3 7 8 On the Proper Size of Farms, 0(^. 



With regard to the agriculture of this plodding clafs of 

 farmers, it depends very much on the pra6tice they have been 

 educated in. No improvement almoft was ever known to ori- 

 ginate with them. They have even a reludlancy to adopt any 

 that may be fuggefted to them. This does notarife, however, 

 from any perverfity of difpofition, or failure of intelledl but 

 it is the natural confcquence of their confined fituation, and 

 fcarcity of tranfaftions. They cannot afford to mix with the 

 world from curiofity : even their indifpenfable abfence from 

 home, on account of bufinefs, is peculiarly inconvenient and 

 expenfive, as it lays the full half of their home-operations at a 

 ftand, while the little bufinefs they have to.tranfacSt abroad is 

 not full employment for the time. 



There are, however, many examples of good cultivation in 

 this clafs, (in well eftablilhed modes of good cultivation they 

 are indeed excelled by none) ; but it will always be found, that 

 the moft intelligent of them are thofe who have had, from fome 

 fpecialty in their circumftances, an unufual intercourfe at an 

 early period with focitty ; or who, living in the vicinity of a 

 great town, have hence acquired, at little expence, a know- 

 ledge of mankind, and of the principles of improvement, which, 

 in a remote fituation, in their limited fphere, they never could 

 have attained. 



Whenever our country is fo completely cultivated, that 

 there will not remain a fmgle improvement that can be made, 

 either by inclofing, draining, watering, &c. or in cattle, im- 

 plements, or rotation, then may it be laid out into fuch fmall 

 iarms, and configned into the hands of thefe little tenants, 

 who will be able, perhaps, without any great lofs,. to retain 

 the foil in fertility. Such an arrangement may be even ne- 

 ceflary, from a regard to the morals of the people •, as, from 

 the diiTipation which will naturally accompany fuch a ftate of 

 profperity, there would be no clafs of men fo apt from their 

 circumilances, to retain the fimplicity of manners and labo- 

 rious induftry of ancient times. Even at the prefent day, 

 they may be placed in the vicinity of great towns, where the 

 land is already, for the moft part, in an improved ftate, as their 

 habits of induftry and temperance would, for fome time, prove 

 a barrier againfl the fpread of the enervated licentioufnefs of 

 city-depravity •, though it might ftill be necefTary, from time 

 to time, to renew the race from more remote parts, in pro- 

 jiortion as the prefent pcfllfTors become cont iminated with 

 ihe vices o'' a more luxurious life. This change of tenantry 

 would be of advantage, were it mutual between the parties ; 



for. 



