The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-10-15 00:00:00

Sortculturt.

Sin JOHN PACHINGTON OK FANNING AND HARVEST
Pamirsers.—At the Worcester Agricultural Society
held last week, presided over by the Hon. the Earl of
Dudley, Sir John Packington, on the members of the
Borough being proposed, returned thanks. After some
introductory remarks the lion. member said, be had
never known a time when • good harvest was more
important to England than at the present. They must
all recollect the miserable season and disestrous harvest
of 1860, all recollect the anxiety felt by the farmers
during the wet sowing of last year, and they must all
remember what that weather was, how it became a
question whether the wheat in the ground would ever
show itself above the ground, and how in very many
instances, when it did show itself, it did not come up
more than two-thirds, and in many cases one-half •
crop ; and he believed nothing could have enabled them
to have anything like a satisfactory I, t this year,
but the wonderfully fine weather with which they had
been blessed since the commencement of the month of
August. And be knew that they would agree with
him when he said, that if they had had another disas-
trous h t, the effect of it upon this country would
have been most melancholy. The harvest had been
saved by the fine weather they had had, and they
ought to be most heartily thankful to God, when they
contemplated the favourable circumstances under which
they had assembled , (Applause.) The cultivation of
the land must be subject to thou vicissitudes of the
weather. The visitations of Providence, in the way of
a good or • bad harvest, must and would affect more or
less the pursuits of agriculturista ; but he believed that
even those natural changes, even those natural varia-
tions, might be greatly modified, and might be affected
and influenced in a most important degree, by the suc-
cessful promotion of agricultural science and skill.
(Cheers.) He knew of no object that more affected the
welfare of the whole community, of DO object that bore
FROM immediately and more directly upon the happiness,
and prosperity, and welfare of all of them who were
connected with land either as owners or u oxupiers,
than to devote their best energiee and their best abili-
ties to the cultivation of the menu of agriculture. It
was for this reason that he was anxious to me suah
socities as that one promoted, and he rejoiced in the
belief that they were being in-emoted throughout the
country; for that reason he owned that be could wish
to see the owners of laud and the occupiers of land
coming together on those occasions in larger numbers
than he even then saw around him. He was happy to
observebefore him no small number of the men whomight
truly be called the first-class farmers of Worcestershire,
and he hoped they felt the full importance of the object
for which they were assembled, and the duty that a-as
incumbent upon them, being, as they were, men of
standing, men of education, and men of professional
science—the duty of spreading their advantages to those
around them, and of endeavouring to raise the wholo
status of the agriculture of the county. With this
view he might be allowed to say that he had seen no
reason to change the opinions he took the liberty of ex-
pressing in that room a year ago, that where agricultu-
ral skill,was acquired, agricultural science studied, and
capital in proportion to the skill and science was brought
to bear on the land, the wan who so cultivated the
land was entitled tp a somewhat better security than
that he now held, (Loud cheers.) He was veryglad to
hear the manner in which his remarks were received.
They would perhaps ellen him to mention two cases
which had come under his notice—of coarse they were
all best acquainted with what took plsce within the
limits of their own little sphere—cases on his own
estate. He had lately had a large and excellent farm
taken possession of by • new tenant; end, on going to
look at the farm, he found that the tenant had started
in a way that gave him great satisfaction. It was clearly
to be seen that the new tenant was • man of skill,
enterprise, and capital, and that he was resolved to
throw that capital into the land with • perfect confi-
dence that the land would.repey bite. The other day
In (Sir John Packington) saw his agent, and said to
'The gentleman is starting in • way that does
him credit—laas he not asked for a lesser' The agent
said, "No ; he says lie is well aware that it is never
your wish to part with any tenant without good reason,
and he is quite content to remain as he is. Now, in
his opinion, however good and successful that man
might be as • fanner, he made a great mistake. (Hear,
hear.) He would not enter into the question whether
he (the tenant) was right or wrong as regaried has own
feelings and views sea landlord ; but life was uncertain;
circumstances might change; and when a man started
a farm in the way which he had described, he ought to
think of his own interests and those of his family, and
have security that he would he allowed to remain on
it. (Loud applause.) It so happened that he bad
another tenant, who was in every way a good farmer
and a highly-respectable man, but who some few years
ago would have expressed a greater horror of signing a
lease than of anything else under the son. From the
ease of the first farmer he drew the inference that the
opinion had begun to be more widely spread in the
country, that if • farm was to be profitable, and if a
man meant to make • living
as t of • farm, be must con-
duct it upon the lame 'plea any other great
!nosiness is conducted, e inference he drew from the
second CASO was that farmers were growing wilier by
experience. The man who a few years ago was afraid
of • lease found that, if lie wanted tothrive by his farm,
he must throw much more capital into the land, and
that when he had 01100 his capital in the land he ought
to have • full certainty Cult he would May there until
be got it out spin. He believed that the solution of
the greet agricultural problem before them was to be
found in three conditions : First, that no man should
undertake a farm until he had learnt farming well, and
made himself competent to farm with success; second,
that no man should ever undertake a farm larger than
he had o4ill to farm with; and third, that when •
man threw skill and capital into the cultivation of the
land, lie should take care that he might stay upon it so
long as his interests required. (Applause.) Those three
conditions solved the agricultural problem, and he be-
lieved that by promoting in every way such amities as
that at the meeting of which they were assembled, and
by doing all they could to promote agricultural science
and skill, they would take a course that would conduce
to the greater knowledge and acquirements of the far-
mers of the country. He would only add that he was
deeply thankfel to them for the kindness with which
they had received him.
APPLISHAW (HAW% GREAT UAW (SHOD) FAIR,
Tuesday, October B. • first dar of this great sheep
fair began even yeeterday, still this morning brought a
much greater influx of both buyers and sellers. The
fields, meadows, clover, and turnip plots were covered
in every direction with fins Dorset and Somerset
horned sheep—ewes chiefly heavy with lamb—tegs,
wethers, and rams, there being also many fine Wilts,
and other Soutlidown sheep districta. The sheep gene-
rally were in very fine condition, and trade considered
good; prices higher than last year by from 2s. to fia.
per bead. The estimated number, by competent judges,
exeeeded 90,000—some dealers considering that, with
what wore sold on Monday, around Appleshaw to-day,
and others in the district to be driven in to-morrow,
that at least 130,000 sheep were brought for sale— of
Donets the greater number; one-fourths being Somer-
set', and about the seine quantity of Wilts breeds.
Prices were various, ruled by six, quality, anl time
gone with lamb. Some taxied (horned) ewes made
from 60s. to 66e. each; next in size, 50s. to 56e. ; ditto
smaller ditto, 46e. to 50e. Wilts and others (not
horned), having from two to three months to run
before lambing, sold at from 425. up to 50e. each.
Laths from nine to eleven months old were in con-
siderable request, ewe ditto making from 30s. to 40e,
each for breeding from; ram dale, from 28e. as high
as 38s. ditto; older togs sold at from 40a. up to 45..
ditto; smaller Down ditto, from Ms. to 365. ditto.
Rams two or three years old, mule from £5 up to £l6;
• few fine animals reached £2O ; one year old ditto,
from £3 to £4. Fat sheep (large) wailers sold at from
4s. 2d. to 4s. 6d. per stone of 81ba.; smaller Down
wethen from 4a. 4d. to 4s. Bd.
BALLINASLOR CATTI.I FAIR.—The cattle fair was
held on Tuesday, and there was a large rupply of all
kinds. At first the prices asked were El and el 10,.
per head over those of last year, but buyers would not
accede and waited. Finally, priori came down to those
of last year, and, in some instances, they were less.
Top lota brought V 8 to £2l. Ordinary stock brought
£lO to £1.3. The condition of the cattle generally was
inferior to last year.
Wsyniti. FAlR.—This eelebrated fair commenced on
Thursday last, and will be continued till Wednesday,
la the present week. The first day was eecluively
for the sale orsheep ; the second was appropriated
for horses and stock; and on Saturday the great hop
and cheese fair opened. The notoriety of this fair is
unequalled in this country; it represents the intones
of dairy farmers and -.provision beam, hoe growers,
factors, inerehante, and brewers, professional Slid
amateur horse-dealers, stock-keepers, and sgrieulturists,
sheep-breeders, and flock-masters. During the whole
of the week large flocks of sheep have arrived froin
Dorset, Wilt., Buses, and other sheep-breeding coun-
ties, which were penned up for sale on Thursday, and
extended over many mires at land. There was • large
attendance of abeep-fanners present. Hampshire and
r SUMS downs commanded a good sale, and Southdown
and half-bred ewes obtained their prices; bet plain

Legs, and wethers, and aged ewes did not meet with
an active demand. The thin crop of swede and round
turnip this year, which is an essential commodity in
aimp.kmpiag, militates against dealers and fanners
apeculating or increasing the sheepfold. The milling
priees were as follows :--Southdown and half-bred ewes,
young and sound, 375. to 40a a head; broken-mouthed
ditto, 27... to 335.; and plain ditto, XL leer ditto; full-
mouthed wethera, in high condition, 455: to 445.; useful
store sheep, 365. to 385.; and Legs, 29,. to 345. a bead.
Ileinpahire downs, wether and togs, 35‘. to 42A. and up-
wards. lieneeex down see lambs for stock. Zit. to 25a;
wether ditto, 245. to and plain lambs, 166. to 20.5.
a head. Domed ewes, lambing down early, 38a. to 444.;
and choice selections, 48s. to 525. a Load ; plain ditto,
275. to 355. per ditto; and sheep of mistellancome breeds
varied from 265. to US. • bead. Rama of various breeds
were on sale and for letting, and varied in price from 4
to 14 guineas; rani lambs, 2 to r, guineas. It is roughly
estimated that upwards of 210,000 sheep were hurdled
in, nowt of which were sold.—On Friday the fair opened
for the sale of horses and stock. Of the former there
was a large supply, of very superior description. The
stock consisted principally of store beasts. Promising
three-year-old cart cults sold at from 25 to 32 guineas;
And selections at 40 to 45 guineas: two-year-old colts,
17 to 24 guineas; strong, active cart leor.es realised 36
to 45, and 50 guineas ; seasoned and aged cart horses,
for agricultural work 12 to 18 guineas ; hereto adapted
for heavy carriages. vans, •nel road work mad. 24 to 36
guineas; handsome horses, suitable for private carriages
and double harness. fetched (min GO to 80 guineas; and
secondary, 40 to 50 guineas; horses for hunting or
riding purposes ranged in figure from 50 to 100 guineas,
and upwards; nag Dolts, 20 to 36 guinea,; yearlings, 10
to 16 guineas. Business was inactive& Beasts: well-
bred cattle, for stall feeding, made £l2 to £l5; two-
year-old steers and heifers, .C 9 to Lit; and yea:lines.
Ell to £7. Black cattle sold at prices varying from 4.7
to £lO.