THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



549 



weekly, by the Proprietors. Twelve copies of "A Word in 

 Season; or How to Grow Wheat with Profit ;" by the author, 

 the Rev. S. Smith, of Loia-WeedoD, Towcester. Fifty copies 

 of a " Letter on Steam Cultivation, addressed to the llight 

 Hon. Benjamin Disraeli, M.P. ;" by the author, Mr. W. Smith 

 of Woolston, Bletchley. " Practical Essays on the Improve- 

 ment of Farming;" by the author, Mr. Hewitt Davis. 



A deputation from the Ipswich Farmers' Club, consisting 

 of Messrs. Beckett, Garrard, Hempson, Hitchcock, Orford, 

 and Cobbold Perry, had an interview with the committee on 

 the subject of the Malt Tax. Mr. Beckett, on the part of 

 the deputation, explained that a recent movement had been 

 made in Suffolk for the repeal of the IMalt Tax, that a num- 

 ber of petitions had already been signed, and that the present 

 was considered a very favourable opportunity for pressing the 

 question. Mr. Hempson and Mr. Hitchcock also dwelt upon 

 the unfairness of the duty, and the necessity for its abolition 

 The object of the deputation in asking this interview was to 

 endeavour to ascertain how far they might depend upon the 

 support of the members of the Central Farmers' Club in 

 the event of an Anti-Malt-tax Aasociation being re-estab- 

 lished. 



The committee, in order to give the whole body of mem- 

 bers an opportunity of expressing themselves, resolved to call 

 an extraordinary general meeting of the Club for this purpose. 

 It appearing that general meetings of the Royal Agricultural 

 Society as well as of the Sraithfield Club would be held on 

 Tuesday the 22nd of May, it was determined to fix the club 

 meeting for the evening of the same day, at half-past six o'clock. 



BERKELEY AND THORNBURY 

 CULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 



AGRI- 



At the time when the Berkeley Vale Agricultural Associa- 

 tion was first proposed, it did not occur to the promoters of 

 the society that a local Farmers' Club on a small scale, com- 

 prising about nine parishes, was formed last year, under the 

 denomination of the Thorubury Farmers' Club, and that 

 ploughing matches were held in September. It has since 

 transpired that an exhibition of stock was contemplated to 

 take place sometime about Christmas next. The first propo- 

 sition of the Berkeley Vale Association was to include the 

 whole district from Gloucester to Bristol, a fine fertile vale, 

 bounded on one side by the river Severn, the capabilities of 

 which are great ; and, as new rays of light are constantly 

 shining on the science and practice of agriculture, they are 

 open to much advantageous development and improvement 

 Under these circumstances, Henry Howard, Esq., of Thoru- 

 bury Castle, and other influential landed proprietors in that 

 neighbourhood, considered that an amalgamation would be con- 

 ducive to the prosperity of both societies ; and an arrangement 

 which has been finally concluded upon the most satisfactory 

 and amicable terms. Annual exhibitions of stock will be held 

 alternately at Berkeley and Thornbury; and Sir Maurice 

 Berkeley, with his invariable consideration for the welfare of 

 the farming interest, has offered the use of his extensive and 

 newly-erected homestead for the purpose of holding the first 

 exhibition, which is to take place in October or November 

 next. Sir Maurice has also expressed his intention of giving 

 a special premium— a worthy example, which will probably be 



followed by many of the other wealthy landowners in the dis- 

 trict. Liberal premiums will be given from the funds of th3 

 society for cattle, sheep, horses, pigs, cheese, and roots ; also 

 prizes for deserving servants, for which the sum subscribed is 

 very ample. Ploughing matches will also take place, the time 

 of which is not yet decided, but it will probably be in the 

 month of September. One of the matches will be open to 

 public competition, as an inducement to experienced workmen 

 to exemplify their skill with implements of the most approved 

 construction. Discussion meetings will be held during the 

 winter months, alternately at Berkeley and Thornbury. 

 Many benefits aud advantages will spring forth from this 

 association. It cannot be denied that the march of improve- 

 ment iu dairy farming has not kept pace with other branches 

 of agriculture, Machinery and implements have been intro- 

 duced to a vast extent for the cultivation of arable land, but, 

 with the exception of Keevill's cheese-making apparatus, and 

 a recent invention to extract butter-milk, aud facilitate the 

 making up of butter, we know of nothing to mitigate the 

 labours of the farmer's wife whose attentions are devoied to 

 dairy management. 



TORRINGTON AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.— The 

 annual exhibition was held on May 18. The following is the 

 prize list:— Horses : Best thorough-bted stallion, £1 to 

 "Speed the Plough," the property of the Hon. Mark Rolle. 

 Best cart stallion, £2, to " King of the County," the pro- 

 perty of Mr. Thomas Pellow, of Okehampton. Best colt for 

 the saddle, £2, to Captain Arnold, of Iddesleigh. Best brood 

 mare, £2, to G. Braginton, Esq., of Torrington ; and for the 

 best cart brood marc, £2, to Mr. King, of Meeth. Cattle : 

 Best bull, £3, to Mr, Thomas Hooper, of Petrockstow ; 

 second, £2, to Mr. Turner, of Dowland. Best yearling bull 

 (premium given by T. II. Lake, Esq.), £2 2s. to Mr. Thomas 

 Norman, of Frithelstock ; second, £1 Is. to I^Ir. Richard 

 Balsdon, of Weatleigh, Best Devon breeding cow, £2, to 

 Mr. Thomas Snell, of Merton ; second, £1, to Mr. H. P. 

 Bouifant, of Petrockstow. Best heifer, not exceeding four 

 years old, £2, to Mr. H. P. Bonifant, of Petrock- 

 stow; second, £1, to Lord Clinton. Best heifer, not 

 exceeding two-aud-a-half years old, £2, to Mr. James 

 Kisdon, of Hartleigh, who likewise obtained the second 

 prize of £1 for a similar animal. Best heifer, not exceeding 

 one-and-a-half year old, £2, to Lord Clinton ; second, £1, to 

 Mr. W. Risdon, of Dolton. Sheep : Best ram, £2, to Mr. C. 

 Clement, of Alffington ; second, £1, to Mr. G. Andrew, of 

 Barkham. Best ram, two years old, £2, to Mr. C. Clement, 

 of Alwiugton. Best hogg ram, £2, to Lord Clinton ; second, 

 £1, to Mr. C. Clement, of Alwington. Best pen of six ewes 

 and lambs, £2, to Mr. J. B. Torr, of Weslleigh ; second, £1, 

 to Lord Clinton. Best pen of six ewe-hogs, £2, to Mr. 

 Thomas Norman, of Frithelstock; second, £1, to Lord 

 Clinton. Pigs : Best boar of the small breed, £2, to Mr. 

 John Penhale, of Buckland Brewer ; second, £1, to Lord 

 Clinton. Best sow of the small breed, £2, to Mr. W. Risdon, 

 ofDoIton, who was also awarded the second prize of £1. 

 Best boar of the large breed, £2, to Mr. John Luxton, of 

 Merton ; second, £1, to Mr. A. Clement, of Parkham. Best 

 BOW of the large breed, £2, to Mr. G. Andrew, of Parkham ; 

 second, £) , to Mr. T. Leo. of Sbebbear. 



