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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



The amount of increase for a given quantity of food con- 

 sumed was iu both cases good. It is obvious, however, that 

 80 far from there being less total food couaumed when the ma- 

 nufactured meal was employed, there were Olhi. more of the 

 mixture eaten when one-aixth of it consisted of the expensive 

 manufactured food ; whilst the amount of increase in weight 

 was exactly the same iu the two cases. In fact, the results are 

 80 nearly absolutely identical that the difference cannot per- 

 haps be fairly attributed to any intrinsic dilTerence in the cha- 

 racter of the food. But it is, at any rate, clear that nothing 

 was gained by adding to the barley-meal and bran one-fifth 



of its weight of food, costing about fire timei as much 

 money. 



The general observations that have been made above are. 

 then, fully borne out by the results of this experiment. In 

 couclusiou, I feel bound to say, that I should require much 

 clearer evidence thau any that has hitherto been adduced, to 

 satisfy me that the balance-sheet of my farm would present a 

 more satisfactory result at the end of the year, were I to give 

 to each horse, ox, sheep, and pig, a daily allowance of one 

 of these costly foods.— (Journal of the Royal Agri. Soc.) 



Rolhamsted , July, 1858. 



THE AUTUMN MEETINGS OF THE LOCAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 



The autumn gatherings are just now at their full 

 tide. We have had the celebration of some half- 

 dozen or so, of more than passing importance, during 

 only the last few days. They appear neither to be 

 losing their interest nor influence. On the contrary, 

 we believe the general body of agriculturists never took 

 a more active participation in the proceedings. Their 

 landlords, moreover, thoroughly unite wiih them iu 

 doing justice to such occasions. There are few by this 

 who content themselves with the passive compliment 

 of a £5 note, their best compliments, and a haunch of 

 venison. Many, like Mr. Langstone, in O.xfordshire, and 

 Mr. Stanhope, in Lincolnshu'e,not only attend them- 

 selves, but bring the best of their cattle with them. The 

 effect of so strong a pull all together is nearly every- 

 where apparent. The character of the stock exhibited 

 has marvellously improved. There is hardly a local 

 meeting but that has an entry or two quite fit to go on 

 for higher honours. Of course the force of such an 

 example is never so great as when brought home to a 

 man's own door. When Smith sees what Browne, 

 who is only a tenant farmer like himself, can do, he 

 begins to consider why he, too, should not do a little 

 more. By next year ho will have a ram to show, a 

 prize heifer to sell, or a speech to make, as a successful 

 exhibitor, at the annual dinner. 



The very "business" even of this annual dinner has 

 also been considerably amended. The vapid flowery 

 orator, who talked merely for the sake ol talking, is 

 going fast out of fashion. The local reporter will not 

 follow him, and his best of neighbours tire of hearing 

 him. At the Maidstone meeting, Lord Darnley, 

 the president of the day, asked those who succeeded 

 him not to deal in empty compliment, but to speak 

 out. And at Banbury, Colonel North made this 

 request the preface to his toast-list — that every man 

 would keep himself as much to the point, and 

 " cut it as short," as possible. The practical man — the 

 great authority after all of these occasions— is gradually 

 getting a far better chance of a hearing ; and it 

 will only be his own fault if he does not use 

 it. So far, however, as this season has gone, the groat 

 lesson has been taught outright in the show-yard, 

 rather than enforced by any after-deduction over the 

 dinner-table. There has been scarcely an address we 

 have felt called upon to report. The fact i.-;, there has 



been rather the want of a topic. Even in these times 

 of low prices, it would not do to again unfurl the ban- 

 ner of Protection ! Then, Agricultural Statistics seem 

 to have quietly died out with the Highland Society's 

 determination to have nothing more to do with them. 

 The Guano Monopoly does not threaten to trouble the 

 buyer half so much as it may the seller; and really, 

 without it be the Steam-plough, there does not promise 

 much to make a sensation. 



And still there has been no lack of well-known speakers 

 — men the farmer has often heard or read of ere now. 

 There has been Mr. Newdegato at Tamworth, where, 

 according to the gallant regulation of the Sparkenhoe 

 Club, bright eyes and winning smiles must have again 

 endangered the heyday of his bachelorhood. Then 

 Mr. Henley, no longer to be regarded simply as a 

 country gentleman or good landlord, but as a right 

 honourable member of the Cabinet, met his constituents 

 on the same day at Banbury. An exposition of the 

 principles of a Conservative Government, and how it 

 might come to meddle with Reform, furnished the 

 chief topics of an address that has been by no means 

 without its interest. This, however, was not of an 

 agricultural character; and so we turn on to Mr. Mechi 

 at Manchester, and nicely balanced against him Mr. 

 Ferrand at Keighley. Neither can be complained of as 

 not going into the subject matter of the meeting. Both, 

 indeed, sjioke at length upon farmers and farming. 

 But Mr. Mechi, especially, was in want of a topic — of 

 some novelty wherewith to improve or amaze his 

 audience. As it was, he went quite on the old 

 story — years ago he had been called a fool for 

 using a steam engine ; what did it cost to keep 

 cart horses ; the value of the sewage of towns ; deep 

 drainage, deep cultivation, the employment of more 

 capital, and the advantage of farmers paying double 

 the rent they now do. In justice, let us put this a little 

 more fully. "He had found, upon questioning some 

 Polish and Russian friends, that their good crops were 

 not much above a-half of what was grown on our best 

 farms in this country. But then, they said, their cost was 

 very little : they could buy the lee simple for £3 or 

 £4 per acre. It would be a sorry thing for this coun- 

 try if the cost was so little. He hoped to see the time 

 when the rent would be about £3 per acre. It would 

 be a happy thing for the farmers if the rent were 



