through
stress of circumstances, and that in all likelihood
the remote ancestors of the dodders were not
parasitic, but closely resembled the convolvuli in
their habit and mode of life. The essential dif-
ference betwe-n convolvulus and dodder is a
physiological one ; the convolvulus is dependent
on its own exertions for its livelihood. It there-
fore develops the green colouring matter (chlo-
rophyll) without which no plant is capable of
assimilating the elements of the carbonic acid
gas of the atmosphere with those of water, and
building up therefrom nutritious materials of the
starch and sugar group. The dodder, on the other
hand, though in all probability it was once green,

Q 2

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

gradually twined closer and closer to the plants
which gave it mechanical support, till at length
organic connection was established, and so the
first stages of parasitism were brought about, and
these being perpetuated and strengthened by
hereditary transmission at length became chronic,
and finally resulted in the most complete parasit-
ism. Under these conditions the presence of
chlorophyll was no longer necessary, and so it
disappeared, simultaneously the leaves, which are
the chief organs of assimilation of gaseous food,
underwent a gradual atrophy, which has resulted
in their abortion, and so from a green convolvu-
lus-like plant of a bygone age we derive the
leafless parasitic dodder of to day.

The dodders occur in all hot and temperate
climates as parasites on the stems of many her-
baceous and even woody plants, which they
exhaust by absorbing their elaborated sap. The
lesser or clover dodder, Cuscuta Trlfolii, lives on
field clover and lucerne, as well as on broom,
furze, heath, ling, thyme, and other plants. It is
commoner in England than the great dodder,and
extends into the south of Scotland, but is not
known to occur in Ireland. The great dodder,
Cuscuta Europoza. is parasitic on stinging-nettles
and thistles by roadsides and in thickets, on
hemp and hops, and on the flower-stalks of vines,
which it encloses in its thread-like branches, the
clusters whose nutriment has thus been stolen
being known as bearded grapes. The flax d ud-
der, Cuscuta Epilinum infests flax fields, audit was
probably introduced into Britain with the culti-
vation of the flax plant. The generic name -Cus-
cuta is probably derived from the Hebrew chuz,
to bind or surround. These species of dodder
differ only in trivial details, and it is quite pos-
sible that the same dodder seed would reproduce
these peculiarities of it were grown on different
plants. If dodder seed germinates in a locality
where none of the plants on which it usually
lives are represented, it then appears capable of
appropriating an .entirely new host ; under such
circumstances it has several times been observed
to attack wheat, and in at least one authentica-
ted case a crop of turnips.

There is no doubt whatever that dodder gets
introduced into a orqp by means of its small
seeds at the time of sowing, and that if care were
taken to sow nothing but thoroughly clean
samples of clover-seed and flax-seed, its ravages
would soon be reduced to a minimum. The
small flat angled seeds are of a pale brown co-
lour, and are scarcely lmlf the size of a pin's head ;
they are sufficiently minute therefore to be en-
tirely separated from a sample of clover-seed by
careful sifting. But the persistence of vitality
in the dodder seed favours its preservation. The
seed when buried in the soil retains its germi-
nating power unimpaired for four or five years,
so that when ploughed into the soil it may re-
main in a living condition until a crop suitable
for the support of dodder is sown, and then the
parasite at once appears. When the masses of
dodder, looking like small hay cocks, are first
noticed in a clover-field they should be at once
torn up, and the earliest opportunity taken of
xnaking a fire over the bare spots. By this means

any seeds that may linger behind are likely to
be killed by the heat. It is not a bad plan
either, when a field is attacked in various places,
to feed down the crop at once with sheep, still
observing the precaution of firing couch heaps,
&c. , over the dodder nests. No harm has ever
been known to arise to sheep who have been
folded on doddered clover. Comparative ana-
lyses of common dodder, Cuscuta Trijolii and its
victim, red] clover, Trifvlium pratense both
gathered on the 15th of September, are given
by Church in the Journal of the Chemical So-
ciety, January, 1879, as follows : —

In 100 parta of
Dodder C over.

"Water 8739 8110

Organic Matter 1145 1759

Ash 116 131

In 1' o pa' ts of the ash
Dodder Clover.

Potash 4800 2643

Lime 347 38-40

Magnesia 2--8 13 07

Phosphorus pentoxide W59 9 61

The chief differences observable in the compo-
sition of the parasite and of its host are the
greater quantity of water in the former, and,
in the ash, its greater richness in potash, and its
low percentage of lime, a substance which is
always abundant in the ash of leguminous
plants.

POULTRY

♦

The Live Stock Journal again comments upon
what appeared in this journal as to the weight of
ducks. If our contemporary had referred to our
first article on ducks it would have seen the
weight given for a pair of ducklings was " 121b.
or 131b., with only their feathers removed,"
when they were about twelve or thirteen weeks
old. By a misprint the weight was subsequently
given as 81b. or 101b. each at the age of two or
three months, but this was meant as the weight
per pair. We last week alluded to this subject,
stating that our remarks had been '' slightly
misrepresented," believing at the time, as we
now learn, that our funny contemporary was
having a joke. But not having any wish to
spoil the fun, and desiring to afford our contem-
porary an opportunity of explaining some blun-
ders which it had evidently " seriously " fallen
into, we did not then consider it necessary to
explain how the error occurred, rather prefer-
ring to call the attention of the Live. Stock
Journal to its own want of knowledge on the
subject. We regret to find that journal has
taken our remarks so seriously to heart, and has
taken some trouble to prove what was never
doubted.

We again reiterate that ducklings at the age
of three months ought to weigh, and will weigh,
121b. or 131b. the pair on being killed. Allow-
ances have, of course, to be made for offal, but
this should be the dead weight of a pair of well-
fed birds. The Live Stock Journal quotes Mr.
Fowler, who says, when they are " six weeks
old " they weigh about 31b. each." We thank
our contemporary for calling attention to the
subject, as we feel the more the question of the

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

2-11

breeding of poultry is discussed the greater will
be the probability of getting farmers and others
to pay more attention to the rearing and fatten-
ing of poultry, not only for their own use, but
for supplying the great demand which undoubt-
edly does exist for this article of food.

We have before pointed out that although
shows have done much to improve the outward
form and markings of the different varieties of
poultry, little inducement has hitherto been
given to breed birds best adapted for the table.
In noticing the schedule of the forthcoming
Dairy Show, last week, we pointed out what
we consider to be an omission on the
part of the Council of that Associa-
tion, by not offering prizes for cross-bred
birds for the table. An institution ostensibly
organised with the view to meet the
rapidly advancing competition from foreign
countries ought certainly to give some
slight encouragement to the breeding of table
fowls, especially as it is in a position to offer
nearly £500 in prizes for all kinds of fancy poultry
and pigeons. There is still sufficient time to re-
pair this omission, for such it must be ; and we
believe such a class would not only prove most
useful, but would be very popular and well sup-
ported, as vast numbers of cross-bred birds are
kept all over the country. There was a talk of
holding an exhibition of ' ' Farm-yard Poultry"'
at the Agricultural Hall last June, in connection
with the exhibition of Shorthorns, but it was
thought the time was unsuitable, as the chickens
at that date would have been hardly forward
enough for showing. Already complaints are
being made of the absence of classes for table
poultry at the Dairy Show, and when the sche-
dule gets into circulation amongst breeders of
this variety of poultry we may expect to hear of
many more such complaints. We,therefere, hope
the Council will see their way to make such a
class.

A very wonderful instance, showing the saga-
city and strong instinct of the homing pigeon, has
just been related. Mr. J. P. Taylor, of Gates-
head-on-Tyne, purchased last February from
Mr. C. H. Mills, of Brussels, some homing
pigeons. These were kept shut up until the 8th
inst., when they were allowed their liberty, and
after perching on the house for a short time
went off. A storm and rain shortly followed,
and no more was seen or heard of the birds until
Mr. Taylor received a letter from Mr. Mills,
dated the 11th, stating that a bird he had sold to
Mr. Taylor had returned to his loft. Thus the bird
was three days seeking its home through a coun-
try over which it had never passed. Instances of
birds doing long distances have been known, but
it is doubtful, if without any training and con-
finement for several months, such a wonderful
performance has ever before been met with.

THE LADY FARMERS' CLUB.

The Club met at Mrs. Davison's for its next
gathering, and right heartily did that lively
lady enjoy receiving her friends and neighbours.

By this time the Club had become famous in the
neighbourhood, and, as is generally the case
with novel ventures, some had jested at it, and
some few really believed something might be
done by it. " A t least, " said Mr. Danby, ""if
only one good idea is mooted and spread good
will have been done.'' Mrs. Davison, who on
this occasion was like John Gilpin's wife, "on
pleasure bent," had asked one or two gentlemen
to share her hospitality, and perhaps to enliven
the proceedings by their remarks. Our acquaint-
ances, Mr. Danby and his son, Mr. Davison,
Mr. Mead, and a few others were not averse to
listen, though they declared they came as
hearers only. But, after a great deal of press-
ing, Mr. Davison, who was well-known to have
sprung from an old-fashioned farmer's family,
consented to give a short aecount of life in a
farm-house eighty years ago, on condition that
the most practical lady of the company should
afterwards state what she considered ought to
be the every-day life of a farmer's wife to-day.

Mr. Davison said : — "I will describe in as few words
as possible one day at my grandfather's house as I
have often had it described to me. And here I would
just remark that I do not for one moment think we
can go back to the life of our forefathers. As well
might we think of going back to this time yesterday,
for there is nothing more certain than that people and
customs change, and must change as time moves on.
Still it is possible that in the hurry of modern life
we- may have dropped some good habits that we can
with advantage to ourselves take up again. To
begin. By half-past live the whole house was astir —
master, mistress, and maids — no lying in bed until
the sun had been up four or five hours. At seven
breakfast was ready in the house, and the men had
had their orders for the earlier work of the day. By
nine o'clock the dairy was ready to be closed until the
afternoon, and the mistress and her maids might
turn their attention to the frugal dinner, to be ready
or the master at fcwelv. oc'; c':. Chi r ing and s mie-
times washing or brewing, engaged the energies of
the farmer's wife. Poultry, fruit-preserving, and a
hundred other things, according to season, kept the
work of the house in full swing from January to
December. In harvest extra work was entailed upon
the women of the family ; for it was the custom to
board all the men for the month, and washing, boil-
ing, and baking were the order of the day. This
account gives but a very faint idea of life in the
country at the beginning of" the century, as 1 have
had it described to- me when I was a boy ; but it is
clear enough for the ladies present to see that all the
conditions of life are changed, and that whatever
our pecuniary shortcomings may be our daily life is
not so hard as that of our grandmothers."

Mrs. Danby was somewhat puzzled tO' choose from
the ladies around the most praotieal and sensible to
give a short description of daily life as it ought to be ;
but after a few moments' reflection, she called upon-a
Mrs. Roper to speak. Many people would have
thought this too inquisitorial a proceeding. Not' so
Mrs. Roper ; her house was her delight, and by her
help and management her husband had been enabled
hirgely to-increase his business and add considerably
to his social importance. She said : — "Mr. Davison
has given us a. glimpse into a life which seemed as
ceaseless in its activity as the course of the star3 ;
but, I think, looking at our present mode of living
with fairness, some of us compare not unfavourably

212

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

with our grandmothers. By six in the morning every
<me is about. The dairy first claims my attention.
The scrupulous cleanliness required here is net
unworthy of the care and attention of the most
refined women, and I dare assert that no fine London
lady need feel that the work I do there would con-
taminate her dainty fingers. After that branch of
the days' work is completed, the poultry yard claims
my superintendence, and this branch of farming is
too much neglected, I venture to think, by many of
my neighbours. Properly attended to, the keeping of
fowls is ono of the most pleasurable and profitable
duties of a country life. The very fact of feeling that
so many young and helpless live things are dependent
on us for sustenance I have always found to haveawhole-
Bome influence on both children and servants. After
the early dinner there are still many things claiming
attention, and, if nothing else is to be done, the head
must always keep before the hands, and plan not only
for the moiTow but for the coming season, whether it
be summer or winter. I think this summary is
enough to show that we need not lead a lazy life in
the present day."

Mrs. Mead was present at this meeting, and she
thought she saw here an opening for a few remarks.
" One remark, dropped by Mrs. Roper " she said, " I
think deserves a little more amplification than she
gave it. When I spoke a few words upon social
influence, I did not sufficiently dwell upon the har-
monising and softening power of many things
connected with country life, and amongst others I
believe that habits of thoughtfulness and kindness
are engendered, if those who by position are the
natural leaders in the household, direct care-
fully the conduct of those around them. To
put my idea more plainly ; it has always been a
favourite maxim of mine that the master-mind, whei e-
ever that mind may be found, will always lead, and
this is especially the. case when it is where it ought to
be — at the head of the household. So much tin-
better. If the mistress impresses upon her servants
the womanliness of attention to details, carefulness for
the weak, habits of thoughtfulness and foresight, and
the unwomanliness of a contrary course of conduct, as
surely as the sun will rise to-morrow her teaching,
and more still, her example, will gradually make an
impression upon her servants, and by them the in-
fluence will be carried to cottage-homes, to the bless-
ing of children yet unborn. I believe country life to
be the most wholesome, morally and physically, that
it is given to man to enjoy on earth, and it is our own
fault if we do not use it fully."

Mr. Danby here remarked that his wife had given
him but an inadequate idea of their meetings. He
was glad to see that they did not shrink from looking
their duties fully in the face, and this he thought was
one step towards overcoming many diifieulties. He
quite agreed with what Mrs. Mead had said about
country life, but he must confess it sometimes remin-
ded him of nettles ; it wanted firm handling or perhaps
you would get badly stung.

It was agreed that the discussion should be ad-
journed, and Mrs. Danby invited the members
of the Club to meet at her house on that day fort-
night.

CONTINUOUS CORN GROWING.

Owners and occupiers of heavy land, exercised by
the question whether corn growing pays in Eng-
land, may be interested to study the results of
Mr. John Prout's continuous (corn growing at

Sawbridgeworth, Herts. Nearly twenty year*
ago Mr. Prout purchased 460 acres of second-
rate clay land, 28 miles from London, producing
15 bushels of wheat and 20 of oats, and dearly
rented at 20s. an acre. Draining, road-making,
grubbing useless fences, and breaking up and
cleaning foul land, by steam and horses, cost
about £16 an acre. Encouraged by the experi-
ments of Messrs. Lawes and Gilbert in continu-
ous corn growing, Mr. Prout determined to
ignore rotation ; he soon abandon* d uncertain
beans and peas. Like Mr, Mechi, he objects to
unremunerative, bare fallows. His cleaning
crops this year consist of 19 acres of vetches,
mostly made into hay, and 6 acres of roots.
His corn occupies an area of 372 acres ; on
many fields the sixth, on some the eighth white
straw crop in direct succession is growing satis-
factorily. Cleanliness is secured by a set of
Fowler's round-about tackle, working indefati-
gably on the stubbles in autumn, and again hi
spring, preparing for barley and oats. Eight
horses supplement the steam. Horse and hand
hoeing are repeatedly had recourse to. Steam,
stirring at a slightly extra depth frequently
brings up luxuriant crops of wild oats, which,
with black grass, are the chief weeds, but are
got rid of by an occasional cleaning crop,
hitherto, however, not needed more than once
in eight or ten years. From the neighbouring
villages men are readily engaged for hoeing at
5s. to 6a. per acre. The total labour bills aver-
age 40s. an acre.

No farm-yard or town manure is applied. No
cattle or sheep are kept. The whole of the
produce — straw as well as grain — is sold oi\\ with
the exception of some hay, oats, and a few roots
reserved for the eight horses and the bailiffs
cow. For thirteen years the crops have been
sold by auction about a week before harvest.
Fanners and country dealers, who have been
the usual purchasers heretofore, are, however,
now so impecunious that Mr. Prout wisely de-
termines this year to dispense with the sale
and do his own harvest, subsequently disposing
of the hay and straw as opportunity offer. Instead
of using bulkyfarm-yard manure, often expensive
to make, to cart out, and to apply, the fertility of
the Sawbridgeworth farm, deprived annually of
all that grows on it, is maintained by the
judicious use of concentrated manures. Three
to five cwt. of half-inch bones, freshly-made
superphosphate and guano are mixed, fermented
for about two months, and applied by one of
Priest and Woolnough's great drills, at the same
time as the seed. It is found economical to apply
this soluble plant food about half an inch under-
neath the seeds, where it lies conveniently within
reach of the rootlets. Subsequent top-dressings,
usuilly of Offendorffs guano and nitrate of soda,
are applied, as seems needful, sometimes more
than once or twice to any weakly, hungry crop.
The average cost of these concentrated fertilisers
is 50s. per acre. Fertility is further helped by
occasional clover and other green crops ; fourteen
acres of clover are this year put in amongst
wheat. Recently, clover seeming somewhat un-
ertain, Mr. Prout two years ago drilled 50 acres of

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

213

s&ndfuin. With too much wet and cold, like other
things,it last year did indifferently, and in spite of
a 30s. top dressing, the poor, badly secured crop
of hay only made £5 an acre. About ten acres,
too thin to justify standing, have been displaced
by black oats, which, although considerably laid,
promise six quarters an acre, and by mangel,
which will be used for the horses and sold to
neighbouring or London cow-keepers. The 40
acres of sanfoin promises this season to pay £12
an acre. Although no manure has been given
this year, 80 single horse-loads of superior san-
foin hay were in June got into two good ricks,
for which £'350 has been refused, and a second
cutting, worth fully £150,has since been secured.
The sanfoin will remain still another year, forti-
fied in spring with probably 40s. worth of
nitrate of soda and guano. Surely this
cultivation might be profitably extended else-
where, especially on chalk and marl soils-
Whether in a green state or as hay, sanfoin is
most healthful fodder for all sorts of stock.

The Sawbridgeworth crops, like most others
throughout the country, compare very favourably
with those of last year. In one field, where wet
and want of sunshine, slug, and blight left last
autumn only twelve bushels of poor, thin wheat,,
there will now be harvested nearly three times as
much. The farm generally will produce a
quarter more per acre than it did last year. The
crops have not been so uniform and promising
since 1874. Very little is laid. Nothing shows
weakness or exhaustion, which six or eight
consecutive corn crops might be supposed to
produce.

Wheat occupies about 158 acres, about half of
it Rivetts, which willnot bereadyfor three weeks,
but will average 4 to 5 quarters, and the white
chaffed, red, square-head, which will yield over-
head fully 4 quarters, whilst one or two of the
best pieces will reach 5 qrs. Reaping was com-
menced a week ago by Irish and other hands, who
are this year very plentiful, and receiving 13s.
per acre for cutting, tying, and setting up.

Barley, as is generally the case, is even more
regular and promising than wheat ; it is notably
the crop of the year. It is of the Chevalier sort,
and occupies 134 acres. Fifty acres are cut with a
machine, and all is fit ; it will averages to5i quar-
ters. It stands well up and is of superior quality.
Black Tartarian oats take up 80 acres, are thick,
strong, and well filled. As with other crops repeated
top-dressings have brought up the weaker portions
to a good uniform standard. Only a small propor-
tion is laid. With a month's fine weather, 6
quarters per acre will be reaped.

In omitting the two or three first years of Mr.
Prout's possession , when costlyimpro vements were
being effected, and the exceptionally bad year of
1879, this continuous corn growing has shown
regularly af air profit. Thecropsaregrownforabout
£8 an acre, which is made up of 46s. for interest
on invested capital, or rent, taxes, and rates, 40s.
goes for cost of cultivation, 50s. for manure, 24s.
for seed, auction expenses, and incidentals. Dis-
posing of everything by sale, the income is easily
ascertained. For sixteen years it has averaged
fully £10 an acre. The best results were in 1868

and 1870, when upwards of £12 were made. The
wheat average of 1870 was £15, but at the time
of sale the price of wheat was 52s. a quarter, a
figure not likely soon to be again realised. With
a month's fine weather, and even with the pros-
i pect of lower prices of grain, the £10 average
I will this year be exceeded. It, moreover, demon-
| strates that, with favourable seasons, with capi-
| tal, skill, and intelligence, and with the applica-
tion of some of the lessons taught at Sawbridge-
worth, corn growing may still be made to pay in
England. Mr. Prout has regularly earned a fair
annual profit from his farming, and in twenty
years nearly doubled the value of his property.
Cannot the same good results be repeated else-
where ? Of course the system is not one for
general adoption, but on heavy clay farms it is
doubtful whether any other system of farming
would pay as well,.

Dairy Farming,

An important item of dairy farming is the
management of the cows about the time of
calving. The losses which occur at this period
depend greatly upon the management of the
cattle, and although, even under the most
rational treatment, deaths will sometimes occur,
the percentage of losses may be much reduced
by careful and judicious attention to various
simple details of feeding and management. We
propose in this article to consider this subject
j from the point of view of a practical farmer,
more than that of a veterinary, and to give the
i result of our observation as to the safest and
j best way of treating cows at this critical period.
I First, with regard to the condition of the cow
at the time of calving, whilst the risk is increased,
and it is-, therefore, undesirable to have cows or
heifers very flesby or fat at the time of produc-
ing their calves, it is also unwise so to stint.
I them in the quality or quantity of their food
I previous to calving as to have them in low- con-
dition, unable to yield milk as freely as they
' would do in better condition, and more liable to
suffer from diseases resulting from weakness.
j Moderate keep is generally more desirable than
! a forcing diet for cows in the months previous
I to calving. Much will, however, depend upon
j the condition of the animal, and the demands
■ made upon her system by yielding milk freely
whilst heavy in calf. In the summer season a
rich feeding pasture is often less desirable for
cows forward in calf than poorer or less luxuriant
' turf ; or in winter, straw or hay and roots are
often better than more forcing diet. Some
j dairymen who have many cows calving in the
summer season sutler heavy losses from milk-
fever, the risk being greatly increased when the
cows have been purchased about the time of
calving, and have been excited by being moved
about, and have possibly been injudiciously fed.
Where cows are properly fed, and kept quiet
before and during the time of calving, and
simple medicinal means are used in every case of
a cow in full condition, we are convinced that-

2il

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

all ri#k of loss from this dreaded disease is prac-
ticably obviated. Milk -fever is a disease essen-
tially incidental to a too plethoric condition of
Body, but individual cows of great milking
capacity are most prone to it. It rarely, if ever
attacks cows under four-years-old, or cows in
poor condition. We know sume practical dairy
farmers who have an immunity from this
disease who make a rule of giving to every cow
in full condition, previous to calving, a dose of
lib. Epsom salts, with perhaps 1 oz. of ground
ginger, or a little treacle dissolved in water, or
oatmeal gruel. This dose is given about twelve
hours before calving is expected to take place ;
in cases of extra risk the dose being given earlier,
and repeated at the time of calving. This
treatment we believe to be thoroughly rational,
and it has proved highly successful. Milk-fever
always occurs within a week, and generally on
the second or third day after calving. It is not
our purpose to suggest means as to its cure,
which is always difficult and doubtful. Few
dairymen can, unaided, treat this dangerous
disease with any chance of success, and we
advise veterinary aid to be promptly obtained
on the first symptoms of an attack. Prevention
is the great thing to attend to, and is emphati-
cally better than cure.

We have lately seen a printed hand-bill of
in itructions to dairymen as to measures of pre-
caution against milk-fever, which has been issued
by Mr. W. H. Woodward, V.S., of Belper,
Derby, who has devoted special attention to this
subject, and is the author of several articles
upon it. The measures suggested agree entirely
with what our observation leads us to believe to
be rational and effectual precautions, and we
strongly recommend any dairymen who suffer
loss from this disease to procure a copy of these
rules. They are free from all quackery, and are
thoroughly practical, and we are convinced thai
a general attention to them would save the lives
of hundreds of cows yearly.

Inflammation after calving, which generally
a' tacks the womb, but sometimes the udder also,
i i dangerous and difficult of cure. It generally

0 cura after cases of difficult or protracted

1 bour, or where the after-birth is long retained ;
bat cows in high condition are far more liable to
t lese attacks. In the majority of cases cows
r jquire little if any assistance in calving, and
m ich mischief may be done if the operation be
hurried. The cows should, however, whether
calving by night or day, have the watchful
attention of the cowman, so that in any case of
■wrong presentation, or difficult labour, assist-
a ice may be promptly given. When heifers are
ia high condition on producing their first calves
they are liable to bleed to death, and in some
cases there is considerable difficulty, and the
application of force is required to get a large
calf away from a small heifer. There is, how-
ever, far less risk of inflammatory attacks with
heifers than with older cows. When the pro-
duction of milk for sale or for manufacture into
butter or cheese is the main object, it is not de-
sirable to let the calf suck its dam, as the cow
will yield her milk more freely to the pail when

the calf has never sucked. We do not, hoTrerer,
dispute the fact that it is better for the health
of the calf, and in some cases for that of the
dam, for them to be together for a few days after
the birth of the calf. To prevent all fretting
after the calf it is usually removed immediately
after birth into the calf pen.

Cows should be kept quiet, as free as possible
from excitement, and moderately fed on whole-
some but not too stimulating food for some day*
after calving. The retention of the afterbirth
or placenta is not unfrequently a eause of
serious mischief. This very frequently occurs
after cases of abortion, or birth even slightly
premature. A liberal diet of wholesome stimu-
lating and digestible food, such as linseed-cake,
bran-mash, or oatmeal is in these cases suitable,
and the cow may sometimes be allowed with ad-
vantage to drink all or a portion of her own
milk. Cleansing drinks are not generally de-
sirable until several days after calving. These
cases of retention of the placenta, though not
commonly fatal, reduce the condition greatly,
and stop the secretion of milk. The cow is
often some weeks before she regains a healthy
appetite, and she loses all her bloom. Good
nourishing food is the best means of bringing
her round and recovering her milk.

The prices of cheese seem likely to be good
this season. The make of American is re-
ported to be short, and prices have advanced.
The sudden drop in American cheese early in
the season was caused by the operations of
speculators, Avho probably profited by the result,
and was not caused by any excessive supply.
There can be no question, we think, that the
prices of twelve or fifteen months ago were
ruinous to the American producer, and dis-
couraged production. The supply of English
cheese is much under an average. To those
, dairy farmers who by the aid of liberal extra
I keep have produced a good quantity of cheese of
I fine quality, there is a fair prospect of a re-
i munerative return. The prospects of dairy
| farming are as good perhaps as those of any
other branch cf farming this year. The pre-
sent prices for the best quality of English
', cheese range from 70s. to 80s. per 1201b., or
j from 7d. to 8d. per lb. wholesale.

THE FARMERS AND THE EM-
PLOYERS' LIABILITY BILL.

Mr. James Howard writes to the Times : —

The House of Commons arrived at an important
decision this morning (Aug. 18) at 3 o'clock, the effect
of which will prove of no little moment to owners of
horses and other animals ; their risks and liabilities
in respect of live stock will, I believe, be nia.
terially increased should the Bill, as it stands, be-
come law.

The object of the measure is ''to extend and
regulate the liability of employers to make compensa-
tion for personal injuries suffered by workmen in
their service" When the Bill was in Committee a
discussion took place upon the scope of the first
portion of Clause 1, which stood as follows : —

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINi

>13

" Where after the commencement of this Act
personal injury is caused to a workman (1) by reason
of any delect in the ways, works, machinery, plant,
or stock connected with the business of the em-
ployer. "

The question was raised, Did not the word ' ' stock "
include, live stock < If so, it was contended by
myself and others, and not denied by the Govern-
ment, that if the word "stock" were retained the
scope of the Bill would be widened far beyond the
original intention of its framers. Further, it was
pointed out that the words " any defect " might be
held, and doubtless would be held, by ingenious
counsel, to include defects of temper, defects of sight,
unsoundness, un quietness, or other vices or bad
habits. It may be quite right to make employers of
labour — farmers, of course, included — responsible for
accidents which may happen from the use of defective
machinery ; but as it is impossible for an employer
to get together a number of animals free from the
defects above referred to, is it fair that he should be
held responsible for every accident that may happen,
more particularly as accidents are most frequently
brought about by the negligence or incompetence of
workmen, although in a majority of cases it would
be impossible for an employer to prove it ? Take a
case which has come under my observation this week.
A farm horse kicked and injured a man, who, it is
believed, went up to the animal in the stable without
speaking — a precaution invariably to be observed,
especially with young horses. How, I would ask, is
the owner of the horse to prove that the man did not
observe this ordiuary rule ? Again, accidents fre-
quently happen to labourers through their own bad,
cruel, or unskilful treatment of animals. Here,
again, the employer would be held at great disadvan-
tage, unless, indeed, he happened to be present.

In the House considerable discussion took place
upon the question whether the horses employed upon
a farm or in a business would be included in the
term "stock-in-trade," which had been substituted
for the word " stock." The Attorney-General main-
tained that they would not, but would be regarded
as a portion of the " plant." The lawyers, however,
differed upon the point, and, seeing that horses
would come in one or either category, I placed the
following amendment upon the paper : —

"For the purposes of this Act the expressions
' plant ' and ' stock-in-trade ' shall not be deemed
to include live animals.''

At 3 o'clock this morning I rose to move the above ;
the House, very naturally at this hour, was too im-
patient to discuss the subject. Beyond Mr. Duckhani,
my seconder, there was scarcely a county member
present to support me, and the amendment was
rejected without debate. Had there been an oppor-
tunity of discussing the point in a full House, I
believe this obviously just proposal would have com-
mended itself to the majority. I venture, therefore,
to think that it is just one of those cases in which
the House of Lords can render great service by dis-
cussing the point and amending the Bill.

The following is the text of this Bill, " to extend
and regulate the liability of employers to make com-
pensation for personal injuries suffered by workmen
in their service, as amended in committee on recom-
mitment and on consideration as amended," and in
the form in which it will be presented to the House
of Lords : —

" 1. — Amendment of Law. — Where after the com-
mencement of this Act personal injury is caused to a
workman (1) by reason of any defect in the ways,
works, machinery, plant, or stock-in-trade connected i

with or used in the business of the employer ; or (2)
by reason of the negligence of any person in tKe
service of the employer who has superintendence in-
trusted to him while in the exercise of such super-
intendence ; or (3) by reason ol the negligence of
any persons in the service of the employer to whose
orders or directions the workman at the time of the
injury was bound to conform, and did conform,
where such injury resulted from his having so con-
formed ; or (i) by reason of the act or omission of
any person in the service of the employer done or
made in obedience to the rules or byelaws of the
employer, or in obedience to particular instructions
given by any person delegated with the authority of
the employer in that behalf ; (5) by reason of the
negligence of any person in the service of the em-
ployer who has the charge or control of any signal,
points, locomotive engine, or train upon a railway —
the workman, or in case the injury results in death,
the legal personal representatives of the workman,
and any person entitled in case of death, shall have
the same right of compensation and remedies against
the employer as if the workman had not been a
workman of nor in the service of the employer, nor
engaged in his work.

" 2. — Exceptions to Amendment of Law. — A work-
man shall not be entitled under this Act to any right
of compensation or remedy against the employer in
any of the following cases ; that is to say, (1) under
sub-section 1 of section 1 , unless the defect therein
mentioned arose from or had not been discovered or
remedied owing to the negligence of the employer,
or of some persons in the service of the employer,
and intrusted by him with the duty of seeing that
the ways, works, machinery, plant, or stock-in-trade
were in proper condition. (2) Under sub-section i
of section 1, unless the injury resulted from some
impropriety or defect in the rules, byelaws, or in-
structions therein mentioned ; provided that where
a rule or byelaw has been approved or has been
accepted as a proper rule or byelaw by one of Her
Majesty's principal Secretaries of State or by the
Board of Trade or any other department ol' the
Government, under or by virture of any Act of
Parliament, it shall not be deemed for the purposes
of this Act to be an improper or defective rule or
byelaw. (3) In any case where the workman knew
of the defect or negligence which caused his injury
and failed within a reasonable time to give, or caused
to be given, information thereof to the employer or
some person superior to himself in the service of the
employer, unless he was aware that the employer or
such superior already knew of the said defect or
negligence.

" 3. — Limit of sum recoverable as compensation. —
The amount of compensation recoverable under this
Act shall not exceed such sum as may be found to be
equivalent to the estimated earnings, during the
three years preceding the injury of a person in the
same grade employed during those years in the like
employment and in the district in which the workman
is employed at the time of the injury.

"4. — Limit oftimefor therecovery of compensation.
— An action for the recovery under this Act of com-
pensation for an injury shallnot be maintainable unless
notice that injury has been sustained is given within
six weeks, and the action is commenced within six
months from the occurence of the accident causing
the injury, or, in case of death, within six months
from the time of death : provided always that in case
of death the want of such notice shall be no bar to
the maintenance of such action if the Judge shall be
of opinion that there was reasonable excuse for such
want of notice.

?I6

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

" 5. Money payable under Penalty to be deducted
from compensation under Act. — There shall be de-
ducted from any compensation awarded to any work-
man, or representatives of a workman, or persons
claiming by, under, or through a workman in respect
of any cause of 'action arising under this Act, any
penalty or part of a penalty which may have been
paid in pursuance of any other Act of Parliament to
such workmen, representatives, or persons in respect
of the same course of action, and where an action has
been brought under this Act by any workman, or the
representatives of any workman, or any persons
claiming by, under, or through such workman for
compensation in respect of any cause of action arising
under this Act, and payment has not previously
been made of any penalty or part of a penalty under
any other Act of Parliament in respect of the same
cause of action, such workmen, representatives or
person shall not be entitled thereafter to receive any
penalty or part of a penalty under any other Act of
Parliament in respect of the same cause of action.

"6. — Trial of Actions. — 1. Every action for recovery
of compensation under this Act shall be brought in
County Court, but may, upon the application of
either plaintiff or defendant, be removed into a su-
perior court in like manner and upon the same con-
ditions as an action commenced in a County Court
may be by law removed. 2. Upon the trial of any
such action in a County Court before the Judge with-
out a jury one or more assessors may be appointed
for the purpose of ascertaining the amount of com-
pensation. 3. For the purpose of regulating the con-
ditions and mode of appointment and remuneiation
of such assessors, and all matters ofpi'ocedure relating
to their duties, and also for the purpose of consoli-
dating any actions under this Act in a County Court,
and otherwise preventing multiplicity of such actions,
rules and regulations may be made, varied, and re-
pealed from time to time in the same manner as rules
and regulations for regulating the practice and pro-
cedure in other actions in County Courts. ' County
Court' shall, with respect to Scotland, mean the
' Sheriff's Court,' and shall, with respect to Ireland,
mean the ' Civil Bill Court.' In Scotland any action
under this Act may be removed to the Court of
Session at the instance of either party, in the manner
provided by, and subject to the conditions prescribed
by, section 7 of the Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act,
1877. In Scotland the sheriff may conjoin actions
arising out of the same occurrence or cause of action,
though at the instance of different parties and in
respect of different injuries.

" 7. — Mode of Serving Notice of Injury. — Notice
in respect of an injury under this Act shall give the
name and- address of the person injured, and shall
state vd. ordinary language the cause of the injury
and the Aate at which it was sustained, and shall be
served ou the employer, or, if there is more than one
employer, upon one of such employers. The notice
may be sewed by delivering the same to or at the
residence or place of business of the person on whom
it is served. The notice may also be served by post
by a prepaid letter addressed to the person on whom
it is to be served at his last known place of residence
or place of business ; and, if served by post, shall be
deemed to have been served at the time when a letter
containing the same would be delivered in the ordi-
nary course of post ; and, in proving the service of
such notice, it shall be sufficient to prove that the
notice was properly addressed and put into the post.
Where the employer is a body of persons corporate
or unincorporate, the notice shall be served by de-
livering the same at or by sending it by po3t in a

prepaid letter addressed to the office, or, if there b*-
more than one office, any one of the offices of such
body. A notice under this section shall not be
deemed invalid by reason of any defect or inaccuracy
therein, unless the Judge who tries the action arising
from the injury mentioned in the notice shall be of
opinion that the defendant in the action is prejudiced
in his defence by such defect or inaccuracy, and that
the defect or inaccuracy was for the purpose of
misleading.

"8. — Definitions. — For the purposes of this Art,
unless the context otherwise requires, the expression
'person who has superintendence entrusted to him'
means a person whose sole or principal duty is that
of superintendence, and who is not ordinarily engaged
in manual labour ; the expression ' employer ' in-
cludes a body of persons corporate or unincorporate ;
the expression ' workman ' means a railway servant
and any person to whom the Employers and Work-
men Act, 1875, applies.

" 9. — Commencement of Act. — This Act shall not
come into operation until the first day of January,
1881, which date is in this Act referred to as the
commencement of this Act.

" 10.— Short Title.— This Act may be cited as the
Employers' Liability Act, 1880."

MARKET GARDENING FOR

FARMERS.

♦

By Charles Whitehead.
Conclusion.
I have shown that the importation of market-
garden produce from foreign growers is enor-
mous, and rapidly increasing. At the same time
I endeavoured to point out that the main
supplies from abroad come in before the English
vegetables, grown naturally, are ready for
market, and that when these are ready the
foreign supplies comparatively grow small by
degrees and beautifully less ; also that there is
no reason why English growers should not force
early vegetables, and compete successfully with
their foreign rivals in this branch of business.
If it were not for these importations the prices
of vegetables of all kinds would be simply
prohibitory. Mr. Page, in the account of the
Manchester Fruit and Vegetable Market already
alluded to, says : "If we had to depend solely
upon the British grower now, however, I fear
fruit would be a luxury out of the reach of the
working classes of the community." This is
equally applicable to vegetables. Even now, in
this very season, which is at least an average
one, the prices of ordinary vegetables as given
in a recent Covent Garden list are extravagantly
high. For example, carrots, English, were
quoted at from 9d. to Is. 9d. per bunch. As a
fair crop of carrots amounts to between 350 and
420 dozen bunches, the profit to the growers,
after making a fair reduction for expenses and
intermediary profits, would be excessively high,
seeing that they consider 2^d. or 3^d. per bunch
as giving a capital profit. Lettuces were
quoted at from 6d. to 2s. per dozen. Taking a
mean price of Is. per dozen upon an average
crop, 2,300 dozen per acre, this would give £115

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE.

•211

prr acre. Cabbages were returned at from 2s. to
•Is. per dozen, while the growers ar e satisfied Avith
prices ranging between 8d. to Is. 4d. per dozen.
Cauliflowers were making from 4s. to 12s.
per dozen, the ijgures made by the growers
being from Is. to 2s. 6d. per dozen. New
potatoes made from 4s. to 7s. Od. per bushel ; at
the same time hundreds of growers would have
been content to take 8s. per sack. Any one
who is curious to note the vast difference be-
tween selling and buying, not only in the case of
vegetables, but also with regard to fruit,
flowers, poultry, and game, should study the
market lists. These invariably will show that
there is something very rotten in the system.
The profits that are made intermediately be-
tween the producer and consumer are inordinate.
Retailers, and especially those who hold stalls
or shops in the leading markets, have to pay
high rents to the owners, whether individuals
or corporate bodies, who also levy tolls upon
all produce that comes within their sacred pre-
cincts.

Mr. Page's pamphlet is written to advocate
markets, and particularly to do honour and
glory to that of Manchester. From the point
of view of a corporation, markets are desirable
institutions, as bringing much revenue into their
coffers. From a producers' and consumers'
point of view they are costly and cumbrous
media of distribution, which must soon give
place to associations to bring the two directly
interested classes into direct communication,
to save expense, to obviate friction, to en-
courage the supply of the best, most fresh, and
pure products at the minimum of cost. It is
satisfactory to find that there are establishments
of a somewhat similar kind already in work.
One after my own heart, according to an ad-
vertisement noticed in the Mark Lane Expi'ess
of last week, has been projected by several
practical men — producers for the most part —
who purpose first to commence business in
Soho if they receive sufficient support. This
must be a step in the right direction towards
breaking down the monopoly of markets. It
would also be well for English producers if the
railway companies, who have a huge monopoly,
would study their interests more, and treat them
at least as well as foreign importers. It is well
known that foreign corn and meat are carried
upon our railways at rates less than those that
are charged for the conveyance of corn and meat
produced in this country. Growers of vege-
tables have a similar grievance, finding that not
only is the service for the carriage of foreign
vegetables better and far more speedy, but
much cheaper than the service for those grown
in England. At a late meeting of the Maid-
stone Farmers' Club the special complaints of
the Kentish hop, fruit, and vegetable growers
formed the subject of an interesting discussion.
It was shown that the local railway companies
actually charged more, in some cases, for taking
their products to London from parts of Kent
than for bringing the same kinds of produce
from France, Holland, and Belgium ; while in
other instances the charges to the home-growers

were disproportionately large compared with
those levied upon the foreign growers. Hops,
for example, are brought from Calais to London
for Is. JU)£d. to 2s, 3d. per pocket, and from
Holland and Belgium for 2s. 6d. per pocket ;
the rate from Maidstone to London— a dis-
tance of barely 40 miles — is 2s. 6d. per pocket.
Apples are brought from Belgium for 12s. Od.
per ton, and cherries for 30s. per ton, against
from £1 to £1 5s. per ton from Maidstone to
London. Potatoes come from Paris to London
for 22s. per ton ; fur bringing potatoes from Maid-
stone to London 9s. 2d. per ton is the rate. Pota-
toes are brought from France to Manchester for
35s. per ton ; from Belgium for 14s. per ton. Th
rate from Scotland for potatoes ranges from 21s.
to 27s. 6d. per ton. Onions cost close upon £1
per ton for carriage from Bedfordshire to Man-
chester, and only 23s. from Holland and Bel-
gium ; and 26s. lOd. from Germany. Most of
the produce that comes from abroad to London T
Manchester, and other large towns is conveyed
by express trains and fast boats. A great part of
the fruit and vegetables grown in England is
carried by slow goods trains, being shaken and
smashed up by the bumping and banging occa-
sioned by " picking up" at the various stations.
Vegetable growers have a distinct grievance here.
It is believed that it has been represented to the
Agricultural Commission, and will form one of
the subjects for the wailing and lamenting
chorus of that stupendous play which probably
will be put on the stage about the Greek Kalends

Before the cultivation of vegetables can be pro-
fitably adopted upon many farms, hares and
rabbits must be eliminated from the scene. The
havoc is indescribable which a single hare or a
few rabbits would cause in a piece of fresh planted
cabbages or broccoli, or young peas, it may be of
a new variety, whose seed had cost a guinea a
bushel. Let us imagine for one moment the de-
predations of one interesting family of rabbits
in a field of juicy lettuces. Hares and rabbits
should be categorised with rats and mice. Occu-
piers of land must have, and we trust will
shortly have, full powers to kill them as they
p'ease, though sporting squires rave, and highly
imaginative squires conjure up visions of bands
of revolutionary rabbit slayers basely turning
their rusty muzzle-loaders against those who un-
wittingly armed them. Ground game and
market-gardening, and, indeed, high and proper
cultivation of any kmd,cannot coexist. The coun-
try must decide whether vermin or vegetables
shall be encouraged.

The extraordinary tithe, or more properly
speaking, the additional tithe-rent charge,
levied upon land cultivated as market-gardens
is also a grievance and a burden which
should be removed or shifted. By the
Tithe Commutation Act (6 and 7 Will., c. 71,
Aug. 1836,) the Commissioners were empowered
to form the lands in any parish in which there
were hop-gardens, orchards, or market-gardens
into a district, upon which the tithe rent- charge
was to be distinguished into two parts, ordinary
and extraordinary, the extraordinary to be paid
as long as such lands were cultivated as hop-gar.

21S

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

dens, orchards, or market gardens, the ordinary,
if they ceased to be so cultivated. It was also
provided that all lands in any such district which
shall be newly cultivated as hop-gardens or mar-
ket-gardens at any time after commutation shall
be charged with an additional amount of rent-
charge per acre, equal to the extra< 'rdinary rent-
charge per acre upon hop-gardens or market-
gardens, respectively, in that district. But in
1800, it was enacted (23 and 24 Vic, c. 93, s.42)
that the Tithe Commissioners, upon the applica-
tion of interested persons, may declare the lands
in a parish in any part of England and Wales a
distr ct within which an extraordinary rent-
charge may be fixed by them, if any portion of
the parish has been cultivated in hop-gardens or
market-gardens since the passing of the Act in
1836. It follows from this Act, which has been
well called the " Unsettlement of the Tithe
Settlement," that any land planted with cab-
bages, potatoes, and other garden produce may
be burdened with an extra tithe rent-charge
varying in amount from 6s. to 30s. per acre. In
1872 some tithe-payers at Plumstead, in Kent,
resisted the award of the Tithe Commissioners of
6s. per acre upon all land cultivated as market-
g irdens in that parish ; but the Court of Appeal
c mfirmed the award. Also in Gulval, in Corn-
wall, a claim was made for an extraordinary
titl e rent-charge of 30s. per acre upon land that
had been recently broken up, at a cost of £40 per
acre, and planted with potatoes. When this Act
was discussed Mr. Joseph Hume,and many others
wio saw its tendency clearly, protested against
tha imposition of such a tax on industry and
en rgy. But it may be said that it was no more
than fair to the market-gardeners, who were
bound to pay extraordinary rent-charges under
the original Tithe Commutation Act. Many of
these now complain that it is the exception for
those who grow vegetables up< n land not distin-
guished as districts to be charged with extraor-
dinary rent-charges, and that they are therefore
competing with those who have this unfair ad-
vantage. Although tithe-owners do not avail
themselves largely of their powers under the
Act of 1860, either because they are ignorant
of its provisions, or fear litigation, their power
remains to do so whenever they feel disposed.
This power to impose " a tax upon industry and
energy" should at once be abrogated as a first in-
stalment of legislation with regard to the vexed
and vexing question of extraordinary tithes.
The next step taken should be in the direction of
relief to those market-gardeners who pay ex-
traordinary rent-charges under the original Tithe
Commutation Act, by readjustment and reassess-
ment of their amount, in accordance with altered
c mditions, and by affording easy means to land-
owners, who should more fully recognise that the
tithes of both kinds are simply extra rents to
tenants of redemption. There is a general dis-
tinction between the charges as levied upon land
in a district where market-gardening actually
flourished at the time of the commutation, and
that authorised by the Act of 1860 to be imposed
upon potato and cabbage fields upon Salisbury
Plain, or any other likely spot in the kingdom.

In the former case the tithe-owners had vested
interests and rights — a certain accrued property.
The later Act arbitrarily creates interests, the
basis of whose value must necessarily be arbitrary
also. I have spoken of " accrued property" with
reference to the extraordinary rent-charges de-
fined by the Act of William IV. I desire merely
to recognise an entity. I do not mean to imply
that the value of this is unalterable, either by
natural laws or the laws of the land ; or, in
plainer language, that because the average ex-
traordinary value of hop, or fruit, or market-
garden land was assessed at 10s. , or 15s. , or per-
chance £1 per acre in 1838, its value to-day is
the same, and should remain the same, pur
secula seculomm. It must be obvious that cir-
cumstances have changed greatly since this value
was assessed. In the forty-two years that have
intervened agriculture has been completely revo-
lutionised, and prices and values are wholly
altered. Therefore, the whole question of tithes,
both ex trd ordinary, with their extraordinary
anomalies, and ordinary, with their varying
values, determined by means of partial and in-
correct data, requires careful legislation in the
interests of farmers, fruit-growers, hop-growers,
market-gardeners, and the general community.
With this list of grievances of marktt-gardeners
and cultivators generally, and drawbacks to the
c i It ire of vegetables, this series is concluded. I
trust that I have succeeded in showing that the
advantages considerably out-weigh the disadvan-
tages in connection with market-gardening
for fanners, so that many may be led to folio wit
to their satisfaction and profit.

Agriculture
Parliament.

in

HOUSE OF COMMONS.— Aug. 16.

emplotbb's liability bill.

On the third reading of the Employers' Liability Bill, Mr.
GORST, in the absence of Baron H. De Worms, moved a
resolution in favour of extending the Bill so as to include the
workmen employed in Her Majesty's arsenals and dock-
yards. Mr. Booid, Sir H. Wolff, Sir H. Holland, and Mr.
Newdegate supported it ; but in answer to it, the ATTOR-
NEY-GENERAL, and Mr. (JH1LDERS pointed out that
under an existing. Treasury Minute the dockyard men
e joyed greater advantages than this Bill would give them.
In tea d of being entitled to a maximum compensation
amounting; to three years' wages, as the Bill provided, the
" establishment men" might have granted them by the
Treasury a maximum compensation equal to ton years'
wages, and the non-establishment men in like manner
might receive a sum equal to nine years' wages. The
gratuities to widows and children were also on a higher
scale. In reply to this. Mr. W. H. SMITH remarked that he
had always regarded these granteas subject to the discretion
ol the Treasury, and not as matters of right or contract, and
he believed that in the long run it would be found impossible
to refuse to place the workmen employed under the Crowa
in the same position as other workmen. With regard to the
Bill, he was of opinion that it had not received the consider-
ation which the subject required, and deprecating unneces-
sary disturbances of the relations of employers and work-
men, he was inclined to regret that the final step had not
been taken now of abolishing the doctrine of common em-
ployment. Sir S. MORTHCOTE spoke in a similar strain,
and expressed a hope that the manifest defects of the Bill
would be remedied " in another place." Mr. MAPPIN made
some remarks on the railway clause, which he thought ex-
perience would show to be a doubtful boon. After some fur-
ther conversation Mr.Gorst's amendment was negatived and
the Bill was read a third time.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

219

HOUSE OP COMMONS.— Aug. 17.

TBXAN FKVKB.

In reply to Mr. A. Arnold. Mr. MUNDELLA said that it
was on the written authority of Mr. Brown that he had
stated that the rattle from the Io.»a were suffering frnm
Texan fever. On post-mortem examination some of the
cattle showed signs of splenic apoplexy, which was a<» con-
tagious as Texan fever. Texan fever tended northwards
more and more every year, and required to be watched with
very gri:it care.

SEDITIOUS SPBECH IN IBRLAND.

Sir W. BARTTELOT called attention to the speech of Mr.
Dillon, repirted in the morni g papers, and asked what
action the Government meant to take on it.

M>. FORSTER said he hud read the -peech, and, though
he bad no desire to overrate its importance, he could not
express too strongly his op niin of its wickedness and
cowardice. As far a* it could have any eflect at all it must
be to induce men to break the law, and it was so ingeniously
framed as to avoitl pr secution. As to what the Government
intended to do, he sa>d nothing would plea e Mr. Dillon
more than an unsuccess'ul prosecution, and he did not
intend to give him that pleasure, though he assured '..he
Mouse that the Government would continue carefully to
watch these t-peeches.

In answer to Mr. T. r 'Connor, Sir W. BARTTELOT said
he had not given Mr. Dillon notice of his question because
there had been no contradiction of the speech ; and Mr.
O'CONNOR was proceeding to remark that the denial of
Home Ru e wa-f re^ponsibie for violent lai gunge and acts of
violence, when he was stepped by the Speaker.

Mr. COWEN having asked what reason there was for
assuming the authenticity of the report on which Mr. Dillon
was accused of wickedness and cowardice.

Mr. FORSTER said all the different reports were sub-
stantially identical, and the spetch was (f suih a character
that if the reports had not been authentic they would have
■b .'en contradict-d.

Lor I R. CHURCHILL gave notice of his intention to ask
whether the Irish Government will ask for exceptional
power before the end of the Session.

HOUSE OF LOBDS.-Aug. 19.
The Employers' Liability Bill was read a first time.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.— Aug. 19.

CATTLE DISEASES AT LIVEBPOOL.

In answer to Mr. Barclay,

Mr. MUNDELLA said, — Mr. Moore, the Privy Council
inspector at Liverpool, is an experienced member of the
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, and the department
have entire confidence in his professional skill. ;This is
warranted by the fact that his reports on disease have in
every instance when an inquiry has been held been confirmed
by the departmental inspector. He devotes the whole of his
time to the duties of his office, and is assisted by the cen-
tral staff in cases of emergency. The department is not of
opinion that the services of a second inspector are at present
required.

HAKES AND BABBITS BILL.

The House went into Committee on this Bill, Mr. Playfair
in the chair, when the consideration of sub-section C, pro-
posed to be added to Clause 1 by Sir W. Harcourt, was re-
sumed. The Bub-section in question was to the effect that
every person authorised by the occupier to kill ground-game
Bhouki.on demand by any person having a concurrent right
to take and kill ground game on land, or on demand of any
person authorised by him in writing to make such demand,
produce the document by which he was authorised, and
in default should not be deemed to be an authorised
person.

Mr. HENEAGE rose to move the rejection of the proposed
Bnb-section (0) in order to substitu e for it the following : —
" (C ) Notice of any authority given by an occupier to kill
any ground-game shall be served by him or any other per-
son having a concurrent right to kill or take ground-game
on such land, or any other person authorised by him in
writing to receive such notice on his behalf, either by de-
livery to such person personally or by a prepaid letter ad-
dressed to him, or, in default of such notice, no person shall
be deemed an authorised agent under this clause." The
Bub-secion proposed by the Home Secretary would, he
thought, be fraught with the greatest mischief. It would, he
believed, create ill-feeling, hard words, and even blows
between gamekeepers and the agents of the occupiers. It
would also encourage poaching, and it would tend to bring
many cases before the magistrates in which there would be
much hard swearing. The proposal which he had placed on
the notice paper was a more concise and less complicated one
than that of t< e Home Secretary, and he desired to move it
in order to raise the whole question.

Sir W. HARCOURT disclaimed any particular affection
for that sub-seetinn which the hon. member was so anxious
1 1 strike out. To require the tenant to be constantly giving
notice to the landlord was a thing whic'i had been repre-
sented to him as vexatious and extremely undesirable to
those for whose benefit the Bill was intended. If the Coi. -
mittee were of opinion that the authority given in writing
was a thing which nobody should see, he had no desire to
press the sub-section on ihem.

Mr. RODWELL preferred the amendment of the Home
Secretary. He thought it ought not to be withdrawn. It
would be a great safeguard and protection.

Mr. LABOUUHERE t-aid he was very glad to hear the
Horn s Secretary state that he had no great affection for
his amendment, and it was to be hoped that the right
hon. gentleman would leave it to the Committee to deal with
it.

Mr. SCLATER-BOOTH, on the other hand, was very sorry
to hen r the H ome Secretary begin by throwing cold water on
his amendment.

Mr. BARCLAY thought a reasonable provision was made
by this amendment.

Mr. BRAND said he did not yet understand this extra-
ordinary Bill. What penalty would attach to any one who
did not act under the Bill when it became law ?

Sir W. HARCOURT said a person who did not act under
the authority of this Bill would be exactly in the same
position he would have been before the Bill passed.

The Committee divided, and the numbers were :-—

For theamendment 180

Against 29

Majority against 161

Mr. CHAPLIN said that he rose to move an amendment
which would remove some of the objections which he enter-
tained to the Bill. He complained of the Bill not so much
on the ground of its interference with freedom of contract as
of its interference with individual liberty. He had been
taken to task for saying that the Bill involved the principle
of confiscation. But as no answer had been supplied he
adhered to his statement. He had referred to two cases —
first, when the occupier was the owner, farming his own
land ; second, when the occupier was tenant of the right to
shoot with a power of sub-letting. In both these cases the
occupier of land was deprived of a marketable commodity
without the smallest compensation being given. It would
be said that this argument was based upon a fallacy, because
the Bill did not altogether prevent sub-letting. But sub-
letting was only allowed under conditions which destroyed
the value of the right. He proposed to insert after the word
" act," in sub-section 2, the following words: "where he
occupies the land as owner thereof, or as lessee thereof;
having the right of killing game thereon, with a power to
sub-let that right or."

SirW. HARCOURT said the hon. member asked how a
tenant- farmer could be compelled to accept the right of kill-
ing game on his land. He would tell the hon. member how.
Let nothing be said about game in the lease, and the right
would vest in the tenant by the common law. The amend-
ment, if accepted, would work in this way : — The landlord
would draw a lease say nothing in it about the game. By
the common law the lessee would have the power to kill the
game, with the right to sub-let ; the landlord would then
obtain from him an agreement letting the game, and so the
provisions of the Bill would be of no avail. The second part
of the amendment absolute'y negatived the principle of the
Bill, and the first part was inconsistent with the words passed
in the first clause, in which it was declared that the right to
kill ground-game was to be incident to and inseparable from
the land.

Mr. SCLATER-BOOTH contended that it would be de-
privingan occupier of land of a very valuable right if he were
no longer to be allowed to get a fancy price for his shooting.
He did not think the right hon gentleman had given good
reasons for rejecting the first part of the amendment, but
with regard to the second part he admitted that there might
be a proviso prohibiting the landlord from being the sub-
lessee.

Mr. BRAND supported the amendment, and quoted against
the Hrme Secretary his vigorous protest in 1872 against
" grandmotherly legislation."

Colonel RUGGLES-BRISE supported the amendment on
the ground that no one could be injured by allowing owners
to let shooting on lands of which they were also the occu-
piers.

Mr. BIDDELL also supported the amendment on the same
ground.

Mr. J. HOWARD thought the grievance which was pro-
posed to be met by the amendment was a purely imaginary
one.

Mr. CHAPLIN admitted that if the Bill passed the shoot-
ing would continue to possess a certain value, bat that value
would be diminished, and to the extant of such diminution

ID

THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE.

the property of the owners of land would be confiscated. In
order to arrive at a compromise on the questior , however,
he was willing, with the leave of the Committee, to with-
draw his amendment for the purpose of again moving that
part of it ending with the word " thereof."

Mr. CHAPLIN then mo ved, as an amendment to Sir W.
Harcourt's amendment to Clause 1, in sub-section 2, after
the word " Act," to insert the words, " Where he occupies
tke land as owner thereof or as a lessee thereof."

The Committee divided, when there appeared—

For the amendment 82

Against it 145

Majority — 83

Mr. WARTON moved, in line 4 of the proposed amend-
ment, the substitution of the words "not more" for the
word " less," which was agreed to, and sub-section 2 was
then added to the clause.

Mr. CHAPLIN moved to add at the end of the sub-section
the words, " where he occupies land as tenant thereof, hav-
ing the right of killing game thereon, with power to sub-let
that right."

SirW. HARCOURT observed that these were the very
words which had been previously withdrawn. That amend-
ment would enable the whole Bill to be defeated ; and it
would be only adding one piece of paper to the present piece.
It was his intention to propose the insertion at the end of
clause 2 of the words, " Save as aforesaid, the occupier may
exercise any other or more extensive right which he posses-
ses in respect to ground-game or other game in the same
manner as if this Act had not passed." Therefore, if the
tenant had different or larger rights, they would not be inter-
fered with by this Bill. He would have all the rights which
he had before, with this exception— that he could not let
away the concurrent right vested in himself of shooting
hares and rabbits. The view with which the Bill had been
drawn was to give as much protection to the farmer as they
could with as little interference with sport as possible. If
the farmer afterwards kept up a large head of game he
would have no grievance. It was of importance that a
class should not have a grievance.

Mr. CHAPLIN denied that the amendment was aimed at
the vital principle of the Bill. It was proposed to deprive
the tenanis of the sole right and give them only a concurrent
right in its place. This was tantamount to depriving them
of that which was worth £100, and giving them the concur-
rent right, worth only £50. He protested once for all against
this sort of legislation, and he must divide the committee on
the amendment.

Mr. BRAND said if his hon. friend divided the committee
he should be happy to vote with him.

Mr. RODWELL said the member for Mid-Lincolnshire
aeemed to misunderstand the objectof th B 1 ), which was in-
troduced because the tenantscould not protectthemselves from
the ravages of ground game. The Bill was aUo framed in the
interests of good husoamiry, and he maintained it was not
good husbandry to make farmers try to g' t as much out of
the shooting as possible. The farmers proclaimed themselves
feeble, and it was on this ground that be thought the Bill
right. He trusted his hon. frirnd would notpri ss the amend-
ment, which was opposed to the principle of the Bill.

Mr. BAR(H,AY also opposed the amendment.

Mr. LAWRENCE assured the committee that some tenants,
-at all events, did value the right to let the shooting.

Lord ELCHO, who was met with cries of " Divide ! "
hoped the Chairman wou'd protect hon. members from the
interruptions of new members oppo.-ite, who, because they
represented Radical constituencies or owned Radical news-
papers, fancied they had a right to interrupt any hon.
member who said anything disagreeable to them. He hoped
the Chairman would protect lair discussion. Having said
that much, he wished to refer to the remarks of his hon.
friend the member for Cambridgeshire, who posed as the
special friend of the farmer. His hon. friend had said that
the farmers were in a state of infantile impotency.

Mr. ROLWELL denied that he bad used auy such ex-
pression. He said the farmers were feeble, and to a certain
extent helpless. In the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, with
which the noble Lord was well acquainted, a tenant might
as well go and ask a landlord for the use of his drawing-
room or his cellar as to ask him to give him the right of
shooting.

Lord ELCHO did not thiDk there was much difference
between weak and helpless and infantile impotency. As to
the farmers of Suffolk not having the right to shoot, a3 stated
by the hon. and learned member for Cambridgeshire, it was
notorious that the farms were let for 5s. an acre less than
their full value, because of the reservation of the right of
shooting. The result would therefore be that they would
henceforth be let at full value, and by private arrangement
the right would be practically reserved, and the 5s. an acre
allowed to the tenant.

Mr. CHAPLIN s-aidhe was astonished to hear from his hon.
and learned friend that the farmers of Norfolk, Suffolk, and
Cambridgeshire were a helpless race. He had always
thought Jubt the reverse. The House had been informed by

the hon. member for Bedfordshire that one-third of tha
farmers of England had already the right of sport. Ue
thought the speech of his hon, and learned friend was an
admirable argument in favour of having certain districts
scheduled. He hoped at all events the districts which he
represented would not be scheduled. He must press his
amendment to » division.

Sir W. HARCOURT said that as it had been proposed
that certain counti-js should be seheduled, he should
extremely like to ask the hon. member* for Hampshire,
Hertfordshire, and Devonshire whether they would like their
respective counties to be thus excluded.

The Committee divided, and the numbers were —

For the amendment

Against

61

143

Majority ...

79

Mr. TOTTENHAM moved to add after sub-section 2 "or
by reason of his holding (whether fenced or otherwise) ex-
tending into a mountainous district, except on those parts of
such holding as shall be actually under meadow or crops."

Sir W. HARCOU RT could not agree to the amendment,
which would place Irish tenants in a disadvantageous
position as compared with English or Scotch tenants.

After a few] words from Mr. SEXTON, who was glad the
right hon. gentleman opposed the proposal, the amendment
was withdrawn.

Sir W. HARCOURT moved the addition of sub-section 3,
viz : — " The occupier shall not, nor shall any person autho-
rised by him, use any firearms for the purpose of killing
ground game except between the last hour before sunrise,
and the first hour after subset; and neither such occupier,
nor any person authorised by him shall employ spring u apa
above ground for the purpose of killing ground game."

Mr. Bit AND moved the rejection of the oub-section.

Lord ELCHO said it was stated by the right hon. gentle-
man opposite that the object of the Bill was good husbandly
and the protection of the crops of the tenant by keeping
down ground game. But that could be done more effec-
tually by gins and traps than by guns. Therefore, if the
i ight hon. gentleman was doing what he professed to do he
would exclude guns altogether.

Dr. FARQUH ARSON said that one of the most expe-
rienced farmers of Aberdeenshire had written to him to say
that if the Government put in a clause prohibiting farmers
from using guns to kill hares and rabbits they would have
done better not to have brought in the Bill at all. He
hoped they would not accept the hon. gentleman's amend-
ment.

The amendment of Mr. BRAND was negatived.

Sir W. BARTTELOT rose to move to leave out from the
word " game," sub section 3, line '2, to " sunset" in line 3.
He taid that if the whole of the country was like his part of
it (Sussex) he would not object to the gun. But they had io
do with the whole country, including manufacturing districts
and large towns. They had passed a proviso enabling the
occupier of the land to allow all his labourers, all his family,
and one other person to destroy ground game on his farm.
An innkeeper could give a written permission to persons
stopping at his inn to shoot ground game. They knew what
sort of guns would be used — far more dangerous to those
who used them than to the animals they shot at. The right
hon. gentleman said that this was a Bill to promote good
husbandry, not to confer sporting rights ; but here were
sporting rights given, not to one person only, but to a lar^e
number of people. If those rights could have been restricted
to the owner and his son he would have said nothing against
it ; but now it was proposed to give an indiscriminate use of
arms to all the occupier wished to give it to. Could thoy not
trust the landowner to say whether the tenant should use
the gun or not? The right hon. gentleman had said he could
trust the tenant but not the landlord He denied that that,
was the case. It was admitted that a third of the tenants
were enabled to sport over their farms already. He would
like to know how many landlords had given their tenants
the light to de.-troy ground game. He begged to move his
amendment.

Sir W. HARCOURT asked what was the meaning of the
arguments agaiust the desirability of permitting the use of
a gun to the occupier if already one-third of the landlords
allowed their tenants to shoot. If shooting was an effective
method ot keeping down an undue amouut of game, those
who enjoyed the sport ought not to prohibit it merely because
it gave pleasure.

Sir M. LOfES observed that the Bill had two objects
— one avowed and ostensible, and the other latent and con-
cealed. Its first object was to benefit the farmers, and he
had nothing but praise for the Bill if it effectually did to;
but its second purpose vas to transfer a right from one class
to another without giving any compensation, and in that
respect he regarded it as uujustifi ible. When ground game
became excessive, the proper way to diminish it was by net-
ting, snaring, and ferreting, but not by giving a numerous
body of persons the right to use a gun,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

221

Viscount NEWPORT, as a resident near a populous town,
expressed his belief that the proposed provision, if it were
inserted into the Bill, would make the preservation of game
altogether impossible.

Mr. LABOUCHERK never knew a more selfish amend-
ment to be supported by more dog-iu-the-inanger arguments.
Hon. members oppo^te felt themselves obliged to make a
concession, but they did so in the most ungracious manner
possible.

Mr. ONSLOW thought that practically the farmers' agents
would get rid of all the pheasants and partridges under the
pretence of kill ng rabbits.

Mr. HKNEAGE hoped his right hon. friend the Home
Secretary would stand fast by the amendment.

Mr. GRANTHAM believed the winged game would be
destroyed if the tenant had the right to use a gun at all
p -rinds of the year. He trusted the Government would
modify these provisions of the Bill.

Mr.' CHAPLIN thought that if the Home Secretary
desired, as lie professed, not to interfere more than was
necessary with the right of shooting he ought to accept the
amendment.

Sir W. HARCOURT said he could not understand the
jealousy which hon. gentlemen opposite appeared to have of
any proposal which would enable the farmer to join in the
sport of shooting. He could not accept the amendment,
because he saw no good reason why the right to use a gun
should be the monopoly of any class.

Sir W. BARTTELOT was sorry to find the right hon.
gentleman always trying to throw dirt on his opponents.
What he objected to was that a host of persons on any farm
should have the right to carry a gun for the purpose of
killing hares and rabbits, but he had no objection to the
exercise of the right if it were restricted to the occupier and
■one other person.

Lord ELCHO pointed out that the Bill had nominally
been brought in for the promotion of good husbandry and
the protection of the farmers' crops, and that the question
of the gun had been raised to test the honesty of those pro-
fessions.

Mr. BRAND was of opinion that a very extravagant view
of the operation of the Bill was taken by some hon. mem-
bers, and expressed it to be his belief that in 99 cases out of
100 an amicable arrangement would be arrived at between
landlord and tenant.

Sir R. MUSGRAVE thought the point would be met by
the Home Secretary consenting to a limit as to the number
of guns, permission to use which should be given under the
Bill, such limit to be based upon the acreage of the holdings.
On small farms he thought it should be limited to the occu-
pier and one gun.

Sir M. HICKS-BEACH questioned whether it would be
wise to deprive tenants of the power to exercise their rights
in respect of the sporting on "their farms in the way that was
most agreeable to thems-lves. The presence of ground-game
on estates was due not so much to legislative enactments
as to the existence of a good understanding between land-
lords and tenants, without which there could be no such
game on the majority of estates. That understanding had
hitherto existed, and he saw no reason for disturbing it. He
should be glad if the right hon. gentleman in charge of the
Bill could see his way to consider the question of limiting
the number of persons on farms who should have the right
to use guns.

Mr. HICKS hoped the Government would consent to fix a
close time in which ground game should alone be shot, as, if
this were not done, those who wished to preserve and shoot
partridges would find that their sport would be almost
entirely put an end to.

Mr. GREGORY thought it would have been betterto specify
the time of year in which hares and rabbits might be killed
than the time of day.

Mr. CHAPLIN supported the amendment because it had
been stated that the Bill was one to protect the farmer
against the ravages of ground game. But he did not think
the Bill was a sincere one, because it really sought to give
shooting rights to the tenant. Jf they were sincere, why did
they not extend the farmers' rights to winged game ? If
they had introduced such a measure he was not sure that he
should not have supported it-
Mr. CARPENTER-GARNIER and Sir H. TYLER sup-
ported the amendment.

The Committee divided, when there appeared : —

For the amendment 33

Against 112

Majority — 79

The Chairman having returnid to the House after the
usual interval for refreshment, and the Home Secretary
and all the other members of the Government being still
absent,

Captain AYLMER rose to move the amendment which
stood on the paper in his name — viz., in sub-section 3, after
the word " sunset," to insert the words " between the 1st
day of July and the 15th day of February."

No hon. member rising to discuss the amendment, tho
CHAIRMAN put the question to the Committee. His
decision being challenged, a division was called for, and
before it was taken the Home Secretary and a number
of his colleagues had resumed their places on the Treasury
bench.

The Committee divided, and there voted : —

For the amendment 23

Against it 110

Majority — 87

Captain FELLOWES moved an amendment prohibiting
the use of snares. The Home Secretary had pronounced
against traps as cruel, and it was to be hoped snares would
also be excluded.

Sir W. HARCOURT said it seemed to be the object of the
amendments proposed by hon. gentlemen opposite to deprive
the farmer of every possible way of taking hares and rabbits.
He must oppose the amendment.

The amendment was negatived.

Sir. M. HICKS-BEACH begged to move to insert the
words to prohibit the laying of poison.

Sir W. HARCOURT hoped the right hon. gentleman
would not insist on the insertion of the words. He should
like time to consider the matter; but he believed poison was
already prohibited by the law.

The amendment was withdrawn.

On the motion that the sub-section stand part of the
clause,

Mr. CHAPLIN expressed the hope that if the right of
shooting was given at all it would be given without limita-
tion. Rabbits fed mostly at night, and could be best shot
then.

Sir W. HARCOURT was opposed to people going about
with guns at night.

Mr. W. EGERTON hoped the suggestion of nis hon- friend
would not be agreed to. One hour after sunset would be
quite sufficient for the use of the gun.

The third sub-section was then agreed to.

Sir W. BARTTELOT rose to move an amendment to Sir
W. Harcourt's amendment which restricted the exercise of
the right of tenants in the case of moorlands and unenclosed
lands (not being arable lands) from the 11th of December to
the 31st of March, to the effect that the res'riction in time
should extend to all lands. He said that the right hon.
gentleman had proposed the amendment to conciliate a
certain section of his supporters. It would be perfectly
possible to kill down hares and rabbits within the period
mentioned. He did not thinks thit one part of the coantry
ought to be treated in an absolutely different way from
another. The amendment of the right hon. gentleman was
the result of pressure on the part of large proprietors.

Sir W. HARCOURT said that on the very first night when
the Bill was discussed he had pointed out the distinction
between moorlands and arable lands He should have
thought his hon. and gallant friend would have remembered
the great distiaction there was between cultivated and un-
cultivated land ; the Bill was to prevent the ravages of
ground game on the former. The hon. and gallant baronet
had also omitted to notice that unenclosed land, if arable,
was excluded from his amendment. It was much easier to
prevent the ravages of ground came on sheep farms than on
arable land. The time limited in his amendment was
sufficient in the case of sheep farms. He thought it would
be most unreasonable to deprive farmers of the right given
them by the Bill for nearly nine months in the year.

Mr. KNIGHT said that three and a half months would te
amply sufficient, with a good trapper, to keep down the
hares and rabbits.

Mr. W. EGERTON, who considered that two months
would be an ample time, said that he would support the
amendment.

Mr. BARCLAY contended that if farmers were limited to
three or four months they might be wanting in discretion in
their endeavours to suppress the ground game.

Colonel RUGGLES-B RISE said the amendment would be
likely to render the Bill les3 effectual. He knew many places
where the endeavours of a whole year failed to keep down
the rabbits.

Mr. CHAPLIN supported the amendment.

Earl PERCY said he could not support the emend-
ment.

Mr. GREGORY supported the amendment.

Mr. RODWELL considered that the sub-section was a
very valuable concession on the part of the Government,
who had not been too libeial with respect to the sporting
rights of the landlords. He hoped the amendment would
not be pressed, and could not concur with those hon.
members who thought that where hares and rabtits ex-
isted in excess they could be kept down within two or three
months.

Mr. HICKS was in favour of extending to all parts of the
United Kingdom tbe provision which the right hon. gentle-
man proposed to apply to uncultivated ground only.

The amendment was negatived without a division.

222

THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE.

Dr. FARQUHARSON moved to insert, after "enclosed
lauds," the words " exceeding 60 acres in extent " He eaid
the value of moor for sporting was much greater than its
value for agriculture. The evidence was conflicting, but in
the north he believed the grievance from ground game was
small. The blue hare was becoming rare, if not extinct. On
many farms there were small patches of rough moorland
and gorse surrounded by arable land, and no harm could
be done by excepting them from the operation of the
amendment.

Sir W. HARCOURT did not see any principle in the
amendment and therefore could not accept it.

Mr. BARCLAY supported the amendment, urging that it
would not extend to moors at all, but to a bit of waste land
in the farmer's own occupation.

Mr. MELLOR opposed the amendment.

Mr. CHAPLIN said he should support it if the mover went
to a division.

Mr. COURTNEY said if the farmer had not the same
rieht over these patches that he had over the rest of the
farm the mischief the Bill was intended to remove would
remain.

Colonel RUGGLES BRISE and Mr. PEDDIE supported
the amendment.

Sir W. HARCOURT supposed hon. gentlemen opposite
were anxious to suspend the operation of the power conferred
on the tenant as much as possible. They were introducing
a wedge which would destroy every limitation in the Bill.
The object of the amendment was to remove all the protec-
tion given to rough ground. Against a combination of the
members for Mid-Lincolnshire and Forfarshire, between the
member for Sussex and the member for Liskeard he was
powerless. He should accept the amendment.

Sir W. BARTTELOT ventured to hope if the right hon.
gentleman accepted the amendment the subsection would
be omitted from the Bill.

Mr. CHAPLIN thought if they were to give the Bill at
all they ought not to hamper the tenant with every petty
limitation.

The Committee divided—

For the amendment 146

Against 78

Majority against 63

Mr. SCLATER-BOOTH rose to move the following amend-
ment, to add at the end of Sub-section 4: — "And in all
other cases, notwithstanding anything in this Act contained,
the periods, not being less than tour months of the year,
during which and the instrurtents by means of which such
right shall be exercised, may be the subject of special agree-
ment between the occupier of land and the owner thereof."
He said they had accepted the principle that it was expedient
for certain definite objects that, the occupier of land should
have some further protection from the ravages of ground
game than he could get by ordinary contract with his land-
lord. That being so, he thought it would be possible con-
sistently with that principle to introduce the principle of
freedom of contract as to game for limited periods.

Sir W. HARCOURT would have been very glad if he had
been able to accept the amendment, but the only justifica-
tion of the Bill was the fact tnat the two parties did not
contract on equal terms. Unfortunately, the amendment
was founded on the opposite hypothesis. Its effect would
be to establish a close time of eight months, to be chosen
by the landlord. Then again, with respect also to the in-
struments to be employed, the landlord would be the dominut
of the contract, and might even insist on the use of bows and
harrows for the destruction of rabbits. In any case, he was
obliged to oppose the amendment, which struck at the root
of the Bill.

Sir M. HICKS-BEACH did not know why a principle
which the right hon. gentleman did not think adverse to
the Bill as fa>- as it applied to Scotland should be so decidedly
opposed when it only concerned England. He unders ood
that the object of the measure was not to destroy ground
game altogether, but to prevent damage to the crops by
over-preservation. Why were they who owned partridge
shooting not to have the profit of this shooting ? If there
were not some limitation of the time within which these
concurrent rights of owner and occupier were to be
exercised, the sport of both would be destroyed throughout
England.

Mr. PUGH having spoken against, and Mr. GORST and
Mr. KNIGHT in favour of the amendment,

The Marquis of HARTINGTON rose for the purpose of
saying that he desired to modify the answer he had given
earlier in the evening in reference to the order of business.
In answer to the right hon. gentleman the member for the
University of Cambridge, he had said that the chief business
next week would be that of Supply, and that the Burials Bill
and the other Bills which would have to go to the House of
Lords would not be proceeded with until the completion of

Supply. He had also, in answer to the hon. member for
Mid-Lincolnshire, stated that the report of the Hares and
Rabbits Bill would not be taken next week. He had, how-
ever, given that answer without sufficient consideration, and
he wished now to state that the Government could not
undertake not to bring forward the Report of the Hares and
Rabbits Bill at the most convenient opportunity with a view
bo its being sent as soon as passible to the House of Lords.
He regretted very much having misled the House, but he
thought hon. members would be inclined to excuse him when
they remembered th t his time during the day was not wholly
unoccupied, and that he had as soon as possible corrected
his mis-statement.

This announcement gave rise to some complaint, and a
lengthened interruption of the debate. After a motion to
report progress had been moved and withdrawn, Sir
S. NORTHOOTE said he had deliberately refrained from
speaking on many of the amendments which had been
proposed in that Bill, because he thought that tue House
would be in a false position if it attempted by a clause or
clauses in an Act of Parliament to regulate matters which
it was almost impossible for Parliament to regulate. No
doubt it was the function of Parliament to lay down the
great principles on which contracts should be made and
business carried on. But when, without clear and absolute
n« essity, it attempted to legislate on all the details of
matte s such as they were now considering, it stepped beyond
the bounds where its interference could be useful. He teit
great difficulty in sayin • whether the clo-e time should be
so many months or not, or whether it should begin on one
daycr on another, or, again, whether particular instru-
ments should be used or not in the destruction of ground
geme. The professed object of that Bill, or, raiher, wh;it
had been its professed object — namely, the limitation of the
quantity of ground game and the preservation of the crops
against undue injury— might be attained without such a
minute interference with those interested in the promotion
of agriculture as was proposed by the Bill. He felt that it
was not unreasonable to make provision for a reduction of
the quantity of ground game, and that something should be
done to give the occupier a greater power than he had at
present tor securing that object. But when a proposal was
brought forward that if the occupier made no agreement he
should have all the advantages of that Bill, and that if he
did make one he should have time during which to use
proper means for the destruction of ground game it was
only fair and reasonable that they should endeavour to
prevent misunderstandings between those who ought to be
upon the best terms. The right hon. gentleman the Home
Secretary s-iidthat the landlord was now the dominus of the
contract, and that under the provision moved by his right
hon. frieud (Mr. Sclater- Booth) he would still be the cm-
trolling power. The right hon. gentleman opposite appeared
to think that if there was to be the scintil a of an agreement
that would be putting the tenant in the position of a slave to
the landlord. Now, he believed that to be an insult to the
tenantry of this country.
The Committee divided, when there appeared —

For Mr. Sclater-Booth's amendment 75

Against 154

Majority —79

After a few words from Mr. BIDDELL, in opposition to
the sub-section,
The Committee divided —

For the sub-section 191

Against 23

Majority for — 171

The sub-section was therefore agreed to and ordered to be
added to the Bill.

Mr. GREGORY moved to add a fifth section to provide
than an occupier bo entitled to appoint only one agent in
respect of each hundred acres.
Sir W. HARCOURT objected.
The amendment was withdrawn.

Mr. TOTTENHAM moved to add a fifth section to provide
a close time for hares as regarded the occup er.

Sir W. HARCOURT said he had taken care to save the
Act passed for Ireland last Session, and he had already
stated the reasons against creating a close time for England
and Scotland.

Mr. BARCLAY said the amendment would not create a
close time for owners.

sir M. HICKS-BEACH stid it would be desirable to tal<e
a division on the question of a close time for hares, as there
was a strong feeling in favour of it on the part of many
members.

Sir W. HARCOURT said that if that were so it was desir-
able there should be an understanding as to which amend-
ment the division was to be taken upon, there being soveral
amendments on the paper.

Mr. GIBSON said if the division were to be taken on this
amendment it would have to be amended before tho question
was put, as it fixed the dates for both Great Butaiu aud

THE FARMER'S MAGAZIN1

223

Ireland, He therefore proposed "That no person shall kill
or take hares between tue 1st day of April and the 1st day of
August in England and Scotland."

Mr. PUGH and Mr. MONK supported the amendment.

L~>rd ELCHO said that it' the object of the Bill was to
encourage sporting, it was right to have a close time ; but
if the objest was to encourage good husbandry, then there
should be no close time. He would vote with the Home
Secretary on this occasion.

Sir \V. HARCOURT said that anything more inconsistent
with the object of the Bill he could not conceive. If anyone
wished to strike a blow at the Bill he could not do so better
than by supporting the amendment.

Mr. LiERESFORD-HOPE opposed the amendment. Any-
one who had anything to do with plantations must know
that hares were perfectly destructive to young shoots.
They stood upon their hind legs and nibbled the young
shoots.

Mr. BRAND agreed with the Home Secretary that the
amendment would be inconsistent with the preamble of
the Bill. But an amendment io the name of the right
hon. gentleman to perpetuate a close time with regard to
Ireland would also be inconsistent with the preamble of the
Bill.

After a few words from Mr. SEXTON, Mr. BIDDELL,

and Mr. CAPLIN,

The Committee divided, and the numbers were —

For the amendment 58

Against 148

Majority — 90

On the motion of Sir S. NORTHCOTE, progress was then
reported.

On the question of fixing a day for the further considera-
tion of the Bill,

The MARQUIS of HARTINGTON said that he proposed
that the House should continue the consideration of the Bill
at the morning sitting on that day, and if it could not be then
finished at the evening sitting, after the motion for troing into
Committee of Supply. He feared that if it was not then
finished it would be necessary to ask for a morning sitting
on Saturday. On Monday, as had been stated, they proposed
to take the Irish votes in Committee of Supply, and to con-
tinue them on Tuesday if necessary. He could not say
precisely what the business would be afcer that date, espe-
cially as it was exceedingly difficult to make contingent
arrangements.

GBAItf CARGOES.

The Merchant Shipping (Carriage of Grain) Bill was con-
sidered in Committee.

At the suggestion of Mr. D. JENKINS, an amendment
was accepted exempting ships loaded in the Black Sea or
Mediterranean and bound to ports east of Gibraltar from the
operation of the Bill, as the danger to vessels making such
voyages was comparatively slight.

Amendments were also inserted providing that not more
than 1,500 quarters, or 300 tons of grain should be carried
in any one coenpartment of a ship ; and that each compart-
ment, for the better stowage of the grain, should be fitted
with a proper feeder from the upper deck.

The Bill passed through Committee, and the House ad-
journed at a quarter-past 3 o'clock.

HOUSE OP COMMONS.-Aug. 20.

THE HARES AND RABBITS BILL.

The consideration of this Bill in Committee was resumeds
Lord ELCHO, who had gives notice of an amendment
giving occupiers a right to compensation for damage done
to their crops by ground game, defended the hon. member t
who sat, near him from the charge of obstruction which had
been brought against them. He dared hon. member
opposite to say that there had been anything lice obstruc-
tion offered to this Bill. Had he any intention of obstructing
the Bill, he had only to persevre with the series of amend-
ments of which lie had given notice in order to keep the
House sitting for any length of time. He had taken the
liberty of introducing a Bill which, taking the Government
measure as its foundation, incorporated with it the principle
of his amendments, and he believed that impartial judf63
would say that his Bill was the better and the more straight-
forward of the two. Instead of b°ing an Anti-farmers'
Humiliation Bill, it was a Farmers' Protection Bill. In the
Circum>tances, and to show that he had no desire to obstruct
the passing of this measure, he should not move his
amendment.
On the question that Clause 1 stand part of the Bill,
Mr. BRAND wished to know whether any third party
cjuld prosecute for offences under the Bill.

Sir W. HARCOURT said there was an amendment
which he thought would meet the object of the hon. gentle-
man.

T'ie Clause, a* amended, was agreed to.

On Claus9 2 (th<» tenant's concurrent right to ground game
not to be alienated) ,

Sir J. HAY said if the tenant appointed a rabbit catcher
and the landlord appointed a rabbit catcher, the two rabbit
catchers misrht come into collision. He hoped that, with the
view of preventing su ih collision, the Home Secretary would
agree to the insertion of the words " except to the owner of
such land," after the word " person," in order that the
tenant might.be enabled to let the grouud game to the land .
lord .

Sir W. HARCOURT said the proposal of the hon. and
gallant gentleman was that the landlord should be the only
person to whom the tenant should be allowed to let the
ground game. The whole seope and object of the Bill was
to prevent the tenant from letting the ground game to the
landlord.

Mr. BERESFORD-HOPE having spoken,

Mr NEWDE5ATE hoped that the present amendment
would not be pressed.

Lord ELCHO said he would certainly vote for the present
amendment if a division were taken u pon it.

Sir W. HA.RCOURT hoped that the hon. and gallant mem-
ber would not trouble the Committee to divide.

Sir J. HAY said he had been urged by his constituents to
take a division, and he intended to do so.

The Committee divided, and there voted —

For the amendment
Against it

Majority

32
118

—86

Sir W. HARCOURT moved in clause 2, page 1, line 23, to
leave out " from the right" to end of clause inclusive, and
to insert " the same right to kill and take ground game as
is declared by section 1 of this Act. Save, as aforesaid, the
occupier may exercise any other or more extensive right
which he may possess in respect of ground game or otner
game in the same manner, and to the same extent as if this
Act had not passed."

The amendment was agreed to.

On the question that the clause as amended stand part of
the Bill.

Lord ELCHO asked whether there was any precedent in
law for the creation of this right.

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said he was not able at a
moment's notice to say whether there was any precedent.

Lord ELCHO wished it to go out to the country that the
Home Secretary was creating a thing absolutely new to the
law. If there was a precedent the Solicitor-General would
have it at his fingers' end.

Sir W. HARCOURT did not wish it to go forth that there
were no precedents for this legislation. On the occasion of
moving the second reading of the Bill he gave chapter and
verse for what he proposed.

Lord ELCHO said that on the second reading the right
hon. gentleman raised analogies that did not apply as re-
garded interference with freedom of contract, but he never
produced any precedent for the creation of such a right as
was given by this clause.

The clause as amended was then agreed to.

On clause 3 (" All agreements in contravention of right of
occupier to destroy ground game void ") .

Mr. WARTON, who had given notice that he would move
to leave out the word "void "and insert " voidable," said
that he had put down his amendment in a rather naked form,
and he now desired to add words which would make his
object clearer. He wished to enable the landlord and tenant
to enter into any contract in regard to ground game which
they liked, so far supporting freedom of contract ; but with
this qualification, that the moment the landlord kept too much
ground game the tenant could, if he chose, put an end to the
agreement at the expiration of six months' notice.

After a short discussion the amendment was negatived
without a division.

Mr. NEWDEGATE accepted the principle of the Bill, but
he objected to the clause because he believed it would afford
an opportunity for the creation of differences and bad feel-
ings between landlords and tenants. The hon. member con-
cluded by moving the rejection of the clause.

Sir E. WILMOT did not object to the clause, which ex-
plained what was said in the first alause. There could be no
freedom of contract between the landlord and the occupier.
He spoke from many years' experience as a landlord in a
part of the country where much damage was done by ground
game, and where tenancies were from year to year. The
tenant was not in such a position as to enjoy absolute freedom
of contract. He hoped that hon. members would put faith
in their tenants, and not treat them in the suspicious Bpirit
which the motioned indicated.

R

224

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Sir M. HICKS-BEACH said that lie thought the question
of freedom of contract had already been sufficiently d iscussed .
Ue rose to clear up one point. He understood the right hon.
gentleman the Home Secretary to say that arrangements
made between landlord and tenant as to the manner in
which their joint right to the game should be exercised were
not illegal or contrary to the spirit of the Act.

Mr. CHAPLIN said it was a pity that the hon. baronet and
those' who were anxious to pass the Bill could not abstain
from using language offensive to those who differed from
them.

Sir E. WILMOT appealed to the Chair whether anything
that he had said was offensive.

The CHAIRMAN said that he had not heard anything
Offensive said.

Mr. C HAPLIN said that he repudiated with indignation
the statement that he and those who agreed with him looked
upn their tenants with suspicion.

Sir E. WILMOT called upon the hon. member o withdraw
the word "offensive."

Mr. CHAPLIN said that he would withdraw that term.
But tie desirei to say that he had always been on the most
cordial terms with his tenants, and that he 1 oked upon
himself as quite as much the representative of the farmers
as of the landlords. He and his friends objected to the Bill
because it was likely to create ill-feeling between landlord
and tenant.

Sir W. HARCOURT sail that the discussion which had
arisen was not really on the 3rd clause, which the Com-
mittee was discussing, but was merely a repetition of the
debate on the t econd reading. With respect to what the hon.
ba-onet the member for East Gloucestershire had said, such
agreements as he referred to, though not illegal, were not
enforcible at law.
The Committee divided, and the numbers were :—

For the clause

Against it ...

Majority in favour of it

169
24
—145

Clause 4 was also agreed to.
On Clause 5,

Sir W. HARCOURT moved an amendment to provide that
the Act should be operative from the date of its introduction
namely, the 27th of May, 1330, and not from the date of its
passing. The effect of this amendment would be to prevent
the operation of any coutracts made with a view to defeat
the object of the Bill since its introduction.
Mr. CHAPLIN, Lord ELCHO, and

Earl PERCY protested against an amendment of this
kind being sprung upon the House without the smallest
warniDg.

Sir W. HARCOURT said if there wai any objection to his
proposal he would bring it up on the report.

Sir W. BARTTELOT protested against the suggestion that
there were any landlords who had contracted themselves out
of the possible provisions of this Bill, and hoped that the
amendment of the right hon. gentleman would be fought in
the strongest possible way ana resisted to the very death.

Mr. LABOUCHICRE hoped that no further concessions
would be made to the Opposition in reference to the pro-
visions of this Bill, and Mr. Wharton and Earl Percy
objected.

Mr. DUCKH AM had read the amendment of the right hon.
gentleman with pleasure, and he hoped that he would per-
severe with it on the report.

Mr. RODWELL trusted that the right hon. gentleman
would not press this amendment on the report.
The amendment was by leave withdrawn.
Captain MAXWELL wished that the Home Secretary,
when he brought up the report, would give some hope that,
at some definite period, five years if he liked.be would make
his Bill apply to all larrns in Scotland, whether under leases
or not. . , .

Sir W. HARCOURT said the Government, in introducing
the Bill, did not think themselves at liberty to affect existing
contracts, and for this reason the language of confiscation had
been very lavish v and, as bethought, very foolishly applied
to this Bill, just as people were in the habit of calling every-
body who did not hold their particular creed an atheist.
Now, confiscation consisted in taken away from a person
that which he po*sesed. This Bill did not take away any-
thing which any man possessed.

Mr. CHAPLIN asked who now poss essed the sole right
of shooting ? Why the landlords, as a general rule. That
right was of a pecuniary value. By this Bill they were going
to take away the sole 'right. Therefore they would take
away from a person that which he possessed.

Mr. BARCLAY moved an amendment, the object of
which was to make the Bill applicable at once to tenancies
underlease on condition that compensation was given to the
parties injured thereby. He proposed that in every case in
which the tenant of a farm held under lease wished to be

brought under that Bill, he should be 30 brought on paying
fair and reasonable compensation to the landlord where the
right to kill hares and rabbits wa-i reserve 1 unde*- the lea'e.
That was a question which particularly affected Scotland;
and if the Bill was not made applicable to existing leases it
would be exceedingly hard to the Scotch tenants. Many
Scotch farmers felt that unless thit was done th-y would
not live to derive benefit from the beneficent legislation of
Her Majesty's Government, because in Scotland farms were
very generally let upon leases of 19 years. Without such a
provision as he was now proposing, that Bill would not be
accepted as a settlement, and at every General Election that
question would be again raised. It would be much better
to deal with the whole subject at once and thus arrive at a
permanent settlement. In the interests b >th of the landlords;
and the tenants, he therefore appealed to the ' Government to
accede to his amendment, by which farms held under a lease
might be brought under the operation of the Bill on giving
due notice to the landlord and paying him such compensa-
tion as, failing agreement between the parties, might be
fixed by a valuator named by the Sheriff in Scotland and by
the .County Court Judge in England. The hon. member
concluded by moving his amendment,

Mr. A. ELLIOT believed, with the hon. member for For-
farshire, that the farmers in Scotland would like that Bill to
be appied to eos'ing leases. But that was not the sole ques-
tion which the Committee had to consider. The question was
whether the measure could be fairly ani justly so applied.
He thought i , was perfectly possible by compensation to do
justice between the parties and to bring the Bill into opera-
tion at once in regard to existing leases.

Mr. R. BRUCE suggested that the amendment of his hon.
friend should not come into operation until 1884. By dopting
this suggestion they would allow the greater part of shoot-
ing leases to expire.

Mr. GIBSON pointed out that the amendment oppose 1 in
part the principle contained in the 6th section of the Bill.
The point had already been discussed.

Lord ELCHO wished to direct attention to the fact that
40 minutes had been occupied by hon. members opposite,
supporters of the Bill, in a discussion which delayed the
Bill,

Earl PERCY said that, whatever they might say, the
proposal amounted to a confiscation of the rights of the land-
lord.

The Committee divided, when the numbers were :—

Ayes ...
Noes ...

.. 64
.. 127

Majority against the amendment ... — 73

The House resumed, and the further proceeding with the
Bill was fixed for the evening sitting.

The sitting was resumed at 9 o'clock.

After a long debate on the state of business, the House
resumed the consideration of the Bill in Committee.

Clause 5 was agreed to.

On Clause 6,

Sir D. WSDDERBURN moved an amendment to include
deer, except in deer forests, in the term "ground game."

Sir W. HARCOURT opposed the amendment.

The amendment was negatived, and the clause added to
the Bill.

Clause 7 was struck out.

Clause 8 was agreed to.

Sir W. HARCOURT moved the insertion of the following
new clause in lieu of Clause 7: — " Any provision in any Act
of Parliament and any law inconsistent with this Act shall,
as far as it is so inconsistent, be repealed."

After a conversation, the clause was ordered to stand part
of the Bill, as was also another clause providing that nothing
in the Act should authorise the killing or taking in Ireland
of any ha ro or leveret during the time for which killing or
taking hares or leverets is prohibited by the Hares Preser-
vation (Ireland) Act, 1879.

A clause proposed by Mr. Peddie for the protection of
plantations in Scotland was negatived, and the other new
clauses of which notice had been given having either been
withdrawn after some discussion, or not moved, in the
absence of the hon. members in whose names they stood on
the paper, the preamble was agreed to, and the Bill passed
through committee, amid cheers.
In answer to Sir M. Hicks-Beach and Lord Elcho,
Sir W. HARCOURT said he could not name a day for
the report of the Bill. As money was wanted, it would be
necessary, as his noble friend the Secretary for India had:
stated, to take supply on Monday and Tuesday next, and
the report of tho Hare* and Rabbits Bill would be taken as
soon as possible alter.

Printed by J. C. Dvbaht, 265, Strand.

CHAMPAGNES.

GRAND V(N DE L'EMPEREUR

TRADE /HflfflK 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 Jtlllt MARK.

ROUSSEAU AND CO., REIMS.

MADEIRA

Of the FINEST QUALITY, in Quarter Casks and in Bottle and every
other description of "Wines at the

LOWEST POSSIBLE PRTCE,

CAN ALWAYS BE HAD OF

TUXFORD AND CO.,

WINE MERCHANTS,

48, Fenchureh Street London, E.C<

Established 1847.
SAMPLES ON APPLICATIONS

THE

ROYAL FARMERS' AND GENERAL FIRE LIFE
AND HAIL INSURANCE OFFICE.

ESTABLISHED 1840.

TO INSURE AGAINST LOSSES BY

FIRE AND HAIL STORMS,

AND TO GRANT

INSURANCES ON LIVES.

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 F. Anderson Stebbiag, 4, Cleveland Gardens,
Castle Hill, Ealing.

Thomas Henry Burrougb.es, Esq., 16, Lower Berkeley

Street.
William Clutton, Esq., 7, Clifton Villas, Penge.
A. J. Duff FUer, Esq., 10, Aberdeen Park, Highbury.
E. J. Hawker, Esq., 37, Cadogan Place, Sloane Street

FIRE. — Insurances at moderate rates.

LIFE. — Insurances on equitable terms. Profits divided every five years.
HAIL. — Crops insured against Hail Storms at 5d. per acre.
LOSSES.— Settled promptly and liberally.

AMPLE CAPITAL AND LARGE RESERVES.

Prospectuses and Reports may be obtained of the Secretary, JOHN SHARP, 3, Norfolk Street, Strand
London, W.C., or of the Agents.

J. C. NESBIT & SON,

Analytical, Agricultural, and Consulting Chemists

(Manager A. ANTHONY NESBET, F.C.S., fcc)
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, Graeeehureh Street, E.C.

A list of fees sent on application-