{ 494 ) 

 both to the nation at large, and to indivi- 

 duals in particular, well deferves luch 

 caution. 



Such importance is very far from being 

 merely ideal; for it is, in every refped:, 

 melancholy, to fee gentlemen farming, 

 furrounded by extenfive eftates, and all 

 wretchedly cultivated, without their at- 

 tempting to remedy the evil ; and yet this 

 is no uncommon fight. It muft be 

 extremely evident, even to thofe who are 

 moft backward to improvement, that fuch 

 landlords lofe infinitely, by not acting with 

 more fpirit ; and the only theatre for fuch 

 adion is an experimental farm or field. 



Infift on no turnips being fown on farms 

 in light or dry foils, — where would be found 

 farmers to hire them ? Strike clover out of 

 the leafe of an eftate, where would the 

 tenants be ? Go into the chalk countries, 

 and tell the farmers they fhall fow no fain- 

 foine, what reply will they make ? Tell a 

 Norfolk, Suffolk, Effex, or Hertfordlhire 

 farmer, that he is a fool for hoeing his 

 turnips, what will be his anfwer ? And yet, 

 a century ago, nine parts in ten of the 

 countries here mentioned, would have 

 fcorned the idea of any of thcfe mod bene- 

 ficial 



