The Sun.
London, England, 1865-09-22 00:00:00

place. Indeed, on my arrival from the North, where
this pest is greatly ravaging the country, and where
they are deeplyimpressed by incidents of ain t fright-
ful character which occur at every mom •nt, I was on
the point of writing to the secretary to snake the sug-
gestion, had I not been anticipated by the decision of
the committee. (Hear.) Although we have not had an
exhibition of horned cattle, the committee have wisely
in their printed programme of proceedings given us a
perfect knowledge of what that exhibition would have
been, and you are as competent to form an opinion as
to what the Royal and Central Bucks Association can
produce at its annual exhibitions as if the cattle pest
had not occurred, and it is for you to decide whe-
ther on the whole, looking over that catalogue,
it is one which is satisfactory to yourselves. That
is a very important consideration. These annual
meetings mean something more than congratulating
ourselves on a good harvest, or condoling with each
other on a bad one. They mean something more
than drinking the healths of our noble selves. They
mean that we who, in a certain sense, represent the
county, should make some calculation of the posi-
tion of the county--whether it is increasing in wealth
and reputation, and whether the proceedings we are
taking are calculated to produce that result. If I
look technically over our usual authorised catalogue
and compare it with those which have been published
for the last three, four, or five years—even from the
time when the junction took place between the two
societies, to which I may afterwards advert, and
which it was supposed would give increased energy
and greater exertion to the county--I cannot see
that there is any material feature to call your atten-
tion to. The aggregate entries of the last five or
six years is not reduced, the number of exhibitors is
not diminished, the amount of money given in prizes
is not decreased, and one might make a very plausible
popular appeal upon each, and come to the conclu-
sion that, if not progressive, we are at least conser-
vative in our position. (Cheers and laughter.) But
when I analyse this catalogue I find some results
and circumstances which, to me at least, are not
satisfactory; and although I know it is not a pleasant
thing to be critical or captious, except when you
complain of a bad harvest—and probably lam taking
an unwise course—l hope you will pardon me on this
occasion if I briefly refer to it. (Hear, hear.) If I
look to the number of contributors to the exhibition,
I find that nine-tenths of them are furnished by the
county of Buckingham. That does not look as if
there were any great competition with other counties.
But what is more, These nine-tenths of the county
of Buckingham consist of dwellers within a parti-
cular district of the county. That has a tendency as
little as in the former institution to competition,
which is supposed to be the mother of excellence.
That is one feature well deserving attention. There
is another which I do not like. Ido not see that the
landed proprietors of the county are included in the
increase in the manner which we have a right to
expect. (Hear, hear.) Indeed, with the exception
of one who is absent--the squire of Aston Clinton
(Sir Anthony de Rothschild)—whose boundless
liberality and good natured energy have exhibited
themselves on these occasions with so much effect, I
scarcely find any individual of that order doing
what I conceive co be his duty to the county of
Buckingham under these circumstances. (Hear.)
And what is the cause of this ? I cannot believe
that the landed proprietors are deficient in a sense
of duty. I know they are the reverse. I cannot
believe that among the tenant occupiers of Buck-
inghamshire there is any want of emulation. I know
from personal experience that the contrary is the
fact. (Hear, hear.) There must be some reason
for the present state of things. Why is the state of
Buckinghamshire different from that of the county
of Northampton or any other county? We have
here a county association. It is invested with the
halo of Royal patronage ; it meets, and you know
the consequences of it meetings. They are different
from those which occur in contiguous counties. A
gentleman has recently given me a description of the
show in the county of Northampton which may be
interesting. Now there is nothing in the county of
Northampton which should give it an advantage
over the county of Buckingham. Its soil, the dis-
tribution of it 3 estates, its general tenure of land,
aura of are ancehie,.,.o tvtlavou
of the county of Buckingham. But the Agricultural
Association of the county of .i-N-ortliampton met the
other day in the city of Peterborough, and I have been
told by more than one gentleman that there was an
exhibition of stock like that of the Royal Society
in miniature, and hardly in miniature. There were
contributions from men in distant counties compet-
ing for prizes ; there were hundreds of pounds taken
in the show yard from those who were anxious to
view the exhibition. The first gentry of the county
of Northampton were present, and there were troops
of tenant-farmers, not only from every part of
Northamptonshire, but from the bordering districts,
full of animation, of the spirit of rivalry, and of the
creative spirit of competition, and such were the
numbers, and such was the interest and excitement
created, that the show was kept open for two days.
(A Voice : " And the ladies attended too.") I
should have thought that the show would have been
kept open for another day when the ladies were ad-
mitted. (Laughter.) When we arrive at that
point in Buckinghamshire I hope that will be the
result. (Cheers and laughter.) But I want to
know why these things don't happen in the county
of Buckingham. (Hear, hear.) Gentlemen, I want
to put the question before you in a business-like
point of view. (Hear.) It is not always viewed
in that way, and can only be viewed properly
through the medium of an enlarged and consider-
able experience. Now, what was the consequence
of the great change in the laws which regulated
agriculture some years ago ? We are not here now
to question the propriety of those changes which we
have witnessed, and which have entered into the
controversy ; but we have a right, and it is our duty
to ascertain the results of that change, and I say
that the results of that change are no doubt these,
that the owner and the occupier of the laud can no
lcnger count upon the price of wheat as the princi-
pal source of his revenue or his profit. Well, though
you are placed in a different position, you have less
cause to complain than most Men have, for a boun-
tiful Providence has favoured the county of Buck-
ingham in possessing the finest pastures in the coun-
try. It is not a local exaggeration when I say that
there are pastures in this county not equalled by
any in England, such as the pastures of Creslow,
Broughton, &c., and when I mention the dairy farms
of this county, which are so considerable that, by
the last returns of Parliament, I observe that Buck-
inghamshire produces much more butter than any
other county in England ; and in the south of your
county, where you depend more upon what is tech-
nically called the agriculture of land—though, no
doubt, there are some distinguished exceptions, for
there are some portions of land perhaps unequalled
in England for their grain produce and their wheat
produce—l say, especially as to the south of the
county, it is quite notorious that any man of energy
and action who holds land in South Buckingham-
shire finds he can only make money by being a
stock farmer. (Hear, hear.) You mainly depend
upon your herds or flocks, but when you form socie-
ties like the present, the principle of which—to use
the language of your constitution, and better lan-
guageeevoerrrebeetflyorbeuetnlit ,sptirhoitugohf lit7atyo
no t clu:ta: itn
employed,
promote the cultivation and im tof
improvement agri-
culture and husbandry, to improve stock to encou-
rage and foster all experiments that
may tend to the
advantage of the soil, to offer premiums for the
emulation of all classes, and for the improvement of
all implements in agriculture, I ask what does that
can ? What do those fine language, m sentences
mean ? They mean this—that the society i 5 formed
nd increase the sources of your
really to maintain a
wealth. (" Hear" and cheers.) Well, then, it is not
ou have before you, and
-
a trifling question which y
these societies whether
you must consider in forming
-
you attain objects by which your wealth is to be
maintained and increased. (Hear, hear.) e r tle-
men, I must say I do not think that the present
system is one which will effect this object. (Hear,
hear.) I say this with diffidence, but at the same time
with a conviction of its truth. I will tell you why.
The reason is that the position which we have taken
is by far too local. (Hear, hear.) The Royal Bucks
Agricultural Association is the oldest agricultural
society in England. It was established before the
Royal 6oaiety of Agriculture, cad all tail

agricultural societies in England are merely imita-
tions of it. The objects which it proposed when
formed were limited in their character, but they
were excellent as far as they went. The society
worked well in its generation. To recognise humble
merit, to reward humble skill, we may now with our
more enlarged skill look upon as very inferior objects,
but they were very important objects in those days,
and they brought all classes of society belonging to
the agricultural world together, and created feelings
of mutual good will which from time to time have
ever increased. (Hear.) Well, gentlemen, as time
advanced, there was a fresh feeling of dissatisfaction
in the county as to the state of the Royal Bucks
Association. It was considered to be too local. Now,
I should be the last person to speak with any depre-
ciation of the local sentiment ; for the local feeling
is the deepest and most precious, as well as the most
captivating and enduring influence that can govern
men. But for all things there is a season. There
are transactions in which the local feeling is predo-
minant and effects all that you can desire ; but there
are certain circumstances of life in which the local
influence ought not to be unnecessarily appealed to.
The hedger, the thatcher, the dairymaid, the
ploughman, the cottager who is encouraged to
practise habits of cleanliness by rewards—these are
persons who can very fairly be brought under
the influence of a local institution. But when
you come to the exhibition of stock—stock which
is to be the source of your worldly prosperity—
what you want is excellence, and you can only
obtain that excellence by competition. Therefore I
describe your position as somewhat unsatisfactory;
for really you have been attempting to do two
two things at the same time which are perfectly
incompatible—to reward local merit, and to aspire
to national and general excellence. (Hear.) A few
years ago there was a feeling that the results of our
labours were not sufficiently satisfactory, and the
Central Bucks Association was founded by gentle-
men of great spirit and enterprise. The consequence
was that the Central, though aiming at general ex-
cellence, was after all founded on a limited system ;
for it was only limited to the centre of the county,
and it was felt that the society could not effect its
object, and so, with an admirable temper and dis-
cretion on both sides, which could not be too highly
praised, the Royal united with it. That was the
reason. (" Hear, hear," from Mr. Fowler, and
" No.") I should be very sorry to misrepresent
the facts of the case. " You're quite right," from
Mr. Fowler.) No one appreciates more than Ido
the conduct of the Central Society ; but I believe
what I said was correct—namely, that you were
trying to do two things which were incompatible.
(" Quite true.") There is no want of sympathy,
one society with the other. (Hear, and cheers.)
There is no want of sympathy with agricultural
pursuits. There is no want of landlords of the
county to come forward to do that which is not
only for their awn interest, but for the honour of
the county. But the thing has been so done that
that which has been and ought to be in its consti-
tution a great county and a national society has
been mistaken by the landlords of the county for a
mere Aylesbury ploughing match. That is a state
of affairs which ought never to have been brought
about. I remember there were half a dozen places
—Amersham, Slough, Salthill, Risborough, Buck-
ingham, &c. There was nothing but distracted
effort and no concentrated energy. So far as the
constitution of this society, after it was united with
the Central Bucks, was concerned, nothing could
be more perfect in theory. In theory now it is the
most perfect in the world, and one would have
supposed that a great agricultural county like
Buckingham—purely so--(no)—well, eminently so
—would have been willing and anxious to show all
England the first stock and the most successful ex-
periments in agriculture, and the most skilful machi-
nery, thus taking the lead and giving a tone to
public opinion. (" Hear" from Mr. Fowler.) Only
read the objects of your society as set forth in your
rules, which are :—" To promote and extend a
knowledge of the theory and practice of agriculture
and husbandry, the improvement of live stock in
the district, and particularly to excite by premiums
and otherwise a spirit of industry and emulation
lax as t to
encourage generally all useful improvements, expe-
riments, and inventions, and to promote the better
construction of implements in agriculture." These
are the most noble objects men can propose to
themselves. (Hear, hear.) Is there any want of
feeling on the part of the county to realise these
objects ? I deny it. I appeal to this society, to
this meeting, to show the desire. But you see the
result of these contracted schemes is that you can
have no real competition, and you cannot, there-
fore, approach the realisation of the excellence
spoken of in the objects of the society. You will
consequently have inferior crops and stock, and find
in the long run that you have not maintained or
increased the sources of your wealth. (Hear.) I
think the time has come when we ought to consider
how we shall meet the difficulties of our position.
(Hear.) How should we answer the questions, Why
is the great county of Buckingham inferior to
Northampton ? Why have we not those great ex-
hibitions which are an example and excitement to
all England ? There are landlords of this county
most skilful and practical—who are occasionally
members of the Royal Society of Agriculture, who
take a leading part in its proceedings, and gain prizes
elsewhere than in this county. (Laughter.) Now,
I ask, why do not these events take place in this
county ? (Hear.) I do not believe that it is possible
for us to shun this question. (Hear.) We ought
to maintain the excellence of our county,
but this we shall not do by falling into the
error of other counties, and thus diminish the sources
of our prosperity. This is the practical point before
us. I know there are difficulties in the subject. My
opinion is this, that you have made a mistake in
mixing two things together which ought never to
have been united. I know there is some jealousy in
talking about a general society throughout the
county, where there are local societies, to say that
that would interfere with their duties, arrangements,
objects, &c. ; but I assure you that is a complete
delusion, for it would be impossible for a general
society to reward the most skilful thatcher, for in-
stance, of any given locality. There are, of course,
local qualities, accomplishments, and virtues which
only those who are on the spot can recognise and
reward. Let those be attended to. Let us in this
district maintain and fulfil those objects of a local
nature ; for I must confess my belief that all those
local rewards which have been offered have hitherto
been perfectly successful. At the same time let us
by some decided step appeal to the county, so that
we may have an annual exhibition of stock and skill
which will test the position of the county of Buck-
ingham in the country to which it belongs. That is
what is wanted. I believe that such an appeal would
be heartily responded it. Only make the proprietors
of the soil understand that the society is not merely
a local society—confined to Aylesbury and its vici-
nity—and they will come forward and support it,
and with a very small amount of effort your funds
will be able to command the competition of all Eng-
land. (Hear, hear.) You know we do not give
prizes merely to reward a fewfarmers of this county
but to improve their stock and skill, and thus to
improve your wealth ; if you open your society
even to all England you will not be sorry for the
result, for you may depend upon it that the people
of Bucks ought to be able to compete with those of
any other county, and carry off a goodly number of
prizes. I have at several other dinners of this sort
intimated these views. Placed in the position of
your president, I could not from a sense of duty
be silent to-day ; but I hope that you will maintain
the respectable position which you now occupy as
a society, and increase your wealth by maintaining
a high character for your produce. I place this
matter before you, and I hope my suggestions will
be
yearsbeannefideial.
amid Or:
many
society ',ass,
be
ux s
wt e
hd a
tfeovr e
rmma na yy
have been its faults, it has effected some good.
That is a reason why it should continue to exist.
What we ought to aspire to is(Hnoetarm.)ereTlyhetocoeuffnetcyt
on which ought to ogfo oßdu,
chic
iunt
gthhaemgriesa t
in agpooost
en-
able it to take the lead. It ought not to remain in
the position which it now occupies, which is scarcely
to follow. The county does not take that position
which it ought to do, considering it possesses the
aw, ikiiturco, Foducc the greaten awouht of .