. USES OF AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. TO THE EDITOR OF THE

SPECTATOR.

Peterborough, 14111 October 1839.

Stu—You refer in your last number to the increase of Agricultural Societies, as tending exclusively to strengthen the Conservative party. Having wit- nessed the operations of one here recently established, I venture to offer a few re- marks, to show that they are useful for other purposes; hoping to ward off some hostility to them in future.

The Peterborough Agricultural Society, formed nearly two years since, ori- ginated first in an anxiety to improve the farming stock of the neighbourhood; secondly-, to diffuse by the frequent exhibition of good stock a better and more

general knowledge of the principles of breeding, rearing, and fattening cattle,

&fp, ; thirdly, by offering numerous premiums for competition to shep-

herds, ploughmen, and other persons employed about a them, to hold up the best workmen and most worthy characters to the example and emulation of their fellow men ; and fourthly, by frequent meetings and discussions to direct the minds of the farmers to any matter (not under legislative consideration) of consequence to the improvement of agriculture.

here are useful practical objects, which have been pursued without reference to politics, and without „more than a proper deference to the influential men of

the neighbourhood ; and I think, where the farmers themselves have the ma-

nagement of a society, they will be more intent on obteining good animals and good crops than in making it the vehicle of angry inflated spouting against the Government and the manufacturers, or in tiresome praise of high rents and

aristocratic landlords. Such Societies supply to the farmers what Mechanics Institutions have supplied to the better sort of' working men—a stimulus to inquiry, n desire for information, and a disposition to contribute from their

own experience to any topic of the day. The farmers have been long enough Firmed as isolated men, as enemies of education, and as the repositories of pre-

judice : what is better calculated torenovine them then Agricultural Societies ?

tven the great Conservative dinners, so redolent of venison and humbug, will produce some good, by gathering men who would otherwise think nothing of

any public matter, aria giving to the assembled farmers some respect for read-

ing and speaking. Much more will these societies, when confined to their proper business, Flharpcn the faculties and extend the knowledge of the mem-

bers. If they are wrong about the Corn or tiny other laws, they will 1;.• more

disposed to listen to end able to judge of the arguments of their opponeuts : and about their peculiar fifties, as improved culture, new resources, suitable Feed, proper implements, and regard the the welfare of the labourer, these Asso- ciations are very valuable, end will, if I am not mistaken, prove to be of great

importance to every other clam in society.