264 AX AMERICAN FARMER IX EXGLAXD. 



of their scenery, and have dwelt for months in the most beautiful, 

 purely natural scenes of a pastoral character in the world (in 

 Western Texas), I have been no where else so charmed as I 

 was continually while walking through those parts of England 

 least distinguished, and commonly least remarked upon by trav- 

 elers as beautiful. The scenery is beautiful without intention or 

 artifice for the purpose of man, and yet is full of the convenience 

 of man's occupation ; and it is picturesque without being ungentle 

 or shabby. (1858.) 



Descending into a broad, low tract of dale-land, we came at 

 length to a farm occupied by a relative of our guide, and which 

 was his destination. A branch of the lane in which we had been 

 for some time walking, ran through the farm, and terminated at 

 the farm-house. It was more picturesque and inconvenient, 

 deeper, narrower, and muddier than any we had before been 

 through. It was explained to us that it was a "parish road" 

 although leading to but one house and, therefore, the farmer 

 was not responsible for its bad repair.* Great trees grew up at 

 its side, and these the farmer was not allowed to fell or trim the 

 landlord estimating the value of their increase as timber or for 

 fuel, or their advantage as a nursery of game, higher than the 

 injury they caused to the crops in the adjoining fields. Near the 

 house the lane widened, and one side was flanked by a symmet- 

 rical yew-hedge ; on the other side, however, the trees and high 

 bank still continued, and two stout horses were straining every 

 muscle to draw a cart-load of crushed bones through the mire, 



* In the proceedings of a Parliamentary Commission of the last century, the following 

 questions and answers are recorded : 



Q. What sort of roads hare you in Monmouthshire ? 



A. None at all. 



Q. How do you travel then ? 



A. In ditches. Survey of Monmouth. 



