tage employed periodically, on cultivated ground. An instance of this fact occurs in the 24th vol. of Annals of Agriculture, where the industrious Mr. Boys states, that several acres of wheat, barley, oats, and sainfoin, were at that time growing on a soil, which had been repeatedly pared and burnt. He adds, that the crops were of sufficient value to buy the land at mere than forty years purchase, at a rent fairly computed before the improvement. Hence it appears, that such practice, in the hands of judicious farmers, is excellent: and Mr. Middleton observes, in the 12th volume of the same work, that it almost invariably secures a large, first crop of turnips; which (when fed upon land well stored with ashes) are the best preparation for subsequent crops; and that there are very few (if any) cases, in which, with proper management, paring has not perfectly succeeded.
Parmesan-Cheese. See vol. i. p. 500.
PARK, a tract of ground inclosed, and privileged for the retention and propagation of animals of chase, either by the King's grant, or by prescription.
In order to constitute a park, it is necessary, 1. That there be a legal grant; 2. That it be inclosed with pales, a wall, or with a hedge; and, 3. That there be beasts of chase, such as bucks, does, &c.; because, if these be destroyed, the privilege becomes void.
The best inclosure for a park is doubtless a brick or stone wall; but, as the erection of either is attended with great expence, the same purpose may be effected by paling; which ought to be made of the soundest heart of oak, and firmly fixed in the ground, to prevent any animal of prey from penetrating. To render it more secure, it will farther be advisable to train a quickset hedge to a considerable height, which should be kept in perfect order: and, if any person be detected in the act of defacing or injuring walls, pales, or other fence belonging to a park, he is liable, by statute, to the same penalty as is inflicted for stealing and killing deer. Such offences, if committed on a private manor, are punishable as felony; but, if in one of the royal parks, they are made capital, without benefit of clergy.
PARROT, or Psittacus, L. a very numerous genus of birds, occasionally imported from the East and West-Indies: they are too familiarly known to require any description.
Parrots, in their natural state, build nests in the hollow parts of trees, and their whole deportment much resembles that of apes; they sneeze, clear the throat, yawn, sigh, and laugh, not unlike human beings; and, contrary to the custom of all other birds, they skip about by placing the whole foot or heel on the ground. These prattlers inhabit only the warmest climates; are of various sizes, from that of a sparrow to a hen; and often attain, even in captivity, the age of 100 years. They subsist chiefly on fruits and seeds; but, when tamed, do not refuse flesh, and even fish.—Their favourite food consists of sugar, nuts, and bread soaked in wine, to which they only prefer the seeds of the carthamus, or bastard-saffron: the latter are exceedingly grateful to their palate, though, when given to other animals, such
