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London, England, 1866-10-23 00:00:00

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Sir W. Bovill, M.P., on Agricultural Affairs.

W 0 RPLESD ON, Saturday.

The annual gathering of the Ploughing Associa-
tion for this district took place last night at the
New Inn. - Sir W. Bovill, M.P. (the President),
occupied the chair ; and among the other gentlemen
present were Mr. Coussmaker, Col. Paxton, Mr.
Norton, Mr. C. J. Furnival, the Rev. G. Dupuis,
Mr. W. Wells, &c.
The usual loyal and constitutional toasts were
given and responded to by the Rev. G. Dupuis and
Col. Paxton.
Sir W. BovILL, in proposing the toast of the even-
ing—" Success to the Worplesdon Ploughing So-
ciety"—said he had on former occasions called at-
tention to the progress that had been made in the
parish during the time he had been a resident, and
he had witnessed with pleasure the exertions that
had been made and the various improvements which
had been effected throughout the parish. Several
years ago it was suggested that things were in that
condition when a little further progress was desir-
able, and that the Worplesdon Ploughing Associa-
tion should be established in order that some im-
provement might be effected in the condition of the
agricultural labourers, and that more attention
should be turned to the discussion of agricultural
subjects. At first the number of members was small,
and many persons held aloof because they thought
it would not be possible to form and support an in-
dependent association. Many of the farmers looked
on with a considerable degree of distrust ; but as
time went on they all became satisfied of the ad-
vantages which would be conferred by the society
both on the employers and the employed, and an
opportunity was afforded of giving prizes to the
agricultural labourers. (Cheers.) For his own part
he had watched with much interest the mode in
which the labourers had received the prizes, the in-
terest with which they had looked forward to the
annual meetings of the society, and the anxiety they
had manifested to bring their wives and children
together on such occasions. He knew of no insti-
tution which had produced greater good among the
vast body of the farmers and labourers through-
out the parish. He believed that every society
which associated the clergy, the gentry, and all the
inhabitants of a parish, and brought them into com-
munication with the labourers, did good not only
for one day, but throughout the whole period of the
year. He always looked forward with pleasure to
the annual gathering of the Worplesdon Association,
and was glad to find that the rector and the majo-
rity of the farmers put aside their engagements in
order to enable them to be present. (Cheers.) The
farmers, whether large or small, took a great plea-
sure in*associating together at these festivals, and
he believed they found that they were attended with
advantage as well as pleasure, for they produced a
considerable amount of emulation and improve-
ment. (Cheers.) It might have been that on the pre-
sent occasion sufficient interest had not been excited
to induce the ploughmen to keep up their ploughing,
or the nature of the ground might have prevented
them from displaying a proper amount of skill in
the field. But if he had read aright the expression of
the countenance of those who had received the prizes,
they would be stimulated to greater exertion on
future occasions; and he felt quite satisfied that those
who had competed, but had been unsuccessful, would
be stimulated by the rewards offered—by the sub-
stantial advantages derived by the successful compe-
titors—to improve themselves in the modes of culti-
vation. (Cheers.) The farmers, he was happy to say,
had liberally come forward on the present occasion.
There were certainly some who still stood aloof, but
hoped the example which had been set them, and the
large gathering which had taken place, would show
them that the Ploughing Association of Worplesdon
was highly appreciated by the farmers and the neigh-
bourhood at large, and that they would assist it by
increased contributions. (Cheers.) There were few
landowners in the parish, and the great proprietors
in the district were generally unable to be present.
He believed that the landed proprietors who could
attend were glad to meet those persons who stood in a
different position, and were always willing to discuss
and consider the position of the landlords and tenant
farmers assembling together, whether in that or any
other parish. (Hear, hear.) He himself paid some
attention to the reports of the agricultural societies
and the various matters which they discussed. He
observed that some of the farmers were in favour of
long leases, while others preferred annual tenancies.
But he believed there was nothing which tended
more to promote the interests of the farmers in con-
nection with the labourer than an inter-community
of feeling between the two—that feeling which
enabled a master to keep a man for 27 years, two
instances of which had occurred in the parish; and
there was another case in which a man had lived in
his place for 16 years. (Cheers.) He believed that
such circumstances could occur only from there
being a deep sympathy existing between the em-
ployers and the employed, that best bond of all good
feeling and fellowship, which he hoped would con-
tinue to extend throughout the parish, producing
manycompetitors for the prizes for length of service
at every meeting of the association. (Cheers.) Such
feelings reflected as much credit on the employers as
the men, and if they could all boast of retaining
servants for long periods of years Worplesdon
would be one of the happiest parishes in England.
(Cheers.) There were boys of 16 who had lived
with their masters for periods varying' from six to
four years, setting a good example to others. There
was another important matter deserving of notice,
and that was the friendship which existed among
all classes. Ile had read leases and covenants and
deeds by which a man was made dependent on his
landlord ; but he believed there ought to be the
same identity of feeling between landlord and tenant
—(hear, hear)--and better than the security of
leases was the feeling that each could rely on the
other. (Cheers.) He believed that every landlord
in the country would be glad to have such tenants
as Mr. Burt, two of whose servants had carried
off prizes for length of service—a tenant on whose
honour and position a landlord might safely rely
without a lease or document of any kind.
(Cheers.) This was a sort of tenure which he
should like to see prevail, and he was not sure
whether for the last 50 years Mr. Burt and thosel
who preceded him had not gone on without a sh% e
scrap of paper as a security. (Cheers.) lie be-
lieved that the interests of both landlords
the
good feeling which existed on the part of Mrble . Burt
to
and his landlord, and then they would be a
perform their relative duties without a lease
see a
suchwel
as with one. (Cheers.) Ile was glad to
I a large gathering, and if the association went on in-
creasing as it had hitherto done, he believed
that it would be necessary to erect a large tent for
the accommodation of the visitors. The success of
the association was complete, and he invited all. pre-