t
in agricultural improvement, a visit to Liskeard Farm will be both
interesting and profitable.

We believe that Mr. Torr also farms another estate, which he purchased, in
conjunction with friends, from Sir William Stanley, at Eastham, near Hooton
(a pleasant voyage of an hour up the river), and cultivates after the North
Lincolnshire style, in such a manner as to set an example to the Cheshire
farmers--not a little needed. The country about Eastham is the prettiest part
of the Mersey.

While on the subject of agricultural improvements, we may mention that Mr.
Robert Neilson, another mercantile notability, holds a farm, under Lord
Stanley, at a short railroad ride from Liverpool, which we have not yet had
an opportunity of examining, but understand that it is a very remarkable
instance of good farming, and consequently heavy crops, in a county
(Lancashire) where slovenly farming is quite the rule, and well worth a visit
from competent judges, whom as we are also informed Mr. Neilson is happy to
receive.

If, as seems not improbable, it should become the fashion among our merchant
princes to seek health and relaxation by applying capital and commercial
principles to land, good farming will spread, by force of vaccination, over
the country, and plain tenant-farmers will apply, cheaply and economically,
the fruits of experience, purchased dearly, although not too dearly, by
merchant farmers. A successful man may as well--nay, much better--sink money
for a small return in such a wholesome and useful pursuit as agriculture,
than in emulating the landed aristocracy, who laugh quietly at such efforts,
or hoarding and speculating to add to what is already more than enough.

If a visit be paid to Mr. Neilson's farm, it would be very desirable to
obtain, if possible, permission to view the Earl of Derby's collection of
rare birds and animals, one of the finest in the world. But permission is
rarely granted to strangers who have not some scientific claim to the favour.
Lord Derby has agents collecting for him in every part of the world, and has
been very successful in rearing many birds from tropical and semi-tropical
countries in confinement, which have baffled the efforts of zoological
societies. The aviaries are arranged on a large scale, with shrubs growing
in and water flowing through them. In fine weather some beautiful parrots,
macaws, and other birds of a tame kind, are permitted to fly about the
grounds. There i