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commonly said that a sugar planter expects that the rum and
molasses should defray the whole expense of his cultivation； and
that his sugar should be all clear profit。 If this be true； for I
pretend not to affirm it； it is as if a corn farmer expected to
defray the expense of his cultivation with the chaff and the
straw； and that the grain should be all clear profit。 We see
frequently societies of merchants in London and other trading
town's purchase waste lands in our sugar colonies； which they
expect to improve and cultivate with profit by means of factors
and agents； notwithstanding the great distance and the uncertain
returns from the defective administration of justice in those
countries。 Nobody will attempt to improve and cultivate in the
same manner the most fertile lands of Scotland； Ireland； or the
corn provinces of North America； though from the more exact
administration of justice in these countries more regular returns
might be expected。
In Virginia and Maryland the cultivation of tobacco is
preferred； as more profitable； to that of corn。 Tobacco might be
cultivated with advantage through the greater part of Europe； but
in almost every part of Europe it has become a principal subject
of taxation； and to collect a tax from every different farm in
the country where this plant might happen to be cultivated would
be more difficult； it has been supposed； than to levy one upon
its importation at the custom…house。 The cultivation of tobacco
has upon this account been most absurdly prohibited through the
greater part of Europe； which necessarily gives a sort of
monopoly to the countries where it is allowed； and as Virginia
and Maryland produce the greatest quantity of it； they share
largely； though with some competitors； in the advantage of this
monopoly。 The cultivation of tobacco； however； seems not to be so
advantageous as that of sugar。 I have never even heard of any
tobacco plantation that was improved and cultivated by the
capital of merchants who resided in Great Britain； and our
tobacco colonies send us home no such wealthy planters as we see
frequently arrive from our sugar islands。 Though from the
preference given in those colonies to the cultivation of tobacco
above that of corn； it would appear that the effectual demand of
Europe for tobacco is not completely supplied； it probably is
more nearly so than that for sugar； and though the present price
of tobacco is probably more than sufficient to pay the whole
rent； wages； and profit necessary for preparing and bring it to
market； according to the rate at which they are commonly paid in
corn land； it must not be so much more as the present price of
sugar。 Our tobacco planters； accordingly； have shown the same
fear of the superabundance of tobacco which the proprietors of
the old vineyards in France have of the superabundance of wine。
By act of assembly they have restrained its cultivation to six
thousand plants； supposed to yield a thousand weight of tobacco；
for every negro between sixteen and sixty years of age。 Such a
negro； over and above this quantity of tobacco； can manage； they
reckon； four acres of Indian corn。 To prevent the market from
being overstocked； too； they have sometimes； in plentiful years；
we are told by Dr。 Douglas （I suspect he has been ill informed）；
burnt a certain quantity of tobacco for every negro； in the same
manner as the Dutch are said to do of spices。 If such violent
methods are necessary to keep up the present price of tobacco；
the superior advantage of its culture over that of corn； if it
still has any； will not probably be of long continuance。
It is in this manner that the rent of the cultivated land；
of which the produce is human food； regulates the rent of the
greater part of other cultivated land。 No particular produce can
long afford less； because the land would immediately be turned to
another use。 And if any particular produce commonly affords more；
it is because the quantity of land which can be fitted for it is
too small to supply the effectual demand。
In Europe； corn is the principal produce of land which
serves immediately for human food。 Except in particular
situations； therefore； the rent of corn land regulates in Europe
that of all other cultivated land。 Britain need envy neither the
vineyards of France nor the olive plantations of Italy。 Except in
particular situations； the value of these is regulated by that of
corn； in which the fertility of Britain is not much inferior to
that of either of those two countries。
If in any country the common and favourite vegetable food of
the people should be drawn from a plant of which the most common
land； with the same or nearly the same culture； produced a much
greater quantity than the most fertile does of corn； the rent of
the landlord； or the surplus quantity of food which would remain
to him； after paying the labour and replacing the stock of the
farmer； together with its ordinary profits； would necessarily be
much greater。 Whatever was the rate at which labour was commonly
maintained in that country； this greater surplus could always
maintain a greater quantity of it； and consequently enable the
landlord to purchase or command a greater quantity of it。 The
real value of his rent； his real power and authority； his command
of the necessaries and conveniencies of life with which the
labour of other people could supply him； would necessarily be
much greater。
A rice field produces a much greater quantity of food than
the most fertile corn field。 Two crops in the year from thirty to
sixty bushels each； are said to be the ordinary produce of an
acre。 Though its cultivation； therefore； requires more labour； a
much greater surplus remains after maintaining all that labour。
In those rice countries； therefore； where rice is the common and
favourite vegetable food of the people； and where the cultivators
are chiefly maintained with it； a greater share of this greater
surplus should belong to the landlord than in corn countries。 In
Carolina； where the planters； as in other British colonies； are
generally both farmers and landlords； and where rent consequently
is confounded with profit； the cultivation of rice is found to be
more profitable than that of corn； though their fields produce
only one crop in the year； and though； from the prevalence of the
customs of Europe； rice is not there the common and favourite
vegetable food of the people。
A good rice field is a bog at all seasons； and at one season
a bog covered with water。 It is unfit either for corn； or
pasture； or vineyard； or； indeed； for any other vegetable produce
that is very useful to men； and the lands which are fit for those
purposes are not fit for rice。 Even in the rice countries；
therefore； the rent of rice lands cannot regulate the rent of the
other cultivated land； which can never be turned to that produce。
The food produced by a field of potatoes is not inferi