S24 
Improvement of Waste Lands. 
raise the character of the man, and, followed in moderation, 
recruit the frame when exhausted by underofround labour, whilst 
they furnish the most restorative diet — a liberal home-supply of 
pure unadulterated dairy produce. 
Such possessions and occupations attach men to the locality in 
which their lot may be cast, and give them more settled disposi- 
tions w ith hearty contentment : whereas the man whose interests 
are limited to the wages he receives in the mine or the workshop 
is too often unsettled, and ready to listen to evil counsellers and 
the voice of the agitator. The owner of the mines in the district 
in cjuestion employs, I believe, over 2000 people ; and among 
his large bodies of workmen I never heard of there being a strike 
save one, which took place about twenty years ago, and was 
limited to a part of the works only. Indeed, I have heard many 
of the men regret that such an occurrence ever took place ; and 
I believe that, without strong provocation, the present generation 
will not take part in another. 
It has been argued, that because miners in some localities 
neglect the cultivation of their gardens, they are not likely to 
pay any more attention to the cultivation of allotments. But 
why are the gardens neglected ? Mainly, no doubt, because of 
the miner's migratory habits, but partly because the gardens are 
not of such importance as to engage his diligent attention. But 
this objection may be obviated by granting him an allotment of 
sufficient size to enable him to keep a cow, rear a calf, and keep 
a pig or two. Indeed, once let a man be the owner of such pos- 
sessions, and his migratory habits will speedily be checked ; his 
disposition will be more settled ; he will become a better citizen ; 
he will cultivate his allotment well, and be a much better gardener 
than before he had the occupation of other land. Allotments, 
however, should not be given to all comers indiscriminately, 
more especially on first introducing the system into a new district, 
but a selection of the best and most suitable men should be made. 
Gardens, as a matter of course, go with cottages, without any 
respect to the tastes and dispositions of the tenants. No wonder 
that many are poorly cultivated ! 
In mining operations a large quantity of timber is required : 
this has, in many cases, to be carted long distances, varying from 
10 to 20 miles. Since, therefore, these waste lands are of con- 
siderable extent, much ground might be profitably planted. 
At the present time there are some thriving plantations of larch, 
and of Scotch and spruce-fir ; of hardwood trees, the sycamore is 
the most thriving. The plantations are at altitudes varying from 
1000 to 1600 feet. Although the long interval between planting 
and realising the crop is a great hindrance to planting on a large 
scale, still many collateral advantages — such as the improve- 
