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tances from each other of one-and-a-quarter inches, so as to extend from one end of the cylinder to the other. As these partitions revolve, they drag the grain up the side of the cylinder, but not over or round the shaft or centre. As the cylinder in its revolution carries round these partitions or segmental plates, they dip into the corn lying on the under side of the screen, and rubbing against it, tend to arrange the individual grains on a line with the meshes, and to facilitate their escape from the screen. The action of the plates is also to spread the corn over a large surface of the screen, giving a greater operating surface than is usually obtainable in ordinary revolving screens. The simple means here adopted has also, it is said, the effect of obviating the defect of ordinary winnowing machines, namely, the passing of "kernels" or "pickels" of the same specific gravity as the best corn, but which are smaller and thinner in size. Mr. Palmer informs us that his machine effectually overcomes this difficulty. To keep the meshes of the screen clear, a brush of steel wire is applied at one side and near the upper part of the cylinder. Messrs. Reeves make the wires of which the brush is composed curved; this increases their elasticity, and enables them better to thrust inwards any grain, seeds, or other substance which may get fixed between the wires of the screen, or be carried up to the level of the brushes.

(5.) In this class of machines we have to notice another novelty, namely, the "adjusting screen" of Mr. Roby, whose "corn screen" is well known to many of our readers. By a simple arrangement the distance between the wires of the screen can be adjusted so as to suit different sizes of grain. If the reader will imagine two tiers or series of wires placed parallel to

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he will have some notion of the method by which different gauges or width of spaces between the screening wires are made, so as to suit different sizes of grain. The necessary adjustment is very easily made.

(6.) We may here notice, as closely connected with this department of mechanism, the barley aveller, or hummeller, exhibited by Messrs. Barnard and Bishop, of Norwich, and invented by Mr. Holben. Our readers are doubtless aware of the "hand hummeller," consisting of a square frame of iron, open at top and bottom, and two of the sides of which are connected by a cross or curved bar carrying an upright handle. The space between the sides of the frame is filled up with cross divisions of the same depth as the sides of the frame, and so arranged as to form a series of square cells, open at top and bottom. The barley, to be got rid of awns, is placed on the floor of the barn; and the frame with its divisions worked by means of the handle gently up and down amongst it. The friction of the thin edges of the frame and its divisions on the grain, and of the particles of grain upon each other as they are forced up into the cells, gradually removes the awns. Mr. Holben takes this contrivance, and in place of working it by hand, gives it a reciprocatory motion up and down by means of a cranked shaft, to the end of which a fly-wheel is keyed

on; and to the other a small pinion, which engages with a spur wheel, put in motion by an ordinary winch handle. To the frame-work supporting this mechanism a hopper, with regulating or feed-plate, is connected. The barley to be avelled is put into this, and is passed at the rate of from ten to twelve quarters per hour, in a thin stream or layer, below the reciprocatory frame with its square cells.

An adaptation of this apparatus to a winnowing machine was also exhibited. In this a series of elevators take the grain as it is passed from the winnowingmachine, and carry it up to the hopper, from which it is passed to the hummelling frame.

(7.) Mr. Simpson, engineer, of Petersham, Surrey, exhibited a new hay and straw band-making machine, which presents some features worthy of notice. The apparatus consists of an oblong frame, supported on four standards; in the centre of the frame a shaft, with flywheel and small pulley, revolves in bearings. From the small diameter pulley fixed on the shaft, power is taken, by means of a belt, to two other pulleys of same diameter, fixed on the shafts revolving in bearings near each end of the framing. To the outer extremities of each of the shafts the hook, to which the hay or straw to circumstances the hooks do not revolve, although the form the band required, is attached. Under ordinary shafts to which they are connected may be revolving; but as soon as the straw or hay is attached, and the "drag"-made by the operator as he walks outward from the machine-put on, the hook is pulled outwards till it engages with a catch on the driving shaft, and it immediately partakes of its motion; on the "drag" being stopped, the hook is pulled out of connection with the catch of the shaft by means of a spring. By this arrangement three separate lengths of bands may be made; and as each hook is in a quiescent state when no band is attached to it or dragged on it, should one operator be finished with his length before another, he can commence a new attachment to the hook without necessitating the stoppage of the other two, which would be the case if the hooks had no move

ments independent of the shafts to which they are at

tached.

(8.) In the department of machines for the preparation of food for stock, we have little novelty to describe. Mr. Bentall exhibited his patent root pulper. As this is a comparatively new machine, we may here shortly describe it. Its main feature is the employment of a central barrel or drum revolving in the lower part of the hopper which receives the roots on which the machine operates, in close contact with, and parallel to, a small worm or archimedean screw. The large barrel or drum is provided with a series of projecting teeth of a hooked or curved form; these are not arranged in parallel lines in the periphery of the drum, but are set spirally, forming a helical line, the pitch of which corresponds with that of the small archimedean screw noticed above. To one end of the shaft of the central barrel or drum the fly-wheel is keyed on, to the other a spur wheel engaging with a pinion fixed on the end of the archimedean screw shaft. As the screw revolves, the thread or blade passes continuously between the projecting teeth of the drum, and the combined action thus resulting, the tearing of the teeth and the lateral or side squeezing of the blade of the screw, rapidly reduce the roots subjected to it to a fine pulp. As the projecting teeth of the drum are not cast on it, but are wedged into slots or apertures provided in its periphery, should any break they can easily be replaced by new

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appearance. In its mechanical arrangement it is similar to their well-known chaff-cutter, and is characterised by careful workmanship.

(10.) Mr. W. Snowden, of Longford, Gloucester, exhibited a chaff-cutting machine, which possesses considerable novelty of detail, and is worthy of attention from the ease with which a single attendant can work a large machine. The principal peculiarity is the absence of feed-rollers, and toothed gear. The hay and straw are only passed outwards when the knife is out of contact with them, so that no power is lost in the material pressing on the knife. The whole length of the box (seven feet) acts as the bottom feeder, and by a simple adjustment of a thumb-screw, different lengths can be cut, varying from of an inch to 1 inches long. The bottom feeder consists of an endless cloth, revolving on back and front rollers. To the front roller a ratchet wheel is attached, to which motion is communicated by a lever and catch, that being moved by a pin placed in the front frame of the machine. This frame has a reciprocatory movement given to it through the medium of a crank, worked through the agency of

the fly-wheel which carries the cutting knives. The front frame is provided with a cross bar, to the centre of which a stud is fixed; to this stud the end of a cross lever is jointed; this lever is carried backwards a short distance, and is jointed at its other extremity to a stud fixed in the centre of an iron block, which acts as the top feeder, and which moves up and down in grooves made in the sides of the framing of the machine. This iron block carries a revolving roller midway between the lever. Jointed at either end to the front frame with the iron block, another lever placed at right angles to it is fixed. This lever is nearer the front frame than to the block. Pivots are provided at each end of this cross lever, to which a board, called by the inventor the pressing-board, is attached; as this pressing board is not under the control of the crank, it presses on all thicknesses of material, from three to seven inches, passing out to the action of the cutting knife, and the iron block sliding in a groove accommodates itself also to all the thicknesses. When the iron block goes down the pressing-board rises up, so that the iron block acts alternately as feeder and presser. R. S. B.

THE ADVANTAGES OF LEASES.

On the 30th of December last this question was brought under discussion at the monthly meeting of the Winfrith Farmers' Club. The subject stood as "The Advantages of Leases; Security to the Tenant an Inducement for the Ŏutlay of Capital."

Mr. READER, after a few introductory remarks, said the subject for that evening's discussion was a most important one, as it affected the whole farming interest of England, who, he was informed, had, some years since, over £6,000,000 invested in lands, which amount was increasing year by year, as improvements took place. The question for their general consideration would be: "Were any advantages to be derived from leases? Were they inducements for the outlay of capital? Who would be benefited by leases? And would any parties be injured by them?" He trusted that they should prove by their discussion that they were not actuated by any selash motives or hostility towards any party, but that their arguments were intended to improve the state of agriculture in general, which must necessarily improve the position of the landlord, the tenant, and labourer. He thought no one would deny that the most practical landholders of this kingdom long since saw the necessity of giving to the tenant a security for his outlay, as an inducement to invest his money with cheerfulness in every acknowledged improvement. For instance, the late Lord Leicester, the Earl of Yarborough, and the Duke of Bedford, he believed, adopted the system of leases, coupled with a tenant-right at the end of it; and he (the speaker) was also credibly informed that neither of the two first noble personages alluded to, ever had to pay one shilling for those very great improvements which had been acknowledged by all to have been made upon their estates; for they had always found their tenants ready and willing to pay for them themselves. Now, he would ask, where was the gentleman to be found who had improved his property to the same extent, at so small a cost, under the tenant-at-will system? The late Mr. Pusey likewise saw the necessity of a change, and brought his famous tenant-right bill before the House of Commons on various occasions; and although it was rejected on its first appearance by a large majority, it gradually gained favour, and was twice carried through the Commons, only to be rejected by the Lords. He believed, however, if that worthy man who introduced it had only lived a few years longer he would have seen it become the law of the land. Again, let them consider also what that eminent man, Judge Gale, said on this subject at the Botley Club two years since: "I need not enlarge," said he, "on the absolute necessity there is that the tenant should be protected by securing to him a lengthened time in the possession of that land which, on all sides, he is urged to improve by an investment of capital in

it." Another paragraph said, "The objects to be sought for in a lease are security to the landlord and a freedom of action to the tenant. The landlord desires to have security that the land shall not be improperly cultivated, and the tenant that he shall not be restricted in making the improvements which his soi-disant friends are so liberally urging him to make." Then he had the authority also of a practical man (Mr. Stares, of Droxford) for saying that numerous existing leases prescribed a course of cultivation which was simply absurd. By a tacit consent these were commonly disregarded; and the consequence was that the tenant would be better off without a lease at all, as such a lease puts him, at all times, at the mercy of the landlord, and, indeed, was of no use but to put a fee into an attorney's pocket, for copying a senseless document, originally prepared in the dark ages of agriculture. He (Mr. Reader) had brought forward these remarks in order to prove that the practical landholders had been prepared for a change in the tenure of land for a long time past, having no doubt themselves seen the difference in the improved culture of the land which had been secured to the tenant for a lengthally, where a fair and equitable tenant-right had existed. If ened period over that held from year to year-except occasionsuch gentlemen as the noble lords he had before alluded to could see the necessity of giving security to the tenant for his outlay of capital as an inducement to invest more capital, and to improve their land in every respect, when the general system of farming, more especially in the west, wasTo plough and to sow, To dress in and mow; Then harvest and thrash, And market for cash,

was not that necessity increased five hundred times over, when thousands of pounds were annually expended in this county alone upon artificial manures, and thousands more in feeding stuffs, a large portion of which could not be returned for years? He believed there were farmers in this country who paid more every year for those manures and feeding stuff than ever their rents amounted to-to say nothing of the extra amount of labour this must necessarily entail. They had had bones in use as a manure only a few years, comparatively speaking, and, if he remembered rightly, guano was first imported into this country about the year 1836, by Gibbs and Co., which sold at about £6 per ton. Since that time, however, a better quality had been found, and now, he believed, the importation amounted to upwards of 240,000 tons. Then there was superphosphate, the general manure for the root crop, the quantity used being beyond description. He was credibly informed that over £25,000 a year was spent in the county of Dorset alone upon artificial manures. He found

vated portion of his farm. He feels he has confidence in himself, his soil, and the means employed; he regards his landlord with feelings of respect. It is impossible that such land could have been cultivated by tenant farmers without leases; nor without them would men of capital and skill have been attracted to so unpromising a district. Much as the Lothians have been talked about, and high as is the position to which they have risen in the agricultural world, there is nothing there which speaks so forcibly, or which proclaims so unmistakeably, the advantages of long leases, as the higher districts present; and where we find cultivated farms, of 300 or 400 acres in extent, where twenty or thirty years ago not more than one-third was under the plough, and that the breaking up still continues-where we find the face of the country so changed-where we find everything altered, save one, namely, the relation of landlord and tenant, and that secured by a tough bond of 21 years' length-where we find time only deepens the impression that such long terms tend to the benefit of all concerned-there need be little hesitation in recommending a similar bond to the notice of all parties, and more especially to those who are compelled to farm under the unsatisfactory tenure of one year. Many instances could be named wherein the land which produced, only a few years since, poor grass, heath, and broom, and which was not worth 1s. 6d. per acre, is now considered cheap at 15s. per acre. I have just heard of an instance where, on a farm of 1,000 acres of arable land, the tenant has expended, one way and another, over £15,000, and hopes he will be repaid with good interest before his lease expires. Of the indirect benefits of such a system it is needless to say a word, as they are patent to all." Mr Reader then proceeded to say that he thought this communication from Scotland quite sufficient to prove the desirability of long leases. They had often heard of Scotland, of Norfolk, of Nottingham, &c., as being well farmed, and examples worthy of following, but they did not tell them the cause of this good farming. They did not tell them that security was given to the tenant, either by way of lease or tenant-right. The system of making tenant-right at Nottingham was this: For bones, one-sixth after a crop of turnips, the whole cost and carriage; after one crop of corn deduct two-sixths; after one crop of corn and grass mown, one-half; after one crop of corn and two of grass, four-sixths; and after two crops of corn and one year's grass, three-fourths. For lime allow for two crops the whole value and labour before a crop, and half labour after one crop. For all artificial manures, such as guano, rape-dnst, superphosphate of lime, &c., one-third, without carriage, after one crop of corn or grass mown. For linseed cake one-fourth of the bill for the last two years, and in many cases one-fourth and onesixteenth. This was a tenant-right, which certainly would hold out some inducement to invest money, but not to half the extent as a good long lease. He would ask them to look around, and see where was the tenant, holding his farm from year to year, and liable to be turned out at six months' notice, that could compete with his friend, the vice-chairman. (Hear, hear). He (Mr. Reader) would ask him personally whether his farm would have been so attractive as it was at the present time, had he not been holding under a lease? It might be all very well for people to talk of the confidenee they had in this and that gentleman; but this he did object to, as it was not based on a sound and commercial principle; and, how had they seen that confidence abused within the last few years? He took, as an instance, the Duke of Northumberland. Not many years since his tenants thought they were safe; but the Duke offered a few prizes for good cultivation, &c., and, after getting his farms improved by his tenants, he, or his agent, with his sanction, drew up a lease, which the tenants were to sign or quit. He (Mr. Reader) thought it was admitted by all parties, who had the least knowledge of

that although linseed cake had been used extensively in some of the upper counties, where security was given for the outlay, for some years past, it had only been introduced here about ten years since, by Mr. Virtue, the agent of Dixon and Cardus, and its sale, though small at first, had gradually increased year by year. Then, again, there were so many other sorts of feeding stuffs sold in the market, such as Indian corn, lentils, &c., &c. Now, if they took it that Messrs. Dixon and Cardus, by their agent, sold 1,000 tons of linseed cake, and estimated that sold by other firms at 1,000 tons more, at about £11 7s. 6d. per ton, they would have an amount equal to that spent in manures besides all the other feeding stuffs named. He (the speaker) would ask them whether this quantity might not be doubled, nay trebled, and made to pay a good interest, provided tenants could be insured in their holdings? They often saw where money might be laid out advantageously, if parties were only sure of keeping their farms for a certain number of years; he believed, moreover, that if leases were generally adopted, they would see machinery increase to a very great extent. If a man were secure in his holding, he would doubtless adopt every modern principle of improvement, both in culture and implements; in fact, he would expend on the farm every pound at his command, provided he could see any chance of getting something like a return for his outlay, even though it were ever so far distant. He would endeavour to improve his farm in every possible way; he would likewise see the necessity of turning his attention to the improvement of the labourer, knowing full well that if attention were paid to his comforts, for every little sum of money he might lay out he would be sure to be amply repaid. If they were to have machinery introduced among them, as in Scotland, they would find that they must have an improved class of men for the management of it. Now, he would ask why was it that the Lothians of Scotland were held up as an example to follow, and how came those parts to be so well cultivated? Why, the fact was this-the tenants had security for their capital, either by way of lease or tenant-right. Mr. Reader then referred to a communication which he had received from a friend in Scotland, regarding the holdings of tenants. The writer, after drawing attention to a town on the borders of Selkirk and Roxburghshire, near which a small stream empties itself into the river Tweed, says: "The country to the north of this is mountainous, and presents a very rugged and barren appearance, and is in many places so steep as to render cultivation impossible and most difficult. Its rocks contain no fossil of any description, and are very hard; covering them, however, to various depths, is a deposit of clay, of various degrees of tenacity. In some places, where the underlying rocks are more brittle than in others, the soil works easily; in others it is very difficult to reduce it to good tilth. It nearly all requires to be drained; and when this is performed, and lime applied at the rate of about four or five tons per acre, it will grow very good crops of roots, grass, and corn. Not a great many years since the only cultivation on the borders of the stream already mentioned was a mere strip of oats, and occasionally a little barley. Now large fields are brought into cultivation on the steep sides of the mountains; and where a few years ago only stunted heather, bad grass, and a little furze formed the only productions, are now grown excellent crops of corn and roots. One can frequently see two men sowing together, one of whom SOWs oats, the other guano, despite its price. On most of these farms there is a steam-engine fixed, which is the property of the tenant; and by the goodly rows of feeding sheds, it is at once evident that great attention is paid to beef-making. The greater proportion of the draining of late years is done by Government money, for which the tenant pays 64 per cent.; but a large breadth is drained by the tenant, at his own expense, excepting the tiles. Without one exception, the whole of these farms are held on leases of considerable length-farming, that it was quite impossible for any person to follow generally for 21 years-and the majority of the occupiers do not expect to derive any profit until after the lease is half expired. Most of them make a good return for the money laid out, and nearly all contribute greatly to the general improvement of the district. Fixed for so long a period in one place, a complete identification with local and parochial affairs, and a permanent interest in the labouring class, are fully secured; while all the time the tenant feels quite at home, and perfectly independent, quietly pursuing his course, and year by year adding section after section of the rugged steep to the culti

the rules laid down, and the consequence was some of his best tenants left. He believe he was right in saying that one of the clauses gave the landlord or his steward the right to take possession of the land and all stock, &c., on the farm, to sell, and such like, and to deduct the rent, and what he thought proper besides, for any little deviation from the rules prescribed in the lease, and then hand over the remainder to the tenant. Mr. Reader then cited the case of another noble earl who offered prizes in a similar way, and where a tenant had spent in improving his farm, in about five years, no less

than £3,000, and who then received six months' notice to quit, and to leave behind him all the hard earnings of his life for the benefit of the landlord. This tenant, he believed he was right in saying, had on the farm, at the time of receiving notice to quit, some 700 tons of night-soil, collected from the different towns, and 300 tons of lime. Nor was this the only case where a tenant had been ejected from his holding under similar circumstances. There was a certain captain (his name we withhold) who received six months' notice to quit, after having improved the farm to a very great extent; but there was this difference in the two cases-that the latter laid no blame to his landlord, but on the steward, and would not condescend to ask the reason why he was to be ejected; whilst the former inquired the cause, but obtained no reply. Now they had no means of knowing why either of these tenants, who had proved themselves good farmers, and had added wealth to the county, but who were now obliged to leave all behind them, should be thus served. It might have been some little petty affair. It might have been something respecting those vermin, commonly known by the name of rabbits. And were not most of them subject to such annoyances, and often without the means of knowing what was reported to landlords by gamekeepers against tenants? He (the speaker) thought if there was one reason more than another which ought to urge tenants on to the necessity of having leases, was the rabbit system generally adopted by landlords. (Hear, hear). He should certainly like to see what it costs the county in keeping up those feudal game-laws. Before he concluded, Mr. Reader begged to draw their attention to another point, and that was to the impoverished state of the pasture land in this county. What, he would ask, was the cause of it? It was simply this-it required a longer time to get a return on grass land than on arable; and this he believed to be the only cause why the grass land had not attracted the attention of the tenants generally. He would also ask them this question: Supposing they were to manure a piece of meadow land just after the hay-harvest (generally admitted to be the best time), and at Michaelmas receive six months' notice to quit, what benefit would they derive from the manure? None. This circumstance alone he thought quite sufficient to call on landlords to grant leases for the benefit of themselves, the tenants, and, above all, the labourer (applause).

Mr. RANDALL perfectly agreed with Mr. Reader in his observations as to the advantage of leases. Although they were quite satisfied that a great many tenants-at-will had gone on for a number of years, and that there had been a good feeling existing between them and their landlords, still he did not think there was any real security to a tenant, unless he were holding under a lease. It often happened that a tenant-atwill entered upon a farm, which might be in a very bad state of cultivation; he might lay out his capital in improvements, subject to quitting at six months' notice; after expending much of his capital, there might be such a thing as the farm falling into other hands-there might be fresh stewards, and such like; therefore, unless there were security of some sort, he did not think any man justified in laying out his capital upon it.

Mr. SAUNDERS (the Vice-President) said, as allusion had been made to him by Mr. Reader, he begged to make one or two observations. He had told them that he (Mr. Saunders) had improved his land because he was holding it under a lease, otherwise he could never have brought his farm to the state of cultivation he had; but he must inform them this had not been done but at a very great expense. He did not approve of what was termed the "cut-and-go "" system, where a man had a return for his money each succeeding year-they ought to work for their landlords as well as themselves. He had been spending a very considerable sum in manures, &c., during the last thirty years; therefore he thought that a man holding under a long lease was of public good, because he was employing a great deal of labour in the neighbourhood in which he resided, and he was also expending a considerable sum in manures, &c.; therefore he was, in fact, a national good. He (Mr. S.) considered the tenant-at-will system a very bad one, because a man must make his rent during the year he holds it, not knowing whether some one else might not soon have possession of it. No tenant of a yearly holding was justified in putting himself to a great expense, because his present landlord might die, and he knew not who might then have it

In those cases it sometimes happened that the landlord might say, when the farm was looking well, "I do not want to lose you, but then I must have more money ;" and perhaps, by having a notice to quit, this brought him and his family into difficulties. If ever they passed by a farm (generally speaking) that was badly cultivated, and made the inquiry of the tenant, "How is it you do not farm better?" the reply was, "I am only a yearly tenant, and I must do the best I can." Many had told them that the reason they could not do better arose from the circumstance of their being only yearly tenants. Although they advocated a lease upon a farm, very much depended upon the conditions of that lease whether a man could put that farm into a good state or not. He (the speaker) called a seven years' lease no lease at all, in fact hewould rather be a yearly tenant in such a case; but if a tenant had a fourteen years' lease he could go to work, for his hands were not then so much tied. He did not think, however, that a landlord was justified in letting for a long lease to a man who takes a farm and puts nothing on it, such an one was not entitled to a lease. There ought to be an understanding between landlord and tenant that the lease should be an open one until within the last one or two years of its expiration, so that there might be sufficient time allowed the latter for recovering himself. He did not like the idea of being compelled to adhere to certain rules, that wheat must be sown one year, and turnips another, and so on; for his own. part he was holding under an agreement to sow how he liked until within the last two years of the expiration of the lease. Mr. Saunders then repeated his argument, that if they saw a farm badly managed, it generally turned out to be a yearly tenure. He then cited a case where a man had a farm in Hampshire, which was much stocked with rabbits and hares. The tenant gave notice that he should give it up at the expiration of his lease. The farm was offered to others, but no one appeared willing to take it, on account of its being so infested with rabbits, &c., and the consequence was the landlord was obliged to take it into his own hands. At length, however, some one came along and offered to take it, provided these vermin were only got rid of; and the landlord having consented, a great number of rabbits were destroyed. He (Mr. S.) would advise everyone to have the damage done by the rabbits taken into consideration in their agreement. If the landlord paid for it, it would be all very well. He should be sorry, however, to place any restriction upon the landlord, and he hoped that he should always be able to see his own have a good day's sport. As for rabbits, he called them no sport: they were nothing but vermin. In conclusion, he observed that if a man did not manage his farm well during the first lease, a second ought not to be granted him. No doubt there were a great many good landlords in this county to yearly tenants, but he thought a tenant of that description was not justified in farming "up to the mark," as if he held under a lease. If a man had a lease for 12 or 14 years the landlord ought to do many things towards improving the farm, and the tenant should be expected to do a great many more. He again urged the necessity of long leases.

After a few observations from Mr. Clarke, Mr. Reader, and others,

Mr. JACKSON said it so happened that he had rented one farm as a yearly tenant, and one he had held under a lease. The first he took was as a yearly tenant, and the farm was very much out of condition, for it had been very badly managed. However, he set to work to improve it; and after some few years he had the satisfaction of seeing it produce good crops; but he soon after had the misfortune of feeling the ill effects of the system alluded to by Mr. Reader. He found that although he was trying to produce good crops, he had those vermin (rabbits) come and eat them up. It was true, he had one of the best landlords he could possibly wish, but he had the misfortune of having some one to go between and make mischief; circumstances being misrepresented as regarded the damage done by the rabbits. Mr. Jackson then went on to say that he obtained leave to kill what rabbits and hares he thought proper, and an improvement soon took place. At length, however, he desired to leave the farm, but did not like leaving behind what he had put upon it. He therefore asked permission to choose a tenant to take the same off his hands; but the consequence was the rent was to be raised, on account of the improvements which had been made. The result of this was that he could not demand so much of the in-coming tenant

as he should wish. He then thought he was entitled to receive some compensation from the landlord for his outlay, and he kindly handed him a cheque on that account. If they could secure such landlords as that, they would not require long leases; but if he had died, what would have become of his farm? for here he had buried, as it were, his property in the soil. When he took the next farm he began to be a little wiser, and had it upon a lease. He took it upon the following terms-either for seven or fourteen years, to be at his option to leave at the end of seven if he felt inclined. After some further remarks, the speaker proceeded to say that he was very glad to find Mr. Reader had brought forward something on the rabbit system. He thought the farmers of England were very remiss in not coming forward in a body against it-he did not mean against the landlords. He had the honour of introducing the subject at an agricultural meeting some little time since, Sir E. B. Lytton occupying the chair; and he was gratified to hear the tables ring, and the hands clap, when he spoke against the game laws. If, however, Mr. A. was running with the stream, and Mr. B. was rowing against it, one had better be out of the way altogether (Hear, and laughter). He did not say this for the purpose of setting the landlord and tenant at variance, for he wished them to go on hand in hand; but depend upon it as long as the gamekeeper stood between them, they would never get on (loud applause.)

After a few observations from Mr. READER, and others, The CHAIRMAN having expressed himself in favour of the long lease system, offered a few remarks on the rabbit system, remarking that it was a subject between landlord and tenant; the matter ought to be laid before the landlord, who must be told that the rabbits are a nuisance. It was quite impossible to farm well when they had a lot of these about them. He then proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Reader, for the able manner in which he had brought forward his subject.

Mr. FOWLER said there was one part of the subject he should like to notice, and that was with regard to the vast amount of waste land in certain parts which might be brought into a state of cultivation. It had occurred to him that if they had the advantage of a long lease, trouble might be taken to make it productive. Let them look at the heath-lands, for instance; but if they had not length of time given them, it was impossible to do anything with it. With regard to the inexhaustible improvements upon their farms, he did think that it would be of great advantage, both to the landlord and tenant, if compensation were allowed. He concluded by seconding the proposition of Mr. Damen.

Mr. READER, in returning thanks, referred to what had fallen from Mr. Fowler respecting the cultivation of waste lands, aud observed that if, as he had shown them, such a thing could be done in Scotland under long leases, surely it might be done in this country-for what would apply to Scotlaud, would in some degree apply to England. He thought there was a great deal of waste land in this country that could be made to produce good crops, provided the system of long leases was adopted. He hoped he should live to see a different system in the holdings of land in this country than at the present time. He then moved the following resolution: "That this club would strongly recommend to the notice of the landholders and tenants the necessity there exists for improving the cultivation of the land, so as to develope its resources to its full extent, which cannot be carried out under the present tenure, more especially grass land. They would recommend leases of 21 years, determinable at the end of 14 years, by either party giving two years' notice; and at the expiration of the term a fair and equitable sum to be paid for unexhausted improvements." The resolution having been carried unanimously, the proceedings terminated.

HADDINGTON AGRICULTURAL CLUB.

The monthly meeting of this Club was held in the George Ian, Haddington, on Friday, Jan. 8, Mr. Samuel Sheriff, Saltcoats, in the chair. There was a large attendance of members; and, after dinner and the usual loyal toasts, the subject before the meeting was, "Reports by Members of Experiments with Artificial Manures."

The CHAIRMAN said: Gentlemen, we are met this afternoon to hear "Reports of Experiments with Artificial Manures, by Members of this Club." You will recollect how, last spring, we came to discuss what were the "Best Substitutes for Guano." The continued rise in the price of guano compelled us to do this. The results of a few experiments made for this object I have now the pleasure to lay before you. But, gentlemen, will you bear with me while I introduce the subject by a few observations upon the marked change which has taken place within the last few years, both in the desire by agriculturists to give all the information in their power, also in the means of their doing so? Is it not a startling fact, gentlemen, when we think of it now, but a few years ago and we had no agricultural newspaper? All agricultural information was conveyed, and but sparingly, through the medium of the "Agricultural Journal of the Highland Society." Now, through the N. B. Agriculturist, we have a weekly record of the agricultural practice of Great Britain. What stimulus this gives to practical husbandry! One great feature of the age we live in is the desire for information; and this again is met by as great a desire to impart it. Some years ago, I remember (shortly after this Club was formed), we had a serious discussion whether our discussions and reports were to be given to the public. Were such a motion to be made now, what would become of it? It is by this system, and this system alone, that the proper cultivation of the soil is to be continued and increased, in order to keep pace with the rapid strides of advance made in every other science. Some very cautious men would argue, it does not do to tell too much. An invention in machinery is patented, and an immediate reward accrues to the inventor. Can you grow 14 bolls of wheat or 40 tons of turnips per acre, by following some system

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known only to yourself? Do so, and keep your secret. I would compare the man who would do so "to the servant who hid his talent in the earth." Cultivators of the soil have a heavy responsibility; besides having their own interests to look after, what countless thousands depend on them for the substantial necessaries of life! The more you can make the soil produce the better for the grower, and the greater the supply the better for the consumer. The only antidote to low-priced grain is to grow more of it, if possible; or by making an acre of turnips feed two cattle instead of one, you can af ford to take a cheaper price per stone. Some years ago, when grain was considerably cheaper than at present, this doctrine was both preached and practised successfully. But the means at command were very different. We could procure the finest Peruvian guano at £9 per ton, nitrate of soda at £15, rapedust about £4 10s. Contrast the present prices of these articles. Why, in guano alone, the farmer using 30 tons, finds an extra charge of £180. Why are these things so? We have it in our power to resist extortion, simply by refusing for a time to use the article. Why have we frequently to take much less of a Friday for our grain? Just because the buyers refuse to give more. Look at the heavy fall which has taken place of late in the price of almost every marketable commodity-skins and hides especially. All this falls upon the farmer; and are they going to be so inconsiderate as to give the present high demand for guano? But this brings me to the subject now at issue. Before laying the results of the experiments before you, let me ask why you try experiments? Of course, you anticipate the answer, viz., for a two-fold reason-first, to ascertain what is really the most profitable stimulant to apply to vegetation; and secondly, to detect the weaknesses of the many fertilizers now offered to farmers. There is not a season without something new, and the best ever heard of has not been offered to us. We are asked by some one or other to try his patent improved quintessence of something or other; you are prevailed upon to try it, and find yourself minus £8 93. without any benefit-sometimes a loss, because some safer and known stimulant wou d have secured a good crop.

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