250 



The Royal's" War Record. 



[JUNE, 



THE ^'ROYAUS ^' WAR RECORD. 



J. P. Goodwin. 



The Royal Agricultural Society of England can fairly 

 claim to have carried out no less satisfactorily during the years 

 of war than in those of peace the task allotted to it 82 years 

 ago — the general advancement of English agriculture. It 

 will not be denied that the farming industry has made great 

 progress under the stimulus of the " Royal," and more especially 

 in the improvement in live stock and in agricultural machinery, 

 due to the competitions and demonstrations at the Society's 

 annual shows. With the exception of 1866, the " Royal " 

 show has been held annually down to 1917, in which year, 

 and the one following, the critical state of the War led to its 

 abandonment. 



Thus compelled to rest from one of its chief labours, the 

 Society endeavoured to assist in the solution of the problems 

 born of the exceptional times. The Council therefore appointed 

 a War Emergency Committee for the following purposes : — 

 To advise the Government Departments, if they so desired, 

 b}^ focussing the opinion of agriculturists all over the country ; 

 to give confidence to agriculturists by providing a body which 

 could help to solve many of their present difficulties and lake 

 up their just grievances ; to reassure the public by devoting 

 its attention to the maintenance of the food production of 

 the country ; to sift the proposals being put before the country 

 as to what should be done with the land, and to consider the 

 effect of Government orders and regulations on production. 



The Society consistently sought to assist the Government, 

 and more especially those departments concerned with the 

 fixing of prices, which were particularly in need of expert 

 and unofficial guidance. One effect of the Society's work in 

 this direction was to reassure the public, for it was recognised 

 that a practical body of men was devoting its attention to 

 the maintenance of food production. Another result was to 

 show that the patriotism of the farmer was as genuine and deep 

 as that of any other class. Prompt and emphatic protest 

 on the part of the Society against the charges of apathy and 

 profiteering which were sometimes laid at the door of the farmer 

 had the effect of securing a fairer field for harassed agriculturists, 

 and strengthening confidence. At the same time the Council 

 urged the farmer to make the utmost use of such facilities 



