On Breaking up Grass Lands. 
1G5 
of breakinn^ up and paring and burning, which would cost from 
175. to \l. per acre. It does not appear that any speculation of 
this kind would answer the tenant's purpose, unless he were satis- 
fied with obtaining- 15 per cent, for his additional capital. Were 
it my own case, with so many contingencies staring me in the 
face, I should hesitate to break up land exhibiting no better 
prospects. If leave had been given to the tenant to break up, 
without any additional rent, the advantage to him would have 
been 4s. 1 \d. per acre. It often happens, in times of difficulty, 
that a farmer solicits leave to break up, instead of asking for a 
reduction of rent, and the landowner, seeing a means of preserv- 
ing his income undiminished, grants the liberty ; and in this man- 
ner hundreds of acres have been broken up, some with advantage, 
and some where it may be a matter of doubt, and in other cases 
with mischief, from persons taking the opportunity of harassing 
the land previously to leaving it. In cases of the latter kind the 
landowner has to submit to a reduced rent for the first year or 
two of the succeeding tenant's entry, a disadvantage that must not 
be overlooked, and certainly, whatever may be said of restrictions, 
ought to be guarded against, and the privilege not indiscriminately 
allowed to all tenants. On this description of land I have shown 
a very great advantage to the labourer, with a small advantage to 
both landowner and farmer, and, with care and good management, 
similar kinds of land may be broken up ; and if they are benefited 
individually, the community must receive benefits in different ways, 
one or two only of which we need T_ention. The parish in which 
the parties live is benefited by the increase of permanent labour, 
and consequent decrease of poor-rates. The shopkeeper and 
tradesman are benefited by an increased consumption both in 
food and clothing, purchased by the labourer, his means being 
somewhat augmented by constant employment and better wages. 
The manufacturers are benefited by a brisker demand for whole- 
sale goods by the shopkeepers, who supply the labourer. Thus 
all must be benefited ; and, moreover, when the labourer is fully 
employed at fair wages, on which with frugality he can live in 
comparative comfort, he is not found amongst those who increase 
the burthens of the country in the shape of county and police 
rates. 
The disadvantages on very thin soils are exhaustion, unless care 
is observed in their cultivation after they are broken up, since in 
the hands of poor or unscrupulous tenants such lands might be 
r.}ndered all but useless for a long time. 
Near to large towns it would answer to break up hungry sands, 
thin downs, and light lands, which, at a distance from such towns, 
I should recommend to be planted in preference. Lands so 
