(x)

A General

TREATISE

OF

Husbandry and Gardening.

PART I

T

INTRODUCTION.

HE Defign of this Work is to enquire into the Nature of fuch Lands as are moft capable of Improvement, and to propofe the moft proper Method for fertilizing them: For although our English Husbandmen are allow'd by all Nations to have a fuperior Genius in Agriculture, preferable

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ferable to thofe in other Countries, yet it is rare to find one of them who ever attempts any new Discovery, or even can give any other Reason for what they do, than that their Fathers did the fame before them.

This brings to my Mind the Observation of a very ingenious Man, who had maturely confider'd this Cafe: He obferves, that the Country People generally pick out fuch of their Children to employ in Hufbandry, as they judge are not worthy of good Education; and whom they suppose have fo little Genius, that they are only fit to drudge in hard Labour: And 'tis likewise for the fame Reason, says he, that we find fo few good Gardeners among the Crowd of those who pretend to that Art. Husbandry and Gardening ought rather to fall under the Care of expert Philofophers, and reasonable Men, who have Judgment enough to remark the different Effects of different Seafons; the Situation of the Lands they are to cultivate; the Depth and Quality of their Soils; the eafieft Ways of meliorating Land, by mixing one Soil with another; or how to appoint to each natural Earth its proper Plant; and not as fome do, be too pofitively confirm'd by Custom to make new Experiments, which might, with small Trouble and Expence, be done in By-places, and might tend to their own and the Publick Good.

'Tis partly for these Reasons, we observe so many large Tracts of Ground lying now in a manner waste and unprofitable: And as I have no greater Pleasure than in making my Obfervations and Remarks in this Way of Knowledge, I judge that my prefent Undertaking will be acceptable and beneficial.

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In this Work, I fhall defcribe the feveral curious Contrivances for draining of Lands, and forcing or raifing of Water; and alfo for meliorating and refining it, when we are poffefs'd of a fufficient Quantity of it. This I fuppofe may prove useful in many Places, and be of no fmall Advantage to the ingenious Authors and Makers of fuch Inventions, whose Names I fhall mention with Honour, as I have Opportunity of knowing them.

The Correfpondence I have already fix'd, and what I still expect from fome of the first Class in this Way of Study, will fufficiently (with my own Remarks) furnish out fuch a Work as I now defign, and contribute to the general Im-; provement of Lands; which will be like a new Acquifition of Territory to our Nation, and perhaps be one Means of reftoring our Credit, and prove of Advantage to the Poor, by employing them in profitable and healthful Exercife.

Our Parliaments have already begun to enclofe Commons; and I doubt not but mot of the Commons in England might be brought into the fame regular and happy State, provided the Poor (who have generally the Right of commoning) have feverally their Parcels of Land. determin'd by Ballotting, or any other Way, where Bribery or particular Interefts cannot take place. The Forefts likewife might turn to a good Account, were the Lands parcell'd out,

and

every Tenant oblig'd to plant certain Quantities of Timber for publick Advantage: This, in my Opinion, would be a fure Means of fupplying the Nation with that valuable Commodity, which at prefent is so scarce, that its Price is above one third Part more than what the fame

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fame Measure was fold for twenty Years ago, as appears by feveral Accounts of that Date, compared with thofe of this prefent Year, 1721.

But whoever takes a Survey of the Forefts, will find fufficient Reafon to fupport what I fay, without having recourfe to fuch Accounts: They will find not only a Want of Timber in thofe Places, but even the Prospect of a Supply for the future cut off by idle People living in their Neighbourhood; who, rather than be at the Expence of a little Firewood, or fome trifling Tool or Utenfil, will deftroy young thriving Plants of Oak, which perhaps had already gain'd twenty or thirty Years of Time, and were in a profperous State; and this we find is ftill practis'd, notwithstanding the many Acts of Parliament, made in feveral Reigns, to prevent this Destruction of Timber-Trees.

But 'tis with no fmall Pleasure, I observe fome Noblemen and Gentlemen begin to enter into the Reasonableness of making Plantations of Timber, and preferving and weeding fuch Woods as their Ancestors were wife enough to erect. The Plantation and Care of Timber is like buying the Reverfion of an Estate; for a little Money expended, we become Heirs to great Sums.

This Cafe therefore, which carries fo muck Advantage with it, I fhall propagate as much as poffible in this Work; having feveral Obfervations and Letters now by me of Importance, which relate to the Subject; wherein there are not only many Discoveries tending to the Improvement of Woods and Timber-Plantations, but an Account of the Value of Timber-Trees, whereby we may compute the Increase of Worth in fuch Trees from one to twenty Years: And