Devonshireing, or Denshiring land

We still have legal and illegal Swailing near us - this is Meldon Hill in Chagford, Devon. The intention is just to burn the vegetation rather than the soil itself. The illegal swailing pictured is particularly useless for this.  While swailing is effective in removing gorse to allow grass to grow it actually helps promote the bracken (seen here emerging untouched from the burnt earth). If you wish to use my photo please attribute this blog.

"To Devonshire, or Denshire land - 

That is to pare off the top-soil or surface thereof, and lay it upon heaps and burn it;  which ashes are a marvelous improvement to battle barren land, by reason of the fixt salt they contain. This course they take with their barren spoungy healthy land in many Counties of England, and call it Denshiring. Land so used will bare two or three good crops of corn, and then must be thrown down again."

Ray 1768

[Burning topsoil!  How short termist!]