510 PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. Part III. 



3272. Where the surface-soil is dri/ and pooTy but on a dry subsoil, and all other cir- 

 cumstances are favorable, it may often be desirable for a proprietor to fix on such a 

 situation for his demesne, because such a surface is probably among the least valuable as 

 farm lands ; because land to be laid out as a park is not required to be rich ; and because 

 it will not be difficult to ameliorate all that part wanted as farm and garden ground. 



3273. The extent that should be kept as a demesne is more easily determined than any of 

 the foregoing points. The general wealth of the proprietor and his style of living are 

 here the leading guides. The extent of the demesne may bear very different relations to 

 the extent of the estate; because the proprietor may have other estates and other sources of 

 wealth. He may have chosen a small estate, on which to fix his residence, from its 

 local advantages ; or he may prefer a small demesne on a large estate, from his style of 

 life and the habits of his establishment, 



3274. The parkj in general, occupies much the largest part of the demesne lands. In 

 a civilized and populous closely-cultivated country, like Britain, nothing can be more 

 noble than a large forest-like park surrounding the mansion. In partially cultivated 

 countries or open field countries, it is less imposing ; and in countries scarcely appro- 

 priated and but thinly distributed with spots of culture, the park becomes a less noble 

 feature, and less a mark of wealth and distinction than a well-hedged and regularly- 

 cropped farm. 



3275. The apparent extent of a park depends much less on its contents in acres, than on 

 the inequalities of its surface, the disposition of its woods and waters, and the conceal- 

 ment or inobtrusiveness of its boundaries. An extensive flat, surrounded by a belt, and 

 interspersed with clumps, may be great, but can hardly be felt as grand or interesting, 

 by any but the owner : the acres it occupies will be guessed at by hundreds, and the esti- 

 mate will generally be found to fall short of the reality. On the other hand, a hilly park, 

 ingeniously wooded with one or more pieces of water, and probably rocks, bridges, and 

 other objects, will appear to a stranger of much greater extent than it really is ; and sets 

 rational estimate at defiance : such a park is certainly much more grand and picturesque 

 than one of mere *' bulk without spirit vast." 



3276. The home or demesne farm and farmery will be regulated in extent and style of 

 cultivation by the wants and wishes of the proprietor. It is sometimes a determinate 

 space in the least picturesque part of the demesne ; and sometimes, the greater part of 

 the park is brought in succession under the plough and the sickle. 



3277. The kitchen-garden is the next and only remaining large feature in the demesne : 

 it is generally placed near the house and stable offices, so as to have a convenient and un- 

 obtrusive communication with the kitchen court, and the livery-stable dung heap. 



3278. The pleasure ground, or lawn and shrubbery, often surround the house, offices, 

 and kitchen-garden ; and sometimes embrace them only on two or three sides. 



3279. The details of all these and other different parts of the demesne belongs to land- 

 scape gardening and architecture, and requires no further notice in this work. (See 

 JEncyc, of Gard. Part III. Book IV. and Encyc. of Architecture.) 



Chap. IV. 

 On the Formation of Roads. 



3280. The advantages of good roads is so obvious and so generally acknowledged, as to 

 "need no comment. Roads, canals, and navigable rivers, have been justly called the veins 

 and arteries of a country, through which all improvements flow. The Romans, aware of 

 their importance, both in a military and civil point of view, constructed them from Rome 

 to the utmost extent of their empire. With the dismemberment of that empire, the roads 

 became neglected and continued so during the dark ages. In modern times attention 

 was first paid to them on a large scale by the government of France, in the seventeenth cen- 

 tury ; and in England in the beginning of the century following. About the middle of 

 the eighteenth century considerable expense had been incurred in road-making, in several 

 districts, and the expenses of toll-gates begun to be felt as oppressive. This produced An 

 Enquiry into the State of the Public Roads, by the Rev. H. Homer, &c. 1767. which may 

 be considered as the origin of scientific research on the art of road-making in England. 



3281. In Scotland, the first turnpike act, as we have seen (750.), was passed in 1750 ; 

 since which period existing public roads have been improved, and many new ones formed; 

 but tlTe great impulse there was given after the act for abolishing heritable jurisdictions by 

 the money advanced by government, and the able military engineers sent from England to 

 conduct the roads in the Highlands. The appearance in Britain about this time of a 

 new order of professional men, under the name of civil engineers, also contributed to the 

 same effect. 



