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scarce yet have got to it。 Of all the different substances；
however； which compose this second sort of rude produce； cattle
is； perhaps； that of which the price； in the progress of
improvement； first rises to this height。
Till the price of cattle； indeed； has got to this height； it
seems scarce possible that the greater part； even of those lands
which are capable of the highest cultivation； can be completely
cultivated。 In all farms too distant from any town to carry
manure from it； that is； in the far greater part of those of
every extensive country； the quantity of well…cultivated land
must be in proportion to the quantity of manure which the farm
itself produces； and this again must be in proportion to the
stock of cattle which are maintained upon it。 The land is manured
either by pasturing the cattle upon it； or by feeding them in the
stable； and from thence carrying out their dung to it。 But unless
the price of the cattle be sufficient to pay both the rent and
profit of cultivated land； the farmer cannot afford to pasture
them upon it； and he can still less afford to feed them in the
stable。 It is with the produce of improved and cultivated land
only that cattle can be fed in the stable； because to collect the
scanty and scattered produce of waste and unimproved lands would
require too much labour and be too expensive。 If the price of
cattle； therefore； is not sufficient to pay for the produce of
improved and cultivated land； when they are allowed to pasture
it； that price will be still less sufficient to pay for that
produce when it must be collected with a good deal of additional
labour； and brought into the stable to them。 In these
circumstances； therefore； no more cattle can； with profit； be fed
in the stable than what are necessary for tillage。 But these can
never afford manure enough for keeping constantly in good
condition all the lands which they are capable of cultivating。
What they afford being insufficient for the whole farm will
naturally be reserved for the lands to which it can be most
advantageously or conveniently applied； the most fertile； or
those； perhaps； in the neighbourhood of the farmyard。 These；
therefore； will be kept constantly in good condition and fit for
tillage。 The rest will； the greater part of them； be allowed to
lie waste； producing scarce anything but some miserable pasture；
just sufficient to keep alive a few straggling； half…starved
cattle； the farm； though much understocked in proportion to what
would be necessary for its complete cultivation； being very
frequently overstocked in proportion to its actual produce。 A
portion of this waste land； however； after having been pastured
in this wretched manner for six or seven years together； may be
ploughed up； when it will yield； perhaps； a poor crop or two of
bad oats； or of some other coarse grain； and then； being entirely
exhausted； it must be rested and pastured again as before and
another portion ploughed up to be in the same manner exhausted
and rested again in its turn。 Such accordingly was the general
system of management all over the low country of Scotland before
the union。 The lands which were kept constantly well manured and
in good condition seldom exceeded a third or a fourth part of the
whole farm； and sometimes did not amount to a fifth or a sixth
part of it。 The rest were never manured； but a certain portion of
them was in its turn； notwithstanding； regularly cultivated and
exhausted。 Under this system of management； it is evident； even
that part of the land of Scotland which is capable of good
cultivation could produce but little in comparison of what it may
be capable of producing。 But how disadvantageous soever this
system may appear； yet before the union the low price of cattle
seems to have rendered it almost unavoidable。 If； notwithstanding
a great rise in their price； it still continues to prevail
through a considerable part of the country； it is owing； in many
places； no doubt； to ignorance and attachment to old customs； but
in most places to the unavoidable obstructions which the natural
course of things opposes to the immediate or speedy establishment
of a better system： first； to the poverty of the tenants； to
their not having yet had time to acquire a stock of cattle
sufficient to cultivate their lands more completely； the same
rise of price which would render it advantageous for them to
maintain a greater stock rendering it more difficult for them to
acquire it； and； secondly； to their not having yet had time to
put their lands in condition to maintain this greater stock
properly； supposing they were capable of acquiring it。 The
increase of stock and the improvement of land are two events
which must go hand in hand； and of which the one can nowhere much
outrun the other。 Without some increase of stock there can be
scarce any improvement of land； but there can be no considerable
increase of stock but in consequence of a considerable
improvement of land； because otherwise the land could not
maintain it。 These natural obstructions to the establishment of a
better system cannot be removed but by a long course of frugality
and industry； and half a century or a century more； perhaps； must
pass away before the old system； which is wearing out gradually；
can be completely abolished through all the different parts of
the country。 Of all the commercial advantages； however； which
Scotland has derived from the union with England； this rise in
the price of cattle is； perhaps； the greatest。 It has not only
raised the value of all highland estates； but it has； perhaps；
been the principal cause of the improvement of the low country。
In all new colonies the great quantity of waste land； which
can for many years be applied to no other purpose but the feeding
of cattle； soon renders them extremely abundant； and in
everything great cheapness is the necessary consequence of great
abundance。 Though all the cattle of the European colonies in
America were originally carried from Europe； they soon multiplied
so much there； and became of so little value that even horses
were allowed to run wild in the woods without any owner thinking
it worth while to claim them。 It must be a long time； after the
first establishment of such colonies； before it can become
profitable to feed cattle upon the produce of cultivated land。
The same causes； therefore； the want of manure； and the
disproportion between the stock employed in cultivation； and the
land which it is destined to cultivate； are likely to introduce
there a system of husbandry not unlike that which still continues
to take place in so many parts of Scotland。 Mr。 Kalm； the Swedish
traveller； when he gives an account of the husbandry of some of
the English colonies in North America； as he found it in 1749；
observes； accordingly； that he can with difficulty discover there
the character of the English nation； so well skilled in all the
different branches of agric