The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-12-12 00:00:00

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Contrary to thfi.rrtde which obtains with
humanity, theanimal which fattens th e most and
the quickest is held to havethe "highest" blood
mite veins. So the young ladies and dwellers in
towns, who poke the puffy sides Of the animals
exhibited at Islington with such continiseration,
might console themselves with the reflection that
the objects of their pity are the real aristocrats
of their race. But the farmer's duty by no
means ends in the high state of perfection to
which he has brought the art of fattening;
neither does it rest with the great improvements
which have been going on of late years in
ploughing, reaping, and other kinds of labour.
If we may use the ekpression, it is on the moral
side of this profession that the farmer may be
said to have mostly erred. While he has been
progressing at a railway pace, those who have
really been the makers of his wealth, the
"hands," have lagged far behind, and the fact is
indisputable, we fear, that much greater care has
been bestowed on the animal than on the
labourer. Wages are a trifle better than they
used to be, we admit; thanks to enlightened
legislation, bread is more abundant, and provi-
sions of all kinds less dear; but taking the social
status of the labouring man into consideration,
he is apparently not a whit improved from what
he was in the olden times. Despite the exertions
which have been made in the way of education,
he plods his weary course, unmoved by opportu-
nities absolutely within his reach, and unstimu-
lated by the progress which he sees around him.
There is something radically wrong in this state
of things which might well form a topic of dis-
cussion at our Melplaish and other agriculture
meetings. Of what use is education if the poor
father is unable to spare his child for school ?
The man who would put a colt into harness ere
it was "rising four" would be deemed both cruel
and imprudent ; yet it seldom occurs to our
rural friends that it is just as imprudent to
"break in" a lad for labour at a similarly early
period. The farmers, who, by giving a little
better wages to the parents, might well check
the evil, rarely, we believe, do so. Who ever
heard of an employer refusing work to a "hand"
became he ought to be going to school'? Until,
however, there is something like the same kind
of rule with boys as with colts, there is little
chanoe of the labourer's position being much im-
protred. It may be argued that it is against the
farmer's interest to promote such an improve-
ment. Very likely it is—that is to say, against
his immediate interest—but will he always be
satisfied with the uncomfortable comparison be-
tween his own well-to-do condition and his
labourer's poverty? Low wages, moan crowded
and unhealthy dwellings, family demoralitation,
ignoranoe, and too often vice. Are these un-
worthy the farmer's attention, and is it not in
his power to prevent them 1 We think it is,
and if, instead of rapid conversation on politics,
unmeaning compliments to each other, to say
nothing of giving the labourer a "coat, waist-
coat, and 205." for good behaviour, practised at
our annual gatherings, the farmers would devise
schemes for raising their "hands" a little in the
scale of civilisation, their societies would accom-
plish a glorious mission.