In a second speech, in which the Duke of Devonshire
acknowledged a vote of thanks, he dwelt upon a subject which we have touched on in another column, and in effect, though not under that name, advocated, as we have done, the extension of the factory system to agriculture. After noticing that foreign dairy produce does not undersell English dairy produce, but actually gets a higher price, he went on to suggest that it may be that it is not possible to produce butter or other articles of dairy produce in the highest perfection "when the manufacture is carried on in small quantities and with insufficient appliances." "If that be so, it only shows that you ought to turn your attention to ; another system altogether, and that you may find your : Advantage, as Lord Belper suggested to you, in co-operative factories, in which the farmers themselves will be intei estecT,.. in which you may have the advantage of the best machinery, the beet appliances, the best means of sending your produce to market, and the best means, in short, of carryiug on the business." This, we believe, is something very like the root of the matter. Fortunately, the moment is a good one for the inauguration of the new system. The revival of trade will make the markets lively and strong, and the large amount of free capital awaiting investment should also help to smooth the way.
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