372 
Reclaiming part of Forest of Dclamcre. 
drawn out of the pit by horses were made up into trains and 
drawn away upon a main or straight road to a certain point from 
which branch lines diverged : the extreme distance to be tra- 
versed was about one mile. These branch lines consisted of rails 
fastened upon wooden sleepers made into frames about 14 feet in 
length, which were moved by two men or a horse so as to form 
parallel lines at such intervals as the prescribed dressing of marl 
rendered desirable. 
The waggons being tipped on either side of the rails, and a 
load shot down at an interval of 5 yards, it was found that by 
laying the branch lines 12 yards apart a dressing of about 130 
cube yards was applied to each acre. The marling varied in 
amount from 100 to 180 cube yards, and on the whole an average 
of 117 cube yards per acre was spread. On steep hill sides a 
windlass was used, by which the descending full waggons drew 
up the empty ones. 
The total quantity of marl taken out and spread upon the 248 
acres was 29,000 cube yards, at a total cost of 1797/., being at 
the rate of 14 - 87c?. per cube yard, and of 11. As. lid. per acre. 
This estimate includes every expense of marling, except the 
loss ' or depreciation of the plant and .horses, and the cost of 
superintendence. The plant in use on Honslough was taken up 
from the contractor, and consisted of about 1200 yards of rails 
and planks, 30 waggons, 10 horses, besides barrows, planks, 
carts, &c. The land, which in its former state was not worth 
more than 5s. per acre, is now formed into one farm, and lets for 
11. 10s. per acre. 
The farm buildings were subsequently constructed, for which, 
in addition to the above rent, interest is received on all the 
outlay required above 500Z. 
Second. Longridge and Plovers Moss. — It was next determined 
to clear, trench, and marl certain portions of Longridge and 
Plovers Moss ; but the position and quality of the marl bed, 
the undulating nature of the ground, the great extent (800 acres) 
to be reclaimed and the distance to be traversed, required a 
different system of management. The surface-soil is of the 
same character as that before described, but peat mosses of varied 
size, on which Scotch firs are still left growing undisturbed, 
intervene. 
With the view of completing the work in the shortest time and 
in the most economical manner, all circumstances being taken 
into consideration, I recommended that a small locomotive of 
2 ft. 7 in. gauge should be employed, and the number of waggons 
increased to sixty. The best line for the railway from the marl 
pit was selected under the condition that it must be central, and 
be available for all parts of these Jands ; its direction and gra- 
