READINGS 1\ RURAL l C< WOMICS 



younger son's fortune in families \\hich have a " place/' and 



especially in those- which have a title-, to be kept up. .\ 

 tin- daughters, their rank is apt to IK- reckoned as a substantive 

 part of tlu-ir fortunes, and not only aiv their maiiia^e poitions 

 inliniu-ly smaller than would In- considered proper in families 

 of equal affluence in tlu- mercantile class, but it is not un fre- 

 quently provided that, unless tlu-y luxe childu n, tlu-ir properly 

 shall ultimately revert to their eldest, brother. 



To say that, primogeniture, thus organised, has a direct ten 

 dencv to prevent the dispersion of land, is only to say that 

 it fulfils the purpose for which it uas instituted. It is hardly 

 less evident that it must have the further effect, of promoting 

 the a "n of land in a small and Constantly drei easing 



number of hands. The periodical renewal of entails is in- 

 tended to secure, and does secure, ancestral properties against 

 the risk of bcini; broken up; and, practically, they very seldom 

 come into tlu- market, except as a consequence of scandalous 

 \\aste or i;ambliu-- on the part of successive hie owners. The 

 typical Kn-lish family estate- is that \\hich, like Sir Uoj^-r de 

 ( 'ovei ley's, neither waxes nor \\anes in the con: Derations, 



and there are still many such estates in counties iciiiote IKHII 

 London. Hut there is nothing to (heck the cumulative aug 

 mentation of ancestral properties by new purchases of land, 

 which is the darling passion of so mam proprietors. Then- is 

 always some- t in<>nlns istc to be annexed and bmuvjit \\ithin tin- 

 park palings or the rin;; fence <>n the first ,^<><'d opportum!\ ; 

 and a day passes \\ithoiit some \eoman of ancient 



erased 1'rom the roll of landowners by the com 

 petition of his more powerful neighbour. Not that any Uranny 

 or unfair dealing is involved in this process of aggrandisement', 

 which is the consequence of economical laws quite as simple as 

 that of natural selection in the animal creation. The \eoiuan 

 sells his patrimony either because he has ruined himself by 

 drinking or improvidence, or because he finds that by turning 

 it into moncv he < an largely impiove his income and the- inline 

 lations of his family. The noble-man or squire buys it 

 at a price \\hich is not commercially remunerative, either to 



