98 
On Reclaiming Heath Land, 
and ever will present a formidable barrier to their amelioration in 
consequence, except what may be derived by drainage and the 
application of lime as a top-dressing. I have seen a great deal of 
land of this nature reclaimed, where, after paring, burning, and 
liming, the farmer has been tempted to risk a crop of oats ; plenty 
of straw succeeded, and, occasionally in a favourable season, a 
moderate return of oats. All succulent plants, as turnips, cole, 
and vegetables in general, grow and thrive well in a humid cli- 
mate, provided the land be dry and of fair quality, fresh and in 
good heart. But the great objection in such situations is that 
they are generally too high, cold and exposed, for feeding off 
sheep in the autumn or depth of winter upon turnips or cole, and 
that sheep seldom come off any better than when they were put 
on. These obstacles, however, might be overcome by sowing the 
cole early in the spring, instead of waiting until the middle of 
summer or later, as is too often the case. Another method also 
may be tried, vvhich I have seen answer very well, namely, a thin 
sowing of barley or rye, which may be stocked and eaten off" with 
sheep, when about 5 or 6 inches high. Both these are excellent 
methods of sowing down to grass, the seeds being much less in- 
jured in this way than by a crop of corn. I am supposing that 
under the circumstances detailed the land is capable of being 
ploughed. 
The best method I have ever seen adopted in laying down 
newly-redeemed heath land to permanent pasture is to, sow the 
grass seeds and clover alone, without any other kind of crop ; then 
we are sure of a good and luxuriant braid. This plan is far too 
seldom adopted for fear of losing a crop of corn or cole. What- 
ever kind of crop or course of cropping may have preceded, it will 
make no difference as to this recommendation, provided the land 
is clean and well pulverized. It is seldom desirable to sow the 
land down to grass before the third year, vvhich affords a belter 
security against the revegetation of the heath than if sown down 
the second year. Where permanent pasturage is the grand object 
in view, there is no good policy in deep ploughing before the last 
course. The principal thing seems to be how to get a good braid 
of grass, and how to keep it from year to year. Supposing^ that 
the land has been pared and burned, and one, two, or tluee crops 
taken before sowing down, I should recommend shallow ploughing 
until the last course, which ought to be an inch or two deeper. 
This will raise to the surface all the lime and ashes or other 
manures which remain unexhausted in the land, as well as a small 
portion of fresh soil ; the tendency of all manures not volatile being 
obviously to settle downwards. This will afford a rich store of 
food for the young grasses, their nutriment being derived priixci- 
pally within a few inches of the surface. 
