42

A DISCOURSE

of the ground, and of competent depth to receive and drain the weepingsprings, instead of those frequent slashes and gutters I have mentioned;since besides the beauty of the canal, the profit of the fish, &:c. the earthand mud cast out on both sides, and spread upon the deprefsed and lowerparts of the ground, will not only raise the unprofitable marsh, but therebyimprove it for pasture. One needs go no farther to see the effects of thishusbandry, than to St. James’s Park, where, before the canal, I remem-ber all that pleasant valley, now yielding most rich pasturage, (with thefish, decoy, and walks planted with fragrant Lime-trees) was nothing buta noisome, unwholesome bog and morafs of mofs and rushes. The use ofthe plough is for this work the most expeditious, and cheaper than thespade alone, which, after every journey of the first, will be necefsary tocast and shovel out the loosened earth on both sides, to fill up the hol-lows and deprefsures of the ground, and with the rake to trim the banksand level the rest as is requisite. This, undertaken in dry summerweather, the plough still succeeding the spade till the channel be of con-venient depth, will of all other be the most effectual; and, if near themansion house, a graceful addition to it. But to return to other remedies.

Lands which are cold and dry, are (as we have hinted) to be improvedby contraries ; namely, by application of composts, which are hot andmoist; as sheeps-dung, burning and calcining of the earth with the ve-getables on it, and the like, to excite heat and fermentation; but whichis not to be effected without repugnant remedies, and such as are of he-terogenous parts, to stir and lift up the mould, and render it lefs inac-tive. If it be cold and clinging, as frequently it is found, there, lime-rubbish, the small harsher chalk, sea-coal ashes, a moderate sprinklingof sand, with some compost, may perform the cure c .

« Some lands are wet and poachy in winter from a bed of clay keeping up the water thatfalls from the heavens. The best method of rendering such lands firm and dry, is thusdescribed by my excellent and learned friend, T. B. Bayley, Esq. whose activity and dili-gence in the public service merit the highest praises.

“ From a very extensive experience I recommend the following method of draining land,as effectual, durable, and cheap.

“ First make the main drains down the slope or fall of the field. When the land is verywet, or has not much fall, there should, in general, be two of these to a statute acre; forthe shorter the narrow drains are, the lefs liable they will be to accidents.

“ The width of the trench for the main drains should be, at the top, about thirty inches;