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is, they, say, absolutely necessary to agricultural progress and 

 improvement. It is only -where the land is parceled out in 

 large estates, and belongs to men of wealth and intelligence, 

 that experimental husbandry can be successfully carried on. 

 Experiments and novel processes, to yield a general and re- 

 liable result, should be conducted on a large scale. They 

 require a liberal outlay — with a capital which can afford to 

 wait long for profitable returns, and which will not be seri- 

 ously impaired though the experiments should fail. They 

 demand concentrated, harmonious, persevering action — and 

 such action can be expected only where ample means are 

 wielded by a single mind and single will. 



And it is, we are told, just this condition of things, — it is 

 the existence in Great Britain of large, enlightened land- 

 owners, that has made her agriculture what it is. While in 

 France, and other countries, where the land is owned by mil- 

 lions of small proprietors in little strips and parcels, there is 

 no visible improvement in the husbandry, and from the nature 

 of the case, never can be. 



Such, substantially, is the reasoning of the English land- 

 lord. To a certain degree, and in an important sense, I think 

 he is right. The broad lands — the long purse — the single 

 purpose — and the persistent action — do offer a very great 

 advantage in experimental agriculture. On our small farms 

 and with our moderate capitals, the grand operations of Eng- 

 lish farming are simply impossible — and there must be great 

 changes in our social and general condition, before we shall 

 see a tract of 5000 acres — the property of an individual — 

 receiving the benefit of drainage, under one grand, sys- 

 tematic and scientific operation — from a force of several engi- 

 neers, and of several hundred men. What would here be 

 thought of such an experiment as that of Mr. Walker on his 

 farm of Newbold Range — where he takes the entire sewage 

 of the town of Rugby — lifts it by steam-power to a height of 

 sixty feet — sends it through more than five miles of iron pipe" 

 to all parts of his land — and then, by means of hydrants and 



