{ 159 ] 
have been done by the plough, but ferving as ma- 
nure for feveral fucceffive crops. 
But, unfortunately, this cuftom, like many others 
originally good, has, in fome inftances, remained, 
after its original caufes have ceafed to exift, and in 
others is applied under circumftances for which it 
was never intended. 
Paring and burning may be called a powerful 
medicine, which is only proper when properly ap- 
plied, but which in improper cafes may do, and 
fometimes has done mifchief, almoft irremediable. 
To apply this remark to Wiltfhire downs, it is 
| proper, though it has been already noticed, to re- 
peat here, that the native foil of the downs may in 
_ general, though with fome exceptions, be reduced 
to two diftinct kinds. “ The red land,” and « the 
“ black land,” the former being ufually a deep, firong, 
cobefive, four land, with an intermixture of flint, and 
a folid bed of chalk immediately under; and the 
latter a loofe, black furface, of the nature of peat on 
a bed of flints, or rubbly-chalk, and the chalk rock 
at fome diflance beneath. The former of thefe foils 
_ lies generally on the tops of the hills, and great part 
of it was originally in a ftate of wood-land. Art 
this time it is, in general, incumbered with furze 
and ftunted thorn bufhes. The latter ufually oc- 
upies the vallies and the fides of the hills, and 
though often fhallow in foil, is ufually the fweeteft 
_ feeding part of the downs. In many inftances, it 
; 
4 1s 
