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ON INCLOSING LAND

There is, however, another powerful cause, by the operationof which that progress has been obstructed, and which isperhaps paramount to any other, perhaps to all the rest com-bined. This is the careless and ineffective, and of course theunprofitable manner, in which a very great proportion of theexisting inclosures has been planned and executed, togetherwith the gross negligence of those who ought to have beenactive in their preservation.

By these circumstances, landholders are discouraged, onconsidering how much expence has been already incurred,and how little permanent advantage has been secured. Afarmer, having a set of inefficient fences, incorrect in theirplan and deficient in their execution, so that lie derives littlereal advantage from them, while they occupy a great deal ofland, and occasion a continual expence in keeping them up,feels considerably discouraged in his attentions towards them.Many landholders do not reside upon their estates, and evenseldom visit them. Of those who do reside, many do not takeany active part in the improvement of their estates, and someare not very prudent or successful in their plans for that pur-pose. Yet, under every discouragement, a decisive argumentin favour of inclosures may be deduced from the high estima-tion in which they are generally viewed, by all judicious far-mers.

The proper style of inclosure, in order to be at the same*time useful and ornamental, must vary according to circum-stances. When well adapted to soil and climate, to stock,and to improvement, and when present and future advantagesare provided for, combining utility and embellishment, in-closures possessing all these requisites and advantages mustcommand admiration. Sometimes instances of such perfec-tion are to be seen in Scotland ; but not unfrequently theplans on which they have been undertaken are injudicious,and their execution imperfect.

On the sheep-walks of the south.of Scotland , a well inclo-sed farm is occasionally to be seen, having its boundaries sub-