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AGRICULTURAL SURVEY

EA BY

CHAPTER IV. MODE OF OCCUPATIO

SECT. I.— Size of Farms. Charadter of Farmer:

HE Farms in this diſtri are not large, ſeldom exceed-

ing 2001. per year, and accompanied with a ſmall propor- tion of arable. Some of the dairy farms are ſo ſmall, as not to exceed bol. or 70l. per year; and many inſtances can be produced of ſuch little farmers breeding up-a large family in a very reſpe@table way. In ſuch inſtances, it is generally found that the wife undertakes the whole management of the cows, and the huſband goes to daily labour. There are few trades in which a ſmall capital can be employed to greater advan- tage than this. As to the general character of farmers, truth compels to fay(and I mention it with regret) that there is a great want of juſtice, candour, and liberality, in their condudt towards their landlords, and in their general ſyſtem of management. If not cloſely watched, they will impo- veriſh their eſtates by ſelling the little ſtraw they grow to the adjacent towns; and though dung of the beſt kind may

be bought, both in Briſtol and Bath, for 3 or 45. a Wag- gon load, they ſcarcely ever take any back to their farms. They are alſo much bigotted to old RE and I hope I am not uncharitably ſevere, if I add, that they are too ; F

jußly chargeable with a diſregard of truth. This 1s the

forerunner of all vice, and to the prevailing cuſtom of telling

lies at fairs, may be attributed the looſe morality of farmers in this moſt eſſential part of human r eſponhbility, It muſt E acknow rledged that e are many exceptions P

to this general obſervation.

LW)

SECT.

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