British Agriculture. 
317 = 51 
their day likewise taught to look into the management of 
eir property. Sir Walter Scott mentions the discussions with 
ch his youth was familiar when visiting his country rela- 
ms, the comparative merits of " long " and " short " sheep, 
I reclamation of waste, and the advantage in a bare country 
sheltering woods. " Aye be sticking in a tree," was the 
ing advice of an old Scotch laird to his son, " it will be 
iwing when you're sleeping." The " home " farm was always 
,nd in the personal occupation of the Scotch landowner, and 
J Edinburgh University has for many years had a Chair of 
iculture. It is true that among the greater landowners of 
otland the English schools and universities have long had a 
cial attraction, but even their tone has failed to eradicate from 
young Scotchman's mind the inborn love of the farms and 
i Ids, and the country employments of his fathers. 
This knowledge of business is a matter of great moment to Landowning 
>se who employ so vast a capital as the English landowners, 
ipital far beyond the entire value of our railways, mines, special training 
1 11 works, canals, and gasworks put together. Men of the highest is not deemed 
( lacity, with special training and qualifications, are employed necessary, 
i the management of these. Constant watchfulness of the 
))gress of invention, by which large results may be obtained 
( a given expenditure, is absolutely necessary to procure a 
jjjfit in the general competition. The landowners of large 
fates entrust the management of their property to agents, more 
( less qualified, many very capable, but often hampered by the 
pssing need of their employer for the largest return of rental 
i the least cost. The landowner himself too seldom takes such 
f active and intelligent interest in the details of management 
'c would convince him of the need to keep his farms in a 
sailar slate of high working order. It is not with him really 
s.[uestion of business. Let us take, by way of comparison, a 
i^nufacturer, merchant, or shipowner, employing each a capital 
c,aal to that of a landowner who has a rental of 5000Z. a year. 
\hat would be thought of the prospects of a woollen manu- 
f turer who, without the slightest preparation or special know- 
1 ge, embarked 100,000/. in that business ? Or of a man who 
t>k over a mercantile concern of the same extent, without 
Iving ever before written or read a business letter? Or of a 
iig military officer giving up his commission to take the 
I tion and responsibility of a great ship-owning house? And 
this is in effect what is done every day by the majority of 
zlish landowners. They complain that the business so under- 
II "is not sufficiently lucrative to offer much attraction to 
lital." And people are surprised that within the narrow limits 
the British Isles, with a teeming, wealthy, meat-consuming 
