May, 1912.) 



451 



Miscellaneous » 



The club which forms the title of this 

 article is run on very " practical " lines, 

 though the claims of science are by no 

 means ignored. The founder of the club, 

 Earl Beauchamp, is also its president, 

 and much of the success it has already 

 attained is to be attributed to his initi- 

 ative, and the keen interest he takes 

 in its welfare. The president is sup- 

 ported by a committee of about 20 prac- 

 tical men — farmers, fruit growers, gar- 

 deners, and others resident in the 

 neighbourhood. 



The aims of the club are two-fold ; 

 firstly, to induce the workers on the 

 land to take a creative and proprietary 

 interest in their labour ; and secondly 

 to increase their efficiency. In point 

 of fact, these two may be taken as cause 

 and effect, for, with interest there is 

 more energy, more spirit, greater intelli- 

 gence, than without it. In order to 

 induce the interest prizes are offered 

 for competitions, covering nearly all the 

 work done on an ordinary farm-hedging, 

 ditching, ploughing, thatching, mowing, 

 reaping, rick-building, hop-drying, hop- 

 stringing, sheep management, poultry 

 keeping, &c. There is also a veterinary 

 section, dealing with the prevention and 

 cure of the common diseases of farm 

 stock. 



An agricultural exhibition is held 

 annually on the estate in connection 

 with the club ; this is always a red-letter 

 day for the workers ; prizes are distri- 

 buted, and a feast is provided which no 

 one is too proud to enjoy. There is also an 

 annual flower show, which is held in 

 the grounds of the court; prizes are 

 offered for almost every sort of flower, 

 fruit, and vegetable which a cottage 

 can produce. The day of the flower 

 show is the great day of the year ; not 

 only to do the workmen who compete, 

 but prizes are also given for needle work, 

 carving &c, the results of long busy 

 winter evenings of the wives and older 

 children. Then are competitions for 

 miscellaneous articles, such as butter, 

 cakes, honey, and wasps ' nests— this 

 latter a most useful class, especially in 

 such a summer as the last, The oppor- 



tunity is taken to give demonstrations 

 on various useful subjects, such, for in- 

 stance, as the pruning of trees, in connec- 

 tion with which a special class is held by 

 an expert in the art, which may be 

 attended by anyone in the district. At 

 the end of the session (three or four 

 weeks) a pruning exhibition is held in an 

 orchard within reach of the club ; a com- 

 petent fruit grower is appointed as 

 judge, and prizes are given for the best 

 pruned trees. Each competitor is dis- 

 tinguished by a letter attached to his coat, 

 and corresponding to that on the trees 

 which he has to prune. The trees are 

 generally Apples (standard). Plums, 

 and Gooseberries, or sometimes Pears, 

 Cherries, and Currants, and they are 

 chosen to present as far as possible the 

 same features, The competition begins 

 punctually at 10 a.m., without regard to 

 weather, and each competitor is provided 

 with steps, ladder, saw, and knife. The 

 judge remains on the spot and watches 

 the work throughout, and at 1 p.m. the 

 competition ceases. The judging is done 

 by points, which are noted down during 

 progress of the pruning, so that the 

 winner is declared as soon as the com- 

 petition is closed, As a rule about 15 or 

 20 lads compete. Points are given for 

 judgment as to which branches to cut, 

 skilful and expeditious manipulation, 

 and the appearance of the trees when 

 finished. The pruning demonstration i3 

 really of great service to orchard 

 owners, who may thus have their trees 

 pruned free of all charge ; the work is 

 usually done very well, as the competitors 

 are trained by the hardy fruit foreman 

 at Madresfield Court. In case of any 

 damage being done, the judge is em- 

 powered at once to stop any pruning if 

 the competitor appears incompetent. 

 The advantage to the men themselves is 

 still more obvious ; the knowledge thus 

 gained will be of incalculable benefit to 

 them, especially to those who will one 

 day possess fruit trees of their own. 



The theoretical side of horticulture 

 and agriculture is chiefly developed by 

 means of lectures and demonstrations 

 which take place in winter at the club 

 room ; there are also nature study 



