THE IMPROVEMENT OF OUR WASTE LANDS. 225 



much more use to the people than they are at present. This is, however, 

 an error, as has been sufficiently tested in several districts. It is a mat- 

 ter of very great importance to us as a nation to consider the best ways 

 and means of improving our waste lands, so as they may assist in sup- 

 plying food for the use of a gradually-increasing population. It cer- 

 tainly must be a question of vast import to all thinking people, when 

 we consider that in Great Britain alone there are upwards of thirty mil- 

 lions of people depending upon the produce of the land for their food 

 and for their very living, and that nearly seven millions of men are kept 

 in employment by agriculture. Generally in new countries any kind 

 of farming will suffice to meet present wants, but in this country it 

 behoves us to cultivate every inch of soil available for the purpose. It 

 should be our aim to learn the best mode to take the greatest crops we 

 can from the soil, and still keep that soil in good condition. 



At the present time (1868) it is estimated that there are upwards of 

 thirty millions of people in Great Britain. The population in 1848, 

 twenty years ago, was twenty millions thus showing that the popula- 

 tion is increasing fast. To get a supply of food for this increasing popu- 

 lation, we have to depend a great deal on supplies from other countries ; 

 but as these imports are not always to be relied upon, it would be a 

 great advantage if we could make the British soil support the British 

 people. 



The area of the United Kingdom, including the Isle of Man and 

 Channel Islands, extends over seventy-seven million acres, of which 

 45,173,708 acres were under grain and green crops, and under cultivated 

 grasses, in 1867. The following table shows the area of the United 

 Kingdom and the acreage under crops in 1867 : 



