f 87 ] 



two inches -, and as it is of a hollow Tub-* 

 fiance, it may be admitted, that if the 

 earth were well (haken out, and fepa- 

 rated from the roots of the grafs, thefe 

 two inches might be reduced to one. 

 But when this two-inch-turf is burnt to 

 afhes, thofe allies will not cover the 

 ground to the thicknefs of a half-crown- 

 piece j fo that, upon any foil, this dimi- 

 nution mufl be feverely felt for half a 

 century afterwards -, and upon a fhallow 

 foil it is next to defl:ru(5lion. 



Farmers will aiTert, by way of reply^ 

 that they only burn the roots of the 

 rough grafs, and that the fire does not 

 reduce the earth, or foil. But it is well 

 knov/n, that the furface of all land, to a 

 confiderable depth, is nothing but the 

 relics of putrified vegetables, and plants j 

 and therefore will admit of a diminution. 

 And though the crops will flourifli for a 

 G 4 fen' 



