200 ROOT MATTERS IN SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS. 



157'6 years, or in the year 2047, there 

 would be one person to every acre 

 of land open to tlie foot of man, 

 supposing that one acre was by 

 some miraculous means sufficient 

 for his support, and that all arctic 

 and tori'id parts of the earth 

 could be made habitable. 



586'16 years, or in the year 2476, 

 there would be one person to 

 every square yard of total land 

 surface on the globe, supposing 

 that by miraculous intervention 

 life could exist under such con- 

 ditions. 



United Kingdom. 

 The natural increase of the population of the United 

 Kingdom in recent years, owing to comparatively low death 

 rate, has been increasing at the rate of 1"4 per cent, per year. 

 The density of population of London is at present about one 

 person to every 90 square yards. 



In 339-9 years— if misery and disease does 

 not increase the death rate — 

 her population would cover the 

 whole land as a vast city with a 

 density equal to the present City 

 of Loudon, 

 157' 7 years this density would be reached 

 under the same conditions, if the 

 death rate was as low as in Aus- 

 tralia at the present time. 

 United States. 

 The present limits of the United States are stated to be 

 about 2,291,855,000 acres, and her present population may be 

 stated at about 57,000,000. Allow that the present average 

 of 2*81 acres per head in cultivation is necessary to supply the 

 wants of each person, and that f ths of her whole area are 

 available for cultivation. Then if her death rate be not raised 

 by misery and disease, the popidation would increase at the 

 rate of 2 per cent., as at present in Australia (i.e., if no pro- 

 vidential influence checks the birth rate), and 



In 119-8 years, or in the year 2009, the limits 

 of available land would be reached, 

 viz., 

 134"4, or in the year 2023, under the same 

 conditions, this limit would be 

 reached, even if it were possible 

 to cultivate every square yard of 

 the whole country. 



