The one in the water is Lady Playful, the first prize in the cow class at Taunton, and a winner all about the country; "quite a sweet heifer, what with her kindly expression and light graceful neck, giving the character of a Shorthorn which would milk as well as make beef," as we have written of her when in the ring. Lady Playful, a stylish roan, in colour, bred by Mr. Hutchinson, is by Merry Monarch (22349) out of Lady Sophia, by Brigade Major (21312). The light coloured cow in the centre is Daisy Girl, now getting into years and flesh; a

prize cow at the Bedford Royal, also of Mr. Hutchinson's own breeding-by Brigade Major out of Dairy-Maid by Perfection (27059). The heifer in the background is the somewhat beefy Lady Alicia, second in the three-year-old class at Taunton, to the famous Queen Mary, and also home-bred at Catterick-by King James (28971) out of Lady Alberta by Lord Albert (20143). Thus, during the last two years Mr. Hutchinson has been first, second, and third in the Shorthorn cow classes at the Royal Agricul tural Society's meetings,

THE BUSINESS OF

It has occasionally been suggested, by a contemporary, as well by some of the members, that an abridgment, or rather, perhaps, a comprehensive review of the papers read at the Farmers' Club would supply a very useful work on the progress of Agriculture. Through such a means we should be able to note how the bucolic intellect has developed since 1814-more than thirty years back -when Mr. Baker, of Writtle, somewhat of the old school, called his fellows together here, to tell them of the use and cost of artificial manures. Moreover, a farmer has been, naturally enough, assumed to be not much of a rady writer, and many a sound fact and wholesome ethic has been propounded at these discussions, which the speaker would have hesitated to give had he been invited to furnish an article for the Royal Journal, or even to furnish a letter for the papers. No question, farmers now read and write a deal more than they did half a century since; but still there is an immense majority who are far more effective when talking over their business than they would be if "reduced" to writing essays, brimful though they might be of the subject. Such a man at a meeting is encouraged by the example offered by others to open his mind; whereas, when chained down to his office-chair, with a blank sheet of foolscap before him, an almost irresistible longing seizes him to mount his nag and be away at once to the gang amongst the turnips or the herd in the meadows. What a telling speaker was Billy" Torr but wa never heard of his penning prize papers, as it would have been against his very nature to have done so. However, that which we have hesitated over in the South has been accomplished in the North, and a resume, as it is termed, of the discussions of the TEVIOTDALE FARMERS' CLUB, from its establishment in 1859 to 1874-a period of sixteen years-has just been OLD SERIES,

66

A FARMERS' CLUB.

"the

issued. The duty was entrusted to Mr. Cathrae, a gentleman who, having attended all the meetings of the Club, was thoroughly grounded for his work, which he has accomplished with little pretension but much ability. The Teviotdale is an institution not so well known out of its own immediate district as it might be, for almost every variety of subject which has come under its consideration appears to have been aptly selected and judiciously dealt with. In concluding the review, we find that Club actively promoted the erection of the Hawick Exchange, and endeavoured, with about the same measure of success as attends such endeavours in other towns, to transfer the grain market stance to the floor of the large hall. It procured analyses of the various limes in the district, and carried out desirable alterations in the dates of certain fairs; discussed favourably the proposal of establishing auction sales of wool in Hawick; took active measures for staying the ravages of the cattle plague; petitioned Parliament on various legislative questions affecting Agriculture, such as the Law of Hypothee, the Game Laws, Road Reform, and Cattle Diseases Bills, and was generally attentive to the interests of the profession it represents, when opportunity offered." This gives something of a model of what a local Farmers' Club should be; while it must be understood that the Teviotdale, which began with a list of twenty-six members, is no mere echo or follower of larger societies, but that from the first it took a line of its own.

The question, still above all others commanding the attention of Scotch agriculturists, is an abuse which was first openly attacked in public meeting assembled by the Teviotdale Farmers' Club. In January, 1862, Mr. Scott. of Timpendean, undertook to show his brother members what bearing the Law of Hypothec had on the tenantry of VOL. LXXVIII.-No. 5.

2

Scotland and the community at large; and, in doing so employed all the arguments since so generally adopted against the system. Two or three members, on the other side, pronounced the law to be a good one; but a large majority of the members joined with Mr. Scott in its utter condemnation. Some years subsequently, at a meeting of the East Lothian Agricultural Club, a speaker referred to the "statement made at the Teviotdale Farmers' Club as to their having been the first club that had moved for the total abolition of the law, and claimed the honour for the East Lothian Club, the subject having been discussed on the 13th May, 1864." But no facts are safer than authenticated dates, and Teviot could point to January 16th, 1862, against May 13th, 1864, when the movement was taken up in East Lothian. In Teviot, unlike other parts of Scotland, the farmers are even now apparently not alive to the advautages consequent on the adoption of Tenant-Right, and the practice recommended has been the hitherto popular panacea of nothing shorter than a nineteen or twenty-one years' lease. But as a kind of sequence on this discussion Mr. C. M. Wilson, some years later, read a paper on the necessity, from the advanced state of agriculture, for leases being simplified, and more liberty of action allowed the tenants; as this meeting closed with the appointment of a Committee "to draw up model leases applicable to able and pastoral farms"- copies of which, however, are not appended.

It must not be assumed that the Tiviotdale is merely or especially political, as it has from the outset been essentially practical, offering an infinite variety of subjects on the work of the farm. The first topic taken was the best mode of stocking a sheep-farm; followed by the greatest profit to be realised from wool on a hill-farm-the feeding of sheep where turnips cannot be had-the burning of heather as regards sheep and game-and other such matters perhaps of more interest in the locality than elsewhere. Not that the other branches of business have been put aside, as other meetings were in turn devoted to the best mode of securing a corn crop in a high district-the hindrances

to the plonghing and improving of waste lands--the drainage of hill lands-the cutting of corn crops-and other papers on arable farming. Two, however, took a rather peculiar turn, and might be discussed with further advantage on this side of the Border. Mr. Honeyburn asked whether it were more profitable on a purely arable farm to breed and rear cattle for fattening, or to buy them ready to put up? and there was an almost unanimous answer from the members in favour of buying in preference to breeding. The other subject is yet more in season now than when considered in Teviotdale; and we give Mr. Cathrae's summary of the proceedings: "Mr. Ballantyne, Shaw ntroduced the question, In a purely grazing district. which is the most profitable class of cattle to keep? He declared for Irish as more moderate in price than Short horns, Galloways, or Highland cattle, which last had risen considerably, owing to the northern breeders finding it more profitable to keep sheep. The discussion gave rise to great variety of opinion, much depending, it appeared, on the manner in which the cattle were fed. It seemed agreed that Highland were the hardiest but too dear; Shorthorns would pay as well as any other if extra feeding was to be given; but as Irish were the cheapest to buy in they would be most remunerative in absence of extra fodder and shelter." There is much matter for "nice argument" here, the more so that our graziers and dealers complain that steers of any breed are not so good as they were; while the traffic in Irish cattle, pronounced to be the best worth buying, is and has been attended for some time with great risk.

The chief difficulty with which Mr. Cathrae has had to contend is that of condensation; but from the specimen which we give it will be allowed that he has mastered it. With such valuable matter before him he has put the pith of this in a readable, useful form; and his digest will stand as a record of how valuable an institution a Farmers' Club may become when it is supported like that in Teviotdale

A chance has been missed by the farmers of West Suffolk. They, like their South Norfolk neighbours, might have acquired the distinction of direct representation in Parliament if they had shown a tenth part of the energy displayed when Mr. C. S. Read was sent to the House of Commons. The vacancy occasioned by the death of Colonel Wilson was so unexpected that neither party was prepared with a successor. On the part of the Liberals this is not to be wondered at, as their defeat at the last election was so crushing that they may well have been inclined for a time to "rest," if not to "be thankful." But the Conservatives were equally at a loss whom to choose in the place of their late representative, not from the want of would-be candidates, but rather from the lack on the part of some of these gentlemen of that which, with peculiar appropriateness, in the case of a county election, is termed the needful." Indeed, it appears from the report of a meeting recently held at Bury St. Edmunds by the Conservatives of West Suffolk, that the crucial question was not, What are your political principles? but, How much money are you prepared to spend? The whole affair reminds us of a funny scene at a juvenile party, where a very youthful Romeo asks an infantile Juliet if she will allow him to be her sweetheart, and gets, as a reply, "Well, I don't know what have you got in your pocket?" Just so Miss West Suffolk replies

to the gallant offers of her several suitors with, “What will you stand?"

Now the South Norfolk farmers backed Mr. Read ret only with their votes, but with their purses; and i the men of West Suffolk had been prepared to do as mari for Mr. William Biddel there is no doubt but that they could have given him a seat in the House of Commons. They might, too, as it turns out, have done this at very little expense, since the Liberals have decided not to cotest the election. This was not known when the meeting referred to was held; but surely a little matter of £2,000 should not have been regarded as an insuperable difficulty in a large constituency. It is strange indeed if there could not have been found two hundred men who would have put down ten pounds each. Mr. Biddel, although a staunch Conservative, would have had the support of a large number of the Liberal farmers, from the desire of being represented by one of their own class. But, not being disposed to spend more than a few hun dreds for the honour of serving his friends and neighbours in Parliament, Mr. Biddel was quietly told to stand down and make way for a richer if not abler man. S the Conservatives of West Suffolk went into the high ways and byways asking who would come and spend his money amongst them: they went to S Charles Du Cane; but he, like Mr. Biddel, bad no money to spare; they went to Sir Edward

Kerrison; but he was not disposed to return to Parliament; they entered into communication with two or three other well-known men, but could not find one with enough money in his pockets. At last a young gentleman, of whom hardly any one knew anything except that he was a pleasant fellow and a county magistrate, came forward and jingled the money in his pockets. If he had any political opinions in particular, he did not care to make them known. And why should he? All that was required was a sight of his well-lined purse, and the simple declaration that he would support the Conservative party. So, when he got up and said that he was prepared to "stand Sam," and fight the election right through, a sigh of relief ran round the assembly of M.P.-makers at Bury. "Eureka!" they cried: "we have met with the gentleman who will answer our purpose. He calls himself a Conservative, and he promises to pay the piper. What more do we want?" Forthwith it was decided that Mr. T. Thornhill, junr., was a fit and proper person to represent West Suffolk in Parliament, and to Parliament accordingly he will be sent through a walk over.

It was not until after the Conservatives had chosen their candidate that the Liberals decided not to contest the election. If, then, they had not courage to oppose Mr. Thornhill, still less would they have ventured to fight against Mr. Biddel, undoubtedly a much stronger candidate. So, if ouly the farmers had shown a little spirit, they might have carried their man at small, if any, expense to themselves, since au uncontested election cannot cost much, if any more than Mr. Biddel himself was prepared to spend. An opportunity has been lost that is not likely to soon occur again.

But was there not something beyond the money dithculty that stood in Mr. Biddel's way? If he had been cordially received and energetically supported by the leaders of his party, can any one doubt that within a reasonable time the necessary funds could easily have been raised? It is said that the magnates of the division did not look kindly upon the proposal to send a tenantfarmer to Parliament-"Why should you farmers want to send men of your own class to represent you?" ask the landlords, as we can do your business very nicely for you." There are some farmers who are not quite satisfied with the way in which the landlords did their business for them in the little matter of the Agricultural Holdings Act. Others think that, on the questions of cattle disease prevention, and the repeal of the malt-tax, tenants would be likely to show more energy in Parliament than landlords have done. At any rate, the experiment is worth trying; and it is a matter for regret that when the farmers of West Suffolk had such an oppor tunity of sending one of themselves to St. Stephen's, they, in their customary slow way, allowed the rare chance to slip through their fingers.

Beyond the initiative offered by the Premier, little has been done of late by himself or otherwise, to establish the independence of the farmer, and the West Suffolk election will take rank with that for the county of Bedford, where a very young gentleman was suffered also to walk over at an especially interesting time, without saying a word of what he intended to do for Agriculture. And this, as in Suffolk, with an essentially agricultural constituency.

OUTDOOR

such case has grown

Nothing can be nicer than the notion that every ablebodied man should be sufficiently provident not only to ensure his own maintenance in old age, but to also provide for the support of his father and mother. The precept is enforced alike by Holy Writ and more homely proverb; the chief difficulty being how to carry it out. With the labourer in receipt of some eight or nine shillings a week, the theory would be something like that of the little Princess who argued that no one should starve while buns were to be bought for a penny each. But any out of date; and when the members of the Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture took the administration of the Poor-law into consideration last week, it was with knowledge that they had now no such description of labour to deal with. They were the rather addressing men with larger incomes and higher responsibilities; although, perhaps, still scarcely in a position to do all that appears to be expected of them. The labourer, as with almost every other class, has for the last few years been better paid, and, as with almost every other class, has been "living" better. A supply of proper food is indeed, in a great degree, his capital, as it is the veriest truism that no man in receipt of nine shillings a week can do as good a day's work as the one who earns double that amount. This fact has long served to distinguish the difference between the quality of North country and South country labour, as, with his greater means, the North-countryman is almost proverbially "improvident;" as it is termed, in the way of eating and drinking; but in his strength he does his duty by his employer, and is appreciated accordingly.

The Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture sees the necessity for reforming the present system of Poor-law adminis

RELIE F.

tration, the more especially with regard to out-door relief. Much of the laxity apparent here may have grown out of mere indifference or mistaken charity, but far more of sheer necessity. As was well said at the meeting, "for many years a very large proportion of wages had actually been paid in rates, and the consequence had been that no sooner was a man taken with sudden illness, or became from any cause incapable of work, than he fell back upon the rates, feeling that he had a right to do that so long as his wages were at a minimum, and only just sufficed to maintain him when in health." Thus, it will be seen, the practice gradually assumed all the force of custom, as without the aid of out-door relief the farmer could not at one time have continued to engage the services of the men, even at a minimum rate of existence. Hence, no question, has sprung the sauction or extension of a principle which, as a rule, is fortunately no longer required. The one side is able to give more, and the other to do more in return. But under the circumstances previously prevailing it was expedient not to be too particular, and " perhaps in some cases a pauper had been relieved for twenty years without any one seeing or knowing anything about him." Or, to cite an actual occurrence, where a new officer on going round his district found one of the paupers in receipt of a weekly allowance, "in business" on his own account, and just killing two bacon pigs for market. With no people is there more pretence or "make believe" put forward than by many paupers who receive relief in this way; without any sense of shame or pride to deter them from continuing to do so when the actual need has passed away, even if it had ever really existed.

It would not, however, be advisable to draw the line too hard and fast. It was argued at Norwich that in