CONSTITUTION OF FARMING. 117 



there known and practised, even among the smallest 

 farmers. Notwithstanding the active properties of the 

 soil, the people are constantly renewing and adding to 

 its fertility by means of large quantities of manure col- 

 lected at considerable expense ; the breed of animals is 

 superior, and the harvests magnificent. In one district 

 we find wheat and maize ; in another, tobacco, flax, rape, 

 and madder; then again, the vine, olive, plum, and mul- 

 berry, which to yield their abundant treasures require 

 a people of industrious habits.- Is it not also to small 

 farming that we owe most of the market-garden pro- 

 duce obtained by means of large expenditure around 

 Paris'? 



We have seen that even in England small farming has 

 not altogether been discarded, yet everything appears 

 tending to proscribe its limits : it has no grounds of sup- 

 port, as in France, from a small proprietary and division 

 of capital ; the theories of agriculturists and the general 

 system of farming are opposed to it. It has decreased 

 since the days of Arthur Young, and the progress made 

 by modern agriculture has been brought about by totally 

 different means. Still it persists, and everything leads to 

 the belief that in some parts, at least, it will maintain its 

 ground. The manufacture of cheese, for example, which 

 is quite a domestic industry, is well adapted to it : ten 

 or twelve cows suffice to give profitable employment to 

 a family in the country without extra assistance. There 

 is nothing so delightful as the interior of these humble 

 cottages, so clean and orderly ; the very air about them 

 breathes peace, industry, and happiness ; and it is pleasing 

 to think that they are not likely to be done away. 



Even under circumstances most favourable to its de- 

 velopment, the very nature of large farming prescribes 

 bounds to it. The very large English farms, unless to a 



