The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-07-23

rOT producing WHEAT anu CdJlle, DFlI-
ish farms are inferior to our American
prairies and plains. The English climate
renders their seasons far more precarious,
exposing their entire grain crops to total
loss. While farm labor may be cheaper
there than here, it is less intelligent, and
therefore less efficient; and the American
farmers more than neutraiize the differ
ence in wages by the much greater use OF
agricultural machinery. The British
farmer seldom owns his own farm, but
must pay the inevitable rent, crop or no
crop. Taxes are heavier upon him there.
The manure for his exhausted lands costs
him heavily. His farm operations are
conducted on smaller scale than the
Americans, and necessarily at greater
proportionate expense. These things
combined leave to British agriculture no
margin of advantage over American in
European markets, Notwithstanding the
intervening ocean.
As result of these things, connected
with the present cheapness and quickness
of ocean transit, it is found that Ameri-
can butter and cheese are suppianting
the British in British markets. England
took last year from Amsrican dairies
more cheese than all England produced.
The quantity may be inferred from the
fact that the freight paid on American
cheese to England amounted to nearly
$l3,O0O,000. American cheese being now
mostly made on the factory, or co-opera-
tive plan, competes successfully with
English cheese both in price and quality.
The trade in animal food furnished by
American agriculture is assuming i'm,
mense proportions. Twenty years ago
America sent of this to England about
$34 100000 yearly; now she is sending
annually over 5000, 600, 900, salted, fresh
and on hoof; and this trade is amazingly
on the increase. 1t is this that particu-
Iarly alarms British agriculturists. Since
it is found that both fresh meats and live
animals fitted for the block can be taken
from America to England at a profit, it
is seen that the British competition with
America is at once direct and boundless.
These facts are of infinite moment, and
quite enough to alarm British agricul-
ture.
When the live-cattle trade was inau-
gurated, it was thought in England that
it was merely experimental; and that
the cost Of freight and losses i'll thaocean
transit would overlhssiiance any possible
profit. But, new adaptations for pro-
noting this trade have disappointed
British calculations on this point. Al
first the freight on beef cattle was about
$50 per head; now it is about $l3 per
head In the four months of February,
March, April and May, there were 1881
beef cattle shipped; of these G73 were
lost, only 4! per cent. During the same
period, 24,5G3 sheep were shipped; of
these GA were lost, a little over p per
cent. OF pigs there were 10000 shipped,
and $40 lost, being % per cent. As ar
rangcments are becoming more complete
for this freight, the percentage of loss
diminishcs.
1t has been ascertained on careful
inquiry that, among our Western herds
men, it costs in outlay about $S to raise
beef creature to four years old. The
freight to tidewater averages about SO;
thence to Liverpool $13. This makes up
the sum of S3l. At Liverpool the ami
mails fetch about f22 sterling-say an
average Of 500 each. Here, after de.
Quoting for loss in transit, care and at,
lention, very encouraging margin oil
profit remains. 1t is against this margin
backed by boundless supplies, that British
agriculture has got to contend.
Into this arena of competition British
agriculture comes weighted with the bur
dens incident to the land monopoly Of
England's system of tenures. Under that
system of primogeniture and limitles'
entaiIments, 1918 persons have come tt
own sc 100000 of acres of British land
This is Just about one-half of the whole
area of England, Ireland, Scotland anC
Wales combined.
OF the 80 millions of acres constitut
ing England and Wales, more than one
quarter of the whole kingdom, over
millions of acres are in the hands Of 81
PERSONS. Of the 10 millions of acre
constituting the whole area of Scotland
nearly onc-half is owned by only 70 per
sons, One half of Ireland is owned b,
744 persons, whose possessions spreat
over more than 10 millions of acres
averaging to each of those persons a farm
of nearly $4,000 acres.
With these princeiy possessions ther
must come, of course, vast parks, AM
game preserves, the game itself preyini
upon the farmers crops. To attack thes
land tenures would cause revolution
The "Ianded gentry" Of England const
tute the power behind the throne, create
than the throne itself. To all this Britis
agriculture has got to submit, eve
though British mouths are to be fed wit
the bread and meat and butter an
cheese of their great agricultural rivi
beyond the ocean.
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Editorial Spinnings.
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