WASTE LANDS AND WASTE WATERS. 167 



and on my manor refrained from partridgc-sliooting 

 for the season. 



If I were to continue to write on these signs 

 of fiiiling times, I would still reiterate to all landed 

 proprietors not to permit the strmo to he sold off 

 their farms, as has been done under a pledge 

 from the tenant to purchase and use so much 

 artificial manure, in place of the straw sold away. 

 Though there may be, and to my certain know- 

 ledge there are, many most honourable men 

 among the yeomen farmers, still tliere may be 

 some who might, for the certain good sold away, 

 the j)roceeds of which were in the vendor's pocket, 

 lay out so7ne money in a stipulated quantity of 

 inferior stuff', for the best worth of artificial 

 manure can be lessened or adulterated to almost 

 nothing. 



I see the mischief of this mistaken course in 

 farmyard produce and artificial stuff. I see it 

 ir. the amount of grain, and more particularly in 

 the straw. If, with the aid of dishonest farming, 

 — dishonest and unfair to the land and to the 

 landlord, and really to the farmer himself, 

 combined with the frightful diseases with 

 which we are assailed, — a famine, or something 



