6 The Landed Interest. 



our bread in equal proportions from our own 

 fields and those of the stranger. In regard 

 to meat, and other animal products, ten years 

 ago the proportion of foreign was one-tenth of 

 the whole. It has now risen to nearly one- 

 ' fourth. 



England This Country thus derives from foreign lands, 



now chiefly 



dependent not Only oue-half of its bread and nearly one- 



on foreign 



supply for fourth of its meat and dairy produce, but must 



further ■' ^ 



increase. ^jgo depend on the foreigner for almost the 

 entire addition that may be further required by 

 an increase of its population. In the last ten 

 years there has been no increase in the acreage 

 or production of corn, and little in that of meat. 

 The extent of green crops and grass has slightly 

 increased, from the double impulse of the rise 

 in wages and the increasing demand for dairy 

 produce and meat. But, excluding good lands 

 capable of being rendered fertile by drainage, 

 we appear to have approached a point in agri- 

 cultural production beyond which capital can be 

 othenvise more profitably expended in this 

 country than in further attempting to force our 

 poorer class of soils. It is cheaper for us as a 



