778 
Profit-Slia/ring in AgricuUurB. 
" The above arranpfement is still iu force, with no important change, save 
that the sum above which participation begins is now 900/., instead of 825/. 
Ilerr von Thiinen's sou, and his grandson, Herr A. von Thimen, the present 
proprietor, both had full power to .ibolish the system, but they preferred to 
retain it. 
" Ilerr A. von Thiineu expressed the following opinion of the general 
results of the system followed at Tellow, in a letter to Professor Bohmert, 
dated May 25, 1887 :— 
" ' The institution has approved itself and borne the fruits which my grand- 
father hoped from it, at least with the majority of our people ; exceptions 
are, of course, to be met with here as everywhere. The share in profits 
retains the people on the estate, as, if they quit it, they do not receive their 
capital, but only the interest upon it. It creates common aims for the pro- 
prietor and the labourers, and so brings about a better vmderstanding 
between the two parties. At the outset most of the people were, I believe, 
somewhat dissatisfied because their share was not paid over in cash. But 
by slow degrees, as the capital of individuals grew, they recognised the 
excellence of the system on this point also, for with many of them the 
interest which they receive in an ordinary year exceeds the share of profits 
annually allotted to them.' " 
Another most encouraging and hopefal experiment in profit- 
sliaring farming, mentioned in Mr. Sedley Taylor's book, is that 
started in the neighbourhood of Berlin in 1871' by Hei'r Jahnke. 
He agreed to divide among the labourers half the net profits 
which might remain after all the expenses had been paid, in- 
cluding the remuneration that he was to receive for the use of his 
capital and for supervision. The result of this arrangement was 
that each associated labourer received on an avei'age 52L 3s. in 
money during each of the three years 1872-75, a time when 
the highest annual earnings of agricultural labourers in the 
German Empire was 33Z. 4s. This promising experiment was, 
unfortunately, brought to an end in 1877, owing to the fact that 
Herr Jahnke was boycotted by his neighbours, to whom his 
experiments appeared most objectionable. 
With these brilliant examples of what the profit-sharing 
principle has accomplished in Ireland and Germany, it is a 
matter for wonder that so few serious attempts have been made 
to apply this principle in England. 
I have not had the opportunity of finding out what profit- 
sharing experiments are being conducted at the present time in 
this country, for the short time at my disposal has made it im- 
possible for me to treat this subject with the completeness it 
deserves. But, judging from the notices in the press, it would 
appear that, from one cause or another, there is an increasing 
number of landowners who are taking iu hand considerable 
portions of their estates, and are applying to their cultivation 
that principle which Mr. Balfour says is the ideal wo should 
ever keep in view. 
