The rents of the corn lands are to the gross produce of them, as two is to nine; those of pasture, as seven to twelve.
Now it is very certain, that all rents are in a pretty just proportion to the gross produce, after deducting three principal articles.
1. The nourishment of the farmer, his family and servants.
2. The necessary expences of his family, for manufactures, and instruments for cultivating the ground.
3. His reasonable profits, according to the custom of every country.
Of these three articles, let us distinguish what part implies the direct consumption of the pure produce, from what does not.
Of the first sort are the nourishment of men and cattle, wool and flax for cloathing, firing, and other smaller articles.
Of the second are all manufactures bought, servants wages, the hire of labourers occasionally, and profits, either spent in luxury, (that is superfluity) lent, or laid up.
The three articles above mentioned (which we have distributed under two heads) being deduced from the gross produce, the remaining value shews the land rent.
This being the case, I am next to examine the cause of the great disproportion between the rents of corn lands, and those of pasture, when compared with the gross produce, in order to draw some conclusion, which may lead to the solution of the question here proposed.