446 A FARMER'S YEAR 



even been called 'Jeremiah.' Yet if a very minor prophet may 

 venture an opinion, I must say that I agree with almost every 

 inspired wail which he has uttered. Indeed, short of the entire 

 stoppage of the industry, it is difficult to see how things could 

 change greatly for the worse. 



In these parts, for instance, as a fruit of this dreadful depression, 

 the labourers are melting away, and, practically, the old stamp of 

 tenant farmer is ceasing to exist. In his place has arisen a new style 

 of person, who, unless the land be in tip-top condition, when he 

 may venture on a four years' lease, will only farm from year to 

 year. I say 'farm,' but in many cases it cannot be called farming, 

 for, without capital, without sufficient stock, without insight and the 

 determination to make that spot a home for years and by skill and 

 adaptability to force the land to yield a living, how can a man 

 farm in such times as these ? He had better give it up and take 

 to tax-collecting, after the shrewd example of an ex-tenant of my 

 own. 



According to the Agricultural Summary in to-day's Ttf/ies, 

 which is admirably done, this view — that it would be better to give 

 it up — seems to have been largely shared throughout the king- 

 dom. Thus I find it stated there that this year 76,079 acres have 

 been entirely lost from the previous cultivated area, as against a 

 loss of 13,546 acres in 1897. Further, this cheerful fact is recorded 

 — that in 1898 the aggregate area of all corn crops, cereal and pulse 

 together, is absolutely the lowest on record. This is a situation 

 on which it is quite unnecessary for me to comment : it speaks for 

 Itself. 



The extraordinary mildness of the season continues. This after- 

 noon I saw a perfect red rose— not one of the very hardy varieties — ■ 

 in bloom upon the garden wall. It is curious to find a flower that 

 would have done no disgrace to June unfolding its petals in the 

 death days of December. 



December 27. — To-day a fierce gale is blowing from the sou- 

 west, and against it — having business there — I struggled to 



