is to be seen but smother and desolation, the whole 

 circuit round looking like the cinders of a volcano ; 

 and the soil being quite exhausted, no traces of vege- 

 tation are to be found for years. These conflagra- 

 tions, as they take place usually with a north-east or 

 east wind, much annoy this village with their smoke, 

 and often alarm the country ; and, once in particular, 

 I remember that a gentleman, who lives beyond 

 Andover, coming to my house, when he got on the 

 downs between that town and Winchester, at twen- 

 ty-five miles distance was surprised much with 

 smoke and a hot smell of fire ; and concluded that 

 Alresford was in flames ; but when he came to that 

 town, he then had apprehensions for the next vil- 

 lage, and so on to the end of his journey.* 



On two of the most conspicuous eminences of 

 this forest stand two arbours or bowers made of the 

 boughs of oaks ; the one called Waldon Lodge, the 

 other Brimstone Lodge : these the keepers renew 



* This description reminds the scholar of the stubble-burning described 

 in Virgil's " Georgics," i. 84, Mittbrd. There is no better fertilizer for 

 the soil than the ashes of weeds and other vegetable growths, and this 

 the poet knew. 



" Saepe etiam steriles incendere profuit agros, 

 Atque levem stipulam crepitantibus urere flammis : 

 Sive inde occultas vires et pabula terrae 

 Pinguia concipiunt." 



" Long practice has a sure improvement found, 

 With kindled fires to burn the barren ground ; 

 "When the light stubble, to the flames resigned. 

 Is driven along, and crackles to the wind." — Dryden. 

 24 



