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Show 290 OF THE )'\'AGES OF LABOUR. [CH. IV. fan1ily, or the increased exertions of the head of it in task-\vork. . It is obvious, therefore, that the san1e current corn wages "rill, under different circun1stances, have a different effect in the encouragetnent of popula~ tion. It should also be observed, that in esti1nating the corn \vao·es of labour I have unifonnly b taken wheat, the dearest grain. I have taken one grain to the exclusion of other necessaries, because I wish to avo-id con1plicating the subject; and have chosen wheat because it 'is the main food of the greatest part of the population in England. But it is evident that at those periods, or in those countries, in \V hich the n1ain food of the people does not consist of wheat, the wheat wages that can be earned by a family will not form a just criterion of the encouragement given to population. Although the \Vheat "vages might be very unequal at two different periods or ' in two different countries, yet if in one case an in·· ferior grain were habitually consumed, the eneouragement to the population might be the satne. The Irish labourer cannot command the support of so large a family upon wheat as the English, but he can command in general the support of a much larger family upon the food on which he is accustomed to live; and consequently, population has increased muc~ faster during the last century in Ireland than in England. It appears then that, making a proper allowance for the varying 'value of other parts of the \\rages EC -:- |
