296 HISTORY OF AGRICULTURE 



of this, that foreign produce was consigned in much greater 

 bulk, by few consignors, than home grown, and could be con- 

 veyed much more economically than if picked up at different 

 stations in small quantities. 



As to the effect of restrictive covenants on the depression, 

 the balance of evidence did not incline either way.^ 



The Agricultural Holdings Act of 1875 was stated to have 

 done much good in the matter of compensation to tenants for 

 improvements, notwithstanding its merely permissive character, 

 as it had reversed the presumption of law in relation to 

 improvements effected by the tenant, prescribed the amount 

 of compensation, and the mode in which it should be given. 



As to the important subject of freedom of cropping and 

 sale of produce, there were diverse opinions, some advocating 

 it wholly, others not believing in it at all, others saying each 

 landlord and each tenant should make their own bargains 

 since each farm stands on its own footing, others again 

 favouring modified restrictions. The preponderance of opinion 

 was in favour of a modification of the law of distress. 



The Commission further said that the pressure of foreign 

 competition was greatly in excess of the anticipations of the 

 supporters and of the apprehensions of the opponents of Corn 

 Law Repeal ; if it had not been for this, English farmers 

 would have been partly compensated for the deficient yield 

 by higher prices. On the other hand, the farmer had had the 

 advantage of an increased and cheapened supply of feeding 

 stuffs, such as maize, linseed and cotton cakes, and of artificial 

 manures imported from abroad. At the same time the benefit 

 to the community from cheap food was immense. It seemed 

 just, however, that as agriculture was suffering from low prices, 

 by which the country gained as a whole, that the proportion 

 of taxation imposed on the land should be lessened ; it was 

 especially unjust that personal property was exempted from 

 local rates, contrary to the Act of 43 Eliz. c. 2, and the whole 

 ^ Parliamentary Reports of Commissioners ^ 1882, xiv. 14. 



