b aae. i 
of improvement in thofe cold, bleak, expofed coun- 
tries, which without it muft remain, from genera- 
tion to generation for 1000 years to come, as pro- 
bably it has done for fome thoufands paft. 
The moft formidable difficulty which occurs in 
this f{cheme, is the time and expence required to 
eftablifh the outward fence. If the outer line be 
fown or planted with white or black thorn, with 
holly, crab, beech, &c. it muft be fenced for feveral 
years, to defend it from the bite of cattle, which 
requires more patience and expence than is ufually 
allowed, though abfolutely neceflary; but there is 
an eafy method of making an outward fence, which 
in two, or at moft three years, will be very fecure, 
without further expence and with little trouble. 
The ditches and banks being prepared as above, 
I would advife the pianting of a *withy edge on the 
brink 
* Witny. By this term, I much doubt if I fhall be generally under- 
ftood, it being feldom, I believe, to be met with in books, though very 
common among workmen and dealers in wood. It isa term of a yery 
comprehenfive meaning, as it includes many different kinds of plants, 
as fallows, willows, ofiers, and many others, fcarcely known by any 
but bafket-makers, for whofe ufe they are moftly planted; and each 
of thefe confift of a great variety of fpecies. Mr. Miller enumerates, 1 
think, only 14; but there are, I believe, near 20 of the ofier, as many 
of the willow, and a great variety of each of the other kinds. The 
fpecies here meant to be recommended, is of the fallow tribe, and de- 
feribed by Miller under the title Sallow No. 13 and 14. One of them 
is by fome called the mountain fallow, as it will grow on dry banks 
where moft other forts cannot live. It is of a clofe firm texture, long 
lived, 
