80 EFFECTS OF AGRICULTURAL 



can be averted which are likely to arise from 

 this source to the labourer, as formerly noticed, 

 it is the utmost that can reasonably be expected 

 from the land-improving scheme. The infer- 

 ence, therefore, is almost obvious, that the in- 

 crease of the labouring portion of our rural 

 population will keep pace with the increase of 

 spade labour, occasioned by the adoption of 

 spade husbandry. 



2. What effect would the reduction of those 

 schemes to practice have upon the commercial 

 and manufacturing branches of industry ? In 

 England, we formerly stated the wages of the 

 agricultural labourer at 2s. per day, and the 

 gross yearly income of this class at 31,200,0007. 

 This, however, will be found considerably to 

 exceed the truth, if we descend to details in 

 practice ; for not more than perhaps two-thirds 

 of the whole number are regularly employed, 

 so that many shortcomings have to be de- 

 ducted from the gross income above stated. 

 These can scarcely be stated at less than from 

 2,000,0007. to 3,000,000/. annually. 



Spade husbandry will have a two-fold effect 

 upon this state of our rural industry. In the 

 first place, it will give more regular employ- 



