[ ^8i ] 



will only apply to marfti-lands, the lords of which 

 having difmembered their manors amongfl; their lef- 

 fees, ftirred them up to the fludy and pra£lice of 

 agriculture. Suppofe a lelTee for three lives, of one 

 hundred acres, valued in fifty pounds per annum, 

 gave twelve years purchafe for the fee, it amounted 

 to fix hundred pounds, and is only a tax upon the 

 farm of thirty pounds per annum, reckoning the in- 

 terefl at five pounds per cent. 



As a moiety of this country was formerly in till- 

 age, probably fifty acres of this farm were, when 

 purchafed, arable; but if fo, it was immediately laid 

 down to pafiure, and is perhaps now brought for- 

 ward to the fifth clafs in point of quality, and at 

 prefent worth fifty (hillings per acre: whereas, had 

 it remained on leafe, it would no doubt nave conti- 

 nued in tillage, bearing fifteen bufliels of wheat per 

 acre, if recruited every third year with a fallow; 

 and would have been worth at prefent only twenty 

 {hillings per acre. 



As this praftice of laying down arable to pallurc 

 hath been fo univerf.Uly adopted by the land-owners 

 as occupiers of their own freehold, and enforced by 

 landlords in their covenants with their tenants, will 

 it not furnifli a better reafon for the fcarcity of 

 wheat, if generally adopted in other countries, 

 than fuch as are commonly given us in the publick 

 prints? 



Should 



