1803. Impi'ovemeflis carrying on at Caithncfs in i8o2. 8f 



if it did not, there is furely fufTicIent inducement to im- 

 provement, if, at an exper.ce of about 4I., you can have an 

 increafing income of 20 fhillings per acre. By the above 

 plan, the landlord runs little riik •, he merely carries on the 

 great outlines, leaving the minuter details to be managed 

 by an active and attentive hufbandman, who is much more 

 likely to do juftice to the progrcfs of the improvement, than 

 any proprietor, were he even conllantly refident upon the 

 fpot. 



9. The laft Spring and Summer were fo hoftile to every at- 



tempt, the fuccefs of which depended on the operation of 

 fire, that It retarded much the progrefs of the Fen hufL)andry 

 in Caithnefs. Notwithftanding every difadvantage, however, 

 between 2co and 300 acres have been pared with the Fen 

 Plough, and about 50 acres burnt, and laid down with Rape, 

 Chicory, Grafs Seeds, &c. After the afhes from the firft 

 paring and burning have been fpread, it has been found a 

 moft ufeful praftlce, to ufe Cooke's Cultivator, fo as to bring 

 the land into good tilth ; and this plan is particularly necef- 

 fary if new land is cultivated on the Fen fyftem. Where 

 this inftrument was ufed, wliich was to the extent of about 

 20 acres, the rape and grafs feeds are particularly promifing. 



10. Many tracts of wafte land have ajlerile crtijl on the furface, 



generally of a peaty nature, and, confequently, eafily burnt, 

 while the foil below is commonly clay, and capable of be- 

 ing rendered fertile. Some lime the furface of fuch foils ; 

 others bury the crufl: by trench ploughing — both of them 

 tedious and expenfive operations. But the true mode is, 

 to extirpate the priTiciple ofjierilily, by the following procefs : 

 During Winter, picugh the land three or four inches deep, 

 fo as to reach the clay ; crofs-plough it in Spring ; and, as 

 foon as the clods are dry, burn the \^hoie furface in large 

 heaps, fpread the afhes, and fow oats, beer, turnips, rape, 

 or grafs feeds, according to the feafon during which the 

 burning can be accomplifhed. About 12 acres were treat- 

 ed in this way, and at once brought, from being coarfe, 

 rugged, and barren, into a capit^il Itate of tillage and ferti- 

 lity. The expence did not exceed 50s. per acre. 



11. There is no foil naturally more unproductive, nor more dif- 



ficult to render fertile, than a cold and coarfe clay. The 

 |ifual mode of improving that foil; is, by a ftrong dofe of 



lime. 



