On Reclaiming Heath Land. 
95 
effect a thorough reformation of such is in all cases very expensive 
when practicable, and in others utterly impracticable except by 
planting. It is impossible on such land to say that any fixed 
rules could be laid down beyond the simple fact that, where paring 
is impracticable, there appears only one way of assailing it, and 
that is by trenching. In other words, to hack, dig, trench, and 
hew away as well as you can, making use of the stones for fences, 
drains and roads, or otherwise stacking them up in corners, or 
upon the worst parts of the land ; and nibbling out all and every 
patch that is considered worth the labour, up to the very teeth of 
the hard and sturdy grey clints, which may be left to take care of 
themselves. The expense of reclaiming such land is often more 
tlian the value after its redemption. Many of the small land- 
owners, living upon their paternal estates in the counties of Cum- 
berland and Westmoreland, and the West Riding of Yorkshire, 
having large families, with little employment for them one half of 
the year, are in the habit of redeeming small patches of craggy 
ground from off their larger sheep walks. These are chiefly in 
the mountainous districts ; and if you were to reason with them as 
to the cost, their answer would be, that "thev might as well be 
improving their estates as sitting by the fire." In such cases they 
set down their labour at nothing, so long as there is nothing to 
pay. Apart from the method described, a dressing of lime upon 
such land is the only profitable way of improving it for pasturage 
by destroying the heath ; but it will not in many instances efi'ect a 
radical cure in that respect, although it seldom fails to improve 
the herbage. The highly popular and valuable manure guano 
appears to me to be just the sort of thing that is wanted in hilly 
and mountainous districts. What effect it would produce upon 
heath land I am not prepared to say, never having given it a trial. 
Its cheapness and portability certainly have strong claims upon 
our consideration, and I have little doubt but it would materially 
improve the herbage. 
Having discussed the system of redeeming heath land so far as 
relates to its capabilities of amelioration, I will now proceed to 
offer a few observations on the course of cropping on such lands as 
are adapted for the growth of corn, and also on the conversion into 
pasture of such, as from the steepness of the land, or its elevation 
above the level of the sea, are unadopted for the culture of grain or 
general husbandry. 
The course of cropping, which comes next under notice, cer- 
tainly of}'ers a wide field f or discussion ; and I am f ully convinced 
that any theoretic* rules which can be given in a book must fall 
* Although many fairners are apt to look upon theoretic rules with sus- 
picion and contempt, I think no person is sufficiently and properly qualified 
for the management of a faim who does not possess a theoretic knowledge 
