l8o4« Et^pettces of Farm Culture in Norfolk. 341 



I feel fomc Vicfitation in admitting the opinion given in the above 

 ftatement, that a quantity of corn may at all tin^^s be grown in thii 

 ifland fufficient for the confumpt of its inhabitants, were tht? prrfettt 

 fpirit of agriciilture kept up by a fair rcinnncrating price. My renfons 

 for hefitating to concur in this opirrion, Hiall be given in a few words, 

 leaving you to judge of their validity. 



The quantity of corn raifed in different years, mud be r&gulated in 

 a great meaftire by the temperature of the weather which pievailg-. ia 

 each : hence, it is no uncommon thing for farmers, in fomc fcafons, to^ 

 have one fourth, nay, even one third more produce frorn ,thp, like 'ex- 

 tent of ground than what they have in others. The fcilfons ^re liot: 

 under the controul or dire(^ion of Parliament ; therefore any thing that 

 can be done by the Legiflature muft prove infufliciept for a-complifh- 

 ing a regular and permanent fupply of home corn to the i^tabitant^ 

 of Great Britain. I grant, that a ftimulus to agriculture may be ob- 

 tained by fecuring the home market to a certain degree, exclufively, in 

 favour of our farmers ; but that a quantity of corn can nl all times 

 be grown at home fufficient for the confumpt of the people, I can by 

 no means admit. To be fure, if agriculture is simulated and excited, 

 the deficiency anTuig from bad feafons will be lefs felt than if encou* 

 ragement had been withheld ; therefore I acknowledge that, a fair re- 

 muneration to the grower is the beft method of procuring the greatelV 

 poffible fupply of grain at all times. 



The price of corn may, in fome fmall degree, be affefted by other 

 caufes, though fo trifling as hardly to deferve notice. Durirg the late 

 war, when wheat advanced to i6os. per quarter, and barley to 8osV 

 I t\'avS confidered by many people as deferving a ftrait jacket, becaufe^ 

 in defiance of the general fenliment, I maintained that war was not 

 the Caufe of tliefe extravagant prices. It was in vain that I urged 

 the ftate of the corn trade during former wars, particularly during the 

 American conteft, when corn was literally a drug in the market. In- 

 deed, the prices of the pad year furnifli a ilrong corroborative proof 

 that the corn trade is influenced little either by war or peace ; but that 

 feafons are altogether the barometer, if I may ufe the expreffion, which 

 regulate the market value. If good ci-ops are procured for two ci* 

 three years fucceffively, corn will be plentiful, confequently muft be 

 cheap ; whereas, if we are vifittd with a feafon or two of an adverfef 

 kind, fuch as 1799 and 1800, fcarcity and advanced prices will fiire*. 

 ly follow. In a word, the more I confider the opinion noVv examined, 

 the imprafticability of gaining a regular and conllant fupply of' graia 

 more clearly appears. '- 



I am, yours, &c. 



"Norfolk^ 1804. ^ Friend to Agriculture, 



ExCERfT$ 



2X 



