Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/246

224] the new moon, they re-assume their former lustre.—No remedy has hitherto been discovered for this affection, which generally terminates in total blindness.  MOOR, or, a black, light, soft soil, remarkably loose, without any admixture of stones, and containing a very small proportion of clay, or sand.

This earth usually forms the uppermost stratum of fen-lands, and consists almost wholly of pure vegetable matter, which renders it very fertile. Moors, however, are subject to inundations, and they retain moisture for a considerable time, so as to render it difficult for cattle to graze, without poaching the soil. To remedy this inconvenience, the tenants of such lands pare and burn them at certain seasons of the year; by which process their nature is considerably improved, as the surface readily takes fire, and burns freely.

In other respects, the conversion of moors into arable or pasture land, varies little from the method already stated under the article ; provided such tracts of ground be in a plain, or on a level. It will be advisable, however, to plant the black willow preferably to any other tree or shrub; as it flourishes well on moors, and affords an excellent shelter to cattle during stormy weather. The course of crops that has been found most profitable, is, for the first three years, grass; that is, hay-seeds, and the different kinds of clever, sown after the surface has been burnt and ploughed in: during the next three years, two crops of corn, with an intermediate fallow. By such rotation, lands that were naturally of little value, have been rendered fit to produce very beneficial crops.

But, where moors occur in mountainous situations, Mr. recommends them first to be drained and irrigated, as the water will work numerous passages round the heath, that is usually found in moor-lands; but which will speedily perish when flooded, and will be succeeded by sweet grasses, and other useful plants.

The next step will be to inclose the land with a double, dry stone-wall, between which young oaks, alders, ash, holly, mountain-ash, &c. may be advantageously planted; for, independently of the immediate shelter thus afforded to cattle, they will, in the course of a few years, become very profitable woods. In some cases, a simple inclosure has, without farther cultivation, been found very beneficial for feeding the common Scotch wethers, which are distinguished by black faces and legs, and long coarse wool.—Mr. observes, that mountainous moors, if tolerably well covered with heath, intermixed with spots of sedge, rushes, and coarse grass, will support a sheep on an acre, throughout the year; and, as the rot seldom occurs on these lands, it has been found, that flocks pastured on them, without the addition of hay, thrive well, and oftentimes better than those which are regularly foddered. If, however, the design be to establish a grass-farm, it will be advisable to pare, burn, and lime the lands, after which they must be once thinly ploughed, that the lime and ashes may not be too deeply buried.

As the cultivation of mountainous moors is either productive of great profit, or of total ruin, the greatest