184 
On Reclaiming Bog Land. 
No. of 
The 
whol 
e 
Section 
referred 
A Description of each Process. — See Sections. 
Expense per 
Acre of each 
to. 
process. 
1. 
Is a cross section of a bend (as it is here called) 
40 feet wide, with a 3-feet open drain on each 
£. 
s. 
ft 
side, cost ...... 
0 
10 
6 
2. 
Is a cross section of a bend, after one-third on 
each side has been turned towards the middle 
or centre, cost . . . , . 
1 
4 
0 
3. 
Is a cross section, after a lodgement or run 4 
feet wide and 1 foot deep has been taken 
from each side, cost .... 
0 
12 
4. 
Is a cross section, after the trenches have been 
deepened 2^ feet, and the sides again taken 
off to bring it to a round, cost . 
1 
3 
0 
After these several operations the bends require 
to be smoothed and fined over, to prepare for 
0 
7 
0 
The trenches require to be deepened annually 
for at least three years, when the land be- 
comes solid, the expense at 2s. per annum, 
cost ....... 
0 
6 
0 
Total 
£4 
2 
6 
This table shows the outlay per acre to bring the land into a fit 
state for top-dressing ; and by referring to the sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 
from the first column, the process by which the land was drained 
will be easily understood. 
The whole expense per acre in preparing the land for top- 
dressing is therefore Al. '2s. 6rf. 
From this time the land is not attended with more expense 
than old improved land, except what is expended in top-dressing. 
The land in four or five years presents the appearance of the cross 
section (No. 5), being nearly flat, and compressed 3 or 4 feet' (in 
same cases 5 feet) ; and is sufficiently dry and firm to bear cattle 
and horses and carts at any season of the year. Some old people 
complain that it is drained too much, but it is not found so in 
practice. 
As soon as each inclosure was drained, the ling and other boff 
plants disappeared, and were succeeded by a thick natural crop 
of fern. No particular means were taken to get rid of the fern; 
but as soon as a top-dressing of earth was put on the land, the . 
fern began to dwindle away, and after a time disappeared alto- 
gether, and was immediately succeeded by the clovers, and indeed 
