The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-10-09 00:00:00

AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENTS.

On Wednesday last a splendid and richly chased god
cup, of the capacity of three quarts, was presented t0.,11r.
Joseph Nelson, for one of the most rapid and suceeasful
exertions in the cultivation of waste land, and in the plant-
ing of forest trees, ever known in this country. This well-
merited tribute of respect was given by Thomas Jolicpit
Trafford, Esq. of Trafford Park, and several neighbortriii;
gentlemen, and preeented b 1 Mr. Baines, of Let tls. The
following is the inscription :
Presented
By Thomas Joseph Trafford, Esq.
and others,
.To Mr. Joseph
As a Token of, their Approbation
Of his aupenor Skill end Management and Imprsvement
Of Chat Moat
INC

On preeenting he cup Mr. flaines said—
" Mr. Nelion—l have the honour to be deputed' by Thomas .1.).
sepli Trafford. Esq. and a number of ether Lencashire gentlemen
friends to agricultural improvement*, to prsseat to you this pslds4
goblet, as a mark of their respect for and their admiration of.,your
talents and skill, as an agriculturist and a planter. fly the suc-
cessful application of those talents you have transformed a'desert
into a fruitful plain. If our forefathers, much less numeraitathen
ourselves; deemed him a public benefactor who raised a blade of
,grass where herbage never before grew, that honour is preemi-
nently dee to you. Successive generatiO.s of men have paned
away, and seen in the heart of this fully peopled canny large
tracts of land, locally tilted Mosses, surrendered up
limos& without as effort to reclaim them. It has been your merit
dlionnor the art of cultivating them with success, and to apply
pies In such a way as to make this land as in; ductire,*botti
get else Mang of timber and for the general products of agricultirra,
tta stay land in the eeuntry. You have combined with die experi-
ence of age the energy of youth, and upon this marshy waste vett
heye erected an imperishable monument to O
. your skill and hio,-
.r•
To which Mr. Nelson replied— I.•
" I receive, Sir,lat your hands, with the ti iisersst gratitude, :his
valuable token of the approbation of the generous friends of agri-
cultural improvements. From my earliest days I have studied the
properties and principles of vegetable life, and the experience of
more than threescore years and ten has convinced me that, though
much has been done within my time, much still remains to be door,
to improve the cultivation of the land of this country, and particu-
larly of this county. The example which I have set on Chat lilozs
will, I hope, be followed by others, till the name of Mess Lard
shall no longer reproach the county of Lancaster. My endeavour
has been unite simplicity Mid economy In all my labours with
usefulnell,ip and in this I hope I have succeeded. If I hart, as
you and my other friends are pleased to think, been a public bene-
factor, I am indebted to your confidence and support for the service
I have rendered ; and I hope.both you, and the ancient and honeur-
able family of Trafford, will reap the reward of those labours air
which you set so high a value."
In order to show the value and importance of the im-
provements now making in this quarter, it may be pror.:r
to state that Chat Moss is a tract of land consisting of up-
wards of 6,006 acres, adjoining the north aide of the groat
road from Manchester to Liverpool, with the Mersey and
lrwell navigation at the distance of shalt' a mile, and that
the Manchester and Liverpool railway now forming passes
over that Moss to the extent of four miles. The tutzt,
which has never before been cultivated with success, is pos-
sessed by several proprietors, of whom Thomas Jesieph
Trafford, of Trefford Park, Faq. is the chief ; and
,the
labours of Mr. Nelson, who is superintendent and Ma-
nager fer Mr. Baines, commenced five years ago, uvon that
part of the land which was formerly occupied by William
Roscoe, Esq.