Land, when very much divided, occafions confi- 

 derablc lofs of time to the occupier, in going over a 

 great deal of ufelefs fpace, in keeping a communica- 

 tion with the different pieces. As it lies generally 

 in long narrow flips, it is but feklom it can receive 

 any benefit from crofs-ploughing and harrowing; 

 therefore it cannot be kept fo clean; but what is flill 

 worfe, there can be but little variety obferved in the 

 fyftem of cropping; becaufe the right which every 

 parifliioner has of commonage over the field a great 

 part of the year, prevents the fowing of turnips, 

 clover, or other grafs feeds, and confcquently cramps 

 a farmer in the (lock which he would otherwife 

 keep. On the contrary, when the land is inclofed, 

 fo as to admit of fowing turnips and feeds, which 

 have an improving and meliorating tendency, the 

 fame foil will, in the courfe of a few years, make 

 nearly double the return it did before, to fay nothing 

 of the wonderful improvements which fometimes 

 refult from a loam or clay; which will, when well 

 laid down, often become of twice the permanent va- 

 lue in pafture, it ever would as ploughed ground. 

 Molt flriking efiefts of this fort are to be feen in 

 Lcicefterfliire, Northampton fliire, and other Midland 

 counties. 



This, indeed, has been urged by fome as an argu- 

 ment againfl inclofing ; as ihcy would infer that it 

 IcfTens the quantity of arable land too much, and, 

 tends to make corn dear; but the exccfs of grazing 



and 



