^66 ttevietu of Stnt?j}ical Survey Nov. 



ture ; and the fmall farmer, who rubfifts partly by his trade or oc- 

 cupation, poilliTcs from 20 acres down to a fingle acre. The mi- 

 nute divifion of farms is very properly reprefented as prejudicial 

 to agriculture j and the number of fmall landholders, or petty 

 occupiers of land, who were ruined in i8oJ and i8o[, in con- 

 fequence of the deficient crops of 1 799 and 1 800, is adduced as 

 a matter of fart, to prove ibat the tradcfman or nKinufarturer 

 who has no land, docs not find fo much difficulty in maintain- 

 ing a family, as he whofe attention is divided, and wbofe annual 

 expences are increafed by his having a fmall farm, of which he 

 inuft pay the rent and taxes in an unproductive feafon. It is 

 alfo very properly obferved, that ' the induflrious cottager, whe- 

 ther labourer or weaver, is as beneficial to the public, and as com- 

 fortable to himfelf, as any other denomination of pcrfons ; but 

 that every gradation from him to the real farmer, is only a grada- 

 tion of diiTiculties. ' 



The chararter of the Downfliire farmers is reprefented In a vc- 

 ly favourable light. The middle clafs, who rent from 20 to 5« 

 Irifli acres, are defcrlbed as a refpt rtable clafs of men, in point 

 both of underftanding and morals. The Reporter adds, that 

 * an eftate portioned out among men of this defcrlption, where 

 nothing is dedurted for repairs, where there are no poor's rates, 

 and where tithes are moderate, mull be produrtive, and not dif- 

 ficult to manage. ' Much as we refpedl his opinion, we widi 

 to fee more large farms, a number of villages ererted, and the 

 farmer's capital all apphcd to the improvement of the ground, while 

 he pays a per centage to the landlord, for money expended oil 

 neat and convenient farm-houfes, and other buildings. We ac- 

 knowledge this would occafion a little more trouble in the manage- 

 ment of eftates ; but that would be repaid by the improved agri- 

 culture, and alfo improved architcrture, of Downfhire. 



In the prefent Hate of that county, it is faid, that if two farms 

 taken together fhould employ two draught beads, all work that 

 requires two being performed by a mutual lending of cattle, a 

 Tcry great point would be gained, as much as the Reporter thinks 

 can be expertcd. We hope he fiiall five to L^c his farmers fewer 

 in number, and almoft every one having conftanr employment for 

 at leaft four draught horfes, while the villages abound in expert 

 manufarturers, or induftrious tradefmen and day-labourers. la 

 the mean time, we obferve with pleafure, that the rents are al- 

 moft all paid in money •, that tithes are very m.oderate, and that 

 tliere are no poor's rates in this county. 



On the laft article of expence and profit, the Reporter could 

 not be fuppofed to give any thincj accurate ; but he has dated a 

 ^ompaiifon, taken from fa6l, of the diftributian of crop on two 



faring 



