TIREY. AGRICULTURE. 39 



increase of this kind of improvement, they must be sought 

 for, not in want either of knowledge of the means or of 

 conviction of their efficacy, but in those circumstances in 

 the condition of the people, the deficiency of capital, the 

 smallness of the possessions, and the want of secure 

 leases, which in every situation must be impediments to 

 improvement. The introduction of the potatoe system has, 

 even in the hands of the smallest tenants, led to the im- 

 provement of much peat land, as I already remarked, for 

 here the reward immediately follows the labour ; while the 

 means, as far as to the extent yet tried, are in the hands of 

 every one. He who has made the first step has overcome 

 his inertia, and will easily be induced to make a second if 

 he has the means to make it, and a continuation of the sti- 

 mulus is held out to him. Much has been already effected 

 in favour of the Highland tenant by the division of farms, 

 which has for the first time given him an interest in his 

 possessions, and has also served to demonstrate to him 

 how much his prosperity is connected with his industry. 

 Under the crofting system much land will yet be re- 

 claimed; but it is plain that nothing short of a greater 

 capital, larger possessions, and longer security, can do 

 much for the lands that are yet in a state of nature. 

 These are the leading wants of the system. It must be 

 added, that there is an obvious want of industry in the 

 character of the small Highland tenants, although much 

 paradoxical and contradictory matter has been brought for- 

 ward on this subject, by contrasting their apparent indo- 

 lence, their neglect of the most simple and obvious improve- 

 ments of their comforts and of their condition, with the 

 activity and perseverance which they occasionally show in 

 other pursuits. As an excuse it may indeed be admitted 

 that there can be no exertion without a motive, no industry 

 without a good to be obtained, or an evil to be shunned. 

 A great part of the indolence of the inhabitants is the con- 

 sequence of a positive want of occupation ; much more of it 

 arises from the absence of wants, from contentment with their 



