150 EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE. 



abundant crops ; and in Staffordshire, the same results have been 

 reached, not by a river, but by collecting the springs, and form 

 ing a grand reservoir, from which the water is carried over 

 extensive fields, which are thus irrigated at pleasure. 



2. LIVE STOCK AND VEGETABLES. The next great feature in 

 the improved husbandry of England is apparent in its live 

 stock. I do not speak of it as seen at the cattle-shows of the 

 different agricultural societies in the kingdom ; for here the ani 

 mals are all selected, or at a very great expense, and after a long 

 time, fitted for the exhibition ; but I speak rather of them as 

 they are seen in Smithfield market, every Monday, and at the 

 other smaller markets and fairs in various parts of the country. 

 Here are the cattle and sheep of several distinct breeds, and all 

 of remarkable excellence of their kind ; I do not say perfect, for 

 that, in almost all cases, is assuming too much, but leaving very 

 little to be desired beyond what has been attained. Their con 

 dition and form, their symmetry, their fatness, are all admirable ; 

 and each breed is seen retaining its distinct properties, and, 

 what is most remarkable, showing how much can be done by 

 human art and skill in improving the animal form and condition, 

 and bringing it to a desired model. 



From Smithfield market, if he goes to Covent Garden market, 

 in the infinite profusion and variety of fruits, and vegetables, and 

 flowers, which are always to be found here, and in the perfection 

 to which they are carried, and many of the finest fruits, in defi 

 ance of an uncongenial climate, he will find evidences of the same 

 admirable skill and art which are displayed in other departments 

 of rural industry. 



3. AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS. The next evidences of the 

 improvement of the agricultural art are to be seen in the extra 

 ordinary display of agricultural implements at the great shows. 

 The exhibition at the meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society 

 at Derby, in July, 1843, was so remarkable, that I shall be 

 excused for giving a statement of the number, and many of the 

 kinds, of the machines and implements there exhibited. 



Of Tillage Implements, then, there were, of ploughs, 148 ; 

 harrows, 31 ; scarifiers, 25 : clod-crushers, 7 ; rollers, 12 ; couch 

 rakes, 4. 



