[ 302 I 

 them ; the afhes are in great quantities, 

 and of a moft fertilizing nature; but the 

 turf of the light foils now in queftion, is 

 in general a mere turf, that is, the roots of 

 the grafs alone, which, from the loofe thin- 

 nefs of the foil, forms but a fmall quantity 

 of adies, and thofe not of equal virtue. 

 But in all this, I pretend to nothing more 

 than reafoning ; facls may be againft me. 

 But as paring and burning is ufed advan- 

 tageouily on forae light foils, I think it 

 ihould not, in thefe calculations, be totally 

 omitted: for which reafon, I fliall vary the 

 fuppofition, and propofe that all wailes of 

 this fort, that are much occupied with 

 other fpontaneous growths, befides grafs, 

 fuch as whins, broom, fern, csV. be pared 

 and burnt ; and that fuch as are plain 

 flieep walks, yielding only a turf, be broke 

 up by mere ploughing. This diftindion, I 

 think, is reafonable ; in the firfl, the great 

 quantity of roots will form many rich 

 afhes, and at the fame time the operation 

 prepare the land for the plough ; whereas, 

 in the latter cafe, one of thefe advantages 

 15 not wanting, and the other does not 

 c^iiff. 



In 



