On Reclaiming Bog Land, 
185 
almost every description of meadow grass. Nature produces 
everything; — no seed is ever sown — and the soil used as top- 
dressing, even when dug 6 feet or more deep, produces all these 
fine grasses. 
The soil used is an accumulation of sediment brought down by 
the river Brue, overlaying the peat to the depth of 6 feet, and is 
a compound of almost every description of soil : it decomposes 
the peat in a very short time. It has the appearance of clay or 
marl of a rich quality. 
Some of this land, of which fifty years back seven acres were 
bought for ten pounds, now lets for 30s. per acre, some for 40s., as 
pasture, and is constantly improving. The rents have so far in- 
creased every two years. The rent for the whole is now very near 
four hundred pounds . 
It has been found, contrary to the opinion of every one who 
was consulted at the beginning of these improvements, that the 
top-dressing does not sink and get lost ; which is, I think, easily 
accounted for by the land being thoroughly drained. 
The writer believes that the greater part of this land was bought 
at about 5/. per acre ; now, however, that the plan of reclaiming 
has been seen, it cannot be bought but at high prices. 
Whole amount of money expended on the Meare Turbary, and the 
number of yards of soil boated from the commencement of the im- 
provements. 
Yards 
Yards 
Date. 
Expense. 
of 
Date. 
Expense. 
of 
Soil. 
Soil. 
£. 
s. 
d. 
£. 
$. 
d. 
1811 
1812 
76 
25 
13 
18 
11 
11 
Brought) 
forward J 
1439 
3 
8 
2026 
1813 
32 
8 
0 
1827 
94 
17 
10 
323 
1814 
45 
14 
4 
1828 
137 
12 
0 
1195 
18151 
134 
11 
10 
1829 
250 
8 
5 
1120 
1816/ 
1830 
204 
0 
11 
1695 
1817 
19 
6 
4 
1831 
217 
3 
9 
1401 
1818 
52 
15 
1 
1832 
211 
17 
7 
2252 
1819 
51 
7 
6 
1833 
224 
0 
1 
2029 
1820 
56 
12 
7 
1834 
252 
5 
7 
1210 
1821 
60 
10 
5 
1835 
281 
17 
8 
2352 
1822 
1823 
62 
99 
8 
12 
1 
1 
90 
99 
18361 
1837/ 
448 
17 
0 
2031 
1824 
130 
7 
10 
651 
1838 
252 
6 
10 
1680 
1825 
126 
6 
9 
632 
1839 
122 
16 
0 
2270 
Canal 
253 
8 
10 
1810 
185 
2 
7 
1549 
1826 
211 
1 
3 
551 
1841 
205 
8 
7 
1428 
1842 
211 
13 
7 
2919 
Carried ) 
forward/ 
1439 
3 
8 
2026 
Total 
4770 
1 
10 
27,540 
