IMPROVEMENT OF WASTE LAND. JQJ 



said bog, and burnt and spread the ashes in a similar way to 

 the former, and sowed it with cole seed from one ploughing 

 in July last, which likewise turned out a most excellent 

 crop, and supported seventy-two large sheep on it for more 

 than two months. 



The expense of paring and burning the twenty acres came Expense. 

 to j£29 10s. 



The remaining waste land being a lighter peat, mixed p irt fallowed 

 more with sand, I did not think it advisable to pare and for *umips. 

 burn, but contented myself with fallowing it for turnips, 

 with which it was sown last summer; but from the indiffe- 

 rence of the season, the crop did not prove abundant, yet 

 as much so as I had any reason to expect ; and I have no 

 doubt, by proper management of it, though by far the 

 worst of the waste, it will shortly become very useful land, 

 and produce in succession good turnips, barley, and seeds. 



On a review of the foregoing statement, it will appear General state* 



that the expense attending the improvement of the waste ment °/ ex \ 

 » • ■ , i . • ••! i .« \ *» -i ■ . pente& profit. 



has beeu great; but it will be recollected, that the quantity 



of land reclaimed is very considerable, the greatest part of 



which has been drained and grubbed, and the face pf it 



entirely changed ; that on the comparison I now submit, I 



feel great satisfaction in being enabled to assert, in the 



judgment of able men, that at the time I made the pur- 



chase, the waste land was not worth more than 5s. per acre 



per annum on an average, which amounts to £\6 7*. 6rf. 



and that it is now worth and let as follows : 



Sixteen acres of water meadow, j£3 per acre 

 Fourteen ditto will shortly be as valuable - 

 Twenty ditto of reclaimed bog, j£2 per acre 

 Fifteen and a half ditto lighter peat, £\ per acre 



By the year -------- £145 10 O 



I have not pointed out minutely every step that has been 

 taken lq drain, to irrigate, or improve the said waste lands, 

 because the subject is generally so well understood ; but I 

 trust I have stated sufficient to prove, that the soil, thus re- 

 claimed, is turned to a great and lasting benefit. 



J. BUTLER, 



