The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-07-23 00:00:00

The report was read at length by Mr. Handley ; but, as the
usual practice of public bodies—not excepting even the as-
sembled representatives of the country—is to allow the re-
porters for the press access to all public documents, and not
anticipating a different course would be pursued at this
meeting, no notes were taken of the report. On one of the
reporters applying to the ex-member for the document, first
of all a shuffling excuse was made that it was not in a fit
state for publication, and subsequently a positive denial of
the loan of the document was given. on the ground that it
was to be kept for the exclusive use of the society's publica-
tion. We are therefore unable to present our readers with

a copy.
The CHAIRMAN next announced that the three prize essays
had -been obtained by Mrs. Gardener and Mr. Cuthbert W.
Johnson. The first was furnished by a lady of practical
experience, and was as to the best mode of improving the
food of agricultural labourers. The second and third, by
Mr. Johnson, were upon the use of lime as a manure, and
upon the improvement of peat soils.
After a brief pause, the CHArrtnrA2c rose, and, after a few
words of commendation, proposed the health of Earl Spen-
cer, which was received with loud applause, and drunk with
three times three and one cheer more.
Earl SPENCER, oc rising to respond to the toast, was re-
ceived with loud cheers. His lordshig said he thanked them
for the high honour they had conferred on him by drinking
his health, and for the manner in which the toast had been
received. But if he was obliged to them for that mark of
their approbation, he was still more obliged to them for the
increased support they had given to the society. He felt
highly gratified at the increased number of members who

now belonged to it, and at its extension throughout the king-
dom. (Hear, hear.) He (Earl Spencer) had stated at the
first formation of the society, that even in those parts of
England where the beSt mode of farmiag was adopted, im-
provement might still be made ; and the result of the opera-
tions of the society had fully borne out his observation.
(Hear, hear, and loud cheers.) The president had told
them of the progress of the society, bt.t as yet they had not
done enough to deserve the name of such a society. They
had, however, done a great deal by directing the attention
of farmers to the subject of improving the mode of cultiva-
ting their farms; they had done that which he was sure all
of them who like himself were in the habit of frequently
mixing in the society of farmers must rejoice at—they had
extended the desire of knowledge. (Loud cheers.) Whether,
however, the society would now or with in a year or two lead
to any great result was more than he could say ; but one
thing was certain, it must ultimately he beneficial to all
classes. (Applause.) When the epidemic which had spread
among cattle first became general, his lordship thought the
society ought to circulate amongst the farmers a paper
which would teach them how to treat it. They applied to
some of the most eminent persons in the country, and having
obtained their opinions, a paper on the subject had been cir-
culated, and it had been attended with the best possible effect.
(Cheers.) Ile (Earl Spencer) thought, from the great num-
ber of cattle attacked, that by receiving reports from dif-
ferent parts of the way in which the disease had affected
cattle, some conclusion might be come to as to the mode of
treating it. (Hear, hear.) They had heard the report read,
which had been founded on the communications received
from the most competent men in the country to give their
opinions on the subject. Those reports had been placed in
the hands of Mr. Sewell, than whom no man in the kingdom
was more capable of giving an opinion on the subject ; but
from the contradictory and conflicting statements which had
been made, the society had not been able to effect any great
good ; but although the society had been unable to acconts
plish any great good, it had prevented many of the farmers
from trusting to the quackery of horse and cow doctors, who
did so much mischief to the farmer. With respect to the
other points referred to by his honourable friend, he could
say that the society had collected a mass of information of
the highest importance. They had a report respecting the
turnip fly, which showed the fallacy of the common notion
that the fly existed in the seed. The fly was an insect of
hard skin, (lid not grow, and consequently would not be
formed in the seed. That report showed the natural history
of the fly. It was traced through its different stages, and
the best means were pointed out to counteract the mischief
it inflicted on the crop, and perhaps eventually the society
might be able to point out means to counteract its ravages ;
for there were scientific men in the society who were assisting
in the investigation, and they might depend upon it that
effects would be produced quite incalculable at the present
time. (Applause.) His lordship said he did not repent of
the course he had taken in recommending the formatipn of
the society—it was impossible, after seeing that meeting, and
,when lie contemplated the splendid assemblage he expected
to witness to-morrow, to do so. He should always have
great pleasure in looking back on that period of his life, and
should feel the greatest happiness in reflecting on the fact of
his having been the first person to propose the society.
(Loud cheers.) His lordship concluded by again thanking
them for the honour done him, and sat down amid loud cheers.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed the health of Mr. Smith,
a gentleman from Scotland, who had passed his life as an
agriculturist, and whose experience and intelligence had been
of great service to the society. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. SMIIHI returned thanks for the honour conferred upon
Whatever services lie had done the society were amply
repaid by having his health drank in such a meeting as that—
by having those services appreciated by the Royal Agri-
cultural Society of England, and by the farmers of England.
(Loud cheers.) He had turned his attention from cultivating '
the manufacturing arts to agriculture. He had no doubt the
farmer, like the manufacturer, if he had better tools his work
would be better done, and it was quite evident, on viewing the
implements which had been exhibited that day, there was a
wide field for improvement. (Applause.) He felt assured
that if the mechanical skill of England were directed to that
point, and he had no doubt it would be by that society, a vast
improvement would soon be the consequence. (Cheers.) He
felt proud to think that they had been able to contribute
something of advantage to the English farmer from his poor
country of Scotland. He felt also gratified in believing that
the society had been formed in some measure on the High:

land Society of Scotland—a society which had produced
considerable advantage in that country by bringing into a
better state of cultivation the poor land of his country. He
had no doubt that in this country, where there was more
capital than in the north, ere long England would become a
perfect garden. The improvement of the agriculture of this
country was most important to the commercial and manu-
facturing interests. (Cheer.) They cried out for cheap bread,
and justly so, too ; but how so well were they to get cheap
bread as by the improvement of the lands around them ?
(Continued cheers.) Every farmer knew well there was
nothing so good in agriculture as the consumption of his own
produce on his own soil. (Hear, hear.) The same principle
which was good in small things would also hold good in
larger. (Loud cheers.) It was to the advantage of the
farmer that the grain he required should be produced at his
own door, and there consumed ; and it was equally beneficial
that the manufacturer should have his manufactures con-
sumed in his own country, leaving its enriching influence
oh the ground. (Cheers.) This country had been able to
bid defiance to the cheap labour of all other countries on
the earth, and so would she continue. (Hear, hear.) In the
improvements which had been made, no doubt they had been
led on by a selfish feeling to a certain extent, and in all ques-
tions of public benefit no doubt such a feeling must exist.
People must look to their own interests or they would do
little for the benefit of the public. It was, however, quite
clear, that in order to have bread cheaper, the best mode was
to produce a greater quantity, because the more that was
produced the cheaper it would be to the consumers. (Hear,
hear.) He would advise the society, if he might be allowed,
to avoid two errors into which societies of that kind com-
monly fall, not to discourage persons who came forward with
improvements, nor to be too hasty in rejecting such as were'
offered to their notice. He had frequently seen things of-
fered to the notice of such societies which at first appeared
exceedingly absurd, but in the end turned out to be really the
germs of the greatest improvements. At the same time he
would advise competitors, if at first their implements were
not noticed as they might imagine they deserved, not to be
discouraged, but to persevere, and eventually tkey might de-
pend on succeeding. (Cheers.) In taking a survey of this
co4nty, and more especially in this neighbourhood, there was
great room for improvement, but that meeting would doubt-
less sow good seed, and in due time an abundant crop would
be reaped. (Hear, hear.) There was no principle for pro-
ducing improvements better than the itinerating principle—
it excited a•spirit of inquiry, and, by the converse with
others, it improved men's minds, and by competition facul-
ties were brought into exercise which would otherwise have
lain dormant. It was, therefore, that he approved of plough-
ing matches and other modes of competition amongst farmers
and their servants. (Cheers.) He had had the good luck of
bringing forward some implements on the present occasion,
and if spared, he hoped on future occasions to exhibit still
turther improvements. (Loud cheers.)
The chairman and the principal portion of the guests then
left the room, and, after a vain attempt to induce Mr. Hand-
ley to accept the chair for a short time, the meeting separated.