10(3 



the farmer* would be Injured, by being driven out of thrir usual course of 

 cropping, and by the forced application of the land to ether produce less 

 uited to the nature of the soil. 



Mr Arthur Young, Secretary to the Board of Agriculture, has stated the 

 quantity of barley grown in England at about 4,800,000 quarters, and cal- 

 culates the quantities used in the distilleries at 300,000, or 1-1 6th of that 

 aipount. He believes, that to withdraw from the market even that small 

 proportion, would have a great effect in lowering the price of the article. 

 He conceives, however, that the depreciation, or the alarm of it, cannot 

 have any effect on the quantity sown this year, but on that sown in the 

 next year ; which effect " would depend entirely on the idea of the puli- 

 ** lie relative to having a different motive this time twelve months, for 

 " repeating the stoppages, from any which operates at present." He 

 thinks that in the event of an abundant harvest, the restriction would 

 prove peculiarly hard upon the farmer, and arrest him in every exertion 

 of his industry. 



Another witness states, that the farmers conceive the distilleries to be z. 

 source of greater influence on the market than they really are. He thinks 

 the proposed suspension would operate as a greater discouragement than it 

 ought, and that the farmer (acting under exaggerated reports) would not 

 jow his usual quantity of barley. 



It is to be observed, however, that the effect of clamour or alarm is, 

 from its nature, but temporary, and would assuredly die away if any equi- 

 valent were found for the privation that caused it ; such an equivalent 

 would be found in the increased demand which would arise from any failure 

 in our usual importation of grain. Moreover, as the quantity sown this 

 year will not be affected by the proposed restriction, and as there u no 

 ground to suppose that a similar measure will take place next year, the 

 very re-opening of the distilleries to the produce of his industry, cannot 

 but do away any evil occasioned by the effect of a temporary alarm on the 

 mind of the farmer. 



It appears that, in the districts peculiarly adapted to barley, that graia 

 pays better than oats, and prepares the ground better for the wheat that 

 usually concludes the course. It is also generally preferred to oats for the 

 purpose of sowing with grass, and is considered as infinitely less exhiust- 

 ing to the soil. It is stated in a part of the evidence, that in the barley 

 districts the number of sheep maintained under the turnip husbandry is 

 greater when barley forms a part of this course, than it could be if oats, 

 or any other grain were substituted for it, as the turnips can be kept on 

 the ground longer if followed by i crop of barley, than if followed by any 

 other spring crop. Spring wheat is not deemed admissible into the course 

 of cropping, and the experiments tried with it are stated to have totally 

 failed. It is admitted by some, that supposing the price of oats to be s 

 raised as to be put in competition with that of barley, such a rise, coupled 

 with the greater quantity of the former produced on, an acre of land, might 

 induce some farmers to have recourse to that crop ; though it seems gene- 

 rally to be considered, that such a course would be inexpedient to be taken 

 n land superiorly calculated for the growth of barley- 

 There is a peculiar circumstance attendant on Norfolk, which, in the 

 estimation of persons connected with that county, would make the propos- 

 ed restriction hear harder on them than on the farmers in any other barley 

 district, namely, the annual export of barley to Scotland} which ie trua- 



