The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-10-05 00:00:00

TIIE LIN ERPOOL AGRICULTURAL SHOW
AND DINNER.

The seventeenth annual meeting of this society was held
on Thursday, in the New Haymarket. The show was
fine, and the attendance numerous ; the horses and cattle
were also fine, and the siheep of prime breeds. The pigs
were superior. A variety of admirable agricultural im-
plements were exhibited,—especialy those brought by
Messrs. Robert Elliot and Son, Mr. J. J. Turner, Mr.
W. H. Parke, and Mr. Higgs, of Liverpool ; Mr. Abra-
ham Vicars, of Manchester; Mr. Cornes, of Nantwich ;
Mr. W. Crosskill, of Beverly ; and Mr. James D. Young,
of Glasgow. The inspectors of farms reported most fa-
vourably of the general improvements in agriculture al-
ready accomplished or in progress. There was a fair
competition in the draining department, and Mr. Mawds-
ley, of Orrell, had effectually drained fifteen acres at a
cost of £5 15s. 6d. per acre. The tenants of R. Watt,
Esq., Speke, again excelled in grasses—Mr. M'Farlane,
the resident manager, obtained the medal in this depart-
ment. The grass seeds were sown with a drill, after a
barley crop, and were as follows per statute acre, on light
sandy loam :—One bushel of perennial rye-grass, one
peck of hard fescue, one peck of meadow fescue, one peck
1 of meadow foxtail, three pounds of rough-stalked meadow
grass, three pounds of smooth ditto, three pounds of cres-
ted dogstail, two pounds of rib-grass, four pounds ofcow-
grass, four pounds of white clover, and three pounds of
trefoil. Previous to sowing those seeds, the land is well
harrowed and rolled, and, after sowing, it is again har-
rowed and rolled ; and by these means the surface soil is
rendered as fine as possible, which is essential for the per-
fect vegetation of the grass seeds. The crop was very
heavy. Many circumstances have occurred to prevent a
numerous show of bulls and cows, but several on the
ground were excellent, especially that of Sir T. De Traf-
ford, of Trafford-hall; that of Mr. Boys, of Speke; and
that of Mr. Sandbach. There were also several other
1 prime animals, and well-bred milch cows and heifers.
There were more stallions on the ground than last year,
and several very superior animals. The grey horse be-
longing to Messrs. Horbridge, of Liverpool, was the best.
Another grey horse, belonging to Mr. Atherton, of Up-
holland, is also a fine animal. There were several other
good and useful horses, and some which could claim no
1 pretensions to be useful, either for the saddle or farming
purposes. On the whole, there was a decided improve-
ment in combining action with power, and more useful to
the farmers of this district than some of the clumsy ani-
mals shown a few years ago. A few good brood mares,
foals, and cart horses, were exhibited. The few sheep
penned were of prime breeds. The show of pigs, as
usual, was very good, and, on the whole, excelled former
exhibitions. Four young pigs belonging to Mr. Statter,
of Pilkington, were sold at £5 each. Mr. R. Martin, of
Salford, exhibited some of his prime breed. Premiums
are now offered for vegetables, but few were shown. Mr.
W. Ashcroft, of Halsall, exhibited a large sound root of
mangel wurzel of 1846, also some large ones of the pre-
sent year ; a Scotch cabbage, weighing 40 lbs. ; and se-
veral improved Swedish turnips. Several very large yel-
low globe mangel, grown by H. Littledale, Esq., of Lis-
card-hall, attracted considerable attention. Mr. E. Che-
shyre, of Hoo-green, near Warrington, exhibited twelve
samples of very excellent potatoes. Two sacks of prime
wheat were shown. Amongst the agricultural implements
the society recommended a portable steam apparatus,
which had been used by the relief society in Ireland ; a
churn ; gardener's patent turnip cutter, with thirty
knives ; Howard's patent iron plough ; and a patent-lever
wheel-rake. Mr. W. Thomas exhibited a new light om-
nibus cab, to carry four or six persons ; a very light wag-
gon ; a light whitechapel ; a liquid manure pump and
barrel, similar to a water cart.
After 'noticing the eradication of old and useless
hedges, the report refers to potatoes, thus :—" So various
are the opinions as to the extent of the same, that we
hesitate to give a confident report as to what may be the
result. In some districts the crop is apparently better
than last year ; in others much the same. The season is
not favourable for the gathering of this root, and when
that is completed, more correct information may probably
be obtained. As to early potatoes, which are grown so
extensively in various parts of Lancashire and Cheshire,
for the Liverpool and Manchester markets, it is satisfac-
tory to state that they have been quite an average crop,
and more than usually profitable to the grower. The
turnip crop last year, for which prizes are now awarded,
was, in consequence of the mildew, lighter than usual ; but
this year they have sprung up well, and hitherto have had
no severe check. The growth of this useful vegetable is
greatly on the increase."
The receipts for the year were £509, and a balance of
£5O was previously left in the treasurer's hand, making
£559, which had been spent in premiums, &c.
The dinner took place in
,Lucas' Repository, and was
most sumptuous. The chair was occupied by Lord
Lilford, and there were present Gilbert Greenall, Esq.,
M.P. • Wm. Brown, Esq., M.P. ; William Cross, Esq. ;
William Hall, Esq., Talbot, Esq.; W. Ledger, Esq. ;
J. W. Wilson, Esq. ; Mr. Councillor Parker, Mr. Coun-
cillor Proctor, and Mr. Councillor Glazebrook. The
number that sat down to dinner was about two hundred.
After the loyal toasts the health of the Earl of Derby
was drunk with enthusiasm, and equally so was " Success
to the Liverpool Agricultural Society,' proposed in gra-
tifying terms by the chairman. Wm. Brown. Esq., pro-
posed the health of the Noble Chairman, which was hailed
with cheers, and feelingly responded o. " The Mayor
and Corporation of Liverpool," was received with great
applause, and replied to in a neat manner by Mr. Coun-
cillor' Parker. The usual toasts—the health of the offi-
cers, &c., followed, and the list of prizes awarded was
then read. Those who obtained the highest premiums
were :—Best cultivated farm, Mr. W. Atherton and T.
Atherton of Speke. Crops grown in 1846, John Ireland
Blackburn, Esq., Hale Hall, and others. For fine speci-
mens of lve stock, a number of prizes were given, also
for sheep. W. Brown, Esq., ably replied to the toast of
the members for the county, stating that he considered
the landed, the manufacturing, and the commercial inte-
rests, as one and indivisable. One gentleman, Mr. Ellison,
spoke highly of the fertilizing properties of guano, especi-
ally as applied to turnips.
After spending a highly gratifying evening, the com-
pany retired shortly after 9 o'clock.

The bill of fare of the Oriental Divan appears in our
paper to-day.
VENISON.—Those who love good living will find that a
splendid haunch of venison will be cooked at Whiteman's
Brunswick Hotel to-morrow (Wednesday).
Mr. Fairclough, who has so long and so reputably ca-
tered for the public, announces his intention to be present
at the ensuing Chester races.—See adv.