130 
Farming of Yorkshire. 
whilst sheep have considerably fallen off in weight since 1848 
from various causes, amongst others the prevalence of the turnip 
disease, but still more from the scarcity and dearness of food. 
There is one useful lesson we may learn of the manufacturer, 
— he never stints labour when it pays. Many farmers on 
small occupations err in this respect, and are parsimonious to 
their own loss — thinking how to save a man or horse instead 
of how to employ them profitably. This accounts in part for 
the decrease of that class of small holders whose aim was cheap 
farming, and for the gradual enlargement of farms. A good 
deal of sentimentality has been expended over the decay of the 
old class of farmers, but if they cease to impi'ove the land — the 
talent given them — it is only just and right to take it from them, 
and give it to those who will do justice to the claims not only of 
the landowner but of the community at large. We feel most 
sensibly that an old tenantry, when they follow the times, are an 
ornament to any estate ; but it is of the idle, ignorant, and pre- 
judiced tenant, who resolutely defies every advance, that we 
speak : on such an one we cannot waste one word of pity. One 
more allusion to the manufacturer, and we have done. He is 
never wasteful; everything is turned to account and used in due 
proportion. But among farmers how many are caieless of their 
produce, not keeping sufficient stock to consume their straw, and 
above all taking no pains with their farmyards and buildings to 
preserve the quality of their manure, besides wasting the land 
by ill-judged cropping! These insfcmces are exceptional, but we 
must not forget the shadows which relieve the brighter parts of 
our picture. 
One important item connected with his calling has been much 
overlooked by the farmer, whether from prejudice, want of edu- 
cation, or of leisure : we refer to the keeping of accounts. A 
current cash-book, the profit and loss as shown by the balance- 
sheet at stock-taking, the remainder summed up in " rents," — one, 
two, or three rents per acre, as the account appears, — is all that is 
considered necessary. We do not doubt that a better education, 
with the adoption of scientific i'arming, v/ill remedy this defect. 
For Avhat man of intelligence can be content to guess only at the 
profit or loss accruing to himself from each of the several very 
variable items in his system of management? Good accounts, 
besides being a safeguard for the present, form an interesting 
and valuable record for the future. 
The great improvements noted as having taken place in the 
short space of twelve years are naturally suggestive of still 
greater. Onward ! onward ! must still be the farmer's motto 
among the great changes which we have in prospect ; so that 
wh?n another cycle has passed, and Yorkshire is again called 
