dull routine. The steam-plough
teaches the labourer who works near it something; the sight must
react upon him, utterly opposed as it is to all the traditions of
the past. The enterprise of the master must convey some small
spirit of energy into the mind of the man. Where the cottages are
built of wattle and daub, low and thatched--mere sheds, in
fact--where the gardens are small, and the allotments, if any, far
distant, and where the men wear a sullen, apathetic look, be sure
the agriculture of the district is at a low ebb.

Are not these few pictures sufficient to show beyond a cavil that
the agriculture of this country exhibits the strangest inequalities?
Anyone who chooses can verify the facts stated, and may perhaps
discover more curious anomalies still. The spirit of science is
undoubtedly abroad in the homes of the English farmers, and immense
are the strides that have been taken; but still greater is the work
that remains to be done. Suppose anyone had a garden, and carefully
manured, and dug over and over again, and raked, and broke up all
the larger clods, and well watered one particular section of it,
leaving all the rest to follow the dictates of wild nature, could he
possibly expect the same amount of produce from those portions
which, practically speaking, took care of themselves? Here are men
of intellect and energy employing every possible means to develop
the latent powers of the soil, and producing extraordinary results
in grain and meat. Here also are others who, in so far as
circumstances permit, follow in their footsteps. But there remains a
large area in the great garden of England which, practically
speaking, takes care of itself. The grass grows, the seed sprouts
and germinates, very much how they may, with little or no aid from
man. It does not require much penetration to arrive at the obvious
conclusion that the yield does not nearly approach the possible
production. Neither in meat nor corn is the tale equal to what it
well might be. All due allowance must be made for barren soils of
sand or chalk with thinnest layers of earth; yet then there is an
enormous area, where the soil is good and fertile, not properly
productive. It would be extremely unfair to cast the blame wholly
upon the tenants. They have achieved wonders in the past twenty
years; they have made gigantic efforts and bestirred themselves
right manfully. But a man may wander over his farm and note with
discontented eye the many