36 
Fifty Years' Progress of British Agriculture. 
if our population, increasing at the rate of one thousand a day, 
besides contributing largely to our colonies, can find adequate 
employment at home, there will still be a remunerative market 
for that description of agricultural produce which can least bear 
the risk and cost of carriage from distant countries. 
It is well that we should remember that every requisite of 
food and clothing is an annual product of the earth, yielded no 
doubt to a large degree in proportion to the ingenuity and 
industry employed on it by man. But when man has done his 
utmost the result is determined by influences beyond his control. 
Of those substances on which life and health day by day depend, 
there is every year a new production, directly or indirectly of 
vegetable growth, and dependent year by year on the sun and 
rain in due season. From 1854 to 18G5 there were ten good har- 
vests in England, and only two below an average. This covered 
the whole period of Lord Palmerston's successful administration. 
During these twelve years we had to bear the burden of the 
Crimean War, followed by the Indian Mutiny and the increased 
military expenditure begun in 18G0. Can it be doubted that 
such a run of propitious seasons aided the gifted Minister who 
then conducted the finances of this country to meet successfully 
our vast expenditure, not only without serious pressure on the 
people, but with largely increased development of their industry 
and resources ? 
In the fiftieth year of its existence the Royal Agricultural 
Society was honoured by the gracious acceptance by the Queen 
of the Presidency for that year. And again at Windsor, but on 
a more spacious field than in 1851, when the lamented Prince 
Consort presided, the Show was held in the Great Park. Nothing 
could exceed the fitness and beauty of the situation, or the kind- 
ness of the weather. Never before have the comfort of the 
splendid animals, and the facilities for their examination, been 
more carefully provided. The arrangements were so well-con- 
sidered that the spectators were able leisurely to examine all 
classes of animals, and all the various implements for cultivating 
the soil. No hitch of any kind occurred. Her Majesty honoured 
the Show by three visits on successive days, amidst the most 
loyal and hearty acclamations of her people, sovereign and sub- 
jects thus bringing to a happy and successful conclusion the 
fiftieth year of the Royal Agricultural Society. 
James Cairo. 
