ill NATURAL GRASSES. 12, 



grafs, that its prefent unproductivenefs is not 

 fo much owing to the nature of the foil or the 

 filiations, as to the age and the prefent qua- 

 lity of the HERBAGE. 



A ilronger inftance need not be produced 

 of the great impropriety, in. f ome cafes ^ ofob- 

 ftinately withholding permiffion to break up 

 old g rats land. 



Who> but a mere botanift, can fee without 

 difgnft his eftate occupied by fuch a tribe of 

 'weeds as are here enumerated ? efpecially 

 when the means of extirpation are fo eafy 

 arid fo profitable. All that is requifice to 

 render the land of dduble its prefent value, 

 is to annihilate the prefent fvvard, and raife 

 lip a frefh one in its place : in doing which, 

 if properly done, a cotirfe of corn-crops may- 

 be profitably taken. 



But neither the foil nor the lituation of 

 lands of this nature fit them for a continuance 

 of arable crops. They ought to be ufed as a 

 means only of purging the foil from its former 

 impurities, and rendering it fit for the recep- 

 tion and nourifhment of herbage ; every blad'e 

 and leaf of which is nutritive '. 



