The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-10-29 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

On Tuesday, the annull exhibition of stock and imple-
ments took place at the back of Roscommon-street. The
exhibition, as a whole, was considered the most satisfac-
tory of any that has yet occurred in the annals of the so-
ciety; for, although not so extensive in the aggregate, by
any means, as some that have preceded it, yet, in all es-
sential particulars, it has been pronounced by compe-
tent judges to he the best as indicative of the general
prosperity of the association.

- -
- The day was one of the finest we witnessed for some
time past, and the attendance was such as might have
been expected. Almost all the noblemen and gentlemen
whose names we have enumerated in our account of the
dinner were present, and took a very lively interest in the
I.roceedings.
The bulls were first-rate. The cows also were of ex-
cellent quality and condition. The pigs and sheep were
generally above the average description. The show of
implements were not very numerous, but we observed
many material improvements in machines for cutting and
also in the ploughs. The subsoil plough of Mr. Robert
Neilson was particularly noticed as an improvement in
the turning up of the land, its peculiar working being
that it cut most deep, and with advantage to the soil
admitted in a great degree the atmospheric air. A pecu-
liar kind of cart for agricultural-purposes was also exhi-
bited by Mr. Robertson Gladstone, of Court-hey. It
showed in its formation how lightly a heavy load might
be carried with relief to the horses, in comparison to
other carts used for similar purposes. It was a single
horse cart weighing about 10 cwt., and capable of carry-
ing from 140 to 150 stones of either hay or straw.

THE
The Annual Dinner of the society took place in the
evening in the spacious room attached to Lucas's Repo-
sitory. About 350 gentlemen, for the most part large
landed proprietors and extensive farmers, sat down on
the occasion. The dinner, which comprised all the vari-
ous de:icacies of the season, was provided by Mr. Lawton,
of the Rainbow Hotel, Williamson-square. The tables
were arranged in the usual manner. The Right Hon.
Lord Stanley, the president of the society, who was
loudly cheered on entering, occupied the chair. To his
right we noticed, Thomas Sands, Esq., Mayor of Liver-
pool, Robertson Gladstone, Esq., John Shaw Leigh, Esq.,
Richard Earle, Esq., Henry Houghton, Esq.,—Beamish,
ESQ., T. Bright Crosse, Esq., Richard Willis, Esq., J.
N. Walker, Esq., Thomas Willis, Esq., John Formby,
Esq. &c. &c. On his left, the Earl of Sefton, Lord
laford.—Heathcote, Esq., Wm. Blundell, Esq., E. D.
Davenport, Esq., Kaye Shuttleworth, Esq., R. Neilson,
Esq., Wm. H. Hornby, Esq., Michael Hughes, Esq.,
Major Hughes, Thomas Chippendale, Esq., Weld Blun-
dell, Esq., &c.

In other parts of the room we noticed Peter Greenall,
Esq., M.P., Gilbert Greenall, Esq., the Hon. R. Den-
man, Peter Sergeantson, Esq., Peter Wright, Esq., Thos.
Rowson, Esq., Thomas Bold, Esq., R. Ledger, Esq.,
Alexander WlCenzie, Esq., Sir Joshua Walmsley, Wm.
Loft, Esq., of Lincolnshire, S. B. Chadwick, Esq., Wrn.
Selby, Esq., Wm. Patin, Esq., Wm.. Nicholson, Esq.,
Richard Pington, Esq., Thos. Statter, Esq., Wm.
Hayes, Esq., Gibson Carter, Esq., R. C. Lowndes, Esq.
James Cawley, Esq., Mr. Thos. Wilde, Mr. John War-
burton, Mr. J Green, Mr. Henry White, Dr. M`Farline,
Mr. Richard Baxter, Mr. E. J. Pemberton, Mr. W. S.
Unsworth, Mr. W. Longton, Mr. John Lathbury, Mr.
Richard Dobell, Mr. Thos. Wray. Mr. George Wilde,
John Lord, Esq., and John Part, Esq., of Wigan, David
Evans, Esq.—Walker, Esq., of Bolton, Harcld Little-
dale, Esq., &c.

, . .
After the usual loyal toasts had been given, his lordship
said,—ln rising to propose to you the next toast, " Pros-
perity to the Liverpool Agricultural Association," I feel
it unnecessary to express the satisfaction I feel at seeing
myself surrounded by so numerous and respectable an as-
semblage, gathered together to do honour to the institu-
tion, the anniversary of which we are engaged in celebrat-
ing, and also, I would fain hope, to bear, by their pre-
sence, their testimony of the merits of this and similar
institutions in promoting the important objects they are
designed to serve. Those objects are of two-fold charac-
ter, not only important as they tend to increase the faci-
lities and to increase the cheapness of cultivating the soil
of this country, and rendering it more adequate to meet
the daily increasing wants of a rapidly augmenting popu-
lation, by the application of improved science and art to
the limited surface of the earth over which we have com-
mand; but still more important in their bearing
upon cur social relations, bringing together all classes of
the community—(hear)—landlords, tenants of a h gher
and lower class, and even the labouring classes also, and
combined, as I am happy to see on this and similar occa-
sion, in this locality, with representatives of the great
manufacturing,-mercantile, and trading classes (Cheers.)
I am not able to discuss with you the merits of the parti-
cular show to-day, partly for the very good reason that,
owing to other business I have not had the opportunity
of inspecting it; and next, because if I had, you would
hear a better account of the merits of that show from
gentlemen infinitely more competent to express an opi-
nion that will carry weight. Nor is it my wish to enter
into any discussion of the general advantages of societies
of this description. I think they are so universally re-
cognised, and recognised practically as well as in theory,
that it would be an impertinent waste of your time to take
it up in and such discussion. In every quarter of the
kingdom we find, during the last few years, societies si-
milar to this have been springing up, and agriculture has
been partaking of the great movement which has been
pervading all the industrial branches of this country.
Farmers are finding out that it is necessary for them,
with a view to their own interests, to take a very differ-
ent course from that which was followed by their grand-
fathers and great-grandfathers. (Hear.) In these days
no man is allowed to stand still. Improvement must go
on. And I see throughout the country, in every part of
it, gratifying proofs that improvement is going on as act
tively in the agricultural as in the manufacturing districts
and operations of the country. (Cheers.) And although
I cannot certainly take upon myself to say positively that
because one circumstance takes place immediately after
another, therefore that those circumstances stand to each
other in the relation of effect and cause, yet I cannot for
a moment doubt the eflect upon the agriculture of the
country—the effect of communicating information mutu-
ally possessed, and the effect of the stimulus arising from
competition and constant communication—l cannot, I
say, doubt the effect upon the agriculture of the country
of the numberless institutions of this kind established
throughout the kingdom. (Hear.) And if I look at our
own immediate neighbourhood, and compare the position
in which we stand, defective as we still are, and having
much to learn, and much to improve in,—yet, whether I
1 o at the farmer's stock, his mode of cultivation, or his
desire for improvement and amelioration, and compare

the state of things now with what it was when, fourteen
years ago, I first had the honour of occupying the chair
of this society, 1 hope I am not assuming too much when
I say, that to the constant meetings and constant inter-
course carried on between different classes by means of
this society, much of that improvement is to be traced
which no man with an eye in his head can deny has taken
place, and which is most gratifying to those whose inter-
ests like mine are bound up with the welfare of the agri-
culture of this district. (Cheers.) Even within the last
few years, witlen a much shorter time than that which I
have named, within the last four or five years, I see
strides which, small as they may be compared with what
might be done, are gigantic compared with what was done
before. I think it is not more than tour or five years ago
that, at a ineet:ng of the Royal Agricultural Society of
England, I first noticed as a novelty of a singular charac-
ter a new manure, known as guano, and recommended to
the agriculturists of England. (Hear and a laugh.) If
I am not misinformed, from this single port of Liverpool
there bare gone out, within this single year no less ttan
150 vessels, chartered expressly fer the purpose of import-
ing this then unknown manure for the improvement of
the agriculture of the country. It is not alone, however,
in matters like this, that we see the usefulness of these
societies. I look for much more extended and permanent
improvement from their operation. Every where I see
old useless fences disappearing, fields enlarging, improved
modes of cultivation adopted, and I see going on with im-
mense rapidity that, which, I must again and spar im-
press upon you who are connected with the land, is the
basis of all improvement—deep and thorough drainage of
the land, and not here alone, but throughout all England,
I see most remarkably, as any one indeed may do, even
though whirled through the country at the railway speed
at which we are now carried, what an extent of improve-
ment has been effected in this respect. Every one is
struck with the appearance of preparations for future ex-
ertions, which are, at the same time, the token of well-
deserved success. Some of the old farmers of this coun-
try—l mean the real old class—(a laugh)—shrug their
shoulders and say, " What is the need of all this stir
about improvement, and making the land grow so much
more ?" By the bye it is not so much making it grow
more, as making it grow different crops—making it grow
wheat instead of weeds. (Hear, hear.) But some ,say,
" What is the use of allAis ? his not a question for the
farmer. We shall only have our rents increased the more
productive land is." Such an argument, allow me to say,
is the very climax of absurdity. To use a very homely
phrase, it is " cutting off one's own nose to spite one's
own face." "Why should I undertake an improvement
because my landlord will benefit by it ?" appears to me a
very inconclusive and absurd argument. I am not here
to dispute the fact, that every improvement in value,
every addition by science to the productive power of the
land, everything which adds to its fertility, must, in the
long run, be an advantage to those in whom the fee-sim-
ple is vested. But the question is, at the same time that
it is an advantage to the landlord, is it not also an advan-
tage to the farmer who occupies the land, and makes his
livelihood out of it? 1 ask no man to •ndertake an im-
provement if his own good sense does not lead him to do
it. I ask no man to apply any improved mode of culti-
vation, if it does not appear that his own individual ad-
vantage would be promoted by so doing. But when far-
mers argue, that because at the expiration of their te-
nancy their rents may be increased, it is not worth while
to adopt improvements, I must say, they take a very
short-sighted view of their own interests, and must think
their landlords very great fools and blockheads. They
must go on the presumption that although he sees his
land might be made more productive, he will be satisfied
for the purpose of seeing his own rents low, to allow a
slovenly tenant to go on in his slovenly courses. (flea ..)
The landlord would be as short-sighted as the tenant, if
he could take such a view as this. But again I say, I
want the tenant not to undertake any improvement that
will not repay him capital interest and profit, during his
occupation of the land. (Cheers. This brings me to
another question,—as to the degree to which it is desira-
ble or important that the practice should prevail of hold-
ing land by lease. I speak, I know, in the presence of a
noble friend of mind, and every man who knows him is
aware that there is not a kinder or better landlord, or a
warmer friend to his tenants and neighbours, than my
noble friend on my left, the Earl of Sefton. (Much ap-
plause, the noble earl rising and bowing to his lordship
and the company.) I know also it is not my noble
friend's practice to let his farms on lease. The great ma-
jority of his tenants are tenants from year to year, with
such entire and perfect confidence in the honour and in-
tegrity of their landlord, that I do not believe that the
fact of their having no lease operates disadvantageous'y
in any individual case. But this 1 say, and as one con-
nected with the land, I feel myself bound to say it, that a
landlord has no right to expect any great and permanent
improvement of his land by the tenant, unless that tenant
be secured the repayment of his outlay, not by the perso-
nal character or honour of his landlord, but by a secmily
which no casualties can interfere with—the security
granted- him by the terms of a lease for years. (Ap-
plause.) Ido not speak of a lease for Eves. In my ex-
perience, with some exceptions, wherever I have found
fields badly cultivated, and buildings dilapidated, I have
found that the property is held under a life lease. (Laugh-
ter and applause.) I speak of a tenant who is prepared to
join his capital, and to go hand in hand with his landlord
in the improvement of the farm. The greater the im-
provement you expect, the greater ought to be the lease
you give. I consider it unjust, if you call for improve-
ment, not to give to the tenant the moral certainty that
the improvement he effects shalt repay him during the
course of his lease for the expense he incurs. (Hear.)
I will go further than this, and say that there are some
expenses of so permanent a character, that while I repeat
it again, that it is an inadmissible argument against im-
provement, if the tenant repays himself for his outlay,
that at the expiration of his term he shall leave his land
in a better state than he found it—while I hold this to be
an inadmissible position, and admit and contend that, in
proportion to the amount of improvement expected from
the tenant, ought to be the duration of his lease—l will add
further, that there are some expenses, more especially
with the class of farmers of whom the great majority
are composed, which it is idle to expect that they
should undertake. If they are to add permanent
value to the land, they ought to be undertaken by the
landlord himself, charging on the tenant such an amount
of interest as may repay him for the outlay be has made,
and at the same time afford a reasonable profit to the te-
nant. (Hear.) But, gentlemen, lam not speaking now
except of that which again is the basis of all improvement,
and especially in this country—the thorough draining of
the soil. And I repeat what I have already said on a for-
mer occasion in this room, that there is no investment
in the world in which a landlord can so safely, so usefully,
or so profitably invest his capital as in the improvement of
his own farm, by money sunk on draining. on security of
the land which belongs to himself. (Hear, and cheers.)
I think I give you a tolerable practical proof of my con-
viction on this point when I say—and I say it not for the
purpose of boasting of what has been done, but of encou-
raging others to follow the example, when 1 say—that on
my father's property in this neighbourhood there has been
laid down at his expense, and charging five per cent. in-
terest to the tenants, which I believe they most gladly and
willingly acknowledge they have over and over again re-
ceived the benefit of—in this last year we have laid down
in deep draining somewhere about 300 miles of drains, at
an expense of between £5,000 and £6,000, and, I think,
employed about a million and a half of draining tiles.
(Hear.) By the arrangement I recommend for this pur-
pose both parties are benefitted ; the landlord receives an
ample return for his outlay ; he knows the work is done
in a substantial and workmanlike manner ; and I will ven-
ture to abide by the declaration of any tenant on that pro-
perty, whether the additional amount per acre be has in-
curred by having his fields drained, has not been over and
over again repaid by the annual return arising from the
property. (Hear.) It may be thought that I have trespas-
on your indulgence, on a point peculiar and personal to
myself, at greater length and in more detail than I was
justified in doing. But this is an occasion on which we
should freely speak our minds to each other. We meet
together as landlords and tenants, and it is right that we
should express frankly our own own opinions. I do not
hesitate to express mine, as to the mutual duties of land-
lord and tenant, and the mode by which 1 believe they
may effectually combine together for the advancement of
the important objects in which both are at least equally
interested. 1 believe, on the whole, lamin a position to
congratulate you on the present state of this society. I
hope the period of its depression is already passed. Un-
doubtedly it has been subject to some vicissitudes, and
experienced some losses ; and two or three years ago it be-
came involved in debts from which some exertions were
necessary to relieve it. I have the satisfaction of saying
that these are paid off; and although that object has been
effected by a reduction of some of the premiums, and
thereby, in some degree, the sphere of the society's
usefulness, yet we have every reasonable prospect
of the income of the society equalling its expenditure.
And though it may be in a more contracted sphere, I hope
we shall be able to say we can pay our way, and can dif-
fuse to a considerable extent the advantages which insti-
tutions of this kind are qualified to afford. If, however, I
might hazard such an observation, I would say, anxious
as I am for its increasing prosperity, it might be of ad-
vantage if its sphere of operations were more extended ;
and if the co-operation and consent of another and similar
society in this county could be obtained, great benefit
might be derived from the amalgamation of the Manches-
ter society with the Liverpool. (Hear ) Thus enlarging
the field of the operations of both, increasing the amount of
competition, and the consequent stimulus brought to bear
upon the agricultural classes, and combining and increas-
ing the advantages enjoyed by the respective neighbour-
hoods. Ido not know if this has been suggested to any
of the members of the Manchester society. I believe, if
the union were effected, it would tend to the mutual ad-
vantage and increasing prosperity of both. With these
observations, and thanking you for the patience with which
you have listened to the remarks of one very little compe-
tent to address you on such subjects, I beg of yOu to join
me, as I feel you will do, cordially and heartily, in drink-
ing " Prosperity and success to the Liverpool Agricultural
Society.,'
The arl of SEFTON rose, amid loud cheers, and said he
had the leave of their noble chairman to propose a toast.
It was to him a task difficult to perform. He knew not
exactly how he could do justice to the toast, but he felt
that he could put it to them as farmers in a way that it
would come home to their hearts. No persons knew the
ualue of a good neighbour better than farmers. Some of
them rnightwish their farms larger, and theirneighboursfar-
ther off—( laugh)—but all of them would be glad, if at the
lane end, the man that lives at the next house was a right
good fellow. (Hear, and laughter.) They would not like
to have a litigious fellow, with whom they could never
agree, and who would accommodate them with nothing.
He (the Earl of Sefton) had a neighbour who was exactly
the contrary of that character, and with whom he was on
terms of the greatest friendship, from whom be received
acts of kindness, and towards whom he always felt the
greatest affection and respect. This was the character of
his excellent neighbour, the Earl of Derby. (Loud and
continued cheering.) They had most warmly responded