(385) 



CHAP. X. 



WASTES. 



NOTHINCt can cause more surprize In the minds of 

 many strangers on their first visiting Norfolk, tlian to find, 

 on entering the county by Brandon or Thetford, a long 

 stage of 18 miles to Swafham, through a trait which 

 deserves to be called a desert: a region of warren or sheep- 

 walk, scattered with a scanty cultivation, yet highly im- 

 proveable. This is a capital disgrace to tlie county, and 

 has been the result of an absurd prejudice in favour of 

 these old heaths for siieep. They have been let for is. 

 is. 6d. and 2s. an acre for many years; have been valued 

 at 2S. 6d. of late ye^rs, tlie best at 3s. and 3s. 6d. and 

 while left at such rents they are not likely to be improved. 

 Something, liowever, lias been done ; better ideas are 

 slowly creeping in, and some men have begun, though 

 good clay be not found on their farms. Chicory would 

 treble the rent of these lands. 



Mr. Be VAN, after trying several methods of bringing 

 old heath-lands into cultivation, gave the preference to the 

 following : sow oats and seeds on one earth after the drill 

 roller ; after harvest feed hard with sheep for two years, 

 in order to rot the eld turf; then prepare it for cole-seed, 

 by repeated ploughings and harrowings ; feed ofF the cole 

 with sheep, and prepare for rye, with which sow seeds 

 again, and let ir remain as a layer till it can be clayed or 

 marled with 60 loads per acre, when it may be brought 

 into the regular shifts of the farm. This process will give 



NORFOLK.] c c the 



