over a moory surface.

"Another method of covering the surface of a morass with earthy substances remains to be mentioned. I observed it, many years ago, in the practice of a man who has done more real and substantial good to his country than all the state ministers of his time-I mean the duke of Bridgewater. In this instance of practice on a considerable scale canals were cut into the area of the yet tender morass, and earthy materials were conveyed in barges, and spread over the surface of the loose moory soil by the means of planks and barrows. The effect was extraordinary: the most worthless moor, on which a man could scarcely tread with safety, became in a short time meadow land, or grazing ground of the first value, notwithstand ing the matter used was of the meanest quality. But its use was merely that of compressing and confirming the surface, so as to enable it to bear pasturing stock, the richness being given by the vegetable mold of the morass, which presently rose above the comparatively heavy materials that were spread upon it."

The effects of rain-water falling upon land, exclusive of the greater or less declivity and elevation of the latter, must, it is plain, be very different according to the greater or less degree of porosity in the soil and its substrata. Mr. Marshall has enumerated the varieties of land as they are formed by soil, sub-soil, and base. These, according to their united or individual retentiveness of water, must be differently treated in order to discharge any hurtful superabundance of it, or prevent the escape of what may be necessary for the purposes of agriculture. If the soil, sub-soil, and base, are highly absorbent and open, that is to say, if the surface and sub-strata are of so loose a texture as to afford no resistance against the rapid descent of rain water, the land will be always thirsty and infertile. If the soil and sub-soil only are absorbent, and the base repellent, the water may be saved; Mr.

Marshall recommends that, in order to do this, trenches, at proper intervals, should be dug across the descent of the land, and filled with earth of such tenacity as will check the escape of water without occasioning a discharge of it in the soil. Land, where the soil only is absorbent, the sub-soil and the base repellent, is, in its natural state, alike unfit for herb. age and for culture, whatever intrinsic excellence the soil itself may possess. Narrow ridges, inclining gently across the slope, or under-ground drains in the sub-soil, are the obvious remedies. By the way, it may not be improper to no tice here, a prejudice against small ridges, arising from the erroneous opinion that much ground is lost by them. At any rate, if numerous furrows in a field draw superfluous water from the ridges, and thus render them more fertile, they can the fact is, that the superficies of a level scarcely be said to be unproductive. But field is scarcely greater than that of the same field ploughed upon ridges, even deducting the furrows as waste ground. The convex superficies of a ridge is greater than that of its base, so that every valley has its hill.

tween an open soil and an open base, If a repellent sub-soil intervenes bedrains may with much advantage be cut through this intermediate obstacle; the water in this case will be absorbed by the porous base, and the circumstance of being obliged to cut drains deeper than the outlets would fairly allow, must be of little consequence.

A great number of cases are enume rated by Mr. Marshall, and the evil and its remedy are illustrated by diagrams: without their assistance, indeed, any attempt to explain them would be vain; we must therefore refer to the volume. Those who are about to engage in this most valuable of all the improvements in husbandry, DRAINING, will refer to the recent publication of Dr. Dickson, to the papers of Mr. Elkington, Dr. Anderson, Mr. Johnstone, Mr. Wedge, &c.; these, and the general principles explained in Mr. Marshall, will afford them ample imformation.

The second section of Mr. Marshall's second division of his subject is on the appropriation of commonable lands. The self-complacency of Mr. Marshall is highly amusing. He begins thus: "To this subject I have paid more than ordinary attention, first at one time, then at an. other; the result of my former observa

tions and reflections on the subject appear in the Rural Economy of Yorkshire, and the more mature arrangement of my ideas, &c. &c. in a pamphlet," which in short forms the substance of the present section. We cordially partake with Mr. Marshall in his earnestness for a general act for the appropriation of the forest lands, wastes, commons, &c. in Great Britain. The expences of private inclosure bills are shamefully heavy: in the consideration of claimants, the officers of parliament ought not to have been overlooked in the draught of a general bill; those officers, as Mr. Marshall observes, are entitled to such an additional salary as may be deemed an equivalent for the loss of their fees; but that the fees of such officers should have been a penny-weight in the scale which contained the arguments against a general inclosure bill was discreditable to any one connected with a British se

nate.

If ever a general inclosure bill takes place, we should hope that not only the poor proprietors of cottages would be attended to, but their still poorer tenants, who lose the right-whether it is of real or imaginary value is indifferent to the question--of keeping a few geese, a cow, a horse, &c. on the common, and who, in exchange for this right, receive the empty consolation that they will have their share of the general benefit which will accrue to the country at large! To say that as the cottages are intrinsically of less value after this right is withdrawn, and that landlords must lower their rents, is idle: cottages in the country are now scarce, and every inclosure makes them still more so, because the additional land which is brought into tillage requires a proportionate number of labourers. Petty landlords will not lower their rents, because labourers must have a shelter for their heads.

It has occurred to us (and this is not the first occasion that we have taken to say so), that it would be advisable on every inclosure, whether by a public or a private bill, to have a certain portion of land set apart, two, four, six, or more acres, according to the quantity of land to be inclosed, and to build upon it a number of solid, convenient, and airy cottages. This land, and these cottages, should be vested in the hands of trustees, the lord of the manor, for instance, the rector of the parish, and the churchwardens and overseers of the ANN. REV. VOL. III.

poor. The original expence of erecting these cottages might fairly enough be defrayed by the proprietors; the future repairs would fall upon the parishioners, which by thus making themselves landlords would in a great measure check the present general and increasing exor bitance of rent. It would at all times be their interest to let these cottages at a low rent: to say nothing of the better chance they would have of a regular payment by letting them low, they would thus, by assisting the tenant in obtaining his livelihood, prevent the necessity, perhaps, of his calling on thein for relief in a manner more costly to them, and more degrading and injurious to him. It is obvious also, that if the parish let their cottages at a low rent, every other landlord must do the same, or he would never get a tenant till the cottages belonging to the parish were all occupied.

Section iii. On consolidating detached property. Mr. Marshall has divided this section into three parts, in which he tells us, with all the seriousness and gravity imaginable, that landed property, if scattered in different parts, may be "compressed into the required state," first by exchange, secondly by purchase, and thirdly by sale!

The fourth, fifth, and sixth sections, "on laying out estates and farms," contain a strange mixture of sense and nonsense; much advice that is useful, more that is superfluous from the self-evidence of its justness, and some that ought to be reprobated. Mr. Marshall is very angry that in this country some culturable lands should be covered with plantations : in a country," says he, "which is unable to supply itself with food, it is a crime which might well be punishable: restrictions and imposts, which direct men to their own interest, cannot be deemed oppressive." The interfering and noxious tendency of these doctrines is too palpable and gross to need any comment.

"The first step towards the improve ment of appropriated lands, after they have been freed from superfluous moisture, and brought into the most compact form, is to convert each part to its pro per use." Sapienter!

"If an estate verge on a populous town, building sites; garden grounds, and paddocks, may greatly enhance its value." Sapientius!!

"If it border on a creek, an estuary, or a navigable river, kays and ware Z z

houses may not only be in themselves a source of profit, but, by bringing a fresh market upon the estate, may be of general service." Sapientissime!!!

Mr. Marshall discusses the oft agitated question concerning the eligibility of small or large farms, and acknowledging, as sir Roger de Coverley says, that much may be said on both sides,' he concludes very wisely, that things are best as they are: he chooses to assume, however, that no man ought to occupy more land than he can personally superintend. Why not? half the business of the kingdom is conducted by deputation, or half the capital of the kingdom would lie idle. Let farmers, like merchants, extend their business as far as their capital or their credit will allow.

The seventh section, on the improvement of farm lands, contains a body of sound practical information: it is split into ten principal divisions, and each of these again into almost as many subordinate ones. The principal divisions are the following: 1. "Improving the atmo sphere of bleak exposed lands by screen-plantations and fences." Mr. Marshall is not disposed to confine the good effect of screen-plantations to to the shelter they afford to animals which may lodge immediately beneath them, and to their "breaking the uniform current of the wind, shattering the cutting blast," &c. but he believes that living trees impart an actual warmth to the air which surrounds them. "It is at least a probable truth," says he, "that where there is life there is warmth, not only in animal but in vegetable nature. The severest frost rarely affects the sap of trees." The principle of life, whatever it is, has the capacity of resisting certain degrees of cold; Mr. Marshall has confounded this capacity with actual heat. 2." Inclosing open grounds." By various sorts of fences. 3. "Guarding river banks." A subject of great importance: Mr. Marshall has attended to it very carefully, and by means of diagrams has explained the application of the remedies which he proposes in different cases of encroachment. This division is a very valuable one. 4. "Bringing wild lands into cultivation." Wild lands are considered as being either rocky and rough stoney grounds, woodlands, or morasses; the method of bring ing each of these into tillage is enlarged on. 5. "Changing the produce of reclaimed land." 6. "Meliorating reclaimed land." The methods recommended are com

prised under the heads of marling with raw fossil substances; liming with calcined calcareous earths; manuring with other gross substances; and irrigation. The three first of these subjects are treated in a desultory manner : Mr. Marshall has declined any discussion on the nature and operation of marl, lime, and other manures, confining himself to a few general remarks on their efficacy, and to practical instructions in the application of them. On the important subject of irrigation Mr. Marshall is copious and communicative: without the assistance of diagrams we should fail in the attempt to explain the different processes of applying superficial water to grass lands. These are necessarily different according to the degree of declivity or flatness, smoothness or unevenness of the land over which the water is spread.

"If the water to be used can be led, by a narrow channel with a gentle descent, to a sloping surface of grass land, a sufficient trial ground may be made at a small expence.

"Mark out a long square plot of a few perches in extent, on the lower side of a conducting channel, which ought; when it reaches the trial ground, to be brought nearly to a level. On the lower side of the site of and carry away the water that has passed experiment a deep drain is required, to catch

over it; and at the ends also trenches are necessary, to prevent the water from straying over the adjoining surfaces, and thereby to render the comparison most striking.

"Fill the upper trench with water, until it overflow, evenly from end to end, and thus cover the ground of experiment with a thin sheet of running water, the face of the slope having been previously adjusted, so as have rendered it smooth, and fit to receive the water.

to

Begin to lay on the water in the he ginning of November, suffering it to overflow ten to fourteen days, and then take it off. Repeat the same in the months of December and January. In the month of February give it two waterings, of five to seven days cach; and in March three, of three to five days each, according to the state of the air, ever suffering the water to remain on longer in cool than in warm weather."

"If a sloping surface do not offer itself, or if the given stream lie too low to be conveyed to it, a trial ground may be readily formed out of a flat surface, in the following manner:

"In a favourable situation to receive the stream mark out a plot of greensward, two perches in length, and one perch wide. Roll back the turf, and form the soil into a ridge, resembling that which is represented in the next diagram, being careful in forming it

to keep the best of the mold still toward the surface, and leaving the open trench on the ridge eight or nine inches wide, and four or five inches deep, and nearly level; the end toward the stream being made somewhat higher and rather wider than the other, that the water may flow evenly over every part of the ridge. Return the turf, being careful to lay it evenly and firmly along the sides of the trench, and cut a drain on either side of the ridge thus formed, with proper outlets to carry away the waste water. Finally, raise a channel between the trial ground and the source of the water, to conduct it into the watering trench, and continue to adjust the ground, until the water will flow evenly over every part of it."

In many cases it is essential to economise water: on this account it is generally necessary that the declivity of the land, if artificial, should be made gentle; and if naturally rapid, that it should be counteracted by checks. If the water which is conducted upon grass land passes with a rapid current, the deposit of whatever fertilizing matter it may contain will be carried away by the stream; on the other hand, if the water remains stagnant, the natural herbage becomes languid, and yields to aquatics. The superfluent water then should pass in a thin, an even, but a languid current, and it is of the highest importance, that after it has performed its duty it should be made capable of being drawn off without delay. For the mechanical part of irrigation we must refer to the volume, or rather to the grass lands themselves (and they are numerously scattered over the country), which have received its benefit. 7. Watering live stock." There are different ways of supplying domestic animals with water, by conducting a stream, collecting rain water, by sinking a well, and by artificial springs.

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Seeing the formation of natural springs, and observing the effect of subsoil drains, and being, at the same time, aware of an objection to roof water, which though more wholesome, is seldom so well tasted as spring water, I have been led to the idea of forming artificial land springs, to supply farinsteads with water in dry situations, namely, by arresting the rain water that has filtered through the soil of a grass ground, situated on the upper side of the buildings, in covered drains, clayed and dished at the bottom, aud partially filled with pebbles or other open materials, thus conveying it into a well or cistern, in the manner of roof water, and

by this mean uniting, it is probable, the palatableness of spring water with the wholesomeness of that which is collected immediately from the atmosphere."

8. "Improving homestalls." Hints concerning the reparation of walls, houses, &c. 9. "Improving roads." Here we are plagued with a long and tedious division of roads into public roads, pri vate roads, carriage tracks, horse tracks, toll roads, free roads, foot paths, and the Lord knows what! Oh! if Mr. Marshall had but considered that we poor bare-footed reviewers must travel and toil a wearisome pilgrimage over all his crinckum-cranckum roads, he would surely, in mercy, have put by a few of them. This subdivision will afford some useful instruction to the surveyors. 10. Improving markets."

Section viii. On the improvement of wood-lands; on which subject we are referred, as indeed we are at every other page, to some former publication of Mr. Marshall.

Section ix. On the improvement of waters. Our author suggests some regulations in the salmon fishery, which might probably render it more productive; a sufficient number of grown salmon should certainly be allowed to pass to their spawning ground, and the young fish ought likewise to be protected in their passage to the sea. We are not for multiplying penal statutes, but perhaps in the present case a national advantage might be produced without individual hardship. The subject of decoys and water-mills is touched upon in this section.

Section x. On the improvement of mines and quarries. The remarks here are few and insignificant. The section is closed with some plain and homely advice to inexperienced proprietors of provement, suggesting the importance estates respecting the business of imof mature deliberation, and of a careful and accurate comparison between the immediate and certain expence of alterations on a large scale, and the remote and precarious profit, &c.

We are now come to the third principal division of this work, which treats "on the management of landed estates.” Here again, in his rage for a tiresome and petty classification, Mr. Marshall has given us half a dozen sections, with sub-sections and subter-sub-sections without end. Is this to impress the public with an idea of the author's powers for close reasoning and accurate investigation? Indeed it is very true that nothing is too trifling and contemptible to escape him. The whole of this third division,

except some remarks on leases, and some hints which may be serviceable to the manager of an estate, on the registering and auditing accounts, &c. is the mere idle prate which one would expect from an old woman. We have a stupid longwinded section on an executive establish men for the superintendence of estates! Managers are divided into acting managers, assistants, and the Lord knows what. We are told with a serious face, that the acting manager of an estate ought to be acquainted with the principles of agriculture, that he ought to be able to keep accounts, and that he ought to have a good character! A man of fortune ought to ride over his estates now and then, and inspect them with his own eye. Belonging to a large estate there ought to be a business room, a small anti-room, and a strong room, &c.! Mr. Marshall has told us what the furniture of this room should be, such as general maps, pocket maps, ten inches by eight-admirable accuracy!rentals, books of accounts, &c. By a strange and very unusual oversight, however, he has forgotten to give directions for the size of the table, and concerning the chairs, whether they should be of mahogany or only walnut. A Rumford stove would be advisable: I. it would save coals; II. it would encourage an enterprising spirit of experiment; III. it would seta laudable example of economy. These main branches of the subject might have put forth a hundred tendrils. I. § 1. wear and tear of horses and waggons would be diminished; § 2. chimney sweeping; § 3. hearth brushes, &c. &c. Mr. Marshall has been guilty of an unexpected negligence also in omitting to state what aspect the room ought to have: he might have hinted, too, that there ought to be pinswooden ones are the cheapest-inserted into the walls of the lobby for farmers to hang their great coats on; as to their hats, pins of half the length, and about two-thirds of the diameter, would do for them. There should be two scrapers at the door, and moveable ones are perhaps better than fixtures; for, in the first place, the former are usually of castiron; secondly, they catch the dirt as it drops from the boot; thirdly, they are easily lifted about, so that the dirt (noticed in 2.) may be conveyed with very little trouble to the dung heap; in the fourth place, they are durable; and, in the fifth place, they are cheap.

We stated just now, that on the sub ject of the duration of leases there were some remarks which, though not very new, were yet very good. The value of money has been so much depreciated within the last twenty years, that men of fortune are reluctant to grant long leases; farmers, on the other hand, we all know, are very reluctant to take short ones, and Mr. Marshall has endeavoured to split the difference, by recommending leases for six years certain, with a condition, that if neither party gives notice to quit before the expiration of the first three years, then the term should be prolonged to nine years, and so on from three years to three years, until three years after notice has been duly given by either party to the other.

It appears to us that a tenant cannot be expected to engage in any large and expensive system of improvement on the assurance of so short a term of years as that which is here proposed. The only objection of any consequence against long leases is the apprehended depreciation of money during the term of it; and this objection, surely, is of all others the most readily removed. If two-thirds of the rental only was made payable in money, and the other third in corn (or any other proportion which might be deemed eligible), the difficulty vanishes. The landlord would thus have his rent rise or decline with the rise or declension of corn, and he might grant a one and twenty years lease with security and advantage both to himself and his tenant.

Mr. Marshall has closed his volume with three appendices: the first on the "disposal and harvesting of woodland produce;" the second on the "manage ment of demesne lands;" and the third is a re-publication of "proposals for a rural institute, or college of rural economy."

On the whole we think Mr. Marshall's work a valuable one, and such as may safely be recommended to the attention of country gentlemen. It is avowedly an elementary book, and every gram mar must have its a, b, c. It is written quite in the magisterial manner, and great care is taken to inform readers that the author has had very good schools in different parts of the kingdom, and that the rules now laid down for the manage ment of rural affairs are those which long experience has shewn to be service able to his scholars in general.