On the Size of Farina.
Where farming is carried on as a separate profession, and those engaged in it are provided with an ample capital stock, it is plain that a farm ought to be of such a size as to furnish regular employment, not only to the master farmer, but also to servants of every description kept on the premises, so that the greatest possible re turn may be made to their labour, and at the least pos sible expense. The immense advantages of a regular division of labour, in the process of manufactures, has been long well understood ; but it is only of late that it was thought practicable to extend these advantages to the business of agriculture. Formerly, the man who held the plough wrought with the sickle in harvest, and wielded the flail through the winter season. At one time he cut grass with the sidle, and at another Jigged ditches with the spade ; putting his hand to every branch of labour, while his horses cooled their heels in the stable, or ranged the scanty pastures in search of food. This is a just representation of the ploughman's avoca tions in former times ; and it is only of late that his labour has been more correctly arranged. He is now limited to his proper department ; and in all well regu lated farms, servants arc provided for executing other branches of work, by which means the charge of labour is not only lessened, but the several processes are exe cuted with greater perfection than was practicable under the ancient system.
From these preliminary remarks, it will be discovered, that a farm must necessarily be of considerable extent before the benefits arising from a division of labour can be fully obtained. Upon a farm comparatively small, these advantages, under the best arrangement, can only be partially gained, because regular employment cannot be furnished there to any servant except the plough man; labour, therefore, cannot be suitably divided, or even executed, at the same expense as if the concern were of a more extensive nature. In this point of view, the public interest seems benefited by large farms, though theorists have long contended that such should be expressly prohibited by legislative enactments. The opinion which we have formed on this question ditTers from that entertained by these gentlemen ; and being founded on practical principles, may be of use, when this important question conies under consideration. \Ve
are not advocates for monopoly ; but we are convinced, that an extensive farm, provided the capital stock, and the abilities of the occupier, are adequate, operates not only as a spur to activity and diligence, but may be ma naged at less expense, and in a more perfect way, than is practicable, were the same quantity of ground divided into a number of small farms. The justness of these opinions may appear from the following considera tions.
An improved system of husbandry requires, that the farm upon which 11 1:3 1(1 be carried Oil should bC extent, OlilerWISC l'00111 is not affoided for the different crops necessity) to complete a perlect rotation of manage ni. t. tanner, will) practises husbandry upon pro per principics, should not only have his ric Ids under all sorts of gr. ii , hut 1,1;cwIse a sufficient quantity a grass and winter ceps, tor maintaining his stock of cattle and sheep tin ()ugh all the diliercnt seasons of the year. By laying out and in this style, the economy of a farm is so it iliac Willie progressixely go Ion\ ard, too much w ork dots not occur at one time, nor occasion 101' idleness at another. \\Then the expenses of farm-culture arc so extravagant as at present, this deserves particular attention; but cannot, in the nature of things, be justly and accurately arranged, w here the farm is of small size.
It may he imagined, that the arrangement of farm lal:our, and that the cultivation of the gromid, whatever the size of the farm 1,tay be, is a matter of simple ques tion ; and that the smallness of the possession only re duces the scale upon w luicli are to be car ried on. 'this may in part be true; but will the result of the question be favourable to improvements? Upon 30 acres, labour may not be afforded for half a team; the enclosures would perhaps he a few acres, and the farmer would go to market and buy a single beast, thus affording opportunity for spending half the year in idle ness, wasting the ground by a number of fences, and oc casioning more expense than the whole profit would re pay. These things are the necessary consequences of arranging farm manair;ement by an arithmetical opera tion, and are great drawbacks upon the profits of farm in g•.