AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONS 



39 



Society's farm competition in 1888. 1 This farm consisted of 

 522 acres, of which only 61 were grass, but chiefly owing 

 to the trouble taken in growing fine root crops, a large number 

 of live stock were annually purchased and sold off, the 

 following balance sheet showing a profit of 3 is. od. per 

 acre : 



CR. 



278 Corn, hay, potatoes, and 

 387 like produce sold . -655 

 Live stock, poultry, dairy 

 produce, and wool sold 



DR. 

 Rent, tithes, rates, taxes, &c. 



Wages 



Purchase of cake, corn, 



seeds, manure, &c. . 

 Purchase of live stock . 



2,654 



Profit 



.4,007 

 1,589 



4,941 



.5,596 



The reductions of rents in various counties were estimated 



thus 2 : 



Per cent. 



. 20 to 30 



. 20 to 40 



. 25 to 50 



. up to 70 



. 25 to loo 



. . . 15 to too 



. ' . 25 to ico 



. . 10 to 75 



. 10 to 25 



. 10 to 100 



This large reduction in the rent rolls of landowners has/ 

 materially affected their position and weakened their power.! 

 Many, indeed, have been driven from their estates, while others' 

 can only live on them by letting the mansion house and the; 

 shooting, and occupying some small house on the lands they 

 are reluctant to leave. The agricultural depression, which set 



1 R. A. S. E. Journal (2nd ser.), xxiv. 538. 



2 Ibid. (1894), p. 681. 



