at Casilehead in Lancashire, 7 



which it is mixed. By ploughing the moss ofien, exposing it to the influence of the 

 atmosphere, and mixing it with other substances, the canker, as it is called in some 

 di.stiicts, is extirpated. The frost has a great iffcct in reducing moss to soil, and 

 after the mo'^s is frosted, the influence of the sun is beneficial. The moss must be 

 rendered dead matter, before it can become productive. Lime has then an effect, 

 and dung still more. But nothing has answered better than burnt clay. Low-canal 

 field, containing about 4 acres, was manured with burnt clay at the rate of 80 

 single horse carts per Lancashire acre. It has ever since been mowed annually, 

 and is the best meadow land for hay in the parish. 



For turnips, the burnt ashes answer particularly well, and it has been observed, 

 that the fly never attacks the turnips where they have been manured with ashes, 

 more especially if the seed has been pickled as wheat usually is, previous to its being 

 sown. 



Shelter. — Birch, alder, plane, black poplar, and mountain ash, thrive well on 

 mossy lands, and if where quicks are planted, 'he moss is properly mixed with tlay 

 or sand, they will aho thrive well. 



Grass, how managed. — The land must at first be tenderly dealt with, and it is in 

 general much better to pasture tlian to mow it. Sheep have not been tried. The 

 highland sorts are much liked, both as they arc light, and leed quickly: but the 

 Galloway are on the whole preferred, being tamer and doing less mischief. Some- 

 times young cattle from the neighbourhood are taken in to graze, and that plan 

 pays well. 



Present Value. — For pasture, in its present state, the new improvements would 

 let at from 305. to 405 per Lancasliire acre, an.! the land that was improved some 

 years ago, at double that sum. 



Extent of the Moss improved. — Mr. Wi'.kij.son has already improved, or is in 

 the course of bringing imo cuirvation, no less a quantity than about Jive hundred 

 Lancashire acres of this kind of soil. 



Conclusion. — Such is the substance of the information I was able to collect, 

 regarding this great improvement, which, considering the unproductive nature 

 of the moss, the expense necessary to improve it, and the success with which it 

 has been attended, can hardly find a parallel in any part of the united kingdom. 



Narrow minded and ignorant people, I understand, have endeavou;ed to decry 



