Fortunes for Farmers 



enormously. It is a revelation to visit their 

 holdings; the industry, the earnest perseverance 

 is amazing; they are determined to make the 

 utmost of every inch of ground, and their soil 

 is rather gardened than farmed. They are happy 

 when they possess land, even the smallest plot 

 will do, but it must be their own, and France is 

 divided to the last degree, whilst its peasantry 

 are the most thriving in the world. Probably 

 the happiest people in existence are the negro 

 small holders of the Southern States of America — 

 but they deserve a book to themselves, living 

 the " natural life " with a vengeance ! 



Our Colonies, notably New Zealand and 

 Australia, have advanced ideas on the land 

 problem. Their efforts are bent on preventing 

 at all costs accumulation of land into large 

 quantities, and they limit, by law, the amount 

 that one man may own. Their cry is for closer 

 settlement, and as they are much in need of 

 farmers no doubt they are sensible. In England 

 on the other hand the ownership and manage- 

 ment of great estates has been brought to a fine 

 art. Our large landowners are mainly noblemen, 

 and have been trained to their duties. They feel 

 that they owe something to their estates, and as 

 a rule nobly abide by them. From time to time 

 such men as the Duke of Bedford publish accounts 



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