Ch. ii. Of Systems of Equality . Godwin. 25 



that we do not go beyond the truth, we will only 

 suppose the period of doubling to be twenty-five 

 years; a ratio of increase, which is slower than is 

 known to have taken place throughout all the 

 United States of America. 



There can be little doubt that the equalization 

 of property which we have supposed, added to 

 the circumstance of the labour of the whole com- 

 munity being directed chiefly to agriculture, would 

 tend greatly to augment the produce of the country. 

 But to answer the demands of a population in- 

 creasing so rapidly, Mr. Godwin's calculation of 

 half an hour a day would certainly not be sufficient. 

 It is probable that the half of every man's time 

 must be employed for this purpose. Yet with 

 such or much greater exertions, a person who is 

 acquainted with the nature of the soil in this coun- - 

 try, and who reflects on the fertility of the lands 

 already in cultivation, and the barrenness of those 

 that are not cultivated, will be very much disposed 

 to doubt, whether the whole average produce 

 could possibly be doubled in twenty-five years 

 from the present period. The only chance of 

 success would be from the ploughing up of most 

 of the grazing countries, and putting an end almost 

 entirely to animal food. Yet this scheme would 

 probably defeat itself. The soil of England will 

 not produce much without dressing; and cattle 

 seem to be necessary to make that species of ma- 

 nure, which best suits the land. 



Difficult however as it might be to double the 

 average produce of the island in twenty-five years, 

 let us suppose it effected. At the expiration of 



