84 
On Reclaiming Heath Land. 
150 to 250* bushels per acre, according to the nature of the soil. 
Strong heavy soils of a sour or rushy nature, containing much 
fibrous and inert vegetable substance, require more than those of 
a lighter description ; being of a more sluggish and stubborn 
nature, they require a greater stimulus to arouse them. I have 
occasionally seen those of a light nature over excited for a grain 
crop by the too free application of lime, so that the grain was 
kept in a green and growing state too long, from a continued suc- 
cession of shoots, thereby preventing its ripening in due season, 
and giving no return to the farm-er, save a quantity of green and 
bladed straw. However, where a green crop or permanent pas- 
ture is more an object of consideration than that of grain, we need 
apprehend no ultimate harm from a liberal use of it, but quite the 
reverse. 
As soon as the burning of the parings has been accomplished, 
all stones that liave been brought to light should be grubbed up 
and cleared off" as before. These may be used to complete the 
drains and fences, the forming of roads, or for other purposes ; 
after which the ashes are to he carefully spread over all the 
ground, taking especial care to clear out the bottoms of the heaps 
well, particularly the outer circle, where the land is usually charred 
by the fire — this being an important point to attend to — otherwise 
the grain will be too gross upon those parts whereon the ash-heaps 
have been burnt and lain for some time, and the crop will be 
patchy. Such parts are frequently lodged before the grain gets 
into ear, and where this occurs it is never well filled. 
After the ashes have thus been carefully spread, with the ex- 
ception of an occasional heap here and there, which may be left to 
spread upon the space occupied by the lime-heaps, the latter, 
having been sufficiently slaked, must now undergo the same ope- 
ration ; I would then recommend them to be ploughed in forth- 
with — in short, as fast as they are spread — so that none of their 
virtues may be lost by evaporation and exposure to atmospherical 
influences. If the land is patchy and of different qualities, a por- 
tion of the ashes may, with great propriety and good effect, be 
removed off" the best parts and spread over the poorer ones,, which 
will insure a more even crop. If it be stony ground, a person 
ought to follow the ploughman with a hack, and remove the stones 
out of his way as they arise or become partly disengaged ; for it 
is very desirable to have the land effectually cleared for the first 
crop, and xvell ploughed, a task that shoidd only be undertaken by 
an experienced ploughman. 
* A much heavier dressing is often given in the southern counties ; but 
I consider the quantity above mentioned a lair and liberal allowance, and 
as much as will be found beneficial as a first dressing if the limestone be 
good. 
