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2560 AGRICUETURAT: SURVEY

CHAP ER E NSE.

N an Agricultural Survey of the county of Somerſet, it

will naturally be expected that particular notice ſhould

be taken of the foreſt of Exmoor; its vaſt extent, and ca-

pability of improvement, render it an obje(& well worthy of attention,

This foreſt extends from North to South about eight miles, and from Eaſt to Weſt ten or twelve; containing, according to an accurate furvey lately made, about nineteen thouſand nine hundred acres. Nearly at the centre of this large tract of land is an eſtate called Smonſbath, incloſed, and conſiſting of about two hundred acres, with a dwelling- houſe, licenſed and frequented as an inn; and all offices be- longing to it convenient for the management of the farm, and tranfacline the concerns of the foreſt, Here the foreſter has an annual ſale for the ſmall horſes that are bred on the ſurrounding hills; and here alſo, during the month of May, he meets the farmers from all the country round, who enter in his books the number of ſheep which are de- paſtured with him, at the rate of five-pence per head. The ſmall horſes(in the whole upwards of four hundred) are not taken into better keeping, nor to more ſheltered grounds, during the ſevereſt winter. When the ſnow covers the foreſt to the depth of many feet, theſe hardy animals are ſeen in droves, traverſing the little vallies and ſheltered parts, gathering their ſcanty fare from the banks of rivulets and warm ſprings; but the ſheep are almoſt all driven of for the winter, in the months of November, December, and Janu- ary, according as the ſeaſon is more or leſs ſevere.

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