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28—1846.] THE 
AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 465 
[NCREASE OF PREMIUMS TO £800, which is 
offered this year by the YORKSHIRE AGRICULTURAL 
SOCIETY, at its NiwTH GREAT ANNUAL MEETING at WAKE- 
FIELD, on THURSDAY, 6th of Avausr next. 
LORD WENLOOK, President. 
Vice-Presidents, 
Earl of Harewood. 
Lord Wharncliffe. 
Viscount Morpeth. 
Earl Fitzwilliam. 
Earl of Tyrconnell. 
Richard Bethel, Esq. 
EIGHT HUNDRED POUNDS will be offered as prizes for 
Stock, Implements, Farms, Essays, Poultry, &c. 
SDAY, the 23rd of Jury. Prize 
Reduced charges will be made by the Railways; on the 
Manchester and Leeds Railway, articles for the Show will be 
conveyed free. E 
For the convenience of persons who may prefer to deliver 
their entries personally, Mr. Jonn Warson, of 1, Clarence- 
Street, York ; and W. Barrar, St. John's, Wakefield, will also 
receive them, and transmit them to the Secretary; but all 
entries made to them must be at least one day before the 23rd 
„Programmes of the proceedings and particulars of the Ex- 
hibitions, Dinners, Discussions, &c., wil 
t, are requested to have their papers 
filled up and sent in without delay, that they may pass the 
Council previous to that day. Printed Forms may be obtained 
by application in writing to the Principal. No In-student can 
enter without the nomination of a Shareholder. 
hares, until the list is full, may be obtained by applying to 
the Secretary. y direction of the Council, 
Cirencester, July 11. Rost, J. Brown, Hon. Sec. 
The Agricultural Gazette. 
SATURDAY, JULY 11, 1846. 
Oe Sorat THE TWO FOLLOWING WEEKS. 
ul 
Torspay, ly 
Weonuspay, ~- 15 Meeting of the Eng. Ag. Soc. at Newcastle. 
Trounsvay, — 16, 
THURSDAY, — 16 
Tuunspax, — 93 Agricultural Imp. Soc. of Ireland, 
FARMERS’ CLUBS, 
uly 21—Bromsgrove | My ar Wellington 
22—Plymton St, Mary 
On Tuesday, the 27th of January, Sir Rozerr 
Pert, after expounding his views with regard to 
the Reprar or tas Corn Laws and the remis- 
Sion and reduction of various protective duties | 
affecting the agricultural in a greater degree than 
p manufacturing interest, stated his intention to 
5 nt to the former certain beneficial provisions as 
Mpensation for the excess of protection he then 
Proposed to remove from them, and which they 
ave since been obliged to relinquish. We wish 
Scrupulously to avoid any manifestation of party 
feeling regarding those political subjects upon which 
Our readers may hold different opinions; but that 
period in the Parliamentary session has arrived 
(without regarding the unsettled state of ministerial 
movements), when it behoves all parties interested 
in bills before the legislature to urge them forward 
With despatch. The new Corn Bill has become 
aw. The tariff has been amended ; but where—in 
What stage of progression are the compensating 
ee to which we have alluded? We cannot 
“ The bitter past, more welcome is the sweet.” 
Por however well intentioned the Government were 
at the beginning of the session, when contemplating 
their future proceedings, it is a fact that the Agri- 
Cultural interest is not now so sure of the proffered 
compensation as it is certain of the permanent loss 
ot protection. 
a he promised provisions were four in number, 
lst. To amend the laws relating to highways. 
2d. To amend the law of settlement. à 
3d. To authorise the advance of public money to 
promote the drainage of land. 
nd 4th. To relieve the county rate-payers of 
the charge of maintaining prisoners in gaol and 
of prosecuting felons. 
f these we have only heard of the introduc- 
as Of the first aud third, and while we protest 
plea the delay of measures which it was im- 
Re NGS to become law contemporaneously with 
ee of the Corn-laws, it is our present in- 
lon to advert but to one of the proposed bills, 
ence important of the whole, and which we 
aal parties will do their utmost to secure. We 
pus the bil brought into the House of 
» ns by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, 
Tage” the advance of public money to a 
land 4 eo to promote the improvement of 
Ra 3reat Britain and Ireland by works of 
age, 
an 6 Principle of charging land and the inherit- 
iue ah money expended in permanent improve- 
S of the soil, repayable by instalments, was 
0 
tion 
advocated by Mr. Pusey, and recognised by the 
legislature in the statute of the 3 and 4 Victoria, 
cap. 55. This Act was carried through Parliament 
bare of operative provisions, more with a view to 
procure an admission of the preamble, and the 
principle it involved, than to obtain at that time an 
effective measure. It was anticipated that the 
discovery of the difficulties which beset the question 
of dealing with property in which the owners had 
only a limited interest would lead to suggestions 
from persons practically informed on the subject, 
and that an amending act would then be sought 
and obtained. 
In the year 1843, an Association was formed 
at the instance of Mr. Cuarnock, of Wakefield, 
called the “Yorkshire Land Draining Associa- 
tion.” It was actively supported by many leading 
agriculturists, who found the expence and delay of 
using Mr. Pusry’s Act a veto upon their proceed- 
ing. The Association is now dissolved, but to the 
zeal of some of its members (among whom were Mr. 
Barrer Dexron and Mr. BartenpEn Ker) may 
be ascribed the present Government measure. An 
amending bill prepared by them was. introduced 
into the House of Commons by Mr. Pusey, in 
July 1844, and was dropped in the following month 
on an understanding that it should be originated in 
the House of Lords under the conduct of the Duke 
of Ricumonp. A select committee was appointed 
before whom evidence was adduced, and by whom 
a report was drawn up, resulting in the Act of last 
session, which effected several important improve- 
ments on the former measure but left its jurisdiction 
still in the Court of Chancery. It would appear 
that the notice of Government was attracted to the 
emanations of this committee, and, satisfied that 
“the great capability of improvement inherent in 
all kinds of land” would afford security to the 
nation for an advance of three millions of the public 
money to a particular class of the community, the 
minister did not hesitate to propose such a step, 
being assured that a reciprocal public advantage 
would be gained in the employment of rural labour 
and in the vast increase of agricultural produce. 
The bill in question deals alike with the owner 
in fee as with the tenant for life, and any landowner 
presenting a case by which it is clear that an im- 
provement in annual value will be effected, exceed- 
ing the amount to be charged on the land, may 
borrow the public money irrespective of his title to 
such land. 
The Inelosure Commissioners being constituted 
the agents for carrying the measure into execution, 
the apprehensions of delay and expence innate to 
the Court of Chancery will not be called forth. 
Other facilities hitherto wanted are here supplied. 
A landowner may obtain advances of money as 
the works proceed, and he will have the advantage 
of the scientific skill of the officers of the commis- 
sion, who will report to the Commissioners from 
time to time, and are required in the first instance 
to certify their opinion of the amount of benefit 
the proposed improvement will afford. Supposing 
the cost of draining an estate to be on the average 
4l. per acre, then the officer of the commission will 
be required to report that in his opinion the land 
will be increased in value 5s. 3d. per acre at least. 
This being done by an indifferent competent person, 
the Government will be secure against an improvi- 
dent use ofthe publie money, and the landowner 
against incautious and unskilful work. The amount 
of rent-charge is fixed at 6/. 10s. for every 100/. ex- 
pended, and the term of years over which this pay- 
ment will extend is ta be 22 years, so that by 44 
half-yearly instalments of 32. 5s., a loan of 1007. 
will be repaid. 
But we think the greatest amount of benefit will 
arise from the enactments in clauses 34, 35, and 37, 
by which it is suggested that any tenant may join 
his landlord in an application to the Commissioners, 
and may render himselfliable to pay the rent-charge 
to the Collector of Assessed Taxes. By this means 
àn active tenant may secure the advantage of bor- 
rowed capital, with no other aid from his absentee 
landlord than an acquiescence in the object sought, 
and an understanding that upon leaving his farm 
before the expiration of the 22 years the tenant 
leaves the land subject to so much additional rent. 
Several tenants, too, may co-operate in one scheme, 
and by an apportionment of the rent-charge, each 
may pay their respective shares. 
We think that the Commissioners! charge for in- 
vestigating and reporting upon the works should be 
charged on the land, and form part of the borrowed 
money, but as we are anxious to have the Bill we 
willraise no objection on this head, which is of minor 
importance, but close our remarks with the hope 
that sufficient has been said to enlist the energies 
of our influential agricultural friends to secure to 
the country. without further delay, this valuable 
measure. 
PRINCIPLES FOR FARMING OF ARABLE 
LAND IN THE SOUTH OF ENGLAND, RECOM- 
MENDED FOR GENERAL CONSIDERATION. 
1. Never to be contented until all your land has been 
trenched and turned over by the plough a foot in depth, 
nor until 
2. The wet land be miade dry by deep draining, and 
consider no land effectually drained unless the 
drains be 4 feet in depth—that is to say, unless the 
water-level be so far below the surface that the corn 
shall have at least a foot of dry earth to root in un- 
affected by capillary attraction of moisture from below, 
and the chill that water nearer to the surface causes ; 
this can be done only by having the drains 4 feet irom 
the surface. 
3. For sowing of spring corn consider the season 
commences with the new year, and have no other fear 
than that of being too late. When the ground is dry 
enough, and fine enough, the sooner it is in the better, 
it will yield more, and the liability to blight or be beaten 
down will be less. 
4. In sowing, drill or dibble all, and have the r 
not nigher than a foot between them, so as to a 
hoeing either by horse or hand, and hand-wee: 
late periods, 
5. Hoe and hand-weed all corn ; let not a weed in 
flower be seen amongst it; ever recollect that weeds 
oceupy space and consume nutriment, displacing corn, 
or robbing the land. 
6. Never sow two crops of one genus in succession ; 
egumes or Pulse may follow Cereal grain, and Cereat 
grain may follow Legumes or Pulse; but never Cere 
after Cereal, or Pulse after Pulse. Recollect Rye. 
is a Cereal plant, and unsuits the land for Wi 
Straw corn. 
7. In apportioning the rate of seed per acre, do not 
lose sight of the bad consequences that must ensue if 
too much be sown. Bear in mind that if so much b 
sown as to produce more plants at first than the sp: 
will afterwards allow to attain maturity, the latter 
growth of the whole will be impeded, and a diseased 
stage will commence and last till harvest as soon as the 
plants cover the ground. 
8. Manure should be applied only to green or cattle 
crops, and never to corn; by giving it to the former 
the earth derives the advantage of the extra dressing 
that the extra growth returns, but when applied to corn 
the earth is so much the more exhausted by the extra 
growth of straw, and frequently, too, the grain is 
thereby positively injured by being beat down and 
blighted in the straw ; it always ismade more hazardous 
by dressing. 
9. Were farmers to buy all their manures they would 
find that the cost of maintaining their land in fair heart 
would be about one pound per aere per annum. T 
quantity of dressing every farm in fair productive cu 
vation will supply of itself if a proper use and econor 
be made of its material to form manure and a due care 
taken of it afterwards, but from misapplieation and 
waste of the straw and fodder and from negligence in 
the preservation of the dung and urine, at least half is 
usually lost; and the arable land of England may thus 
be said to be prejudiced to at least 10s. per acre. 
10. Were no other injury done to the crops by trees and 
hedges in small enclosures than that which arises from 
their mischievous shade and shelter, it would be equi- 
valent to the ordinary rent of such fields, but the 
farmers sustain a further loss in the additional time 
occupied in its tillage by the more frequent stoppages 
and turns they cause, and by the encouragement to 
idleness in the men that their cover afford. I believe 
arable fields with large hedges and hedge-row timber 
round them whose dimensions are under eight acres 
are seldom or ever worth a farmer’s cultivation. I see 
much poor open down land in profitable cultivation, and 
large districts of enclosed land of far better quality 
ruinous to the occupiers, and I have not a doubt that 
to. the difference in the size of the fields this may be 
principally if not entirely traced. — Hewitt Davis, 
3, Fredericks-place, Old Jewry, London. 
ON THOROUGH DRAINING. 
BEING AN ADDRESS TO THE HEXHAM FARMERS’ CLUB, 
By Mr. Grey, of Dilston. 
GrNTLEMEN,—I regret that I should have been so 
much occupied up to this moment, as to have had no 
opportunity of making any arrangement of the subject 
on which I am expected to address you. I must, 
therefore, bespeak your indulgence, if what I may 
say should be found to be, as it doubtless will, less 
correct and concise than if it had been prepared and 
written down, as has been the laudable custom with 
those gentl who have i duced other subjects 
for discussion at your meetings. Most of agriculturists 
are now so well acquainted with tile draining, that it 
is probable much that I shall say may be already 
familiar to you ; but if from the experience which F 
have had in the matter, I should have made observa- 
tions which some of you have not made, or come to 
conclusions different from yours, there may be some 
use in bringing such observations and conclusions un- 
der discussion ; for, in my opinion, the information 
which is elicited by after discussion in such meetings 
as this, is frequently more important than that which 
is derived from any single address. First, then, allow 
me to make a few remarks on the utility of draining 
land thoroughly. So much of the land of this country 
lies on a retentive subsoil, causing in it a great degree 
of humidity and coldness, that the portion which is na- 
ees 
