( 158 ) 



to the fences, might be run down to a lower level, by clean- 

 fing, and deepening the partition ditches ; and th.is the rufhcs 

 would be deftroyed, and a more regular and effedual fence 

 prefcrved, together with a better fupply of more wholefomc 

 water during the dry feafon. 



After expofing the cold and long fettled foil of the old 

 marfhes, to open and meliorate for three or four years under 

 the plough ; the lafl crop fliould be taken and the land 

 again laid down into grafs. From this treatment a very fu- 

 perior herbage would be produced, anfwering equally well 

 for making into hay as for feeding green and fattening 

 cattle. 



The hay which is generally made from the coarfer 

 marfhes, though fliut up in due feafon for that exprefs pur- 

 pofe, as well faved, and of an equal quality to the eye, is 

 not to be compared in point of nouriQuiient, to an apparently 

 good hay made from the higher lands; and as the grafs 

 of the one is compofcd of nearly the fame variety, and 

 found in the fame proportions as the grafs of the other, the 

 difference can only arife from a want of that uniform 

 growth and perfection in the marfli grafs, as there is in tiiat 

 which is grown upon the higher lands poiTeiTes. 



This explanation is ftrongly fupported by the feeding 

 quality of the marfli grafs, when felefted by the cattle and 

 eaten green. 



The coarfe highland paftures, (after having been previoully 

 hollow drained) fhould undergo the fame treatment as the 

 coarfe marfhes ; but in neither aije, Jhould the Jmalleji portim 

 of vegetable matter be burnt, that in any reajonable time it were 

 poffible to rot, 



CHAPTER 



