THE SENTIMENTAL INTEREST IN LAND AS A NATIONAL ASSET.
pro THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."1 SIR,—It has often been said that if you deducted from our literature all that has been written for money, there would hardly be anything left. It is equally certain that if you deducted from land all that has been spent on it from senti- mental interest, the country would be so changed that you would hardly know it. For it has been proved from the published accounts of estates that the money spent on improvements and planting has been a loss to the proprietors, and never would have been expended but for the sentimental interest I have alluded to. Owing to increased taxation, and legislation always improving the position of the tenant to the disadvantage of the landlord, and also constant threats of further adverse legislation, this sentimental interest has so declined that hardly anything is now being expended on the most important of agricultural aids,—planting. Now that the old sheltering hedges are so rapidly completely vanishing, this was never more essential over large tracts of country, and yet it is certain that under existing conditions no one will plant, while many will cut down and realise much of what has been planted. In this country, which BO much needs sheltering plantations, I only know of one proprietor who has done anything in recent years worth mentioning in the way of planting, and he never would have done that had it not been for his having only one on and no daughters, and money brought in from sources outside of his property. It is deplorable that while every effort should be made to attract capital to land, our legislation and heavy taxation tend evermore to repel investments in landed
improvements.—I am, Sir, &c., ROBERT H. ELLIOT. Clifton Park, Kelso.
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