PROSPECTS OF LANDOWNERS. 145 



this country has been prodigious. In addition 

 to the whole of our home produce, we imported 

 in 1877 foreign food and corn of the value of 

 one hundred millions sterling, two-thirds of 

 which was in corn, and one-third live and 

 dead meat. It has become a vast trade, em- 

 bracing not only the nearer ports of Europe, 

 but those of India, Australia, and America, 

 which in corn has increased threefold, and in 

 meat and provisions sixfold. If this goes on will in 



twenty 



at the same progressive rate for the next years be 



forty 



twenty years, we shall have forty millions of millions. 

 people to feed, which will tax still more the 

 resources of all those countries which have 

 hitherto sent us their surplus, and can hardly 

 fail to be attended by some increase of the price 

 of provisions. 



It would seem, under such circumstances, 

 not difficult to forecast the future condition of 

 the landed interests in this country. The Prospects 



of Land- 

 position of the landowners is a truly advan- owner 



good. 



tageous one if they rightly appreciate, and 

 faithfully execute, the public responsibilities of 

 their position. Their property is the only 



