An Immediate, and Effectual Mode, of Raising the Rental of the Landed Property of England, by a Scotch Farmer [J.C. Loudon]. (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1808 Excerpt: ...passing through this farm; and it is, therefore, almost needless to add, that stealing was daily practised, from the hedges, fields, orchard, barns, and even the wood-house. We have had gates pulled down and dashed to pieces--the iron stolen from others--some taken away bodily, as Samson did those of Gaza of old. Nearly half a mile of frnce totally carried off--copse, and branches of trees cut down--, faggots carried off in open day, &c. &c. It requires some vigilance to detect and punish such offendersj but the abject situation of the poor in this country (the very cause of their vices) owing to the law of settlements, renders it a matter much easier than is imagined.-A gentleman farmer near this place, told me, that " he had not only a gate, but also the postestes taken away;" and that " every year a mortal deal of wheat was pilfered from the shocks iu the field by the wives of his own labourers." f Since writing the abore, the following circumstances have occurred: --A neighbour, pleased with our ploughs, borrowed one for trial. I found from a tradesman in London, that he sent it secretly to him, to get some made on the same pattern.--Sent to the smith for a plough that had been repairing, and was rharged 3d. by the servant for the assistance he receiyed to put the plough in the cart. On Sunday twenty men with hooked sticks went through the wheat field; quar, relied with them, and received insolent language. Ditto, a man on, the Monday. Had a boy knocked down for telling the man that he was not in the public foot-path. Had a maid.servant injured in a neighbour's house, by an Irishman. Feb. 8, being lame from the gout, and walking at some distance from the house, was threatened to bo shot by apoacher, whom I had ordered toquit t...