APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTRY. 17 



compelled, at no small expense of time and trouble, (as a 

 sailor would say,) to give these heaps a good berth; and only 

 going near enough to them to refresh and invigorate the roots 

 of the briers and bramble bushes, by which they are usually 

 ornamented, and which, to rny taste, are quite as offensive in a 

 farmer s field as the &quot; mustachios and imperials &quot; so often seen 

 upon the monkey masque, which passes, by the mere indulgence 

 and good humor of society, for a human face. Throughout 

 those parts of England which I have seen, there are, as I have 

 already remarked, an exactness, a finish, and a cleanness in the 

 cultivation, which impress a stranger most agreeably, and de 

 serve the highest commendation. There are, occasionally, im 

 mense tracts of unenclosed commons, and heaths, and moors, 

 where there is no cultivation, where nothing grows, and, in some 

 cases, little can ever be made to grow ; or which, otherwise, are 

 abandoned to the growth of furze or gorse for the protection of 

 the game, and for the pleasures of the chase. These are called 

 preserves, and are leased to sportsmen occasionally, or, rather, the 

 right to kill game upon them is leased, at a rate which we should 

 deem a high rent, even for purposes of cultivation. An eminent 

 agriculturist has shown that, in England and Scotland, there are 

 full 10,000,000 acres in heath or moor, all susceptible of being 

 brought into productive cultivation. These lands, of course, 

 remain as they are by voluntary neglect or design. But I refer 

 to the cultivated and improved lands ; and here there is every 

 where a surprising neatness and finish every thing is done, as 

 it were, by line and measure ; the corners and the head lands are 

 thoroughly cleaned, the open ditches are kept unobstructed, the 

 crops are drilled in straight lines, and a newly-ploughed field 

 resembles a plaited ruffle from the ironing board of a good 

 housewife. Such exactness is exceedingly beautiful, and, 

 though it may appear, at first, to consume a good deal of time, 

 will be found, in the long run, to be more economical than the 

 slovenly way in which things are often done in many places, 

 which I am reluctant to name. There is a pleasure afforded by 

 such neatness Avhich is very great, and which can be properly 

 appreciated only by those who have been largely endowed by 

 nature with the organ of order. 

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