100 



THE FARxMER'S MAGAZINE. 



The toast was drunk with three timss three ; and, 



The Chairman having responded, 



Mr. St. Quinton proposed "The Royal Agricultural 

 Society of England ; and success to Mr. Jonas Webb at 

 Salisbury ! " In introducing the toast, Mr. St. Quinton 

 observed that the sheep was not only necessary for the 

 food of man, but was also highly necessary for manuring 

 the soil. It was, therefore, a great gratiiication to those 

 gentlemen who lived in the district, that they had an 

 opportunity of witnessing the approbation which was so 

 deservedly accorded to Mr. Jonas Webb (applause). 



Mr. RiGDEN, who was called upon to respond to the 

 toast, said he should be a competitor witli Mr. Webb at 

 Salisbury ; and he naturally wished success to himself first 

 (laughter). The company knew him well enough, how- 

 ever, to be sure that nothing would give him greater plea- 

 sure than, after himself, to see his friend Mr. Webb suc- 

 cessful (applause). 



Mr. Parker Hammond proposed " The health of JMrs. 

 Webb, and the ladies," and, in the course of a rather dis- 

 cursive speech, observed that Mr. Webb appeared to have 

 looked upon the question which he had made his study in 

 an antiquarian point of view ; for he had always upheld 

 pnreness of pedigree in the Southdown, without adultera- 

 tion in the blood. The question appeared to have a two- 

 fold aspect— first, the importance of obtaining the greatest 

 possible amount of animal food to supply the 28,000,000 

 inhabitants of these realms (a Copenhagen Fields view of 

 the matter) ; and, secondly, the importance of obtaining the 

 utmost possible fineness of fibre in the fleece, and securing 

 a sure and certain home-supply of wool for our woollenS) 

 worsteds, and broadcloths. Mr. Webb's success was appre- 

 ciated not only by the farmers of the district, but by the 

 home county of the Southdown, amidst the breezy downs 

 which girded the white-cliifed shores of England. Mr. 

 Webb's success was also appreciated by the consuming 

 classes, by the great nation of France— now, happilj--, on 

 terms of alliance with us— and by our kindred across the 

 Atlantic (applause). 



" The strangers" (cheers). 



Mr. R. Scott Skerving responded, and observed that as 

 Scotchmen were generally found in all parts of the world, 

 they ought certainly to be found at Mr. Webb's annual 

 gathering. He trusted that Mr. Webb would come to Scot- 

 land, for his name was a "household word" wherever the cul- 

 tivation of the flocks was well attended to. The Southdown 

 might almost be said to be an exotic in Scotland ; but the 

 Council of the local society of East Lothian had just placed 



it on En equal footing with the Leiceiter, which had al^vsya 

 been accounted a pre-eminent sheep. He did not mean to say 

 that the Southdown was better fitted for Scotlanl thaa the 

 Leicester, because there were laaDy districts in which the 

 Leicester ought to retain its pre-eminence ; but he thought 

 that even in far distant Scotland the Southdown might attain 

 a greater degree of perfection. He should carry back to the 

 agriculturists of East Lothian much to induce them to accept 

 Mr. Webb's hospitality on future occasions (applau e). 



" The health of Mr. Lindsey, the hirer of the highest- 

 priced ram" (cheers). 



"Our pest merry meeting" (applause). 



"The health of Mr. Wyune, M.P. for Meriontihshire" 

 (cheers). 



Mr. Wynne, MP., in returning thanks, said he came from 

 one of the wildest and most mouiitahnus districts in the 

 kingdom, and he wished they had such a breed of sheep as he 

 had seen during the day. Half of the sum for which Mr. 

 AVebb's l.eat tup had let would purcliase nearly a flock of the 

 sheep of Merionethshire (huighter). They liad been very 

 backwBrd in their ap;ricult!ire ; but he hoped the time woidd 

 come when as good shetp and as good farmers would be seen 

 in Merionethshire as in the county of Cambridge (applanse). 



The Chairman gave the health of Mr. Watley, who, he 

 observed, had some claims upon the agriculturists of Cam- 

 bridgeshire, Es he took a large quantity of their wheat and 

 barley off their hands (applause). 



Mr. Watley responded, and observed that the high cha- 

 racter of the produce of Cambridsreshire would always render 

 it acceptable to those who were, like himself, engaged in com- 

 mercial pursuits. It was to be desired, however, that they 

 should have a little more of the really native produce, and not 

 quite so much artificial. 



The company then left the tables, and proceeded to partake 

 of tea and coITee. A large number subsequently remained in 

 the grounds, probably to drive a few more bargains with Mr. 

 Webb. 



The following comparative statement shows the number of 



rams let at the public auction; aad the average price realized, 



since 1852 : — 



Number let. Average price. 



£ s. d. 



1852 69 22 3 1 



1853 71 22 6 3 



1854 75 25 4 3 



1855 77 25 15 2 



1856 77 33 1 U 



1857 65 27 17 7*- 



PATENTED AGRICULTURAL INVENTIONS. 



Of the numerous evidences nov7 surrounding us of 

 the high station to which the science of agriculture has 

 attained, not the least striking and gratifying is, the at- 

 tention given to it by men of science — our chemists, en- 

 gineers, and mechanics — in order to aid its progress 

 and develop its resources. Not far distant is the time 

 when a state of matters the very reverse of this existed : 

 agriculturists were then charged, and to a considerable 

 extent justly so, with an indifference which resisted all 

 progress, and treated with scorn all innovations. Car- 

 rying on their calling as if it was based upon hap-hazard 



conjectures rather than upon sound principles, they 

 sneered at the offers which science made to aid them in 

 their operations, and viewed with general incredulity 

 all the advantages she proposed to bestow. No wonder, 

 then, that men of science returned this contempt with 

 studied carelessness, and cared little— to use the words 

 of one who was always slow to censure, quick to praise- 

 to work for those who held " all science in contempt," 

 and who showed themselves so " little grateful for any 

 attempts to instruct them." Happily all this is 

 changed, and the few — how few, let the records of agri- 



