PLAN FOR REPRINTING THE Agricultural Surveys. By the PRESIDENT of the Boarp of AGRICULTURE. A BoarbD, established for the purpose of making every essential inquiry into the:Agricultural State, and the means of promoting the internal Improvement, of a powerful Em- pire, will necessarily have it in view, to examine the sources of public prosperity, in regard to various important particu- lars. Perhaps the following is the most natural order for car- rying 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. ~ 3. The wealth to be derived from its streams, rivers, ca- nals, inland navigations, coasts, and fisheries: And 4. The means of promoting:the improvement of the peo- ple in regard to their health, industry, and«morals, founded on a statistical survey, or a minute and careful inquiry into the actual state of every paro- chial district in the kingdom, and the circumstances of its inhabitants. Si oe bah abated ‘: 8 hy. Gies Li] Under one or other of these heads, every point of real im- portance, that can tend to promote the general happiness of a great nation, seems to be included. Investigations of so extensive and so complicated a nature, must require, it is evident, a considerable space of time be- fore they can be completed. Differing, indeed, in many re- spects from each other, it is better perhaps that they should be undertaken at different periods, and separately considered. Under that impression, the Board of Agriculture has hitherto directed its attention to the first point only, namely, the culti- vation of the surface, and the resources to be derived from it. That the facts essential for such an investigation, might be collected with more celerity and advantage, a number of intelligent and respectable individuals were appointed, to fur- nish the Board with accounts of the state of husbandry, and the means of improving the different districts of the kingdom. The returns they sent were printed, and circulated by every means the Board of Agriculture could devise, in the districts to which they respectively 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 Public in general, but more especially to those counties the most interested therein, the Board has resolved to reprint the Survey of each County, as soon as 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 pub- lication; it being thought most adviseable, 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 reprinted, it will be attended with little difficulty to draw up an abstract of the whole(which will not probably exceed | two or three volumes quarto) to be laid before His Majesty | and both Houses of Parliament; and afterwards a general Report on the present state of the country, and the means of its improvement, may be systematically arranged, according to the various subjects connected with Agriculture. Thus every individual in the kingdom may have, 1. An account of the husbandry of his own particular county; or, 2. A general view of the agricultural state of the kingdom at large, according to the counties, or districts, into | which it is divided; or, | 3. An arranged system of information on agricultural sub- | 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 possible advantage. In reprinting these Reports, it was judged necessary, that ! they should be drawn up according to one uniform model; and after fully considering the subject, the following form was pitched upon, as one that would include in it all the par- ticulars which it was necessary to notice in an Agricultural Survey. As the other Reports will be reprinted 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 di- rect his attention, [ viii] PLAN OF THEREPRINTED REPORTS: SHS Wo Daa PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. CHAP. I, Geographical State and Circumstances, SECT. 1.—Situation and Extent. 2.—D visions. 3.—Climate, 4..—Soil and Surface. §.—Minerals, 6.—Water. II. State of Property. SECT. 1.—Estates, and their Management. 2.— Tenures. ill. Buildings. Secr. 1.—Houses of Proprietors. 2.—Farm Houses and Offices; and Repairs. 3.—Cottages. TV. Mode of Occupation. SECT. 1.—-Size. of. Farms.—-Character of the Farmers. 2.—Rent—in Money—in Kind—in Perso- nal Services. 3.—Tithes. 4.—Poor Rates. 5.—Leases. 6.—Expence and Profit. V. Implements. VI. Inclosing—Fences—Gates. VII. Arable Land. SECT. 1.—Tillage. 2.—F allowing. 3.—Rotation of Crops. es Sng SEES OT ee Cha CH: Sag EE. SG wae, ety th aE a C (, VHAP. hap. VIL. continued. [ ix] SecT. 4.—Crops commonly cultivated; their Seed, Culture, Produce,&c.* 5.—Crops not commonly cultivated. VIII. Grass. Sect. 1.—Natural Meadows and Pastures. Ze Artificial Grasses. 3.—Hay Harvest. 4.—Feeding. LX. Gardens and Orchards. X. Woods and Plantations, XI. Wastes. XII. Improvements. Sect. 1.—Draining. 2.—Paring and Burning, 3.—Manuring. 4—Weeding. 5.—Watering. I. A hw * Where the quantity is considerable, the information respecting the crops commonly cultivated, may be arranged under the following heads. Preparation{ Sort. . Steeping. . Seed(quantity sown.) . Time of sowing. hoe, tillage, 6.Culture whilst growing} weeding manure,: 2 2= feeding, 4. Harvest. 8. Threshing. g. Produce. 10. Manufacture of bread. In general the same heads will suit the following grains: Barley. Oats. Beans. Rye. Peas. Buck-wheat. Vetches--- Application. Feeding, Cole-seed- Sends} Drawn---- eel a 6 ees Turnips-- Kept on grass- ——— jn houses SE eee en SE EE ea — a nye: * n,m ge, — ee |] [x] CHAP. XIII. Live Stock. Sect. 1.—Cattle. 2.—Sheep. 3.—Horses, and their Use in Husbandry, compared to Oxen. 4.—Hogs. 5.—Rabbits. 6.—Poultry, 7.—Pigeons. 8.—Bees. XIV. Rural Economy. SECT. 1.—Labour—Servants—Labourers—Hours of Labour. .— Provisions. — Fuel. XV. Political Economy,as connected with or b>) O affecting Agriculture. Secr. r.—Roads. 2.—Canals. 3.-—Fairs. 4.—Weekly Markets. 5.—Commerce. 6.—Manufactures. 7.—Poor. §.—-Population. XVI. Obstacles to Improvement; including ge- neral Observations on Agricultural Legislation and Police. XVII. Miscellanous Observations. Secr. 1.—Agricultural Societies. 2.—Weights and Measures. Conclusion.—Means of Improvement, and the Mea- sures calculated for that Purpose. Appendix. Se eee eh CT ern [xi] Ee ae PERFECTION in such inquiries is not in the power of any body of men to obtain at once, whatever may be the extent of their views, or the vigour of their exertions. If LewisXIV. eager to have his kingdom known, and possessed of boundless power to effect it, failed so much in the attempt, that of all the provinces in hiskingdom, only one was so described asto secure the approbation of posterity*; it will not be thought strange that a Board, possessed of means so extremely limited, should find it difficult to reach even that degree of perfection which, perhaps, might have been attainable with more extensive powers. The candid reader cannot expect in these Reports more than a certain portion of useful information, so arrang- edas to render them a basis for further and more detailed * See Voltaire’s Age of Lewis XIV. vol. ii. p. 127, 128, edit. 1752. The following extract from that work will explain the circumstance above alluded to. ‘¢ Tewis had no Colbert, nor Louvois, when about the year 1698, for « the instruction of the Duke of Burgundy, he ordered each of the in- << tendants to draw up a particular description of his province. By this «¢ means an exact account of the kingdom might have been obtained, «© and a just enumeration of the inhabitants. It was an useful work, “though all the intendants had not the capacity and attention of << Monsieur de Lamoignon de Baville. Had what the king directed “6 Seen as well executed in regard to every province, as it was by this “‘ magistrate in the account of Languedoc, the collection would have ‘been one of the most valuable monuments of the age. Some of << them are well done; but the plan was irregular and imperfect, be- “¢ cause all the intendants were not restrained to one and the same. “It were to be wished, that each of them had given, in columns, the <¢ number of inhabitants in each election; the nobles, the citizens, the «¢ Jabourers, the artisans, the mechanics, the cattle of every kind; the <¢ good, the indifferent, and the bad lands, all the clergy, regular and “6 secular, their revenues, those of the towns, and those of the com- 6¢ munities. << All these heads, in most of their accounts, are confused and im- “¢ perfect; and it is frequently necessary to search with great care and ‘< pains to find what is wanted. The design was excellent, and would ‘« have been of the greatest use, had it been executed with judgment *¢and uniformity.” <= —— ae || 4 foxy inquiries. The attention 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 topics so truly interesting as those which concern the agricultural interests of their country; interests, which on just principles never can be improved, until the present state of the kingdom is fully known, and the means of its future improvement ascertained with minuteness and accuracy. I~, b» xd PRELIMINARY OBSERVATION TOA E STAFFORDSHIRE REPRINTED REPORT. Pitas Teas test pernerers 4 ux Board of Agriculture having resolved, when it first assembled on the 4th of September, 1793,(in consequence of an address from the President,) that their first object ought to be, to ascertain facts; without which no theory or system of reasoning, however plausible, could be depended ons and that for attaining so important an object, it would be neces- sary to examine into the Agricultural State of all the different counties in the united kingdoms; and to inquire into the means, which, in the opinion of professional and well in- formed men, were the most likely to promote either a general system of improvement, or the advantage of particular dis- tricts; and that by employing a number of proper persons for that purpose, by circulating their Reports, previous to their being published, and by requesting the additional re- marks and observations of those to whom. such communi- cations were sent, it was probable that no important fact, or even useful idea, would escape notice." In consequence of this plan being resolved on by the Board, a number of individuals were nominated for the pur- pose of recording the proposed inquiries, aud amongst others alin ye Fee. ee Sl ali em ee ee— ces Saya ne ——- Xiv PRELIMINARY OBSERVATION. myself was ultimately fixed upon, to take an Agricultural Survey of the county of Stafford: my appointment was not an early one, and the survey was delayed and protracted by other avocations in which I was previously engaged. At length however a Report was sent to the Board, and by them printed, and circulated through the county; which has since received remarks and additions from some respectable gen- tlemen and farmers, which are now incorporated with the original. matter, and the whole thrown into somewhat another form; agreeable to a plan chalked out by the Board; and in which form it is here presented to the Public. I understand that there is reason to believe, the accounts of the other districts in the kingdom will soon be completed; in which case, a greater mass of agricultural information will have been collected in the space of a little more than two years, than probably can be found in all the preceding publications on that subject put together. Next to collecting information, the improvement of a country must depend upon a proper spirit of exertion, to bring the knowledge thus accumulated into action; and in addition to former motives, it may now be stated, that the legislature has at length taken the plough and the spade under its immediate protection. Exertion, and capital, are the two main springs of im- provement; there is little risk of any deficiency in the latter, unless our capital should be diverted from its natural channel to remote and foreign speculations; the best mode of pre- venting which, seems to be,—to make the kingdom known PRELIMINARY OBSERVATION. xv a to its inhabitants, and to point out the benefit which may arise from improving our own territory; which subjects form the principal object of the Board in publishing the in- | formation they have accumulated. Considering it as an embellishment, and a relaxation of |= the mind from the fatigue of constant attention to one sub- | ject, the writer has introduced a few remarks upon natural History and Botany, and even on some other subjects not immediately or closely connected with Agriculture. This being done with brevity, will not take up much room. He has farther to express his acknowledgments and obligations to the following gentlemen, clergymen and others, for their assistance, recommendation, and the information which he has received from them, and by their means, in this business: Mr. Brapgurne, Pipehill, near Lichfield,, Rev. Dr. Fatconer, Lichfield. Rev. T. Gisporne, Yorall Ledge, Needwood Forest. Rev. Mr. Dicxenson, Rector of Blymbhill. Rev. Mr. Wricut, Bradley, near Stafford. Jostan Wepewoop, Esq. Etruria. 4 Jouwn SNEyp, Esq. Belmont near Leek. %) Mr. Princep, Croxail. q Mr. SamugeLt Wya TT, Burton on Trent. | Mr. Locktey, Boscobel. ' i Mr. Corser, Bushbury, near Wolverhampton. : i Mr. Mitier, Dunstall, near Wolverhampton. |} Mr. Josepn Horpern, Saredon, near Wolverhampton. Mr. Exzison, Hattons, near Wolverhampton. —— ae See a ne npcsggineomatas ee _: SS etal oes row=—— XVI PRELIMINARY OBSERVATION. Mx. cliccs, Cronkhall, near’ Wolverhampton. Mr. Ferripay, Ettingsall Park, near Wolverhampton. Mr. Fowter, Erdington, near Birmingham. Mr. Curtis, Walsall. Mr. Harpinc, Ashley Heath, near Eccleshall. Mr. Harvey, Dunstall, near Abbots Bromley. 4 Mr. Bowman, at Lord DoNEGALL'S, Fisherwick. Mr. Joun Smiru, Haunton, neat Tamworth. Mr. WILLiam Wess, Newbould, near Burton on Trent. Mr. JenKinson, Stoke, near Stone. Mr. Gisess, Leek. W. PITT. Mit, | SEE AGRICULTURAL SURVEY OF 2 AFT OR DSH Rf. CHAPTER’H GEOGRAPHICAL STATE AND CIRCUMSTANCES, so Sia i oe thea ER SECT. 1.—Ovintion‘and Extent. Byer alee ae is an inland county, situate near the centre of the kingdom. It is bounded, on the north, by Cheshire and Derbyshire; on the east, by Leicestershire; on the south, by Warwickshire and Worcestershire; and on the west, by Shropshire. It lies, according to Yates, be- tween 52° 23’ and 53° 13’ north latitude, and between 1° 29' and 2° 27' west longitude from London; this place(Pende- ford) being in this Survey placed in latitude 52° 372’ north, and longitude 2° 4’ west. I found myself, by a pretty accu- rate observation, made December 20, 1790, being the shortest day, and very fine, about noon, the latitude of Pendeford to be 52° 354’, which varies from the above account only two minutes. The following are the particulars of this observa- tion: °‘ Sun’s meridian latitude to upper limb, 14, 15 Deduct sun’s semidiameter, o 16 Deduct for refraction, o 3t Deduct oO 194 Remains meridian altitude of sun’s centre,” 13 554 Add sun’s declination, 23/29 Sum, complement of latitude, 37 244 Consequently latitude of Pendeford, 52 352 Sun’s central altitude same day at r1and1 o’clock, Fa Raa EN FR RS aR rr~ —= rr a TE TS SR 2 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY The greatest length of Staffordshire, from the north part of Ax-Edge common to the south part of Woods Eaves(south of the Severn), from N N E toS,S Wis sixty English miles; and the greatest breadth, from the junction of the Trent and Dove, near Newton Solney, to the.west point of Terley Heath, near Drayton, nearly from east to west, is thirty-eight miles: the county contains in gross 1220 square miles, and 780,800 statute acres. Secr. 2.—Divisions. Tis county was 4a part of the ancient Cornavii. Under the Saxon Heptarchy, it belonged to the kingdom of Mercia. In the modern political arrangement of the kingdom, it isin the Oxford circuit; and respecting its ecclesiastical govern- ment, within the diocese of Litchfield and Coventry. It is divided into five hundreds: 1. Totmanslow to the north; 2. Pyrehill to the north-west; 3. Cudlestone to the south- west; 4. Offlow to the east; and 5. Seisdon to the south. It contains twenty-four market-towns, one or two other places where fairs are held, one hundred and eighty-one pa- rishes, but of these more particulars hereafter; and probably about two hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants. The following is a List of the Market-Towns and Parishes of this County. MARKET-TOWNS, ANCIENT AND MODERN. 1. Stafford, the county town, market-day Saturday. 2. Litchfield,*-- Friday. 2 Wolverhampton,== Wednesday. 4. Walsall, x~- Tuesday. 5. Burton on Trent,-- Thursday. 6. Uttoxeter,-~- Wednesday. 4. Newcastle,--- Monday. 8. Leek,--: Wednesday. g.. Stone,--“ Tuesday. Pas me OF STAFFORDSHIRE.= to. Cheadle,--- Saturday. ir. Eccleshall,—-:: Friday. 12. Rudgeley,(small note)_ Tuesday. 13. Tamworth,--- Saturday. 14. Tutbury,(small note)~ Tuesday, 15. Abbots Bromley(ditto)- Tuesday. { 16. Breewood very trifling.- Friday. 17. Penkridge--- Tuesday. 18. Cannock declined. 1g. Betley-declined. 20. Wednesbury 21. Burslem, 22. HanleyGreen, 23. Lane-end, 24. Longnor for fowls, butter,&c. Saturday. In the Potteries, now considerable mar- kets for provisions. fowls, butter,&c. Wednesday, A LIST OF THE PARISHES OF STAFFORDSHIRE. | By the term Parish is here meant a tract of land having a place of worship, and united, in some degree, by a com- mon or mutual interest, without regarding the ecclesiasti- cal constitution or dependance upon a superior or mother- church.| In this sense, Totmanslow Hundred contains forty pa- rishes. i. Alstonefield 13. Checkley 2. Alveton 14. Chedleton 3. Bagnal 15. Dilhorne 4. Blore 16. Draycott in the Moors 5. Bradley in the Moors 17. Endon 6. Bramshall 18. Elkstone 7. Butterton 1g. Ellaston 8 Caulton 20. Flash g- Caldon 21. Gratwich 10. Caverswall 22. Grindon 11. Cheadle 23. Horton 12. Croxden 245" Tam B 2 ee ee: pawl n att ee SSS-=_~ zt. eae asin A GOI E= 1S) bp Bw Cot ON wt 1S) ‘Oo WW W Nei©) O OI AnNBRWD LO. . Biddulph . Colwich . Colton Cuddlestone Hundred contains twenty-three parishes, viz. AGRICULTURAL SURVEY . Ipstones . Kingston . Kingsley . Leek . Longnor . Leigh . Mathfield . Oakover . Onecote . Meerbrook . Rocester . Sheen . Warslow . Wetton . Waterfall . Uttoxeter Pyrehill Hundred contains forty-seven parishes. Abbots Bromley . Adbaston Ashley Audley Blithfield Barlaston Blurton Betley Burslem Bucknall Chebsey . Ellenhall . Eccleshall . Broughton . Fradswell . Fulford . Gayton . High Offley Pipi 23. 2A. Hanley Keel Lane End rt. Acton Die: 26. OT 28. . Marston . Newcastle . Norton inthe Moors . Stoke on Trent . Stafford Muckleston Maer Madeley Milwich Stowe . Sandon =; otone . Seighford . Standon . Swinnerton . Ronton eacixall . Thursfield . Talk on the Hill . Trentham . Whitmore . Woolstanton . Weston on Trent 2. Baswich i OF STAFFORDSHIRE. Breewood Bednall Blimhill Bradley juxta Stafford Cannock Coppenhall . Castle Church . Dunston . Forton . Gnoshall . Haughton Td. 15. 16. Vy: 18. 1g. 2,0. 21. DoF 2. Lapley Nerbury Penkridge Rudgeley Sherif Hales Stretton Shareshall Weston under Lizzard Wheaton Aston Churcheaton Offlow Hundred contains fifty-one parishes. Alrewas Armitage Aldridge Burton on Trent Barton under Needwood Bloxwich aback Clifton Campville Drayton Bassett . Darlaston . Elford . Farewell . Hanbury . Hamstall Ridware . Harbourne . Hammerwich . Haselour . Harleston . Hints . Handsworth Longdon . King’s Bromley . Litchfield St. Chad’s . Litchfield St. Michael’s 25. 26. 27 28. . Pipe Ridware . Pelsall . Rolleston . Rowley Regis . Rushall . Smethwick . Shenstone . Statfold . Tutbury . Tatenhill . Thorpe Constantine . Tamworth . Tipton . Wichnor . Whittington . Wigington . Weeford . Walsall 47. 48 Marchington Maveston Ridware Newborough Norton under Cannock Wednesfield WillenhalJ = } V ee a a——————= 6 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY 49. Wednesbury 51. Yoxail. 50. West Bromwich Seisdon. Hundred contains twenty parishes. 1. Amblecottand BrierlyHill 11. Kinfare 2. Areley Over 12. Kingswinford 3. Bilston 13. Pattingham 4. Broome 14. Patteshall 5. Bobbington rs. Penn 6. Bushbury 16. Sedgeley 4, Codshall 17. Tettenhall 8. Clent 18. Trysull g. Enville 19. Wolverhampton 10. Himley 20. Wombourne.; Parishes. Total Totmanslow Hundred= 2 40 Pyrehill Hundred== 47 Cuddlestone Hundred- 22 Offlow Hundred E- 51 Seisdon Hundred-- 20 ‘Total Parishes in the county, 181 Seenr.-% Climate. Tue air of this county I think sharp, and the cold per- ceptibly to the senses greater than in many other counties, particularly than in the neighbourhood of London, having often had an opportunity of making a quick comparison. ‘The climate too may be termed inclining to wet.*‘The an- nual rafns are; I:believey supposing them to stagnate on the ground without.waste OF evaporation, upwards of thirty- six inches; those of London do not exceed twenty or twenty- most-probably arises froma * This, in the forth end of the county, which attracts the clouds ridge of mountainous land, lying to the West, iv passing.—§, ee OF STAFFORDSHIRE." ene inches; and at Upminster, in Essex, they are only nine- teen inchesanda quarter.“The rains of Lancashire amount to forty-two inches, and those of Ireland to more. I believe it will generally hold good as a rule, that the annual rains on the west side of the kingdom are at least double to those on the east side; which I attribute to its being more exposed to the condensation of aqueous vapours arising from the vast expanse of the Atlantic ocean. I have no doubt also, but that a vast deal more moisture in this county falls on high grounds than on low, the high grounds being, from situation, more adapted to break, dissolve, and attract the aqueous va- pours afloat in the atmosphere. Accordingly we often find, after rain, great torrents of water pushing down from the high grounds into the valleys: it is more particularly certain, that the high grounds receive a greater quantity of snow in winter than the plains of less elevation. The aspect of this country is various. The north part rises gently in small hills, which, beginning here, run through the heart of England, like the Apennines in Italy, in a con- tinued ridge, rising gradually higher and higher into Scot- land, under different names: here called Moorlands, then Peak, then Blackstone Edge, then Craven, then Stanmore: and then, parting into two horns, are called Cheviots. The Moorland is a rough dreary cold tract, the snow lying long on it. The people here observe, that the west wind always brings rain, but the east and south winds make fair weather, unless the wind turns about from the west to the south, which then continues rainy.*‘The middle and south part of the county are generally level, or with only gentle eminences.‘To this, however, there are some exceptions; as the limestone hills of Dudley and Sedgeley, which furnish an inexhaustible supply of that material, and great part of it of excellent qua- lity. Tbe Quartzose, or Ragstone Hills of Rowley, furnish an excellent material for roads and pavements. The hills of * From aseries of observations, taken here these twenty years,(it is proved that) most rain has come from the south-west.—S. 3 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Clent and Barbeacon, besides many others of less elevation, as the high grounds on Cannock Heath, the hills of Bush- bury and Essington, formed chiefly of, or at least containing great quantities of gravel, Kinfare Edge, Tettenhall Wood, and some situations near Enville, also command extensive| | ce prospects. In this place it may not be improper(as it will not take up much room) to state a few particulars of a sub- ject doubtless curious; and which, though not immediately connected, is yet not altogether foreign to the business in hand. These particulars are, the perpendicular elevation of some of the high summits, medium plains, and lowlands, of this in- land county above the level of the tide of the ocean; the writer of this having had many opportunities of ascertaining these particulars, in many Cases very accurately, and in others nearly. The lowest points of land in the county are, pro- bably, the Severn at Over Areley, and the Trent where it receives the Dove below Burton. Elevation of Sundry Points of Land in this county, perpen- dicularly above the Level of the Tide of the Thames at Brentford. PARTICULAR SPOTS. ELEVATION. Ft. In. Banks of the Severn at Over Areley, 60 ° —of the Tame at Tamworth, I50 0 ——— of the. Trent at its junction with the Dove, 100 0 ———— of the summit of the Staffordshire Canal, 385 o ——— of the summit of the Birmingham Canal, 500 o — of the summit of the Wyrley Canal, at Es- sington Wood New Colliery, 560 fe) Summit of Bushbury Hill, 650 o of Barr-beacon, 7150. 0 — of the highest peak of Rowley Hills, goo 0 of the Grand Trunk Canal, 420.0 ———— of a hill called Bunster, near Ilam, in the Moorlands, 1200 0 ———-— of Wever Hills, and some other of the) highest peaks in the Moorlands, 1500 6 ——_ ER SS a ae_— OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 9 Many of the above are by actual observation, and others by estimate only. Hence it appears, that even in the centre of the kingdom few spots of plain or cultivated country are so much plead as to be two hundred yards perpendicular above the level of the sea; and that it by no means follows of course, that the highest spots of ground are far within land, unless such in- land situations contain high hills or mountains, the summits of mountains near the coast far overtopping the champaign country, though remote from the sea. I have observed, that the Wrekin and Clee hills of Shropshire, whose bases are upon the lowlands near the Severn, have, nevertheless, their summits rising considerably above the hills in the south of Staffordshire, from whence they are seen; and the summit of Snowden, though near the coast, I believe to be several hundred yards perpendicularly higher still. Sect. 4.—Soil and Surface. Tue soil of this county(and probably that of every other district in the kingdom of equal extent) is various: the arable soils may, in general, be divided into, first, the stiff and strong, clayey(argillaceous); secondly, the loose and light, sandy (arenaceous); thirdly, although the county has no chalk, yet in the limestone districts, lime earth(or calcareous); fourth- ly, the mixed, or compound soil or loam, composed of the above, with the addition of stones and other matter(terre com- positio). Also, some uncultivated and other spots contain a thin, light, black earth, of the nature of peat, generally lying upon gravel: this, when pulverized and dry, is very light, but when thoroughly wet, is so retentive of moisture as to resemble mud. The meadow soils are, in some places, si- milar to the arable, with the addition of the sediment of wa- ter when within reach of streams; in other places com- posed of peat earth of different thicknesses to several feet, sometimes containing trunks of trees.* This peat earth * Many curious specimens have been found of late years near Stonall, in the parish of Shenstone.—Rev, S. Shaw. fe) AGRICULTURAL SURVEY seems to consist principally of the decayed roots of aquatic vegetables, but when drained, consolidated, and rneliorated, by top dressing or irrigation, becomes valuable meadow and pasture land:‘the surface of this kind of land will, upon draining, sink several inches. The first general division of clay soils consists of two va- ricties: first, the strong, stubborn, harsh, tenacious clay, or clay loam; secondly, the more mild, tractable, or friable marl er loam.‘The sandy soils are more or less light, and in some degree intermixed with loam, gravel, or other matter; the mixed soils are also various, and may be termed loam, gra- velly loam, sandy loam,&c. according to circumstances. The excellency of all good soils, probably, depends on the component parts being intermixed in a happy proportion; m their being of a sufficient thickness upon the sub-soil or under- stratum; in the composition of such under-stratum being neither too solid or compact to retain and stagnate all the fall- ing moisture, nor too porous to let it pass off too quick; and in the surface lying with a proper aspect to receive the solar rays, and to let off the superabundant moisture., A large pro- portion of clay gives too much tenacity, and retains too much water. Where sand predominates, the soil being too porous, suffers the water to pass through, or evaporate, and retains too little. Marl and calcareous earth are excellent correctors of both these defects. Stagnant water, by its chilness and want of motion, is death to vegetation: hence the necessity of draining wet soils. A due admixture of vegetable matter enriches the compost, and the action and heat of the solar rays upon the whole mass, bring on a gentle fermentation, and give life and vigour to the latent and prolific principles of vegetation contained therein. Where nature has left her work unfinished, it is the business of art, and of the farmer’s profession, to assist and forward her operations, and to assimi- late, as much as possible, such unfinished spots to those which she has left nearest perfection: he who does this in the most rational and complete way, is the best farmer.. OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 1X DIVISION OF SOILS. : Acres. The gross acres of the county, as stated before, are about 780,800 Deduct for roads, lakes, pools, ponds, rivers, canals,, cities, towns, villages, buildings and yards, one acre in twenty, 39,040 Waste lands, forests, woods and impracticable land, 141,760 Deduct 180,800 Remains cultivated land 600,000 Of the waste and forest lands, it is probable that the reclaimable part amounts to 100,000 Of the 600,000 acres of cultivated land, in which class I mean to include the pasture part of parks, I estimate 100,000 acres may be meadow and pasture, and 500,000 acres arable; the arable land may be reckoned 200,000 acres of clay loam, or more friable mixed loam, 200,000 acres of gravelly or sandy loams, or other mixed, including calcareous soils; and the remainder, or 100,000 acres of light sandy, gravelly, or other soils, which though not perhaps wholly adapted to, are yet capable of producing turnip. Secr. 5—Minerals. Te mines of this county are valuable and extensive, and in some articles may fairly be pronounced inexhaustible.* * The mines of coal, lime, and ironstone, upon the estates of Lord Dudley are very considerable and extensive; to these mines are in a great measure owing, the immense population of the parish of Sedgeley, as stated under the article, Political Economy, chap. xv- such population being in a great degree supported by employment therein or thereon depending.: These mines are from their nature almost inexhaustible, those of 12 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY The coal land of Staffordshire, which has been proved such, and where the existence of that mineral, near enough the surface to be easily raised, has been ascertained, contains a space of about 50,000 acres: of this space the quantity exhausted by consumption, from the earliest times to the present day, does not exceed a tenth of the whole; and though the scarcity and advance in price of this article have been complained of, the scarcity of it has been owing to local causes; and the advance in price has perhaps been no more-than a just proportion to the advance in the price of labour, and the machinery necessary in the trade In the south of the county the coal country extends in length from Cannock Heath(including a part of that waste) to near Stourbridge, and in breadth from Wolverhampton to Wal- sall. In the north of the county, the neighbourhood of Neweastle and the Potteries, Lane-End, Holly-Bush, and again in the neighbourhood of Cheadle and Dilhorne. The country: producing limestone is still more extensive; at Sedgeley and Dudley Castle Hills, Rushall and Hayhead, but above all on the north-east Moorlands and banks of the upper parts of the Dove, where the greatest consumption or length of time could scarce apparently lessen the immense quantity. coal, as now worked, laying in stratumsg, of 8, 10, and even 12 yards in thickness; and the limestone consisting of the solid masses of ex- tensive mountains, whose bases are upon the same material, continued to an unknown depth; this stone in some places is of a marble quality, and capable of receiving a good polish; in others composed in a great measure of helmintholothi, or petrified marine substances of the animal kind, as cardium, millepora,&c. The lime produced from either, is of a fine white, and excellent quality, the coal and ironstone, is also of a first rate quality. These mines could never have been worked to their present extent, but by means of the artificial navigable canals, carried not only through them in various directions, but even Tunnelled under the limestone mountains; which has enabled the workmen to undermine such mountains, and without removing the surface spoil, to hollow out the stone in huge caverns, some of which penetrate upwards of 300 yards from the canals under their bases, and are in heighth and breadth of large dimensions; large quantities of lime are carried fram hence to Birmingham, and else where, for building, and great quantities are used for manures; for which latter purpose, exclusive of the water carriage, it is sometimes fetched by land conyeyance to the distance of 15 miles. =— ee eee cael————— ma— i—- =—_ ee Rr, sig omer SADE in nice — OF STAFFORDSHIRE.= 3 in this latter district. are some veins of alabaster, which is also dug between Needwood Forest and Tutbury. Of freestone here are very good and extensive: quarries. Bil- stone affords a freestone of very fine grit, fit either for mould- ings, building, or grindstones of the finer sort, for which last purpose it is excellently adapted. Gornal, near Sedge- ley, has also plentiful quarries of a coarser and cheaper free- stone, used for the same purposes as that of Bilstone. Tixall produces an excellent and durable building freestone, which is easily raised in blocks of almost, any dimension; and the same article is again found at Wrottesley, Breewood-Park, Pendeford, and a great many other places in the county. Iron. The strata of iron ore in the neighbourhood of Wednesbury, Tipton, Bilstone, part of the parish of Sedge- ley, and other parts of the coal country, are very extensive. These strata generally lay under a stratum of coal, and have occasioned some very considerable iron-works to be lately established on the banks of the Birmingham Canal, where the iron trade is very much increasing; and it is to be hoped the capital, spirit of enterprize and exertion of our iron-masters will, in time, produce this necessary arti- cle in sufficient quantity to preclude the necessity of an im- portation from abroad; or at least to lessen the quantity of such importation, the balance of trade in which, is very much against this country. In these mines of coal, lime, and iron, and in the foun- deries, blast-furnaces, slitting-mills, and other branches of the iron trade, great numbers of workmen are employed, and the extension of the iron-trade in particular is of great UIC OY LO SISLHOTT AY. SAQODS'SU'EI 67 SUNG buUnleppOT'TW' OL SCL POOJA, UY AS—‘6 QQ) AL STG? OUI LIE? tei ‘SIME JOE 02 OOF UWL JOPPT® UbdVL DQOPIASIA DAZ) AO Apel Ld UMO S14 OU? SOMO UID PUD UID? DUIPISIL PUY TY JO ABPMA a O ULQ) AY S% DOT‘9‘CWE AOL LIY JP P2AOPD SAY) UD ISNAY ULO TT oN SMORY Oettysaly J“E't SMS? QUAL—~ 4) SUMS? YODT LNOPMD oT IPT LORD UOUUGD)— HOLETAG ISMOYMILT—& uayonly—W ‘SodMo1ofo"y S@uv sz SMM NWA hag OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 19 very high opinion, as effecting his object with much less labour and materials, and at the same time more effectually than by former methods. The following are some of the principal modernized seats of this county, that I am acquainted with: 1. Fisherwick, the Marquis of Donegal’s. 2. Trentham, the: Marquis of Stafford’s. 3. Himley, Lord Dudley’s. 4. Enviile, the Earl of Stamford’s. 5. Patshull, Sir Robert Pigott’s. 6. Sandwell, the Earl of Dartmouth’s. 7. Teddesley, Sir Edward Littleton’s. 8. Wrottesley, Sir John Wrottesley. g. Chillington, Mr. Giffard’s. 1o. Somerford, Mr. Monckton’s. 11. Hilton, Mr. Vernon’s. 12. Etruria, Mr. Wedgwood’s. 13. Aqualate, Mr. Baldwin’s. F ARM-HOUSES, OFFICES, AND REPAIRS. RESPECTING farm houses and offices, little can be said in general, except that those of ancient date appear often built merely by chance, without design or contrivance, whilst those of modern construction are sometimes well con- trived, comfortable, and convenient. Most of the modern ones are built with brick, and covered with tile or slate. The barns, cow-houses, stables, and offices, are laid out so as to shelter a compact yard, and some instances occur of good convenient feeding-stalls; but most of the old ones are very defective in these particulars, and the occupier is obliged to make shift as well as he can. In the construction of farm-offices economy ought doubt- less to be kept in view, and the money so laid out as to pay an interest to the proprietor; which will always be the case in real conveniences, for which the occupier had better pay interest than go without them. C2 20 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY In a regular farm, after a decent and comfortable house, the next buildings requisite are barns sufficiently roomy, with straw sheds, near enough for the thrasher to deliver the straw to the cattle, with a well-fenced rick-yard, secured from trespass, near the barns. Stables for horses, cow- stalls, and calf-houses; and a feeding-shed also on a proper scale, isa good appendage to every farm. A Dutch or hay- barn, on an economical and durable construction, would save the occupier so much trouble in thatching, that he could afford to pay a consideration for it. They afford likewise security from rain in the hay-harvest; and no loss is suffered in what farmers call the tops and bottoms. This should be in the most convenient situation for the cow-houses, where the hay is consumed. Hogsties and troughs of durable ma- terials, and in a convenient situation, are also necessary. These particular conveniences are well understood, and in some places have been properly attended to, but in many others are very defective._ As in the present system of farming, the stocking of a farm of from two hundred to four hundred acres, will re- quire a capital of from 1000 to 2o0ool. it may be supposed that a person advancing such capital will expect, and is en- titled to the comforts of life, as well as its necessaries; and that he ought to be furnished with neat and convenient apart- ments for his hours of relaxation, as well as necessary offices for the actual business of the farm: this observation will more strongly apply in the case of a respectable farm occu- pied by the owner. The annexed Designs are for farm-houses upon different scales, adapted either for the proprietor of a farm, or a respectable tenant; with some upon a smaller scale for less occupations, as well as cottages for labourers; in all of them, convenience and economy have been particularly attended to. It is very plain that, with respect to the particular situ- ation and aspect of farm-houses and their appendages,: no- thing decisive can be fixed in a general way; much will oo a PUBS SIE QS GOA? COLLIN FY LOPUIMT ING — | L220 asnoy usy‘sans CORT Evert ALIAD NIDUVAY'SISNIOY PLOZ VW SASAOPY AO) 27QOTS* OT ung Gurasppoy© | AD USOD FY) JO yo dtza M07 aY7 JO INIUIYV] ISNOYSTV) Q SMA ETAHO) ASNOYMOAD L uso? 10) Skog 9GVE sso) Cruryse1y Zé% ISNOYAOLT( Lng 9d ANODIDY UIYITTY V S$ IDTOAIFOY, “TIM Wy) SuyuOr] poyoddns 1991 JO speIS OL SSSA GwUv lk WL ol * F000) OOF UW0LS | AMOA ADU IDUABALI IYT'SPTUDISUMD- -no sayyo x yoryacoy Gurpsov20' yor| sarsoys ero roy Avun asnopy ayy Jo sburp- 77mg yovg ayp oso yuarzy ns aq Mout LOOPS LUTY SILYD QUO SISOD FULOS U1 PUD | | : spua QUO FYI SMOPUIM IP AY)| | Gund pun yuo ayy CursraMoy Aq PI -n.TUOI AG ADVAUOISAP STY J, SIAIP O08| opooriwoslso msn] 0A PIydopy%i\ ee y:-= OF STAFFORDSHIRE. DE depend upon the situation and aspect of the site of ground on which such buildings are erected, and upon the disposition and situation of the avenues leading thereto, as well as upon many other local circumstances of relative situation; but it may be observed, in general, that the coldest aspects in Staffordshire are to the north and east, and therefore a fold-yard should be sheltered on these sides; that the hot- test are to the south and west, and therefore the dairy and cellar, unless under ground, should not be exposed to those points. These are general principles, which must some- times be deviated from, as before stated. The materials now very generally used in modern farm- buildings, are bricks for the walls, and the covering tile or slate; this last material is not raised in or near the county, but very conveniently brought in from Wales, Westmore- land, and elsewhere, by means of the navigable canals.- It is much used and esteemed, as being neat and durable, and is not, I believe, dearer than tile, when the savings occa- sioned thereby are accounted for.“These savings are as fol- lows: the gable walls, and chimney-shafts, are shortened 5 as slate will bear to lie considerably nearer the horizontal than tile, the rafters are also shortened; so that there is a saving of both, bricks, mortar, timber, and workmanship; and slate is not at all affected by frost, or change of weather, which destroys tiles frequently, although we have tiles pro- duced in the county of a kind of vitrifable clay, that are weather-proof, particularly in the neighbourhood of New- castle, and in some other places. ‘Thatch of wheat-straw was formerly much used as a co- vering for cottages, tenements, farm-offices, and even many farm-houses, and is still kept up on many ancient buildings, whose roofs are generally very pointed and deemed too weak to support tiles. But this covering is now pretty generally, and very properly, rejected in new buildings of every description. Jt is objectionable on several accounts; being more liable to be torn off by storms than a more solid covering; it forms an harbour for vermin; it robs the land of a good portion of manure; and lastly, in dry seasons, eS tS 22, AGRICULTURAL SURVEY it is dangerous on account of fire, many recent instances of conflagrations having occurred, referable solely to the com- bustible matter on the roofs; houses, and offices, and, in one instance, almost the whole of a considerable village(Whea- ten-Aston) having been rapidly destroyed. Respecting Repairs, it is very common here, upon the entry of a new tenant, for the landlord to put the farm in tenantable repair; and afterwards, the landlord finding ma- terials in the rough, or otherwise, the tenant is at the ex- pence of workmanship to keep it so, and in most modern contracts the tenant is bound, in case he should quit, to leave the farm and buildings in good repair; but in the case of labourers’ tenements, the tenant must cenerally have some assistance in this respect, or it will seldom happen that the building will be kept in repair at all. The Designs herewith given for farm‘houses, offices, and labourers’ cottages, are original, and it is hoped worthy the attention of gentlemen of landed property; who, upon the establishment of a new farm, should certainly make the construction and disposition of the buildings an object of considerable attention. In designs for buildings, compact- ness, regularity, and neatness should certainly be studied and attended to; for these qualities will require contrivance only, and seldom any additional expence. The expence of erecting buildings will depend upon many local circum- stances; as price of materials and Jabour, convenience of situation respecting carriage of the heavy materials, and, above all, mode of finishing. In the finishing of farm- building, strength and durability should certainly be more particularly attended to than elegance; yet it is the duty of every workman and designer to unite neatness with those requisite qualities; and this last may be considered as the criterion of judgment and ability in a professional man. The Designs annexed are given as such, in which strength and durability may be united with neatness and convenience, and the whole executed with due regard to economy, and paying an interest to the proprictor. a eee pUvagnsy TEE~ ANI ae EG eb Ly‘UIP YX AOTUIMUT INT AM. “JsoM oI SuNUOAry posoddng yooy FO YTBIS w2Ao asnory uayy Ae-O ogy or!© SISUOFT LOJ 9PIS 8 mag ourtoppoy— L © INO AW~Y &. NO) HS As ISNOY- UO, Da ¢ "LIAO ALOUDLD LD)— V SADE Uk)~E. LOODT OUIYSMY T,~T ISNOY-MIaWLT O ALM~ J NOD TH U2YoRY-W ‘T 00G 2 006 ULOLL BY ABUL SIOUDISUNILY) Of LUYPLO - ID SPUPING PSI) JO Bouaded yoy 2Y) PUD AdoaGE FUO Ww Woy Adit sour ING POT 2Yp Pun’2nQwn 2VWyY2 ua pasod -ANS ILD SMOPUYY IHIP PY? atIY“SIA O0LO) 09 UWOL) JO UkLO I D LOY P2AADPK EN is) $90UO.1OJOY, | | ——; g| Z> ; OL 6| | | | WILE Gquvi IWUV Wl 8 | Zz LALLA eye Ge C ZL LL AL aaa ADA ippen . cite . a) SO aos pt op eS Sneha aay ep ee ct Ob SG Me tp ID iD SS nee: ey tO om, Sr Se atte OSS. aed sO Ge) aes Sees| pas heey= Seay alent Saa4 a eae a. ee ee ee 8s Saat ee Ae Ba shh te BES fp ow en re ear pe ae Ra en See tie) a= ee- ea wc eS= (\ | g 17 OF STAFFORDSHIRE. me) be CHAPTER IV. MODE OF OCCUPATION. —_ Sect. 1.— Size of Farms, Ge. Tue farms of this county are of all sizes, from twenty acres to five hundred; yet it must be acknowledged that, within the last twenty or thirty years, the consolidation of small farms has been not uncommon: and indeed a farm of twenty or thirty acres is too small for the sole employment of a farmer, and only adapted to people retired from business and preferring to live in the country; or to country trades- men, who, having other business, do not depend on the small farm for their main support. Farms of the smaller size are insufficient to pay a fair rent and maintain a family; and, unless the occupier has industry and resolution enough to submit to working regularly for others, generally entail po- verty on himself and family.* Yet, I think, it would be a * More than one cow generally has a tendency to spoil a man for a jabourer, by enabling him to maintain his family with less work; | and, although humane, is politically an evil.—Mr. Boys. Yet I know many instances of tradesmen with families, who work recularly and daily, who by no means do it from necessity, but from habit and choice; then why not a labourer work(though not obliged to it), more particularly as, from the conditions of the’case, it can only } apply to‘* the more steady and industrious labourer?”’ William Pitt. Many land-owners in this county add very considerably to the comforts of the industrious labourer, by laying or feeding their cow, or cows, from May-day to Michaelmas, in the demesnes of their lord or master. Where this humane attention is paid, a very small por- tion of land is sufficient to produce hay for winter support. Another sreat advantage to the community, as well as ease and convenience to the owners of large demesnes, I have with pleasure observed in va~ rious parts of this county, particularly in the rich demesnes of Basil Fitzherbert, Esq. at Swinnerton, and in those of Thomas Giffard, Esq. at Chillington, where great numbers of cattle are taken in for the summer to feed, at so much per head; which gives additional beauty to the lawns, and benefits the public, without injury or 1n- convenience to the land-owner.—Rev. S. Shaw. anioeneic al a Sac aes Oe SS Ss SS Ve) Fah ES oy Sos) Coes ey S| Sy ee ee SRS erp igeeey Stet ea Shee eh i= Se Soy et renas} Sy ES) Seas CP eee ee Onn el Se Se SS a tea CB ey KS= Ty ty ye a Pay ootacy ise con|_ EE A ay ee eae Se yen ere or>,— a>= 2D INQ IQ ADIL O. WZ DY, SIQSOOTT YPM SIOMQNQ) OMT P oN JOIT JO opBIS ne land 10 consider Ie 5 +f | 1 a fe i ene,—— ss—————— Sa See:—_:- =~ 2=——= es: en AT—: OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 2 owners, yet, I believe, much the larger proportion of land remains chargeable with tithes; a circumstance which is considered by every person(those only excepted who are interested in the profits of such tithes) asa great evil, and check to agricultural improvement. This question of tithes having been pretty much and pretty often agitated and examined, I cannot expect to be able, in this Report, to throw any new light on the subject; { shall, however, state my ideas of the effect they have on agriculture; and if that effect shall appear prejudicial, some mode of preventing or remedying the evil may be proposed, without doing injury to any of the parties interested. Tithes* having been formerly appropriated for a particu- lar purpose, must be admitted as a property equally sacred with any other, especially as that appropriation is admitted by those laws which regulate the country where the tithes are produced; and although a considerable part of the pro- perty so appropriated has since been alienated from its ori- ginal purpose, yet such alienation having been admitted and confirmed by those laws which protect all other property, no friend to justice and the stability of property can expect an exoneration from, or an abolition of tithes, without pro- posing or providing an equivalent. Having said this, I must at the same time confess, that tithes being a heavy tax upon the efforts and exertions of human industry, are in a considerable degree a prohibition * The following remark is made by one of the constables, in his answer to the queries proposed by the Board:< Several farmers here say they will not sow their fallow-ground with wheat, but plant with potatoes or some other crop, on account of the titheman charging them from twelve to fourteen shillings per acre for tithe of wheat, and from ten to twelve shillings barley and oats per acre; they had used to pay four shillings for wheat, three shillings for barley, and two shillings and sixpence for oats per acre.—Luke Pope, Constable of Smethwick. I have the most satisfactory proofs, from the evidence of several respectable cultivators, that the quantity of wheat sown is affected by the tithe system; they having assured me, that they decline sowing wheat, and choose to manage their land in a grazing system, because they cannot bear the idea of paying the enormous rates that have been asked them by the titheman.—lV. P. ee sath‘ ma cata 28 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY of such exertion, and in that respect act as a dead weighit and a check upon that spirit of improvement, which it is good policy to encourage by every means that can be de- vised. If an equivalent can be found, and a commutation be effected without injury to any one concerned, such regu- tation would doubtless be an linmprovement in our political system. The following plan is proposed as the outline of an ex- change of tithes for land, as land will always bear a value proportioned to that of its produce, and even the price or va- lue of labour is measured by the same standard. Let an act of parliament appoint, in every diocese, an equal number of the most respectable clergy and country gentle- men commissioners and trustees, and with a power of nominating surveyors to value all the tithes belonging either to the clergy or the laity within the diocese; and let the act give an option to the land-owners of purchasin g their re- spective tithes at the valuation fixed on them by such sur- veyors; the money arising from such redemption might be invested in the funds, or other securities, until a proper opportunity should offer of laying it out in land; and where the land-owners should refuse to purchase such tithes, the commissioners might have the power of mortgaging them, or of taking up money on their security, to be in- vested in the same way with that arising from tithes actually sold: or, after a given time, the trustees might be impow- ered to set apart an allotment of the land of those owners who refuse to purchase, and which, if conveniently situated for the former tithe-owner, might be so applied, otherwise sold, and the money arising from such sale invested as before, until it could be laid out in the purchase of land. The exe- cution of some such plan would be attended with infinitely less trouble and expence than that now incurred by the annual valuation of tithes, as, should the proposed regulation be once effected, the business would be settled for ever; but under the present system, the surveyor or valuer’s business is continued from year to year; and if that system should conomical Plan. an Ff Cow Shed on CE APRS IN{ ; Se 7.= wae GINIM; nD, GREE aoa t * WWD, JO 1Ypl IM. S927 IIQUIUMMLUMODIA 89 DVD) GRAN HY Rd | 2S LOIY? S2 UOTPIMPSUQ) PY) PY Ade PAY SNOMYD 82 AIPOY FY) Sp |"SOWA JOU IQ AIY) 2 SLUMIAO LIVIN IY) JO TUO UDYD 210 wp DUI| LMLD AY EQUPUDE LO STPRS AP 9 Go| ,> 2 |- UIAO YPVDO PO PI SAOMJD ADU PSVIT IUO SIQIS NOL JY2,JO YIDI UO UNG QlMIPPIOY I4T VD V| A.‘ d Z| }-a1 Yay OuiIag buntsdo uo tog Wop WNT G LUP JO QOISY Typ Uuodn|| | U2YMISTO YP PlOY UkLO J IY) U2 P2AAOPVD 81 IPI, YPM PIMINCD PYTHL GS UOWIAS? DY) U2| SYRM 2QIDQ) LOY 8Qit) LUMPP DUNQITULSUOD JO DOUJZMM PAOGD PY 7, UDIS* MeLDDIORAOA RAOUL IQ ADU IVD PILIAOIU? 2/27 PUIG 29222) Y) PULRYIG YOM i 2 WOAE IY)“LINO PY, 2 2YBR) IY) DUMIAD AQ ALOSSIOFU 32 SO QUO PIY.L i QY2, JO YTILM OS PUD UU DURMPPOY 2Y2 YOYUM IY) MAINO CUO JO POHSUJ f* DUINLIAUOIU] JNOYPM Y2l2Y) J PLO PIADS ILO syprdopoue| Y2Y4 L AG IU UII Y JSDY ede QYOMADSUZ) OLLM VY 2%) P2MDF< Uf 2 ean DUtALIAd i LOOY ALY SPDMIZOU UO AIQUELT, JO JDIP POOL P« bral puD Uva yp id |“OY YOULL YIM JING 9f}1e+) se 6;:: q e.° P2 ADA 2 YY POY 29 FO WU PY),£2 PUD I77]2) YINS JO SPVOL/%Uf) IAQYID ULL 7 OM 20,7| OF GLE) OU LLIPPO 2UIIS 22 222IQ) OUIPID, AQl PIYS* D JO UODINAIEUT) 2ST| «. Le. i‘ z 7| | || ra,|| LOOT JO I[RIS Rit Trt HH esa ss t It es pit 4| a ot oe 0g OG OL O cog OL | Room Zizi) Wiig) EIA i ! ge 6~||| i 7 Ss g Y Y Y| a. S) il ss S Z PAZ |~ 3 D Me ‘ B@ZAAL AAA é SATAN E ZZ EZ , fj‘>> r=] al y ; Ue, qd[eorouo oD Ue: uo pod Us MO)|' i Py"| i| 28—_ LT= sam SRE rem SS——t 1 s te) aS) Seller onset‘= Pe 4 2 es — oe Pers,— fae eS Pr bby me eerie. temps pti teal efentti eee Ae eR ny> tag ce tes Pee oe oe om cls fea! Peer} i 3 ae os wo Oo 2=== rie)= a Oe vee Sal=|= ao©- mz) Beh Sa Bye|=> BR= ees, AS) See) sy Col ot aE re) erat ay ere cesta= 6p SSeS Se SS oS Se Se (CB BORNE See hes af) Cres aie Ss eh eh pt any rift went ape Cement emt CARD gC aterm rm etn nae Cee OD tree gate Con tan basse eat a Cav eM eer et ORE Ge Seo eng 5 OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 29 continue, will be from generation to generation. An equi- valent in land must certainly be a more solid property than tithes. Land may be improved in any degree by good ma- nagement and industry; tithes fluctuate or sink in value at the will of the cultivator. I think some such commutation as this may be easily effected, and that all parties would be pleased with the alteration. SECT. 4.—Poor-Rates. Tue following amount of the Poor’s Rate Expenditure of this county, was ascertained in consequence of Mr. Gilbert’s attempts at reforming our code of Poor Laws. I have never heard the accuracy of the account called in question, Staffordshire Poor’s Rate, ¥c. annual Expences, from Parliae mentary Ingutries, 1783, 1784, and 1785. Whole county annual expence upon a me- Lata scyd, dium of those three years--- 45,404 Io Io Of this, net money paid for the POOE.=(2140,9097 te a9 County rates, including gaols, houses of cor- rection, county bridges, militia, vagrants, eet o-== Fags-- SPP 25 20S Son ow Churchwardens’ accounts for reparation of churches,&c.=-“-- Est 7O0 EIS Ly ee Total 45,404 10 Io A curious circumstance I remarked in some of the pa- tishes of this county where the population is pretty well ascertained; which is, that five times the annual poor’s rate expenditure in pounds, equals the population; or, that the annual poor’s rate expenditure is four shillings per head upon the whole mass of inhabitants. In other places, however, the population’ was considerably more than the number thus produced, 30 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Since the original drawing up of this account, which is little more than one year ago, we have experienced a most remarkable advance in the poor’s rate expenditure of this parish(Tettenhall) they have advanced fifty per cent. or in the proportion of 2 to 3, both the last and present year: the cause, I suppose, the severity of the last winter, and the high price of provisions which followed. They are now about two shillings in the pound, upon a full valuation. This remark made October, 1795: SEET 5 si J eases. Leasesare often granted: those for twenty-one years are not uncommon, and some also for a shorter term exist. In most covenants, fallowing is considered as necessary. Hemp, flax, and rape for seed are prohibited or restricted to an acre. Meadow-land is secured from the plough.‘Tenants are re- strained from cropping and lopping timber, and from taking more than a stated number of crops. It should here be added, that farmers are generally bound to use all their dung on the farm they rent. The Rev. Mr. Leigh, in the letting of Rushall-hall estate, has adopted a covenant which I be- lieve quite novel; the tenant is bound to lay all the dung of the farm on the turf only; and fallows, and all loose or ploughed land are manured with lime; it should be observed that the estate abounds with lime. The consequence has been, a very great and rapid improvement of the estate.— The product of wheat, this scanty year, being uncommonly great. The soil is a cool moist loam, of tolerable depth, and has been formerly under indifferent management. Also from selling hay, straw, or dung. I do not recollect many other remarkable covenants. Those for securing the rents are of course. Sometimes systems of cropping are inserted, but little attended to, if the tenant be supposed going on well. The tenant is generally tied to keep the buildings in repair, the landlord finding materials. Many gentlemen who have large estates round their seats, or in their neigh- Se OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 3t bourhood, do not grant leases, upon the idea of such grants rendering their tenants independent; and to the honour of many such gentlemen it may be observed, that the possession of their farms upon such tenure, is equally secure with a lease, and that, whilst the occupier behaves with propriety, he is as little liable to be disturbed in possession, and often rents upon easier terms. SECT. 6.—Expence and Profit, RESPECTING the expences and profits of arming, it can hardly be expected that actual accounts should be produced; the divulging of the domestic concerns of persons in any business, seems a matter of considerable delicacy; and whether that business be farming, manufacture, or trade, will seldom be consented to, or admitted as proper, by those who are in- terested therein. It is, however, not difficult to form ideal estimates of expences and returns; and if such estimates are founded on experience, and a judicious application of such experience to average disbursements and receipts, such esti- mates may be equally useful with actual accounts. Previous to making such estimates, I have to observe, that in this country few fortunes are making merely by farming, and perhaps none at present upon modern rents, unless the farmer is connected with some other employments, in which, by enterprise, judgment, diligence, and industry, large sums of money may be annually turned, and a good profit often obtained: this is frequently done by engaging in the miller and maltster’s business, by dealing in the various Kinds of live stock, fat and lean, or grass seeds, particularly clovers, in which very large sums are turned annually;_ by dealing in cheese, butter, bacon, and other necessaries of life, for which there is a great demand in populous countries: the dealers in all the above articles are certainly very useful to society, as without them it would be impossible to obtain a regular supply, at least in the present system of things; and lastly, I shall add, the surveyor’s business, in which, SS Et TE ee oem 32 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY connected with farming, money has sometimes been, made, Some instances I have also known of people of property hiring a good farm, with an income sufficient to pay the rent; in such case it is no wonder if systematic manage- ment and economy should save money. The case of a person occupying his own estate has not always succeeded, in such case, turning gentleman, and neglecting the regular system of business, has soon been followed by involved circumstances; and I have known an instance of a person occupying a pretty good and clear estate of his own, till he has been obliged to sell it; and have heard of other in- stances where such seller has hired it again to farm, at a fair rent, and done pretty well. If a person even occupies a farm of his own, and means to thrive, he must remember that he is a man of business, and must act as such: how much more, then, the person who hires a farm at rack-rent. That some pretty good properties have been raised simply by farming, must certainly be admitted, several such in- stances having come under the writer’s observation, and similar instances must be in the recollection of every atten- tive person. In such cases, I believe there has always been a combination of all, or most of the following circum- stances: Firstly, an easy rent, 2. a pretty good or extensive farm; 3. economy and industry; and 4. length of time. An easy rent affording the first profits, these would be in- creased by the after circumstances; and every calculator is acquainted with the astonishing accumulation of small sums in length of time at compound-interest. In the present system of farming, at a modern rent, with the additional accumulated expences of high taxes, par- ticularly poor’s and malt tax, house and window tax, addt- tional price of labourers’ and servants’ wages, high amount of tradesmen’s bills necessary to agriculture(such as wheel- wright, blacksmith, collar-maker, and all others); and even the luxury of the times, by which not only the food and clothing of the family, but even the boarding of servants, and workmen occasionally, is at increased expences; undez &, OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 33 all these circumstances, the writer of this knows from experience, that it requires not only the most diligent in- : dustry, but also the most prudential economy to keep the balance on the right side. It is an idea often expressed, and I believe a good deal credited, that the profits of farming are enhanced and ren- dered enormous by the high price of provisions, both at pre- sent, and in all similar cases. This, I believe, will not be generally found a fact; high prices are, doubtless, the result of unproductive seasons; and a scanty produce, at 2 high price, may make less money than a plentiful one at a noderate price. It may certainly occur, that a lucky hit of a great crop, in an unproductive season, may be advan- tageous to the grower: from whence appears the superior advantage of keeping land always in good heart, as in such circumstances, the growing crop is much less liable to be affected by unkindly seasons. The following calculations are founded upon good average crops, proceeding from somewhat superior management.— The bushels are supposed Winchester, and the price an average one, of the last two or three years in this neigh- bourhood. It is clear, that if by extraordinary efforts supe- rior crops are raised, the returns will be greater; and equally so, that if from any cause the crops are deficient, the returns will be lessened. A Calculation of Disbursements and Returns upon a Staffordshire t7) Farm of 200 Acres of average Land, managed in a proposed System. Suppose 40 acres of the soundest land, in the course of I. turnips, 2. barley, 3. clover, 4. wheat, to acres each. 120 acres more arable, in 8 lots, of 15 acres each; the course, I. oats, 2. fallow, 3. wheat, 4. barley, and 4 years iy down with artificial grasses. 40 acres meadow and pasture. D 34 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY The servants and workmen necessary would be, 1 wag goner, I boy, t stockman, 2 servant maids, and 2 labourers, besides occasional extra help in harvest,&c. The stock, 7 draught horses and mares, 30 head of horn- ed cattle, of which one-half should be milkers, sheep, hogs, &c. according to circumstances.: Annual Expenditure. Returns. fis d. fics Rent and tithes- 200© 0| By sale of 500 bushels of~ Servants’ wages oe 25 On0 wheat, at 7s. per bushel 175 0 o Labourers’ ditto- 50 o o| Memorandum,the produce of Extra harvest men,&c.20 0 0 25 acres 1S supposed at 25 Tradesmen’s bills- 30 oO0 bushels per acre- 625 Poor’s, malt, and other Seed and consumption 125 taxes-= 30 00 Malting and hops- 8).0 0 For sale= 500 Purchase of manure 10© o| By sale of barley from 25 Expences at fairs and acres produce, at 4 quar- markets- 7 10 0 ters per acre, bushels 800 Clothing for the family, Seed and consumption 226 grocery, and other marketings: fe Ce Yor sale at 45. 580 Interest of£1000. capi- 116 0© tal-- 50©©| Oats from 15 acres, say 480 Sundries- 19 10 o| Seedand consumption 240 Expenditure 500 00 For sale at 3s. 240 3600 Sale of cheese and cows- 10000 Profits from sheep zs 5000 From hogs, poultry, and sun- dry articles“ 2300 eit iets, Returns 500 0 G The above refurns are stated pretty high; and are,[ be- lieve, oftener fallen short of, than exceeded; it will be ob- served too, that such part of the produce of the farm as ts supposed consumed at home, is not brought to account on either side. Hence it will appear, that if arty profit is to be made, more than interest of capital, it must arise either from a re- trenchment of expenditure, extraordinary efforts of improved cultivation, or a combination of both. Also, that if any other system of cropping or cultivation be substituted in lieu of the ay OF STAFFORDSHIRE. “of 35 above, the consequences will be the same, or better, or worse, in proportion as such system is equal, or more or less pro- ductive than that above proposed is there supposed to be 2. ACalculation of Disbursements and Returns upon a Farm of 60 Acres, supposing it managed by a working farmer, with the assistance of a boy, and a labourer occasionally; and the dairy business by his wife, with the assistance of one servant girl, or without any hired servants at all, supposing they have children of a proper age. The live stock should be, 3 draught horses or mares, 15 head of cattle, of which 10 should be milkers, anda score of sheep bought annually, and the lambs sold to the butcher, and ewes afterwards: suppose the farm in ro closes of 6 acres each, 2 of them: meadow or P asture, and 8 arable, cul- tivated in the course, I oats, 2 fallow, 3 wheat, 4 barley, and 4 years down with artificial grasses, or in any other course equally or more productive. Annual Expenditure, Returns. “pe eh fires. as Rent and tithes- 60 0 o| Sale of wheat from 6 acres, at Servants and labourers’ 25 bushels per acre 10 wages== 25 0©} Deduct seed and con- Fxtra harvest men,&c. 5 0 0 sumption- 52 ‘Tradesmen’s bills- 15.00 Poor’s, malt, and other Rennains at 7s, per bush. 100 taxes= 10 00: 3500 Maltingandhops- 300 Barley from 6 acres.- Ig2 Purchase of manure- 5©©| Seed and consumption 72 Expences at market,&c. 500 Ee Clothing, grocery,&c. 15 0 o| Remains at 4s. per bush. 120 Suadries= 24080 24.00 Ta Oats from:G acres.»- 192 Expenditure 160©©} Seed and consumption 96 Forsaleat.3s..* 96 a400%© Sale of calves, cheese, and cows-- 60 o0 Profits from a score of sheep 15© 0 From hogs, poultry,&c. Dr 120 Returns- 16000 D2 36 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY In this case too, it appears that if any savings are to be made over and above the interest of capital, such savings must arise from economy and superior industry; also that the success of a farmer upon a small scale must entirely depend upon the steadiness and industry of himself and family. The above course of cropping is proposed upon an idea, that for land to produce good crops, some rest at times under pasture is necessary, and by that means also more stock is supported; various other courses may be substituted at plea- sure, but perhaps few would be much more profitable. From the above estimates, which are founded on experience and attention, it may be inferred, that whoever hires a farm under an idea of suddenly acquiring a fortune, will probably find himself disappointed; and that it is only by industry and regular management, that a result equally favourable to that. of the above calculations can be expected. re rene OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 37 CHAPTER V. IMPLEMENTS OF HUSBANDRY. THE implements of husbandry used here for draught, are waggons and carts; for tillage, double and single ploughs, with and without wheels; drill ploughs, harrows and rollers, for other purposes; winnowing machines, straw engines,&c. The waggons are either with six-inch wheels, or narrow wheels: a few of the former, kept by the larger farmers, in which six horses are drawn double, convey a load of from three to four tons. The narrow-wheel waggons are drawn by four or five horses, and carry from two to three tons. Six- inch wheel carts are mostly used about farm-houses for con- veying dung, or for gravel or stones for repairing roads; or for hollow draining. Some few narrow-wheel carts are chiefly kept by small farmers for the road: one horse-carts also are kept by gardeners, butchers, and people who supply the markets. The wheel carriages of this county are upon a pretty good construction, perhaps not capable of being much improved: they are, I think, if any thing may be condemned, rather too heavy, and should be constructed lighter, if it could be done consistent with the giving them a sufficient degree of strength. Double or two-furrow ploughs are much used, and answer well on light soils, where four horses will plough two acres or more per day.“These ploughs are made on a good construction, and require no holder. The single-wheel plough is a very good tool, requiring no person to hold or touch it, except when it is turning at the end of the furrow; they require but one attendant, for which a boy of fourteen or fifteen years of age is sufficient. And here I cannot but remark the superiority of a plough that requires no holder but a person only to drive the horses, and turn it out and in at the end of the furrow, to one which requires to be held, and the horses of which are guided by reins. These ploughs have eae A MW | i: ) 28 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY lately been much improved by the addition of an iron earth- board firmly screwed to the coulter, called here a flay, for ploughing turf, which takes off the turf, and turns it inte the furrow, where the plough immediately covers it with earth: by this managementa turf at one ploughing has the appearance of a fallow, and harrows nearly as well. This ploughing is attended with scarcely any extraordinary trouble, but requires the strength, perhaps, of an extra horse. It is much used here for turf. The common swing plough without wheels is used to plough hedge sides, ill formed corners, or any difficult work: it requires both a holder and a driver. The drill ploughs used here are of Cook’s invention, or an imitation of it; or another made in the North, and sold here by Mr. Joseph Cornforth, machine-maker. The last is the cheapest. They both do their work well, and cover up the seed at the same time; which covering is farther perfected by rolling. The harrows used here have nothing singular'in them. Vhe common roller is used, and sometimes the spiked roller, on strong land, with good effect. Large heavy cast iron rollers of from one to two ton weight are used, and are excellent for.meadows, or for rough or cloddy arable land: they re- quire, however, a good strength of horses to draw them. I have lately seen a common corn roller, constructed of two pieces instead of one, being cut through, as it were, and hung with gudgeons in the middle; the advantage of which is, that in turning it is less liable to root up the corn, and may be formed of two short pieces, instead of one longer. Ma- chines for winnowing, or dressing corn from the chaff, have been long in use here: they are now brought to great per- fection, and dotheir work completely, and with dispatch, re- quiring not more than about half the time necessary in the common way. They are made upon the very best construc- tion by Mr. Joseph Cornforth, at Bushbury, near Wolver- hampton; the price from six pounds to seven guineas, each. Upon the whole, the machinery and implements of this county are tolerably good, and little seems wanting in this way, and f cannot help thinking, I hope without partiality, that our OF STAFFORDSHIRE, 39 implements in general, but ploughs in particular, are equal to any, and superior to most, which I have seen; and I have viewed those of many counties. Mr. Miller on this sub- ject makes the following remark:‘* The ploughs made in “‘ any country where the ploughmen have been most used to « “ them, are the best. For when I came tothis place, I brought « wn“ with me ploughs and ploughmen out of Leicestershire, “ which were good ones so long as my Leicestershire-men < n staid: but when they left me, they might as well have “taken the ploughs along with them; for Staffordshire-men ¢ “~ could not plough with them.” This remark may serve to shew the difficulty of altering established customs, and that such alterations, even if improvements, must be gradual, and introduced by degrees; asthe same workmen are not brought at once to use a new tool expertly: and unless they in some degree approve of any new practice, to make a fair experi- ment, the master must give his own attention, and do the business himself, Nie nes 40 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY CHAPTER-VI. INGCLOSING;' FENCES;"GATES. THE most considerable proportion of the cultivated land of this county is inclosed, very little remaining in common fields. I can only recollect the following common fields: 1. Staf- ford, 2. Stone, 3 Chedleton, and 4. Bloxwich; the whole amounting to, perhaps, little more than one thousand acres.[| reckon in all cases that common-field land is improvedat least five shillings per acre per annum by inclosure, which will pay a good interest upon the expence of inclosing; also that its produce will be considerably greater; for common fields are generally both imperfectly cultivated, and exhausted by hard tillage.* Inclosures only can effect the improvement of stock. Respecting population,[ have no doubt but the means of em- ployment are increased by inclosure, by the planting and re- paration of fences.‘To prove the superiority of inclosures, let us put the case of a proposal made to throw a well-fenced inclosed country into common fields, and[ believe every mind would revolt at the idea. The size of inclosures is va- rious, and of all dimensions, from smaller to twenty or thirty acres, and should nis be proportioned to the size of the farm. I believe the superiority of inclosures to common fields is universally admitted, and know not of any arguinent that can be brought to prove the contrary:‘‘ especially where <¢ the inclosed land is laid contiguous to each farm claiming es aS proportionate share.—S. * And it is not very probable that a farmer should expend much in, improving and keeping his land well cultivated, when others are te share the advanta: ce.—S. pas OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 4X The following Account of Elford Inclosure, by Mr. Bourne, is communicated by the Rev. S. Shaw. The greater part of the parish of Elford was common-field, meadow,&c. till the year 1765; when an act was obtained for an inclosure; previous to that time the land was let at very low rents, and the tenants were mostly in low circum: stances, by the inclosure the rents have been trebled, and the tenants better enabled to discharge them. The whole parish contains about 1900 acres, 1053 of which belong to the Lady Viscountess Andover, 240 to the rectory, 578 to different frecholders, and the remainder is laid out in roads,&c. Of the above land about 500 acres is annually in tillage, and which, we suppose, brings as much grain to market as the whole parish did in its open state; the quantity of cheese made now, in proportion to that made prior to the inclosure, is more than three to one; the proportion of beef and mutton produced on the land is still greater, as much as ten to one; for though there were sometimes many sheep kept in the common fields, they were so subject to the rot, that little or no profit arose to the farmer, or produce to the com- munity. Respecting population, there were, prior to the inclosure, in the parish, 57 houses or tenements; at present(1794) there are 76 houses, and 360 inhabitants. This increase has not arisen from any manufactory, but merely from the increase of labour necessary for the improved cultivation. ‘That inclosures sometimes injure the small farmers, if laid in large farms, must be admitted; but that they are advan- tageous to the community must appear from the above statement of the produce of this place. W. Bourne. Elford, October 10, 1794. Respecting the manner of inclosing, and the materials used for and contained in our fences, most new inclosures are firstly fenced round with post and rail, after which a agg a 42 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY mound or bank of earth is raised up to nearly the height of the lower. rail, with a ditch sufficient to draia the land, where draining is wanted 5 within side the bank, and a little above the level of the natural surface of the earth, are then planted the quicksets, for which purpose the white thorn is mostly approved, and generally used; care should be taker to have a sufficient depth of good soil for the quick to take root in, and it must be kept clean from weeds for the two or three first years; by this means a good fence is soo: raised, which may be kept within bounds, either b ming or plashing at pleasure. In our ancient fences many other kinds of wood are common; as the crab, the hazel, the sloe(prunus spinosa), a species of the willow, generally the narrow-leaved sallow, a variety of the salix caprea: if a.stake of this wood: be driven, it will take root and grow luxuriantly, in dry as well as moist situations; it is called here withy; also; in moist grounds very often, the alder (betula:alnus), the privet, the dog-tree, the marsh alder, and many other sorts of wood, as well as briars and brambles; most of these are inferior to the white thorn, and all kinds of smooth wood form but an imperfect fence; also the hazel is very apt to tempt trespassers to break the fences in ga- thering the nuts. The gates, and posts, are generally made of oak.—An economical scheme has lately been talked of, and attempted, which is the planting of willows in proper situations for making gates, rails, and hurdles, which being of luxuriant growth will soon be ready for cutting down, or lopping, for those purposes, and will quickly shoot out again. If by this means oak can be reserved for more im- portant purposes, it will certainly be worth while to plant willows for farming uses; any moist corner would produce them, or perhaps old pit, or they may be planted regu- larly in the fences on moist land: the proper sorts should be attended to; the withy of Staffordshire mentioned above is totally unfit for these uses, as not growing sufficiently long and straight; the best sorts are, I believe, the white willow(salix alba), the crack willow(salix fragilis), and OF STAFFORDSHIRE.° 43 some foreign sorts. I think this scheme worthy of at- tention. A Paper has been received by the Board from Stafford- shire, from.an anonymous writer, referring to this parti- cular subject of inclosing and planting fences, with extracts from which I] mean to conclude this subject. This writer says,“ Almost all the modern inclosures that I have ob- Lerved have been made with white thorn, a fence pretty and neat, that will grow in most soils, and soon makes a fence, and is readily kept within narrow bounds; but its superfluous wood will not repay the labour of planting and cutting, nor is it productive of any profitable fruit. The motives for inclosing all lands are, obviously, utility and proht; therefore, when an inclosure is determined on, the next consideration is to divide it with materials that will be both useful and profitable. I have not the smallest doubt, but that if all the hedges in England had been originally planted in the most profitable manner, they would for many centuries past have produced, and to the end of the globe’s existence continued to produce, beverage, and materials for spirit, sufficient for the supply of all the in- habitants of the island, as well as food for fatting all the hogs, and materials for repaying the expence of occasionally new-making, and all this without being more injurious to the land than the hedges now in use. **"To obtain those advantages, plant, at the distance of YO, 20, or any greater number of feet that may be thought adviseable, a Spanish chesnut, midway between the chesnuts plant a crab, between the chesnuts and crab plant a com- mon plum, in the intermediate spaces plant white thorn; when they have been planted three or four years, and are in a thriving state, about February or March cut them off with a sharp knife about an inch above the ground, they will then throw out many shoots; keep them clean from weeds, and let them continue growing till the chesnut-shoots are large enough for stakes and binders, which may be in eight, nine, or ten years. When the hedge is made, at pros RS ee 4d AGRICULTURAL SURVEY per distances leave a straight handsome chesnut-shoot to grow into a tree; if you prefer timber, let it remain for that purpose, and if you prefer fruit, cut off the top; and, if you can procure grafts from Spain or Italy, graft them therewith; in like manner, leave a handsome shoot from the crab-stock, and graft it with an apple, and the plum-shoots with the different kinds of plums; leave likewise shoots of the white thorn, and graft them with medlars: thus will you have a very productive fruit-garden, without any waste of land, and a permanent fence, that will continue to the endof time. It is of consequence, as much as may be, to have the hedge on every side belonging to the same field; in which case, when the ficld is in tillage, the whole fence is at once protected by the crop, The all-bountiful Crea- tor has supplied the earth with a vast variety of whole- some and nourishing fruits, and it is the duty of man to ex- tend the blessings of providence. Chesnuts would be ex- ceeding fine food for hogs or other cattle, and are without daoubt nutritious for human food, and obtained with little labour; apples every one knows the use of; and if the pra- duce of plums and medlars exceeded the consumption of the neighbourhood, they would fatten hogs for pork, or the juice might be converted into spirit, which would probably be much superior to malt spirit, and perhaps little inferior to French brandy or rum, In the present system of plant- ing, for one tree or shrub producing useful fruit, an hundred unproductive ones are planted; instead of the lime, the fir, the larch, and the poplar, why not plant the chesnut, the the walnut, the beech,(and I think the oak shouid have preceded the three last)? these are all productive trees, and will grow in moderate soils. If no other market could be found for such produce, swine would feast luxuriously and fatten'on it; roasted chesnuts are said to be a principal part ef the diet of the poor peasantry of Italy,” <>-—__—_— x) OF STAFFORDSHIRE. A5 CHAPTER: Vid. ARABLE LAND, CROPPING, AND CULTI.- VATION. Tue arable soils of this county, considered as referring to cultivation, may be divided into, first, the stiff or strong clay, marl, or loam; secondly, the loose or light gravel or sand; thirdly, the mixed or compound soil or loam, compo- sed of various textures and matter in different places, inclin- ing to sand, gravel, or clay; in which may also be included the thin black soils and the calcareous soils, or those on a limestone bottom. The grain, pulse, roots, and other vegetables cultivated in field culture, upon the arable lands of this county, are chiefly the following: 1. Wheat. 2: Rye. 3. Barley. 4;‘Oats:°°. Beans. 6. Peas. 7. Vetches. 8. Buckwheat. 9. Hemp. to. Flax. 11. Turnips. 12. Potatoes. 13. Cabbagés.. 14. Rape.‘To'these may be added clovers, trefoils, and two or three of the real grasses."Turnip cabbage has been tried, as well as sainfoin, lucern, burnet, and the other artificial grasses. Carrots and other garden-plants are not introduced into field cultivation, except by gardeners for the markets. Respecting a system of cropping and round of crops, no general one can be laid down that will apply in all cases: various accidents and circumstances will render deviations necessary and proper, and the industry and‘skill of the at- tentive farmer will rise superior to systematic rules; yet as every regular business, to be well managed, must be con- ducted by something like system, the following courses of crops are given as the general practice of this county: 46 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY The stiff or strong soils are of two sorts: the strong and harsh inclining to clay, and the more mild or friable mar} or loam. These soils are generally on a marl bottom, often afterwards rock. On the strong harsh land seldom any other grain than wheat and oats are grown, and in the ro- tation of, first, fallow; secondly, wheat; thirdly, oats; when the land is laid down with clovers, trefoil, and ray- grass; for one, two, or more years. Sometimes on break- ing up anolder turf, the course is, first, oats; secondly, fal- low; thirdly, wheat; fourthly, oats; with seéds as before. On the more mild and friable loamy soils, the course of crop-~ ping is, first, fallow; secondly, wheat; thirdly, beans Or peas; fourthly, barley or oats; when the landislaid to grassas before. In laying land down to erass for more than one year, the white clover and trefoil are often sown; On this sort of soil‘‘ beans are sown in the beginning, and.oats at the lat- ter end of March; barley seldom sooner than May;’’- al- though I think barley should always be finished sowing in April. Wheat is principally sown in October, but some little both sooner and later. A vein of incomparable marf is found near Stafford-castle, and in the neighbourhood of Eccleshall, which in some places rises to the surface of the earth, and. the farmers plough into it. The Rev. Mr. Dickinson informs me, that the farmers fallow here for wheat, and get good crops without manure. They reserve the dung for the wheat-stubble, and put it on in autumn for the benefit of the Lent tillage. This method secured afterwards a crop of beans and another of barley, which, when the dung was laid on the wheat-fallow, were often unproductive. This appears a capital improvement, and of extensive application. Marl has been formerly, and is still much used on these soils. As it abounds in the under- stratum it should be laid on sparingly, otherwise it gives a harshness to soils perhaps too strong before. Lime is an excellent corrector of such harshness: it has the power of ameliorating such soil, and in some measure of break- ee OF STAFFORDSHIRE, 45 d ing and dissolving its particles. It is much used, and with good effect, especially after marling. I have been informed that the following tillage for barley on these soils has been attended with success, though not practised to any great extent. After summer fallowing for wheat, and harvesting the wheat crop, those who practise it plough up in the November following the wheat-stubbles in-a proper form for sowing, lay them dry by proper furrows or gutters, and sow barley the April following, without farther ploughing, as the amelioration of winter frosts disposes the land to work kindly under the harrows without more tillage. To give this a fair chance of succeeding, the summer fal- lowing should be managed in a complete style.“This strong soil will form good pastures, as can be proved by here and there a piece of old turf, which is an excellent pasture; but the occupiers say it requires many years to turf. My neigh- bour, Mr. Miller, complains of. this land being too much ploughed, observing that“ it is worked with the plough till it is tempered enough to make bricks, and then the occupiers complain it will not graze.” Perhaps a larger proportion of turf, by enabling the occupier to maintain more stock, and consequently produce more manure, might be a means of producing an equal or superior quantity of grain from a less breadth of acres. Mr; Miller thinks the quantity of turf land on these strong soils should. be increased, by laying a few more pieces to grass, in proportion to the size of the farm, one piece in a year, clean and in good heart, with per- ennial red and white clover, trefoil, burnet, and grasses, and afterwards mucking on the turf. Secondly, the light sandy or gravelly soils adapted to tur- nips. On this sort of land the Norfolk system of, first, turnips; secondly, barley; thirdly, clover; fourthly, wheat; has been long well known and practised. The principal time of sowing turnips is from New to Old Midsummer, but some are sown both earlier and later: the land in prepa-~ ration for turnips has generally four ploughings, and suf- ficient harrowings between. The first ploughing should be q ce} f i li, és —————__— 48 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY before Christmas, the second in March and well harrowed down, the third in May, and the fourth at sowing. The manure used here for turnips is dung or lime, or both, or a compost of dung and soil. Near large towns, the dung of such towns is often used; and near Birmingham in particu- lar, I am well informed, the parings and shavings of bone, and hoof dust is applied with great success.“Purnips are in general hoed, and sometimes a second time,.and weeded by hand; but it has not been always easy to procure hands for the whole of this business at a reasonable price. It may perhaps be worthy ofremark, that theturnips of the last year, 1793, in this country, were produced of the largest size ever known; commonly of the weight of from twenty-five to thirty pounds each; occasioned undoubtedly by an uncom- monly luxuriant Michaelmas spring, and a mild open autumn and winter.‘The turnips are parted with hurdles, and generally eat on the ground by sheep and calves; and it is common to draw a quantity of the largest for stall-feeding. Some farmers having observed, that this system of the same crop every four years is hard tillage, and tires the ground, have given their fields two years rest under the seeds; which makes the course, first, turnips; secondly, barley; thirdly, clover 5 fourthly, pasture, and fifthly, wheat.“The wheat often succeeds well upon. a two-year lay, though[ think not so kindly as immediately upon the clover. Some farmers, however, think they can observe no deficiency of crop on that account: some have totally omitted the growth of wheat on light land.* * Mr. Dyott, of Freeford, grows annually seventy acres of turnips, which are well hoed and cleaned, and followed by barley with seeds: the produce of barley is always large, and sometimes great, to eight quarters per acre and upwards; after barley the land remains at grass, one, two, or more years, according to circumstances. Mr. Dyott’s growth of wheat not exceeding thirty acres average, the greater part of the turf-land is therefore, on breaking up, fallowed for turnips, and the growth of wheat totally omitted. As wheat is the true staple grain, and of the greatest importance for the subsistence of the increasing part of the species, I think where a OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 49 Their course is, first, turnips; secondly, barley and seeds, pastured for two or more years; and then sometimes oats, on breaking up the turf: or, first, turnips; secondly, peas; thirdly, barley and seeds, as before. As in these courses the great staple, wheat, is neglected, I cannot bestow on them any commendation, but should prefer, first, turnips; second- ly, barley with seeds; thirdly and fourthly, pasture two or more years; fifthly, peas; sixthly, wheat.*‘This is some- times practised, but is most applicable to land not too light or sandy, but possessing some staple of loam. The follow- 1g course also is not uncommon, nor a bad one, upon land that is continued some years in pasture: first, oats; secondly, wheat; thirdly, turnips; fourthly, barley with seeds, pastured for some years. It must be remarked, that whenever light land is seeded down with an intention of remaining some years in pasture, four pounds of white clover, and four pounds of trefoil per acre, besides grass seeds, should be sown with the red clover.‘Add 4lb of perennial clover, with <“ some rib grass, and good hay seeds.—S. Should ever the increase of fruit, by furnishing a larger proportion of the beverage of mankind, lessen the demand for barley(of which a wish is expressed under the article Orchards(see Orchards): then a very proper course of crop- ping light lands would be, wheat after the early eaten tur- nips, and clover upon the wheat in the spring, which would be r. turnips, 2, wheat, 3. clover, 4. wheat, on part of the land; and, 1. turnips, 2. barley, 3. clover, 4. wheat, on the other part; and these courses might be varied alternately; and such a circumstance would greatly increase the growth of wheat, upon the best possible preparation, as observed turnips are early eaten off, the land should be sown with wheat, which would succeed on sound land at any time to the middle of February 5 clover may be sown amongst such wheat in the spring; and succeeds equally well with that sown with barley; and there can be no better possible preparation for wheat on light land, than the process used for raising a turnip crop, and such crop early eaten on the land by sheep, and young cattle. * Wheat should be sown by all means, if marl, or good stiff soil can be laid on in any quantity, to refresh and stiffen the soil_—s, bem a ——-_ 7 | H : 50 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY above: and might be brought about by a more general enle tivation of orchards, and the right sorts of fruit trees. Thirdly, mixed soils, con npounded of, or inclining to sand, gravel, or clay; the bottom various, sand, gravel, clay, marl, or rock; including the thin black soils, anil the calcareous -soils, or those on, limestone. The mixed soils on a gravel or clay bottom are very sub- ject to be springy. The water being pent in by beds of clay, is very apt to break,out upon the surface through the gravelly stratums, and in wet seasons to starve and destroy whatever crop may be upon the ground; and this defect is extremely common upon most soils composed of a mixture of sand o1 gravel, or clay; and the intercepting of such springs, and conveying away their water by hollow drains, is a very ex- tensive and important part of agricultural improvement, equal in these respects to the draining of fenny land, at least in this county: and to the credit of the present occupiers be it recorded, that great exertions have been of late years made, and are still making in this species of improvement. Fallowing for wheat is practised on cold, wet, or strong lands by the best farmers, and is doubtless absolutely neces- sary on all lands improper for turnips,(which all lands are, that are not sufficiently dry to eat them on the ground by stock, for in such lands the poaching and treading in carrying of the turnips, will do much more injury to the land than the turnips are worth); and he who shall attempt to manage such land without fallowing, will have occasion to repent his mistake. The writer of this acknowledges himself to have been once a sufferer by too implicit a confidence in the opposite theory. Fatlowing is necessary, because the roots of the perennial grasses, such as couch grass, vulgarly here called squitch, cannot be sufficiently weakened or extirpated without repeated summer ploughings; and without such ex- tirpation it is in vain to sow wheat or other grain, because such grain will be much injured, and in some seasons, par- ticularly in a wet one, be choked by the increase of such grasses. The grass roots, called here squitch, are not of any ee q 4 4 q Hi OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 51 one individual particular grass, but of several of the perennial grasses. What iscalled the black squitch, so troublesome in dry arable land, is an agrastis or bent grass, usually referred to the agrostis capillaris: but Mr. Curtis assured me in Lon- don, this spring, that this grass is not the capillaris, and that in his next arrangement of the grasses he shall call this squitch grass the agrastis repens. The creeping red-stalked bent grass (agrostis stolonifera) is the worst squitch grass on strong wet lands. The dog’s grass(triticum repens) is the squitch grass of gardens. The tall oat grass or bulbous-rooted squitch grass is very troublesome, and if suffered alive in the ground in wet seasons, will increase prodigiously, and choke any crop. The creeping soft grass(holcus mollis), and several others of the perennial grasses, will interfere with the growth of corn; andas they have all the habit, in some degree, of es- tablishing themselves in the ground when it lays in turf, summer fallowing becomes necessary for their extirpation, previous to sowing wheat, as this extirpation can be only very partially effected by hoeing, or in any other way than by repeated deep summer ploughings; and as the mixed soils now in question, which are too moist for turnips, havea par- ticular propensity to the production of these grasses, summer fallowing becomes absolutely necessary, and every attempt to crop without it, for any length of time, on such land, has terminated to the injury of the land, and the loss of the oc- cupier.~ The usual culture and course of crops on the mixed soils of this neighbourhood are, first, fallow with four ploughings and manured with dung or lime, or both, or marl and dung, and sown with wheat. Secondly, the wheat stubble pin- fallowed, that is, ploughed in autumn, and laid dry, cross ploughed in March, and harrowed down, and ploughed up and sown with barley in April, with clover and other seeds, and then laid two ro more years in grass’; after which it 1s * These remarks on fallowing are evidently the result of observa-~ tion and experience.—-Mr, Boys. EK 2 60 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY << ege new laid, which, I think, preserves my wheat from “‘the smut. If afterwards used for drilling, it should. be <¢ spread on a floor to be dried before it is used, to prevent € “~ it from sticking together, and should not be dried with lime, ra € as in the common broad-cast way. “< There are four farmers within one mile of me, that use € n the drill machine; and all their drilled crops now growing ~ € look better and much preferable to their broad-cast: but & “A speaking for myself, I give the preference to drilling, which ¢ will be seen by the following account of my crops, now ‘ growing as under, and in which the drilled look far better <¢ than the broad-cast. In short, the drill has far exceeded “¢ the broad-cast each year I have used it, besides leaving my ‘land, where I can hoe it, cleaner from weeds. CROPS OF THE PRESENT YEAR, 1794. Drilled Broad-cast, acres, AGES Wheat-- 18-- y| Barley=~ isi e a I Peas=# 9 is Oats+ s a y te Total= 44-- II Total 55 acres. I shall just observe, that Mr. Hig rally a good deep light loam; and gs’s arable land is gene- that other farmers who have tried the drill machine, generally speak in favour of the practice. Respecting the advantages of drilling, and its superiority to broad-cast sowing, the following advantages are obvious: 1. The vacant spaces between the rows can be much easier cleaned by the hoe, than between the plants in broad-cast sowing. 2. The seed is laid in at a more proper and equal depth than by the harrows; and 3. A saving of seed may be tS ‘ SS —————— aaa OF STAFFORDSHIRE.° Ot effected of, I believe, one-fourth of the whole. In some other respects, theoretically considered, the broad-cast sowing should seem to have’ the advantage. For 1. The young plants’ promiscuously disposed will have a less distance to draw their nourishment, and will occupy the whole extent beneath the surface with less effort, and with shorter root fibres, than when crowded in rows with open spaces between. operation, and less liable to be obstructed by change of weather, or showers. 3. In the case of sowing grass seeds with barley, which is or should be always practised, the ad- vantage of hoeing is lost; and in the steeping of wheat for sowing, the drying with limeis lost; in which probably a great part of the health of the operation consists; and the drying by spreading the seed on a floor, seems tedious, and a work of time. It is further to be observed, that for land to be fit for drilling, it should be clean from root-weeds, and in a fine state of culture. I have heard a very sensible experienced broad- cast farmer remark, that when his land is in that state, he can 2.,'The broad-cast sowing is rather more simple and easy in do anything with it, or get a good crop in any way. I have just further to remark, that I did some years back attempt the drill system, with a view of ascertaining how far foul land, or such as wanted fallowing, could be cleaned by hoeing between the tows, hoping there might be a possibi- lity of precluding the necessity of summer fallowing; but not succeeding to my mind in this particular,[ declined the practice.[ would not wish by any means to be under- stood to have the least wish to discountenance the attempts of others, as I consider the practice of drilling and hoeing the fields in‘a good style as a very neat mode of culture; and he must always be esteemed an improver of the agri- culture of his country, who shall obviate the difficulties at+ tending the drill, and the objections to it, so as to render it of more general utility to the united kingdoms. Mr. Miller, Dunstall, is a friend to the drill husbandry, which he practises on a considerable scale. He has some barley this season which promises to be an excellent crop: 62 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY it is but justice, however, to remark, that the broad-cast in the same field is equally good. Seed-time and Harvest.—The seed time in this coun- ty commences in March, and should always be finished in April; but sometimes in some places hangs on through a great part of May. The hay harvest is from the middle of June tothe end of July. Corn harvest is in August and September; but in some early seasons peas, oats, and barley, have been harvested about the end of July. Steeping of Seed.—The steeping or pickling of seed wheat previous to sowing, is pretty generally practised here, and its propriety established by the most weighty of all argu- ments, namely, by the most decisive experimental proofs of its good effect in preventing the smut. Various ways are used. That most generally approved is, to immerse the wheat in a brine of salt and water, or urine, mixed up strong enough to swim a new-laid egg; and then stirring it well up, to skim off whatever swims on the surface; and after taking it out, or letting off the brine, to dry it with quick lime to a state for sowing. In this process the hydrostatical 1m- provement of the seed is evident, by separating from it every seed and grain deficient in specific gravity 5 and J have never known or heard a well-authenticated instance of its failure in completely preventing the smut; a disease in wheat which whoever is well acquainted with, must think serious indeed. The ingredients here used carry with them the idea of health, and are worth all the expence and labour as manure.* Weeds.—The weeds to which arable land is subject, are a great plague to the plough farmer, and it is chiefly to their predominance that the necessity of summer fallowing is to be attributed. The following are the principal weeds that the plough land of this county is most subject to, in which those before enumerated as pasture weeds are omitted. 1. Couch grass, called here squitch, that plague and curse to arable cultivation. The term squitch signifies the roots of * Another great advantage attending this practice, is gained by OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 63 perennial grasses; of no one particular, but of several sorts; particularly the bent grasses(agrostis’s), the dog’s grass(tri- ticum repens), creeping soft grass(holcus mollis), tall oat grass(avena elatior), and some others.* The roots of these are sometimes so interwoven with the soil in hard tilled worn out land, as to form a perfect mat, and to choke the plough: they abound most in light and mixed soils, and are only to be destroyed by repeated summer ploughings, or by forking them out and burning them. 2. Coltsfoot(fussilago farfara), very apt to abound in hard tilled land. Lord Hawke informed me at the Board of Agriculture,“ that the only time to destroy this weed is by “¢ cutting it up in those months when it begins to throw its “« flower; at which time, if so cut, it will bleed to death.”+ These months are February or March. Neglected at this time, it will soon after ripen its seed, which, furnished by nature with feathers or wings, flies all over the country, and therefore establishes itself very quickly on banks of earth newly thrown up. This weed may be considerably weak- ened by repeated summer ploughings, and may then, for the greatest part, be weeded out, as the ground is thus rendered live. 2. Common or way thistle, cursed thistle, or saw wort (serratula arvensis), growing everywhere, may be weakened by good tillage and weeding, but not totally destroyed. This weed seems almost naturally produced by the soil, in consequence of the curse,‘* thorns also and thistles shall it ‘‘ bring forth unto thee;” yet doubtless, strictly speaking, produced only from its numerous fibrous roots, which are strictly perennial, and from its more numerous seeds, which are feathered, and can fly to any distance with the wind. rendering the grain too nz ee for grubs and other insects, and per- Hales for some small birds.—é * These roots(ai riae way the bulbous kind) breed and encourage various destructive grubs, worms and other insects: there cannot therefore be too much pains to destroy them,—S. + The root creeps under the surface amazingly fast, nothing, there- fore, short of a radical cure, will be found sufficient for this evil.—S, 29 Es: mee sat Sa ae ra Ae ] ] eR Se \ > BO =p —— — wer mic=a tz P 64 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY This plant can only be eradicated by universal agreement to cut it up before it shall seed. 4. Charlock, or chadlock.‘The yellow-flowered weed termed chadlock by the farmer, is not one individual, but three separate and distinct plants, each species more or less abounding in different places.“hey are as follow: 1. the rough-leaved chadlock, or wild mustard(sinapis nigra); 2. the smooth-leaved or wild rape(brassica napus), and a: the rough-leaved wild radish, with white flowers(rapha- nus raphanistrum}).“These plants are all annuals, produced entirely from seeds, which they bear in great abundance, and which seeds will lie in a clod as safe as in a granary, and ve- getate at the end of twenty years, when ploughed up and ex- posed to moisture. These intruders are only to be extirpated by ploughing them under when the field is fallow, or by weeding them out of the crop before their seed shall have been ripened; for if suffered to perfect and shed their seed, each single plant will produce an hundred; the farmer should therefore carefully prevent this by weeding or hoeing them out in time., ‘¢ One year’s seeding makes seven years weeding,’ is an apophthegm which should be strongly imprinted in the far- mer’s memory. The increase of the above and some other of our field weeds, when they are permitted to shed their seed, ts beyond all calculation. 5s. Ivy-leaved speedwel(veronica hederifolia), sometimes very much abounding amongst wheat very earlyin the spring, but seeding and leaving the ground early, and perhaps not much injuring the crop, would probably be best destroyed by working and pulverizing the fallows very early in the season, which would occasion the seeds to vegetate, and the plant would be destroyed by ploughing it under, without giving it time to perfect its seeds. 6. White darnel(Jolium temulentum) is produced from seed sown from wheat, to prevent which great care should betaken. This weed is extremely prolific, and very injurious to a wheat crop when growing, and to its value at market: OF STAFFORDSHIRE: 65 it is an annual plant, which may be avoided. by attention in the choice of seed. 7. Goosegrass, catchweed, or cleavers, called here Eriff al, but(galium aparine). I have known this plant very troublesome It less in a wheat crop, twining and crawling up the straw or.stem, EMEnt ty d Weed L. the but is not very common in well managed land. pra); 8. Bindweed(convolvulus arvensis); a troublesome para- ; and sitical weed, but not so abundant here as I have seen it in apha- some of the chalk counties. uced 9g. Shepherd’s needle, here beggar’s needle(scandix pecten and Veneris); sometimes very abundant in hard-tilled land, and ie- its seed not easily separated from corn in dressing or win-~ \- nowing. ed to. Common chickweed*(alsine media) abounds most in 7 Jand rendered fine by repeated ploughings. i 11. Pale arsmart or lakeweed(palygonum pensylvanicum) } abounds most in wet seasons, on moist land. i 12. Black bindweed, or bearbind(polygonum conveluulus). ‘ This is also a parasitical plant, twining round any thing it can lay hold of. Dr. Withering recommends it for cul- ; tivation, preferring it to buckwheat, to which it is nearly : allied. ‘ 13. Bladder champion(cucudulus behen); often growing amongst barley on light land. 14. Cockle(agrostemma githago). Care should be taken not to sow this weed, it being very injurious. 15. Corn poppy(papaver rhoeas); sometimes very abun- dant on light land in dry seasons, and a pretty sure indica- tion of a light crop. 16. Corn crowfoot(ranunculus arvensis). Lhave seen this Ng, not oye iN dnt nd the wyittott* It may be worthy of remark, that chickweed is an excellent out- of-door barometer: when the flower expands boldly and fully, the farmer,&c. need not be apprehensive of rain for 4 hours, or upwards; vod{rom if it continues in that open siate, no rain will disturb the summer’s day; ey when it half conceals its miniature flower, the day is generally showery; but when it entirely shut: p, or veils the white flower with its green yfi0US mantle, let the traveller put on his great Coat, and the farmer, with ia his beasts of the plough, rest from their labour.—Rey, S. Shaw. 4 boul fe§ nate if aie i 66 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY plant so abundant, as to be very injurious toa wheat crop on strong moist land. 17. Dead nettle(/amium purpureum); abounding some- times, and on some lands, in wet seasons. 18. Bugle(ajuga reptans); common in wet seasons. 19. Shepherd’s purse(thlaspi-bursa-pastoris), well known sometimes as a troublesome weed. 20. Fumitory(fumaria officinalis); abounding sometimes on land in fine tillage, but not very pernicious. a1. Tare(ervum tetraspermum) a terrible enemy to a wheat crop where it abounds. Care should be taken to purge land intended for wheat, of this plant, by fallowing and repeatedly ploughing and harrowing fine, all land sub- ject to it previous to sowing the wheat. The seeds are good food for pigeons and poultry. 22. Groundsel(senecia vulgaris); a garden weed, but not uncommon in cornfields in a good soil. It should be de- stroyed previous to shedding its seed, by weeding out or ploughing under: its seeds ripen rapidly,:and fly over a country by the wind. It abounds in the hop grounds in Kent, and is considered there as a sign of land in good condition. 23. Corn marigold(chrysanthemum segetum); sometimes very troublesome and injurious to a crop. 24. Stinking chamomile or may-weed(anthemis cotula); a disagreeable and troublesome weed. 25. Knapweed, or blue buttons(centaurea’s of sorts); not easily prevented or destroyed on some lands. 26. Corn horsetail(equisetum arvensis); a hardy peren- nial root weed, not easily destroyed. 24. Female fern(pteris aquilina) abounds most in very dry, sandy land. Summer fallowing well managed has a tendency to ex- tirpate all sorts of weeds; for the pulverizing of the soil by frequent ploughings and harrowings, combined with the ef- fects of dews, showers, and the solar warmth, disposes the seeds, roots, and prolific principles of all plants to vegetation; OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 67 which vegetation being effected, and the young plant ina growing state, it is completely destroyed by the next plough- ing: this several times repeated, purges the land of weeds, and its whole vegetative force is in consequence directed to the support of the particular vegetable whose seed is thrown in by the cultivator; or should a few weeds remain unde- stroyed, they are to be drawn out, or cut up by weeding. Upon these considerations are founded two very obvious and just principles of practical agriculture, viz. 1. the necessity of summer fallowing foul land; 2. the propriety of being very careful in the choice of seed. CHAP..V ELL. GRASS. SeEcT. 1.— Natural Meadows and Pastures. THE natural situation of meadow and pasture land, is on the sloping sides of vales, where the sediment of water from the upland has for numberless ages been accumulating and increasing the soil; and‘the stagnant water, for an equal length of time, has in the lower parts accumulated the in- creasing roots of aquatic vegetables into regular beds or stra- tums of peat; by. the complete drainage of such peat a fer- mentation is brought:on, and its surface is’ converted into vegetable mould, which’ by top-dressing, consolidating by rolling, and the other operations of agriculture, is rendered productive of grass, and becomes meadow land; as by these operations, the vegetable matter of the peat(which before was in an inert state) is brought into action, and an improv- ed peat‘moss, in length of time, becomes valuable meadow land. That part of a vale which is composed of sediment of FF 68 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY water brought from the uplands, is, however, generally richer, and produces herbage of a better staple, than that whose origin is from decayed aquatic vegetables. Some of the richest meadow land in this county, or in the kingdom, has originated from the sediment brought thither by water accumulating and increasing from the beginning of time. It may be ranked amongst the bountiful dispensations of providence, that this kind of land, though generally unfit for corn or cultivation, is of all others the most productive of grass and hay; yielding sustenance for cattle through the summer and the winter, and producing an everlasting souree of manure for the improvement of the adjoining upland. In all cases of extensive inclosures, the improvement of the vale land, or that formed by nature for meadow and pasture, should be first attended to. The low lands adjoining all our rivers and brooks, come naturally under this head of meadows and pastures, as welf as considerable tracts of flat land, which, by the backing on of water in former times, have acquired a stratum of peat on their surface. Considerable tracts of meadow land, lying near the larger brooks and rivers, are improved and kept in sufficient heart by the natural overflow of the streams; but this advantage is enjoyed at the risk of having the whole crop occasionally swept away by untimely floods, a misfortune too, which oc- curs pretty frequently. The fertile meadows on the banks of the Dove are an ob- ject considerably interesting. This river, which separates for many miles the counties of Stafford.and Derby, rises from springs under the limestone hills of the Moorlands and the Peak; and at‘times receives an amazing addition from tor- rents rushing down those hills after heavy rains or the melt- ing of snow. Its channel has a great declivity, and in many places this river comes tumbling over the rocks in cascades; and in its greatest swell pushes on with great rapidity, which continues to below Rocester, where the water has a greyish cast, apparent to the eye, from its being impregnated rally thar of mM, er OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 6g with calcareous earth, to which undoubtedly may be attri- buted the extraordinary fertility of its banks. For after re- ceiving the Churnet, a considerable stream from a part of the Moorlands, not abounding with limestone, its water becomes diluted; and although its banks still continue ex- cellent, yet they visibly decline in richness, and the extra- ordinary fertility ceases. Immense quantities of limestone are found both on the banks and in the channel of the Dove, in the first part of its course: this limestone has fallen in length of time from precipices, which overhang the river. The fertility of land on the upper parts of this river, about and above Rocester, is, and always has been proverbial, “as rich as Dove;” being an epithet applied to any spot highly forced.* This land has a perpetual verdure, and the spring-floods of this river‘are very gratifying to the land- occupiers, who have this proverb, ¢ in April Dove’s flood “is worth a king’s good.” It is also said of Dove banks in spring, that a stick laid down there over-night shall not be found next morning for grass. It is very certain this river fertilizes its banks like another Nile; but sometimes rises so high in twelve hours as to carry off sheep and cattle, to the great alarm of the inhabitants, and in as few hours abates, and returns again within its own channel. Below Rocester, where this river receives the Churnet, the plain spreads very wide, and continues so with variations to below Uttoxeter: the plain here on either side the river is com- posed of deep rich mellow loam, impregnated with, if not wholly formed of, a rich sediment of mud and calcareous earth.‘The herbage is very fine, without any mixture of rushes or aquatic plants. The grasses are of the common sorts: but the foxtail, the vernal-grass, the poa’s, the dog’s- tail,-and the meadow éromus’s predominate. It contains also rib-grass, meadow and white clover, upright crowfoot, and the common herbage of other meadows: not without a * The farmers are accustomed to say, that it is scarce possible to over-stock a few acres of Dove land.—Rev. Stelbing Shaw. 70 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY mixture of the cursed or common thistle, or saw-wort, (serratula arvensts,) so common in every soil and country. The plain within reach of the floods of Dove, extends in some places to near a mile in breadth, particularly opposite Uttoxeter, and amounts to several thousand acres, almost entirely pastured with cows, sheep, and some horses; very little of it being mown for hay. The uncertainty and sud- denness of the floods make the risk of hay too great. The rent of the Dove land generally rises to near forty shillings per acre; and I was informed by an eminent grazier on the spot, that were it not for the inconvenience of floods, the Jand equally rich as at present, would be worth ten shillings per acre more, even for grazing: as it sometimes requires a sharp look-out to preserve the stock from drowning, even when there has been little or no rain on the spot. A sudden rain or melting of the snow on the Moorland or Peak hills is sufficient to inundate large breadths of land near this river: as the declivity or fall is great, the swell of water is sudden, but soon over, and the largest floods continue but a few hours. It is to be remembered, however, that the ex- traordinary fertility of these lands is owing to this circum- stance, however complained of as an inconvenience. The most remarkable wild or native plants, that I noticed growing near the Dove, were, 1. Wild rape(4rassica napus); as luxuriant as any[| ever saw cultivated. 2. Tansy(tanacetum vulgaris.) 3. Water mustard(erisymum barbarea.) 4. Butterburr(tusszlaga petasites.) 5- Jack by the hedge(erisymum alliaria.) 6. Hemlock(con:um maculatum.) 4. Figwort, or water betony(scrophularia aquatica.) The following is a list of our principal spontancous pas- ture and meadow herbage, in which each species is placed in rank according to the writer’s conception of its merit; but such superiority being matter of opinion, may possibly , ae ee SS OF STAFFORDSHIRE. on be varied and otherwise decided by future experience and observation. 1. Meadow grasses(poa pratensis et trivialis.) 2.* Annual meadow grass(poa annua,) a sweet and fine grass, but not very productive, might with propriety be termed poa quadrans annua, asit will produce and reproduce itself by its own seed four times a year. Could the seed be procured in sufficient quantities, it is certainly well worthy of cultiva- tion, producing in quick succession an infinity of blades of grass, and being a sweet and fine pasturage. 3. Meadow fescue(/estuca pratensis.) 4. Foxtail grass(alopecurus pratensis et agrestis.) 5- Soft grass(halcus lanatus.) 6. Dog’s-tail grasses(cynosurus cristatus et echinatus.) 7. Vernal grass(anthoxanthum edoratum;) fine, sweet, and early, but not very productive. 8. Rough cock’s-foot grass+(dactylus glomeratus;) coarse but very productive, and by some much esteemed; pro- bably makes good hay intermixed with the other finer grasses. g. Water meadow grass(psa aquatica) grows very tall, to six feet high and upwards, extremely productive; very common by the sides of streams, in hedges, and sometimes in pretty broad patches on water meadows. Mr. Curtis informs me this grass is cultivated in the Isle of Ely, and it is probably well worthy of attention in proper situations. to. Reed canary grass(phalaris arundinacea,) rather finer than: the last, but stalky, very tall and preductive,| equally common, or rather more so than the last; in the province of Scandia, they mow it twice a year; and their cattle eat it: Linnzus. It is probably worthy of cultivation in some *¢¢ Oy Suffolk grass; this seeds three, or four times a year, after «¢ which the old root dies.’’—S. +‘‘ As this grass vegetates much quicker, and in much greater luxuriance than any other on dry land, and is eagerly eaten by all sorts of cattle when young, it might answer to cultivate a flat, of sround with it to be cut for green food, and if kept in good: heart would bear mowing three times in the season,’’-—S. 92 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY situations: a variety of this grass, with beautifully striped leaves, is cultivated in our gardens; painted lady grass, or ladies traces. 11. Meadow oat grass(avena pratensis.) The above grasses are certainly all well worthy of trial in cultivation; the following also are comm pastures. under the name of on in meadows and 12. Bent grasses of sorts(agrostis’s, principally the capi/- laris alba et stolonifera.) These, though valuable in meadows, are very noxious. and troublesome in arable land, being the basis of that curse to the plough farmer, the black, or beg- garly, couch or squitch grass. These grasses are so hardy, that they will grow in any soil, moist or dry; and the more Jand is run out, beggared, or impoverished by hard tillage, the more they will run in the root and abound. 13. Tall oat grass(avena elatior)."This, though a trou- blesome weed in arable land,(being the knobby or bulbous- rooted couch grass) is yet probably worthy of cultivation in meadows, being very hardy, productive, and flourishing in all seasons; it makes good hay intermixed with other finer grasses. 14. Dogs couch, or squitch grass(triticum repens and caninum) S. not very common in meadows and pastures, but chiefly abounding in gardens and hedges. The common squitch grass of arable lands has been often erroneously called by this name. 15. Flote grass(festuca fluitans); generally growing in water, it is a sweet and good herbage, and very productive. Many a poor old horse has been bogged in searching for this grass, of which they are remarkably fond. Remark of a bo- tanical friend: geese are very fond of the seeds of this grass, and well know where to look for them, and ducks more So; itis difficult to collect the seeds, or they would be very valuable. on Many accounts.—J.: 16. Water hair grass(4?ra aquatica); generally grows in water, and is common here; it excéeds all the other grasses and most of our native plants, ina palatable sweetness, PE Ss Eas é( of TERT ee Sr PAPA RENT La eo eee os OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 3 nearly resembling liquorice; cows are very fond of it, horses and‘sheep eat it. The other most common grasses are, Timothy grass (phleum pratense), hair grass(arra cespitosa), quake grass (briza media), brome: grass(bromus erectus, arvensis, et ste- rilis), meadow barley grass(bordeum pratense), creeping soft grass(holcus mollis): also in wet, boggy, or swampy situa- tions, various sorts of seg grasses, provincially hard grass, iron grass, carnation grass,(carex’s): these, upon draining and top-dressing their native bogs, generally give way to the more valuable grasses. The other principal meadow herbage, valuable for hay and pasturage, is, r. The meadow or cow clover(a variety of the trifolium pratense); the seed of which is professed to be sold under the name of cow grass. 2. Long-leaved perennial clover(marl grass of Hudson,* trifolium flexuosum); common in hedges and ditch banks in the clayey soil in the parish of Blymhill. Being perennial, and growing spontaneously in strong soils, the Rev. Mr, Dickenson highly recommends the cultivation of it in such soils mixed with common clover and ray grass. This plant is also common here upon mixt gravelly loam, sometimes in shady, and sometimes in open situations; but having a dis- position naturally to propagate itself by running in the root, I am afraid its seed will not ripen in sufficient quantity for any considerable scale of cultivation: the attempt of raising its seed is, however, well worth making. 3. Trailing trefoil(trifolium procumbens); a sweet, fine, and good herbage. 4. Bird’s foot trefoil(Jotus corniculatus); in all situations, open and shady, moist and dry, apparently worthy of culti- *(Trifolium angustifohum) Mr. Sneyd: if this clover had the ad- vantage of tillage, it would be nearly as profitable as lucerne in the broad-cast cultivation, on account of the length and succulence of its stalks, and would last much longer im the ground than any other clo- ver, except the white, which spreads itself by its runners.—S. ,| 94 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY vation.’ A single attempt of mine to raise:a garden bed failed; the seed of my own gathering never vegetated. 5. Perennial tufted vetch(vicia cracca); excellent pastu- rage, and a good mixture in hay; not uncommon in hedges and meadows; highly worthy of cultivation. This peren- nial vetch is distinguished from the common annuals by its long fruit stalk, upon which the flowers and pods are sup- ported at a distance from the stem; whereas those of the annuals are short and close to the stalk. 6. Meadow vetchling(/athyrus pratensis); in hedges and meadows; common. For the cultivation of this plant a premium has been offered, I believe, by the Bath Agricul- ture Society; yet there is reason to think that cattle are not fond of it, I having often observed it untouched on the hedge- side of a stocked pasture: it is probably most proper as.a mixture in grasses for hay, and possibly eaten by cattle mixed with grasses. 47. Meadow burnet*(sangutsorba officinalis);, common and plentiful in some meadows; also growing very luxuriantly in cold and very poor wet upland, particularly on Bentley estate near Walsall, and between Walsall Wood and Can- nock Heath: a hint from nature that it should be cultivated on such land, as it certainly should, if its seed can be pre- served in sufficient quantity. 8. Meadow sweet(spirea ulmaria) 3 coarse, but not dis- esteemed by some. The farina or dust of the ripe blossoms of this plant, which is very abundant, is also, I have been told, an excellent styptic, and has been used with great suc- cess in stopping hemorrhages. 9g. Cow weed(cherophyllum sylvestre); has an uncouth and weed-like appearance, resembling hemlock, but paler in colour; is very common in some meadows and pastures, and has been used as a pot herb, according to Curtis. Cows are so fond of it, that when a pasture is overrun with it, as is often the case about Dudley, they always turn them in to eat * So named from its styptic quality.—S. Ss ges es OF STAFFORDSHIRE. ns it up, as observed by Mr. Wainwright, in Withering’s Bo- tany. It is very common about Wolverhampton and Wed- nesfield. Cows eat it greedily, and, I believe, it is whole some for them. 10. Meadow sorrel(rumex acetosa); common in meadows. All sorts of cattle eat it, and I doubt not that its acid is grate- ful and wholesome to them, and I believe it to be good her- bage. 11. To these I shall add the crowfoots(ranunculus’s), so very abundant in our meadows and pastures, and which, though in themselves so acrid and pungent, are notwith- standing most certainly a grateful and desirable admixture. They seem intended as seasoners and correctors, and to be adapted to uses in the animal economy similar to that of salt, mustard, pepper, and vinegar at our tables; to correct the flatulent or putrid qualities of the more palatable and luxu- riant dishes on the great table of nature. It is said in Wi- thering’s Botany of the ranunculus acris,* that<‘ cows and *« horses leave this plant untouched, though their pasture be “‘ ever so bare.’’ I believe this to be only true of the flower stem, or when there is not a sufficient admixture of other more palatable herbage. The following I consider as neutral plants, or such as are neither worthy the farmer’s attention to encourage their t= oO growth, nor his efforts to destroy: the foliage of many of them is eaten by cattle without injury, either green or in hay, in common with other herbage. 1. Dandelion*(/ecntodon taraxacum); very common; con- siderably diuretic; has probably a good effect upon cattle, from that quality, at their first going to grass. 2. Daisy(ellis perennis). 3. Dattodil(narcissus pseudo-narcissus). 4. Harebell, English hyacinth(hyacinthus non scriptus), * It is excellent when made hay of, with grasses and other plants.—S. * The yellow goats beard(tragopogon pratense)-has similar quali- ties—S. SS i) SS gr 46 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY / s. Fritillary(friMaria Meleagris). This very curious and rare flower, adorns in great profusion some meadows about one mile from Blymhill, in the parish of Wheaten- Aston, as observed to me by the Rev. Mr. Dickenson. 6. Cowslip(primula veris). 7. Primrose(primula vulgaris), 8. Lady-smocks, several sorts(cardamines); principally the pratensis and hirsuta; the foliage probably wholesome food, and good in hay.—S. g. Wood or meadow anemone(anemone nemorosa); very common here in meadows; the flowers fold up in a curi- ous manner against rain; the whole plant is acrid: when sheep that are unaccustomed to it eat it, it brings on a bloody flux, as observed in Withering’s Botany. 10. Goose grass(gallium palustre et uliginasum) called goose grass, from geese being very fond of them,—S, 11, Bistort(polygonum bistorta); common in moist mea- dows; also in very high pasture ground at Essington, in the parish of Bushbury,‘The root is one of the strongest vege- table astringents, as Withering informs us. If it would tan leather it would be worthy of cultivation, the root being productive, and the species prolific. This plant in some places wholly occupies large patches of ground, to the injury of better herbage, 12. Cinquefoils(potentilla verna et reptans). 13. Meadow rue(thalictrum flavum); In a meadow on my farm in considerable quantity. 14. Valerian(valeriana officinalis), 15. Orchis’s, several sorts. 16. Meadow boot(caltha palustris). 17. Ladies mantle(alchemilla vulgaris). 18. Yarrow(a¢hillea millefalium). Sheep and cattle eat it, and it is recommended for cultivation on poor land, by Anderson. 19. Restharrow(ononis arvensis); rather to be extirpated than encouraged, though cattle will eat it when young, and it is very productive. The roots of it are very troublesom¢ ea Cm OF STAFFORDSHIRE.“9 in arable land, being strong, and almost stopping the plough. In some of the chalk counties I have observed a worse kind still, v7z. the prickly, thorny, or spiny restharrow(ononts spi- nosa), but I have never found any in Staffordshire except the smooth plant first named. 20. Yellow rattle(rhinanthus crista galli), called also penny grass, from the flat round shape of the seeds, which are very nutritive.—S. a1. Red rattle or louse wort(pedicularis sylvatica). This should rather have been classed amongst weeds or noxious plants, as Withering says of it, that if the healthiest flock of sheep be fed with it, they become scabby and scurvy in a short time, the wool gets loose, and they will be overrun by vermin: it is, doubtless, a bad plant, but may be weakened or destroyed by draining the land. 22. Eyebright(euphrasia officinalis et odontites). 23. Veronica’s, several sorts. 24. Purging flax(linum catharticum). 25. Centaury(Chironia centaurium). 6. White saxifrage(saxifraga granulata); on meadows in the Moorlands. These are the most common; many others are omitted. Some of them have their known uses; to others no attention is paid, but what they claim from the beauty of their flow- ers; and, perhaps, as Dr. Withering has observed, a display of beauty may have been, in some measure, the design of the great Creator. Weeds, or noxious plants, common in pasture and mea- dow land, which the farmer’s industry should be employed in destroying and extirpating are, 1. Dock(rumex crispus); to be destroyed only by perseve- rance in rooting up. 2. Thistles of sorts(carduus’s), particularly the /anceola- tus palustris and pratensis: they should be cut off within the ground, or rooted up. 3. Nap weed(centaurea nigra et scabiosa) should be rooted or cut up, being useless and unsightly. “8 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY 4. Ramsons(a//um ursinum), meadows at Horsebrook and elsewhere, gives a garlick flavour to milk. 5. Goose tansy, silver weed, or feathered cinquefoil (potentilla anserina); common in many pastures, but gene- rally untouched by cattle; should therefore be extirpated to make room for better herbage. 6. Rushes of sorts(juncus’s) 3 a sure indication of stagnant water, and that the land wants draining. 7. White dead nettle(damium alba). 8. Hogweed,* or cow parsnip(heracleum). This plant (Variety 2. the angustifalium) is very abundant in an upland mowing meadow. near Dudley Castle; and though I be- lieve cattle will eat it without injury, yet it is certainly toe Coarse and weed-like to be suffered to abound in well ma- naged land. g- Wild carrot(daucus carota). 10. Dog’smercury(Mercurialis perennis); very common in the sides of hedges. Withering’s Botany says this plant is noxious to sheep; whichif true, some pains should be be- stowed in its extirpation. 11. The common, cursed, or way thistle(serratula arven-. sis); every where. The leading features of improvement to be effected by agriculture upon meadow and pasture land seems to be, 1. By draining of all boggy, swampy, and morassy spots, either by open or hollow drains. 2. By improving the herbage where rough and coarse, either by weeding and top-dressing, or by pulverizing and seeding down witha judicious selection of proper seeds, and laying the surface in a form and disposition to clear itself of surface water, and receive future improvement. 3- By extending as much as possible the practice of irri- * A good plant for neat beasts, which they are very fond of when cut young. If this plant had the advantage of tillage it would answer well to the farmer, and would bear cutting two or three times in the season.—S, ————— eee SE” rma Ee OF STAFFORDSHIRE.“9 é gating the surface of all land capable of that improvement, with water judiciously applied, and properly taken off. 4. By top-dressing with the most ameliorating manures that can be procured. 5. By stocking at proper times, and with a properly mix ed stock; by which management the herbage being closely bitten will be! kept fine, and the surface not being trodden in or poached upon will be kept regular.“There are few spots so barren or ungrateful which by this mode will not be made useful meadow. and pasture land. Considerable attention ig at present paid to} these subjects by many spirited and judi- cious managers;\ and a)more general attention to these par- ticulars, would doubtless.be productive of the most beneficial consequences. To these may, be added, the use of heavy rollers drawn at times over the’ land, particularly in the spring season, by which means the surface is rendered close and even, the soil is pressed close to! the,,roots. of the grass; the whole is ren- dered compact andmeat.to’the'eye, and if the field be mown for hay, the‘scythe may, be laid in,close to the ground. Sect. 2.— Artificial Grasses. THE grass seeds, generally sown for laying land to per- manent pasture, ate 1. red clover(¢rifolium pratense); 2. white clover(¢rifalium repens) 5 3. trefoil(medicago lupulina); 4. ray grass(/olium perenne); also‘hay seeds collected from the loft, in which every attentive person is as careful as he can be to make a good selection, by reserving the hay seeds from the produce of lands the cleanest from weeds. In ad- dition, many persons, with a laudable view to improvement, have attempted to. introduce fresh grass seeds; particularly, first, the meadow or cow clover: but I believe there are few, if any, instances here wherein it has not turned out to be the usual biennial clover. 2. Burnet(potertum sangutsorba) has been sown. by many ee 80 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY persons of late years, and by some on a broad scale. I know it from experience to be a valuable addition to cow pastures, hardy, and strictly perennial. Cows prefer it to clover, and it is doubtless wholesome for them: sheep and horses prefer clover; and it is by no means so productive as the broad- leafed red clover. A very attentive friend and neighbour* of mine, who keeps a very large dairy, and has for some years back sown large quantities of this plant, is so very partial to it, that he would this year have sown ten hundred weight of the seed, could he have procured it. It is certainly a good mixture with other herbage, with which it but little inter- feres, drawing its nourishment deep from the earth by a long tap root. It is a native of some of the midland counties, upon dry calcareous soils, particularly Rutlandshire, where it abounds spontaneously in common fields, road sides, and even upon commons wholly uncultivated, it is a very differ- ent plant to the meadow burnet(sanguisorba officinalis), springing out and flowering some months earlier. I have since found it indigenous in the Moorlands of Staffordshire, particularly on the Weaver-hills, and between Wetton and Warslow;t also abundantly on Salisbury Plain. 3. Sainfoin(hedysarum onabrychis) has been tried, but has not succeeded, and the soil is probably not adapted to it. It prospers best on thin-skinned limestone.—S. 4. Lucerne(medicago sativa) has had several small experi- ments.[t requires cleaning with a good deal of care for the two or three first years, after which you can scarcely destroy it.{ I had early this spring a garden bed of this plant dug under(being tired of it), which notwithstanding is now shooting out vigorously. There is some reason to dispute its superiority to red clover, either in quality or bulk of pro- duce. 5. Rib grass(plantago lanceolata) is also sown in consider- * Mr. Miller. + Also in Dovedale, chiefly growing on limestone.—S.: T It must always be kept clean, and sometimes manured; it always answers best transplanted,—S, know tures, , and refer oad- ur* ears al to at of rood ter- ng always OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 81 able quantities, and by many approved as a good mixture with clover and ray grass. There is good authority for as- serting that cattle will not eat its leaves alone; but it is be- lieved to be a grateful mixture with other herbage.* None of the native individual grasses have, to my know- ledge, been cultivated in this county, except the ray grass before named, and the oat grass(romus mollis), though many of them are apparently much more worthy of it. The quantity and extent of our permanent meadow and pasture land might be much increased by a more general at- tention to all streams and rills of water, and by drawing them along higher levels, which would enable the occupier to water all lands below such level; this would render such land more productive of pasturage and hay, and would enable the farmer to cultivate a larger proportion of the upland for corn, this subject will be farther treated on, Chap. XII. Sect. 5. Article Watering. Sect. 3.—Hay Harvest. Tue hay harvest of this county is mostly in July; upon regular farms the artificial grasses, clover and ray grass, are generally cut first, and the meadow grasses follow; on the highly forced lands in the neighbourhood of large towns, the meadow grass is somewhat earlier than in the country; the seasoning or making of clover and ray grass into hay is as follows; after mowing, the swathes are suffered to remain till they are well dried on the upper side, they are then turned over, and the other side dried in like manner, and afterwards turned a second time if necessary, they are then got together, raked, and carried to the stack; the stalks of clover take a good deal of time to dry thoroughly, the time for which is * Rib grass, I am lately informed by a very considerable and atten- tive grazing farmer, that the greater value of this plant is in its seeds, which when formed, are eagerly sought for and greedy devoured by cattle and sheep, and that they are very nutritive. J SL SES OI COTTE eer e. 82~ AGRICULTURAL SURVEY facilitated, as well as the effectual making of it secured, by sunshine and fair weather; no other method of securing clo- ver from the weather is(that I know of) practised here; and it is supposed to save itself best in the swathe unbroken; a large crop 1s very bulky, and would require much labour to bind it in sheaves as has been proposed by some, but would not, I think, answer. Respecting the making of hay from meadow grass, the first operation after mowing, is spreading it all over the meadow, which is called here tedding; it is then raked into win-rows, and the win-rows farther divided into small cocks, called grass cocks; next morning(if fair weather) the grass cocks are cast about into square beds, and the vacant spaces between the beds(if any) raked clean; the beds, after turn- ing, are then put into middle sized cocks, called quarter cocks; next morning(if fair) the quarter cocks are again spread open if necessary, and turned over;_ and then put into large cocks; it is then fit for carrying tothe stack. Thetime for these operations, as well as their effect, is much facilitated and improved(as before named) by sunshine and fair weather. In showery or casualty weather, the following process is recommended as superior to the above; and is in such cases often practised; after mowing, and the swathes being somewhat seasoned, rake them clean over, when the other side is Seasoned, make them into small cocks; when the cocks are dry on the upper side turn them over, and when dried on the other side, half a dozen of them may be put together into quarter cocks, and so by degrees into large cocks; this pro- cess will require more time than the former; but will keep the hay much better protected from the weather. The injury hay sustains from rain being when it is spread all over the ground, in which case if the rain continues the hay will lose its juices and its colour; whereas if hay be in cock, with the ground bare between the cocks, it will sustain a deal of rain without injury. In the last described process the hay-mak- ing will be much facilitated by due attention to hours of sun- shine, and by then spreading about the cocks a few at a time, OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 83 or as many as the continuance of the good weather will per- mit; getting them up again hastily upon the approach of rain: I believe by diligence and due attention to this last mentioned process, hay may be preserved from sustaining much damage in almost any season. All the abovementioned operationsshould be performed when the hay is dry: it must however, be admitted that sunshine and fair weather in hay harvest are very desirable. No sainfoin hay is made in this county, and little, if any, from vetches, this latter being generally either carted green to the stable, or reserved for seed. Respecting the stacking of hay, some people carry tunnels up their hay ricks, either by drawing up a binding of wheat straw, or by actual tunnels of wood; these are meant to dis- charge a part of the vapour generated in fermentation, and thus prevent any danger of the hay firing; those who prac- tise it, remark that they can carry their hay a day or two the sooner. Many persons, and amongst them the writer hereof, never used any such precaution, nor is it necessary if the hay be sufficiently made, and put together in stacks not too wide» at bottom; I think a bottom four yards wide at beginning, is enough, if the sides be a little sloped outwards, and the stack carried to a sufficient height; the propriety of dis- charging any part of the vapour arising by fermentation, from hay stacks has been questioned by some, who think it should be smothered and retained in the hay as much as possible, and that no other precaution is necessary than due attention to the hay-making. Sect. 4.—Leeding. STAFFORDSHIRE is not considerably a feeding county, at least not in any degree comparable with the adjoining one of Leicester; yet there are some gentlemen who farm, and con- siderable farmers, who think much of the trouble of a dairy; who fatten a good many cattle, andsheep; calves, and hogs are G 2 Ge 4 7 TS pa ae That iT OTT ES TE aT a 84. AGRICULTURAL SURVEY fattened upon most farms; the horned cattle fattened here are principally heifers and cows, with no considerable pro- portion of bullocks; these are mostly bred in the county, which I suppose breeds more cattle than it consumes, as a considerable number of in part fed cattle are sold to dealers, who drive them towards the metropolis. Cattle are sometimes fatted, at others only brought for- ward by grass, and in the latter case finished by stall feeding; a heifer brought into good plight by grass will generally, on the approach of winter, come on well in a stall with turnips and straw only, but must have a plentiful allowance of the former: potatoes have been given with success, but their use for fatting cattle is not very extensive; ground barley has been given when that grain is plentiful and cheap; but otherwise only tail-end or damaged barley can be offered. Linseed oil-cake is also a good deal used, and has been long persevered in by some, and I believe answers well for stall feeding; to these may be added the other kinds of grain and pulse broken or bruised, the refuse of the flour manufactory, or what is called here sharps and gurgeons, which is the bran of wheat not wholly divested of its flour, also the bran itself. Cabbages are also given, as well as hay: cattle thus fatted are generally sold to the butcher during the winter, and before the coming on of the spring grass. Dried or barren cattle are often kept during the winter in a turnip field, with a little hay or straw given in severe weather; or kept in the turnip field in the day time, and in a yard at night; or ona turf in the day time, with an al- lowance of turnips drawn to them, and hay or straw given in the field or in the yard at night, with a tolerable allow- ance of turnips in this way, they will thrive and improve during the winter, and may be either finished fatting at the spring grass, Of sold to dealers at the early spring fairs, who buy up with avidity all such cattle, being dry, and in an A system of fatting cattle has not in gene- improved state. nor indeed ought ral been supposed to pay so well as dairying, it, as the labour is considerably less. OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 85 Sheep are fatted with the summer’s grass, or clover, the latter supposed the better pasturage for that purpose; and what are not sold during that season are kept in winter on turnips, a little hay is given in severe weather; and corn by some who are curious in their flocks; but the use of corn for this purpose is not very extensive, from the native or common breeds of sheep of the county the lambs are often sold fat; calves are oftentimes well fatted, especially during the winter, when they are suckled to 6, 8, or 10 weeks old, and sold from two to four guineas each,. A good many hogs are fatted in this county both for pork and bacon, their food generally in the country either the re- fuse of the dairy, or potatoes boiled and broken with a little barley flour beat in; also peas, and peas meal; in town va- rious kinds of offal, and the refuse of butchers’ shambles js the principal food. EE ee % 36 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY ¢ A¢ CHAP LER 1X. GARDENS AND ORCHARDS. The culture of the kitchen garden may be considered as a-branch of agriculture; but further than this, gardening is not, I think, connected with the farmer’s business; every considerable farm has, or should have, a kitchen garden of . half an acre or more, and every labourer’s tenement, cottage, and country house of every description, should have suf- ficient garden ground; for this well cultivated will produce more sustenance for mankind, than in any common system* of agriculture; and therefore is on that account, a political and public advantage; the garden plants here cultivated are I suppose the same as in all other parts of the island; cab- bages, potatoes, common and French beans and peas, are the principal garden vegetables, and perhaps the most ad- vantageous.“‘Turnips, carrots, onions and pot-herbs, are grown on a smaller scale; savoys, and some of the hardier greens, as well as beets and spinach, as they will stand the severity of our common winters, are ready for early spring use, and should therefore not be omitted; these are the staple articles of the kitchen garden; with which, as well as the less importang ones not here named, almost every one is acquainted. Fruit trees may be planted in the hedge- rows and corners, and a kitchen garden should be sur- rounded with a good fence, as well to protect it from tres- pass as to break off the cold north and east winds, and thus protect its early and tender productions from injury. I think every labourer’s tenement should have a garden of at least half an acre, which well and systematically cul- ‘tivated might much assist a family in supplying many ne- cessaries and comforts of life, which they must otherwise go without. Suppose this half acre thrown into two equal lots, the one for garden vegetables, the other for wheat | OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 87 alternately; let the garden lot be again divided in two, the one half for potatoes, the other half for cabbages, peas, beans, and other useful vegetables.* The whole might be cultivated with the spade and hoe, without loss of time; as the digging of a very little every day, morning or evening would keep the business within compass, and in the hoeing and weeding, the wife and children might assist. In this system there would be one eighth of an acre of potatoes, which might produce from forty to fifty bushels; one quarter of an acre of wheat, which drilled and hoed by hand might produce eight bushels; an hog might be kept from May to Christmas, through the summer, on the refuse of the garden, and wash, and fatted after harvest on boiled potatoes, bran from wheat, and gleaned barley; the straw of the wheat crop would furnish the hog with litter, and both together with dung for the garden; the produce of wheat in addition to gleanings might be a great resource for the labourer and his family through the winter, and with the hog a help for the year. I wish gentlemen of landed property would put these comforts in the power of the industrieus labourer, by letting them sufficient land.upon reasonable terms, as well as by some reward t or encourage- ment to those who managed in the best style, and with the least loss of time. At some intervals perhaps it might be advantageous to sow the one half with hemp; in which case the wheat * The hedge-rows and corners,, should be planted with useful fruit trees; those sorts of apples and pears which are capable of being kept for a length of time, would in pies be a cheap and whole- some food for children, and from such sorts would continue during a great part of the year, and might at times turn to better account for sale; and who could better attend to their keeping, than people in this class of life, little hurried by other avocations, and to whom such articles would be a treasure. + What pleasure might be derived by the affluent landlord,(who would bestow so much attention to rural affairs, as to give annually a store hog to the occupier in these circumstances, who managed his occupation in the neatest and most productive way,) from thus con- tributing towards the comforts of a useful class of mankind, and the improvement of that part of his estate, which might be effected by the spirit of emulation thus raised, S= Ss a \ al~ q EE RL I tre t eed PE NOR ct 88 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY stubble ridged up with the spade to lay through the winter, would on digging down in the spring be in excellent order for hemp; the wheat growing must then be omitted for one year. Hemp is very often grown in this way in Statfordshire in small yards belonging to tenements, furnishing employ for the wife and children of a family, in spinning and wind- ing; as well as linen for the convenience and comfort of the whole family; and any part of the produce that can be spared, will find ready purchasers. Orchards; the orchards of Staffordshire are inconsiderable, little or no cyder or perry is made, and upon the whole, I believe, the produce of the county is insufficient for itsown consumption even at table; this ought doubtless to be cen-~ sured as a neglect; as many soils and situations are unques- tionably well adapted for fruit of any kind: the farms and other country houses have generally fruit trees, for their own consumption; but not sufficient to supply the markets, which are principally furnished from Worcestershire; an extraordinary circumstance I have been told from good au- thority; which is, that upon a hit of fruit in Worcestershire, two thousand pounds has been paid in one season for ton- nage of apples upon the Staffordshire canal, in their way to Lancashire: the tonnage demanded is about five shillings and six pence per ton; whence the quantity conveyed must have been near cight thousand tons. The parish of Over Areley, in this county, which adjoins Worcestershire, has formerly been famous for fruit, especially apples; but the orchards have been suffered'to decline, though some recent ‘attempts have been making towards reinstating them, and the soil and aspect are doubtless well adapted for the pur- pose. The. parish| live in(Tettenhall,) has one singu- lar circumstance in the fruit way, it has produced a pecu- liar kind of pear, called Tettenhall pear, and known by no other name; many hundreds of the trees grow in this parish, though not, or scarcely to be found at all, at any con- siderable distance; the tree is large, ard a plentiful bearer, the fruit well flavoured, and bakes and boils well; but will yaa SAS aE 6 a SUT OTT A TE OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 89 not keep long enough even for carriage to any considerable distance, unless some time before they are ripe; the average annual produce of this parish is many thousand bushels, more than its own consumption; the whole duration of the pear from its becoming fit for use to its decay, about one month, during which time all the neighbouring markets are so plentifully supplied, that they often scarcely pay for picking and carrying in. This pear makes but an indif- ferent perry, and is therefore not much applied that way: in plentiful seasons, and it is seldom otherwise, large quantities are eaten by hogs, which are suffered to pick them as they fall. Upon the whole, although a plentiful produc- tion of fruit would supply an agreeable and wholesome article for the table, either in its natural state or baked in pies, as well as an excellent beverage; yet I do not by any means consider it as so certain, or staple an article as grain, and believe it would be some time before a Staffordshire farmer would be induced to pay much attention to fruit; they are even sometimes jealous of a hit in Worcestershire, as conceiving a large production of cyder and perry would affect the price of their greater favourite, barley; this how- ever, I believe, has seldom happened, the consumption ot barley in such seasons being nearly the same as at other times. Respecting the management of fruit trees, nothing is done here, but occasionally pruning, or lopping out a few of the branches when they become too thick; after all, I shall conclude this article with observing, that the planting of fruit trees has been too much neglected; and that the raising of orchards in this county may be ranked amongst its agricultural improvements, as producing an useful arti- cle little interfering with its present productions; in such a business it will naturally occur, that due attention should be paid to prcper and valuable kinds of fruit; and perhaps none are more valuable than those which produce cyder and perry of the best quality. Fruit trees might certainly be raised in pasture land, either in the fences or elsewhere, with very little injury to the present produce of such land, and i* a a go AGRICULTURAL SURVEY perhaps the increase of human beverage from fruits, and the decrease of it from grain, is a change of circumstances much to be desired, as tending to increase the quantity-of grain for food, and being perhaps more conducive to health, than fermented liquors from grain; in which case, such change would conduce to health, as well as plenty amongst mankind. But the raising of fruit trees must be set forward, and promoted by the land owner; not being exactly the tenant’s business, or consistent with the uncertain te- nure, by which farms are commonly held in occupation. Since drawing up the preceding remarks on the subject of increasing our plantations of fruit trees, I have had conver- sations on the subject, with persons well qualified to judge; from which I am thoroughly persuaded of the great utility of extending our orchards, and increasing the quantity of human beverage from fruit, even at the expence of decreas- ing that from grain; large tracts of this county are well adapted for the growth of fruit; deep rich friable loams are the natural soils for the best cyder apples and pears, for the production of perry; and on lighter soils they will well suc- ceed, especially if a good cart load of marl be dug into the earth, and incorporated with the soil previous to the plant- ing of cach tree: in the hedge-rows of pasture land they would, I think, do no kind of injury, and even planted at proper distance in grazing fields, they would little interfere either with the production or consumption of the pasture her- bage; and even in arable lands, a fruit tree I conceive to be less injurious than any of the kinds of timber trees-: the breadth ofland now appropriated to the growth of barley is prodi- wious; it appears from authentic information, that the an- nual growth of barley, in acres, is equal to two-thirds of that of wheat: could the use of beverage from fruit be gra- dually introduced, so as to lessen the consumpticn of barley one-half, the annual growth of wheat might be increased, by one-third additional breadth of land. I suppose this idea of lessening the consumption of barley, would alarm the finan- cier in his revenue calculations; but surely an equivalent OF STAFFORDSHIRE. SD might be found, in some other article of consumption: at all events, the plentiful production of that necessary article bread, ought to be the leading point, and not to give way to any sort of speculation: the increase of fruit would add to the comforts and supply of the poor, in many other ways; an apple boiled or baked in the paste of flour, is not only a delicious and comfortable, but an wholesome and nourishing repast for children, and much of their nourishment might be derived from fruit in various ways: I think the planting of fruit trees is a proper subject for encouragement by pre- mium, and hope it will be seen in that light by our public and patriotic SOCietes; but the greatest attention should be paid to counties where fruit trees are but little introduced, for where their value is already well known by experience, they will maintain their ground, should their number ever so much increase, as to lessen the demand for barley. Wheat would be grown with great advantage after turnips; parti- cularly after such as are early eaten on the ground; and this is the best possible preparation for wheat on light land; the early fallowing of the ground for turnips, and hoeing the crop, perfectly cleaning it, and the dung, urine, and treading of sheep and young cattle, giving it fertility and staple. 92 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY CHAPTER: X: TIMBER, PLANTATIONS, AND WOODLANDS. THE county of Stafford still continues well stocked with all kinds of timber, notwithstanding the immense quantities that have been cut down of late years. Amongst the many well-timbered estates in the county, the following have been seen, and some of them particularly examined, by the writer of this Report. Many well-timbered estates have undoubt- edly been overlooked and are omitted; but the account of those which follow. is sufficient to shew, that some attention has been, and is still, paid to this article by many gentlemen of distinction and property. The first and best timbered estate, is that of Lord Bagot, in the neighbourhood of Abbot’s-Bromley. The woods extend over many hundred acres, and almost wholly consist of oak, the ripest, finest, and best that I ever saw; and I believe I run no risk of exceeding the bounds of truth, if I say the best in the kingdom. A very large quantity of oak in these woods is now quite ripe, and some even decaying. Many of the oaks carry timber to the length of sixty and seventy feet; and in Lord Bagot’s park are many hundreds of very extraordinary bulk, containing from two hundred te four hundred feet of timber each. I could pick out many worth sixty guineas apiece, and some even more. Some of this timber is of considerable antiquity, and mentioned by Dr. Plott, as full grown timber in 1686. I was informed upon the spot, that for these woods one hundred thousand pounds have been offered, and that his Lordship has half as much timber in Denbighshire. Total value of timber, one hundred and fifty thousand pounds, which in the three per OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 93 cents. at the present price, would purchase an income for ever, of more than six thousand guineas. per annum.“The succession woods and young plantations are very consi- derable, and still continuing; and as Mr. Harvey, his Lord- ship’s steward, very judiciously observes, upon land not worth a rent of ten shillings per acre, paying better, under- wood included, than in any other way: and it is upon a poor cold land of this description, that the above fine timber chiefly abounds, the soil being a moist gravelly loam, upon a clay or marl bottom. The young plantations are made sometimes by sowing acorns with wheat, after summer fallow; and sometimes by planting out young plants of oak, and other wood; in which case, at the end of one or two years, when such plants have taken well to the ground, they are cut off at the surface, and the second shoot trusted to for the tree; this second shoot thriving with much more luxuriance and vigour than the first, checked by transplant- ing. Also after cutting down a wood, the replanting is sometimes effected by striking in with the pick-axe a sufhi- cient number of acorns and other seeds of forest trees or un- derwood: and all these methods have been attended with success. The young plantations are well fenced, and care- fully guarded from trespass by a woodman appointed for that purpose. The second timbered estate, in my opinion, is Chillington, ‘the property of Thomas Giffard, Esq. whose hospitable and benevolent ancestry and family have resided here for many centuries. From this estate has been sold within twenty years, timber to the amount of thirty thousand pounds; and the timber remaihing on the estate is worth at least an equal sum. The succession woods and young plantations are here very extensive, and of luxuriant and vigorous growth. Some very fine ripe oaks grow on the side of a gravel road, near the Pool, a large and beautiful piece of water. In the modern plantations, oak has been particularly attended to: but there are many other varieties of timber trees extremely promising in growth.‘The young plantations are well I a ee ; Bs: —— h | 94 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY fenced, and secured from trespass, without which precaution planting would be in vain. This branch of agriculture, for I can call it by no other name, is peculiarly the province of the gentleman; to whom I should conceive nothing can give a greater or more rational pleasure, than viewing the progress to maturity of these, as it were, the work of his own hands, whilst, at the same time, they improve his estate, and shelter and ornament the country. Upon the pleasure grounds and estates of Lord Dudley, at and near Himley, are large quantities of well grown timber; and very extensive woods and coppices of oak, large quanti- ties of which are ripe, and fit for any use; these woods are beautifully intersected with pleasure roads, cut through them in various directions, and well stocked with pheasants. The ancient and noble fortification and seat of Dudley castle, in the neighbourhood, situate on a mountain of lime- stone(but now in ruins), is a curious and interesting piece of antiquity; his Lordship’s present seat at Himley(situated at a proper distance from the smoke of the mines) is a noble and elegant structure; the,park extensive, variously disposed by nature, well wooded, and stocked with deer; the pleasure grounds have been laid out by Brown in the first style of magnificence, with artificial pieces of water, plantations, and the other usual accompaniments. Teddesley Park, Sir Edward Littleton’s. The house at Teddesley is a commodious, modern-built, elegant mansion, commanding an extensive view of a well cultivated country, to the west, and of the hills and extensive waste of Cannock Heath, to the east. The timber and plantations on this estate are very considerable. Manstey wood is an exten- sive coppice of fine ripe oak timber; besides which there are many other coppices, dingles, and clumps, of full grown oak, ash, and other timber. The spring coppices and young plantations of different growths, as by information from Mr. Hall, the steward, cover at least one hundred acres; and in them the oak has been an object of particular attention. It is further to be observed, that these plantations are gene- i | Se _——- SS————— OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 95 rally upon poor cold land; on a gravelly, marl, or clay bot- tom, on which the oak will succeed well: and which sort of land being of no great value for corn or pasture, is very pro- perly applied to the growth of timber and underwood. Wrottesley estate, the property of Sir John Wrottesley, Bart. contains some considerable woods of ripe, well-grown timber: also extensive plantations of more modern growth. At Enville(Lord Stamford’s), the woods and plantations within the circumference of the pleasure-grounds are very extensive, and extremely well stocked with timber trees, and underwood of every sort; amongst which the oak pre- dominates in great profusion, kindly, and of vigorous growth. The woods of Upper Areley are very extensive, and well stocked with oak of various ages, from large timber trees to saplings. Hagley Park is out of the county, but close to the borders, adjoining the parish of Clent.[I shall just ob- serve, that it contains large quantities of exceeding fine ripe timber, of the better sorts, and of a first rate quality. Some of the oaks are of great length and dimensions, and fit for any use to which oak is apalié able. The parish of Har- bourne is well wooded.‘The Bishop’s woods in the neigh- bourhood of Eccleshall are very extensive, and said to con- tain one thousand three hundred acres: they are managed ina system, the exact particulars of which I could not learn; but understand that a portion is cut down every year, ae when the one thousand three hundred acres have been suc- cessively taken, that which was cut first, is ready for cutting in a second rotation. A regular annual revenue is thus drawn from the woods without injury. Madeley woods, near Newcastle, well stocked with oaks of different ages, were formerly a park, but‘‘ Ceres has reassumed the land,” and the breaks and lawns between the woods are inclosed, and in the usual course of arable on ation. The plantations at Fisherwick(Lord Donegal’s) are of little more than twenty years each, a ut very promising. Brown, who projected these plantations, assured the pro- prietor, as I have been told, that he had.planted for him one re er pr TT a TI EA pet: oe 96 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY hundred thousand trees, and in a certain number of years, which he then mentioned, those trees would be worth one hundred thousand pounds.‘There is a possibility, that this prediction may be verified in the time of the present, who was also the then proprietor. Some of the oaks are even now worth fifteen shillings each, and they abound in profu- sion amongst firs and other sorts by which they are sheltered, and encouraged in growth. I observed some large ripe oaks in the park; and in the pleasure-grounds an ash, which I believe contains at least four hundred feet of timber. Sandwell Park and estate(the Earl of Dartmouth’s), is well stocked with all kinds of timber, particularly oak; and the Patteshall estate belonging to Sir Robert Pigot, still contains large quantities of ripe timber, although considerable quan- tities have been cut away of late years; this estate of Patte- shall too, has one of the most elegant parks and seats in the county, or in this part of the kingdom. This park contains abundance of wild turkies. Broughton pleasure-grounds, or paddock(Sir Thomas Broughton’s), abound with plantations, clumps, and shady spreading trees, particularly sycamores. On the other side of the road is a fine promising spring coppice of oak; the gradual thinning of which, by cutting out underlings, should be attended to. Hilton Park, belonging to Mr. Vernon, contains plenty of flourishing oaks; and in the pleasure-grounds are some very fine ripe well-grown trees of this species, the pride of the forest: and a great variety of other timber trees grow there in the utmost luxuriance. The rides and plantations are very extensive, and furnished in the most innumerable profusion, with evidence of the planter’s vigilant attention. Mr. Vernon was a very early planter, and now, in the prime of life, has the pleasure of seeing some of his first efforts in this way fast approaching towards maturity. Many of the larches, and Scotch, as well as other firs, of his planting, contain twenty feet or more timber, and are now in a very growing State, — cr ERgeR ER OE OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 97 / Burntwood, near Ashley Common, belonging to Mr. Meynell, seems well stocked with young plants of oak, and is very extensive. The estates of Mr. Gough at Perry Bar, Oldfallings, near Bushbury, and Walton Grange, near Gnoshall, are all well timbered. Perry Park and neighbourhood has a good deal of ripe timber; considerable young plantations and trees of every progressive stage of growth. Oldfallings estate and neighbourhood is plentifully stocked with well-grown oak and other sorts of timber, and Walton Grange has an ex- cellent oak coppice of considerable extent. Bentley estate, near Walsall, is extremely full of oak, both in coppices and hedge-rows; the proprietor is Mr. Anson. At Great Sug- nall, near Stafford, Mr. Turton’s, I observed some small neat plantations, amongst which oak has not been forgotten. As this valuable tree succeeds well amongst others by which it is sheltered and encouraged in growth, but is liable to be over-topped by many others, which, more luxuriant, pre- vent its leading shoots from penetrating through their foliage; such obstructions should annually be cut away, and the growth of oak encouraged as superior to all others, both in majestic beauty and national consequence. I ob- served this attention neglected in some of these plantations. Considerable woods and plantations grow on the Shut- borough estate,(Mr. Anson’s,) as well as on that of Sir William Wolseley; and also upon Mr. Curzon’s, near Rudgeley. The estate of Mr. Fowler in this neighbour- hood at Pendeford, is well wooded, both in hedge-rows, young plantations, single trees, and clumps of very fine well-grown oak: it has alsoa very promising coppice of oak. Other smaller estates in this neighbourhood are well stocked with timber, particularly that of Mr. Fleeming, at the Wergs near Tettenhall, where, amongst a number of well grown trees of various species, I could pick out a few oaks worth thirty guineas a-piece. Upon the whole, the county is well timbered, and has now in it succession growths sufficient for the supply of a great length of time; H ————— a. oe—-=‘ea‘3 Fe ee EN TOY ee Eee SE? hs aie a ise a hat 98 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY a| and[I have no doubt but the public spirit of the times will f a secure that supply to future ages. \: I have two more observations to make on planting: the i]} one relating to the proper site of ground and situation of an plantations, whether intended for ornament or profit: the ae other on the timber best adapted to fulfil those objects, and f at the same time to answer the purposes of pleasure and !| Hy: profit to the planter, and of utility to the public. With regard to the proper ground for plantations, every gentleman or land proprietor of prudence and taste, who re- sides on his property, will furnish himself with a shady re- treat from the burning sun, that shall afford at the same time a shelter from the storms of winter. For this purpose he will keep up a sufficient shade near his habitation, in that situation which local circumstances shall direct. Large plantations or coppices for profit should not be made on good land; always of much more value for corn or pastu- rage; but either on moist land of small value, upon a clay or marl bottom, where timber often grows well; or rather, where such land abounds, upon precipices, and sides of hills impracticable to the plough; and where it often happens the land unplanted is of little or no value.* I have often = ee * Plantations upon this system have been made to a great extent, and with uncommon success, in different parts of the steep Moorland hills, particularly those of Dillorn, Kingsley, and Oakamoor; the Dillorn woods alone form a chain of three or four miles in length, and consist of tall straight oaks and ash, in general so well filled up with underwood as to be cut in gradual falls at seven years’ growth, and produce when well fenced six pounds per acre; for rods and staves, used for crates in the Pottery. To illustrate this more clearly; eighty-four acres of wood will admit of twelve acres being cut annually, and will produce seventy-two pounds, which is about seventeen shillings per acre, per annum, for the underwood, exclu- sive of the timber; the bleak neighbouring hills which remain un- planted cannot be worth three shillings per acre. The above communicated by the Rev. S. Shaw, but signed J. H. which I believe to be John Holliday, Esq. to that gentleman the public are much indebted, for proving by experiment, the great advantage of planting barren impracticable precipices; large tracts of which still remain in the north of Staffordshire, naked and useless, ay worth in their present state(I think,) one shilling per acre. . P. i OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 99 observed, that timber succeeds particularly well in such situations; and the making plantations there is attended with many advantages. 1. The roots of trees twining and interweaving with the soil, prevent it being washed by torrents into the vallies, which is the cause why many such situations are now bare and almost void of soil. 2. The falling and putrefaction of leaves tend to thicken such soil, and render it by degrees richer and more capable of forcing the growth of timber. 3. Such land is often of little value, and incapable of being improved in any other way. And L cannot refrain upon every occasion, from calling particu- larly upon all public and patriotic societies to confine their premiums for planting, to land of small value, or imprac-= ticable to the plough. The corners of fields, where four unite, are not improper places for small clumps in any land: and in hedge-rows a few oaks, elm, or beech, area great ornament, without doing an injury: but ash, always very injurious to arable and pasture land, should by no means be planted in hedges, but reserved for clumps and cop- pices. Respecting the sorts of wood, oak is undoubtedly the first forest tree, but being slow of growth, the planter can seldom expect personally to reap the reward of his labour: it should, however, be always plentifully intermixed with other sorts, where it will be ready to supply their place, and fill up the ground when its inferior neighbours shall be “<< Planting, I will readily own, is my favourite and principal amusement in the country; yet it by no means shuts out other im- provements; the cultivation and improvement of com mons or waste land, have engaged my attention several years; and I have the plea- sure to add, that by means of ploughing deep, burying the goss or furze, the principal produce of these Moorland hills, and crass- ploughing the following year, to kill more effectually the roots and fibres. A few years ago I let to a tenant, Mr. James Dunn, two acres of the new improved land, meliorated with a good white coat of lime, at the rent of fifteen shillings per acre, which in its pristine state, was not worth two shillings and six pence peracre, It was very pleasurable to me, in the succeeding year, after the tenant had reaped. a heavy crop of fine oats, to receive his application for some additional acres of the common, at fifteen shillings per acre,&c. Pos. Lo Mr. Holliday’s letter, in Transactions of Arts,&c Vox. pear H 2 \ i aif 100 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Y| cut away. I think, without a mixture of oak, no planta- 1 it tion can be approved. ia Ash is an extremely useful and valuable wood for many ES purposes, but not very quick of growth; requiring from a fifty or sixty to eighty years, to arrive at tolerable maturity. : i Elm, the common or narrow-leaved, is very proper for hedge- || i rows and plantations; it makes a large tree, in about the same time as ash. I have had some well-attested instances 1 of very fine large elms having grown up in the life of a Ly person, who remembered them planted. We have now in ie ot this parish, a fine square grove of elm upon Tettenhall Green, of about seventy years growth: the trees contain seventy or eighty feet of timber each. The witch elm has been known in’ several instances to grow amazingly quick: my father was present at the planting of one in the pad- dock here at Pendeford, which being cut down at the end of ained sixty feet of tiraber, and was sold at thirty years, cont one shilling per foot; in some upon this farm: the wood is of a good value, and and I observed a most rapid growth this sort is equal to most in quick return to the planter. Respecting the fir tribe, planters have certainly been rather too partial here, though many of them are of rapid growth. The larch, or Scotch, and other firs, will often measure as many feet of timber as they number years of growth, or I cannot but strongly wish, however, that even more. a plantation of firs would intermix every gentleman making at least an equal number of English forest trees, and not forget oak. As such plantation proceeds in growth, the trees least profitable may be cut away. Beech and sycamore iseful, and of tolerable quick growth, and are therefore a proper mixture with other wood. Many instances may be produced of the rapid growth of poplar, and the same individual has been known to plant and cut down poplars feet of timber each: and I are l containing from sixty to eighty remember the planting of some myself rather more than thirty years since, some of which now contain more than thirty feet of timber; the sort, the black poplar(populus ni- _ OF STAFFORDSHIRE. lot sra.) This sort succeeds best on a moist soil, or by a brook side. The trees of this sort are apt in some seasons to die in great numbers, even when large trees. The white poplar, or abele*(populus alba,) makes a fine large tree, and will succeed on almost any soil. I have seen very large ones on the top of a high bank, and was shewn some in the planta- tions at Chillington lately, of about twenty years growth. They are upwards of thirty feet high, and would measure four feet round at the bottom. The Lombardy poplar, so highly extolled some years back, isa mere weed in com- parison of our own native trees before-named, and little superior to the aspen, the worst of the species. The Lom- bardy poplar in this country is a pole rather beautiful to the eye, but of no promise as a timber-tree. The wood of the poplar in general makes very good flooring-boards and packing-cases. Some of the willow species are remarkable for quick growth; and the loppings in the hop countries are useful for poles. Amongst plantations, perhaps, that of fruit-trees has been too much neglected: and the raising . of orchards in this country may be ranked with its agricul- tural improvements, as producing an useful article, little interfering with its present productions. In the foregoing account of woods and plantations, it is very possible that many considerable ones may have been omitted; as not coming under the writer’s observation. * The true abele is a different species; branching out more, and growing faster, than the common English white poplar.—S. I have not yet been able to discriminate two species, or to dis- tinguish the difference.—W. P. a eine a | ok, ere ee 102 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY CHAPTER: Xf. WASTE AND UNIMPROVED LANDS. THE waste and unimproved lands of this county are very considerable, and certainly in the present state of population their cultivation and improvement is very much a national object.“The most extensive wastes or uncultivated spots in the county are, Needwood Forest, Cannock Heath, and Sut- ton Coldfield; besides a great number of commons of less extent, and some considerable tracts in the Moorlands and elsewhere, appropriated and inclosed, but not yet fully im- proved.* Needwood forest is a most interesting spot. Here near ten thousand acres of one of the finest soils of the kingdom lie in a state of nature, wild and romantic! beautiful in the eye of the fox-hunter and the sportsman. But,considering the state of population and consumption of landed produce, its continuance in its present state is certainly indefensible upon any sound principles of general policy. Here the warblers of the wood chant forth their mellifluent notes, and the herds of deer range at will over the plain, or through the thicket. The fox and the badger burrow on the declivity of the deep glen, the rabbit on the sandy hill, and the hare hides itself in the thicket.‘The woodcock, the snipe, the pheasant, and the partridge, abound in profusion; but all often disturbed by their tyrant master man. The natural disposition of this extensive forest comprehends a great and beautiful variety of aspect. Gradual eminences‘and easy vales, and with meandering rills, and now and then a bolder *« Above 3000 acres of Morredge, Ipstones, and Dillorn wastes hee lately been inclosed, and great part improved.—S. ee ee OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 103 : and more abrupt swell, form the general feature of the fo- rest: a fit subject for any degree of improvement by human art and industry. In the northern part, particularly within Marchington Woodlands, the aspect is bolder. Here the forest is composed of deep glens, surrounded by abrupt pre- cipices; impracticable to the plough, but happily well i clothed with wood; amongst which the stout native oak, i young, luxuriant, and of vigorous growth, is in great abun-| Very dance. On a level with the summit of these precipices is a ton broad upland’surface, capable of being converted to corn or nal pasture land of a first rate quality. i The swells or hills of this forest are very generally com- It. posed of immense beds of red or white marl, the colour a sometimes changing suddenly, so that in a small distance they nd are as distinct as can be conceived. This marl, of a friable the mouldering texture, continues from the very surface to many yards in depth. In some of the inclosed land adjoining, par- ie ticularly Agardley Park farm, it is the same, and both co- a lours have been used promiscuously for marling land, with 7 equal good effect; and very probably the white may contain ie the greater portion of calcareous earth.* The white loamy bs surface is also equally productive of corn or pasture with the red, and equally esteemed by the farmer, This white t marl { had never observed before. This forest is stocked with deer, horned cattle, and horses: but no sheep are suffered to feed on it. The supposed stock may be about threesthousand deer, and three thousand of all the other kinds in summer; but much fewer in winter. The keeping of the three thousand horses and horned cattle, charged at twelve shillings per head for the summering, amounts to eighteen hundred pounds, or about four shillings per acre, upon the whole extent of the forest; and this sum at es* Staffordshire marl contains from one-fifth to one-thirtieth pro- rk portion of calcareous earth.—S. + Most of the white is the weakest, as it generally contains a larger proportion of sand and catbrain.—S. i The white marl on Needwood forest is, apparently to the eye, ai equally pure with the red.—W, P. 104. AGRICULTURAL SURVEY of four shillings per acre is all the advantage that a neigh bouring very intelligent farmer supposes the public derive from this tract; the deer not being managed in any system for the public advantage, or for the supply of subsistence and employment of the bulk of mankind. I shall add for them to the above account one shilling per acre, and five shillings per acre as the total value of the forest to the public in its present state. I estimate the capital employed in stocking the forest at five pounds per head upon. three thousand-in number, or fifteen thousand pounds. Although these, not being constantly kept there, cannot wholly be called forest stock, yet I will suppose that which ought to be taken off on this account totbe made good by advantages arising from the deer. The capital employed in stocking the forest will then amount to fifteen thousand pounds, or about one pound twelve shillings and sixpence per acre, and its value to the public, in its present state, as land, about two thousand three hundred pounds per annum. The extent of the forest, by an ancient survey alluded to by the Commissioners of Crown Lands in their last examina- tion of it, is nine thousand two hundred and twenty acres: of this, in case of inclosure, I will suppose one thousand acres ought to be reserved for woodland. This may be done about the glens and impracticable spots, and in other places where thriving oaks are the most promising: there they ought to be fenced off, and reserved in chimps and coppices, which would be both an ornament to the country, and a nursery for stout oak timber. Two hundred and twenty acres| will suppose occupied by the lodges, and other small inclo- sures. This is already in an improved state; eight thousand acres will then remain for improvement. The moment that these shall have been inclosed, and buildings for occupatian erected on them, they will be worth for a term, as many guineas per annum, and would be improved toa higher value. The amount of capital employed in such improvement in buildings, inclosure, crops, stock,&c. might on this rich land be twenty pounds per acre. Deduct the present capi- pigs OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 105 tal, one pound twelve shillings and sixpence per acre, re- mains increase, eighteen pounds seven shillings and sixpence per acre; which upon eight thousand acres, adds one hun- dred and forty-seven thousand pounds to the national capital. By improving this tract, the increased annual product would probably be five pounds per acre, or forty thousand pounds per annum. The nature of the soil of this tract is in general a red or white marly loam, more or less tenacious; but seldom ap- proaching to the harshness of clay. Many considerable spots are light enough for turnips. I estimate one thousand acres in the eight thousand to be of this quality: this, in case of a division or inclosure, should be thrown into allotments, and divided in equal proportions, of so much to every hundred acres, and laid with the strong land, which would enable every occupier to provide himself with a portion of turnips, for winter food for his sheep; in comparison of which con- venience, a trifling inconvenience, in point of distance, would be no object. The land would afterwards be sown with barley.* In every inclosure the rills and vales should also be parti- cularly attended to, and the boundary of such vales traced out by a spirit-level, stretching in breadth as they proceed downwards; and the ditches separating them from the up- land being upon a level, should be constructed to answer the purpose of floating gutters for irrigation; and where large quantities of flood water usually pass off, reservoirs should be constructed to collect and retain such water for irrigation at pleasure, by which means large tracts of the sloping sides of vales may be converted into water meadows: the quan- tity of such upon this forest is not very considerable, the vales being generally narrow, and the slopes abrupt; it is, * As I had the opportunity of going over the forest with Mr. Pitt, he observed it would be right to ascertain the quantity of land that it contained, which{ think would be right, if the Board of Agriculture and Parliament should think proper to inclose it, before it takes place. N. B. He observed lhe could take the survey.—Mr. Webd, SS 106 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY however, sufficient to be an object deserving particular at- tention. This forest, in an improved state, might be rendered one of the most delightful spots in the kingdom, its form and aspect comprehending such a great and beautiful variety; and the staple of its soil being equal to the production of the fullest crops of the most valuable grain, or to the fatting of stock of a first rate quality. The sportsman could have little reason to complain if his liberal allowance of a thousand acres, as here proposed, should be suffered toremain in wood- land, and this in the wildest and most romantic part, where the natural aspect tends to the protection of the favourite objects of his amusement. The principal natural vegetable productions that I had an opportunity of noticing, as in some degree rather peculiar to the forest, are the following: 1. The stout native oak*(quereus robur); in consider- able quantity, and promising and good in quality. An oak called Swilcar lawn oak, on this forest, contains at least a thousand feet of timber: it is of great antiquity, but still fruitful in acorns. 2. Holly(lex aquifolium); in great abundance, has been nursed up and encouraged in growth, I suppose, as winter provender for the deer. A very small proportion of the other species of wood; though the forest is not without some of the common under- woods.t * There are not I apprehend less than a thousand acres of oak tim- ber now standing on Needwood forest, a quantity of which few other forests in the kingdom can at present boast. Swilcar oak, the father of the forest, girts at five feet high twenty- one feet; the lower stem is ten feet clear; the whole height about sixty-five; the extent of the arms about forty-five feet.— Rev. S. Shaw. t There are hazels, thorns, and maples, in tolerable plenty. There are very few ashes on the forest(and those few only on two or three particular spots), though all the circumjacent inclosures abound with them. There are two ancient limes of vast size(a mile distant from each other) on the forest: and I know of no more. No elms or beeches are met with on the forest; though the former tree flourishes extremely in the neighbouring inclosures.— 7. Gisborne, Yoxall Lodge. OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 107 Grasses.—3. Vernal grass(anthoxanthum edoratum); very common all over the forest. 4. Annual meadow-grass(poa annua); chiefly near road- sides: none of the other finer grasses being yet in the ear (it being only May ar), they could not with certainty be discriminated. 5. Seg-grasses(carex’s); several sorts in moist spots, and indeed all over the forest, would be weakened and give way to better herbage, when any attention shall have been paid to discharge the stagnant water. 6. Louse-wort, or red rattle(pedicularis sylvatica); a bad pasture plant, but encouraged or weakened by the same causes with the last: I observed some with white flowers. 7. Gorse(ulex Europeus); in patches all over the forest. 8. Petty whin, or hen gorse(genista Anglica); in various places. g. Common fern(pferts aquilina); on dry banks. to. Branched polypody(polypodium dryopteris); common on the forest. 11. Wood spurge(euphorbium amygdaloides); very com- mon.on most parts of the forest, has a singular appear- ance: I have seen this plant no where else wild in Stafford- shire. 12. Hound’s tongue(cynaglossum officinale); very common: has rather a beautiful flower; worthy a place in shrubberies or flower borders. 13. Spurge laurel(daphne lauresla); common; and some specimens of it variegated. 14. Spurge olive(daphne mezereum); less common than the last. 15. Bilberry(vaccinium myrtillus); in moist places. 16. Ramsons(alliumm ursinum); near Marchington Wood- lands. 17- Woodroffe(asperula odorata); growing intermixed with the last. 18. Black briony, or lady’s seal(tamus communis). 108 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY 19. The lily of the valley(convallaria majalis); is to be found in a wood at Rough Park, near Needwood forest.— Mr. Gisborne. The above are the most common, singular, or peculiar in some measure to the forest, besides many others in common with other places. Cannock Heath is the most extensive waste in the county, but its extent cannot easily be determined with accuracy; I estimate it at about forty square miles, or upwards of twenty- five thousand acres. Large tracts of land on the north and west parts of this waste consist of a good light soil, adapted to the turnip and barley culture: the east and south parts are a colder gravelly soil, in many places covered with heath to a large extent; yet I have no doubt but the whole may be brought into cultivation; and that some of our inclosed land now under cultivation is not at all of a superior quality ta this waste. Sutton Coldfield is also a very extensive waste, of no other use but as a sheep-walk or rabbit-warren; that part of it in Staffordshire contains, according to an estimate by a very intelligent resident near the spot, about six thousand five hundred acres; and he supposes the additional waste land between Litchfield and Birmingham, including Bromwich Heath, Aldridge Common, Walsall Wood, Whittington Heath, and Weeford Hills, will raise the amount of Sutton Coldfield to ten thousand acres: their value in their present state amounts, by his information, to three shillings and six- pence per acre; and if inclosed would rise to ten shillings and sixpence per acre for the first twenty-one years, and afterwards be greater. The other principal wastes in the county, are those of Swindon, Wombourn, and near Stew- poney, in the south; Morredge, Wetley Moor, Stanton Moor, Hollington Heath, Caverswall Common, in the north. In other parts of the county we find Calf Heath, Essington Wood, Snead Common, Wyrley and Pelsal Com- mons; Tirley, Ashley, and Maer Heaths; Swinnerton, Tittensor, and Shelton Heaths; Houlton, Milwich, Hard- an cel par if com Canal large comm mon, ot Alre Mihione OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 10g wick, and Fradswell Commons, and many others; and upon a retrospect of the whole,* I cannot put our practicable waste lands, or such as are capable of being brought into cultiva- tion, at less than one hundred thousand acres.“Their present value as sheep-waiks amounts to three shillings per acre per annum: their value inclosed, and after one round of cultiva- tion(tithe free) will amount to fifteen shillings per acre, and improve by inclosure and cultivation, twelve shillings per acre, or sixty thousand pounds per annum. The present capital or value of stock belonging to such land may be esti- mated at ten shillings per acre, or fifty thousand pounds; the capital of the land, when inclosed and cultivated, including buildings, fences, crops, live stock, implements, and furni- ture, would amount to fifteen pounds per acre, or one mil- lion five hundred thousand pounds. The addition to the national capital, by such general inclosure and improvement in this county, would amount to one million four hundred and fifty thousand pounds. This landalso would make many farms, which, with a due proportion of labourers’ tenements, would employ a population of twenty thousand persons, chil- dren and families included, in cultivation and other occupa- tions connected and dependent thereupon; would furnish food for double that number, and would maintain also at * JT observe that Mr. Pitt has omitted taking notice of a common at King’s Bromley, which, by computation, may contain about one thou- sand acres: great part of it is over-run with heath; it isa peaty soil, and gravel bottom; on one part isa large rabbit burrow, which, if inclosed, would be of great improvement. Also there is another common adjoining, called Fradley and Alre- was Common, supposed to contain betwixt two and three thousand acres; one part of it is the same sort of land as the other common, and one part is exceeding good land, capable of being turned into ex- cellent meadow or pasture land; there is marl near adjoining some parte of it. The canal from the Trent to the Mersey runs through both these commons; and the Birmingham and Fazeley canal joins the other canal onthiscommon. I have alsoto observe, that there are several large open meadows belonging to the townships, who have right of common, which as soon as the hay is got off, are laid open to the com- mon, paying about one shilling per head of cattle to the churchwarden of Alrewas; which if inclosed, would be of great advantage to the pa rishioners.—Mr. W. Webd. i ——— ee rset sae re Siesta 110 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY least double the present number of sheep; if sheep stock should become the chief object, independent of other stock, which at present draw no nourishment or subsistence from this tract. Those farms also would produce a proportion of corn: the wool also of the sheep might be increased in weight and improved in quality, by a due attention to rams and breeding stock. A general inclosure and improvement by cultivation of all the wastes of the kingdom, would, by greatly increasing the national capital, have a proportionable effect upon the revenue; and it is astonishing that the colo- nization of distant countries should have been so much en- couraged, while the cultivation of our own country remains so far from being finished or perfected. In all inclosures the impracticable spots, those too uneven for the plough, should be reserved for other uses, for plan- tations where the soil is at all adapted for that purpose; or for rabbit warrens upon sandy bottoms: I have often ob- served plantations succeed extremely well on the sides of pre- cipices,“ and where there appears little or no soil, among| rock or stone.”—. Sas wo OF STAFFORDSHIRE. Tis CHAPTER XII. IMPROVEMENTS. Sect. 1.—Draining.* Or this most essential improvement of meadow and pas- ture land, as well as arable, much remains to be done, though great exertions have been made in it of late years. The practice most approved here is, after having opened a sufh- cient number of ditches or main drains, to a proper depth, to cut from and into them a number of drains of about fourteen inches wide at top, to four or five inches wide at bottom, and three feet deep; then to fill up these, first, with a small layer of heath or ling; secondly, with pebbles or rock stone one foot thick; thirdly, with another layer of ling; then to place the first spit or turf reversed upon the upper heath or ling; and to fill it up and close the whole with part of the soil, and to spread the remainder of the soil on the surface of the land sodrained. Close drains thus executed will last a great length of time if properly done, and if the open drains shall be kept properly cleansed out. Other methods are also used; as that of draining with hollow bricks; that of form- ing the bottom of the drain with a bearing on either side, and a narrower open space below, with the first spit or sod of turf inverted and returned, and the drain filled up with the soil.“These are practised with good effect; but the first named method is most generally approved, in which, where * The most material article in draining, is beginning high enough in the sound land, and gaining the quickest fall; by which means the ¢ause is at once removed, and the land drained effectually. When stone can be got at a reasonable charge, wood and fagots may be saved; for there will always be a sinking in the surface of the ground, as the wood decays.—S. Seo aL —— £12 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY stones are scarce, wood is sometimes substituted. The im- provement is generally reckoned to pay the whole expence in two or three years, and within my acquaintance is so ge- nerally practised, that there are few individuals who do notdo more or less of it every year. This opinion is corroborated by others, particularly the Rev. Mr. Wright of Bradley, who says,‘‘ more attention has been paid to that important article “of draining lands within the last twenty years, than in “centuries before. Covered drains are commonly used.” Attempts too have been made to tap springs,* by boring * The great success which I have had in draining land by boring, induces me to state a few particulats respecting that practice. I hz id recourse to it at first, in a close near Derby; which, though it occu- pied the declivity of a hill, continued extremely injured by humidity, in spite of the reiterated efforts to drainit, which had been made under the direction of my stew ard, an intelligent and experienced per- son. Having heard that a labouring man(who had been much employed in“the mines in the northern part of the county) had tho- roughly drained, by a new method, some obstinately wet land in the neighbourhood of Denby! was induced to set him to work on the close mentioned above.\ He cut two or three trenches about eighteen oo or two feet deep, and narrowing towards the bottom, across the hill; the uppermost of which was, if I recollect right, a few yards lower down the hill than the spot where the water seemed to ooze out of the soil, and encourage rushes; and joined them by another trench in the direction of the‘declivity, which was continued down the hil until it met a brook at the bottom. He then bored perpendicular holes in the cross trenches, perhaps ten or fifteen yards from each other, with a bit(as the tool is ter med) formed like an auger, with a strong nose, and near three inches in diameter, and twelve or fifteen long,‘exclu sive of the shank by which it was screwed to the boring rod. T he bori ing rod was composed of several pieces of the length of about five feet each; and when at its full extent, was twenty-one feet long. After boring through a clayey stratum,‘he entered one of gravel, whete the water was. The water rose in aconstant stream up each of the holes, in which clean pebbles were put if the sides were in the least danger of crumbling; and all the trenches being likewise filled with clean stones to a sufficient depth, and covered in the common way, the water was conveyed into the brook, and the land perfectly cured. In consequence of the success of the preceding trial, made many years since, I have repeatedly, and with equal success, made use of the same method, in order to drain land near this place, Yoxall Lodge. After digging through the superficial covering of loam, we commonly meet with a stiff marly clay, which, as we“desce nd, appears more marly, and in the depth of a few feet becomes exc client mania. auhis marl continues to the utmost depth which we have ever reached(about twenty-one feet), yet becoming harder and more difficult to work as we descend; until for some feet at last it is of a stony hardness, so OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 113 into them, by Mr. Elkington and others, and sometimes with its success. Mr. Bradburn, from much experience, thinks the bY best method of under-draining to be with hollow bricks, tdo which he says are more durable, and safe from being injured ted by vermin, than any other method.* ho cle that the auger will not pierce it, and it is necessary to chop it in pieces, in by using a bit, formed like a chisel(lifting up the rod, and then 1? letting it drop with its full weight), and afterwards to extract the fragments with the auger bit, or with one made like a carpenter’s no gouge.‘This isa slow process: we usually begin to meet with‘water at the depth of ten or twelve feet; and with more and more gradually as we go lower. From these holes a clear stream runs during both * summer and winter with little, if any, variation. The situation in which I have found the greatest quantity of water(of course T speak locally) has been on the ascent of hills, a little way from their base. After boring with the greatest effect in such spots, I have begun to bore in the flat and moist meadows, only at the distance of a very few yards: and have continued to bore at intervals quite across them, az without procuring any water at all: the reason, however, has been obvious. On the hill side the stratum which we perforated, was uniform and solid, and the water rose in the hole as in a leaden pipe. On the contrary, in the flat meadow we found no regular strata, but a confused and often changing mixture of various soils and materials, forming altogether a composition through which the water could es- cape from the hole laterally in various places. However, in other ards parts of the same range of meadows, the marly stratum has recurred (often with a small elevation of surface), and on boring has yielded a considerable and permanent quantity of water. Having occasion to convey a stream(procured by boring several holes on the first ascent of a bank) about one hundred yards across a flat meadow, I laid a sough of hollow bricks, surrounded with stiff 6, water clay, some distance below the surface, for that purpose. In a - few months I observed the stream, which issued at the mouth of the 14 sough, gradually to diminish, and at length totally to fail; and a at swamp began to form on the other side of the meadow, near the place i where the holes, whence the water issued, were bored. The sough, e in which a stoppage was thus manifest, was opened; and it was found _ completely filled from end to end, bya cylindrical plug, composed of ef the roots of grass, which having entered between the joints of the an bricks, were drawn out by the stream into filaments of immense he length, and matted together, so as to prevent all water from passing’. it was then relaid with mortar; but in the next year precisely the an same circumstance recurred. It was relaid afresh with mortar, and ‘the the joints further secured by the application of broken pieces of tiles. Ine, Several years have now elapsed, and it has continued to answer per- fectly. Another sough of the same kind, and for the same use, laid without mortar, has never been penetrated by roots of grass; but it lies deeper in the ground than circumstances would permit the former to be sunk.—T. Gzsborne, Yoxall Lodge, April 8th, 1795. * Covered hollow drains made in the year 1794, on the estate of I 114 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY SECT. 2.—Irrigation, or Watering. IRRIGATION, or the improvement of land by watering, is, or may be, a very important and extensive part of agri- culture: and though the advantages to be derived from it are generally admitted and well known in this county, at least by all intelligent farmers, yet it is by no means in general carried to the extent of which it is capable; many ‘ John Holliday, Esq. in the parish of Dillorn, alias Delverne, in the county of Stafford, about-- 700 yds. Open hollow drains between lands so well ditched and fenced as to prevent cattle from injuring them,- 1300 Total 2000 All the abovementioned drains are made of hard stone. The land was so much injured by water, arising from internal springs, as to produce for several years past, little besides an abundant crop of rushes. The nature and quality of the soil is clay, mixed in some places with a marly substance, so as with a coat of lime, and another of sand, to be capable of great improvement, now it is become dry. ‘The spontaneous. produce was rushes, mixed with moss, and some grass, and in that state the land was not worth ten shillings an acre: the supposed improved value is from 20s. to 25s. per acre. The under strata whence the springs arise, was in consequence of boring, found to be of a black colour, of close texture, below that shale was found, and the workmen thought it indicated in many places coal lay beneath.. The depth of the covered drains is about four feet, at the top they are two spades wide, and taper nearly toa point downwards, in the Hert- fordshire and Essex style of draining. The open drains are from five to six feet deep, and not lessthan a yard wide atthe top. Both sets of drains have hard and very durable stone near the bottom, placed thus—two flat thin stones being placed at the bottom, so as to rear against the sides, a square stone waS wedged in between them, whereby a good bottom-drain is probably secured for many years. The covered drains consist of another coat of larger stone, three of which are Tor placed thus. The covering stone rests partly on a ledge on each side of the trench{which is easily made when the work- men narrow from two spades to one) and partly on the side stones, which leaves it very firm. The inverted sods follow, but not pro- miscuously, since by placing one on each side of the trench, like an inclined plane, two more drains are gained, and these by being near the surface assist wonderfully, till poached by the cattle, in carrying off the surface water which hangs on clay soils.‘The stones in the covered drains rise nearly two feet, and the remainder being covered with good clods, called in Staffordshire, ramping clods; not a single foot of ground is lost by the draining; the above account of draining extends to near forty acres.——Communicated by the Rev. 8. Shaw. hint ici Te statism Pre reg. to? a== OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 115 streams being suffered to glide quietly down their own chan- nel, which might easily be drawn over the adjoining lands, to their great improvement. This omission is in part owing to neglect; in part to the jealousy of millers and other per- sons interested in the streams; and in some degree to the best methods of extending this application of water not be- ing generally and sufficiently understood. The industry of many individuals is, however, very properly and successfully exerted in this very commendable species of improvement. Respecting a system for irrigation, no general one can apply to particular cases. Different modes of spreading the water must be adopted, according to diferent circumstances of situation and form of surface. In all cases where a stream naturally falls down a valley, and the sides of such valley consist of easy and regular declivities, the best way undoubtedly is to draw a sufficient quantity of water nearly upon a level, alonga main carrier; such water to be let out of the said main carrier at pleasure, by sluices constructed in different places in the sides thereof, into floating gutters: such floating gutters being cut on a level along the sides of the declivities, one below another. These floating gutters will collect the water from the spaces of land above them, and, if weil constructed, deliver it very regularly upon the spaces below each of them respectively. The watering in this case will require very little attendance, except that of opening and closing the sluices in rotation, so as to irrigate different parts of such land successively. The gutters too will require an annual cleansing or scouring out, otherwise they will choke, and grow up with grass, The particular mode of action or operation by which land is benefited by watering, has not perhaps yet been satisfac- torily explained: yet it is an established and well known fact, that all waters(except such as are highly putrid) pro- duce a good effect upon land, in some degree proportioned to their rapidity or briskness of motion. Thus common water suffered to stagnate upon, or dribble in small quantities over land, will encourage the growth only of rushes, carex’s(sedge- I 2 “1 Same. me~ SS a es—— £16 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY grass), and other coarse aquatics, and weaken, if not destroyy the finest and most valuable grasses. The same water driven over the same land with a brisk motion, and the surface left to dry at intervals, and exposed to the sun and atmosphere, will have a direct contrary effect: the valuable grasses will flourish, and the aquatics be weakened or destroyed: Hence it should seem, that the good effects of watering are in part produced by mechanical operation, by moisteriing and tender- ing the surface; which circumstance, combined at intervals with the effects of the sun and atmosphere, brings into action the latent principles of vegetation in plants; which principle would have lain dormant, under the influence of chilling or stagnant water; or would have been locked up by the matting of turf on the surface, had not such turf been softened, and made easily penetrable by moistening its sur- face. The coarse aquatics being hardier, vegetate in a less degree of heat., hey seem intended by nature to fill up those vacancies which are yet unprepared for the production of the more valuable tribes, upon this principle in her vegetable economy, that a bad plant is better than none: yet upon the proper application of human industry they always decline, and give way to those of superior value. Every one knows the necessity there is(previous to im- provements by irrigation) of discharging the stagnant water from, or from near, the surface of all lands intended to be so improved, by hollow drains or otherwise. As the benefit to be derived from irrigation depends so much upon the watering being effected witha brisk motion, and not continued for too long a time, the great desideratum in this species of improvement seems to be the introduction of reservoirs, constructed so as to contain large quantities of flood water; which water so collected may be successively -and at pleasure distributed upon any land below its surface, and continued with such velocity, and for such length of time, as may be thqught proper, ‘This idea, as applicable to agriculture, is I believe novel, and may be treated as visionary; but I am so thoroughly OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 117 convinced of the great advantages to be derived from it, that I will venture a prediction of its being in some future time | practised to a great extent."The practice will be much faci- | litated by the construction of dams being so well, and so com- monly understood, in consequence of the number of navigable canals which have been, and are still executing. A reservoir }. of a few acres, and of two yards average depth, may be con- structed, at from ten to twenty pounds per acre, according to circumstances of situation. Such reservoirs as a fishery (under proper management) would be equal or superior in value to an equal breadth of land, and the surface water to a certain depth may be drawn down for the purpose of irri- gation at pleasure. Upon this subject of water the following extensive idea is thrown out by an ingenious gentleman,* high in his profes- sion as an engineer; which is, that nine parts in ten of the | waters of the kingdom at present run away in waste, great | parts of which might be usefully employed; nay farther(put- | ting expence out of the question), that every stream in the kingdom may be made to run equally through the whole year. ‘This position, however extraordinary, is easily demonstrable; for if upon any given stream one or more reservoirs be made capable of containing its flood water, and through the dam or dams be laid a pipe or pipes, whose apertures will just discharge the average produce, the business is done. And though there may be no probability of this business being ever brought to so great a nicety; yet from hence some idea may be formed of the prodigious extent to which improvements | by water may be carried. With this subject, and that of forming reservoirs for the purposes of agriculture, is connected another, of great im- | portance in domestic and commercial economy; namely, the | having an extensive conimand of the application of water to all mechanical purposes, wherein such application will an- ewer better than for irrigation of land, and thus, as it were, * Mr. Jessop. \ 118 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Lik arresting every drop of water that falls fom the heavens, and Ft rendering it in the most extensive way subservient not only : to the immediate subsistence of man and beast, and the im- |: provement of land, but even having the residue solely at ‘a command for the purposes of shortening manual labour: such | L system would certainly be an important addition to the powers j required in many of our mechanical operations, and of great | importance in a manufacturing country. Lh A copy of part of the above being sent to Mr. Jessop, I iat have received from him the following paper, which I had Lal never seen before. }) OBSERVATIONS ON THE USE OF RESER- | VOIRS FOR FLOOD WATERS. THE rapid improvements which have for some years past been made in the agriculture and cominerce of this country, i and the happy effects derived therefrom, naturally excite a : desire to investigate every means by which they may be con- ai)/ tinued and increased. Among the many causes which have combined to promote our prosperity, the facility of intercourse by inland naviga- tion is a great and leading feature. All unite in admitting this as a general position; but many, from private motives, | or mistaken opinions, have too often prevailed in preventing the execution of useful projects, which, if they could have } been effected, would have greatly contributed to the national L benefit derived from those already established. a] Among the obstacles that stand forward, none are more | conspicuous, nor so generally urged, than the want of water in dry seasons. It usually happens, that where canals are | most wanted, manufactures or agriculture having already taken possession of the ground, and occupied the streams of water, it is plainly to be foreseen, that, unless some means' are devised to reconcile this competition, those desirable im- provements must be crippled in their growth, and stop long before the age of maturity. OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 119 It can hardly have escaped any one’s observation, that streams of water used for the purpose of working mills, or the more valuable purpose of watering meadows, in the few instances where this has been practised, while they have a scanty supply in summer, they generally discharge in winter such superebundance as frequently to do material injury. There are, in some parts of this island, exceptions to this general position. Where the soi! is porous, and the substrata so open as to absorb the rains as they fall, there are no floods: the pores and fissures of the earth form reservoirs or regulators to the streams; they preserve the winter waters, and so equalize the discharge, that there is but little diffe- rence between their winter and summer state; but in clay or other similar soils, so little is absorbed, and so much sud- denly glides off from the surface, that the extremes of scar- city and exuberance are the necessary consequences. It is now. well understood, that all natural springs derive their supply from the waters of the atmosphere; and they may fairly be considered as the discharges of natural reser- voirs; it is immaterial whether those reservoirs may be com- posed of large cavities, or minute fissures. Leaving expence out of the question, it is possible to con- ceive(however extravagant the idea may appear), that the waters of all rivers might by art be nearly equalized through- out the year: but it will be sufficient to prove that this is practicable, if applied to small rivulets or brooks, particu- larly where nature holds forth a temptation, by furnishing deep ravines, or capacious hollows on the surface of the ground, capable, at a moderate expence, of being made to contain large quantities of water. We are taught, from the simple instinct of animals, the provident lesson of storing up the superabundant supplies of one season for the wants of another. Necessity has com- pelled mankind, in many countries, to follow their example. In hot climates, the inhabitants could hardly exist without storing up the waters of winter for their use in summer.* * At Alicant the King of Spain has made a reservoir, the water of ee a 120 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY There are instances in this country where canals are in want of water in summer, while the brooks that supply them discharge floods, in winter, in one day, sufficient for the sup- ply of the whole year. Those who entertain doubts of the practicability of mak- ing reservoirs sufficient for the supply of canals, state their objections under three heads: the expence; the want of sufficiency of water; and the uncertainty of making such reservoirs to retain it. When the necessary magnitude is ascertained, the expence is a subject of plain calculation; and it is easy to determine whether the project, to which it is to be applied, will bear the expence. There have been several instances, where the expences of repelling an opposition from mill-owners to a bill in parliament, would have been more than enough to have made sufficient reservoirs. Whether they can be filled with water may be known be- fore they are undertaken, by an inquiry and measurement of the discharge in winter. The waste of water from a reservoir is in two ways; by exhalation, and by leakage. The first, in a dry summer, would consume about nine inches in depth from the surface; the making the head nine inches higher than otherwise necessary would compensate for this."The leakage would be in few cases(where it would be prudent to attempt the scheme at all), even upon small streams, more than equal to the summer supply; and whether the water may be discharged by leakage, or by a pipe or artificial discharger, if they shall both dis- charge into the same channel, is not very material. In clay or other soils where rushes grow, there will be no sensible leakage; and in soils more open, the pores of the soil would be an extension of the reservoir; and in cases where it might be necessary to discharge constantly from the reservoir which, for the uses of summer agriculture, bring him in a revenue of x. nn’- s 20001. per annum. See various parts of Townsend’s Travels through Spain, for the utility of such reservoirs. ee a GER PO Yi ae TF * eas 2 F Pees tS BY hi a Ae Pe IR] POTASS TD OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 12 a quantity equal to the summer stream, it would for a while supply that discharge. Even in extreme cases of leaky soils, if there were any sudden floods, the reservoir would at least prevent their sud- den discharge; but where the soil and strata are so close as to absorb little, and cause sudden floods(and it is to these cases that reservoirs are peculiarly applicable), there is little reason to apprehend leakage. The writer of this has lately had an opportunity of expe- riencing the effect of a small reservoir(not yet completed) as a regulator to a stream. It covers at present about twenty acres, and is made on a small brook, which, in dry seasons, does not furnish more water than would run through an aperture of an inch in diameter; but is subject to floods, which can hardly be discharged by a pipe of three feet in diameter. There is fixed under the head of it an iron pipe of six inches bore, which during the last winter has almost con- stantly been open; and discharged a quantity unequal no otherwise than from the difference of pressure by the rising and falling of the water in the reservoir, at the different intervals of rainy and fair weather; and when the reservoir shall be enlarged, on the one hand the meadows below will never be overflowed; and on the other hand the reser- voir will furnish, in the dry part of summer, af least twenty times the quantity of water daily that the brook would other- wise afford. There is now depending in Parliament, a bill for making a navigable canal through the Vale of Belvoir to the town of Grantham, where the soil is almost wholly a firm tenacious clay, and will not require above half the water to supply it, which is necessary for canals in other instances. The country is subject to an extreme scarcity of water in summer, and to great superabundance in winter; and every circumstance is favourable to the intention of supplying the canal by artificial reservoirs. It is therefore earnestly hoped, that those who might be induced by their doubts to repeb —_—— ceesteneaceeineee ~~== AGRICULTURAL SURVEY ention, under the idea that 1 because no canal hath hi- pty Bea's tT]y cnn: d hy recary,. mp therto b: gtaily Suppitec Dy reservoirs, therefore it must wae Sea ys i eis s be impracticable, Sive some credit to those, who,:on vell_orounded nation, have a ised we.l-grounces intormation, have advised the measure; and that they will. suffer it to be effected.°: ioped, that the execution ah, a canal upon this sys- tem may‘cna to promote the extension and continuance of those improvements in commerce and agriculture, on which so greatly depend the a of this country; and which in many ins tances; alread dy have been checked, by neglect- ing to use the assistance of art in remedying the defects, or rather in me or improving the bounties of nature. Written in May, 1792. W. JESSOP. Farther, respecting the particular subject of applying water to the improvement of land, though this practice is by no means carried to the extent of which it is capable, and large quantities of flood-water are lost(which in the tena- cious Clay soils that abound over a considerable part of this country can be retained in no other way than by artificial reservoirs), yet considerable exertions are made in this busi- ness by’ many persons, and omitted by few who have the means of doing it; almost every occupier who has a stream 1 his meadows, bestowing considerable attention to it in floods. Amongst others, my neighbour Mr. Miller, of Dunstall near Wolverhampton, has upwards of one hundred and eighty acres of land capable of irrigation; and when water abounds, it is applied to this purpose in various ways. Upon his farms are’ two mill-ponds, and the mills kept in use in his own hands.‘The jealousy of the millers below upon the same stream prevents his applying it to this purpose at any ot her time, oe when there is plenty of water; on which occasion he often rakes up the mud of his mill- pont by small harrows dragged in them to and fro by ropes; which mud is by this means sent in the water over the land; which water is drawn in floating gutters to every part of the land the level will admit; and the conse- iy OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 122 quence is an early and plentiful hay-harvest, often after spring-grazing. There are few instances in this county of land formed artificially for the purpose of receiving water by irrigation, by being laid in broad ridges; and'the few L have seen would certainly induce any attentive person to re- ject the method. The soil is seldom left equaily upon the land: and the length of time lost before a good turf can be restored, is a great ubjection to the practice: and as the water may, in almost all cases, be as well applied upon an even surface, variously disposed, as land often is by nature, I think such mode of application is to be preferred to break-- ing the turf, and giving it a new form..Upon the estate of Lord Bagot, adjoining Tedbrook, 1 observed a considerable tract of formerly morassy land, after draining and being made sound, prepared for irrigation in.a very ingenious way; without altering the natural disposition of the turf, the busi- ness effectually done, and meant to be gradually and progres- sively extended down the valley. At Stoke, near Stone, about fifty acres of meadow land are watered in a very superiorstyle, from the Trent and from land floods, by Messrs. Jenkinson. Here the main gutters or carriers are constructed with some fall down the land; and from them are cut sideways a pro- per number of floating gutters upon an exact level. Below each of these floating gutters, in the main carriers, are fixed wooden trunks laid in a puddle, with a sliding paddle to each; by means of which the water is either kept back along the floating gutters, and so forced upon and over the jand, or drawn down the main gutters and off the land, at pleasure: the gutters are generally constructed deep enough to drain the land, when not used for floating. These mea- dows have been much improved by this practice, which commenced about seven or eight years ago; before which, I was informed, they were of little value; but at present, after spring-grazing, they mow a full crop of hay, and are im- proving every year. On this subject of irrigation, or watering of land; much remains to be said; some respectable persons I have con- 124. AGRICULTURAL SURVEY versed with, are of opinion that ere long all, or nearly all, the water of this country that can be so applied may be spared for watering; that all machinery will be more com- modiously put in motion by the force of steam,(this has already been applied, both in iron works, and the grinding of corn with success;) that the naturel situation of a corn mill, is not in remote situation upon a stream where a team must be constantly employed to carry in and out; but upon a canal, and near a large town where coals can be commo- diously delivered to keep the machinery in motion, and where the consumption of the wheat flour is upon the spot; that iron works will be erected upon this principle,(indeed they have been already in many instances) without any re- gard to a stream of water; but where the iron ore, and ma- terials used for fluxing it are to be found; and upon the banks of a navigable canal; that upon this principle, when the machinery of mills, and other works now upon streams are worn out, such works will generally be moved to more convenient situations, and most of the streams left for the improvement of land. It is certain, that in the present state of mills, much in- jury is often occasioned, not only by preventing the im- provement of the;adjoining land, at the same time that the mill is of little public or private utility, but merely kept up because an ancient mill; but also by backing the water upon the lands above, and preventing the drainage of such land. I know an instance of an ancient mill, the property of a gentleman of fortune, which at times occasions the drown- ing of part of a town, merely by backing the water, forcing it even a considerable depth into some of the houses; yet the mill is of little value or importance, nor do I know that the circumstance is known to the owner. Many of our ancient mills are great nuisances without being of much use in the manufacture of bread; and if the above named system should be adopted, their waters will be advantageous- ly used in the improvement of land. j know but one instance of an attentive person rejecting OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 125 the use of water upon his meadow land; he thought he observed some few years ago, that the grass was growing coarser, and the rushes increasing, and has kept the water off ever since. It should be observed, that the meadow thus watered, is of a moist peaty nature; and the water applied of a poor chilly sort, arising in moist land, without any loamy particles. He has however drained the meadow more' effectually, and means to try the effect of watering over again. Secr. 3.—Paring and Burning. Parinc and burning has been but little practised in this county, and opinions,vary much as to its propriety. I have ‘ often observed it practised in other counties, but other means are used here even for reclaiming waste lands. Many peo- ple have an idea that it is injurious to thin soils;* and per- haps deep soils can best bear the operation. Burning of couch grass is practised by some; t but most people think even that is better destroyed by tillage and sunshine upon the land, if the season will admit it. SE Cred: Manuringy THE manures in general use in Staffordshire are. First, the dung of the farm yard, consisting of littery straw, rain- water, and the dung and urine of animals; most farmers turn this over once, previous to drawing it out; but no * Nothing but vegetable substances can be consumed by burning, but it is frequently wrong to destroy these, as they are useful to leave in the staple, for the purpose of fermenting with manures.—S. + It generally answers best, to cart off this and all other rubbish, to mix with quick lime, and rot in a heap with other compost.—S. Those people are much mistaken in their ideas; for the thinnest chalky soils, are most improved by this practice.—Mr. Boys. We have no chalky soils in Staffordshire, and it is very probable that a calcareous soil will better recover the effects of having its vegetable parts dispersed by combustion, than a thin soil, whose staple is principally sand, light earth, and small pebbles.—W. Putt. = Sen saa Pte a2 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY covered fold yards are known here; the detached parts of craw, dung, rick-yard and barn-door rubbish, are, after ing well trod with cattle or thoroughly wet, drawn into hezp to ferment, near where it is meant to be used; this aanure is generally laid on wheat fallows, or on land in preparation for turnips; but sometimes on young clover, pasture or meadow land. Secondly, town manure; this can be only used in large quantity by those who are convenient- ly situated for conveying it; when of a good quality it is the ie t of all manures, and is used with equal advantage either in tillage land, or upon turf. Thirdly, lime; this is a ma- nure of very extensive application, and of which great quantities are annually and cons stantly used upon all sorts of land; it is supposed to attenuate, break, and divide strong soils; to bind and contract sandy ones; and to ameliorate, and correct the acidity of old, sour, vnicalus ated lands;* its utility is very generally admitted; and many persons who have declined using it through pieces have been quickly reconciled to the use of it, upon finding their crops inferior to those of their neighbours who had persevered in using it. It is laid on at the rate of, from six to ten quarters per acre: the price at the works from three shillings to four shillings and three pence per quarter, according to quality of the lime, and situation of the works, and the Carriage and other expences nearly, and at some distances quite as much as the prime cost: it is generally laid on tillage land, either for barley, turnips, or wheat, and is deemed best to lay it on in a quick state, soon after slacki cing, and to harrow it in when the land is a it is sometimes laid on turf lar id, and it is‘said with good effect. It is frequently fetched fifteen miles by land carriage for manure, and is I think used in a more extensive way than I have observed elsewhere, and its use is still increasing. Fourthly, marl, this has been much‘used on arable land * The destruction of all grubs, snails,&c, within its reach is like- wise a consideration of moment, especially if laid on hot from the kiln.—S, OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 129 for ages back, as is evident from the very extensive marl- pits to be found in different parts of the county; in many places the land has been over-marled and is rendered harsh, this by fallowing and liming is ameliorated and rendered fertile. It is in general only in the loamy soils that a true marl is found, in the mixed gravelly soils is often found clay marl, or friable brick clay, which is used on such soils with good effect; the quantity laid upon an acre is generally about two rod of eight yards square each, and one yard thick, or one hundred a ane twenty-eight cubic yards per acre, this adds nearly an inch to the ee of the soil; the expence‘of labour I reading, ean beer included, will be about twenty- ings ie acre; bes‘det carting out, which is worth h fy“eh ng shillings soe acre. The improvement by marl is believed in 1 Say oN: olin

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Miller Durnstall,wner ? yy Ae A ie Ve liga fers Sitter Wilt Pendeord Owner,{ 2 Lig Siruiger eb.1 795; Neele sc Strand } y F “="= oa eS Es aE ee ———————— EL.——— i OF STAFFORDSHIRE. I5¥ Yess cheese and butter, which last have generally of late been rather the scarcest articles. Sect. 4.—Hogs. Tue breed of hogs most esteemed here, is not the large slouch-eared breed, but a cross between them and a smaller dwarf breed. They should be fine in the bone, thick and plump in the carcass, with a fine thin hide, and of a mode- rate size; large enough to fat, at from one, to two years old, to the weight of from three hundred to four hundred pounds each. These, if well bred, will keep themselves in good plight with little feeding, and will soon grow fat with a plentiful allowance of proper food, Hogs of the large breed have been fatted here, to from six hundred to eight hundred pounds weight, exclusive of the entrails; but, re- quiring much time and food, have pretty generally given way toa smaller-sized, finer-boned, thick, plump animal. Hogs are generally fatted here by farmers with the refuse of the dairy,* boiled potatoes, and barley meal, and peas either whole or ground; by millers with what they call sharps and gurgeons, that is, with the husk or bran of wheat ground down, but not wholly divested of its flour; also with other sorts of grain and pulse grounddown; by butchers, with the refuse or offal of slaughtered animals. Bacon and pork are much eaten in this neighbourhood, and the consumption is very considerable, but supplied in part from Shropshire and North Wales, * The best way is to boil them in their own steam, and put them afterwards into a large oven when the bread is drawn, to evaporate the watery parts, they will then go nearly as far as chestnuts, or acorns in feeding.—S. A few years ago, Mr. Dyott fatted a most remarkable hog, of which the following are the particulars. Two years and half old, three feet high, eight feet long, eight feet round, two feet wide across the back and shoulders, was killed Dec. 20th, 1791, and weighed 22d, in the presence of the Marquis of Donegall, and several gentlemen; weight forty score two pounds, or eight hundred and two pounds 3 leaf seventy-three pounds; head forty-three pounds. St meer oe ies 152 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY SECT. 5—Rabbits. Or the management or profits of rabbits, I know but little, though they are sufficiently abundant upon the sandy parts of waste land; in inclosed level land they are certainly no better than vermin, and should the commons be pretty generally inclosed, they must be in a great measure exter- minated, to make way for a better stock(sheep); in inclosed land, they can only be kept with propriety, either in small warrens near the house, well fenced in, for family con- sumption; or on sandy or rocky precipices, impracticable to the plough, where they should also be fenced in. I know in the neighbourhood of commons abounding with them, great pains and expence are often used to fence the inclosed ad- joining lands from their depredations. Rabbits are certainly a species of stock unworthy of being cultivated, or bred in any considerable numbers, on inclosed and cultivated land; yet doubtless deserving considerable attention on imprac- ticable sandy or rocky precipices, which may at the same time be planted; and when properly fenced in, and thus stocked, such land seems in a system of the highest im- provement, of which it is capable. Sect. 6—Poultry. Tue profits of poultry are a matter of but little consider- ation, in or any where near the populous parts of Stafford- shire; for though a sufficient quantity, both of poultry, ducks and geese are kept as breeding stock; yet the risk of having their progeny carried off by thieves is so great, and is so often actually the case; that little attention is paid to them as an article of profit. I have known some consider- able farmers, who have had their stock of this kind pretty completely cleared off in this way, two or three times a KLOW but: the sandy © certainly be prety ure exter. n inclosed “in small is ily con- N a S is icable to SS j\ i We 4 Ri ae SN know in S ne<< bm Get ~ /: Wa Nii JS Ns WA 3|; ~~( y os N\\\\\ WA} Se= a reat>& Ply mee. Wie fh ‘loved at aS a er ee\' a. Se recertatnly‘2.8 LM Wg or bred in~\ i; SS NS vated land VR on Impri- Ne a. at the same SS& fe oe" : NS Ris Ny il ean , and thus aN He th a a 0 ere= He Nad Sl jghest Im\ e consider. ¢ Staffon- of pout 4 t the rik uf so prea i ZL. Smuga@ jan pi nme conitoel. sil 9 ie@ cr ES eee OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 15% year, and few escape an annual visit or two: so that it is often difficult to reserve a reasonable supply for the table; this business being always done in the night, the parties are seldom detected, and when they are, have been generally discharged with a whipping, and so enabled to proceed again in the same way. I have sometimes thought the value of farms in this country are lowered five per cent. by this cir- cumstance, as all kinds of poultry are dear in the m: rkets. The remedy, in my opinion, would be to have the poultry- house under the command of alodging-room window, where fire-arms were kept in readiness, and a dog chained near. This construction of offices is adopted in the plans herewith sent, but has not, in practice, been hitherto sufficiently at- tended to. Secr. 7.—Pigeons. PiceEons cannot here, in general, be considered as an ar- ticle of profit to the occupier of a farm; though there are instances where something handsome is actually made of them by tenants; yet these instances are rare, and too seldom occur to be reckoned upon in a general account. Pigeons are more generally kept by lords of manors, and gentlemen of fortune; and but few farm-houses are furnished with the necessary accommodations for them; and indeed the increase of pigeons beyond a certain degree must doubtless be in- jurious to the cultivation of grain: within due bounds they do little harm; but increased beyond it, must prove pernicious vermin, both to the new sown crops, and the early part of harvest. They are particularly voracious in early peas, and I have no wish to see them much increased, as conceiving the advantage arising from their increased numbers, for consumption as food, would be more than counterbalanced by the mischief occasioned by their depredations; and though we might have more animal food, we should have less grain, which last is unfortunately at present the scarcest article. 154 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Sect. 8.—Bees. SoME sanguine writers have conceived that very large products are to be obtained from the labours of these in- dustrious insects; but of this| have great doubts; the climate of this island is not sufficiently steady even in sum- mer; storms and showers often interrupt their labours, and at the end of the season it often happens that all their in- dustry has not been sufficient for a winter’s subsistence; many schemes have been proposed for taking part of their treasure without destroying them, but they so seldom have any to spare, that none of these are likely to answer; some years ago I attempted this myself for several years together upon Thorley’s plan, but got no honey by this means, as the particular stocks I tried it upon, had never any to spare, and the experiment was injurious to the main stock of bees, Many people keep bees in this county for amusement, as well as for their productions; which are doubtless valuable. They succeed best in straw hives, neatly hooded over with an upper Coating of straw; in the autumn those who have not raised a sufficiency of food for winter, it is doubtless humanity to destroy, as sudden suffocation is better than a prolonged but certain starvation; and sometimes a good hive or two are destroyed with the rest for the sake of profit; and though the average annual profit of bees may be but small, their cultivation is doubtless commendable, and ought: to be encouraged,? OF STAFFORDSHIRE,, SS i CHAPTER XIV. RURAL ECONOMY. Sect. 1.—Servants, Labourers, Se. ‘THE price of labour and the rate of wages vary in dif. ferent places. They are always highest in the neighbour- hood of flourishing manufactures, and lowest in remote parts of the county where no such manufactures are established. The wages of a day-labourer vary in this county from one shilling to one shilling and sixpence per day, and beer. In the summer quarter, one shilling per day, with meat and drink; and the draught or carriage of a load of coals, is very common here, Much of the labour is let by the great, at prices which enable a good workman to get two shillings or more per day, and beer. Hedging and ditching are done by the perch, running measure; digging by the square perch or rod; threshing by the bushel; four-pence per bushel for wheat, two-pence for barley, three-halfpence for oats, are the prices generally given, besides an allowance of beer, and a payment by the day for dressing or winnowing. Grass is mown at about two shillings per acre, and beer; wheat is reaped for five shillings per acre, and dinner, or whole board and beer, or thereabouts; it varies a little in different places.* The hours of labour are, in winter, from light to dark; in summer, from six in the morning to six in the evening; in harvest, from the time the dew is off in the morning to night, in reaping and carrying; and at other work, according to the emergency of business. The price of labour has increased within the last two years about one- * Spring corn is mown at Is. 6d. per acre, and beer. 156 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY tenth, or ten per cent,; and the summer or harvest labour rather more; which has been supposed to be caused|} y the canals, cutting in the county, where a stout labourer can get two shillings and sixpence, and three shillings per day, with- out beer. Perhaps this advance is but just, and in propor- tion to the advance of the necessary articles of life. The whole annual earnings of a labourer, in money and other considerations, may, I think, be thus stated. Summer quarter; wages, meat and drink in- cluded, 13 weeks, at 15s. G'1si-o Carriage of coals=== 0110. 0 Other three quarters; average between day- work‘and piece-work, at ros. 6d. per week, beer included, 39 weeks- 20 9 6 Privilege of first gleaning by the family, and douceurs to them.- boi 6 Total annual earnings=+ Qs igi:. 6 Servants. The complaint of the scarcity of good servants, and the difficulty of getting such, is pretty general; and al- though wages have been a good deal advanced, the services rendered for those wages are generally of less value: the Wages at present given to farming servants, are nearly as follows:— Waggoner 8 to ro guineas per annum. Stockman 6 to 8 guineas ditto. Boys 2 to 65 guineas ditto, according to age and circumstances. Women Servants s pian Sica oo Se. Dairy maid- 310 0 to§ oO o per annum Undermaid®<2 10 0‘to 2°10 0 ditto: The Rev. Dr. Falconer observes, that labourers’ wages have lately advanced so much in his neighbourhood, that it —et, OF STAFFORDSHIRE: 157 és not easy to ascertain the average price; female servants in particular, can hardly be hired at any price; this he at- tributes to the numbers of women employed in the cotton mills lately erected; he says farther,‘ Some regulation <* respecting the wages of servants employed in husbandry It seems, however, reason- 2 << would be of universal use.’ able, that every labouring person should be intitled to the most they can make of their labour, and that the true cause of complaint is not so much the advanced wages given, as the dilatoriness and neglect wherewith‘he business 1s done; our men servants often fly off into large towns, where they earn higher wages, and learn to spend them all when earned; thus acquiring bad habits and a depravity of morals, without at all bettering their circumstances. The labourers in this county are generally more to be depended on, than servants: when a man gets married and has a fa- mily, he is tied to regular industry, or distress will ensue. I have often thought one reason why our farming servants are less careful and steady, is the little chance they have of rising in lite, or of bettering their circumstanees, even by the most persevering industry; and that if a few small farms were reserved upon landed estates, and the preference of them given to those, who should distinguish themselves by superior diligence and industry, it might act as a stimulus to farming servants, and encourage them to exertion in their business, and a persevering good behaviour. It is certain, that farming servants in this county might in general, if careful, save two-thirds of their wages, or more, if they keep from the alehouse;_ particularly, after having first provided them- selves with a sufficient stock of clothes. The following remarks on the proportion between the price of labour and provisions, are from Dr. Withering, and do great credit to his humanity: he says—‘* The wages <¢ of the day-labourers are certainly very inadequate to the <« price of provisions, and hence arises, in a great measure, << the enormous increase of the poor’s rates; I confine my << observations on this subject to country parishes; a man, 138 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY * his wife, and five children, living chiefly upon bread, ag <¢ these people do, will consume one bushel of wheat pet “¢ week; the man gains from six to nine shillings per week, «< and his bread costs 8 shillings, or mote, when such is the «« price of wheat. I know the necessity, of working people «< whose nourishment chiefly depends upon bread, having <¢ the best kind of bread, such as affords the most nutrition, Nothing is got by the higher wages he may sometimes earn at piece-work, the man soon wears himself out by extra exertions, and his family lose his support the sooner; a day-labourer at 50 begins to be an old man, no other << proof is wanting of his being over-worked. On well con- “¢ sidering this subject, perhaps you may think with me, “¢ that a labourer should earn weekly to the amount of a <¢ bushel anda half of wheat, and that the magistrates should << at every Quarter Sessions fix the lowest price of day labour <¢ for the three succeeding months, in the proportion I have “¢ stated, to the then price of wheat. Whenever the gen- «< tlemen employed by the Board of Agriculture turn their “¢ attention to this point, it will, through that channel, soon “¢ find its way to the Legislature.” The Doctor’s sentiments on this subject must be ap- plauded by every one, who is possessed of the feelings of benevolence towards his fellow-creatures; yet I have to remark, that the present high price of wheat being, it is hoped, only temporary, and occasioned by unproductive seasons, combined with other local causes; an advance of wages in the above proportion, would emancipate the la- bourer from feeling those effects at all, which every one ought to bear his share of; secondly, such advance of wages by the mandate of a court, would have a tendency to throw many labourers out of employ, as their employers would not care(and perhaps cannot afford) to submit to it, but would make shift with fewer hands. The grand remedy for the scarcity of provisions is a general inclosure, and bring- ing the millions of dormant acres of unproductive, though naturally fertile land, into cultivation, which, united with OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 159 that perfection to which our present practice of husbandry is making a gradual progress, would produce plenty for a population much exceeding, what is at present contained in this island. Sect. 2.——-Price of Provisions and other Landed Produce. THE price of provisions in this county has been in many instances very fluctuating, and their rise and fall seem owing to a combination of different causes; to the plenty or scar- city, import or export: to the plenty or scarcity also of money. Since I have been in the farming business, which is about fifteen years, I have known wheat at all prices, from four shillings to ten shillings and sixpence; barley from two shillings to seven shillings; and oats from one shilling and sixpence to four shillings and sixpence, and this for actual consumption; but it must be observed, that our bushel is nine gallons and a half. Butchers’ meat has varied considerably in that period. Pork, or bacon hogs, sinking the offal, have sold from two-pence halfpenny to four-pence halfpenny per pound; cows, calves, and sheep, from three-pence to five-pence halfpenny. The price is-at present high, but has by no means been gradually and regu- larly rising, but very often fluctuating. The price of but- chers’ meat has been generally more steady than that of corn. The following are nearly the present prices:* Wheat, eight shillings and sixpence the bushel. Barley, last malting season, from five shillings and six- * This account was drawn up inthe summer of 1794, and from that time to the present revision of it, no considerable alteration has taken place in the price of any thing except wheat. In the spring of 1795 Wheat began to advance; in May, 1795, it was sold at ios. 6d. the bushel of y2lb. weight: in August, it was actually sold at 20s. and even a guinea per bushel; in September, immediately after harvest, it came down to 1os. 6d. but has since unfortunately advanced, and is now at 13s. 4d. per bushel, Nov. trth, 1795: andthe flour called here best batch, or best household flour, is at 3s. 3d. the stone of r4lb. These prices refer to Wolverhampton market, which is the most con. aderable corn market in the county.—¥, Pret, 160 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY pence to six shillings and six-pence, but expected to be much cheaper the ensting. Oats, at present three shillings and sixpence to four shil- lings. The bushel, for all grain here, except malt, contains nine gallons and a half. Beef and mutton, three-pence halfpenny to four-pence halfpenny per pound, from Midsummer to Christmas, and foug-pence to five-pence from Christmas to Midsummer. Lamb, four-pence to eight-pence. Veal, three-pence to five-pence per pound. Dry bacon, six-pence to seven-pence whole sides, and one penny more by retail. Pork, in winter four-pence to five-pence: none sold in summer. Cheese forty shillings to forty-five shillings per hundred, of one hundred and twenty pounds; and four-pence half- penny to five-pence per pound by retail. Butter, ten-pence to one shilling per pound, of cighteen ounces. eine ee stds Oak timber, per foot-- os to 2116 Ash ditto-~ OPO ctor 16 Elm ditto- ot sO Q4tON EPO The other sorts, as beech, sycamore, poplar, and the diffe- rent sorts of fir, according to quality and demand, plenty, scarcity, and other local circumstances of time and place, varying from eight-pence or nine-pence to one shilling and sixpence, or two shillings per foot. The present high price of wheat, is doubtless a serious and alarming evil; yet after all the cry that has been made against monopoly, and other imaginary causes, the true cause is certainly a real scarcity, occasioned by two unproductive seasons in succession, in this kingdom, combined with the extra consumption and destruction occasioned by an exten- sive war on the continent, so very near our own ports, which seeSeiine SapRsEERie eestor aaa eT — MY) OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 165 would doubtless divert into its channel a proportion of our produce; the neglected cultivation of Flanders, Poland, France, and part of Germany, and the consequent diversion of our usual imports, have contributed towards increasing the calamity: the crop of 1794 was in this kingdom af- fected by a stormy spring, and sudden transitions from ex- cessive moisture to extreme drought; and I should put down the whole crop of all sorts of grain in 1794 at one- sixth below average; the wheat crop of 1795 was injured by the extreme severity of the winter, by which a propor- tion of the plants perished; and the produce of wheat at harvest not superior to that of 1794: but the same cause not operating on spring-sown grain, or rather operating in its favour by the melioration of the soil naturally occasion- ed by frost, the latter is superabundant, particularly barley: the high price of wheat too, united with a suitable seed-time has occasioned the sowing of an uncommon quantity of wheat this season, I believe not less than one-fourth above the average quantity generally sown; the consequence of which will be a diminution of quantity for the present year, but under Providence, such anincrease of quantity for the next, as may effectually remove the evil, at least for the present. The most permanent cure for the evil in question, will doubtless be, by an improved and extended cultivation; by an improved system of management in the lands already ap- propriated; and the gradual addition of our practicable waste land, amounting, in this county, to at least one-sixth of that now in cultivation; for although our cultivation has certainly been extended as well as improved, it has hardly kept pace with the incredse of population, combined with the additional consumption occasioned by the liberal modes of living, now become so general; though scarcely known to former times. That some abuses and impositions may have been practised by corn dealers, must be admitted;[| believe there were instances in which the holders of corn, bought in at a reasonable price, previous to the late high prices, took the advantage of a rising market, and thereby M SE 162 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY made enormous profits; yet without opulent millers; bakers, or corn dealers, the consumption of a populous country can- not be regularly supplied; and the clashing of interests, and competition between different dealers, will generally render Justice to the consumer. The following is given as the annual avetage produce of the county, in the various sorts of grain and pulse; the data on which the calculation is principally founded, are the re- turns made by the high constables to the Quarter Sessions, in answer to queries proposed by the Board, these answers were only received from a part of the county, but were pro- miscuous from all quarters; and the parts omitted are there- fore supplied by analogy, in the same proportion. The inclosed land of this county is supposed by estimate 600,000 acres. Average| Quantity Sorts of Grain,| No. of produce per} sown in Deduct Remarks &c. grown. Acres.|acre, Win-|Winchester seed. for con- chester mea.} bushels. sumption. a Bushels. Bushels. Bushels.| Bushels. W heat 54,000 22 1,296,000} 130,000)1,166,000 Barley- 36,000 30 1,080,00C] 130,000} 950,000 Oats’=| 45,000 30 1,350,000] 216,000)1,134,000 Beans, Peas,| &Vetches| 15,000; 25 375,000] 60.000] 315,000 WheatFallow} 33,000 Turnips- 17,000 Grass 400,000 Total|600,000 Dr. Withering is of opinion, that a man, his wife, and five children, living as labouring people do, chiefly on bread, will consume a bushel of wheat per week. Mr. Oulton in an ingenious pamphlet, on the Potteries, thinks a fair average is three stones of flour per week, of fourteen pound each, for six persons, taking in, all ranks and ages, and including those who have more aid from butchers’ meat; which is 156 stones per annum for six persons, or the produce of about 42 Winchester bushels; this makes the: OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 163 average annual allowance to each individual seven Winches- ter bushels of wheat; whence the quantity raised in the county(exclusive of seed for the next year) is sufficient only for 166,000 persons, or about two-thirds of its present po- pulation, in an average season; and that this is the case at present seems very Bpobape; and is corroborated by every apparent circumstance. The deficiency is made out by pur- chase from other counties, or by aaa: which is eaten in considerable quantities in the north of the county, and in the Potteries, though scarcely known in the south. I think it very probable that an improved cultivation may very shortly add one-fourth to our average products per acre, to effect which nothing more is wanting than for the, present best management to become general; this quantity and more being already raised by our best farmers, independent of any advantage from goodness of soil. This circumstance, united with the additional cultivation of 100,000 acres of waste land, would increase the product of grain nearly in the pro- portion of two to three, and the production from ae land would by a similar improvement be increased in as high a proportion. NM les Q 3.—fuel. Tuts is one of the most plentiful and reasonable com- forts of life that Staffordshire has to boast off; the mines of coal being very extensive, tolerably near the surface, and of excellent quality: the price at the works from four to five shillings per ton; and in respect to farming labourers, the carriage of a ee of near three tons weight is annually given by the farmer, for whom they work in harvest; the county is also well wooded, but little of which is burnt for domes- tic uses; the iron works in the neighbourhood taking off any quantity, though ever so great, for charcoal. In— north part of the county, called Moorlands, a good deal« peat is dug for fuel; which is doubtless cheap enou; gh, bu ut M 2 —e 164. AGRICULTURAL SURVEY not equally comfortable with coal. Upon the whole, fuel is a plentiful and cheap a atticle; and the price of coal, at the works, not subject to much fluctuation: a regular and gra- dual advance has indeed taken place within a few years, which has been caused by an advance in the price of labour, and the materials necessary for the machinery used in the trade; and perhaps not in a higher proportion than was necessary to give a fair profit to the mine proprietors. CHAPTER XV. POLITICAL ECONOMY, AS CONNECTED WITH, OR AFFECTING AGRICULTURE. Sper. t.—— odds. THE foads of this county have been very much improved within the last forty years, by the introduction of toll-gates upon most of the> public thoroughfares; and which, though a cause of much clamour at their first introduction, have been the means of much improving such roads; and no one now thinks any thing of the expence of paying toll, when he considers the sda make he enjoys in point of ease, safety, and expedition, in travelling or conveying goods, or other articles. Many of the private roads are still in an indifferent state; and though they might be much improved by atten- tion in the respective surveyors, and obliging the liberties to perform their statute duty, there seems in ¢ general, a want of sufficient energy to effect this; and perhaps in reads much used, and where materials for their repair are at a distance, their complete repair might lie too heavy on their respec- tive liberties, and their reparation by a tax collected at a tolf- gate upon all travellers, may be the most equitable way. OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 165 Next to the improvement by a canal, a country is most im-~ proved by good roads; and in comparison to the different accommodation between a good and bad one, the expence of an equitable gate-toll is a very trifling object. Sect. 2.—Canals. Resprctine the conveniences for conveyance of heavy articles, perhaps no county in England, or even country in the universe of equal extent, is better accommodated with artificial canals. I have marked the length upon the map of the county herewith sent, of those now in hand, as well as those, which have been wholly executed nea rly within the last thirty years. These canals extend zbout 200 miles in length, and two or three good projects of the same kind also might still be marked out within the county. They much facilitate the conveyance of bulky and weighty ar- ticles, such as coal, limestone, and lime, iron in the ore, or metal,* and considerably reduce the expence of carriage. The trade in those articles has consequently been extended in a very considerable degree, and the population of the neighbourhood where those articles are produced has in- creased. The writer of this is of opinion, that the very rapid extension, not only of Birmingham, for the Jast twenty years previous to the present war, but also of the Potteries, was much promoted by canal conveyance. Similar instances are to be found elsewhere: at Tipton Green, now a popu- lous town, on the banks of the Birmingham canal, at Mr. Wilkinson’s extensive works at Bradley near Bilston, as well as at the works before named in a general way, and at many others."Thus, these canals have been a means of consider= ably increasing population, by enabling the proprietors of mines of iron, coal, and lime, to extend their works, and by that means employ more people both in raising, manufac- turing, and transporting the different articles.“These canals * Also flags and stone for building.—S, ——— wr aia YN atameaMpieciacaace 166 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY cost in execution£.500,000, and upon the average pay 10 per cent. per annum to the proprietors; they consequently add half a million to the national capital, and{,-5§0,000 per annum to its income; and with their consequent extension and improvement of the mines, manufacture, and com- merce of the country, not less than double the sums above stated, and are certainly a great national improvement, as well as accommodation to a trading country. Sect. 3.—fairs and Markets, Tue weekly markets of the county have been before nentioned, and a list of them given in the geographical ac- count(page 1g), and therefore need not be here repeated; some of them are very considerable, particularly that of Wolverhampton; where is exposed to sale weekly, ona Wednesday, large quantities of the following articles, viz. all sorts of grain; butter and cheese; butchers’ meat; poul- try; various sorts of goods and toys in the streets, besides what are sold in the shops: fish; horned cattle; hogs; and sometimes sheep and horses.‘his market 1s very nume- rously attended by buyers from the populous country pa- rishes in its vicinity, such as Bilston, Sedgeley, Willenhall, Darlaston,&c.; and by farmers, butchers, and others, from various parts of Staffordshire and Shropshire. Some of the other markets are also considerable, as Walsall, Stafford, Stone, Uttoxeter, and many others. Most of the market towns have fairs, once or more every year; chiefly for the various kinds of liye stock, and some for toys and manu- factured goods; and a few of the most considerable villages have also fairs for live stock; but a correct list of these has not been ascertained. Farther respecting marketing: in times of scarcity, and dearness of corn, the practice of selling by sample has been often complained of, and to it, have been attributed one cause of the high prices, and a clamour on this subject has been OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 167 lately raised; and it has been said the Legislature should, and will, compel all corn to be brought into the market in bulk: but it is difficult to conceive what good effects can arise, Or how an article can be lowered, by throwing obstacles, ex- pences, and difficulties, in the way of selling it; for instance, the corn sold in bulk in Wolverhampton market, is first tolled by the clerk of the market; secondly, when sold, in order to its being manufactured into flour, it is to be dis- persed to mills all over the country; sometimes to the dis- tance of ten milesor more from the market; and if thefarmer deals with a neighbouring miller, to the place from whence it came: thirdly, if it remain unsold, the farmer must either carry it home again, or hire a room for storing it, as there is no public room or-corn exchange. I am persuaded the extra trouble and expence would be little less than sixpence per bushel more than in the present system of selling by sample the natural consequence of such a regulation must therefore be, to render the article dearer, instead of cheaper. If any good would arise from having the quantity intended for sale at market made public, previous to such sale, a regulation might be adopted, obliging every person having corn for sale to enter it in the market-book, before a certain hour, and none to be sold till after the ringing of a market-bell: the quantity on sale might thus be made public, without the trouble of exhibiting it; and the due observance of any such regulation might be inforced by proper forfeitures and pe- nalties. It may be farther remarked, that the populous coun- try in this neighbourhood is in part supplied, by farmers and others, from the distant parts of Shropshire, Worcestershire, and elsewhere, who attend Wolverhampton market with samples, but would never be induced to send their corn in bulk, previous to the sale of it; this part of the supply would therefore be prohibited. t68 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY SECT. 4.—Manufactures and Commerce. 1. MANuFactures. The manufactures of Staffordshire are very considerable, and comprehend a variety of articles, particularly hardware, nails, glass,* toys, japanned goods, and potters’ ware; also productions in cotton, silk, leather, ‘woollen, linen, t and many other articles. A good many of the manufacturing families of Stafford- shire are resident in the country, but in no proportion of numbers to those residing in towns; a country residence is doubtless favourable, both to their health and their morals, and conducive to their comforts and better circumstances; the confined life of a tradesman, in a close or smoky shop, requires at times fresh air, amusement, and relaxation: this, in the country, might be found in the cultivation of a roomy garden, upon the system proposed in page 120; which would much conduce towards supporting a family. In a town, this amusement is generally sought for in a walk to somealehouse; and every vegetable for food must be purchased with money. I have often observed in the landed interest, a great aversion to having manufacturers settle amongst them, under an idea of the certain consequence being an enorm“us increase of the poor’s rates. Upon this subject I wish to observe, that no parish will be injured by the set- tlement therein of the honest and industrious;‘t is the idle and the profligate alone, that are the cause of the evil com- plained of; a well regulated police, and a proper limitation of the numbex,of alehouses permitted, with due attention to * The manufacture of glass is very considerable in that part of Staffordshire leaning towards Stourbridge, where a number of very lofty and spacious glass-houses have been erected; and the trade is carried on toa great extent. The country is full of genteel villas, be- longing to the master manufacturers, many of whom have acquired considerable fortunes in this trade. t+ To which may be added, the making brass from copper, with lapis calaminaris; the dipping of iron plates to make what is called tin,&c.&c.—S. Se ~= ANT LE TO PCER ne EE EL OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 169 the regular management of such houses, would do much to- wards BReYaECnS the evil: at all events, I am thoroughly persuade d that a master manufacturer, with a proper ca:pital, cannot more essentially serve the people he employs, than shire by fixing them in the country, with convenient habitations, cles i proper workshops, and spacious g cardens. ods The manufacture of hardware is carried on in the south —a_ her,| part of the county to a great extent; and Wolverhampton, , and its neighbouring populous villages, produce locks of gy every kind, and of the very best quality: and this may be a termed the staple manufacture of this town. Buckles are Is also manufactured here, and a great number of hands em- 5 ployed upon that article. In some par ticulars of steel toys, ; especially watch chains, they have long been famous for D, exceeding every other place, and still stand unrivalled: but S' this manufacture in particular, and the others in general, ny have suffered much by the war, orders having been wanting, ich: and remittances precarious.‘The manufacture of edge-tools, na b files, augers, and japanned goods here, is considerably exten- c to sive, as well as that of a great many other articles. sed The staple manufacture of Walsall may be said to be est, shoe-buckles, and chapes, in which a great number of hands ost are employed, and some good fortunes have been made. Also i this town and neighbourhoo d, particularly Blox wich, is | famous for the manufacture of saddlers ironmengery, such 7 as bridle-bits, stirrups, spurs,&c.“These are wold to the e‘ saddlers ironmongers at Walsall, and form the basis of a : considerable traffick, carried on to great advantage, and by on them circulated to every part of the kingdom, as I have been ‘ip informed by Mr. Curtis of Walsall. The manufacture of nails in Staffordshire is very exten- t of sive, employing many thousands of hands in some of the most a populous country parishes, particularly Sedgeley, Rowley, Ai Westbromwich, Smethwich, Wombourne, Pelsall, the Fo- itd reign of Walsall, and many other places. A great number if of women and children, as well as men, are eraployed in ed making the finer and lighter sorts, which they do equally ao GAD PASAT EOP GIT in AGRICULTURAL SURVEY well. The manufactures of Mr. Bolton at Handsworth, are in this county, and very considerable, employing many hun- dreds of hands, chiefly, I believe, in various kinds of toys, and in the machinery for steam engines. Bilston furnishes a variety of plated, lackered, japanned, and even enamelled goods. Wednesbury, I believe, does something in the gun trade.‘Tobacco and snuff boxes of iron or steel, and finished in various ways, are got up at Darlaston, Willenhall, and in their neighbourhood. Most of these manufactures have suffered more or less by the war; though I understand the trades of nails and saddlers ironmongery are pretty good; buckles and locks indifferent; and the steel-toy trade almost annihilated. These manufactures suffered a similar, or per- haps greater depression in the American war; but were ex- tremely and uniformly flourishing during the peace, from the conclusion of the American war to the commencement of the present. This is a sufficient proof that their flourish- ing state is consistent only with a state of peace. The manufacture of potters’ ware in the north of the county is very extensive and important, the value of the ma- nufactured article being, as it were, a creation of the manu- 170 facturer, from a raw material of low value. The Potteries consist of a number of scattered villages, occupying an extent of about ten miles; and may contain about twenty thousand inhabitants, including those who de- pend upon them for employment and subsistence. They have not been so flourishing since the war.—J//r. Wedewsod, Stafford, the county town, has a very considerable ma- nufacture of shoes, boots, and cutlery, both for home con- sumption and exportation; and the tanning, and other dif- ferent branches of the leather trade, and also the manufac- ture of hats are carried on, upon a large scale, in many other towns in the county. The cotton manufactures of this county are not inconsi- derable: those of Mr. Arkwright at Rocester, and else- where near the Dove, are upon a large scale, and employ a OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 17% great number of hands: and those of Messrs: Peele and Wilkes, at Fazeley and Tamworth, are very considerable; besides which, there are extensive cotton works* at Burton and Tutbury.“These manu ifactures have a great tendency to promote our national industry, by finding employment suitable to both sexes in early youth, and thus initiating them in early habits of industry. The country is much obliged to those gentlemen by w hose exertions and per- severance these aamufaccires have been introduced— and established. Leek has a considerable manufacture in the silk and mo- hair way; the manufactured goods from w hich are, sewing silks, twist, buttons, ribbons,‘silk: ferrets, shawls, and silk- handkerchiefs. In these manufactures, as by information from Messrs. Sleigh and Alsop, and Phillips, and Ford, ma- nufacturers, and others, are employed about two thousand inhabitants of the town, and one thousand of the adjacent country. In this trade some good fortunes have been made, and it has been very flourishing; but the check on paper cre- dit, which in a great measure hurt the confidence of all con- nections, diminished the trade here; and the war must in some degree have d amped the demand for it abroad: yet the trade is now in a flourishing state, and considerably better than it was some months ago. Cheadle and Teyn havea considerable manufacture of tape, which finds employment for the industry of its inha- bitants. The woollen manufactory within this county is not very considerable, and a large proportion of the raw wool grown therein is sold into the clothing and stocking countries; yet there are wool-combers in most of the towns, and some hich push a a considerable business; a and a good deal of woollen cloth is got up in the county by private families, though in less quantity than formerly. ‘There is no considerable public manufacture of linen, but * And manufactures of woollen cloth.—S, 172 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY a good deal of hurden, hempen, and flaxen cloth, got up in private families; a great many people resident in the coun- try being now, and having long been, in the habit of grow- ing a patch of hemp and flax, which is generally manufac- tured within the county. Of the population of Staffordshire, I suppose one third are supported by agricultural or other professions, or employ- ments thereon depending, and two thirds by manufactures, commerce, and mines.: With respect to the effects of extensive manufactures on agriculture, I believe there can exist. but one rational opi- nion, and which must be, that those effects are of the most advantageous kind, and that in every instance the value of landed property will most rapidly rise, as the demand for, and facility of disposing of its products, is increased; and with this opinion agrees every remark I have received upor the 28th query proposed by the Board, and which refers to this particular subject. The only inconveniences that can possibly be complained of are, first, an advance in the price of labour, which is always highest in manufacturing coun- tries; and, secondly, an increase in poor’s rates, which must always be highest in populous counties. These inconve- niences are abundantly compensated for, by an increasing consumption of landed produce, and a brisk demand for such produce at market; and it may be farther observed, that a populous neighbourhood affords an easy means of improving the adjoining land, to almost any degree of fertility. SECT. 5.—Poor and Population. THE expences of maintaining the parochial poor, was J believe pretty accurately ascertained about ten years ago, in consequence of Mr. Gilbert’s attempts at reforming our code of poor’s laws; the whole annual amount throughout this county was then£45,404. Ios. 1od.3 see page 29 of this Survey. Nor do I think the expence had materially increased OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 172 from that time to the beginning of the present war: since then, ae ever, the increase has been enormous; in the pa- rish where I live(Tettenhall) the poor’s rates have advanced 50 per cent. or as two to three; this advance seems, first, to have been caused by widows a and families being left upon the parish, in consequence of the husbands and fathers going into the militia, or the army; and, secondly, by the severity of the last winter; and high price of corn succeedi ies bs calculate the annual rental of the county, including land and bu ildings; taken at actual or full value, at£600,000. cei the poor’s rate, previous to the war, at 1s. 6d. in the pound upon such ll value; it is now probably 2s. 3¢. in the pound. Re- specting the state of the industrious labouring poor, who maintain themselves, it is certainly rendered less comfort- able at present, by the high price of bread; which it is hoped will be only temporary. All kinds of the labouring poor, I believe, find full employment without any difficulty; trade is generally stated to be good; and farming labourers who choose to stick to one master, need not lose any time 5 and others have employment upon canals now digging, where they may earn sail higher wages; these circumstances are some alleviation of the distress of the times, which it must be admitted, still press hard upon the industrious; and one of their consolations must be, hope, and the expectation of better, cheaper, and more plentiful times in future. Respecting aids to the poor, this county is by no means backward; the property of the poor under the management of ministers and churchwardens, and left them by the cha- ritable donations of the well disposed, is in this county very considerable; and as far as I know, properly and judiciously applied to the relief of those who keep themselves from being chargeable to the parish. Voluntary subscription have often been set on foot, and very liberally supported, in times of scarcity and inclemency of weather; and people ot f all ranks have come forward in proportion to their means and ability. p 2 OS ee eae Ss eee Pe. 174 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY POPULATION.* Tue population of this county is very considerable, and been of late years much increasing, a large proportion of its inhabitants being otherwise employed than in agriculture, viz. in minesand manufactures. Some of the country pa- rishes are almost incredibly populous. Sedgeley, for instance, contains upwards of sixteen hundred houses(I have been told two thousand), and probably ten thousand inhabitants. Rowley, West Bromwich, and Bilston, have; probably, five thousand inhabitants each. Wednesbury, Darlaston, Wil- lenhall, Hansworth, and Tipton, are very populous. The town of Wolverhampton, previous to the present war, by the inquiries of an intelligent person employed in a poor’s rate assessment, contained eighteen thousand five hundred people; whereas, by a survey in 1750, its inhabitants were only seven thousand four hundred and fifty-four. Walsall now, or at least previous to the war, contained, in what Is called borough and foreign, which includes part of the neigh- bourhood, about thirteen thousandinhabitants. This is proved * The following particulars relative to the population of two pa- rishes, the one merely a farming, the other a manufacturing parish, are communicated by the Rev. S. Shaw. 1. Bradley, near Stafford, a farming parish of, I believe, near 4000 acres; now containing 102 houses, and 620 persons. In 20 years, ending 1560, there were 49 marriages, 188 baptisms, and 152 burials. In 20 years, ending 1790, there were 91 marriages, 401 baptisms, and 214 burials. The population, by analogy, must be doubled in 230 years: the health of the people wonderful, little more than one-third of the population having died in 20 years. 2. Darlaston, near Wolverhampton, a manufacturing parish, of 800 acres, 600 houses, and 3000 inhabitants, in 1793- In 20 years, ending in 1558, baptisms 149; burialsgg. In 20 years, ending in 1793, bap- tisms 2566, burials 1500. The increase here in 235 years, in population, has been at least as great as 1 to 16, and one half in number of the present population have died in the last twenty years.; The people are chiefly gun locksmiths, nailers, bucklemakers, stir- rupmakers, and miners, besides the smal! proportion employed iA agriculture.: <8 ore and CONCLUSION. MEANS OF IMPROVEMENT, AND THE MEA- SURES CALCULATED FOR THAT PURPOSE. THE great improvements of which this county is capable, scem to be chiefly the following: First, the cultivation of its wastes and unimproved land; this has been repeat- edly named before, but can hardly be too much insisted on; { hope the Board will take such measures as may bring about this desirable event in a general way, against the conclusion of a peace, as it would furnish ready employ for the men disbanded from the navy and the army, which must be very numerous upon the breaking up of the different fencible corps, and other temporary levies of men. Secondly, extend- ing the practice of improving land by irrigation, or watering, to all places capable of that improvement, and wherever the water is not already appropriated; by which means, the growth of hay on such land might be greatly increased, and the mowing of arable land for hay rendered unnecessary, the brgadth of corn-land would thus be naturally extended. ‘Thirdly, the embankment of rivers, to prevent the destruc- tion of hay; with sluices constructed through such banks, to let through the water for irrigation, at pleasure. A work of this kind I had the pleasure of seeing upon the Trent below Stone; but for this business to be done in the best manner, it must be taken up in a general way: and unless the consent of all parties could be obtained, the assistance of the Legislature would be wanted. I know large tracts of meadow-land in this county, upon which I have been in- formed the hay is upon an average, ruined once in three years, that might be rendered perfectly secure by embank- ing; and at the same time watered at pleasure. Fourthly, ee= a ee aI Pee eae OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 183 the draining of boggy, fenny, and springy land: much has been done, and much remains to be done in this way: this kind of land is generally totally unfit for the production of grain, and in pasture produces but little useful herbage; draining may therefore be ranked amongst our most capital improvements, as when effectually done, it is the means of rendering land, formerly unproductive, capable of producing good hay, or pasture herbage; and oftentimes capable of arable cultivation for any kind of grain. Fifthly, the culti- vation of the better and finer grasses, and other perennial pasture herbage, clean and unmixed with weeds, at the time of laying land to grass; for though nature be very bountiful, and soon fills the turf spontaneously, yet there is reason to believe this work would be much improved, as well as fa- cilitated by art and industry; by a judicious selection of the seeds of the most valuable pasture plants. It is somewhat wonderful, that with all our boasted improvements in agri- culture, we are so backward in this almost leading particular. Sixthly, the planting of precipices, and all land impracticable to the plough, with timber and underwood, and properly fencing in the same, and, if not incompatible with the growth of such plantation, the stocking such woodland with rabbits; under this head J would include, the planting the summits of our barren mountainswith Scotch firs, sy- camores, and other hardy kinds, which would both ornament and shelter the adjacent country; also the planting of un- drainable bogs,(if such there be) with one or other of the willow tribe; and as such plantations attain certain stages of growth, the clearing of an equal breadth of flat wood- land, and converting the same into arable and pasture land. A due attention to the above particulars, united with the exe tension of the best parts of our present practice, seem to constitute the highest perfection of agriculture to be ex- pected at present, and indeed would add greatly to, and very much increase, the landed products of the county. The miscellaneous observations made on a tour through the Moorlands; as well as the Botanical Catalogue of the iS4 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY,&c. most: remarkable plants, natives of this county; seem not altogether to come within the plan, chalked out by the Board I have therefore added them by way of Appendix. The first of these articles, as well as many other parts of this Sur- vey, is now improved by the notes of Jobn Sneyd, PSG Ot Belmont; and the Botanical Catalogue corrected and en- larged by communications from the Same, as well as from Dr. Withering, and the Rev. Mr. Gisborne; to these gen- tlemen I am extremely obliged for their attention, as well as for the botanical information I have received from their re- marks; being myself merely in the novitiate of that science, I have the pleasure of finding the Original errors, fewer than might have been expected. Mr. Sneyd’s notes are, to pre- vent a longer repetition, marked S,[ hope the remarks on the Moorlands, may in-uce the land proprietors to attempt some of the improvements there suggested; and the Botani- cal Catalogue be a means of stimulating the curiosity of those who have any; and directing their attention to that beauti- - ful and interesting part of nature’s works: in which case, they may be a means of promoting the main design, and < ce—/ great object of the Board, the Improvement of Agriculture. Nov. 1795. WM. PITT. APPENDIX. Bs MISCELLANEGCUS REMARKS AND OBSERVATIONS, MADE IN. A TOUR THROUGH DHE COUNTY. IN THY SPRING OF THE YEAR 1794, NOT INCLUDED IN THE AFOREMENTIONED ARTICLES. (Co. at Fisherwick, the noble seat of the Marquis of Donegall, on the west bank of the Tame. Here the genius of a Brown, aided and seconded by the munificence of the noble owner, have conspired to render a dreary morass one of the most delightful spots in nature, and have in a great measure succeeded: which success is still fur- ther heightening by the improvements of Mr. Elkington, in the interception of springs, and the discharging of stagnant water. The house and offices here are nobly magnificent, and the hospitality within correspondent.“The shrubberies and plantations are not an exact copy of nature, but that improve- ment and embellishment of nature itself, which was reserved for human art, ingenuity, and industry. A small brook from Freeford, which here falls into the Tame, assumes, through art, the grandeur of a noble river; and even exceeds in appear- ance this river, except indeed when the Tame, after a pro- fusion of rain, overflowing its banks, appears like an immense lake. The demesne at Fisherwick consists of nearly a square mile, or about six hundred acres. The pasture part of it is stocked with deer to the amount of three hundred couple, or more; also with horses, cows, and sheep. A considerable part is mown for hay, and the mown land kept in good heart by the overflowing of the Tame. The cows here are very good, of the long-horned breed,, thick and heavy in the carcass. The sheep are of diiferent breeds; Leicester, Wiltshire, South Down, Cannock Heath, 186 APPENDIX. and crosses from these. The South Down wethers had been killed with much profit, as the steward informed me. A few South Downewes still remain: they are a thick, square, small sheep, to which the natives of our own commons, where they are bred-with attention, bear a great similitude. But no re- spectable farmer here, with an inclosed farm, devoid of common right, would think them good enough for his in- closed pasturage, unless as annual stock. _ Tam obliged to the Rev. Dr. Falconer, for his remarks on some of the parishes in this neighbourhood, which made my Own examination of them less necessary. His remarks extend to Fisherwick, Whittington, Tamhorn, Elford, Wig- ginton, Hesclor, Thorp, Constantine, Clifton Campville, Harenton, Harleston, Statfold, and Scierscott. In this tract of country, the banks of the Tame are good meadow land. The upland in Fisherwick, Whittington, Tamhorn, and Statfold, rather inclines to a light or gravelly soil. The other parishes or lordships are a strong or mixed loam: the courses of crops are the same as mentioned under that article. Some considerable dairies are kept, and cheese is the main object of such dairies. The sheep are pretty generally of the Leicester- shire breed.‘The country is wholly inclosed, except two commons or wastes, which are Whittington Heath, consist- ing nearly of six hundred acres, where Litchfield races are held. It is now a good sheep walk, and would, if inclosed and cultivated, be some of the best turnip and barley land in the county.* The other common is at Clifton Campville, now a good sheep-walk: it contains about four hundred and fifty acres. The inclosing of itis in contemplation. This country is in many places subject to wall-springs, which are cured by underdraining. Very little timber grows in these parishes, except at Fisherwick and Tamhorn Park, which latter, though a woodland, is more productive of rabbits than tim- ber. The Roads in these districts are generally good, The cows at Tamhorn are subject to the foul water. * With the assistance of mar] and lime.—S. mgt APPENDIX. 187 Respecting timber and planting, the Doctor submits the following plan to the consideration of the Board:‘* That ‘© in every Act for an inclosure, a clause should oblige the “¢ proprietor of the new inclosed land to plant a certain num- ‘«< ber of oaks in proportion to his share of his inclosure, and “* should direct the plantations to be made in the angles e2“of the fields, agreeable to the ‘‘ annexed sketch: by adopting ~ n which plan, a less quantity of " x“ posts and rails would be requi- red, and the angles of each field n~ a ~ wn would be converted to a profit- “ a able use, and corn would grow nm wn close up to the rails: whereas “ wn BN ae no corn will now grow in such ‘angles. This is not the only advantage that would arise << from this plan: the trees full grown, would afford good «¢ shade for cattle, and an easy communication through << these plantations would be found from field to field. It «© would also be very ornamental to the country.” The stock of cows in this district are generally long-horn- ed, and of superior quality. Considerable tracts of excellent meadow jand, subject however to floods, are found on the side of the Tame. Onthe Trent also, we find excellent mea- dows; the hay meadow at Burton, which is a kind of public property, would be worth many guineas per acre, if rented. Burton is a considerable town, both of trade and manufac- fure. Tutbury is a pleasant little town, containing nearly one thousand inhabitants, with a lately established cotton-work upon a considerable scale: it does also some business in the wool-combing branch. Tutbury Castle, now in ruins, stands on a lofty eminence, stupendously overhanging the Dove, the meandering of whose waters, and the range of fertile mea- dows on whose banks, may from hence be traced to a great distance either way, up or down. This eminence, abruptly formed by nature, has been rendered less easily accessible by i Nee Ae OE: se. a pn SINS SS oo y 188 APPENDIX. a the defensive military arts of former times. It is composed rt| of an immense heap of marl, The ruins of the building are principally of hewn free-stone, with admixtures of gypsum; it has apparently been battered from a hill on the contrary side of the town. The property is in Lord Vernon of Sud- bury, in this neighbourhood, Here is a draw-well of good' \ F water, but of considerable depth; low enough, I suppose, to y be supplied from the Dove. On the declivity of the castle- bank, on the west side, I observed the following remarkable Fi plants. \ 1. Dwarf elder,(sambucus ebulus,) in great plenty. 2. Wild teasel,(dipsacus sylvestris,) in considerable quan- y tity. | 3- Wild woad, or dyers’ weed,(reseda lutecla,) a few spe- f cimens. 1A Having often observed the first and third of these plants in similar situations about the ruins of old castles,| am led to conjecture, that they have been formerly cultivated in these pl.ces for some use. SOME PARTICULARS OF THAT PART OF STAFFORDSHIRE CALLED MOOR- LANDS, NOT INCLUDED IN THE FOREGOING‘AC- COUNT. SN _ THE north part of Staffordshire, called Moorlands, is: situate to the north of a line, conceived to be drawn from Ut- a) toxeter to. Newcastle-under-Line.|The face of this part of the county is various, but in general hilly, with large tracts of the land waste, or uncultivated. The first market-town from Uttoxeter is Cheadle, situate in a pleasant vale of good mixed soil, but surrounded by rude and barren hills: those 4 hills are composed of huge heaps of sterile gravel, that on the west side overhanging the town.* The principal herbage on ee eS= Sa EES, ca ee. * Tt is submitted, that the observation of the hill overhanging the town, has been hastily made.— John Holliday, Esq. APPENDIX. 189 this hill consists of broom, heath, whortleberries, mountain cinquefoil; all beggarly and of diminutive growth: also of milk-wort, the mountain carex’s, matt-grass, cistus’s, and knap-weeds. The hills north and west of the town, in the parishes or liberties of Cheadle, Tean, and Dillorn, are af the same material, uponar»rstratum of sand or sandy rock: (=) ~ pea) pay ~ LA Qo D m~ 7?) P< t+ + the herbage the same as before, but pitiful and beggarly: mongst which heath(erica vulgar zs) is generally most pre= dominant. These barren wastes are pretty extensive, and no vorth, I think, one shilling per acre as pasturage for sheep, or any other animal: they are, I fear, generally too poor and ye reclaimable by cultivation for the purposes of corn or pasturage. I cannot, however, help entertaining a strong idea, that they might be converted into coppices and plantations of timber and underwood: the Scotch and othe firs and sycamore would probably succeed.‘This last is now become a valuable wood, being worth from eighteen pence to two shillings per foot, at Birmingham, and has, I understand, It is not meant liter ally, in that sense being impossible; but figu- ratively, a view of the town from this hill giving a bold command, even of the chimney tops.—Wm. Pitt. Cheadle Park forms the hi ill, it is three miles in circumference, and consists of thirty-three bold izclosures, now let at 15s. an acre on an average, and abounds in mines of coal of great value.— f. H: The observations made, refer only to the hilly part near the town, veh has not been improved.—W. P. Some of these lands in and near Dillorn have been greatly im- proved by John Holliday, Esq. lord of the manor of Cheadle; and the inexhaustible veins of excellent coal underneath, will greatly en- hance their future value; in the valley too at D: llorn, in the grounds opposite that gentleman’s house, is found a large quantity of strong raddle. In rx; 192, the gold medal was adjudged‘to Mr. I lolliday, for having planted, at Dilforn on 28 acres, 3 roods, 28 perches of land, 113,500 mixed timber trees; besides which nature has abundantly en- riched his truly romantic and extensive winding vales, with plenty of oak and other foliage.—Rev. S. Shaw. I cannot but regret the not having waited on Mr. Holliday, and be- stowed more attention on the property of that gentleman, and should with great pleasure have reported his extensive, and public spirited imp rovements: yet it cannot be denied, but that the sterile, barren, and miserable appearance of some pretty extensive hilly wastes, in the neighbourhood of Cheadle, justify the observations“here made.— W. P. t90 APPENDIX. succeeded well in some very exposed and barren situations, Perhaps, many other of our native timber trees might succeed, intermixed with these, as one would shelter and screen an- other.‘To give any such plantation a fair chance of success, I should propose to begin, not on the summits, but on the de- clivity of the hills: and as such first plantations increased in growth, to proceed with fresh ones nearer the summit, till the whole should be covered: by which management the plants of strength and growth would be made to protect and shelter those of tender age. The putrefaction and rotting of leaves from such plantations would increase and enrich the surface soil; and as they came to maturity, the woodlands, upon plain and practicable ground, might be cleared and con- verted into arable and pasture land. If such scheme be prac- ticable, which I think it certainly is by judicious management and perseverance, these dreary barren hills, which now con- vey an idea of nothing but poverty, want, and misery, would not only ornament and beautify the country, but, by furnish- ing it with timber and wood, would answer the purposes of more valuable land, and enable an equal breadth of plain woodland to be converted to pasture and arable, without rendering the supply of these necessary articles uncertain or precarious. The commons, or wastes, between Cheadle and* Oak- Moor, called High-shutt, Ranger, and Alveton Common, consist of an immense number of rude heaps of gravel upon an understratum of soft sandy rock, thrown together without order or form, or rather into every form that can be conceiv- ed, into sudden swells and deep glens, with scarcely a level perch: the mind, endeavouring to account for their forma- tion, must conceive it owing either to some violent convul- sion of nature, or some strange confusion of matter. This tract, impracticable to the plough, now rough, barren, and bare, might be improved into woodland and plantations, and some open spots of the most favourable aspects might be re- * Called so from being nearly covered with dwarf oaks,—S. APPENDIX. 1gt served for gardens to cottage tenements, and cultivated with the spade and hoe. Above Oak-Moor, to the north-east, I had the pleasure of seeing the idea before stated of planting precipices executed. A plantation has been made there on a declivity as barren, rocky, and bare of soil as any before described. This plantation seems about twenty years old, is in a thriving state, and contains the following sorts, viz. Scotch fir, spruce, oak, lime, birch, sallow, and mountain ash. This is the highest improvement to which the sides of barren precipices can possibly be brought by human industry; and I think that all our public and patriotic societies, who g, should confine such premiums to grounds impracticable to the plough, or of small value, effer premiums for plantin not exceeding, per acre, a small specified sum. I consider extensive plantations upon rich, level, arable, or pasture land as a public nuisance and national evil, at least so long as there are large tracts of the above description remaining unoccupied. A little north of Oak-Moor the limestone country begins, and extends over a great breadth of country to the north, east, and west, in many places rising out of the main surface in huge cliffs. The Weaver Hills are of considerable ex- tent. They are composed of immense heaps of limestone, which I was much pleased to find covered with a rich cal- careous loamy earth, capable of being improved into very good arable or pasture land. They are inclosed in large traets by stone walls, but not subdivided, and large breadths have never undergone the least improvement; which I much la- ment, as the neighbouring lands which have been improved are covered with an excellent fine turf, and bear good crops of grain. These hills are a very elevated situation, over- looking, or at least as high as any of the Moorland or Der- byshire Peak hills, which may be seen from their summits. I believe them to be from one to two hundred yards perpen~ dicularly higher than any of our hills in the south of the county: the fall even from the foot of these hills to the highest parts of the Dove or the Churnet, is very great, and 192 APPENDIX. those rivers are very rapid. On one of the summits of these hills, ina very red soil, I found growing, indigenous, my old friend, which I had long since cultivated, the upland bur- net(poterium sanguisorba).*‘This plant I have never before seen or heard of, as a native of Staffordshire: but it 1s very common in the calcareous soils of Rutland and Bedford, being avery different plant to the meadow burnet(sanguisorba offi- cinalis.)"The herbage of these hills contains many good plants, both grasses and trifoliums, but the hills are much over-run with uneven lumps, which seem to be worn out or decayed ant-hills, covered with moss or lichen; and though they are a tolerable sheep-v ralk, I must consider them as little better than waste, and capable of a high degree of improve- ment by cultivation. Stanton Moor, to the east of these hills, is a considerable waste on a limestone.‘The sheep- stock of this country has been mentioned before. Large quantities of lime are burnt upon Cauldon Low, and elsewhere in this neighbourhood, and there are marks of lime-kilns formerly on Weaver Hills. Lime is much used here as a manure, being sometimes laid on ploughed ground, and at other times on turf, with very See ee good effect in fining such turf. It has been remarked, that after liming a coarse oO turf, white clover has been produced in abundance, where that plant had not been observed before.“The limestone here is intermixed with a preportion of gypsum or ala- baster,. In a large tract of this county the fences are almost wholly stone walls.t This practice I cannot but consider as \ ~~ * It crows in profusion amongst the limestones, in all the rough broken places, and others to the north of this county as well asin Derbyshire; and it might be useful to transplant the young roots, or sow the seeds, as winter food for sheep,(especially Dorsetshire ewes, which are very fond of it) the plant being remarkably hardy.—S. + These stone fences having been originally raised from the pre- vailing motives of convenience, and cheapness, in finding the material on the surface, no wonder they should be continued 5 and in many places(particularly low situations) they are superior to hedges.—S. I am sorry to differ in opinion from so respectable an authority, but I cannot still but think quickset fences infinitely superior, in.every APPENDIX. 193 barbarous. Quickset fences are much cheaper, better, more durable, vastly more beautiful and ornamental, and make the country and climate more temperate; for in winter the or quickset affords much better shelter against storms of wind, oy rain, snow, or hail, to man or beast; and in summer, by its ng refreshing shade, renders not only more bearable, but plea- of sant, that solar heat which, under a stone wall, reflected into a a focus as it were from a burning glass, is almost insupport- uch able. The fanning breeze, the gentle zephyr, and those other ‘OF pretty fancies of the poets, are unknown, and because never eh felt, would never have been conceived here. I hope the tle owners and occupiers of land will have so much regard for Ie- their own interest and the symmetry and beauty of their ose country, as by degrees to do away this invention of barbarous p- ages, and a violence to nature, by planting quicksets, to which the stone walls would be a fence and shelter on one OW, side. With the quickset should be planted in corners and proper places, clumps of trees, and in the fences a few oaks, elm, witch-elm, sycamore, and other forest trees, but not ash, which should be in the clumps: these both afford shel- ter to cattle, and ornament to the country, as well as turn to =m the great advantage of the proprietor. When the quickset arse 5 5 ie) fences shall have been reared, the limestone walls burnt may turn to good account as manure, and the gritstone will tone 4 be ready to repair the roads. This improvement, and some others before named, which I cannot but strongly recom- act mend, once completed, posterity will wonder why the coun- as try was called Moorlands. The Moorlands, in point of elevation, are far above any- thing we have in the southern part of the county, rising per- haps at least from 100 or 200 yards perpendicular above the general level of that country, hill above hill and plain above plain, on which heights large tracts of inclosed pasturage are situated.“This elevation greatly increases the degree of respect, to these loose stone walls, built without cement or mortar, and which a mischievous animal might demolish instantly. My rea- sons appear opposite these remarks.—W. P. O"= 194 APPENDIX old, by combining the different causes that produce it, and by being more exposed to the elements of air and water in every form and variety of wind, hail, snow, or rain. The air here, considerably more rarified, is less capable of retain- ing the solar rays; the country is almost in a state of nature; it has no clothing nor shelter except the stone walls, which have no effect whatever against the cold. Such a system of inclosure is completely barbarous. Plants, as well as ani- mals, in this climate require shelter and clothing, or must be starved and limited in their ona I am firmly persuaded that the calcareous part of the Moorlands, after quickset inclosures, and a sufficient number of plantations on the pre- cipices and summits shall have acquired some maturity, may be improved into one of the finest tracts of land in the county. The calcareous part of the Moorlands, or that on a limestone bottom, is pretty extensive, reaching in length from the Weaver Hills to Longnor, and in breadth from the Dove to Morredge, including fifteen or sixteen parishes and fifty or ty square miles. The quantity of limestone here is inexhaustible, being in many places in strata of im- mense wees TI nis is the best part of the Moorlands, and the soil seems to have a natural aptitude for producing a fine herbage of grass; and, tothe credit of the people here, I must oe that their breed of cows, of the long horned kind, are generally superior to those in the south of the county, where the land has been longer in an improved state. I attribute this to the plough, and to the growth of corn, the chief consideration in{the latter division, while stock here has been the principal object. But this general rule, like most others, must be admitted with some exceptions. Not far from Okeover I observed a practice well worthy, perhaps, of imitation in other places, of washing young quickset hedges with lime-water, to prevent their being browsed on by cattle. Cabbages for cattle are planted in the fields near Oke- over, and the ground is well prepared. The extent of mea- dow-land on the Dove is here much narrower than lower epee eR APPENDIX. 195 yt down. Ina meadow where the water has been suffered to tr stagnate too much, a large quantity of the polygonum am- I ph‘dium grows. The plantations at Okeover are flourishing alt with a due proportion of oak. The house and offices are Ite; neat, pleasantly situated in a paddock of excellent fine turf, lich commanding a view of the Dove and its banks, with a | of neat Gothic church at the very door, The paddock is well nl- stocked withdeer. At Ilam is a pleasant seat, the property be of Mr. Port, but occupied by Mr. Clive. The romantic ed situation of this place suggests the idea of a glen in the et Alps. Here two considerable rivers, the Hamps and Many- : fold, burst from under the limestone hills, after a subter- ; raneous passage of several miles, in separate streams, which ° has been proved by throwing corks into the streams above. " The precipices which surround the valley in which[lam h stands, are well clothed with oak and other wood; and the * pleasure-walks from the seat on one of these precipices are wonderfully romantic and various.“These pleasure-walks resemble shelves, one almost perpendicularly above another; by the side of which, Nature with scarcely any assistance I from Art, has furnished a profusion of flowers of no con- temptible appearance; amongst others, native geraniums of different sorts, particularly the Robertianum, also the centaurea scabiosa, and many other showy natives whose names, for want of minutes on the spot, I have forgot. In a meadow over the water the ramson(allium ursinum), a very showy flower, but no very desirable pasture plant, flourishes in pro- fusion. The subterraneous rivers here are very considerable, | at least equalling the Dove. In a limestone grotto, and elsewhere, there are several specimens of petrified* fish, * These are broken irregular fragments of chert(sz/ex petre) em- OU bodied in the limestone rock, when in a fluid state, which when ig swelling out towards the middle, bear some resemblance to fish, and as the limestone is softer than the chert, most of these fragments project. Three or four good specimens of these are shown to those who visit Oke Ilam, at the confluxes of the Hamps and Munyfold, where by being much trod on, they project, and are become more and more observ- Y ‘mele able.—S. lowet O 2 i : 4 a 196 APPENDIX. some of them apparently in the spot riveted by nature, other brought from elsewhere; some of them appear of the carp or barbel kind. Ina grotto here, Congreve is said to have composed some of his plays: and indeed the situation is very advantageous for composing: the shady bower above, the murmuring stream below, the recluse and retired situa- tion, without the reach or hearing of noisy intruders, all conspire to fix the mind upon its individual object, and enable it to send forth an effusion of its collected powers. The subterraneous rivers, after bursting up here, form two very fine cascades. From these pleasure-grounds we view a very bold and romantic prospect of two hills, called Thorp Cloud and Bunster, on either side the Dove: the latter, in Staffordshire, is an immense heap of limestone, but covered with a light earth, and well stocked with rabbits. Between these two hills the Dove falls in abrupt cascades, but is not in any degree superior to the subterraneous waters before named. Here are large quantities of limestone fallen from the overhanging precipices. The highest summit of Bunster I estimate at 300 yards perpendicular above the Dove, and the fall of the Dove from hence to Trent roo yards more. The sides of these immense precipices of Bunster have a scattering of wood, which I doubt not might be easily in- creased in any desired proportion. The sorts are principally maple, elder, hazel, and hawthorn. The remarkable plants on this mountain are sedums, geraniums, veronicas, hy- pericums, and a savoury sweet-smelling mint; also a very rank galespsis in some places; alsoon some of the summits, in great plenty, the mountain stitchwort, and a very dimi- nutive galium amongst nettles, and a rank moss, The ridge of this mountain terminates, in some places, in a number of conical sugar-loaf hills of bare limestone. This hill, though of great elevation, is not nearly equal to the Weaver, nor so high as some of the Peak hills over the Dove. To corroborate the justice of the idea of planting on pre~ cipices, I had the pleasure to find the stumps of some very large ashes, which have been sawn down on the declivity of APPENDIX. 197 Bunster, facing Ilam, sitting on one of which, of more than a yard diameter, I make this memorandum, May 29, 17943 and I cannot but persevere, upon every occasion, in strongly impressing and enforcing this idea, as the dreary aspect of a great tract of this country is wholly owing to the neglect of the land proprietors and occupiers, in not raising quickset fences and plantations on the declivities; and it is one of bleak, elevated, and exposed division should have remained so long, and should stiil continue in a naked state. One circumstance, however, in the farmer’s management here, deserves commendation. The land is naturally much more adapted to grass than corn, the better sorts of grasses, and many of the trifoliums being produced spontaneously. To encourage their growth little more is wanted than to the greatest absurdities and neglects in agriculture, that this extirpate their enemies, the more luxuriant weeds, or the bushes of furze and heath. Accident, or the discernment of the occupiers, has adapted their management to this circum- stance, and the much greater proportion of the land is pas- ture, stocked with cows and long-woolled sheep: the pas- turage would be much improved in many places by pulve- rization, and by sowing clovers, trefoils, and hay-seeds. This is not in all places practicable, on account of the rocky surface, although large tracts inclosed with stone walls, but never yet cultivated, might be thus improved. The lime:tone under-stratum is generally covered with a calca- reous loam of different qualities and depths. Where it is dry, friable, and sufficiently deep, it is rich; and with its spon- taneous herbage only, it is admitted to be good feeding land, but only, as they say, for three months in the year. This is accounted for, from its naked state and exposed aspect. It would undoubtedly give good crops of any grain. The thinner soils nearer the rock not having a furrow of soil, are good sheep-walks, and are not subject to burn in any season. The moister and more tenacious loam is the worst of all, but might be improved by draining; but the stone fences do not even admit of ditches. Mill Dale, near Alstonefield, is a long narrow vale or 198 APPENDIX. glen, of great depth. The sides consist of overhanging pre- cipices of limestone, estimated to be from 100 to 1§0 yards of perpendicular elevation, and so very steep, that they can be clambered up but in very few places. The width of this glen, vale, or dale, at the top, scarce exceeds the depth of its sides: it seems formed by the bursting or breaking of the hill which composes its sides, occasioned by a want of solidity in its bearing. The vale of Manyfold is situated between Wellon and Butterton, where the waters of the river Manyfold are absorbed by the fissures under the lime- stone hills, and discharged again at Ilam, four miles below. The warmest imagination can scarcely conceive a spot more extravagantly romantic than some parts of this vale. Thyrsis’s Cavern* here is a considerable excavation, pretty high up the side of a lofty precipice: it has somewhat the ap- pearance of the inside of a Gothic church, and appears to me to be a work of art. Starlings alone are its present inhabitants. Near this place, by the road side, the upland burnet, poferzuns sanguisorba, grows spontaneously. At Ecton is a very con- siderable mine of copper and lead, the property of his Grace the Duke of Devonshire; and there are other mines of the same metals in this district.t The calcareous or limestone bottom ends at Morredge; and the under-stratum in the tract of country west of Leek, and of this waste, is gene- rally sandy or gravelly clay, or gritstone rock. This part of the country, north-east of Mole Cop, is the worst part of the Moorlands, and of Staffordshire, the surface of a considerable proportion of this land being too uneven for cultivation. Large tracts of waste land here, though so elevated in point of situation, are mere high moors and peat mosses; and of this sort are a part of Morredge, Ax- edge, the Cloud Heath, High Forest, Leek Frith, and Mole Cop, though ranking amongst the highest land in the county. * Thor’s-House Cavern(the god of thunder), there are very lofty rocks above, and the thunder is frequently tremendous here.—S. + Particularly at Mixton, three miles south-west, belonging to Mr. Sneyd of Belmont, which has been worked 21 years, and produces plenty of good copper, though there is unfortunately a mixture of lead in one of the best veins, APPENDIX. 199 "The summits of some of the hills in this county terminate in huge tremendous cliffs, particularly those called Leek Rocks or Roches, and Ipstones’ sharp Cliffs, which are com- posed of huge piles of rude and rugged rocks in very elevated situations, piled rock on rock in a most tremendous manner, astonishing and almost terrifying the passing traveller with their majestic frown. Here single blocks, the size of church steeples, are heaped together; some overhanging the preci- pice, and threatening destruction to all approachers; and some of prodigious bulk have evidently rolled from the summit, and broke in pieces.‘These stupendous piles, the work of nature, are a sublime lecture on humility to the human mind; strongly marking the frivolity of all its even greatest exer- tions, compared with the slightest touches of that Almighty hand which placed them here; in whose presence all flesh is as grass, and the proudest productions of the highest efforts r of human genius, are but as chaff.‘he speculative mind, in endeavouring to account for their origin or formation by any known laws, agency, or operation of nature, is lost in amazement, and led to exclaim, with the Egyptian magi- cians,“ this is the finger of God ,” for the most superficial observer may perceive that it is his work. Leek Rocks or Roches, are composed of a coarse sandy grit rock; those of Ipstones* have for their basis gravel, or sand and small pebbles cemented together. Upon Morredge and Axedge commons, large quantities of peat are dug for fuel, and a number of labourers were dig- ging it when I examined this country the beginning of June, 1794. The peat mosses on Morredge were generally three or four feet deep; the soil afterwards was a gravelly clay The peat, both here and on Axedge is porous as a sponge, and equally retentive of moisture; so much so, that it was now, and I believe always is boggy, notwithstanding its high situation, and a dry season, and yields so much water from _* Those of Tpstones are(breccia arenacea,) or coarse plum-pud- ding stone.—S. 200 APPENDIX. pressure, that it furnishes small lakes in the hollows, rivu- lets down the declivities, and starves the natural herbage around; so that scarcely any thing flourishes, or indeed grows, on or near these spots except heath(erica,) and that starved, whortleberries, the cottony rush or grass*(erispho- rum,) carex’s and rushes. I can have no doubt but these high bogs may ke easily drained: t the fall is instantaneous, the cutting of drains easy, and stone in any quantity on or near the spot. Indeed another great obstruction to the im- provement of these lands is the immense quantities of stone lying on, or ef rocks rising out of, and above the surface. This would be somewhat lessened by such draining, as from the huge tremendous cliffs, in which the hills above named, and many others in this neighbourhood terminate, immense fragments of broken stones have fallen in every direction. It is evident that these rocks, in some early period, have fallen in pieces,{ either by some violent convulsion of na- ture, or more probably by an alteration in the earth’s centre of gravity, from some agency under the immediate will of the Almighty Creator. These stone cliffs and fragments cover a considerable extent of land, particularly about Ip- stones, Wetley Rocks, Leek Roches, to the west of Flash, High Forest, the Cloud Heath, and Mole Cop common. with the waste north of this last, and indeed in many other places. Here the warmest or most sanguine friend to agri- culture can expect little more than sheep-walk or planta- tion; and I cannot but most strongly and repeatedly call upon the land proprietors to attempt the latter, in which I have no doubt, but a persevering attention will be crowned with success; and by which such land will be brought to the highest state of possible improvement. * Eriophorum; the eriophorum vaginatum, generally grows in wet places among stones, but the polystachion in common bogs.—S. + There is a clay bottom to the peat mosses that retains the wet.—S. t‘« Have been torn in pieces;”’ probably at the time of the general burst, occasioned by volcanic minerals and water; when the strata lay regularly lapped round the globe; and consequently must have made a sufficient resistance to have occasioned the formidable convul- sion,—S. PR PO ea te ar aa APPENDIX. 20% It is, however, an encouragement to attempt other agri- cultural improvements in uncouth spots, when every atten- tive observer can remark, that some such spots here, which have been levelled, cultivated, and improved, are now co- vered with a very good and fine herbage fit for pasture, and seem very gratefully to have answered or exceeded every ex- pectation that could reasonably have been formed by those who attempted and executed such improvement. There is in all the Moorland soil, whether upon a calcareous or grit bottom, a staple, or a something, which has a tendency to produce pasture; so much so, that the pastures here, how- ever thin the soil, or near the rock, never or scarcely ever burn or parch from drought. This, upon the limestone bot- tom, I should have expected; but upon the grit bottom should scarcely have believed, had I not in part seen, so far as the advance of the season, by no meansa moist one, per- mits me; and had[I not farther been informed from good au- thority, that symptoms of drought are here scarcely ever ob- servable. Perhaps the climate or temperature of the atmo- sphere on this high ground, naturally cool, may in some de- gree favour this tendency to summer verdure. Oat bread is eaten very generally in the Moorlands, and none other kept in country houses; this, however, I cannot consider as any crite rion of poverty, or of a backward or unimproved state, as I think it equally wholesome, palat- able, and nutritive with wheat bread, and little cheaper even here; for upon inquiry at Leek, I found the oatmeal and wheat flour nearly the same price. For several days during my stay in this country, I eat no other bread from choice, preferring it to wheat bread, and rather wonder it is not more general, and kept in London and elsewhere for such palates as prefer it. In the remote country villages it is often baked thick, with sour leaven, anda proportion of oat husks: this, even when ground mouldy, is eaten by the na- ‘tives without murmuring. South of Mole Cop, the country aliers, andcan no longer 202 APPENDIX. be termed Moorlands. Here a regularly inclosed country commences, with all the beauties of quickset inclosure, shel- ter, and shade.‘The Potteries are of considerable extent and population, and very much a national object. The ‘Trent and Mersey canal, which passes through them, has been a very great convenience in the conveyance of heavy ar- ticles used in this manufacture; which circumstance, united with the genius, spirit of enterprize, and exertion of the masters and workmen, has happily succeeded in raising this manufacture in a very rapid manner, from small be- ginnings, toits present importance and consequence. The great improvements introduced into this manufacture by Mr. Wedgwood and others, will be for ever an honour to their memory, and rank them among the benefactors of mankind. The cream-coloured ware has all the neatness and elegance of porcelain; is in very general use, and is wrought intoa vast variety of forms for purposes both useful and ornamen- tal. The raw material used in this business being of little or no value, the amount of value of the manufactured article, which is very considerable, and a great addition to the na- tional capital, may be considered as wholly created by the industry of those concerned and employed in this manufac- ture: by the success of which, Burslem and Hanley Green, from small villages, have rapidly swelled into large market- towns, and are now equal in population to Newcastle and Leek; besides which, the Pottery includes a number of po- pulous villages scattered over this neighbourhood. Mr. Wedgwood is no inconsiderable planter. His seat and plea- sure-grounds at Etruria, are laid out with neatness and ele- gance, and very much ornament the country. The land here is in general cold, inclining toa stiff soil, which continues to near Leek, within a mile or two of which its quality improves. From Leek, three or four miles towards Ashbourn, the land is very barren and rocky; yet about the church at Ipstones, and from thence to Bel- mont, it is much improved, and in many places good pas ture land, Ipstones sharp Cliffs have been mentioned be- Tea APPENDIX. 203 fore; to the south of which is Belmont, the seat of John Sneyd, Esq.* pleasantly situated on the western declivity of a romantic glen, the slopes of which are well covered with oak and other wood, with a brook murmuring through the bottom into the Churnet. Mr. Sneyd’s plantations are ex- tensive, and of all the different stages of growth from in- fancy to maturity: I had the pleasure of observing some re- cent ones upon apparently barren rocky land, impraciicable to the plough, where the young plants are healthy and pro- mising. Had every gentleman who has landed property in the Moorlands improved their estates in this way, in anequal degree with Mr. Sneyd,t I should have had little occasion to have complained of the‘ nakedness of the land” in so large a portion of this country. RARE PLANTS IN MR. SNEYD’S WOODS AND WALKS. y. Cow-grass, or cow-wheat,(melampyrum sylvaticum,)} recommended by Withering as an excellent cow herbage. { found the same plant since in the woods at Upper Areleyy and hedge sides, Walsall wood, and Brownhills. 2. Yellow pimpernel(lysimachia nemorum.) 3. Bearsfoot(belleborus feetidus.) 4. Crimson grass vetch(lathyrus nissolta.) 5. Spleenwort(asplenium scolopendrium.) 6 7 . Angelica. St. John’s worts,(hypericum,) four or five species. 8. Goat’s beard,(tragopogon.) * Ona gently rising hill fronting the south-east, nearly surrounded by deep woods of oak, ash, elm, lime, maple,&c. with underwood of mountain ash, hazel, birch, alder, salix’s of several species,&c.&C.§ which underwood is cut, on an average, once in six years, to make crates for the Pottery. The brook, after feeding eight or nine large fishpools, runs into the river Churnet.—S. + Themas Gilbert, Esq. of Colton, and John Holliday, Esq. of Dil- Jorn, whose respective and extensive plantations nearly adjoin to, and reflect their beauties on each other, being all of them comprized with- in the circumference of a few miles.—Rev. S. Shaw. I wish these gentlemen were more generally imitated; very Jarge tracts in the Moorlands still want a similar improvement.—IV, Pitt. t Melampyrum pratense.—Dr. Withering. = a_i 4 q ht \ ] iW ay ZX wm APPENDIX. g. Adder’s tongue,(ophioglossum.) 10. Avens,(geum,) two species. 11. Bistort,(polygonum bistorta.) 12. Chamomile. 13. Geraniums, five or six sorts. 14. Gentian,(gentiana,) two sorts. 15. Golden rod,(solidago virgaurea.) 16. Blackberried heath,(empetrum nigrum.) 17. Red whortleberries,(vaccinium vitis Idea.) 18. Heaths,(erica’s) three sorts. 19. Helleborine,(serapias.) 20. Twyblade,(ophrys.) 21. Moonwort,(/unaria.) 22. Goldilocks,(trichomanes pyxidiferum.} 23. Enchanters nightshade,(Circea lutitiana.} 24. Meadow rue,(thalictrum,) two sorts. 25. Yorkshire sanicle,(pinguicula vulgarts.) 26. Strawberries,(/ragaria, vesca, sterilis, and oppositi- foelium. 27. Golden saxifrage,(chrysosplenium alternatifolium.) Besides many other curious plants, in.common with other places. Mr. Sneyd informed me, that the wintergreen(pyro/a) is €¢ommon in the neighbourhood; two species growing on shaded mossy banks. Passed Trentham, the seat of the most noble Marquis of Stafford. Here the hanging wood with its umbrageous fo- liage, the verdant lawn with its beautiful shady spreading trees and clumps, promiscuously, as it were, disposed in in- finite variety; the spreading sheets of water, with their ac- companiments of impervious shade, and lost to the eye by their length, and winding behind the swelling hill and shady copse; have an effect truly magnificent, and worthy of the noble owner: the house and offices are correspondent. This place, for the beauties of shade, water, and turf, united, has few equals, and no superior. Near Newcastle are made large quantities of excellent = res APPENDIX. 205 blue tile, for covering buildings; which, on account of their superior quality in duration; are sent toa considerable dis- tance. From Talk-on-the-Hill I proceeded through Audley and Balterley to Betley. The country is inclosed with quicksets, well planted, and the timber trees are of luxuriant and flou- rishing growth. The soil in general is a mixed gravelly loam; the under-stratum is various: sand, gravel, marl, or eritstone rock. The soil here, being the happy medium between the sterility of sand, and the harshness of clay, is adapted to either tillage or pasture. The meadow and graz- ing land is covered with a good herbage, and the corn crops have a promising appearance; and upon the whole this dis- trict may be called a fine country. Betley was formerly ranked amongst the market-towns of the county, but has now lost that honour, its market having declined. It isa neat little town, ornamented by two hand- some seats; the one belonging to Mr. Tollet, and the other to Mr. Fletcher. There is a road through it from New- castle to Nantwich and Chester. Between Betley and Newcastle is a good deal of light land, light enough for turnips, and some few small closes were under preparation for that vegetable; but I think in too small a proportion. South of the road leading from Bet- ley to Newcastle, a stronger soil, or friable clayey or marly loam, commences, and continues with some variations to Eccleshall, and farther; the under-strata being generally marl or rock, with some exceptions, principally on rising ground, where the surface is often lighter, and the under- strata are sand, gravel, or sandy rock. On waste also, or uncultivated ground, as Maer heath, Ashley common,&c. the surface is a thin, black peat moor, and the under-strata, especially of the hilly parts, sand, gravel, or sandy rock. The herbage is poor, being generally heath, gorse, whortle- berries, carex’s, and a small proportion in patches of the grasses. The soil mends, and approaches more to a friable marl nearer Eccleshall, where the upland isa rich, deep, red, 406 APPENDIX. friob'e, mar’y loam, excellent for wheat, or any other grain. The meadows round the Bishop’s palace are also generally rich, though some patches have yet the appearance of being morassy,* and seem to want draining. The Bishop’s woods in the neighbourhood of Eccleshall are very extensive, and well stocked with timber and under- wood. Since drawing up the accounts of the woodlands and plantations of the county, I have received the following information respecting them from Mr. Harding, who I be- lieve has the management of them. “ 46. Sanicle(sanicula europea 5 hedge sides near Betley, ey and elsewhere; slightly bitter, aromatic, and astringent. 47. Pignut(Aunium flexuosum); pastures, orchards,&c. on: the roots would be an agreeable addition to our winter de- the serts. ants 48. Hemlock(conium maculatum) in hedges common, 2 alat- plant of active poisonous qualities. fects; 49. Angelica(angelica sylvestris); in moist woods and eaten hedges; warm, acrid, bitter, and aromatic. so. Water parsnip(stum augustifolium); common in is and streams; a plant of active properties that ought to be in- quired into. bite, 51. Fools’ parsley, or lesser hemlock(#thusa cynapium); common in gardens, and much resembling parsley, for which _it is sometimes mistaken; when eaten it occasions sickness; ges Ob, if the curled leaved parsley only, was cultivated in our gar- dens, no such mistakes would happen.—Withering. have 52. Sweet chervil(scandix odorata); Tixall, near Stafford. —Withering. hrub 53. Roughchervil(scandix anthriscus); near Tamworth- castle. Bed.| 54. Wild chervil(cherophyllum temulum); common in shite, hedges. enn 55- Ground ash(aegopedium podagraria); in some hedges ott and orchards in great abundance; the leaves may be eaten early in the spring as a pot-herb. site 56. Marsh elder(viburnum opulus); a handsome shrub, common in hedges; the Guelder rose is a variety of it. 57- Common elder(sambucus nigra); in woods and hedges; if turnips, cabbages, fruit-trees, or corn(which are subject to blights from insects), are whipped with the green }+ On joo;= 214 APPENDIX. leaves and branches of elder, the insects- will not attack them. If sheep that have the rot, are placed in a situation where they can get at the bark and the young shoots, they will soon cure themselves. The flowers are fatal to turkies; the berries are poisonous to poultry.—Withering’s Botany; where many other qualities of this shrub are described. 58. White berried elder(sambucus fructo alba); at Cow- bridge, near Rocester; also near the farm house occupied by Mr. Hordern, Essington, near Wolverhampton; a wine is made of the fruit, which by many is much esteemed. *58. Chickweed(a/sine media); on land rendered fine by cultivation, common, and well known: the young shoots and leaves when boiled can hardly be distinguished from spring spinach, and are equally wholesome.—Withering. 59. Purging flax(num catharticum); in pastures on this farm; an infusion of two drams or more of the dried leaves is an excellent purge.—/Withering. 60. Sundew(drosera rotundifolia); on Birmingham heath: the juice that exudes from this plant will destroy warts and corns: some ladies know how to mix it with milk, so as ta make an innocent and safe application, to remove freckles i and sunburn: if a fly light on the leaves of the drosera, it is said to be held fast by its clammy juice, till the leaf contracts, sO as com nee: to infold the insect, where it will in a oe time perish; whence it may be termed the British fly-trap. From a ing. 61. Snowdrop(galanthus nivalis); in orchards; a beau- tiful early flower, of welcome appearance, as foretelling the approach of spring(Fair maids of February)—Wthering. eo Daffodil((narissuspoende narcissus); orchards, hedges, and meadows; the fresh roots are acrid.—Withering. 63. English hyacinth or harebell(hyactnthus non scriptus); hedges, very common; the fresh roots are poisonous, and may be converted into starch. 64. Lily of the valley(convallaria majalis); in Rough Park, near Needwood Forest.—Rev. Mr. Gisborne. Tyrtle flag(acorus calamus); banks of rivers near. atc,” APPENDIX. are the river at Tamworth, at the bottom of Mr. Oldershaw’s garden: the root powdered might supply the place of our foreign spices; it is our only native true aromatic plant. —Linnaus in Withering. 66. Barberry(berberris vulgaris); hedges near Aldridge, and elsewhere; this shrub is said to have the quality of blighting the ears of wheat, even to the distance of three or four hundred yards across one or more fields; the leaves and berries are gratefully acid. 67. Water plantain(alisma plantago); growing in water; ¢ommon.; 68. Willow herbs(epilobium hirsutum and augustifolium); a beautiful showy flower, growing in hedges and moist te ditches, on this farm and elsewhere(cadlings and cream). mee 69. Cranberry(vaccinium oxycoccus); on the moist parts: ABS of Cannock Heath; they are much esteemed in tarts. 70. Heath(erica); the vulgaris, tetralix, and cinerea, are all common on our heaths. 41. Knotgrass(poligonum aviculare); road sides, paths, and corn fields, common; this plant, and several others of the same speciés, are very productive in seeds, which seem peculiarly the food of small birds, and intended by a boun- otra tiful Providence as a principal article in the support of that ma sur beautiful part of the animated creation. fy. 72. Herb Paris(Paris quadrifolia); hedge side, in a mea- dow on this farm in plenty; the roots will vomit as well as hee| ipecacuanha, but must be given in a double quantity.— Linneus-in Withering. 73. Moschatel(adoxa moschatelina); ditch banks on this farm, very early in the spring. I; 74. Flowering rush(butomus umbellatus); in water, about’ Stafford and“Tamworth. 45. Knawel(scleranthus annuus); corn-fields on this farm.° 46. Stichwort(stellaria holostea); hedge sides, early in |. hey| the spring.- le 47, Sandwort(arenaria’s); in various situations. 48. Navel wort(cotyledon umbilicus); in moist marshy pt rh hy Sao P ia Se a a Se ROD Es Sa ee 216 APPENDIX. ground, and on wet commons, where from its starved situa- tion, it never flowers; in South Wales this same plant is common on the driest ditch banks and walls, where it flowers Juxuriantly. 79. Stone crops(sedums telephium and acre); even the former growing on roofs in the Moorlands, particularly at Wetton, and elsewhere on mountains and in pastures; the latter on mountains in the Moorlands, and on roofs and walls elsewhere. 80. Wood sorrel(oxalis acetosella); woods and hedge banks, the juice is gratefully acid, and a conserve is made from it. 81. Lychnis’s of sorts, particularly the(dychnis flos-cucult) or cuckow flower; a ragged red flower in meadows, and the red-and-white wild campion in fields and hedges(/ychnis dioica). 82. Mouse ear(cerastium vulgatum); in arable and pas- ture Jand, common. 83. Spurry(spergula arvensis and nodosa); common on this farm, on some poor thin arable land, when in tillage; very prolific in seeds, which are eaten by small birds. 84. Purple spiked willow herb(Jythrum salicaria); on moist ground; a showy flower. 85. Agrimony(agrimonia eupatorium); hedge sides. 86. Dyers weed(reseda lutecla); in the lime-works at Dudley, and at Hay-head in plenty; this plant is used in dying. 87. Spurges(euphorbias exigua and heliascopa); devil’s milk; in gardens and corn-fields, common. 88. House Leek(sempervivum tectorum); on roofs and walls. 89. Prunus’s; the bird cherry(prunus padus); is a beau- tiful flowering shrub, growing on this farm, also on Bush- bury-hall farm, about Shelford near Walsall, and in the Moorlands: the wild plum, the bullace, and the sloe (prunus domestica, insititia, and spinosa), are also common in hedges. :———— a re. prema Oe APPENDIX. ary go. Hawthorn(crategus monogynia); the staple of mo- l dern fences, common every where. git. Wild service(crategus terminalis); a rare shrub, tug. worthy a place in pleasure grounds; spontaneous on this farm. 92. White beam, or wild pear(crategus aria, or aria a theophrasti); in Dove dale, and elsewhere in the Moorlands. ls—WMr. Sneyd. 93- Mountain ash(sorbus aucuparia); a hardy shrub, af common in hedges; but flourishing well on rocky and bleak e hills. 94. True service, or sorb(sorbus domestica); in the Moor- lands of Staffordshire.—Withering’s Botany. ¢ g5- Crab-tree(pyrus malus); in hedges; the acid juice called'verjuice, is a good astringent, or repellent, and used in strains; with a proper addition of sugar, a grateful liquor . may be made of it, little inferior to old hock.—Withering. g6. Rose, sweet briar(rosa rubiyinosa); and dog rose {rosa canina), in hedges; the leaves are a good substitute for J tea. 97. Bramble, including the raspberry(rubus ideus); and ! the blackberry(rudus fruticosus); in hedges and woods. 98. Strawberry(fragaria vesca); in hedges and woods; Mr. Sneyd of Belmont observes, that all the strawberry kinds termed hautboys, are dioica plants; and unless they are planted judiciously, with a few males interspersed amongst the females(both easily distinguished) will prove abortive; by neglect of this, the males being the strongest plants, and shooting out the most vigorous runners, will in a few years overpower the females; gardeners then call them barren, but do not know why, and root out all the males, which does not, howeve:, mend the matter. | 99- Barren strawberry(fragaria sterilis); hedge banks is this totally barren, or a male hautboy?}—/W,. P. 100.‘Tormentil(¢ormentilla reptans); in woods and moist old pastures, common. tor. Herb bennet(gewm urbanum); woods and hedges.’ ae 218 APPENDIX. 102. Water avens(geum rivale); one of the most elegant wild plants of this island, grows about Ilam.—Rev. Mr. Gisborne. 103. Marsh cinquefoil(comuarum palustre); in muddy and boggy ponds; in this neighbourhood frequent. 104. Celandine(chelidonium majus); in hedges: the juice is very acrimonious, and will cure warts, and the itch.— Withering. 105. Water lily(xymphea-lutea and alba); in rivers. 106. Lime tree(ti/ia eurcpea); a timber tree, common in groves and plantations. 107. Dwarf cistus, or little sunflower,(cistus helianthe- mum); near‘Thor’s House Cavern; Moorlands. 108. Spearwort(ranunculus flammula); in boggy ground, and near water: it 1s very acrid; externally applied, it in- flames and blisters the skin; its acrimony arises in distilla- tion. The distilled water of this plant(like white vitriol) will operate as an emetic, the instant it is swallowed; and in case of poison, or other circumstances, in which it is de- sirable to make a patient vomit instantaneously, it is prefe- rable to any other medicine yet known.—/Vithering. The plant is common in this neighbourhood.—¥. P.. 109. Water crowfoot(ranunculus aquatilis); plant grow- ing in water, flowers white. 110. Pilewort(ficaria verna); hedge banks and pastures, early in the spring, flowers yellow. 111. Bugle(ajuga reptans); the roots are astringent. 112. Wood sage Teucrium scorodonia); ditch banks and thickets. 113. Water mint(mentha aquatica); watery places. 114. Ground ivy(glecoma hederacea); hedge banks. A decoction of this plant is sometimes drank in the spring asa sweetener of the blood: the expressed juice, mixed with a little wine, and applied morning and evening, destroys the white specks upon horses’ eyes.—Withering. 115. Nettle hemp(galespsis tetrahit); corn-fields and gardens.; Fc aaa mate shia anions a y= SS APPENDIX. 219 116. Yellow. dead nettle(galeobdolon luteum); about Sedgeley frequent. 117. Betony(betonica officinalis) in woods and shady places, common, 118. Hedge nettle, or woundwort(stachys sylvatica) in hedges. 11g. Stinking horehound(a//otta nigra) on rubbish and in hedges. 120. Wildthyme(#hymus serpyilum) heaths and road sides, in the south part of the county. 121. Hooded-willow herb(scatellaria galericulata); ona moist ditch bank on this farm. 122. Selfheal(prumella vulgaris) meadows and pastures. 123. Cow-grass, or cow-wheat,(melampyrum pratense); common in woods, and J have found it in pasture land.— W. P. WWhere this plant abounds, the butter is yellow, and uncommonly good; cows are very fond of it.—/Withering. ‘It is yery probably worthy of cultivation. 124. Snap-dragon(antirrhinum majus); a beautiful flower, abounding on the walls of Rushall castle, near Walsall. 125.‘Toad flax(antirrhinum linaria); common in hedges: an infusion of the leaves is diuretic and purgative; the ex- On =) 126. Pigworts(serephularia aquatica and nodosa); in most laces. Withering says, swine that have the scab are cured y washing with a decoction of the leaves. 127. Fox-glove(digitalis purpurea) a showy plant, very common here; a very active medicine.—Wthering. 128. Whitlow-grass(draba verna); walks and dry pas- tures; a diminutive plant, very early in spring in flowers: it is good as.a sallad, but must take a good deal of time to gather a moderate quantity. 129. Coralwort(dentaria bulbifera); hedge sides on this farm. 3 130. Water-cress(sysimbrium nasturtium); in springs and een ————en 220 APPENDIX. rivulets; an early and wholsome spring sallad; antiscorbu- tic and stomachic. 131. Hedge mustard(erysinum officinale); road sides and hedges; the juice of this plant is beyond any thing in ulcers of the throat.—Withering. 132. Jack-by-the-hedge(erysinum alliaria); hedge banks near Wolverhampton; very common, luxuriant, and early in the spring; the leaves eaten in Prussia with salted meats: they are useful with lettuce, and the colder sallads—W7- thering. I think they require a good stomach, having a very rank garlic flavour—/¥. P. The seeds excite sneezing. 133. Gilliflower(cheiranthus cheiri); on old walls, par- ticularly, on the moat walls at Perry hall. 134. Codded mouse ear(arabis thaliani); dry pastures on this farm, very early in the spring. 135. Geraniums, various sorts, hedge banks and pastures. 136. Common mallow(malva sylvestris); road sides and hedges, common. 137. Musk mallow(malva muschata); hedge sides, com- mon. 138. Common fumitory(fumaria officinalis); in gardens, hedges, and corn-fields. 139. Lesser bulbous fumitory,(fumaria bulbosa minor); stem, simple, erect; flowers and leaves much larger than those of any other British species; has never before appeared in print, as an English plant. I found it growing last spring in Perry park, between the mansion and the river: and from specimens sent to Dr. Withering, it will be accu- rately described in the next edition of his Botany. 140. Milkwort(polygala vulgaris); mountainous, healthy pasture, near Cheadle; limestone hills, Sedgeley. 141. Broom(spartium scoparium); dry pastures. 142. Dyers’ broom(gevtsta tinctoria); in some pastures. 143. Hairy greenweed(genista pilosa); on a gravelly bank on this farm. 144. Gorse, or furze(ulex europeus); heaths and uncul- Aivated ground. APPENDIX. 221 145. Creeping restharrow(cnonis repens); road side near Himley; the other restharrow was named before. 146. Melilot(¢rifolium melilotis officinalis); this plant is not very common in this county; but I have seen specimens of it growing in Stafford field, and again between there and Eccleshall; I have sometimes wondered that it has been taken so little notice of as an agricultural plant, being the most luxuriant of all our trefoils, and the most tenacious of growth. Horses are extremely fond of it; this I have often remarked; cows, sheep, and swine, eat it. Linnzus calls it an annual plant, Hudson a biennial, and Berkenhout a per- ennial: in some parts of the counties of Rutland and Bed- ford, particularly the former, it is so abundant amongst wheat and other grain, that I have been assured on the spot, the drawing it out as a weed has frequently cost five or six shillings per acre; hence I should suppose it a perennial. This circumstance may perhaps be a sufficient warning against introducing it upon arable land; yet a plant so tena- cious of growth, and acceptable to cattle, may possibly be a good addition to our meadow and pasture herbage. 147. Brimstone, or yellow clover,(¢rifolium ochroleucum); at Goscott, near Walsall. 148. St. John’s wort(hypericum perforatum); thickets, woods, and hedges. 149. Tutsan(hypericum androsemum); a beautiful flower, in hedges and waste baulks on this farm. 150. Marsh St. John’s wort(hypericum elodes); ona wet common, called Calf-heath, in a place where, from its “situation, it must be some months in the year under water. 151. Corn sowthistle(souchus arvensis}; corn-fields and ditch banks. 152. Common sowthistle(sonchus olaraceus); on culti- vated ground; the leaves are good as a pot-herb, and a fay vourite food with hares and rabbits. 153. Hawkweed(hieracium); in woods and hedges. 154. Burdock(aretium lappa); ditch banks, and amongst rubbish. Before the flowers appear, the stems, stripped of 22% APPENDIX, their rind, and boiled, eat like asparagus; when raw, they are good with oil and vinegar. A decoction of the roots is equal or superior to sarsaparilla.—Withering. 155- Double tooth(d:dens cernua); wet ditches. 156. Hempweed(ewpatoriumcannabinum); in moist ditches> and sides of brooks. 157. Vansy(¢anacetum vulgaris); road sides, and banks of rivers. Ifadead animal substance is rubbed with this plant, the flesh-fly will not attack it. 158. Wormwood(artemisia absinthium); road sides and tocky places; very bitter; the leaves put into sour beer soon destroy the acescency; they resist putrefaction, and are a principal ingredient in antiseptic fomentations. An infusion is a good stomachic, but will, like other bitters, weaken the nervous system.—/Withering. 159. Mugwort(artemisia vulgaris); ditch banks. 160. Cudweed(graphalium germanicum); in pastures on this farm, good for cattle that have the bloody flux. 161. Ragwort(senecio“Facobea); sides of roads and hedges. 162. Water groundsel(senecto aquaticus); moist ground. 163. Middle elecampane, or flea-bane(‘aula dysenterica); on moist land on this farm. 164. Feverfew(matricaria parthemium); hedges, waste places, and on walls. 165. Chan omile(anthemis nobilis); in the road between Cannock and Rudgeley, a little to the south-west of the Hedgford finger-post. 166. Sneezewort(achillea ptarmica); in moist pastures on this farm, and elsewhere. 167. Knapweed(centaurea); various sorts, road sides, and in corn-fields. 168. Violet(viola odorata); ditch banks. 169. Pansy(viola tricolor); corn-fields. 170. Cows and calves(arum maculatum); hedge banks: starch may be made from the roots. 171. Duckmeat(/emna); in ditches and ponds: ducks are exceedingly fond of all the species. A TT= a A APPENDIX. 223 172. Catstail{igpha latifolia); marshy places. 173. Burr reed(sparganium erectum) 3 Watery places on this farm. 174. Birch tree(detula alba); a hardy tree, growing in all kinds of soil, oy best in shady places. 175. Alder(betula alnus); succeeds best near water: the wood will ne long under ground, ot in water. \ 176. Nettle(wrtica digica); ditch banks, and amongst rubbish: its stinging properties are well known. . Chestnut tree(fagus castanea); hedges, and in plan- Aes: a timber tree. 178. Beech tree(fagus sylvatica); a large timber tree, common in hedges and plantations. 179. Hornbeam(carpinus betulus); a tree not very com- mon here, but I have seen a few specimens of it. 180. Hazel(corylus avellana); in woods and hedges: the shrub, and its fruit, the nut, are well known. 181. Sweet willow(salix pentandra); hedges and sides of brooks, near the east gate, Stafford. 182. Sallow(salrx caprea), a variety of this shrub, called here, withy, with narrow or small leaves; is very common in this county in hedges, on most sorts of land, moist or dry. Ifa stake of it be driven into the earth, it generally grows; but isin general too crooked to be of much use, except for fuel; when straight and kind, it makes good staves, being very tough. 183. Dwarf willow(salix repens, or fusca, or both); on marshy ground on this farm. 184. Osier(salix viminalis); willow beds, woods, and hedges; baskets and bird cages are made of the twigs. 185. White willow(salix alba); the largest tree of the species, hedges and sides of rivers: it grows quick, and bears lopping. 186. Mistletoe(viscum album); on apple trees, in some parts of the country adjoining Shropshire, where it is still more COmmon. 187. Hop(humulus lupulus); in hedges, at Whittington O24 APPENDIX. and elsewhere; the young shoots are eaten early in the spring as asparagus. 188. Black briony(¢amus communis); thickets and hedges; the young shoots are good dressed like asparagus. 189. Poplars, and aspen tree(pepulus alba) white poplar; (populus nigra) common poplar, and(populus tremula) asp, or aspen tree; succeed best in moist situations, though the white poplar does well on dry land. 190. Yew tree(taxus baccata); in hedges: the loppings, in a half dried state, have frequently been fatal to horses and cattle. 191. Common briony, wild vine,(bryenia disica) in hedges near Litchfield. 192. Cross wort(valantia cruciata; baulks, by hedge sides. 193. Pellitory of the wall(parietaria officinalis); on dry ditch banks, and old walls; on the gateway leading to Litch- field minster. 194. Sycamore tree(acer-pseudo-platanus); in hedges: a hardy tree, and has succeeded well on black mountains, as I have been informed. 195. Maple(acer campestre); in hedges. 196. Ash tree(fraxinus excelsior); in woods and hedges. ‘The wood of this tree being stout and tough, is the best of all others for ploughs, and most farming implements: this tree is injurious to arable or pasture lands, the roots running near the surface, and extending to a great distance; it should therefore be planted in clumps or coppices. 197. Corn horsetail(eguzsetum arvense); a troublesome weed on some moist arable land; not easily destroyed. 198. Marsh horsetail(equasetum palustre); in marshes and watery places. 199. Rough horsetail, or shave-grass,(eguisetum hyemale); on Prestwood farm, near Wednesfield; used by turners and cabinet makers to smooth their work. 200. Adder’s tongue(ophroglossum vulgatum); meadows near Blimhill, and in the Moorlands. APPENDIX. 225 201. Club moss(Lycopodium clavatum); on Cannock heath. 202. Spleenwort, or hart’s-tongue,(asplenium scolopen- drium; mouths of wells, ditch banks, old walls, and rocks. 203. Polypody(palypodium vulgare); on old walls, shady places, and at the roots of trees. 204. Mosses(musci); in great variety on trees, roofs, commons, and worn out pastures, which should then be top dressed, or ploughed up. 205. Lichens; a numerous tribe of diminutive plants, growing on the trunks and bark of trees; heaths, old walls, pales, rocks, large stones, and the summits of high moun- tains; many of the species are used in dying. 206. Star jelly(¢remella arborea, and nostoe); the former on rotten wood, the latter in mossy ground; is vulgarly sup- posed the remains of a falling star, but described by bontani- cal writers as a true vegetable. 207. River-weed, or crowsilk,(conferva rivularis); in rivulets under water. 208. Paper byssus(dyssus flos-aque); on stagnant water, some years ago a pond on this farm, soaking away in sum- mer, from under a profusion of this vegetable production; the whole was left formed‘into a substance resembling coarse paper, covering the whole surface of the pond; a small specimen of which I have preserved, and it is capable of being wrote upon. 209. Agaricus’s; an extensive and numerous species, in general remarkable for quick growth, and sudden decay The mushroom(agaricus campestris), one of the few of this marae species used as food; is well known at table, and plentiful in old pastures. 210. Stinking morel, or polecat,(phalius impudicus); in thickets. 211. Puff-ball(/ycoperdon proteus, or bovista); on this farm, most common on drained peat; and sometimes eight or nine inches diameter. Q Nae — — rr 226 APPENDIX. The above are our most remarkable, and common, indi- genous vegetable productions; so far as comes under my observation, besides those mentioned before as agricultural plants, weeds, or of local growth: but it is very probable many may have been overlooked, the writer is often indebted to Withering’s Botany, for their uses. A List of the commonly cultivated Plants of this county, with eS) NN Wheat Rye Barley Six rowed ditto Oats Beans Peas Vetches Buckwheat Hemp Flax Turnips Potatoes Cabbages Rape French beans Carrot Parsnip Beet Spinach the generic and specific names of Linnaeus, not given before. Triticum estivum. Secale cereale, Hordeum vulgare. Flordeum hexastichon, has had some small trials. Avena sativa. Vicia faba. Pisum sativa and arvensts. Victa sativa, very improperly call- ed tares, the latter being a dif- ferent species. Polygonum fagopyrum. Cannabis sativus. Linum usitatissimum. Brassica rapa. Solanum tuberosum. Brassica arvensis. Brassica napus. Garden Plants. Phaseolus vulgaris and nanus. Daucus carota. Pastinaca sativa. Beta vulearis, cicla and maritima. S> Spinachia sativa. | APPENDIX. 224 i 21 Savoys,&c. Brassica oleracea. : 22 Artichoke Cynara scolymus. le 23 Lettuce Lactuca sativa. F 24. Cresses Lepidium sativum. 25 Sallad mustard Sinapis alba. 26 Leek Allium porrum, or pot garlic. a7 Garlic Allium sativuni. 28 Onion Allium cepa. 202 sCives Allium tenuissimum. 30 Rocambole Allium oleraceum. The last five are all of the garlic species. 31 Asparagus Asparagus officinalis. Radishes Raphanus sativus. 33 Parsley Apium petroselinum. 34 Mint Mentha sativa. ac Celery Apium graveolens. 36 Endive Cichorium endivea. 37 Cucumber Cucumis sativus. 38 Melon Cucumis melo. 39-radish Cochlearia armoracta. | 40 Pompion, or gourd Cucurbita, several sorts. oy) The most common Fruits, not named befere. 41 Vine Vitis vinifera. 42 Apple Pyrus malus. Ae Pear Pyrus communis. 4 44 Plum Prunus domestica. | 45 Cherry Prunus cerasus. 40 Apricot Prunus armentaca. A Geteeaen Amygdalus persica. 48 Almond Amygdalus communis. 49 Fig Ficus. 50«©Walnut Fuglans, 6 ae f ; + ij at re tele eee ce at SR TSE em Zi rer 2.28 APPENDIX. Garden Flowers most commonly cultivated, including some medi-| cal Plants, Trees, and Shrubs. §rt Auricula Primula auricula. 52 Tulips. Tulipa. 53 Jessamine Fasminum officinale. 54 Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis. 55 Crocus Crocus vernus. 56 Jacob’s-ladder Polemontum ceruleum. 57 Venus’s Looking: Glass Campanula speculum. 58 Fennel Anethum feeniculum. sg Narcissus Narcissus posticus. 60 Jonquill Narcissus jonquilla. 61 Lilies of sorts Amaryllis’s, liliums, and convallaria. 92 Crownimperial Fritillaria meleagris. 63 Bethlehem-stars. 64 Polianthes Polianthes tuberasa. 65 Hyacinths Fyacinthus’s, sorts. 66 Bay Laurus. 7 Rhubarb Rheum, rhabarbarum, and palmatum. 68 Rue Ruta graveolens, 69 Pink, Carnation, and Sweet-william Dianthus’s. 70 Campions Cucubalus’s, many sorts. 71 Lychnis’s many sorts. 472, Laurel Prunus lauro cerasus. 73 Peony Peontia officinalis. 74. Columbine Aquilegia vulgaris, 75 Anemones many sorts. 76 Ranunculus’s many sorts. 494 Savory Satureia hortensts. 98 Hyssop HHyssopus officinalis. 79 Lavender Lavendula. So Hibiscus Althea frutex. 81 Lupine Lupinus, several sorts. 82 Laburnum Cytists laburnum, $3 Old-man Artemisia abrotanum. APPENDIX. 2.2.9 Ne meds,: 3 84 Sun-flower Helianthus. 85 Jerusalem Arti- choke Helianthus tuberosus. 86 Violet Viola’s, many sorts. 87 French-marigold Calendula. 88 Indian corn Zea mays. 89 Amaranthus’s many sorts. go Ever-green oak Quercux lex. gt Plane-tree Platanus orientalis. 92 Cedar Pinus cedrus. 3 Lanch Pinus larix. 94 Savin Funipers sabina. 95 Juniper Funiperus communis. . 96 Horse-chestnut A sculus hippocastanum. ute 97 Hollyhock Alcea rosea. 98 Lilac Syringa persica. 99 Stock july flower Chezranthus. 100 Marjoram Origanum marjorana. tor Balm of Gilead Dracocephalon. Io2 Scurvy-grass Cochlearia officinalis. vatun 103 Box Buxus sempervirens. 104 Thrift Statice armeria. te 105 London-pride Saxifraga umbrosa. ON MAKING STARCH FROM VEGETABLES. As in the present scarcity of bread corn, and in all simi- lar cases, and indeed in every case, it seems to be an object deserving attention, to search out substitutes for those articles of manufacture which(though not used as food,) have generally been prepared from wheat; and Dr. Wither- ing having stated in his botanical arrangement that starch may be prepared from the roots of the Arum, and of the English Hyacinth, I took the liberty to write to him on the subject, and have received the following for answer. <¢ Though starch may be made from the roots of Arum “<¢ and the Hyacinth, it is a doubt with me whether it can be <* done in this kingdom profitably; in countries where living 230 APPENDIX, “¢ ismuch less expensive, and wages much lower, many points “‘ like this may be carried into effect, which would not an- “« swer here. I believe that the starch from potatoes has never “* yet been a saleable article, so as to stand in competition “with that from wheat. Itis not in my power to inform you of the expence of inaking starch from either the one or the other; but this may be learned, however, it can never be an object whilst the distilleries are allowed to de- Stroy so much wholesome corn, and convert it into ruin- OUS spirits: to say nothing, though so much might be said, of the mischiefs of dram drinking to the health and the morals of mankind; the revenue obtained from distille- ries, though it should equal 7 or 800,000/. annually, is a revenue founded on bad policy, so long as we are obliged ‘annually to import corn to a greater amount, which has ““ been the case for many years back.” On the subject of making starch from the above vegetable roots, I have to observe, that the plants in question are both extremely common; and the roots being bulbous and pro- ductive, might be collected in considerable quantities. by women and children. In a ride in the month of April last of more than 300 miles, I observed the Arum every where; and the Hyacinth is to be found in great plenty in hedge baulks, woods, and waste places, and often in meadows, where it is no desirable plant. It is therefore submitted to the Board to consider the propriety of encouraging the pro- duction of starch from these plants, by bounties or pre- miums, more especially as they are produced spontaneously in great abundance, and are at present applied to no use whatever. In a subsequent letter Dr. Withering says,‘On the “* subject of making starch, I think the Society for the En- ht be induced to offer their pre- ““mium, it being perfectly consistent with their plan.’ Per: “* couragement of Arts mig ©= haps it might be right for some gentleman, who is 2 mem- ber of the Board, and of that Society, to propose this parti- cular subject in their next offer of premiums. These ob- servations will equally apply to the making of starch from — ee Hn i APPENDIX. 231. be, any other vegetable, not being a leading article of food; ie well as to the production of hair-pow der, paste, and bites ca articles g enerally made from wheat. Atorm Ne one RECAPITULATION. a Upon a retrospective view of the present state of the : county, it will appear that Staffordshire has begun to 1m- me| prove; and it may be added, has made some prog egress in im- i| provement: that some of its intelligent and active cultivators nee(for such there are) have brought their farms to a pretty cor- le rect state of good cultivation, but none have by any means ay approached perfection; not even that perfection which they ged are sensible is in their power. Much remains to be done, tas even by those who have made the greatest efforts, and most successful exertions; and even these, are the persons who etable' are the most sensible, that we are in the infancy of agricultu- eboh=| ral improvement; who find, the more they do, the more | DIO.| vants doing, as one improvement paves the way to another. es by Minch of the land of this county remains in a medium state Ihe=| of management, much below mediocrity, and large breadths here:| of inclosed land have never been improved at all. If to this, edge| we add our extensive wastes, uninclosed, unimproved, and OWS,| uncultivated, we shall have a large set-off, against our supe- 4 t0 rior management, before exhibited. Upon the whole, to n10- the eye of an intelligent agriculturé 11 stranger, familiar with Qi a country highly cultiv ated, and capable of taking in at once sty a general view of the county, it would convey the idea of a Nic country just emerged, or emerging, from a state of barba- | rism: and indeed the idea would be just, for such was very nthe recently the state of this county; and the practice of barba- An rous ages may be said to be but very lately(if yet) wholly p exploded. In the limits of my own observation, which can fe little exceed thirty years, I have known the following, a ce common practice on the best lands: 1. fallow; 2. wheat; es 3. barley; 4. oats; and often oats repeated, and then left to nature; the worst lands left to pasture and spontancous fa| 232 APPENDIX. rubbish:‘turnips and artificial grasses, scarcely at all known in farming, though now fully introduced. The person who first cultivated ray grass in this county, and first sold the seed in Wolverh: ae market, was an uncle of mine, now living; he sold the seeds of clovers and tre- foils at the same time; since se the demand for these seeds is increased] suppose an hundred fold. The rents of land were then about an half of the present rent and the population of the country not in a much higher ae portion; the roads were scarc ely passable, and many of the best eae were in the hands of the owners, who were un- able to get tenants for them; and all this was the case with- in less than half a century“ the present time. If it be ob- served, that notwithsta nding the capital improvements herein Stated to have nee place, a scarcity, even approaching a famine, has lately been experienced, and the prices of every article of provision has been higher than ever known be- fore; I answer, that years of scarcity have been common in every period of our history, and have several times occurred in the memory of the present generation; that they do not happen more freq quently now, than in former times; tha the price of wheat and other provisions, having been higher lately than ever known before, is rather ideal and nomin: il, than real fact; as the alteration of the value of money with- in the last thirty or forty years will account for the appa- rently different high prices, which are not comparatively more different now, and then, than the comparative difference in the value once at the different periods. That an acre of land, which is not naturally or intrinsically of more value now, than then, will sell for twice as much money. That it is not in human power to counteract the course of nature; and in regard to producing plenty in years of scarcity, it cannot be done otherwise than by previously storing the sur- plus of plentiful seasons. That the improvements above stated, have only taken place on a proportion of our land; and have not increased our produce more than sufficient to an- swer the increased consumption of our greater population, pemenpesina“4 ee i ERAT a Bea NRO LOORY BEARD BE ALBE VESEY ETAT CAE DOZER ADOT APPENDIX. 233 combined with the liberal modes of living introduced by an increasing property, and now become much more general than formerly: and that the natural and obvious way of in- creasing the supply is, by an increased, extended, and im- proved cultivation; in all which particulars, much indeed remains to be done. Being upon the subject, it seems a proper place to intro- duce an observation which I had like to have forgot, and the omission of which would have been almost unpardonable; namely, that in most parts of this county, there are evi- dent marks of a cultivation far more extended than any thing known in modern times; most of our commons and waste lands have on them evident marks of the plough; marl and clay pits of great size are to be found in most parts of the county where those substances abound, and evidently made for manure. I have observed on the rubbish or spoil of these pits, timber trees of from one to two hundred years erowth. No history I have read, or tradition I have heard, >s any insight into the time when these exertions were = made; but the traces of them are evident; and from their extent, it is equally so, that a greater strength has been em- ployed in the cultivation of land, in some distant period, than is at present, or has been in the memory of the present generation; but from the present appearance of such com- mon lands, ad their sterile and unproductive state, it should seem that no attention was paid to drainage; and that very probably the land was cropped as long as it would bear it, and then left to nature.“The time in which this business was done, I should conjecture to have been in the long peace preceding the civil wars of Charles the First, in which the population of the kingdom would probably be much in- creased, and manufactures not being then much established, the natural employment of such population would be in agri- culture, When the business is resumed, I hope it will te upon a system, that will preclude the possibility of the land again revolting toa state of nature; to effect which, the first steps must be, inclosure and deca where necessary 3 Sees ak APPENDIX. afterwards cleaning, pulverization, and manure, with tender cropping, and laid to pasture for a time, with plenty of seeds; after which, a judicious and sparing system of cropping may be repeated, with due attention to the staple and nature of the soil; and afterwards laid to pasture as before. i AGRICULTURE OF STAFFORDSHIRE. THE following remarks and observations have been Ye- ceived, or made, since the work has been in the press, and are therefore added to the Appendix. Some anonymous re- marks have also been received, to which the same attention cannot be paid, unless the gentlemen who made them would please to give in their names and address; as some things in such remarks want rectifying, which the writer of this can- ‘pot do without consulting their author. LAYING LAND TO GRASS. ‘¢ T have seen a field this summer(1795), on a strong soil, “which was laid down with lb. per acre of ¢rifolium << flexuosum, 4lb. of white clover(trifelium repens), and 4lb. “< of burnet; it is an incomparable pasture, belonging to “< Henry Crockett, Esq. of Shussions, near Church-Eaton, in “‘this county. Mr. Crockett thinks very highly of this << clover, the seed of which he purchased in London at a “¢ reasonable price, by the name of cow-grass.’’—Rev. Sam. Dickenson. <¢ T have to observe, that the produce of the seed bought ** for cow-grass, has generally left the ground, at the end of ** two years, in the same manner with the common bien- *“nial clover; the seed of the true perennial plant would ‘‘ doubtless be a great acquisition; also that 4lb. per acre 46< APPENDIX. 235 *\ Pay of burnet is by no means enough; 2olb. per acre, at least, should be sown.’—/zll. Pitt. a Lay DRILLING. <¢ In light, sandy, or meagre soils, which constitute a great <¢ proportion of the land best adapted to the drill husbandry, < there is little doubt but seven inches interval of the drills is, < in the culture of wheat or barley, preferable to nine inches 5 <¢ the difference of produce will probably be found, upon a -<< fair trial, to be= cal bushels per acre, in this kind of id<< land; as by the approximation of the rows, the plants ina -<< hot dry season will be better protected from the scorching effects of the solar heat. As the ascertaining of this point ay n \d<< is of great importance at a time when the drill jn lle a Cad is practised to so great an extent, and more r may pro- .;~ ca bably be adopted in the culture of the waste er s, a large <¢ proportion of which are, in respect of soil, of the above- << mentioned quality: the promoting of the necessary trials <¢ for ascertaining this point in a variety of soils, appears not 5 at SOU worthy the attention of the Board of Agriculture; and <¢ in case drills of seven inches interval shall in general prove So |<‘ more productive than those of nine inches, it will bea <¢ sufficient inducement with Mr. Cook, to make the neces- b,‘¢ sary alteration in the construction, at least of a part, of his a“ “ atent drill machines; that so, ever“farmer may be accom- P “ a modated with such as best suits the nature of the soil he Hig<‘ has to cultivate.”"—Rev. Sam. Dickenson. SOWING GRASS-SEEDS WITH DRILLED BARLEY. «¢ Grass-seeds may be sown on land where barley is drilled, << and all the advantages of hoeing retained: for this pur- ‘© pose my practice is to omit sowing these seeds for a month 236 APPENDIX. << at least, after the barley has been sown, and when it has ‘« attained the height of four inches, then is the time to hoe “« the ground; and if the drills are at the interval of seven ‘ “a farther advantage of vast importance accrues from this practice, the clover or grass-seeds being sown so late, their ** growth at the time the barley is mown will be so dimjnu- << tive as not to retard the carrying of the barley; whereas in “< the common method, the clover is often so luxuriant at the ** time of harvest, and being withal a ver: y succulent plant, *“ it often retards the getting of the barley till such time as “€ it receives considerable da nage, Or sometimes is entirely “* spoiled; but as hoeing is attended with no small ex pence, ‘and hands are not alae to be oe cured to perform the *¢ operation in due season, I this year(1795), instead of hoe- ‘ing, harrowed in the grass-seeds with a pair of light har- ** rows, drawn by a single horse, which answered all the end € nw of hoeing, without disturbing the rows, or injuring the “ barley.”—Rev. Sam. Dickenson. I have received some ingenious observations from Mr. Towns, a gentleman of the medical profession, at Breewood, Staffordshire; some extracts from which I herewith send as follows:-— DIET AND ECONOMY OF THE POOR. “< T have travelled through most parts of our kingdom, “and find the lower classes of people vary much in their in the North of England their chief “ diet is bread and milk, perhaps five days in the week, or “manner of living: wy UN ° ~ n “~ “ ry n &e APPENDIX. 237 d ‘curds made from the whey of milk, which I find is not properly made in the South of England: this curd is ob- tained by old churn milk(butter milk) poured into whey scalding hot, the acid of which, uniting with the serum, produces a fine, mellow, bland, substance, very whole- some, cooling, and nutritive: upon this diet, and upon ‘ bread and milk, the labouring poor in the North of Eng- land principally exist; and although they earn less wages than those in the South of the kingdom, their comforts are at least equal, and their distresses perhaps much less in the family way, than those in the South with much higher earnings. Upon this principle it appears, that if our south- ern poor could be induced to change their mode of living, their present difficulties would be in a great measure re- moved. If adults could not be prevailed on, to breakfast and sup on the wholesomest food in nature(bread and milk), children might; which would be a considerable saving of beer, butchers’ meat, cheese, butter,&c. all of which are much dearer; and by inuring children to this diet, they might prefer it when grown up, as a great deal depends on habit;—instance the Northern poor, who eat their bread and milk with the greatest comfort and satis- faction, are more healthy in general, strong, hardy, and well-looking. “¢ I have acquainted myself a good deal with the manner of life in this neighbourhood(Breewood), and find poor labouring men often dine out of a potatoe--pudding, or early cabbage, washing the same down with some of their own home-brewed bee now if such men could be pre- vailed on to partake of milk, they would find their meal equally wholesome, and cheaper, as the beer would not be necessary. “IT have asked numbers of children respecting milk, who all seem to be very fond of it; indeed it is a natural diet, but, unfortunately, I find the poor cannot be supplied with milk; farmers and cow-keepers are so impressed with the idea that more can be made of it in the way of 238 APPENDIX. ‘< butter and cheese; this has induced me to make the ex- *< periment of a guinea’s worth of new milk, at a penny a “< quart, which when made into butter and cheese, produced “<< only 1gs. 4d.; although had the skim milk been sold at one «< halfpenny per quart, it would have produced 235.; the cows «* were at grass, and it was summer cream. ““In the management of workhouses(poor-houses, so called) great abuses prevail. In such houses old people ‘and children ought to eat milk twice a day, and cows should be kept for that purpose, to lessen the enormous consumption of butchers’ meat and beer in such houses. FEEDING OF HOGS. “fam well convinced from observations which I have ‘* made, that these animals are often reared and fatted at the “« expence of 8d. per lb.; and yet the pork sold out at 4id. “‘ or sd.; some cheaper mode of feeding them should there- “« fore certainly be adopted, I beg leave therefore to suggest the following for consideration and for trial. ‘* Butchers sometimes give bullocks’ and sheep’s blood to their hogs; would it not be much more eligible to mix a “certain proportion of vegetable food therein, such as boiled potatoes, turnips, ground oats, and barley? Linseed is also of a very nutritious quality, and should be tried, boiled up in propera quantity of water, and thickened with any of the aforenamed vegetable substances. Fat meat of any kind, as it contributes to the fattening of the human creation, should by analogy have the same effect on infe- rior animals; tallow boiled away in water, and made into a stir-pudding with ground oats, barley,&c. I think merits ‘© trial. “~ tay a n n~ Ca] a * n ry “<’To occasion a plenitude of small potatoes, would it not be a wholesome measure, to compel every occupier of land to plant at least one acre in a hundred with potatoes (by act of Parliament), or tax him for the neglect? an act é¢ 6 n~ € n SR en ee as APPENDIX. 239 would be necessary to do away the restriction on tenants. I do not see any hardship to the farmer in this, as the land € Lay € “ << so planted would pay him as well as any other crop. DISORDERS OF SHEEP. «<| have known oil of turpentine prove successful in the “© prevention and cure of the rot and dropsy; half a meat- << spoonful given for a dose now and then, has cured some, << and prolonged the lives of others; a dose to every sheep in “¢ the beginning of winter is said to be a preventative. Tap- “¢ ping might be of service. “© Sheep dying in the blood may not be so much a disease ‘in the head, as the stomach and bowels; from the aces« << cent diet of clover and turnips. Sharp purges of jalap, “* black hellebore, and calomel, with bleeding, may be pro- <‘ per; and also sharp aloetic glysters to empty the bowels «¢ as soon as possible. ECONOMY OF HORSES. <¢ To lessen the consumption of oats, horses ought to be “¢ fed with linseed also, five parts oats, and one part linseed. nn LIME. «-- S ss 188 Monopoly ps E a 2= 160 N Needwood forest== z 102 Oaks of great value=== 92, 96 Oats, see Arable. Obstacles to improvement=- 176 Orchards==- 88 Oxen for draught:~ 148 large ones=== 122 P Paring and burning==“3 125 Parishes= s foe iS 3 astures is z. t Past 67 Peas, see Arable. Picturesque farming== 18 Pigeons= 2< 153 Plan for this Survey-- iii Plantations 2=. 2 Political economy~- 164 Poor ws a2 a= 2 172 i Poor rates==== 29 D) att Population=== 74 Potatoes=== as 53 Poultry=== s= 152 Preliminary observations-=~ Xiil Produce of crops== a 58 of the county-- 162 Property, state of,“-- 16 Proprietors of land, sometimes good farmers- ib. not always successful= 36 « rm Provisions, price of 2 Rabbits== Rape a= Recapitulation= Repairs== Rivers== i £ Rural economy= Rye== Seats of gentlemen= Seed= a Seed time= Servants Agi is Sheep= S Soil and surface is Samples, selling corn by,,: Starch from vegetables= Steeping of seed 2 Sutton Coldfield= Systems of croppi ng Z “aoe ai liiage-- Trees of great size= a S Turnips e= Turnip cabbage= Tythes z- a ene. Ai Pema| ———— commutation proposed V egetables cultivated- Vetches a i tne KL Waste lands= Waters= Watering of land Weeds= Weeding a Weights and measures Wheat, see Arable. Willows for reparations Woodlands ze Yeomanry- INDEX. W PAGE 102, 108 - 14. :=- 114. e= 62 2= 128 = 180 == 42 = a 92 —— rlan alah Tmnann dnnant Emundda agg V T O em 1 2 3 4 5 1AL!- nin 1 dienaun! Tn 1l! 6 7 8 9 — By the PRESIDENT o”f the BoARD of AGRICULTURE. A BoaRp, established for the purpose of making every essential inquiry into the- Agricultural State, and the means of promoting the internal Improvement, of a powerful Em- pire, will necessarily have it in view, to examine the sources of public prosperity, in regard to various important particu- lars. Perhaps the following is the most natural order for car- rying on such important investigations; namely, to ascertain The riches to be obtained from the surface of the na- tional territory. Colour& Grey Control Chart Blue Cyan Green Vellow Hed Magenta Grey 1 SGrey: 2— Grey 3 Grey 4— Black B1 118 Lnnabltants⸗