310 
On the Farming of the 
With reference to the reclamation of the waste-lands of the 
Riding, it has already been noticed that on those of the millstone- 
grit formation abundant e\adence exists, in the productiveness of 
those inclosures that have already been subjected to cultivation, 
of what a large extent which is yet unreclaimed, is capable. I 
know many instances where tracts of this higher land are to be 
seen growing nothing but heather, and not realizing more than 
about Is. 6d. per acre (shooting included), whilst immediately ad- 
joining, on the same level, are cultivated plots that let lor 20s., 
25s., and up to 30s. per acre, and produce excellent crops. As 
I have already said, there is no very great proportion of peat 
on these lands in the West Riding, and consequently their 
reclamation would be the sooner accomplished. After the drain- 
age work is completed, which is the first thing to be done, 
probably the best plan of proceeding is to plough the land, turning 
down as much of the ling as possible (without paring and burning 
it, as is too often practised), lime it, and sow it with rapes, and eat 
them on with what sheep you can get ; after which, plough it and 
prepare it as thoroughly as possible, burning, if you like, at this 
stage any stalks of ling that may come to the surface, and plant it 
with potatoes ; after this, with a further liming (for it is generally 
deficient in this mineral), sow it with oats or wheat, as you may 
find suitable, and clover or seeds to be eaten on. There is nothing 
expensive in this mode of proceeding, and the potato-crop will 
in most instances fully repay all the previous outlay ; nay, even 
occasionally, including a considerable proportion of the cost of 
drainage. 
No doubt, for a time, you have an inferior climate to contend 
with ; but were it possible at once to drain the whole of these 
districts, this objection would in a very manifest degree disappear. 
The badness of the climate arises from an excess of exhalation, 
consequent upon an excessive surcharge of water in the land. The 
fact of the climate being made good by drainage has been often 
exemplified in the low lands, in the fens for instance, where 
ague — once so prevalent — is now never heard of; and many 
instances of the same effect might be given in more limited 
localities. I heard an intelligent farmer state that, since he 
entered on his occupation, the whole has been thoroughly 
drained ; that ort his first coming he found most of his neigh- 
bours' crops, on the higher ground around him, reached maturity 
a full fortnight before those on his farm ; but that since the 
drainage has been completed, his crops are invariably a week or 
two earlier than the immediate district. I refer to Mr. Moor, of 
Ackworth, near Ponlefract, whose farming is an example to that 
locality. 
After taking a course or two of corn-crops from the reclaimed 
