We can see little hope for agriculture in what is
known as Lord Winchilsea's Plan, which is to form a National Agrieul- -turd Union. It was accepted at York on Thursday ; but it was evident that many of those present thought the present Agricultural Chambers and Unions sufficient, and desired only to see more labourers enter them. Lord Winchilsea desires to see all connected with agriculture form a distinct party; but if they do, they cannot carry Protection, and what other plan is there for raising prices ? Lord Winchilsea seems to think that if brewers were bound to make beer of English barley and hops, prices would rise greatly, and nobody would be injured ; but he is only talking Protection without knowing it. If prices do not rise, the farmer is not benefited; and if they do rise, the consumer of beer will have to pay the difference. Dispensing with the middleman sounds practical ; but we should like to know how the middleman got there if he is not useful.
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