The English improver improved, or, The svrvey of hvsbandry svrveyed discovering the improueableness of all lands some to be under a double and treble, others under a five or six fould, and many under a tenn fould, yea, some under a twenty fould improvement / by Walter Blith ... ; all clearely demonstrated from principles of reason, ingenuity, and late but most real experiences and held forth at an inconsiderable charge to the profits accrewing thereby, under six peeces of improvement ...

2. The discovery of some of those hindran∣ces or rubs that either hinder or infaci∣litate this work of Fen-drayning, and they are either in the Land it self, the Commoners, or the undertakers there∣of.

The first Hindrance is in the Land.

1. In the Land, there may be such Mountaines and Rockiness betwixt the place you desire to drain, and the Sea, or River into which you must draw your drain, that it may make the work so chargeable, as the profits thereof will not counterpoise.

2. Also there may be such a Vein of Earth, as is so Moorish, or exceeding Sandy, upon which you must be forced to plant your Sluces, or Water-gates, as besides the extraordinary charge of Workmanship, may much ha∣zard the continuance of the Work, and so with extra∣ordinary charge, and great hazard, may render the fruits therof below the expences. These things are possible, yet not u∣suall.

The Second Hindrance may be in the People, The Com∣moners, and they may, and do much hinder it in reproach∣ing of the Work it self, as I hinted before, and weary the minds, and weaken the hands of others that would indeavour it. But the greatest hindrance is their unfaith∣fulness to the Work,* 1.1 by their dulness and neglect of rai∣sing sufficient summes of monys to carry on the work, and raising it so seasonably, as may expedite the same; for these Works are not to be trifled withall, it must be the speedy and powerfull carrying on at once, as well as the Artificiall and wise managing of it. A little season lost, may lose the cost and works of a whole Summer, and whilest neigh∣bors are contesting about the quality of their Levies, and disputing every mans Right to pay, and gathering up their moneys, the Works may run further backward in a week, than they were brought forward in a month. I have sel∣dome known a rude multitude, or a confused heady people ever agree in this; these works creep forward, but run

post backward. Again, the combination of labourers and Poor people may very much prejudice, besides their sloth∣full and sleathy slubbering of it, if not exceeding carefully overseen.

The Third Hinderance may be in the Vndertaker, or Dray∣ner. And although this may not be such an Essential Pre∣judice to the Work it self as the rest are,* 1.2 because a man would think that he that either for his wages or credit works it, should doe his best; yet to the common good it may be as destructive as the former: And herein, and in the for∣mer Hindrance, as I desire not to discourage any Ingeni∣ous Spirits; so neither do I desire to fawn upon the most ablest Artist, but do hereby affirm, that the Under∣taker, or Artist in this Work, may exceedingly Eclipse the Common Good, and through a corrupt selfish Spirit may monopolize to his private advantage particular mens Inte∣rest, and in and under pretence of doing a Common Good, may utterly ruin thousand souls. Corrupt self, or Corrup∣tion it self will endeavour this; but an Ingenious Spirit scorns perfidiousness; yet many an Undertaker may in these respects be an hindrance to the prosperity of Fen-drain∣ing, if he be upon a publick Work, for private I meddle not withall.

1. If that he lay not out a good Foundation, he ei∣ther wholly spoils it, or at least bungles out a half work, and leaves the Cream behind him, and it destroyes it self at last.

2. If that men shall pick and cull their Lands, drayn those that are more fecible, and leave out those that are more difficult, I say he is an enemy to the Common good; And this is a Maxim I shall declare, Drain the worst, and the best will drain it self; and sometimes the lowest Lands may, if thoroughly drained, prove the best Lands, and be the speediest and easiest way to drain the whole.

3. If that men drain those Lands wherein they are like to have an interest, throughly, and those the Commoners have, more overly; or imbank, or secure the one from land∣floods, and not the other; or if he make not such a through

drain of all as may go to the bottom, and lay it sound at root, I am sure he will not attain the End, the best fruit and advantage the Lands will yeeld; which that it may be accom∣plished, I shall descend to the third Particular.

Notes

• * 1.1

  How the Com∣moner is a hindrance to Fen-drayning.
• * 1.2

  How Underta∣kers may be a prejudice to the work.