, 1875-08-14
THE PROGRESS OF AGRICULTURE.
From the Times)

1t liz to be expected that most people
should see very little more in an Agricul-
tural Show than a grand competition for
profit, for display, for amusement, and for
honour. But it has aspects in these days
which require the light Of history. What
we havej ust seen at Taunton, for example,
is such a triumph over sinister predictions
and real difficulties as a generation ago
was thought impossible. We can no
longer doubt, as we compare the present
with the very recent past, that under wise
guidance human affairs may safely be
trusted to right themselves, and that
before very long. That we have passed
unscathed through very great perils we
have the testimony of successive Govern
ments up to q generation ago. The
truth is it happened with them as with
other Governments more or less enlighten-
ed. The best influences, the wisest legis-
%lation, and the most benefcent acts have
always been thought p%erilous, if not GER
tainly fatal, TO old-established Governments
and long fixed institutions. For the vices
and excuses OF. mankind statesmen have
generally felt themselves a fair match.
Against confessed %yillainy and wickedness
theV can assert the old laws, or, if need be,
make new ones. 1t is good men, good
principles, good measures, founded upon
the unstatesmanlike id, as of faith, hope,
and charity, that have generally been
held to constitute the real danger of socie.
ty. When these things have been found
to answer, or even to do no p%erceptible
harm, it is a miracle, perhaps more than
is deserved.
Twenty-Five years ago we were on the
brink of ruin. Foremost, on the very edge
of the precipice, and. all>but topping over,
was agriculture, with its noble super
structure of the landed gentry, the
Established Church, and whatever claims
respect for its antiquity and Interchangeable
ness. The danger was not that millions
were starving, at the point OF death or
repatriation, or that our labourers
were dissatisfied, as well as ignorant and
pauperized. These things could be sur
vived or endured. Famines are forgotten +;
to miseries and baseness men become
Infatuated. About the time we speak of
the labourers in the Eastern Counties and
some other districts had been waging wal
with civilization and their own best
interests by destroying machinery and
burning ricks and homesteads upon some
indefinite notion that this was the way
to higher wages or more consideration.
But all this was nothing to Free Trade.
That was the impending avalanche, the
volcano, or more destructive deluge. 1t
was deemed impossible the British farmer,
with his many burdens and close surround
ings, hampered, tied hands and feet, strain
ed at every sinew and drained at every
pore, could compete with the foreigner,
whether the Norman peasant just opposite
our shores, or the Russian serf three thou
sand miles off, or the American settler
in the heart Of his vast continent. What
ever a farmer put his hand to he was equal
ly sure to be beaten now that all the world
was on his back. Wheat, barley, oats, cat
tie, sheep, horses, pigs, butter, cheese, vege-
tables, fruit, meat, live or dead, fresh, pick
led; or preserved-it was all the same,
for the odds were all the world to the
crepdedinhabitants of a small isle, groan-
ing under taxes and restraints unknown,
II was supposed, to more fatoured chimes