GOOD FARMING. 245 



feet system of agriculture with the slow 

 progress our fathers had made in this most 

 useful art. The large square enclosures 

 were surrounded by a fence that while it 

 prevented the trespass of sheep or swine, 

 admitted the plough to the very edge ; and 

 was, from being kept constantly in order, 

 of no obstacle to either sun or wind 

 thus rendering every foot of land available. 

 The pastures were rich, and teemed with 

 thriving Devon oxen and South Down 

 sheep of the purest breed. The corn was 

 in the ear, for it was Summer time, and 

 the tall standing stalks, free from either 

 the red or white weed, thickly wafted to and 

 fro by the wind, gave promise of a most 

 prolific yield. The Mangel and Swedes had 

 been cut out, and growing on ridges, more 

 than common care had been bestowed, one 

 would suppose, to give the plant a healthy 

 and vigorous appearance while the fallows 

 were as clean as plough and harrow men, 

 women, and boys could make them. At 



