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in the woods different sorts of shrubs, upon 

 which the cattle browse early in the spring : 

 and, during the summer, the trees keep the 

 sun from the soil ; and the weeds and a 

 small quantity of bad grass grow in those 

 places (though, after it is cleared, the land 

 produces little or none) ; and, at the same 

 time, the timber keeps the sun from the 

 cattle, likewise the flies, which are more 

 numerous than any man who has not been 

 there will readily suppose. Then in the 

 winter time the woods are warmer than can 

 well be conceived. These observations 

 make it plainly appear that the land in its 

 natural state is of much more value for 

 pasturing, and of more even temperature, 

 than when it is cleared : and the falling of 

 the leaves on the roots of grass, where 

 there is any, is like covering grass-beds, or 

 any other tender plants, in the winter, to 

 preserve them from frost. In England, I 

 know of very little or no land that does not 

 by nature produce something, and will sup- 

 port sheep or rabbits : the former are one 



