CHAP. VIL 



PEAT BOG. 



1st, WITH A VIEW TO THE IMPROVEMEl^T OF ITS 

 SURFACE. 



The immeasurable peat bogs that cover so much of our 

 surface in the British Isles, have been long- considered as 

 a most extensive field, requiring only the exertions of man 

 to bring them within the agriculturist's pale, and to make 

 them, like the rest of our surface, produce food for himself 

 and his cattle. 



I am confident this immense area has not escaped the 

 attention of the Board of Agriculture, and that the re- 

 claiming some of these desolate tracts has been Speculated 

 on by them among the means of employing the industrious 

 and unoccupied; and I fear that where the nation itself, 

 with its purse open, has totally failed, the Board of Agri- 

 culture will not be successful to a great extent. 



It is now eight years since Parliament directed their 

 attention to the improvement of the bogs in one part of the 

 United Kingdom, and, pointing out the measures by which 

 it was thought this great object was likely to be forwarded, 

 most liberally voted £ 5000. to be applied to the purpose. 

 They afterwards voted £5000. more ; and, in full confidence 

 that their money would be honestly applied to the great 



