65 



The locust has been cultivated in some parts of the country to a 

 great profit ; and though often destroyed by the borer, this ought not, 

 where the object is so important, wholly to discourage the cultivator. 

 The cultivation of immense plantations of the German larch in Scot- 

 land, is now resulting in most extraordinary profits.* The lining 

 our roads, and many of our grounds with trees, both useful and orna- 

 mental, would confer immense public, as well as individual benefit ; 

 and is alike dictated by taste, interest, and public spirit. 



FENCES. 



The fences in general throughout the county are of stone, of which 

 material there is everywhere an abundance. The condition of the 

 fences generally through the county is wretched and disgraceful. 

 The law requires that all partition fences shall be four feet in height ; 

 but the law appears to be seldom enforced, and the fences being 

 neither in straight lines, nor of the legal height, are of the most slov- 

 enly description. It is impossible to conceive of any more irregular 

 divisions than the enclosures throughout this county generally present. 

 Straight lines are so important in point of convenience, as well as 

 desirable in appearance, that a hint to the Essex farmers in regard to 

 removing unnecessary fences, and bringing their enclosures into more 

 regular shapes, may not be lost upon them. 



The great evil of sfone walls, especially bank walls, is the danger 

 of being thrown down by frosts. A farmer, whose exactness of 

 observation entitles his judgment to respect, suggests, that the mistake 

 lies in water being permitted to settle at the foundation of the wall, 

 which is commonly laid in a trench ; therefore, whenever a wall is 

 built, gutters should be formed on each side of the wall, at a short 

 distance from it, by which all the surface water, which would other- 

 wise settle under it, should be immediately conveyed away. This 

 seems a highly useful suggestion, and I have known it practised upon 

 with advantage. 



Of live fences, there are no samples of any considerable extent in 



* Appciidix F. 



