ENCLOSING, FENCES, GATES. 
53 
with heath, furze, and fern ; but now with good crops 
of turnips, clover, potatoes, and the various kinds of 
grain ; upon a high tract of sandy gravel, part of the 
crops now growing, little harvested, and some not 
ripe: September7, 1805. 
Part of the Vale of Evesham, and some other rich 
common fields are of modern enclosure. Dr. Nash 
observed to me, that the enclosures in Worcestershire 
have tended to lessen the growth of grain ; this will al¬ 
ways happen in the case of the enclosure of rich com¬ 
mon fields, so long as the demand for beef and mutton 
occasions those articles to pay as well or better than 
grain; but the improvement and national advantage, 
from the enclosure and cultivation of barren waste land, 
cannot be called in question; their produce of grain 
is so much superior in furnishing food and employment 
for mankind, to that of or from the half starved sheep 
formerly depastured thereon, that no question respect¬ 
ing the improvement or public utility can possibly 
arise, except indeed in the case of neighbouring poor 
cottagers who often lose privileges formerly enjoyed. 
Dr. Nash observed farther, that such enclosures had 
often been a bad speculation to the proprietors, and 
where they had paid well, it was chiefly because the 
land had been under-let before, and was afterwards ad¬ 
vanced to its value. 
From these and other considerations, the followiug 
I think may be adduced, as maxims of sound domestic 
policy : That the enclosure and cultivation of barren 
waste land (due regard being paid to the privileges of 
the poor) is always a measure of public utility; 2. 
that the enclosure of rich common fields is a measure 
of doubtful utility, because by beiDg thrown to grass, 
£ 3 they 
