582 On the Improvement of Marsh Land. 
agreed to pay half the manual labour during my lease, if I harrowed at 
least 240 rods per annum. This formed part of my new lease then • 
and I am now under an agreement to finish those that have not been 
done. The result is as follows : — 
In 1831 I covered the before-stated 4 acres, cleared 322 quarters of 
oats, paid 1^. per quarter for thrashing, and cut at least a load of brush- 
ings. 1832, 8 acres. 1833, 14 acres. 1834, 7 acres: this marsh I 
chalked about 3 years before. 183.5, 19 acres : in this marsh I limed 
1 20 rods of bank during the summer with unslacked lime, and in the 
winter it might have been moved with a barn scuppet ; nothing extra 
good in this crop, but I feel assured the marsh is improved more in pro- 
portion than those without lime. In 1836, 22 acres. 1837, 16 acres. 
1838, 14 acres. 1839, 15 acres: earthed, but not sown with oats; I 
do not think the marsh covered itself so soon with grass, there being no 
oats to keep the sun off, or seeds to shatter. In 1840, 16 acres. 1841, 
n acres, with more than 10 quarters of oats per acre. In 1842, 22 
acres ; and I have now a crop growing with at least 9 quarters per acre. 
I usually commence this work in the month of December, and employ 
from 10 to 20 men extra during the barrow-work. I pay from 2s. 6d. 
to 3«. 6d. per rod-run, measuring close to the edge of the water: by that 
means the labourer is justly paid for all crooked ditches. The price 
varies according to thickness of bank, and distance to wheel it ; and my 
rule is for each man to shoot 9 barrows to the half rod, which is the best 
thickness for a crop : the oats then get well hold of the turf. After all 
that can be harrowed, the corners are carted to the middle of the marsh, 
or parts too far for the men to wheel. As soon as the bank is finished, 
I use a foot plough round where the bank has been taken, so as to allow 
the frost to pulverise it for a season. 
This not only produces work for the first winter, but additional 
threshing for the following one ; increase of food for lean beasts, and a 
greater quantity of manure for the uplands ; keeps the cash at home, 
able men out of the Union, and lightens the rates. 
I use about 60 acres of marsh land belonging to the adjoining estate. 
None of these banks have yet been removed ; and this year, since 
lambing, I have lost more stock on these 60 acres than on all those that 
have the banks removed. 
My neighbour, Mr. Oakley, said, after a snow-storm, he considered 
the removal of my banks had saved him in one night near 10^. Mr. 
Ellis, of Barming, near Maidstone, who had lost his way, I found in my 
marshes looking at a growing crop : he stated his surprise at the vast 
improvement, and said he was never more agreeably lost, as he con- 
sidered he had obtained information. 
Those marshes that have been done a few years I consider very much 
improved. They keep more stock, and yield grass of a much better 
quality ; much less sword-grass, no drinkings required for the stock, 
and if a lamb falls in it can walk out on either side. As to appearance, 
it is beyond me to describe the improvement. 
I would state the cost per acre more correctly if I could ; but this 
must be governed by the number of acres in each field, and more par- 
ticularly by the form of it, as a field that is long and narrow (say 30 
