IMPERFECT CULTIVATION. 221 



swindlers ; and avenues to honest industry were obstructed by 

 those who, abandoning field occupations, originated a ruinous 

 competition in the various crafts to which they resorted. Hence 

 arose at the same time a scarcity of labour, not only in carrying 

 on the cultivation of our staples, but even the production of 

 alimentary articles. 



Setting aside the discouragement created by the heavy 

 charges which, for so many years, weighed upon landed property, 

 there was, as there is still, a dislike among all classes to agricul- 

 tural pursuits. On the part of the emancipated, this was too 

 natural to be blamed, however much to be regretted. In their 

 estimation, slavery had stamped field labour with infamy, so much 

 so that servile in-door occupations were deemed more respectable 

 than any field work. On the other hand, agricultural pursuits 

 are disliked by the educated, both on account of the precarious 

 nature of the crops, and the difficulty of procuring continuous 

 labour ; also, because such pursuits require unremitting attention 

 and application. In fact, I really know of no occupation more 

 laborious than that of an overseer during the crop season. 



The tiller of the soil is, however, more independent, and his 

 occupation less precarious, than that of a clerk, or even of a 

 mechanic, carpenter, mason, or any other; these latter are 

 entirely dependent on chance openings in their respective callings, 

 whereas the former is always certain of obtaining employment 

 and remuneration proportionate to his exertions. 



" fortunatos nimium sua si bona n6rint ! " 



These are causes which have hitherto acted, and still continue 

 to act, in fomenting a prejudice against the sole branch of 



Fdustry which we can follow here, and which may be regarded 

 the only foundation of our prosperity. For commerce itself 

 pntirely depends on agriculture ; and the consumption of imported 

 irticles of manufacture is in direct ratio with the prosperous or 

 [ldverse condition of the agriculturists. 



I must acknowledge, however, that things, as they existed in 

 IS56, have been modified, and important changes introduced, 

 list by Sir Arthur Gordon, and more recently by Sir Henry 

 iug. Governor Gordon opened the crown lands to competi- 

 ng and, as a parallel measure, issued stringent measures against 

 squatters or illegal occupiers of crown lands. At present, land 



