British Agriculture. 
293 = 27 
The soils here are exactly similar and in the same field, strong 
land on clay with a substratum of chalk ; the management is the 
same, in so far as culture is concerned ; both crops are kept 
squally clean and free from weeds, the same seed is used, and 
they are exposed to the same changes of weather. The only 
Jiflerence is, that in the one case nature has for thirty years 
been unassisted by manure, and in the other the soil receives 
?very year the various kinds of manure which have been found 
Tiost suitable to the crop. The result of this treatment is a 
eturn of three times the weight of corn and four times the 
iveight of straw, for an expenditure in manure which leaves a 
irofit of 100 per cent, on its cost. In both cases the wheat is 
rrown continuously year after year. 
The plants which predominate in uncultivated land depend 
joth on the nature of the soil and on the climate and situation. 
)n poor gravel, furze grows in abundance ; on peaty uplands, 
hort heath ; on cold, wet bottomed soils, rushes cover the ground. 
Vatural woods of birch and oak are found in sheltered Highland 
lens, and self-sown Scotch firs spread themselves in the neigh- 
)ourhood of extensive yine forests. 
CHAPTEE lY. 
DlSTKIBUTION OF LANDED PkOPEKTY. 
HE distribution of landed property in England, so far as Tendency of 
wnership is concerned, is, by the growing wealth of the ^^'^^^'^ pro- 
untry, constantly tending to a reduction in the number of ji^'^ution ia 
mall estates. This tendency is further promoted by the law, the number 
'hich permits entails and settlements, thus hindering the gj^j^^g^^^ 
atural sale of land so dealt with ; and also by rights of 
"rimogeniture, which prevent subdivision of landed property 
•mong the family in case of intestacy. Cultivation thus passes 
ut of the hands of small owners into those of tenant-farmers, 
ausing a gradual decrease of the agricultural population, and a 
apid increase of the towns. This has been much accelerated 
y a policy of Free-trade, which has at once opened up the 
narkets of the world for our commerce, and for the produce of 
ur mines and manufactures. These are advantageously inter- 
hanged for the corn and other agricultural products of foreign 
xnds. This will go on while the commerce is found mutually 
rofitable. And it will be profitable so long as by superior skill 
nd enterprise, combined with exceptional mineral advantaq-es, we 
in undersell other countries in the produce of our manufactories 
i 
