ON AGRICULTURE. 1

fiot this to afford us a hint, not to neglect our own trees or fhrubs; fome of which might be employed with profit, even by us, were their qualities fufficiently known?

The moft valuable hay that the Ro- mans were poffeffed of, confifted of the leaves and twigs of a fhrubby plant,— the Cytz/us.

And the experience of many perfons in the north of Scotland, as well as of fome of the difcerning few in England, has fuficiently proved, that the tender twigs ef the common whin*,(furze), when bruifed, afford_ a more wholefome and nourifhing wintef-food for horfes and cattle, than perhaps any other plant that has ever yet been difcovered,—not ex- cepting the Roman Cyti/us itfelf: Yet few experiments have been made, to difcover the moft proper manner of cultivating this valuable plant+.

Another

* Ulex Europeus.

+ Since the former edition of this book was publifh- ed, I have learned, that the tender twigs of the com~ mon Scots Fir affords a wholefome food for cattle and fheep. In the{pring of the year 1782, fodder for

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