Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-02-23

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the most perfect, are still very deficient: that
| IN Essex the wretched system of fleet plough
ing and whole year faiiows S still pertnacions-
~ adhered to-that Sussex is behind almost
all others, at least half a century-that in
Cheshire the Anticipated system eta century
back still prevails-ihat Shropshire is subject
TO very inefficient cultivation and that i'm
short ga great part of the Kingdom is i'm
iamentahlc state Of agricultural unproductiye-
ness" Some of these defects are the result
ofignorance and prejudice. With all the SPLEEN
did success of Mr.. Coke, of Norfolk, in render
ins his land nearly ten times as productive. he
used the drill husbandry for sixteen years he
fore any individual followed his example and
even now his improvements are supposed by
himself to extend about one mile in a wear
Other causes, however, are not wanting. and
some that to us seem almost Incredible For
instance. nearly One-half the arabic land of
England is held in common; its culture is there
fore subject to restrictions either of custom or
law, ana the portion OF each cOmmoner is Of
ten so arranged, that he cannot cross -plonph
his land for fear of trespassing on his neigbbor.
These, it may be easily imagined, do not pro-
duce more than half the value which might be
drawn from them, by enclosure and exclusive
possession. Again, the fault which is constantly
deplored by her writers, and one that seems
peculiarly strange where the economy of hu
man labour is SO well understood, is the super
tious expense of cultivation by the multitude of
horses.ltIsat this day common in England, to see
TOUR, hve, and six horses, following each 9TH
er In single file, before a plough, in fields of d
few acres, and i'm soils where two horses
might easily accomplish the work to see
teams of four horses employed, where two
would be quite sufficient and this notwith-
standing the successful introduction of the
Scotch mode of plOughing as in this coun-
Try. The consequence is, that England and
Scotland are estimated to contain $500. 600
horses, consumngthe value of $50, 600, 900 of
dollars, and the produce of sixteen millions o f.
acres, being nearly one-half the productive
ianus OF the Kingdom. The condition of a
iaree proportion OF the tenants too, is, in ma
ny respects, unfavorablc The soil of Eng
land is owned by about 10000 persons, and.
greater part of the leases are at will. or fo,
short term from five To nine years, the better
policy OF long leases not having vet become
general. Lastly come the tithes and taxes
| the uthes, winch take from three-fourths OF
| the occuplers of land in England one-tcnth
oil the gross produce, even when the remain
Ger may afford no remuneration for their la
oours-and the taxes, which, combined with
| tne uthes, on an average amount To more
than one-half of the rent.
| However consoling these views may he ia
our own faults, il is more agreeable to dwell
on the pleasing side of English farming and to
derive instruction rather from their success
than their misfortunes. And truly there is
something admirable in the generous and
buoyant and elastic spirit with which the ge-
mus and Industry of that country have IN
held It's agriculture, under complication of
burdens, such as never before pressed on the
soil OF any country. By her peculiar condi-
| tlon--by the poor aws-the tithes-the taxes
/ Iace rIraflf
a condition which demanded every energy of
the farmer, and tasked to the utmost every
resource OF capital and invention. On mod
| crate computation, an acre of the best farm
ing iand, IN order to repay with profit the la
bours OF cultivation, must yield about thirty
or forty dollars :: and accordingly it was made
to produce that sum. BY liberal investments
OF capital, by judicious and economical hus-
Dandry, they have extorted from a soil not nat
urally distinguished for fertility, and climate
Inconstant and treachcrOus, an amount of
produce which enabled the farmers of Eng.
land and Scotland to pay a higher rent than
IS yielded by some of the finest soils of italy,
III indeed we were to select any district where
| SIKH ana capital have been most successful
against natural obstacles, incline to think we
should name the Loihians of Scotland.
That the example of these countries NAV
not be lost to us, we should habitually com
pare them with our own. 1t is now about
a century and half, since the people of the
United States have been principally occupied
I'D reducing TO cultivation their extensive for
ests. Their agriculture bears, of course, the
impression of their circumstances. While
land was cheap, and capital small and labour
dear, It was more natural TO reclaim new
'ields than to restore the old, and to diffuse
over wide surface of cheap land the greatest
power OF dear labour. The growth of cities
the creation OF new classes of society-the IN
crease OF manufactures, have now concentered
our population, and by the formation of a
| permanent home market, are calculated To
give new character to our farming. In ven
turing upon that subject, il is fit to speak with
enlirc freedom. The object of our society is
our Improvement Instead, therefore, of
dwelling upon the merits of our farming which
is I'D many particulars deserving of great com
mendation, shall prefer the less agreeable
Office OF indicating the means of its advance
ment, believing that the humblcst exer-
clse OF patriotism is, to praise our country
without striving to improve it,
Inc condition of the soil of Pennsylvania
may he examined, first in relation To its I'M |
cultivated land, and secondly, with regard to
its husbandry.
! According TO the opinion of very distin-
Sulshed geOlosst, Mr.. Maclure, Pennsylvania
contains more good land than any Atlantic
state III the union that is, she possesses
| greater extent Of that fOrmation-Sthc secon- |
Idry-whch from Its position, the course of
us rivers, and the mineral deposits which be- |
long TO il, is best calculated to sustain n MI |
merOus population. These advantages it must
not he dissembled have not attracted their due
share of attention. | incline to think that the
best portion of Pennsylvania, that which is |
destined to act hereafter the most disf,np,,isb