A Rough Time at Rugby. 155 



Liverpool markets, it is a rough time for our agri- 

 culturists, and I would suggest for their consideration 

 the question of importing store stock from America, 

 and grazing them, as likely to lead to profitable 

 results. Enormous supplies could be obtained from 

 Texas at exceedingly low rates — say for fine two- 

 year-olds, from £1, 10s. to £1, 15s. per head, and the 

 risk being confined to such small amounts per head 

 of animals to be imported, would leave a large 

 margin for loss in transit, which, however, experience 

 has shown need not be considerable, if the necessary 

 steps are taken to provide vessels suitable for the 

 traffic. I have dwelt upon the matter somewhat at 

 length, as I find it is a subject attracting the atten- 

 tion of several gentlemen well known in hunting 

 circles, and anything that can be done for the benefit 

 of that important body, the farmers of Great Britain, 

 cannot fail to react favourably in the direction of 

 hunting, a sport so much depending on the support 

 of the tenant farmers, whose success all true sports- 

 men should have closely at heart. 



Kesuming my account of the stock and farmstead 

 of Mr. Darby, I may say that it is well worthy a visit 

 from any one interested in agricultural pursuits, for 

 there he will see what judgment and proper organi- 

 sation can do. The minutest details are attended to, 

 and the result is evident in the thriving condition of 

 the fine lot of animals now being fattened for sale at 

 the commencement of the new year. There is one 

 feature in the present aspect of agricultural matters 

 that looks well for the future of hunting, and that is 

 the circumstance of a large quantity of land being 

 laid down in grass. The breeding and feeding of 



