Papurau Newydd Cymru
Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru
4 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau
4 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
AGRICULTURE IN breconshire.
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AGRICULTURE IN breconshire. (Continued.) Dr. Hunter, however, with more apparent reason, thinks it very possible that a large quantity of lime upon a sandy soil may prove injurious, unless sup- ported by manures of a more enriching nature. *"It is a received opinion," says he, "that lime enriches the land it is laid on, by means of supplying a salt, fit for the nourishment of plants but by all experiments that have been made on lime, it is found to contain no sort of salt. Its operation, therefore, should be considered in a different ligit. By the fermentation it induces, the earth is opened and divided, and by its absorbent and alkaline quality, it unites the oily and watery parts of the soil. It also seems to have the property of collecting the acid of the air, which it readily forms into a neutral salt, of great use in vegetation. From reviewing lime in this light, it is probable that it tends to rob the soil of its oily particles, and in time will render it barren, unless we take due care to support it, with rotten dung, or other manures of an oily nature. As light sandy soils contain but a small portion of oleaginous particles, we should be cautious how we overdo them with lime, unless we at the same time assist them with rotten dung, woollen rags, shavings of horn, or manures of 'an animal kind. Its great excellency, however, upon a sandy soil is by mechanically binding the loose particles, and thereby preventing the liquid part of the manure from escaping out of the reach of the radical fibres of the plants." Without attempting to controvert or explain, to prove or disprove, the truths of either of these opinions, it will be sufficient for me to say, with the economist of Yorkshire, that I am not acquainted with any country in which lime is held in such high repute, nor where the manufacturing of it is so common a practice among farmers, as in this. Clover, rye-grass, and trefoil, are the only artificial grasses in common cultivation. Some few farmers have, I believe, attempted the growth of saintfoin; but as their attempts were languid, we need not wonder they were unsuccessful. With proper management and attention it would doubtless prove a valuable acquisition. Jethro Tull tells us, that its increase in poor land is in a ratio of forty degrees greater than that of common grass. Vetches are sometimes, though (as before observed) not frequently and generally, sown for the spring-feeding of cattle. Perhaps," to use old Hartlib's words, we are to blame that we have neglected lucerne"—that valuable plant so highly celebrated by ancient as well as modern writers. If we may believe Columella and Palladius, t the herb medica is most excellent, because one sowing lasts ten years, and affords commonly four, sometimes six, cuttings in the season because it enriches the land that produces it, fattens lean cattle, and affords a remedy to such as are sick and because one jugerum of it completely feeds three horses for a whole year." The modern writer of Experiments on trans- planted lucerne" makes one remark which, if correct, is worthy of our attention. "I know," says he, from my own experience, that sheep will eat lucerne green, when they refuse every sort of food besides, nor can there be a better preservative, when the rot begins to threaten, than to give them green lucerne, mixed with a little bog-bean, or lucerne hay moistened with fresh brine." He then adds in a note The marsh trefoil, commonly called the buck-bean, is a plant of an unsavoury taste, and sheep when sound commonly avoid eating it; but when symptoms of the rot begin to attack them, they search for it by instinct, and devour it greedily. Where such sheep are depastured, no buck-bean is to be found, for in a week or two they devour it all. Might it not be prudent, therefore, in our husbandmen, who keep large flocks, to cultivate an acre of the plants in morassy grounds, which otherwise would not yield them two shillings an acre ? Some might be cut green for unsound sheep, and given them with lucerne, as occasion might require, and some might be made into hay, and mixed with their fodder. I cannot remember that this advice has been given by any husbandry writer." 01 In our Welsh botanologies, this plant is called meillionen y gors, or the marsh trefoil but is better known to our mountaineers by the name of ffwr waun, i.e., bog-bean, and is found in great abundance upon a quaking bog at Rhos-y-mwyn, upon the mountains of Llangattock and Llangynidr, upon Mynidd Illtid, in Llangorse Lake, and many of the rhosydd in this county. It is a fine generous bitter wonderfully strengthening to the human stomach and assisting a decayed digestion and, from these well-known qualities, it is probable that our author's observation upon sheep is perfectly just if so, the discovery is a very useful one. In the management of the meadow land (notwithstanding the encomium of Mr. Clarke, that "the benefit of flooding is no Dr. A. Hunter's note on Evelyn's Sylva, vol. 1, p. 30. t Columella, lib. 11, c. 11. Pallad. 1.5, tit. 1. where better understood, nor the operation more judiciously performed, than in some parts of this county") there is nothing very praiseworthy. Irri- gation is a system tba. has certainly been long known and practised in the county, and every farmer is satisfied as to the advantages to be derived from water but I.fear that our reporter has given them too much credit for their care and skill in managing it to the best advantage. In fact, an incorrigible indolence too generally prevails, and to this unfor- tunate disposition they often sacrifice their dearest interests. They are neither sufficiently attentive to the formation or disposition of their trenches, or the proper seasons for irrigation hence we have often reason to lament the wetness of the roads, while the adjoining meadows are parched with thirst. There are also some other important errors to be corrected. Too generally the hay crops are ruined by the mis. chievous), but prevailing practice, of late grazing with sheep, which are sometimes suffered to remain on the land until the latter end of April or beginning of May the codsequence of this is, that in hot dry summers a fatal deficiency must ensue, and should a severe winter unfortunately follow, the owner is obliged to purchase bay for his spring consumption, under all the disadvantages of dear markets. The introduction of green crops for the spring-feeding of sheep C1 n alone remedy this defect, bat this is an improvemS j t at which we have not yet arrived. Another almost universal fault which may be observed is,—the suffering grass to stand too long before it is mowed. A generally prevalent but erroneous idea has immemorially influenced our farmers to a belief that by cutting hay before it is (as they call it) sufficiently hard, they lose in quantity, and therefore they leave it standing till the stools are become abso- lutely foxy and the stocks are dwindled into mere bents, sans taste, sans smell, sans everything; in fact, by this means the first crop is lost, and they are now cutting what ought to be their latterrnath. Avarice is here their principal motive. It will hardly be controverted that the leaves of grass are equally essential to good hay with the stalks; they indeed form the most nutritious part of it. Let us watch their progress, and we see them grow together, daily gaining in strength and increasing in quantity, until the stalks arrive at full maturity, and put forth their blossoms. The plant is now in high perfection, and ready for the scythe; but this once past, the leaf decays, the stalk hardens, and every symptom of old age increases. In such a state, what nutrim nt. can it afford to cattle ? little, if any, and clean straw is nearly as beneficial. The common price of mowing hay is from two shillings to two shillings and sixpence per statute acre, with a limited quantity of ale or cider: in some places a gallon to the acre, in others less. Most of the farmers, however, pay by the day, viz, a shil- ling, and find the mower both in n.eat and drink. Female haymakers receive from sixpence to ninepence a day, and usually stipulate for an allowance of drink. Hay, from the great demand for it, has for several years been estimated very highly, having been seldom under three, and sometimes amounting to five, and even seven, pounds per ton. But in future it will probably decline in value, various circumstances having combined to depress those markets by which the trade was principally supported. Railways and canals are daily subverting the business of the carriers, and agricultural improvements in the region of the mountains have enabled the gentlemen in the iron trade in some measure to supply themselves, without depending, as heretofore, upon the produce of the vales. The wages of farming servants have increased very greatly within the last ten years. Mining, collieries, limekilns, ironworks, canals, and railroads, whereby the labourer is enabled to earn his half- crown or three shillings a day, have thrown the husbandman very far into the back-ground, and it is often with difficulty that he can find a sufficient number of hands to cut and house his crops. Certain it is that his expenses are nearly doubled within that period. The head bailiff, or upper servant, in particular has an extraordinary advance of wages, for which it is difficult to account. The exertions of this class are neither greater, nor their services more valuable now, than at any former period. The dearness of provisions cannot be urged as an argument in their favour, for the whole expense of maintenance is borne by the employer. Clothes we must, indeed, allow to be extra, which are rendered dearer by the times, and consequently bear heavily upon the ser- vant, but these once laid in tolerable stock, two- thirds of lower wages would be clear gain. Far different from theirs is the situation of the day labourer, upon whose single exertions not merely himself as an individual, but perhaps a wife, and a numerous family of children, depend for bread. To such a man an occasional increase of wages is un- doubtedly both just and necessary. The price of labour ought surely to bear some proportion to existing circumstances and the increased prices of the necessaries of life or the farmer should supply his labourers with grain on such terms as may enable them to subsist upon their present hire, and in this, I believe, all thiLking men agree. The great diffi- culty is to arrange such a plan, as may assume a practicable shape. Humanity and a kind anxiety to relieve the distresses of the poor, and particularly those of the industrious labourer and manufacturer, have ever been distinguishing characteristics of the British nation, and never were they more brilliantly exerted than during the universal distressing scarci. ties of 1795, 1800, and 1801. Numerous subscrip- tions were everywhere proposed, and liberally supported throughout the island, whilst the Press daily teemed with well meant projects to obviate for the future the evil. Among others, the ingenious Dr. Withering, of Birmingham, directed his atten. tion to the relief of that particular class, which is the object of the present consideration. His obser- vations are certainly replete with sentiments that do honour to his heart: but how far his scheme may be effectually practicable it will be necessary to examine. The wages of the day labourer," says he, are certainly very inadequate to the price of provisions, and hence arises in a great measure the enormous increase of the poor rates. I confine my observations on this subject to country parishes. A man, his wife, and five children, living chiefly on bread, as these people do, will consume one bushel of wheat per week. The man gains from six to nine shillings a week, and his bread costs him eight shil- lings, or more, when such is the price of wheat. I know the necessity of working people, whose nourish- ment depends upon bread, having the best kind of bread, such as affords the most nutrition. Nothing is got by the higher wages he may sometimes earn at piece work the man soon wears himself out by extra exertions, and his family lose their support the sooner. A day labourer at fifty begins to be an old man. No other proof is wanting of his being over- worked on well considering the subject. Perhaps you may think with me, that a labourer should earn weekly to the amount of a bushel and a half of wheat, and that the magistrates should at every quarter sessions fix the lowest rate of day labour for the three succeeding months, in the proportion I have stated, to the then price of wheat. When- ever the gentlemen employed by the Board of Agriculture turn their attention to that point, it will, through that channel, soon find Its way to the legislature." Mr. Pitt, from whose Staffordshire report the quotation is borrowed, after giving the worthy doctor every credit for the goodness of his intentions, takes occasion to remark that the present high price of wheat (i.e., in 1795) being, it is hoped, only tem- porary, and occasioned by unproductive seasons, combined with other local causes, an advance of wages in the above proportion would emancipate the labourer from feeling those effects which very- one ought to bear his share of; secondly, such a mandate of a court would have a tendency to throw many labourers out of employ, as many of their employers would not care, and perhaps could not afford to submit to it, but would make a shift with fewer hands. The grand remedy (continues he) is a general inclosure, and bringing the millions of dor- mant acres of unproductive, though naturally fertile, land, into cultivation, which, uniied with the perfec- tion to which our present practice of husbandry is making a gradual progress, would produce plenty for a population much exceeding that which is at present contained in the island." I must agree with Mr. pitt, that our philanthropist, in his earnest zeal to serve the labourer, appears rather to have overstepped the line, and forgotten that attention which is equally due to the circumstances and situation of his em- ployer. The industrious servant is undoubtedly a deserving object, but the industrious farmer is no less entitled to our consideration, and it is onlv rensonable to enquire how far he may be able to bear the burden proposed to be laid upon him. It hap, I know, been often invidiously suggested, that advanced markets must necessarily make heavy purses," and that farmers fatten upon the miseries of the poor," but such insinuations are not cruel only—they are unjust, for, generally speaking, they are not true, at the same time that they tend only to hold up an industrious and valuable class of men as objects of groundless jealousy and distrust, who are much rather deserving of thanks and encouragement from the country. High prices are by no means that fixed criterion of extended profitsome ingenious gentlemen are willing to suppose indeed, with the exception of certain rich monopolists, it is in most cases decidedly the reverse. How often have we seen that blighting winds or unfavourable harvests have suddenly des- troyed the fairest prospect of the husbandman? When half an acre's corn is half a sheaf! So circumstanced, can it be expected that tho poor disappointed man can afford to sell the produce of that scanty crop as if the corn were plentiful ? Neither reason nor justice can suppose it possible, nor will any adventitious rise of the market, however great, wholly make good the loss sustained in quan- tity. In fact, the farmer has never so good a reason to be satisfied as when corn is plpntiful, and conse- quently cheap. I speak not of him whom superior wealth has enabled to add house to house, and land to land, whose single farm shall occupy a district but of the middling and lower classes from X150 a year rent downwards, for such are those who con- stitute the bulk of agricultural economists. As to the little farmers, I will venture to assert that in no instance is the pressure of scarcity more severely felt than in theirs, and more particularly so in a country like this, where the rents are frequently high, and the land naturally light. Unable from poverty and the smallness of their farms (even in the most plentiful year) to lay by a store, they are inevitably dependant upon the present season for their whole support, and one bad harvest considerably distresses them. Scarcely have they housed their grain, and rested a littie from the labours of the field, when they are obliged to thresh it out, and sell it at the lowest, current price of the year, to satisfy their landlords, and when summer arrives, they are com- pelled to purchase for the maintenance of their fami- lies at the dearest rate of an advanced market. The years 1795, 1800, and 1801, have been already noticed as seasons of unusual scarcity. During the summer (1801) wheat was sold in the Brecknock and Abergavenny markets at the enormous price of thirty shillings for the bushel, and other grain pro- portionably dear. The majority of our farmers, so far from having corn to sell-to use a figurative expression—were compelled "to go down to Egypt to buy corn, that they might live, and not die. They sold their cattle in exchange for bread, and scarcely ought was left but their bodies and their lands. Let us suppose that Dr. Withering's plan had been now adopted, and that at thesummersessions at Brecknock an order had been issued bv the magis- trates that every labourer should receive forty-five shillings a week as the minimum of his hire for the next three months, what would have been the conse- quence ? Already broken down by a multiplicity of outgoings, viz. :-house expenses far exceeding his calculation, high rents now immediately demandable, tithes, taxes, accumulated beyond all former prece- dent, besides a variety of other incidental charges— the farmer must have been irrecoverably crushed, and rendered wholly incapable of carrying on his business, A large proportion of land must necessa- rily have remained unsown, and the public again been doomed to suffer the horrors of a famine. But let us put now another case,-let us suppose the situation of the farmer to be not only widely different from that which has just now been repeated, but that, fully convinced of the reasonableness of the order, be cheerfully submitted to the advance of wages. Would the labourer, upon any sudden fall in the price of grain, so readily consent to the reduc- tion of his hire, in a proportionate degree, conform- ably to any subsequent arrangement of the magis- trates? From a thorough knowledge of the people, I do not hesitate to answer no. He would curse the tyranny of his superiors-he would quit the country, and leave his helpless family a burden to the parish, rather than strike one single stroke in obedience to such an injunction. Thus would that very law, which benevolence intended to relieve and better the condition of the poor, be productive of a diametri- cally opposite effect, and prove an eternal source of discord and dissatisfaction. In a word, it will be always safest to leave labour to itself, and in every situation it will find its level- that is, it will peaceably submit to such prices as plenty or scarcity will naturally impose; but legis- lative interference will ever be found to be not only impolitic, but inefficient. The exertion of authority serves only to create disgust, and, by cramping in- dustry, increases rather than mitigates the evil. Having thus briefly, perhaps superficially, treated upon a subject of which I do not profess to have an intimate knowledge, I take my leave for the present. If anything I have suggested shall be productive of benefit to one deserving person, or my lucubrations shall afford amusement and satisfaction to the public, my ends are obtained and though I am neither too proud or too rich to accept of a recompence for my labour, if they think I deserve it, yet the utmost extent of my ambition is, that I may live a few years in the recolleetion and approbation of my country- men after Providence shall have consigned me to the long silence of the grave. -To this there were some exceptions in the hundred of Talgarth, where the farms were extensive, and the occupiers rich. Indeed, I can hardly call them exceptions, for I have admitted the possibility of the evil under certain circum- stances. C Concluded.)
ABERA VON.
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ABERA VON. DETTNKENNESS.—At the Police Court, on Thursday, before Edward Jones, Esq., Charles Connell was sum- moned for being drunk and riotous. He was dismissed on payment of 5s. costs.
THE MUNICIPAL CONTEST AND…
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THE MUNICIPAL CONTEST AND ELECTION OF MAYOR. There were seven candidates in the field for the four vacancies in the Council of this borough namely- Messrs. Thomas Daniel, Margam Tin Worl,-s Evan Evans, chemist; H. D. Phillips, draper; Thomas E. Jones, grocer; John David (Mayor), grocer "Rpniamin Jones, watchmaker, and Jenkin Rees, blacksmith The four first named gentlemen were put forward by a committee of tradesmen and others pledged to secure their return; and the three last named were put for- ward by the so-called Ratepayers' Association, which really has no existence except in the minds of a few of the" mighty opposition class. The cunning dodge adopted by te." ighties," in placing Mr. Daniel's name on their voting paper, caused some confusion, and there can be no doubt that it was by this means that the returning officer declared his Worship elected by two votes above Mr. T. E. Jones. At the close of the poll the numbers WArA tionlared to be as follow:— Daniel.. 209 Evans. t 170 Phillips 167 David.. ] 166 T. E. Jones 164 B. Jones 135 Rees 134 The four first named were then declared to be elected, and when the returning officer sat down, there were loud cries for Mr. Daniel. Mr. Daniel rose and said: Gentlemen,—I thank you for the proud position you have placed me in to-day. I must say that I am no party man, and I go into the Council unfettered by party feelings. It will be my duty to watch over your interests, and to do my best to promote the welfare of the town and the well-being of my fellow ratepayers. (Much cheering.) Mr. Evan Evans thanked the electors in a few perti- nent remarks for placing him second on the poll. There were then loud cries for "Phillips." Mr. Phillips said: Gentlemen,—I thank you for the honour you have done me in coming forward to -day and returning me as one of your representatives at the Council Board. I will promise you to do my best to promote your interests. You had some good Promises from my opponents when I wag unsuccessful some two years ago in contesting a seat in the Tow,, Council; but I ask you, have they redeemed their promises? (Ones of "no, no," and cheers.) GentlemejL-I hope I shall prove myself worthy of the trust you have reposed in me. The speaker then referred to a squib which had been circulated about the town, headed the The Aberavon Municipal Races, 1869. He thanked the author of that squib for giving him such a good handle to his name as Yardstick." The speaker said with the "Yardstick" we will measure you,-with the "Black Draught" we will purify you,—with "Sugar Loaf" we will sweeten you, and with the "Tin Plate" we will box you up until we want you again. The speaker resumed his chair amidst laughter and great cheering, Mr. John David, in returning thanks, said: After a severe contest,-in fact, such a contest and opposition as I little thought of encountering,—I have again gained a seat at the Town Council,—I may say by the skin of my teeth." (Roars of laughter and"-cries of We'll have a scrutiny, old boy.") Before the, laughter had subsided, the speaker proceeded: Now, now, if you will be quiet, I will offer a few observations. There is that interminable gas works, the cause of all your taxes,—is through the Corporation taking to that bankrupt concern, which certain persons now out of the Council thrust upon you. (A Voice That's a lie, —try another dodge, old boy,—the company was not bankrupt.) And the cause of my being so low on the poll is,—I had, as a magistrate, to administer the pro- visions of the Wine and Beerhouse Act, which embodied so many of my ideas, (A Voice: What has that to do with our rates r-the greatest confusion ensued, and cries of "Turn him out.") On order being restored, the speaker proceeded giving Mr. Evans, one of the successful candidates, and one of the lessees of the gas works, to understand very plainly that, in his opinion, he had no business in the Council, and that it was fitter he remained where he was, and gave the town purer gas. The speaker promised that hencefor vard he would look to the interests of the Corporation in this matter, and would have better gas. (Interruption.) The speaker continued Why, he said, this Corporation has a greater load on its back than Bunvan ever carried. (Roars of laughter, and a voice: Did Buns&n ever carry gas works F) The speaker then went on to sav some- thing about Sir Robert Peel and the Corn Laws but the uproar and confusion became so great that he had to sit down. Mr. Edward Jones rose amidst considerable uproar, and said he wished to reply to one or two remarks made by the previous speaker, and to supply a few omissions which Mr. David had conveniently let go unmentioned. He said, as one of those whose public conduct had been impugned, he wished to explain cer- tain things with reference to the transfer of the gas works. He still maintained, notwithstanding anything the last speaker had said, that the gas works, if pro- perly managed, would be a blessing, and not a curse, to the ratepayers. The last speaker had said that the present heavy taxes were attributable to the inter- minable gas works. Did they believe it ? (Great confusion, and cries of "no, no," and "yes, yes.") The last speaker has forgotten to tell you anything about that necessary sanitary improvement, —the drainage of the town, which had been completed at considerable expense to the town; and I can tell you that no cost has been spared to drain his property at your expense. No less a sum than £ 30 has been expended on Caradoc lane alone. He has also forgot- ten to tell you that a wall has been built at the expense of the Local Board across that ancient public thorough- fare Caradoc lane. I say that wall does not benefit anyone but himself, and, as far as I have the capabili- ties of seeing, it was made for HO other purpose than to fence and hem in his own property. The uproar and confusion here became so great that the meeting terminated without even a formal vote of thanks to the chairman, SCRUTINY OF VOTES. It is said that Mr. T. E. Jones, one of the unsuccess- ful candidates, according to the declaration made by the returning officer, has caused the voting papers used at the election to be scrutinized, and the result is reported to place him fourth on the poll. There are upwards of 80 voting papers for his Worship signed by marksmen, and unattested by any witness. Coun- sel's opinion will be taken, and then no doubt we shall have his Worship figuring before the Lord Chief- Justice of England. MR. LEARY AND HIS WORSHIP CHAIRED. After the close of the poll the notorious Howard Leary was paraded about the town in a chair, creating the greatest merriment, and subsequently his Worship was chaired in the same manner, and paraded through the streets, preceded by the town crier, and followed by 200 or 300 women and children. The Annual Meeting of the Town Council was held on Tuesday last. There were present: Aldermen Whitelaw, Jones, Young, and Gething. Councillors Smith, T. D. Daniel, H. D. Phillips, D. Jenkins, T. Jones, E. Thomas, T. Rees, N. S. Clark, Richard Jenkins, and John David, in the chair. ELECTION' OF MAYOR. The Chairman said: Gentlemen, after the storm of a contested election we come to the calm of the Council Chamber. The first business we have to transact is the election of mayor for the ensuing year. Two years have now elapsed since you did me the honour of electing me mayor, and during that time I have en- deavoured to discharge the duties of the office faithfully. I have attended every meeting of the Council except one, and every committee meeting except two, and have sat on upwards of 100 criminal cases during my term of office. You did me the honour of re-election, but I don't think re-election is good in principle, but after all it is well we can have recourse to it by law. In my opinion every man in the Council ought to have a chance to bring out the talent he has in him. How- ever, my term" of office has passed away and I must step aside into the cold benches of the opposition, there to watch with a lively interest the doings of the Council. I will also watch that the standard weights of the corporation shall not be tampered with, and no more about full moon nights, and in this I think I shall be assisted by the new councillors—they have come in under the watchwords of economy and the poor man's friend. I don't know in what school they have been brought up, but it may be in the school of economy. (Laughter.) I cannot retire from my office without thanking those gentlemen who have assisted me in up- holding the dignity of the office. Before I sit down I wish to say a word in reference to the late election. I cannot help thinking that that contest was directed against me. However, with these few observations it will be your duty to elect a gentleman to the office of Mayor, and I promise him, as the choice has already received the assent of the majority, all the support I can give him. Alderman Whitelaw said he had great pleasure in rising to propose that Mr. Councillor Daniel Smith be elected Mayor of the borough for the ensuing year. Mr. Smith was too well known to every gentleman in the room to require a word of commendation from him. He (Mr. Smith) had resided among them for a great many years, and he was known to them as a thorough man of business. He was in every way fitted for the civic chair. Alderman John Jones seconded the pro- position of Mr. Whitelaw. He said he was quite sure the election of Mr. Smith would give the greatest satisfaction. From what he knew of Mr. Smith he was satisfied he would fill the office with the greatest credit. No other candidate having proposed, Mr. Smith was declared elected, and the two worthy aldermen then conducted Mr. Smith to the civic chair amidst the clapping of hands and cheers of those present. The Mayor elect having subscribed the usual declaration, said I am sorry you did not think of electing some one who had more time than I have at their pleasure to fulfil the duties of the office of chief magistrate of this borough for the ensuing year. But still as you have done me the honour of electing me I will endeavour to devote that time and attention which is so necessary to the office. I hope to discharge the duties of the important office which you have conferred upon me to your satisfaction, and with that impartiality and straightforwardness which is so essential to the office. After the bustle of the late election I hope we may rest down quiet and work together for the interests of the town. For myself, my motto will always be to do the greatest good for the greatest number. (Hear, hear.) APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES, The usual routine business of appointing committees and fixing the dates of the meetings was then pro- ceeded with, and with one exception passed off without any remark, Mr. Thomas Jones objected to the name of Mr. T. D. Daniel on the Finance Com- mittee, although admitting that Mr, Daniel was a good financier, yet he thought he might be more useful on the Gas Committee. Mr. Jones's objection was set aside on the Town Clerk informing him that Mr. Daniel was proposed on both committees „ RESIGNATION OF MR. OIIN DAVID. The Town Clerk read the minutes of the Highway Committee, which did not contain any matter of public interest beyond a reference made in the report a fetter which was brought before the Committee protesting against Mr. David's return, and referring the matter to the Council. The letter referred to was + £ 0ni + T-o-as E. Jones, one of the candidates at the late election, and protested against the return of Mr. David, as being erroneous in point, of law, and threatening proceedings if he took upon himself the ofhee. Mr. David said In reference to the letter which you have heard read, the ground of complaint is as you have heard, that a great many of the voting papers are signed by marksmen and unattested by any witness. I don't think the Queen's Bench would reverse the decision of the returning officer and the assessors, but law is uncertain, and therefore I tender my resignation. Mr. Jones perhaps thinks the public ■will elecc him, but I have no objection to fight the battle over with him again, and then we shall see who the public will return. Mr. Daniel proposed that Mr. David's resignation be accepted, which was seconded by Mr. T. Jones, and carried. A long discussion then took place as to whether or not there was to be a fresh election, Mr. David evidently retiring with that idea, while others were of 1 opinion that Mr. T. E. Jones was entitled to the seat. Just before the close of the meeting a vote of thanks l was given to Mr. David
BRECONSHIRE CHAMBER. OF AGRICULTURE.
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sewage, which should, as in China, be returned to enrich the soil from which it has been obtained. Now, as regards the relation between landlord and tenant, I feel that the former, who is the fortunate possessor of the real estate, and who, either from want of capital or inclination, does not cultivate the land with which he is possessed, but lets it to another, should in doing so see that there is a probability of its being made to yield its full increase, in order that his poorer countrymen may have their food produced at home at a minimum cost, and less of the nation's wealth be sent abroad to obtain that food which is obtainable from the soil of this kingdom, if its fertility were only fully developed. How that desideratum is to be brought about is most intimately connected with the question we are this evening to consider, viz., an increased investment of capital in its cultiva- tion, with security to those who invest. This is obtainable either by an equitable tenant right or lease, or both. I hold that the more strictly the letting and renting of land is treated as a commercial transaction the better will it eventually prove for the interest of the landowner, the occupier, and the consumer. We will here just turn for a moment from considering the land question to that of a house or manufactory, and I will ask would the tradesman who has no certainty of occupation in his house be considered sane were he to expend a heavy sum of money in enlarging and improving his business premises without entering into any arrangement whereby he may be recompensed bis expenditure or what manufacturer would erect a tall chimney and invest largely in machinery when subject to six months' notice to quit. I am sure you will agree with me that no one would do so. Then why should a farmer be expected to haul materials for buildings, for draining, and other permanent improvements to expend annually heavy sums of money in artificial manures and feeding stuffs to improve the fertility of the soil under an uncertainty as to who may the following year reap the reward of his labour, skill, energy, and capital. The very fact of his being so placed retards his operations, checks progression, and thereby lessens the annual produce of the soil. It is frequently argued that there should be a mutual confidence existing between landlord and tenant; that our great landed proprietors feel a pride in the retention of old tenants, and their names being banded down on the rent-roll generation after generation, and such I know is the estimable feeling of many but, on the other hand, we see almost daily cases of great hardship-cases where heavy expenditures have been made under that feeling of confidence which a six months' notice to quit has dispelled. There are those who argue against leases, and in some instances they have been attended with unsatisfactory results, but for my own part I feel strongly in favour of them. At the same time I Consider they should be for a term of 21 years, and certainly of not less than 14 years. I also consider they should be negociable. It may not be generally understood what is meant by equitable tenant right. It means this that should the tenant erect buildings, remove hedges, drain 'and, purchase and apply artificial manures, or incur any other expenditure calculated to benefit the farm, that he should be re- imbursed a fair and equitable portion of the money so expended, the same being done by the sanction of the landlord, or it would not be an equitable arrange- ment, inasmuch as a tenant may erect a building that he would consider to be advantageous to the estate, whereas it may be a great annoyance to the landlord. Again, he may expend money in a most injudicious manner in artificial manures, &c., in which case, if without the consent of the landlord, it would be most iniquitous to tax him with it. For instance, upon some soils lime is valuable, upon others it is, if not injurious, useless upon some guano is a valuable fertilizer, whilst upon others it is of comparatively little value. Again, bone manure, which is the most lasting of all, is rendered of little or no value if the land to which it has been applied is grazed during the following summer with sheep. These and many other things require to be taken into consideration in a strictly business-like spirit. Some agreements in the eastern counties allow one-half the value of pur- chased artificial feeding stuffs, and of certain artificial manure used or consumed during the last year, and one- fourth for that of the previous year. The allowance for the application of raw bone to extend over eight years, one-eighth being allowed for each year, whilst in some cases it is only five years, and one-fifth allowed. Acts of husbandry, too, should be allowed for according to a defined scale, these and other matters should be clearly arranged in the agreement, so that at the expiration of the tenancy the landlord and tenant may know what the one has to pay and the other to receive. Of course I use the term landlord, inasmuch as he must be the contract- ing party, although the incoming tenant will have to pay the money. And if the incoming tenant knows anything of his business and is a man of capital, as all should be who enter upon the business, —which after all yields the lowest returns for the capital invested of any extant—he will gladly pay what is fair and equitable upon tntering upon an estate in a good state of cultivation rather than f;o into one requiring a heavy expenditure to put it so. n the course of the reading the reader was frequently applauded, and also at its conclusion. The Chairman said they would all feel that the remarks of Mr. Duckham were much to the point, and every practical farmer must feel what a happy land it would be if his suggestions were carried out. A great many landlords behaved in a most straight- forward manner, but there were some exceptions. But let the landlord do his duty in every way, and the tenant do his duty, the latter was nevertheless heavily weighted in the race he had to run, and none of them knew who his landlord might be a year hence. (Hear, hear.) His impression was that the best letting would be that of a lease, say for 21 years, combined with tenant right. He meant by that that when a man entered upon a lease, the land should be valued, and also at the expiration of it, and that improvements made by him should be allowed for. The incoming tenant would then have his land in first rate order, and he would have to make a much smaller outlay than if the outgoing tenant had to reimburse himself by taking everything he could out of the land again. If they could only get a lease of 14 or 21 years—21 he should prefer—with a nego- ciable term for a man going out at five or seven years, It would be everything the farmer could desire. It was to the interest of everyone that the land should be kept in a high state of cultivation, and not allowed to fall back at all. A man who entered upon a farm upon those terms, if he had capital and ability, would have a fair chance of reaping the benefit of his labours. Undet the present system of things farmers were heavily weighted, and although many went on and made a good living out of it, it must be a great hardship, and cause great anxiety. Mr. A. Smith (Buckland) observed that in Scot- land all the farmi were leased. When there was a farm to let it was published in the newspapers. He called that doing things in the dark, because the land and machinery might or might not be in good order. All the offers were to be in by a certain day, and there was one successful. This was often a man with large capital. When a man with less capital took a farm, if it were in good repair it might be successful, but when the house was in a dilapi- dated state, and the land worked out, it re- quired more capital. Men of capital were always preferred, and they sometimes got the farm for less money than had been offered by others this causing a great deal of unpleasantness. When the lease was expired the farm was valued, and if he received the house in good repair, he was to leave It so. A difference of opinion however, often took place, as to what was necessary, and unpleasantness consequently arose, the landlord refusing to allow anything, because land had risen in value and grain Increased in price since the farm was leased. He had known farmers suffer a good deal upon that account. The Chairman You have no tenant right. Mr. Smith No they expect to have tenant right when they make roads, drain the land, and take away hedges. When leaving the farm they think they shall be reimbursed all this. The Chairman If they do it with the consent of the landlord. Mr. Smith Oh 1 of course, without that it would be illegal. But at the end of the lease it was said that these things were done in the tenant's own in- terest, and not in that of the landlord. Then in draining the tenant might have had to cut through rppks, but it was only the surface the valuer saw. The farmer had also expended a lot of money on manures, but no one could tell except he himself- Mr. H.P. Price What do you suggest to meet the equity of the case ? Mr. Smith: As there are landlords here I sball leave, itto them. I think when leases are well made there is nothing better, but the leases and covenants made by the gentlemen of the law are very embarrassing. (Laughter.) Mr. D. Thomas said they were all agreed that there was a grievance; and there ought to be a remedy As his friend Mr. Smith had said, solicitors and attorneys were fond of rigmarole leases, which no one could understand when they were drawn, and it toek an action at law to construe that which was recorded. They did not want stringent covenants, but rather let the arrangement be such as induced profit on both sides. As people differed so widely upon questions of lease he should be very glad in the first instance to see that which would benefit land- lord and tenant, viz., a better custom. If they could obtain a good custom in a locality there would be no difficulty in transferring a farm from one person to another, but at present one landlord might be exceedingly liberal, and another exceedingly rigid, which prevented any equitable arrangement between landlord and tenant. It was quite clear thlt both ought to sail in the same boat, and there ought to be implicit confidence and no jealousies. He had always argued that landlord and tenant had the same interest, but the landlord did not understand his rights, and the tenant was afraid to explain them to him. If the landlord was to look into that wt ict, concerns him, not only he and his tenant, but society would be benefited. They in England produced twice what they did in France and Belgium, but he maintained that they ought to be able to produce four times as much. The object of all farming was to produce at the smallest expense the greatest possi- ble result. Did they do so? Certainly not. Sup- posing they had a lease properly drawn, which secured to the tenant fixity of tenure for a certain time. Before taking it, however, the would-be tenant asks how much was wanted for the farm,— 11 X100 a-year," replies the landlord. The tenant says, It would be worth 2100 a-year if in proner condition, but it has been worked out for three years, and it will take me another three years to put it in good condition you must therefore reduce the rent for that period to 950." The landlord says, "I don't like that," and the tenant replies, "But" if you want me as a tenant you must take it." This was therefore a loss of X150 to the landlord, who only got his proper rent of ZCIOO in the fourth year. At the fourth year the ten nt looks at his lease and finds he has forgotten to ask his landlord to compen- sate him for his improvements and the capital he has put in the farm. He is therefore obliged to take care of himself by not putting any more manure in the ground, and by working out that which he put in. He has worked the farm down to the state in which it was when he took it. and the landlord in again letting it can only get £50 for another three years. Thus, out of 14 years he gets only X50 for six years. This was a loss to him, to the tenant, and to society at large. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Thomas concluded his remarks by recommending a good custom. Mr. Downes said they were much obliged to Mr. Duckham for his practical remarks. The question of leases was a very difficult question to solve, and they could scarcely find two men who would agree with regard to the framing of a lease. A lease of seven years was almost useless. If they entered a farm in a bad state of cultivation it took nearly seven years to get it into a decent state of cult iva- tion. A lease of 14 years was nearly as bad and he advocated leases of 21 years. If they had a lease of twenty-one years let them have no covenants, but at the latter part of the lease let the landlord be protected. A dishonest tenant might at the end of 18 years, unless the landlord were pro- tected, take everything out of the farm. The first thing a landlord ought to do was to enquire of the tenant what capital he had. Every tenant farmer oUiht to have a capital of from 98 to zelo an acre. But before the tenant farmer was protected in the way he ought to be the law of distress ought to be done away with. The landlord was safe of his rent, and the rest of the creditors might go whistling. The landlord could now come in quarterly to get his rent, but if the law of distress were done away with the landlord would look to a responsible man, a man possessed of energy and perseverance. The kind of lease which was suitable on a gravelly soil was not suitable on a clay soil, and the land ought not to be cultivated in the same way. They must make a bare fallow of agravelly soil, and let it remain so exposed to the sun and air, but that would not do for a clay soil. (Hear, hear.) Mr. H. P. Price did not like the discussion to ter- minate without his making a few remarks, and he thought it was due to Mr. Duckham who had taken the trouble to come there and put before them his views in the practical manner he had done. The whole question came to this. A landlord invited a tenant to embark his capital in his soil without any certainty of its being returned to him in the event of any accident befalling him from death or any other cause. That was not as it should be. If a man built a tall chimney he looked forward to security of tenure, to enable him to get back the capital em- barked in it. So with land. It was a commercial undertaking, and it was impossible to expect any man of common sense with due regard to himself and his family to lay out a large sum of money without security. That was a clear and patent fact. But although it was agreeable to common sense and equity, it had been much disregarded. Undoubtedly the subject was a difficult and delicate one; but he could not but believe it was susceptible of solution by a mutual understanding and by the mind of the country being directed to the subject. He was not going to the question of yearly tenancies or leases because they both agreed on one point that they must come to aa end. The outgoing tenant was then liable to the loss of the capital he had not had a return for, and the question arose how they would estimate it. Were they to go back for a number of years in an enquiry which might possibly end in litigation, or adopt some simpler though rougher process. He had heard of land being valued upon the tenant going in and on his coming out. Did he understand that the increased value of the farm would be capitalised ? Supposing they had a farm valued at .£100 a-year. At the end of 21 years it was again valued, and said to be worth X150 a-year. Did they mean to say that the increased rent would be capitalised ? The Chairman A certain portion of it would be. It is practically done in some counties. Mr. H. P. Price said it appeared to him it would be a difficult thing to work it out. He thought, however, they ought not to go beyond a certain number of years, and for the tenant to say he had expended so much in one manure and so much in another, and that he was entitled to have a return or a proportion of all that. What number of crops, er what rotation of crops was it necessary to enjoy in order to get a return for his outlay ? It appeared to him that the farmer was entitled to compensation for that which he cannot have received any benefit from (hear, hear), and that might surely be suscep- tible of an arrangement. Some time ago he intro- duced a kind of tenant right. In his leases there were certain clauses providing that during the last three years his tenants should have compensation either from himself or the incoming tenant. It was a rough kind of agreement, but still he did it to the best of his ability. (Applause.) He was there in a a double capacity, as a landowner, and as a member of society; and he agreed with Mr. Duckham that that was a most vital matter, and it was to the interests of society that a satisfactory settlement interests of society that a satisfactory settlement should be arrived at between the landlord and tenant. Allusion had been made to Belgium, and he had been struck with the enormous sums paidthere by the incoming tenant to the outgoing tenant for leaving his farm in a high state of cultivation, and no one thought of taking a farm unless he could put down a large sum for the cultivation of his fields and the manuring of his lands. He was glad to have heard the discussion that day and he hoped the different Chambers of Agriculture would unite in some form of agreement for yearly or leasehold tenancy, so that this delicate and important matter might be settled. Major Penry Lloyd said he [was quite inclined to take the views of previous speakers. What they wanted was an equitable arrangement for improve- ments. In discussions, however in that room, on questions relating to the relative' position of land- lord and tenant, they must bear in mind the wants of the country in which they lived. More than two-thirds of the farms of that country were held by those who paid less than £100 rent. They ought to bear in mind that the majority of the farmers were hard- working men who had not large capital, and any legislation would conduce to the con- densation of three or four farms into one, and intro- ducing men of capital to farm those large farms. He did not know, however, whether that would be a matter of congratulation to themselves: it would certainly reduce the population of the country. The hill farmers had not much to complain of, and he did not know whether the system of tenant right would be desirable in that district, but as regards those in he county of Hereford and in the Vale of Usk, it would perhaps be advantageous. Mr. Price had intimated that what was good for the bill growers would be good for Wales, but he should fancy that the soil and climate of Belgium was far better than that of the Welsh valleys, Mr. Price It is very much worse. Major Penry Lloyd Then it was a very strong argument for carrying it out in this district. It was a question, however, whether they should not let well alone. If a grievance existed a remedy ought to be applied, but he did not think any of the speakers had made out that there was any great need of legislation in that district. He thought farmers, as a rule, paid their way. There were cases in which there were bad landlords and also bad tenants, but they would occur in every state of society, and he did not think any special Act of Parliament could be made to meet this. Mr. Cornish remarked that nobody knew where the shoe pinched except those who wore it. He had lived there about seven years, and when he came he had a farm which was thoroughly worked out. If he had paid down X300 to go into a farm in good condition, he should be many hundreds of pounds in pocket. He had been delighted at the remarks which fell from Mr. Price especially, because he was a landlord. If some arrangement could be made generally, it would be for the well-being of the country at large. He had at one time been largely engaged in the corn trade, and when he looked into the statistics and saw how much they paid for corn imported, it was astonishing. If England at large were only properly farmed, and a proper understanding arrived at between landlord and tenant, they would not want to pay a shilling a year for corn. (Hear, hear, and applause) Mr. Duckham, in replying, congratulated the Chamber on the discussion which had taken place. England was capable of maintaining the whole of its population under an altered state of things, and that altered state of things would be to the benefit of the landed proprietors as well as of the tenant farmer. The hardships spoken of by Mr. Smith would be greatly lessened in Scotland if there were an equitable tenant right. He thought, however, that the arrangement between landlord and tenant sug- gested by Mr Thomas was wrong. The custom of a country was a fertile source of litigation, and the sooner it was buried in oblivion, or altogether lost sight of, the better. He quite agreed in the opinion that those who drew up agreements should have a practical acquaintance with the business; but he differed with their respected chairman on the question of valuation. Two men might look over a farm, and have a very different opinion with regard to it. The man also who valued it in the first place might be gone seven, fourteen, or twenty-one years hence. His remarks might be in black and white, but they may not read the same twenty years hence as they did to the man who wrote them. He did not think any uncertainty should exist, but that everything should be as clear as possible. He had himself tried an agreement for seven years on precisely the terms their chairman had brought forward, but he felt it was a wrong course, and he could not recommend that Chamber to adopt it. In reference to the hill farmers, although the holdings might be small, they bad improvements on a small scale to make, and they ought to be protected in the expendi- ture of their small capital as much, if not more, than those with large capital. He did hope that some equit- able arrangement would be made, which would induce the feeling that ought to exist between landlord and tenant, so that agriculture might progress, and the soil of the country yield its full increase, and that instead of the misery and wretchedness they sometimes saw around the hearths of English farms, there should be happiness, contentment, and prosperity. (Applause.) A vote of thanks to Mr. Duckham for his attendance and paper, and a similar vote to the chairman, concluded the proceedings.