Daily Republican., 1880-06-09
rhe CropsIu Groat Britain.
rom the London Times, May 70.

From the London Times, May 70.
The prospects Of agriculture jus
now are neither decisive nor uniform
Unless there come much and regular
rain the crops will be as bad as in the
worst years we have known. The dy
will soon be at the turnips, and the
mangel-wurzsl, on which so much de-
psndencs is now placed, will not be
able to strike root or to fill twill csme
to nothing. The sheep that have suf'
fered so much, and ara still suffering,
from wet, innutritious food, will have
better food, but not enough Of it; and
the poor cattle that were selected by
their closely calculated owners to bsar
the brunt of last winters hardships,
as they show by their followed tanks
and projecting bones, will not have tae
opportunity Of repairing tt.olr wasted
FORMS Just now many Of our farms
aud faifies, conducted as they are on
commercial rather than patriotic prin
cip!es, are not sights to show d sharp,
uns ympathetic foreigner. But If the
present weather prevail throughout
this season, they will remain unpre-
sentable, and We must take our distin-
guished visitor to see farms conducted
with no hope Of reward in this world.
We have to consider first of all what
we can produce at most advantage, or
rather, at least disadvantage, in the
face of Europe, America and Aus
tralia colonies. The extent Of our
difficulties may be measured by the
undeni feet that the cultivation Of
wheat, for its own sake, is actually
under trial. 1t Is maintained by good
authorities that in no part OF these
isles can we produce wheat to compete
with the foreign supply.
The excess Of production over home
consumption in North America alone
is sufiicien. for our necessities. II in
creases and will increase. We cannot
hope that our long worked and exhaus-
ted acres, continually requiring the
most costly renewal, aud often 80 soant
of soil that it is pity they were ever
turned up, will compete successfully
with an immense area of virgin soil,
with US by line Of railways,
inland navigation and ocean steamers.
1t has cone 10 this, that we are grow
ing wheat not for the grain but TOR the
straw. Litter is bulky and difficult OF
carriage, so it must be grown at our
doors.
II is becoming serious problem
what agriculturists are to do. They
will not get rents much lowered In
hurry, for lard still commands high
value in the market and is ditficnlt to
be got at all except under special cir,
Large proprietors would
rather cultivate their own lands at a
loss than submit to reduction Of rent
telling on it's value. Nor have the
class any right to occupy lands
except on such terms as the owner
may choose to insist on. They have
now the world before them. Why DO
not they start Tor the regions whsre
land can be cheaply rented and cheap
ly bought, within easy reach Of the
best market in the world-viz., our
own? An Bnglishman is as much at
home anywhere In North America as in
any county St Great Britain or Ireland.
Why should anybody spend his life
and fortune in the attempt to grow here
The food that he could gov quite as
good and much more cheaply fort
nights voyage of! If people have
money and wish to loose it let them
stay at home. Ifthey have net money
md wish to make it we apprehend that
hey will have to 90 abroad.