8.—1846.] 
191 a 
IMPROVED DIBBLING MACHINE. 
OHN WEATHERSTONE begs to inform the Agri- 
cultural Public that his PATENT HORSE-DIBBLING 
MACHINE is now ready, whereby the greatest regularity may 
be insured in the deposition of all Seeds. A team of four horses 
will be found sufficient power to draw one of the largest size. 
rice of Machine, with six rows.... 
Ji eight rows . 
A ten rows. .. .. + 45 
for further parti rs may be made to Mr. JOHN 
WEATHERSTONE, Cassington, near Oxford; or to Messrs. Ginr 
and Warp, High-street, Oxford.—Agents wanted in all parts of 
country. 
The Agricultural Gazette, 
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1846. 
MEETINGS FOR THE TWO FOLLOWING WEEKS. 
Wzpwesbay, Feb. 25—Agricultural Society of England. 
J AY, di mS ioc. of Ireland, 
gricultural 8 of England, 
WaowzsAv, Mar. 4) Highland and Agricultural Society. 
TaURepAY, —Agricul:ural Imp. Soc. of Ireland. 
LOCAL SOCIETIES. 
Llandovery— Banffshire—Holderness—Shropham and Guilteross. 
FARMERs! CLUBS, 
Mar. 8—Watford 
— 4 
. 23 Wellington 
— "24—Nairnshire Monmout 
— 25—Newton — 6—Hawick—abergavenny 
— 25—Ottery St. Mary — 6—Debenham — ‘Hadleigh — 
— 297—Rhins of Galloway Claydon—St. Austoll— Lich- 
— 38—Hereford field 
Mar. 2—Moreton Hampstead — Dar- 7— Northampton — Melrose — 
lington—St. Columb— New- 
el 
Durham — Carlton-on-Treat 
Cardif- Collumpi 
—  8—8: Quivox—Jedburgh 
We have often of late directed attention to the 
establishment and support of Farmers’ CLUBS as 
among the most efficient means of exciting and 
diffusing an interest in the cause of agricultural im- 
provement ; but we have hitherto argued for them 
more on account of their obvious tendencies to those 
ends than on the ground of any definite facts or 
history in their favour. Let us, however, adduce a 
specific instance of the good which such societies 
are capable of doing; and it shall be one of an 
association which by the energy and perseverance 
of its members has laid not only its own district 
but the agricultural interest generally under great 
obligations. 
We lately asked: WHERE ARE Tur ScHoors 
ron Farmers’ Sons? ow, even though we 
overlook the Professorship in the Edinburgh Uni- 
versity, and the many agricultural schools in 
Treland, yet this question shall not be altogether 
without a satisfactory answer; and for this we 
have to thank the Fairford aud Cirencester Farmers’ 
Club, or, rather, Mr. Brown, the member of that 
society, by whom they were urged and led in the 
course which they adopted. 
On the 14th» of November, 1842, Mr. R. 
Brown, of Cirencester, in Gloucestershire, rea: 
before that society an address on the advantages of 
a specific education for agricultural pursuits, in 
which, after pointing out the importance of the 
subject, and the consequently shameful fact that 
this country is distinguished among all others by her 
neglect of it, he urged the propriety of establishing 
a public institution in their own neighbourhood 
where agriculture might be taught, and he concluded 
thus :—“ It has been suggested that such an insti- 
tution should originate with the Agricultural So- 
ciety, or with Government. We shall find that the 
practical way is to do our own business ourselves. 
We shall thus have an institution adapted to our 
wants, No one situation will do for all England. 
We hope of every district—the vales, the chalk, the 
red sand, &c.—that each will have its college. Tf 
one large establishment was reared, we may fear 
that it would be a failure ; anything rather than the 
substantial practical institution that will turn out— 
not the finical gentleman, afraid of soiling his hands 
—but intelligent, active, hardy young men—who 
will maintain the substantial honest character of the 
English yeoman, combined with all that modern 
Science and advancement, and careful training and 
moral and religious culture can do, to elevate them 
Wee Station in the country that they ought to fill. 
Tor ud pach of us the centre of some little cirele. 
d advance the cause by advocating it amongst 
ose we know ; and, with God's blessing, we may 
hope that, ere long, the cry for the efficient prac- 
tical education of the rising generation of farmers 
will be so loud and general, that all difficulties will 
disappear, and we shall have the happiness of 
seeing an agricultural college on the Cotswold 
Hills—a Mam el, we trust, for many others in 
the land.". A committee of the Club was formed 
for the purpose of inquiring further into the 
feasibility of Mr. Brown’s proposal; it met on the 
19th of December, and drew up an address on the 
subject to the landowners and tenants of the neigh- 
bourhood. This address was circulated in the be- 
ginning of 1843; by April of that year the move- 
ment had experienced such an accession of strength 
that a provisional committee, comprising many of 
the leading men of the district, was appointed, and 
a prospectus was proposed ; in May the draft of it 
Was agreed to—it was entitled “ The Prospectus re 
ite ee 
an Agricultural College, or an Example Farm, in 
the Oolite District, including the country commonly 
called the Cotswold-hills, extending from Bath to 
Chipping Camden ; also including a great part of 
Oxfordshire and North Wiltshire, part of Berk- 
shire, &c." A capital of 12,0007. was proposed to 
be raised by proprietary shares of 307. each, the 
control and government of the whole scheme was 
to rest in the shareholders, whose rights and re- 
sponsibilities should be defined by a deed of settle- 
ment; in the same month, however, it was reported, 
by a committee appointed to consider the subject 
of responsibility, that it could only be provided 
against by charter or act of Parliament. At this 
time a committee was appointed to wait on the 
noblemen und gentlemen of the district and solicit 
support, and to attend and address the agricultural 
meetings of that year at Stow, Lechlade, Farring- 
don, Devizes, Chippenham, Wotton Basset, Tet- 
| bury, Gloucester, Malmesbury, Bath, &c.; the 
country was also divided into districts, and one or 
more members appointed to canvass each. In 
January, 1844, it was decided to hold a public 
meeting on this subject, and it was held at Ciren- 
cester on the 22d of April ; the report of the Ciren- 
cester Farmers’ Club was there read, and reso- 
lutions founded upon it were moved by Earl Ducre 
and others: that the proposed institution was expe- 
dient, and that a committee of gentlemen be ap- 
pointed to determine on the best plan of it, and on 
the best method of carrying the design into effect. 
It was at this stage in the proceedings, therefore, 
that the Farmers’ Club dropped their direction, and 
handed the scheme over (as was most proper, con- 
sidering the general interest it had now excited) to a 
body more fairly representing the district whose 
aid was required. - It was now determined to apply 
for a charter through Earl BarrunsT; and also to 
look out for a site, which was done by public ad- 
vertisement. In June the committce received the 
offer of a farm on a 48-years’ lease from Earl Baru- 
urst, and of 20007. towards the buildings, interest on 
which at 33 p. cent. was to be added to the rent. They 
were also informed by his lordship that probably a 
charter would be granted ; a general meeting was 
therefore called and held on the Ist of July, at 
which a company was formed, its trustees named, 
and its government agreed upon. On the 4th,a 
deputation was appointed to call a meeting during 
the Southampton Show ofthe English Agricultural 
Society, and to attend the same. This meeting 
was held on Wednesday the 24th, and it was at- 
tended by the Duke of Ricamonp, Mr. Pusey, and 
other influential men, and resolutions were adopted, 
approving of the scheme. Previously to this, Earl 
Ducts, who had taken an active and effective part 
in the early mectings, canvassed in company with 
the secretary, and obtained the support of'a number 
of influential noblemen and gentlemen then in Lon- 
don. During these various steps a share list had 
gradually formed, which enabled the committee to 
commence in earnest. In September, a head master 
was advertised for; on the 19th of that month, 
plans for the college buildings were advertised for ; 
in November, a draft of charter and deed of settle- 
ment'was produced; in December, Mr. Scares, of 
Norfolk, was chosen head master; in January, 
1845, the plans of Messrs. Dawxer and HAMILTON 
were selected, and, with some alterations, fixed on 
as suitable for the college ; on the 17th of March, 
Mr. Way was chosen professor of chemistry ; the 
contract to build the college was entered into with 
Mr. Lnrivees, of Cirencester, his being the lowest 
tender, and on the 2nd-of April he commenced 
work under the contract; on the 7th of May the 
royal charter, granted by the Queen on the 27th of 
March, was produced; it establishes the existing 
company into a body politic and corporate, under 
the name of “ The Agricultural College,” and grants 
a*common seal, and ample powers and immunities ; 
in June Mr. Townsenp was chosen professor of 
engineering and natural philosophy*; in August, 
Mr. Woopwarp was chosen professor of natural 
history and geology, and Mr. Rosryson as veteri- 
nary professor; a house in Cirencester was also 
provided for the reception of students, until the 
college should be ready for them, and it was opened 
on the 15th of September, and in the course ofa 
week, about 20 entered. 
The first ‘term closed on the 19th of December ; 
the students had received the introductory and 
preliminary course of lectures on chemistry, 
geology, and natural history ; also very practical 
and valuable ones on the diseases and structure of 
animals; they were also accompanied by the Pro- 
fessors on weekly botanical and geological exeur- 
sions, and the whole has given great satisfaction. 
Thus has fairly and successfully commenced the 
titi Sia Aa Act o o aC Rer 
* In August, 1844, the council received the afllicting intelli- 
gence of Mr, Townsend’s death, 
useful labours of * The Royal Agricultural College ;” 
doubtless to the intense satisfaction of Mr. Brown, 
who may so justly look upon the establishment of 
this Institution as his own handiwork. We heartily 
wish the Institution all the success he can desire; 
its prospects of success are fair ; about 500 shares of 
307. each have been taken; a large number of 
names are on the admission roll ; arrang are 
being made for the reception of out-students in the 
town house who may attend the lectures and witness 
the farm operations. Materials for a library and 
museum are gradually accumulating, and we have 
no doubt that when the thing is fully known, gifts 
suitable for these departments will flow in upon 
them. Great interest is being excited, and visitors 
begin to flock—all are highly pleased with the 
beauty, solidity, situation, and convenience of the 
new buildings which were opened for the reception 
of students on the first week of this month, afford- 
ing the perhaps unprecedented fact of a large public 
building built and occupied within the year. 
We have entered into rather a long detail of the 
steps taken in this the first effort to found a College 
worthy of the great agricultural body, both because 
they most instructively illustrate what the persever- 
ance of an individual may accomplish, and also be- 
cause they indicate the proper course to be adopted 
in future efforts of a similar kind. Such efforts, how- 
ever, must not be hastily entered upon—the ground 
for attempting the establishment of similar institu- 
tions should be the success of this, and its inability 
to receive the students who offer. Of course there 
will be ample room ultimately for many agricultural 
establishments of a similar kind, but the present 
demand for the means of such an education as they 
will afford, must be estimated by the overflow of 
students at Cirencester. The institution: there is 
no local school ; its establishment is known all over 
the country, and its present pospectus is addressed 
to all everywhere who desire the advantages it 
offers. The position of its directors became gradu- 
ally different from that which they at first assumed. 
Experience taught them that they could not esta- 
blish a complete institution for the intended pur- 
pose by confining themselves to two or three coun- 
ties; it justly appeared to them essential to success 
that all the arrangements should be of the most per- 
fect kind; and while the expenses necessarily in- 
curred required that they should obtain a greater 
number of supporters, the charter which they ob- 
tained conferred on them that national character 
which justified them in seeking that support at a 
distance. We say, therefore, that the overflow of 
students here is the only safe index of the necessity 
for further institutions of a similar kind. No doubt 
such institutions will before long be numerous, and 
we heartily say—the sooner the better—but agri- 
culturists must first be convinced by the usefulness 
of this one, of the advantage of a specific education 
for the members of their profession. 
MANAGEMENT OF MANURE IN BELGIUM. 
[Taken from the ‘ Quarterly Journal of Agriculture."] 
Tue next subject of which we speak is the manures of 
Flanders; and some conception of the importance of this 
subject may be formed, when we mention that it regu- 
lates, not only the whole, but every individual part of 
he management of a Flemish farm. The first object 
and great aim of a Flemish farmer is to make or get 
manure ; and, to carry this into effect, nothing that can 
contribute in the least to increasing a dunghill is 
thrown away. He cultivates food for cattle, and ties 
them up all the year round, that he may not lose any of 
the manure. He sows Rape, and allows it to blossom 
and ripen, that he may obtain the seed for manure. His 
ashes-cart and urine-barrels traverse every street in a 
town, every by-way in the country, to collect this im- 
portant necessary for his farm. Itis in their manage- 
ment here that the farmers of Belgium excel those of 
every other country, and are thus enabled to extract 
more from the land than any other body of farmers. 
They act up, in short, to the true old adage that * Muck 
is the mither o' the meal kist?” The principal manures 
used are farmyard dung, urine, or liquid manure, Rape- 
cake, and ashes. Minerals are seldom, if ever, used, 
and bones are almost unknown. I alluded before to 
the comparatively great number of animals kept by the 
Flemish farmers on their few acres. This they do 
principally for making manure to enable them to carry 
out their system of farming. On a farm of 63 acres, 
horses, and 15 mileh cows, and several heifers for 
supplying the stock, were kept throughout the year, be- 
sides six cows and a few calves were fattened yearly. 
In another, of 77 acres' extent, 4 horses and 20 cows, 
with a requisite number of heifers, were kept, besides 
from 20 to 30 calves were fattened off yearly ; and ina 
third, of 88 acres, 5 horses and 20 cows, besides heifers 
and ealves, were kept. These farms were all arable, 
and were situated in one of the finest districts in Bel- 
gium. Mostly every crop receives some of this farm- 
yard dung, which is always well rotted before being 
applied. One of the peculiarities of the Flemish system 
is, the extensive and various uses they make of the 
urine from the animals kept on their farms. Every 
