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forest, and proper stone is found for building on almost every parr. 

 And to complete the whole, slate of a good quality has been du<- 

 up in large quantities not far from Simonsbath ; and there is every 

 reason ro think it may be found in other places. Water is in plenty 

 in every part, as before-mentioned ; several market towns ar$ 

 within a few miles of the forest. Large tracts of land are well 

 adapted for the tillage of flax, which is known to thrive best on 

 ola, or unvegetated ground with a strong deep soil. The grain 

 which thrives in the adjoining parishes would, no doubt, flourish 

 here ; and a ready sale would be found in the neighbouring mar- 

 kets, or by being exported from the ports on the Eristol channel. 



The ashes arising from the weeds, and other extraneous mattes 

 on the surface being burnt, and mixed with lime, would be a first 

 dressing preparatory cither to a crop of turnips or corn. 



From the produce of the crops, would arise manure for future 

 tillage, and what is now a barren waste, might be made worth 

 from five to twenty shillings per acre. 



The plan for inclosures and building on the forest, I would re r 

 commend, is this : Let there be a small town or village erecte4 

 near the middle, suppose by Simonsbath House, which should form 

 proper residences for artificers and husbandmen, to be employed in 

 building farm houses, and inclosing many a comfortable estate 

 round them. From this centre town, or village, it would be easy 

 to get a supply of provisions and all other necessaries, as a butcher 

 Jjaker, shopkeeper, Sec. might be there settled. And till other 

 houses or villages should be built, labourers, artificers, and work- 

 men, might find lodgings, provisions, &c. in the bordering pa- 

 rishes, many of which at this time have more labourers than they 

 can well employ. The method of fencing, cultivating, manuring, 

 Sec. would vary but little from the plan adopted on Mendip Hills ; 

 and if prosecuted with vigor, would tend to lessen the poors rates, 

 and would train up a rising generation to care and industry, instead 

 of theft and idleness. 



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