318 STUDIES, SCIENTIFIC AND SOCIAL chap. 



them, people are forced to live in close-packed houses 

 with the view of nature's beauties shut out and much of 

 the discomfort and insalubrity of large towns carried into 

 the country. The best way, however, to prove that these 

 and many other evils are directly due to landlordism is to 

 show by actual examples how constantly they disappear 

 whenever the land belongs to those who cultivate it. 

 This is the case in many parts of Europe ; and although 

 climate, race, laws, and the character and habits of the 

 people may widely differ, we always find an amount of 

 contentment and well-being strikingly contrasted with 

 what prevails under the system of landlordism. 



As regards Switzerland, Sismondi, in his Studies of 

 Political Economy, gives full information. He declares 

 that here we see the beneficial results of agriculture 

 practised by the very people who enjoy its fruits, in " the 

 great comfort of a numerous population, a great independ- 

 ence of character arising from independence of position, and 

 a great consumption of goods the result of the easy cir- 

 cumstances of all the inhabitants." Many other writers 

 confirm the accuracy of these statements. The observant 

 English traveller, Inglis, speaks of the wonderful industry 

 of the Swiss, the loving care with which they tend their 

 fields and fruit-trees, and the complete way in which all 

 the peasants' wants are supplied from the land ; while, as 

 a rule, pauperism and even poverty is unknown in the 

 rural districts where peasant or communal properties 

 prevail. The common objection that small proprietors 

 cannot use machinery or execute any improvements 

 requiring co-operation, is answered by the examples of 

 Norway and of Saxony. In the former country, Mr. Laing 

 tell us how extensively irrigation is carried on by miles of 

 wooden troughing along the mountain sides, executed in 

 concert and kept up for the common benefit. The roads 

 and bridges are also kept in excellent repair without tolls ; 

 and he considers this to be done because the people 

 " feel as proprietors who receive the advantage of their 

 exertions." 



Mr. Kay, a most unimpeachable witness, tells us that 

 there is no farming in all Europe comparable with that of 



