220 TREATISE 



our Thorns on the fides of banks above ditches, and raifing bul- 

 warks of turf over them, is an abfolut^ oppofition to every 

 principle of nature I am capable of difcovering. I have often 

 been told, but was never in the leaft convinced, of the utility of 

 this pradice; nor can I pofiibly believe, that a plant comprefTed 

 in this manner, without its roots readily partaking of the hea- 

 venly influences, can be equally nourilhed with one growing on 

 a level loofe furface that freely enjoys them all. But without 

 further endeavouring to demonftrate the abfurdity of hedges in 

 this fituation, let us fee the eff(;6ls of it, and let any conliderable 

 extent of fuch that are warm, lightly, and fencible, argue in their 

 defence. On this appearing, I fliall gladly acknowlege my error : 

 In the mean time, I can fl-iow, in moil counties of the kingdom, 

 large tradls of land fo inclofed, and where, in the mofl confi.de- 

 rable eftates, there is not a fingle park that will confine cattle, 

 without many gaps being made up with paling, or dead brufh- 

 %ood, the laft of which increafes the evil, as nothing is more 

 contagious to the living branches than being mingled with dead 

 ones ; neither can hedges fo planted be with eafe clip'd from 

 the bottom of the ditch, or when any of the plants perifh, can 

 they again be properly inferted. But what is worft of all, if the 

 foil is not an obftinate clay or till, the earth annually moulders 

 away ; fo that, in a few years, one fide of their roots are left 

 naked and expofed to the weather, whence too, from the weight 

 jof the tops, the winds often bring down both hedge and bank. 

 In fliort, from the general furvey I have made over moft parts 

 of the kingdom, I cannot help thinking that method of inclofing 

 has more retarded the advantages which muft have arifen to ju- 

 dicious farmers from a better fyflem, than all the other blun- 

 ders I know put together. It has likeways, by exhibiting a bad 



