The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-10-19 00:00:00

agriculture.

ROSS AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The annual dinner in connexion with this society took
plaoe last week, Mr. J. W. B. Hall presiding. Among
the company were, Mr. T. B. Blamer°, M.P., and
Mr. J. King King, ?ILI'. In addition to the usual
prises, Mr. J. N. Herbert gave • number of educational
premiums to the children of labourers, and these were
well and numerously competed for.
The Chairman, in proposing "The Army and Navy,"
said if he had gone to Cherbourg he would nut have fol-
lowed the example of come of those who had partaken of
the French Emperor's kindness and liberality. He
should have been oontented to bide his time whether
war came or not, and have said nothing about the imp-
poeed object of the Cherbourg forttlioatione, after expe-
riencing such kind treatment there. If at any future
period the Emperor of the French, to tint of his past
cautious policy, should adopt a warlike policy towards
England, lie was sure the English army would prove
itself still to puma those 'sterling qualities which it had
shown to so much advantage in the Crimes, and was
now showing in India. (Cheers.) It the Emperor
Napoleon, or any other foreign Potentate, should
attempt an invasion of this country, although we might
suffer what every nation suffered when invaded—rapine,
cruelty, and every sin which the catalogue of crime
contains—yet the Mall who was rash enough to rock.
the attempt would never live to tell the -tale to hie
eountrynnin. He looked to the House of Commons net
to let any ill-timed parsimony stand in the way of the
thorough fortification of the country; and that
mall was anything but a patriot who would condemn hie
repreeentative for voting in a generous and truly
patriotic spirit the money summary for keeping the ile.
finals of the country in a proper state of efficiency.
(Applause.)
The Chairman proposed "Tic. Members for the
County " and took ouralon to delineate in strong tuna
the intnicluetian of politica at thus getherings.
Mr. Booker Blekemure, in reply, said the Apical-
tonal Statistics Bill loot been revived, hitt the manner in
which it had been disposed of by both sides of the Hosea,
as being perfectly wales* in intention and effect, would
prevent a measure from being again brought forward on
the nine plan. The manner, too, In which the eubleet
of the hop duty hod been received would prevent any
attempt being 'lnds at present to revise the existing
duty. Among the noticeable events of the past you lie
mentioned the dreadful panic which shook the saintlier
did interests of the country to their centre, Who
among them could oontemplate it without feeling thank.
rut to Almighty God that the great agricultural interest
hedge marvellouely escaped ite effeete 1 (Cheers.) The
means of interoommunioation between ilifforent districts'
of the country and between England and ether countries
had previously been groat and rapid indeed; but during
the fast year we hail connected ourselves with another
liendephere, had run a sable goose the Atlantis, and
were itow In rapid communication with the United
Wens of America, whose inhabitants acknowledge us
not only as their cousills, but as their parents; whose lan.
illiNV, feelings', and intereste,—religioue, social, moral,
arid polities), he might almost say,—were eo Identilled
with our own that It was Impossible to fortell the
uslrseuleite Abide that eaninuniestion by mew of the
Atlantic able would produce. He was sure 11 was the
prayer of the people of this country that that communi•
tuition might be for good 1 that the Intermits nf pease and
order might be preserved by it; that our imitable rid*
Ilene should no longer undergo any datiptariof (1100 b.
aoitreakstliat
swase ;:rountilllilersl. look across
and
ftldstilo;kiiietaewsh
should amalgamate our social and political interests;
and that our only aim and rivalry should be how best to
discharge the duties we owe to our Maker and to one
fellow-men. (Applause.) Such things taut have their
effect on the destinies of great countries like England
and America. There had been an exhibition of power
by our friends morose the Channel, who were heretofore
otir rivals, for a long while our enemies, but now, he
believed, our fund friends, He wee fully convlneed of
the honesty, integrity, and upright faith of thee extra-
ordinary man who now rules ills destinies of the French
people. He believed hint incapable of an attempt that
'oust prove totally and dispose-fully abortive ; nor could
he believe that tits gallant French people were willing to
attempt to run, like a horde of bandits, upon the
British come They mind well know what kind of a re-
ception Englishmen would give them, while we remain
united heart and soul In the determination to defend our
queen, our country, and the stable Institutions of our
land. ( Applause.) He had a perfect madame in the
right mind and the good heart of the people of this
country. He alluded to the affection and veneration
shown to Her Majesty during her recent prepeu
through the great manufacturing and commercial die
-
trio* and added that, while the people, with hearts as
warm and patriotism 1111 pure as those of the company
before him, hod shown themselves over ready to stand
by the throne and maintain the regal power of the Queen
in all its integrity, we 'mold have nothing to fear. He
was anxious and undone to see the national defences
kept up to a high standard. Expenditure of thst kind
would not be profitable; it would be only necessary and
proper. He must plainly and unequivocally say that
whoever might hold the reins of power and direct the
helm of State, his intellect and judgment he must bold
free and unfettered. Personally, be oared not who
might govern, so that they governed well ; if they
governed well they should have his support; if ha
thought otherwise they should have his determined
opposition. (Cheers.)
Mr. King also responded to the tout.
Mr. Bredstook, a large tenant farmer, in anicnowledg-
ins the proposal of his health as vine-chairman, said that
some twenty years ago, when he oommenoed business,
the four-course system of farming was considered the
beet to pursue, inasmuch as it Was held to be the least
I expensive and the most profitable, without exhausting
the produotive powers of the soil ; but since then me-
chanical science had placed in their hands a better de-
seription of implenient to cultivate the soil and prepare
its produce for the market—had discovered in foreign
lands accumulations affording unlimited resources for
fertilising the land, while time railway had afforded the
means of more rapid progress, of obtaining feed for
fattening stook and increasing the food of the people ;
and with all these advantages inexperienoed persons
would not unnaturally say that farming Was a profitable
pursuit. But it was not so ; for by the restricted terms
of agreements the productive powers' of the soil were
limited, and past that limit tenants could not force it.
(Hear, hear.) Ho had no hesitation in saying that who-
ever was injudicious enough to attempt it by expensive
manuring would find to his sorrow that, although the
mops might look luxuriant through the winter and
wing months, the storms of summer would blast all his
hopes of a good harvest. The time was conic he was
satisfied, when nine out of ten of the farm leases, with
their extraordinary covenants, should he sent to the
British Museum as curiosities worth preserving. (Hear,
hear, and laughter.) It was high time that fair play
was given to the British farmer—that he should be
allowed to use Ilis own judgment and experience in
oarrying out the system suggested by the Hon, R. W.
Clive, M.P., at the Bridgnorth and Ludlow agricultural
meetings, of growing two white-straw crops in Ancona.
AM. and thereby beaming more independent of foreign
suppliew and lees dependent upon artificial manure for
inereaming the fertility of the coil. (Applause.) He
knew of Ito trade, galena, or profession that was 'to en-
monitored as the cultivation of the soil. The great tutt-
ing and manufacturing Interests of the oountry were
perfectly free to trawled Any amount of bitainese they
could, and all they had to contend with was exemeive
ii. iglivieraiteees,t seiiiilteonttl.learautiunrinetiouinooof
°Turiiir were tl:
Atom were moaned with impunity, hut whoever
fetal of a fernier getting Mil V ((th loh I and great
laughter.) Well, if they did not believe it, lie would
Iny no loon about it, (Hear, hear.) hut he did eon.
buol that fanners iambi be left to their own skill and
judgment i and, union, they were so left, it was towhee
to talk about improvement In egrieulture, or ot Ode
country hemming Independent of foreign eopplles, if
thel ;migrate whielt we hearth lai melt talk of through.
Out the length and breadth of the land was be tel the
WatehWerit of the liritieh fernier, he lowest not he hunger
tied and fettered as though the eel) genius of 1116 mope.
lion compelled him to 61160 restraint I but lie 1111011 be
treated am a rational being, having II high mom 14 the
honour and reputation he fled at Make i it. Meet be at
liberty to pooh lila oueupation acoonliog to his own lii.
dependent Nilpotent 1 in eliort, lie mud be
" tall to Alois met evi es tree as air i
" Ni, servile hailu of thralthile OWN."

(Prod applaume,)
The Ulmlnnen, 111 propooltig " Mticooom to the Modell,'
yield he was quite ohm. 0114 the movement omit; by Mr.
Herbert, In giving ellitoetliniel pilaw', wee in the right
illreollon, hut dill ha tumid not blind liiinoolf to the feat
thel they muet go further then OKI, If they meant to
educate the lehouring *how up to the neoefieltlea of the
tiniee, When he maid the neoeamitiel of the lime, he
had 1/11111011110 reference to the iniolfloent displey of
inechanicel power it the hoot meeting of the Hoed Ali
riculturel riouloty of &tempi it Molter, whieli mud
have struck every rite of a thoughtful and reflecting
mind, When one Neel the old way of doing ituuue
everything euperoedeil by 1101@t106 and stem, one
naturally asks ones' eolf the question—" Where are the
labourer' to oerry out ell these improvements?" They
won't some when wanted, but inuot be foluoeted tip to
the advenced stags of agrictilturs. (Hear, hear.) Theo•
retioal instruction for youth was very well and very
neoeosary, but Ito contended that without praotioel
edtioetion It left the boy or girl upon entering life very
ill qualified for the duties to be performed. And to the
great question of praotioel education he suggested that
the neoessitleo of the times Imperatively demand that
greater attention should be given. (Applause.)

T. FRZNOIit Govonsinmr AND Fellll TOADS.—
The Count de Man.:wort, French Count in Newcastle-
on-Tyne, has addressed to the President& of the Agri.
oultural klocioties of Northumberlond, Durham, York.
shire, and Lincolnshire the substonoe of & despatch re.
aelved from the Minister of Agriculture, Commerce, and
Public Work, in Frame, through the French Forel/11-
°BBn, reopening the remit of the repeal of the corn
laws in this country. Similar ooininuniestiono hove
also been 'Abetted to the Newcastle Farmer.' Club and
the Tyneside Agriculture! Society, with a request that
all these 'moieties, hi exprening the sentiments of the
agricultural interest of the north of England, would
communicate to the French Government their opinion
as to the effect* of free trivia in corn upon the landed
and agrioultund intereots. Aooompanying the despatoh
is • schedule of queotions calculated to if opinions
f the free trade question. The
uirlin r
French Minister ase of
by rioting that in the month
of April, 1864, his department had communicated to
that of Agriculture, Commerce, and Public Works, •
report emanating from the Consul-Generol of France in
London, snd containing divers return. and information
on the result of the repeal of the corn laws in England.
Then returns closing with the year 1863, the Minloter of
Agriculture, M. Migne, hod expressed a desire to ve
similar information for the succeeding year., and, with-
out wishing to 61 the limits of the investigation mean•
sary to inform him completely on this subject, he had
Indicated in an enclosure the points on which he
wished particularly to poison elan returns M. Mips
further desired to know the average price and the
amount of importation of foreign corn in each year since
1853, as well as the produce of the grain harvests In Eng-
land for the greatest possible number of years. The Mininer
requests the Consul to place him in • position to reply
to the question. of M. Migne for his district in the north
of England, end in nue the oMaially.published docu-
ments of the United Kingdom could not furnish sufe.
oiently aciourate return, on the points noted for exam!.
Indica to address himself to the dittenht epteultuel

would

reoel,

societies, which, he doubts not, would without butts.
tion comminute to him the information which they
wanes. The category of questions intended to elicit
this information is as follows :-
1. Whether the breadth of land devoted to the cul-
ture of grain has been extended or diminished.
2. In the event of the seine having been diminished,
whether the extension of drainage has not hod the
' effect of compensating in a certain proportion for the
diminution of breadth under cultivation, in increasing
the quantity of the produoe.
3. What baa been the effeet of the repeal of the corn
laws on agriculture in England
4. Mace the period of that repeal has the produce of
the soil experienced increase or diminution?
5. Has the rotation of crops been changed, and In
what manner
8. Hu the rent of the land risen or fallen
7. Has the income of those who cultivate their own
land inareued or diminished?
8. Give the same information with respect to those
who occupy their land as tenants—that is to say, as
farmers. In the examples given state also what are the
most useful conditions of luting, and what is the usual
terin of the lease.
9. Has the selling price of land increased or dimi-
nished?
10. What has been the influence of recent legislation
on the ooneumption of bread and on that of butcher

Soros idea of the extent of the hop cultivation, in the
eountles of Kent and Sussex, may be gained from the
foot that, in addition to those which reach the metropolli
by the thightoe and South Coast Railways and other
moans of transit, the South Eastern Company alone
have during the present season run three extra trains
Into London daily, each averaging fifty truck loads of
hops.
Butx.rmeneo SkrusonninAer. Hie Grace the
Duke of Portland, highly approving of the system of
Mr. Horsy in referenoe to the timing of homes, sent for
hie groom, M. James Thompson, to undergo a course of
inetruotion under that eminent master, Since Mr.
Thompson's return to Widbeek he has tried theaystem on
• valuable but very violent& bull, an Alderney, and which
had become Omit unnianeguble, and even a terror to
his keeper. He prickled -• short time on him is his
*lied, and then took him into the open park, having
only Hours. J. and A. Field with him as spectators.
After operatiag on the bull fee a short time, Kr, T. and
his friends cash lay down between his legs, the bout
having nothing atteelied hhn except a cord to hie
noes. He web ati tradable and docile es a child. We
oungratulate Mr. Thompson on the courage and skill be
exhibited on this occasion, and we augur very favourable
moults will online front Kt Rarey's system &incept
beast& as well as 11011111.
BARIIIII•MY Outwits FAlL—This annual likres,
cattle, and sheep fair was held on Monday week. The
attendanoe of buyer* MU smaller than usual, the es.
treissly unfavourable state of the weather having doubt
-
lea* kept many away. Them was a good show of
homes and sheep, but scantly an_ avow* of cattle.
Good draught hones *old at from 1114 to 1140, end hack.
..reaut fr°4llH Itprilviniagpwools: 141249stoPr10411attriapetraZ 3/110 Wl°
1121 calves 011411