THE RECLAMATION OF HEATHS 77 



the cereals, especially rye and oats ; potatoes, carrots 

 and peas give good crops, and lucerne also answers well 

 on such land. Liberal manuring with artificials is 

 required in the early years ; the cost is made up by the 

 cheapness of cultivation. In Germany as much as £y 

 an acre has been paid for such heath land ; the reclaim- 

 ing, including the ploughing in of the lupin crop, 

 costs £5 to £6 per acre. After two or three years' culti- 

 vation the land sells at £20 to £30 an acre. A small 

 experiment is in progress by the Development Com- 

 mission on 200 acres of land of this class in Norfolk, 

 formerly let as a rabbit warren ; in the second year 136 

 acres were under crop, and though the season (1915) was 

 unfavourable, they yielded per acre 27! bushels of 

 wheat, 28 bushels of oats, 17 bushels of peas, and 65 cwt. 

 of potatoes (crop badly hit by disease). The cropping of 

 136 acres that had been reclaimed in the previous year 

 cost in 1914-15, £1,051 — the receipts are estimated at 

 £1,330. Despite difficulties with regard to labour and 

 the dearness of the indispensable potash manures, the 

 reclamation of the 160 acres, which are now clear and 

 ready for ordinary cropping, has not cost more than £5 

 per acre, exclusive of management and administration, 

 charges for which have been heavy on so small an 

 experimental area. It may be estimated that land of 

 this class, having initially a letting value of 2s. to 3s. an 

 acre (exclusive of sporting rights), may be given a letting 

 value of 15s. per acre by an expenditure on reclaiming 

 proper of about £5 an acre. Buildings have also to be 

 provided, but the cost is low, because no horned stock 

 has to be provided for, and may be set at about £5 per 

 acre (reckoning half the cost of cottages to be covered 

 by their rent), The reclamation of this type of land 



