WASTE LANDS 29 
Farrow, by means of a very simple experiment, has 
shown in striking manner how the dryness of the soil 
sets a limit to the vegetation. By allowing water to 
drip continuously from the tap of a cask throughout the 
growing season, it was found that the otherwise dwarf 
grasses of the grass-heath association grew up with the 
greatest luxuriance, in marked contrast with the stunted 
vegetation round about. In order, therefore, to neutral- 
ize the normal aridity of the soil, it is evident that the 
water problem will require serious attention if crops 
are to be raised profitably. Now there are three ways 
in which more water can be put at the service of plants ; 
(1) by increasing the rainfall ; (2) by irrigation ; (3) by 
rendering the soil more water-holding, and so conserving 
its moisture. No. (1) is out of the question ; irrigation 
is not applicable in the present case, hence the soil 
must be so treated as to increase its water content. 
This is provided for in Dr. Edwards’s reclaiming 
experiments by growing first a crop of lupins on the 
cleaned and broken-up ground. This crop is turned 
into the soil as a green manure, which not only adds 
to the nitrogen content, but, by the humus it provides, 
improves the water-holding powers of the soil. By 
such means as these, combined with continuous tillage, 
the water problem finds its solution. Dr. Edwards is 
also an advocate of the practice of sowing thinly, by 
which means the individual plants which constitute the 
crop are more sturdy and deeper rooted than is the case 
with denser sowing, whilst an equal or greater output 
is obtained. 
The preliminaries to cultivating Breckland include 
in addition to clearing and breaking up the surface the 
