60 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



probably transfers theoi to auother dealer, and lisviii-; pasted 

 through the bauds of the commission agent or salesmai), they 

 eventually become the property of the butcher ; all of whom 

 have their profits, which are generally not so small but what 

 tbey can afford to count them up together over a bottle of 

 good old port. Here again our furmer displays his usual 

 benevolent disposition and gentlemanly habits, by selling his 

 bullocks and sheep to the butcher at Gs. 6d. and 7a. 6d. per 

 stoue, and purchasing his beef and mutton for family use at fid. 

 and 9d. per lb., for what the butcher calls " prime pieces." 

 In a corner of the Corn Exchange we shall find a merchant 

 buying barley on commisuon; he sends it off to the maltster, 

 or, perhaps, malts it himself upon commissiun ; at all events 

 it by-and-bye reaches the brewer, who secures a handsome 

 profit by monopolizing the trade, and purchasing a goodly 

 number of public houses, and allows the liberal commission 

 of 30 per cent, for the sale of his beer. If we turn our 

 attention to articles of clothing, we shall find them also sub- 

 ject to a similar state of things, and, by reason of the incapa- 

 city of a great bulk of the public to judge, to impositions of nmch 

 greater magnitude. Observe, the wool is purchased in the 

 first instance by the dealer, sold to the wool-merchant or wool- 

 stapler, the wool-sorter, the manufacturer; then the goods to 

 the wholesale house, which supports its hosts of agents and 

 travellers riding from town to town, ou Suudays as well as 

 week days, putting up at the first-class hotels, and sitting 

 down to the most sumptuous repasts; at length the goods 

 are lodged in the shop of the country wooUea-draper, who is 

 very fond of dealing with the ladies ; and although he is appa- 

 rently so exact, and obliged to count his profits so close as to 

 have an odd half-penny attached to the price of almost every 

 article, he is nevertheless very partial to reckoning hia profits 

 at cent, per cent. If we look into the coal trade, we shall there 

 find no departure from the usual routine : the coals purchased 

 at Newcastle for I suppose about la. per ton, are sold a little 

 further south at from 203. to 30s. per ton ; of course we are 

 told that this is occasioned by the enormously high freights. If 

 we turn to the machines and implements we use upon our farms, 

 we shall find them also taxed by commissions, the circulation 

 of catalogues by thousands, salesmen's travelling expenses, 

 conveyance of machinery to agricultural shows, advertising, 

 &c. But it matters not to what we turn our attention — from 

 the necessaries of life, to the child's toy — all are go- 

 verned by the same laws. Surely there can be no necessity 

 for all this. 



But some may think that it is only the effects of com- 

 petition, or t'.e natural division of labour, and no doubt 

 but it is so. I regret, however, that much of it is ovev-paid 

 labour, much of it unproductive labour. We see also that 

 competition, by creating these charges upon commodities, has 

 the effect of raising their price, as well as reducing it. It may 

 also be argued in favour of the middleman, that in that capa- 

 city a very numerous body earn a livelihood ; but it is a pity 

 that their energies could not be devoted to something which 

 would contribute more to the public weal, and that their whole 

 lives should not be spent in working otdy for themselves, and 

 picking out of the incomes of their neighbours. We are cer- 

 tainly not so far advance 1 but that the labours of individuals 

 and the application of capital might yet be rendered produc- 

 tive. Surely this numerous body are not to be looked upon as 

 the supernumeraries of society ! But if their cause be defended 

 by the plea that they mvist do something, and tliis is all they 

 can do, then to a very great extent they most decidedly are. 

 It may be said again that it is the turn which society has 

 taken ; let things alone, they will adjust themselves. This is 

 an error : everything is improved by culture. Man without 



culture, what is he but a stupid, sensual, disgusting savage ? 

 but the same human creature subjected to early training, in- 

 structed, disciplined, and christianized, is but '' a little lower 

 than the angels." Let things alone, and power will soon over- 

 rule weaknesj, monopoly will crush competition. Let society 

 alone, and it would soon relapse into a state of barbarism. 



Farmers, in all these things let me warn you to guard your- 

 selves. The land you cultivate has got many hangers-on to 

 support ; and, however much the bustling company of com- 

 mercial gentlemen may jeer honest plodding farmers, they at 

 the same time court and value your society. Times appear 

 to be changing ; then do not despise " Poor Richard's" advice. 

 " Away with your expensive follies, aud you will have less 

 cause to complain of hard times and heavy taxes." It is both 

 interesting aud essentisl to look into and consider how the 

 money goes ; to observe whft we spend upon things really re- 

 quired, and what we could really do without, or what is really 

 useless ; to see how one man picks out of another by superior 

 keenness and shrewdness in business ; how the progress of the 

 times creates artificial wants, and how artifice imposes upon 

 cred ality. The same writer whom I have already quoted says : 

 " There seems to be but three ways of a nation's acquiring 

 wealth : the first is by war, as the Romans did iu plundering 

 their conquered neighbours — this is robbery ; the second by 

 commerce, which is generally cheating; the third by agricul- 

 ture, the only honest way wherein a man receives a real in- 

 crease for the seed thrown into the ground, in a kind of con- 

 tinual miracle wrought by the hand of God in his favour, as a 

 reward for his innocent life and virtuous industry." 



Yours obediently, 



May 18, 1858. Wm. Arnott. 



DURHAM ALIAS SHORTHORNED CATTLE 

 SECOND TO NONE FOR PROFIT. 



Sir, — By public auction sales the Durham cattle have 

 been proved to stand pre-eminent in price per head, which 

 gigantic prices have struck thousands of wise men with admira- 

 tion and amazement. They are finding their way into many far- 

 distant climes as being the moat profitable breed of cattle 

 upon the whole earth— nay, an ornamental, useful, and a pro- 

 fitable breed. Bulls sold at upwards of 1,000 guineas each ! 

 which is wonderful, and a temptation for foreigners to pur- 

 chase some of them. 



These Durhams are not only famous for a great weight of 

 first-class beef at early maturity, but they are famous for the 

 dairy, which is a great consideration, snd ought to be particu- 

 larly attended to, as adding much to the profit of the breed — 

 actual merit being profit. There is no merit in an animal 

 making less than it cost making. The great milkmen of the 

 metropolis do not keep their shorthorned cows for ornament : 

 they keep them for profit ; and as milkmen, they prefer the 

 shorthorns, as being the best for their purpose. They do not 

 use the Herefords or Devous, as they do not give so large a 

 quantity of milk as the shorthorns. Tlicrefore it may be clearly 

 asserted that the shorthorns, including their milk, are the 

 most profitable breed of cattle ; and the Lincolnshire sheep, 

 including their wool, are the most profitable breed of sheep. 



Mill Field, PelerhoroiKjli, Samuel Arnsby. 



13(// May, 1858. 



