64 ON THE RECLAMATION OF WASTE LAND. 



in removing a great many of the fences, with a view to enlarge the 

 fields on Balleny to from 20 to 30 acres each. 



2. Drainage. — 1 drained the whole of both farms, excepting 

 40 acres having a light soil, about 18 feet apart, and from 3| 

 to 4 feet deep. These 40 acres were drained 30 feet apart, at the 

 same depth. Average expense of drainage per acre, L.6, 10s. 

 Total expenditure, exclusive of cartage, L.2502, 10s. 



3. Liming. — 200 acres of the farm of Eamslacks have been 

 limed with 7 tons to the acre. Expense about L.5 per acre. 



4. Fencing. — The land of Eamslacks is now properly enclosed, 

 being divided into six fields, three of 50 acres each, one of 15, 

 and the 60 acres of reclaimed land into two fields of 30 acres 

 each — 5 acres being under plantation. The fencing put up being 

 fully 60 chains of dry stone dykes, 5 feet in height, built with 

 the stones cleared out of the reclaimed ground. Expense of 

 building, 16s. a chain, and 86 chains of wire fencing at 7d. a yard. 

 Total expenditure for division fences on the farm of Eamslacks, 

 L.104. 



I may here add, that the proprietor completed the enclosure 

 fences shortly after my entry. 



Details of Operations on Sixty Acres Beclaimed. 



Soil. — The greater part of the soil is heavy, with a tough clay 

 subsoil ; the remainder, about 10 acres, is light, with a freestone 

 bottom. 



State of Land previous to Iminovement. — The land was tufted 

 with short scroggy heather and bent, thickly interspersed 

 with stones, a great many requiring to be blasted before 

 removal, and full of holes and deej) ruts, caused by the 

 action of the weather, the holes generally standing full of 

 water. It was then valueless, and would not have afforded 

 sustenance to half a score of sheep, and if let by itself would 

 not have brought L.3, being less than Is. an acre. The draining 

 and liming completely changed the seeming poorness or un- 

 productiveness of the soil, and it is now capable of carrying fair 

 crops. 



Fences and Boad Making. — In 1865 I commenced to blast and 

 remove the stones for building fences and making roads. The 

 dyke dividing the two fields, extending to 28 chains, was totally 

 built of the stones gathered from the land. Expense, 16s. per 

 chain. A road, 30 chains in length, leading from the steading to 

 these fields, was also made with the stones taken from the re- 

 claimed land. Expense of breaking stones, lis. per chain. Total 

 expenditure of these 30 chains, L.16, 10s, There were in all, as 

 already stated, 60 chains of 5-feet dykes built on the farm of 

 Eamslacks with the stones got from the land brought in ; and in 



