Pedestrianism

APPENDIX. 285 was neither cartnor wheel carriage of any kind; nor was there even a road. In short, no place, at that timaeb,ound­ ed more inthe e?ils attending the ancient system, or en­ joyed fewerof the advantages ofmodern husbandry than the lands of Ury/ Mr. Barclay, who hadacquired his ideas of agriculture on the fertile plains of Norfolk, could ill brook a state of husbandry likethis. As soon, therefore, as he succeeded to the estate, he set about itsimprovement ina stile that was both radical and permanent. To accomplish this ob­ ject, he took under his own management all the farmins the vicinity of the mansion-hnnse, as theleases expired ; besides retaining those landswhich hadalways been inthe natural possession of the family. In the course of thirty years, hethoroughly improved 2000 acres of arable land, and planted about 1500 acres of wood. • Of the arable land, there were 800 acres originally marsohr heath. Of the remainder, which was let to tenants, about one-fourth part consisted of baulks, wastes, andmarshes, interspersed through every field. Mr. Barclay thus meliorated about 2000 acres, andbrought them to a correct stateof culture, and they are now in a hiarh degree of fertility. The laborious measuresby whichMr. Barclay improved the estate of Ury, are particularly detailedin the valuable work previously mentioned; but it would carry us beyond our limits to enterminutely into them ; and perhaps itmay suffice to say, that, from a rugged and barren surface, he produced the most beautiiul place in North Britain. He was