Consimption of Corn in Great Britain, &c. 3»9 



plan, if fruit trees were grown upon these small occupations sufficient to supply 

 fruit liquor for their consumption, as interfering little with the other products of the 

 • land. \ 



If some such plan were brought about, by the active benevolence of those in 

 higher or middle Ufe, I cannot doubt but that the condition of the labourer would 

 be ameliorated, and society in general would feel the advantage of such encoura- 

 gement given to them. Mr. Malthus observes, " what promotes habits of industry, 

 prudence, foresight, virtue and cleanliness amongst the poor, is beneficial to them 

 and to the country, and vice versa." ^ 



CHAPTER IX. 



Probable Population upon an Improved and extended Cultivation; productive 



agricultural Systems proposed. 



As the average produce of our wheat lands are at present, notwithstanding fallows, 

 certainly too low, I can make no doubt but that with the increase of green crops, 

 live stock and manure, their produce may certainly be increased, and it will not be 

 unreasonable to suppose that this may soon be brought to 25 bushels per acre ; 

 over and above the seed, which would supply bread from an acre for 5 persons 

 instead of 4, as at present. 



Barley for beverage, I will suppose as at present, 4 bushels per annum to each 

 individual, and 4 quarters per acre produce, then each acre will upon the average 

 supply eight persons. 



Potatoes and wheat alternately ; as potatoes will afford more animal food per 

 acre in pork or bacon, than can be obtained from grass land, or in any other 

 method now in practice ; this system should be extended ; an acre of potatoes will 

 supply animal food for a year to four persons, besides an overplus to be eaten as 

 vegetable food. 



As all our permanent grass land ought to be improvedj to a state or staple 

 capable of produciug at least a ton of hay per acre (which indeed is no great 

 produce, as two tons per acre is I believe common, and three tons per acre 

 talked off, from good meadows) where grass land cannot be brought to produce at 

 least one ton, it ought to be brought into cultivation for corn. We may reckoa an 



