their paftures, from an apprehenfion that they fur- 

 nifhed a medicinal repaft td their fheep and cattle. 

 But on a careful examination, any perfon may be 

 convinced, that, in general, the produce of ant- 

 hills is, a little of the wild thyme, (which I never 

 obferved to be touched by cattle) and a much 

 larger quantity of poor fmall rufhy four grafs, 

 which is a very pernicious kind of food both for 

 cows and fheep. The extirpation of ant-hills is, 

 therefore, an eflential part of good hufbandr}\ If 

 the contents of them are mixed with lime and mulch 

 (long dung) to rot, they make an excellent com- 

 poft for the fame or any other land that wants ma- 

 nuring J and this method will prevent the ants from 

 bringing it in heaps again, which they are known 

 to do when the hills are only levelled by fpreading 

 the earth round them. The bare places left by the 

 removal of ant-hills, are very proper for fowing 

 the medicinal herbs and plants above-mentioned j 

 or the fmall Dutch clover, marl-grafs, &c. which 

 will fpread in and greatly improve the land at a 

 fmall expence. 



To perfons unacquainted with agriculture, or 

 who have not confidered the above matters, th?s 

 cflay may appear frivolous and uninterelling ; but 

 thofe who have obferved the impropriety and bad 



hufbandry 



