112 EURAL ECONOMY OF ENGLAND. 



whether in England, or wherever farming is as far 

 advanced ; they are unknown only where the farmers 

 are poor or ignorant. Now, if farming in England is 

 liberal, it is no less intelligent and skilful. 



The English farmers, even the smallest among them, 

 have every facility for becoming well informed with 

 regard to the latest improvements. It is a very common 

 thing for them to send their children as pupils to those 

 among themselves who are distinguished for their ability, 

 and they willingly pay boards which would frighten our 

 farmers. They hold frequent meetings for the purpose 

 of mutually communicating their ideas and experiences. 

 Those competitions of animals and implements, which the 

 government of France is obliged to institute at the na- 

 tional expense, have long been established by private 

 subscription in many places throughout the United 

 Kingdom. The first noblemen, headed by princes of the 

 blood, and even the husband of the Queen, consider it 

 an honour to preside at these competitions and agricul- 

 tural meetings, to take part in the discussions, and to 

 contend for the prizes. A host of magazines, devoted 

 entirely to agriculture, detail their proceedings ; even the 

 principal newspapers carefully chronicle all the news 

 which may interest the chief of all industries. As 

 poverty is not an attribute of agriculture in that 

 country, no more is ignorance. 



Besides the local societies, which have been long estab- 

 lished over the whole of England, there has existed since 

 1835 a central Society of Agriculture, which has received 

 the title, very rarely bestowed, of Royal. Although re- 

 ceiving no aid from the Government, it disposes of con- 

 siderable sums, which it owes to voluntary subscriptions. 

 It is composed of life members and annual subscribers, 

 scattered over the whole kingdom. Among its life mem- 



