I32 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY 



as far as relates to a general anfwer to the common 

 outlines of obfervation on them : but there are 

 other remarks to be made, of great confideration — 

 the fiirft is, as to the effect they have upon fociety 

 at lar^e. Here, I believe, it will be pretty obvious, 

 that if there were none but great farms, the com- 

 mon articles of confumption in every family would 

 be fo diminished, that the middling race of man- 

 kind would not be able to fupply their tables, and 

 the common labourer would be abfolutely ftarved; 

 for there would be no butter, cheefe, pork, eggs, 

 or poultry, to be bought, as great farmers raife no 

 more of thefe articles than they require for their 

 own confumption. At this very time, chiefly, I 

 believe, from the great farmers dropping their 

 dairies, the markets of Yarmouth and Norwich are 

 fo ill fupplied with butter, that it is become a 

 matter of favour to be able to obtain enough for 

 common confumption, notwithftanding the price, 

 within a very few years, is increafed from 8d. to 

 i6d. the pint, weighing 20 oz. And as to pigs, 

 which diminifh of courfe with the dairies, they are 

 now become fo dear, that thofe farmers who want 

 them in lean, to {hack their flubble, cannot buy 

 them under half-a-guinea a ftone [b). 



If great farms only are to be encouraged, xvhich 

 feem to be the aim of fome, huibandmen of fmall 

 capitals, let them be ever fo induftrious, will be 

 effecluallv cut off from the common means of 



raifmg 



