mention the contiguity of Hull, beef can certainly be afforded as low here as in any other part of the kingdom; and Government might establish a victualling office in this Riding with a very considerable advantage, both in respect to supply and price; to this office an additional supply would also be furnished from the other neighbouring parts of Yorkshire, and from those of Marsh Land and Lincolnshire, all of which places are situated at very easy distances: these considerations are certainly sufficient to warrant Government in making the trial.

"The above plan, if adopted, would certainly save a very considerable expence, which the nation at présent pays; and where such saving can be made, justice to the public requires it. Competition only reduces the price of any article to a proper medium. Government at present is supplied with cattle, generally bought in Smithfield market, many of which are driven from a considerable distance, within thirty miles of Hull, and from 80 to 140 from London. Most of the fat cattle, therefore, purchased by Government, are driven from an average distance of 110 miles, at an expence of nearly 12s. per head, besides a loss of weight in driving, moderately stated at four stone, of 14 pounds to the stone; and which, at 4s. 6d. per stone, amoun;s to 18 s.; to this again, as the grazier receives great part of the catile fed for the London market lean from the more northern counties, the expence of driving them, with the drover's profit, must be added, which would not be less than 12s. did not the country adjoining Hull supply part of these cattle, on which account I deduct something saved in driving and waste, or 4s.; the total saving, therefore, amounts to 38s. per beast, averaged at eight hundred and a half, or sixty-eight stone. But when we consider the real variation between the markets in this district and London, it may be moderately reckoned at 45 s. per ox: if we farther estimate the superior quality in the meat of an ox killed after a journey

journey of a few hours, or of two days at most, and that of an ox driven eight days, the advantage of esta blishing a victualling office here, must appear still greater. The above calculation, taken only at 45 s. on 68 stone, makes a saving of more than 8d. per stone of 14 lb.; for a great part of the provisions at this office would be sent from Hull to every garrison abroad, at a rate as cheap as from any other office; but as a supply would be wanted frequently for the navy, and furnished from this port, at a dearer freight than from the victualling-office in London, I deduct for it one penny per stone: the article is therefore cheaper by 7d. per stone, and at the same time better."

Public Shows of Livestock.-P. 60. "In September, there is a show at Driffield of rams, bulls, boars, and heifers, and premiums are given to the best; which excites an emulation, and not only considerably promotes the improvement of the breed of stock, but affords the uninformed an opportunity of seeing such as are deemed good, and of hearing the sentiments of men eminent in the line of breeding."-This was the first show of the kind that fell under my notice. It had been established some years (for bulls at least) before the Petworth Show took place.

SUBJECT THE THIRD.

RURAL ECONOMY.

DIVISION THE FIRST.

LANDED ESTATES; their IMPROVEMENT and MANAGEMENT.

IMPROVING ESTATES.-Reclaiming rough Grounds. P. 50. The system of paring and burning is much practised, and with advantage on strong coarse land,

or even upon thinner soils covered with coarse or thick turf, for it certainly brings land more quickly into a vegetative state. The prejudice which some persons have conceived against this mode of cultivation is founded on the abuse of it; for it has often happened in cases where the occupier has had full liberty, that either through interest or ignorance, he has drawn so many crops from the land as to deprive it of every vegetable principle. I need not ask the question,-in what condition land of a thin staple must be left, after one crop of rape, and two or three of corn shall have been taken from it? according to the common practice. If the crops shall be taken proportionably to the goodness of the land, and a suitable supply of manure shall be afterwards given it, the system of paring and burning in this case may be allowed, and is, as I said before, a ready and profitable method of putting strong soils, or even lands of a thinner staple, into good order."

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT of Estates.-Proprietors, and Managers.-Speaking of "Impediments to Improvements," Mr. Leatham makes these strong remarks, p. 60.-" A third impediment results from the ignorance in agriculture of gentlemen of landed property, who do not sufficiently qualify themselves either to superintend their own estates personally, or to enable them to select persons of sufficient skill and experience in husbandry, of general information, candour, discernment, and activity, to whom the care of their estates can be entrusted: such a man will readily discover the condition of each farm, with the disposition of each farmer; he will be able also to advise with and assist the weak, stimulate the indolent, and check the licentious; but, alas, to what unskilful and inefficient characters is this important trust too frequently committed ?"

Tenancy. Also the following, p. 60. "A second great and real obstacle arises from the want of a proper confidence between the landlord and the

tenant,

tenant, which if not by some means established, agriculture probably will never florish to that degree required."

And, on "Leases," the subjoined observations are well entitled to the consideration of every proprietor of a tenanted estate. P. 58. Very few leases are granted in this district; many tenants being even without a written agreement. The granting of leases, it must be confessed, is a circumstance that requires deep and serious consideration and reflection; some landlords, however, are candid enough to grant them. Leases are proper and safe to be granted, when they contain covenants for a mode of husbandry suitable to the demised farm, and affording the tenant a free scope for his skill and abilities in pursuing a stipulated system of husbandry, advantageous to his own interest, and consequently to the improvement of the farm. This system should be composed and drawn out by a person completely skilled in agriculture.

"As little obligation as possible should be between the landlord and his tenant; the improvements of a permanent nature should be made at the landlord's expense; and the tenant should pay interest, and what is reasonable over and above for the money laid out in main and under drains, new fences, roads, and bridges and if a tenant who shall agree to, and actually enter on a farm out of condition, should quit it before he shall have been repaid the expense of improving it, the landlord himself, or the succeeding tenant, should reimburse him his expenses; and the landlord should agree to such repayment, before the entry of the tenant undertaking to improve his farm.

"If neither leases be granted, nor a condition similar to the above be stipulated, it cannot be expected that agriculture will be carried to the perfection it might be, at least on the farms of many landlords. There are, however, several farms in the district without either lease or agreement, in which the tenants may be secure during the lives of their land

lords;

lords; but when a tenant enters upon a farm out of condition, and pursues a true and spirited mode of husbandry, the advantages arising from the term of one life are not" (may not be)" sufficient to reward him. The putting an ill-conditioned farm into complete order, is attended with a greater expense, and requires more skill and attention than many are aware of."

DIVISION THE THIRD.

AGRICULTURE.

FARMS.—Sizes of Farms.-P. 40.—« The farms vary in rent from five hundred to one thousand pounds per annum; but generally from five pounds to two hundred."

Fences.-The following hints may be serviceable to those who occupy inclosed lands, near the sea coast ;or in any other bleakly exposed situation. P. 25. "It is necessary to keep the hedges low adjoining the roads, to admit the sun and air, so essentially necessary for their preservation, and for the consequent accominodation of those who travel upon them. It is not only in this case that clipping of hedges has a good effect; I have for some time considered that the injury received by them in exposed situations, particularly near the sea, proceeds from the sharp air which blows through them, when thin and open; but has less effect, and does not injure them so much, when by their thick foliage, they form a barrier against it; some, though exposed to the sea air, have been clipped yearly from their earliest growth, and appear to thrive infinitely better than those which have not received that attention."

Occupiers, in all situations, may profit by another valuable suggestion of Mr. L. P. 27. The advan

tage