at Castlchead in Lancashire. 3 



offered for so small a consideraiion as three halfpence per acre, but nobody thought 

 it worth their while to take it even at that rate. A penny per acre therefore is 

 a higli estimate, for heath only to be come at during a long frost. 



Plan pursued. — The first attempt to improve any part of this tract, v/as anno 

 1778, when some general drains were made, but being cut at too great a distance 

 from each other, the moss was not rendered sufficiently dry. The scale of cultivation, 

 when first attempted, was small, only to the extent of about 4 or 5 acres. The 

 system pursued was as follows. The surface was breast-ploughed, and then burnt. 

 Sod kilns were erected to burn lime to be spread on the moss, the surface of which 

 had been thus cleared off. But the plan did not answer, as the proper management 

 of these kilns was not then understood. It was necessary therefore to follow a 

 different plan, the particulars of which it is proper next to detail. 



Drainage. — It is in the first place essential to make a sufficient number of /ar^* 

 open drains, both to carry off the stagnate water, and to promote a consolidation 

 of the moss. There must also be covered small drains, made with sods, which have 

 been dried for about three weeks or more, according to the season. In soft spongy 

 moss, the covered drains ought to be at first 9 yards distance, and when the moss 

 is consolidated, covered drains must be made, first between, and afterwards across 

 the covered drains that are first made. 



The following sketch, will explain the nature of the system that has been found 

 to answer best. No, 1 denotes the open main drain, or division fence ; No. 2, the 

 first covered drains, at g yards distance; No. 3, covered drains made between 

 No. 2, or at 4^ yards distance, and executed about two years after No. 2. No. 4 

 are covered drains quite across the field, and are made when the moss is pretty well 

 settled. They should be from a foot to 18 inches below or deeper than No' 2 and 

 3, and if properly placed, will complete the solidity of the moss. 



B2 



