The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-03-08
HOUSE FARM & GARDEN.
Agricultural Depression In England.


hard times and general depression of
agricultural pursuits are alone con-
tined to the United States, but in this
they certainly err. for any great finan-
clai disturbance In our country is pref
ty certain to be felt in another, with
which it holds commercial relations.
Depression in trade or in agricultural
pursuits, in America is felt sooner Or
later all over Europe, and as an inter-
esting view of the condition of agricul-
tural affairs abroad we copy some ex-
tracts from letter of a farmer to the
Hereford Times Of England:
1t is nonsense to assert that ssallow-
ing one man to occupy three or four
farms" is detrimental to the interest
of farming. The argument would ap-
ply with equal force against all large
establishments, estates and kingdoms.
The large farmers generally are the
best of farmers, grow the best crops
and are Indispensable at the present
day. What does it matter how many
farms man occupies, providing he
properly cultivates them! Further,
where are the men to be found to &C.
cupy small farms, and where is the
capital to come from! Small farmers,
have years ago succumbed to the inev
liable result of their position, and
gone to be green-grocers and publ
cans in the populous districts. 1t is
useless to point to France to prove the
benefits of small farms. / might with
more reason point to the Western Con-
tlnent to show the advantages of large
farms. In this country both are neces-
sary. English farmingis not suffering
from large or small farms, ''hobby or
book farming" but from a concur
renee Of events not depending on sea-
sons. or the sizes of farms, or any such
matters.
Agriculture has now for the first
time in its history come into direct
and full contact with a host of difficult
ties, some of which the manufacture
ing interest has already successfully
dealt with and no doubt the farming
interest will ultimately right itself
how soon depends on landlords. The
agriculture of this country is now face
to face with the worlds produce
steam power, railways, trade unions,
heavy rates. higher wages than in the
past, education, the cheap press, and
the rapidly growing intelligence of the
age. Men are restless and unsettled
The newspapers not only circulate the
news of the day, but the state of the
labor market, and if men fail to get
what they want in one district the
railway will quickly convex them to
another district. A friend of mine in
forms me that where he paid f200 in
wages he now pays f400, and the work
| is not SO we'll done. Here is an advance
of wages equal to fl per acre rise OF
rent, without any corresponding ad.
| vantages the reverse. Let us
not forget, however, that this rise
of wages IS not confined to agriculture,
but is the same in all trades all over
the country.
The demand for farm laborers in
populous districts is so great and con
tinuous, that any attempt to ma
terially reduce their wages would be
followed by the loss Of the men and
families. The farmer has little to
hope for on the wages question. Now.
sir, think might indicate few OF
the sources to which agriculture must
turn for relief. In the first place land.
lords must give up the ground game,
and alter the system of letting their
farms. Why should a tenant grow
crops to be eaten by his landlords live
| stock Why should not farmer dc
what he likes with his crops when he
has grown them | think he should
grow what he likes and do what he
likes with it. If landlords are wise
in their day and generation, they will
see the policy in giving way in these
two points. In the second place, |
think landlords should cover in the
fold-yards and do away with buildings
which steam power has rendered use
less.
1t would not cost much to put gal.
vanized iron roof on wood or iron
pillars, and any sensible tenant would
willingly pay the interest. Look at
| the wasted manure, the cost of rick
sheets, thatching injured corn, and loss
of straw, time and labor, when most
needed. In the third place, on large
estates one farm should be laid out
for steam cultivation, with one tenant
with capital and energy to undertake
it, and he might do work for the other
tenants. The moderate sized farm
would get the heavy work done, and
the small sized farm have better corr
rnand of the labor market, and al
would work harmoniously together