PHI LOS 0 P H Y . - Classic Works of Apologetics Online

·4-50 Of PopuiatiDlz, Pro'l'ision,
tion of the fle·:h of animal·. Hence a great part of
the richest 1and't of the country are convert ~d to
pasturage. Much al~o of the bread-corn, which went
directly to the nouri~hment of human bodie:-, now
only contributes to it by fattening the H{'sh of sheep
and oxell. The mass and volume of provi~ions are
hereby diminished; and \\,hat is gained in the melioration
Gf the ,oil, is 10:;t in the quality of the pro.
Jduce. Thi, consideration teaches us, that tillage, as
)an object of national care and encouragement, is uni.
/ versally preferable to pasturage? becau~e the kind of
\ provision which !t yields goes mHch farther in the sus.
\ tentation of human life, Tillage i5 ~lso recommend.
\ ed by this additional aJvantage, that it affords em·
\ ployment to a much more numerous pea~antry. Indeed,
pasturage seems to be the art of a nation, either
imperfectly civilized, as are many of the tribe~ whi~h
cultivate it in the internal parts of A.~sia; or of a nation,
like Spain, declining f-rom its ~ummit by luxu-
" and inactivity.
( The kind and quality of provision, together with
'the extent and capacily of the soil from which it is
raised~ being the sanle; the quaIltity procured will
principally depend upon two circumstances, the abilit1
of the occupier, and the encollragelJ;enJ which he recieves.
i'be greate~t mi~fortune of- a country is an
indigent tpnantry. ) Whatever be the native advan.
tages of the soil, or ev~n the ~kill and indtistry of 'he
occupier, the \\tant of a sljfficient capital C()nfilleS every
plan, a~~ \vell as crippie~ and we~lkens every (Jpe..
ration of h\l~bandrv l"'his evil is felt, \vhere agricul.
&
ture i~ accounted · a ~ervile or mean employment;
where farms arc extr(:meJy !--ubdjvided, and badly furnished
with habitations; ",here lea~cs are uJlknown,
or are of ~hf Irt or prt>cariou;-; duration. With re!'pcct
to the ~ncou.rage;;;ent of husbandry; in this, as in every
other empluymvllt, t~)(~ true reward of industrJ
is in the price and ~ale of the produce. The exclu­
SiV{A right t'o the pr