DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22140#0047
THE CONDITIONS OF ECONOMIC PROGRESS.
3i
attract attention by their suddenness. Those in agriculture are
insensible, partly because the process itself is slow and gradual,
partly because it is more gradually adopted. It took a hundred
years to naturalize turnip culture in England, nearly as long to
diffuse the principle of artificial selection in cattle, sheep, pigs, and
poultry. It will, perhaps, take nearly as long to make the
practice of ensilage common ; but I think I could show you, did
occasion permit, abundant illustrations of the manner in which
agriculture has progressed.
It has been suggested that there would be an advantage in
illustrating the division of employments or labour by speaking of
it as co-operation, and Mr. Gibbon Wakefield, an ingenious com-
mentator on the earlier part of Smith's work, has recommended
the word co-operation, a term which, in his day, had not been so
entirely appropriated as it has in ours. For, says Mr. Gibbon
AVakefield, co-operation is of two kinds, simple and compound,
both of importance in an economical analysis, the latter sense
being that especially which illustrates the division of employ-
ments, and he further observes that there is a notable economy
in simple co-operation. Two horses, he says in illustration, will
draw more than double what one will, as will two sailors working
at a windlass, and the like. In compound co-operation each agent
is employed on one function only, in the satisfaction of which he
acquires extraordinary aptitude and skill.
Now Adam Smith, in discussing his own position, discovers
certain advantages in the process. First, " it occasions," he says,
" a proportionate increase of the productive powers of labour," or,
in other words, " it increases the dexterity of every particular
workman ; " in the next, " it saves time which is commonly lost in
passing from one species of work to another ; " and in the third
place, it suggests the " invention of labour-saving and labour-
easing machines."
Two additions were made to Smith's theory by my late friend
Mr. Babbage, and communicated to me a good many years ago.
The one is, that in any operation which leads to a manufactured
utility there are, however skilful persons may become, different
degrees of skill in the operation. Let us take those of the
processes of pinmaking in Smith's day. Let one be setting on
3i
attract attention by their suddenness. Those in agriculture are
insensible, partly because the process itself is slow and gradual,
partly because it is more gradually adopted. It took a hundred
years to naturalize turnip culture in England, nearly as long to
diffuse the principle of artificial selection in cattle, sheep, pigs, and
poultry. It will, perhaps, take nearly as long to make the
practice of ensilage common ; but I think I could show you, did
occasion permit, abundant illustrations of the manner in which
agriculture has progressed.
It has been suggested that there would be an advantage in
illustrating the division of employments or labour by speaking of
it as co-operation, and Mr. Gibbon Wakefield, an ingenious com-
mentator on the earlier part of Smith's work, has recommended
the word co-operation, a term which, in his day, had not been so
entirely appropriated as it has in ours. For, says Mr. Gibbon
AVakefield, co-operation is of two kinds, simple and compound,
both of importance in an economical analysis, the latter sense
being that especially which illustrates the division of employ-
ments, and he further observes that there is a notable economy
in simple co-operation. Two horses, he says in illustration, will
draw more than double what one will, as will two sailors working
at a windlass, and the like. In compound co-operation each agent
is employed on one function only, in the satisfaction of which he
acquires extraordinary aptitude and skill.
Now Adam Smith, in discussing his own position, discovers
certain advantages in the process. First, " it occasions," he says,
" a proportionate increase of the productive powers of labour," or,
in other words, " it increases the dexterity of every particular
workman ; " in the next, " it saves time which is commonly lost in
passing from one species of work to another ; " and in the third
place, it suggests the " invention of labour-saving and labour-
easing machines."
Two additions were made to Smith's theory by my late friend
Mr. Babbage, and communicated to me a good many years ago.
The one is, that in any operation which leads to a manufactured
utility there are, however skilful persons may become, different
degrees of skill in the operation. Let us take those of the
processes of pinmaking in Smith's day. Let one be setting on