of his English companions ; (4) by taking a farm on the 

 share system, a plan commonly adopted in the States, and 

 explained in the Appendix ; (5) by acquiring 160 acres free- 

 hold, and tree of cost, under the Homestead* Act. In either 

 of the last two methods he can, if necessary, commence with 

 little or no capital beyond tnat which he may save out of his- 

 earnings ; and though the progress then will be much slower 

 at first, it is the way in which many, and in some districts 

 the majority, of American farmers begin. 



The leading principle of the system we have originated is 

 to make the young men self-supporang from the first, and in 

 this way the self-reliance so necessary to success in a new 

 countiy can best be acquked. To send them out without 

 the imposed obligation to work and to earn honest payment 

 for their services would not lead to habits of industry^ and 

 to that practical acquaintance with every part of the business 

 without which they could not safely be hereafter trusted 

 ivith farms of their own ; and the farmer himself would not 

 have such control over them as would ensure his being able 

 to teach them properly. 



The farmers selected to receive young men are chiefly 

 Position of those cultivating from 160 to 600 acres as mixed grain and 

 Farmers, gtock farms, which are the size and description most general 

 in the States ; f ^^^ as' it would probably be on farms of this 

 acreage that the majority of those going out would commence 

 for themselves, it is unquestionably better for them to gain, 

 their experience in this manner than on larger farms ; those,, 

 however, who desire to learn on larger farms, and can after- 

 wards command the capital necessary to start and carry 

 them on, can be suitably placed for that purpose, though the; 

 advice m all cases is that they should commence in the- 

 smaller way. 



We quote the following from the tenth Census of the' 

 United States for 1880, Vol. III., xxviii. : 



* The fees on entering a homestead amount to about £3, and absolute title is 

 given after proof of five years' residence and cultivation each year of some por- 

 tion. A capital of £100 would be sufficient to enable a young Englishman tO' 

 commence in a small way for himself. It mny be observed, however, that many 

 Americans start successfully with even smaller amounta. 



+ See statement in the Appendix, p. «3, Jr ^ 



^ UIUC ^ 



