THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



531 



aud her ladyship said she hoped that better butter would be 

 produced in the district, and that uext year might witness a 

 larger and superior show generally. Three hearty cheers were 

 given for her ladyship, whose name has become a household 

 word in agricultural circles throughout the length and breadth 

 of the country. As regards the exhibition generally, it was 

 about up to the average of a district show, but the horse stock 

 showed the solid, heavy, enduring Suffolka in some force 

 The speaking at the dinner, at which the Duke of Rutland 

 presided, was more germane than usual to the occasion, a re- 

 mark which we probably should not have been justified in 

 making, had not Mr. Torr, of Aylesby, and Mr. Booth come 

 over from Lincolnshire to act as judges of slock. Mr. Torr 

 asked why should Cambridgeshire aud Suffolk be celebrated 

 for horses alone ? When the farmers of those two great coun- 

 ties saw a lady exhibiting stock so far above their own, they 

 should follow her bright example. Mr. Torr added, that he 

 thought such meetings tended to advance farmers in their pro- 

 fession. Farmers were rather likely to be smothered just now 

 with chemistry, astrology, and even law and divinity — of course 

 there was '' loud laughter" here — and they were apt to forget 

 that, after all, with science ought to be combined practical know- 

 ledge of farming. In Lincolnshire agriculture was now carried 

 to a high pitch, and more produce was now sent out of it than 

 from any other county in England. This was effected by a 

 copious application of artiScial manures, and the coufideuce 

 which existed between landlord and tenant, labourer aud far- 

 mer, for nothing was known of leases. There was one little 

 matter which was very objectionable in Cambridgeshire, Suf- 

 folk, and even Lincolnshire — he alluded to long teams of 

 horses with waggons which ought not to be in existence, ex- 

 cept in Noah's ark, and he pleaded guilty himself of this 

 practice, which he wished to see obliterated. He was aware 

 that it was no joke for a practical farmer to change his wag- 

 gons when they were beautifully bedaubed with paint, and 

 the horses were bedecked with high fringes, which carried the 

 snow in winter and would not shade in summer ; but it was 

 rather odd in days of locomotives, railways, and lighter carriages 

 generally, to see the farmers of the eastern counties indulging 

 in great wide waggons with four horses, having more harness 

 on them than one horse could carry, and one horse out of the 

 four of no use at all. Another topic was " ventilated" during 

 the evening, viz., the " ventilation " of cottages; and it must 

 be remarked that the wandering tendency of the agricultural 

 mind is one of its most curious idiosyncrasies. Start a con- 

 versation at an agricultural dinner on oilcake or nitrate of 

 " sober," as Mr. Jorrocka has it, and before many minutes 

 are elapsed you will find yourself deep in faim-buildings, cove- 

 nants, pulp-parchment, or the height of St. Paul's cathedral — 

 everyone having some idea which he thinks must see the light. 

 The notions promulgated with regard to the ventilation ques- 

 tion were the thrusting of a zinc pipe, three or four inches in 

 diameter, through the ridge of the roof, or, if the chimney is 

 sufficiently high, the boring three or four holes iu the chimney 

 draft ; Mr. Torr advocated no ceilings at all, but open tim- 

 bered roofs. 



Under these circumstances he had no doubt they would all 

 be gratified to hear (he was now speaking as one of the 

 brewing interest), an admirable substitute has been disco- 

 vered for hops. It had been mentioned before, though he 

 believed it had really never been used — he referred to 

 strychnine. The only disadvantage attending its use was 

 that it had been calculated it would kill off about fifteen 

 per cent, of their customers annually. However, the Lon- 

 don brewers had come to the conclusion that for this year 

 they must put up with this misfortune — there was no |help 

 for it, perish their customers must. — Mu.C. Bu.xton, M.P., 

 at Maidstone. 



A SUBSTITUTE FOR HOPS.— At the meeting of 

 the association last year he took the liberty to urge upon 

 those present the importance of cultivating hops, as being 

 next to barley, by far the most useful product of the soil. 

 He was sorry, however, to find that the result of the bop- 

 crop this year was not at all of a satisfactory nature, though 

 they would have seen by the papers that the duty was 

 .£53,000, instead of even a still more contemptible aura. 



PARLINGTON TENANT-FARMERS' 

 PLOUGHING MEETING. 



On Friday, the 2nd of November, the annual ploughing 

 meeting of tlie Parlington Tenants was lioklen oh the farm 

 of Mr. Brady Nicholson, of Sturton Grange. Forty-one 

 ploughs entered the field to compete for the various prizes. 

 Great was the emulation of the candidates ; and very suc- 

 cessful was the ploughing, the whole of the work being 

 most creditably performed. 



The quantity allotted to each ploughman was two loods 

 and twenty perches ; and the time allowed for the comple- 

 tion of the work was five hours. The trial-field contained 

 forty-five acres of seed land; and the scene was a most 

 animated one. On the ground we noticed F. C. T. Gas- 

 coignc, Esq., the landlord of the estate, with numerous 

 other spectators, who appeared delighted to see such good 

 ploughing, and so many workmen engaged. 



Amongst the competing ploughs were some made by 

 the firms of Messrs. Hornsby, Howard, Ransorae, Busby, 

 Dale (of Burlington), and ^'incent Dawson (of Lincoln). 



In Class I., for ploughs without wheels, in wliich twenty 

 foremen competed, the first prize was won by W. Reed, 

 foreman to Mr. Dawson, of Aberford; and the second by 

 .John Shaw, foreman to Mr. Brady Nicholson, of Sturtoa 

 Grange. The winning plough was an iron one made by 

 Hornsby, of Grantham ; the second of wood, by Vincent 

 Dawson, of Lincoln. 



In Class II., ploughs with wheels, for young men above 

 eighteen and under twenty-two years of age, the first prize 

 was taken by William Thompson, servant to Mr. Simp- 

 son, of Park House, with an iron wheel-plough of Ran- 

 some's; and the second by John Adamson, servant to Mr. 

 Dawson, of Aberford, with a plough made by Howard. 



In Class III., for boys under eighteen years of age, the 

 first prize was won by George Fryer, the smallest lad on 

 the ground, servant to Mr. Bi-ady Nicholson, with a plough 

 made by Vincent Dawson, -of Lincoln; and the second by 

 John Poole, servant to IMr. Smart, of Woodhouse Grange, 

 with a plough made by Dale, of Barlington. 



After the ploughing was finished, tlie prizes wera 

 awarded, and the various candidates were addressed in a 

 most able and effective speech by Mr. Fox, the talented 

 a^ent of the estate. An adjournment then took place, to 

 the house of Sir. B. Nicholson, where a substantial col- 

 lation was partaken of. A discussion on various agricul- 

 tural subjects ensued ; and a general opinion was expressed 

 that Messrs. Hornsby's ploughs were the best for seed- 

 land. 



The judges who kindly officiated on the occasion were 

 Mr. Wiiglit, of Ogelthorp, Tadcaster; Mr. Maskill, of 

 Hornington ; and Mr, Wilkinson, of Bramham : and the 



