158 AN AMERICAN FARMER IN ENGLAND. 



bilities of the soil, much of which was not originally of a 

 fertile character, but by thorough drainage, and judicious till 

 age and manuring, is now producing greatly enlarged crops. 

 The Prince is well known as a successful breeder and stock- 

 farmer, having taken several prizes for fat cattle, &c., at the 

 great annual shows. Her Majesty personally interests herself 

 in the embellishment of the grounds and the extensive oak 

 plantations which are being made, and is in the habit of 

 driving herself a pair of ponies, unattended, through the es 

 tate, studying the comfort of her little cottage tenantry, and 

 in every way she can trying to seem to herself the good-wife 

 of a respectable country gentleman. 



On the last birth-day of Prince Albert, a dinner was given 

 to the labourers on the estate, with the seamen, boys, and 

 marines of the Royal Yacht, and the coast-guard and soldiers 

 stationed in the neighbourhood, (altogether about four hundred 

 persons.) The dinner was provided in a large tent which was 

 pitched on the lawn in front of the house, and consisted of a 

 plentiful supply of beef, mutton, and plum-pudding, with 

 strong ale. After grace had been said by the bailiff, (overseer,) 

 and the company were seated, the Queen and Prince walked 

 through the tent, and at the conclusion, after the usual loyal 

 toasts, all adjourned to the greensward without, and in the 

 presence of all the royal -family engaged in a country dance, 

 and afterwards in foot-races and in games of cricket and foot 

 ball, and other old-fashioned rural sports, the Queen remain 

 ing with them for several hours. 



