The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-10-09 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL AGRICULTURAL MEETING.

On Thursday the anniversary of this useful society was
held in the Old Infirmary Yard, the free use of which was
granted by the Corporation; and we have great pleasure in
stating that the show of cattle and horses on this occasion
was decidedly superior to that of the last or previous years,
and exhibited, in a remarkable degree, the beneficial effects
already attained and in prospect, by the establishment of the
Agricultural Association.
The day was beautifully fine, and the attendance both of
competitors and visitors more numerous than on former an-
niversaries. Amongst those present were Lord Stanley and
Sir P. H. Fleetwood. The interest excited, both within the
show-yard and round the walls, whence a view could be ob-
tained, was great; and all who take an interest in agricultu-
ral affairs appeared to be highly g tatified by the superiority
of the show, and the excellence of the arrangements.
The show of horned cattle was heavy, the entries being
greater than last year. There were upwards of thirty bulls,

itittch'sulasiration from their admirable condition, breed, and
symmetry.
Is cows and heifers there also appeared to be a great im-
provement: several of whom were decided hits in the im-
provement of stock. There was a remarkably fine white
cow, which weighed about a ton, the property of the Hon.
Lloyd Mostyn.
In sheep and pigs a superiority was also visible, and in far-
mer's stock generally.
Mr. Lynn, of the Waterloo Hotel, exhibited three lots of
his renowned cross-breed Chinese and Neapolitan pigs.
There was much improvement in the show of horses. Se-
veral of the stallions were splendid animals, and a regret was
generally expressed by judges that the prizes were not com-
mensurate is number and value to the merits of the compe-
titors.

A number of agricultural implements were exhibited,
some )f them novel, and other improvements upon former
principles. One of the most useful was a machine for the
manuring by bone-dust and sowing turnips simultaneously—
& very
instrument,
invention. Two specimens of that admi-
rable the sub-soil plough, were exhibited—au
instrument by which the soil below the surface may be
loosened without raising it, should it be unsuitable for ad-
mixture with supro-soil. There was a neat model of a hay-
turning machine, by Mr. Richmond, of Old Bridge-street,
Salford, worthy of attention; and another, by another in-
ventor, nearly similar, of full size. A pertable threshing-
machine, to be turned by a horse, was also shown, and ex-
cited some interest; but this, we presume, will here, as in
Scotland, be ere long superseded by steam. There was an
ingenious machine for crushing oil-cakes and cutting tut-
nips, by Mr. John Carter, Crown-street.
The show of roots and seeds was interesting. Many good
specimens of turnips and cabbages were shown; but in agri-
cultural seeds, and in turnips in particular, Mr. W. Skir-
wing, of Walton Nursery, bore the bell—the whole in this
department, as in that of live stock, depended upon the im-
provement of the breed or kind. The grasses, reared frontll
the respective seeds, were exhibited, and evidenced the
superiority of the several varieties. Six of the Swedish tur-
nips shown by Mr. S. weighed 1501b5., raised from his im-
proved kind; he had also some excellent specimens of
purple top and early white turnips. One of the cabbages,
called the " drum-head," raised by a neighbour of his (Mr.
Taylor, of Bootle,) weighed 59Ibs. Mr. Harrison, of West
Derby, exhibited a bunch of Italian rye grass, above three
feet in length, part of the third crop grown from the same
root this year !
Mr. W. Ashcroft, of Alston, near Ormskirk, had some
sown specimens of mangel wurzel.
The following were also exhibited by Messrs. Thou. Gibbs
and Co., Seedstnen to the Board of Agriculture, and com-
manded a good deal of attention :—A large collection of
dried specimens of natural grasses, adapted for laying land
to permanent grass and for improving old meadows and pas-
tures, and other kinds for comparison therewith.—A large
collection of samples of different kinds of natural grass seeds
for the aboveipurposes.—Specimens of the Whitiugton new
white wheat and samples of the grain. This obtained an
award of a medal at the show in 18.36. The exhibitors are
now enabled to offer a supply for sale.—A specimen of the
plant and sample of the seed of the Mvagrum Sativum, a
plant well adapted for cultivation on poor sandy soils, and
the seed yielding a superior description of oil.—A specimen
of the plant and sample of the seed of the new Russian Pro-
lific Winter Bean, a variety far surpassing the old kind in
produce, &c.—A specimen of the plant and sample of the
seed of the new Winter Oats, which are strongly recom-
mended for autumnal sowing, on winter barley, rye, or win-
tares; for spring food this acquisition to agricultural vegeta-
bles will bear cutting twice cud feeding once in the spring,
after which a crop of seed may be obtained varying form 8 to
11 qrs. per acre.—A specimen of the plant and sample of the
seed of the Naked Oat, the peculiarity of this variety is its
having no husk and being a great deal yielder, together with
several other specimens, which were generally admired.
Mr. Brown's chevalier wheat was the subject of much ad-
miration, and its virtues were eulogised by several agricul-
turists present, who seemed to be aware of its prolific quality.
Upon the whole, the exhibition was decidedly superior to
that of last year. The association has, by the competition
which it has excited, effected a great improvement in the
breeding of stock, and all that remains for it to do, in its on-
ward progress, is to give still stronger encouragement to the
improvement of lands; or, in other words, to induce farmers
and proprietors so to improve in Lancashire their cold and
ungenial fields and pastures that they may be capable of rear-
ing and fattening with advantage those fine breeds of stock
which now bold ground in counties where a more improved
system of agriculture has been for sometime adopted.

THE DINNER.
The annual dinner took place in the evening, at the large
room attached to Lucas's Repository, Great Charlotte-street,
the use of which was, as usual, given gratuitously by the

liberal and spirited proprietor. The arrangements were some-
what different from those on former occasions of the kind.
Instead of a series of tables extending the whole length of
the room, there was only one such table at the side appro-
priated to the chairman and principal guests, and a series of
transverse tables joining to this at. one end and extending
across the room, for the rest of the company. Lord Stanley,
the president of the society, entered the room, accompanied
by several friends, a few minutes before five o'clock, and
took the chair amidst the loudest cheering. About 430 in-
dividuals sat down to an excellent dinner, prepared by Mr.

Horne, of the Mersey Hotel. Amongst those present were
William Rathbone, Esq., the Mayor, who supported the
chairman on the right; Sir P. H. Fleetwood, M.P., on the
left; J. I. Blackburne, Esq., M.P.; Thomas Molyneux
Seale, Esq., George Corbett, Esq.; John Formby, Esq.;
William Earle, Esq.; &c., &c.
The cloth was drawn at ten minutes to six o'clock, and

shortly afterwards,
The CHAIRMAN rose, and said he was quite convinced
that he should be doing the grossest injustice to the loyalty

of those present, if he thoujbt it necessary to say a single
word in proposing that they should drink with a bumber the
health of ' Her Majesty the Queen." (Drunk with all the

honours.)
The CHAIRMAN said that, in proposing the health of Ade-
laide, the Queen Dowager, he gave the health of a lady
whose private virtues, she having filled the highest situation
in this country, had endeared- her to persons of all classes
and all opinions, and who had descended into a comparatively
private station, with the regard he might say, but certainly
with the good wishes of the country at large. "The Queen
Dowager, with the rest of the Royal Family." (Drunk with

great enthusiasm.)
The CHAIRMAN said they had now, thank God, for the
space .of some three and twenty years, enjoyed the blessings
of peace, and he trusted that blessing might be long perpe-
tuated; but be was sure there was not a man present who
did not feel that the best security for the continuance of
peace was a consciousness on their own part, and a know-
ledge of that consciousness on the part of other nations, that
they were well prepared to maintain a war. He believed, if
it were found necessary, as he trusted it would not be for
many years, they would find that the old spirit and discipline
if the army and navy was in no sense relaxed; and he was
sure that all present would join him in the expression of
thanks for their past services, and confidence hi their present
fitness for service, if those services should again be required,
by drinking in a bumper, "The navy and the army." (Great
applause.)
'flie CHAIRMAN said he had now to call their attention to
that toast which was the principal object of their meeting,
and in proposing to their consideration " The Liverpool
Agricultural Society, and prosperity to it," he believed he
*tight safely, and without deviation from the strictest truth,
congratulate them on the present state and future prospects
of the society. (Applause ) At the same time as he was
bound on this occasion to speak fairly and plainly before
them, he could not but express a regret which he very sin-
cerely felt, that a society which one would have imagined to
be so particularly interesting to the landed proprietors of this
county, should receive from so few of them as it did an active
countenance and support. (Hear, hear.) There were, no
doubt, exceptions, and these were most gratifying, but he
was bound to say that the support which this society received
was principally from the smaller tenants and occupiers, and
least from the landed proprietors; but having stated this he
must say, and he said it with pleasure, that he believed it was
the only drawback which he should have to name from the
satisfactory progress of the society during the present year.
(Hear, hear.) It was a most satisfactory thing to say, that
the show that day not only had increased with respect to the
numbers which had attended it, but had increased to an ex-
tent which they would hardly credit; but he thought they
would not disbelieve it when he said, that whereas in former
years they had only received £ll2, on that day the amount
had exceeded £l6O, from shilling admission tickets. (Loud
cheers.) He would not say that it was only a growing feel-
ing of the advantages of a society of this nature, or a grow ing
interest taken in it, which had led to this increase, for he
added also, and he added with great pleasure, that in almost
every description of stock, in almost every competition for
premiums, there was a marked improvement this year, not
only over the last, but over any preceding year of the soci-
ety's existence. (Loud cheers.) In the show of pigs there
was, he was sorry to say, rather a decline than an improve-
ment. In almost every other description of stock there was
a marked improvement. This was not a sheep county, and
they grew very few sheep; the county and the habits f the
people were not adapted to the raising of sheep; their stocks
therefore were not very extensive, but the stock shown that
day had not only been more extensive than formerly, but
also a better quality than he had seen exhibited in the show-
/*rd. In the horses the improvement was most marked.
There were in the show-yard as valuable brood mares, as
valuable young stock for cart and farm purposes, as could be
shown by any society which had not been in existence for a
longer period than the Liverpool Agricultural Society.—
(Cheers.) In the bulls also there was a marked improve-
ment, and that was a most important description of stock to
the farmer, on which the improvement of all his cattle
mainly depended. An improved breed and a very greatly
improved description of animals bad been exhibited amongst
the bulls at the show, and that improvement was the in(
marked, which attain was a most satisfactory circumstance,
amongst the younger rather than the older stock exhibited.
(Hear, hear.) His lordship next alluded to the premiums
given by the society for long-continued and faithful service
oat the part of agricultural labourers, and to those in the
situation of labouring men, who, without the assistance of
any parochial funds, had reared and brought up a numerous
family of children. In the former class, that of farm labour-
ers, lie bad the satisfaction of saying that the society had
brought them for premiums, claims (of course in all cases
certified by the masters to have been for that period faithful
and good servants) in one case for four-and-forty years, in
another for six-and-thirty years, in another for thirty-two
years, and another for nineteen years and a half.—(Hear,
hear, hear.) There were three or four persons who had
come before them. and who respectively claimed the
premiums for educating and bringing up respectably and
honestly families of ten and twelve children, to fourteen
or fifteen years of age and upwards, without applying
in any case for parochial assistance. 'There was one
other class to which he wished particularly to advert, because
it was a class which showed that the interest excited by this
society amongst the farmers and occupiers was producing
corresponding effects—he alluded to the improvement which
had been manifested in the cultivation of farms. There were
this year five competitors for the premium for the best culti-
vated farm exceeding 120 acres; and he thought it due to
those competitors that he should read their names, in conse-
quence of a circumstance which he would mention afterwards.
The first was Mr. C. Smith, of Ashton, near Altrincham ;
the others, Mr. Atherton, of Speke ; Mr. J. Birch, of Sefton :
Mr. James Kerfoot, and Mr. Wm. Woodfine, of Flintshire.
Tlie judges had expressed an opinion that the worst of these
five was superior to the best of those which obtained the same
premium last year. (Loud applause.) After some further
observations, his lordship concluded by saying that it afforded
him the sincerest gratification to see so large, so numerous,
and so respectable an assemblage, consisting, as be knew it
did, in a great measure of the agricultural population of this
county, and not merely inhabitants of the town, attracted
there by curiosity ; and under these circumstances, he felt
confident that they would join him in drinking a bumper,
444 vitkihree tom three.