396 APPENDIX G. 



Thus in Japanese agriculture we have before us the represen- 

 tation of a perfect circulation of the forces of nature ; no link 

 in the chain is ever lost, one is always interlaced with the 

 other. 



I cannot refrain here from drawing a parallel in this respect 

 between the Japanese and our system. In our large farms we 

 sell a portion of the productive power of our soil in the form of 

 corn, turnips, or potatoes ; but our carts which convey the pro- 

 ducts to the town or to the gates of the factory, bring back no 

 compensation. One of the links of the chain is lost. There is 

 another portion of our produce devoted to the feeding of large 

 herds of cattle, of which a considerable amount is sent forth in 

 the form of fat cattle, milk, butter, or wool ; this again is never 

 returned, and thus a second link of the chain is lost. Another 

 small portion we and our labourers consume. This last portion 

 at least might be turned to proper account, if we only knew, 

 like the Japanese, to save and use it more carefully and wisely. 

 Will anyone venture to assert that the privy manure of our 

 farms is of the least real importance ? I verily believe that under 

 present circumstances, the privy manure of an estate of a thou- 

 sand acres would be barely sufficient for half an acre of ground. 

 There remains then, from our present agricultural system, out 

 of the entire productive power withdrawn by the crops from the 

 soil, only that portion retiunedby our cattle, a small part indeed 

 of the whole, if we take into consideration its bulk, and reflect 

 in how concentrated a form we have disposed of the rest of that 

 power in the shape of grain, milk, or wool. 



It may be objected, I am quite aware, that it is strange that 

 our system of keeping large stocks of cattle does succeed in 

 leading to a high state of cultivation and abundant produce. I 

 admit the fact, only let us ascertain first its true significance. 

 It is, above all, necessary to settle about the true acceptation of 

 the term * culture.' If by ' culture ' is meant the capability of 

 the soil to give permanently high produce, by way of real 

 interest on the capital of the soil, I must altogether deny that 

 our farms (with perhaps a few exceptions), can properly be said 

 to be in a satisfactory state of culture. But we have by excel- 

 lent tillage and a peculiar method of manuring, put them in a 

 condition to make the entire productive power of the soil avail- 



