78 POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENTS 



would, therefore, just pay its way ; but the land im- 

 proves with cultivation, so that in twenty years' time 

 it would be worth a further 55. or so per acre. In many 

 cases there are obstacles to the acquisition of land of 

 this type in the existence of common rights, often of 

 the smallest value to the commoners, and in the Eastern 

 Counties in the high value attached to the land for 

 sporting purposes. 



(4) Low-lying moor and bog. A few areas exist in this 

 country where the land is water-logged and is covered 

 by a thick accumulation of peat. Such are the carrs 

 and moors near the mouth of the Trent, arid a few 

 inland areas. The reclamation of land of this type has 

 been very thoroughly studied in Holland and Germany, 

 and in Friesland and North Germany flourishing colonies 

 of small arable farmers may be seen on such moors that 

 formerly carried only a crop of rough grass. As the 

 reclamation depends upon thorough drainage the scheme 

 has to be a comparatively large one in order to deal with 

 all the sources of incoming water or to straighten and 

 deepen the river channel so as to lower the water level 

 on the drowned land. When the surface is dry the 

 deficiencies in phosphoric acid and potash, and often in 

 lime, have to be repaired as on the heath land ; but the 

 accumulated vegetation provides a great asset in the 

 shape of nitrogen, which becomes available when the 

 mineral salts are supplied, so that the reclaimed lands 

 carry good crops. Sometimes it is remunerative to 

 remove the lower layers of peat for fuel, and it is often 

 desirable to bring a layer of earth or sand to the 

 surface. The cost varies with each scheme, according 

 to the extent of drainage required, the value of the 

 peat, the proximity of mineral soil, etc. ; but areas of 



