[List-Cumbria] Carlisle Patriot, 27 Jul 1816 - Abbey Holm District Meeting

[Petra Mitchinson]

Saturday 27 Jul 1816   (p. 3, col. 2-3)

 

ABBEY HOLM DISTRICT MEETING. 

  

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) 

 

At a period like the present, when a concurrence of unprecedented circumstances has produced a depression in agricultural produce
rarely known before, every friend to his country must rejoice to find there still exists a spirit of improvement in the valuable
district of the Holm. To trace the origin of this spirit, and investigate its progress, with a view to ascertain whether similar
results would not be produced by similar plans, must prove, we trust, a gratifying and useful enquiry to every one engaged in
agriculture. Five years are now elapsed since Mr. SAUL invited the President of the Workington Society, and some of his friends and
neighbours in the Holm, for the purpose of inspecting the state of certain farms in that district. The very small quantity of Green
Crop at that time grown in the parish of the Holm, convinced the President that much remained to be done before the Agriculturist in
that neighbourhood could be considered to make any approach to perfection. Some few individuals had commenced improvements with much
spirit and exertion, but their example had produced comparatively very trifling effects. On this occasion it was determined, that
the meeting should, from that period, become annual, and that the first should be held at Skinburness. Encreased attention to
cleanliness, the augmentation of turnips, of soiling, and a desire to improve the breed of cattle, soon manifested the propriety and
utility of such Societies. Every succeeding year presented new improvements; and whilst many districts in this county have been
retrograde, this, during the most distressing years the farmers ever knew, has been invariably progressive. On Friday the 19th
instant, upwards of twenty Farmers and Yeomen met Mr. CURWEN at Wigton, on his return from Carlisle, and inspected, on their road to
Mr. SAUL's, of Green-Row, four farms, in all of which very manifest and striking improvements had taken place. Mr. TINDALL, of
Southfield, has adopted Lord Meadowbank's plan of mixing moss and dung with advantage, and such a plan is well calculated to benefit
the sandy range of ground in what is termed High Holm. His stock is much improved. Mr. MILLER's improvements do him great credit,
and his crops all promise well; his short-horned bull is a very good animal of the improved Durham breed. Mr. OSTLE has been
surpassed by none as a soiler of cattle in consequence of the great neatness, care, and attention with which he manages them. It is
his opinion that one acre of good clover can support two cows, and that the average crops of clover in the county will maintain 1½
cows. Mr. Adam SCOTT's turnips look well.—The whole party dined with Mr. SAUL, and felt much gratified with his hospitality and
kindness. Every one present on this occasion rejoiced that so useful a meeting had been commenced by Mr. SAUL, and sincerely hoped
that he might long continue to preside. He has done more than any of our large landed proprietors by the formation of such Societies
in his own neighbourhood, and it would much contribute to the prosperity of agriculture if similar meetings were formed in every
district.—On Saturday the 20th, eight farms were examined, and it was pleasing to find the whole in a very creditable state of
management. The fallows were uncommonly clean. Some of the turnips, in consequence of their being late sown, are only very young,
but in general they appeared healthy. All the crops of wheat were good, and some admirable. Oats were in general good. The pastures
excellent, and the hay crops seemed much above an average. The stock of this district is greatly improved.—After dinner the usual
toasts were drunk.—Mr. SAUL presented Mr. CURWEN a cup which was given him by the Yeomen and Farmers of this district as a testimony
of his unremitting attention to the interests of agriculture in general, and those of the Abbey Holm in particular. Such presents
manifest a spirit of gratitude, and deserve to be commemorated, since they prove that the givers consider the want of gratitude a
low sordid and base crime.—We are sorry Mr. SAUL had not a cup also presented him on account of the great and lasting interest he
has always taken in promoting the improvement of this district, and trust next year some testimony of his merits will be given
him.—We entertain no doubt, should similar meetings be formed—a general reduction of rents take place amongst the clergy and
laity—and a system of the utmost economy be adopted both by the governors and the governed—that we shall yet be enabled to bear
under the pressure of the times, and prove to Europe that her liberator merits not only their gratitude, their esteem, their
veneration, but imitation.—It was very pleasing to find the Earl of Lonsdale had made Mr. RIGG (whose farm was entitled to the cup
for the best managed farm last year) a present of a tup of his best bred Leicesters. Such presents prove, that the merits of their
tenants are not neglected; and such examples ought not to be forgotten by the extensive landed proprietors who are themselves
farmers in any other district.—Mr. CURWEN has reduced his rents, in general, 15, 20, and 30 per cent., an example which every lover
of agriculture ought to follow. Without something is done, the great mass of the tenantry of the kingdom must soon be reduced to a
state of the most abject poverty and distress, and the estates themselves must share the fate of their occupiers by experiencing
that deterioration which imperfect culture, in consequence of want of capital, always occasions. 

 

 

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