or if they are very fmall, that Expence may be fav'd. In this way of Planting, the young Fibres of the Roots are unconfin'd, and have Liberty to make their Way where they beft like; but in the Holes which are dug in the Clay or cold Gravel, the Trees, if they fhould live till their Roots reach fuch Soil, yet being confin'd, as one may fay, from fucking of more wholefome Food, they are poifon'd, and canker till they die.

But if we raise our Trees from Seed, in order to make Woods, then I find it beft to fow fuch as the Oak, Afh, Chefnut, and fuch like, with French Furze, which fkreens the young Plants from the Injuries of the Weather, and makes them fhoot with clean upright Stems : An Example of this we have between Oxford and Abingdon.

When I confider farther of your Farm, I cannot omit giving you a Word or two concerning the propagating of Poultry.

In my difcourfing on this Subject, I cannot better inform you of the Methods which should be taken for the Welfare of a large Stock of Poultry, than by firft laying before you the Errors which fome have fallen into, who had large Numbers of Fowls bought on purpofe to make Advantage of them in breeding and fattening them for the London Markets.

It is now about two Years fince fome Gentlemen in Partnership provided a large Piece of Ground at Hoxton, enclos'd with a Wall, for the entertaining about eight hundred Fowls, befides Ducks, Turkeys, and Pheasants. There was a confiderable Sum of Money laid out in building Houses for their Shelter, and for fattening them, and for the Hens laying and fetting;

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ting; and though there was great Skill us'd in the contriving of thefe Neceffaries for the edu cating, preferving, and encreafing of the Poultry, yet it seems that for want only of due Regard to the natural Conftitution of thefe Fowls, they were attack'd by a violent Diftemper, which carry'd off the greatest part of them, and by which likewife the very Eggs were render'd fo imperfect, or I may fay, were so poison'd, that hardly one in twenty were prolifick. I confider'd this Cafe more particularly, because a Defign of that Nature, well carry'd on, might turn to very good Account, efpecially where it has the Advantage of the Neighbourhood of the London Markets. What I first took Notice of as a wrong Step, and what I conceive was the prime Caufe of difordering the Fowls, was the Clofeness of the Houses where they were confin'd in the Night-time; for though there were Windows in the Front of Lattice-Work, yet they were so small, that they could not admit of Air fufficient to keep the Houfe fweet, nor fuftain the Life of fo many Creatures together, which are naturally difpofed to breath in a free open Air.

To have remedy'd this, in the first place I would have advis'd, that the Front and End of the House fhould be made of open LatticeWork, in order to admit a greater Fund of Air, and likewise that the Floor of fuch a House fhould lie upon a Declivity, the better to wash away the Dung into fome Refervoir appointed for it without the House; for this Dung is full of Salts, and a great Enricher of Ground to be ftrew'd thin upon it; and even the Water which carries it into the Refervoir, is of good Ufe to fprinkle upon Land just before a fecond Plowing.

By

By thus opening the Houfe to the Air, and keeping it fweet and clean, I am convinc'd that the Fowls would not be fo inclin'd to droop, as they are when confin'd in a clofer Place.

In the next Place we must confider, that when we attempt to feed fuch a Number of Fowls with Brewer's Grains, they should be always fresh, i. e. not more than twenty-four Hours old, for when they turn four, they purge the Poultry with that Severity as weakens them almoft beyond Recovery, as I have experienc'd:

But the laft and great Error which contributed the moft towards the Deftruction of this Undertaking, was the wrong proportioning the Number of Cocks to the Hens, for there were not above Ten Cocks to accompany about Six Hundred Females; and the Distemper which was occafion'd by this inequality, prov'd to be no less than a Pox, which was attended by very violent Symptoms; the Cocks were fo Atrain'à in their too much Exercise with the Hens, that it was not uncommon to fee them three or four Minutes in Company with a Hen, without at laft performing the Office of Generation, and the Hens tir'd by fuch an uncommon Procedure, had their Parts enflam'd to a very great Degree, and foon after there iffu'd from their Noftrils a purulent Matter, which after continuing feveral Days, ended their Lives. It is not to be wonder'd at if the Hens, in this dangerous Condition, fhould lay Eggs unimpregnated, or if they had the Cocks Tread in them, that they should bring fuch Chickens as were unhealthy, and incapable of being brought to any tolerable Perfection.

It is therefore neceffary, when we defign to breed Poultry, to allow one Male to feven or

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eight

eight Females, which I find by Experience to be a right Proportion; and where there are more Females to one Cock, the Eggs are uncertain in their hatching, and many are loft: As for the Objection, that many Cocks will not live together, it is only where they have not Hens enough; but where the Hens are according to the Proportion mention'd above, I have known above a dozen Cocks agree very well in one Farm-yard.

I fhall conclude thefe Directions for the Farm with taking Notice that the Enlargement of your Stock of Water, by making a Fish-Pond or two, will turn to Account as well for the Cattle as for the Fish it will produce; and if you are difpos'd to have as many Eatables upon your own Ground as may be requir'd for the Service of your Houfe, I believe you will find confiderable Advantage from fuch a War ren as I have before directed..

I am, Sir,

Your most

bumble Servant,

R. Bradley.

CHAP.

СНА Р. III.

The manner of flocking a Farm of two hundred lib. per Ann. with Timber, Poultry, and Cattle, in feveral Letters from Mr. W. Waller; with a particular Account of the Profits arifing by Cows, either in Milk, Butter, or Cheefe..

SIR,

To Mr. R. BRADLEY, &c.

April 4 1721.

Have been now feated about two Years and I I Half in the Weft of England, where I find more Satisfaction in one Day, than London could produce in a Month, I am Poffeffor of as much Land as might be let to Farm for Two Hundred Pounds per Annum; and from the Employment I have in it, I enjoy perfect Health, a plentiful Competency, and the defir'd Sum of every Thing, CONTENT. My Business affords me wholesome Exercise, which makes me Amends for the Time I loft in the Diverfions of the Town. My Plenty proceeds partly from the Cheapness of the Country where I live, and partly from a little Art, which I practise, of keeping within my own Jurifdiction those useful Things which will conftantly fupply my Friend with a good Dinner, though the Markets were vacant; from fuch Fountains, you may easily guefs the Enjoyments which are continually flowing for my Advantage and Satisfaction.