Essay upon Fences. 
483 
to arable land can bo well carried out, and is capable of being 
carried out in a better manner than it is now. It is well known 
that in hill-farms and some other situations in many districts of 
the kingdom, the plan is really carried out in its fullest extent, 
and with great success. Undoubtedly, if generally adopted, it 
would involve the strictest rules of folding and soiling; and I 
admit that it carries this point with it to me as one of its strongest 
recommendations ; for were folding universally, and soiling gene- 
rally, practised, there can be little doubt indeed that the cha- 
racter of farming would be raised ; and I do not think I can more 
forcibly show the advantages the one-field system possesses over 
that of small divisions, than by putting the one in comparison 
with the other. I will then suppose a farm of 400 acres of 
arable land lying in one field, and one of a similar extent of acres 
divided into forty fields of 10 acres each, say even by the \ ery 
best managed quickset hedges. I do not think I am over-stating 
the question when I assume 10 acres to be a fair size for enclosed 
fields, some farms of course having the fields larger, and some 
(these are the majority in this neighbourhood) have them smaller. 
I will still presume the farmer to crop his land upon the four- 
course system, and to have an equal division of wheat, turnips, 
barley, and clover, and I do not hesitate in saying that the 
farmer would be enabled to plough his land upon the 100 acres 
in two days less each time of ploughing than the farmer in the 
small divisions could do. The same reasoning will apply to har- 
rowing, scarifying, sowing, mowing, and carrying of corn and hay, 
though of course in a lesser degree. Again, in folding sheep, I 
have before remarked, the one-field system presents a decided 
superiority, and there are many other hindrances attaching them- 
selves to the small-field system, from which the farmer on the 
other scale would be totally exempt ; in short, in every respect, 
from the first moment of breaking up the wheat-stubble for 
turnips, until the last ploughing of the clover-lay for wheat again, 
there would be throughout, in every succeeding branch of agricul- 
tural operations, a clear and palpable advantage in favour of the 
one-field system. There are other benefits still to be enume- 
rated ; but as I must discuss them under the heads of the disad- 
vantages which the Society have put forth, I will forbear alluding 
to them at present. There can be no doubt but that any ap- 
proximation to the system is far better than the plan of small 
fields ; and that fields of 40, 50, or 100 acres each, would be 
unquestionably more advantageous than those of 5 or 10 acres; 
but still the reasons I have before stated give, though of course 
in a lesser degree, the preference to the one-Jicld system. 
I will now proceed to discuss the remaining points given by 
the Society: the injury these fences cause "by their size, their 
