The Sun.
London, England, 1845-01-20 00:00:00

priety allow evidence of another character to be pro-
duced, now that the peculiar circumstances relied
upon by the police in the first instance had not been
found sufficient to warrant a conviction. Mr. Hard-
wick then dismissed the information.

WINGERWORTH FARMERS' CLUB
(Abridged from the Derby Reporter.)

FIRST AiIw—NUALMEETING.
On Tuesday last the first annual meeting of this
flourishing Club was held at the house of Mr. Turner,
Nag's Head, Wingerworth, near Chesterfield.
At the appointed hour, a large party
.of members
and friends sat down to a dinner comprising the usual
delicacies of the season, and which was served up in a
manner highly creditable to the host and hostess. The
dessert and wines were also excellent. John Brown,
Esq., Vice-President of the Society, occupied the chair;
Mr. Samuel Denham the vice-chair, Scc.
After the usual loyal toasts had been given,
The CHAIRMAN having called for a bumper, rose to
propose the toast of the evening—" Prosperity to the
Wingerworth Farmers' Club." It had been said that
farmers' clubs were designed more for the benefit of the
landlord than the tenant. He (the chairman) disputed

this. No doubt in this, as in every case where-the tenan
learned to cultivate the soil upon improved principles,
the landlord would reap a proportion of the benefit; but
by improved culture the tenant derived increased pro-
duce, and ampler returns.—(Hear.) Farmers' clubs
afforded facilities to farmers which they could not obtain
from any other source. By assembling together, and
communicating the results of their respective experi-
ments, they diffused a knowledge of schemes beneficial
to the :farmer within the range of a very large circle,
and induced, by their example, a very general adoption
of systems of improved culture.--(Cheers.) Some farmers
thought that it was a great disadvantage to them for the
landlords to learn too much; but he (the Chairman) was
certain, that the more landlord and tenant met together,
and discussed questions affecting their mutual interests,
the better would it be for both parties.—(Cheers.) The
late Lord Leicester, one of the greatest practical agri
culturists of the age, knew how to appreciate a good
tenant, when a careless or an ignorant landlord could
not. In the one case the tenant was placed in a right
position ; in the other he was placed in a false one ; and
let the active and enterprising farmer not suppose, there-
fore, that his interests could be permanently promoted,
unless his landlord was capable of appreciating his worth,
his intelligence and industry.—(Hear, hear). Having
offered these few very imperfect remarks, he would
submit the toast for their approval, merely adding, that
so long as he remained in the neighbourhood, the Win-
' gerworth Farmers' Club should receive hie cordial sup-
port.—(Cheers).
The toast was drank with three times three, and " one
cheer more."
The CHAIRMAN next gave the health of "The Lord-
Lieutenant of the County." (Drank with musical
honours and three times three).
The CHAIRMAN, after passing a few complimentary re-
marks, which were loudly applauded, called upon Mr.
James Brotherton to propose the next toast.
Mr. BROTHERTON, on rising, was received with loud
cheers. He said, Mr. Chairman and gentlemen—The
toast I shall have the honour to propose, is one which I
trust will meet with a cordial response from every indi-
vidual in this room. It commences with "Success to
Agriculture." And, gentlemen, I know of no period in
the history of this country, when that sentiment was
more pregnant with meaning, or more suggestive of
topics for calm and serious reflection, than the times in
which we live.—(Hear, hear). For with the apprehen-
sion of supposed danger from without, and the existence
of yet more formidable difficulties and hindrances within,
it may well become a question of grave import to the
farmers of England, how is the occupation in which they
have embarked their capital, and by which they are
striving to subsist, to be best maintained and its interests
most permanently secured.—(Loud cheers.) With re-
gard to one branch of this question, viz., so far as it
affects the mere practical cultivation of the soil, I am
happy to say the difficulty is comparatively small. For
in the improvements which have taken place during the
last twenty years, and more especially during the last
ten years, it must be obvious to every intelligent ob-
server, that an entirely new era has opened upon British
agriculture. Science is now lending her powerful aid to
combine sound theory with practice. New facts and
principles are almost daily being developed, which worked
out to their legitimate results, bid fair to secure to the
agriculturists of England a position and a fame equal
to any which has yet been enjoyed by those who are en-
gaged in the other branches of our national industry.—
(Cheers.) Of the advantages of combining theory with
practice in the cultivation of the land, few persons, now
a days, will have the hardihood to dispute. But if proof
were wanting, I know not that amongst a variety of
~thers, I could select a more notable instance than that
which is related of Lavoisoir, a celebrated French che-
mist. It is said that this intelligent individual (without
a minute knowledge of the art of farming), by fol-
lowing an enlightened system, doubled in nine years the
produce of his lands in grain, whilst he at the same time
quintupled the number of his flocks.—(Cheers.) But,
gentlemen, it would be impossible for me to give you
even a faint outline of the numberless advantages which
may be daily derived from the application of science to
farming. 'fake one branch only. It is scarcely possible
to enter upon any investigation in agriculture, without
finding it more or less connected with the doctrines and
elucidations derived from chemistry. For instance, if
land be unprodnctive, and a system of amelioration is to
he attempted, the only sure method of obtaining the ob-
ject is by determining the cause of its sterility, -which
must necessarily depend upon some defect in the consti-
tution of the soil, and which may be easily discovered by
chemical analysis. Now there are some lands, as you
are, no doubt, most of you aware, which, though of good
apparent texture, are yet sterile and unproductive in a
high degree ; and common observation, and common
practice afford no means of ascertaining the cause, or of
removing the effect. The application of chemical tests
in such cases, therefore, must be obvious ; for it is evi-
dent the soil must contain some noxious; principle, which
may be easily discovered, and in all probability as easily
destroyed. For example : are any of the salts of iron
present?—they may be decomposed by lime. Is there an
excess:of silicions sand ?—the system of improvement must
depend upon the application of clay and calcareous mat-
ter. Is there a defect of calcareous matter?—the remedy
is obvious. Is there an excess of vegetable matter in-
dicated ?—it may be removed by liming, paring, and
burning. Is there, on the other hand, a deficiency of
vegetable matter ?—it is to be supplied by manure.—
(Hear, hear.) Again—a question often arises concern-
ing the qualities of different kinds of limestone employed
in cultivation. To determine this question fully and
accurately, in the common way of experience, would
demand a considerable time, perhaps some years, and
trials which might be injurious to crops ; but, by the
simple chemical tests, the nature of a limestone is dis.-
covered in a few moments, and the fitness of its appli-
cation, whether as a manure for different soils, or as a
cement, determined.(Hear, hear.) Another example—
peat earth, of a certain consistence and composition, is
an excellent manure ; but there are some vanities of
peats which contain so large a quantity of ferruginous
matter, as to be absolutely poisonous to plants. Nothing
can be more simple, we are told, than the chemical
operation for determining the nature and probable uses
of these and other substances of their kind. Now,
gentlemen,' these, and numberless other instances—as
cited by Sir Humphrey Davy, Liebig, Johnston, and
other great chemists—might be adduced to prove the
desirability of combining science with the practice of
agriculture ; but I am sure you are too fully convinced
of the truth of the proposition, to render any further
details on this head necessary.—(Hear,' hear.) But,
gentlemen, great as the advantages to be derived from
the application of science to the art of farming may be,
high and important as the principles which it dove-
lopes undoubtedly are, unless !preceded by other con-
siderations, which, in my opinion, are of paramount
importance, they must, to you, as tenant farmers,
be comparatively useless. And here, gentlemen, I ap-
proach a branch of my subject, upon which I am anxious
to offer a few observations, and to which I respectfully
' solicit your indulgent attention. But, first of all, allow
me to state what I conceive to be the object and design
of farmers' clubs. I look upon farmers' clubs as esta-
blished, not only to discuss and promote the improve-
ments which are more immediately connected with
the practical cultivation of the soil, but also as afford-
r int to the tenant-farmers an opportunity to discuss, and
so lay the foundation for removing, the obstacles which
cripple their energies and prevent them from deriving
that fair proportion of advantage from the prosecution
of their trade, which they have a full and perfect right
to expect.—(Cheers). I am aware that in most of the
klfarmers' clubs which have been established in different
parts of the country, great anxiety has been evinced
by certain parties to exclude the discussion of what they
call (and I believe them), "obnoxious subjects"—such
as rents, leases, and game.—(Loud cheers.) But some
how or other, in almost every club of whose proceedings
kI have seen any account, these " obnoxious subjects"
have crept in, in spite of all the shifts and manosuvres
which have been resorted to to keep them out.
r tinued cheers and laughter). And, gentlemen, I think
it perfectly right that these things should be discussed.—
(Renewed cheers). There are times when farmers
must speak out, not only about guano and drilling, but
about land agents, land valuers, and game preservers—
(Loud cheers)—and indeed it would be no compliment to
la landlord to suppose that he would wish you to keep
silence upon those topics which affect the privileges
and just rights of your occupation, and more especially
upon those grievances which it may be in his power to
alleviate or remove.—(Vociferous cheering.) For if it
be desirable to discuss the expediency of the introduction
of a new " drag " upon the land, surely it is equally
desirable to discuss the propriety of taking an old one off
it—(Cheers and laughter)— and one too which is much
more obnoxious than even the new ono is beneficial.—
(Renewed cheers.) If it be desirable to introduce a new
presser on the land, is it not equally so to remove those
older pressers which operate upon the farmers' pockets
rather than on his land ?—(Cheers renewed.) Well
then, gentlemen, the first of these obstacles to improve-
ment upon which I shall offer an observation, is the te-
nure of land—(Hear, hear)—and upon this subject, viz.,
the relation between landlord and tenant, I will quote
the opinion of one who is much better entitled to your
consideration than any unsupported opinion of mine on
such a subject could possibly be—l mean Mr. Low, the
Professor of Agriculture in the University of Edinburgh,
who, in a work just published, " On Landed Property
and the Economy of Estates," (a work I would strongly
recommend to the notice of the club), says—
" Not even the accumulation of capital, to the degree
of stocking the farms of the country, will avail for giving
to agriculture the means of successful cultivation and
improvement. The owner of this capital must have the
means of employing it with advantage, by security of
possession, by the privileges required for the proper
management of his business, and by that fair and lenient
exaction upon his industry, which will enable him to
employ his capital with a profit,"