182 Of Corn-Lmvs. Bk. iii. 



allow, on the contrary, what I think we ought to 

 allow according to all general principles, that the 

 bounty, when granted under favourable circum- 

 stances, is really calculated, after going through a 

 period of dearness, to produce the surplus and the 

 cheapness which its advocates promise ;* but 

 according to the same general principles we must 

 allow that this surplus and cheapness, from their 

 operating at once as a check to produce, and an 

 encouragement to population, cannot be for any 

 great length of time maintained. 



The objection then to a bounty on corn, inde- 

 pendently of the objections to bounties in general, 

 is, that when imposed under the most favourable 

 circumstances it cannot produce permanent cheap- 

 ness : and if it be imposed under unfavourable 

 circumstances ; that is, if an attempt be made to 

 force exportation by an adequate bounty at a time 

 when the country does not fully grow its own 

 consumption ; it is obvious not only that the tax 

 necessary for the purpose must be a very heavy 

 one, but that the effect will be absolutely preju- 

 dicial to the population, and the surplus growth 

 will be purchased by a sacrifice very far beyond 

 its worth. 



But notwithstanding the strong objections to 



* As far as the bounty might tend to force the cultivation of 

 poorer land, so far no doubt it would have a tendency to raise the 

 price of corn ; but we know from experience that the rise of price 

 naturally occasioned in this way is continually counteracted by 

 improvements in agriculture. As a matter of fact it must be al- 

 lowed, that, during the period of the last century when corn was 

 falling, more land must have been taken into cultivation. 



