360 Obfervations on the Advantages 
this; and, in the fcarcity of oak timber, every 
thing which can be found as a fubftitute, or 
may tend to leffen its confumption, muft be con- 
fidered of importance to the country. 
The loppings and underwood afford. estoallast 
pofts, rails, hurdles, and fencing. 
Young cattle delight to feed on the leaves.and 
frefh fhoots of this tree more than any other; and 
where there are large plantatiofis of it, in dry 
fcorching fummers, when the paftures afford 
little grafs, the leaves will be found an excellent 
relief to farmers who have large ftock of young 
beafts. If gathered in fummer and cured like 
hay, they fupply a valuable fubftitute for that 
article in feafons of feverity. 
- The leaves fall in autumn in great abundance, 
and when left on the ground, improve it fo 
much, as to render barren moor land fertile 
in a few years; and to thofe who live at a- 
diftance from great towns, and find a diffi- 
culty in procuring manure, I know few things 
of equal value in the improvement of all foils, 
but efpecially the light, thin, poor ones—Mixed 
with earth, they form a ufeful compoft, and 
with the addition of a little kelp and lime, a 
cheap and excellent manure, as I can affert with 
confidence derived from experience. 
The Brrcu is alfo a tree which will’ grow 
well in the fituation I have been defcribing ; ; but, 
as 
