228 CHYMISTRY APPLIED TO AGRICULTURE. 



According to the very exact verification made for five 

 years by the department of indirect taxation, there were 

 produced on an average, at the commencement of the cen- 

 tury, thirty-five millions and six hundred thousand hecto- 

 litres* of wine : this amount has remarkably increased since 

 that time, not only because the vine has continued to be 

 planted, but because the culture of it has been improved : 

 the case is almost the same as to all the produce of the 

 soil. It cannot be denied that this increase of production is 

 the result of the division of the soil into small farms. I 

 have been for some time the proprietor of a pretty extensive 

 vineyard, which I carefully cultivate, and I have constantly 

 observed, that the small proprietors who worked for me 

 raised at least double from an equal extent of land belong- 

 ing to them ; my produce, in truth, was of a little superior 

 quality ; but, at the market price, the quantity more than 

 compensated for this difference in quality. 



3. Public morality. 



But it is particularly as it respects public morals that the 

 increase of the number of small proprietory is advantageous. 

 To be convinced of this, we need only compare the condi- 

 tion of the man possessing no property, with that of the pos- 

 sessor of property, however limited in extent. 



The laborer without property is retained only by habit 

 in the place of his birth ; his two hands are his only prop- 

 erty, and he places them at the disposal of him who pays 

 best ; he is entirely dependent upon the work he finds 

 about him, and when employment fails, he changes with- 

 out regret his place of abode, to seek it elsewhere. The 

 institutions of his country are indifferent to him, because 

 he takes no part in public affairs ; he feels no interest in 

 the preservation of order, because a state of disorder pre- 

 sents to him more favorable opportunities. Almost always 

 discontented with his situation, he becomes restless, jeal- 

 ous, miserable ; he accuses God and man, and seeks every 

 opportunity which offers of rendering it better. Troubles, 

 insurrections, robberies, assassinations are frequent wher- 

 ever there are many laborers without property and few 

 proprietors ; and governments are forced to establish 

 enormous poor-rates^ as in England, or to supply the poor 

 with food at the gates of convents or chateaux, as in 

 Spain. 



* See note, page 131. 



