F# LANCASHIRE. 9

come under the denomination of moſſes, and fome Kiff, but no obdurate clay lands.

here 15 2 Kind of land which throws up great quantities of ruſhes, not owing ſo muclv to Iprings, as to a2 thin ſtratum of ſurface foil, under which lies a bed of matter, principally compoſed of clay, which does not admit the water ro penetrate 5 therefore, the upper ſurface,‘or ſoil, is kept in a continual ſpongy fate’(if not füurface-drainéd)‘and produces ruſhes and other ſour grafles*,

Remarks on this Obſervation{+.—“ This kind of land lying upon clay or marle, is‘not(T am of opinion) cured, and but little beneñtted, by ſurface-draininsg; the evil, generally, if not always, is under the foil, occaſioned by the{ ſand-beds, which are of various depths and forms, from the ſurface of the clay or marle, ſay from half a yard“ to 1E yard deep, likz ſo many baſons filled’ with ſand and water, which keep the ſoil conti nually moiſt(except ir very dry weather); and as it mußt be granted by all, that wiſhes“are occaſioned by a ítagnated moiſture, ſo it is obvious, that the only effeual method of cure 1s draining the land ſufficiently deep, ſo that the wet can- not be fucked up to the ſoil or upper ſurface. If land lies wet in winter, when dried by ſummer’s heat it becomes hard and firmly baked together, ſo that little vegetation is produced, conſequently the propriety of under-draining, to produce crops and deſtroy ruſhes, is obvious,- And further, to prove this, if A drain is cut acroſs a field of this deſcription into the marle, and through the fand-beds, it will be found, that there is 2 continual ftream all the winter ſeaſon,

* Upon fuch land, common. rack or gravel ſand is ſpread upon the ground previous to ploughing, as thick as common daunging; and then, after ſecond ploughing or croſs-cutting, dung at top, and harrow in the ſeed, and you will looſen the water-tight ſoil. If twice rèpeated, the ſuc- cels is infallible,

+7 By Mr. James Blundell.

+ Called here ſand-godts,

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