The Sun.
London, England, 1858-09-23 00:00:00

CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORELAND
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of this society was held on
Saturday at Penrith. The day was remarkably
fine, and although harvest operations doubtless
prevented many from being present, the attendance
on the ground was numerous and fashionable, the
number of ladies' being unusually large.
THE DINNER.
The dinner took place at the Crown Hotel. In
consequence of the absence of the Earl of Carlisle,
who was prevented from attending by the death of
the Countess, his mother, the chair was taken by P. H.
Howard, Esq., of Corby Castle. The, vice-chair was
occupied by W. N. Hodgson, Esq., M.P. The
chairman was supported by the Earl of Suffolk,
Col. Lowther, M.P., W. Marshall, Esq., M.P., Capt.
Lowther, M.P., the Hon. Robert Petre, and several
of the gentlemen who were present upon the show
ground.
The cloth having'been removed,
The CHAIRMAN said he was sure they were all
aware of the melancholy event which had deprived
them of the presence of his noble kinsman. He
was sure they would all sympathise with the noble
lord in that bereavement which had deprived him
of the satisfaction of presiding over his friends and
neighbours, and had deprived them of the pleasure
of listening to his eloquent words. (Hear, hear.)
He was sure the gentlemen present would look
with indulgence on his (Mr. Howard's) deficiencies,
wing the very short notice that had been given to
'him to meet them on this occasion. (Applause.)
The Chairman then proceeded to propose the
health of the Queen. He referred to her reception
at Cherbourg, and said that the echoes of that greet-
ing were even heard, at an incredible distance, by
the good citizens of Lyme Regis. He was sure
it must be gratifying to them all that the Royal
English Yacht Club had been able to send forth a
little squadron whose festive and gay colours some-
what softened the grim appearance of the sem-
blance of war. (Hear, hear.) This meeting was
interesting from the fact that it was the first meet-
ing of importance since the sovereignty of the
mighty empire of India had been conferred on the
Queen of these realms. He trusted that under her
benignant sway that empire would revive with
renovated splendour. He hoped that when the
strife was done they, should see some modern
appliances adopted to improve the agricultural
produce of India and mitigate the fearful famines
which have occasionally taken place. The Chair-
man concluded by proposing the health of the
Queen. He was sure that whether as sovereign of
these realms, or as the ruler of this mighty empire,
he knew that their hearts and aspirations all went
with her. (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN then gave the health of the
Prince Consort and the rest of the Royal family,
which was duly honoured.
The CHAIRMAN then gave " the Army and
Navy," to which Col. LOWTHER responded.
Mr. HOWARD, of Greystoke, said the next toast
on the list had been assigned to him, and he had
much pleasure in proposing that they drink the
health of the members for Cumberland and West-
moreland. He was sure they would join with him
in expressing'their satisfaction in seeing so many
members present to-day. They had Colonel
Lowther, member for Westmoreland ; Mr. Mar-
shall, member for East Cumberland ; Captain
Lowther, member for West Cumberland ; and their
worthy Vice, Mr. llodgson, member for the City of
Carlisle. Though the counties of Cumberland and
Westmorland could not boast of having such a corn-
pletement of members as many other counties in
England, they could say they had far more agricul-
tural meetings; and when they found that at these
agricultural meetings the members of Parliament
were very diligent in attending, he was sure they
deserved their best acknowledgements for doing so.
(Hear, hear.) He was sure the manbers were
always glad to meet them again on the show ground,
or at the dinner, after the Parliamentary campaign.
Now lie should not be permitted, as politics were
excluded, to ask the members whether they had
derived any agricultural experience. And when
they considered that every possible variety of agri-
cultural manure was deposited in the river Thames
they might be able to impart some information to
their constituents ou that interesting subject.
(Laughter.) Certainly if this society were to give
premiums for the greatest variety of manures they
could not have more competent judges than mem-
. bers of Parliament. (Continued laughter.) The
toast was drunk with applause.
Colonel LOWTHER, in reply, said that when
members appeared on the hustings at elections they
were frequently catechised; but in attending an
agricultural dinner he did not expect to be cate-
chised by his friend Mr. Howard. He did not
know whether the Thames manure had sharpened
the members' wits, or what benefit it had been to
them, but certainly he never heard of any of those
rich manures being used for agricultural purposes.
'They could only say this, that they emitted plenty
of effluvia from the Thames, and those who lived in
London would have the misfortune to get rid of
them only by being at immense expense in making
drains, and he hoped the manure would be turned
to some advantage. (Hear.) He thought the
show was much improved since it started, particu-
larly among the implements ; and from what he
heard in the county, steam-engines, which had been
long talked of, and were only now coming into
use, would confer the greatest benefit upon farmers.
He had seen them in the southern parts of the
country, where, in fact, they could not do without
them, and he was sure the farmers of the north
would derive great benefit from them.
Mr. Marshall, Captain Lowther, and the Vice-
Chairman, also responded to the toast.
The Cstaiumax then rose to propose " Success to
the Cumberland and 'Westmoreland Agricultural
Society." He said—Mr. Vice-Chairman and gen-
tlemen, in a few words I will beg leave to propose
the next toast, which maybe called the toast of the
evening : " Success to the Cumberland and West-
moreland Agricultural Society." It has been, lam
sure, most satisfactory to see the show this day.
Perhaps on this occasion the only regret is that in-
stead of having one grand show showing the collec-
tive energy of the agriculturists of Cumberland and
Westmoreland, these shows are so multiplied that
it has become a work of some little exertion to
attend as one ought to do these various exhibitions.
(Hear.) lam sure that, granting that there may
an object and some benefits in strictly local ex-
hibitions, on the whole it would be desirable, if by
any combination, these local shows could be con-
centrated and we could see exhibited in one great
feature the combined efforts of Cumberland and
Westmoreland. (Hear.) Mr. Vice-chairman and
gentlemen, I believe that taking it all in all the
prospects of the harvest are satisfactory. That great
staple—wheat, the main staff of the farmer—at
least in many counties, is supposed to be in a
thriving and good state and has been well gathered
in. The crop of barley is perhaps lighter; that of
oats is promising ; but there is one crop which is
peculiarly that of Cumberland—that " green and
glorious crop," as my noble kinsman once said—
the crop of turnips, is not quite so abundant as it
has been on several occasions. There were exhibited
on this occasion some samples of a root which is not
much cultivated in this county—l mean the red
globe mangold wurtzel, which will grow in lighter
and shallower soils than the other mangold wurtzel
root. And I believe' I heard it from my friend Col.
Lowther, that in Lincolnshire and some of the
southern counties it has been used. To-day it has been
exhibited, but it is not grown generally here, and it
may be worth consideration whether by alternating
crops of turnips and mangold wurtzel the process
will be less exhausting to the soil than only growing
one crop or the other. Mr. Vice-Chairman, it must
be very satisfactory toknow that though the animal
which had carried off one of the main prizes, that of
the bull, was exhibited by Si C. Tempest, who is a
Yorkshire gentleman, yet it was bred in this county
by Mr. Unthank, of Netherscales—(cheers)—and I
am sure you all saw and admired that beautiful
animal, which is only two and a half years old. I
was glad to see a very fair show of horses, but my
friend Mr. Fawcett and other Fentlemen are better
able to inform you on that point. There was one
particularly nice animal, suited for agricultural
purposes ; a colt, three years old, bred in the neigh-
bouring county of Westmoreland, by Mr. Nicholson.
It seemed to partake in some measure of the Suf-
folk breed. It was strong without being too high
or too leggy for a hilly country, and was perhaps
one of the best horses for agricultural purposes that
has been exhibited to-day. I am sure w e all saw
with satisfaction that that picturesque breed, the
mountain sheep, were admitted instead of being
excluded as they have been on some of these occa-
sions. (Hear, hear.) The kindred stock of Herd-
wick was also there. 'We also saw the favourite
fleece of the Downs, the Southdowns, Some people
say that our climate is perhaps a little too moist
for these sheep, and there is something impedes
their growth—(hear, hear)—but perhaps by a cross
with some other breeds they may be adapted to
this rougher climate. (Hear, hear.) Gentlemen,
I have now alluded to the many points which have
assembled you on this occasion, and I am sure the
judges will supply any omission. I am sure you
will always meet on these occasions with
satisfaction that all classes and ranks of
the community may draw together, and
show they are tr uly British in their constitution.
(Cheers.) I wish. to say a few words on a sub-
ject not of a party-nature, which has created a good
deal of discussion_ A friend of mine, Mr. Roe-
buck, has alluded in not Very flattering terms to
the good looks of thet women of another country.
But I will take the liberty of saying that the
women of Cherbourg, like many of the women of
the northern counties,,take great part in all field