Book II. IMPROVEMENT OF MOORS. 745 



under cultivation. For this purpose, the shrubs ought to be cut down, the "round 

 trenched, or the plants rooted out by a strong plough, drawn by four or six horses, and 

 the roots and shrubs (if not wanted for other purposes), burnt in heaps, and the ashes 

 spread equally over the surface. (Com. to the Board of Agr. vol. ii. p. 260.) In many 

 places, shrubs and brushwood may be sold for more than the expense of rooting them out. 

 When coal is not abundant, and limestone or chalk can be had, the furze should be em- 

 ployed in burning the lime used in carrying on the improvement. (Ofordshire Report, 

 p. 232.) It requires constant attention, however, to prevent such plants from a^ain 

 getting possession of the ground, when restored to pasture. This can best be effected, 

 by ploughing up the land occasionally, taking a few crops of potatoes, turnips, or tares 

 in rows, and restoring it to be depastured by sheep. In moist weather, also, the youn<r 

 plants should be pulled up and destroyed. (Code.) 



4534. Fern (Pteris and Osmunda.) is a very troublesome weed to extirpate, as, in many 

 soils, it sends down its roots into the under stratum, beyond the reach of the deepest 

 ploughing ; but it is a sign of the goodness of any soil where it grows to a large size. 

 June and July are the best seasons for destroying it ; the plants are then full of sap, and 

 should be frequently cut. They are not, however, easily subdued, often appearing after 

 a rotation of seven years, including a fallow, and sometimes requiring another rotation, 

 and repeated cutting, before their final disappearance can be effected. Lime in its 

 caustic state is peculiarly hostile to fern ; at the same time, this weed can hardly be com- 

 pletely eradicated but by frequent cultivation, and by green crops assisted by the hoe. 

 [Oxfords/iire Report, pp. 234. 240.) 



4535. The heath (Erica) is a hardy plant, palatable and nutritious to sheep; and 

 under its protection coarse grasses are often produced. When young, or in flower, it 

 may be cut and converted into an inferior species of winter provision for stock ; but 

 where it can be obtained, it is desirable to have grass in its stead. For this purpose, the 

 land may in some cases be flooded, and in others the keath may be burned, and the 

 land kept free from stock for eighteen months; in consequence of either of these modes, 

 many new grasses will spring up, from the destruction of the heath, and the enrich- 

 ing quality of the deposit from the water or the ashes. The improvement is very 

 great; more especially if the land be drained, and lime or compost applied. (Gen. 

 Rep. of Scot. vol. ii. p. 359.) But if the land be too soon depastured, the grasses being 

 weak and tender, the sheep or cattle will pull them up with their roots, and will mate- 

 rially injure the pasture. (Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. iv. p. 465.) Where it is 

 proposed to cultivate the land for arable crops, the lime applied should be in a finely 

 powdered state, highly caustic, and as equally spread as possible. (Com. to the B. of 

 Agr. vol. ii. p. 264.) Lime in a caustic state is an excellent top dressing for heath. It 

 is astonishing to see white clover spring up, after lime has been some time applied, on 

 spots where not a green leaf could be detected before. 



4536. Paring and burning is a speedy and effectual mode of bringing a surface covered 

 with coarse herbage into a state of culture. Some have recommended making a com- 

 post of the pared surface, with lime ; or building folds or earthen walls of the sods, which, 

 by the action of the atmosphere, become friable and fertile ; but these processes are slower 

 and not so effectual as paring and burning. In coarse rough pastures, ant-hills fre- 

 quently abound, which are effectually destroyed by paring and burning. (Code.) 



Sect. IV. floors and their Improvements. 



4537. Moorlands are of various descriptions. Sometimes they are in low and mild 

 situations, where the upper soil is thin or scantily supplied with vegetable mould, and 

 where the bottom or under-stratum is impervious and barren : these, in general, may be 

 reclaimed with more or less advantage, according to the proximity of manure or markets, 

 and of other means of improvement. Sometimes, on the contrary, they are in situations 

 much elevated above the level of the sea ; where the surface is covered with heath and other 

 coarse plants, and frequently encumbered with stones : such moors are seldom worth the 

 expense of cultivation, and from their height are only calculated for woods or pasturage. 



4538. Moors not placed in high or bleak situations, where the surface is close-swarded, 



or covered with plants, and where the subsoil is naturally either not altogether wet, or 



capable of being made sufficiently dry at a moderate expense, may not only be reclaimed, 



but can often be highly improved by the common operations of farm culture, by paring 



and burning, by fallow and liming, or by trenching or deep ploughing. 



4539. Vast improvements on different sorts nf moory lands have been made in Yorkshire where there are 

 immense tracts of moors. It is stated in The Agricultural Report of the North Hiding of Yorkshire, that 

 an improvement was made upon Lockton Moor, on a quantitv ot land of about seventy acres, which would 

 not let for more than Is. per acre before it was enclosed. Of this forty-eight acres were pared and burnt, 

 and sown with rape, except about an acre sown with rye; the produce about sixty quarters. The rye 

 grew very strong, and in height not less than six feet, and was sold, while standing, for five guineas the 

 acre. The land was onlv once ploughed, otherwise the crop of rape would probably have been much 

 better. One hundred and twenty chaldrons (each thirty-two bushels) of lime were ploughed into the 



