2l6 THE PRACTICE OF THE 



" cannot convey an idea of my method better, 

 " than by an account of the courfe I am now 

 " purfuing. 



" My firft eflay was on what is called an 

 " over- land (that is, land without a tenement 

 " belonging to it) of above fixty acres ; 

 '.' thirty of which lay on the north fide of a 

 " fharp valley. The defcent on one fide, and 

 46 the afcent on the other, are fo quick, that 

 " it is not practicable to carry any manure to 

 *' the faid thirty acres, but on horfes backs ; 

 " the expence of which would be too great 

 " for it to anfwer. The laft tenant had left it 

 in woeful plight ; having, as he faid, 

 << ploughed it as long as he could get two 

 " corns for one ; miferable condition indeed ! 

 " The firfl two years I left it to the manage- 

 6 ment of my hind, who cleaned it, and 

 ** fowed it with every fort of grain ; but the 

 " return was fuch as left nothing for rent. 

 " At length, he told me, it was to no pur- 

 *< pofe to plant it any more, unlefs I would 

 ** be at the expence of beftowing a good dref- 

 *' fing upon it, to improve it. This I re- 

 " folved not to do : for I have no idea of 

 ' any thing being an improvement, that 

 u does not pay the extra expence, and increafe 

 f the nett profit. Indeed, you may increafe 

 " the quantity of produce, and put the 

 64 land into better condition: but if, to efFect 

 ! this, you are at more expence than the 

 *< improvement will repay, I muft call this 



c meafure 



