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P. 297. "Very few gentlemen of landed property in this county have shewn that attention to the advancement of rural economy, or to the improvement of agriculture, which a science of such importance merits: this is the more extraordinary, as their own interest is so deeply involved, and as great examples have been shewn them by the nobility and gentry of other counties, and even by Majesty itself.

"It is no uncommon thing for untitled gentlemen to apprentice the younger branches of their family to trade, for five or seven years: And why not to agriculture? It cannot be because the former is a more respectable occupation than the latter. I rather think, it is because the acquirement of knowledge in the one is considered as more difficult than in the other. The general opinion seems to be, that any one may become a farmer: How egregiously are they mistaken who think thus! I have known both, and can truly say, that more experience, care, assiduity, patience, and attention, are requisite in a farmer, than in a tradesman of any description whatever."

The following are the heads of Mr. B.'s proposed improvements.

1." Inclose and cultivate all Waste Lands susceptible of Improvement, and divide and inclose the Common Fields." 2. "Where Lands are situate on bleak and exposed eminences, improve the climate by judicious and extensive plantations."

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3. Wherever marl, lime, or chalk, can be procured within a reasonable distance, neglect not a liberal use thereof; and if destitute of such resources, be careful to make as much dung as possible by folding sheep, housing all sorts of cattle, preserving urine, collecting woollen rags, malt-combs, ashes, horn shavings, bones, &c. &c.”

4. "A regular and well-conceived rotation of Crops."

5. "Enlarge the upland corn farms; erect proper buildings and conveniencies for the shelter of the cattle in the winter months, thereby inviting substantial and well-informed farmers, of more enlightened countries, to settle upon them."

6. "Improve the Stock by a judicious selection of Males and Females for breeding; and be particularly careful to choose a Male handsome in those points wherein the Female may be deficient."

7. "Lessen the number of Horses, and encourage the use of Oxen."

8. "Amend the Publick Roads."

9. "Encourage the use of such ploughs, and other instruments, as are best calculated to expedite work and do it well."

10. "Sow early in exposed and cold situations, and be particularly careful not to plough or harrow in wet weather." 11. "Destroy Rats and Mice."

12. "Introduce Threshing Machines."

13. Let all Unmalted Corn be sold by weight." 14. Grant Long Leases."

15. "Sow more Sainfoin on the stone-brash lands, and on all other soils congenial thereto."

16. "Roll all Grass Land once a year at least, with a heavy roller, and abstain from ploughing your Arable Land in wet weather."

17. "Set all Pease and Beans in lines from North to South, and hoe them twice at least."

18. Devote at least one quarter part of your Turnip Land to the Ruta-baga or Swedish Turnip."

19. "As in every point of view this county appears from its soil and situation to be better adapted to grass than arable, it deserves enquiry, whether stock could not profitably be kept on grass land alone, without the aid of winter roots. The argument for ploughing arises from a wish of having straw to make manure, and turnips to support stock in the winter season. * But whenever the plough is put into the hand of the generality of farmers, the land is from that time in a state of degradation, and its value reduced at least 10s. per acre, in comparison with contiguous grass land.

"Grass, therefore, should be considered as the ultimate improvement of land in the Western part of the county of Somerset."

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In those proposed improvements, men of reading will find nothing that is new or striking. Such of them, as are entitled to the name here assigned them, bave long been before the public; and most or all of them have been repeatedly brought before the readers of the work which I am now concluding. Mr. Billingsley has remarked on most of them. But not in a way, I think, that would enhance the value of this abstract. Indeed, some of them are radically improper, and others doubtfully eligible.

In his "CONCLUSION," Mr. Billingsley has evidently employed a stronger effort of thought; and bestowed upon it more mature consideration.

P. 313. This county does not raise grain sufficient for its consumption, nor are the climate and soil of many parts thereof favourable to corn farming; yet, were all the improvements

* In p. 235, Mr. B. says" arable land to a dairy farm”—" is cer tainly not only useful, but absolutely necessary."

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provements before suggested to take place, there cannot be a doubt but that the produce of the soil might be increased at least one third.

"The advanced rent which might be produced by draining the marshes, and by inclosing and cultivating the common fields and waste lands, may, according to the most moderate calculation, be thus estimated :

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"To which may be added, a capacity of improvement in the arable and pasture lands inclosed, of at least five shillings per acre, amounting to more than 213,000l. per annum, which increased rent, at thirty years purchase, would exceed six millions.

"These blessed effects would be the natural consequence of that spirit of industry which publick encouragement would excite, would add greatly to the capital of the nation, and be much more valuable than any foreign conquest of treble the amount. Would to God that nations would learn wisdom, and instead of coveting distant territory, improve to the utmost that which they possess!"

I will not fastidiously suppress my gratification, on finding, that a passage so appropriate, and so consonant with my own sentiments, has spontaneously presented itself, to close my Review of the Reports to the Board of Agriculture.

THE

END

OF THE

FIVE VOLUMES

AND THE

SIX DEPARTMENTS.

THE FIVE

THE FIVE VOLUMES comprehend the COUNTY REPORTS, in manner following.

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Calves, see Suckling; also Cattle,
Rearing.

Canals, see Inland Navigation.
Canary Seed, ix.

Carts, see Implements.

Common Fields, see Appropria

tion.

Common Meadows, see Appro
priation.
Compost, see Manure.
Coppices, see Woodlands.
Copyhold, see Tenures,
Cornwall, 515.
Cottages, vii.

Covenants, see Tenancy.
Cows, see Cattle, also Dairy.
Cow Keepers, 108, 142,
Cranbourn Chase, 261.
Cultivated Herbage, ix.
D.

Dairy, x.

Dartmore, see Appropriation.
Davis's Wiltshire, 184.
Deer, x.

Devonshire, 549.

Districts, iii.
Dorsetshire, 241.

Downs, see Grass Land.
Drags, see Implements.
Drainage, Public, v.
Draining Estates, vi.
Drilling, see Semination.
Driver's Hampshire, 284.
Duchy of Cornwall, 522.
Dung, see Manure.
Dunstone, 560.

E.

Education of Workpeople, 574.

Cart Horses, see Working Ani- Egremont, Earl of, see Sussex.

mals.

Cattle, x.

Elevation, iii.

Ellman, Mr., see Sussex.

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Epping Forest, 171.

Estates, vi.

Exmoor, 601.

Extent, iii.

Claridge's Dorset, 241.

F.

Clay, see Soils; also Manures.
Climature, iv.

Fairs, see Markets.

Fallowing, see Tillage.

Clover, see Cultivated Herbage.
Commons, see Appropriation.

Fallowing defined, 87.

Farms, vii.

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