206 Plan for establishing a Company for the Cultivation 
poor-rates in London and its immediate vicinity, who could be 
employed in carrying on some great agricultural improvements ? 
» This is a question that is not easily solved, and which would 
require a good deal of investigation accurately to ascertain ; but 
the number must be very great: and when it is considered, that 
besides able-bodied men, a large proportion of women, and even 
some children might be employed, there* would be no difficulty in 
finding in London and its vicinity, from fifteen to perhaps twenty 
thousand persons, who might be employed in various departments 
connected with the cultivation of the soil, and preparing its pro- 
ductions for use. 
Besides mere digging, a variety of operations might be exe- 
cuted by manual labour; as collecting manure, transporting it in 
harges up the river, conveying it to the fields on portable iron 
-rail-ways, transplanting the crops, hoeing and weeding them,’ 
cutting down or reaping them, thrashing by hand-mills, and 
grinding the wheat by the flour-mills, so strongly recommended 
by “ The Society of Arts.” In short, the employments which 
agriculture furnishes are numerous and unceasing. 
In order to employ a greater number of people, if the climate 
and the soil of the land brought into cultivation were suitable, 
hops might be raised, which in favourable seasons would be highly 
productive. 
Another material object would be, the culture of flax, in the 
manufacture of which, the old ana the infirm might be employed 
in work-houses. This plan is successfully carried into effect in 
the work- house at St. Martin in the Fields, and six or seven others ; 
and if the raw material could be procured in sufficient quantities, 
the importation of foreign flax or linen would he no longer neces- 
sary. Considerable quantities of hemp might likewise be raised. — 
3. What would be the best plan for carrying such a measure 
into effect ? 
There is no doubt, that in so opulent a city as that of London, 
a large sum might be raised, to carry on such a plan, without 
any thought of profit or interest. But there is not the least oc- 
casion for any individual losing any sum he may be inclined to 
subscribe for so useful a purpose. On the contrary, if properly 
managed, it must prove a very beneficial concern. No money 
can be laid out with more profit than ir the improvement of the 
soil. The author of this paper purchased an estate for 8,500/., 
and improved so much its value, that it sold for 40,000/. He 
let a farm about twenty years ago for 182/. per annum, which’ 
was likewise so much improved, under his directions, that it sold’ 
Jately for 18,200/. These are facts which are within his own, 
knowledge, and cannot be controverted. If such beneficial im- 
provements could be effected 700 miles distant from the al 
polis, 
