32 



which Nature has ah'eady clothed the surface of our moun- 

 tains ; and instead of introducing a new mode of culture, 

 I shall not adopt any, nor break up in any instance the 

 grassy sole I find ready formed. 



A watchful attention to Nature herself, and to the habits 

 of the spontaneous vegetables which she is perpetually 

 obtruding on us, will enable us to apply the measures that 

 will call into more vigorous action those whose produce is 

 valuable, and to repress the plants which are useless, and 

 of course injurious, by pressing on, and crowding those 

 (the more kindly grasses) which, if at liberty, would luxu- 

 riate into higher value. 



I shall generalize no longer, but proceed to the field of 

 action, mountain ; a description widely extended over 

 many parts of our British islands ; so widely, that a 

 facility of addmg in any degree to the improvement of these 

 tracts, would add materially to the wealth and prosperity 

 of the British empire. 



I may be told, this is not a time for engaging in specu- 

 lations, — that the present distress pervades all ranks of 

 society, — that the great mountain proprietors have suffered 

 as severely as any other class, and are at this moment 

 little able to raise the funds necessary for carrying on ex- 

 tensive improvement. 



I rely, that the most important of the improvements I 

 propose to commence with, are not extensive ; for, widely 

 spread as a mountain grazing farm may be, it is but upon 

 a very small part of it I mean to act ; — a park or meadow, 

 of a very few acres, will be sufficient to supply a very large 

 mountain farm ; and the cost of effectually inclosing such 

 small area, will amount to full two thirds of the whole 

 expense to be incurred. 



The Board of Agriculture give a full answer to 

 this objection, and, by proposing their premiums, show it 



