disputed, as it may be urged that the farmer could not engage in any other business without his capital. But if he be possessed of such a sum of money as would at 5 per cent. afford him a livelihood, he is fairly entitled to that interest from the business to which he applies it, along with an additional per-centage for his time and attention. The lowest calculation cannot be under 15 per cent., though my own opinion would allow him 20; viz. 15 for profits on capital and time, and 5 for casualties.

In order to explain the manner of ascertaining rents and tillages, it is intended to value the farm in the first place for the rent, and afterwards for the tillages that would be allowed according to the custom of the country where the farm is situated. We certainly cannot show the rent that will be equitable at all times, but must endeavour to judge as nearly as possible from past experience, and from the probable averages of future prices. This necessarily

E

leads to the consideration of the fluctuating price of corn and other produce, and to the average cost of labour and other expenses, for the last eight or ten years, according to the most approved rules of husbandry, which will show in some measure what labour will be required in future. The season will make a difference in the quantity of labour required in different years; and the farmer is not obliged nor expected to adhere precisely to the same methods of tillage, but is left to use his discretion, and to work the land in the way he may think most prope and advantageous. Such considerations would seem to render it impossible to arrive at correct and definite conclusions; but a near approximation from averages is all that can be expected in such cases, leaving alterations to be made as time and circumstances may render necessary.

The plan of the farm laid down at the beginning of this book represents a plot of land in the West Riding of Yorkshire, and

consists of sixteen fields, containing fifteen acres each, besides the homestead, which measures exactly two acres.

That part of the plan coloured with pink is a dry turnip soil, on a gravelly subsoil, and is well adapted to the growth of turnips, barley, clover, and wheat. The other part is a strong stiffish loam, on a retentive clayey subsoil; which, although not calculated for growing turnips with success, is capable of producing by good management heavy crops of wheat, beans, and oats; and occasionally clover and barley might be introduced for a change.

The light land graduates into the strong in a regular manner, as shown upon the plan by the light shade round the colour. Across the middle of the fields Nos. 9. 12. and 13., the soil is remarkably stiff and stubborn; and, in consequence of their lying nearly on a level with the adjoining brook, are often overflowed with water. The quality of the soil in Nos. 10. and 11.

may be taken as a medium betwixt those just mentioned and Nos. 14. and 15. Nos. 1. 14. and 15. are excellent strong soil, and often grow heavier crops of wheat than any of the light land.

The course of the canal, and the boundaries of the farm, may be relied on as correct, having been taken by actual inspection and admeasurement. This is not exactly the case with the fences and homestead. To render the plan more complete, the fences have been straightened a little with the ruler; and the homestead has been entirely removed from a village adjoining the northern boundary. This arrangement

makes the farm more compact, and in

creases the value of the land immediately round the buildings.

V.

ON THE VALUE OF LABOUR.

THE value of labour is in a great degree regulated by the price of corn; though the latter has fluctuated, and has had more sudden advances and falls than the former. Yet the price of labour follows, and at present bears nearly the same proportion to the price of corn it did several centuries ago: the profits obtained by the improvements in agriculture will balance the additional charges and expenses for poor and other rates. Upon this principle it is assumed as a foundation in the following calculations, that the daily wages of a labouring man are equal to the price of a peck of wheat, which has been reckoned a fair proportion from time immemorial. In our oldest agricultural records, we are told that that quantity has been found to be an