170 RURAL ECONOMY OF ENGLAND. 



mulation of people. We shall now see how useful this 

 rise has been, inasmuch as it has stimulated agriculture ; 

 but there is a point where it becomes hurtful, and that is 

 when it reaches a scarcity price. Then the suffering of 

 an important portion of the population reacts upon all 

 the rest, and the whole social machine works distressingly. 

 Under the state of production which we have pointed 

 out, and with a population of twenty-eight millions, the 

 equal distribution of food obtained from agriculture in 

 the three kingdoms gives the following results : 



Meat, 60 kilogrammes per head, 

 Wheat, 1| hectolitres, 

 Barley and oats, 1 hectolitre, 

 Milk, 72 litres, 

 Potatoes, 7 hectolitres, 

 Beer, 1 hectolitre, 



130 Ib. 



bushels. 



16 gallons. 

 16 bushels. 

 22 gallons. 



Total value, 130 francs, according to English prices ; or 105 

 with the reduction of twenty per cent. 



In France, a similar distribution gives : 



Meat, 28 kilogrammes, j 



Fowls and eggs=6 kilogrammes of meat, > 

 Wheat, 2 hectolitres, . . . 5 bushels. 



Rye and other grain, 1 hectolitres, . 4| 



Milk, 30 litres, . . . 7 gallons. 



Potatoes, 3 hectolitres, ... 8^ bushels. 



Vegetables and fruits, value, . . 8 francs. 



Wine, 1 hectolitre, .... 22 gallons. 



Beer and cider, hectolitre, . . 11 



Total value, 105 francs. 



The average alimentation, therefore, is as nearly as pos- 

 sible the same in both countries. The British Isles have 

 the advantage in meat, milk, and potatoes ; which France 

 makes up for in cereals, vegetables, fruits, and quantity 

 as well as quality of beverage. In point of require- 

 ments, the situation of both populations should make it 

 the same ; but, from some cause or other, the English con- 

 sume more than the French. England proper takes to 



