Synopsis of Chapter's. xv 



PAGE 



—The sugpjestions of Lord Hale, Sir Josiah Child, Gary, Haj-s, 

 etc. — The Gilbert Act and Speenhamland episode — The condi- 

 tion of the rural labourer discussed and contrasted with earlier 

 periods of his history — The Reverend Mr. Davies' statistics 

 showing the life, food, and habits of the eighteenth century 

 cottager — Variations in the prices of the necessaries of life, and 

 the rate of wages examined historically — The family life of 

 six of Davies' parishioners, together with their earnings and 

 expenses — These results compared with the workhouse economy, 

 and the principle, afterwards adopted by the Speenhamland 

 justices, deducted therefrom, viz., that it is better for the com- 

 munity of ratepayers to encourage out-door relief — Statistics 

 of the poor-rate at various periods, and causes for its rapid 

 increase sought in increased population, war expenditure, rate 

 of living, etc. — The system of attempting to control the earnings 

 and meals of the poor deprecated, and a short history of the 

 most important of the sumptuary laws sketched out, beginning 

 with those regulating the prices of flour and ending with those 

 relating to the wages of labour 300-325 



CHAPTER XV. 



AMATEUR FARMING. 



The deep-rooted prejudices against gentleman farmers pointed out 

 and examined — The reluctance of professional hu.sbandmen to 

 adopt amateur practices explained — The slow progress of 

 turnip culture in England contrasted with its rapid adoption 

 in France, and the successful methods of the French authorities 

 in bringing about this desirable end — The necessity for impress- 

 ing the description of a new economy on the mind of the rustic 

 with the spade and plough rather than witli the pen and ink — 

 The repeated failures in amateur farming, as instanced b}' TuU 

 and Young, and the jjilgrimage of the latter to the scene of the 

 former's drill husbandry described — A series of pen-and-ink 

 sketches illustrative of the farming and characters of well- 

 known eighteenth century amateurs — Arthur Young and his 

 splendid services to the national agriculture — King George III. 

 and the Windsor husbandry — His Flemish and Norfolk farms, 

 and his preference for draught oxen — The fifth Duke of Bedford 

 and the Woburn sheep-shearing — A short visit to Bakewell at 

 Dishley, and Young's criticisms on his husbandrj- — A descrip- 

 tion of Holkham, its owner, and his estate management — Coke's 

 adventure in the Norwich Castle Ditches, and the great services 

 rendered ,to his country by his institution of the Holkham 

 sheep-shearings — A short summar^^ of the whole question of the 

 benetits derived from amateur farming .... 326-359 



CHAPTER XVI. 



THE MISMANAGEMENT OF LANDED PROPERTY. 



Young's statistics showing the average rent, amoiint of livestock, 

 labour, cereals, and green crops to the acre of our national soil 

 — Average size of holdings, and arguments in favour of large 

 farming — System of cultivation in vogue in various parts of the 



