XVI

INTRODUCTION.

The prefent method of providing for the poor, notwithflanding the judgmentand deliberation with which it was adopted, is unqueftionably detrimental to theadvancement of agriculture, as well as greatly prejudicial to morals and induftry,from its falling dilproportionately heavy on land-holders of every defeription, nearlythree-fourths of the whole amount of the immenfe fum being raifed by thatclafs offocictv. The proprietors ofland, are however, in fome meafure enabled to throwthis burthen from themfelvesby ftipulating with their tenants for the payment of allparochial taxes, fo that in fadt the farmer becomes the principal fufferer, efpeciallyin cafes where any augmentation of the afleffment is required, which is frequentlythe cafe from the operation of either local or general circumftances; fuch as thefailure of manufactures or the carrying on of wars*. By thefe means the capitalof the farmer is diverted from its proper application, that of being employed in thecultivation and improvement of land, by which the progrefs of hufbandry is notmerely impeded, but the community fuftains an incalculable lofs.

There are dill other obftacles which retard the improvement of theartbefidesthofe that have been noticed; but they are in general lefs prejudicial in theirtendency, or more limited in their operations. Of this kind are the game, thecorn, and the fait laws ; all of which in their prefent forms throw great impedimentin the way of agriculture. And the want of proper and convenient markets inmany lituations, for the difpofal of different kinds of produce, and of eafy andexpeditious modes of conveying them to fuch places, as well as a variety of localcudoms and regulations, are not lefs injurious in their effects, though much lefsattended to.

Thefe are fome of the principal difficulties and impediments that have been folong fuffered to retard the progrefs of cultivation, and which mud continue toput an infuperable bar to its improvement, in many refpedts, until they are re-moved.

But the advancement of agriculture has not been folely obdrudfed by caufes ofthis nature; there are many others which the proprietors of lands have the meansof obviating. The want of proper and judicious leafes has at all times operatedunfavourably for the improvement of hufbandry, and is an evil very generally com-plained of by farmers, a circumftance which is not in the lead to be wondered at,as it can hardly be fuppofed that improvements will be carried on to any extent

* Modern Agriculture, Vol. IV.