The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-10-02 00:00:00

TEE LIVERPOOL STAShilib.

THE LIVERPOOL AND MANCHESTER AGRI-
CULTURAL SOCIETY.

The second annual meeting of this amalgamated society
was held on Thursday last. The show of live stock, im-
plements, roots, and seeds, took place in the North Hay-
market, and the attendance was numerous. Amongst
those present were Lord de Tabley, Wm. Brown, Esq.,
M.P., Robert Neilson, Esq.. &c. The show was on the
whole cons dersd good. The stallions and horned cattle
were much admired. There was but a scanty supply of
vegetables, seeds, and roots. The implements were '
numerous, and many of them novel and ingenious. The
report showed a balance in the treasurer's hands of £23.
Some of the leading members, with a view to extended
encouragement, agreed to double their subscriptions. The
wheat was reported to be this year very good. Early
potatoes were a light crop, but the quality was excellent.
The late winter crops looked well until recently, when
the disease set in, and it was believed that one half of the
crop would be unfit for food.
The dinner took place as usual in the large room at
Mr. Lucas's Repository. The repast was provided by
Mr. Charles Chalk, of St. John's-lane, and gave great
satisfaction, as did the wines. The chair was occupied by
Lord de Tabley, the president of the society.
Mr. TATTON EGERTON, M.P., responded to the toast
of the patrons, the Earl of Derby and Wilbraham Tatton
Egerton, Esq.
The AIRMAN, in proposing success to the society,
expressed his own inadequacy to do justice to the subject.
and said that he should not touch upon politics, the dis-
cussion of which was wisely excluded by the rules. They
had nothing to do with the recent political changes.
What they had to do was to meet the agricultural depres-
sion which had overtaken them, by improved agriculture.
They must endeavour to increase the productive powers
of the soil. They must meet depressed prices by addi-
tional product. Every new railway opened a new market
for them ; and every discovery in chemistry brought to
light some new manure. The progress of mechanism was
shown by the machines that day exhibited, and their ap-
plication to the soil would cheapen cultivation. He did
not, therefore, despair of agriculture; for the produce
would be increased so as to more than equal the low state
of the markets. Landlord and tenant must support each
other. The landlords must support their tenants by giving
leases, on fair, good, and practicable conditions,—by ad-
vancing capital,—by assisting in draining, and in other
operations of the soil.—(Cheers.) The tenants, too,
must stand by their landlords, and carry out these im-
provements, and the industrious cultivation of the land
committed to their charge. If that were the case,—if
they stood by one another, landlord, tenant, and labourer,
they need not despair of seeing the cultivation of the
land advanced in every way. Commerce, agriculture, and
manufactures were indissolubly bound together, and on
that rested the prosperity of the country. He had great
faith in the application of scientific principles to the cul-
tivation of the soil ; he had faith in the undeveloped fer-
tility of the soil ; tie had still greater faith in the in-
domitable energy of British thews and sinews, and by
working out these principles they would still see agricul-
ture flourish. It was because he considered this and
similar societies were calculated to carry out these views
that he gave, and should continue to give them his hearty
support. He concluded by proposing the toast, and sat
down amidst loud cheers.
Amongst the healths then proposed were those of Lord
Stanley, the Vice-presidents, and the members for the
South Division.

Mr. WM BROWN, M.P., replied.—He said that though
some of them might differ in politics, there could be no
difference with respect to such a society as this, which
aimed at the general interests of theiountry. He entered
into some statistics showing the prices at which Austria,
America, France, Poland, could on the average lay
down wheat here, 495. Bd. per quarter (including car-
riage, &c.,) and he thought the English aericulturist could
compete with that. (Cheers.) Foreigners could not
compete with us in green crops. The quantity of live
stock, too, sent into the country was insignificant, and
they need be under no apprehension of competition in
that department. Under all circumstances, the English
agriculturist had nothing to fear from foreign competition.
They had cani,al at command, they could pay for the
cultivation of the soil, and wi h their Saxon energy, and
the intelligence of those hesaw around hiniin that room, lie
should not be surprised that they not only would compete
successfully with foreigners, but if they put their shoulders
to the wheel, England might become what she once was
—an exporting country. (Cheers.) He urged them to
use their efforts for uniting commerce and agriculture,
that they might go hand in hand together for the mutual
benefit of both. He approved of the advice of the chair-
man. The agriculturists had an El Dorado here, and
need not go to C difornia. (Cheers.)
The health of the Committee was then proposed, and
Mr. ROBERT NEI tsoN replied. Notwithstanning what
had been stated by Mr. Brown, there would be little
doubt they would have to compete with better soils,
greater facilities for production, lower wages, and equal
facilities for reaching tie home market. (Cheers.) The
question then naturally arose as to how that position and
these prospects were best to be met. They had two
courses open to them—either to sit down supinely and
wait for the coming storm, or arouse with a manly energy
to meet the events as they approached. The noble chair.
man told them of one mode of meeting the difficulty—
that was the cordial co-operation of tenant and landlord.
He only wished that was carried out with more practica-
bility than they now found it, either in Lancashire or
Cheshire. (Loud cheers.) The time had arrived when
mere fencing with the question niust be set aside, and
when the real truth must be laid before them. On both
sides of the question—on the landlord's side and the
tenant's side—there was great room for improvement.
In Lancashire and Cheshire the duties of both landlord
and tenant had been neglected by one and the other.
The great fault was, that too little manure was applied to
the land, and far too much manure was wasted in not
taking care of it. Capital was far too widely spread to be
efficient. If the capital possessed by the greater number
of tenants were comprised within a narrow circle, and
was expended with greater care, the results would be very
different. He pointed out many improvements that
might be accomplished by the combined efforts of land-
lord and tenant.
The SECRETARY read the list of prizes, as follows :
LIST OF PRIZES TO PARTIES IN THIS NEIGHBOUR-