84 REPORT 1841. 



that ill abumlant seasons the county produced a surplus of corn for exportation ; 

 from Camden and Norden, who mention that corn is produced in competent abun- 

 dance. Blome, who wrote in the reign of Charles 11., states that the county was 

 more inclined to sterility than fertilit)', but that the manuring of the ground with 

 sand enabled the industrious to raise good corn. Borlase, who wrote in 1756, as- 

 serts that agriculture had not increased in proportion to the population, and that the 

 county was beginning to import corn. Fraser, who wrote in 1794, complains that 

 agriculture was neglected, and that, if more attention were paid to it, the county 

 would support more than its existing population. Mr. Morgan, in 1808, describes 

 agriculture as having greatly improved since Fraser's time. The number of inhabit- 

 ants in successive ages can scarcely be obtained. Lysons refers to a poll-tax in 

 the reign of Edward III. (1377), and thence calculates the population of the county 

 at 34,960 persons. The number in 1700 is stated by Marshall at 105,800. From 

 Finlaison's returns Sir C. Lemon calculated, that in 1760 the number was 137,000. 

 By the census of 1801 the population was 188,269. And from these data was framed 

 a table of the population which probably was fed by the agriculture of the county, 



previous to 1794, t . 



•^ J ncrease per cent. 



Years. ' Population. of agricultural produce. 



1683 69,900 



1^33! 105,800 • 51 



1756 135,000 28 



1794 171,000 26i 



The whole period 144. per cent. 

 Such appears to have been the progress of agriculture during the 200 years previous 

 to Fraser's report. The present population is about 345,000, dependent on agricul- 

 ture, fisheries, and corn imported by the coasting trade for subsistence. From the 

 returns collected it appears that there is an annual deficiency of grain equal in effect 

 to 52,786 quarters of wheat. Against this is to be set an export of 11,690 cwt. of 

 potatoes, valued at 58451., and equivalent to 2050 quarters of wheat at 57s. per 

 quarter. No accurate information could be obtained respecting the cattle which cross 

 the borders to and from Devonshire, but from a comparison of various accounts, the 

 following maybe taken as an approximation to their amount and value : — 



Exported.— Lean cattle, 3500, at 10/. per head £35,000 



Cattle for the butcher, 1200, at 15/. per head ... J8,000 



53,000 

 Imported.— Cows, &c. fat, 900, at 12/. per head 10,800 



£42,200 

 This balance also should be carried to the credit of the agriculture of the county, 

 and is equal in value to 14,807 quarters of wheat at 57s. 



ITie supplies to the shipping may be worth 5000 quarters more ; the whole together 

 making a set off of 21,857 quarters of wheat to be deducted from the deficiency stated 

 above, and leaving finally a deficiency of agricultural produce necessary for the con- 

 sumption of the county, equal to 30,929 quarters of wheat. The value of this quantity 

 in money is about 88,147/. ; and this sum must be annually expended out of the other 

 exports of the county to the parties supplying it with corn. These exports may be 

 estimated as follows : — 



Copper ore, averages of 1838 and 1839 £862,527 



Tin sold by ticketings 215,895 



Do. by private contract 71,965 



Lead 13,680 



Silver 14,777 



Iron 16,108 



Arsenic 2,834 



Granite 8,667 



China-clay 35,160 



Sulphur, slate, &c., no return. 



Pilchards and other fish 28,385 



