HUSBi 
neft labour and induftry, as well as to mechanical im¬ 
provements in the implements of hufbandry, to ftimulate 
fuch a fpirit of general knowledge and exertion amongft 
all claffes, as may ultimately be productive of incalculable 
advantage. 
It is indeed an arduous talk to alter the arrangement 
or general ceconomy of a farm with profit and credit to 
its proprietor. Neverthelefs, a man who has at his heart 
the permanent good of the ellate which he polfelfes, will 
look forward, and concert plans for its future improve¬ 
ment and fuperior cultivation. And, as a farm which is- 
judicioufly laid out into compaft inclofures of fuitable 
fizes, is always more productive than one of the fame 
fize and intrinfic value, whofe lands lie fcattered and in¬ 
termixed, he will not fail to fet on foot a plan of reform, 
which requires nothing but perfeverance to accomplilh. 
Yet, notwithftanding all thefe partial and numerous 
encouragements, it is an undeniable fa ft, that the prefent 
improved Hate of our agriculture is not capable of fur- 
nilhing a fupply of corn equal to the average confump- 
tion of the population of the country, whereby the ba¬ 
lance of this important article of commerce is for ever 
againft us. Thus we are dependent upon foreign markets 
for a fufficiency of various kinds of grain, but more par¬ 
ticularly of wheat, to enable us to provide with certainty 
for our annual confumption, and to guard againft not 
only a fcarcity, but the horrors of a famine. The firft of 
thefe evils was feverely felt during the years 1799 and 
1800 ; and we were only faved from a total deprivation of 
bread, by a foreign fupply. It would therefore furely be 
an objeft worthy of the rnoft ferious attention of the le- 
gillature, to adopt fome efficient remedy againft a recur¬ 
rence of this formidable evil. And when we confider the 
immenfe track of crown-lands difperfed throughout 
this kingdom, great part of which are literally producing 
nothing but “ thorns and thiftles,” yet capable of the 
higheft ftate of cultivation, we cannot but lament that fo 
much of the .richeft natural foil of this happy, ifland 
fhould be fuffered thus to lie wafte and barren ; and that 
fuch valuable traCVs as would produce a fufficiency of 
bread for tens of thoufands of fouls, by the induftry and 
labour of the farmer alone, fhould, in fuch times as the 
prefent, be totally loft to the community at large. 
Of the FENCING and LAYING OUT a FARM. 
Whatever be the deftination or fituation of land in¬ 
tended for the purpofes of a farm, the primary objeCt 
fhould be to fence it well from the depredations of cattle, 
whether expofed to them from commons or waftes, from 
carelefs neighbours, or even from the breaking of one’s 
own ftoc-k, which in a few hours might, and often does, 
commit more mi (chief than as many months are able to 
repair. For this reafon, the fences againft commons and 
public roads, and alfo againft an adjoining farm, fhould 
confift of double hedge and ditch, planted w ith fome.du¬ 
rable and well-growing material, which w ill foon be able 
to keep itfelf in repair. Thus, in good rich ftrong land, 
hawthorn or quick is to be preferred, which is confefled- 
ly the beft and moll durable of all live fences ; and next 
to the hawthorn, black thorn or flow; and next to that 
crab-tree. But, in foils where the hawthorn will not grow 
kind, birch or withy might be fubftituted. . Birch, on dry 
iandy foils, is found to anfwer extremely well; and will 
even grow on double banks in the moft barren land, and 
maintain a much fuperior fence to furze or w'hin, which 
is generally planted as a fence in fuch poor foils, often 
from a miftaken notion that nothing better will grow. 
In foils of a wet and clayey nature, withy or willow will 
moft rapidly make a durable live fence ; and, if kept while 
young from the browzing of cattle, will foon gain fuffi- 
cient ftrength to oppofe itleif to all obftacles. For thefe 
double hedges, the belt width for the embankment is from 
three to four feet at the bale, and to be carried four feet 
high, with a dike or ditch on either fide ; three, feet 
deep, and two. leet wide, on the outfide, and of half thole 
dimeniions on the infide. In putting up thefe enibaftk- 
1 N D R Y. - 491 
ments, it fhould ever be remembered not to carry the turf 
too upright, but to let the bank lean or level inwards, 
like the embankments of a fortification. Thus they will 
maintain themfelves not only againft the depredations of 
cattle, but againft the ravages of ftorms and tempeftuous 
weather, in all feafons of the year. 
In forming the fences of the interior fields or inclofures, 
fingle hedges, with a dike on one fide, are futficient.. 
But in laying out thefe inclofures, more particularly if for 
a (beep-farm, reference mult be had to the openings or 
gate-places, which are to lead not only to the farm-yard, 
but with convenience and facility to the. commons and 
fheep-walks, where the cattle are to be depaftured. This 
will prove a matter of importance the year round, both 
when the grounds are cropped, and when only in lay for 
the accommodation of the flock. With regard to the lize 
or dimenfions of the fields to be laid out, it is fufficiently 
obvious that fuch inclofures as are intended for the pro¬ 
duction of grafs, ought to be fmaller than thofe in which 
grain is moftly to be cultivated. On the lighter forts of 
Tandy or gravelly foils, too, the diviiions fhould be fmall' 
in proportion to their drynefs, and the particular kinds 
of crops which can be railed and cultivated molt com¬ 
monly, and to the greateft advantage, upon them. And 
the inclofures near Iheep-downs, where there is consider¬ 
able elevation, fhould have a reduction of their extent 
proportioned to their height, and the drynefs of the 
grounds; the thicknefs of the hedges being iikewife re¬ 
gulated by the fame circumftances. It has, however, 
been aflerted, that the grafs will begin to burn, and the 
grain to fuffer firft, in a dry fummSr, in fmall inclofures, 
and particularly near the hedges; but this is a vulgar er¬ 
ror, as the caufe of burning arifes wholly from the arid 
nature of the foil, or from fome unfavourable afpedl or 
wind to which that particular part is expofed. Where 
the fields or divifions are large, and the foil moift, great 
care muft be taken in making proper drains to fupply the 
want of ditches, which anfwer the fame purpofe when 
properly formed. The frequency of full-grown hedges, 
high ditch-banks, and trees, has confiderable efleet in 
preventing fuch lands from becoming too dry, for the 
fuccefsful growth of different crops. But the hedges 
fhould be kept clofely cut or dipt, the trees trimmed, and 
every poflible method taken to promote the free admif- 
fion of the fun and air. 
It is evident that fuch fields as are intended for paf- 
tures, if made fecure by judicious fencing, provided they 
be properly drained, and a due circulation of air preferved, 
the better they will fatten whatever cattle are kept in 
them ; but in grounds where crops are to be grown 
in lucceflion, except in elevated and expofed fkuations, 
the fize of the inclofures fhould be larger, and the fences 
lefs calculated for the purpofes of fhelter, as the free and 
equable admiffion of air has great power in rendering the 
growth of ali'crops both healthy and vigorous; under 
other circumftances, they muft be expofed; befides, the 
health of mankind, as has been already obferved, would, 
in many cafes, be confiderably benefited by the adoption 
of fuch a fyftem of inclofure. 
Fences are of different kinds, and conftituted of dif¬ 
ferent materials, according to the Situations and the par¬ 
ticular circumftances under which they are made. It 
.muft be obvious, from the nature of thefe different fences, 
that fome kinds of them, from being formed perhaps of 
an improper .material, muft, from the very period of be¬ 
ing completed, be conftantly getting out of repair, or pro¬ 
ceeding to a ftate of decay; while others, as being com- 
pofed of vigorous living plants, where properly managed, 
will be advancing to a ftate of greater improvement .and 
advantage. The beft and rnoft advantageous method of 
renewing an old hedge for the farmer, particularly where 
it can be protected from cattle, is that of heading the 
whole down at a proper feafon, to within a few inches of 
the ground or bank. By this means, in two or three 
.years an aftonilliing quantity of young wood is produced, 
fo as to form a hedge that is almoft impeiietrable. 
3 
The 
