80 
Oil Reclaiming Heath Land. 
as well as to aftbrd beneficial employment to the agricultural 
labourer. 
Nor should the general and obvious improvements and advan- 
tages in various other respects, consequent on the reclaiming of 
waste lands and barren heaths, be overlooked : amongst which 
we may mention the removal, to a very great extent (by judicious 
and necessary drainage), of noxious vapours, caused by stagnant 
water on lands of this description, the frequent sources of malig- 
nant fevers and other local diseases in low situations — a fact well 
known to medical men. The additional warmth and shelter also 
afforded to man and beast, by the enclosure of commons and 
large tracts of waste land, from the erection of fences and growth 
of plantations, tend greatly to improve the climate and general 
aspect of the country ; and, as such, may be viewed both as local 
and national benefits. 
These advantages, which I have briefly noticed, being matters of 
undoubted fact, proved by cveiy-day experience and observation, 
I beg to recommend thera to the serious consideration of those 
wealthy landowners who cherish a noble and patriotic desire to 
extend and widen our alimental resources at home, as well as to 
improve and beautify their native land ; who, although they might 
in some instances lose a few brace of grouse annually by the 
change, would reap other benefits of a much more substantial and 
permanent nature. 
I will now proceed to state my opinion as lo the best method of 
reclaiming heath or lingy land, always keeping in view its perma- 
nent improvement on safe and economical principles, with a pro- 
fitable return for the investment of capital ; pecuniary gain, imme- 
diate or prospective, being an ever-prevailing epidemic. 
Imprimis, let me state that thn^e things ought to be considered 
in reclaiming heath land : namely, 1st, its present value to its 
owner or occupier ; 2nd, the probable cost of breaking it up and 
reclaiming it ; and, 3rd, whether, after it is reclaimed, the im- 
proved value may be expected to remunerate the party for his 
outlay. These three things ought to be carefully weighed, by a 
farmer especially, before he commences his operations. But it not 
unfrequently happens that the owners of heath land expend large 
sums in reclaiming it, more with a view of beautifying their estates 
with ornamental plantations, and the like, than of increasing tlieir 
rent-roll. In such cases, economy, and an adequate return for the. 
capital expended, are seldom taken into account; and, if they 
were, such operations could not be looked upon as fit examples to 
present to the general reader. 
Tne system I advocate — namely, paring, burning, and liming — 
consequent thereon, give me every reason to suppose that the latter will 
keep pace with the augmenting population ol' the kingdom. 
