Reclaiming of Waste Lands. 
281 
Visit to Wichicood hy Members of the Laml-Snrvcyors' Club. — 
When the new farms had been occupied about nine months, the 
estate was inspected by a considerable number of the members 
of the Land-Surveyors' Club. Their Report, then published 
in the ' Times ' and other newspapers, speaks in the highest 
terms of " the energ-y, talent, and judgment of the Crown 
Surveyor," adding that, " From the general and comprehensive 
arrangement down to the minutest detail, every part has been 
maturely considered and admirably executed, and with as much 
regard to economy, as consists with durability. The buildings 
are conveniently arranged and constructed without any other 
ornament than they derive from excellent proportion, and the 
sites are judiciously selected in reference both to the occupation 
of the land and the beauty of the prospects." ..." For promptitude 
of execution and quality of work, this conversion of Wichwood 
Forest has hitherto been unequalled in this country ; and 
whether it is regarded as an undertaking of interest or a lesson 
of instruction, it is equally worthy of inspection by the landowner 
or the professional surveyor." 
Tenants' Work. — The land when given into the hands of the 
new tenants presented anything but a smooth, inviting appear- 
ance : wide ditches, and long, irregular high banks, that had 
formed the boundaries of the different^ coppices ; deep pits and 
hollows, where stones had been dug for the use of bygone gene- 
rations ; small straggling briars that had escaped the notice of 
the woodgrubbers ; roots of trees and underwood, left a few 
inches below the surface, by oversight or intentional neglect on 
the part of dishonest workmen ; large patches of rough brown 
fern-stems, that had afforded covert to the fawns : all these and 
many other impediments stood in the way of the " forest farmers," 
and made " Speed the Plough " an earnest desire Avith the plough- 
men but seldom realised; for it was with the greatest difficulty 
that four strong horses drawing a large iron plough could break 
up half an acre a-day ; and many and long were the blacksmith's 
bills for repairs to the " tackle " where the plough was used in 
breaking up the soil. Some of the tenants tried digging, at a 
cost of 3/. per acre ; some used stocking-hoes, and f/rnhhed the 
ground 5 inches deep, carefully picking out the large stones that 
were beneath the surface ; this plan cost 50s. per acre. On 
Potter's Hill farm, breast-ploughing and burning was adopted ; 
and this course appeared to answer better than any of the others. 
Potter s Hill Farm. — " The novel, skilful, and economical 
system " adopted on this farm formed the subject of special re- 
mark and commendation in the Report drawn up when the 
members of the Land Surveyors' Club visited Wichwood. 
This farm comprises 475 acres, the whole of which, with the 
