M E R C R A. 335 



was made round it 9 feet broad at top, 1 o deep, 

 and quite narrow at bottom, and repeated thcfe 

 drains, but not fo large at the diitance of 60 

 yards from each other. A drain of 9 feet wide 

 at top, and 6 deep, eofls 1 od. a perch. The 

 above drains were done by the day. In one 

 year after, the bog was dry enough to plough, 

 which he did, and burnt the furrow and fowed 

 rape: the crop middling, eat it with fheep. 

 The fecond year ploughed and burnt it again, 

 and had a fecond crop of rape ; after which 

 another year of rape and turnips, and 

 it now lies with the graffes that came of them- 

 felves after thefe operations : it is but indiffer- 

 ent, except in one place where fome lime-ftone 

 gravel was fcattered, and there it is good, pro- 

 mifmg well. Adjoining the bbg is a wet fpringy 

 bank fall of rulhes, from which Mr. Cooper 

 apprehends the water comes that breaks out in 

 the bog, which it docs in a few places, for want 

 of the {unrounding drain on that fide being 

 completed. To fiich as have bogs to improve, 

 he would recommend to furround the fpace to 

 be improved with a drain fo deep as to go to 

 the gravel, which is a point he thinks very ne- 

 ceffary $ as when this is done, if there is any 

 fall at all for the water, the drain will keep 

 open, and not clofe up, as it will do if not fo 

 deep, for want of a hardfurface for the water 

 to run off on. A year after this work, plough 

 it, burn the furrow, and fow rape for ilieep 

 food, levelling the land by ploughing and burn- 

 ing ; and repeat this till level, or if there is any 

 dung, potatoes is much the bed crop, and will 

 be a great produce, As foon as the land is level, 



fow 



