The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-06-03 00:00:00

BATH AND WEST OF ENGLAND SHOW
AT WELLS.

( From our own Reporter.)

In no part of the county of Somerset, or even in
England; has nature been so lavish of her gifts as to
Wells and its neighbourhood, and a more delightful
spot for an Exhibition—not looking at it as to the
capabilities for the display of the Bath and West of
England Society, °posed on Monday, whieh is
admitted to be most applicable for the occasion—but
looking at it with an eye which can revel in the
works of our Omnipotent Being. It is not our
present purpose to inflict upon our readers a long
description of the picturesque situation, after the
manner of some of our contemporaries, smacking
strongly of quotations from Guide Books, bat to say
' it is within easy distance of the town, and within
about 100 yards of the Bristol road. The railway
companies have laboured zealously in the cause, and
we bear of no accidents such as that which
destroyed a quantity of machinery en rouse for the
Truro Show last year. In the implement depart-
ment, and also in all others, the entries are well
filled, and we have it on the authority of one of the
Executive, that with one or two exceptions, ths
Show has never had so large a list of contributors.
All that within reason could be expected to have
been done in the city to give the society and
visitors a cheering recepti, n, has been effected.
Houses hare been subjected to a thorough manilas),
investigation, lodgings offered at a reasonable rate,
nags flutter from nearly every edifice, the new road
is not only fringed with trees transplanted for the
occasion,- but also spanned by a triumphal arch
bearing appropriate mottoes, and other manifesta-
tions too numerous to particularize. How zealously
all have been in completing details and arrange-
ments, may be judged from the fact that the local
paper which should have made its appearance on
Friday evening in time for post, had not made its
appearance on the succeeding evening. To cause no
delay or unpleasantness an " Intelligenee Office" has
been opened at the Townhall, where every informs-
tioa may be gleaned, from the loss of an erratic
spouse to the probable appearance of Mr. E. J.
Smith's Cremorne giant, 8 feet high, in the live stock
department. Street music abounds, from a German
Band of eight, to a performer on a tin whistle, and
the appearance of a strolling party of acrobats is
anxiously looked for. The drama finds a representa-
tive in the orthodox Punch and Judy, which may
serve to drive dull care away from those who prefer
tragedy to art and science. The other amusements
we shall notice as the week proceeds.
Now, as to the Society and its present show. The
Bath and West of England Society, which has for its
object the encouragement of agriculture, arts, manu-
factures, and commerce, is the oldest society of ita
kind in these realms, and is second in importance
only to the Royal Agricultural Society i indeed, it
has been said, and not incorrectly, that the quality of
this society's exhibitions worthily rivals that of the
exhibitions of the Royal, and it does not fall very
far short in extent. The Bath and West of England
Society was instituted at Bath as early as 1777 by
Mr. Edmund Rack, a resident of the "Queen City
of the West," a gentleman considerably in advance
of his times, and who was acquainted a ith the agri-
culture of Norfolk, and, recognising its vast
superiority to the farming of the West, was anxious
to spread abroad better agricultural ideas, and to
promote improvement in that department. It was
originally proposed to limit the operations of the
society to Somerset, Wilts, Dorset, and Gloucester.
It at first held its exhibitions at Bath, offering
premiums for improved breeds of cattle and sheep,
, and publishing then, as now, a journal of its pro-
ceedings, inserting therein essays, reports, and such
information as was deemed of utility. After a career
of usefulness for thirteen years its local title was
changed in 1790 to the one it at present bears. The
society progressed and laboured not in vain for many
years thereafter, being instrumental in spreading
much information, especially among the agricultural
class. However, in consequecartly, probably,
of the establishment and successful operations of
other institutions of a kindred character in different
parts of the kingdom, and partly of its mode of
management, it did not in more modern times
preserve its former high prestige, and ten or eleven
years ago Mr. Acland conceived the idea of exten-
ding the society's influence by assimilating its
management to that of the Royal Agricultural
Society. He was seconded by other gentlemen, the
society's area was extended, migratory exhibitions
were established, and the success which attended
the meetings at Taunton in 1852, Plymouth in 1653,
Bath in 1854, Tiverton in 1855, Yeovil in 1856,
Newton in 1857, Cardiff in 1858, Barnstable in
1859, Dorchester in 1860, Turn in 1861, is the best
proof of the wisdom and propriety of the change.
On this point we remember hearing Lord Portman
say at Dorchester that' he had cooperated with his
excellent friend Mr. Acland, and his no less valuable
colleague, Sir W. Miles, in doing away with the
permanence of the presidential office, of electing a
president every year, and of moving about year after
year, and not confining the exhibitions of the society
to Bath. What had been the result of this? Why,
at the last meeting he attended at Bath, before the
meeting became itinerant, they had exhibited one
cow, three sheep, and two pigs. At the dinner only
three men were present who knew anything about

practical agriculture, but at the present moment
he was surrounded by so many practical agri•
culturiAs that it would take a long time to
describe their merit& At the old Bath
shows only models of implements were shown. But
step by step the society had gone forward." The
progress to which his lordship alluded had indeed
been great At Dorchester 559 head of stock were
shown, 373 pens of poultry, upwards of 1,000
implements, and about 5,000 works of art, to say
nothing of the Horticultural Show. As Mr. Salifont,
the ex•president, said at Dorchester of the show
there,and which will undoubtedly be alike applicable
to th 6 Wells show, " Whether they looked at the
agricultural stock of implements, or the works of art
and taste, whoever visited it must have had their
taste improved, their judgment exercised, and their
enthusiasm increased for all that was most useful,
agreeable, and ornamental for the purposes of
civilised life."

MONDAY AFTERNOON.

The exhibition opened this morning for the purpose
of getting the steam engines and machinery in motion,
and opening the works of Art and Industry Court.
The manufacturers of machinery included the names of
the well-known manufacturers, Megan. John Fowler,
Leeds; Aveling and Porter, Rochester; Ransoms and
Sims, Ipswich ; tambridge, Bristol; Gibbons, Wastage;
Telford and Sons, Boston; Ashley and Co., Stamford;
Barrett, ExalL and Andrews, Reading • Pickaley. Leine!,
and Co., Leigh; Rubel, and Co., Lincoln; Garrett and
Son, Saxinundhain ; Brown and May, Devizes • Nalder
and Nald r, Wantage ; Clayton and Co., nourton ;
Turner, Ipswich ; Humphries, Panther,: ; Hornsby
and Sons' Grantham . • Cockey and Sons, Jerome;
Parsons, filartock ; Bradford, Manchester; Taplin,
Lincoln; Fowler, Leeds and London. The nn mber of
persons who attended the Show were but few, and
many of the engines did not get up steam.
FINE AWES. —This portion of the exhibition was
thrown open to the public on Monday morning, and the
number of exhibitors was considerably in advance of
that of last year. The number is 140 as against 6310
Truro in 1661. In pictures this year we have 47 as
against 240 at Truro, the estimate not including a fine
collection of photographs, Re. We noticed the absence
of several of the leading manufacturers of stained
glass, which is simply owing to their having bad to pay
so great an attention to the International Exhibition.
Otherwise we should have been gratified with • specimen
of their productions, always • most interesting section
of this portion of the Exhibition. The saute remark
will also apply to the china. Much inconvenience
and &nom ance was felt by the society, the press, and
the public in general, through the defalcation of the
sub-contractor in not finishing the catalogues of the
fictures in time for the opening of the Exhibition,
though the Executive placed "copy" in the handl' of
the printer much earlier than at Dorchester, wheu the
engagement as to time was serupultnisly observed.
Agreeably to former years the South Kensington
Museum kindly placed at the service of the Society an
interesting collection of works of vertu and antique
curiosities, under the care of Mr. Black, whose courtesy
to all is common with the whole of the officer!' of the
Society.—Messrs. Clarke, Brothers, of Wells, exhibited
reredoc for east end of chancel, to be erected just above
the altar, and manufactured by them at their works at
Ermine. —A rich bookcase, and enpboard richly carved
in old oak by the late Mr. William Webber, of Dul\
verton, carpenter, on the suggestion of Mr. J. Chapple,
was also on view.—Ralph Neville Grenville, Eag„ of
Butleigh Court, Glastonbury, exhibited two red silk
damask oriflamine batmen., taken during the Crimean
war, richly figured, and supposed to have formed the
decoration of a Russian church. —A self-taught artist,
Mr. Will ion Halliday, of High-street, Wells, exhibited
some beautiful specimens in the art of carving, two in
particular, in oak: D.niel in the Lion's Den, and the
Canterbury Pilgrims, from Chaur's Poem ; the latter
containing no less than 70 figures, and for which the
producer was bid a handsome sum by the late Duke of
Wellington, and was much admired by the Queen of the
late Louis Phillips. lie also has on his stand • curiously
carved box, representing four scenes in the life of
Christ.— Horwood, Brothers, Frome, have artistic
specimens of stained glass.— The Mayor of Wells
exhibits an admirably carved chalice, richly mounted,
the carving being the handiwork of the Mayor himself.
—Mr: A. Wessell, of Queen-street, Exeter, china and
glass manufacturer, has a recherche display of Minion's,
Wedgwood's, and all the leading houses in the glass and
pottery line. All is of a high order, and
testifies to the good taste of the exhibitor.
Dr. Boyd, on the part of the Somerset County
Lunatic Asylum, exhibits in the enclosed shedding,
some articles manufactured by the patients, which
would be a credit to those in full pcs.session of all their
faculties, much less for those mentally afflicted. The
double washing-stand especially calls for a note on the
score of cleanliness, economy, and compactness. —Mr.
W. Botcher, of Clare-street, Bristol, ironmonger,
displays some superb chimney pieces and crystal, and
bronze chandeliers. Mr. Joseph Chapann, of Portway
Marble Works, Fronie, in his show, recalls to our
memory, amid the exciting scenes around, that we are
but mortal. His memorials of the dead are remarkable
for their sombre and appropriate style.— One of the
most interesting collections in the enclosed shedding is
that of Mr. J. B. Haden, of Market Place, Warminster,
ironmonger and gun maker, who exhibits a handsome
lot of weapons of offence and defence. The double
barrelled gun is a duplicate of one at present in the
International Exhibition. The furniture is in keeping
with the gun and reflects great credit on the English
artisan. The attention of sportsmen is directed to the
Improved Retriever Dog Slip, so constructed that when
the dog marks a quarry it is liberated at once, and as
easily returned to subjugation, when it is necessary to
check the animal's roving propensities.— Mr. Haden
also brings forward a prize Leemington kitchener, with
improvements suggested by hitt, and carried out bylhe
I makers.—Messrs. Wheeler and Wilson had on view one
of their unique sewing machines, which is capable of
making • shirt in an hour and a half. Other interest-
ing productions are exhibited both in "special pro-
tection" and "enclosed shedding," but their merits do
not call for a separate notice, especially as mir spare is
circumscribed. Going into the town we find that the
Council were entertained at 10 o'clock by the Mayor
and Town Comma in the Council Chamber, to a cold
collation, but as representatives of the press were only
admitted upon payment of 10s. each, which we consider
as anything but complimentary, we forbore giving 64
attendance. After luncheon a procession was termed,
and the Corporation' with the Executive, adjourned to
the Show yard, sad formally opened the Exhibitiot

TETE/IDAT EVMG

Tie predictions of weather-wise people mcMonday
evening that there would be rain before long, were
fulfilled, for Tuesday morning was rend/tad exceedingly
uncomfortable by a copious descent of rain. Loco-
motion in the yard was anything but pleasant in the
morning, but slightly improved as the day advanced.
We omitted to notice on Monday, in the enclosed
shedding, an immense sheet of straw paper, nearly two
miles leng, manufactured by Messrs. Burgess & Ward,
paper manufacturers, at their factory near Wells,
weighing 4i cwt., and measuring 58 inches in width,
made without a fracture in 1 hour and 34 minutes. We
have heard of the cry of "Saving your bacon," but
Jones, with his waterproof composition, is anxious to
"save your leather ;" and he also appears as a farmer's
friend, with his Gloucestershire Specific for foot-rot in
sheep. His composition being tried and approved by
several members of the Council, and his specific sup-
ported by testimonials by practical men, bespeak their
excellence, Besides the firms mentioned on Monday an
having machinery in motion, we have others who do not
resort to the power of steam to show off their goods.
We have every description of farming implements
brought forward sausaze machines and other culinary
articles, by that indefatigable patentee Mr. Arthur
Lyon; cattle gauges for computing the weight of
cattle, very useful to farmers and graziers, sad
easily to be understood, cider presses, cooking apparatus
and stoves, by Messrs. Brown, Brothers, Lyme Regis;
a steam engine, admirably adapted for farm purposes, a
very durable wagon, made of excellent inateriali, first-
class workmanship, a one-horse cart and wine patent
cart or wagon wheels and axles, by Mr. G. Parsons of
Martock; and the patent washing machines of Bradford,
of Manchester, besides other inventions by various
makers. As at Dorchester, Mane and Hindley of
Boureton, again have several implements for economising
manual Libour on farms, such as patent weaving
machines, cheese proem', W..Perne, of Perry.
street Works,Cherd, exhibits a very nvely finished six-
horse fixed steam engine, endless band and other saws.
During the day, the printer of the catalogue of the
pictures, placed them in the hands of the society,
enabling the public to increase their informstion. This
year ive Mins the productions of any first-else, artists,
and Holmans and Hunt's sheep appear to have strayed
from the Exhibition since the Dorchester and Truro
megiing.—Mr. H. Custard of Yeovil, is again an
ex6Tbitor this year, and contributes NOM3 charmingly
executed studies, viz., "Rant Francon,
"Morning on the Campagna," "the Clandian Aquednets
and Sabine Hills in the distance," "Albano near Rome,"
and "the Market Place at Florence." Mr. Custard is
always so happy in the selection and execution of his
studies, that he never fails to impress upon the spectator
a yearning to see more of his productions, and who
generally places him in the first rank of those
who handle the pencil. Mr. T. James Barker
contributes " Mageppa relating his Adventures
to Charles XII." It shows a striking contrast
between the warm firelight, though we think the
latter is overdone. Surrounded by his Ara, and within
the influence of the bivouac fire, the king succumbs to
the heat of the ire, and Ilaseppa is left to tell the
fag end of his tale to the staff. —Mr. H. L. Rolfe,
with his "Salmon and Trout," makes us alinost believe
that they are a reality, and that we have just returned
from an angling tour. There are many other charm-
ing pictures and water colours, but want of space
prevents us noticing them.
It was feared that the trial of implements would in
the face of the weather have to be postponed, bat the
exhibitors being indifferent to a shower of rain, entered
the lists. There were about eight ploughs in the trial
field, situate near Beryl House, and great interest was
taken in the performances of the ploughs of the two
great houses—Howard and Hornsby. Fowler's Steam
Plough was on the gronnd, as was also Howard's Cul-
tivator. lianeock's Patent Pulverising Plough re-
ceived a goodly share of attention, and its destruction
of clods created great surprise.
A museum has been opened at the Townhall, orm-
taining many antiquities, not only relating to the
cathedral city, but also to other parts, ancient imple-
ments of destructive warfare, an interesting collection
of minerals, shells, and coins, and a valuable celleetion
of paintings, to which Mr. J. Drew, of Weymouth, is
a large contributor. We hope this attractive feature
of the exhibition week received patronage commensu-
rate with the labours of the Committee in bringing it
together. _

__,___......
Steck.—The number of entries this year is not quite
so large as at Truro, but as regards the standard of
quality it fax exceeds the previous display. In every-
thing, except sheep, particular merit is distinguishable.
The following it the prize list of prize takers within
our district :

DORBETSAIRII.
Claw 4.—Cowa in Calf or Milk—lat and 3rd prizes,.
Mr. J. A. Smith, Bradford 3'osersll,
Class s.—Heifers in Calf, not exceeding 3 years—let
and 3rd mime, Mr. William Paull, Puddletown.
Class lA.—Bulls not exceeding 2 Years-3rd Prize,
Mr. Levi Groves, Bisighaire. Meloombe.
dims 16.--fOows in 'Calf or in Milk, having had a
Calf within six months mixt preceding the Eibiei-
tion.)--let and 84 prjene, Mr, Henry Coate, Blur-
borne,

A most extraordinary circumstance, (which our fair
readers when presiding at the tea•table frequently
condemn), is Merchants quietly allowing the Chinese to
cover with artificial colour, many of the Teas intended
for home consumption. The practice is especially re-
prehensible as the 'facing' is used to disguise, and get
use of worthless brown wintry leaves; this custom is
o universal that Dr. Hassell, the chief comniatioiser of
the Lancet Sanitary Report, visited the Docks, to
examine personally the early arriv..ls of pure green im-
ported by floaramsn & CO., London. So great has the
demand now become for uncoloured tea, that the
Doak Companies' printed returns show the present
stock of pure green to be above one miltion pounds.—
Agents throughout the kingdom supply Horninsan's
Pure Mack and Green Tea, secured in Packets. Pare
green is an olive hue.

Hapowsr's °fernier AND PlLLA.—lnclivntable Remedies
—ln the use of them medicaments there need be no hesitation
or doubt of their cooling, healing, and purifying properties.
Holloway's preparations must always do good—.both ebou'd
find a place In every household. The Ointment stands un-
rivalled for the facility It displays in relkoring, healing, and
thoroughly curing the most Inveterate sores, ulcers, and In
ease* of bwi legs Chorea asohatut, we thousands trill' testify
who tried them, and would Ws lost their ,Ihnts by
lion but for this wonderful Medicine. The Pills by
stimnieSing, sad mutating envy organ, rips* swim tb;
remedial vistas; of this excellent olntatent,_ Lbw moot }cr.
sibly do any barm, but will liwltYl do 8.0041 wike ThiPiieletl
(WNW= ire Mows&

Corrtoponbente.

THE WEYMOUTH CORPORATION AND THE
"TELEGRAM."

[The following appeared in our contemporary, the
Telerp ain

SlR,—Your remarks in reference to the We',
month Corporation last week have given very general
satisfaction. There is but one opinion among the
publio on th 3 subject, namely, that many of the
members of the Town Council would be heartily
glad to make out a case for expelling the representa-
tive of your valuable journal from their proceedings.
Could they find . an excuse for doing this, they well
know that many of their sayings and doings could
be effectually kept in the dark. It is well known
that a few of the heads of the Corporation have II
bitter hatred against the Telegram on account of ite
impartial and out-spoken. sentiments. But this is
not the case with all. ' I heard an independent
member of the Coinual, though a Conservative, my
a few days ago, that of all the reports of the
Council's proceedings, these which appeared in the
Telegram gave the public the most correct idea of
what took place within the walls of the Council
Chamber. Trusting, Sir, that you will continue to
pursue your present open and straightforward course
in the (=ducting of your extensively-circulate'
PP",
I am, Sir,
"ONE OF THE PUBLIC."