[ *3 J 



As corn is but little attended to, it is scarcely worth while to 

 take any notice of their course of cropping, or of any thing that 

 relates to tillage. 



There are many woods in this district, the largest is Kingswood, 

 which covers about 230 acres. Fences very much neglected, and 

 over many of the woods the cattle freely range. 



The timber is chiefly oak, but does not get to any large size ; 

 the woods being, for the most part, situate at the declivity of the 

 hills, where there is but little depth of earth. The underwood is 

 cut for wreaths or faggots. The valleys are in general richly laden 

 with elm which grows spontaneously in the hedge-rows, and gets 

 to a good size. The method practised here of lopping off the 

 side branches, to what is called a besom head, cannot be too 

 much execrated. It is destructive to the growth of timber, and 

 by lessening the agitation produced by winds deprives it of 

 what may be deemed its salutary exercise. The effect of cutting 

 off the lower branches is a premature decay which first takes place 

 in the top of the tree, a general check is given to the circulation 

 of the sap, and it reduces the tree nearly to the state of a pollard. 



Neither the roads nor farm houses can be boasted of. No 

 manufactures. The poor principally employed in husbandry, 

 fishing, &c. 



The principal improvement that can be suggested is that of 

 draining their /ot lands, and folding sheep on the high land. 



The next portion of the northern district of which I shall treat, 

 is bounded on the west by Bristol and Wrington, and terminates 

 at the eastern boundary nf rhe. county; and on the south by the 

 Mendip Hills, (inclusive.) 



The soil of this district frequently changes, but the climate 

 can vary but little ; and the uniformity of atmospherical influence 

 is preserved considerably by the land rising rather gradually north- 

 ward and southward, and the western breezes blowing on the 

 vale greatest part of the year. On the whole the region is fa- 

 vourable to vegetation and agriculture in general; under great 

 part is good marie at no great depth : many great proprietors from 

 2 to 6000 pounds per annum, but still the greatest part is possessed 

 by the middle class, holding from 50 to 500 pounds per annum. 

 It is also principally occupied by middling farmers, £cw renting 



C more 



