398 On Spade Husbandry. 



However practicable therefore, it may be, in particular si- 

 tuations, and to a moderate extent, to cultivate land with the 

 spade, yet there is much reason to question the policy, of at- 

 tempting to substitute spade husbandry for the plough, in the 

 ordinary routine of agriculture. In populous countries, it is 

 only from the surplus produce of large farms, that the in- 

 habitants of great towns can be supplied with food. But 

 such farms can never be successfully cultivated, nor would 

 the farmer be sufficiently indemnified for his expenses, un- 

 less he had a regular and constant occupation for his stock, 

 which is quite inconsistent with the idea of great manual 

 aid. Above all, where the farm depends on the culture of 

 turnips, (that sure foundation, in the proper soils, of success- 

 ful agriculture), the soil could never be properly prepared 

 for the cultivation of that crop, if carried on to any extent, 

 if it depended upon the spade. 



It has been justly remarked, that cultivation by the spade 

 would give immediate occupation to a great number of per- 

 sons who are now unhappily idle, and would for a time re- 

 lieve the poor's rates ; but that people would soon collect 

 to the spots where employment was found most abundant, 

 and they would necessarily increase in numbers, as the 

 means of living were afforded, so that ultimately, we 

 might be driven to the practices adopted by the Chinese to 

 prevent a redundant population. The object we ought to 

 have in view is, to ascertain, not by what means the great- 

 est possible number of persons can be collected and main- 

 tained, but how their employment can be rendered produc- 

 tive of general benefit, by procuring the greatest amount of 

 disposable produce, at the smallest expense. 



If we wish however, to preserve that invaluable part of 

 our population who are engaged in the pursuits of agriculture ; 

 who are thence exempted from many disorders, which ne- 

 cessarily result from a crowded population ; whose frames, 

 being accustomed to labour, are better enabled to undergo 

 all the hardships of war ; who are personally interested in 

 the preservation of their country from hostile attacks ; and 

 who have no inducement, like those who depend on " the 

 " exportation" of manufactures, to prefer foreign to domestic 

 interest ; we will necessarily give, every aid in our power, 

 to the doctrines above promulgated, for there are no other 

 means, by which the essential benefits which have been al- 

 luded to, can be acquired, but by employing as large a pro* 

 portion of our rural population as circumstances will admit 



