312 Oil the At/riaittio-al Improvements of Lincolnsldrc. 
jjood that many farmers had ridden over to view it. After twenty- 
four years of conflict with this high moor and its climate, Mr. 
Roales was ready to convert another hundred acres .of heath, 
provided a boundary fence were put up for him : for fencing, not 
draining, is the chief expense in taming these moors. The fence 
is raised against a special enemy, the Atlantic gales, which sweep 
this whole western coast. It is a broad bank of earth, 5 feet high, 
supported on each side by walling, and planted along its summit 
with beech, forming a hedge 20 feet high. This is called suc- 
cour ; without it stock does not thrive ; and even corn crops, on 
these heights, are better by one-fourth for being well sheltered. 
The growth of the trees on these earth-walls must arise from the 
moist air of the country : in South Devon vigorous oak timber 
may be seen upon them. Such is Mr. Roales's experience of 
moor-land at the height of 1000 feet. On the opposite side of 
the moor, 20 miles from this place. Sir Thomas Acland's farm of 
Clotsham has been gained from the^vaste on a ledge of Dunkerry, 
which rises boldly from the Bristol Channel to the height of 
1670 feet. The elevation of the farm itself is 1100 feet. Yet, 
on this crest of Clotsham, hanging almost precipitously over the 
hnv valley of Holnicote and the sea, I saw not only excellent oats 
and turnips, but good water-meadows, on the very brow. Strange 
as the situation would elsewhere be thought for water-meadow, in 
West Somerset it is not uncommon; and as the plan of these mea- 
dows is peculiar, and may be widely applicable to the improvement 
of heaths, I will endeavour to describe their formation. Along 
the Lambourn, in Berkshire, and more extensively by the streams 
of Hampshire and Wilts, water-meadows have long since been 
formed. The water, it is well known, is thrown over them in 
winter, and produces a fine growth of grass in spring, while the 
other pastures are brown. But as it must trickle over, not stag- 
nate upon the surface, these fields must generally be thrown up 
with the spade into high ridges, that the water may flow along their 
crowns and escape in their furrows. Hence arises an outlay of 
from 10/. to 20/. on an acre in their formation; and hence I 
doubt whether, now that sheep can be fed in spring on late-kept 
roots, such an outlay is generally expedient ; though, as water- 
meadow is worth a rent of Al. or 5Z. an acre, if the money can be 
spared from other objects, the cost will be repaid. These water- 
meadows may be seen sometimes by the rivers in West Somerset; 
but on the slopes of the narrow glens, you see what is much more 
important, the Catch-meadow. In forming a catch-meadow the 
ground is not re-shaped, but shallow gutters are carried at a level 
round the slopes of the shelving field, tier above tier ; and no se- 
parate channel is required for carrying the water off, because, after 
flowing over from one carrier it is caught in the one below ; Irom 
