raw produce is, both in its nature and origin, and the laws by
which it is governed, from the high price of a common monopoly.

The causes of the high price of raw produce may be stated to
be three.

First, and mainly, that quality of the earth, by which it can
be made to yield a greater portion of the necessaries of life
than is required for the maintenance of the persons employed on
the land.

Secondly, that quality peculiar to the necessaries of life of
being able to create their own demand, or to raise up a number of
demanders in proportion to the quantity of necessaries produced.

And, thirdly, the comparative scarcity of the most fertile
land.

The qualities of the soil and of its products, here noticed
as the primary causes of the high price of raw produce, are the
gifts of nature to man. They are quite unconnected with monopoly,
and yet are so absolutely essential to the existence of rent,
that without them, no degree of scarcity or monopoly could have
occasioned that excess of the price of raw produce, above the
cost of production, which shows itself in this form.

If, for instance, the soil of the earth had been such, that,
however well directed might have been the industry of man, he
could not have produced from it more than was barely sufficient
to maintain those, whose labour and attention were necessary to