170 Propofah for h\Jli tiding April 



alluded to; and I trtifl; it will appear, in the courfe of 

 the following obfervations, that no meafure can be 

 fuggefted, more likely to be attended with advantageous 

 confequences to the inhabitants of the metropolis, or 

 of any confiderable and flourifhing town, than that of 

 having an Experimental Farriiy on a great fcale, in it& 

 immediate neighbourhood. 



. I. From the increafing population of London, and of 

 the other large towns in the kingdom, it is impoflible 

 they can be fupplied with provifions at a reafonable rate, 

 unlefs the agriculture of the country is brought to a high 

 degree of perfection ; which can only be done through 

 the medium of Experimental Farms, the only f«re means 

 of afcertaining the principles of improvement. At pre- 

 fent, the nation is under the necelhty of depending on 

 foreign induftry and cultivation for a part of its fubfift- 

 ence j and we are periodically vifited with a fcarcity of 

 food, which increafes the expences of living to every 

 family in the kingdom, and loads the rich with heavy 

 additional burdens to maintain the poor, and to preferve 

 them from the miferies of famine. A fmall portion of 

 that fum, the exafHon of v/hich thus becomes fo frequent- 

 ly necefiary, v^'cre it properly applied to the improve- 

 ment of agriculture, would foon enable this country to 

 feed itfelf, and indeed would put it in the power of the 

 farmer to fupply the public with provifions at a reafon- 

 able rate. Herice, it is evident, that every man who pays 

 i5d. inftead of pd. for a loaf of bread, or los. per pound, 

 inftead of 2s. for poor rates, ought to confider himfelf 

 eflentially interefled in promoting agricultural improve- 

 ments, and ought for his own intereft, to fupport any 

 meafure calculated for that purpofe, as far as his circum- 

 ftances will admit of. 



11. It is well known, that there is fcarcely any part 

 of the kingdom, where greater quantities of wafte and 

 unproductive, land are to be found, than in the neigh- 

 bourhood of London ; or ground, in many inflances, more 

 capable of improvement. It is to be hoped that the 

 General Bill of Inclofure will foon pafs, in confequence 

 of which, thofe waftes will be divided. But that will 

 be of little avail, unlefs the means of improving them 

 are afcertained. When Enfield Chafe was divided, many 

 perfons expetted to make confiderable profit, by pur- 

 chafing 



