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a proper size, viz. 5 or 600 acres, he would, according to th« 

 farmers phrase, " find himself at home/' and his example would 

 soon be followed by many others. 



Cabbages, turnips, potatoes, carrots, parsnips, vetches, flax, 

 oats, clover, and all artificial grasses, may be grown in the high- 

 est abundance and perfection. 



The land is never glutted with rain, nor subject to drought, 

 and the fogs, (of which so much is said) are prevalent only in the 

 winter season. 



It cannot be denied but that a cold, wet summer, such as that 

 6f 1792, is peculiarly unfavourable to the ripening of corn on lands 

 of such elevation, but in summers like the last, few countries could 

 vie with it. 



Though I am no advocate for farms of an excessive extent, yet I 

 think, that on soils, and in situations such as Mendip hills, they 

 should not be less than 4 or 500 acres. I mean sufficient to keep a 

 flock of sheep for the purposes of folding., which should be unremit- 

 tingly pursued through both winter and summer months. On the 

 fallows in the summer, and on the grass land, or in the bartons in 

 the winter- A wether flock would be best calculated for the pur- 

 pose, and it is a matter of doubt with many judicious farmers, whe- 

 ther sheep of that kind are not equally profitable with a breeding 

 stock, even in situations more mild and temperate. Bv such a 

 system of management, 100 acres might be manured every year 

 with the fold which joined with occasional liming ; and the appli- 

 cation of the barton dung would keep the land in a progressive state 

 of improvement, and at the least possible expence. 



Formerly the ploughs used here were the most aukward, and 

 ill contrived, that could be conceived, but they have in a great 

 measure given place to the double furrowed plough, which was in- 

 troduced to this neighbourhood by a speculative man who turned 

 fanner on these lands, disregarded, and despised by all practical 

 husbandmen. At first he became an object of ridicule to all around 

 him ; even his friends considered, that ruin must be the inevitable 

 consequence of sucfi rash, and ill-judged speculation. However, 

 by means of activity and perseverance, he has not only weathered 

 the storm, but has the satisfaction of seeing the example which 



he 



