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ch subjects must do so at his own cost and be content to take his pay in honour and glory。 Well； as I never expected anything else； I was not disappointed in this lack of financial results。 My objects were； as I have said； quite different。 I set them out so clearly in the little preface which I wrote some years later for the “Silver Library” Edition of the work； that I will venture to quote it here：
In Ancient Egypt the gentleman farmers of the Fifth and Sixth Dynasties whilst yet alive caused their future sepulchres to be adorned with representations of such scenes of daily life and husbandry as to them were most pleasant and familiar。
The study of these paintings and reliefs has delighted me much today； as it did when first I visited them in 1887。 Whilst considering them it occurred to me that in this book； by means of the methods of my own age； I have unconsciously attempted to follow the example of the authors of these rock…hewn manuscripts who lived some fifty centuries ago。
Perhaps； I thought to myself； in times to be； when all is changed again save the eternal ways of Nature that are the ways of God； the word…pictures of my pages also may thus interest and instruct unborn men of tastes akin to mine。
Such is my hope。
It would please me to write another “Farmer’s Year” arranged upon a similar plan； setting forth my further agricultural experiences throughout an entire year； now that I farm on a larger scale and more scientifically than I did； especially in the matter of milk…production。 I greatly doubt； however； whether at my age and with so much work in front of me； I shall ever find the opportunity； especially as the production of such a book involves constant residence on one spot from January to December。
I followed up “A Farmer’s Year” by reading a paper on the Rural Exodus before the Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture on May 6； 1899； which is printed at the end of that volume； and moving the following Resolution that； after discussion； was carried unanimously：
This Chamber respectfully calls the attention of Her Majesty’s Government to the continued and progressive shrinkage of the rural population in the Eastern Counties； and especially of those adult members of it who are described as skilled agricultural labourers。
In view of the grave and obvious national consequences which must result if this exodus continues； the Chamber prays that Her Majesty’s Government will as soon as may be convenient make its causes the subject of Parliamentary inquiry and report with a view to their mitigation or removal。
On May 30th in the same year I moved a similar Resolution before the Central and Associated Chambers of Agriculture in London where； after criticism and discussion； it was also unanimously carried。
In January 1900 I went with my family to Florence； where we stayed with my sister…inlaw； Mrs。 John Haggard； whose husband was at that time Consul in Noumea； whither he could not take his children。 It was the year of the Boer War； and a melancholy business I found it to spell out the tale of our disasters in the Italian papers。 The Times had asked me if I would care to go to South Africa as one of their war correspondents； but this did not strike me as an attractive business at my age。 However； I entered into another arrangement with Mr。 Arthur Pearson； the owner of the group of papers of which the Daily Express is the principal。 This was that； on the conclusion of the war； I should write a series of articles under the title of “The New South Africa；” which would； of course； have involved a long journey in that country。 This engagement was never fulfilled； for the reason that the war carried on for another two years or so； before which time the British public was utterly weary of the subject of South Africa。 Upon this ground Pearson suggested that the contract should be cancelled。
In the meantime； however； while I was taking my bath one morning — a domestic occasion on which； for some reason unexplained； I have observed that I am more open to new impressions than at any other time — an idea struck me。 It was to the effect that I should like to emulate Arthur Young； who more than a century before had travelled through and written of the state of agriculture in the majority of the English counties。 Second thoughts showed me that the enterprise was very vast。 It had taken Arthur Young about thirty years； if I remember right； not to plete it — for this neither he nor any one else ever did — but to deal with about twenty…six counties； travelling leisurely on horseback and for the most part； I think； as an official of what in those days answered to the present Board of Agriculture。
I may add that about a year ago I paid a visit to Arthur Young’s home； Bradfield bust； more monly called Burnt Bradfield； near Bury St。 Edmunds； which was then for sale。 The house； of course； is rebuilt； but all the rest — park； ancient oaks； and little lake — remain much as they were in his day； a hundred years ago。
Readers of his Life will remember how he instructed his delicate daughter — who afterwards died； poor child — to walk in certain places； such as in the Round Garden or on the flagged path where it was dry — “the little garden where I have so many times seen her happy。”
There they are to this day； and； standing among them alone； I could almost re…create the figure of pale little Bobbin as she obeyed the orders sent from France in her father’s letters。 There； too； is the great avenue of limes which were； I believe； planted by Mr。 Arthur Young； running from the house across the timbered grounds to the highway by the church。 Here in the churchyard lie the mortal remains of this great man； for； when his prescience and his patient industry are taken into account； I think he may be fairly described as great。 In the church； actually underneath his pew； is buried his sweet Bobbin； and on a tablet in an annexe appears a touching memorial inscription to her； which I regret I had no time to copy。 It does not； I think； appear in the Life by Miss Betham Edwards。
How sadly read his words written at Bradfield in the year 1800：
I never e to this place without reaping all the pleasure which any place can give me now。 It is beautiful and healthy； and is endeared to me by so many recollections； melancholy ones now； alas！ that I feel more here than anywhere else。 Here have I lived from my infancy； here my dear mother breathed her last； here was all I knew of a sister； and the church contains the remains of my father； mother； and ever beloved child！ Here； under my window； her little garden — the shrubs and flowers she planted — the willow on the island； her room； her books； her papers。 There have I prayed to the Almighty that I might join her in the next world。
Well； his sorrows are done and； had she lived the full life of woman； by now Bobbin’s days would have been counted out twice over。 Let us trust that long ago her broken…hearted father’s petition has been granted； and that this pathetic pair once more walk hand in hand in some celestial garden； never to be parted more。
If I may venture to pare myself with such a man； there is a considerable similarity between our aims and circumstances。 We have both been animated by an overwhelming sense of the vital importance of British agriculture to this country and its citizens。 We are both East Anglians and born of the class of landed gentry or “squires。” We have both been official servants of the State。 We have both written novels and much connected with the land。 We were both practical farmers； which many who write on such things are not； and in the same counties。 We were both tall； thin； with pronounced features； and possessed a nervous temperament and somewhat similar powers of observation。 We both suffered a terrible loss that saddened our lives； though happily for him the blow fell in his later days。 Both of us have been animated by the same hopes。
Such are some of the resemblances； and I dare say others could be found； for instance； if Young wrote of rural France； I have written of rural Denmark。 Only I am thankful to say I have been spared his domestic separations； as I hope I shall be spared his blindness and the religious mania； or something approaching it； that darkened