is
water shell-fish , may be found in the bottom of many lakes andmosses, on a high level, which might be washed down, to im-prove the lower waste lands and mosses. Marble earth, of asoft, white, friable consistence, may likewise be detected in thecourse of these livers. Petrifying springs, too, abound in theseregions : if any one or more of these materials be discovered,they might be washed down to the lower lying wastes and mossesto great advantage. By this means, the former might be con-verted into rich pasture, and the latter into fertile meadows.
Lastly, As alkaline and animal matter, and saline substances,operate so powerfully in reclaiming waste lands, we have it oftenin our power, to improve the water used for flooding, bv a mix-ture of these materials. The very water that is allowed to runentirely to waste from the dunghills of Scotland , might be turn-ed to account in this way ; even dung itself, in many situations,cannot be turned to better purpose, in the pastoral districts ofthe Highlands and Hebrides , the plough is seldom used; cattle,and not corn, is the produce of these districts. The dung rais-ed on such firms, is allowed to accumulate for ages, as a uselessheap, or even a nuisance.
Whereas, if it were tossed into the adjacent streams, and agUtated and broken—and if these streams were directed in theircourse in time of floods over the waste lapds and sterile mosseson a lower level, it might be turned to great account; especiallyin reclaiming level mosses, converting them into meadows, andraising a quantity of winter fodder, which is so much wanted.
The contents of common sewers, especially in large cities,might be used for a similar purpose: some considerable towns aresituated on so high a level, above the adjacent wastes, that thesesewers might be turned directly over them. Where this cannotbe done, in place of allowing so much liquid manure to run towaste, it might be collected into reservoirs made for the purpose tfrom thence it might be conveyed in dose carts, or barrels, tothe neighbouring waste lands, and thrown into the water withwhich they might be flooded. Surely there are many situations,where such a plan might be adopted, with economy and Success.
Section VI.
The Season fittest for Flooding Waste Lniuh.
Much has been written, and many judicious hints have beenthrown out, on the subject of flooding pastures and meadow's,and the seasons best suited for this purpose. Experience, too,has suggested a variety of regulations for conducting this pro-cess; but it is obvious, that these regulations do not apply toflooding of waste lands. On the contrary, the rules for flood-i p.g the latter are generally the reverse of the former.