Cultivation of Moorland. 379 



In cases where the advantages of " washing out soil " cannot 

 be attained, it may even pay to cart decayed mould or peat on to 

 rough uncultivated lands, but in this case I should prefer the 

 plan of cultivation, as the carriage of soil is always inconvenient 

 and expensive in comparison Avith the return it affords. 



It may be thought that to eradicate the aquatic and other 

 natural grasses would be tlie safer and certain way of improve- 

 ment, but practice and patience have shown me that nature has 

 much to do in the adjustment of these matters — to adapt nature's 

 grasses to nature's laws and elements. Thus it is best to pursue 

 the cheaper plan of impi'ovement when making water-meadows. 



The reclaiming of bogs and peat-soils in a corn country is 

 another matter, as the growth of root-crops and grain would be a 

 preferable course to adopt, and would make a proper and suitable 

 return for the larger outlay. 



Cultivation of the Natural Soil. — The first ground selected for 

 culture will naturally be near the house and yards, that some 

 few small fields may be quickly broken up for roots and subse- 

 quent crops for the yet small but varied stock of the farm. 

 Paring and burning the surface soil is the first step (in the right 

 direction) towards improvement ; then follow the usual ploughings, 

 harrowings, dressings, &c., for a root-crop, which is invariably a 

 good one, and produced at a comparatively cheaper cost per ton 

 than those grown upon the inland turnip soils. This may be 

 lightly received, especially when we consider (at first sight) that 

 the one is a rough uncultivated barren waste, and has to be re- 

 claimed, while the inland field savours of all the advantages 

 of improved culture : these are wide odds at starting, but 

 when reduced to paper are not so formidable at the end of the 

 race. 



Comparative Cost of Cultivating an Acre of Hill Land, at an elevation of 

 1000/ee?, against an Acre of Lincoln Neath, both being prepared for 

 Turnips. 



Lincoln Heath, Turnip-fallow* 



£. s. d. 



By rent and pnroc'.iial rates 15 



By 3 |)loui,'hinj:s, at Ss. each 140 



By cross draftings, rollings, harrowings, drilling, manuii' 



and seed, itc 10 



By 20 bushels of l)oncs, at 2s. iid. (or other artificials to 



the same value) 2 10 



£5 !t 



* The figures here given were given to the writer about eight years ago by one 

 of the best Liucoln Heath farmers. 



