The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1866-12-18 00:00:00

DORCHESTER F A MYERS' CLUB.,
ops
A meeting of llam
' b took Pingo at the Met
Hotel on flaturda last. °odor the Pr"doomr of Mr.
A
B.
claim
the
_y tsur:n.riedvoidabimule
inmemos of G. J. Wood, Smi.. Irmo o° ,
Mr. It. Dunes,
rdtion. There were rileopreeseB
. _4
r. H. Hawkins, !dr- T. 11
Saunders, Mr. J. G Homer, Mr. Clunents, Mr.
s Oelpu' , Mr. 'l'. Chick, r. lisrd".g P.
Aidridle. Hr. T. Short°, Mr. G. J. Andrews (hots.
sue.), Mr. H. Lock, Ac.
Mr. H. issue. In (Meiling the proceedings, said it was
with inneji regret that he found himself in the position
of conirrom. et the first meeting of the club, and be was
every one present, and evety member of the
pure every
joined in that regret, because it was occaaloned
by the avers illness of Mr. Wood. He (Mr. Wood)
had been is the town that day, and it was difficult to
keep him from their meeting, and common prudence
alone prevented his being with them bet be sincerely
**anted that hie not taking libernes with himself
would be the means of restoring bim more speedily to
them. He hoped that in his absence every member would
endeavour to prevent as far as be could individually any
loss arising to the slob from that cense They must all
agree that they were much indebted to him for the
success that had attended their club trout his efforts,
and all his admirers must testify to the ability he had
displayed in his position of chairman. He would now
pass to • more i*saant subject, end congratulate them
en the special manner in which they had been favoured
In that neighbourhood ; whilst in many pert' of England
the harvest had been spoiled by the weather, in Dorset
they had been blamed with such success, that their
crops Ind been rarely if ever better secured; if DOI so
heavy, they were at Mast, of average quality. They
had also been favoured in an almost total exemption
from that dreadful pest the cattle plata' ; thousands of
animals had been swept away In other parte of England,
whereas comparitively few in this county had 'offered.
The speaker than referred to the corn ng session and
suggested that they should all make a mint of wander-
frog the subjects announced for discussion before coming
to the meeting, and further that they should endeavour
to make their proceedings as attractive as possible. The
club had • goodly number of members, though bethought
many more ought to join them as • matter of principle,
and he thought they could fairly expect a larpr at-
tendance than they ordinarily had at their meetings.
Be remarked that the club bad been somewhat blamed
for not being practical enough, and expressed • hope
that during the present erosion, their proceedings might
b 3 thoroughly practical and tend to their mutual
advantage. In conclusion be remarked that one of their
members bad patented an implement, and be hoped
wonld explain it to them in the course of the session.
The foUowing new members were elected :—Mr. C.
Sent (Dewlish), Mr. Cunningtco, Mr. Biggs, and Mr.
R, Lock (Dorchester), and Mr. J. Harding, jun.
It was thee arranged that Mr. G. Gilpin should intro-
duce for discussion at the next meeting, the subject of
Faros Agreements.
The Climittiag then briefly introduced Mr. 0. W.
Horner, of Atbelhampton, to read his paper upon
Agricultural Statistics, which was as follows :
In presenting myself before you I sionsider that I
am out of place and certainly out of taro, inasmuch as
another gentleman and another theme had been fixed
upon for this events', but I an, happy to be able to
Meet the exigence of the club, and without troubling
you with any further apology, I at mem proceed to the
subject which I have to bring before you, via., Agri.
co.tural Statistics. Statistic* have been described as
that deportment of political science which is concerned
Is collecting and arranging facto illustrative of the con-
dition and resources of the Mate. Is order to legislate
wisely it is necessary fore Government to obtain our.
reel information on all three subjects upon which they
are required to legislate. Sound statistical infor-
mation is, therefore. indiapensable to sound
legislation, whether the subject relate to agri-
culture, manufacture, or commerce. Partial or limited
statistics can never impart sound infor.nartion, they can
only lead to injestice and deception. The hulk of
multifarious quality can never fairly be represented by
sample ; it is necessary to have fall and complete returns
where the qualities are so venom. MoCallock says,
"Observations are seamely ever made or particulars
noted for their own sakes. It is not until they begin to
be in request as fumbling the only test by which to as-
certain the truth or falsehood of some
popular theory
that they are made in su m fficient numbers and with
ruftleient accuracy." And for the collection of them in
sufficient number, and with sufficient accuracy, nothirg
less than the authority of Government is required. It
Is equally evident that upon all subject.; on which they
are oalied to legislate requiring such extensive informa-
tion it is their bounden duty to obtain it, care being
taken that all unnecessary exposure of private circa's-
Mantes should as far as possible be avoided. The
observance of such rules as thane will go far to do away
with the objections which have been urged against the
colleetios of statistics, indeed, it may be asked,
why should exposure be feared in this cam more than
those of the adjustment of Poor Rates or Income
Tax' Until lately very little importance has been
attached to statistical enquiry, but recently the more
eereful study of political economy has brought out its
importance, and almost every civilised nation addressee
Itself to the eubjeet. Indeed, it has been said, that the
civilisation of a country may be measured by the com-
pleteness of it. statistical returns. There is in this
country • statistical department in connection with the
Board of Trade, the province of which is to arrange the
collection of statistical evidence on all subjects required
by the Government. The most ancient statistical record in
this country is the Doomsday Book, completed in 108 d;
and this work, as might be expected, at • tarns when
manufmtore an I commerce were in their earliest infancy,
has special reference to agriculture. It contains • oom-
plate record of • survey of the whole country, giving the
names of the owners of all lands, the number of
tenants and others of various ranks end calibre., the
quality and value of lauds, and whether in forest,
pasture, arable, or waits, It 11331326 counties the num-
bers of cattle, sheep, swine, and working horses are given.
Enr*ly it Is somewhat strange, that although nearly
*inn hundred years have passed this cootinues the most
complete yof the whole country yet made. This
fain alone speaks volumes as to the fertility of our
resources, the industry of our farmers, and the bounties
of Providence towards us ; had periods of scarcity and
famine been frequent, this important subject would not
so long have remained in abeyance. It is useless to
attempt to disguise the fact that this question has been
a most unpopular one with the agricultural body. The
p. incipal causes which have led to this feeling are, I
believe, the following :—lot. The injudicious way in
which it has been promised that agricultural statistics
should be collected. 2od. Because those at present
collected are either wilfully, or from apathy and ignor-
&rico, most deceptive, and calculated only to mislead
and to injure. 3rd. The little confidence felt by seri.
crulturists in that departumut of the Government to
which their interests are coufided, I refer to the Board
of Trade. The schemes proposed for obtaining agricul-
tural retn.-na ban been very numerous, and all that I
have seen contain some objectionable feature. In
a bill brought into the House of Commons by Mr.
enrol, it was proposed that in case the occupier did
Out make the return any person duly sr thorned by tho
Board of Trade might, after three day', hike
the necesmiy steps for obtaining the required 't forma-
tion by other means, and for that purpose enter upon
the land without being liable to an action for trespass.
In • Bill which passed the Home of Lords the to .no-
pulsory clauses were still more objectionable. Again,
It has been proposed that the county police form should
b 3 employed in this work, the plain inference being that
whilst there couoty gentry are looking after rogues
sad vagabonds on the one hand, and estimating the
derelict crops of the husbandman on the other, they are
engaged in employment, very nearly akin. Sorely it '
ean be no impossibility to frame some practical measure
free from such objectionable features is these. I have
said that the statistic@ of arriculture at present collected
are false and deceptive, arid in saying this I specially
refer to the system at present adopted of
arriving at the corn average.. I need not
further insist upon the necomity of correct
returns, ninon on these are founded the varying annual
amount of Tithe Rent Charge, the Corn itrotal if
Farms, and the valuations of Outgoing end Incoming
Tenant*. Thia question was so ably brought before you
about two years ago by a gentleman whom I now see
amongst on, that only the great importance of the sub-
ject justifies 1113 in reviving it. It was then clearly
shown that not one half of the wheat grown in this
country found it. way into them returns, less than one
fourth of the barley, and even far less than that primer-
lion of nate. That the corn which got returned was
nearly all of auperior quality, and consequently that the
average of prices was far above what they ought to be.
The arguments and feete brought before you were so
raaanswerable arid so @reviewing, that thie club, ia
common with others, presented • memorial to the Board
of Trade upon the subject, and with what result? At
that time the returns were professedly made froin 290
to•arr, which number was rather more than half of the
corn market+ of England, but of that number some were
shown to have dwindled to comraeatively small dimes-
isris and others were obsolete. Our memorial to the
Board of Tmde asking for more complete returns was
answered, and I would call particular attention to the fact
by the reduction of the number of 290 towns to that of
1110. Upon what principle, I would ask, can the smaller
number of market towns maw the more complete
returns! If this he the reply of the Board of Trade
how can ire interpret it but by calling it mere
mockery ? Let us examine how this system works in
the adjoining county of Wiltshire. In that county there
are but two or three towns where these returns are
made, and in these market.. (perhaps os amount of con-
venient railway accommodation) higher prices are gene-
rally obtained than is other end smaller markets. In
onirequenar of this, and from this important fact of
none of the secondary qualities finding their way into
the markets, the corn averages in ordinary seasons stand
at several shillings more than the average prices actually
obtained, or obtainsble by arra growers. This is the
osae in ordinary seasons, but this year, from special
comes, the injustioe is of peculiar magnitude. You are
acme that bet a small proportion of the Parley grown
this year in Wiltshire was harvested in a fit state for
melting purpose,. by far the greater nroPortion of it
being deteriorated in enioe he the weather to
the eatent of shout twenty shillings r'i e uarter In order to obtain correct av o 22222 it wouldibe ners nu.r that the rano°, I itudities of bsrley ebould he ret i
In the weer proportioa• se they w urn'
llst
what is the real ',tate elf the ea.., 7,...-ror:n.
made up partly upon the honey grown in thtautrna nri.nh-
bourhood, which via harvested with but little 4
injury from weather, but in • large proporti .n or
tlme choicestgunnel.' of Doreatelare barley taken tr'.
these markets for sale by grower@ and dealers. There
can be no doubt that the corn averages for the county
of Wilt, will for barley stead at from 104. to 15.. per
quarter higher than the aetnsl market value of Wilt-
shire barley. You know that it is customary for an
Incoming tenant upon taking off a crop to pay for it by
the averages of • neighbouring market Thus a tenant
entering upon • form, say in the neighbourhood of
Wannioater, would now, by the averages of that market,
have to nay for the barley crop which he takes off from
lON. to 15s. per quarter more than the average roee of
the barley grown in the comely of Wiltshire. Can we
imegine • merchant, It manufacturer, or even a tithe-
rent charge proprietor remaining passive under •
grievance or patent and so painful' ani surely if time
litient endurance uf the " hocolic m ginind" suffer such
stjustice without demsal for reparation, it is worthy
all the ignominy which it ever and anon receive*.
In order that the most reliable information may be
obtained, and also that it may be rendered in the most
precties/ form, it is needful that:the authority engaged
a the volt, should have • oompetent..knowledge