CHAPTER XVIII. 



THE IMPKOVEMENT OF OUR WASTE LANDS. 



WASTE LANDS are those portions of landed property from which a very 

 small return is derived, and in a great many cases none at all ; but what 

 is meant more particularly by the term are those parts of the country 

 which are still lying in their natural condition of surface, and on 

 which no attempt at improvement has been made by ploughing, top- 

 dressing, or otherwise. Of this description of land there is a very large 

 extent in different parts of the country, chiefly in the north of England, 

 the south, north, and west of Scotland, and in the hilly parts of Wales. 

 These embrace, generally speaking, the higher-lying parts of the country, 

 and are now occupied chiefly as sheep-pasture. A large proportion of 

 the lower-lying parts is capable of being made into good arable farms, 

 while perhaps a still larger proportion, from elevation and steepness, is 

 unfit for this purpose; and comparatively only a limited extent. may be 

 said to be altogether barren and unprofitable. 



These waste lands consist of moorlands, high-lying hill-pastures, bogs 

 or mosses, and land subject to be submerged by the sea. 



In dealing with this subject, I shall consider it under the following 

 sections : 



1. The extent, uses, and capabilities of our waste lands. 



2. The improvement of our waste lands by rearing plantations 



on them. 



3. Their reclamation by trenching. 



4. Their reclamation by horse-labour. 



5. Their reclamation by steam-power. 



SECTION 1. The Extent, Uses, and Capabilities of Waste Lands. 



Many think that it is superfluous to talk of ever bringing the great 

 proportion of our waste lands into such a state as will make them of 



