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that this species of cultivation is at present in that country
more profitable than any other。 It seems at the same time；
however； to indicate another opinion； that this superior profit
can last no longer than the laws which at present restrain the
free cultivation of the vine。 In 1731； they obtained an order of
council prohibiting both the planting of new vineyards and the
renewal of those old ones； of which the cultivation had been
interrupted for two years； without a particular permission from
the king； to be granted only in consequence of an information
from the intendant of the province； certifying that he had
examined the land； and that it was incapable of any other
culture。 The pretence of this order was the scarcity of corn and
pasture； and the superabundance of wine。 But had this
superabundance been real； it would； without any order of council；
have effectually prevented the plantation of new vineyards； by
reducing the profits of this species of cultivation below their
natural proportion to those of corn and pasture。 With regard to
the supposed scarcity of corn； occasioned by the multiplication
of vineyards； corn is nowhere in France more carefully cultivated
than in the wine provinces； where the land is fit for producing
it； as in Burgundy； Guienne； and the Upper Languedoc。 The
numerous hands employed in the one species of cultivation
necessarily encourage the other； by affording a ready market for
its produce。 To diminish the number of those who are capable of
paying for it is surely a most unpromising expedient for
encouraging the cultivation of corn。 It is like the policy which
would promote agriculture by discouraging manufactures。
The rent and profit of those productions； therefore； which
require either a greater original expense of improvement in order
to fit the land for them； or a greater annual expense of
cultivation； though often much superior to those of corn and
pasture； yet when they do no more than compensate such
extraordinary expense； are in reality regulated by the rent and
profit of those common crops。
It sometimes happens； indeed； that the quantity of land；
which can be fitted for some particular produce； is too small to
supply the effectual demand。 The whole produce can be disposed of
to those who are willing to give somewhat more than what is
sufficient to pay the whole rent； wages； and profit necessary for
raising and bringing it to market； according to their natural
rates； or according to the rates at which they are paid in the
greater part of other cultivated land。 The surplus part of the
price which remains after defraying the whole expense of
improvement and cultivation may commonly； in this case； and in
this case only； bear no regular proportion to the like surplus in
corn or pasture； but may exceed it in almost any degree； and the
greater part of this excess naturally goes to the rent of the
landlord。
The usual and natural proportion； for example； between the
rent and profit of wine and those of corn and pasture must be
understood to take place only with regard to those vineyards
which produce nothing but good common wine； such as can be raised
almost anywhere； upon any light； gravelly； or sandy soil； and
which has nothing to recommend it but its strength and
wholesomeness。 It is with such vineyards only that the common
land of the country can be brought into competition； for with
those of a peculiar quality it is evident that it cannot。
The vine is more affected by the difference of soils than
any other fruit tree。 From some it derives a flavour which no
culture or management can equal； it is supposed； upon any other。
This flavour； real or imaginary； is sometimes peculiar to the
produce of a few vineyards； sometimes it extends through the
greater part of a small district； and sometimes through a
considerable part of a large province。 The whole quantity of such
wines that is brought to market falls short of the effectual
demand； or the demand of those who would be willing to pay the
whole rent； profit； and wages； necessary for preparing and
bringing them thither； according to the ordinary rate； or
according to the rate at which they are paid in common vineyards。
The whole quantity； therefore； can be disposed of to those who
are willing to pay more； which necessarily raises the price above
that of common wine。 The difference is greater or less according
as the fashionableness and scarcity of the wine render the
competition of the buyers more or less eager。 Whatever it be； the
greater part of it goes to the rent of the landlord。 For though
such vineyards are in general more carefully cultivated than most
others； the high price of the wine seems to be not so much the
effect as the cause of this careful cultivation。 In so valuable a
produce the loss occasioned by negligence is so great as to force
even the most careless to attention。 A small part of this high
price； therefore； is sufficient to pay the wages of the
extraordinary labour bestowed upon their cultivation； and the
profits of the extraordinary stock which puts that labour into
motion。
The sugar colonies possessed by the European nations in the
West Indies may be compared to those precious vineyards。 Their
whole produce falls short of the effectual demand of Europe； and
can be disposed of to those who are willing to give more than
what is sufficient to pay the whole rent； profit； and wages
necessary for preparing and bringing it to market； according to
the rate at which they are commonly paid by any other produce。 In
Cochin China the finest white sugar commonly sells for three
piasters the quintal； about thirteen shillings and sixpence of
our money； as we are told by Mr。 Poivre； a very careful observer
of the agriculture of that country。 What is there called the
quintal weighs from a hundred and fifty to two hundred Paris
pounds； or a hundred and seventy…five Paris pounds at a medium；
which reduces the price of the hundred…weight English to about
eight shillings sterling； not a fourth part of what is commonly
paid for the brown or muskavada sugars imported from our
colonies； and not a sixth part of what is paid for the finest
white sugar。 The greater part of the cultivated lands in Cochin
China are employed in producing corn and rice； the food of the
great body of the people。 The respective prices of corn； rice；
and sugar； are there probably in the natural proportion； or in
that which naturally takes place in the different crops of the
greater part of cultivated land； and which recompenses the
landlord and farmer； as nearly as can be computed according to
what is usually the original expense of improvement and the
annual expense of cultivation。 But in our sugar colonies the
price of sugar bears no such proportion to that of the produce of
a rice or corn field either in Europe or in America。 It is
commonly said that a sugar planter expects that the rum and
molasses should defray t