175
On this subject it may likewise be proper to add, that it isnot only a healthy, but a useful employment, for gentlemenresiding in the country, to have some land in their posses-sion, for the purpose of accommodation or amusement, and toprovide themselves with the various articles which their esta-blishments may require. Perhaps those articles might oftenbe purchased fully as cheap at market, and it might be moreprofitable to the proprietor, to let the land at a fair rent;but it would be highly unpleasant for any gentleman to havethe servants of another, over whom he could have no control,working constantly near his own house; and to have scarce-ly a spot he could call his own, on which he or his familycould take air or exercise. It is well observed in one of thecounty reports *, that there cannot be a more rational, ormore continually varying and amusing occupation of time,for,the retirement of a country gentleman, than the detailedsuperintendence of agricultural pursuits, united with atten-tion to the improvement and embellishment of his estate, byinclosing and planting.
* Survey of Berwickshire, p. 53.