760 PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. Part III. 



which are peculiar to itself. A man who receives ten thousand pounds a year from the 

 public funds, for instance, is an insulated being, compared with him who receives the 

 same income from landed property, and who is one of society's best members, provided 

 his affairs are judiciously conducted. On the contrary, if, regardless of the dignity and 

 the duties of his station, he lives but to dissipate his income, leaving the government of 

 his estates and their inhabitants to those whose interest and honour are unconcerned in 

 their welfare, or to those whose best interests lie in their derangement, he becomes at 

 once an enemy to himself, to his family, and to the community. As unpardonable it 

 would be in the possessor of a kingdom to be ignorant of state affairs, and unmindful of 

 the ministers who reside about his court ; or in the commanding officer of a regiment to 

 be a stranger to his men, a priest to his parishioners, or a shepherd to his flock ; as for 

 the possessor of a tenanted estate to be ignorant of territorial concerns, and a stranger to 

 his lands and their occupiers. 



4628. Though it be aii essential part of the duty of a man of fortune to be intimately/ 

 acquainted with his own affairs, it does not follow that he should be absorbed in them, and 

 neglect his duties as a superior member of society. In all matters of government and 



** command, subordination is essential to good order and success. A commander in chief 

 does not act as pioneer, nor does a naval commander reef his sails, or heave his anchor. 

 Each has his subordinate officers to convey his commands, and men to execute them. 

 But it is essentially necessary that the former should be well acquainted with military, 

 the latter with naval, affairs. Every heir apparent, therefore, to a large landed property, 

 should be regularly, or at least more or less, bred up in the knowledge of rural affairs, 

 so as to fill with honour and profit the high station he has in view. But if the possessor 

 of an estate has not been fortunately initiated in the knowledge which belongs to his 

 station, the task of acquiring it is far from great. 



4629. On a large estate we generally find a resident manager, a land steward, a man who 

 has some knowledge of what is termed country business, and w ho acts under the control 

 of his employer, or of a confidential friend, who is more conversant in rural concerns ; 

 or perhaps of a law agent, who knows less of them ; or such residing steward, espe- 

 cially of a detached estate which lies at some distance from the residence of its proprietor, 

 acts without control. In the last case, if he is a man of judgment, it is fortunate both 

 for the landlord and tenant : but, on the contrary, if such possessory manager wants 

 those requisite qualifications, the consequence becomes mischievous to the lands, their 

 occupiers, their proprietors, and the community. 



4630. The requisite acquirements of an acting manager, according to Marshal, are, a 

 knowledge of agriculture, surveying, planting, some knowledge of mechanics, natural 

 history, and skill in accounts. Agriculture is the only firm foundation on which the 

 other required attainments can be securely reposed. It is not more essentially valuable 

 in the superintendence than in the improvement of an estate. It is difficult to become 

 an accurate judge of the value of lands without a practical knowledge of their uses ; nor 

 can any man without it properly appreciate the management of occupiers, much less 

 assist them in correcting their errors, and improving their practice. 



4531. Land-surveying is a requisite qualification. Not so much, however, for the purpose of measuring 

 and mapping an estate at large, as for checking and correcting the works of professional men, as well as 

 -to assist in laying out its lands to advantage. 



4632. Planting, and the management of woodlands, are acquirements that cannot be dispensed with. 

 Nor should his knowledge and attention be confined to the surface of the estate entrusted to his care ; he 

 ought to have some acquaintance with natural history, chemistry, and experimental philosophy, to enable 

 him to form just notions on the subject of the subterrene productions which it may contain. 



46'53. Some knowledge of mechanics, and other sciences that are requisite to the business of an engineer, 

 may be highly useful in prosecuting the improvements incident to landed property. 



4634. A competent knowledge of rural architecture, the doctrine of the strength of materials, and the 

 superintendence of artificers, may be said to be of daily use. 



4655. A thorough knowledge of accounts is essentially requisite to the manager of a landed estate. 



4636. He should be a man of good character, of upright principles, and conciliatory manners ; to set 

 an example of good conduct to the tenants, and to become their common counsellor and peace-maker, in 

 those trifling disputes which never fail to arise among the occupiers of adjoining land ; and which too 

 frequently bring on serious quarrels and lawsuits, that end in the ruin, not only of themselves, but of the 

 tenements they occupy. A proprietor has, therefore, an interest in checking such disputes in the bud ; 

 and no man can do this with so much effect as a manager in whom they have a proper confidence, and 

 who possesses a due share of popularity on the estate. 



4637. The acting manager requires certain assistants on a large estate ; especially if it 

 lies in detached and scattered parts. Those in general use are a ground officer and 

 clerk. 



4638. A land-reeve, Woodward, or ground officer, is required on each district or depart- 

 ment of a large estate ; to attend not only to the woods and hedge-timber, but to the 

 state of the fences, gates, buildings, private roads, driftways, and watercourses ; also to 

 the stocking of commons (if any), and encroachments of every kind ; as well as to pre- 

 vent or detect waste and spoil in general, whether by the tenants of the estate, or others ; 

 and to report the same to the manager. 



4639. 'The office-clerk, book-keeper, or under steward, is employed to form registers, 



