THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CAUSES OF THE HIGH PRICE OP GRAIN, AND OTHER ARTICLES OF" PROVISION, CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CAUSES OF THI H I G H PRICE or GRAIN, AND OTHER ARTICLES OF PROVISION, FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS BACK j AND PROPOSITIONS FOR REDUCING THEM: WITH OCCASIONAL REMARKS. BY CATHARINE PHILLIPS. Uon&on: PRINTED AND SOLD BY CEORCE YARD, LOMBARD STREET. 2.54,5 INTRODUCTION. When aftive minds are confined in de- crepid bodies, they naturally " mufe on many things." This is my cafe ; and a- mongft others, the high prices which pro- vinoris have borne for a feries of years, have engaged my attention, and induced me to throw together fome remarks on that fub- jecT:. I fhall not infill upon the failure of crops as the fole caufe of the dearnefs of grain, although it mult be allowed that Providence has not latterly (in the gene- ral ), blefled this fertile ifland with fuch plentiful crops as in former years, notwith- ftanding fome parts of it may have been A INTRODUCTION. very fruitful. But many other caufes, fome whereof have not been noticed to the publick, have concurred to advance the prices of provifions ; and, unlefs they are wifely attended to and obviated, will con- tinue fo to do, and render ineffectual the efforts of government, fufficiently and per- manently to reduce them. It muft how- ever be obvious to every one who duly confiders this fubjecl;, that unlefs a remedy is applied to this increafing evil, the confe- quence to this flourifhing nation muft be diftrefs and ruin : for if the price of labour is not proportionably advanced, the poor, who till our lands, and fupport our manu- factories, cannot live, and will certainly migrate to thofe countries wherein they can enjoy liberty, and procure a comforta- ble fubfiflence. The ports of the fouthern colonies in North America, are not fhut againft Bri- tifh emigrants, fince their feparation from the Englilh government ; on the contrary fuch are gladly received, and our lower INTRODUCTION. ill clafs of farmers are powerfully allured thereto by the hope of procuring, upon eafy terms, fmall farms, (which they can- not at any rate get at home) lefs burthened with taxes; and the poor labourers and ar- tificers, by the profpect of employment, with better wages than they can have, or indeed than the mafter manufacturers can afford to give, in this nation. For if the wages of the manufacturing labourers are much advanced, the prices of goods expor- ted muft alfo be advanced, and of courfe a preference is not likely long to be given to them in foreign markets. Let our poor be well fed and clothed here, and they will not be fo ready to leave the temperate cli- mate of their native land, and their near connexions therein, to dwell amongft ftran- gers, and encounter difficulties whereto they have not been accuftomed. But what will not a man endure for bread, who wants it for himfelf and his children ? While the poor can be furnifhed with food and employment at home, it is certainly found A 4 ir INTRODUCTION. policy to keep them there. Under thefc confiderations, whatever may be ferioufly advanced which may promife the reduc- tion of the prices of provifions, claims the attention of the publick, and particularly of thofe, whofe influence and endeavours may in any wife tend to avert the before-men- tioned to be dreaded confequences. I there- fore hope the enfuing remarks will obtain a candid perufal by fome, although drop- ped from the pen of a decrepid old woman. If any article mentioned mould appear of too littJe confequence to be infifted up- on, let the old Englifh proverb have its due weight, viz. " many littles make a mickle." For if the many extravagant little things which tend to enhance the prices of th neceffary articles for meat and drink were fupprefTed, I am perfuaded that more be- nefit would arife from fuch a wife reform- ation than is generally conceived. Neither in pointing out fome of them, nor in any INTRODUCTION. other of the fubfequent remarks, have I defigned to offend by exprefling my fenti- ments freely : my only view in publifhing grievances, by making thofe concerned in them, is to be inftrumental in the redrefs of them, or who may in any way be helpful in removing them, feel, while they read, plain truths exhibited in a plain drefs; fome of which are the refult of obfervations long fince made, A 3 CONSIDERATIONS, &c. CHAP. I. ON THI CAUSES OF THE DEARNESS OF PROVISIONS. As I am defirous that the great difpropor- tion which the prices of the neceflary arti- cles of life have, of late years, borne to thofe of former times, may be traced to the foun- dation, I have in the following obfervations gone as far back as the memorable year 1756, when a promifing crop of grain was fo fpoiled by a very bad harveft, that, from a ftate of plenty, this nation was in a few months reduced to very great fcarcity. . 1. As I write merely from memory, I dare not certainly fay what price wheat was advanced to before the next harveft, but think in fome parts of the nation tQ near J ox. per bulhel ; but this I well know A 4 2 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CAUSES that the poor were fo grievoufly diftrefTed, that almoft any thing which appeared likely to afford nourifhment, went down: horfe- beans were an acceptable morfel; even grains were faid to have been eaten ; and but for the large fupply of wheat &c. from America, probably very many would have perifhed for want ; as the neighbouring na- tions had fuffered with ours, by the prodi- gious and long-continued rains. The very afflicting confequence of this one bad harveft, evinced the propriety of publick granaries, in order that this nation might be regularly fupplied with grain at a moderate price. This meafure was then talked of, but probably miftaken appre- henfions that the landed intereft might fuf- fer, prevented its being carried into exe- cution. Since that time of extreme fcarcity, I think the prices of grain have not, in the general, been fo low as in former years, and other provifions have certainly been gradually OF THE HIGH PRICE OF PROVISIONS. J x ^^ advancing. Many of the wealthier farmers having flocks of grain before this great ad- vance in the prices, fo tailed of the fweets of it, that they could bear the lofs of one year's crop. But little farmers were greatly injured, and probably not a few entirely crufhed by it. Some humane landlords remitted a part of their tenant's rents, but perhaps others were pleafed with an op- portunity of annexing their fmall farms to larger ones : and as this practice has increa- sed, the holders of large farms have been more able to keep up the prices of provi- fions above their former ftandard, however plenteous the harveft may have been. If they can neither vend at home nor at fo- reign markets to advantage, many of them are rich enough to bear flock until ano- ther rife in the prices will pay good in- tereft. Soon after the before-mentioned period, great complaints circulated amongft the fe- veral ranks of the people, and there were riots in many places, on account of the 4 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CAUSE8 continued high prices of provifions. For although the poor and meaner clafs fuffer- ed, the farmers, &c. grew rich; which was fo obvious from their different manner of living and appearance, that it was eafy to foretel that their avaricious and imprudent conduct would produce an advance in the rents of eftates, which accordingly enfued. As the leafes of large farms dropped in, new leafes were let upon a very considera- ble advance; and many or moft fuch fmall ones as were continued^ were proportion- ably raifed: but the number of fmall farms decreafed faft, to the great injury of the lower clafs of hufbandmen; many of whom upon a little farm, by breeding up their families to labour, could, with good econo- my, maintain them reputably, and bring- ing their little produce to the market, ten- ded to keep down the prices, by rilling them with various articles of provifion. . 2. Now the foundation for perpetu- OF THE HIGH PRICE OF PROVISIONS. 5 ^ ^^tm ^ ^ ating the much advanced prices of almoft every neceffary article for food, &c. was laid. Rents were much advanced ; farmers lived more genteely, and probably confu- med greater quantities of many articles of provifions with which the holders of fmal- ler farms conftantly fupplied our markets, as butter, poultry, pigs, &c. &c. confe- quently the produce from the lands muft rife anfwerably to the landlord's and te- nant's demands. Ae the land-holder had fo generally rai- fed the prices of all kinds of the produce of the lands, landlords could not be juftly blamed for advancing their rents mode- rately, as their expenditure muft confe- quently be greater. Alas ! what a forrow- ful change in this nation fince the diftref- fed year 1756. Houfe-keeping to the rich and middling claffes of people, (even without extravagance) is upwards of a third more expenfive than it was before that period. As to the poor labourers, and working manufacturers, they can fpend 6 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CAUSES * i i m ' but their little all ; but how miferably do many of them who have families live and appear now, to what they did formerly! The prices of feveral articles of clothing, as well as the various articles of food, are much advanced : but are the poor labour- ers and artificers wages advanced propor- tionally ? In many inftances it is fo noto- rioufly the reverfe, that the neceflaries of life cannot now be purchafed by many good economifts of this clafs. Bread, in fome counties barley or oat bread y and po~ iatoes^ are nearly all a great number of the poor have to fubfift on, and many have not enough of that low fare to fatisfy their hunger ; whilft their patched and tat-> tered clothing, and, almoft entire naked- nefs of many, efpecially children, abun^ dantly demonstrate the extreme poverty of a very valuable part of the inhabitants of a, nation glorying in its profperity and riches^ . 3. Very few poor labourers, &c, can now fpare fo much money from their fcanty weekly earnings, as to buy a little maltj OF THE HIGH PRICE OF PROVISIONS. *j confequently their general liquor, in their families, is water ; or, if nature fometimes craves and is indulged with fomething ftronger, by fuch as labour hard, it is pur- chafed at a dear rate from or at publick- houfes.-f* It was formerly the common cuftom of the wives of labourers and arti- ficers to purchafe, on market days, two or three gallons of malt, which would per* haps brew tolerable good table beer for the week ; but the increafed duty, and the ad- vanced price of barley, now generally ren- der this impracticable. Here it may be acknowledged, that there is too much oc- cafion for a remark, that notwithstanding their poverty, many of the labourers, &c. fpend much of their time and money f Perhaps it would not be amifs to confider whether th* prefent high duty on malt for home ufe, be not both op- preffive and impolitick. Oppreflive, it certainly is to throw fo heavy a load of tax on the fhoulders of the labouring poor; and it feems equally impolitick to adopt any fyftem of finance which tends in its operation, as this unqueftionably does, to decreafe the quantity of labour, by driving the men to the ale-houfe, and- of courfe to leffen the export of our manufacture*. 8 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CAUSES in publick-houfes ; but admitting that " the " wicked will do wickedly, " and- add, " drunkennefs to their thirft," of ftrong li- quors, although their families may be in a ftarving condition ; is that a reafon againft the wants and miferies of the induftrious virtuous poor being deeply pondered, and every proper rational effort made to allevi- ate their diftrefTes ? The labouring man who now wants a mug of malt liquor, has this excufe for going to drink it in a public-houfe, ' I cannot afford to keep it * for my family, and if I drink it at home * it is very painful to me to with-hold a * fhare of it from my wife,' &c. and thus perhaps many more are introduced to fit- ting in public-houfes, and become more habituated to drinking, than would be the cafe, could they have beer of a middling ftrength in their own. But to return to my fubjedt. . 4. Except in counties where it is very poor, and therefore fold at a low price, cheefe can now fcarcely be tafted by the Or THE HICH PRICE OF PROVISIONS. 9 poor, although it was a principal article of their food within the time I have men* tioned. J At this period, wheat was from three millings to three millings and (ix pence ; barley, eighteen pence to two and twenty, fome lower than either ; malt, two millings and fix-pence. I have known good new milk cheefe bought from 1 2 to 14/ per Cwt. and it was commonly fold in the huckfters fhops for {e\en farthings or two pence per lb. ; now it is more than double, and fome forts more than treble that price, retail. Butchers meat upon an average, is nearly, (if not quite) double its former price ; the poor may look at it and figh for it in the markets, but very little of it muft fall to the fhare of many of them. I know what I fay, when I affert, that unlefs it be given them, fome, and I fear many^ do not tafte a morfel of butch- % As my family was pretty largely engaged in bufinef* with the farmers, and I had fometimes to lend fome affif- tance therein, I can be the more particular on thefe arti- cles. My account of prices is from near the centre of the nation. I& CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CAUSES ^ iitf er's meat for many months; yet thefe arc the poor of rich England ! In what other nation mail we find more miferable? If the poor are confidered as the feet of a nation, fupporting its weight, every wife government will attend minutely to their eafe and fupport, confiftently with the ftate wherein Providence has placed them ; and, while by falutary laws, well executed, it reftrains them from, or punifhes them for, vice in its varied forms, will endeavour alfo that they fhall be placed in a capacity to fupply their own wants. In whatever flate this found policy is wanting, it muft be allowed to be alfo deficient in wifdom and humanity, as well as in chriftianity. This unexpected remark naturally leads to fome others which I am about to make, refpecting the caufes of the high prices of provifions, and I wifh it may make way for their cordial reception. . 5. Beer and porter are alfo expor- ted in much greater quantities than here* OF THE HIGH PRICE OF PROVISIONS. IX tofore, which mull tend to advance the price of grain ; very many horfes are alfo exported ; and in fhort every thing which fubfifts by, or grows upon, the land, if it can find a better market in foreign countries, is fent out of this, except fuch articles as are prohibited by government, and even thofe are fmuggled away. If by act of Parliament to reftrain the ex- portation of provifions, the prices at home are much reduced, fuch acts muft go far- ther than grain. It feems a fhort-fighted policy to fet limitations to the export of corn, with a view to keep down the prices of provifions, and to leave all other articles at difcretion. The operation of fuch ref- trictions is partial, and they are eafily eva- ded by the land-holder. If the exportation of corn is prohibited, he will confider what is not, and will naturally turn his at- tention to the cultivation of fuch articles as he can at all times fell for exportation. To this probably it may be objected., the landed Interejl will fuffer too much by B 12 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CAUSE* * iii ii fuch general reftri&ions. But I think this objection wants weight; for if, by reducing the prices of provifions, the land-lord's expenfes in houfe-keeping are reduced, he may bear a reduction in the rents of his eftates ; and the farmer may fell the produce of his lands at a more moderate price, if he can live upon lefs ; and perhaps both may have as much money to increafe their ftore at the year's end, as when the price was higher. Reduce the prices of meat and drink, and the poor-rates will alfo be reduced, which for many years have been a heavy load upon the landed intereft. The poor need not then call fo loudly for advance of wages ; riots on that account would lofe their foundations ; our manufactories would be carried on peace- ably, and divers of them would thrive by it ; as the demands for home-confumption muft be increafed, were the poor better able to clothe themfelves, and their now almoft naked children. Reduce the prices of almoft all forts of provifions, and both rich and poor may rejoice together. OF THE HIGH PRICE OF PROVISIONS. ft . 6. Well, let us fee what further may be fuggefted, which may tend to produce an event fo much to be defired by every humane mind. Even feeming fmall matters are often greater in their confequences than is ge- nerally conceived. The great expenditure of hair powder in this nation (and fome is alfo exported ) appears to many hu- mane minds a great evil ; while fo nume- rous a part of its inhabitants are crying for a morfel of bread. Many of the rich and full confume in it more than a pound a day each of the fineft of the flour; while many of the poor fcarcely tafte a bit of wheat bread: and although a much lefs quantity mull ferve the turn of the gene- rality who ufe this article of luxury and vanity, the confumption of meal therein muft be very great. . 7. Starch alfo may, I think, be juftly Tanked amongft thofe articles wherein too much of the fined wheat flour is confu- 14 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CAUSES med: abundance isnowufed in clear-ftarch- ing, and fome is exported. If a cheaper ar- ticle than flour, the ufe of which would in- jure the poor lefs, could be found for mak- ing of ftarch, its ufe fhould be encouraged. Potatoes will make good ftarch for cloth (I know not whether it would anfwer for muf* lins or clear linen) perhaps fome wild root may pofTefs the fame quality.* It were to bewifhed that fome experiments were made on fuch as appear likely, and, if any are found to anfwer the purpofe, their ufe were allowed: whatever be ufed for this purpofe, the revenue might be equally fecure* . 8. The increafed quantity of malt ufed for diftilling fpirits, muft tend to ad- * There is no law againft making ftarch from pota- toes ; but the mode of collecting the excife, is in faft a prohibition; for it is calculated by gauging the bulk, during the operation ; and this fwells fo much, as to caufe an increafe of 30 per cent, excife On the weight. Sk^ would certainly be of advantage to the publick, if this duty was fo managed, as to promote rather than to dif- courage, the fubftituting potatoes in the room of wheat; as this, fo far as it went, would tend to keep down the prict cf the latter, OF THE HIGH PRICE OF PROVISIONS. 15 vance the price of grain. It feems a diffi- culty to point out a remedy for this grow- ing evil, or to prevent the increafing con- fumption of fpirits, except by reducing the price of malt liquor; but if any vegetable could be found, which would yield a good fpirit, and take up lefs land to produce it, in proportion to the fpirit drawn from it, than does barley, it would be a confiderable na* tional benefit. I have heard that pota- toes have been tried, but did not anfwer, nor do I think it a likely root for the pur- pofe : for although it affords much nou- rifhment, it poffeffes but little fweet, from which alone a pleafant tafted fpirit might be expected. Carrots, turnips, or parfnips appear to me much more promifing for the purpofe ; the firft is the moft mild a- greeable fweet; I wifh an experiment was made of it, and if neither that, nor either of the before-mentioned roots fhould anfwer, perhaps the root of fcarcity, (lately intro- duced in England) and the fweet potatoe of North America would prove valuably additional roots for this ufe. b j j6 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CAUSES Miller, in his valuable gardening dictio- nary (wherein he enlarges upon fuch arti- cles as are likely to be moft beneficial to the publick) fays much in praife of carrots, and in particular in regard to their culture. He blames farmers, &c. for their neglect of this valuable root, one acre of which, he fays, will fatten as many cattle as three acres of turnips, and afford much better tafted beef. If carrots* will afford fo much more nourifhment, it may be fuppofed alfo to afford more, and, from its mild fweetnefs, a milder fpirit than other roots. And why it is not more ufed for the pur- pofe of feeding cattle, I cannot imagine; unlefs it is a little more trouble to cultivate and get it out of the ground, than turnips, . 9. So much has been already written refpecting the number of dogs kept in this nation confuming much which might feed * It is an extraordinary root for horfes : perhaps was it ufed commonly in their food, there might be fewer of them broken -wkded, than there are by feeding them on fo much hot food, as corn, beans, &c. OF THE HIGH PRICE OF PROVISIONS. 17 ^ ^ ^ ^ the poor, that I fhall add little on that head ; but it certainly merits the attention of government : for to fee the large provi- fion which is daily made for thefe animals, in houfes where a great number of them are kept at board, is enough to fhock the feelings of humane minds. Dogs, it muft be allowed are ufeful, and in many cafes neceffary animals; but fhall the unnecefTa- ry number of them be increafed, until they cat up the neceflary food for the poor in- habitants of the land? In fhort, fhall an ufelefs number of dogs be kept, until they are wanted for food for the poor ? . 10. Probably other articles tending to advance the prices of provifions might be enumerated ; and which, in their prefent ufe, only tend to the purpofes of amufe- ment, luxury, vanity and what is called ornament; but I flop here, and proceed with diffidence to ftate a circumftance which I know not has ever been fuggefted to the public, or even been thought upon by any one but myfelf, viz. the many very B 4 l8 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CAUSES long and large canals which have of late years been cut through this ifland, where- by very much land is occupied, and a large part of it the beft arable or pafture land. I own the keep of many horfes is faved by this method of conveying goods ; but whe- ther fo many as compenfate for the land employed in them, and the injury done to improved lands through which they are digged, is a queftion worthy of attentive inquiry. Doubtlefs the price of carriage is greatly lowered by them, and canals in a moderate number mull be a national benefit; but what, under proper reftric- tions, may be great national benefits, may become evils, if injudicioufly indul- ged. It is no trifling matter to cut up a fruitful country in canals ; efpecially in an ifland like this, increafing in population, and fome of whofe manufactories demand much land for their fupport, as do its inha- bitants for neceflary food, &c. nor fhould it be allowed for trifling confiderations, or the intereft of individuals who may adventure their money in thefe great undertakings. OF THE HIGH PRICE OF PROVISIONS. '9 It is not only the lofs of the land taken up in the canals and the roads for the draft horfes on their fides ; but fo far from their banks as cultivated land can be drained by them, it muft be lefs fruitful, as is obfervable on the fides of rivers. Brooks alfo being fome- times diverted from their natural courfes to fupply the canals, muft be prevented from overflowing the land through which they run, which may render it lefs fruitful; and water from fprings may be fo drawn away as greatly to injure dairy or grazing farms. The ftreams of fome parts of rivers may alfo be fo weakened by brooks which were wont to run into them being turned to feed the canals, as to hurt the navigation upon them. In thefe national works, e- very circumftance which may be injurious, as well as thofe which may promife to be advantageous, mould be well confidered, and good land not be fufTered to be cut up but for valid reafons. . ii. It may reafonably be conjedured that an increafe of population may have ten- iO CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CAUSE* mm ^ i m ded to enhance the prices of provifions in this nation, but whether the improve- ments in agriculture, and the enclohng of fo much common land as has of late years been the cafe, may not be fuppofed a ba- lance for the increafe of its inhabitants, I fubmit to confideration. Indeed if our -numbers increafe in fome parts of the ill and, they probably decreafe in others -from the number of emigrants who banifh themfelves from their native land : and from oppreffive caufes, which feem to me* rit the inquiry of government. Certainly, much increafe of grain and other provifions might have been expected from fo many large tracts of common being turned into arable and pafture lands. But have we not feen that fince enclofmg has been encouraged, the prices of provifions have rather advanced than lowered. Doubt- lefs many individuals are benefited by the enclofmg of common land, and under wife reftri&ions and regulations it may tend to general benefit ; but if the voice of huma- OF THE HIGH PRICE OF PROVISIONS. 311 m I ( nity was prevalent in our fenates when en- clofing acts are about to pafs, would it not dictate the fecuring to the poor their little habitations ? I think found policy would fuggeft even further, viz. to leave fuch parts of commons as are judged the mod proper, free for cottagers ; and alfo to res- trict lords of manors, (who ufually have a fmall acknowledgment for them) from ta- king advantage of their little improvements to raife their rents. And that one poor family may not engrofs this free land to the injury of others, let it be fixed that no one fhall in any wife occupy more than a certain quantity. This meafure would tend to reduce the poor-rates ; fo that if the free-holders gave up a fmall part of their right in common, to be enclofed for the poor, it would in part be repaid them; and perhaps if forne refpectable inhabitants of the parifhes, wherein thefe commons are, were annually appointed to have fo far the difpofal of thefe lots, as that leave from them mould be obtained for their being built upon, it might tend to their being 22 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CAUSES occupied to the better anfwering that de- firable end : for if they are allotted for the poor, let the poor be benefited by them, to the exclufion of fuch as can afford to provide themfelves with other dwellings; but let a due preference be always given to old inhabitants of cottages : if poor, do not let them be deprived of their little all, . 1 2 . A traveller through thofe populous counties wherein the iron, and other manu- factories are eftablifhed, obferving the ve- ry great number of cottages on the fides of commons which lie contiguous to them, cannot admire at the riots occafioned by enclofing them. Many of their inhabi- tants, perhaps their predeceffors for ages back, have been accuftomed to look upon them as their own, exclufive of a fmall rent paid to the lords; and to be at once deprived of them, and be obliged to feek an habitation they know not where, and if procured, to give an high rent, is cruel. Small tenements, in many parifhes, are now become fcarce, divers families live irv OF THE HIGH PRICE Of PROVISIONS. 2j t i ^ one houfe, yea, a fmgle room muft ferve a large family ; fo that the health of the poet is endangered by fo many of them being crouded together; and when putrid difor- ders attack them, probably many lives are loft by it. Is it not mocking to humanity for the dead corps of an huihand to lie on the fame bed, (if it may be called a bed), with a fick wife, and perhaps feveral chil- dren ? Yet many fuch inftances there are in this rich and proud nation ; and where is the humanity, (it may bejuftly queried) of our fenators, when they pafs enclofmg laws without protecting the poor cottagers? Alas ! it may be replied, where it was when the motion for abolifhing the negro-trade was loft. Can we indulge a hope that " mercy and truth will meet, and right* " eoufnefs and peace falute each other, " in our parliamentary aflemblies, when fuch flagrant inftances of injuftice and cruelty are authorized by them? And may not the dreadful query be applicable to our prefent ftate, " Shall I not punifh for u thefe things, faith the Lord, fhall not 44 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CAUSES " my foul be avenged on fuch a nation as " this?" Ungrateful wicked England, ef~ pecially fome of ye rulers of it, confider what will be the end of your pride, vani- ty, luxury, oppreffion, and inattention to the miferies of your fellow-creatures ! Are they not by nature entitled at leaft to food, raiment and liberty ? And woe be to them who mail deprive them thereof, or patro* hize fuch injuftice. This laft paragraph drops unexpectedly, but perhaps not unfeafonably, from my pen. I now return to my principal fubjecT:* k 13. The enclofing of field-lands or common fields, may feem to promife con- siderable increafe of grain, but yet it may have had a contrary effect in the general. Land, when uninclofed, is generally tilled, but when enclofed, it may be put for hay, jpafture, &c. and fo the quantity of land fowed for grain, be lefTened more than is adequate to what is gained by fowing in enclosures. Dairies, and feeding of cattle OP TtiE HICH PRICE OF PROVISIONS. 15 have of late years been profitable ; befidefc the demands from the clergy are lefs for pafture or hay, than from arable lands* This reflection leads me to point out one of the greateft caufes of the high prices of provifions, viz. Tithes. For whatever tends to increafe the quantity of an article, tends to keep down its price ; and on the contrary, whatever tends to prevent that increafe, tends to keep up the price ; and this is true, in an eminent degree, of tithes. For certainly tithing the produce of lands, is a great difcouragement to tillage : it is a barbarous cuftom, and ought not to be fuf- fered in a chriftian country. For one man to be allowed to take the tenth of the pro* duce of the whole parifh, is mocking to. humanity, and for which he has laboure4 but very little : perhaps not at all, as very many parifhes are ferved by curates at a very fmall expenfe to the rectors. For one man, I fay, to reap the tenth of the fruits of the labour and expenfe of the land- holders of all ranks, is fo inconfiftent with the nature of a free conftitution, and the l6 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CAUSES i ' practice of other proteftant churches ; that it is admirable that that of enlightened England will contend for it, or that a le- giflature glorying in the people's liberty, will admit of it. Take away tithes and all other ecclefiaftical demands from the pro- duce of the land, and the huibandman will improve and till it more cheerfully : and the poor cottagers or renters of fmall tenements^ whereto are fubjoined fmall plots of land, which may be planted with potatoes, &c. will not dread the parfon's demand, nor his threats of a profecution if he cannot pay it. I doubt not but there are many clergymen whofe humanity will not fuffer them thus to oppreis the poor, but there are others who are not afhamed to exact from, the poor, as well as thofe in more advanced circumftances, even more than their legal demands : and will a mild and juft government leave it in the power of one man, thus to opprefs another ? || || The claim of tithes on lands, efpecially barren ones, is an effectual bar to their improvement. A farmer or land-holder who has a few hundreds to fpare, would think OF THE HIGH PRICE OF PROVISIONS. ij I fhall fay but little upon the general ufe of Eaft India tea J as tending to increase the prices of provifions, becaufe it appears to no purpofe, o wedded are all ranks of people to this cuftom : but it certainly has considerable weight. A vaft quantity of butter is confumed, (rather to the injury of the people's conftitutions) which advances the price of that article of provifion. himfelf well repaid, if for the firft years his improvements brought him io per cent, for his money. But when his land is improved, and his crop is ready for gathering, this io per cent, (more in effedl) is claimed as tithe : and therefore, unlefs the large and almoft impoffible profit of 20 per cent, be produced, his labour and coft: have no ade- quate return. This confideration does unqueftionably pre- vent the improvement of many, very many thoufands of acres of land in this kingdom. % The ufe of tea has been mentioned as one caufe of the dearnefs of provifions by increafing the ufe of milk and butter, and thereby caufing much arable land to be converted into pafture ; and there is probably fome truth in the fuppofition. On the other hand, it may however be obferved, that the general ufe of tea certainly fuperfedes the ufe of much malt liquor and fpirits, and thereby tends to keep down the prices. But the attachment of the peo- ple to tea feems fo deeply rooted, that there feems not the lead profpett of relinquilhing it, and therefore I decline the fubjeft. C *8 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CAUSES ^ ^i ^ . 14. Another article which I mean to remark upon, as tending to advance the prices of provifions is, the very great wafte of provifions there is in many families of high rank ; the recital whereof, in all its particulars, would probably fcarcely be credited by thofe in whofe kitchens it is fractifed ; nor could arty writer minutely follow the Wafteful unfeeling fervants in their wanton fpoil of victuals, and iniqui- tous difpofal of it. One or two inftances may fuffice to excite an inquiry in hu- mane heads of fuch families, how the re- fufe of their kitchens, and furplus meat from their tables, are difpofed of. Suppofe then a number of hams are ftewed for their effence, and the flefh after ftewing, thrown away, Or given to the dogs, will not this appear a very condem- nable wafte of good meat ? To fay nothing of the extravagant luxury of fuch ketch- ups, would not many poor people have been glad of the meat from which it was extra&ed ? Suppofe much of the broken OF THE HIGH PRICE OF PROVISIONS. <% ^ ^1^i^ meat in fome great houfes, if not given to the dogs, is, inftead of being given to the poor while it is good, thrown to the dung heap, is not this a fhocking wafte of provifions ? Yet there are, (I have been cre- dibly informed) inftances, probably many, of its being fo; perhaps more in London, and at city houfes, than at country refi- dences, where there are generally dogs e- nough to devour the furplus bf large and fumptuous tables. Let me not be cenfured as charging all fervants in great families with fuch unchriftian conduct; or their heads with fuch fhameful neglect in in- fpecting their domeftic affairs : but let e- very head of fuch a family, query, ' Have ' I attended to thefe things ? or, have I ' trufted fo much to my fervants, as not 1 to know whether the poor are made 4 glad by the abundant furplus of my ta- ble?' I have not infilled upon the extravagant provifion made for the tables of the great, and at public feafts, &c. becaufe, if all of c * %0 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CAUSES ^ * it is eaten by the human fpecies, it can fcarcely be termed wafted. But certainly, if lefs was provided, there would be lefs to be wafted : and the wafte of butcher's meat in rich fauces, &c. is very confiderable. This article of luxury is arifen to a mon- ftrous and very condemnablc height in this nation.* Here I an inclined to propofe as a preventative to fuch wafte, and a likely means for thefe dainty morfels for the poor being properly difpenfed ; that a trufty old fer- vant, (if fuch a one can be found) who is become incapa- ble of laborious employ, may in fuch houfes be retained and employed as an almoner for the kitchen. Let a pan- try be affigned her, and let her bufinefs be to collect the refufe of the kitchen, the broken victuals, and the furplus pieces of meat, and fort them, affigning only what is fit for the dogs, &c. and the other to the poor. Let her feek out proper objefts for this charity, and let each of them come at their appointed feafons. Suppofe two or three, or more families were ferved with the broken and fur- plus victuals of the day, given them the next morning ; and thofe ferved On one day, were not permitted to come for one or two days following, but others came daily in their ftead : thus would all be difpenfed while it was good, with little trouble ; and in the courfe of one week* and from one houfe, might many families be made glad by the participation of a little flelh,fome of whom may not be able to purchafe it. Let the fcandalous practice of felling OF THE HIGH PRICE OF PROVISIONS. 31 Here I intended to have clofed my re- marks on the caufes of the high prices of provifions, but one hint more occurs to thofe of high rank, which may alfo be ap- plicable to fome who do not rife to that chara&er, viz. the fuffering fervants who are fent to market, &c. to give any price the feller may demand, although it be ob- vioufly above the proper andjuft ftandard, has, in many cafes, tended to render arti- cles of provifion dearer in markets, than even fubftantial houfe-keepers, who are good economifts, can afford to give. pieces of meat, fowls, Sec, from great houfes, be abolifhed. Are indeed the heads of them acquainted that, (at lead in fome of them) thefe things are done ? If not, is it not high time to inquire, feeing they will be called to an account of their ftewardfhip ? I know this is no wafte of provifionsj but it robs the poor. C 3 CONSIDERATIONS, &C, ' rj CHAP, II. RECAPITULATION OF THE CAUSES OP THE, PEARNESS OF PROVISIONS, WIT H SOME PROPOSITIONS TENDING TQ OBVIATE THEM. The foregoing obfervations on fome of the caufes of the high prices of provifi- ons, fo readily fuggeft their own reme- dies, that I need not add more on divers articles mentioned, than briefly to recapitu- late them : on others I fhall take the liberty to make fome further remarks. And firft, . i. Let public granaries be erected, anc^ in times of plenty kept full againft a feafoq of fcarcity. Need we the hiftory of Jofeph (fo wifely preferved in the facred records) to convince us of the wifdom of this mea- fure ? Our paft times of want, and pre^ C4 34 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CAUSES fent fcarcity of grain,* may fuggeft its pro- priety, as may alfo the deplorable confe- quence to the nation of as bad a harveft in this year, as was in that of J 756, when al- molt the whole crop was fpoiled or great- ly damaged. . 2. Let tithes of all kinds be abolifhed, as well thofe arifing from the produces of the fea, as of the land J. . 3. Let the number of dogs be lef- fened. * Thefe remarks were written before the laft harveft was got ir*. It has proved plentiful : but one good har- veft, or even a fucceffiqn of good harvefts, will not render the eftablifhing of public granaries ufelefs or unnecefTary j unlefs (which is impoflible) means could be found to render that fucceffion of good crops certain. But though the price of wheat be reduced, that of barley is now very high, which is in part owing to a bad harveft. ^ Pilchards, thofe at leaft which are falted for exporta- tion, are tithed. I underftand that a charge of this kind (though a very fmall ose) is alfo made on herrings. But the fait ufed in curing herrings fold for home-confumption is free of duty. Why fhould not the fame allowance be made on that ufed in curing pilchards ? OF THE HIGH PRICE OF PROVISIONS. 35 h . 4. Let the number of fmall farms be increafed : and perhaps upon inquiry it may appear that the reducing the number of farms may be as much, if not more, for the eafe and emolument of the ftewards of the nobility ccc. than for the benefit of the land- lords. It is lefs trouble to overfee and collecl: the rents of a few than of many farms : and tenants who occupy large es- tates, are probably better able when the leafes of them are expired, to fee the ftew- ards for a renewal of them, than are little farmers: a cuftom too general, which can- not be fuppofed advantageous to the land- lords, whofe intereft it appears to give their ftewards an ample falary, and protect their tenants from being in any wife oppreffed by them. If, when farms are let to frefh tenants, landlords made a ftridr. inquiry into the caufe of the change, perhaps fome old tenants who are as valuable as the new might be retained. I am aware that landlords may object to fmall farms, that there are more houfes j/6 Considerations on the causes . I &c. to be kept in repair; yet perhaps there would be no lofs in dividing large eftates into fmall portions : and furely it muft afford generous minds more pleafure to enable many families to live comfortably on their eftates, than that a few mould live luxurioufly, or be able to gain abun- dance to the injury of the more necefli- tous. The monopolizing of farms is a growing and crying evil, which it is high time was remedied, In fupport of the remarks I have made on this fubjecl:, I take the liberty to fub- join an extract from fome made by a fenfible humane Cornifh man, who had many times been in the county of Somer- fet, (the foil whereof is fome of the richeft in England), on account of working fome mines therein; which had naturally led him to converfe with the poor, and ob- ferve their extreme poverty. 4 The eftates, ' fays he, ' are generally * in the hands of farmers ; and it it is no O* THE HIGH PRICE OF PROVISIONS. 37 uncommon thing for one farmer to rent from three to five hundred pounds per annum. As the parifhes are moftly fmall, three or four capital farmers fre- quently occupy almoft all the cftates in one of them : and as, by the tenor of their leafes, they pay all parifh rates and taxes, they conclude it their intereft that as few poor labourers as may be, dwell in their refpeclive parifhes ; and there- fore, as fome of the labourers have told me, they have fuffered as many fmall cot-houfes, which were on their eftates, as they could, to fall down, rather than they mould be occupied by poor fami- lies : always chufing that their labourers mould live in an adjoining parifh, rather than their own, giving for a reafon, that if any misfortune mould happen to them, their eftates would not be bur- thened with fupporting them.' * The poor, in this part of Somerfet- fhire, appeared to me to be in a ftate of vafialage to their high and mighty maf- 38 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CAUSES ters, for whom they labour for about fix millings per week. I believe the farmers, at leaft fome of them, fell corn to their labourers, for what they call, reafonable prices. They fcarcely tafte a bit of animal food, except bacon, which they buy of their mailers for feven pence per pound, and every other article of * life is proportionably dear. Situated fo near Briftol, Bath, Wells, and other large towns, the beft of the produce of the country is carried off; even their fuel, plenty as it is, is dear. The milk, that neceuary food for poor families, is chief- ly made into cheefe: the poor have fel- dom any. The beft of the cheefe is carried off, and an inferior fort made for them, and fold at a high price. There feems to me a vifible depremon even in the countenances of thefe poor creatures. I have feen them approach their mafters with all the appearance of abject fear and flattery ; but could never difcover any thing like love, or an attachment to their matter's perfon or property, fur- OF THE HIGH PRICE OF PROVISIONS. 39 ther than outward (hew, the effect of flavifh fear. In fhort, they appeared to me, to be in a very uncomfortable ftate; and as to religion, they feemed to have fo little, that I queried in my mind, whether the poor Papifts in any part of Ireland, can be more ignorant, than are the poor labourers in Somerfetfhire ? The confequence is, they are much ad- dicted to fwearing, lying, deceit, and ftealing ; and when detected in the latter, they feldom find mercy from their maf- ters, or the magiftrates, fo that they ap- pear to hate each other. In all my jour- neys there, I have found the two forts of people, very differently affected on account of our mining concerns. The poor rejoice in hopes of our employing them ; and in proportion to their rejoi- cing, others repine, and even exprefs their apprehenfions therefrom.' After perufing this, I believe, true ac- count of the cafe of the poor in the rich county of Somerfet, in which neighbour- 40 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CAUSES hood manufactories are not eftablifhed, can we wonder that under fuch miferable circumftances they are tempted and pre- v ailed upon to fteal? If they are not res- trained by religion, nature has a ftrong plea: ' I want to eat a piece of bread, and 1 my children are almoft naked, and pe- * riihing with hunger.' . 5. Hair-powder* being an unwarrant- able wafte of one of the principal fupports of human life, fhould not its ufebe prohibi- ted ? There is already a pretty high duty upon it, and probably many ufe fine flour rather than give the prefent price for h, whereby they injure government, as well as the poor. As to ftarch, I only repeat my wifh * Powdering, is a foolifh defpicable cuftom, and, in many inftances, muft disfigure inftead of improve nature. If thofe, who endeavour by it to make their hair unnatu- rally white, had been naturally fo, what art would they net have ufed to have given it fome becoming colour? Indeed I know no unbecoming colour which the wife Au- thor of nature has given to the hair of the human fpecies. OF THE HIGH PRICE OF PROVISIONS. 41 1 i that it may be confidered whether the ufe of flour in making it cannot be lefTened, by fubftituting fqme other material, and recommend moderation in its ufe. . 6. We have juft now an inftance of the want of prudent reftrainirig laws, in order to check the rife of provifions. Su- gar, in this nation, is by cuftom become an article of provifion; but on account of its high price for feveral years back, has been but little ufed in many refpectable families. Its late rifes are attributed to exportation, which muft affect the revenue by the drawback of the duty : an indul- gence, which is much abufed ; for fugar, under pretence of being exported to fo- reign countries, is difpofed of coaft-wife in our own. It is probable foreigners can purchafe this part of the produce of our Weft India iflands, cheaper than can the fubjects of the king of Great Britain. I am informed that evil may be checked by admitting Eaft India fugar under the fame duties as Weft India, and by giving the 42 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CAUSES i m> fame encouragement to the culture of it, in the new African colony at Sierra Leone. . 7. Some method mould be adopted to reduce the price of cheefe, and I fee no other than a reftraint on its exportation, when above a certain price. The fame alfo of malt liquor exported. Having now gone through almoft all the caufes which I have mentioned, as tending to advance the prices of provi- fions, I proceed to fuggeft a few things more, tending to their reduction. CONSIDERATIONS, &c. 43 CHAP. III. Proposals, or. plans, for increasing the quantity, and therebt decreasing the price, of provisions* . i. Great Britain and its dependant Iflands are furrounded with feas abound- ing with fifti of numerous kinds, which feem to court the inhabitants to take them for variety, as well as from neceflity. Why is not more attention paid to the making this valuable kind of provifion more ge- nerally ufed ? No means mould be neg- lected, whereby the inhabitants of this ifland may be encouraged to make fifh a conftant part of their food : if but one meal in the week was ufed throughout the nation, it mull confiderably tend to the reduction of the prices of butchers meat. D 44 CONSIDERATIONS Otf THK CAUSES ^ ^ * Doubtlefs much more fifh would be confumed in London, and other inland places, could it generally be had frefh, and at a moderate price. To effect this, would it not be of fervice to give pre- miums for bringing large quantities of fifh, quite frefh, into the markets ? This would both encourage the fifhermen, and proba- bly tend to improvements in the art of catching fifh; for which, I think, there is room in the Britifh Iflands. All poflible encouragement mould be given to convey the fifh, both frefh and fait, to the interior parts of the nation, and to render it as cheap as circumftances will admit. Much of our fait fifh is too dear inland, for our poor to purchafe. In or- der to reduce its price, and encourage its being cured for home-confumption, let the duty on fait, ufed in faking all fifh, be taken off, as is the cafe for that fent to fo- reign markets : was this done, probably much fifh might be fent inland from our feveral coafts. Not a pilchard can find its Of THE HIGH PRICE OF PROVISIONS. $$ to i i > i i way far from the Cornifh coaft, becaufe they are cured with fait, from which the duty is drawn back. I know not whether this fifh, being fomewhat fmaller than the herring, would be fo acceptable inland, as are herrings ; although it is a much fatter* fifh, and therefore more fuitable for the poor, to boil and eat with potatoes; but falted mackerel, both wet and dry, (with which fifh, the Weftern coafts abound) might be an acceptable variety, and rendered cheap ; and ling, which is per- haps the beft of dried fifh, might be more difpenfed over the nation. Salted falmon, and other fifh, which are fcarcely known in the middle counties, might, from other coafts, be fent, and rendered cheap, inland, were proper encouragement given ; and fait fifh being more in requeft, probably fuch improvements might be made in the curing of them, as to render them more in repute alfo. If the meaner fort of people, indeed thofe of all ranks, would accuftom them- 46 -Considerations on the causes felves, frequently to eat falted fifh with potatoes, carrots, or parfnips,* perhaps many of our inland inhabitants would be as fond of it, as are thofe who refide on the coaft, to whom a fait herring, pilchard, or mackerel, is often preferable to butch- ers meat ; and falted ling, is a fifh fit for any table. The late worthy Dr. Fothergill had it much at heart, to render even Newfound- land cod a more general article of food. But had he had opportunity of obferving how much better, and perhaps much cheaper, our inhabitants might be ferved from our own feas, with a rich variety of fifh, he would probably have faid, Cure your own fifh for home-confumption. In the inland parts of the nation, much butter and eggs are eaten with fait fifh, by thole who can afford it, which is probably the caufe of its fo often offending the ftomach. When eaten with any of thefe vegetables, mode- rately buttered, with but a little egg fauce, it is more agree- able to the ftomach, and, I think, to the tafte, than when (0 much loaded with eggs. Salt fifh, if not rufty, is by ho means an unwholefome food. OF THE HIGH PRICE OF PROVISIONS. 47 1 =3 Were more forts of fifh falted for home or foreign confumption, and ren- dered cheap, the poor fifhermen would be more regularly employed; who, when the feafon for fuch fifh. as come in fhoals is paft, are often miferably off; for if they could catch large quantities of hook fifh, they know not how to difpofe of them, inland. I feel myfelf fo interefted on this fub- ject, that I fhould with reluctance fup- prefs a query, although much has been faid on the fubject. Is it not a fhame for this nation to fuffer foreigners to take the fifh from our coafts, and fell them in other countries, perhaps cheaper than our poor can purchafe them ? If there is plenty for us and them, let them take their fhare, un- der proper reftridtions ; but let our own inhabitants partake of the dainty and plen- tiful produce of their own feas. Again let me query : Why are turbots brought in great numbers to the London markets by the Dutch, who probably take many of D 3 40 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CAUSES them in the Englifh and Scotch feas; fome parts whereof are faid to abound with this delicious and valuable fifh ? Would it not be more to the honour of the magiftrates of our metropolis, to give premiums for bringing them to its markets, by our own countrymen, and from our own coafts, and thereby render them cheaper, than to fuffer the fifh-mongers to throw any of them, that are eatable, into the river, left they mould become fo ? But here I flop ; perhaps I may be fufpectecl of flandering the fifh-mongers; but I write what I have repeatedly heard, and is it not the bufmefs of magiftrates to inquire whether it is true; and if it is, to endeavour to prevent fuch unchriftian conduct ? , 2. I next venture to recommend, a8 tending to reduce the prices of provifions, the more general ufe of oxen for tillage, and even drawing of carriages, rather than fo many horfes. So much has already been written on this fubject, as to demon- strate, that it would be greatly to the ad- Or THE HIGH PRICE OF PROVISIONS. 4$ vantage of farmers, to till their land with oxen. I can fee no reafon for their giving the preference to horfes, but that they do the work quicker ; and if they would try oxen in the traces, inftead of putting them under the yoke, perhaps that excufe would fail them. They will go fteadier, fafter, and, I think, draw a greater burthen; and, on publick roads, this method muft be far preferable to yoking them. I have feen a waggon, drawn by fix or more oxen in the traces, and was told, the owner of them much preferred that method, to the yoke ; that they were employed in car- riage, as well as tillage , and that they drew his waggon, loaded, from his houfe to Exeter, which I think muft be full feventeen miles, and returned back, in a day. Prodigious weights are drawn, and even carried, by thefe animals, in countries wherein they are generally ufed. And I doubt not, if farmers and waggon-keepers would thoroughly try the before-mention- ed method, but much of our carriage, as well as tillage, might be done by oxen j D 4 5 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CAUSES whereby the prices of beef, tallow, leather, &c. might be reduced. It appears to me probable, that an im- provement upon the method ufed for drawing with horfes in traces, might be made for Oxen. As much of the ftrength of the ox is fuppofed to lie in its neck, which I conclude to be the reafon for its being fubjected to the yoke, might not an additional collar, perhaps beft made of coarfe linen, whereto a cord or light chain might be fattened, and that again faftened to the carriage or plough, in the manner the Laplanders attach their rein deer to their fledges, fo tend to keep down the neck of the ox, as that more ftrength might be exerted by that part, than in the ufual method of drawing in the traces only ? As this is merely my own conjec- ture, I only propofe it for confideration. The oxen I faw draw in the traces, drew fingle ; and I did not obferve, nor hear, that their geer was any wife different from that of horfes : even the fhafts were filled OF THE HIGH PRICE OF PROVISIONS. 51 * 1 by an ox, and all feemed to draw with more eafe, than when wriggling under the yoke. As the thing was, to me, new, I took the more particular notice. But, if thefe valuable beafts were more gene-, rally ufed, it might be hoped, that their inhuman drivers would not be iufTered to beat them, as though their flefh, like that of the poor horfes, was only fit for the dogs. When it is confidered that all parts of the oxen are ufeful, and divers of them very valuable, and how much lefs expenfe it is to breed and to feed them, than horfes, and that horfes, when worn out, are worth but a meer trifle, it is admirable that they are not more generally ufed in this money-getting nation. Their flefh, fat, hides, horns, hoofs, hair, yea, their very guts are ufed, either for food, clo- thing, or by our artificers, &c. A celebrated French author,* fays of * Buffon's Nat. Hift. of the Ox and Bifon. 52 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CAUSES the ox, ' He is the mod advantageous of all domefticks to the farmer. He is the very fource and fupport of agriculture. Formerly, the ox conflituted the whole riches of mankind ; and he is ftill the bafis of the riches of nations, which fubfift and flourifh only, in proportion to the culti- vation of their lands, and number of their cattle; for in thefe all real wealth confifts: even gold and filver, being only fictitious reprefentations, have no real value but what is conferred upon them, by the pro- ductions of the earth/ Perhaps fome of our modern farmers may be too wife, or too conceited, to re- ceive thefe old-fafhioned maxims, and may as reluctantly confent to do their bu- finefs with oxen, as did the Irifh to draw their ploughs otherwife than at the horfes tails. However that fenfelefs cuftom is now, I mould fuppofe, generally in difufe; and we may alfo hope that horfes will be more difufed, in the courfe of time, in agriculture, &c. Our rulers have latterly OF THE HIGH PRICE OF PROVISIONS. 5* been otherwife too bufy, to attend to fuch minutiae for the welfare of the nation, or they might think it worth while to en- courage the ufe of oxen, by fmall pre- miums, or other benefits to the farmers, &c. who are raoft likely to be convinced by prefent interefts, of the utility of any meafure propofed. If but the tolls of turn- pikes were remitted them, it might induce fome to increafe their number of thefe ve- ry ftrong and ufeful cattle; and I do not think the turnpikes would fufFer much by this indulgence, as I fuppofe oxen would damage the roads much lefs than horfes. Certainly, the price of leather is fo high, that if fome meafure is not adopted to lower it, the poor in England may be- come neceflitated to walk barefoot, as many of their children now do. . 3. Another means of reducing the prices of the neceflfaries of life, might be the making of the beft of wafte and com- mon land. I do not mean, by enclofmg them all, and locating them among the 54 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CAUSES T ^^ *^ ^ ^ ^ free-holders, in proportion to their rights in them. Such a meafure, however ftrong- ly it might be recommended, would, it appears to me, be very impolitick in a nation, wherein the advantage, which its longeft eftablifhed, and, may I not fay yet principal, manufacture, has over thofe of the fame kind of other countries, depends fo much on the finenefs and cheapnefs of its wool. Were there no commons, where muft our fheep feed ? If always in enclo- fed paftures, we might indeed have fat mutton, but not fo fine tafted as of fheep fed upon commons; neither would the texture of the wool be fo fine; and its price muft be enhanced, by the more ex- penfive way of keeping fheep in paftures, ' than on commons. It is now confiderably dearer than it was heretofore : to what caufe this is owing, I fhall not take upon mc to determine ; but certainly, the enclofing of commons, which has of late years fo much prevailed, fhould be well weighed; and left it mould exceed the general bene- fit of the nation, wfluld it not be prudent, of the High price of provisions. 55 when applications are made to parliament on this head, as well as on that of canals, to poftpone the granting of them until in- quiry is made, refpecling the fituation and ufefulnefs of the land in its uninclofed ftate, and all the circumftarices attending and ends propofed by enclofing commons, or cutting canals ? Let difmterefted per- fons be employed in this bufinefs : I mean fuch as have no rights in the commons, nor will have any fhares in the canals in- tended to be enclofed or cut. The expenfe attending this meafure, would not be great ; nor can it be fuppofed, that de- laying the granting of petitions, from one feflions of Parliament, to the next, would be greatly detrimental to the peti- tioners. Was this cautious line of conduct purfued in regard to petitions to parliament it might probably appear, that in fome applications, the advantage of interefted individuals had been more confulted, than the publick good. I am far from thinking it impolitick to enclofe fome com- mons ; but the forts of land in commons, 56 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CAUSES ^1 1 ' " . ni and their fituation and advantage in re- gard to manufactures in their vicinity, are fo different, that no general rules can be adopted, without danger to the publick. Perhaps fome manufactures may be great- ly benefited, by a common being very near ; in others, the want of cultivated lands, for materials ufed in them, or for keeping of horfes, &c* may render enclofed land fo valuable, that no doubt can be en- tertained of the utility of encloiing ; but if ever a general liberty is given to free- holders, to enclofe at their united pleafure, I fear that, fuch are the felf-interefted principles of the greater number, the pub- lick good will be over-looked, and very many difadvantageous confequences enfue. I therefore (till infill, that proper bounds ihould be fet to this practice, and the cheapnefs and finenefs of our wool, be particularly attended to ; or a fucceeding generation, may have as much, or more, caufe to lament the want of common lands, than have any of the prefent, to complain of their too great extent. OF THE HIGH PRICE OF PROVISIONS. 57 . 4. But I fhall purfue the fubjecl: no fur- ther than to fay, that wife and good men will regard the future, as well as the prefent benefit to their country ; and I now return to making the beft of wafte and common lands, without generally enclofing them. By wafte lands, I would be underftood to mean, fuch as will neither feed cattle nor fheep, nor are, in their prefent ftate, of any material ufe. A great quantity of fuch land is yet fcattered over this ifland ; much of which might be cultivated to advantage. Many of our remaining marfhes might be eafily drained, and made good pafture or arable land. For inftance, a part of Lincolnfhire, and the ifle of Ely; where the crops of grain, com- pared with the produce of fome other land, is prodigious ', Divers forts of valuable timber, and other trees, might be planted, and would flourifh well in fwamps, fand, and land wherein nothing elfe that is of much va- lue, will grow, and in time, become a na- 58 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CAUSE* tional benefit. I know our inhabitants cannot eat timber, but as much of it is wanted, and imported into the nation, the mote its growth is encouraged, in lands which cannot otherwife be rendered productive, the more of our good land may be appropriated to grain ; the lefs we mail want from abroad; the more of our poor will be employed in planting, &c. and timber and fire wood will become cheaper: fo that the poor might atleaft be better warmed in fome counties, where- in fuel is too dear for them to purchafc much of it. An attentive obferver, in travelling over this nation, muft fee, that the improve- ment of wafte land, and making the beft of commons, in their uninclofed ftate, is very condemnably neglected. It is time it mould be properly attended to, and it will probably be found, that there is little land, compared with what now lies quite wafte, but would yield fome fort of pro- duce, of fuch value, as would amply pay for its cultivation. 6P THE HIGH PRICE OF PROVlSldNS. $9 We fee, that even on Bagfhot heath, the herbage of which is fo poor, that I do not remember to have feen (heep browfc upon it, trees flourifh well* Let trial be made whether fuch like ground cannot be made at leaft, to produce fome kind of fodder, and pafturage for lean cattle. If the cultivators of barren land would dig or plough very deep, they might fome- times find fmall ftrata of better foil, a foot or more under the furface ; which being turned upon the top, would, in degree # manure thefe very barren fpots, and ren- der them fruitful. From the remarks I have made of the foil, in pafling over Bagfhot heath, I have fuppofed it probable, that it may be fo there; as a fmall ftratum of a clay colour, which I obferved in fome places* feemed to favour that conjecture. But if it is fo, probably a cultivator rauft dig deeper, than a traveller by the way fide can difcover, to find the ftratum. I know a gentleman who has considerably added to his eftate, by cultivating barren land, 6o considerations on the causes which he caufed to be ploughed a foot, if tiot eighteen inches, deep. He employed o many horfes at one plough, and fuch ftrong geer, as to turn up a flight courfe of (lone ; under which he found a marley kind of earth, which well paid him fof his trouble and expenfe. But fuppofing, no fuch manure mould be found under Bagfhot heath, I can fcarcely believe that dry land, not mere fand, nor very ftrong, which will nourifh divers forts of timber trees, and produce heath in plenty, will not noUrifh fomething elfe, which would well pay for its cultivation ; efpecially with the help of fome of the manures late- ly recommended, the carriage whereof would coft but little. Miller, who iri his Gardener's Dio tionary was attentive to every improve- ment in agriculture and planting, which the time wherein he wrote afforded him the knowledge of, fays that c Saint- * foin grafs will flouriih in fuch bar- * ren land, as fcarcely any thing elfe will OF THE HIGH PRICE OF PROVISIONS. 6l * grow upon ; that it makes excellent fod- * der, does not want to be renewed for * many years, and after being mowed, * even the firft year, affords good pafturage ' for fheep ; and, when the roots are ftrong * enough to bear their tread, for large 1 cattle.' Probably other grafs-feeds, &c. might be found, which are fuited to fuch barren waftes ; but I mail conclude this article with venturing to fuggeft a further plan for their cultivation, and thereby ren- dering them a national benefit; and with wifhing that more of our men of under- standing and genius, who have leifure for fo ufeful a work, would turn their thoughts to the yet better cultivating of this delight- ful ifland, and lend their afliftance therein. How much more would this tend to the honour and reputation of men of high rank, than does the character of their being great hunters, horfe-racers, &c. and be an amufing employment, worthy the dignity of their nature ; wherein, in for- mer ages, men of the higheft chara&ers, even laborioufly engaged ? E i ifl CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CAUSES " ' * All wafte and common lands have fome owners : either they belong to the king ; or the free-holders in parifhes wherein they lie have a right in them, proporti- onably to their eftates ; or lords of manors claim them as waftrels. The laft men- tioned right, may have prevented fome unproductive lands from being improved; for if their ftewards will not attend to the cultivating of them, it is unlikely others mould, although they may fee it might eafily be done, at the hazard of being claimed, when rendered fruitful. In regard to waftrels, and all fuch parts of commons as are of the barren nature I have mentioned, I would propofe, that all thefe rights mould be given up to govern- ment on a fair compenfation ; or elfe, that the owners mould be obliged to improve them; and that proper perfons be appointed to infpecl: and determine, throughout the nation, what tradts come properly under the defcription of wafte unproductive lands : that the lords of manors and free-holders unite in the furvey, and concur in deter- OF THE HICH PRICE OF PROVISIONS. 63 mining what mail be given up : thus no man's right will be taken from him vio- lently. This being done, let men of honeft cha- racters, who have knowledge and genius fit for the bufmefs, be appointed, without regard to their religious profeffions, in the feveral parts of the nation, to direct and fu- perintend the cultivation, at the expenfe of government ; with falaries fuited to the trouble they may be expected to have in the bufinefs. Let them confult, and confi- der to what fort of produce each tract is beft adapted, and get it planted or fowed accord- ingly, and make return of all the profits arifing therefrom, to government. Tri- fling, or even romantick, as this plan may appear, I doubt not, but if it was judiciouf- ly and faithfully executed, it would, in time, repay with a large furplus all that had been expended in the undertaking; and this furplus might be applied to the much wanted purpofe of decreafing the, national debt. 64 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CAUSES " ' In a few years, the very loppings of the trees and the underwood would more than pay the expenfe of the management; and the produce of pafture and other land, might be quickly expected to clear more than their expenfes. Let the managers be debarred from making a perquifite to themfelves, of any part of the faleable produce of the land, and the labourers from taking away, even a flick, without leave to do it. Perhaps in fome fuch barren fpots as Bag- mot heath, &c. it might be be ft for the ma- nagers to be authorized to divide the land in lots, and to let them for a very fmall aq-. knowledgment, for fo long a time as will pay the tenants for the cultivation : after which time, let them, if they chufe it, re- tain their lots at a moderate advanced rent. Thus would government become pofTefTed of a large eftate ; and much land which is now worth nothing to the owners would, in degree, be rendered fruitful, and thereby tend to reduce the prices of provifions. OP THB HIGH PRICE OP PROVISIONS. 6$ * * ^ i^ ^ sgg Let all the hedge-rows, in thefe located parcels of land, be planted with trees fuit- ed to the nature of the land ; of which, if government ultimately reaps the advan-^ tage, it mould be at the expenfe. But if, as in this cafe would perhaps be beft, and! lead troublefome to the managers, the te-^ pant be allowed to reap the benefit of planting, let him bear the expenfe, and be obliged, as he falls timber, to replant : if his rent is fixed proportionably with this privilege, government is paid for it. Before thefe plans foi the improvement of wafte lands, can be profitably carried into execution, the mode of fupporting the clergy muft be altered ; their claims, would, in many cafes, exceed the profits, and are therefore an infuperable bar to improvements, . 4* I am aware of objections to this plant Firft, from lords of manors, who may fay, Suppofe any mines are under thefe wafte lands, muft we give them up to govern* E 4 66 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CAUSES ment? Of this, let parliament judge and decide; thofe rights may be referved if it is concluded to be for the beft. And now, in regard to common land, (wherein every free-holder has a right, in proportion to his eftate, or the cuftom of common-right in the parifhes wherein his or her eftates, and the commons be- longing to them lie, excepting fuch com~ mons as belong to the king), I do not apprehend that lords of manors, or any perfons poffefled of large eftates, have any better right to enclofe any part of a com- mon, than have the loweft free-holders; though in many inftances, fuch take the liberty to add large tracts of common to their eftates ; which may juftly be deemed both unjuft and oppreflive. If land is taken in by the poor, or meaner clafs of people, lords of manors impofe a rent, which, though fmajl at firft, is liable to be advanced at their pleafure ; and fo, in time, many fmall tenements become valuable parts of their eftates, to the in- jury of other free-holders. OF THE HIGH PRICE OF PROVISIONS. 67 How many large commons are there, which, notwithstanding they produce good grafs or herhage, have but very fmall ftocks of cattle or fheep upon them, in proportion to what they will bear? The free-holder's rights in commons, as well as the management of them, have been as condemnably neglected, as if the land was of little worth: it feems time to roufe their attention to both, that further encroach- ments may be prevented, and the com- mons rendered beneficial to them, and to the nation at large. In order to effect this definable end, T would propofe that general meetings of the free-holders, who have rights in the particular commons, be called ; and that it be required of all who do not attend, to fend an account of the annual rents of their eftates. In thefe meetings, Firft let the extent of the commons be conlidered. Secondly, what number of cottagers are upon them, and how the cottages are fituated, and what quantity CONSIDERATIONS ON THE CAUSES of land is occupied by each of them: for al- though it may be good policy in free-hold- ers to encourage poor cottagers in a reafon- able degree ; yet their rights plead ftrongly againft fuffering commons to be over-run with them, or large quantities of common land being cultivated by any one perfon. Thirdly, let it be confidered what parts of commons are moft proper to be affigned for cottagers ; and the quantity of land each mall be allowed to cultivate or build upon, be fixed : if any are found to take in more than is allowed, or to fix on improper parts of commons, oblige them either to give it up, or pay a moderate rent ; which rent centering in the parifh rates, every free-holder will be benefited in pro- portion to his eftate. Let all the privi-, leges allowed to cottagers, be afcertained, as cutting of furze, &c. and proper ref- traint laid to prevent their injuring that land, which they are not allowed to cul- tivate, by picking off the manure left by the cattle, &c. If any lord of a manor, o? any other rich perfon, has enclofed without OF THE HIGH PRICE OF PROVISIONS. 6*->">*'&*'<- Appendix. CONTAINING HINT* FOR IMPROVING WASTE AND BARREN LANDS BY PLANTING. As in the foregoing remarks I have infilled fo much upon the advantage of cultivating wafte and barren lands, I am inclined to add a collection of plants and trees, wherewith thefe fpots may be fowed or planted ; which I have principally extracted from the abridg- ment of Miller's dictionary : to which valuable work, I refer the cultivator for further information refpec- ting the fowing or planting of them, and the remarks made by the ingenious and laborious author there- uponj as well as on the making of pafture land, &c. Firftly, I have already mentioned the faint-foin grafs, whereto, doubtlefs, divers other gnuTes might be ad- ded. He particularly recommends the white trefoil, for making a ftrong rich turf for pafture land. Secondly, I cannot, in this work, find the article, French or buck wheat,, although it is mentioned in the 74 APPENDIX. Englifh index, but fhould fuppofe it a fit plant for fome vvafte lands, as farmers fow it, and plough it in for manure ; and from its appearance, it may be fuppofed to require but little depth of foil. It is very fruitful, and its feed is good feed for hogs and poultry, whe- ther for cattle, I know not ; but from its name, buck wheat, it may be imagined good food for deer. Thirdly, That valuable plant, hemp, is fit for marines s which, as is before obferved, make rich land. Perhaps fome kind of vetches might flourim in very poor land ; fee Miller's remarks on the Siberian vetch ; which, from its country, will probably grow in cold and poor land. But leaving the cultivator to inquire further, what plants are fit for pafture, &c. I proceed to trees, of which there are many forts, fome of them unknown to the generality of the inhabitants of this ifland, which might be cultivated to great advantage in fome of the mod unproductive fpots therein. And firft, The North American Cyprefs ' y Which, fays Miller, * grows in watery places, rifes to a pro* * digious height, and is of a wi nderful bulk. I have ' been informed, that there are trees of this kind, of 1 70 feet high, and feveral fathoms in circumference, 4 which grow conitantly in the water. Therefore* ' they may probably be of Angular advantage, to plant * in fuch fwamps and wet foils, where very few other * trees will grow, efpecially of the refinous kind.' After giving directions for planting thefe trees, he APPENDIX. 75 further fays, c As this tree grows in places where the * water commonly covers the furface of the ground, * three or four feet, it might be a great improvement * to our boggy foils, were they planted with them.' Secondly, White and black Poplars, both very ea- fily propagated^ are very quick growers, and thrive befl in a moift foil. Of thefe trees, he fays: < A con- * fiderable advantage may be made, by planting thefe * trees upon moift boggy foils, where few others will c thrive j many fuch places there are in England, * which do not bring in much money to the own- * ers ; whereas, if planted with thefe trees, they would ' in a few years over purchafe the land, clear of all ' expenfes. There are many perfons, who, if they c plant timber, it mull be oak, afh, or elm, and if ' the land is not proper for either of thefe, it is deemed little worth j whereas, if the nature of the * foil was examined, and proper plants adapted to it, * there might be a very great advantage made of fe~ veral large trails of land, which, at this time, are ' neglected. 1 The wood of this tree is good for floors and for < wainfcoting, being lefs fubjeft to fwell or fhrink, * than moft other forts of wood, and it will laft: ' many years. For turnery ware there is no wood 1 like it for whitenefs, and the bellows makers prefer * it for their ufe, as do the fhoe-makers for heels, &c. It is alfo good to make light carts j and the * poles arc proper to fupport hops, vines, &c. The F 76 APPENDIX. i 'SSSSSSSSSSSJStSSSSSSi * loppings will afford good fuel, which, in many * countries, is much wanted. Thirdly, Willows are fo well known to flouriffr beft in moift and fwampy land, that I fhall only tranfcribe, that * There are great tracts of land in c England, which produce little to their owners, and* 1 might, by planting thefe trees, turn to as good ari * account as the beft corn land. The largeft wood ' is generally fold to the turners, for many forts of ' light ware, and may be applied for many other pur- c pofes.' The general ufe of Ofiers for bafkets, is well known ; both turnery ware and bafkets are now dear, probably from a fcarcity of wood and ofiers. Fourthly, * Birch may be cultivated in barren land * where better trees will not thrive j for there is no * ground fo bad, but this tree will thrive in it. It * will grow in moift fpringy land, in dry gravel or * fand, where there is little fin-face; fo that, upon ' ground which produces nothing but mofs, thefe * trees have fucceeded fo well, as to be fit for cutting * in ten years after planting j when they have been c cut for more than 10 pounds an acre, ftandirrg; c and the after-produce has confiderably increafed, ' As many of the woods about London, which were * chiefly ftocked with thofe trees, have of late * years been grabbed up, the value of thefe planta- * tions, have advanced in proportion j therefore thofe * perfons, who are pofTefled of fuch poor land, cannot 1 employ it better, than by planting it with thefe awtih APPENDIX. 77 * trees, efpecially as the expenfe of planting is not' great* * The befom-makers are conftant cuftomers for birch, in every place, within twenty miles of Lon- don, or where it is near water carriage.' Might not the author have faid, throughout the nation ? $ Iri other parts, the hoop-benders are purchafers. But the larger trees are often bought by farmers; and the wood is ufed for ox-yokes, and other inftru- ments of hufbandry. In fome northern parts of Europe, it is greatly ufed for making, carriage wheels, being hard and of long duration. In France it is generally ufed for wooden {hoes. It makes good fuel. * In fome places, thefe trees are tapped in the fpring, and the fap drawn out for making birch wine ; which has been recommended for the ftone and gravel, as has alfo the fap unfermented. The bark of the birch is almoft incorruptible ; in Swe-' den, the houfes are covered with it, where it lafts many years. It frequently happens that the wood is rotten, and the bark very found. This tree will afford a fmall quantity of coarfe fugar, by boiling the fap.' For the laft mentioned quality, fee the American Maple* Fifthly, The Maple, falfely called Sycamore ii c eafily propagated; will even fow itfelf, and rife in * grett plenty, in all places which are fenced front F* 78 APPENDIX* cattle ; fo that, there is generally a fupply of young plants from fcattered feeds, without any trouble. c This tree grows to a large fize j the wood is foft * and white, fo is ufed by the farmers, but is not ef- * teemed very valuable for other purpofes. But as it will thrive better than moft other trees, near the fea, it is frequently planted to fcreen other planta- 4 tions from the fpray of it.' And in divers parts of the fea coafts of Great Britain^ it may be valuable for fire-wood. . Sixthly, The Cyprefs of the Levant, * is the moft common timber there. This, if planted in a warm gravelly foil, will profper wonderfully. Its growth is vigorous, and it refifts all weathers. The wood of this tree is valuable, when grown to a fize fit for planks; which I am convinced it will do, in as ihort a fpace as oaks, if properly cultivated for that purpofs. There are many places in England, where the foil is of afandy or gravelly nature; fo feldom produces any trees worth cultivating. In fuch places this tree would thrive wonderfully, and greatly add to the pleafure of the owner, while growingj and afterwards fender as much profit to his fucceflbr, as would the beft plantations of oaks; efpecially, fhould the timber prove as good here as in the Ar- chipelago, which I fee no reafon to doubt of. We find it was fo gainful a commodity in Candia, that the plantations were called, Dos filiae, the felling of one of them being a daughter's portion. The wood of thefe trees, is faid to refift worm, moth and APPENDIX. 79 all other putrefaction, and alfo to laft feveral hun- ' dred years. Seventhly, Beech,* This tree will grow to a confi- derable ftature, though the foil be ftrong and barren ; as upon the declivity of chalky mountains, where they will refift the wind, better than moft other trees; but the nurfery for the young plants ought to be upon the fame foil ; for if they are rai- fed in good ground, and a warm expofure, and tranfplanted into a bleak and barren fituation, they feldom thrive ; which holds true in moft other trees : therefore I recommend the nurfery to be made on the fame foil, where the plantation is intended, and to occafionally draw out the plants, to extend the plantations. The made of this tree is very injurious to moft forts of plants which grow near it; but is generally believed to be very falubrious to the human body. The wood is good for turners, and Jikewife for the joiners, for tools, bedfteads, coffins, and is efteemed the beft wood for firing, &c. The maft is good to fat fvvine and deer, and affords a fweet oil. It delights in a chalky ftony foil, where it grows fell ; and although the timber may be lefs valuable than that of many other trees, as it will thrive in fuch foils and fituations where but few other trees will grow, the planting of them mould be encouraged, efpecially as they afford an agreeable made, One of thefe trees, growing in a gentleman's park naar Amejr* fbam, is fuppofcd to be the tallcft tree in England. F3 80 APPENDIX* m Eighthly, l The Box is eafily propagated, and wil| ' grow in fuch cold barren foil as few other things * will. It grows in great plenty on Box-hill, near ' Darking, in Surry j where formerly, there were large trees of it, but they have latterly been pretty * rnuch deftroyedj yet there are a great number of c trees remaining, of a confiderable fize. The wood of this tree is very valuable: it grows quickeft on ? barren hills.* Ninthly, The beautiful Laburnum. * In England there are few of thefe trees which have been fuffered to (land long enough, to be of any confiderable fize. In fome of the old gardens in Scotland, there arc large trees of this kind, fit tq cut down for timber. They grow very faft, and are extremely hardy ; fo may be well worth propagating on poor fhallow foils, and expofed fituations. The duke of Queenf- berry fpwed a great quantity of the feed of this tree on the fide of a down, at his feat, near Amefbury, in Wiltfhire, where the fituation was fo much ex- pofed, and the foil fo fhallow, as that few other trees would grow there : yet in this place, the young trees, were twelve feet high, in four years growth; fo became a fhelter to the other plantations, for which they were defigned. The hares and rabbits are great enemies to thefe trees ? by barking them in the winter ; fo that where they are cultivated, they mould be fenced from thefe animals. The wood of this tree is very hard, of a fine colour, and f will polifh well: it approaches near to green ebony.' APPENDIX. 8l www ^ I once had a piece of a fmallifli trunk of this tree fawed, and fo far as I could judge of its quality, it anfwered the foregoing defcription ; I did not get it polifhed. I cannot but admire that the valuable woods which flourifh in our own ifland, are fo negle&ed, while we ranfack the world for foreign woods j fome of which are inferior to what we have at home j and others, of the fame kind of thofe imported, might be produced here, and probably equally good in quality, * Tenthly, The Walnut. This tree will thrive 1 very well in ftony ground, and on chalky hills, as 1 may be feen by thofe large plantations near Lea- 1 therhead, Godftone, and Charfhajton, in Surry, * where are great numbers of thefe trees planted on c the downs j which annually produce large quantities * of fruit, to the great advantage of their owners ; ' one of whom, I have been told, farms the fruit of * his trees for .30 per annum, The wood is alfo i valuable,'* What need have we to import walnuts, if the trees will thus flourifli and be fruitful in our barren lands ? I am aware of an objection to their cultivation, viz, The trees muft grow many years before they will be- come profitable. But in anfwer thereto, they will live and bear to a great age. The hufk of the wal- * It is proper for the reader to obferve, that circumfiances may be much altered in the fpots of land alluded to in the foregoing quota- tions, fince the author wrote. I tranferibe from an Edition printed in 1758, which was the fifth. F f 82 APPENDIX. nut gives a very ftrong and lafting dye ; and even a ftrong decodtion of the leaves, with the addition of green vitriol, gives a die which ftands well. Wher ther the wood has ever been tried for dying, I know not. Eleventhly, (which is the laft I fhall mention) The Pines. The varieties of this tree are fo numerous, and the moft ufeful forts for timber fo well known, that I (hall quote but little from Miller refpecting them. c The Scotch Fir, which is the Red Deal,' he lays, { will thrive in the mpft barren lands, So that * there are many thoufands of acres of this land, lying c convenient for water carriage, which is, at prefent, * of little benefit to any body, that might, by being ' planted with thefe trees, become good eftates to ' their proprietors, and a national benefit.' Divers other Pines will thrive well on poor land, and are eafily cultivated; but the pbfervations upon thefe fort of trees, and directions refpecting planting them, &c. are fo numerous and interefting, that I refer the cultivator to the work j and fhall only add from this laborious author, an ufeful recommendation viz. ' to employ fome poor people who live very * near where the plantations of trees are defigned to 4 be, to raife and manage the plants, until they are * fit to be tranfplanted to where they 2re to remain, 8 which would be attended with little expenfe;' and APPENDIX. 83 that he fuppofes < the loppings of the trees after tranf- f planting, would pay for the labour, until they are * grown ftrong and high enough to be left entirely to f nature/ He frequently expreffes regret that f little atten-. tion is paid to the cultivating of our unproductive lands ; which by many may perhaps be fuppofed un- cultivatable. But whoever has traverfed the Pirfc Barrens, and feen the frightful Cyprefs-fwamps in North America, where thofe trees grow without cul- ture to fo prodigious a fize, and has made obfervations on the foil and climate, cannot doubt of their flou- rifhing in fome of the very worft fandy and fwampy land in England, wherein neither the cold nor heat is fo extreme as in that country. For although, In the Southern colonies, there may be lefs froft, their frofts are generally harder for the time they Iafr, than in this nation. Whether the Cyprefs would thrive fo well in the north of this ifland, as it does there, appears to me doubtful, as I think it generally grows in the fouthern Colonies in America ; but as to Pines, if they were fuffered to ftand long enough, in any part of Great Britain, there is little if any doubt of the timber being as valuable as that imported. Many large trees, fome Cedars, if not CyprefTes, have been dug out of bogs in England or Ireland. Why mould not others grow therein, if planted ? Ad- mitting a great change to have happened on the fur- face of the earth fince its creation, the climates may not have fuffered much alteration. g^. APPENDIX. "" . , ' i i . il I am perfuaded that even fruitful vineyards might cover fome parts of our almoft barren chalky hills, and trails of land where the foil is very (hallow, if due attention was paid to the afpeft and cultivation ; but confidering our exchange of commercial article* for foreign wines, I know not whether it might prove of much national advantage. In (hart, as I have feert a pear tree grow in an old nailor's block, to a fize to form a made, and produce plenty of fmall pears ; an apple tree pretty well laden with fruit, growing upon an old wall ; and a vine with grapes upon it, growing out of a wall ;* I cannot doubt of ufeful trees or plants flourifhing in our moft barren fpots, The block where the pear tree grew, had been cafl out of a najl (hop, at Netherton in the parifh of Dud- ley, and the kernel of the pear, might be accidentally dropped into one of the fmall holes, wherein the anvil or other inftrument for making of nails, had flood. I remember it fo well, as now to fuppofe, that its trunk was at leaft fix or feven inches diameter. It formed a made, and the block might ferve . for a feat under it. I believe it was killed by the long froft in 1 740. The apple tree grew upon a wall at a farm houfe in the neighbourhood of Thornbury, and the vine in a wall of a garden in Ex- eter. I have been thus particular in my information left I mould be fufpe<5ted of advancing untruths ; but (ince I penned thefe remarks, I have obferved in Boad- ley's improvements pf planting and gardening, that All thefe rauft have rifen where they ^rew from feed. AFPBNDIX. 85 ' '" -' ' it is now no ftrange thing for vines to grow in ftone walls; he mentions a ' flourifhing one which grew I betwixt the joints of an old caftle wall, near twenty ' feet high from the ground, which produced admi- * rable grapes, when well managed j and another, a t mufcadine, which grew in a wall at Camden houfe * which produced every year, fairer bunches of grapes, .' and earlier ripe, by at leaft a fortnight, than any d other grapes in the garden, although there was the c beft collection he had ever feen in England.' From thefe and other obfervations, a conclufion is drawn, that no foil can be too dry for vines, t All the places fays this author, ' which I have (een or heard of, * which producp good grapes, have a dry hot foil, and 1 are fomewhat mountainous.' He adds, f I am fa- * tisfied that vineyards may turn to as good account .' in England as Germany, and be planted in land 4 which in its prefent ftate is worth next to nothing.* }ie alio recommends the ilex, or evergreen oak, as a yery valuable timber tree, and of quick growth, of which, fays he, ( fhip loads are imported here.' As an encouragement to planting, I add from this author a calculation of profits arifing from one acre of land planted with oaks for timber, and afh for un- derwood. The laft to be cut for poles. He gives directions for the planting, and notes the particular expenfes of preparing the land, planting and pruning the trees, &c. and valuing the lanq* at twenty {hil- lings per acre, 86 APPENDIX. ' In nine years after planting the ^ , , profits will be J c In feventeen years after planting 103 12 6 * In twenty five years after planting 160 10 6 1 and the oaks, twenty five in number, left to grow ; 1 which,' fays he, may produce a yet more confider- c able return to the owner or his family.' As this is rather an old author, I conclude that poles and timber are dearer now than when he wrote. I am unwilling to clofe my remarks on planting of trees, without obferving the very blamable neglect of it, in gentlemen of large eftates, infome parts of this nation. Let us only inftance the lower part of the county of Cornwall. Even in tradts where the land js good, fcarcely a tree is to be feen in the hedge-rows ; moft of the hedges are built up with ftone, and furze, or other brufh, on the top, fcarcely affording proper fhelter for the cattle. How is this improvident con- duct to be otherwife accounted for, than from the too general cuftom of letting their eftates on leafes on lives ? When fuch a leafe is let, the landlord feems to have given up the premifes until it is expired ; and few ftewards take thought about their matter's land being planted with trees. The tenant has little en- couragement to plant, even for pleafure, his tenor being fo uncertain, and his rent liable to be raifed, in proportion to his improvements, at the expiration of his leafe : and although he has purchafed his leafe, and pays a conventionary rent for it, he has ho right to APPENDIX* 87 cut down a tree of his own planting, fhould the lives con- tinue long enough to render it fit for timber. So that a country beautifully diverfified by nature, with fmall hills, dales, and fea-profpcts, the turf whereof wears an almoft perpetual verdure, unlefs on commons from which it is cut for fuel) which might be rendered fruit- ful by cultivation and planting* has a bleak naked af- pecl ; and its land is far lefs valuable to its owners, than if the hedge- rows Were profitably made, and planted with quick, &c. and timber trees. Stone hedges take up much room, and timber trees muft* if planted, be infide of them j whereas, were the hedges properly trenched and planted* the trees ftanding in them, lefs land would be occupied by them, and I think, the hedges would be well kept up, with lefs expenfe. It is weak reafoning to fay, that trees will not flourifh fo near the fea J for we fee they do flou- rish where planted about gentlemen's houfes, &c, and if hedge-rows were generally planted with trees* fuit- ed to their foil and fituation, they would fhelter each other* as well as the lands whereon they grow. It is a pity but the tenants renting on fuch leafes fhould have proper encouragement given to plant trees, and alfo that they would attend to their own intereft in enriching the turf of the lands j which although it is almoft the whole year green, does not afford nourifh- ment to cattle, equal to that which is fowed with fuch diverfity of grafs feeds as produce, not only a moft beautiful carpet, but a fucceffion of f,ilutary herbs both for grafs and hay.* Was the improvement of * See Miller's directioni for making psfture land. j&$ APPENDIX. Cornwall properly attended to, exclufive of its mi- ning ground, and even that might be an agreeable variety to a traveller j it would become one of the moil delightful parts of the kingdom, efpecially in fummerj when the lower part of it is rendered extremely plea- fant by conftant fea breezes. Its moft dreary parts are meafurably cultivatable. Even the boggy part of Gorfe moor, whereon little grows but gale rufh.es> and aquatick plants, might be beautifully and profita- bly metamorphofed into a cypfefs fwamp, furrounded with willows. The barren fands on the coafts, as about Haylc, &c< might at a little diftance from the fea, be planted with firs and birch ; and the marfll between Marazion and Penzance, now entirely un- productive of any thing of much ufe, might be drai- fcedj and made pafture if not arable land, or, perhaps might as profitably be cultivated for hemp, much of which is ufed in this county. I mention thefe re- markably unproductive fpotSj as examples for the reft, as alfo for the other parts of the nation. Devonfhire and other counties, as well as Cornwall, have much wafte land j moft if not all of which, might be improved. I crave indulgence for one hint more on this fubjeftj viz. When acts of parliament are granted for enclofing commons* &c. I think one claufe in them fhould oblige the free-holders to plant the hedge-rows of the inclofures ; and if the land is pro- per for oak, that every third or fourth tree, fhould be of that valuable fort. It is vain to object 'that oaks will not flourifh in hedge- rows. The rich vale of Appendix. $ Considerations nn t.hp. UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY causes of the high price of t rain . HC 25U.5 P&c. ;i!r ! i; -111!; '! Ill; 5 il Hi '