



50 On the Advantage of 



from so respectable a quarter, it was received with much avidity by 

 the public, and a number of philanthropic characters were induced to 

 try the plan. It was evidently better calculated for a grazing district 

 like Rutlandshire, than for an arable one, where the numerous opera- 

 tions of cultivation are requisite. The system therefore, was never 

 y extended. 



In order to promote so useful a measure! I was induced to draw 

 up a plan for enabling a cottager to keep a cow, on the produce of a 

 small portion of arable land *. It was there stated, that three statute 

 acres and a quarter of good arable landfc worth from 20s. to 30s. per 

 "acre, would be sufficient, and a course of crops was pointed out for 

 the management of this little farm. Such a plan was found might 

 answer where the labourer was peculiarly intelligent and industrious, 

 and pursued what may be called the Field gardening husbandry of 

 Flanders, but could not be adopted as a general system. It has never 

 therefore, been prosecuted to any extent f . 



With every wish to see so important an object accomplished, as 

 that of cottagers being enabled to keep cows, even on arable land, I 

 am much inclined to think, there are so many obstacles to contend 

 with, that it is hardly practicable to carry it on to any great extent. 

 *The difficulty which a poor labourer must experience, in procuring 

 the original price of the cow, the expense of keeping it, the risks 

 to which it is liable, the difficulty that there would be in replacing 

 it, if by any accident it fell ill, or died, the attention it would require 

 to feed it, and the labour that would be necessary to cultivate the 

 extent of land, on the produce of which the maintenance of the cow 

 depends, are all strong objections to the plan, and in many cases, pre- 

 sent obstacles, which it would be hardly possible to surmount. I am 

 therefore of opinion, that on the whole it would be more advisable, to 

 establish a number of parochial dairy farms, in proportion to the size 

 and population of the parish, for the purpose of supplying agricultural 

 labourers J and their families with milk, the substance best calculated 

 for the nourishment of children. The arable parts of the proposed 

 dairy farms, might be cultivated exclusively by the spade, which 

 would give occupation to the labourers. The attention of the la- 

 bourer might thus be directed to his own peculiar occupation, and 

 to the cultivation of a moderate quantity of land, not exceeding one 

 acre, to be employed in raising vegetables for his family. This 

 plan of establishing parochial dairy farms, is perfectly simple and 

 practicable. By the act 59. Geo. III. parishes are authorised to take 

 land for the purpose of letting it to labourers. Let that law be ex- 

 tended, so that parishes may be enabled to take land, " FOR ESTA- 



" BLISHING OF PAROCHIAL DAIRIES, AND EMPLOYING LABOURERS 



riculture, (The Right Honourable Sir John Sinclair, Bart.), on the Advantages 

 of Cottagers renting Land, printed anno 1796. 



* It was contained in a volume of Miscellaneous Essays, printed anno 1 802. 



f On Sir Henry Vavasour's estates in Yorkshire, several cottagers adopted 

 this plan most successfully. 



\ In large parishes small horses might be kept for conveying the milk to the 

 more distant parts of the district. 



