I Large and Small Holdings. 
5 
holding those modern improvements, which are practised upon 
the best-managed larger farms. 
Laege Fakms. 
To attempt a description of the products of large farms, and 
to record the advantages which the nation has derived from the 
pioneers of agricultural improvement who have cultivated them, 
would be to re-write a large portion of the Rojal Agricultural 
Society's ' Journal.' The annual reports of the Judges of the 
Prize Farms, which have now for many years formed such a 
prominent and pleasing feature in the records of the Society, 
contain faithful descriptions of some of the best cultivated large 
farms in the different districts in which the Royal Shows are held. 
It will only be necessary to state here that the chief advantages 
of large farms are, that they have attracted to agriculture men of 
skill, capital, and enterprise, who have vastly improved the 
live-stock of the farm, and have availed themselves of mecha- 
nical and chemical discoveries, which they have applied to the 
cultivation and development of the soil. Large farms admit of 
the employment of all modern machinery and implements, and 
afford the intelligent and enterprising husbandman a variety 
of soil and space for producing the greatest amount of food 
with the least expenditure of labour. That the best culti- 
vators of large holdings have done all this no one can deny, 
but it is also true, that many large farms are occupied by 
men with insufficient capital ; some by farmers who do not 
understand their business ; and others by men who devote more 
time to sport and pleasure than they do to the management of 
their farms. There is also an indictment brought against the 
large tenant-farmer, that he has spent too much upon himself 
and his family, and lived in a style that no farm could warrant. 
Cobbett in his day was horrified to see a bell-pull in a farmer's 
parlour, and to hear the daughter playing the piano instead of 
working in the dairy. No doubt, when times went well, the 
farmer was ready to spend his money freely, and the modern agri- 
culturist indulges in certain luxuries and refinements of which his 
father never dreamt. But all other classes of society have made 
a similar advance. The tradesman of olden time lived over his 
shop, and was behind his counter when his shutters were taken 
down in the morning. The manufacturer resided close to his 
mill, and saw his hands enter and leave the premises. Now 
both have their country residences, and leisurely drive up to 
business in their broughams. As long as the farm, the shop, 
and the mill can afford such luxuries, so much the better for 
the country. Unhappily, the farm can no longer supply any- 
