Improvement of arable Land. 125 



on which they plant Acorns, which Ihoot fo 

 vigoroufly as to form a double, durable Fence. 

 They likevvife make Hedges of prickly Furzes^ 

 which are extraordinary Fences. Furz is 

 propagated by Sets or Seeds, and will make 

 a Hedge in three Years Time, if it be kept 

 well weeded, and fecur'd from Cattle, (efpe- 

 cially Sheep, which are great Devourers of it) 

 'till it attain fome Bignefs, and then nothing 

 can injure it: If dipt it will thrive extreme- 

 ly, and be very thick 5 but if it be permitted 

 to grow at large, it will prove the better 

 Shelter, and yield excellent Fuel: Tis alfo 

 an admirable Covert for Game.and profpers in 

 moift as well as dry Soils, tho* it is mod pro- 

 per for old dry Banks, or fuch a dry Sand or 

 Gravel, that nothing elfe will grow on*t. 

 When you plant any of the moft robuft Fo- 

 reft-Trees, efpecially the Oak, at competent 

 Spaces in Fields or Meadows, it is a very 

 good Method to open a Ring of Ground, at 

 about four Foot Diftance from the Stem, and 

 prick in Quick-fet Plants, which by Clip- 

 ping may be kept of what Height you pleafe. 

 Thefe Hedges will be very beautiful to the 

 Eye, prove a good Fence, and yield ufefui 

 Bufhes, Haws, &c. 



If a Piece of Ground in a common 

 Field cannot pofTibly be enclos'd without 

 great Expence and Difficulty, I would advife 

 the fowing of it fometimes with Clover : This 

 will certainly invite all the Sheep of the 



whole 



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