NOTES ON LANDSCAPE PAINTING. 143 



self and the farmer's man are quite another race to 

 what they were. Perhaps it was from this fact that 

 the impression grew up that modern agriculture has 

 polished away all the distinctive characteristics of 

 the country. But it has not done so any more than 

 it has removed the hills. The truth is, as I have 

 endeavoured to explain, innovations so soon become 

 old in the fields. The ancient earth covers them with 

 her own hoar antiquity, and their newness disappears. 

 They have already become so much a part of the life 

 of the country that it seems as if they had always 

 been there, so easily do they fit in, so easily does the 

 eye accept them. 



Intrinsically there is nothing used in modei^n 

 agriculture less symmetrical than what was previously 

 employed. The flails were the simplest of instruments, 

 and were always seen with the same accompaniment 

 — the interior of a barn. The threshing-machine is 

 certainly not less interesting; it works in the open 

 air, often with fine scenic surroundings, and the 

 number of people with it impart vivacity. In reaping 

 with the reaping-hook there were more men in the 

 wheat, but the reaping-machine is not without colour. 

 Scythes are not at all pleasant things ; the mowing- 

 machine is at least no worse. As for the steam-plough, 

 it is very interesting to watch. All these fit in wdth 

 trees and hedges, fields and woods, as well, and in 

 some cases in a more striking manner than the old 

 instruments. The surface of the ground presents 

 more varied colours even than before, and the sun- 

 light produces rich effects. Nor have all the ancient 

 aspects disappeared as supposed — quite the reverse. 



