British Agriculture will Rise Again. 5 



In continuing these introductory remarks, I may be 

 allowed to observe that, notwithstanding our present 

 unsatisfactory agricultural conditions, I by no means 

 take those gloomy views of our prospects which are 

 entertained by a large number of my countrymen. 

 Such views, I admit, are perfectly justifiable if any 

 attempt is made to plod on with a system which was very 

 suitable to the conditions of twenty years ago (though 

 even then many modifications could have been profit- 

 ably introduced), but which is entirely out of joiiit 

 with times when constantly-improving communications 

 are bringing us more and more into competition with 

 cheaper labour and better climates. But, judging by the 

 financial result of my own farming in recent years, I 

 see no reason to despond if we turn our attention to 

 altering . our system of agriculture in the direction of 

 limiting our cereals to the utmost, producing them at 

 the lowest possible cost, and introducing improved 

 grasses and other kinds of forage plants. For we have 

 an admirable forage-growing climate, and it must be 

 remembered that the same communications which flood 

 our country with agricultural produce can also bring 

 hither cheaper feeding stuffs and manures, and that 

 these have consequently already largely declined in 

 price in recent years. And if these aids are taken full 

 advantage of, and the necessary changes in our system 

 are carried out, British agriculture will gradually rise, 

 not perhaps into as profitable a state as it occupied in 

 the best of times, but into as secure and satisfactory, a 

 position as any in the world. 



Finally, it should be considered that the system I have 

 to advocate — one depending entirely upon stock — ^will 

 be much safer than our old arable culture. For with 

 that we had the maximimi of risk, combined with the 

 maximum amount of destruction to the fertility of the 

 soil. And as to that point we have the testimony of 

 the first great meeting of 400 Aberdeenshire farmers, 

 held upwards of twenty years ago, who declared that one 



