The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-24 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL AGRICULTURAL

SHOW.

(Abridged from the Liverpool Courier cf Wednesday.)
Yesterday the annual exhibition of stock and im-
plements took place at the usual locality, at the back
of Roscommon-street. The exhibition, as a whole,
was considered the most satisfactory of any that has
yet occurred in the annals of the society, for,
although not so extensive in the aggregate, by any
means, as some that have preceded it, yet in all essen-
tial particulars it has been pronounced by competent
judges to be the best as indicative of the general
prosperity of the association, and of devotion to its
more immediate objects, of any that have yet taken
place.
The day was one of the finest we have witnessed for
a long time past, and the attendance was such as might
have been expected from a combination of salubrious
weather, and the evident desire to impart the greatest
eclat to such a gathering. Almost all the noblemen
and gentlemen whose names we have commented on
in our account of the dinner were present, and took
a very lively interest in the proceedings, not only as
regards the immediate affairs of the society, but as
respects the individual circumstances connected with
this display.
We are happy to be enabled to state that the exli;

bition of stock, though not by any means as we could
desire, was yet so large as to corroborate the opinion
originally expressed—namely, that this locality would
bear away the palm in any competition throughout
the country. The bulls were first-rate. The cows
also were of excellent quality and condition. The
pigs and sheep were generally above the average de-
scription. The show of implements was not very
numerous, nor did we observe any very material im-
provements beyond those we witnessed last season.
A dinner took place in the evening, at which Lord
Stanley presided. He was surrounded by a nume•
rous group of agriculturists and some manufacturers.
After the usual loyal toasts, Lord STANLEY gave the
prinelpal toast of the evening—" Prosperity to the
Liverpool Agricultural Association." I feel it unne-
cessary (said his Lordship), to express the satisfaction
I feel at seeing myself surrounded by so numerous and
respectable an assemblage, gathered together to do
honour to the institution the anniversary of which
we are engaged in celebrating, and also, I would fain
hope, to bear, by their presence, their testimony to
the merits of this and similar institutions, in pro-
moting the important objects they are designed
to serve. These objects are of a two-fold charac-
ter, not only important as they tend to increase
the facilities and to increase the cheapness
of cultivating the soil of this country and rendering
it more adequate to meet the daily increasing wants
of a rapidly augmenting population, by the applica-
tion of improved science and art to the limited sur-
face of the earth over which we have command, but
still more important in their bearing upon our social
relations, bringing together all classes of the comma-
nity—(Elear.)—landlords, tenants, of a higher and
lower class, and even the labouring classes, also, and
combined, as lam happy to see them on this and
similar occasions, in this locality, with representa-
tives of the great manufacturing, mercantile, and
trading classes.—(Cheers.) In every quarter f the
kingdom we find, within the last few years, societies
similar to this have been springing up, and agricul-
ture is partaking of the great movement which has
been pervading all the industrial branches of this
country. Farmers are finding out that it is neces-
sary for them with a view to their own interests, to
take a very different course from that which was
lowed by their grandfathers and great grandfathers.—
(Hear.) In these days no man is allowed to stand
still. Improvement must go on. And if I look at
our own immediate neighbourhood, and compare the
position in which we stand, defective as we still are,
and having much to learn and much to improve in—
yet whether I look at the farmer's stock, his mode
of cultivation, or his desire for improvement and
amelioration, and compare the state of things now with
what it was when, fourteen years ago, I first had the
honour of occupying the chair of this society, I hope
I am not assuming too much when I say, that to the
constant meetings and constant intercourse carried on
between different classes by means of this society,
much of that improvement is to be traced which no
man with an eye in his head can deny has taken place,
and which is most gratifying to those whose interests,
like mine, are bound up with the welfare of the agri-
culture of this district.—(Hear, and cheers.) Even
within the last few years, within a much shorter time
than that which I have named, within the last four or
five years, I see strides which, small as they may be
compared with what might be done, are gigantic when
compared with what was done before. I think it is
not more than four or five years ago, that at a meet-
ing of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, I
first noticed as a novelty of a singular character a new
manure known as guano, andrecommended to the agri-
culturists of England.—(Hear, hear, and a laugh.)
If I am not misinformed, from this single port of
Liverpool there have gone out, within this single
year, no less than 150 vessels, chartered expressly
for the purpose of importing this, then unknown,
manure for the improvement of the agri-
culture of the country. It is not alone, however, in
matters like this that we see the usefulness of these
societies. I look for much more extended and per
manent improvement from their operation. Every-
where I see old, useless fences disappearing, fields en-
larging, improved modes of cultivation adopted ; and
I see going on with immense rapidity that which I must
a
impress upon you who are connected
the basis of all improvement—deep and
with
hin the and
lanagdaiisn
thorough drainage of the land; and not here alone,
but throughout all England, I see most remarkably,
as any one, indeed, may do, even though whirled
through the country at the railway speed at which we
are now carried, what an extent of improvement has
been effected in this respect. Every one is struck with
the appearance of preparation for future exertions,
which are, at the same time, the token of well de-
served success. Some of the old farmers of this country
—I mean the real old class----(A laugh)—shrug their
shoulders and say, " What is the need of all this stir
about improvement, and making the land grow so
much more ?" By the bye, it is not so much making
it grow more as making it grow different crops—
making it grow wheat instead of weeds.—(Hear,
hear.) But some say, " What is the use of all this ?
It is not a question for the farmer. We shall only
have our rents increased the more productive land is."
Such an argument, allow me to say, is the very climax
of absurdity. To use a very homely phrase, it is
" cutting off one's own nose to spite one's face."
" Why should I undertake an improvement because
my landlord will benefit by it ?" appears to me a very
inconclusive and absurd argument. lam not here to
dispute the fact, that every improvement in value,,
every addition by science to the productive power of
the land, everything which adds to its fertility, must,
in the long run, be an advantage to those in whom the
fee-simple is vested. But the question is, at the same
time, that if it is an advantage to the landlord, is it not
also an advantage to the farmer who occupies the land,
and makes his livelihood out of it ? I ask na man to
undertake an improvement if his own good sense does
not lead him to do it. I ask no man to apply any
improved mode of cultivation if it does not appear
that his own individual advantage would be promoted
by so doing. But when farmers argue, that because
at the expiration of their tenancy their rents may be
increased, it is not worth while to adopt improve-
ments, I must say they take a very short-sighted
view of their own interests, and must think their
landlords very great fools and blockheads. They
must go on the presumption that although he sees
his land might be made more productive, he will be
satisfied, for the purpose of seeing his own rents low,
to allow a slovenly tenant to go on in his slovenly
courses.—(Hear, hear.) The landlord would be as
short-sighted as the tenant, if he could take such a
view as this. But again I say I want the tenant not
to undertake any improvement that will not repay
him, capital, interest, and profit, during his occu-
pation of the land.—(Loud cheers.) This brings
me to another question—as to the degree to
which it is desirable or important that the practice
should prevail of holding lands by lease. I speak, I
know, in the presence of a Noble Friend of mine, and
every man who knows him is aware that there is not
a kinder or a better landlord, or a warmer friend to
his tenants and neighbours, than my Noble Friend on
my left, the Earl of Sefton.—
(Much applause, the
Noble Earl rising and bowing to his Lordship and
the company.) .1 know also it is not my Noble
Friend's prantice to let his farms on lease. The great
majority of his tenants are tenants from year to year,
with such entire and perfect confidence in the honour
and integrity of their landlord, that I do not believe
that the fact of their havii:g
no lease operates dis-
advantageously in any individi2l ca se. But this I
say, and as one connected with the lane I feel myself
bound to say it, that a landlord has no right fa expect
any great and permanent improvement of his 3ana
the tenant, unless that tenant be secured the repay-
ment of his outlay, not by tha,personal character
or honour of his landlord, but b' a security which
no casualties can interfere with—the security granted
him by the terms of a lease for years.—(Applause.)
I do net speak of a lease for lives. In my expe-
rience, with some exceptions, wherever I have found
fields badly cultivated, and buildings dilapidated, I
have found that the property is held under a life lease.
—(Laughter, and much applause.) I speak of a
tenant who is prepared to join his capital, and to go
hand in hand with his landlord, in the improvement
of the farm. The greater the improvement you ex-
pect, the greater ought to be the lease you give. I
consider it unjust, if you call for improvement, not
to give to the tenant the moral certainty that the im-
provement he effects shall repay him during the
course of his lease for the expense he incurs.—
(Hear.) But, gentlemen, I am not speaking now
except that of which I am practically conversant
with, and given proofs of my adherence to in
practice. I allude especially to that which, again
I repeat, is the basis of all improvement, and es-
pecially in this country the thorough draining

of the soil. And I repeat what I have already said
on a former occasion in this room, that there is no
investment in the world in which a landlord can so
safely, so usefully, or so profitably invest his capital,
as in the improvement of his own farm, by money
sunk in draining, on security of the land which be-
longs to himself.—(Hear, and cheers.) I think I
give you a tolerably practical proof of my conviction
on this point when I say—and I say it not for the
purpose of boasting of what has been done, but of
encouraging others to follow the example, when I
say, that on my father's property in this neighbour-
hood there has been laid down at his expense, and
charging five per eat. interest to the tenants, which
I believe they most gladly and willingly acknowledge
they have over and over again received the benefit
of—in this last year we have laid down in deep
draining somewhere about three hundred miles of
drains, at an expense of between 5,0001. and 6,0001.,
and I think employed about a million and a-half of
draining tiles. By the arrangement I recommend for
this purpose both parties are benefited : the landlord
receives an ample return for his outlay. I be-
lieve, on the whole, I am in a position to con-
gratulate you on the present state of this society. I
hope the period of its depression is already passed.
Undoubtedly it has been subject to some vicissitudes,
and experienced some losses; and two or three years
ago, it became involved in debts from which some ex-
ertions were necessary to relieve it. I have the satis-
faction of saying that these are paid off; and although
that object has been effected by a reduction of some
of the premiums, and thereby, in some degree, the
sphere of the society's usefulness has been curtailed,
yet we have every reasonable prospect of the income
of the society equalling its expenditure. With these
observations, and thanking you for the patience with
which you have listened to the remarks of one very
little competent to address you on such subjects, I
beg of you to join me, as I feel you will do cordially
and heartily, in drinking " Prosperity and success to
the Liverpool Agricultural Society."
The Earl of SEFTON proposed the health of the
" Earl of Derby," with three times three. The call
was most readily responded to, and the toast drunk.
Lord STANLEY returned thanks, and after some
other toasts and speeches, the meeting broke up.

WEST SURREY AGRICULTURAL
ASSOCIATION.
THE ALLOTMENT SYSTEM.
GODALMING, WEDNESDAY.—The annual meeting
of this association took place to-day, at the Red Lion,
Godalming. J. M. Molyneux, Esq., took the chair.
There were also present Mr. Trotter, M P., Mr.
Mangles, M.P., Messrs. Drummond, Leach, Currie,
Lieut. Wood, R.N., the Rey. Mr. Boys, and a num-
ber of other gentlemen of the neighbourhood; and
nearly 200 of the principal farmers belonging to this
division of the county.
The usual loyal toasts were given and responded to.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed the " Lord-Lieute-
nant and Magistracy of the county."
Mr. DRUMMOND, in returning thanks, said, that at
present a great deal of talk was made about giving
scientific information to farmers, but he must confess
that he did not place much faith in it ; and, in his
opinion, the only important question for the farmers
was how to make a dunghill.—(A laugh.) Genuine
philosophers had devoted their attention to instruct-
ing farmers in their business, and a number of ways
were found out how they were to improve their land,
but they forgot altogether where the money was to
come from. The farmers had no money to spare, and
it was useless to tell them to lay out 1001., unless
they could, at the same time, show how they were to
get the money back. In his opinion, these universal
remedies were of no use whatever; and he was satis-
fied there was a limit to the productiveness of the soil
beyond which it was useless for them to attempt to
proceed ; and that this limit they had almost, if not
quite arrived at, and, consequently, all their expendi-
ture in guano, and the other new-fashioned measures
that had of late been introduced, would be entirely
thrown away.
G. T. Nicnorsost, Esq., proposed the healths of the
"Members for that division of the County," and in the
course of his address he said that he hoped, before
long, the large quantities of waste land that existed
in Surrey would be made use of, and that it would
be made a means of employing the labouring popu-
lation. He agreed with Mr. Drummond that they
ought not to rely upon one general specific, but still
he could not think that there was a limit to the pro •
ductiveness of the earth, or if there was, that they had
yet arrived near to it. He must admit that the
present condition of the agricultural population was
calculated to give great pain and uneasiness. Every
day it happened to him that men of good character—
men of strong sinews, willing and anxious to work,
came and implored him to give them employment,
and he was unable to find it for them. He felt deeply
for them, and he considered it to be his duty, and
that of every man, to endeavour to do away with
such a distressing state of things.—(Hear, hear.)
Much, in his opinion, would be done by improvements
in agriculture, which would cause a demand for
labour ; and as associations of this description tended
to effect that object, he had great pleasure in sup-
porting them, and he trusted that some means would
speedily be devised to rescue agriculture from its
present depressed condition, and to improve the con-
dition of the labouring classes. He concluded by
proposing the healths of the Members.
Mr. TROTTER, in returning thanks, apologised for
the absence of Mr. Denison, who had been in very
bad health, and who was at present in Yorkshire ;
but he had desired him (Mr. Trotter) to express his
regret that he was unable to be among them. As for
himself, they had heard him so often that he really
felt unable to say anything new to them, and he
would only assure them that be felt a pride in sup-
porting, by every means in his power, the agricul-
tural interest ; and he trusted that meetings of this
kind would go on and flourish, and that each suc-
ceeding year there would be a better understanding
between landlords, tenants, and labourers.—(Hear,
hear.) Some portions of the press had attempted to
cast a slur upon these meetings, and had attempted to
insinuate that the promoters of them were actuated
by unworthy and selfish objects, but he would say, in
answer, let them look at the meetings in Surrey, and
the results that had arisen from them, and say whe-
ther they were sincere.—(Cheers.) lie did not con-
sider that the proceedings of these associations
should be merely theoretical. They ought to be
practical ; and he considered it was the duty of
the landlords to assist the farmers in their
attempts at improvement, and that landlords and
tenants should go hand in hand together.—(Cheers.)
He was deeply anxious to improve the condition of
the labourer. He believed the English labourer to be
naturally grateful and kind-hearted, and if he was
properly treated, he would exert himself for his em-
ployer. For his own part, he respected as much as
any man the honest agricultural labourer, and all who
knew him were aware that he would pay as much
attention to the complaint of the poor labourer, and
speak to him with as much pleasure, as he would to a
lord, and that no one would do more than himself to
endeavour to make him a happier and a better man.
The CHAIRMAN proposed the health of " John Leach,
Esq., of Lee."—(Cheers.)
Mr. LEACH, who is a very aged man, in rising to
return thanks, was loudly cheered. After, some pre-
liminary observations, he expressed his opinion that it
was the duty of every one to endeavour to rescue the
agricultural interest from its present depressed condi-
tion, as every one who had the means which they had
of knowing the condition of the poor of England,
must feel that they were in a most distressed and
miserable state, from which it was the duty
of every man to endeavour to relieve them.
He admitted that it was difficult to say
what should be done, but still they should endea-
vour to do something. He could not himself be cer-
tain to live beyond a single day, but he did think that
some of those around him would live to see the pea •
santry of this country restored to that condition
which entitled them to be considered the pride and
boast of England.—(Hear, hear.) He was afraid
that the labourers had not the same feelings at the
present time that they had formerly, and he would
relate one fact that had come under his own observa-
tion, bearing upon this point. One of his own
labourers, named Jonathan Chilton, had brought up
a family of ten children without any parochial relief.
He was, however, attacked by a. serious illness, and
the doctor's bill came to 201. The man came to him
and told him he did not know how he should ever pay
the amount. He told him, in reply, that he thought
the parish ought to pay it, and the answer that he re-
ceived was, that he would not receive one
farthing from the parish. Upon this he (Mr. Leach)
went to Lord Middleton, his neighbour, and several
other gentlemen, and mentioned thel circum-
stances, and they all willingly subscribed, and before
he got home he found he had not only money
enough to pay the poor man's bill, but had also a
balance to give him ; and he assured them he felt
great pleasure in rendering this assistance to an
honest, worthy labourer.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed " the Healths of the
Judges of the Ploughing, Messrs. Giles, Taylor, and
Turner," and he said that from the general excellence
of the ploughing they must have had very greaf dfi-
ficulty in making their award.
Mr. GILES returned thanks.
The ploughmen were here introduced, and the
CHAIRMAN, having made some appropriate remarks,
handed over to them the different prizes to which
they were entitled.
Mr. C. DAVISON next proposed the " Health of Col.
Sumner, and success to the Surrey Union foxhounds."
Mr. CURRIE then gave the "Health of the tenant-
farmers of Surrey," and said that, being a tenant-
farmer himself, he was well aware of the difficulties
they had to contend with. They had in many parts
of that county especially a very poor soil, very small
farms, and veryllttlo money in their pockets.—(Hear,
and a laugh.) Still, however, they had good land-
lords; and although he must admit that at present

they were in a desponding state, yet he did not
despair, and he believed that with the assistance of
the landlords they might still struggle successfully
with the difficulties they had to encounter. They
had reason to be proud of their county, for it was
well known that in Mark-lane some descriptions of
Surrey wheat fetched higher prices than any other
that was grown in the kingdom. He had no doubt
that very great good yet remained to be done, and
that draining, if extensively carried out, with the có-
operation of the landlord, would alone go a great way
to find employment for the labouring population. He
begged them to remember that the winter was rapidly
approaching, and he begged them all to exert them-
selves .in behalf of the poor man, and endeavour to'
find him employment, and keep him from the union
workhouse. He regretted to observe the tone of de-
spondency that appeared to prevail, but he trusted
that by perseverance the agricultural interest would
soon be enabled to better its condition.—(Cheers.)
Mr. MANGLES, M.P., next rose, and proposed the
"Health ofthe Agricultural Labourers,"and he assured
the meeting that he spoke sincerely when he expressed
his opinion that this might be considered the toast of
the evening. He felt great difficulty in addressing
the meeting upon the subject to which he had in-
tended to allude, viz., the allotment system ; not
merely on account of the difference of opinion that
prevailed respecting it, but that in the course of the
evening he had been alluded to, and represented as
having made it his particular study. He could not
say that he had done this, but he had no hesitation in
stating that it was a subject of great interest to him,
as connected with the welfare of the agricultural
labourer. He did feel that the owed a deep debt of
gratitude to the agricultural labourer—a debt of
which only a very small portion .had been dis-
charged, and of which much remained unpaid.—
(Hear.) When he visited this class in their cot-
tages, and saw their miserable condition, and the
privations they endured, while surrounded by: persons
enjoying every comfort and luxury, he must say that
he could not help honouring their honesty, their in-
tegrity, and their forbearance. He thought the time
was come when they ought not to be satisfied with
mere professions in their behalf, and giving them re-
wards' and expressing sympathy for their condition,
but that some practical exertions should be made to
benefit their condition. He was sure they would
allow that their noble neighbour, Lord John Russell,
had never said a truer word than when he stated that,
looking at the increase of the wealth and luxuries of
the country, without looking into the causes of the
result, it was impossible to deny that the agricultural
labourer had not advanced in physical comforts in
proportion with the rest of the community. He was
not one of those who considered that the insti-
tutions of olden times were necessarily better
than the present; and he did not mean to sug-
gest that the labourer was any worse off now
than he was formerly, but certainly his condition
had not improved in the same proportion as the other
classes of the community. He agreed with Mr.
Drummond that it was not likely that one general
remedy should succeed, but he did think that means
might be devised by which the sufferings and priva-
tions of the agricultural labourer might be alleviated,
and his condition improved. He would not go into
the various subjects that had been mentioned as likely
to effect this, but should confine himself to one mat-
ter—the allotment system, by which, if fully carried
out, he believed the condition of the agricultural
population would be very much improved. At the
same time he wished it to be understood that it was
his opinion the system should be carried out judi-
ciously, and with the concurrence of the higher
classes. He would not give the labourer enough of
land to make him independent of the wages of labour,
but the latter should always be considered as the
principal, and the allotment merely as a resource
to fall back upon when overtaken by sickness,
or being out of work ; and he begged it to be
distinctly understood that he did not at
all desire to increase the farmer's field for the demand
of labour. He must, at the same time, observe, that
there never was a system which had more obtained
the general sanction of all classes, and he did not be-
lieve that the allotment system had failed in any one
instance where it had been tried, whether in York-
shire, Sussex, or this county, where it had been car-
ried out very extensively by Colonel Sumner, who
spoke in the most favourable manner of the result.
He held in his hand the details of some most surpris-
ing crops that had been grown by the labourers.
These documents had been furnished him by Mr.
Drummond, and he must say, that they appeared en-
tirely to refute his own argument—that there was a
limit to the power of the production of the soil. There
could be very little doubt that the system would have
the effect of improving the physical condition
of the labourer. At present, he was not suffi-
ciently fed, and they all knew that, if
a man was under-fed, he could not work.—
(Hear, hear.) He knew of one case where a
labourer had been doing the intense work and exer-
tion of mowing upon bread and water, and he put it
to them whether such a state of things ought to con-
tinue. He thought there could be very little doubt
that giving a small portion of land to a labourer very
much tended to improve his moral condition, and he
knew several cases where desperate poachers, and
even suspected highway robbers, had been reclaimed
by being put in possession of a portion of land on
which they could occupy themselves, and be induced
to feel that they had some stake in society. This
being the case, he did entreat them not to submit to
the taunts that were thrown upon them, and to show
that it was not true, as was asserted by a portion of
the daily press, that the agriculturists said everything
and did nothing. Let them commence a plan for in-
troducing the allotment system into every parish of
the county, and he was sure that if they put their
shoulders to the wheel the task would be effected.
He should propose that a committee be formed for
the purpose of establishing the allotment system
throughout the county, and he should be happy
to give both his time and his money in further-
ance of the object. He suggested that commu-
nications should be opened with the clergymen
of every parish, with a view to ascertain the extent
of land that would be available for the purposes of the
allotments, and that the tenants and the proprietors
be requested to co-operate with the committee in
carrying out their views. The Hon. Member con-
cluded by stating that he would render all the assist-
ance in his power to carry out the allotment system
fully throughout the county.
Mr. DRUMMOND begged permission to be allowed
to say a few words in answer to what had been stated
by the Hone Member. He had tried the allotment
system twenty-five years, and therefore ought to
know something about it. He allowed his labourers
to have as much land as they could cultivate with
their own spade, and although certainly it had been
the means of giving them some additional comforts,
yet in his opinion it had produced no public
good or benefit whatever. He was at the
same time, however, quite ready to lend his
assistance to Mr. Mangles in his endeavour to
carry out the experiment on a more extended scale.
In his opinion the great difficulty they had to con-
tend with was improvident marriages among the la-
bouring population ; and he did not believe that in
France, or in any other country in the world, the
labourer contracted a marriage as he did in England,
without having any means to provide for either his
wife or his family. He knew of a ease recently
where a boy of 19 married a girl ofl6, on the Wed-
nesday; he had but ten shillings, which were spent
on the Thursday and Friday, and on the Saturday
they both went into the union workhouse, to be
passed to their several parishes.
The healths of the Mayor of Godalming, and of
Messrs. Rand and Marshall, the Secretaries of the
Association, were then proposed and responded to,
after which the meeting broke up.