IN SCOTLAND.

279

country is, at the same time, partly drained, and considerablysheltered, which latter improvement upon the climate is ren-dered more extensive and more remarkable, when plantationsof trees are formed along with inclosures. No person ac-quainted with the naturally bleak, moist and ungenial climateof Scotland , can refuse to acknowledge the great improve-ment it has received from plantations.

Although all inclosures do not add to the ornamental or

o

picturesque appearance of a country; yet all that are judi-ciously planned and well conducted ought to have this effect,more especially in a country so much diversified with hill anddale. Accordingly, and with few exceptions, inclosures haveadded much to the ornament of Scotland ; and particularlysuch of them as have been conjoined with plantations. Bythe latter also, as connected with inclosures, which they al-ways necessarily require to a certain extent, weedings ofyoung trees are procured for various useful purposes, andtimber may be furnished hereafter for our wooden walls andcommercial ships, together with oak bark for the purposes ofthe tanner.

From what has been already stated, respecting the wagesand subsistence, afforded by means of inclosures, to a nume-rous set of labourers, and the subsequent great increase offood for mankind, which the inclosed land afterwards produ-ces, it necessarily follows, that the population of the kingdommust be proportionally encouraged, increased, and support-ed, and that a numerous and hardy peasantry will thereby betrained up in the most productive and most valuable speciesof labour. As the physical strength of the nation evidently de-pends on the numbers of its hardy peasantry, every thingthat tends to increase their numbers, and to contribute to-wards their comfortable subsistence, is deserving of the ut-most encouragement.