WCP2141

[1]¹

Beaconscroft,

Chiddingfold.

Godalming

1 November 1900

Dear Dr. Wallace

I have received from Mr. Miller — Studies Scientific & Social, with the Authors [sic] compliments. & I beg to thank you most heartily for the book.

Every study in it is of the greatest interest. [2] & I look forward with great pleasure to the reading of them.

Among the social questions there is one of the greatest importance, the land question.

There is no doubt that the land is going out cultivation, & what will be the end thereof? Before uttering any opinions thereon, however, I will read [3] what you have written.

As I write & look out of my window I see fields which are not cultivated because "it will not pay". i.e. it will not return the value of the labour & the manure put into it.

There is a great demand for labour, & every boy is seized upon as soon as he leaves school.

By the bye — are there any [4] unemployed in England, who are skilled at any thing? I doubt myself that there are any unemployed, except those who can do nothing beyond holding a horse.

Have you read Rider Haggard’s "A farmer’s year"? it will well repay reading.

What is your son doing now? is he with you?

With kindest regards | Yours truly, | J. P. Macleod [signature]