194 RURAL ECONOMY OF ENGLAND. 



game. In some districts they have clubbed together to 

 purchase the right of shooting, and have then set about 

 exterminating the hares, which pays better than killing 

 the landlords. 



All these works of drainage, construction of buildings 

 for stabulation, erection of steam-engines, &c., involve 

 great outlays. The expense to the proprietor may be 

 estimated at about 8 per acre, and that of the farmer 

 4. On the strong lands it must necessarily be more, 

 but on the light much less. This fruitful outlay accom- 

 plished and well executed, of course rents and profits rise 

 beyond their former figure, and that even in places where 

 they have been the least affected by the fall ; it also pro- 

 duces an adequate return upon the new capital put into 

 the soil. The land will then produce at least one-third 

 more of alimentary substances. The gross average pro- 

 duction, which was equal before to 3 per acre, will then 

 be 4, 10s., while the average rent will probably rise to 

 30s., and the farmer's profit to 18s. per acre. 



The only question is this, Are proprietors and farmers 

 in a condition to furnish the required capital? The 

 question is one involving no less an amount than four or 

 five hundred millions sterling. For any other country 

 than the United Kingdom such an undertaking would be 

 impossible ; for her even it is an arduous one, but only 

 arduous. The nation which, in the course of a quarter 

 of a century, has spent 240,000,000 upon railways 

 alone, may well employ twice that amount in renewing 

 its agriculture. 



The Government felt the necessity for setting the 

 example. In 1846, at the time when it was thought 

 desirable to bring about lower prices, it allowed itself to 

 depart from its established principle of non-interference 



