THE POSITION AT HOME. 73 



local joint-stock bank is decreasing owing to the tendency 

 for such local banks to be acquired by and amalgamated with 

 great banking concerns in London which operate them more 

 from the point of view of London City, or international, 

 finance, and have a less intimate knowledge of, and a less 

 sympathetic feeling towards, the farmer and his needs than 

 the private bankers whose place they are taking. 



In Great Britain, therefore, further facilities are wanted, 

 not alone for small holders, but for large sections of farmers 

 as well ; and once more we find good reason why Great 

 Britain, no less than the other countries of the world, should 

 have an efficient scheme of agricultural organisation. 



