156 



THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 



[Mar. 9) 



the want of employment for our peasantry or our capital. 

 — J, J. Mechi, 4, Leadtnn*U- street, London. 



On Gorse. — 1 can bear testimony to the merits of 

 furze as a food for horses, as referred io by "J. Trimmer' 

 in your Paper of the 3d, having seen it cniversally used 

 in Wales by farmers ; their horses are in tht most ex- 

 cellent condition, fed on Gorse alone, and have coats as 

 •fine as carriage horses. It may be useful to those who 

 may think it well to try the experiment, to describe the 

 mode of preparing it ; and to this end I send you a list 

 of the tools used. With these the carter is expected to 

 cut, chop, and entirely keep his two or three horses him- 

 self. They are a pair of strong gloves, a reaping- 

 hook (or grass-hook not toothed), a chopping-block, like 

 that of a butcher, with a raised rim of iron round the 

 edge, and a chopper, or bruizer, of which I send you the 

 figure. On every farm a portion of land is left for the 

 growth of Gorse ; the last year's shoots only are taken. 

 The cattle take this food in preference to any other, except 

 Oats. I used to buy it chopped, at the rate of three-half- 

 pence a bushel for my riding and carriage horses, by 



which I gave employment to 

 many an idle boy. On com- 

 mons the poor might keep their 

 cows during winter in capital 

 condition by the use of this 

 plant. In some places in Wales, 

 where there i3 a water-power, 

 they have little simple mills for 

 bruizing the Gorse ; the crush- 

 ing apparatus being two wooden 

 cylinders, with iron studs of 3 

 inches by 1 inch square, which, 

 in the revolutions of the cylin- 

 ders intersect each other. The 

 Gorse, being laid on the block, 



„ is chopped or pounded until 



it is broken up sufficiently. The head of the chopper 

 is a cylinder 



of oak, of 10 

 inches long, and 

 7 inches diameter; 

 the knives are 

 45 inches deep 

 (or high) above 

 the surface. This 

 Gorse feeding is 

 a matter of much 

 more importance 

 than may be 



imagined. — Wood- 

 end. 



Pig-Feeding.— Jn fattening pigs I have always found a 

 mixture of Barley and. Peas-meal, moistened with milk in 

 sufficient quantity to make it of a drinkable nature, to be 

 the best ; the pigs must be rung to make them lie quiet ; 

 the sty must be warm and airy, and the sun not suffered 

 to scorch their backs, as thin skinned white pigs are blis- 

 tered by it, which not only renders them of an unsightly 

 appearance, but retards their thriving; neither can they 

 tear exposure to cold winds, or cold rain, or sleet, or snow, 

 they must be kept out of all these. This is not sufficiently 

 attended to ; on many farms you see them lying in heaps 

 •hivering with the cold ; in such cases thriving is out of 

 the question ; and, on the other hand, I have seen them 

 immured to the height of four feet with a low ceiling above 

 them, leaving a space of a foot and a half for a current of 

 air ; in this case they looked very delicate and sicklv, like 

 consumptive subjects, and never arrived at any size or 

 weight for their age ; their constitution was undermined 

 Dy being kept constantly in a pestilential atmosphere ; 

 whereas, had the door been an open-barred door, a cur- 

 rent of fresh air would incessantly have set in and purified 

 the place, and given the animals a vigorous habit and a 

 doubly increased size. These extremes should be care- 

 fully avoided, and in addition too much cleanliness can- 

 not be observed, for nothing tends more to their well- 

 doing than dry-feet, a dry bed, and sweet air. They wal- 

 low in mud it is true in the summer, to get a coat to 

 ■shield them from the sun and flies ; but that only proves 

 that they require protection from excessive heat and the 

 teazing of flies, and all who wish their pigs to thrive will 

 provide shelter. My pigs are never allowed to run about, 

 as no food they can get by prowling about will compen- 

 sate for the loss of flesh sustained by the continual state 

 of motion. In a farm it may be very well to have some 

 running about to pick up dropped offal, but where the 

 pigs are regularly fed with a sufficient supply, it is a thrift- 

 less plan to waste by exercise the flesh that by a state of 

 rest would make a good return for the food consumed and 

 the expense of attendance.—,/. Steele. 



Societies. 



ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETYofENGLVND 

 A Monthly Council was held at the Society's 

 House, in Hanover Square, on Wednesday, the 6th of 

 March; present, the Ri*ht Hon. Earl Spencer, President 

 in the chair, Lord Worsley, Lord Portman, Colonel 

 Austen, Thomas Raymond Barker, Esq., Samutl Bennett 

 Esq., G. T. Bosanquet, Esq., Thomas William Braroston' 

 Esq., M.P., W. R. Browne, Eiq., F. Burke, Esq' 

 Colonel Challoner, F. C. Cherry, Esq., Henry Column! 

 £sq., H. C. Compton, Esq., M.P., P. Davies Cooke, 

 Esq., Rnlph Efwall, Esq., M.P., A. E. Fuller, Esq., 

 M.P., Humphrey Gibbs, Esq., Brandreth Gibbs, Esq., 

 Stephen Grantham, Esq., W. Goodenough Ilayter, Esq., 



I 



| M.P., W. Fisher Hobbs, Esq., John Hudson, Esq., 

 W. H. Hyetts, Esq., Sir John V. B. Johnstone, Bart. 

 M.P., Rev. Charles Edmund Keene, George Kimberley, 

 Esq., John Kinder, Esq., Fielder King, Esq., Sir Charles 

 Lemon, Bart. M.P., William Miles, Esq., M.P., Philip 

 Pusey, Esq., M.P., Francis Pym, Esq., Professor Sewell, 

 William Shaw, Esq., John Villiers Shelley, Esq., Edward 

 Solly, jun. Esq., Professor Spooner, W. R. Crompton 

 Stansfield, Esq., M.P., Charles Hampden Turner, Esq., 

 and George Willbraham, Esq., M.P. The following 

 gentlemen were elected Members of the Society :— 



SucVling, Rev. R., Duntsbourn Abbots, Cirencester, Glouc. 



Spooner, William C, V.S., Southampton. 



Wharton, John Thomas, Skelton Castle, Guishoroug-h, Yorkshire. 



Wade, Rev. Albany, Elton Rectory, Stockton-on Tees, Durham. 



Garland, Joseph, Worgret, Warebam, Dorset. 



Berwick, Rt. Hon. and Rev. Lord, Cleveland Row, St. James's. 



Thompson, George, Jun., Prestwood, Stourbridge, Wore. 



Rous, T. B., Court-y-Rala, Cardiff, Glamorganshire. 



Townshend, Lee Porcher, Wineham, Northwich, Cheshire. 



Symonds, John, Broad Windsor, Beaminster, Dorset. 



Samson, Tnomas, Kingston-Russell, Dorchester, Dorset. 



Vaizey, Joseph, Whitcombe, Dorchester, Dorset. 



Homer, John, Martinstown, Dorchester, Dorset. 



Long, Francis Stephen, Bulford, Amesbury, Wilts. 



Cantrell, Charles Seward, Jan., Old Windsor, Berks. 



Loader, Caleb, Gomeldon, Salisbury. 



Nockolds, I. A., S'anstead, Essex. 



Havers, William, Bacon's Farm, Mountnessing, Ingatcstone, 

 Esst-x. 



Foakcs, Charles L., Ramsdcn-Bcll-House, Billericay, Essex. 



The names of twelve Candidates for election at the next 

 meeting were then read. 



Finances. — Mr. Raymond Barker, Chairman of the 

 Finance Committee, presented the Report of the receipts 

 and expenditure of the Society during the previous month, 

 and of the several cases of defaulters whose subscriptions 

 were in arrear. The Council having confirmed the pre- 

 ceding part of this report, proceeded to take the conclud- 

 ing portion into mature deliberation, and at length agreed 

 unanimously to the following Resolution : — 



*• That a professional person shall be appointed to write letters 

 demanding arrears of subscription to all such parties as shall be 

 designated from time to time by the Finance Committee ; and in 

 the case of such applications *»ot being successful, to take further 

 legal steps for enforcing the payments due." 



Southampton Meeting.— -Mr. Miles having reported 

 to the Council his communications with Colonel Hender- 

 son, Mayor of Southampton, in reference to the notice of 

 motion given by Mr. Shelley, at the previous Council, of 

 which he (Mr. Miles) had been the chairman, Mr. 

 Shelley proceeded to state the grounds on which he had 

 given such notice of his intention to submit to that meet- 

 ing a motion for the re- consideration of the place at which 

 the Country Meeting of the present year should be held. 

 He detailed at considerable length the whole succession 

 of proceedings which had taken place in reference to the 

 arrangements which had been attempted to be made in 

 the definitive settlement of the various points connected 

 with the business of the Meeting, a practical difficulty 

 having been started on almost every question regarded by 

 the Society as finally concluded ; and he had consequently 

 felt it to be his duty, as one of the Stewards appointed by 

 the Council, to lay before them at their present Meeting, 

 the whole state of the case, in reference to the points on 

 which such difficulties had been raised. Having done that, 

 he was happy to find that a deputation of the Authorities 

 of Southampton was then in attendance, and prepared, in 

 their interview with the Council, to submit such terms for 

 their acceptance as would render the further proceedings 

 in the arrangements for the Southampton Meeting both 

 satisfactory and secure. Communications from his Grace 

 the Duke of Richmond, Mr. Mayes, the chairman, and 

 Mr. Trew, the treasurer of the committee of the town and 

 neighbourhood of Southampton ; Mr. Bulpett, late Mayor 

 ot Winchester, and Mr. Burn, high-constable of Brighton, 

 haying been laid before the Council, the following depu- 

 tation from Southampton were received, namely : 



Col. Henderson, Mayor of Southampton. 



Comtmee eS ' ^ * lat<J Way ° r E " d Chairuiau of tb e Local 

 Geo. W. Johnson, Esq., Hon. Sec. 

 Thomas Trew, Esq., Treasurer. . - .. , 

 W. C. Spooner, Esq., and f of tne Loc »l Committee. 



Juhn T. Ekless, Members. J 



The deputation having been received with every mark 

 of respect by the President and Members present, pro- 

 ceeded to express the regret they felt in common with the 

 inhabitants of Southampton and its neighbourhood, that I 

 any difficulty should have arisen in the practical details 

 connected with the arrangements for the ensuing meeting 

 in that locality. The Mayor could assure the Council 

 that the occasion of that meeting was the subject of the 

 most lively interest to every person within that district, 

 and the mere apprehension of a removal of the meeting to 

 another place would occasion not only severe disappoint- 

 ment but considerable loss both to individuals and the 

 rai way and other companies, all of whom, in anticipation 

 or the occasion, had gone to considerable outlay in provid- 

 ing accommodation of every kind for the numerous visitors 

 expected to be present. The deputation, in conclusion, 

 submitted to the Council the choice of various proposi- 

 tions which they were authorised to offer for their accept- 

 ance. The deputation having retired, the Counc 1 pro- 

 ceeded to discuss in detail the subject of the propositions 

 then brought before them ; and on the return of the depu- 

 tation to the Council-room, the following stipulations were 

 unanimously agreed to by all the parties present, viz. :— 

 l. -The Council accepts the 1000/. paid into the hands of Mem 

 Drummond by the Southampton Commutee, for the use of the 

 Royal Agricultural Society of England. 



2.-The Southampton Committee are to provide and DreDare 

 in a satisfactory manner, from the three sites offered, such siten 

 as shall be determined upon by the Council for the show- yard 

 and pavihon, free of all expense. > a | 



3-— T ^ So ' ltliam Pton Committee *hall guarantee the use of 

 theWtoria Rooms and grounds; the Guiiohall and its house 

 and other rooms ; the registration of lodgings j the lands 



already stlected for the trial of implements and exnTri^TT— 

 free of all expense. ex i>enments- 



!*-4.-The Stewards and Directors shall proceed to-mnrrn«. . 

 Southampton, to select the different sites, arrd report th? ° 

 to a special council on Thursday, the 14th of March for rnnfi 31 " 6 

 at ion. ' tu nnrm- 



The Mayor expressed to the Council the satisfaction ho 

 felt in this final decision respecting the place of the meet 

 ing, and the stipulations then agreed to, the communica* 

 tion of which, on hi* return to Southampton, would he 

 knew, occasion the most lively gratification throughout 

 every class of the inhabitants, who were fully prepared i" 

 every way to greet the Society at its ensuing meeting in 

 the moat cordial manner. The deputation having with- 

 drawn, the Council proceeded to receive from Colonel 

 Challoner, the vice-chairman of the General Southampton 

 Committee (in London), the Report of their proceeding 

 during the preceding month. The following programme 

 prepared by the Committee, was approved and adopted 

 by the Council. 



Proguamme of the Arrangements of the Society's 



Show at Southampton. 

 Thursday, July 18.— Last day of receiving Implements 

 Wheat, Barley, Seeds, &c. to be exhibited in the Imple- 

 ment-yard, and arranged by the Stewards for the Judge's 

 inspection. ° 



Tuesday, July 23. — The Implement-yard open to the 

 public from eight in the morning till six in the evening 

 at 2s. 6d. each person. The public exhibition of the' 

 working of the Implements to take place at Mr. C. Gaters' 

 Swathling Farm, at twelve o'clock. Cattle received in 

 the Show-yard from eight in the morning till four in the 

 afternoon. 



Wednesday, July 24. — The Judges inspect the Stock, 

 and award the Prizes. The implement-yard open to the 

 public from eight in the morniug till six in the evening. 

 Admission, 2*. Gd. Council Dinner in the Victoria 

 Archery Rooms, at Five o'Clock ; when the Judges' 

 award of prizes (with the exception of those for Horses), 

 will be read. Doors open at four. 



Thursday, July 25. — The cattle and implement-yards 



open to the public from six in the morning till one o'clock 



in the afternoon, admission 2*. Gd. ; and from one, till 



six in the evening at Is. Dinner of the Society in the 



' Great Pavilion at Four o'Clock. Doors open at Three. 



Friday, July 26. — Cattle-yard open at seven ; sale to 

 begin at Nine for Ten o'Clock precisely. 



Stewards of Departments. — Cattle, Hon. Capt. 

 Spencer, Mr. Druce, Mr. H. Gibbs ; Implements, Mr. 

 Miles, Mr. Shelley ; Finance, Colonel Austen; Sale of 

 Tickets, Mr. Wilson ; Receipts and Admission to Show- 

 yards, Mr. Barker ; Pavilion and Council Dinners, 

 Col. Challoner ; Ladies' Gallery, Mr. Etwall ; General 

 Arrangement of Show, Mr. B. Gibbs. 



By order of the Council, Jas. Hudson, Sec. 

 London, March 6, 1844. 



By the 15th Regulation of the Society, all persons ad- 

 mitted into the Show-yard shall be subject to the Rules, 

 Orders, and Regulations of the Council. 

 N.B.—Sale of Tickets for the Pavilion Dinner to 

 Members of the Society at the Pavilion from Nine 

 until Four o'Clock on Wednesday, the 2\th of July, 

 and from Eight until Three o'Clock on Thursday, the 

 25th of July— -Price 10s. each. 



Implement Regulations.— Mr. Shelley, as Chair- 

 man of the Committee for taking into consideration the 

 best mode of arranging and adapting for immediate publi- 

 cation the Regulations for Implements at the Southampton 

 Meeting, proposed by Mr. Miles and Mr. Gibbs, reported 

 to the Council the resulting schedule of regulations, una- 

 nimously agreed to by the committee. The Council 

 adopted this report, and ordered a copy of the regulations 

 to be sent by post to each exhibitor of implements at the 

 Bristol and Derby Meetings. 



Annual Country Meetings The Council resolved, 



on the motion of Mr. Miles, that in future ali replies to 

 queries on the subject of the capabilities afforded by any 

 particular locality for holding the Annual Country Meeting 

 of the Society, and required by the order of Council in 

 December 1841, prior to the selection of any town for 

 such place of meeting ; and all applications made to the 

 Council in favour of particular towns within the district of 

 any particular year, shall be laid before the Council by the 

 first Wednesday in April of the year preceding that in 

 which the meeting is to be held, in order that the Council 

 may be enabled to ascertain by personal reports the 

 actual facilities and capabilities of each proposed locality 

 before their final selection, agreeably with the bye-laws, 

 on the first Wednesday in the May ensuing. 



Mr. Miles also gave notice that he should move at the 

 next monthly Council: "That in future the place of 

 holding the annuul country meeting shall not be decided 

 upon until a Committee (of whom at least three shall have 

 acted as Directors or Stewards of the yard) shall have 

 visited and inspected the several towns and their locali- 

 ties, and have reported upon their respective fitness for 

 the purposes of the Society." 



Prize Essays. — The Sixty-five Essays reported by the 

 Secretary as received by the 1st of March, in competition 

 for the Prizes offered for the present year, were referred 

 by the Council to the Journal Committee. 



Farm- yard Manure. — Mr. Pusey, as Chairman of 

 the Journal Committee, has reported the adjudication of 

 the Society's Prize of 15 Sovereigns, for the best Essay on 

 the Mode of Management and Application of Farm- 

 yard Manure, to Mr. John Clarke, of Long Sutton, 

 Lincolnshire. 



Communications were received with thanks from Mr. 

 Colman, Mr. Isaac Clapp, Mr. Denison, M.P., M f * 

 Purchas, and Mr. Falconer. 



The Council then adjourned to Wednesday next. 



