cally dependent upon the success of rural pursuits, we are enabled 

 to form some conception of the importance of the oldest of the 

 industries to the prosperity and well-being of the community. 



" There are, broadly speaking, two distinct branches of agricul- 

 ture: i. the tillage of the soil, 2. the rearing of live stock. 



" Not many farmers own their farms, preferring in the majority 

 of cases to rent them rather than incur the responsibility attaching 

 to land ownership, except where the soil is of the best. As a ge- 

 neral rule, it may be taken that the cheaper class of arable farm 

 leaves the smallest proportion of profit. Thus, assuming for argu- 

 ment's sake that one holding produced a six-ton crop of potatoes, 

 and another, with the same cost of working and manuring, twelve 

 tons, when the difference in rent had been subtracted there would 

 probably be a credit balance of about . 8 or . 9 to the acre 

 in favour of the dearer land. Rents vary, and farming itself has 

 come to represent nearly every shade and colour of the kaleido- 

 scopic market which lies at our doors. 



" In the main oui agriculture is prosperous. Many changes have 

 been brought about by changing times, but having equipped himself 

 to meet the new set of circumstances, the English farmer of to-day 

 has only two things to fear: low prices and high railway rates. 



" A great problem in successful agriculture is the fixation of a 

 fair rent. If land carries too great a burden it impoverishes the 

 working capital of the agriculturist. In the south-west of England 

 the rents generally vary from 10 s. to 60 s. an acre, 30 s. being 

 a very fair average. When estates have been sold, quite seven- 

 eighths of the sales have been effected upon the basis of twenty- 

 three years' purchase. In the Eastern counties, from 10 s. to 70 s. 

 would cover the rentals, probably with 25 s. as a good average. 

 There are not many occupying owners. Lincolnshire is possibly 

 our best farming county, and for the rich lands contiguous to the 

 Wash, .3 10 s. down to 50 s. is given for the acre, and the 

 black land brings from 45 s. to 30 s. The tenants of the marsh 

 lands have bought freely, and as much as . 70 has been given 

 per acre, prices varying down to . 50. These figures are tor 

 farms 100 acres and over. Small farms are rather dearer. In the 

 middle of the county rents run from 12 s. to 25 s., the wold land 

 being let at about the same figures in all counties in Gloucester 

 from 12 s. to i8s, in Yorkshire up to 25 s., and in Lincolnshire 

 as noted. When we get further north, into the mineral counties of 

 Durham and Northumberland, rents range from 20 s. to 60 s. 1 per 



