26 AGRICULTURE ON THE RHINE. 



They retain the privilege of following the natural 

 demand that infallibly follows the growth of population, 

 and they turn their position to good account. The high 

 prices paid for land are in some degree to be ascribed to 

 the want of good investments in other occupations. The 

 manufactures that are so sedulously protected by the high 

 import duties, do not furnish enough in quantity to sa- 

 tisfy the consumer, nor do their profits attract capital 

 from the land. On the other hand, the only article of 

 agriculture that is protected b}- a high duty, cheese, does 

 not need this help, which perhaps in many places ope- 

 rates to the disadvantage of whole districts by inducing 

 the farmers to neglect the growth of flax. Foreign 

 cheese pays an import duty of 12s. per cwt. Flax is 

 only taxed at 6d. per cwt., and although perhaps not 

 more profitable for the grower than cheese, yet affords 

 more employment to the labouring class. 



