The Express.
London, England, 1851-10-02 00:00:00

ROYAL EAST BERKS AGRICULTURAL

ASSOCIATION.

The anniversary of this society, which is under the
especial patronage of her Majesty the Queen and his Royal
i:ighness the Prince Consort, WAS held on Tuesday last at
miAenhead. Unlike many kindred associations in the
same rocality, the East &irks offers premiums for the best
"mimeo, of horses, cattle, sheep, and pigs, as well as re-
wards to the most deserving labourers. The ploughing
matches and exhibition of live stock took place on a field
occupied by Sir Gilbert East, near Maidenhead Thicket.
Tho show of stock exhibited a marked improvement on
the exhibitions of former years, and the attendance
of company at the field was as numerous as ever,
but the dinner which afterwards took place at the Town-
hall, Maidenhead, showed a considerable falling off in num-
bers when compared with former years. Ihe chair was
taken by Major-General Wemyss, of Cumberland-lodge,
Clerk Marshal to Prince Albert.

Major-General WEMYSS proposed the health of " Mr.
Palmer and the members for the County," and in doing so
expressed a wish that the duty had devolved upon some one
more directly connected with Berkshire. lie only considered
himself an itinerant member of the society ; he had no pus-
sessions in the county, nor did he ever expect to have any ;
he was not even a tenant-farmer; he scarcely knew how to
describe himself, unless he took upon himself the title of
the " Court Agricultural Guide." (Laughter and cheers.)
lie knew, however, that county members had arduous duties
to perform, and it would la: strange links it if they pleased
everybody in the performance of those duties; but whether
they were sent to support the government, or to oppose it,
they all of them did that which they believed was for the
good of the country at large. (Cheers.)
Mr. PALMER, M. l'., iu returning thanks for himself and
colleagues, said he had received a letter from Lord Barring-
ton, dated Glanusk Castle, regretting his inability to ha
present. On the part of his other worthy colleagues, Mr.
rusty, ho had no particular commission, but he was quite
sure that, though the lion. gentleman was not present, ho
was actively engaged either by the use of his pen in his closet,
or by the careful observation of important experiments in tho
field, to do the must he could ter his constituents. For his
(Mr. Palmer's) own part, he was truly happy to meet his
constituents on neutral ground. lie was quite aware that
political subjects were avoided, and wisely au, at meetings
of this society; but they must have all observed that tho
rule had been departed from in the neighbouring counties.
Most of them, iu all probability, had read the observations
of Mr. Disraeli,
_in Buckinghamshire, and those of Mr.
Henley, in Oxfordshire. This, at all eat nts, was a proof
that there might be periods when, notwithstanding the
rule he had alluded to, an expression of opinion on political
matters would be requisite. (" Hear, hear," and cheers.)
Ile had represented them for twenty.sevea years, and Mid
enjoyed so many opportunities of expressing his own opi-
Mous that it was nut necessary for him to repeat them on the
present occasion; but he might be permitted to glance at the
present position of the tenant farmers in this country.
(Cheers) Everybody would agree that the present were
very difficult times for the tenant farmer, and that the
prospect for the future was not very favourable. One subs
pia they had all abundant reason to be thankful for—the
glorious harvest weather and the full average crop that hail
been so well gathered. In quantity they would have no
reason for complaint, and the millers told him that the
quality of this year's grain was unusually good. Ile hoped
the abundance of the yield would make up, to some extent,
fur the lowness of price. At recent meetings of agricul-
tural asseciatiations the question of protective duties had
been fully discussed, and people were led to believe
that a return to the system under which the farming
interest enjoyed so large a share of prosperity was not
only possible, but by no means fur distant. (Cheers.) At
the present moment, however, he would say that the re-
enactment of protective duties on the impartation of foreign
grain was perfectly out of the question. Motions to that
end had been made from time to time, and dekated by large
majorities. With the present House of Commons the res-

Mention of protectiox was altogether out of the question.
What might be done if the country art the next gencret
election should speak uut no man could say. When that
time arrived, and the general kiting of the country, as ex-
pressed in the returns, should he that the policy pursued since
1846 was founded in error—that protective duties should be
re-imposed, not for the purpose of giving the British firmer
a monopoly of the home market, but in order to place him
uon au equality with the foreigner—then a law to that
effect would be triumphantly carried through both Houses
of Parliament. If, on the other 'WWI, the result of the
next general election should be to confirm the policy adopted
in 1846, the county members could not help it, mid their
constituents must patiently accommodate themselves to cir-
cumstances. Until that time arrived let them hope for
nothing from parliament. (Hear.) Wanting protection,
they must go to other sources for relief. (Cheers.) Mr. Dis-
raeli had pointed out these sources, and without expressing
any decided opinion upon the plan propounded by that gen-
tleman, he must say that the farmers of England had an
undoubted right to ask parliament for some relief, either
from local rates or general taxation. (Cheers.) In the
meantime he rejoiced to see no relaxation in the endeavours
of the agriculturists to support themselves. They were
ready to avail themselves of improved machinery and
improved systems of management, they had the best of
labourers, and their stock wan superior to anything seen
in foreign countries; but, alter all that, he must say, to bo
compelled to submit to 365. per quarter for their wheat was
very distressing. (Hear.) They all knew his opinion, and
that he should do his best to forward their interests. If, as
Lord Palmerston had laid it down, the question lay entirely
between landlord and tenant, he, for one, should know how
to meet it. (Cheers.) lie was ready at all times to regulate
his rents according to the price of agricultural produce.
(Cheers.) lie was afraid, however, that the disease was
more deeply rooted. (Hear.) He might be deceived—ho
hoped he was so—and he should still live in hopes of better
times. Another year he might be able to speak more en-
couragingly of their prospects. (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN, at a subsequent period of the even-
ing, said he should belie his feelings if he did not wish
success to agriculture, for when not engaged in his mili-
tary duties nothing gave him so much pleasure as to live
surrounded by an honest, enterprising, and industrious
agricultural community. Mr. Palmer had told them he
could not see the time when a return to prosperity might be
expected, and the mischief was that while the grass grew the
steed would starve. (" Hear, and laughter.) In his
opinion the only safe plan to pursue in the interm would
be to " Live and let live." (Great cheering. Ile spoke
quite disinterestedly, fur he had no property of his own, nor
was he likely to have any. (Laughter.) lie was no tenant
farmer, but he bad been one. (Bear.) He knew that there
was truth in the proverb "While the grass grows the steed
starves." (Cries of "That's just it.") His advice to the
tenant farmers was for them to try and carry on the
cultivation of the soil on the moat improved principles; and
his advice to the landowners was that they should in every
way meet the tenants who so couducted themselves. (Great
cheering.) Ile had never been a legislator, nor was ho
likely to become one now, but he had a very poor opinion
of state interference—he would rather see the matter ar-
ranged between the landlord and the tenant, than under
the pressure of any legislative measure. (Cheers.) The
British soldier had never yet been beaten by the foreigner
in time of war, nor would the British farmer be beaten by
the foreigner in a time of peace. (Cheers.)

LUDLOW AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.—The fifth an-
nual meeting of this society, was held on Saturday last, in
the picturesque town of Ludlow, under the patronage and
support of the Hon. It. 11. Clive, M.l'., who, at the dinner
which followed, made the following remarks in re.ferenee to
the state and prosperity of agriculture :—Another subject
which was very painful to his mind was the position of the
agricultural interest. They had not yet come to that time
when a favourable change might be expected to take place,
but they were at a very uncertain crisis. The prospect was
not very satisfactory. It was through the aid of one another
that they could be successful. The landlord and tenant must
join cordially and heartily together. Ile urged them to
meet the difficulties which surrounded them, and adopt
every improvement in their power; and he hoped the time
was not far distant when they would have a favourable
change. He then quoted various statistics to show the enor-
mous increase in the consumption of wheat in late years, and
that the price had slightly increased over last year's increase.
He recommended them to breed sheep; for he could speak
for himself, that he had been doing with sheep better than
anything else. The prices of mutton and wool are very
good, and he thought the sheep farmer was deriving a de-
cided advantage. If they go to the fairs they tied that
sheep sell well. At Barnet Fair they find that things sold
well, though not dear. At Shrewsbury last week there
were no less than 4,400 sheep sold on the market day. Ito
hoped there was something pleasing in this. He was not
an advocate fur high farming—high farming without high
prices is useless. Let us have good farming, and he had no
doubt they would meet the difficulties which surrounded
them. In his actions he had but one object—to be fair,
just, and honest. (Hear, hear.) lie could not hold up
his bead in that room without he entertained this
motive. To make things as just as possible—if the
price of wheat fell, so let the rent. (Hear, hear.) He
thought that corn rents would be best at the present time.
Some people thought not, and said fixed rents. Ile was
trying both of these systems. Ile was trying the corn rent,
because he thought it was just, and because he thought it
was beneficial to the tenant. There was mush difficulty
t with regard to manures. They were called upon to pur-
, chase manure at a very great expense; and without those
manures they could not compete with their neighbours.
Them was an excellent manure which had been lately in-
ughtlime—whichitmeigouhltdbebeaopbptailiednewditaht
equal profit as guano. Ile would recommend to their
notice • pamphlet, entitled " A Word in Season." The gen-
,/
atrodt
luoiced. h
sit od
demon who is the author of it is a clergyman, and seems to
ohfe h o
have grown wheat for many years. In a field he has planted
three rows of wheat, leaving space for three rows more, and
then three rows more, alternately wheat and alternately
fallow. The object of this was to keep the ground properly
exposed to the air ; he says that having done this, no ma-
p per P bt
o°l7,
ma-
nure is necessary ; and by this eastern he can get as much
from half an acre of ground as he formerly did from an
acre. He mentioned the subject to show the advantage of
subsoil ploughing, which he also recommended. He next
adverted to the growth of Ilex. From what he could under-
stand, it was certain that if they would grow flax, the manu-
facturers would purchase it from them. He believed the growth
of flax was not very difficult. Ho had grown it on almost any
land. But he would advise them to grow it cautiously and
prudently. He thought it was for the landlords to grow
it, and then show the results to their tenants, so as to bring
about that which was beneficial to them.—SAropshire

Advertiser.
MIDNIGHT TILUNS TO TILE ExminitoN.—Tho
Midland Company propose running midnight trains until
the clime of the Great Exhibition, giving single {jay tripe
and 15 hours in London.

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