Item ID: 2750 A Letter to Lord Clive, on the Great Benefits which may result to the Publick from patriotically expending a small part of a large private fortune: particularly in promoting the Interests of Agriculture, by forming an Experimental Farm. Containing a practical Course of Management, with Estimates of the Expences and Profit. Illustrated with a Plan of the Farm. Arthur YOUNG.
A Letter to Lord Clive, on the Great Benefits which may result to the Publick from patriotically expending a small part of a large private fortune: particularly in promoting the Interests of Agriculture, by forming an Experimental Farm. Containing a practical Course of Management, with Estimates of the Expences and Profit. Illustrated with a Plan of the Farm.

A Letter to Lord Clive, on the Great Benefits which may result to the Publick from patriotically expending a small part of a large private fortune: particularly in promoting the Interests of Agriculture, by forming an Experimental Farm. Containing a practical Course of Management, with Estimates of the Expences and Profit. Illustrated with a Plan of the Farm.

One large folding engraved plate. 56 pp. 8vo, stitched as issued (half-title a little soiled), uncut. London: W. Nicoll, 1767.

First edition and quite rare. “In this little pamphlet of 56 pages Young assumed that Clive would spend part of his reputedly tremendous fortune made in India in purchasing land, since ‘consequence and importance in this kingdom are more annexed’ to land than to money. He urged Clive to purchase a large estate of waste land which should be enclosed, brought into cultivation, and turned into a vast experimental farm for crop rotations, various methods of soil treatment, new crops, and scientific stock breeding. He estimated the initial expense as about 26,000 pounds, but predicted that in time the profits might amount to 2000 pounds a year. But Young also had plenty of plans for spending the profits. To be useful the experiments should be published. The remainder of the profits could well be applied for agricultural premiums, and to send a qualified person on an agricultural tour of Europe, as suggested in that recent publication, the Farmer’s Letters. Unfortunately Clive never attempted to discover the ingenious author to appoint him supervisor of the whole scheme, manager of the experiments, editor of the publications, administrator of the premiums, and traveller extraordinary.”–Gazley, The Life of Arthur Young, pp. 28-29.

A crisp clean copy, uncut as issued, and preserved in a folding cloth box.

Price: $1,950.00

Item ID: 2750

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