The daily gazette. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1874-1883, 1879-09-12
AGRICULTURE DISTRESS II
ENGLAND.

The immediate pressure on the agri-
cultural classes of the British lslands is
no doubt consequence OF the extr- mely
bad harvest of the present year, which
follows q succession Of bad harvests ex-
tending through the four or five last
years. There is indeed, great deal to
be considered besides the depressing eff
feet ofthis long series Of bad harvests, but
this is nevertheless the central point of
view in estimating the present situation.
The shortness of the crops for several
successive years makes It difficult for
tenants TO keep their engagements with
their landlords and have anything LEFT
for the subsistence of their families.
The rule of long leases Is certainly
founded in good policy. Profitable ag-
riculture requires large OUTLAWS for linz
proving the fertility of the land. The
fruits Of such large ostlays cannot be
reaped In the first or second year, but
only in a considerable period. Hence
the mutual advantage OF long leases to
both landlord aud tenant. 1t is not the
interest Of the landlord to have his farms
run down and the soil exhausted by q
system of ag' iculture which looks only
to the immediate harvest of the year. 1t
| is not the interest OF the tenant to incur
the expenses Of cultivating poor and ex-
hausted land. Leases are accordingly
made long enough to encourage improve
ment of the land by the tenant, by en-
abling b IN to re ceive the most advantage
of the fertilizing improvements which be
makes.
The stipulated rent on these long
leases is adjusted with reference to the
average crops OF a series oil years cock.
| a., 4 hat 80 H.,
the stipulated rents in the existing leases
have been estimated on miscalculation
There was no foresight Of the extrao'd i
nary SUCCESSION of bat harvests with
which the agriculture of England has o
late years been afflicted. The conse
, qusnce is that the tenant farmers, hav
ing been for the last three or four year
' on the brink, are now. by the uHexau
pied bad harvest of the present year. Il
the Jaws of ruin. Their crops do not en-
:, a lie them TO pay their rents without Ell
croachipg on their capital
The condition of English agriculture
y such that the cultivstors are deprived {
y the partial compensation which attend
p a short crop in other countries. The OF
binary rule 10 that short crop enhance
= The prices of agricultural products.
4 fewer bushels are raised the price pc
busheI goes up In proportion. But Il
e England this ule does not hold. Tn
|
prices even In years of sevsrest deartl
Il The consequences is that bad harvests ia
S with trem- ndous severity on The guilty.,
n tors who find no relief in higher price,
= although the community at large is bel
=. Gifted by uniform cheap food.
4 The agricultural distress in England
intensified by the. operation of ne
: causes. One of these is the worderf
d chespening of transportation bet~ ee
the grain-growing region of tue Unite
States aud the British market, which d.
presses the prices Of agricultural pr
ny ducts. Another of these causes is Il
new refrigerating processes by whic
m veyed across the Atlantic to compe
with the like products in British ngricu
lie turr. Until recently butter, eggs, al
st fresh meas were monopoly of Birth,
agriculture for British markets. But th
IL profitable branch of rural indus ry
=. the value of English land for supplyiI
British markets with articles wi ich cOu
IN not formerly be supplied by distant cou
ne tries. The consequence 10 a substanti
and permanent diminutioD or tho val
es of English land for agricultural US
t. This will Decessitate complete revo
ton in English arrangements relating
Isl the tenure Of land. A revision of /
ds laws for the sale of real estate, maxi
nc the tranafer simpler and less expense
Eli will be one cons- quence, although, p
wv haps, a distant Que; but a more INN
n date consequence will be a revisi
'"' and readj ustment of all existing lea
Dts The English landlords cannot afford
ter look on and witness the ruin Of the gr
body of their tenants. The law may
an force them to modify the existing lea
Tvs and abate their claims, but sense
", their own interest must impel them
NC release their tenants from bard barga
l.. ..t 10
=, I'll in the greatly altered circumstance
al British agricu lture-N Y Herald