170 On the Nature and Advantages of Indosures. 



perpetually harassed and interrupted in their feeding by 

 dogs, or other intruders, but in general, have access to wa- 

 ter when they please, and by these means, improve much 

 faster, than on the same extent of uninclosed land. The 

 grass, where protected by the fences, owing to greater shelter 

 thus obtained, is earlier and more abundant, than in bleak 

 exposed open lands of similar soils, and in the same neigh- 

 bourhood. The live stock, in the summer season, suffer 

 less from heat, are protected in cold and stormy weather ( 66 ) 

 and in particular, have sheltered places to resort to, where 

 they may sleep or ruminate. The stock likewise being more 

 quiet, do not poach the ground so much in wet weather ( 67 ). 

 From these advantages, joined to that important one, of 

 being enabled to shift from one field to another, for fresh 

 supplies of grass, experienced graziers entertain the highest 

 opinion of their utility ( 68 ). 



5. In the management of arable land, many solid advan- 

 tages are derived from inclosures. When the land is open, 

 it is exposed to trespass; but. when inclosed, the farmer is 

 secured against encroachment, can adopt a correct and 

 profitable rotation of crops, can proceed with vigour in its 

 cultivation, and can reap its fruits with safety. An in- 

 creased produce is the necessary consequence of these ad- 

 vantages. Where corn, however, is the principal object, 

 the inclosures ought to be large. 



6. In some districts in England, coals are dear, or fuel 

 scarce, and mixed hedges, from the quantity of wood they 

 produce, are considered to be profitable. The fence, how- 

 ever, in that case, is rarely so good, and more ground than 

 usual must be allotted for the purpose. 



7. The oak-timber that grows in hedge-rows, is more 

 valuable than any other for naval purposes, furnishing that 

 knee-timber* so essential in the construction of ships of war. 



^ 8. The very appearance of inclosures indicates comfort 



jand security. Landlords, on that account, never fail to 



[draw very advanced rents from well-inclosed lands. They 



are generally let at from 2s. to perhaps 10s. or 15s. per acre 



higher, than open lands of the same description, in their 



immediate neighbourhood. Besides this additional rent, 



the farmer, from a consciousness of the benefit derived from 



them, will often undertake to uphold the fences, at his own 



charge, during the lease. 



9. Inclosures also, by means of ditches, contribute both 

 to drain, and to improve the climate of a country ; while 



