Ch. i. the Increase of Population and Food. 9 



average produce of the island could be doubled 

 in the first twenty-five years, it will be allowing, 

 probably, a greater increase than could with rea- 

 son be expected. 



In the next twenty-five years, it is impossible 

 to suppose that the produce could be quadrupled. 

 It would be contrary to all our knowledge of the 

 properties of land. The improvement of the 

 barren parts would be a work of time and labour; 

 and it must be evident to those who have the 

 slightest acquaintance with agricultural subjects, 

 that in proportion as cultivation extended, the 

 additions that could yearly be made to the former 

 average produce must be gradually and regularly ' 

 diminishing. That we may be the better able to 

 compare the increase of population and food, let 

 us make a supposition, which, without pretending 

 to accuracy, is clearly more favourable to the 

 power of production in the earth, than any expe- 

 rience we have had of its qualities will warrant. 



Let us suppose that the yearly additions which 

 might be made to the former average produce, 

 instead of decreasing, which they certainly would 

 do, were to remain the same ; and that the pro- 

 duce of this island might be increased every 

 twenty-five years, by a quantity equal to what it 

 at present produces. The most enthusiastic spe- 

 culator cannot suppose a greater increase than 

 this. In a few centuries it would make every 

 acre of land in the island like a garden. 



If this supposition be applied to the whole 

 earth, and if it be allowed that the subsistence for 



