and Rural Economy. 271 



what they will learn from that whch is placed before them. Where we find 

 ourselves inferior to others, it may be desirable to ascertain how we may 

 reach the excellence to which they have attained ; and where the advan- 

 tage is obviously on our side, it may be a subject of honest congratulation. 

 In circumstances, even the m.ost different, a sagacious mind will gather in- 

 struction from contrast as well as from analogy ; and the success of any 

 man, in any trade, pursuit, manufacture, or art, is in itself a powerful 

 stimulus to others to exertion ; and, therefore, an instrument of excel- 

 lence in any and in every other art or pursuit. I know no better way than to 

 record my impressions of what comes imder my notice in the field, which 

 I have undertaken to explore, as faithfully as I can and with as much de- 

 tail as seems expedient ; and to do my best, that every one who conde- 

 scends to read my pages with a just candor, will not close the book with- 

 out finding something agreeable and instructive, something for improve- 

 ment in the important art to which my labors will be particularly devoted, 

 and something to make him wiser, better or happier. These latter are 

 the proper ends of knowledge and of life ; and this honest aim will in it- 

 self sanctify and elevate the humblest efforts. 



The following is the arrangement of the present part. 

 Preface ; Credentials. I. General Facts and Considerations ; 

 II. Particnlar Objects of Inquiry ; III. Science and Agri- 

 culture ; IV. English Agriculture; V. English Capital; VI. 

 General Appearance of the Country ; VII. Hedges and In- 

 closures ; VIII. Iron and Sunken Fences; IX. English 

 Parks ; X. Ornamental Shrubs and Flowers ; XI. Climate 

 of England; XII. Agricultural Population; 1. Landlords, 

 Rents, and Taxes ; 2. The Farmers ; 3. The Agricultural 

 laborers; XIII. Allotment System. 



We have only room to give a portion of the chapter on 

 English Parks, which we recommend to the attention of 

 every reader : — 



The extent of these parks, in many cases, filled me with surprise. 

 They embrace hundreds, in some instances thousands of acres ;* and you 

 enter them by gates, where a porter's lodge is always to be found. Af- 

 ter entering the park gate, I have rode sometimes several miles before 

 reaching the house. They are in general devoted to the pasturage of 

 sheep, cattle, and deer. In the park at Chatsworth the herd of deer ex- 

 ceeded sixteen hundred. These deer are kept at no inconsiderable ex- 

 pense, requiring abundant pasturage in summer, and hay and grain in 

 winter. An English pasture is seldom or never ploughed. Many of 

 them have been in grass beyond the memory of any one living. The turf 

 becomes exceedingly close and hard ; and the feeding of sheep and cattle 

 undoubtedly enriches the land, especially under the careful management 

 of one eminent farmer — and many more, doubtless, are like him — on 

 whose pasture grounds the manure of the cattle was daily collected and 

 evenly spread. 



" Windsor Great Park contains 3,500 acres, and the Little Park 300 acres. 



