708 
On  the  Farming  of  Somerset. 
between  that  hill  and  Wedmore,  is  of  the  first  kind.  The  river 
Brue  passes  through  it,  bringing  down  a valuable  silt.  The  turf 
of  this  moor  is  cut  out  in  lumps  like  pieces  of  black  soap,  which, 
after  being  dried  in  the  sun,  become  hard  and  light,  and  make 
excellent  fuel. 
In  some  parts  of  the  Burtle  Moor  it  is  cut  out  in  this  manner, 
to  the  depth  of  14  or  15  feet  ; and  for  this  purpose  alone  it  is 
leased  on  terms  of  seven  years  for  a payment  of  from  15/.  to  25/. 
per  acre.  In  Ashcott  an  acre  has  been  so  let  for  50/. 
The  peat  is  said  to  grow  again  after  it  has  been  cut  out ; the 
fact  probably  is.  that  the  lower  part  of  the  bed  being  in  a semi- 
fluid state,  gradually  heaves  up  the  surface  under  the  weight  of 
the  surrounding  land.  It  is  said  to  grow  in  this  way  about  3 
inches  in  12  months. 
Two  methods  of  improving  these  moors  have  been  adopted  : the 
one  deals  with  the  bog  at  its  natural  level;  the  other,  with  the 
pits  or  basins  left  by  the  turf-cutters. 
Mr.  Galton,  of  Birmingham,  has  given,  in  vol.  vi.  p.  182  of 
the  Society’s  Journal,  an  account  of  the  improvements  made  on 
the  first  plan  in  Westhay  Moor  by  his  relative.  The  details, 
therefore,  need  not  be  repeated  here.  The  result,  as  there  stated, 
is,  that  by  draining  the  land  and  covering  it  with  clay  brought  up 
from  the  river  in  narrow  barges  along  a rhine,  a crop  of  natural 
Dutch  clover  and  olher  good  grasses  has  been  produced  ; and 
that  a rent  of  400/.  a year  has  been  obtained  in  return  for  an  outlay 
which,  including  purchase-money  and  expense  of  improvements, 
amounts  to  about  6500/.,  not  reckoning  anything  for  the  interest 
of  the  money  laid  out. 
From  an  examination  of  the  work  and  inquiries  made  on  the 
spot,  I am  led  to  think  that  some  abatements  from  this  statement 
must  be  made  before  it  can  be  held  up  as  a perfect  model  for 
imitation.  In  the  first  place,  the  work  of  claying  equires  to  be 
repeated  from  time  to  time,  at  the  rate  of  about  100  tons  per  acre, 
once  in  7 years ; the  cost  of  which,  at  the  rate  which  was  being 
paid  when  I saw  it  going  on,  would  be  a charge  of  about  6s.  8 d. 
per  acre  per  annum,  or  a deduction  of  about  100/.  per  annum 
from  the  total  rental.  The  land  is  tithe-free,  and  the  landlord 
pays  the  taxes;  which,  in  estimating  the  return  by  the  rental, 
must  be  considered.  The  land  also  being  not  much  below  the 
natural  level,  is  above  the  reach  of  the  fertilizing  floods  in  winter, 
and  in  hot  summers  is  liable  to  be  too  dry,  and  to  cause  the  grass 
to  burn.  There  is,  however,  one  advantage  in  land  treated  in  this 
manner  : it  is  the  driest  and  healthiest  ground  lor  wintering  young 
stock.  I was  informed  that  2 ten-acre  pieces  of  this  land  would 
keep  9 cows  in  summer,  with  15  acres  in  addition  for  hay  ; the 
rent  varying  from  35s.  to  25s.  per  annum. 
