346 Odjervations on the Advantages 
this unprofitable, comfortlefs; and difgraceful 
ftate to the owners, when they might be fo éafily 
converted into fcenes of pi€turefque beauty, and 
yield fo much benefit to the proprietors, is a 
circumftance I have frequently been ata lofs to 
account for. ‘To the enquiries I have made on 
this fubje&, the moft general anfwet has been, 
‘‘ that wood would not grow on fuch land.” 
But, I am led to conjecture the true caufe to be, 
that the expence is zmmediate, and the profit at a 
diftance. _'This doubtlefs has appeared, at the 
firft view, to many a fufficient bar to improve- 
ments of this kind, yet I truft a fair and candid 
enquiry into faéts, with the obfervations I fhall 
adduce, on different plantations within my own 
knowledge, will fufficiently demonftrate, that a 
man may, within the compafs of his own life, 
(if he begin to plant early) reap the reward of 
his labour, and alfo enjoy the pleafing refleGion 
of the advantages he is preparing for his children 
by this rational and amufing employment, as 
well as the benefit and agreeable fcénery the 
country will receive from fo laudable an under- 
» taking. 
There are three kinds of land generally deemed 
unfavorable for the purpofes of cultivation; and 
experience has proved, in moft inftances, that 
although more pains, labour, and expence have 
been beftowed in sa ela to cultivate and 
improve 
