386 Cultivation of Moorland. 



drainapfe will relieve them Avitliout a proper breakings up of 

 these fixed strata, which can alone l)e done by deep subsoiling 

 or trenching, to be regidated by the depths of the surface 

 soil resting upon these " crusts or pans " beneath. When within 

 moderate and reachable depth, say 15 inches, my practice has 

 been to " pare and burn " the upper grasses, the paring being 

 done with Glover's plough to a good depth, and burnt during 

 the summer as it lies upon the land : by this process the soil 

 beneath is slightly charred, and no further cost is incurred by 

 spreading the ashes. The land is then half ploughed 4^^ to 5 

 inches deep, and laid upon the adjoining uncut land, thus form- 

 ing a number of ridges throughout the field, and effectually 

 covers up all the ashes for another day. As this work proceeds, 

 *' Comins' subsoil plough " follows up every present furrow 

 (which is ample, as the neighbouring one is also disturbed) ; 

 and the plough is so regulated as to reach the bottom of the 

 fixed and impervious stratum, and so to disturb it without 

 bringing to the upper soil an admixture of the inert subsoil. 

 The cost stands thus, per acre : — 



Paring by horse labour, viz. : — £. s. d. 



4 horses, man, and boy, to 2i acres, IHs. .. .. 6 8 



Burning and levelling inequalities of land .. .. 2 6 



Half- ploughing into ridges (2 horses) 4 



Subsoiling every other furrow .. \ ft O 



4 horses, man, and boy, to 2 acres/ 



£112 



• The ploughing and subsoiling of these lands is done after the 

 season for turnip sowing has passed away, and the horses are set 

 at liberty for this " heavy work." After the work is so per- 

 formed, these narrow ridges remain until the spring, and thus 

 not only protect the ashes and keep them in store, but at once 

 shed off all waters that may fall upon them, and it is as quickly 

 received and conveyed (somewhere) by the subsoiled furrow - 

 below. The winter over, this land is in a state to convert to any 

 purpose — roots, corn, grass, &c. — roots of course being the proper 

 and better crop, for which suitable dressings of lime are pro- 

 cured. The subsoiling of these lands naturally produces a quick 

 change in the under-current of passing waters, and they as 

 quickly show themselves upon the surface at some new point of 

 obstruction, and iniist then be carried off by an occasional drain 

 or two. The result of this subsoiling is immense, causing as it 

 does a complete revolution in the state of the soil so drained. 

 It is proper to mention that the work of half-ploughing the land 

 into narrow ridges, and that of subsoiling these fibrous and 

 living beds of earth, require great strength and careful adjust- 

 ment of the plough. I have given my figures of the cost for the 



