42 



The former point we carry by frequent open drains, pa- 

 rallel to each otlier ; their distance governed by the nature 

 of the ground ; if the subsoil be retentive, they should be 

 the more frequent and deeper, not less than fifteen inches, 

 and in the form of an equilateral^ or perhaps a right-angled 

 triangle, that they may not be easily choaked up ; and 

 also that they may be readily cleared when necessary i 

 the stuff raised in the formation of these drains is to be 

 thrown into tall heaps, their distance from each other 

 governed by the pov/er of the labourer in pitching. 



For top-dressings, our resources are most abundant ; the 

 heaps I mention are upon the spot, and when improved, 

 only require to be thrown by the shovel on the contiguous 

 surface. 



Our sources for this improvement are two, lime and 

 4ishes: — the former may be deemed expensive; but as this 

 manure is created entirely by manual labour, whether we 

 look to the quarrying, the burning, or to the raising of the 

 fuel; making lime and finding uses for it may be consi- 

 dered in some sort as forming part of the object of the 

 Board of Agriculture, finding employment for the indus- 

 trious and unoccupied. 



Should the objection be still pressed, I reply, that the 

 very smallest quantity will be of value to me ; and should 

 that be refused me, I can do very well without the article. 



Ashes form a grand and inexhaustible source of manure, 

 at least for my purpose ; these are also procured by manual 

 labour, for peat and moor, or peaty earth, are most abun- 

 dantly disseminated through all our mountains, and easily 

 converted into ashes ; whose quantity may be greatly in- 

 creased by adding earth or clay to the fire, or kiln, we 

 employ. 



For burning ashes, mountain is an excellent situation. 



