104 



THE FARMER'S MACiAZINE. 



proof of tke disinterested spirit by which Mr. Richard- 

 son had been actuated in carrying forward this ex- 

 periment than the two very beautiful cups now before 

 him. It would be remembered that Mr. llichardson's 

 original oiler was two prize cups of the value of <t'.j each ; 

 that was, one cup for the best acre and a-half of common 

 turnips, and one for the best two acres of Swedish turnips. 

 But in order to prove beyond all shadow of doubt that he 

 was actuated by no selfish motive, Mr. Richardson had far 

 exceeded his original offer, and had also, in addition to the 

 two cups, given a handsome silver tankard to the Phospho- 

 Peruvian Guano Company ; so that, instead of the two 

 prizes of the money value of £10, as origin.iUy offered, JMr. 

 Richardson had expended not less than £30. That, he (the 

 Chairman) thought did not look very much like an interested 

 motive. And besides that, he could bear personal testimony 

 to the very great trouble Mr. Richardson had taken in this 

 experiment, in order that it might be brought to a satisfac- 

 tory conclusion. Mr. Richardson had been most pains- 

 taking in the matter, and had spared neither trouble nor ex- 

 pense. He (the Chairman) for one would not undergo the 

 trouble and annoyance with which this experiment had 

 been attended for double the amount of cost of manuring 

 20 or 30 acres of land. Bat they all, as farmers, were 

 deeply indebted to Mr. Richardson for having come forward 

 to try this experiment. They all well knew that since the 

 introduction of a large number of artificial manures a search- 

 ing and honest test was urgently required. That test had, 

 he conscientiously believed, been applied in the case of the 

 Hibaldstowe experiment. It had been tried on land ex- 

 hausted by cropping, and that was the proper way to do it; 

 for it would be of no use whatever to go upon land in a high 

 state of cultivation. But however exhausted the land was, 

 he must give his friend Mr; Richardson the credit that it 

 was perfectly clear of twitch and filth. AU such experi- 

 ments must be attended by a large amount of trouble to the 

 person who undertook to carry them out, as he had already 

 intimated ; and he (the Chairman) could assure that not for 

 a much greater inducement would be be tempted to undergo 

 what Mr. Richardson had done. With regard to the ob- 

 jections raised as to the manner in which the experiments 

 had been carried out, he would remark that ever since 

 guanos, &c., were introduced into this countrj', they had 

 wanted a sound test as to their respective merits ; and with 

 a view of accomplishiug, in some tceasure, this desirable end, 

 the experiments in question had been set on foot. And in 

 conducting these experiments they did not want land in a 

 high state of cultivation, but the reverse; for the manures to 

 be tested should be divested of all helps in every shape. Ex- 

 periments made with artificial manures, assisted with farm- 

 yard manure, &c , were no experiments at all. The Hibald- 

 stowe experiments, as bringing into play the iutrinaic value of 

 the various manures, he looked upon as one of the best tests 

 that had been carried out in this country for many years ; he, 

 in fact, had never heard of anything like it. He had long 

 wished to see the matter taken up as it required to be, but he 

 had wished in vain until Mr. R. came forward. He thought, 

 therefore, they would agree with him in thinking that 

 they were greatly indebted to that gentleman ; and looking at 

 the character of the judges, and the open manner in which the 

 competition had been conducted, he believed there could be no 

 charge of partiality or favouritism. In concluding his obser- 

 vations, the speaker, iu presenting the cups, addressed a few 

 highly eulogistic remarks to Mr. Horner, and urged him to go 

 on in his endeavours to produce a good article, and in tlie end, 

 he had no doubt, he would find for it an abundant sale. Be- 



fore sitting down, however, he reminded manufacturers of 

 manure that now that farming produce was so low in price, 

 they must do their beat to meet the somewhat, in consequence 

 of these low prices, reduced means of the farmers. The Chair- 

 man then alluded to the advantages to the agriculturist de- 

 rived from a judicious outlay of money in the cultivation, and 

 concluded by giving the health of Mr. Horner, the successful 

 competitor in the Hibaldstowe experiment (cheers). 



Mr.HoRNER,on rising to respond, said: It has always been 

 my wish and desire from the very commencement of this 

 experiment to see it carried out on the broadest principles 

 possible, to have every well-known good manure in the contest, 

 not even omitting bones dissolved or undissolved, Peruvian 

 guano, farm-yard manure, &c. ; and it is satisfactory to know I 

 have stood the contest honourably and faithfully with all 

 these, and have been tested and weighed in the analytical 

 scale of Dr. Voelcker, and am happy to say, not " found 

 wanting." On these grounds, gentlemen, I conscientiously feel 

 I am duly entitled to these two cups which have been so fairly 

 and impartially awarded by our honourable judges, the first 

 cup being for the heaviest and best one and a half acres of 

 common turnips grown with Odam's manures, and the second 

 cup being for the best and heaviest two acres of swedes grown 

 with the Phospho-Peruvian guano. Gentlemen — The supe- 

 riority of my manures have this day gained me a proud position 

 in placiug me as the successful competitor in both experi- 

 ments, and what still adds greater weight and importance to 

 this glorious success, is the honour, gentlemen — the diatin- 

 gnished honour of having these two prize cups presented by 

 our noble chairman at this the renowned Brigg ordinary, 

 which I consider second to none in intelligence, wealth, and 

 good-fellowship. Now, gentlemen, let me tender my wannest 

 thanks to Mr. Richardson for these two munificent gifts, and 

 more particularly when I must know he has exceeded, far ex- 

 ceeded the limits of the prize advertised ; but this, gentlemen, 

 only accords with his usual liberality, and I am quite sure I 

 shall only be echoing the sentiments of my brother-compe- 

 titors, when I say we have during this experiment been most 

 handsomely and most courteously received at his house, for 

 which myself and brother-competitors feel we owe a debt of 

 gratitude. Gentlemen, the great and main thing in this paper 

 warfare that has been assailed and impugned on the character 

 of Mr. Richardson, is that this experiment has been a mer- 

 cenary scheme ; this I deny in toto, and if it has been a scheme 

 at all, it has been an honourable scheme of my own, which I 

 can very well explain. It is now some nine months ago when 

 I entered this room almost a perfect stranger, not even knowing 

 Mr. Richardson ; and finding that from the want of the merits 

 of my manures being better known, I could not do so much 

 business as I should like, I one day over this table, in conver- 

 sation with Mr. Richardson, Mr. Brown (of Appleby), Mr. 

 Hobson, and many other gentlemen, made this proposition to 

 Mr. Richardson — that I would give him one ton of each of my 

 manures, if he (Mr. Richardson) would give them a fair trial 

 by the side of bones, Gibbs' guano, farm-yard manure, &c. In 

 reply, Mr. Richardson said, " I tell you what I will do, I'll 

 throw open a 26-acre field next to my house for public com- 

 petition, and if you can grow swedes there you can grow them 

 anywhere ; the land has been heavily cropped and is perfectly 

 exhausted, and just the very piece to try the merits of your 

 manures." Mr. Brown fell in with the idea, and thought such 

 an experiment would be a very good thing. Mr. Hobson also, 

 with his usual cool, collected, and sound judgment, made these 

 remarks, and said, " We keep trying the various artificial 

 manures year after year on different soils — some- 

 times with farra-ysrl manure, or •omet'.iin^ else — and 



