On Spade Husbandry. 393 



. with furze, for which they were paid, at the rate of L.6 per 

 acre. Land before deemed quite unprofitable, was thus ren- 

 i dered highly productive, and work was provided for the poor, 

 for which they were fairly recompensed. 



The spade has likewise been found a most valuable im- 

 plement for improving moss lands. Mr Allison of Glasnock 

 in Ayrshire, by that means improved land of so soft a quality, 

 that horses could not be employed on it. The expense of 

 delving, the first year, was from L.2, 15s. to L.3 ; and the 

 second year, from L.I, 15s. to L.2 per Scotch acre, including 

 the expense of drains for carrying off the water. In delving, 

 the ridges were formed about 14 feet wide, and about 35 

 falls long, and the only manure was from 50 to 60 bolls of 

 lime per acre. In this way, he improved four farms, which 

 had in them much of that sort of soil, and let them, at eight 

 times the rent they had previously yielded. 



4. On t/ie Improvement of Grass Land by digging. Among 

 the most successful improvers of the soil by trenching it, 

 Mr Warden has particularly distinguished himself, and he 

 has furnished the following proof, of the great advantages to 

 be derived from trenching grass lands. 



During the agricultural distress in 1817, he employed a 

 number of poor people in digging a lawn round his house, 

 and, after producing three crops, 1. Potatoes, 2. Wheat, 

 and, 3. Hay, without any manure, (having been in grass 

 for seven years), he then laid it down in pasture, and in 

 excellent condition, after having thus procured from it three 

 profitable crops, the foundation of which was laid by delving 

 the ground the first year. From his experience, Mr War- 

 den is convinced, that proprietors possessed of lawns and 

 inclosures, intersected with clumps of trees, in many cases 

 covered with moss, and infected with the foot rot 9 may, in the 4 

 space of three years, be put in possession of ground, produ- 

 cing fine young grass, perfectly uncontaminated, and at the 

 same time, preserve the level of their grounds, which they 

 could not do with the plough without great trouble and ex- t 

 pense ; and by adopting at the same time spade husbandry, 

 a deserving class of people might be employed, during a pe- 

 riod of the year, when work is most difficult to be obtained, 

 to the mutual advantage, both of them and of their employ- 

 ers. 



5. On the Improvement of Plantations by trenching. In 

 regard to plantations, it is evident, that the ground is ren- 

 dered more friable by trenching, and is better prepared, to 

 afford room for the young shoots to expand themselves. 



