The absorption of the commons by the landed proprietors.

One-half of British soil held by less than a thousand persons

Inconsiderable increase in the agricultural productiveness of England .

Although the food supplies from abroad rapidly increase

England's treatment of the Irish people has been cruel

Disastrous effects of such treatment

The Irish had no resource in industrial pursuits

Multiplication, impoverishment, and famine

The same evil conditions still exist-emigration

Morality and illiteracy of the Irish

Their dependence upon the potato crop.

What is the first cause of Irish misery?

Changes in the style of cultivation

79

80

80

81

82

83

84

85

86

87

87

88

89

High rate of British emigration

Present tendency towards further division of the soil and impoverish-

Is the fault inherent in the Irish character?

In Ireland generally, the rural population have no adequate induce-

ment to exertion.

When the Irish have a fair field they distinguish themselves

The condition and destination of Irish emigrants

Dissociation of the people from the soil in Scotland

Predominance of large landed properties

The masses have resorted to trade

Migration and emigration in Scotland

Account of the Orkney, Shetland, and Western Islands

Farming and agricultural improvement in Scotland

Account of the Channel Islands

Probable disastrous results of a serious check to emigration

Pernicious influence of immigration of Irish upon England and Scot-

land

95

96

Want of thrift and its causes

120

Chronic pauperisation of the English agricultural labourer

121

Wherein the difference between the position of the English and the

Irish labourer consists

Probable future of the English labourer

Difference between the saving habits of the English and French

labourers.

The labourer in Britain cannot acquire land

The opinion of Mr. Harriss-Gastrell upon this subject

CHAPTER V.

LANDHOLDING AND AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS OF SOCIAL

WELL-BEING IN EUROPE AND AMERICA.

PAGE

Influence of the Revolution upon the agricultural prosperity of France 128

The influence of land laws on population

The ownership of the soil in Prussia

Prosperity of agriculture and the agriculturalist in Prussia
Movements of population in Europe

Evidences of agricultural progress in Prussia

Character and condition of the agriculturalists in Bavaria.

142

144

145

146

148

153

154

155

156

158

Sweden and Italy

Greece and Holland.

. 159

160

Comparison between Belgian and Irish agriculture

Belgium.

Causes of the dense population and pauperism of Belgium

Character and condition of the population of Switzerland .

Comparison between the position and conduct of the labourer in

Prospects of ultimate improvement in the condition of the masses in

Russia

Productiveness of land in the Southern States when cultivated by small

proprietors

177

Unfitness of the ex-slaves for their new position-consequent stag-

nation

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VI.

WHAT ARE THE BEST LANDHOLDING AND AGRICULTURAL

CONDITIONS OF SOCIAL WELL-BEING?

Why is the agriculture of Britain so productive?

Other countries possess less capital and fewer minerals

xi

PAGE

185

185

186

187

Therefore there is relatively less demand for the products of agri-

culture

187

Then the agriculturalists of the Continent have only recently escaped

from serfdom.

187

But regular improvement in their condition is now ensured

188

The greater proportion of the masses upon the Continent are agri-

culturalists

188

The greater proportion of the masses in Great Britain are engaged
industrially

The rewards of agriculture are less than those of mining

Britain lives in an appreciable degree upon the capital of the country--
her minerals

These will not last more than a few centuries

Prosperity of Britain, therefore, not so ensured as that of France
Meanwhile, however, the prosperity of Britain is great, including
agriculture

Position of agriculture in France compared with that of Britain and

America

Other Continental countries are similarly situated with France

Causes of improvement in agriculture.

Table showing produce of agriculture in various countries.

Sources whence the results of the table have been derived

Produce of crops in Scotland, Ireland, and Belgium compared

Influence of the security of capital on agriculture

Effects of war upon agriculture and the agriculturalist

Opinion of commissioners on the employment of women, &c. in agri-

Industry of peasant proprietors also characterises well-doing tenant

farmers.

200

Small farmers cannot compete successfully with large.

Manual cultivation may be prolonged where the soil is minutely

divided and the agricultural population is dense

201

202

PAGB

Not the same opportunity for high farming on the Continent as in

Britain

Greater industrial employment is the necessary antecedent

If industrial employment declines in Britain, will population fall back

upon agriculture?

203

204

204

205

Systems of agriculture the creation of the particular circumstances of
various countries

Capital is being expended more than formerly by peasant proprietors

They may co-operate to assist each other in the introduction of

machinery, &c.

Disadvantages of tenancy as regards the cultivation of the soil

Inducements to improvements not so constant with tenant as

proprietary cultivators

Advantages of proprietorship as regards the cultivation of the soil

Effects of the laws of hypothec and distress

The Duke of Argyll's contentions considered

Tenancy-at-will and proprietary cultivation contrasted

206

207

with

215

Conjunction of agricultural and industrial occupation often desirable. 216

Effect of the system of allotments on the agricultural labourers of

England

Can the town workman reside in the country?

Objections considered

The necessity of the case

THE SUSTENANCE AND ABILITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL WORKMAN.

Difference between the capacities of individual labourers of different

countries

Pernicious influence of war and violence upon the condition of the

individual labourer

Difference between the civilized and savage man with respect to food

and work

The sustenance and ability of the workman in Belgium

Comparison between the position of the workman in Wurtemburg and

in England

The sustenance and ability of the workman in Saxe-Coburg

235

Portugal and Turkey

The sustenance and ability of the workman in Roumelia and Russia

The sustenance and ability of the workman in the United States.

Estimate of average annual revenue of individuals in various countries 245

Easy and careless life of labourers in the south

Theory of food consumption and labour expenditure

What is the most profitable degree of sustenance ?

Most workmen have not a sufficient opportunity of improvement

Basis of improvement in portions of Great Britain and Ireland not yet

established

Why wages are so high in Great Britain

The sustenance of the Irish must improve when they emigrate

The sustenance of the Welsh changing upon migration

Superior sustenance strengthens the constitution against disease

245

246

247

255

259

The British workman too prone to indulgence as his situation improves
A reason why this is so.

CHAPTER VIII.

WHAT ARE THE BEST ECONOMICAL CONDITIONS OF SOCIAL

WELL-BEING?

The mutual relations of the capitalist and labourer-importance of the

subject.

Benefits which have resulted to the labourer from the presence of

capital

Comparison between the position of the agricultural labourer and the

tradesman in England

267

269

Comparison between the position of the agricultural labourer and the

tradesman in America

Result of these comparisons shows the relatively low condition of the

agricultural labourer in England

Where there is the ability, there must be also palpable inducements to

The 'passion for land,' the most powerful engine of thrift, must be
realisable

Capital is exported from Great Britain unduly

.

273