The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1877-11-27 00:00:00

A IIEAVY PENALTY.

A came involving a charge of tnrions drivinc was
heard yesterday (Monday) at the borongh Police court,
before the Mayor (Dr. Aldridge), Mr. J. Hodges, and
Mr. M. Devenish —fferoert Popp. a butcher and
dealer. of Belchalwell. near Strirminster, was sum-
moned by the Police for the above offence. Tt seemed
the defendant on Satnrday morning. November 17th,
drove up Sonth-street with a fast trotting little pony.
He managed to steer clear of the stupid obstruction
known as the town pump (although it is never
pumped), and this involves, as everyone knows, if you
I are going into Nortk-wmare, either nulling up or a
skilful handling of the ribbons. Defendant did not do
the first, and, it would seem, wan unable to achieve
the second, and bin trap collided with the pave corner
at St. Peter's Church, the shock being 1,0 great that it
WM nearly thrown on the opposite side of this narrow
lane, where was standing Mr. Bryer, the well-known
auctioneer. Accustomed an Mr. Tinter is, with pm-
tensional hard-heartedness, to bring thingn under his
hammer. he moat have felt that upon that occasion it
was a "narrow squeak" he had not been "knocked
down" himself; and we join in the congratulations
esoreswed to him by some of the ntanders-by, that his
"lot" in "reserved" for, we hope. a far happier
termination.—P.C. ("multi proved the facts, and the
police also called Mr. Spree, who, however, mtg.
nanirnonsly stated he knew the defendant as a quiet
and civil man, and not in the habit of furious
Triving.—The Bench, however, said peoples' liven
must not be placed in jeoparey ; and as the defendant
had previously been charged with a similar offence, be
must pay a fine of £2 10s. and 10s. cods.

DORCHESTER FARMERS' CLUB.
The Session 1877-75 of thia elnh openerl on Slaterday
last. when Mr. Homer read the introductory paper
before a somewhat limited attendance--not, however,
to be wondered at, considering the state of the weather.
The meeting wan held at the Antelope Hotel, and
among those present were—Mr. Chapman Saunders.
Captain Hodges, Mr. W. Mick, Mr. .T. 0. Saunders,
Mr. Damen. Ntr. H. W. Hawkins, Mr. R. Loader,
Mr. G. Andrews (secretary), Mr. Pearce (assistant
. .

,
sseretary), &e.
Mr. Gem. 11011E1% read the following very interesting

paper :
Gentlemen.—it has been customary at the opening of
your nession for the President to offer a few remarks upon
the principal events in connection with agriculture which
may have occurred nine. the last meeting of the club.
It is my intention (occupying that post forth, time being)
to follow thin the usual custom, and afterwards, by taking
a brief retrospect of the work of the club, endeavour
to determine whether the objects for which this society
won organised have been fulfilled in the part, and to
obtain guidance as to the work of the future. The
inzathering of the corn crop of 1R77 has been the principal
event in connection with agriculture which haa taken
place since our butt meeting. Although stock farming
relatively °cronies a more prominent position than
farming, nevertheless the corn crop is looked to upon ,
met farms in this locality for yielding a proportionately
large return, and, indeed, in theme days of heavy outlay
fair returns will not he obtained unless there is what may
be termed "good luck all round." The results of the last
harvest are not a canine of congratulation, either tout
who are must intimately affected, or from a national point
of view. In this immediate neighbourhood the whea.
crop compares favourably wi.h that of some other dins
trict4 : we have a fair quality. and my estimate of yield
would he about 10 per rent, below an average crop : in the
whole of Great Britian T should think that the deficiency
will amoont to 20 per cent. Scarcely inferior in import-
ance to the wheat crop is that of barley, and in this we
have suffered to a serious, and almost unprecedented
extent. An estimate of 20 per cent. lvilow an average an
regards quantity will. I helleys, prove to be well within
Vie mark : but an addition must he male to the Inns thus
occasioned, inasmuch as the quality is, generally speaking,
most inferior. If only an average of price prevailed for
this article, the value per wire would n it exceed one-half
, of the ordinary return. The oats and pulse crops are
' less importance in thin locality: bet, in nymnnthy with
wheat and barley, they appeared to he under average.
re weather, a most important element in connection
1 with harvest ^Wrath's.*' was, in the early part. everything
I that could be wished: this allowed of the successful
housing of a conniderahle portion of the wheat crop in
the earlier districts; hut, later on, the newton changed to
wet, the barley was stained, and much of it injured for
malting purpose!, and a large proportion of the crop was
put together in inferior condition. Taking it as a whole
the corn crop of 11177 is the worst since 1985, and were it
not for the developement of the corn producing resourcen
of the American continent, combined with the fact
that the wealth of this country enables her to pay
a good price for the surplus production of that con-
tinent, there can he but little doubt that a famine
no less Revere than that which has fallen upon our
Indian Empire would now he staring us in the face.
Looking, then, at the pant harvest from a national point
of view, it cannot be regarded hut as a most serious
minfortline. The capitalized wealth of the country in an
great that, heavy as the call will be upon the national
resourcen, this nrrain may he hOnle without producing
undnis pressure upon our monetary reserve.. To a less
wealthy nation the result might he most disastrous The
higher prices which must prevail are. tea certain extent,
recouping the grower for a deficient yield, thin remark
especially applies to the wheat crop of which the quality
fairly good, few there are amongst farmers who will not
find their balance sheet madly marred by the NO returns
of the barley crop. Before leaving this part of the subject
it may he interesting to take is passing glance at tbe
enormous ilisvelopernent of the foreign corn trade.
Previnns to lorgi the foreign intrwirts of wheat had not
ev.serled on annual average of 1,100.000 quarters. During
the last five years they have realised an annual average of
12.400,0110 quarters. in the year 11160 the bread stuffs of
this country were made in the proportion of three parts of
home grown wheat to one foreign. At the present time
the loaf is made of foreign wheat in rather more than the
proportion of one half. The total annual imports of corn
now amount to 6,000.000 tons, worth more than
£.50.000.000 sterling. If the yield of our home grown
crops shoild prove as had as the estimates which have
been pot before von wink] make them out to he, these im-
portations of foreign corn.enormous an they are, wilhbefore
smother harvest comes round, yet show further increase.
In attempting to offer any explanation of the scantiness
of our grain crops. I should wish my remarks to be
received an suggestions of posnibilitien rather than an
statements of well ascertained facts. The Rowing of the
11177 crop.s of both wheat and barley wan conducted
generally under favourable circumstances. The wheat
Plant was vigorous throughout the winter, and in the
month of May the appearance of the crops was mord
promising. Towards the end of May this district, at leant,
•SA visited by unusually cold winds, and the healthy
green flax of the corn was changed to a sickly yellow
colour. If alter thin time genial weather haul generally
prevailed much injury might not have remitted. hut the
whole season was marked throughout by unusual lowness
of temperature, and to this I attribute in a great measure
the failure of the corn crops. Next in importance to the
groin crops are those of hay and mobs. These must be
considered not no nrich in reference to their market
value as in connection with their adaptation for maintain-
ing the live stock of the farm during the flat approaching
winter. The lowness of temperature which ban charm,
tensest this season has not been unfavourable to the
growth of grass. Of meadow hay the crop in mood, hut
the quality various, all carted before the middle of Jnly
beinz good, that made later on—chiefly water meadow
hay—being of most inferior quality. The clover crop of
the Iff76 seeding was had in plant, and consequently the
clover hay crop of 11177 could not bean abundant one—the
quality however is generally good. Taken as a whole, the
hay crop of 1877 may be retarded an somewhat alone
average in quantity and below average in quality. The
riots crops have laboured under difficulties throughout
the season, and at one time threatened a repetitiun
of the disaster of 1964 ; this however was pro-
rilentially averted, and the warm open weather late in
October and through November has done wonders towards
repairing deficiencies,. On kind lands I should consider
the root crop to he almost an average, hut on heavy and
unkindly land there is not above half the ordinary weight
of roots. On most farms in this locality there will he
found sufficient provision of winter fodder for the herds
and flocks. The prices of sheep throughout the season
have been good, and will, in some measure, recoup the
a,griculturint for his losses in harley. After this review
of the crows I do not feel at liberty to congratulate you on
having had a prosperous year nevertheless, I trust that
you may find it to he some improvement on that of 1R75.
Taking a national view of the state of our agriculture. I
see with great regret that it must yet he regarded as
taking a retrograde course. St shines are showing an that
we are planting less corn and keeping less stock than in
years gone by. Nor have we any difficulty in finding the
come of this. After the great rine of wages in the manu-
facturing districts it was discovered that :mode could be
produced at lens cost in foreign rountrien, the demand for
English goods has, in consequence, become more limited,
and the production has consequently lennened. Is there
not in agriculture an almost parallel case. Not only has
farm labour risen in price, hut in many cases it has
deteriorated in quality: other items of farm expenditure
have also increased. Time and circumstances are pm ing
that foreign nations are producing corn at less cost than
we are, and also threatening us with heavy competiton in
the supply of meat. Finding his business does not
pay, the agriculturists reduces his staff in order to
curtail unprofitable outlay, and, by so doing, he
ham diminshnd also the productive power of his land,
though perhaps In • less Proportion. As a prudent man
he adopts the system which he finds to answer his
purpose the best, and who can fairly find fault with
him for so doing. Poor thin English down lands are
unable to compete in the production of corn with the rich
virgin soils of California, awl if it be true that these
Californian lands are of inexhaustible fertility, it may be
many a long year before the English down should he again
disturbed by the plough There are those who differ from
this view of the question, and are maintaining that many
thousands of extra labourers might now be finding employ.
ment in British agriculture, with advantage to themselves
THE DORSET COUNTY HOSPITAL. and profit to their employers. Surely the British farmer
an a class is not so blind to his own interests as to limit
During the week ending November 22nd, there have his expenditure when larger renumeration would result
been admitted ;—ln•patienta. 7; discharged, 5' out from heavier outlay. Critcistu is no new infliction for
patients admitted, 7 • discharged' 5'
4 :—O 5; emergencies,ut: 2 • the British agriculturist to bear. There are few farms on
a. the 0 —ln-patients, in t e
mwl:nicpineven a novice iectoiomulidortnit out.leheris,7Teirnprove-
rtsr:6
tienta, on the books, 226; casualties, 21; physician must be comlnnstkl:vreda an a whole, mend &ming likhusither
the week, Dr. W. V. Lush; surgeon for the week, things earthly, does not admit of being eg;rtedeoilt to
Mr. J. Good; house surgeon, Mr. Herbert J. perfection. To insure an approach to this it would be
Capon. necessary not only to have absolute command of the labour
MITORTTSATE AGCMICIT. market at all seanonn of the year, but it would be also
necessary to have • control over the mations th
Geergn OnenburT, working for Mr. Be Pro- To deserve the name of " good futon) " the sy emitl 'sst
vision merchant. Of Dorthartee, while driving over be such as will, whilst maintaininggow2andt ireprovingstem latuabe
Itidgwity.hill the wheel of hie van came off. His fertility of the e yield a fair of Profit to the

Anti-vaccinatinnists met with a decided defeat in
the Court of Queen's Bench the nther day. A man
had been fined once for neglecting to have his child
vaccinated, and as he still refused to comply with the
law lie was fined a second time. Against this second
conviction he appealed, and his counsel argued that by
suffered for his offence there was an end of it—having
could no more be re-punished than a man who had
once been hanged for murder could be re-bung. The
Lord Chief Justice and Mr. Justice Mellor failed to
appreciate the ingenious sublety of the arzument, and
dismissed the appeal, the Lnr 1 Chief Justice re-
marking the more stupid a man was the more obstinate
he generally was and if men were obstinate and
stupid they could not be allowed to imperil the public
health, but, if necessary, for the common safety must
pass their days in prison. It would be as well the
anti-vaccination clique should carefully digest—if they
can manage it--what a sporting writer would call this
"straight tip."

"An Englidiman's house is his castle." So we
should think when we read the Homeric-migistrate at
Bow-street has just fined a greengrocer 20s. and costs
or 14 days hard labour for allowing his owe son to wash
a cart, the said child being under the age of 10 years,
to wit—nine years and sin months.

Aff airs, indeed, says Ike Rxaminer, have come to 'lnch
a pass in France that it is now hardly possible to see
any middle way between the resignation of the
rtlarshal and War. Moderate Republicans long
clung to the policy of retaining the M. yshal and
revising, the Constitution, but a redefinition (d. the
provinces of the Public Powers cannot be effected
without the assistance of the Senate, and Monday's
vote shows that the majority there is in favour of the
jfataO quo. The .Ifarshal himself may be an honest
soldier, intent only upon doing hi. duty, but it is
quite clear that he can he pemaded by evil advisers
into very dangerous conceptions of what his duty is.
There can be no tranquillity in France till be is re-
moved, and we believe that the Constitutionalists in
France are not disposed to shirk their duty.