The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-03-06 00:00:00

THE WIRRAL FARMERS' CLUB.

The sixteenth annual meetin7 of this club was held
yesterday; on the farai of Henry Brown, Esq., at Grange.
Owing to the fineness of the weather, a great number of
persons were attracted to the spot, which is about eight
miles from Birkenhead. Amongst the company present,
We noticed—Charles Stanley, Esq., of Denhall ; J. R.
Shaw, E.q,, of Arrow Hall; the Rev. M. Coxon, of
Heswall ; R. Congreve, Esq., jun., of Burton ; R. Barton,
Esq., of CahlY Manor; J. Bolton Case, Esq:, of Potilten
Hey Lafone, Es,rl., of Thingwall Hall B. Sherwodd,'
Esq, of Floylake; Henry Brown, Esq., of Grange; H. 11.
Aspinall, Esq., of Birkenhead ; and several others. The
judges for ploughing were—Mr. N. Grundy, of Haddon
Hall; Mr. R. Hampson, of Higher Bebington; and Mr.
T. Davies, of Ledsham. The judges of stock were—Mr.
Becscroft, of traton, by Chester; and Mr. 'Wheelhouse,
of Dunston. The judges of poultry were Mr. Moses
Robinson, of ..itindertcin ; and Mr. Joseph Cox, of
Liverpool'. The show Of Horses Was better than
any previous year. Cows and bulls also canna in for
their share of praise, and the poultry was most excellent.
The ploughing, which was on -a, piece of land not the very
best for that purpose, was brought to a close about two
o'clock, and was very good, after which the judges pro-
ceeded to inspect the cattle and poultry, and the following
is a list of prizes awarded, with the names:of the success.
ful C )mpetitors
Class To the best ploughman, who had taken the head
priz,l at any previous meeting, since the Commencer:dent
of the society-John Millington, in the employ of Mr.
Rankin, of Brornboro,
Class 2. To the best ploughman—John Pugh, in the
employ of Henry Brown, Esq.. Grange ;'second best, John
Prince, in the employ of Mr. John B 'iscoe; third, Henry
Cartwright, in the employ of Mr. Zl,igler, of Landican ;
fourth; William Shakeshaft, in the employ of Mr. Thomas
Hart, of Thornton. , - .

Class 3. To youim men under 23 years of age—First,
Samuel Mealor, in the employ of Mr. James Mealor, of
Ness; second, alinund Mason, in the employ of Mr. John
Mason ; third, William Povey, in the employ of Mr. Wm.
Raiford. _ _

Class 4. To servants an 1 labourers—To the cowman
who had lived the greatest number of years in one plaza
to the satisfaction of his em loyer : First, Samuel Powell,
who had lived 36 years with Miss Washington ; second, to
the labourer exclusively employed in agriculture: Edward
Hughes, who had lived 24 years in the employ of
Richard Congrove, Esq., of Burton • third, to the
hired woman servant who had lived the greatest
number of years (not less than seven) in a farmer's service
—Mice Leatherbarro*, who had lived 18 years in the
employ of Mr. John Taylor, of Thornton; fourth, to the
male servant of the best character, under 20 years of age,
who had lived the greatest number of years in the service
of a member of the club—George Coatup, who had been
-seven years in the employ of Mr. Thomas Wheelhouse, of
Burton; fifth, to the female servant as 'above—No corn-
petitor; sixth, to the dairymaid who had made the best
dairy of cheese—Fanny Hughes, in the employ of Mr.
Robert Ellison, of Woodchurch ; seventh, Ist prize, to the
labourer exclusively employed in agriculture who had
brought up the largest family without parochial relief—
Thomas Warrineton, of Sanghall, 13 children: 2nd prize
as above—Jahn Evans, of Moreton, seven children ; eighth
and ninth—No competitors; tenth, for the best stacking
and thatching, Ist prize—Richard Barton, Esq , of Cable, ;
2nd prize—Mr. Walker, of Storeton ; 3rd prize—Mr. W.
A. Burnam, of Spittal. The money to be divided amongst
the men in their employ.
Class 5. Swedish Turnips and Mangle Wurzel. To the
owner of the best field or fields, not less than 4 statute
acres,a silver medal, the gift of R. Barton, E isle of Caldy
Manor—R. Barton, Esq. Mr. Barton said he should
make a present of the medal to the club for the next year's
meeting.
sliClass d. Exhibition of Live Stock. To the owner of
the best stallion for agricultural purposes, first prize—Mr.
Hugh Hughes, of Shirley; second do.—Mr. Simnel Mealor,
of Weston ; to the owner of the best in foal mare—Mr.
William Lockhart, of Allwooa ; third, for the best &sera_
Mr. Brown, of Grange; fourth, for the best bull,-Z. R-
Shaw, Esq., Arrow Hall; second hest—Mr. Ha son,
of Moreton; fifth, for the best dairy cow—Mr. bale, of
Thornton Hough ; second do. Mr. Stewart, of Pudding
ton ; sixth, for the best Leicester Ram—Mr. I)alziel, of
Landican; seventh, for the best pen of three Cheviot
breeding ewes—Mr. Daiziel, of Landican.
Class 7. Poultry. Spanish Fowls—Mr. T. Jones, jun.,
of Weston ; Dorking Fowls—R. Barton, Esq., of Caldy ;
Cochin China Fowls—Mr. Willis, of Upton; Game Fowls
—Mr. Wheelhouse, of Burton, highly commended, but no
prize Given; Turkeys—R• Barton, Esq., of Caldy; Geese,
Mr. Willis, of Upton ; Ducks—R. Barton, Esq., of Caldy.
The dinner took place at the Brown Horse, at Grange,
and although rather an outlandish place, the creature
comforts placed on the tsble were all that could he wished
for. The chair was filled by Charles Stanley, Eecs , and
mire vice ureic nv R. Barton, E q., and J. Bolton Case,
Esq.
On the removal of the cloth the chairman gave, in
sucecession, the " Q seen and his Royal Highness Prince
Albert," the " Prince of Wales and the rest of the Royal
Family," which were-drank with the usual honours.
The Chairman then rose for the purpose of proposing the
least of the evening, and in doing so observi d that societies
of that kind were of the utmost pmnible advantage to
agriculture, and of very great impertence, more particularly
in a district like the hundred of Wirral, which was too far
removed from the rest of the county for them to associate •
with the Cheshire agricultural society. They were also
bounded on each side by the two rivers and the Irish Sea; and
}iving only a limited amount of land for their operations, it
became every class to assist the society by their suhscrip a
tines. (Cheers.) He could not too highly commend the
committee for the exertions made by them to improve the
sock and crop of the district, more particularly Mr.
Bolton Casa for having added £5 for the second best
stallion, and Mr. Barton, of Caldy, who had offered a silver
medal for the best crop of turnips or mangles. (Loud
cheers) He was in hopes that a new era had sprung op to
the society, and that the good example set by the farmers,
more especially such as the two gentlemen •he had named,
would lead to a better style of cultivating the land, but he
was b 'rind to state that some of the smaller • farmers had
not taken advantage of the two year's war prices, and
therefore, in this respect there was great need of exertion.
He must observe, that however -judiciously they manur3d.
the land, unless it was kept clean, it was impossible
to obtain a good crop. (Hear, hear.) The prices
at which beef was now selling was of great import.
ance, and it behoved every farmer to think twice before he
ploughed up his lay land, especially when they were so
near such a good market as Liverpool. Still it was a
matter which must be left to the good sense and sound
judgment of the farmer himself. (Hear, hear.) With
regard to the ploughing that that day it was highly to be
commended, and he was sure all must have been par-
ticularly gratified at the genuine old English hospitality
exhibited to all by Mr. Brown. (Loud cheers.) It was
owing to his exertions, and that of a few others, that the
society originated, indeed he might be considered the
founder of it. (Applause) And coupled with him he
might mention the names of Mr. Ellison, of Woedchurch ;
Mr. Jackson, of Nortorum ; and Mr. Webster, of Upton.
(Continued cheering.) Next year, as they were aware, the
Royal Agricultural Society of England would hold their
meeting at Chester, which was a matter of considerable irn.
portal-lee,and would no doubt be highly gratifying to all. He
trusted they would maintain the credit of the society—that
the ploughing would improve—that the honest and incluse
n leas labourer would not be forgotten : and ho (the
chairman) did not see why th( dairymaids should not stand
as high as those in any other part of Cheshire. (Cheers.)
After urging on the company the necessity of increasing
their subscriptions, the worthy chairman concluded by
proposing " Success to the Wirral Farmer's Club," which
was drank with three times three,

Mr. R. Congreve, in a neat veeech, in which he paid a
wel merited enloginm to Mr. Stanley, for the services he
had rendered the society during the sixteen years he had
presided ever it, proposed his good health, which was
drink with great enthusiasm.
The chairman responded, assuring the members that be
should always feel it a great pleasure to do the best he
could for the interests of the society He then proposed
the health of of the " Magistrafes," coupling with it the
name cf Mr. Barton. Drank with three times three.

Mr. Barton responded, and in the course of his remarks
fteerved that the rural districts give very little troub'e
to the board. They had often a. good deal to do v,-ith
the towns, and last week bed to interfere respecting the
turn out at Birkenhead—a circumstance which rarely, if
ever happened in the county; end he could only acaount
fa it in this way : that 'there was a better understanding-
between the firmer and his labourers than between the
employer and employed in towns. (Cheers.)
Mr.-Lockhart brif flv proposed the health of the patrons
of the society, which %as responded to by the Chairman.
The Rev. Mr. Coxon, rector of Heswell, proposed the
next toast: He bad great pleasure in proposing. the
healths of the vice presidents, Mr. Barton, and Mr. Bol-
ton Case, both of whom Were deeply engaged in agricul-
ture, and both bad set good examples* to the farmers in
the neighbourhood, by the superior manner in which they
had cultivated their farms and improved their stocks.
(Loud cheers,) The toast was drunk with great enthusiasm.
Mr. Barton responded, and said both himself and Mr.
Case had the very greatest pleasure in doing all in their
power to support the society in every way, and if by the
experiments they N,v r e enabled to make they gained a better
knowledge of agriculture than others, they were only too
happy to impart it, kr unless it was made useftil to others.
it was in reality valueless.. (Hear.) After urging on the
members present the desirability of increasing their subscrip-
tions, in order that greater and more numerous prizes might
be offered, he concluded' by proposing the health of Mr.
Brown, and thanks to him fof the use of his land,
Mr Belton Case said the next toast had heen allotted to
him, and he could have wished it had fallen into hands
more able to do justice to it. They all knew that in a
society of that kind, and at a meeting of that description,
the duties of the judges formed a most material part of the

business of the day. They felt deeply indebted to those
gentlemen who had no ordinary task to fulfil, but who
,had performed it so well, arid had so readily and cheerfully
came forward, many of them from a distance (Applause.)
He concluded by proposing the health, of the judges,
coupling with it the name of Mr. Wheelhouse. (Cheers.)
Mr. Wheelhouse responded, and after several other
toasts had been drr.n't, the company separated.