518 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



blted by Mr. Guniey Hoare; bay mare, exhibited by Mr. 

 Giiruey Hoare ; bay gelding, exhibited by Mr. Gurney Hoare 



— Hi<jhhj commended. 



The speeches at the dinner, which took place at the 

 King's Arms Hotel, assumed rather a more practical 

 character than usual. The Chair was occupied by Si© 

 H. T. Stracy, one of the late members for East Norfolk, 

 who acted as the locum tcnens of Lord Suffield, the 

 President of the Association, " unable to attend in con- 

 sequence of a prior engagement." The head table was 

 well supported by representatives of the principal fami- 

 lies in the district, including Sir E, N. Buxton, M.P., 

 the Hon. Harbord Harbord, the Hon. W. R. Rous, 

 Capt. AYindham, R.N. (brother of Major-General 

 Windham), &c. &c. The rank and file of the company 

 included nearly 100 of the principal farmers of the 

 neighbourhood. 



The heroism of our troops in India, — the respect 

 due to Major-General Windham (who may be regarded 

 as the " speciality" of the neighbourhood, in which he 

 drew his first breath), — the county members, — the 

 Chairman, — and other topics, having been referred to at 

 full length in the " usual loyal and complimentary 

 toasts," 



The Chairman proposed the health of the Pre- 

 sident of the Association, Lord Suffield; and adverting 

 in the course of his observations to the superior turnips 

 produced by Mr. Cubitt, and the observations made on 

 a former occasion by that gentleman respecting them, 

 said : I remember at the last meeting Mr. Cubitt 

 told us that he dissolved his own bones, bought sul- 

 phuric acid, mixed them in proper proportions, and 

 produced the results which we all remember. Some 

 agriculturists like myself profited by the instructions he 

 gave. When I returned to Rack heath I called my 

 bailiff, and told him the exact proportions which 

 Mr. Cubitt stated. Our bones and sulphuric acid were 

 bought; I have at this time twelve acres of turnips, 

 treated according to Mr. Cubitt's recommendations, 

 and I believe the land never produced a better or larger 

 crop. 



The toast having been drunk with three times three, 

 and acknowledged by Mr. Windham Baking, 



Mr. MoTT proposed the "judges of stock," express- 

 ing a doubt whether animals artificially fatted could be 

 fairly put in competition with those fed on grass, hay, 

 or turnips. The attention of the judges should, he 

 thought, be drawn to size, symmetry, and aptitude to 

 fatten, more than to the artiiicial state of the animals 

 exhibited. 



Mr. GouLDER, in responding, said the judges had 

 gone through the show with much satisfaction, and 

 they had had some difficulty in awarding the pre- 

 miums, especially in the class of horses, in which 

 Lord Suffield offered a premium for a horse 

 combining the two qualities of being good for 

 hunting and for harness work. It was a very 

 rare thing for a horse to combinG both these qualities, 

 and he would ask the committee to request his Lordship 

 to divide the prize for a hunter and a harness horse. 



Mr. Gurney Hoake introduced to the meeting the 



" Successful exhibitors, coupling with the toast the 

 name of Mr. Beare" (applause). 



Mr. Beare, in responding, expressed his opinion 

 that some of the animals exhibited were of good quality, 

 and deserved the prizes awarded to them. He regretted 

 that the association had not more subscribers among the 

 tenant farmers, for it was well supported by the nobility 

 and gentry of the district. People might think that 

 they had good breeds of horses, and beautiful animals 

 which no one else could surpass ; but let them come to 

 the meetings of the society, place their stock side by 

 side with others, and its quality would then be tested. 

 West Norfolk and the Holkham estate seemed to be the 

 pride and boast of the county, and how long was this to 

 continue ? The farmers of East Norfolk had as good 

 land, and he hoped as much spirit ; and he looked for- 

 ward to the time when the eastern division would take 

 the lead. He could not forget the interesting lecture of 

 Mr. Cubitt, at the last meeting; first on education, 

 secondly on agricultural chemistry, and next on the 

 growth of turnips. He trusted that Mr. Cubitt would 

 not cast reflections on illiterate men, as 50 years since 

 poor people had not the same chance of education as they 

 enjoyed at the present day ; and he had known some 

 men who thought so much of their education and ac- 

 complishments, that they had forgotten half their busi- 

 ness (laughter and applause), and allowed some of the 

 unlearned people to step in and beat them. AVith re- 

 gard to the growth of turnips, and the manufacture of 

 manure, Mr. Cubitt said, last year, the farmers were 

 humbugged with artificial manures; but if they were, 

 they had only themselves to thank for it. They were 

 much benefited in the North Walsham district by 

 Lawes' manure, a genuine article, and also by Mr. 

 Smith's, of Bradfield. He (Mr. Beare) had tried those 

 manures, and he would back them against any other 

 taking the same course. Mr. Cubitt said last year that 

 farmers not only paid men to hoe their turnips, but also 

 to spoil their crops ; if, therefore, they paid proper at- 

 tention to the hoeing of turnips they might hope to get a 

 fortune as well as Mr. Cubitt (laughter). A good deal 

 had been said about artificial manures, but he believed 

 that taking them generally, they had been beneficial to 

 the crops. While the farmers were finding fault with 

 artificial manures, he would ask them whether they paid 

 attention to making their own manures ? He had seen 

 straw stacks rotting, which might be made into valuable 

 manure ; and he had seen the straw returned to the soil 

 in nearly the same state as when it was taken from it. 

 He made little use of artificial manure for the growth of 

 swedes beyond that which came from the bellies of his 

 beasts ; all his straw was well mixed, and by th's means 

 he grew heavy and good crops. He also carried very 

 few white turnips into his yard, as he considered there 

 v/as a great waste of the crop, and his was a farm which 

 required the hoofs of his beasts. By pressing the ground 

 close to the root of the clover he thought he got clovers 

 to stand the winter better, and the land came up stiff 

 for wheat. (Mr. Beare resumed his seat amid loud 

 cheers). 



Mr. Cubitt, whose health was ofterward? given in 



