2X8 WESTMORLAND AGRICULTURE. 1800-1900 



In 1874 Lord Bective gave, through the Society, the first of a 

 series of prizes for essays on agricultural subjects, fifty guineas being 

 awarded to the winner. The subject for the first essay was " Farm 

 management in the Kendal and Lonsdale Wards and the Parish of 

 Orton." The winner was Richard Taylor of New House, who was 

 selected out of ten competitors. In the following year the same 

 subject was selected for the competition, but restricted to the 

 " East and West Wards." The first prize, £40, was taken by J. C. 

 Boustead of Hackthorpe Hall. There were only three competitors. 

 In 1876 the prize was for the best essay on the " Improvement of Waste 

 Land," £40, the first prize going to Wm. Cottam of Foulshaw and the 

 second, £20, to A. B. Taylor of New House — only six essays were sent 

 in. The first prize in 1877 for the best essay on " The Profitable 

 Management of Grass Land " was awarded to John Garnett, Border 

 Side, Wyresdale, and the second to John Noble of Helsington. In 

 1878 the first prize, £40, for the best essay on " Breeding and Rearing 

 of Cattle " in Westmorland was won by John Noble of Helsington 

 with A. B. Taylor second, £20, — the number of essayists in this 

 competition was five. 



At the entire horse show in March, 1880, the three classes were 

 for (i) thoroughbreds, (2) horses for getting Hackneys, and (3) cart 

 horses. Owing to the discussion on wool, which was raised through 

 a paper read by J. E. Hargreaves at the Farmers' Club, prizes were 

 offered in seven classes for wool at the show in 1881. In the following 

 year there were 10 classes for wool, the prizes in each being, first £5, 

 second £2 los. ; but so poor was the competition that there were no 

 entries in five of the classes, one entry each in two others, and nine 

 entries in the other three together. With such indifference, it is not 

 to be wondered that the committee withdrew the prizes in the following 

 year. J. Swainson resigned the secretaryship in 1884, and Hoggarth 

 Bros, were appointed in his place at a salary of £25 per annum, 

 which was raised to £30 in 1886, in which year the balance in favour 

 of the Society was £124 ; by 18S8 this had been increased to £186, 

 in addition to a reserve fund of £100. 



Between the seventies and the eighties the chief winners at the shows 

 were : Shorthorns, Wm. Handley, Greenhead ; Boustead, Hackthorpe ; 

 and J. Morton of Skelsmergh Hall. Leicester sheep. Cock of Coat 



