The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1874-01-06 00:00:00

Till LAMAL AIM LAIQUR 01' AURIOULTI RM.

Mr. President and tiontlemen,—lt is now dome years since I
had the honour of introducing at your club shortly alter its
foundation the dlacuseion on "The Itelationship of Capital
and Labour, partleularly as applied to Agriculture." Although
that is so extensive a subject that It tesa inapos.lible to eallaW4
it, nevertheless it tr.an discussed comprehensively, and I should
not again bring it before you were It not that late years base
been productive of many new theories respecting the holding
and cultivation of land. It may well become us as a club to
review these theorist of ntodern growth, in contrast with obis'
principles, and endtavour to draw aniclusions as to whether
they combine the casential qualigmtions of VIM Ingress and
strict justice. In the discussion this evening we may tmat the
subject of "The Capital and labour of Agriculture" as a sequel
to our former diecussion to which I have referred we shall
thus be saved from retraversing well.worn ground, and no
farther reference need be made to gnat general principles,
titan may be required In order to make our subject ititelliphle.
Capital admits of the simple division int,, fitted anti floating.
Fixed Capital comprise* lands, buildings, roala, milways,
Floating Capital conslats of coin and other interchangeable
ummuudities. The best form of national wealth is in land, and
the improvements effected upon it and in the minerals which are
found beneath the surface Thtwebeing almost irnsuoveable, are
secure to a country. Unavoidable onus. May at any time lead
to a great diminution in the Floating Capital of a nation.
It might have been thought that the immovability of land
would have made it an undesirable private investment, and
kept it at a low price in proportion to other securities ; but
such is far from being generally the ease. The itomovability of
land has made it the infest of properties, and, together with
the political and social advantages which its powaysion Is sup.
posed to confer, has raised its value to tho highest mint
amongst Interchangeable commodities. The ownership of land
has thus become a 'luxury to be enjoyed by such only as tan
afford to receive a very small annual return from their capital.
"What the eye mount sew the heart does not rue," is an old
proverb which is not applicable to land. We Imo, of "the sea,
the Des, the beautiful sea ;" but few there are who cal t see
far more beauty In the endlessly changing varieties of land'
*cape Well, gentlemen, whether from "envy, hatred, manes,
and all uncharitableness," whether from a shwere and honest
belief that under its present holding the laud is not applied to
the best use, or whether to raise a revolutionary cry easy to
be undenff.xxl, knd which is likely to find favour with that
numerous ethos who would rather deal from others than work
themselves, it is not oty duty to enquire; but the fact remains,
that there is in thin country an agitation in progwess for an
alteration of the laws respecting the holding and sale of land.
New Woes who are thus Istrithling admit of division into two
tartlets, the one having- far more advanced views than the
other. The itrogranune of the more moderate party is the
abolition of the laws of primogeniture and entail, and a
simplification of title and tnunifer. That of the extreme party
wens to be "a curtailment of private rights in land" which
carried to its neessary result means that the state Intuit
assume the ownership of all lands. Compensatiott to the
present owner* Is a question not hardly deemed of sulficient
account as to deserve conaideration. In order rightly to on'
derstasul the ownership of land it may be necessary to trace
back its history to remote ages. The primary and itesmary
wants 41 ',unkind are very simple. They are embraced under
the four heads of food, lodging, clothing and valuattion. In a
saysge state the first of those four neecesithe is the all im-
portant nos l'he lodging is the haraboo hut or the hollow
tree. EaluCation is cm,fhicil to learning the ails of war, of
hunting and of simple cookery, and as for clothing-- well, it Is
here untimessary to lay hare the naked truth. Civilisatiou and
invuotulation arc the two poweni which hate changed all this,
the former emoting the demand and the latter supplying the
moot. for the enjoyment of higher luxurits. it is here worthy
of remark how tinoot two powers, civilization and aoeutindation,
et...v.:nature hand in band ; with the reclamation from the
r,,,aga state there arises a desire to etore Up inirplita prodoe-
I.on, and this leads to the asnimilatien of wealth. T., liaNe
all things in stumps' may be the town libel for those who are
educated up to the proper etzte 11 perfection, but to ordioaq
mortals it limns a return to the moons it herlauity. The
natural productions...ll/nd are Shona anti thistles. ..MI wild
and infenor fruit., and such like. llies sullies to supply the
want* of the savage, but the neessities of civilization are that
Ouse natural ',reelections be supplanted Inc Moe: of better
north. Ileum the massity for cultivating land. In
treating of land it i* necessary to hear In mind that
there in a wide gulf between the watch:rusts and
llne fruitful field. The latter shows the transformation
effected upon the wildernees by ages of toil. Look at the
beautiful %alleys of irrigated meadows now worth their three
or four pounds per acre in annual talue, and mute/ober that
these were originally loge, toor.larall, and litagnant pooh,
fruitful of Ma and the pleasure grounds nit ininunerable herons.
, „,,,,y of ta,aa, sloping fields of arable, there was originally
little surface emil; such has been protocol by working
with nature, by expiatory to the action oi frosts and mushine
of Ow voiginal buds of gravel, Mist, and linnaitone, together
itie tile application of vuitable manures. On dotter hada
production has been stimulated by deep conflation and sub.
terrantsti w.ete,rripes. to order to gi,e the titetawary stimulus
fur the reckon:thou amnl huprotona,t of I us], it lion mcii tow.'
necessary it. all o tries to less am I (non the
~ommody to a Web it oriAiiially 1ht.4.74.,1, into prnat, Iweehim
Yalu tor exampie 'the instances of Attie Me at, Australia. nd
. .

New Zealand. Thiry melt laticl Is, ir act,. in
and what tempt:thou the) loild out to attiail
settlers? (sans, and has Ca., Salmi) :I. J. • for stir eu, Ih,uu.
tlic lain!, originally a national )srops Its, hai leen velvet-kid
Lama pald;co into a private iiritiarty. It bus been urged
that a nation an she atIVAIII-1,1 11l education and civilization ham
• right to re-consider and reeonstruct, to pass from the old
Mate of things for which the present generation is not respon-
sible, into one more consistent with modern ideas id itrogress ;
that the rtiflitinitthal II Uts titAtc 9( UK ywutabir vl

minerals, he., would be one such n.cscy measure of re-oon-
struction. This opens the question of publlc as against private
rights. The true position appears to be that, in cases of
necessity private netts must give way to public convenience,
full and liberal compensation being made for private interests.
The principle has been admitted in the case of highway'., rail-
ways, and other public works of the fret import:thee It
would be easy to prove that no necessity exists teethe realism-
eon .1 the lands by the State, and further that such en
operation would be unialitic and ruinous. Netwithstantinge
the great outcry which is male as to the high price of human
food, it is very questionable whether it Is not cheaper now
than it was half a century ado, taking lute considendien the
11l in the value of money, and the rice in the price of labour.
See the great Improvements which are constantly being carried
out on land. In in; own neighbourlexel I know of a new river
hating been cut and water meadows relaid at reedier-title
reit. Nut far off I have seen a poor desolate heath country of
some bewares ef acres &eine", broken, eel Mature!, nal
thee converted heti areble land. on a oat tell I have Indy
wee land being eleuesed ant stihsoilei at an eXpelis: of alout
es per acre. 'Die is a smell of what is bd.,: dotal
by primate eilterprite throughout the country. Would improve-
reale progress in this wry tuner State ownership? Enelithe
the have sore enough to know that the small line of red tape
means staguation. It would be easy to prove that the financial
operation Involved would, if not totally impassible, be
impracticable and ruinous. Take all the interests of country
life from the capitalist clam, and much will have been done
towards Inducing them to spree their time and their Manlike*
111 other lands. Although I have been treating if the State
purchase of land as if it were a 'tensible peiey of the future,
nevertheless I do not believe that with all the mad
schema and meopoeitione of the present day that this ene
will ever be seriously entertained. I have enter.' on it rather
to clear the way for the proper consideration of the schema,
of the more nioderate lichee of lan.' Itefonners. The objects
thught tst he accomplished by this tarty are -let. The simplifime
teen of title awl transfer; end, The abolition of the laws of
Enke and Primogeniture. There are few objeats re
dol.:11'1ln; of the attentith of the statethen than the first of I
the.. eireunetaiiece inake it of 'altheal importance that
lend ehoial be chaeging ownership, and yet the :itate throw*
every impediment In the way of such changes. Von Inv
Meet c2,0e0 or e2'eouo in Foreign stocks ; the operation is
completed by receiving the bonds in exchange ter your mime) ;
but If vou purchase but one enedl field, there must investiga-
tion di title and bundles of stamped papers .4 impecng
eppeerthee, in fact the vendor ~f land is generally intected.of
5 per cent.. and the purchaser if 10 per rent .d their reipre-
the capital, Ulster the pnaleill.SysteM of lartlized robbery. Is
much • stets: of thing.. a jun and right sueti Only • few
antiquates could be feunel to defend it. Will no wise steam.=
arise to rid land of this newt unlaces:teary burden? The law of
primogeniture, as a manifest injustice, should lei abolished.
all eases where the late owner docs not signify his will with
meant is, his landed preperty it should be treated al 'amenity.
and equitable apportioned. It 14 true that this might wen :times
had tolls. divisien and breaking up of Large lande I Kale:riles
but I tee.' that such would be an injury to the state. 0;
the col itrery does Ind poi ley and Justice Ali ke deinand the change?
'rho law of entail le of much mere importance, as it has •
bearing on a large Reinsertion of the land of this country. ft
cannot be Jellied that great evil, result from this law. Witness
the case of • poor overgrown estate, heavily mortgaged, yet
strictly entailed. Expenses of maintenance are constantly on
the increase, and rent rolls of such properties are non-elanie.
The position of the owner is not as. enviable one. With only •
life interest, and • decreasing income, he has no incentive to
improvement, end the repairs executed are often of the most
temporary character. It is true that money nay be borrowed
to effect iniproveteenta at 6 or 7 per cent., repayable in about
30 years; but few improvements on land will repay this annual
charge, and in such eases the property becomes Increasingly
Inv sad. on • property in such • thee every cottage wall and
roof will bear the stamp of Entail. Evil as are the effects of
this law it would be gross injustice by abolishing I. to leave the
present owners in absolute possession. Advancing years may
already bare made sons' or nephews' interests of mere market-
able value than that of the present possemor. It must not be
foreetten that the law of Entail is closely connected with our
system of government. ilereditary rulers without hereditary
property would teeth hereditary paupers. It appears to me
that many dlfficuities would be overcome and much gond
effected by allowing the present possessors, under some
vary restrictions, to sell a portion of an entailed pnqierty,
investing the proceeds (still subject to modified entail), in
Government sceur,Ues. The present owner would Increase his
income by exchanging into • better paying security, leas
expense would attend the management of the property. the
stimulus given by the improvements which would probably be
effected by the new owners of the realised part would often
cause • rise in rentable value on the ret•itied portion of the
property, the evils of Entail wool I be mitigetel, and niore land
would be offering for sale. These advantages might all he
secured without inflicting injustice on any file. As tending to
unletter the espied of airriculture such e. measure well deserves
support. Passing to Another part of the subject, I would call
your attention to the burdens whleh rests upon land in the
forms of local and imperial taxation. The question has arisen
whether the land is not taxed far too heavily in prets.rtion to
other properties of the country. It has been urged that since
of thew are hereditary to land, that It has been bought and
sold subject to them. True. this is the au* with regard to the
poor-rate, but I ask Isis this principle received any attention in
ramie, legislation, when it would have told the other way.
Small parishes and Nome other properties had always been
bought and sold, comparatively free from pour.rate classes, hut
being now full contributors to the common fund of the union,
pay the sante proportion as other parishes. Amongst Imperial
Taxation the Income Tex may first be noticed. Under Schedule
A. the landowner pays tax upon the income which he receives
from his land in the form of rents. Under Schedule B. the
occupier pays upon his assumed income. From no other class
Is this tax so strictly and fully collected. I have heath of pro-
testations against the Income Tax, and of propositions for
abolishing it altogether eoming from other elassel, but I
never knew a landowner or occupier object to this
tax. It cannot be that threepence or six pence out
of every pound makes less difference: to • landowner's
or occupier's Income than does the sante amount out of
Income derived from other source., but may it not be that the
Income Tax appears insignificant in remptrient with the many
weightier charges thrown upon land. The Malt Tax is one of
then ; and it presses with peculiar hardship mon the farmer.
It prevent,' him from feeding his cattle .ni corn of inferior
genres- to the beat advantage, it lowers the price of the best
barley to the lantana, and it charge+ the farmer with a heavy
tax on that portion of his pretax what he has malted for the
use of his labourers in the hay and harvest ...lona Take, as
cleaner, a (anti of five hunered anew rentel at seven hundred
minute per annum. At least 20 seeks of malt arta.' be required
111 the oar. The duty ou this would anidunt to about ell,
equivalent to an addition of seven pence halfpenny in the c to
the theme Tax ef the fanner. Nut Malarial Taxation is light
compared with that which ineees tither the micentier of local
Taxation. Mienotuer, I say, for the Taxes are imposed by the
I Imperial Government. and the leen authorities hive merely a
nominal repine over the expenditure ,if three The Lane Tax
thuneh small in allionnt be name]. The ohlest form 'of
level Taxetion ie that if the Pole hate, but inte this hare been
gradually engrafted the charece for Lunatics, ler slietiaSteres,
tor police, for the repine of bridges ter the ahuinatration of
justice, and for other purposes. The rates for three objects
are upon the average abeut Is. in the C. A rate of Is. In the
C upon a hose elegy thereat Em, the entree of • year teu a con-
siderable emu, bet Is probebly a small affair in the theme: of
occupier. Three ehillinies in the C mon a farm is equivalent
re an Income Tax of via shillings in the t to the occupier.
Rut thie was not enough. Better reels were required for
public we., the Ifigheey Act was meal, awl another 6d. In
the c addol is, Local Taxation. 'Noddle:. it Was nuevasiary for
the tinkled gad that there sholll,l litre hcell inertheed
facilities for education througheut the reuntry, it wee by no
lime/wary that this should have been effected at time., rut
I of the temawary oecind,rs of lard. The ...reeler. of land ewe
no good feeling towards the government by whoa': iiistrettem-
tality this injustice was perpetrated... In small parishes
the charge. for alUeational parposcal will anioUlit is eI.l ill the
C, equivalent le an incraliatal Illeene Tax Is. in the e to the
occupiers of land iu, tinwe lalialies. tielitlcilicii; thin: hai pea
.6 my elludine only to the iiiontbarent features of this
Taxation questien, but I hate gala eneuelt sheet. that
it ie a matter .1 the most mewing interest to all alei are am-
ine:red with egriculture. 'nee filieltion will not Meet with s
satisfactory settlement whilst boine el tic tee e ho are the won
deeply interested roman aluthetie. It theta' not be
lone abet that a general decant member* ef Parliament is
approaching. Now Is the time for the agricultural hearten to
make itself thee more felt as • political'. lamer, an.l making
Local Taxation the nand joint of the day, endeavour le bring
this ilUesooll 10 a fair the satisfactory settlement. This pert,
of the subject would !lot bu, oemplete without referine tel the
Tithe Rent (*barge. 111 the ferm tithe Was taken before the
passing if the Tithe l'oninintation Act it wal neat objec-
Getable, a bar to all improvement and goal fanning ; in Its
preant fent, it is far leas so. To the occupier it now forma
Part ea his rent, rising and falling with the con, average..
I have now to mesa of the relationship of landlonl and tenant.
The teneputiel bill of last *canon to regulate this rektiowilep
liaS been so lately brought before you, and In such an able
manner, that it Is unneethary for um tee therese it farther. As
this hill kit is said tribe reintroduced next spring. I wish to
say inily a few words as to Clause IL Preload in good faith in
the intereas of the tenant fanner, It contains a direct blow at
Use rights of property, and doubtkas as such will receive the
hearty eupport of Raticals and Revolutionette. Hearty as is
my sympathy with every measure which Wall to clear the
Course for good farming, yet never will I support a minutia
which hairs On the forefront the impress of robbery. On a
former exertion I brought to your notice the wonderful way
in which the letting value of land has lucre:set from tune to
time. Six hundred pun ago a:veep:nee per acre was the
highest ever paid. Two hundred years ago rent raegiel from
two shillings to ten per acre, and from then, until within he
bet two or three years, there has bean ali almost thine:mien!
rise. This, however, must he discounted by the heavy
outlay's which have been incurred in the crectien of farm
buildings, and in other porta-slant illiprovellients, no matter
whether ciliated by landlunl or tenant. I have now to mention
a soMewitat different state of things. 1,, the Lest two yews
there hail been a oineiderable fall in the letting lane of land,
~ inting to fn.ni 10 to tot per wet The principal cause'
which have lel to this are the following A euereasion
of bad crops, particularly of wheat ; disease anttheat
stock; the Increased cost of labour, and the heavy Capital
which it is now necessary to employ on • farm.
It might be supposes' that the high price of Ilve stuck week'
have rempensated Agriculturists, but such ham not been
generally the came. It must be remembered that live stock
have not hitherto been regarded as profitable on arable land,
exuept as nanufacturers of manure. It is only within the last
year or so that (tattleand Sheep have reeled the net of the
foods grown and purchased for them. All the expenees rein
meted with the fan,, have enonnowily inereesee. Coal and
Inn,,of which fanners are considerable reesuniers, have
doubled in value. Extensive Maelnliery means expensive
repairs. Two thousand muted* wart eapltal newt mean one
hundred 'ter annum more to the net returns of the farmer, andought to Mean two hundred. It has been urged thet mere
capital Is required than Is generally to be foetid 111 entpleynient
on the land. If this were true the cry comet with • bad grace
from the party who are seeking by every tneans in their power,
by nuckhig the capital now employed improlltable, to drive It
from the land. But I do not admit that ulnae present Lore
and regulations much larger mepitels two be profitably
employed. There is abundance of wealth in this comery readyfor Investment In Russian beans, ilungarian Raikays, or
Venezuela Mines, but it Noire not to nor own suit The
reasons are plain. The risks are great, the business
is troublesome, and the returns are small. The kilning
businews which turns but half Its oel4tel in the year
distrusts these aceustonied to the better returns truth manufac-
ture and mercharelize. Joint Stock oumpanks have been
brought out for carrying on nearly every dendiption ofbusiness, and have generally paid remarkably well -not the
shareholders, hut, these who have organized thetll. Farumiuug
on the joint stuck prineeple has not yet been attempt-el in this
vanintry. When it is tried I do not expect to find the shares
at a very high premium. A late number of Frarers Najazitie
has propounded the scheme of niapplaig out E,ffiland into large
square farm' of tome thounands of zeros each, and Sonic one
etre prepeeee to divide it all into small four acre fame. If all
lenglaiel was level land, if all soils required the same treateieut,
if all seasons e ere exactly alike, it hedges were not reepiired
for shelter, if e.erythilig On Em tine Cotuit be moved as by
ti o svo m ckrk, if employe,* required iio sullen ion, it the menu,
were sufficient to allow of the etheovinent of therothbly
effielent tree as halals, and if Shareholder., 01114sequIrel
very Inman taro:Mugu Upon their iliVestment, then the termer
scheme illigin be a success, but 1311der 110 circumstances coulJ
the latter sticeeel. of the bar atna at the 1L414 40 larehell
would he MIAOW With 101i1Jillip 311.1 fellt'eal, 'O3O jug 115 ~,,„„
for cultivation. A rottve, house, pig sties, and Store
nano, and all teams and gat,* would prelate° „ea, Dee, ,
eeee Ills true that IT made theibtaiiiiry large queutaea
vegetables eeuld lie preduced, but this mould be melee., as
there wonld lie ne inarket fir theill 11 40111,1 he net grow those article* for shirt, there IS* dc-,,,acid, au, as
dairy produce, or neat. The latter could not be advieeteaeou,e;
produced Under such circumstance*. Of grain and- dairy
produce Under favourable cireunistances the land might
produce cI2 per acre, er £45 per annum Deduct ea fey yent.
fates, title*. fie. awl CC, for hotefast at eG per mat. on Die
c 250 expended fit buildings, together /23 The balance hat
for one yeara labour and all lither expenses would be but
£22. The whole propoeitlon is Pule= ; carried out it wuuld
be a revival of the worst days of Irish land Semen. A
1.1,14111 T Iv WI hia Much has no inore lamer tx,mp,Ain,
With tile Capitalist occupier, than has the band lea, weaver
with the great nese) power manufacterien of the premed day.
I 110 W appnach the subject el the rektienelii I, Wiwi the
capital awl labour of Aerieelture, 11114401,11 the a:mete-es- and
the etepiot le briefly noticing this branch of our eubjeet
my object is not to utter angry molest* or neroe Maim lops.
It is einipa toput behire ;.'u If towable 10411 C practical vitas
411 important questiote The greet iiiaaroice teasing in
11,,, rtheteelatips ~f 11,, repital and Liam. ritipleted in agei.
1111111 re 3, teenier.'
with thew resides el ill nnii eeierture must
he at oiler apparent lo a nialinfisellori, situatral
,4aml,skly populate! teen, the tele-ulna is theinatt into
contact e ith m his epleyer, amiteg the avow' learn
Leleoir ; 1111. r siorktilt holm all eon., Lien beta, the
e,
111 .4911111111 M 54111 Is 11.4 the Mee. Ilie lahmyr,r
respha in 3 liolisc (multi for lain hy his 4111114.1er, it
Oren his inarest in ighhottr, awl Hoeg in the
at considerable ili•tanee from a town, is dept athdot uPoto him
for mato) little tit 'lilies and asaistallecs. The labourer may
have the care of stock which will sometimes require attention
by night as well as IT day, his lerviese are sometimes requite,'
at Illtiolatbilt and irregular hour*, and to tic v( any yslus thq

mt., be nbmniegig given. The question of work and weiree le
not th, only me between • farmer and hie labourers. It Wendt
▪ bond mutud it ought to be ens of muted
confidence mild trast. This relationship has boon rudely
shaken by the events of the last two years. - In some
manner., many fear' of constant interceuree, yes,
and of frinniinhip, have been ontnted 3.1 nothiee, zed
c.inflience between empleyer and employed has bent
deetroyed, I sin net saying such is universally the cane ;in
my owil experience it in quite the contrary. Whatever may be
the aericultunal labouring Chbvics, an utterly Bedell disregard
of ther eninhigers• internam cement generally be imputed to
them irbc4.g In apt° a conelderable love for old associatlims,
and touch honesty as Is to be found amongst other eLttses.
lAfter the first excitement, to which I have referred, WA, over,
it WA, .onfettal by some who ha I inconsiderately severe.' old
eeitneetien., that they hal Mine: lafiC I the most inieerabie
time of their liVert They hail diviner...l, a. twiny helve be( .re
them, that pecuniary eilnintages are putehaeol toei deerly at
the c ii; of ,li,finnesty and dishonour. The prinitee ii union
L!..,1 one if the end to acenuellehed
Aerieirlturierts have fit...l'i° L'ilk
titre! Swietid for the purpose; of Mimi. ing the emcee of
cattte end sheep, for stimulating the prolitetimi of col aunt
mum., and for the one ourateiment of clever mil descrying
tetsme„,,C The Agricultural Labourers Union alsivini he he
fennel for the purpose of coercing fanners, at busy enseinie of
the year, to toy nide wages Lhan they can really afford ; in
fact.to yob ibem a a portion of their letsineee capital. It Is
claimed for the Agricultural Labourene Union that it has
amyl,e dog rod SCVVICe by raleing wages, but it must lie a
d doder ' which inerealin an income by e. 5 per annetn,
and itiereases the price id the necessities of life by an win tl Of
greater sum. Is it wise, in it considerate to thole most deeply
inter...l.l, to mise a state of things In which all employers
wind,' rather spend 20e. in ace:ling or manuring, than lee. in
the employment of labour. I em not inn:Al:ming the motives
of the principal mover/rill what is canel the lab nu' movement.
The ultimate object which they have in view may be a- 0.0,1
one ; but, like other enthusiast., they have been able to see
mile one silo ef the quention, aid have oineequently other in
collision with the great I..exorAhle law .4 ant demand.
r,,, a., a rime stemela that law regulating the price of el ,•ry
niarkutable conunielite. It it true tied by ill:WM.l4rd the
RUpply totS may CaUle • tetneor-ry rise in flit', bin," wheels
within wheels, the higher prim Ithiiiiiishingthi,lonawt; emews
• return almost to termer Ilfifog If 1C34 labour he on; 47.1
In Agriculture, there niest be lees pr./dualism ; all prodtive
will rise in a Aue, and the Agriculturist will he roe mike!. It
in only its the expectatien it receiving a fair retort for your
capital, that you employ it it, agriculture. If :igen:eh:ire al 3
buelittes has prided from the pleasant list into the doubtful or
bad list, the rinks being greater, there will be lase caeital
seekiitg insestment, ani yours nur.t mums:hi a comparatively
higher .:itercitt. hut I have no bar of th gnat sails which
Pilaf Pi, lid c,snisrt UP II Our it ;nary Whilst the eupply
en' hot is out, Oneat itritain will be a iinesperewi minim ;
• aftererarde, with all her vliortll.,ll.l aarumulation
,4 wetith, he may fairly retire in compet ince leen
the cAtc, of Whiled life. Whilst still in active health,
her appetite in enormous. The prineat 'weed forms • crioill
in the hi .fy of agriculture. The quastion ir whether iwcaent
priete will further improve, admitting of still heavier expereeti
being net, or by retrogression compelling the adoption id the
policy of retrenchment. Prices will tell which is to be the
policy of the future. It may be found most profitable to
cultivate by en= and to employ skilled mechaniaw, to keep
inereasiel numbers of live stock fed abundantly meet the best
of cake and corn. On the other hand, it may be found neetesary
to lay many acres of the arable land to pasture, lessening the
demand for machinery and labour by 75 per cent. Thew are
eventualities which may poiuibly arise, and I doubt not that
agriculturists will be found ready to meet them. Depend upon
It, that .sericulture as the oldest imeupation and the meat
important to daily life, will omtinue to be carried on until the
tweet! hal •rriveil at that state of perfection when daily fi
will b i.. snore required. Gentlemen, the subject is us your
hands. I have endeavoured, as well as the short time which
private business han allowed me in preparation, tg place befere
yen a brief eutline of the position of agriculture, an epitome id
Its bunitnis and it. cam, an expression of 00,1 with Vegan' to
some wankel citingea which are neeshel alike in the interawte
of Agrieultureand of Justice. May we not look with I,l4,li:thee
to the future? Pudic opinion is aroused al to some ef the
worst evils of the pretent system, and remedial lweislatien may
be expected. I thank you for the attention with which you
have listened to these remarks, and, in conclusion, I Gil only
express my enrliest hope that In the future capital aid labour
may learn more justly to appreciate each other, and, in the
establishnient of mutual good feeling, derive therefrom
mutual pleasure and prosperity.

The Paranome said be was sure they must all have listened
wigs great pleasure to Mr. limner's paper, and if the &sous-
slim were half as good, the evening would not have been thrust a
away.
Mr. IIoWAID, being pressed to offer some remarks on the
paper, took exoeption to the term " revelutionary as applied
to propose', fur altering the law as to peinnogeniture and entail :
aud, glancing at the early history of landholding, remarked
that the prosperity of agriculture had depended greatly on the
succession of struggles between the feudal holders of the soil
and the trading community. Originally the people inherited
the land, but when the country was conquered by an invader,
he claimed sovereignty over it, and gave portions to his chosen
few, which they afterwards sub-divided amongst their retainers
for military fealty. As time went on, and trailing waa
developed, efforts were made to shake off the trammels im-
posed by the feudal owners, who were aided by the monks, and
It was them constant struggles made to free land which had
raised agriculture to its present position. Altering the laws of
primogeniture and of entail would be only removing obstruc-
tions. Ile referred to the riot* on the introduction of
machinery into agriculture, and the prophesies of evil made
when the Corn Isms were repealed; yet, In tho early part of
the lath century the average size of farms was about 100 acres,
and the farmer of that day was as different in position from
the farmer of the present as the labourer and the modern
gentleman. Now-a-days the agriculturist was a gentleman., a
man of capital, and intelligence. He went on to show how the
omitsl invested in relieve by onmmercial men hit given
valuable facilities to fanners for disposing of their produce ;
and anticipated that away transfer of band and freeing it from
impediments, would &till further enhance their prosperity. As
to local taxation he said the rateable value of Dorchester Union
Is about e 104,000, and of that tonal about one-fourth was it,
the borough of Dorchester —g15,000 in Dorchester and 0,000
In Fonlington, so that house property in towns largely contri-
buted to the taxation. As to iremeasei taxes, in Weymouth
drainage and so forth in the tut two pr.as Ixtl probably en-
hanced the rates ft In the pound, and houses bought three
rears ago were deprecated in value Iss that utiefgai
launinn. Put these things were incident to the growl/, of
the country, and so long as each of them bare their tear pro-
portion there was no hardship.
In reply to the President, Mr. Loci, clerk to the lisrerster
Union, said Mr. Howard's figural as a. the nimble value were
ab nit right, hut it must be remembered eh cut half Fordington
an I one-third id Holy Trinity parish was igricultaral
Mr. J. G. Minna pointe I out that whereas in tairni a tra
lea-
main was assessed ray at VA for a house and shop, and to it on
his stock-in-trade, the farmer hal ts pay ion 000 fir Lind which
was so to spask the materials of his industry an! the source of
his profit. And in any increase.' taxation for the gen.:nil
benefit the inequality
ins own-solve.
Dmon Mr. a thi. t there teed not be any di.eussion 1,11
between laoil and houses ; the great qumtino of local 4-“ation
was io retraol to personal property, and the (ios eminent had
promised to introduce a Bill on the subjem, lle reutarkel on
the ability and comprehensiveness of the paper, and then
adverted to the Landliond and Tenant Dill which is li, b 2
, re-introduce-I to Parliament. Mr. limner intimated flat
1 anybody who supported the 12th clause in that measure mast
' a Radicel in polltics--flaughter). For hioseelf he was toot
that ; indeed, he did sot pretend toasty polities at all exoept
matters affecting agriculture —(hear, hear) -and in regard In
them he felt very strongly. Hu olepreasted the niotion
pertnissive hills, and as to the 12th elaase said the pi ioli wins
timid wanted its protetion would be unable to take .1. aatazi.,
of it sunless it were compulsory. As to land coil h:
thought lab string men e.sthl ti-it in any numbers on eediony
caltivate four or five acres, ewe if they l,el -the eseital iii
balling, an I stock, but he eat very much in favour of thew
having a dit of land," nti I thought it would beitaer
to provide it for them here than to send them Ai re... the
Atlantic for it. In respect tio primogeniture and Clii-ti1.112 did
not deny the laws might b.: susceptible of iiminoviiient, lain
the post they hail, as he hell, haeli the means of Mist ' ilp aol
rupoorting the great middle class Id this emnire Wothsut
giant sized !sidling. they would have lam' divided mei nib--
divided as it ;a in France, and Mueller results mould fullew.

Mr A Perg thought too much Importance was attache I tin
010 131,8 ..f priabizerriture, and primal out that it only 1.4101
WU, operation where • lemon diei intestate, elixir was .101,
probably mom than once In a hundred nose. Dun tha taw
st :Nod In a 4 said the eldest am el 0 0 511 take the whole of the
I tl.l to the cools-don of the younger children. Perhaps if thq
Inc were modified and the property devolved the same an
personalty It would be a more equimble arrangement In
regard to the rating of houses and band relemal to by Mr.
John Homer, ho (Mr. Pope) maintained that Wainer., premises
In town were a 4 a rule rated higher than they would be ad
private mending, and on much the Saille principle as farms.
No doubt the transfer of land Sib difficult, but he thought the
lecturer had put the ants much too high. Instr..' of 5 per
own. 011 the render and 10 per cent on the pun-lamer, 11
and 2or per cent was about as much aa he iambi ever gin as • pro-
fessional man —(hear bear and laughter),
Mr. entrmax SAVXDSIIS propmed a vote of thanks to Mr. tl.
W. Minter for the excellent:rammer in which he hail introduced
the subject. He thought the transfer of land migiat well be
made more easy, hut he objected to the abolition /4 the boi of
primogeniture. As agriculturists they felt tint they 101 l
considerable burden, of which they ought to he aumewhat
relieved • and he believed that all right thinking priiirle
aihnittai (hove kind einumertial joinde to whom Mr. Howard
said they were VI MUCII indebted ought to meet some of the
taxes now placed only on the land hear and lati(btcr).
Mr. 0. J.9lxnaswaseemiled the proposition. Ile thought Mr
Homer hal treated the subject in a general way
factarily and rationally, and he was sure they all felt very
much obliged to him.
Mr. Osier said everybody must allow the paper hail been
prepare.' with great ability and good common sense • (hear.
heat) and there were few arguments brought truant to which
exception could be taken. Mr. Damen had rather criticiial
the remarks as to mall holdings, but in the time of the Irish
famMe inanities showed that 23 per cent. of the fanui in that
country were under 7 acres, and he believed if the land In
England wan so rut up ruin would ensue. lie now wino.' to
remark on the kindnem of one gentlemen attenilirig their club
meetings, and he Ismail he would r'Or.iimiUo Sib do w. liii
opinions were rather at varisnrs, atth thmte held by marry of
thou, but they gave :aisa tri their diamasioria. lie Minded to
Mr riciand ref Weymouth). Although they often differed
from Itini seri considerably, they entnil itot but thank
the candour and ability with winch he enfornal his cylinder.—
(hear, hear.) A• he la..torrr add, h. hoped Mr. {toward would
long isintibue to conic to their meennue—thear, hoar) Ile
entirely differed front Mr. Ifilwran In lunch that he ha I
advanced, and as to free land," slut did Ine mean 7 Was it
that L‘iid wee to he trufade free 11,1111 itt psinalit hunlens
(laughter) - biwame tbe should approve—Outfitter.) As to
the feudal system, what other tonne( government could at that
time have prevailed? And in regard to the aggregation of land
what could be more eatislactoey Was it a fault that the
holders of land had improved their position 1 He thought it a
matter of congratulation lather than lament. The struggle now
was between agriculturists and the manufacturing interiat, and
he thought the latter piewseal too much of the wealth and
volitive] power of the osituutry - (hear hoar.) This he attributed
to the sunineness of the hashed intetest. Hut he had faith in the metal good seem of Englishmen, and lw trusted the
manufacturing intermit would lie moderate in their views, and
be content to " live and let live."

Mr. llamas said lie dW not advocate a system of small fanning
with 4 orb acre holdings. What he • ishal to or. sea
Let nirurs
haring •• a bit of hunt," and ad near their imtlagat as
practuaable.
Mr. 01:0110E 110)1111, in sem) mg to the utak:ll.o°lla math,.
mid he ettfilihtal the increased size of farrus riot to the
alrygrattai of Madera but to the introduction of machinery,
John Fowler's invention of the double plough having moderul
the cultivation of large farms mart eassouthul. Railways
were investments, and the foot that ationera4 root, had
l'i,vidr4 the eaPital showed they MO boar far more isaperoua
thsa the poor airieulturists (laughter.) lie dtdi not wok to
array owners of hollso property Pgallist ushers of land, though
he thought the latter very unjustb trailed, and the fonotr jUA
a little. Bus la could riot see that the oomph:hi of Laid see
ospalally barefitted 1.0 rural sanitary burpection, haliway
legislation, and the FAlueithon Art —(hear, Mar.) illo airreal
unit Mr iknw•ll hut lot.. unto ettoold have sufficient land to
Irfow vrlretalrle+. &c., for family rise. Ile usually ;rave a man
with • family ballaroacre, runt isolictima offered more. ;Shot)
Iris paper was firtishel In, ass that the Secretary c. 4 State for
War and the solicitor-tr.:nerd had bath addraosing the Oxford
Druids, and they taated Oh the subject of this evening's
discussion. Mr. Monier rezd passag.. from a report of that
meeting, lire went on to no he agreed with Mr t:engc as to
the aupiiienmi of the landod interest, and re-tering no the
Dorset Chamber of Agriculture mid the meetings were so
staliurty *Mended by land...era that it Ittatune a glicatioli
whether they were worth holding
taAjitti:rhth.isf
hottzeirasin
t.,•.irensireimran,ll
wevoria,lrsalturraiolnwor,di.tihnewric.ilad,tivi,tr
Sal ""it“lded that the agriculturbt by the nature of his
holding is inorclargely charged for new intheeitious.
The meeting then separated.