

HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. [63 



claimed by others ; and the flood water thus collected might be 

 distributed at pleasure upon any part of the estate below its level. 

 A very large proportion of the rain water now runs away in waste, 

 which might thus be collected for use, and the mischief of floods 

 prevented. Such reservoirs, as a fishery, might be equal or superior 

 in value to the same breadth of land, and might be drawn down to 

 a certain depth for watering at pleasure without injuring the fishery ; 

 water might thus be applied to such land as it would most benefit, 

 or in dry seasons to any land below its level. Reservoirs for water- 

 ing the land have been constructed in Spain, and other hot countries, 

 and it is surprising they have not been more attended to in England. 

 Many of the ancient water corn-mills are now of very little use. 

 The natural situation of a corn-mill, under the present circumstances 

 of the country, is not in a remote situation upon a stream, where a 

 team must be employed to carry in and out, but upon a canal, and 

 near a large town, where coals can be commodiously delivered to 

 keep the machinery in motion, and where the consumption of the 

 flour ground is upon the spot. Upon this principle, when the ma- 

 chinery of mills upon streams is worn out., they will be removed to 

 more convenient situations, and the streams be left for the improve- 

 ment of the land ; in which case the construction of reservoirs in 

 proper places, for public use, in proportion to every person's quantity 

 of land, might effect a great public improvement. 



Paring and Burning has not been much practised in this county, 

 and opinions vary much as to its propriety. It is most applicable 

 to waste lands, as the shortest way to get rid of rubbish, and to 

 correct the acids in the soil. Excellent potatoes, as well as grain, 

 have been grown on such land, after paring, burning, spreading the 

 ashes, and then ploughing them in : some few persons have tried it 

 upon inclosed land, and it is found to stimulate the soil to a crop, 

 but it must waste the vegetable substance of the soil, and thus lower 

 its staple. It is most applicable to deep peaty soils, which being 

 composed of inert vegetable matter, may, by the ashes, be stimulated 

 to action : the ashes should be spread immediately in a live state. 

 Burning of couch-grass is practised by some active farmers, but 

 most people think even that is better destroyed by tillage and sun- 

 shine upon the land, if the season will admit ; if not, by carting off 

 and mixing with quick lime. 



Manuring. The manures in general use in Staffordshire are, 

 1. The muck of the farm-yard, composed of the dung and urine of 

 animals, littering straw, and rain water : most farmers turn this over 



