FEBRUARY. 85 



broad ; but in others it may cost more. The earth 

 th^n lies ready, and without any obstruction, for 

 carting away, either to the held, to the farm -yard 

 to make a compost, or for dung to be brought to 

 it. But, in case one spit deep is not sufficient to 

 make the border lower than the surface of the 

 field, which it should always be, or, at the least, 

 on a level with it, if it is grass land, it will be 

 advisable to let the men who stub up the roots, 

 leave it level, and set others to dig it to the proper 

 depth. I have seen many farms so over run with 

 rubbish, that the borders occupy a considerable 

 part of* the whole. They then yield a very con- 

 temptible profit ; for the product by wood that 

 is spontaneou>ly planted, and open to all cattle, 

 {consisting three parts in four of brambles and rub- 

 bish) is of little value; upon the whole, no object, 

 compared with the land lost. When cleared, and 

 dug away to a proper d^pth, they are ready to be 

 laid down for grass, so as to pay rent as well as the 

 rest of the farm. In arable fields, the plough will 

 advance nuich nearer the hedges than before, and 

 yet leave space enough for a grass border. Such 

 an object as this may appear trifling to some far- 

 mers, who have not attended to the great loss of 

 land from this slovenly practice, but to good hus- 

 bandmen, desirous of making the most of every 

 part of their farms, it will not appear in such a 



G 3 WQOD$ 



