474 
Sutherland Reclamation. 
of the field show that the peat thins out just where an edge of 
impervious blue clay crosses them a short distance below the 
ridge of the upper plateau ; as soon as this edge of blue clay 
is cut, a large volume of water flows into the drain. The blue 
clay probably forms a basin that receives and collects the rain 
that falls upon the hill above, and the growth of peat below 
is due to the overflow from this basin. If this theory is correct, 
a channel running from north to south below the brow of the 
hill and emptying itself into the stream would cut off the water- 
supply from the peat-bog, and would, in course of time, render 
it dry without the expense of parallel drains. The drains have 
been well laid with large pipes ; and as they all rest on a 
solid foundation, they will not be in danger of disturbance. 
In 1877, when only a few of the drains had been cut, the 
land was ploughed without the stirrer from east to west ; it was 
"disced" in 1878. No lime was given to it, but in 1879 it was 
dressed with the same artificial manures as the No. 8 field, and 
then sown with Sandy oats, with a few beans among them, 
and grass-seeds. The result is a total failure, but there is 
a marked difference where the drains were cut before the 
ploughing began ; here the oats have made some growth, though 
the crop will be hardly worth cutting. Looking at the main 
part of this field, I should be tempted to say that it is altogether 
impossible to grow crops without lime on such land ; but when 
one turns to the part first drained, one sees that if the water is 
once removed, the atmosphere will in time do that which the 
lime effects more rapidly. 
To this fact is due the partial success obtained by the crofters 
in many districts where it was impossible for them to obtain 
lime. Where lime is scarce and dear, as it is at the reclama- 
tions described at Rhifail, it should certainly not be applied until 
a great part of the oxidation of the new land has been effected 
by the atmosphere alone ; it should always be applied on new 
land several months before the crop is sown. It is a waste of 
seed to apply it on land that has once been water-logged- and 
has not had time to become sweetened by natural or artificial 
agents. The soil of this field was sent to ]Mr. Jamieson in 
January 1879. He stated that there was in it 96"6 per cent, 
of organic matter containing much ammonia, though not in a 
state available for the nutrition of plants, a full quantity of 
magnesia, little potash, and mere traces of sulphuric acid, 
phosphoric acid, and lime. It was slightly acid in reaction. 
No. 11 (25 a.) is the field lying on the west of the high-: 
road, between it and the railway ; it is intended to be in 
pasture. In 1877 it was ploughed without the stirrer; drained, 
" disced," sledged, and limed, in 1878. After harrowing, it was 
sown with grass-seeds and rape on September 2nd ; they came 
