LANDLORDS. 115 



dripping rain fell as we looked at them, from which their heads were shel 

 tered by the thatched roof of the hay-rack, only to have it poured in a 

 heavier stream on their necks and shoulders. In the other yard the cows 

 had finished their provender, and showed their dissatisfaction with its 

 meagre character by butting each other round the rack. The largest and 

 greediest having finished her own share, immediately dislodges her neigh 

 bour, while she, in her turn, repeats the blow upon the next, and so the 

 chase begins, the cows digging their horns into each other s sides, and 

 discontentedly pursuing one another through the wet and miry yard. 

 Leaving the yard we passed into the fields, sinking at every step in the 

 sour, wet grass-lands. Here, little heaps of dung, the exhausted relics of 

 the hay, from which the cows derive their only support in winter, were 

 being scattered thinly over the ground, to aid in the production of another 

 crop of hay.&quot; 



I have shown how much good a wealthy landlord may find 

 it his profit to do in the way of improving agriculture. Mr. 

 Caird intimates that for such a state of things as is exhibited 

 in the last picture, we are also to hold the landlord account 

 able. Mr. Caird likewise says, &quot; On all hands the farmer 

 suffers : he pays rent for space occupied by his landlord s 

 trees ; he provides harbour for his landlord s game, which, in 

 return, feed upon his crops ; (it is for this reason many land 

 lords will not allow the fences to be touched ;) if he attempts 

 to plough out inferior pasture, his crop becomes an additional 

 feeding-ground for the game ; whilst the small fields and 

 crooked fences prevent all efforts at economy of labour, and 

 compel him either to restrict his cultivation, or execute it 

 negligently and unprofitably.&quot; 



God keep us evermore free from a &quot; powerful conserva 

 tive landed gentry,&quot; a curse not unmixed with good though 

 it be. 



Wages of labourers were mentioned to me at Ss. Caird 

 says 7s. and 8s., and sometimes 6s. ; but it was added, signifi 

 cantly, that 6s. worth of work is only given in such a case. 



I spent the night with the Messrs. Morton, and returned 

 by rail to Bristol the following morning. 



