272 Farminrj of JIampsldre. — Bolleij Farmers' Club. 
The ajjriculture of this whole disti'ict is under great obliga- 
tions to the Botlej and South Hants Farmers' Club, to their show, 
and to their eminently practical discussions. 11 there be a greater 
spirit of enterprise and more intelligence among the farmers 
here than among their brethren in the north, this is in a great 
measure to be ascribed to the skill and intelligence manifested 
in the conduct of this society by its secretary (Mr. Spooner, of 
•Kling), and its principal members. If an example be wanted 
of tlie beneficial results produced by such institutions, let an 
account be taken of the different improvements made in the agri- 
culture of this district during the last 15 years, and then let the 
society's publications be })erused. It will be seen how every step 
of that progress has been preceded, and the public mind informed, 
by full and candid discussions between those actually engaged in 
agricultural operations. Farmers have thus been led just as fast 
as they could follow. A library is attached to the club ; and a 
root show is held in December, with small prizes for fine individual 
specimens of the different kinds, and larger to those who exhibit 
whole fields. At Botley, too, a fat cattle and sheep show (though 
this attaches rather to the market than to the club) is held. Its 
peculiarity is, that being held as early as about Lady-day, it 
gives prizes for young fat stock ; for fat lambs (of different 
breeds), 5 prizes ; for fat ewes that have yeaned and fatted 
lambs the same season, since 1st December, 4 prizes ; for fat 
wether tegs, 4 prizes ; for the best fat steers and heifers, severally 
2\ or under 4 years old, 5 prizes. " Early maturity " is the 
motto of the show for stock, and in a question of agricultural 
profits early maturity means " quick returns." 
The ordinary labourer has from \0s. to 12a'. per week ; carter 
and shepherd, from 12s. to 14s. The manual labour per acre is 
"07 ; the tithe is 5s. per acre ; parochial rates, 3s. in the pound ; 
rent, 1/. 4s. per acre. Leases are pretty general, for terms of 8, 
16, or 24 years. 
In no part of the county has agriculture of late years made 
more sound advances than in this district. You do not, indeed, 
see establishments on the same enlarged scale as on the chalk, 
lor which the same opportunities do not here exist ; but you 
find arrangements adapted to circumstances of soil, climate, and 
demand, with much originality, and not mere copying from 
other, and probably dissimilar localities. The credit is due to 
the intelligence and spirit of the tenant-farmers themselves, of 
whom the occupiers in the large and influential parish of Titch- 
field are examples, and of them Messrs. Hewitt and Mr. Horace 
B. Lcggat, of Brownwitch, are good representatives. About 
Bishopstoke railway station also may be seen some excellent 
