ADDRESSES 191 



taking the place of fences, with trees growing on top, and 

 covered all over with the greenest and most luxuriant of 

 ivies, give to the lanes the appearance of trenches cut in the 

 soil, and this effect is heightened by the arching of the trees 

 overhead and the interlacing of their branches, which even 

 in midday cast a shade that is almost twilight; and for 

 miles you ride along through these leafy bowers, sheltered 

 from the sun, protected from the wind, listening to the song 

 of birds, till at last the vista opens, and suddenly you see 

 the waves rolling madly in, and catch the thunders of the 

 surf upon the granite cliffs. 



The question is often asked, To what do the Channel 

 Islands owe their prosperity. Given an equable climate, a 

 fertile but not rich soil, and a skilful husbandry, and you 

 have the three prime requisites of success. That is true as 

 far as it goes, but there is still a factor wanting to make the 

 explanation complete. Other writers have placed it in the 

 possession of a race of cattle popular throughout the world, 

 a climate which is perfection, and a ready market almost at 

 their very door. To these combined, I would add, "A 

 diffused property, a diffused capital, and a diffused intelli- 

 gence." The 19,000 acres of arable land of Jersey are 

 divided among 2,600 farmers; only six have farms of one 

 hundred acres; some fifty or more own twenty acres; 

 but the great majority have small holdings from one-half 

 acre to five or six. Land does not often change hands. If 

 inherited, it cannot be devised by will, but must follow the 

 line of succession, the law requiring that at death every 

 child shall receive a part, the oldest son having the house 

 in addition. The land laws thus discourage aggregation of 

 property, and favor its distribution among the members of 



