CHAPTER VIII. 



THE GOVERNMENT IN ITS CONNECTION WITH 

 AGRICULTURE. 



There is no Minister of Agriculture in Great No Minis- 

 ter of 



Britain, and no attempt is made by Government Agricul- 

 ture, and 



to interfere with the cultivation of the soil, or no Govern- 



ment 



between the landowners, the tenants, and the control 



exercised, 



labourers. There are no State flocks, or herds, or state 



schools, 



or horse-breeding; establishments, nor any State °'' ^,^^^^ 



" ^ flocks or 



schools of aa;riculture. In Ireland such schools, '^^'".^''^ . , 



•=• ' maintained 



and several experimental farms, were established ,j^^gri °^^™" 

 at the cost of the Government, at the time of 

 the potato famine. In the disorganised state in 

 which that country then was, some benefit 

 ensued. But the general principle of our 

 political system is that every trade and business 

 should be self-supporting, subordinate only to 

 the general laws, and controlled by the rule 

 of free competition. The political influence 

 possessed by the landed interests insures for 



