The Sun.
London, England, 1838-05-10 00:00:00

THE NEW AGRICULTURAL

SOCIETY.

The Meeting for the formation of this Society was held yesterday, at
the Freemason's Tavern. Earl SPENCER presided, and among those
present we observed Lord Amherst, Lord Braybrooke, Earl of Chichester,
Lord Eliot, Lord Hatherton, Marquis of Tweeddale, Lord Oxraantown,
Lord C. Russell, Lord Lyttleton, Lord Portman, Lord Rayleigh, Lord
Easton, Lord Stradbroke, Sir R. Peel, Sir J. Graham, Sir E. Knatchbull,
Sir H. Verney, Hon. B. B. Baring, M.P. ; Sir E. Wilmot, M.P. ; Hon.
A. Duncombe, M.P. ; Mr. Sandford, M.P. ; Mr. Compton, M.P. ; Mr.
Wilbraham, M.P. ; Mr. W. Long, M.P. ; Mr. Shiley, M.P.; Col. Sib.
thorp, M.P. ; Mr. Cayley, M.P.; Mr. Stud, M.P.; Mr. Calcraft, M.P.:;
Mr. Miles, M.P. ; Mr. Pendarves, M.P. ; Mr. Eton, M.P. ; Mr. Chil-
ders, M.P. ; Alderman Copeland, M.P. ; Mr. Pussey, M. P. ; Mr. Wode-
house, M. P. ; Sir C. Mordaunt, Mr. Shaw Lefevre, M.P., &c.
The Noble CHAIRMANsaid he would tell them the reason why he had
wished to have the association established. It was because he had heard
of and had seen the great benefits which Scotland derived from the esta-
blishment of the Highland Society in that country. He believed
that fifty or sixty years ago the agriculture of Scotland was inferior to
that of England; he need scarcely tell the meeting that this was no
longer the case. He believed it must be admitted that although there
might be individual farms in England as well cultivated as any
in Scot.
land, yet they would not find any tract in England, the cultivation of
which equalled the agricultural condition of Scotland. He thought that
by establishing a powerful society, having the means of communicating
information throughout the country, reckoning among its members per-
sons from the north to the east, and from the west to the south, they would
be able at last to diffuse among the farmers of England a knowledge of
the best mode of cultivating their land. But he would say he Was san-
guine enough to expect more—he trusted they would be able, by the
combination of science and practice, to improve upon the best mode
of cultivation that now existed.—(Hear, hear.) He would tell them
what he thought the best mode of carrying out this object.
They must have some establishment in this metropolis, as a
central one. This must have the power of corresponding, not
only with persons in every part of the United Kingdom, but with
foreign agricultural societies, and scientific men abroad, who had ap-
plied themselves to agriculture. He thought that this would be one
of the great objects of a society, formed to advance agricultural know-
ledge; and it was by communicating with those who had attended to
this subject, and by distributing the knowledge so gained to the farmers
of England, that he expected the greatest good would result.—(Hear.)
But besides this, they must have agricultural exhibitions of stock in
different parts of the country, for, although he thought that agricul-
ture should be their principal object, yet, for exciting interest In their
favour, they must have meetings for this purpose. Now, he would say,
to make this society effective, it was necessary
that it should be power-
ful in its effect and influence ; and it was, he was certain, absolutely
necessary that, to do any good whatever men of all parties should
unite and cot together.—(Loud cheers.) But haw was this union
possible, unless politics were excluded.—(Hear, hear, and cries
of " No, no.") For this reason they suggested that it should be
an indispensable regulation of this society that nothing to be
brought forward or pending in either Ilouse of Parliament should be
discussed at its meetings.—(llear, and cries of " No, no. He found
that there were some \vim differed from him—he found that a meeting
of farmers had been hold on the previous night, at which they passed
I esolutions to the effect that this proposed society was delusive in prin.