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THE FARMERS' CIRCLE. 1

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MARKETS.

OSWESTRY.

LLANSAINTFFRAID.

SHREWSBURY.

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THE FARMERS' CIRCLE. 1

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LAND REFORM. Speaking to about three hundred farmers and others at the annual luncheon of fhe Central Banffshire Farmers' Club at Keith, on Tuesday, on the occasion of the agricul- tural show, the Duke of Fife dealt at some length with the land question. All matters: connected with the land, he said, had naturally a very deep interest for him, and he always endeavoured to approach them j with a total absence of prejudice. He quite appreciated the policy of olden days, which was at all costs to add acre to acre because land was the most apparent form of pro- perty. In these days this was no longer the case, and he was convinced that the division of the country into properties of various sizes, some large, some* quite small, and others of moderate size, was more de- sirable than huge overgrown estates, which were the pride of a former generation His views on this matter were formed and ex- pressed by him many years ago, l(Hlg' before the so called land reforms were as fashion- able as they now were with men of all shades of political opinion, and he commenced to act upon: that as soon as he possessed any land of his own (applause). Ha believed that his action at the time caused some astonishment, as it was not in exact con- formity with the usual traditions and prac- tice of large estates; but lookiag back on the last twelve years, he had no cause to regret his action, because he believed that a wider distribution of land would, tend to dispel class jealousy, and to promote national stability by giving a real interest in the soil to a larger number of the community. Yet it was manifestly to the advantage of the country and to the farmers, for obvious reasons-, that landlord and teaant should exist, and, although their relative numbers might vary in different localities, the system was one which was likely to continue. Therefore, it was highly desirable that they should all live together in a friendly manner, and he was glad to think that in that part of the country it was so. As in trade, capital and labour could best prosper when both agreed, so in agriculture, when all classes concerned pulled stoutly together, could the mother of all industries furnish a full return to those who were concerned in its working. NOTES FROM HEREFORDSHIRE. Excessive as the rainfall was during the latter half of 1891, it by no means compen- sated for the deficiency of the previous half oi f he year and although during the first tv months of the present year it was slightly in excess of the average for those months, yet the land was ill prepared for the- serious deficiency experienced from that date until the 30th of May,, when a rainfall of i'02 inches, followed by a week of almost tropical heat, greatly tended to dispel the gloom which rested on the countenances of all who had been anxiously looking forward for the seasonable change usually ushered in by the merry month of May to replenish their exhausted hay stacks up to that date the pastures had presented the sterile appear- ance of mid-winter. But alas! a low tem- perature and sharp nightly frosts followed that hot week until the 29th of June, when another 1-02 inches of rainfall again replen- ished the earth, and brightened the pros- pects of its cultivators, and great improve- ment was manifest in,allthe crops, although the low temperature continued. On some early lands the quick motion of the mowing machine greeted the year, and some hay and fodder was secured in prime condition, but the opportunity for doing so was quickly checked, and on the 17th of July the dress- ing of 1.37 inches of rainfall again tended to cheer the drooping spirits, and induced the hope that a warm temperature and brilliant sunshine would follow; but vain is the hope of man when used against the will of his Maker. On the nights of the 19th and 20 th of July sharp frosts again checked all kinds of vegetation—producing red rust in wheat and other corn crops, the full effect of which can only be revealed by the use of the thrashing machine; the hops, too, suffered severely, and rendered the expensive process of repeated washing necessary. A large acreage of ground has been cleared for very small stacks of hay and fodder, but fortunately in prime condition, where not too much hurried. The root crops are grand, and the orchards promise to yield better than was anticipated. The price of stock, both fat and store, continues very depressed yet with abundant autumn keep, and fair prospects for winter feed, there must soon be a demand for store stock. Harvest a fortnight late; always to be dreaded. HARVEST ESTIMATES. The Agricultural Gazette publishes about 370 estimates of the crops, representing every county in England and several of the Welsh, Scotch, and Irish counties. The general tenour of the estimates pretty closely confirms the anticipations expressed from time to time, except that wheat, owing to the effects of blight in some districts and mildew in others, comes out below average in more instances than we expected. Barley, as expected, is represented as the grain crop of the season, while oats, in spite of recent improvement, come out considerably below average. Beans show up even worse than oats, the failure of the winter crop having affected the estimates, as well as defective podding in some cases and aphis attacks in others. The pea crop varies greatly, and is put at barely an average, or referred to doubtfully in many instances. Although it comes out below average in a greater num- ber of returns than that of the favourable reports, we believe it is very little below. As for hay, the few favourable reports are nearly all from the North of England and Scotland. Potatoes are represented as a splendid crop on the whole, although the appearance of disease is indicated in too many districts. On the other hand, the majority of the reports in which the subject is referred to state that the crop is free from disease. Apparently there is much less I

THE FARMERS' CIRCLE. 1