92 



I wish much to see the spontaneous powers of Nature 

 tried also on this wretched surface ; the expense would be 

 less than in any of the former cases, as we are relieved 

 irom drainage. Can ashes be procured by the combustion 

 of some of the peat, with a portion of the substratum or 

 contiguous clay, the surface could be enriched on very 

 moderate terms. Coal is cheap in many parts of Eng- 

 land, and kilns for the combustion of any earthy material 

 may be Hghted at very little expense, and thus ashes pro- 

 cured in sufficient quantities. 



Were the surface levelled, peat and sand mixed, we 

 know the heath would not resume possession, and I am 

 certain with moderate encouragement the gramina would ; 

 for I have often observed, where the surface of a vapid 

 red sand has been laid bare, that some scattered solitary 

 agrostides have appeared. 



It is very many years since I saw Bagshot Heath ; 

 and from my faint recollection, it was exactly of this 

 description. Now we know that the stolones sold by 

 London seedsmen for florin were gathered on Bagshot 

 Heath ; — the question is not, were these the true stoloni' 

 fera ? The fact is certain, that spontaneous agrostides 

 are abundant there ; and since they come forward without 

 encouragement, no doubt when the surface was prepared 

 to invite them, they would spring up in greater abundance, 

 and would soon be accompanied by other diminutive 

 grasses, together forming a green sole, and affording some 

 pasture. 



The experiment at least might be tried on a small scale, 

 ^and some employment thus afforded to the poor ; and so 

 far as experiment, a very small quantity of Hrae might be 

 tiied. 



