IX. 



' FALLOWS 'AND WHAT FOLLOWS. 



WHEN the land is drained, and the crooked ridges 

 obliterated ; the useless fences stocked away, and the 

 few that remain straightened ; the Ash trees and old 

 pollards grubbed up, together with all other timber 

 that is neither useful nor ornamental ; the awkward 

 inequalities of surface reduced, by the spade as well 

 as the plough ; the Farm-buildings improved a little, 

 and adapted for the better and roomier accommodation 

 of a better and larger head of stock : and last not least, 

 the House rendered habitable for human beings " both 

 male and female " when all this is done and thanks 

 to increasing Population, increasing Trade, and in- 

 creasing Intelligence, such things are done, here and 

 there, now-a-days; it will in most cases be found 

 that a considerable amount of Time, and of some- 

 thing else will have been expended. But can it in 



