The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-12-17
Farming in Great Britain.


Americans must ever take lively in
terest in all that pertains to the welfare
of Great Britain. From that land comes
those who gave birth to the institutions,
both religious and civil, which constitute
our most distinguishing traits. And not
withstanding the contests between the
two countries in the past, the iealousies
which spring up from time to time, and
the rivalries of trade and commerce, the
people of Great Britain and the United
States have more in common than any
other two nations, and the civilization
and Christianization of the world are
more dependent on them than on all
others.
Therefore it is not without concern
that intelligent Americans can look upon
the existing state of things in the United
Kingdom, when trade and manufactures
are depressed and when complaints of
agricultural distress are heard from all
parts, The inactivity of the manufactur-
ing interest will no doubt be of short
duration, while trade will soon revive
But outside of these is the great body Of
British farmers with their dependents
who have always been the boast of Eng
land. Small as the united kingdom Of
England, Ireland and Scotland is, its ag-
ricultural capabilities are immense. And
notwithstanding the limited extent of ter
ritory, a very large part of it is unproduc-
tive, because used for parks, hunting
grounds and other purposes by It's few
wealthy owners. And the land laws pre-
vent to large extent the actual cultiva-
tors of the soil, however industrious or
thrifty, from ever becoming its proprie-
tors.
In Scotland few great families own
nearly all the land, while those who till
it cannot hope to acquire any part of it,
and must submit to this hard fate or emf
CRATE to the United States, Canada OF
Australia, and many of them, the best Of
them too, are doing this thing. The con-
dition of the English farmers is now one
almost devoid of hope that of the agri-
cultural people of Ireland is far worse
1t is evident that the time is not far dis
tant when the vast landed estates must
be broken up, and when the cultivators
of the soil must have the privilege OF
owning at least some of it from the pro
ceeds of their own toll. The land laws
which prevent the sale of farms and the
division of large properties into smaller,
are a tremendous hindrance to general
prosperity. As the Philadelphia Ledger
says: They keep even the prudent la
borer at work forever on another man s
land, when the same outlay should enable
him to own few acres for himslf; and by
barring all opportunities for thrifty indo-
pendence, put him on the same level with
the improvident laborer who gets fami-
ly about him early and is tax on the
county poor rates, or on his relations in
America.
As a matter of course the lands are not
to be taken unjustly, much less by VIC
lence, from the hands of the present own
ers, but measures may be devised such as
were adopted in Switzerland and Saxony.
The Canton of Vaud, in Switzerland,
purchased lands of the feudal proprietors
to the amount of three millions of dollars,
and sold them again to those already cul-
tivating them or who wished to do So
and Saxony did about the same thing.
The farmers of Ireland and also of Eng
land are in need of guides distinguished
for good practical sense, rather than the
fiery and impracticable Mr.. Parnell.
Just now a new trouble stares the peo-
pie of Ireland in the face. The potato
cropis everywhere deficient and inferior
and this combined with the absence OF
peat fuel, owing to rain, is regarded as
the leading cause of the distress which is
expected to eliminate during the winter
and spring; and hence pauperism is great
ly increasing especially in Ulster, which
hitherto has been remarkably free from
those not able to support themselves.
1t is perfectly evident that the govern
ment of Great Britain has serious ques-
tons to solve at home, and that the pre-
servation of the balance of power on the
continent of Europe is not by any means
the only problem to be solved. The fu-
ture of its agriculture is not among the
least of the perplexities now presented
for solution. While the supply of bread
stuffs must continue as it does now to
come largely from the United States and
the coasts of the Mediterranean, yet such
a country cannot afford to be altogether
dependent for food upon distant lands
much less can it afford to have within its
limits hopeless, responding, despairing
peasantry on the one hand, and its ter
ritory parcelled out among few wealthy