380 FACT AGAINST FICTION. 



mensely increase, not only tlie annual amount of 

 food for the people, but, at the same time, acid 

 to the beauty of the domain and the amusements 

 of the lord of the manor. I allude to a subject 

 on which I have long written and for many 

 years advocated — I mean '^ the cultivation of the 

 waste lands and waters." 



^' Mv shoulder " has lon^: been ^'at the wheel" 

 of what might be a well-filled cart, and on my 

 coming to Alderney Manor I at once cast all 

 theory aside, and set about establishing an example 

 that any one asking my permission might insjDCct, 

 and assure himself, as years went by, of the 

 results or failure of my endeavour. 



The miserable-looking, brookless, pondless waste 

 bog, far below any needed drainage, for cultiva- 

 tion and utterly useless and devoid of life, as I 

 found it, now oflPers to the sun a little ri2)pling 

 brook of beautiful water from the hitherto hidden 

 springs, capacious pools for wild fowl and hsli ; 

 and my improved waste, that never held anything 

 but snakes, lizards, and adders, has been made to 

 offer continuous sport to myself and to my friends 

 with the gun and witli rod and line. On the 

 wastes there is every sort of wild fowl, and in the 



