Cultivating and Improving Wastes. 151 



tion of crops ; 3. The various means of reclaiming such 

 wastes; 4. The rules to be observed regarding this species 

 of improvement ; and, 5. The private and the public advan- 

 tages to be derived from it. 



I. Of the various Descriptions of Waste Lands. 



These may be classed in the following manner : 1. Moun- 

 tainous, hilly, or steep grounds ; 2. Moors ; 3. Bogs, or 

 peat-mosses ; 4. Marshes ; 5. Warrens, or downs ; and, 

 6. Shores, or beaches. 



1. The highest peaks and ridges of mountains, are mostly 

 naked primitive rocks, or volcanic productions. Their more 

 elevated sides, and the tops of those of moderate height, are 

 usually covered by a thin soil, producing a short dry her- 

 bage, which in Europe, is frequently mixed with a dwarf 

 or stunted heath ( z ). Where the soil is not injured by 

 moisture, these are best calculated for sheep. When the 

 height of mountains exceeds 800 feet of elevation above the 

 level of the sea, unless covered either with natural woods, or 

 artificial plantations, they can only be profitably used, in the 

 British Isles, as pasture. 



The hills, or land less elevated than mountains, have, in 

 general, a deeper and moister soil, and produce a more luxu- 

 riant herbage, but of a coarse quality ; hence they are bet- 

 ter adapted for small hardy cattle. Though the summits 

 of hills are generally unfit for raising grain, yet the plough 

 is gradually ascending along their sloping sides, and with- 

 in the last thirty years, many thousand acres, in such situa- 

 tions, have been reclaimed in the United Kingdom. 



Some steep lands along the sides of rivers, and small 

 streams, still remain in a state of waste, being inaccessible 

 to the plough, and unfit for tillage. The more rugged of 

 these, are well calculated for woods or coppice ; while those 

 in more favourable situations and climates, may be convert- 

 ed into orchards ( 3 ). 



2. Moor-lands 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 ad- 

 vantage, according as they are near manure, or markets, 

 and other means of improvement. 



Others, on the contrary, are in situations much elevated 

 above the level of the sea ; where the surface is covered with 



