The culture of filk is , of no prejudice to agriculture
like the Mefta ; a manufacture of- filk would be of more
advantage to Eitremadura, than all the flocks o f the
Mefta together. Uftariz computes the Mefta to employ
forty thoufand people, deftined by nature for agricul-,
ture ; therefore, as each perfon could till land enough
to produce 50 fanegas of corn(«}, wquld they not be
better employed in railing two millions of fanegas of
corn, either at home or in Eitremadura, than in leading
fuch a wandering life in idlenefs and poverty ? In Galicia
they are not burthened with fuch fwarms o f vagabond
ftrollers with their dogs, nor are they peftered with
wolves ; one little girl while ihe is fpinning can overlook
the domeftic oeconomy, and have an eye to the^ whole
flock of the family, when the plains o f Eitremadura are
ravaged, and laid wafte by the locuft. Aik thefe par-
tifans of the Mefta, whether their iheep ever go into
battle, or render any public fervice to their country? I
know you have read the memorial of complaints, made
by the province of Eitremadura againft the Mefta;
though they ftill fuffer this inconvenience in the interior
parts of the kingdom, they ought to be more cautious
on the frontiers towards Portugal, to prevent bad
(a) Fanega is a corn meafure in Spain, five of which npake an Engliih quarter of eight
bufhels.
confequences
confequences in cafe o f a fudden invaiion. I ihould
be glad to know how many head o f cattle are maintained
in Madrid, Lor I know their provifion is not brought
from the mountains, or paftures, but from cultivated
plains. Finally, I ihall always be o f opinion that except
fome ipots ;referved ¿or .the .royal .chace, .and .the
diverfion o f our fovereigns and' their illuftrious line,
all the reft fhould be cultivated, as in the days o f Tertul-
lian, that each farmer ihould inclofe his lands, and
that the fame fhould ‘be allotted to them for tillage,
in proportion to their abilities r allowing “a certain number
o f cattle, corre’fponding to the extent o f the firm.
Then, 'for the greater advancement o f agriculture, the
cultivators of land ihould form a body politic, with
power to ena<ft wholefome laws, and regulations, 'for
the. encouragement and benefit o f huibandry. The
Mefta people did fo and had a confirmation of their
laws from Charles 5th, in 1544, but with this condition,
o f their not being prejudicial to a third perfon.
Let Eitremadura anfwer, whether this is the cafe? and
let the farmers then give their opinions. But I muft in-
fift with Solinus, that in Spain, no part where there is a
poflibility of avoiding it, ihould remain otiofum neque
Jlerile(a).
(a) Ever fince the aceelfion of .the houfc of Bourbon to the throne of.Spain, the extenilon
o f commerce, and the improvement o f agriculture have been, primary objefls. TheJteal Junta
de Commercto,.or Board.of Trade, was firft.ereaed by Philip.the 5th, on the 15th of May,
1707. Many new regulations have been made for the benefit o f commerce.and agriculture.