OF CORNWALL. 317 
{hare of it : at prefent the Cornifh are very fenfible of this, and 
there is fuch a conftant call at one mine or other, that no man 
who is indufhious, and underftands mechanics, can fail of a hand- 
fome livelihood. 
Our hufbandry would doubtlefs admit of feveral improvements, Tillage, 
but two more obvious than the reft ; as, firft, ploughing and har- 
rowing with large horfes, inftead of the prefent much flower pro- 
grefs of our oxen; fecondly, of introducing the wheel-plough in 
many plain and even parts of the county, whereby the weight 
would be much diminifhed, and the work accelerated. 
The wheel-carriages for timber and heavy loads may alfo be im- Carriages 
proved ; for our butts and wains have only two wheels, and thofe 
of fmall diameter : the four-wheel waggons, for carrying hay and 
corn, are more capacious, and as the wheels fupport the burden and 
leave no dead weight on the cattle, are much to be preferred : the 
lighter carts alfo for expedition muft much exceed our butts, and will 
carry more, but are not fo much in ufo as might be wiftied : however, 
as the highways in moft parts of the county have been of late years 
much widened, levelled, and repaired, it is to be hoped that the 
fame method of carriage which experience has recommended to the 
moft knowing and bufy parts of the kingdom, will alfo foon take 
place here. It has been already hinted how eaftly our water-carriage 
may be extended, by making our rivers navigable either by leats 
and canals, or by locks, and the advantages accruing from thence 
to hufbandry, and every other employ, are too apparent to be far- 
ther particularized. 
Our fences, efpecially in the northern and weftern parts, might Fences, 
be bettered, that is, more commonly planted, which would make 
the partitions of our fields more lafting, as well as more fightly ; 
and if tenants were encouraged, and obliged by covenant with their 
Lords to plant every new hedge they made, not only with quickfet, 
but with young faplings of oak, alb, elm, or fycamore, the defo- 
late nakednefs of ftone and meer turf hedges in fo mild a climate, 
would foon be at an end, and fufficient compenfation made to the 
planters in fuel and fhelter. We have many lands partly over-run 
with fea-fands, which fands, efpecially on the north coaft, are of 
a very fhelly, prolific kind 1 ; perhaps faffron might be cultivated in 
fome of the moft fandy foils to great advantage. 
We have plenty of wool in moft parts of this county ; but this wool, 
wool has been generally fold to chapmen, who travel on purpofe to 
buy and carry it off, and ’tis neither carded, fpun, or weaved, but in 
very few places. This being obferved by fome publick-fpirited gentle- 
“ See fands, page 83. 
4 M 
men, 
