In many cases examined by us professionally, we have measured the length of space formed by gaps and all sorts of rustic fencing imaginable, and found that it exceeded that under the live hedge itself. Such a fence with two large ditches, one on each side - a very common affair-instead of being an ornament to the estate, is an unmistakable token of disgrace. Wheu tenants renew the leases of such hedges, with the large track of land occupied by them, and burdened with the ditches to be kept clean, and the hedges themselves maintained in a fencible state, they must of necessity make very wide calculations to keep their accounts square. And as they advance in knowledge, wealth, and independence, such calculations are not likely to become less than they have hitherto been. In principle we have thus arrived at exactly the same conclusion under the tenant's case that we did under the land lord's. Under the latter it was shown that the more intelligent landowners were becoming sensibly impressed with the necessity of performing their own functions in reference to the hedges upon their estates. And just so is it with tenants; for they must also perform their own functions in regard to hedges upon their farms; but nothing more, according to the stern dictates of principle. A good hedge is both a lasting fence and an ornament, requiring little of the tenant to keep it in order. Practically speaking, it defends itself from harm. A bad hedge, on the contrary, is but a short-lived-no-fence-atall, a heavy loss to all parties, and therefore like a lame or unhealthy ox or horse, it should not be grown. The sooner that landowners come to a proper and a practical understanding on this point with their tenants, the better will the interests of both be consulted iu reference to the hedges. X. Y. Z. THE HEREFORDSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. At the dinner, after the annual show on Tuesday, Oct. 14, the chief topic dwelt upon was the refusal of the Royal Agricultural Society to honour Hereford with a visit. Mr. King King, one of the Members for the County, declared it was a shame; and Lord William Graham, another Member, echoed him; while Mr. Mildmay, as the third, said much the same thing. Sir George Cornewall Lewis considered that the decision in favour of Worcester could only have been the result of some "happy accident"; Sir Velters Cornewall, the Chairman of the day, thought it was not right to raise their hopes if single lines of rail were known to be fatal; and Mr. Wren-Hoskyns said fas est ab hoste doceri. For our own part, we can only repeat that we said when the selection was made: "Let the energies of the Herefordshire men be still and specially directed to making as strong an entry of their own stock as they would have done had the Show been in their own city, and let them fight Worcestershire over again in this wise. The latter may have the most room; but Herefordshire must show the best stock, or her first and greatest argument fails her." It is gratifying to note that this high tone has already been adopted. The entry of Hereford cattle at Battersea was in every way superior to that of the year preceding at Leeds; and the Show at Hereford itself, in the autumn of 'Sixty-two, was as much an improvement on the home meeting of 'Sixty-one. Remarkably enough, too, any such change for the better was not confined to the exhibition proper, for it is long since the fair has opened with so many good beasts in the highways. Different people were picking out gold medal steers from different lots, although they certainly opened at something like gold medal prices. It had been anticipated, what with the plenty of keep now so general, that "rates would run high," and buyers who came duly provided for this were not much disappointed. Still, the article was a prime one, it the figure was a stiff one. It was well maintained by such samples as those offered by Mr. Monkhouse, or by Jones of Knighton, who had some famous cattle from the Radnorshire Hills, and from the herds of men like Mr. Rea, Mr. Dyke, and Mr. Thomas. One of the great merits claimed for the Hereford is that he will show better when driven in straight out of the field than almost any other kind of stock; though, noticeably enough, the complaint now is that the breeders only do their beasts rather too well before they send them in, and that, as a consequence, not near so much can be done with them when they get into the Shires. In the poorer parts of their native land it is by no means uncommon for the cattle to have their rations of oaten straw dealt out to them with the oats in it; and there were some hundreds of Herefords up direct to Islington on Monday last, and in good condition for the butcher, that in former times would have passed through a primary preparation in the Midlands. With increased facilities of transfer, and less loss by the way-side, the white-faces threaten to come still more into repute; and by the present showing, those who mean to have them will have to pay for them. Such at least was the opinion which we gathered on the Tuesday, in reality the picked fair day; although, as with the Yorkshire horse fairs, the business of buying and selling was supposed not to begin until the following morning. But as Wednesday brought with it a storm of thunder and lightning, with long-continued torrents of rain, a thorough damper was put upon any further proceedings. Few customers would venture out, and much of the stock was never sent in. Such cattle as were sold went of course at a depression of prices, and both buyers and sellers who had been holding over from yesterday were alike discomfited. This stroll through the streets, on a genial autumn day like the Tuesday, was a fine prologue to the Society's exhibition. Once within the well-arranged lines, it was pleasant to find the strength of the fair so confirmed by the strength of the show. The most interesting classes, for those who would look to the actual use and value of the breed, were the best filled. There were half-a-dozen capital entries of the bull, cow, and their offspring; there were thirty yearling bulls; and there were fortyseven breeding cows, shown by tenant farmers fairly as breeding animals. All this tells in nice contrast to the steery barren heifer, the over-fed impotent bull, or the famous cow which, with a little hard-swearing, is recorded to have once produced a live calf. At Hereford, this live calf stands by the side of her dam, with Paterfamilias on the other side of her; and nothing most assuredly can have a finer effect, or offer better evidence than they thus gather together in the market-place. Of course the class was full of famous animals; and so even were many of these in their merits, that their placing must in some degree be the different fancies of different judges. In addition to the Citizens' premium of twenty pounds, there were two other prizes, and yet the well known Mr. Roberts, of Ivington Bury, could reach no higher than a commendation; whereas, at Leomin ster the other day, his trio took first honours, and Mr. Davis' best at Hereford then ranked second to them. The winners, however, were the most uniform lot, all of good wearing colours," of great depth and thickness, and the offspring alone a very marvel of growth and size. Mr. Capper's second set had the appearance of being finer bred, and Ada was certainly the handsomest cow in the yard; but a very late calf told against the family when put in public comparison with some others. The third prize included, as it will be seen, the well-known Chelmsford in Mr. Perry's sorting, and we need scarcely remind our readers that Lord Wellington and Ada were second and third in their classes at Battersea; or that many of the others have plenty of performances to fall back upon for those who have the time to go through them. The same may be said of the yearling bulls, where, indeed, the first, second, and third were placed again precisely as they were in London. Battersea, however, has gone on improving and thickening faster than any of his fellows, and for our pick he was the choice of the whole show, still as "level to look on, and as famous to handle" as when we first met him. There was a deal of commendable uniformity of character in this important class the good masculine head-the long and deep frame -the short fine leg-and an especial run upon dark wholesome constitutional colours. The yellow breed would, in fact, appear to be dying out, and as with the Suffolk horses, we know of no reliable argument that should make the lighter hues the better. There was but a short class of two-year-olds, where Mr. Evans, a young man who is coming on in some force, won with another blackish-coated bull, of great length, good touch, and small bone. The aged bulls, again, were not numerically strong, nor any of particular appearance. Silvius, an animal of great size, and with a good head and deep forehand, has been rather overdone, and is growing out of form: lumpy on his quarter, and standing badly on his pins, his contour by no means does justice to his many fine points. ton, who did not venture up to Battersea, created a The The two best "collections" from the herds of ten- Both the sheep and the pig sections are improving on ant farmers were both furnished by Mr. Taylor, of what we have seen here, where it has generally been the Stretford, in the first of which, for animals of any age Herefords first, and the rest nowhere. Some good or either sex, he encountered no competition. He sent, Berkshires relieved the "middle" whites that Sir Velters however, half-a-dozen highly bred heifers, four of which Cornewall as a pig fancyer is now cultivating so had been first at Ludlow, and one of them, Countess, successfully; and a few pure Cotswolds and useful pens was out of the famous Fancy Leominster. In his lot of of Shropshires disputed for the palm with the old Ryeseven cows old Fancy herself occupied a prominent lands, still so much in favour hereabouts, although with place, wearing well and looking fresh as she does at ten nothing very stylish in their appearance. Unmistakeyears old, and with six or seven calves to her credit. ably, the weak place of the Hereford Meeting is the Associated with her was Melody, a nice lengthy cow, horse show; and this year it was rather worse than and Venus, a rare breeder, out of Winifred the dam of usual. The prize cart stallion was a very moderate aniso many successful animals. Mr. Walker, of Westfield, mal to stand along-side, and a yet more indifferent was handicapped with four great useful cows, all war- mover; but the draught mares were better, and nag ranted in-calf; and Mr. Turner, of The Leen, had Ruby, brood mares-three of them in all-perhaps the very the Royal prize heifer, amongst his seven. There were worst out of which a winner was ever selected. eight entries for this admirably drawn premium, and, as judges, however, commended the whole class of hunting we have already said, forty-seven cows shown in com- three-year-olds; although it would be difficult to say petition for it. The pairs of heifers led off with two of upon what ground. Their prize horse was a plain, sourremarkably fine quality, bred and exhibited by Mr. headed, under-bred animal, with nothing but his action, Monkhouse, whose nice touch still guides him with as it was admitted, to recommend him; and that we curious fidelity to the best points of an animal. It is cannot answer for, as we did not see him out. Either very interesting to see this hale, cheerful veteran, who Mr. Jones' or Mr. Morris' would be preferred for now for many years has lost the blessing of his sight, shape and promise, while a decent-looking one, the prorunning his hand over a beast, and pronouncing upon its perty of Sir Velters Cornewall, was set aside on the plea merits, far more correctly than would many of those of unsoundness. For the hunter-stallion premium who have their eyes to help them. Mr. Arkwright, one offered by Sir Velters only two horses were entered-the of the popular masters of the fox-hounds, and this year handsome highly-bred old Hereford, and a coarse, cartyHigh Sheriff for the county, came out as a young breeder quartered, heavy-necked, harness-looking animal called with a very uniform pretty couple as second; whereas Artful, but also said to be thorough-bred. Hereford Mr. Perry's best had nothing to back her, though in by Sir Hercules, out of Sylph by Spectre, is certainly in herself all over a prize for any single-handed entry. his decline, but it is simply lamentable to see such a With the two-year-old heifers, Mr. Wigmore, of Wes-horse as the other publicly preferred to him as "the stallion best calculated to produce good hunters." The wheats were of a good sample, the prize cider sound and pleasant to the palate, and the best farm-gate a somewhat curious contrivance for practical purposes. There was a strong entry of collections of implements, most of which, as will be seen by the prize list, were deservedly noticed; but the way in which a razor-grinder was suffered to cry-up and sell out his wares sounded more of a Cheap Jack in a fair than of an exhibitor qualified to rank alongside so respectable a body of men as our agricultural implement makers. The utter failure of the hop crop in these parts told much, as it was urged, against the sale of young bulls, and both Mr. Russell and Mr. l'ye had a very up-hill time of it with their auctions in and out of the showyard. Several lots were sent back without a bid, but Battersea was sold by private contract to Mr. Baldwin, of Luddington, Warwickshire, for a hundred; and Mr. Taylor, of Stretford, secured the pick of Mr. Price's yearlings-Sir George, by Salisbury-for fifty. We believe that Mr. Perry also cleared out of those he offered, but with no sensation biddings to record. We did not wait for the Whitefield sale of white-faces on the Thursday, when Mr. Pye officiated for their owner, the Reverend Archer Clive, but the following is a summary of what they made :-32 cows and calves averaged £32 each; 6 two-year-old heifers, £26 10s. 6d.; and 6 yearling heifers, £19 12s. The highest price of cow and calf brought £58 16s.; the next, £49 19s.; the third, £38 78. 6d. The highest price of two-year-olds realised £32 0s. 6d., and the highest price yearlings, £26 5s. We have already referred to the dinner, where the chief topic was the rejection of Hereford by the Royal Agricultural Society. Indeed, there would seem to be a desire in some quarters to still keep this an open wound; and Mr. Duckham actually cited, although of course he could not support, the offer of "a kind friend," who would guarantee a thousand pounds towards having an opposition show at Hereford during the time the Royal held their meeting at Worcester! By all means let a South Wales District Society be established, as in fact was advocated in our columns some years since; but we do not think that any eventual good can follow from the men of Hereford putting themselves, or, at any rate talking as if they intended to put themselves, into direct antagonism with the National Society. Worcester herself was passed over for Gloucester, and Hereford yet may deign to take her turn. As for the other proceedings at the dinner, we scarcely dare trust ourselves to return to them. There were three-and-twenty toasts on the list, ten of which, of the usual routine character, had been disposed of, when we left in despair between seven and eight o'clock. There were five Members of Parliament, who spoke in due succession one after another, and all at great length, and all on subjects of the least possible interest to an agricultural audience. Then there was "The Clergy"-and "The Lord-Lieutenant," who did not come-and "The High Sheriff" who did-and "The Army and the Navy" and "The Volunteers"-so that had not Sir Velters Cornewall, with the work he saw cut out for him, been commendably short, sharp, and decisive, the company must have sat until it was time to begin on the next day's fair. As it was, they cracked their filberts, and laughed and joked one with another, paying the least possible attention to the prosy platitudes of Mr. King King, or the somewhat shoppy oration of Sir G. Cornewall Lewis himself. We endorse every word of the straightforward letter with which a Midland Counties' man has really obliged us; and we cheerfully adopt the commentary of that excellent and able journal The Hereford Times. It is wholesome to see a country paper that dares to speak straight to the point in this wise: "The farmer who reads will doubtless share the dissatisfaction of many members of his order who were present, at finding that the time was wholly taken up with speeches of a general nature, agricultural topics being little more than the halfpenny worth of bread' to a vast quantity of political sack'; while the tenant-farmer as such had no place among the speakers. The adroitness, too, with which the various speakers managed to omit, in their Parliamentary remembrances, all reference to the Night Poaching Act, the only measure of the session in which the farmer feels any interest, cannot fail to strike the reader. As a 'modern instance of the old saw' about the representation of Hamlet' with the part of Hamlet omitted by particular desire, perhaps we could not have desired anything better than this skilful ignoring of the only Parliamentary topic for which three-fourths of the company cared a straw. These tactics, however, may be said to have their inconvenience. The feeling expressed the other day at Ludlow is somewhat widely spread among the farmers, and if denied expression at agricultural meetings-which seem to be the natural channels for the utterance of the dominant sentiment of the hour in the agricultural world-will only blaze the more fiercely elsewhere, and notably at the polling-booth at next election. It would be better for the supporters of the Leighton-Berners Act to court rather than to shun discussion-to 'have it out' with their opponents at once, instead of shirking the matter. It may be, of course, that they expect to escape public censure through the failure of the Act. Judging from the recent decisions of the magistrates at Leicester, Derby, and elsewhere, the Act seems to be so clumsily drawn as to be unworkable in any case in which the defendant can secure an attorney of ordinary sharpness." There are close upon half-dozen columns of this "political sack"-ominous word as it is-for the "farmer who reads." He must not, however, expect to find it transplanted here, while those who again arranged such a toast-list have much to answer for. If anything will keep the good city of Hereford still impregnable, and if anything could drive "The Royal" in terror from her walls, it would be the windy, wordy nothings of her chosen orators! PRIZE LIST. HEREFORD CATTLE. JUDGES.-J. Druce, Eynsham, Oxford. J. E. Jones, Springfield, Hereford. Bull, cow, and their offspring, the latter bred by the exhibitor, and calved on or after 1st July, 1861.-First prize (sift of the citizens of Hereford), of £20, T. Davies, Lady Meadow, Yarpole, Leominster (Plato, Daisy and calf). Second of £10, R. H. Capper, The Northgate, Ross (Lord Wellington, Ada and calf). Third of £5, W. Perry, Cholstrey, Leo minster (Chelmsford, Twin and calf). Highly commended T. Roberts, Ivington Bury, Leominster (Sir Thomas, Lady Hastings and calf.) The class commended. Bulls calved on or after the 1st of July, 1861 (gift of the Citizens of Hereford).-First prize of £15, C. Vevers, Ivington Park, Leominster (Battersea). Second of £7 10s., P. Turner, The Leen, Pembridge (Percy). Third of £3 10s., W. Tudge, Adforton, Leintwardine (Ardforton). Highly commended, G. Bedford, Hatfield Court, Leominster (Tormentor). Bulls calved on or after 1st of July, 1860.-First prize of 5 gs., H. R. Evans, jun,, Swanstone Court, Leomin ster (Rodney). Second of £3, W. Taylor, Showle Court, Ledbury (Tambarine). Highly commended, W. C. Morris, Whitwick, Ledbury (Moderator). Commended, R. Biddulph, New House, Ledbury (Big Ben). Bulls calved previous to the 1st of July, 1860.-First prize of 5 gs., Thomas Rea, Westonbury, Pembridge (Silvius). Second of £3, T. Edwards, Wintercott, Leo minster (Nelson). Highly commended, T. Gardiner, The Hope, Bromyard (Didley). Lots of beasts, irrespective of sex, bred by tenant-farmers, being subscribers, and fed without corn or cake, under two years and six months old, in proportion to the quantity of land occupied; the tenant-occupier of not exceeding 100 acres, to show two beasts; ditto of 150 acres, to show three beasts; ditto of 200 acres, to show four beasts; and in the same proportion for every addi tional 50 acres, up to 300 acres.-The prize of 5 gs., J, Taylor, Stretford Court, Leominster (six heifers). Pairs of heifers, calved on or after 1st of July, 1861.First prize of 5 gs., John Monkhouse, The Stow, Hereford (Clementine and Rosette). Second of £3, J. H. Árkwright, Hampton Court, Leominster (Gay and Violet). Highly commended, W. Perry (Lady Battersea and Lady Win-ifI-Can). Pairs of heifers, calved on or after 1st of July, 1860.— First prize of 5 gs., J. Wigmore, Weston-under-Penyard, Ross (Flirt and Gentle the Second). Second of £3, John Williams, St. Mary's, Kingsland (Countess and Duchess). Pairs of steers, calved on or after 1st of July, 1861.First prize of 5 gs., H. R. Evans, jun. Second of £3, J. Nott, The Grange, Glasbury, Hereford. Pairs of steers, calved on or after 1st of July, 1860.First prize of 5 gs., G. Bedford. Second of £3, H. R. Evans, jun. Commended, J. S. Draper, Thingehill, Hereford. Pairs of steers, calved on or after 1st of July, 1859.First prize of 5 gs., T. Lewis, Newchurch, Kinnersley. Second of £3, J. Nott (Lug and Tug). Lots of breeding cows or heifers, not under three years old, that have had a calf within six months, or shall be in calf at the time of showing; occupiers of not exceeding 100 acres, to show two beasts; ditto of 150 acres, to show three beasts; ditto of 200 acres, to show four beasts; and in the same proportion for every additional 50 acres, up to 500 acres. First prize of £15, J. Taylor, Stretford (7 breeding cows, all above 3 years). Second of £7 10s., J. Walker, Westfield House, Holmer (4 breeding cows, three 5 years, one 4 years 9 months). Highly commended, H. R. Evans, jun. (5 cows and heifers of various ages). Fat cows or heifers, having had living calves.-The prize of 5 gs., J. Wigmore (Beauty). Highly commended, P. Turner (Countess). Fat oxen or steers, eligible for either class at the meeting of the Smithfield Club. The prize of 5 gs., Thos. Roberts. SHEEP. JUDGES.-H. Carter, Pembridge, Leominster. J. Walker, Knightwick, Worcester. Pens of twenty Shropshire Down, or short-woolled breeding ewes, under three years and eight months, and not having more than six teeth fully grown; that have suckled lambs to 1st July, 1862.-The prize of £5 gs., J. B. Downing, Holme Lacey, Hereford (Ryeland). Highly commended, A. Armitage, Ladnor, Ross (Shropshire). Pens of twenty long-woolled breeding ewes, under three years and eight months, and not having more than six teeth fully grown; that have suckled lambs to 1st of July, 1862. The prize of 5 gs., T. S. Bradstock, Cobrey Park, Ross. Pens of five yearling wethers, long-wool.-The prize of £5, C. Kearsey, Glewstone, Ross. Pens of five yearling ewes, long-wool.-The prize of £5, C. Kearsey. Pens of five yearling wethers, short-wool, cross-breeds not excluded. The prize of £5, H. R. Evans, jun. Pens of five yearling ewes, short-wool, cross-breeds not excluded:-The prize of £5, J. B. Downing (Ryeland). PIGS. JUDGES.-H. Carter. J. Walker. Boars under two years of age.-The prize of £3. Sir Velters Cornewall, Bart., Moccas Court, Hereford (white). Commended, C. Kearsey (Berkshire). Breeding sows that have brought litters of pigs within | three months of the date of showing, or, being in pig, shall produce a litter on or before the 19th January, 1863.-The prize of £2, Sir Velters Cornewall. Highly commended, Captain Freke Lewis, Abbey Dore Court, Hereford. Best cottager's pigs.-First prize of £1, J. Farrington, White Cross Road, Hereford. Second of 10s., E. Davies, Monkmoor-street, Hereford. HORSES. JUDGES.-H. Carter. J. Walker. Stallions best calculated to produce good hunters.-The prize of 5 gs. (gift of Sir Velters Cornewall, Bart.), W. M. Vevers, Bartestree Court, Hereford (Artful). Commended, J. Nixon, Hay (Hereford). Cart stallions.-The prize of £5, W. Lewis, Bank House, Withington (Brecon Hero). Cart mares and foals at foot.-The prize of 5 gs., Mrs. Elizabeth Bull, Weobley (Jolly). Highly commended, W. | Smith, Tarrington (Diamond). Three years old colts, geldings, or fillies, suited for hunting purposes.-The prize of £5, H. N. Courtney, Tillington Court, Hereford (Harry). Highly commended, W. C. Morris, Whitwick (Sam). The class commended. Nag mares with foals at foot.-The prize of 5 gs., John Williams, St. Mary's. EXTRA STOCK. £2 to J. Wigmore, for 4 heifers (Gentle the First, Curly, Stately the Second, and Stately the Third). 10s. each to P. Turner, for breeding cow (Comely); to W. D. Turner, Lynch Court, Pembridge, for cow in calf (Garland); to T. Beale Browne, Salperton, Andoversford, for Cotswold shearling ram; to T. Beale Browne, for Cotswold aged ram; to J. B. Downing, for two-year-old wether; to J. B. Downing, for two-year-old ewe; to Sir Velters Cornewall, for 8 pigs of 7 weeks old; to Captain Freke Lewis, for boar pig. WHEAT. JUDGES.-H. Carter. J. Walker. Samples of white seed wheat, grown by tenant-farmers in the county of Hereford, farming not less than 50 acres ; the samples not to be less than a sack of five imperial bushels. The prize of £2 12s. 6d., C. Kearsey. Samples of red seed wheat, grown by tenant-farmers in the county of Hereford, farming not less than 50 acres ; the samples not to be less than a sack of five imperial bushels. The prize of £2 12s. 6d., C. Kearsey. CIDER. JUDGE.-H. C. Beddoe. Herefordshire cider, made from apples of the year.-The prize of 5 gs., J. B. Vevers, Yarkhill Court, Hereford. Highly commended, W. Greenhouse, Harbour, Kingsland (mixed fruit). MACHINERY AND IMPLEMENTS. Collections of improved agricultural machinery and implements.-First prize of 5 gs., Felix Smith, Upton Bishop, Ross. Second of £2, S. A. and H. Kell, Ross. Highly commended, Richmond and Chandler, Manchester; Morton and Co., Liverpool; and Bradford, Manchester. Commended, Warren, Ledbury; and James, Cheltenham. FARM GATE. Farm gates. The prize of 3 gs., T. Lewis, Mount Skippett, Much Birch, Ross. HEREFORDSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK-LANE EXPRESS. SIR,-As a constant reader of your valuable paper, I have noticed with much satisfaction your opinion that the efficiency and support of local agricultural societies are likely to be much impaired by the present style of toasts and speeches at the annual dinners. The rule that "no politics shall be discussed" is often entirely ignored. Indeed, if we may judge by what that rule implies-viz., that the main topic of speeches should be agricultural-we may fairly say that the rule is frequently reversed. I have just attended a meeting of the Herefordshire Agricultural Society, where the show of stock, was highly creditable, and fully maintained the reputation of the beautiful Hereford cattle. There was a large attendance of the county gentlemen and farmers, the latter appearing to me above the average of their class for respectability and intelligence. The dinner-party included the members for the county and borough, and most of the landowners and gentry of the county, and, but for my unsatisfactory experience of these occasions, would have presented a sufficient guarantee for the pleasure and improvement of the evening. A glance, however, at the lists of toasts, which were plentifully distributed upon the table, assured me that the old grievance was ensured, and prepared me for what followed. (I enclose one for your inspection.) I will not criticize the speeches that were made-that is not my object; but this I will say and it is what I particularly wish to bring to your notice, and invite your comments upon-that there was scarcely a speech that related to practical agriculture, or that could be considered interesting in its matter to any agriculturist present. If the farmers of Herefordshire are content with merely eating their dinner, and care not what is the subject of the speeches they listen to, and do not desire that any practical agriculturist should address them on the subject most interest ing to them, let them go on as they appear to be now doing; but I cannot believe that an intelligent-looking set of men, such as I met on the occasion alluded to, could be indifferent respecting the after-dinner speeches-indeed, I feel sure of it, from the extent of under-tone talking that was very general, and which you seldom observe when any man is speaking well on any subject that interests them. It is through the medium of such publications as yours that the evil I complain of is to be checked, if not entirely put an end to. There are few farmers, sitting in the presence of their landlords and other gentlemen, whom they naturally respect, who would like to commit the disrespect (or, as it might be considered, the rudeness) of interrupting any speech, however uninteresting and, it may be, unpalatable to them; so that a tacit sanction is given, and many a time cheers are given to a landlord, which are accepted as a tribute of admiration to a speech. I beg of you to inform the landlords, very many of whom read your paper, of the mistake they are making; and also to inform the farmers that the remedy is partly in their own hands, and particularly the secretaries to the societies, who, besides the trouble they take in the arrangements of the show-yard, have much to do with the formation of the toastlist and appointment of the speakers. I am, Sir, your most obedient servant, A MIDLAND-COUNTY LANDOWNER AND FARMER. Oct. 14. [We were unfortunately present at this dinner, and are consequently in a position to corroborate every word which our correspondent says as to its conduct.-EDITOR M. L. E.] LODDON AND CLAVERING AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. The stock show of this association was established some 15 years since, as a sort of addendum to the meeting of the Labourers' Society. It has kept on, with varied success, till Friday, Oct. 11, when the annual show was held at Loddon. The day was wretched in the extreme; it blew and rained in torrents all the morning; cattle and horses were so drenched and miserable that the secretaries yielded to the importunity of the herdsmen and allowed them to remove the stock from the ground at a very early hour. We had, therefore, but a very limited opportunity of inspecting the animals shown. Standing, as they did, in a deep slough with their backs up and their heads down, they did not show to the best advantage. Although the number of entries was rather small, there was hardly an inferior animal on the ground, and very many possessed especial merit. Mr. Holmes' young Shorthorn bull was a perfect picture, barring one sharp bone between his loin and rump; and the cows shown by that gentleman were two beautiful animals, both being fair milkers, and exhibited in nothing but store order. The second-prize cow was a massive and grand beast, with all the quality of Sir Charles Knightley's blood, yet was not lacking in most of the faults of the Fawsley herd. Mr. Bacheldor took the first prize with a cow of singular evenness and symmetry; she was evidently a good milker; and his heifer, which was also placed first, and was springing for calving, promises to be a capital dairy cow. Mr. Thompson had a wonderfully square and compact red cow, which the judges highly commended; but she was so fat and so masculine in head and form, that they passed her by in the prize list; and notwithstanding all the owner said at the dinner about his milking shorthorns, this cow looked as if she had never given a gallon at any one meal. The show of sheep was capital, the lambs were both numerous and good, while the ewes, especially Sir T. Beauchamp's Shropshires, were famous stock sheep, and included some good southdowns from Mr. Holmes and Mrs. Tompson. The chief feature of this show is the horse stock, and in this particular is a marked contrast to the North Walsham Association, where the entry of horses is always poor. Loddon being so near the border, it was to be sxpected that the fashionable Suffolk would predominate; they did SO, and excluded any other horse from the prize list. Th recent purchases from Mr. Gleed's sale were exhibited, and where qualified carried off the honours; but the entire three years old colt, not having travelled in the district, was ineligible for the cup, and that prize once more fell to the lot of Mr. Hunt; his eight years old Suffolk Punch showing in excellent trim, with his forelegs as sound as the day on which he was foaled. Mr. Hunt's young stallion also beat Mr. Holmes'; they are both promising colts, but the latter has small feet, and is a “wee bit " shaken on his near foreleg. In the nag colts the award went to Mr. George Holmes for a useful well-moving hack, with the curious pedigree of being by & pure Arabian, out of a Suffolk cart filly. The judges in the riding or carriage foal put the ribbon on the wrong one. They went more by colour than breeding, and so made a mistakeabout the only glaring one throughout the day. Altogether, the show, especially of horses, was a very creditable one to this neighbourhood. Mr. Philip Mellard, Mr. Hewitt, and Mr. Clare Read were the judges. In a field, at a short distance from the ground, a ploughing match was going on, and Dr. Agar's digger was also at work; but the ground was much too wet for that implement to show itself to advantage. About 2 o'clock, all the successful candidates for the labourers' prizes-embracing almost every class of deserving people among a rural population-sat down to a capital dinner; and that over, they repaired to the schoolroom to receive their prizes, and hear a very excellent address from the Rev. J. Holmes. We believe that above £70 was distributed in these prizes, for there were not only rewards for all sorts of long servitude, good behaviour, and excellence in ploughing, and the like, but neat garden and horticultural produce also came in for a share of the prize money. At four, the dinner of the Association was held at The Swan. Mr. Holmes, of Brooke, was in the chair, being supported by Sir T. Beauchamp, Mr. Robert Gilbert, Mr. H. Kett Tompson, the Rev. Richard Denny, and other landowners, and, considering the day, by a goodly muster of the tenant farmers of the district. After the usual loyal toasts, the volunteers came in for their share of praise, Colonel Sir Thomas Beauchamp making an excellent speech on their behalf, and urging on all country volunteers the great importance of availing themselves of every opportunity of attending battalion drill, |