3 * —— — AAA V.-Bl. Giessen | | FET PANES VIa SES M SE E atti ari SSA ENEN SRF AE CISE JOHN BILLINGSLEY, Esg. SIX SHILLINGS COUNTY of SOMERSET, aA D —- —-—— ÉE di LA E: y Frau D— LE 7 CUE UE AB ami Mes GENERAL VIEW OF THE AGN ICUETURE OTE FHE COUNTY of SOMERSET, OBSERVATIONS ON THE MEANS OF ITS IMPROVEMENT. DRAWN UP IN THE YEAR 1795, FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE BOARD OF AGRICUL- TURE AND INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT. DY JOHN BILLINGSLEY, Efq; Of ASHWICK-GROVE, near SHEPTON-MALLET AND NOW RE-PRINTED With considerable ADDITIONS and AMENDMENTS, Accompanied with the REMARKS of some respeßRable GENTLEMEN and FARMERS in the COUNTY. — CCD SECOND EDITION, —ooCO|CPIIII— In urbe luxuria creatur: Ex luxuria exiſtat avaritia neceſſe eft: Ex avaritia erumpit audacia; Inde omnia scelera ac maleficia gignuntur. Vita autem hæc rustica quam tu agrestim vocas, parsimoniæ, diligentiæ, justitiæ, magistra est. Tullii Orat. pro Sext. Roscio. The City creates luxury; from luxury necessarily proceeds rapaciousness; and from rapaciousness breaks forth insolence: Thence are engendered all villainy and wicked deeds: But this country life, which you call clowniſh, is ¿he regulator of æconomy, industry, and justice. BATH, PRINTED BY R. CRUTTWELL, FOR THE AUTHOR; AND SOLD BY C. DITLY, POULTRY, LONDON: MDCC XCVIII “ 4 Wn\ pr 10 ) | fj: | Î f[} || k K / j M j 1 Y | D : X | wt # i Y 1| |\ 0 S THE j CONTENTS. PP for re-printing the Agricultural Surveys— KL Preliminary Obſervations to the Somerſetſhire re- printed Report METIA 4 CHAPI Geographical State and Circumſtances. SECT. 1. Situation and Extent 2. Diviſion, with reſpe& to JuriſdiQion into Eaſtern and Weſtern mens 13 3 and 4. Climate; ſoil and ſurface DLA Mountains, Foreſts, Moors ZR HG 5 and 6. Minerals and Water— 1Ó Divided for this work into three Diſtris zb. MNorth-Eal Diſtri, SECT. 1. Climate, Soil, and Surface— 17 9 5. Minerals,&c.=_— 20 Divining-rod, or Joſing— 22 Lord Coke?s Laws of the Mendip Miners 23 Coal, Northern and Southern— 26 CEAPSSIL State of Property; Eſtates and Tenures 31 CHAPE Buildings II 5) CONTENTS. PAGE R I CHAP. IVe L Mode of Occupation= 24 1 i Di SxzcrT. 1. Size of Farms; Character of Farmers— 34 Bi 2, 3» 4. Rent, Tithes, and Poor-rates= zT/ Li Mr. Pew’s Twenty Minutes advice on the Poor Laws 38 ce eaſes; Clauſes in——= 42 6. Expences and Profits of lixty acres of Graſs Land 44 | Ro CHAP. V. Di : Cr y« Y- 0 Y, A_] rs Implements, Waggons, Carts, Ploughs,&c. 40 Te UY CHAP: VI, Po Incloſing, Fencing,&c. Mendip-Hills. 48 Six Objetions againft Incloing— 49 Firſt objeétion anſwered; ſuppoſed invafion of rights of Y) Cottagers D Second obje&tion anſwered; ſuppoſed injury to the Breeding Syſtem— 53 Third obje&ion anſwered; expences of A&s of Parlia- ment, Commiſſioners,&c. cs Expences of Incloſing Lowland and Upland— 7 Fourth objeCtion anſwered; Expences of Cultivation, Buildings,&c.—— 62 Fifth obje&ion anſwered; ſuppoſed quality of Wool deteriorated, and guantity leſſened 68 Sixth-objeCion anſwered; ſuppoſed diminution of the Value of Eſtates Lias 73 R Pariſhes incloſed and unincloſed on Mendip Foreſt 76 è Wall Fences, expences of— 79 “ Quick Hedges, expences of— So Wall and Quick Hedges, expences of— 84\ Planting full-grown Thorns=— 85 Buildings to new Incloſures— 86 Pools or Reſervoirs of Water, expences of— 89 dEC Lime-kilns, ſhape and expences of ermano 90 [) o CONTEN PS. Roads, width, thickneſs, and expences of Mode of Cultivation on Mendip new Incloſures Expences and average Produce per acre Harveſting and Threſhing, manner of Double-furrow Plough Horſes and Oxen compared— Liming, efffects of——— CHAP. VIL Arable Land. Rotation of Crops on the clay Ditto on the red earth and ſtone-braſh Crops commonly cultivated Teazles, manner of cultivation—— Woad, manner of cultivation Potatoes, manner of cultivation CHAP VIIE SzerT. 1. Natural Meadows and Paſtures 2. Artificial Graſſes 3, 4. Hay-Harveſt, Feeding Receipt for making Hay-tea CHAP: IXS Gardens and Orchards CHAP. X&. Woods and Plantations CHAP NT: Waſte Lands CHAP, XII. Improvement4 SzcT. 1. Draining 2. Paring and Burning PAGE 92 Bie DA I 00 — 103 — 2b. — 121 — 123 124 127 130 — 131 — ib. 8 CONTENTS, PAGK SECT. 3. Manuring. Marl—— 132 Pla Courſe of Crops— 139| Pre Lime——— ES| fos 4. Weeding EE LLE IA) We 5s. Watering— E| Ma : Mr, CHAP, XIIL./ Bog: Mr, Live Stock, Brid SECT. 1, 2. Cows and Sheep E 142 Nar Receipt for the Scab on Sheep— 147 Ad Receipt for the F'oot-rot— 020. Pref 3. Horſes, expences of a road team of— 148 Am 4. FHogs, ſorts of— 149 Ann 5, 6, 7, 8. Rabbits, Poultry, Pigeons, and Bees 150 Pant Cor CEPA BCCS= Mi Rural Œconomy. SECT. 1, 2. Labour, Proviſions EE 152 Scarcity of Proviſions in 1795-6— 153 Bi Conſolidation of Farms— 155 CHAP XV. Political CSconomy as affe&ing Agriculture. SECT. 1, 2. Roads and‘Canals 159( Mr, 3» 4» 5, 6. Fairs, Markets, Commerce, Manu- Leaſ faQures—— 160 Ditt ; E Middle Diſtri, CEAPS LL, , Geographical State and Circumſtances. Flax Ls: N I Hem Ï Situation, Extent, Climate, and Soil_— 165 Brent, and Bridgwater,or South Marſh— 166 Acres incloſed in SE Marſh in twenty years— 167| Drains on this Marſh by the rivers Axe and Brue 168; C; = Lu Æ H: R— Sie See Ni Ere” tage) în Y ANI A CONTENTS, Plan of Draining the Turf-bogs WA in Brent Marſh and the river Axe drainage, probable coſt of Four Soils of theſe Moors Wedmore and Hauntſpill, poor rates of, for I4 years Mark and Mere, ditto Mr. Lax’s Farm, of Godney, account of Bogs, cauſe of, and method of improvement LEM Mr. Moxham’s method of improving Turbary-land Bridgwater, or South Marſh; and River Parrett— Names of Manors of ditto A of Parliament for Inclofing ditto Preſent drainage of ditto Amount of expenditure of ditto King’s Sedgmoor, and parochial ſubdiviſions Pariſhes of Somerton and Compton-Dundon Corn land of Polden-hill Caſtle-Cary pariſh and neighbourhood Minerals and Water— EE E ara ARE BE RS — CHAPS HI. Buildings, farm-houſes, yards, ſtables,&c. CHAP, IV. Mode of Occupation. Mr. R. Locke?s tables of value of land in 1755 and 1796 Leaſes, terms of EE Ditto, compared with Freehold————— CHAP. VIL. Arable Land. Flax Hemp and Turnips e AEB CEAP, VIL AND: IX% Graſs, Gardens, and Orchards=== 9 PAGE 169 177 73 174 175 179 182 185 188 190 191 193 195 196 199 200 201 202 L202 204 206 208 213 # ® 4 y M tj LA 1 „8 Î \Y IO CONTENTS Proceſs of Cyder-making- R Preparation of Lead, how to diſcover it= CHAP Woods and Plantations General rules for well managing of— Charcoai, expences and profits of—— Merhod of ſhortening the winter TW aftes EA CHAP. XILL INDFOVEIMENtS==—— CEAC XI, Eve Stock, Oxen: Grazing management— Liſt of Fairs to buy lean ſtock at e Ditto, at which fat cattle are ſold== Cows, and proceſs of Cheeſe-making= Expences and profits of a Dairy of twenty cows— Recipe for curing the taſte of turnips,&c. in milk— Sheep, Ewes, Lambs,&c. Sheep-breeding ſytem of White-Lackington——- Produce of a flock of three hundred ewes—— 4 CEPAP SINS Rural Ciconomy. Wages. PSSST: CHAP. ZEV e Political CŒconomy. Roads, Canals, and ManufaQures SE 29 N I N 8) D E> ON N 247 Z5T 253 254 255 257 ar=| A A A= CONTENTS. South-TMel Diſtri. CEA ls Geographical State and Circumſtances Soil, Watered meadows CHAPE SAE ON PrOPEerty CHATS5 LIL Mode of Occupation Leaſes. Cuſtom of the Manor of Taunton-Dean CHAP. IV. Implements. Ploughs, Drags,&c. CHAP. Ve. Incloſing. Fences CHAP. VI; Arable Land. Black-Down E Drilling, advantages and diſadvantages of Rotation of Crops on the clayey loam Ditto on the light loam Rhubarb cultivated— CHAP. VII Orchards. Proceſs of making Sweet Cyder 270 — 2752 ij — 73 = 275 SETI — 230 _— 281 —— 282 — 269 IT E A Po e CONTENTSs, CHAP. VILE Woods. Oak and Elm Coppices— E EAAP Ie TN Waſtes. Foreſt of Exmoor E Plan for Incloſures and Buildings on— CHAP, X. Improvements, Stone Draining and Shoulder Trenching——— CHARENTE Live Stock. Oxen and ſheep= eS Oxen; worked in yokes and harneſs, and by the head and horn—_—S CHAP NIT. Rural Œconomy. Price of Labour. Proviſions. Fuel CHAP NTT: AE L Political Cconomy, Wool. ManufaQures———— Commerce. Herring fiſhery— e——— Recapitulation of Hints- for Improvement, with addi- tional remarks——— Concluſion 2 ES Deſcription of Mr. Weldon?s Caiſſon Lock— Proviſion for ſupplying the poor with fuel — 291, PAGE y “ 299 294 1 ENDEN EANS, in rows from North to South Bees= Bog, turf bog—— Ditto, cauſe of and means of draining Borough Engliſh deſcent, what its cuſtom— Brent-Marſh, quantity of acres incloſed— Ditto, probable coſt and profit of draining= Bridgwater, or South Marſh SS Ditto, names of manors on—— Ditto, part of drained, called King’s-Sedgmoor Ditto, a of parliament for incloſing of SS Ditto, preſent drainage of ES Burning and paring— Buildings O2 SO 202 Cabbages— Calves_— Caiſſon Lock, deſcription of LL Canals— 159, 2 Cows— te. Ditto, avérage expence and profit of twenty Ditto, recipe for curing the yellows Cheeſe, proceſs of making of e Charcoal, expences and profits of C Coal, Northern and Southern amm Corn—— Crops, rotation of——-== Ditto, ditto, on the clay— Ditto, ditto, on the red earth and fone braſh Ditto, ditto, proper for light land—— ME en TE Eg IEE UB Y 14 INDEX, PAGE Crops, rotation of proper for heavy land 304 Cyder, proceſſes of making— 222, 282 Ditto, preparation of lead, how to diſcover in— 225 Dairy, vide Cows:: Drill-Machines, Drilling— 274-278 Draining, Drains,&c.———— 131, 290 Ewes— E A2 Exmoor Foreft——— 286-289 Fairs, liſt of—— 245; 246 Farms, ſize of, conſolidation of— 34, 155 Fences, quick heâges, ſtone walls,&c.— 79-86 Flax— 213-217 Freehold compared with Leaſehold 208 Foreſts, names of the principal— Fuel, provifion for ſupplying the poor with= 319 Graß, Graſſes E 119, 220 Gardens——: 124,220 Harveſt, Harveſting 97,121, 281 Hay-tea, recipe for T2 Hills, Mendip— 40166 Hedges, vide Fences. Hemp—> Herring Fiſhery——— 296 Hogs——— 149 Horſes—— TO S200 Implements—— 46, 47, 278, 279 Incloſing, expences of lowland and upland— 57 Incloſures, objections againſt anſwered— 4 26 Kings Sedgmoor, expences of incloſing= 196 Labour—> 294/208 Lambs—— E 5 Laws, Poor Laws, confiderations on SL 38 Laws of the Mendip Miners— 23 Tand, Arable— E 273 Ditto, Graſs, expences and profits of— 44 Ditto, ditto, rolling of recommended— 302 Lead, preparation of in cyder, how to diſcover— 25 Leaſes, clauſes and reſtrictions in= 4252002 290 Leaſehold, compared with Freehold— 208 > — = C R) RE RS ——__ i E LL———— INDEX,: IS PAGE | eaſehold cuſtom of the Manor of Taunton-Dean 279 Lime=S— 105, 140, 300 Lime-kilns, ſhape and expences of 90 Linen coarſe, manufa@ure of 261 Machines, drilling, threſhing,&c. 40, 274.278, 300 Manufa@ures—— 1002005 20205 Manure 1325301 Marl TETE— 132, 299 Meadows, natural and watered— 19201205207 Mendip hills, huſbandry of A Minerals, Miners= 1Ó, 20, 202 Moors, names of principal—— 15 Mountains, ditto— 14 Occupation, mode of— 34, 204,209 Ditto, on Mendip incloſures= 02 Drchards— 124, 220, 232 Oxen, uſe of recommended E 306 ——, compared with horſes= 103 ——, grazing management of—— 222 ——, worked in yokes and harnefs— 291 ——, ditto by the head and horn E Ss e Z9—_ ) PE 5 Paring and Burning— E I31 Peaſe, in rows from north to ſouth SS ZOI Pigeons, Poultry 150 Ploughs, double farrow, drill, combi(O 274 20003009 Plantations—= S 127, 228, 269 Pools of Water, expences of E——— 89 Poor-rates Potatoes—— 11 5 Provifons, prices of———— 259, 294 Ditto, ſcarcity of in the year 1795-6— 153 Rabbits—— I5O Rent”-— alis Rotation of. Crops; vide Crops- Roads—— OIE O 200; 207 Rhubarb— 281 Receipts for diferent cures— 2A 240,253 Sedemoor; vide King’s-Sedgmoor Sheep_——- IAS 24255 16 INDEX. PAGE Sheep diſorders of, receipts for__ 147 Shepherd, wages of per week mmm 207 Teazles—= I1O-112 Threſhing, threſhing machines—- O7 310 ‘Taunton-Dean, value of—— 264 Turnips“——— 218,312 Tithes— E IEEE 35 Wages of day-labourers———— 250 Waggons—— 46, 301 Waſtes_———— 130, 237, 286, 297 Water, watering_— 16, 141, 202, 264 Woad, cultivation of mg T3, TTA. Woods feet: 1275 228, 285 Wool amr Map of the County to front the title Plan for Drainage,&c. Repreſentation of Mr. Weldon’s Caiſſon Lock page 169g CAIRO 28 “SENO res fich gra zung and dairy Lands near Bridgwater L.rbridge&c Meadow, PFasuuc and Arable internuxt ét un lug cutuvation Turi Boa capable of tittle unprovement Mountamous Lands tnter*perscd wüuh tertite Vale. ZG RIC ULA UI ALS URVE Coal in general ch Surtäce sumitar to th« adjacent Lands E S0 ( »>OMER SET, LA WW A LH £6 05 tor lhe taken bv An Dillenortey: Sfeiehed by WY: Wie, 2797. 40 30. “2 (OS WÄ LL OG NLLL UH BT * 7A AA E 5 TEN E SOME R TOX: 2 Se __- MIL I FRÉ LA n n SA o > d in fot Ni)! DLL LATS E fired: Ta j e y e P bury+ —— 74 Y——= I 9YTH0DNAJHVINLLVSHLVDATHVTTTIES ANL AHHNSBUNVANNANNNNNATT NDHNGATUTV ANA HINVHTVOVNDAHKVNKTNNINT ill) HHAIFTIINNI TINI 50 Ii INT A I i Í IM°Weſt L onoitude tirom Landon 30 DO CA PLAN FOR RE-PRINTING THE | AGRICULTURAL SURVEYS. BN THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. BOARD eſtabliſhed for the purpoſe of making every |- eflential enguiry, into the Agricultural State, and the means of promoting, the internal improvement of a powerful Empire, will neceſſarily have it in view, to examine the ſources of publick proſperity, in regard to various import- | ant particulars. Perhaps the following is the moſt natura] | order for carrying on ſuch important inveſtigations; namely, to aſcertain, 1. The riches to be obtained from the ſurface of the na- | tional territory. | 2. The mineral or ſubterraneous treaſures of which the | country is poſſeſſed. A, 3: The wealth to be derived from its ſtreams, rivers, ca- nals, inland navigations, coafts, and fiſheries. And, 4. The means of promoting the improvement of the people in regard to their health, induſtry, and morals, founded on a fatiflical ſurvey, or a minute and care- ful enquiry into the aQual ſtate of every parochial difirict in the kingdom, and the circumſtances of its A LS PFA BRIN aDIt2ANTS, « Under one or other of theſe heads, every point of real importance, that can tend to promote the general happineſs óf a great nation, ſeems to be included. s of‘ſo extenúive and ſo complicated a nature muſt reguire, it 18 ev ident, a conſiderable ſpace of time before they can be completed. Differing indeed in many reſpects from each other, it is E R that they ſhould be undertaken at different periods, and ſeparately confi Idered Under that impreſſion, the Bo— of Agriculture has hitherto direâted its attention to the firſt point only, namely, the cultivation of the ſurface, and the reſources to be derived from it. That the fas eſſential for ſuch an inveſtigation might be 11 ch> I, SES GR R= SS colleRed with more celerity and advantage, a number of 1n- telligent an e reſpeétable inc Sividuals were appointed, to furniſh D<: 2 1 4 the Board with accounts of the fate of huſbandry, Andithe { ImnNraui a difforent diſtrié}g> E] means of improving the E diſtriits of the kingdom. ] E“in y ronl- hey ſent were printec|, and circulated by eve C Ni ER A j- A means the Board of Agriculture could deviſe, in the GA to which they reſpe@ively related; and in conſequence of that circulation, a great maſs of additional valuable informa- tion has been obtained. For the purpoſe of communicating that information to the publick in general, but more eſpe- cially to thoſe counties the molt intereſted therein, the Board has reſolved to reprint the Survey of each County, as ſoon 4s it ſeemed to be fit for publication; and among ſeveral equally advanced, the counties of Norfolk and Lancaſter were pitched upon for the commencement of the propoſed publication; it being thought moſt adviſable to begin with one county on the Eaſtern, and another on the Weſtern coaſt of the Iſland. When all theſe Surveys ſhall have been thus re-printed, it will be attended. with little difficulty to draw up an abſtrad of the whole(which will not probably exceed I PIO ER D RI a SELS [ 111 Y exceed two or three volumes quarto) to be laid before his Majeſty, and both Houſes of Parliament; and afterwards 2 general Report on the preſent ſtate of the country, and the means of its improv ement, may be ſy ſtematically arranged, ccording to the various ſubjets conneQed with agriculture. Thus every individual in the kingdom may have, An account of the huſbandry of his own particular county; or, 2. A general view of the ricer ſtate of the kingdom at large, EE to the counties, or diftris, into which it is divided; Or, 3. An arranged ſyſtem of information on agricultural ſüb- jects, whether accumulated by the Board ſince its eſtabliſhment, or previouſly known; And thus information reſpecting the ſtate of the kingdom, and Agricultural knowledge in general, will be attainable with every poflible advantage. In re-printing theſe Reports, it was judged neceflary, that they ſhould be drawn up according to one uniform model; and after fully confidering the ſubject, the following form was pitched upon, as one that would include in it all the particulars which it was nece! Tary to notice in an 4 Agricul- tural Survey. As the other Reports will be re-printed in the ſame manner, the reader will thus be enabled to find out at once, where any point is treated of, to which he may wiſh to dire his attention. Be PEA N M ( | N M4 | j NE PLAN or THF RE-PRINTED REPORTS. Preliminary Obſervations. CHAP,: I. Geographical State and Circumſtances, SECT. I.—Situation and Extent. 2. Diviſions. 3.—Climate. 4.—Soil and Surface. 5.—Mlinerals. 6.—Water. II. State of Property. SECT. I.—Efſtates, and their Management. 2.— Tenures. III. Buildings. SECT. I.—Houſes of Proprietors. 2.—Farm Houſes and Offices; and Repairs» Z3.— Cottages. IV. Mode of Occupation. SECT. I.—Size of Farms. Farmers. 2.—Rent—in Money—in Kind—in Per- ſonal Services. Charadter of the 3.— T'ythes- 4.—Poor-Rates.. 5— Leaſes. 6.—Expence and Profit. VV, Implements. VI. Incloſing—Fences—Gates. VII. Arable Land. SECT. I.— Tillage. 2—F allowing. AFE CHAP, VII. SECT. 3.—Rotation of Crops, 4.—Crops commonly cultivated; their Seed, Culture, Produce,&c,* 5.—Crops not commonly cultivated. VIII. Graß. SECT. 1.—Natural Meadows and Paſtures. 2.— Artificial Graſles. 3.—Hay Harveſt. 4.— Feeding. IX. Gardens and Orchards. AX. Woods and Plantations. XI. Waſtes. XII, Improvements. SECT. I.—Dnraining. 2.—Paring and Burning. 3.—Manuring. 4—Weeding. 5.—Watering. # Where the quantity is confiderable, the information reſpeding the crops commonly cultivated maybe arranged under the following heads: I. Preparation SS; 6, Culture whilſt hoe, ( manure. Ss weeding, SS feeding. ; 2. DOrt. 7. Harveft. 3. Steeping. 8. Threſhing. 4. Seed(quantity ſown.) 9. Produce. 5.‘Time of ſowing. 170. Manufadure of bread. In general the ſame heads will fuit the following grains: Barley. Oats. Beans. Rye. Peaſe. Buck-wheat. Gr Application. Cole-ſeed- E EEAS i Drawn ES iht i eE Turnips-- Fede e Bg piet [E on graſs=-=-- — in houſes«--= CHAP. NIT: LiVE Stock: 1 v1 3.— Horſes, and their Uſe in Huſbandry, compared to Oxen. XIV. Rural Economy. DECT. I.—Labour— Servants— Labourers— Hours of Labour. 2.— Provifions. 3.— Fuel. XV. Political Economy, as conne&ted with or affecting Agriculture. 2. Canals. 2.— Fairs. 4.— Weekly Markets. 5— Commerce, 6.—Manufaures. 7.— Poor. 9.—Lopulation. XVI, Obſtacles to Improvement; including ge- neral Obſervations on Agricultural Legiſlation and Police- XVII. Miſcellaneous Obſervations. SECT. I.—Agricultural Societies. 2.— Weights and Meaſures. Concluſion.—Means of Improvement, and the Meaſures calculated for that Purpoſe. Appendix. Fi tl =} Aj PERFECTION in ſuch inquiries 1s not in the power of any body of men to E at once, whatever may be the extent of their views, or the vigour of their exertions. If Lewis XIV. eager to have his kingdom known, and poſ- ſeſled of boundleſs power to effect it, failed ſo much in the attempt, that of all the provinces in his kingdom, only one was ſo deſcribed as to ſecure the approbation of PS it will not be thought frange that a Board, poſſeſſed of © e, means ſo extremely limited, ſhould find it difficult to reach even that degree of perfection which, perhaps, might have * See Valtaire’s Age of Lewis XIV. vol. ü- P- 127» 1285 edit. 1752. The following extra from that work will explain the circumſtance above alluded to. “« Lewis had no Colbert, nor Louvois, when about the year 1698, C nſtrudtion of the Duke of Burgundy, he ordered e BEN of the ants to draw up a particular deſcription of his province. By « this means an exact account of the kingdom might have been ob- « tained, and a juſt enumeration of the inhabitants. It was an uſeful « work, though ail the intendants had not the capacity and attention « of Monfieur de Lamoignon de Baville. Had what the king dire&ed < been as well executed in regard to every province, as it was by this ce E in the“account of Languedoc, the colleétion would have «c been one of the mo oft valuable monuments'of the age. Some of them are well done; but the plan was irregular and imperfed, becauſe all cc t] nts were not refrained to one and the ſame. It were to c d, that each of them had given, in columns, the number of « inhabitants in each eledion; the nobles, the citizens, the labourers, Ù «6 th I TE I vn nie] L Batrla Ê A 7 kind:] PT,] tl tne artiians»s the mechani„ the cattie oT every KINd; the good, the « indifferent, and the bad lands; all the clergy, regular and ſecular; « their revenues, thoſe of the towns, and thoſe of the communities, « AII theſe heads, in moſt of their accounts, are confuſed and im- « perfect; and it is egutndl neceſſary to ſearch with great care and ign was excellent, and would ſ < pains to find what is wanted. The deſig have been of the greateſt uſe, had it been executed with judgment é and uniformity,?? been i been attainable with more extenſive powers. The candid Reader cannot expe in theſe Reports more than a certain portion of uſeful information, ſo arranged as to render them a bafis for further and more detailed enguiries. The atten- tion of the intelligent Cultivators of the kingdom, however, will doubtleſs be excited, and the minds of men in general gradually brought to conſider favourably of an undertaking, which will enable all to contribute to the national ſtores of knowledge, upon topicks ſo truly intereſting as thoſe which concern the Agricultural intereſts of their country; intereſts, which on juft principles never can be improved, until the preſent ſtate of the kingdom be fully known, and the means of its future improvement aſcertained with minuteneſs and accuracy. PRELIMINARY ty PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS TO THE SOMERSETSHIRE RE-PRINTED REPORT. E following Remarks on the preſent ſtate of Agri- culture in the county of Somerſet having been made without an aQual ſurvey, thoſe readers who are converſant with the ſubje& will be able, no doubt, to point out many defeêls, errors, and omiſſions. The Writer, however, preſumes, that though he may not have ſpecifically and expreſsly touched on all the pradices and improvements of the beſt farmers, yet that no kind or claſs of theſe matters has been abſolutely overlooked. He does not profeſs to have given a compleat detail of the various branches of rural management, but to have diſ- cuſſed the moſt important articles belonging thereto; and he has done his utmoſt to treat the ſubjeË in ſuch a manner, and to expreſs his meaning in fuch a language, as might be beſt adapted to the underſtanding and comprehenſion of common farmers. Should the ſubje& of inclofing,&c. the Waſte Lands, be thought by ſome to occupy too much room, the writer in- treats them to weigh in their own minds, whether any thing, ſo nearly related to publick as well as individual good, can be too diffuſely handled, or too ſtrongly recommended. To PY bA PRELIMINARY- OBSERVATIONS, Td Gentiemen the Writer 1s 1ndebted for Vailal iINTOFMATION, And Degs lCave to exprels hl: < 4 rna y Enr+=S : Warlinel KnoWiledceCmnents- Ï LNne n SS y EEN RS > TD 1 C f( I-41 yon\ Hor Mr.[ KEINS, OT X /aRnII Neal viauiet, w LALA ULLI di Re. UNwIN CLARKE, of M A]= LESE BEE practical were competent to the KEES R E ES LES BAIE TEE tner communications, irom an Ul-Tounded ) n 0 LTS 5 REDS A UE that the€eitabliſhment of a Board of Asricu C paratory to additional taxation under ſome form or Fr 1 N15 LNC WYrILCY Nas TeEalon. to mention Wit SOMERSETSHIRE. CHAPTER E GEOGRAPHICAL STATE AND TD DOTTMoOTANO CIRCUMSTAN( ES UL De Qnm RIE RS 2A eL À 2 D Vr A DECT. I.—o¿tuatiion and LXxtent, QO MERSETSHIRE is a maritime county, in the South-weſt part of England, having the Briſtol Channel e W eſt—Glouceſterſhire, and the— and county of Briſtol, on the North—Wiltſhire on the Eaft—and Devon- ſhite on the South and South-Weſt. Îts 1s oblong, Heng in leneth from North-eaſt to South-weſt So miles—in breadth from Eaßt to Weſt about 36 miles—and in circumference about 200 miles. The reporter cannot with abſolute preciſion fate the total amount of acres, or the number of mhabitants, in this county; but he conceives the former to be about one million of âcres, and the latter about three hundred thouſand. The average value per acre of the incloſed and cultivated land is not leſs now than twenty-five ſhillings per annum; and at Revolution the CE 4 deoah value was*CtfrAceA 37 5,0001. the y AGRICULTURAL'SURVEV 37 5,0001. The diferent appropriations of this ſurface of land may be arranged in the following way: Acres. Towns and villages————— 23000 Publick and private roads—— 15,000 Rivers, lakes, ponds,&c.———— 2,500 Woods and plantations— 20000 Meadow and paſture land incloſed— 584,500 Marſh and fen-land unincloſed 30,000 Arable and convertible land incloſed— 260,000 Common fields—— 20,0900 Uncultivated waſtes 6 5,000 * J_000,000 The ſea-coaft is very irregular, in ſome places projeAing into lofty and rocky promontories, and in others receding into fine bays, with flat and level ſhores. From Stert point northward, the coaſt is flat, and compoſed of vaſt ſand- banks repelling the inundation of the ſea, which, in ancient times, waſhed over theſe ſhoals, and flowed up into the country, covering with its waters that extenſive territory now called Brent-MMarſh. The ſea, after its general retire- ment, paid frequent viſits to theſe parts; and it was found neceſſary, to the ſecurity of the country, to eſtabliſh a * Since this account was taken, ſundry ads of parliament have been paſſed, and are now pending, for the incloſing, draining, and dividing of more than 18,000 acres of marſh and fen land, and 20,000 acres of common fields and uncultivated waſtes. Fifteen bills of in- cloſure have been brought into parliament this ſeſſion(1797) for this county only, whilſt, in the adjoining county of Devon, not a ſingle application has been made in this century. This is the more extra ordinary, as there are immenſe tras lying waſte in the laſt-mentioned county, Commiſſion Tas rear SEETAL TTT EC rra e A LE: OF SOMERSETSHIRE- 13 Commiſſion of Sewers, the members of which ſhould exa- mine and inſpe the ſea banks, ditches, gutters, and ſewers, conneéted with the ſea, and order the requiſite cleanſings and reparations. The firſt commiſſion of this kind upon record, was in 1304; and the like offices are extended to this day. SECT. 2.—Divijfion, Somerſetſhire, in reſpedt to its juriſdition, is divided into two parts, eaſtern and weſtern.‘The firſt containing 19 hundreds, the latter 21 hundreds. It has beſides 7 liberties, 2 cities, 7 boroughs, 29 market-towns, 1 biſhoprick, 3 arch- deaconries, 13 deaneries, and 482 pariſhes. SECT. 3.— Climate. In ſuch an extent of ground, it may naturally be ſup- poſed, that the climate is various. Near the ſea-coafſt winter is ſcarcely felt; and from Minehead and Dulverton on the weſt, to Milborne-Port and Wincanton on the eaſt, the cli- mate(Quantock, Branden, and Dunkry hills excepted) is mild and temperate. ÁAs you approach the northern diſ- tri, and aſcend Poulden hill, it changes and becomes more cold and boiſterous; and when you proceed farther north- ward, and gain the ſummit of Mendip bills, you feel your- ſelf, comparatively, in Lapland.‘The perpendicular altitude of Mendip hills, compared with the town of Taunton, is ſuppoſed to be at leaſt 1100 feet, Seed time and harveſt greatly vary in different parts of the county: the mountainous parts being nearly a month later than the vales; for which reaſon, it is found right, on expoſed and elevated fitüations, ſuch as Mendip, Quantock, + Collinſon and Rack’s Hiſtory of Somerſetſhire. and iE AGRICULTURAL SU RVEVY and Brandon hills, to ſow a fortni ight earlier in the autumn, and a fortnight later in the ſpring, than is generally recom=- [E mended in books of huſbandry or gardening. r+4 C try ER bz] a IL QE — DOI AMHd dur face: OE erl E old For fertility of ſoil, and ceneral produce, this county r their luxuriant herbage, which lutniſhes not only a ſufficiency for its own confi 1mption, but alfo a con- ſiderable ſurplus for other markets: London, Briftol, Sa- lifbury, E other parts of the kingdom, are annually fup- plied with fat oxen, f cep, and hogs, together with cyder, cheeſe, butter, an Jr many other articles, in great abundance. ] r are the hills by any means deficient in their arable Dpro- y any dúdions; yet it muſt be admitted, that its vicinity E the Briſtol Channel, which fils the air with watery Vapours un- favourable to the ripening of corn, particularlv in the weitern diſtri&s, induces a preíerence in favour Of e LL Taz 12 and airy huſbandry: and in conſequence thereof, y añ quan- titles_ grain are annually purchaſed from the adjacent counties of Wilts and Dorſet, to the- amount of at leaſt one hundred thouſand quarter s—by which, the coun ty would be drained of its money, were it not for the coal. cattle,&c. which are ſent in return. MOUNTAINS, The ſurface of the inland parts is varied by lofty hills, rich level plains, and bold aſpiring woods. The moſt noted ‘ock ¡don and Dunkry, MUendip, Poulden, -down, Lanſdown, White-down, and 7 J LDIUCR e-dow Hs ‘The ſoil of theſe mountains may be thus ſtated; Dzxantock, 9. A 71 SC.(ſituated between the town of Taunton Zi the ſea) a thin m- E———————————————“eam RE n—=_— Bun E EE REA= Des E_— N OF ERSETSHIRE-. Ss MA> with occaſion: LIS) Brißtol.) 2, D Le} j, lozm 158 GEE E DN UaiA 11M 2-1 1E TOCK. Lr Ct ¿ ITAI 1 Ln A Q- N 71 Ione orIt DJ O TIL, LLC [4 IWR,(on the CON ZE EA i 47(EEA RELE H earth on a bed of E or grave!, tn IEE 1 R WHBHICN ENCre ſoil(chalk excepted, o Ad ILT T in the eaſtern diviſ n} may be found in different parts of lya p RE C CREER e N E TE RE ne county, and of a quality highly fertile ar "vay 3- Pj TS= TA Î el; 1007, DCELWECEN the port of Watchet and-weit part of Devon: A FES AE. nea TInm 1(Larus and Morel I] rin; Te AAN D LVCT UCP Ca NEar 1 UNITE Ll 5 LICL LVUT CII LL CLIDCTI ta LCG 2 a ‘The principal Mc 2° 1 7 W elt-Sec Cgmoor, between Taunton and LAancnorft. 1mO0Or, LJ Common-mo OT, NCAar Langport. : FR eo BF“ih 5 i PESA id Hay-moor, near North-Curry. - I IRNCS- Moc Ilemoor, on the *‘The pariſh of E &ood arable and PA any in the county; and may, I be- iE eſtimated at the average annual value of 40s, per acre. J.B. ran+ AJA CALL 1Ó AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Brent-rmarſh, on the river Brue and Ax. Weſton-moor, near Uphill. Banwell and Smeath moors, near Churchill. Kenn-moor, near Yatton. Nailſea-moor, north of Kenn. Clapton-moor, between Clapton and Wirton. Of theſe many have been incloſed, drained, and improved, in the courſe of the laſt twenty years, as will be noticed hereafter. SECT. 5— Minerals,&c. This county produces lead, copper, iron, lapis calaminaris, manganeſe, coal, lime-ſtone, paving-ſtone, tiling-ſtane, free-/one, fullers’-earth, mart, and ochre. SECT. 6.— Water. The principal rivers are, the Avon, Ax, Brue, Parret, Y ow, Cale, Chew, Tone, Frome, Ivel, Ex, and Barl. Of theſe, four only are navigable, viz. the Avon, from Bath to Briſtol, 16 miles; the Brue, from Briſtol Channel to Highbridge, 2 miles; the Parret, from Stert-Point to Langport, about 20 miles; and the Tone, from Taunton to Boroughbridge, 8 miles. For the ſake of perſpicuity I ſhall divide the county into three diſtricts:—the firſt comprehending the trat of land included between the ports of Uphill and Kingroad on the weſt, and the towns of Bath and Frome on the eaſt. This I ſhall call the zorth-eaft diſtrict. The next I ſhall call the ziddle diviſion; and is that por- tion of land which is bounded by the Mendip hills on the north, Bridgwater-bay on the weſt, and the town of Chard on the ſouth. ‘The fouth-wefſt diviſion will occupy the remainder. NOR TH- OF SOMERSETSHIRE-«- NORTH-EAST DISTRICT. SECT. 1. Climate, Sail, and Surface. The ſurface of this diſtri being very irregular, and inter- mixed with lofty hills and rich fertile plains, the climate is conſequently exceedingly varied. On the weſtern fide, in- cluding the hundreds of Winter-Stoke and Portbury, the foil is, for the moſt part, a deep and rich mixture of clay and ſand; being originally a depoſit by the ſea, which, in antient times, flowed up a confiderable way into that part of the country.‘Theſe Moor-lands, as they are called, are at the preſent time ſubjed to freguent inundation; and ſometimes, in rainy ſeaſons, are covered with water for four or five ſucceſ- ſive months. The luxuriant herbage produced by theſe lands, when cleared from ftagnant water, is ſuch as to in- duce, in the mind of a man fond of national improvement, an ardent wiſh to ſee them completely drained. This, I think, might be effeded in the following way: Let a fluice or dam be built at the outlet of the river Yeo or Yow, the apron of which ſhould be placed near low-water mark. It is not neceſſary to deſcribe theſe ſluices, or outlets, as they are common to moſt counties bordering on the ſea, Sufhce it to ſay, that theſe buildings are furniſhed with fold- ing doors, which ſhut at the influx of the tide, and open on its retreat. From a fſluice thus ere&ed, let the bed of the river be lowered to an inclined plane of one foot in a mile. This is ſufficient to produce a current, and it will prevent any great depoſit of ſediment. Let the bottom be contract- ed in its breadth, ſo that the water in time of floods may run with ſufficient rapidity to cleanſe it of mud. In regard to the dimenfions and expence of ſuch a main drain, the reader ſhall be informed when we come to treat of Sedgmoor. e In 13 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY In the pariſhes of Congreſbury, Yatton, Banwell, Win(- combe, Churchill, and Puxton, there are not leſs than three thouſand acres ſubject to frequent inundation. All theſe lands diſcharge the greateſt part of their waters into the river Yeo, and areè under the inſpe@ion of the Commiſſioners of Water-Sewers; but the powers veſted in theſe commiſſi- oners by Parliament are not ſufficient to enable them to di- vert the courſe of the river, or to efe a radical cure. The tide flows nearly ſeven miles up the river Yeo; and at ſix miles from the mouth of the river the ſpring-tides flow five feet above the level of the adjacent lands. This would be effe@ually prevented by the dam before mentioned; and by cutting proper lateral drains, the whole diftri&t might be advanced in value 10s. or 15s. per acre: and all this might be done at an expence which two years profit would reimburſe. Nothing is neceſfary but efffeCual draining to make it as good land as any in the county. It requires no dung, or any extraneous manure, but may be kept in good heart by the contents of the ditches. To the northward of this diſtri lie the pariſhes of Kenn, Kingfſton-Seymour, Cleveden, Nailſea, Chelvey, and Cla- verham, poſſeſſing near four thouſand acres, alike ſubject to inundation. Theſe pariſhes are ſecured from the ſea by a wall built with ſtone and lime, and ele: ten feet above the level of the land within. High tides ſometimes overflow this vall, and when a ſtrong weſterly wind prevails, at the equi- noxes, the wall is frequently broken down by the impetuo- ſity of the waves, and large portions of the land are covered. Should this happen at the autumnal equinox, little injury is done; but if at the vernal, it kills the beft graſs, and the crop of the enſuing ſummer is worth but little. Theſe lands diſcharge their waters by two rivers, called the Little Yeos. At OF SOMERSETSHIRE- IQ At the mouth of theſe rivers are fluices, ſuch as before de- ſcribed, which prevent inundation from the ſea; but being ot made deep enough at their outlet, and the rivers, by which the waters are conveyed, not being properly bottomed, the country is ſubject to frequent /and-floods. This level 1s ſuſceptible of the ſame improvement, by a complete drain- age, as the former. At the ſouth-weſt of this diviſion lie I the pariſhes of Churchill, Hutton, Banwell, Locking, Weſ- ton-ſuper-Mare, and Uphill. Theſe lands are for the moſt part occupied by dairy or grazing farmers, and are ſubje&t to frequent overflowings of the river, which runs through a dam or fluice at Uphill. Tt is preſumed, that if the bed of the river at Uphill, and the fluice through which the water is diſcharged, were deepened three feet, the evil would in a preat degree be removed. Procceding northward from hence you aſcend Leigh- down. This is a trat of elevated land, extending from eveden to the Hot-Wells, near Briſtol. Tt is principally fed with ſheep, and conſiſts of nearly three thouſand acres. A large portion of this down will not admit of cultivation, the lime-ſtone rock being within two or three inches of the ſurface. It is probable that this land will pay more as paſ- ture than any other way. But the chief inconvenience ariſes from the unlimited right of ſtocking, by which it is bur- thened with double the number it ought to have; the breed of neat cattle is greatly injured; and, in reſpect to ſheep, the quantity of wool leſſened. To illuſtrate this obſervation, reſpeéting over-ſtocking, I ſhall ſtate a caſe in point. A far- mer of this diſtrict, ſome years ſince, put twenty-five head of ſteers and heifers into a piece of commonable land: the ſpring being unfavourable to the purchaſe of cattle, and a conſiderable fatality having prevailed the preceding winter, the common was moderately ſtocked; in conſeguence of Cc-2 which 20 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY which a profit of two pounds per hed was made between the months of April and November. Encouraged by this ſucceſs, and flattering himſelf with the proſpect of ſimilar profit, he purchaſed the next year one hundred head; but others following his example, he, to bis great mortification, found that, inſtead of profit, he ſuffered a loſs of nearly one hundred pounds. From theſe premiſes, may it not be fairly inferred, that the inclofing and dividing of commons, even in caſes where the plough cannot prudently be introduced, are beneficial both to the individual and the public; as the owner can then ap- portion his ſtock to the quantity and quality of his land, and can have them at all times under his eye? But of this ſub- je& more by and by. SECT. Wier als, DC The Mendip hills are famous for their mines, particularly of lead and lapis calaminaris. The former are nearly ex- hauſßted, or at leaſt the deep working is ſo incumbered with water, that little can be done, and in all probability millions in value may remain concealed in the bowels of this moun- tain,‘till ſpirit enough be found in the country to perforate it by cutting a level, or audit, through its baſe, namely, from Compton-Martin to Wookey-Hole.* ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— # A plan ſimilar to this has been talked of in a general way for ſe- veral years paſt, but no regular ſyftem has been formed. It might eventually prove highly produdtwve to the adventurers; and, whether taken in a provincial or national view, be of great utility, The riſk is certainly ſmall, the advantage poſlbly great. But there are many con- comitant circumſtances which call for mature deliberation and able di- geſtion 5 ſuch as the conſent of the proprietors of land, the authority of Parliament, compenſation to the owners of pitches already made agreeable to the laws of the foreſt, the incorporation of a companys the appointment of a treaſurer, clerk, manager, committee,&c- Tt will alſo, moſt probably, be expe&ed by the proprietors of land, that more OF SOMERSETSHIRE-« 21 The diſtance is about five miles, and the depth from the ſurface about one hundred and fifty yards; ſach a tunnel would not only convey of all water, but the driving it, or the ſinking of the ſhaft or perpendicular pits, might lead to a diſcovery of veins of lead hitherto unexplored, and perhaps as valuable as that now at Weſt-Chewton, which, tradition ſays, yielded 100,000/. within the ſpace of an acre. What the expence of ſuch an adventure might be, I cannot exactly aſcertain; but, for argument ſake, let us ſuppoſe it to be 100,000!.—AÀ thouſand ſubſcribers, at 100 each, would ſuf= ficez and as no great number of men can, for want of room, be employed at the ſame time, I would propoſe that the prin- cipal money be veſted in government ſecurities, and the in- tereſt only expended; this would keep in conſtant pay more than one hundred workmen, and in all probability, before 10,000!. were expended, diſcoveries would be made highly beneficial to the adventurers, and to the publick; and, even under the worſt ſuppoſition, the only loſs would be that of the intereſt of 100. to each individual. In times paſt many thouſands a year have been annually paid to the ſe of Wells for the lord’s ſhare(that is, one tenth) of the lead dug on the foreſt within the pariſh of Wells only; and is it not more than probable, that lead, like coal, may be moſt valuable in the deep? On Broadfield-down there are alſo veins of lead; and in the pariſhes of Rowberrow, Shipham, and Winſcomb, there are valuable mines of lapis calaminaris. This mineral is ſometimes found within a more than one level be driven, that all might have an equal chance of benefit. Such expedation appears reaſonable, and from the ſmall number of workmen that can poſſibly be employed on a level at the ſame time, the intereſt of the capital will be fully ſufficient for carrying on, not only the principal one, but alſo two or more others, from dif- ferent points, to thoſe parts where, from the antient working; there ig good cauſe for expeding to meet with ore. R. PAGET. o E TT 22 AGÆICUL TURAL SURVEY Fas yard of the ſurface, and ſeldom worked lens than thirty fathoms. Between four and five hundred miners are con- ftantly employed in this buſineſs, and the average price 1s about five pounds per ton.“ In the pariſhes of Compton- Martin and FEaſt-Harptry are alſo many mines of a ſimilar nature, and a confiderable number of men are conſtantly employed. therein.* The general method of diſcovering the ſituation and di- rection of theſe ſeams of ore(which lie at various depths, from veto twenty fathoms, in a chaſm between two benches of ſolid rock) is, by the help of the divining-rod, vulgarly as E and a variety of ſtrong teſtimonies are adduced in ſupport of this doRrine. Moſt vaóna people, however, give but little credit to it, and conſider the whole as.a- tric&. Should the fa& be allowed, it is difficult to account for it; and the influence of the mines on the haſel-rod ſeems to partake ſo much of the marvellous, as almofît entirely to ex- clude the operation of known and natural agents. So con- fident, however, are the common miners of its efficacy, that they ſcarce ever fink a ſhaft but by its dire&ion; and thoſe who are dexterous in the uſe of it, will mark on the ſurface As 1 h M I Lrendth anf+ R SA e TSP N the courſe and breadth of the vein; and after that, with the TF oinnad iIndioatins Ss 7 N 7; A “e are marks-and indications of calamine from theſe pariſhes reſt, through the whole tral of Mendip to Mells at the eaſtern EN t Merchant’s-hill, in the pariſh of Bi negar, ſeveral tons WW[i rears ago. It was of very good quality, and more would have beeh landed, had not the influx of the water put a ſtop to ks. At the ſame time a large quantity was raiſed at Mells, re- rkably pure, îree from heterogeneous mixture, and of excel Ile nt tx Tt tyret e Tt ne-fſtone rocks, but was found in large maſſes or hulks, lying hori- n ELAN d1d not tN here deſcend, in regular courſes, between the zontally, at about four or five feet from the furface, on a thin ſcale of free-ſtone which covered the rock; and it is highly probable that much more remains to be diſcovered. R. P. aſſiſtance agr gr— STT para E R R SL Pa OF SOMERSETSHIRE- 2 (ES) aſſiſtance of the rod, will follow the ſame courſe twe enty times following blind led, At the regueſt of many gentlemen I have annexed The Laws and LE DERS of 8 RE RZ E Be it known, that this is a true copy of the inrolléd, in the king’s exchequer, in the time of king Edward the IVth» f a debate that was in the county of Somerſet, between’the Lord Benfield, and the Tenants of Chewton, and the. Prior of Green-Oare: the faid prior complaining unto the king of great injuries and wrongs that he had upon Mendip; being the King's foreſt, the ſaid king Edward commanded the lord Chock, the lord chief juſtice of England, to go down into Somerſet, to Men E and fit in concord and peace in the faid county concerning Mendipp, upon pain of high diſpleaſure. The faid lord Chock fate upon Men- dipp on a place of my lords‘of Bath, called the forges where(as he commanded all the commoners to appear, and Illy the four lords royals of Mendipp; that is to ſay, tne the earl of Chewton, and my lord of Richmond, with allthe eſpecia biſhop of Bath, my lord of Glaſton, my lord Benfield, appearance, to the number of ten thouſand people) a pro- clamation was made, to enquire of all the company how they would be ordered; then they, with one conſent, made anſwer, that they would be ordered and tryed by the four lords of the royalties; and then the E lords royal were agreed, that the comminers of Mendip ſhould turn out their cattle at their out-lets, as much the ſammer as they be able to winter; without hounding or pounding, upon whofe grounds ſoever they went to take their courſe and recourfſe, ‘To which the ſaid four lords royal did put their ſeals; and were alſo agreed, that whoſoever ſhould break the ſaid bonds Jy ſhould n ES— EED ÄN u E——— 24 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY ſhould forfeit to the king a thouſand marks, and all the comminers their bodys and goods to be at the king?s plea- ſure or command that doth either hound or pound. The old ancient occupation of miners in and upon Men- dipp, being the king's foreſt of Mendipp, within the county of Somerſet, being one of the four ſtaples of England, which have been exerciſed, uſed, and continued, through the ſaid foreſt of Mendipp, from the time whereof no man living hath not memory, as hereafter doth particularly enſue the order. 1. Firft, That if any man, whatſoever he be, that doth intend to venture his life to be a workman in the ſaid occu- pation, he muſt firſt of all crave licence of the lord of the ſoyle where he doth purpoſe to work, and in his abſence, of his officers, as the lead-reave or bailiffe, and the lord, neither his officers can deny him. 2. Item. That after the firſt licence had the workman ſhall never need to aſk leave again, but to be at his free will to pitch within the foreſt, and to brake the ground where and in what place it fhall pleaſe him, to his behalf and profit, ung himſelf truſtily and truly. 3. Ttem. If any man that doth begin to pitch or groof ſhall heave his hackes through two ways after the rake. Note, that he that doth throw the hacke mußt ſtand to the girdle or waiſt in the ſame groof, and then no man hall or may work within his hackes throwe, provided always that no man ſhall or can keep but his wet and dry groof and his mark. 4. Ttem. That when a workman have landed his oar, he may carry the ſame to cleanſing or blowing to what mi- Nery it ſhall pleaſe him, for the ſpeedy making out of the ſame, ſo that he doth truly pay the lord of the ſoyle where it was landed his due, which is the tenth part thereof. 5. Ltem. ———————— 16 LC SLA mr N ITL EEES ET C TE EET EET EC FETE EZ OF SOMERSETSHIRE.« 25 gs, Tem: hat E*any lord or officer hath once given licence to any man to build, or ſet up any hearth or waſh- ing-houſe, to waſh, cleanſe, or blow oar, he that once hath leave ſhall keep it for ever, or give it to whom he will, ſo that he doth juſtly pay his lott lead, which is the tenth pound, which ſhall be blown at the hearth or hearths; and alſo that he doth keep it tennantable, as the cuſtom doth require. 6. Item. That if any man of that occupation doth pick or ſteal any lead or oare to the value of thirteen-pence half- penny, the lord, or his officer, may arreſt all his lead-works, houſe, and hearth, with all his groofs and works, and keep them as ſafely to his own uſe; and ſhall take the perſon that hath ſo offended, and bring him where his houfe is, or his work, and all his tools or inſtruments to the occupation be- longs as he uſeth, and put him into the ſaid houſe, and ſet fire on all tagether about him, and baniſh him from that occupation before the miners for ever. 7. Item. If that perſon doth pick or ſteal there any more, he ſhall be tryed by the law, for this law and cuſtom hath no more to do with him. 8. Item. That every lord of the ſoyle ought to keep two miner-courts by the year, and to ſwear twelve men of the ſame occupation for the redreſs of miſdemeanors touching the mineries. 9. Tem. That the lord or lords may make and grant manner of arreſts, viz. Fi irt, for ſtrife between man and man, for their works under the ground or earth. Secondly, for his own dutys for lead or oare, whereſoever he findeth it upon the ſame foreſt, 10. TÎtem. That if any man, by means of misfortune, take his death, as by falling of the earth upon him, by draw- ing or fifeling, or otherwiſe, as in time paſt many have been, the MOCPIINAatiAr( D AF] ame occupation are bound to fetch him RSS eth ande e alari hurial af E iC Carth, and tO DINE nInm tO ChIrliituan burial at their x z I haroec altr RS Fa EEES E OWn C ts anc Car CS a1tnougn NC DE-TOX 24 iatnome under| 1 7| S E t0 fl TNE eartn, aS heretofore ha 91 been Nn GONe, and Que COÏ Oner, Or 5 NII QA aA E nat have tc 1 him in any(0 CET2AL Lai 3 Nail no Nave o d O WI UI 1 any COAL.(onjé “This diſtri abounds with coal, and with relpedt to this article is reducible to the ſeparate diviſions: of Northern and E Southern. The former, including the pariſhes of High- 2 Littleton, Timſbury, Paulton,(with Clutton and Sutton E: adjoining to the weſt, and Camerton and Dunkerton to the lhe: eat of the diſtri) Radſtock, and the northern part of a Midſummer-Norton. The latter, the ſouthern part of N d) dil R RE Stratton on the Foſs,(Halcombe and Aſhwick adjoining the dißri&) Kilmerſdon, Babington, and wit TS fort Theſe, meaning the /atier, are yat were heretofore/ known the name of Mendip collieries, and probably they thee were once within the verge of that extenſive foreſt, t hough lor t now in the mid of old incloſures. They being fll fre- diſin quently deſcribed in ordinary books of topography by the dhoN ſame name,(now obſolete in the neighbourhood) this read remark was thought neceflary for the purpoſe of iden-— tification. Y‘ In the Northern collieries the fſirata of coal form an incli- a ſitu nation of the p/ane of about nine inches in the yard: theſe| H are in number nineteen. Tn thickneſs variable, from ten 6 inches to upwards of three feet. If leſs than fifteen inches, the they are ſeldom worked. Coal is now workir ng generally_ from tats to eighty fathoms in depth: in a few places it deeper; and by a late introduction of machinery to raiſe it À by 3 OF SOMERSETSHIR tz : 27 by the ſteam-engine, a much greater depth of working will be obtained.* Profits of working in the aggregate, by no means equal to the extent and riſque of the adventure; to a few works conſiderable; to the majority very moderate. E WS is of prime quality; pure and durable in burn- ing; firm, large, and of a frong grain; which enſures its conveyance to almoît any diſtance, without injury to its ap- pearance or quality, which cannot be exceeded in any part of the kingdom. Bath is the principal market of con- ſamption; to which may be added, the weſtern parts of Wiltſhire, and the next adjacent parts of Somerſetſhire. The quantity now raiſed is from fifteen hundred to two thouſand tons weekly. A much greater can be ſupplied, ſhould an increaſed demand reguire it. Boys and men, to the number of fifteen hundred, are employed in working it, with wages ſufficiently adequate to procure them a com- fortable ſubſiſtence. An E is intended to be made to parliament at the enſuing ſeſſion, for leave to cut two E E a canal for the accommodation of the collieries of this northern diſtri, to communicate with the rivers Avon and Kennett.+ Should the bill paß, a conſiderable extenſion of ſale may be reaſonably inferred. The permanence of the works 1 —_—————————————————————— * As ît may be a matter of conſequence to all ſuch coal-works whote ſituation in E to water will admit of it, it ought to be noticed, that at Welton, a work in the northern part of Midſummer-Norton, the coal has lately been drawn up by a water-w heel on a new conftruc- tion; the machinery appendant to which is ſo contrived as to anſwer the purpoſe in the inoſt perfe and cheap manner; the uſe of horſes, as in the old way, being entirely ſuperſeded; and the conſumption 0 fuel, as in the new way by the ſteam-engine, altogether faved. R. Pe + This ag has been obtained; and the canal is now(Jan. 1797) nearly half finiſhed. i AINDiY e———— R————— E up= 20 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY amply ſecured by various contrivances, in preventing the|(f eq 2dmiſſion of the ſprings into the deep working. nortl The number of works twenty-ſix. The owners of the merli freehold from whence the coal is raiſed generally receive an| Th eighth of the groſs receipt of fale; but, to encourage the(nd ti proprietors to greater depths of working, have occaſionally he ext complied with a proportionable reduction of this quota, on| Boys: account of the increaſed expences in working; whereby they id have derived a profit from coal, which otherwiſe would have adopt been irrecoverably loſt, Some, through ignorance and ſub- 1e p bornnels, have withheld this conceſſion, and thereby incurred is e the lois. M Average price of coal five-pence per buſhel at the pit, a (nine gallons meaſure.) n The Southern diſtri is on a more limited fcale of work- de ing. The ſtrata of coal form an inclination of the plane i from eighteen to thirty inches in the yard; in ſome the| plane is annihilated, and they deſcend in a perpendicular e direction.‘There are in number twenty-five; in thickneſs|| from ſix inches to ſeven feet; ſeldom worked under eighteen| À inches; in depth from thirty to ſixty fathoms at the preſent| A working. By the ſteam-engines, which are now ereding Äs in this diſtrict, a much greater depth will be attained. Pro- E fits in the aggregate of working very trifling, if any, awing: to the conſumption of timber, and the expence of drawing Le water. The coal of various quality; ſome nearly equal to Y 4 that of the northern diſtri; but the greateſt part leſs firm, E. 4 of ſhorter grain, and leſs calculated for diſtant carriage; but 2 free to burn, wholly diveſted of ſulphureous fench, and du- 4 rable. The ſmall coal excellent for the forge, and when Z reduced to a cinder, called cote, by a proceſs of very ancient uſage, it furniſhes a fuel for drying malt, which, from its purity and total excmption from ſmoke, cannot be excelled, 49 3 # y — Ags, Da it OF SOMERSETSHIRE-, 29 if equalled, The ſouth-weſtern parts of Wiltſhire, the northern of Dorſet, and the eaſt and ſouthern parts of S0- m«erſet, are the markets for conſumption. The quantity now raiſed is from eight hundred to a thou- ſand tons weekly, which, in the courſe of a few years, might be extended to two thouſand tons, if ſale could be found. Boys and men employed at preſent amount to from five to ix bundred. An improved method of working has been lately adopted in ſome parts of this diſtri&, by which the ſprings are prevented from inundating the deep working; whereby its extent and duration will be confiderably promoted. A canal to the works in this diſtri, which might be cut at an eaſy expence, has been for ſome time in contempla- tion;* and which not only would benefit the proprietors oí the works, by extending the conſumption, but alſo reduce the price to the more diſtant confurners more than half. The average price of coal in this diſtrict is three-pence three-farthings per buſhel. Should the works in the Northern diſtri be ſtopped, the probable increaſe of the poor-rates would be 20001. per annum. In the Southern(much more burthened with poor) to ſeven or eight ſhillings in the pound. At Clapton alſo, a village lying to the north-weſt of Leigh-Down, there is a coal-work which poſſeſſes the ad- vantage of a land-level of forty-four fathoras. At this pit are landed about 240 buſhels daily. The beſt coal is ſold at three-pence halfpenny per buſhel, and the ſmall is ſhipped at Portiſhead-point for Wales, where it is uſed for burn- ing lime, ® This is now(Jan. 1797) in execution, and the tonnage,&c- of coal to Frome(nine miles) will not exceed 2s. per ton» —-— SZR | R ZE Dem n Zina — RT Z9 AGRICULTURAL SURVEV South-eaſt of Leigh-Down is a vale of rich graſs land, extending from Bedminſter at the north-eaſt, to Brockley and Nailſea at the ſouth-weſt. Under this level are EE to be inexhauſtible veins of coal. At preſent they land 2500 buſhels a day. Thé‘beſt alea dex A t+thraos EES A= f coal 1s loid at three-pence halfpenny, the middle ſort at 4 hroe_neance and the ſy| D TTTs YBNCA. nf tnree-Pence, and the imali at two-pence, Per buſhel. One ((>-- of the works is under contra to ſerve the glals-houſes, A N ime fine N I in the nariſh af N ailſa f ſome time ſince ereded in the pariſh of Nailſea, at one penny >24 CEE farthing DCI Duinei. e yl= olaſs-h FS E EES y Theſe glaſs-houſes conſume about 2000 buſhels weekly. T1 The deepeſt work is iorty-two fathoms. The principal vein IS Aya faet thinl-« ES E TAL 1 C 1 is five feet thick; ſometimes more. The coal takes a ſouth pitch, or inclination, never exceeding two feet in a fathom. Little timber is uſed; but they are much incommoded with water; for the rock which lies above the coal ſo abounds with fiflures, that it is difficult to prevent the ¿and water from pervading the bottom of the works. When the top veins are exhauſted, and the proprietors compelled to go deeper, it is a matter of doubt whether any power of a ſteam-engine may be competent to the taſk of keeping them dry. Many people are under alarming apprehenfions left the coal-mines may be exhauíted by the extra demand produced le by the extenſion of ſale eſtabliſhed by the canals ¡—but ſuch diſquieting 1 Y O ideas will vaniſh, vhen they are told that more than treble‘the preſent quantity could be raiſed from the its already in uſe, did the demand reguire it; and the in- I 5 creaſed quantity might be ſupplied for ſeyeral hundred years. ty UZ ipplie je CHAPTER D E a OF SOMERSETSHIRE- 21 CHAP CORES SAE OF PROPERE E /3- SAE PESE Eftates and Tenures. A EE are in this diftri&t many large proprietors from 20001. to v000l. per annum; but ſtill the greateſt part is poſſeſſed by the middle claſs, holding from ‘- L to 5001. per annum. Part is.leaſed out on lives; part is in demeſne, and let out for ſhort terms; and no ſmall quantity is the fee of the occupiers, conſ tituting a moſt ſpectable yeomanry. To thoſe who are ſenſible of the importance of agricul- ture to ſociety, a contemplation of the cauſes which have principally contributed to its advancement in this county cannot but be highly intereſting. And foremoſt, we may ſafely rank, the alienation of property, whereby lands, hereto- fore 1 neglected and comparatively barren, have been advanced from ſuch their unprodudive ſtate to a condition hi ehly E fertile and produttive, Next, the increaſed population and extenſion of manufactures; together with the enlargement of the city of Bath. Certain lands now held by their ancient tenures, and conſequently but little improved, preſent a lively portraiture of the former diſgraceful ſtate of the county, when contraſted. QQ with its preſent ſtate of comparative perfetion, 32 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY CHAPTER: BUILDINGS, HERE are many ſplendid gentlemen?’s ſeats, orna- mented with extenfive plantations, in this diſtri; and the farm-houſes and cottages are for the moſt part commo- dious and comfortable—but on all the dairy farms, a ſhame- ful inattention prevails, in reſpeit to out-houſes and ſheds for their ſtock to retire to in the winter months. Cattle are almoſt univerſally ſerved with their provender in the field; and many a dairy farmer, with twenty cows, ſcarcely makes, in the whole winter, a quantity of dung ſufficient to manure one acre of land. Corn being generally ſtacked, the barns are ſmall, and principally thatched with wheat-ſtraw un- broken by the flail, which gives to the roof a very neat ap- pearance, and renders the building perfe(ly ſecure from rain. Ît has been of late too much the pradice for pariſh-officers to proſtrate cottages, and to leſſen as much as poſlible the number of inhabitants in their reſpeQive pariſhes; this ab- ſurd and narrow-minded ſyſtem has received vigour and extenſion from the prevailing cuſtom of making the tenant pay the poors levy. It is, however, a practice which cannot be too frongly reprobated; and the ill effes of it have been ſo maſterly depited by Mr. Kent and other authors, that L ſhall not fatigue the reader with a repetition of their argu- ments. On all the new incloſures(which for the moſt part are ſituated at 2 diſtance from the inhabited villages) the erection of cottages appears indiſpenſible, as without them, the waſte of time in going forward and backward to and from work amounts to nearly a quarter part of the day. It might alſo be added, that many of the cottages now in uſe are on too ſmall a ſcale. Few of them have more than one ——————— A EES OF SOMERSETSHIRE« 33 ône room above fairs. This is not only uncomfortable, but inconſiſtent with that decency and modeſty, with the importance of which children cannot be too early or too îtrongly impreſſed. The rent of theſe cottages varies from thirty ſhillings to fifty ſhillings per year, including a ſmall portion of garden- around.* * Tt is but of little permanent utility to the cottagers to give them garden-ground, unleſs you ſupply them annually with a certain por- tion of manure. J.B. CHAPTER N 4+© Y * | | 1 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY EA BY CHAPTER IV. MODE OF OCCUPATIO SECT. I.— Size of Farms. Charadter of Farmer: HE Farms in this diſtri are not large, ſeldom exceed- ing 2001. per year, and accompanied with a ſmall propor- tion of arable. Some of the dairy farms are ſo ſmall, as not to exceed bol. or 70l. per year; and many inſtances can be produced of ſuch little farmers breeding up-a large family in a very reſpe@table way. In ſuch inſtances, it is generally found that the wife undertakes the whole management of the cows, and the huſband goes to daily labour. There are few trades in which a ſmall capital can be employed to greater advan- tage than this. As to the general character of farmers, truth compels to fay(and I mention it with regret) that there is a great want of juſtice, candour, and liberality, in their condudt towards their landlords, and in their general ſyſtem of management. If not cloſely watched, they will impo- veriſh their eſtates by ſelling the little ſtraw they grow to the adjacent towns; and though dung of the beſt kind may be bought, both in Briſtol and Bath, for 3 or 45. a Wag- gon load, they ſcarcely ever take any back to their farms. They are alſo much bigotted to old RE and I hope I am not uncharitably ſevere, if I add, that they are too ; F jußly chargeable with a diſregard of truth. This 1s the forerunner of all vice, and to the prevailing cuſtom of telling lies at fairs, may be attributed the looſe morality of farmers in this moſt eſſential part of human r eſponhbility, It muſt E acknow rledged that e are many exceptions P to this general obſervation. LW) SECT. 4 ari O bz1 TN O M > tz3 Le) UN C 4 UN rr [0j _— 3 tr @ Vis € Vai SECT. 2. Rent is univerſally paid in money; and it is generally cuſ- tomary to receive the Michaelmas rent at Lady-day, and the Lady-day’s rent at Michaelmas. No perſonal ſervice 1s exadcted. SECT. 3.—Tithes. I muſt beg leave to wave a diſcuſſion of this difficult though important ſubje&. Suffice it to ſay, that if they are a grievance,(which I believe few will diſpute) it is a grievance eſtabliſhed by the laws of the land, and no violent or harſh methods of relief can be juſtified. In reſpe& to their influence on the agriculture of this diſtri, I ſee but little to complain of: both the clergy and the lay-impro- priator have been ſo moderate in their demands, and in ge- neral have agreed to ío reaſonable a compoſition, that the progreſs of improvement has received but little check on this account. There is one method by which I think tithes might be fairly and honourably got rid of, and that is by purchaſe. The unappropriated tithe-holder could have no juſt reaſon for complaint if he were paid a fair value for his property; and the clergy might at this time, from a fund eſtabliſhed under the dire&ion and controul of the legiſlature, and gua- ranteed by government, enjoy ſuch an increaſe of annual income as would be a ſufficient compenſation for any ſup- poſed advance in the different articles of human ſupport, convenience, or cométort. SECT. 4.— Poor-Rates In reſpec to the county of Somerſet, the poor’s levy is 2 more alarming grievance than tithes. D 2 Many LA 1 DA | “Y / Sp/ n Gia 7 tt, $ te I x &- D= 2H AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Many pariſhes, which within twenty years paſt paid no more than 5ol. per annum to the poor, now pay 2001. and unleſs ſome plan of prevention be adopted, the evil is not likely ro abate. This increaſe of the poor’s rate has been general, and may be attributed partly to an increaſed popu- lation, and partly to a growing diſfſoluteneſs in the manners of the poor, which ever accompanies national improvement. Aâtive exertions in this way cannot fail to produce a ſcar- city of labour; and to this, as naturally follows, an advance of wages; but the misfortune is, that ſuch ân advance 1s not accompanied with a growing diſpoſition in the work- man to maintain, in a more comfortable way, his wife and family, or to lay by againſt a time of need. No; if he can earn eight or nine ſhillings in four days of the week, the re- maining 200 days are devoted to pleaſure, or luxury, and the wife and children are in a worſe ſituation than when more moderate wages compelled him to conſtant work. I have known many inſtances, where the wages of a collier and his family, not exceeding five perſons, have been twenty-five ſhillings per week, and their improvidence has been ſuch, that one week's illneſs has brought them to the pariſh for aſſiſtance. I can alſo look back to the time, when a commendable degree of pride operated on the minds of the lower claſs, and withheld them from applications to the pariſh for relief, unleſs in great diſtreís. "This pride, I am ſorry to ſay, is totally loſt, and the boon is now adminiſtered by the pariſh-offcer, with caution and reluctance; and received by the poor, with diſſatisfaction and ¿ngratitude. From what I have faid, let it not be inferred, that I wiſh to depreſs the poor, or to debar them of that coméort, which their uſefulneſs in ſociety intitles them to enjoy, No fight can be more plealing to me, than to ſee aT OF SOMERSETSHIRE- 37 an induſtrious cottager, returning from his daily labour, with a chearful countenance, and viewing his wife and chil- "ht; and I would contribute | dren with complacency and delig | E;/ i to their happineſs as much as in me lies, by humbly recom- mending to our leg1ſlators a ſerious peruſal of a pamphlet, ) a publiſhed ſome years ago, entitled, Twenty minutes Atvice on the Poor Laws. By the plan there ſuggeſted, I verily think the ſituation of the induſtrious poor might be melio- rated, and the idle and diſſolute be made to contribute to- vards their ſupport.* All thoſe who are converſant with the ſtate of the lower claſs of ſociety, mußt know that the period of life in which a workman moſt ſuffers, is when he has five or ſix ſmall children. Then it is that the ſupport of the whole family depends on the father’s labour, and his utmoſt exertions is ſcarcely ſufficient to procure them bread 5 ſhould ſickneſs befall him, he muſt contrat debts; and ſhould this repeatedly hay L "pen, before he has extricated him- ſelf, his ſpirits are broken, and the love of freedom and in- dependence no longer exiſts. A degree of torpor and inac- tivity ſucceeds, from which he ſcarcely ever emerges. To the man in this fituation, I would, 1f poflible, adminiſter relief; and the beſt method I can ſuggeſt is, that of encou- ragino, by the authority of parliament, fFriendly Societies. ©) t D) dL 5 D under the regulation of which, the batchelor might be made *‘The pradice of farming out the poor ſeems to require correâtion. Ït is no leſs diſgraceful to the feelings of humanity than repugnant to the pureſt policy. To preſerve virtue, its native dignity ſhould be countenanced in every order of ſociety, and particularly in that claſs whoſe induſtry ſupplies ſuccour, and whoſe content promotes peace throughout the nation. But how can this be efeded by rendering them dependent for ſubſiftence upon one, who is appointed their pro. vider, only becauſe his terms for their ſupport are leſs burthenſome to the pariſh, than thoſe of his competitors for this office? G.F II RS 38 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY to contribute to the ſupport of the married; this would in ſome degree check that diſpoſition to celibacy, which is but too apparent among the lower orders of mankind; and would add to the comfort of wedlock, and to the popula- tion of the realm, A progreſſive, and too liberal increaſe of wages for daily labour, will leſſen the gzaztum furniſhed, and will only tend to increaſe the diſſolute manners of the poor; whereas, the plan eseted, by the author of the before-mentioned tract would, Z ¿ ly think, be attended with the happieſt conſe- quences, both in an individual and a national ſenſe; and I hope E time is not far diſtant, when this inſtitution, or ſomething ſimilar thereunto, may commence, and the poor be extricated from their preſent dependance on the ſcanty bounty of a pariſh-officer; and entitled to claim a Es from a fund to which they have contributed, and to part of which they will have a legal and incontrovertible right. The following are the leading features of Mr. PEw?s plan for the maintenance of the poor, as contained i Twenty Minutes Advice, before referred to, by which it is ſuppoſed that two millions per annum may be ſaved to the landed intereſt, and the poor better maintained than they now are: Clauſe 1/2.‘That a proper officer be appointed for ſuch a extent of diſtrict as he may be ſuppoſed conveniently to ſu- perintend, to take a liſt of the names and places of abode of all males above the age of eighteen, and of all females above age of ſeventeen years, in the ſame manner as the liſt is e out for the militia. 2d. That every ſuch male pay two-pence per week, and every ſuch female three-farthings or one penny per week, into the hands of the above officer, for the purpoſes here- LET Ide Ihe ; E A SSS E E— EEE OF SOMERSETSHIRE-s 39 3d. The above officer ſhall be empowered to furniſh em- ployment for all ſuch as are willing to work, and who can- not find it for themſelves. Whether this officer ſhould be choſen annually, in rota- tion, after the manner of an overſeer, or whether he ſhould be a permament officer, upon an adequate falary, will be a matter of future conſiderations; but if the latter, he ſhould be paid by the community, and not out of the fund. 4th. All the poor being thus ſure of employment, the maſter or miſtreſs for whom they work ſhould be juſtified in retaining theſe ſums reſpeGively out of their wages; and whether they do ſo or not, they ſhould(in default of the individual) be anſwerable to the officer for its payment: all maſters and miſtreſſes of families ſhould in like manner be anſwerable for their ſervants; and all keepers of lodging- houſes,&c. for their inmates. 5th. Theſe ſams ſhould be carried weekly to the general treaſurer of the diviſion, who ſhould give ſufficient ſecurity for the ſame. 6:þ. Out of this fund, every male, who is really incapable of labour, ſhould(by virtue of a certificate from the above officer) have a right to demand from the treaſurer five ſhil- lings per week for the firſt ſix months, ſhould his illneſs laít ſo long; and four ſhillings per week after that period, until he again become capable of labour. Every female ſhould have a right to demand two ſhillings and ſix-pence per week for the firſt ſix months, and after- wards two ſhillings per week until ſhe was again able to work; ſhe ſhould alſo be entitled to four weeks full pay at every lying-in. Every male above the age of ſixty-five years, whether capable of labour or not, ſhould be entitled to four ſhillings per week during life. Every female ſhould, after the ſame age» e EE iD ve à— uA A 40 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY age, be entitled to receive two ſhillings per week during life. 7th. Any perſon having three children under nine years of age, ſhould be entitled to one ſhilling and ſix-pence per week, until the eldeſt ſhould have attained the age of nine years; and if ia 1as more than three under that age, he ſhould be entitled to one ſhilling and ſix-pence per week for each above that number; and if any one or more of his children ſhould happen to be idiotick, inſane, or otherwiſe ſo far diſabled, either in body or mind, as to E utterly incapa- bie of labour, each of them ſhould ſtill be conſidered as under the age of nine years, and paid for accordingly. If a mother ſhould be left a widow, with three children under nine years of age, ſhe ſhould be entitled to receive five 4! (hillings; if with two children, three ſhi illings; and if with one child, one ſhilling and ſix Set LL 1dGered as more profitable on a cow-farm than 1 /atting Îtock. and ſkimmed-milk conſtitute a food well adapted to the ofa thriving flock; and the writer.has known many inſtances Or 2 Iarmer’s LEL11INE, atf IX months ol 1 a litter oi p1gs Tor mor than rty pounds; and this was doné from the whey,&c. of ten cows, and ance of corn, any farther than the run of the farm- S-meaftf vras onl Se R| pi y Z L LS ES R—= CPR TE y us v: CF SOMERSETSHIRE Pe The expences and EH s of a corn farm, or a farm in mixed {handry, are ſo variable, that it would be difficult to fx a fandard. The old idea of the produce amou produce amounting to three rents would not do ow, for the expences of living, of taxes Ol vages,&c. are of lat value of the produce 53 years ſo much increaſed L D E muft be augmented in proportion. One remark, however, may be made, namely, that it is univerſally admitted by all ſtewards, that da:ry farmers pa their rent more punduall Y than corn farmers, 46 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY CHAPTERS NV. IMPLEMENTS. dE waggons in general uſe are ſmall, compaQ, and well made: narrow-wheeled weighing from I5 cwt. to 20 cwt.; the fſix-inch wheels from 25 cwt. to 20! cWts the latter drawn with ſix horſes, in pairs, Some years ago waggons of this deſcription were made 5 or 6 cwt. heavier than they are now. The redudion of the weight, particularly to thoſe who are common carriers, is highly advantageous, being not leſs than fifty pounds per year gained by each team conſtantly employed on the road; and if made with good materials, a light waggon will laſt as long as a heavy one. Price of a narrow-wheeled waggon twenty-ſix pounds: SIx-inch wheel thirty-ſix pounds; axle-tree moſt commonly of wood. The carts generally uſed for the purpoſes of huſ- bandry run on broad wheels, and hold about four quarters, or thirty-two buſhels, Wincheſter; price about nine guineas: but for road uſe, light carts, drawn by one horſe, are coming into faſhion, and are found the moſt advantageous. Price about four guineas, The ploughs commonly uſed are ſtrong fingle ones; ſome- times with one ſmall wheel, ſometimes- with a foot only. The great length of the mould-board occaſions too much friction, and it cannot be deemed a good implement; but prejudice is ſtrongly in its favour, notwithſtanding confider- able pains have been taken to ſhew the ſuperiority of-other ploughs.,| There are many winnowing machines in uſe, but not a threſhing machine in the whole county. The harrows are 6e) OF SOMERSETSHIRE, A7 no waye ſingular in their conſtruction, they are, by cood farmers, linked three together, and drawn by three horſes nearly abreaſt, each horſe drawing a fingle harrow.* If any particular tool be deſerving of notice, it is the /pade, which is much narrower and longer than thoſe uſed in other counties. Its length is ſeldom leſs than eighteen inches, and its breadth about ſix inches, the back part being gently curved to pre- vent adheßion to the ſoil. * The method of harrowing pradiſed by the farmers in South Devon cannot be too ftrongly recommended. è This operation they perform with two harrows, and two horſes abreaſt, a lad beïng mounted on the near horſe. The horſes are kept to a full trot, by which one turn of the harrow pulverizes the ſoil as much as three or four in the common ſauntering method. AGRICULTURAL SURVEY EHAP TER VL: INCLOSING FENCES,&e- HE fences are quick-hedges, with trees at unequal diſ- tances. And where ſtones are eaſily got, and lie in a flat bed, ſtone walls, without cement, are built, two feet ches at the top, and five feet high; the total coſt of which wall is about one ſhilling per wide at the bottom, eighteen in h yard, running meaſure. I ſhall bring forward a comparative view of theſe walls, with quick-hedges, in treating of the incloſures on Mendip hills, to which I ſhall now proceed. MENDIP HILLS. ‘This chain of mountainous land extended, according to the ancient boundary, from Cottle’s-Oak, near the town of lrome, to a place called the Black-Rock, in the Briſto! channel near Uphill, being a diſtance of more than thirty miles. A great portion of this land having been incloſed, divided, and cultivated, in the courſe of the laſt forty years, and nearly an equal portion ſtill remaining in its open un- cultivated ſtate, I cannot forward the views of the reſpe@&- able Board, under whoſe auſpices this report will be brought forward to the publick, in a better way than by a minute deſcription of the origin, pr OST L oZ rels, and ſucceſs of thoſe un- dertakings. And firſt, let us begin with taking a view of the objec- tions which have been ſtarted to this ſpecies of improve- ment, and ſce if we cannot prove them to be for the moſt part either falſe or frivolous. 1//. Invaſion of the rights and intereſt of the cottagers, 2dly. A OF SOMERSETSHIRE,. 4.9 2dly. A ſuppoſed injury done to the breeding ſyſtem. 3dly. The expences attending the a& of parliament with thole of commiſſioners, and other ſubordinate agents em- ployed in its execution. 4thly. The expence of buildings, ſuch as farm-houſes, barns, ſtables, ſtalls, and pools, for the purpoſe of creating diſtin& farms, ſuperadded to the expences of cultivation and fencing, altogether conſtituting an expenditure which the improved value will not reimburſe. 5thly. Injury done to the woollen-manufaQure, by leſ- ſening the number of ſheep, and deteriorating the quality of the wool. 6thly. A ſuppoſed diminution of the rent of the old farms, to which ſuch commons were appertenant. “The foremoſt of theſe objections carries with it the ap- pearance of a humane attention to the comfort of the poor; but a brief inveſtigation will leſſen its influence, if not totally refute it. ‘There are but two modes of incloſing commons. Firſt, By unanimous conſent of the parties claiming rights, who delegate power to commiſſioners, choſen by themſelves, to aſcertain their validity, and divide accordingly, under cove- nants and agreements properly drawn and executed for the purpoſe. Or ſecondly, by a& of parliament obtained by the petition of a certain proportion of the commoners, both in number and value, whereby a minority, ſanctioned only by ignorance, prejudice, or ſelfiſhneſs, is precluded from defeating the ends of private advantage and publick utility. In point of œconomy, the firſt of theſe methods is the moſt eligible, as it ſaves the expence of an ad of parliament, with equal ſecurity to the proprietors. But it is ſeldom praiſed, unleſs in commons on a ſmaîl! ſcale, from the dif- E ficulty eZ: E> ES e, AGEICUL FCORAT SURVI ficulty of procuring the conſent of every individual claimant, without which it cannot be accomp In either of theſe methods, it is manifeſt that the right of the cottager cannot be invaded; fince, with reſpect to legal or equitable conſtruction, he ftands preciſely on the ſame ground with his more opulent neighbours; and as to his intereſt, I can truly declare that, in all caſes which have fallen within my obſervation, E have meliorated his condition, by exciting a ſpirit of activity and indufry, whereby habits of ſloth have been by degrees overcome, and ſupineneſs and inadGivity have been exchanged for vi- gour and exertion. No ftronger— can be given of this than the reduion of the poor’s-rate, in many of thoſe pariſhes, wherein fuch incloſing— taken place.* Upland commons are principally depaſtured in the ſum- mer with ſheep; and if a cottager were able to ſtock ever ſo largely, the winter keeping, and his total inability to furniſh them with food between the fifth of April and the twelfth of May,(before which time theſe commons ought not to be ſtocked) would be ſuch a drawback as efedctually to exclude every idea of profit. On the mors, cottagers w ithin a moderate diſtance from he common generally turned out a cow or two, perhaps a few geele, and I believe the latter were the only profitable ſtock. Not one in ten rented land to raiſe winter ſub- ſiſtence. In ſummer, the moor commons were frequenfly inundated. The cattle muſt be removed, and temporary pafturage hired on extravagant terms. On the other hand, * If in every bill of incloſure it were ftipulated, that a certain num- ber of cottages ſhould be built, to which mall allotments ſhould be annexed for the benefit of poor perſons, it would give a falutary ſanc- 1$ L SLES LN ES I EE Lin REQ>, Y AUA 7) ion to the meaſure, and tend to leſſen the poor’s-ratee WF. adi OF SOMERSETSHIRE. FT ſhould the ſeaſoù be favourable, the redundancy of ſtock írom an unlimited right of feeding, by reducing the produce of the cottager’s cow ſo much below what it ought to be, deprives him of every real advanta age. Proprietors or occupiers of large eſtates, in the vicinity of 2 common, by turning out great quantities of ſtock by day, and taking them home to fed by night, have derived the mly benefit en an overfed common could afford. The cattle of the cottager, as well as of the diſtant com- moner, under this competition, muß unavoidably ſuffer. The latter may be recruited by occaſona! removal to better paſturage; the fi former, baving none, muſt hire, or leave them on the common either in a ſtunted or farved condition. Theſe are fa@s of general notoriety, on which it will not be eaſy to deduce(commúnibus annis) any material benefit to the cottager from ſtocking; but when the expence of winter ſupport is added, the queſtion is decided, and the preſumed advantage is converted into a poſitive 10/5. Or ten or twelve ſhillings per annum, 2 common right might be rented. Nothing gives with greater accuracy the value of a thing, than fair and unreſtrained competition; if ſo, when the privilege of ſtocking a common for a year might be obtained for ten or twelve ſhillings, by a farmer in poſ- ſeſſion of means to accommodate ſtocking to every v TIety of ſeaſon, what can the value be to a cottager deprived of theſe? Inſtead of ten or twelve ſhillings, the annual nett value of common rights ¿zcloſed has been from three pounds to twenty pounds per annum, which, as an unqueſßtionable fac, eſtabliſhes, without ſcruple or heſitation, the private as well as publick importance of the incloſing ſyſtem. Moſt of the ſtocking cottagers have rights appendant to the cot- tages without land, under the denomination of aufer tenec- ments."To theſe, allotments are made equal in quantity, E 2 and Een ci. LIET— e i tE———— 0 52 AGRICULTURAL SURNEY and quality, as to farms of the greateſt extent. Mere, the cottage claimant, by relinguiſhing a privilege, injurious ra- ther than lucrative, is placed in a better ſituation than the proprietor of an extenſive farm, who ſurrenders every ad- vantage of ſtocking which capital, ſituation, and convenience, give him, for an equality of allotment with the former, who has no ſacrifice to make, but ignorance and prejudice, and who derives from his allotment a clear undiminiſhed profit. Beſides, moral effeds of an injurious tendency accrue to the cottager, from a reliance on the imaginary benefits of ſtocking a common. The poſſeſſion of a cow or two, with a hog, and a few geeſe, naturally exalts the peaſant, in his own conception, above his brethren in the fame rank of ſociety. It inſpires ſome degree of confidence in a property, inadequate to his ſupport. In fſauntering after his cattle, he acquires a habit of indolence. Quarter, half, and occa- ſionally whole days are imperceptibly loft. Day-labour be- eomes diſguſting; the averſion increaſes by indulgence; and at length the ſale of a half-fed calf, or hog, furniſhes the means of adding intemperance to idleneſs.‘The ſale of the cow frequently ſucceeds, and its wretched and difappointed poſſeſſor, unwilling to reſume the daily and regular courſe of labour, from whence he drew his former ſubſiſtence, by various modes of artifice and impoßition, exacts from the poor’s-rate that relief to which he is in no degree intitled. This deſcription is by no means exaggerated.‘The pariſh of Wedmore, which abounded with cottage commons, and one of the largeſt and moſt opulent in this county, will il- lußrate its truth and juſtice. Within twenty years there have been incloſed upwards of three thouſand acres of rich moor land, heretofore, when in commons, rendered unpro- dudtive by inundations and their conſequences, ſix or ſeven months in the year, and when. paſcible for the remaining months, IF SOMERSETSHIRE, 4 O OMERSETSHIRE 53 months, of little value from being overßſtocked; which land is now ſet, with liberal allowance of profit to the occupier, from thirty to ſixty ſhillings per acre. Theſe incloſures are made by ditches, which, by annual cleanſing and ſpreading the contents over the ſurface, afford an excellent manure, with a new and extenſive ſource of labour of the moſt pro- dudive kind, whereby the poor’s-rate has been reduced, or at leaſt has not exceeded its former amdóunt before any in- cloſure had taken place.* The ſecond objection to inclofing is the ſuppoſed injury done to the breeding ſyſtem. Few obſervations will ſuffice on this head. Commons are in general overſtocked, Young cattle abridged of their food become ſtunted in their growth, and injured in ſhape and form, To reſtore them in theſe reſpects, by better keeping, is ſometimes impradicable—always expenfive. It is more than problematical with many intelligent farmers in the neighbourhood, whether, from the circumſtances before- mentioned, the breeding ſyſtem on an average of ſeaſons and years has yielded any profit. But this is undeniably certain, that the ſame land, when incloſed and improved, will maintain at leaſt three times the ſtock ¿reeding, or any other, than it did in a ſtate of nature. Suppoſe every acre of waſte land in Great-Britain by incloſure were improved threefold, what would be the conſequence? A declenſion of the breeding ſyſtem? The very contrary; an extention of it very probably in the ſame proportion. Without breeding, can you graze or make cheeſe and butter? Are not theſe * It may be here noted as a fad, that in moſt of thoſe pariſhes where no incloſure of the waſte lands had taken place, the poor’s levy has been doubled, trebledy nay quadrupled, in the courſe of the laſt twenty years, different. 54 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY different modes of occupation moſt intimately conne&ed with, and dependent on each other? Is not the ſame land convertible to all and every of theſe purpoſes, ſubje( to the controul and regulation of the market for each? Can young ſtock be kept too well? Should the breeding of cattle ex- ceed the demand, and from a redudion of price no longer pay the rent of land, will the farmer repine, becauſe his land 1s ſuſceptible of other methods of—— no leſs bene- ficial? Surely not. Could he heſitate what to Es when its high ſtate of culture would dire ds either to dairy, or grazing, as attendant circumſtances might require? And ſhould the market be elutted with the produce of dairy and F grazing farms, the farmer would naturally recur to breeding EE or raifing corn; ſo that all theſe articles would—_ EE rhe demand fnr ly 5x f NICO TAE Gemand Ior each, whet her "0 PECE 12 E 4 R or exceſiive, would invariably regu- Y! TCS e! ZI| BER pp Îx7: Ar“N i uncultivated land, being ſolely appro- > le SAA as Ls ES y NEF Arr 7A A9 priated to the breeding of ſtock, and not convertible to any BE E E E other purpofe 2, 1s without re medy, Wwnenever the marKet 1s overcÌ A with its produce. The ſame reaſoning applies to hilly lands in their im- proved ſtate, by ſubſtituting corn inſtead of dairy or grazing. From the foregoing premiſes, I think it may be inferred, that ſince commons of every deſcription, when incloſed and cultivated, are capable of parting at leaſt ¿ree times more ſtock than they did in a ſtate of nature, no ſerious appre- henſions ſhould prevail with reſaeA to the diminution or injury of the breeding ſyſtem. I do not mean to deny that ſome local diſadvantages may occur; but theſe are too tri- fling and limited to merit attention, and fill leſs to impede the progreſs of an improvement of the greateſt national importance. The precedi ng remarks more particularly apply to the moor, or low lands. In addition thereto I have E/ OF SOMERSETSHIRE- EC FD have to obſerve, with heartfelt fatisfaQion, its happy etects on the health and comfort of the inhabitants of the adja- cent villaces. Agues, and low fevers, from the humidity of the air, impregnated with exhalations from the ftagnant contents of the marſhes, prevailed very generally during the vernal and autumnal ſeaſons; and theſe for the moſt part were obſtinate and more frequently ſubdued by the drought and heat of ſummer, and froſt of winter, than by the moſt judicious medical treatment. Incloſing and draining have rendered theſe diſeaſes as ſcarce in the /ow, as in the zplands, to the prevention whereof advance of wages(from four to ſix-pence per day) with conſtant employ ariſing from the ſame cauſe, have not a little contributed, by enabling the poor to live better, which is generally accompanied with a growing taſte for comíort and cleanline(s. The third objeétion to inclofing, is to the expences attending the aëÆ of parliament, with thoſe of commiſſioners and other fſúbordinate agents employed in its execution, I do not mean to contend, that rigid œconomy, and ex- pert management, have been prominent features in this line of publick buſineſs. Tam ready to acknowledge, that in ſome inſtances it has been juſtly charzeable with profuſion SZ P 3 - mismanagement, and unneceſſary delay. In ſeveral inſtances within my own cognizance, the moſt enormous expence has been wantonly incurred in obtaining the act, nay, double at leaſt beyond the moſt liberal eſtimate of a fair and equi- table charge. In theſe caſes the exceſs aroſe from the attendance of ſupernumeraries in London, under the pretence of ſecuring and expediting the bill, without rendering the leaſt ſervice in that or any other way. Charges of this ſort are not ſubje(t to the controul or regulation of the commiflioners, ſince they originate previous to their appointment; and ſhould 50 AGRICUCTURAE SURVEY ſhould they refuſe payment, a law-ſuit of hazardous iſſue might enſue, which, if unſucceſsful, would expoſe them to reproach from the proprietors. The blame therefore muſt attach to the latter, for not exerciſing more vigilance at the outſet of the buſineſs. After paſſing the bill, delay in the execution, ſo as to withhold the paſleſſion of allotments from the proprietors for a year or two more than neceſſary, has been imputable, and with ſome colour of juſtice, to the negligence and inattention of commiſſioners. It muſt be acknowledged ſuch condudt is truly reprehenſible; ſince, under many incloſures, eſpecially of low lands, of prime quality, the loſs of even a year’s occupation, if the incloſure be of conſiderable extent, might be deemed nearly equiva- lent to a moiety of the expence. In this neighbourhood, for ſome years paſt, this defect has been in a great meaſure remedied; for unleſs their proceedings have been interrupted by iſſues at law, or the inclofure has been of great extent, the comrniſſioners have given the proprietors poſſeſſion of their allotments within a year from paſſing the a&. This diſpatch requires a conſiderable ſhare of judgment and ex- ertion on the part of the commiſſioners, as well as ſufficient leiſure and aivity on the part of the ſurveyor. Another error’ in management relates to the expence of meetings, which heretofore was very improperly augmented by the attendance of ſome of the principal commoners for purpoſes of feſtivity, without being of the leaſt uſe; rather retarding than forwarding the buſineſs. This practice was general; but for ſome years paſt has been for the moſt part aboliſhed, by a very judicious regulation of allowing the commiſſioners and their agents a certain ſum per day as a compen\ation for attendance and expences. ‘The publick will be enabled to judge in what degree the expence of incloſing ought to affe its determinations under the A-— D«O the preſent courſe of management, by adducing the follow- ing ſpecimens of a moor or low land, and a Mendip or OF SOMERSETSHIRE- upland incloſure: Low LAND, AR of Parliament,&c.&c.= Roads Subdivifon, Rhynes, or IBitches, 8 feet wide at top, 4 feet at bottom, and’ 5 feet deep. Price of digging from 15. 2d. to 2s. per rope(20 feet) Gates, Bridges Commiſſioners(3) Clerk Surveyor ———--e—— ——- Award and other Law expences— Intereſt of Money borrowed— UPLAND INCLOSURE, A of Parliament,&c.&c.—— Roads ———- Fences, part wall, part quick-ſets— Gates,&c. Commiſlioners(3) Clerk Surveyor Came= A E n—— AETHER E Zi ME R Intereſt of Money DEE E i 510 450 57 O© O O GH dd, 00 250 OLEO SSO O LO G6 00 200 0 vo O 0 SOOO ZIO O IOS HOO Under AY (GS D) AGRICULTURAL SURVEY y Under the firſt deſcription, the expence of obtainins the © act amounted to upwards of. which, under proper management, would not have exceeded zool. Near two m1 es of road; ftones quarried and broken at ten- pence per load, Ee load to a rope of twenty feet) hal lage, at leaſt one ſhilling per rope. Two bridges made; rhynes made for draining e water and fences by ditching, for the ſub- diviſion and allotment of upwards of 800 acres. Com- imilloners attendance, ſurveyors, ſolicitors, and clerks bills, with every other incidental cha rge, all of which did not much exceed three pounds per acre. The av erage value of and, under a moderate con 1putation, may be reckoned at thirty pounds per acre. ! PRC 7 os LEE E TA: n LNC 1ACter ISA IViendIp incloſure; quantity oi 1s the former; a mile of road more; fences part y quicK-ſet, y young lwing ſtock of hazel, black-thorn,&c. and dry wall. Allotments not numerous but la arge, which ma- terially curtailed the expence of fe encing; road materials cheaply got. a charges reaſonable; commiſ- ñoners and agents as in the moor incloſure,‘all of which did not exceed two pounds ten ſhillings per acre. The average value of the land, as aſcertained by the portions ſold defray LS may be reckoned at twenty pounds per acre,* If fats like theſe be inſufficient to appeaſe the clamours of ignorance and ſelfiſhneſs againít the incloſing ſyſtem, or to {- enforce conviction on the unprejudiced mind, the effects of t ealon and a argument mult be altogether fruitleſs. + ï ES 1 nca SE NMEA eS N never b C Knew an 1nitance of M: ndip iand IN 15 UNCUit1- gf C s< al 7A rc fr A t ty TIZA RTT: ated îlate ſelling ſo high; the genera! price 1s from eight to twelve pounds per acre. OF SOMERSETSHIRE- 59 ‘That the preſent mode of condudting the buſineſs is ſuſ- eptible of further improvement, no one converſant with the ſubjet can deny. Yet to accompliſh this, many obſtacles are to be combated, and perhaps one of the moſt formidable is, that of its having been regarded, more or leſs, as a little ſy/tem of patronage.‘The lord of the ſoil, the reor, and a few of the principal commoners, monopolize and diſtribute he appointments. It is well known, that bills of this ſoct have found their way through LS without the inter- vention of a country ſolicitor. In caſes where no E olition J LES Es E À Antar See AN, was meditated, the parliamentari icItor, anc have anſwered every purpoſe. By this, a was made of from fixty to a hundred pounds; but this might exclude the friend of one or more of the governing party. In ſome ats, five commiſſioners have been appointed; in general there are ¿hreez but 7zuo would be ſufficient, with power to nomi- nate a third SS the circumſtance of difference‘of opinion, which ſeldom happens; and in ſmall E perhaps one R would anſwer every purpoſe. If a country ſolicitor be employed, he ſhould ad as E to the commiſ- ſioners, and ſave the expence of a ſupernumerary in that ca- pacity. Hereby another ſaving would be made, without any injury to the concern.‘The office of ſurveyor is by no means inconfiderable in the aggregate of expence.‘This might be diſpoſed of, under a fair competition, to the loweſt given ſum for executing the whole of the buſineſs,(after the ac is obtained) by advertiſing for propoſals to ſach efeét; taking care that the contrading party be competent to the under- taking BIS AO it is probable, would ſave one- third, and in ſome caſes nearly half of a bill made out by charges 1n detail. In the choice of commiſlioners, it is of the utmoſt conſe- quence to appoint 07e, at leaſt, in the neighbourhood of the incloſure, ————— E— EES =——— e —— LI is - E emita R= N | ß 6o AGRICULTURAL SURVEY inclofure, familiarized with all the varieties of the ſoil, with the influence of ſeaſons, and with its local peculiarities; whereby its preſent value, and capacity for future improve- ment would be aſcertained with preciſion, and the important office of qualifying the land executed with fafety and confi- ICY [a] - y 1 H dence. The next in the ſcale of utility ſhould be a perſon converſant with all the forms and routine of the bulſine(s; well inſtru&ed from experience in accounts, and in the prices and different modes of fencing, making roads, bridges, gates,&c. of general and comprehenſive knowledge of agri- culture, both practical and ſpeculative, and of genius to ſug- geſt ſuch modern improvements as are beſt adapted to the fituation and ſoil. Two perſons, thus qualified, are fully competent to execute the office with credit to themſelves, and juſtice to the proprietors. But ſhould the concern ſufier by the abſence of either, through fhckneſs, private buúne(ſs, or any other cauſe, a clauſe in the a& might be inſerted, 1mpowering them, or the proprietors, to chooſe a third for the purpoſe of avoiding delay, Commiſlioners, whoſe reſidence 1s at a great diſtance, ſhould(on account of the extra charges of time and travelling expences) only be reſorted to as an alternative, from the impoſſibility of getting others properly qualified near home, The office of commiſlioner 1s, without doubt, the firſt in conſequence and authority, under an incloſing a, but with reſpect to emolument the very loweſt. Even the clerk’s bill of charges, zot as a ſolicitor acting in that capacity, but as any other indifferent perſon did in times paſt, exceed twice, and ſometimes three times the amount of the íees of the for- mer.‘The publick have been not a little miſled in their conceptions of this ſubject. The real fa is, that the whole of the reſponſibility attagies to the oflice of commiſlioner, which, E e OF SOMERSETSHIRE« 61 which, in pecuniary recompence, is by far the moft in- Liv iis ügnificant.* Thus have I— ES the defeis of the preſent em, with their correſpondent remedies. In its moût im- prov E ſtate it will retain ſomewhat of imperfe@ion, which perhaps cannot be entirely obviated. I ſhall only add, that within a few years paſt, in the neighbourhood of Wells, an incloſure was farmed by an attorney of extenſive practice, and well Known reſpectability, at a ſum conſiderably leſs than it would have amounted to in the uſual way. The commiſfüoners were appointed by the proprietors; the buſinels executed with ſingular diſpatch, and all parties intereſted perfectly ſatisfied. Fences, roads, &c. were made by the proprietors. When the inclofng ſyſtem is appreciated by its obvious tendency to inereaſe the produce of land, and the demand for labour, to augment the rate of wages to the huſband- man, and to leſſen the ainount of the poor’s rate, it is A ſubje¿ of regret and aſtoniſhment, that ſo few means have been deviſed by the legiſlature, either to facilitate, or extend its progreſs. How much is to be done this way, a general incloſure a&, unfettered by tedious and expenſive forma- lities, would 1 a manifeſt. From the very great num- ber of private acts which have p A within the laſt twenty years, ſuch general principles might be ſelected for its baſis, as to implicate almoſt every poſſible variety 01 claim, intereſt, * Under the allowance of two guineas 2 day, the nett receipts of 2 commiſſioner, after deduding daily expences;, horſe-hire,&c. does not exceed twenty-four ſhillings; and where a ſervant is kept, eighteen ſhillings per day. This is no extravagant compenſation, particularly when we reflet that the æœvear and éear of conſtitution, clothes,&c- are leſt out of the calculation, ERA ANG 62 AGRICU ETURAT SURVEY and property. An at thus conſtituted might, without hazard, or injury, be entruſted to a given number of juſtices at the quarter-ſeſlions, to diſperſe its powers, and controul its execution; and fuch juſtices, I ſhould conceive; perfeAly competent to determine on the propriety or impropriety of any propoſed incloſure. Thus a total extinction E parliamentary expence would encourage E on the ſmalleſt ſcale, and, with adv antages not to be deſpiſed, would accommodate the moſt extenſive. This SS however conſonant to the A E individual benefit, and national policy, would notwithſtand ing have a hoſt of adverſaries to encounter. Fourth objeéction—The expence of cultivation and bui dings, fuch as farm-houſe, barn, fable, ftalling, pools,&c. for the Du poſe of creating a diſtinct farm, Sc.&c. Lhe low land, or moor incloſures, being. princi; pally ap- propriated to grazing, dairy, or feeding young and poor ſtock, are not within the limits of this obje&ion. It is therefore confined to the upland or Mendip incloſures. The nature of Mendip ſoil, its firſt manure, the mode of cropping, the neceſſity of ſpending thereon the whole of its produce, of hay, ſtraw,&c. will be ſeverally noticed hereafter, and conſequently will not be attended to in this place. By a reference to theſe particulars, the neceſſity and ad- vantage of buildings muſt be obvious, as not only contri- buting to the ſoil its utmoſt latitude of improvement, but alſo, when obtained, the means of preſervation therein. Without a barn, falling, convenient farm-yard, and pool, either one nor the other can be accompliſhed. But it may be aſked, are buildings to be provided for every allotment? By no means. I do not think they are admiſible, with the addition of a farm-houſe, on a ſmalle ſcale of land than 100 acres, The expence to accommo- OF SOMERSETSHIRE, 02 date this quantity with a farm-houſe, barn, ſable, ſtalling, barton, pool, and pig-ſye, ſhould not exceed three hundred pounds. The next ſubjeA of enguiry 1s the additional value com- municated to the land by buildings. Should this be an- {werable to the expence incurred, the whole of the objection muſt fall to the ground, notwithſtanding its apparent plau- ſibility. Let us ſuppoſe an hundred acres of Mendip land incloſed, and divided into four pieces of prime a, but deſtitute of buildings; grant a leaſe of it to a farmer of property and judgment for twenty-one years,(a ſhorter term would be injurious to the landlord) and I may venture to ſay, that more than twenty ſhillings per acre could not be got for 1t, : E with the uſual covenants and reſtrictions to 1ard againſt wilful impoveriſhment,. With equal confi- E I may affert, the ſame land, with ſuitable buildings, would let to the ſame farmer, for a like term, a eS ſhillings per acre, with a ſubdiviſion of the four pieces into lix. The increaſe of rent in the latter caſe will be twenty- five pounds per annum. Allow an intereſt of ſeven and half per cent. on the capital of three hundred pounds ex- pended on the buildings, which amounts to twenty-two s ten ſhillings, and there will remain two pounds ten ſhillings as intereſt on the money laid out to make ences under a ſubdiviſion, and‘if quick-ſet, to rear them when made. Under this plan, you do juſtice to the native qua- lities of the ſoil, by giving it. a ſeparate and independent exiſtence as a farms; and with a leaſe of propel you need not fear its being exhauſted. A ſpeculative farmer will be apt to exclaim, Is it poſ- ſible that the want of buildings can create a difference oí S SA; LS MRE LA- ” T1VE ſhillings DECT Acre to the OCCUPIECr! LIVIO alluir€GiYŸ Il 1D 5 “«“. L é Po] A 9 leigt o — Fiimes ep E 6 PE Ridi E SS* tA EE A—— :| | E mina— ——= at 64 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY as will be evident by even a2 very general ſtatement of the comparative effes of a twenty-one year’s occupation, with and without buildings. To begin with the latter; here lime muſt be chiefly, if not altogether depended on, as a manure. This, even with ſucceſſive cropping with corn, will main- tain its ground tolerably well during the firſt ſeven years. Its ſecond application is attended with conſiderable diminu- tion of its efficacy. From this period, the degeneracy of the ſoil is no leſs rapid than aſtoniſhing: it becomes light; coltsfoot and couch-graſs abound; clover and ray-grafies fail. Intervals of reſt of three, or even four years, ſeldom recruit its vigour ſufficiently to produce even a moderate crop of oats, which, if followed by a ſecond of the ſame grain, would ſcarcely return the ſeed. Feed during the two laſt years of reſt, not worth more than nine ſhillings per acre. No turnips for want of dung; no fold, becauſe the land is too much impoveriſhed to maintain it; ſtraw carried off, and clover hay only partially conſumed on the premiſes by—- of the expoſed ſituation. In this unproductive tate, the land muſt remain during the laſt nine years of the term, Zalican to the value of ten or twelve ſhillings per acre, and with little proſpet of melioration. Painful and diſguſting as this repreſentation muſt be to every judicious farmer, it is nevertheleſs ſtri@ly conformable to fat; and many inſtances might be adduced to eſtabliſh its veracity in every point. Such has been, and moſt pro- bably ever will be, the ſituation of EE incloſures, vithout buildings, and more judicious courſe of crops. With E ve have to contemplate effects direc E oppoûte, under a ſimilar term of twenty-one years. Lime, in the proportion of twenty quarters per acre, will ſuſtain the land, with little abatement of its fertility, for the firſt ſix or ſeven years, During this period, farm-yard manure will be plen- tifully OF SOMERSETSHIRE- bs tifully ſupplied, and may be devoted to turnips, cabbage and potatoes, on a conſiderable ſcále, ás it will not be wanted I either for corn or clover for ſeverál ſucceeding years; it may be appropriated to turnips and clover, aſſiſted by the fold, which a feed of clover and ráy-graſs of the ſecond year will fufficiently maintain. Should theſe reſources be thought inadequâte to ſupport the whole óf the land, from the ninth or tenth year, piece after piece in ſucceſſion might be broken UP, and limed afreſh, with an effe very little, if at all, in- ferior to that of its firſt application; as dung and the fold are found excellent preparatives for the repétition of this manure. By the alternate uſe of lime, dung, and the fold, together with the following rotation of crops: 1 year, Oats on the Lay 2d— Winter and Spring Vetches folded of, and Turnips 3d— Oats and Artificial Graſs Seeds 4th— Artificial Graſs Seeds mowed sth— Ditto fed 6th— Ditto ditto: which the improved huſbandry of the laſt twenty years has ſuggeſted, and which is gradually extending to the mutual intereſt and ſatisfa(tion of landlord and tenánt, it muſt be evident, that the land under a term of fourteen or twenty- one years cannot ſuſtain the leaſt injury, but muſt be in a ate of melioration and improvement. By the preceding obſervations, I truſt the propriety and advantage of build- ings, erected on a ſcale of Mendip incloſure of one hundred acres and upwards, are fully eſtabliſhed to the conviGion of every unbiaſſed mind. Under this ſtatement, what plan of management ſhould be adopted for ſmaller incloſures? Se- parate occupation at a diſtance from the farm-yard, by the expence cf carting, ſo as to preclude the return of produce in dung, muſt neceſlarily impoveriſh. Muſt incloſures of this deſcription then be abandoned to the fate of a wretched F and A: \ 60 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY and ruinous huſbandry? By no means. A remedy as a À Ep EAA E not wholly efffedual, may be found. In the 3 purchafſe,,or both, a ſufficient portion of land SER en€ a 0 E br nA 1rAc Li= greater part of Mendip incloſures, either by allotment or | in an IgE ICU to induce the neceſſity: local reſidence and occupation of the farmer. The ſmaller eS ſhould be let to the tenant or tenants of theſe farms, for the ſame term, and ſubjeŸ to the ſame covenants and reſtrictions, under which ſuch farms are reſpeäively a with, however, a proportionate abatement of rent, by way of an equivalent for the want of buildings. If the lands with the latter be rented at one pound per acre, the former ſhould be rented at fifteen ſhillings, or at moſt at ſixteen ſhil- lz SS nA 1E 7 A r/\, ha Htniner mallor inclanſnre lings; and if either price be obtained, ſmaller incloſures Aanld S) nde Dr\ N ff 5 STIF Er 2- would be E for, on a footing without buildings, E|| E»eous than larzer. with then equally, if not more advantageous than larger, with them. D SOBEL q Mqug Perhaps it may E objected to this plan, that by ſuch addi- ions Mendip far A e RS 5 tions Mendip farms would become too extenſive and un- wieldy for general occupation. Under an improved ſyſtem of management, it 18 now well known that the moßt profitable e ETRE SE SE E RR EL deſtination of theſe farms muſt be, with little variation, to corn and /heep;, and for theſe purpoſes, it 18 no leſs obvious Lar f£- QA nO A Al lpoo Draguido t f À that farms cannot be well too ¿47 Ss Mk tenants can 2 1 be found of ſufficient ability and ÉS ital to OCCUPY. E his, at rſt, may create ſome‘difficulty and inconvenience, in +4 lettin to farmers in a neighbourhood where the largeſt |> J farms ſœldom exceed two hundred pounds per annum.— lilo I'his, however, can only be temporary; únce the quality of 1 1 7 pa. î the loil and the ſituation are favourable to corn and ſheep, tra Z 4 E> iF nrmAro Th hax and begin to attract the notice of farmers, who have been accuſtomed in other counties to occupy tarms oí this de- 4 iCTIPEION On A Very large ICale. 1 Nele, by a 1yitem oi ma- nagement adapted to the foregoing purpoſes, founded on CXPEerIence, OF SOMERSETSHIRE-, 67 xperience, and proſecuted with vigour, will ſoon convince thoſe of the neighbourhood that Mendip farms, thus appro- priated, of almoſt any extent, may be occupied with as much ſafety and advantage as can be reaſonably expected or deſired. Taving ſtated zool. as the ſum requiſite for buildings to accommodate one hundred acres of land, I would obſerve, that 4001. would accommodate two hundred acres; 5001. four hundred acres; and bool. five hundred acres; ſo that this expence decreaſes by an inverſe ratio as the farm is aug=- mented: and in like manner that of fencing, as a large farm requires leſs ſubdiviſion than a ſmall one. Both theſe circumítances further tend to juſtify the predileSion for large farms. I ſhall conclude this head, by adducing an inſtance to exemplify the neceſſity and importance of raiſing Mendip incloſures to ſeparate and diſtin& farms. About twenty years ſince, near ſix hundred acres of Mendip land were incloſed, the property of a gentleman of large landed eſtate in the neighbourhood. For ſituation and quality, it could not be ſurpaſſed by any land of this ſort. The contiguity to markets with good roads was another CS the quantity was equal to a reſpeQtable farm; anaÄa and 600L was judged ſufficient to provide the neceſlary buildings, in the opinion of thoſe who recommended the meaſure. A gentleman farmer from Norfolk, of confider- able property, was ſo much ftruck with the ſoil, fituation, and Gn er CORA nCces, as to declare, that if proper build- ings Were ercdted, he would give fifteen ſhillings an acre fo a term of twenty-one years; this was refuſed, nor have any buildings been ere&ed ſince. The land was let to the pro- prietor’s tenants of the adjacent farms in different propor- tions, at not more than twelve ſhillings per acre for the firſt E22 nine PB SI mg TL EI I PE OC TAE E 63 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY nine or ten years, but ſince, for not more than ten ſhillings, Great expeétations were formed on the improvement of the old farms, by the produce of the new incloſure being en- tirely conſumed thereon. Theſe, however, are not realized, for the ſtraw was for the moſt part ſold to the adjacent towns, and during the firſt ſeven years of tillage, it was no unuſual praâice to crop with oats three or four years ſucceſſively yet ſuch was the fertility of ſoil, and its aptitude for this ſpecies of grain, that the produce in favourable ſeaſons, with a ſingle ploughing, has been occaſionally fix quarters per acre. The conſequences of this wretched huſbandry, with regard to the ſoil, are too apparent to particularize, and too abſurd and ruinous to need any further comment. I ſhall only ſubjoin, had a diſtin& farm been made in this caſe, ſeven per cent. would have been paid for the buildings, ex- cluſively of ax increaſe of rent of upwards of one hundred pounds per annum, and the land under a proper leaſe, inſtead of its preſent reduced rent of ten ſhillings or twelve ſhillings per acre, would have attained a permanent yalue of a guinea per acre.} The fifth objeSion involves two diſtind relations: 1, Deterioration of the quality of wool. 2dly, Diminution of its produce by leſſening the number of ſheep. With reſped to the firſt, by way of preliminary, it may be neceſlary to enquire, to what degree has this deterioration of quality manifeſted itſelf by a redudion of price on wool írom ſheep of the /ame ſpecies, fed on improved and cu/ti- vated lands, or on common and waſte lands? Was this point, ſo eſſential to the preſent diſcuſſion, ever aſcertained by fair and accurate experiment? If not, the objection is wholly hypothetical. If it have, the reſult ought not only to be known but eſtabliſhed as data to argue from. Nothing of this A Of SOMERSETSHIRE- 09 this kind, however, has fallen within my obſervation. T muſt therefore proceed aſlumptively, and grant, for the ſake of inveſtigation, a deterioration of quality as far as ſix-pence in the pound by depaſturing ſheep, which afford the fineſt Engliſh wool on cultivated land, inſtead of waſte or darren. If the conceſſion as to price be ſufficiently liberal, let us en- quire how far the publick or individuals are obnoxious to injury therefrom. The clothier may mix ſomewhat leſs of this ſort of wool with Spaniſh, the better to diſguiſe the al- teration in quality; or if uſed by itſelf, ſome difference in the texture or feel of the cloth might be the conſequence. But if the alteration be zziverſal, in neither point of view could any particular clothier, nor the trade colledtively, be affe@ed by it; and it is at leaſt probable, the publick at large would not be endued with ſufficient knowledge of the manufaQure to dete it, or if they did, would regard it as too frivolous to merit notice. Allow for a moment the fineſt Engliſh wool to be worth two ſhillings per pound, from ſheep fed on commons or waſte land, and one ſhilling and ſix-pence if fed on cultivated land. In the former cafe the manufa@urer of cloth would be a gainer, by having four pounds of woo! for the ſame money as three pounds, and he could not complain of a proportional redudion of price; a benefit might therefore, but no poſſible injury could accrue, to this party in the buſineſs. Let us now advert to the farmer, who not only repreſents himſelf, but the nation at large, as being deeply intereſted in the increaſed produce of land, not only in bis, but in every poſſible variety of its ap- plication. Enquire of the farmer, and he will tell you, that on an acre of cultivated land, by the aid of turnips and graſſes, he can keep four ſheep inſtead of one on waſte or land in common, and this too with an undoubted augmen- tation both of fleece and carcaſe, He has, therefore, four fleeces SE 70 AGRICULTURAL SURVEV fleeces and four carcaſes inſtead of one, with a manifeſt im- provement in‘the value of each. Muſt he then, from a mere phantom of a grievance which bewilders the imaci- and unſpeakable importance both to himſelf and the ourely not. nation of the manufacturer, relinquiſh advantages of decided Pu The foregoing remarks apply principally to the ſmall breed of ſheep; but this ſort is apparently on the decline in favour of the improved breeds of Dorſetſhire, South- down, and other larger ſorts, as being more produdive in wool, (quality and quantity conſidered) in fize of carcaſe, and in requiring a leſs given time to graze. Let it be admitted from theſe conſiderations, that in courſe of time the former breed ſhould become extin&t. What then? Should a real degeneracy of the quality of wool, magnified by the fears of the manufaQurer, be permitted to militate againſt the ſolid benefit enumerated as above? The quality of cloth as to finenels 18 comparative. Diſtin@ion would vaniſh, pride and vanity would ceaſe to murmur, if the wool deſtined to the nanuacure of cloth were of the Le ze quality, how=- ever coarle.‘The more opulent cleſles of ſociety might ſill be gratified with cloth made entirely of Spaniſh wool; the middle with a mixture of Spaniſh and Engliſh; and the wer with that wholly manufz@ured of Engliih wool. But all this being uniform in its operation and efe, and being evidently calculated to advance national proſperity, as well as individual E ge, could create no ſymptoms of mor- tification or diſguſt. Let us contemplate the ſubje& under he fill more intereſting claims of humanity. Can the little farmer and the artificer, the labo uring manufaQurer and the huſbandman, be fed with the fleece? C this valuable ſpecies of animal food were confined to the ſmall bteed, would there not be a diminution of its 8 ſo confider- able OF SOMERSETSHIRE-, 71 able as might probably advance the price of mutton from four-pence to ſix-pence per pound? Let it be remembered too, that in proportion to the increaſed value of the fleece, the farmer will be enabled to reduce the price of the carcaſe; for his’ profit is derived from the whole animal, not as ſepa- rated into parts.‘Therefore the more value the fleece, the cheaper he can afford to ſell the carcaſe. The next article under this objeQion, is the diminution of the produce of wool by leſſening the number of ſheep. This takes for granted what fill remains to be proved, namely, that the incloſing of commons, fed principally by ſheep, has a tendency to leſſen the breed. I ſhall confider this objeltion as applicable to ſheep z general, and not to any particular deſcription or ſpecies. Here I have not only my doubts as to the truth of the poſition, but I am inclined to think that the number of ſheep will be ¿zcreaſed thereby, and this too in a very conſiderable degree. For, perhaps, four years after incloſing, an exception máy be pleaded, ſince this portion of time muſt be allowed to a courſe of illage neceſſarily previous to the cultivation of ſhéep feed. This circumſtance, as being altogether temporary, ſhould not in the leaſt operate as a deduction from the validity of the opinion. From this period, when turnips and artificial graſles are brought forward, I would date my calculation. Recurring to a former obſervation, that Mendip or up- land incloſures were moſt profitably applied as corn and ſheep farms, I will ſuppoſe one of this ſort to conſiſt of four hundred acres. In its cultivated fate, one hundred acres may be allowed to ſuſtain as many ſheep as the whole did when in common, and a leſs proportion of land than this will ſcarcely be allowed for ſheep feed. If this be admitted, let me aſk what becomes of the futile apprehenſions of Zſ- ſening the number of ſheebs Let the manufa@urer no longer repine, ¿ i RT mam 2—— 14 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY repine, nor the ¿mid ſenator be the vi@im of groundlefs diſtruſt: the former will have the ſame quantity of wool provided from a fourth portion of land as was before de- yoted to the purpoſe, and the latter will have the conſolation to reflect that the other three-fourths are raiſed, from a ſtate- totally unproductive, to a capacity of ſupplying its owner with corn, and paſturage for cattle. I have ſome reaſon to believe, that unfavourable impreſ- ſions have been made on the minds of both houſes of par- liament againft a general incloſing ſyſtem; and theſe may have ariſen from the magical influence of an expreſſion long ſandified by the publick mind, namely, that of the woollen manufacture being the /aple trade of the nation, to which even the land, in all its diverſity of produce, muſt ever be ſubordinate under every kind of parliamentary regulation, A little conſideration would ſerve to dete the fallacy of this opinion. But to recur. In this farm of four hundred acres, ſup- pole one hundred and fifty ſhould be appropriated to ſheep. On the ſame ground of reaſoning, this would increaſe the \ number by the addition of a moiety. Perhaps this propor- tion of ſheep-food is much nearer to the ſtandard of prac- tice than the former; if ſo, in any ratio, the manufaQurer, inſtead of being abridged of his ſupply of wool by incloſing, will have conſiderably more, and probably too at a reduced price. SUCch are the facts relative to Wool: the concluſions are ſimple and obvious. The ſuſpicious manufacturer, aQuated | | by a ſpirit of monopoly which the legiſlature has ever been too much diſpoſed to countenance, may reſt ſatisfied that adi, gu ¿ Ses 7 ans Ne Can TECCIVE IIO injury,- but may great denejrt irom the incloſing ſyſtem. > e itn ae EEA m e @ OF SOMERSETSHIRE, 73 The ſixth obje&ion ſuppoſes a diminution of the rental value of eſtates, to which commons are appertenant. In theory, this may appear in ſome degree ſpecious, be- cauſe an increaſed produce, without an increaſed conſump- tion, would more or leſs countenance ſuch an inference. But admitting the premiſes, it induces the neceſlity of in- veſtigating the relative operation of the cauſe preſumed. Let us ſuppoſe a farm with common appertenances to be worth one hundred pounds per year, and that by a depri- vation of the common its value be reduced five pounds per year. If the common ¿ncloſed be worth ten pounds per year, the objeSion muſt give way. This ſtatement, however, beſtows a degree of importance on the objection which it ſcarce deſerves; for in fa&, the incloſing both of the low and up-lands has been uniformly accompanied with an increaſed produce from doth; and it is no leſs true, that ſcarce an inftance can be produced of the leaſt abatement in rent on the od eſtates, in conſequence of the tenants being deprived of their commons by incloſing. I ſhall now proceed to a minute delineation of the general practice of farmers occupying land in this foreſt; and en- deavyour to ſhew how far the general end of improvement has been kept in view, how far it has been deviated from, and in what reſpe&t the general ſyſtem is ſuſceptible of amendment. = It appears, by the foregoing ſtatement, that the expences of the act of parliament, commiſlioners fees, roads, dividing and allotting, fencing, drawing and enrolling the award, and all other incidental expences, ought not to exceed two pounds ten ſhillings per acre; to this mußt be added twenty ſhillings per acre for raiſing the quick-ſet hedges to maturity; and to avoid objelions, I will ſay fifty ſhillings per acre for ne- ceſary buildings, pools,&c, Let T4 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Let us now endeavour to fate the“ cui bono’ of ſuch ſpeculation. In its open uncultivated ſtate, the value of this waſt could not be eſtimated at more than three ſhillings per acre; indeed it is a matter of doubt, all circumſtances conſidered, if it were worth any thing to the poſſeſſors. In its incloſed ſtate, and previous to its cultivation, it might be let for eight ſhillings per acre; and when cultivated and manured with lime, its value will be advanced to fifteen, twenty, and in ſome inſtances to thirty ſhillings per acre. Let us fate the account both ways. Dr, Li Sarde Cr. To firſt value 3s. 1 per acre, and 25> 3 I5 0 years purchaſe “Toinclofing, di- EAS Ss 16 D BYE Alte at eS: | viding, without> 3 10 0|} peracre, 25 years> I0 00 buildings| purchaſe Proût 250| 20-00| LOOO —|— In this inſtance the profit is not deſpicable, OR, Di “OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 75 OR, SECONDLY, Dr. Li EA Cre To above colſt lie 5 Ade without build-> 7 50 ings To buildings,&c. 2 10 0 Sundry plowings,> harrowings, and S liming, 20 qrs. 4 5 per acre) j I4 00| By value at 15s. From which muſt|“ PEF acre, 25 years.+1815 0 be deduced the| purchaſe value of the firſt CrOP,; exclue OE 212.0 ſeed. ntereſt of money, and all other charges IO 8 O Profit 8 70 MS 150 ES IO A A AS UTA ACE VEA A ER There are few ways in which money or induſtry can be employed to greater advantage than this, or in which the publick good can be more promoted; and yet I have fre- quently heard men, in other reſped&s of ſound underſtand- ing, ridicule ſuch ſpeculations as altogether viſionary, and abſurd. Were it even admiíted, that the adventurers in theſe ſchemes are for the moſt part ſufferers, yet it cannot be de- nied that the community is benefited, inaſmuch as the land is made to produce ten times as much as it did in its primi- tive ſtate; and the amount of labour 1s nothing but an ad- dition to the capital ſtock oí the nation, Notwith- 70 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Notwithſtanding theſe improvements, on the foreſt of which we are now treating, have been carried on with un- abating ardour and adlivity, yet it will appear by the follow- ing ſtatement, that much is left to be done: INCLOSED. UNINCLOSED, Pariſhes Acres Pariſhes Acres Leigh— 100 Chewton— 200 Aſhwick— 350 LEaſt-Harptry— 1100 Cranmoor,&c.— 400 Priddy and Stoke— 1200 Charterhouſe 1000 Cheddar 2,500 Hayden— 400 Axbridge ee Ubly— 950. Compton-Biſhop— 500 Bleadon— 100 Winſcomb& Shipham 900 Doulton and Stoke 800 Rowboro’& Churchill 1000 Shepton 800 Berrington— 1000 Shuters Bottom— 600 Charter-Houle— 350 Weſtbury— 2350 Banwell, Lockfſtone, Weſt-Harptry— 900 Curſton, Locking,> 800 Compton-Martin— 700 and Hutton Blagdon 800 Old-Down— 50 Dinder and Croſcomb S800 Chilcot and Horrington 800 Wells—— 2300 Y 6{ Fe 7% 1 3; 9009 11,550 *% This account was taken in 1794, fince which ads have been ob- tained for the incloſfing of Eaſt-Harptry, Cheddar, Banwell, Chewton, and Winſcomb. All the others are likely to follow. J.B. ‘The Là Le CD OF SOMERSETSHIRE« 77 The ſoil of theſe hills is for the moſt part deep, loamy, and of a good confiſtence; and were the climate more ge- nial, could not fail of being hig hly productive in all ſeaſons. Occaſionally are to be found ſpots of land leſs valuable, being of a light ſpungy nature black 1 in ite and totally unprodudlive of corn on frf cultivation. Nature, however, has wiſely provided a manure within itſelf; for under the ſurface, at the depth of a foot, is gene- rally found a frong clay, which, being ſpread after the rate of thirty or forty cart- loads per acre, gives ſuch a tena City to the ſoil as enables it to produce corn or any crop in great abundance. And here let me adviſe a general inveſtigation of the ſub- ſtrata of all ſoils about to be improved; for I verily believe, that in moſt inſtances a manure may there be found near at band, and congenial thereunto. Do we not frequently find clay under ſand, and fand under clay; under flint, chalt; under white-lias or ſtone-braſh, zarle; under red earth, lime-flone; under peat-bogs, ſea zd or clay? Are not theſe circumßances ſufficient indication to the wary huſbandman, to examine minutely the interior quaiüty of his land pre- vious to applying extraneous and expenſive manures!?* * An incontrovertible proof of the juſtneſs of this obſervation was exhibited about twenty-four years ago at LFaſt-Cranmore, one of the firſt commons on Mendip incloſed by a of parliament. On making the banks round a field of twelve acres, of which 2almoît the whole wz black ſpongy earth, a great part of the ditches, conſiſting of a let iſh red tenacious earth ftrongly verging to clay, was thrown by their ſides to make room for what was thought better mould for the plants to grow in. The field was ploughed and ſown on one earth with oats, previous to which the malm, as it is called, by the fide of the ditches was ſpread and levelled. The conſequence was, that on the black earth there was a very thin crop not egual to the ſeed ſow 1, whilit round the ditches, where the malm was ſpread, there was a fine luxu- riant growth. R. P. rr Ihe 73 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY The climate of theſe hills is cold, moiſt, and boiſterous, during the winter ſeaſon, and frequently immerſed in fogs; but in ſummer, the air is clear, ſalubrious, and invigorating. And it frequently happens that potatoes, French beans, and other ſpring crops, are deſtroyed in the vale by froſt in April or May, when thoſe on the bl! are in no degree injured. The favourite corn crop is oats, which are produced in great abundance, and of good quality. The wheat and barley are inferior, being thick in the ſkin, and of a dark colour; however, the defeŸ in quality is amply made up by the guantity; for it is no unuſual thing, after the land is ma- nured with lime, to get from twenty to thirty buſhels(Win- cheſter) of wheat, and forty or fifty buſhels of bar! acre. As to oats, the uſual crop is from forty buſhels, But the moſt eligible mode of conducting a farm on lands 4442 ey per to ſixty of this deſcription, is to grow comparatively but little c orn, and ¿hat little in the higheſt perfe@tion. To have a great breadth of turnips, cabbages, potatoes, vetches, artificial- graſſes, and conſequently to maintain a great ſtock. To provide all neceſfary buildings for ſhelter in the winter, and for the purpoſes of making mountains of dung, which the UL [>] large produce of ſtraw will enable the occupier to do. If ſheep be kept, let the choice be of wedders,(a breeding flock on ſuch expoſed ſituations is hazardous) and let them be folded every night in the year. By theſe means, lands of this deſcription may be carried on in a progreſlive ſtate of improvement; and if the Pre- ſent price of the different articles of produce be not greatly reduced, neither the proprietor nor the tenant will have any reaſon to complain, EEE E—_EE PEL ERC OR E OF SOMERSETSHIRE, SI WW FENCES, BUILDINGS,&é. Let us now proceed to a deſcription of the fences, build- ings, reſervoirs or pools, limekilns, roads, and all other the needful appendages to ſuch undertakings. There are various modes of fencing, and each has its ad- vocates, but the two principal are walls and quickſet hedges. WALE FENCE. In moſt inſtances, the outfide bounds are a wall fence, five feet ſix inches high, two feet and a half wide at bottom, and fifteen inches at the top, which is covered with a turf of ſix inches put on in the form of an arch, making together an height of ſix feet. This wall is partly dry and partly cemented with mortar, or what is commonly called a /if- wall. In ſome inſtances, where a flat bed of ſtone can be procured, it is made without cement, and if well built ſuch a vall is very durable. When the ground is level, the foun- dation of the wall is laid on the turf, and this is to be pre- ferred, as it will not be ſo apt to ſink as when a trench is dug. The expence of a liſt-wall may be thus calculated per rope of twenty feet running length: CE "To quarrinz or digging eight loads of ſtone L[=] SOO©© I (25 cwt. each) at 3d. O2 O To halling the ſame, ſuppoſing the diſtance half D rp© amile; a&0d— 040 Fo building per rope,(twenty feet) at 3s. 6d. O 3- 6 To ſeven buſhels of lime, at 2d.— 0 1g F To covering with turf(if done very well)— 0 0 3 AOI O * In conſequence of the advanced price of wages and of coal, abou! fifteen per cent. muſt be added to theſe calculations=—1797. J.B. AGRICULTURAL SURVEY DRY VALS n N ‘To quarring as before——— 22G To halling ditto—— o 40 To building, at 2s.—————— 5 9 To turfing— OO«2 OO 2 ———— When fîtones can be got within a wheeling diſtance, or about ſixty or ſeventy yards, the coſt will be reduced about two ſhillings per rope, and if the wall be whally made with cement, it will be enhanced about two ſhillings and ſix-pence per rope. In making of dry ſtone walls, two maſons ſhould work oppoſite each other, ſo that the ſurface of their work may be always level. Stones alſo ſhould be occaſionally ſeleted of a ſufficient length to reach the whole breadth of the wall; this precaution will bind the work together, and render it durable. QUICKSET HEDGES, Theſe hedges, if rightly managed and attended to whilſt young, are in themfelves great advantage and profit; they afford good ſhelter for the cattle, and they furniſh fuel and writh or dead fence for the neceſſary purpoſes of the oc- cupier. The firſt thing to be done, is to mark out the courſe of the ditch. The dimenſions of the bank on which the quick- ſets are planted is generally ſix feet at the bottom, three and a half TET OF SOMERSETSHIRE-, 81 a half feet at the top, and two feet high.* On each fide is a ditch three feet wide and two feet deep; the fſides being made floping, and the bottom not wider than ſix inches; thus is to prevent the cattle from walking in the ditch and cropping the young ſhoots. In making the ditch, the men ſhould be particularly careful not to throw any bad earth from the bottom of the ditches into the centre of the bank. If this be done, the growth of the quick will be greatly re- tarded. The making this bank will coſt nine-pence Per rope(twenty feet.) Let the ſets be taken from a nurſery formed on a good ſoil; let them be Éraight in their growth, having been once tranſplanted from the ſeed-bed, and four or five years old. The ſhoots ſhould alſo be ſmooth on the bark, and well rooted. Theſe ſets are worth about one ſhilling per hun- dred. The bank being thus prepared, and the quick ready, let a trench be cut in the middle of the bank, and let the ſets be cut off and laid with the head inclining a little at the diſ- tance of about three inches from plant to plant. Let the roots be then covered with a little of the beſt mould, after which fill up the whole trench with rotten dung, or compoſt, ftrewing a little more good mould on the top. The digging the trench and planting will coſt two-pence per rope. Nothing more is neceſlary than to ſecure them from in- jury. For their defence therefore, and ſhelter, two dead hedges muſt be made about four inches diſtant from the * In ſome inftances there is only one ditch, the earth on the other fide being worked of to a ſlope; by this plan the bank is kept more mo1ß, and the thorn plants flouriſh better. eutfide RRE ibis y Sa JE Zi- DemZ ESTERE Lii ES riva EE————< 82 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY outſide edges of the bank.+ Theſe hedges are about two feet and half high, and compoſed of wreath or buſh wood, with a proper number of fakes; the expence of materials and labour is about two ſhillings and ten-pence per rope. Time of planting the quick either in the months of October, February, or March. It is the pradice of ſome to plant wo rows of quick inſtead of one, but I have not found this plan ſucceed well. Some alſo recommend the planting at a greater diſtance than three inches, under an idea that thick planting retards the growth; buc I have invariably found that the hedges planted bic& thrive the beſt.: Some adviſe the planting of timber trees in the hedge, but I think it a bad praîice, as the dripping from them fre- quently kills the thorn plants, and makes a vacancy in the hedge. After this, the young guick muſt be carefully weeded and hoed twice a year, and particular care muſt be taken to pre- vent their being cropped either by cattle or ſheep, both of which are very fond of the tender buds; and if by any ac- cident they have gained acceſs to them, and gnawed them, they muſt be cut down within an inch and-half of the ground. In cold expoſed ſituations, vo /ets of dead fences are requi- ſite to bring the quick to maturity, and the coſt may be thus calculated:— {+ The expence of ſecuring thorn hedges with oak railing is very expenfives and in ſome inſtances has exceeded the value of the land ſo incloſed—beſides, the young quicks are not ſo well ſheltered as by a wreathed hedge, and conſequently do not make ſo rapid a progrefs in their growth. Making g Ts gr Pie ZER TELE. e———————————————— EEE es R DTi ECE EEE TL ——————=——_ A EE e$ E ain- 2 z-— OF SOMERSETSHIRE» 33 d. E| Making the bank— OOO Quick-ſets eighty in a rope 009 Planting and dunging—— 0/02 9"Two dead hedges—_—_ 025 E 4(N. B. One waggon-load of writh will coſt N 17s. 6d. and make about fifteen rope of : ſingle hedge.) : Making two dead fences—=O O5 6 76 ) Weeding plants for three years—_— 003 “Two additional dead hedges O20 ldi d i - N. B. The old wood will pay for ſundry repairs of the sf hedges injured by ſportſmen,&c. - In many counties it is the cuſtom to plant the quick in ) the face of the bank, and where wood for fencing is ſcarce, this method generally prevails, : Having now ſtated the diferent expence of a mortar and 3 lift wall, a dry wall, and alſo of raiſing a bank, and planting quick, it may not be amiſs to enumerate the comparative advantages and diſadvantages. A wall is certainly the beſt fence for a given number of 1 years. It covers leſs ground, it does leſs injury to the crops 5 if part by accident fall, it is eaſily repaired, cattle are kept more ſecure, ſportſmen are excluded. Theſe are the prin- * The price of hazel coppice-wood and labour being confiderably advanced, one ſhilling per rope muſt be added to this eſtimate. J.B. ng G2 cipal 34 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY cipal advantages,‘which in a great degree compen(ate for the want of ſhelter and durability, and in moſt inſtances where ſtone can eaſily be got, and I think in all caſes where land is poor and expoſed to violent and deftructive winds, it is the preferable fence. On the other hand, quickſet hedges are beautiful to the eye; and if the climate, quality, and depth of ſoil, be ſuch as to throw out a vigorous ſhoot, a 2d minute attention be paid to them in their infancy, they are leſs expenfive, and at the end of fourteen years will yield a ſufficient produce when cut down and plaſhed to pav all the expences incurred by the firſt making; and this cutting may be repeated every twelve or fourteen years without injury to the ftocks. And here let me remind the farmer, that the proper time to cut and plaſh his hedges is, when the ground is to be ploughed, or if it be paſture, when the crop is to ſtand for hay; for cattle are very fond of the young branches, and by cropping them in the ſummer, will greatly injure the ſhoots. But may not theſe two modes be ſo combined as to reap the advantage of both, that is, by making both a wall and a hedge? To this there can be no objection but the expence. A dry ſtone-wall, four feet and half high, with fix inches turf on the top, may be built on a fimilar calculation with the foregoing, for ſix ſhillings per rope; and a low bank may be raiſed under it, on which quick may be planted. FRIE growth, encouraged by ſhelter and warmth, will be rapid, and in four or five years time the wall may be taken away, and the ſtones converted into lime, or uſed on the publick roads, or for any other purpoſe. If this fence be made at the time when the land is converted into tillage, one dead fence to ſecure the plants on the inſide will be ſufficient, and that not an expenúive one, È The OF SOMERSETSHIRE-, 35 The DISDURSEMENT will be.as follows: Building four feet and half of wall, ſtones and halling included=== LOLO Turfing O2 Making bank and planting quick— 004 Sets——— OLORES One dead fence on the infide—_— 0 1 2 Weeding— OO A2 OE 0%. O From which deduct the value of the ſtones at three-pence per cart-load— #0 7 O This I think 2 more eligible mode of fencing than either of the preceding, but fill there is another method which I prefer to all others in ſituations ſuch as that on which we are now treating. This is making a bank three feet high, and planting on it full grown flee or black-thorn, ſetting them very thick, and cutting of the top to the height of three feet. The prin- cipal objeion that can be ſtarted to this plant is, the run- ning of its roots, which are ſaid to obſtruct the piough; but I can declare from long experience, that in banks ſuch as I deſcribe, accompanied with ditches two feet and half deep, no ſuch inconvenience has occurred. In moît countries great quantities of this black-thorn might be found in cop- pices, borders of fields, commons,&c. and the owners will * The ſame addition as before for advance of wages,&C« be 26 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY be obliged by your digging them up; one good waggon- load of theſe plants will be ſufficient for twelve rope, and the coſt may be thus eſtimated: e 0a dt Making the bank OA O Per roPe: Digging up and planting— 0 1 6 ditto Carriage of plants— 009 OS N. B. The price of carriage muſt vary according to the diſtance. It may be adviſeable to mix with the black-thorn ſome hazel or withy ſtocks, together with the large brier, and to lay the loppines of the ſloe along the ſummit of the bank, ſecuring them by ſmall ſakes ſo as to prevent ſheep from making a paſlage through the ſtocks, This fence requires but little repair; the ſloe will throw out ſo many ſhoots from its root, and the briar will ſo intwine its branches with the hedge, as to make it in a few years impervious to cattle of any kind, And though it cannot be expected to grow to a great height, yet it will be as cloſe and thick as the farmer can wiſh; and, together with the bank, will conſti- tute excellent ſhelter and defence, and withal will be made at the leaſt poſſible expence. After incloſing and dividing, the next objeds of attention are ſuitable buildings, ſuch as a dwelling-houſe, barns, ſta- bles, ftallings,&c.&c. Theſe are placed as near as poſlible to the centre of the farm, and though not elegant, are for the moſßt part uſeful and commodious. They are built with ſtone, and generally thatched, the inconvenience of which iS ſeverely felt; for the moiſture of the air, and the powerful effects OF SOMERSETSHIRE« 87 dl effets of the wind, render frequent repairs neceflary.* A u roof will require coating every eight or ten years; it is a harbour for vermin; is more dangerous in reſpect to fire, and, every thing conſidered, is more expenſive than tile, to ‘ope, encourage the uſe of which, our rulers would do well, were they to repeal the preſent tax upon that article,(or at leaſt to allow a drawback on ſuch as may be uſed on farm-houſes, barns,&c.) for I think it would not be difficult to prove that the injury done to the kingdom in reſpect to its agriculture, is five times greater than the produce of the tax. Exempt from duty, the uſe of tile muſt, T think, be general, by the which means all the ſtraw would be devoted to the purpoſe of ſubſiſtence for cattle, or manure. The expence of a ame comfortable farm-houſe, with its neceſlary appendages, is nû{0 eſtimated at about two hundred and fifty pounds. That bank, of a barn, roomy enough for four threſhers, and capacious from enough to hold twenty or thirty loads of corn, one hundred quires and fifty pounds. Stables, ſtalling, pig-ſtyes,&c. one hun- 100ts dred and fifty pounds more, making, in the whole five hun- with dred and fifry pounds. This expenditure will be ſufficient attle: for a farm of five hundred acres. The pradtice lately in- OW troduced of placing the barns on a declivity cannot be too the much commended; a warm and commodious fall for oxen, nſti- covered by one roof, is thereby gained. The barn floor, made thus elevated, is rendered more durable, and leſs ſubject to vermin; the corn is kept more dry and ſweet than on a ention ground floorz nor can it ſlip through the barn-floor without 5 lu diſcovery; and E know of no polſlible inconvenience that (ible ean accompany this plan. Barns, ſuch as theſe, are placed Ir the PELE SEMEN | viith Se!* Repair(if poſſible) thatched buildings in the ſummer ſeaſon. À hich 8 covering put on then, will laſt years longer than one put on in the werful winter, Be «feds: with 88 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY with a ſouth-eaſt aſpe&t, and the arches of the Étalling front that way. Annexed thereto is a capacious yard, with pro- per cribs for hay and ſtraw, where the animals feed, and re- tire at their pleaſure to their comfortable lodging, under the barn.| Nothing is neceſlary to complete the farm-yard but a pond or reſervoir of water; and as the ſituation is on a de- ſcent, ſuch pond is ſoon filled by the common current of rain, or it may be ſupplied by ſhoots from the roof of the barn. On one farm, ſituate in the pariſh of Compton-Martin, the proprietor has made a ſemicircular farm-yard, and by building a wal! on the ozxtfide, and round pillars on the fide, at the diſtance of about fourteen feet from each other, and covering the ſame with ſtrong lugs or poles, has made an excellent faddle for corn.‘To ſecure it from vermin, he has placed a row of flat ſtones at a foot diſtance from the top both of the wall and pillars z/ide and outſide.‘This row of ſones projets about eight inches, and ſhuts ſo cloſe together that no vermin can gain acceſs to the corn. On this ftaddle(as it is here called) he places the whole of his wheat crop, except that portion which“ he intends to threſh for ſeed; for the moiſture of the air in winter renders the wheat on theſe hills ſo damp and cold, that the ſale at that ſeaſon is very ſlack, and ſhould in moſt inſtances be avoided. In all my farming excurfons, I never ſaw a more comfortable covering for cattle, nor a better foundation for a corn mow; and under the ſuppoſition of its being threſhed in the ſummer months, no poſſible inconvenience can attend it, for the ſtaddle is cleared, and ready before harveſt to take another burthen. POOLS. A I E —— AE Leen E CS (LS. i OF SOMERSETSHIRE« 89 POOLS. The next, and not the leaſt important appendage of theſe farms, are poolé or reſervoirs of water; for on hills ſo ele=- vated few ſprings can be expe&ted. Nothing more ſtrongly verifies the truth of the'old adage,“ Neceſſity is the mo- ther of invention,” than the ſkill exhibited by the maſons of this diſtri@ in buildings of this nature. Scarcely ever do theſe pools let through the water, and the coft, ſuppoſing it to be of the following dimenfons, 40 feet long, 16 wide, and 6 feet deep in the middle, may be thus fated: Ad Digging out for foundation 2200 N. B. In moſt inſtances this will furniſh a ſufi- cient quantity of ſone for the building. Maſon’s labour_—— IO IO O Three hundred buſhels of lime— 3 0.0 Ten loads of clay and carriage— I 00 Eight loads of coal-aſhes and carriage— 180 IO OO E A pool of theſe dimenfions, ¡if properly fituated, will ſup- ply eighty or one hundred acres with a ſufficiency of water for the ſtock throughout the year; and ¡if well made, may be kept in repair for fix-pence a year. # Some cautious people go to a conſiderable diſtance for lime made from the white-lyas ſtone, which is certainly a ſtronger cement under water than the lime burnt on theſe hills. In this caſe, an additional expence is incurred. LIMEKILNS« z 90 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY LIMEKILNS, As Lime is the grand manure of this diſtri&, by which the improvements of cultivation are in a great meaſure brought about, kilns for burning it are numerous, and ge- nerally thought well conſtrued; their form is that of 2 French bottle, the height ſeventeen feet, the length of the neck, in which the calcination is wholly effe&ed, ſeven feet; its diameter four feet, and the diameter of the belly in the largeſt part twelve feet. They are built on the fide of a hill, by which means the top is on a level with the adjacent ock, and the coft is as follows: Solde Digging out the concavity (This will furniſh ſtone for the building) Building_—— 4 4 Lime and aſhes— 115 0 Building a ſhelf-houſe for the kiln to depoſit the lime, and covering the ſame— 3 00 TEN LIO O e) mr> EE bai [E (e) O In ſuch a kiln, may be burnt four hundred and eighty buſhels of lime per week, and this will conſume fifteen quarters, or one hundred and twenty buſhels of refuſe coal, ſuch as is not commonly uſed for any houſhold purpoſes. The coal cofts at the pit two-pence per buſhel, and the diſ- * In conſequence of the advance of lime, coal, and wages, lime- kilns now coît about thirteen pounds; and from the ſame cauſes, the coít of the lime wili be advanced to ſixteen-pence per quarter. J. B. 1797- tance OF SOMERSETSHIRE«- YL tance being ſix miles, the carriage is three-pence, the prime colt of the lime therefore is fourteen-pence per quarter, as the following calculation ſhews:: Weekly expence. Weekly produces Fifteen quarters of coal, at 3s. 4d. IO O)(FOIX quarters, Limeburner 4d. per quarter, at Ts 2d. digging ſtones and burning 1.0 0 ZELO O TO 0 L21050 The lime produced by one of theſe kilns will amply manure three acres per week; and I leave my readers to determine, whether kilns of this conſtrudion are or are not to be preferred to thoſe in ſhape of an inverted cone. The largeneſs of the ſurface in the laſt-mentioned muſt, I ſhould think, require coal of a better quality, and conſume a greater quantity, ROADS Laſtly, let us take a view of the publick Roads. They are left forty feet wide, and are ſtoned twelve feet. It is uſual to ſtone theſe roads one foot thick in the mid- dle, and nine inches at the ſides, making thereby a gentle CUIVEe Firſt — IRR SDiE TI diu LTS CDA SER E 5 ¿er ÉT ga 92 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Si di Firſt forming— 0 6 per rope of 20 feet. Digging eight loads of ſtone(25 D (e) cwt. each) Wheeling or halling ditto— Breaking ditto— 3 (ER) E) 8 6% | Note, The expence of halling muſt vary according to the diſtance of the ſtone. NODE OF CUL EIV A TTON: The incloſure being now finiſted, buildings ereQed, pools made, and publick roads formed, let us now take a ſurvey of the expence of cultivating theſe lands, under the following heads: ploughing, manuring, cropping, and har- veſting. In this, I ſhall endeavour to draw information from reaſon and experience, and ſhew upon what grounds the pradtices are founded, ſo that my readers may then take or refuſe them, according to their own judgments. I have before ſtated, that the ſoil of Mendip hills is a fine mellow mould, intermixed occaſionally with leſs fertile in- gredients, ſuch as fone, gravel, clay, and the like; and ac- cording as theſe are gfeater or lefler in quantity, the ſoil is woríe or better. In all caſes the huſbandman may dißtin- * I muſt here reprobate the narrow policy of which I have myſelf been too guilty, viz. that of ftoning the roads only twelve feet wide. In conſequence of its narrowneſs, one track only is formed by wheel- carriages, and the repairs are endleſs, On all accounts, experience direâte me to recommend ſixteen feet at leaſt. J.B. 1797. guiſh OF SOMERSETSEIRE- 93 guiſh the general nature of the ſoil, by its aípeët on the ſur- face, or by the produce thereof. Where the fern grows in great luxuriance, there he is ſure to find deep good land; but weak low furze, ruſhes, or white graſs, are ſymptoms of poverty.: The objeâ to which we now proceed in our diſquiſition may be deemed the moft important and intereſting, being nothing leſs than the proceſs by which this comparatively barren ſoil is converted into fertile and productive land: and on a nearer inſpedtion, it will probably be allowed, that few inſtances can be adduced of attempts more ſucceſsful to individuals, or more beneficial to community.‘This ſoil does not pour forth its vegetable productions ſpontaneouſly, but its qualities and frength are ſuch as to produce great returns, if properly cultivated and manured; and were an ancient inhabitant of theſe regions to return to life, he would be at a loſs to know the name of this apparently new country. The months of September or October are the beſt to commence the tillage. The inſtrument made uſe of, is a ítrong foot plough, without wheels, colt two guineas,‘The breadth of the plit about ten, and the depth four inches. Four horſes, or ſix oxen, will turn about three-fourths of an acre in eight hours. A man is employed to go after the plough with a ſpade, to repair baiks, to dig up fones, and to lay the plit flat: this ploughing may be valued from twelve to twenty ſhillings per acre. In this ſtate it remains to be mellowed by the winter froſts till March, when black oats are ſown, after the rate of fix or ſeven buſhels per acre, and harrowed in by four turns of the harrow on the ſame ground. A few farmers, previous to this ſowing, have lately adopted the plan of hacking the ſurface, at the expence of five ſhil- Ungs per acre: by which means leſs ſeed will do, and the ſame i 65A OO E_ 94 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY ſame is more regularly diſtributed and better covered; be- a E i auer MEGA dE TR i=- ſide, the hacking and harrowing is not more expenúve than the troubleſome dragging before-mentioned: the expence of either of theſe operations may be eſtimated at ſeven ſhillings 0 Peracre, After this, it is rolled at an expence of one ſhilling per acre. Nothing more is done till harveſt, and the average produce may be ſei at twenty-five buſhels per acre; the ſtraw of which will pay for harveſting and threſhing(that is, about eight ſhillings per acre.) Soon after harveſt, or indeed at any part of the winter, the ground is croſs-ploughed with the deuble-furrow plough, value ſix ſhillings per acre. Harrowed in March, value two ſhillings; and in April the liming 1s begun. Four horſes and two men, with two carts holding thirty-two buſhels of lime each,(if the kiln be not at a greater diſtance than one mile) will cover one acre and half per day, at the rate of one hundred and ſixty buſhels per acre. The lime is depoſited in heaps of one buſhel, at the diſ- tance of ſixteen feet and half every way. Coft per acre (value of lime included) thirty-five ſhillings. Covering theſe heaps with earth, and afterwards ſpread- ing them,(which ſhould be done as ſoon as the lime is diſ- ſolved) are worth one ſhilling and lix-pence per acre. After this the ground is well harrowed, two ſhillings per acre; then ploughed very thin or raftered, five ſhillings; harrowed again two ſhillings, and in this ſtate remains for the ſeed earth. It is found highly advantageous to expedite the liming, and to finiſh all the work previous to the ſeed. earth by the middle of July; ſo that all the ſtock, ſuch as cows, lheep, horſes,&c. may have free acceſs to the fallow, or may be frequently driven over it, for the purpoſe of ma- King it cloſe and compa@, The latter end of September, Or DÉPT OF SOMERSETSHIRE, 95 or beginning of the month of Odober, is the time for ſow- ing; and this is done in two ways, ſome ſowing under fur- row, others harrow in the ſeed; the latter I think preferable, as the uncorrupted ſward, furze,&c. are by harrowing brought to the ſurface, and are a great defence to the infant plant during winter; whereas, if buried, they keep the ground hollow, and expoſe the roots to injury. Which ever way it be done, the laſt ploughing, ſowing, and harrow- ing, will coſt about ſeven ſhillings per acre, to which add two buſhels and half of ſeed, value fifteen ſhillings, and the whole expence has been enumerated. No weeding is ne- ceſlary, nor is there any other diſburſement, ſave rolling in April, which ſhould be performed with a very heavy roller, at the expence of two ſhillings per acre. Let 96 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Let us now recapitulate the expences, and ſtate the ave- rage produce per acre. Firft year. Firft year, Dr. La SE Cr. T'o firſt ploughing— 0 160 PESA: ‘To hacking and ſowing oats 0 7 0 ‘To ſix buſhels of ſed— 0 15 o By 25 buſhels To rolling OO Oats 280d 226 To-one year’s rent— 080 Second year. Second year. To croſs ploughing-— 0 6 0 By 25 buſhels To harrowing O20 WhEAGOS 7.100 To liming(160 buſhels per acre)— 1150 To covering and ſpreading 0 16 To harrowing— 0 20 y To ploughing— 0 50 To harrowing— 020 To laſt ploughing, ſowing,| and harrowing— 0 70| To two buſhels and half of ſeed— 0150 To rolling— 0 20 To two years rent— 0160 7.96 4 Profit 2 12/0| IO 12 0 IO 1I2 6 E=>——— N.B. The ftraw in both inſtances will pay for reaping, harveſting, and threſhing. HARVESTING E n E M fa ES pr a Eg DARVESTING AND THRESHING-« The reaping of wheat is generally performed by the acre; and, as the ripening is a fortnight later on theſe hills than 5 in the vale, there is no want of hands. T1_: price from five to ſeven ſhillings and ſix-pence per acre, binding, and mowing. It is always ha iN E as it 1s called, that is, colleéted within the palm öf the hand be- ZS| tore the hook or ſickle is applied. All the corn, wheat, barley, and oats, are bound into ſheaves and mowed in the field. The price for barley and oats from three to five ſhillings; beſid “ EEE 1/7 es theſe prices, the men are allowed for wheat two gallons of beer, and for barley and oats one gallon ¿tia » In ſituations ſubje to ſudden and violent rain, thi mowing 1n the field cannot be condemned, as, in re- ſpect to E the day's cutting is ſecured every evening, and the lent corn can be put together and ſecured muc! ſooner than in the common method. n D 1 ES 1 The principal E are, the bringing mice with the e Mow; and the want of ſuf= ſheaves into th e b arn 19 Or lar ww. 2; ISE C] Nf 7x7 oſe 17 ne T1 fc- winter thre hin c1ent drynels 1n the corn for winter threſhing., The men of this country are very dextrous in making theſe mows, ſo as to prevent rain from injuring the corn; Y B| ME cau E: tis Ep e ENE E E 2 tE PS and they Irequentiy remain. ive or 1X WeeKs 1n the fel T1} 1 iy) y without ſuf tering any damage. fe EBEL y 1 SS 2 E ES O EE EE ESR LAIE Wheat 1s ſeldom ed with the ſtraw, but the ears are =: o MAS"a i y EEE ELE LE yA x7 rht e.>» cut off, and the ſtraw bound in ſheaves tied very tight; the circumference of the ſheaf at the bond ſhould be ſix feet; ECA FSE AB> henf inecal lj BEA SE th1s colis five-pence per, ſheaf, including the threſhing of TS ¿SEE A x11] duc ra I 7 et ENC earS E/A 700d acre OÏ Wheat Wul Produce three dozen TJ Magro [S) NCaV e 5» j 4 oP AGRICULTURAL SORNEY fheaves, value eight ſhillings and fix-pence per dozen,* and O each ſheaf ſhould weigh fifty-ſix pounds. By this method, the firmneſs of the ſtalk is PrelerVe ed, and rendered more va- luable for the purpeſes of thatching buildings,&c. Barley and oats are threſhed by the guarter. Price from one milling to one ſhilling and ſix-pence per quarter. A good acre of oats will produce two waggon-loads of O The land is now conſidered in its higheſt ſtate of ſtrength and M and it is thought by moſt farmers, that every ſucceeding year reduces its value; nor can this be wondered J at, when tl E courſe of cropping is ſtated. It is no unuſual thing to have three or four ſucceſſive crops of corn, nay, ſometimes five or E without an inter- vening fallow, or fallow crop; greateſt part of the fſlraw 1s ſold, nor is the land ſown with artificial graſſes till it 1s no longer able to bear corn. incial- term for this management, and the alled reed-ſheaves. They are in general ning, for which, indeed, they are ſolely in- onûned to Mendip, but 1s in common difiri&t. The workmen are very dex- chers no leſs expert in uſing it; and at ; a covering more durable than any other * NE nes that the thatched buildings of this neighbourhood excite the admiration of many ſtrangers coming © from other parts where this pradtice is not known. A dozen ſheaves will cover a ſquare of one hundred feet. Price work) three ſhillings per dozen. À ſecond or ucceedIng CSA two fſMulli :°s per dozen. Mending;, four-pence per ſhea R cf Jome people diſpute th1s point, and ſay, that the hollow tube of the wheat-ftraw admits the air, and that its decay is thereby accele- rated, and Iron Cx perle NC€)) that threfh ed ſir raW 158 MOTE CQUrAa le than 1/317)}Î 24 LAL UTIL IIT C/C e Jo This Sm R——— —“_, OF SOMERSETSHIRE\ 09 e, the climate, has hitherto operated as an effectual bar to the 1 | This mode of treatment, together with the coldneſs of ſettlement of opulent and more enlightened farmers; but I | am well perſuaded, than if even one Á R as WETEC | to ſettle here on a farm of a proper ſize, viz. five or ſix hundred acres, he would, according to the farmer’s phraſe, « find himſelf at home,” and his example would ſoon be followed by many others. Cabbages, turnips, potatoes, carrots, parſnips, vetches, flax, oats, clover, and all artificial graſſes, may be ſown in the higheſt abundance and perfedion. The land is never glutted with 2 nor ſubject to drought, and the fogs(of which ſo much is ſaid) are pre- valent only in the winter ſeaſon.* It cannot be denied, but that a cold wet ſummer, ſuch as that of 1792, is peculiarly unfavourable to the ripening of corn on lands of ſuch elevation, but in ſummers like the laſt, few countries could vie with it. Though I am no advocate for farms of an exceſſive€x- tent, yet I think, that on ſoils, and in ſituations ſuch as Mendip hills, they ſhould not be leſs than four or five hun- dred acres. I. mean ſufficient to keep a flock of ſheep for the purpoſes of folding, which ſhould be unremittingly pur- ſued EL both winter and ſummer months. On the fallows in the ſummer, and on the graſs land or in the farm- yard in the winter. A wether flock would be beſt calcu- lated for E O and it is a matter of doubt with many judicious farmers, whether ſheep of that kind are not equally profitable with the breeding ſtock, even 1n ſituations more * The inconvenience of fogs is greatly abated by the incloſing and draining of the low moor lands in the vicinity of Mend: IP. kl 2 mild -# PE EE ae SA—— TE D e EE e S EID— E— E EEN i EEE— EE E————————————” E—————— e—————— E E ETES —————— M—s D . er gi a I o TO AGRICULTURAL SURVEY ſyſtem of management, one hundred acres might be manured every year with the fold, which. joined m I 104 7 C 2= EA tion of the farm-yard iming and the applica- ould keep the land in a pro- [D] I Y 2 2/= CS A SLE EE Pref= I AS ex LP AM HI oreſſlive fate of improvement, and at the leaſt poſſible TN n LA ES EA EE 2 bb ES ON Le A LTL OTMEerily TtNe DPIQUZIS IEG nere Were Ce NOLL aukward - L, . 1 1 I EE and il]-contrived, ti pS Sn , but they have in a great meaſure given place to the double-) vhich was introduced to this neighbourhood by a ſpeculative ¿garded and de- 4 man who turn rT 1= rc ra aS PL Rg pP eS, 1 LR If hough COmmon È farmet SATCTON NC BIOIL PArt i DAC ckward ï do ti[0122 ry NEW la Vo) VET] HCVCE k1 ACW Any 22 aluabl. diſ in a P 1 V E nS, Y ne 1 Ccovery E they E not líooner- or later íall into. 90 if +] 1=| ZSS Y) x70«H- happened with the double pl For ten 5 the Ww LEA PEE PS E E E RS i perion above alluded to ute this Initrument, and Was Con- 2 SRE EMCS eN==S nder the direétin nf tha Raf als of ploughs exhibited under the direction of the Ba ELIG X COMDA riſot R e——— e ———————————————————————— SCT TETTE———_— LZ EE OF SOMERSETSHIRE-, IOI Ds 1 riſon W ine diſtrict, no leſs than fifty CY IVe Tes, Ï 7 1 x á A ith the old ploughs of ſaved on a farm of hundred ac *:: Another mode of managen has been for many years NA- Pas paſt introduced by the perſon before alluded to, namely, the GCT loughing by tead of the day. The contradt is thus conducted; the maſter finds oxen The[at= SS at all times, even when and f CE and the ploughman labour and driver. bound to attend the ‘om work by rain, E froſt, or any other cauſe. 1s two Li for N RE E ES LS ER DEE lings and tWwO-Pence PEI acre ghing of the rough Mendip lands when frft in- NA VS E E RES RS E EE ES A E T4112 cloſed,(this is done with a ſingle plough) and one ſhilling 1 other ploughings of every deſcription, 1 and two-pence for all with the double plough. D I1Q SSM nt MmAnN- M Y«y C Hs By this ſyſtem of management he has 1 annually had more ï: 1E|= Se SS N RS E ground ploughed by oe team, than his A by wo; and it has been no unuſual thing for his man and boy to ſey[SAU that 1s, for two acres and half per earn regularly per week een fhillings and ſiz-pence A Cay On an average, Na da his man has) repeatedly d with ſix oxen(in yokes land, ſtatute meaſure, in forty-eight hours; twenty acres of I mean in ſix ſucceſſive days, reckoning eight hours per day: the breadth of the Ing nine inc plit according to agreement not exceed- hes, nor the depth leſs E four inches,( when h to admit thereof.) here A ſeriouſly confider the advantages The Engliſh labourer Oi C0 “ Ged to contra health and longe- Many ſenſible and well-meaning men have obje labour, under the idea of its being injurious to the l—but though I have been in the habit of letting To hnnrava 1¿4DOUTETr; my work by the job or taſk for twenty years paſt, I never perceived any ill eed on the health or ürength of my workmen. Where great exertion gi ua a——_— I Ls ————_——— Spie ri SS e—— [O2 AGRTCULTURAG SURVEY labourer is naturally diſpoſed to vigorous exertion, en couraged thereto, either by an increaſe of wages, or by the exhilarating influence of good cheer. Do we not ſee in times of harveſt a degree of aQvity exhibited, unknown at other times of the year? and this at 2 ſeaſon when the heat of. the weather naturally induces J Do not the manufaQurer and artifan, almoſt of every deſcription, have recourſe to contrat Ï abour? And though their workmen earn from ten to thirty ſhillings per week, do they not find their account in ſo doing, from the emu- lation which it excites, and the perfection ES workmanſhip which it produces? E it not be acknowledged, that in thoſe countrie where daily labour 1s the prevailing mode, a ſlow and indo- Li lent habit is generated, which neither promiſes nor threats 1 entirely overcome, to the great injury of the common- wealth, as well as of the farmer. Suppoſe we allow the averazge rate of daily labour to be ſixteen-pence, and admit that by Con, men will be excited to earn twenty-pe nce, what an addition of uſeful labour would be created, taking it in an aggregate poi int of view! But I muſt not enter too widely into this field of diſcuſ- fion, and ſhall only add, that in reſped to the operation of ploughing, the method now ſuggeßted can only be ſubject to , hte Z TTU0 ODJC ¿ltions, exertion and exceſs of wages are forerunners to drunkenneſs and de- bauchery, ſuch conſequences may follow;—but no pradical man will deny, that where daily labour prevails, a confiderable portion of the day is waſted in ſauntering, holding tales, anc lin a ſluggiſh uſe of thoſe limbs which are— le of’ more liv motto. At any rate, ploughing by the acre cannot poſlibly be attended witl ¿ny injury to the health or ftrength of the ploughman. Firſt, OF SOMERSETSHIRE- IO3 él Firſt, the poſſibility of cattle being A by too great| B-( ¡M je exertion; and ſecondly, EA ón in the execution, y Both theſe are eafily obviated by fating, t i at the eye of IVIty the maſter may ſee, and E judgment may direct, ſo as to ———————— at preclude the poſſibility of 1mp ofition, without detection. 4 - FF RR TS SS TR E Arto A Ie EAP of rn ES 6G i( ICES PD1/patch at Pal TICUAT iCal the year may be Cconll-| id,--| dered as invaluable, R n— to ſpring and ery ſummer crops. A dry ar occurs in March; by contract labour O Improved| inítru- Uan Z Z E 185 J RS RZ E SON MF y ES Sen ek, nents, you are enabled to pooh 7 nd ſow double the uſual u- quantity. The increaled produce in comparifon with a , A7 1 À A nril Lt E R A n t E SA 1D ſowing In Apr il, MAY be fairly calculate d at more than the rent of the land, excluſive of the comparative cheapneîs ; D E ORA E E a PEE LE a The ſame argument will hold good, in relpect to flax, hemp, Liv- À K turnips, potatoes, cabbages, ſummer-fallows,&c.&c. COMPARISON BETWEEN HORSES AND OXEN-,. Imif EN It is the general opinion of farmers in this d liſtrit, that ZA: oxen are preferable to ho ríes, for the purpoſe of ploughing, | but for harrowing and all other E the R 8 The expences of keeping a team of each for the pur- 1 TAT 7 oſes of farming may be thus fated, and it will appear, that E 2 Ma)> as i (E) e ſuperiority of oxen is not ſo great as ſome ſanguine men : ha YG itatec è nd de- n will rf{ne { thole 1\ 0 M tl HORSE | n a,> A e EE E Tet“— Z EET AGRICULTURAL SURVEY be © = HORSE TEAM,(4) 1»ounds. eſs than one hundred tar Pa A . EA * d. To 30 weeks keeping at hay, 12 tons at 408 24 0 0 Corn throughout the year— 230 D O To twenty-two weeks keeping at graſs, at 2s. bd. each borſe——— 15 8 0 2, ? ¿D LIGIA AES N NP I EDAI1IrS OÏ Narneis=— 2 O t LU arrier ad Moneino L 2 O O 5 arrTierſ and LOCINZ TETES E TT LE O O e= ON TEAM.(6) D I O lI las pp pa fe 1 5 A LS pA ne rit colt or theſe, ſuppoſine them to be the beſt North-Devon breed, and four or five years old, yokes, >] s 1d hh nir> E R E OI dl S5, dnd CAAINS INCIUded,* j S T'o twenty-fix weeks at hay, twenty-four tons, At d—--——— a 4.0 O O i wenty-úx ditto at graſs, 2s. 6d. per week CEaCNn OX are mama IO IO 0) Repairs of yokes and bows, and chains OCIO LO ES Es SA TN * ODxen are now( January T2797) fifty per cent. dearer EE ACM be OS WE IE 24 INGE AI OF SOMERSETSHIRE-, 105 but in all other reſpets they ſtand on equal ground; for horſes, if purchaſed at the age of four or five years, are im- proving in value for two or three years, as much or more than oxen. And every intelligent farmer mußt be ſenſible ] of the folly of keeping a horſe after he is fix or ſeven years old; they ſhould then be transferred to common carriers, &c. and E ſhould e be the medium whereby a young horſe becomes, by gentle labour, inured to more / D 32| ſevere diſci ¡pline. LIMING Having already fated that lime is the great article of ma- dern improvement of theſe hills, I Mall only add, that in- 67 ances might be produced of lands letting ât this time for 17(hll; Z nro hib Foarts7 ES— EES tNIrTty 1INLLHBNCS Pel SS which ¿Vi LY VYCAarSs aco0 Were not - OD Pi ) s 4_*11° De PA E E 7 worth four ſhillings; and the beginning of all theſe improve- nant- A yherahy the gcidit eS SR ENEE ments has been by lime, whereby the acidity of the ſoil, imprecznated with mineral exbalation, has been corrected, 1“< and crops raiſed on‘them as good as thoſe on improved fields; and it is no leſs wonderful than true, that thirt art-loads of rotten dung per acre, previous to liming, have had no ſenſible effÆ; but after the land has been once N the operation of dung is as perceptible here as on othér lands. Surely this circumßance will prove, that thele hills come under the deſcription of barren land, as referred to in the ſtatute of Edward VI. and as fuch be exemp from the payment‘of tithes for ieven years. Ÿ Before we leave the ſubje& of liming, 1t may be right to Á IAA ERA ip SES inform my readers, that ſome have drellea their old paſtures $ It is much to be lamented, that a ambiguity in that act is not lone away by a new bill explanatory of i ¿its Meaning. with [Y Er CR etes SURYVI [v) I 1 CEPTIDIC W) A / AA FLU LUCiA LIN OF SOMERSETSHIRE- IO} nd : CHAPTER VII\ : ARABLE LAND, y ue A: corn is bur little attended to, in the greateſt part of y I ¡is diſtri, the mode of tillage is very defective. IENE Y ſtubbles are ſcarce ever ploughed till near Chriſtmass5 and —— as it 1s the common practi ice to have at leaſt two crops of M lent corn after wheat, the ground is ſeldom in a proper ſtate to receive graſs ſeeds. - Few turnips* are grown; and the land intended for ſum- ner fallow, preparatory to wheat, is not ploughed till the ſowing of the ſpring-corn is finiſhed,—from theſe cauíes the land abounds with couch-grafs, coltsfaot,&c."Nor can we recommend the ROTATION OV CRORS On the Clay, it 1s N Beins> 1. Beans LiLe AI GLL u : 2d. Whe (4[D IIm er Þ allo WV i È E f : EE 2d. Winter-fallow and oats, QU\ y near'f OT,” Sis- ES with artificial ſeeds 4th. Oats E E E aal N N, B.‘This will do tolera- cth. Oats and gralis-leeds S SS:= bly wel. ‘ SO This is a pretty good courſe. . DEANS ath. Oat( * An acre of good turnips will(between the months of November and March). maintain one hundred ſheep fix weeks, and an acre of cabbages two months. An acre alſo of good turnip-rooted cabbages»s © 8 or an acre of Swediſh N will maintain one hundred ſheep through Vi ne try ing mon 1th of 1V March. [t is ſuppoſed th: little kay be given with the roots. _ SR a Se EEE Ta R u TOO poe R aui =—— R= ENDE Petia n E:— ZS GAMERS SUTTEEE my / H | Es 6 eS) i|> A ps m) ç©> S| 2 S LES GSi= RS j| N nf S N: 7 CS e f 3 2 Mae E:| : ww) N= AM:| Ls j S 5 i x— S oo)[am A Saru; 4 A ¡)(2A, AV 5“0A| >(E) E== è D M di_— E_ f IE>\ U. A_ E= F:: }Þ|*—— as= Sl Z Sh| A 5 Me N — an“« es Lal= p SD [|-: e)}— ds cs RES cd Ï E E 7\ L n 4- cs pa 2 A| |— BS_[AD CRT) la 2) O Qa/ f Y 2 pm Tr È | R;:=; O)= N/ |: j:: Z E ¿ E D AREE Y \ Ñ FTE) Ae E Ï E: AOE S |:- S:::—(FE)« wt D O e Don y_—) Rs e EEE( BA S Os:: 5 RZ E] Lr) 2 gc“un SES D 4 1 SS— zZ O2 BS = IS TA cy E ü> E : L= Dd M- Te p= | jj D O: S 7 E E». H= CO)| Giner e= R ES es 5 y t= F C— Me| c3 S WV et 5:: G LS |:: FB)‘A®) a| Ì y- d| E 12 2 S 5 5 ae”. Gi es S Âs M" 5 4 rl w ſN 3 BE—$: E S Y> F——- Sidel AA de S E Z Z Ï: y= cs ; E= N 3(7)— SZ 6_— 5= 2 E po, 4 M GE zZ- = 7- Kt Pi an : z ë 3€=: AOE i S p= co s 7 D HS 3 / m=_ yr Tus) UO) ar) iS 5 D | D O e Lf ce Z ELE M e= | 4 EE a>= è( R C S EZ— cs=< i ES S= SS fi: — e- Ll E S:/ h / O 2- we—_ E: dJ (Pe>>°° cs e ZMG ER 1 OR i Fr E es- A 5: SZ- /. è- AÑ L4 i À E EN di AA=: o 0 Cu, i C 4+ e |-= Z ns TZ:= ZES_—— ra Î E- O 2 E D) pe aes 3 j ras PR gr] o 2|= pa= COO TE= D. IUS C : y= UU_—[. C N y A UV e EHE SI C I R| 5 iP)- A s S2 © È E Que e RCSL EC ye Oî IOM 1S 37 WaLUlsy +7 y | 27 At UV CL B 1 DTOCIHCEC HY E LEE—— e————————— ITO AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Rye and BucK-WHEAT ſcarcely known. BEANs and PEASE are ſometimes ſown broadcaſt, and ſometimes planted; the latter is conſidered as the beſt method. V ETCHES are not cultivated ſo much as they ought. TEASELS. În the pariſhes of Wrington, Blagdon, Ubly, SA oNn- Martin, and Harptry, teaſels are much MEE Ihe head i _ duns € SE Ss punt 0) © O Rs D) — D (4) AS (C O in A Á CD 1 E 4 ws D) )) AQ QQ. 4 D Q CD ) @] D of this plant, whi D a SEI QLETES Je UA E E NSJLA YS NEA E hooks, is uſed in dreſſing of cloth; and the manufacturers D of this county and Wilts are, for the moſt part, ſupplied from theſe pariſhes. Large quantities are alſo ſent(by water con- veyance from Briſtol) into Yorkſhire. s this is a plant not generally known, I will deſcribe its culture. ‘The moſt favourable ſoil is a frong rich clay, or what is generally denominated good wheat land. So netimes an old ley 1s broke up, and ſometimes a wheat- ſtubble; the ſæd is ſown, after the rate of two pecks per acre, in the month of April. During the ſummer the land is worked over three or four times with long narrow ſpades to deſtroy the weeds. In the month of November, if the plants are too thick, they are drawn out to fill up vacancies, and the plants arë ſet a foot diſtance. If, after this thinning, too many E remain, SS field is prepared, into which they are tranſplanted; but thoſe plants which are never removed pro- 7 gl duce tne beſt IIEdGS. «1 es PRS and A PE n A ALL PH RS n E= At the next ſpring and enſuing ſummer the land is worked over three or four times with the narrow ſpades, by which it 1s kept thorough clean, and the plants earthed up. This ic called pedali; is called peddling. In In the month of July the uppermoſt heads E to bloſ- ſom, and as ſoon as the bloſſom falls, they are ripe. The cathering is performed at three different times. A man with a knife made for the purpoſe, cuts the heads which are ripe, and ties them up in handfuls, After a fortnight he =+T J Ff[m 00ES OYEeLI and at a third cutting the bußi- Fs t!: BE AE Y_ neſs is compleated. On the day of cutting they are carried A N17 - if th EE E D= into d houſe C5 an d if ne dil DC GiEd 5 CIC alc E ut daily and A to the IUT till they al C COMpPICatiy CIY 5 but oreat care muíſt be taken that no rain falls on them. St Ce L ‘2 m) OS ¿=- 2ZzaArdouU\ wet ſeaſon r The: crop is very hazardous. A wet ſeaſon rots them, particularly when there is much rain at the time of bloſ- ſom ing US y an E In the year 1792 there were few worth harveſting. The R' È e. When dry they are ſe- 1 IN T4! nade 1nto packs, contain- 3- hand RSS Ss 1| PES LE In OÙ Nneaus, and ol middauing twenty ” Titr] le fg Pei Hr thouſand. of little value. The averag ] LL- anda iometimes the produce i 1s Hiteen or UXteen Þ acks an 1 acre, at other times a total blank. rey E E-> 4} n= SUAZA(ff 6 AUEN There 1s an amazing inequality in the produce of difterent EA 1 ſnd Ear e hundred head< SE Piantsz ſome fe ocks wlll ſend fort€ NUNdCred neads, Others not More than TNree Or TOU”. attention therefore be paid to the ſelec- mt QUESTI Z SEE DNnouid not 2Tea -] alzino 1“( 2 EN N| 2 s tion of ſeed, namely, by taking it from thoſe plants which I DP 2 fe] L appear to be moſt prolifick? This, however, is not done, t the ſeed is taken indiſcriminately from the whole cro As the R of the crop chiefly depends on the care taken to keep the land free from weeds, leaving the plants at proper diſtances, and earthing them up well; and as moſt of the common workmen will pay more attention to their own than to another perſon’s intereſt, it frequently happens| — OE ar O“e i= Rs E è.> E ———————= E e ERA< ES ¿ > ZE iia TTA Bi: E- 113 AGRICULTURAL SURVEV a partnerſhip is formed between maſter and man. The for- mer finds ground and ploughing, and the latter ſeed and labour. At harveſt the crop 1s divided, and each party takes a moiety. The expence and produce of teaſels may be thus eſtimated per acre. To two years” rent i vani— To pioug! UnNe2==> STEELE (DLLS) n QRO O To workmen's labour=_—— 315 To making out in bundles, tying together, and teaſel-bands, 25. per pack_—— 014-0 GE| Seven packs, af 408.————I4 00 “i Ds E 3 x q RES La Lithe and taxes excepted: the firſt of which is generally y 1 Ó COMpounded Tor af 55, per acre. Î he working with the ſpade can only be done to ad- vantage by the men accuſtomed to it, who are become, by y habit ſo dexterous in the Uſe of this implement thaé they NaDIf, 10 GCXTerous In tfhe Ue orf this 1Mmpiement, that they 4 will even thin out a crop of carrots. The common hoe has been tried, and though in the hand CEET of a compleat turnip-hoer, it was not found to anſwer. A Feror the ArAnnN sh Anf i N 0 N hH1 After the crop wheat is lown, on one ploughing, and ſel- dom fails of a good produce; ſo that 1t may not be quite fair to charge the teaſels with two years? rent. Few ſous will bear frequent repetitions of this crop; and La Farre vr Ande ir o A EArA A7 a nA hrAl- an, the farmer nds 1t his interelt to devote newly broken-up R ES E land fo this cuiture. WV O AD E E— zn e C D L>) OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 112 WOAD,. ‘This 1s an article of cultivation, which, being important, as it relates to the woollen manufa@ory, muſt not be omit- ted. It is raiſed principally in the neighbourhood of Keyn=- ſham, and its quality RA eſteemed. he farmers who raiſe it have an opinion that the pariſh of Keynſham 1s particularly favourable to the growth and perfection of it; but this is moſt likely a vulgar error, for experiments are atteſted of as good crops elſewhere. The ſoil muſt be ſtrong and good where it AUA it delights moût in a deep fat loam, of a dark colour, which muß have ſo much fand as to admit of eaſy pulverization. As the ex- cellence of woad conſiſts in its fize, and the ſucculency of its leaf, it reguires careful management as well as a rich ſoil, it is moſt commonly ſown on land freſh broken up, and on arrow ridges. The firſt ploughing ſhould be againſt winter; the ſecond 1n the ſpring, when the ridges ſhould be formed; a third in April; and the laſt in May or June, juíſt before the ſowing of the ſeed.* In the intervals of the ploughing, harrowing ſhould take place, to deſtroy all weeds, The ſeed is ſometimes ſown by the beſt farmers in drills, for which purpoſe the ſurface ſhould be harrowed Very i KL and level.‘The plants, in a moiſt ſeaſon, appear in a fort- night, and Dt two, or three weeks after are fit to hoe; they ſhould be hoed out clean, to the diſtance of about ſix inches at leaſt; ſome prefer a greater diſtance. In this neighbour=- hood, hand-weeding and thinning are generally uſed; and at I the employ, women and children earn very high wages, E cially ſince a cotton manufa@ory has been introduced in the + Frequently woad is ſown on ¿ey ground, and on one ploughing;, the Surface being well harrowed. arm TL parun LR= zn EE ET dS un“cial 58- vf PEA Deir: v5 ia ys te E e: 114 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY pariſh. The ſucceſs of the crops depends much on the hoeing and weeding, ſo as to keep the ground freſh and clean. Thus managed, three or four crops or gatherings will be produced in ſucceſlion; but the firſt two are the beft. The time of gathering is determined by the full growth of the leaves, and the firſt appearance of change of colour at the extremities; and this rule of courſe governs the ſucceeding crops. The leaves are cut by hand, and gathered into baſkets by women and children, who carry them to a very deep large cart at the edge of the field. After two cuttings, the crop 1s ſuffered to go to ſeed for the next year, if ſced be wanted; but if only one crop be taken, the ſeed will be“the finer. When the pods turn of a dark colour, the ſeed is deemed ripe. The ßalks ſhould then be reaped like wheat, and ſpread abroad; and if the weather be favourable, the ſeed will be fit for threſhing in four or five days. When the green crops are carted home, the plant 18 thrown into a mill, conſtrued with a heavy iron ribbed roller, ſomething like that which is uſed for bruiſing bark and other ſubſtancesz by this proceſs it is cut and bruiſed to a pulp. It is then laid in ſmall heaps, preſſed cloſe and ſmooth; and as the cruſt formed on the outſide cracks, it 18 cloſed again to preſerve the ſtrength of the ſubſtance. After lying about a fortnight in this fate, the heaps are broken up, the outſide worked into the maſs, and the whole formed by the hand, and ſometimes by wooden moulds, into ova! balls, which are then dried on hurdles, under a ſhed expoſed to the ſun. They turn black, or of a dark-brown, on the outſide, when well manufaQured, and are valued in proportion to their ſpecific weight and a purpliſh caft in the inſide. Thus they are ſold to the dyer; and it is ſcarcely neceſſary to add further, OF SOMERSETSHIRE« Vi 15 further, that the uſe of this árticle in dying conſiſts in form- ing the ground of the indigo blue. The crop is generally a profitable one. The quantity per acre near a ton and half. The nett profit of courſe muſt be governed by the good- neſs and price of the article. But it ſeems, on an average, to be ſo lucrative à culture, that few farmers who can raiſe it ever diſcontinue the prádice. It however exhauſts the land exceedingly, and more thân two years crops muſt not in general be taken. T'o this crop ſucceed wheat and beans.* y POTATOES. The rapid extenſion of the cultivátion of this root can only be equalled by its general utility as a food both for man and beaſt, Thirty or forty years ago it was an extraordinary thing to ſee an acre of potatoes in one ſpot, and in one man’s poſſeſſion; now there are mäny pariſhes in this diſtrict which can produce fifty acres. Nay, the writer of this report has grown thirty or forty acres per year, for a ſucceſſion of years 5 and once he had upwards of one hundred acres in one year. ze} * About forty years ago woad wás cultivated in thé neighbourhood of Mells; and there was in the pariſh a horſe-mill for grinding, and Theds for drying it, the property of one HARVEY, who was more ge- nerally known by the appellation öf the Woadman;, than his own ſur- name. Since his death it has been entirely diſcontinued. From whence this man originally came is unknown, but moft pro- bably from ſome part where this plant was in ufual culture. Small þlots of teazels, hops,&c- are ſometimes ſeen in villages far diſtant from thoſe parts where they are raiſed on a large ſcale. Hence one is led to obſerve the attachment which moſt men have to the local huſbandry of the diſtri& in which they are born and brought up, and the conſequent difficulty of introducing a new ſyſtem of agriculture into any place. The perſon migrating carries his attachments and habits with him, whilſt the neighbours, wheré he ſettles, are unconcerned, or perhaps tontemptuous ſpedators of his proceedings; and though they ſce him flouriſh and do well, are ſcarce ever induced to relinguiſh their old ways and imitate his example. R. P. E 2 The No FEE EE OR A AE er 11Ó AGRICUETURAL- SURVEY The ſoil moſt favourable is a rich ſandy loam, newly Fp TS FRESA nfo-| broke up, and of a looſe texture. The ſorts cultivated are,| the fidney, white Scotch, magpié, rough red, purple, and G04 fæin. Rotten horſe-dung 1s confidered as the beſt manure; next to that, hog’s dung; and after that, all ſorts of farm- yard dung| Lime, marl, ſoaper’s aſhes, or rags, make the potatoes ll ſcabby.‘The ſeaſon of planting is April or May, and the ſl quantity planted’ per acre from five to eight ſacks,(240Ib.) dl The ſeed ſhould be changed every two years, and large cut- l tings uſed from your Zargef and fineſt potatoes. Whole po- 10 tatoes have been tried, and found not to anſwer.- There are various methods of planting, but they may be reduced to and two, Viz. the drill and the promiſcuous. fur [If labourers are plenty, the promiſcuous method is ſap- Vl poſed’to be the beſt. In this way the land is thrown into beds, five feet wide; intervals or alleys three feet, which tè are dug and thrown on to the beds. DO The fets are placed one foot apart. Let the ſeaſon be to ever ſo“ wet, the potatoes in this N lie dry. In hoeing* alſo, acceſs is had to the plants without treading on them. and They are not ſo liable to BE injured by RN and ſuch a 0 putrid fermentation 1s excited by the cloſe thick ſhade of the en haulm, that the land is more meliorated, and the weeds dik more compiéatly fi uffocated and deſtroyed than in any other M method. In regard to expence there is no great difference,\[2 for in this way it may E done for a guinea an acre, and in fo the drill method it will cof at leaſt E ſhillings. The ſame reaſoning weighs Kill ſtronger in reſped to taking up: dexterous onces. by thrufting their ſpades under the po- 2—R 4 ticularly careful to cut out all plants which ap- ca ————- C——————————- i auores RESTE EE(2 R ZE R A z OF SOMERSETSHIRE- 117 Teel OA tatoes, avoid cutting the roots. T- alſo, in digging, ſe- E 9 parate the /mall from the large. They pulverize the ſoil O more: they can dig clean, though the land be wet: and, on IA the whole, the expence of digging will not E that of u ploughing out, more than tez ſhillings an acre. f the crop be a good one, the ſeparating the ſmall potatoes from the Aloes e will coſt more than this difference.‘The produce va- d the ries from fifty to ene hundred and twenty ſacks(24oIb. each) Ab.) an acre; and the general price, as human food, is from four Cul- ſhillings to ſeven ſhillings per ſack; and on particular occa- : PO- ſions they have been ſold at ten ſhillings. : are When dug, they are ſecured in pits, and if common care d to and attention be beſtowed, they are‘preſerved in this way through the moſt ſevere winter, without injury; but- è(up- will ſhrink in reſpe& to meaſure about one ſack in twenty n into From a feries of experiments made by the writer of this whuch report, and communicated through the channel of the Bath Society’s Papers, it appears that their value, when applied on be to the fatting of hogs, could not be made‘to exceed two eing* ſhillings and ix- RE or three ſhillings, per ſack, of 240Ïb.: hem, and from other experiments ſince made, it 1s probable, that ch 4 no greater value can be afixed to them if applied to the ſuſ- f the tenance of any other ſtock. However, this ſhould be no weeds diſcouragement, for on good land, and with good manage- ment, they may be grown for one ſhilling and ſix-pence per e| ſack, and will furniſh the farmer with a certain ſupply of qndia food in thoſe months wherein he is molt diſtrefled. u The Many obje& to the cultivation of this root oz a large 03 Wp: ſcale, conſidering it in the light of a great exhaul ſer. If the the po- produce of any crop, ſo productive as this is, be ſold from cpi the farm, and conſumed at ſo great a diſtance that no return as can be made, I will acknowledge that ſuch mußt be the eie; 22 but if potatoes are conſumed on the premiſes, the return of 4106; manure, | A eci A m e ¿cti Ri rA SAE e N 118 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY manure, from the conſumption of one acre, will be ſufficient for two or éhree; and as the potatae crop ought always ta be highly manured, no deficiency need be feared in the ſub- ſequent crops of corn, grafles,&c. particularly if wheat be Haniſhed as a ſucceeding crop, and barley or aats ſubſtituted ſt is now a common pradtice, inſtead of boiling, to dreſs toes by Ream, and by fo doing, the quality is rendered re farinaceous, and a confiderable ſaving is made in the article of fuel. R———————————— *‘The reaſon why wheat frequently fails after potatoes, is becauſe the frequent hoeings and digging render the land fo light and porous, that it is more ſubjedt to the ravages of the grub, earth-worm,&c.; beſide, in cold and expoſed ſituations, the ſowing is generally protracted till the month of November, which alone is ſufficient to check the pradtice. N. B. The writer has known thirty-two ſucceſſive crops of potatoes from the ſame field, and the produce as good at the latter part of the term as at the beginning. This will puzzle the theoriſt, with his pe- culiar ſubſtances of nutrition. A large cow, tied up a month after calving, ate 2cwt. and 18Ib. of hay in one week, and on the enſuing week, being given four buſhels (Wincheſter) of potatoes, the conſumption of hay was reduced to 3qrs. and 26lb. It appears, therefore, that a ſack of potatoes is egual to I cwt. of hay. The quantity of milk was increaſed by the potatoes» but it was thinner in quality. E PCE AEZ RESI_— CHAPTER aule OUS, KC; aQed k the \tatoes of the his fè lb, of ſhels ed to ‘qual OCS) APTER OF SOMERSETSHIRE- LT CHAPTER VIIL. SECT: IL. Matural Meadows and Paſtures. T has been already obſerved, that the graſs land of this diſtri greatly preponderates; and if it be not chilled by too much moiſture, it may boaſt of almoſt a perpetual verdure. On the rich marſh land near the Briſtol Channel, the grazing ſyſtem prevails. In the vicinity of Briſtol and Bath, the ſcythe is in conſtant uſe; and at a greater diſtance no- thing is ſcarcely ſeen but the milking-pail,‘To which ever of theſe purpoſes the land is devoted, its bounties are not niggardly diſpenſed. If we view them comparatively, the hay ſyſtem is perhaps the moſt injurious to the land, and the leaſt produdive of profit. This article ſeldom exceeds three pounds per ton; and if we conſider the riſk in making, the expence of carriage, the loſs of time, and above all, the de- clining value of the eſtate ſo occupied, few arguments can be wanted to prove the impolicy of the ſyſtem. In ſhort, I never knew a hay-ſelling farmer get rich. SECT, 2, Artificial Graſſes. On the ſtone-braſh and freeſtone-grit ſoil, /ainfoine takes the lead; and though the ſeed is very expenſive, the quantîty and quality of its produce, together with its durability, make an ample return of profit, particularly if ſown when the land 1s clean, Next to fainfoin, rye-graſs,* marl graſs, and white Dutch clover, are in deſerved repute when the land is intended to remain fbi 2 # The Agricultural Body is much indebted to‘Mr. PEACEY, of Northleach, Glouceſterſhire, for his careful ſeleßion and diſſemination ef EIE I120 AGRICUC TURAL SURVEY remain ſome years in graſs; but when ict is intended to be loughed again in the courſe of a year or two, droad-clover 1s preferred to all other artificial SS Perhaps there are few things in huſbandry more difäcult to be accompliſhed than that of reſtoring worn-out arable -. EN to a g00 a aſture. A few hints on this ſubje& may not be unacceptable. The firſt ſtep is to extirpate from the land all noxious weeds.‘This may be done by a compleat winter and ſum- mer-fallow; or, in place of the ſummer-fallow, by a crop of potatoes, well manured, and kept ES LS and fol- lowed by winter vetches, fed of in the ſprin At the latter end of May, or O of TEE ſow one buſhel of buck-wheat per acre, and when that is up, and in ough leaf, harrow in(chooſing, if poſſible, moiſt wea two buſhels of hay ſeed, collected from the beſt meadow hay, half a buſhel of rye-graſs, four pounds of marl and four of white Dutch clover.‘The buck is in- ſr““i 4- tended principally as a ſcreen to ti 1 S gl If, therefore, the harrowing ees pull UP ſome of t plants, ſo much RS better, A thick crop is not defßirable. After the buck-wheat is E which will be ſome time in September, let Ts field be hayned, or ſhut up for the winter; and let it be fed the A ſummer with ſheep, or ny kind of cattle, except horſes; the latter animal will tea ), - rNIING IES ES ¡N SSL+T, up the young plants with his teeth. Ce 1E NA AN PA x{e E>: OI the Îru€e perennial rye-grais, WhHIC! perior to the common rye-graís, ſold by E ES ASEO E the warmeit recommendation to the pradical and diſcriminating huſband=- men. Some people have objedted to this graſs, under an idea that it is not ſo palatable as the common rye-graſs. Stock it whilt young, nd nut Qd he+1 7 Es Ex> O ha renerallr C C hij nd put double the quantity of ſheep that you generally do, and this objedion wül yaniſh. TJ. B Oould OF SOMERSETSHIRE- ¿ T2131 N Should this paſture, in the courfe of three or four years, 6 decline in fineneſs of herbage, and become coarſe and LS which is frequently the caſe, give it a top Qrefling of lime, a or lime mixed with pond or ditch earth, or the iping of a able road made with lime-ſtone, or marl; and 1f neither of ieſe De; can be procured, with coal or ſoapers’ aſhes, or any kind of compoît; LEA two years aîter either of the above manures 10u8 Y are adminiíter ſerve out ſome good meadow hay on ft li TA the SA GET d February. and then give it: umn\ Ne: MONTAS: OÙ Jan UC ITY an COTUATY, and nen ZIVEC IC d : A N-+t Ay 13 C p of À compleat covering of rotten dung, fol-| By this method a good permanent paſture may be ob- tained, If the ground ſo laid down be intended for plcaſure one| ground, omit the rye-graſs, and add to the natural graſs ſeeds, a): SECT. 2 Bay Harueſi. 400M 4 grabs| In the management and curing of the natural graſs, the | lab) tants of this diſtri, particularly in thoſe parts where Î.- it 1s intended for Íale, are very attentive, | EX EIZA ZEA E OS h Women or children are em pi1oyed to ſpread tne orais after the mower. About the middle of the day it 15 turned, 1 Y afrornann nI] SB- j S and in the afternoon put into ſmall coc + a again ſpread with great care, ſhaking it high up in the air, and iepara tinc ASIC aS“ DI JEILDIC EV SU blade. in Ane L O 1 e courſe of the ſecond day, it is twice turned; and early in the ge pi afternoon, whilſt the /zn’s rays are ſtrong and powerfu and the hay warn, it is again cocked in heaps, about double as he preceding evening. On the third day E it undergoes a ſimilar proceſs in regard to the ſpreading and fy the turning; and if the weather be Very ne, and the Crop not ſband- EA E E E E TTE OE EAS‘C Md exceed IEE urty cwt. Per acre, it will be fit for ſt: ICKIN25— if that 1 if: EA E otherwiſe, it ſhould be pus into ages cocks, and left till the Z SO E SE 8 e SA= A FS 3. 5 lis fourth morning, avoiding on all ocaſions ſtacking late in the 2 evening, y 1e 122 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY evening, or in a ſtrong dew. Should the weather be diff- cult, and the hay-making be interrupted by frequent ſhowers, or by ſome days rain, make a point of drying it thoroughly, and then falt it after the rate of a peck of ſalt to a ton of hays this will make it palatable to the cattle. On all ac- counts, avoid making a chimney in the ſtack, for this will inevitably make the hay mouldy and unwholſome. Should it heat too much, and be in danger of taking fire, turn the mow before the heat is too far advanced. The expences of hay-making varies from eight to twelve ſhillings per acre. In making artificial hay, the ſmall cocks into which it is got the ſecond day, are frequently turned and ſhook up, but nat ſpread; and it requires two or three days more than na- tural hay before it is fit for the large mow. N. B. One cubic yard of hay, in a mow well made and not overheated, will weigh on an average of the whole mow about thirteen cwt. SECT. 4. Feeding, The upland paſtures of this diſtri have ſeldom a ſuff- cient bite of graſs till May-day. Two acres, worth thirty ſhillings, per acre are necellary to ſummer a cow well, and one acre and half for her winter provender. As it is the general practice to ſerve their cows during the winter with hay in the fields, the land is fre- quently in wet ſeaſons ſo pounded, as to be unproductive great part of the ſummer. In ſummer feeding, attentive farmers have the dung which falls from the animal ſcraped up and wheeled into heaps, and the thiſtles and rough ſpots frequently mown. They alſo make a point of excluding horſes and ſheep from their cow paſtures. And when their mown ground 1s ße

LE: it Was frit prod UCCd. if Originated Îrom the PIP OT D A Y ASTI aa Loh|=S y EA e A Ac< x7 Ne CO L 1 nay DE conhfidered as a beautiful va- lety of that e, colour, and Îiavour, it has not 1 the tr AS handſome. 2nd ſpreadino. and LLIPeCTI LIE IrCe 15 1arge, Nandiome, and 1preading, and ad ASR 4 1 INto A cheeſe, AE itands In the N ail N] ont 2 Dr 3 D 1» SXT N lA M PANNA I p : very luxuriant bearer.* On the whole, tf ot be too oho FecoRImeAded iTTOnciVy reEComMEencdecle, n Iaroe Far in Aunutton hno 2 | Jarre Tarm 1n Uuton, ias of making cyder, which it may not be amis to CCI» LDE AIS LO CLC- ſcribe The apples are cround by The pum S 4 J 1 Aoc A E mIce 1s then rung Ir DASS put 1nío 2 tul T+ E a tub and chopped. Itis then; gain, and made e In the es the preſs is ſtrained as tight as it will bear by a lever or cap--ſtafff; by theſe means, the cheeſe 18 made ſo dry, that it is cut into narrow frips, tied up in faggots, and burnt. He can make one hogſhead upon eight more than by the common method.“Two men make and tun five hogſheads i in a day, and the horſe will grind the apples in three hours. Cd Duery, Is not the quality of the cyder injured by ſuch cloſe expreſſion? The grinding apples by a horſe-mill ſaves much manual ai labour, and expedites the buſineſs of cyder-making. But vhether Mr. GooD’s method may be the beſt, or moſt lucrative, is a matter of queſtion, for what is gaine IN quan- CC 111 ES:::: E ity is loſt in quality; the liquor R by the ſecond E ible expreſſion being certainly weaker than the frft, and LES mixed with it, muſt reduce the w E to a lower faple E- AR pS Ti p ES== AS No water-cyder can be made after lo ſtrong a preliure ot q. e Y R XT KT the pummice; and as, in the common Way, two hogſheads C of good water-cyder can be made after ſeven of the beſt J I the loſs ſeems more than the gain. Grafts from this tree may be had by application to the reporters f and a ſample of the fruit has been ſent to Sir John Sinclair for tW ſervation of the curious in this article. Notv 4 Y MRE E 126 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Notwithſtanding the apparent utility of extenſive and productive orchards, many conſiderate and ſenſible men have heſitated in giving their unqualified aſſent to this ſentiment; alledging, that a plenty of cyder is the forerunner of idle- neſs, drunkenneſs, and debauchery, not only among the lower claſs, but alſo among the yeomanry themſelves, who at theſe times ſpend ſucceſſive days and nights in toping and guzzling at each others houſes, We ought not, however, to confound the abuſe of a thing with its intrinſick value. ATD RAB CHAPTER OF SOMERSETSHIRE, 127 EUAPTER X, WOODS AND PLANTATIONS. E Ls country is but partially wooded, and, on account of the demand from the collieries, the wood is but Very irregularly cut. Syſtematic plantation is but little ſtudied. Kingſwood covers about two hundred and thirty acres. The timber is chiefly oak, but does not get to any large ſize; the woods being, for the moſt part, ſituate at the de- clivity of the hills, where there is but little depth of earth. The underwood is cut for wreaths or faggots. The valleys are in general richly laden with elm, which grows ſponta- neouſly in the hedge-rows, and gets to a good ſize. The method praiſed here of lopping of the ſide branches, to What is called a beſom-head, cannot be too much execrated. It is deſtructive to the growth of timber, and by leſſening the agitation produced by winds, deprives it of what may be deemed its fſalutary exerciſe. The effet of cutting off the lower branches is a premature delay, which firſt takes place in the top of the tree, a general check is given to the cir- culation of the ſap, and it reduces the tree nearly to the fate of a pollard.* On the northern declivity of Mendip hills are ſome very good coppice woods; the principal are, Blagdon, Haſel, and Ubly, containing in the whole about 150 acres. +_— # This is Dot the worſt conſequence of the beſom-head. FPhiloſo< phers are now agreed, thät trees in full verdure receive a great portion of their nouriſhment from the atmoſphere, by the abſorbent veſſels of their leaves; hence appears the impolicy of depriving a tree of that head which nature intended ſhould aſſiſt in bringing the body to per- feclion. A.C. f ‘Thele E} D M Y M 123 AGRICULTURA C SURVEY Theſe woods are very romantick and piureſque, and being ſecured from the ſouth-weſt breezes, the growth is Very rapid, and the profit greater than any will believe who have not had experience thereof; beſide, theſe profits may be made annual, and are in themſelves more certain th any other produce. You have only to divide a RES e forty-eight acres into twelve parts, that is, four acres per year, twelve years growth. The more afh in theſe coppices È more valuable, as the poles are very ſaleable at the coal- nd I have known many inſtances of an acre produ- E in value ſixteen pound 1et after the expences of cutting, carriage, Xc. have been E ed.‘This is nearly twenty- eight ſhillings per acre per annum, e the whole forty-eight acres, beſides the accumulating value of r-trees. It is more profitable to cut coppice-wood than to let it remain longer. On the ſouthern declivity of Mendip hills, there are alſo ſome coppice woods, Stoke woad the principal; but theſe being expoſed to the E breezes, are not ſo produdive. In the eaſtern part of this diftrié are alſo ſome large and produdive woods, ſuch as Mells, Leigh, Edford, Harwich, Compton, Camely,&c. theſe being near the coal- works are very valuable; interſperſed alſo are many beautiful plantations, Which are not only an ornament to the reſpective ſeats to which they belong, but are in themſelves a fertile ſource of annual proût. On land properly ſituated, no ſpeculation can be more profitable or more pleaſing than planting; the only objec- br t to períection 5 tion 1s, the length of time reguired to but ſurely this ought not to have much weight, as the be- nefit muſt accrue either to the planter or his heirs; and cer- tainly there is no way ſo eaſy of raiſing fortunes for younge children as by planting. a Ine Y T4 OF SOMERSETSHIRE,. 129 » and The ancient foreſt of Selwood(on the verge of which vy did i eS HE the town of Frome ftands) appears to have compriſed a woody vale of about twenty thouſand acres, about eighteen thouſand of which are now cleanſed and converted into E paſture and arable land, with a ſmall portion of meadow; IE the remainder continuing in a ſtate of coppice-wood. The # chief ſorts of timber in theſe coppices are oak and aſh, A which, though not of large growth, are very good of their A kinds, and find profitable markets in the neighbourhood; 6 the oak ſelling from fifty ſhillings to three pounds ſixteen E ſhillings per ton, and aſh from forty-five ſhillings to three 16) pounds.‘The underwood is chiefly hazel, aſh, alder, withy, Y: and birch; ſome of which, at eighteen or twenty years E growth, ſell as high as ſixteen pounds per acre. To fate E the profit of theſe coppices in a clearer light, I would re- Ge mark, that the annual value per acre, in timber and under- e wood,(I ſpeak of thoſe coppices which lie towards the uud northern end of Selwood) is from fifteen to thirty ſhillings. 16) Muck of the open land within the limits of this ancient foreſt does not net more than ten or twelve ſhillings per me acre.* rd, ES Y* Digging holes one foot and half ſquare and four inches deep, for iful planting young trees, may be done for two-pence per ſcore, if the ve land be not very ſtony; but the beſt method of planting trees is on the ſod, covering the roots with other ſods inverted, that is, graſs to Sraſs. JB. EK. CHAPTER E AE CI TTE E n os ha) n EE- IE AGRICULTURAL SU RVEYV I O CHAPTER XL. WASTE LANDS. V PE T this diſtri&t there are many commons unincloſed; the principal of which are, Broadfield-Down near Wring- ton, and Lanſdown near Bath. The former contains two thouſand five hundred acres, and is for the moſt part A good ſoil, deep in earth, and eafily ploughed. Surely the incloſing and cultivating a trad like this, ſituate only eight miles diſtant from the city of Briſtol, could not fail of being a great advantage to the proprietors; particu- larly as it abounds with excellent lime-ſtone, and the coal- pits are only a few miles diſtant. Lanſdown coraprehends nearly one thouſand acres; but 4s the ſoil is thin, and the ſurface perfe@ly ſmooth, and re- markable for its excellence in feeding ſheep, to which it imparts a delicate flavour, it might not be prudent to break it up, eſpecially as it affords a luxurious and beautiful ride to the ſojourners in Bath. Incloſing has been of long ſtanding in moſt of theſe parts; many have exemplified an adyance of rent more than tWwo- thirds. The produce in many inſtances has been, of wheat thirty buſhels, barley forty, oats fifty, and beans from thirty to forty per acre. Increaſe of population in proportion. Beſides the above, there are ſeveral thouſand acres of moor-land in what is called the North-Marſh, the prefent ondition of which is diſgraceful to the owners. Moſt of theſe moors conſiſt of a rich fertile paſture, overcharged with ſtagnant water Many months in the year, which in- convenience might ealuly 2 1 J 1 oroeited LUZ Lille CHAPTER fily be removed by the methods beíore E REEE—————————— E E——————————— OF SOMERSETSHIÍREs« I2L CHAPTER EE. INFP RONENFE NS: OT ſo much átténtion has been paid to the draining of land as the object undoubtedly requires; but in ſome caſes, where incloſures have been accompanied with à weeping ſurface, great improvements have been made by ſtone-draining. The acclivities from the vales are for the moſt part of this quality and cornplexion; ánd if the ſprings, which iflue from the ſides of the hills, weré taken off at their head by judicious drains, and diverted into a proper channel, the value of the land would be advanced ät leaſt one-third. Main drains two feet and half deep and two feet wide, in a heavy ftrong clay ſoil, may be dug for one ſhilling and ſix- pence per rope,(twenty feet) viz. nine-pence per rope dig- ging the drain and placing the ſtones, three-pence per cart- load quarring the ſtones, and three-pence per load halling, Each rope will require one cart-load and half of ſtonês. Small drains, leading to the main drain, may be executed tor ten-pence per rope(twenty feet.) SECT 2 Paring and Burning jurn-baiting, that is, cutting off the turf, drying it, and piling it in heaps, and afterwards burning it to aſhes, has been tried, but no ſenſible good effe, either immediate or diſtant, having been experienced, the pradtice is relinquiſhed; EK 2 and 132 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY and I rather think this proceſs is beſt calculated for cold, ruſhy, and heathy grounds, of little or no value. The effeâ of burn-baiting, even on lands beſt adapted to this proceſs, does not laſt more than three or four years 5 and if followed up with ſucceſſive corn crops, the ſtrength of the land is ſo exhauſted by the forced fertility, that a reſt f eight or ten years is s necelſlary to prepare for its repetition. I burn-baiting be R it ſhould be for turnips, after which only one crop of barley or oats ſhould be taken, and artificial grafſes ſown R If this rotation of crops be adopted, I ſee no reaſon why lands to which the manure is congenial, ſhould be wholly denied the advantages of the pradice. A great deal in theſe inſtances depends upon the ſkill and judgment of the farmer. If he be wantonly debarred from the uſe of a valuable manure, he is injured; and if, on the other hand, he uſes it without diſcretion, his landlord ſuffers, and the moſt indefatigable induſtry will not ſave himſelf ultimately from loſs, and perhaps ruin. SEcT. 3. Manurimmg. MARL. The pariſhes of Midſummer-Norton, Stratton-on-the- Fofs, Kil nerſdon, Radſtock, Timſbury, High-Littleton, Farmborough, Paulton, Ston-Laſton, Binegar, and Chil- compton, comprehend a diſtriét of land, part of which is rendered remarkably fertile by the application of marl.* The ſoil conſiſts of an earth more or leſs loamy, of a mixed colour, between brown and red, with a prevalence of * Marl alſo may be found at Queen-Charlton, Chewton-Keynſham» and Burnett. one OF SOMERSETSHIRE- 133 one or the other; very ſtony, reſembling that kind-of ſoil uſually denominated corn-grit, and naturally ſo barren, that when in common field, at the beginning of the preſet tury, the lands were not ſet at more than three ſhil pe gs aná ſix-pence per ſtatute acre. By a moderate computation, this ſoil may be ſaid to oc- cupy, in the pariſhes before enumerated, an average propor- tion of at leaſt one-third. At a variable depth from the ſurface an inexhaufſtible ſtore of black marl is conſtantly found, which, from properties equally ſingular as to fertility and duration, has 2A the lands from three E and ſix-pence to one pound eleven ſhillings and fſix-pence, and ſome to two pounds per ftatute acre; and this too with a very liberal allowance of profit to the occupier. This valuable manure 1s raiſed in the ſummer at the ave- rage depth of about ſeven or eight fatl e D ſinking a pit ft {hn or ſhaft of four feet diameter, the ſides whereof are ſecured by timber props, interſperſed with wreathings of bruſh- wood, and it is drawn to the ſurface by means of a windlaſs and buckets, The firſt bed of marl perforated is blue, two feet thick, of a ſtiff canfiſtence, and on repeated trials found in a com- parative degree uſeleſs. Below this lies a ſtratum of ſone, nine inches thick, and af a blue colour; next to which is found a bed of marl, from three to four feet in thickneſs, nearly horizontal, of a colour approaching to black, and, ſhelly fubſtance; the greater towards the lower part, of a predominance whereof is found proportionably to improve its fertilizing property. The expence of raiſing it, including that of ſinking the ſhaft, 1s from i AY to one ſhilling per cart-load of twenty-four buſhels. ¿20 and carting out, ſpreading and bruſhing in, eighteen ſhullings per ſtatute acre. : Forty / ——— I 34 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Forty load is an ample dreſſing for a ſtatute acre, which, at one ſhilling per load, amounts to 2 OO Carting, ſpreading,&c- o) e The whole 210 0 For which a manure is obtained that ſecures a luxuriant undiminiſhed vegetation, not reguiring any further afſfiſt- ance for fifteen or twenty years, The generation of moſs manifeſts the declining effe&s of this manure. It is con- ſidered as an indication for breaking up the old ſward, which is generally done, This developes a very curious and ſin- gular phœnomenon;s namely, the marl ſpread on the ſurface forty or fifiy years before, has only obtained the depth of between five and fix inches, where it forms a regular, uni- form, conſolidated bed. Even at this depth its effedts, al- thouch not exhauſted, are nevertheleſs ſo much impaired as 9 to demand its renewal. Will not this fat tend, in ſome degree, ta elucidate its modus operandi? While it remains within two or three inches of the ſur- face, which is the caſe in ſome inſtances perhaps for twenty years or more, it may be ſuppoſed to form a kind of pan or reſervoir for the nutritious and frudifying influences de- poſited by the atmoſphere; which being there retained, and in contact with the roots of the graſſes, form ſuch combi- nations in the laboratory of nature as are beſt adapted to give vigour and permanence to the elementary principles of vegetation. Theſe are evidently weakened when the marl, by îts deſcent, gets below the roots of the graíes, and : S? o ar A- thereby deprives them of the matrix, which ſeems to pre- ſerve the means of their nutrition and ſupport. This may account for the produétion and increaſe of moſs on the ſur face, and the neceſſity of marling afreſh, not only to impede è Np its propagation but to Geliroy It. {== CÒ OF SOMERSETSHIRE- 135 Which, It is obſervable that when marl is laid on this moſſy ſur- 00 face, which accompanies an old ſward, to avoid a courſe of 1d 0 tillage, the improvement is not equal to that of laying it TR on clover, or marl-graſs, the ſecond year from the time of O ſowing. E An inconſiderable portion of theſe lands is employed in fit tillage under the following courſe of cropping: E 1 year.—Old ſward ploughed up in Auguſt. n W heat—harrowed in Oâtober and the beginning of M November on one earth. 3 Produce—from twenty-five to thirty buſhels(eight gal- 4 lons) per acre. ſ 2d year. Wheat—ſingle ploughing harrowed in as before. T6 Produce from thirty to thirty-five buſhels, G 2d year. Wheat again. 4 Produce, from twenty-five to thirty buſhels. Es Sometimes barley with or without fallow. i Produce fifty-ſix buſhels. A FRYGA Peaſe with two or three ploughings- Produce, from twenty to twenty-five buſhels. y Then winter-fallow as a preparation for next year, R 5th year. Barley and clover 01 marl-graſs. de- Produce, forty-eight buſhels, and 6th year. Clover or marl-grafſs. midi When mowed, produce from thirty to forty cwt. per (ed 0 RE: ples of 7th year. Clover or marl-graſs fed. marl 2 Defedive and ruinous to the land as the firſt three years” ) pre- rotation of crops may appear, it is nevertheleſs with little i variation uniformly purſued; and, with little abatement of s MAY s«> produce, is renewed for another ſeven years ffccellion.— 1e fur as ders]: a- 0, Even a third is carried through by many farmers, accom- Impede: E | paniec Ty | | Zr egg EE ci FEE ild TE EZE TT —— E—— Aie 1236 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY panied wich fallowing for ſome of the wheat crops, and aſliſting the land with a ſprinkling of farm--yard manure. Even a fourth ſucceſſion, with leſs wheat and more barley, is carried on by a few conſiderable farmers in the diſtri; but from the lightneſs of the ſoil, and the difficulty of keep- ing weeds under, the crops fail, notwithſtanding a more liberal uſe of manure. A ſyſtem of cropping, ſo very perverſe and errone OUS, carried to ſuch a length on land rented at thirty or forty ſhillings per acre, muſt in the end involve the farmer in a yearly loſs, and cannot but aſtoniſh every one; more eſpe- C) cially if it be recollected, that this very land is HEBE of reſtoration to its former vigour and fertility at the moderate expence of two pounds‘eighteen ſhillings per acre.+ Varl graſs* 1s the ſpontaneous production of the marl land. It was firſt noticed and colledted fifty or ſixty years ago by a Mr. James, who lived on a farm belonging to the Marquis of BATH, in the pariſh of Chilcompton. By his aſliduity in preſerving and propagating the ſeed, in the courſe E oi a ew years it became common, and has been conſidered ever únce as a valuable ſubſtitute for red or broad clover, T As every acre of land improved by marl gives a permanent adú- = dition to the national ſtock, premiums for the diſ ſcovery of it, where it has not yet been found, and for the application of it, where it is Known to exiſt, but has not been uſed, might ve ery probably be attended with more real and durable benefit to the communitz y, than a m RE ide of others which are annually propoſed by the different Agricultural Socleties eſtabliſhed in various parts of the kingdom. Covenants might alſo be inſe erted in leaſes, ol bliging the leſſor and leſſee, on proper conſiderations, the former to be at the expence of rangs the latter oí Cine and ſpreading the marl on any given number of acres that may be agreed on. R.P, T° Trifolium Alpeftre. OF SOMERSETSHIRE-, T7 / H to which it bears rather a ſtriking analogy; with, however, at this difference, that it will continue much longer in the N land. TB H When the marl lands are laid down to graſſes, trefoil or E white Dutch clover is ſown in the proportion of ſeven ee pounds to twenty pounds of marl-graſs or broad-clover, which enriches, e and by its early vegetation and As bloſſoming, produces a carpet the moſt beautiful and pic- lorty tureſque that can W 1 be imagined, ina Marl has been SS tried on the looſer red earth hpe- lands, and on freeſtone grit ſoil, in diferent parts of the of diſtrict, without guats any good efe. Ît has alſo ate been carried ſome miles out of the diſtri, and applied to the light red earth of the lime-ſone lands, with no better mal ſucceſs. Years The contiguity of the pariſhes to Bath and Briſtol not o the exceeding a mean diſtance of nine miles, acceſſible by good y bis roads, and which afford markets of almoſt unlimited con- urbe ſumpticn; the luxuriance of the paſturage, the early ve- ered getation in the ſpring, all concur to render dairies a Very ver, eligible, as it is a general mode of occupation; yet notwith- on the larger farms, if a greater proportion were | voted to tillage, ſince they produce wheat and barley of t ad-| ical quality, and reguire, under a judicious routine of crops, little manure but the firſt marlin g for fifteen or twenty years, both landlord and tenant aga derive confiderable AVS>e therefrom. ultural The landlord might levy an. additional rent of ten ſhil- ‘0anls lings per acre on the lands ſo converted to arable, under a e leaſe of twenty-one years» RSE the tenants to dreſs u with marl four years previous to the ex piration of the term, by which means they would be left in a very good ſtate of proof, The Ce EL O— i i BT Sm TE I A CA er 128 AGRIC LTURAL SURVEY N ES Tea dA-hie aduyango S The tenant would be amply repaid his advance of rent, not only y the c-{- Unt y and nne 2bu naánr Vf hic 1Oî ON€ generali Certainty and IuperaBundance of his - Y TEESE«7 Ç+} S nv manip= Crops, DUL DY tNe€ aDj 1On OÏ Le Tarm-Yyard ES ATl- fine t] erefram LO h1s red ea! h lands- whicl y well 12 CREFCITOII, LO NIS FCO Cdtili Sands 5 VNnICN ne M ay ENV CIE mutt appear to ev has nevertheleſs et 1= Jands, under even a well-regulated courſe of N A a poſſeſſion in favour of dairies and grazing, y) neitl O0 Cencounter-. R A O IE! iiic LQ) - E N = _ (À C20 tend in any great degree to impoveriſh or exhauſt the\oil; the rich and beautiful completion of the ſurfa ing to the eye during th 4) :(TO NQ O 2 C E o ld OÏ CNiargze DATNS, ſtall N[06 luétance and other vicarial re with Audi rooted , teſt part of the ye Ers N 2 PE ESE SL] e AE BEN E of corn tithes, however moderately levied; the ſmallneſs of many of the farms; and laſtly, his dread of in- ] novation on the accuſtomed Pracge of his a concur to diminiſh the quantity of arable neighbourhood, be admitted, that farms under one hundred pounds per ann. 1 L modate f Aauvance oï tne rent, exclußiv e of inter thereon, would ſecure to the lar E an incenm S ino hi tio income deſe Ving Ris NOLICes, LA SS E E EE VV itn E to tithe S5, tne tenant WOL « might not bear the expence of ſuitable buildings, to accom- 1e plan i ſuggeſted; but ſin 7] ERS LEA EEE f the far E fecale. would be proportioned to the lize of the iarm, the > T 2) CE AREE on every 1 money expended Nom AeEntatiNnr Ant augmentation 1 to the increaſed amount, AGA would find more than an ade- =4 a 11«/ I{[F>T Lo)) c-NONPNASCc+ 1(> a IN moderate expences of tillace,. Yet io 2 ]£ T5 RrARANC an e abundance oÏï his crops, anc H evolting 1s titne, [a] Pr -— OF SOMERSETSHIRE- 139 though unaccompanied with ſeverity in its application, as to induce the land-owner and tenant to forego a poſitive ad- vantage rather than comply with its demands. In the pariſh of Kilmerſdon there is a ſpecies of ſoil uſually called a freeſftone- grit, of a light brown colour, ſü, is clayey, and abounding in ſtone. Underneath, at various A depths, is to be found a blue marl, which, on repeated trials, E has not hitherto been known to communicate any Improve- E ment. This marl is not readily ſoluble when expoſed to 5A the air; but retains its clay-like quality, which renders it A unfit either to pervade, or incorporate with the ſoil helle 4 lands are ſometimes devoted to tillage; but are ſoon ex- 8 hauſted, and left to poverty and ref for ſeven or eight years, eE when a ſimilar courſe of management is reſumed. Preient i RN Es value from five to ſix ſhillings per acre. re as LTI \ ST aa tdci irr Gs COURSE OF CROPS, Ê Â j 1 year. Lay broke up in the ſpring. Summer fallow,| fir 2d LE W heat ſown early in Oétober. 00d, Produce, twelve buſhels per acre. muſt 2d year. Oats. ann, Produce, ſixteen or twenty buſhels per acre, com ¿ No clover; the ſoil will not ſupport it. If ſown, it gra- Vary dually declines through want of ſußtenance, m, ie; Here ends the cropping without manure. Mr.WALWYN, of Kilmerſdan pariſh, fourteen or fifteen years ago tried ſainfoin in this ſoil. The produce, from mowing four or five years ſucceſfively, averaged twenty cWwt. per ACre- It ſo far ſome of theſe lands, as to keep up their value dé- to twelve or fourteen ſhillings per acre. Where totally ex- tinét, on breaking up afreſh, the ſoil is found in better proof Notwithſtanding this experiment, accompanied DMIL exliits noW in than in its priſtine ates I 40 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY accompanied with effects ſo obviouſly beneficial, yet the ex- ample has been but very little, if at all, followed in the neigh- bourhc I nl anch rraguind d E EE g Mtn e QUTIIOON, ai OUZII KUL 1O0UIICCC D) iCVCral nundred acres OÏ 2 11mN1iar Qualit,©T1O0WCVCI, d CCNUEÑAan OÏ iar7e€ tortune À 2,[=] Lor DE PA 7 i SRS E LSE À Ga EE EE SL AT M y LES FTLZSQ and proprittor of Ine greatelt Part oï this barren dutricti 1n EO EZ, SE S SA SEY ELE tne iame parillls nas TOT IWO Or inlree FéEars Pair attempted Dy lummer fallowing and turnips, to ſome gives four or úve ploughings and har- rowings Its texture 1s already conſiderably looſened.— Barns, falling, and farm-yards, are provided on a large ícale, in a ſituation to command the whole. Within a rea- ſonable diſtance he can procure a ſupply of ſand and coal- aſhes; a reſource too valuable to be overlooked. With a reliſh for agricultural improvement, a pradical attention to 1ts progres, and the conveniencies before ment A there 1s little doubt, but that in the courſe of time he will be en- abled, in no trilling degree, by a judicious ſyſtem of crop- ping, to fertilize this very intractable ſoil. rT The liming ſyſtem of improvement has been fully de- ila in the account given of A hills. Green crops Aro>| 5 E Lei ldom ploughed in as a manure, nor are the dramings of the farm-yard colle&ed into reſervoirs as they ought to be. Bones, rags, night-ſoil, horn ſhavings, ſoot,&c. which in ſome countries are highly eſteemed, are here little-regarded. In ſhort, too much confidence is placed in the natural rich- neſs and fertilit y of the ſoil. -- TT7 3 SEC le ds IV Ce 1 Dome attention 1s paid to.the weeding of the wheat crop, 2 — 5 This branch of rural STE: but little to the weeding of lent corn, ES OF SOMERSETSHIRE« TAL SECT. 5. Watering. N. The watering of paſtures is not much Known, though che advantage reſulting from that practice in neighbouring counties is not queſtioned. The intermixture of lands embarrafes the operation of individuals in that reſpect, and this ſeems likely to prevent a pradice from becoming more general, which numerous ſprings and rivulets would otherwiſe favour. The water iſſuing from Mendip hills is unfit for this pur- poſe, carrying with it noxious mineral particles, deſtructive to vegetation, More will be faid of watering when we come to the ſouthweſt diſtrict of the county. CHAPTER —————— e—=> Te Dy — E e O E w— uy————— > STR EEN E E: I E E EIER PTE ities trier - a a TAT I RIE Hr Lp i i a Gi e ICED FE i agri E FD, 142 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY CEHARER. HTS EIL OCR DECT GOS A the cows are all devoted to the dairy, preference is given to that ſort which gives the moſt milk and of the beſt quality; or, in the farnmier’s language, to that ſtock which makes the moft goods, whether it be butter, or cheeſe, or both; hence it follows, that in point of carcaſe they are very deficient. They are moſtly of the ſhort-horned breed; and though the fine long-horned cows of North-Wiltſhire have been tried, and ſtrongly recommended by ſome, yet the general run of dairymen are ftrongly attached to their own breed. As this is a ſubject of ſome magnitude, let us beſtow on it a few moments attention. In the choice cf ſtock, the buyer ſhould principally attend to the purpoſes for which that Rock is deſigned, and to the nature and quality of his land, Ïf his principal objet be rearing, either with a view to fat himſelf or to ſell to others, the form or ſhape of the pa- rent ſtock ſhould firſt be regarded. That frame of body, which is accompanied with the greateſt portion of valuable fleſh, and the leaſt offal, is to be preferred. An aptitude to fat in youth 1s alſo an obje& of great im- portance. By an attention to theſe poiñts, the farmers of Leiceſterſhire and other counties have ſo attracted the no- tice of emulóus breeders, as to fell their ſtock at a price ſcarcely € den OF SOMERSETSIHIRE-, 143 ſcarcely credible to a plain old-faſhioned farmer. But, Hows O 1 a E- di= RES Ines 3 Ta| ALS ever we may admire their care and‘ingtnuity, does it iollow that we are to be led aſtray by the extrava gant- ideas which ſome people entertain of their(UPE A heiter of Pp e three or four years old, which diſcovers zofition to fat, ÎL E 1 C 4 2 EE RA milker. and is by our farmers turned ſeldom proves a good milker, and is by our farmers turne out of the dairy. Beſide, I UE been informed that the b breeders are frequently obliged to have the aſſiſtance VE of Welch nurſes for their calves, through a deñciency of dol A: in the parent animal. Is this a recommendation of lock them to the dairyman? ele, As a2 confirmation of the idea that handſome ſock are are ſeldom good milkers, I ſhall advert to the North-Devon AES and I believe in all other reſpeds there is not a more ire valuable in the kingdom. In that part of the kingdom, little attention is paid to own cheeſe or butter; but if a cow produce handſome ftock, it is all that is required of her; and it freguently happens that a / ON farmer, with ten or twelve cows, has but little more of thoſe articles than is ſufficient to ſupply his family. nd The Somerſetſhire dairymen generally keep their good he éows till they are ten or twelve years old, at which time cheir value is reduced to four or five pounds each. A long- to horned cow, at that age, might be worth eight or ten pounds; pa(T mean of the middling breed) here is then an apparent deficiency of four or five pounds; but when we reflect that the the keeping of one is worth ten ſhillings a year more than 5 the other, the loſs is not ſo apparent; and if we admit, that the ſhort-horned will make half a hundred of cheeſe more E per year than the long-horned, the balance of proût is then E in favour of the former. E) e I do not mean 2% what I have ſaid to detra from the ie pl merit of Mr. BAKEWELL, or other great breeders of the Pi e North.| 144 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY North, IT only wiſh to recomtnend a diſcriminating prin- ciple, and to deter the credulous farmer from?o hafty a de- DL reliíion of principles and practices founded in experience, and to which he has been long accuſtomed, I may be here told, hat the foregoing premiſes, from which conclufions are drawn unfavourable to the long- horned cow, are delufive; that a North-country breeder would laugh at the idea of keeping a cow till ſhe is ten years old; that at ſix years, or at the fartheſt at ſeven, ſhe ought to be in the poſſeſſion of the butcher. But, coolly and calmly, aík a practical cow-keeper at what period of life a cow makes the moſt goods, and he will tell you between the age of ſix and twelve years old. I have known cows continue good milkers till they have paſſed their twentieth year.* When cheeſe only is made, the annual produce per cow is from three to four cwt. Many dairy farmers, in the vicinity of Bath and Briſtol, make butter and half-ſkimmed cheeſe; in either way, the annual produce per cow is from eight to twelve pounds, in- cluding the calf, and profit of pigs. From three to four acres of land will keep a cow through- out the year. * The diſcriminatiúg principle recommended, is a very neceſſary one, and deſerves particular attention. It may here be obſerved in general, that in m2ny parts there is a ſort of cattle, as it were provin- cial, hardy, thriving, and well adapted to the ſoil on which it is bred. Let the cautious farmer furniſh himſelf with the beſt of this ſort which he can ſeled, and if he muſt improve, as it is called, let him not loſe fight of the diſcriminating principle, but do it with warineſs and diſ- cernment. And as very little of the dairyman’s proût 1s expected from ſale of the carcaſe, if his cows are well kept, and yield him a good quantity of rich produdtive milk, it will be immaterial whe- ther they have long horns, ſhort horns, or any horns at all. R. P. Tf PEE ERSA E ÉE OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 45 NNatine nr», M If kept on hay alone, à middle-ſized cow will eat one CS hundred and three-guarters per week during the winter IN EXnerenp 1 Gerin, month, and on an average thirty hundred in the whole winter; this calculation is forméd on a ſuppoſition that ſhe calvés between Chriſtmas and Candlemas. If turnips or cabbages be given, ſhe will eat, of the former two hundred, and of the latter one hundred and half in twenty-four hours, ie and the quantity of hay will be leſſened about one half.— IR OUgAE Heifers are put to the bull when one year and half old; and very few calves are reared for bulls or oxen, and no more rat wut of the female kind than juft ſufficient to keep up the ſtock. nil tel Next to the ſeletion of a proper ſort, good kéeping when llave young is of the firſt importance; and it has been obſerved, diheic that calves, after being turned out to graſs, ſhould have but little water given them. The firſt winter each calf will eat Jet UN about ſixteen hundred of hay. d Prlto, DECT. 2 ONeeDs Wa the ds, il In the North-Eaſt part of this diftri&, that is, in the vicinity of Bath, a very large and good race of ſheep are ouch: bred; the wethers of which are commonly folded till they are between two or three years old, and then grazed. Some of theſe ſheep, when well fatted, run to thirty or forty pounds per quarter. Mr. MoGER, of Woolverton; Mr. Dav, of AE Foxcote; Mr. YounNe, of Camerton; Mr. HoLBROOK, of W Corßon; and Mr. SMITH, of Twerton, are the principal ;phed breeders; and this ſort of ſheep, having a large quantity of tallow, is highly approved by the butchers. There is alſo the native Mendip breed, a ſort that will thrive on the j pooreſt ſoil, and fatten on ſuch land as will ſcarcely keep other ſorts alive. Paſturage ever ſo diy and expoſed will feed this al wu kind. They are very hardy, and their wool fine. The 7 mutton 146 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY mutton is alſo excellent for the table, being full of gravy and of a rich flavour. The large heavy loaded ſheep of Leiceſterſhire and Lin- colnſhire have been tried; but the great doubt lies whether , this ſort of ſheep would bear folding; if not, they are inad- miſlible, as folding is the fine qua non of good huſbandry, on the ſheep and corn farms* of this diſtrict. Under the auſpices of the Bath Society, unto which his Majeſty was graciouſly pleaſed to preſent a Spaniſh ram, a * Some time ago the Leiceſterſhire ſheep-breeders were modeſt enough to expreſs only their doubts of the utility of folding ſheep, but now they do not hefitate poſitively to condemn the pradtice, and to repreſent it as altogether ridiculous and abſurd.€ It is only(fay they) robbing the paflure land to ſupport the arable. It cannot in- creaſe the quantity of manure, nor can the benefit attending it be a ſufficient compenſation for the injury done to the flock? In a rich fertile country, where the guantity of arable land is ſmall, and in mere ſubſerviency to the breeding or grazing ſyſtem, where dung is plenty, and can be put in the corn land at a ſmall expence, and where each ewe is valued at four or ſix pounds, it is not to be wondered, that the folding ſyſtem ſhould be held in contempt and de- riſion; but I will be bold enough to repeat, that in a poor expoſed and extenſive corn farm, the ſoil of which is light and ſtony, it is the fine qua non of good huſbandry. Let me aſk theſe gentlemen, whether the downs of Wilts- and Dorſet would wave with luxuriant corn if felding were aboliſhed? No. The farmer would plough and ſow to little purpoſe, were his fallows to remain untrod with the feet, and unmanured by the dung and perſpiration of theſe uſeful animals. Beſßde, in the hot ſummer months, nothing is ſo grateful to the flock itſel, as freſh ploughed ground; and ſheep will, of their own accord, retire to 1t when their hunger is ſatisfied. The following may be ſome of the reaſons why theſe gentlemen ſet their faces againſt this uſeful practice: ft. Their ſheep are too valuable to be kept in ſufficient numbers for folding. dl. Their inability to walk to any great diſtance. ily,‘Their liability to diſorders from too great heat of bod QQ Cai 54 .« . pi joe € je LL tie n OEI SSE AID EEE LA RET E E E VE EEE ——————R ;( ni OF SOMERSETSHIRE«- 147 new breed of ſheep has been lately introduced, which bids fair to exceed all others of equal ſize, in quantity and qua- lity of wool, accompanied with a carcaſe by no means deſ- picable; but as theſe croſſes of breed are found ſometimes to degenerate, I ſhall not be too warm in recommendation till a farther trial has been made, and experience has con- firmed their ſuperiority. More ſheep would be kept in this diſtrict, were it not for the diſpoſition of the land to bring the foot-rot. The marl land in particular generates this diſorder; and though the following receipt will make a temporary cure, yet it is a very difficult undertaking thoroughly to keep the feet ſound. The ſcab is alſo a troubleſome and infectious diſorder.‘The goggles or rickets is a diſorder not much known: it attacks ſheep between one and two years old; and no method of cure has yet been diſcovered. RECEIPT FOR THE SCAB ON SHEEP One pound of quick-filver Half ditto of Venice turpentine Half a pint of oil turpentine Four pounds of hogs-lard, Let them be rubbed in a mortar till the quick-filver be tho= roughly incorporated with the other ingredients. RECEIPT FOR THE FOOT-ROTs+ Roman Vitriol Verdigreaſe Gunpowder, and Linſeed-oil, made into an ointment. ANOTHER. One ſpoonful of turpentine wo ditto of crab-verjuice. 2 SECT“ e————— e-—— E———————— | | fet, No D—-— a dL EEE [PE e ent iin a EEA ie SCN SE dr rmer” E i CO AGRICULTURAL SURVEY SECT 2. A t0r/eSs‘ 3/ There are but few horſes bred in this diftri&t—the far- mers are principally ſupplied by dealers who attend the North-country fairs. Farriery is in the hands of men equally conceited and illiterate; and theſe uſeful animals fre- quently die of a diſeaſe called the doctor. Few people are aware of the expences which attend the keeping of a team for road work. The following being taken(as an average of ſeven years paſt) from an account kept by a perſon whoſe accuracy may be depended on, needs no apology: TWO TEAMS, NINE HORSES Two waggoners 611. turnpike 5ol. expences LAS A 2770S— 127 6 O0 Corn of all ſorts—“IIO 100 Brewers’ grains four-pence per buſhel— 29 190 Hay, at three pounds per ton— 74 0 Harneſs-maker em O2 Tilts, lines,&c.—— II 00 Blackſmith——— 27 10 0 Farriér——— O Wear and téar of waggons— 2000 Ditto of horíes_——— po 00 Straw ES TOO LO Or nearly 2 AI A Y neariy 2401. per team, E E PEE|.» y} This calculation affords‘a very ſubſtantial reaſon why étraunterss ps th as AR gum UA x Z j ae ANC” Y 3 JOL as they are called,(that is, men who Keep nories and waggons ¿or 1 Y£1- | 094 UN NDL G0 n Cel I hn. Cuttnmg SS N gg ET EEE EET n) e R SE vegan Draw OF SOMERSETSHIRE, T49 Cutting ſtraw into chaff is much pradtiſed,- but I doubt its utility in reſped to horſes, The food, in this method, paſſes into the animal's ſtomach-without proper maſtication, and in my opinion affords but little nutrition. For oxen, cows, and all ruminating animals, the praîtice may be ad- vantageous» Set ds| Hogs The vaſt number of hogs fatted in this diftri& are for the moſt part bought at Briſtol market of Welchmen, or of itinerant drovers, who travel through the county. They are fed chiedly with whey, ſometimes a little corn is given to finiſh; and their fleſh is of a fine colour and delicate flavourz their weight when fatted from ten to twenty ſcore. Thoſe few that are bred, are of various ſorts:—Iſt, The native white, with large ears and long body. 2d. The Berkſhire, black and white in colour, and of a AE round form, 3d. The Chineſe. 4th. A mixed bree In breeding hogs, n SE o ſhould E more attended to than warmth and cleanlineſs; without theſe, the moſt liberal allowance Ol food will not avail; and as there is a great difference in the quantity of food neceílary to ſupport hogs CC of E ſorts, though of the ſame age and ſize,€xperi- ments are wanting to aſcertain their diferent degrees of per- fe&ion. In the writer*s opinion, the beſt ſart of hogs he ever ſaw, was ſent to a friend of his from Mr. ASTLEY, a great breeder of ſheep in L eiceſterſhire. The writer of this report has been in the habit of folding hogs on his paſture land, feeding them with raw potatoes. The improvement of the land has been aſtoniſhing; and when hogs are kept on a large ſcale, the practice canno tt be LONOW armly recon mended. E I E 50 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY SECS R GDDIS: Some years ſince there were many warrens in this diſtrict, but the only ones now left are, Charter-Houſe,‘Temple- Down, and Ubly, containing about ſixteen hundred acres. Both the fleſh and ſkin of the rabbits, bred on theſe warrens, are much eſteemed; and they ſell, when in ſeaſon,(that is, from November to January) for two ſhillings and ſix-pence 2 couple, ſkins included. Could coneys be preſerved from the depredation of two-legged and four-legged vermin, the occupation would be very profitable; but one ſnowy winter drives them of the warrens never to return, and wipes out the profit of many favourable years. SECT O E outTy: The great demand in Briſtol and Bath naturally induces an attention to the rearing and fattening of all kinds of fowls. Of late it has been found that potatoes, boiled and mixed with the ſkimmings of the pot, or with any other fat or greaſy ſubſtance, is the cheapeſt food that can be given to all kinds of poultry, and fattens them in a few days, making the fleſh of a moſt delicate colour and flavour. SECT: 7 Porous: Theſe are conſidered ſo ravenous and miſchievous, that few are Kept. De LT It is to be regretted that theſe uſeful inſets are ſo little attended to. Suppoſe in each pariſh of the county there were kept only ten hives, and the average produce of each hive was twenty pounds of honey, this would amount at the preſent price to near five thouſand a year, beſides the value of the wax. Though E SE RL SSL e LLL SLE LIE GE, Em EE EE E IE OF SOMERSETSHIRE- TFT Though many direSions have been given in books for the preſervation of the lives of bees, and at the ſame time taking away their ſtores, it does not appear that any of them has been praiſed in this county with ſucceſs, After they have ſwarmed, driving them out of the full hive, and putting an empty one in its ſtead, bas ſometimes anſwered the purpoſe. This ſhould be done early in the ſeaſon, ſo that the bees may have time to collect 2 fore of food before winter. ME pieu, EGEA Sas e LS= RENEE SR E AE + 10 A j H ? FÀ E A PIDIO“DL Mr i IE Bui uh rz R eie Wnt/EIn Me fen) cni bm aia H 152 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY CHAPTER XIV. RURAL ŒCONOMFY., SECT. L Labour. dE rate of wages, in hay and corn-harveſt, 1s about nine ſhillings per week, with dinner and beer; at other parts of the year about ſeven ſhillings, with ſmall-beer or cyder. Time of labour in the ſummer from hx to ſix; in the winter from daylight till it is dark. SECT. 2. Proviſions. In the year 1793 wheat was ſix ſhillings per buſhel, (Wincheſter) barley four ſhillings and ſix-pence, oats three ſhillings and three-pence, beef four-pence halfpenny per pound, mutton four-pence halfpenny, pork five-pence, but- ter nine-pence,*‘and cheeſe, ſix months old, forty ſhillings per cwt. Now, viz. January 1797, wheat is at ſeven ſhillings, barley three ſhillings, oats two ſhillings and three- pence, per Wincheſter buſhel; beef at ſix-pence, mutton five-pence halfpenny, pork ſeven-pence, butter one filling per pound, and cheeſe fifty-ſix ſhillings per cwt. The prices of all grain are declining rapidly; and it 1s probable, that before the concluſion of the year 1797, they will be very low indeed, * Tn the years 1795-6 wheat was at fourteen ſhillings per buſhel, barley five ſhillings, oats three ſhillings and nine-pence, beef five- pence, búutter ten-pence, and cheeſe fifry ſhillings per cwt- In OF SOMERSETSHIRE, T8S In the alarming ſcarcity of bread-corn, and the dearneſs \ of all other grain, which was felt in the years 1795-6, the i attention of mankind was naturally direÆXted to an inveßiga- tion of thoſe cauſes from which that diſtreſſing evil might have originated. Various were the opinions of mankind on ¿his ſubject; and the chief cauſes ſtated, were, the conſolidation of farms, the combi ¡nation of farmers, jobbers, and millers 3 : the conſumption made by the diflill. YS, the e of tithes, | the /ale of corn by ſample, and laſtly, the ncreaſed luxury of the times. Though all theſe cauſes have undoubtedly contributed in part to produce the efect, which we haye had ſo much rea- ſon to deplore, yet I think the great operating cauſes have D) S! » DS PEF E RE De ES n CCEN5 ſcanty CT OPS 0] LU Hs Th prevailing diſpo/(¡tion of convert / ifture, and the unavoidable waſte which muſt in= ing aradle to pd vitably accompany war. From the year 1791 to 1796 we had not a firſt-rate crop of corn. The ſummer and autumn of 1792 were a continued ſeries of wet weather; both corn and hay were greatly injured in harveſting, and conſequently the little corn that was well ſecured, advanced in price; but under all theſe unfavourable circumſtances, the old ſtock in hand was ſo confiderable, that che price in 1793 did not exceed(in the county of Somerſet, at leaſt) ſeven ſhillings and ſix-pence per buſhel, Wincheſter. ‘The produce of 1793 being a middling crop, wheat did not experience much advance, till a probable deficiency in the )| crop of 1794, accompanied with nearly a total failure in the j crop of pulſe, was diſcoverable. Its advanc e then was very rapid, and great part of the ol | ſtock being exhauſted, ap- prehenfions were entertained of an abſolute famine. We may, therefore, from the foregoing ſtatement, draw this fair ) inference, that three out of the five years before referred to were deficient in preduce; and that the crops of 1791 and I 7935 I 54 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY 1793, though tolerable, were not ſufficient to make good the deficiency of the three unproductive years, For argument ſake, let us ſuppoſe the average produce of a good crop to be twenty buſhels per acre, and the average conſumption of the kingdom eighteen buſhels? Let us alſo ſuppoſe the average produce of 1792 and 1794 not to exceed fourteen buſhels, and that of 1795 not to ex- ceed twelve buſhels per acre, the amount will then ſtand thus, admitting that 1791 and 1793 were good years of produce: FO= 20 buſhels: Per Acre. 1702,== IA ditto. 1795-=. 20 ditto, 1794,-- I4 ditto. O2 ditto, 80 Produce of five years, » 90 Conſumption in ditto, 10 Deficient, or two buſhels per acre SEES per annum. Admitting that three million of acres are annually ſown with wheat, a deficiency of two buſhels per acre, of produce, compared with the conſumption, would require an annual importation, for the above ſtated five years, of 750,000 quarters. Now, according to a certain writer, the importation from foreign countries, for eighteen years, ending January 5th, 1789, amounted to only 42,657 quarters of wheat, and 283,175 quarters of oats per annum. From the ſtatement made in the firſt report of the Sele Committee appointed to take into conſideration the means of promating the cultivation and improvement of waſte land, 4 LL — D—————————————————— J E— OF SOMERSETSHIRE«- 155 it appears that the total increaſe, in the conſumption of cattle and ſheep, for the laſt ſixty-two years, amounts to the en- ormous number of 32,854 head of cattle, and 203,290 ſheep, or nearly one-third for the metropolis alone; and as the ſize and weight, both of cattle and ſheep, häve probably in- creaſed at leaſt one-fourth ſince 1732, ſuch augmented pro- portion ought to be added to the calculation of conſumption. This denotes ſuch an increaſe, both of inhabitants and of luxury, as muſt have beea attended with a proportionate conſumption of butter, cheeſe, hay,&c.; and if extended to the‘whole kingdom, clearly accounts for the increaſed price of the before-mentioned articles, and is a ſufficient apology for that predileQion for paflure land, which, for many years paſt, ſeems to have been univerſally manifeſted. In the courſe of the’ laſt thirty years, the price of labour, butter and cheeſe, beef and hay, have advanced in price nearly fifty pounds per cent. Barley and oats have alſo advanced thirty or forty per cent. Not ſo ¿read corn. If we except the laſt two years, that article has advanced but little; and perhaps the average price of the laſt thirty years, namely, from 1764 to 1794, is not much higher than that 1724 to 1704. Let us now advert to the ES of farms, to which the multitude have attributed the late ſcarcity; and here 1 cannot help remarking, that E 5 at leaít mode=- rately large, T much queßtion the po ſibility of extending an improved agriculture; and were the prevailing wiſh gratified, and the plan of ſmall farms adopted, fuch a 1 meaſure muſt be attended with a total extinGtion of that energy and ſpirit which are the life and ſoul of adventure. What would be the operation of ſuch a ſyſtem in trade were the clothier, the cotton manu faQurer, the artiſan, to be reſtri&ted to a limited capital? Why, a total derelicuon of 12 % d 4 ———— e ze dde m ORT e e I 50 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY all that animation and exertion which have gained to them a trade with the whole world, and which have rendered their late and preſent improvements the object of general admiration and aſtoniſhment. An equal diviſion of farms never has exiſted, nor could it continue, if it had.- The unequal SRA of tenáhits, the aſſiduity and œconomy of ſome contrafßted with the-indo- lence and diíſipation of others, the’ diverſity- of£ mode of manuring, courſe of croppiñg, proximity or diſtance from large and populous cities and towns, and variety of ſtocking, are all ſo unſettled in their nature and qualities, that what might be ght in one inſtance, would be wrong in another. Let me aſk the advocates for ſmall farms what occaſioned that conſolidation of them, which they ſo much reprobate, and to which they attribute, in a great degree, that dearneſs which the nation now experiences. Was it not becatiſe the large holder could afford to ES more rent than the ſmall? And how was this to be done, but by an increaſed produce? And if an increaſed produce was the conſeguence, how could ſuch a meaſure operate.in the way ſtated? But ſome will ſay, does not the conſolidation of farms adt as a check to population? I ſay, no. ‘he ideas of large farmers are more expanded than thoſe 1, The extent of their capital; their more libera! education, and more general intercourſe with the farmers of ther diſtricts; the diſſemination amongſt thoſe of know- ledge, by means of books and agricultural ſocieties, whereby diſcoveries reach them long before they can poſübly be ¿nown to the ſmall farmer; all theſe comparative advan- ¿ges concur to introduce a ſytem of cropping, cleaning, ma- and ffocking the land, by which the neceſſary manual labour on a farm is greatly increaſed,- And what difference 18 E D=— a— E—_—— REZ e e OF SOMERSETSHIRE« 1 È is it to the publick whether this manual labour be performed by the little farmer himſelf, or by the hired labourer of the larce farmer? "True it is, that where cottages are levelled, and the mar- ried labourer is obliged to give way to the domeſtick or fingle ſervant, then its operation may be in ſome degree fatal to population; but for this a remedy might be deviſed,* On the whole, I am of opinion, that any ſyſtem adopted by the Britiſh Legiſlature to limit the extent of farms would be unwiſe and injurious in its operation. Let it not be inferred, from the preceding remark, that I am an advocate for farms of an anlimited extent. No. A farm ſhould never be ſo large as to preclude the pofſli- bility of good management. Where this limitation(as to corn or grazing farms) may be fixed, it is difficult to ſay, fr the reaſons before ſtated; perhaps in no caſe ſhould thëy exceed ſix hundred pounds per annum. This is large enouëh to produce, with good management, a ſufficient profit to J render its occupier in EE it and comfortable, As to dairy-farms, they cannot well be too ſmall. One even ſo low as E or feventy pounds per annum will afford a comfortable proviſion for a family, be wholly conducted(ſerving cattle excepted) by the females of the ouſhold; and the male part thereof might increaſe their income by occafional work‘done for their more opulent neighbours, the corn farmers of the diſtri. But the moſt formidable E A to ES‘ge corn farms ill remains to be anſwered, th . 5. y s capital gives the holders of e Ue ceh írom * Let a tax be put on all unmarried male-ſervants beyond a certain number living and lodging in a farmer’s houſe, and let tie produce go to the induſtrious married cottager. mIrZet ACL, “25 moa aI A er | Shia GR 153 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY market, and thereby producing an artificial ſcarcity; to which may be alſo added, the practicability of combination to enhance the price much beyond a due proportion. In years of plenty, when the ſoil produces more than is neceflary for the conſumption of its inhabitants, the man who holds back from market a part of this ſuperfluity, ſo far from being an object of condemnation, ought rather to be an obje of applauſe, in as much as ſuch condud tends to preſerve a greater equality of price than could other- wiſe exiſt. In the latter end of the year 1791, and the beginning of the year 1792, the price of wheat did not exceed fix ſhil- ling Ss PCr buſhel. ‘The wet ſummer of 1792 occaſioned an advance of price, but even then it did not exceed ſeven ſhillings and ſix-pence per buſhel, nor did it much advance till 1794, when the drought of the ſpring having occaſioned a total failure of pulſe, and a poor crop of wheat, the price advanced ra- pidly, and at laſt reached the enormous value of fourteen ſhillings per buſhel. Other cauſes beſide this deficiency of the crop may have contributed to this alarming and melancholy event; but if the foregoing obſervations are founded on fa&, we may ſafely infer that the late dearneſs of wheat is eaſily accounted for, without having recourſe to the combination of farmers, the monopoly of jobbers, or to any other of the cauſes before enumerated. It aroſe from three years aut of five of deficient produce. The almoſt total failure of pu fe in the year 1794, and the leflruétive ravages of war, which has not only leſſened importation, but has inevitably produced in our fleets and armies a waſteful expenditure of this neceſlary article of human food, CHAPTER Dg Á OF SOMERSETSHIRE-« ï 59 0 N| | CHAPTER AVS © POLITICAL ŒCONOMY, as conneéed with ar ) affe ting AGRICUL FUR SECT. I. Raads. EES K roads pretty good, conſidering the trafick pon them. Parochial ones ill managed, and bad; not- withſtanding good materials for keeping them in repair are near and abundant. But ſome examples are beginning to be ſet of more judicious management, by throwing the ſides to the middle, thereby widening the ſpace of paſlage, and making drains at both ſides. This obvious piece of œco- nomy cannot be too much imitated. SECT. 2. Canals: The Somerſetfhire Coal Canal, which has two branches, the one commencing at Paulton, the other at Radſtock, and both communicating with the Kennet and Avon canal; the Dorſet and Somerſet Canal, commencing near Nettile- bridge, and extending through Frome to the county of Dorſet; and the cheſter Canal; are the only three canals foz which ads have been obtained. Another was attempted which was intended to commence at Pill near Briſtol, and to communicate with the Grand Weſtern canal at Taunton. This Briſtol and Weſtern canal, as it was called, might have been carried near fifty miles without a lock, and for the molt part through a ſtrong clay ſoil.— E in CoN- jundion with the Grand Weſtern canal,(an act for which E Y }- « as been obtained) have delivered coa: to the inhabitants of 160 AGRICULTURAL the county of Devon at nearly half the preſent prices; and yet all theſe benefits were loſt, and a ſcheme, fraught with publick good, as well as private convenience, was fruſtrated by a certain nobleman, merely becauſe he conceived that he had not been treated by the oſtenfible promoters of it with becoming deference and reſpec. DECT: E 2 PEE 5 DATA) FART(ETS 2 3 and de Fairs and H Ceexiy iar“Rets. Many fairs are held in this. diſtrict. but Bath and Frome are the only towns which have a weekly market of any con- 7 A 5 and 6. Commerce and Manufactures. GEE manufactures in this diſtri are thoſe of 1 cloth, and knit worſted ſtockings, which, in the I = Rs E 3 NA 8 M 5 _ An IO x7 ln y AN HN A E t- POROnTA 1 N- 1 TOME, as WeCii aS D NCDro 1- Mallet, are conhfiderable 5 m Ay C ey Ts ZEA A RALES( m the number of hands therein employed, mußt have ſome effe on the agriculture of the neighbourhood. ARE XAT ad narh of Erame are fonnd ta cantas Ihe town and Parini Of TFTOMEe are ICOUNd fo Coníain nearly ſeventeen hundred families, or about ten thouſand people; more than one-third of which are acually and im- mediately ſupporte by the manufacures ſpoken of; ANA- of the lower order of people in E ac E SS fa@tured has lately b and fifty thouſai »)e reckoned hundred and Juſtice woollen manufaQure for ſome years paſt, and is now rapidly d ¿fing in its heretofore moſt fertile ſource of national be E namely, in furniſhing labour adapted to the different periods and ſtages Ls fr OF SOMERSETSHIRE-, ſtages of life, Machinery zuſt and will be univerſally IN- troduced, otherwiſe the diſtriéts, where zt is not uſed, muſt be ſacrificed to thoſe where# is. Would the legiſlature in- terfere to ſuſpend its operations, or limit its progreſs? This would be incompatible with its wiſdom and juſtice. To allow only its partial eſtabliſhment, would be oppreſlive; to admit of zone, would be ruinous; becauſe ſuch machinery, with its appenda nt branches of manufacture, and a 2 few in- dividuals allotted to each, is not only ſuſceptible of, but it is preſumed will ſhortly be, in a ſtate of migration. In York- ſhire, where it‘has rletiyed a degree of perfeétion, and an extent of eſtabliſhment, beyond that of any other part of the kingdom, I have been informed, from indiſputable authority, that before the preſent war, the great as tor the pro- duce of the manufactures left but few, in compariſon, to reſort to agriculture for ſupport.— hat the preſent ſituation may be, in N momentous relation to national proſperity, E| Î am not able cir E uUlly to deſcribe, but general ru- 2© mour fates it as a melanch 1oly reverſe E Whether the ES of ES for the expe- diting carding, ſpinning,&c. will enable the manufaQurers to make more cloth, or whether a number of the poor muſt be driven to ſeek ſubliſtence by other labour, may, perhaps, be beſt aſcertained by experiment. If the revival of the export of kerſeymeres and fine cloth ſhould take place, and ſuf- ficient ſtock of wool can be obtained, the deciſion will be in favour of the former part of the queſtion, and all will be well; but ſhould the preſent check on E export long con- tinue, or ſhould it be found that by the hands now in em- ploy, and the machinery already in uſe, the whole ſtock of wool(which is moſt certainly a limited article) ſhall be wrought into cloth in nine or ten months of the year; the “4, E 4 (- THT SS| SZL Z> full-erown and aced lab 1 ¿bourers in this manufaQure will be M ſeriouſly PS ET i Dtn ar acini UTZ Pv Vaud Sr ras 2 1 Zue——S | Y| —————— 7 ms 162 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY ſeriouſly diſtreſſed. Landed property in the neighbourhood will be heavily: burthened; and the children muſt migrate and ſcek ſubſiſtence by other employ where it can be found. Should this be the caſe, many other profeſſions and em- ployments, which are either mediately or immediately con- nected with this manufacture, or otherwiſe dependant on the populouſneſs of the neighbourhood, will be ultimately afe(@ted. Further, the agriculture of the Weſtern part of Wiltſhire, and the North-Weefßtern part of Dorſetſhire, muſt partake of the conſeguence of ſuch a migration; for the lands about Frome or Shepton not being well adapted to tillage, the inhabitants are chiefly ſupplied with corn and — from thoſe counties. The aſſiſtance e of machinery was jad recourſe to by the manufa@urers of Frome and Shepton from abſolute necefüty; for had they continued in the old method, their E muſt have been loſt; and indeed z9W the North-country manufacturers are beforehand with them, Y in the application of water, the beſt primum mobile of all machinery.* E is much to be feared, that the improvements already made, and thoſe now going on, wil ultimately be the means of diſſeminating manufactures in other countries, to the pre- iS judice of the export trade of Britain. There are alſo ſeveral mills on the Avon for preparing iron and copper, and ſundry others for the ſpinning of worlted, and ſpinning and weaving of cotton.‘The effect on agriculture has been conſiderable; the pay of men, in the ry 7 7 A N N 15 e The prudence of the North-country manufa@urers was highly R in their introducing the cotton manufaQure fully into “ C their neighbourhood, before they much extended machinery 1n their woollen; thereby firſt ſecuring full employment fior the poor, and then E all the advantages which machinery could beſtow. As C. LS A4 R= M 2 MIDDLE E——— e—— aids m ZO OF SOMERSETSHIRE- 163 time of harveſt, has been greatly advanced, and that of wo- d children doubled. ay be ſaid, that this diſtrict cannot boaît of any prac- agriculture which are peculiar to itſelf; the cultiva- teazies and woad excepted. ¡ces in receiving the improvement of more en- riculturifßts are very ſlow, notwithſtanding it has the age of a very reſpectable Agriculture Society, which has been eſtabliſhed in Bath near twenty years. From the tardineſs before mentioned, it ſcems difficult to deviſe any means to engage a ſtronger deſire of improvement. Drain=- ing their wet lands, folding ſheep on their uplands, feeding their cows during winter in the farm-yard, and more frequent marling, naturally preſent themſelves as the chief objects of notice; and it is eſpecially deſirable, that theſe practices might be ſtrongly urged, if any means could be happily found to do it effe@ually. A, | | \ ) j | : E/ J 7|| || || D CHAPTER I. GEOGRAPHICAL STATE AND CIRCUMSTANCES. SITUATION AND: EXTENTS 4 Be middle diviſion of the county is the largeſt, being that part comprehended between the Mendip hills on the North-Eaſt; Quantock-hill and the foreſt of Neroche on the South-Weſt; parts of Devonſhire and Wilts on the South-Eaſt; and the Briſtol Channel on the North-Weſt. It includes the city and borough of Wells, the boroughs of Bridgwater, Ilcheſter, and Milborne-Port, and the market- towns of Axbridge, Shepton-Mallet, Glaſtonbury, Brewton, Caſtle-Cary, Wincanton, Somerton, Langport, Yeovil, Douth-Petherton, Ilminſter, Crewkerne, and Chard, toge- ther with their adjacent pariſhes and villages, amounting in the whole to between four and five hundred thouſand acres, CLIMATE AND SOIL. ‘The climate of this diſtri may, for the moſt part, be pronounced mild and temperate; but on ſo varied a ſurface an uniformity of ſoil cannot be expedted. On the borders of Wilts and Dorſet the lands are high, and partake of the ſoil and management of thoſe counties; ſheep- LAG D medi n DRAE ALLA M HM I re 100 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY ſheep-walks and corn conſtituting the principal parts of huſ- bandry. The farms are here large, and folding 1s unremit- tingly purſued. Wheat 1s ſeldom ſown without zo foldings; and fallowi ing every four or five years is the general pradtice. The corn produced is of a good quality, and finds a ready fale at Wincanton, Bruton, and other markets. The next diviſion of this diſtrict, namely, the country around Shepton, Bruton, Cafſtle-( ERL SS Somerton, Langport, Petherton, and Ilminfter, is exceedingly fertile, both in corn and paſture; abounds with good orchards and fine luxuriant meadows, and is altogether as well cultivated and as produdive as moſt parts of the kingdom. In ſome parts, flax and hemp are produced in great abundance, which, together with wool, furniſh the raw materials for ex- tenſive manufaQures. Weſtward of this, Polden and Ham- hills riſe boldly to the view, and conſtitute ſome of the infe- rior lands of the county, The ſoil on theſe hills being very thin, and the eſtates diſpoſed in ſmall portions of common field, no conſiderable improvement can be efedted without a fundamental change in the ſyſtem of management. Hence we deſcend into the marſh or fen-lands, which are divided into two diſtricts, namely, Brent-Marſh, and the Bridgewater or South-Marſh. Brent-Marfſh is that portion of land comprehended between Mendip-hills and Polden- x bill on the North and South, Bridgwater-bay on the Weſt, and extending to Wells and Glaſtonbury on the Eaſt. This marſh may alſo be divided into two parts, ſeparated Blackford, W R&c. E the Northern level runs the river xe, emptying itſelf into the Briſtol Channel at Uphill; and through the R the river Brue, emptying itſelf into Bridgwater-bay near elevated land, on which ſand the pariſhes of OF SOMERSETSEHÏRE, 167 This country has been heretofore much negleded, being, deſtitute of A s houſes, probably on account of the ſtagnant waters, and unwholſome air; but of late many efforts have been made to improve the ſoil, by draining and R under a variety of as of parliament.‘The be- efit E= therefrom has been aſtoniſhing. The rhynes nd ditches neceſſarily cut to divide the property, together vith the deepening of f the general outlets, diſcharge ſo much of the ſuperfluous water, that many thouſand acres, which heretofore were overflown for months together, and of courſe of little or no value, are become fine grazing and dairy lands; tothe great emolument of the individual poſ- ſeſlors, as well as the benefit of the community. The gquan- tities thus incloſed in Brent-Marſh, within twenty years paſt, under authority of parliament, are as follows: ACRES. together with 1,100 acres of 4400 b Wedmore and Mear: turf-bog as yet unimproved. Compton-Biſhop 300 Glaſtonbury— 1,500 Ditto 300 ditto Weſthay,&.— 1,7009 Ditto 1,000 ditto Mark—— 2,000 Tuntſpill— 1,200 Shapwick— I00 Blackford ft 6 2900 W ookey— 90 Weſtbury— 450 Bleadon— 400 Weſt-Pennard— 2150 Eddington 1,000 Ditto 400 ditto Stoke and Draycot 800 Nylands 350 Wells— Se 1 7,400 2,800 of turí-bog. a tt teme / 168 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Of theſe ſeventeen thouſand four hundred acres, ſix parts out of ſeven are cleared of ſtagnant water, and rendered highly produdive: on the AS but little improvement has hitherto taken place.* There remain about three thou- ſand acres to be incloſed, which(the turf-bogs excepted) will compleat the divifion of all the moors within the Brent- Marſh diſtrict. Tt is not to be underſtood, that the local drains, under fuch a variety of ads, and at ſuch different times, can have the moſt perfe&t influence on the country; particularly when it is conſidered, that the river Axe has no barrier to the tide, which flows ſeveral mile 2s, and choaks the lower part of it with fime, to ſuch a degree, that many thouſand acres adjoining the upper parts of the river are, in conleguence thereof, very much injured. Were a barr rier; with proper ſluices, ereéted near the Briſtol Channel, ſome of the mot conſiderable winding gs of the river ſhortened, and the ſhallow parts deepened, not only the moors, but he old incloſures, A be benefited thereby, to the amount of at leaſt five thouſand pounds per annum. The river Brue drains a much more confiderable part of Brent-Marſh than the Axe, and has a barrier to the tide (Which riſes there no leſs than twe rity feet in height) with Lj fluices therein, at Highbridge; but its foi undation, and the the apron and cills of. the ſluices, are at fuch a height above low water mark, that the drain is very imperfedt, and the loweſt lands, which lie ſome miles up the river, are frequently in- commoded by the land floods. On the confines of the Brue are two heath or turf bogs one on the north ſide containing about three th ioufand, and the other on the ſouth containing about fi ſix thouſand aCrCSs Ten thouſand ſheep have been rotted in one year in the pariſh of Mark, before the incloſing and dr: ning took place, [>>) Ia ()n lt ge A PLAN Or mmM07e efféctuall V AINING the TURF BOGS and \ Blac Bl ea d da| A(5 il :=( oUpul Bicadogil" A : Ni4and A| O > oBagéhvorth SD in the County ol (lewarc o“ \ greau) TA| 2 > ar > Allerton 14 py — N Ì D) Wedmore —/ L C° \./ | T; o"n. 4 5 Thea: y Sand= 2— SD: =S Cino OW= BP E water PŒ#— R E— E pro:\| Tt Zurfli“ TE fuuphai\ AÁ- E 7 FLIOODED LANDS, MAT in Bos D, e 0, E os Cheddar U- LALA|: ( E S Wit touns near the Rivers e“e BRUE and AXE, EXPLANATION. The black Lines denotc present Jirers and Prains. Lhe rea Lines denote the pro- porel Amendments, TheTurſt Boo tfr The iwoded Land? fare a tuzhil Shade of"Blue. i The Aros denote the coun cfWiate: Zowng_... ar. GLAS TOX, L'arw&her__as»_-Street, Fillages…_ as-Sand. TL OELE. The new Outet on the Pruc,to de 20 rect under the prevent, upon a»tmtilar@metructin wht the neu(bree, tèr di; inma furngs JSedgemoor, SE te E reduced te an Ut vi a Planc,ota Footin a Mil Axe x E neu Barrier with Slices, RCA F/obté Boat. A new Cut thom Lo. Io, te White-housye, and the ter redu -ced to an inetine> Plunt. 5 s) 70 lirk Spring| Te 2 CEE M Vurtti: Land pA Z R——- 2 LL aud E E:=—/ Fired Plate to prevent Outlet Ï-<=| 20 AU— nased Outlet ota Foct in a 2 e JH Ears THELLE EEE a4 ES % Hjo E 1 E T 4 E EA C RS E} e A= 160 Section zz Ze Zine a,b,c,d,ef gih,i,klmn,0,p, Tie Plan.: “ate tor Leno te D,| «Seate tor Leno vite Pian IEE E Y E A 1 oj. x VU Meete veutpt 352 tra > iis Rs PS a e ata= E 3= À OF SOMERSETSHIREs 16g On theſe bogs ſcarce any paſturage at preſent orows.— Tee are a compolition of porous ſubſtances, 4 On water, and imbibing it like a ſpunge.‘They are obſerved to rile with much wet, and ſink in dry weather. The LS uſe to which they are appropriated is that of fuel to the ſur- | rounding pariſhes. As it is an obje of the firſt import- | ance to the country to have theſe bogs perfeéÆiy drained | ans conſolidated, I ſhall endeavour to ſuggeſt a plan whereby | us dehfrable efect may, in my opinion, be attained, / e cauíe of the inundation and drowning of this level Ï ariſes from the outfalls being choaked up either by the col- | lection of ſea-mud in the river, or by the elevated land lying , between it and the Briſtol Channel. Of courſe, nothing / more 1s neceſſary than a removal of thoſe OBI Gtous to the | outíalls, which will open a free paſſage and quick current te y the land water; this being effected, the turf-bogs, which are i now five or ſix feet higher than the adjacent land, vâuld ſubſide, and the porous earth become conſolidated, and fit i for all the purpoſes of vegetation. | The annexed plan, drawn by Mr. WHITE, the ſurveyor, | 1 will ſufficiently explain the obje in view, and excite the attention of all parties intereſted. By the levels thus delineated,(the accuracy of which, I ) A think, may be depended on) it appears, that the ſpring-tides are nearly on a level with the ſurface of the turf-bogs, and that by the propoſed outlet an additional fall of ten feet will be acquired. Such a drain, reduced to an inclined E of a foot in a mile, would, in all probability, diſcharge all it ſtagnant waters. A farther explanation is unneceſlary, as the plan will con- vey a more diſtinct idea of the general deh gn chai words. The preſent outlet at Highbridge is not only of inſufficient depth, but is ſituate ſo far ¿nland, that the f — é e Ps E ze ¡daun E C———— FTZ «1A \ | 170 AGRICULTURAL SURVEV choak up the river, and the current is not rapid enough to diſlodge the ſame. Ï am aware that many of the proprietors of land in Hunt- ſpill, Mark,&c. will objet, under an idea that their lands will be made 1 dry, and that in the ſummer ſeaſon their ſtogk will be RE of water. But this objeâion, and indeed every other drawn from the apprehenſion of a too liberal E ge of water, may be obviated, Dy placing hatches at the different bridges, which will be neceſlary both for pub- lick and private accommodation. An improvement of ſuch magnitude cannot be effe&ed without the E of C and all perſons re- ceiving benefit muſt be burthened with a rate proportionate to the advantages BEE This e may be made by commiſlioners duly appointed, but t ſubjed to an appeal to the court of RE= the drains, when finiſh- ed, ſhould be put under the view of the court of ſewers. I will now endeavour to give a haſty ſketch of the pro- bable coít, and ſubſeguent improvement: but in this I do not pretend to accuracy; ſuffice it to ſay, that the apparent benefit ſo far exceeds the utmoſt latitude of expence, that no ſolid objeîtion can lie on that head. ml IETER OF SOMERSETSHIRE- I71 Brent-Marſh and the River Axe Drainage. DR. è LL To a of parliament, gaining conſents,&c— 4090 To fluice at letter a near the river Perrott— 600 9 ‘To twelve miles of new drain, average depth fif- teen feet 12,000 “To lowering river Brue three miles— 1,500 To purchaſe of land—— 2,000 To bridges, hatches,&c.— 2,000 To fluice on the Axe near Hobb’?s boat——— 500 To one mile and half of new drain_— I,500 To lowering the river Axe fix miles— 1,000 To purchaſe of land e— 1,000 To commiſſioners, ſurveyor,&c. 2,500 25,000 [’o balance of profit—— 331,250 CR. 4,356,250 By 90900 acres turf bog improved, at the moft moderate computation, 15s. per acre, making 67 50l. per annum, twenty-five years purchaſe 168,750 By 15,000 acres of flooded land improved 10s. purchaſe_——- 187,500 / 556 4.-350,250 CAES ERSA A LA ORME EEC DEE On the fide of the river Axe, the expence of a compleat drainage would not exceed five thouſand pounds; and there can be no doubt that the low lands near Axbridge, Cheddar, Nyland, Draycot, Rodney-Stoke, Weſtbury,&c. would be improved at leaſt four thouſand per annum. As a far- ther ſtimulus it might be urged, that the air would be ren- ] dered o—— 172 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY dered more healthful, and the exhalations which now riſe from ſo large a body of ſtagnant water, and are wafted by the winds to the high corn-lands of the Mendip-Hils, to their great detriment, would be unknown. Were the turf-bogs reclaimed and made produdive, I think this diſtri might be conſidered as one of the moßt fertile in the kingdom. The vales are formed principally by mud, carried down by the rivers which flow through it, and depohited there by the tides oppoſing the current thereof. Many ages muſt have been reguired to effec this, but it is evident that the whole of this diſtrict is raiſed to a confi- derable height above its original level; and that the turf- bogs were in former days dry and firm land, not ſubject inundation from the ſea, or to the ſtagnation of the river waters; elſe, how can we account for timber trees of great dimenſions, both oak, fir, and willow, being found at the depth of fifteen or twenty feet, ſtanding in the ſame ere poſture in which they grew s and reeds an e ther paluftrine plants, at the ſame depth and in the ſame poſture. Human bones, furze-buſhes, and nut-trees with nuts, have been found at the ſame depth. Now it is manifeit, that neither furze nor nut-trees will grow under water. It appears therefore probable, that the whole of this level was at a former period dry, firm land; and that by ſome violent convulfion of nature it became of a ſudden inun- dated.*‘This is in ſome degree confirmed by the extraor- dinary depth of the clay or ſound ground, on the verge of ee * Some objeétions may be brought E this idea of ſudden 1iñ+ SAE OE irom the upright poſition of the ſedge, as diſcovered in dig- ging the Sedgmoor drains. Had this Moor been drowned by a ſudden Rood, it is reaſonable to ſuppoſc the ſedge would have been proitrated, JB. the OF SOMERSETSHIRE, 173 the Zlizhlands; and it is well known, that in many parts of this kingdom the ſea has gained on the land, and in other parts the land has gained on the ſea. The improvement of ſuch a traÆX of unprodudive land would impart the moſt pleaſing ſenſations to the mind; and I verily think, that wo grand drains, accompanied with proper lateral ditches, ſuch as T have now ſuggeſted, would increaſe the rent of this diſtri eight or ten thouſand pounds per year. The profit which has attended the improvement already praiſed during the laſt twenty years 1s, I ſhould think, a ſufficient incentive. Scarcely a farmer can now be found who does not poſſeſs a conſiderable landed property; and many whoſe fathers lived in idleneſs and floth, on the pre- carious ſupport of a few half-ſtarved cows, or a few limping geeſe, are now in afffluence, and bleſſed wich every needful ſpecies of enjoyment. Diſorders of the body, to which the ſtagnant waters heretofore ſubje&ed them, are now ſcarcely known: and the inhabitants for the moſt part arrive to a good old age, SOIL, T'he ſoil of theſe moors may be comprehended under fout diviſions: 1/?. Strong, dry, and fertile clay, of a conſiderable depth. 2dly. Red earth, of various depths, from one foot to ſix feet, covering the black moory earth of the heath. 2dly. Black moory earth on the ſurface, with a ſubſtratum of clay at various depths. 4thly, and laſtly. The turf-bog. The firſt of theſe deſcriptions of land may be conſidered as of the beſt quality, being highly productive, and particu- larly ſo in a wet ſummer. If ſhut up early in the ſpring, it will —— 174 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY will produce from two to three tons of hay per acre. Its value may be eſtimated from two to three pounds per acre, and it is for the moſt part devoted to grazing, Tt is no leſs remarkable than true, that this land will fat ſheep nearly as well in the winter as the ſummer, if not ſtocked more than one to an acre. The vaſt advantage reſulting from the incloſure of the waſte lands in the pariſhes before enumerated, is ſo mani- feſt, that whoever runs may read.* A moiety of the manor of Wedmoor might have been purchaſed, about twenty years ago, for twenty thouſand pounds. It is now worth ſeven thouſand pounds per annum. he E in Huntſpill, Mark, Mere, Glaſtonbury, Eddington,&c.&c. are nearly ſimilar. In the latter hamlet, fingle rights of common, when incloſed, have been ſold for more than eight hun 1dred pounds; and all this without any concomitant inconvenience, Át firſt the ſcheme was highly unpopular, and its firſt promoters were on the eve of falling a ſacrifice to popular fury and reſentment, but by coolneſs and perſeverance they weathered the ſtorm: all parties are now ſatisfied, and acknowledge the wiſdom of the meaſure. Nor has the advance of the poor’s rate been in any degree egual to what has been experienced in neighbouring pariſhes, where no incloſure has taken place, as will be fhewn by the following ſtatement; WEDMOOR. Amount of poor-rate| Amount of poor-rate leven years previous| years ſubſequent -|° to the incloſure£2132| to the incloſure£2342 HUNTSPIEL. Ditto<== 560[Ditto=- 2204 ——— MMM OF SOMERSETSHIRE» 175 MARK. Ditto e 1005 Dito===>> 2102 MERE. Ditto e 2010| Dto—=— 2170 An increaſed population neceflarily accompanying ſuch an ccupation of productive E mußt inevitably be attended with a proportionate advance in the poor’s levy; belides, ER men cannot, in an inſtant, by any, even the Krongeſt incen- tives, be rouſed from a fate of ſloth to a life of labour and adivity,‘To this may be e added, that a great part of the extra levy ariſes from the high demand for county ſtock; a and it is found that for ſeveral years paſt the rates are declining, O notwithſtanding the poor are treated with much more libera- lity than heretofore. The diviſion of property, on theſe lands, is effected by ditches eight feet wide at the top, three feet and half wide at the bottom, and five feet deep, which may be cut in the ſtrongeſt clay for twenty-pence per rope; and on the black oround and red earth at ſixteen-pence per rope, which is bout one penny per cubic yard, At theſe prices a good workman will, in the ſummer, earn ree ſhillings per day, al 1d in winter two ſhillings.* - heſe rhynes E their waters into the rivers; and ſluices are occaſionally made to keep back water, in times of 1 fa C Ip. drought, for the uſe of the ſtock. The graziers, on theſe ſirong clays, are fond of large in- cloſures, and object to the planting any trees, or hedges; alledging as à reaſon, that they harbour flies, which teaze the cattle, and check their progreſs in fatting: trees alſo pre- vent a free circulation of air. Experience confirms the wil- * Can any excavating machine execute this work at a cheaper rate? dom 176 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Iſo are of opinion, that one 5 da © O = EEN [N S N + = S O © L,. : 2 2 D) forty acres will ſooner fat a given quantity of oxen, A 1= ES A 1 ¡DENEN or’ INneep, than WO PICces OI IWECNLY acres each: All, how- in this ſentiment; and the opponents ever, do not 1 E y ES n n E 7 ONO urge, that animals eat with greatel reliſh, when fre Juentiy changed from one feld to another, than when they are con- ñned to one. [@) As no ſatisfa@ory experiments have ever(to my know- 2 LEE rr| FS RATA SJ y EES> ledge) been recorded on this ſubject, let us reaſon a few aſe Lr Ar R R San FEV DATE Taxe =O CA DEPICT Es i WO or two ſets of ſtock, A EA we mU n ſome other data. T Se A E LEE L D a there muſt ZEE LEY(A S| D BEI SA LL Arf_ aither cale, and the cattic ay Vary their reed RE LE E AL LT: A Pars in One 1nItance Aas tne iarg SL a NASN RA AT E LTI 3 CSA Rey Wii NOï DEC LCEN IN{Ne CVeniNe where tney were teed- ©/ and enquiry is, do the cattle, ot 7 2 m C! 72> TR: 2 è: 7 E: D 7 they not, conjume more grajs in one way ¿han the other é think they do, and ſhall not heſitate(though with great diffidence) to give my opinion in favour of a change of food; LNC Nal KINC OÏ NCTDAZE whi ich bé oE 1CS | C This perambulaticn e, not much injure the graſs, for O EN 2 IS u E Zie ye 53 t be not very rank indeed(and graziers ſhould be careful! ‘ AAE NS SSE A aftrar the animale tread al DE nor 10 E Wl LOON rue alter Ine animal Ss[read TA He N Si, A He then becomes contented, and, during the time of his abode, feeds in the ſame manner as he would were the piece ever ſo large. After one or two months’ reſidence in a lar piece, the RAA DER comes diſguſted with his ftuation, and tired with his food; the graſs 1s tainted by his breath and-b the efiluvia of hs È dung he bellows for change, and trages the field, conſuming, or rather deſtroying, more graſs witl his feet than with his mouth. In ever ſo large an incloſure(properly ſtocked) every part of the feld is tainted with the breath of the animal ſome time or other in the courſe of twenty-four hours, and it is aſtoniſhing how ſoon they become diſguſted; in changing from field to field it is not ſo. Every fortnight or three weeks bring a ſupply of untainted food, which gratifies their palate, and a change of ſcene amuſes them, and increaſes their comfort and enjoyment. Ihe only manure ever put on theſe lands, is the contents of the drains and ditches; and this, with judicious manage- ment in the method of grazing, is ſufficient to keep them in unabating fertility. Some of this clay land, when tilled, has been known to produce ten or twelve ſucceſſive crops of wheat, without an intervening fallow or fallow crop. I was ſhewn a field in the pariſh of Mark, which had growing in it the nineteenth crop of wheat; and I verily think the produce was not leſs than fifty Wincheſter buſhels per acre. No manure had been put on it during the whole time, ſave the contents arifing; from the cleanſing of the ditches. The ſtubble was mown every year, and carried of; two ploughings only were given it, after which the wheat was ſown in the months of No- vember or December, under furrow, in eight-furrow ridges, after the rate of two buſhels and half per acre, chopping the rface of the ridge with a ſpade. N The clods, and ſmoothing the ſa ———= E m: D E‘ad- gO: 178 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY The averáàgé produce per year, for the whole eighteen years, was eſtimated to exceed thirty-five buſhels per acre. This aſtoniſhing fertility of ſoil can only bé aſcribed to the invigorating principle of the ſaline particles with which the land is impregtiated. They enable it to produce a ſuc- ceſlion of crops, which in common land would reduce the ſoil to a mere caput mortuum. Notwithſtanding this encouragement to tillage, the plough lies idle, and nineteen parts out of twenty remain in graſs» though it is apparent that the value of the land, in fee, might be gained in a few years. The ſecond deſcription of ſoil found in this diſtrict, namely, a ſtrong red earth over a pure clay, poſſeſſes alſo many good qualities; it is neither ſubje< to injury from an exceſs of wet weather, nor does it burn in a drought. This ſoil, formed by a depofit waſhed from the hills, may be conſidered as a fine vegetable móuld, and, if tilled, is ca- pable of bearing a variety ôf crops in the higheſt perfection. Its value is about forty-five ſhillings per acre, and its pro- duce of hay about two tons. Black moory earth is the third ſort of ſoil found in this level, and on it extraordinary improvements have been effeled, by covering the ſarface with a thick coat either oí clay or red earth. In its natural fate it is in a great meaſure unprodudive,- yielding ſcarcely any herbage, ſave carnation graſs, ruſhes, and other aquatic produ@ions. The deficiency of this ſoil ariſes from the want of tenacity. The beſt means of im- provement is compleat draining, and after that a liberal co- vering with clay or red earth; theſe will freely incorporate with the ſoil, and make it ſufficiently firm. After ſuch im- provement, no kind of land is more produdtive, particulariy in a dry ſummer. ! LES ¿i NAVe Us OF SOMERSETSHIRE- 179 Ï have this year ſeen land of this deſcription, ſpring-fed till the 12th of May, yield by the 24th of June two tons of hay per acre; and Mr. Lax, on his farm at Godney, has, for five years paſt, kept twenty cows and a bull throughout the year on thirty-five acres of land. His plan 1s to’ winter hayne* fifteen acres. This, on an average of ſeaſons, is fit to be ſtocked the beginning of April, and is fed till the 12th of May. By this time the remaining twenty acres are in ſufficient ſtrength to take the cows, and will keep them till the after-graſs of his mown ground is fit to receive them;z then the unfed graſs in the ſummer-leaze is Æimmed, which yields from five to ten cwt. of hay per acre; this is given to the cows when they are dry, namely, in the months of December and January. After they have calved, which is from the beginning of February to Lady-Day, they are ſup- plied with the beſt hay; here are more than thirty tons of hay produced, ſo that twenty cows cannot poſkbly want winter provender. Not many years ſince this farm was part of an extenſive moor, incloſed by A& of Parliament, and was purchaſed by Mr. Lax, of the Commiſlioners, at fifteen pounds per acre, to which add five pounds per acre for draining and claying, making in the whole twenty pounds per acre, at five per cent. the rent will be twenty ſhillings per acre. * It is old Engliſh, and found in all books and laws relating to foreſts. N 2, DEBTORs 130 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY DEBTOR, LEE To rent of thirty-fivé acres, at 20s. per acre 35 0 0 IO taxes, BIShWwayS, N——_—— I O To dairy women, and all other incidental expences, twenty-five ſhillings per cow—— 25 00 To expences making fifteen acres of hay, at twelve ſhillings per acre———-= Ditto ſkimming and making ſummer-leaze hay 3 0 0 To fences———-—= 1 TO To intereſt of capital———— 710.0 S2 O Profits 74 TO 0 —_——= E 200. O O CREDITOR, Ld By ſixty cwt. cheeſe, at fifty ſhillings per cwt. 150 0 0 By twenty calves———-— 15 00 BE E——-————— 15 O 0 By hogs—-————— 20 00 200,4 O00 Though the produce of cheeſe, in compariſon with the general produce of the county, was ſmall, it muſt not be ſuppoſed that the deficiency aroſe from any want of food, but principally from the cows being young, and o a ſmall breed. The laſt ſpecies of ſoil is ¿he Turf Bag. The ſurface of this ſoil is of a light, ſpungy, tough tex- ture, full of the fibrous roots of plants, and withal ſo matted together, that a ſpade or knife muſt be made very keen to penetrate R———————————— E ie—————————— OF SOMERSETSHIRE-“- 181 penetrate it. Immediately under thé turf, or ſward, is found ) e the vein of black moory earth, ſo unlike in its nature to the 0 IEE: peat which lies underneath, that when cut with it, and dried, it will fall of and ſeparate from it, 0 This mould is of good quality, and will bear both natu- ral and artificial graſs in great abundance. It is alſo an ex- 0 E cellent manure for clay or any other heavy land. This black H moory fratum is from one to two feet in thickneſs, and un- 4 derneath is LL the peat, which is from three to fifteen e feet in depth 0 Under the peat is a bed either of clay or ſand; the peat 1s 5 full of flaggy leaves and hollow fÉalks of ruſhes.‘Theſe — vegetable matters are accompanied with a ſubſtance like pitch, d of a bituminous nature, which lies between the ſtalks of the ruſhes and the leafy remains, and conſtitutes the inflammable 4 part thereof. It is uſed as the common fuel of the country, E and makes a clean and pleaſant fire, particularly well adapted ‘i to the purpoſes of the dairy. An acre of land will farniſh an E immenſe quantity, inſomuch, that in the pariſh of Catcott yg it has been ſold, for a term of twenty-one years, as high as e thirty pounds. O There is no great difficulty in the mode of curing peat. In the months of May and June it is cut out with a Keen Le inſtrument into the ſhape of bricks, left ſingle on the ground y for a few days to dry, by which time they loſe part of their : ood moiſture, and become firm enough for piling in pyramidal 1 hal heaps of about a waggon load each; in this fate they are compleatly dried, and then ſell for ten ſhillings per waggon load on the land where they are dug; and. the pe of dig- Me ging and carrying is five ſhillings per load, Though the matted: outer covering or ſward of this boggy land will burn, yet it keen 0 is not much eſteemed as fuel, being ſoon conſumed. enetraté Befare f TETRA i“i ig 182 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Before I ſuggeſt a method of improving theſe bogs, Ict let me advert to the probable cauſe of their preſent ſterility, I conceive then, that ſtagnant water is the grand operative principle which has for ages kept the ſuperſtratum buoyant, and ſwimming as it were on its ſurface; this lifts up and ſwells the ſoil, making it ſhake and give way on treading, In confirmation of this idea, it is found, that at the depth of four or five feet the black earth becomes a mere pulp, in which an iron rod will deſcend with a trifling exertion to the ſurface of the clay; and it invariably happens, that the worſe the bog the deeper the clay. In the third deſcription of land, ſtated at the beginning of this diſquiſition, the clay 1s found at the depth of three, four, or five feet, and gradually ſinks thence to the loweſt part of the peat bog, where it is found at the depth of eighteen or twenty feet. If, therefore, the ſurface of the two ſorts of land were equal, one foot of ſtagnant water on the clay of the former would be accompanied with fourteen or fifteen feet on the clay of the latter. Such a body of water con- tinually remaining at all ſeaſons of the year,(for in the dryeſt ſummer I conceive its diminution does not exceed three or four feet) cannot fail of rendering the ſurface cold and un- produttive. Agreeably to this theogy, the ſurface muſt rife in the win- ter, and ſubſide in the ſummer months; and this 1s verified by fact, for certain fixed bodies are ſeen over the moor zt certain ſeaſons, which cannot be deſcried at others.* * Some may ſay that another cauſe, beſide that which is here given, might contribute to this phenomenon, viz. a copious fog at certain times hovering over the moor, by which ſome extraordinary refrac- tions are known to take place, and exhibit the appearance of objeâs apparently above the horizon, which in reality are ¿elow it. A.C. If / OF SOMERSETSHIRE», 183 If theſe premiſes be admitted, it follows, that the only ra- dial cure muſt be compleat draining, and after that, burning ¿he matted ſurface; the former, I think, may be effected in the manner before ſtated, and the latter in the following way, without any great difficulty Or CxXPence. In the months of March or April, when the land is dry, let it be ploughed as deep as ſix ſtrong horſes can plough it; this will coſt about twenty ſhillings per acre. In this ſtate let it remain till the ſod is dry enough to burn, then ſet fire to the plit as it lies, or elſe provide yourſelf with ſome keen cutting knives of about a foot in breadth, the cutting part of which ſhould be of a ſemicircular form; with theſe, let the plit be cut into parts of about two feet and a half in length, and let your burners reduce them to aſhes as faſt as poſſible, which being ſpread equally on the ſurface and ploughed in, ſow the ground about the middle of May with one buſhel and a half of buck-wheat per acre, two buſhels of ray-graſs, and five pounds of white Dutch clover. The coít of all this will be nearly as follows per acre. EL Fir ploughing OO Cutting the plit and burning— 012 0 Spreading the aſhes— O2 O Second ploughing aaa— O O arrowing—==— O One buſhel and half of buck-ywheat— Q.6.0 Two buſhels of ray-graſs— 0 50 Five pounds of Dutch clover E——— LOO Tithe—_— 0 30 4219/0 N. B. If the ſurface be very tough, it might be right to have two crops of buck-wheat: Should D——— RLT- Cis i iis 184 AGRICULTURAE SURVEY Should the ſabſequent ſummer be moiß, it is probable that the produce of buck-wheat might be equal in value to the expenditure; but ſhauld it even entirely fail, the arti- fcial graſs will amply repay the expence and exertion of the huſbandman. Aftér E Buena is harveſted, let lateral trenches be cut ät the diſtance of thirty-five feet, emptying themſelves into the great drains; theſe trenches ſhould be twelve inches wide, and ſixteen inches deep, and will coſt about one penny per rope(twenty feet) or about five ſhillings per acre. The contents of theſe trenches being for the moft part black mould, will be excellent manure for the artificial graſs, and ſhould be ſpread thereon without delay. It might be adviſeable for the firſt year or two, either to mow or feed with ſheep, avoiding the tread of heavy cattle till the land has fully ſubſided; and if clay or red earth could be procured within a moderate diſtance, give it an occaſional ſprinkling thérewith, after the rate of thirty or forty cart-loads per acre. Ï have not the leaſt doubt but with this management, or 1 with ſomething ſimilar thereunto, the turf-bogs AA be all reclaimed, and made worth twenty-five or thirty ſhillings per acre. Andas a proof thereof, I need only inſtance the vaſt improvements already made, and füll carrying on with unremitting aſfiduity, by Mr. MoxHAm, of Glaſtonbury, whoſe exertions in this Way a merit the warmeſt en- comiums. Véithout the aſſiſtance of the plough, he has, by draining and earthing, advanced land of the foregoing deſcription on ES per acre to thirty ſhillings. His expences, it muſt be allowed, are great, for he puts one hundred cart- loads, nay, in ſome inſtances, one hundred and fifty cart- loads of red earth per acre, which being halled one mile and a half or two miles, the coſt muſt be more than ten pounds per OF SOMERSETSHIRE-« 185 per acre; yet notwithſtanding this bountiful and expenſive manuring, the advance in the value of the land amply com- penſates; for the original price of thele bogs was two pounds per acre iz fee, and many hundred acres may now be bought at that rate. Mr, MoxHAm contends, that a covering of red earth, ſuch as he beſtows, is abſolutely neceſſary to kill the old ward; and it muſt'be admitted, that the end propoſed 1s efffecually obtained; but then the land is for ſome time un- produdive, and the expence is alſo ſo enormous, that few farmers would have courage to go through ſo cofily an ex- periment. How far the plan of proceeding, which I have before ſug- geſted, is or is not more eligible, I ſhall leave to Mr. MoxHAM and to my readers to determine, Mr. Moxa has planted firs and alder hedges on theſe bogs with great ſucceſs, and has made various ftriking 1m- provements, to the great aſtoniſhment of his neighbours, who could not conceive ſuch things poflible. In ſhort, he is jußly entitled to the thanks not only of the labouring poor, but alſo of the community, for his per- ſevering induſtry and avity.* * This turbary-land, as it is called by the proprietors, is 24 portion of heath-moor appropriated for digging turf for fuel. Tt is dug out by the people of Glaſtonbury in pits of five or ſix feet deep, whic are hollowed out on the ſides as far as they can do it- with ſafety, leav- ¡ng a cruſt on top of the part hollowed, which makes it very dangerous to walk over it. The people of Mark(the adjoining pariſh) dig their turf in ditches, which I think a better method. I have levelled about 70 acres of this turbary-land, by taking the ſward and ſufficient of the ppermoſt earth to fill up thoſe pits.‘This peat or turf earth, in its natural ſtate, is very ſoft; and thoſe pits, if not filled up, ſwell up from the bottom, and in twenty or thirty years will be ſufficiently ſolid to be cut for turf again. When they are levelled, they ſink down again 16 136 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY No country can afford greater encouragement either ta the grazing; dairy, or corn farmer, than this; the falubrity and mildneſs of the climate, and the fertility and ſtrength of the ſoil, enable the occupier to devote his land to either pur- poſe with an almoſt certainty of ſucceſs; and the annual rofit, over and above his rent, cannot fail, as a ſource of wealth and independence. The dairy farms are ſmall, ſel- dom exceedinz two hundred pounds per year; the grazing farms are R and very detached. Tt is obvious, that the profits of the dairy exceed thoſe of grazier titi in the proportion of two to one; and as one hundred pounds per year will afford a comfortable ſub- fiſtence to a family, ſmall farms are beſt calculated to increaſe population, and to rear up an induſtrious race of independent yeomanry. È IS the Biſhop of Bath and Wells, there ZA e[e are few proprietors vho fand ſeized of more than ſix or éjoht hundred pounds per annum, and for the moſt part from one hundred to two hundred pounds per annum; and ATOLTA C more than nine-tenths of the land are employed in paſture, nto hollows, ſo that I have been obliged to level ſome of them again ES A ſometimes ſix times, before I could venture to lay on — earth. I have then covered the land with from one to two hun- dred put-loads of rich ſandy mould on an acre, fuch as is dug out of the rivers, or teft by thick floods on the fides of the rivers, of 2 grey -clour. This makes great improvement, produces a very good her= bage, and by letting in on it from the river three, four, or five thick floods in the ſpring, an about fifty acres of it,(which I do by means of : double funne! or trunk of two feet ſquare each, without injuring my ighbours, having made flood-banks to keep it in) Ï haye been able to make= e heifer-beef without their feeding on any other ground. f this turbary-land I cannot flood; on this, when it is pro- s Ï propoſe to put ſome heavy earth, This heath-moor | and has been ſold in its original fiate from about forty ſhil- s to nt pounds an acre; the Weſthay turbary-land, in the ad- ¡joining pariſh of Meer, ſells for about forty Millings an acre. WILLIAM MOXHAM, Dome PC o —— E E ze gr OE- OF SOMERSETSHIRZ.,, 137 The old arable was found not to pay for ploughing, and has therefore been laid, down. Some few farmers, however, have eúriched themſelves by giving four pounds per acre for ſome rich dry and newly in- cloſed land, on which they have grown fifty buſhels of wheat per acre for ten years ſucceſſively, without fallow or manure of any kind.: Where there is ſo much to approve, I am ſorry there ſhould be any thing to condemn, but truth compels me to fate, that a ſhameful inattention prevails as to their breed of cattle; and ſcarcely can an inſtance be produced of a far- mer’s giving more than ten pounds for a bull, or three pounds for a ram; yet, notwithſtanding this general neglect, many are accuſtomed to ſell their home-bred team of four oxen, when fat, for one hundred pounds; and ſheep in great abundance, that weigh from, twenty to thirty pounds per guarter. The elevated corn-lañds were formerly in open common fields, but every effort has been made to divide and incloſe them; the tenure, however,(great part being under the ſee of Wells, and other churches, under charity endowments, and under queen ANNE?s bounty) has ope- rated as a check to the neceſſary exchanges. None of theſe common feld lands will let for more than fifteen ſhillings per acre, whereas, if incloſed, they would let for twenty-üve fhillings. Though there are many things in the pradices of this diſtri deſerving both commendation and imitation, I can- not help obſerving, that the proceſs of making hay 1s not among the number. In this reſpeA, they are the moſt egregious ſlovens T ever beheld. It is no unuſual thing to ſee cocks of about a load each remain in the fields two months after they are made; apd before the rivers were lowered, and the country drained, theſe S> n. G e Z Es SS vés e: 2 p E Tei“rn ————————— E————— pi u-| UU Y | M R 188 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY theſe cocks wère frequently carried away by a ſudden flood, When conveyed to a large mow, no‘care is taken either in making or ſecuring it; it is ſeldom thatched; ſome indeed make their mows in a conical form, by which means they ſuffer but little injury, but for the moſt part they are left flat on the top, and the winter rains ſoak from the top to the bottom, without ſhame or regret on the part of the owner, In their ſummer paſtures they are equally flothful;, docks, thißtles, nettles, and other weeds, cover nearly a quarter of the land, and, wafted by winds, the ſeed is diſſeminated on the lands of their more careful neighbours, Ofttimes have I obſerved, that where nature is moſt bountiful, her gifts are leaſt prized. This is the caſe with the farmers here; ſo quick 1s vegetation, even in the winter ſeaſon, that the cattle (unleſs it be unuſually ſevere) ſcarce ever want a bite of graſs; and a deficiency of winter provender is ſcarcely known. I preſume it is on the ſame principle that the Scotch gar- deners excel the Engliſh; having more difficulties to en= counter, their exertion and care are proportionate thereto, THESSOUTH: MARS Is bounded on the North-Eaſt by Polden-hüls, on the South-Weſt by the river Parrett, on the North-Weſt by Bridgwater-bay, and on the South-Eaſt by Ham-hill,&ec. That part thereof which lies neareſt the ſea is higher than he interior part, owing to the great depoſit of ſea-mud left at the high ſpring-tides for ages paſt; and it is alſo bette drained, in conſequence of being near the outlet, where the greateſt fall of draining exiſts.(This obſervation allo ex- tends to the lands of Brent-Marfſh.) The river Parret is the principal drain of this marſh. It - has no ¿arrier, and the tide flows up as far as Langport, gp R Fi a ger p=, i EE SD ALES EFA RE pL EE, OF SOMERSETSHIRE- 189 flling: its banks, and frequently penning the land-floods over the moor, and meadows adjoining; ſo that near thirty thou- ſand acres of fine land aré frequently overflown for a con- fiderable time together, rendering the herbage unwholſome for the cattle, and the air unhealthy to the inhabitants. An af of parliament was lately obtained for draining a conſiderable part of this fenny plain called Kng’s-Sedgmoor, which, together with the adjoining incloſed meadows now flooded, amount to about twenty thouſand acres. This deſirable end is nearly accompliſhed, by having the outlet or fſluice many miles lower, in the river Parret, than for- merly. Nothing could be more unpopular, at its outſet, than this undertaking; and every obſtacle, which prejudice and ignorance could ſuggeſt, the promoters thereof had to encounter. About the year 1680, King JAMes laid claim to the ſoil of this moor, and formed the deſign of improving it by a compleat drainage; but ſo perverſe were the owners of the adjacent lordſhips commoning with their cattle on it, that they oppoſed the ſcheme with all their might; and diſcern- ing, that they could make no juſtifiable claim to the ſoil, of- fered to aſlign to the king four thouſand acres, in lieu of his right thereto, and‘to lay out the reſidue, being nine thou- ſand five hundred and twenty-two acres, among their lord- ſhips; which being accepted of by the King, there were allotments then made to each manor according to the fol- lewing proportions: Names o ¿gue Fir Duis À“bfr a3 SE RE a Tei i SuS Y — R 4 a ge EE E FGO AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Names of Manors. Acres Dunwear To the heirs of Sir Robert Chi- chefßter,&c.— 346 Stawell To Sir John Stawell— 274 outton-Mallett To John Mallett, eq;— 234 Bawdrippe‘Fo Walter Long, eſq; TS Brogney To Thomas Muttlebury, eſq; 70 Middlezoy To R. Warr, eſq; Sir R. Strode,&c. 567 Moorlynch To the heirs of Mr. Fioyer— 354 Highham To Henry Lord Gray 708 Netherham To the heirs of Sir Ed. Hext— 264 Beere To Sir William Courtney,&c. 229 Aiſhcotte To Sir Thomas Cheeke— 526 Horſey To Sir George Horſey—— 370 Chedzoy To Earl Pembroke— 41t Weſton To dir Peter Van Lore,&c.— 582 Othery To Sir Edward Trent,&.— 428 Somerton To Tho. Hill, eſq; James Rife, eíq; and Burgeſles,&c.— 1505 Graynton To the heirs of Mr. Watts— 291 Pitteney To Earl Northampton, and Sir J. Hanham 569 Compton-Dunden To Sir J. Strangway, and Baronet Portman 548 Walton To: Sit Themas-Thyúne=‘540 Street To Andrew Whittington,&c.* 488 Total acres— 9522 Beſides for the king— 4000 Äemorandum. That theſe allotments are rated propor- tionably, after the rate of two hundred and eighty-two acres * Dugdale, of E SS OF SGMERSETSHIRÆT- TGT ef the moor(by the perch of fifteen feet) to every hundred acres ES the ſeverals. In the reign of King William, a ſimilar attempt was made. An ai was obtained for draining it, but by ſome means or other its operation was entirely fruſtrated, This projected and uſeful improvement lay dormant till the year 1775; when it was revived by Mr. Allen, then member M parlia- ment for Bridgwater. Sanguine of ſucceſs, and bighly im- preſled with the idea of its importance, he purchaſed a large number of rights, and having obtained a ſignature of con- lents, went to parliament; but not having intereſt enough n the houſe to ſtem the torrent of oppoflition, all his deluſive EA of profit vaniſhed, and he found himfelf left in 2 mall but reſpetable minority. Though Mr. ALLEN met with ſo warm an oppoſition, yet there were not wanting many lords of manors intereſted, who expreſſed their de- cided approbation of the meaſure, in a general point of view, but objeéted to the mode by which it was conducted, and to the men who were the oſtenſible movers in the buſineds. After this defeat, nothing was done till the year 1788, when a meeting was held at Wells to take into ConideyaBor: the propriety of draining the faid moor, and dividing it into parochial allotments. At this meeting Sir PHILIP HALES preſided; and after much abuſe and oppoſition from the lower order of commoners, who openly threatened deftruc- tion to thoſe who ſupported ſuch a mealure, the meeting was diſſolved without coming to any final determination. The leading idea was, however, afterwards purſued, with great aſſiduity, by Sir PHILIP, and his agent Mr. SYMEs of Stowey; and by their perſevering induſtry, and good ma nagement, matters were brought into ſuch a train, that ap- fication was made to parliament in the ſeſſion of 1790», ï x for leave to bring in a bill for a and dividing the i E RIT R E E E——————” Laa Tenda | | Y 1 Î Ei tA DE e E FEE TE E ITS E E AET: w i SDE 192 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY faid moor into parochial allotments, among thirty pariſhes and hamlets therein ſtated; and alſo among fuch other pariſhes as may prove a right to feeding the ſame. In the ſpring of 1791, this bill paſſed into a law; and the com- miſſioners, aQing under the powers thereof, held their firſt meeting at Bridgwater in June 1791. I have been thus particular in ſtating the progreſs of this buſineſs, merely to ſhew the impropriety of calling publick meetings, with a view of gaining ſignatures of conſent, or taking the ſenſe of the proprietors in that way. At all pub- lick meetings of this nature, which I ever attended, noiſe and clamour have filenced ſound ſenſe and argument. A party generally attends E a profefled deſign to oppoſe, and truth and propriety hav a hoſt of foes to combat. Whoever, LSR La as an objet of this kind in view, let him acquire conſent by private ap; plication; for I have frequently ſen the good effes thereof manifeſted, by the quietly ad- ds i irreßiítible influence of truth, when and miniſtered; and it has frequently happened, that men, hoſtile to your ſcheme, have, Bs diſpafſionate argument, not only changed their ſentiment, but become warm partizans in that cauſe which at úürſt they meant to oppoſe. This never could have been done at a= lick meeting; for after men have once joined the oppoſition, their pride will not permit them to retreat. How far the commiſſioners appointed under this aQ have I diſcharged their truſt, time will ſhew; but the general opi- nion of their conduct ſeems to be flattering; and thoſe who at firſt ſuppoſed that the act carried with it the ſeeds of its own diſſolution, are brought to confeſs, that the preſent ap- pearances are highly promiſing, It cannot but be ſuppoſed, that in the inveſtigation of four thouſand and fixty-three claims,(of which only one thou ſand OF SOMERSETSHTRE, IO A fand ſeven hundred and ninety-eight are allowed) making compenſation for a large portion of land, neceflarily cut SS in making the great draim, many cauſes of of trull meithei partiality, ALES 1 gence, nor corruption, can be imputed to them; and if they have erred, it has been an error of the bead, and not of ha hoanrt 11C 11iCdi E. D ME SEES Ge See LIES LS AS ESA E 0 E reVIoUs to the prelent drainage, this Moor emptied ite! into the river Parrett, ſome miles above Bridgwater, and the fall from the moor was very trifling. Hence it hat the leaſt flood covered it with water, and in that fate it frequently remained many months. It was at firſt E 1 40! by many people whoſe abilities the county held in high imation, that nothing more was neceſlary for the E of draining the moor, than the opening and widening theſe old outlets; but it occurred to the commiſlioners, that ſuch a partial and ineffe@ual mode of procedure could not produce a radical cure. They therefore ſet themſelves about to. diſ cover a convenient place of diſcharge lower down in the river, by which a greater and more rapid deſcent mighft be gained. An old fluice, called Dunbald-Clize, preſented itſelï as the deſired ſpot; and on levels being taken by Mr. WHITE, an eminent ſurveyor, it appeared that an extraordinary tallof nearly ten feet could be acquired; and that the deſcent from the upper part of the moor to this outlet,(a diſtance oí ábout twelve miles) was nineteen feet, or about one foot and a half in a mile. The only objection which could be brought to the meaſure, aroſe from a conſideration of the eat expences which muſt be incurred by cutting through gre two miles and a half of elevated land. No alternative, however, preſented itſelf. Tt ap this plan mußt be adopted, or the work would be incomptete. 9) Juſtified I94 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Juſtified therefore by the concurrent opinion of Mr.WHI1TE, and of Mr. Jess0P,(whoſe advice was taken) they pro- céeded boldly; and having eredted at a great expence, and under numerous difficulties,(ariſing from the moräſſy nature of the ground on which it was built) a ſtrong ſubſtantial fluice, they proceeded to make a channel or cut fifteen feet deep, ten feet wide at the bottom, and fifty-five teet wide at the top.: It is impoſſible to deſcribe the ridicule which this under- taking excited. Some thought the commiſſioners madz others, and by far the majority, aſcribed the boldneſs of the plan to the liberality of the proprietors, in allowing the com- miſſioners three guineas per day for attendance and manage- ment; and drew this ſage concluſion, that the work would never be finiſhed, but would be protracted till the expences would egual the value of the moor. Uninfluenced by letters, or by menaces, the commiſſioners perſevered; and they have the ſatisfaction of ſeeing the prin- éipal difficulties overcome; and of hearing thoſe very men, who were moſt violent againſt the meaſure, acknowledge their error, and candidly confeſs that the work is well exe- éuted, and promiſes to be effffledctual. It may be neceílary, by way of inftruRion to others en- ¿aged in ſchemes of the like nature, to ſtate, that had the drain been made leſs wide at the top(and the opponents in- ſed that it ſhould have been only twenty fix feet wide) it would have collapſed, or fallen together; as it was, there were numerous and alarming ſlides, the repairing of which éolt a conſiderable ſum, and there can be no doubt, but ſomething of this kind will happen for years to come; for the ſubßratum, at the depth of ſixteen feet, is ſo ſoft and fnorafſly, that it gives way to the ſuperincumbent clay, and riſes up in the middle of the drain. This E EEE E a E R OF SOMERSETSHIRE,. 195 E This cut from the Dunbald ſluice to the moor(a diſtance 6 of about two miles and a half) coſt four-pence per cubic 1nd yard, or in the whole about three thouſand two hundred CA pounds; and the parochial drains, which were twelve feet ns wide at the top, four feet wide at the bottom, and ſix feet fet deep, coſt on an average two ſhillings and ſeven-pence per A rope(twenty progreilive feet.) Expenſive as this underta- king inevitably muſt be, yet the benefit reſulting from it will 2 molt amply repay; for without ſaying any thing of the in- id; Jury done to the health of the inhabitants in the circum- le adjacent country, and which this drain, by rendering the ls air more falubrious, will totally remove; we may fairly ſiate, è that the probable improved value cannot be eſtimated at leſs 1d than four hundred and fifty thouſand pounds,* & The total amount of the expenditure is now aſcertained; and it may give ſome fſatisfaQion, if I inform my readers ers the ſum total thereof. The following ſtatement of the ac- in- count Dr. and Cr. will approach pretty near the truths el but let it be underſtood, that this calculation is made under o the idea of parochial ſubdiviſions, without which little benefit ê- will reſult either to the publick or individuals. The prin- ciples which I have, in my report on the North-Eaſt diſtrict, 1- fixed as data, incontrovertible, viz,‘L'hat all commons, how- he ever rich and fertile the ſoil, are unprodudive of profit, in n- conſequence of overſlocking, muſt be here adhered to; and de) this argument is equally applicable to old incloſures. Let nere a farmer put ¿en head of cattle into a given piece of ground ch where only five ſhould be depaîtured, and the cattle will be but———— E fot* Tf we add to this the capital neceſſary to ſtock this moor, the pub- and Hick utility and importance of the undertaking will be more frongly and manifeſted. J. B. O 2 ol This Qu TN G bi L i < t= |S 196 AGRICULTUR/ of leſs w before: Of what value then is the land? orth after the graſs is conſumed, t I 4 4“ x Fr 4 y KING S-SEDGMOOR. r Q: 5 narliarmna Ana aI thae o To act of parliament, and all other inci- - E dental expences nterelt of money borrowed— 2,22 Nr“Q 5 Commiilioners— 421A = (Clerk m E— I,21I5 s rr AQ OUTVEeYOr= 9090 N; I riInters tt ee-——— 202 Tetty expences——— 575 | Sa O 1/200 DUTCNAaled=—— 2,001 PEETERS 1 E aT BREL e RE ESE SEU Va) LUrains, fluices, bridoes, and roads— T5410 Li- T | u LES C i„LE ZWards and 1ncidentais— Iz10O 2T.0INA 31,924 To which add for ſubdiv iding 1n each A J O Parun— ZOO H rioinal xraliia Af el 74 nr{as I Ar i OO IZINAi Value OÍ the Moor, iay IOS. Petr J NRE NE EAR CA A RLS ie rA Ar ACTC, al LWenty-ilve Years PUurchnaie—_— JJOO OO IES E. E SR +. 9/95 I > ZED PED p By improvement of 4000 acres of adjacen Were [=] D | UE ut EL rr | er >) R———— zs e a meen, E——————————————— Aia, OF SOMERSETSHIRE« 197 M: is SS: The above is the real expenditure taken from the com- miſſioners books, and about ſeven hundred acres have been ſold to diſcharge the ſame. N. B. Had the commiſſioners been empowered to ſell land at the commencement of the buſineſs, the expenditure would have been reduced five thouſand pounds by the dif- ference in the intereſt accompt. t, for by the addition of This is not the only improv | NIS 1s Not fNe Oniÿy 1IMPrOV / 2 fuch a quantity of rich and— ju ive graſs land, the upland 1 4 incloſures, and common fields,/ be greatly advanced in value. In ſhort, it is difcult to point out all the benefits likely to accrue from this grand but arduous undertaking; beſide, though the original value of the moor per acre 1s ſtated to be ten ſhillings, this 1s done merely with a view to give the arguments ag;# the incloſure the_— weights and perhaps it would have been more juſt to have ſtated its value at five ſhillings per acre, or even leſs than that, for a right of ſtocking could be rented for half a guinea per year. © Nor is the improved at all exaggerated. On the contrary, I am confident it will exceed thirty-five fhillings per acre; for even in dry ſummers three tons of hay per acre have A cut on incloſed lands adjoining or near the d moor, the ſoil of which lands is in no reſpect better than that of the moor. Beſides King’s-Sedgmoor, there are other ſimilar tracts of land on the adjacent rivers Tone and Yeo, on which no improvement has yet been attempted, namely, Normoor, near North-Petherton; Stanmoor, Currymoor, Weſt-Sedg- moor,&c. neár N EE Weſt-Moor, near Kingſ- bury; Wet-Moor, near Muchelny;* amounting in the # Moſt of theſe moors are now(1797) incloſed or inclofing. pa, paia; \} 198 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY whole to about ten thouſand acres, independent of many thouſand acres of low flooded incloſed lands, which might be greatly improved by judicious draining, Many of theſe moors are ſuperior in their quality to King’s-Sedgmoor; and the example now ſet before them will, I truſt, remove the miſt from the proprietors’ eyes, and make them ſee, in a true light, their own and the publick intereſt. Theſe lands would be fairly worth forty ſhillings per acre the moment they were drained and divided; and if taken from the tenants, the original eſtates would not be reduced in their annual value one farthing. But on this ſubje&, I have before enlarged very fully, and ſhall, therefore, only remark, to thoſe who are influenced by a humane regard to the right and comfort of the cottager, that very few habitations of that deſcription are to be found hear theſe moors; and a great part of thoſe which do exiſt, poſleſs rights, which, when divided, may be worth two or three hundred pounds; and if ſold, will enable a man to rent an eſtate of one hundred pounds per annum, and to keep twenty or thirty cows, in the management whereof his whole family would become uſeful; and habits of induſtry, care, and œconomy, would by degrees be eſtabliſhed. Adjoining this extenſive plain on the South fide, lies a tract of elevated land, compoſed principally of ſea ſand and ſhells, well adapted to the purpoſes of tillage, and in its na- ture ſo fertile, that potatoes, turnips, carrots, hops, madder, liquorice, and indeed almoſt every root or plant uſeful in huſbandry, might be grown on ît in high perfeltion. The arable is for the moſt part in common fields, and though exhauſted by conſtant cropping, lets for near thirty billings per acre. The wheat produced is of prime quality; and as to barley, it is ſuppoſed that Chedzoy, Weßton-Zoy- land, OF SOMERSETSHIRE«- 199 a) tand, Middlezoy, and Othery, produce the beſt in the county. ght Were the common field lands of theſe pariſhes divided into ſeparate property,* a portion of the new allotments in Sedg- y to moor annexed, and the whole comprized in farms of four lem or five hundred pounds per year, and let to ſome enlightened and ſheep and turnip farmers, theſe pariſhes might vie with any ick in the kingdom, both as to the gxantity and quality of pro- duce; but this cannot be efeted whilſt the lands are held Ure by the preſent tenure. They are now occupied by ſmall ken farmers holding under lives, ſome one life, ſome two, and a ced few three, and in ſome inſtances without any power or profſ- ped of renewing, nd The declivities of the hills, North and Eaſt of Sedgmoor, by are as barren as thoſe before ſtated are produttive. The finer particles of the ſoil have for ages been waſhed into uind the moor by heavy rains; and the remaining mould 1s ſhal- il low and ſterile. When the moor is drained and made pro-\ vt dudive, this loſt fertility may be in ſome degree reſtored, by fo carrying the produce of the moor to the uplands, either by 0 the ſheep-fold, or by conſuming the hay thereon. G A great part of theſe high lands are in tillage, but the ex- , pence of ploughing is ſo great, and the produce ſo ſmall, that it is matter of aſtoniſhment to me how the farmer can gain s 2 livelihood. Somerton and Compton-Dundon, two con- s ſiderable pariſhes to the Eaſtward of Sedgmoor, are for the 10-== * An attempt was lately made by the inhabitants. of Weſton-Zoy- 1 land to divide and incloſe their common arable fields by a of parlia- ment, but the ſame was violently oppoſed by the biſhop of Bath and* Wells, under the idea that the tithes would be reduced by the appli- nd cation of the land to graſs inſtead of corn. To ſubvert this doëtrines ity which I conceive to be illiberal and oppreſſive, T will be bold to aſſerts WW;| that oze half the quantity would, under a ſyſtem of improvement, pro- s than the«vbole docs nov 4| moß 1d, LM E EE E I EF:- mbe: ELSE Mitar E EREDE DDE 2C0 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY E EET, LEES CRE TIE R ASE: Jart fne property or tne Lari ol er; and I know Nc parues 1n tne CoUuUl lo luſceptible of in provement. 1 E 7 SE -“nN A 1 C Y ata neal 7 in nartrnnhaA nn 4 Ne arabDie lands In common Teld lie lo detached and Cl- 1 ELS À > 2 0 BES EE=S re ER A i= ZA ZUZU WIN CUCUMDEers DY Cart-i0ads zs; tnelie LNey ralle on H AAA hannit Harn hyfſhoale Af ÞL„rfl, Niji! ICCO 4JODOUt TWO DUiINEeis OÏ'ar/e- Le ES Sh E SE=, vA Le 100r by children, and brought IL, Or drawn 1n carts DY, alles, dJ E E E St E E Qe 1s 4 1aTge Maret held CVETY three weeks al DO=- GR n at 3 Ag PS R C AS merton durit the lummier INOntíns, and fo it 18 br ought an menſe number of ſheep,»rincipally of the Dorſet breed, SER= el EL= REMERA with oxen and other cattle ¿cHe LETAE PUrc haſed by graziers occupying the rich graſs land of the county. } NM aof hill£41_ EA]-+] On the ſummit of Polden-hill the corn land is for the 4 1 N n fia] 4 y CHA( mott part in common fields, and under the following courſe of huſbandry: wheat. beans. fallow. The seneral produce OI ANULIDANGrY: Wheat, be Calls, IdliOVW, C ZCNCTai PTOCQUCE ) S A SE 4 REA=: EEE and A O WACAt Welle BUIne 1s PCI ACTrC, and O n C 50) D) N [2,0 7 [ER = a (a Gc w Ver © very little barley or oats; but in the incloſed fields cl and vetches thrive exceedingly; and if the farmers were to ] 4 Ee+thAaxr xx 1/4 have more of theſe articles, and plough leſs, they would ¡- R ENEA Aides E RAS Hind their account in ſo doing; vull bring a = _t ed aD| pd } D. ao 11© 1 CNC HAture of TNCILONE as WeCii aS E]| 1 [rom made I NESBOrEe Cr, I have reaíon j ehy rvir Pa ANT PSSS NEA Vas TI]; to think, that on the Northern declivity of Pol Iden-Hli| may EL TT. di E 9 which paflſes through the pariſhes :©) HY Eddington, Catcott, Shapwick, and A A a Nc ott, a————— E E—— D, LRD prs 1 TD) Aſhcott, and from thence extends to Butleig Chould it prove of 00d quality. the diſcover ONOUIA 1ï PrOVe OT TOOC CUAULVYs, LLL ULC VTL Y will be highly important, and lington near with great E antage ments both in agriculture and planting are very meritorious. T cannot paſs over this neighbourhood without noticing the pleaſant and fertile pariſh of Caſßtle-Cary, which, both in reſpect to ſoil and climate,‘cañnot well be excelled. I RSE E could wiſh ſome ſpirited agriculturiſt would her 4) E C i ther the excluſive power of growing hops © Hant T7 ont WW gre{tor Aan] A few>the Tan S5, IEnNt, VV OTCELTCr, anc a IEW 1CT 1> ne chnels laxuriancy of the wild hop, ſoil, the AE s of the climature, and violent winds, all conſpire to render ſuch Mmifino TT p am Alon E-H MIN ExT IN= MIine, i NE COnlUmpDTIon O tne:«COUNTY: HIS ° e T1 A ASS immenſe, and Î have no doubt but I cou red acres, as Well rent parts of 1t many hunc Farnham, and at the e-four th LIC culture as any lands at ES= R E! LS ES& E PS Price which 1s there given; beſides a much to and a greater and cl oí T D) Ces Aare 2TroWn on a Very 1arge€ iCAi€, - 1 RA ET 15 TEE E and it is no unuſual thing to get one hundred and fixty iacks = A AN EA nraracA (two hunc acre, the average price about five 1 HEE ting *‘There is likewiſe | Sn nN EZ ana 7 ¡nd Cranmore, and Es LÀ EEE SE y———— 202 AGRICULTURAL SURYEY MINERALS,&c, Many attempts have been made in diferent parts of this diſtrict to find coal, and pits to a conſiderable depth have been ſunk at Glaſtonbury, Chard, and other places, but no regular vein can be found; and it is the univerſal opinion of intelligent colliers, that there is no coal South of AMendip- Hills. Indeed ſome will ſay, that the ſtrata run in a regular direction from Jouth to North, through the whole kingdom of Britain. WATER, Irregation is but little praQiſed in this diſtri; there is, indeed, near the town of IIminſter, ſome land watered with the waſh of the town, the good efes of which are manifeſt. Some of the marſh-farmers alſo, on the river Brue, cut openings in the banks of the river in the winter months, and overflow their land with the thick water delcending from the hills. This pradtice is certainly right. OF SOMERSETSHIRE. |W) © 2 CHAP.TER TIT BUILDINGS. HE old farm-houſes are ill-conſruéted and improperly ſituated, but zew ones are much improved in point of N uniformity, regularity, and convenience. Too much at- tention cannot be paid to this branch of rural management, Inſtead of being placed in vales, and at ſome extreme part of the eſtate,‘the farm buildings ſhould be fituated on ſome high and central ſpot, ſo that the produce of the manure arifing therefrom, may be conveyed to and fro at the leaſt poſſible expence and trouble. So ſituated, the running cf the yard, ſtables,&c. might be collected in a reſervoir, and diſcharged from thence over the paſtures with great cafe and advantage. Lime alſo might be occafonally thrown into the reſervoir, firring it well previouſly to its being dií- charged on the land. The benefit to be derived from ſuch a pradlice is inconceivable, Convenience in the diſpoúing and conneding of the buildings is alſo of material conſequence.‘The fîiraw-yards ſhould be placed at the front and backſide of the barn, and the ſtack-yards at each end. The barn ſhould be filled through an aperture or ſheaf-hole, and not in the uſual way by waggons drawn on the floor to the great injury oí the ſame. Granary(if any be neceffary, which I much doubt, as all corn ſhould go to market as ſoon as threſhed) ſhould be over the waggon-houſe. The hog-fies and poul- try-yard as near as poſſible to the dairy. The ſtable de- tached from the other buildings for fear of fire. In ſhort, every thing about the farm ſhould be ſo contrived and diſ- poſed that the buſineſs may be done with the greateſt pofli- ble caſe and diſpatch, ' CHAPTER 204 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY " TPHE greateſt part of that rich tra& of land, calle Marſh, was, a few centuries ago, either the the Crown. or of the Abbey of Glaſtonby ITY theſe manors have been fince diſmeml! bered, FS E 1 cur— vÍEc OIIAT 4 NIZ ZSS OF LV EN: RICHARD LocKE, the courſe of forty years. NO| NOI: T9 Fs.|. Vv aiuiatlon in 1755.| V aluation IN cupying two AES acres of ME twenty oxen and heifers, beſides ſheep and other cat +1(1 C (BIS e O Ra, D) + a Many of Ï believe we may now lay, that half this country is occupiec O SPOSI CET GN EIA SEO tO 2roW, twenty acres OoÏ Wil€al, MUR IWeEnty COWS, A GTZ AA Ce And A eV ey a 1° 5 q RSE SE E 7‘ E SES ) ICW LUNe Vait 1Nn1iUXx oi We aith tO th1Ss Count! Y, C Cl Ih 1 DY SS aD) y f Burn-= ES A EES ham, will ſhew the great advance 1n the value of the land in )| 1/90. Juality fe Price per| Quality ofthe BA Land Acre| La/ E de LE 2 N SO No 2 OPO I— LL 26| O EA EE OO A O17 0| a IS C C O5 O| 2 10 OO I296| O— O 1 OLO O TE DOO 8— 0 0)| G15 O O2 O 0—— O10 O IE, that every marſh farmer, oc- € rh and, does or at leaſt OUSENL ) I nd feed OF SOMERSETSHIRE-, 205 . Ta E LA 2 1 1: E(2 to name fifty farmers, within the diſtance of a few miles, worth ten thouſand pounds each, on an average, of their x: LS EE PEE, a N aS{<< A own or their father's getting, within the ipace of ty years paí. T 1 5 J( ef Bn lp PO N- ESA EEE In the middle part of this diſtrict there are many larze PYrOPFr1CTOTFS, and rent 18 UnIVerialuy pald IN MmoTney, WILNOULC x7] ſe E. rA Cc TOP C6 exi 2 Ea ES So E any perſon: Jal 1CrVICe 7 STEAL CONHIGCN EXILCS INE ENG Laltern part of this E viz. about Winc: 1 EE 7 3 1 ASE Ave es Þ A7 MS= DetWween ne landlords and tenantss L©Lltates are there prin EEE R A EL R) AZ Z 1 ERLE E E ally neid On Mere verba CN ZAS Cements, and 1ICarce€ an 1Nn- ſtance can be produced of a breach of faith on part of the JIcion on the part of the tenant. 7. a R 1 pS Between Yeovil and Taunton, including the pariſhes of VIartocK, È uCKINgton, Barrineto King DUTY-£PUcoPl, y EEE N TR LIES TEE SE QE ERBES eS South-Petherton, Ilminfſter, Hinton St. George, and the adjacent places, lies a tract of ons AS land, from ſixteen to thirty inches deep, on a ſubítance of clay: a more pleaſant country can rarely be found.‘The proprie- taries are large, and the eſtates are moſtly held by lives, under the lords of the fee: there are, however, many free- — 1 eſs from one hundred to ſeyen hundred The farms are from forty to ſix hundred pounds per annum, and are compoſed partly of rich grazing and dai land, worth f: rom thirty to forty ſhillings per acre orchard, from two pounds to three pounds ten ſhillings per acre, Sheep-walks, from fifteen ſhillings to twenty-five per acre; and the arable, from twenty ſhillings to twenty- five ſhillings per‘acre. "he rich paſture land is partly grazed with heifers, and y devoted to the dairy. Few farmers milk their owr cows, but let them out to a claſs of people, ſcarcely Known in other counties, called dairy-men. A herd, of a good breed, 206 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY breed, will now let for ſeven or eight pounds per cow; a certain portion of land is devoted to their ſummer keeping, and a ſufficient quantity of hay is provided by the farmer for their winter ſuſtenance. ‘This pradice of letting dairies muſt have originated either from pride or indelence on the part of the farmer’s houſhold, and ought, in my opinion, to be checked by the landlord, When the female part of a farmer's family is unemployed, (and, without a dairy, that muft be the caſe throughout great part of the year) diſſipation, folly, and extravagance, take the lead, and domeſtick care and induſtry are entirely for- gotten. Gentlemen of fortune ſhould therefore ſet their faces againft the pradice, and reſolve never to let an eſtate to a farmer whoſe family was too proud, or too indolent, to undertake the management of the different departments thereof. LEASES, The rack-rent leaſes are generally for ſeven years, and the covenants confine the quantity of land in aual tillage, tie number of crops, the mode of ſeeding, to ſpend the pro- duce on the premiſes, to fell no hay, not to plough the mea- dow or paſture land, not to relet without conſent, and for want of aflets to re-enter. There are few things that operate as a more powerful check to an improved agriculture than Port leaſes; and it were to be wiſhed, that all lords of manors, poſleſſing eſtates leaſed out on lives, would continue to grant renewals; and by ío doing, I verily think, they would promote their own interet; for though it mußt be acknowledged, that the leafng out a property upon three lives, at the uſual price of fourteen or fifteen years purchaſe, is unfavourable to the intereſt of the grantor, yet I think, that when an eßate has been ſo ¿eaſed out, it is more his intereſt to renew, than to run again ACainit -——————_— OF SOMERSETSHIRE-, 207 againſt the lives; for if compound intereſt of money be ſet againſt the reverſionary income, the latter is ſoon ſwallowed up. Great advantages would alſo reſult to ſociety from the general adoption of ſuch a meaſure; for it is weli known, that eſtates falling into hand, are greatly reduced in value,‘ let the refſtriions in the leaſe be ever ſo judicious. In con- firmation of this idea, do we not ſee that lands held under the church, under corporations, and under charity endow- ments,&c. where renewal 1s certain, are nearly in as good a2 ſtate as freehold property, and eafily to be diſtinguiſhed from lands held under private lords, where ſuch renewal is fre- quently withheld. Various are the opinions reſpecting the comparative advantage attending the purchaſe of freehold and leaſehold property. In favour of the former, the natural, and indeed laudable pride of man feps in, and decidedly determines. Moſt men wiſh to poſſeſs property independent of all controul; and the ſuits and ſervices exacÆed under many leaſes, are a reli of feudal tyranny, highly diſguftng to men fond of freedom and independence; but let us have recourſe to figures, and we ſhall find that two men îtarting together with one thouſand four hundred pounds each, and pur- chaſing, the one a freehold eſtate, of fiftv-ſix pounds per annum, at twenty-five years purchaſe, and the other a leaſe- ho!d for three lives, of one hundred pounds per annum, at fourteen years purchaſe, would be in very different fitua- tions at the end of twenty-one years. Calculating the in- tereſt of each at five per cent. and allowing ree renewals, at two years purchaſe,(clear income) the leaſeholders eſtate, of one tiundred pounds per annum,(nett) would, at the expiration of twenty-one years, coſt him 12051. 18s. and the freeholders eſtate, of fifty-ſix pounds per annum,(nett) would, at the expiration of the ſame term, coût him 19aol. Is. as the following calculation will confirm, FREE=- = Dua. alii i SS Pi “E DT: 2 3 2 nite di E EZRA L> MOLA IZ 15 iA Lt: i——— rs Y 1D M(D(De ED/ :=>>—”| [A aw) Sl(en an) gz h - S S DS/ | i N cn ST Las| | ad)— i AA| f© O D>] A| C=O m O OO COLON ON QD QC n O FW i= laa| po p= pf/ y 20 DO GOO| SOO 4 O m N DOD— y->, fa | SITS LA) Ly ONES M, UU) dl 90 QUE)—- 20 N UN D. Y O L C> 4 |>) O LY O O ai CO EL D| 2— 1 fj 1x] an):= 4 4 4 A l p= p=4 == CG pen À 4d » V[e es Es PA V)>= SZ E Ts. Y 5 tus| D) ps TE=-3 LA(/ ] TS S C(ad C5 CI| pr)_ 4 A“ SCI tf D) D) E N n) o a) gO) gS S| |<()(6) S V D | cé> C(8 R e PA A 4 f= 4 4 | aa A DEEE E NS IE EU LENI EIT E a EA E LM EE Lee SCE TEA——————————— Í e s « Ln [2] Þ LI lp) = Œ= E| ag iS ZE; A GRICUIET - A+-(Ea) are N< SS eS= | 2:; =< O| nO| RO BPS+ O<+- uU NO D| |;| buns] SS=| S' b È ZA SRS MECS| OLSON INCAS R O[| IN- DO N/ 4 Þ mIo 5|( LN) RTS Tr e NEt dN zes J=< LA| i| uN| E Lr E eS A | dls E Bal| pa par E) py pA | ; 26) 8 2 4| | z= SZ= N Pp=: j | è(u e ut. es: Las| == Si E= u) St| |_—©)(a Cy H CD(ees cs í ;== Laz D) E O 5( | CO Layi as pupi a E 2 a 3 < E 3 e) D) D) Î O rs vado es E e) go) | 2 LL EM SL eB EE| D<<(25)<1 AB e PN<> je i i 4 Fj 4[BD T, Ed] (4 OF SOMERSETSHIRE-« 209 R EE Brought up 1074 7 I4th yr, Add Int. O2 VA E N IDEdUct ent SOO IO r TStb yn Add Int. O 2 OE 2 Deductrent 56#0 2 2 LORS Add Int. SO II TOT T4 Deduét rent56. O ITO LA TENN: Add Int. DO 2 1849 16 LE Ss Brought up 1849 16 IDEdSCHIEnt 500 DTO TO T8th yr. Add Int. 89 I4 1882 IO Deductrent 56 O 1827 10 19th yr. Add Int. 91 7: 191817 Deductrent 50 0 1862 17 20othyr. Add Int. O 4 TOO 1 Deductfent 56 O TOCE 1 21 yr. ———— E EEC EE Freeholder’s purchaſe of fifty-ſix pounds per annum. nett EF|,, allowing five per cent. compound intereſt, ſtands him at the end of twenty-one years in Firſt purchaſe---— O0 ILO T4000 00 Fools Soo O ET E EL es D zs vm E ET | | \ E) | Y 210 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY LEASEHOLD, 100. per annum, nett, and 14 years purchafe. LS S2 TAo0 0 Add Intereſt 70 0 ITO O Dedudt rent 100 0 OE O IEE Add Int. 68 10 1438 10 Dedudt rent 100 0 1220 TO 2dr. Add Int. COSIO 1405 9 Dedud rent 100 0 1305 9 3d yr. Add Int. OS 1370 I4 Dedudct rent 100, 0 1270 I4 4th yr. Add Int. 63 IL 1334-5 Dedud rent 100 0 A UE Add. Int. OT 1295 19 Dedudtì rent 100 O 1195 19 óth yr. Add Int. 59 16 SSS Dedudct rent 100 O0 Ee oS A E {° pS de Brought up IS NS 7th yr. Add renewal 2 yrs PUC E200 0 nett rent EIn Al Add Int. 67 10 1423 II Dedudt rent 100 O0 Add Int. 66 1389 15 | Dedudì rent 100 O 1209! 15 9th yr Add Int. OA TO E354 5 Dedudt rent 100 0 Add Int. Ó Dedudct rent 100 0 IZ Tg HICE Add Int. GO 7 27510 Dedudt rent 100 O 1177 TO LABT: Add Int. 58 1x8 220 Dedudt rent 100 O 1136 14 13thyr. rought a TNA- S 2 e e FSE.- m 2 E E E RE— | OF SOMERSETSHIRE, 211 K Fa 5:- f : Brought up 1136 14 13th yr.| Brought ub 1241 6 Ar, Add Int, SOTA Deduét rent 100 0 I LYA LA TV 6 18th y y 41 18th yr. Deductrent co O Ad EE E I093 II I4th yr. Addrenewal 200 o0 II: 7 Dedud rent 100 0 1293 1I e EE Add Int. 04 14 1098 7 Igth yr. Add Int. 54 18 r, 139 5 Dedud rent 100 0 o EEES 1258 5 I5th yr. Dedudt rent 100 0 Add Int. 62 18 IO53 S20th yr, fe, 222 i Dedud rent 100 0 Add Int. 52 13 1221 210 1105 18 Add Int. OTT Dedud rent 100 0 T2021 A ies I A> 1005 18 21st yr. Dedudt rent 100 0 E E 1182 4 17th yr. renewal 200 0 Add Int. SO 2 — 1205 18 T2240 Leaſeholder’s purchaſe of one hundred pounds per annum, (nett) allowing five per cent. compound intereſt, ſtands him at the end of twenty-one years(admitting three renewals at two years purchaſe nett income) in the ſum of£1205 18 hy Profit— IO4 2 Firſt purchaſe— 1400 0 Free- Sd _— tI AGRICULTURAL SURVEY EEE Freeholder’s loſs at fivé per cént«— 500 10 Leaſeholder’s profit at ditto— Ig94 20 | Sma Difference— gL.694 30 RE N.B. A deduction ſhould be made from Leaſeholder’s profit, for lord’s rent and heriots, and ſomething from free- holder's loſs, for increaſing value of timber; but theſe will not be ſufficient to invalidate the general concluſions. The great cauſe why leaſeholds are held in low eſtimation by the commonality, ariſes from the improvidence of the general holders, who for the moſt part expend the whole income of their eſtates, without laying by a fund for the purpoſe of renewal; hence it follows, that their eſtates fall into hand, and the owners are reduced from a ſtate of com- parative aMuence to beggary; at which event, the general exclamation is, ho would have leaſehold property© ——————————————————————— Saria AAT R A MOT GOED ON COE DOD DOL ÄN MOINE EER ABI ÄDA TATOO TEI T A TOE AT EEA R I=—————————L——— EE E RE———-—- CHAPTER — i i aitaatil e Aina TER E ti CTRL LEE OF SOMERSETSHIRE,. 213 CHARTER VS ARABE NEO Flax and Hemp. PLAN N the rich fertile country, extending from Wincanton, through Yeovil, to Crewkerne, flax and hemp are culti vated in great abundance, the value of which is in propor- tion to the ſkill and ſpirit with which it is cultivated. A crop of flax greatly depends both on the management of the land previous to ſowing, and on the goodneſs of the ſeed. To raiſe it to advantage, it ſhould be ſown on new broke- Up ground, ploughed once,‘and the ſurface hacked. It ſhould be harrowed once before ſowing, and twice after. Seed imported from Riga, and ſold at about fourteen ſhil- lings the buſhel, is to be preferred; and the produce for two or three years may, without change, be ſown again; April and the beginning of May are the months for ſowing, and the quantity. two buſhels and a half per acre. ‘The great damage done to flax in its growth is by weeds; and if thoſe people you employ to weed it be not careful, they may do more harm with their feet, than their hands can do good. At any rate, the weeds muſt not be ſuffered to get head of the flax, for if they do, it will become ſtunted in its growth, and get to no height. When the plant is arrived at its growth, and is in full bloſſom, which in common ſeaſons will be about the be- ginning of July, it is fit to be pulled, if the grower has a greater regard to the produce of the ſtalk, than to the ſeed, However, 214 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY However, it is a common pradtice to injure the whole crop for the ſake of the ſed; and to let it remain till the ſeed begins to ripen, ſo as to have both flax and ſeed. In this caſe, the land ſuffers greatly; for flax ſeeded is a great im- poveriſher, but if pulled whilſt in bloſſom, is an excellent preparative for turnips, which ſhould always follow a flax crop inſtead of wheat. The great reaſon why the Iriſh, and indeed moît foreign flax 1s finer than the Engliſh, is, becauſe they pull it early, and ſow particular ſpots purpoſely for ſeed; and, perhaps, it would be politick in government to grant a bounty on all foreign flax ſeed ſown in this kingdom, ſo as to reduce the price of foreign ſeed nearly to a level with our own; by this, the growth of flax(and with it the linen trade) would be encouraged, which has of late ſuffered con- ſiderable diminution by the reſtrictions to its cultivation im- poſed by land-owners, under the idea of great injury done to the land by the culture of this plant. After the flax is pulled, there are two methods of working it; the úrſt is called ratzng of it, that is, ſteeping it in water in order to looſen the rind, and ſeparate it from the ſtalks and the other is called deœw-ripening, which 1s the ſpreading it on graſs land, and by rain and dew producing the ſame efect. The early flax is moſtly watered, which is done by laying the bundles in a pond or reſervoir of ſoft water, and keeping them down by ſones, or any other heavy bodies. In the courſe of ſeven or eight days the rind will be ſufffli- ciently looſened, and they mußt be taken out of the water, ſpread abroad, and dried. In this part of the operation, great kill and attention are neceflary; for if it be left in the water too long, the threads become rotten and uſeleſs to the manufacturer; it is, therefore, more adviſeable to take it out #00 ſoon, than to leave it too long in the pits. Thoſe who raiſe flax for the ſeed and falk both, go through an opera- tion OF SOMERSETSHIRE-«- 215 tion called ripling; this is, ſeparating the ſeed from the ſtalk, by paſſing the flax through a kind of comb before it is wa- tered. Theſe combs are made of iron, and the teeth are ſo cloſe that the heads cannot paſs through, and are conſe- quently pulled off. It is obſervable, that the land on which rated flax is ſpread to prepare it for houſing, is greatly improved thereby; and ¡if it be ſpread on a coarſe ſour paſture, the herbage will be totally changed, and the beſt ſorts of graſſes will make their appearance. Having myſelf cultivated flax on a large ſcale, and obſerving the almoſt inſtantaneous effect produced by the water in which the flax was immerſed, I was induced ſome years ago to apply it to ſome paſture land, by means of watering carts, ſimilar to thoſe uſed near London in wa- tering the roads. The efe was aſtoniſhing, and advanced the land in value ten ſhillings per acre. This liquid is much ſuperior to animal urine. The pradice I therefore ſtrongly recommend to the cultivators of flax; poſſibly it may not be a new idea, but I believe it is ſeldom ſo applied. The ſecond method, namely, dew ripening, may be car- ried on immediately after the flax is pulled, or it may be dried and mowed; and in the months of February or March the ſeed may be ſtamped from the falk, and the latter ſpread on the graſs land to ripen. The principal manures made uſe of by the growers of flax are, the ſheepfold, woollen rags, horn ſhavings, and lime; and it is no unuſual thing for the farmer to find ground, manure, ploughing, and all team work; and the labourer to find ſeed, and all manual labour, dividing at the concluſion the produce, in a way ſimilar to that before ſtated in the teazel account. The expence and produce of an acre ef watered flax may be thus eſtimated: 216 AGRICULTURAL Dr. AEO rent ORIand NC 200 To manure— 2.100 To ploughing— o©0 80 To hacking— o 50 To harrowing and rolling AO To ſeed and owing (Riga)— 1150 To weeding— 0100 To pulling— 060 To halling to pits and watering.[N. B. The price of this depends on the diſ- tance]— 0100 To taking out of pits, halling, ſpreading, drying, and houſing O 14 0 ‘To braking, ſwing- ling, and drefling AO GOZeN ats: 4d 212 To tithe— O 2 O4 Profit— 2100 L44704 SURVEY By 40 dozen of Hax aS 4 O Q By bounty 4d. per îone- 0 10 4 (allowing 1s. for expences) 414 10 4 To this profit may be added the ſucceeding turnip crop, and the improvement of the land by the manure; without theſe, it cannot be conſidered as very lucrative, for it is pre- carious; and if a dry ſeaſon follow the ſowing, it frequently happens E E E LL LEE 09 OF SOMERSETSHIRE, 207 happens that the flax does not get to any height, and is ſcarcely worth pulling. Some people may think the ex- pences over rated; but ifsthey confider that the calculation is made under the idea of an acre /atute meaſure, and alſo that it includes beer, tools, and many other trifling articles of expence, they will be diſpoſed to acknowledge it to be correit—at leaſt, I can ſay, that it is drawn from my own experience of its truth, HEMP, THE culture of Hemp and Flax agrees in many reſpeds; but in their nature and form they are widely different. In flax, the male and female embrio are lodged in the ſame flower; but in hemp the male is found on ſome plants, and the female on others; they are, therefore, called male and female hemp; that which has only flowers is the male, and that which has ſeeds is the female hemp. The male is ripe five or ſix weeks before the female, and they both ariſe from the ſame ſeed. Hemp likes a deep, rich, dry, ſandy loam, and abhors a cold wet clay; a piece of woodland, grubbed up, generally anſwers well. It requires freſh land, good tillage, but ſeldom dung: even land exhauſted with other crops, ¿f well tilled, will produce good hemp, and if properly managed, will leave the land as clean as a garden. The guantity of ſced per acre about three buſhels, and time of ſowing April or May; great care muſt be taken to keep off the birds, for they are very fond of the ſeed, and their time of feeding is principally before ſun-riſe, and within half an hour of ſun-ſet. Compleat weeding is as neceflary for hemp as for flax. About the beginning of Auguſt the male hemp will be tipe, and great care ſhould be taken that the pullers do not trample cri a hilt a DL TE TZ erre ZE EEN AAS EE DEAE— y E E Es LEE 218 AGRICULTURAL: SURVEY trample and injure the female hemp left ſtanding. It muſt be gathered into ſmall bundles, and nothing more is neceſ-| ſary than to dry it in a proper m nner, ſo as to make it fit for working, In managing the female hemp, particular regard is to be had to the ſeed; care, therefore, muſt be taken in drying it. After it is tied up in bundles about the ſize of a yard round,| it ſhould be ſet up in the ſun for three or four days; but if| the weather be difficult, it may be ſacked in ſmall mows of| about a waggon-load each, where it may remain till it is| thoroughly dry, and fit to be houſed; a little wet does not injure the Falk, but it greatly damages the ſeed. An acre of land will produce from twenty to thirty buſhels of ſeed; and the ſtalk of the female hemp is more valuable than the ſtalk of the male.‘The watering, braking, and dreffing of hemp, is ſo nearly like thoſe operations on fax, that I ſhal] not detain my reader any longer on this article, and ſhall only add, that in many caſes the crop is more profitable than that of flax. MU RIGI PSS — În this part of the county turnips are alſo grown on 2 large ſcale. They are univerſally ſown broadcaſt, once hoed, and for the moſt part fed on the land as a preparation for| barley.* Wheat, barley, oats, beans, and peafſe, are in general cul- ture; but there is nothing in the mode of management worthy of notice. Clover is the graſs generally ſown; and their courſe of huſbandry,—1f.Wheat;—2d. Turnips;—2d. Barley;—4th. Clover, Vetches, Flax, Hemp, Peaſe, or Beans;—and 5th. * When working oxen are fed with turnips they ſhould not have water i. DB. OF SOMERSETSHIRE, 219 The crops of the larg- farmers are greater than thoſe oí the fall, owing to their ſowing more turnips and vetches, and conſequently keeping a larger folding ſtock. Some of the arable land, being in common field, is in the following to h EN courſe, 1. Wheat;—2d. Barley;—zd. Clover, V etches, Po- a tatoes;&c. and then Wheat again. Theſe crops are com- i paratively ſmall; wheat 1s found to ſucceed better after flax E or hemp,(provided they be not ſeeded) than after potatoes or dE A beans. z E Fallowing is not praiſed; the prevailing opinion is, tha A corn crops, equally good, may be obtained after turnips, 4 clover, potatoes, peaſe, vetches, beans, hemp, Hax SC(If Wi well manured and kept clean) with thoſe after a compleat E ſummer fallow.“ Theſe are enlightened farmers!” D Let any man viſit this country, view their crops, and the [ul condition of the land, and many arguments will not be ne- df eſſary to make him an aztifallowiſt, at leaſt, on ſoils like étable the(ſe. The large farmers carry all their dung on their paſture land,(excellent!) and ſupport their arable by folding, lime, N horn-ſhavings, rags,&c.; but the ſmall farmers act directly veli the reverſe.‘The large farmers all plough with oxen; the fit ſmall farmers with horſes. A renter of fixty pounds per year muſt keep three horſes, for he cannot plough with leſs; 1 cul- and one of five hundred pounds per year will not keep more M3: than eight; here is a comparative ſaving of twenty horſes, A and juſtifies my former predilection for large corn farms. rk df -4th, | 5th, Jai CHAPTER E EE E EEE E 220 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY CHAPELLES GRASS. Z We Natural Meadows and Paſtures of this diviſion are kept in high condition; and their Artificial Grafſles may VIe with any in the kingdom. CAPERS, TARDENS AND ORCHARDS. PN EFORE I take my leave of this rich diſtri&, it may A 2 not be amiſs to ſay ſomething of their orchards, to the produdtion of which the land is peculiarly adapted. Permit me, therefore, to ſtate, by way of encouragement to planting, that there is ſcarcely an orchard that will not let for four or five pounds per acre; and if the trees are planted at proper diſtances, viz. ſixty feet every way, the paſture ſuffers but little injury;, the frength of the ſoil enables the trees to throw forth a multitude of roots ſideways, near the ſurface; it 1s, therefore, of the utmoſt importance that they ſhould be placed at proper diſtances. In confirmation of this idea, a tree thus placed in an orchard belonging to Mr. BATH, of Mark, has frequently produced four hogſheads of cyder; and the tenant told me, that he would give for it one guinea per year for a term of twenty-one years. The tree is not more than forty years old. Moſt orchards are planted 700 cloſe. The deſire of having a great deal of fruit upon a little ground, is the cauſe of ſo doing; but the method de- ícats the purpoſe. When an orchard is firſt planted, ſixty feet <= OF SOMERSETSHIRTE- 221 feet appear an immenſe diſtance; and I have known many, who, acknowledging the advantage of diſtance, feel loth to admit ſo great a vacancy, and have planted at thirty feet, with a full reſolution of rooting up every other tree at fifteen or twenty years old; but alas! this is ſcarcely practicable; after a tree is brought to full bearing, an inſurmountable reluÊance to eradicate it occurs, which arguments, however powerful, cannot overcome; and after all, many rational farmers are of opinion, that orchards planted at great diſ- tances ſeldom bear well. The ſorts of apple in beſt eſtimation are, Royal Wilding, White-Styre, Court of Week E Pounfſet or Cadbury, Flood-Hatch, Black Pit Crab, Buckland, Mediate or South- ham, Royal- Jerſey, Woodcock, Red-Hedge Pip, Old- Jerſey» and Redftreak.#*# They are grafted on crab ſtocks in the nurſery, with any groſs growing fruit. As ſoon as the ground for the orchard is ready, plant your trees, and be particularly careful not to plant them deep in the ground. After about four years, lop their heads and graft them with the fruit you moſt eſteem, taking care to adapt your g oraîts to the ſtock. In other words, let yout grafts, and the‘trees on whoſe heads you graft, be as ſimilar in reſpeXt to luxuriancy as you can; on this a great deal depends. It is found, that a luxuriant Ls ſs-growing graft will never ſucceed on a ſlow-growing ſock, and ſo vice verſa. It may alſo be obſerved, that SE excellent ſorts of fruit are na- turally ſo ſtow of growth, that a man, inſtead of planting for himſelf, plants for his grandchildren; and if you endea- vour to force them(which is often injudiciouſly done) with * A ſour yellow apple, ſtreaked with red on the ſun-ſide, be its âme what it may, is undoubtedly a good cyder fruit. GIE Juxuriant (48 Da # La > E“Tove BEO 222 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY luxuriant ſtocks, you occaſion diſeaſe. The tree never be- comes large or laſting, and the fruit will be taſteleſs and infſipid, Great care ſhould be taken to ſecure the trees whilſt young from the nabbing and rubbing of cattle, and more eſpecially ſheep; but in this reſpect the planters in this county are not very attentive, nor is there any thing worth notice in their management of the fruit. The average price of the article is about thirty ſhillings per hogſhead. CYDER-MAKING PROCESS. The fruit being properly matured, every necefſlary utenfil ought to be ſet in order for cyder-making; the mill, preſs, tubs, caſks, and pails, clean waſhed, and ſuffered to dry before they are uſed. Several methods are praiſed for converting apples to pommage; but the two moſt chiefly in uſe are, the bruifing ftone with a circular trough, and the apple-mill.‘The beſt internal conſtruítion of a mill ſeems to be that which has two pair of rollers, the upper pair being ſtuck with coggs and dags; and the under pair being of very hard wood, turned ſmooth, and worked with coggs only.“The upper rollers grinding the apples to a coarſe pommage, and the under ones ſqueezing it to a very fine pulp. The apples being, by either of the foregoing methods, properly bruiſed, the pommage is carried to the preſs, and a ſquare cheeſe made thereof, by placing very clean ſweet ſtraw or reed between the various layers of pommage, or elſe by putting the ſame into hair-cloths and placing them onc on another.* To this cheeſe, after ſtanding a while, a * It is of importance, that the ſtraw or reed be ſweet and perfeÂly free from any fuſtineſs, leſt the cyder be impregnated therewith.— Particular care ought alſo to be taken to keep hair-cloths ſweet, by frequent waſhing and drying, elſe the ill efes of their acidity will be communicated to the cyder. ——— CRES CF SOMERSETSHIRE-, 223 ates) a ſlight preſſure is at firſt given, which is gradually increaſed, A until all the juice or mut be exprefled; after which, this uf da is ſtrained through a ſieve and ut into veſſels dts is ſtrained throug E P é| R Thus far cyder-making 1s a mere manual operation, per- 10 this< LE CS E E- af formed with very little ſkill in the operator; but here the Les great art of making good cyder commences. Nature ſoon is begins to work a wonderful change in this turbid liquor; ad and by fermentation converts it into a wholſome, vinous, heart-cheering beverage, nearly equal to the juice of the grape itſelf. ¡tend! It is well known, that there are various ſages of fermen- Dreh, tation in theſe juices, each of which changes the very qua- dry lity and nature of this fluid; but the principal, which are y ; to be particularly attended to in the inſtance now undet les tg conûderation, are three; namely, the v:nous, the acetous, and ruling the putrefaive. The firſt converts the zu/è from its turbid he beſt fulſome fate, to a tranſparent ſpiritous liguor. Ms If the juice be expreſſed from four apples, this fermenta- 0 tion is perfelted in two or thre days; but if from fweet A apples, not under a week or ten days.- Jen The next ſtage of fermentation gives an acidity to the de vinous liquor before ſpoken of, converting it to vinegar. This fermentation begins ſoon(frequently in few hours) a after the vinous is ended; and, if the fermentation be im- WM properly haſtened by heat, before the vinous 1s perfected. 18 j The third(and all ſucceeding fermentations) diſengages an Ms alkali from the liguor, and gives it a tendency to putre- Á t faon. tE: To regulate the firſt, and to check the others, is then the 6 sreat buſineſs of that cyder-maker who would attach to Ss himſelf the ſatisfa@ion and fame every one is emulous of. ai Let us, therefore, conſider how theſe ends are beſt at- 98 tained. gul be Tt AGRICULTURAL, SURVEY It is well Known, that fermentation ſhould not by tod much heat bé carried on rapidly, nor by extreme cold too flowly; as in each caſe the fermenting body will be injured. Hence it appears, that a certain degree of warmth, or rather imperceptible heat, conduces beit to regulate this operation. This degree of wármth may be underſtood to reſt between thirty-eight and forty-ſix degrees of Farenheit’s thermometer. If then the warmth of the cellar in which new-made cyder is placed be between theſe points, we may expedì(no adventitious cauſe interrupting) that the vinous fermentation will commence and go on with due regularity. It has been obſerved above, that fermentation is an in= teſtine motion of the parts of a fermentable body; this mo- tion, in the preſent caſe, is always accompanied with a ſmall hiſſing noiſe and evident ebullition; the bubbles riſing to the ſurface, and there forming a ſcum or ſoft ſpongy cruſt over the whole liquor. This cruft is frequently raiſed and broken by the air as it diſengages itſelf from the liquor, and forces its way through it. Theſe efes continue while the fermentation is briſk, and at laſt gradually ceaſe. The liquor now appears clear to the eye, and has a pungent vinous ſharpneſs upon the tongue. Now is the critical moment which the cyder-maker ought not to loſe ſight of; for if he would have a ſtrong and ge- nerous liquor, all further ſenſible fermentation muſt be ſtopt, This is beſt done by racking off the pure part into open veſlels, and placing them in a more cool ſituation for a day or two: after which, it may again be barrelled and placed in ſome cool place for the winter. It is poſlible, however, that a variety of avocations at the ſeaſon of cyder-making may take off too much of the far- mer’s attention from this branch of œconomics, and give opportunity to the acetous fermentation to come on, ere he is TEI De N)ured, armth, or ulate this rlood to fenheit's 1 Which we may mall (02,{0 y cruſt led and 107, and e while The Ingent OF SOMERSETSHIRE- 225 is aware of it. What remedy(it may be aſked) has he to prevent the ill effeds thereof running to full extent?—Se- veral have been tried; ſometimes with a degree of ſucceſs, at other times wholly unavailable. The moſt popular ones are the following:—a bottle of French brandy, half a gallon of ſpirit extracted from the Îces of cyder, or a pailful of old cyder poured into the caſk, ſoon after the acetous fermentation is begun; but no wonder if all theſe ſhould fail if the cyder be fill continued in a cloſe warm cellar. To give effed to either, it is neceſſary that the liquor be as much expoſed to a colder atmoſphere as conveniently may be, and that for a conſiderable length of time. By ſuch means, it is poſſible to repreſs the ſecond fermentation in a great meaſure; and if a caſk of good cyder cannot from thence be obtained, a tolerable one may.— Theſe remedies are innocent; but if the farmer or cyder- merchant attempt to cover the accident occaſioned by neg- ligence or inattention, by applying any preparation ef lead, let him reflet that be is about to commit an abſolute and ungua- lified murder on thoſe whoſe hap it may be to drink his poiſonous draught.* E * Should, however, any one be wicked enough thus to ſophiſticate 2 caſk of cyder, his villainy may be deteéted in the following manner: Make a decoction of orpiment in lime water, drop a ſmall guantity hereof into a glaſs of ſuſpe&ed cyder, and if it has been impregnated with any preparation of lead, its colour will ſoon change to a-browns dirty red, or black; but if it be genuine, its colour will remain nearly the ſame. Some liguid liver of ſulphur will have a ſimilar efe. Biſhop WATSON dires us to boil together, in a pint of water, an ounce of quick lime and half an ounce of flowers of brimſtone; a few drops of this liquor being let fall into a glaſs of cyder containing leads will change the whole into a colour more or leſs brown. Eſlaysy Vo pS. In the 4th and ¿th vol. of the Bath Society”s Papers, there are ſeveral valuable papers on the pernicious effeds of lead veſſels in dairiess which deſerve publick notice and attention. Q. Stumming 292,6 AGRICULTURAL SURVEV Stumming of cyder is a provincial phraſe, ſignifying the fuming a caſk with burning ſulphur; and 1s thus performed: take a frip of canvas cloth about twelve inches long and two broad, let it be dipped in melted brimftone. When this match is dry, let it be lighted and ſuſpended from the bung of a caſk(in which there are a few gallons of cyder) until it is burnt out: the caſk muſt remain ſtopped for an hour or more, and then be rolled to and fro, to incorporate the fumes of the match with the cyder, after which it may be filled. If the tumming be deſigned only to ſuppreſs ſome flight improper fermentation, the brimſtone match is ſufli- cient; but if it be reguired to give any additional flavour to the cyder, ſome powdered ginger, cloves, or cinnamon, &c. may be ſtrewed on the match when it is made:—the burning theſe ingredients with the ſulphur will convey ſomewhat of their: fragrance to the whole caſk of cyder; but to do it to the beſt advantage, it muſt be performed be- fore the vinous fermentation be fully perfected. To perfed a veſſel of cyder, after the foregoing ſteps have been taken, it will be found necefary now and then t ſupply the waſte occaſioned by evaporation and inſenſible fermentation with freſh cyder; and ¿bout the beginning of April following to give L a únal racking. At A time A commixture of cyder made from the Jerſey or any other luſcious and ſweet apple, with that of the ſour apples, may be N to give it 2 general- regular colouring.— Should, however, a higher colour be required than what reſults from ſuch commixture, a ſmall quantity of burnt or ielted ſacar, prepared in the following manner, will pro- Ct d eitect und of ſucar, and put it nto a tew-pan with a little water, and place it over a clear 2 e 1 7| TI. 54 1] F alza 4 E eh ñre, Îirring it frequently till it turns black; take it of the E ELEA CES E SA 1 E St REES 9 mf| SEA/ I âÂre, and as cools apply ſome cyder thereto, by little and e little, PZ E Sd És i L005 III BI MD a e TH LE EE E E MS ia elia LL E FL A 172 TIRES—- OF SOMERSETSHIRE-, 227 little, and continue f(tirring it till it be thoroughly mixed. ME This colouring tinges to perfection, is very cheap, gives no IN© E È O 2 (hen th luſcious ſweetneſs, but rather an agreeable bitterneſs, and UNI(NLS e: Sn m te b thus recommends itſelf to the nicer palates,. Soon after this, in the ſane month, the cyder may be bottled; and by che month of June the owner may ex- ped to find himſelf poſſeſſed of a rich, pleaſant, and whole- E ſome liquor. A- cc If there be a general charadteriſtick of good cyder fruit, e e cc it ſeems to be this: that the apple be of a yellow or light vd€ red ground, tinged with red ſtreaks on the ſun fide, of a | favo“ ſmart acid flavour, with firm but juicy parenchyma;¡—if TT c it poſſeſs theſe criteria, be it called by what name ſoever dette€ it may, it will, doubtleſsly, make good cyder.” 1 CONNY / p 1 0 der; ormed be- hh aine(4 1100 1160S ON RE; o 2 CHAPTER 2283 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY CHAPTER Xe WOODS änd PLANTATIONS. FTHE low lañds are badly wooded, and planting in ge- neral ſhamefully negle(ed, particularly a very profit- able part of it, viz. the elm and the willow, both of which thrive in this ſoil; and the latter is much wanted for the purpoſes both of the thatcher and fiſherman. ‘There is, in the eaſtern part, an extenſive chain of wood from the pariſh of Eaſt-Cranmore through Downhead, Clo- ford, Whatley, Elm,&c. ſeveral miles in length, beſides other woods of conſiderable importance. On the borders of Wiltſhire is a large foreſt, which extends from Pen- Selwood to within three miles of Frome. This foreſt was diſafforeſted about the ſeventh of Charles I. and divided into three portions, one whereof was allotted to the lords of mänors, another to the commoners, and a third to the crown. The latter was ſold off to the ad- joining landholders. Sir Richard Hoare, bart. Thomas Southcote, eſq; the Duke of Somerſet, William Beckford, eſq; the Earl of Corke, and the Marquis of Bath, are the owners of the greater part of the woods now remaining. No great quantity of woodland, in this tract of country, has been grubbed within the laſt forty years, but much new ground has been planted during that period, particularly on the hills belonging to the Marquis of Bath, Mr. Beckford, and Sir Richard Hoare, very much to the profit of the owners, as Well as to the ornament and convenience of the country. Theſe woodlands are, in general, in a ſtate of coppice wood, with an intermixture of timber, chiefly oak; but the ſoil, beſides darders (n Pen kford, re the aiNINY, Ww QUOT), wdhl ner 4 0N OF SOMERSETSHIRE- 229 ſoil, particularly in the vallies, being in general of a fron yellow clay, 1s of ſo cold E retentive a nature, that és. tation is exceedingly ſlow; and the oak trees, though ſpring- ing up ſpontaneouſly, in great abundance, are ſo apt to get molly and dead topped, that few of them come to a large ſize; and yet, on account of its vicinity to good inland mar=- kets, which are never overſtocked with underwood or tim- ber, the profit from woodland, under any tolerable degree of management, may be fairly taken at nearly double the value of the adjoining land in an arable or paſture ſtate; and the profit ariſing from the new-planted hills, particularly the ſandy parts of them, has been, in many infítances, near ten per cent. on the original expence of planting and fencing. Surely no greater inducement can be held out to the owners to preſerve the old woods, or to plant new ones, m ſoils and ſituations ſo favourable to their growth, and in a country that would ſuffer very materially for want of wood, if deprived of this reſource, But as the profit ariſing from theſe woods depends very much on the mode of management, it will not be thought improper to give a few general rules, taken from the appear- ance of ſuch of thoſe woods as are well managed, to the owners of thoſe woods that have a very different appearance, and that appearance not occaſioned by any apparent diſad- vantages of ſoil or ſituation. The natural defe@ of theſe woods, particularly that part of them which abounds with oak timber, has already been ſtated to be the ſlowneſs of their growth, This proceeds from three cauſes: 1/2. The native coldneſs of the ſoil. 2dly. The expoſure of a great part of the woods to the ſouth-weſt wind. And, 3dly."The injury the woods receive from cattle. In e etr p00 rmer 230 AGRICULTURAL SURVEV In proportion as theſe defeéts have been obviated by art, the woods may be ſaid to be well or ill managed. Drain- ing the cold wet parts of them is the obvious remedy of the firſt-mentioned defe&. Screening them from winds, by ſkirting with Scotch fir and other hardy plants, and keeping them moderately thick of timber, are the beſt remedies for the ſecond. But both theſe remedies will be uſeleſs, unleſs a ftri& attention be paid to the fences, ſo as to keep the woods from being cropped by cattle. This 1s particularly hurtful fo ſlow growing timber, and by it theſe woods (though in- very few inſtances ſubjeXt to common rights) are very materially injured. W herever, as 1s the caſe in the greateſt part of the woods, oak timber is the natural produce of the ſoil, it ſhould, by all means, be encouraged; and as its growth to a certain pe- riod is uſually very rapid, and afterwards altogether as ſlow, it ſhould be cut when that period of ſtagnation commences, and a freſh ſet let up to ſupply the deficiency. There are many inftances in theſe woods, where, although the underwood cannot by the beſt management be made worth more than eight pounds per acre at fixteen years growth, yet at leaſt twelve ſmall oaks, worth twenty ſhillings a-piece, may be cut regularly at every round of the wood, from every acre, and that without injury to the underwood. No ſyſtem will pay equal to this; the underwood, inſtead of ſuffering from the multiplicity of trees, will abſolutely be better than without any. The ſhelter afforded by theſe trees making amends for the damage done by the dropping from them; eſpecially as aſh underwood, on which the value of coppice wood greatly depends in this country,(and which does not grow well under the dropping of tumber) does not in general thrive well in theſe cold ſoils. The eping es for leſs tead ly be trees from je of ¡hich 5 not The OF SOMERSETSHIREs 221 D PL Ea E Ihe ut nder wood that thrives beſt In Her 11S OaK, willow, E E alder, and above all d:rch. i nele Kinds of wood will, if proper attention be paid to them, be fit to cut at ſixteen years growth; if cut oftener, the wood will ſcarcely be laroe enough for the purpoſes of the count try; and if ſuffered to ſtand much longer, the: timber is apt to receive a check from the cold winds, when deprived of the ſhelter of the underwood, The coal-pits near Mendip furniſh a never-failing market for the poles of this underwood, Aa the demand for the domeſtick uſes of the country is fully ſufficient for the ref- dues and as not only this end of the‘county of Somerſet, but aiſo the adjoining part of Wiltſhire, depend on theſe woods for oak timber, the demand is, and always will be, equal to the ſupply. From the produce of theſe woods charcoal is ſometimes burnt for the uſe of the manufa@urers. The wood is then cleaved and heaped into what is called a cord of wood, the dimenfions of which are, 8 feet 4 inches long, 4do: 4d hieh; 2 do.2 do,+ bróad. The price of cleaving and heaping from 1s. Iod. to 2s. 3d. per cord. The expences of burning one hundred cord of wood, the value of which for fuel is ſix ſhillings per cord, may be thus eſtimated: Cabin or the man——_—— OLS 0 Burning 263 ſacks of charcoal, at 6d. per ſack OT Ó Halling ditto, at 6d. per fack—-—-— NS Unloading—————— OHIO Wear and tear of ſacks———— ZULOL@ IT TO O One hundred cord of wood, as fuel, at 6s, 20 OO 47 iO D 232 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY PRODUCE, Two hundred and ſixty-three ſacks, of nine buſhels each, at 4s. 10d. per ſack— E NS From which deduct ibis nk OS Balance in favour of charcoal in compariſon with fire-wood—_——_——(16 12 15 As to the new-planted woods, particularly thoſe on the high parts of Rodenbury-hill, Witham-park, and Kingſettle- hill, although all kinds of wood erow well upon them,(and 5= 2 Pp>(\ eſpecialiy upon the ſandy parts of them) provided they are planted in maſles ſufficiently large to ſhelter themſelves from the winds, yet nothing appears to grow ſo well as fir, and particularly Scots fir. An occaſional mixture of filver fir, ſpruce fir, and larch, on ſome of the beſt and moſt ſheltered ſpots, and a general thin mixture of beech and other foreſt trees, add certainly very much to the variety and beauty of the plantations in which they haze been introduced; but in point of profit the Scots fir ſtands unequalled, for rapidity of growth, for ſuperiority in value when grown, and above all, for its ability to bear the cold expoſure of the country. There are inſtances on theſe hills, on land not worth, in a ſtate of paſturage, three ſhillings per acre, that plantations of Scots firs, of thirty years old, are now worth eighty pounds per acre,* and the demand for this kind of wood in- creaſes as faſt as its uſes, becauſe more and more known. A great encouragement ſurely to cover the reſidue of the land, of this deſcription, with plantations; eſpecially when *‘This is proved by ſtating, that at eight feet and a half diſtances ſix hundred and forty trees ſtand on an acre; and that they are worths at a low computation, two ſhillings and ſix-pence each, . 4 1E OF SOMERSETSHIRE« 32 :t is conſidered that this kind of application of the land not only contributes ſo wonderfully to the improvement of the eſtate on which it is made, and to the employment of the 21! [0 poor of the neighbourhood, but that it alſo adds ſo much to — the beauty, the comfort, and the convenience of the country | for many miles round. Ll| The coldneſs and ſourneſs of the ſoil of this part of the Es j country, and particularly of thoſe parts that were once in 1 the| wood-land, tend much to depreciate its value in cultivation, tle| either as arable or paſture land. and| In an arable ſtate it produces few ſorts of grain kindly. It 41€| will not at all do for barley; it 1s in general too poor and m ſtubborn for beans, and only a very favourable ſeaſon canin= nd ſure a good crop of oats; wheat is its favourite crop, and fic, this is ſometimes late in ripening, and is frequently pur- ered chaſed at the loſs of two or three years rent, ad of more vreft dung than the paſture part of the country can afford to loſe» y of And the peculiar inaptitude of this ſoil to return to graſs, vf after it has been once ploughed,(and more eſpecially, as is lity too often the caſe where it has been burn-beaked) is an in- 7 ſuperable objedtion to its being uſed in any Kind of conver- :: tible huſbandry, In a ftate of graſs land, the lateneſs of the 5 ſpring, and conſequent length of the winter, reduce its value 1s very-much, even in the only mode of application to which huy it is at all adapted, viz.“ the dairy.” E The great improvement of which the cold part of this oW country is capable, may be expreſſed in a few words, cit c&c Shorten the winter.” This is to be done principally by i draining of the ſuperfluous Water; as the ſprings of ſo many principal rivers, VIZ, the Frome, the Cale, and the Brew, riſe — in this neighbourhood, the land muſt every where be full tance of it; and ſecondly, by treading the wet land as little as vort poſſible in the winter; but, on the contrary, winter hayning, wherever A————— E EE 22A. AGRICULTURAL SURVEY wherever it is praQicable, and of courſe mowing early in the ſummer, and endeavouring as much as poſſible to mow and feed every piece of land alretriately. Nothing has contributed more to the improvement of the cold wet parts of this country, than the plan which ſeems daily to gain ground, of building ſheds for‘houſing cattle in( the winter. This not only prevents the land from being poached oùt in wet ſeaſons, whereby the ſward 1s frequently trod out of ſight, but alſo produces dung, of which the land is ſo much in want, and of which it has hitherto had ſo little; it being a well-known fa&, that many pieces of land have been conſtantly mown every year within the memory: of man, and that frequently not earlier than Auguſt, without C the leaſt return of dung, or any other manure whatever, ſave! only the aſſiſtance ſuppoſed to have been given them by the| foddering of cattle thereon in the winter, and which, in wet ſeaſons, has certainly done more harm than good.* Thoſe i E Y =.. PV *“The remark, p. 77, that nature has wiſely provided a manure within itſelf, which in moſt ſoils may be found near at hand, and con- e genial thereto, is applicable to theſe cold unprofitable lands. It is preſumed that theſe alſo may from themſelves be ſupplied with a plen- tiful and permanent manure, ſo as to make them convertible to tillage or paſture. The means e this 1s, by burning the clay of the| hs fame lands in ſuch manner as to redure it to a ſtate of pulverization fit| b for E on the land, w Rs as an indiſpenfible preliminary, mußt( 1 rſt be A€ ained.‘This was praiſed many years ago by d) Mr. PARSONS, of W«:fl-Camel, on 2 a pretty large ſcale, and with re- markahle i mprovement of a wet clayey ſoil. His method was, to carry} l the earth and clay from his 1a Grains N Were open ones) ditches, 0 &C. to one place, where 1g it remain fome time to dry, he made a re with w oû on the g Ei gradually adding thereto his materials; till the whole was ſufficient I burnt; and he was ſo great an adept, that i 4) he knew by the ſmoke when the fire was of a proper de- gree of heat for pul iverifing the clay without burning it to brick. At the time of his ſaying this, he had a very good ſpecimen of his ſkill, a YELP mui » MU OF SOMERSETSHIRE-, 235 Thoſe parts of this diſtrict which have a covering of red loam, particularly in Witham-park, and thoſe which lie on the deep ſand vein which runs through Kilmington and Yarnfield, have been much improved by chalk, from Brad- ley, Long-Knowl,&c. and by this affiſtance may be very profitably kept in tillage; but the want of a permanent ma- nure for the cold clays, which compriſe the greateſt part of this diſtri, is a very great objection to the ploughinsg them at all, and a ſtrong recommendation to the keeping them in a ſtate of paſturage. Wherever there is, in this cold country, an appendage of arable land to a dairy farm, and which 1s certainly not only uſeful, but abſolutely neceſfary, on account of fraw for making dung; care ſhould be taken to prevent the tenant from uſing any part of the fRall-dung on the arable land, ſo as to oblige him to buy lime, rags, aſhes, and fuch like, for very large heap as finely pulveriſed a urnbake from earth and weeds in a garden. With this N any other ſort of manure which he could get, and carried| together, either on his paſture or arable land, to the very gre vement of both: As there 1s, in different parts of the kin immenſe quantity of this ſort of land, the ſubje& meriís a ſerious conſideration; and if by a kiln, or any other contrivance, clay could be burut at an eaſy expence, with ‘ertainty and diſpatch, the improvement of theſe lands would, or might —S Y Î 5 Ì, Sills be ſuch as nearly to double their préſent value, to the great increaſe of private property and national riches. Materials for this can never be wanting, as the drains, whether open, or ſtoned, parings of the ditches, &c. will afford a conſiderable ſupply; and if more be defired, a ſmall portion of the field may well be ſpared, w ith a view to the melioration of the remainder The preſent is ſaid to be an enlightened age. It certainly 1s an age of experiments, which, in ſome inſtances, are proſecuted with the greateſt ardour, though, at the ſame time, to the queſtion, cui bona 2 no ſatisfa@tory anſwer can be given. In this caſe the bonum is obvious and extenſive, and the beſt way of accompliſhing it is an obje& highly deſerving the attention of the Board. R. P, the > ÊE A: e-r a2 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY «È the latter, and to reſerve the whole of the ſtall dung for the graís land. Every encouragement ſhould alſo be given to induce the tenant to underdrain the land, or, if the landlord has already made the drains, to preſerve them. He ſhould alſo be obliged to mow and feed the land alternately, and induced, by proper cattle-ſheds, to take his cattle off the wet lands ſome time in November, whereby he would not only ſave treading out his land, but alſo be enabled to get early graſs; he would by that means alſo be enabled to mow early in the ſummer; and of courſe to get a good crop of after-graſs, which he might preſerye till a late period in autumn, and by thus ſhortening the winter at both ends, he may be enabled by art to reduce it nearly to the length it generally is, in more favoured ſituations, and thereby, in a great meaſure, cure the great natural defect of the country. CHAPTER Y pr AUD rT 1 for the duce the s Already allo be duced, t lands [ graſs; ally in grals, ud by ¿bled 8, In alure, PTER OF SOMERSETSHIREs 23 DE CHAPTER NE WASTES. “Y HE largeſt unincloſed(zp/and) common in this diſtri, is the foreſt of Neroche, containing about eight or nine hundred acres, The right of ſtocking on this common belongs to the pariſhes of Ilminſter, White-Lackington, Donyat, Braad- way, and others; and in regard to quantity is unlimited. For want of proper draining, this common rots the ſheep, and is of very little value. If incloſed, drained, and culti- vated, it might be made worth from twelve to twenty-five ſhillings per acre. Next in ſize is White-down, near Chard. There are a few other ſmall unincloſed commons in differ- ent pariſhes; but their total amount does not exceed four or five hundred acres. Of the moor, or low marſhy lands, there cannot be leſs than eight thouſand acres. The land in open field, is, for the moſt part, in ſmall pieces of one, two, and three acres each. Were proper ex- changes made, and the ſame divided into pieces of ten or twelve acres, it would be advanced in value eight or ten ſhillings per acre, R CHAPTER i AGRICULTURAL. SURVEY CHAPTER: SEIT,' EMPR OVEN N DS: C REAT attention is paid to draining by all the ſheep F farmers. The common drains are ſixteen inches wide, from twenty to thirty deep, and are for the moſt part turf drains, and when the turf is îtrong they are found very durable. Paring and burning but little praiſed, CHAPTER XIII. i| LE TOLE OXEN,. GRAZING MANAGEMENT. HERE are two methods of fatting oxen, the one called ſummer, the other winter fattingz the firſt is thought the moſt profitable, and accompanied with the leaf riſque. In the firſt method, they are purchaſed in February, and are for the moßt part of the Devon ſort, bred either in the| Northern part of that county, or in the lower part of So- merſetſhire, They are bought in good condition, and coſt from eight pounds to fifteen pounds each; during the in- terval between February and graſs. time, they conſume each about ten hundred or twelve hundred of nferior hay, viz. the ſkimming of their ſummer leaze. When at graſs, they are Rä I LLL ITE pa rT, are allowed from one acre to one IRE- 239 « E acre and a half each ox, ſR 1 J BA L N Y p SR N CS r nyrA and ſome add one ſheep to each ox. Horſes, if any, are kept very ſparingly, not at any rate to exceed one to twenty acres of grazing ground. Theſe oxen wil be fat, ſome be- fore and ſome after EES paying for their keep from three We and ix-pence to four ſhillings per week. Frequent bleeding, in ſmall quantities, is found to acce- lerate their fatting. The next ſtock are bought in June, July, and Auguſt, and are not of ſo good a ſort, being either home-bred or Welſh, and coſt from ſix to eight pounds. Theſe follow the ſtock purchaſed in February, and are. ſometimes ſall- fed in the winter, and ſometimes fatted in the field; in ei- ther cale they have the beſt hay, and good attendance. They are fat in April and VMs: and ſell from twelve pounds to fourteen pounds each. À grazier accupying two hundred acres of land may fat yearly one hundred head of oxen, to which add two hun- dred and ſeventy ſheep and ten colts, conſtituting altogether 2 profit comfortable, but by no means exorbitant The account may be thus ſtated: ———————= 2409 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY GRAZING, D: LE e To rent of 200 acres, average value 40s. an acre 400 0© To tithe and taxes, ſay i 250 OLIO Feb. To fifty oxen, at 111. OOO Fuly. To fifty oxen, at 71. 25000 0 ‘To mowing and making fifty acres of hay, at Io0s. 2500 To ſkimming and making fifty acres of ſum- mer-leaze, at 3s. 710 O To wages throughout the year, beſides the farmer’s labour_— SOOO To accidents— 2 00/0 TAZ IO O To profit(intereſt of capital and accidents in- cluded) 27 LOO SABO OO C 0. By fifty oxen, at 181.— 900 0 0 May. By fifty oxen at 131.— 650 0 0 By profit on ſeventy ſheep, ſummer kept— 409 0 0 By profit on ten colts 4000 By profit on two hundred ſheep winter fatted,: ICO OG and ſold in April unſhorn a R * Nothing can be more pleaſing and ſatisfaCory, to a farmer en- gaged in the department of grazing» than a power of aſcertaining the ſeparate pay of each particular ox, ſheep, pig,&c.; this may eafily be accompliſhed by means of a weighing engine. For the weight of the OX,&c. when bought, being thereby exaly determined, the animat ſhould be then numbered in the horn, a book correſpondent to ſuch number being opened, in which the weight ſhould be then inſerted, and a column opened for the purpoſe of inſerting remarks made during the progreſs of the animal’s fatting« ZA vés pS : a E SE e R E AE e HAE LI SEPE EIE A E ECE AS: AS er ZSA“i(7 LT rev ER IE a E E R EL OF SOMERSETSHIRE, 2A1 219 The oxen, when fat, are driven to the London, the Sa- wha liſbury, and the Briſtol markets, at the following expences, (faleſman’s commiſſion included:) London, 12s. per head arum, 5s. Witto M0 0 Ss Briſtol, 4s. ditto. 00 They are nine days travelling to London, a diſtance of one hundred and thirty miles. It is difficult to ſay which 10 may be confidered as the beſt market; but the general opi- nion ſeems to be, that the London market is calculated 9000 for thoſe only who attend it regularly every week, the price 000 of beef per ſtone greatly varying according to the plenty or ſcarcity in the market. 119 0 Some farmers graze heifers in preference to oxen, buying them in about the months of March and April, and ſciling — them in October and November. The profit amounts to ¡P 0 forty ſhillings or fifty ſhillings each for their ſummer food; and the land is ſtocked after the rate of one heifer to each acre, together with a conſiderable number of ſheep both in 0 0 0 fé 00 ſummer and winter; and it is thought by many, that this ù 00 method of occupation is more profitable than the former. 000 Others fat two-years old wedders of the Dorſetſhire and Somerſetſhire breed. The Dorſet ſort are purcháſed about 0 0 0 Michaelmas, at Sherborne and Stolford fairs, price from AE twenty ſhillings to thirty ſhillings. No hay is given in the EA winter, unleſs the weather be uncommonly ſevere, or the ground covered with ſnow. They are ſold fat between February and May, and weigh from twenty to thirty pounds per quarter. A few oxen accompany the ſheep, which are bought in the ſpring, and fatted the enſuing winter. Lt is the univerſal opinion, that ſheep are not ſo profitable ſtock as OXen. R. Tt D è 4.2 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY D It is no unuſual thing for ſome of the graziers to give their prime oxen a ſecond ſummer’s graſs. In this caſe they are brought to a high fate of perfetion, and in all probabi- lity they pay more the ſecond year than the- firſt; for it 1$ well known, that an animal nearly fat will conſume much leſs food than a poor one. E wes and lambs are alſo the ſtock of ſome farmers; they are purchaſed partly in the autumn in lamb, and partly In the ſpring with the lamb by their ſides, and are moſtly of the Dorſetſhire or Mendip breed. All the graziers of this county are partial to the red oxen of Somerſet and Devon; and you ſeldom ſee 4 North- country ox in their poſſeſſion. They will not allow that the Northern oxen poſſeſs any comparative merit, either for labour or ſlaughter; perhaps ſome allowance ſhould be made for long-eſtabliſhed prejudices; but it muſt be ad- mitted, that in the London market, to which fat oxen are brought from all parts of the kingdom, the Somerſetſhire (next to the Galloway Scot fatted in Norfolk and Suffolk) appear to bear the belle, both in reſpect to fineneſs of grain and internal fatneſs; and there cannot be a ftronger proof of their merit than the increaſing demand for them with the moſt eminent graziers of Leiceſterſhire, Oxfordſhire; VWWär- wickſhire,&c. many of whom regularly attend the fairs both of Devon and Somerſet, as purchaſers of them lean; and I have been credibly informed tliey find a good account in ſo doings. As to myſelf, it is with relu@tance that I hazard an opinion on this ſubje&t; reſpedting which, men of long- eſtabliſhed experience are ſo much divided, and on which ſuch various opinions exiſt. But I cannot help remarking, that if the ſuperiority of the Northern ſort were ſo confpi- cuous as the great breeders of the North aflirm, how 1s ét that ſome of their beſt friends and moßt ſtrenuous ſupporters In OF SOMERSETSHIRE, 242 in the feep line deſert them here, and give an unquali- fied preference to the Weſtern breed? lt is not likely thag E e RES ——— a wary and conſiderate farmer would travel one hundred for it# and fifty or two hundred miles to p e ſtock, with all JI the manifold inconveniencies and riſque which muſt attend- the driving ſo far, if he 1rchaſe equally cheap and 1 hey good at home. E Nothing is more cen 9 ality; | Hy 0 and this Dprincipie Oftti with ideas unſupported by| oxen and frequent trial have produc rth- be equally inexcuſable, were he to refit the influence na- fiat turally produced in his mind thereby. r for The red breeds of E and Somerſet have been pro=- | A(5s.© 7 NPt eT LI as NS A A d be greſſively increaſing, and they are now partially ditperied e ad- over great part of the kingdom; and in reſpect to their qua- en are lities as a Zabouring animal, Ï[| never heard but one opinion, <4 hire and that opinion I can myſelf confirm from large and long Ì yle S S Folk) experience, namely, that they are é/ be beſt in the kingdom. In ‘ral| reſpe to their qualities as a fatting animal, I will not ſpeak root ſo decidedly, for I verily believe they have many rivals; the the French, the Gallois ay N the Leiceſter and Oxfordſhire, [ár- i the Herefordſhire, E Glamorganſhire, the Suffolk polled, oh are all good gz razing cattle; and in almoît every county may ndl be found in the hands of the moſt ſpirited and attentive farmers, a valuable ſort highly ſuperior to the general run of the county; and I muſt again repeat, that the fafeſt plan unt n hazard f lons- which a farmer can adopt is that of improving his breed by 19) which a judicious ſelection of his beit females, and by procuring arkiDY, ſn- conlpl ſuch males as are eminently diſtinguiſhed for perfection in thoſe points wherein his females may be found deficient gii A total change of ock is frequently accompanied with loſs and diſappointment; and if the attempt ſucceed, you are or R 2 azCONI ſider able 24 4 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY I T - conſiderable time driven to the neceſſity of fatting all you breed; for the rooted prejudice of the graziers in favour of the prevailing fort of the county, whatever they may! be, cannot eaßfily be overcome; and you may in vain expe tat market a price adequate to your care and exertion. Notwithſtanding what has been faid, there are certain well-founded axioms in the grazing ſyſtem relating to the ſhape of the animal, which cannot juſtly be diſputed. De- licacy in the horn, head, and neck; deepneſs and roundneſs of the carcaſe, wideneſs of the loins, elaſticity in the fleſh, ſmall bones, accompanied with a thin ſkin: theſe, with many other points which might be enumerated, are confi- dered as eſſentials, and are ſeldom unaccompanied with an aptitude to fat. The fame partiality which I have here ſtated to exil among the Marſh farmers in favour of the red oxen, was; a few years ſince, as ſtrongly manifeſted in favour of the Dorſetſhire ſheep; but of late the polled bree od— the lower part of the county gain ground, and are in high eſteem. Theſe ſheep are bred in the ne ighbourhood— ulverton;, Bampton, Wiveli Comb,&c. they are well made, yield a large ſhear of wool, and fat quickly; but they might, in my opinion, be greatly improve d by a cr oſs with the Leiceſter, to which they have in fize and ſhape ſome legree of affinity. The obje&ion made by the breeders in that difſtrict to à croſs with I LICE ſer is, that what they might gain externally; they ſhould loſe ¿zternally; and that the deficiency in ät fat of the infide would ſo diſgrace their ſheep in the eye of the butcher, that they A loſe their old cuſtomers.— Surely this reaſoning is fallacious; for, on a ſuppolſition that the inſide fat of a ſheep were by this intermixture to be re- duced ſix pounds per ſheep,(and I think this as much as it poſſibly could be) the deficiency, at four-pence per pound, would BCE OF SOMERSE a] VA = UU Ndr i would amount to only two ſhillings; five pounds extra ie weight of the carcaſe would pay this; and if the buyer w RE to allow the b TS or th1s defe(, all reaſonable objelion on his part is done away; and, on the other hand, the E grazier need not be alarmed, for he may reſt aſſured, that CET 00 the increaſe af the carcaſe will amply repay the want of WW(NE inſide fat.* ndnef A lift of F aIRs to which the SOMERSET GRAZIERS reſort e fleſh to fe EF EANSOTOCK: eL ra N rT With SOMERSET. By) Binegar, Whit Wedneſday and Thurſday han Biſhop’s-Lidiard, April g TO June 24002, and Dec: 28 Broomfield, Nov. I 3 e Bagborow, May 23 Í D Briſtol, March 1, and Sept. 1 as Caſtle-Cary, Tueſday before Palm Sunday, May 1, and Whit- e lone Tueſday M Chard, firſt Wedneſday in May, and in November Comb St. Nicholas, Wedneſday ſen’nicght before Chriſimas-day ° 5 4 Dulverton, July Frome, Feb. 24, and Nov. 24 Lanſdown, Auguſt 10 ‘liel, Milverton, Oäober finity: North-Petherton, May t Pensford, May 6, and Nov. 8 , Y=05 is Priddy, Auguſt 21 4 Somerton, Monday before the goth of Jánuary, Of. 39, Nov. 8, e 0e and the úrft great market the Tueſday before Eaſter, and four je eje di other markets every three weeks after “a m) =[’'aunton, June 17, and July 7 haf 10n tar————————————————————————————————_——————————————————— be re ES ESS as À ne LOorego1ng aCCOounrt Oi SEA in 17 Was WFYI1 itten in t the year 17945 (ch 8 which a great advance has taken pP lace, both in the price per acres “ound, the value of the land. J. B. Non| E Uhbley, Î D!, AUCgU 0 O F AY ie Wells, EEE AE per E ES ENEN E eT EA EE aa m DAE— e o e E N Ns— 240 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Ubley, September 4 Wellington, Thurſday before Eaſter Wells, May 14, July 5, Ott. 25» Nov. 30 Weſton-Zoyland, E o) Wiveliſcombe, May 11 Yeovil, June 28, and Noe 17 Shipham, Nov. EVON. E February 25 cminſter, Wedneſday after Pack-Monday Barnfi E September Chudleig»h, Eaßter Tu eſday Churchinford, January 25, 26 Crediton, April, May 11, Auguſt 21 Exeter, Aſh-Wedneſday,Whit-Monday, Lammas-day, and Dec. Hatherly, May 21 Honiton, E Oakhampton, Tueſday before Lady-da Ottery St. N— Tueſday before Palm-Sunday, and the Wed=- neſday ſe’nnight after Whitſunday Sandford-Peverel, April South-Molton, April 12 Tiverton, Trinity-Tueſday, and O. Great-Torrington, third Saturday in March, May 4, and Mid- ſummer Witheridge, April Fairs at which Fat Cattle are fald, ] T7? loe, February 3, and March 25 Backwell, September 21 Zanwell, January 18 Bridowater, ſecond Thuríday in Lent, Od. 2, and Dec, 28 Briftol, March 1, Sept. I n,‘Trinity-Monday A xbrU OF SOMERSETSHIRE- 247 Wells, O&ober 25, November 30 Somerton, Tueſday before Eaſter, and every Tueſday three weeks till Midſummer Weſton-Zoyland, September 9 Mark, Tueſday before Whitſuntide, and September 15 Wollavington, Odober 18 Langport, ſecond Monday in Lent. ——————— Y COWS. T'he cows of this diſtri being intended chiefly for the purpoſes of cheeſe-making;, the profit ariſing 1s in proportion to the quantity and quality of the milk; ze, therefore, 1s not attended to, but principal regard is paid to the breed whence ſhe ſprung. The dairy-men think it more profit- 4 able to have a E breed œwell fed, than the beſt breed in the world /can kept; Zid the cow that gives milk the calving 1s from the =, longeſt 1s SE Ihe Unete Str eds * The cheeſe of this diſtri is much admired, particularly that made in the pariſhes of Mear and Cheddar It is for the moſt part purchaſed by jobbers, and ſent through the 4 medium of Weyhill, Giles’s-hill, Reading, and other fairs, to the Lon=- don market, where it is ſold under the name of double Glocefter. The method of making has been ſo often deſcribed, that T ſhall not trouble my readers with a minute detail thereof. The annexed ſhort account of the proceſs I ſhall only premiſe, with obſerving, that clean- lineſs, ſweet rennet, and attention to breaking the curd, are the prin» cipal reguiſites in chee! M E as PROCESS OF CHEESE-MAKING. When the milk is brought SES it 1s ſtrained into a tub, and about ) thr ree tab le-ſpoontfuls of good rennet put therein,(ſuppoſing the quan- vy of milk ſufficient to make a cheeſe of twenty-eight pounds) which remains undiſturbed about two hours, then it becomes curd, and 1s properly broken; when done, three parts of the whey is taken there- from and warmed, and then put into the tub again, where it remains about twenty minutes; the R is again put over the fire, made uearly ſcald hot, and put into the tub to ſcald the curd about ha If an Rour2 Wells 1 A— 2 TG CER E 2 S t i iT= E——-—->‘© mear E rmi 248 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY the beginning of February to Lady day, and they take great i< care to Keep their cows well three weeks or a month before they calve; the milk wil riſe in proportion to the goo.lneſs' of their keepings Very little attention is paid to the nature or ſort of the bull. The calves(thoſe few excepted which are reared to Keep up the ſtock) ſeldom live a month ere: j I the butcher’s knife cuts the thread of their' exiſtence; and|- cheeſe-making begins in March, from which time it conti-| ues till December. t|( rT | he calves which are reared are fed principally with( cheele-whey, and‘in May they are turned to graſs and left k to ſhift for themlelves;+ ſome careful dairy-women have hour, and then part of the whey is taken away, and the remainder re- mains with the curd till it is nearly cold; the whey is then poured of, the curd broken very ſmall, put into the vat and preſled, where it re- mains nearly an hour; and then is taken out, turned, and put in again( and preíſed tl the evening, when it is taken out again, turned, and | the next morning: it is then taken out of the vat, ſalted, E put into it again with a clean dry cloth round it, and remains in the preſs till the next evening, when it is taken out again, ſalted, put into Hj Cal h, and preſſed till the next morning; and then tne Vat without a ciotn 1 it finally leaves the preſs, and is ſalted once a day for twelve days. di T The number of calves fatted in this diſtri is immenſe—four| x hundred fat calves have been ſold in Shepton-Mallet market in one M day. To tis market, butchers from the neighbourhood of Bath and| Briſtol reſórt, and convey the carcaſes(whole) to thoſe cities in one- i N horſe carts. The veal is delicately white—ſmall ín ſize, viz. from fix- teen to twenty-four pounds per quarter. The beſt is brought from 1 a ſmall village called Batcomb; and its excellency may, perhaps, be lo! aſcribed to their giving the calves ſmall doſes of metheglin in the nulk, L and keeping them in a dark place.‘ E Þ In the South-Eaſtern part of this diſtri&t, where the dairy land is 2 chiefly applied to the making of butter, and ſkimmed milk cheeſe, the Z calves are taken from their dams at a fortnight or three weeks old, fl and ſuckled with ſkimmed-milk until the middle of May, when they y are ies i TE. K, Ss ais SZ x a irais Z N D y) EE E D e: h i on a m—— Der m SL— BA ZEE TE OF SOMFERSETSHIRE- 249 tried to increaſe their growth, by giving them whey after they are put to graſs; but this plan is reprobated as doing more harm than good. When they become yearlings, they are ſubject to a diſorder proviricially called the guarter-ail, which is a mortification beginning at the hock, and proceed- ing with aſtoniſhing rapidity to the vital parts, occaſoning death in a very few hours. The firſt ſymptom is lamenefs, and no cure has yet been found; the quarter affected be- comes intirely putrid, whilſt the other quarters are in a ſound fate. This diſorder e I think, the ſame with thac Known in Narfolk under the name of gargutz; nor 1s it con- fined to theſe counties, but is, I believe, generally known 5; and an inveſtigation of the cauſe of the diſorder, which might lead to the diſcovery of a cure, is well worthy the attention of all agricultural bodies. Cows are ſubjeŸ to a diſorder called ¿be yellows, ſomething ſimilar to the jaundice in the human ſpecies. This diſor- der frequently affeäs the udder, and brings on a falſe quar- ter, that is, a deprivation of E in one teat, accompanied with a ſwelling and inflammation. For this, however, I can ſuggeſt a remedy which ſeldom fails, viz. flour of muſtard mixed with any liquid, two ounces a doſe, and E ine the ſame two or three times in the courſe of twenty-four hours. The heifers are put to the bull in July, when they are about one year and half old; and the prevailing opinion ſeems to be, that thoſe which are kept from the bull a year r longer do not turn out good milkers. The average produce are turned out to graſs at home, or ſold at ſome diſtant market for the ſame purpoſe. A few dairy-farmers, in this part of the difßtri&, have adopted the practice of e flax-ſeed aue hay-tea, and mix it in the milk, with which the calves are ſuckled.* This prati ce appears to anſwer very well, for the laſt month or ſix weeks of ſuckling, A. C. es an-> oA - fi E AO EED ia ari A iL OE uuml SO AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Y E r J SN Si— Ly y h PSS of a dairy per day, may be calculated at about three gallons - L e per cow, from Lady-day to Michaelmas, and from Michael- mas to Chriſtmas one gallon per cow per day. Cows are kept till they are fourteen or fifteen years old, and when fatted they ſeldom get to a higher price than ſeven or eight pounds, len ] ſo to the in-door work.‘The groſs produce of a dairy fre- quently averages twelve pounds per cow, and in ſome par- lone pa ticular inſtances fourteen pounds; but this can only be when cheeſe is at the preſent enormous price of near Îx- { 4 the Ald and fat hgos 2 E pence per pound twelve manths old; and fat hogs at üx- pence per pound. The fallowing eſtimate of the expences and produce of A A AL SLE E TE ZE AAC eN„(2 A dairy luppolin NE land and the cows to be oï the firfs Fs A- AT aral CGIE guatty, May, I truſt, be conſidered as tolerably accurate, E DAIRY i=| PAIR GEN COWS, Dr: de ‘To two milkers forty weeks, at 3s. per week GOO ‘Toa man's labour, winter ſerving cattle, chan- ging their paſture, ſelling cheeſe,&c,— 400 To dairy-woman, 4s. vd. per week: EA O, To dairy utenfils, candles, falt, bruſhes, mops, and all other articles E arnotto | To rent, thirty acres of ſummer paſture, 40s. 60 o 0 To ſkimming the fame, and making ſix tons of hay— 2 e) To rent of fifteen acres mown ground, 40s.— 30 0 0 To making the hay, ſay thirty tons, at 12s, per acre OOO To tithe, taxes,&c. ſay LOOO 29 O0 To profit, intereſt of money, and the decreaſing yalue af cows included I— IO O ZEE 52.100 N. B. A large dairy might be kept for 25s. per cow, Cr. By ninety hundred of cheeſe, at 45s.%— 202 10 0 By calves E 1500 By butter— TOF OO By hog oS————— 25 0 O0 L252 10,50 * At this time(January 1797) cheeſe of laſt year’s making is worth three pounds per hundred. O Nn NLA AGRICULTURAL SURVEY > ur0! On a compariſon of this with the grazing account, it is hut apparent that the dairy occupation is more profitable than cea grazing, for this amounts to fifty ſhillings per acre, whereas po the other is only twenty-eight ſhillings per acre. On ac- 1 C4-—- 5(réd count of population, the dairy ſyſtem ought alſo to be pre-| s ferred, as one grazing farm of two hundred acres would y«fy afford a comfortable livelihood to four dairy families. ui I am aware, that ſhould theſe obſervations induce an in-| creaſe of dairies, and conſeguently a more liberal ſupply of he cheeſe, fuch a declenſfion in the price of that article might take place, as would bring all things again on a level, and ants adyance the grazier’s profit to an equality with that of the S hz iL> Be this as it mas L think dairies ſhould be encouraged; ME Ly vL for the arduous domeſtick labour and inceſſant employment which they bring, on e female part of a farmer’s family,: i) tat EER STRANE H 5 PS ES Cl EA Willi always prevent an UI 1d Ue 1NCTEAatE thereot unleſs{neil J H H] 10 l profts on a compariſon are very great indeed, But whilft I thus recommend encouragement to the pail, I muſt do it with this proviſo, that a different mode of management be adopted from that now practiſed. The cows of this diſtri& are almoſt univerfally depaſtured in the fields both ſummer and winters; in ttQueite oí which, the dung produced even by a large A is trifling a) indeed; hence ariſes a manifeſt declenſion in the fertility of OU) Wl the land, and you may Se from a dairy\ agr farm at a great diſtance. In this exhauſted ſtate the dairy land muſt remain, unleſs a di ſyſtem of management fal; a be ſucceſsfully inculcated, Were I to ſuggeſt a plan of im- Vid provement, it would be the following: Let all dairy farms be accompanied with a due proportion of arable, perhaps æ fourth part; let proper ſtalls and bartons be erected as a re= fidence for the cows during the winter months; let cabbages,( turnips, E ai OF SOMERSETSHIRE« D| ill turnips, ánd potatoes, be grown for their winter ſubſiſtence; but above all, Tet them be well littered, Es kept perfelly clean. By theſe meáns, a large E of dung may be 4 procured at a little expence; and if the farmer wiſh to in- creaſe the quantity, he need only dig up the waſte earth on 2 borders of thé highways, and make a layer therewith in us farm-yard. This will abſorb the urine, and when mixed and incorporated with the dung, will conſtitute a manure highly fertililing, It cannot be ſuffici ently regretted that ¡ a êtice ſhould be ſo ſeldom ado Pe ted; for REER exX- L141 O — [m pans [u] N rents have taught, that one hun 2 11] 1-22 xy- managed, will keep more cows than one frândee acres under the preſent ſyſtem. Artificial graſſes 5 +2 17.7 N+1117 LLS 1+ nNanNT iS che EE to turn his cows out a month or arl CAariler LLL than he was accuſtomed to do on zatural eraſs. 7 2r x71 Feri ES AS> AS z ¿ e turnips,&c. wlll ſupply E with winter provender; ſo that the E of hay will be greatly reduced, and ay be devoted to ſumme p= Be = O Fa 0) Q. pd pat = here 2 that the quality of the the be injured: of this I have my E the months of March and A S 1, will make a tel or cheeſe as natural graſs; after this, the cows put to the natural paſture, and the former ſhut up for mowing. As to the effect of turnips and cabbages, I will obviate every difficulty by ſtating a ſimple recipe, whereby all diſ- agreeable flavour may be entirely prevented in the making of butter; and as to cheeſe, there is but little made at‘that ſeaſon; and if there were, the palate muſt be nice indeed, which could diſtinguiſh a difference of flavour. RECIPE. E the milk is ſet abroad in the leads, put one gallon of boiling water to ſix gallons of milk, It may alfo be pre A 254 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY rented by diſſolving nitre in ſpring water, and putting about a quarter of a pint to tea or twelve gallons of milk when warm from the cow. SHEEP. In the South-Eaſt part of this diſtrict, the ſheep are an improved ſort of the Dorſet, and many confiderable ewe flocks are kept to the amount of four to ſix hundred each 5 they begin lambing about Chriſtmas, and the lambs are weaned in May.# After the lambs are ſhorn, which 1s Af Midſummer, they are worth about fifteen ſhillings each.— The produce of an ewe, ſold at three years and three quarters old, may be thus ftated: EE Two lambs, at fifteen ſhillings+— 110 0 Wool both of ewe and lambs O26 Folding,————-—— 015 0 Ewe——-— I 0450 Æ RS ‘The ewes, forward with lamb in OQober, are ſold to the graziers who ſupply London and Bath markets with houſe- lamb, and ſometimes they bring thirty-five ſhillings per head, though folded to the time of ale. Some farmers buy wedder lambs about Midſummer (ſhorn) at fifteen ſhillings, and Keep them about twenty-two months, conſtantly folding them: they are then ſold(un- ſhorn) to the graziers occupying the marſh lands, at the price of twenty-ſeven to thirty-eight ſhillings each. #* Would it not be more adviſcable to protra@ the lambing to March or April? + Lambs hare keen ſold in the autumn of 1796 for nearly double this price. =- r E my fa)-—- OF SOMERSETSHIRE- ac fo Jo do ER E[2 A Folding——_—_— I 00 Wo=— O 40 | Averace price ſold at e.— 112 0 REES BTO 0 GSE Ss Dedudt fir cof of lamb—, O is 0 The latter ſock requires leſs care than the as and at the ſame time enables the farmer to manure more land; N & a 7 tr Axr>)( A+b 2 PeR|: D x7 m rArR 2< Tor they may DE folded through the whole winter on the paſture land. . 1° Pay | Ts The number of ſheep kept in this diſtridl LLL _— pi@ rc Dp° 9) prt o mmenſfe, and folding unremittingly purſued.* Lately ſome of the Leiceſter ſheep have been brought int this diſtrict by Mr. PosSTER néar Yeovil, and by Mr. LoWwmaN near CE The carcaſes.of ſome have been ſold in Crewkerne market, and were remarkably fat, eli and highly R for their delicious flavour; but with all theſe good qualities, if they cannot walk a mile to the fold, they never E gain much ground in this country. ‘e C e 0 E SCEE neighbour 100d În a regular flock of three hundred ewes, it is neceſſary to rear all the chilver or female lambs; for if the twins are Mr. JEANES, of Alhampton near Cafſtle-Cary, has exhibited be- fore the Bath Agricultural Society repeated proofs of his ſkill in the cure of rotten ſheep; and has, in his poſſeſſion, a variety of A rating teſtimonies, under the ſignature of reſpectable ſheep-tarmerss who have availed themſelves of this uſeful diſcovery.) 2- ufficient, 256 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY ſufficient, after all accidents, to keep up a regular ſucceſſion; it is as much as can be expeíted. The ſtock then will conflit of 150 Chilver lambs 150 Ewes from one to two years old 150 ditto from two to three years old 150 ditto three years old. 4 00 in the whole. From this ſtock are ſold one hundred and fifry pur(male) lambs, and one hundred and fifty old ewes, yearly, Thé lambs are ſold about Midſummer, and the old ewes are bought by ſucklers, for the London mar ket, in September - Oâdober, about which time they begin to drop their lambs. The ſtock ewes are folded for eight months, viz. from the beginning of April to the end of November; and the ſale ewes are folded about three months. Four hun- dred and fifty ſheep will amply manure one-third of an acre each night; and this is conſidered as far ſuperior in its effect to dung, or to fifteen quarters of lime, vhich is the ſubſti- tute with people who do not keep a flock. By the follow- ing compariſon, the value of the fold may be fairly efti- mated:— Gd. TaT) Fifteen quarters of lime, at Is. vd. 2/0 Carriage ſeven miles—— 015 0 Mixing, ſpreading,&c.— O5. O 1 EE ATACA AE DE 220 The before-mentioned flock will annually fold upwards of fixty acres; and the value of ſuch manuring will amount to one hundred and twenty-ſeven pounds ten ſhillings; but as it mult be admitted that the benefit of the fold is not ſo durable OF SOMERSETSHIRE>» 25 durable as either dung or lime, we will dedu& one-third. and call it eighty-five pounds. If the pur-lambs are not‘old, but kept on, they are con- / ſtantly folded till they are two years and a half old, at which age, by good keeping on vetches, clover, and turnips, they are brought to the value of two guineas to two pounds fifteen ſhillings, and are then ſold to the crazier to finiſh. By this ſyſtem of folding, the ſheep are kept free from the S 1 Pr fe. A no the Y 7 T00t—-Y Ol 5 and aS LNEe 21 I— ES per« EE E A E p fe e ais 1s Not tainted by their reíinc on - it, More ſheep can be Kept per acre. DA ro LE AAL I STES Te E TE e DERS LL YOdUCce of A L'10CX 0] Tree DuUnHdrYed Ef wWesS. HA is One hundred and fifty male lambs, ſold at Mid ſummer, after being ſhorn, at Il. 1s, OSO Wool of three hundred lambs, at 2s.— 230 00 Ditto of one hundred and ffty young ewes at 4s. 20 00 Ditto of three hundred full-grown and aged ditto, at 3s. 6d.——- O 2OTO One hundred and forty old ewes, ſold in SCP- tember, at 40s. eacl— 290 00 (N. B. Ten allowed for accidents) Folding ſixty acres-—— 065 o0 IS o e St RA One ſhepherd at eight ſhillings per week will take care of the flock, change the fold, and have time for other work 5 and the hurdles will be attended with an annual expence of about three guineas, Corn, after the fold, is much greater in quantity, and better in quality, than after any other manure. 8 Paſling ——S E———— E E pini 70 ERBES ES Fs E LE 250 AGRICUI ISSUER AA SURVI X 5 E A N A ES ES LS WRerne fo the SOUfnWwWard, YOu enter oné Y EA LS PEZ AS O 1 Vales, IO WHNICN IS COUNLTY prifing the s and hamlets of Clap EES| 4 TERE LES 26 Ds Wayford, W oolmingſton, Fartington, -Thomas, Winſham, Sc. , Y, VAS Ee PA FEE) E iri US 7=S VV itnIn this Vale COMMENCES A dit ric of e mile ſquare,(one half in Somerſet and the other in Dorſet) which 7 H+ t( hao n toad far ſuppl inc 7} D fi Mea nNarlr oto e OQUCZNLT TO C TNOVCA TOI UPPLIYINSZ ine tummer marKets af Exeter Vitn weaning Caives. Thele€ UV SS drop IN Febru- M/T] G1ol- 7«] BS a Far hren 7 yr A ary and March, are ſuckled by their dams for three weeks, xh or El AR HS y rl RT Aan YT 4 E when they are houſed, and ſuckled by hand with warm Es 7 BATE EEN,: ABE ſkimmed milk until the month of PS at which time they are e to the drovers for the market before-mentio A E AA SS rmAe n At Exeter, they are bought by the E oníſhire farmers, and =>) 9 3 C,{ hen ID7 RVA innſed 2 for three or four years, when they are diſpoſed oí S) F El IRSE D SES CGE Te A 2ER to the Somerſet sraziers, who fatten them for the London I-«hno PS„lla JT x market: thus we ſee, that part of what is called the Devon- 22 Z E EEO TAO LE ſhire bret the E of a ſmall diſtrict of the > ICE n SS- counties C d Dorſet; a breed which will pro=- bably, e venerally acknowledged to be equal to any other E The Cid SA E ford, is a * Mr. Wu1TE PARSONS alſo, of Ilcheſter, has exhibited before the Agzicultural S t Bath, for the y m ed by that Society s 2 young bull of his own I ding, together with the fire and dam of the Devonſhire race; and all breeder f horned cattle were challenged by him to produce, at the ſaid exhibition, any three 01 equal value for ſtock; but no competitor appeared, and the premiúm was deſervedly CHAPTER 1 ER e eE ¿ i HIS county is very populous, and the wages low; OF SOMERSETSHIRE, 250 CHAPTER XIV RURAL ŒCONOMY. notwitt ſtanding there are- very conſiderable manu- factures. Men'’s daily labour in winter is Is, per day, with cider.* Ditto in ſummer 1s. 4d. ditto Women's daily labour in winter is 6d. per day, with cider Ditto in ſummer. 8d. ditto Mowing graſs 1s. 4d. per acre, and one gallon of cider. barley Is. od. ditto ditto Reaping wheat 4s. od. ditto, two gallons and half of cider. And all other labour proportionably cheap. Price of proviſions ſomething leſs than in the North-Eaſt Diſtri of the county. == CCR A 4=== EES * Wages are now(1797) advanced one-third at leaſt. CHAPTER —— Z——————————— e———— EE E EEE ZOO AGRICULTURAL SURVEY ( H\PTEFLT\ 4 q RTL R 7 mA LL)[Tl(Le CECO NFV LS Sl ét@ WII Q ROADS. Y US countries can boaſt better turnpike-roads than may From Wells to Bridgwater, and from Crofs to the ſame be found in this diſtrict. town, the" y are, comparatively ſpeaking, as ſmooth as a Ly 5 Tr"Tic E=- Ar SP CEA> oravel-walk. This 5 may, in a great meaſure, be attributed to the g 1 paid to the breaking of the ſtones, which is done by men with ſmall ſledges in a ſitting poſture; and the ſtones are reduced to the ſize of a pigeon'’s egg, at “5 den RZ SE an CXPCnce OT 11x DCnce Per[ON WEiICNL. CANAS. An aû was obtained, laſt ſeſſions of parliament, for cut- ting a navigable canal through the Eaſtern part of this diſ- trit, and the ſame is now in execution,- It commences at 7 the collieries near M E and, pafng through the town of Frome, divides itſelf into two branches, one joining the 7 DR LA) RE| 2 PARA;= LeS ES nd Avon Canal near ES and the other ex- D- D À CLT. itſelf through Wincanton to the b orders of Dor- MANUFACTURES. 4 Sr D A conſiderable clothinz manufaQure has been lately eſta- bliſhed, PY LIOMmM(e cent] men OÏ X litih1iTe. At(Ct 1d: and round Y RS GS E OF SOMERSETSHTR Es 201 round Ilminfter, Chard, Crewkerne, Mar there are conſiderable manufaQures of narrow cloth, from four to ſeven ſhillings per yard;‘the quality of which, both for appearance and duration, is not furpaſled in the king- dom. In theſe, great numbers of men, women, and chil- dren, are employed; but the country being very populous, there is no want of hands in agriculture. There are alſo many manufaQures of coarſe linen, fuch as dowlas, tick,&c. alſo of gloves, girt-web,&c. which give animation, wealth, and comfort, to the inhabi- tants of this rich and delightful resion. ES SN“ ‘ ———— Ez ZIE % Ai ES pS LU a A 7 TS C i e u Y SOUTH-WEST DISTRICT, GEHA LERE, 27 RS H ME LO ET E- SAS; aua Irtior 8 HIS diviſion of the County has: nearly an equal DOYrt101L A Rire E E lh[2 I aa i R ESS 0 Oï rouen Mountainous hills, and rich fertile ſlopes >; p] ail p1alilis, The climate, particularly of that part which 1s called the Vale of Taunton-Dean, is peculiarly mild and ſerene; and the ſoil highly fertile and produ&ive. The eye is agreeably by a judicious mixture of arable and paſture; and it may emphatically be calied the Land o Canaan, There are, however, certain parts North-Weſt of the ſaid vale which are mountainous, and ſubject to that mu- Es:: y: SGS tability of weather, and moiſture of air, generally found on eE e EEE STETS D EON LIARS: 2 0)| EA Juantock, Brandon, and Dunkry-Hills, may be noted RES Lat ES N S| E Re EE 2 ZJ E I EA E for their wild and rugged icenery; and the part which-1s ] j) d,/:== tl A 1} RR EA= TRES called Dunfkry-Bcacon, 1s thie. higheit land 1n thé WnNole COUnty 1 Nis CGQUItTricti ma> 1UDGOIVICEdG 1INío WO 1Cler diſtricts, =]] RAZA E Y t(A+ Mg RSN N 7 including, 1/7. the pariſhes of Taunton, Wüton, Trull, Fit- AEN o ES TT DC ADL TS AI-NAZ SA] minfſter, Biſhop’s-Hull, Bradford, Buckland, Ninehead,Wel- lington, á& pe - = — 2 e FZ | AGRICULTURAL SURVEY rT. 4 (Ss CALA SRT) NES N QUITE ngton, Sampiord, Hul-P arrence, Oake, Norton, Cheddon, Thurloxton, North-Petherton. 1, EA T EE ah on, Bilhop’s-Lidiard, Heathfield E So EE EE TL/ 01 ¡angfíord-Budville, Thorne, head, Milverton, :: N 1 KNUNNINCTon, ZJ s PE| E En RRE RS ZS] R)=| ariſhes comprehend what is general y calle [ S SOLES } interſnerſad ir SE i 1e 1, interlperíed IN 10 11 Pi Sl e) Y L| On, 1 PS IGIaTd, Tc i’ IZN ad, q 1 nl N 7 ant‘ TOTd, i E N UNnIRerton. t +(\ 17+| SÉ Tr WIN that Ol 1 OTTHA-TUTTY, are_ Ze js i Y, VERE ER o PEE EXAXZ ATN - CLUTCHES OT VV INCReiter ana VI CIS,| N Z DAY I - A ( 1 Ï 1 TVI Vi m. 3 CN x7\ Tr(Br E A XT 1 DOTrO 1, DTOWCY, OtoKe-Lourcy, LTOW-— al Z 1 D J A:> fJ ſ iton, tchet, Dunfſter, ehead, 1s 1 C a comb. Withypool, Winsford, i E SZ 1/ E) L OCC El IGE WENO LAIE{orelt 1 ; ) | N= A PEOR N SE BEE ZES NE 6 L ICC 18S DU ILLLC 1NTETIOL l è Ets E 2H A LSD R mT És DEE EDE 1 1 C TOT Ne 1 2A OT 1 RCs| Ne Corn 1and 1S IN Ce- tC RS ad f (1 LI WatCTCC Ineado IN LNC DAariines OL C01 NnannN= T+] 1 i L RE)| 4 Cily iC IC DeN LU 1 arC aS TOC à (NE [0 1 I LO Lc Cl J/ V| ANr 7+ 52A C- aA 7 IUT La| als[24( t[ECR alc INVail NBA EZE al e BE A E O I IRS TEST h x74] VPU, LAA LLE CIITCrent reports, WLCD will no yA > 3 Wa J 14t i: doubt Rs, EV LU OF SOMERSETSHIRE-« 265 . ſent to the Board of their importance, will induce a general application of water, wherever it be of good qua- lity, and there is a poſfibility of conveying it. À great part of theſe watered lands lie on ſteep declivities; and as the water paſſes quickly over them, and never lies ſtagnant, not 2 ruſh can be ſeen; this is not always the caſe in /ow water a Tl meadows, which for want of proper draming are much in- 74 1 ES AS E pP Z Es commoded by them. Meadows which lie in a low fituation and nearly on a level, ſhould be thrown up into convex 8 ZZ> E as feet wide, along the ridges of 7 ETAT A Axx1i 7 conveyed, flowing regularly at <= Í A 5=> 5 z; the dadifſexent outiets, and NavIingz dA IGE Pal ¡acen Ne CrENCHACS y N E] VIN> E 2e hec IV111S DC C IEC DCLSe 2 SS E 7 7 EISE e CcEeaS HN 25 The expence of doing tnA1s ſeldom exceeds ſix or leven I N SPS ES pounds per acre, and thirty ſhillings per acre per annum. a) T E ANAnces Where WAtEr E ES CCeprung thole 1Initances WBLEIC WatCI Pauivo Li Ad ETA SAGGI Ie RES EICIScS OE tOoWn, Or ater iudden NnOOds CAarriC€s ITT 1T TICDN DArtICi€tS OL 3 1 ile E-- IXTATI O IE Te tne INrtt! han 2-1VI1 1 NEAY LNE 1PI NCals 7 4-1= 1 H. en i G Ne QUICKET 1L i> pa A AD Le A ler [rei& er 41 Pa, S y p= “ſs ag ſei [Zi I) N d at tt cs À 3) E 4 De> >A) i pes Dj Ï j d — EEE MEA ALEA AOE ZITA MICRA DAZ Ao Ps E ASL ALC> 1 AtreSs 5 LAA )MEe ( L/h Li Ntro VOLL - y OTC hundred of bh Ler HCENCY D y Pulle attend y CVS Attenda an IE 1 N 1 uta tewoft O) nt on a de nN 1414 Je APT ¡1CCii bte n A à Ar ar IOL LA a4 ry | D ————— OF SOMERSETSHIRE-, 267 Ax f \s the different modes of irrigation have been long be- fore’the public in a treatiſe publiſhed by Mr. BosWELL, of Piddletown in Dorſetſhire, and by other writers in different parts of the kingdom, I ſhall not further enlarge upon this ſubje&, than merely to caution the farmer, unexperienced in this branch of improvement, not to feed with Meep in the autumn; for, though it may be done with the utmoſt ſafety in the ſpring, it is frequently fatal in the autumnal months. CHAPTER ——- ST h, / î Y) } | CHAPTER: OLAP OF PROPERTY. Bi TE major part of the five hundreds of T'aunton-Deaan, conliſts of cuſtomary lands of inheritance, held under the Lord Biſhop of Wincheſter, paying an annual rent, Theſe cuſtomary lands paſs by ſurrender, paying to the lord, Înes and heriots on alienations. There are allo ma 1y fin- gular cuſtoms within the manor, difficult to be underſtood EER even by the tenants themſelves. The deſcent is called tl of Barough- Engliſh, with ſome variations.- he wife is I to her huſband: and;: Liess to her huſband; and it is no uncommon th for a WI1GOW, on the death of E huſband, M 1aving C hildre: en by him, to marry again, and carry her eſtate into her ſecond family the difinheritance of her firſt, If the fines, heriots, and other incidental incomes within the manor, were commuted with the E for an increaſe ugh rents; the lands enfranchiſed by a&t of parliament, and to paſs in deſcent as other lands of inherit- ance by common law; the income to the biſhoprick would be more certain, and the preſent inconveniencies avoided, In courſe of time, the proprietors would enlarge their po nd the manor would be brought into farms of t extent for the employment of a team, which E, duce excellent ſpring-feec OF SOT IER dds SET SHIRE Lo 200 CHAPTER UL. HE farms in this‘diviſion are rather leſs than in the laſt, but the huſbandry is much the ſame, only there is more land in tillage. The mountainous lands are uncul- tivated, and are depaſtured with ſheep and young bullocks. In the vicinity of theſe uncultivated hills, viz. at Bick- noller, Elwortl 5 ED Rolph, and Old-Cleeve, oats are the principal corn crop; barley and wheat are grown but on a ſmall ſcale. The rotation of crops varies from that of Taunton-Dean. t is generally ſown on the ley, and none but very Turaips are much cultivated, but they are very laviſh in the conſumption, givig too large a "pS ICI TE+1 Ya) ES le AS, TRA== E N ES ſpace of ground to the ſheep at a time, making thereby great waite. PEE E SA ERE ES GE The dry uplands are devoted to tillace, and the ricn 10W- SEAU SI or dairy, On the former, wheat, beans, A1=> 4 RATE AIAA and vetches, are the principal crops; and thole lands dE d} Wh H AD bie>I IDYO nN Y WAterin-r[Of wWhiCclt NNICNn are Cap ad of 1m] TOVEIENT D WatCtlilZ,( O1 Ww NICI there is a conſiderable proportion) are ſo managed as to pro- TOT CWES and lambs, LOTCLNer with a] fi abundant crops both of hay a e but the water being frequently ſcarce, the water-courſes are frequently a ſource of a There are very few eſtates entirely in paſture. Every little farmer is fond of the plough; but in molt of theſe 1 1 ſmall S rms, where there is not ſufficient ei ¡ment for a team, the occupiers ſituation 18 not e than that of a2 da y-labourer. Much 279 ACRTCUL TURAL SURVEY Much of the arable land will ſpontaneouſly produce a 4 Variety of excellent ſorts of graſs, and ſhortly become good paſture, if laid down in an huſbandlike manner. The arti-| | ficial graſſes here ſown are, broad and white clover, trefoil, and ray-graſs, called here evergraſs. Many farmers think the latter impoveriſhes the ſoil; but they ſubſtitute no other l perennial in its ſtead. LEASES: || By the cuſtom of the manor of Taunton-Dean, the te= nant is not, without a licence from the lord, to Tet his cuſ- | Cata rA 1 An A7» 7& La | tomary lands for more than a year at id a E; but to en- i 4 e \ N qui 4(2 \ COUracze ood huſbandry, it has been uſual of late years to| | orant rack-rent leaſes for ſeven, fourteen, or twenty-one I| 4 Y CadiDde F y La À]+1 la è pp A F x 13 [he ténant covenants With the landlord, not to ſow rape, Ï /() ES R b Í Les hemp, or flax; theſe crops being conſidered as CX- ¡ | ENEE SES E E AE y naulters, maKing no refurn 1n manure, ff{t Has allo Deen| | allow the tenant church and poor-rates: but it] Oommon to allow the tenant CAurcn and poor-rates; DUfï 1l | is to be LS whether the poor are in this caſe bettet # 2 E 2 REN E C EES r=. 282 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY CHAPTER: ORCHARDS | ERE I quit this rich and delightful vale, I mußt not paſs by unnoticed, their orchards, from which cider is made in the highefßt perfedtion.‘There are many gentlemen in the neighbourhood of Taunton who ſell their beſt cider for five or úx pounds per hogſhead; and it is ſuppoſed that they poſleſs an art, peculiar to themſelves, of condudting the fermentation, and thereby preſerving a rich and delicioús flavour.* The beſt fruit delights in a ſtrong clayey ſoil, and Ff A Fp * In part of this county, the art of making ſweet rich cider, which ſells from three to five or ſix guineas per hogſhead, is reduced to a ſyſtem; and there are ſome perſons who, on being furniſhed with a ſufficient quantity of apples, undertake to make and carry it through the whole procefs at the price of fifteen ſhillings a hogſhead. But the method of doing this they endeavour to keep a profound ſecret. The writer of this note, who is in poſſeſſion of this method, and has prac- tiſed it ſucceſsfully for his private uſe, deſirous that all makers of cider, who think it worth their attention, may profit by it, takes this op- portunity of making it more generally known: PROCESS. The apples being ripe, but not rotten, and all of the ſame ſort, that the fermentation may be more uniform, grind and preſs them mode- rately, but by no means cloſely. Pour the liquor into a tub to kive, and when the brown head(which will riſe on it ſooner or later as the weather is more warm or cold) begins to crack, andthe white froth appears in the cracks level with the ſurface of the head, it muſt be drawn of in order for tunning into your veſſel, At this time a great deal of feculence is thrown to the top, as well as depoſited at the bottom, and if the liguor is continued longer in the tub, the head will ſinks the bottom riſe, and a ſtrong fermentation take place, which it will be difficult to ſubdue, and which carries away the ſweets. Pro- ceeding — OF SOMERSETSHIRE-, 283 it is common to mix a certain quantity of bitter apples, which add much to its quality for keeping; but unleſs great attention be obſerved in making, the labour is in vain; for cider reguires much greater nicety of management than malt liquors. The apples are ſuffered to fall off the trees, or when thoroughly ripe, are picked with great care,* They are then put in heaps to ferment, and remain in that ſtate for three or four weeks; after they are ground, and the li- quor is exprefled, it is ſuffered to remain in tubs, from thirty to forty hours, when a ſcum, or froth, will riſe on the tops this they narrowly watch, and when it breaks, they rack for the rſt time into veſſels; after which, unremitting attention ceeding in your operation, tun into a hogſhead veſſel three pail-fulls or about fifteen gallons of this cider. This done, burn in the veſſel 2 ſtrong match made with nearly a quarter of a pound of fone brim- ſtone, ſtopping the bung as cloſe as poſſible, that none of the fume may eſcape. When the match is quite burnt out, open the bung, and immediately pour in four ounces of ſweer ſpirit of nitre. Put in the bung tight again, and roll the veſſel ſtrongly for near half an hour, by which time the ſmoke of the match will be deſtroyed and taken up by the liquor.‘Then ſet the veſſel in its place, fill it to within a finger?s breadth of the top, but no higher, and let it ſtand till the month of February. Tn this month it will be coming fne, and muſt be watched attentively, and perfeâly fine, it muſt be immediately drawn off and tunned into the ſame veſſel, after waſhing out the lee, burning alſo at this racking a ſmaller brimſtone match. Tt is direed to be drawn off ¿immediately examined frequently by a peg in the barrel. When when guite Îne, ecauſe a very few Üours produce an amazing altera- tion. It becomes turbid and foul, the ſecond fermentation 1s com- menced, the, ſweets By off, and all the preceding trouble is rendered of no efe. R. P. * I would here particularly caution all farmers poſſeſſing orchards, not to fall in with the uſual cuſtom of beating down the apples with fieks. Early in the autumn the buds for the ſucceeding year are formed, and being tender, are ſoon deſtroyed.‘To this violent attack on the branches may, in a great degree, be attributed the ſuppoſed incapacity of trees to bear fruit two ſucceſſive years,| 18 284 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY is neceſſary to prevent exceſſive fermentation, by early and fre« quent rackings, Where the natural ſoil is not good of itſelf, ſuch manure fhould be, mixed with it as beſt ſuits its temper. If the ſoil be a cold heavy clay, horſe-dung, coal, and oaper’s aſhes, will bring it to a due temperament, If it be light and hollow, marl, or mud from ponds and rivers, highway dirt mixed with lime, cow dung,&c, will mellow and inrich it; and if the ſpade be occaßionall IIy em- ployed to dig around, without weunding the R a fruit tree may be made to bear more abundantly, and to produce richer fruit. . Improvement of the heads is alſo of as much LS as of the roots; and this ſhould be particularly attended to in the early growth of apple trees. This is reckoned a very material part of tree huſbanding, for according as the head of the tree is firſt trained, ſo it will grow in a form more or leſs regular. Even in old orchards, judicious E has frequently made unfruitful trees bear in great abundance Deg te 55 Stitz> crt es,— ———— a iL RERO a ii mr— e—— i je _- —F- Y g= Y'and fre, |[nanure al‘ 4h and s and C, Wil / em- fruit luce CF SOMERSERSHIREÉsS 208 CHAPRERZ NEZ WOODS,&c. "THIS diviſion does not abound with va, but eln grows in hedges, and if their heads are not unfairly lopt, get to a lize ſufficiently large for the keels of ſhips of war. For the moſt part they grow from the inchors or ſuckers of the neighbouring trees; probably ſome from ſeed, Few are planted from nurſeries, nor is there often any occaſion for it, elm being the ſpontaneous produÑion of the country. Their heads or ſide-branches are ſeldom mutilated, it being underßſtood that the Rem ſwells in proportion to the : ſap that is drawn from the root to the head, There are many coppices(chiefly of oak underwood) on the declivity of Quantock and other hills, but they are under no ſyſtem of management. Their value, at preſent, of twenty years growth, is from four to ten pounds per acre. ————————————————————————————————————— A R AR PIACE PEE PI CAER CHAPTEE SEE= ai Wi ty YY R IS R EE i. ——————_—=5 2560 AGRICUETURAT: SURVEY CHAP ER E NSE. N an Agricultural Survey of the county of Somerſet, it will naturally be expected that particular notice ſhould be taken of the foreſt of Exmoor; its vaſt extent, and ca- pability of improvement, render it an obje(& well worthy of attention, This foreſt extends from North to South about eight miles, and from Eaſt to Weſt ten or twelve; containing, according to an accurate furvey lately made, about nineteen thouſand nine hundred acres. Nearly at the centre of this large tract of land is an eſtate called Smonſbath, incloſed, and conſiſting of about two hundred acres, with a dwelling- houſe, licenſed and frequented as an inn; and all offices be- longing to it convenient for the management of the farm, and tranfacline the concerns of the foreſt, Here the foreſter has an annual ſale for the ſmall horſes that are bred on the ſurrounding hills; and here alſo, during the month of May, he meets the farmers from all the country round, who enter in his books the number of ſheep which are de- paſtured with him, at the rate of five-pence per head. The ſmall horſes(in the whole upwards of four hundred) are not taken into better keeping, nor to more ſheltered grounds, during the ſevereſt winter. When the ſnow covers the foreſt to the depth of many feet, theſe hardy animals are ſeen in droves, traverſing the little vallies and ſheltered parts, gathering their ſcanty fare from the banks of rivulets and warm ſprings; but the ſheep are almoſt all driven of for the winter, in the months of November, December, and Janu- ary, according as the ſeaſon is more or leſs ſevere. The OF SOMERSETSHIRE-«, 287 The river Barl.runs adjoining to this eſtate, but refigns its name on being joined by a ſmall ſtream, about two miles to the Eaſt, called the Ex. This fream takes its riſe in a low ſwampy ſpot of ground, about two miles North-Eaſt of Simonſbath, and runs to the other end of the foreſt; be- comes, when joined by the Barl, a very conſiderable river, and in its paſſage to Exmouth, paſſes by Bampton, Tiverton, and Exeter, to which, and Exmouth, it ſeems to give name, as well as to this extenſive foreſt. Into theſe rivers, Barl and Ex, a number of ſmall rivulets from every direâion are conſtantly pouring their ſtreams; ahd, ſhould ever a general incloſure be attempted, offer an opportunity of watering ſome hundreds of acres. The water in theſe rivulets ſeems of the pureß kind; it is not impregnated with any noxious mineral, and the ſoil, beyond any doubt, is favourable to vegetation. On the ſummits ef the bills, and eſpecially on the Weſt and North, are /wamps of many acres extent. They are cut up as turf, at the rate of eight-pence or twelve-pence per thouſand, paid to the tenant of the foreſt, and would be an inexhaufſtible ſtock of fuel to any inhabitants ſettling on the bétter part, as well as of black peat for burning lime, working iron, ſmelting ore, or any manufacture where fire ie uſed, The roads are in general, as might be expected in ſo large a tra of land without inhabitants, very bad, and in ſome places ſcarcely paſſable. But the whole abounds with ma- terials to make them firm and comfortable, at an eaſy rate, and few bridges would be necefiary. Excepting a few willows and thorns by the fides of the rivulets, not a tree or a buſh, out of Simonſbath eſtate, is to be ſeen on the whole foreſt; but plantations of moſt kinds need no more ſhelter, nor better ſoil, than is to be met with here. AGRICULTURAL SURVEY here. Oak, firs, beech, and elm, would thrive in all(hé Yl parts capable of tillage. And a very large proportion of thé | whole needs but the ſpirit, and the fortune, of ſome one or more of our wealthy gentlemen in England, whoſe atten- tion, if turned this way, ſanétioned by the royal proprietor, / would render the foreſt of Exmoor, in a few years, as fair Il| a proſpect as the ſurrounding country; and not an uſeleſs and void ſpace, as it now is, in the map of the county of Somerſet.‘The term x#ſeleſs, however, may be ſaid by ſome to be miſapplied, when the quantity of ſheep is mentioned that is depaſtured on it. From the be(t information to be had, twenty-two thouſand are ſummered here, beſides the| four hundred horſes beforementioned; but the race is ſo|\ ímall, and their value ſo trifling, that little profit accrues to| the owner. Veins both of copper and iron have been diſ-| covered, that might be worked to advantage, conſidering how convenient the fituation is for ſhipping of the produce;|| Porlock, Lymouth, and Combmarten, all ſea-ports, not being more than nine miles diſtant from the centre of the/ foreſt. 1 From each of thoſe places, and alſo from Ilfracombe ánd w Barnſtable, veſſels are every week paſſing to Wales(where de founderies have been long eſtabliſhed) in ¿allaÆ. A large bo vein of lime-ſtone is known to paſs from Eaſt to Weſt near| the centre of the foreſt, and proper ſtone is found for build- y ing on almoſt every patt. And to compleat the whole, fate y of a good quality has been dug up in large quantities not far from Simonſbath; and there is every reaſon to think it may; be found in other places. Water 1s in plenty in every part,| as beforementioned: and ſeveral market-towns are within a few miles of the foreſt. Large tras of land are welt adapted for the tillage of flax, which is Known to thrive beſt on old or unvegetated ground, with a ſtrong deep ſoil. ‘The OF SOMERSETSHIRE., 289 The grain which thrives in the adjoining pariſhes would, no doubt, flouriſh here; and a ready ſale would be found in the neighbouring markets, or by being exported from the ports on the Briſtol channel. The aſhes, ariſing from the weeds and other extraneous matter on the furface being burnt, mixed with lime, would be a firſt dreſſing, preparatory to a crop of turnips or corn. From the produce of the crops would ariſe manure for future tülage; and what is now a barren waſte, might be made worth from five to twenty ſhillings per acre. The plan for incloſures and buildings on the foreſt, I would recommend, 1s this: Let there be a ſmall town or village ereêted near the middle, ſuppoſe by Simonſbath- houſe, which ſhould form proper reſidences for artificers and huſbandmen, to be employed in building farm-houſes, and inclofing many a comfortable eſtate round them. From this centre town, or village, it would be ealy to get a ſupply of proviſions and all other neceſlaries, as a butcher, baker, ſhopkeeper,&c. might be there ſettled. And, till other houſes or villages ſhould be built, labourers, artificers, and workmen, might find lodgings, proviſions,&c. in the bor- dering pariſhes, many of which, at this time, have more la- bourers than they can well employ. The method of fencing, cultivating, manuring,&c. would vary but little from the plan adopted on Mendip hills; and if proſecuted with vigour, would tend to leflen the poor’s rates, and would train up a riſing generation to care and induſtry, inſtead of theft and idleneſs. Beſides Exmoor, there are ſeveral hundred acres of un- cultivated land around Dunkry, and on Quantock and Brandon hills. CHAPTER AGRICULTURAL. SURVEY CHAPTER k YN ® IMPROVE NEEON ES: ID XCEPTING ſome peat turf on Blackdown,-there is — ſcarcely any fenny land to be met with. On ſoils any ways inclined to a weeping ſurface, great attention is paid to draining, which is done by digging the drains deep, filling part of them with clean picked ſtones, and covering with earth to the depth of ſix or eight inches. Where ſiones are ſcarce, ſhoulder trenching is praiſed, but theſe are liable to be filled up with the workings of the mole,+ unleſs water conſtantly runs in them.#* On the whole, perhaps open drains are preferable to covered on graſs land. All tenants are reſtri&ted in their leaſes from paring and burning, and the practice 1s ſcarcely known. + The workings of the mole are a very ſlender objedtion to fhe uſe of ſhoulder trenc o; for 1f the pipe be ſunk two feet deep mn the clay, as it always ought to be, it is very rarely ſtopped; but if it ſhould ſo happen, the’ remedy is eaſy without much coſt or labour. In point of expence, it is three-fourths cheaper than ſtone draining, the average price of the former being three-pence per rope of twenty feet, of the latter one ſhilling. If the drain be cut eleven inches wide, the ſhoulder left four inches on each ſide of the pipe or channel, the inverted turf will have a firm bearing of cight parts in eleven; and it muſt be very rotten indeed, if the remainder three inches ever fall in. Of near a hundred acres adjoining each other, thus drained in the laſt three years» not one pipe has yet been ſtopped by the working of the mole or otherwiſe, though the lands are ſkirted by a large wood; and woods are very freguently a ſecure retreat and nurſery for that animal. R.P. * The great f>ill of draining land conſiſts in cutting of the water at its ſource. One deep drain, judiciouſly placed, will frequently pre- clude the neceſſity of any other; in moſt inſtances, ſuch a drain ſhould be near that part of the declivity from which the ſprings iffue. This poſition of the clayey ſubſtratum, and on the height aepends on the j of OF SOMERSETSHIRE- 291 CHAPTER C ELE SE OSC “J HE fiock of Taunton-Dean is principally neât cattle and ſheep; the former of the North Devon, the latter of the Dorſet breed, both excellent of their kind. Many graziers prefer the oxen bred in this diftri& to thoſe of Barnſtaple, South-Molton, Torrington,&c. and the ſheep are conſidered as equally profitable with the Leiceſterſhire breed, which have been introduced, but do not gain ground. The dairy farmers are accuſtomed to take in ſheep to keep during the winter, viz. from the beginning of October and November, to the 5th of April; the uſual prices are, for hog ſheep five ſhillings, and for ewes ſeven or eight ſMil- lings per head. The Dorſetſhire flocks are greatly im- proved by this cuſtom, and the price of keeping is on the advance. Oxen âre principally uſed, and are for the moſt part worked in yokes; ſome, however, are advocates for working fingly in harneſs, and there can be no doubt but oxen may be uſed more to advantage this way than the other. The ſhape of an ox’s breaſt is peculiarly ill calculated to bear the preſſure of the bow; and when worked hard in pairs, they ini vf the reſervoir from whence the ſprings are fed. A judicious ſurvey of the adjacent land, and a liberal uſe of the borer, are neceſlary pre- liminaries.to a cheap and effeQual remedy for wet land, and there are few men in the kingdom poſſeſſed of equal ſkill in this departntent of agriculture with Mr. ELKI1NGTON, of Lancaſhire, whoſe fame is not confined to the county in which he lives, but ie known and acknow- edged in many parts of the kingdom. EREN 5 ; UR are a C E e E e) LALA REN) E 292 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY are apt to get into a habit of leaning a which their progreſſive motion is much impeded. all methods, that which is praiſed in Portugal, Flanders, ſome part of Ireland, and other countries, namely, working them by the bead and horn, is, in my opinion, the beſt. I once ſaw on the farm of Lord SHANNON, near Cork in Ireland, three ploughs at work on 2 ſtrong ſoil, drawn each by a pair of oxen abreaſt, in a manner ſimilar to the application of€ horſes in Norfolk. The harnefſs confiſted of 2 lone rein of untanned leather, which was fixed to the yoke, and then interſeéted the horns two or three times; after which it paſſed from the back oû f the horn over the »rehead; to prevent the bruifing of which, a matting was placed of ſuÑicient thickneſs to ſecure it from injury. In this way the animals RE rather than drew, and with ap- parent eaſe ploughed an acre a day each without a driver, 1O0rT1CS- His lordſhip informed me, that two moderate-fized oxen had, turning at land-end A as much dodllity as ſome time before, drawn home from the corn-field,(a diſ- t tance of two miles) in a French ſkeleton cart, as many D EPA| ſheaves of wheat as weighed upwards of t E— tran R RD pi af J= D RE ee ton, and with 7 no apparent adire exertion. SHEEP. There are two ſorts of ſheep in this country, the one a native breed, without horns, well made, and covered with a thick fleece of wool, weighing in general ſeven or eight pounds; the other a ſmall horned ſheep, called Exmoor ſheep, bought, when hoggits, at South-Molton market, (April 12) at about ten ſhillings to fourteen ſhillings each, and fattened on turnips. The úrfſt 1s a valuable ſort, not much unlike the Leiceſter breed; and their fleeces may be conſidered as a moſt profitable article to the breeder, as they Ea ER E tats. i é—————— iis OF SOMERSETSH1IRE 202 D 293 ſometimes reach even the© of twelve pounds, put to the ram about the Q A 18 a ext n Mn h aftoar IA GE Re> Es 5 ewes avout a month aîter. Young rams are preferred, a 7 NIDO+ TA> AAG eie 1 I et E Î it 15 luppoled that old ones deg quaity and weight OrK S E ZE) I 4 SAA E I TUR Zh? oí their wool. The wethers when two years old, and fatted on attain the weight of about RE| twenty-five pounds per quarter; and being driven to Briſtol market(a diſtance of near fixty miles) are ſold, without the| their fleece, in the months of N lay and June. Ak folding on the foreſt of Exmoor, or Vas adjoining hills, for two or three years, merely for the it of their fleeces; the weicht of which ſeldom 1 aP-“hey are fattened on turnips, and IVe, E a DTCCAarious JUDLILTENCE ON 1j VE Lo| | | | | 24 E. N. | | | TSE TA E y=S Tall= GEE E 0Ne 1| Ne OXen OÙ this COUNntry are arge, Weli made, and beau- anlinais.| ney are almoſt“ all rea![ hey arC yoked FAL t three Vears old and woOI ked{112 th> ve Or(ix when r elo| ZES 5 Vis À eU LÀ LAI vw 49 Ss LE Y(9) Te| they are ſold to the oraz 1Lers, aî Drices Irom ten pounds to (N00!|-- zZ 4 | twet; I ot WOLLY- LVV OX arKêls|- | o UED|°[ cd 4 4 4 * Js it not very extraordinary, that, in ſo hilly a country, this me- ay be thod of manurine land ſhould be almoſt Perhaps the weight of their fleeces may indiſpoſe the ſheep for Iying too cloſe tg gether, without creating the ſcab or ſome other diſorders. 294 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY CHAPTER XII. RURAL ŒCONOMY. É F price of labour, throughout the whole dißri E ER E FTE A E AGRICUETURAEL SURVE E EE a R PIE T2 aa ers d'a EEA the land to WICH if 15 appued, LLC Carriage 15 VCEIY LFHIUNg-. : 1 rh erefgre Go excuſe for thoſ2 neonle whc À€ Can DE, TIICICIOITS No CXCUIe Or tnoilî DECODE WAOo 1 zu—x+T A Rs rd Ar-—>» 17{S V/V rr nollels ſu i OTDCAT ihne Ulle OÏ TE VV ON EE 5 JSN appear, I can aſſure my readers CICII i, 1] Ct SLS 4 LIC 412y À“UI O4 that tl pofieſſing this valuable mánure unu; and in thoſe parts where it is applied, a repeti- tion of it ſeldom takes place in leſs than twenty-ve or thirty 1 liberal manurng does not exceed one ſhil- and ſix-pence per acre per annum, and for this, there are many inſtances of an almoſt immediate adyance of rent of twenty ſhillings per acre. ore plentiful than zar, and, within a diſ- tance. of ſix miles from the coal-pits, may be burnt for ſixteen or eighteen-pence per quarter, Its beneficial effects re univerßlly known and acknowledged, and yet, ſtrange to relate, a ſecond application thereof ſeldom takes place in leſs than’ fifteen or twenty years: this réluctance may be attributed to the baneful effes, not of lime, but of an ous and exhauſting courſe of cropping. Allowing that arable land may be injured by a too liberal uſe of this manure, it muſt be allowed, that with paſture no fuch conſeguences could enſue. Lime, like marl, Kills all the coarſe ſour graſſes, brings ſweet and beautiful herb- ace, grateful to the palate of all cattle; it forms a kind of pan under the ſurface, by which the nutritious particles of duns are kept longer within the reach of the roots of pl e and is the means of making ten loads go as far as ¿wen when applied without a previous liming.[ts activity E not abated in the courſe of three or four years; for if the 1 1 ESA ES RV A Es RO ER land be broKen UP at that dutance ol time, 1fs effects are aS vifible in the ſubſequent crops of corn as if it were imme- diately applied. Happy then are thoſe farmers who poſſeſs ÿY aÞpP PP} fi hh aduantaoec. and have the ſenſe an](Nirit t ſc the UCN aGV antagZesS» anc NAVC CIE 1CILLC aiiC PIFI 9) Ll S CII How Cli RE GS Lb EEA Gs WHT E LIT R TT E————— OF SOMERSETSHIRES IT D FI 5 REI ul 1 Tex nſhire Ted ai“04 Ce Are ha+ 2 Y CGG WOoUld à YCVOnlnIre fari Ner TCEjOICC, WECreE NC fo nd RE SES eE; ſubſtance dug from the bowels of the earth, ca ° 1 4 Ó A EL 2 4 LEE it behoves the farmer to be earnefßtly ſolici : EEE— Tet 7 v animal 70 7 their places with either animal o Es ¡ His cattle E the winter mor O fold his O portion of turnips, cabbages, vetches, r << Y Rr VIR A Y n: DE PrOCurcd tous to ſupply h AAN CrO L CD LUN a “ wa KXrn ( 27 2 YU Ce kee; e: nNUmEerous E and be moderate in the extent of his corn 7 ES N AS 7 EES° land.* Great attention al Oougnt ïo Þbe pad to the ma- nagement of dung when made, for by negled its ſtrength may be loſt. When properly ſoa it ſhould be conveyed in its E eſt ſtate to or any other deſtined to receive it, in a‘ow OPACA E waggons ſhould be made ſides, and the contents ſhould be depoſited in I: Y y ten or fifteen loads each, with confiderable it ſhould be ſhook abroad with as much care takes in making a cucumber-bed. By theſe 1 A haps injurious. D 7{ J:{E S E ECA e Particular care ſhould alſo be taken to root out do other pernicious plants, w hich, if allowed to bring feétion will be diſperſed by the wind, to the infinite prejudice of all t : LEE S ſurrounding lands; and the richer theſe lands are, theſe noxious weeds be propagated, fermentation is excited, and turning is unneceſſary, anc Cs the turnip land, WAI INITCAaG to open at the rre heaps of 4 neans, Aa ſtrong | per- 1- E te 100ner W111i rom 302 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY From theſe heaps, placed at fuch diſtances as to manure one acre, it may be wheeled and ſpread for two-pence half- penny per load. In this method of hauling out dung, three waggons, four horſes, and five men are employed; namely, one waggon and two men loading in the yard, another wag- gon and two men unloading in the field, and the third waggon and driver going backward and forward.* Wherever waſte earth, mud from ponds, highway dirt, aſhes,&c.&c. can be procured, compoſt heaps ſhould not be neglected; theſe are beſt calculated for paſture land. Such a condudt will entitle the farmer to a great produce, and keep his land in good order; but all this will not do without thly. 4 regular and well-conceived rotation of Crops. Ye 1 This I conſider as the moſt promiſing feature in good farming; and if it were generally adopted, would increaſe the produce of the land threefold. A cuſtom prevails in this county, and indeed in moft others, of ſubjelting a portion of land to continual tillage, and of interdicting the plough on all the other; this origi- nated from improper condud on the part of the tenant.— * In the application of dung, the farmers of Somerſet begin at the wrong end. It is aln oft the general pradice to manure for the œvheat crop, whereby the wheat land is made foul, and though there 1s a great burthen of ftraw, there'1s bui little Corn. How much more beneficial would it be, to apply all the dung to potatoes, turnips,&c. and to the Ls graſſes, making wheat the laſt crop in the courſe? It is alſo uſual to manure the turnip land im- media; but I have experienced greât advantäge, and more decided certainty of a crop, by manuring in autumn on the ſtub- bles, ploughing the ſame in, on a fleet furrow, and letting it remain in that ſtate during the winter months No OF SAMERSETSHIRE« 303 Nule No ſooner is the plough put into his hand, than he uſes it half. without mercy, harraſfing the land with conftant crops, till three its fertility is intirely exhauſted. nely, The landlord, alarmed at theſe baneful effects, endeavours Vag to counterad the progreſs by reſtraining clauſes, and theſe hird are indiſcriminately applied both to good and bad farmers; and are conſidered by the one as bighly neceſſary, and by the Urt, other as exceedingly grievous. not Were we to advert to the general practice of the te- nants, we ſhould be led to jußify the caution of the land- ce, lord; but were we to calculate the loſs yearly incurred by do ſuch reſtriitions, we ſhould have cauſe to regret that the covetouſneſs of the occupier ſhould have rendered necefiary a condud ſo inimical to the general weal of the kingdom. In reſpeit to low meadow land, or very rich paſture, there can be but one opinion, viz. that it ſhould ſo remain; but it dd muſft be allowed, that there are in this kingdom large tracts E of old graſs land, zo//y, hide-bound, and, comparatively ſpeak- ing, unproduétive. Land of this deſcription might be aa df improved by ploughing; and if the following courſe of crops, 5 and mode of manuring, were adopted, would be left, a 6 . end of three years, of double the value it was in the ſward. s ON LIGHT LAND. 1. Peaſe or oats on the ley. pa 2d. V etches fed off, and the land manured with lime or S the ſheepfold, preparatory to turnips. 2d. Barley and artificial graſs ſeeds. to In which, let it remain till the graſſes fail, and the land — again becomes moſly; then renew the courſe. and tub- ni ON No 304 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY ON HEAVY LAND, 1ít, Beans on the ley. 2d. Spring fallow, well manured, and cabbages,* 3d. Oats and artificial graſſes. ‘Then remain as before. The foregoing courſes of cropping cannot poſſibly injure the land, and by them fallowing is excluded, which(unleſs in particular inſtances, ſuch as great foulneſs, or dearth of manure) I do not think necefſfary. SI 2 LE the upland corn farms; ere proper buildings and conventiencies for the ſhelter of the cattle in the winter — inviting ſubſtantial and well-informed farm- ers, of more enlightened countries, to ſettle upon them, I have before ſtated the advantages of large corn farms, buildings,&c. and ſhall, therefore, only add, that nothing I Pj D]=, ſo much contributes to tie rogrels of good huſbandry as (e)- example, One good farmer in a pariſh(particularly if he take no pains to make proſelytes) will in a few years con- vert all the reſt; the ſuperiority of his crops, the advancing I fertility of his land, the thriving ſtate of his cattle, the abun- dance of manure, all plead daily in eiBuu of his ſyſtem, and e in the end, produce convidion even in the moſt bigoted mind, * The cultivation of cabbages on beavuy land cannot be too ſtrongly recommended. Tt puts the clay land farmer on a level with his nei igh- bours E ht land, and as a farther encouragement, I can aſ- ſert, from experiments repeatedly made, that ¿zvo tons of cabbages are- equi e to ¿bree of turnips, that hey are leſs ſubject to injury from froſt, and that the expences of cultivation, compared with turnips, do not EXCECA IVE milling: Per acres I know E AE: are Vi Proper OF SOMERSETSEHIRE»» 305 H] I know no method by which general improvement can be more promoted, than by diſperſing the farmers of thoſe 1 counties, whoſe pradices are held in the higheſt eſtimation, among thoſe parts of the kingdom on which the light of [ew] andry has never ſhone. This would introduce 4 r L7 good hulſ into general pradice the Turnip Huſbandry of the Eaſtern diftri&ts, with all its concomitant âdvantages. The ſoil and climate of the county of Somerſet is pe- culiarly well adapted to the cultivation of this root; and were the paſture lands leſs rich and produdive, neceſſity would oblige the farmer to have recourſe to this root for winter ſubſiſtence. At preſent, the quantity of land de- voted to this purpoſe is trifling indeed, and in moſt inſtances the hoe is never uſed, nor are turnips conſumed with any degree of œconomy. Though the rent of the land in the elevated parts of this county may be conſidered high, there are advantages which more than compenſate; theſe are, its rich and LS quality in all ſeaſons, the facility with which it may be ploughed, the eaſy acceſs to marl, limeſtone, and coal, good- neſs of roads, vicinity to markets; and laſtly, the high price of produce. The laſt-mentioned advantage is alone ſuf- ficient to induce a refidence; for it frequently happens that corn ſells twenty per cent. dearer here than it does in the Eaſtern counties, 6thiy. Improve Stock by a Judicious selection of Males and Females for breeding, and be particularly careful to choose a Male handsome in those points wherein the Female may be deficient. In this department of huſbandry, the farmers of Somerſet âre very inattentive, though they all acknowledge that the proper focking of a farm is of the higheſt importance. DE In C 200 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY In confirmation of this, T need only inform my readers, that few inſtances can be produced of a bull being ſold for more than ffteen ES or a ram for more than five pounds. As to M s, there are but few bred; the mares are ſerved by horſes every ſpring, from the Northern counties, and without this croſs the breed would be con- temptible indeed.* [It is not within the compaſs of my undertaking to enter upon this article at large; ſuffice it to ſay, that it 1s a thing of great conſequence to the huſbandman; and the only cau- tion to be obſerved, when he introduces an alien ſtock by way of improvement, is, not 0 change from rich land to poor; E pian dp 015 TTE LTS or{rom a warm to a cold cumate. I (T „thly. Lefſen the number A Horses, and encourage the USt f Oxen. [t is univerfally acknowledged that too great a portion of vod for horſes; and it is alſo as aH at 2 draught horſe, if well fed and kept in houſe thirty weeks of the year, will conſume twelve quarters of corn, and thirty cwt. of hay, beſide graſs; this may be con- ſidered as the ES ice of four or five acres of land, which, under common cultivation, would maintain nearly three men. If, Teee the riches of a country conſiſt in the vopulation, and that population can only be advanced by increaſing the means of ſubſiſtence, it follows, that every man W vho keeps an unneceflary horſe is an enemy to his country, by retar Jin> the increaſe of his own ſpecies D A tax on ſtallions and bulls would encourage the attentive breeder, by increaſing his cuſtom, and enlarging his price, and would leſſen the )° 7 è© T number of ill-bred and ill-ſhaped males of each ſpecies, | OF SOMERSETSHIRE-s- 307 rede,} ila fold fur Navigable canals would alſo greatly tend to reduce the LEN number of horſes, and, wherever the ſituation is ſuch as to î i admit of them, ſhould be encouraged. A| OEA ſpirit of ſpeculation and gambling the country is 2 indebted for the canals now cutting; but though the rage D has ſubſided, yet, I truſt, the probable advantages will in- ſpire the preſent adventurers with ſufficient ſpirit and vigour z E to proſecute their undertaking, to its full completion. O The county is rich, populous, and abounds with all thoſe eau heavy articles of traffick, which will render water convey- & by ance profitable to the ſubſcribers, and beneficial to the publics 0 parr, and if the cuts be made of ſmall dimenſions, the coſt will be trifling; the conſumption of land, and the invaſion of private property, inſignificant: ſuch a canal could only be the conſidered as a large ditch, and might be ſo multiplied as to anſwer the purpoſe of turnpike-roads. tion of LS E do Sthly. Amend the Publick Roads. eue Nothing ſo much contributes to the improvement of a eof county as good roads; before the eſtabliſhment of turn- e coN- pikes, many parts of this county were ſcarcely acceſlible. tid| Seven or eight horſes were neceflary to draw a waggon y thre loaded with zwo tons weight, and ſcarcely ever exceeded the tinte diſtance of twenty miles a day; now, the ſame number oí Sr be| horſes will draw fve tons, and travel thirty or forty miles. ls| This is an immenſe ſaving of labour, and yet the eſtabliſh- enemy|———————— A ſpecies|* In ſome parts of the kingdom road clubs are eſtabliſhed. Theſe are very good inſtitutions» and ought to be adopted in every county« SS| Rules nd orders of ſuch clubs may be ſeen in the appendix to the e breeder Worceſterſhire report.‘The reluctance which E er ES jeſſcathe| preferring indidtments, re nders ſuch an aſſociation peculiariy necellar i. Xx 2 ment | | / 308 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY ment of ſuch roads was as unpopular, and the probable benefit as—— credited, as thoſe of canals are now. The money colleâted at the gates was RS as 2 burthen, end the e were íor ſome time loaded with an extra charge for carriage. This, however, did not laſt long, for in the courſe of a few years, a diminution in the price of carriage univerſally took place, and it‘has gradually fallen rom that time to E Before the turnpike-roads were eſtabliſhed, coal was car- ried on horſes’ backs to the diſtance of fifteen or twenty miles from the collieries; each horſe carried about two hun- dred and a half weight. Now one horſe, with a light cart, will draw ten hundred weight, or four times more than the horſe could carry: Can an infignifcant toll be put in com- petition with this ſaving? In reſpect to private roads, I would recommend a repeal of the law E ſtatute labour, and changing the ſame A WW e er a farmer is R forth to perform ſÉatute- 2 YE labour, he goes to it with relul@ance, and conſiders it as a 4 BES EN E E A IENA 1 TTA al burthen from which he derives no benefit. TiI1s ler- vant and his horſes ſeem to partake of the torpor of the maßter. The utmoſt exertion of the ſurveyor cannot rouſe them, and the labour performed is ſcarcely half what it This would not be the caſe, were the— eyor to receivé in money the highway tax; he could then employ ſuch workmen as would do him jufiice, or, ft they were indolent or inſolent, he could diſmiſs them. OF SOMERSETSHIRE- 399 dable lhe 6thly. Encourage the uſe of ſuch dloughs, and other inſtruments; then, as are beſt calculated to expedite Work and do it well. extra| , for| Admitting that there are only one hundred and fifty © of thouſand acres of tillage in the whole county, and that the allen| ſame are ploughed on an average twice; allowing alſo that | one-third of this is of ſo hilly a nature that a wheel-plough car cannot be uſed to advantage, there will remain one hundred SE| thouſand acres capable of being turned with the double fur- e| row plough. art,| For the ſake of argument, let it be alſo admitted that e: three horſes, a man, and a boy, with the common plough 4 of the country, will turn an acre a day, and that the double plough with four horſes, and the ſame number of attendants, epeal will turn two acres. The number of acres will of conſe- e quence be ploughed in half the time, and the difference in expence cannot exceed two ſhillings per day. Here then 4 might be a ſaving of twenty thouſand pounds per annum E in this article alone, beſides the ineſtimable advantage of LA expediting work at certain ſeaſons, iN Some may doubt the poſſibility of making the double A plough ſo generally uſeful; but Ï can truly ſay, Î have never H yet found an inſtance where it could not be worked to E advantage; and it is well known, that, in the various trials j made under the auſpices of the Bath Society, on lands of E the moſt difficult nature, the double plough has always gained uch y the prize. glen In the counties of Wilts and Dorſet, where three large and powerful horſes are put to a ſingle plough, the ſaving by ſuch an inſtrument would be immenſe; and this I can con- firm, by the teſtimony of ſome eminent farmers of the firſt- named ragt | y 0 8 ZIO AGRICULTURAL SUBVEY named county, who, in conſequence of my recommendation, have introduced them on their reſpedtive farms, with great profit and ſuccels. rothly. Sow early in expoſed and cold ſituations, and be particu- larly careful not to plough or harrow in wet weather. The neceſſity of this caution is ſo well known to all prac- tical farmers, that I need not, I truſt, enforce it, 11th. Deftroy Rats and Mice. The depredations of theſe vermin are too important to be overlooked. A ſenſible farmer of my acquaintance thinks, that by them and birds a twentieth part of the corn of the kingdom is devoured. Corn in barns they have free acceſs to, and it is very difficult to keep the mows on ftadles free from them. If they are not brought in from the corn field, a ſtick, a rake, a pike, or any other body careleſsly placed againſt the mow, will introduce them. Deſtrudive, therefore, as they muſt be, it behoves all farmers to make their ſlaughter a general concern, and ff#t might be done by a pariſh rate. 12th. Introduce Threfhing Machines, Theſe are common in the Northern parts of this kingdom, and in Scotland; and from the accounts I have received, anſwer the purpoſe, threſhing the corn both well and ex- peditiouſly.‘There appears to be but one objeCion,} which *# A ſimple engine for weighing cattle alive is alſo a deſirable thing- + Query. Is the firaw equally palatable to the cattle? 155 Il laÇ= R A —— A Se TERE————————+ R R, OF SOMERSETSHIRE, Z1T is, the leſſening of ¿n-door labour in the winter months. As a ſuabltitute for which, let the farmer houſe all his cattle, drain his wet lands, collet manure,&c. and employ the barn-men in theſe occupations. 13th. Let all Unmalted Corn be ſold by weight. The different meaſures of this kingdom, and the confu- Gion incident thereto, were ſo notorious, that great pains have been taken by the houſes of parliament to introduce one general ſtandard meaſure, and the acs of the legiſlature have been followed up by the moſt alive exertions of the magiîtrate. By theſe means, the Wincheſter meaſure is pretty general, and in reſped to this county I may add, to the great benefit of the seller, and the great loss of the purchaser. The cal- culation in reſpe&t to the comparative price between the old and new meaſure, was formed on the difference between eight and nine gallons, but this is erroneous; the old mea- ſure of the county was not leſs than nine gallons and a half, and in ſome inſtances ten gallons, ſo that the buyer gives ſeven or eight per cent. more than he ought to give; and I humbly think that weight would be a better ſtandard, as the drier and plumper the corn 1s, the heavier it weighs. 14th. Grant Long Leaſes. All farmers who have ſpirit enough to improve their eſtates, ſhould have ſome ſecurity for being reimburſed the expence. Where a man's tenure is precarious, and ſubject to the whim and caprice of a landlord, little improvement can be expe&ted, Upon unimproved farms, ſuch as waſtes, commons,&c. newly incloſed, a conſiderable expenditure is neceſlary 312_AGRICUETORAL SURVEY necelſiary to bring them into order. Here the tenant ſhould have a leaſe of twenty-one years, and the rent to advance at fixed periods; for inſtance, ſuppoſe the land in its original ſtate to be worth, when incloſed and accompanied with ne- ceſlary buildings, five ſhillings per acre; this rent, if the tenant 1s to pay all expences of cultivation, ſhould continue ſeven years; at the expiration of which time, he ſhould be advanced to ten ſhillings, and at the end to fifteen ſhillings per acre. Or the following methad might be adopted; let the landlord pay all expences of cultivation, manuring,&c. and ES;: charge Íve per cent. on the— N AS allowing the peri- e EES: aS odical advance to be proportio! ably leſs. Atall events, the tE SS 1NTETEIT OL the t LCNnant inouid DC better ÞP2 Clerved tfnan at P)TC- ſe(i- us a ſubje&. that I muſt forbe en but this is ſo co Pou 5 a4 IUDJECT, that i MUlî Torbear LL into it, not doubting but it will be ably treated by ſome of your numerous ERA 1dents. 15th. Sow more Sainfoin on the flone-brafh lands, and on / J APS(e Ps ail tei_J9t1S COND 6 nzial thereto. CE 7D T7 4 E E EEISE E SEE AS LA 6 E 16th. Roll all Grass Land once a year at leaſt, with a JeaUy TO0LLeYy and at) LULI Ll[rom D'0US DIAS Your 1 abile Land 17 wet weather. 1 ze> Ir AULE? A 7th. Set all Pease an d Beans 1H lunes fr om North to South, 7> 4 Fi EP and hoe them twice at leaft. pd) RA GJ ES E 17Y)/ 18th. Devote at leaf? one quarter part of your Turnip Land to the Ruta-Baga or Swvedi/h T Turnip. This root will bear the utmoß ſeverity of weather, and will remain ſound when the other turnips are all rotten. The ſeed ſhould be ſown the beginning of May, and treated in other reſpects like the common turnip. T'he root does not attain the ſize, but is much weightier, and conſequently more nutritious, of fourteen years, e iN OF SOMERSETSHIRE«. SLZ tou 19th. Às in every point of view this county appears 4 tn.< L E from its ſoil and ſituation to be better adapted to graſs than gul arable, it deſerves enquiry, whether ſtock could not profit- : M ably be kept on grafs land alone, without the aid of winter 1 the i roots. The argument for ploughing ariſes from a wiſh of lnue| having ſtraw to make manure, and turnips to ſupport ſtock ld be in the winter ſeaſon. But whenever the plough is put into VEAS, the hand of the generality of farmers, the land is from that time in a ftate of degradation, and its value reduced at leaſt t the 10S. per acre, in compariſon with contiguous graſs land, s , and i Grafs, therefore, ſhould be conſidered as the ultimate veri- i improvement of land in the Weſtern part of the county of e Somerſet. [ Pre- bear E E— nud qu| THIS county does not raiſe grain ſufficient for its con- | fumption, nor are the climate and ſoil of many parts thereof ib a favourable to corn farming; yet, were all the improvements din before ſuggeſted to take place, there cannot be a doubt but that the produce of the ſoil might be increaſed at leaſt one- dub third. e| The adyanced rent which might be produced by draining “. the marſhes, and by inclofing and cultivating the common fields and waſte lands, may, according to the moſt moderate calculation, be thus eſtimated:— {l) and No. of Acres.| Deſcription.|] Increaſed Rent.| Total Increaſe. rotten.; ieS ds Le 4 30,000 Marſh lands OTS EO 22,500 treat 20,000 Common ñeld O 5 O 5„000 jot does 0 5,000 Uncultivated OO 16,250 per ann. waſte EE equently| 43,750 i H To 314 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY ‘To which may be added, a capacity of improvement in the arable and paſture lands cloſed, of at leaſt five ſhillings amounting to more than 213,000l. per annum, which increaſed rent, at thirty years purchaſe, would exceed ſix millions. Theſe bleſſed effects would be the natural conſequence of that ſpirit of induſtry which publick encouragement would excite, would add greatly to the capital of the nation, and be much more valuable than any foreign conqueſt of treble the amount. Would to God that nations would learn wiſdom, and inſtead of coveting diſtant territory, improve to the utmoſt ¿hat which they poſſeſs! IT now only remains for me to apologize to the honour- able Board, for the deſultory and procraſtinated way in which this Report has been executed. : The various publick as well as private buſineſs, in which I was engaged prior to my undertaking this ſurvey, could not be diſpenſed with; I have, therefore, only had it in my power to ſnatch an occaſional hour from other numerous avocations. Had not my general knowledge of the county, and particularly of the Northern and Middle diſtricts, ena- bled me to write on its pradices without a perfonal ſurvey, I muſt have declined the undertaking. As it is, I have felt, and fll feel, a conſiderable portion of regret that I did not reſign the appointment, as the Board might have then ſe- lected ſome perſon poſſeſſed not only of more leiſure but of fuperior ability. With OF SOMERSETSHIRE-, ZS 1:-.. Y With a fincere wiſh that the eſtabliſhment of an Agricul- NT- 2 0 tural Board may be attended with all thoſe happy conle- 1m EE:: i quences, which its moßt ſanguine ſupporters can delire, I remain, of 4. Their moſt humble ſervant, J. BILLINGSLEY. ble ES y Aſhwick-Grove, Oft. 4th, 1794- Ul- uch —— RELE PY age — ERRATA. 16, line 6, for Wirton read Weſton. GO Sf. qualifying T. quality ing. E 2 EES S5 A PE R fa 5 Î 4 m 122, iS 18, 5 thurteen cwt. rT. one hundy ed cwt. three quarts 1 e > e) 202, 1. g from the bottom, f. 7 regation r. irrigation. OO 232, 1. g from the bottom, f. decause r. become. 252, 1. 8 from the bottom, f. diſtingush x. diſtinguiſk. 263, E 9 01 0js ——————--——-—-—-—————————— ES Sete effeited, and of the inſide of a lock, or pound, in which 1f gua is immerſed. A. conſiits of a trunk or caiflon made of wood, and of dimenſions equal to the reception of a commercial veſſel of twenty EEE—— au u GE DCE Ug E 2E E SES A twenty-five or thirty tons burthen, at each end thereof is a door-way, which the boat,&c. is to be floated through into or out of the caiſſon, and being received therein, and the door then ſhut, with a given quantity of wäter to float the boat, and counterpoiſe the caiſlon, ſo as to make it the ſame ſpecifick gravity with the water in which it is immerſed; if may then be eafily raiſed or lowered at pleaſure, either by deſtroying the equilibrium, by admitting a ſmall quantity of water into the caiſſon through a valve conſtru&ed for that purpoſe, or by diſcharging a ſimilar quantity through ano- ther valve, or by chains and rollers, as in the drawing an- nexed, from one level to another, and the boat be floated from the caiſſon into the canal; the water in the caiſſon and that in the canal having both the ſame level whilſt the con- veyance is effected. B. is one ſide the bottom, and one end of the lock or ciſtern in which the caiſſon is immerſed, which is built of free-ſtone, and of the following dimenſions, viz. from the foundation to the top of the wall ſixty-ſix feet, length from out to out eighty-ecight feet, width in the middle twenty feet, ditto at each end eleven feet and half, and the perpen- dicular height from the ſurface of the lower canal to that of the upper canal forty-ſix feet. C. The door at each end of the caiſſon, which ſhuts into a rabbet, the frame proje&ing about three inches beyond the door when ſhut. D. An aperture at each end of the ciſtern or lock, com- municating with the upper and lower canal, with a fliding door or gate, which are counterpoiſed like a common ſaſh, and wound up by wheel and pinion, to receive the end of the caiſlon, to which it is cloſely fitted at the time the boat 1s received or delivered,| R. VW ELDON, LOA 4> WELDON, having devoted the whole of his time to lh into the ſuperintendance of this great worK ſince the commence- es will be a ſufficient excuſe for not nd the ment of it, he hop at the having the whole hiſtory of it ready for the preſs, but flat- lame: ters himſelf to have it complete to lay before the publick d; if i(with engravings and references to every part diſtinct, and er by JZ carefully copied from the original drawings after which the tity| preſent machine is conſtrued) in a few months. “that P 4n0<—————————————————————— an- ated Extraë from an Account of a Proviſion made upon an and| Incloſure, for ſupplying ihe Poor with Fuel. A(Communicated by EDWARD PARRY, eſq.) th UPON the incloſure of the pariſh of Little-Dunham, Ó: in Norfolk, in the year 1794, being Lord of the Manor, I HR xot a clauſe inſerted, dire&ting the Commiſſioners to ſet out A a parcel of land to be called the Poor’s Eftate, to be veſted from s in the lord of. the manor, rector, churchwardens, and over- nty 2:: RE n b ſcers of the poor for the time being; and to be let by them As for twenty-one years on leaſe; the rents and profits to be a laid out by them in fuel, to be delivered at the cottages oí : the poor, in ſuch proportions as the truſtees ſhould think 1010 ut Proper. qnd Although the prejudices of the poor, againſt the incloſure, were very great before it took placez the moment they ſaw HE the land incloſed, and let as the poor’s eftate for twenty-one ding years by auction, at the rate of zol. a year,(although only aly eſtimated by the Commiſſioners at 20l. a year) they were | of highly gratified; and have indeed great reaſon to rejoice, as boat they will now be moſt amply ſupplied with that great com- fort ON) E IE Tt, ES“2E E [320]J fort of life.‘This was ſo evident, that ſome neighbouring incloſures have followed the example, and it appears to me to be adviſeable that ſuch a plan ſhould be generally made known. The firſt idea was to ſell the land, and place the money in the publick funds, in order to produce a larger incomes but I found that was not underſtood by the poor: they ſaid they might at any time be deprived of the money, and they had no intereſt in the land incloſed; whereas, in the mode purſued, they conſidered themſelves as having a permanent and improveable eſtate, which their children would inherit. ..®.* Theſe prejudices are valuable; as in their conſequences they produce, if attended to, induſtry and content. I have had occaſion to obſerve, as to fuel, which is cer- tainly an important article to the poor, that where there are commons, the ideal advantage of cutting flags, peat, or whins, often cauſes a poor man to ſpend more time after ſuch fuel, than, if he reckoned his labour, would purchaſe for him double the quantity of good firing. 0 cmm ———’— ., ——— Coiour& Grey Gorurol e Chart Blue Cyan Green Vellow HNeod Magenta White Siey Srey 2 Grey 3 Grey 4 Black