

HIGH FAEMING. 253 



If you see a man pass from growing wheat to growing 

 barley, depend upon it he has either improved his culture 

 or his land has been drained or otherwise substantially 

 benefited. All the least and worst arable farmers in 

 England below the hills grow what they call their "bit of 

 wheat," but barley is quite above them. Many of our 

 neighbours on undrained lands tell us that it is of no use 

 to sow barley, explaining, by true farmer's logic, first, that 

 there would be none, and, secondly, that what there was 

 would be fit only for the pigs. But we have exploded that 

 idea. Three of our neighbours, who have thoroughly- 

 drained and highly-manured land of weak staple, not very 

 free, and lying on a retentive bottom, have grown in each 

 of the last three years between 50 and 60 bushels per acre 

 of barley, weighing 55 Ibs. per bushel, and of a quality ac- 

 ceptable to the brewers of Burton-on-Trent. This year, 

 for the first time, we have done it ourselves. Thorough 

 draining will make any land barley-land, unless elevation 

 forbids. The case, therefore, stands thus: Barley is the 

 grain which is most grateful for high farming barley is 

 the grain, the production of which, of fine quality, we have 

 the greatest power to extend barley is the grain as to 

 which we have least reason to dread the number or the 

 power of our foreign competitors barley is the grain, the 

 consumption of which is limited by a tax amounting at 

 the present time to cent, per cent. and barley is the grain 

 which is not allowed to be drunk on the producer's premises 

 for the purpose of reproduction unless he pays the tax. 

 We had almost said, indeed, if the editor does not think 

 that it savours of political intimidation, we shall be obliged 

 to him if he will allow us to say, that we will never vote 

 for a county member who does not vote for the repeal of 

 the Malt Tax. 



Many persons have expressed an apprehension that the 

 owners of landed property in Great Britain are in danger 

 of being permanently degraded. We do not believe that 

 this can be the case in a country constantly increasing in 



