British Agriculture. 
321 = 55 
untry a knowledge of the best breeds of live-stock, and of 
most improved instruments and processes of agricultural 
velopment. 
The only department of the State which has a direct connec- The Inclosure 
n with the land is the Inclosure Office, which combines several ^""""'^sio'i 
, . . Ill 1 . , the only State 
ects, more or less appertaining to landed property, but with department 
power to interfere except when applied to for the means of directly con- 
Julitating improvements. The costs of all proceedings effected °|^g\!f^^''^ 
1 ough this department are provided by those who make use of 
i Its original object was to promote the inclosure of waste 
1 ids, and thereby to increase the home produce of food, and 
urd increased employment to the agricultural labourers. 
'.lese objects, so far as they were necessary, have to a great 
c ent been otherwise accomplished, and the agricultural labourer 
1 ; become happily independent of such aid. The duty of this 
I inch of the office now is not to promote inclosure with the 
c ect of dividing the land amongst severalty owners, except in 
c es where by no other means could its improvement be effected, 
\ to encourage the improvement of " commons " under a system 
0 regulation, by which the land may be drained, planted for 
0 ament and shelter, and the surface be improved for pasturage, 
^' hout excluding the public from its enjoyment by subdivision 
1 severalty ownership. Advantage of the office has from Its various 
e to time been taken by Parliament for objects of an functions. 
^ logous character. The Drainage and Land Improvement 
s are administered by this Commission, the object of these 
s being, as already explained, to permit landowners to 
0 row money for permanent improvements, and to charge their 
' Is with the cost of these on the principle of such annual 
ments as within a definite period will reimburse both prin- 
il and interest. The control exercised by the Government 
artment insures that the proposed improvement shall be both 
eficial and well executed, and that the future possessor of the 
perty may not find himself on his succession called on to 
lor unprofitable outlays made by his predecessor. But any 
■ ernment control in such circumstances is really the fruit of 
J artificial system of entail and settlement. 
he office is also entrusted with the formation of commissions Formation of 
' he drainage of districts liable to floods, under which works ^^^^^ Drainage 
^ racing large areas of country are carried out under a general '^""""'^sions. 
m, the cost being levied on the landowners in proportion 
' le advantage they receive. In the execution of this duty it 
been found that the applicants in many cases have erred in 
" deluding the whole of the area which should naturally fall 
T one control, and so failing to secure uniformity over the 
e of the catchment basin affected. 
2 A 2 ■ '• ■ : 
