The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1878-01-29 00:00:00

-The Bench then allowed the ca•• to be withdrawn,
upon the defendant paying the meta, and giving the
required amenranoe.

DORCHESTER FARMERS' CLUB.
THI CULTIVATION OF LAND.

A meeting of the members of the Farmers' Club
wee held on Saturday evening in the large room of the
Antelope Hotel, when there were present—Mr. R.
Gauge (president), Mr. 11. Wood Homer (vice), Mr.
R. Dimon, Captain Hodges, Mr. T. Chapman
Saunders, Mr. Ranson, Mr. A. Pop*, Mr. Oakley
Saunders, Mr. H. W. Hawkins, Mr. Taylor, Mr.
Drood, and Mr. Pearce (assistant secretary).
The paper for the evening's discussion was read by
Mr. Cgarmas SAUNDERS, and was on

"Thu COLUVATION Or LAND."

The Interest which must naturally be attached to the
subject for discussion this evening, by agriculturists in
particular, induced me at your request to introduce it,
although I felt certain at the same time that many of our
members and others might have been elected who would
deal with it in a meaner more efficient than I can. I
hope the meeting to-night will accept my imperfect
endeavours and supply many points which f may have
overlooked in considering the question—" is any and
what change of system rendered desirable in the cultivs-
tion of land by 111•4011 of the increased cost of its manage-
ment" I propose to consider first, hay change derimble ;
and. eeroorgy if so, what reasonable change may be pro-
fitably and asivantagiously recommended. It cannot be
disputed that the experience of most occupiers of land
during the past few years has been somewhat unfavour
able as farm the profits of farming have been concerned.
The med.,e of the land, although Increased, has not
increased in proportion to meet the great and increasing
expenditure of money and charges of various kinds levied
on the land and largely borne by the occupiers, although
some slight difference of opinion may aria am to the
extent to which the owners of property do or do not share
In the prosperity or otherwise of agriculture in general.
Be that as It may the vat increasing population of this
country requires all and very much more food than at
present pro-Ince,' both in the shape of bread and meat,
And the time has arrived when the country and the
public may fairly demand that the interests of British
agriculture should bold their own, if possible, and be
not less than the interests of trade and man,-
fa▪
ctor.., e, which over • large number of years, and until
within • very short time, have run • course of great
prosperity—ln which also agriculture partook a mall
share- as it cannot be disputed that lathe course of years
the prosperity of one add, to the prosperity of the other
—need I say more on the combined and desired prosperity
of all claws of the community. I will only add we as
eeekoltoriet• eimply ask to be protected in our am
Interests as others in theirs; and politically that grill not
he the came until we have a representative minister of
eigiestiture, with a peeper staff attached to carry out what
is required. Seasons unfavourable will occur sometimes
—too dry or too wet, sthers too hot or too cold—beyond
human control. However, WWI of the worst effects of
them have been somewhat modified by improved drainage
of the land. It has been said by PON that if this country
mdse.:led tio wheat that we should get sufficient from
foreign countries to feed the population. That might be
so in the event of peace over the whole of Europe, but
the time might arrive when things may turn out different,
and we might be compelled, for • time at least, to depend
on ear own growth. But this is only one reason why
agriculturist, should receive some stimulus at the hands
of the stets. With regard to meat, we cannot expect
low vices in future for the best qualities of moat, as
were there a 'er supply than now even
more would probably be consume& and although wives
has been called in to aid the forgiver in ;swerving in a
fit state, and In sending over a large quantity of bee( and
mutton to very little has yet reached the
country districts or it likely to do no; still less, wffi it
affect the prios of the bettor qualities of meat at any
eerier,n of the lyear I pet, it ill possible that the inferior
kinds of meat may be slightly affected in val and in
fut•irlie rears indicate somewhat to us, whether as ers
g
or era, to give aid grater attention to keeping the
hest kinds of stock generally. It has been held, !towage,
by many good practical farmers, on facts based on close
calculation, that stock does not pay so much ea many
might anticipate ' • It Me been said by some that stock
kept on artificial food is no kept at • loss, and that this
profits are only indirectly realised from the succeeding
corn arm if so, front whet source may the profits of
farming be expected, when we find the price of wheat,
owing to free trade, much lege in value than formerly,
notwithstanding a yearly increasing Importation ci
foreign food t We also find from statistical knowledge
that the numbers of stock In this country has decreased
rather than increased in late years but we most not
assume that the quantity of meat has lensed In like pro-
portion, as it might be that the relative weight per head
he. increased with the growth of knowledge, practical and
scientific, aided by the consumption of various kinds of
food. Still mach remains to oe gathered, and,
re; r•winins to which I have briefly alluded, and from
causes to which I shad refer hereafter, I purpose to
proceed to enquire—What change of system iss resgered
desirable In the cultivation of land by _reason of the to.
messed cost of Be management? Besides the actual
Increased cost in the management of lad, may be men-
tiowed at first the larger rents paid to the lartdlord than
95 years ago, supplemented lately by increased rates (not
rates for the relief of the poor, and which will, I trust and
believe, in consequence of the actual pace being leek and
the administration of relief changed, becomes heel, but
large!y increased highway rates, rates for the education of
poor c —very expensive, I am reminded, too, in many
placee--eanitary rates unnecessarily high lissome placissabo
and which belong to the land and must he charged upon
It at prevent past by the tenant, being new, hardens
s.rwat4 maist either be recognised by the landlord or the
State eventually, otherwise they become indirectly an
increased rent, and throe burdens thrust on land are,. a
great hardship to nmoy soistee without anything van In
Ilea as compensation. The greatest Morose= ia the
...meat of land has been In the advanced price plaid
for agricultural labs= Ibroogboot tho
_country within a
few year., Is somegooess of Ito ellosoldies of more labour
In mining salt meedeeluelas iielrldecesee so prosperous.
Now, alas! Img sid shiest
melarvalka. in soma atone
the some of ma wham the elt et troprovidonoe,
Clad advice tip seuellal pats& Weems or friends, or
agog teneesa. If zrosuel Wow' Is set to be found at a
resseentie cost, har.ng regard also to olholeacy, more end
mem evadgery wit have yet to be Istrodoosd, and the
seams applianoes thoroughly studied sad be better under-
steed In detail toss heretofore. The education of the
inane claims of this country most sot be
whelk as sow. the lower chime are to be ed al
at the anpiesee of the satica, for from it the sooeseity of I
abetter kind of =oodles Is every day made s.seeapus
by the urgent necemity of the swat of scientific and other
knowledge necemery to the requirements of the Melee we
live In as aid to practise, and the Position all eirrieidtarkite
and to enable us from the amount of skill, knowledge and
industry to hold our own attained all emustriss of the :
wc,dg, 'Adidas spin to the iseressed oost of mamagassat,
I may motion the greater amount paid in the OM=
of trailsommes Mlle far leaplosenta hantah
With mewl is the AMNIA sad relative come of slow
here., god meggall power, tam together or Say.
necessary le the oloncom :
osto • farm, moth ao
the =atom pursued. The mere steak lomat ea • the I
neater Is the AllioOldi of masa labour 000•111187 to Its .
proper management. sad which =mot be doss without,
awe:fano op fan= mostly arable, is %be cultivation of
roots and artificial crops for food. Whether semen will
become a greater substitute for hone-power than at present
lon reparedbx=, any rate both sre very expe-
l= the cost el bows within the leet few
yaw Me been met made& wing to p Milli dined,