The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-11-19 00:00:00

Botsetsbirt.
DORCEESTER FARMERS' CLUB.

NjoAllK\

It having been resolved at a preliminary meeting
some lime since to form a farmers' club in the county
town of Dor,et, the first meeting was appointed to
be held on 'Thursday evening last, at the King's
Arius Hotel. J. F. Hodges, Esq., late mayor of the
b”rough, at the request of the members, delivered
the inivigural address. There were between 20 and
:10 genticulim coanected with
.agriculture present—a
larger umobiv ;than was anticipated, many of the
supporters of the movement being unavoidably
absent.

Mr. llortGr.s, on rising said, before prouediag
with his address, that some three weeks since
a meeting was held to consider whether it 11 as not
possible to originate • Farmers' Club in the county
Loan of Dorset,—such • one u should fully Garry
Ott the wish long expressed by the farmers in that
Oietrict. It woo doctrbal that • farmers' club should
be established, and he was then requested, being at
that time Mayor of the borough, to accept the office
of provisional chairman till the officers for the first
year were vloctvd. To this irsquest he could hose
no „bjeetiou in complying. He VIRJ also requested
to deliver an address pointing out the objects of the
meeting, and it was for that purpose he appeared
before them that evening, and he therefore asked of
them • patient bearing while be briefty laid before
them the thoughts that had arisen in his mind from
a due consideration of the question itself. He then
proceeded with his address as follows :

GIENTLEMEN,—At a 'fleeting recently held in this
place it was resolved to form an association, to be called
The Dorelieder Farmers' Club." Iwu requested to
accept the office of president, provisionally, and to ad-
dress the members at their first meeting, on the subject
of the " tlhjeet end the Benefit ot the Forination of
Farmers' Clubs."

1 le tidily accepted the office of president until •
conunittee and chairman could be appointed for the en-
sung year, hut I felt some hesitation in undertaking
the task of delivering an address, fearing my pursuits
were not of such • nature ',qualified use for the office
of an instructor on such a subject. Nevertheless, in
acknowleilgt 'pent of a compliment so kindly paid me, I
will comply with your wish, and endeavour to lay before
you, with great submission to your better judgment on
agricultural affairs, the ideas which have occurred to me
in oonsidering the object and the benefit of the forms-
lion of Verniers Clubs.
I have frequently beard friends of mine say to a
neighbour, "Come over to me to-morrow, and we will
go (ermine." Accordingly, the friends meet ; most of
the days. spent in going over the farm various fann-
ing operistitatie are iuspeoted and discussed ; probably a
new unpleatia ut in tried, or new buildings looked over.
The visit terminates after much conversation, on busi-
ness matters g. nerally, and I will oonfidently appeal to
the exprrit ewe of thom present to confirm my opinion
that a d.y so spent is attended by much practical
benefit, through the interchange of ideas thus pro-
duced.
I think I may briefly state that the object of •
Farmer's Club i. to be the communication of useful in-
formative, Co tenela the medium of discussion and con-
vereation. A little reflection will show that this mode
of inetruelMea li as been for • long period recognised and
adopterl by all the chief institutions, and throughout all
the great interests of this country. At our universities,
our inns of court. and oar pnbLe schools, those great
nurseries of youthful talent, the formation of debating
societies has received much attention. anal abundant
evidence %night be given of their valuable influence in
training y it men to • habit of public epeaking, and
in the sliscueeion of subjects connected with liter.iture,
wiener, all the learned profsedues. In our sleet mats
of inenufacturitag industry, such as Manchester and Ilir.
leiheh.ott ;lii one principal mercantile towns, Deism',
Liverpool, mit teeny °there, Chambers of Ciminero, are
ho li, s bold weekly, or lair. fre-
queist unostinte, when various subject connected with
their particular interests are discussed—questions con-
nected with sm-,ing events are brought forward, and
re,mutions are mussed and publialsed for the informs-
,,t the emoinssnity. Constant communication is
Lept up loy the., eucieties with their reprmentatives in
Parliament, fuel alms the course of legislation on ins-
., curls as the laws regulating our nevi.
ration, our mercantile marine, or the still nines import-
ant question of the reguLlC cif labour in mines and
factories are loPisted,atul doubtlese materially benefitted
by the advi.e end opinions which are thus obtained. I
tonere 1 Ain correct in addingt hat upon itueetiona affect-
ing the trot. ;'t (goods and merLinisilise, Chambers of
I.riv, not only ilroVed of great tine in
schemes i f railway communication, but.frosu time
to time, they setter with railway boards in the adjust-
ment of rates of charge for merchandise as well 114 pas-
sengers. Tee e i reat mportance of this latter question
to a matinfaeturing and mercantile minutunity will
illu.trate forcibly the value of each • bushy as aeltatuber
of Commerce in expressing its opinion 011 any occasion
re, when it may very f.irly be assumed it re-
Tte"ents eesoral feeling of the community of which
it forttis • pert. Let me refer to • humbler, but • more
saunieradie, bed not less important class—the working
men. hi ea, ry part of the country Mechanic's Inati•
tales, Fr. -e Lilostries, and other institution of • kin-
dr. d itatuse ate ii be found, communicating in various
ways much useful infermation, and inviting discussion
and the interehange of Hem. With these evidences of
wholesale. 11,6,4 before us, the question may natu•
rally be asked, " Wlmt has been Slone by the ssricultu-
fists of this conuntry ?" Have they been tile in this
respect? 1 aunMer, without hesitation, " Certsinly
not."
During the present century, and particularly within
the twat tweet, years, great progress has been made in
the entabli•lomeet of various societies, for the purpose
rof enceureging the disc melee of subjects connected with
"gine& our. I Islay allude t, two, amongst the mast
prominent of these—The itoyel Agricultural Society,
out thee I the Seth and West ef Englend—as having
taken the le oil in the olitimion of a vast a 1111 l mit of (lie
111. Mt valit.Ue interned" by their periodical public..
time. In tlaver essays of great merit oil almost every
itubjeet connected with egccuitural pursuits, are to be
retnel, sugeestiella are made, which induce thought and
examinatien, Ills I thug a tone is given to the minds of
th„,,a she i them, re.ailtiose in further research and
investigatien. If it may hot be considered presumptu-
,,,, j ears...Hy recointuebal the careful reading
end sway ef piiblieatione of these societies, to every
elle edes la ell interest ii, the provess of agriculture,
l'wodsig ,s or an? description of the large number of
agt anal roc7eties, for which the limit ef an address
of thia kiwi would be Inadequate. I would refer to the
faematoa of Farmers' Clubs. Every year witne-sea the
„qpnnig .ti.o• of these societies in veriest wo
thit this i's Wein of association bids fair to become gene-
r.d throushieit the country.
A. regard, the origin of Farmers' Clubs,' perhaps may
not Ise alter...thee wrong in attributing to the late Lord
Leicester the origination of Diet kind of meeting and
form cif ili,emenon, which cheesed-rise their proceedings.
To this eminent nobleman, better known, perhaps, aa
Mr. Coke, of Norfolk, the esti. ultural eamentinity is
largely isidelitel for the remark:db.' vnergy, and ability,
with he carried out agricultural experiments anal
improvement', particularly in areble farming. The
getherines at liolkluttn, at the sheen-shearings,
are well-known, sod have become justly celebrated for
their impart-Luce anal usefulness. They were attended
by a !size ~,,, her of practical sgriculturiete, and as well
by person.. ef eminence still alietinction. The morning
was generally iimot in looking over the farm, in the in-
PpertiO• still trial of new implements, tarsus building.
awl other imprairemeats on the estate. Later in
day a Itaitheame banquet was provided at the Hall, and
then lone sae! epeeches and a Ilia:lesion. in • converse.
tiottal form, verious agricultural subjects. In our
own time. thus meeting,' L Tiptree Hall, the residence
sd Mr. Al.hrtilull Medd, appear to partake of a similar
character. awl 'fwd. in many parts of the country,
inee!ings of thin kill.' are held by men who have become
eminent in agristiltur ii ssier.ce. I need hardly reniind
you of the metropolitan association, known as the
r sing amongst its useinhers a
large mionler alietinguislied pers.', and, I believe,
- genes-men known to WI IU thats locality •4•1411r•l•
have Illush the office of steward at it. annual
itastAings.
I Isvieg thus referred to the associations in this
country, which Appear to recognise the tem and object,
of it Fernier.' rims I will how ensleavour to sham the
benefit may boirly he exp,cteol, as the rceult of it.
oh 'ratiula. I 4.0 pet:llllre atiValitage ill • club arrears
to lie, the in-incement otfenst tu discussion, from the
circuit... Niece of its being carried Oh partly 111 • conver-
sational form. -A etiligeet is fixed mem and introduced
by • in.-ml, a,. who II ',Vila,: 'smiled it, preeenm his idean
to lot elult, in that form of an &Mims sir leeture, after
whisk a general discuesion Client:a In which the luesubere
en ho- th.•.l op and thus the subject is argued
in a manner lamely ;militant° and inetructive. We well
know that many eensilale and intelligent men, who
would shrink from delivering a speech an public, will in
this way, without Isesitetiou, communicate their ideas,
with great miv..ntege to thine who beer them.
I will now allude to the questions; which limy lie ap-
propriately c aneidereal by r Farmers' Club.—Fir.t,
prectaasi teritimg :done, affords a waste field for discus-
sion. The v.,rious modes of cullivetion, the rotation of
crops, the rearing and nianegemett of stock, give
abundant opportunities for the selection of eubjecta
Worthy a Litt. liti..u. Coaauectcl with this is the iiu•
partial mail interesting subject of the application of
chetah:al eci. ins., as reg orate 111.1itires, and the adaption
of stems, mid ether umehmere tu farming operations.
The con-truction of farm buildings would naturally
raet At t. 114101, MX wall al• the beat 'MAUI of draining,
irription, and fencing.
There are also litany questions of a social nature which
woot,l tertOd. s I I,eeto for profitable discussiou U .lie
probelsly is of greater itnportauice titan the petition of
the litin. neer hebitation, his cottage ecoltemy, the
"I'l=o 1%. dularmt, its feet ills every-day late, in
Kra, g au swim condition .4 Wo myriesideural
labourer. I 1.1 114 weds more frecnloin inasmuch as I
have had twenty years experience as a 'Guardian of the
pour. 1 behove one of the thia requisites in procuring
fur the labourer such a position aa could he desired, is •
rural risialenee, with titling aorniumodat ~,,, , and near
to hie work. There is no doubt, that the law of Mettle-
went bas tends,' very 1111.1eil to restrict rural resideuce,
and as a eon•mqueuee, Wv 'Sad a large amount of the
agricultural labouring population located either in mane
populous village, or the suburb of the nearest town.
Recent legislattem. however, has taken a good direction
isu this resp,ot, MO I trust that ere long such an en-
I trees/area of ehargeability will be established,.. will
rititteee this ()lusted', and result in an extension of rural
reeidence. Although in resprottooottege eacommodabon
much remain* to he done, yet it is cheering to observe
that witlsiu the heat few years groat progress has hems
made, anal than desire to provide the labourer with •
suirabk dwelling, is wide-spreading, and sincere. The
Position qf the oecupier of a farm, as regards the lalson-
use. Is Moot important--the Ileum yet kindly rule of the
master may do much to make the life of toil one of
comfort Sri respectability, and to surround it wills
many enjoymenie. I must not oauit to allude to the
valuable eid given to the efforts of tl.e employer, by the
eleriy and laltdormeni in every work of social improve-
lueul• We see by this oroper•tion the eltablisbruent of
elothisig clubs reading rooms, evening Itehoolla 1
bulks, and teeny other parochial altsociations, all
tend-
ing to the eneoaragetnent of habits of carefulness, pro-
vialong wholeemue anneement in leisure hours, and
chalking the allurements of the publirhouas.

II
you wi pardon what perhaps may be termed •
digression from my subject, I will say a few words on
the question of the education of the working class.
Great attention has been given during the present cen-
tury to the provision of education, by Sunday and day
schooLi. %Shin the last 20 y CAZA in particular, the in-
telligence of this class has grestly increased. Opinions
vary as to the extent to which instruction slmuld be
given, but I feel jwrsusided that educati ttttt hated on
religious knowledge, is the foundation of all social and
moral worth

I li-elie-S:e—the working classes in this country are loyal,
and possess touch good sense and feeling, and the im-
mense publication of cheap literature is an evidence of
• growing taste for whole 11111 l e instruction. It is quit,
true that a bad use is sometimes niaile of education, but
it is the exceptiou, and not the rule. Ignorance is far
worse,and we must be prepared in all schemes of ins-
Pro•ditteet to experience occasional failure. A few
years ago I went over several of the principal manufare
tories in Birmingham. I found in many of them an
evening school, under suitable teadiers (generally
selected from the work-people) was maintained by the
proprietors, for the instruction of the young persons
employed in the works. Adults also, who were desir-
ous' of improvemeut, attended, in sonic instances, and 1
beard the results spoken of with great approbation. I
believe in these ClibC3,iu addition to the ordinary course
adopted in schools for the working class, elementary in-
vtructien is given in inechailical aclelice. The noceasity
of a large amount of skilled lalour in our manufactories
obviously renders this plan advisable, and considering
the great advances already made in the application of
osachinety to farming operation. (as yet preb.bly in its
infancy) it appears to me worthy of notice and imitatiou
froui the gradual demand we may anticipate for likilkd
workmen on farina. The usefulness of a farm labourer
would undoubtedly be ainch increased, if, in addition to
the education hitherto given him, he had the advantage
of • little knowledge of the simple rules of mechanical
science.

And now gentlemen having drawn your attention,
though, I fear imperfectly,to what appears to toy mind,
to be the object and benefit of Fa, niers Clubs I would
&At, "Ought we not to have one in the county town ?"
The county of Dorset may fairly take a place
amongst the foremost of the counties in England
as regards good practical farming. It contains a
vast number of substantial, intvlligent, occupiers of
farms, many of whom are lar.deil proprietors. An esti-
mate may fairly be foruied,frum the fact that gentlemen
from this county are to be found at the Council Boards
el the Royal. and the Bath and West of England Socie-
ties. Not unfrequently the prises offered by those socie-
ties, and for which all England compete, are awarded to
Doreetaiiire, whilst the sideboards of no small number
are adorned with the glittering trophies which are
annually presented by our numerous local societies. I
believe at the present moment we have not lance Bum
three Farmers' Clubs in this county —those of Wmfrith,
Bilandford, and Milborne St. Andrew, but I feel sure I
am justified in saying that the operation of these associ-
ations has been accompanied by the best results—an im-
mocnse
amount of very valuable information has been
circulated through the delivery and publication of
lectures. A large number of members have thus com-
municated their Wean not linty on practical farming, but
on many other subjects interesting to agriculturists, and
it is not too much to say that these lectures exhibit
much good sense, and sound reasoning, and • habit of
observation, which is an important qualification in the
discussion of subjects connected with agricultural life.
111 a Dorchester Chili, I feel confident we should find no
deficiency in this respect. I could enumerate a long list
of gentlemen in our immediate locality, some of whom
I see in this room, who have already, with great ability,
undertaken the task of delivering a lecture, or reading a
paper; and there are doubtless many more willing and
wellynalified to carry cut this essential part of the pro-
ceedings of • Farmers' Club.
lc now only remains, gentlemen,for me to recommend
to you the enrolment of a goodly number of members,
and the appointment of a president, and • committee
for the ensuing year, and an arrangement of subjects
fur the coming session.

I thank you very much for the patience with which
you have li.tcned to thig ad.lresa, and in concluaion
penult toe to congratulate you all upon your occupa-
tion.

lain quite aware that your avocations do not exempt
you from those anxieties which are encountered inure or
less, by all men of bosoms@ ; but you have the good for-
tune to be engaged in a pursuit which is connected
with much healthful exercise, and many enjoyments.
l'ou are surrounded by those who acknowledge your
aut lurity, who look to you for guidance and advice, and
wail regard your poeitiou with feelings of attachmeut
and :expect.
It is no small privilege, and no small advantage to a
well trained mind, to live in constant contact with the
beauties of nature, and to explore those inexhaustible
resources which • bent:1108ot Creator has provided for
the use of nan.

The present, may truly be called • progressive age.
In every department of science, in art, and in manufac-
turing skill, we may mark every year a progreas which
card... our surprise and admiration; but the greatest of
ill triumphs, the highest of those distinctions, which
are aivarded to human exertion, justly described as fen.
&ring man " the greatest benefactor of his country"
is reserved for you, " the power of leaking two blades
of craw grow where but one grew before.'
Ilere lies the secret of our national wealth, end there
is no country in the world in which the accumulations
of wealth dow into nobler channels.
Every individual and every community has each its '
sphere of usefulness, but by none is the power of doing
good, so largely poceseed, as by the landowners and the
Agri :ulcer iota of, this great coentry.
Mr. HODOLII concluded by suggesting that the
members present should now elect their chairman
and committee, and take what further steps they
should deem most desirable for the carrying on if
the club fur the ensuing year. The secretary would
presently reed the rules agreed to at a preliminary
meeting, and if they should deem it desirable it
would be competent for them to mum any further
resolutions at this meeting iu relation to the
matter.
Mr. BURNARD said that lie was very glad indeed
that Mr. Hodges, in his address, had taken the
noble stand he bad done in regard to the subject of
education. For his own part be begged to express
his thanks to that gentleinan for having spoken out
so fearlessly and decidedly on the propriety of
educating the working classes—a thing all-important
if they would have labourers capable of carrying out
on the farm the objects for which they were brought
together. The lecturer had made some rinaarks on
the form of discuasion which should be adopted,
said if he woleratood him correctly, he had, in his
opening address advocated the adoption of a sort of
desultory form of discussion. He feared, however,
' that if they adopted such a system they would find
that while it gave great latitude for speech it would
also engender great looseness of style in the ex-
pression of thought, and that there would not be
that opportunity afforded of bringing out the talent
of their young men, many of whim he trusted
would become members, as there would be if proper
rules for carrying on a discussion were enforced.
With regard to the subjects to be considered. Mr.
Hodges, In his address had laid down a sufficiently
extensive basis, to embrace every subject that it
would be desirable to be brought forward front time
to time for consideration. He thought, if he might
be permitted to throw out a suggestion, that the
better way would le for the committee of manage.
ment to be subdivided, each sulalivision to look after
the particular class of subjects committed to its
care, and that persons should be invited to deliver
lectures regulaily on the several classes of subjects,
and nut as was too frequently the case, leave the
arrangement of subjects to mere chance. lie &polo.
gised for offering these remarks, but he had done so
&she desired the success of theelub, mid probably he
would not have an opportunity of being present at
their next meeting.
Mr. HODGICS slid, that with regard to the remarks
of the last speaker, he supposed that the meeting
would be opened, either by a lecture or the reading
of a paper, and that they would adept a faeml.
mode of debate, but there could, he thought, be no
doubt that towanle the close the mei ting would
wank into a desultory conversation, as was usually
the case.
Mr. WOOD, after expressing his thanks personally
1..' Mr. Hodges for the very able address he hail
delivered, imbibe quite agreed with Mr. Bunuinithat
the efficient working of the club would depend in •
great measure up.n the mode of conducting
the proceedings. Ile thouzlit there should
be sallowest the members the fullest liberty of
speech, while at the same time that liberty should
lie resitricteil within proper limits. With regard to
the lecture he must say that while he felt greatly
indebted to Mr. Hodges for the very able manner
in which lie had set forth his ideas, he (Mr. Wood)
felt something like the man who, having eaten •
good dinner, required • little time to digest it. He
admired the outline given for discussion. He liked
the scope given them fur the discussion of the vari-
ous subjects uonnected with agriculture. It had
been found at all times desirable for persons,
whether engaged in the arts or sciences, or any
other of the affairs of life, to hold periodical meet-
ings for discussion of the subjects in which they
were severally interested. Anil if they looked at
the vast benefits which had resulted by the various
agricultural societies in the country. they could but
mark the benefits that bad resulted therefrom. Let
thew, for example, look back upon the last 25 or 30
years, r&lect upon the state of agriculture at that
tint', and see what it was at the present day, and
remember that much of the improvement that had
been brought about, was in a great measure the
result of meetings of this kind, they could but ap-
prove of the project, though late in the day, of
eatabliehiug a Farmers' Club in Dorchester. Ile had
noted down some few of the remarks in the able
ittlilress they had with so much pleasure listened to.
The first he would aieution was that in regard to
their cottages. On that subject his opinions in fir.
liter days was well known, and he had seen no rea-
son in his riper years to alter that opiniou ; but all
that he had seen had gone to strengtheu it. His
own opinion was that not only ought they not to
pull down any existing cottages, but rather that
they should have twice the number. Al all events,
there was required twice the number of good
cottages they now had. (Cheers.) 111 was at one
time supposed that machinery would do away with
manual labour, but so far from that, there was at
present a demo,' for a greater amount of hands.
His idea was that they should have good houses for
good workmen, that the (rumor might be isaabled by
a proper cultivation of the soil, to increase
the pay of good labourers, and inset the wants of
the times by an increased produce from his soil.
With regard to the subject of education, he did not
think there was any occasion for alarm, that the
poorer classes would know too much. From a re-
port of the Normal School in the Borough-road, he
found that the average amount of schooling each
child received did not amount to more than twelve-
mouths, In 000dusiust, he urged upon members

to put. their shoulders to the wheel to .
make this society a succeed:A one, expressing his
desire that it might be a prosperous one, and the
means of disacminating much useful information
among the member*.
Mr. J. HARDING expressed the great ph asnrebehad
felt at listening to the inaugural address of the.
! chairman of that meeting. As it DAS necessary at
' that meeting to appoint a chairman for the ensuing
year, he begged to propose a gentlein in, who was
not only himself a successful farmer, but who be
was sure would be generally approved of by the
members of the society. He concluded by proposing
Mr. Wood as the chairman fur the ensuing year.
The reaolution having been seconded, was put
from the chair and carried unanimously.
Mr. Wool) expressed his willingness to accept the
office, if it was the desire of the members, but said
the honour conferred was quite unexpected by hon.
As, however, he had been elected, he would Use his
beat endeavours to promote the interests of the
club.
Mr. J. TIM:DINO was then unanimously elected
vice.chairman. Mr. Andrews, solicitor, the honorary
secretary, and Mr. Chapman Saunders, the treasurer
of the 'moiety.
The SECRETARY read the rules of the chili, which
were adopted, and the Chairman agreed to introduce
a subject to the next meeting.
The Mayne moveda vote of thanks to Mr. lodges,
for the appropriate and excellent address he had ale.
livered on the opening of that :Mb ; and this propo.
salon, being seconded by Mr. CHAPIII•N SAUNDERS,
was carried unanimously.
Mr. HOIXMS briefly acknowledged the compliment,
and expressed a desire to see the assuciathal in a
flourishing condition, after which the proceedings
terminated.