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than the highlands of Scotland are now； and which had no foreign
commerce； the materials of clothing would evidently be so
superabundant that a great part of them would be thrown away as
useless； and no part could afford any rent to the landlord。
The materials of lodging cannot always be transported to so
great a distance as those of clothing； and do not so readily
become an object of foreign commerce。 When they are superabundant
in the country which produces them； it frequently happens； even
in the present commercial state of the world； that they are of no
value to the landlord。 A good stone quarry in the neighbourhood
of London would afford a considerable rent。 In many parts of
Scotland and Wales it affords none。 Barren timber for building is
of great value in a populous and well…cultivated country； and the
land which produces it affords a considerable rent。 But in many
parts of North America the landlord would be much obliged to
anybody who would carry away the greater part of his large trees。
In some parts of the highlands of Scotland the bark is the only
part of the wood which； for want of roads and water…carriage； can
be sent to market。 The timber is left to rot upon the ground。
When the materials of lodging are so superabundant； the part made
use of is worth only the labour and expense of fitting it for
that use。 It affords no rent to the landlord； who generally
grants the use of it to whoever takes the trouble of asking it。
The demand of wealthier nations； however； sometimes enables him
to get a rent for it。 The paving of the streets of London has
enabled the owners of some barren rocks on the coast of Scotland
to draw a rent from what never afforded any before。 The woods of
Norway and of the coasts of the Baltic find a market in many
parts of Great Britain which they could not find at home； and
thereby afford some rent to their proprietors。
Countries are populous not in proportion to the number of
people whom their produce can clothe and lodge； but in proportion
to that of those whom it can feed。 When food is provided； it is
easy to find the necessary clothing and lodging。 But though these
are at hand； it may often be difficult to find food。 In some
parts even of the British dominions what is called a house may be
built by one day's labour of one man。 The simplest species of
clothing； the skins of animals； require somewhat more labour to
dress and prepare them for use。 They do not； however； require a
great deal。 Among savage and barbarous nations； a hundredth or
little more than a hundredth part of the labour of the whole year
will be sufficient to provide them with such clothing and lodging
as satisfy the greater part of the people。 All the other
ninety…nine parts are frequently no more than enough to provide
them with food。
But when by the improvement and cultivation of land the
labour of one family can provide food for two； the labour of half
the society becomes sufficient to provide food for the whole。 The
other half； therefore； or at least the greater part of them； can
be employed in providing other things； or in satisfying the other
wants and fancies of mankind。 Clothing and lodging； household
furniture； and what is called Equipage； are the principal objects
of the greater part of those wants and fancies。 The rich man
consumes no more food than his poor neighbour。 In quality it may
be very different； and to select and prepare it may require more
labour and art； but in quantity it is very nearly the same。 But
compare the spacious palace and great wardrobe of the one with
the hovel and the few rags of the other； and you will be sensible
that the difference between their clothing； lodging； and
household furniture is almost as great in quantity as it is in
quality。 The desire of food is limited in every man by the narrow
capacity of the human stomach； but the desire of the conveniences
and ornaments of building； dress； equipage； and household
furniture； seems to have no limit or certain boundary。 Those；
therefore； who have the command of more food than they themselves
can consume； are always willing to exchange the surplus； or； what
is the same thing； the price of it； for gratifications of this
other kind。 What is over and above satisfying the limited desire
is given for the amusement of those desires which cannot be
satisfied； but seem to be altogether endless。 The poor； in order
to obtain food； exert themselves to gratify those fancies of the
rich； and to obtain it more certainly they vie with one another
in the cheapness and perfection of their work。 The number of
workmen increases with the increasing quantity of food； or with
the growing improvement and cultivation of the lands； and as the
nature of their business admits of the utmost subdivisions of
labour； the quantity of materials which they can work up
increases in a much greater proportion than their numbers。 Hence
arises a demand for every sort of material which human invention
can employ； either usefully or ornamentally； in building； dress；
equipage； or household furniture； for the fossils and minerals
contained in the bowels of the earth； the precious metals； and
the precious stones。
Food is in this manner not only the original source of rent；
but every other part of the produce of land which afterwards
affords rent derives that part of its value from the improvement
of the powers of labour in producing food by means of the
improvement and cultivation of land。
Those other parts of the produce of land； however； which
afterwards afford rent； do not afford it always。 Even in improved
and cultivated countries； the demand for them is not always such
as to afford a greater price than what is sufficient to pay the
labour； and replace； together with it ordinary profits； the stock
which must be employed in bringing them to market。 Whether it is
or is not such depends upon different circumstances。
Whether a coal…mine； for example； can afford any rent
depends partly upon its fertility； and partly upon its situation。
A mine of any kind may be said to be either fertile or
barren； according as the quantity of mineral which can be brought
from it by a certain quantity of labour is greater or less than
what can be brought by an equal quantity from the greater part of
other mines of the same kind。
Some coal…mines advantageously situated cannot be wrought on
account of their barrenness。 The produce does not pay the
expense。 They can afford neither profit nor rent。
There are some of which the produce is barely sufficient to
pay the labour； and replace； together with it ordinary profits；
the stock employed in working them。 They afford some profit to
the undertaker of the work； but no rent to the landlord。 They can
be wrought advantageously by nobody but the landlord； who； being
himself undertaker of the work； gets the ordinary profit of the
capital which he employs in it。 Many coal…mines in Scotland are