42 
THE . AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 
and other dung, to be made into a pie that day ; and 
this is repeated every fortnight. The horse, cow, and 
pig dung are better mixed together, layer and layer, 
which prevents the former from fire-fanging. You saw 
a midden in my yard which measured above a 100 
tons, and that was made in less than four months from 
eight cows, which were in the house half the day, eight 
horses, which are a good deal at Grass in summer 
(except the carriage horses), and the six pigs. 
3d. When we have urine to spare we put it on dry 
moss under cover till it will imbibe no more; this is 
turned in about two months, and if allowed to lie for 
some time becomes a rich manure. We have also 
several necessaries; the night soil is received into 
wooden boxes on four small wheels, and these are 
. cleared out at certain times and mixed with moss, at 
the rate of ten of moss to one of the other. Moss is 
always put into the bottom: of the boxes after they are 
emptied, which saves the urine, and the boxes should 
be so fitted that not a drop of this is lost. You may 
think all this expensive, but if you have an orra man 
he ean do these jobs as he has time. We lose nothing 
that will ferment—road and ditch serapings, hedge 
seourings, weeds (not in seed), sawdust, brackens, 
rushes, leaves, cabbage and kail stocks, &c., &c. The 
lowest part of the peat moss is the richest—what is at 
the top is apt to produce ehickweed—and it should be 
compounded with lime. 
4th. We have several eesspools for collecting the 
urine, which otherwise would be lost. There are drains 
through the cattle yard and round the walls inside, which 
lodge in the cesspool, and when one is full, what runs 
over goes into another, and so does the stable and byre 
urine, and the soapsuds from the washing house. Even 
the greasy water, &c., from the kitchen should be col- 
lected, and if thrown on moss will add to the dunghill. 
My land, which was poor a few years ago, is now in good 
heart ; and the field of Oats I showed you near the 
house produced 758 stooks on seven Scotch acres. 
In land that will not hold water, 
nk require to be built with ashlar, 
bedded on and pointed with Roman cement. and sand, 
paved with square jointed flags, and pointed with the 
same material. If the tank is to be covered, the best 
and cheapest covering is a flat brick arch. A tank 
measuring 12 cubic yards in the interior will hold 2,000 
gallons of liquor. Assuming it to be built 1 yard in 
depth, 4 yards long, and 3 wide, it will eost, exclusive 
of exeavating the earth and earriage of materials, as 
under, vi: 
126 
feet, building sides and ends, at 9d. 
£414 06 
s pavement, at-4s. i58 
, at.2s. 9d, 
quare 
700 bricks for 
Building.arch, 
£811 9 
Tanks ean be built in retentive clay -soils for about 
half the above, as rubble building is sufficient. An open 
tank may be made, too, to throw moss and urine into, 
and thus save an arch, but it must beunder a shed. If 
you put a dead horse or cow against.a wall, and cover it 
with 10 tons of peat moss, it will make that quantity of 
manure in 18 months ; but it must be turned some time 
before using, 
RICHMONDSHIRE FARMERS’ CLUB. 
I wave read with considerable interest the remarks 
on Farmers’ Clubs which appeared in your Leading 
Article on Dec. 27. Feeling a deep conviction that 
these diseussional societies, when properly conducted, 
are the best institutions ever devised for the improve- 
ment of practical farmers, I learn with regret your 
opinion that they have hitherto been generally short- 
lived societies. 
Perhaps it would be presumption in me to say our 
Farmers’ Club here belongs to the class you deseribe 
as “existing in well-cultivated districts, where the oc- 
eupiers of land are an intelligent class of men, who 
know the importance of inter-communieation on agri- 
eultural topies, and the advantage of an acquaintance 
with the theory of their art, and who therefore unite 
together to diseuss points of farm practice, or to hear 
hired leeturers illustrate the teachings of agrieultural 
chemistry or geology ;” still as our Society seems to go 
on prosperously, a few particulars respecting its rise 
and progress may be acceptable to some of your 
readers. 
The Club was commenced in 1841 by Mr. Jaques, an 
extensive landowner, assisted ‘by five leading agricul- 
turists in the neighbourhood ; the object being “ to es- 
tablish a library and reading room, and to discuss 
various questions ted with agricul 3d 
rapidly grew into favour, and has -received not only the 
support of the proprietors and farmers of the district, 
but nearly all the respeetable inhabitants of the town 
are now regular subscribers. The meetings for discus- 
sion are held monthly ; they are generally well attended, 
and the proceedings are eonducted in the most orderly 
manner. 
The affairs of the club are managed by a president, 
vice-president, committee of nine members, secretary, 
collector, treasurer, and librarian. The annual sub- 
scription is 5s., and we have now more than 300 
members. For the advantage of persons living at 
a distance from the town, the monthly meetings 
are held on the Thursday nearest to the full moon. 
On the members assembling, the chair is taken by 
the president, or, in his absence, by the vice-presi- 
dent; the seeretary proceeds to insert the names of the 
members present in the minute-book, and while he is 
doing this the chairman inquires if any member has a 
= 
= 
subject which he wishes to hear discussed at a future 
meeting ; if there is no reply, the committee suggest 
two or three subjects, and the selection is decided by 
vote. New members are next proposed, aud then the 
secretary reads over the minutes of the preceding 
meeting. 
The person who has to introduce the subject for the 
evening is then called upon, and the discussion begins. 
No person is allowed to interrupt the speaker ; and on 
his sitting down, the chairman asks each member in 
succession, beginning with the one on his left hand, to 
deliver his sentiments on the subject. Some decline ; 
others content themselves with asking a question ; and 
many speak on the subject generally. After all the 
members have been asked to give their opinion, the 
secretary and chairman usually speak, and then the 
person who introduced the subject has the privilege of 
making any additional observations, or answering any 
of the questions or objections of the speakers who had 
followed him. The remarks made by the respective 
members are taken down at the time they are spoken 5 
and although I do not use short-hand, yet, writing with 
tolerable rapidity, I find little difficulty in getting the 
meaning, though perhaps not always the exact words of 
each speaker. 
o smoking or drinking is allowed during the meet- 
ing; political subjects or allusions are prohibited, and 
the whole of the proceedings are conducted with great 
regularity. When the Club was first formed, many 
valuable books were presented to the library by Mr. 
Jaques, the Earl of Zetland, Col. Arden, Mr. Dundas, 
Mr. Ridley Colborne, and other friends to the Insti- 
tution, and the room now contains nearly all the 
standard works on Agriculture, Chemistry and Geology. 
As our funds increase, works on general literature will 
be added. 
On the Library table paper and materials for writing 
are placed for the dation of subseril an 
the following papers and periodicals are regularly 
taken, wiz., the daily “Times,” the “ Gardeners’ 
Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette,” the “ Mark Lane 
Express,” the ** Yorkshireman,” the ‘ Yorkshire 
Gazette," ‘Chambers’ Journal,” the: * Mechanic's 
Magazine,” the ** Farmers’ Magazine,” the “ Journal of 
the. Royal Agricultural Society of England," the 
* Transactions of Highland and Agricultural Society of 
Scotland,” the “Transactions of the Yorkshire Agri- 
cultural Society.” 
"These few remarks may give a general notion of our 
Club, and its mode of proceeding. Thus far we have 
seen no signs of lukewarmness in our members, and I 
cannot but hope that an institution affecting interests 
so valuable to all the community will continue to re- 
ceive the countenance and support of all good men.— 
H.J. Turner, Sec. 
C—— FARMERS’ CLUB. 
Our Society was not originally intended to embrace 
more than the farmers of the C parishes, and, 
at first, consisted only of .some of the tenants on 
my estate, and on the adjacent one of Sir T. D. A. 
A few other members have joined it since, It was 
founded in October, 1842. ‘The members met twice 
monthly, until the end of April, 1843, when we con- 
sidered that our season terminated, Similar meetings 
were held during the seasons 1843-4, and 1844-5. 
Our days of meeting are the first and third Fridays of 
each month. There are generally from 12 to 20 mem- 
bers' present; I remain at the meeting until half-past 
7, when I retire with any friends who may have ac- 
companied me ; and I am assured that the half-hour, 
or hour, which the members pass together after our 
departure, when their conversation on {the subject of 
discussion is perhaps less constrained, is by no means 
the least useful portion of the time that they ,pass in 
each others’ company. ‘The agricultural experience of 
the members is by no means confined to our own 
locality. One of them farmed during many years in 
Ireland, and then near Northampton. The Rev. J. I. 
gives us information that he acquired in the county 
Donegal, and at a curacy in Wiltshire, One of our 
young farmers is the son of a considerable landholder 
in Northamptonshire ; another accompanied me to 
Scotland in 1843, and passed six weeks among the 
Lothian farmers; and Mr. F., my steward, brings ‘to 
our meetings the information gained by long residence 
as an agricultural agent in East Lothian, matured by 
nine years’ experience here, and by diligent reading 
and study on agricultural subjects. I must confess 
myself the least informed of the whole party ; so I have 
the most to learn, and at every meeting I hear something 
new to me. During the first year there was a good 
deal of backwardness among the farmers in delivering 
their opinions. They now state what they have to say 
with more ease, and a subject is often discussed, and 
very opposite opinions are stated and maintained, with 
much point and apposite illustration. The members of 
the club seem quite to enter into the spirit in which 
our proceedings ought to be carried on. e hav 
obtained many a valuable and awakening fillip from th 
visits of experienced and scientific friends, who have 
been good enough to attend our meetings. Mr. P., 
of Bedfordshire; Mr. C., of M—— ; Dr. Buckland, 
Dr. Daubeny, and Mr. Pusey, The presence of 
such friends has done us real service. Under Dr. 
aubeny's direction, I made an experiment in 1844 with 
16 different manures, including the phosphorite which 
he had brought from Estremadura. Owing to the 
remarkable dryness of the season, the experiment failed; 
e 
6 
but we trenehed the plots with great care, and I have | present year. 
just now forwarded to Dr. Daubeny the result of the 
experiments on the erop of this year. 
The Society derives great advantage from the inte- 
rest which our rector, the Rev. W. R. F., takes 
in its proceedings, He always attends when he can, 
and, though not an experienced agriculturist, the in- 
telligent and close attention that he bestows on the 
subjects under discussion, renders his presence invalu- 
able to us. He takes notes of what passes at each 
meeting, and I know that he is of opinion, that our 
meetings aid in strengthening amongst us friendly and 
kindly feelings, and a social intimacy that have a highly 
beneficial effect. You may be disposed to inquire 
whether we yet see any agricultural improvement con- 
sequent on the establishment of our Society? I should 
confidently reply in the affirmative. During ten years 
I have myself used only two-horse swing ploughs, and 
single horse-earts. I have been husbanding my liquid 
manure.  [ have diminished the size of my hedge- 
rows ; I have brought six Clydesdale horses from Scot- ' 
land ; and I have devoted a limited sum annually to the 
thorough drainage of my land. The advantage of these 
and other changes has been freely diseussed at our 
meetings, and I have great pleasure in saying, that I 
think prejudice is fast yielding before the manifest ad- 
vantages which improved practice, founded on scientific 
deduction, has introduced on land in my own occupation. 
I believe that many a farmer, who would reject a 
change of system when urged directly to himself, will 
gradually try and adopt it-when he hears it explained 
nd led, and the objecti to it stated and 
met in discussion at a social meeting like ours. With- 
out the necessity of confessing that he has hitherto been 
in error, he is thus converted into an advocate, and an 
example of improvement, may also remark, that a 
farmer strongly advocating any system, whether old or 
new, is stimulated to prove its excellenee by inereased 
skill and diligence. I am able to devote only a ver 
moderate sum to improvements ; but I am convinced 
that whatever facilities T may offer to my tenants, they 
will readily avail themselves of. I do not think that I 
could have said as much formerly ; and this is a. ehange 
which I attribute mainly to the effect of our farmers" 
meetings. » 
E 
I must add, that our improvements are in great mea- 
sure due to the prudent conduct by which my steward 
has conciliated not only the respect of the farmers, but 
the obedience and confidence of the labourers, Had 
he come among them in an overbearing spirit, contrast- 
ing the agricultural skill and labour, to which he was 
accustomed in East Lothian, with what he finds here, 
his knowledge would not have availed, and his influence 
would have been nothing. But he has had the good 
sense to make the best of what he found amongst us. 
Had he wished to introduce a ploughman or a few 
labourers from Scotland, I should not have objected. 
But he wisely preferred improving the labourers here, 
and I am now certain that any plan which he might 
suggest to them, or any agricultural machine that he 
might introduce, would receive the best efforts to render 
it suecessful of labourers, who, 10 years ago, would 
have regarded any such novelty with an ill will and a 
jealousy which would have ensured its failure, My 
object is to improve, as much as I can afford it, the 
farm houses and buildings on my estate ; to keep down 
the quantity of game, so that it shall not injure the 
farmers’ erops, nor hold out an inducement to the 
labourers to poach; to elevate the intelligence and 
character both of my tenants and the labourin opu- 
lation ; aud then to offer to each skilful and trustworthy 
tenant, who bas eapital to do justice to the land, a long 
lease ; being convinced, that without a certain perma- 
nence of tenure on the part of the farmer, the eapitalists 
of this country will never be indueed to embark their 
abundant capital in the cultivation of the soil. May I, 
without entering at length into this subject, be allowed 
here to state my strong opinion, that if the cultivators 
of the soi! were such, and so circumstanced, as I have 
endeavoured to describe, and if they were liberated 
from the burdens now peculiarly incident to land, 
capitalists would find no safer investment for their 
money than by advancing it to farmers ; and farmers 
would have every chance and inducement to do the 
duties attendant on their healthful and happy profession 
in the mode the most remunerating to themselves, and 
the most beneficial both to their landlords, to their 
labourers, and to the whole community—the whole 
community—for all our national interests are indis- 
solubly linked together, and we are far the best cus- 
tomers of the manufacturers, as they are of the agri- 
culturists. I adda list of some .of the subjects which 
at different times our club has discussed. : 
Clay soils ; their culti 
uration of the germi 
ales on which w) 
sively cultivated. 
Soils and subsoils of this district, and the manures most 
applicable to them. 
Breed and management of pigs best adapted to this district, 
itto sheep, cattle, and hors 
The best winter food for beasts, 
The effect of warmth on cattle during the winter, 
The best means of preparing the soil of Claydon.for green 
ion and improvement, 
ng principle in Se 
and green crops should be succes- 
B. 
crops. 
The preparation of the land for Wheat. 
Ditto Beans. 
The C. Farmers’ Club possesses Von Thüer's 
“Principles of Agriculture,” presented by Mr. Shaw,’ 
the Gardeners’? Chronicle, of three years previous 
to the present, bound up, and it will soon have the Gar- 
deners Chronicle and Agricultural. Gazette of the 
We take in the “ Farmers’ Magazine,” 
