440 Mr. W imp ey on the Impropriety of allowing 
encouraged the farmer to plant; and planting 
lowered the price; the price is, therefore, lower 
than it was before the bounty took place; the 
fall of price is owing to the bounty ; ergo, the 
fall of price encouraged the farmer to plant more 
corn! But this is a fophifm, as dangerous as it 
is abfurd. 
Were it true, that the average price of wheat 
has been cheaper fince the bounty than it was 
before, it is clearly demonftrable, that could not 
be the caufe. From 1730 to 1750, there were 
twenty fuch years of plenty as were never known ; 
confequently, the average price of thofe years 
was lower than was ever known before or fince- 
But it feems to have been forgotten, how necef- 
farily and how largely the price mud have been 
affedted, by the great improvements which have 
been made in agriculture during the laft century. 
Clover, turnips, and potatoes, are fuch an acqui- 
fition, as ultimately, by means of general im¬ 
provement, affedts the price of all the produce 
of a farm. Potatoes alone contribute, in moft 
families, to lefien the confumption of bread ; and 
in dear times, in feveral counties, among the 
poor, they almoft totally fupply the ufe of it. It 
fcarcely admits a doubt, that this ufeful root 
alone has lowered the average price of wheat, at 
lead fix-pjence a bufhel. 
What has occafioned the loud outcry of the 
fall of price in coarfe wool ? The very fame 
« caufe, 
