74 TRAVELS THROUGH 



fulnefs at the thoughts of fhewing me the 

 fields about which we had converted fo 

 much the evening before. The feafon 

 would not allow me to judge of his merit 

 as a cultivator, had I been ever fo able. 

 The only crop to be feen was the turneps, 

 which, though much crowded together, 

 were very free from weeds > they did not 

 feem very large in general. His fences, 

 through all the new inclofures, confifted 

 of a deep ditch, with a high bank, upon, 

 which ran a hedge of furze, which, being 

 cut down every five or fix years, yielded a 

 great quantity of faggots for firing, and 

 fprung up again the thicker and ftrongjer. 

 In riding over his heath, he pointed out an 

 immenfe tract of fimilar wafles, which ex^ 

 tended above thirty miles towards Rheims 

 and Retel, which yielded fcarce any food, 

 even for fheep, not being a tenth flocked 

 even with them ; all of which, faid he, are 

 capable of high improvement; fome far 

 better land than this farm, on which indu- 

 Jftrious people might make almoft as much 

 money as they pleafed. Upon returning 

 from the ride, I took a hafty breakfaft, and 



bid 



