2 On the Size of Farms. 



the latter in particular, it is generally sold by the large farmer, in a 

 fattened state, which is seldom done by the small one. 7. The live 

 stock on large farms, is confessedly of a superior quality, because a 

 large farmer can better afford to purchase the best sorts, and to main- 

 tain them afterwards : the implements of husbandry are likewise of a 

 more improved description, and capable of performing their work in 

 a superior manner. 8. The labour on a large farm can be better subdi- 

 vided than on a small one, by means of which, critical periods may be 

 caught, more strength of labour can be applied to particular parts of 

 the farm when wanted, and the work may be done better, and with 

 more expedition, in an adverse season. 9. The large farmer has full 

 employment, independent of manual labour. He has enough to do in 

 superintending others, instead of working with his own hands ; and 

 if he should employ himself in doing a job at one part of his farm, he 

 would lose more than the value of his own labour, by his servants 

 being either idle, or ill directing their labour, in other places. From 

 thus having full employment, he is not under the necessity of engag- 

 ing in other undertakings, which not only would abstract his atten- 

 tion from his farm, but would often be attended with real loss. 10. 

 A farmer with a large capital, has usually enlarged ideas, which gene- 

 rally expand with the extent of his possessions : he usually receives 

 a superior education, and understands better every branch of his pro- 

 fession : he is able to travel about to obtain useful information, and 

 having more enterprise, and fewer prejudices to subdue, he is more 

 ready to adopt new improvements *. 11. On a large farm, a greater 

 variety of practice can be introduced, such as pasturing a proportion 

 of the farm alternately ; and while the large farmer, may be both dis- 

 posed and enabled to change his intended system, should an unfortu- 

 nate season, or some other incident, render it necessary, the farmer 

 on a limited scale must continue in the trodden path, often in oppo- 

 sition to the true principles of his profession. 12. Large farms are 

 favourable to the improvement of land in an inferior or waste state, 

 The small farmer generally leaves it as he finds it ; whereas, when a 

 great farmer, with a considerable capital, gets such land into his pos- 

 session, on an improving lease, he soon renders the inferior land he 

 occupies, or even the neighbouring waste, nearly as valuable as the 

 old cultivated soil. 13. Large farmers, when they are active, spirited, 

 and intelligent, are the fittest persons to try experiments, and to pro- 

 secute them to the necessary extent ; small farmers cannot afford it, 

 and gentlemen farmers, (though there are exceptions to the rule), sel- 

 dom give such unremitting attention, as is necessary for insuring suc- 

 cess. 14. Many operations on a large farm can be done better, and, 



* There are few branches of natural philosophy, chemistry, natural history, 

 mechanics, &c. which may not be profitably applied to a large farm. To ta':e 

 advantage of these, the occupier ought to be a man of education, and compe- 

 tent to his own progressive scientific improvement, by reading, observation, 

 and intercourse with intelligent men. He may thus be enabled, to discover 

 some new processes, by which his own immediate profit, and the general inte- 

 rest, may both be forwarded. Rigby's Report of the Husbandry nf Holkham, 

 p. 88. 



