256 TiMEHRI. 



possible. One of these is that although with the virgin soil 

 we possess to so great an extent, any fall in price of provi- 

 sions would infringe on the large margin of profits 

 which is the reward of the intelligent cultivator, it would 

 be useful in quickening his foresight. He now thinks of 

 bringing down six trees by cutting one when clearing 

 land, and of empoldering his farm in seftions, so as to 

 confine injury or loss to one se6lion if the back dam 

 breaks and bush water comes upon his farm, then he 

 would look to increase his crops by change of seed. 

 That grown on sandy or clay soil would then be used to 

 plant pegass soil, in a word, he would calculate how to 

 conquer nature by applying nature. The landlord of 

 our great virgin soil distri6ts — the Government Execu- 

 tive — might lend a helping hand by allotting land in 

 portions of five acres and upwards on a lease for seven 

 or fifteen years, at a rent fixed according to quality of 

 the soil at the time the land is surveyed. Then at the 

 end of the term of lease the rent might be revised and 

 adjusted. This would enable poor industrious men to 

 open land, feed and educate their family, and save enough 

 to enlarge their farm when the lease expired. I can 

 look back to a parish I know well nine miles long and 

 six broad, in the south of Scotland, which by similar 

 means was converted in 20 to 30 years to return a rental 

 of over ;){J8,ooo per annum, and to become a populous and 

 fertile country from being a heathy waste ; this scheme 

 was begun about 100 years ago. Some one says " The 

 people." People are people all the world over, it only 

 requires the head to make use of them. In pra6lice it is 

 a great mistake to oblige a poor man to purchase land, 

 and then keep him poor by the necessary duties attached 



