The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-10-02 00:00:00

that in common with all the classes of the country, the navy
had been going on in a state of improvement ; that whilst it
was one man's business to plough the land, and of another to
plough the sea, each learning something every day, the navy
would also be found inure efficient for the service for which
it was wanted than it had been for years gone by. He should
be unjust were he not to put his noble relative right. There
was a member of his own family present, who, though he
had not fought at sea or seen much service, was still a very
deserving officer. He trusted the chairman would allow
Captain Stanley of her Majesty's Grenadier Guards to return
thanks on the part of the army. (Cheers.)
Captain STANLEY returned thanks on the part of the army
in a brief appropriate speech.
The PRESIDENT said the time had now arrived when it
became his duty to turn to the real business of the night;
when leaving the army and navy it became their duty to turn
the sword into a ploughshare. It was not, as many of them
must be aware, the first time he had had the very unde-
served honor—feeling unworthy with regard to agricultural
knowledge, and he stated it sincerely, the office of presi-
dent of this society, and in that character of addressing
them upon it. In whatever he had to say, of course,
they would understand that he did not at all speak in his
own name ; he spoke entirely upon the reports of others ;
and in offering to them either his congratulations or his
condolence he spoke not his own sentiments but the senti-
ments of others. The prospects of this society, like those of
most others, afforded matter for congratulation and condo-
lence. For congratulation on much of the improvement that
he saw around them ; for condolence, which 'ought to be
addressed to those who were more sanguine of improvement
than others at the commencement of improvement, that im-
provement had not been so great as it should have been. But
he had the satisfaction of seeing, in the first paragraph of
the committee's report, that the usefulness and the influence
of the society was advancing, that the number of subscribers
was upon the increase, that the state of the finances was
better, and that the agriculture of the district was decidedly
improving. (Cheers.) These four items composed a very
satisfactory statement of the proceedings of the society.
(Hear, hear.) The first object in societies of this kind was
to excite interest, to increase competition, and to make the
competitors aware of their own deficiencies, as the first step
to improvement. It might so happen that to bring men to a
sense of deficiency might considerably damage the number of
competitors by confining them to the least chance they had
of successfully competing. In the first instance, every man
looked at his own pet bull, his own pet ram, his own stock,
his own folds, and he thought, because he saw nothing within
a mile which was so good, the world produced no better. .He
extended the radius of his• observation through the medium
of this society, to a distance of five, ten, twenty, or thirty
miles, and found that, as the radius extended the possi-
bility of improvement extended likewise. In the amount
of the stock introduced in the show yard this day
he believed there was a falling off as compared with that of
last year, and that although the receipts of the shew-yard
were about £l5O, there was some falling off. lie would not
lay any stress upon this fact. .It -might easily be accounted
for. We all knew that the uncertain state of the weather,
affecting, as it did, the harvest, necessarily kept a number of
farmers from pursuits they had not leisure to follow in the
chew-yard. But he believed that the judges who attended
to-day—there was only one of them, Mr. Palmer, who had
on a former occasion acted as judge—were satisfied. He was
happy to hear from one, that he was of opinion since he was
last here, four years ago, the improvement was very percep-
tible in the young stock upon this occasion over that pro-
duced at that time. (Applause.) Another and very satis-
factory thing was, that farmers in the locality were beginning
to turn their attention to the general cultivation and manage
ment of their farms—that they saw their deficiencies more.
and not only that, but they were becoming more emulous
and more desirous of improving the condition of their farms.
And it was most gratifying to he able to announce, that the
number of competitors for the prize for the best cultivated
farms and crops, comprising the general management of the
farm, and the crops which were subject to the evidence of
sense, was one-half more than it was last year, and that they
were not less than doubled since the commencement of the
society. (Cheers.) The judges who had inspected the farms
stated, that they saw great improvements in all the essen-
tial branches of agriculture ; and it was more particularly
gratifying to state, that there were great improvements in
that which was the basis of all agricultural improvements—
without which all agricultural improvement was worse than
useless—without which it was as money thrown away to no
purpose—he meant that there was a great increase in the
manner, and in the quality of drainage. (Cheers.) As there
was no portion of agricultural industry which was more es-
sential than drainage, so it unfortunately happened there
was no district where drainage was so generally imperfect,
where it was done• in a worse manner, carried on upon less
scientific principles, with less combination, and that more-
over in a soil, generally speaking, the most retentive, and
which more required drainage than this. It was, therefore,
most satisfactory to say, that there were great improvements
in the drainage ; and to see from the report, that not only
were there a considerable number of competitors, but that
the work had been done to a great extent and in an admira-
ble manner. It would not be deemed detracting from the
merits of other competitors, if he mentioned that the chief
prize for drainage had been awarded to Mr. James Wilson,
of Southworth Hall, near Winwick, for laying 63,096 yards,
or 36 miles, of drainage, for the improvement of 147 acres.
(Loud cheers.) Allow him to add, that it was not only by
carrying drainage extensively, but by carrying it on closely
and deeply, that it could succeed ; and he recommended it
in the tirst instance, although the outlay might be heavy—
more than the means of ordinary tenants could meet ;
yet still it was an outlay which repaid itself abun-
dantly if conducted skilfully. He was not in this case preach-
ing what he did not practise. He was not going to puff off
his own goods, but perhaps many of them had seen in the
show-yard to-day the model of a tile manufactory, which was
at the present moment being erected at great expense upon
his father's property, for the purpose of facilitating the pro-
duction of the best description of tiles. That single manu-
factory was calculated to produce upon the most improved
principles, 1,500,000 tiles in the cour.,e of a year; and after
allowing that he wished to give the first preference to his
own tenants, he would further say, he should be ready to
meet. customers, and he hoped there would be many customers
to come. It was not for the sake of the custom, but for the
sake of the improvement of agriculture that he mentioned.
this ; and he felt that in placing within the reach of land-
lords and tenants a very superior draining tile, at moderate
expense, it has no inconsiderable facility he was affording to
the agriculture of the neighbourhood. He had already said
he was quite aware that tenants could not undertake the
whole expense of draining ; upon short leases it was impos-
sible to expect they should incur any very heavy expense.
Of course the amount of assistance which the landlord and
tenant owed to each other—for it was the duty of both—must
be regulated by the duration of the lease, the nature of the
soil, and a hundred other circumstances, with regard to which
it was imdossible to lay down any general rule. But if drain-
age was conducted upon'sound principles and a scientific plan ;
it was not too much, if the landlord incurred the outlay of it,
to expect that the tenant should afford him a fair interest for
that outlay during his occupation of the farm. The land-
lord's expenditure was for a permanent object, and it bore
the largest proportion to the outlay ; the tenant's expendi-
ture was for a temporary purpose; which he ought to pay for ;
and he (Lord Stanley) was convinced, that where there was
a good understanding. between both, there would be no diffi-
culty in arranging terms and in finding capital. (Hear, hear,
and loud cheers.) He was sorry to say, with regard .
to another very important point—namely, the improve-
ment of fences, there was a very small spirit of emu-
lation excited among the farmers. There were two premiums
offered, one .of £5 for the greatest length of white thorn
hedgejnot less than one hundred yards long, and another of
£2 for sixty yards. For neither of these premiums did it
appear there was a single claimant. He need not say to
those conversant with agriculture, that next to good drain-
ing, these were the best evidence of the real spirit of im-
provement and skill of the farmer. He hoped, however,
that at the next meeting, he should have to congratulate the
members upon there having been some emulation on this
point. The noble lord then briefly alluded to the different
parties who had obtained premiums for long service, and said
that they deserved honour. He hoped that this society was
in course of gradual and steady improvement. I n the course of
next year, the Agricultural Society of England would hold its
meeting in this great town. In consequence of that meeting,
he had no hesitation in expressing his confident anticipation,
from the facilities of railways and canals, and steam naviga-
tion by sea, there would be collected in this town an assem-
bly which, for multitude or, merit, had never been exhibited
in any portion of the universe before; and he believed the
effect would be, in all probability that at their next meeting
this society would feel themselves very small—and this Liver-
pool. Agricultural Society would learn that first and most im-
portant lesson—how much they had to improve. (Hear.)
He hoped the result would be to increase emulation, and to
give an additional stimulus to the energies of that which he
believed was in course of steady if not rapid progress—which
he now proposed to give as a toast—prosperity to the Liver-
pool Agricultural Society. (Loud cheers.)
Mr' B. Crouse proposed the health of a nobleman who
was a distinguished patron of this society—the Earl of Der-
by—(cheers)—a nobleman whose merit—public and private—
was too well known and appreciated in this county to need
any panegyric or eulogium. It was to be regretted that his
lordship's infirm state of health incapacitated him from tak-
ing that active part in agricultural matters which he was
otherwise disposed to do ; but nevertheless no individual
took a more lively interest in everything connected with them
and with the prosperity and welfare of the county. (cheers.
The PRESIDENT returned thanks on the part of his noble)
father in a brief and suitable address, expressing Lord Derby's
attachment to the interests of the society.

Mr. J. I. BLACKI3UIINE proposed the health of the chair-
man, as a nobleman who by his distinguished ability had
raised himself to the highest honours in political life, as a
firm supporter of the interests of agriculture, and as respected
and beloved by all who knew him.. He begged to give the
health of Lord Stanley. (Loud cheers.)
Lord STANLEY, after acknowledging the compliment,
proceeded to say, that in agricultural matters nothing was
more injurious than the system of " let well alone." Farmers
ought to know that what had been done by others in the way
of, improvement could be done by thew. Many of them
were men of small means, and they could not afford to visit
those districts in which ie agricultural science was carried
to greater perfection than it was here ; they could not by per-
sonal observation see what was done in those places, and
they were entirely cut Off from trying experiments, because
they could not pla;nly and positively see the result. He
.(Lord Stanley) was desirous of remedying this state of
things. He had consulted with several of the first land-
owners of the country, and he had received from them the
most cordial promises of receiving assistance. The object he
had in view was to establish in this town—the mart to which
the agricultural industry of the country around was brought
—a lending agricultural library for the use of the
farmers. (Loud cheers.) The subscriptions from the
landowners he prohibited from exceeding five pounds, and
those from the farmers should be at the very low sum of 5s
per annum. He therefore wished to give this public infor-
mation to the farmers of the neighbourhood, and to the
agents and stewards of those landowners who took an inter-
est in it, and to request them to meet him that day fortnight,
Thursday, the 15th instant, at twelve o'clock, at the Nep-
tune Hotel, where they would talk over the subject. (Cheers.)
The SEC,RETARY then read the report and the list of prizes
awarded :

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.
The committee of the Liverpool Agricultural Society have
the satisfaction to report that the usefulness and influence of
the society is gradually advancing; the number of subscrib-
ers being a little on the increase—the state of their finances
better—and the agriculture of the district decidedly improv-
ing. It is also gratifying to state, that the number of com-
petitors of best cultivated farm and for crops is much greater
than last year, and double what they were at the commence-
ment of this society. _

It will be seen by the list of premiums that the committee
have offered prizes this year for the best sainples of wheat,
and for the best general live stock kept on the farm. For
the first of these there are only two claimants, but the com-
mittee hope to see more competition another year. Fur the
last there are more competitors, and the description of stock
unusual in number and superior in quality.
At the suggestion of various subscribers, and others who
have been competitors, the committee have determined that
the whole of the prizes this year—and for the future, if it
meets with the society's approbation, shall be given in money.
Should, however, any successful candidate prefer plate, they
are desirous it should be understood he may have the same
by making his wishes known to the secretary.
Within the last few years an article of foreign production,
called nitrate of soda, has been highly recommended to the
farmer as a manure or top-dressing for corn and grass-land.
The experiments with reference to it which have come to the
knowledge of the committee, are at present so few, that they
would decline giving an opinion until they have the result of
longer experience ; and they would invite coinrincations on
the Subject previous to their next annual meeting.