xviti INTRODUCTION. 
be more than on that of the prefent proportion of large 
farms, (which, however, muft not be granted as a faét) 
there feems to be no good reafon for expecting it to be /efs. 
Farmers are not in general found to be ftudious of turning 
each foot of their ground to the moft profitable purpofe, in 
_ proportion to the /argene/s of the quantity they hold;—they 
are not in general c/eanly in that proportion ;—their feale of 
farming is not confidered as equally favourable with a fmall 
one, to the excellence of the drill-husbandry, by which a 
large proportion of feed is faved. And it is moft certain, 
that from fituation, as above pointed out, and the power of 
minute attention, the marketable produce, which the {mall 
drilling farmer will furnifh, ought to be, for his number of 
acres, more in quantity than the large farmer can; and will 
be more various in ufeful articles than that farmer will 
think it worth his while to produce; confequently the opinion 
feems a fair one, that the publick would be etter and more 
varioufly fupplied, And while fuch a varied fupply of the 
fmaller articles of neceflity may thus be expetted from the 
{mall farmer, as eggs, fowls, butter, new cheefe, fmall pork, 
a part of our veal, lamb, and mutton, with the addition of 
field-peas, turnips, potatoes, &c.; we may with equal pro- 
priety look to our Jarger and more diftant farms for our 
chief fupply of corn, fat mutton, bacon, and beeves. Thofe 
more abundant and expenfive articles are moft compa- 
tible with the capitals employed on a large feale of farming, 
at greater diftances from the publick markets, and chief 
places of confumption. Indeed to experience itfelf we may 
fafely appeal. And though the clafs of fmall farmers, efpe- 
cially thofe having families, may not, and they moft likely 
will not, generally get rich; they will form a moft ufeful 
link in the chain between opulence and poverty, and exhibit 
the moft valuable and beneficial examples of active induftry. 
In 
