The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-01 00:00:00

in regard to that situation, what are the views put
forth, for example, not a year ago, but under date
this very morning, " Samedi, ler Aolit," not in an
obscure provincial newspaper, but in a Paris journal
of eminence and authority like those possessed by
L' Union. "We hesitate not to proclaim once more,"
says L' Union of this morning, " and we do so at the
risk of scandalizing the patriotism of the Journal
des _Wats, and even of the Nation : we are intrac-
table upon all those questions, which remain firmly
and consistently attached to the rights of civilised
peoples, and to the honour of our country ; and we
cannot comprehend at all, no matter what may have
been our experience of the complaisances and of the
fallings off among our contemporaries, we cannot
comprehend at al) how any person can possibly
entertain any other sentiment in the matter
than we do ourselves, or, entertaining it,
can dare to express it." Having spoken
thus vaguely but emphatically in regard to the
situation of things already hinted at, L'Union
hesitates not to add " Our flag has been insulted,
our territory has been violated, the faith of treaties
has been despised, the protection guaranteed by the
signature of our ambassador has been disdain-
fully det aside and changed into abso-
lute oppression. Such are the glaring facts
flagrantly accomplished, at broad noonday and in
the face of the whole world. For these things the
dignity of France requires a prompt and solemn
reparation. There is not a single nation under the
sun that could quietly put up with so insolent an
outrage without jeopardising its reputation." And
so on—and so on—the bitterness of feeling arising
out of the actual situation of things in that one di-
rection alone, breaking through the customary
equanimity of the Vnion, in words so resolute and
uncompromising, even though the writer wields his
pen all the while under the shadow of the censor-
ship.

A fancy fair held at a gentleman's country seat for

a charitable purpose is not in these days a wonder
ful novelty. Our great landowners, and the pro

prietors of stately parks and pleasant grounds, are
for the most part very ready to throw open their

gates on occasion, and to admit the public to a sight
of their domains. The agreeable combination of a
rural fête and a benevolent purpose are usually the
opportunities selected for these " general invita-
tions," and such has been the object of the fancy
fair held at Tiptree-hall. But the festivities in

question possessed a peculiar and distinctive

feature which render them deserving of pub-
lic notice. The estate at Tiptree has long
been famous for the energetic and liberal
manner in which its owner has applied the
various inventions and improvements of modern
times to the cultivation of his land and the different
departments of his farm establishment, and the
great success which has attended his endeavours

renders a visit to Tiptree especially interesting. It

s a great advantage to the agricultural interest o

the country when gentlemen of large means and
public spirit come forward as the pioneers of im-
provement and progress. The application of steam

to the various purposes of agriculture is known to
be a most valuable aid to the farmer. It did not
need much sagacity to discover that if the greet
aerial agent could do the work of horses so much

better and quicker than horses could do it on the
highroad, there was no reason why it should like-

wise eclipse them at the plough. Still there were
very great obstacles in the way. In the first place,
farmers, proverbially slow and sure, looked with sus-

pinion and prejudice on such new-fangled notions.
The second objection was more serious, for farmers,
in spite of Mr. COBDEN'S sneers, are open to reason
like other men. The first expense of steam ploughs
is, however, very great, and it was not to be ex-

petted that a farmer of moderate means should em
bark a large sum in what was after all a specula-
tion. It is, therefore, a very great advantage to
the community when gentlemen, who can afford to
speculate in such matters, and to whom the preli-
minary outlay is a matter of no great moment, like
Mr. DENISON and Alderman MECHI, come forward
and give their neighbours practical evidence of the
working of new and expensive schemes. The far-
mers in Mr. DENISON'S neighbourhood, who
watched the new steam plough breaking and tear-
ing up the hard ground, baked by the hot spring
sun, were unanimous in their approval, and readily
perceived the great advantage of the steam plough
in breaking up hard clay lands. There is no doubt
that Alderman MECHI has given a great stimulus
to the farmers in his vicinity, and although his
humbler neighbours may not hope to rival the
glories of Tiptree Hall, they may learn how
to make the most of their own lands by
what they see there. The attention of the
visitors to the flee on their round of inspec-
tion was especially attracted by the huge manure
tank from which a system of manure irrigaticn is
carried on over the lands. This reservoir is
described as having the appearance of an immense
well with folding doors, from which, when opened,
a cloud of steam issued. This was the waste steam
which is forced into the compound to prevent the
manure from settling to the bottom of the water
with which it is mixed. The steam keeps the mass
in constant action, and frOm this well iron pipes
traverse the grounds in all directions with stand
pipes to every eleven acres. As the estate consists
of 170 acres, it is manifest that this scheme must
have been carried out at great expense. Its returns,
however, are rapid enough to satisfy the most im-
patient, since the crops are of the finest, while two
or three grass crops are obtained in a season—
one of nine days' growth being, in some places, a
foot long, The manner of applying the manure is
similar to the application of water to a fire. A hose
is fixed to the stand pipes, and a farm labourer plays
upon the surrounding land, the manure being forced
through the pipes with six horse power. This pro-
cess requires a hundred gallons a minute, to procure
which supply the neighbouring hills are drained to
one point. Mr. MECHI has certainly spared neither
expense nor trouble in carrying out his scheme,
and its striking effects must convince any observer
of the correct principles on which it is founded.
The other departments of the farm are worked on a
similar scale, and the most satisfactory
alai practical
proof of successful management was given to the
visitors in the shape of a luxurious collation of
which all the articles were obtained on the estate.
Such displays are by no means useless ; they afford
that unanswerable evidence which the old proverb
tells us lies in " the eating," and effectually silence
any doubts as to the practical benefit of new and
startling theories. Old-fashioned men, who look
with due caution on innovations and departures
from time-honoured ways, and cynics, who are
always on the 100k-out for faults, cannot shut their
eyes to the practical existence of rich crops and
good beef and mutton. Such gatherings seem to dif-
fuse general knowledge and to interest agricul-
turists in the discussion of• new plans and systems.
We may hope when such knowledge becomes more
widely diffused that we shall see Mr. DENISON'S
suggestion realised, and several farmers corn.
bining to obtain the more expensive implements
which are only wanted for occasional use. There
can be no reason why the application of
science to agriculture should not be ',reductive of
as great and striking results as it has brought about
in other directions, There is, surely, nothing dis-