Welsh Journals

Nolton, and Morris Williams, labourer to William Evans, of Bletherston, shared a guinea for having done 31 years service apiece with their respective masters and three guineas were awarded to George Rowe, servant of John Phillips, Laugharne, for rearing children without parochial aid. The secretary of the Society in 1805-7 was Charles Hassall, who was succeeded by his brother Thomas. The chair was taken by Col. W. H. Scourfield, John Bateman, William Francis, the Rev. David Bird Allen, John Phelps, of Withybush, and others. Among the judges we find Morris Williams, of Cwmgloyne, the Rev. Thomas Bateman, rector of Dinas, and the Hassalls. The Society also held fairs of cattle, sheep, horses and pigs, and in 1805 Charles Hassall adver- tised that the Society would hold such fairs at Pembroke (12 April, 1806) and at Haverfordwest (14 April, 1806). The first reference to a ploughing match in West Wales is in 1807, when the Society granted prizes for ploughing to the servants of the following gentlemen: — Col. W. H. Scourfield and Richard Mathias, of Hayston. The early ploughing matches appear to have been well organised and produced considerable improvement in tillage. On 3rd November, 1808, the Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society and the Narberth Farmers' Club met to witness a ploughing match in a large field on the farm of Mr. James, of Camphill, near Narberth. Eleven ploughs started for the Welsh prizes and six for the free prize for English (Little England) and Welsh ploughmen. The servants of the following were the winners — 1, John Herbert Foley, of Ridgeway; 2, Nathaniel Phillips; 3, William Evans, of Bletherston; 4, George Roch, of Butter Hill; 5, Mr. Thomas, of Egremont; 6, William Evans, of Bletherston; 7, John Harding, of Clynderwen; 8, Mr. Davies, of Raturno. The free prize went to James Fair, servant to John Harding. The weather was uncommonly fine that day, and a large company of gentlemen and farmers had gathered to witness the proceedings. The ploughing was of a high standard, "exceeding every expectation, and the prejudice in favour of the old system vanishing like vapour before the radiance of the sunbeam. After the ploughing was over the company proceeded to a sale of some new Leicester ewes belonging to Lord Cawdor, which, being finished, they sat down to an elegant dinner at the White Hart Inn, where the evening was most agreeably spent in conversation on agricultural subjects, and the utmost harmony and good humour pervaded the societies." (The Cambrian, 12th Nov., 1808). How long this Society continued to exist I am unable to say, but the few records relating to it suggest that it took a leading part in improving the livestock of the county as well as toning up agricultural generally. The attitude of the Society to cattle breeding is well summed up in the notice of January, 1806, signed by Thomas Knox pro the secretary, "The Candidates for Premiums offered for Bulls, Heifers, Sheep or Pigs, are requested to take notice that the size of the animal will not influence the Society in the distribution of the Premiums,