Results of judicious Improvements. 59 



The holcus lanatus was a thriving crop, 

 though the oats had failed. A small spot of 

 fiorin by the side of the morass, its most 

 appropriate situation, had a very promising 

 appearance, although it had suffered by the 

 encroachment of cattle. The whole of Mr. 

 Boyd's farm may be considered of his own 

 creation. The arable this year consists of 

 eighty acres of wheat, fifty of oats, seven of 

 barley, twenty-two of turnips, and fourteen of 

 potatoes. The number of acres which bore 

 good crops of clover, and those under fallow, I 

 did not ascertain. A small plot of timothy 

 grass was reserved for seed. The cattle and 

 horses were soiled in the yard. 



The highest eulogium I can bestow falls short 

 of what is due to the merit of such an appro- 

 priation of time and fortune as is exhibited by 

 Mr. Boyd. Farming has certainly much to re- 

 commend it as a rational amusement; it not 

 only occupies time agreeably, but gives to a 

 country life a social interest in the seasons, in 

 the general prosperity of neighbours and de- 

 pendants ; and furnishes, on reflection, a heart- 

 felt satisfaction, of which sporting is not sus- 

 ceptible. Field sports, of every description, 

 frequently fail to afford the promised enjoy- 

 ment j and even under the most unlimited 



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