82 Review of M'lddlcfex Survey-. Jan. 



Upon the fubjeft of Paring and Burnings our opinions are 

 not very different from thofe entertained by Mr Middfeton. 

 We are aware that thofe who have made chemical fcience 

 their ftudy, do almoft unanimouily condemn the practice, 

 while the generality of profeflional hufbandmen as eagerly 

 maintain its utility. If Hounflow-heath, Finchley-ccmmon, 

 or other waftes, were to be put in a flate of aration, we know 

 of no method fo eiFeclual as to pare and burn them, in the 

 firft inftance ; but, upon the other grafs lands of Middlefex, 

 we confider fuch an operation as wholly unnecelTary. 



Upon the fubje£t of Irrigation, our author fpeaks rather in 

 too high terms. After ftating the advantages attending this 

 mode of improvement, he fays : — 



* Forty acres of good water meadow will fupnort, jn the greatcfl 

 luxuriance, ?oo Wiltfliire ewes and lambs for fix weeks, fjom the 

 middle of March to the ift of May, during which time they will 

 improve one fliilllng a week, or pay three pounds fifteen fiUings per 

 acre, at a time of ;^ear when all other farmers are diitreffed for a 

 \ifax)i of food for their ftock. In Middlefex, it would ftill be more 

 valuable, as five pounds worth of hay might be mown off it the firfl 

 Vi'eek in May. ' 



The above exceeds any thing we have met with refpe£ling 

 the produce of grafs land ; for it is only the bed meadow 

 that will feed 5 ewes and lambs, per acre, from the mj^dle 

 to the I ft of May -, and the greateft part of the paftures in 

 the kingdom will not I'upport near fo many. 



A very diftindl account is given, page 32S, Sc feq. of the 

 manner in which milk cows are kept in the vicinity of the 

 metropolis. The expence per week is ftated at 7s., or 18I. 

 4s. per atinuniy and the produce 29I. los., leaving a profit of 

 111. 6s. per cow ; but this includes allowance for intereft of 

 (lock, rent of buildings, lolTes, attendance, and all other ex- 

 pences. 



The dung and urine of flieep, at 20 miles or more from 

 London, is ftated to be worth about 5s. per head per annum y 

 which, in many cafcs, is more than tlie rent of the land. 

 Mr Middleton deals too much in calculations of this kind, 

 and appears to build them more upon conjedlure than expe- 

 riment. His obfervations upon the fheep Itock in South Bri- 

 tain, are given in the fame m.anner, and feem to have been 

 more the refult of information than obfervation. 



The fedlion concerning horfes, and their ufe in huft^andry, 

 compared with oxen, contains much valuable matter. The 

 mode of feeding farnt-horfes is amply detailed, and the expence 

 per annum faid to be 35I. Mr Middleton. is inimical to work- 

 ing 



