THE RURAr SOCRATE: 



125! 



even fhouted with joy in following the plough ; and 

 this noify gaiety feemed to influence and to gi/e new 

 flrength to the cattle who drew it along. 



The queflion that was next to be dircufled, %vas where 

 to begin the improvements ; the whole of the farm be- 

 ing in a flate of ruin. The meadows gave> very lltt]« 

 grais and of bad quality; the greater part being cover- 

 ed with water,*** and the rell exhaulicd for want of 

 manure. The fields were poor- ; and, as vyehave Cccn^ 

 in many places marfhy. The vineyard looked like fal- 

 low land ; and the hedges had encroached fo much up- 

 on it, that one of the befl portions of it was rendered 

 ufeiefs. There was very little dung ; and no provifioa 

 for liquid manure, the former refer voir s for' making it 

 beicg few and decayed. The little grain which was 

 growing, promifed but a fhiall quantity of draw ; and 

 kliyogg had no firs or pines to furnill) him with a fub- 

 ftitute, as a compofh for drefling his lands.— This flate 

 of things had much lelTened the firft effervefcence of joy 

 felt by his family, and there was much danger of dii- 

 couragem.ent fucceeding. Kliyogg alone refifled the 

 impreflion, reckoning more than ever upon his adivity 

 and the aid of Providence. 



He began with his arable lands ; and looked around 

 him for the means of fupplying himfelfwith ^nanure,-^ 

 The fiill refource wiiich offered itfelftohis penetrat- 

 ing eye, was thejupcrfluity of the hedges^ which had run 

 wild ; and from which he pruned or rooted out what- 

 ever was ufclels ; and then, burning it upon the fpot^ 

 made an excellent manure of the afhes. He thus re* 

 gained fome of his bed foil ; and, as time had produced 

 an excellent mould on the i'pot, he fpread a confidera- 

 blc part of this mould upon his fields. The waters at 

 the lame time finding a freer paflage through his hedg- 

 es, were drained from his arable lands, and inilead of 

 itfpreadupon his m.eadows. — ^liis t/'/^o^j offered him a 

 fecond fource for manure, as he took from tliem all 

 their ufclefs hiiJJics and brawbles^ which be reduced to 



adies. 



