The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-18 00:00:00

THE ROYAI. AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY

Yexierday tho thow-yurd of society was thronged
with visitors brought cloy4ti to Witidsor by CXCUrriOtl
trains running every half hour,' at reduccd fares, from
the Waterloo and Paddington atetieus. The prize ani-
mals were all examined with immense interest, and the
cli3plsy generally appeared to excel in attractiveness that
of any former *year. • The society's meeting *has lost
nothing in popular estimation .from the absence' of the
agricultural implements, and even the increased time
during which the stock has remained open for inspection
has not been found to exhaust public curiosity. Not-
wthstanding the excellence of the situation chosen for
this annual lite, and the success with which it has been
attended, it may now be fairly regarded as a subject of
regret that it was not held more in the immediate
vicinity of London. Had such an arrangement been
mace the inhabitants of the •metropolis, and the WI.
toett.,e number of strangers at present sojourning.
among us, would have he-t-n eccomu3odated,
the funds of the society woultt have been greatly
•_

beEttiteti, and a more complete oppertunity would
have teen ell'Jroled for examirtieg a display of
stock unprecedented both in its variety acid its ex-
eaenee. Thee di-play is eow ever, ar.d a‘i that remains
Of it is the impres3i,-,n which h leases upon the mind of
the hour.' yof n-:,ture in euppl)ing to the agricultural
system of ;his counleY ettyn te:ensive and tiduairatil4
',reeds cf stock. For'eachdefa2 zipil on of land, fur each
d,versity of regeteTien and dintte, we shall find au
ederation distinctly provided. 'Ehe Cutswold•hills and
the chalk downs, teed the t1:11 pastures of the midland
counties, and even the coarse grasses of cur Welsh and
northern mountains, are aU remembered in that wise
end beneficent variety of ahrep stuck which the show-
y atd at Windsor illustratcs. In cattle the same law is
more or less discernible. The Ninth Derens, the Short-
horns, the Herefords, and all the other kinds exhibited,
Oevelop severally a peculiar titnees for the districts
whence they chit ay come. Yet in none is the aptitude
for certain localities so stringent that it does not admit
of ample relaxation to meet the exigencies of markets
and the wants of a comprehensive system of agriculture.
In this remarkable year, when every branch of human
industry takes stock for the past and girds itself for
naWreff.orts during the future, we earnestly trust that
the "inners of this country will direct their attention
more fully than they have hitherto done to the endless
diversities of practice,
tempered always with a due re-
gard to the circumstances of soil and climate with which
Nature provides them. The display in the Home Park
at Windsor establishes with a force to which language
cannot do sufficient justice, the fully of obstinately per-
severing in any one course of agricultural management
which has ceased to be profitable when so many others
prevent themselves which, judiciously carried out, may
lead to satisfactory results. Farming, like every occu-
pation in life, has,its Imes of divergence
men must choose with discretion their path,along which
for there is
no royal road to success now which the uneducated and
the enlightened, the duped and the sagacious, the need_
and the well-provided, can all alike travel with ood.
deuce. The repeal of the corn-laws has stopped up the
only thoroughfare which bad acquired that reputation,
and if, as a consequence of that grant change, wheat has
ceased to be remunerative, our agricultural practice mast
be modified and altered until the disturbed balance
of the markets is restored in our favour. It is not
within the province of the journalist to indicate what
course should be adopted, but looking at the varied fea-
tures of the cattle show just terminated, one cannot help
thinking that an occupation which presents so many
alternatives and choices in manufacturing the food of
the people must alone he dependent for its permanent
prosperity upon the independent energy and skill with
which each man pursues its acts. Impressed with this
conviction, we are anxious to see the Royal Agricultu-
ral Society extending its influence among the mass of
our practical farmers. It has outlived an infancy ren-
dered doubtful by the patronage of the great, whose hu.
mows and jealousies had to be conciliated in return. In
its council and management some of the ablest and most
enterprising of our agriculturists have gradually gained
a secure footing. Traces of toadyism and clique influ-
ence still remain, however; these will not be finally re-
moved until further steps are taken to secure the co•
operation and sympathy of the tenantry as a body, and
to make them regard the society lees as an association of
amateurs, and more as identified with their own interests
and progress.