BARRA. ECONOMY. 77 



community at large, being seldom at variance. Before 

 quitting this subject, it is however not uninstructive 

 to remark, that although there can be no question re- 

 specting the improvements of waste lands daily making 

 by the new classes of small tenants under separate 

 holdings and securer leases, yet the ultimate value of 

 these improvements appears to have been over-rated by 

 speculative persons. They are generally on too small 

 a scale to be of future advantage when the advance in 

 the state of farming shall cause larger tracts to be 

 occupied. That rough land which from its nature has 

 been necessarily cultivated by the spade, must be 

 thrown into pasturage when more perfect and economical 

 cultivation by the plough shall have been introduced. 

 Under any circumstances but the present crowded popu- 

 lation, and low value of labour* 1 , the cultivation of such 

 land must cease altogether ; and it will cease when labour 

 shall become disposable under capitals less divided ; and 

 when these, directed to more legitimate objects, shall 

 seek for employment in the breaking up of new lands. 

 These small holdings. will therefore be eventually ab- 

 stracted from the permanent mass of improvement, and 

 those writers who consider the present changes as both the 

 commencement and indication of legitimate and effectual 

 improvements have consequently misled themselves. 

 A small addition of improved pasture may remain, but 

 the system is temporary, and so far from being the first 

 stage of general improvement, is merely an amelioration 

 of the old imperfect and imperfectible one. It is evident, 



* It must be remarked, that the low price, or rather value, of labour 

 mentioned here and on other occasions as the result of excessive popu- 

 lation, is virtual only; it is not marketable labour that is meant. 

 On the contrary the price of hired labour in these districts is excessive, 

 or rather, the article is not to be procured. Hence the peculiar state 

 of the kelp manufactory, besides numerous other evils which impede 

 the progress of agricultural improvement. The causes must already have 

 been too obvious to require detail. 



