12. YORKSHIRE. 135 



proability by the brook in fhifting its chan- 

 nel from time to time. Neverthelefs, fuch 

 was the fuperficial appearance of this valley 

 while it was ufed as a whitening-ground, that 

 the Commifiioners under the Inclofure valued 

 the land (laft fummer a dry feafon) at forty 

 to fifty Shillings rent an acre. But this year, 

 the bleaching being difcontinued, it has 

 turned out not worth fifty-pence an acre; 

 notwithftanding the uncommon power which, 

 vegetation has this year every where elfe ma- 

 nifefted . 



The parts where the webbs have ufually 

 lain, arc evident to common obfervation : 

 fcarcely a blade of grafs has this year ihewn 

 itfelf upon them. Even the fedges and other 

 paluftrean weeds, which attempt to grow, are 

 not able to hide the dead-looking fand among 

 which they are rooted. The foil, naturally 

 weak, is at prefent evidently exhauiled. But 

 query, how has this exhauftion been erTecbed ? 

 By the lime which has been ufed in bleach-, 

 ing? Or by the watering which it has here- 

 K 4 tofore 



* A (hiking evidence this of the caution rcquiflte to 

 be ufed \>y Jlrangtn in eftimating the value of land. 



