372 
The Making of the Land in England. 
tion, and had in the year 1883 brought the accumulation into 
beneficial use bv investing it at the rate of 3^ per cent., the 
possessor would be in the enjoyment of an income of 36,000Z. a 
year. The estate, less the amount purchased, would also be his, 
not indeed in the high condition which now distinguishes it, 
but still we may conjecture productive of some, though a con- 
siderably less, rental. 
Having now given some instances of the expenditure of a 
large sum per acre in the reclamation and improvement of 
land in the eastern and northern counties of England, another 
may be added of a more ordinary character in the south-west, 
where the expenditure in relation to the rental has not been so 
considerable, and where the execution of the improvements has 
not attracted such general attention from its novelty or its 
extent. It gives, therefore, perhaps in some respects a truer 
sketch of the operations which have for years been quietly 
carried on by English landowners in the ordinary management 
of their estates. 
The property in question belongs to Earl Bathurst, who has 
kindly furnished the following particulars concerning it. The 
purely agricultural portion, occupied by tenant farmers, consists 
now of about GlOO acres. In 1825 its extent was 4920 acres ; 
nearly 1200 acres have been subsequently added by purchase 
from time to time at a cost of over 40,000/. 
A home farm of 1209 acres, on which about 3000/. has been 
expended on new buildings and cottages, besides further sums 
on annual repairs, is not included in this statement. All contri- 
butions and subscriptions to the restoration of churches and 
vicarages, the maintenance of schools, the erection of a village 
coflFee-tavern and similar matters, as well as the expenditure of 
2300Z. on a cattle-market upon the estate, producing an annual 
income of about 80/. from tolls, are omitted here from considera- 
tion. A sum of 1205/. is, however, included in the outlay of 
1877, which was spent in the construction of water-works for the 
supply of one village and some high-lying land on two farms. 
VVith regard to the rental, this from 1851 to 1879 was "based 
on the price of wheat, when in the latter year the tenants 
expressed a desire to revert to fixed payments. The rent 
received amounted, on 4920 acres, in the year 1825, to 5521/. ; 
in 1830, to 5519/. ; in 1840, to 5904/. ; in 1850, to 6143/. on 
5290 acres ; in 1860, to 7678/., the acreage being then 5685 
acres; in 1870, to 7780/.; in 1880, on 6100 acres, to 6560/., 
and in 1885 to 6177/. on the same acreage. The consideration 
of these figures is instructive, showing as they do that in l.s25 
the gross rent was 22s. b'3d. per acre as against 20*'. S'od. in 
1885, notwithstanding the outlay of 12/. per acre since that date. 
