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5s, to pate and burn the undug strips which formed the banks,and crop them along with the rest.
Thirdly, In many cases, waste lands lie on such a considerabledeclivity, that it is impracticable to lay them under water by theplan now described, A current of water, however, in such ca-ses, will serve the purpose. If properly directed by small ruts,so as to overrun the whole surface, it may be reclaimed and ren-dered productive, at least of grass, by this means alone.
J. Cochran, Esq. of Ladylands, succeeded in reclaiming somewaste lands by this means in Ayrshire. He turned a mountainrill over it: though formerly almost sterile, or at least produc-tive only of the coarsest and most useless herbage, in a few yearsit became highly productive. From 11 acres of that waste, whichwas not worth four shillings an acre in its original state, he reap-ed no less than 4500 stones English of excellent hay.
Lastly, Where water cannot be had on a level sufficiently highfor these purposes, it may be raised in some cases by machinery.This plan, however, is so expensive, that it will seldom be ad-opted.
But there is one case in which a machine of ample power forthis purpose is already erected : it was indeed originally intended,and is still used, for far other purposes than flooding waste lands.The celebrated Lord Kaimes, formed the magnificent plan ofwashing off his moss altogether by this machine ; and the inge-nuity of the invention, the patriotic spirit he displayed, and thesuccess of the attempt, will be a lasting monument to }fis honour,
But that powerful machine might be turned to another pur-pose ; and the water now used for carrying off the moss as a nui-sance, might serve to reclaim it as a soil. If properly directedover the extensive surface in the manner to be hereafter describ-ed, it might be reclaiiped at one-tenth of the expense, while themossy subsoil might be reserved as a fuel or manure for futuregenerations. *
As this plan will appear fanciful to the public, and probably 'never will be adopted by the proprietor, the following hint is sug-gested:—it may be of use. There are seasons when the moss cot-tagers cannot work, especially in rainy weather ; at these rimesthere is the greatest command of water, and much is allowed togo to v£iste. If, in place of this, all the water were collectedinto one stream, and carefully directed over the surface of themoss, it might be consolidated and converted into good pasture,by this means alone.
But the following plan would still be preferable; — If the surfacewere pared and burnt, and planted with florin in the first instance
* The industrious Dutch adopt this plan with great success : the mode theyfollow shall be described in Dr Rennie’s Kb : ?y on the subject of brooding * »
9rder to convert it into