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the moss, and had often lamented that no attempt had been madeto turn it to advantage. Many different plans were now propos-ed for this purpose ; and it was at length resolved to endeavourto sweep away the whole body of moss by means of water. Theonly stream at hand was employed for turning a corn mill; andbeing convinced of the superior importance of dedicating thisstream to the purpose of floating off the moss, Lord Kames madean agreement with the tenant who rented the mill, and with thefarmers who were thirled or astricted to it, who consented to paythe rent, and immediately threw down the mill, and applied itswater to the purpose of clearing away the moss. In order todetermine the best manner of conducting the operations, work-men were employed for a considerable time upon the low moss,both by day’s wages and at piece work, to ascertain the expensefor which a given quantity of moss could be removed. It wasthen agreed for at a certain rate per acre ; and in this way se-veral acres were cleared. This process was very expensive, cost-ing frem 12Z. to 15/. for each acre before it was ready for sow-ing ; so that the acquisition of the whole, computing it at 1350acres, would have sunk a capital of 20,000/. nearly. ^
It was then attempted to let portions of the moss as it lay,for a term of years sufficient to indemnify tenants for the ex-penses incurred by removal. For some time both of these me-thods were followed ; but several considerations made the latterpreferable. 1. The quantity of water for the purpose was small,and was uncertain : so that it became very inconvenient for con-tractors, as there were no houses near the spot, and much timewas lost in going and coming, sometimes to no purpose, forwant of water. Such, however, as might live on the spot, wouldalways be ready to seize every favourable opportunity. 2. Themoss was an useless waste ; wherefore, if let to tenants, it wouldincrease the population on the estate, and afford a number ofindustrious people the means of procuring a comfortable sub-sistence. In the mean time, till as many tenants could be gotas were able to employ the whole water, it was resolved to con-tinue the work by means of hired labourers. Before proceedingfarther, it will be proper to describe the manner in which wateris applied for floating off the moss.
A stream of water sufficient to turn an ordinary corn-mill willcarry off as much moss as twenty men can throw into it, provid-ed they are stationed at the distance of 100 yards from eachother. The first step is to make a drain or canal in the clayalong the edge of the moss, sufficient to convey the W'ater. Forthis purpose the carse clay below the moss is admirably adapted,
1 Even at this rate, the land would have been cheaply purchased;, as at 51-rent the Scots acre, it would have now paid 55 j- per cent . per annum for the-outlay. At that time the value would not have exceeded 3Qs»