The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-10-04 00:00:00

-lough)
John Shaw Leigh, Esq.
Richard Willis, Esq.
Colonel Arden

Sir Richard Brooke, Bart.
Clarke Hillyard, Esq. Presi-
dent of the Northampton
Giazing Society
And many other gentlemen of distinction.
The stock of horned cattle exhibited was superior to that
of any former meeting, particularly that of young stock. The
pigs were also superior, and there was a decided improvement
in the sheep, both in the quality of the wool and in symmetry.
Some excellent horses were also shown, and the agricultural
implements were not only more numerous, but of a more in-
genious and practical description.
It should be here mentioned that the Society, in their an-
nouncement of the meeting, state, that, in offering the pre-
miums for promoting the best breeds of live stock within the
district of the society, the object being to encourage and re-
ward the practical farmer and breeder, if any of the premiums
be obtained by any nobleman or gentleman who occupies
his own estate, such nobleman or gentleman would be enti-
tled to the society's medal only •, and other persons obtaining
the first premium for the best bull or stallion one year, should,
on gaining the prize in any succeeding year with the same
animal, be entitled to the society's silver medal only.
The first prize for bulls was awarded to a beautiful animal
rising four years old, the property of Mr. Lucas, of Great
Charlotte-street. He was not very fat, but admirably built.
Colour, brown and white. The second prize was given to a
bull belonging to Mr. Forrest, which had obtained the prize
at Manchester ; of the improved Durham breed, and of a roan
colour ; a fine, perfect beast, and a good handler. The third
prize was obtained by Mr. Trafford, of Trafford Park, for a
fine roan bull.
Mr. Ashcroft, of Bank Hall, won a prize of £l5, and a
sweepstakes, for a beautiful bull, two years old, of uncom-
mon fine make, short horned Durham. The same gentleman
carried off a prize of £5 for a tine cow, the first prize of the
dairy. Amongst the others that obtained prizes, we noticed
a white bull, the property of Mr. T. Plumb, and several fine
cows.

Wm. Earle, Esq.
Captain Phipps Hornby
Sir Edward Mostyn, Bart.

vv
The crack beast of the day, however, was a white ox, the
property of Lord Derby--one of the finest 'and largest
animals ever exhibited at this or any other show. It was of
the short horned breed--reared, we understand, in Scotland,
where it obtained a prize as a two-year old. It is now three
years and five months old, and in symmetry and size is a
sort of prodigy, —a perfect mountain of capital English
beef. The fat or killing cattle were generally prime. In
brood mares, the first prize was awarded to Mr. 11. Baldwin,
for an animal so finely built about the neck and body
generally, as more to resemble a stallion than a mare. In
other kinds of horses we had not an opportunity of witnessing.
The show of pigs was beautiful. Never did we see finer,
and although it is almost invidious to particularise, we may
blamelessly state that Mr. Lynn showed as usual several
pens of Neapolitans and Chinese, and crossings of both the
breeds, of a very superior quality.
The implements of husbandry were (as before stated) very
numerous, and we may add highly interesting. A sub-
draining plough, exhibited by Mr. Skirving, was decidedly the
best yet ever brought out. A small domestic corn mill turned
by one person, and producing well-ground flower in one
drawer, and two qualities of brown in another below excited
much attention, and appeared to us to be very ingenious.
If to such a machine on a large scale, the power of a one-
horse engine were attached, so that a churn, hay, and turnip-
cutting apparatus &c., might be added, it would compose a
sort of " servant of all work," at the farmstead.
The roots exhibited were good, particularly the newvariety
of purple-topped Swedish turnips, produced by Mr. Skirv-
ing, one of which weighed about 18 lbs. The six-rowed
wheat, and the Chevalier wheat, shewn by the same gentle-
man, was a theme of much admiration, as were his general
assortment of grass and other agricultural seeds.
Sonic enormous Scotch cabbages were shown by Mr. Wm.
Taylor, of Bootle-cum-Linacre. Three of these weighed
about 127 lbs. In Mange' Wurzel there was not much do-
ing, the wetness of the season being unfavourable. Several
hay-cutting machines were shown, and other useful imple-
ments, which we have not room or time to particularize.
Amongst the seeds was an excellent specimen of barley—a
new Italian kind, introduced for the first year into this coun-
try, and grown by Mr. Ledger, the talented Secretary of the
Society.
On the whole the Show was highly gratifying, and im-
pressed all present with the utility of the Society, in inducing
an honourable rivalry in the products of the soil.
We cannot close this hasty account without complimenting
the committee on their anxious, cautious, and excellent lir-

•
rangements ; nor shall we omit to name Mr. Ledger, the se-
cretary, and Mr. Cannell, to whose skill and unwearied toil
in bringing out the Show, the public are greatly indebted.
They will reap the highest reward in the approbation of their
townsmen.
The following is the report :
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.

The Committeeof the Liverpool Agricultural Society have
to report, with feelings of regret, the loss—since the last
annual meeting—of their late respected and valuable Chair-
man, Mr. Hatter of Knowsley.
The committee have, on former years, noticed with plea-
sure, the gradual improvements in the cultivation of the soil
within the district, and in the live stock annually exhibited
at this place. These improvements, they are happy to add,
are still progressing, and among the most prominent, they
would notice the increased drainage of wet so►ls—the appli-
cation of bone-dust to grass lands—and the more extensive
growth of turnies and mangel wurzel.*
It is gratifying to learn from the reports of the Inspectors,
theat claimants for the best cultivated farms, who in former

years fell short of the mark, have now surpassed their pre-
vious competitors, and have been awarded the Society's pre-
miums. From the same reports the Committee have to
notice the improvements going on in the system of laying
down lands for permanent pasture ; and have to remark, that
the failure of some of the competitors appears to have arisen
more from a want of due attention to the sort of seeds chosen,
combined in some cases with a deficiency in quantity, than
to the previous management of the land.
In the last report of the Committee an appeal was made
to the landlords for further support to this society, which
has, in several instances, been very handsomely responded
to by increased subscriptions. An attempt was also made to
rouse the farmers to a greater interest in the welfare of the
sociiety :—in such increased interest on their part the com-
mittee would found expectations of much greater usefulness;
and would suggest, that if district or branch societies were
formed among the prattical farmers, for collecting small sub-
scriptions in aid of the parent society, and detailing the re-
sults of any useful practicai experiment or improved modes
of cultivation, to be printed with the society's annual report,
the agricultural improvement of the country might be ex-
pected to progress more rapidly.
The reports of the committee in past years, have contained
no allusion to the generally admitted change of weather in
the harvest season, which has frequently proved unfavourable
for the in-gathering of the grain crops. Whilstthe committee
are willing to believe, that the members of the society, would,
at all times, cheerfully bow to the dispensations of Provi-
dence, they still conceive it a duty incumbent upon all to
seek out and adopt such means, as appear most likely to
lessen the injurious effects occasioned by such change. And,
although, in the reaping and in the preservation of the corn
in the field, many of the farmers in this district adopt a
system superior to that of farmers in others, yet, it may be
worthy of consideration, whether any and what improve-
ment can be effected upon the general system hitherto
adopted.
In furtherance of this object, it may be well to ascertain,
amongst the varied qualities of grain, what particular sorts
have been found to arrive the earliest at maturity, or to with-
stand the effects of unfavourable weather, and be least liable
to sprit. The committee have been strongly impressed
with the importance of this subject, by the continued and
heavy fall of rain during the past season, and the consequent
difficulty of harvesting the crops, tending ultimately to the
serious loss both of the grower and consumer.
If it should be thought desirable to offer any prizes,
either for the best samples of seed corn, for the superior ma-
nagement of the crop, or for any other purpose, having the
above or similar nbierts in view, the committee would la. E1.,1
to receive suggestions from any of the society's members,
before the publication of thoir next list of premiums.
The committee cannot conclude this report without refer-
ring—which they do with pleasure—to the laudable emula-
tion created by the society's annual ploughing matches
amongst farmers and their servants, and the benefits arising
therefrom.
The advantage of superior ploughs and workmanship
being thereby brought under the notice of many, whose
circumstances and habits confine them to their own imme-
diate neighbourhood, some of whom have thus been induced
to compete for the prizes, and others to become subscribers.
Five of these meetings have now been held in different
parts of Lancashire and Cheshire, and a local interest has,
in consequence, been excited in favour of the society, which
appears eminently worthy of encouragement.

The following is an Abstract of the Treasurer's Accoun,
for the year ending 31st July, 1839 :

Da.
Balance due to Treasurer 31st July, 1838 £ll4 3 6
Premiums and cost of Medals awarded at the
Annual Meeting in 1838
Advertising, Printing, &c.
Salaries of Secretary, Treasurer, and Inspectors 97 5 0
Expenses of Committee, and Rooms for Annual
Meeting
Expenses of the Judges
Fitting-up of the Show Yard l4 1 1
Miscellaneous Expenses, Postages of Letters, &c. 613 1

£698 3 5

CR.
Subscriptions received £393 10 0
Admission of Non-Subscribers into the Show
Yard in 1838
Entry of Live Stock, Implements, &c. in 1838.. 14 1 0
Share of Non-Subscribers' Dinner Tickets in 1838 21 18 0
Balance due to Treasurer 31st July, 1839

£698 3 5
R. LEDGER, Secretary.

Liverpool, 3d October, 1839.
* Although the weight per acre of the last-named crops
fall short of former years, the committee are induced to attri-
bute the deficiency, more to the season, than to any abate-
ment of skill or attention on the part of the cultivator.
PREMIUMS AWARDED BY THE LIVERPOOL
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1839.

CLASS I.—BEST CULTIVATED FARMS.
To Mr. Wm. Colton Woodfin, of Saltney, (solely dependent
upon farming,) for the best cultivated farm of 200 acres,—
a piece of plate, value ten sovereigns.
To Mr. Atherton, of Speke, (solely dependent upon farming,)
for the best cultivated farm of 146 acres,—a piece of plate,
value ten sovereigns.