Book III. IMPROVING WASTES. 673 



4158. Filtering water on a large scale may be effected by emptying one pond into 

 another, through a conduit of any kind filled with gravel, sand, and clmrcoal. 



Chap. IV. 

 Of the Improvement of Lands lying Waste, so as toft then for ^arm-'Cutture. 



4159. Of ivaSte lands, many descriptions are best improved by planting, and therefore' 

 are to be considered as disposed of in that way in the laying out or arrangement of an 

 estate ; but there are others which may be more profitably occupied as farm-lands, and it ia 

 the preparing or bringing these into a state of culture, which is the business of the present 

 chapter. Such lands may be classed as mountainous or hilly grounds, rocky or stoney 

 surfaces, moors, bogs or peat-mosses, marshes, woody wastes or wealds, warrens or 

 downs, and sea-shores or beaches. In the improvement of these subjects, many of the 

 operations are such as are performed by temporary occupiers or farmers ; but as in this 

 case such occupiers have always extraordinary encouragement from the landlords, either 

 in the shape of a low rent, of money advanced, of long leases, or of all of these ; we con- 

 sider it preferable to treat of them as permanent, or fundamental improvements, than to- 

 consider them as parts of farm -culture. 



Sect. I. Of mountainous and hilly Grounds and their Imjirovement, 



4160. The upper parts of mountains may be considered as among the least improvable' 

 parts of the earth's surface, from the impossibility of ever improving their climate. " The 

 highest peaks and ridges are mostly naked granite, slate, or volcanic productions. Their 

 more elevated sidesj and the tops of those of moderate height, are usually covered by a 

 thin soil, producing a short dry herbage, which is frequently mixed with a dwarf, or 

 stunted heath. Where the soil is not injured by moisture, these are best calculated for 

 sheep. When the height of mountains exceeds 800 feet of elevation above the level of 

 the sea, unless covered either with natural woods or artificial plantations, they can only 

 be profitably used in pasture." (Code.) 



4161. The hills, or land less elevated than mountains, have, in general, a deeper and 

 moister soil, and produce a more luxuriant herbage, but of a coarse quality ; hence 

 they are better adapted for small hardy cattle. Though the summits of hills are gene- 

 rally unfit for raising grain, yet the plough is gradually ascending along their sloping , 

 sides, and within the last thirty years many thousand acres in such situations have been ' 

 reclaimed in the united kingdom. 



4162. Steep lands along the sides of rivers and small streams are often inaccessible to 

 the plough, and unfit for tillage. The more rugged of these are well calculated for 

 woods or coppice; while those in more favorable situations and climates may be con - 

 verted into orchards. {Cod&ofAgr. 161.) 



Sect. II. Of rocky or stoney Surfaces. 



4163. Rocky and stoney lands are common in the valleys of a hilly or mountaimi3 

 Country, and sometimes, as in Aberdeenshire, they cover immense tracts of flat 

 surface. 



4164. fFhen rocks protrude from the surface here and there in fragments of a few toiiSf-- 

 and it is considered desirable to render the field or scene fit for aration, the only mode 

 is to rend them asunder by gunpowder, and then carry off the fragments for walls, 

 drains, roads, or buildings ; or, if they are not wanted for these or any other purpose, to 

 bury them so deep in the ground as to be out of the reach of the plough. But where 

 rocks rise in considerable masses of several poles in diameter, it will generally be found 

 preferable to enclose and plant them. Clefts and crevices are found in all rocks which' 

 have been long exposed to the air and weather, and in these may be inserted young plants, 

 or seeds, or both. Such masses being enclosed by rough stone walls, formed from the 

 more detached fragments, or from loose stones, will grow up and be at once highly 

 ornamental and useful as shelter. It is true they will interrupt the progress of the 

 plough in a straight line, but not more so than the rock if left in a state of nature. 

 When a rocky surface is not intended to l)e ploughed, all that is necessary is to remove 

 as many of the solitary rocks as possible, and either enclose and plant the rest, or 

 cover them with earth. 



4165. The stones which impede the improvement of land are either loose, thrown up- 

 when the land is trenched, or ploughed ; or fixed in the earth, and not to be removed 

 without much labor and expense. ' 



4166. Loose stones may often be converted into use for the puVpose of covered drains, 

 of constructing walls or fences, or making and repairing the roads en the farm, or in tlie 



Xx 



