CULTIVATION OF WASTE LAND 95 



that not only the owners of land on the banks of rivers but all the inhabit- 

 ants of a commune or a region are interested in the good regulation of the 

 watercourses, both for economic reasons and for reasons of health, 

 expresses its desire for a stricter and more extended system of drainage. 



§ 4. Conclusions and proposals for the cultivation 

 OF communal waste land. 



As a result of the provisions of the law of March 25th., 1847 o^ ^^^ clear- 

 ing of waste land belonging to communes, the greater part of such land was 

 granted to private individuals, under the condition of their cultivating it as 

 farm land or forest land, and a very small portion was cultivated by the 

 communes themselves directly. 



The law was intended in this way to promote the rapid disappearance 

 of waste land and the most practical means to this end seemed to be the con- 

 version of public land into private property. But the end was not at- 

 tained. The sale of land on a large scale favoured the wholesale purchase of 

 communal land by private indi\nduals who kept it uncultivated, without im- 

 proving it in any way. 



Certainly the conditions under which drainage may be carried out vary 

 somewhat according as the land is situated in the Ardennes or in the 

 Campine. And indeed, whilst in the Ardennes it is comparatively easy and 

 remunerative from the beginning, it is rather difficult in the Campine and 

 requires much capital and it is long before it gives a return. 



In regard to the Ardennes district, where the land is usually cultivated 

 by residents of the district who take the farms on lease and work them, while 

 they remain the property of the communes, the Commission proposes that the 

 whole area still available may be cultivated in this wa5^ special privileges 

 being granted to the poorer members of the commune and subletting 

 of the holdings being forbidden. It is proposed that commimes averse to 

 this should be obliged to let out parcels of not more than one hectare at an 

 estimated price, to the poorer members of the commune at their request. It 

 is proposed further that copsewood yielding little be cleared. 



In the case of the Campine, the Commission ad\'ises that facilities 

 be given to the Communes to arrange long leases, allowing the tenants to 

 undertake work requiring time for its accomplishment and to erect the ne- 

 cessary buildings. 



In the contract there should be a clause allowing of the purchase of 

 the land when drained or at least a clause recognising the right to compens- 

 ation for improvements. It is also advisable to sell small holders parcels to 

 be immediately cleared. Coercion might be had recourse to when com- 

 munes show no intention of proceeding to clear their land on the above 

 system. 



I^inall^^, in regard to the whole kingdom, the Commission asks that the 

 funds needed for draining the land may be advanced to the communes at 



