The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-02-28 00:00:00

Corrtzp out rr cc.
DORCHESTER FARMERS' CLUB.

To the Editor.
Is with great reructance that I take up my
yen in the name of o introverse, but Mr. Grantley
Berkeley's remaiks on the Game Preservation cliscuseion
at the Dorchester Farmers' Club meeting compels me,
forms own sake, as well as that of them gentlemen
with whom I have the pleasure to be s.ssoolated, but
more especially for the sake of the subject itself, to
trouble you with a few lines.
I have this particular objection to personal oontro
versy, that it is often resorted to by an opponent as a
trick to divert the point of geed argument; and whether
or not that he is wilful in intention it certainly often
has that effect. And therefore I an not careful to
notice the personal criticisms which the debate, or that
part lit which fell to my share, has evoked front the
honourable gentleman, eacept so far as to continue the
insinuation of Allister motives in advancing the dis-
cussion, and to deny that any attack. was made or con•
teroplated on any individual or class of persons • for
Mr. Berkeley speaks of the discussion "as attack on
the landlords ;" and again he says, "Ii struck mo that
a controversy of this kind, provoked just at this time,
when landlords and tenants should pull together to
obtain the great boon of the repeal of the malt-tax,
must have been inculcated by souse foe to the farmer,
wale wished to sow dissensim, where unity alone should
prevail." Those who make imputations of underhand
znotives should examine their own breasts to discover
whence such ideas arise. lu zealous effort for the
repeal of the malt-tax, the character of thme gentle-
men Who took part in the discussion is known to all
around them. ludeed the praise or the blame (which-
ever it may be esteemed) of originating the present
agitation is claimed by the club. But whilst the subject
f anas preservation was laid fairly open and discussed,
we could not elect ignorance that it might prove dis-
tasteful to DORM inveterate preservers, nor could we,
if we wished it, prevent the painful pinch of the cap
when it fitted tightly. As to its interference with the
relationship of landlord and tenant, in regard to their
co-operation on the malt-tax question. I will venture to
say it never crossed the mind of any member of the
club, nor do I believe it would (except in extreme oases)
disturb that relationship. There is too much good seme
and honourable feeling on both sides to fear such a
result. On the Berkeley estates, with such an excellent
understanding as the honourable gentleman describes,
he has no cause to fear the effect.
What he says of his mediation in favour of the
tenants on game farms is highly creditable to him. And
on the whole, his letter, ooming from SUCkI a quarter,
would do to read side by side with the discussion, as
confirmatory of the views therein advanced, although
I for one am content that it should Mend alone before
the public' on its own merite.
At any rate the evidence adduced by him goes to ,
prove the oorrectness of the statement, that, in the
matter of rabbits, neither game preservers nor keepers
are to be trusted. The public will judge whether his
defence of the latter is very triumphant. They sill
judge whether the instances he has given are much in
favour of their case, and Also, whether the testimony
of pine preservers Is to beitaken in preference to genii,.
men who are both landed proprietors and practical
farmers.
But here I would take occasion to express my regret,
If what was said at the meeting about keepers might
have been construed as a condemnation of the whole of
the elan, it bits not been my lot to meet with so many
exemplary characters as the honourable gentleman;
but I have known, and do now know, a few honest and
trustworthy fellows amongst them.
I cannot refrain, however, from expressing my Nur-
pries at one doctrine propounded by Mr. Berkeley. As
• practical farmer of FODIS 30 years' standing, I have
kept my eyes and ears open to all the serious devices
and discoveries made for fertilizing the land, but never
till MAI have I beard that rabbit's excrement was
worthy to be considered as an excellent manure. I '
could show him some spots on which the rabbits have
had too much their own way—on which, by any process
of tillage, I have bees unable to grow a crop that was
worth (rutting or feeding. And if be can invent any
practical method by which rabbit's manure can be profit-
ably utilized, he will, without doubt, confer a great
benefit on mankind, and I think, greatly astonish the
fulmar of England.
I ma, Sir,
Yours faithfully,
G. J. WOOD.
P.S.—I am Informed your correspondent has both
the disposition and the leisure to prolong s controversy
of this kind. Now as I have neither of these qualifica-
tions, I must beg to decline any further correspondence
.on the subject.