The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1864-03-15 00:00:00

BATH AND vinmm OF ENGLAND AGRICUL-

TURAL SOCIETY.

A monthly meeting of the Council of this Society was
held at the Railway Hotel, Teunton, on the sth inst.
Sir J. T. IL Duckworth presided, in the abeence of Earl
Forteseue. There wen also present Caloriels Adam'
and Luttrell, Rev. T. Phillpotts, Drs. Brent and
Gillett, Henn. Adair, C. Bush, It. H. Bosh, R. G.
&sleek, R. H. Clarke, J. H. Cotterell, J. T. Davie E.
S. Drewe, R. Dymond, J. Fry, Jonathan Gray, ft.
Neville Grenville, J. Gould, J. Hole J. D. Hancsok,
.1. E. Redly*, J Lash, G. S. Poole, & P. Pitts, H.
Williams, W. Wippell, H. Bt. John Mettle and J.
Good win.
Bennet Minrrtert—Tbe Secretary reported that
the 1.0041 Committee of the city of Bristol had paid to
the Society's Treasurer the whole of the men of £tooe
promised towards the expenses of the meeting in June
next —A letter was read (p.m Mr. D. Burgos., jun., on
behalf of the Downs' Committee, acknowledging the re-
ceipt of an undertaking on the Society's behalf with re-
ference to the temporary oesupation of a portion of the
Downs, and granting permies-on to the Society to fill up
the cavitin in the intended site of the show.
&Tom PIIZIAL--CONDITIOSS Or IDDIAPETITIOIL —A
letter was read from Mr. E. Howley, of Siddington
House, near Clrenoester, announcing that his short-horn
heifer, placed nand in clan 11 at the Exeter meeting,
had prodund • calf at the proper time, acd asking that,
if Lady Pigott was not in • position to give a like oer-
tificate with reference to her heifer, the first prise
should revert to bun (Mr. Bowley) in accordance with the
practioe of the Royal Agricultural Society.--The Secre-
tary was directed to write Mr. Bewley in reply that,
wider present conditions, be is entitled to • se. ond
prise, bat the subject of hie letter should receive the
conaideratiou of the Stock Prim Conenittee.—A letter
was read from Mr. George Turner, of Beacon Downs,
announcing that the in•calf heifer with which he won a
second prise at the Exeter meeting died some time ago.
and asked if, under the eircurnstanne, be was entitled
to the prize? After • full consideration of the circum-
stance, it was resolved that a letter be written to Mr.
Turner, informing him that as the conditions with re-
freebie had not been complied with, the prise Could not
beiritt or BuzAarao Sagrr.—A letter was read from
Mr. E. W. Boone, of Coles/ell, near Highworth, on the
subject of the proper time for sheering sheep for exhibi-
tion, but it was held that rei the prize list had gone
out, no alteration. can be made for the present year.
BCPPLT Or ILVIREAHIILVTII AT TES BRISTOL MIST.
lllo.—As Mr. Holmes. the oontreetor,is a bankrupt, and
his trade assignee has declined to carry out the contract
in his official rapacity, the subject was referred to the
content committee, with a view to their taking im-
mediate steps to obtain fresh tenders.
Bootees LACS.-11r, Herbert Williams moved,
" That for the improvement of the art of lace manu-
facture, and to enable the midterm of the so-called
Honiton Lace to compete with other markets, the
Society will plan at the dispnel of the Arte Committee
• sum of muney not exceeding L"3O to be given for the
beet designs of sprigs, bouquet, and piens of work,
subject to such regulations as may bereater be oon-
sidered needful to attain the objects in view." On in-
troducing the eubjrct to the attention of the council,
Mr. Williams stated that the hand lace trade of the
county of Devon, though capable of affording employ- .
went to • large number of females, was at present in
a very bad state, and unless energetic steps were taken
to improve or renovate it, it would be entirely lost, as
it tad been from the neighbourhood of Blandford,
where it was originally estaMtahed. In the exhibition
of 1851 some lace of very good design and quality iras
shown, and this, fore time, led to an extension of the
trade. Gradually, however, a very inferior article,
koown as single lace, bad foend its way into the
market, and it was with the object of correcting this
evil, and of raining the general standard of quality and
design, that he propo.ed to institute two classes of
prisee one for eagle designs, such as sprigs of flowers,
kit, exhibited by worker., as they are known in the
trade • and the other for pieces of work, of more corn'
plea design, eho•n by factors. Mr. Williams followed
up his remarks by exhibiting some specimens of
ordinary work, which contrasted moat unfavourably
with other specimens produced from designs drawn
directly from nature.—A long and very interesting dis-
cussion ensued, in the course of which the policy of
offering tie prizes was considered in a moral, social, and '
economical point of view, and ultimately the resolution
was carried unanimously, one of the speakers remarking I
that if by this means the ladies of the West of England
could be induced to take an increased interest in the
occupationa of their sisters who were now toiling for •
bare pittance, great good must ensue.
BUISCRIPTIOSS IS A IRIAN. A number of members
whose subscriptions were in arrear for three year. or
upwards were ordered to be struck off the lists in !
accordance with the notice given at the We meeting.
BRISTOL MILLTISO.—LoCAL PLUM—A letter
read from Mr. Proctor Baker, honorary noretary 10 the
Bristol 1.'041 Uouleitttee, for receiving the Society in
June next, announcing that they had voted the follow.
rig amounts to th, given as epeeist local prises, subject I
to Moll conditions IA the Council might See fit to
enforce

Csen.s.—For the best bull, cow, and offspring, the
calf not to exceed six months in age, Els ; 2nd ditto,
£lO. For the boat bull calf of any breed, above five
months end under twelve mouths old, £10; second, CS.
For the best heifer calf, ditto, CIO ; second, ES.—
Shropatire DOlOll Sheep.—For the beat yearling ram,
£10; second, £5. For the beet ram of any other age,
kb ; second, 12. For the best pen of five two-tooth
ewes of the seine Sock, ES ; second Classes.
—For the best ten long-wool couples in the wool, of the
same Bock, CIO: second, ES. For th• best lOshort-wool
couples, ditto, £10; secood, LS. —Entire Horses.—The
Society of Merchants, at the regimes of the ConantiV
Suffolk breed, to cover in the seuon of 1866, in the
district, within twelve miles of Bristol, and to attend in
Bristol every alternate Thursday, the fee not to exceed
two guineas for each mare.
Mr. R.. H. Beall, in allusion to the foregoing offer
of LSO by the Society of Merchants, expanded a hope on
the part of those giving the prises that there would
be good competition among the Clydesdale stallions,
an animal of that breed being much wanted in the
neighbourhood.
COllll/LNCESIPPT OP PRP BILIIDING Yll.l. - Mr.
Knoll ys called attention to • letter on this subject
by Mr. Docklum, editor of the Hereford Herd-hook,
and considering, as he (Mr. Kaollys)did, that unaaimity
of practice was desirable, wherever it could be agreed
upon by different Societies, be gave notice that on an
early day he should call the attention of the Council
to the propriety of considering in what way • uniform
1 system of calculating the age of animals could be
adopted by the various Societies, so as best to promote
the interests of agriculture.
A vote of thanks was passed to the Highland and
Scotch Agricul.ural Society for the presentation of a
complete set of the nese series of their transaction.;
end the Secretary was directed to take once on the part
of the Bath and West of England Society that a render
interchange of the publications of the two Societies
should be maintained.
NAW MEMBERS :—Mr. j. Bingham, 28 Parlia:nent-
street, Westminster ; Mr. A. C. Wheeler, Kings-
holtue, Gloucester; Mr. J. Hatherell, Oldbury-on-the-
hill, Chippenham ; Mr. E. W. Churion, ditto; Mr.
W. IL Baallie, Marlborough-buildings, Bath.

• Hum 7, Me. Whitlock, Mr. Kelsey, and the Clerk
took part.
Mr. HARDICE (the manager of the Gas Company,
who was in attendance) said since the last mooting
be bad been to London, and had had interviews with
the managers of five of the principal gas-works
there. He had found that 12 if not 13 of the
London Gas Companies had rendered themselves
liable to heavy penalties for the lest two years in
reforenoe to the sulphur test. The most eminent
chemists were nearly all divided on the question, and
Dr. Letheby's opinion as to the 20 grain theory had
been as much shaken as that of any other man. He
did not object to the severest test for eulpharetted
hydrogen, but he did object to the words
"20 grains of sulphur in any form." Twenty grains
of sulphur and five of ammonia were the quantities
mentioned in the Metropolitan Gas Hill; but it had
been found difficult to reduce it below 20 grains.
The Great Central bad got to 19 grains; but, ass
rule, all the London companies were above the 20
grains, notwithstanding that they need Newcastle
coal for the production of only 12-candle gee.
Tits CLIME (Mr. C. IL Lee) then need a letter re-
ceived from Dr. Letheby, dated March 2, 1864. It
meted that the evidence he gave on the part of the
corporation of London, on the Metropolitan Gas Bill of
1861, was to the effect that gas supplied to the public
ought not to contain more than five grains of
ammonia, and 20 grains of sulphur (in any form), in
100 cubic feet of gas. His proportion of sulphur
was aooepted by Parliament, but the proporti in of
ammonia was not, and the gas companies asked for
a test, which was accepted by Parliament, but which
was so severe that the gas companies now wished to
reject it. The teat was, the not staining of turmeric
paper held in the gas for one minute. Five grains
in 100 cubic feet would act on the turmeric very
quickly, and therefore the companies of London
would rather now have his estimate of impurity.
He WAS 8011 of the opinion that nosi gas ought not
to contain more than 20 grains per 100 feet, and
more than Bre grams of ammonia. His own ex-
perienoe proved that there was hardly any place in
England, besides London, where so much as 20
grains of sulphur were found in 100 feet, in fact, the
Newcastle-on-Tyne Gas Company had a bill this
year before Parliament, in which they bad them-
selves introdnoed a clause that no more than 10
grains should be present in 100 feet. That clans*
had been founded on his experiments at Newcastle,
showing that the quantity in the gas was only about
six grains.
On the motion of Mr. Orrawar, seconded by Mr.
&roam, the report of the company was ordered to
be entered on the minutes, and approved.
Mr. &roars then proposed that the quantity of
sulphur be fixed at • maximum of 2.5 grains, provided
the company bound themselves to reduce it in the
event of further chemical experiments, showing
such a thing to be practicable with Somereetahire I
coal.

Mr. AYLWARD seconded the motion, which was
carried by a majority of 7to 3. Thus all differences
between the and the GAR Company am
amicably arranged.