844 
THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. z 
15. Letter from Mr. Broadhedä, of Stainsby Mill, on the preser- | 
vation of Hay and Corn. 
16. A communication from Mr. Osborn, on the application of 
to the cultivation of land. 
17, A present from Mr. Shaw, of Cotton End, near Northamp- 
i ade by Samuel 
rpendicularly, and thus forming apertures in 
i ans of which a 
more complete circulation of air is effecte 
18. A present from Mr. Casella, of Hatton Garden, of a self- 
, registering Thermometer. 
19. A present from Mr. Henry ‘Strafford, of Moreton Villas, 
amden Town, of the 6th volume (in continuation by him) 
of Coates's Herd Book of short-horned Cattle. 
20. A present from Mr, T. C. Eyton, of Donnerville, Wellington, 
Salop, of the 1st volume of the Herd Book of Hereford 
Cattle. 
S 
A present from Mr. Glover, Secretary to the Newcastle 
Farmers’ Club, of a copy of his paper on the cultivation of 
Flax, and the fattening of Cattle by Box-feeding. 
A Dr from the Royal Society of Agriculture at Lyons, 
of the current volume òf their Transactions. 
23, A plan for an Agricultural Repository, from Mr. A. F. 
Campbell. _ t 
The Council, having ordered thanks to be returned 
for the favour of these communications, adjourned, on 
the motion of Mr. Raymond Barker, over the usual 
Christmas. recess, to the first Wednesday in February. 
21, 
22. 
A Specran CouwcrL, by order of the President, was 
then held, at which Lord Portman, as Chairman of the 
General Northampton Committee, reported to the Coun- 
cil the recommendations of that Committee, which were 
unanimously adopted ; and the Report of the Council to 
e General Meeting on the ensuing Saturday, was 
unanimously agreed to. - 
A Specrat Couwcir, under the Bye-laws of the So- 
ciety, was held on Thursday, the 10th of December : 
resent, the Earl of Ecwowr, President, in the chair ; 
uke of Richmond, Sir Matthew White Ridley, Bart., 
Thomas Raymond Barker, Esq., S. Bennett, Esq., H. 
Brandreth, Esq., Colonel Challoner, F. C. Cherry, Esq., 
John Bell Crompton, Esq., S. Druce, Esq., John Ell- 
man, Esq. R. Garrett, Esq., B. Gibbs, Esq., C. Hill- 
ard, Esq., W. Fisher Hobbs, Esq., S. Jonas Esq., 
ohn Kinder, Esq., Philip Pusey, Esq., M.P., Professor 
Sewell, William Shaw, Esq., William Shaw, jun., Esq., 
John Villiers Shelley, Esq., Robert Smith, Esq., W. 
R. C. Stansfield, Esq., M.P., Charles Stokes, Esq., 
H. S. Thompson, Esq. George Turner, Esq., and 
Thomas Umbers, Esq. 
Sir Marraew RipLEY having laid before the Council 
a ication from Mr. Rok of Lees, near 
Coldstream, in reference to the condition applied to the 
Society’s prize at Newcastle for thorough-bred Stallions; 
and Mr. SHELLEY a letter from Mr. Parkes, the con- 
sulting engineer to the Society, on the subject of the 
Prizes for Implements, the Couneil proceeded to the 
ideration and di: ion of the several Prizes for 
the Northampton Meeting in 1847 ; and having ar- 
red the Prize-sheet for that occasion, in which a sum 
of 15007. is appropriated to the Prizes of next year 
(independently of the sum of 3507. previously voted for 
Essays and Reports), the Council declared the prizesto be 
finally determined, and ordered printed copies of the new 
Prize-sheet to be immediately prepared, for tlie purpose 
of being laid on the table at the ensuing General Meet- 
ing for the information ofthe members. The President 
notified his intention to direct a special Council to be 
summoned in February next, for the purpose of appor- 
tioning the sum voted for Implements into distinct 
prizes ‘for competition. 
Mr. Ravwowp Barker gave notice that, at the 
Monthly Council in February, he should move the “ re- 
consideration of the Report from the ‘Collection of Sub- 
seriptions Committee, with a view to limit its opera- 
tions within the originally prescribed counties, and 
eventually to bring its labours to a close.” 
The Duke of Ricumonp presented to the Society, 
from Gordon Castle, a compact fibrous mass, obtained 
from a drain which it had entirely choked up to the 
extent of from 4 to 5 feet.. The fibres had proceeded 
from the roots of an Ash-tree, growing at a distance of 
15 feet from the drains, which were 2j feet deep, and 
had been in operation for 18 months. 
The Decemper GENERAL MEETING was held on Satur- 
day last, the 12th of December, the Earl of Eawowr, 
President, in the Chair, The Secretary read the fol- 
lowing Report, which was unanimously adopted by the 
Meeting :— 
In commencing this report, the Council have no hesi- 
tation in stating that not only have facts of important 
practical bearing been obtained through the agency of 
the Society, from the varied localities of the kingdom, 
and again made known through the pages of the Jour- 
nal to its members residing in every district throughout 
the country, but a spirit of inquiry on the best means of 
effecting agricultural improvements has been excited, 
both in individuals who have extensive opportunities of 
carryin, t their views, and in local associations 
already established for agrieultural objects, through 
which the amount of experience has been increased, and 
a firmer foundztion laid for more secure advancement. 
Experiment has been actively at work, both in testing 
the accuracy of reported facts, and ascertaining for 
further application the conditions under which they 
have occurred, as well as in furnishing suggestions for 
new modes of practice, to be again submitted to the 
same strict practical investigation of condition and 
occurrence, E 
For the purpose of obtaining new and important 
facts, the Council, in addition to the prizes of the 
Society for Reports and Essays on various/[subjects, 
| Dec. 19, 
have been enabled, through the liberality of the Duke 
of Northumberland, the Marquis of Downshire, and 
Major Curteis, M.P., to enlarge the offer of its pre- 
miums. ‘For the attainment of the same end by distinct 
research, they have coneluded a satisfactory arrange- 
ment for an experimental investigation into the relation 
existing between the composition of the ashes of a plant 
and the fixed elements essentially required to be pre- 
sentin the manure or soil in which it is grown ; and 
the first report by Professors Way and Ogston, of the 
Royal Agrieultural College of Cirencester, will appear 
in the forthcoming part of the Journal. In the commu- 
nieation of information, the Council have not only 
made every inereased exertion, at no inconsiderable ex- 
pense, to facilitate the transmission of the Journal to 
the various members of the Society, but have enlarged 
The Committee have also presented the following 
statement of the arrears of subscription, made up to the 
first day of the present month. 
Amount of arrears due for— 
Of the amount of the arrears for 1846, nearly one-half 
has been discharged during the last ten days. 
They have also reported that the capital of the Society 
invested in the public Funds stands at 7,000/. Stock, 
and that the current cash balance in the hands of the 
Society's bankers on the 1st inst, was 1,3957. 
The auditors willlay before the Members the Half- 
the opportunities afforded by lectures and 
for the elucidation or illustration of subjects of a prac- 
tical and scientific character. The lectures of Professor 
Johnston and Mr. Parkes, at Newcastle, and the discus- 
sions to which they gave rise, formed a new and most 
1 | Successful feature in the Annual Country Meeting'of 
the present year, held at that place. 
The Council were so well satisfied with the result of 
the first trial of a discussion on the questions of practi- 
cal interest and personal experience connected with 
agriculture at Neweastle, that they have resolved to 
make arrangements for a similar opportunity for the 
interchange of opinion on such topics, under similar 
regulations, 
The Society has this year, in the course of its pre- 
seribed circuit, held its Country Meeting in the district 
comprised of the northern counties of England, and re- 
mote from the localities of former years ; but they have 
the satisfaction of recording, that in every point of view 
the Newcastle Meeting has been a most successful one, 
not only in the fine exhibition of stock, and the trial of 
implements, but in the opportunity which it has afforde 
the Members of the Society of experiencing the hearty 
welcome, and the lively participation of the farmers of 
that district in the common object of their mutual in- 
terest. To Dr. Headlam, the Mayor, andthe members 
of the corporation ; to Sir Matthew Ridley, the Chair- 
man, and the Members of the Local Committee ; and to 
all the other individuals and publie bodies in Newcastle 
and its neighbourhood, who had laid the Society under 
deep obligation by their zealous and efficient co-opera- 
tion, the Council have had the grateful task of return- 
ing their unqualified thanks. 
In consequence of parties having in many instances 
made entries for the Society’s Shows and subsequently 
failed to send their stock or implements so entered, 
the Council. have found it requisite to agree to the fol- 
lowing rule, for the purpose of prevention :— 
* That for the purpose of checking the entry of cattle 
and implements, which are not intended to be exhibited, 
a fine of 10s. per head for beasts and horses, and 10s. 
per pen for sheep or pigs, and 5s. or implements 
under, or 105. for those of the price of 107. or upwards, 
be eharged on every animal or pen of animals, or im- 
plement entered and not exhibited, unless a certificate 
Shall be sent to the Secretary on or before the day of 
exhibition, that the non-exhibition is eaused by unavoid- 
able accident. 
the Yard be requested to report the names of the par- 
ties who have not exhibited as entered at the Show, or 
neglected to pay the fines." 
"The Council have also resolved to discontinue the 
Sale by Auction in the Show Yard at the Country Meet- 
ings of the Society. 
The Journal Committee have reported during the 
past half-year the following adjudication of Prizes for 
Essays, namely— 
To Gzonar Paris, analytical Chemist to the Excise, the 
prize of 50 sovs., en the Duke of Northumberland's founda- 
tion, for the best Essay on the Remedy for the Potato Disease, 
and on its treatment in the various stages of planting, growth, 
and preservation. 
To Henry Cox, of Longford's House, Minchinhampton, the 
prize of 20 sovs., on the Duke of Northumberland's founda- 
tion, for the second best Essay on the same subject. 
To F. J. Grawam, of Cranford, near Hounslow, the prize of 
30 sovs., on the Duke of Northumberland's foundation, for 
the best History of the Disease at the present time affecting 
the Potato, involving a condensed detail of facts developed 
by experiments. 
To Huen RAxNnIRD, of Bury St. Edmund's, the prize of 20 sovs. 
for the best Essay on Peat Charcoal, as a manure for Turnips 
o Ww. PYLE TAUNTON, of Ashley, near Stockbridge, Hants, 
the prize of 10 sovs, for the best account of the St. John's 
Day Rye. 
The Council have accepted the liberal offer of the 
Marquis of Downshire to add 30/. t» the sum of 207. 
already voted by the Society for the best Essay on the 
Cultivation and Management of Flax, to be sent to the 
Seeretary on or before the 1st of March, 1847. 
The Finance Committee have reported that during 
the past half year 302 new members have been elected, 
56 have died, and 789 have been struck off the list by 
order of the Council ; and the Society now consists of— 
Life Governors... 89 
Annual Governors . 201 
Life Member: 587 
Annual Members . 5532 
Honorary Members ....... 20 
6429 
Of the above 789 members whose names have been ex- 
punged, 519 are those of Members whose subscriptions 
for the years 1841 and 1842 have remained unpaid on 
the books of the Society for the last four years, and are 
still undischarged. ^ Their names have been struck off 
the lit of the Society by order of the Council, on the 
special recommendation of the Finance Committee. 
And that the Director and Stewards of 
yearly Balance-sheet of Accounts as audited by them on 
the part of the Society. 
In filling up the vacancy in the list of the Trustees, 
occurring through the lamented decease of Mr. Handley, 
by the unanimous election of Lord Portman to that 
office, the Council have recorded on their minutes an 
; expression of their deep sense of the severe loss the So- 
ciety has sustained in the removal from its Councils of 
one so intimately connected with its existence and esta- 
blishment as one of its founders. E 
In conclusion, the Council beg to congratulate the 
Members on the increasing usefulness of the Society, 
and on its steady progress in the prosecution of those 
national objects for which it was founded. They feel, 
however, that it is only by the individual interest and 
co-operation of its numerous Members, each within their 
local sphere, in carrying out its practical views, that its 
vigour and vitality can be efficiently maintained. And 
they repeat the invitation to the Members at large, to 
favour the Council not only with their attendance at the 
Weekly Meetings in London, and at the Meetings in the 
Country, but also from time to time with such practical 
iggesti and icati of int i facts 
connected with the various topics of agricultural im- 
provement as may promote both the objects of the So- 
ciety and the publie good. 
y order of the Council, 
ames Hupson, Secretary. 
London, Dec. 9, 1846. 
Farmers' Clubs. 
SwrmurIELD CLUB : Tenant Righis.—At the annual 
dinner of this Society, Mr. Pusey, M.P., referred to this 
subject. He said he had told them last year that he 
was drawing up some agreement on the subject which 
he could send to his tenants. Since that time, 
with the assistanee of Mr. B. Almack, he had done 
so, and he was glad to say that the result exceeded 
his antieipations. Indeed, one of his tenants was so 
anxious to commence building that having himself a 
salutary dread of bricks and mortar, and indeed all ex- 
penses above ground, though he thought they could not 
spend too much on draining, he was obliged to prevent 
his doing so. He was convinced the subjeet of the. 
tenant-right was the life or death of practical agrieul- 
ture. He could not then enter more upon the question ; 
allhe could say was, that he trusted. before the Club 
met again it would make some decided practical pro- 
gress.—The Duke of Richmond said, in the course of a 
speech: Before he sat down he must make one ob- 
servation respecting what Mr. Pusey had said about 
tenant-right. He must be permitted to say that he 
thought the phrase “ tenant-right" was an unfortunate 
phrase, inasmuch as it conveyed not to his mind, but to 
that of the landlords of the country an idea which it 
was not meant that it should convey. What he meant 
by tenant-right (and he hoped that in advocating it he 
should never be found backward) was justice to the 
tenantry of the couniry. o man would go further 
than the individual addressing them in doing justice to 
the tenantry of the country ; but in this free country 
they must permit him to say that the choice of expres- 
sion was a matter of great importance indeed. | He be- 
lieved that some years ago, when the question was first 
brought forward, if, instead of the phrase * tenant-right,” 
they had adopted the phrase “justice to the tenant,” at 
the present moment that justice would have been done 
to them which he believed was not done in many 
parts of this country, Many of them must be aware, 
coming as they did from various districts, that there 
was in this country considerable difference in what 
was called{the custom of the country. Now he wished, if it 
were practicable, to see one general custom established 
by law for all; or, if it were incorrect there to refer to 
law, he wished to see one universal feeling among the 
landowners and occupiers of the country as to the 
system on which a tenant should leave his farm. If a 
tenant laid out a large sum of money in the improve- 
ment of the soil, he thought that if he were removed he 
ought to receive the value of the unexhausted improve- 
ments. He felt that it was of great importance this 
question should be settled. He ‘did not doubt that it 
could soon be carried out, and he could assure them 
that, as president of that club, or an individual land- 
owner, they should not find him backward in attempting 
it. The noble duke, in conclusion, urged the expe- 
diency of union between owners, occupiers, and 
labourers, as essential to the interests of the nation; 
and resumed his seat amid protracted acclamations.— 
Mr. Pusey, M.P., explained that he fully agreed with 
the chairman that “ tenant-right” was an unfortunate 
phrase, but he had merely used it as one in common 
use, and generally understood. He thought the phrase 
