296 Mr. William Pitt on the Proditdion and 



In the present state of this country, the means of increasing human sustenance 

 are various and extensive ; the territory is so far from being exhausted, that it is 

 not yet occupied ; and the necessity of employing increased attention, and greater 

 capital, in an extended and improved agricultural economy, will constantly become 

 more pressing. 



The waste lands of the kingdom, consisting of upwards of six millions of acres 

 offer themselves as a natural resource ; of these four millions at least are capable 

 of cultivation ; these should gradually and speedily be resorted to, and inclosed, 

 improved, and cultivated ; and the impracticable parts should be planted. This 

 addition of land would very much extend our productive territory, and as it must 

 be cultivated for tillage, would be a timely and desirable addition to our corn 

 land. 



Mr. Malthus ohserves, that " in any instance where a certain quantity of 

 dressing and labour employed to bring new land into cultivation, would have 

 yielded a permanently greater produce, if employed upon old land ; both the in- 

 dividual and the nation are losers, by cultivating the new land." 



In answer to this I must observe, that new land ought not to be improved at 

 the expence or by neglect of the old, but in addition to it ; and from new 

 resources ; as by marl, lime, and agricultural operations ; and by degrees by dung 

 and compost, made by live stock, from its own produce ; and not from manure 

 produced by land before in cultivation ; the labour and capital employed, ought 

 also to be in addition. 



The improvement of all land already in cultivation ought also to go hand in 

 hand with the former ; and our best land will perhaps often pay and produce more 

 for attention and improvement, than that of inferior quality. 



Mr. Maithus observes upon this point, " in countries possessed of a large 

 territory, and with considerable quantity of land of a middling quality, the attempt 

 to cultivate barren spots, and bestowing that manure and labour upon them, that 

 would answer better elsewhere, is a palpable waste both of individual and national 

 resources ; especially as there must be a waste of seed corn." 



To this I answer as before, that the improvement of inferior land, ought not to 

 be at the expence of, or to interfere with, that of better land ; but ought to be 

 brought in addition ; and improved from sources independant of such better land, 

 by mineral produce, agricultural processes, and the dung and compost formed by 



