FLAX AND HEMP 237 



agriculturists being assured ; as I well know, from 

 my own practical experience, that many, if not all, 

 of these supplies can be grown in this country at a 

 profit of at least 3/. per acre. In the present day, 

 every panacea is recommended for trial to the land- 

 owners and farmers to alleviate the present terrible 

 distress that overspreads our land, and I feel assured 

 that if strong efforts are made, and some assistance 

 for this industry rendered by the Government, by 

 affording cheap capital — which could be most satis- 

 factorily secured — a great future is before us, and 

 revived prosperity for agriculture, which is the 

 greatest of all industries, in every clime and country. 

 I express myself thus strongly on this subject, and 

 though I am happy to write my records of sport, 

 politics, and other matters, I am reminded by my 

 old schooldays, of the First Ode of Anacreon : 



®«Aa) Aeyeiv ArpfiSa?, 

 OcAo) &i KaS/xoi' d'Setv " 

 'A ySap/JiTos &i )^oijSaL'; 



"E/JWTa IXUVVOV y]\€l, K.T.A. 



Yet my harp, instead of sounding only of love, 

 will sing solely of agriculture. 



Let us all do our best for this ennobling science, 

 and we may then see the exodus of the labourer 

 from the country arrested, and the fearless, industri- 

 ous, and grateful countryman will again rally round 

 the country parson, the country gentleman, and the 

 British farmer ; whilst the villaore tradesman and 

 mechanic will become once more prosperous and 

 happy, and continue to be, as they were in old times, 

 the backbone of Old England. 



