The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-25 00:00:00

SOUTHWARK.

VIOLENT ASSAULT ON A RAILWAY OFFICER.—Geo.
Abbe,feld, a costerinonger, was placed at the bar before
Mr, seeker on a charge of assault under the following
circumAances.

Wm. Green, an officer employed at the Waterloo sta-
tion of the South-Western Railway, stated that on Satur-
day last while he was proceeding along the Waterloo-
road the prisoner, who keeps an oyster stall at the
corner of John-street, Waterloo-road, suddenly rushed
up to him and straok him on the right eye, which bled
profusely. Witness did na give the prisoner any provo-
cation, and why he had struck him he could not tell.
Mr. Sucker (to the prisoner)—What have you to say
to the charge /
Prisoner—l was drunk and he struck me first. I
have known the prosecutor' for several years, and have
been in the habit of travelling on the railway every day.
The prosecutor denied this assertion, and confirmed
his evidence by other witnesses.

The prisoner was fined 205., or, in &fault, one month's
imprisonment.

HARVEST LABOUR AND MODERN FARMING

The postponed trial of reaping machines which took place
at Boxteil-lodge the other day attracted the attention of
farmers throughout the kingdom, and the near approach of
a harvest which promised well in all respects but that of
sufficient hands to secure it induced many to anticipate the
announcement of the decision by a visit and personal in-
spection. One -gentleman from Bedfordshire was so far
satisfied with the work done, and also with the judicia
award, that he purchaeod the prize reaper for the purpose
of introducing it to the farmers of his own county. Pro.
bably many of our readers have asked " What has become
of the machine ?" We are happy to inform them that it is
safe, and bdsy in the county of Bedford.
On Friday last, according to arrangement, a large pasty
of county gentlemen assembled at the Park Farm, Woburn
Abbey, to witness the performance of the Cresskill reaper.
The early part of the day was as unfavourable as could well
be imagined, but, notwithstanding the weather, the ponde-
rous machine addressed itself to its task in a business-ilk*
style, mowing for itself a clean p assago through the standing
corn to the astonishment of massy present, and to the great
delight of all. In the selected field there wore numerous
patches of laid and straggling wheat, but so thoroughly did
the reaper do its workthat not an ear escaped—the very
labourers attending being driven to acknowledge that no
man could cut so regularly or so cleanly. The circumstancse
of the trial afforded a fair illustration of the ease of manage-
ment, for it was worked perfectly by two men in the em.
ployment of the Duke of Bedford (his grace's drillman and
his son), who had never seen a machine of the kind previ-
ously. This servant of the duke, by the way, although
probably only an average specim en of the men employed at
Woburn, so impressed Mr. Cresskill, or so won upon him
by the facility he exhibited in the: conduct of the operation,
that he was engaged on the spot to become the travelling
companion of the machine in its tour of experiments.
We have stated that a considerable number of the county
gentry and larger farmers were present on the occasion,
and these may be considered as representing the old school
(so far as there is an old school), as well as the more ad-
vanced section of agriculturists. To show the spirit in
which these gentlemen are disposed to take up the matter
we may mention that one person, on ordering a machine
from the maker, stated his intention of placing it at the
disposal of his men gratis for the next year's harvest, and
this in order to disarm the prejudice and apprehensions
which the labouring classes are not unlikely to entertain.
This gentleman considers that his proper share of profit
will be completely covered by the early and quick in.
gathering of the corn.
Great pleasure was evinced by the visitors in the oppor-
tunity afforded of inspecting the noble farm, which con-
tains withi n itself a complete 'epitome of all the modern
improvements in the cultivatioa of the soil. The farm em-
braces above 1,000 acres, and nowhere could better farming
be witnessed than here. Corn, root crops, grasses, and cat-
tle are severally the best of their kind, while the arrange-
ments are characterised throughout by their marked refer-
ence to economy. Everything is expected to pay. The
farm is a model to all occupiers, and the buildings are
worthy of imitation by all proprietors of the soil. It must
be remarked, however, that the excellence of this farm
is not of recent growth, for more than thirty years ago
Woburn-park Farm was greatly in advance of many
neighbourhoods that possess a high repute at the present
day. For many years Mr. Barness (a Scotchesan) had the
superintendence of the farm, and his high reputation as a
practical farmer is worthily sustained by his successor,
Mr. Baker ; indeed it is owing to the fact that this
gentleman is a faithful disciple of the same enterprising
school that the farm is in such high condition. Many of
the improvements commenced by his predecessor, Mr.
Baker has perfected, besides originating not a few. In
anxious desire for progress in every department, few men
exceed Mr. Baker ; and he is manifestly a man who be-
lieves in the accomplishment of that great desideratum—
the application of steam to the culture of the land. It
would be invidious thus to particularise the merits
of Mr. Baker were we not to add that the whole appearance
of the farm proves that the Duke of Bedford has succeeded
in filling all the principal offices of his immense estates
with most able men.
The entire estate, under the superintendence of Mr.
Bennett, is hardly less remarkable for admirable manage.
ment than for natural beauty ; and when the visitor has
accustomed his mind to the marks of systematic care which
he may discrn on every side, he will be prepared to wit-
ness, without surprise, the vast manufactories which ring
out their din hard by the ducal palace, and shoot their long
chimney shafts above the rich foliage of the home woods
of the park. In these workshops all the building materials
for the homesteads and cottages of the estates are made
ready for use, and here workmen in almost all branches of
mechanics find uninterrupted employment.
The experiments with the prize reaper were resumed on
Saturday, when something very like envy took possession
of the spectator's mind when he saw how easily and rapidly
that work might have been done, the unavoidable post-
ponement of which, on his own farm, has filled him with
misgiving.
All, however, departed to their respective farms in some
measure comforted by the assurance that there need not be
any more harvests wasted for want of a steady, punctual,
reliable labourer.