THE IMPROVEMENT OF OUR WASTE LANDS. 227 



On referring to the foregoing table, it will be found that there were in 

 1867 in the United Kingdom 



11,431,940 acres under corn crops. 



4,951,796 green crops. 



953,998 fallow, or without a crop. 



5,679,433 clover grasses. 



22,156,541 permanent pastures or grasses. 



To this may be added 2,600,000 acres under timber, which makes a 

 total of 47,773,708 acres under cultivation, leaving 29,739,292 acres 

 under hill-pastures, commons, and other wastes. It is estimated that 

 nearly ten millions of these waste lands are capable of being cultivated ; 

 the remaining portion, being nearly twenty millions, are waste lands 

 which may be said to be incapable of cultivation. Taking the popula- 

 tion with the area, we have about one acre and one-fifth to each person 

 in the kingdom. This is a very small proportion, especially when the 

 increasing population is taken into account ; and the reclamation of waste 

 lands capable of cultivation, would assist us materially in dispensing 

 with foreign supplies. 



There was a time when many landed proprietors could not afford to 

 lay out money in the improvement of wastes ; but this is now obviated, 

 seeing that the Government supplies money for estate improvements, 

 subject to percentage over a certain number of years ; and there are 

 several land improvement companies who advance money for the same 

 purpose on similar conditions. 



These land improvement companies enable a proprietor to obtain a 

 loan from them for the execution of permanent improvements on his 

 estate. The landowner must, in the first place, give a statement of 

 what he proposes to do in the way of improvements. If the proposed 

 works meet with the approval of the company, the loan will then be 

 advanced, and the works will have to be approved of by the inspector 

 for the Enclosure Commissioners. The company have their loan returned, 

 and any other expenses in connection with it, by a rent-charge upon the 

 estate, which must be paid in half-yearly instalments for a term of from 

 twenty-one to twenty-five years. 



The landowner can charge the inheritance with this rent-charge. 



The company will either contract to carry out the works or allow the 

 landowner to do so himself. 



The rent-charge to repay capital and interest in twenty-five years is 

 now charged at the following rates : 



7, Is. per cent per annum for loans under 500. 6, 14s. Id. per 

 cent per annum for loans above 500. 



