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

agriculturist,. Passing toothier matters of great intereet to
Us as ratepaj era, I may be allowed to offer you roe heerte
eingratuletions upon the passing of the Prhsens Bill Irrn•
You are well aware thatehis was one of the subjects which
engaged our st'enti ii during the lest session of our club.
To the principle of that ineasore you have always given
your earnest and unqualified support. The !subject has
already received ea much :attention at your hands that I
only feel called upon ti remark that whilst reflecting
credit upon our government, it may also afford us •
reasenable expectation, that the promise given as to the
institution of County Finance Boards may lie redeemed
in the session of 1878. The working of the Agricultural
School Act deserves netice as being an important
measure affecting those employed in agriculture. The pest
year has &died to our experiences in thie respect. I am
quite aware that this measure has thrown another
difficulty in the path of agriculture, and consequently
cannot be regarded with universal matisfaction. Under all
the circumstances of the case I aim unable to look upon
it, but as an honest attempt to settle a difficult question.
Undoubtedly cases of hardship will arise, but such must of
neeessity be the accompaniment of &measure of this kind.
Taken as a whole may it not be considered that this
measure is working reasonably well I There may be
defects which time will assist in developing and amend-
ment may then be sought for. Circumstances are
throwing considerable influence in connective with
country scheols, into the hands of agriculturists. Is It
not the patriotic and the social duty as well as the true
and wise policy, of all tra unite ie their endeavours to give
the working of this measure a fair and impartial trial.
These, Gentlemen, of the many great and stirring
questions which during the past year have bad a special
hearing up el the interests of agriculture, are the only ones
to which! have now either time or opp artunity to refer
Passing on to another branch of my subject, I have tbought
that, upon entering the seventh year of our existence as •
club, we might well take a retrospect of pant work with
I the view of arriving at correct conclusions as to whether
I we have or have not accomplished the objects for which it
wag considered desirable to form this association. To use
the word, of the gentleman who gave the inaugural
address in 18111, I would say 'The object of a Farmers'
Club is the communication of useful information through
the medium of discussion and conversation? The subjects
which must of necesnity occupy attention are those having
close connection with agriculture. They admit of three
principal divisions—viz.: lot. Practical agriculture : flad,
social questions connected with agriculture ; eril, political
questions particularly bearing upon agriculture, or having
special intercoms for agriculturists. Questions connected
with each of these departments have in turn received
I attention at your hands. I have before referred to the
Prisons At as having had your hearty support. The
subject of the formation of Ceunty Financial Boards first
engaged your att•ntion in 1865, frequent reference has
been made to it in subsequent debates, and the expression
• of opinion has been universally in favour of such institu-
tions. May we not justly claim sonic share of credit for
helping forward this measure to its present stage 1
Arnonest the more prominent wend questions which have
occupied your attention. I would mention "The system of
hiring and the payment of agricultural labourers,"
"Cott age accoromolation on ferns in Dorset," and
" Agricultural hygiene," the latter having been introduced
by the present Mayor of Dorchester, in 18e9. The impor-
tance of this subject has been fully endorsed lay the passing
of the Public Health Act, 1875, to which I shall presently
hare occasion to refer, lime alone prevents me from
referring to others equally important Social and polltieal
questions, the discussions upon which have not only been
profitable to ourselves, but have, in a limited degree,
aelisted In the formation of public opinion. I cannot,
therefore, look hack upon the history of our club in these
respects but as having been a success. Under the head of
practical agriculture we have, undoubtedly, those subjects
which are especially important to us, as members of •
Farmers' Club, and yet I fear that it is to the discussions
upon these that we must look back with the last amount
of satisfaction. The object of these discussions is, I may
remind you, that of mutual instruction by the interchange
of opinions basest ag much as possible upon practical
experience. In farming there are no trade secrets. The
world wide area of production prevents any impr3vementa
of system which we might iniroduce from having an
appreciable effect upon general market prices, and yet
benefit would accrue to individuals who adopted improve-
ments. Many practical subjects have from time to time
been before you, introduced often by wen of considerable
experience, and in a way which has not only reflected
credit upon themselves and your club, but has been the
means of deeseminating valuable information far beyond
Your own circle. But the number of practical agriciils
turista attending your meetings is often small, and the
burden of supporting a discussion falls upon a few, and in
this respe:t we are not fully answering the objects of our
aoeuciatien. We wish to learn from others and in return
for sues instruction are willing to impart any infonna-
tion which we posses!. To secure our purpose we require
the attendance of a larger number of practical agricul-
turist'. Your muster rolls, like those of the Russian
array, are very large upon paper, but the ranks are often
thin ; here the simile ends, for your members, unlike
the Russians have something more than a paper
existence. It may be that there are causes admit-
ting of removal which are making your meetings
smeller than they weulil otherwise be. Allow me to
suggest two, for your consideration. First, the late hour
at which your meetings often begin and consequently
close. Second, the publication of your discunsious by the
press. With a view of meeting the first I ask if it would
not be more convenient if in future your proceedings
commenced punctually at halfspast five and closed at
seven o'clock 1 With regard to my second suggestion, I
have long felt that there are weighty reasons for and
againet the publication of your debates. In the discussion
of social and political questions, the object ie not only
mutual instruction but &leo the drawing out and to some
extent the guidance of public opinion. Were it not for the
press there meet he failure in these respects. On the
other hand it may be urged that if the diseussion did not
appear in print, many would attend your meetings who
mow prefer the more easy but selfish policy of perusing the
proceedings by their own firs-sides. Again there are
others who would not object to express their opinions had
they no dread of notoriety and critisisni, winds' it not
therefore be a politic course to keep your proceedings
private when the nature of the subject is such as to render
it of special interest to practical fanners only One of
the duties which devolves upon the club at this
preliminary meeting, is that of fixing upon subjects for
the present session, and making a selection of gentlemen,
who shall le invested to undertake their introduction.
The first subject which I shall suggest as being not only
worthy of consideration but also as affording every
prospect of profitable liiIICUSIIIOII, and the dissemination of
yeluable information is that of the working of the "Public
Health Art" 1875. Since the present government
has been in suffice, Sanitary Legislation has
been a marked feature of its internal policy ;
and the above Act with its :SI.I clauses has by its consoli-
iletion of numerous small and inefficient Acts, enabled
smiterians to cienhat with the difficulties of previeus
piece-meal legislation : and Town Councils, vestries,
Local Beards, Se., who may be constituted the sanitary
authorities of a district or town, are now invested with
ouch powers that no excuse will be availabe should they
fail to carry out the work of sanitation. Amongst the
numerous Acts consolidated by this Act, are the Public
Health Act's, 1818 and 11172; the Com 1111 l u Lodging House
Art., 11151 and 1853; the Niiisence Item oval Acts, 1855,
leel, and 181%; the Sanitary Acts, PIM and 1570; and the
Local Government Acts, Issll, 1801, and 11171; and they
are repealed, except, indeed, so fee as any et them relate
to the Metropolis, or to Scotland and Ireland. The
Metropolis, with its four mallows of inhabitants, and its
one hundred square miles of bricks and mortar, requires
special aanitary legislation. anil a Bill entitled the
Public Health Metropolis Bill" is before Parliament, and
in the course of next sesnioe will probably become law.
In the Act of 1875 ample provision is made, and power
granted to the authorities for carrying out as efficient
system of drainage in their towns or districts, and for the
ultimate treatment and disposal of the sewage, and
although this is semewhat a vexed question, the Local
Government Board is continually urging its importance
and necessity upon local authorities. Provisions are also
made for the providing of a proper and pure supply of
water; for the scavenging and cleansing of streets; for
the restrictions of offensive trades; for the removal and
abatement of nuisances; for dealing with infectious
thetas., and the providing of hospitals and mortuariea
for the regulation of streets and building.; and for the
lighting of the public thoroughfares ; and analysts are not
forgotten, whose duty it is ti see that the food supplied is
pure and unadulterated; finally the Act provides for the
estebliehment of public pleasure grounds, a hall for public
meetings ; and, that the hours of fleeting time should
be correctly chronicled, a town clock may be
erected at the public cost. Medical officers of health and
sanitary inspectors have their duties to perform, and by
the joint efforts of these officers and the Boards, to which
they are attached, we may look forward, in time, to a
diminution of our death rate and to the lessening of disease
amongst us, and to the postponemeet of the attack of our
"last enemy." With such • comprehensive Act in our
hands, is it not the duty of one and all of us to unite with
the authorities in the effort to extend the blessings of
health to the community at large (and more particularly
to our pourer neighbours who are leant able to help them-
selves) by using all the means at command for preventing
as tar as possible the ravages of those diseases, which
seem to be controlable in proportion as the natural laws of
health are maintained / which laws sanitary science
endeavours to enforce. We may hope thus in some
measure to counteract those evils, which ignorance, as
well soon advanced civilization, ental upon us. In cons
nection with this subject I shall bring to your notice the
name of Dr. Thomas, the deputy coroner of Central
Middlesex, who, as Medical Officer of Health of the
Willesden District, has had considerable experiet cc, and
I suggest for your approval that this gentleman he invited
to give us the advantage of his knowledge of the subject
at our next ineetiug. The next subject which I have to
propose for your connideratien is that of "Changes of
system rendered desirable by the increased cost attending
the management of land." This is one of those subjects
upon which it will be most desirable to obtain a wile
range of opinion and suggestion. Its chief interest is to
Ili as agriculturists, and this might he • favourable
oppoy tunity of testing whether a better debate upon some
practical subjects might not be obtained with closed doors.
To undertake the introduction you will require not only •
practical man but also a gentleman possenaing consider-
able range of thought and enquiry, and if my proposition
meets your views, we will invite our treasurer, Mr.
T. C. Saunders, to undertake the introductory paper.
Another subject which presents itself to my re nd
affording a fair field for investigation is that o, the
administration of the Poor-law, especially in connection
with the gradual decrease of out-door relief. If this
should be acceptable to the club, I think that you cannot
put the matter into better hands than those of Mr.
Arthur Lock, so well known as the able assistant of his
father in the secretaryship of the Dorchester Board of
Guardians. In filling in oar list of subjecta we niust not
forget that a most important measure, as affecting the
rural districts, is likely to °mum( the attention of Parlia-
ment during the next session. I refer to "The Establish-
ment of County Financial Boards." One meeting of
your club should I* left open for the consideration of a
measure of this kind, should /such make its appearance in
the House of COMIIIORIS. When I mention the nettle of
Mr. Robert Damen I think you wlll all unite with me in
requesting him to undertake this subject, and you will
agree with me that in his hands there will be no danger
of its not receiving that careful attention which its lee
portance deserves, If you are good enough thus far to
accept my suggestions there will yet remain one meeting
at our disposal. There are a class of farm servants of the
highest value to the farmer, whose merits have not in the
past received that amount of recognition which they
Dollies are hlghoelty:::ild:tl::eili
deserve. Untiring and enthusiastic in their work, for
which they are always ready from early morning to latest
night, uncomplaining of hard usage, devoted in their
faithful affection, prompt and ready witted, obedient and
unselfish—what class of service is better performed than
those of the shepherd's dog. Civilisation unfortunately
is only done piecemeal, and there is never an advance of
one clam which does not more or less leave another class
out in the cold. In Ireland and the Highlands, where the
"gudetuan canna be bushed to gang upstairs to bed
after his hard work," the colley is treated
In every respect as one of the family, and behaves as such,
living, sleeping, feediug with the others, but, with the
advanceood
ottages
many r o oomf sc thevili za
poort dogwhich
s b
lyr
care
st :a:4:a
tdoansi lc
Shows
ef andlleeso eet owry.
shiver in an outhouse on the coldest nights after • hard
In
edsb ef
I:.m g:p:
expect. wsta.
few
rk.
et) part,
speedutt rseedklH. reward
Highland
ot
~thhhrf ehwronm IhwdSichilAi!hrhery a :I
bi
epr getsze hel
lost
tfprize.
yearlythe teats
bu ty
prefer
uot
improving
sihn
indirectly the dog gets benefit and the master too. I
f andladrth.e
very
areer
yhh
best
this
scarce
a bad dog or a sour shepherd. In New Zealand Scotch
employed
eny districtea dno f o epoe r
duty, which developes their sagacity into something
fetch froni £3 to 10 up to fancy prices for extra clever
dhouge.man.ForhthS;
old-fashioned English sheen dog to the Scotch colley, and
it is to the considerati
this breed, and establishing uniformity of type, that we
may profitably devote one meeting of our session. The
The Stalbridge Agricultural Society is moving in this
matter, and at their coming show prizes of a few pounds
are offered for ',beep dogs. This department will, I
believe, form neither the least attractive or least useful
part of the show. There is a gentleman In this county
who, sada* tbs nom di Pituni of "Iclstons," is well known