222 AGRICULTURE. 



founded. He starts with an ideal farm, a farm the whole 

 of which is free from couch, and ready to bear wheat with 

 one ploughing, and yet the occupier has no capital in the 

 land. The previous history of the farm is considered to 

 have nothing to do with the matter. Our objection is, that 

 such farms do not exist. No man can take such an one ; and 

 to an occupier who has brought one into that state, a notice 

 to quit without compensation would be a sentence of ruin. 



Though we have examined Mr. Huxtable's estimates 

 strictly, and have differed from him freely, we must not 

 allow him to suppose that we are insensible to the services 

 which he has rendered to agriculture. His mind is full of 

 knowledge, and his style of writing is clear and lively. 

 Almost every page in his book conveys information, or 

 suggests useful reflection. The manner in which, at p. 31, 

 he systematises the general cost of cultivation, under the 

 three heads of motive power, manual labour, and rent and 

 charges, is the best which we have ever met with. The 

 severest sentence which we should be justified in passing 

 on his present performance is, that the cheerful and ardent 

 spirit in which he pursues useful and benevolent objects, is 

 not unlikely to involve those who accompany him in a 

 somewhat dangerous fascination. We have much pleasure 

 in bringing before our readers the testimony which Mr. 

 Milne, one of his fellow-labourers in the field of agricul- 

 tural literature, bears to his worth : 



" Mr. Huxtable is clergyman of the parish in which his 

 farms are situated. I do not believe that there are many 

 clergymen in the English Church, or in any Church, more 

 devoted to their professional duties, or more successful in 

 the discharge of them, than he is. In proof of this re- 

 mark, it need only be mentioned, that, shortly after his 

 appointment as rector of the parish, finding that the parish 

 church was in a very dilapidated condition, and that it was 

 difficult or impossible, from the state of the law, to get it 

 properly repaired or replaced by another, he erected a new 

 parish church entirely at his own expense. Moreover, by 



