146 Rents, Wages, and Profits in Agriculture 



abandonment of the soil," and he 

 shows how ill - founded the opinion 



was. 



We may, however, go further back for 

 illustrations from the history of England 

 of the disproportionate growth of the 

 towns at the expense of the country. For 

 centuries the growth of London was 

 regarded with alarm, and we have com- 

 plaints of overcrowding of dwellings and 

 want of employment, whilst at the same 

 time it is said that the country districts 

 were suffering from want of labour, and the 

 country towns going to decay. As early 

 as 1580 Elizabeth issued a proclamation 

 in regard to the overcrowding of London 

 houses, and all manner of persons were 

 commanded to desist from building any 

 new house or tenement in London itself 

 or within three miles of the city gates ; 

 people were forbidden to sublet their 



