iv INTRODUCTION. 
are the moft capable? In other words, how they may be 
rendered the moft productive of human fuftenance, and the moft 
numerous inftances of human comfoyt? 
Under this general head of enquiry, different branches 
of improvement prefent themfelves for cenfideration :—__ 
As, 1ft. Whether the neareft lands, or thofe attached to 
the manfion, be the moit advantageoufly divided, and ap- 
plied to their moft produétive and proper ufes ?—Whether 
the owners occupy any wet or boggy lands, which may be 
rendered more valuable by eafy draining, ‘or new interfec- 
tions, fo as to increafe, to the greateft extent, the quantity 
of healthy pafture for fheep and cattle ?—-W hether any fpring, | 
or ftream of water, run to wafte, which may be turned on 
to fome part of the paftures for water-meadow? Under 
this idea, the great advantage of floating pafture-lands, now 
generally known, fhould be well confidered, in comparifon 
with the frequent unproduétivenefs of various natural paf- 
tures in dry feafons: and that though a ftream may be 
very infignificant in itfelf, and make a very obfcure figure 
through a rufhy or fedgy ditch, it is fometimes poffible, by 
erecting a dam scrofs a particular part of the ftream, to ob- 
tain a confiderable head of water, fufficient to float many 
acres; which would otherwife be of fmall ufe. Anda ton 
of hay per acre increafed in quantity, and materially im- 
proved in quality, befide the future great improvements of 
the ground, are objetis of prefent and laiting importance. 
— Whether, after procuring the greatett poffible quantity of © 
grafs and hay, the eftablifhment does not include fome 
unneceflary horfes, by which too much of that grafs and 
hay is unprofitably confumed, inftead’of fuftaining theep or 
cattle for the food of man? Should this latter be the cafe, 
(which is not uncommon) the longer fuch horfes are kept 
back from the market, the more will the habit of fo keeping 
. thena 
