18 OCTOBER 1873, Page 3

The Times publishes a long letter from Mr. jefferies, whom

it calls an "eminent agriculturist," but whom we remember as a bitter enemy of the labourers, asserting that England is fast 'becoming a meat-producing country, that grass will supersede corn, and that we must have great supplies of artificial manures, and. nobody knows where they are to come from. If the popu- lation increases, and no further addition be made to our supply of meat, the farmer alone would stand between the country and famine. Meat is not needed to prevent a famine, as there are countries' where meat is not eaten, and the men are still healthy, but we will set that aside. What stops our importing live cattle AES well as corn? We do import them from Ireland, and why not _from America, North and South, and fatten them here for the butcher ? Science will give us ships fitted for conveying cattle —we do not doubt Mr. Reed could design one now, though he is playing fast and loose with Hull, saying one day he is independent, and another that he shall follow Mr. Gladstone— and science will yet utilise out of city sewage a supply of manure ample for our limited space. That England -will be driven to meat-growing is, we think, true, as nothing can seriously bring up agricultural wages except a considerable emigration of labonrers.