CULTIVATION OP HEART'S-EASE. 47 



this dense population is due to the great natural resources of 

 the country, and the judicious policy by which tln^y have been 

 fostci'cd and developed. Tlie coast of Enf>;land abounds in 

 harbors, and its considerable rivers are not interrupted by 

 breaks and falls; and arc thus navigable for a longdistance 

 from their mouths. Tiiis characteristic of their rivers denies 

 them the abundant water-power which we possess ; but this 

 want is compensated by the boundless steam-power which their 

 coal mines furnish. England presents the remarkable and 

 anomalous spectacle of a nation in wdiich less than one-sixth of 

 the population are engaged in producing food for the oilier five- 

 sixths. The brilliant results of British agriculture, and the 

 progress it lias made since 1815, are owing to this disproportion, 

 and to the wealth which commerce and manufactures have been 

 pouring into their lap. Every man in England who acquires 

 wealth in commerce or manufactures, invests more or less of it 

 in land ; and amuses himself with the expensive luxury of 

 gentleman farming. Mr. Mechi, one of the best farmers in 

 England, and one of the best writers on agricultural subjects, 

 is a tradesman in London, carrying on a large business. The 

 profits he derives from his business he invests in a farm, which 

 it is his pride to make a model establishment in every respect. 

 Every thing that money can buy is bought, and every thing 

 that knowledge can do, is done, to further this object. No 

 matter how expensive an experiment may be, he is ready to try 

 it if it gives a fair promise of success. Nor is he by any means 

 a solitary or exceptional case. 



The Massachusetts farmer has yet another advantage, in 

 which his English brother shares with him. I refer to the 

 railroads by which the State is veined and arteried, and by 

 which so healthy a circulation is kept up between producers 

 and consumers. These railroads are a pure and unqualified 

 benefit to the farmer. They have been built, for the most part, 

 by capital accumulated in trade or manufactures. The bene- 

 ficial influences of railroads are twofold. They save time and 

 money in the transport of the products of farms, live stock 

 included ; and enable the farmer to make use of distant 

 markets. This is a direct and tangible benefit, the extent of 

 which may be calculated in dollars and cents. But they serve 

 the agricultural interest in another way. They enaljlc men to 



