AGRICULTURE OF ENGLAND AND AMERICA. 35 



But it is mainly on those points of agriculture, 

 where cheapness of labour and the influences of 

 climate can be brought to bear, that wc find British 

 agriculture to cease from affording suitable models 

 for us, and are thrown on our own resources of ob- 

 servation and comparison. Because corn cannot be 

 grown in England, this is no reason why the farfn- 

 ers of the United States should not plant it ; and, on 

 the other hand, because the whin and the holly make 

 a durable- and beautiful fence in England, this fur- 

 nishes no conclusive proof that the same results will 

 ensue in our country. English farmers use little or 

 no precaution against the winter-killing of wheat, or 

 the destruction of roads by frost ; but here such pre- 

 cautions are essentially necessary, and based on 

 reasons respecting which the English farmer knows 

 nothing from experience, and therefore must be illy 

 qualified to instruct. 



To the above causes of the advance of English 

 agriculture, and which in themselves afford sufficient 

 reasons why they can sell us bread, must be added 

 the encouragement afforded by the British govern- 

 ment to all agricultural- enterprises, and the laudable 

 spirit which is created and fostered by agricultural 

 publications among the great landholders and the 

 tillers of the soil. In almost every district are year- 

 ly or semi-yearly fairs and cattle-shows ; where the 

 finest cattle and the most valuable sheep are exhib- 

 ited, and their excellences made known to the pub- 

 lic ; where farmers meet and exchange opinions on 

 the best methods of culture, and discuss the im- 

 provements of the age ; and where they learn their 

 own importance in the scale of society, gradually 

 lose their prejudices, and acquire habits of thinking 

 and reflection that lead to emulation in farming, and 

 eventually teach them to respect themselves. 



We come, then, to the conclusion, that if we would 

 make progress in farming — if we would avail our- 

 selves of tiie advantages which the God of nature 



