iSoo. Ott the Proper Size of Farms. 3^9 



for, if thofe who have been hving for a feries of years in the 

 neighbourhood of a great town, were removed to a more re- 

 mote fituation, their more intelligent ideas in their profefiiom 

 would operate to the more rapid melioration of the lefs im- 

 proved lands on which they might choofe to fettle, while 

 they would lofe the habit of diihpation, from being lefs in the 

 way of temptation to indulgence. 



At prefent, the produce brought to market from fmall 

 farms, is always lefs in proportion, than from farms of a larger 

 fi?." ', becaufe a greater proportion of it is confumed at home, 

 by the more proportionably numerous flock of unprodudtive 

 cattle j an iniierent evil in little farms, which no genius in the 

 occupier can obviate : and, in general, there is even lefs pro- 

 duced on the ground, from the circumftances before ftated, 

 with regard to the abilities of the hufbandman himfelf. With 

 regard to the effect of fmall farms on population, that will 

 beft appear from the next fubdivifion. 



3. Of two or more farms lying contiguous y occupied by one 

 farmer j being the general means by which great farms 

 have originally been formed. 



Though this fyftem of letting lands has ever been a grie- 

 vous fubje£t of lamentation with half-witted politicians, it has 

 neverthelefs, in pra6lice, been found to be the molt beneficial 

 to the country, and ftiil continues to add to the general pro- 

 fperity. 



When two or more farms are conjoined, the following ef- 

 fefts arife : i. The expence of labour is reduced^ in fo far as 

 the peculiarities in the foil in one, are contralled by thofe in 

 another farm ; fo that when the land is not in a condition of 

 being laboured in one, it may with propriety be laboured in 

 another ; as in the example of one of the farms being of a dry 

 foil, and the other of a wet j and which is commonly a con- 

 ducing reafon for the conjunction. Even where the foil is 

 all of the fame nature, there arifes an advantage in the labour- 

 ing of a great farm, from the concentring of the ftrength of 

 men and horfes at any particular operation, by which it is got 

 flnilhed in proper cafe, with lefs rifle of being fpoiled, from 

 the uncertainty of weather, &c. 2. The expence of houfe- 

 keeping is reduced, in proportion as there are fewer families 

 of farmers to maintain. 3. The farmer, having more bufi- 

 nefs, is more abroad in the world ; is converfant in a higher 

 line of life; and thus, having more opportunities of information, 



VOL. I. NO. ly. K k he, 



