R E C 



K J-: c 



Icfs formidable nature, which frequently ftaiuk in need of 

 being reclaimed, and in which the furfacc is lefs encumbered 

 than the interior part? of the foil. In thefe cafes, the inter- 

 rupting materials are rather large ftones than rocks, though 

 the latter may fometimes in part form them. The means 

 which arc bell fuited to the bringing of thefe into a profit- 

 able iRite of cultivation, are to be found in the more northern 

 parts of the idand, in the praflicc and exertions of particular 

 fpirited individuals. The plan of the improvement is per- 

 fcflly fimple, but it is expenfive in its performance ; the 

 whole of the lands being tr<.*nched over, by means of the 

 fpade, to a proper depth, as from one to two feet. The 

 ftones which are not wanted for ufe are thrown into pits, 

 and the hollow parts, to contribute to their being made 

 level, and fometimes into the deep trenches formed in dig- 

 ging, being fail covered over with the worft of the earthy 

 materials, upon which the better moulds and turfy fub- 

 ftance, which" arc ftirred in the work, arc fpread out as a 

 foil, by which the whole is rendered very fuitable for agri- 

 cultural purpofes. 



The coll of reclaiming lands in this way depends, in fomc 

 meafure, on the caft of furface in the lands, the nature of 

 the interrupting matters, and the depth of the earthy fub- 

 ilances to be removed, in raifuig a fufficiency of mould for 

 forming the furface foil : but from five to twenty pounds 

 the acre may be confidered as the limits of the charges. 



And this, it is fuppofed, leaves an ample profit in the 

 fale of fuch lands, or otherwife, in thefe fituations where 

 tythes are not taken, and where the rates and taxes are fo 

 very few and trifling, and where labour and living is fo 

 cheap. It can now, however, be done in this manner in 

 but few inllances, as has been already noticed. 



It is, notwithitanding, beheved that there are very many 

 lands, not only in thefe northern parts, but in England and 

 Wales, that would more than repay the expences of this 

 fpirited mode of improvement. It may be remarked, that 

 where the ftones are very large, or where fragments of 

 rocks are met with, in thefe undertakings, they may be got 

 rid of either by blaftmg, or rending their upper parts, or 

 by finking them in the foil, fo as to allow the plough to pafs 

 over them with fafety. 



The former method is more fuited to the foft forts of 

 ftones ; the latter to thofe of the harder kinds. 



Such rocky grounds as are comajon in hilly and moun- 

 tainous fituations, which, on account of their climate, and 

 the compadl nature of the rocky materials, as well as their 

 quantity, are incapable of being cleared as corn-lands, or fo 

 as to admit the plough, may often be reclaimed and im- 

 proved as pafture lands for ftieep, &c. or fometimes as hay 

 lands. The plan of proceeding, in thefe cafes, is that of 

 removing the ftony matter from the furface, and allowing it 

 entirely to the growth of grafly herbage ; the means of ac- 

 complifhing which are fimilar to thofe already noticed, but 

 the coll confiderably lefs : the main intention here being 

 merely the fmoothing of the furface ground, tor the pur- 

 pofes of pafturing or mowing ; but the more the ftony fub- 

 llances are covered with good earthy mould, the better 

 and greater will be the quantity of produce. See Til- 

 lage. 



There are many rough woody trafts of ground, of the 

 Ihrubby or other kinds, which may be cleared and reclaimed 

 with vaft advantage to their proprietors, as well as the com- 

 munity in general, as corn-lands, or for other ufcs. The 

 moft ufual method of accomplifhing this fort of improve- 

 rnent has been to dig out the whole of the roots, whether 

 of low woods or timber woods, at the time of emoving the 

 Jops, fo as to admit the plough immediately, rin perform- 



ing this !n this way, however, wliere the ftooh are of li.'r 

 timber kind, numerous and large, deep breaking of the 

 ground is often neced'ary, which is laborious and expenfive ; 

 and rotten wood, mould, leaves, and other furface matters, 

 are apt to be left in mixture with the infertile or poifonous 

 fub-ilrata. As lands, cleared and reclaimed in thi<; manner, 

 have been known to remain in a ranv unprofitable condition, 

 for feveral years, although hmed, dunged, and raifed in 

 fiiarp ridges, in order to its amelioration. 



This improper practice has Gonfequently been highly 

 difadvantageous, injurious, and ruinous, and thrown much 

 difficulty and interruption in the way of clearing and reclaim, 

 ing fuch waile lands for the growth of corn, however fuit- 

 able they may be for the purpole in the nature of their foils 

 and fituations, thereby tending to propagate and fnpport 

 the notion, that fuch forts of land will not repay the ex- 

 pences and trouble ef being improved. 



But from attending to what has naturally happened to 

 the cleared parts of wood-lands, it will be feen that a deptli 

 of fertile mould, relling on lefs fertile fubilances, form a re- 

 gular foil and fub-foil, which are free from the roots of 

 trees, ready to receive the plough, and afford corn crops in 

 due fucceflion. This is fuppofed to take place fomewhat 

 in this way. The trees having been fuffered to become de- 

 cayed, or more properly cut down in due feafon, and the 

 brufii or underwood cut and cleared away from time to 

 time by the occupiers, while fuch commons or other 

 places were fully or too much flocked with cattle and fheep, 

 the young fhoots were of courfe browzed off and nibbled away 

 quite to the ftumps, confequently weakened, and at length 

 finally dellroyed. The roots and other parts foon followed 

 this courfe, and palled into a flate of vegetable mould, in- 

 creafing and enriching the foil at the fame time. Nay, this 

 may, in the natural flate, it is fuppofed, be, in fome mea- 

 fure, effefted alone by the grazing animals, as it is eiTential 

 to their exiflence. 



This natural procefs, however affiftcd in this way, is 

 flow, requiring a length of time for its completion ; yet by 

 proper means of art, well applied, it may be accomplifhed 

 in a few years ; the larger roots being extrafted from the 

 ground, inftead of waiting for their redudlion by a flow de- 

 cay, without any unneceffary difturbance of the fub-foil ; 

 and then filling in the pits by the roughneffes of the na- 

 tural furface : by which means the cleared ground will be 

 fmoothed, aud made fit in due time for being cultivated. 

 Where the furface is much incumbered with leaves and rot- 

 ten woody matters, they are to be raked up, and put into 

 heaps to decay ; or they may be burnt, and the afhes fpread 

 out over the furface of the land. Proper draining and fur- 

 ther levelling muft likewife take place, where necefiary ; as 

 well as harrowing or hacking the furface fward, fo as to fow 

 it with proper grafs feeds ; again raking off any rubbifh 

 that may arife, and then rolling the whole quite fmooth for 

 mowing. It fhould be ftocked hard, efpecially with fheep, 

 mowing off occafionally any woody fhoots that may be per- 

 mitted to arife ; keeping the whole in the flate of clofe paf- 

 turage, until the fmaller roots, which were left, be fo de- 

 cayed as to become obedient to the plough-fhare. At this 

 period, but not before, fuch pafture ground may be broken 

 up for grain crops in proper fucceflion. 



The procefs might be haftened by the ufe of lime, cr 

 other calcareous matters in union with the vegetable fub- 

 ftances which were removed, as they would be fooner dif- 

 folved or reduced, and the compofl be more rich. And by 

 fpreading them out on the land a fimilar effeft might be 

 produced, and a finer fort of herbage be encouraged, which 

 would caufe a clofer bite, and fooner bring the land into a 



