162 RURAL ECONOMY OF ENGLAND. 



becomes abundant as soon as there is a sufficient market 

 for it. The parts of the country where it is most largely 

 produced with us are those where it is dearest that is 

 to say, most in demand ; it is cheapest in the south, and 

 the south hardly produces any. In 1770 meat sold in 

 England at 3d. per Ib. ; the price now, after all that has 

 been done to increase the production of every kind of 

 cattle, is 6d., or just double. These figures speak volumes. 



With respect to milk, is it surprising that milch cows 

 should be so numerous, when milk sells currently in 

 most parts of England at 2d. or 3d. per quart \ The 

 working classes in England consume a great deal of 

 milk. Near manufacturing towns, the average produce 

 of a milch cow is valued at 20, and it is not uncommon 

 for some to yield as much as 40. Butter, which in 

 1770 sold for 6d. per Ib., now sells for Is., it also has 

 doubled. Put our farmers in a similar position, and see 

 if they will not have as good and as well-kept cows. 

 Look what the proximity of Paris has done for the pro- 

 ducers of Gournay and Isigny. 



The cultivation of wheat in place of rye is another 

 consequence of the same principle. In the districts of 

 France furthest from markets, the suppression of the 

 rye crop is quite impossible ; for, in the first place, the 

 mdtayer must have food. He must be near a market to 

 do otherwise than grow rye, even should the land be 

 unsuitable for cereals and most favourable for other 

 crops, because there must be the opportunity for selling 

 the new produce in order to buy corn. The substitu- 

 tion of wheat for rye presents the same difficulties, for it 

 requires disbursements for lime and other expenses ; and 

 why make the change, if wheat is in little demand, or not 

 wanted at all \ Wherever the demand for wheat is on 

 the increase that is, where there is a population which 



