THE HOME MARKET 301 



even such as have been reputed barren, are made by 

 these means (good cultivation, abundant labour, and 

 manure) to exceed the naturally fertile ones in pro- 

 duce. . . . The richness of the land is not, therefore, 

 of so much importance to the cultivator, and, of 

 course, to the nation at large, as a lively, vigorous, 

 and judicious cultivation of it."^ 



Another experienced agriculturist speaks of 1 2 qrs. 

 an acre on well-cultivated land, and adds, " I have 

 known myself 8 qrs. to loqrs."'' In a description of 

 farming in Berkshire, the following appears : " From 

 the averages of parishes in the different districts, it 

 appears that the Vale of the White Horse yields 

 about 4 qrs. an acre ; the best soils 5 qrs. . . . Stam- 

 ford, in the Vale of Kennet, produces about 5 qrs. to 

 the acre." ^ 



In short, it is difficult to find any writer on husbandry 

 who reckoned less than 5 qrs. per acre as the average 

 yield of best-cultivated land before the decay of agri- 

 culture set in. It is therefore not unreasonable to 

 expect that under a system of occupying ownership, 

 with a sufficient bounty on wheat-growing and the 

 consequent good cultivation the average yield would 

 be at least 40 bushels per acre. 



The present writer has recently received a letter 

 from one of the greatest authorities on the subject, 



1 The present writer was visiting a farmer in the south of England a 

 few years ago at harvest time. He remarked on the poorness of the 

 wheat crop, and pointed to a large field in the neighbourhood, the yield 

 of which, in the opinion of competent judges, was at least 50 bushels 

 an acre. The reply was, "That field is the property of a butcher in the 

 village, who spares neither labour nor manure ; he cultivates in a manner 

 that I cannot afford to do." This farmer, about two years afterwards, 

 having lost what capital he had, was obliged to leave the farm. 



2 "Practical Husbandry," John Mills, 1767. 



' "The Agriculture of Berkshire," by WiUiam Mayor, LL.D., 1809. 



