THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



2S7 



so worded as to ensure the entry of the most valuable 

 horses, available for general use in the field and on the 

 road, it must command success in almost every district, 

 for all Englishmen love a horse, especially those of the 

 northern counties. Yet ever since the Royal Agricul- 

 tural Society first instituted this prize, the class has 

 been but a small one, owing to the fact that owners of 

 valuable horses are not to be tempted to send to a dis- 

 tance under a prize of i,'10O. The entries have there- 

 fore been generally restricted to those kept within easy 

 distance of the show. At Miildlesborougli the ex- 

 ample (which I am happy to see the Royal Agricul- 

 tural Society- intend to follow at the ensuing Leeds 

 meeting) of giving ^£'100 was a decided success, inas- 

 much as it brought together a show of fine horses. No 

 doubt it was won by the best, VoUirjeur, and jjossibli/ 

 (but this was a question) the second-best was The 

 Cure." But JVIr. Welby proceeds to make this mon- 

 strous suggestion : " This leads me to suggest that in 

 Class I. it should not be deemed absolutely necessary 

 that it should be for ' the best thoroughbred stallion, 

 but for the 'best stallion' for getting hunters, &c., 

 'pedigree being especially taken into consideration.' 

 I see, however, that the prize at Leeds is published for 

 the ' best thoroughbred stallion '; and though I doubt 

 not the quality shown will not be found in any way 

 deficient or unworthy of the ^100, yet it is on the 

 cards that a fine specimen of the high-bi'ed hunter 

 might be disqualified from competing by the insertion 

 of the word ' thoroughbred.' " Of course Mr. Welby 

 supports this view by certain arguments of his own 

 that we have not space to enter on here ; but we say 

 decisively against his recommendation that there is no 

 greater mistake than attempting to breed hunters by 

 half-bred horses out of half-bred marcs. It may tell 

 occasionally, but as a rule there is nothing so uncertain 

 as breeding from two cross-bred animals. It is the 

 very error, as Mr. Welby himself says further on, 

 that farmers have been too prone to commit — 

 that is patronizing " mongrels." In the course of 

 the year we make it our business to attend 

 all the agricultural shows of any importance, 

 where we have seen more than one highly-bred 

 " cocktail" disqualified after the prize had been 

 awarded him, simply on account of the stain ; while we 

 do not remember any meeting in England but where one 

 of the first conditions for a hunter-getting stallion is 

 that he should be thorough-bred, and we hope we 

 shall never see it otherwise. The Royal Agricultural 

 Society will only undo all they have ever done for im- 

 proving the breed of hunters, especially as bred by 

 farmers, when they act on Mr. Welby'srecommendation. 



We have dwelt here on that portion of the Journal 

 for which many exhibitors have been so long looking. 

 The more elaborate papers will require more study. 

 The part opens with a long semi-ofticial Report by Mr. 

 Rainals, the Vice-Consul at Copenhagen, on " The 

 Agriculture of Denmark," and it finishes with a digest 

 by M. Trehonnais, of Lavergne's *' Rural Economy 

 of France." Professor Voelcker supplies another of 

 his standard papers on " The Value of Foreign 



Phosphorites and Coprolites ;" Messrs. Lawes and 

 Gilbert enter with their customary energy on " The 

 Composition of Oxen, Sheep, and Pigs" ; and 

 Mr. Herbert supplies some further statistics 

 on the Supply of Live Stock and Dead Meat. The 

 Prize Essay of the number is by Professor Tanner, on 

 the Application of Manure ; and Mr. Frere centres his 

 strength in so seasonable a subject as " The present 

 Aspect of Steam Culture." Another article, by Mrt 

 Voelcker, on the Yellow Lupine; with one by Mr, 

 Heathorn on a Course of Cropping adopted in Kent, 

 make up the way-bill of what a correspondent 

 complains of as a coach terribly behind time. But 

 one word more on this now standing grievance. 

 On the same day we received the ncio half-yearly 

 number of the English Society's work, due at Christ- 

 mas last, and the quarterly part of the Highland So- 

 ciety's Journal, ready for March on the day it was 

 delivered. The great Scotch agricultural authority 

 also talks learnedly of horses, ancient and modern ; 

 but though he does us the honour to quote us, we can- 

 not compliment the writer on his treatment of so at- 

 tractive a subject. He sits him down to sing the 

 praises and make authority of " The Horse and his 

 Rider," by Sir Francis Head— one of the most signal 

 failures we know of. A book, in fact, that everybody 

 was ready to respect — till he read it. 



TEETOTAL PLOUGHING "DAYS." 



At Scales farm, near Richmond, Yorkshire, Mr. Wm. 

 Wilson (formerly of Skeeby) held a ploughing day on tiie 

 7th of February, on strictly teetotal principles. The men 

 had plenty of coliee and spice-bread at ten o'clock, at noon 

 a good dinner, and between three and four o'clock iu the 

 afternoon plenty of coffee and spice-bread. At Wharton, 

 within three miles of the above place, Mr. Harker held a 

 ploughing day en the same principles — no alcohol in any 

 shape, but plenty of coffee, plum pudding, and beef, and we 

 hear of few complaints ; of course there are some " thirsty 

 souls" who would like a beer-barrel in the field continually. 

 At Union House farm, near Skeeby, about two miles from 

 Richmond, R. M. .laques. Esq , of Easby Abbey, held a 

 ploughing day on Wednesday, March 13th, on the same 

 principles — no strong drink at all — coffee and spice-bread at 

 ten o'clock ; also just before dinner each ploughman and 

 driver was presented with a shilling each. At half-past 

 twelve at noon a first-rate dinner was served up by Mr. and 

 Mrs. Hall, Temperance Hotel, Richmond— splendid plum 

 puddings, first-rate beef, also coffee to drink after diuner. 

 Again at three o'clock come on bread and coffee, as before. 

 The men worked like men ; they appeared quite cheerful, 

 contented, and happy. We heard no profane swearing or 

 lewd jests, and the men are more likely to return home like 

 good fellows, and be fit for their regular work on the morrow. 

 If we mistake not, great credit is due to Mr. Wm. Wilson, 

 Mr. Harker, R, M. Jaques, Esq., also his worthy agent, 

 Mr. H. J. Turner, of Richmond, for their example by facing 

 the old custom of giving strong drink, which deceives men, 

 and makes the ploughman, as well as the gentleman, " not 

 wise." We were pleased with a remark from Mr. Turner 

 to this effect, that farmers generally sent to ploughing days 

 a valuable team, if they had one, sometimes worth £100, 

 The men are generally primed with drink on those occasions, 

 and the valuable team of horses are left to the charge of 

 a man who cannot take care of himself. We hope the day 

 is not far distant when all ploughing days wiH he conducted 

 on the same safe side, also aH other work, whether farming 

 or otherwise. A vast amount of trouble and vexation 

 would be prevented, to say nothing about the gain in 

 pounds, shilHngs, and pence in the long run. Let the men 

 be well treated, mix a little silver along with kmd usage, 

 and no one need to fear a teetotal ploughing day.— JiarcA 15. 



