character vvhich distinguishes the English newspapers,
British and foreign intelligence, and Jersey matters,
are about equally prominent; and some of these, are,
like their French cotemporaries, devoted to party.
The influence of the English journals also, is
limited; not so exclusively the slaves of party as the
French papers, their influence on the public mind is
perhaps somewhat greater; and in matters wliich
concern the British residents, they are powerful
engines. In an attempt wliich was made in the
States, to tax for the benefit of the island, the property
of British residents, though situated out of
Jersey, the strenuous opposition of the “ British Press,”
and the exhibition of feeling manifested in consequence
amongst the English, compelled the proposer
of the law to withdraw it.
Almost every grown-up person, man or woman,
reads one or other of the Jersey newspapers. On
Saturday morning, when three of the French papers
are published, one of them is seen in every market
person’s hand, or lying on almost every market stall.
Pile fisli-woman, the firuit-woman, the butter-wmman,
has each her newspaper; and lays in for the week, a
stock of knowledge as to the affairs of Jersey. The
circulation of the island papers, is very considerable.
There being no stamps, their price is extremely low;
and the absence of duty also on advertisements,
increases the number of these, and consequently gives
to the newspaper another attraction. I scarcely think
any district will be found in Britain, containing a
population of no more than 40,000 inhabitants, in
which eleven newspapers are published.
-CHAPTER IX.
a g r i c u l t u r e in j e r s e y .
Backward State of Agriculture, and its Causes—High Rent in
Jersey—Value of Land—Advance of Tillage—General Husbandry—
Wheat Harvest—The Reaping Field—Return from
Land—Odd Customs—Multifarious Uses of Parsnips—Potato
Land—Joint-stock Labour, and Stock—Orchards, and Manufacture
of Cider—Vraic, or Sea-weed, as Manure—Wages ot
Labour—Cattle of Jersey—The Jersey Cow, and her Privileges
—The Dairy—Sheep, and Horses—The Agricultural Society.
T h e state of agriculture in Jersey, is backward; and
substantial reasons may be assigned for th is; the most
prominent of which, perhaps is the minute division of
property. The law of gav^elkind, which obtains in
this island, necessarily occasions a minute division of
property; so much so that it not unfrequently happens,
that at the end of two generations, the eldest son is
left without sufficient land to maintain himself, or to
keep up his paternal house. Not only do we find in
Jersey, half a dozen fields belonging perhaps to half
a dozen persons, but sometimes even the same field
owning two or more proprietors. In this case, the
field is sown with different kinds of grain; and each
proprietor speaks of his “ camp de g ra in”
That this minute division of property, and the law
which produces it, should lead to a backward state of
agriculture, must be at once apparent. There is little
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