Hedges and Enclosures of Devonshire. 
427 
hedges. In a survey of a parish road which I lately made, with 
a view to its being widened, I found that, for the greater part of 
its length, its width might have been trebled by merely adding to 
it the space taken up by its present wide fences. John Matthews, 
Esq., of Clisthydon, has within the last few years taken down 
half of the fences on his estate, and is proceeding to take down 
nearly all that remain. Timber need not be encouraged in 
hedgerows on account of its value, as, from the admission of 
foreign timber, this has been materially reduced. I should not 
think that the timber thus grown pays nearly so much annually 
as 1 per cent, of the rental, while it destroys about 1 0 per cent, 
of the ground ; allowing 3 per cent, more than what is actually 
occupied for injuries sustained by the causes mentioned. What 
necessity is there for a farm, even so small as a hundred acres, 
being divided into smaller enclosures than eight ten-acre fields, 
and the remaining twenty into four or five, as might be most con- 
venient? It would be a great improvement on the present state 
of things, if, instead of six fields of every ten being under four 
acres, there were the same proportion over ten acres. If to the 
loss shown to be sustained from these small enclosures and great 
hedges were added that from waste ground and the want of drain- 
age, how very far short of its capabilities would appear that which 
is at present derived from our soil ! An eminent writer of the 
present day says, " The introduction of thorough-draining will 
probably increase the productive power of the soil in Great 
Britain a third ; scientific discovery may perhaps add another 
third : but at least ten years must elapse, in the most favourable 
view, before these effects take place, — ere the judicious and well- 
directed labours of our husbandmen have formed rivulets for the 
superfluous wet of our fields, or overspread the soil with the now 
wasted animal manures of our cities." 
Although I have shown the loss to be so great from the present 
system of dividing farms, I am not so sanguine as to expect to see 
anything like the saving made which might be, there being in 
some cases many difficulties to contend with ; as where property 
is very much intermixed, and where it is leasehold. But with 
willing minds, and an enlightened co-operation of landlord and 
tenant, this county may soon become as famous for its superior 
farming as it is now for its mild climate and beautiful scenery. 
I have given several instances where much has been done in this 
neighbourhood; these, and the example of other districts at 
present in advance of this county, form examples worthy of imita- 
tion. If every agriculturist recorded the results of his experience, 
much knowledge of the most practical and useful kind, at present 
confined to himself and frequently dying with him, would be 
added to the general stock, and advance the science proportion- 
