The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-01-18 00:00:00

WINFRITII FARMERS CLUB.

The annual dinner of this vent old established Society
to dc plaee on Thursday last at Wool, when the hon. sec.,
Mr. It G. Randall, submittal copies of a new set of rules
which the conpuitte hal drawn up with 3 view, if possible,
to revive the flagging interait exhibited in it. The chief
alteration in the rule rebtei t, the time of meeting : ant
for th., future, instepl of the members tueetin nrinthly,
the business committee will call ta..vtings of members at
such times as they should think fit.

A most excellent spread, reflecting the highest credit
upon the landlord of Reit ancient hostelry " the Mark
Bear," was set down to by the following gen•lemen :
—Mr. J. .I. Rites (Lulworth) in the chair, %Ir. T. (flue-
man !Winders (Watorcoinhe) in the vice-chair. Mr. It.
Damen (Dorchester), Mr. !ACM (Bunton Mills). Mr. 11.
Taylor (Lettrs Mill), Mr. Longman (o.llhuish farm). Mr.
J. Scutt (Rare Regis), Mr. (I. II %sent (lsre) Mr. IL
Besant (Rare), Mr. R. D. Randall Othn sec.s, Mr. Ellis
(Rurtigate), Mr. J. Spicer (Bivington), Mr. Ilasconebe, Mr.
G. R ',Hen (LI unlit% and Mr. T. Longue in.
After the loyal toasts, the (IRIRMAN proposed " the
Army, Navy, and Itcserveol Forees."
Mr. Benconag, as the 8414 iry member of the latter
body present, responded. for he wool? be very awry to
have seen it go by without' s rue recognition. It was a
greet pleasure to him to belong to the Yeomanry, and he
thought there were a great many others in that part of
the conntry who ought to do the none --(hoar, hoer).
However, they did not seem generally to fall in with that
view, whether because there was too 'II drill or not
enough pay he could not tell. Ile thought it gave a
young man from his aeonciates in drill the oop .rtinity of
funning friendships which he would not oth,rwise have
--(hear. hear). As regarded the drilling, he thought they
held their own with the best regiments in England. For
three years in surces.sion, Wind, roe had never been
beaten except by one of the crack regiments, and when
they met again he believed they woulol beat them—(hmar,
hear). _ _

—Tice VicaCutinxs, gave "the health of the Lord-
Lieutenant and Magistrates of the (*minty. Ile hoped an
unpaid magistracy would be numbered among the insti-
tutions of the country for ninny years to come —(hear,
hear). The name of the LonbLieutenatit Was tespectml
not only throughout the county, but throughout the
Empire. The magistrates, he believed, would always do
thew duty, and although some people to ule is great cry for
a Mi.l magistracy, he should himself be very sorry to see
it—(hear, hear).
Mr. It. Damns hail much pleasure HI proposing the
health .1 a genii:titan he hal kn iwn ah int 41 years,
ind during that time had held him in the highest possible
respect --(sp danse)• Ile regretted exrleslingly, as he was
i sore every one present did, that he was now n delicate
health, and ha 1 lien obliged to go away to the S math of
France. Lot them hop he would COMIC balk restored in
health—(hear, bear). No one would be more pleased to
hear that they bat drank his health than than that
gentleman himself: ant lie liegge Ito give them the health
.if the Lord of the Manor, Mr. Weld—(applatise),
The CHAIRMAN thanked the company for the kind
manner in which they had received Mr. Welt's health.
Mr. Weld, he was sure, would with him ti expres.s to
them, on his behalf, his regret that he coal not he awing
them; and that it was his wish to do the host he could to
promote the interests of the club, and that lie desired to
see it prosper—(cheors). Every one knew that when Mr.
Weld Was at home and able to attend their meetings, he
always made it a duty to do so at some pens nab incon-
venience—(hear, hear). Ile (the speaker) WM pleased
to be aldo to say that Mr. Welt was in mueh better health
and enjoying himself very much at Caen —(henn heir).
Ile bat found the climate there wonderfully mild ; fur
while we were having the bitterest cull, there they were
either sitting at the open window or walking in the sons
shine ; and as he required a mild climate there was every
reason to hope lie would receive that benefit he was
seeking.
. . _

The nrize4 for mot crops grown by members in 1875 were
then distribute-I by the See:elan%
1.-1:5, presented by Mr It Ifamm, of Dorchester. for the
hest renewal root trip grown on a sixth part of the amble land
.m the farm, not less than VI acres, a waded to Mr T. Chapman
Sardera, Watereorube.
. . . .

2. —23:given LW-Wt.; club, fur the second bmt general root
crop, Mr 0 Erna, Bunnrate.
-

iLia, fur thg; bett tn sem of swoJef, Mr Q. W. Farm,

4 £2, for tho butt live acre, of swelos, Mr Loots, Dila fun

given by Mr W. Madden, for the host ten acres of
.welol grown with Flron's manure, Mr W. Madden, Coombe
Keynes.
6. masented by the club, for the bust ten acres of
turoilm. Mr J. T. Scutt, Hero
7---i.l, for the butt eve acre., of mougild, Mr W. C. f.scy,
W

+C.for the bast throe sera' of Insoirol.l, Mr 0. W. Farrer,
Binegar.
_

--Ifire—irint•Citainfiss as the that on the prize Hit proposed
"flie I.) mom of prize..“ Am mg them they numbered
imne very goo I supporters, and especially happy was he to
t lank their go id old frieml, Mr. Damen, who., prize he
hal been pleme.l t win —(clie.rs). Mr. Weld ought &Igo
ta be mention...l, and their worthy lairlu iii ant Captain
Tyler—(he.u. hoar). " Three times three' wa, called for
for Mr. Damen, teat,
Mr. DOIEN said lie 7i1.1 n.t rially sten l that, although
he was very WWI oldige I to them for the rompl.ment.
Ile believed he wi. one of the ol it suliicriliers to the
prize list, and had given hi. prim for a quarter of a can.
mry, and should he happy to continue ii, of course he did
cot mean for another .0 irter of a eentery—(laughter and
..heers, and "we hope ymi may.") Ile thought, however,
that to mike it of benefit, they should all rotup,to Fir IL
rho great thing was to have a good competition. He
knew the judges had leog distances ti ride to visit the
(ann, and make the awards, but he was sure they would
to it with their usual kindness.
Mr. SAUNDIRS remarked the ecnpetition in the rot
,ree, had not krert very gel thiv year Welll4o of the
' '

Alr, Set:Tr proposed "stiecek.i to the Witifrith Farmers'
Club." He WA. himself a member of three fanners'
and, as a rule, he wool !rework they aware I progrersive.
Many new members had horn added ti the Illanilford club
ibiring the last in nail, awl he believed that the Milhorne
club hod also hail loony additions of late, so that the move-
went was evidently not retmgade—('iear, hear). He
thought it the duty of agriculturists bk meet more together
than they : and to endeavour to organise their forces
that they might 1., in a posittin to rimy things a little
more in their own way than they hail been irk years pad—
(hear, heart—awl then perhsps they would not ha so
•kruenable t k the remark thst if there were half a-dozen
f:krmers in the parish three would pull one wsy awl three
the other: although he was afraid the youngest in the
rim woidil never live to sae the.layk when the farmerall4
a body would pull together. If they did no. at such a time
to th, present they would he able to do something -(heir,
hear). With the toast he associated the name of their
worthy secretary.

I Mr. RENDII.I. renliel. lie was afraid the club during
the past ye sr had been under a cloud, hut he hoped that
at their next annual gathering they would be able to come
mit in it much more satisfactory urinner than at pros .nt.
Ile was sorry the preaint win sitelt a small gathering ; lout
he bad receive,' one or two letters from friends. l'aptain
Fyler was unfortunately prevented being pre-ent by the
serious illness of Mrs. Fyler. Ile had not hear.l from their
01-1 friend, Mr. Calcraft. but at his time of life they could
; not expect him to COHIC such a diatanee. lie trusted next
year they would have many new me:niters, that their old
friends would rally round them, awl that they would be-
come a successful club- (hear, hear).
The CHAIRMItN gave " the health of the Judges," Mr.
Lineman, of Belhuish, and Ida assistant judge their
' worthy seeretary-(eheers). The ditty was not a pleasant
' one to perform, but it Man one they creal not do without,
' and he was sure there would be no fault found with the
decisions. The office involved a lot of trouble and 501110
' awriike of time, lint without it was undertaken prizes and
competitions would be of no RAC -(hear, hear). Ile hail
• never yet heard the fairness of the awards by the judges
called in question, nor did he believe it would be no on the
present occasion-(cheers).
; Mr. Isoenute thanked him for the way in which they
' had received the to ist, for it assured hint they had given
general satiate:lion in their decision -(licer, hear). They
had endeavoured to do their duty an-I as their own con-
' science, could tell them they ha I arrived at fair con-
clusions. It had of course given them it little trouble but
in other respects they hail derived greet pleasure front the
duty for they hal everywhere met with a kind reception.
lie thought that during the last 111 years the dub had
i given in prizes something like Crel ; and that he thought
must have done good in many WAY& lie did not mean as
' regarded their money value; but for instance the labourer
would get • little something extra for his hoeing in the
, long summer daym, and no doubt when lie hail carefully
• eleared out the weeds there was an extra bushel of wheat
- for hi in -(hear. hear), lie had been a member of the club
i about 27 years, and, an far an his abilities would allow,
would always support it. The root crop generally walnut
in good this year. There Mai no bad management that
they saw in any fore., but the bulbs are not no large.
They were shown some very fine spuiruens in 5 acres of
marigold at Mr. Lacey a, and Mr. yonder had a fine peke
of swedes of 10 acres. Subsequentlz Mr. Longm in pro-
; posed "The Successful Competitors.
To this Mr. SAL7NDER4 as being at the " top of the tree"
responded. As this had been is very difibmlt season he
was rather proud at finding himself there, although he wan
not over much satisfied with his root crop. His roots
were all grown after a green crop, and lie had sown 20
acres of fungoid, and he could recommend the system for
adoption. Then he stored his mongol-I and put in another
gram crop. Perhaps this would not apply to the s_get4
svnterm lout bin plan W3A to grow four CrOni in
succession in that manlier. His system was the 6-field
system, not the I, planting marigold after the rye,-with
one ploughing.
Mr. ELLIS hal given Mr. Saunders the go-bye four tintes
before, awl he lid 110 t despair of doing it a,gain -(laughter
-50 acres of his roots were grown in clover ley, one
ploughing. awl he hal got a fair lot, although he must
say he had hail better.
Mr. Scurr also replied. It was the third year he had
won the same prize. Ills roots were nothing like as large
this year, lint it was a different class of roots. Ile had
his wintsr growth in turnips, which were quite equal to
swedes : but they did not grow quite much large roots as
he hail the two previous years. lie had the same sort of
tarnips-the Lincoln red. Bzfetring to farming generally
he aul he should like to know wile had made anything
out of it during the last two year.; he knew he stoke the
truth when he said he was out of pocket. One thing
there was no doubt about, they certainly had to pay a
great deal more in the shape of taxes. 'The seliool-rate
alone ha-1 cost him during the last two years .U. 2. Ile asked
whether if any other clue but the farmer. had been taxed
as heavily an they were there would not have a revolution
In the country-(hear, hear, an-1 " Fowler for ever"). Ile
dii not say "Mr. Fowler for ever," or Mr. Anybody else,
but he ili-1 say it was quite time they organised their
forces to send some to the House who would represent
their interests more than h at teen ilone-(hear, hear,
and Mr. builders : "We mean to try to "). They ought
to endeavour to show their dignity and independence.
Although the screw had beim endeavoured to be put on in
some instances -(no, noh-lie thought it would never be
driven very far; no gentleman in that county or any
other would endeavour to drive his tenant+ to vote in any
other way than they should think proper-(applause).
Mr. Lucas. another successful candidate, responded.
Mr. floonriaX, a fine specimen of the Dorset yeomen,
returned thanks as " the last but not the least "-
(laughter).
Mr. BURDEN proposed "The Health of their worthy
Chairman." Referring to the paucity of attendance at
their annual meetings, he reminded them the Winfrith
club embraced a very large area, and people were rather
reluctant to turn out for a bong drive of an evening: but
be thought under the wive arrangement they wool-I lie
able to do better, and he hoped they would rally round and
support their chairman in a iuuch better manner than
they had during the few years he had been amongst thus.
Since be hat been there several very useful papers had
been read to them ; but he had seen the occasion when
they were given before two reporters and eight or ten
member.. Ile, however, hoped that now they had taken
a new turn-(boar. hear).
The CHAIRMAN said his friend Mr. Budden had given
him credit for a great deal more than he was entitled to,
lie hal attended their meetings beranne he had considered
them of an iuteresting nature, and because lie believed
the club was capable of doing • certain amount of. gosh;
he must admit, however, that he was much surprised at
the small attendance, and he regretted this the more
because it was selfscvident that as louse the attendances
were so limited there could not be that amount of &owes-
sion on the subjects brought forward, which s.lene served
; to render them useful. Without discussion they might
just as well write a letter to the FAitors of the papers as
te read a paper. Ile believed the club had been
estatdished now for nearly 30 years, and there was no
doubt that in the present day agriculture occupied a very
different position to what it did then. Many subjecte
then thought highly interesting were now well under-
stood, and possibly it might be felt there wan no room for
discussion, and that practice had superseded it, hut no '
one could say that the subject of agriculture was not cue
which could be improved by ventilatiou and the exchange
of idess-(hear heard-and he could not but think there
was still a field open for doing RO el iii that respect, with-
out‘any regard to the monetary consideration of the prizes.
Any man who diii. anything to increase thin produce of
country was a public benefactor. After again expressing
his regret at the small attendances, and expressing a hope
for the future, under the new regulations, the Claimant'

said he should continuo to act in that position for another
year anti wait for the multa—(chears).
The new rule* wore then read by the Secretary, and
cordially approved of.
A number of go .dolature.l genie+ then (*Howipd relative
to election milder.. the variouo speaker,' eliciting rearo of
laughter by a4inittin4 in the ino,t innocent manner that
that wa+ not the place for politico but all the game goin4
int them " red hit" A squib which hit been
elaaracterioiO4 the candidate,' a+ Ito ii, bullion, and bra+s,
excited much lau.tliter. The addition of the word brains
In r••llettero however, was favourably regarded.
Mr. Ile_oarcr a+ a ineiulor of the Milli irne Club for the
laat twelve or thirteen year., expresied hi, belief in that
them clalio wero a goad me hum fur the mutual impartiim
of.Otils farinero. _

Mr. DUNN proposed "The Health of the Vice• Chai-
rman," with Willlll WM coupled that of Mrs. Saunders ; and
was suitably acknowleiLled.
Mr. set:7-r instanced the analyses of manures which had
been wile by these clubs recently as 'hewing the Rood
they did in which the outside world particiksated_._
Several other toasts f. 'lowed, during which Mr. /kiln*
LIR he would give 42. 2s. towards the funds of the club,
and _ . . .

ea: I he would aler, give up the prize he had

-"Tao Press," respni.led te by the representatives of the
Dor,e Expreti and the D wet Chrotticl,, and "The
La lies," concluded a most arreealrle and harmonious
evening.