1917 | Stalham Farmers' Club | Leading speakers from the agricultural industry.

1917 – A meeting of Stalham Farmers’ Club

Railway Hotel, Stalham (by kind permission of Capt Mattie, during military occupation)

at 6.30pm, January 9.

There were 37 members present.

Mr E G Cubitt presided. The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, the following two new members were elected – Mr R Cubitt, of Palling,  and Mr Loveday of East Ruston. Mr Bird proposed and Mr WP Cubitt seconded Mr Edgar Faulke, of Dilham, and Mr J W Smith, of Wayford, Stalham, for election at the next meeting.

The following officers were unanimously re-elected for current year with thanks for their past services.

President – Mr E G Cubitt. V.Ps: Col B Petre and Mr W P Cubitt. Hon Sec: Rev M C H Bird and Capt F C Neave and Mr J Littlewood as representatives of the Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture.

A sincere vote of sympathy, feelingly proposed by the chairman, was passed to the families of the late Messrs W Durrell and A Labrooke, two of the oldest and most and most regular of our attendant members. The hon secretary was instructed to convey this resolution to Mrs Durrell and Mrs Ladbrooke.

The result of the root competition was reported as follows –

Best two acres of mangold – 1 Mr A Neave, Catfield. Estimated yield 38.5 tons per acre; 2 Mr W P Cubitt 35.5 tons; J Howlett, Sutton 35 tons

Best two acres of Swedes – Mr W P Cubitt, Bacton, 41.33 tons per acre; 2 J Love 35.75 tons; 3 Capt Jickling, Smallburgh 33 tons.

Best whole root crop – Mr J Love, Walcott 30.8 tons. Mr WP Cubitt and Capt Jickling being only a fraction of a ton behind. The average weight of 27 pieces of mangold inspected was reported to be 27 tons an acre against 34 tons p.a. in 1915. Of 20 pieces of Swedes, 26 tons against 29 tons last year.

There was a record entry this season and the judges took two and a half days to complete their task.

On the motion of Mr WP Cubitt, seconded by Mr A Neave, and supported by Mr J Love, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Messrs RWA Slipper, J Bygrave, P Green and Rev M Bird for their services and to Mr Bygrave for motoring the judges round.

Several members corroborated the Hon Sec’s remark upon the unusual growth made by roots after October 17, on which day the judging had taken place.

After a long .. . . discussion upon present day agricultural topics, the following resolutions were directed to be forwarded to the Minister of Agriculture and the county war ag committee. “In the Stalham district the land is all occupied by competent farmers who are only too willing to get the most out of their land, especially at the present time when prices are remunerative, the one difficulty being the shortness of labour. We ask for a sufficient supply of skilled labour and that where there are large number of military in the neighbourhood, some of these men might be allowed to help farmers in an emergency. We are also of the opinion that unnecessary and unremunerative work should be stopped through the country.”


WEDNESDAY, March 7, 1917

Minutes of meeting held at Stalham Railway Hotel, 6pm.

Mr E G Cubitt presided and 30 other members were present. The Hon secretary, the Rev M C H Bird, read letters from Mrs Durrell and Mrs Ladbrooke thanking the club for their expressions of sympathy.

The following new members were elected – Messrs E Faulke, Mr J W Smith, and Mr H Thompson. The names of the following gentlemen were brought before the meeting for subsequent election – the Rev C Stookes, Messrs W Sands, E Lawrence, and H Legg, proposed by Rev M Bird and seconded by Mr J Durrell. Mr J Draper proposed, and Mr Faulke seconded, the name of Mr H E Copeman.

It was agreed to send a resolution to the local War Agricultural Committee asking them  to take the necessary steps to have rats, moles and sparrows, systematically destroyed throughout the district.

(In a report in the EDP, it noted that the president had opened a discussion on pigeon shooting. He said that there was a great difficulty in getting the guns to go out. Tuesday had been fixed in the district for simultaneous pigeon shooting. In some districts they simply swarmed. He had received many complaints about the large number of rats and moles that infested various districts since gamekeepers had been called up. It was agreed to send up a resolution. Mr Cubitt also informed the club that the law in respect to the poisoning of sparrows had been withdrawn but this matter would be left to the sparrow clubs.)

Prof Amos, of Cambridge University, gave a most interesting lecture on clover sickness, illustrated with beautiful diagrams and preserved specimens of eelworm and clover fungus. The lecturer said that clover sickness (which is caused by one or other of these two pests is not brought about through soil being sick of carrying a clover crop) might be mitigated by the application of 6cwt of lime per acre applied in the autumn, and by grazing and spraying with Brimstone or other fungicides had been recommended. Clover fungus attacks beans alike and sainfoin occasionally and lucerne in first year only. As beans are susceptible, do not grow clover after bean wheat. As to eelworms, there is no known cure, the eggs are very retentive of life surviving over a year without hatching and feed on other plants besides clover and other legumes.

A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Amos.

(signed June 26 Mr EG Cubitt.)

JUNE 26, 1917

Minutes of meeting held at the Railway Hotel, Stalham.

Mr E G Cubitt, president, was in the chair and 32 other members also attended.

To meet war prices, the cost of teas was increased to 3s (three shillings or 15p) per head.

The minutes of the former meeting were read and confirmed.

The following new members were duly elected – Rev C Stookes, Messrs W Sands, G Lawrence, H Copeman and H Legg.

Mr J Littlewood proposed, Mr E Wilson seconded the proposition that Mr J P Hudson, assistant agricultural commissioner for the county, be elected a member of this club, which was carried unanimously.

Rev M Bird proposed, Mr R Gibson seconded, the nomination of Mr H Plummer for future election. (Mr W Wright, R W A Slipper, W C Green, and the Rev M Bird were elected as root judges for the coming season).

Mr J P Hudson addressed the members on the duties of agricultural war committees, the responsible position of parish representatives and the importance of securing as much grassland as possible for the production of corn.

Signed E G Cubitt – January 22, 1918)