[. 30 ] 
wafhing, baking, the ufe of the dairy, &c. Of laté 
years, brick and lime-kilns have been much in- 
creafed, and a vaft confumption of furze has been 
occafioned thereby. Great numbers of inclofures 
have been alfo cleared and converted to the growth 
of corn: add to thefe the great number of hedges 
which have been grubbed up to enlarge fields and 
extend profpects,—a novel inftance of facrificing 
convenience and emolument to fafhion! and can it 
be a wonder that fuel is grown {carce? . 
Were I the owner of a million of acres, I would 
not fuffer one to lie unoccupied. What would 
not bear corn or grafs, I would plant with wood. 
There are very few foils, if any, that would not 
bear wood of fome kind or other; and the moft or- 
dinary would be very acceptable, where no better is 
tobe got. There are many, many thoufand acres 
in this county, the annual produce of which does 
not amount to fixpence an acre per annum, which 
if well planted even with furze would be worth five 
fhillings. The general opinion is, that fuch land 
is too fterile and poor to bear any thing; but I am 
thoroughly convinced this is a great miftake. About 
eighteen years ago, fome thoufands of firs of all the 
different kinds, were planted in fome of the worft 
foils I have feen in this county; for a few years at 
firft, they cut an unpromifing appearance, but now 
they are as fine in all refpects as l ever faw; in 
general they run from eight to ten, fome to twelve 
inches 
