Possible Clues:

• Jocular remark having drunk ales in storeroom
• Storing various ales in larder is some kind of joke
• Criticise attempt to secure tricky sale making amusing remark?
• Following appeals, there's a new attempt to bring jocularity
• Bon mot from student boxed in by country-folk
• A bit of a joke, first year plan: 'Remove tree and grind up'
• Agreeable remark made by labourers' leader surrounded by body of rustics
• Rustic folk gathered around back of mill for a joke?
• Good-humoured remark ultimately distasteful among simple folk
• Joke of Labour leader accepted by working class