Pagina 445 de 2651

Human food seems to be the only produce of land, which always and

necessarily affords some rent to the landlord. Other sorts of

produce sometimes may, and sometimes may not, according to

different circumstances.

After food, clothing and lodging are the two great wants of

mankind.

Land, in its original rude state, can afford the materials of

clothing and lodging to a much greater number of people than it

can feed. In its improved state, it can sometimes feed a greater

number of people than it can supply with those materials; at

least in the way in which they require them, and are willing to

pay for them. In the one state, therefore, there is always a

superabundance of these materials, which are frequently, upon

that account, of little or no value. In the other, there is often

a scarcity, which necessarily augments their value. In the one

state, a great part of them is thrown away as useless and the

price of what is used is considered as equal only to the labour

and expense of fitting it for use, and can, therefore, afford no

rent to the landlord. In the other, they are all made use of, and

there is frequently a demand for more than can be had.