90 On the Reduction of Horse Labour by single Carts. 



however^ prepared to say how far necessity may not stimulate in- 

 vention so to economise our tillage management as to do away 

 with the need of the expedient I suggest. Both duty and interest 

 should gradually lead us to avoid wasting our horse-power by 

 implements of defective principle^ or extravagant dimensions ; and 

 while we improve the old^ to satisfy ourselves that the new ones 

 are calculated, not only to expedite but to simplify the old prac- 

 tice ; and above all, that they do not demand a number of 

 horses. A farm is not like a factory, concentrating its power 

 unvaryingly at one spot on one object, but its operations are 

 multifarious and scattered^ and have frequently to be carried 

 on at many points at the same moment. Large implements, 

 therefore, are opposed to the reduction of horse labour ; and I 

 am disposed to look doubtingly on all that require more than 

 two or three horses. And I think the nearer we can bring 

 them within the powers of one the better; for I believe this 

 to be the secret of performing our present labour with a smaller 

 power. And our prejudices in favour of profuse horse labour 

 must gradually give way before the wants of an increasing popu- 

 lation. The food will be required, and the labour also. I feel 

 a greater zeal in advocating the one-horse system, because I 

 consider it a boon to the agricultural labourer ; for it is more than 

 probable that the greater part of the capital abstracted from the 

 purchase and keep of horses would find its way to him in the 

 form of additional employment. 



The saving to the farmer is in the purchase of fewer horses 

 and perhaps of less costly implements in the stocking of his farm ; 

 and all the keep, wear, and other expenses annually attendant 

 upon the number of horses, that he may be able to reduce by im- 

 proving upon the present system. The gain he may possibly 

 spend upon himself, but the greater probability is that he will 

 spend it on the cultivation of his farm. 



I have no statistics by me which show the number of acres 

 under cultivation in this kingdom, the number of horses employed 

 in agriculture, &c., but the data which I have supplied may, by 

 the aid of such references, be made to show in what round sum 

 our national resources may be economised by greater frugality in 

 the employment of horses. The saving in my individual instance, 

 reckoning the yearly keep, the wear, and all other expenses inci- 

 dental to a horse at 30 Z., and my reduction being seven fifteenths, 

 is about 56/. per 100 acres per annum, which puts it in my power 

 to obtain the work of at least one additional good labourer and his 

 family to that same quantity of land. If five men be the average 

 allowance to every such 100 acres of arable land, there exist then 

 in the reduction of the present system of horse labour ample 

 means for the employment of an increase of one-fifth in the present 



