THE IMPROVEMENT OF OUR WASTE LANDS. 237 



steam-plough. The work done on this portion was well executed. 

 Having finished all the ploughing, we then commenced to tear up 

 the subsoil with the cultivator. (See chapter on Steam Cultivation.) 

 This cultivator or scarifier has seven long tines, and it takes six feet in 

 width. It tore up the subsoil to a depth of fourteen inches, and broke 

 the pan already referred to. The subsoil below the pan is quite free 

 and open, consequently all we required to do was to break the pan, so 

 as to allow the roots of plants to get through. 



After finishing the cultivation of the portion which was pared and 

 burned, we next commenced to use the cultivator as a subsoiler on the 

 remaining part, which had been ploughed only; and, after trying it 

 over a few acres, found that the furrows turned were so tough that they 

 threw the cultivator out of the soil, and that we could not get the tines 

 deep enough to break the pan. I therefore deferred doing any more at 

 it at that time, and left it to lie and rot for a season. It is in this state 

 at present, and we intend to allow it to remain in that state till the spring 

 of 1869, when we expect that the vegetable matter will have decayed 

 sufficiently to admit of its being worked up, and the subsoil also. Last 

 winter's frost has had a very beneficial effect upon it. 



The portion which was pared and burned is in a good state for culti- 

 vating now, and we intend this season (1869) to put a green crop in it, 

 and have it eaten off with sheep, when it will in 1870 be in good condi- 

 tion for further cropping. 



I shall be glad to furnish any one interested in the reclamation of 

 waste lands with a statement of the results after the land has been 

 cropped. 



The expenses in connection with the reclamation of this land is given 

 in the following statement : 



Burning heath, ten men one day, at 2s. 6d. each, . . . . l 6 



Ploughing with steam-plough eighty-five acres, at 10s. per acre, . 42 10 



Cultivating sixteen acres, at 10s. per acre, . . . . . 800 



Twenty-eight tons of coal, at 12s. per ton, 16 16 



Carriage of twenty-eight tons coal, at 6s. 6d. per ton, . . . 920 



Expense of three men working engine and plough, . . . . 4100 



Cartage of water to engines, at 7s. 6d. per day, . . . . 900 



Two men assisting with plough twenty-nine days, at 5s., . . 750 



Paring ten acres, at 20s., 10 



Cartage of branches for burning turf, one cart and man one day, . 050 



Burning ten acres, eight men one clay, at 2s. 6d. each, . . . 100 



Spreading of ashes, eight men half a day, 10 



110 3 



The total expenditure so far has therefore amounted to 110, 3s., 

 or at the rate of about 1 , 6s. per acre. To finish this, and make it 



