826 



THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 



[Dec. 



15, 1 55. 



truction 



at 



suffice, but for mutual instruction on some agri- 

 cultural topic so as to let us not only know but feel 

 that the Society is really alive and active. 



The reports elsewhere will inform our readers in 

 reference to the Smithfield Show and the meeting 



the Society of Arts. Of the paper read at the 

 London Farmers' Club by Mr. Baker, we shall 

 attempt here to give a very brief and condensed 

 account. Mr. Baker referred to the demands upon 

 agriculture made by the increasing population of the 

 country : — There was no possibility of increasing the 

 area of production, but the difficulty could be over- 

 come or at least postponed by improved cultivation 

 — and his subject, the Management of Landed 

 Property, was thus among the most important which 

 could engage the attention of an agricultural audience. 



The difficulties of landlords owing to the absurd 

 conditions and character of the tenure were 



been 



The 



the 

 No 



The brother of this animal ("Itomw") has just 

 declared winner, at one of the most important shows in 

 America, of the prize for the best short-horn bull. The 

 one fulfils his destiny by furnishing probably 15 cwts. 

 of beef for the Christmas dinners of some 10 dozen 

 Londoners in this year 1855, and the other by influencing 

 the quality of such dinners for many years to come on 

 the other side of the Atlantic. 



gold medal for the best ox in the yard is 

 carried off by this ox, No. 46, bred by the Marquis 

 of Exeter. The gold medal cow is carried off by Mr. 

 Ambler, of Halifax, the winner of the gold medal at 

 Birmingham last year. The prize cow then, as now, 

 was a pure white t and remarkable for the evenness of 

 flesh with which her well-built frame is covered. The 

 second prize cow, Mr. Stratton's, is a roan, much less 

 evenly covered and certainly not equal to the other. 

 They stand close together, and the judges cannot have 

 found much difficulty in their decision. Mr. Ambler's 



,. . ., ,... cow is just about eight years old, and has had two 



results of these conditions \ calyeg ' Thepe ig a nQ% remarkable show of Scotch 



land was so well culti- | and Welsh 8tock> 



short-woolled sheep in the 27th, 28th, or 3-Jth Classes. Mr.^Vmui 

 Kigden, Hoire, Brighton. * IU1 UI 



referred to, and 



were depicted: — No land was so well 

 vated but that it might be yet improved, while the 

 condition of very much presented a picture which 

 he would gladly conceal if he could — the energy and 

 capital of the English farmer were the remedies, 

 and these must be called forth by terms of occupa- 

 tion calculated to encourage them — the amount of 

 rent demanded should be diminished, if so tenants 

 of capital could be obtained, and security should be 

 afforded for that capital by leases arid valuation of 

 unexhausted improvements on their termination. 



Mr. Baker then discussed in succession the im- 

 provements needed by land in a state of nature 

 before it could properly be offered for occupation by 

 a desirable tenantry : — The buildings of the farm 

 were first referred to— their central position and 

 their arrangement upon a proper plan : the drainage 

 of the land was insisted upon, and the shares of 

 landlord and tenant in its execution were pointed 



out : the provision of roads and the enclosure 

 of 



the 



the provision 

 fields were alluded 

 lease 



were 

 and 



to. The character of 



its 



reviewed 



provisions one by one were 

 the amount of rent is fixed upon an 

 assumption of prices, but as these cannot be assumed 

 with certainty, it is safest to leave a portion at 

 least to fluctuate with the price of grain. The speci- 

 fication of a rotation of crops is desirable only in the 

 case of an ignorant tenantry; the time-honoured 

 clauses of old leases in reference to Flax, Potatoes, 

 and other forbidden crops, ridiculous enough now 

 when manures can be purchased and carried so abun- 

 dantly and so easily, were exposed ; covenants on 

 quitting, simply on the principle of fairness between 

 the owner and outgoing tenant were suggested. Mr. 

 Baker advocates a system by which the incoming 

 tenant has to pay his predecessor largely for manure 

 and crop, his object being to insure the thorough 



cultivation of the land up till the very close of the 

 lease. 



The paper concluded with reference to the- 

 advantages to an estate of intelligent labourers, and 

 the great addition to its 



well planned and well placed cottages upon it. 

 The interests of the labourers themselves, and that 



The show of sheep and pigs is as remarkable as ever. 

 Some enormous specimens of fat pigs are exhibited, and 

 the extraordinary precocity of the Bmaller breeds is 

 also well illustrated. Mr. Rigden, Lord Walsingham, j 

 and the Duke of Richmond exhibit the qualities of ' 

 the Southdown as successfully as ever. Mr. Foljambe 

 is as usual successful in long-woolled sheep, along with 

 Mr. Bradshaw, Lord Berners, the Marquis of Exeter, 

 and Mr. Hewer, and Mr. Overman is remarkably suc- 

 cessful with his cross-bred stock. 



The following is the award of the judges : 



CATTLE. 



Class I. Devon Steers, not exceeding 3 years old.— 25Z. r the 

 Earl of Leicester. 101., H.R.H. Prince Albert. 



Class II. Devon Steers, over 3 years old.—25Z., Lady Eliza- 

 beth Reynell, of Avisford House, Arundel. 10L, H.R.H. Prince 

 Albert. 



Class III. Devon Heifers, not over 4 years old. — 151,, Mr. John 

 Tucker, of Staplegrove, Taunton. 51., Mr. T. W. Fouracre, 

 of Durston, Taunton. 



Class IV. Devon Cows, over 4 years old.— 202., H.R.H. Prince 

 Albert. 101., Mr. John Coate, of Hammoon, Blandford. 



Class V. Hereford Steers, not over 3 years old.— 251., Mr. Isaac 

 Niblett, of Fiiton, Bristol. 10Z., Mr. Edward Longmore, of 

 Ad fort on, near Ludlow. 



Class VI. Hereford Oxen, over 3 years old.— 252 , Mr. William 

 Heath, of Ludh&m Hall, near Norwich. 10Z., H.R.H. Prince 

 Albert. 



Class VII. Hereford Heifers, not over 4 years old. — 151., 

 Mr. Joseph Phillips, of Ardington, near Wantage. 



Class VIII. Hereford Cows, over 4 years old.— 202., Mr. 

 J. H. Gurney, of Catton Hail, near Norwich. 10/.. Mr. Joseph 

 Phillips, of Ardington. 



Class IX. Short-horned Oxen, not over 3 year3 old.— 252. , the 

 Rev. J. Holmes, of Brook Hall, Norwich. 102., Earl Spencer, K.G. 



Class X. Short-horned Oxen, over 3 years old. — 252., the 

 Marquis of Exeter. 102., Mr. T. Mortin, of Ashford Ford, 

 Staines. 



Class XI. Short-horned Heifers, not over 4 years old.— 152., 

 Mr. W. Aldworth, of Frilford, near Abingdon. 52., Mr. C. P. 

 Dumeld, of Marchara Park, Abingdon. 



Class XII. Short-horned Cows, over 4 years 

 II. Ambler, of Watkinson Hail, near Halifax. 

 Stratton, Swindon. 



Class XIII. Scotch or Irish Oxen, of any age.- 

 Grove, of Feme, near Salisbury. 



Class XIV. Scotch or Irish Cows of any age 

 Joseph Arkwright, of Harlow, Essex. 



Class XV. Welsh Steers of any age.— 202., Colonel Pennant, of 

 Bangor. 52., Sir R. Williams, Bulkeley, Beaumaris. 



Class XVI. Welsh Cows of any age.— The prize is withheld. 



Class XVII. Oxen of other pure breeds of any age. 



old.— 202., Mr. 

 102., Mr. R. 



-102., Mr. John 

 —52., the Rev. 



•t | ., .- - — — — — ■ r»" *■»— ■«** v » Ufc " ul puic uiccua ui any HgtV — 102., 



value by the erection ot Messrs. Charles Neame & Sons, of Selling, Faversham, Kent. 



1 * " Class XVIII. Cows of other pure breeds of any age. —102.. 



Mr. W. Heath, of Ludham Hall. 



. , M . ■ - , Class XIX. Oxen of cross or mixed breeds not over 3 years 



oi the occupiers and the owner as dependant upon old.— 152., the Earl of Radnor. 



them, were discussed by Me. Baker in a very T «™^P X ^ *fv^ Mr - 



vi \ . ., , , < . , **■""■ iAX ** »^j.jr James Taylor, of ^Sifffir. near Park Hill Ross N R 



liberal spirit ; due regard being had to the existing^ - ~" - **..-« *""' * 08 ^ w - «• 



character and habits of the peasantry, especially 

 those of the eastern counties, to whom we suppose 

 Mr. Baker more especially referred. 



It was the main purpose of the lecturer to state 

 the evils of faulty and ignorant land agency, and 

 these were very ably reviewed and illustrated. That 

 they affect large estates, whole provinces of land in 

 this country at present, few will deny, and it is a 

 great service done when one of such large and long 



101., 



experience as 

 them. 



Baker 



THE SMITHFIELD CLUB. 



This Club held its usual annual show of fat stock and 

 implements during the past week at the Baker Street 

 Bazaar. We have been looking since our return from 

 the yard at a series of sketches by Mr. C. F. Welles of 

 animals exhibited 14 and 15 years ago, and we must 

 confess that he would find no such animals now as he 



Class XXI. Cross-bred heifers not over 4 years old. 

 Mr. Edward Waters, of Stratf jrd-sub-Castle, Salisbury. 



SHEEP. 



Class XXII. Wether Sheep, long-woolled breeds under 22 

 months old.— 20Z., Mr. R. L. Bradshaw, of Burley-on-the-Hill, 

 Oakham. 10Z., Mr. G. S. Foljambe, of Osberton Hall, Worksop. 

 51.. Lord Berners, of Keythorpe Hall. 



Class XXIII. Ditto, ditto, Sheep to be under 220 lbs in 

 weight.— 20Z., Mr. G. S. Foljambe, of Osberton Hall. 10?., Mr. 

 R. L. Bradshaw, of Burley-on-the-Hill. 51, Marquis of Exeter. 



Class XXIV. Wether Sheep, long-woolled breeds (not being 

 Leicesters) under 22 months old.— 10Z., Mr. William Hewer, of 

 Sevenhampton, High worth. 



Class XXV. Cross-bred Wether Sheep under 22 months.— 

 10Z. f Mr. John Overman, of Burnham Sutton, Norfolk. 51., Mr. 

 John Hitchman, of Little Melton, near Tetsworth. 



Class XXVI. Ditto, ditto, under 220 lbs. weight.— 10?., Mr. 

 John Overman, of Burnham Sutton, Norfolk. 



Class XXVII. Wether Sheep, short-woolled breeds, under 22 

 months old.— 20Z., Mr. William Rigden, of Hove, Brighton. 10?. 

 Lord Walsingham. 



Class XXVIII. Ditto ditto, under 200 lbs. weight.— 10* the 



Duke of Richmond, K.G. 

 Class XXIX. Wether Sheep, short-woolled breeds, under 

 i months.— 20?., the Duke of Richmond, K.G. 10L Mr II II 



Lindsay, of West Dean, Chichester. ' ' ' 



The drawings before North Houghton, Stockbridge, Hants 



PIGS. 



a- 4 *u e it t » , . . *• I Class XXX. Wether Sheep under 22 months, short-woolled 



did then for the employment of his very clever pencil, breeds (not being Southdowns).-10Z, Mr. John T F pVin of 



But this is not to be regretted. The drawings before l * Nrnrfh nn,,fflltAn °*~ ««"— b — A - * ' ' 



us are those apparently of very well bred cattle, but of 



beasts which have been spoiled for food by excessive 



feeding ; and specimens of over fatness are rarer now 



than they were in 1841. The show this year is hardly 



up to the average either we believe in number or quality. 



The Devons, with which the catalogue commences, are 



scarcely so numerous as they have been, and they are, ' 



we think, unusually small. This is no drawback in the 



eyes of butchers, however, and 



first of the animals exhibited. 



able show of Hereford oxen, 



ox shown by Mr. Niblett, of 



passed for even and uniform 



horns are not so good a show as last year. The prize 



ox is, however, an animal of remarkable quality, and 



might well be taken as a true representative 



they are always sold the 

 Thffre is a very remark- 

 and probably the prize 

 Bristol, was never sur- 

 excellence. The short- 



The 



Class XXXI. Pigs of any breed above 13 and under 26 weeks 

 old. — 10J., Mr. John Coate, of Hammoon, Blandford 51 H R H 

 Prince Albert. * "' • xv,n « 



Class XXXII. Above 26 and under 52 weeks old — 10Z H R II 

 Prince Albert 51 Mr. John Coate of Hammoon; Blandford. * ' 



Class XXX FIT. Above 12 and under 18 months old -101 Mr 

 Stewart Marjoribanks, of Bushey Grove. Watford k? « t*j.« 

 B. Mill, of Mottisfont Abbey, Romaey, Hants ' ** J ° hn 



GOLD MEDALS. 

 The Gold Medal to the exhibitor of the best steer or ox in anv 

 of the Classes. The Marquis of Exeter, K.G., of Burghley Park, 



The Gold Medal to the exhibitor of the best heifer or mv in 



Halifax the ClaS * e8 ' Mr ' Henr7 AmMer ' ° f W^inJnTal" 



The Gold Medal to the exhibitor of the best nen of *«« ™ 

 old long-woolled sheep in any of the Classes. MrRT R»Ll 

 of Burley-on-the-HUi; Oakham . ^ K * L " Bradshav . 



The Gold Medal to the exhibitor of the best pen of one-year-old 



The Gold Medal to the exhibitor of the best pen of nies in «„ 

 of the Classes. Mr. John Coate, of Hammoon, Blandford. T 



EXTRA STOCK. 



The Silver Medal to the exhibitor of the best beast Mr Ta>~ 

 Overman, of Burnham Sutton, Norfolk. ' Jolm 



The Silver Medal to the exhibitor of the best lon?-wooll^ 

 sheep. Mr. G. S. Foljambe, of Osberton Hall, Worksop 



The Silver Medal to the exhibitor of the best short- woolly 

 sheep. Lord Walsingham, of Merton Hall, Thetford. 



The Silver Medal to the exhibitor of the best cross-bred rHao* 

 Mr. Charles Howard, of Biddenham, Bedford. ^^* 



The Silver Medal to the exhibitor of the best pig. Mr Stewart 

 Marjoribanks, of Bushey Grove, Watford. * 



JUDGES. 



Cattle and Long-woolled Sheep.— John Buckley, William He&gel 

 tine, Robert Smith. 



Cross-bred Short-woolled Sheep and Pigs. — Henry Fookes John 

 Clayden, Thomas Hawkins. ' 



The Show of Implements and vegetables in the 

 galleries above the cattle, and of steam threshing 

 machines on the ground floor, is as large and as mul- 

 tifarious as ever. We do not, however, notice anything 

 new, unless it be the admirable practice adopted by Mr. 

 Ransome of pricing every article exhibited in a readable 

 manner. A plough for 21. 1 4s. placed in a prominent position 

 appeared to us to deserve it both for the quality of the 

 article and its cheapness. ChafFcutters, Linseed-crushers 

 and flour mills, and corn and cake crushers, are appro- 

 priately enough the principal articles exhibited— and 

 there is a fitness in directing the attention chiefly to 

 those machines employed in preparing the food which is 

 to make the beef and mutton exhibited below. As we 

 walked round we noticed the grinding mills exhibited 

 by Mr. Loyd, of Shoreditch — the carts and ploughs 

 exhibited by Mr. Busby, of Bedale, — the horizontal 

 Turnip cutters of Mr. Phillipps, though we did not 

 notice his Turnip grater. Mrs. Wedlake had a large 

 stock of implements present. Messrs. Howard, of Bed- 

 ford, exhibited their admirable ploughs and harrows ; 

 Mr. Gibbs had a stand of magnificent Turnips, Mangel 

 Wurzel, and other roots. Skirving, Sutton, & Lawson 

 had also stands— the first remarkable for his Swedes— 

 the second for a quantity of very large specimens,especially 

 of Mangel Wurzel ; the third for collections of Grasses 

 and grains : we may refer here to the very interesting 

 framed specimens of Triticum and other grains, showing 

 all the parts of the plant in a most instructive manner. 

 Burgess & Key and Dray & Deane exhibit large quan- 

 tities of implements — their rival reapers, &c. Garratt 

 and Hornsby and Smythe & Holmes have specimens of 

 their drilling-machines. Crosskill exhibits carts, and 

 Bell's reaper, his root-washer, &c. Root-graters were 

 shown in considerable numbers by Fowler and others, 

 chiefly on Bushe and Barter's principle ; Samuelson 

 exhibits Turnip-cutters and chaff-cutters ; and steaming 

 apparatus is shown by Stanley, of Peterborough, and 

 draining apparatus by Clayton, of the Atlas Works 

 close by. Baysford, of Drury Lane, shows his pecu- 

 liar sprinsr carts and carriages. Messrs. Rich- 



spring 

 rnond & Chandler 



carriages, 

 exhibit their well-known chaff- 

 cutters, corn-bruisers, &c. Chandler exhibits his 

 liquid manure drill. Smyth & Ashby show their hay- 

 maker, chaff-cutter, &c. Barrett & Exall show their 

 small threshing machine and other implements. Cole- 

 man exhibits a number of scarifiers. Felts and tente 

 are exhibited by M'Neill & Croggon. Manure makers 

 are represented by the Superphosphate Compost Com- 

 pany. And many other manufactures and machines 

 were present ; but the above will show that the oppor- 

 tunity afforded by the meeting of the Smithfield Club 

 has not been lost for any want of alacrity and energy on 

 the part of English agricultural machinists. 



THE MIDLAND COUNTIES EXHIBITION. 

 Birmingham, Dec. 13.— The general interest attaching 

 to the meeting here is greater than that excited by the 

 Smithfield show. The large show of poultry, the ex- 

 tensive collection of sorts exhibited, the better show ot 

 pigs, more than make up for the deficient i. umber ot 

 cattle in the hall, and for [the absence of agricultural 

 implements. The roomy comfortable place of meeting 

 is a point, too, in which the Midland Counties Associa- 

 tion have greatly the advantage of the Smithfield Uut>. 

 The show of cattle contains some animals that would 

 have carried off prizes at Baker Street, but on the 

 whole it was not equal in quality to its rival. 

 The gold medals were both carried off by Here- 

 fords — and by Herefords of remarkable quality. 

 The classes of Shorthorns and of Herefords con- 

 tained some animals which are exceedingly and n • 

 evenly fat, such as have almost disappeared from tn 

 Smithfield exhibitions. On the other hand the l)evgj 

 are equal in quality, and the longhorns are tol ? r * D7 t 

 well represented— a class which has no standin ^ 

 Baker Street at all. The show of sheep was v ?7 8°°? 

 Lord Walsingham being very successful with his aoo " 

 downs, and for the other prizemen we refer to tne * 

 below. The show of pigs is remarkably good, ^ 

 large and small breeds both being remarkably w 

 presented. In the same division of the hall witn ^ 

 cattle is a very capital collection of roots and enorm i 

 Cabbages. This is a very useful addition to the *< 

 bition, and attracted a good deal of attention. The 

 prize was carried off by the Elvetham long red Ma h 

 Wurzel, grown from Messrs. Suttons' seed. - & 



The great attraction of the exhibition, howev , e nted 

 the poultry show, which contained an unprece<ie^ 

 number of birds (almost 5000), many of the cla*** 



themselves more numerous than the e ^ 

 collection of many provincial poultry shows. ^" u ^ ]jaJ 

 coloured Dorkings — chickens of 1855 — no fewer 



1 being in 



