Tcurm Prize Competitions. 
Ixxxv 
the Society were recommended to be 
sent for copies of Greek agricul- 
tural publications, and for a copy of 
the late Lord Powis’s speeches and 
articles. 
Farm Prize Competitions. 
Earl Cathcaet, in reference to 
the Committee’s recommendation on 
the subject of farm prizes, said their 
decision had been due to no lack of 
appreciation of the offer of the Local 
Committee, to whom they felt ex- 
ceedingly obliged. But they thought 
the time was come when they should 
give up the system of farm competi- 
tions. It was considered that it 
would answer better, both for the 
interests of the neighbourhood and 
also for the purposes of the Journal, 
if, instead of having a competition, 
they were to send a Commissioner or 
Commissioners to visit typical farms 
in the district. 
Mr. Garrett Taylor asked 
whether any suggestion had been made 
with respect to a diploma or certi- 
ficate of merit of any kind to be given 
to those farms which were to be visi- 
ted, as proposed by the Committee. 
Lord Egerton of Tatton said 
that the discontinuance of the Farm 
Prize Competitions would be a very 
great disappointment to the farmers 
in Cheshire, many of whom had spent 
money and made arrangements for 
competing. The Farm Prize Com- 
petitions of the Society, as well as 
those of the Royal Manchester Society, 
had been a great stimulus to the 
farmers of the district. Competition 
for prizes of this kind stimulated 
them to keep their farms in a tidy 
state. He quite understood that 
there was now no necessity for these 
farm prizes being given — certainly so 
far as the Journal was concerned. 
But in his neighbourhood he thought 
it would be a very great disappoint- 
ment if the visit of the Royal Agri- 
cultural Society were not to be 
accompanied by some such standard 
and certificate of merit as was given 
to those who won the farm prizes. 
He confessed he rather regretted the 
decision at which the Committee had 
arrived. He felt that, if possible, 
longer notice should have been given 
of the intention to discontinue the 
prizes, because he thought that it had 
been understood that these prizes 
would be given in connection with the 
Chester Meeting. He did not know 
whether it would be possible to recon- 
sider the matter, and to give prizes 
for farms — at any rate, for next 
year. 
Earl Catiicart said that there 
was a great deal in what the noble 
lord had stated ; and if preparations 
had been made in anticipation of the 
competition, the prizes might, per- 
haps, be continued for another year. 
But he had understood on all sides 
that no preparations had been made, 
and he believed the Local Committee 
acquiesced in what had been done. 
The whole matter had been very 
carefully considered, and he thought 
the Committee had come to the right 
decision. At the same time, they 
were entirely in the hands of the 
Council ; and he saw no objection to 
going on for another year, if it were 
desired. The Committee only wished 
to do what was best in the interests 
of the Society and of agriculture 
generally. 
The Hon. Cecii, Parker said there 
had been no public announcement in 
regard to the prizes for farms, and 
any proposals which had been made 
respecting them were only known 
to members of the Local Committee. 
After hearing the expression of 
opinion made by Sir Matthew White 
Ridley and others at the May meeting 
of the Council, he had told the Local 
Committee that he did not think the 
Council would be disposed to accept 
prizes for farms. 
Mr. Dent stated that the matter 
had been mentioned at the meeting 
of the General Chester Committee 
that morning, and no objection was 
raised by the representatives of the 
Local Committee to the course which 
was proposed. Having had an oppor- 
tunity of conversing with members 
of the Society, and recollecting the 
competitions that had been held 
before (the very poor competition in 
his own county for instance), he 
thought the plan suggested by the 
Journal Committee was far better. 
They had not had any idea of giving 
a certificate of merit, but that certain 
farms should be selected as being 
typical of the agriculture of the 
district, and that someone qualified 
