Farming of Devonshire. 
495 
College completely removes these obstacles, and cannot fail to 
give a stability to scientific agriculture in which it has hitherto 
been sadly deficient. 
The interest whic h many of our largest landed proprietors have 
manifested of late years for the improvement of Devonshire 
farming has been successful in inducing their tenants to give 
some attention to the few improvements which have been intro- 
duced amongst them. Much of the reluctance to vary from the 
established modes of husbandry may be attributed to the circum- 
stance that the whole of a farmer's capital is generally expended 
on the land he cultivates, and that a rash pursuit of new theories 
would involve him in complete ruin. This, although a reason 
for caution, does not justify the deterniincd opposition to well- 
established improvements which is frequently manifested. 
The formation of farmers' clubs in this county and the spirited 
manner in which they are supported affords pleasing proof that a 
desire for improvement is awakened. By their agency much 
valuable information is diffused, which must have a iavourable 
effect on the agriculture of the districts where they exist, and they 
merit the support of all classes of society. 
It cannot be denied that the farming of Devon is at the present 
time inferior to that of most of the counties of England ; and it 
is the object of this essay to induce the agriculturists of this 
county to consider the defects that remain rather than lead them 
to rest satisfied with the few improvements they have adopted. 
The advantages which this county possesses in a genial climate 
and a fertile soil needing only the application of greater capital, 
industry, and skill, encourage the hope that Devonshire will 
before long reinstate itself in the position it held in the sixteenth 
century, when it was an example' of the best farming of the 
age. 
Addington Park Farm, near Croydon. 
