29 AUGUST 1863, Page 3

The Leicester and Waltham Agricultural Association held their annual dinner

on Wednesday, and Mr. Heygate made a most sensible speech in favour of the collection of agricultural statistics. He said that only two returns were required—one of the acreage under white and root crops, and one of stock, which latter might be collected in the spring. He advocated the collection of these facts by a national charge, and believed that no one would benefit from them so much as the agricul- turist. It is a positive disgrace to the country that at this moment the acutest of cornfactors could not tell at all accu- rately the total produce of the harvest now gathering, or the real extent of difference between it and the average crop.