The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1871-01-17 00:00:00

WINFIITH FiRMERS' CLUB.

The Winfrith Flirmers' Club is the oldest is Dorset,
for its operations I.IVO been c admitted for about thirty
years, and ul irins that lengthened period the consi-
deration of prsetwl questions has been its character.
atilt. 'rho resuk is apparent. Agriculture has won-
derfully ituru,sul in the distriot, modern mechanical
. . . .

appliances neing freely used ; so that the society hu
the hearty support et the landowners, while towering
the oe ooeratiou.ef the tenant farmers. The annual
. .•

dinner. Iwo, held last Thursday, sod, so unlike the

general run of agricultural (lingers nine-a-days, topic's
peculiarly intereiting W farmers were the foundation
of the speeclus ; consequently, everybody bad a word
to say, and tee tune pa/toed in so agreeable • manner

that When four hours .had been pissed, nobody yawned,
everybody was "fresh as a daisy, and it could not
but be felt that the meeting had promoted the objects
of the society. Tee President (Ur. J. J. Bates) emu.
. . . . .

pied the chair, Mr. T. Cbap.mem Saunders .(Vioe.
Presideet) was /II his place, the Secretary (Kr. R.
Randall) was there, gratified Loses *good meeting, and
. . .

the camp' say istelerie-d—ls. J. Weld,- Fay. (Lui-liorth
Castle), J. H. Co,Watt, lieq. (Rempeione), Ffeelaud
FEliter, E q. (W.rehmej, J. W. Yike.Esq. (Wareham),
Mr. H. Damen (I)uroheste!), 9r. W. C. Ley (Were-
.. . . .

haw), Kr Longman (Fossil). (Yr. Masters (doulhdown),
Mr T. Bascombe (Tat Moll Mr T. Kendall (Wintrith)
Mr J. T. Kuser, Mr ill: Taylor (Dorchester), Mr W. •
Braden (Coombe Keynes), Mr Dorey (West Lul worth),
Mr G. Ellis (Burngsta), Mr T. Lilliugton (Winfrith),
Mr W. Longman (Bellinish), Mr Lucas (Bindon), Mr
W. Chick (Own. kloigne). Mr H. White (Burton), Mr
C. Besant (Hire Regis), Mr G Bsale (Werehazi,gMr
W. Macke (ChalJon), Mr Kent (Devilish). Mr 'l'.
Dowden (Hoke), Mr T. H. Saunders (Wateroombe), lie.
Hoot May, of the Black Bear inn, provided a first-rate
dinner. Of this the company having partaken, the
cluthrwas removed, and the usual hooding began.
After the loysl toasts, the PRIMMEST gave the
army, navy, and volunteeis. He urged the neee,sity
of our being M a state of prepareduesi for all ercutu.ili-
ties, and especially that our volunteer, of all clime
should be established on a permanent footing under a
sound system. He believed there was plenty of good
fighting material amongst the " shopkepers' of the
, coantry,although we would much rather be at irk than
lat ear- Twelvemonths ago people did not anticipate
the changes which have occurred in the position of two
great nations ; therefore, in the current year, we might
be called on to perform duties of which now we had
little cognisance. He thought that by due recogni-
tion and support of the volun tear forces. our effective
power might be considersbly increased Without a
correeponuing augmentation of espenee. Tuis, he
considered, was no of the important matters fur the
consideration of the legislature at the present Limo ;
and be believed that suitable measures on the subject
would meet the approbation of all classes of Euglish-
men at the present time. Lovinq peace, as they did,
they would be ready to make sacrifices to be prepared
for war, in the hope that thus might peace be main-
tained. He thought they were deeply indebted to
those who had joined the volunteer forms, and he
proposed tbe good health of them all—inilitia,yeomanry,
artillery and rifle volunteera—(applause.)
Corporal CHICK regretted that the absence of Cspt.
Flirter made the duty of responding devolve upon him. :
He was afraid we wire not at present in the strung
position we ought to be, from the way in which we
were snubbed by foreign powers, and hoped a better
state of things would soon be brought about. The
volunteers required better organisation, for it Gould out
be expected that the officers should know field duty
under the present system. It was too bad that so
many young men did aot belong to any volunteer foree,
and he thought
either serve or pay a fine.
Privets BILL; of Wareham, also responded,speaking
hopefully of the volunteer forces.
Mr. IL G. RANDALL. of the Yeomanry. replyinr on
their behalf, said that should occasion arise for their
services, they would do their duty as men and English-
men.
Mr. Prig proposed the "Lord Lieutenant and the
Magistrates" coupled with the name of Mr. Calcraft
and Mr Weld. . . . . .

Mr CALCearr, returning thanks, said that the Lord- '
Lieutenant was well•known throughout the civilised
world, yet for one remon or another ho was nut so
personmly known in this county as he (11r Calcreft)
wished was thecae'. for he believed if Lord Shaftesbury
were better known he would be better liked. The
sayings and doings of the magistrates were recorded in •
the ordinary souroas of information, and thus it could '
be judged whether they acted fairly by their neigh-
bouts and fulfilled the duties the law cast upon them •
as between man and man. With regard to the mans-
gement of the finance.' of the minty, he had for years
been of opinion that it would be a good change for
ratepayers not on the commission of the peace to take
part, although he was not very sanguine that they
would effect any great economy. •
Mr. LLCZY proposed the health of the Lord of the
Kaner—(applawie)—inentioning the interest he takes
in this club, end also in the Wareham and Purbeck
Labourers' Friend Society.
Mr. WILD said ha felt great interest in this club, and
he thought that if Yr. Calcraft and many others could
come far greater distances than he had to attend he
should be remiss in his duty in the position in which
he was placed if he failed to be present, and did not
endeavour by all the MINIM in his power, to promote
the prosperity of the sockety—(applause). He gathered
from all be heard that his club IVY prospering, and he
sincerely trusted that for many years to some they
might continue their efforts for the improvement of
agrioulture. These were critical times, and it was
requisite they should stand together in the support of
such societies, in order that by the combination of
science end practice they might improve the cultiva•
tiou of the land to the utmost of their power. his was
sorry they were deprived of the emapany of two or
three who had often assembled there—Mr. FuTer,
well-known to than all, and interested in everything
affecting the county end in agriculture; Mr. Spooder,
from whose ability and experie ice in agriculture and
science, they derived much information; and others.
Hut he was glad there wee proseut one gentleman,
whom they were always glad to see there—Mr. Damen
—(hear, hear). If a meeting passed without hie (Mr.
Damen's) attendance, he should think some Mdfithill lose
had been sustained; and he was very glad to see him
there, and hoped they would here the advantage of
hearing him upon those subjects be was so well
informed upon, and which email be of groat natio them
ma agriculturists, and concerned in the great intermits
with which it was connected. He (Mr. Weld)
hail lately had the pleasure of reading Kr. Damen',
tenure on the cultivation of flex, and hoped they
might now have &0020 remuks from him on that subject
although he did not wish to restrict him to that, for
every subject he (Mr. Damen) Washed he treated in an
able and interesting manner, and one calculated to
benefit all. Flax was certainly an important crop, and
be hoped they might take advantage of the hints Mr.
Damen had given them. He wished to munition one or
two other things. First, the value of IUITA. He had
lately put up a furs. pulping machine, and, as far as
they had observed, stook bled the pulped furze. and
did very well on ii; and he anticipated that in the
future, should they experience Mailer seasons to the
last, fuse would be extensively used in that way. In
the next phase, he would direct their attention to the
root crop. This year there had been a very marked
difference in the period when the root crop came to
matnrity, and he suggested that this had arisen in
consequenee of the different times of sowing. In
critical masons, the beet time for sowing was an Im-
portant matter, and he suggested this as • subject for
future discussion. In tonolusioe he thanked them for
drinking his health, and in return wished them all
happiness and prosperity—(applause),
The YLKE4Diai then read the awards of judges (Mr.
C. Kent and Ms. T. Dowden) of the root crops, as
follows
• liand.ouse .-Laret cup, given by J. H. Calen.at, Esq., Mr T.
Winfrith. Second ditto, £.3 10s., Mr Ellis, of Born-
gut.. Third ditto, At Mr T. Chapman :minders, of Water-
, combs.

Bessk-fire acres a MANGOLD, £1 10s., Capt. Fsrrer, Mugu'.
Nog two Wain of MANOoLD, LI, Mr W. C. Lacey, Wm:Gloom
Beet tcu norm of Sisson, ft 10s., Mr W. Chick, Oster
Bast lire litres of SWIDIN, fl 104., Capt. Ferrer.
Best 140 scree of Cosmos T0r...1m £1 10.., Mr W. Chick.

Mr. BAres added it wee especially gratifying, after
such a season, that Mr. Ca'craft had adiltd to the first
prise for the general root crop a handsome cup, for this
year the general root crop was of the greatest import-
ance.
lir. Caumarr proposed " Sumas to the Winfrith
Farmers' Club." He believed it waii the oldest in the
oonnty—(hear, hear); it had pursued its way steadily
and pleasantly to all the members, and had certainly
been beneficial to the neighbourhood. He saw around
him gentlemen who had belonged to the club from its
earliest days, and he was sure they would bear testi-
mony that, whether or not this ebb had occasioned it,
there had been, aontemporaneously with its growth, •
gradual improvement in the agriculture, and especially
in the green crops, of that neighbourhood—(hear, hear)
—and he could not help believing the club bad done
much to effect so desirable a change from the old state
of thinp—(applatme). The meetings of the club, at
which were disauseed practical questions, must tend to
benefit the members by the extension of knowledge, and
to promote good feeling amongst all who took part in
them. It also did good to those who read their pro-
imediop in the newspapers. So that the club was •
valuable organization to all engaged in agriculture, and
was worthy of their attendance. He also thought that
persons intimated in the general welfare of the neigh-
bourhood shin-d do the beat they could to forward the
objects of this club and of every kindred institution—
(applause). Although the absence of several they were
accustomed to see there was to be regretted, be was
pleased that tiny had a good attendance, notwithstand-
ing that apimltural prospects in various ways were
not very exhilarating at the present time. They had
had a most trying season and amid only use the
means their Hailed knowledge and the experience of
others afforded in meeting the difficulties which
beset them respecting their labourers and their
stock, and rosined likely to continue for several months
yet to come. Doing their duty to the best of their
ability aid pcwsr, in a right spirit, they might expect
• tolerably asseerdni issue. And
" Como whit will,l come what may;
Time and the hours run through the roughest day
With a .leficuest hay crop, and rimts which even where
they promised well were not so good at the bottom as
the lop Lid Wm to ups* *sir position was trying;