174 



I verily believe that, under the present system, 

 the privy manure of an estate of a thousand acres 

 would be barely sufficient for half an acre of 

 ground. There remains, then, from our present 

 agricultural system, out of the entire productive 

 power withdrawn by the crops from the soil, only 

 that portion ^which is returned by our cattle an 

 insignificant part, indeed, of the whole, if we take 

 into consideration its bulk, and reflect in what a 

 concentrated form we have disposed of the rest of 

 that power in the shape of grain, milk, or wool. 



But, it may be remarked, it is strange our system 

 of keeping large stocks of cattle is conducive to a 

 high state of cultivation and abundant produce. 

 I admit the fact, only let us ascertain first its true 

 significance. It is, above all, necessary to settle 

 about the true acceptation of the term c culture.' 

 For if by l culture' is meant the capability of the 

 soil to give permanently high produce, by way of 

 real interest on the capital of the soil, I must 

 altogether deny that our farms, with perhaps a few 

 exceptions, can properly be considered as in a satis- 

 factory state of culture. But we have, by excellent 

 tillage and a peculiar method of manuring, put 

 them in a condition to make the entire productive 

 power of the soil available, and thus to give full- 

 crops for the time being. It is not, however, the 

 interest that we obtain in such crops, but we draw 

 upon the capital of the soil itself. The more largely 



