Our Mixed System. 67 



has lost much of its strength, and every facility- 

 is now presented to the unmarried agricultural 

 labourer for improving his position if he desires 

 to alter it. 



In short, our system is that of large capi- 

 talists owning the land ; of smaller capitalists, 

 each cultivating five times more of it than they 

 would have means to do if they owned their 

 farms ; and of labourers free to carry their 

 labour to any market which they consider most 

 remunerative. It has been the gradual growth 

 of experience in a country of moderate extent, 

 where land is all occupied, where capital is 

 abundant and constantly seeking investment in 

 land ; and where other industries than agri- 

 culture are always demanding recruits from the 

 children of the agricultural labourer, who find, 

 besides, a ready outlet in those British colonies 

 where the soil and climate are not much 

 different from that which they leave, and where 

 their own language is spoken. And doubtless 

 this facility of language has greatly helped the 

 people of this country in encountering the trials 

 and difficulties of emigration. But the want of 



