The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-04-25 00:00:00

MICLPLAITiII AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The concluding meeting for the session 1864.5 of the
lielplaish Farmers' Club took place on Wednesday, April
19th, at the Greyhound Hotel, Bridport. A dinner VAS
prepared at four o'clock, when there were present : B.
r. Oundry, Esq., ex-mayor of Bridpirt, ermident ;
Mr. John Pope, Syinondabury, and Mr. S. Tucker,
Allington, vice-chairmen; Mr. Toby, Greonham ; Mr.
N. M. Loggia, hon. secretary; Mr. J. Pitfield,
Symondebury ; Mr. A. J. Pitfieid, Eype, Bridport ;
Mr. W. Ehrwood, Syniondsbury ; Mr. G. S. Miller,
Bradpole ; Mr. R. Tucker, Chicleock ; Mr. Banister,
Bridport ; Mr. Way, jun., Bradpoie ; Mr. H: N. Cox,
Bridport ; Mr. Stone, Insure; Mr. F. C. Hulsey,
Bettiscombe ; Mr. Bishop, Punckaowle ; Mr. Smith,
Stoke Abbott; Mr. T. Hussey, Pineapple; Mr. W.
Dening, Hincknowle ; Mr. T. Hussey, Dmhay, Mr. 8..
Garland, Hyde; Mr. Tucker, Broadenham ; and Mr.
Balls, Bridport.
The repeat being ended the customary loyal and
patriotio toots were pioposed from the ohair. In giving
The Caeen," the PREMINT observed that there had
never been • sovere'gn in England who had experienced
no uniaterruptadly and deservedly the loyalty and
aliedbion of her subjects as Queen Viotoria.—With
rreepnot to " The Prince and Prime's of Wales," Mr.
18. P. GUMMY remarked that they had ingratiated
' 'themselves into the good opinion of all classes by the
Interest they had manifested in public matters and
Mae way in which the Prince had engaged in die old
Sigh& sports and pastimes, had done much to endear
him to us. Whenever the Prima of Wales succeeded
, In the throne—which time they all hoped was far
distant—he trusted that His Royal Highness would
he most firmly established in the hearts of his subjects,
and that his reign would be as remarkable for loyalty
and good feeling as that of his royal mother.—" The
Army and Navy," the President observed, had upheld
;the honour of England, and distinguished themselves ,
wherever they had been called to serve, and under
Mho most disadvantageous we:meanies ; and the
'volunteers, both from their number and efficiency, ,
were becoming a very important foree, and should
:their eervkas be required to defend oar shore', would
•be found of the *most value. He believed the ,
volunteer forts might now be regarded as a permanent 1
institution of the country, and that no exertions would
be spared to maintain its present state of *Reims',
whidi be believed to be very high.— Sergeant MELIMI
,responded on behalf of the Yeomanry Cavalry, who, he
•sensarked, would be most ready and wining to assist
qiiieir brother volunteers in repelling an invader, if
'rolled upon to do ,o.—Lieutenant Loodis returned
Ihanks for the infantry portion of the volunteers, end
ithninsr SlitlON tar the artillery. '
The CHAIRMAN proposed "The health of the Bishop
:and Clergy 0( the Diocese." He said he believed that
,the Bishop who presided over this diocese was nu
:much beloved and respected by every one, and he was,
• quite sure that the health of the clergy would be every-
where responded to with every feeling of respect and
*stet=
The Cast/Man, in proposing "The Lord-Lisidmant
• and Magistrates of the County," said thii. Ler&
Lieutenant was well known as • gentleman ape*
ability and philantrophia intentions, and he biped also
they believed that the magistrates were • body of men
whom great aim and desire was to do their duty faith.
-My • a course, occasionally they committed errors of
judgment, bat that they were liable to do so well as
other men.
"Suomi to the Idelplaish Amicalbeiral 'Society" was
next proposed by the Purniiiese. lie said there was
no doubt but that a society like this vu very valuable
and useful to those engaged in agriculture. It enabled
them to meet occasionally, and, by lectures and dirt-
ominous, to interchange opinions and experience. The
society began well last year, and ha hoped it would be
maintained M a flourishing state. It appeared from a
statement made-to him by their secretary (Mr. Loggin),
that the expenditure daring the past year had rather
exceeded the receipt.—thst the society, to use an ordi-
nary Ora* had run to the had to the extent of £l4;
but, he neiderstood, that in many respects the Com-
mittee Vbre rather more lavish in their expenditure,
not inewing exactly how the thing would prove, then
they might have been; therefore, there was every
masa to believe that the receipts of the society would
deviedte sufficient to keep it solvent and maintain its ,
imetulneas. Mr. Walter Elliott, of Bridport, had
rates* to give • prise of £5 for the best three acres of
swedes, grown from seed and manure purchased of him,
'He (the Chairman) abould be very happy to give £5 to
be appropriated in any way the Committee thought
, most advantageous to the society. (Loud cheers.) His
• r. sincere wish was for the success of the society. The
Chairman, shortly after, rose again, and said be had ,
- sonic very good news to communicate. Mr. Smith, of
Stoke Abbott, offered to give • prize of £5 for two acres
• of the best mangold, and £5 for four acres of the beat
swedes, both to be grown from manure purchased of
him • and Mr. F. C. Hussey offered • prise of £5 ss.
• for him;
best four acres of swedes grown with blood
menus purchased of him.
Mr. Lonnie responded on behalf of the society. The
way in which the toast bad been received evidenced
• that the society still maintained some popularity, aid
would exist at all events for another year. It seemed
they should be at no loss for funds, and with the good
feeling nmeilsated—(Mr. Elswood : And the new blood!)
seeisty ought to flourish. As the President had
MAIM, last year the society went • little to the bad;
It was owing to the desire of the Committee to give tho
thing a good start. The subscriptions amounted to
VS -sa, adding the £lO donation obtained by Mr. J.
Pitlield as prima for extra stock. The sum received far
adrefiniesis to the show field, at 6d. each, amounted to
-which showed that a great deal of interest was
Wenn* it. He was glad that they should be able to
sham suit • handsome list of prises for the next annual
r meet &az imps wall:lac/Den before, and now, with
base four more. He would
• •idellitteitta VAS issidety in • flourishing state, but
,Wmisabba *Gala be or sown unless gentlemen would
Torilea-said that he, though a member of the
• -`,Misitity• and a maispetitor, -could not gain admission to
Abe show Add without paying 6d. He did not mention
It tor Mot vales the 6d., but that such an occurrence
. WON be sodded atfutare exhibitions.
. Nil that be or his clerk were at the
=Tau the whole day with tickets of admission, dia:loisthibto Wahl laws ea application.
1411111,14. Trim= mid her bad the honour to propose a
Owl& It vas ese whir* he did not ask them as •
?josow to drink heestruis he felt we they would re-
It voluntarily and with meat pleasure—it was,
12=4.1nrilist Prawns "The heal* of their worthy •
" lebesnil who had so cheerfully and so ably
louidetinmetheit pronsadings on that occasion. With-
• cut gentlemen of the character and position of Mr. B. '
'P. Goa** they 'said esereelywnede4 a society of -that
/ kind with the satisoi An wished, and therefinelm'
• was sure kheillith peas pleasure the presence of:
gashtaissistkastialm sidlifte the proseedings,
•as it gave that imen= seaport, and colour to the
• society which-it' He was Ts*
to maks theet=ons, beanie
• 21gretrtre healthad_ _the Cbaihnan would have lead
, proposed by Mr. J. Pope, who was eo much more istin-
• patent than himself to discharge that duty. Still, it
misnot one be felt any diffidence about, for he believed
• that we. B. P. Gun was highly' esteemed by all.
. queen hear.) He 156cti was
" Matt;
1.7 t, them, he was doing every- 4•1•'-it
c', laalilir was devoting his energies, his WNW .Ws
(*Pita, sad his Mine to promoting also welfare Sitio*
•arimuid hip, whelp proportion. of whom were depen-
'dent on his simpiernent for daily support. He ably
•Sidle duties as. awagistrat. and • sitisen,
,seid b . Tucker) WU sure that Mr. Gundry was a
iC platten= than Whom there was noza
" •eppledsced or more valued the town and
Wood where he resided. Having known Mr.
.and his ancestors for a long • Mae he dare warmly trust
Wawa to say eh* he felt, but be would venture *
41461, that there was no more wellilletesed, sonvistsni,
. ,Alutd seed eminiser of seeiety.thsia Yr. B. P. Gundry,
, wiso that day luid %Lissa Aim favour to preside
Over their meeting. ~ Mommlow asd imperfect re-
marks he would loniskthe be their hands. (Load
diem) .
The PIINSIDaiIf,Thi responding, said he was al**
winseedingly anikan to stand well in the estimating
•his nehrbbours, and with none more so than the
teMissiltnitists. From his youth he had Mir
recisind the greats* kindness from them in every rale-
itims al We.
Mt. &roam " The bealiksoito XL.: N. 16
_ _
who, ihe

proposed

1 society,
, utmost,

4 if

4
• Ali Onewkerae be
ant pot. be had erre

the happy mode of expreeling them. (Hear, hear.)
Without any further re.narks he would give them the
health of "Our good old Mr. Pope." (Much cheering.)
Mr. POPE said if ever a man ou any public occasion
had cause to be grateful, he MU the man at that
moment. He did not for one moment assume to him-
self that he was deserving of the position in which be
was placed. (Cries of " Yes, you are.") The only part
of Mr. Elswood's remarks that he could accept as true
was that which spoke of him as the old man; his grey
hairs testified that he had seen many summers over his
head. He could assure them all that he deeply appre-
ciated their kindness. end that he had felt the greatest
interest in the Melplaish Agricultural Society. Be re-
called with feelings akin to regret that he had acted
with many once belonging to the society who were now
no more; at the same time he felt that if be bad in the
generation in which he had lived been useful in any
way to his neighbours and friend,, it was a satisfaction
which any man might value, though he was quite
aware that the limits of his action were in • narrow
sphere. (No, no.) If a man by any exertions suo-
ceeded in winning the good opinion of his neighbours
and acquaintances, it was a reward which could not be
told them in words. He was most happy on that occasion,
because, if ever be had any misgivings as to the permanent
success and continuance of this society, the proceed-
ings of that day romoved them. He believed that they
would continue to have the opportunity of conveying
to each other as farmers the experience they every year
gained, and he did think that the only way in which
they could keep pace with the intelligence of the times
was by having meetings of this kind, where they had
the opportunity of detailing their experience and their
opinions, and which, if not founded on facto—grounded
on truths that tended to the national weal, would be at
once set at nought, and the propr under of them would
arrive at the conclusion, that whatever his judgment
might be, there was somewhat of imperfection in his
nature, which would be corrected by the wisdom of
those to whom he had the opportunity of communi-
cating his thoughts and judgments. He trusted they
would bear with him while he alluded to an observation
made by Mr. S. Tucker. lie WU not sorry that be did
not rise to propose the health of their chairman,
because he felt sure that his friend Mr. Tucker would
describe to them the worth of Mr. B. P. Gundry better
than he (Mr. Pope) could; for they often found that a
man felt more than his lips could express. (Hear,
hear.) They knew very well that agriculturiets, at this
moment, were not la so flourishing a position as,
perhaps., those were who were engaged in commerce and
manufactures. Under such circunutances it mast be
theirs to direct their attention to diseovering how they
could make their business as profitable as that of the
trader and manufacturer. Such meetings as these, he
believed, were very valuable to that end. He thanked
them all for their kindness. He felt the greatest at-
tachment to agriculture, and old though he might be
described—old, as he knew he was, he should continue
to use his humble abilities in promoting its advance-
ment. It was essential that new blood should be in-
troduced into the society, yet the old people were not
to step aside; they were to abide and give their ex-
perience to temper the !ingestions of the intelligence
of youth; thus they might be of some value. He
hoped that his brother agriculturists would turn their
attention towards making those improvements it was
necessary should be made, in order that they might
worthily fill the position in which they were pieced.
The Cnalintax then proposed • vote of thanks to
those gentlemen who had given lectures since the com-
mencement of the club :—Mr. J. U. P. Montagu, Mr.
W. Wallace Pyre, Mr. H. N. Cox, Mr. J. Pitfield, Mr.
W. Pdswood, Mr. S. Tucker, Ica, which was cordially
agreed to. Re then called upon Mr. W. ELBWOOD to
introduce for discussion the subject of

AILTMCIIS. GILOSIS.

Mr. EUSWOOD said : Under the head of "Artificial
Grasses," a countless number of plants would of coarse
epee, but I shell this evening confine my remarks to
Ihese most common to ne as being usually sown upon
oar oorn lands, and say but little of those on pasture
Undo In the infancy of society, and when population
Is thin and scattered, and lend is plentiful, the special
Cultivation of granninerus and other plants for the sus-
Natation of domestic animals, is unnecessary. The
number of these kept is in proportion to the wants of
the inhabitants, and the grassing lands of natural
pasture are sufficient for the purpose. If, for instance,
we look at Australia, we find an illustration of the
truth of this statements Millions of sheep and cattle
are there fed upon the boundless natural pastures, said
there is ample room for countless millions more. It
may, probably, be centuries ere the necessity of culti-
vating artificial grasses for their sheep and cattle may
arise, except in the vicinity of towns, for the support
of horses, kept for business purposes, and cows for
their milk. It is little more than two centuries ewe
England itself was in a somewhat similar position. At
that time, the entire population of England and
Wales did not amount to one quarter of what it
new is. The land was occupied, to • great extent, in
permanent pasture, consisting of parks, meadows sad
illisnsire commons the proportion of arable land
leg, by far, the smallest, and these were unenclosed,
and Most of them what were called "Lammas lands,"
which, as soon as the crops of corn were cleared off,
were stablest to the flocks of the different farmers of
the district or pariah, until the time when it was
necessary to prepare the land for sowing again. Sir
An Fitzherbert, one of the early writers on
mentions the cultivation of red clover,
"as pristised in the low countries and Italy," but not
in England, and, even so late as 1845 Sir Richard
Weston states that in the preceding year he saw • crop
' ef it cut three times in the course of the summer, near
Antwerp. Soon after this, the seeds of the great clover,
as it was then called,were advertised for sale, in London,
het now, this plant is too well-known by you all to
I seed any description from me. It would occupy too
l*nO of our time to follow the introduction of all
forage plants which are now so numerous.
Fbrbapa, amongst all the artifieial grasses, there is
scarcely one more valuable than the Wolin's'
pro:tense, or common red clover. Botanists Lay, and
many farmers believe, that there are two distinct
varieties of this plant, viz., the one I have stated, end
the trifolinet prestesse preemie, or perennial red
clover, more commonly called, cow grass, or meal pass,
by agriculturist.; bet upon this point, I confess tUt
am very sceptical, and as a seedsman I never under-
take to sell anything of the kind, but I am open., to
conviction and should be very glad indeed to be eons
vinoed of existence of those two distinct kinds
of clover. I know well that clover sometimes
grows • good crop the second year • indeed,
yesterday es esterday saw the finest plant Of clover
that I have seen for the season, where
Need was grown from the second shore last year; but
this does not prove to my mind that the variety was
=perennial, for having passed the same field many times
mar, I observed the same plant was then very
regally., but I yesterday noticed that there was one
rather large potsth without a plant left, showing that
there must have be some other cause, besides the
variety of the plant, why it bad died out on that part
of the field. However, on this point, I hope some
gentlemen present will give us some information. As
to the cultivation of this plant, there are various
systems. Some persons always put a few pounds of red
Glover seed per sere with the other gram seeds, whilst
others make a point of sowing it alone, not oftener than
once is eight or nise yews, in order that the land may
not get what is termed clover sick." The quantity
of seed sown varies, also, from 121 b. to 204 h. per acre.
The trifoiiost repent, or white clover, ie a variety well-
known in this locality, and, indeed, in all agricultural
districts. It is not often sown alone, but I have seen
extraordinary Grope of it where it has been. It is
Invaluable where land is intended to remain down for
two or more years with the common green rye and
trefoil. I think the quantity of seed sown should never
be lea than bib. or 61b. per sere, even when sown
with other grasses. The trijolat4ll. hybridism, or shrike
clover. is, as the botanical name of it implies, a
hybrid plant, and until within • few years, lias been
but little known in this district; it is said to have beat/
first cultivated in Sweden, and is, perhaps, the bele
substitute for red cicver that we have. In 1863, I peer
a heavier crop of it than I ever grew of red clover,
but tbe wood shore was not equal to that of red. Ad
sown aJ.ons, about 10113. to 12113. of seed per 'Mee,
should be used; but, like the white Omit, U
is usually sown with the other grasses rife/inn
minus, or trefoil, is, perhaps, more commonly
grown than any of the former varieties, as it is
adapted to almost every kind of soil I now come to
the rye Farb; which are generally distinguished in
this locality, under three dleturit kinds, viz. the white
rye, the green or Devon rye, and the Italian rye. The
former one is said to be an early kind of annual rye.
lb. IOU"' P0V1",49 or Devon rye, is the most common
in this district, and where land is sows doyen for two or
more, yens, is, perhaps, the best to be sown. The
{aims italicista, or Italian rye, is, doubtless, the most
=' Sive and by far the must valuable of the three
and indeed, I believe, myself, they are enamel,
mooed to the red clover. I 'mow duo other kind of
eadrited pan that will produce the extraordinary
AMOS, in one year, that the Italian rye will. Some
sass
'ay they are prepered to prove that the wonderful
\of 70 tons per acre can be grown in one year by
• solution of guano two or three times during
seinaar, after the different mowing', and as it
egatelas, wording to analysie, upwards of 12 per cent.
of beat-producing principles, such as starch, gum,
sugar, ire. it must be very valuable indeed as an
article of ?cod for sheep, cattle, and horses; and lam
certainly much surprised to find that so little of it is
used by farmers in this neighbourhood. I have seen,
within the last day or two, • piece of Italian rye, being
fed off by sheep • second Smoothies the end of February,
and that was not mown until last September. The
quantity of seed required per acre is about a cwt., or
rather over three bootie's. As to the time of sowing
Italian rye, and, indeed, all the grasses to which I have
yet alluded, perhaps, by far, the most common is the
spring, either with wheat, barley, oats, or flax; but I
know that some believe Italian rye to be h
sown in autumn, after the oorn is
and over that, it comes to feed earlier in
ag, then if sown the spring -
am not of that opinion my...
-e the reason why it sometimes may be
,iiix from the foot that when aown Llk the i
it is like many other seeds fed so late in the,
Of the year that it does not oome on so soon, whe
If sown In the autumn, we never think of stockin
all until the gyring. Many farmers say that it r
couch; nothing, horny notion, can be more st).
to -- sua th,- sot
_ .
,rows
chalky

q invaluable

suP9O,

to 40 tons per acre; but with this, as well as other
grasses, I think it very mistaken economy to now too
little seed. As to the mode of preparing land for
Trk/o/ains, it varies much; but which is best, whether
to plough after the corn is off, or merely to wavily, I
am not prepared to say positivtly ; this will I hope be
ascertained by the discussion which will follow, and if
any useful information is obtained thereby or any
individual present is benefited, it will be exceedingly
gratifying to your humble servant who has ventured to
introduce the subject.
Mr. U. S. Mucci said that as regarded the common
red clover, be thought there was without doubt two
distinct varieties of it—one annual and the other per-
ennial. They were distinguishable thus—one was
hollow like a straw, and the other was solid. He bad
tried the Italian rye gr.'s three or four different
seasons, and found that the best time for sowing was in
the month of September or October, after Sax, or what
they called a broken up old ley where grass had gone
oat—ploughing it and sowing Italian rye grass. He
had tried it with barley and wheat, but he found
the best time for sowing it was in the autumn.
lie sewed one of Mr. Elswood's two cwt. bass with
corn last year, and be Rowed a two cwt. bag after flax
in the autumn, and he found that the latter came to
feed sooner than the former. He fed that sown after
flax three times; the other had been fed but once. As
to Italian rye grass growing couch it was a farce. Two
or three yeers ago he laid down a piece of land for
pasture, and put in a few patches of Italian rye grass.
Now, that part was no luxuriant that it could be seen a
mile off, and there watts no appearance of couch.
Mr. S. TUCILCR said he was more disposed to concur
with Mr. Miller than with the lecturer as to the coin-
mon red clover. He thought that the two clovers Mr.
Elawood had described were of the same epeeists but
different varieties—one they familiarly called eow.grass,
and the other broad clover. The lecturer had eluded
amongst other things to lucerne. It occurred to him as
he was coming down to the meeting to go into a little
paddock near his house, and bring with him three or
four planta of lucerne. [These the speaker produced.
They were fine plants, considerably over a foot in
length.] He did not mean to say that every plant was
as long as those he produced, but he would venture to
say that they averaged a foot in length, and he hoped
in the course of another week—if the present growing
weather continued—to be able to out it. He
thought the longest stem was about 15 inches.
Last year he cut it five times—(hear, hear)—
the last matting was in October, and that was the most
useful, for than there was the greatest need for it. So
far as his knowledge went, there was no green plant
that produced suet' a great abundance and so luxuriant.
Of course it required hoeing—which he had just had
done—and occasional manuring.
Mr. Eiawoon : What manure do you use?
Mr. TUCKICR : A compost, and wood ashes such as!
can get. He proceeded to observe, that lucerne would
penetrate into the soil 4,5, or 6 feet, and that the root
could scarcely be out when it was well grounded. It
would stand for years, and he thought that the fact of
his cutting it five times whilst they could only get one
clop of clover showed it woes most useful green crop.
Mr. Er..swoon said a gentleman told him—he would
net mention his name because he had not authority to
do so—that he could grow at least 70 tons per acre per
annum of Italian rye grass in its green state.
Mr. S. TUCKER, in reply to the Chairman, said lucerne
was sown in drills about a foot apart, in order to admit
of hoeing.
Mr. R. TOCEZII said he had been in the habit of
growing Italian rye grass. He had got • small quantity
this year. Last year be had Italian rye and clover
mixed. He mowed it all three times, and hurdled half
twice. He cut for all his stock, over 20 horses, 12 fat
bullocks, and five bulls. As fast as he had cut it at one
end, it was ready to begin at the other. He sowed
16Iba of broad clover, and half a bushel of Italian rye
to the acre. The clover was sown by machine, and the
Italian rye by hand. He was persuaded there were two
sorts of red clover; the broad clover would stand for
one—and perhaps for two years, but it would be very
inferior the esoond year, and the cow grass would stand
for seven years. Italian rye green, he considered, might
be sown at any season, either in the spring or fall. fle
sowed some last spring, and never saw a vestige of it for
four months, but now he had got it higher than
his knees, and he had Italian rye and clover feeding off
now. The piece he had mown three times and hurdled
twice was almost ready to mow again.
Mr. J. POP, said he felt that there could scarcely be
any subject of more importance to them than that
introduced by Mx. Elswood. He then read extracts
bearing on the subject from the Rath and West of
England Society's journal, published in 1856, • letter
addressed to the Royal Agricultural Society by Mr. F.
H. Dickenson, who once represented West Somerset,
Ice. He then remarked that he considered Italian rye
grass very valuable because it was such a restorative to
sheep. He then spoke of the great pressure upon
farmers by reason of the past season, and remarked that
the question they had had to determine was, whether
they should lose their cattle or dip into their capital.
If they had shrunk from the latter, what would have
been the result? The fellrnoidger would have given
them a return in skins, and that would have been all
they would get for their sheep—in other words, they
would have had to re-purchase their stock. Bob the
outlay had been very great to maintain them; and,
when he estimated it at from £2 to £8 per week on
farms in Dorset during the past season, to keep what
stock in ordinary times the farm itself would have
maintained, he asked them how long was the farmer to
wait before he got a return for the outlay he had made
in purchasing extraneous food for the support of his
cattle? _ _

Mr. A. J. PITFIZLD remarked that the outlay had
been nearer £'2 • day than £2 a week.

Mr. Pope continued : Through a kind Providence
their heaviness had now passed away; they were
cheerful, seeing the state of vegitation at the present
time. But when were they to get a return for the late
outlay? They were no better off now than before, for
they had not got more stock than the farms were
calculated to support. For himself, he had shrunk from
buying hay. His ancestors had been farmers, and his
Sather always impressed or, him not to do as his grand-
father had done in respect to buying hay. He (the
speakers grandfather) was in the habit of going to
Beaminster every spring, and buying £2OO or 000
worth of hay. And what was the return? None, com-
pared with the outlay. Be (the speaker) had never
bought hay yet, because he oould not see any prospect
of a return. Circumstances were such last year that it
was a question with bim of humanity. He could not
allow Ins stook to starve. But, he asked them, if the
past season had not been a beautiful one? [Mr. 8..
Tucker: Not by any means.] He thought it had,
except as regarded the turnip crop. Brit the turnips
they had did not decay. [A member: There were none
to decay.] It was true that the wheat plant had been
rather thin, but the turnips were never of better
quality, or more " proofy," and never had done the
Animal so much good as they did last year. [Mr. B.
Tacker: And never were more scarce.] He admitted
AWL At one of their disemsions he ventured to say,
that mangel wurnel was a good substitute for water!
He thought so now. But he had never known mangel
to be of the value they were last year. He got 26 tons
to the acre, and ventured to compete for a prize at their
show, hut his neighbours (Messrs. Pitfield) grew 40 tons
per acre. His were of very good quality, and never
to before so valuable him as hH et year. e thought
Italian rye grass was worthy of the attention of every
agriculturist. It was such a restorative to sheep that
if they could on.* be got into a field of it, and had
stomachs to eat it, they would live. The summer
of 1864 was • dry one. With wheat at the
present price there could be no complaining in
their streets. With regard to commerce, the date
of tbe country was never better than at present.
The only exception to the general mimosa was that
farmers had not got that per oentage for their capital
which, perhaps, they had • right to expect. The late
Dr. Graves used to say • farmer should have such
resources in himself as to be independent of all
exigencies. He did not agree with the late doctor,
because they all knew that some seasons would beat
the most clever man. No one could have calculated on
the great consumption of hay in February and March,
and the falling off at the present time. It was now
most cheering to ride over a farm and see the animals
luxuriating where, a short time ago, they were bleating
and crying for food, and their owners had not got it to
give them. Mr. Elswood had introduced a most im-
portant subject. He never had his gram seeds sown so
bad before as be had last year. He put in the usual
quantity. They had now to compete with all the
world. It-was in vain to say they wield bare protec-
tion. The restrictions were all thrown away. He was
an old protectionist: still, he would be one of the last
that would reverse the policy of the present day. They
must receive and apply the suggestions and improve-
ments which the human mind and science revealed in
order to keep their place in the nation. He looked
forward to the time when agriculturists should partici-
pate in the proeperty which manufacturers and com-
mercial men were now enjoying.
Mr. 8.. TUCKER demurred to the statement of Mr.
Pope that the past season was • hoe one with their
ordinary stock of food. The difficulty was that they
could not get the ordinary amount of food. There
were thousands of sores sown to turnips and
swedes that never Wile up. Be pet his in
remarkably well as he considered, and with • fair
amount of artificial and farm-yard manure, but not a
plant could he get. As to tieing prepared for all emer-
gencies, that they could not be till they could get aeeds
to snit all moons.
Mr. &roes said that as a poor tenant he reined in
faith that when the landlords saw the position they
were in they would wine to their help.
Mr. S. T. 1101111,, at the request of Mr. Pope, then
read a paragraph in the Dorset Calmly .Expreas written
by W. J. P., on Agricultural Education and the County
School.
Mr. H. N. Col said he thought that bad nothing to
do with the subject before them, otherwise, he should
have been happy to make some remarks on W. J. P.'s
observations. At a previous 'nesting of this club, he
introduced the subject of "The impertames of *donee lit
connection with agriculture," and the remarks of
J. P. carried out the views he -, though tinfortu-
from the mark
ic of the private
to attack
. only °bean
il eulogising the
speak of any
ined that the
a sons la the
such _ diff
U 1 elassiod

held,

"ittiT

seemed

omid

he,
80111 t.
and

lonia, basso:egg asorsiary ~.
observed, hod dose his duty to the aye, even
hotter than if he hadhisit Jere id for it.
Mr. Unpin . Be thought there eras
'every greageelsof , ideiety's donA- 4ug,_partienlarly
ma% had mita IPteilenst at it. 'l,O proposed
" The health at Hr. Toby," of —.a...airing
that when be (Mr. Tobg) lies" lb-
"nibs( la to ,sesksty but to
reticle in that neighbeashow& map sossoos•cossioeraille
quantity of loan at Hoessioolgr,, baisitoeld yiat
_gm
down to aCI sabsoritittea, sat be illiv 440 Yr. Toby
- would wen to IL He (Mr. Toby) bad an estate, apd
If his fanning was equal to his abilities in other
- his lisps en the inthjeet were worthy r
a. Hs (Mr. Loso4 knew a:Midget
feel sonidost is proposing his Mel* to
of She right -