THE PR1XCE TURNS FARMER. 329 



the presence of the reigning sovereign of Great Britain. It is 

 the custom of the royal family, when here, to live in as retired 

 and unstately a way as they can ever be permitted to. The 

 Prince himself turns farmer, and engages with much ardor in 

 improving the agricultural capabilities of the soil, much of which 

 was not originally of a fertile character, but by thorough drainage, 

 and judicious tillage and manuring, is now producing greatly en- 

 larged crops. The Prince is well known as a successful breeder 

 and stock-farmer, having taken several prizes for fat cattle, etc., 

 at the great annual shows. Her Majesty personally interests 

 herself in the embellishment of the grounds and the extensive 

 oak plantations which are being made, and is in the habit of driv- 

 ing herself a pair of ponies, unattended, through the estate, study- 

 ing the comfort of her little cottage tenantry, and in every way 

 she can trying to seem to herself the good-wife of a respectable 

 country gentleman. 



