Under these adverse circumstances, husbandry, which is of all arts most exposed to the destroying hand of an enemy, could not prosper, nor could those who practised it advance far either in political or moral improvement. Farms continued to be of small and perhaps were preserved in that state, in order that the number of fol lowers might be increased as much as possible. The in troduction of summer fallow into the country, at so late a period as the end of the 1 7th century, furnishes a strong proof that agriculture long remained in a neglect ed state.
Causes of the Superiority of Eri.:sh Farming.
British farming, though far from being perfect, may be considered as much superior to that of the continent. This superiority arises from the more general security of property ; from the beneficial nature of the tenures under which land is occupied ; from the greater diffusion of wealth among agriculturists ; from the partial use of machinery, and the general attention paid to the con struction of implements for agricultural operations ; from the education bestowed upon agriculturists ; from the intimate union betwixt grass and corn husbandry, by which both are greatly benefited ; and from the good— tress and steadiness of markets, where the several arti cles of produce arc converted into money. Each of these causes has assisted in promoting Briti,h farming, though in different degrees, according as they have been brought into action, or in proportion to the force with which they operated. The first, fourth, and last, are ge neral causes, whose effects are alike beneficial in every situation ; but the others are affected by local circum stances, and vary considerably in different districts, especially in South and North Britain. We shall en large a little upon these causes of superiority, and illus trate their effects in promoting the husbandry of Great Britain.
In the first place, the security given to property through the whole of the British empire, ensures to every man the complete possession of what his industry acquires, with the exception of that portion of it which is necessarily taken for the protection and defence of the empire. When mankind are subject to arbitrary exac tions, or when their property is wrested from them at the pleasure of another, industry never can flourish. Under
such circumstances, labour may be exerted to a degree sufficient to procure the necessaries of life, but it rarely goes farther. In Britain, however, every man may be said to possess the full fruits of his industry and ex ertion, and may use and appropriate these fruits in any manner he thinks fit, provided it is not injurious to his neighbour, or the welfare of the community of which he is a member.
In the second place, the tenures under which land is occupied, arc favourable to improvement. Here we are well aware, that a general extension of the leasehold system would contribute much to the prosperity of agriculture ; because , where leases are withheld, a strong encouragement is manifestly wanting. On this point, however, we shall not now insist ; though it de serves attention, that to the tenure of holding by lease, may be attributed the striking and manifold improve ments accomplished by British tenantry. Their exer tions were stimulated by the conviction that they were improving for themselves, and that none could step be tween them and the proposed benefit, so long as they acted agreeably to the obligations of the tenure, in vir tue of which they had possession for a limited term. Leases have long been more prevalent in Scotland than hi England ; and to this prevalence may be imputed the superiority of improvements discernible in the former country. One hundred years ago, England was in every respect the better cultivated country, though in modern times the husbandry of Scotland has advanced with such rapidity, as now to equal that of England, local circum stances considered. The leasehold tenure has of late been discouraged in England, and the tenantry forced to trust to the generosity of the proprietors. According to our principles, a manifest obstruction to improve ment is thereby created ; because the most implicit con fidence does not furnish the same security that is con ferred by a lease. Allowing that confidence may be safely reposed in the honour of the existing proprietor, what is to become of the tenant in the c\ cut of his de cease, when the estate goes into other hands ? Here honour does not interfere, and the occupier may be turn ed from his farm, without any violation of that sacred principle.