On the Importance of Irri [nation, 275 



try in the vicinity of our city, is, with but few exceptions, re- 

 gretfully true; and, as he alleges, "great and important changes-' 

 must take place, adapted to the demands induced by a growing 

 population, accelerated by circumstances now in incipient pro- 

 gress Let grain, and the hitherto common commercial articles 

 of this kind, be brought, in ever so great abundance, from dis- 

 tant places, the lands within reach of indispensable and pe- 

 rishable supplies, must be devoted to the daily wants of a large 

 city ; and most of them cannot be brought from great distances. 

 The objections, unreasonably fostered by theoretical foreboders, 

 that the lands near the city, will depreciate when remote sup- 

 plies of field culture glut our markets, are contrary to all ex- 

 perience in Europe, and will so be found here. The most en- 

 couraging /«cf5 could be produced, to prove that cities and 

 population increase, and towns grow into cities, as the means 

 of subsistence are in plenty. Those means are necessarily in 

 demand, as cities extend, and population, of course, increases ; 

 the one stimulating and inducing the other. It can be indubi- 

 tably shewn, by incontestible evidence, tliat lands in the imme- 

 diate neighbourhood of such cities, rise in value, with a rapidity 

 which sets at nought all specious adverse anticipations. 



R. Peters.] 



