( 239 ) 



fent fta.te are very hurtful to the community. 

 For inftance: if my neighbour has fheep in- 

 fedled with the fcab or any other difeafe, I am 

 compelled to expofe mine to the contagion. 

 Nor in common fields is there any encourage- 

 ment to attempt improvements ; for I muft do 

 as my neighbour does ; muft fow corn one 

 year, and ftock the field another, when it is 

 fallow. I do not know a more droll idea than 

 when the farmier extolls the ufe of the fallow 

 to keep (heep upon, which is a very frequent 

 phrafe to exprefs the ufe of the field the fallow 

 year, when it ought to be without either 

 grafs or weed. If one man choofes to be neg- 

 ligent and till his land improperly, has a crop 

 of thiftles, and lets them fband for feed, I 

 mult reap along with him the benefit ; as the 

 feed of thiftles will not confine itfelf to any 

 particular fpot. — It would be difficult to per- 

 fuade the prejudiced farmer, that a crop of fine 

 corn, clover, or turnips, would lefs exhauft 

 the land than what he calls that year refttng it. 

 Now, had that part of the field produced a 

 good crop of corn, the ftraw, properly treated, 

 would make a dung-hill, the grain v/ould i^W 



for 



