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what has so essentially advanced their property. They have had the wisdom and liberality to grant leases. Thence have flowed all the beneficial consequences to themselves and the public, and I trust they will ever continue stedfast friends to a system from which they have derived such important advantages.

JEALOUSY OF FARMERS.

Farmers in some districts have looked with an eye of jealousy upon the proceedings of gentlemen agriculturists. Most egregiously do they miscalculate their own interest. Is it likely that he, who knows the real value of ground, should exact above its real worth? for as he loves agriculture, and attends to it himself, he will have a pride in being the friend and patron of an industrious and thriving tenantry. They who cannot judge for themselves, must place their confidence in others, whose interest it is to obtain the highest possible rents, in order to recommend themselves to their employers, and sometimes they are said to be paid according to the advance made in the rental. Can such proprietors have any pleasure or satisfaction in an intercourse with their tenants? Let those who object to gentlemen farmers consider of these reasons, and then decide for themselves, whether the lessee of a judge, and friend to agriculture, or of him who gives no attention to it, and is under the guidance and direction of land-surveyors and agents, be in the better and more favourable condition?

Much

Much as I am disposed to recommend and admire the practice of agriculture by gentlemen, I lament when I see it pursued on a scale of expense which must be attended with certain loss. I am equally, or more concerned, when I see it assume a selfish appearance. The selling or letting rams at enormous prices carries with it the semblance of monopoly, the direct reverse of what ought to be the object of gentlemen farmers. If the expense of any stock require such prices to repay the breeder, the breed cannot be adapted to general use. High prices paid by gentlemen to farmers may tend to promote and give encouragement to breeding; but the great landed proprietor and agriculturist should never act for one moment in a way to suffer his motives to be questioned. His interest points directly to the promotion of every great and general improvement; he should facilitate, not retard, its progress. Whilst the principles which govern his conduct are believed to be dictated by a disinterested desire to forward whatever is for the public benefit, his example and influence will be extensive. Independent of the folly of submitting to give the prices, this practice has operated to retard the general diffusion of good stock, and to keep it in the hands of the opulent.

BAILIFFS.

The general ignorance of this class of men has often been to me a subject of surprise. Few possess any

knowledge

knowledge beyond the mechanical part of their profession. Ask them what is the cost of keeping or rearing animals, and they are utterly unable to give any information. Those gentlemen, actuated by public spirited motives, who embark largely in farming, without much previous knowledge, and without the power of devoting their time to it, would consult not only their interest, but their comfort and pleasure, in putting their farms under the direction of well-informed, and well-educated men, who are fully acquainted with every operation, and at the same time able to exhibit correct calculations on the probable result of every branch of agriculture. Salary, however liberal, would be a trivial consideration compared with the losses and vexations which would be prevented. Above all things (I speak from experience) I would recommend, never to suffer the person who has the conduct of the farm to have any other employment. I have known several very good bailiffs spoiled by being permitted to attend markets, and to be purchasers of cattle, &c. If they once imbibe a taste for jobbing, the farm soon becomes a secondary consideration, and they are perpetually finding occasions to be absent. A large farm can never want a superin, tending eye for a day, nay, I had nearly said, and perhaps not improperly, an hour, without loss to the owner. I should strongly recommend a general inspection of all implements in use, cart gear, &c. once a week, and that every man should be accountable for all things given into his possession; if taken or made use of by any other person, a fine should be incurred.

be lightened both to men and horses. The fault of most ploughing is inclining the plough outwards, instead of keeping it perpendicular. The best ploughing is that which comes nearest to trenching, by turning the sod completely, and exposing a fresh surface. I think it is more than probable that iron ploughs may be made to answer a good purpose; their first cost does not exceed those of wood. Iron harrows are a great improvement, the teeth being fastened by a screw; in case of their being broke, they can be repaired with little trouble, and without delay, or loss of work.

More diversity of opinion is found to exist as to deep or shallow ploughing, than might be expected. I should deem shallow ploughing four inches, medium six, deep nine; but every six years I should advise making the winter fallow twelve: I have found it invariably to answer, and it is with satisfaction I see it becoming very general in the county of Cumberland.

TASTE.

I might indeed be justly accused of presumption were I to enter the lists with gentlemen who deal in this commodity, and who are so obliging as to supply taste to such as either suppose they have it not, or do not choose to be at the trouble of exerting it. I do not mean to dispute any point with them, but I hope I may be excused if I state what I have felt on approaching

CONSUMPTION OF FOOD.

In great and complicated concerns, where a numerous stock is to be fed, the greatest care and circumspection are necessary to avoid the distresses of being out of food. It requires a constant and unremitting attention. Abundance produces waste, and economy is only begun to be practised when want is become inevitable. As an example, though I had this year 200 acres of wheat, and nearly 150 of other grain, the consumption of straw was such up to the middle of December, that in three months more my stock would have been entirely exhausted. Out of this want of foresight has sprung a very useful regulation. The whole of the straw is cut, by which means one half the consumption is saved, and the horses eat it better than when given whole.

PLOUGHING.

Considering the importance of this operation, and the consequent attention given to it in all places where agriculture has made any progress, it appears strange that there should be no form of plough agreed on, as the best adapted for ease of draft, and for making good work. Almost every country has its favourite plough, and bad as the construction of many of them is, they nevertheless produce excellent work. Ease of draft is a point well worthy of attention. In proportion as the friction is lessened, so will the labour

be

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