The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1870-08-02 00:00:00

10orset entnitg fxprts.

TUESDAY. AUGUST 2, 1870.

DORCHETCRR AGRICULTUR&L SOCIETY.

For between 30 and 40 years tilts society has lived
and llourished. During that time neatly £2,000 have
been distributed in pris,a amoesst the labourers of the
district. sod we Gamut but believe these reward. bay*
bad good effects—they have shoes the labourers that
the gentry and farmers take an interest in them beyond
what they may do is mere machines, and vrialt to en.
courage them to become skilful end honest, which are
the first steps in improving their position in life ; and
on the Other hand these prises have *endued to that
proper pride in the labourers which Wu them out of
the dull dreary rut of oommon life, and promotes in
them a healthy spirit of emulation. The snte.tactial
reward% given are useful almost beyond our coniorehen.
lion, while the proud position prier winning secures to
them, and the hero-worship they command in their
various villages as belt Men, is most pleasant and
salutary.
In the course of PATS changes have been made in the
programme of the society, but it speaks well for the
manayers of it thet whenever any alterstion ha* been
made it has always been in the nay of increuing the
prises for labourers. Throughout the active year of the
agriculturist, we have competitions of skill going on
amongst those employed on the various farms in the
district. Trent is ploughing, and shepherding, and
mowing, and sheep shearing, and turnip hoeing, and
thatching, while long servitude, which is equally I
creditable to muter and man, is also rewarded. And
so it is, that the whoksome stimulus which our arti-
sans in towns get from constant jostling one ageing'
the other in the struggle for work and wages, our
agricultural labourers--more happy --have applied to
them more gently and agreeably by the motion of such
societies as this. May it long continue to do this good
work, till an unskilled labourer is as much • cause for
wonderment es an ichthyosaurus I
But Dorset is not the only county in the world, and
the ferment themselves most not stand still, so we have
prizes for the best stook, and the results in this depart.
went have been highly grati'ying. At the present time
• chap of some kind is mooted—in which direction
does not plainly appear, but to our thinking what is
required is • well-devised scheme of handicapping, In
order that the various competitors might start on more
equal terms than is now the case; for who can hope
to enter Devon. easiest Mr. J. A. Smith, whose herd
has been improved through a long coarse of years? and
in sheep what shall stand against the Improved Leanne
shire Downs of Mr. T. H. Saunders, or the best
of Mr. I. C. Foota's flock? Per half • century
these gentlemen have beep improving, and a good
herd or flock cannot be made in • year • besides, if it
be true, as Mr. Saunders says, that It °Oats £2O to win
• £5 plate, some of us may not be able to afford the
luxury of a prise. The inequality of the competitors
Is man test, and what seems to be required is a system
of handicapping, which, while ensearaging the general
body of exhibitor,, should not damp the enterprise of
our noted breeders. That is • little problem which
we commend to the excellent hon. secretary of the
society and its committee.
The society's exhibition for this year took plasm on
Saturday last., in the Fairfield. There was not so large
• quantity of stock shown as in some former years, the
great scarcity of keep rendering animals generally in
but poor condition for exhibition; yet some of the sheep
looked as though they had been "in clover" all their
&es, although it's not at all likely they had, for • good
patch this season is • rarity t and with, perhaps, one
exception, there wee not an indifferent lot of stook in
the ground.. _ _

--irO;:ii-e-Plate offered by the Hon.W. H. B. Portman,
M.P., for the best bull, there were three competitors—
Mr. J. Pitfield, of Symondsbury, was the winner, with
a handsome Devon, "Triumph." which won a fir-t prise
at the Royal Show at Leicester; highly commended
was a Devon sent by Mr. J. A. Smith, of Bratlferd—
P. was the animal that wits the res-rve number in the
yearling clue at the Oxford Royal ithow ; and thenther
bull was a large Hertford of eonsiderable ineritexhibited
by Mr. J. W. James, of klappnwder. In the clam for
pure•bred Devito Leiters, Mr. J. A. Smith ploatd two
beautifel beasts, prize winners at our great shows, and
a third useful heifer, an i easily took Lord Poltlmore's
plate. Showing againet him was Mr. J. Chick, with •
' very fair trio. The prise for dairy oows, open to all
herds„ only brought out Iwo competitors —Mr. J. A.
Smith and Mr. G. W. Homer. Here again the result
wee not doubtful, for from the celebrated Bradford
Peverell herd wet br.,ught one animal that was placed
first at Leicester, a second that was the reserve number
in.its class at Oxford, and a third well.nigh as good ; so
it was no discredit to Mr. Homer's stock to be eetiond
to them. Is the two last-mentioned classes Mr. J. Pit-
field would have been an exhibitor, but the foot-and-
mouth disease prevails in West Dorset, and he fu iged
it prudent to keep his dairy stook at home. Dr. Bassett
Hawkins's plate for three heifers, any breed excepting
Devon., brought out a capital trio of cross-breds
from Mr. W. Paull's, which were awarded the prize,
and a highly-creditable lot of Herefords exhibited by
Mr. W. Mayo, and one of the latter was highly com-
mended.

Bet the greatest interest was shown in the shzep
classes, for the exhibitors inoluded Mr. J. C. rooks and
Mr. T. H. Saunders,between whose stock there is always
a good competition, with our now distinguished
breeder, Mr. H. Mayo,and other excellent flock masters,
Mr. G. W. Bonier, Mr. Hull, and others. For yearling
South Down rains, there were five entries, the corn.
petitors being Mr. J. J. Farquharson, sod Mr. James
Harding. The judges highly commended ell the snimals
exhibited, and the prize went to the "old seuir.."
Foe old ewee Mr. J. Harding showed a flee lot of 20,
and, although there was no competition, the judges
consislered them so meritorious as to deserve the prize,
and accordingly awarded it: In the two-tooth clue,
the best kunired stoat ewes, there was a struggle for
the Lord Rivers's plate, between Mr. G. W. Homer and
Mr. J. Fooks, and the former was it, thereby securing
• great honour, for Mr. Fooka's sheep are storeys good.
Mr. Fooks's hundred got high comMendatioo. In
this class Mr. T. Lock, of Kingston, showed some
very tidy sheep, but the season has told greatly
against them. With • fine pen of 90 Hemet horned old
ewes, Mr. Gerard Sturt's plate was carried off by
Mr. W. S. Hull, of Drum. His flock has been greatly
improved by strains from the Hype flock, and to doubt
we shall hear more about them by and bye. Against
bim exhibited Mr. J. Chick. ml his ewes were com-
mended. In the yearling clue Mr. Manfield was the
only exhibitor, so Mr. Middleton's plate was not
awarded. Fey two-tooth Dorset ewes Mr. H. Mayo was
awarded Mr. Floyer's plate • the competing lot was
sent by Mr. Menfield. Cofooel Shirt's prise for 20
shorkwoolled two-teeth ewes, was competed for by Mr.
J. Foots and Mr. T. R. Saunders, anti each of these
gentlemen sent a wore of very fine sheep in good con.
dr.ion. The judges glee the prize to Mr. Foote. and
highly commended Mr. Saunders For the full•mouthed
ewes' plate, offered by Mr. Dishy, Mr. T. H. Bounders
sent some exceedingly good sheep; there was nothing
penned against them, but the judges thought them so
superior as well to merit the prize, and awarded it
aecordingly.
The show of horses was small. There were two cart
stallions, and Mr. I. Bryiner's £lO was awarded to a
Clydesdale hams shown by Mr. T. Kellaway, of
Stratton. The other shown was Mr. D. Shepherd's
" Farmer's Glee'," whose continuous hard wort has
told against his good appearance. In the clue for
hackney colts or fillies there were font entries. Mr.
L. Groves took the prize with a slight built but pretty
iron grey. Mr. R. (Jeep had a very useful mare,
which was highly isernmsoded. Mr. 0. W. Homer and
Mr. W. Paull also exhibit,l. For the cart colt prise,
only Mr. G. Mitchell and Mr. J. A. Smith competed,
and the former won. . _ . .

There were some capital pip shown, Mr. W.
llanfleld took Lord Digbyl elate with a trio of black
sows haring amongst them 23 tittle ones. Mr. Heber
Geordge, of Written, wu highly commended. The
other ethibiters were Mr. J. A. Smith and Mr. R.
White

As esti* stook there were some very handsome sheen
shown; Mr. T. H. Saunders's wethers and Mr. J.
Fook'r ram lambs being espeeially. good.
The judges were—for horses, cattle, and Pigs, Mr.
J. Card, Norton Ferris, Kilmitigton, Bath, ant Mr. J.
8 Caddy, Bradford, Sherborne ; and for sheep. Mr. (1.
Keynes, Spettishury, and Mr. W. Lima, It at Coker.
The dinner took place at the Antelope Hotel, when
there was II barge company. Genera; Sir J. mioheji
(the president for tbe year) orempied thaohairopupported
on the right by the Rev. E. W. Pears, M.A. (Rector of
Dorchester St. Peter'.), Sir Molynenx Hyde Nepean.
Bart., J. F. Hodges, Esq. (Mayor of Dorchester), and It.
if. Ellot. It.q.,and on the left by J. FloyerEe.,MrP., J.
Brytrer, E.g., and Captain Augustus Foster. George
Andrew.. Eaq., the hon. see, occupied the vice-chair.
lhe general company ineleded—Mr. G. W. Homer,
Athelhampton ; Mr. T. H. Saunders, Wateroombe ; Mr.
G• Symonds, Monokton ; Mr. J. Rowe, Dorchester; Mr.
W. Hull, Druee; Mr. T. S. Him, Dorchester; Mc. T.
Chapman Saunders, Watercombe; Mr. J. A. Smith,
Bradford Peverell ; Mr. J. T. Ensor, Dorchester; Mr.
J. S. Caddy, Sherborne ; Mr. W. lAciaa, East Coker;
Mr. El loth, Weymouth; Mr. 0. Saunders, Forston ;
Mr. J. Saunders, Murton ; Mr. T. A. Homer,Tolpuddle;
Mr. W. C. Lacey. Wareham; Kr. T. Cos, Hyde; Mr.
Randall, Maiden Newton; Mr. R. Smith. Stafford; Mr.
It. Hill, Piddlehinton; Mr. H. Mayo, Coker's From.;
Mr. if. liteunton. West Knighton; Mr. E. Whittle.
Toiler ; Mr. C. Graham; Mr. R. Genge, Waterson : Mr.
J. Homer, Martinstown ; Ur. J. C. Fooks,Crrne Abbas;
Mr. J. Lovelace, Piddlebinton; Mr. H. Pope, Batton
Points; Mr. Down., Waterson ; Mr. Harding, jun.,
Waterson ; Mr. & Harding.Stinsfard ; Mr. Tuck, Dew.
lib; Mr. T. Lock, Kingston; Mr. J. Mayo, Broadway;
Mr. W. Paull, Piddletown ; Mr. W. Mayo, Friar
Waddou ; Mr. R. Damon, Forclington ; Mr. J.
Galpiri, Dorchester; Mr. It. Damen, Dorchester; Mr.
J. Chick, Compton; Mr. H. Foote.. Whitachureh ;
Mr. J. Keynes, Spettisbury ; Mr. J. Caine., Burton;
Mr. T. Samson, Kingaton ; Mr. J. A. Pope, Sutton
Points; Mr. J. Card (Wilts), Mr. J. Groves, Wry.
mouth; Mr. L Groves, Bingbant's Melcombe ; Mr. J.
W. James, Mappowder ; Mr. C. Kent, Dewlish,
The TOOIII was decorated with Dimly designed mottoes.
At the upper end of the room was "Health and
happiness to General Sir J. Michel," and, on either
side, "Peace and Plenty" and "Love and Unity." The
side walls displayed the following sentiments—" God
speed the plough," "Queen and Constitution,"
" Honest and industrious labour," "Boone. to agri-
culture," and

" Sneed. to the hoof and the horn,
Suecopeto the Bock sod the fleece,
Sumo. to the grower. of corn,
With the bleseing* of plenty and peace."
At the lower end of the room was the aspiration,
prosperity to Dorchester Agricultural Society." An
ercellent dinner was provpled by Mr. and Ifra Sly.
Grace was said by the Hey. E. W. Pears.
After dinner dessert was placed on the table.
The suceessful labourers, who had dined in another
apartment, then entered the room, and were supplied
with. gl.ss of bear ~ch.
Thai PftiISIDEST then gave " The health of Her
Majesty the (44060, God bless her!" The toast was
drunk with great euthusiaism, Sir John leading the
cheering.
The MON. Siongrany then read out the list of
labourers prises for long servitude, good conduct, lamb
rearing, thatching, mowing, ploughing, sheep shearing,
nod turnip hoeing. The follow* we have ant Wore
publiabeJ

airl. ASK.
To the labourer in husbandry, 'errant of a member or hie
widow, who thall have brought up and maintained the greatest
number /4 legittroata children with the least propertlon
Of
miaroehial relief, and who ha. retained • good character, £2,
servant In Mr. J. A Smith, Bradford
Children wed no relief except while in hospl.l7 orl weeks
To the labour.* In hushat,dry, 'errant to • member or his
widow, woo .hall have worked the greatest nunibet of years In
onvessidon upon the .11100 farm, or with the ssme neuter. sdeb
number .4 years to be thoputed from the time su h labourer
attained the are of In, and who hes retained A g sel chsrmeter,
J tine- Cosh, servant to Mr. James omee, Came, 58 yvara
8 m ntho 1.1%1 4 weekk
To the labourer in husbander, not exceeding 50 years of age,
ler/ ant of a member or his widow, who oh .11 have worked upon
the more farm, or with the varne master or mistrees, the greatest
number of years in succession, such number of years to be
computed from the time such labourer attained the age 01 10,
and who has retained • good thwacter, IL flenry Short.
arrant to Mr. John Chick, Compton Valence:Xs years° months.
To the labourer In husbAndry, not exceeding 55 year. of age,
fervent of a member er $l. eidow, who 411111 have workod the
greataa number !if years in succession upon the most farm, Or
wltil the woe master or tinstre., such number of years to be
computed from the time ouch labourer attained the age of 16,
and who h. rei Woad • geti char. tcter, £2, Jonathan Chain*,
servant to Mr. W. Manfield Dorchester. 16 years
To the man.servasit of a member or his widow, who has lived
the greate-t number of year.. In succession in one service, with
a good character, £2, John Gillingham, In the service of the
eira,,,,oe. of the late Mr. Henry Hawkins 19 years.
To the n.amservant, not exceeding 90 years of age, of a
member or his widow, who has lived the greatest tiumbe'r
year. In succession In one nervier, with a goed chattier, £2.
HeorLeoxens, amoral to Mr. T. Walden. came. 9 year.
a
To the worieneerrant of a member or his widow, who hu
lived the greatest number of year. in succession In one err-
'ice, with a good character, /2, Fanny Burt, smut to Mr. J.
D. Homer, Marlinstown, 6 year. 2 months
To the woman-servant, not exceeding 30 years of cge. of a
member or his widow, who has lived the grea. we number of
year. In succcesion in one service, with a good character, £2.
Selina Paine, servant to Mr. (I. Kliiu, Hurngate, Winfrith,
7 years 1 month 10 days.
To the woman (married or single), tenant el a member or
his widow, who shall have worked the greatest number of
years In onceesdon upon the Name farm, or with the same
master or mistress, such number of raw to he ~011111111.00 front
the time ouch woman attained the age of 16„ who has sueudned
a good character, and if married has brought up her children
In a romeetable manner, and has been ready at all timm to go
out to work when called on so to do, £2, Elisabeth Priestly,
servant to Mr John Mayo, Toipuddle, 40 years, 4 children.
To the woman (married or single) out exceeding TA years of
age servant of • member or his widow, who shall have worked
the greatest number of years in suceession upon the MIDO
farm, or with the same muter or mistress etch nundsr 01
years of years to be computed from the time such woman
attained the age of 16, who hat during that time sustained a
g ed char 'tier, and if married has brought up her children in
a respectable manner, and has been ready at all times to go out
to work when celled on so to do, £2, Elizabeth /Maddock, aer-
vant to Mr. J. J. Farquharson, 28 years, 8 childreu, and no
REALXO.

LAMB

To the shepherd whosTutil tier tn•-greatest" number."( lambs
in proportion to the number of ewes put to the ram. (with
the least loste of elves between putting in the ram to the 25th
May, the lees of one ewe to be equal to the loss of two lambs),
out of an odsblished Down flock of 6-teeth, 4-teeth, and
9-teeth, consisting of not Imo than 600, which shall hare been
IlOng on the 25th May, 1870, or sold before that time to a
butcher, £2, Richard Slade, shepherd to Mr. J. C. Fooks,
Ceres Abbss, 861 ewes, 19 lost, 953 lambi mewed, 10 gold to
butcher.

Tothe nhepherd who shall rear thegreatest number of iamb.,
in proportion to the number of ewm put to the ram (with the
least loan of ewes between putting in the ram to the 25th May,
the low of one ewe to he equal to the loan of two lam'.) out of
an established Down Flock of 6-teeth, 4-teeth, and 2-teeth, con•
sintins of not leen than 300, which shall have been living on
the 25th May, 1870, or nold before teat time to • butcher, .22,
William Richards, shepherd to Mr. T. Lock, Kingston, 443
ewes, aewes bet, 446 6mbm,

To the allepherd who shall rear the greeted number of
lambs, in proportion to the number of ewes put to the ram
(with the lewd tom of ewes between putting in the ram to the
2ith Hay, the loss of one ewe to be equal to the loan of two
lamtel,) out of an eatiablished Horn dock of 0-teeth, 4-teeth, and
2-teeth, consisting of not les• than 600, which shall have been
tiring on the 25th May, 1670, or sold before that time to •
butcher, £2, John Bailey, shepherd to Mr. J. A. Smith, Brad-
ford Peverell, 713 ewes, 15 lust, 647 reared, 140 sold to
butcher.

To the shepherd who shall rear the greatest number of lamas,
in iroprelon to the number of roses put to the ram (with the
least lam of ewer between putting in the ram to the 25th May,
the los. of one ewe to be equal to the lam of two inrnh, out
In established Horn flock of 0-teeth, 4-teeth, and 2-teeth. eon.
misting of not less than 900, which 4,,j, bee, been living on
the 2.th May, 107 or sold 'oetore that time to a butcher, ft
Thome. Way, shepheni to Mr. T. Chick, Stratton, LW ewer, 7
lost, WI ',MIA, 271 sold to butcher.