when offered, though nearly thrice that sum. Some other salutary measures should also be adopted, such as prohibiting selling by sample; making the markets toll free for corn, and selling by weight instead of measure, as being much less liable to deception. The great dealers are so well convinced of this, that though they buy at so much per bushel, they agree that it shall be a certain weight, and by this means the public àre deceived as to the real price.

There is an evil which very much prevents growing of corn, that is, the strictness with which tenants are tied up from ploughing any more than a certain quantity of land, which at a time when it seems there is not enough in general grown in the nation for the inhabitants, ought, I think, to be discontinued; and especially as some of the largest farmers in the country are constantly laying down all they can to grass, as grazing proves so profitable; but the tempta tion to this would be decreased by increasing the number of small farmers, as thereby many more pigs would be bred, which of course would decrease the price of butcher's meat, and the great profits of the grazier. This grazing system on so large a scale should be counteracted, too, as it tends to depopulate the country, as fewer hands are required to manage it than a farm in tillage, or even a dairy farm.

Inclosures should be encouraged, and made less expensive, which would be done by an act for a general inclosure; but inclosing the waste lands is but a partial good, while the greater part is still added on to farms already too large. I was lately grieved to

see only two or three houses, and those but cottages, erected on that large piece of land, Bromsgrove Lickey, inclosed lately; nor did I observe a single tree planted among the quick in any of the hedges. A plan recommended by an author *, before quoted, would be abundantly more profitable to the nation, and, I doubt not, to the landowners too. Speaking of a common, about 2000 acres, then about to be inclosed, he says, "Take 1000 acres, and divide them " into 25 equal parts, the other 1000 into 100 lots, " and let those lands to persons at as low a rent as possible; let not one person have two shares; let “them build such houses as they can, agreeably -"to their circumstances; and let those lands be here

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ditary to them and their children for ever, upon "these conditions, that the rent be paid yearly, and "the respective lands cultivated in a proper and use“ful manner. But were these duties not performed, "then the proprietors to have right to shew cause for

dispossessing these defaulters, and putting other "persons in their stead, that there may be no land "waste through neglect or idleness. Such kindness "shewn to poor men would encourage marriage, "whereas the contrary is too common, and a race of bastardy is substituted, which brings poverty upon "individuals, and consequently the poor rates are considerably increased; but was this to be done,

In the Monopolist, printed at Worcester, 1796.

d 3

"and poor men invited to take land and build, it "would be the means of uniting the father to the "son, and the son to the father. It would enable "the son to assist his aged and infirm parents, who "would otherwise be put into a workhouse, or re"ceive parish allowance. The child or children "would do that which in case of no dependance

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they could not do, and therefore the parishes adja"cent to those lands would have no other expences "than common casualties. Upon such a division of "this particular spot, in the space of 20 years, there "would be 900 or 1000 souls, sporting and passing "their days in delight and content; the neighbour"ing cities and towns would soon feel the comforta"ble effects; and the traveller would look at such

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an increase of population with pleasure and infinite "satisfaction. Let gentlemen lose no time, but take "the earliest opportunity to encourage poor men by "such a plan, for the good of themselves and tender offspring; and those persons will spare no pains to please them. Thus studiously attached to each "other's interest, they would look at each other, delighting and being delighted." A pretty picture surely if realized; and that it might be, in very many instances, cannot, I think, be disputed, especially if another plan proposed and recommended by the benevolent author of Proposals to Government for Regulations in the Corn Trade, &c. were adopted, which is, that government should establish banks in each county, in order to lend small sums, upon proper securities, to persons who would undertake to cultivate

waste lands, to be repaid by installments at certain periods. This would prove of vast service in a national point of view, as industry thus encouraged would make myriads happy through the whole course of their lives, and give their posterity a like chance of happiness also.

More corn would be raised, if the common arable fields were inclosed, which now remain fallow, at stated periods; in which case a man, by manuring and superior husbandry, would raise a greater number of crops in a given period; but has, while uninclosed, no chance of doing so.

Another beneficial law might be made with regard to exchanging lands; many farms being now so scattered, that the occupier cannot manure or cultivate some parts of it properly, on account of its distance from the homestead, but continue to mow it year after year, and to take away the hay, which of course impoverishes it, and makes it less productive every year: when if exchanged, and given to a farmer near at hand, it might be so managed as to grow better every year. Many thousands of acres might be improved greatly by this means.

The cultivation of potatoes should have all possible encouragement: they are so useful an article of food, not only for the human species, but for almost every animal, so that I think they cannot be raised in too great quantities, for by successful experiments it has been proved, that they may be used to feed pigs, horses, horned cattle, sheep, and I have lately been informed by a respectable gentleman, that his geese

have fed upon them raw (as in all these cases they may be used) this season, and became as fine and fat as could be desired. Increasing the number of cottages, and adding a sufficient quantity of garden ground to them all, would accomplish this desirable object, and they would go far towards feeding the increased quantity of pigs that would then be bred, and by that means the quantity of corn necessary to feed them would be but small. Potatoes too being a root that may be raised successfully on almost any sort of land, and of which a better crop both for bulk, and for the most valuable purposes, may be raised, than of any other root or vegetable, and especially, if when very plentiful, the method discovered, to preserve the more essential part, were resorted to, would be perhaps the best possible substitute for bread in a real scarcity of corn.

If oxen were more generally used instead of horses, in all kinds of work where they can be employed, it would be a considerable national benefit, as horses devour the produce of much land which might otherwise produce wheat, and are of no value when their work is done; whereas oxen, after having worked a considerable time, are considered better for fattening than those never worked, and in general may be sold to the grazier for fattening, after having worked several years, for as much or more than the first cost. A very respectable person, who has for many years kept a good team of oxen, to do his business, and which constantly draw singly in traces like horses, has informed me, that in no instance has he sold any