107 



necessaries for its people, upon the mere guess work of the 

 agriculturist and the merchant. 



The former, perhaps, in ninety-nine cases out of a hun- 

 dred never thinks about it at all, but just grows that kind of 

 produce which the terms of his lease with his landlord permit, 

 and which., taking the probable state of markets, is likely to be 

 the most remunerative. He knows little of what is doing 

 beyond his immediate neighbourhood; and his ideas, as well 

 as his imaginations, are mostly local. Of course, I must 

 be understood as speaking of farmers as a class ; there must 

 be many brilliant exceptions to the rule, and one of them, 

 is well known as one of the most enlightened members of 

 this society. 



The merchant and speculator, on the other hand, are 

 compelled, from want of proper information as to our home 

 productions, to act much upon the principles of guess work 

 and speculation ; and these prevent the prudent man, in many 

 instances, from entering, as he would otherwise do, into 

 competition for the supply of the national wants. We hear 

 it stated each year that it is thought a greater, or less 

 breadth of Wheat has been sown : again, we have accounts 

 of the probable yield in the same way. But how 

 such information is procured, or how it is to be relied 

 upon, no one seems to know. The fact is, that the 

 merchants and capitalists must either depend upon the 

 local accounts they receive, (which may be from interested 

 parties,) or they rely upon some cursory view of the country, 

 over which they may be, by chance, or may be, purposely, 

 travelling. All this must give information of a very local 

 and dubious nature, liable not only to error, but also 

 to intentional misstatements, as the results very often prove. 

 It is no uncommon occurrence to have statements of totally 

 contrary opinions and views from two different merchants, 

 or corn brokers: each relying upon the information he has 

 received, or procured in this manner. This may arise 



