4 2 STATISTICAL SURVEY 



of fo many individuals of this clafs, nothing can be 

 further from the ideas of the writer than the fuppo- 

 fition, that it is impoflible for the holder of a few acres 

 to thrive upon them; but it requires a greater propor- 

 tion of fteadinefs, exertion, and induftry, to fupply the 

 place of conftant employment in the farm, than is ge- 

 nerally fuppofed, and a greater degree of thought and 

 quicknefs are requifite, to prevent lofs of time in the 

 necefTary attendance, than fall to the fhare of thofe, 

 who are moll frequently to be met with. A cottager, 

 \vhofe holding is juft fufficient to maintain his cow or 

 two, with a well inclofed and well cultivated garden, 

 who makes no attempt to raife a crop of grain, and 

 who is either at conftant work with fome farmer, or is ' 

 mafler of a trade, has an enviable lot compared with 

 the farmer, whofe half-manured and half-cultivated 

 fields are a conftant fource of difappointment to him- 

 felf, and of lofs to the public. What ftrikes me upon 

 the fubjeft is this, that the induftrious cottager, whether 

 labourer or weaver, is, in his way, as beneficial to the 

 public, and as comfortable to himfelf, as any other de- 

 nomination of peribns, but that every gradation from 

 him to the real farmer, with fome exceptions, is^only 

 a gradation of difficulties. But, whilfl; I have thus 

 dated the moft flriking difadvantages, at leaft in my 

 idea, of fmall farms, it is but fair to mention one cir- 

 cumftance in their favour ; the very great exertions of 

 the occupiers towards raifing a quantity of potatoes 



fufficient 



