OF NORFOLK. 187 



to determine, but as Mr. Young's reafoning may- 

 have a tendency to increafe what I conceive to be 

 a real evil, I mean the breaking up of the maiden 

 downs, which are the glory of the weftern coun- 

 ties, and one of the greatefl fupports of the wool- 

 len manufactory, I hope I mall not be confidered 

 as going out of my way, in making a fhort remark 

 upon it. 



The increafe of rent, upon land thus broken up 

 and pahed through this ordeal trial, is no decifive 

 proof, that the practice is advantageous, even in 

 that point of view, for it is evident that reducing 

 the quantity of down mud reduce the number of 

 fheep, and confequently leflen the value of the 

 old tillage, by robbing it of the fold, which is its 

 bed fupport ; lb that two certain advantages are 

 facrificed for one, and that, perhaps, not perma- 

 nent. In fhort, without a due proportion of old 

 fward, a flock cannot, all the year, be kept in 

 health ; artificial grafRs, though good in their 

 kinds, will not alone anfwer the purpofe required ; 

 this every farmer of experience knows, and it is 

 not in H amp (hi re alone where the lot's of this old 

 turf has been giievoufly felt, but in many parts of 

 this county, particularly in the neighbourhood of 

 Thetford, where the breaking up of fo much of the 

 heath land, has fo far contracted the fheep- walks, 

 that the flocks fuftain an irreparable injury from it. 

 So far thefe practices attach to farmers; but there is 



A a 2 one 



