1836.] 



FARM E R S ' REGIS T E R . 



649 



of extensive agricultural operations is more fully 

 realized, and when the produce of the soil can no 

 longer liberally pay the labor of which it is the ob- 

 ject. 



To elucidate i his question, let us see what has 

 taken place hitherto. 



In districts devoted to the greater crops, the di- 

 vision of land has had no sensible effect; every 

 where we find the same extent of agricultural im- 

 provement, and the supplies of cattle, corn, fodder, 

 and wood lor the market have suffered in no way. 



In a very large number of communities oi* which 

 almost the whole territory belonged either to the 

 nobles or to the clergy, those of the inhabitants 

 who were already proprietors have bought as 

 much as suited their convenience, and those who 

 were not proprietors have become so. 



But it is particularly in districts devoted to the 

 lesser crops, that the division ol property takes 

 place; there, almost all the labor is manual. The 

 culture of the vine, and that of tb at kinds 



of pulse, require particular care and intelligent su- 

 perintendence. To this the small proprietor con- 

 secrates all his time; he labors at the best times 

 and the most favorable seasons; he employs the 

 rest of his time in laboring for the public. 



Let us now observe the results of the division of 

 the soil into small estates. 



These results may be considered with reference 

 to three points; the interest of agriculture, the wel- 

 fare of the state, and public morality. 



1. The interest of agriculture. 



When a large proprietor directs his information 

 and his wealth to agricultural improvements, this 

 is without doubt advantageous to agriculture; but 

 these examples are rare. The cultivation of a 

 large domain is usually entrusted to farmers, who 

 follow step by step the received methods, and do 

 not venture to adopt useful changes, because the 

 shortness of their leases does not permit them to 

 hope to reap the benefits of them. It is rare too, 

 that in a very extensive tillage, there is enough of 

 hands, of manure, and of working cattle, to carry 

 cultivation to its perfection. 



It cannot be denied that the first interest of ag- 

 riculture is to produce the greatest possible amount 

 upon a limited extent of soil, and to furnish pro- 

 duce at the lowest price to the consumer; now, in 

 this case, all the advantage is in favor of the small 

 proprietor; he cultivates the soil himself) and brings 

 to his labor all the interest of a proprietor; he la- 

 bors only at the most favorable times, and gives 

 his unoccupied time, for wages, to the work of 

 others; the large proprietor is not at liberty to be 

 thus guided by his convenience, he is hurried along 

 and commanded by time and labor. 



The small proprietor leaves no part of his 

 unoccupied; he cultivates steep banks with pulse: 

 plants potatoes in any vacant space in his yi . 

 yard; the large proprietor neglects all these detail;. 



2. The welfare of the state. 



It is generally admitted, that the large domain-, 

 which have been divided in consequence of the 

 revolution, produce much more than they did; that 

 uncultivated lands, especially in the south, are 

 now covered with noble vineyards; that prosperity 

 has prevailed in the country from the incr 

 the number of proprietors. 



These undeniable facts have produced impor- 

 tant advantages; the increase oi* produce has fur- 

 nished means for the subsistence of a more nume- 



Vol III.— 82 



rous population. Wealth, introduced among the 

 inhabitants of the country, has enabled them to 

 maintain their children, and give them a better 

 education; the consumption of produce of all kinds 

 has increased, and agriculture and manufactures 

 have found larger markets for their products. 



So long as twelve years ago (I write in 1826,) 

 the amount of taxable quotas in the land-tax, was 

 ten millions four hundred and fourteen thousand one 

 hundred and twenty-one, according to the last lists 

 furnished by the Duke de Gaeta. The taxable 

 quotas under 500 francs amounted to nine millions 

 nine hundred and fifteen thousand. Since that 

 time the number of quotas has increased, and par- 

 ticular!)- the smaller ones. And never has the 

 land-tax been more regularly paid. 



Another advantage resulting to the state from 

 the division of property, has been that of render- 

 ing changes more frequent, a natural result of the 

 increased number of proprietors; these changes, as 

 they become more numerous, bring much more 

 money into the treasury. 



According to the very exact verification made 

 for five years by the department of indirect taxa- 

 tion, there were produced on an average, at. the 

 commencement of the century, thirty-five millions 

 and six hundred thousand hectolitres* of wine: 

 this amount has remarkably increased since that 

 time, not only because the vine has continued to 

 be planted, but because the culture of it has been 

 improved; the case is almost the same as to all the 

 produce of the soil. It cannot be denied that this 

 increase of production is the result of the division 

 of the soil into small farms. I have been for some 

 lime the proprietor of a pretty extensive vineyard, 

 which 1 carefully cultivate, and I have constantly 

 observed, that the small proprietors who worked 

 for me raised at least double from an equal extent 

 of land belonging to them; my produce, in truth, 

 was of a little superior quality; but, at the market 

 price, the quantity more than compensated for this 

 difference in quality. 



3. Public morality. 



But it is particularly as it respects public morals 

 that the increase of the number of small proprie- 

 tors is advantageous. To be convinced of this, 

 we need only compare the condition of the man 

 possessing no propetry, with that of the possessor 

 of property, however limited in extent. 



The laborer without property is retained only by 

 habit in the place of his birth; his two hands are 

 his only property, and he places them at the dispo- 

 sal of him wdio pays best; he is entirely dependent 

 upon the work he finds about him, and when em- 

 ployment fails, he changes without regret his 

 place of abode, to seek it elsewhere. The institu- 

 tions, of his country are indifferent to him, because 

 lie takes no part in public affairs; he feels no inte- 

 rest in the preservation of order, because a state of 

 disorder presents to him more favorable opportuni- 

 ties. Almost always discontented with his situa- 

 tion, he becomes restless, jealous, miserable; he 

 accuses God and man, and seeks every opportuni- 

 ty which offers ol rendering it better. Troubles, 

 insurrections, robberies, assassinations are frequent 

 er (here are many laborers without proper- 

 ty an I few proprietors; and governments are forced 

 to establish enormous poor-rates, as in England, 



* See note, page 131. 



