210 



Reclamation of Moorland. 



[JUNE, 



three to five years, and also seed. An annual inspection of 

 the land is held, to which everyone in the neighbourhood is 

 invited. The knowledge of the subject is now so general that 

 these plots are considered to have served their purpose. In 

 addition to 500 demonstration fields, the Society owns 

 three experimental farms of 168, 841, and 173 acres respec- 

 tively, for which the State makes a small annual grant. 



Plans are prepared for drainage works and advice given 

 as to the best method of cultivation. The greatest difficulty 

 in this connection arises from the fact that a large number of 

 owners are usually interested, and numerous meetings have 

 to be held in order to obtain their consent. 



Sweden. — The improvement of moorland by drainage and 

 similar projects has received the attention of the State in 

 Sweden for many years through a staff of engineers, who 

 draw up plans and give advice in connection with such under- 

 takings. In the ten years 1889-99, nearly 900,000 acres were 

 dealt with in this way. The State also lends money and con- 

 tributes towards the cost in certain cases. 



The most important step in recent years towards the 

 rational cultivation of this type of land was taken in 1886, 

 when the Swedish Moor Cultivation Society was formed. 

 This Society aimed more especially at the distribution of in- 

 formation and the inculcation of better systems of cultivation ; 

 experiments and research have, however, formed an im- 

 portant part of its programme. 



The number of members is approximately 3,400. The sub- 

 scription is 45. 6d. per annum, and all the members receive 

 a bulletin, which is published every two months, dealing with 

 the work of the Society, and also of similar Societies abroad. 

 In addition to the subscriptions, the Society receives a grant 

 of ;£i,iqo from the State and ;£8oo from the Provincial 

 Government and the Chamber of Agriculture. It has 

 chemical and botanical laboratories at Jonkoping, with an 

 experimental garden, a library, and a museum. At Flahult, 

 some seven miles distant, the Society has an experimental 

 farm, where field experiments are carried out. Another large 

 experimental area on a different type of soil was purchased in 

 1906. 



Analyses of peat soils are made for members in the chemical 



