244 IMPORTATION OF OIL-CAKE AND MANURE 



how mistaken must be the policy that aims at reducing the 

 value of British property to a level with that of foreign states, 

 and the rate of wages to that of the serf-labour of Russia ! 

 Seldom was there a period when the farmer flourished, but the 

 tradesman and the labourer participated in his success; and 

 seldom were the times adverse to agriculture, but that trade 

 and labour were involved in the depression. 



Enumerated in the catalogue of expenses upon land are 

 several millions a year for foreign oil-cake, foreign manures, 

 and poor's-rates ; all of which, I contend, may be obliterated 

 by appropriating to the growth of flax not more than two acres 

 of land out of every hundred in cultivation. The greatest 

 caviller must see that so small a proportion could not prove 

 a heavy burden, while the good that would accrue to 

 multitudes ought to silence every objection. It is ob- 

 vious that the cost for labour in making the cake, and in 

 preparing the manure alluded to, is defrayed by English 

 farmers, who are thus placed in the peculiar position of main- 

 taining two populations ; one at home, the other abroad the 

 former appearing in " the catalogue " under the head of " poor's- 

 rates." Now when it is remembered that 35,000 tons of linseed 

 would be produced more than ever was imported of oil-cake 

 in one year, from the small proportions of land in question 

 that more herds of cattle could be reared, and fattened by 

 forming the seed so grown into compound and that a corre- 

 sponding increase of manure would be thus obtained, surely 

 I shall be excused for observing, that no farmer ought to com- 

 plain of the corn-bill and the tariff, who, neglecting the re- 

 sources of his own, in favour of foreign lands, becomes a free- 

 trade importer of corn and meat in the shape of cake arid 

 manure ; for corn raised through the aid of foreign manure 

 ought certainly to be regarded as the produce of foreign 

 countries, as much as that which enters our ports through the 

 payment of a regular duty. And when the inferiority of 

 foreign oil-cake is taken into account on the one hand, and the 

 uncertain effects of artificial manures on the other, I trust the 

 time is not far distant when the agriculturists of this country 

 will look back with astonishment upon the millions they have 

 expended in the vain endeavour to acquire wealth through 



