CoHsumpiion of Corn in Great Britain. 297 



animals upon its own produce ; in which case^ it must always be both a public and 

 a private improvement. 



The improvement of our cultivated land is now, doubtless, progressively going 

 forward in regular gradation, and will accelerate as the demand for its produce 

 increases. Mr. Malthus observes upon this, that " in an endeavour to increase the 

 absolute quantity of provisions, we shall find, that as fast as we do this, the number 

 of consumers will more than keep pace with it;" but farther, " we are not (on this 

 account) to relax our efforts in increasing the quantity of provisions." By no means; 

 as the strength and comparative consequence of every state must depend, in the first 

 instance, on the number of its inhabitants; and that will depend on their means 

 of subsistence. The necessity of attention to agriculture should be more generally 

 inculcated, or will by degrees force itself more upon the attention of people of 

 talents, education, and capital, who are capable, and have the means, of making 

 the greatest efforts in improvement. 



CHAPTER VI. 



Improved Agricultural and Gracing Systems; Fallow Crops; feeding heavy 

 Stock within Doors; Oxen and Horses; Tythes ; Corn Laws; Bounty on 

 Exportation ; storing Corn, Public Granaries ; Leases. 



Although our system of agriculture has been already greatly improved from 

 former times, yet it still remains very defective, and capable of much farther im- 

 provement. It is much lamented by many friends to agriculture, that we have still 

 so great an extent of fallow ground, and that often upon our best and most fertile 

 soils; and although the writer of this has some doubts whether fallows can be 

 wholly banished at present with advantage from our strong, wet, and tenacious 

 soils, or until they are more completely drained and ameliorated, yet he has not 

 the least doubt but they may be very much reduced in compass, and that very 

 much both to private and the public advantage. 



The extent of fallow ground throughout the kingdom is very great ; it is difficult 

 10 form any probable estimate ; but if we suppose it to approach nearly to half the 

 growth of wheat, it will amount to near a million of acres. 



VOL. V. O q 



