Waste Lands at Tyn-y-Shos. 165 



much encumbered with stones. The stones were carted off the lands to assist in 

 making the fences ; and those which were too small for this purpose, were used to 

 fill up large holes in various parts of the land. 



The thin soil upon these wastes seems to have been created by the annual de- 

 cay of portions of the gorse ; a plant admirably calculated to produce, and after- 

 wards to detain, in spite of rains and storms, the vegetable earth upon these steep 

 declivities. Around each bush of gorse is always found a heap, more or less high, 

 of excellent soil. And so completely do the prickles of this plant defend the grasses 

 that grow among it from the attacks of sheep, that the earth produced by the suc- 

 cessive decay of vegetable matter constantly accumulates, and renders land, which 

 a few centuries ago would probably liave been unproductive, proper for the growth 

 of corn. 



It is impossible to traverse our mountains without observing how wisely these 

 things are contrived by Him who provides for us all. The highest mountains of 

 North Wales, where the rock does not every where appear, are clothed with heath. 

 As ages roll by, the soil produced by the annual decay of portions of the heath be- 

 comes fit to produce gorse. If the water has a ready fall, and the land is dry, gorse 

 appears in abundance on the more exposed sides of the mountains. Where soil 

 has accumulated in sufficient quantities, the next protector and fertilizer of the 

 mountains is fern. Wherever this plant flourishes, still richer quantities of vegetable 

 earth are every year added to the surface soil ; and the ground is rapidly prepared 

 for the plough. Let me be excused for having made this digression longer than I 

 intended. 



I now proceed to state the operations performed upon the second portion of 

 waste lands improved by me. 



2. One close of 21 acres, of which I have a lease for 21 years, at ten shillings 

 an acre, is so steep that no waggon or cart can be used to carry off the crop. 

 Drags must be employed for this purpose. This land was so steep, and was encum- 

 bered with such a quantity of stones, that a respectable gentleman farmer, whose 

 lands are contiguous to it, and to whom it was offered in exchange for other lands, 

 declared he would not cultivate it if it were given him as a present. I should 

 observe, that it was stipulated in my lease that the landlord was to be at the whole 

 expence of fencing. 



The greater part Oi this lot was begun to be ploughed for me in December 1804, 



