140 A Journey to London in 1840. 



attempts at improving. If a tenant impro\es under .sucli circum- 

 stances he does not know, whether, as he is in the power of his 

 landlord, the latter may be induced to raise his rent above the ex- 

 tent of the improvement. Hence it is he will not venture to risk 

 his capital in any such way, and hence the backward and station- 

 ary state of agriculture in England. (2) Tithes till lately (namely), 

 1836, I think, when they were commuted, as they have long been 

 in Scotland), formed a formidable obstruction to cultivation. 

 The Church, which contributed not a farthing to agriculture, drew 

 a tenth part not of the profit but of the gross proceeds. Thus the 

 Church might in some cases draw more than all that would other- 

 wise have been profit from the improvement. At anyrate if an 

 improvement produced a tenth more than fomierly that tenth went 

 to an unproductive party who contributed not a farthing to the 

 cultivation but who pocketed all the fresh proceeds. Hence the 

 existence of tythes formed a formidable obstacle to cultivation, 

 and when combined with the ignorant and slavish system of 

 tenants at will, the wonder is not that agriculture in the sister 

 kingdom is so far back, but that it is so far forward, low as its 

 state is. (3) The .system of small farms has contributed to the 

 same unfavourable result. Ever\ where throughout England, 

 except in Xorfolkshire, and perhaps in Xorthumberland and on 

 the borders of Scotland, there is a vast proportion of small farms, 

 even .so small as from under 10 acres up to 100. I reckon 100 

 acres even a small farm. Small farmers are never men of capital 

 and their land is always ill managed. The larger a farm is, 

 speaking genei^ally, the better it is managed, for the tenant is a 

 man of capital and enterprise, and has more room and verge for 

 rotation of crops, enclosing, etc., etc. In Norfolk, where agri- 

 culture is in a better state than in any other county, Northumber- 

 land perhaps excepted, farms are large and leases of 21 years 

 prevail. This is a happy condition, and hence Norfolk is an 

 example to the rest of England. Farms are also large and leases 

 prevail in Northumberland. Leases are the exception in every 

 other county in England. I may mention also that except in the 

 case of leases there is no proper restriction as to rotation of crop, 

 indeed matters are all in a rude state. 



Small farms are objectionable from another point of view. 

 The cultivators consume on the spot all, or nearly all, the produce 

 they raise. If this were general no manufactures except domestic 



