352 Cultivation of Moorland. 



better grasses alone, have long been redeemed from their wild 

 and boggy state by suitable drainage and other improvements. 



The fresh-water marshes were once closely allied to the pre- 

 sent unreclaimed moorlands in their production and reception 

 of redundant water and springs ; but by being interspersed with 

 arable land they have been more quickly and profitably improved, 

 partly by necessity, and partly owing to other and valuable pre- 

 cedents on adjoining or neighbouring estates. 



The valuable marshes on the eastern plane of England, Rom- 

 ney marsh in Kent, the Somerset marshes, &c., fully illustrate 

 the immense return resulting from former improvements in their 

 redemption, as they are now employed in the production of per- 

 manent feeding grasses for cattle or the scythe. Even the downs 

 and other dry open lands, treated as "sheep-walks," have 

 of late been mach trenched upon by the neighbouring farmers 

 for the use of, and addition to, their present arable farms. Tliese 

 downs in the south of England are usually so thin of soil that 

 they afford but little temptation to the husbandman, and are thus 

 used as " open downs," affording a run for the breeding flocks 

 of the several farms, or for the support of what is called a 

 " working flock " of sheep, intended to act as manure-carriers, 

 browsing by day, and closely folded by night on the corn-land. 

 The knowledge of the true elements of manure gained by the 

 aid of chemistry is introducing a better system, though folding 

 may always retain its proper mechanical use.* 



The waste lands in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire are provin- 

 cially termed "the Wolds. "t The soils of these districts vary 

 much ; but from their favourable position in reference to climate 

 and to markets they have been for the most part brought into 

 cultivation. There yet remain sandy soils stocked with rabbits ; 

 but, I judge, these are indeed of moderate worth, and have shown 

 little signs of response to outlay; otherwise the marked improve- 

 ments which have followed upon claying and marling must 

 have told upon the owner and occupier. For we have re- 

 corded facts of improvements upon tins class of soil by reference 

 to the Norfolk estates, raised up from barren sandy wastes 

 to rich and fertile fields, producing alike every variety of pro- 

 duce from " horn to corn," and these of the very best quality. 

 Consolidating substances, such as marl, the feeding of gi'een 

 crops by sheep, folding, &c., have gone far to produce these 

 valuable results upon thin sandy soils. 



* Much still remains to be done on the marshes in the levels between the 

 Mendip and Quantock Hills. Unfortunately the agricultural remedy cannot be 

 applied until some comprehensive legislation shall compel the subordination, of 

 jarring private interests to public good. — T. D. A. 



t The term " "Wolds" is in Yorkshire exclusively applied to the chalk hills in 

 the East Pading.— H. S. T. 



