The National Register. — London, England, 1819-02-07 00:00:00

FED. 7. Ala JOHN % 7 .INCLAIR'S PLAN FOR CULTIVA TING THE WASTE LANDS. There are no circumstances connected with the ex iAing state of this country, which are so peculiarly clis eraceful to its internal policy, or so hostile to its most essential interests, u the vast extent of Waste Lands every where to be met with; anti the multitudes of poor who are destitute of employment, and a burthen on the community. That many of these wastes will require much labour and expence to cultivate them, mast be ad mitted ; and that many of these unfortunate individuals now unemployed, are incapable of doing much work, more especially in labour out of doors, must likewise be acknowledged ; but when the subject is thor surlily in vestigated, it will not probably be denied by the candid and impartial inquirer, that if a portion of the poor, mhA are now in a state of perfect idleness, were employed in cultivating portions of our waste lands, now in a barren and useless slate, much public benefit might be expected. 'fo explain how that can best be accomplished, is the .object of the following hints. Several years have elapsed since the author of this paper wit , first led to discuss Otis most interesting sub ject.* His attention, however, has of late been more yarticularly called to it, in consequence of the church wardens and overseers of one of the most populous pa. tittles iu London ( Nt. Martin in the fields) requesting his opinion, On the practicability, and the probable advantage of tuft directing the labour of the poor to the cultivation of the waste lands throughout the country ; and whether a considerable number of the able poor might not be profitably employed in carrying nu some great agricultural object, so as to render vs indepen dent of foreign supplies for subsistence." In answer to that application, it was briefly stated, that no doubt could be entertained, as a general maxim, that the best source of occupation, for the greater pro portion of the idle poor, is the soil. That if the poor are employed in mannfactures, or in making up manu factured articles. as shoes and clothes, with which the market is already supplied, they must interfere with the indsstry of other workmen, who would soon be reduced t) poverty ; and thtt, consequently, mischief rubes than good would arise from such a system.—Whereas, while there are such extensive tracts of waste land all over the kingdom, and more especially in the neigh. bourhood of the setropolis, and while we arc tinder the necessity of importing food from other countries, our agriculture cannot be too much extended. The author then added, " 1 know that gnat pre judices are entertained against the employment of the poor in husbandry; but that is altogether owing to the want ofinformation and of experience. Those who have examined the husbandry Renders, must have seen how much manual labour is there employed in cultiva tion. Parochial farms are successfully carried on in the neighbourhood of CranbrooPr, in Sint, an account of ..vhich I transmitted to the Secret Committee on the Poor Laws.;t and if our fields were cultivated it the ga:den style, the increased produce would amply defray the additional expense." That in agricultural parishes, the poor may i van :zgeously employed in the cultivation of the so il," ?seems row to be generally recognised ;:+; but the plan which 1 propose submitting to the consideration of the public, is cf a more extensive nature. The position I wish to es tablish is this, " That as the poor in the metropolis and in large towns, cannot be alvantageously employed an trades and other manual occupations, withont injury to others whose rabsistenca depends upon their labour ; kence, it has become a matter of absolute necessity, either to maintain them w:thout employment, or to tad the able-bodied tc work in the fields, both for raising food, anti for producing materials for tuanufac ure (as flax ), more likely to interfere with foreign shin dorne.stic industry, and in which the more infirm uor might be employed in workhouses, and that by the loption of such a system, the burthen of maintaining tae pour will be materiily diminished." In discussing this subject, it is proposed to consider tie finlowing paints : 1. To what extent is manual la I• , •ur applicable to the cultivation of tho soil ? 2. What is the probable number of persons maintained Ey the ;ner rates in Lcndon and its vicinity, who could be -ascfully employed in carrying on some great agricultm pal improvt went ?—and, S. What wontil be the boa plan fur carrying such a measure into effeet? :. To what extent is munuallabour applicable to tt r:itivatiqn . of the soil ? This is a eit7jcet that Ills frequently been (liseurme .111 works on Agrieulturc :§ but understanding that Mr, FALL, an emiuent nurscyiaan at Gatc*h:tatl, uear New • See the ItPory of Mc ffrventie, 3d edition, vol. iii. p. ?IC. anno iso.s, wilere there is it plan for -en.ployitte, the poor, .n etc cultivation of wage land 4, a:al in repa.rial the highways of the kin,:dorn. t See b•. r R.-port of the Select Cornmttoo on the Pao • Laws, eta. Isi7, -lppent;t:c G. No. 2. p. "Ht country parish-s, agriculture furnishes m tr,e ttl soiree of entiloyluent; tor. 1;114 *. of sub tin:reify increased. yet the 4:ultivatic of t. yould more than conipewated for any dimb•.utioti ie the of hi• prn4uer, by the corresnondlng dunir.ation of tiic of n - alin.Uraig Lis,family atttl labciuraz, more naii.;a:u. riduction hour rate."—Sc.: valusible.P.cpo“ tt Lao hu.a 1 -m6, anu. i . 19. tin Grui.r.il rivort of ScotLintl, vol. ii. p.terz, where tb: , re .ntentiir,ectior.--oa ireriehin;; Land.; slho.tto Cede ca.k.gficultlare, y. !St : urtl p.TSly .3:t a. tin: Grin :114 0 CI THE NATIONAL REGISTER. castle, had recently paid particular attention io the cultivation of land by manual labour, I applied to him for the result of his experience, which he communicated with the greatest reatljness. Ile states, that on an average, it has been ascertained, that three men, and two women or gi;ls (being about the proportion of the two sexes employed on nursery ground), taking the year round, will work about ten statute acres, in the propoi tion of about 2 1-3 d acres for a man, and 1 1-3tl acres for a woman. But a nursery, in all its optrations, takes a great deal more work than ground for agricul tural purposes, in which, he thinks, a man may be able to cultivate five acres in a year. At the rate for digging in the neighbourhood of Newcastle, a man may earn 2s. per day, and the five acres may be done in 82 days and a half. The same period of time will be required for manuring, sowing, and planting hi' crops, and 14S days may be employed in hoeing, weeding, and other operations, nicking in all 313 working days in the year. The whole may be done, without any improper degree of exertion, by a man of medium strength. Tim profits derived from spade-husbandry are cer tainly very considerable. By transplanting wheat, there is a great saving of seed ; and the ground being in perfect order, from the superior culture it has re ceived, the increase is great. The average produce of wheat in England is only at the rate of 20 bushels per sere, whereas Mr. Falla finds, that trenched land will yield more than double. But, supposing the produce to be only 40 bushels at 10s. per bushel, that wou:d amount to 201. per acre, and after amply in demnifying every possible expellee would produce a large profit. The crops of potatoes, carrots, flax, hemp, Swedish turnips, and other articles raised by spade husbandry, would likewise be very great. The use of the plough was certainly an immense improve ment when first introduced; and it must always be applicable to a very large proportion of a country, owing to the scarcity of hands. The advantages th rived from it, however, were formerly more con siderable, when horses were bought for a trifle, and when their provender was cheap ; Ina since their price has become so great, and their maintenance so very high, it is evident that the expen3e of horse and of manual labour more nearly approach each other. To bring land into a state for cultivation, trenching will require perhaps 51 and even upwards per acre ; but to carry o:1 its cultivation afterwards may be done, even in the neighbourhood of the Metropolis, at from 50 to 60s. per acre : the ploughing of which would cost from 15 to 203. • but once digging is con sidered to be equal to two ploughings, consequently the difference of expense is not so material, while 11": pro duce is double; and in some case. 4, more than one crop may be obtained in the same year. There can be no doubt, therefore, that the manual labour may be advantageously employed in the cultiva tion of the soil. . . 2, What is the probable number of persons maintain ed by the Poor rates in London and its immediate vici nity, who could be employed in carrying on some greet agricultural improvements? This is a question that is not easily solved, and which would requ.re a good deal of investigation accurately to ascertain, but the number must be very great, and when it is considered that besides able-bodied men, a large proportion of women, and even some children, might be employe, there would be no difficulty in end ing in London and its vicinity, from fifteen to perhaps twenty thousand persons who might be employed in various departments connected with the cultivation of the soil, and preparing its prodactions for use. Besides mere digging, a variety of operations might be executed by manual labour, as collecting manure, transporting it in barges up the River, conveying it to' the fields on portable iron rail-ways, transplanting the crops, hoeing and weeding them, cutting down er reap ing them, thrashing by hand-mills, and grinding the wheat by the flower mills, so strongly recommended by " The Society Of Arts. " In short, the employments which agriculture furnishes are numerous and unceas ing. In order to employ a greater number of people , if the eiitaato and the soil of the land brought into culti. vation were suitable, hops might be raised, which its favourable seasons would be highly productive. Another material object would be, the culture of flu, in the manufacture of which the al and the infirm might be employed in workhouses. This plan is suc cessfully envied into effect in the workhouse at SL Martin-hi-the-Fields and six or seven others; and if the raw material could be procured in sufficient quan. tities, the importation of foreign flax or linens would be no longer necessary. Considerable quantities of hemp might likewise be raised. 3. What would be the best plait for currying such a measure into effect/ There is no doubt, that in so opulent a city as that of London, a large sum might be raised, to carry nu ,itch a plau, without any thought of profit or interest. But thcre is not the least Geession for any individual ;My him) lie may be inclined w subscribe for so use.f.a a parlays:. On •the contrary, if properly ma iugrd, -a TOUSI prove .s vcry beneficial concern. Ns .r . n be laid cut with ..rur profit than the improvement of the soil. The :pallor of this paper purchased an estate for 8,5001. and improved se) much its value, that it sold for 40,000 L He let a farm, about twenty years ago, for 1821. per annum, which was likewise so much improved, under his directions, that it sold lately for 18,2001._ These arc facts which are within his ow■ knowledge, and cannot be con troverted. If such beneficial improvements could be effected 700 miles distant from the metropolis, what may not he accomplished in its immediate vicinity ? Any idea, therefore, that the proposed concern may prove a losing one, ougkt not to be entertaincd for a moment. The following heads, on the whole, are suggested as a foundation for the propscd Institution :- 1. That the Society shall be called " The Royal Agricultural Cumpany, for the Improvement of the Waste Lands of the King dom, and Promoting Domestic Colapization ; " of winch its Royal Highness the Prince Regent be requested to he the patron. R. That under the authority of Parlament, the sum of ore million (or any other stun adequate for the purpino be raised by a Joint hock Company, in shares of 501. each, or 20,000 shares in all, for promoting m beneficial an object. 3. That the management of the concern be confided to a rresident, four Vice Presidents, fifteen Directors, five Trustees, three Audi tors, &Treasurer, an Accountant, and such other °dicers as may be judged necessary. 4. That the auto to be raised shall be paid by regular instalments. ten pounds at the time of subscribing, and tea pounds every six months afterwards, a; the same may be required. 5. That land shall be rented or purchased, either front the Crowe, or from private individuals, to such an extent as the capital of the Company will enable it effectually to caltivate. 6. That convenieot accommodation shall be provided is the neighbourhood of the land brought into cultivation, where the Directors and other Members of the Company may reside when t'lcy are desirous of seat - Main the progress of the undertaking. 7. That a regular account of the improvements earned en shed/ be drawn up, and submitted to the consideration of his Royal Highness, the Patron, and of both Houses of Par Lament, and likewise printed for the inflirmation of the Members of the Company and of the public at large. ti. That the accounts of the Company shall be annually audited. and opened to the inspection of all concerned 7 and that after the first year of actual cultivation, a dividend of s per cent. or whatever sum the profits of the concern may yield, shall be paid to tine su'osaibers. 9. That a negotiation shall be entered into with the Church wardens and Overseers of the several parishes of London and its vicinity, respecting the number of poor they can respctively famish. and the various attacks they will purchase from the Coilipany ; and that thuse parisheri be pref erred who offer the most advautageoue Lime to the Company. 10. That a Meetinz shall be called fur taking the above plea into emsideration, and for presenting a petition to Parliament, far erecting the proposed Company into a Corporate Body. It cannot be too much inculcated in favour of any plan for employing the poor in husbandry, that there is this essential distinction between it and every other mode of occupying them, that by cultivating the soil,. FOOD, the great object of human labour, is directly oh.. table I ; while, by industry of any other kind, it can only be procured indirectly, and by means of exchange. In regard to the minutiae of the plan.—the district' where the laud is to be rented or purchased ;—thc in k s necessary to accommodate the labourers ; ;--the man ner in which 'hey are to be paid or inain.ained ;—the nature of the crops to be cultivated ;—the manner in which the produce is to be disposed of:—:.cod other minute particulars, it would be in vain to attempt to en large upon them at this time, as they must depend on such a varioty of circuinstanc.,s, and can be safely cot:. fided to those who ere placed in the direction. CONCLUSION.—There never was a period when such an institution was so loudly called for, nor when there was so favourable an opportunity for currying into ef. fact. In fast, unless so-ne great measure be undertaken, to furnish the utionployeti poor with a means of sub sistence, by their on u s !chow-, the other classes of the community will not long be able to maintain them, and some fatal conviiislon must be the necessary consequence; whereas, if this plan were adopted, an example of suc cessful i:nproteruent would be exhibited, which would soon be imitated in every other part of the kingdom, and it would probably spread with a rapidity, of which there is nu example in history. If success, however, de pends on the skilful application of a large capital; for, in many cases, if only 51. per acre is expended, the. money may be lost ; whereas, by laying mit 151. per acre, the whole expense may be repaid in the course of one year. On the whsle, there is every reason to hope, if no other advantage were to result from the proposed plan,. this object, at least, might be obtained, that the poor would soon be enabled to raise provisions for their own sustenance, and nu importation of foreign grain would in future be necessary; even that would be no ineA'i. mable advantage: but, if the plan does succeed to the extent that may be expected, a Ibundation will be laid_ for improving every acre in the kingdurn, cipable of yielding any valuable productim ; and-ail that floating capital which might otherwise remain either unem ployed at home, or might be sent to foreign from the difficulty of pluving it out to advantage, might thus be laid out in promoting the cultivation of ear own country, and in ameliorating the condition of its inhabitants. JOHN SINCLAIR. Onnly Lodge, Ham Common, Barmy, Jan. IC, le.Q. J. Wilmot. • timber-riereliant, was found gailty at the late Surrey Ses;:ons, of rt.:Ming a lame piece of timber, t7i-c troperty of the .Southwark Bridge Cotapany, rag was seaLencald [a seven ymt,,.trasportation. sib A mother of a rattily. 'rho was again pregnant, three of her ciiihiren„ and a 3 , 51r0g girl, 13 years of age, all inuabitants of Chateau-Roux, in the department of the Flare, in France, -were lately poison ed by easing poisonous inathwotui, which they t)to.te'.t of goa‘l rptadty.