Glimpses of Farming in the Channel Islands. 371 
often none at all during the winter, and severe frost is uncommon. 
During last winter and spring there was more snow, and greater 
damage occurred from frost, than had been known for several 
years. The rainfall is abundant, especially in winter, and the 
island seldom suflfers from drought even in' summer. 
Whatever the natural resources of the soil of Jersey may be, 
it is certain that it has been brought to a state of high fertility. 
I have never so fully realised the idea of a country " smiling " 
with an abundant produce, and with a general air of prosperity, 
as when, in the latter part of June, I walked or drove through 
the beautiful valleys and over the scarcely less charming plains 
of Jersey. Bad as the season had been, the comparatively few 
pieces of wheat were in ear, and almost without exception good 
standing crops, where not absolutely heavy ; while the potato 
tops were a yard high, and so thick that the rows could not be 
distinguished. Splendid crops of hay and "seeds " were being 
cut or carried, and the tethered cows looked sleek and well fed. 
But not even the abundance of the produce of the soil, or 
the evidence of careful enterprise bestowed on every spot, strikes 
the visitor familiar with the rural districts of England so forcibly 
as the wonderfully prosperous aspect of the dwellings of the 
people. There are scarcely any cottages in Jersey, for the 
smallest of the farmers, as a rule, live in comfortable granite 
houses, with well-kept flower and vegetable gardens attached to 
them. The people themselves, too, have an air of contentment 
and independence which is pleasing to behold. 
The climate, no doubt, does great things for Jersey; but- 
the marvellous industry and enterprise of the people do more. 
The rents which those of them who hire land pay, and the 
prices which buyers give for land, suffice to assure even persons 
who have not visited the island that a vast quantity of produce 
is got out of the soil. When Colonel Le Cornu wi-ote his essay, 
he gave 41. 10s. to 91. as the range of rents. The present range 
for cultivable land may be put at 71. to 151. It must be very 
poor land that does not let at more than 31. a verges^ or 61. 15s. 
an acre. The only farm which I saw that I had reason to sup- 
pose was let at less than 71. an acre was one containing a large 
proportion of woodland ; but there are, no doubt, a few others 
equally poor and low-rented — as rents go in Jersey. As to the 
prices given for the fee-simple, some actual instances of recent 
sales may be cited. 
JVIr. Joshua Le Gros, Secretary of the Jersey Herd-Book 
Society, a Jersey farmer of great experience, to whom I am 
indebted for a gi-eat deal of valuable information, and for the 
courtesy with which he accompanied me in some excursions and 
