The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-01 00:00:00

Mr. Henley, M,P., on the Influence of Free
Trade upon Agriculture.

WOODSTOCK, WEDNESDAY.
The annual show of the Woodstock Agricultural
and Horticultural Society took place yesterday, in
Blenheim park, which, as well as the private gar-
dens attached to the ducal mansion, was thrown
open to the members and visitors of the society by
his Grace the Duke of Marlborough. The show of
flowers, which was exceedingly fine, took place
under marquees pitched on the lawn near the
palace, and a volunteer band attended throughout
the day. The number of visitors was very large,
and the show was a complete success. The prizes
were distributed by the Duchess of Marlborough.
In the evening the members of the society dined
together, Lord Dillon in the chair.

The Duke of MARLBOROUGH, in returning thanks
for the toast of his health, briefly addressed the
company on the present improved condition of agri-
culture, and the service which had been rendered
it by societies like the present.

Mr. HENLEY, M.P., in returning thanks for the
borough members, expressed his gratification at
being present after his recent illness, and expressed
a hope that agriculture would always be amongst
the first, if not the very first interest of the country.
I believe, he said, that it is the first, if measured by
a proper standard. If this conclusion was one at
which only we ourselves arrived it would still be
very gratifying to our feelings, but we have had
the advantage of the opinion of a foreign prince
who lately presided over the meeting of an agricul-
tural society at a place not very far distant from
this. We have a right to consider that opinion a
dispassionate one. Self-love may blind us a little,
but no doubt a distinguished foreigner such as the
Duke of Aumale residing in this country is likely
to take a just view of things which come before
him. His royal highness said very complimentary
things of us as farmers and Englishmen. He
said that we were better off for being free from
State interference in the management of our farm-
ing, and because these societies are self-managed
and have nothing to do with the Government.
All those things are pleasant to hear ; but a power
which watches over us all fears that we might
be too proud, and we 'sae° been told in the press that
though better off than people abroad, we have too
many poor, and that though it is well to have agri-
cultural societies managing themselves, we might
have been better off if we had a minister of agri-
culture; we are further informed that the first
spring of agriculture followed on free trade, though
I can recollect that the first spring of agriculture
as now carried on amcng us took place 40 or 50
years ago. But all this has appeared in 'ell:a is
called the leading organ. What are the facts ? At
the beginning of the present century there was an
agricultural society supported by grants from Par-
liament. Some 40 years ago the Government of
the day got economical, and that society was
snuffed oat. (Loud laughter.) Well, that
society having been snuffed out, the Royal Agri.
cultural Society sprang up. Therefore, it was
not for want of a Government society that we
were not better off. (Hear, hear.) Agriculture, in
my opinion, has never stood still. You may trace
it from one period to another ; and improvements
in agriculture—great improvements—commenced
and were developed before free trade was intro-
duced. (Hear, hear.) I come to book on that. (A
laugh.) I think there has been a great improve•
meat in what is called thorough draining. The
system, contradistinguished from the old Essex
system, commenced in this county. I do not go
very quick into things—(laughter)—but my
tenantry did this 30 years ago, therefore that im-
provement did not originate in free trade. It is
quite true that after the introduction of free trade
£2,000,000 or L 3,000,000 of public money were
lent to persons to enable them to thorough drain,
but that only gave development to a principle which
had been known and acted on before. (Hear, hear.)
What is the other great improvement ? The quick
bringing to market of the stock prepared by the
agriculturist. That is an improvement which has
been of vital importance to the people. If it were
not for it taey might have wagged their jaws, but
they would have had no meat to put in them.
(Laughter, and " Hear, hear."). Sheep, the great
staple food of the country, were now brought to
market within twelve months after they were born,
and when many of them have been shorn once.
That began very many years ago in this part of
England. I remember seeing the young sheep
walking to market with flannel jackets on their
backs, to keep them from getting cold. (Loud
laughter.) What I am stating is a fact, and it
shows how agriculture has gone on, till we ',IOW find
small lambs going up. You do not get such good
mutton, to be sure, but if you had not the supply
which is now sent to market you could not feed the
people. (Hear, hear.) Again, the improvements
in machinery have gone on step by step; from the
rough horse thrashing machine to these imple-
ments which we now see working at everyone of
these shows. True, the progress has been gradual,
but my hon. friend near me (Mr. Bazley, M.P.)
will not pretend that the mills of Lancashire
were as perfect forty years ago as they
are now. All modern trade and commerce
is constantly improving, and in agriculture
there are constant improvements as well as in trade.
We have not gone on by jumps—we have been con-
tiaually improving : and I am satisfied that we
must still be doing so, in order to keep pace with
the necessities of the time. Agricultural shows are
useful it permitting ns to see how we can best do so.
Perhaps you of Woodstock think you are the best
fellows in the world, but if you go a hundred miles
you will find people who can walk round you.
(A laugh and cheers.) We see that these fellows go
faster and we must go faster too. We must keep
moving, and I believe we shall continue to move.
But, it may be asked, why are not farmers as en-
thusiastic in favour of new inventions, and as quick
to adopt them as manufacturers are to avail them-
selves of improvements in machinery P There is
this great difference—that in experiments made
with respect to manufactures, the circumstances
are of a fixed character, while in respect of agri-
cultural experiments the best of them may be
upset by atmospherical influences, over which
you have no control. An experiment which pro-
mises very well may turn out to be good for no-
thing. This naturally makes the agriculturist more
careful than if he could at once make his experi-
ments under more settled and favourable circum-
stance. He must watch the effect of three or four
seasons—he cannot jump at such conclusions as if
he made his experiments within four walls and
under a fixed condition of things. Ido not like to
see our profession run do wn as it sometimes is. I
do not see why. when the country has brought its
agriculture to a point which bears comparison with
that of other countries, we should not be allowed to
proceed at a fair price. We cannot increase our
ground; that is every day taken from us for houses
and cottages; yet with all these things we have
increased our produce, and this can only have been
done by improved modes of working. Ido not
conclude from this state of things that there is
no room for improvement. Quite the contrary;
but I think that by the efforts of such
societies as these—by watching the effect of in-
ventions, and by adopting such of them as turn
out to be real improvements—you will keep the
agriculture of this country, as it is now, at the
head of the agricu'ture of the world. (Cheers.) On
political subjects, I thank God, there is not much
for us to say. As I observed before this year at
one of these meetings we are at peace with the
world and we are ut peace 'with one another—
(cheers)—and I hope we shall keep ourselves at
peace. (Hear, hear.) Other countries seem to be
willing enough to fight; there seems to be no in-
disposition on their part to fall out and slay one
another, but I hope we can keep out of it. I see no
English interest mixed up in it. I trust we shall
always keep out of fighting, unless there is some
honest English interest to fight for. If that is the
case let us take off our gloves and fight like men.
(Cheers.) There is no use in making a noise if you
don't intend to fight. The least said the soonest
mended. (Loud cheers.)

Colonel NORTH and Colonel FANE returned
thanks in brief textile, and several toasts were given
and responded to before the pay broke up.