In one district corn and hops chiefly thrive, in another vines andfruit, in a third timber production and cattle rearing, &c.Ifevery district is devoted to all these branches of production, itis clear that its labour and its land cannot be nearly soproductive as if every separate district were devoted mainly tothose branches of production for which it is specially adapted bynature, and as if it exchanged the surplus of its own specialproducts for the surplus produce of those provinces which in theproduction of other necessaries of life and raw materials possessa natural advantage equally peculiar to themselves.This divisionof commercial operations, this confederation of the productiveforces occupied in agriculture, can only take place in a countrywhich has attained the greatest development of all branches ofmanufacturing industry; for in such a country only can a greatdemand for the greatest variety of products exist, or the demandfor the surplus of agricultural productions be so certain andconsiderable that the producer can feel certain of disposing of anyquantity of his surplus produce during this or at least during nextyear at suitable prices; in such a country only can considerablecapital be devoted to speculation in the produce of the country andholding stocks of it, or great improvements in transport, such ascanals and railway systems, lines of steamers, improved roads, becarried out profitably; and only by means of thoroughly good meansof transport can every district or province convey the surplus ofits peculiar products to all other provinces, even to the mostdistant ones, and procure in return supplies of the peculiarproducts of the latter.Where everybody supplies himself with whathe requires, there is but little opportunity for exchange, andtherefore no need for costly facilities of transport.
We may notice how the augmentation of the powers of productionin consequence of the separation of occupations and theco-operation of the powers of individuals begins in the separatemanufactory and extends to the united nation.The manufactoryprospers so much the more in proportion as the commercialoperations are divided, the more closely the workmen are united,and the more the co-operation of each person is insured for thewhole.The productive powers of every separate manufactory are alsoincreased in proportion as the whole manufacturing power of thecountry is developed in all its branches, and the more intimatelyit is united with all other branches of industry.The agriculturalpower of production is so much greater the more intimately amanufacturing power developed in all its branches is unitedlocally, commercially, and politically with agriculture.Inproportion as the manufacturing power is thus developed will thedivision of the commercial operations and the co-operation of theproductive powers in agriculture also develop themselves and beraised to the highest stage of perfection.That nation willtherefore possess most productive power, and will consequently bethe richest, which has cultivated manufacturing industry in allbranches within its territory to the highest perfection, and whoseterritory and agricultural production is large enough to supply itsmanufacturing population with the largest part of the necessariesof life and raw materials which they require.