fte. 



YORKSHIRE. 31^ 



method of freeing grafsland from the sloe- 

 thorn, — one of the hardieft Jhrubs which 

 hufbandry has to contend with. 



If black-thorns be grubbed up by the rootSy 

 every fibril left in the foil produces a frefh 

 plant ; fo that inftead of being leflened by 

 this tedious and expenfive operation, their 

 number is increafed. 



If they be felled above-ground^ the flubs 

 are in the way of the fithe and the bite of 

 cattle ; and the thicket is prefently renewed. 



But if they be cut off level with the 

 SURFACE, the fithe has free fweep, and the 

 young fhoots are of courfe removed with eafc 

 and certainty. 



If the ground be movrn for hay, the fame 

 llroke which cuts the herbage takes off the 

 ligneous flioors. 



If paflured, cattle and fheep, provided they 

 have no woodland left to brouze among, will 

 gnaw them to the quick ; fcarcely leaving a 

 ftem or a ftump remaining. It is, however, 

 always advifeable in this cafe to fweep the 

 ground over with the fithe in the courfe of 

 fummer ; to remove effedtually the remains 

 which may have efcaped the bite of the paflur- 

 ing ftock. 



