184 RURAL ECONOMY OF ENGLAND. 



all parts where drainage has been vigorously carried out, 

 the mists of the foggy isle seem less thick and heavy. 

 Drainage was thought of for the first time ten years ago, 

 and a million of hectares at least are already drained ; 

 everything promises that, in ten years hence, almost the 

 whole of England will be so. It is as if the island were 

 once more rising out of the sea. 



The second improvement, of a general kind, which will 

 date from the last few years, is a large increase in the 

 employment of machines, and particularly of steam. 

 Previously to 1848, very few farms possessed a steam- 

 engine. Now, one may safely say that, in ten years hence, 

 the exceptions will be those without them. Smoking 

 chimneys are to be seen in all parts of the country. 

 These steam-engines are used for thrashing corn, cutting 

 fodder and roots, grinding cereals and oilcake. They are 

 also employed to raise and distribute water, to churn 

 butter, &c. Their heat is no less available than their 

 power, and serves to prepare food both for men and 

 cattle. Some movable steam-engines go from farm to 

 farm like a labourer, to do heavy work. Small portable 

 railways have been invented for conveying manure to 

 the fields, and carrying back the crops. Machines for 

 mowing and tedding hay, reaping, and digging, are now 

 under trial. Some have even undertaken to plough by 

 steam, and do not despair of success. The great desire 

 at present is to find means for turning up the soil 

 to a depth hitherto unheard of, in order to give greater 

 vigour to the arable bed. Everywhere mechanical genius 

 is making exertions to carry into agriculture the wonders 

 it has elsewhere realised. 



These new processes are only new applications of old 

 principles ; but there is one which is at variance with all 

 habits, and which encounters more opposition. I have 



