„ —— —— 24A E Á NE E E u E RRM E UT C e aL dd NT ue i E Ea RT Re E D- ey T jl olf nopuo] moj 07 SUO] 3859 11 D i\IlA ILIA TUUOIOOOOT TIDY—T TOT TO 9. mM]Uol SUP E i Ul 188 EON(\ Y (NITTI S LIN TT TO u— - vw IVMVMATANVIANA VALI Zz SNN | | Y| | # Þ ZA A D Pe sf ZT ca AC / N [MAG Y| 7 h L Y Cl SE a: N Y Id MO N ©/ C—\ S RE X A QT UO Î /7. WOTAN NE >> uOPS1 4] © Y 1\2 040 pW AR AOS JOLE- AT ues ns r S 2 uo 1ST I e LOY LE HIM UMMG | iO * P21A198U2 21D) (N SPDoY 2/1du. n] UD] 421/70 oN) SP-1V41 21/1 10 AUDPUNO A/D 1 700) SUI UNO UU"D é 2 1VP 5 1- Wf STAD Pd i RE[a] IUOU] SIJOUI7 7 6A An) Y ANW SLM AU AOU V0 DLD a1 49) UNNA NLII ŒCXV'TMAASKNEULWON Bil I TE TT MNHN TTI T_T | OL L —mmmmm —ronmn0 EA ZA from London amas Pe West Lone“ GENERAL VIEW OF THE AGRICUETOURE OFETEE COUNT OE NORTHUMBERLAND, WITH OBSERVATIONS ON THE MEANS OF ITS IMPROVEMENT; Drawn vp for the Conſideration of the BOARD OF AGRICULTURE INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT, ff BATEEY AND:G. CUOREFETR CUTZ T T-NUT LA MU VELATE[<7 MTN O Le AAo eS ee e Sf ba aB E aW ——— E DA— 2 CONTENTS, ———RL SR D EED PRELIMINAR Y obſervations=- CHAP. IL, GEOGRAPHICAL STATE AND CIRCUMSTANCES, SECT. 7. Situation and extent- 2. Diviſion-== 3- Climate-== 4: Soll and Surface- E 5» Minerals--- Coal-= Limeſtone 2 Marl== Gypſum--- Lead Ore== Copper Ore- Zink Ore= Iron Stone= Black Lead= Freeſtones, Slates, Grindſtones- 6. Waters-= S CHAP. It, STATE OF- PROPERTY. SECT. I. Eſtates and their management 2. Tenures=- CHAP. IIT, BUILDINGS. SECT. x. Houſes of proprietors- 2. Farm houſes and offices- 3» Cottages=- CHAP. IP, MODE OF OCCUPATION. SECT. I. Size of farms—charadter of farmers 2. Rent=- 3. Tithes-- 4: Poor rates-- 5. Leaſeg=- 6, Expence and profit- Nar- thum-|Cum- ber-| ber- land.| land, Page. Page, 7 ï I| X7T 2| 172 2| T7A Zl 73 5| 176 5| 176 205176 20| 176 21| 176 _—| 176 22| 176 23 R 7 23| 177 23| 177 24| 178 26| I78 26| 179 27| 179 28:|-180 29|‘ISL 30| 182 31| 182 ZI} 17382 31| 182 33 1 183 Weſt- more- land, AAL 262 263 202 264 264 266 267 267 265 458 Pages | CHAP. FP. Page.\ Page.| Page IMPLEMENTS.|| Carts-==[87 183| 269 Waggons- S SE ES Swing plough--| 38| 183|: 268 a Single horſe plough--| 40|—|_— e Double mould board plough- SA M Vorſe hoe--- 41|—|— L Harrows°-- AT|—_—|— 3 Rollers- 7- ADIL|— p Drill for ſowing turnips-= 12 E Bs Drill for ſowing all kinds of grain- E Ÿ Ditto for ſowing beans at wide interyals=={E Threſhing machines-- a6|-—=[, Winnowing machine=- 53| 184| 269, E Pruning ſhears=- 53—|> F CHAPA,| INCLOSURES. Quick-fences-- ATS 209 Stone walls-= cs—|— Advantages of inclofng-- 5 ES, Gates--- SO 270 5 Hanging-gates-- SSS CHALE EE ARABLE LAND. SL SECT, I. Tillage-- 59| 1288| 270 2, Fallowing-- 62| 188| 270 3. Rotation of crops-- 63| 1388| 270 4, Crops commonly cultivated 65 1990| 210 Wheat-- OE Too E273 Rye—- 70 EEE| 27L Maſlin-- Iu—= Barley-- 171|190| 270 Oats-> 3| 1990| 279 Beans-- 76|—|—] Peaſe ze— 78 I9I Ay,& Tares-= 78 Potatoes pm n 79 I92 27% Turnips-- 80| 1951| 27% 5. Crops not commonly cultivated SA 278 6. Corn harveſt=- 95|_|— 4 CHAP. VIII. M GRASS.| A | tj SECT. 1. Natural meadows and paſtures 96| 195| 274 i 2» Artificial graſſes- 97 196| 275 4 3. Hay harveſt=- 100] 198| 276 Si 4. Feeding-») X01| 198) 276| 4 TL EEE 1 ar ZA ELA Y ams) Noe|.C. We E Cita PPA Y D|D E age. 4 age. Page, GHAP TX. }: BAA Gardens and Orchards 7- 107| 200| 277 CHAP. X. E, Woad and plantations- Z ': 108| 200| 277 CHAP XE Wy Waſtes=—= IIO| 20Ï| 258 / CHD Er: || IMPROVEMENTS. i SECT Us Draining- Ss III| 204) 28x 4 2» Paring and burning- I12| 2095| 28x i 3. Manuring-= LL 3f 205| 28L Dung-- TTS 205 287 Lime-- I14| 205-582 |« Marl-- IX7| E 20S) : Sea- wreck-[7 206 Coal- àſhes- ED Pe E S N SN a H 1/ | e E Compoſt- Ls[4206| 227 4. VW ceeding--| 118| 206/| 283 A WaterIng-=| DTO|-206| 283 6. Embanking-- IO|— — Iniproving heath lands- 1207| 248 :\ ,| ' CHAP. XIIT. |\ | LIVE STOCK.| / SECT. X. Cattle-> I21| 209| 284 | EA-| 21—| SS s OSO ned-| 122 209| 284 Devonſhire-- T2 & TTA 1| E ZE ) Wild cattle--| A AES Í| Dairy-= I25| 210| 285 zZ Breeding-- I25|——, u ESTA Z i Hiring DUS- I25|—= 2. Sheep E-=| T26| 210] 286 Cheviot-- 6 E LL Silverdale-=|—|—| 285 Herdwick-— Rs is TTE : Heath=-| ZO 27 286 Long-woolled- N Improved breed-of long H j vwoolled-= 132| I— i Letting tups-=| © 34| a— j Breeding-- 134| O ges y Salving- A | OS= 135203): 986 |' Milking== E j k 4 y Ll ep— | ud LE :| SUA fl N. C.| W.:; Page. Page. Page, ÿ 3. Horſes-- 136| 215/288 0 Compariſon betwixt Horſes|} WA and Oxen for the draught| 137|—|—[4 4. Swine-- 143| 216| 289 É. 5. Rabbits-- 144| 216| 290:| 6. Goats-- I44|—|— 2 4 7. Poultry=- 144| 216| 290| li 8 Bees--—| 2IÓó| 29% A end CAPAS||/ RURAL ECONOMY.| 2 SFCT. I. Labour-= T45| 2175| 2971| dl 2» Proviſions-- 147| 218] 294 Í| Z 3. Fuel- 5- 148| 219| 297 D SUO PLUS ALE POLITICAL ECONOMY.|| i SECT. I. Roads--| 149| 219| 297 2. Canals=-| I50| 220| 298 6 3. Fairs--| ISIT| 220| 298 y 4. Markets--| 154| 221] 299 Þ 5. Commerce--| I55| 222) 299; 6. Manufa@ures-= 155} 224) 299 Ó 7. Poor--= 156/| 225| 300 fi 8. Population=- L57| 225 300 A CHAP. XFI. E Obflacles to improvement-- 157| 226 zor ps Ir |/ ¿¡h CHAP. XPII.||:|: MISCELLANEOUS OBSERVATIONS. E€ SECT. 1. Agricultural Societies- 158| 229|—| I elg H anf’» 1| 2- M cights and meaſures- 159|-229| 30x| 3. Vermin-- 160)—|—| {| || CONCLUSION.||| Review. of ſome particular parts- 1ÓI|= Means of Improvement-= 165| 230| 312 Single-horſe carts recommended—| 235|— d Mode of deſtroying moles ditto H 237}— Y Addenda=-=— eZ| 17| | Y | i ( PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. IN drawing up this Report, according to the plan laid down by the Board of Agriculture, we have endeavoured 10 be as conciſe as poſible, except in thoſe articles which are in a great meaſure peculiar to this diſtri, fome of which, we have reaſon to think, may be adopted with advantage in others. It is ſcarcely poſſible, in an undertaking of this kind, to deſcribe all the minutiæ of prattice, or to notice every local improvement: but 20e hope that the mojè prominent features of the Agriculture of Northun- berland, as exiſting in 1795, will be found faith fully recorded in the following ſheets. As weights and meaſures vary in different dif- triclè, we think it right to apprize our readers that, in the following Reports of Northumberland and Cumberland, An Acre is the ſtatute Acre of 4840 ſquare yards. 4A Buſhel= 8 gallons Winchefter. A Rood= 7 yards in length. 4 Fother= a two horſe cart-load of lime, dung,&c. A Stone of Wool= 241b. Avairdupoiſe. A Stone ef every other article= 14/0. ditto, Tn DE as TE A E R UN E 2 AE E ¡ E i) T Ls RR À 75 a In the Report of Weſtmoreland the cuſtomary acre is generally meant, which contains 6760 ſquare yards; or 1A. 1R. 235 P. ftatute meaſure. = It may alſo. bé proper to explain the following pro- vincial terms: is a name given to young ſheep, from 6 4 Ho; s months old till they are fhorn. an Ewe ſheep, from the firſt to the ſecond ſhearing: A Gimmer; LR 4 a Wether ſheep, from ihe furft to the ſecond ſhearing 4 Dinmont; E fus A GQuey— ah Heifer- A Steer—a thr years old Ox. Kyloes Ça ſmall breed of Caltle bred in the C Highlands of Scotland. Byer—a Houſe for tying up Cattle in Winter. Fog—aftermath. Scaling—ſpreading abroad mole hills, dung,[DL E M aan> is | AGRICULTURAL SURVEY OF NORTHUMBERLAND. a me PY NZX OL PS ATA 5 DRO(1 s SOU F105 06 EDE aAa LAA GANTER: GEOGRAPHICAL STATE AND CIRCUMSTANCES. UR IE SECTION L.— Situation and Extent. Tug diſtrict included in this Survey is the whole of the county of Northumberland, and thoſe detached parts of the county of Durham called Norhamſhire, Iſland- ſhire, and Bedlingtonſhire, IT 15 BOUNDED On the Eaſt, by the German ocean,= 60 miles Weſt; by Roxburghfſhire- 50 and Cumberland,- 45 North, by Berwickſhire,- 18 South, by the county of Durham, go Making the whole circumference- 225 miles. Tt is ſituated between the latitude of 54 deg. 51 min- and 55 deg. 48 min. north; and longitudes of deg. oo min. and 2 deg. 27 min. weſt from London; its great- eſtlength from north to ſouth is 64 miles, and breadth 48; and contains 1980 ſquare miles, which Acres. may be divided into lands that are, or- 817200 may be, cultivated by the plough- And mountainous diſtricts improper for tillage, 450000 Making in the whole 1267200 B DECT» dI AGRICULTURAL SURVEY SECT. 2.— Diviſions The county of Northumberland is divided into fix Wards,—viz: Tindde Ward, Coquetdale Ward, Glen- date Ward, Bamborough Ward, Morpeth Ward, and Caſtle Ward.—The three firſt are fituated in the weſ= tern part of the county, and include the whole of the mountainous diſtriét, with a conſiderable portion of in- cloſed cultivated country:—The three latter adjoin the fea coaît, and being exempt from mountainous diſtrict, have been long under cultivation; the vaſt reſources of coal, Caſtle Ward in particular poſſefles, and the increaſed population the coal trade occaÎons, give them a decided preference i point of riches and population; tho’ in point of magnitude, conſiderably the ſmalleſt, occupying lels than one-fourth of the county, Norhamſhire and Iflandſhire are ſituated at the northern extremity of the county of Northumberland, and com- prehend a triangular ſpace, the two fides of which are formed by the River Tweed and German Ocean, and the baſe the northern boundary of Glendale and Bambro? Ward z; it contains about 72 ſquare miles of well-inclo= ſed cultivated country. Bedlingtonfhire is ſituated at the ſouth-eaſt corner of Caſtle Ward, bounded on the eaſt by the German Ocean, and on the north and ſouth by the rivers Wanfſbeck and Blyth, and contains about 30 ſquare miles. SECT. 3— Climate. The Climate—in regard to temperature, is ſubjed to great variation; upon the‘mountains, ſnow will often continue for ſeveral months,(and may freguently be ſeen there of a conſiderable depth) when there is none in the lower diſtri&ts, The weather is very inconſtant, but moſt- Iy = E OF NORTHUMBERLAND, B, Îy runs in extremes, In the Spring months, the cold, piercing, eaſterly winds are moſt prevalent; and out longeſt droughts are always accompanied by them: in ſome places they have acquired the name of /ca-pincs, from the ſlow progreſs vegetation makes whenever they con- tinue for a few weeks Rain 1s of little uſe while they prevail, from the great cold which always attends them. The mild, weſtern and ſouthern breezes rarely take place before June; they are certain harbingers of rain and vigorous vegetation, and are the moſt prevailing winds through the Summer and Autumn: In the latter ſeaſon, they often blow with tempeſtuous. fury, daſh out the corn, and diſappoint the juſt hopes oſ the induſtrious farmer. Our greateſt falls of ſnow, or rain, are from the ſouth, or ſouth-eaſt; and whenever we have a very high weſt wind, it is a certain fign that a great quantity of rain is falling to the weſtward, in Cumberland and Roxburgh= ſhire. \ SECT. 4.— Soil and Surface. 4 ftrong fertile clayey loam—occupies the level tract of country along the coaſt, and reaches as far up in general as the great poſt road. Tt is well adapted to the culture of wheat, pulſe, clover, and grazing, Sandy, gravelly, and dry loam—or what is here more generally underſtood by turnip ſoil, is-found on the banks of rhe Tyne, from Newburn to Haltwhiſtle; on the Co- quet, about and above Rothbury; on the Aln, from its mouth to Alnwick; and down Tweed-fide: But the- greateſt quantity of this kind of ſoil is found in the vales of Breamiſh, Till, and Beaumont. The hills ſurrounding the Cheviot mountains are moſtly a dry, channelly, ſharp- pointed, gravelly loam, B 2 Mui 4 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Moiſt Loame—on a wet, cold, clayey bottom, occupy 2 large portion of this county, being unſafe for ſheep, and unfic for turnips; rhey are principally employed in grow=- feeding ewes and dba inz grain, rearing young cattle, and lambs.‘Chis ſoil prevails moſt in the middle and ſouth- Black Peat Earth—is the prevailing ſoil in moſt of the mountainous diſtricts, and is found in many places through the lower parts of te county. The aſpeât of this county, in reſped to ſurface, is mark- ed with great variety; LS the ſea-coaßt, it 1s nearly ; towards the middle, thé ſurface is more diverſified, and thrown into large ſwelling ridges, formed by the principal rivers:—Theſe parts are well incloſed; in ſome places enriched with wood and recent plantations, but the general appearance is deſtitute of thoſe orn2ments:— The weſtern par € L t(except a few intervening vales) is an extenſive ſcéne of e mountainous diftri(il, where the hand of Cultivation is rarely to be traced. Qf the mountainous diſtricts, thoſe around Cheviot are the mot valuable; being in general fine green hills, thrown(by ſome of thoſe convulfive changes which this globe has at ſome time experienced) into numberleſs variety of forms; the verdant, ſwiit-Noping ſides of which, incloſe and ſhelter many deep, narrow glens: through the whole of this diſtri no mineral or other kind of ſtone is found, except brown, red, and grey whinftone: — they extend from the head of Coquet, down to Allen- ton; from thence northward to Prendwick, Branton, U- derton, Wooler, Kirknewton, and Mindrim, and occupy at leat an area of 900900 acres The other mountainous diftriétslie chiefly on the weſtern part of ihe county, ſome of which adjoin the county of Durham; but the largeſt portion extends from the Ro- man Wall to the river Coguet(with a few intervening i incloíed OF NORTHUMBERLAND, 5 incloſed vales) and tothe moors north of Rothbury.— They aréè not marked by any ſtriking irregularities of ſur- face, being in general extenſive, open,‘ſolitary waſtes, growing little elſe but heath, and affording a hard fubßfiſ- fi tence to the flocks that depaſture them. SECT. 5— Minerals. Coal—is found in abundance thro’ the greateſt part of this county, particularly in the lower diſtriéÆt; in the ſouth-eaſt quarter it is of the beſt quality,* and the moſt numerous and thickeſt ſcams, from whence thoſe: vaſt quantities are exported which ſupply the great conſump- tion of the London market, as well as the coaſting and foreign trade.— This coal trade is the foundation of the commerce of the county, and the principal ſource of its wealth, as well as a never-failing nurſery for ſome of the : Of beſt ſeamen in the Britiſh Navy.—Of the quantity coals raiſed in this county, we have not been able to form a probable conjecture, for want of ſufficient data to efi- mate the quantity uſed at home; but have obtained what are exported from the River Tyne, in which a confider- able portion raiſed in the county of Durham is included, and which may probably come near a balance for thoſe conſumed in this county.—Some idea of the magnitude of this trade may be formed by the following ſtatemenc of, j The Exports of Coals from Newcaftle: In 1772 351890 Newcaſtle chaldrons 1776 380000 T791 4449099 1792 4909682 LA * The coals found in this diſtri@ are of the variety called cating coals,” which melt in the fire, burn to a-ſtrong ciúder in the open air, and the beſt kinds‘produce very few aſhes. B 3 1793 6 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY 1793 486133 1794 426384 1795 5 o5ó5o From hence it appears that this trade is increaſing at an amazing rate, there being not leis than one-third more coals exported now than were exporteà 20 years fince: From Hartley and Blyth there are exported yearly between 20000 and 40000 chaldrons; if theſe be added to the average export from Newcallle for the laß three or four years, tlie quantity exported from this county may be fairly eſtimated at 5 100co Newcaſtle chaldrons, or 956250 London chaldrons; the Newcaſtle chaldron being ro the London chaldron in the ratio of 8 to 15:—The vaïue of the above quantity to the various parties cencerned will appear by the following Calculation of the cof and charges upon a ſhip load of coals containing 20 keels,4 or 160 Newcafile chaldrons, delivered in the port of London. Paid at Newcafile, j A To the coal owner(fttage included]) for 160 chaldrons, at 15s..per chald. 120 o 0 *‘This is the only year in which we find the quantities raiſed in Northumberland and Durham are kept diſtind&, and which arg in the county of Northumberland,- 257462 chaldrons in Durham,--- 168922 In all 426384 1 A kee] of coals is 2x ton 4 cwt. and contains 8 Neavcaflle chaldrons, ſo that each chaldron is 53 cwt.—4 London chaldron contains 26-heaped Wincheſter buſhels, and weighs on an average near 285 cwt.(according to the quality of the coâls) which weigbts being nearly in the ratio of 8 to 15, it is always reckoned, that 8 Newcaſtle chaldrons make 15 London chaldrons. + The price paid for coals at Newcaſtle varies from 7 38. to 178. 6d. per chald. àccording to the goodnels; but in the above calcula- tion the average is taken at 158. out of which the coal-fitters de- dud for fitters fees; for all above Bladon Burn mouth 18s. 5Ed. _—Lemington x8. 45d.—Denton rs. 4d. and all under Denton 15, 35d. per Newcaßile chald.—So that the coalowner for a chald, sf Denton coals(provided the price be 58.) receives only x38, 8d. Brought ETB 4 SI OF NORTHUMBERLAND, Ee EE Bröueght forward IO O 0 20 keel dues at 13s. 4d. LS IZ O8 Trimming 25s: 6d. keelman’s beer 1s. 4d, per chaldron--- 200 08 Duke of Richmond’s duty 1s. per chald. and ticket ód.--- i No A0 Cocket and bond at Cuſtom-houſe- 0 gg 8 Town's dues 2d.* per chaldron and 1s. for ticket--- 83 Fee(or‘ Foy’) to fitter’s clerk- OO Inſurance(ſuppoſe)-- IO O Bridlington Pier--= 0.4 0 Spurn Light--- 0413.4 Well, Wintérton, Foulnefſs, Caſter, Lo- weſtof, 2nd Harwich lights; and& 4 DS Scarborough and Whitby Piers Paid. ai London— Entry fee at Meter’s office- E) Cocket fee 2s. 6d. return 18. 6d.=- 0 4 0 Lord Mayors dues a farthing per London chaláron=-- O0 O Ditto for groundage-- OOO Trinity Houſe dues 3 farthings per New=- caîle chaldron-- O Or O Nore light 3s. market dues 3s- 0 16.0 Carried over TFS TT * The Corporation of Newcaſtle formerly charged 5d. per chaldron for town?’s dues, which they had continued to do for à long ſeries of years; but in 1794 Wm Leighton, Eſq; of London, brought an aion againſt them for over-charge of dues, and on its being tricd at York aſſzes, a verdi was given for Mr Leigh- ton, by which the dues were reduced to 2d. per chaldron. B 4 Kings 8 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Lo A Brought over Ig55 11 5 King's duty* 8s. rod.{ 10s, per London Mettage OS chald. on 390} Orphan’sduty 6{chaldrons IO OO King’s duty on Meter’s ſack- oA 6 Bond- 2- o 13 6 Diſcount 2 per cent. on two-thirds of the amount(ſuppoſing the coals to ſell for 351 pounds per ſcore of 21 chalárons to the ſcore; the amount 716 8 of the cargo will be 500 pounds) | which with ſome other expences will be about- Commiſlion# per cent on the whole a- 2ount--- 210 0 Total expences of the cargo 316 12 5 Which deducted from çgool,(the amount of the cargo as above) leaves 1831. 7s. 7d. for the freight of the ſhip. As * The duties on coals in the port of London, are— Le SS: By 8th Ann ch. 4- 0..3 0 per London chald, 9 do. ch.6- O20 9 do.‘ch. 22» tO build cluurches OSO Impoſt in 1779 of 5 percent o 0 4F; Ditto in 1782 of 5 percent o 042 added to raiſethe fra@iontoanintegero 0 OE umn m——= Total e 810 Duties on coals carried coaſtways into the out ports, are— LA SECA By 8th Ann ch. 4- O 8250 9 do. ch. 6- O20 Import in 1779 of 5 per cent LEO Ditto în 1782 of 5 per cent OO 2 (5) 6 D + 160 Newcaſtle chaldrons are equal to 300 London çhaldrons — VIZ aS o IS 2 1603007 | The price of coals at London is very fluQ@uating; but we have A Me N OF NORTHUMBERLAND, Y Ás wé are not able to procure ſufficient information of the number of people in the coal trade, we ſhall take the liberty of extracting from Mr M‘Nab’s Letter to Mr Pitt, that the number of perſons employed and dependent on the coal trade, in the year 1792, were, On the river Tyne- 38473 On the river Wear- 26250 Total 64725 To the coal-owners the winning and working theſe collieries are very expenſive, and frequently attendéd with conſiderable riſque; for tho’ very large fortunes have been made in the buſineſs, yet many have been loft; the unexpected alteration of the frata, from dykes and other troubles; the freguent and dreadful exploſions from in- flammable air; the great depth of the ſhafts, and increaſ- ing quantities of water to be raiſed from them, bafMe the moſt experienced artiſts, and overcome the amazihg pow=- ers of the fire-engine, which of.-late years has received many improvements, and been made to perform what was thought abſolutely impoſible at its firſt introduétion.* Theſe powerful machines are‘ now applicd to the pur- poſes of drawing coals, which buſineſs was formerly uni- verfally performed by horſes; frequently 8 to a ſhaft, where great quantities were drawn and diſpatch was ne- ceílary; but by the invention and application of the draw= ing machines, a great many horſes were diſmiſſed from have taken ît at 358. per chaldron, as the average price for good coals, when there 1s no interruption to the trade and navigation 5 but in March, 1795, coals ſold ia London at the amazing price of 708. per London chaldron, on account of the ſcarcity occaſioned by the long froſt. * We were informed that there was only one fire-engine in the neighbourhood of Newcaſtle, about 5° years fince,—that it raiſed the water only 40 yards, which, at that time, was thought a wonderful performance; at preſent water is raiſed, and probably in greater abundance, 160 yards, and upwards. the E IO AGRICULTURAL SURVEY 6 gl the collieries; which has conſiderably reduced the con- for tho! ſumption of oats in this neighbourhood.| quis: 0 Many of the collieries are ſituated at a conſiderable dif y hem tance from the river, to which the coals are conveyed| a from the pits in a peculiar Kind of carriage, called a New-| granit caflle coalwaggon(pl: 1, fig. 1.) it has 4 ſmall wheels,| A about 34 inches diameter, fixed to the axles, with which þ rib they turn round, and move on 2 road(called the waggon-| n Er ES E| nal!) way) made on purpole Wh wood, which is formed by| 7 ; E- 2 ä W000,| long pieces of wood(RA, rails) about 4 inches ſquare,| tud :: nd laid length-ways, upon fleepers of wood(S959) and the A: 2 A CMO : thickneſs of the rail above the plane of the reſt of the i: ::{he V | road, and at the exact diſtance of the wagson wheels from| i L E ars S|{ | each other, as it is upon thoſe rails the wheels run.| LE ud DE ELS S SZ|(eX |- A new waggon-WAaY(including timber, levelling, gravel-| x/ # S f 2 LS s S&| of{1 L ing, and workmanſhip) will coft about 5s. per yard, 01| A 4401. per mile;, and the expence of keeping it in répair| A is generally about 12d. per chaláron on a quantity of 15000 0 ] Í A TEX this chaldrons annually, Or 921, 15% od, per mile.“ if The: dimenfions of the body of theſe-waosgons ate as i t/| abor follows:| E | ed Ft. Ins.|" nuf Length at top= S T0‘ 4 fano o———— bottom| 0 Un Breadth at top-- 0 O| ihe Height= S ZD| re: They hold a chaldron of coals, or 53 cwt. ahd are ge drawn by a fingle horle. bh è ft * Jt has been ſuggeſted, that a waggon-way might be ſubſkitu-| ted in lieu of turnpike roads, for the conveyance of heavy goods 5|: hut we preſume, that the expence of firſt making, laying out 1n| i nearly 2 level line, or ſo as to have little or no aſcents and Kkeep-|> ing in repair, would greatly overbalance the additional weight to|| be drawn by one horſe; as the wood rots and waſtes nearly as| 1 much by a ſmall quantity of carriage paſûng along it, 283 a largep, s À 1 ( Ls «F# OF NORTHUMBERLAND.[LL A gently-inclined plane is the moft defrable poſition for thoſe waggon-ways; but few ſituations will admit of this: Upon levels, or eaíy aſcents, a fingle horſe draws the waggon: On fuch parts of the way where the declina- tion is ſuíficient for the. waggon to move by the power of gravity, the horſe is taken out and follows behind; and where the deſcents are ſuch, that the waggon would move with too great rapidity by its own weight,(or‘“ zun a- main,”) the motion is regulated by a crooked piece af wood,(called a convoy) coming over the top oí one of the hind wheels; upon which the waggon-man preſſes with ſuch force as he finds requifßte, to regulate the motion of the waggon.* Tt has been aſſerted, that““ ¿he coals in this county are inexhauflible” Mr Wülliams, in his Natural Hiſtory of the Mineral Kingdom, is of a different opinion, and thinks it a matter'of ſuch importance as to deſerve the ſe- rious attention of the Legiflaturez—T owards elucidating this point, it may be of ſome uſe to eſtimate what number of acres are wronght yearly in this county to ſupply the above quantity of coals: In order to accompliſh this ob- ject, the thickneſs and- number of workable ſcans of coal muſt bée firſt aſcertained; for which purpoſe we have been favoured with ſcétions 7 exhiviting the thickneſs and depth of the various ſtrata, in ſome of the deepeft pits in the county; which will not oniy be uſeful for the preſent purpoſe, but we hope will be acceptable to many of our readers, who are curious in reſearches of ſubterraneous geography. At St Anthon’s Colliery(3 miles eaſt of Newcaſtle) the ftrata from the ſurface to the Low MaixN coal, are:— / * This mode of conveyance has been uſd here upwards of 120 years. + One of St Anthon’s, about z Johanſon; the other of Montague caftle, by Mc Thomas. miles below Newcaſtle, by Mr Main, about 3 miles above New- S Sol 8 Ÿ | fl Î | - dl BU (à QUETE ZZ. À EZ, GatO. UAI IRE MT TG ein n A 7 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY x2 Yds. Ft, Tns. Soil and clay->= TO: SHO 0 Brown poſt it- 24 OO I. COAL--_--© O26 Blue-metal ſtone=-- 1 Ao) White girdles--- e 2: COAL--- GLO White and grey poſt-= T2906 Soft blue metal=-- lo 0. 0 2. COAL-- S 7 Qa O0. White poſt girdles-- Óa COO Whin--=- ZT 0 Strong white poſt-- GTO 4: CoAaL=--- GL O Soft blue thill--- 2 200 Soft girdles mixed with whin- T2 eO 5, CoAL- FE-- OOO Blue and black fone== TO 6. CoAL--> 2 O O8 Strong white poſt OO Grey metal ſtone=- ETO 7, CoAL---- ONO 8 Grey poſt mixed with whin= GELO Grey girdles-»- 6 O Blue and black ſtone-= A200 8, CoAL=--- EEA Grey metal ſtone-- 4 OO Strong white poſt-= IQ O Black metal ſtone with hard girdles 6 o o 9. Hic MAIN CoAL E 200 Grey metal--- 0 OO Poft girdles--- O2 O Blue metal--- I IO Carried over TO 502 .Girdles Eble R SS OF NORTHUMBERLAND« Nds Le as, Brought over 163 a 2 Girdles--=- OLS Blue metal ſtone--[O OO Pot/=--- o Le) Blue metal ſtone-- A OOO Whin and blue metal-- O Ó Strong white poſt-- OO Brown poſt with water=S OO 7 Blue metal ſtone with grey girdles 4 20 10», COAL-=-- 1 OO Blue metal ſtone-- S R White poſt== LS ITO 11, COAL---- OO G6 Strong grey metal with poſt girdles 4 0 6 Strong white poſt-- LO Whin-=-- SD Ee) Blue metal ſtone-= SB E DNL S5) Grey metalſtone with poſt girdles 5‘TI S5 Blue metal ſtone with whin girdles lS 1%. Co4L---= CEA Blue grey metal--- I OO White po”ſt---- AO White poſt mixed withwhn= 4 00 White poſt--- 220 Dark blue metal and coal S O2 Grey metal ſtone aná girdles- O White poſt mixed with whin- GO 7 Whin---- O TO White poſt mixed with whin 20 O 13 CoAL---- LOS Dark grey metal ſtone-- LOO Grey metal’and whin girdles- O Carried over 2912-6 I4' AGRICULTURAL SURVEY - Yds. Fts Ins, Béought ever"251 20 Grey metal and girdles- OO White poſt-- OO 14, CoAaL>- TO 2 Blue and grey metal- O 15, COAL--© 0.9 Blue and grey metal- 40 O White poſt mixed wilwin«=«1.16 Grey metal-- 2-6 Grey metal and girdles- 2.00 16, Low MAaiNUo4L- 2 OG Total 270 IS In the above pit or ſhaft, which is nearly® the deepeſt in the kingdom, there are no leſs than 16 ſeams of coal, Baut many of theſe, from their thinneſs, are not workable. The gth, called the high main coal, and the toth, the /cæ main coal, are the two principal ſeams for affording quan- tities of coal, being together 127 feet thick, and are thoſe moſt generally wrought. But the Ioth, 13th, and 14th, are all workable ſeams, and will afford conſiderable quan=- tities of coal; the aggregate of the three making nearly 91 feet thick; ſo that the total thickneſs of the workable ſeams in this colliery amount to 22 feet In Montague Main Colliery(3 miles weſt of Newcaſtle) ſouth of the main dyke, the frata are:— Yds. Ft. Ins. Soil and clay-- 5100 White poſt-- O20 COA(D)-- OS Black: metal ſtone-- TO 2 Grey poſt-- 220 Carried over JO IO * A pit has lately been ſuak at Willington, 5 miſes narth- eaſt from Newcaſtle, which is 280 yards deep, te the low E ¡ue OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 15 dS EINS: Brought over IO T6 Blue metal ſtone E- SADO Grey poſt-> 4 O0 Otróng white poſt-- gq Grey poít-- IL 2@ White poſt with black metal partines 10 o o Grey poſt-- O TE Brown poſ with coal pipes IT-8 White poſt-= 5 oD Ditto with whin-- IO@ 2. CoAL(e)-= vw C 6 Black metal ſtone-- 0 0 0 Grey ditto-- 8 209 Brown poſt with ſkamy partings E E: 3: COAL(2)-- o og Grey metal ſtone- BAL : Ft. Ins, i GOA 1 0) 4. JBAND 0 9#> Benwell Main ES 2e A CGE 3 o Grey metal ſtone-- ETIQ Strong white poſt S“ LO Whin-- e White poſt-- 2 2,0 5. CoaL-- OL TO Plack metal ſtone=- SOA White poſt=- Q:0._A Black metal ſtone- 0 QG Grey metal ſtone-= IO42 4 Grey poſt with whin girdles«= OO Atrong white poſt- 126 2,0 Grey metal ſtone- Gi 2,A 6, CoaL-- OR Carried over I O N Poſt Q TAS BES n— R E= i— A—— LB LAP LO R I IO AL QR mA are OO> rere A aas m. SS E EP e TA EEE — TR MAE EIE D- D,- ZE E meer mr E tr 76 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Yds. Ft, Ins» Brought over 13 O(1e Poft girdles-—° Grey metal ſtone- A D 7, CoaL, called Beaumont Seam= aI Strong white thill-- I Strong white poſt-- 3, CoaL- Z Black thill-— Grey metal ſtone- ODR ORAR O0 Grey poſt-- OO OL Or O RS = © Grey metal ſtone-- Strong white poſt- 1 9» CoAL-- O Black métal ſtone.- 2 White pot-- 0) Blue metal ſtone with poft girdles- 2 White poſt with whin girdles- 4 Black metal ſtone-- O 0) T O 2 (0) L 2 OHIO COEL GOES Grey poſt-= Blue meta! ſtone=- Otrong white poſt=- Blue metal fone-- 10, CoAaL-- Black thill-- Blue metal ſtone with poſt girdles- Grey pot-- Strong white poſt-= i e, Gl> MA>El== A SEA N= Ea| Black metal ſtone== Co4aL, called Low Main- 1 4 0 LI= Grey metal ſtone- Z 9 5 2 6 A © M dEi White poſt- 2 Grey metal ſtone with poſt girdles- White poſt with whin girdles- m OO ONIONS OHO DEO O RON NRO OOO 6 Carried over 198 1 10 i m Grey OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 17 Yds. Fé Ins. Brought over 108 Iro Grey metal ſtone with poſteirdls 1 1 0 12, CoA4L called Low Lc M ; Î 213 or Baker’s Main O Grey metal ſtone= White poſt=- Grey metal ſtone- Black metal ſtone- Grey metal ſtone- mi N DN OT Cor QOIO ha] I O [e] 0) 2 Grey poſt-- 2 Strong white poſt with whin girdles#7 Grey metal ſtone m 6 Grey poſt-- O White poſt-= I Grey meial ſtone E O 13 COAL==- o) Grey metal ſtone- o) Grey metal ſtone with poſt girdles 6 I4, COAL- e O Grey metal ſtone-(a) Grey poſt=- 2 White poſt with whin- S Grey metal ſtone- o) 15. COAL--= o) Grey metal ſtone with poſt girdles 2 Strong white poſt with whin girdles 1 O O Do HP D TOU O A E US | | Total depth 2A 1 50 In this ſhaft there are 14 ſcams of coal, of which on- Iy four are workable, viz. the 4th, 7th, 11th, and 12th, making together 4yds, 1 ft; 7ins. of workable coal. If the medium be taken betwixt this and St Anthon’s, it will be nearly 6 yards thick of workable coal, from which. may be formed E A 18 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY A calculation of the quantity of coa! in an acre of ground, ſuppoſing the aggregate thickneſs of the various ſeams a- mount to 6 yards. An acre of ground contains- 4840 ſquare yards» which multiplied by the thickneſs, 6 yards, gives--=- 29040 cubic yards in an Acres From which dedudt+ for waſte, and the part or pillars e 9ó80 to be left in working 2 there remains=‘-- 19360, cubic yards to be wrought. And as three cubic yards of coal, when wrought, afford a Newcaſtle chaldron» therefore 9260= gives 6453 Newcaſtle chaldrons per divided by 3 acre. The coals exporied yearly from the rivers Tyne and Wear, with Hartley and Blyth, amount to about 825000 chaldrons,*® which, with the home-conſumption of the two counties of Northumberland and Durham, will make the guantity of coals raiſed yearly about 1,000,000 chaldrons- And the chaldrons raiſed yearly 1,009,009= gives IS; divided by the chaldrons per acre 6453(acres near ly per year, cleared of coal 6 yds, thick. And by eſtimating the breadth occupied by the caking coals to be on an averge 8 miles broad, and 25 miles long, ¡n the two counties, we ſhall find there will be about 200 ſquare miles, or 128000 acres, of coal proper for expor- tation- * From Newcaſtle, 510000 chaldrons- _—_— Sunderland, 3 I 5000 ditto. In all 825000 Then R—— R RS 8 2 po fieri A E ES —— OF NORTHUMBERLAND, 19 Then the whole area 128000= 825 years. The time divided by the yearly è? before this conſumption, 5$ US ſpace will be wrought out. But there are ſome reaſons to think, that a thickneſs of ſeam equal to 6 yards will not be obtained over an ex- tent of 200 ſquare miles; probably not more on an aver- age than 4 yards; in which caſe, the coal will be exhauſt- ed in 5 o years: and if the aggregate thickneſs of the ſeams to be obtained ſhould prove only three yards, then little more than 400 years will be the term of continu- anice z but it 1s probable, that before the half of that time be elapſed, the price to the conſumer will be con- fiderably increaſed, from the increaſed expence of ob- taining them, and the increaſed length of carriage from the pits to the river. This laſt, we preſume, may be re- duced in ſome fituations, by adopting canals inſtead of waggon-ways, which we have often wondered have never yet been attempted. From the above‘inveſtigation it appears, that Mr Williams's apprehenfions are not ſo chimerical at have been repreſented; how far it may be right for the legiſ= lature to interfere, we leave to the conſideration of thoſe more converſant in political ſpeculations» Of the coal found all thro’ Bambro? Ward, Iſlandſhire, and thoſe parts of Glendale Ward eaft of the river Till, the feams are very thin, moſtly from 1 to 3 feet thick, and of a very inferior quality, yielding a great quantity of aſhes, and neither caking in the fire, nor burning to a cinder: they are uſed only for home-conſumption, and for burning lime; for the latter purpoſe they are well adapted, by their property of neither caking nor burning to a cindér; and it luckily happens, that thro’ all this dif triét, the coal and lime are generally found together; a circumſtance which greatly facilitates and leſſens the ex. pence of burning lime, C2 Iï 20 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Tf 2 line be drawn from Alemouth to a liitle weſt of Bywell on the river Tyne, very little of this kind of coal and limeſtone will be found to the eaft of ît; and from this line to the ſea coaít, no limeſtone whatever ap- pears, except a ſmall patch of a diferent limeſtone that puts in at Whitley, near Tynémouth, and runs from thence in a ſouth-weſterly dire&ion thro? the county of Durham,&c. In this ſpace, betwixt theſe two ranges of limeſtone, lie the caking coals of ſuperior quality above de- ſcribed, and the ſame breadth of coal may be traced thro? the county of Durham, ſtretching in the ſame direction, and bounded on the eaft and weſt, in a ſimilar manner, by ſtretches of limeſtone of different kinds. Tt would be a curious inveſtigation to trace theſe mi- nerals thro’ the different counties acroſs the iſland, and ſhow where the frata of each ſpecies riſe to the ſurface z and the deviations cauſed in them by croſs veins or dykes, &ce. 5 we believe it will be found that very little or no coal lies to the eaſt of this line, and that no chalk lies to the weſt, Limeſtone,—of an excellent quality, abounds thro? all Bambro? Ward, Iſlandſhire, and that part of Glendale Ward ſituated on the eaſt fide of the river Bl; xt Rretches from hence in a ſouth-weſterly direCtion thro’ the central parts of the county, and is found at Shilbottle, Longframlington, Hartburn, Rial, Corbridge,&c. and at numberleßs other places to the weſtward of theſe; but the ſouth-eaſt quarter, which is ſo rich in coal, 1s deſtitute of lime;* as is alſo that part of Glendale Ward weſt of the river Till. Stone Marl,—-abounds in many places near Tweedhde; and Shell Marl is found in a few places in Glendale Ward. The greateſt quantity is at Wark and Sunnylaws, where it has been formed by a depoſit of various kinds of * Except a ſmall patch at Whitley, near T ynemouth-- ells, —_ — OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 2,1 fhells, both univalve and bivalve, many of which are yet perfe, forming a fratum feveral feet in depth of pure calcareous earth; but the exa depth of this bed of marl has never yet been aſcertained, for want of a proper level to carry o the water: It probably may afford matter of ſpeculation to ſome readers to be informed, that in the middle of this marl there is an horizontal ſtratum of ſand about 12 inches thick; and alſo that, a few years fince, a Red Deer Stag, in the attitude of running, and in every part complete,‘was found embedded in the marl; horns of the ſame animal have been found at diferent times in perfed preſervation; and a part of the ſcalp, with the cores of a pair of horns belonging to ſome animal of the Bos Taurus ſpecies, were lately found here: we have never ſeen any breed of cattle, the horns of which were of equal magnitude; for though the outſide ſhell or horn part was wanting, yet the cre was 24 inches long, and 12 inches circumterence at the root; and when in a perfe ſtate and covered with the outfide ſhell, muſt have been about g inches diameter: their form is a gentle curve, and have all the appearance of a pair of bull’s horns; but probably of a different breed of cattle to any we have at preſent. Clay Marl,—is alſo found in ſmall quantities, but in fitu- ations where it could not be conventently uſed with efect, Lead Ore,—has hitherto never been found in any quan- tity but in the mountainous diftriés on the ſouth-weſt part of the county, towards the head of that branch of South Tyne, called Allendale; and a ſmall quantity at Fallowfield, a little to the north of Hexham,* In this county, lead ore is wrought by the Zing, a meaſure containing 8 cwt. of clean ore; the workmen being paid by the owners of the mine at different prices, * The lead mines in Allendale produce about 12000 bings of lead ore annually, which at 41. 45. od. per bing, is upwards of 50090L a year. SZ from 22 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY from 8s. to 36s, per bing(for getting, and waſhing, Or cleaning) according to the richneſs. quality, or hardneſs of the mine. If the owners ſell any of the ore in this ſtate, the price is generally from 31. 10s. to 4l. 105. per bing, but they moſtly have ſmelt mills of their on, where they ſmelt it at their own coſt, take the filver out of it by refining,* and then caſt the lead into long pieces, call- ed pigs of 17 cwt- each.— Pig lead is ſold by the forhers a quantity containing 21 cwt. which is reckoned to ſell at a fair price when at 151. or 161. per fotherz; in 1776 ît was as low as 121. and in the beginning of 1782 it was 171. ss.—in 1788 it roſe gradually to 231. 108. per fother, which was ſeveral pounds higher than it was€ver ſold at before; but in the following year, it fell to 161. or 171. per fother, which ſhews the fluctuating price of this article. The Ore of Zink,—is found in great abundance embed- ded with ſpar, in moſt of the veins producing lead orez but its diſtance from any braſs manufactures, and from water carriage, renders:t of little value., In theſe mines are alſo found gréat vÆiety of cryſtallizations of ſpar, quartz,&c. Xc,; The mines which produce lead ore are Very fluctuating, and uncertain in point of profit to the adventurers z but tend to a general good, by giving employment to a numer- ous claſs of induſtrious workmen, who, being ficuated in a climate improper for the produétion of grain, are oblig- ed to receive the greateſt part of their proviſions from the more fertile diſtriéts of the county, and by thofe means encourage its agriculture,: * The Alendale lead ore is ſmelted and refined at Dukesfield ſmelt-mill, and produces about 7 or 8 ounces of filver from each fother of lead; what is got at Fallowfield contains ſo little ſilver, that it will not pay the expence of refining; while ſome ore got ïn Alfon Moor, in Cumberland, yields 42 0Z- of filver per fother. The proceſs of refining greatly improves the lead, by making it more dudile, Iron no L SS ERE TER FITTE R OF NORTHUMBERLAND, 23 Iron Ore,—may be had in many parts of the county; of late years the convenience of ſhipping it at Holy Iſiarid, has induced the Carron Company to have confiderable quantities from thence. Freeftones,—of various kinds, abound in almoſt every part of the county, and are applied to all the purpoſes of building. Many of the quarries afford tolerable ſlates for roofing, and flags for floors: at ſome of them excellent grindſtonés are got, of which a great many are exported from Camus and Warkworth. 4 SECT. 6.— Waters. The principal rivers, which at as eſtuaries to he Vet; are the Tyne, Blyth, Wanſbeck, Coquet, Aln, and Tweed. "The innumerable ſtreams, which loſe their names in the above, ſpread in every dire(tion through the county:— The Tyne branches into nearly two equal ſtreams a little above Hexham, which are diſtinguiſhed by the names of North Tyne and South Tyne: the main branch of North Tyne, is the Reed;.and of South Tyne, the Allen: The principal ſtreams which empty themſelves into the Tyne caf of Hexham, are the Devil’'s-water and the Der- went: and the river Till is the only ſtream, of ány note, which empties itſelf into the Tweed, in this county. The Tyne and Tweed are the moſt eminent for their navigation, the tide flowing up the former 16 miles, and up the latter cight or tenz the navigation of the other rivers is confined to a ſmall diſtance from their mouths; of theſe the Blyth and Aln are of the moſt im- portance, from the convenience which the firſt affords to its neighbourhood, for the exportation of confiderable quantities of coals; and both of them for corn,&c. and the importation of timber, iron, and other uſeful articles. The‘Tyne and Tweed have been long celebrated for C4 their 2A AGRICULTURAL SURVEY their ſaimon fiſheries: in the latter a reñt of 8001. 2 year is paid for a fiſhing of 200 yárds in length, near the mouth of the river; and the ſame rent is paid for other two fiſhings above the bridge, not more than 250 yards in length each. The fiſh taken here are, the Salmon, Bull-trout, Whitling, and large common Trout, and nearly the whole of them ſent to London; in the con- veyance of which, a great improvement has taken place of late years, by packing them in pounded ice; by this means they are preſented nearly as frefh at the London market, as when taken out of the riverz For the purpoſe of car- rying them, and keeping up a conſtant and regular ſupply, veſſels called ſmacks fail 3 times a week, and being pur- poſely conſtructed for ſwift failing, freguently make their run in 48 hours. Theſe veſlels are from 7o to 120 tons burden; on an average 12 men are employed in each veſlel, and make about 14 voyages in a year; and nat leſs than 75 boats, and 300 fiſhermen, are employed in taking the fiſh: in the river Tweed.‘ E E A SET IEE O ETT IIO R CHAPTER IL. STATE OF PROPERTY (> SECT. L—ZEflates: ESTATES vary in their annual value from 201, to up- wards of 20000l. a year;¡—one in particular is upwards of 40000l. omall eſtates from 2ol. to 2001. a year, are found in the ſouthern and middle parts of the county, but very rarely in the northern, There are probably few parts of the kingdom wheré eſtates have made ſuch rapid improvements as ina this county; there being ſeveral inſtances of the value being more Lg FFII STN TE ndr Zr&- PET pA m=—————— OF NORTHUMBERLAND 25 more than trebled within the lat 40 years. Many cau- ſes have certainly been aiding to produce this great efe fet; but the principal one is attributed to letting large farms, and leaſes for 21 years; by which means the te- nants of capital were encouraged to máke thoſe great ex- éertions, from which ſuch advantages have reſulted, not only to themſelves and proprietors of thé land, but to the cornmunity at large, from the very increaſed produce, and ſuperiority of its quality. The uſual mode of letting farms is to fix a rént, under certain conditions and covenants, 6 or 12 months beforë the expiration of the leaſe; but upon one of the largeſt eſtates in the county,* the tenants have an offèr of their farms 25 or 3 years before the expiration of the leaſe, which 1s a mutual benefit to both landlord and tenant 5 and is attended with ſo many advantages, that it is in a fair way of being generally adopted, On ſome eſtates the pradicé of letting farms by fècret Propoſals is ſill in uſe: this is a dark and myſterious mode, which frequently defeats the end it is intended to accompliſh, and inſtead of obtaining an excéſſive high rent, the prize has been often gained at a very inferior value; and, in the language of the turf,(where only one has ens tered the lifts)“ by walking the courſe:” and we lave known ſome cf the firſt farmers in the county forego their farms, rather than ſubmit to contend in the dark. Upon moſt eſtates it is generally ſtipulated, that a certain portion of the beſt old grazing lands, on each farm, ſhall be kept in graſs during the whole term. The quantity of land to be in ploughing is moſtly limit- ed to a certain number of acres; and at the expiration of the term, where the tenant quits on the I2th of May, he is allowed to have a crop of corn from aof two-thirds of the arable lands; this is called the æway-going crop: the * The Earl of TankEerville?s, entering N 170 AMMOS NONGG MTN I PII MR 26 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY entering tenant has the ſtraw, and leads the crop into the ſtack-yard.—The houſes, hedges, gates, drains,&c, are kept and left in repair by the tenant, who likewiſe pays all taxes, cefles,&c.| Of the annual value of the eſtates in this county, no authentic information could be obtained; but a probable gueſs may be formed by ſuppoſing that there are 8009090 acres of cultivated land, and that this on an average 18 worth 145- per acre,—and that 450,000 acres of moun- taînous diſtrict is worth 25- per acre» Then 800009 acress at 14S» 2- 65000. And 450000 acres, af 2»== 45000l1 Gives the total value of the lands per ann. L£.605900 > SECT. 2—Tenures, The land property in this county is moſtly freehold: __ There are to be found in a few places ſome ſmall par- cels of copyhold; and in thoſe diftri&s which belong to the county of Durham, ſome leaſeholds for lives, or years,“ held under the church.— Lhere are alſo two or three ma- nors of cuſtomary tenure towards the head of South Tyne- I CE —— GSA NVee GM vi BUNT TI rd E———————— CHAPTER TIL. BUILDINGSe C44 ED pupepe SECT. L— Houſes of Proprietors. THE ſeats of the- principal proprietors of this county conkiſt of venerable caſtles, old halls, and elegant mo- dern manſions,.—To give particular deſcriptions would be ————— DETE H LSE DE OF NORTHUMBERLAND-« 27 be too extenſive for an Agricultural Survey; thoſe who wiſh for information on this fubje(t, we beg leave to re- fer to Hutchinſon’s View of Northumberland, Pennant’s Tour,&c.&c. SECT. 2.— Farm Houſes, Offices, Se. Buildings,—for the uſe and convenience of farms, were formerly very ſhabby and ill contrived; but thoſe that have been eredted of late years, are better adapted to the various purpoſes wanted for extenſive farms and improved cultivations The moſt approved form of diſtributing the various offices is, on the eaſt, weſt, and north ſides of a re(&tan=- gular parallelogram, which is generally divided into two fold-yards, for‘cattle of different ages, the ſouth being left open to admit the ſun; and for the ſame reaſon, and alſo for the ſake of cleanlineſs and health, the farm houſe is removed in front thirty or forty yards; between which „nd the ſouth wall of the fold is a ſmall court for coals, young poultry, XC. as in the annexed plan A Scale of 100 Feet 70 S0 706 er m i> NET EEE Ee I i) E emer 283 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY A. The farm-houfſe. B. The barn, 18 feet by 60. C. Sheds, over which are granaries. D D. Ditto, upon which are built corn-facks; one of which is for wintering yearling calves, the other for holding implements of huſbandry. E. Byers for cows and work-oxen, x6 feet by 48. F, Stables. Z G. Pig-ftyes, with hen-houſe above. H H. Fold-yards for cattle of diferent ages, Repairs are moſily done by the tenants; on the large farms complaints are ſeldom made of their being neglet- ed, but upon ſmall farms the landlord is frequently obli- ged to lend his affiïtances SECT. 3.—Cottagess Such cottages as have been erected a number of years, are built with ſtone and clay, and covered with thatch; thoſe that have been built of late years, are of ſtone and lime, covered with tiles, and moſtly a floor of lime and ſand; they conſiſt of one apartment 15 ft. by 16, to dwell in, with a ſmall one at the entrance for a cow, coals, working tools,&c. 9 ft. by 16, and are only one fory high: Very few of them want the accommodation of a gardens The materials uſed for building are, ſtone and bricks, but moſtly the former. Straw(thatch) uſed to be the univerſal covering, but it is now nearly fallen into diſuſe, and tiles or ſlates ſubſtituted in its ſtead. The ſmall dark blue ſlate, from Scotland, is the kind generally uſed here, and are much ſuperior to tiles; for though they are more expenífive at frſt, yet it is probable that in a few years they may be às cheap, from the repairs tiles ſo frequently require, eſpecially where they are ſo ill manufa@ured. Fir timber is univerſally uſed for all the purpoſes of building. CHAP. ie tOi ES E A OF NORTHUMBERLAND, ta e) CHARTER MODE OF OCCUPATION, C(D dr pe DECT. L= Farms, and Charaëer of the Farmers. e Lie ize of farms—varies confiderably in this county; in Glendale and Bambrough Wards the farms are large, from 5ool. to 1g 0ool, a yearz very few under Io0ol. In the other parts of the county they are from çol. to 300l a year: Some tenants in the northern parts of the county, farm from 20001. to 4000L, a year, and upwards:—The capitals neceflary for ſuch farms entitle them to a good education, and give thema ſpirit of independence and en= terprize, that is rarely found amongſt the occupiers of ſmall farms and ſhort leaſes.‘Their minds being open to conviction, they are ready to try new experiments, and adopt every beneficial improvement, that can be learnt in other diſtri@s; for this purpoſe many of them have tra- verſed the moſt diſtant parts of the kingdom to obtain agricultural Knowledge, and have tranſplanted every prac- tice they thought ſuperior to thoſe they were acquainted witli, or that could be advantageouſly purſued in their own ſituation: And ſcarce a year paſſes without ſome of them making exteaſive agricultural tours, for the ſole pur- poſe of examining the modes of culture, of purchaſing or hiring the moſt improved breeds of ſock, and ſeeing the operations of new-invented and moſt uſeful imple- ments- The charadter of a farmer is here ſo reſpeQable, that gentlemen who pofleſs landed property from gool. to I 5001, a year, think it no debaſement to follow the pro- feſlion: Ae) AGRICULTURAL SURVEŸ feſlion: and ſo high a name have many of the farmers obtained for their ſuperior knowledge in rural affairs, that they are ſeldom without pupils from various and diftant parts of the kingdom, with wham they have very hand- ſome premiums.*— Amongſt the preſent pupils may be reckoned the ſon of an Earl and the ſon of a Baronet ¿—- who, from their abilities, attention, and anxious readineſs to learn and work at every operation, we hope will do cre- dit to the profeflion, and render the moſt efiential ſervices to their reſpedtive diſtricts. SECT: 3.— Rent. The rent—of lands in this county uſed formeriy to be clogged with payments in kind, and perſonal ſervices: But theſe have been long diſuſed, and the whole is now paid in money.— The rents are moſily due on the 12th of May and the 22d of November; but payment is ſeldom reguired till four or five nionths after being due. The rent per acre muſt vary with the quality of the land, and other circumſtances: At a diſtance fróm towns, and for the purpoſes of farming only, lands may be had from one ſhilling per acre up to 3o and 40 ſhillings:— Laſt year, a farm of upwards of 2000 acres was let for 20s. an acre, unincloſed, but tithe-free of grain:—One of óo0 acres, at 245. per acre, pays all tithes:—Another of 300 Acres, at 355. per acre, tithe-free, well incloſed, and in high condition, and ſeveral other large farms that pay tithes of every kind, have been let as high as from 27 to 37s. per acre; and ſome old rich grazing paſtures along the ſca-coaîlt let for 40s. per acre. * Generally 1001, per annum. SECT» E 2 R EE idea E ts OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 31 SECT: 3 Tithes: - Of this bane to Agriculture, we do not find any thing, peculiar to this county, which is not common to the reſt. In ſome parts the tithes are collected with moderation, in others with all the ſeverity that law can enforce; ſome let for a term of years at a fair rent, whilſt others value and let every year. SECT. 4.— Poor Rates. In Newcaſtle they vary from 2s. 6d. to 45s. ád. in the pound, in times of peace; but at preſent, All-Saints pa- riſh is as high as 6s. per pound, owing to the ſea-faring people living moſtly in this pariſh; and the failors being imprefled, their wives and children come for ſupport up- on the pairſh.—At Hexham they are 2s. 6d.—Morpeth- 25. ód.— Alnwick 1s. I0d.—Belford 2s. 6d.—Berwick 25. 8d.—Wooler 15s. 6d.—and in other parts of the county wend they vary from ód, to 2s. per pound. fs DECT. 5— Leaſes. Leaſes—for twenty-one years, are let on moſt of the principal eſtates, eſpecially in the northern parts of the county. Some proprietors of land in the other diſtriQs let only for nine, twelve, or fifteen years. The general time of entry is the 12th of May.#"The covenants vary with circumſtances; but we think the following the beſt calculated for improvement, and the benefit of both land- lord and tenant: After the uſual reſervations of mines, woods,&c. and * Upon the Duke of Northumberland?s eſtate the time of en- try is Lady-day, and the offgoing tenant has no waygoing crop. proviſoes ZL dE Mi 32 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY proviſoes of re-entry on non-payment of rent or aliena= tion,&c. the tenant covenants to pay the rent—all taxes — keep and leave all in repair—not to ſell hay, ſtraw, or other fodder, from of the premiſes—to lay the dung on the premiſes, except that bred the laſt year—not to ſow any hemp, Hax. mliſtard, or rape, except: the laſt for green food—not to depaſture more ſtints the laſt year, than were depaftured for two years preceding—to deſtroy the moles yearly, and ſcale the graſs grounds—to threſh the waygoing crop in an uniform manner, and deliver a daily ſupply cf ſtraw to the next tenant—to keep uneaten the lands ſown with graſs ſceds in the laſt year of the term, from the firſt of O@ober, except one half to be eaten by the ofgoing tenant after the 1 of April, to the end of the term—to permit the leflor to ſow graſs ſeeds on the waygoing crop—and to plough the lands intended for fallow five months before the expiration of the term—to have no more ploughing than* acres at one time— to fallow yearly for wheat, turnips, or other green crops, one-third of the tillage lands, and lay upon every acre cart loads of lime, where neceſſary; or, in lieu thereof, cart loads of dung—not to keep any land in tillage more than three years at one time—to lay to graſs yearly one- third of the tillage lands, and ſow upon every acre pounds of clover,&c.(or other ſeeds ſuited to the ſoil;) to keep ſuch lands in gras at leaſt two or three years,+ be- fore they are ploughed out again—to lay down to grafs, or have in graſs the lait three years, all thoſe fields called |—to keep in graſs * Generally from one-third to near one-half, on the larger farms; but on ſome ſmall farms it is more. + Weak ſoils, improper for corn, ſhould continue in graſs 5, 6, or 7 years, or untilit is thought they want refreſhing by ploughing, which is only uſed in ſuch ſituations as being ſubſervient to ſtock. during muet A2iS: a A eirie Aer RES divari ge—————E nf——r m S-“ p OF NORTHUMBERLAND-. 33 during the whole of the term, and at the end thereof leave in graſs all thoſe fields called* and all fuch lands as ſhall be converted into watered meadows—to be at one half the expence of making new quick fences, and of cleaning and rearing them for ſeven years after firſt planted—and others, that fituation or circumſtances may reguire. The leflor covenants, that the tenant ſhall have peace= able poſſeſſion, and a waygoing crop from of two-thirds of the tillage lands, with the uſe of the ſtack yards, barns, and granaries, for twelve months after the expiration of he term; alſo to be at one-half the expence of making all hew quick fences, and of cleaning and rearing them for ſeven years after úrſt planted; with other covenants that may be agreed on, reſpecting building,&c. DECT: 0—Expence and Profit. "The expence upon a farm may be eſtimated pretty near the truth, for a-certain number of acres z; but the profits depend upon ſo many precarious circumſtances, ſuch as ſeaſons, mode-of culture, produce, markets,&c. that yye think any eſtimate of profits upon a particular farm, would be a very vague criterion for judging of the reſt, and moſt probably would not ſuit any other farm of the ſame rent or magnitude in the county; we ſhall there- fore ſtate the expence of cultivating an acre, ſuppoſing a farm in the rotation of three years arable and three years graſs—vViz.—I year oats. turnips, 2 3 barley, 4 5 clover and other graſſes 6 * Theſe are generally old rich grazing paſtures, or meadows. D And fp> ¿A SER AE AIDE mae Dur E Ss————————— A——————: 22A E SRE 34 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY the ſecond year ſour, and the third year two ſheep per | | | And that the firſt years clover carries fix ſheep per acre,/ E:| | acre:— Then the expence will be as follows.| Firfi year—Íor oats OE E| Ploughing and harrowing O 0. O Hf Seed and ſowing- O LO| Weeding-- O LEO f Harveſting-- OOO| Threſhing and winnowing O O| Market expences and carriage o 6 0| ——————————| EIS O Second year—for turnips, drilled at 30 inch intervals. RS| Ploughing& harrowing 5 times I Lime, leading& laying on oO| Leading dung- OSO Spreading ditto- O2 O| Seed and drilling> o 6| Hand-hoeing twice- 0-650| Horſe-hoeing twice= OTO? : O 2| Third year—for barley, ſown broad-caft.| Ploughing& harrowing twice 0 10©| Seed 3 buſh.* and ſowing OG O Weedihg-- OO Harveſting, Os A e© keting, and carriage\ IO O Carried over E # This is the quantity commonly ſown, but we think 2 buſhels, or 24 buſhels, very ſufficient; and where drilled at 9 or 12 inches intervals, 12 buſhels we find a proper quantity; which ſaving of ſed will pay for horſe and band-hoeing, when the crop is drilled. “mme E R:— OS Lig TR.— FIRE CAIGA RICE OR Pia CFR R ia OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 35 g Ld Brought over 12 O ath, 5th and 6th years—clover and grafies.-#—\ Graſs ſeeds ſown on the bar- è ES ley crop- Harrowing and rolling in OLO Stoning, ſcaling, and catch-? RS ing moles for 3 years Attendance and other ex- s O-1210 pences of ſheep ſor z years i 112© Taxes and ceſſes for-6 years-- 0:18 0 Capital employed for cultivation,&c. 9 13 0 Ditto for 12 ſheep, at 268. each TS 12 0 Total capital employéd on 6 acres 25 O The intereſt of which allowing 10 : 21050 i PEE CEN 1s-- To which muſt be added thé ex- E OEI O pénce of cultivation- &; SS 1 EE Gives the expence per year for 6 acres 12 3 6 Or per acre--- 2 00 The expences incurred for cultivation will be néarly the ſame, whatever the ſoil, but the produce will varyac- cording to the quality of the land. On good lands the produce may be, 1/ year—Oats, 45 buſh: per acre, at 2s per buſh. 4 10 0 2 Turnips, PELACTE CHE 3 Barley, 36 buſh. per acre, at 2s 6d do. 4 10‘0 i SEED - sí S= : Carried over I OO 2 Clover R—= 2 er m E ES— gn 36 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Brought over 14 00 4th year—Clover and graſſes- 00 É Do.-- 2 OO 6 Do. E A- TI 0-0 Value of produce in 6 years 20.00 Dedudl expence of cultivation,&c. 12 3 06 Leaves the rent for 6 years- 216-6 Or, per acre, per year- TG al If the value of the crops be,— 1/ year—Oats, 30 buſh. per acre, at 2s perbuſh. 3 o 0 2 Turnips,== 210 O 3 Barley, 24 buſh. per acre, at 2s 6d do. 3 o o 4 Clover and graîles- 2D L Do.-- A ro O 6 Do.== OIT O Value of produce in 6 years I O Dedudt expence of cultivation,&c. 12 3 0 Gives the rent for 6 years 20 Or, per acre, per year= CTO From the above ſtatement it appears, that nearly the ſame capital will be required to carry on a farm 7 tillage, at 7s. per acre, that it does one at 268. per acre:—LThere- fore, a farm of good land of 1001. per year, will require leſs capital than a farm of bad land of 1001. per ycar; and alſo, that when the value of the crops in 6 years amounts to no more than 121. ſuch lands are improper for arable, and will pay no rent;¡—of courſe the moſi profitable mode of employing fuch ſoils, is to let them remain in paſturage, GELAE E AE R Cipe EET R —_ OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 37 CHAPTER F, IMPLEMENTS. 44D pP Toe Carts—uſed in this county are moſtly drawn by two horſes; they are in general heavy, clumſy, and ill- formed, and ſuch as we think few diſtriäs would wiſh to imitate; they are right-lined re&tangular parallelopipe- dons; the general dimenſions for a two-horſe cart are 66 inches long, 40 inches wide, and 20 inches deep, and contain 24% Wincheſter buſhels, freaked meaſure:=The uſual load for two horſes in Winter is 30 buſhels of wheat, and in Summer 36; the firſt about 17 cwt. and the lat= ter about 20 cwt. or one ton,: Single-horſe Carts—are becoming more prevalent in ſe- veral parts of the county,—Mr James Johnſon, a common carrier at Hexham, has a horſe 16 hands high that com- mouly carries from Hexham to Newcaſtle 24 cwt. and 20 cwt. back agas and there are inſtances of his having carried 26 cwt. from Newcaſtle to Hexham, which is a very banky, heavy-pulling road. IFaggons—drawn by four horſes, are uſed by ſome far- * The neateſt, moſt uſeful, and beſt contrived carts we know, are thoſe made in many part&of the North-Riding of Yorkſhire: — The fingle-horſe carts of this conftruétion, uſed for carrying coals from the county of Durham into Yorkſhire, are óo inches long, 36 inches wide, and 18 deep, hold 24 buſhels of coals, when ſet round the fides with large coals and upheaped.—A man or boy drives three of theſe, two of which are equal to the greateſt quantity ever carried by three horſes.—Mr Charge, of Newtons ſcnds three of theſe carts for coals every day, which bring 72 buſhels of coals, the diſtance 26 miles there and back, and is per- formed in 12 hours by one man:—The ſame gentleman’s two- Horte carts bring 36 buſhels of the ſame coals. Da mers 38 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY mers for leading coals and lime; but we hope a few years will ſhew the abſurdity of employing ſuch unwieldy carriages, ſo deſtructive to roads, and of ſo little utility to farmers. The ſwing Plough=—made in imitation of the Rother- ham plough, is in general uſe through every part of this county;* its form is conſtantly varying, no fixed rules being known for îts conſtruction 5; ſcarce two carpenters making them alike, differing widely in length and height of the beam,‘point of yoking, form of mould-board,&c, &c.—T'o remedy theſe defeds it was intimated, in the firſt edition of this Report, that< fn Effay on the cot- ftruttion of the Plough, deduced from mathematical principles,” would be ſoon offered to the public.—This Eſſay is now publiſhed,+ from which we have extraed the following « PRACTICAL CONSTRUCTION For deter&düning the poſitión‘and dimenſions of the mf eſſential parts of a Plough. «c"That the operation of ploughing may be performed with the leaſt loſs of power, it is neceſſary to know the height and inclination of the horſe’s ſhoulder. « While a horſe is in the at of pulling, the inclina- tion of his ſhoulder varices from óg9'to 75 degrees, accord- ing to circumſtances, the medium 1s 72 degrees; and the medium height of the point of draught on the ſhoul- der of a horfe, 157 hands high, is 48 inches. * The farmers of this difſtri& have always had the good ſenſe not to load their teams with aubcel ploughs, as wheels in general deſtroy a confiderable portion of the power of the team,(beſides their additional weight;) hence the abſurdity of recommending Norfolk pioughs to thofe diftrié&s, where the fimple /zving-plough has been uſed and properly underſtood. TT For Mefſirs Robinſon, London, price 2s. —— E OF NORTHUMBERLAND-.$9 &« Theſe data being got from experiment, and. the depth to be ploughed(ſuppoſe 6 inches) given, « Draw a right line AB, and at any point(fig. 2, pl1) A, ered a perpendicular AP; equal to 48 inches. « With„AP. as a radius, from P as a center, deſcribe 2 quarter of a circle AQ, which divide into 90 equal parts or degrees. « From P, through 72 dégrees, draw a right line to meet AB in B. «c Zet the length of the traces and ſwing-trees from P to H; this 18s commonly 102 inches. «e From H, upon AB, let fall a perpendicular HI, which meaſured on the ſcale that AP was taken from, will give the height of the beam HI= 161 inches. « Then at the diſtance of half the depth the land 1s 1in- tended to be ploughed(in this caſe 3 inches) draw a line parallel to AB; and from Cg where it interſects PB, let fall a perpendicular upon AB to S5, which will give the point of the ſock; and a line drawn through. C, making an angle of 45 degrees with BA, will be the poſition of the fore-edge of the coulter. c The heel of the plough will be got by ſetting the length of the ſole 36 inches from S5 to L. «The length of the beam will be determined by ta= king the diſtance from H to any fixed point, as 9, or B, or L, and applying it to the ſcale of equal parts.—In this caſe HS= 44+ inches. bias HB= 53 do: TL bi L,= 79 do.” The form of the mould-board is ſuch, that the ſod to S be raiſed preíſes equally againſt it on every part, from the ſock point 5, to where it leaves it at XK; it alſo differs from other mouild-boards 1n not beginning to take its riſe from' the bottom oppoſite to the heel L, but at leaſt 12 inches farther forward-towards the ſock, and in being cut D 4 away [1] 40 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY away at the bottom oppoſite the heel L, about 3 inches high,(from the-ſole) by which the turning of the ſod 1s * much facilitated. For the demonſtration of the principles from which the above conſtruCtion is derived, as well as the inveſti- gation and pradical dire&ions for making the mould- board,* and finding the curve of the breaſt GS, with many other eſſential properties, we muſt beg leave to re- fer to the afore-mentioned efay; and only obſerve, that wherever theſe ploughs have been properly tried, they have anſwered the intention; being allowed, by all who have ſeen them at work, to.go with more eaſe tothe horſes than any other.—The beſt mode of applying the draught, is by two horſes yoked double, and driven with cords by the holder; which are ſufficient for ploughing the ítrongeſt lands, and wull in general do an acre per day.f The fingle-horſe Plough—for ploughing between the rows of drilled turnips, is repreſented in fig. 3, pl. 1, the mould-board of which moves upon two hinges, placed on the infide, and is ſet wider or cloſer as circumſtances require, by the crooked piece of iron A(fixed to the filt) being ſhifted along the flat piece of iron, placed upon the top of the mould-board with holes in it:—The width at the bottom when cloſeſt is 5 inches, and when wideſt, 9g or 10 inches. The capftan is made with holes in it at C, for regula- ting the breadth of the furrows; and at D, for increaſing * Caſt iron mould-boards of this form, with maundrells for forging the ſocks upon, may be had of Meſlrs Whinfield and Co. iron-founders, Newcaſtle upon Tyne. +T Upon Wark-haugh, a frong deep loam, a young Nobleman, who did not think it any diſgrace to make himſelf acquainted with the profeſhon of Agricultyre, with one of thoſe ploughs and two horſes(yoked double and driven by himſelf) ploughed ¿avo acres per day, and not leſs than fx inches deep, the third fur- row or fallows Or DE as - d— gi AON Y N WV DV ND\ ACCS VIS TN A Wi N Y =S [TN > o OF NORTHUMBERLAND, 41 or decreafing the depth. The price of this plough, when compleatly finiſhed, 1s 11, gs, e 49 A double mould- board Plough,—is made by putting on E: another mould-board, with hinges on the other fide, but : about ſix inches longer. A Horſe hoe,—for hoeing the intervals between beans drilled at zo inches diſtance is repreſented(fg. 4, pl. 1:)' The beam AB 1s ç feet long, and its height at B 16“0 | inches: the curved ſides, CF, DE, are deſcribed with| i a radius of 24 inches from G and D as centers; the length of the ſtilts from A to F, 42 inches; the length of the ſhanks of the hoes from G, to the underſide of À the beam, is 15 inches; their length, GH, 72 inches; fe and breadth, GI, ¿+4 inches. This horſe-hoe, with the Y coulters and hoes placed as in the figure, will penetrate and compleatly hoe ſtrong lands in dry ſeaſons, when it would be in vain to attempt to ftir them with a plough or hand-hoe. For hoeing the intervals between turnips, or other crops where the oil is light, the coulters are taken out, and other ſets of hoes put in the holes made in the fides CE and DE, and end CD, to hoe from 18 to zo inches at once; for thie purpoſe, in dry ſeaſons, it is preferable to the fingle-horſe plough above deſcribed; and with proper formed hoes, will anſwer all the other purpoſes of expenlive ſcuffflers, cultivators, and quicken rakes; though no more than a fingle-horſe be required to draw it, and its price be only 3o or 40 ſhillings, according to| the number and variety of the hoes. This implement anſwers very well for hoeing wheat or barley, drilled at 10 or 12 inch intervals, by making it a little wider, ſo as to take in four hoes. Harrows.—A large heavy harrow called a brake, is com= monly uſed for reducing rough land, eſpecially fallows. oingle 42 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Single-horſe harrows, containing four bulls, and 24 tines or teéth, five or ſeven inches long,(below the bull) are generally uſed ſor harrowing-in ſeed, after it has had a fingling by the brake; a man drives three horſes, and every horſe draws his own harrow. Some people uſe two horſe harrows, joined in the middle by crooks and loops; and alſo ſmall light harrows with ſhort tines, for putting in graßs ſeeds. i Rollers—for reducing cloddy land, rolling wheat in the Spring, and graſs ſeeds, are moſtly made of wood; they 2re generally 54 feet long, and from 12 to zo inches diameter: thoſe uſed for flattening the tops of one-bout ridges, for drilling turnips upon, are 5 feet long, and Io or 11 inches diameter; the framing is various, but that ſhewn in the annexed drawing is the moft general(pl. 2, : fig. 3.) The rope by which the drill is drawn is faſtened co the bar B, and is ſlipped from one end to the other, at every turning, to ſuit the ſowing. To prevent the accumulation of earth upon the roller, a thin piece of wood C, is placed at its back, to act as a ſcraper. d drill for fowing Turnips, on the tops pf one-bout ridges. — When this mode of cultivating turnips was firſt intro- duced, the only drill uſed was a hollow cylinder of tin, with a ſmall hole in the bottom, thro’ which the ſéed was Mook: if this orifice be made of ſuch ſize as fo depoſit a proper quantity of ſeed, it is very liable to ſtop, and of courſe large ſpaces are totally miſled; 1f made ſo wide as to prevent this inconvenience, it then ſows far too much: This defe& induced me ſome years ſince to conſtrué one upon different principles, which 1s now coming into general uſe. s The moſt eſſential parts of this drill conſiſt of a ſolid cylinder C(fig. 1, pl. 2.) of iron or braſs, 2 inches di- ] amecter, and 1 inch broad; on the ſurface are made or PORRE punched Ig or 16 cavities, of the form of a ſemi-eggs «75 LL Plate 17. / \ 7/5 NA AA ; TI eTi ATN Timmi A N| \ j OF NORTHUMBERLAND, 42 cut length-ways, and ſo deep as to. hold 4 or g ſeeds each, On the back part of.this cylinder(a little below the top) is placed the hind part of the hopper, to which is fixed a piece of iron or braſs GA, one inch long, and # bread, hollowed on the inſide into the form of a Gothic arch,(as in fg. 4.) the ſides of which meeting the ſides of the cavities in an obligue angle, prevent the ſeeds from bruiſ- in: 5; at the lower end of this piece of iron(which may be called’a’ gatherer) is made a flit# of an inch long, and 2. wIdez- and at the back of it, /a thin flat piece of iron TE, moves up and down, by means of aſcrew 5, at the top of. the hopper, which enlarges or leſſens the orifice O, dire&- Iy above the cavities, and increaſes or diminiſhes the quan- tity of ſeed delivered, as the operator thinks neceflary: ——Phis flip of thin iron(which may be called a regula- tor) is let into 2 groove made in the board which forms che back part of the hopper. This cylinder CY, before the cavities are made, is fix- ed on an iron axle LL, 1 inch ſquare, and turned Very true, as well as are thoſe parts of thé axle which turn in the collars, or thimbles, fixed in the ſhafts or handles DD, (fig. 2, þ!. 2.) To the ends of the axle are fixed two wheels WW, 26 inches diameter, that turn the axle and cylinder round; which in paſling thro? the hopper H (filled with turnip ſeed) bring forward in each cavity a number of ſeeds, and drop them into the ſpout P, which are conveyed by it to the coulter C, that forms a channel CL 7 + [F0 on the top of the one-bout ridge SD(fg 3, pl. 2.) tor receiving them,—where 8 is the channel, and D the dung direCly under the ſeeds. lf the cavities be made to hold ç ſceds when the regula= tor or tongue is ſcrewed cloſe down, and there be 16 ca= VitIes, it will then depeût 8o ſeeds in one revolution; and as the diameter of the wheel is 26 inches, the circumfer=- ence will be 812; in this caſe 80 ſeeds will be depohted in Ad AGRICULTURAL SURVEY From this minimum quantity, by ſcrewing up the regulator, the in 8124 inches, or nearly 12 in a foot: number may be increaſed gradually to zo or ó0in a foot; which is far-too much, unleſs in very particular and unfavourable ſituations. The price of this drill, 1s 11. gs. Driils, for ſowing the differenz kinds of grain, uſed in this county: not being able to regulate the quantity of ſced, to ſuit diferent ſoils, ſeaſons,&c. we mentioned in che firſt edition of this Report, that a drill was then mak- ing, which would remedy thoſe complaints; a deſcription and drawing of which, being publiſhed in the Appendix to ‘the Eſſay on Ploughs, mentioned in p. 38, we take the li- berty of extraQing from thence,‘“ 4 deſcription of a drill, upon a new conflruétion; for fowing all kinds of grain, in any guantity, and at any diſtance. «"The infide part of the drill, by which the quanti- ty of ſced is regulated, is repreſented by#g. 1- þ!. 3» where AX is an iron axle, 1 or 1} inch ſquare, upon which are fixed, at 9g or Io inches diſtance, five, ſix, or more, braſs fluted cylinders, the flutes being rather more than a ſemi-circle è of an inch diameter, or# wide and$ deep. « RM are hollow cylindrical rims of hammered iron, which have ſegments-turned down at right angles, to füt éxaQly the flutes of the braſs cylinders; the cavities of which are increaſed or diminiſhed by the ſegments of the iron cylindrical rims ſliding backwards or forwards in the flutes. This is performed in all the cylinders at the fame time, by a rectangular ſpace(7) being made in the braſs cylinders, through which paſſes a ſtraight piece of ¡ron IN, moving on fricibn wheels at I, and faſtened to the plates at LK, and alſo to the cylindrical rims KM, «[YV is a lever, the fulcrum of which is F, and moved by — y 2 E E E Gn——— 7 To jrettpay: m SC > e > > RO CS 43= nbi => M | | quin m. E WII l nin ium PE 4 S IV VS ANNEN N Y \ (NAN \ 5 WN \ N A M I y ? (A \ N N VN \\ N M M A (AN N N nn M QU pe wt ML u I = LJ/ 8 LF/ 4 A L> EEE OF NORTHUMBERLAND-. 45 by a ſcrew 5, paſhling through the frame at V. The end at LK is ſorked, and made to#t exaly the ſides of the collar or plates of iron JK. « By turning the ſcrew S, the lever moves the whole of the rims at once, and the cavities are increaſed or diminiſh- ed at pleaſure,* and almoſt inſtantaneoufly, to ſow azy kind of grain, and in any proportion, which 18 ſhewn upon the ſcale EOP, by the index IO fixed to the end of the leveraë KRK. « Fig, 2, pl. 3. is a view-of the machine when ready for work;+” and for a more particular deſcription, for regulating the depths, diſtances,&c. we beg leave to re- ſer to the above-mentioned Efſay. For Turnips,—the large hopper is taken off, and a ſet of ſmall ones fixed upon the half-egg cavities at the end of the braſs cylinders: The quantity is regulated by a tongue ſcrewing up and down, as deſcribed in the turnip dle. 1, PL 2.) For ſowing deans or peaſe at wide intervals, viz. from 27 to 3o inches, I uſe a drill with only one wheel and one cylinder, which a man wheels before him in the fur- row, or(what I find much better) it may be fixed in the body of a ſmall plough,(drawn by a fingle horſe) with one ftilt that paſſes between the wheel and the ſeed-box,(fg. 5, pl. 1.) By this means the wheel moves along a Ímootl ſurface between the land-fide and mould-board M, and the ſeed 1s depoſited at a regular depth: two inches anſwers very wellfor beans. With the ſame ſmall plough and drill I have ſown both wheat and barley, at diferent * This 1s done with the greateſt facility and readineſs, even while the machine is geting and at work; which is frequently ne- ceſſary, where the land varies confide! ably in quality, upon difer- ent parts of the ſame ridge.- + The coulters and ſpouts naay be hung differently, as repre- ſented by the dotted lines, and which 1s probably the better mode for hilly lands, intervals 46 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY J intervals from 6 to 12 inches, and 1% or 2 inches deep, with good ſucceſs; and, for ſmall concerns, this cheap and ſimple apparatus will probably be found the moſt eligi- ble.: Ic is fixed to the plough by two pieces of iron goiñg from the ends of the drill; one to the beam at B,‘and the other to the ſtilt at C, and moving round on bolts, allow the wheel W to fall 3nd riſe with every accidental hollow or eminence. The low part of the coulter is knee’d or bent, to bring it to the ſame plane with the land fide of the plough. Threfhing Machines—are now becoming general in the northern parts of the country; they are all upon the prin- ciple of the flax mill} which principle was rſt introduced into this county for threſhing corn, by Mr Edward Greg- ſon, near 32 years ſince; the machine he'ufed was work- ed by a man, who could threſh with 1t 12 buſhels of wheat in a day; but being hard work, and Mr Gregſon dying ſoon after, it was nesle@&ed. Mr Wm Menzie, who was fſer- vant with Mr Gregſon at the time, ſays‘““ that his maſter took the idea from a ſmall fax mill which a Scotchman travelled the country with, for the purpoſe of ſwingling the flax which the farmers grew for their own uſe: this portable fiax mill was carried in a cart from one farm=- houſe to another, being a cylinder of 5 or 5f feet diame=- ter, and 18 inches wide zs the ſwitchers were driven by his foot, with a crank like a cutler's wheel; and that the threſhing machine Mr Gregſon had, was made at that time, and exaly the ſame as the ſaid:fax mill.”—Mr Tho. Gregſon thinks that his brother EdWard had ſeen ſome- thing of a ſimilar nature in Ocotland, probably the ſame’ which Mr D. Meldrum givés an account of, about the ſame time, in a letter to Mr William Charge of Cleaſby, in the county of York, which he deſtribes as being the ſame as the flax mill; that it threſhed 150 buſhels of ? oats / OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 47 oats a day, which dropped through a ſkreen into a win- nowing machine, that dreſſed at the ſame time. Dome time after this, Mr Oxley erelted‘a threſhing machine at Flodden, moved by horſes, in which the corn was fed-in betwixt two futed rollers, and ſtruck by ſwitch- ers, placed as thoſe are in the preſent machines; only they are hung on hinges. Thoſe in uſe now, are#xed as were thoſe of Mr Gregfon’s. The complaint of Mes Oxley’s machine was, that it did not threſh common oats clean, probably for want of velocity; for it is found in the machines now uſed, that if the ſwitchers move with a velocity of 1500 feet per minute, they will not threſh clean; and experience has proved, that to threſh coms mon oats clean, requires a velocity of 2500 feet Per minute. Mr Tlderton ereQed two threſhing machines, one at Tderton and another at Hawkhill, worked by horſes, the principle of which was to rub the grain out by pro=- jeCing pieces of wood,(on the circumference of 4 large cylinder) rubbing againft ſeveral Auted rollers he uſed it many years, but it was frequently neceſlary to put the raw twice thro’ before it was perfeAly clean. We were informed dy the late Sir Francis Kinlock, Bart. of Gilmerton, Scotland, that while he Was at= tempting to perfe& Mr Ilderton?’s machine, he ſaw a port- able flax mill, made for the uſe of poor families, worked by a man. Tt ſtruck him that it would threſh corn, and he got one made, with the 1ddition of two ſmooth rollers for taking in the corn; the work being too hard for a man, he ſent it to Mr Mickle’s mill, to have it tried by water: ſoon after, Mr Mickle?’s ſon built a threſhing mill at KRilbogie; and after ten or twelve had been erected in the neighbourhood, by other workmen, he applied to Mr Kinlock to take out a patent, who told him that he did not look upon it as an original invention, and that a Ppat= ent iti= E a C—— E TE— A e Z di 48 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY ent would not be of any uſe. Some time after this, Mr Mickle took out a patent(for England only) in his own name, for the purpoſe we ſuppoſe of ſecuring to himſelf his own combination of wheels,&c. for movement of the various parts, as the leading principle of the machine had been applied to the ſame purpoſe at leaſt 20 years before,* i At their firſt introduGion into this county, the corn and ftraw were thrown out together upon the floor, and cauſed great confuſion: to remedy this, a ſkreen was added, thro? which the grain dropped into a winnowing machine, and from of the ſkreen the ſtraw was taken by a man: but a circular rake, invented about eight years ſince,+ performs the operation much betterz and at the ſame time ſaves a conſiderable expence. This rake 1s now added to all thóſe that have been lately ere&ted; and only cauſes an addition to the machinery of one light wheel. Theſe machines are moved both by water and by horſes; two, four, and even fix of the latter are ſometimes employed; the former is certainly the beſt power where it can be obtained. From a review of the whole, it appears that the princi» ple of the flax mill had been applied by different perſons at different times, for the purpoſe of threſhing corn; and fince its being more generally uſed, different perſons have invented and uſed various combinations of wheels and other contrivances to effÆdC the ſame purpoſe, and render the machine more perfe. The ſimpleſt and moſt uſeful combinations and contri- vances are certainly the beſt: but whoſe are entitled to * Mr Mickle is a very ingenious mechanic, and tho? it appears he has not the merit of being the original inventor, yet he has added many uſeful improvements, + By Mr Bailey, who firſt applied it to his machine at Chile lingham.: this OF NORTHUMBERLAND« 49 F this, M; this appellation we do not pretend to determine; the 1 his own public muſt judge for themſelves.—The combination we 0 ume ſhall ofer is different to any we have ſeen, for which ment of reaſon, and being that where the firſt circular rake was machine applied, we ſhall give y 0 jears A deſcription and calculatien of a Threfhing Machine ercéted at Chillingham. u In p!. 4, fig. 1, BB, is a horizontal board or table SG IECt ud long by 3 ft. 4 ins. broad, on which the corn CC is evenly As bread, and preſented to the caſt-metal fluted rollers RR at(4 inches diameter) which take it regularly in, and by zn by their weight and ſharp edges hold faſt the ſtraw, while it Jean is ſtruck, ſwitched, or threſhed, by the ſwitchers, or pie- at the ces of wood 59959, fixed in the cylinder DD, and pro- ke 18 ¿ jefLing 3 inches from its ſurface;* theſe, when they and ſtrike the corn, move in an upward dire&ion RE, with light great velocity, and throw the corn as ît is threſhed, and nd by the ſtraw as it leaves the fluted rollers, againſt the circu- times lar rake KK, and upon the wire ſkreen G, from whence eres M the ſtraw is taken by the rake, and delivered upon the ſloping board L, down which it ſlides to the floor N, ncis while the corn paſes thro’ the ſkreen G into the hopper rſons i H, and from thence to the inclined board I; but in fal- orn; ling from H to I, a ſtrong current of air, raiſed by the ſons fanners FFF, blows the chaff over the ſloping board O, Lek and the light corn againſt it, which falls into the ſpace dl P, and the chaff into M, while the good grain ſlides down i the inclined board II, to the floor at Q, from whence it i 1s taken and put into a ſecond winnowing niachine, in “0 which are placed proper riddles to ſuit different kinds of S grain: This ſecond machine is moved by a rope going ppéals* This cylinder is made with ſtrong arms, on which are fixed he has the ſwitchers, and caſed round with narrow inch deals; the whole ſecured trom Bying of by ſtrong iron hoops, ſurrounding them at each end; the ſwitchers are covered with plate iron, to ¿Chil prevent their wearing. E over this 50 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY over a pulley, fixed in the axle T, and is ſet a-going, or ſtopped, at pleaſure, by a ftrefching pulley, as occaſion requires. Where the ſituation will admit of the board H, being placed about 4 feet from the floor, the ſecond winnow=- ing machine may be placed dire&ly under it, and fave the trouble of lifting the corn. To find the velocity of ¿he particular paris,—we muſt “ divide the produ of the number of cogs in the driving wheels, by the product of the number of cogs in the dri- ven wheels, and the quotient will be the number of re- volutions made by the laſt moved part, for one of the firſt moving part. The whole is put in motion by an overſhot water wheel 14 feet diameter, which makes from 5 to 6 revolutions per minute, according to the ſupply of water; on the axle of this water wheel is fixed a large ſpur wheel aa, of IÓO cogs(1523 inches diameter) which drives a caft-me- tal pinion ¿, of 16 cogs(15,28 inches diameter) on the axis of which is placed another ſpur wheel c, of 63 cogs (60,1 inches diameter) that drives the caſt-metal pinion d, of 16 leaves,(15,28 inches diameter) on Ner Ax1S OË which is fixed the cylinder DD,(4 feet diameter, and gç feet long) with the four proje&ting pieces of wood, or {witchers, SSSS, that ſwitch or threſh the corn, as de- ſcribed above. Then 52 x$3= 39,375», the revolutions of the cylinder for cze of the water wheel, which, multiplied by 5,5, the medium revolations of the water wheel per —— minute, gives 216,562, the revolutions of the cylinder per minute z this multiplied by 4 thenumber of ſwitchers, wurcle gives AView ol the'"THRESHING MACHINE T [recta at Cluttlutgham, 17789. Ith tue Grculu Rafe 2 ES E—— | RPE QUUTS Ge\ N M al ESS SS> E LSE Iz ANE H MINNA = S e AS a| A E: i SS E u_( J FF = zZ! VON NNI —— A — ZZ u E y [) DFresse>t COF doh COIR: Chari Sau Q P NI N | SS Ie “% E:* E———————————————_—— RELLO HE Eme Cv TE OF NORTHUMBERLAND. ST fves 866,25 the number of fſrokes per minute. „And as the diameter of the cylinder 1s 4 feet, the cir- eumference will be 12,56; therefore- 216, 5625, the revolutions of the cy- linder per minute, multiplied by- 12,56 feet, the. circumference of the cylinder, 2720 feet, the velocity of the ſwitchers per minute. The large ſpur wheel 4, alſo drives the light cog wheel gives= e, of 63 cogs(60,1 inches diameter) fixed on the axis ¿/, of the rake, for taking away the ſtraw. Then‘£2= 2,54 the number of revolutions, which the rake makes for one of the water wheel, multiplied by 5,35, the revolutions of the water wheel — per minute, 13,97, nearly 14, the revolutions of the rake per minute; which having 4 gives= arms, will clear the ſcreen of ſtraw 56 times per minute. The Rollers,—are moved by the pinion è, of 16 leaves, working into the flight caſt-metal wheel, fixed on the iron axis 7, of the lower roller, on which axis is alſo fix= ed a ſmall pinion g, of 8 leaves, working into another>, of equal number, fixed on the axis* of the upper roller, which gives the two rollers an equable motion, for taking in the corn. Then= x 14= 4,444, the revolutions of the rollers ſor ore of the water wheel, * This axis 1s fixed into the upper roller, either by an univerſal joint, or with a ſquare tapering end, to allow the upper roller to riſe and fall, according as the corn is fed-in thicker or thinner, and the concave board RE, is bung on a bolt, to allow it to riſe and fall with the roller. E 2 mul=- E-0 i Í Y“ am lt E RE, ME— nm ——> rr———— REZ R AA 4 52 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY multipliedby= 55 ives 2 24,44, the revolutions of the rollers S STS per minute. And the diameter of the rollers being 4 inches, the circumference willbe 12,56 inches. therefore 12,566 inches, the circumference of the multiplied by 24,44, the revolutions of the rollers per E MINUtE; SIVEeS- 404,1 inches of ſtraw pafing, thro’ the rollers per minute; which ¿07 inches reteive 866 ftrokes of the ſwitchers in that time, or nearly three ſtrokes to an inch. When the rollers are reguired to move ſwifter or flow _ they may be driven very conveniently from the erid f the axle of the rake, By fixing a caſt. metal faced æuhec! on it, with three rows of cogs;(8, Io, and 13) working into 2 ſhifting pinion of 8 leavés, fixed on an iron axle; t the other end-of which is put a ſmall ¿Zeve! wheel of 12 teeth, working into another of 8 teeth on the end of the axle of thelower roller The Fanners,—are moved by a croſſed rope, paſſing over a pulley T, 10 inches diameter, fixed on the axis of the cylinder, and another V, of 8 inches diameter on the axis of the fanners. Then as the axle of the cylinder makes 216356 revolutions per minute, we have 216,56 x 2= 270,7 revolutions of the fanners per minute. From the above it appears, that when The water wheel makes 57 revolutions in 1 minute, The cylinder will make 2167 ditto, The rollers- 24% nearly, The rake E 14 ditto, and clears the ſkreen of ſtraw 56 times per minute, E” OF NORTHUMBERLAND, 553 The fanners- 2707 ditto, The ſwitchers make 866 fſirokes per minute, and move with a velocity of 2720 feet per minute. 5 The rollers take in nearly zoo inches of corn per mi- nute: The medium length of good oats is about 30 1i1n=- 9) 1 N o 1 ches; and, ſuppoſing half a heaf put in at atime, a whole ſheaf will then be equal to 6o inches: Therefore 42°= y ſhéaves per minute; which agrees with the uſuaFrate of going of this machine, when ſup- plied witha medium quantity of water; From ſome expe- riments lately made, 120*ſheaves of oats were threſhed in 22 minutes, and yielded 12 buſhels, which is at th rate of 33 buſhels per hour, ox 264* per day of 8 houre, The expence, for the attendance on the threſhiñg and dreiling part of this machine, is only that of three women, viz: One to feed-in, another to hand the»ſheaves to the feeder, and the third to take away and riddle the corn after it 18s winnowed; of courſe the expence.o and dreſſing 264 buſhels is only 15. 6d. The expence of threſhing the ſame quantity flail, would be one twenty-fitth part,Þ or 101 buſhels,  Which at 2s. per bnfhel is 218.; to which muſt be added e ge 25: the expence of a man and two women, to afliſt in winnowt!ng, making 1n all, 23s. rm] z-. É n: 1 7 Lhe expence of erecting a threſhing machine of this * This muſt be confidered às a medium quantity; of ſhort early oats 320 buſhels might be threſhed in the ſame time; and of wheat with long ſtraw, not more than 180 büihels: But 2 great deal depends on the care and con/fant atientioan Of the feed=- er; a trifling negledt in this point, will make a confiderable defi- ciency in the above quantities, which we find is too often the cale.—Where there is plenty of water, ſo that a whole(heaf may be put in at once, the quantity will be double to the above. +T The wages here for threſhing are, one twentieth part of the grain, when the threſher folds or bundles up the fſlraw— and one twenuty-fifth when the ſtraw is taten away looſe, as falt as he threſhes it; the threſher aſſiſts in winnowing, and finds a woman for the ſame purpoſe; the farmer finds a man and two women. i TT?. E23 kind, — E Ee 5 SE AE— SE C— ai is sé 54 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY kind, was from 70 to 8ol.; but ſince the advance of wood, iron, and wages, it will be now near 100I. Machines of ſmall dimenſions are creQed for about gol. which, with 2 horſes, will threſh and dreſs 120 buſh- eis of oats, or 60 of wheat, in 8 hours. Rollers, or ſmall Miilftones, are added to many of thee machines, for cruſhing or grinding grain, for horſes, ſwine,&c. Knives for cutting ſtraw, and many other uſeful appendages, might be added. The Winnowing Machine is in univerſal uſe here; we believe very little, if any corn is drefled by any other means: They were firſt made by a farmer of a mechanical genius called RocERs, who lived at Cavers near Hawick and whoſe grandſon, now a carpenter there, fill makes R EA them, perhaps of as uſcful a form as any other perſon, and at as low rates as from 21. 8s. to 3l. up 4 Old Rogers, we are told by his deſcendant, happen- ed in the year 1733 to ſee a machine, thrown out of the Ü | z! way as uſeleſs, in an old granary at Leith, of which he took ſuch notice, that, on his return home, he ſet about making one, the utility of which ſoon recommended it > to many principal FATES: in a ſew YCAars they Were U=- niverſfally uſed, and are now become ſo abſolutely neceſ ſary, where large quantities of corn are to be drefled, that it would be attended with conſiderable inconvenience to do without them; of ſuch great utility has been the ſu= (<0 PErIOr diſcernment of this ir 1gEniQUSs and unnoticed in= SS fida, dividual Fs The preſent Mr Rogers ſays, he believes the machine A EEE his grandfather ſaw at Leith, was brought ſrom Holland: An anonymous remarker, who figns himſelf a Scotch Far- mer, ſtates©“ that it was firſt introduced by the late cele- brated Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun, along with the bar- ley mill, Í from Holland, in the year 1711;” and we have ſomewhere read or heard, that the Dutch brought'it from OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 55 from the Chineſe, which is corroborated by the informa- tion we lately received from the Honourable Mr Doug- laſs,* who was ſhewn(when on his travels in France) by the late Duke de Rochefoucalt, a ſet of Chineſe drawings, repreſenting the culture of rice in all its ſtages, from the firſt planting to its being prepared for ſale, and that the laſt drawing was a repreſentation of the drefſing or win- aowing, which was performed by a machine exaëtly ſimilar to that ave now uſe for the ſame purpoſe. Dr Deſagulier?s blowing wheel, which he preſented to the Royal Society in 1734, is exaQly on the ſame prin- ciples. Two men and three women will winnow, dreſs and meaſure up into ſacks, 250 buſhels of oats, or 1 50 buſhels of wheat, per day,—the expence 3s. 8d. A pair of pruning ſhears, repreſented in. úg. 1, pl. 5s have been particularly recommended by Mr‘Tweddell, of "Threepwood, to the Preſident of the Board, as being ſu- perior to any other implement for the purpoſe of cutting hedges.— They conúſt-of a ſtrong ſharp knife 6 inches long, moving betwixt two ſquare-edged cheeks; the up- per handle is 2 feet 6 inches long, and the other 2 feet Zz inches» There are many other implements uſed in this county, but as we believe moſt of them are ſuch as are well known in other parts of the kingdom, it would be of little uſe to deſcribe them here./ See TLN SECC>> OU CHAP ER 1s INCLOSURES, 18 Dp pee THE parts of this county capable of cultivation are in * A ſon óf the Earl of Selkirk. E 4 general y A A 5 Er— Zas —— E——= E E RE E E ]<‘DTM SETZ“ EEES DERT ERICE fi A ri Si ES 7A e 4—- CEE 3 ZS E Ss eE ET DE Leb or ini 4 4 i eL RE e pre e E 5ó AGRICULTURAL SURVEY general well incloſed by live hedges; the only exceptios is a ſmall part of the vales of Breamiſh, Till, and Glen; but even here, the advantage of having well-fented fields is ſo well underſtood, and ſo much defired by the tenants, that we hope, in eight or ten years, the whole of this valuable diſtriQl will be incloſed— proper fences. The lize of incloſures varies with the ſize of farms, In ſome parts, from two to ſix or eight. acresz in the nor- thern parts, where the farms are large, the fields are from 20 to 100 acres, The fences moſt generally uſed for new inclofures, are earth mounds; at the baſe of which, and on the edge of the ditch out of which they are raiſed, are planted the quicks, generally upon a turned ſod fix inches highs which we think too low, ds we always find the quicks grow much better E nted three ſods high, with the thickneſs of two ſurface ſods laid under their roots, This in moft caſes doubles, and in thin ſoil trebles, the ſurface ſoil, and ſorms a thick bed of the beſt earth for the roots of the quicks to grow 1n, as will be more clearly ſeen in the annexed ſketch of ſuch a fence, fig. 2, pl. 5, where AB is the ditch, 45 feet wide at top; BCD the mound; the baſe BD, ſix feet wide; and height CD, four feet, Q, the quicks planted upon three turned ſods, at leaſt 15 inches high, with ſurface ſods and ſoil 12 ine ches thick, under and behind therr roots.—The expence of making this kind of fence, is 1s. 4d, per rood of 7 yards, excluſive of quicks and railing. The quicks fhould never be planted nearer each other than nine inches, and upon good land a foot. Quicks four or five years old, with ſtrong clean ſtems, are always to. be preferred to thoſe that are younger and ſmaller. It 1s a cuſtom, in ſome parts, to clip young quicks every year; this makes the fence look neat and ſnug, but it checks their growth, and keeps them always weak in the item, | | 5 i C 1 1){ M as | E | SS SS = Y HENIN ENISSHIN È DY =; J FS El= Y ES |=S SAE J- 7 è 1D E INE ZHI: S DL D N D = I = I L/LT, OF NORTHUMBERLAND, 57 tem, and, when they grow old, open at bottom; while SAE that are left to nature, get ſtrong ſtems and ſide bran- ches, which by interweaving one with another, make a thick REO€ ES and 1f cut at proper inter- D O“ vals,(of nine or ten years), will always maintain its ſupe= Dritv x7 ed fror- TiOrity, OVE ped from their úrſt E i i2bour ſaved, there “ial Ia MO PO nariian= mE EU En 7 raf ES is No compariion z and Íor beauty, we prefer nature, and ES E=>-- ham: hArn Cll KI 77 E——- think 1 iUXUTIATL ha ¿OTT I17n TUil bloom, OL loaden a7ith : EME o: its ripened fruit, is 2 more pleaſing, enlivening, and gra- E Te ES e: tuiying Objet, than the Kiff formal ſameneſs produced - Y>LE C 2 n Y 7A E Trevelyan, Eſg; of Nether-Witton, ſhewed us railing iences:—iie eres 2n earth mound Ws (Ug. 2, pl. 5,) 7 feet wide at bottom AB, 3») 4 A top CD, and ç feet high; on the middle of i top he plants a row of guicks Q, and on each ſide at 2 feet diſ- tance puts in willow ſtakes WW, an inch in diameter ° 5 F FSE LA> LSE utwards, which take root and SE 111 4 M LE E: Loana the middte— Theſe ſtakes are at firſt bound > - a kind of eddering; at the time we ſaw them they had been only two years done, of courſe no juágment could be formed, ior ſome years to come, whether it poſfſefled ſuperior advantages to the mode above-deſcribed: It ap- peared to us an experiment yet undetermined. In ſome ſituations, we are inclined to believe, it may be very uſe- ul, eſpecially in cold, ſoiít, marſay ſoils: Whether it will be ſuperior in all, vre fill entertain ſoma doubts; but are perſuaded, that 2 full trial will be given, by the ſpirited improver who is making the experiment.—The expence 1s 25. ód. per rood cf 7 yards. et Stone Walls are alſo uſed for fences in ſome ſituations 5 YE FS- the uſual dimenſions are 2f feet at bottom, 15 Or IÓ in- ches at top, and 4 to 47 feet high: About half way up A ers EE es 2 Sr.> E E A 58 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY a row of through-ſtones are put, at the rate of 9 or 10 in a rood of 7 yards, and on the top a coping of ſods, or P ſtones /èt edge-avays; the latter is preferable, as being the i moît laſting, and preſenting a more awful aſpect, to de- ter the Highland ſheep from attempting to leap them.—/ The expence of raaking theſe walls is from gs. 6d. to ós. 0 6d. a rood of 7 yards, for inning and walling: The/ th expence of leading depends on the diſtance.—Twelve or| cl fourteen cart load will do a rood. ¡0 The advantages of inclofing private property in this coun- ty principally ariſe from ſeparating lands of diferent qua-| lities, which can, by theſe means, be employed in fuch culture, or depaſtured by ſuch ſtock, as the occupier thinks moſt fuitablez and, where ſheep are kept, they ſeed with more facility and readineſs, being freed from the whims of the ſhepherd; and the teazings of his dog z and, by ſeparating the dry ground from the wet, a ſtock- maſter has it more in his power to avoid that fatal malas dy, the rot, Gates are made of various forms, but agree nearly in ßize, being generally 81 feet wide, and from 44 to 5 feet|| high, with 5 ſtrong bars about 37 inches deép, and a] weaker one about 1 inch ſquare, placed between the two( loweſt bars.—The lighter a gate is, eſpecially in the fore- part, the better, provided 2 be ſufficiently firong; for this réaſon the top bar ſhould be confiderably ſtronger than the reſt, as it is the moft liable to be broken, eſpe- cially where horſes are kept, if not made ſo high that they| cannot ealily get their necks over it. The moſt approved form is that repreſented, fig. 4, pl. 5 Hanging Gates, ſo as to have a proper fall or tendency to ſhut of themſelves, being little underſtood by carpen- ters, we hope the following directions for E that purpoſe may be acceptable. Having ſect the poſt perpendicular, let a plumb-line, AB; OF NORTHUMBERLAND-, S9 AB, be drawn upon it: on this line, at a proper height, place the hook C, fo that it may proje& 2% inches from the face of the poſt; and at a convenient diſtance below this, place the lower hook D, 1 inches 7o one fide of the perpendicular line, and projecting 2 inches from the face of the poſt; then place the top loop or eye 2 inches from the face of the“ hawtrece,” and the bottom loop, zf in- ches:—Thus hung, the gate will have a tendency to ſhut in every pofition,* This principle häás been long known and pradiſed, in hangin 2 gates that open both ways. ————————E O_O e—— CHAPTER FIE ARABLE LANDe« nn Dpr DECT. 1l— Tillage. FES f HE arable lands of this county being under various ſyítems, and direCted by various opinions, the manage=- ment of the tillage muſt differ confiderably.—In the oper- ation of ploughing, it is generally agreed that the breadth of the furrow fhould be about 9g inches, and the depth from 4 to 6 or 7 inches.: Tt was formerly the géneral pracice not to plough the lands intended for fallow till after Spring ſeed-time,(and very often delayed till May, or even June) but now the fallows are ploughed before Winter, to meliorate by the froſt.—In the middle of April or beginning of May, thoſe that are intended for Zurnips or potatoes are harrow- 4 * For if the weight of the gate be repreſented by the line CD, fig. 5, pl. 5, this, by the reſolution of forces, is reſolvable into other two, CE and DE, the former repreſenting that parr of the weight which prefles in a perpendicular poſition; and the latter, that part of the weight which preſſes iu a horizontal direétion, and gives the gate a tendency to ſhut, * ed ÓOoO AGRICULTURAL SURVEY ed and ploughed acrofs, and, where neceſſary, rolled with a heavy roller; the ſame operations are repeated two, or three, or more times, until it is thought ſufficiently fine and clean for ſowing or planting. Thoſe that aïe intended to be naked fallow for wheat, écelye three, E or five ploughings through the Sum- zer; but are ſeldom harrowed, it being thought an ad- Vantage to V e to have the y On thoſe fallows where quickens- or couch graſs,&c. are found, every exertion 1s uſed to extirpate them, by harrowing, gathering and burning, or leading oft, ſo long I the ſmalleſt rema!ns are v1fßble."The lime and manure are E laid on before the laſt ploughin For barley, it is the. general cuſtom to plough only once z but the beft cultivators ſeldom ſow this grain witlt- out giving two or three ploughings, eſpecially when the land is to be ſown with clover and graſs ſeeds. —— other ſpecies of grain 1s ſown after one plough- N », except when beans or peaſe are to be drilled. trs Ploughing, 1s praiſed E a ſew z; it 1s an excel- len mode for breaking up graſs lands, and is E by two ploughs following each 0 in the ſame furrow €: Y: JL A the firſt plough paring ¿e ſurface, from 1 to.1% ohe thick, and turning it into the bottom of the laſt-made furrow: While the ſecond plough, going 2 or 4 inches deeper, turns upon it a ſod of friable earth, which being deſtitute of tough fibrous roots, harrows to a fine mould with little difficulty. Es his practice entirely obviates the obje&ions to drilling upon clover lea, and the additional expence will not be more than 45s. per acre, which, put in compétition with the advantages to be derived from it, will leave a confider- able balance in favour of the practice: in breaking up 5 u R on clayey lands, the expence 1s almoît ſaved he harrowing; on ſuch ſoils it will be found of great {ervICe SERE ÄR RE- ZS SS E ES> EZ Á A"A E E R n E D n rr LOE O7 NORTEUMBERLAND, 61 ſervice, 1f they gre hus ploughed in Autumn, they may be eaſily drilled with- beans or peaſe in the Spring, and the ſubſequent hoeings performed with facility; operations that would be very difficult te perform, when ploughed 1n the manner uſually Dr ¿tiſed. a E È Z Lhe Ridges are of various forms and ſizes.—On the -- z- EAS RIE deep ſoiled lands, that were uſed as ara ble ſome centuries ú ſince, the ridges are moſtly very high, broad, and crook cd; upon lands that have been lately vrought into cul- tivation, they are N nearly fat, anñd iù geñéral a= bout twelve or fifteen feet broad; où dry lands, they ate quite_— E SS gathered and flit. bréadti of fiftee t anſwers beſt for ſowing broad-caft at two caſts, A few years E the plou C4 purpotes, fdr which draughts are wanted ubon a fatm were perforn——- horſes, which in E tis oí HattoW= in are always yoked double, and driven with cords by the pioughman, and in géneral plough an acre a day; E butin the ſeaſon of ſowing turnips,-one and a half, or even md By 2] D © ts) Q pt @)) ‘es, are frequently ploughed, on fine light foils. But fince the great advance in the price of horſes, oxen Have been more ufed, eſpecially for the purpofés of ploughing, and carting about homo. ZE 25 They are harnefſled both with yokes and collars Where three or four are uſed, a boy is allowed to dtivé; when two,F the man that holds the plough drives wit cords. They only plough ha!f a day at a time; one half of a team being uſed in thé forénoón, and thé other in the afternoon. * It is a danger ous experiment to attempt to level and ſtraight= en ridges of this deſcription too ſoddenly; we have ſeen much mi iſchiéf done— iL, +7 Two oxen are found. very ſufficient for ploughing light fal- low lands ina Summer- E for almoit EVEIL GbE r purpoſe, 3 or 4 are uſed. Qpr OBCTée ; E rz TO G2 ACRICULTURAL SURVEY SECT. 2.— Fallowing. The pradQice of making naked faliows on all kinds of ſoils, once in 3 or 4 years, was general thro? this county, till the introduQion of turnips; in a few years the fallows of the dry lands were covered with this valuable plant. On ſuch other ſoils as were found improper for this root, the naked fallows fill prevail, with an almoſt univerſal opinion, tat it is abſolutely neceſſary to the fertility of the land; yet there are ſome few who dare to doubt this long-eſtabliſhed do&@rine, and preſume to think, that na- ked fallows might be diſpenſed with in many ſituations, by cultivating legumineus crops, drilled at wide intervals, to admit being ploughed, or horſe-hoed between: to which, if proper hand-hoeings be added, the land will be as well pre- pared for wheat, as if it had been a compleat naked fallow.: This is not advanced on ſpeculation or theory; inftan- ces can be produced, where no naked fallows have been made on fields of ſtròèng loam for 12 years, yet they are as clear of quickens, couch-graſs, or other pernicious weeds, as any fields in the diſtri, that have been under naked fallow two or three times in the ſame period,* Whether fallowing is or is not necefiary, has been much agitated of late years z ſo much ſo, that the diffe- rent partiſans have obtained the appellation of‘ fallow- efs? and“ antifalloweſts:” It happens to be one of thoſe ſubje&s which can never be determined by reaſoning, 0 pinions, or bold aſſertions; fair experiments only can reſolve it; and whatever may be the reſults of ſuch ex- * Tt may be neceſſary to obſerve, that, previous to the adop- tion of this ſyſtem, the land was cleared of quicken, or couch- graſs, by a complete ſummer fallowinge« perimentsz eS 5 R CF NORTHUMBERLAND- 63 periments, it may be juſtly concludéd, they will be the ſame in ſimilar ſoils, climates, and ſituations. Ul kinky Tho? we are diſfident in giving a decided opinion up- on ſo important a ſubje&X, yet from obſervations made thb: on the above facts, we cannot help being inclined to think, that the quantity of naked fallow might be very much reduced, and in another century will probably be an totally aboliſhed, if no fortuitous circumſtances ariſe to : check the exertions and ſpirit for improvement, which have been ſo prevalent of late years, and ſo generally dif fuſed thro’ this diſtri. DECT. 3.— Rotation of Crops. o rbk, The moſt prevailing rotation was, 1 fallow 2 wheat hat nid: GELE a4 fallow,&c. SEHN repeated for two, three, or four fallowings:=—Upon the ſtrong lands along the ſea-coaſt, inſtead of oats after wheat ©© 4> they generally ſubſtitute peaſe or beans, or beans and peaſe mixed; when laid downto graſs, it is ſown with E, graſs ſeeds, and continued in graſs ſeven or more years. On dry foils, after ploughing out from graſs, the rota- tion was, 1 Oats ; 2 Oats 3 Tarnips, ſown broad-caft, limed and dung- ed and twice hand-hoed. \ Paa 4 Barley or wheat, ſown up with clover and réuonl ray-graſs, and continued in graſs from four to ſeven, or zut; 00)° more years, depaftured principally with Peep, The deft cultivators uſe the following rotations, accor- ding to ſoil, ſituation, and circumſtances, Clayey ſails. Fallow I 2 Wheat Clover for 1 or 2 years, depaſtured with D ſheep. e E A1 i TEE ERE ÓA AGRICULTUKAL SURVEY ſheep. 4 Beans or peaſe.® Strong loams. 1 Turvips, drilled at zo inches intervals, 2 Barley 3, 4, Clover and graîs ſeeds; for 2 ór 3 years, depaftured with Wheep, and a ſmall proportion of cattle & Oats 6 Beans, or peaſe, drilled at 3o 1ns. 1n- tervals, horſe and hand-lioed. 7 Wheat, drilled from 9 to i2 ins. inter- vals, horſe and hand-hoed. Sandy and dry light loams,—after being ploughed out from graſs, 1 Oats 2 Turnips, drilled at 30 ins. intervals. > Barley or wheat, drilled from 9 to 12 ins. intervals, hoed and ſown up with clover and graſs-ſeeds, depaſtu- red with ſheep,(and a ſmall propor tion of cattle) ſor Z%ree or more years. This laſt rotation has been praiſed of late years, and is becoming more general, not only upon the turnip ſoils, but upon the ſtrong clayey lands, ſubſtituting naked fal- lows, or beans drilled at zo ins. intervals, inſtead of tit- Dips 5 and thoſe who have tried it on ſuch ſtrong lands, find, that after two or three years clover and graſs ſeeds, depaſtured with ſheep, the land will grow good crops of oats, which they could never get it to do under their old ſyſtem. Thoſe who have praiſed the Norfolk ſyſtem on thin light ſoils, find their crops grow worſe, eſpecially the tur- Nips and clover, and many have been obliged to adopt this ſyſtem, by which they find their lands renovated z and TCCE OF NORTHUMBERLAND- ós and, inſtead of having to complain, that their ſoil was & tired of turnips and clover,” they now find, that it pros duces abundant crops, and that every rotation brings it nearer its former. fertility. DECT. 4,— Crops commonly cultivated, WHEAT The preparation, for the greateſt quantity of wheat rai- ſed in this county, is naked ſummer fallow:—Of latè years confiderable guantities have been grown after tur- nips 5 it.is alſo grown after rape, clover, beans, peaſe, tares, and potatoes, Zhe kinds of wheat grown here include many varieties, and as they are known by diferent names in different diſ- triés, we are afraid, that by barely mentioning their namêès, a very diferent variéty may be taken for the.one Wwe mean; and tho’ we deſpair of pointing out fuch marked diſtinctions as accurately to diſtinguiſh them in all caſes, the ſhades of difference being often very ſmall, yet we hope there are ſome leading features which may help Us to attempt an arrangement, and in ſome meaſure bet=- ter enable our readers to aſcertain the variety intended; for this purpoſe we ſhall divide them into Zwo orders; Viz, the /mooth chaff:d, and the downy chaffed, of which we ſhall enumerate the principal varieties now grown in this diſtrict,* I. Smooth chaffŒfd: a«ævith a few ſhort awns towards the tp of the ear. Zealand—ears long and large, ſpicula very wide ſet, 9 in 34 inches, chaff white, ſometimes with a tinge of brown, * We could wiſh to ſee this ſubje& undertaken by Profeſſor Martin, who is well qualified to do it juſtice. F: Opening - 66 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY opening andá ſhewing the grain; fraw very long, grain white and large. WW hite- Kent=ears middle fized, 9 ſpicula in 37 inches, chaff white, opening and ſhewing the grain when ripe, fſraw ſhorter than the laſt, grain white. Golden ear—ears ſhort, ſpicula very cloſe ſet, 9g in 27 inches, chaff a yellowiſh light brown, ſhort; the grain white, and eafßily ſhook out by the wind. Burwell-red—ears long and large, ſpicula very wide ſet, 9 in 37 inches, cha a dark brown red, large and cloſed on the grain, fraw long, grain red.* IT. Downy chafed: with a few ſhort awns towards the top of the ear. W olly-ear—ears middle zed, ſpicula cloſe ſet, 9 in 3 inches, chaff white, cloſed on the grain, ſtraw long, grain white. Velvet car, or little wheat—ears ſmall, ſpicula cloſe ſet, 8 in 22 inches, chaff white, cloſed on the grain, ſtraw ſhort, grain white, ſmaller, ſhorter, and plumper than the laſt;+ and the appearance of the ear is leſs in every dimenñion. The downy chafed wheats have ſhorter ſtraw, and are leſs liable to have the grain ſhaken out by winds(the chaff embracing the grain more cloſely,) than the ſmooth chaffed tribes, which is a confiderable advantage; but then we are apprehenfive that this downineſs makes them retain the dews and moiſture upon the ear much longer * This variety has been much uſed of late years, eſpecially upon crude or newly broke up lands, with great ſucceſs, and has in a manner ſuperſeded the common red wheat, + The form of the grain of this variety is the moſt perfect of any other we have ſeen, and from the ſhortneſs of the ſtraw, it is the beſt adapted to ſow upon rich ſoils, where there is a danger of the crop lodging. than > E e————— EEE R RS EV 2— 4 OF NORTHUMBERLAND» 67 than the ſmooth chad Kinds, and probably renders them much more liable to be affe&ted by thoſe diſeaſes which give a duſky dark ſhade to the chaff, and a ruſty cankering upon the ſtraw; as we recolle&@ few inſtances of ſmooth chafed or red wheat being troubled with this diſeaſe, of courſe the downy chaffd kinds are moſt pro- per for windy open ſituations, and the ſmooth chaffed to well ſheltered incloſed diſtriéts. The ſced is ſele(ted with great attention from the moſt perfect ſamples, and the pradice of changing ſeed is thought advantageous; for this purpoſe more or leſs new ſeed is every year imported from diſtant parts, as Kent, Effex, Huntingdonſhire, Cambridgeſhire,&c.—New ſeed is preferred to old, and that immediately after being threſhed, ratler than what has lain long in a granary. Steeping in chamberlye, and powdering with quick lime immediately after, to make it ſufficiently dry for ſowing, 1s generally praiſed; the ſmut is ſeldom ſeen where this is properly performed,* and ſome go ſo far as to ſay, that it will cure ſmutty ſeed;{—it is done by throwing the EZ wheat * In a pradtice of 40 years, the Meſſrs Culley have only had one inſtance of ſmut in their crops of wheat, and this was where the ſeed had not been feeped; and for a number of years they have not grown leſs than from four hundred to ſix hundred acres yearly. +T A field at Chillingham was ſown in 1795 with wheat, in which were a feu balls of ſmut; one-third of the ſced was ſteep- ed in chamberlye and limed; one-third ſteeped in chamberlye, dried and not limed 5; the remainder was ſown without either ſteeping or liming,‘in the harveſt of 1796; the whole had a few fraggling heads of ſmut, but appeared to be moſt in that which was unſfteeped.—Mr Thompſon, of Chillingham Barns, made a ſi- milar experiment, and had ſmut equally alike in the pickled and unpickled, but the head ridges avere conſiderably the avorft; from hence it appears that ſteeping in chamberlye is not a prevent- Ive in all caſes.—It may be proper to remark, that there are more complaints of ſmut this year, than any other we remember; in ſome places even barley was very much affe&ted.—We believe, that on examination, the ſtamina will always be found adhering to the bare ; h 2 Fh N 4) | “ | | | | | Set tir 68 AGRICULTURAL SURVEV wheat into a veſſel full of chamberlye, firring it about with a ſtrong ſtick, and ſkimming off the light grains as they appear on the ſurface; when this is done, the liquor ïs let o,(by a plug or cock at the bottom of the vefſlel) and the wheat taken out and mixed with quick limes after this, the ſooner it is ſown the better, becauſe it 1s apt to heat and ſpoil if ſuffered to continue in the ſacks,» or in large heaps; but if dried and ſpread thin on a gra- nary floor, will Keep ſeveral days. If the grain remains too long in very putrid chamber- lye, its vegetative powers will be injured; 5-or 10 mi- nutes are as long as it ſhould be ſuffered to continue. The quantity ſown, is from two to three buſhels per acre broad-caft, according to times of ſowing, nature and condition of the land,&c— Thoſe who dril at 10 or 12 inch intervals, find 13 buſh. per acre amply ſufcient« be time of ſowing, on the lands that receive a naked fummer fallow, is September and Ogtober; after drilled beans, Oftober and November z‘and after t#rnips, all thro? the winter,(as the land is cleared, and weather ſuitable,) until the middle of March.—In the year 1795, many hundred acres were ſown in Glendale Ward ſo late as the beginning of April, which was all well harveſted, and pro- duced, on an average» about 24 buſh. per acre, of excel- lent grain; in many caſes ſuperior to that ſown in the autumn: which was rather ſingular, as it is generally ex- pected that wheat ſown ſo late does not produce the grain ſo well perfected, as that which is fown earlier.—This lateneſs of ſowing was occaſioned by the ſnow lying ſo late in the ſpringe—And we are diſpoſed to think, from of ſmut, from which a ſuſpicion ariſes, that the cauſe may be ow- ing to ſome defect in thoſe parts, probably from injuries re- ceived by inſedts, weatber,&c. as We frequently find the ſame ear bearinz the moſt perfe grains alóng with grains of ſmut.— The ſame experiment was repeated in 1796, and intended to be continued for ſome years Many ES A SDE e<| OF NORTHUMBERLAND» 69 many experiments, that on thoſe light ſoils, the month of February is the beſt and ſafeſt ſeed-time for wheat, maſ- lin, and rye, of all others in the year. For ſpring ſowing, the golden ear, and the Burwell-red wheats, are preferred to all others; except where the land is in ſuch high condition as to endanger the crop lodgings then the velvet ear is uſed, as not being ſo apt to lodge, from the ſhortneſs of the ſtraw.*—The Triticum Æflivum,(Di- berian wheat,) or ſpring-wheat, was introduced and ftrong= ly recommended about twenty years fince; but wherever we have ſeen it tried, the crops have been uncertain, and produce ſmall: and tho’ this flinty kind will ripen, if (own even as late as April, or beginning of May, yet it has not been able to maintain a ſtruggle with the varieties above ſpecified, and is now totally given up- The culture whilft growing, of the broad-caft crops, con” fiſts only in hand-weeding:—Such as are drilled, are hoed once or twice, as well as hand-weeded where want= ed. Theſe hoeings not only deſtroy the weeds, but make 2 fine preparation for the clover and graſs ſeeds; which. ſeldom fail where this operation is properly performed. For drilling,—we find that ridges of 78 inches wide, arè the moſt convenient; on theſe we drill 6 or 8 rows, the horſe going in the furrow; 3 or 4 rows are depoſited on each fide; and being afterwards deeply water-furrow- ed, the land is kept much drier through the Winter, than when in broader ridges; a matter of conſiderable import- ance to a wheat crop on moiſt ſoils. * In February 1792 a field of 5 acres was ſown(after turnips) with wheat: a part with Zealand, the remainder with PVelvet- ear; the produce from the Zealand was 60 buſhels per acre, the Velvet-ear 48 buſhels, but the latter was injured by a blight, which was attributed to the moiſture hanging longer on the chaff of the Velvet-ear, than on the other; from which it appears, that even Zealand wheat may be ſown in tbe ſpring with advantage; the grain was as well perfeéted, as heavy, and ſold for as high a prices as any ſhewn in the market that ſeaſon. 8 The A CVE IZ I ET I H TP STÉ F Ra——— e———————————————— —— mr 7 R a e CES is 1 RE TAIES ROEMER ERIE E VPE a: 7 GIS 7 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Ld The produce varies confiderably, accordingto ſoils, ſeaſons, culture,&c. from 24 to 30 buſh. per acre may be taken as a fair average crop, under favourable circumſtances, as high as 50 and even óo buſh per acre ſometimes occur. The manufaëure of wheat into flour for exportation, is principally carried on at Alemouth, Waren, and a few mills near Berwick; what is done in the vicinity of Newa caſtle and other places is principally for home conſump- tion. i RYE Was formerly the principal grain grown upon all the dry, ſandy, and light ſoils; but fince the uſe of lime, and the introduction of turnips and artificial graffs, it is rare- Iy cultivated, except upon very /andy ſoils;* it is ſown aí- ter turnips or clover, from September all through the winter, till the beginning of April. The quantity ſown is about two buſhels per acre. The produce from twenty to thirty buíhels per acre. Upon lands intended for turnips next ſummer, it is frequently ſown in Auguſt and September, along with rape, as ſpring feed for ſheep, which often proves very valuable in the month of April, Manufaéure—The principal part of the rye grown in this diſtri, as well as conſiderable quantities imported from abroad, is conſumed in the ſouthern parts of the county, it being the moſt general bread of the labouring people in that quarter:— After being leavened, until it gains a confiderable degree of acidity, it is made into loaves, and baked in a large brick oven, or made into % The ſoils which formerly were occupied in growing rye are now ſo much conſolidated and improved by the uſe of lime, that they. produce abundant crops of excellent wheat; ſeveral thou- fand acres of which are now grown every year after turnips; where thirty years ſince, ſcarce a ſingle buſhel was ever produ- Ced. thick — ritmi AE E i e E e Em EES 07 NORTHUMBERLAND, 71 thick cakes, 12 or 2 inches thick, called“ ſour cakes,” and baked on the girdle:—The bread is very firm and ſo- lid, dark coloured, and retains its moiſture or jucineſs longer than any other bread we know. MASLIN (That is wheat and rye mixed) is ſown in ſome parts of the county; the preparation, guantity ſown, and pro- duce, are much the ſame as wheat; its application is for houſehold bread, for which purpoſe many people think it ſuperior to wheat alone, eſpecially when the propor- tion of rye is betwixt 7 and 5 of the whole, It has been remarked, that when wheat and rye are grown mixed in this manner, the grains of each are larg- er and more perfect than when grown fngly, without any admixture, BARLEY Ïs generally ſown after turnips:—In Glendale Ward a few farmers cultivate it in drills, with g or 12 inch inter- vals. ‘The kinds moſt commonly cultivated are, 1/. The common long ear’d barley, which being early, produétive, and beſt liked by the maltſters, is by far the moſt prevalent.—This variety is diſtinguiſhed from the next by the ſkin having a light red or purpliſh tinge a little before it is ripe, and being marked with 7 dark red lines, running longitudinally along the back of the grain, and may be called the red flroked, or dark ſkinned barley. 2d. A variety of the long ear’d barley, the awns of which drop, or are eafily ſhaken of when ripe; from the grain being ſhorter, plumper, and rounder bodied than the com- mon ſort, it is preferred by the millers for making in- to pearl barley.—This variety ripens later than the com- F 4 m0D 72“ AGRICULTURAL SURVEY mon kind; or red ſtroked batley, by near a fortnight, and is diſtinguiſhed from it by the grains being cloſer ſet, and the ſkin having a light yellowiſh tinge,- and not being marked by dark red lines; it is alfo ſhorter in the ſtraw, and may be called the ye/low, or pale-fæinned long-ear’d barley,: 23d. Battlé-doir, or ſprát-barley, is ſometimes grown, and is preferred, for Towing upon land in high condition, where there is a danger of the other kinds lodging; it is about three weeks later of ripening than the common kind. ath. Bear, bigg;, er four-rowed barley, uſed to be the'on- Iy ſpecies of barley cultivated in the county:—It is now rarely ſown, except upon râw, crude ſoils, on which it is found to'anſwer better than any other, more eſpecially if late ſown, owing to the turnips having been kept long=- er than uſual in a cold backward ſpring, for the uſe of the feeding, and ſtore ſtock. ‘The âuantity ſown is from 2 to 3 buſhels per acre broad caſt; when drilled at 9 to 12 inch intervals, it is found that from 12 to 2 buſhels per acre is ſufficient. The time of ſewing, from the beginning of April to the latter end of May. The produce, from 3o to óo buſh. per acre, Manufadurè.=—Great quantities are made into pot or fhelled barley, not only for home conſumption, but for ex- portation: In the, northern parts of the county very few corn mills are now to be found without the appendage of 2 barley mill, Barley, or barley mixed with grey peaſe or beans, is the commohñ bread of labouring people in the northern parts óf this county; previous to grinding they are mIX= él in the proportion of two parts barley, and one of peaſe “er beañs 5 afrér being ground the meal is fifted thro’ a fine LL $ ll OF NORTHUMBERLANDe«e 173 5 Sine fieve, made of wood, to take out the rough huſks and coarſe bran; it is then kneaded with water, made in- to thin znleavened cakes, and immediately baked on a girdle over.the fire. In this diſtri, barley or mixed meal, is ſeldom, if ever, Jeavened and baked in loaves. CATS Are univerſally grown throughout every part of the county z; they are ſown after every ſpecies of grain, as well as graſs or clover lea. The varieties, uſually cultivated, are, 1/. Poland oat—a variety of which, called Church's oat, from the name ot the perſon* who frft introduced them, are now in high eſtimation, and are the beſt early oat yet known forſowinguponloamy lands in good condition; they are early, very productive, and much liked by the millers, whno give two-pence per buſhel more for them than the common oat.‘This variety is known by thé grains being remarkably ſhort, large, plump, round, and well filled, and not in the leaſt tailed: a buſhel generally weighs 40 1b. 2d. The Dutch, Friezland, or Holland Oat—were al- moſt the only ſpecies of early oats grown here, before the introduction of the Church oat; they are now only grown upon dry, light lands, to which they are better adapted than the Poland oat. 3d Peebles Oat.{—A variety of common oat, but much * Mr Church firſt had them from Mr James Robſon, appren- 1 tice of Meſlrs Culley, who brought them out of Scotland, and gave Mr Church a handful; thoſe he brought to Fenton were loſt. + In ſome places ît is called the red oat, probably from. its be- ing not ſo fair as the common oat; but it is very diferent from the red oat grown in the midland counties, and ought not to be called by the ſame rame: For this reaſon we call it Peebles Oat, earlier I 74 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY earlier, has been lately introduced from Peebles ſhire, in Scotland; it is a very proper oat for hilly diſtriéts, not only for its earlineſs, but in not being eafily ſhaken by the wind: The grains are the ſmalleſt of any other oat we know; but from the very thin ſkin, it meals well, and ïs liked by the millers, and ripens nearly as early as the dutch oat. ath. Common Oat*#— is grown upon all ſuch lands as are not thought in ſufficient condition for the Poland or Dutch Kind. cth. Angus Oat.—A variety of common oat has been introduced of late years from Angus-ſhire; it is a better bodied grain than the common oat; produces more ſtraw, and anſwers very well in early ſituations. But its being later in ripening than the common oat, will militate á- gainft îts general adoption, in a country where early har- veſts are ſo defirable. This oat anſwers beyond every other, in poor, dry, rabbit- warren ſoils, from its throwing 1p ſo much ftraw 5 and on fuch ſoils ripens early enough. 6th. Tartarian Oats,—after ſeveral trials, by different people, about 20 years ſince, were given up, on account of the inferiority of the grain, and the frong reedy ftraw being of little value for fodder: We now find them cul- tivated in the midland parts of the county, on rather an extenſive ſcale, being found there more produdive than any other kind they have tried; they ſpeak of ſome crops being as high as 80 buſhels an acre; but we ſuſped theſe are under peculiarly favourable circumſtances, as we find that in compariſon with Angus oats, both grown in the fame field, in the year 1795, they produced no more than 40 buſhels per acré, tho’ eſtimated(by a ſtrong advocate for them) at near double that guantity; the Angus oats * The beſt ſeed of this kind of oatis got from Blainſley, in Scotland. Were a3 AE 0 as;©— riu a EL TET LG LR Lt OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 75 were more produdive per acre, and worth more to the millers by 3d. per buſhel, 7th. Black Oats—are ſeldom grown in this diſtrict; we do not remember ſeeing them mòre than three or four times, and then only by way of experiment. În point of earlineſs, they ſucceed each other, as claſſed above; the Angus oat being at leaſt three or four weeks later than the Poland and Dutch.| The quantity ſown in general, is ſeven buſhels per acre of the Poland, and ſix of the Dutch oats: Theſe quan- tities are neceſſary, as they do not tiller much, and are large bodied grains; but for the other kinds, we think four or five buſhels ſufficient. The time of ſowing,—is March or April, and the early kinds are ſown ſometimes as late as the middle of May. The produce of common oats is from twenty to forty buſhels per acre 5; of the Poland and Dutch, from forty to ſixty. There are ſome inſtances of ſeventy or eighty buſhels per acre, but theſe were generally attended with ſome favourable circumſtances.* On freſh land, and crude moory ſoils, oats are proba- bly the moſt profitable crop that can be ſown; old worn-e out tillage, and ſtrong clay land, are improper for pro- ducing this grain z; it being found, that in ſuch fituations, they are ſcarce worth cultivating; ſuch ſoils are much better adapted to the culture of wheat, peaſe, beans, vetches, and other leguminous crops. The Manufaëure of Oat-meal, is carried on to a con- fiderable extent, both for exportation and home conſump- tion; oat-meal being a principal article of food with the great maſs of inhabitants, not as bread, but in crozudies, or * We have been informed by a principal corn merchant in Berwick, that the oats grown in Glendale, are ſold in the Lon- don market, for Is. 6d. per quarter more than any other oafs preſented there, hafiy= 76 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY hafly-pudding,(provincially‘“ meal tail”) for breakfaft and ſupper; the former is made by pouring boiling water upon the oat-meal, and ſtirring it in with a ſtick, or ſpoon ſhank, till it be ſo very Ri, that the ſtirring implement can with difficulty be got round; it is then eaten with butter or milk: this is the breakfaſt of many of the la- bouring people, eſpecially in the ſouthern parts of the county; and with which they reckon they can work long- Er hours, than with haſty-pudding, or a breakfaſt of bread and milk. Hafly-Pudding is made by putting e gradually in- to boiling water, and ſtirring it about with a peeled ftic& (“thivel”) and letting it continue to boil in that thick=- ened ſtate, until ſuÑiciently enough, when it is taken of the fire, and poured out of the pan into pots or diſhes to cool, and then eaten with butter, or more commonly ſkimmed milk; it 1s an agreeable, nutritive, and healthy food, and is the general breakfaÆ and ſupper of the la= bouring people in the northern parts of the county. BEANS Have, time immemoria!, been- a prevailing crop upon ail the ſtrong lands in the county, eſpecially along the /ca coaſt to the ſouthward: they generally ſucceed wheat, clover, or old graſs.—The kinds cultivated, are the large and the ſmall horſe bean, and ſometimes the maZzagan 5; they are ſown in February, four buſhels and a half per acre droad caf, and never hoed: The produce very uncertain; 20 buſhels per acre a fair average droad- | crop. In this diſtri, the foil of which is fo well adapted to Cj I the growth of beans, it is ſurpriſing that drilling them ſhould be totally negleded, and that this beneficial mode of culture’ for both beans and peaſe, ſhould be confined to a R dS e e idv K 5—— E EEN OF NORTHUMBERLAND, TY a few farmers in Glendale Ward and Tweed-Side: With theſe féw theytare drilled from-3o. to 34 inches diſtance; horſe-hud or pleughed between, and hand-hoed; the crops good, and the wheat that ſucceeds, equal to that upon the ſummer fallow adjoining; We find that two or three ploughings, or horſe-hoeings between the rows, and twice hand=-hoeing in M rows, are generally ſufficient,{ft The fir horſe-hoeing, or ploughing, takes the earth from the rows, andthe ſecond turns it back again to eartli up the beans wh 1 are then in full bloom, and from 24 to 20 inches high! If the land be ſo very hard, that a plough cannot penetrate it, the horſe-hoe, deſcribed Page 41, muſt be firít uſed. Where beans are intended to be drilled, we piough the land in Autumn, immediately after the corn is of; gathering each ridge, and harrowing it lengthways; then ſet it up in one-bout ridges at 30 inches diſtance; and if the land be in ¿road high ridges, dire@ly acroſs the ridzes, water furrowing after the whole is done, and opening the hollow. intervals into the water furrows; this keeps the land dry, and expoſes the greateſt quantity of ſurface to the influence of the atmoſphere, and amelioration of frofts. If any dung or manure be intended for the fallow, we put it in the hollow intervals, and cover it by ſplitting the one-bout ridges with the plough, and drawing a harrow once over, in the direCtion of the one-bout ridges; the beans are then drilled upon them, by the drill plough, fg: 5. ple 1E Where * A field that in the ufual rotation would bave been naked fallow, was thus prepared after oats; and in February 1794 drilled at zo inches, with large horſe beans, 2 buſhels per Es the produce 425 in November, it- was drilled with wheat, 12 buſhels per acre, at 9 inch intervals, which was reaped n September following, the produce 36 buſhels per acre; in 1796 another field was drilled with beans at 32 inch- intervals, the produce 78 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Where the land is level, it may be ploughed into ridges of 66 or 78 inches wide; on the former(with the large drill, fg. 2. pl! 3.) we drill two rows of beans, and on the latter three: In the firſt caſe the horſe goes in the" furrow, and the machine drills a row on each fide of it, the diſtance of the rows 33 inches; in the latter caſe the horſe may go 9 the top of the ridge, or, what is better, two horſes may be yoked to it, ſo that one may go in each furrow.| PEASEÉ Were formerly a more general crop than at preſent; they are moſtly grown upon fuch lands as have been worn = out by running too long in ploughing.* The early and late grey pea are the only Kinds cultivated here; the latter is uſually ſown in February or March, and the for- | mer in April: three buſhels is the quantity ſown per acre, broad-caft;andthe quantity reaped depends very much on ſeaſons; no grain being ſo uncertain a crop as peaſe. A good crop is reckoned at twenty-five to thirty buſhels per acre.‘They are alſo cultivated in drills, from 12 to 18 inch intervals, and horſe and hand-hoed. Spring Tares—are grown principally for cutting, as green food for horſes, to ſupply the vacancy between the firſt and ſecond cutting of red clover, uſed for the ſame purpoſe and for the ſame intention. produce 45 buſhels per acre; and in November drilled with wheat, at 12 inch intervals: The crop in July 1797, is promiſ- ing to be at leaſt 42 buſhels per acre; and both fields are as clean, or clear of quickens, or other weeds, as any lands in the county, that were naked fallow: One of them has been under this ſyſtem for upwards of ten years. * On ſuch old tillage lands, it is found that wheat, peaſe, vetches, or tares, are the only ſpécies of grain that can be raiſed to advantage.: Winter ED we weer: mop AO E EL ESS Reitz—= OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 79 Winter Tares—have been lately introduced, and promiſe to anſwer well; both Kinds are grown upon the fallow lands, intended for wheat or late turnips:=—The winteg tares are ſown in September, and the other in March. POTATOES. Of this invaluable root, the varieties cultiviated here are very numerous, and frequently changing; many of the kinds that were formerly in repute, being now in a manner loſt; as the ¿rue Kidney, the rough aubite, the blood red, the tawny,&c; and their places ſopplied by others- For the Table, the ſorts moſt in repute at preſent, are three or four different Kinds of long whites; one of which having a red end, is called red- ſnout, or red-neb; and ſeveral ſorts of round whites, and the bink-eye, or red ſtreak, which is a late potatoe, and the beſt for eating in the ſpring, of any we knowz;—ict is frequently uſed till the beginning of July. For Stock, the principal kinds uſed are, the champion and the d/ack-a-moor, or black-potatoe. They are generally cultivated in drills, from 232 to 40 inches diſtances whole potatoes are ſeldom or never uſed for ſets, but cut into pieces, containing one or two ſprouts or eyes. Theſe are planted about 12 inches diſtance, in the bottom of the drill, the dung laid upon them, and the ſoil turned upon the whole, by the plough ſplitting the one-bout ridges. They are Kept clean by hand-hoeing, and ploughing between the drills; and 2s the ſtems advance in height, they are earthed up by a common, or double mould board plough, with which im- plements they are frequently taken up, by ſplitting the drills in which they grow, and the roots gathered by wo- men and children, They. ES mEs zs I, -— Aer irn—>= SEA e ias IE epr LT— te Lt Ea 60 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY They are ſeldom grown for the uſe of ſtock, except for- and horſes, to which they are given raw,* after the rate of R ge two pecks per day each‘horſe, and found very uſeful in| 1 the ſpring,(when the ſtraw and hay become dry) and are| 01 ſerviceable for preventing greaſe or other diſorders, by mo! keeping the horſes cool and open: They are ſometimes up0I given toe cattle and ſheep in the ſpring, when a ſcarcity of| At turnips prevails,| ud The-mode of preſerving them thro’ the winter, is by lay-| gant ingthem in heaps, upon apiece of dry ground, and cover= ten ing them with fraw‘6 or 8 inches thick, and over the the ftraw another cover of ſoil about a foot thick; which foil 1s td 1 got by making a ditch from 12 to 18 inches deep round mel * the heap: A bed. of ſtraw-(ould be laid at the bottom. ali fel TURNIPS e eact Have not been uſed inthis county as food for ſupport-| gul ing cattle and‘ſheep, much above feventy- years;} for nip this purpoſe they were úrſt grown in the northern parts| te of the countyz it is but’ of late years they Have been cul- N tivated on part of Tyne-fñde.|(ed Fhe varietiès,—are the Green Top, the Red Top, and nti the Whité Top; which laſt, is by far the moſt genera put me the * The praficeof preparing potatoes by ſteam, has not yet taken place in this county; we believe it would’ be ¡a material m2 improvements.: +7 Mr Edward Niſbet, who is now near go years of age, 1aYyss that it is bavards of 70 years ſince MrProctor,: the proprietor of| 25 Rock, brought Andreav Willey, a. gardener, to cultivate turnips af' Rock, for the purpoſe of-feeding cattle; that Willey afterwards ſettled at Leſbury as a gardener, and was employed fon many years to ſow turnips for all the neighbourhood, and bis buſineſs this# way was ſo great, he“ was obliged-to ride ánd ſow, that he 1 e might-diſpateh the greater quantity: The praQice of hoeing Was any 1 alſo introduced at this time, fipe and; turn è Ze Fietbiiäiitiininani E E TEEN NES> CEN for € rate of aſeful in and are lers, by Netimeg rcity of y lays cover er the h(oil 1s ) round tom, 1pporte ¡+ for parts 1 Cul- , and neral not yet natetlal ge, Ry rietor o! rnips at errards 17 jears els this hat he 1g 088 and c OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 8ST; and in the greateſt repute, being ſuperior to the others in ze and ſweetneſs. There is a ſmall hard white kind, preferred by ſome on account(it is ſaid) of ſtanding the winter better than mot others, but it dozs not grow near ſo large a quantity upon an acre, At their úrſt'introduGion they were ſown broad-caſt, and hoed by gardeners and other men, at extrava- gant wages. The late ingenious Mr Iiderton, about twenty-ſeven years ſince, had the merit of firſt reducing the price of hoeing, by teaching boys, girls, and women, to perform the work equally as well, if not better,-than r men.“he mode he took was fimple and ingenious: By a light plough, without a mould-board, he divided the field into ſmall ſquares of egual magnitude, and dire(ted the boys and girls to leave a certain number of plants in each ſquare.‘ In a ſhort time they became accurate, re= gular, and expert hoers; and in a few years all the tur- nips of the country were hoed by women and boys, at half the expence, and better than by men. The preſent mode of drilling turnips was firſt introdus- ced into this county about the year 17805; the advantages with which it is attended have ſo far recommended the pradtice, that very few are now ſown broad-caſt;* and as we think it is an operation that may be ſerviceable in 0= ther diſtriés, we ſhall be more particular in deſcribing the manner of performing it. The land being made fine, prepared,&c. as in the broad-caſt method, the ploughman draws his firſt farrow as ftraight as poſible. In returning he keeps his far fide *# The broad-cafſt culture of turnips în the northern parts of the county, for many years previous to this, was not inferior to any we ever ſaw; and iñ reſped to accurate, regular, clean hoeings fuperior to what we ever obſerved in Norfolk, Suffolk, or other turnip diftri&s, which we have frequently examined, G horſe e a_i—= A < E- G Gs R—— Er: T6- lf RD— DIERA TR TEA EE——————————— 82 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY horſe in the new made furrow, and his plough at ſuch æ diſtance as to form a one-bout ridge like A; by pro- ceeding in this manner, the land, when finiſhed, will ap- pear thus: AAAAAAAA: The diſtance of thefe little ridges is from twenty-ſeven to thirty inches. A leſs dif- tance does not admit of ploughing be:ween the drills. The next operation is ſpreading the dung; which 1s performed by a cart going down every third or fifth fur- row, and laying the dung in ſmall heaps; women and boys follow with ſmall three-pronged fo ks, and fpread it evenly in the bottom of three or five furrows, that is, the one where the dung is dropped from the cart, and thoſe on each fide of it: this done, the ploughman ſplits the one-bout ridges before raiſed, and covers up the dung ex- aly in the middle; bur before the ſeed can be ſown, theſe laſt formed one-bout ridges reguire to be flattened at the top, by a ſmall roller that flattens two ridges at once. Upon the top, and exadly in the middle of theſe flattened ridges, the ſeed is depoſited by one or two drill machines, tied to the roller by a rope ſix or ſeven feet long; at which diſtance they follow the roller, each ma- chine being guided by a man,* When finiſhed, the work appears in this form: S Ol EP CLAGLAD S = | SELE LE a D PD DD Where S repreſents the ſeed, and D the dung diredly under it, which is wholly employed in promoting thé ve=- getation of the turnips. The roller is drawn by one horſe, driven by a boy. Setting up the ridg Far ſeed, the turnips of the beſt form are ſele&ed and tranſplanted in the month of October, November, or De= \ere cember, into 2a piece of ground properly prepared to re- fb- ceive them; in July or Auguſt following it is generally las reaped, tied up in ſheaves, and when dry, put into a Zong eds, flack, where it is kept through the winter, and threſhed eld, out in April or May. da), The trouble of ſelecting and tranſplanting is ſometimes O diſpenſed with; but the ſeed raiſed in this manner is ſold for one-half or one-third the price of the tranſplanted 41, zn* The fields into which the turnips are led to be eaten, are es fuch as are intended to be ploughed up next year for wheat or 5 UP= oats:—Thus every field in rotation reaps the benefit of having O ps turnips eaten upon it, which we find much preferable to the rew; Syſtem of eating them upon the field where they grow. E G3 ſeed; \hen 86 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY ſeed; that is, when the tranſplanted ſeed is ſold for 15. per Ib. the other is ſold for 4d. or 6d. The produce is very variable, being ſubje&t to many caſualties.— The average crop may be reckoned about 209 buſhels, or half a ton per acre— Lhe land ſhould be g00od, and well manured after the crop 5 as we find the ſoil much impoveriſhed by it. — gs, meſo, 1 E CBE Sn AES SUT Lg UTD Epa HLS TORE OF DRILLED TURNIPS, TO trace uſeful diſcoveries from their origin, through their various ſtages of improvement, is in moſt cales both uſeful and entertaining; and teaches us nor to deſpair, though our firſt attempts may be unſucceſsful; but rather hope, that by perſeverance, and varying modes and cir- cumſtances, we ſhall at laſt attain the objet ſought for. The method of cultivaiuing turnips, deſcribed above, is an encouraging inſtance of this obſervation:—as we find that Mr Tull firſt cultivated turnips at three feet diſtance;— for in his EMy on the Principles of Tillage and Vegeta= tion, under the article Turnips, page 96, he ſays,“ W hen I drilled upon the level* at three feet intervals, a trial was made between thoſe turnips, and a field of the next neighbour's, ſown broad-caſt ac the ſame time, whereof * Tt is impoſſible to hoe-plough them ſo well when planted upon the level, as when they are planted upon ridges 5 for if we plough deep near-to the row, the earth will come over on the left fide of the plough, and bury the young turnips z but when they ſtand on ridges, the earth will almoſt all fall down on the right fide into the furrow, in the middle of the interval.” the q OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 87 the hand-hoeing-coft ten ſhillings per acre, and had not quite half the crop of the drilled; both being meaſured by the buſhel, on purpoſe to find the difference.* « Drilled turnips, by being no where but in the rows, may be more eafily ſeen that thoſe which come up at ran- dom; and may therefore be ſooner fTingled out by the tand-hoe, which is another advantage, becauſe the ſoon- er Þ they are ſingled out the becter they will thrive. Page 98 « We need not be very exact in the number or diſ tance} we ſet them out at; we contrive to leave the maſ- ter turnips(when there is ſo much difference in them) and(pire ſuch when near one another, and leave the more ſpace before and behind them; but if there be three maſ= ter turnips together, we take out'the middlemoſt. Page 100. «““ Dung and tillage together will always attain the ne- ceſſary degree of pulverization in leſs time than plough- ing can do alone; therefore dung is more uſeful for tur= nips, becauſe they have commonly leſs time to grow than other plants. Page 102. c“| have had great crops of turnips in rows three feet aſunder, and much greater than I could ever obtain from * ét And I have fince found that turnips on the ſame land plant- ed on ridzes, with fix foot intervals, make a crop double to thoſe that are planted on the level, or even on ridges with three feet intervals,’ +“ The ſooner they are made fingle the better; but yet when they are not very thick. they may(tand till we have the beſt con- venience of flugling them without much damage; but when they come up extraordinary thick. it will be much more difficult to make them ſingle, if they are negleded at their very firſt coming into rough leaf.” Ï“The diſtance need not be regular; for when a turnip has ſix inches of room on one fide, and eighteen on the other, it 1s almoß as well as 1f there was one foot on cach fide?” G4 rOWs 38 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY rows thirty inches aſunder. But one reaſon why I like ſix foot rows better is, that the largeſt turnips are beſt for oxen; and are pulled up and loaded with the leaſt expence.—I find that the leaſt competent number will (céteris paribus) always be the'largeſt.“ Preface, page ix. « Several lands of turnips, drilled on the level of three foot rows, ploughed and doubly dunged, and alſo horſe- hoed, did not produce near ſo good a crop of turnips as ſix foat rows adjoining, horſe hoed, though no dung had béén theréon for many years. “There was no other difference, than that the three foot rows did not admit the hoe-ploush to raiſe half the ar- tificial paſture as the fix foot rows did. The dung plough- éd into the narrow intervals before drilling, could oper- áâte no farther with any great efffedt, than the hoe-plough could turn it up, and help it in its pulverization.” From theſe excrads it appears, that Mr Tull cultivated türnips in rows, not only on the level, but on the tops, of two and a half and three feet ridges, and both horſe and händ-hoed, às at preſent; but whether be put dung in the bottom of thoſe ridges is not ſo clear, from the ex- preflion,“the dung ploughed into the narrow intervals béfore drilling.” Tt is unfortunate that this ingenious gentleman, to ſupport a whimfical theory, ſhould not al- low that dung was of any other uſe in vegetation, than in pulverizing the ſoil; though he is obliged to admit, that for cabbages, turnips, carrots, and potatoes, it will mâle the crops greater, and the cattle will like them never the worſe,* But his diſciples entertained juſter notions of the pro- pértïés and value of dung to neglect it, as will appear in the ſequel, We are informed by a gentleman who went to diret the management of an eſtate in Dumtriesfhire, in 17695 * Page 47. 5 i 14 cn m E————— i————— n AEZ BE i LA E E, e, OF NORTHUMBERLAND-. 39 that Mr Craik, of Arbigland, near Dumfries, had then drilled turnips betwixt twenty and thirty years; by tak- ing the medium, his firſt beginning would be about 1745. "ſhe mode he purſued was as follows:—In the Autumn, as ſoon as the corn crop was of, he ploughed his land in- to two-bout ridges, in which fate it continued all winterz next ſpring theſe ridges were ploughed, and harrowed until ſufficiently pulverized, and at laſt ſplit to make a o, which was cover- hollow furrow far depoßting the dung, ed in by the plough going twice about, making a ridge near four feet wides then this two-bout ridge was har- rowed, a fingle-wheel drill, turning round a héliow cylin- der of tin with holes in it, depoſited the ſeed diredtly over the dung: the drill had a ſmall roller behind to cover in the ſeed, and was drawn by one horſe. When the plants were ready for hoeing, they were ſet out at ten or twelve inches diſtance one from another, in the rows; and the intervals ploughed betwéen through the Summer, as oft- en as neceſlary. From this place it is probable that the praCice had tra- velled into Cumberland; for in the year 1755, Philip Howard, Eſg. of Corby, firſt cultivated turnips in that county; in drills with four feet intervals; finding the diſ tance too wide, he reduced it to two feet, and continued it for ten years before it was followed by the farmers, who now purſue the ſame made with little variation, except that they make the diſtance of the intervals about twenty ſeven inches. The one-bout ridges, in which the dung is depoſited, are here called fitches, and are flattened at the top by drawing a piece of wood over them,-in- ſtead of a roller or a harrow,| bout the year 1756, or 1757, Mr Pringle, formerly a ſurgeon in the army, who had an eftate near Coldſtream, in Berwickſhire, was the firſt perſon in that neighbour- hood who cultivated turnips in this manner; His drills were 92 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY were at three feet and a half diſtance. Mr Coax, a ſerjeant, whom Mr Prinvle brought home with him for a ſervant, fays, that his maſter took his hints from Mr Tull’s book, and that he alſo drilled all his corn crops, until he had overcome the annual weeds. Mr William Dawſon, who was well acquainted with the turnip culture in England, having been purpoſely ſent to refide in thofe difriéts for fix or ſeven yezrs where the beſt cultivation was purſued, wiih an intention not only of ſeeing, but of making himſelf maſter of the manual ope- rations, and of every minutia in the pradtice, was convinc- ed of the ſuperiority of Mr Pringle’s mode over every 0- ther he had ſeen, either in Norfolk or elſewhere; and in 1762, when he entered to Frogden Farm, near Kelſo, in Roxburghfſhire, he immediately adopted the practice up- on a large ſcale, to the amount of 100 acres yearly. He began by drilling at three feet diſtance; but a few years after, trying various widths of intervals, he re- duced it to two feet and a half, which he ftill con- tinues. As far as we have been able to obtain informa- tion, he was the firſt that uſed a roller for flattening the tops of the one-bout ridges. It may not be improper to remark, that Mr Pringle purfued this mode for ſeveral years, yet none of his neigh- bours followed the example; but no ſooner did Mr Daw=- ſon(an a@ual farmer) adopt the ſame ſyſtem, than it was «immediately followed, not only by feveral farmers in his vicinity, but by thoſe very ſarmers adjoining Mr Pringle, whoſe crops they had ſeen for ten or twelve years lo much ſupérior to their own. It is alſo deſerving of notice, that when Mr Dawſon ſettled at Frogden, the whole of that diſtri& was under the moſt wretched ſyſtem of cultivation, and the farmers unacquainted with the value of turnips, es, and lime. At firſt his pradtice met with artificial graf many Opponents, and was ridiculed by ¿he old, the ignor= an OF NORTHUMBERLAND YL ant, and the prejudiced; but his ſuperior crops and pro- fits ſoon made converts:‘The practice in a few years be= came general; and this diſtrié is now amongſt the. beſt cultivated in the kingdom, the land trebled in value, and the aſpedt of the country greatly improved. Itis a pleaſing reflection, that the example and exertions of one man has been capable of producing ſo great, ſo laſting, and ineftimable benefits; and it is more than probable, that this mode of cultivating turnips would have died a- way with Mr Pringle, and the pradtice been loft to this diſtrict, had it not been for the diſcernment and intelli- gence of this individual, We remember ſeeing, about twenty-five years ſince, turnips cultivated in this manner, by Mr Chriſtopher Ben- ſon, of stainſby. near Ripley, in Yorkſhire, an ingenious gentleman, and great advocate for drilling, and who had drilled all his corn crops for many years: His nephew, Mr Donkin, informs us, that he had cultivated turnips in this manner, more than twenty years before this, which will be prior to thè year 1750. In Mr Benſon's practice deſcribed by himſelf, in De Hunter's Georgical Eſſays, page 379, the ſeed is drilled upon the dung, and that and the ſeed covered together, by harrowing acroſs the ridges:* In this paper he very properly ſums up the advantages cf this mode of cultivat= ing turnips; he obſerves,“ the ſeed being placed upon the moilt dung, will vegetate early in all circumſtances of the weather; and the manure being well covered, will be ſecured from evaporation in the hoteſt ſeaſons: The turnips being placed immediately over the manure, have a ready paflage by means of their tap roots, into rich bed of nutriment, which will accelerate their growth, and in creaſe their ſize. As the crop grows upon ridges, with a * His nephew ſays‘“ the dung and ſeed were covered in by a double mould-board plough ſet wide, and then harrowed.” trench 92 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY trench‘on each fide, it is obvious that the turnips will re= main dry in the wetteſt ſeaſons, a circumſtance of the ut- moſt utility: To thoſe advantages we may add, the douba ling of the fail, which I conſider as an important article in all ſituations where the FfSaple of the land happens to be 1:11 From a review of the whole it appears, that the pre- ſent mode of cultivating turnips, by drilling in rows at two feet and two feet and a half diſtance, had occurred to diferent people in diferent parts, who all, at firſt, began according to Mr Pull’s dire@Æions, with the addition of dung put in the bottom of the ridge; and after trying various width of intervals, found that the beſt and moſt convenient diſtance was from twenty-four to thirty inchesz but it is very clear that Mr Tull is the root from whence this excellent praëtice firfl originated, This mode of cultivating turnips, is now ſpreading far and wide, with great rapidity; beſides this county, it is alſo the general pradice of Roxburghſhire and Berwick- ſhire, and has been lately adopted by the beſt cultivators in various diſt-i(ts of Scotland, as well as different parts of England; among which the county of Norfolk will par- ticularly profit by it, as a firſt-rate cultivator who holds 2 large farm in that county, has procured the proper appara- tus from hence, and ſent his ſon to be inftrudted inthe diferent operations; it has alſo found its way into Dor- {etſhire; we had the pleaſure of ſeeing it praiſed with and to the farmers of Devonfíhire, it has been particularly recommended, as the beft ſyſtem known, by the cele- brated Mr Marſhall, who has minutely examined, and is well acquainted with the agriculture of the greateſt part f the kingdom*— And the Prefident of the Board adds, * This Gentleman has publiſhed the Rural Economy of Nor- LK, Ÿ England,&Cc- ME EE that Yorkſhire, Midland Countics, Glouccfteríhire, the Weſt of' - OF NORTHUMBERLAND« 92 that this gentleman informed him, that the beſt cultiva- tors, and moſt intelligent farmers he had ever ſeen, were thoſe who practiſed this ſyſtem on Tweed-fide. SECT. 5.— Crops nt commónly cultivated. Ruta Baga—has been ttied by a few; but not ſo long as is neceſſary to draw any poſitive conclufons reſpecting its comparative merits With us, it is not near ſo valua=« ble as the common turnip. Hares are remarkably fond of it, and will not touch the other turnips while there is one of theſe in the field. Î Rape—is ſeldom grown for ſeed, and perhaps not ſo often for ſheep as it ought, on lands improper for turnips, Upon lands that have grown early oats, and are intended for fallow next year, it is ſometimes ſown in September, as ſpring ſeed for ſheep, to ſupply the vacancy between turnips and clover. For this purpoſe a little rye is ſown along with it. Cabbages— were cultivated, but gave way again to tur= nips z it being thought that the latter anſwer as good a purpoſe, and are obtained with leſs trouble. Carrots—have been freguently tried; but have hither- to made little or no progreſs, probably from the great trouble attending their cultivation, compared with pota- toes; which in ſome meaſure anſwer the ſame intention as food for horſes. Flax—was formerly cultivated in ſmall guantities for family uſe, but is now in a great meaſure given up; it hav- ing been found, that land which had grown flax was ſo much impoveriſhed, as to require an extra manuring, be- fore it could be brought to the ſame ſtate of fertility as the reſt of the field,/ Woad,( l/atis Tinétoria.)}=This plant, the leaves of which 94d AGRICULTURAL SURVEY which are ſo uſeful in dying,* is cultivated at Newdburn only, on the banks of the Tyne, by Meflrs Rait, Pollock, and Dun. The ground is ploughed with a deep furrow before Winter, and male as fine as poſſible againſt Aptil, in which month it is ſown,'at the rate of 6 buſhels per acre, broad.caft; in about a fortnight after it makes its appear- ance above ground, particular care is taken to keep it clear of weeds, which is done by boys and girls from 10 to 14 years of age;+ who have each a ſpade about ç inches long and 4 inches broad, which they uſe with one hand to dig up the weeds, and with the other gather them; this'pro- ceſs is repeated two or three times before cropping; which is done by wringing off rhe leaves of the plant with their hands, and putting them in baſkets.—The frft crop is generally gathered the latter end of July; the ſecond, the laſt week in September, and the third in November; but this is only from off ſuch parts where the ſecond crop was gathered firſt: Tt is carried from the feld in carts to the mill, where it is ground into a green paſte, and made into balls about 3 inches diameter, when it is ſet upon ranges under ſheds to dry. which is done in two or three weeks 5 after this ît is put into the houſe or pen, and Kept till all the fields are gathered, and afterwards manufactured} SECT. * Tt is not only much uſed by dyers for its ¿lue colour, but alſo for the baſis of many other colours. It was with the juice of this plant that the ancient Britons fiained their bodies, to make them appear more terrible to their enemies, + Two workers to an acre, from the beginning of April to De= cember, is the general allowance, |‘Mr Rait, in a letter to the Preſident, ſlates, that he had dif- covered that indigo might be made frora the juice that is preſſed out by the mill, in manufa@uring the leaves; but it ſeems he has not yet accompliſhed it, as in a iubſequent letter he ſays,“ my views upon the' whole of, this buûúneſs terminate in one of two points; the frft is to have the particles of colour ſeparated e ; the OF NORTHUMBERLAND, «D “4 SECT. 6.— Corn HBarvefl. The Corn Harveft—in the vale of Till, and upon Tyne- ide near Hexham, frequently begins the firſt week in Auguſt; while upon the cold backward foils and tituations, oats will be often uncut the latter end' of OCtober, or be- ginning of November; but the moſt general harveft is in Deptember, Moſt of the corn is cut with fickles, by wo- men; ſeven of whom, with a man to bind after them, generally reap two acres per day—Oats and barley are ſometimes mown. Wheat is ſet up in ſtooks of twelve ſheaves each; oats and barley are(‘‘gated,”’) ſet up in fingle ſheaves; and when dry. bound tight at the bottom, and led home, or fet up in ſtooks often ſheaves each.‘The ſtacks are moſt- Iy round; but ſome of ihe beſt farmers ſet up their barley and wheat in long narrow ftack<, which keep the corn much better and dryer: And the pradtice of placing corn upon ſtone pillars, with a cap or cover over them(to keep out the mice) and a frame of wood over all, is gaining ground, and cannot be too much recommended, as it not only prevents the mice getting to it, but keeps the corn dry and airy: It is an excellent method for grain that is to be kept until Summers and one principal advantage is, 4 that wheat may be led from the field and ſect upon thoſe ftands almoſt as ſoon as reaped— They are made both round and oblong, but moſt of the latter. the liquor, and made a marketable article by itſelf, as indigo 1s; failing of that, to apply it to the uſe of vats, along with the li- quer or juice, in which it is in the moſt improved Rate we can arrive ât.?? CHAPTER E E——————————— GE 96 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Nat along CHAPTER PII. and 0 GRAs5s. an 0x \ thro|! C4414 4D dr puppe: pe] the W SEcT. 1.— Natural ÎAfeadows and Pofiures. for at : in g00d N HAT is generally underſtood by atural meadows» ting cat are ſuch lands as are overflowed by rivers, and produce a| ciently crop of hay every year, without any returns of manure 7| Ä Of this deſcription of meadows we have very few in this| county; what are called meadows here, are ſuch old graſs lands as are employed for growing hay almoft every year, 4 the greateſt part of which are uplands: To enable them| 0 to ſtand this ſevere-exopping, they are, or ought to be,|(trj manured on the ſurface, every third or fourth year: ¡€| thele this operation be neglected, they impoveriſh very faſt. 8 Where they cannot conveniently be dunged as above, they with are depaſtured one year, and mewn the other z or, what is\ LA better, depaſtured two.years, and mown the third; the Jh produce, from-1 to 1 tons Per acre; a fair croþ; the 0ne(0 aftermath{or“ Foo) 1s frequently let from Ioto 15| ve thi ſhillings per acre, and is moſtly conſumed in fattening inthe oxen and cows. ing Nh Lands that are intended for meadow, are fc freed” Y (from being depaſtured with any kind of ſtock) at differ- Moti ent times in the{pring, from the beginning of April to: Pôrt the middle of May, as beſt luits the convenience of the| bf y occupier; particular attention 1s paid to the mole-hills,| the dung,&c. being“ fraled,"* and the ſtones and other| Pour matters that might obſtruét the operations of the ſcythes:| Whe are carefully gathered of. acre 3 * Spread abroad, L| i Natural bdo | / — 2< llm i Zi E H ES”/ Dye:- N E e———= LS EE OF NORTHUMBERLAND« 97 Natural Paftures, or old graſs land, are moſt prevalent along the ſea coaft, theſe are depaſtured with both ſheep and oxen; the general mode of ſtinting being two acres to an oxy, and the ſame quantity of ground to 8 or 10 ſheep, thro’ the Summer, and from 1 to 2 ſheep per acre thro” the Winter; the latter are either the fore flock, or ewes for‘at lambs.—Sometimes Cheviot wethers 32 years old in good condition, are put in thoſe paſtures after the fat ting cattle are taken out, and pay well if they get ſufi- ciently fat to be ſold to the butchers about Chriſtmas. + SECT, 2— Artificial Graſſer 3 The Artificial Graſſes moſt commonly cultivated in this county are, red clover,(irifolium pratenſe,) white clover, (tri‘lium repens,) and ray-graſs( lelium perenne:) with theſe ſome people mix rib-grafís(plantago lanceolata) and upon ſandy ſoils, hop-medic*(medicago lupulina) is ſown with ſucceſs.—Few of theſe grafies are ever grown alone, except red clover, when intended to continue only one year; and even then, a ſmall portion of ray-graſs(from one to three gallons per acrêé) 1s generally ſown with it, we think with much propriety, as it not only comes early in the ſpring, but thickens the crop, and facilitates mak= ing the clover into hay. í But when land is intended to continue for three or more years in graſs, they are generally mixed in the pro- portion of eight or ten pounds of red clover, four pounds bf white clover, and half a buſhel of ray-grafſs per acre: to the above quantities are ſometimes added three or four pounds of rib-graſs, and hop=-médic, as the ſoil ſuits. When red clover 1s grown alone, 10 or‘12 pounds an acre are ſown upon dry friable ſoils, and from 14 to 18 * This in ſome places is called hop-trefoil, a name properly belonging to a very different plant, viz,.—Trifolium agrarium. H pounds 99 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY pounds upon ftrong loams or clays. They arc ſown in wards!| March, April, and May, upon lands fallowed thé ſummez| cattle b preceding for wheat, or turnips ſucceeded by barley, ſwelled, and ought always to be harrowed in, as well as rolled. ge0ns It Harrowing is particularly necéflary upon ftrong lands after bei growing wheat; and acroſs the ridges is the beſt mode of fide) one performing the operation. We find, that where corn is fie thro drilled, and the intervals hoed, it pulverizes the ſoil, and qnd relie makes the fineſt preparation for graſs ſeeds of all others: again ake where this is properly done, and harrowed once acrofs,‘Meh after the ſeeds are ſown, they ſeldom or never miſs; long| os Y experience having proved, that nothing requires a finer Îhe tilth than clover and graſs ſeeds:— Upon the beſt ſoils, fold-ya the clover and ray-graſs mixed, are generally ready riod to depaſture with fat ſheep by the beginning of April, and e from May, through the Summer, will carry fix or eight Wi ſheep per acre, according to the luxuriance of the crop N and fertility ofthe ſoil; the ſecond and remaining yearss n they are depaſtured by the ſtore flock. Theſe paſtures u are frequently mown when the ray-graſs begins to flow=- fherf er, which not only increaſes the bottom graſs, but a I, ala quantity of excellent hay is obtained, of confiderable| M e i| imi When the clovers are not depaſtured, but kept for hay, ude they are generally mown about the latter end of June z A the average produce about 2 tons per acre. The ſecond+ Y dui crop is rarely cut for hay, but depaſtured by cattle or: ſmall ſheep, chiefly the latter: When cattle are put into a freſh Crops clover‘“‘fog,” eſpecially in wet weather, they ſometimes In hove, by the ſudden fermentation of the clover; to pre- the pi vent this inconvenience, cattle are put upon it in the mid- i ſoil an dle of the day, when it is free from dew or any moiſture, ments they being firſt filled with natural graſs, which hinders Juf cor them from eating ſo greedily, as if put on hungry; if the Ul Obey clover once paſs, they feldom take any harm after- that th z wards; 3 leer OF NORTHUMBERLAND, 99 wards: by uſing this precaution, we have not had any cattle hoven, for ſeveral years.— When very much ſwelled, an inſtrument is uſed,(fimilac to that uſed by ſur= geons in tapping for the dropſy) it is ſo contrived, that after being thruſt in between the hip and rib,(on the near fide) one patt pulls out, while a tube remains in the ori= fice, thro’ which an amazing quantity of fetid air eſcapes, and relieves the animal; but they are very apt to hove again afterwards. We have heard of hoven aattle being relieved, by giv- ing them an egg ſhell fall of tar. The pradtice of keeping horſes in the houſe, ſheds, or fold-yards, all Summer, upon cut clover, tares,&c, was introduced into this county, about the year T7705<16AS now generally adopted by the beſt farmers, who find their horſes thrive better; are cheaper Kept than depaſ- turing at large; and alſo, that a quantity of manure 1s gained by this means, which otherwiſe would have been in a great meaſure loſt, or of very little uſe; as the dung of horſes, when dropped in paſtures, is moſtly deſtroyed by inſets, in the Summer ſeaſon.—An acre of good clo= ver uſed in this manner, will keep from 2 to 3 horſes, from the beginning of June till the end of Odtober, a= bout 20 weeks. Saintfain, Lucern, and Chicory, have been tried on a ſmall ſcale, but do not ſeem to come into general uſe; the crops of clover being thought more valuable.| In order to draw any fair comparative value between the produce of old graſs lands and artificial graſles, the ſoil and fituation ought to be exactly alike, and experi- nents accurately condudted; for want of ſuch data, no juſt conclußons can be made; but we believe, that genera al obſervation and experience have eſtabliſhed an opinion, that the ſame lands which in a ſtate of old graſs carried 3 ſheep an acre, will, for the firſt year of.clover and ray- H 2 graſs, 4 heap| I00 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY; ends of graſs, depaſture 5 or 63; on rich, old grazing paftures, the* cocks 0 difference will probably not be ſo great, and what they| vih fall ſhort in Summer, will be made up by their ſuperiority orer tl in Winter z on clayey ſoils, it would certainly be a dan=- ed, on gerous experiment to convert thoſe rich grazing paſtures ſhould: into tillage, as a certain portion of ſuch is a valuable ac- moves quißtion to every farm; but they are ſo rarely ſcattered, qná eat that few farms are ſo fortunate as to enjoy ſo deſirable an Wher appendage. han| SecT. 3.— Hay Harveft. ch WEED The hay harveſt is ſeldom begun before the middle of Li June, The mowers cut from half an acre to three quar=- e ters a day, and that very ill; the hay-makers are equally cedh indolent and inaQive. After the graſs is cut it is by ſome fl tedded, ftrewed, or ſpread abroad, and repeatedly turned ſucer till dry;* others, the day after it has been tedded ox O ſtrewed, put it into foot cocks(wappings) which can vifs ſcarcely be too ſmall;(if the weather keeps dry it 1s 192 two days more, put into large cocks;) if the weather AE E gether proves wet, we know no mode by which it will ſave bet- y ter, or waſte the ſmell leſs, as the rain pafles thro’ them, a and a ſmall quantity of air or ſun dries them again, or M they are eaſily turned over.—In either mode, when ſuffi- ad ciently dry, it is put into ricklets(provincially pikes) of ia about half a ton each in the field; which ſtand there for da two, three, or more weeks, until a convenient opportuni- the ty offers for leading them home, to be put into one large do ſtack. In theſe ricklets, the hay takes a firſt ſweating, which prevents its heating when put into larger maſſes. For the purpoſe of drawing it together to be put into( pikes, or ricklets, it is either cocked, or put into large(BO A * We never ted or ſtrew clover when mown, but turn it în the j ſwathe, with the head of the rake, backward and forward, until tad it be fit to put into large cocks, or pikes, which we prefer to every other mode we have ſeen, as it preſerves the leaves Upon the clover much better than when ftrewed abroad. heaps 3, the* they lotty | dan tures A9 red, : an Île of quar qually ſome irned ad or h can 15 in ther et- hem, 1, 0 {uff e) of ere fOr ortuni- e largé eating) allés, t into large tin the |, until eſer t0 g upol heaps OF NORTHUMBERLAND, IO heaps, which are trailed in by one horſe, yoked to the ends of a long rope, put round the bottoms of thoſe cocks or heaps; upon the hind part of which, a boy gets with his feet, to keep it down, and prevent its flipping over the top of the hay; when arrived at the place want- ed, one end of the rope is taken of the hook at the horſes ſhoulder, and being thus looſened at one end, the horſe moves forward, when the rope draws thro*-under the hay andá leaves it.; When the hay is neither put into cocks, nor large heaps, but remains in a thick row,t is then n ecellary to uſe two horſes, viz.:—One yoked to each’end of a ftrong {weeping ropes; and two perſons to get upon the rope with their feet, one on each fide the row, who reſt with their arms upon the hay, and ſp forward on the rope as the hay gathers. To prevent the hay from flipping off behind, a ſmall cord is faſtened to the hind part of the ſweeping rope; and extended to each perſon's hand, which they let out as they ſtep forward, or find other= wiſe neceſſary. By either of the above modes, the hay grown upon a field of 8 or 10 acres may be drawn to- gether in a few hours, and is much more expeditious than either ſledges or carts. When the large ſtack is made in the field, the“ Pikes,” are drawn to it, by putting a ſtrong rope round their bot- tom, the two ends of which are faſtened to the hind part of a cart, in which are yoked 3 or 4 horſes.— This faves the trouble of forking and loading them in carts, and is done in much leſs time. SECT. 4— Feeding. Oxen,—are moſtly grazed in the eaſtern part of the county, and a few in the vicinity of Whittingham; they are bought' in May or June, and ſold as they become ready, to ſupply the large fleets of colliers and other trad-« H 3 ing IO2 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY ing veſlels belonging to Newcaſtle, Shields, Sunderland, Hartley, and Blythe. Dome few graziers buy only ſuch oxen as are forward by having got turnips in the Spring: theſe genetally go of in June, and are followed by cows, heifers, or Kyloes;* of which, thoſe that do not get fat on the paſ- ture, to be ſold thro’ the Suminer, are put upon fogs (aftermaths) and ſold in November and December. The cows are alſo bought in the ſpring months, and are chief- Iy uſed for home conſumption. The kyloes are bought at Falkirk-Tryfſts,(““meetings”)or at Newcaſtle Fair, in the Autumn, and wintered upon coarſe, rough ground or fraw:(ſometimes a few turnips are given in the Spring) and are ſold all thro? the Summer, as they become fit for the butcher, to ſupply Newcaſtle and other markets, Thoſe that are ready to go of in June, always leave the moſt profit; beef being frequently ſold at that ſeaſon for a ſhilling a ftone more than the ordinary prices. The profit of grazing, like all other fpeculations, varies with circumſtances; but we believe we may venture to a- verage it at Zl. or 3l. 10% for keeping on graſs from May-day to Michaelmas.- Cows, in general, leave more than oxen, in proportion to their weight; but they are ſubje& to diſorders of the udder, that frequently reduce the profit, and deter many people from grazing them. Dome few graziers follow the old cuſtom of keeping on- Iy one kind of ſtock upon the ſame ground; whilſt others, we think with more propriety, intermix with oxen and cows, a few ſheep, and two or three colts in each paſture; which both turn to good account, and do little injury to the grazing cattle: In ſome caſes, ſheep area real benefit, by eating down and deſtroying the ragwort(Senecio * An excellent breed of ſmall cattle from the Highlands of Scotland. Facobeg) EN II A E Y Y Jue county) She tothe! ray-g not bet till ſhor all June 17g7 th drift ev WMivter up:( ethe ers, 1 In 17 T1797) worth N to th oéluc thele: 1n Au, which nber an fl bout thei froi uil all OF NORTHUMBERLAND, IO Facobaa} which diſgraces ſome of the beſt paſtures in the county, where oxen only are grazed. Sheep, that have been wintered upon turnips, are put to the earlieſt graſs that can be obtained; the clovers and ray-grafs are generally réady in April; the old graſs lands not before May: In both fituations they are continued till ſhorn, and ſold off. from the latter end of May, thro” all June and part of July, from 2l. to 21. 15s. each. In 1797 the prices were from 21. 10s. to zl. 10s each: The draft ewes, or ſhearling wethers intended for turnips next Winter, ſucceed them, and thus a regular rotation is kept up. Of late years, ſome farmers have ſold their ſhearling wethers in July,(when only 15 months old) to the butch- ers, for as high prices, as from zo to 35 ſhillings each. In 1766, they ſold from 40 to 45 ſhillings each; and in 1797, as high as go ſhillings, after ſhcaring a fleece worth 6 ſhillings.: A large portion of the lands of this county being liable to the rot, and unſafe for a breeding flock, the occupiers of ſuch ſituations, venture ewes for fat lambs for one years theſe are bought in the Autumn, put to tup early,(ſome in Auguſt) the lambs ſold in May, June, and July; after which the ewes are fatted, and ſold in October and Novy=- ember—Such lambs as are early, and go of in May, oft= en ſell for 20 ſhillings each; but the others average at a= bout 12s. 6d. The price of fat ewes depends much on their being of a good or flow feeding ſort, and wil: vary from 24 to zo ſhillings: The average may be called 27 ſhillings. The proceeds from long-woolled ewes will be: SS E A fat Lamb-- 012 0 Ditto Ewe--- I-70 Carried over I 19 6 “e H 4 Fleece 104 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Le TEA Brought over 11G 6 Fleece= e= o 4 6 Dedud prime coft Profits on Ewe and Lamb, for oneyear 1 4 0 The profits of thoſe that have lambs, ſold at 20s. will be 11. 12s.: The Cheviot ewes are generally put to à large long=- woolled tup, which increaſes the ſize of the lambs:‘The proceeds are: ae A fat Lamb E-= OI O Ditto Ewes= O40 Fleece=-= O0 20 ler,(0) Dedud prime coſt OO Profit for one year 0-150 Mc Hay of L&bury, and Mr Watſon of Waren, not having ſo ready a market for the great quantities of bran, pollard and oat-chimmings, which their extenſive manu- fa@ures of flour and oat-meal produce, have applied it to feeding différent kinds of ſtock; they both agree that for feeding pigs, it is of little value; one of the gentlemen ſays, that from ſome experiments he had read, he was in- duced to enter largely on the bußineſs, and perſevered in it, till he loſt upwards of a thouſand pounds. y For Horſes—they both think it very valuable along with hay or fraw, inſtead of corn; Mr Watſon allows his horſes 6 buſhels of bran, or 4 buſhels of pollard, and 2 of oat è, E R E OF NORTHUMBERLAND. IOS cat ſeeds per week, the average price of which is about & ſhillings; the horſes are in high condition, and ſleek as ravens, but net more ſo than thoſe that have 22 buſhels of oâts pér week, the price of which at 2s, per buſhel is equal to the value of the bran. For Cattle—Mr Hay ſays, that“ in the beginning of October, IT tie up my cattle in ſheds, and place before every beaft a crib for bran, and’another for turnips, and i to each give a peck of pollard, morning and evening, with full allowance of turnips, well cleanſed and topped; I fre- 9 quently mix oat ſheeling ſeeds and oat duſt, which makes Ye them fonder of the pollard, if ſale or oid kept. Three months ſtall-feeding in this way is equal to 6 months in the uſual way.” In order to form ſome idea of the utility of the above mode, we muſt eſtimate the expence of the pollard, in ad- dition to the full allowance of turnips: pollard being 2 finer kind of bran, is ſold for 2d. a buſhel more; ofcourſe when bran is Iod. per buſhel, pollard will be 1s. and al- lowing that an ox will fatten as much in 10 weeks with á the above keeping, as he will in 20 by the common modes the account will ſtand thuz: Ldr ds A 10 Weeks—Pollard 70 buſhels, at 1s.= 3 10 o | Ditto Turnips, at 46d.-=- 2 G5 0 iN, —— Attendance.-=--=2= 010 0 Dile t{0 6 50 for—— mel Y Ld. sin° 20 Weeks—Turnips, at 45. 6d.=«- 410 0 din Ditto——Straw«==-==- 0100 m—— Attendance=--== 10-0 08 E his 600 of: GT oat Hence oS AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Hence it appears that feeding with pollard and tur=- nips is not cheaper than the common mode, even allow= ing that it is done in half ihe time. Mr Watſon put 6 oxen into a fold. yard(with a ſhed in it) on the 20th of May; in 7 weeks they had eaten 360 buſhels of bran and oat ſeeds mixed, with which they had for the firſt three weeks coarſe hay, the other four, cut clover, With this their cribs were kept conſtantly full: The value of bran and oat ſeeds amounts to about 6s. per per week each beaſt; of the hay and clover no account was kept, but it cannot be eſtimated at leſs than 1s. which makes with attendance 7s. per week each beaſt; near double the expence of graſs, and more than, the improve= ment of the cattle would pay, tho’ they were certainly in very thriving condition. Mr Watſon once attempted to keep two heifers on bran only; they grew worſe and worſe, and were obliged to have other food’; when they got graſs, they eat much more bran than when they got bran alone. For Sheep,—theſe gentlemen allow 7 buſhels per week per fcore, to their ſtore ewes on graſs, that is 5s. tod. per week, or 32d. per ſheep beſides graſs. Mr Hay wintered 150 ewes on 38 acres; they had 53 buſhels per week of bran 5 bur this land would have win- tered 70 ewes without any afliſtance, therefore the bran was applied to the ſupport of the 80 additional ewes; of courſe the expences per week will be E CE 53 buſhels of bran at 10d. per bulkél,«+ 2 3 4 which divided by 80 gives the expence per week of keeping ao CeWe E= oO OE which is near double the price uſually paid for turnips. : Mr zii iii TOE ZA aida ti R E atm Mr (a har of b! per b they ing ft To buſhel per fu rate of nuo out l per by [ tri an dee Ger MoN bab) La OF NORTHUMBERLANDe 107 Mr Watſon is ſummering 175 ewes on Spindleſton-Hill (a bare rocky paſture); to this flock he allows 16 buſhels of bran per day, or 112 buſhels per week, which at 10d. per buſhel, is 64d. per week per ſheep, beſides the graſs 5 they are in excellent condition, but if is a price for keep=- ing ſtore ewes that moſt farmers would ſtare at. , To a flock of 65, year-old far wethers, he gives 42 buſhels of bran per week, which is near 64d. per week per ſheép; they are depaſtured upon good land, at the rate of about 7 ſheep an acre, which is ſcarcely double the number the ſame ground would keep equally well with= out bran, of courſe theſe ſheep coſt above Is. per week per ſheep, a price that the appearance of the ſheep does by no means promiſe to repays Theſe are all the faQs that have come to our know ledge, reſpecting feeding with bran; from which it ap- pears that it 7s zot fo beneficial a praëice as had been re« preſented to the Board. t REEE CPR DE o On DC Ol ud Cout LMD C= Î CHAPTER IX. GARDENS AND ORCHARDS» E Îv gardening we do not find any pradtices in this diſ tric but what are generally known to the profeſlion; and in reſpect to Orchards they are thinly ſcattered in- deed.—The froſty nights, and north-eaſt winds from the German Ocean, which are ſo prevalent here in the ſpring months, are very inimical to fruit crops; and it is pro- bably owing to this circumſtance that there is ſuch a ſcar= city D- DA , 1083 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY city of orchards; ſo much ſo that we believe nine tenths of the ápples conſumed in this county are imported from Kent, Efſex, and other ſouthern counties. iena ES N 1032 e 60 TW R CCDP D u tage Tna i a CHAPTER X. 3 WOODS AND PLANTATIONS eG C184 4E ppp DA WW oonDs growing in a natural ſtate are found mofily on the banks of rivers; thoſe of the north‘and ſouth Tyne, the Wanſbeck, Coquet, and their tributary ſtreams, have by far the greateſt quantity, Of‘old oak timber, from éighty to one hundred and forty years growth, the probable value may be about 60,000l. of which two-thirds can only be ſaid to be proper for building ſhips of great burthen.; The demand by the collieries and lead mines for ſmall wood, has induced the proprietors of woods on the Der- went, Tyne,&c. to cut them at an early age. From twenty-five to thirty years growth is the general term for oak, elm, and aſh; but birch, willow, and aller, are cut ſooner; and hazle for corf-rods* once in three or four years. The price of aſh and elm is from 1s. to 2s. per foot; of oak, from 2s. to 35s. per foot; of birch, aller,&c for pit props,‘úx feet long, and from four to fix inches a= meter, ad. each; corf rods, 6d. per hundred. Oak bark laſt year was ſold for gl per ton. Under this manage- * Corves are a kind of large wicker-work baſkets, uſed for bringing coals out of pits, made of rods from# to x inch dia- metere ment moſtly ſouth rams, mber, , the thirds great mall Jere rom n for e cut four foot; gc for Es ÚjAs 1k bark nage: ſed for h dia ment -OF NORTHUMBERLAND» FOY ment, and at thoſe prices, an acre in thirty years will pro- duce, on an average, óol. clear of expencesz; there has been inſtances of an acre of wood, thirty-two years old, ſelling for 1001. and another of ſixty years growth, worth 2001. per acre z but theſe were in particularly tavourable fituations. In the management of theſe woods, the general prac- tice is to cut all away together. The ſyſtem of Anthony Surtees, Eſq; of Newbiggen, we think preferable: he takes his away in patches; and as the older trees interfere with the younger ſprings, and where a thriving healthy oak is in a convenient ftuation, he lets it ſtand for tim- ber; by this means the young ſpring is Meltered, and an annual produce of upwards of 1o0ol. is obtained from ſixty acres of woodland. Plantations, on an extenfive ſcale, are rifing in every part of the county; and are almoſt in every inſtance doing well, and promiſe not only to repay the ſpirited exertions of the proprietors, bur will add greatly to the ornament and improvement of the country. Amongſt the great variety of trees we have obſerved in thoſe plantations, the larch riſes proudly pre-eminent above the ref, and in almoſt every ſituation. far out- ſtrips the various ſpecies of firs and pines, wherever we have noticed them planted promiſcuoully together. Tn many plantations in the northern parts of the county, the (pruce firs, between 20 and zo years old, have died-off; and this in ſo many very diferent ſoils and ſituations, that they are now in a great meaſure diſcarded from the plan- tations that have been made of late years; the cauſe of this failure bas not been yet ſatisfactorily accounted for» CHAPTER E10 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY CHAPTER- XT, WASTES, wd(> de Fw Tox commons—in this county capable of being convert- ed into profitable tillage land are now very trifling, the greateſt part having been incloſed within the laſt thirty years; the whole amounting to near 120,000 acres. Of this, the commons belonging to the manors of Hexham- ſhire and Allendale contain$9,000 acres, a great part (35,000) of which are high, expoſed, heathy mountains. Theſe are to be converted into finted paſtures, not being thought capable of any other improvement, The increaſed value of ſuch incloſed commons, depends (as we have ſtated in our Report of Cumberland) entirely upon the ſyſtem of cultivation purſued. Upon Bulbeck- common there are lands which, in a ſtate of common, were not worth more than 1s. an acre, a part of which has been in tillage twenty-five years, and grown three white Crops ſucceſlively, betwixt one fallowing and another. This land is now dear enough at 4s. an acre; while Mr Hop- per’s of Black-Hedley, is worth 10s, or 12s. His ſyſtem 1s, when firſt broke up from heath, to pare and burn, and plough in the autumn; next ſpring plough acroſs, lime and ſow oats; then fallow and lime, 75 buſhels per acre, and ſow turnips; after which, oats and graſs ſeeds, four pounds red clover, fivè pounds white, and one buſhel of ray graſs, and continue in graſs fx or ſeven years; then to plough for oats—turnips—oats—and ſow up with graſs ſeeds as before. There are inſtances, where the increaſed value is in the ratio of twelve to ONE, or even more z but theſe the Pr OF NORTHUMBERLAND, 13 theſe are, where the commons were of no value to the Proprietor, which is in general the caſe.* The extent of waſte lands—or open mountainous dif tris, incapable of affording profit by cultivating with the plough, is very wreat, as we have before ſtated; confſi- derable quantities of which are private property, and of courſe may be depaſtured by ſheep or other ſtock to the greateſt advantage; of thoſe that are common, it would certainly be beſt for every man to know his own ſhare. Draining would be highly uſeful to many parts of theſe diftri&ts; there are alſo many excellent hftuations for planting, and of all other purpoſes to which ſuch lands are convertible, this ſpecies of improvement ſeems to us the moſt promiſing to make the greateſt returns, Pp e R D iO e CCIP CHAPTER XII, IMPKOVEMENTSs6 ES SECT. I.— Draining« DRAmmG-—is one of thoſe improvements that has lately made its way into Northumberland, and is now moſtly praiſed in the middle and northern parts of the county; the theory is pretty well underſtood in thoſe diſ- tricis, and the pradtice is becoming more prevalent every year. Hollow drains are generally uſed, filled with ſtones where they can be got; where theſe cannot be obtained, * The Éſtinted common of Holy Iſland was divided in 1790, the allotments that were gotten for a right, which never let for more than 21. are now let for 141. or x51, per ann, and in a few years will be worth upwards of 20l. (bus- X12 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY (but at a great expence) ſod drains are the only reſource, e tt eſpecially in the northern parts, where there 1s little wood, thou ariſe SECT. 2.—Paring and Burning. whi Paring and Burning‘is not much praiſed in the al eaſtern and northern parts of the county; in the midland hb and ſouthern parts it is moſt prevalent, but eyen there it‘tole ïs confined to old ſwards, and coarſe, rough, ruſhey and fatien heathy lands; for the firſt breaking-up of ſuch ground,| drefl it is certainly very convenient, and preferable to any cea other mode we have ever feen; but tho’ we are fully con-(he ſak vinced of its beneficial effets in ſuch ſituations, yet we have our doubts whether it could be uſed with advantage; bo) upon lands that have: lain a few years in“graſs, and that| would produce good crops of grain immediately on being dloughed out, which is not the caſe with coarſe, rough, 0 1 heathy lands, or even very old ſwards on rich fertile ſoils; i it being found that crops on the latter, are fre; ently| zi very much injured by““ leaping’ for two or three years 5 N which paring and burning entirely obviates, and enſures full crops to the farmer; who need not be under any ap-- A préhenſion of his ſoil being ruined by it, provided he ju purſues the following courſe:— i.‘Turnips.—2- Oats.— u 3. Fallow, well limed for turnips.—4. Barley, ſown up N with clover and graſs ſeeds, and depaſtured with fheep for ‘three or four years, and afterwards(if not intended to lie in| u graſs) continue it in the rotation mentioned page 64: It if is the injudicious cropping, more than the ill effŒdâs derived: Ul from paring and burning, that has been the chief cauſe of| bringing ſuch an odium on this praQice, which is certain all ly an excellent one in fome ſituations, and properly conduêtedz| Can but like the fermented juice of che grape, may be too oft- en repeated and improperly applied,| enf ‘The popular clamour againſt this practice, that it de-| ſuch ftroys the fail,” we can by no means admit; and are inclin- dy : ed miſ Uree, 100d, (Wwe tage that eing oh, vils, ntly Irs; TES D= he up for 1e IN 8 rived ſe of taills fi; olte OF NORTHUMBERLAND, 113 ed to believe, that not a ſingle atom of ſoil is abſtra&ed, though the bulk of the ſod or turf be diminiſhed: this ariſes from the burning of the roots or vegetable ſubſtances, which, by this proceſs affford a confiderable portion of Alkaline Salts, phlogiſtic or carbonic matter, and pro- bably other principles friendly to vegetation; as we find © thoſe aſhes produce abundant crops of turnips, which fatten, ſtock much quicker than thoſe after any other drefling or manure we have ever ſeen, and the ſuc- ceeding crops of corn are ſo very luxuriant, as to tempt the injudicious cultivator to purſue it too far; and for the ſake of teporaty gain, may be faid to rip it up, as the boy did with his gooſe that layed golden eggs SECT. 3.—Manuring. In ſome parts of this county, where the turnip culture is carried to ſuch extent, every exertion of ingenuity is pradtiſca to raiſe a large portion of Farm Yard Dung; for without this valuable article, it is well known that good turnip crops are not to be expedted, and the farmers of ſtrong ſoils are ſufficiently ſenſible of the advantage of dung to their crops, not to uſe every endeavour to increaſe its quantity. The MSE of turnip ſoils, in order to have their dung ſufficiently* rotted, lead it out of the fold yard in the win= ter, make it up in large dunghills in order to increaſe the putrefadtive proceſs, and prepare it for that ſtate of diſſo= lution, by which its component parts are ready to be affimilated into new bodies; and in which fate only, it can be of uſe in vegetation. Upon the kill-farms around Cheviot, we have been oft= en ſurprized, to ſee at the doors of the ſhepherds’ houſes, LS ſuch immenſe dunghills, the accumulation of unnumber- ed years, probably centuries: to avoid this increafing nuiſance, many of them have ingenicuſly contrived to build I their ED TE D IE m Tp 114 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY| their houſes near a““ Burn fide” for the convenience of having it taken away by every flood: notwithſtanding they have lands adjoining, upon which, if this manure was pro- perly applied, the greateſt improvements would enſue, and conſiderable quantities of excellent hay be produced, for the ſupport of the flocks in winter ſtorms, in which ſeaſons they are very often under the neceſlity of pur- chaſing hay in the Lowlands, and of having it conveyed on horſe-back to the top of theſe hills in the deepeſt ſows, at a very great expence,* Lime=—is found in many parts of this county, of an ex- cellent quality. In Bambro’ Ward, where it has been long uſed, many intelligent farmers begin to doubt of its efficacy, and the propriety of continuing to lay it upon their old tillage lands. VUpon the dry ſoils in Glendale Ward, where it has not been uſed much above 40 years,+ its effeds are more conſpicuous, eſpecially upon ſuch lands as have been ſeldom or never limed. Inits natural ftate, the ſoil of this diſtrict is dry, duffy, light, full of übrous, roots, and when in fallow, on pafling over it, you únk to the ancles; after being fufficiently limed, the fibrous roots diſappear, the ſoil becomes denſer, firm to the tread, retentive of moiſture, and produces better aud more abun- dant crops of grain than before: when laid to graſs, the effects of the lime'appear to an inch, by the ſuperior ver- dure * We were glad to ſce Mr Smith, Mr Marſhall, and a few o0- thers, departing from this trait of barbariſm, and applying their mánure in a very proper manner. + Mr James Hall of Thornington, was the firſt perſon that ever carried a cart load of lime acroſs the river Till, for laying upon land: The firſt year he prevailed upon his father to allow him to lead Io cart load, which had ſo wonderful an effe, that the quantity was increaſed next year, and in a few years after, the uſe of it became general. a E OF NORTHUMBERLAND. ITZ5 ‘e of they: dure which takes place as far as it has gone.* Many of pro: pe theſe dry ſoils, after being limed, grow white- clover na- nlue,# turally; where not limed, Ut ſeldom appears; but ey ved,& cover principally with LS capiliaris(fing bent,) which A is ſeldom eaten by any Kind of ſtock, if they can get 0= Bi ther food: When land has been ſufficiently limed, this ei plant diſappears; and wherever it is found, it may be Ma ſafely concluded, that the ſoil on which it grows has not had its-due quantity of lime. About ſeven years fince Mr George Reed, of South- eX, Middleton near Woóler,* cleared from broom, 30 or 49 been acrés of’ light, dry,«channelly foil, that. had never been f its limed, which was“ſown with rye;5 the rye ſtubble was upon ploughed in the Autumn, and the worſt part of it limed ale at the rate of 190 buſhels per acre; next Summer the ars, È( whole was drilled with turnips(dunged&c. as deſcribed lands page 89) which came up all alike, and continued to do e= ſtate, qually well for three or four weeks; but little or no rain rous, alling in that period, and the weather continuing k to droughty, thoſe turnips upon the land which had o time, rous ead,} is About twelve years ſince, when looking over the farm of E Thornington, with Mr James Hall,(the late tenant) we were ſur- priſed with the ſudden alteration in the verdure of theland, which the took(place immediately at the jundion of two ridges, one fide was a fine dark green, eaten very bare, and covered with a thick mat of œvhite clover and ray-grafs; the other was a dingy brown, dure principally compoſed of fne bent, and /eep?s feſque, and in a great meaſure zegleled by the /heep: An explanation was deſired for ſo great a contraſt, and Mr Hall informed us, that when this parcel 0: of land was laft in fallow, the part which was eaten fo bare, and y their looked ſo green, was vell limed; the other, which the ſheep neg- leâted, had never been limed. ) Ît has been faid, and repeatedly copied by writers on Agricul- tnre and Botany, that““ Peep prefer the“ Feſtuca Owina? to all no that other plants:” In the above inſtance‘it was quite the contrary; lying from which, and from other obſervations we have made, we are low inclined to believe, that the idea has probably originated more in that conjeQture than experiment. It has alſo been remarked by bo- : the tanical writers, that ſheep refuſe to eat ragwort,( Senecio Fa= + cobæa:”) The fad is, they are ſo very fond of it, they will not L allow a plant to flower wherever they depaſture, a I2 died j EE— DEE o e STE OI SS ENE ZE 2E iA_————————A—_ EA BE ¡ 4 Wa (Z/ | 116 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY died away; whilſt thoſe upon that part which wes Timed were diſcernible /o‘az inch, flouriſhed with unabated vigour, and produced an excellent crop,(for ſuch land) worth at leaſt 4l 10s. an acre; many fimilar inſtances might be produced, but this is the mo ſtriking we re- collet to have noted.; The mode of burning lime, in this county, is moſtly in draw-kilns, of the form of an inverted cone, with two or three eyes or mouths for drawing out the lime, and ad= mitting air: Theſe kilns are kept burning and drawing perpetually. Some of the large ſale Kilns will afford 40 or go cart load a day: A cart load of coals is reckoned to burn two cart loads cf time. i z The Price, at the kilns, is from 3s. to 4s. 6d. for 25 úpheaped buſhels, ‘The Quantity, laid upon an acre, is from 75 to 150 buſhels. The general praëtice of uſing lime, is to lay it up in heaps of three or four cart loads each; and as ſoan as the clods are fallen, ſlacked, or reduced to the ſtate of guick-lime, it is ſpread evenly upon the land, and harrowed and ploughed in as ſoon as poſlible after: ſometimes, inſtead of laying it up in heaps of 3 or 4 cart loads each, it is laid upon the land’-in the clod fate, in little heaps of about a buſhel each, which are covered with earth until ſufficient- ly flacked or fallen, and then ſpread abroad. In either mode, or in whatever manner lime is applied, it certainly has the greateſt effÆ@&, when both it and the ſoil are in the moſt pulverized fate. Upon the turnip ſoils where very large quantities of lime are uſed, it would be extremely difücult to get 2 ſufficiency in the early part of Summer, previous to the turnip ſeaſon; in fuch ſituations, it is uſual to lead as * much as poſlible thro’ the Summer and Autun, which &: IS lined bated land) ances les 150 heaps clods IME, and ſtéad s laid out 4 iclent- pplied and thé jties of ) get 2 to the lead as hich 16 OF NORTHUMBERLAND, 17 ïs laid vp in very large heaps(from go to 1 go loads each) and before Winter covered with ſods, or thatched with raw, to prevent the rain from penetrating it: If well ſe- cured, it is found in a very quick fate, in the Spring, ſomes times a great portion of it remaining unſlacked. The opinions reſpecting the good ox ill effets of lime, are exceedingly various; ſome aſſerting that it can never be uſed in too large a quantity; whilſt others contend, it is of no uſe whatever: Our own pradice authorizes us to ſay, that upon ſome ſoils, the application of lime,(or calca- reous earth in ſome other form) in confiderable quantities, 1s abſolurely neceflary, in order to bring them to their moſt fertile ſtate, and to prepare them for the adion of other manures; whilſt ppon other ſoils, lime produces no ſen- ſible effed, and if uſed in large quantities, will prove very detrimental.—Thus may one of the moſt valuable appli cations we know, for the improvement of many ſoils, be condemned, by thoſe who draw poſitive concluſions, from partial obſervations of fas. The pradice of paring and burning, we believe, owes the opprobrium, which ſome ¡have thrown upon it, to a fimilar mode ef reaſoning. Stone Marl, has formerly been uſed in confiderable quantities, near‘Tweedſide, but the more immediate effes of lime have entirely ſet aſide the uſe of ſone marl Shell Marl is uſed with great advantage, at the rate of 2,0 or 3o cart loads an acre, on the farms of Wark, Sun= nylaws, and Learmouth. Sea Wrack, Sca Ware, or Marine Plants=driven a= ſhore by the tide, are uſed with great effe, wherever they can be had. Of. theſe the fucus veſiculoſus, and its rela= tives E. ſerratus and inflatus,(Skeir Ware) are not held in much eſtimation, and when uſed, require to be laid up in large heaps to putrify, If laid upon the land, as the others EA ArEs “A 2 E E H E eda ens IO AGRICULTURAL SURVEY 4 are, when taken immediately from the ſhore, they dry, and turn to a black coriaceous ſfubſtanc. The fucus digitatus( Waſſels) is the great favourite, and anóôther ſpecies called May-weed. which we cannot point out by its Linnæan name, not having had an opportunity of ſeeing it, but from the deſcriptions we have heard, ſuſped it to be the young plants of the fzcus digitatus. Coal A/hes—are chiefly uſed in the vicinity of the prin- cipal towns, as a dreſling for graſs land; for this purpoſe they are found of confiderable benefit, eſpecially upon ſtrong, coarſe, and wet lands»« SECT. 4.—Weeding. Weedins corn is univerſally practiſed; he broad caf crops are hand-weeded, in which operation the thiſtles(be- ing rather unpleaſant to handle) are in ſome parts drawn by a pair of large pliers(““ nippers”) with fat cheeks; in others they are cut over by a weeding hook, made in the form of a A, with ſharp edges on the inſide; but this mode of cutting is only a temporary relief, as they ſpring again very ſoon after: pulling up by the roots ought cer- tainly to be pradtiſed in every inſtance, as there is not a weed the farmer has to contend with, more difficult to radicate than the corn thiſtle,(Carduus Árvenfs.) The drilled crops, are both horſe and hand hoed, at leaſt twice each, and with ſo much attention, that no kind of weeds are ſuffered to remain; the whole being kept in the cleaneſt and compleateſt garden-like culture. The moft prevalent weeds, that give the Northumbrian huſbandman the greateſt trouble, are: Of Uy, fucus ther by its eing it to ille oe pon daf $(be- Jrawn 53 Il n the this ring ‘(Cêl'« not a ult to at leaſt kind of kept in umbrian 0/ OF NORTHUMBERLAND, I19 Of the Perennial kind, J Theſe all go under the general names of Duickens, Couch, or Twitch graſs, the Holcus principally on J light dry ſoils. Deratulæ arvenfis, or Corn Thifls Carduus arvenſis.+ Triticum repens—Couch W heat.| Avena elatior—Tall Oat.* Holcus mollis—Soft Holcus. | Annuals. Sinapis arvenfis—Wild Muftard.' Sinapis Alba—White Muftard. Charloc. Raphanus Raphaniſtrum—ild Radifh. Avena Fatua—TFild Vat. Thoſe of leſs note, and more partial vifitants, are Galeopfis Tetrahit Hemp dead nettle Spergula arvenſis Corn Spurry Anthemis Cotula Stinking Camomile Polygonum Perſicaria Peachwort Ranunculus arvenfis Corn Crowfoot Lythoſpermum arvenſis Corn Gromi! Veronica arvenſis Corn Speedwell Scandiæ Pedten Veneris Shepherd’s needle. SECT, 5.—Watering, Watered Meadows—were firſt introduced into this county by Meflrs Culley, about 26 years fince; and not- withſtanding the manifeſt advantages of this operation, yet ſo ſlow is knowledge in making its way, that it was near 20 years before any other períon ventured to purſue the practice, and profit by the example: It is now begin- * This is readily diſtinguiſhed from the other kinds of quick» ens, Dy its bulbous or granulated roots. + Linnzus has claſſed this plant with the Seratula; but Light=- foot has very properly removed it to the Carduus. I4 ning 120 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY ning to ſpread in the neighbourhood, and we hope in a few years will be adopted in every fituation that can de- rive benefit from it Sir William Lorrain, with a ſpirit that marks his wiſh for improvement, brought two men from Leiceſterſhire, to drain his grounds at Kirkharl This buſineſs they ſeem to have ünder ſtood and executed well;‘but we think they have miſled the worthy Baronet, in telling him they underſtood laying out land for watering. We were ſorry to ſee a firſt attempt executed in ſo bad a ftyle, which may tend more to diſcourage the pradice, than forward its introduction, SEcT. 6.—Embankments» In the vicinity of Wooler, a large tract of low fat ground(called Haughs) adjoining the rivers Till and Glen, being ſubje(t to be frequently overflowed, an at- tempt was firſt made to embank them at Yevering, in the year 1787 which anfwered the purpoſe, and ſoon after was adopted on the haughs of Turvilaws, Doddington, Ewart,&c by which the lands that could not be let for more than 15s. per acre(from the great hazard of loſing the crop) are now let for more than double the ſum. The height of theſe banks is from 3 to 5 feet; the form is repreſented by a ſedtion fig. 6, pl. 5, where the height CE is 4 feet, the baſe BA 15 feet, BC 5 feet, and the flope next the water CA, 13 feet. The fide BC was faced up with ſods the green fide out, cut from the ditch D, out of which was dug the materials for forming the bank;* and _* To ſome ſituations it is beſt to cut the ditch, on the ſide next the river, leaving checks at proper intervals, to prevent the run of the water. Theſe cavities fill up in a few years, with mud brought by the floods; and the bank is in leſs danger of breaking when there is no ditch at the back of it, the iaia ZOE OF NORTHUMBERLAND, L2E the fide CA,- covered with green ſods pared from the baſe BA, previous to throwing up the earth. The expence from 2s, to 3s. per rood of 7 yards. I CCC ON E CHAPTER XTIL. LIVE STOCK« “ aC CC ED dupupo SECT L.— Cattle, TOE Aiferent Lids of cattle bred in this county are the ſhort horned—the Devonſhire—the long-horned— and the wild cattle.: The ſhort horned kind have been long eſtabliſhed over the whole county, the other Kinds are found only in the hands of a few individuals, who have introduced them with a laudable view of comparing their merits with the eſtabliſhed breed of the country.—They dier from the o- ther breeds, in the ſhortneſs of their horns, and in being wider and thicker in their form, conſequently feed to the moſt weight; in afording the greateſt quantity of tal low when fatted, in having very thin hides, and much leſs hair* upon them than any other breed(the Alderneys excepted); but the moſt eflential difference conſiſts in the quantity of milk they give beyond moſt other breeds: there being inſtances of cows giving 36 quarts of milk per day, and of 48 firkins of butter being madé from 2 dairy of 12 cows: but the more general quantity is 3 fir- Kins per cow in a ſeaſon, and 24 quarts of milk per day: + * It is probably from the thinneſs of their hides and hair, that „they are accounted tenderer than moſt other breeds, Their DE O 122 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Their colour is much varied, but they moſtly are an agreeable mixture of red and white. From their being in many places called the Dutch breed, it is probable they were originally brought from the Continent. “They have‘been much improved of late years, by the exertions and attention of enterpriſing breeders; who have already improved them ſo far, as to be ſold fat to the butchers at 32 years old. The weight of the carcaſe is in general from 60 to 80 fone,(141b. to the ſtone) bat there are inſtances of individuals attaining much greater weight, Sir H. Grey bred and fed two ſeven-years old oxen that weighed 152 ſtone 9 Ib. the four quarters only; and a ſpayed_heifer, 132- ſtone, ó Ib. ditto. Mr bmith of Togſtóne, a cow, 127 ſtone 11 Ib. ditto, But large fize is not now confidered as an excellence: Quick feeders, that lay their fat upon the moſt valuable parts, and have the leaſt oÑal in the coarſe parts, are the Kind which every enlightened breeder wiſhes to be poſſefi- ed of. The long Horns have been introduced from the improv= ed ſocks of the Midland counties, ar different times and Mine by different breeders; but have in moſt inſtances given way again to the improved breed of ſhort horns, The Devonſhire breed 1s only in the poſſeſton of Walter Trevelyan, Eſg. of Nether Witton, who introduced them about three years nce; their offspring has not yet got to a proper age to form a judgment of their comparative merits, The Wild Cattle—are only found in Chillingham Park, belonging to the Earl of Tankerville; and as it is probable they are the only remains of thetrxe and genuine breed of that Ire zn i beino e they by the Tho othe 6 in dut ater oxen ; and ith of ence: luable re the oflefl- JOY and given Valter | them t got{0 parative mM Park, probable breed of that Y) UU ATEL ED CTM ALD Z/ ULD US 1427/2 ji QMmos 72722 A7 * PUDAOS SITS Z ES <5 ZE M / PM TES TESE-—, O = SS CS CS = a ESE Ss >> ae SZZSS L>—— es SFT EEES C e UO MD 1 0 Hl vd ——_—_— E==———— chat ſped deſcripti0 i Their C ashole of outhide fr black tips bulls hani half, or> Ï from 35 t0 3“ the four ESS y‘iy mardi ia 5, From y: agitation cannot Þ ; gears 0l whence 1 tions, th At th gallop; yards, 00 (ofling th they mak yards, lod upon the round, ar (he ſame return, before; thirty y gallon, * 1 diferent j the den that they Chillioghz Bion Liven EE E OF NORTHUMBERLAND, 123 that ſpecies of cattle,* we ſhall be more particular in our deſcription. Their colour is invariably white, muzzle black; the whole of the infide of the ear, and about one third of the outſide from the tip, downwards, red; horns white, with black tips, very fine, and bent upwards. Some of the bulls have a thin upright mane, about an inch and an half, or two inches long. The weight of the oxen is from’zs to 45 ſtone, and the cows from 25 to 3z ſtone, the four quartersz I141b. to the ſtone. Lhe beef is fine= - Iy marbled, and& of excellent flavour. “ From the nature of their paſture, and the frequent agitation they are pyt into, by the curiofity of ſtrangers, it cannot be expeâted they ſhould get very fat; yet the ſix years old oxen are generally very good beef, From whence it may be fairly ſuppoſed, that in proper fitua- tions, they would feed well. At the firſt appearance of any perſon they ſet o in full gallop; and, at the diſtance of two or three hundred yards, make a wheel round, and come boldly up again, tofling their heads in a menacing manner; on a ſudden they make a full ſtop, at the diſtance of forty or fifcy yards, looking wildly at the objet of their ſurprize; but upon the leaſt motion being made, they all again turn round, and gallop of again with equal ſpeed, but not to the ſame diſtance: forming a ſhorter circle, and again returning with a bolder, and more threatening aſpe(t than before; they approach much nearer, probably within thirty yards, when they make another ſtand, and again gallop of: this they do ſeveral times, ſhortening their * We are no ftrangers that there may be found in two or three different Parks of the kingdom, breeds of cattle which paſs under the denomination of Wild Cattle; but are inclined to believe that they have been contaminated by croſſing, and that thoſe in Chillingham Park are the only remains, which anſwer the deſcrip- tion given by Boethius, of this ſpecies of cattle. diſtance, = | Y } | Y | / | | Y 4 FJ / 124 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY inſtance, and advancing nearer; till they come within a few yards, when moſt people think it prudent to leave them, not chuſing to provoke them further, as it is pro- bable, that in a few turns more they would make an at=- tack. The mode of killing them was, perhaps, the only mo=- dern remains of the grandeur of äncient hunting. On notice been given, that a wild bull would be killed upon a certain day, the inhabitants of the neighbourhood came mounted, and armed with guns, Kc. ſometimes to the number of an hundred horſe, and four or five hundred foot, who ood upon walls or gat into trees, while the horſemen rode of the bull from the ref of the herd, un- til he ſtood at bay, when a markſman diſmounted and ſho. At ſome of theſe huntings, twenty or thirty ſhots have been fired before he was ſubdued: on ſuch occa- ſions, the bleeding vi@&im grew deſperately furious, from the ſmarting of his wounds, and the ſhouts of ſavage joy that were echoing from every fide: îrom the number of accidents that happened, this dangerous mode has been ſeldom praiſed of late years; the park-keeper alone generally ſhooting them with a rifled gun, at one ſhot.— When the cows calve, they hide their calves, tor a week or ten days, in ſom eſequeſtered fituations and g0 and ſickle them two or three times a day, If any perfon come near the calves, they clap their heads cloſe to the groundá, and lie like a hare in torm, to hide themſelves., This is 2 proof of their native wildneſs, and is corroborated by the following circumítance, that happened to the writer of this narrative, who found a hidden calf, two days old, very lean, and very weak; on ftroking its head, it got up, pawed two or three times like an old bull, bellowed very loud, retired a few ſteps, and bolted at his legs with all its force z it then began to paw again, bellowed, ſtep- ped back, and bolted as beſpre: but knowing its inten- ON, Lai Sg aa 2 AE E OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 125 tion, and Kepping aſide, it miſſed me, fell, and was ſo very weak, that it could not riſe, though it made ſeveral efforts; but it had done enough, the whole herd were alarmed, and coming to its reſcue. obliged me to retire 5 for the dams will allow no perſon to touch their calves without attacking them with impetuous ferocity. When any one happens to be wounded, or grown weak and feeble through age or fickneſs, the reft of the herd ſet upon it, and gore it to death. Duiry.— This county cannot boaſt of its dairies 5 thoſe who live in the vicinity of Newcaſtle, and other populous places, make a handſome return by the fale of milk, freſh butter,&c but upon moſt of the large farms in this coun= ty, dairies are not held in much eſtimation, Breeding young cattle—is practiſed in almoſt every part of the county. Upon the large farms, cows are kept more for this‘purpoſe than the profit of dairying: there are in- ſtances of ç0 or óo calves being brought up in one ſeaſon, by oné farmer, who did not milk more than fifteen cows Calves are certainly beſt reared with milk, but where ſuch numbers are bred, many different things bave been mixed with, or ſubſtituted for, this nutritive and natural diet; oats and b.an meal, oil cake, lintſeed, boiled turnips, &c. are uſed, and have their various advocates; but lint- ſeed is moſt approved; eggs are excellent for mixing in the calf’s food; when cheap in the Spring, perhaps they cannot be‘better employed. In the Summer the calves are turned to graſs, and in the firſt Winter get turnips and firaw. After being a year old, they are kept in Sum- mer on coarſe paſture; and in Winter on ſtraw only. Hiring Bulls=—tor the ſeaſon, is practiſed in this coun- ty; as high as go guineas have been paid for a bull of the ſhort-horned breed, for one ſeaſon, and from 3 to g guineas give, for ſerving a cow z but the more common Premium is a guinea, DECT — 1E DEZE Si DEL 126 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY SECT. EIE Shcebs In this county there are three diſtin& breeds.—The Cheviot ſheep, the Heath ſheep, and the long-wooled fheep.|' 5 Tie Cheviot ſheep—are hornlels, thé faces and leos in general white.* The tef breeds have a fine Open coun- tenance, with lively prominent ey; body long, fore quarters wanting depth in the breaſt, and breadth both there and on the chine; fine clean ſmall boned legs; thin pelts, weight of. carcaſe when fat, from 12 to 18 Ib. per quarter; fleétes from 24 to 32 Ib each, and ſold in 7025 for 11d, perIb. The wool is not all fine, there being in a fleece of 3 Ib. weight, only 2 Ib. of fine wool, worth one ſhilling per Ib.(when the whole fleece ſells at 10d. per Ib.) and one pound of coarſe, worth only 6d. per lb. They are bred only upon the hilly diſtri in the north- weſt partiof the county, and do not extend much farther ſouth than Reedwater. The beft kind of theſe ſheep are certainly a very hardy and valuable mountain ſheep, where the paflure is mofſily green ſward, or contains a large portion of that kind of herbage; which is the caſe with all the hills around Che- viot, where theſe ſheep are bred; for as to the mountain of Cheviot itſelf, no kind of ſheep whatever are bred up- on it; and we find it an univerſal pradtice, amongſt the molt experienced ſheep farmers, to depaſßure the Aeathy * Many ofthe Cherviot ſheep have dark faces, and were more ſo formerly. We were informed by Mr Chiſholm, Mr Readhead, Mr Marſhall,&c. that theſe dark-faced ones grew egually as fine wool, were as hardy, and equally as good thrivers as the white-faced ones; but that the people to whom they ſold their ſheep, and eſpecially tups, preferred white faces;-for which rea- ſon, they have endeavoured to get quit of black faces. diftrifts E ER OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 127 diftriéts with old ſheep,(gimmers and wethers) but they never attempt to keep a breeding flock upon them.* „Blindburn is probably the higheſt and coarſeſt paſture in this county where this kind of ſheep are bred. We examined the herbage, and found, that the ewe-paſture had a confiderable portion of green ſward, the coarſeſt parts of which confiſted of Nardus frida Wirebent Juncus ſgquarroſus Stoolbent Scirpus cæſpitoſus Deer hair the leaves Ling. Eriophorum vaginatum g the flowering ſtem, i; Moſs, Erica vulgaris Heath or Hadder. The ſhape of this breed of ſheep has been much ime proved of late years; but all thoſe who have been aiding in making fuch improvements, readily acknowledge, * Mr Robſon of Chatto, informed us, that ewes and lambs would not do upon his farms of Common Burn, near Wooler, and Felhape, and Carfſhope, at the head of Coquet. On ſuch ſitu= ations, the gimmers are found to be hardier, or do better than the wether ſheep of the ſame age, called Dinmgnts. +4 The Engliſh names inſerted after the Latin ones, are ſuch as the Cheviot ſhepherds know them by, È Ta the éounty of Durham, Yorkſhire, and ſome other parts, erica vulgaris 1s Known by the name of ling.— This plant grows in wet molly places; it generally ſprings in February and March. The ſheep are remarkably fond of it, not only the flowering ſtem, but the roots; and will ſcratch away the moſſy ſoil ſix or eight inches deep, to obtain it. We have ſeen them working up to the eyes for this purpoſe. The ſhepherds tell wonderful tales of the nutritive powers of this plant; affærting, that ſheep reduced by hunger, will recover faſter, and thrive much better upon this plant, than turnips. It is certainly a valuable plant for three or four weeks; but after it has flowered, the ſheep totally negleât the flower ſtem( ofs) and depaſture only on the leaves,(ling.) It is ſomewhat ſingular that the Cheviot ſhepherds ſhould con=- fider the flowering fem, and the leaves of this plant, as two diſ- tind ſpecies; nor could ſome of them be convinced to the con- trary, until the plant was taken up, and they were ſhown, that their 70/5 and ling grew both from the ſame root. there 128 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY there is fill much to be dones eſpecially to the fere quar= ter, which they all agree is very defective; but wé hope it€ will not long remain ſo, as we think we ſee a ſpirit of in=-| veſtigation ariſing among theſe breeders, that in a few j years will remedy not only this defe&, but will diſcover others, which at preſent they are not willing to admits But as knowledge is progreſlive, we cannot expect the perfeCion of this breed of ſheep can be obtained at once 5 it muſt proceed by ſlow gradations, as every other im» provement hath done; it is a great point gained, that we admit defeâs, and are deſirous to amend them. That breed of ſheep which brings the moſt profit to Ls the farmer, will always be purſued by him, whatever his! fituation; but that obje&, we preſume, is not to be ob-| tained in this diſtri from fne wol alone. Perfeit mouns\ tain ſheep ſhould be a&Æive, hardy, well formed, and quick feeders: theſe qualities will always recommend them to | the grazier, who will never purchaſe a ſlow feeding ani- mal, while he can get one of a diferent ort, though at a conſiderable advanced price. But if to theſe qualities, ſo eſſential to the ſale of a mountain farmer's ſtock, can be added a fleece of fine wool, a breed of ſheep would then be obtained, the propereſt for a hilly diſtri&t of any we have yet ſeen. There is little doubt but this may be accompliſh- ed by proper ſelection; and probably the ¿ef kind of Cheviot ſheep, from their hardineſs, and producing a portion of fine wool, are the propereſt ſtock for laying the founda=\ \ tion of ſo deſirable an improvement. Mr Robſon, of Belford,(now of Chatto) ſays, he im- proved the ſhape of his ſheep very conſiderably; particu-) larly the fore-quarter, and the wool, in having leſs but- tocks; by uſing three rams which he purchaſed in Lin- colnſhire, thirty-three years ſince; and we know other in- ſtances of improvement, by uſing tups of Zz or{ Diſhley blood, CE d P an TU D Y OF NORTHUMBERLANDs 129 PTC CU- © Qu. blood. In all theſe caſes, we do not find the ſheep leſs 7 hopei hardy, or wool of leís value; but the carcaſe materially fit of in, improved.* ‘ina fe 2 Ias diſ s Mr Readhead, of Chatto, is of opinion, that there are iſe: I anis N ſome fÑtuations amongſt the Cheviot-hills, where the 0 z:; cia Douth Down ſhéep might be ſucceſsful; thoſe who are " the poſſeſſed of ſuch, would do well to make a fair experi- ‘0gcez ment; ſhould it ſucceed, a very great improvement of the er ims Cheviot wool, in point of fineneſs, would be derived by at we crofling with this breed: but probably what it gained in finene(fs, it would loſe in weight, for it is not the value per: profit to pound which conſtitutes the farmer's profit, but the value i 6 Y tever his per fleece; or rather, that breed is he beſt, which brings Ls Y 0 be ob» the moſt profit in fleece and carcaſe jointly, from the ſame i: È mouna ground, in equal times. Opinions and conjeâQures will I 1d quick never decide this matters it can only be done by fair Y them td experiments, conducted by perſons of judgment and im-| ling ani- partiality./ | ugh ata The Mode of Management—amongſt the ſheep farmers N ¿6: iz] ities, lo of theſe hills, is to divide their flock into diferent parcels,| can be viz. lambs, hogs, gimmers, ewes, and wethers, and each hen be parcel kept on ſuch pafturage as is thought moſt proper (e have ſor them. Every parcel is attended by a ſhepherd, who mpliſh- 1s bound to return the number of ſheep delivered to him, Cheviot either alive, or in his account of dead ſheep, which are in riion of: foundas* Mr Smith, of Woodhall, had ſome of his Cheviot ewes put to a tup of Mr Thompſon?’s; the produce of which were ex- amined when 18 months old, by Mr Robert Thompſon, and the s. he ime report Was, that the form was amazingly improved, and the VARE gimmers ftood the Winter remarkably well. This Gentleman ; particle is purſuing the experiment, and we hope will find the produce of (; hut the third or fourth croſs ſufficiently active and hardy for ſeeking ; lk i their food on many ofthe hilly paſtures around Cheviot. d in Lits piher in+} This criterion militates very ßrongly againſt the Spaniſh Diſkley ſheep; unleſs they can be found with carcaſes of ſuperior form,» j and inclination to fatten, to any we have yet ſeen. blood K general 139 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY general ſold at diferent prices, according to their good- neſs. The ewes are 25 years old before they are put to the tupz añdare kept till five or fix years old: the loſs of lambs is ſométimes very‘confderable, not only on being dropped, but alſo from other diſorders, as the‘““ milk-ill,?? which attacks them from 3 to 7 days old, the‘““ guarter- ill)&c.which Mr Chiſholm of Clennél éftimates at not' leſs than 15 per cent. taking one year with another. And Mr Smith of Woodhall ſays, that“ altho’ the Cheviot breed be as healthy as perhaps any; yet there can hardly be an inſtanceadducible of any of the different fheep flocks coming’ all to hé ſhears, much leſs the hogs; out of which it is common to allow two out of eâch ſcore.” The Heath Sheep—have large ſpiral horns, black faces and légs, à fierce wild-looking eye,‘and ſhort firm carcaffes (weighing from‘12 to 16 Ib, per quarter) covered with long, open, coarſe ſhagged wool. The fleeces wéigh from three to four póunds eachs and fold, in 1792, for ſix- pence per pôuhd. Thefÿ are an exceedingly active and hardy race; añd ſeem the beſt adapted, cf all others, to high expoſed ZSathy diſtricts; ſuch as we find them in poſſeſſion of here, from the weſtern parts of the county of Darham, to North Tyne. Mr Hopper, of Blackhedleÿ; buys year old wethers of this kind of ſheep for 10s. 6d. each, and two-year olds for 14s. which he depaſturés úpon a heathy moor of 4000 acres; from whence he takes them at 3! years old to tur- ips; and ſ@lls, thè May following, from 28 to 32 ſhil- lings each: he has tried the Cheviot ſheep in tle ſame manner, but thinks the other a hardier and better feeding ſheep.* * Mr Hopper ſays, that the beſt ſheep of this kind he hs tri- ed, are bred about Moffat, in Scotland. The heir 00d. Ut to th the loſ; of y 0n beino “multi y! ‘ dlarter- 5 at not r, And Cheviot hardy be ep Üocks 53 out of ” Ore, lack faces mn carcaſlés vered with wéigh from 1 for hix- ive and thers, to thèm in he county wethers of 0-year olds yr Of 4000 5 old to tur- | to z2 fll in ile lané etter feeding dhe bds tri OF NORTHUMBERLAND, IZT The breeders of this kind of ſheep on the ſouth weſt corner of the county, are very confident, that they are a much hardier ſheep than the Cheviot breed; and upon their high expoſed heathy mountains, where there is very little green herbage, much more profitable; while the Cheviôt farmers affert, that theirs are equally hardy, and that the greater value of the fleece gives them a decided fuperiority. We háve before ſtated that the fineneſs of wool is not 2 proper criterion, by which the merits of a breed of ſheep are to be determined; it can only be done Dy fair experiment, in which all the circumſtances of the caſe aré included; but wé do not find that this has ever beén done by either party, and tho? it is only opinion a- gainſt opinion, yet both parties are ſo poſitive, that they are ready to quarrel with any perſon who happens to ex=- préſs an opinion of his own: we ſhall therefore content ourſelves with ſtating, that the queſtion can only be pro- perly decided by a parcel of each kind of ewes(ſuppoſe 1009) being depaſtured and kept in every reſpe&t equally alike, upon ſome of thoſe high, expoſed ftuations, the height of which is much more elevated, and the herbage much coarſer than the Cheviot paſtures; and almoſt to- tally covered with Heath or Hather'( Erica Vulgaris.) And at the end of fve, fix, or ſeven years, that breed which has brought the greateſt number of ſheep to mar= ket, and-made the mofß profit, will deſervedly be deemed the hardieft, beſt, and moft eligible, for ſuch ſituations. Until ſome experiment of this kind determine the matter; we hope, we ſhall not give ofence to either party by ftating, that we have ſeen the heath ſheep bred with advantage upon higher and coarſer paſtures than Common Burn, or thoſe others around Cheviot, which are deemed improper for a breeding flock of the Cheviot kind; and that it may probably turn out, that each breed is particu-« larly adapted to particular fituations, the one to coarſe expoſ- K 2 ed LZ„Á A [32 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY ed mountains, where the luxury of green herbage 1s thinly ſcattered, or rarely to be found: the other, to billy paſtures, where conſiderable portions of verdant ſurface predomin=- ate, ſuch as charaCterize the paſtoral diſtriits around Cheviot. The long=woolled ſheep,—which formerly occupied the lower diſtri of this county, were called Muggs, probably from their faces being covered with a muff of wool, cloſe to their eyes. Theſe being a flow feeding tribe, have given way to the Diſhley breed, which were rſt intro- duced into this county in the year 1766,* and by their ſuperior merit have ſo far made their way againſt every prejudice and oppoſition, that it is probable in a few years there will be a difficulty in finding a flock that is not more or leſs related to the Diſhley blood. The improved breed ef long-wolled ſheep—are diſtinguiſh- ed from other long-woolled kinds by their fine lively eyes, clean heads, ſtraight broad flat backs, round barrel-like bodies, very fine ſmall bones, thin pelts; and that fin- gular property of making fat at an early age, perhaps more than any thing elſe, gives them a ſuperiority over the other breed in this iſland. The weight of the carcaſe in general is, ewes three or four years old, from 18 to 26 Ib. per quarter; the woot upon an average, 7 Ib. a fleece; the length from 6 to 14 inches; ſold in 1792, at 10d. per Ib. The moft approved mode of management of this breed. of ſheep is as follows: The ewes generally lamb in March, when we give them a few turnips to increaſe their milk. “The látter end of June or beginning of July the lambs are weaned, and ſent to middling paſture; but a good paſture would certainly be a more eligible practice. The ewes are milked two or three times to eaſe their udders, and ſuch * By Meſſrs Culley-. 18 thinly | paſtures, ‘edomin« è around pied the probably 1, cloſe Xe, have X intro by their inſt every in a few ‘hat 15 not tinguiſh= ely eyes, arrel-like hat fin« perhaps Ity over three or he woot 16014 his breed n March, heir milk, lambs até od palture je emes ar and ſuc 93 et OF NORTHUMBERLAND, 733 as are not intended to be continued for breeding, are cul- led or draughted out, and put to clover: when this fails, they get turnips, and are ſold about Chriſtmas to the butchers, very fat; the price from 234 to 40s. each; fre- quently meaſuring four or five inches thick of fat on the ſides, and two or three inches down the back, all the way from head to tail. And though this breed be not emi- nent for much tallow, yet ewes under ſuch circumſtances have been known to produce from eighteen to twenty- four pounds of tallow each. The lambs, after being weaned, take the name of Hogs. They are generally put to túrnips the beginning of Novem- ber, and continue at them till the middle of April or be- ginning of May; when the wether hogs are put upon good paſture, or ſecond year?’s clover, The ſecond Win- ter they have turnips until the clovers are ſufficiently grown te receive them, which is generally about the middle of April: they are clipped or ſhorn about the middle of May, when we begin to ſell them, and are moſt= Iy all ſold by the middle or end of June. Morpeth is our beſt market, where the two ſhear wethers are generally ſold for from forty to fifty ſhillings a head; in 1797, they ſold for 31. per head on an average. At this age they ‘are equally fat as the ewes before deſcribed: Of late years it has been cuſtomary to ſell the ſhearling wethers, in June or July, to the butchers, fatter than moſt other breeds will be at two or three years old; the weight of theſe ſhearling wethers is from 18 to 21 Ib. per quarter, We generally reckon one third of the ewes to have twin lambs. They are put to the tup, ſo as to have lambs at two years old, and Kept for breeding until three or four years old, except fuch as are of particular good forms, or have other valuable properties: theſe we keep as long as ever they will breed. Such as are defeQive in K 3 ſhape, 13 134 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY ſhape, ſuſpedted of being ſlow feeders, or other unprofit- able qualities, we never put to the tup, or attempt ta breed from them. Letting Tups—to ſerve ewes for the ſcafon, has been a pradtice in this county for near zo years, and is becoming more prevalent daily; the prices vary from five to one hundred guineas, for the uſe of one ſheép; and ewes are freguently taken in to be ſerved by a favourite ram, at as high rates as from 3 to 5‘guineas each. The number of ewes to be ſerved by a ſhearing tup, is generally ftipulat- ed not to exceed 80, and for an aged ſheep 129-. At the firſt introdud@tion of this breed of ſheep, a great prejudicé was raiſed againſt them, and clamorous outcries made, that their adoption would be the ruin of the country, and no means were left untried to depreciate their value: but every obſtacle has been overcome by their ſuperior merit, which ſeems now to be univerſally acknowledged, as may be judged from the following cir- cumfñance. In Oétober 1795, Mr Thompſon of Chillingham Barns, having quitted a farm, he advertiſed to ſcll by auétion, 500 ewes, in lots of 5 each, : EE The firſt 109 ewes, ſold on‘an âverage tor The fecond 100 tor 202 GG ditto The firſt 100 gimmers for 29 0© ditto Several lots of the gimmers ſold for above 351. each lot, 200 perlot of g each. one in particular for 381. or 7l. 12s, each ſheep. The higheft lot of ewes was 281 or gl. 12s. each-> The purchaſers amounted to upwards of 50, amongîft whom wereſeveral, that a few years before, were the moſt violent, and loudeſt exclaimers againſt any““ change or innovation,’’ in the eſtabliſhed breed of the country. Breeding Sheep—0f the long-woolled Kind, to be ſold to graziers A ÉL ia n PES E me lE UT OF NORTHUMBERLANDs 135 M graziers to fatten, is praiſed by the occupiers of ſuch NY farms as do not afford a ſufficiency of turnips, or ſuch as do not produce any: thoſe who are in the latter predica- na ment, either take turnips for wintering their hogs, or put ming them upon good old graſs paſtures. The wethers are dne generally ſold in September and October, being then are ſhearlings, for, from 225. to 26s. each; and the ewes as three and a half years old, from 18s, to 24s- each; in of 1796, they were as high as 2l. each. at There are few or. no ſheep bred in thoſe parts of the county, called Caſtle-Ward, Bedlingtonſhire, and the rreat ſouth-eaſt corner of Morpeth Ward. Cres L The modern maxims of breeding were introduced in- the to this county by one of Mr Bakewells frft diſciples, up- ciate wards of 30 years fincez previous to which,““ dig bones” by and“ /arge fize” were looked upon as the principal cri- fally teria of excellènce, and a ſacred adherence to the rule TE of never breeding within the canonical degree of relation- | hip; but thoſe prejudices are at this period, in a great 0s, meaſure, done away; and the principal farmers of this Au diſtri may now be claſſed amongſt the moſt ſcientific : breeders in the kingdom, who have purſued it with an (8 ardour and unremitting attention that have not failed of 5 ſucceſs,* AN Salving—was formerly univerſally praiſed, and it was thought the ſheep could not do well without it. In the lower diſtris it is now almoſt totally diſuſed; and ſome h lot, of the hill farmers have laid it aſide, and find their flocks do equally well as before; and the wool ſells for a much | better price than when it is ſalved; but it is of leſs weight, nongl% It is this knowledge of breeding, and the nice diſcrimination e molt of ſele&ing proper ſtock for grazing, added to their improved mode of cultivation, that gives them a celebrity of charaQer, for ge 0r their extenſive knowledge in rural affairs, and that has for ſome years back made this diftri& a School for Agriculture, where pu- pils from various parts have come to be inſtrudted, old to K 4 As 136 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY as may be naturally expe(ted, from the want of near* of à pound of ſalve upon each fleece. This falve is compoſed of 12 Ib. of butter, and 4 quarts of tar, mixed well together while warm, which quantity ſerves 24 ſheep, the number a man will ſalve in a day. Milking.—It uſed to be a general practice through all this county to milk ewes after the lambs were weaned, for x, eight, or ten weeks; from this milk great quantities of cheeſe were made, and ſold for about 3d. per pound. When Kept to three or four years old, it is exceedingly| pungent, and on that account ſome people prefer it to cheeſe of a much better quality. Y To milk ewes two or three times after the lambs are weaned 1s a uſeful pradice; but when continued to eight or ten weeks, it becomes very detrimental, keeps the ewes lean, and ill prepared for meéting the ſeverities of Winter. This cuſtom has been long diſuſed by the intelligent| farmers in the lower diſtriéts; and we are glad to find‘it much laid aſide by the moſt confiderable hill farmers. The proft of milking ewes far ſix or eight weeks is eſti mated at 8d. per ewes and it is generally agreed they are| decreaſedin value, at leaſt 1s, 6d. per head; of courſe there© is 2 loſs of about 1s. per head by milking. In one in- i ſtance of milking long-woolled ewes, laſt Summer, there 4 Was a löfs of at leaſt 3s, per head. i SECTE 3.— Horſes, The beſt draught horſes uſed in this county are brought from Clydeſdale, in Scotland; they are in general ee 157 to 16 hands high; ſtrong, hardy, remarkable good and true pullers; a reftive horſe being rarely found a- mong them. Thoſe bred in the county are of various ſorts, deſcend- ed from ſtallions of different kinds, from the full blood Z: Tacer, 4 EA ——————————— i en: S403 e———————————_———— O——= OF NORTHUMBERLAND« 137 ear 3 o 7 racer, to the ſtrong, heavy, rough-legged black. From the full blood ſtallions and country mares, are bred excel- Ur à "4 N lent hunters, road and carriage horſes; and from the o- Vi; 5 ie ther kinds of ſtallions are bred the draught horſes, which pd in general, are middle fized, ative animals, well adapted gh all to the huſbandry of the country. ed, for We have before obſerved, that ſince the price of horſes Nltities had been ſo very high, ſeveral oxen had been uſed for the ound, draught; but whether with propriety or advantage, will Umoly appear from tit tq A comparative Statement between HORSES and OXEN, mbs are for the purpoſe of the Draught. to eight BY way of preliminary it will be neceflary to admit as MIE Y Y he eyes„data, That a horſe which eats 70 buſhels of oats per year, \inter, will not conſume of other food ſo much as an ox that elligent gets no corn;* but in the following eſtimate, we ſhall al- nd it Irmers,* This is deduced from the following experiments. E Three working horſes about 15 hands high, eat in 14 days, 5 Elte 96 ſtones of hay 5; which is for each horſe at the rate of 16 ſtones Vale a week, with an allowance of oats, 12 gallons per week. / Mr Thompſon’s of Chillingham Barns, 18 horſes in 12 days, there eat 430 ſtones of hay; which is 14 ſtones per week, each horſe: ne ille allowance of oats, 16 gallons per week. Mr Atkinſon’s of Yevering, eat per week, 13 ſtones of hay, 2 there buſhels of potatoes, ánd 16 gallons of oats. Mr Jobſon?’s of Newtown, 5 years old working oxen, with 2 full allowance of hay, had, each ox, 6 guarts of oats per day. In 15 days 4 oxen eat 164 ſtones 7 Ib. of hay, which is after the rate for each ox, of hay 19 ſtones per week. of oats 10$ gallons ditto, Three days after, the ſame oxen were put to hay only; and în D 7 days eat 79 ſtones Io Ib. or 20 ſtones each ox per weck, which drouglt is only# ſtone more, than when they got 10t gallons of corn, in ral from; the ſame time. This is a ſingular circumſtance, and deſerving of : further inveſtigation. ble good An unworked ox, 3# years old, was put to good old meadow l hay, the 29th of November, and eat 49 ftones in 21 days; or per found a f:, week, 16 ſtones 5 Ib. An idle horte(157 hands high) eat of the ſame hay, 20 ſtones in teſcend- 10 days; or per week, 14 ſtones—had no corn. low IL blood race) 1.38 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY low horſes to eat as much as oxen, as the difference is not yet ſufficiently aſcertained. That the oxen are yoked at 3 years old, and are worked till ſix; and for the firít year reguire 8, to do the work of 2 horſes; but after having been worked 2 year, and become tradable and ſtronger, 6 are equal to 2 horſes, either by being yoked threeat a time, or two, and driven by the holder with cords; of courſe, the expence oí a driver may be eſtimated to be ſaved for one half the year. ‘Phat the expences of a ploughman, the plough and other articles that are the fame in both teams, need not be taken into the account.| And that oxen, to work regularly through the year, cannot work more than half a day at a time. Expence of an ox per anns LE de SUMmMmeTinNg, Graſs 2 aches At 205 Per acre 29.0 L LES Se>, Wintering on fraw& turnips 200: butifonbhay-- 400 —R——— The average is*== 300 Intereſt at ç per cent, for price ofthe xx- 010 0 Harneſs, ſhoeing, Æcs=-=«a ORE O GO O Dedud for the increaſed value of an ox for 1yr.1 o 0 SEE AS E E gives the expence per ann. of an ox for the team 5 5 o And the expence of 6 oxen- n= JO O To which mußt be added the expence of a e= Carried over ZI Io 0 *# A oreat portion of the ſoil of this county is improper for turnips; în thoſe diftri@ts hay is given, infſteád of turnips, for which reaſon we have taken the average. driver, OF NORTHUMBERLAND- 139 Ls ide Brought over 3r Io 0 driver for£ a year==- 310 0 Total expence of a team of 6 oxen- 25 OO An 8 ox team. ' Lader ee The expence of an 0x per ann, being- O 8 That of 8 will be-=_=- 420-0 To which, add the expence of a driver= 800 gives the expence per ann. of an 8 oxtcam gç50 0 0 Therefore the expence of a team of oxen the firſt year, willbe= 50 0 0 ditto the ſecond year= 25.0 À ditto the third year= OO divided by- 2120 00 Gives rhe average expence per ann of an ox team, Írom 3 to 6 years old- Le G0 Expence of an horſe per ann: Ld. Summering,—Grafs 2 acres, at 20s. per acre 2 0 0 Wintering,—-Straw 13 weeks, at gd. per week o 10 o Hay 16 ditto, 12 tons, at 2l. per ton, E ZT a— Z(0)(0) Corn(for a year) 70 buſhels of oats, at 2s, per buſhel== S--9 L Sloeing aud aS=S (0) (0) Oo 0 RR, Carried over 13 iſo© Annuity A=> AGRICULTURAL SURVEV VES E Brought over 13 10 o( Annuity to pay of 2s1. in 16 years, the purchaſe value of the horſe at 4 yearsold* 2 5 0 —— i e Expence of a horſe per ann.=-= T5 oi O := i o, Ditto of a two horſe team-- 2 LOE O a A, If a three horfë team be uſed, the account will fand thúùs:, I a The expence of an horſe per ann. being- 15 150| 3 That of 3 will be---= ASO To which, add the expence of a driyer- DOE gives the expence ofa 3 horſe team E e If the compariſon be made with the horſe team of many of the midland counties, where they uſe ç horſes, goked. one before another in one plouzh; the account will fand thus: Lo ad/ The“expenee of one horſe per ann. being= 15 15 0 Y 5 Carriediover 78-15 0 * Thisis calculated on the ſuppoſition, that a horſe bought at j 4 years old, will work 16 years; and admitting his price to þe 251, then the queſtion will be, to find what annuity will pay of 251. y! ir xó years, allowing compound intereſt at 5 per cent, which by the rules laid down by the writers on algebra, will be 21. 5s. od. : That OF NORTHUMBERLAND- I 4L A ‘That of 5 will be---- 78 I-50 To which add the expence of a man to drive 18-00 The expence of a team of 5 horſes will be- 9Ó 15 0 Ditto of 2 ditto- E SE Ditro of 2 ditto S- 31:10 0 Ditto of 8 oxen== 5Q..0.0 The average expence of an ox team, from 3 to ó years old, that will do the ſame quantity of work as 2 horſes=- s- 1oe.0 The concluſions to be drawn from the above ſtatement are ſo obvious as to need little elucidation; but we can= not help remarking, how ſtrong the force of prejudice muſt be, to continue the uſe of ç horſes, and heavy, clumſy, unwieldy wheel ploughs, where a ſimple /zing Plough, and 2 horſes yoked double, and driven by the holder, would do the ſame quantity of work, equally well, and at one third the expence! But before any proper concluſions can be drawn whe- ther ox teams or horſes are the moſt eligible, it will be neceſlary to conſider, whether the quantity of land em-= ployed in ſupporting thoſe animals be uſed in the moſt profitable mode to the community, as well as the Occupier, With the latter, the firſt queſtion for confideration is whether 8 oxen uſed in the team, or in grazing, will pay him the moſt money? Suppoſe 8 oxen, at Zhree years old, were put to. the plough, and plough 6 acres per week; which, at 3s. 4d.* per acre, is 20 ſhillings; and if they work 48 weeks in 2 year, then their whole earnings(after dedudting 61. for * If to this 3s. 4d. be added 1s. 8d. the wages for the plough- man and driver, it. will make 5s, the uſual price for ploughing an acre in this diſtri. CXpences 142 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY expences of harneſs, ſhoeing,&c.) will be 421.: but if they plough only 5 acres per week,(which is probably Hearer the truth), then their whole earnings wil be on- IAN| The ſame oxen put to graze, to pay the ſame money, fhould improve in value gl. gs. each, in the frft caſe; and 41. gs. in the latter: but we are inclined to believe, there áre few ſituations, if the cattle are of a good quick feeding kind, where they would not pay confiderably more. In reſpect to the community, the account will be nearly as follows: From the above ſtatements, we find that an 0x for ſummering and wintering, requires= 372 acres;— therefore a 6 ox team will require- 21 ditto And 2 horfes for graſs and hay per ann. require--= 7 ditto Fór corn& ftraw--- 4 ditto Land neceſfary for keeping 2 horſes Ppér añil---- It ditto The difference is the quantity of land required for a team of oxen= 10 acres more than horſes, Hence it appears, that a team of 6 oxen requires 10 2crés more land to maintain them than a team of 2 horſes, which will do the ſame work: and of courſe, the producé which might be derived from this 10 acres, is loſt to the community: ſuppoſe it be one half in grals, and the other half in ploughing, then we ſhall have, 5 ACTES OBCIONEr Or o TalS. 12 Ditto of oats. 17 Ditto of turnips, ox fallow, 15 Ditto‘of wheat, E OF NORTHUMBERLAND, 143 dui It would then ſend to market yearly, at the loweſt robably computation, de on. 77 Cwt. of beef. 8 Quarters of oats. 1oNey, Añd gg Ditto of wheat. E From this view of the ſubject, it appears, that if oxen U were univerſally uſed for the draught, in the room of E horſes, there would be a confiderable defalcation in the M ſupply of the markets, both in corn and animal food.* LE And the loſs to the farmer would be the profit derived from the produce; which by the uſual mode of aliowing X far one-third for the farmer's profit, would in this caſe be D about 101, 10 SECT» 4— Sauine, ) ) The Berkfhire pigs, and the large white breed, were formerly the moſt prevalent in this county 5; but the ſmall f black Chineſe breed has in a great meaſure ſupplanted them, eſpecially upon the large farms; and theſe are likely to give way to a ſmall white breed lately introduced, remark- N ably guiet, inoffenſive animals; on which account they are principally preferred to the Chineſe breed. ea 10 NOU; A: * In this county it is eſtimated that there are capable of cul- re, the tivation, 800000 acres; and allowing* Of this to be in tillage, ACTES, 18 that is 266666 acres; and that every 50 acres in tillage will / require a team to manage it properly; of courſe there will be at n gral, leaſt 5 333 teams, but for the ſake of round numbers call it 5000 teams. 1E, Then 5000 M 77 cwts. beef= 37500 cwts. beef at zos. 56250 5090 A 8 qrs. Oats= 40000 grs. oats at 16s. 32990 5009 X 5 dqrs, wheat= 25000 grs. wheat at 40s. 50000 Le 138250 k The value in provifons that would be loſt în this county yearly, if horſe teams were aboliſhed, and oxen uſed in their ſtead. SEGT?2 I 44 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY SECT. 5.— Rabbits Rabbits are found in confiderable numbers among the ſand hills along the coaſt, and are probably the moſt eligi- ble ſtock for ſuch ſituations, having been ſold of late years for 2s. per couple» j SECT. 4.— Goats. Goats—are kept in ſmall numbers, on many Parts of the Cheviot hills, not ſo much as an object of profit, but the ſhepherds afert, the ſheep flocks are healthier where a few goats depaſture. This probably may be the cale, as it is well known, that goats eat ſome plants with impunity, that are deadly poiſon to other Kinds of domeſtic animals. The chief profit made of theſe goats, is from their mill being ſold to invalids, who come to Wooler in the Sum- mer ſeaſon. SECT. 7.— Poultry. Poultry,—in a diſtrict like this, where they are ſold ſo low, are the moſt unprofitable ſtock kept upon a farm z the value of the corn conſumed by them, being generally double to what they are ſold for; and the labouring people are ſo well convinced of their inutility, that they con- RRantly and univerfally ſell them, knowing from experi- ence, that if the value received for them be laid out in either beef or mutton, it will be much more ſerviceable; and this piece of economy is ſo well underſtood, that we believe there is ſcarce an inſtance of a labouring perſon ever making uſe of pouliry for his own family; they are always conſidered as articles purpoſely bred to pamper Îuxur y. > OF NORTHUMBERLAND, 145 One the oſt Cligl,: CHAPTER XIF. te pears RURAL ECONOMY A e SECT. 1.— Labour, Sc. SiG“TnROoUCH j ey E the greateſt part of this county, and eſ i pecially upo#® the large farms, there are very few ſer- N vants E-pt in the houſe; ſeldom more than two men and AA two maids: but the ploughman, carters, barnmen, ſhep- ars herds,&c- bave each a houſe and garden or yard to them- e Mte ſelves, and are generally married. The conditions of ſervitude for one year are: : Ed 2 Cows kept; or money in lieu at zl ath, 6 0 0 gre(old 2 Buſhels of wheat= at 5s. peru O Is O afan; 23 Ditto-aßgats==_at 1s, 2d ditto=— 215 9 enerally 12 Ditto of barley= at 25 0d. ditto= 1 00 7 people 12 Ditto of rye«=‘- at 3s 4d. ditto= 2 0 0 y(Oe 16. Ditto of peſe== at 35, ód, ditto= 1 I5 9 euneti- 24 1b of caſt wool- at GUT DELI: OI 9 | out in 1 Buſhel of potatoes planted, a pig A xs ciceable; keeping hens, Æc. „tutt Carriage of coals, Âx cart loads,=-= 1 00 8 Taal! 18 fr o y pup They are bound to find a woman labourer to work för the following wages: for harveſting 6d, per day, for hoe- L ing M SA E AAS ERES A E EO m——— E EE GIE 146 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY ing turnips,“ hay-making, ſcaling, weeding corn, STC: uſed to be 4d. per day, but was laſt year raiſed to ód. per day. In addition to the above conditions, the ſhepherd gen=- erally has as many ſheep kept as are worth four or five pounds a gear; but, if he has any under-ſhepherd to Keep to aſliſt him, the number is increaſed accordingly. In the hilly diſtri&s, their ſheep ſometimes amount to hun- dreds, beſides ſix or eight neat cattle. An overſeer or head ſervant has, in addition to the a- bove, as much money as to make his place worth from 201, to gol, a year. Threſhing is moſtly done by the piece; a twenty- fifth part of the corn threſhed, being the general cuſtom, if the ſtraw be taken away unfolded; but if the threſher folds the ftraw, he has a twenty-firſt part, and finds a woman to dreſs the corn, and to work at all other work, for the ſame wages as the others; he has ſtraw‘for his cow in Winter, but pays for her Summer's graſs. The yearly wages of houſe ſervants ares for men, from 81. to 121.; for women, zl. to 51. The wages of day labourers, without viduals or any al- lowance of beer, are, O Sede For Men, in Summer,-= C2 tO Af Winter==-# oto I 2 Harveſt=== Ie Gto I 9 Women, ditto“==, I Oto r3 * Tn this branch of labour, the women în the northern parts of the county excel: the writer of this note has at different times viſited Norfol&, Suffolk, and all the principal turnip diſtri@s in the iſland; but never ſaw turnips /o vell hoed, and compleatly cleaned), or kept in fuch garden- like culture, as on theſe borderg. ¡n+ In 1796, the wages got up to 4s. and in harveſt to 28- ód, for Men; and for women, to 18. 9d. i ç ; OF (4 8 Com, h ed to bd,| epherd fen | four 0! bre Dherly berg dn, Tn Unt 0 bun« n{0(he g- Toth from 2 tenth leuſton, dt: threfler falls nds 4 vom nork, foc(he or is con in r nen, fon 6 aran ale UE 101 dh oto i 2 (tol 9 tol) e northempad / hrg OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 147 Se — for other work=-= 0 6:0 Malos SS Ale LS Carpenters a=«== I OO Upon ſome of the large farms, a carpenter and ſmith are hired by the year. The hours of working are from fix in the morning to fix in the evening, when the length of day will permit, with the following intervals of reſt: E M. At breakfaſt=- O20 Ten o'clock=- 0 30 Dinner-=° I. 30 Four oclek= O30 In all 3 00 hours of reſt, and nine of labours SECT 2.— Proviſion. The price of grain in this county fluQuates very much: betwixt the mark-ts of Newcaſtle and Hexham, and thoſe of Alnwick, Berwick, and Wooler, there is always 2 conſiderable diffference;z;* the prices in the northern parts being in general the loweſt, or amongſt the loweſt. in the Kingdom, owing to the produce being ſo much greater than the home conſumption. LTPhis ſurplus aŒords large quantities to be yearly exported from Berwick, Ale- mouth, and other places along the northern part of the coaſt The average prices of grain at Berwick, in 1792, were, s d. Wheat-- 5 0 per buſhel. Rye-- 24 ditto * Wheat and barley, in Newcaſtle market, are moßly fixpence a buſhel higher; and in Hexham, ninc-pence, L2 Barley 149 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY cde Barley=- 26 ditto Oats-- 242 ditto Peaſe-- 26 ditto Fat ſtock being eafly driven from one place to another, keeps the price of butcher’s meat more upon an equality in all the markets of the county. The average price of butcher’s meat is from threepence- halfpenny to fourpence-halfpenny per pound; but in May and June it generally gets to fivepence, and the two laſt years has been fixpence and ſevenpence. ide o 6ó a pound of Ió ounces» Skim-milk and ewe cheeſe o 3£ ditto Butter=- Fat gooſe-- 20 Mu ES Duck--=O Chicken== 06 Sd Eggs, per dozen=O 3.0 0.6 Potatoes, per buſh.== 1 0to16 SECT. 3:— Fuel. Upon the edges of the moors, towards the weſtern parts of the county, a few peats are burnt; but in every other part, we believe, coals are univerſally uſed. The guantity conſumed by a poor family, is from 5 to 7 cart loads a years CHAPTER OF NORTHUMBERLAND« T49 0 x CHAPTER XY. 0 E POLITICAL ECONOMY. equility PS éPENCC= A SECT. I.— Roads. Toe turnpike roads are moßtly in 800d orderz Va thoſe that have an opportunity of getting whinſtone, or limeſtone, are the beſt; but they certainly would be better if the ſurveyors would order the ſtones to be bro- ken ſmaller and the roads made wider. One great ob- jection to ſome of theſe roads is the many ſteep banks they are diſgraced with, ſome of the worſt might have* f been avoided; but*it ſeems the original ſetters-out of theſe roads had a prediledtion for climbing and deſcend- ing ſteep banks: this is notorious on both the roads up- on Rimſide-Moor, without even the plea of being near- erz as the leveller road would have been nearer, travelled eln in much leſs time, and with far leſs fatigue. Some ſimilar n oy caſes appéar on the poſt road, which we hope will be | remedied in the next application to Parliament for a new {rom z 0 E:: Ihe townſhip roads are in ſome places good, but by far the greateſt part are déſerving of a diferent appellation; the cauſe of this deficiency is in moſt caſes to be attributed to the negle&t and manner of performing the ſtatute- work. Id One mode of remedying this neglect, would be to ap point a ſurveyor, with a ſmall ſalary, who ſhould be enm- powered to colle&t the compoſition due for ſtatüte-work, L 3 and E I E 7——————— 150 AGRICULTIRAL SURVEY and«mploy this money for repairing the road where moft necéſfary for the public in general, without having regard to the convenience or influence of individuals, A book ſhould be kept by the ſurveyor, and yearly ex- amined, ſettled, and ſigned by a committee of inhabitants, betore it went to the magiſtrates. We know from expe- rience, that by this means the road would be much bet- ter made, and in near double the guantity: for when 2 farmer ſends his cart to perform Éatute-duty, it ſeldom carries more than half a load, and the ſervants praiſe every manœuvre to put of time, and do as little as poſſi- ble. which would not be rhe cafe with hired carts, as every inhabitant would be ready to report any mal-pradtices» SECI. 2=— Canals. In this county there are no Canals; and notwithfiand- ing heir manifeſt utility to a diſtri like this, where ſuch immenſe quantities of heavy articles are to be conveyed 5 yet we believe, no attempt was ever made, or even ſo much as a canal projeted, in any part of the county before 1792, when ſome gentlemen on Tweedfide had it in con- templation to make a navigable canal, from the collieries and lime works near Berwick, to Kelío in Scotland, and from thence up the Tweed and Tiviot; but a ſurvey be- ing made by Mr Whitworth, it was dropt, probably on account of the great expence. The next public notice we can trace, was given by Mr Dodd, in 1794, of a canal from Newcaſtle to Carliſle, or Maryport, in Cumberland, to join the eaſt and weſt ſeas. This was to paſs on the /outh fide of Tyne: but Mr Chap- man propoſed a line to paſs on the north fide of Tyne, the peculiarity of which was, that it ſhould come from Hay- don-Bridge, to the apper parts of Newcaſtle, upon one level without a lock, and the goods conveyed from thence to =S OF NORTEUMBERLAND-s 7 5L tj to the river, either by a kind-of ſtair-caſe of locks, or in Nerd to E: waggons on an inclined plane, By this propofßal, the principal ſupporters of the grand canal were divided into Jey es two parties; the conſequence of which was, that the abita money to compleat the great deſign of uniting the two [00 expe, ſeas, could not be raiſed, and of courſe it was given Up; M bets one on the north fide, propoſed o flop at Haydon- ruhen a Bridge, and another on the ſouth fide at Hexham. The ‘feldom ſubſcriptions for defraying the expence of the north line, paftiſe we were informed were filled; and application was 8 poli made to Parliament in 1797, to obtain an A& for making REY a canal on the north fide, but it met with ſo ſtrong an liees, oppoſition from the land owners, that it was thought pro- per to withdraw its The ſubſcribers for a canal on the ſouth of the river ſtill perſevere in their endeavours to accompliſh the line wifbland; to Hexham, or HaydonsBridge; and we have not heard where uch that any oppoſition to the meaſure is intended by the pro= comeped; prietors of lands, through which it is to paſs, r even fo: tpbelue SECTe 3.— Fairs, in CON» gz The principal Fairs in this County are: collieries Mtr und, and ath. Wooler==for a few cattle, ſheep, horſes, Ureg bes hiring ſervants,&cs dbadiy Mu 1oth. Allendale—for cattle. I2th.——Alnwick.— A large ſhow of both fat and lean ven by Mr cattle, Carliſle, 0 I 4th.—— Haltwhiftle—for cattle, chiefly cows for graz- 1d weſt les, ings 4 Me Cup JUNE:| 2 EL Belford.—A few cattle and ſheep, h qu Wrancas hekore; Morpeth—for fat cattle, ſheep,&c- n thence Whitſunday, vi: ú: L 4 Whitſun ——————— E———————= I 52 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Whitſun Eve— St¿g/ffaw- Bank,(near Corbridge)-—fo cattle, ſheep, horſes, êe. Whitſun- Vueſday—WPhitſun Bank,(near Wooler.)—A. large fair for cattle, horſes, and great numbers of ſheep, principally long-woolled hogs, and'ewes and lambs; and 2 hiring for ſervants, E E Py; Berwick=—a few lean and fat cattle, week. Juv 4h Stagfhaw Bank,"(near Corbridge.)—This is one of the larg: ſheep: fairs in the north of England;* principally of the black-faced heath ſheep, which moſtly come from the ſouth weſt of Scotland: there are alſo great numbers of cattle, horſes, and ſwine. Wedneſday be- fore the 22d- Laſt Monday,——Alnawick,—fat and lean cattle, ; Morpetbh—for fat cattle, ſheep, Xc- AUGUST eth.—Hexham.—Cattle, horſes and ſheep, chiefly lambs. both of the Cheviot and heath kind; from the vicinity of Langholm,(in Scotland.) 12th.——-Newcafile—holds 9 days for horſes; and for At and lean cattle, on the laft or 12th. zd Belford.— A few cattle and ſheep, 24th.———W hittingham,—-for fat and lean cattle, and a few ores: The beſt ſhow of fat cattle of any fair in the county.F 26th.— Elfdon,—a few cattle. SEPTEMBER. Saturday af( Bellingham,—a few cattle, chiedly ſmall ter the 15th) cows * Upwards of a hundred thouſand fneep are ſhown at this fair. + This fair uſed to be held on the 4th of September, but was altered a few years fince- Igth. OF*NORTHUMBERLAND«e 153 Be hy e E Toth: Harbottle,—tor a few cattle, moſtly feers and er Ja heifers» Fa: TN: 27th SE. Ninians,(near Wooler),—a very large | Mh ſhow of faecep and cattle, with a few horſes.—The ſheep ims md are moſily draft or caſt ewes, and ſhearing wethers, OcTOoBER. hit atile, Firſt Tueſday— A4/nwick—for fat and lean cattle. 2d. Bothbury,—tor cattle, moſtly for ſteers and heifers. -This 1s i7th:——-Wooler,—for very great numbers of ſheep, of nglandf the Cheviot and loñg-woolled kinds: a few cattle and dh moſh horſes» cre are alſo 29th.— Netwcaftle,—for horſes, cattle, and ſwine. This is one of the largeſt fairs in the north of England. ep dc The horſe fair begins nine or ten days before the 29th, y and continues every day in the town, where great num- 2 i bers of remarkable fine horſes, for the fñeld, the road, and thé carriage, are ſold daily. The abundant choice of e- eN, chiefly very kind, brings great numbers of dealers from London from the and various other diſant places: its celebrity has increaſe ed very much of late yeárs, and we believe it may be juſta ; and for Iy‘clafled amongſt the firſt horſe fairs in the kingdom. The thow of cattle is alſo very great, not only for the breed of the country, but alſo for large droves of kyloes, le, anda{Scotch cattle) which are purpoſely driven from the High- air in tbe lands, to be ſold at this fair—The fair on the 29th, is held on the Town-moor, and is called the Cow- hill fair. NovEMBER, 1 Rotébury—for youns cattle. hiefly ſul 8th.—— Hexham.—Cattle.:: 14th.—— Állendale.—Cattle, moſtly ſmall cows: 22d.—— Newcafile.—Fat cattle, chiefly cows: this natiir fair is held in the town, and is called the““ Stones fair” 22d.—— Haltwhiftle.==/A few fat cows, and lean cattle jen but 088 for wintering. ah:' DECT. „igt A E eite——— a M 154 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY 1 WW Sah | FT DECT. 4 Markets,| ſuppl M| 1 Tuefday.— Hexham,—for corn and other proviſions. ter, WV y Ditto—Belford.—The chief ſupport of this market, is Dy A the fale of corn, great quantities of which are ſold by ſam- the? y| ple, for exportation. 1000 ||: Ditto.—Newcafile,—a ſmall market for proviſions of Dit 4 Mf various Kinds. vifiONs ME Wednefday.—MMorpeth,—for corn, butcher's meat, Dit / MY butter,&c. and for fat cattle and ſheep: of the former artidlé 140 on an average not leſs than 80 weekly; and of ſheep,| confi || and lambs 1600 z;* which are bought up for the conſump- patt 1 tion of Newcaſtle, Shields, Sund erland,+&c. \ M Thurſday.—W oler,— principally for corn, confiderable 4) quantities of which are ſold by ſample, moßily for expor-/ 1 MI| tation. E | V|| Friday.—Rothbury.—This market is little more than Ne E M nominal, there being only one butcher who ſells a few 39 II carcaſes, and which conftitutes nearly the whole of the N M market. di R Ditto.—Allendale,—for corn, butcher’s meat, and con= 7 0 Hderable quantities of potatoes and garden ſtuff from f FHL| Hexham; all for the ſupply of the mining diſtrié to the M D| weſtward. | 1 D * Mr Thomas Spours, who has attended this market for up- wards of 40 years, ſays, that zo years ſince, there was not half 4 this number; and he remembers, that for ſeveral weeks in the Winter, very few ſheep or cattle, if any, were exhibited. 4 mE H + Tt may be proper to remark, that zo or 40 years fince, the||! butchers of thoſe places were obliged to purchaſe a great deal of fat ſtock, in the neighbourhood of Darlington, and other parts of\ the county of Durham 5 the produce of the north not being equal il to their demands: but the ſcales are now turned, the northern j farmers being able, not only to ſupply the increaſed population of thoſe places, but to ſend great numbers of both fat cattle and ſheep, every year, to Leeds, Wakefield, Mancheſter,&c. Daturday OF NORTHUMBERLAND. liss Saturday.—Newcafile.—A very large market, and well Oviſion, ſupplied with corn, butcher's meat, fiſh, poultry, but- nuke, N ter,&c. is i 0d by in, Ds Hutton, in his Plan of Newcaſtle, in 1772, fates the annual conſumption of this place to be 75000 catttle, ois of 10000 calves, and 147000 ſheep and lambs, Ditto.—Ainwick,—a large market for corn and Ppro- viſions of various kinds. E Ditfo.— Berwick,—for corn, E meat, and CS articles of proviſions; at both this market and Alnwick, | fhecp, conſiderable quantities of corn are ſold by ſample for ex- clump, portation. onfiderable DECT. 5= Commerce. for expar: Tt: yz; E 1e commerce of this county is derived principally from the coal trade: the ſhips belonging to the port of GE Newcaſtle, in 1772, are ſtated by Mr Pennant, to be 47 3948, their tonnage, 758214—The principal exports are le of the coals, lead, lead ſhot, wrought iron, grindſtones, pottery, glaſs,&c. nd col The exports from Berwick, are chiefly corn, four, oat= | from meal, ſhilled barley, potatoes, fifh, eggs. wool,&c. coaßt- (to the ways; which has increaſed very much of late years: the foreign trade is chiefly to the north of Europe. The number of vefſlels belonging to this port is about E 49, making upwards of 2000 tons: the receipts of the e cuſtoms are, upon an average, about 30001. per ann. |, The port of Alemouth alſo employs a few veſlels in ex- porting corn, flour,&c. A Aud a few veſlels are employed in the Summer ſeaſon, her parts df in carrying lime, from the neighbourhood of Bambro?, tbengequd to diferent parts of Scotland;| the noted tol teallf ud SECTA C= 14 anufacu VCS uy This county is not diſtinguiſhed by any ſtaple manus faQures z 1 56 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY faQtures the principal are derived from, Or connedted(eve thi N: Ni not 00! be(up with the coal trade and mines; as ſhip-building, roperies, forges, founderies, copperas, coal tar, ſoda, or marine alkali, white lead, potteries, glaſs works,&c. Hexham has been long famed for its manufa@ure of gloves, which employs about zoo hands, To eftabliſh manufaëures of Weoollens, two or three Of! eſſays have been lately made at Alnwick, Mitford, and(2, from Acklington; and a cotton Mill has been lately erected at Y Nether-Wittton; all of which, from preſent appearances, we hope are doing well. There is one ſpecies of manufaQure cárried on in this diſtri, with an agricultural produdion of ſmall value, viz, that of raw, which is not only made uſe of as a covering for the heads of the wives and daughters of the humble cottager, but has alſo lately been converted into orna- ments that might accompany the richeſt and moſt ſplen- did dreſs, which the palace or the drawing-room ex- hibits; and, for the honour of the plough, has not only[y been converted into buttons for the men, but alſo into rings and ear-rings for the ladies. Agriculture is certainly benefited by manufactures in the conſumption of its produce, by the great number of people employed: but we do not find any new modes of pradice or improvements in agriculture,‘introduced in their vicinity, or reſulting from the exertions of thoſe, connedted with them. i DECT. 7— Poor. We do not find any mode of managing the poor in this/| county, diferent from that generally uſed in other] diſtricts. y In thoſe townſhips where they are colle&ted and main- tained in poor houſes, the rates are eaſier, than where they are relieved at their own houſes, We are inclined to be- A Y lieve CoNnedg 10) Opere, Or marine faure of 0r three 0rd, and eCted at Arances, n in thi \alue, viz, à COVETIN è humble 10 0rna- oſt ſplen- 100M EXr not only ¿lſo into tures in nber of ¡0des of duced in of(hole gor in this “in otht! qud gine here they edito be- lievé OF NORTHUMBERLAND, T57 lieve that work-houſes, under proper regulations, would not only conſiderably leflen the rates, but the poor might be ſupported more comfortably. SE(Ss 2 ERE Pop ulation» Of the population, we could not collet ſufficient da= ta, from whence even a tolerable gueſs could be made. miT LN O CCD>22 OLLE CHAPTER NEL, OBSTACLES TO*:IMPROVEMENT-.« erf Crede Kiel ŒW>>- pepe du H 8 our journey throngh this county, wherever we en- quired what was the chief obſtacle to improvement? the anſwer was univerſally,€ Tithes’’— Animpoſition ſo preg- nant with miſchief, and ſo often the ſource of violent diſ= ſenſions betwixt the clergy and their pariſhioners, ſhould if poſlible be removed, either by purchaſe, commutation, or any other means, by which a fair eguivalent ſhall be rendered for them: for ſo long as they exiſt, it is impoſ- fible to expe that agricultural improvements will be car- ried on to the extent of which they are capable. In our Survey of Cumberland, we have ſhewn the great uncer- tainty of employing money in ſpeculations of improving land; and that the tithes, in ſuch caſes, are a large por- tion of a man's capital in trade, and not a tenth of the natural produce of the earth, which ſome have thought was all that was intended by the original impoſers, who no doubt meant them for a good purpoſe; but if through a fucceflion of ages, a change of manners, of ſentiments, and 153 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY and of cultivation, bas taken 9vlace, and the ill effeds of tithes be univerfally felt, and acknowledged to leſſen the quantity of food obtainable from a conſiderable portion of this kingdom, a change in the mode of paying tithes would alſo be deſirable; for the proprietors of ſuch lands are not only loſers, but the community at large. It is ſur- prizing that a grievance of ſuch magnitude ſhould have ſo long evaded the reviſion and regulation of the legiſla- ture; and that it ſhould be always ſo ſtrenuouſly oppoſed by the clergy, there being no wiſh to take any thing from them, but to render a fair equivalent for what is their dues and which there would be little difficulty in doing, not- withſtanding the many objetions that have been invent- ed, to perplex this moſt intereſting queſtion. ————B A 00 0P Nan 000 Pta, eS CES>00 a CHAPTER XTVIL. MISCELLANEOUS OBSERVATIONS» 444 PD pP PR SECT, 1— Agricultural Societies. “THERE never was any Agricultural Society in this county; and if any ever had exiſted, it probably would have been ſoon diflolved, if we may judge from the ex- periments that have been made in ſome neighbouring diſe tris, where we find, that after a few years continuance, they have been given up; but whether from a radical de- fed in the inſtitutions, the non-attendance, and indifffer- ence of members, or the injudicious diſtribution of prizes, we are not prepared to ſay 5; but think that public farms are much more likely to promote improvements in the Science of Agriculture, i SECT: ———————_—— 2 m I IP D—————————— e———— : E R E ua TGD \ efledt of eſſen the è Portion no tithes Ich lands lt js ſurs Id have legiſla, ppoſed 16 from ir dug; Ng, Not 1 INVENt« y in this y y70uld the eX ring dil* tinuancé adical dé- - / pres) ( harms zin the gg0T: | OF NORTHUMBERLAND, 159 SECT. 2— Weights and Meajures. Weights and meaſures—are in a ſad ſtate of confuañon z a pound, a ſtone, a buſhel, a boll, are rarely the ſame in different markets, and frequently vary in the ſame mar- ket for diferent articles, 4 Beatments 2 Pecks 2 Kennings 2 Buſhels dt Neawcafile, —- 1 Peck 1 Kenning 1 Buſhel, Tinchefler. 1 Boll, At Hexham. For Wheat, Rye, and Peaſe. 4 Quarts- 1 Forpit 4 Forpits- 1 Peck 4 Pecks= 1 Buſhel 2 Buſhels= 1 Boll,=4 Winchefler bufhels. For Oats and Barley, 4 Quarts= 1 Forpic 5 Forpits- 1 Peck 4 Pecks° 1 Buſhel 2 Buſhels- 1 Boll,=5 éufhel:, Wincheßer. At Alnwick. 3 Quarts 1 Forpit 4 Forpits- 1 Peck 3 Pecks- 1 Buſhel, Winchefter. 2 Buſhels-= 1 Boll of Wheat. 6 Buſhels-= 1 Boll of Barley or Oats. At Wader. 4 Quarts> 1 Forpit 3 Forpits- I Dect 3 Pecks= 1 Buſhel 6 Buſhes= 1 Boll A V 169 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY A ſtone of wool in ſome parts is 24 Ib. in others 18 Ib. 5 and a ſtone of every other article is 14 Ib. The Board of Agriculture could not do the public a greater ſervice, than by bringing forward a regvlation of weights and meafures- One weight, and one mealure, derived from the ſame root, and increafing or decrealing in 2 ten fold ratio, would introduce ſuch fimplicity, Cates and perſpicuity, into all tranſactions of bufinefs,(whtre calculations are necefary) as would prevent the number- leſs miſtakes and errors which are daily happening. Preparations tor remedying this great inconvenience» have been made at different times; and we believe there 1re ſufficient materials for perte&ing the mealure, when- ever it is thought proper to bring it forward. SECT: z.— Verm: olles and rats—are two ſpecies of vermin which we think capable of being in a great meaſure extirpated, Or ſo far reduced, as to render their depredations of little conſequence. În Cumberland, a mole is rarely to bée ſeen: this is in conſequence of every occupier of land contribut- ing his due proportion towards their deſtruction. À fircilar plan eſtabliſhed in this county fer deſtroying Ver- min, we believe, would readily be complied with by every good farmer z and the bad ones ought not to have it iN their power to injure their more induſtrious neighbours. Crows—of late years, have become a very great nul- fance, not only for rooting Up wheat, and other grain, in a ſprouting ſtate 5 but clover and potatoes, corn ſtacks, and young plantations, are greatly injured by them. Laſt Spring, a collection of ſixpence a plough was made by a2 few farmers in Glendale Ward, for pulling down their neſs. Many thouſands were deſtroyed by this means 5 and we hope the practice will be continued until they are found leſs pernicious, Foxes. OF NORTHUMBERLAND, TÖL Foxes—are very numerous, and very deſtruCive to young lambs, in a diftri& likz this, where ſo many ſhéep are bred; but while they are ſo anxiouſly preſerved for the chace, we deſpáir of ſeeing any regulations take place for reducing the numbers of this miſchievous animal. Ö - Dogr—in every place are ſwarming: two thirds of them ſtt are kept by people who have no manner of uſe at leal for them; and are conſtantly complaming of their ina- bility to obtain food far their families, It would be do- ing theſe people an act of juſtice, to exempt them from doing ſtatute duty on the high-ways, on condition they did not keep a dog; and to ſupply the deficiency by lay- ing a tax upon dogs, which tax ſhould be applied towards repairing the roads,* MIEREN D VN x y 60 vane tp 00ER LLL OSS CDS 0 CONCLUSION« Reviev of: ſome particular parts» i laK FD dtd epo TN taking a review of the foregoing report, we find, that the minerals are of great importance to this county. In reſpect to the coals, it appears, that they are not inex- hauftible, and in two or three centuries will probably be ſo far wrought out, that the metropolis will have to be ſupplied from other diſtri&s with this neceſſary article, of a very inferior quality, and at a much higher price, The moßt âriking parts in a view of the Agriculture, are * Since the firſt edition of this report, the Legiſlature have thought proper to lay a tax upon a certain deſcription of dogs, but have exempted the only-ones, which are a nuiſance to the Eommunity, M the ZW :(07-FA AGRICULTURAL SURVEY the great extent of farms: leaſes for 21 years, and the opulence, intelligence, and enterprifing ſpirit of the farm- ers: but the moſt prominent feature, is keeping a due balance betwixt the arable and graſs lands, ſo as always to have a large breeding live ſtock, eſpecially of ſheep.—Va- rious ſyſtems of huſbandry have been tried, and the boaſt= ed one of turnips, barley, clover, and wheat, has been purſued till the crops have evidently declined, particularly the turnips and clover; and the only means of reſtoring fuch lands, has been by adopting the ſyſtem of three years arable, and three years graſs, depaftured with ſheep, and a ſmall proportion of cattle: by this mode, nature has time to prepare a ſufficient lea-clod, which being turned up for the turnip fallow, will enſure a vigorous crop of tur- nips, as it is well known they always flouriſh upon freſh land, or where they find the remains of a lea-clod to vegetate in.[t is from this circumſtance, and the pecu- liar and excellent mode of cultivating them, that ſuch great crops are produced, with not more than 1007 I2 cart loads of dung per acre: crops that are ſeldom worth leſs chan 4, 5, or 61. per acre, for the purpoſes of feeding cattle and ſheep, have in ſome inſtances been ſold for 7 and 81. per acre. This mode of cultivating turnips in drills, is alſo of great‘importance, being much ſuperior to the broad-caſt culture, not only for the turnip crop, but for every other crop that ſucceeds them. The proportion betwixt the quantities in arable and graſs, varies according to the quality of the ſoil, and other circumftances; but in moſt ſituations it is uſual to keep 2 certain portion of the beſt and richeſt old grazing lands, ? in caſe the conſtantly in graſs, as a““ corps de reſerve,’ artificial graffs fail; and on frong clayey ſoils, for depal- turing a portion of the ſtore flock upon in winter; for this purpoſe, it is neceſſary upon ſuch ſoils, to bave a much larger portion of old graſs land, than upon dry loams z and OF‘ NORTHUMBERLAND 163 E and which is generally eaten lightly in the latter part of E| Summer, that there gy be a good aftermath, againſt the # time the artificial graſſes fail,: Ït is this union of ſtock and tillage, and purſuing the lès 5 ſyſtem mentioned in page 64, that enables the farmers to Y pay ſuch high rents; and which keeps the land always in y a due fate of fertility, to produce the moſt proûtable Y grops;* and at the lame time is managed and kept clear 6 x of weeds at the leaſt expence, The portion that is kept rs in‘graſs for three years, breeds and fattens ſuch a number ia of ſheep, as leave a conſiderable profit, probably equal, if 2s not more than the arable crops: the yearly profits of a ap, being eſtimated at not leſs than from 20 to 30s. Ute- G6 or'8 of which, an acre of clover will fatten, and an acre elh of turnips about double the number. to By this ſyſtem are obtained the principal advantages of Cu- folding, without any of its inconveniences; for if on an uch average e The 1 year's clover& graſs carry 7 ſheep per acre for rth' 20 weeks ing 2d, ditto=- E 5 ditto 20 ditto for Sd ditto=-= 3 ditto 20 ditto in| and the turnips= Ä_ 12 ditto: 20 ditto to——— AVE: 07) that is°>- 27 ſheep per acre, for 20 weeks, which is after the rate of 540 ſheep per u acre for one week once in fix years; at the ame time fer that the ſhecp are leaving, on an average, a proft ot 25 i ſhillings a year each. ands,| y X There is a certain ſtate of fertility necefMary for producing e the maximum crops of grain; land may be too rich as well as too Poor, for growing corn: we have frequently ſeen crops of wheat rendered of little or no value, by the injudicious application of a for few cart loads of manure per acre more than was neceſſary 5 Upon lands made too rich, corn is very apt to loúge; which not only in- epal- wch jures the crop ot grain, but entirely deſtroys the clover and arti« ¡MS 5 ficial graſſes ſown along with it. 1 and 2 By 14 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY By this means, and the me and manure laid on the fallow turnips, or drilled beans: the lands are kept in the higheſt fate of fertility, for producing all kinds of grain and green crops; and the profits from the ſheep, we preſume, are much greater, than could be obtained from the“ folding-breeds;” by the mode of folding practiſed in Norfolk, and ſome other parts of the kingdom. If our farms were ſtocked with thoſe breeds of ſheep, ſo much extolled for their folding properties, and managed under the folding ſyſtem, we are clearly of opinion, (from having examined the various breeds,) that a very great diminution of rental would take place in a few years. But when the Northumbrian farmers are mformed that the profits of a Norfolk ſheep in“ lamb, wool, and fold- ing, are only from 10 to 13 ſhillings per year,”* we need not be apprehenfive that they will adopt this prac- tice, the remnant of a barbarous age; when the country was, for the moſt part, in open townfields with appendant common; but which, we hope, will give way to a more enlightened ſyſtem; though this prejudice for Folding- ſheep, like many others, will probably require a ſeries of years totally to extirpate it: the misforcune is, that thoſe who know the leaft about ſtock, are generally the moſt bigotted for retaining the original breeds of the country 5 and the loudeſt to raiſe a clamour, againft innovation and attempts at Improvement.| It will be proper to obſerve, that the fheep ſtock ofthis diſtri@&t has been ſo much improved within the laſt 30 years, that they can now be ſold fatter at 15 months old, than they uſed to be'at more than double that age; yet we find that the ſame childiſh arguments were uſed at that time, againſt changing the““ eſtabliſhed breed of the country,” as are uſed by ſome people at this day, in fa- your of the worſt breed of ſheep in the kingdom, * Suffolk report, by A. Young, Eſg. ‘This a ESN e A a TE: iin a i ——E OF NORTHUMBERLAND, 165 This improvement in the ſheep ftock, has been accom- pliſhed by the pradtice of hiring tups, at no inconfiderable prices; and which is now become ſo prevalent, and ſo many competitors have entered the lifts, that we hope the ſpirit of emulation will not flacken, and that we ſhall ſee additional improvements every year, Having thus taken a ſhort review of the moft ftriking éeatures of the agricultural pradice of this diſtri, we ſhall next proceed to ofer a few hints on the Means of Tmprovements. To thoſe few who praiſe the ſyſtem of taking two white crops to a fallow, and of continuing their land in tillage for nine, twelve, or more years, and of ſowing it up with common hay-ſeeds, white clover,&c. and letting it continue as many years in graſs, as it con- tinued in tillage; we would recommend the ſyſtem in the article Rotation of crops,(page 64.) Of drilling beans and peaſe ,—we have before expreſſed our ſurpriſe; that ſo excellent a practice ſhould be neg- leéted in all that extenfive diftri(t along the ſea. coaſt, where they are ſo much cultivated; we hope that the good ſenſe and enterprifing ſpirit of the wealthy farmers of this diſtrict will no longer be ſwayed by old cuſtoms, but will be ready to make a fair experiment, of a ſyſtem which bas been praiſed on ſimilar foils with ſucceſs, and may, in all probability, be equally beneficial on theirs. The difference betwixt a naked fallow, and a crop of beans, 1s too friking to need any elucidation. Watered Meadows.—There are many parts of this county capable of deriving great benefits from this prac- tice, eſpecially where the waters are unmixed with vitriolic impurities, derived from their conneGtion with coal-mines, or firata of aluminous earth. We have alſo our ſuſ- M 2 picions rae i es erar St rT rbmmi—- 166 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY picions of fuch waters as are ſtrongly tinétured by infu= fons of peat-mo(s. Draining—is alſo another operation from which great advantages are to reſult; but they ſhould be Zollow drains, executed with judgment, and well ſecured: and not furface drains, a foot wide, and fix or eight inches deep; ſuch are mere temporary reliefs to a tenant, but no permanent im=- Provement. In the live flock of this county, there is certainly great improvement to be made, and like many other branches of ſcience, the more we inveſtigate the ſubject, the more we are convinced of its unlimited improvements: but im- provements of this kind are not ſo eafily ſpread as thaſe of cultivation. If 2 farmer ſees any modes of praice more beneficial than thoſe he knew before, he can readily E them; or if he diſcovers and ſelects a new variety { any ſpecies of grain, more produétive and more valuable than any hitherto known, it multiplies ſo faſt, that it is readily diflzminated; but 277 roved breeds of flock are not ſo readily diffuſed; they are much ſlower in their propa- gation, and much more eafily contaminated, and are only to be preſtrved by attention and judgment: when theſe be- come seneral, we may hope that improved breeds of ſtock will prevail over the whole county; this period is proba- bly more diſtant than a true patriot would wiſh, but in the mean time we hope, that thoſe who are alreadv poſlefled of improved breeds of ſtock, will not ſlacken in their pur- fuits; that by their example, the Knowledge a and pradice of breeding may, by degrees, be better underſtood, and a’ ſpirit of emulation more generally diffuſed. When we conſider and reflet how ſlow that moſt valuable breed of ſheep(now beſt known by the appellation of the Difoley breed) has ſpread, and how very ſmall a part of this ifland they ill cover, one—_— be almoſt led to think that the were not blefſed with the ſenſes of ſeeing and fccling« \ Drecders OF NORTHUMBERLAND«e 167 feeling—Mr Bakewell has been employed above 40 years in the important taſk of improving this breed of ſheep, to a degree oſ perfe@ion unknown at any former period; yet it is a very few years ſince many of his near neighbours purſued a very diferent, and leſs lucrative ſpecies. To this day, we are pretty well informed, that more than half the large fertile county of Lincoln continue to breed a ſlow feeding, unprofitable Kind, though adjoining the county of Leiceſter: which is the more to be regretted, becauſe that county certainly produces more ſheep than any other in the iſland, and perhaps we do not hazard too much if we affert it as our opinion, that it ſends more mutton to market than any two counties in the kingdom. However, we fatter ourſelves, that the labours of the Board of Agriculture will have a happy tendency towards opening men's eyes, and convincing them of the propriety of not only cultivating the ground in a more maſterly manner, but of ſtocking their paſtures with the moſt profitable animals. Public Farmi=—in every county, conducted by proper perſons, would tend more towards forwarding the perfec= tion of Agriculture in all its branches, than any other meaſure that has ever been ſuggeſted; and as the gentle= men of large landed property would be the moſt intereſts ed in the reſults of ſuch an inſtitution, they certainly ousht to be the guardians and ſupporters of it. The principal expence would be at its firſt inſtitution; when once got into a proper iyícm, it would reguire little, if any further aid. If eſtates of gool. a year, and upwards, were only to contribute Iol. per thouſand, yearly rent, it would, in this county, raiſe a ſum ſufficient for ſetting forward the un- dertaking. We ſuppoſe the farms to contain from 700 to 1000 acres, of various ſorts of land, ſome mountain paſ= tures, and an opportunity of converting a part of it into M 4 watered 168 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY watered meadows. We know ſituations of this ſort that might be rented for five or ſix hundred pounds a-year- A farm of this kind would not only be a ſchool, where youth might be inſtructed in agriculture; but even eXPperi- enced farmers might often viſit it with advantage, to learn the reſults of new experiments, and adopt thoſe that pro” niſed to be úſeful—It would be eaſy to enlarge on this ſubje&, and ſuggeſt many uſcful appendants to ſuch an inſtitution, Mhould the gentlemen of landed property ever think of carrying a ſcheme of this kind into executions» &: ANAND A} À FLAN ZALLA Ls RAL \ 4d A E—- E i E a EEA IL TE n ( l= E Brampton 29 5 DA| / Y ¡ t M A 4 Hom Y C'\ y SS| | Abbey/ Wigton—„IR NECE L S| z> DI VN n== A D= ns NS:| SN Alſtor|? ISE| A D Ne R/:-| ZO; ge Kirknewald Fs SS/ \| Ov Mary Tort perf EE SC — 77 ZE e SYS Cocker=: \ WE= LE = LL moth E== Worlarnoton-\ ¿;-\ , Ò| | ERES| e Whitehvêen G| N E R (E D | Y Migiéweut E A.___mostty a fertile clavev lvam, with patches of turmnuup soùl; no Wal nor Lime. B.____ mort Loam, no@al, non Lime. C.____dnv fèrtüle Loam; no@al, Limertone, on the east síde& SW orner. D.____Soël various; Limeswne about D. and to the westwand, ED! in many places a light dry Loam; Coal& Lime in abundance. F. D! a great porton of drv loam, no Gal nor Lime. G.__( moumainous rocky distrit, interspersed wüth beautud romantic fèrtile Y | | l | | | | i + 1 |( Vatce; soil mostlv drv: no Coal nor Lime.| Í | G: j | H.___ feat Mountains. Soil mofſèv. cal Lime, and Lead-nmines.| k ||| M LBaügr ded Necte wc / L Ve: GENERAL VIEW | K OF THE AGRICULTURE OF THE COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND, WITH OBSERVATIONS Drawn up for the Conſideration of the BOARD OF AGRICULTURE INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT. T, BAILEY aNp G. CULLEY., OC+ DIT m « Here ſtupendous Alpine mountains rear !« Their rocky ſides, and ruſhing torrents roar: « There che ſmooth expanüve Lake, the fertile Vale, ij: i€ And cultur’d Fields, and Gardens ſmile around 5; € And careleſs herds and flocks ſecurely fray.” FOR THE MEANS OF ITS IMPROVEMENT 5 Z TE mr ROTES E ADE —— aet > AE E —S e 2 dw SS E-— AGRICULTURAL SURVEY ê OF CUMBERLAND. x11) PRB A IS, ——B LL Of, ing u Gg Pr— vas CHAPTER I. GEOGRAPHICAL STATE AND. CIRCUMSTANCES, ES SECT. I.— Situation and Extent» Ts county of Cumberland is fituated between the latitudes of; 4 deg. ó min. and 55 deg 75 min. North; and the longitudes of 2 deg. 13 min. and Bde. 30 mine Neſt from London. Tts length from St. Bee’ s Head, in a N. E. dire(ion, to Butter Burn, is 58 mliless and its mean breadth, in a N. W. direction, is 30 miles, Lt is bounded on the eaſt by Northumberland, 51 miles Durham, E 9 on the weſt, by the Iriſh Sea,= 67 on the north, by Scotland and? the Solway-Firth,-> vA IS on the ſouth, by Weſtmorland, 48 and Lancaſhire, 21 Making the whole circumference,-= 224 miles and contains 1516 ſquare miles, or 979240 acres, DECT AGRICULTURAL SURVEY [ZZ] =F dò This county 1s divided into five wards, viz.:—Cumber- land Ward; Eſkdale Ward; Leath Ward; Allerdale Ward above Derwent; and Allerdale Ward below Der= Went, DECT. 3.— Climate. In a county like Cumberland, enjoying ſuch an extent of ſea-coaft, and where ſo large a portion is mountains, and thoſe reckoned amoneft the higheſt in the occupied by kingdom,* the climate muſt be various. Along the coaß, and for a confiderable way up the rivers, the ſnow ſel- domlies above twenty-four hours; but upon the moun-= tains the ſnow will continue for ſix or eight months: of courſe, the lower parts of the county are mild and tem= perate, while-on the higher grounds, and upon the moun- tains and their E the air is cold and piercing 5; but the whole is healthy, though ſubjed to great and frequent falls of rain, particularly in the Autumn, which makes their harveſts very precarious and expenfive.‘This exceſs of wet, we believe, is more or leſs the caſe upon the whole of the weſtern coafts of the iſland. *"The higheſt mountains in the kingdom, are Feet. vi in Scotland,== 4,350 the higheſt in Scotland. j gos ditto-- 7,240 in Wales,=> 3,456 the higheit in Wales. C u fell in Cum erland,= 3,400) 1 5 tici A É LA E A ES&the highe& in England Saddle back, di itto,-- 3,048) Blackhouſe heights, Selkirkſhire 21310 Ettrick-Pin, ditto,-- 2,200 Carter-fell, Roxburghſhire,- 1,602 A hernfide, Yorkſhire,- 1,350 Âr ¡gleborough,= A T5236 We R a ES—— 2 OF CUMBERLAND. 173 Ve have been favoured with the following Table, ſhewing the perpendicular height of rain that has fallen at Keſwick, the laſt ſeven years; by the ingenious Mr P, Croſthwaite, owner of the curious muſéun there, 1789 1790|1791|1792/1793/1794/1795 l—|—|——— | l | Tach. Inch| Tnch.| Inch.| Inch.| Inch. Inch. January| 8,5| 5,9[11,4] 4-5| 5,7| 557| 1,3 February| 9,1| 4,0 9,2| 4,9(9,0|[1,2|553 March SOO O April 4,2| 2,3| 313 11,0| 1,8| 5,4| 557 / O| py May 220 o O e 22| 257 June 7,0| 2 O22 July 2 O3| 2 JO 2O 220 „ Auguſt 255| 5,8 O LOO[8,8 2 OA DCPtEmbe 1284(2,9(10,0 2,0| S| LT Odober OOO O28 NOVenlDer|O OT e 24 OO December| 8, 10,9| 7,8[11,7| 7,4| 8,0|r0,6 EN EE| Total in 172,2(04,7 7355 184,5[5930 71,7(07,6 each year SECT. 4— Soil and Surfaces The foil is various, but may be claſſed under four dife=- rent heads. ift. Fertile clays, or rather rich flrong loams, occupy but a ſmall portion of this county: formerly this kind of ſoil was generally employed in grazing, or the dairy; but ſince the introduction of growing wheat, it has been con- verted into tillage, and produces excellent crops of grain. 2d. Dry Loams, including the various degrees from the rich brown loam, to the light ſandy ſoils. This is the moſt prevalent, occupying a greater portion of the county‘ than any other; not only the lower diſtri&s, but the ſeep lides of the mountains, are in general of this ſoil 5 and in many places, even their ſummits are covered with. a dry ſound earth, producing green ward, with Little heath: | Y E i 74 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY heath: we ſuppoſe at leaſt one half of the lower,- or culs tivatable diſtrict, is of this valuable ſoil, excellently adapt=- ed.to the culture of turnips, artificial grafes, the various ſpecies of grain, and of breeding and feeding the moſt improved Kinds of ſtock, particularly ſheep, it being per- feCly ſound, or ſafe from the rot. 3d. Wet Loam, generally on a clay bottom. The fer- tility of this ſoil is various, depending on the thickneſs of the ſtaple, and the nature of the clay below: it 1s danger- ous for ſheep, but may be applied with advantage to Keep- ing cows for the dairy, breeding young cattle and horſes, and to the culture of wheat, oats, clover, and ray- graſs. 4th. Black Peat earth, is moſt prevalent on the moun- taïinous diſtriéts, particularly thoſe adjoining Northumber- land and Durham: it is alſo found on moors or com- mons, in the lower parts of the county; in fome places only a few inches thick, upon a white ſand, well known, by thoſe whoſe lot it has been to cultivate it, to be an ungrateful ánd unprofitable ſoil: The ſurface is beautifully diverfified with level plains, and riſing eminenceszs deep ſequeſtered vales, and ftupen- dous mountains; open, braky,' heathy commons, and ir- regular inclofures, in ſome parts enriched with tufted groves and rifing plantations; the whole watered with innumerable ítrearas and extenſive lakes, abounding with fiſh of various denominations, which, with plenty of game, add to the recreation and luxury of the inhabitants.—It naturally divides into two diſtricts; the mountainous, incapa=- bie of being improved by the plough;s and the cultivatable, or all fuch parts as have been, or can be improved by tillage. The mountainous diſtricts are ſeparated into two divi- ſions, one of which bounds the eaſt ſide of the county, and is the higheſt part of thar ridge of mountains, that divide the eafßtern and weſtern coaſts of the iſland, from Derbyſhire in England, to Linlithgow in Scotland. Crofſs- feli, OF. CUMBERLANDe 17 5 fell, Hartfide-fell, Geltſdale-foreſt, and Spadeadam-waſte, are the names of that portion of the ridge which-pafies through this county. Theſe mountains are compoſed of ftrata of diierent kinds of ſtone, and are rich in coal, lime, and lead-ore; but are no way remarkable for any ftriking irregularities of ſurface, The other diviſion of mountainous diſtri occupies the ſouth-weſt part of the county, known by the names of Skiddaw, Saddle-back, Helvellin, Wreynoſe, HardkEnot, Dca- fell,&c.&c. remarkable for their ſteep, broken, rocky fides, and romantic ſhapes; and are in ge- neral one maſs of that Kind of ſtone, which produces the beautiful blue late, ſo much and ſo deſervedly eſteemed for covering the roofs of heuſes. They are deſtitute of coal, lime, or metallic ores; but in ſome meaſure repay this defect, by affording ſuch valuable ſlates; and produc- ing that ſingular mineral fubſtance, ¿/acklead, which is found in Borrowdale, and, it is ſaid, no where elfe in the ſouthern part of the kinsdom. The height, ruggednefſs, ſteepneß of the ſides,(in fome places ornamented with wood and proje&ting rocks) the varied forms, ſublime aſſemblage, and pictureſque beauty of theſe mountains, and the lakes they environ, form ſcenes that few other places, if any, in the iſland can equals; and have at diferent times exerciſed the pens of many deſcriptive writers:=—it comes only within our province to remark, that this kind of ſlaty ſtone appears to be Very friendly to vegetation: the ſoil which covers the ſteep fides of theſe mountains, and found in conſiderable depth at their baſes, is in great part decayed ſlate; and the moſt fertile ſoils in the vales, we ſuſpe&, have a large portion of this ſlaty matter in their compoſition; this is the caſe in the vale of Keſwick, and particularly at Mill-beck, and along the weſtern baſe of Skiddaw. From a map of Cumberland, publiſhed by Meſſrs Hodg= | Kinſon 176 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY LEA Kinſon and Donald, laid down from a ſcale of two mies to an inch, we calculate, that Acres "The mountainous diſtricts contain,== 342,090 Tinprovibie cono> I 50,007 Old incloſures,=-====- 479,990 Lakes and water,===---- 8,000 CES Total quantity of acres in the whole county, 979,000 DECIS— Minerals« Thís county abounds with coal, lime, and lead-ore z it alſo produces blacklead, copper, oypſum, lapis caliminariss and excellent ſlate, fh Coal.—as obſerved in the laſt ſe(tion, is found in many parts of the eaſtern mountains; and, with not many€x- ceptions, all along that tract.(extending in different degrees of breadth,) from Sebergham to Whitehaven, and along the coaft to Maryport, forming a diſtrict of about 100 ſquare miles.—Cannel coal is got in large guantities in the pariſhes of Caldbeck and Bolton. Limeflone—abounds in moſt parts of the eaſtern moun= tains, and in the pariſhes of Grayſtock, Dacre, Penrith, Broadfield Common,&c. and in the neighbourhocd of Egremont and Whitehaven- Gypſum—is got in the pariſhes of Wetheral, and Ste Cuthbert?s, Carliſlez but has never been applied there As MANNTE» Lead-Ore—is got in great abundance in Alſton Moor; and, in a lfer degree, in the pariſhes of Caldbeck, and telmerby.—In the lead mines is alſo found the lapis ca-_ Uminaris. Cepper-One—is found alſo at Caldbeck, Melmerby, and at — BADET REA E,-= rt ERE OF CUMBERLAND, 177 at Heſket, but at preſent not worked with that ſucceſs which formerly attended them, Black- Lead.—is found only in Borrowdale, a few miles weſt of Keſwick. Blue Slates—of an excellent gualiiy, are gotten in Bor= rowdale, and inferior ſorts in ſome of’ the neighbouring mountains. Freeflones—abound in moft parts of the county; ſome of which ſplit into good ſlate:- but are more heavy, leſs durable, and require ftronger timber to ſupport them, than the blue ílate, and are allo more ſubject to imbibe- moiſture», SECT. 6.— Waters. Tho?’ this county enjoys an extent of 67 miles of ſea= coaît, yet it cannot boaſt ot its navigable rivers; the tide flowing not more than two or three miles up the greateſt part of them; 4 even the Eden, by much the largeſt, is pérplexed with ſhoals, and its navigation cannot be faid to reach beyond Sandsfield, though the tide flows a few miles further.: ‘There are few places where water is ſo abundant and good, as this diſtri is blefſed with; for beſides the large rivers Eden, Derwent, Eſk,&c.—every village, and al- molt every farm, enjoys the benefit of a pure ſpring, or is vifited by a rivulet. The larger rivérs abound with Sal= mon, Trout, and various other kinds ot fiſh, and the ſmaller brooks with Trouts and Fels. It is alſo orna- mented with many beautiful and extenüve lakes; which, with their pleaſing accompaniments, have of late years made the tour of the lakes a faſhionable amuſement, and from whence confiderable emoluments have reſulted to the neighbouring inhabitants, CHAPTER. N 178 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY CHAPTER IL STATE OF PROPERTY» MTI M 2) N) ML ed ( SECT. 1.—Efates. “THERE are probably few counties, where property in land is divided into ſuch ſmall parcels as in Cumberland, and thoſe ſmall properties ſo univerſally occupied by the owners; the annual value of theſe tenements, varies from gl. to gol. a year: but the generality are from 151. to zol. ſome few extend to Ioaol. or a little more.; The rental of the largeſt eſtate in the county, is faid to amount to about 1 3,0001. per annum, SECT. 2— Tenures» By far the greateſt part of this county is held under lords of manors, by that ſpecies of vaffalage, called cx/lom- ary tenure; ſubject to the payment of fines and heriots, on alienation, death of the tord, or death of tenant, and the payment of certain annual rents, and performance of various ſervices, called Boon-days; ſuch as getting and lead- ing the lord’s peats, ploughing and harrowing his land, reaping his corn, haymakings carrying letters,&c.&c. whenever ſummoned by the lord. Wee cannot pretend to be accurate, but believe, that two- thirds of the county are held by this kind of tenure, prin- cipally in thoſe ſmalltenements deſcribed in the laft chap- ter.— ſhe remaining part is moſtly freehold, which has increaſed with the incloſure of commons, and ſometimes whole pariſhe-, or manors, have been enfranchifed on thefe occaſions, Copyhold and leaſehold, are rarely met with. CHAPTER E= i— R et» 5 x- eE EL AE RER E—— CE, N) OF CUMBERLAND, 179 SEI CHAPTER I. BUILDINGS» CCC ED) pp SECT, 1.— Houſes of Proprietors. DescRIPTIONS of Gentlemen's ſeats, we preſume, come more under the notice of a topographical ſurveys than an agricultural one; we therefore muft refer to different touriſts, and more particularly to Hutchinſon'’s Hiſtory of Cumberland, now publiſhing,: SECT. 2.— Farm Houſes, Sc Through the greateſt part of this county, the farm= hauſes are remarkably well built of ſtone;* the blue ſlate roofs, and white daſhed walls, give them a look of neat= neſs, that is peculiarly pleaſing. and*prepoflels a ſtranger with a favourable idea of the cleanlineſs of the inhabitantss an idea which he finds well-founded, on further inveßti- gation. Theſe houſes have, forthe moſt part, a Kitchen and a parlour in front, a toofall, back- kitchen, and milk-houſe behind, with four or five lo/ſgmmg-rooms above; the front contains five middle- ſized ſaſh-windows, two below ſtairs» and three above. Where farms are ſo very ſmall, no great extent of farm- * Except a ſmall diſtri& in the neighbourhood of Abbey-holm, and the north-eaſt extremity of the couniy, particularly in the pariſhes of Bewcaſtle, Stapleton, Kirklinton, Kirkandrews, and Arthuret. where they are moſtly built of mud or clay, and form 2 miſerable contraft to the buildings in the other part of the County, N 2 offices CC 180 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY offices are wanted; a barn, a byer for houhing their cattle in winter, and a ſmall ſtable, are in general all that is ne- neceflary: no regular plan for the form or ſcite, ſeems to have been adopted, every one building according to what he thinks the moſt convenient for his ſtock and fituation;s but they are moſtly built at each end of the farm-houſe. Foid- yards, ſurrounded by proper offices, with a ſhed for cattle, are very rare in many parts of the county; we be- lieve they are moſt prevalent in the pariſh of Heſket, and- its vicinity; the beſt and largeſt we noticed was at Lord Muncaſter’s. We obſerved, in ſome parts of the county, a fingular pradtice of covering the perpendicular walls of their houſes with biue-ſlate, to prevent(we ſuppoſe) any kind of moiſ ture from penetrating them, Repairs are generally made at the joint expence of landlord or tenant; the former ſupporting walls, doors, and timber; and the latter thatch, ſlate, glaſs,&c. SECT. 3.— Cottages. Of this deſcription of buildings, there are not many purpoſely eredted for labourers in agriculture, very few of that claſs being wanted in this county: as the farms are ſo ſmall, the occupiers and their families are generally ſufficient for the work without any foreign aid. CHAPTER FR OF CUMBERLANDe 181 LY CHAPTER IF. MODE OF OCCUPATION« Cha 14 AED dr dudnpud- SECT. I.—Size of Farms. Ox the large eſtates, there are ſome farms from 1001. to 1501. a year, few reach 20091. and we only heard of four or five, that got as high as 3 or 400l. a year, and one of óo0l.; but the moſt general ſize of farms in this coun- ty, is from Igl. to çol. a year Cumberland farmers may be divided into three claſſes: the occupiers of large farms; the ſmall proprietors,(pro= vincially““ Lairds or State/ſmen;”) and the ſmall farmers. It is to the firſt claſs, and the gentlemen farmers, that , this diſtri owes the introduction of any of the modern improvements in agriculture; and we were glad to find a ſpirit of enterprize arifing amongſt them, for the adop= tion of new modes of culture, and improved breeds of ſtock. To the ſmall Proprietors—agriculture, we preſume, is little indebted for its advancement: theſe“ ſtateſmen?’ ſeem to inherit with the eſtates of rheir anceſtors, their notions of cultivating them, and are almoſt as much ats tached to the one as the other: they are rarely aſpiring, and ſeem content with their ſituation, nor is luxury in any ſhape an object of their defires; their little eſtates, which they cultivate with their own hands, produce almoſt every neceſlary article of food; and cloathing, they in part manufacture themſelves; they have a high character for ſincerity and honeſty, and probably few people enjoy mmore eaſe and humble happineſs, N 3“The —————— EE inp 182 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY The ſmall Farmer—is obliged to raiſe ſuch crops as will pay him beſt for the preſent, and avoid every expence, of which he does not receive the immediate advantage, by which means, his farm, and himſelf, are. always kept in a ſtate of poverty: many of theſe ſma'l farmers are alſo mechanics, and agricultural labourers, that farm from SE to 10 or 121. a year. SECT. 2:— Rent. In the vicinity of towns, land lets from 21. to 4l. an acre; farms at a diſtance from towns, from 5 to 30s. per acres; in general the average may be ftated at about 15s. per acre z; rent is almoſt univerſally paid in money. SECT. 3—Tithes. Tithes are moſtly taken in kind; a few pariſhes pay a modus in lieu of tithes, and others are tithe-free, in con- ſequence of a portion of common being given to the im- proprietor. SECT. 4—Poor Rates At Carliſle. 2s od—Weiaton, 2s. 6d— Aldfton, 35s» od—Harrington, 1s 6—Kirkoſwald, 15s. 8d.— And in many of the country pariſhes, they vary from ód. to 10d. per pound. SECT. 5— Leaſes» The aoblemen and gentlemen who enjoy the moſt con- fiderable landed property in this county, et no leaſes 3 ſome have verbal contrats for ſeven years, which are next to none; and of thoſe who let leaſes, the term is on- ly for five, ſeven, or nine years; beſides the uſual reſer- vations of mines, wood,&c, the tenant covenants(0 Pay the OF CUMBERLAND. 182 the rent, ceſſes, taxes, and to keep all in repair; ſome are confined to a certain guantity of tillage, and to fallow one-fourth yearly; others are under no reſtraint of this Eind; a few others are conûned to lay on a certain quan- tity of lime, and to ſow with white clover and hay-ſeeds, the lands that are laid to graís: theſe are the principal covenants that aff agriculture. To enumerate ſuch as are of a local nature, reſpeGing the performance of cuſs toms, ſervices, grinding corn, payment of chickens,&cs would add little to the improvement of agriculture, or enlargement of rural Science, SECT. 6.—Expeace and Profit. For the mode of inveſtigating this ſubje&t, we muſt re- fer to the Northumberland Report, page 33s ——— RO nmr td N CSFB 0 tonen CHAPTER Ve IMPLEMENTSs O Toe Plough of this county is the ſwing plough, uſed through all the northern counties, in which we obſerved no improvement. To ſpend time in deſcribing the harrow, roller,&c. that have been uſed in almoſt every part of the kingdom for ſome centuries, would be augmenting this Report to little purpoſe. by a fingle horſe, and probably originated through ne- cellity, from the ſmall farmer keeping no more than one N 4 horſe _——.———- ao E The Carts, through the whole of this county, are drawn SSS EE TE EE EEE 184 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY horſe. In thoſe times; ſimplicity and cheapneſs were on- Iy conſidered: we recolle(t leeing ſome of thoſe‘““ tum- ble carrs,” without one piece of iron about them; the wheels were made of three pieces of wood, joined by pins of the ſame nuaterial. It is probable they had the name ot ¿umble carrs, from the axle being made faſt in the wheels, and the whole turning, or tumbling round to- gether: but this conſtruction has given way to the wheel with a nave and ſpokes, turning round a fixed axle; which is much more managable, in quick or fhort turns.* The advantages ot fingle horíe carts are ſo well under ſtood in this county, that we did not ſee any other uſed. Three fingle horſe carts are driven, without any dif- ficulty, by a man, or a boy, or even women and girls; along the coaſt, more than half the carts are driven by females, and many of theſe under twenty years of age, with as fine forms and complexions, as ever nature be- flowed on the ſofter ſex. We cannot help ſaying, we were diſguſted at ſeeing them put to this employment; and eſpecially, at their riding in ſo aukward a manner be- hind the cart-ſaddle, Double mould-board Ploughr—are uſed by ſome farmers, to form the one-bout ridges for turnips and potatoes, and alſo for earthing them up. Winnowing Machiner—have been lately introduced, and are now become very general: twenty years ſince, corn was winnowed without any fort of machine; and the farmer was under the neceſfity of waiting for a na- tural wind, ſufficiently ſtrong to blow the chaff from the grain; and very often had to take it to ſome eminence at a diſtance, where the breeze was more certain. Threfhing Machines, Drills for fowing ¿he various kinds Sw * The price of a tumble carr is 5l,—the price of the other Kind, 71. ready for yoking. cf E Toi e ZETT e _, OF CUMBERLAND. 135 ef grain, and horſe hoes, have not yet found their way into this diſtrict. EO CCD>> TT ET ans CHAPTER FVI, INCLOSURES, —— z 1 HE mountainous diſtricts are all open, and moſt pro= bably will long remain ſo: the cultivatable parts are a mixture of old incloſures and commons, interſperſed through every part of the county. The fize of incloſures, in general, is in proportion to the fize of farms: the ancient fields are ſmall and irregu- tar; the fences of various conſtructions; walls, earth mounds, thorns, hazle, and other bruſb-wood, all lend their aid in a greater or leſs degree; and, in two or three places, wé obſerved large tradts totally incloſed by whin- fences,* which have a very ragged, ſlovenly, and une couth appearance, from the numberleſs gaps where the whins have been deſtroyed by froſt, an accident to which this plant is very liable; nothing but the greateſt neceſ firy can juſtify the uſe of whin-fences, The fields of thoſe commons that have been divided within the laſt thirty years, are laid out in ſtraight lines, and moſtly incloſed by quick fences, which in general have done very well. The advantages that ariſe from incloſing, in refpeëÆ to in= creaſe of produce or value, muſt entirely depend upon the modes of management, purſued after the incloſing takes place. From the abundant crops produced by land, which has never grown grain before, the occupier vainly *Ulex Europeans.—Furze.—Gorſe.—Whins. thinks 186 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY thinks, that it will always continue to do ío; and the de= ception is fill increaſed, by the ſtimulating effets of lime; but alas! after having got nine or ten crops, the golden proſped vaniſhes! the farther they proceed, the more they are convinced of their error; and growing corn having become a loſing trade, the land is left to graſs: but what can it produce? already exhauſted by repeated corn crops, and over dozes of lime, it remains a ſpeÎacle of the bad efes of ſuch culture, and a warning to others to avoid the ſame courſe: even under this treatment, the increaſed value is in the ratio of three or four(o one; had theſe lands been continued in tillage only three years at one time z; the firſt year oats; ſecond, fallow, turnips, or rape; the third, wheat or oats, or(if the ſoil ſuited) bar- ley, ſown up with clover and ray-graſs, and depaſtured with ſheep for three, four, or five years, according to circumſtances and ſituations, we will venture to ſay, the land would have gone on improving, from rotation to ro- tation; would have been more profitable, and put on 2 very differnt aſpect to what it does at preſent, and have been worth double the rent it now lets tor. The advantages ariſing from incloſing of commons, in reſpect to the improvement of flock, is obvious; while in a ſtate of common, every one turns on' what he pleaſes z and there is generally double the quantity of ſtock that there ought to be. The conſequence is, they make no improvement; they barely exiſt; the yearly profits how mall! Should an enlightened breeder wiſh to improve his ſheep, how is he to effe it, while his ewes mix pro- miſcnouſly with his neighbour?s flocks? If he bad the beſt tup in the kingdom, can he be ſure that one ot his ewes would be tupped by him, while there are probably not leſs than a ſcore of his neighbour’s to conteſt the female with him? On the other hand, if the common were in- cloſed, every one would ſtint with that ſpecies of ſtock for OF CUMBERLAND. 187 for which his allotment was beſt adapted, and in ſuch numbers as would inſure profit: when he can confine his ewes within his own incloſure, he can make whatever ex- periment he pleaſes, by putting a few, or many ewes, to any particular tup, without any fear or apprehenfion of having a ſpurious breed, by the interference of his neigh- bour’s: he is alſo enabled to keep his flock from many diſ orders: few commons but have ſome tracts of land liable to the rat: how are they to be prevented from depafſtur- ing upon it? or if the ſcab, or other infeCious diſorders, have taken place amongſt any flock on the common, how is he to avoid it? To the gueſtion put by the Board,“ has incloſing com- mons decreaſed population?’’— We anſwer, that we can= not conceive, how incloſing of commons can decreaſe po- pulation: unleſs an increaſe of corn and cattle, an increaſ- ed demand for’ labourers and mechanics of various de- nominations, tend to decreaſe mankind; the contrary pofition mutt certainly hold good in an eminent degree. The beſt account we could obtain of commons, divided by at of parliament, were, Sowerby, about 25 years ſince» Sedbergham, about 30 years fince. Stainton„= 20 Culgaith,- 22 Carlton,- 15 Skelton,- 25 Brampton,- Irthington> I4 Newby,- Farlam,- 12 At the laſt four places, the lord of the manor had I-12th for his conſent as lord of the ſoil, and making the allotments freehold: at moſt of the others the lord had A-8th, EHAPTER 138 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY CHAPTER VII. ARABLE LAND- LS DECT. 1,—TZillages “TTLLAGE-LAND is here commonly ploughed by horſes; a team of oxen, we believe, 1s not to be found in the county: the horſes are yoked double, and driven with cords by the ploughman. An acre is accounted a good day's work; and on light ſoils, an acre and a half. The ridges are very narrow, from 5 to 7 feet, being the common breadth, whether in corn or in grafs. Fallows for wheat or turnips,—are ploughed once in the Autumn, by the beſt cultivators, avd four or five times in the courſe of the ſucceeding Summer. Barley—is ſown on one ploughing after turnips: but after a white crop,(as in rotation frſt) they plough twice, and manure with 20 or 30 cart-loads of dung: ſome add lime. Oats—are always ſown on one ploughing. SECT. 2— Fallozwing. Fallowing for wheat and turnips, is practiſed in many parts of this county; four or five ploughings and harrow- ings, is the general pradtice: we ſaw ſome very clean, and well managed, gathered up into neat narrow ridges, on which the wheat was looking very healthy. SECT. 3.— Rotation of Crops The moſt prevalent ſyſtem, through a great part of this county, is, to have a crop of white corn every year while LL———— Ri Se A OF CUMBERLAND. 189 while in ploughing: fuch cultivators make no fallows, excepr ploughing twice, and manuring for barley, can be deemed fuch. Where a field is ploughed out from graſs, they have Oats—oats,—barley,—oats; or, oats,—barley,—oats,— oats,&c.&c. for nine or twelve years, and then left to graſs for ſeven or nine years. Some few ſow hay-ſeeds and a little white clover; but the greateſt part leave it to nature,* Where they fallow for wheat, the rotation is, x Fallow 2 Wheat 3 Oats, or Barley 4 Oats,—for 3 or 4 rotations, and then left for graſs, for ſeven or nine years; ſome few ſow clover and hay ſeeds. In thoſe places where the turnip culture is praiſed, the rotation is, 1 Turnips 2 Barley 3 Clover 4 Ditto 5 Oats. 6 Ditto. Or, 1 Turnips 2 Wheat * On aſking a farmer at Uldale why they ſowed no clover, or graſs ſeeds, be replied,‘“ ve have no occafion, for the land is na= turally girs-proud.”” Thoſe that are experienced in cultivation, will readily admit, that after growing from fix to twelve white crops in ſucceſlion, it can ſcarcely be otherwiſe than grafſs-proud. There is certainly graſs in abundance; but of ſuch kind, as no good farmer would wiſh to be poſſeſſed of. This barbarous ſyſ- tem is pradtiſed upon many dry loamy ſoils; which, after being thus left to graſs, cover amazingly faſt with moß, probably owing ta the bad cultivation and exhauſting crops of corn more than to the wetneſs of the climate, to which it is generally attributed. 3 Barleg | N HY 8) NT| C 7 Hd 190 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY 3 Barley 4 Clover ç Ditto 6 Oats« Weare glad to find, that two or three individuals have adopted the idea of not taking two white crops in ſuc- ceſſion, and purſue the excellent rotation of turnips,— barley,—clover two years,—then 02s, OY wheat. SEcT. 4— Crops commonly cultivated. WW heat is a modern production here; a general opinion uſed to prevail, that wheat could not be grown in many parts of this county. We were informed that it is not much more than 40 years, fince Summer fallows for wet were firſt uſed; and it“1s nôt twenty Years ſince Lord Muncaſter introduced Summer fallows, and the cul- ture of wheat, in the neighbourhood of Ravenglaſs, where it is now grown in great abundance, as well as all along the coaſt to Scotland, and in the neighbourhood of Car- liſle. The wheat that is ſown after turnips or clover, is trifling, the main ſupply is from Summer fallows; they generally ſow two buſhels and’a half per acre, in Septems- ber or Oétober, as the ſeaſon ſuits, and they reap from ſixteen to thirty buſhels per acre. Barley and Vats, being the grains from which the bread of the inhabitants is made, were probably the firſt, ahd only corn, grown in this county for many centuries; digg or bear, with four rows of grains on the ear, was the kind of barley formerly cultivated; but lately, the common early ſort, with two rows» has been introduced. They ſow two and a half buſhels per acre, in April or May, and reap twenty-one buſhels on an average. The Common Oat, was the only varicty grown in this. county, and is IOW by far the moſt prevalent; but of late YEearss OF CUMBERLAND,. TY 4 years, a few enterpriſing individuals have introduced the } early varieties of this grain, with great advantage; they are diſtinguiſhed from the common oat by the name of layland oat, and are the Dutch or Frieſland oat.* | The quantity ſown,—is from four to fix buſhels per acre. i The time of fowing,— March or April. The Produce—from 15 to 40 buſhels per acre; but the average of the county was ſtated to us,* to be only 20 buſhels per acre. Peaſe.—In a climate where ſo much rain falls, and y where the harveft is ſo precarious, the culture of peaſe y would be attended with ſo many chances of loſs, and ſo ot few of gain, that we were not ſurpriſed to find them ſo OL generally neglected.‘The difficulty of harveſting them, ce has probably firſt ſuggeſted the idea, of building their l= tacks in the c/oughs+ of trees, and afterwards in ſlender orf high pyramids round the boles of tall trees, to prevent ng them from blowing over: by this method, they can alſo E lead and ftack them, in a damper or moiſter ſtate; and x as they do not come near the ground by five or ſix TCC ey they are ſeldom troubled with mice. The greateſt diame- ii ter of the ſtacks is not more than ſix or ſeven feet; the E height of many twelve or fifceen; if the tree has not 2 ſufficiency of convenient branches to bear the bottom, they nail a flick or two acroſs, to form a baſe. ead i di When finiſhed, they have 2 very fingular appearance, jig Turnips, were firſt cultivated_ this county, to any ef- N fed, for the uſe of cattle, by Philip Howard, Eſq; of Cor- mo i j__* Laſt year Mr Falder, near Roes Caſtle, introduced the oat They known on the eaſt borders by the name of Churcs Oat,(a E qnd ety, and perhaps the beſt variety known, of the Poland oat) and / which will, no doubt, anſwer well on all the bet rich foils in the county. this late+ Where the main ſtem divides into branches. Calós Dy 192 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY by, in the year 1755: his firſt eMay was drilled at four feet diſtance; the crop amazingly goods the weight on an average, 10 1b. each turnip; ſome weighed 25 1b; he afterwards continued to grow them at two feet, and two and 2 half feet diſtance, with conftant ſucceſs, for cight or ten years, before any farmer followed the example 5 at laſt, Mr Collins, of Wetherall, made a trial, and ſuc- ceeded; others, ſoon followed him. Té 15,- CRENEÍOTE, abont thirty years ſince a few farm=- ers firſt began-to cultivate turnips; and conſidering with what tardineſs new modes of pradtice generally make their way amongſt that uſeful claſs of ſociety, it is no wonder that the growing of turnips ſhould, in a great meaſures be fill’ confined to the vicinity where their cultivation originated; and we ſuppoſe, by the mode of practice, that from this ſource may be traced the various patches of turnips we obſerved at Netherby, Burgh, Dalton, and a few other places. ‘The land, after being made ſufficiently fine by repeated ploughings and harrowings, is ſet up in one-bout ridges* at zo inches diſtance 5 the dung is put in the bottom of the hollow intervals, and covered with earth by the plough; the top of the one-bout ridge is flattened by trailing a piece of wood over it, and on the flattened top the turnip ſeed is ſown by a drill, which a man puſhes be- fore him like a wheel-barrow- The drilled turnips are hoed, and ſet out at about eight dr nine inches diſtance in the rows, which are ploughed between by a ſmall plough. Hoeing broad-cafſt turnips is not underſtood; if any are ſown this way, they go unhoecd; and ¡if too thick, are * Provincially<< fitches.” hand- four on an 3 he Ì two eight ple; luc- rm« with their onder ature, vation that 65 ot and a veated dges* m of the d by d to e Ves t eight jughed | any are ck, a hande OF CUMBERLAND. 193 Band-weeded. Meſſ Williamſon and Monkhouſe paid 20s. per acre this year,(1793) for hand-weeding their broad-caft turnips. The value of this excellent vegetable 1s not ſufficiently underſtoad in this county, otherwiſe it muſt have made a more rapid progreſs. Probably this may be owing to its being applied to feeding-their ozun breed of ſheep. We ſaw ſeveral acres of turnips this year, that were ſold for, from 31. to 31. Ios. per acre, which a Northumberland. grazier would have thought worth five: or ſix pounds an acre, for feeding the ¿mproved breed of long-woolled ſheep. Potatoes are cultivated in one-bout ridges, by almoſt every farmer, not only for the uſe of their own families, but for ſale, where the fituation is not too diſtant from a good market. Tt is only upon the eftare of Sir fames Graham, at Netherby, that they are applied to feeding cattle and ſwine: and by Lord Muncaßter, to feeding cattle, who alſo gives them to his horf:s; Mr Lamb and Mr Blalock favoured us with the following particulars: Mr Blalock feeds cows, and ſays, that 120 buſhels of potatoes, with 16 ſtones of oatmeal, will fatten a cow in three months, egually well as turnips, of 3 or 41. value. The ſmall farmers apply potatoes to feeding ſwine: thirty buſhels of potatoes and ten of corn, made in- to meal, will fatten a ſwine of eighteen or twenty ſtones eight, equal to corn of 1l. 1 gs. value. The potatoes are boiled, and meal mixed with them. From theſe datà, the value of potatoes may be nearly eſtimated: EA The expence of feeding a. cow with potatoes and mea= R O from which deduä the value of 16 ſtones of oatmeal- IS-=- O leaves for 120 buſhels of potatoes== 1 Q060 O The 194 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY fL. d. The expence of feeding a ſwine with potatoes and meal is---== Alc O dedu the value of corn Io buſhels, fre, attend- ance», Cs- Ses- I 20 leaves for 20 buſhels of potatoes-- 0100 From the above it appears, that potatoes for feeding cows, or wine, are worth no more than 4d. per buſhel. They eſtimate a fair average crop of potatoes to be 249 buſhels per acre; the value at 4d. per buſhel, is only 4k out of which the ſeed ought to be deducted, the other expences attending the cultivation of potatoes and turnips being much upon a pars The land on which theſe potatoes are grown, is a moſt excellent turnip ſoil, and would produce turnips, almoſÆ any year, worth 51. per acre for feeding cattle or ſheep.* From the above ſtatement it appears, that an acre of po- tatoes is of leſs value, than an acre of turnips for feeding catle. Mr Lamb bas been long convinced of this, and ſays, that the practice of applying potatoes to feeding cattle and ſwine, is every year loſing ground, and the cul- ture of turnips, which was pretty general here twenty years fince,(but gave way to potatoes) is now, in its turn, regaining the ſituation it ſo juſtly deſerves. SECT. 5.—Crops not commonly cultivated. Beans=we were informed are ſeldom cultivated with ſucceſs; the failure may probably be owing to their being ſown broad. caſt; without manure, and not hoed: we would recommend, to ſome ſpirited cultivator, to try them in drills at zo inches intervals, ſo as to admit of be- _…* Mr D—- aſks,““ how can turnips be worth 51. per acre, for feeding cattle and ſheep?’””—We reply, nothing is more com- mon 5 they are frequently ſold for much niore. j:: ing OF CUMBERLAND. 195 ing horſe-hoed, and ploughed between; this mode we can recommend, on the fucceſsful practice of ſeveral years. É: Cabbages—have been cultivated by Lord Muncaſter> Dr Harciſon of Penrith, and a few others in that vicinity, Garrots—have alſo been tried by Lord Muncaſter, who found them a very troubleſome and expenfúive crop, owing to the abundance of weeds, occafioned by rhe great rains and moiſture of the climate. Flax—is cultivated in ſmal] quantities, on the northern extremities of the county, for family uſe; but much leſs now than formerly. N CTG) Le=== CHAPTER VIL GRASS» E N) SECT. 1.— Natural Meadows and Paflures. NarTuRaL meadows are generally found in narrow frips by the fides of rivers,€ The largeſt tract of na- tural meadow, in this county, is in the pariſh of Scaleby, which lets for 28s. per acre: alſc between the lakes of Keſwick and Baſſenthwaite, there is a confiderable extent of natural meadow. Natural paſtures are not very numerous in the cul=- tivateable diſtricts of the county; unleſs ſuch may be called natural paſture, which is left to nature to cover with. herbage after having been exhaußſted with growing corn» If by natural paſtures be underſtood ſuch as have * See Northumberland Report. O2 neyer e E LL—— E 196 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY never been diſturbed by the plough, there will be found great abundance in this county 5 as not only all the com- mons in the cultivateable diítriéts, but the mountains may come under that denamination. SECT. 2.— Artificial Grafſes. Artificial Grafſes, are here confined to a ſmall number —red clover,(trifolium pratenſe) white clover(trifolium repens) common hay-ſeeds, with a little rib graſs(plan- tago lanceolata) and ray-graſs,(lolium perenne.) We were informed, that in 1752, no perſon in the county had thought of ſowing a field down with clover, or even hay-ſeeds; and that Philip Howard, Eſg. of Cor- by, was the firſt who ſowed a field with clover, and taught his countrymen the uſe of artificial grafiés; yet it is but a few that have benefited by his laudable exertionss Red Clover, 1s principally ſown where the turnip culture, and ſummer-fallowing for wheat, are practiſed, and the land continues only two years în graſs: it is generally mown the firſt year, and depaſtured the ſecond. The great obje&ion to growing this valuable graſs, is the hov- ing of cattle, which may be obviated by depaſturing it with ſheep, or by a little caution in having the cattle- pretty full, before they are turned into it, and to take care to put them to it on a dry day- Some obje to it, becauſe they have taken a fancy that it impoveriſhes the ſoil. Old Ellis fays,““ Clover is the mother of corn,” We believe that, could the Cumberland farmers be induced to make an experiment, they would be of the ſame opinion, and would find their profits ſo ſuperior to what they are at preſent, that they would become converts to the cauſe. We hope we do not exaggerate when we fay, that the profits of red clover for two years, would be double to that derived from the ſame quantity of ground ſown with : white. ound COM May OF CUMBERLAND- 197 white clover, rib graſs, and hay-ſeeds; and that the pro- fits of the ſucceeding crop of corn would be nearly in the ſame ratio. White Clover, has many advocates, and is certainly a valuable plant, where land is intended to continue in graſs for a few years, which is generally the caſe here; and by thoſe who ſow any kind of graſs ſeeds, it is in great reputez it is ſeldom or never ſown alone, but ac- companied by what is here called common hay-ſceds, which are generally harmleſs, from the heat they moſtly get in the ſtacks, and their vegetative powers theteby deſtroyed: where that is not the caſe, we fear more weeds than uſe= ful plants would be the produce; for when it is confider= ed, that of the uſeful plants which compoſe a 200d meas dow, ſcarce two of them flower and ripen at the ſame period; and as the time of mowing is governed more by ihe weather, or other circumſtances, than the colle&ion of uſeful ſeeds, it may happen, that not one valuable plant may then have its ſeeds in that ſtate of perfeCion, which is neceſſary for the reproduction of its ſpecies; at. the ſame time it is probable, that you may obtain the ſeeds of many plants, which you would wiſh to avoid. Riò Grafs, is ſown in ſome placés where land is intend ed to continue in grafs. e Ray-graſs, has here but few advocates; a general pre= judice againft this plant ſeems to have taken place, we think njuftiy, for we are convinced, from long experi- ence, that under proper management, it is a valuable graſs; it grows in all foils, and in all ſituations; early in the Spring, and late in Autumn; and even thro’ Win- ter, on dry ſoils and in open weather: the only reaſon- able objection we know of, is the great propenſity it hath to run to feed; but this may be eaſily obviated, by eating it bare with cattle, or by mowing the paſture juſt before O 2 zf D e 198 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY it begins to flower, which increaſes the eatage,’ by the quantity of bottom graſs it fends forth after the opera- tión. Tt is the properefſt graſs we know, to ſow along with red ór white clover; and we would beg leave to recom- mend it, inſtead of common hay-ſceds, ſo univerſally ſown in this county, with clover, both red and white. SECT 3.— Hay Harveft. "The bay harveſt is here in the months of July and Auguſt; the modes of management various, according to the nature of the graſs, weather, and notions of the farm= er: we do not find any thing peculiarly excellent in their pradice; the only fngularity is, that the occupiers of mall farms, in ſome parts of the county, put the whole of their hay into barns; the larger farmers ſtack théir’s at the door. SECT. 4— Feeding. The moſt general ſyſtem of grazing is,—on the richeſt grounds, cattle with a few ſheep; on the leſs luxuriant, fheep only. 2 The kinds of cattle uſually fatted are the native coun- try breed, and Scotch cattle, both Kyloes and the Gal- loway kind. Of theſe, they find the Kyloes the quickeſt feeders, the Galloway next, and their own country breed of long horns the ſloweſt. The profits of grazing cattle depend much on the ſkill of the buyer, in /zle@ing the quickeſt feeders; and, when fat, in ſelling them for their full value; alſo, not unfre- quently, on thé fate of markets. The beft grazing lands we ſaw were at Pap Caſtle, near Cockermouth, let at 3l. per acre; and the holm lands on both ſides the Eden, near Carliſle, let at 2l. 10s. per acre, ſes of grazing only, Mr Towſon, 0 LS) c 1 C Tor the AES Iarmer OF- CUMBERLAND« 199 former place, buys in oxen and EE 1n October, keeps them all Winter upon the paſtures out. of which his fat itock has been recently ſold, and gives them a little hay in bad weather. After keeping them near twelve months, they leave, on an average, a profit of 51. each; their weight, from fifty to fixty ſtone. But this intelligent gentleman was candid enough to confeſs, that he thought ſheep, mixed amongſt cattle, a more profitable ſyſtems and we were glad to find this mode pradtiſed by all the beſt gra- ziers in the county. Of Sheep-grazing, there are two branches; firſt, feed- ing wethers; and, ſecondly, ewes for fat lambs: they arc both bought in the Autumn, are kept on graſs the whole time, and get no other food; except hay in ſtormy wea- ther. LE The profit a wether ſold fat in O@ober, 1 o 0 eE. at 5d»--== 010 LS Dedudting prime coſt and expence of falving 0 12 6 Average profit by feeding wether,== o 90 O LL Ewes, a fat lamb ſold in June, E ca agg Fleece 3% lb. at gde— 8 G6 Ewe fat, ſold in November,=- 0100 L O O Dedudt prime coft and ſalvin),== 8 SD Profit by feeding ewe and lamb,- O 012 0 There are a few who buy in wethers, to feed upon tur- 04 nps, 200 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Hips, and fell them in the Spring, to Mancheſter and Liverpool. The kinds of ſheep grazed are, Zhe country breed, the true black- faced heath ſheep, and the Cheviot fheeps‘The moſt experienced graziers al! agreed, that the true black faced heath ſheep were quicker feeders, and a hardier raceg than the Cheviot,* e LL LU CC>> OUT CGHAPTER IX. GARDENS AND ORCHARDS, ET N N CS ARDENS and Orchards in this county, are conſidere 1 ed only as conveniences to private families; and not as objets of emolument, or commerce, as in ſome other / diſtricts» ————PR Ne aD Ug O ON ITT EE> a OA M RE a—————- CHAPTER X. WOODS AND PLANTATIONSî® all Gh 4 Epp ppp - i: T'u1s county is far from being well wooded. Tho Irthing, Eden, and Caldew, are the only rivers, * We wiſh to be underſtood, as not fſatiag this as an afcer- vained fa, but as an opinion of the Cumberland graziers ând Tarmers.) whoſe i aid icO Gv The (IVES) aſer“ b) and hole Gf CUMBERLANDsS 201 whoſe banks prodiüice any quantity of natural wood; and of theſe, thé banks of thé Caldéw ſeem to have the larg= éſt proportion of old oak-timber. Of the value of the oak-timber proper for the purpoſes of ſhip-building we could obtain no ſatisfa@ory information, but ſuſpect, from what we ſaw, it is of ſmall extent: we fear, the oak 1s not ſuffered to attain a ſufficient age for this purpoſe; as we ſaw a wood near Weſt Ward(now felling) of upwards of two hundrel acres, that was little more than thirty years old, the whole cut away, without leaving any to ſtand for ſhip timber. Of late years, many plantations have been made near gentlemen'’s ſeats, which ſhew, by their vigorous growth, how well adapted the greateſt part of this county is for the production of wood. From the nakedncſs of the country along the coaſt, one would naturally conclude, that the ſituation was inimical to that production; but Lord Muncaſter’s extenlive and thriving plantations near Ravenglaſs ſhéw, that the nakednefſs of thé land is owing cò other cauſes,* ARRESE Mr zBtiii0a GHAPTER XI. WASTES. 8 C Dpr pe | HE extent of waſte lands, in this county, is very great? Of mountainous paſture, 342;000 acres, which we lupe * If a cuſtomary tenant plants waod, he cannot cut it without leave of the lord; in ſome caſes, the lord claims it as his own, which ſufüciently explains why the occupiers do not plant wood. poſe 202 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY poſe not capable of improvement from the ploughs yet many parts of theſe diſtricts might be applied to planting, with cónñderable advantage, and would probably in this way, make a better return, than if the ſoil had been in ſuch a fituation as to admit of being converted into tillage, We were glad to ſee a large plantation of larches thriving exceedingly well, on the ſteep edge of the weſt fide of Skiddaw, lately planted by Mr Story. We hope the ex- ample will be ſpeedily and extenfively followed, by every proprietor of finular fituations; but, unfortunately, the greateſt part of theſe diſtricts is in a ſtate of common, and no improvement of this kind can take place while they continue in that fituation: of courſe, the‘firſt ſtep to improvement is a diviſion, and for every proprietor to know his own part. If this cannot be done, the only means of improvement then left is, to convert them from unlimited commons to ftinted paſtures The preſent value per acre, of theſe mountainous diſ- triés, may be neariy eſtimated from the following data: Mr Greenhow, of Threlkeld, takes paſturage for his ſheep on Skiddaw foreſt for a year, at çs. per ſcore, which is thice- pence per ſheep; and. ſuppoſing an acre keeps a ſheep, then will three-pence an acre be the yearly value of theſe mountains. They can ſcarce be in a leſs produc- tive ſtate; an acre of wood, if it only grew broom-fſticks, would pay much better. Of the Commons, in the lefs elevated parts of the county, there are many, with large tras of excellent ſoil, capa- ble of being improved by judicious culture, proper drain- ing, and improved breeds of ſheep, to many times their prefent value; which is certainly very ſmall, probably not more than from one to two ſhillings per acre.‘In a coun- ty like this, that does not raiſe corn ſuficient for the con- ſumption of its inhabitants, and where it is always one=- tourth or oné-ûith dearer than in an adjoining county, it 15 —— E G- è, R————————— EE OF CUMBERLAND, 203 is lamentable to ſee ſuch extenſive tracts of good corn land lying waſte, of no value to its owners, and of no beneht to the community. Inſtead of the preſent ſcarcity of grain, large quantities might be yearly exported; and inſtead of the ill formed, poor, ſtarved, meagre animals tat depaſ- ture the commons at preſent, an abundant ſupply of good fat mutton would be had to grace the markets of the county, and alſo to ſend of large ſupplies to Newcaſtle, Liverpool, Mancheſter, and other populous manufaCur- ing places. It is difficult to ſay, what would be the increaſed E öf ſuch land, under proper management; we think we cannot be wrong in ſtating, that it would be at leaſt from ſix to eight times the value to the proprietors.—But of what advantage would it be to the public? Acres» We have already eſtimated that there are of im- provable commons in the lower part of the I 50,000 county, Out of this dedud for bankfides, proper for; eS planting, and other unfertile places, There will be left for cultivation, 120,000 Suppoſe this be put into a rotation cf three years tillage, and three years graſs, then e 609,000 will be in tillage yearly, Suppoſe one-third for fallow, and of this, one half to be turnips, the other half naked fallow for w! heat, then will there be yearly, 1 buſp. buſh. pert val. | Acres.) per ac.| an. Prices ber acre. Oats, 20000/at 30 is| 600000 at 2s. pr buſh. is|60,000Ï. W heat, roooolat 20 is| 209000 jât 58. pr ditto—|5 0,000 Barley, I9000]at 30 Is] 300000 Jaf 38. pr ditto—|45,o0 Turnips, 0900 at zl, pr acre.— 309,000 Naked Fallow, Îro000 Carried over 6090090 II09000 L185 85,000 And Z04 AGRICULTURAL SURŸEY Brought over£. 184,000 And ſuppoſe the graſs land would only keep one fheep per acre more, thén will there be an in- creaſe of 60,000 ſheep yearly; the profit of$ 42,290 which cannot be valued at leſs than 14s each, the amount will be, Total value of increaſed produce-£. 227,000 E SS CHAPTER XII, IMPROVÉMENTS-| Cnr K LED>: p- D: pe: pes DECT. I.—Draiñniùgs DRramme, 1s one of thoſe improvements which has| been introduced of late years into thé northern counties;| and where it 1s done with judgment, is, in many fitua- tions, of the greateſt conſequence.—Cumberland has not been behind its neigbours in adopting this beneficial mea- ſure: we weré glad to obſerve, in many places, great ad- vantages gained, both by hollow and ſurface drains; ſome done with great art, by one or more hollow drains run- Ding 1h the direction of the outburſt of water, and cut deep enough to get through the bed of‘ſand or gravel in which the water runs, and by that means arreſt the ſource,| which drowns the land below it; but the like intelligence has not in all places prévailed, for we often ſaw the drains| running in parallel dire@ions, perpendicular to the ſources and at fuch diſtances,,as the drainer thought the naturê of thé“il required; this is more particularly the caſe, where iurtace drains are uſed. The‘hollow drains are| ald| LS aie(enmertnas Ui) 290 EA OF CUMBERLAND. 205 filled with ſones when they can be got, otherwiſe with ſods. SECT: 2—Paring and Burning. This operation 1s ſeldom performed in this county, ex- cept. on heathy, or coarſe grounds: the expence about I 55. per acre. SECT. 3—Manuring«: Farm-yard dung, is here, as in moſt other places, the chief reſource of the farmer: where turnips âre grown, it is wholly applied to their culture; where they are not grown, it is uſed for the various purpoſes of dreſſing graſs land, and for the barley and wheat crops. Lime, is found in great abundance in many parts of this county, and of an excellent quality, The quantity hid upon an acre varies from ſixty to an hundred and fifty buſhels; we found it a general opinion, that lime did lit- tle good to land that had been long accuſtomed to it; and that thoſe who had uſed the large guantity of go buſhels per acre, found their lands greatly exhauſted, and were now fully convinced of their error in continuing it ſo long, eſpecially in ſuch large quantities. We have had many opportunities of obſerving the abuſe of lime, which, moſt probably, is one of the beſt manures known, for particular ſoils and Rtuations, and undèr peculiar circum- ftances, and proper reftridtions; yet, like many other good things, a ſuperabundance may be prejudical; or rather, we are ſenfble, that too often repeated, and in large quantities, it becomes hurtful. Lime is moſtly laid on, while the land is in a fate of fallow; but in ſome places, we found it laid upon the graſs land, one or‘wo years before they intended to plough it out, We doubt the propriety of the latter mode» Tangle, 206 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Tangle, oy Sea-Weed, is uſed along the coaſt, wherever ît can be got; the quantity per acre is fifty or ſixty cart- loads. This is known to be a valuable manure, either for corn, turnips Or graſs, wherever it can be had. Slake ox Mud, left by the tide, is uſed in the neighbour- hood of Ravenglaſs, with good effedct, on the graſs lands, fifty or fixty cart-loads per acre, Muſcles, are aſo uſed in the neighbourhood of Raven- glaſs, for manure, after the rate of five or fix cart-loads per acre; they are got on the ſands adjoining the coaſt, Sea Sand.—An accidental experiment of Lord Muncaſ- ter’s ſhewed its utility in deſtroying moſs, but it is not uſed as a manure, Compoſl.—It ſeems a general pradtice through every part of the county, to make a compoſt of lime and earth, in the proportion of one cart-load of lime, to four or five of earth; they uſe it as a top-dreſling to their graſs lands, and find it very beneficial» SECT. 4.—W ceding. All kinds of grain are ſown broad-caſt; the only weeding it gets is by hand: hoeing a crop of córn, we be- lieve, was never once pradiſed in the county. Turnips and potatoes are the only crôps in which weeds are dé=- ftroyed by hocing, [4 oS Fdl. SECT: gp— Watering» The only attempts we ſaw of this ſpecies of improve- ment, that had the leaſt reſemblance to a watered meadow laid out by art, was at Bleatarn(about fx miles eaſt of Carliſle,) belonging to Mr Richardſon of Rickerby, to whom his country is highly indebted, for the ſpirited ex- ample he bas ſet in many other improvements We were P y OL P {orry Ver Ile rover eadoW caſt of Y)(0 dex“ wers (011 OF CUMBERLANDe 207 ſorry to find, there was little more water than what was colle&ted by rains; the riáges narrow and long; the trenches(mall, and inadeguate to carry a ſufficient quan- tity of water, for the purpoſe intended. It is unfortu- nate, that-the firſt attempt ſhould have been made in ſuch à fituation, and under ſuch circumſtances, in a county ſo pregnant with favourable ſituations, and the water of ſuch an excellent quality, uncontaminated with mineral particles, or infuſions that are ſuſpected to be inimical co vegetation. SECT. 6.— Improving Heath Lands.-, The beſt mode of improving peat earth, being a deſi- deratum of great conſeguence, the more fas that can be colleéted upon this head, the more light will be thrown on, the ſubje&, and the more likely we ſhall be to obtain the object ſought for. At Bleatarn, Mr Richardſon has made great Imprové= nent, on a poor black moory ſoil, rowing very ſhort heath, in its original ſtate, not worth lixpence per acre. He ploughs in Autumn, and lets it lie till the Autumn following; then ploughs acrofss; and the next Summer makes a complete fallow, which he limes, after the rate of one hundred and fifty buſhels per acre; and in April or May following ſows it with graſs-ſeeds(without corn) in the following proportion per acre: white clover, 8 1b,; red, 4 Ib.; rib-graſs, 4 Ib.; ray-grals, 1È buſhels; and common hay-ſeeds, 6 buſhels. Another mode is to plough up in the Winter, and leave it in that ſtate thro’ the Summer, to rot, until next Spring, when it is ploughed acroſs, and made ſufficiently fine by repeated harrowings, ploughings, and burning of the ſods, to ſow with turnips in June: to the above quantity of lime is added 3o ſingle-horſe cart-loads of dung. Ona part of the fallow this year, we ſaw ſome drilled turnips, worth. ——— 208 AGRICULTURAL SURYEY worth 31, an acre: in addition to the lime, they had fifty fingle-horſe cart-loads of dung per acre: but as dung is rarely to be procured for improvements of this kind, we think, that a crop of rape might be got for Spring ſeed, without dung, which would certainly be better than 2 naked fallow. as in the firſt mode. The lands thac have been laid down two years, were full of grafs,* and excellent pafture for fueep; but to make them thus pro- dudQive, they are loaded with the following€xpencess which, according to Mr Richardſon’s eſtimate, including the various ploughings, harrowings, lime, dung, grafs- ſeeds, intereſt of money,&c. amount to IES Ss O0; Ner acre: from which taking the vaiue of the turnips gl. leaves 81. 115, 6d, the expence per acre, ON the graſs, Near Naward Cafßtle, Mr Ramfſhay has made great ex- ertions in reclaiming peat-mols, by throwing it up with a ſpade, into round ridges ſeven yards wide; the top being from twelve to eighreen inches higher than the furrow, which is cut deep enough to act as an open drain. IÎn this ſtate it lies all Winter: In the Spring following, he covers îìt nearly an inch thick, with a compoſt, formed of five loads of earth, to one of lime; and upon this drefia ing, ſows» Common hay-ſeeds, Ray- gral,==>: Bibigraſs,:<2 0 2963 1b, ditto, Where the land is dry enough, they plough; and, to the above guantity of graſs-ſeeds, add a few pounds of white clover: Mr Ramſhay uſes few Hollow drains. Thoſe that re- guire to be three or four feet deep» he ſlopes offat the 12 buſhels per acrë» 2 ditto» *- Vroom many obſervations made on fimilar improvements, We have always found the firſe and ſecond years graſs by far the ino valuable 5 after this they decline in value, and in 2 few years re” turn to their original heath, if not prevented by ploughiug- des, ‘ OF CUMBERLAND- 209 ſides, into which the furrow drains empty. We ſaw ſome lands that had been done two years; the ray-graſs and rib graſs growing well; the woolly holcus(holcus lanatus) in abundance: it comes naturally on all ſuch ſoils; but is a graſs that few kinds of ſtock will eat, un- leſs compelled by hunger. Mr Ramfſhay informed us, the expences of making theſe improvements amounted to 10I. an acre; of courſe, both this and Mr Richardſon's, to pay common intereſt for the money expended, ought to let at 10s. an acre for a term of 21 years —EE O“RE O E O E E O QA O PEREIRA OL CHAPTER NTI, LIVE OCR. SS SECT. I,—Cattles Tue Catile, are a ſmall breed of long horns, with a few exceptions of the Galloway breed intermixed, particularly ‘along the coaſt from Whitehaven to Carliſle. This breed ef long-horns is not diſtinguiſhed by any pe- culiar good qualities, which is not to be wondered at, when it is conſidered that, probably at this time, there is not one perſon in the county that pays any attention to its Improvement. Twenty years ago Mr Hazle, of Dale=- main, had made ſome progreſs in this buſineſs, and fain= ed a very uſeful breed of long-horned cattle; but his ſuc= ceſlors neglected them, and ihe labours of the good old __ man are totally loſt, P The #|| | M AREE| || LN| 210 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY The long-horned, and the Galloway polled cattle, are probably the beſt adapted to this county of any other; but the kind of long-horns that occupy it at preſent, may certainly be much improved, by paying proper attention, to breed always from thé beſt males and females that can be ſele&ted, This end would be the readieft attained, by getting good bulls and heifers from the midland counties, where the long-horned breed are brought to great per- fection- The Dairies are ſmall, and moſtly employed in making butter, of an excellent quality, Thole that are fituated in the vicinity of towns, ſell it weekly, by the pound, to ſupply the conſumption of rhe inhabitants. In other ſituations, it is put into firkins of 56 10. each, and ſent to diſtant markets. The average quantity of butter from one cow, is generally eſtimated from one to two firKins: ſome cows will give twelve quarts of milk af amealtand make ſeven pounds of butter per week; but the moſt general average is, ſeven or eight quarts of milk at a meal, and from 3 tO 5 pounds of-butter per week, through the Summer. j Skimmed milk cheefe, is the principal Kind made here, and chiefly conſumed at home. On thoſe farms that have a right of common, the graſs lands are employed through the Summer in growing hay, depaſturing their cows, and ſometimes young cattle; but the latter are more generally ſummered on the commons, and in Autumn brought into the old incloſures, till the approach of Winter, when all the caítle are houſed. SECT. 2— Sheep Tte ſhecp bred in this county are only of wo kinds, and — e >>) O O RE E ENA CHAPTER XIF, RURAL ECONOMY, SECT. 1.— Labour, FROM the number of ſmall farms, there is an Uncer= tainty of 2 day labourer meeting with conſtant employ= ment; as the occupiers want aſliſtance only on particular occaſions, Oh this principle we account for the high Wages given in this county; through the whole of which, there is an univerſal cuſtom of giving the labourers viétuals, both inen and women; the wages are, For men, per day, Iod. and viQuals; in harveſt, 1s, and viétuals—- For women, hay-making, 8d. and viCtuals; harveſt, 10d. and viduals.—The hours from 6 to 6. The viétuais are eſtimated at 8d. per day for men, and 6d. for women. Servants kept in the houſe, are only hired for half a year, to preveñt gaining ſettlements.— Their wages for that time are, a man, from sl. to 71.— Women,’ 21. to 31—Maſons, without viCtuals, are from 13. 8d. to 2s per day; Carpenters, Is. 6d. When work is done by the piece, the prices are as fol lows: Fo d, Threſhing wheat per buſhel-=- 0 2 barley E SE jo zes RE: EE ZR ZZEE 218 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Jal A: — barley ditto= L Z Li OLT2 Oats ditto-< Z O IE Ploughing per acre,-== 2 O Reaping per acre,--== E) Mowing ditto--- 2 Z DS Walling per ſquare yard, SS 2 2 SECT, 2—Provijſions Grain of all Kinds is generally very high; the average price in 1793», WAS» ds For wheat,== 650 per buheL Barley,-- 219 Ito: ‘Oats,-== 2 ditto. Ow Butchers’ meat from= 0 to 46. per Ib. Butter, from=- 0 to 8d. per Ib, Skimmed milk cheeſe-©- 3 per 1b. Potatoes-- I SOTO AO pr bu:; Poultry.—A ſtubble gooſe, 2s.—duck 8d. a fowl 6d. —e99s from zd, to ód. per dozen, Fiſh—Salmon, 6d. per Ib.—ttout 2d. We ſuſpeétï the butchers’ meat, through all the markets of the county, is not overloaded with fat: what we law at Carliſle and Whitehaven was lean indeed!—At the latter place, we‘id not ſee one carcaſe'of decent mutton,—the greateſt part of it would not have ben ſuffered to appear in Newcaſtle, and many other markets, that are accuſtom= ed to ſee good mutton; a joint of lean Whitehaven mut- ton, is dearer at 3d. per Ib. than the ſame Joint of a good E fat ſheep is at 5d: on account of the greater proportion of bone to eatable meat, in the former, to what it is in the latter E The bread, generally uſed in this county, i 1s made of bar- / | SLS A LE TES R R ees EAS EES- c ley; ora mixture of barley and rye; oatmeal i E into OF CUMBERLANDe 219 haſty-puddings, and eat with butter, treacle, milk,' or beer, for breakfaît, and often for ſupper. Potatoes, for ſeveral years, have been in general uſe, as a principal article of food; few fanulies dine without them; and we believe many a dinner and ſupper are made of potaroes, with a little butter, or cream, for ſauce; and in many caſes, only milk, or, where this cannot be had, a little ſalte SECT. 3,— Zuel, Coals are cheap and plentiful in moſt parts of the coun- ty; in ſeveral places from 15s. to 30s. will procure a year's fuel, for a fmall family. Peat and turf alſo abound, and are uſed inſtead of coals in ſome diſtricts, maa TI TTI OCE I> ZU IRE GHAPLTERE N 2 POLITICAL ECONOMYV- Qin CK ZED pudre pe SECT. L—Roads- [j [) THE roads are in general very good, both parochial and turnpikes, except the road from Carliſle to Newcaſtle; ſo:ne parts of which are very bad, and very diferent to what the ſame road is, immediately on entering Nor=- thumberland. The materials are excellent; in general lime-fone; but, in almoſt every inſtance, not broken ſmall enough by one half, If cheſe lard ſtones were broken ſo ſmall, as 220/ AGRICULTURAL SURVEY 2s to paſs through a ring two inches in diameter, and the roads made wider, and fat, or very nearly ſo, few coun=- ties in the kingdom would be able to vie with Cumber- Tand for excellent roads. DECT, 2,— Cazals, There are no canals in rhis county; in 1795, one was projected from Maryport by Carliſle, to Newcaſtle, but did not take placez owing to a diference of opinion, whether the canal from Newcaſtle, ſhould paſs on the North or South fide of Tyne. DECT: 3 Fairs. FEBRUARY 20th.—ZVigton,—for horſes. APRIL, 5th— Wigton,—for cattle. 24th.——Penrith,—for cattle, 25th—— Boon Fad,—for cattle, Marv, Firft Wedneſday, and every fortnight till Miehaelmas. — Cockermouth,—for cattle, rſt, 2d, and 3d Fridays.— Hefget-New-market,— for cattle, 28th.—— Alden, for cattle. JuUNE« 8th, Ravenglafi,—for cattle, Tueſday before Whitſuntide.——Abbey- holm,—for cat= tle and horſes, Whitſun Monday, the Monday fortnight, 2nd Mon- day month after. Rosfley-hill.—A very great fair for cattle and horſes: and cattle are ſhewn here every fortniolt after, till Michaelmas- Whitſun=« OF CUMBERLAND, 221 Whitſan-Tueſday: and every fortnight after.—Pes- rith,—for cattle, Second Wedneſday after Whitſuntide. — for cattle, horſes, and ſheep. Brampton, AUGUST. ath. 2th. Ravenzlaſs,—for cattle. Carliſle,—for cattle and horſes. DEPTEMBER. 2d. Wedneſday.——Brampton,—for cattle, horſes, and ſeep. 18th. Igth. 20th, 27th. Eoremont,—for cattle. Carliſle,—for cattle and horſes. Penrith,—for cattle, OcTOBER.| Toth.—— Cockermouth,—for cattle and horſes, 1, 2d, 3d Saturdays, after Old Michaelmas Car= liſle,—for cattle and horſes: theſe are called Emptons, probably from the cattle being bought to drive to the great fair of Hempton Green, in Norfolk, held the 22d of November. 29th.——Abbey-holin,—for cattle and horſes, DEcEmBER. 21. Wigton,—for cattle and Chriſtmas cheer, from whence it is commonly called“ JY allet-fair.? DECT. 4— Markets, : Monday.—Cockermouth,—for corn, butchers meat, &c. Tueſday.—Penrith.—A. large market for corn, and all kinds of proviſions. Wigton,—for corn, butchers’ meat,&c. Brampton.=A ſmall market for corn and 0= ther proviſions, Wedneſday. 1 g pern a” E R 2,22 AGRIEULTURAL SURVEY Wedneſday. WW orkington.—A large market for all Kinds of provifions. Thurſday. IV hitehaven,—for corn and provifions: a large markets» Longtown,—butchers' meat and butter 5 NO CcOrNs : Kirkofwald.—A fmall market for butchers’ meat,&c- Friday. Maryport,—for proviſions all kinds. Pleſget-New-market.— ſmall market for corn, butcher’s medt, STC» Ravenglaſt,—A ſmall market for provi- fons» Saturday. Carliſle.—A very large market for corn, catile, ſwine, butchers’ meat, and proviſions of all kinds. Keſwick.—A ſmall market for butchers? butter, Xcs« 5 and a few oats and barley, meat, Egremont,—for corn, and other pro=- vifions- SECT ge Commerces The Commerce of this county confifte, principally, in the exportation of coals from Whitehaven, Workington, and Maryport, to Ireland,&c. The number of veſſels employed in this trade amounts to upwards of 300, from 60 to 120 tons burdén.‘This lucrative trade has ariſen to its preſent importance, within the laſt hundred years 5 it originated at Whitehaven, from the exertions of Lord Lonſdale’s anceſtors, to whom the coal in that neigh- bourhood principally belongs: Mr Curwen is the principal coal-owner at Workington, and Mr Senhouſe at Maryport- At all thoſe places, coal cannot be wrought faſt enough to ſupply the demand 5 veſlels have frequently to wait fix or eight weeks before they OF CUMBERLAND, 223 they can get a loading; a certain fign of an increaſing trade. “ We have not been able to aſcertain at what period navigation was advanced in Cumberland. A ſurvey was taken by commiſſion from the crown, in the year 1566, of the trade and ſhipping of this county,(inter alia;) Whitehaven was then ſo far from promiſing it would ever arrive at its preſent wealthy and flouriſhing ſtate, that it conliſted only of fx cottages, ſcattered on the beach, and. hidden in the creek from the eye of an enemy, and to this dejected port one ſmall bark only belonged, of nine or ten tons burthen. Nay, it is not more incredible than true, that there was at that time only one veſſel ap= pertaining to the whole county, that was of ten tons bur- then. The whole exports of this extenfive county, were nothing but a fmall quantity of herrings and cod fiſh; and the inhabiiants knew ſo little of the luxuries and enjoy- ments of life, that the whole of this great coaſt receiy- ed no other ¿ports than a little ſalte About the year 1582, the Earl of Lincoln being Lord High Admiral, cauſed an account to be taken of the ſhips and mariners within this couniy; when all the veſſels a- mounted only to twelve, and not one carried eighty tons. The number of mariners and fiſhermen were 198, of whom many had never navigated a veſlel ſuperior to an open boat. In 1607, Workington was the chief haven, and the place from whence certain criminals, ſentenced to baniſh- ment, were exported to Ireland.*”? Maryport, in the year 1752, conſiſted of only one farm- houſe; in that year another houſe was built. It is now a neat, well built, middle.ſized market-town, with a ſmall and good harbour, incloſed by two piers; and in * Hutckinſon’s Hiſtory of Cumberland, 1793» MM n| Wl I 1 | y H 224 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY 1793, contained 3445 inhabitants, which increaſe about 100 yearly. The ground upon which the town 1s built, belonged to Humphry Senhouſe, Eſq.‘To encourage ſet=- tlers, he ſold o houſe and yard fteads, reſerving a ground rent. The land around it lets for 2 or 31. an acre, which would not have been worth more than Il. bad things re- mained as they were in 1752- The quantity of coals exported from theſe ports, taken on an average of 11 years,(from 1781 to 1792) is as fol- lows: Chaldrons- Trom Whitehaven S 81940 Workington, e e ton, and Maryport 152810 The receipt of cuſtoms at Whitehaven, from I7th June 1794, to zth January 1795»(29 weeks) was 198321 175. 8d| The duty on coals exported from theſe ports, is Is. 2d. per chaldron to Ireland, and gs. to foreign ports Butter, bacon, and hams of an excellent guality, form a part oí the commerce of this county. The article of butter, is ſaid to amount to 300091. per ann: the whole chiefly for thé London market; to which place, alſo, con- fiderable quantities of freſh ſalmon are ſent from Carliſle. SEcT. 6.— Manufaëttures. The Manufafures are not extenſive: printing cottons at Carliſle, and a check manufacture(on a ſmall ſcale) in moſt of the market towns, with four or ÎÂve cotton mills, ereQted of late years near Carliſle, Dalſton, and Corby, with a ſmall fa@ory of corduroys at the latter place, is all his county has to boat of. LES/: Whether OF CUMBERLAND, 225 Whether the coal trade and manufaQures have occa- fioned any improvements in the agriculture of the county, is doubtful; but they certainly have encouraged it, by making a very increaſed demand for its produce. The lead mines on Aldſton-moor af: the agriculture: of this county very little, being more intimately conne&ed with Northumberland. SECT. 7.— Poor, In moſt of the country pariſhes, the poor-rates are low, from ód. to 9d. per pound; which, we believe, is partly owing to a ſort of pride exiſting amongſt the lower claſſes, of not applying for parochial relief, till they can- not poſholy ſubſt wirhout it; and alſo to the number of Friendly Societies, which have been eſtabliſhed, and we hope are ſtill increaſing. Such uſeful inſtitutions are de- ſerving of encouragement, by every perſon whoſe proper- ty is chargeable with poor-rate, SECT. 8.— Population, In Mefirs Nicholſon and Burn’s Hiſtory of Cumber- land, publiſhed in 1777, the number of houſes are eſtí= mated at 20,009, and the inhabitants at 100,000: by Houſeman'’s notes,‘in Hutchinſon’s Hiſtory of Cumber- land, now publiſhing, they amount to 97,200, GHAPTER 226 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY CHAPTER XUE OBSTACLES TO IMPROVEMENTS, ved C44 EDD pppd e ONE great obſtacle to improvement, ſeems to ariſes from a laudable anxiety, in the cuſtomary tenants, to have their little patrimony deſcend to their Claren. Pele ſmall properties(loaded with fines, heriots, and boon- days,* joined to the neceſlary expence of bringing up and educating a numerous family) can only be handed down, from father to ſon, by the utmoſt thrift, hard labour, and penurious livingz and every little ſaving being hoarded up, for the payment of the eventful fine, leaves nothing for the expences of travelling, to ſce improved modes of culture and to gain a knowledge of the management and profits of diferent breeds of ſtock; and be convinced, by ocular proofs, that their own fituations are capable of producing ſimilar advantages. And even ſhould they be half inclin- ed to adopt a new pradtice, prudence whiſpers, that, ſhould the experiment fail, it would require the ſavings of many years to make good the deficiency, The cuſtomary tenure is allowed, on all hands, to be a2 great grievance and check to improvement, Would not this be beſt done away on the diviſion of commons, as Was che caſe at Brampton,&c. where Lord Carliſle had 1- 2th. for his conſent as lord of the foil, and for enfranchifing the allotments, There are other lords who aſk 1 ath * See Tenurces, page% 78 for E “1 OF CUMBERLANDée« 227 for their conſent and enfranchiſing.* The yearly value of the various cuſtoms, fines,&c. might be. eaſily ſettled by commiſſioners; and twenty-five years purchaſe, on ¿his value, be the price of enfranchiſement, which: might be allowed out of the allotment, upon the diviſion of a common z or paid in money, at the option of the tenant. On theſe terms, neither party would bave reaſon to complain; but where a tenant cannot enfranchiſe, under forty years purchaſe, it would be a humane adt of the legi- ſature to relieve theſe bondagerse, by law; or laudable in the Board of Agriculture, to induce ſuch lords of MmAaNors, to accept a fair equivalent for theſe dregs of vaſlalage, Letting no Leaſes, or leaſes for five or ſeven Years, 15 another great obſtacle to improvement. To ſuch propri- Etors of land we would beg leave to hint, that no tehant will ever make improvements under the uncertainties of a ſhort leaſe, much leſs where there is zo1e. A tenant may be well convinced, that by proper culture, draining, im- proved breeds of ſtock,&c. he couldgnake Lis farm, in a tew years, worth one third more than it is at preſent; but this cannot be done without laying out“ money: ſuppoſe 1001. and ſuppoſe, by’ this means, the increaſed yearly value of his crop is 20l. Now it is clear, it will be hx years before he can be repaid the principal and intereſt of the ſum expended. Should his leaſe expire in the fifth year, he would be a loſer; and ſhould he have no leaſe, he might be turned of his farm at the end of the ſecond year. Under fuch circumſtances, the chance of loſs is much greater than the proſped of gain, By rea=- ſoning in this manner, he concludes, that it is ſafer to have his 100l, at intereſt at 5 per cent. than riſk it in * The portion given to the lords of manors, for their conſent: as lord of the ſoil, in moſt parts of the kingdom, is one- ſixteenth. The part to be allowed for enfranchiſfing will depend on the na=- ture of the tenure, OQO 2 improving - 1 228 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY improving his farm under ſuch uncertainties; and that it will be the ſureſt game, to take every advantage of the farm in his power./ On the other hand, if his leaſe had been for twenty- one years, he would have foreſeen, that, by laying out his I1ool. he would gain 200l. and, as““ the hope of re- ward ſweetens labour,” he would have doubled his exer- tions, and gone on from improvement to improvement 5 and at the expiration of his term, his landlord would have the ſatisfaGion of ſeeing his tenant had acquired a com- petency, his farm increaſed in value, and the community benefited by the increaſed produce. We have heard, it ¡is true, ſome arguments urged in favour of letting 70 leaſes; fuch as would have been uſed by a feudal lord, and which, we are perſuaded, cannot long be held by liberal and benevolent minds, enlightened by ſcience, or anxious to promoté the true intereſts of their country. The payment of Tithes in kind, is univerſally agreed to be a material obſtacle to the advancement of agriculture: according to the preſent mode of colleding tithes, it is not a tenth of the zatural produce of the land, but a tenth of the capital employed in trade. If a man employs 1001. in trade, he receives his profits, without any dedudtion; but if he ſhould lay out this 1001. on a ſpeculation of im- proving a piece of land,(ſay, draining a bog) he finds, if his ſcheme ſucceeds, that the produce 1s not all his own; the tithe owner comes, and takes away onze tenth,(which is probably af! the profit, after deducting common intereſt for the money expended;) and this, from of land that never afflŒMorded any tithe ſince the creation, nor ever avould bave done, had not this ſpirited improver laid out his 1001. on improving this bog, rather than employing ît in trade, where he could have received at leaſt 10 per cent, for his money, The bog would then have continu- ed unprofitable, and the tithe owner would have received no rt Rar r= a AESCINÄE Lf pr ri I Sal aS UL MA WW| 4. — OF CUMBERLAND. 229 20 injury; for neither he, nor any of his predecefors, had ever reaped any advantage from it.—This obſtacle certainly might be removed, by giving a fair eguivalent for tithes. IN O ECC O Va ZL 163(A DI GLU S 65 MISCELLANEOUS OBSERVATIONS LE SECT. I.—Agriculiural Societies. ] HERE are none in this county, nor we believe has any âttempt ever been made to form any, SECT. 2.— Weights and Meaſures. The ſame confuſion in weights and' meaſures prevaits “here, as in many other parts E the kingdom. A Carliſle buſhel, is 96 quarts.* A Penrich buſhel, is 64 ditto, for wheat and rye. 80 ditto, for barley, oats, and potatoes. A ſtone of tallow, wool, yarn, or hay, is 16 Ib. Ditto of buticher’s meat 14 Ib, but in many places. 16 Ib. The pound is 16 ounces; by which butter, and various other articles are weighed. * A Wincheßer buſhel ie 32 quarts. “€ ONCLUSION- Q 3 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY CONCLUSION. MEANS OF IMPROVEMENT TAE firſt that preſents itſelf, is a reform in the culture of the arable lands. To thoſe who have been accuſtomed to take two, three, four, five,&c. white crops in ſucceſ- fion, we would recommend, to continue their lands in til- lage 0 more than three years at one time; and in the ſe- cond year to fallow for turnips, or wheat, according as the ſoil ſuits; after turnips, barley, or wheat; and on the barley or wheat, ſow red clover, white clover, and ray-grafſs;* and continue in graſs, two, three or more yéars,(according to ficuation and circumſtances.) Where necefſfity urges, the clover may be mown for hay the firſt year; but would recommend to depaſture ît as much as poſible with ſheep, which of all other ſtock are the moſt profitable, and the moſt improving for land that has been exhauſted by tillage. i IÏt would probably be right, in moſt fituations, to have one-third or one-fourth of the farm in old graſs, for the purpoſes of the dairy, and the ſheep ſtock in Winter; and we would obſerve, that where land is worth 40s. per acre. in graſs, it’ would be a dangerous experiment to plough it up, in fuch a climate as Cumberland poſiefles. We know that in ſome parts of the kingdom, lands are let at higher rents, for the purpoſes of tillage only, burt then, their ſoil, climate, and fituation, are peculiarly good; and it is a gueſtion, whether, if theſe lands had been in old graffs, they would not have been worth more Tor grazing, than they are at preſent for growing corn; * To theſe may be added, hop-medic, and rib-graſs, accord- ſog to circumſtances, probably — PE 2 diia btd= üble— MG LZ M(0 to O O0 Ad UO MN OF CUMBERLAND-s 231 probably as good as the land at Pap Caſtle, let at 31. an acre, for grazing only, The live Stock next offers itſelf for confideration. Of the propereſt breed of horſes, and horned cattle, we have before given our ſentiments: it only remains to ſuggeſt, what improvenients may be made in the ſheep; of which there ought to be at leaſt two, if not three, diſtinct breeds; that is, For the lower diſtricts, a breed of ¿mproved long-wool=- led ſheep: For the mountainous, 2 breed of mountain fneep, ad- apted to the herbage and ſituations For the high, heathy ridge of mountains, on the eaſt fide of the county, the rue black-faced heath ſheep are pros- ably the beſt adapted; as we think them the hardieſt, and beſt calculated, for living altogether upon heath, of any other breed we know; of courſe 2 little attention to the im- provement of the preſent breed, by good tups, of the true heath ſheep, is all that is here wanted.—But for thoſe mountains, on the ſouth-weſt part of the county, which have ſo large a portion of ſound green ſward, we think à fine-woolled ſheep might be kept to advantage; probably the South Down, or at leaſt a croſs betwixt the South Down and the Herdwick ſheep; from the known inclina- tion theſe breeds have to make fat, the carcaſe would cer=- tainly be as good, and the fleece would as certainly be of double value, as that of the preſent breed. Lo de The fleece of the South Down MEE is 23 Ib, at 2s. per 1b-”- O_O Ditto, of the Skiddaw ſheep, 3E Ib, at 5d. dittoo 1 6 Increaſed value of the fleece,= o 260 But it is probable the wool may be deteriorated, by crofl- ing with the Herdwick ſheep. If. on this account we al- 0_4 Iow 232 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY low Is. 6d. there will ſill be an increaſed value of 25. 2 fleece. For the lower diſtricts, a breed of ¿mproved long-wool- led ſheep, of 18 or 20 Ib. a quarter, would undoubtedly be far more profitable than thoſe that are now bred and depaſtured upon it; and from the great portion of excel- lent turnin ſoil, diſtributed through every part of the county, almoſt every breeder would be enabled to fatten his own, if he purſued the rotation above recommended 5 and he would find, that his wethers at If or 12 year old, would be much fatter than the preſent breed are at 4 or 42 years old; and that they would be ſold for the follow- Ing Pr1ces 5 A wether at 17 year old,-- IO Wool, f fleece 8 lb, at gd. perbb.= o 60 IIO Dedudt for wintering on turnips 29 weeks at 4d. per week,=-- O 7 O Produce of a long-woolled wether at 1 year old, afrer deducting the expence of wintering on turnips,---= AO At Aſpatria they feed their own ſheep, and ſell their wethers at 42 years old to the butchers for-=- Z SS Z O Wool, 4 fleeces at 15» ód. each,-=O LO I(0) Dedud for falving 4 years-- OO Produce of a country bred wether 42 years old 1 4 0 4 L E RER É Sibi O UO ls DICES OF CUMBERLAND, 233 From hence it appears, that the preſent breed of ſheep are kept three years for nothing, or that the improved breed of long-woolled ſheep will leave as much profit in one year, as the preſent do in four; or a flock of 25 of cheſe long-woolled ſheep would leave as much profit as 100 of the preſent race, and that for graſs only, as the expence of wintering on turnips was deducted in the a- bove ſtatement, Taclofing of Commons,—we have already. pointed out, would be a great ſource of improvement in this county, could it be done at a moderate expence, and on equitable terms; the charges of obtaining an act of parliament, and the various additions made thereto by the practitioners of the law, are in ſome caſes tliree or four times more than all the other expences put together: Surely this might be avoided by a general a&, The Houſe of Commons has already laid a foundation, by the ſtanding orders re- ſpecting ſuch bills—If two-thirds of the proprietors re- queſt a diviſion, we ſee no reaſon why they ſhould be put to the expence of obtaining an adt of parliament, becauſe two or three, or poſſibly only one, ignorant or ill-natured perſon or perſons, are abſurd enough to oppoſe it. Watered Meadows—is another ſource of improvements from whence great advantages may be derived; the ftreams are not’ confined to any particular diſtrict: they are found equally pure, whether they have their ſource from the limeſtone rocks, on the eaſtern and middle parts of the county; or from the immenſe mountains of blue ſlate rock, in the ſouth-weſt diſtrict, Numberlefſs are the rivulets that might be employed, with the greateſt advan- tage in watering, and in moſt places would be turned over the land at the leaſt expencez being obliged at preſent, to be kept within their bounds by proper fences, and ſeem to ſolicit their indolent owners to employ them, for their own emolument, and the benefit of the public. There > 234 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY There are alſo many fine opportunities for employing the larger rivers; ſome hundred acres of the flát ira of land below Keſwick, to the top of Baſflenthwaite-lake, might be irrigated, and prevented from being overflowed by embanking 5; a large portion near the foot of the lake, 1s capable of the ſame improvement. in Eſkdale, Lord Muncaſter has a fine opportunity of watering an exten- five tra&.*—Near Czrlton, on the Pettril, on the Ellen, and at many other places, we obſerved, where irrigation might be applied to great advantage. We made an excurſion to the Biſhop of Llanda'’s, at Colgarth Park, where that reſpectable prelate has a moſt admirable ſituation for watering.—He purpoſes to have a man from thoſe parts where the pradice is beſt under- ſtood 5; a plan we highly approve; and from his known ſcientific acquirements, enlarged ideas, a@ivity, and per- ſeverance in every good purſuit, we have no hefitation in faying, that future improvers will revere his memory, and admire the man, for adding to the charadter of a geod biſhop, that of a good farmer; and for bleñing theſe northern re- gions, by the introduction of a practice, from which ſo many, and ſuch great benefits are to reſult.—To this place, we hope, the Cumbrians will reſort, to be taught the moſt improved modes of irrigation; and by introducing the practice into their own country, will reap the rewards which it 1s ſo highly capable of aÆording, from this, ſource of improvement, Drainming,—has„been praiſed with great advantage, by a few enterprizing individuals; but much remains yet to be done, in almoft every part of the county: * We are glad to find that bis Lordſhip has taken the hint, and brought an experienced perſon fron1 near Cirenceſter, in Glouceiîterſhire, with a view of introducing this ſpecies of im- provement into this county; he purpoſes irrigating about 200 acres, in different ſituations, and upon different ſoils, and with water of different gualities. to OF CUMBERLAND- 235 to thoſe who are unacquainted with the benefits of drain- ing, we beg leave to recommend it to their particular no=- tice, as the firſt of improvements. By Embanking, great advantages might be gained, eſpecially on the marſhes of Burgh, Rowcliff, Abbey- Holm, and at the mouth of the Duddon. To point out the mode by which this could be beſt accompliſhed, would require a more particular ſurvey z it is ſufficient, on this occaſion, to hint, that it may be done, and that conſider- able benefits would acrue from it, not only to many in- dividuals, but to the public at large.* To the Notice of other Diftriéts, We would beg leave to recommend the uſe of fngle- horſe carts; having been long convinced of their utility, we are glad to have an opportunity of ſtating to the pub- lic a few facts, which will fully evince their ſuperior ad- vantages. The horſes of Cumberland are not of a large ſize, one fifteen hands high, of a light form, that will anſwer either for riding or drawing ſeldom draws leſs in a fſingle-horſe cart than---- E I2/ cWfe The common load for a draught horſe of the a- bove ſize i,=«= S-- 15 The carriers from Brampton to Newcaſtle, over a hilly country, carry freguently,- 18 We met a carrier’s boy driving five carts from * The ſouth-weſt part of Cumberland is in a manner inſulated, and cut of from all eaſy, ſafe, and ready communication with the ſouthern and weſtern parts of the kingdoms; on the one hand, by the barrier of mountains which ſtretch from Kendal and Uiverfſtone, to Penrith and Keſwick; and on the other, by the flow of the tides over the Lancaſter, Cartmel, and Duddon ſands 5 by which the paſſage is not only interrupted for ſeveral hours twice a day, buf alſo rendered very unſafe and dangerous: all which might be avoided, by proper embankments, and at thé ſame time a great guantity of land gained from the ravages of the ſea. Longtown 236 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Longtown to Newcaſtle; in which were four tonz or on each cart,== 16 cwt. A fingle-horſe cart carries ten pigs of lead, of twelve ſtone each, which 1s S Es From the above it may be fairly concluded, that the common load for a fingle-horſe cart, will be about 15 cwt. In moſt countries, a two-horſe cart ſeldom car- ries more than,--=- 20 cwt. Wor a three-horfſe cart more tha,- 30 Here a boy or a girl drives two fingle-horſe carts, which carry=--- ela) Of courſe, ¿wo horſes, yoked in fingle-horſe carts, will draw as much as ¡hree horſes yoked in one cart. A common carrier at Carliſle, who many years employ=- ed a waggon, has laid it aſide, and now uſes fngle-herſe carts only; as he finds he can, by that means, carry much greater weights. There are few articles which may not be carried on 2 carriage of two wheels, equally as well as upon one of four, except long timber; and as waggons are ſo deſtruc=- tive to roads,* why ſhould their uſe be longer perfifted in, as it is clear that the ſame number of horſes yoked in fingle-horſe carts, will draw more than when yoked fix or eight together;—they are eafier loaded and unloaded, are much more handy, for almoſt every purpoſe; and fx or eight may be driven by a man and a boy, which is a trifling additional expence. If a middle-ſized Cumberland horſe * The ſuperior goodneſs of the roads in Cumberland may, in 2 great meaſure, be attributed to the univerſal uſe of fingle-horſe carts.— Wherever waggons are uſed, they are the deſtruction of roads, eſpecially in hilly countries, where they are obliged to lock the wheels; the banks are in a manner ploughed up with them, and the nine inch wheels are, in reality, no more than three inch wheels, by the artful mode oflaying on the middle courſe of tyres which is raiſed an inch above the reft; inſteád of being nearly ex- empted from tolls, every horſe drawing in 2 avaggon, ought to pay treble tg what ſhguld be cxacted from a 407/e drawing in a fingle- forſe cars draws OF CUMBERLAND, 237 draws 1g cwt. a large ftrong waggon horſe will as eafily draw 20 cwt. and which is done in ſome parts of the kingdom. Tor deftroying Moles,—a moſt excellent pradtice is pre- valent here, for every pariſh to let the taking of their males, for a ferm of years, at a certain yearly ſums; whick is raiſed in the ſame manner as the parochial taxes, and does not now exceed a halfpenny an acre; which, they juſtly obſerve, was much cheaper than they could have the ground /fcaled for, were the moles not deſtroyed in this manner. Lt is a pity but there was a /aw to oblige every pariſh in the kingdom, to deſtroy their moles in the fame manner; which is done ſo efffflŒÆdtually here, that we ſcarce ever ſaw a mole-hill upon the incloſed grounds of moſt parts of Cumberland.= | JBauer ded AAA. Range or Uountains Hcauu, BD CE D WESTMORLAND A eli OE EARN - a ZA, TS E, != BN oat, Lead, and Lime. rerule Tale, or various Sous, clueilv mois, Loam& strong Cau, Lime,& Freestone. lgt moorish Sou, Lune and Freestone. 5 Soul rariwous, some rich ana ung Land, Lime, Freestone,& a bed of poor(al. Mountainious District, interspersed nüth beauuñd fertile Vates, no Freestone nor ald. some btac Lime stone, and pleno or’ the best blue State. Trerute late clucilv a good lime stone Soil, no at or Freestone. Sol vanious, on the L’ast Mountainous& Heauw, the rest party a liglu sandy Sod. & part a stwong& rich Loam, plenty of Lime& Freestone,& vome beds of poor al. /;: E M ——————— GENERAL VIEW oF THE AGRICULTURE WESTMORELAND, WITE OBSERVATIONS FOR THE MEANS OF ITS IMPROVEMENT; Drawn up for the Conſideration of the BOARD OF AGRICULTURE INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT, Ms A. PRINGLE, QF E————-_ PE- E-——— Z—M———_————AE—-——- EE:— EEE> SS E ES prae E INTRODUCTION. (GRE AT Britain had long availed herſelf of her nature ally fortunate poſition for commerce, which, encouraged by every means that the wiſdom of the legiſlatute could deviſe, had been carried to an extent hitherto unegualled in the univerſe; and the induſtry of her inhabitants, afliſted by the foſtering hand of government, had brought many branches of manufactures to the higheſt ſtate of perfection; while the cultivation of her fields was lefc to the feeble exertions of the huſbandman, aided only by bounties on the raiſing of flax, and on the exportation of corn It was reſerved for our days, to behold a Board, compoſed of the firſt ofcers of the fate, and of perſons equally reſpectable for high rank, diſtinguiſhed abilities, and independent fortune, eſtabliſhed to fix the attention of a great nation on the improvement of its ſoil, and to direct and affiſt in the ancient and moſt important of all arts, that of providing food for man. The eyes of all Europe are already turned to this Board, which, it is believed, is the firſt national eſtabliſhment, on a great ſcale, that ever exiſted in any country in favour of agriculture, and the advantages of which now appear ſo obvious that it is a matter of aſtoniſhment that ſuch an inſtitution was not ſooner erected. At the time of the landing of the Romans on this iſland, corn was raiſed only on the coafts, and even ſo late as the expedition of Severus, tillage was altogether unknown in thoſe parts which lay between his wall and that of An- toninus, But, under the dominion of that wonderful R people, 242 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY people, it ſoon came to be confidered as the granary of the weſtern Empire, and immenſe quantities of corn were annually exported for the uſe of the armies in Germañy ánd în Gaul; and in the year 359, when there happened to be an extraordinary demand upon the continent, Julian ordered eight hundred ſhips to be built, larger than the common barks, and ſent them to Britain for grain. Tt is not poſible to aſcertain the capacity of theſe veſlels; but it is probable, from privileges that were granted to thoſe who built ſhips above a certain ſize, that many of them would contain more than ten thouſand Roman mo=- - dia, or upwards of three hundred Engliſh quarters. Conſidering the change of manners, it is not to be ex- peed, that the days of ancient Rome will be revived, when the moſt diſtinguiſhed citizens united the culture of the liberal arts with the tillage of their fields, and when the higheſt Officers of the State, having left the helm of government, did not diſdain to lay hold of the ſtilts of the plough. When, however, we contemplate the rapid pro- grefs'which agriculture made in this iſland, in the rude daysofthat ſuperſtitious people, who weregovernedin their time af ſowing by the age of the Moon, and the ſetting of the Pleiades, what may not be hoped for from the ſpirit of an enlighrened nation, fully excited and directed to its pro- per objets by the newly eſtabliſhed Board, under whoſe auſpices, were but the ravages of war to ceaſe for a century, Great Britain would attain to an incredible degree of wealth and cultivation? Enjoying a ſoil of great original fertility, and a climate favourable to the growth of moſt branches of rhe vegetable kingdom, its craggy mountains and verdant hills would be cloathed with lofty timber,-or bleat with innumerable flocks, its meadows would rear the ſtately bullock, and its fruitful plains would wavé with the richeſt crops of every grain that the influence of a Britiſh ſun can pour into the lap of plenty. The perſe- Vering | OF WESTMORELAND,—244 vering hand of induſtiy would even teach trees and plants to flouriſh that at preſent are fickly and droop, and can hardly exiſt through the ſeverity of an inclement winter. In a few centuries more, others might be cultivated with ſucceſs, which, if dire&ly tranſplanted to our climates woull immediately periſh. When peaches were firſt raiſed in Italy, all the world was ſurpriſed that they could be brought to perfeé&tion out of Perſia. What would Cæfar and Diodorus Siculus ſay, were they told that the moſt eſteemed wines of Europe are produced in Gaul, Germany, and Hungary, where they imagined that vines would not grow? Or Strabo, if he knew rhat figs can be propagated in the north of Scotland? Or Lucullus, that . Cherries will grow almoſt any where, which in his time were Known only in Ceraſus, and the milder cliniates of. Europe? Trees and plants, being altogether paſſive, accommo- date themſelves very ſlowly to a change of climate; but the idea has been already* thrown out, that even thoſe of the torrid zone z:ay be made to flouriſh in northern regions, may become gradually inured to the climate, that the climate itſelf may be changed for the better, and that ſome thouſands of years hence, repoſing under their own olive trees, future Britons zay quaff their own wine, or Tip their own tea, ſweetened with the juice of their own ſugar cane.: * No apology is due to the aüthor of J. W. Spencer?s travels for the freedom that is here uſed with them. s R 4 EET ES S R—— LF E F? PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS BY THE BISHOP OF LANDAFF. C C616 AED Udri pupud u Extent of the County.: "Toe county of Weſtmoreland was ſurveyed in 1768, and a map of it,‘upon a ſcale of an inch to a mile, was engraved by‘Thomas Jeffreys, geographer to his Majeſty, in 1770. It appears, frem this map, that the greateſt breadth of the county, from its ſouthern boundary, near Burton, to its northern one, near Penrith in Cumberland, is thirty-two miles, and that its greateft length, from eafß: to weit, is forty miles. I covered this map very exaly with fine writing paper, except the Eſtuary near Millthrope and Windermere lakez I then cut out a ſlip of the paper of an inch in breadth, And of ten inches in length, and weighed it,accurately; from another part of the ſame paper I cut another flip, twó inches in breadth and five in length, and found it to be preciſely of the ſame weight as the firſt Mp; and hence, as the ſurfaces of the two flips were egual, we may collect that the paper was of an uniform thickneſs. The area of each of theſe flips was ten ſquare inches, and conſeguent- ly covered a ſpace on the map equal to ten ſquare miles; I then weighed the whole of the paper which had covered. the map, and by comparing the weight ofthe whole with the weight of what bad covered ten ſquare miles, I found R 2 the 246 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY the number of ſquare miles in the whole to be 844; now there are 640 flatute acres in a ſquare mile, and conle- quently 540,100 acres in the whole county. I meafured this map in the ordinary way by reſolving it into triangles, and found its area to be equal to 636 ſquare, miles, or 497,240 ſtatute acres. Templeman, in his ſurvey of the globe, makes the area of the county of Weſtmoreland equal to 633 ſquare miles, and conſeguently, according to him, it contains 495,129 acres. The medium of theſe three diferent eſtimates (though I am moß diſpoſed to rely on the E is ASO T2. j Profeſſor Zimmerman, in his political ſurvey of Europe, eſtimates England and Wales at 54,112 ſquare miles,‘a- mounting to 24, 631,680 Ñatúte acres. Templeman, in the work above-mentioned, fays that E noland and Wales contain 49,450 ſquare Ms or 31,648,000 ſtatute Acres; the mean ef theſe two gives 33,139,840 ſtatute acres for the whole ſurface of England and Wales, and hence the county of Weſtmoreland may, in ſuperficial content, be eſteemed 2 ſeventy-third part of England and Waleso Proportion between the Cultivated and W. afle Lands in the County. In 1689, when a bounty was firſt granted on the EXPO tation of corn, one-third part of the land in England and Wales, or about eleven millions of acres, was ſuppoſed to Ue in uncultivated commons; if this was then a juſt pro= portion between the cultivated and waſte parts of the kingdom, we may ſafely conclude, that much above one=- third part of Weſtmoreland was then waſte land; as it js evident, from a bare view of the county, that few, if any counties in England, have, in proportion to their whole extent, ſo much uncultivated land as this has. The many incloſures which bave taken place, during the / lalt E E EE LA O OF WESTMORELAN Do 247 laſt hundred years, have leſiened in ſome degree, the waſte land of the whole kingdom 5; but no incloſures of much conſeguence have taken place in Weſtmoreland. Inſtead of one-third, I am diſpoſed to conjeéture that three-fourth parts of Weſtmoreland| conſiſt of uncultivated land: I will ſtate my reaſons for this conjecture, being as ſenſible as any perſon can be of the obje@tions which may be made to ic; but in a matter where there are no data to precceed upon, A conjeétural argument may be allowed. It appears, by the return made by the overſecers of the poor to the Houſe of Commons, that the ſum raiſed by aſſeſſment in all the pariſhes and townſhips of the county, at a medium of three years, ending in 1785» amounted to 5,7571. The town of Kendall, including Kirk land, the only large town in the county; it is found, by an E al ſurvey made this year, to contain 8089 inhabitants, hav- ing experienced an increaſe of 518 inhabitants ſince the year 17843 of the preſent number 143, or about one fifty-ſixth part of the whole, are paupers living in the workhouſe. The poor rates of this town amounted, ac- cording to the ſame return, to 11251. a-year; this ſum being ſubducted from the annual amount of all the poor rates in the county, leaves 46321. for the ſum raiſed from all the eſtates in the county, exclufive of Kendall, From particular inquiries in various pariíhes, L am of opinion, that the poor rates do not, in this N exceed a ſuil- ling inthe pound in the actual rental of all the lands; but a ſhilling in the pound(ſap, vóſing the ſum annually raiſed to be 46321.) will give a rental of 92,6401. All the lánd in Weſtmoreland, which can either be ploughed or mown for hay, is worth at leaſt a rent of a pound a ftatute acre on an average; and hence it may be inferred, that 100.000 acres of ſuch land, or leſs than one-fourth part of the whole, would yield a rental equa! to, if not exceed- ing, the rental of the county. The high incloſed rough R4 paſtures GRE ions YeauttN A 248 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY paſtures are let from one to five ſhillings an acre But whether the uncultivated land in Weſtmoreland be équal to three-fourths, or one half of the whole; it cannot be queîtioned, that there is ſo much of it, as to render its improvement a matter not only of individual concern, but of national importance.' Improvement of Waßte- Lands- The uncultivated lands in Weſtmoreland are of varions ſorts, with reſpe&t to ſoil and fituation, and capable of different ſorts of improvement. Some of them conſiſt of extenſive commons in low fituations, and are of an excel- lent ſoil; theſe might be improved by incloſures, without any riſk of. loſs by the undertaking. Others conſtitute extenſive mountainous diftris, called by the natives fs and 1097s; the ſoil of theſe is, generally ſpeaking, an hazel mould. In its natural ſtate, it produces little elſe than a coarſe benty graf, heath, and fern; or, in the language ot the country, ling and brackens. Many of theſe fells are, in their preſent flate, of ſo little value, that the liberty of Keeping ten ſheep on them may be hired for fixpence a- year. Suppofing ſix acres to be ſufficient for the main- tenance of ten ſheep, the rent of ſuch land is a penny an âcre; and the price of the fee ſimple of it, at twenty-four years purchaſe, two ſhillings, Whilſt there is an acre of Tuch waſße, improveable land in Great Britain, ic may be hoped that, when the legiſlature ſhall turn its attention to the ſubje(t, no inhabitant of the iſland will be driven by diſtreſs, to ſceK a ſubſiſtence in Africa or America. Above forty years ago an experiment was tried in Spain, with reſpe&t to the cultivation of waſte lands, Several thouſands of poor and vagabond people were ſettled on them at rhe expence of the government. If this experiment has ſucceeded(which may be eafily Enown,) ſo far, as that the land has been made produc- LiVE, y 1 E(LT il lai IT aria aks 77 2 OA e. UO RN OF WESTMORELAND-« 249 five, that the ſettlers háve been increaſed, and that the government has been reimburſed the whole or a princi- pal part of its expence, it may induçe other governments to aCopt the ſame or a ſimilar plan. The giving a cot=- tage, and a few acres of land, under a ſmall reſerved rent, and perhaps under other uſeful reſtrictions, to a poor man, is certainly a good way of improving the land. When a man has lands of his own, he and his family will exert in its cultivation, a quantity of labour which would not otherwiſe be brought into exiſtence. The value of this, otherwiſe non-exiſting labour is, in one reſpe&, „ nothing zit ought not to be reckoged as a part of the expence attending the improvement ow the land; and, on that account, many thouſands of acres of land might be brought into cultivation, which would not, in any 0- ther way, pay the expence of improvement. The man- ner ot improving moor-land, by paring, burning, liming, &c. is well underſlood by ſome few individuals, and thé advantage reſulting from it aſcertained, by what has been recently practiſed in“ ſome parts of the çounty on private eſtates, There are many barren mountairî in this county which do not admit improvement by paring and burning, ad which are incapable of being profitably converted either into arable or good paſture land: yet the higheſt and moſt craggy parts, two acres of which do not afford ſuſ- tenance for ſix months in the year to one ſheep, might, with a great proſpedt of ſucceſs, be planted with larches; _T ſay with a great proſpect of ſucceſs, for T do not ſpeak with certainty, not knowing whether there are in Great Britain any plantations of larch made on fuch expoſed and rocky ſituations as are here ſpoken of: But, on the other hand, it is known, that the larch grows in Italy on higher mountains than any that we have in this iſland; and not only that it grows in Italy, where the climate is [) lels 250 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY leſs ſevere than in Great Britain, but that it grows in the north of Rufſlia. where it 1s much more ſevere; for at Archangel, in the latitude of 64°, ſhips are built of larch growing in that climate. It may be of uſe to ſtate the probable profit which would attend planting the land‘in queſtion with larchs A thouſand acres of this ſort of land might be incloſed with a circular wall fix feet in height,(where the ſtones can be eafily gotten, as they may in moſt parts,) after the rate of fix ſhillings an acre, or 39091 for the whole; five hundred larches, two feet in height,(ío as to enable them to refiſt the long graſs,) might be planted on each acre for fourteen ſhillings; hence a plantation of 500,000 larches might be made for 1000l. Now 1o00ol. improv- ed at compound intereſt, at the rate Of 41. per cent. would, in ſixty years, amouni*to the ſum of 10,5 191,; this is the accumuláted loſs attending the incioſing and planting 1000 acres of rocky land in fixty years, The rent of 1090 acres, at one penny an acre, 1s 4l. 3s. 4d. a- year; in eight years the larches would be out ot all dan- ger from ſheep, ſo that the loſs of rent ought only to be eſtimated for eight years; but 41. 3s. 4d. a year, though improved after the ſame rate of compdbund intereß, would not amount to 4o0L in eight years; ſay, however, that it would amount to 811, which is allowing more than two pence an acre for the annual rent of the land, then would the whole expence attending the plantation in fix- ty years be 10,6001. If the amount of 811. for 52 years, be taken into conſideration, the expence of the plantation in óo years will be 11,2221. 1 have here ſuppoſed ſheep to be ſhut out. of the plantation for eight years; if it ſhould be found, that ſheep will not. crop the larch, and from more than one obſervation, I have reaſon to believe that they will not, they need not be(hut out at all; nor, on diſtriits, where nothing but ſheep are depaſtured, need any OF WESTMORELAND, 251 x / any fence be made. I know the advocates for cloſe plant- ing, inſtead of 500, would require 5000 larches tor each. acre; I am not convinced of the utility of ſuch cloſe planting, except where it is intended to nurſeup oaks, Or other kinds of wood; but if chat mode ſhould be adopt- ed, the thinnings, after twenty years growth, would pay the expence of it. At the expiration of lixty years, fup- poſe that only 25ço larches remained on each acre, or that one half had periſhed; the probable value of them may be thus eſtimated. From a great many experiments made by myſelf and colle&ed from others, I find the annual in- ‘creaſe in circumference of the larch, at fix feet from the pround, to be one inch and one halt on an average of ſeveral years; and this inference has been drawn from the actual admeaſurement of larches in different parts of England and Scotland, and of different ages, from ten years old to fifty. On this ſuppoſition, the larches would meaſure, one with añother, ninety inches in circumfer- ence, at ſix feet from the ground. A larch which mea- ſures ninety inches, at fix feet om the ground, would meaſure above ſeventy at twenty feet from the ground z but ſuppoling ſeventy inches to be the circumference aft twenty feet, and the length of the tree to be forty fects negleé&ing the remaining top; then will its ſolid content be €ighty-five cubic feet, and the value of the tree, at nine- pence a foot, above three guineas, But as the trees are luppoſed to be planted in an high, bleak, barren ſituation, their annual increaſe may not be ſo great as is here ſup=- poſed; inſtead of being worth, at ſixty years after plant- ing, three“guineas a piece, admit thar they are worth on- ly ten ſhillings each, then would the whole plantation be worth 125,o00ol, and deducting the whole expence, 10, óo0l. as before eſtimated, there would remain a proûg 7 of 114,400l. The preſent value of I14,400l. to be re- ceived fixty years hence, is above 10,0óol,(intereſt af 252 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY money at 41. per cent.) Ten thouſand pounds at 41. pee cent. purchaſés an income of 4001. a year: by planting then, a barren eſtate, of a thouſand acres, 1s Improved from 4, 3s. 4d. to 4991, 2 year, reckoning the value of a reverſion as a preſent certainty, Sixty years is 2 great part of the life of a man; but it ought to be conſidered as nothing in the exiſtence of a nation, or even of a family, which. is a little nation. The waſte lands in this and 0- ther counties, are a public treaſure in the hands of private perſons; all of them ought to be converted into arable, meadow, or paſture land, which are capable of admitting, with profit, that kind of improvement; and ſuch of them as will not pay for that mode of improvement, ought to be covered with wood; the high parts, and efſ- pecnally the ſheltered dells in the high parts, with larch, and the lower with oak, aſh,&. When a ſpirit of ag= ricultural improvement is fully excited, the individuals to whom fach uncultivated lands belong, will be prompt= ed, by an attention to their own intereſt, to forward every judicious plan which may be propoſed, for rendering them more uſeful to the proprietors and to the commu- mty; their preſent application to the Summer-mainten- ance of a few miſerable ſheep, ought not to be perſcvered In, if any other uſe can be made of them. Coppices. In ſome parts of Weſtmoreland, confiderable portions of land are covered with coppices, conſiſting principally of oak, aſh, alder, birch, and hazel. Theſe underwoods are ufually cut down every ſixteenth year: The uſes to which they are applied are chiefly two—hoops and char=- coal."The hoops are ſold in the wood at 5l. a thoufand 5; they áre generally manufa@ured in the country, and ſent Dy ſea to Liverpool; the tharcoal is ſent to the iron fur= aces in the neigibourhood,"The value ofa ſtatute a A q «(N A, Wd) E E E 7 E) 4 ALLES 2 OF WESTMORELAN Ds. 253 - C vf coppice-wood, of ſixteen years growth, is variable from tol. to 1cl.; and if it conſiſts altogether of oak, its price “ may’amount to twenty guineas; 6l. for the charcaal, and 1 51, for the bark; it being the cuſtom here to peel the bolls, and all the branches of the oak, which are équal to the thickneſs of a man's thumb, It is an extraordinary thing, to fee any trees left to {tand for timber in thefe underwoods, the high price of bark being a temptation to cut the whole down. Fine íap= lings, from nine to twelve inches in circumference, at ve feet from the ground, and with bark as ſplendid as poliſh- ed filver, are felled by the unfeeling proprietor, with 2s little regret as if they were thorns or briars. Of lâte, in- deed, ſome few owners of underwoods have left ſtandards» and if they conſult their iñtereſt, the practice will become general, As this is a point denied by many proprietors of coppices, it may be of uſe to explain the principles on which the obſervation is founded. Suppoſe a ftatute acre of underwood to be, in the ſpring of 1794, ſixteen years old, and that the whole is then cut down and ſold for 141.; this ſum will, in fixty- four years,(reckoning compound intereſt at 4 per cent.) amount to 1721. In 1810 another fall of underwood, of the ſame value, will be made; the 141. then ariſing, im- proved for forty-eight years, in the ſame way, will pro- duce 911. In 1826 another 141. will ariſe from another fall of the underwood; this ſum, improved for thirty- two years, will amount to 491. In 1842, another fall will produce 14l. which, in fixteen years, will become 261 And laſtly, in 1858, or in ſixty-four years rom 17945 A7 nother fall will produce 141.‘The amount of the value of the five falls, thus eſtimated and improved, will be 3521. Let us now calculate the profit which would re- ſult, in the ſame time, from the ame acre of underwood, ¡f it was managed in a different way, Inſtead of cutting the R pui EE /F | A } wa = Í54 AGRICULTURAL SÜRVÉY the whole down in 1794, let us ſuppoſe that I5O of the beſt Foung oaks are left to ſtand for timber; the then value of theſe, at Sd, attice, 15 255 this being ſubdudted from T4l the value of the whole coppice, leaves 121. 15s. Plis ſum, improved as béfore, will amount, in fxty-four years, to 1561.(ſhillings and pence in theſe calculations being neglected.) The next fallin 1810 ought not to be valued at more than 1ol. as I50 trees, then of thirty-two years growth, will do ſome injury to the underwood: rol. in forty-eight years will amount to 651. The next fall in 182€ may be valued at 81. and at that time ſeventy five trees ſhould be taken down; theſe trees will then be forty-cight years old, and worth 1 5s. a treé, or çól.'in the whole; this added to 8L the value of the then under- wood, makes 64l. which, in thirty-two years, will pro- duce 2241. Without eſtimating the underwood in 1842, and in 1838, at any thing, or the value of the paßturage for thirty-two years at any thing, let us ſu ppoſe the ſe venty-five remaining trees to be cut down in 1858, being then eighty years old, and that they would, one with az nother, be worth 41. a-piece, or zool. in the whole: The ſum of the profits, thus ariſing, is 74;Ll. or more than double the other amount. It is a general opinion in this, and, Î believe, in other countries, that it is more profitable to fell oak wood at Âfty or ſixty years growth, than to let it ſtand for navy- timber to eighty or one hundred. According to thé price which is now paid for that commodity, either by the Navy-Board, or the Eaft India Conipany, I believe the opinion. to be founded in truth. The following obſervations contain the reaſon for this belief, If profit is confidered, every tree of every kind ought to be cut down and ſold, when the annual increaſe in value of the tree, by its growth, is leſs than the ännual intereſt of the money it would ſell for:—this being ad« mitted y E——— E CTRE A e OF WESTMORELAND: 255 = tnitted, we have only to inquire into the annual increaſe in the value of oaks of different ages. In the Philoſophical Tranſactions, for 1759, there are ſome uſeful tables reſpecting the growth of trees, by Mr Marſhamz from theſe tables the two following inferences may be drawn:— LL, Thát it is highly profitable to tet young thriving oaks, which are net worth avove 0s, a tree, continue ſtanding. 2. That ît is not profitable to let oaks of 80 or 100 years growth, continue ſtanding. Three oaks, marked in the tables, No. 8, 11,—12, in April 1743, before they began to ſhoot, contained eleven and one half feet of wood, and were altogether worth,at eighteen pence a foot, bark included, 17s. zd, The ſame trees,' fixteen years afterwards, contained thirty-four and ene half feet, and were worth 21. 11s. gd. Now, if 17s and 3d. had been improved ac the rate of 7 per cent. at compound intereſt for ſixteen‘years, it would not have amounted to 21. 11s. 9d.; and of conſequence the pro- prietor, by letting ſuch oaks fand, improves his property in as high a degree, as if he. put out his money to intereſt at near ſeven and a half per cent. Three oaks, No. 2,—3,—s, in 1743, contained 100% feet of timber, and were worth 71. 10s. gd. The ſame trees, ſixteen years afterwards, contained 132> feet, and were worth gl. 18s. 6d. Now, 7L. 10s. 9d. the‘value of the trees in 1743, improved, at the low rate of intereſt of 21. per cent. would, in ſixteen years, amount to a ſum exceeding 9I. 185. 6d.‘The proprietor, then, by letting ſuch trees ſtand, does not improve his property at the rate of 21. per cent. The oak, No. 1, in the third table, was worth 11. 2s. 6d, in 1757, it gained in one year one foot, or Is. 6d. in va- lue; if it had been worth 30s. and had gained one foot, / there Ld 256 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY there would have been no profit in letting it ſtand, as thie intereſt of zos. at 5 pér cent. would have produced 1s. 6d. in the year; and it is for this reaſon that I have fixed upon 3os-. as the value of trees which ſhould be cut down; if they are cut ſooner or later, the proprietor will be a lofer. It muſt not be ſuppoſed, however, that great preciſion‘can attend this obſervation; fince particular foils, or the greater or Icſs thriving condition of the wood, may render it uſeful to cut down trees before they are worth 30s. or to lei them ftand a white longer.. Éc ought to be remarked alſo, that large trees ſelb for more per foot than ſmall ones do, yet the uſual increaſe of price, is not a compenſation to the proprietor, for let- ting his timber fand to a2 great age. This may be made out from the following experiment: On the'27th Odober 1792, I meaſured, at fix feet from the ground, the circumference'of a very fine oaks of eighty-two years growth, from the time of its being planted, and found it to be 107 inches: On the ſame day of the month, in 17935 it meaſured 108 inches.— There is not one oak in fifty(at the age of this) which gains an inch in circumference, in one year. The length of the boll ofthis tree was about eighteen feet; it con- tained about eighty-four feet of timber, and was worth, at 35, a foot, 121. 12s. It gained in one year very little more than a foot and one half of timber, or 4s. 6d. in value; but the intereſt of 121. 12s. at 41. per cent. a- mounts, in one year, to above twice the value of the in= creaſe, even of this tree, which is a ſingularly thriving one- i have been the more particular on this ſubje@t from 2 public conſideration. Many men are alarmed left our poſterity ſhould experience a ſcarcity of oak timber for the uſe of the navy; and various means of increafing îts quantity have been recommended with great judgment. In OF WESTMORELAND. Se Ïn addition to theſe meáns, the making a much greater than the ordinary increaſe of price on timber of a largé ſcantling, might be not improperly ſubmitted to the con- ſideration of thoſe who are concerned in the buſineſs. If the Navy-board would give|8l. or gl. a load for timber trees containing Ioo cubic feet or upwards, inſtead of 4I. or 51. every man in the kingdom would have a reaſonable motive for letting his timber ſtand till it became of a ſize fit for the uſe of the navy; whereas, according to the preſent price, ît is every man's intereſt to cut it down ſooner. In the neighbourhood of Ambleſide there is found 2 ſtratum of gray limeſtone, which, though it contains a ÎUttle clay, might be as ſerviceable as the pureſt ſort for agricultural purpoſes; but, unfortunately for the im- provement of this part of the county, coal is ſo dear, that very little of this limeſtone is burned. The lime which is uſed in the culture of the lands being either fetched from Kendall, ór brought up Windermere lake, at.a great expence, As there is great plenty of coppice wood in the difſtri&t here ſpoken of, it may be uſeful for the far- mers and land-owners to confider, whether thé burning of lime with fagots in a flame-Kkiln, as is practiſed in Suſ- ſex, may not be a more beneficial application of the un- derwoods than the converting them into charcoal. Even the ſpray-wood, here called chats, which is too ſmall to be made into charcoal, and which is now ſold for ſixpencé a cart, or more generally left on the ground, might be made into fagots, and mixed with wood of a larger fize, ſo that no part of the coppice would be lof. In Suſſex they uſe 600 fagots, cut in the Winter, and weighing, when dry in the Spring, thirty-ſix pounds each, for the burning of 480 Wincheſter buſhels of lime, May I be permitted to hazard another conjedure, re- ſpedting the uſe to which coppices might be applied, D without dy 9 c8 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY without injuring either the quantity or the quality of the charcoal obtained from them? Pit coal yields, by diſtilla- tion, about a twenty-fourth part of its weight, of a thick tenacious oil, reſembling tar. All ſorts of wood yield a ſimilar‘oil by the ſame proceſs: I do not know whether the oil from wood be of an inferior, or of a ſuperior quality to that from pit coal; but I ſuſpect it to be ûtter for cordage,&c. In the ordinary way of making char- coal, the whole of this oil is diſperſed in the form of ſmoke; may it not deſerve to be inguired, whether this oiïl might not be ſaved with profit?‘The proceſs which is uſed in America, for extracting tar from the pine tree, is little different from that by which charcoal is made in England. Whether the quantity of oil which might be obtained from a pit of wood, when converted into char= coal, would exceed in value the expence of procuring it, can only be decided by experiment.‘The reader may form ſome gueſs at the quantity, from the following ſtate- ment: The black part of guiacum wood yields a tenth, the fappy part a thirteenth part of its weight, of thick black oil. SaMfras wood, oak, aſh, alder, birch,&c. give by diſtillation,(and making, charcoal is a ſpecies of diſtillation) from a twenty-fourth, to a twelfth part of their reſpeive weights, of this oil The difference in quantity ariſes from a diverſity in the texture, age, and dryneſs of the woods. I ſuppoſe that a cord of coppice wood would weigh a ton, and that four cords would make one dozen of ſacks of charcoal, and that wood of this ſort would yield a twentieth part of its weight of oil; on theſe ſuppoſitions there is diſlipated in making one dozen of charcoal, 448 Ibs. of oil, or one ton in every Áve dozen, S CHAPTER — ZA OF WESTMORELAÄND. 259 CHAPTER I GECGRAPHICAL STATE AND CIRCUMSTANCES I SECT. 1.—Situation and Extent. VV xSTMORELAND is ſituated between ç4° 11° 30‘; and 54° 42° 30‘, N.at: and between 2° 20‘, and 3° 12‘, long. W. from London. It is an inland county, bounded on the N. by the biſhopric of Durham and Cumberland, on the W, by Cumberland and Lancaſhire, on the 9. by Lancaſhire and Yorkſhire, and by York- ſhire and Durham on che E.; and contains, according to the Biſhop of Landaff’s Preliminary Obſervations, about 844 ſquare miles,‘or 540160 ftatute acres: three fourth parts of which, he conjectures to conſiſt of uncultivated land. DECT. 2 Diviſions , Weſtmoreland is divided into Eaſt Ward, Weſt Ward, Kendall, and Lonſdale Wards; and conſiſts of 26 pa=- riſhes. SECT: 3 Climate The climate of this county, as may be expected from its vicinity to the weſtern ocean, over which the ſouth=a weſt winds blow for eight months of the year, and bring the exhalations to deſcend in rain on the mountains, is remarkably moiſt. The quantity of rain that falls in the weit part. in a year has been aſcertained by rain-gages S2 kept N 260 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY kept at Kendall, and on the banks of Windermere. In the wet year, 1792, ît amounted to eighty-three inches, In ordinary years it'amonunts to forty-five or fifty inches, the loweſt of which 1s twenty inches above the medium quantity that falls'in Europe. The air, however, is pure and healthful, the Winters rather long and ſevere, In the Winter 1791—92, thirty-ſix pounds were paid for cutting only a horſe track through the ſnow upon leſs than ten miles of the road from Shap to Kendall. SECT. 4.—Soil and Surface. The county in general is ſo mountainous and hilly, that a great proportion of it muſt for ever remain undiſ- turbed by the plough. Between theſe mountains there are ſevéral very pleaſant and fertile vallies, that want only trees and hedge-rows to be truly beautiful. The moſt prevailing ſoil in Weſtmoreland, is a dry gravelly mould; ſand and hazel mould appear in various parts, but chiefly in the E. and N.; clay is found on a few farms towards the Eden and Eaſtern mountains, and a heavy moiſt ſoil on others in the N. parts of the county. Peat moſs makes its appearance in ſmall patches in many of the vales, and a- bounds on the tops of ſeveral ligh mountains, which, how= ever, are in general covered witha dry ſoil, upon a hard blue rock, provincially called rag. The ſoil that lies up- on a limeſtone bottom is uniformly eſteemed the beſt. DECT. 5— Minerals Notwithſtanding /its mountainous ſurface, no valuable mines have yet been diſcovered in Weſtmoreland. Some trifling veins of lead-ore, have been found in the Eaſtern mountains; coal is wrought only in the S, E. extremity of the county, and in the neighbourhood of Shap, where 2 baſtard or crow coal is got. | Limeſtone OF WESTMORELAND. 261 in Limeſtone, in almo inexhauftible abundance, is to be Ds, found in moſt parts of the county, except among the Ds, Weſtern hills, which afford an excellent Kind of blue Dn ates, well known over almoſt all England. Le Gypfum is got at Acron-bank, near Kirkby-Thore, ; and a few other places: it is uſed for laying floors, but M. not at all as a manure, [1: Free-ſtone is found in the Eaſtern parts of the county, and at Hutton-roofe, about io miles from Kendall. On the river Kent, about 3 miles below Kendall, a vein of beautiful marble was diſcovered, about four years ago, in the lands of Daniel Wilſon, Eſq; of Dallam-Tower, by A ſome workmen who were building a barn, and the main C./ quarry has‘been opened on the eſtate of that gentleman. El Tt has lately been found on the oppoſite ſide of the river, O in the property of Strickland, Eſq; of Syzergh. ant: Wc; SECT. 6 Water. H Riwers.—Of the numerous ſtreams that ruſh from the 1B 5 mountains and water the vallies beneath, there are only 0) three that preſerve their names to the ocean. The Eden, ls: which ſprings in Mallerftang, and having received in îts Dr: courſe the Eamont and the Lowther, and many little rivu=- (o J0 lets, enters Cumberland, and running the whole length 1. of that county, empties itſelf into the Solway Firth below Fr Carliſle, The Kent riſes in Kentmere, waſhes the vale i. of Kendall, and loſes itſelf in the Eſtuary near Milthrope, the only ſeaport in the county. The third is the Lon or Lune, which has its ſource in Ravenſtonedale, and flows through the vale to which it gives its name, till it enters À the county of Lancaſter, below Kirkby-Lonfſdale. TP Betwixt the mountains ſeveral extenfive lakes are form- FS ed, the beautiful verdure of' whoſe banks, with' their e| ſhady groves, limpid waters, and pebbly bottom, are par- 1 S5 S2 ticularly : A Large proportion of the county of Weſtmoreland 262 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY ticularly deſcribed in the Guides to the L-kes, offered to| every traveller who viſits this part of the kingdom.| The rivers and lakes abound with many diferent Kinds| of fiſh, great part of which is now carried to Lancaſter and Liverpool.|| — UTZ Dt hege u, o LA CHAPTER TE STATE OF PROPERTY. UE CCC ED pu Pup SECT. L—Eflates and their Managements is poſſeſſed by a Yeomanry, who occupy ſmall eſtates of their own from Iol. to zol. a year. The remainder con» fiſts of larger eſtates belonging to Noblemen and Gentle- men, ſeveral of whom are refident in the county, and take the management into their own hands. Others entruſt the care of their airs, in a great meaſure, to ſtewards. SECT. 2—Tenures. The larger eſtates in Weſtmoreland are commonly freehold, and the ſmall tenements, mentioned in the laſt ſection, are generally held under the lord of the manor, by cuſtomary tenure, which difers but little from that by copyhold, or copy of court roll. In ſome manors the tenant\ pays only a heriot, and fine certain, on death of the lord or tenant z; in others the fine is arbitrary, on death or : purchaſe. On cuſtomary eſtates, the wood is generally claimed by the lord of the manor, 4 CHAPTER; OF WESTMORELAND- 263 CHAPTER ITL. BUILDINGS. A SECT, 1.— Houſes of Proprietors. From the ſhort reſidence the Author of this Report made in Weſtmoreland, he cannot pretend even to enu- merate the various ſeats of the great proprietors through- out the county, and the neat ſnug boxes, belonging to gentlemen of moderate fortune, that adorn the banks of its beautiful lakes. SECT. 2.— Farm Houſes, Offices, and Repairs. The lands of the fateſmen and farmers in this county lie ſe intermixed that their habitations and offices, which are often built together in little ftraggling villages, muſt of neceſſity be very inconvenient for farming purpoſes; but convenience has been little ſtúdied even on thoſe farms whoſe fields lie unmixed. The principal ſtructure is a barn, which, at the ſame time that it has a ſtable and cow-houſe underneath, is frequently large enough to contain the whole crop of both corn and hay, fſo that it is rare to ſee a ſack of either. Theſe barns are often twenty yards in length, five in width, and fve yards in height in the fide walls. The expence of bringing all the materials from a moderate diſtance, and of building a barn of ſuch dimenſions with a ſlated roof, may be about ſeventy guineas. The houſes are generally covered with ſlates, which are found in ſeveral parts of the county, 9 4 The d SS RADE DET f Pr i SIE O i_ zi, E o oA= 7 SOE» MARI EIER DO Sem iO bA AGRICULTURAL SURVEY The ſlates are not nailed on boards, but hung with oak pegs on laths, and plaiftered in the inſide of the roof. À few houles are fill thatched with wheat ſtraw, which is ſold from 1s. 2d. to 1s. 8d. a threave of twenty-four ſheaves. The expences of repairs are, for the moſt part, defrayed by the landlord. SECT: 3,— Cottages There are very few mere cottages in the county; the labourer and mechanic generally refide in a ſmall farm- houſe, and occupy more or leſs land. e a TTT C: Le CCDP C UTP CA a 18 0 M EE yy a PODERI Am GHAPTBR Ars MODE OF‘OCCUPATION. C CnC 164 LED Po prepa pos o DECT. L—Size of Farms—Charaëer of Farmers, FF ARMS in general are ſo ſmall, that it is rare to meet with one of 1001. a year of rent, though there are ſome of even 200. or 2zol. a year Tt might be uſeful to know what proportion of the lands in the county is poflefled by that numerous and re- ipedtable Yeomanry already mentioned as occupying ſmall eſtates of their own from Iol. or 20l. to çol. a year. Theſe men, in contradiſtinGion to farmers, or thoſe who hire the land they occupy, are uſually denominated Ffateſ- mea They live poorly, and labour hardz; and ſome of them, particularly in the yicinity of Kendall, in the in- E| tervalg E E D 1) ridge AET MAES; e daw: 27 A7 OF WESTMORELAND- 265 tervals of labour from agricultural avocations, buſy them- ſelves in weaving ſtuffs for the manufa@urers of that town. The conſciouſneſs of their independence renders them impatient of oppreſſion or inſult, but they are gen- tle and obliging when treated by their ſuperiors with kindneſs and reſpe&t,‘This claſs of men is daily decreaſ- ing. The turnpike roads have brought the manners of the capital to this extremity of the kingdom. The ſimplicity of ancient times is gone. Finer clothes, bet-= ter dwellings, and more expenſive viands, are now ſought after by all,“This change of manners, combined with other circumſtances which have taken place within tbe laſt forty years, has compelled many a Fateſman to ell hiís property, and reduced him to the necefiity of work- mg as a labourer in thoſe fields, which perbap he and his anceſtors had for many generations cultivated as their own. Itis difficult to contemplate this change without regret; but confidering the matter on the ſcale of national utility, it may be queſtioned whether the agriculture of the county will not be improved as the landed property of it becomes leſs divided. Tt is painful to one, who has in his compoſition the ſmalleſt ſpark of knight errantry, to behold the beautiful ſervant maids of this county tolling in the ſevere labours of the field.‘They drive the harrows, or the ploughs, when they are drawn by three or four horſes; nay, ît is not uncommon to(ee, ſweating at the dung-cart, a girls whoſe elegant features, and delicate nicely-proportioned limbs, ſeemingly but Hlaccord with ſuch rough employ=- Inents y A judgment of the refinement and civilization of a people has been often formed from their treatment of the fair ſex, and in this reſpect France was formerly held up to the world as a model, Unfortunately ihe man- gers of nations are too often painted by thoſe who have been SAA, tra. vi EL Dg 0 266 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY been converſant only with perſons in what may be called high life; but were it allowable to apply this rule even to France, and to look for ſpecimens into the lower or= ders of ſociety,(and it is there furely that the moſt fairh- ful repreſentatives of national character or manners are to be met wirh) it would be found that the women, even in the boaLSed days of her monarchy, were doomed to the ſevereft labour, to load the dung-cart, to ſaw the wood, and to threſh the corn. The common people of both ſexes wear, eſpecially in the winter ſeaſon, inſtead of ſhoes, cloggs, which differ from ſhoes in this, that the bottom part is made of wood. The wood is generally either birch, alder, or ſycamore; it 1s about an inch in thickneſs, and a rim of iron is nailed round the bottom of it. A pair of cloggs coſts 3s. 6d. they keep the feet warm and dry, and, with good care, will laſt a twelvemonth. SECT. 2— Rent. The rent of the land varies with its ſituation and fer- tility. Tn all fituátions, and of all qualities, it bas encreaſ- ed greatly in its value within theſe few years. This may be owing partly to the advance in the price of its produc- tions, and partly to improvements in the art of farming. At Shap, Amblefide, and in Troutbeck, the beſt háy- meadows are let at about ços. the cuſtomary acre. Near towns the rent of the beſt fields to be mowed may be, at a medium, rather above 2l. per acre. At Kirkby-Stephen and Appleby they are not quite ſo valuable. Near Ken- dall, Burton, and Milthrope, ſome fields are let at 4L; and at Kirkby-Londſdale there are a few which fetch above s5l. Lands of inferior kinds may be hired for paſ- ture at all varieties of price. In Ravenſtondale, where no tithes are paid, and where the land derives no part of its Yalue from its ſituation, there are between 2000 and 3000 Acres OF WESTMORELAND-, 267 acres incloſed; four fifths of theſe are let from 45s. to 11s. the ftatute-acre, and the rémaining fifth from 20s, to 405. In the bottom of Weſtmoreland a farm of an hundred acres of incloíed land may be hired upon leaſe for 15cl. A farm containing much coarſe paſture-land may be had for! 205. or 245. per acre- IÎt is not always known whe- ther theſe coarſe paſtures have been meaſured, they be- ing ſometimes eſtimated by the number of cattle they can maintain, Beſides the rent, the farmer is ſubje(ted to the payment of tithes, poor rates, and road money SECT. 2.—Tithess In ſome parts of Weſtmoreland, tithes are taken in kind; in ſome, each farmer has an opportunity of taking his own tithes; in others, the land is tithe free, or Pays a ſmall preſcription in lieu of tithes. SECT. 4.— Poor Rates. From the beſt information he has been able to collet, the Biſhop of Landaff, in the Preliminary Obſervations, has ſtated the average of poor rates, not to exceed a2 ſhil- ling in the pound, in the rental of all the lands in the county, SECT. 5— Leaſes. The mode of farming is nearly the ſame throughout the county; and the courſe of crops is often pointed out to the farmer in his leaſe, which is generally for ſeven or nine years, ſometimes only for five or three years, at 0- thers for fourteei, and in a few inſtances for twenty-one years, Dome principal land-owners grant no leaſes. DECT. bI 2) C2 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY SECT. 6.—Expence and Profit. A long and intimate acquaintance with the manage- ment of farmers, would be neceilary to ſtate any thing with preciſion, upon this part of the ſubje@&. It has been faid, that the general œconomy of a farm of 100 acres, at a rent of as many pounds, does not differ widely from the following ſtatement: 15 acres, under crops of barley and oats, 35 acres in hay, and the remaining go acres in pafture; that 10 dairy cows kept on the beft of this paſ- ture, might probably yield 20 firkins of butter, and that the profit would be Gol. or 231. per cent, upon 2601, the capital employed, E ELS, RS n C BS SD CETRA— CHAP L ERF IMPLEMENTS eeGor(4 SD) þe: ei pro Tr Bas long been known what angle the Nil ought to form with the keel to make the ſhip move in the water with the greateſt velocity; but, to the preſent day, was reſerved the diſcovery of the angles which the compo- nent parts of the plough ought to form witch one another, and with the line of draught, in order that that inſtru- ment might meet with the leaft poſlible refiſtance in the performance of its operation. Agriculture cannot but advance with haſty ſtrides, when the principles of philo=- fophy and the powers of mechaniſm are directed to its improvement. Ploughs=The ploughs of Weſtmoreland are light, and, although = D) AM OF WESTMORELAND-, 269 although not neatly conſtructed, they are perhaps not ill ſuited to the ſoil they are deſtined to cultivate; ſome of them have a wheel at the extremity of the beam, which, it is imagined, ſerves to keep the furrow ofan equal depth. They are drawn moſt commonly by two, but ſometimes by three horſes. The turnwriſt ploush has been intro- duced into the county by the Biſhop of Landa, and may be cf great ſervice in ploughing the ſides of the hills, which are very numerous and fteep in the arable lands. Carts.—The carts are of various deſcriptions and ſizes. Thoſe moſt commonly uſed may be fifty-two inches in length, thirty-fx in breadth, and fourteen and one half inches in depth, containing leſs than fixteen cubic feet, ‘They are mounted in ſome places upon clog-wheels, and have two-thirds of their length before the axle, which is of wood. There 1s ſcarcely a farming waggon to be mézr with in the county; it being a general opinion that four horſes in four ſeparate carts will draw a greater weight than if they were yoked together in a waggon. The winnowing machines, which are here very com- mon, and the harrows, are both of the ordinary kinds. The drill huſbandry being yet in its infancy, there are few inſtruments for hoeing or drilling. — TE LS A R SBE 2 BA Aa SEAS a muti e et CEAP FERT: INCLOSING FENCES=—CGATES«e eQ Kein 61 4 ŒD Y 11d Pra H XCEPT a very few open fields on the eaft fide of the river Eden, the whole cultivated land in the county is divided, by hedges or ſtone walls, into incloſures, many of which 2 Pi tt RC i mi mi 1 270 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY which do not contaîn half an acre; there are a few of 8 or Io acres, and in general they may contain from 3 to g Acres. The gates are of the moſt ordinary Kind, being ofteñ made by the farmer himſelf, of ſuch wood ás happens to be upon the eſtates ——————APAEREEEZEE D LEL D mE D) RS(CD R(D PE E i QSE ae CHAPTER VIE. Te| ARABLE LAND 444 Dudu SECT. 1L.— Tillage, Fallowing, Rotation of Crops, aná Crops commonly cultivateds Courſe of Crops WureN a field of graſs is overgrown with moſs, whicli commonly happens in ſeven or ten years, it is broken up wich the plough in the beginning of March, and ſown about the firſt of April with oats, at the rate of ſeven and one-half Wincheſter buſhels upon the cuſtomary acre of 6,760 ſquare yards,‘The crop is reaped about the middle of September, and ſixty buſhels are reckoned a tolerably good return. Second Crop.—The land is ploughed for the ſecond crop as ſoon after Candlemas as the weather will permit, and eighty or a hundred cart-loads of“ ſtable-yard dung are laid upon the acre. It is ploughed again in April, and ſown wich four buſhels of barley or bigs, The har- veſt is earlier than that of the oats, and füfty-four buſhels are reckoned a good crop. Some farmers plough three times for barley, but it is the general pradtice that is here deſcribed. Third a Y tui PA WE) LU) LE| - OF WESTMORELAND- 27T ThirdCrop.— After the barley the land is ploughed in April, and eight buſhels of oats per acre are immediately ſown upon it. The harveſt is commonly in September, and the crop is uſually as good as the firít was. This is the moſt ordinary ſucceſſion of crops, though it is ſometimes broken through by taking two crops of oats before the barley, which, in that caſe, is followed by another of oats. The land is then left to itſelf, and the firſt year it produées a light crop of hay of bad quality. In the third year the crop is at the beſt with regard to both quantity‘and quality. In ſeven or in ten wears it is again moſſed over, and is again ploughed up to undergo a fimilar treatment. Exceptions.—1/. To this general mode of management there are ſeveral exceptions, which perhaps it would be improper to omit. From Kirkby-Steven to Brough and Appleby, and from that town to Temple-Sowerby, the ſoil is a deep ſand, which, by cultivation, becomes more compat, and more retentive of moiſture. The fields of graſs, moſs over ſooner or later, according to the quality of the ſoil; ſome, where the ſoil is thinneſt, and the ſub- jacent ftratum the pooreſt, it is judged necefary to break up after an interval of only four or ſix years. In this part of the county there are particular farms, where, after the ſecond crop, which is oats generally inferior to the firſt, the land is ſummer fallowed, planted with potatoes,’ or ſown with turnips, which laſt are given to the wintering ſtock of cattle and ſheep. Dung is always laid upon the fields deſigned for turnips and potatoes, and the remain- der upon the fallow, which is likewiſe invariably and al- ways ſucceſsfully limed at the rate of ſeventy-five Win- cheſter buſhels pér acre. What is ſo fallowed is ſown, in the middle of September, with two and one-half buſhels of rye per acre. The crop is reaped before a year goes round, and thirty buſhels are reckoned a good returns In- 272 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY In the month of May, graſs-ſeeds are ſown amongſt the rye, but are never covered either by thei harrow or the roller. Thoſe fields which were turnips and potatoes are ſown with barley or oats, and graſs-ſeeds, in the follow- ing quantities to an acre: eight pounds narrow-leafed red clover ſeed, which is preferred tothe common broad-leaf= ed clover, becauſe it remains longer in the ground; four pounds white clover, four pounds hop clover, four pounds of rib-graſs, and from five to ten buſhels of hay ſeeds ſhaEen from the crop of the former year. Theſe conſiſt chiefly of Bent graſs, which ſeems to be a ſpecies of rye-graſs, of the great Poa, or oat graſs, and Dark graſs, or Flandere hay-ſeeds. The firſt year, whether it be hayed or paftured, the crop is far more valuable than that of any natural grafs in the neighbourhood upon ſoil of an equal quality; and the cattle, eſpecially the horſes, uniformly prefer theſe artificial grafſes to thoſe which the land produces of its own accord. Exception 2d.—In the immediate‘neighbourhood of Kendall, where the ſoil is gravelly or ſandy, it is not un- uſual to take potatoes for the ſecond crop, and barley for the third; the land is then ſometimes left to itſelf, but for the molt part the barley is followed by a crop of oats, A great many potatoes are grown and conſumed in the county. The price, at the time of taking them up, is commonly Is. 4d. per Wincheſter buſhel; in the Winter and Spring it often riſes to 2s. The produce is variable, from 250 to 350 Wincheſter buſhels per ſtatute acre» "They are cultivated in various ways, but chiefly by the plough. The inhabitants think that potatoes from freſh ground are of the beſt quality, but the product is uſually the greateſt from an oat ſtubble. Sometimes the farmer grows the potatoes at his own riſk; at others he manures the land with 100 cart-loads of dung per.cuſtomary acre, ploughs it once, and Icts it in this ſtate at 2s, the perch to OF WESTMORELANDs 273 to the manufaCturers and labourers of Kendall, who fura nh the plants and the reſt of the labour. The price they pay is high, but reckoning little for the work they beſtow upon it, which is conducive to their health, they are often well ſatisfied with their crop which is ſometimes very great, the land being well adapted for the cultiva= tion of this root. Exception 3d.—From Millthrope to Burton, and from Burton by Farlton to Kirkby Lonſdale, both the farms and incloſures appear to be ſomewhat larger than in moſt other parts of. the county, and it îs not quite ſo. rare to Tee a few acres of wheat. The land deſigned for this crop is ſummer-fallowed after the firſt cr ſecond year from the ley, and is well manured with dung or lime, or with both, It is ſown in September, with wheat ſoaked in brine, or waſhed with chamberlye, and dried with lime, at the rate of four buſhels per cuſtomary-acre. Forty- ve buíhels are reckoned a good crop; and the harveſt may be ten days earlier than it is in the northern parts of the county. If the land is again manured, it is ſown with barley after the wheat; if not manured, it 1s ſown with OAaís, SECT. 2.— Crops not commonly cultivated. It is painful to be obliged, in this ſeCion, to mention peaſe, beans, turnips, clover, and rye-graſs; but it is hop- ed the time is not far diſtant, when they will be cultivated on every farm. Cabbages have been tried in the fields near Kendall, and rape has lately been ſown in ſmall quantities, in diferent parts of the county, with great ſucceſs. Flax ahd«hemp are now rarely ſeen growing here, though, go years ago, a little hemp was ſown by almoſt every cottager and ſtateſman. CHAPTER 12 î # 274 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY GHAETER PLIE, GRASSe ES DECT: N Meadows, and Pulire. FE veRY occupier of land, whether fateſman or farmer, having it in hjs power to keep any number of cattle, through the months of Summer, upon goifted fields where they may be Kept at a cheap rate, or upon commons where they may be kept almofßt for nothing, it is a princi- pal objet with him, to provide for them plenty of Win- ter food. Hence his attention is chiefly directed to his crop of hay. Tt has been already ſtated, that the guan- tity of land, at preſent under culture, does not’ exceed one-fourth part of the whole county, or 135,000 acres Had all the arable land in the county been cropped with corn three years out of twelve, there would have been preciſely one-fourth part of the whole in tillage; but there are many paftures of an inferior ſort, which are vety ſeldom ploughed,' and in the high parts there is a much ſmaller proportion of the land in corn than there is in the low parts. In the very extenſive manor of Ra- venſtondale, although there are between 20009 and 3000 acres incloſed, there are not fixty acres of corn; and it is probable that there are not in the county more than 20,000 acres under crops of corn in one year. The re- maining 115,000 acres are cut for hay, or depaſtured with fattening beaſts and riſing ſtock, or with cows ap= plied to the purpoſes of the dairy. From fuch an in- ſpeétion of the county as was had with a view to the framing e a==—————— “SEE zZ -—=— 5 SS Z= PRE D quais TO ader A—— po= n Lela DeL EA OU] BS OF WESTMORELAND» 2735 framing of this Report, the proportions uſed for theſe diferent purpoſes cannot be even guefied at; but that for hay is perhaps the moſt confiderable. A prejudice againſt the artificial graſſes prevails ſo generally over all the county, that it may be almoſt literally faid, they are never ſown. When the land has produced a few crops of corn, and it is judged that the-mofſs is quite deſtroyed, it is left to itſelf; and ſuch is the humidity of the climate, and ſo itrong is the vegetation of weeds and natural graſſes, that the very firſt crop has, by adual experiment, been found to produce 120 ſtones of hay per acre, weighed from the field. As every perſon who expeds to have occafion for hay, hires a field to ſupply him with that commodity, it is not often that hay is ſold in large quantities; and it is ſtill ſeldomer that the quantity raiſed upon an acre is eX- aly aſcertained. When ſold, it may bring from 4d. to 6d. a ſtone in Winter and Spring, or from 4s to 55, 2 cubic yard. A cubic yard in the lower part of a well- preſſed mow may contain twelve. ſtones of hay, and has been known to ſell as high as 7s. or 8s, In the ſouthern and in the eaſtern parts of the county, much attention is paid to the making of compoſt dung-hills, which, with the dung that remains after manuring for the barley crops are always laid upon the hay grounds, and are thought conliderably to retard the progreſs of the moſs. At Ken- dall and other places, where dung can be purchaſed, they are manured after the firft crop, and every third year while they continue in graſs, SECT: 2— Artificial Graſſes. Tt was mentioned in the laft ſe(tion of the former chap- ter, that crops of clover, and rye-graſs, had not yet en- tered into the géneral courſe, and therefore nothing can here bé faid upon this part of the ſublet, except that they have béeh tried on ſeveral farms, Where they 2 bave 276 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY have fully anſwered the expectations of thoſe who made the experiment. Some hints concerning the advantages of this praQice may be fen in the concluſion to this lit- tle Work. 4 SECT. 3— Hay Harveft. Although this is the principal harveſt in moſt parts of Weſtmoreland, nothing worthy of notice occurs upon the ſubje&t, except, perhaps, the celerity with which the crop is got, it being generally carried into the barn, if the weather is good, within three or four days after being mown- SECT: 4.— Feeding. Fattening Cattle.—The young cattle are kept on the lands of inferior guality in Summer, and have ftraw‘and a little hay given them in Winter. When three years old, if barren, they are either fattened in the paſtures, or ſold to the graziers of Yorkſhire and Lancaſhire from gl. to 81, a piece z if with calf, from 7l 10s. to Iol. Ten thoufand Scotch cattle are annually ſold at Brough- hill fair in the end of September. Though numbers of theſe are carried of by drovers to the ſouth of England, and many are brought by graziers from other counties, great quantities remain in Weſtmoreland. They are wintered on the coarſe paſtures, and in the ſtraw yard 5 in May following the young ones are ſent to the com- mons; and thoſe of an age proper for feeding are put upon the beſt grounds, and are ready for the ſhambles in October. Heifers are ¿oifled upon tolerably good paſture from roth May to Michaelmas, at from 11. 1s. to 1l. 7s, a head» Horſes are grazed among fattening cattle for 3% ód. a week Young horſes are Kept from Michaelmas to çth March E i RE D OF WESTMORELAND- 297 March on the inferior Kinds of land, and have ftraw given them in bad weather for 2s. a week, Fattening Sheep.— Almoſt all the ſheep in the county, except the wedders after the firſt year, are brought from the mountains on the approach of Winter, and kept in the incloſed grounds till the month of April. Some gra- ziers ſtock part of their paßures with wedders, or wich ewes and lambs. The mutton and lamb, which remain after ſupplying the conſumption at home, are ſent te Lancaſter and Liverpool, CHAPTER IX. GARDENS AND ORCHARDS« E N N Á 1MOST every family in Weſtmoreland has a ſmall garden for ſupplying them with the common pot-herbs. There are ſeveral orchards in the county, which are ſaid to be flouriſhing and profitable. The common fruit trees ſucceed well in the low 2nd warm vales, but their culture 1s little attended to. E EAA e SS CHAPTER X, WOODS AND PLANTATIONS. 44K ED popo po A T Whinfield Foreſt, and at Lowther-hall, the ſeat of the Right Honourable the Earl of Lonſdale, there are 3 very 278 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY very extenſive plantations, where many of the trees have grown to an uncommon fze. oeveral of the oaks at ¿ Lowther-hall, have been valued at fixty pounds a piece- There are many ſmaller plantations, and various clumps of trees throughout the county, where the wocd ſprings with a degree of vigour, hardly to be expeded in ſuch bleak and expoſed fituations as many of them are planted i in. On the diviſion of Kendall common, part of a very i) high and rocky hill, not being capable of any other im- provement, was planted with Scotch ür, larch, oak, aſh,| &c.&c. all of which are very thriving.; The banuks of the lakes are likewite adorned with very| beautiful coppices.|| The Biſhop of Landa has planted, on ſome high| ground near Ambleſide, above an hundred acres witù'| oak, aſh, elm, beech, ſycamore, Scotch fr, and larch, He is doubtful whether the climate be not too cold for\ any ſort of wood, except the fr and larch; the other Kinds, after ſeven years growth, are alive, but ſtunted; they ſhoot a little in the Spring, but that ſhoot périſhes, as to its greateſt part, in the Winter. Some of them have been cut down, but the new ſhoots do not promiſe( well. The firs and larches, but eſpecially the larches, thrive as well as he could wih. RERO RGE ÉE. D eL O“ELE(GD) RE E E Gp JE(0 ERCI Ld CHAPTER XL. ( WASTES.| m4(ED pp ¡i2s à:.. a n LT HE Waſtes in this county are very extenive and valuable. They are depaſtured chiefly with- ſtocks of ſheep, Mi C ] C 1 (0 OF WESTMORELAND-. 279 Meep, which are managed in nearly the ſame way, whether the ground be in common, or in feveralty. In Winter, all the ſheep are brought down to the in- cloſed fields, except the wedders, which, being thought able to endure the ſeverity of any ſtorm or fall of ſnow, are left to ſhift for themſelves upon the. waſtes, where they remain till they are four years and a half old, when they are ſold from 9s. to 13s. a head.“ Having dropped their lambs, the ewes, in the end of April, are ſent back to the waſtes, where the whole flock paſtures indiſcrim=- inately without an attendant» The lambs are ſometimes ſuffered to wean themſelves; at others, the teats of the ewe are faſtened up to her udder by a plaiſter of coarſe paper and pitch, The value of the wool, and the éx- pence of ſfalving, are the ſame with thoſe mentioned, ſect, 2.—chap. 13. Scotch Sheep.—Great numbers of Scotch hogs and din- monds are annually bought at Stagſhawbank fair in the month of June, and grazed on the waſtes of this county. On ſome they are found to anſwer very badly; on 0- thers they thrive well, and are ready for the grazier a year earlier than thoſe of the native breed. There is here a frong prejudice in favour of theſe coarſe-woolled ſheep, which there is every reaſon to'‘believe 1s ill found- ed, the ſort now known under the name of the Cheviot breed being equally hardy, and much more profitable from the ſuperior value of thic fleece. Black Cattle.—In addition to all theſe ſheep, numerous herds of black cattle are likewiſe to be ſeen upon the commons. A few of hel à are of the breed of the coun=- ty, andthe reft are Scótch, either R at Brough-hill fair in the end of September, and wintered on the low grounds and in the ftraw-yard, or purc E ¿ſed in the Spring from drovers, who fetch them aa Galloway and Dumbarton, In Autumn, they are eiher ſold to the IA ſouih- 200 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Touth-country drovers, or wintered and fattened in the county. Ponies.—A few ponies of the Scotch breed are reared upon the commons; but the practice not being general, it need not be dilated upon- Geeſe—Great numbers of geeſe are bred upon the commons, and ſold to the Yorkſhire drovers at about Is. 4d. a head.; It is generally underſtood that no perſon ſhall fend to graze on any common more ſtock than he can winter upon his eftate or farm, in right of which he has a title to paſturage on that common. This regulation, however, 1s little attended to, 2nd the commons are almeft always overſtocked to ſuch a degree, that many perſons do not think it worth while to avail themſelves of their right of Ccommonages L On finted paſtures, it is very ordinary: to hire out the right of keeping both cattle and ſheep. A Summer's graſs for an ox, or for ten ſheep, on Foreſt Hall, and Moſley common, 1s let at 4s.; on a part of Troutbeck common, where no ſheep are allowed to feed, an ox may be kept for 3s. ód. and on another part of the ſame com- InoN, an‘ox cr ten ſheep may remain all the year far fix= Penes/ CHAPTER ——— A. ; RE a A i 4 E SRI PEER E=, —_—— o OF WESTMORELAND-. 281 CHAPTER XI. / IMPROVEMENTS ad 4.44 QCD ppp ppr SECT. L—Draining- ‘Tue importance of having the land lie dry, and of pre- venting the water, which, in wet weather, breaks out up- on the declivities of the hills, from chilling the fields be- low, is well known in Weſtmoreland. The method of draining is faſt improving, and the pradice is daily gains» ing ground. The drains are generally walled in the ſides, and covered with large ſtones out of the reach of the plough. SECT. 2—Paring and Burning. The operation of paring and burning is much praiſed in Weſtmoreland, both in improving moor lands, and in reclaiming rough paſtures, that have been allowed to re- turn almoſt to a ſtate of nature Tt produces excellent crops at firſt, but the effed is diminiſhed every repetition, and farmers are too apt to exhauſt the land by repeated crops of oats without any manure, The expence is ſaid to be from 158, to 20s per ſtatute aCrCs SECT. 3 Manuring. Dung.—To increaſe the quantity of his manure, and to apply it to the greateſt advantage, are by no means thz leatt important of the various branches of the far- mer’s 282 AGRICULTURAL SURVEV mer’s avocation. In thoſe parts of Weſtmoreland where ſummer- fallowing is not pradiſed, the land deſigned for barley and potatoes always receives the fſtable-yard dung at the rate of 60, 80, or 100 fingle-horſe cart-lo2ads an acre z and in Autumn, what remains is laid upen the hay- grounds, at a rate per acre confiderably lefs.> On ſome few farms in the neighbourhood of Appleby,‘ where ſummer-fallow‘and’ crops of turnips may almoſt be Naid to enter into the general courſe, the dung 1s car- ried in Winter from the yard to the fields, and laid down ina heap, which is turned over two or three times, with a view tó accelerate tpe Twenty cart-loads per erer an acre are laid upon the turnip land and the fallow, and wa ge its operation is always aſliſted by the addition of ſeventy- ,— five Winchefter buſhels of lime. Dung 1s fold at Ken- Lem dall and at Milthrope for Is. a cart load. Y || (Y 1 M) Lime.—In moft parts of Weſtmoreland, limeſtone is found in inexbauſtible plenty; but coals to burn it muſt be carried from fuch a diſtance, that its applicäâtion to the purpoſes of agriculture has not yet become‘general. e A When, by the projected canal to Kendall, coals ſhall be brought into the heart of the county, its uſe muſt Íoon become univerſal. z Et is ſometimes laid upon the land when it is in tillage, but for the moſt pare it is ſpread upon the ſurface of graſs fields; and it has been found to ſweeten ſuch as are coarſe and benty amazingly. In whatever way it is applied, E in whatever quan=- ity, varying from 75 to 480 Wincheſter buſhels an acre, it is always attended with wonderful effect. The price at cilns.is 2d. or 4d. a buſhel- Compofts.—Much attention is paid to the making of compoît, dung hills in many parts of Weſtmoreland. They are moſt commonly ſpread upon graſs, and experi | ence has ſhewn, that they at once improve its quality, and ; check E EE———————— I — D-— E LEERE E Pm pe ea E Er REIR ai as E , Lie la 0) eB WA i UN A OF WESTMORELAND, 283 check for years the progreſs of the moſs. One hundred cart-loads of earth, rakings of the roads, mud, or rotten leaves, and’ fifty of dung, carefully mixed with 300 Win=- cheſter buſhels of lime, are laid upon three acres with great advantage. Marl.—Fhis valuable manure was ſcarcely known in Weſtmoreland, till about three years ago, when a ſpecies of rock marl was diſcovered on Bolton Common. It is eaſily come at, and has been applied with advantage, up- on a ſmall fecale, at the rate of 8o fſingle- horſe cart-loads to an acre. IÎt is more than probable that, if properly fought for, dl marl might be got in many of the low grounds and marſhes, with which Weſtmoreland a- bounds. SECT: 4:—Weeding. The weeding of turnips and potatoes, is praiſed in Weſtmoreland; but the hoeing of turnips is in general ſo ill executed, that a gentleman of fortune in the county has recommended to the Board of Agriculture, to ſend ſome turnip-hoers from thoſe diſtricts, where this ſimple operation is better underſtood. The larger weeds are taken out from amongſt the growing corn z but it is very ſeldom that docks, rag- weeds,&c.&c. are deſtroyed on the meadows and paſ- tures. SECT, 5.— Watering» The fertility attending the overflowing of the Nile, and other muddy rivers, has been long known and well ex- plained, from their depoſiting the earthy, oleaginous, ſa= line, putreſcent ingredients, with which, in their courſe from the mountains, they become impregnated; but it is a late diſcovery in philoſophy which teaches us, that pure water 1 Y | j A fl u | « : : R Y| F|! i D! 1. E À- 4 y d EA J J 14 À + pl! E te EE f 7B E ê | 1 “ è, z ME 1\ é di k È ti 7 121 MET k ſ | 1 | ||| N) î 1 VE N i IP |! 4 I 4 J| n M e) / 2 j> if | 0) 4 Di a Y h Î 1 | E y: \; Á 2 1 2 20 | H Æ P |- J \| 4 A fît H } | Z E î e N| 234 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY water 1s itſelf compounded of two principles, and that one of its component parts 1s, by the proceſs of vegetation, converted into the ſubſtance of vegetables. This diſco- very enables us to account for the utility of irrigating land, even with the cleareſt water, which long experi- ence has ſhewn to be a moſt effflcacious mode of improve- ment.: Thoſe who have opportunities of applying water, and are not converſant in the pradice, would do well to imi- tate the example of the Biſhop of Landa, who is mak- ing great Improvements by watering, at Calgarth Park. Tt is practiſed on a ſmall ſcale in many other parts of Weſtmoreland, and always with great ſucceſs. E EES ARUEEE: TN e CCO> OTE 4 MIA CHAPTER XII, 3 LIVE STOCK: C4(EDP Pp SECT. I.— Cattle. THE attention that was formerly paid to the breed of black cattle has rather diminiſhed of late years. They are long-horned, very much reſemble the Lancaſhire breed, and, when Kept to a proper age, grow to a great ze As a heifer of three years old can be ſold for as much as an ox would fetch at four, îit 1s rare to íce a2 bullock of the country breed; but to judge from thoſe ot all ages in the paſtures at Lowther-hall, they are ex- cellent feeders, and pofleſs, in an eminent degree, the very defirable property of laying the fat upon their backs aná other valuable parts, The heifers and barren cows, uf “LI OF WESTMORELAND-. 2853 if well choſen, are confefſedly good thrivers, and are in great requeſt among the graziers of Yorkſhire and Lan- caſhire. Not many years ago there was killed, at Low- ther-hail, a bullock of the country breed, whoſe. carcaſe weighed one hundred and thirty-two ſtones, Dairy—There are few counties in England, in which there is no great manufacturing town, where more milch cows are kept in proportion to its ſize, and where the produce of the dairy forms a greater part of the profits of the farmer. It may be naturally ſuppoſed that he is particular in the choice of his cows, and’ that they are remarkable for giving a great quantity of milk. Neither ſuppoſition, however, is founded in truth. The farmer keeps juſt ſuch cows as he has bred, and they by no means yield ſo much milk as would be expected from thoſe of the Dutch, or even the Scotch breed,* upon a paſture of the ſame quality. Farmers in the country ge- nerally eſtimate the expence of keeping a milch cow at five pounds a-year, and the produce at eight pounds. Cows in the country are kept for the ſake of making but- ter, of which great quantities, of an excellent quality, are ſent yearly to the London market in firkins of 56 Ibs net, at from 30s. to 35s, each. In the immediate neighbour= hood of Kendall, the dairy turns out to better account by ſelling the new milk, which is contracted for all the year at 12d. a quart, being the ſame price which the London cow-keepers receive. The ſkimmed milk is ſold at one third part of that rate. The ordinary price of a good. milch cow may be about ten pounds. * The Ayrſhire breed is reckoned the beſt for milch cows in Scotland. particularly in the neighbourhood of Dunlop. The comparative value of all the different breeds, in regard to guan- tity of milk,&c. the Board of Agriculture propoſes to aſcertain. SECTs s E mere N nc2S: ana n TITRE 1 E Î x 2386 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY SECT, 2,—Sheep« The breed of ſheep, kept on the mountains and com- : mons of Weſtmoreland, is either native or a croſs with Scotch rams. No attempt hàs yet been made to im- a D prove, either the carcaſe or the fleece. They are horned, dark or grey faced, thick pelted, with coarle, ſtrong,; hairy wool. The whóle flock upon a farm is O to- 4 gether, which is different from the pradice in thoſe counties where ſheep farming, 1s thought to be the beſt — E underſtood, Winteriag— Thoſe ftore-maſters who have not upon their‘own farms paſtures ſufficient for the wintering of E EN \ their young fheep, ſend them to the low grounds from the 1ſt November to 6th April, and pay 2s. a-head for thoſe that return, D are ſo ſubjedt to the Black water (Sickneſs, or Midd:ing-il!) that, at an average, ten out of an hundred die before Chriſtmas. O that, being Very hardy, they ſeldom die, and never of thar diſeaſe. Price.— The wedders aré’ ſold in Cctober, when four years and a half old, from 9s. to 13s éach; the. barren ewes aft Lammas, from 8s. to 10S.; and the old êwes about 6s. to be wintered in the inc fattened with their lambs the enfuing Summer. Salving.—In Odtober, or the beginning ot November, loſed grounds, and the whole flock is ſalved ſo heavily, that a gallon of tar and 16 lbs. of butter are expended upon thirty-five ſheep. A man may be hired for this work at Is. 8d. a-day, in which time he will not ſalve above ten or a dozen; or he will undertake to ſalve them at 2d. a-head. he whole expence 1s about ſixpence a-piece, It has been repeatedly tried to ſubſtitute tobacco-liquor for the butter and tar, but it is generally imagined that the wool 1s better for the ſheep having been ſalved. Near Kirkbyſteven, this operatioR OF WESTMORELAND-, 237 WW oal.— The wool is worth, on an average of years in time of peace, 5d. a pound. Part of it is ſold to the ma- nufacturers of Kendall, and part of it to thoſé at Bradford, and other places in Yorkſhire. The ewes are ſaid to Bear the beſt wool; and on an average of à flock fix fleeces weigh a ſtone, Silverdale Breed.——Silverdale, a ſmall diſtri&t in the neighbourhood of Millthrope, gives its name to the breed of ſheep in this part of the county. The ſoil is good, and on a limeſtone ſtratum, and a branch of the ſea is nearly contiguous to it. They are horned, white faced, and cloſe woolled. They are faid to be native, and are much ſuperior, to the common ſort, in regard both to fleece and carcaſe« At the ſale of a farmer’s ſock, in Otober 1793, the lambs of this breed brought 10s. 7d, a-piece, the dinmonds 17s. 1d. and the ewes at the age of three years and a half, 17s. 6d. or 17s. 8d. In the townſhips of Burton and Holme, where this breed is Kept, five fheep at an average yield a ſtone of wool, which is worth 8d. a pound. At a medium of the whole pariſh of Burton for eight years, from 1772 to 1779 in- clufve, it required ſix fleeces to weigh a ſtone. It is not unuſual for the proprietor to be owner of the ſheep upon the farm. Tn this caſe the farmer is to be confidered as little better than a ſhepherd. The flock is valued at the time of his entry, and again at his removal, and the difference between theſe valuations is ſettled in moneys Experiments.—1, Twenty Lincolnſhire Mugg ewes, that had been tupped by a ram-of Mr Bakewell’s breed, were brought into Weſtmoreland in the month of De- cember 1789, and lambed in February 1790. Theſe Mugg ewes were tupped in 1790 by a common Weſtmore- land NB) | / 4 x ¿ tf 288 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY land ram, and the dinmonds produced by this croſs have turned out the beſt ſheep in the county, and weigh from 18 Ibs. to 20 lbs. a quarter, and are thought to be ſuperior to thoſe of the firſt breed. 2d. Six of the lambs produced from the tup of Mr Bakewell’'s breed and the Mugg ewes, were rams. Four of theſe rams were put to ewes of the common breed in the county, and the lambs ſprung from this croſs are much of the ſame fze as the ordinary breed; but they are broader on the back, and finer in the wool. As the experiment has not'yet been long tried, it muſt be left to time to ſhow what the reſult will be. i 3d. The lambs produced by the Lincolnſhire ewes, and their own lambs of February 1790, are not ſo ſtrong as theſe lambs of 1790, which the ſhepherd is diſpoſed to attribute to a ſcarcity of food in the Spring, rather than to any defect in the breed. ath. Thirty of this breed were left unſalved in 179+; they were in good condition, and had no ſcabs Theſe ſame“ were again left unfalved in 1792, and broke out in ſcab early in 1793- It muſt be remarked, that the ſheep at the time of ſalving in 1792 were not in ſuch condition as in 1791 z ſo that it does not appear, from this experi- ment, that there is any neceffity for ſalving ſheep in good condition. cth, The Lincolnſhire ewes do not carry ſo much wool, nor is it of ſuch a good quality, as when they were brought into the county. SECT. 3— Horſes. As there is but a ſmall portion of the county under crop, the horſes are not numerous, nor has any confider- able attempt been made to improve the breéèd of theſe uſeful animals. They are ſmall, nôt exceeding fourteen hands and a half in height, are ſaid to be hardy, but they are | OF WESTMORELANDSe 2809 àre neither frong nor handſome; fxteen or ſeventeen pounds are reckoned a good price for a horſe at five years old. Moſt commonly two, tho’ ſometimes three, and in the weſtern part of the county even four, are yoked to- gether in a plough, They are often turned upon the Commons in tlie intervals of lábour, which, as the farmeée very probably has neither turnips nor fallow, are Very frequent in the ſummer months. There being only one perſon in Weſtmoreland who uſes ox teams, it may be jufßtly inferred, that the general opinion of farmers in the county is in favour of horſes, The writer of this Report has not ſuch information upon the fubject, as to be able to draw the deſired compariſon between theſe uſeful animals, DECT. 4— Ege, The ſwine of Weſtmoreland, though not large, are good in their kind. Farmers, butchers, and others, who Kill ſwine, often diſpoſe of the hams to perſons who make a trade of curing them for ſale. Perhaps there may not be any thing peculiar in the mode of making hams in this county: but it is believed that a detail of the proceſs may be entered here without impropriety.. The hams âre fir rubbed very hard, generally with bay-ſalt; by ſome they are covered cloſe up, by others they are left on a ſtone bench to allow the brine to run off. At the end of five days they are again rubbed as lard as they were at firſt, with ſalt of the ſame ſort, mix- ed with rather more than an ounce of faltpetre to a ham. Having lain about a week, either on a ftone-bench, or in hogſheads amongſt the brine, they are-hung up by ſome in the chimney amidſt the ſmoke, whether of peats or coals; by others, in places where’no ſmoke ever reaches them, If not ſold ſooner, they are ſuffered to remain UY there \ | 4 7 _j YE E TE: J N 290 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY there till the weather becomes warm, They are packed ¡H hogſheads with ſtraw or oat-meal ſeeds, and ſent to London, Lancaſter, and Liverpool, in fuch quantities as to form one of the principal branches of export from the county In 1792, neat hams of 16 or 18 Ibs. weight were ſold as high as 5d. per pound when green; when cured, in 1793, they were ſold at 77d. a-pound. It has been found by experiment that hams loſe twenty per cent, of their weight in the curing. DECT. Ralle, A few rabbits are kept in the neighbourhood of Brough and Orton, and there is a ſmall warren in Raven- ftonedale, but it is rare to ſee therá in any other part of Weſtmoreland. DECT. 6.— Poultry. Conſiderable guantities of geeſe, ducks, and common dunghill fowls are reared in Weſtmoreland. The two laſt are generally diſpoſed of in the market towns in the county, or carried to Lancaſter; but great numbers of the firſt are ſold to drovers from Yorkſhire. Turkeys are ſeldom reared here, except in the farm- yards of men of fortune- SECT. 7:— Pigeons, ‘The few pigeons that are to be ſcen in Weſtmoreland belong generally to men of fortune, When fold, they often bring ód. a-piece.| # SECT: C DO CEE DRE R E Ea Df Fr i1- i= O8 ui OF WESTMORELAND, 291 SECT. 8.— Bees: Bees are common in Weſtmoreland, but there is no- thing worthy of remark in the way in which they are( managed, ——PRLE I GES PRE R SEEIRA.e BA' Ls a AL R CEE ae CHAPTER XIF. RURAL OECONOMYs C SECT IL— Labour, Servants, Labourers, Hours of Labour. LABOUR is dearer in Weſtmoreland than it is in ale moſt any of the counties either to the north or ſouth of it. This probably is owing to the great number of ſmall land- holders, or Ffateſmen above-mentioned, who doing the work upon their own eftátes, with their own hands and thoſe of their families, are perhaps difinclined to labour for other people.: Servants by the yeari—A hind may be hired by the year at twenty pounds, a houſe, a garden, and a patch of ground to grow potatoes; and an unmarried man at írom ten to twelve guineas a-year, and board and waſh= ing. By the day.—The wages of an ordinary labourer are írom Is. 4d, to 1s, 8d. a-dayz; he begins to work be- tween fix and ſeven, reſts an hour at dinner, and leaves it of between ſix and ſeven in the evening.— The la- bourers on the highway from Shap to Kendall receive U2 IS. 9d 292 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Is, 9d. a-day for nine months in the year, and Is. óds a-day for the other three monthe. By the menth.—On the large farms, in the ſeaſons of hay and harveſt, it is not unuſual to hire labourers by the month of ſour weeks, at the rate of il, 12s. 6d. and victuals. They breakfaſt on milk- pottage, and bread and cheeſe, receive a pint of good beer in the forenoon, and another in the afternoon; they dine on meat boiled, ba- Ked, or roaßted, and potatoes or pudding; ſup’on cold meat, and have plenty of common beer to drink through the day. They begin in the morning as ſoon as the corn is dry, reſt none but while at meals, and continue as late as they can ſee to work. Four men may cut, tie, and ſtook a cuſtomary acre in a day, leaving a ſtubble from nine to fourteen inches in length, “ Cutting of corn per acre.—When done by the piece, the cutting of an acre by the fickle, the ſcythe not being uſed in the reaping of any ſort of grain, may coſt 9s. and if the crop be very heavy, 1ôs, or even 10s. ód. Cutting of hay per acre.— The price of mowing a cuſ tomary acre of graſs varies from 2s. ód. to 3s 6d, and a man uſually mows an acre in a day. Per day.— When hired by the day, a mower’s wages may vary from 1s. 4d. to 1s. 10d. and viCtuals. Maſon's wagesr-—Meaſons in ſummer have from 2s. 2d. to 25. 6d. a-day, or Is. 2d, or Ts. 6d.‘and viCtuals;‘and in winter 4d. or 6d. leſs. At Millthrope a few are hired all the year at 1s. 10d. a-day, wet or dry. When they do gheir work by the piece, and furniſh every thing, they are paid 2s, or 2s. 6d, a ſquare yard for a wall of two feet in thickneß built with lime; if materials are furniſh- ed to their hand, they are paid 8d. or 10d. a-yard. Se- ven yards and a half in length of a dry ſtone wall, five feet and a half in height, coft 1s, ód. or 18, 8d« in build- ing, Carpenter's Ï Vio LER- Y Ti Y OF WESTMORELAND, i 2023 Carpenter's wages.—The wages of a carpenter or com- mon country wright, differ very little from thoſe of a maſon- Threfher.—A farmer's own ſervants generally threſh out the corn: When perſons are hired for this purpoſe, they receive about 1s. for threſhing a load of ſeven and a half buſhels of oats, and 1s. 3d. for that of barley; and from 4d. to 8d. a boll of rye, confiſting of two Wincheſ- ter buſhels. Miller.—Farmers commonly have their meal made from oats of their own growing. The nauiller receives 4d. a- load for drying the oats. If they are good in quality, a load of ſeven and a half buſhels will yield 176 pounds of meal,‘beſides paying the miller his toll for grinding, which is gueſſed to be about four per cent. Wheat 1s made into flour for 4d. a-buſhel. Numberleſs ſtreams rendering the precarious afliſtance of windmills unneceflary, there is but one in the county, and it is employed in grinding bark for the tanners at Kendall,) Thatcher.— A thatcher receives about 1s: 4d. a-day and viQuals, or 2s. 4d. without viduals, Slater.—Slating is meaſured by the rood of forty-two and one-fourth ſquare yards, and coſts in the workman- ſhip 12s. or 13s. a rood: In the vicinity of the ſlate quar- ries, the ſlater will find all materials and labour for 45s. or 50s. a-rood, Tailor—A tailor gets in ſome places 10d; in others Is, a-day and board, Mole catcher.— The mole-hills are carefully ſpread in moſt parts of the county, and the fields are cleared of moles at the rate of 3d. an acre where they have not been catched before; 2d, an acre are paid the ſecond year, and a penny or three half-pence yearly thereafter» Maid: ſervants by the year.—In ſome farmers’ families, where they are hard worked, maid-ſervants receive 61, a- WE years D ZEE n DE D 294 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY year. Their ordinary wages in other families maybe about 41. 10s. or perhaps 5l. When they do not change their ſervice, if ſtrangers in the pariſh, care 1s taken to vary their wages every ſix months, to prevent them from acquiring a ſettlement, to which they would be en- titled were they hired for a- year, or were their wages to continue the ſame for that period. By the month.—In hay-time and harveſt, when hired for a month, they get from 16s. te 24s. and board. By the day.—When hired by the day in harveſt and hay-time, they receive 8d. or Iod. and viétuals, or Is 3d. or 1s. 6d. without viduals, At other ſeaſons they are paid with 8d. rod. or 1s. a-day. Their times of en- try, and of leaving of work, their hours of labour and of ref, are very various.: SECT. 2:— Proviſions ïe is not unuſual to hear people exclaim againít the en- creaſe of luxury, and the alteration that has taken place in the mode of living in their time. The labourer lives as well now as the farmer did forty or fifty years ago 5 the farmer as well as the man of ſmall landed property; and ſo on: And is this in any reſpec to be regretted, or ïs it not much better for them all? But perſons generally cry out moſt loudly againſt the rank immediately be- neath them, without recolle(ing that their own mode has been changed in nearly the ſame propórtion as the one which they are ſo ready to condemn.* Fifty years ago the price of butcher-meat at Martinmas was from Id. to 2d. a pound in Burton market, and eighty beaſts were ſometimes ſlaughtered in a day, and bought to be ſalted for winter proviſions. From that time, except 2 few at Chriſtmas and at Eaſter, no cattle were killed * Spencer's Travels, there ir N OF WESTMORELAND, 295 there till they were fattened upon the paſtures in ſum- mer. Farmers, in thoſe days,ſeldom eat any butcher- fi meat; they lived on bread and butter, and what other little matters the farm afforded. Now labeurers gene- rally breakfaſt on that very ancient food pottage, with the help of a little cheeſe and bread; they dine on but- cher-meat and potatoes, or pudding; and ſup on pota- toes, or pottage, or bread and cheeſe. The bread generally eaten in the county'is made from oat-meal. Water and oat-meal are kneaded together in- to 2 paſte without any leaven z this paſte is rolled into a circular cake of about twenty inches in diameter, and is placed upon a thin flat plate of iron, called a girdle, un- der which a fire is put, and the cake thus baked goes by the name of cl/ap-bread, and is to be ſeen at almoſt every table in the county. This very particular deſcription of baking cakes may appear too minute, or altogether un- neceflary, and it owes its place here to the requeſt of ſome “perſons of rank wha wiſhed to fe it recorded ſomewhere. “The meal is molly gropnd to ſuch a degree of fineneſs that a meaſure of úxteen quarts will weigh ſixteen pounds, Farmers, labourers, and manufadtarers uſually have fife teen cakes made from fixteen pounds of meal, and as many baked in a day as will ſerve their families for a month. Such of the gentry as eat this ſort of bread, moſít of them now eating bread made from wheat, have it baked much more frequently, and alſo much thinner. À labouring man will eat ſixteen pounds of meal made into bread in a fortnight; the price of ſixteen pounds of meal ïs variable from 1s. ód. to 2s. ód.; the medium is 25, which gives IS. a-week for each labourer for bread; his cottage and his fuel coft at leaſt as much more. His wages for three-quarters of a-year are gs. a-week, and 8s. a-weecKk for the other quarter; but making allowance for broken days, 8s. a-week may be confidered as the full amount of U4 the 296 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY the price of his labour; and indéed a good labourer may be hired by the year at that rate. Hence there will re- main és. a-week for the labour of the man, for the re- mainder of his own ſuſtenance, the ſuſtenance of his fa- mily, and the cloathing of them all. The diference in the price of proviſions in a county ſo ſmall as Weſtmoreland, cannot be very great. They are, however, ſomewhat cheaper in the north and eaſt Parts than they are in the ſouth parts, which are morè within the reach of the markets of Lancaſter and Liver=- pool. Beef in Kendall market, in the month of O&o=- ber 1793, was ſold at 3d. or 4d. a-pound, and a choice CUE at 420.5 M Ipres it often riſes to 6d. a-Pound. Mutton, which in ſpring often riſes to 7d. a-pound, was ſold at 3d. 35d. or 4d, Pork was ſold at ZU 4d AS all the bull calves are carried to market, veal is for the moſt part cheaper than the other kinds of butcher meat, and yet in ſpring it is ſometimes ſold as high as çd, a- pound. Potatoes brought 1s. 4d. a buſhel, or EO or 6s. a:load; in ſpring they are often ſold at nearly the double of theſe prices. Oat-meal is bought in ſome places by a meaſure of ſixteen quarts, at a price which fHudtuates from Is. 4d. to 2s, 6d.; in others by a peck of 20 quarts, which in ſummer 1793 was worth 2s. Butter was ſold from 7d. to 9d. a-pound; in winter the price ſeldom riſes above 11d.; a ſtone of 16lbs. of 20 ounces, cots 115. 6d. and a firkin of 56Ibs. neat, from 3os. to 35s. Cheeſe in the country coſts 3d. a pound, and new mill Id. a-quart, which in Kendall is contracted for all the year at Ifd.:: A turkey coſts 3s 4d. or 5s. according to its ſize; a gooſe Is. 6d or 28: or when ſold by weight 3d. a-pound; a hen from 7d. to Iod. and a chieken from 4d. to 8d. Eggs fluctuate in their price from 22d, to 6d. or even to 9d. a-dozene Ducks are ſold from 1s, 4d. to 2s. a-pair, i Ó teal Y) -- Te EEE OF WESTMORELAND. 297 4 l teal at 4d. a-piece, woodcocks at 45. or 5s. a-brace, and pigeons from 4s. to 6. a-dozen. Salmon catched in the Lune is ſold from 4d. to 8d. a- pound 5; that which is brought from Carliſle from 3d. to 1s 24. Chac are ſold at about 7s. a-dozen, trouts at 4d« a-pound, muffels at 2d. or 3d. a-quart, flounders from Id. to 6d. a- piece, eels at 2d. a-pound, and rabbits, with- out the ſkins, at 1s. the pair. Honey in the comb cofls 15. a-pounde _: DECT: 23:— Fuel, The eaftern parts of the county are ſupplied with coal {rom Stainmore, Blackburton, and Ingleton, in Yorkſhire, but in other parts the moſt common fuel is peat- It is a queſtion deſerving the conſideration of the Le- giſlature, whether the duty of coal, carried coaftwiſe, might not in certain diſtricts be taken of, with great ad- vantage to the ſtate. The value of the improvements in agriculture and manufactures which would attend ſuch a meaſure, in counties ill ſupplied with fuel, cannot be eſti- mated, but it is preſumed that it would very far exceed the loſs ſuſtained by the removal. SSERDEM AU Ht Ga CHAPTER XF. PFOLITICAL OECONOMYV, AS CONNECTED WITH, OR AFFECTING AGRICULTURE. C4 C6 AGED Pp pA SECT. 1.— Roads. i HE great roads leading thro E the county are Kept in excellent repair by the ſums collected at the turnpike gates, 298 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY | gates, and when theſe prove inſufficient, by a portion of - the labour of the pariſh, or of the pound-rate, which ; may be levied in its aid, The parochial roads are made and kept in repair by Nx days labour of the pariſh, and by a rate not exceeding ſixpence in the pound, which the ſurveyors may levy with the conſent of the guarter-ſeſions; ſome of theſe are to- lerably good, and others are annually improving. Many of them ſcarcely exceed the ſmalleſt legal breadth allowed Þy ſtatute, which is eight feet»: Ï ES lo e.[09A. SECT. 2.—Canats There is not at preſent any canal in the county; but one of great magnitude has been proje&ted from Wigan to Kendall, It is now executing, and when finiſhed, by 10- troducing the coal of Lancafhire into the heart of Weſt- moreland, will be of the greateſt ſervice to its manufac= tures and agriculture. If the coal can be afforded by the proprietors of the canal, at a cheap rate, the town of Ken- dall may then emulate, in the cloth manufzacture, Leeds itſelf, Another canal, from the bottom of Windermere water to the ſea, a diſtance of about 4 miles, is wanted; ¡f this ſhould ever be cut, the town of Amblefide would riſe to canfiderable importance; it would then be as well, or better ſituated for trade, than Kendall is now. SECT: 3:— Fairs, There is a great fair for cattle, horſes,&c. at Brough- hill, on the zoth September;¡—there is a fair at Ambleſide on the Wedneſday after Whitſunday, and on the 29th of Oétober,—at Appleby on Whitſun Eve, Whitſun Mon- day, 2d Wedneſday of June, and 21 Auguſt,—at Ken- dall, April 27, and November 8 and 9,—at Kirkby Lonf- dale, on Holy Thurſday, and 21 December,—at Kirkby=- Stephen, y NDS os CY A “tad A CF WESTMORELAND- 299 Stephen, on the Monday before the 20th March, Octo=- ber 2d, 27th, and 29th,—at Millthrope on 12th May,— at Shap, on the 4th May,—at Orton, on the 2d May, the Friday before Whitſunday, and ſecond Friday after Mi chaelmas,—and at Old Town, on the gh and 6th Octas ber. SEcT. 4.— Weekly Markets. here are weekly markets at eight different towns in Weſtmoreland 5; but the only one of any note, is held at Kendall. The next in point of conſeguence 1s held at A ppleby, the county towns SECT. 5.—Comnierce. The commerce of Weſtmoreland is not yet ſo exten=- ſve as to have any ſenfible eÆ upon its agriculture: Its exports are coarſe woollen cloth, manufaCured at Kendall, ſtockings, ſlates, tanned hides, gunpowder, hoopss charcoal, hams, wool, ſheep, and cattle. Its imports are chiefly merchant goods, wheat, oats, with a little barley, cattle and ſheep. Millthrope is a yery trifling port, and the only one in the county. SECT. 6.— Manufauress The manufa@ures of Weſtmoreland are not of much greater Importance than its commerce. They conf chiefly of coarſe woollen cloth, called Kendaîl Cottons, pro- perly, it is ſaid coatings, gunpowder, ſtockings, ſlk and worſted, waiſtcoat pieces, fiannels, andá tanned leather- Moft beautiful ſtockings, and carpets of ſtrength and luſtre, little inferior to thoſe of Perſia, are manufaQured at Lowther for behoof of the Earl of Lonſdale. A few of theſe have been ſold from 631. to 1051; but as they are wrought 300 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY wrought ſolely for his own uſe, or to be given in preſents to his friends, perhaps they do not enter with propriety into an enumeration of the manufactures of the county. What is now the manufactory, was originally a college, but, being only in its probationary fate, was diſcontinued >"by the late Lord Viſcount Lonſdale. The Earl of Selkirk, and the late Duke of Athol, were educated heres; and an aſh-tree, planted by his Lordſhip, is fill pointed out. SECT. 7.— Poor. Weſtmoreland not being a manufadturing county, and landed property being there, in general, minutely divided, the number of poor who apply for parochial aid, is com- ſmall. The poor rates in the pariſh of Kendall are 3s. 8d. in the pound of the actual rent, which is very near four times the average of the rate throughout the county, Were it not unfair to draw a general concluſion from one example, it might be inferred that the poor are moft numerous in manufacturing counties and towns, DECT. 8.— Population. The inhabitants of Kendall were found, by an aQua! enumeration in 1793, to amount to 8089, and the whole population of the county has been eſtimated at 25 Or 20 thouſand. As the number of births conſiderably exceeds the number of burials, many of the inhabitants mut migrate to other countics. CHAPTER ML We OF WESTMORELAND« ZOT # CHAPTER XPVTI, OBSTACLES TO IMPROVEMENT“ QC ED ppp po “Tue moß material of theſe are cuſtomary tenures, where the fines are arbitrary, or according to the improv=- ed value of the eſtate, where the wood is the property of the lord, and where a leaſe for longer than three years is not valid without his conſent; want of leaſes, or very ſhort leaſes, and the colleétion of the tithes in kinds —— aP HaO Re gO tg aon, TALS PE[o tagres tera tn aff tna na Bm E—— CHAPTER NCL MISCELLANEOUS OBSERVATIONS. E SEcT. 1—Peights and Meaſures CG REAB diverſity of weights and meaſures prevails in Weſtmoreland, as is the caſe in almoſt every county in Great Britain. The pound conſiſts of 2 TO 18 Or 2d ounces, and the fone of 14, 16, or 20 pounds. There is a Wincheſter buſhel, a cuſtomary buſhel egual to three of theſe, a buſhel of two buſhels for the ſale of potatoes near Appleby, and one of two and a half for that of barley, Rye is ſold by the boll of two buſhels, and potatoes by the load of four buſhels and a half heaped, or more gen- erally = El È | 1012 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY E, erally a bag which holds ſeven and one half buſhels is filled and ſold for a load of potatoes. There is the ſtatute acre of 4840 ſquare yards, the cuſ- tomary acre of 6760 raiſed from thé perch of ſix and oné half yards, and a third acre on the borders of Lancaſhire, raiſed from the perch of ſeven yards, containing 7840, be- ing the ſame as the Iriſh plantation acre, SECT. 2. Supply of London: London is not much indebted to this county for its articles of conſumption. The little it receives from hence conúſts chiefly of butter, bacon, hams, and excellent blue ílates, which form a cover for ſome of the beſt houſes in the capital. Tt is probable that, after being fattened in the feuthern counties, ſome of its cattle and ſheep reach Smithfeld market. iD m 04 Baa 0 09 Stg 0 TECC tacna e a——- CONCLUSION. Means of Improvement, and the Meaſures calculated for that purpoſe. ÉE DI SECT, 1.—Arable Lands. CLOVER. In many counties of England the land is ſown with graſs ſeeds, and left to lie for ſome years with a view to refreſh and enable it to bear crops of corn; but in Weſtmoreland it is ploughed and ſown with corn in or= der to prepare it for graîs, When it hath been cropped for three years, and it is judged that the ſoil is ſuficient= y TM OF WESTMORELAND- 202 Iy rednced, and that the moſs is quite deſtroyed, the land is lefr to itſelf to graſs over. The firſt crop of hay is ne- ver either weighty or good in quality; the ſecond is ge- nerally very ſuperior in both theſe reſpeés to the firſt, and ſo favourable are the climate and the ſoil to the growth of graſs, that the third crop is often ſo abundant as to be let for two or three pounds per acre, and of a quality ſo excellent, that in ſeveral places cattle are fat- tened upon it in Winter for the markets of Lancaſter and Liverpool. But even theſe beſt crops are far inferior in point of value to thoſe that would be produced by the ſame fields, were their natural aptitude to grow graſs di- rected to the produdtion of clover and rye-graſs. The prejudice that prevails almoſt univerfally in Weſtmore= land againſt theſe artificial plants is a great obſtacle to the improvement of the huſbandry of the county, and muſt be overcome before the arable lands can be brought to that degree of cultivation of which they are ſuſceptible. Tt is faid that hay made of clover and rye-graſs is much coarſer than that which is made of the natural grafles; and that theſe artificial plants giving place to the natural ones, periſh at the end of two or three years, and there- fore ought never to be ſown at all. The opinion is conceived to be il founded which holds that hay made of ſown grafles is bad in quality; long ex- perience and continued prattice having ſhown that horſes are very fond of ſuch hay, and that when even fed upon it alone they are able to do a great deal of hard work. Ic can hardly be ſeriouſly afferted that hay made of the traſh produced ſpontaneouſly by the land the two firſt years after it has been cropped with corn 1s better than hay made of clover and rye- graſs."The artificial graſſes ſel= dom or never periſh at once at the end of either the ſe- cond or third year: they diſappear gradually, making room for the natural herbage to occupv their place, which 1 34 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY It 1s imagined it would be found upon trial to do wit| much more profût to the farmer than would have accrued to him by managing his Iands in the ordinary way; for the ſuperior value oí the EA the rſt two years would far more than reimburſe him for the expence of the grafs ſeeds, and he might MII haye his favourite natural bay after theſe had died entirely ont This is ſtated upon the ſuppoſition that the feld was to be allowed to lie eight or ten years in graſs, as is the cuſ- tom at preſent, js it wer to be broken up at the end of the firſt or ſecond year, it would be found in good con- dition for bearing a crop of corn, the roots of clover, it is well Known, being a great improver of the ſoil: but this way of cropping the lands will enter with more propriety into that part where an alteration of the preſent courſe will be ſuggeſted. In the year 1792, Mr Smith at Henridding in the pariſh of Burton, ſowed a cloſe containing exaûly two acres and a half Lancaſhire meaſure, with 48 Ibs. of red clover ſeed amongſt a crop of barley, for which the land had been Mightly manured after fallow wheat. This field is in Lancaſhire, but being ſituated within an hundred yards of the county of Weſtmoreland, it may be mentioned here without 1mpropriety, and it js ſeleted merely becauſe the particulars reſpeCting it are better known tothe writer of this Report than thoſe in regard to any field of clover in the county that was the obje(t of his ſurvey. It was mown in the month of July 1793, and it then yielded a crop of twenty-two ſingle-horſe cart-loads of bay. It was mown a ſecond time in September, and produced eighteen of the ſame cart-loads. It was depaſtured with nine ſeep from the time the laſt crop was carried of till the beginning of November, and the foggage was then tol- erably good. Let the moſt ſtrenuous advocates for natural graſs, fay whether they ever had a crop ſo valu= able! Where ner 2 ALM K GT R LA zt LM as OF WESTMORELAND, Jos Where the land is intended to be depaſtured, the ar- gument will apply with treble force; and the decided pre ference given by catile of all kinds to the green herbage of the artificial, over that of the natural graſs, ousht tó remove every doubt from the minds even of thoſe who are the moſt frongly prepoſſeſſed in favour of the preſent pradice. In front of Carus Wilſon, Eſq.’s new houſe near Kirk= by Lonſdale, there lies a field of ſixteen acres, which vas ſown with graſs ſceds amongſt a crop of barley in the year 1792. Tt was depaſtured in 1793, and maintained[bree times more ſtock than he would. have expedted it to main- tain, had it been left to itſelf in the ordinary way. Far- mers, the moſt prejudiced againſt ſown grafles, ſaw and contfeſled the force of the experiments and, it is not to be doubted, will follow an example which tends ſo materially to promote their intereſt. The cultivation of clover is perhaps the greateſt im=- provement in the art of farming which has been diſco vered in modérn times; and it is equally matter of regret and of ſurpriſe, that what is at once ſo eaſy and ſo profite able is not yet become univerſal, and it furniſhes a ſtrong inſtance of the difficulty with which old habits and pre- judices are rooted out, evén when ſelf-intereſt is concern= ed 1n their extirpations Turnips.— The climate and ſoil of the vallies of Weſt moreland are well ſuited to the cultivation of turnips, which muſt be carried on to a confiderable exteñt before the agriculture of the county can be improved in any material degree. Experience has ſhown that this crop, and the mode of huſbandry uſually conné&ed with it, are able, not only to fertiliſe particular farms, but evén to improve whole counties. The moſt profitable and the leaſt troubleſome way of diſpoſing of this crop-is to fatten ſheep with it. A cuſtomary acre of turnips, if the crop DA 1s Zag> mr TE rp 306 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY is good, will feed twenty-five ſheep weighing fhixteen pounds a quarter, from 1ſt November to 1ſt April; even ſuppoſing the ſheep made no advance in theſe five months, the very encreaſe of the price of the mutton from 4d. to 82d. or 6d. a pound, would bring a profit to the farmer as conſideráble as it is eafily! calculated. When to this there is added the value of what they would gain in point of weight, the proût, it is hoped, will appear to be ſo great 2s to make the deſire to grow turnips irrefiſtible, and quickly to increaſe the guantity an hundred-fold beyond what it is at preſents Where the land is very dry the ſheep may be penned upon a ſmall part oí the field of turnips, and ſhifted to another as thoſe in the firſt part are eaten ups but if there is a field of graſs near at band, the ſuperior im- provement of the ſheep will pay for the labour of car- rying the turnips to be eaten on that field where they will lie dry and clean, and where the turnips will be leſs trampled on and abuſed, Rotation of Crops.—It is the general opinion of farmers in Weſtmoreland, that their lands are better fuited for graſs than for bearing crops of corn, and they are plough- ed for three or four years, not with an expedtation that the corn will be more profitable than the graſs, but in order to renovate them for graſs, and to deſtroy the moſs, which in a few years over-runs all their ley grounds: but there are ſome who are perſuaded, that the neat profits of the three or four years the lands are under crop, uſually exceed the profits of any other three or four years, while the ſame lands lie in gras, and they think that their fer- tility for the produdtion of either grafs or corn would be injured by ploughing for a longer term, or after ſhorter intervals of reſt. Whether the lands under the preſent ſyſtem are moſt profitable to the farmer when they are in corn or in gras, E it E acemi E RESO 1 eci 5 RD e DRA e OF WESTMORELAND- 307 it is not neceſſary now to enguire, becauſe, with all due deference to the general practice and opinion of a whole county, it is preſumed that a mode of huſbandry and a fucceflion of crops may be pointed out, which upon trial would be found far more profitable than thoſe at preſent followed. The uniting what may be called the Clover and the Turnip Huſbandry is the beſt method hitherto diſcovered of keeping dry lands in a fate of continual fertility, and for this the light and friable ſoil of the vailies of Weſt- moreland is well calculated. Inſtead of the common ro- tation of oats, barley, and oats again, and then leaving the land to grals over of itſelf, the following courſe of crops might be introduced with advantage, both to the public and the individual, When an old cloſe of good land is broken up it ſhould be ſown with oats, as is done at preſent; after the oats it ſhould be manured and ſown with turnips in drills thirty inches aſunder, ſo as to admit of being horſe-hoed; next with barley or oats, and always with graſs ſeeds at the rate of about fixteen pounds of clover, and a Wincheſter buſhel of rye-graſs to the ſtatute acre. If it is intended to paſture the field, the graſs ſeeds can hardly be ſown too thick; if it is to be made into hay, the quantity of ſeeds above-mentioned will be found am- ply ſufficient. The firſt year's crop of graſs may be mown twice, or after the fr cutting it may be eaten by fattening cattle; or it may be eaten by ſheep till the be- ginning of June, ſaved after that and mown in Auguſt, and it will ſtill produce a valuable crop of foggage or af- ter-math, It ſhould be depaſtured with cattle or ſheep the ſecond year, and the third year likewiſe, if ic ſhall be thought proper to keep the eld ſo long in grafs. ‘This courſe would preſerve the land in a ftate of per- petual Zealth and vigour, did it not, taking pleafure in va« riety, diſlike a too freguent repetition of the ſame crops, NS After 4 O 5 C3 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY After ſome rounds it will be proper to encreaſe the quan tity of clover ſeed, and at laſt to bring it ſeldomer into ſucceſlicn, for if too often ſown it will be reje(ted entire- I. When this is apprehended the courſe may be varied or lengthened by the introdudtion of a crop ot peaſe, or of drilled beans where the land is deep and moiſt, and wheat - after either of theſe, or after a clean Summer- fallow, or by leaving the land ſome years longer in grads than uſual. When it ſhall be proved and Known that potatoes are a cheap and nouriſhing food for horſes, the demand for that valuable root will become nearly as unbounded as that for turnips is; and even although they exhauſt the land, they may then be introduced into the courſe with much advantage to the farmer» It is not pretended that the rotation of crops here re- commended would ſuit all the arable lands of Weftmore- land; but it is believed that, on a very large proportion of them, it might be followed with a certainty of ſucceſs, The cold, wet, fſtiff-ſoils ſhould be Summer-fallowed in- ſtead of being cropped with turnips; wheat ſhould be ſown after the fallow, and clover, or oats, and then clo- ver after the wheat; but it is impoſlible, and were it poſſible it would be improper, in a work of this general nature, to mention how all the varieties of ſoil ſhould be treated; and to deſcend to the minutiæ of ploughing and ſowing, and ten thouſand little matters thât continually de- mand the farmer’s attention, and that are always varying with the weather. In theſe his own ingenuity muſt afliſt him, and there all his ingenuity will be neceflary; for his art, though apparently eaſy, is attended with a thouſand difficulties, SECT 2. W afteg, There is room for great improvement in the manage- ment of ſheep, as well upon private eſtates as upon the commons z — LISE z— g I PDE R D O E E E mm R R EE y R, E R OF WESTMORELAND-, Z09 commons; but while theſe laſt continue in their preſent deplorable fate, it would be in vain to attèmpt any altera- tion upon their ſocks, The ca e, however, 1s different with ftore farms properly ſo called, where the breed or treatment of the ſheep differs very little from that of thoſe Upon commons, although there can be no reaſonable doubt of their being well adapted to the keeping a’ far more profitable fort than is to be found there at preient. There is no weight whatever in the argument which has been often uſed againſt the introdudion of ſuch a breed from the ſcarcity of food and the coldnefßs of the climate, the Britiſh Wool Society having proved that©“ the fineſt + breeds of Spain or of England will thrive on the wil-| ““ deſt of the Cheviot hills, and that very fine-woolled “s breeds may be propagated on the moſt mountainous di-