202 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



(Hear, hear.) He was thankful to say that the year 1860 was 

 among the past ; but it might have been teat to show us that, 

 whoever might plant and water, we were not to forget that it 

 was God who gave the increase. If British agriculturists wanted 

 to enter into competition with foreigners, they must endeavour 

 to increase their productions. This would, of course, require 

 increased powers of production, and it was for the British 

 farmer to ascertain whether manual labour, borae, or steam 

 power, was the moat economical ? 



Mr. J. Sanderson (Westminster) said, in reference to 

 past agriculture, I agree with Mr. Mechi's views, for no doubt 

 great allowance must be made for the mauy disadvantages 

 with which the past cultivator of the soil had to contend. 

 All those discoveries, indeed, which hare given such an im- 

 pulse to agriculture during the last 25 years, were, up till the 

 commencement of the present century, unknown. There was 

 no railway accommodation ; the use of artificial manures was 

 not known ; Smith of Deanston had not discovered that sys- 

 tem of drainage which brought in a new era in agriculture ; 

 while the then state of agricultural implements was as much 

 inferior to the general condition of agriculture, as the present 

 state of agricultural machicery is superior to the general con- 

 dition of agriculture now. It is a matter for praise, too, to 

 past cultivators, as it is a stigma on the farmer of the present 

 day, that in all upland districts there is much land, which has 

 formerly been cultivated, now lying waste. At the present 

 time agriculture, in several departments, is making rapid pro- 

 gress. Farmers, availing themselves of the aids proffered by 

 science, and, what is better, of their own field experiments, are 

 acquiring a correct knowledge of those manures beat adapted 

 to different soils ; the area under turnips, the successful culti- 

 vat'on of which is the basis of successful farming, is being 

 rapidly extended; sheep, the best fertilizers of light soils, are 

 gradually taking a more prominent place in rural economy ; 

 the practice of summer fallowing is being abandoned, and spring 

 culture, hitherto regarded so essential for the turnip crop, is now 

 known to be injurious, and will eventually be done away. The 

 increasing use, too, of artificial foods and manures is a favourable 

 sign of present agriculture ; and {I need not epeak of the 

 rapid advances being made in agricultural machinery, for the 

 success of the reaping machine is now an historical fact, while 

 that of the steam cultivator has exceeded the most sanguine 

 anticipation. But present agriculture has its dsrk as well as 

 its bright side. It is a reproach to the nation that one-fifth of 

 the land available for cultivation has yet to be brought under 

 the subjugation of the plough. In cultivated districts a large 

 area is rendered valueless by small enclosures, irregular fences, 

 and an over-abundance of isolated trees. As regards drain- 

 age, there is no doubt a laudable movement for river reform, 

 and the deepening of water-courses, but it must be admitted 

 that in every county in England there are thousands of acres 

 of wet land still undrained, which in fall and out-fall presents 

 every facility for efficient drainage. In the county of Middle- 

 sex, where the highest farming might be looked for, as it sur- 

 rounds the world's metropolis, a person may travel miles before 

 he sees a single drained field, although the land is of an un- 

 dulating character, and of the wettest description. The use 

 of lime, too — the best pulveriser of clay soils^is in several 

 districts practically unknown. Turnip culture is only imper- 

 fectly understood in some districts, or else why such miser- 

 able roots produced in wet as well as in dry seasons? But 

 without further enumerating present shortcomings in farming, 

 let it suflice to say that the area under good farming bears a 

 very small proportion to the area under bad farming. The 

 future of agriculture has therefore a wide field for improve- 

 ment. Farmers have, uo doubt, the power of narrowing the 

 limits of that field , but the greatest barriers to agricultural 

 progress are those over which farmers have no control, for so 

 long as the land laws — taken as a whole — are constituted as 

 they now are, so long will agriculture be under bondage. 

 Were the transfer of land simplified, and if long leases and 

 equitable covenants were universally granted, landowners 

 and farmers would be alike unfettered, their enterprise 

 would soon overcome every remaining barrier, and an impetus 

 would be given to British agriculture hitherto unequalled. 

 Long leases, especially, are essential to carry out extensive 

 improvements ; while the system of yearly tenancy, viewed in 

 itself,-is injurious to landowners, stifles the energies of the 

 farmer, and tends to lock up the resources of the soil, Much 

 has been said to-night about steam cultivators, and improving 

 our farin homesteads ; but what interest b«« a, farmer ia these, 



without security of occupation ? In Scotland the system of 

 yearly tenancy is unknown ; but there is, on a few estates, 

 what is equally injurious — short leases of seven and nine years' 

 duration ; and so marked is the difference of farming under 

 the short leases from that under the long leases, that any ex- 

 perienced agriculturist could, without a previous knowledge of 

 the circumstance, at once determine the line where long leases 

 commence and short leases end. The proper development of 

 the resources of the soil is therefore greatly influenced by the 

 restriction laws referred to— hence, the necessity of improving 

 those laws. The question is one which does not merely con- 

 cern the landowner and farmer : it is one in which the interests 

 of all classes are involved. Tte rapidly increasing consumption 

 of food, consequent on a rapidly increasing population, de- 

 mand the use of all available means to effect a corresponding 

 increase of produce. Probably not less than £30,000,000 will 

 be sent this year from this country to purchase bread food 

 from other lands ; and uo one will deny that, under a proper 

 system of agriculture, a large portion, if not all of that sum, 

 might be saved for the extension of native industry. The 

 subject only needs ventilation ; and I believe if a survey were 

 taken of the unimproved land and waste land — from whatever 

 cause — in each county, and a correct estimate formed thereon, 

 and widely circulated, of the loss this country sustains from 

 the preeent system of agriculture, it would lead to a relaxation 

 of our restrictive laws. I agree with Mr. Mechi as to agricul- 

 tural improvements being remunerative. Indeed, I never 

 knew a case where economical expenditure on land was not 

 eventually profitable; ou the contrary, I know several estates 

 on which a comparatively small outlay doubled their value in 

 a few years ; and to show that even large outlays in improving 

 adverse soils are remunerativs, I have only to refer to Mr. 

 Mechi, who has converted one of the most barren moors in 

 England into a farm which maintains as many sheep per acre, 

 produces as bulky grain and green crops as the most sanguine 

 farmer would wish for on a naturally fertile soil. 



The Chairman said he had a remark to make in reference 

 to what bad fallen from the last speaker. Some years ago, when 

 the late Mr. Pusey and Mr. Colman, representative of the 

 United States, made a toor of the United Kingdom, and 

 wished to ascertain which was the best-farmed district, they 

 came to the conclusion that that of North Lincolnshire was 

 preferable even to the Lothians. In Lincolnshire, farmers 

 generally had no leases, and never asked for any (Hear, hear.) 



Alderman Mechi then replied. Mr. Dobito had, he re- 

 marked, asked him what authority he had for saying that only 

 one-tenth of the population was employed in agriculture. He 

 would refer him to Mr. James Caird's book. It was there 

 stated that the proportion was 10 per cent., and was gradually 

 decreasing ; and he believed the author was right. Nothing 

 that had fallen from any of the speakers that evening had at all 

 shaken bis opinion, that in view of the future they must use 

 more steam, invest more capital, obtain covered yards, plough 

 deep, and have greater security of tenure. 



On the motion of Mr, James Howard, seconded by Lord 

 Berners, thanks were voted to Alderman Mechi for his paper ; 

 and a similar compliment having, on the motion of Mr. J. 

 Williams, seconded by Mr. Nockolds, been paid to the chair- 

 man, the proceedings terminated. 



NEW MEMBERS. 

 The following gentlemen have been elected membei's— at the 

 January meeting of the committee : — 

 J. B. Brown, 18, Cannon -street. City. 

 J. F. Fordham, Sandon, Herts. 

 J. R. Howdeu, 11, Chesterfield-street, Argyle-square. 

 J. Carter Jonas, St. Mary's-street, Cambridge. 



E. T. Kensington, Moolham, Ilminster. 

 R. Sibley, Ammables Farm, Luton. 



K. Solly, Mundon Hall, Maldou. 

 J. Trask, Highleaze, Yeovil. 



F. Twynham, AUington, Bishopstoke. 

 I. Villar, Charlton-Kings, Cheltenham. 



At the February meeting :— 

 E. Hales, North Frith, Hadlow. 

 J. G. Hobson, Long Sutton, Wisbeach. 

 I. T. Lawrence, Causton, Rugby. 

 C. Neame, Copton, Faversham. 

 J. Rigg, 4, Chester-place, Hyde Park-squsre. 

 H. E.Stanley, 43, Hemingford- terrace, east, BarnsburyPsrk, 



