The Chester Courant and Advertiser for North Wales

AGRICULTURE. 1 The Cheshire Agricultural Society's unani- mous selection of Mr. Harry Barnston as their new president has occasioned general satisfac- tion, for it is recognised that Mr. Barnston is the right man in the right place. He has been identified with Cheshire agriculture all his life, and for many years has been a prominent member of too Cheshire Chamber of Agricul- ture, in whose excellent work he has taken an active and sympathetic part. In other spheres, too—the Cheshire Dairy Farmers' Association, for instance—he has long associated himself -with the promotion of the farming industry. Mr, Barnston realises that it is a great honour to be president of the county society, and we may be sure that he will discharge the duties of the offico with that thoroughness whicth is characteristic) of him. A happier choice of a successor to Sir Gilbert Greeuall could not have been made SMALL HOLDINGS AND RATE& The Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1907, of which we have heard so much from the public platforms lately, comes into force on January 1st next, and eo far as Cheshire is ooneeraed it cannot be said that the publio in- terest in the matter is very general. It is truo that we had a meeting at Chester last week, and speeches designed to "oreate a demand" were made, but wo doubt if it will have the effect of dispelling the apathy which exists. Mr. W. J. Crossley declared on Friday night that the Cheshire County Council would re- quire a groat deal of prodding before they would seriously touch the matter. It is rather early to diistruat the county authority, seeing that the Act is not yet in foroa and bearing in mind that already they have obeyed the injunc- tions of the higher authorities and made en- quiries. The returns, which were submitted at the last meeting- of the County Council, shewed that out of 450 parishes 24 reported that there was a demand for small holdings, but that no land was available for th purpose, five that there was land available, and 211 that there was no demand for small holdings, and that no re- plies had been received from the remaining 210 parishes. Then there is the important consideration that the Act in operation is likely to throw an additional charge upon the local rates, and these are high enough at present in all con- alciiewao. "T. a S." in the "Agricultural Gazette" observes: "In case county councils find that, in answer to their request for appli- cations for small holdings, a demand is made for a supply to applicants having experionoo and capital, it is fairly certain that both a direct charge will have to bs met at onco by rate- payers for purchase of land, and also a future charge for repayment of loan. Let ratepayers consider the liability which will commence as soon as steps have been talwn-beginning with 'the insertion in the local newspapers of adver- tisements'—to set the Act in operation. More- over, let thorn look forward to an annual charge for repaymmf. of loan continued for eig'hty years, an extension of time which expressly invites a still further mdebtednees of county councils, who have already a burden of rales as hard to bear as was the old Illiln of the sea The editor of the "Agricultural Gazette' has col- 9 lected a comprehensive return from correspond- ents as to the present condition of small holders in different parts of the country. He asks with convincing emphasis, 'Why it is, if the scheme is economically sound, that deficiencies should be made up out of tha rates?' Let me ask another question, Why should county councils be empowered to borrow money on terms ox- tended for repayment in eighty years, a provi- sion which actually impels Councils to bum thir boats and to go on to the bitter end after proof of failure?" GREAT BRITAIN'S CROPS. FEWER POTATOES. GOVERNMENT RETURNS AND COM- PARISONS. We have received a statement issued by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, which shews that the estimated yield of potatoes. tur- nips, swedes and mangolds in Great Britain in 1907 is slightly below that of last ymr, though on tire W}"1A w-oli p 1.- .J.- — -t ü"" 1",<>1" f.- yea.re. In Great Britain the estimated total produce of potatoes for 1907 is 2,977,910 tons, and last year the figure was 3,428,711 tons The acreage this year is 548,920 acres, and in 1906 it was 56-5,921. The average estimated yield per acnc is 5 43 tons, compared with 6.06 for the previous year and 5.75 for tho average of the last ten yoars, 1897-1906. In the three countries the figures are:—England: 1907, es- timated total produce 2,098,239 tons; 1906, 2,439,063 tons; acreage, 1907, 381,891 acres; 1906. 396,516. Average estimated yield per acre: 1907, 5.49 tons: 1906, 6.15 tons; last ten years 5.74. Wales: 1907, estimated total produce 115,203 tons; 1906, 143,420. Acreage: 1S07, 28,141, acres; 1906, 29.219. Average estimated yield per acre: 1907, 4.09 tons; 1906, 4.91; last ten years, 5.09. Scotland 1907, estimated total produce 764,468 tDne; 1906, 846.228. Acreage 1907, 138,888 acres; 1906, 140,186. Average es- timated yield per acro: 1907, 5.50 tons; 1906, 6.04; last ten years, 5.93. The returns dealing with turnips and swe&s are more encourag- ing. In Great Britain the estimated total pro- duoji for the year now closing is 22,059,972 tons, compared with last year's of 22,627,840, while the number of acres under cultivation this year is 1,562,990, against that of 1,590,935, giving an average estimated yield per acre of 14.11 tons, the figures for LaSJt year being 14.22, and for the last ten years 13.15. The statistics for tho three countries read —England 1907, esti- mated total produce 14,651.158 tons; 1906, 14,104,146. Acreage: 1907, 1,058,292 acres; 1906, 1,082,821. Average estimated yield per acre: 1907, 13.84 tons; 1906, 13.03; last ten yaars, 12.19. WTales: 1907, estimated total pro- duce 881,936 tons; 1906, 934,997. Acreage: 1907, 58,496 acres; 1906, 59,143. Average esti- mated yield per acre: 1907, 15.08 tons; 1906, 15.81; last ten years, 14.81. Scotland: 1907, estimated total produce 6,526,878 tons; 1906, 7,588,697. Acreage: 1907, 446,202 aOl\1; 1906, 448.971. Average estimated yield per acre: 1907, 14.63 tons; 1906, 16.80; last ten years, 15.32. There is ako an increase in tire output of mangolds. This year the estimated total produce in Great Britain reaches 8,935,456 tons, tho figure for last year being 8,538,480, and the acreage in 1907 is 450.041 acres, conipared with last year's total of 431,443, while the aver- age estimated yield per acre this year is 19.85 tons, last year it being 19.79. and for the lact ten years 19.17. For the three countries the figures are:—England: 1907, estimated total produce 8,689,323 tons; 1906, 8,288,300. Acre- age: 1907, 436,193 ocres; 1906, 418.415. Aver- ago estimated yield per acre 1907, 19.92 torio 1906, 19 81; last ten years, 19.24. Wales: 1907, estimated total produce 203,864 tons; 1906, 203,385. Acreage: 1907, 11,056 acres; 1906. 10,621. Average estimated yield per acre: 1907, 18.44 tons; 1906, 19.15; last ten years, 16.93. Scotland: 1907, estimated total produce [42,269, teams; 1906. 46,795. Acreage: 1907, 2,792 acres; 1906, 2,407. A vera-go estimated yield psr acre: 1907, 15.14 tons; 1906, 19.44; last ten years, 17.42. OUR FOOD SUPPLY. REMARKABLE FIGURES. The Board of Agriculture and Fisherier, have aliso forwarded us a copy of the final part of t.ho annual agricultural statistics, which contain many items of interest to local agri cuilturists. It appears that in the United King- dom there are 19,749 acres of arable land, 1,800 acrce being devoted to the cultivation of wheaf, 1,923 acres to barley, 4,119 acres to oats, and the yield per acr.) is 33.7 bushels of wheat, 35 0 of barley and 42.4 of oata In the United Kingdom the population is 43.8 mil- lions, yet thare arc 47.1 millions of acres of cultivated land, tibete being 247 cattle, 619 sheep and 76 p;ge to every 1,000 acres yf this land, and 267 cattle, 667 sheep and 82 pigs to every 1,000 of the population. In the United Kingdom the population had increased dur- ing the last 25 years 8.9 millions or 25.5 per cent., whereas tho wheat acreage has de- creased 1.20 million acres or 40.0 per cent. In tho United Kingdom the total acreage under crope and grass in 1906 was 47,070,937 aoree, 8,366,881 acnes being devoted to tha cultiva- tion of corn crops. There were in the same year 14,565 acre'! on which were grown carrots, 111,206 acres allotted to the cultivation of cabbages, 6,334,663 acres to the growing of permanent grass for hay, no fiewer than 8,753,542 tons of 1-ay being produced, while there were julgo 21,084,499 acres devoted to the growing of permanent grass not for hay. Last yeatE theo yrcra ia the Unked 4,234.695 cows and 7,415,085 cattle of other kind, a grand total of 11,648,780, and there were 29,135,192 eheep and lambs, 3,567,654 pigs and 2,100,533 horses used for agriculture. TO ERADICATE SWINE FEVER. TO ERADICATE SWINE FEVER. With reference to swine fever, Mr. J. S. Lloyd, chief veterinary surgeon, Sheffield, in a paper he read before the Lancashire Veter- inary Medical Society, last week, advocated more stringsrrt regulations. He contends that so far the disease had not been seriously grap- pled with, hence the reourremoe of the trouble. Anticipating the unpopularity of severer rules ho sayp: "No contagious disease of animals ever known has so far been eradi- cated without Lo-tome having to sufiex—take, for example, rabies, the latest disease to be stamped out—and surely it is bettear to put up with some temporary inconvenience if there is any likelihood of deserving a permanent bene- fit thereby. The mistaken policy of the Board in the past reetne to have arisen ohiefiy from the desire to please everybody. It cannot be done with success The result during the last two years has beer to increase the outbreaks of swine fevor, and toO decrease the number of pigs, at the same time spending yearly about £50,OOJ Of public money. It should be borne in mind by, farmers and small-holders and cottageift—for all are. oonoorned-that. though severe measures will press heavily on them at hit they will be temporary, for they will eradicate the disease. The present un-method is '.a;.(ony long drawn out,' End apparently in. terminable ARMY HORSE SUPPLY Farrinem who are horse-breeders will be in- terested to learn that Lord Darrington has under consideration a scheme for registration of horses for the Army, both for breeding, and for reserve putpo&-&-a scheme which, he hope. may be acceptable to the War Office, and which courctrobably,if prooccded with, be made to cover the needs of the Territorial Forces. It appears that the Army Council are expocting the county associations to co-operate in the provision of a reserve of suitable horses to supplement their peace establishment in cases of mobilisation in war tame, and it is estimated that 54,000 horses would be required ov3r and above the peace establishment of the Army. The Army Council have already a lien upon a reserve of from 16,000 to 17,000 horses, meetly located in urban centres, for which they pay an annual retain.ing fÔ3 of 5s., with a right to purchase at a fixed price, averaging about L55, but the balance of their requirements must bo mad. up from all other available sources

SMALL HOLDINGS ACT. I CONFERENCE AT CHESTER. A meeting, one of a series arranged by the National Liberal Federation. was held at the Temperance Hall, George-street, on Tuesday afternoon, to consider the new Small Holdings and AJlotments Act. AN M.P. AND THE SUFFRAGETTES. Mr. Corrie Grant, M.P., attended the meeting in order to explain the Act. He described it as a "legal mosaic." It was built into and intertwined wit;h a number of other statutes. Speaking of the powers of rural councils, Mr. Grant said he had a wide knowledge of rural district councils, but if anyone told him they were burning with enthusiasm to supply allot- mente, he would say the rural council in that man's district was different from any he had the pleasure of meeting. (Laughter.) Mr. Grant described the prooedure for the oompul- sory acquisition of land, and as to what course the owner would take. He said too owner in opposing the local authority's application to t'te Board of Agriculture for compulsory powers, would Dot say the parish council was not competent to deal with the matter, nor that tho land. was not wanted, nor that the parish council was unreasonable, because the evidence would be the other way. What he would say was that they ought to have taken somebody else" land. (Laughter.) Regarding the procedure, Mr. Grant remarked that the framers of the Act, with a bitterness which he could not understand, had carefully ex- fluckd (Heajp, hear, and laughter.) ioallv, he thought hi*? frioo<^ in froot r^>w might have spared him that "bear, hear." (Laughter.) They had also excluded a class whom most lawyers held in great contempt, a class called experts. (Laughter.) Neces- sarily, cows were excluded. (Laughter.) Business would be quick, easy, and cheap. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Grant pointed out that the local Council, onco they obtained land for snuiil holdings, were unable to sell it again, and he shewed how by comparing the probable oorit and the amount to bo paid annually for interest and principal, with the probable rent, the County Council could make the Act pay. If their operations could be carried on at a profit, he could not see why they should not develop their powers as far as possible. If the County Council would not move, there was the Board of Agriculture, which could step in and declare the Council in default and carry out the Act themselves. Coercion, how- ever, never ultirna-tely helped, and the less coercion was used to adult men and women tnc better. As to the prospects of the Act, Mr. Grant said that under the Small Holdings Act, which had been in operation since 1892, only 800 acres had bean taken up, wheros under the New Act Cambridgeshire alone was ask- ing for 3,000 acres In conclusion, Mr. Grant advocated the extension of credit banks in connection with small holdings. In Germany and Italy to-day there were hundreds of thousands of pounds lent out by credit banks. They took money on. deposit, paying five per oe rt. interest for it, and they lent it out to small holders at additional interest. The de- mand fo: small holdings wae undoubted. He had not been into a single county where the demand did no"; exist The people in the vil- lages wanted the land, and they could do better with the land than farrr-ers did with it, and they could not get it because ten pounds stood between them and the aoquisition of it. The development of (he credit bank was the only remaining diffioulty in connection with the Act. Mr. F. Impey, chairman of the Allotments and Small Holdings Association, said that 25 yeoirs ago he wrote to tho late Lord Tollemache asking if it was true that the labourers on his property were ble to have three acres of grass jand and to keep a cow. Hie lordship replied in the affimative, and in his kindly wvy added: "Coifi& and see for yourself; I will drivo ycu round," He did so, and he (Mr. Impoy) saw two or three hundred men living in oomfort, working on farms and giv- ing satisfaction to their employers, having comfortable houses for which they were able to pay a fair rent because throe acres were attached to each. Throughout the county of Worcester the feeling for allotments and email holdings had spread mcrvollously, and ho knew h u rrdreds of men who were far better off because they had been able to get hold of a piecc of land. There was a great demand for land in Cheshire, where agriculturists were blessed with an ;rdiistry that was ever prospering. It was still possible to find pieces of land in Cheshire where a small holding might be ob- tained Several written questions were sent in to Mr. Grant. Answering a question regarding game rights, Mr. Grant said the game would be dealt with as under an ordinary agricultural lease. It was a fact if a man simply took land without any agreement, the game belonged to him and he had the right to shoot and kill it. That was tho common law, and a very good law too. (Applause.) The councils would have the right of dealing with tho game in their agreements with the tenants. In answer to another ques- tion, Mr. Grant said parish councils and county councils were not confined to the parish in which applicants resided for the purchase of ailolmento. Allotments and small holdings could bo taken anywhere. Replying to further j questions, Mr. Grant said the main object of the Act was not to establish a peasant pro- prietorship on an extensive scale. Peasant pro- prietorship could be established under tho Act of 1892. He thought the Aot would cause a rise in land values, and that was why he could I not understand the opposition of tho land- owner. Parish councils and county councils I could buy small holdings and allotments with a certainty of profit. The county councils could not directly land poor men ploughs, carts and other implements, but they could do it in- directly by the promotion or the assistance of credit banks, etc.. If county oouncils would use that power, they could db an enormous deal to HxvaJLL holdings One question was: "In the evemt of email bandings becoming rery numerous, would the small holder be able to dispose of produce at a. reasonable rate?" (Laughter.) Mil. Grant said be was a lawyer, but he was not a prophet. (Laughter.) If small holdings became very numerous they would so become, because the men who had them found they paid. "I want a farm of forty acres. How long will it take to make the necessary arrangements?" asked another. Mr. Grant thought it might be done by next Michaelmas, if arrangements could be made for the sitting tenant to leave without waiting for tho yearly notice. One question read "Is it right that a sitting tenant should be turned out to make room for five or six 'hungry cuckoos,' as Mr. Rider Hag- gard calls them?" Mr. Grant replied that if five or six people with families were being kept out of their means of livelihood because they could not get land, he did not see why one man and his family should not be dispossessed for them, especially as they would have full compensation, and would be able to get another tenancy without any difficulty. Mr. Grant also informed another questioner that the authorities could take glebe land for allotments, and he hoped the Act would be put into force by taking charity land and glebo land. One reason why he hoped they would take the glebe lands was that in that, as in other matters, the children of the Church wero wiser than the children of the world, and they had always managed to get the best land. (Laughter and applause.) Mr. James Tomkineon, M.P., proposing a. voto of thanks to Mr. Corrie Grant for has address, said that without the desire to adminis- ter the Act it would be futile. They had already a wonderful instance in the totaHy new spirit that had been breathed into the mana-g-ement of the Crown lands since Lord Ca-i-rlrigton took the reins of power. There were 60,000 acres of Crown lands in this country, and when Lord Carrington took office eight months ago there were only 44 small holders upon it. He had already put hundreds upon the soil, and over 3,000 acres bad been taken up in small holdings. He was glad to hear them was a great demand for holdings all over the country, because those who advocated small holdings had been met over and over again by tha statememt that thero was no demand for them and that the people would not stay in tho country. He had always contended that was entirely a mistake, and that in the great majority of cases the people did not senile upon the soil bccause they had not had the opportunity. This Act was going to give them the opportunity. As a Church Estate Commissioner, he could assure thorn that the glebes were being given over to the county councils all over the country, and that the in- cumbents would be only too glad to have the county counoil for their tenants. At DcIrunere Forest there was an admirable opportunity for the acquisition of holdings. Next Michaelmas the lease of a farm of 800 acrea would come to an end, and Lord Cairington was going to offer it to the authority for small holdings. Mr. W. H Lever, M.P., seconded the resolu- tion, the Hon. A. L. Stanley, M P., supporting. Mr. Corrie Grant, in reply, said this was the best conference they had yet hold. ANOTHER ACCOUNT. (From a Special Correspondent.) The ticket meeting held in the Temperance Hall, to hear the Small Holding's Act, 1907, expounded, en Tuesday afternoon, was very thinly atte* ldrcd, considering the advertised at- traction of the pretsenoe of Lord Crewe, Lord President of the Council, and the careful steps taken to issue tickets only to known partisans, and after very critical enquiry. There were very many empty chairs at the back of this not large hall. Unfortunately Lord Crewe was not well enough to appear, and Mr. Mond took the chair. Ho stated that it was intended as a non-political meeting, which was somewhat inconsistent with the array of local Radical M.P's. and atfihenente of that party, who flooded the platform, and were visible in the hall, and the Liberal leaflets froely distributed in the ball. Among the 6mnll <iudksnoo woro a good number who did not, sympathise with the subject, and who in audible whispers shewted dissent. When Mr. Corrie Grant glibly said that if landlords would not give up land, councils would acquire it oompidsorily, there were such observations as oo,n "Shame!" "Nios for a free country!" "Poor taxpayers!" "Unfortunate ratepayers!" "That is very thin!" "Why don't you pay proper compensation ?" Mr. Grant is a facetious speaker whose knowledge of lAnd tenure ap- pears very limited Judging by some of his remarks wo should be surprised to hear he owns any agricultural land, as when he sug- gested that £100 would perhaps buy four acres of land in Cheshire he caused his own sym- pathisers to laugh loudly, and compelled him to 6top and enquire He altered this to two acres for JE160, adding that ho knew whore he could elsewhere obtain land at JE25 an acre, and a fruit farm, too, at that price! He also made very general statements, quite un- supported by evidence. He said that there was a demand in Cambridgeshire for 3,000 acres of land already for small holdings and allotments. One would have liked to ask for verification of the bona fides of these applica- tions, and to what extent the applicants were financially, or by experience, fitted to work land. This he did not tell us. Nor did he tell the meeting what compensation landlords were to receive for the compulsory taking away from an estate of a choice piece of land, es- pecially fB they are not to get the usual ten po cent given always when liMid is compul- eo-ily acquired by railways and other bodies. Ho gloated over the fact it could be done "simply" Ho said he disliked "coercion," but you muet nowadays have it behind ycu, and apparently considered it ami-sing to nar rate that when a poor tradesman, when he had been for his holidays, met him after read- ing a pamphlet lie had published, end a-sked if it was true that his land could be taken oompidsorily, exp-rcssing great surprise, he had told him "Yes," and had sinco found out this poor fellow had retired, and put his savings into some lar:d. This olicited great laughter from some of this sympathetic audience. He did not tell the audience that neither parks nor home farms, nor land required for the amenity or convenience of a dweU, could be taken; nor that a holding of 50 aorcs or less can be taken under the Act; nor were the councils to take an undue or incon- venient quantity of land from any single land- lord, or tenant—somewhat important reetrio tione. Mr Grant also went on to say that the Government had voted already £100,000 "to make tho thing go," and that sum was only till 31st March, 1908—three months—and then, when thi i sum was spent, Parliament must voto more, and there wero four quarters in a year, which meant 2400,000 in a year! Just pre- viously, he had said it is a long time since the country has had an economical Chancellor of the Exchequer, and what a good thing this fact was! He told his hearers he hoped to see plans of houses and buildings in every ominoil office, whero applicants could go in and chocse the houses, etc., they wished built. Tho councils would build them, lay ouT, roads, lay water, mako paths, and the tenant would pay for land costing JEM an acre JB2. 10s. an acre rent. This is Utopia with a vengeance He said it all rested with the -electors to put the right men (extravagant Progressives) on the councils, and indulged in a sinister sneer at their apathy. He predicted small holders would farm their holdings far better than large farmers can, and calmly told his hearers that notios could be given to any farmers to give up land that was wanted. One wonders what some of our experienced farmers will say to this, also what result will come of this Sooiakstio exhortation, as if it is no better than he has given elsewhere Mr. Grant's energy is oertainly misspent, and he might more usefully buy the first farm and try what success he can attain thereby. It must not be thought that I do not favour the principle of small holdings, as being an inducement to the population to stay upon the land, I believe small holdings will do much good, if properly and amicably founded. Riding rough shod over the landowners, using compulsion, and not paying adequate compensation for land taken and for disturbance, can but lead to one outcome, which will be sotting class against clats, and causing bad feeling among the settlers. As it is, with all possible tact there will be feeling enough between any applicants efcewtua to obtain the croaua gf the hioldUuBk

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THE ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report of the Royal Agricultural Society of England will be presented at the annual general meeting of ihe society in the Agricultural Hall, Islington, this week. The losses by death uf governors and members have been very heavy, but notwithstanding that the total membership is 9,690, as against 9,620 the previous year. The council report the sale of Harewood House for ;645,000, which enabled the society to pay off all charges on the property and to discharge all expenses incidental to the sale and the costs attending the occupation of the present house. The profit on the Lincoln show is now estimated at 25,050, in addition to which there will be the contribution of £ 2,000 from the ordinary funds of the society to the show account. The next show will be held on the Town Moor, Newcastle-on-Tvnc, from Tues- day, June 30th, to Saturday, July 4th. As far as can be estimated the prizes will amount in value to over £ 9,000. It is important to note that the first prizes in the most important cla/sees will be increased from JE15 to JE20. In other ejections additional prizes to the first and tecond will be I given according to the number of entries in the class. Hie show of 1909 will be held at Gloucester.

MILK AND THE LONG PULL.—A remarkable compact was entered into by the fai ir, ers and milk dealers of Preston and Fylde at a largely attended meeting at Preston on Wednes- day afternoon. It was decided to increase the pnce of milk by a penny per gallon, to charge casual customers twopence per pint, and dispense with the long pull. Each farmer present resolved to sign a promissory note, pledging him to pay on demand £ 5 incase of violation of the agreement.

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Stump oratory, therefore, is net wanted; it may accentuate feeling and strife. We must behave like Englishmen, and act fairly. CROWN LANDS EXPERIMENT. It is intended to carry out an experiment in small holdings on the Crown lands at Delamere. Next Michaelmas the lease of the Crown farm of 800 acres will come to an end, and Mr. Jasu Tomkmson, M.P., and Mr. Lyulph Stanley, M.P., ha.ve met the agent for the Crown at Dolaanorc and arranged that 300 acres shall be separated from the farm and equippcd for small holdings. Tho scheme has received the sanction of Lord Carrington, and it is proposed that the management shall be vested in the Cheshire County Oouncil. Mr. Tomkinson states that too conditions arc highly favour- able to the success of the enterprise, and that as the creation of small holdings will not involve the displacement of any tenant, the County Council could not have a better opportunity for carrying out the Act. Mr. Stanley also ex- presses the opinion that the conditions are favourable, and believes the experiment will be the commencement, of a scheme which will materially alter the conditions of life in Cheshire. "CHESHIRE COUNCIL REQUIRE I PRODDING." Speaking at a public meeting at Hale on Thursday night, Mr. W. J. Crossley, M.P., said as to small holdings, he thought the County Council of Cheshire would require a good deal of prodding lefot-e they attempted seriously to touch that question.