74 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY 



of this fort are to be feen in Leicefterfhirc, Nor- 

 thamptonshire, and other midland counties. This, 

 indeed, has been urged by fome as an argument 

 againft inclofing, as they would infer that it leffens 

 the quantity of arable land too much, and tends to 

 make corn dear ; but the excefs of grazing and 

 ploughing will correct, itfelf. If arable land be laid 

 down, there is a great deal of coarfe old pafture land 

 which may be broken up, the turf of which wants 

 renewing ; and this old grafs land, which could not 

 fo well have been fpared before, is, of all land, that 

 which is mofl adapted to the growth of potatoes, 

 hops, hemp, and flax. The markets will ever re- 

 gulate the proportion of arable and grafs land, bet- 

 ter than any fixed plan that can be fuggefled. 



If we properly confider the benefits refulting to 

 population from inclofing, (though that, as well as 

 the advantages which might be derived from com- 

 mons, has been fuperficially queftioned) it will 

 flrike us with aflonifhment (a). Let the popula- 

 tion of England be compared with what it was fifty 

 years fince, and I prefume it will be found increafed 

 nearly a third. If I were afked the caufe, I fhould 

 fay, that I believe it is chiefly from inclofing ; and 

 my reafoms for it are, that in all places where my 

 obfervation has come, it carries full proof. I have 

 feen the effects in many parts of England; but I 

 ihall fubjoin one ftriking inftance, in this county. 

 The parifh of Felbrigg, belonging to Mr. Wind- 

 ham, 



