122 J^riL'ultuyjl Intelligence — England. Feb, 



be differently appf eclated in the fpring than they are during the prefent 

 dull feafon of the year ; efpecially if the Chief Conful fhould fucceed 

 in cutting out fome other work for the country. y^«« i^* 



Norfolk ^mrterly Report, 



It, as a very intelligent writer * has lately afferted, * equality be- 

 tween the population of a country and the means of fubfiftence furnifh- 

 ed by its territory, i<; a law of nature ; * and if, as I believe is afcertained 

 by a late pretty accurate inquiry, the population of this kingdom has 

 within a few years confiderably increafed, it follows as a legitimate de- 

 du6^ion from thefe premifes, either that we mull prepare to meet this 

 increafed call for occupation and fubfiftence with increafed refources of 

 employment, and more particularly with' an augmentation of the (lafT 

 of life — for none can work, who cannot eat ; or that this augmented 

 population, which nations fo much pride themfelves upon, and con- 

 fider as one of the prime nerves of the ftate, will prove any thing ra- 

 ther than a blcffing ; for it muft eventually bring down upon the people 

 at large (in all countries where a material difproportion exifts on the 

 fide of population), famine, and all its attendant horrors. 



Every government, therefore, ought to exert all its energies to en- 

 courage and augment the produce of hufoandry ; and every private in- 

 dividual, who engages in this laudable attempt, is a true friend to his 

 country, and perhaps, even in the humble office of a reporter, may con- 

 tribute his mite to the public welfare. Impreffed with this idea, I 

 p.gain take up my pen to give you fome few obfcrvations, (the feafon 

 fuggeds but f^ew), on the prefent agricultural appearances and occurren- 

 ces in the weftern part of the county of Norfolk, a portion of the king- 

 dom which has been declared, long fince, by Royal authority (Charles 

 II.) ufelefs for every good purpofe, except to furnifh materials for re- 

 pairing the roads throughout the reft of his Majcfty's dominions. But, 

 by the bv, furely this * i7>utton-eaUng k'lng^ ' as the facetious Rochefter 

 \5 faid to have denominated him, never tailed Norfolk mutton^ or he 

 would have appreciated, more juftly, the value of a county which pro- 

 c! n:ed even then fo exquifite a repaft ", and now, not only plentifully 

 fupplies its increafed population, but every year fpares a confiderablc 

 furplus for its Itfs-favoured neighbours. 



Sowing of wheat commenced early. The feed quickly vegetat- 

 ed, and, encouraged by an open quarter, and a fucceflion of warm 

 (bowers, now covers the ground with a full ilock of luxuriant plants. 

 The rains have lately fallen heavy, and almoil it ccffantly ; but though 

 thefe are frequently productive of much mifchief on flron^ foils, they 

 feldom are fo copious at this feafon as to occafjon any n»aterial injury to 

 the light, fandy, and gravelly fields of Norfolk. I confefs, however, I 

 do not wifh to fee my wheat, on thefe foils, anun^.e too early an appe<ir- 



ance 



* Mahhus on p<ip:]Ialion. 



