, Su ₰ 7 Wl — — -8 1esseſl Un G —— 2— —yz=2.—— 8———— 6——————— 22 4 2 2 9 94 1. II E RURAL ECONOMY OF TIE I ESI OE ENOLAND- INCELUDING DEVON SHIRER; aND PARTS OP 80 MERSETSHIRE, DORSETSHIRE. 6O0O R NWAI., I. TOGETHER WITH MINUVT ES IW PRACTITOCO. 1 f By Mr. MAR S IHALAL 5 5* L 3 N* 8 7 20 N 8 8 . —.* 1 A , 2.., VOL. II.“ . 88 1 ,* 1 8 X 8, LONDON: Printed for G. Nicou, Bookſeller to His Majeſty, Pall Mallz G. G. and J. RoßniNsox, Paternoſter Row; and J. DEæBRETT, Piecadilly. — , pec, xcVI. -——— ————— 2—— ͤ——’—— GONIlENI S 8 ECOND VOLUMxE. DIST RICT THE THIRAD. MOUNTAIN 86R S d 5 5 O F — CORNWALL axp DEVONSMNIRE —— 5— 5 ee N ſXn SPREFATORY RrMARKS, I. e j—— AA 7 — EXOURSION 1N OORNWALI. BUCKLAND TO BODMIN, 3. Elevation. Climature, 4. Surface. Soil. 4 2 Subſoil, —————— ——————— 2——:̃ ꝛÿyꝑyM— —„—,—— — 5„ 4„— 7 f 1 iv CEOo N T EN ET S. Subſoil, 5. Rivers. Navigations. Roads. Mines. Manufactures, 6. Townlhips. Produce. Fuel. Incloſure. Fields. Fences, 7. Buildings. Crops. Catile. Sheep. Beaſts of Labor. Implements. Manure, 8. Tillage. Orchards. Woodlands. Ornament, 9. Harveſting. Furze. State of Huſbandry. Towns, 10. Callington. Leſkard. Bodmin. BODMIN rO BUCKLAND, 10. Elevation. Climature, 11. Surface. Soil, —— ,————— ——— ͦy—— ———:————— r—— CONTEN r 3. v Soil 12. Mines. A Stream Work deſcribed. Rivers, 13. Roads. Incloſures. Produce. Manufactures. Buildings. Fields, 14. Fences. Crops. Cattle. Sheep. Goats. Beaſts of Labor. Manure. Harveſting, 15. State of Huſbandry. Orchards. Woodlands. Ornament. Towns. Temple— a deſerted Village! Launceſton. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON CoORN⸗ warL, 16. a2 3 DARTMORE, 8 — ¹ CONTIIEN Tͤ s. DARTMORE. AND ITS UNCULTIVATED ENVIRONS. Prefatory Remarks, 19. Situation, 20. Extent. Elevation, 21. Surface, 22. Note on Brent Tor, 22. Waters, 23. Soils. Subſoils, 24. Productions. Application of Paſturage, 23. Rights of Depaſture. Duchy of Cornwall. Manors appendant. Venville Tenants. Cattle, 26. Sheep. Objects of Moorſide Farming, 27. Preſent Value of theſe wild Lands. In a political Light, 28. In a private Point of View. 9 IMPROVE- * —— ——————.— —-O——— — CON xTENTS. vVii 7 IMPROVEMENTS propoſed, 29. The Mountain Lands, 30. Objects of Improvement. Planting. Herbage, 31. Hedgemounds. Climature. Burning off Heath, 32. Sodburning. Graſſes and Rape Herbage. Rape Seed, 33. Draining. Watering. Manuring, 34. Stock. Rabbit Warren, 35. Lower Grounds. Climature. Remarks. Woodland, 36. Coppice Fences. Lime, 37. INLAND NAVIGATION pro- poſed. Objects to be obtained. Articles of Carriage. Direction of the Canal, 39. 44 DISTRIOT vili CoOyTE N X s. DISTRICT THE FOURTI. NORTH DEVONSHIRE. Prefatory Remlarks, 41. Note on forming this Journal, 42. Okehampton and its Environs, 43. Okehampton to Torrington, 45. Hatherly, 48. General Remarks, on this Stage, 52. Torrington and Environs, 54. Torrington to Biddeford, 55. Remark, 56. Biddeford and Environs, 57. Walk on the Southweſtern Hills, 59. Biddeford Market, 61. Walk on the North of the Town, 62. General Remarks, 64. Biddeford to Barnſtaple, 65. General Remarks, 68. Barnſtaple and its Environs, 69. Barnſtaple to Moulton, 70. Valley of Swimbridge, 72. South Moulton and Environs, 75. North Devon Cows examined. General Obſervations on North Devonlhire, 77. South Moulton to Dulverton, 78. Exmore, a Rewark on, 79. Dulverton 54 CoONTINrL. 1x Dulverton and Environs, 82. Walk above the Town, 83. Dulverton to Tiverton, 85. Bampton, 87. Limeworks of Bampton. Horſe Barrows deſcribed, 98. Remarks on this Stage, 91. Further Remarks on North Devonſhire, 93. O15 ACI 1H 141. THE VALER OF EXETER. Prefatory Remarks, 9. The DISTRICT deſcribed, 97. I. Situation. II. Extent, 98. III. Elevation. IV. Surface. Remarks on examining the natural Face of a Country. V. Climature, 100. VI. Waters, 101. VII. Soils. X COoNTEN T 5. VII. Soils.— Honiton to Exeter, 102. Environs of Exeter. Exeter to Nutwell, 103. Environs of Nutwell. Exeter towards Taunton. Environs of Tiverton- VIII. Subſoils, 104. Remark on the Mixture of Lands in this Vale, 105. Remark on the Vale Elm. IX. Political Diviſions, 106. X. Public Works. Inland Navigation. A Canal propoſed. Remarks on the Advantages of ſuch a Canal, 107. Roads. State of Incloſure, 108. Conjectures on its Origin. XI. Prefent Productions. Political Remark. XII. State of Society, 109. Towns. Country Habitations. 3 Employments, 110. XIII. Face of the Country, 110. — 8—y———ö—Q—O——öy———ynnnnnnn SCoNTENxTS. i The RURAL ECONOMV of this Diſtrict. MANAGEMINT Of ESTATES. I. Diſtribution of Farm Lands, IrI. II. Farm Buildings, 112. Remarks onCobwalls,“ 113. III. Hedgerows, 113. Note on Gateways and Gatepoſts, 114. WoopLaNbs, 114. Management of Hedgerows. Lopping Oak Timber Trees! 115. Remark on Pruning Trees. ω The Elm improved by it.— AGRiCULTURE, I16. I. Farms. II. Beaſts of Labor. II. Implements, 117. V. Plan of Management. V. Manure. VI. Wheat, 118. II. Beans. 7 4 III. Turneps. 4 IX. Graſs- xli CeoNrTEXxT sS. IX. Graſsland. X. Orchards, 119. Xl. Cattle, 119. XII. Dairy, 120. Remark on Clouting Cream. XIII. Swine, 121. XIV. Sheep. H154 RA 1, IA 4II. THER PDAIRY DISTRIG;T 0 F WEST DORSETSHIRE. Introductory Remarks, 123. The DlISTRICT Defcribed, 125. I. Situation. Note on the Country between Crewkern and Chatd. II. Extent, 120. III. Elevation. IV. Surface, 127. Note on the Valley of Varcombe, 127. V. Climature, 128. VI. Wators. CONTENTäöS. xii VI. Waters. VII. Soils, 129. VIII. Subſoils, 130. IX. Foffils. M Limeſtone. Chalk, 131. X. Roads, 131. Xl. State of Incloſure. Tradition reſpecting the Firſt Peopling of Devonfhire, 132. Note on the Authenticity of TRADITION, 133. Remarks on the Cultivation of Commonable Lands, 134. Common Rights of Eaſt Devonfhire, 1 XII. Preſent Productions, 137. XIII. Fowns. XIV. Villages. XV. Habitations, 138. Note on Laying out Townſhips. XVI. Appearance of the Country. Views from Beaminſter Down, 139. 39 „8 32* The AGRICULTURE Of this Diſtrict. I. Farms, 141. II. Farmers, 142. III. Beaſts of Labor. IV. lmplements, 143. Inſertion of the Yoke Irons. V. Plan of Management. Objects. Arable Crops, 144. Succeſſion. Hemp and Flax for Manufactures, 145. VI. Ma- ————*——— ——— 25— ——— ——44 p — — —— xiv COoNTEN T S5. VI. Manures, 145. Red ‧Marl,“ as in the Midjand Diſtrict,“ 146. VII. Graſslands, 146. VIII. Orchards, 147. — IX. The Daify, 148. Objects. Formerly Cheeſe. Now Butter. 4 Size of Dairies, 149⸗ Breed of Cows. Procuring Cows.— Dairy Management, 170. Letting Dairies. X. Sheep, 151. IMPROVEMEN TP of chis Diſtrict, 152. I. Hill or Commonable Lands, 153. II. Hedgerows, 154 General Remarks on the Management of OAkKLAND HEDGEROwS, 56. III. Plan of Management, 158. IV. Management of Soils, 159. A Principle of Management, 160. V. Manures, 160. Burnt Clay, 161. Black Moory Earth, 62. D197 207 ———— CEO FNTINTESs, KvV DISATRICT TLIHE SEI EVII. T H E VALE OFE TAUNTON, Xc. R&c. Prefatory Remarks, 163. Sjtuation, 165. Extent. Elevation, 166. Surface. Climature, 167.— Soils. Subſoils, 168. Rivers. Productions. State of Incloſures, 169. 1 Fences. Termination of the Danmonian Fence, 169. 2 Management of Farms, 170. Termination of the Danmonian Huſ- bandry. Orchards, 171. Termination of the Devonſhire Orchard. ANTOCG HIILLS, 172. BLACK- CON TENT S35 BLACKDOWN HILLS, 174. Remarks on the Limeſtone of Weſt Somer- ſetfhire, 176. S0UTH SEDGEMORE, 178. Natural Boundaries. Extent, 179- Elevation. Surface. RefleGtions on the Formation of theſe„ Lands. Note on the Boar or Eagre, 180. Soil, 181. 14 Herbage. 8 Stock, 182.. 8 Cattle. SReep. Geeſe. Remarks on the Improvement of the So⸗ merſetſfhire Marfhes, 183. LCURSORY REMAREH IN A JOURNEY THROUVGNH §8O MERSEILSHIIR E. Tiverton to Taunton, 185. Taunton, 189. 2 Market of Taunton, 190. Taunton to Sowerton, 191. Remark on the Modes of Pravelling, 193. Langport, 196. Somerton d GENERAI. VIEW of South Somerſetſhire, CONTENT S. Somerton and its Environs, 198. Somerton to Shipton Mallet. Vale of Glaſtonbury, 200. Note on Sheet Cows, 203. Shipton and its Environs, 205. Shipton to Frome, 206. Frome, 209. Frome to Devizes, 210. Trowbridge, 212. Devizes, 214. Analyſis of the Line of Country. Elevation, 216. 3 Surface. Climature. Geology, 217. Inland Navigation. Otate of Incloſure. Productions, 218. Buildings. Manufacture. Farms, 219. Beaſts of Labor. 4 Note on a TAx oxr HoksEs, 220. Cattle, 220. Sheep, 221I. Swine, 222. Bees. xvii C0 N TEN T s. e μϑν I, l 0 F H E WEST OF ENGLAND. A Natural Department, 223. An Agricultural Department. Conjectures on its Colonization, 224. Peculiarities of Practice. Cultivation of Commonable Lands, 226. Lifeleaſehold Tenure. Prevalency of Small Farms. Management of Coppice Wood. Conſtruction of Fences. Prevalency and Excellency of Earthen Walls, Method of Hiring Servants, 227. Taking Apprentices in Huſbandry. Carriage of all Articles on Horſeback. Singularity of Implements and Tools. Method of Burning the Surface of Land, Management of Lime. Harveſt Operations, 228. Winnowing Corn,&c. Thraſhing Wheat. Method of Sowing Wheat. Culture of Turneps-. Prevalency of Ley Grounds. Watering Slopes of Hills, 229) Training 8 CONTENTS. XiX Training Orchard Trees. Breed of Cattle. Fatting Calves at Graſs. Raifing Cream by Heat, 230. Bleeding Cattle for the Slaughter. Management of Swine. Breed of Sheep. Shepherding of Sheep. Shearing Sheep without Wafhing them. MINU TES 1 N WE ST DEVONSIHIRE. Introductory Remarks, 233. Mix. I. On the Covntry between Plymouth and Buck- land, 235. Approach to Buckland Place, 236. II. On the Farm or Barton of Buckland Place, 237. III. On the Upper Part of the Valley of the Tamer, 239. Salmon Weir of the Tamer, 240. Nountain Horſes of Cornwall, 241. IV. On the Skirts of the Dartmore Hills, 242. Remarks on the Names of Hundreds, 244. Remarks on Plymouth Brook. b 2 Mix. 7 XX CONTENT S. Mix. V. On the Central Parts of the Valley of the Tamer, 249- Remark on Surveying a Diſtrict, 246. Obſervations on Tamerton Fair. On Breeding Cattle, 247. On the Short-horned Breed, 248. VI. On the KRequiſite Preliminaries of Improvéè- ment, 249. Tables of Fields, Stock,&c. Cautions to be uſed by an Improver, 251. VII. On the State of Tillage, in Weſt Devonſhire, 252. A Simple Improvement of its Plow, 2953. Note on the Devonſhire Plow. On the Improvement of Plows, 254 A Principle of Conduct, on introducing Im- provements, 255. VIII. On the Salmon Fiſhery of the Tavey, 256. Salmon Weir deſcribed. Fiſh of the Tavey, 259. Net Fifhing, 260. Fiſh Poachers deteGted, 261. IX. On the Rains of Weft Devonfhire, 262. X. On Inverting the Sward of Orchards, 264. Xl. On Plowing with Whip Reins, 265. A Regulation on introducing the Uſe Whip Keins, 266. XII. On the Treatment of Coppice Hedges, 266. e of Pruning their Sides. Guarding the Mounds with Bruſfhwood, 268. XIII. On the Leat or Made Brook of Plymouth, 5 269. On the Mill Streams of Devonſhire, 271. Remarks CGoNTENETS. XXI Remarks on Made Brooks. Water Mills are Bars to Improvements, 273 XIV. On the Country between Buckland and Plymp- ton, 273. On Plympton Fair, 274- On che Situation of Plympton. XV. Farther on Praining Hedges, 275. XVI. On Reclaiming Land from Stones, 276. XVII. On Reclaiming Land from Weeds, 277. Practical Remarks on Fallowing, 278. * On Manuring Fallows, 279. Remarks on bighteen-Months Fallows, 280. XVIII. On Introducing the Hoing of Turneps, with Practical Directions, 281. XIX. On the Shoeing of Oxen, 283. Tlie Devonſhire Practice.. Thoughts on Pacilitating this Operation, 285. XX. On my General Work, and the Improvements of Buckland, 286. Ou Objects of Huſbandry, 287. On Forming River Breaks, 288. On the Improvement of the Breed of Cattle, 291. 7 On the Improvement of the Salmon Fifhery, 292. XXI. On the Country round Milton Abbots, 294. A Geological Remark on this Country. XXII. On the Coating of Buildings, 295. The Theory of Roughcaſt and Stucco Work, 296. XXIII. On Feeding Cattle with Charlock, 297. XXIV. On Qutting Cabbages, 300. MIx. 44— XXII EG6NTEN MiN. XXV. On Societies of Agriculture, 301. Their proper Object. On Aſffociations of Landed Gentlemen, — The Subjecs of Diſcufſion, 30. XXVI. On the Monaſtery Barn of Buckland blace Its Improvement. Onthe Nature of Cement, 308. Uſes of Natural Rills, and the Me of conducting artifieial ones, A 7 1 A new Level conſtructed, 310. 9 4-r On the proper Fall of Rills, 311. 08⸗ 5 498, 0 On the Uſes of Reſervoirs to artificial Rills, — ₰ 1 Au 1 XXVIII. On Deſtroying Earth Worms, and 8 5 2— Dlc h ◻ On 1g Pools, with Waln es, inſtead of XXIX. On Laying out Farm On the Farmery of Pi FOVem zent, h dn ZIIT EtNA. 4 A,e XXXIII. Further on conducting Praal: .;,S Practléeal Directions on t! Rill— B1 angU'rage NlII amon 1 1G OnB CCS. S On the Uſe of Gauges 32 Al3, 32 E. E P Imenlions OF Nilles, 227 d ₰. 5 . VUVUI7 VVV7 X W. NAVT AAAAVI1. XXXVII. XXXV. III. On the general Economy of a KXXIX. XL. 1 „ — 5— 2—— — S— —. .. 4 XXII Q 2 — 24 8₰ A On Laying out Roads, 327. The Uſe ofthe Frame Level and Peneze⸗ Directions. orming Roads, 331. 1 On O nthe Sale of Coppi ce Wood, 332. Age of Felling. Calculations on the Rental Valu On Recla dmins Coppice Gscunc. 334 Further on the Sale of Coppice Wood, 436. Conditions of Sale. Calculations on the comparative Advanta ages of different Offers, 337. On ſe ecuring infirm Buildings, 439. A diflicult Caſe. Effectually remedied, 340. On building Buttreſſes, 341. F 85 Pafrm, Witn Reſpect to Gratslands, 342. A leading Object, on a Sheep Farm. On Mowi Ing Te On cthe Vala On he On Iray ne Sites of Improvement, 344 mporary L eys the firſt Vear. VMI, 1— e Of V atered Lands, 344- 1 4 Jature of f Waters On Watering Slopes of Hills, 34 5. ections in Irrigation, 346. Practical Dir- 9. Hl1 Practical Directions on Laying out Lands to be vatered, 347. On Plowing with two Oxen and) Reins, 349. An Inſtance of ful Farmery of Bu gckia und, Il Practic Further on the On the Eligibility of a Nard. On Building ag: ainſt 7 221 35 1⸗ . 1*] ſemi-octagon Cattle Bank of Earth. XKiV On the Width of Cattle Sheds, 352. On Erecting Wooden Pillars of Sheds. On the proper Dimenſions of Cattle Stalls, 353* On Forming a Dung Pit, and Paving Cattle Sheds, 354. An Inſtance of Practice in Watering Farm Vards, 356. Onm the General Economy of Farm Yards, 357. On the EXpenditure of Dung Water, or Vard Liquor. — D1STNICI TIME IHITRD. MOUNTAINS CORNWALLaND DEVONSHIRB. PREPATORY REMARKS/ PHEMATERIALS which I collected, reſpecting theſe Mountain Tracts, were obtained in different ways. What relates to CORN WALL, I ga- thered in an EXCURSION; undertaken kor the purpoſe of gaining ſome general ideas reſpecting this remote part of the Ifland. But, with reſpect to DARTMORE, and its uncultivated Environs, the information I am poſſeſſed of aroſe INelDENTALLVY, without any premeditated plan of furvey. VoL. II. B Indeed, 4— PREFATORY REMARKS. Indeed, theſe wild uncultivated lands re- ſemble, ſo much, the mountainous parts of Scotland, and the North of England, on which the broad lines of nature remain unobliterated, that a minute examination was the leſs required, by one who has been accuſtomed to read her works; and whoſe only deſfire, in this inſtance, was to extract a few leading facts. My ſources of information being thus diſtinct, I will preſerve the materials fepa- rate, and, firſt offer a Tranſcript of my CoRNISH JoUuRkNAL, as it was haltily formed, at the time of making the Ex- curfion(in AuousTr 1791); whether it reélate to the MouNTAINS or the Low- LANPDS Of Cornwall. 4 · AN ——— 3 ———,———— 4.—Y— — 5——— ————— 82— 4 — 1—.———* ———ͤſ 1 A N FEXCURSION I N CORN W ALI. HIS Excurſion was made,--by CaL- LINGToON and LESKARD, to BoDMIN; and back by LAauNcEsToN and Tavis- Tock. BUCkKLAND To BODMIN. The FLEvATION of the Country, in this ride, is high: the road leads, moſt of the way, between the Mountains, and the broken cultivated Country toward the Sea, and, in paſſing hetween Leſkard and Bod- min, it groſſes over the chain of Mountains which run through this Peninſula; but not in an elevated part. Some very high hills are ſeen to the North of the road:— * Hinkſtone,“ a depreſſed Cone, with a B 2 Proſpect 4 EACURSION IN Proſpect Houſe on the top, is ſeen at great diſtances; but a hill weſtward of it, over- looking Callington, is ſaid to be the higheſt land, in the County. Many ragged 72, of the true mountain caſt, are ſeen in this ride. CLIMATURE. On the hangs of the Mountains, corn is ſtill green; but in the lower lands, harveſt is now(the twentythird of Auguſt) at its height:---more than half cut, and ſome carried. The sUuRFACE is exceedingly broken, into fharp ridges, and deep, ſteepſided vallies; eſpecially on the lower declivities of the general range of hills; as between Callington and Leſkard. parts, as between Leſkard and Bodmin, the On the upper ſwells are more rounded, and the vallies wider and leſs ſteep. Theé soi is very various, as to quality; but even the tops of the lower mountains are far from barren; ſupporting numerous herds of cattle, as well as many ſheep: much more productive of graſs, than the heaths of Yorkfhire; though every part produces more or leſs heath. Between St. Iye CORNW ALT. 3 St. Ive and Leſkard, and below this toward the Sea, is a tract of charming land: five or ſix quarters of barley, an acre, are now harveſting. The Fecies of ſoil appears to be very much like that of Weſt Devonſhire. The suESOII is alſo ſimilar:-namely, a flatey rock, and a kind of ruſty rotten flate, or rubble. RivERs. Several large Brooks paſs from the Mountains, ſouthward, to the Sca. NavrGATIoN. None of the Eſtuaries ſtretch up ſo high as this road. That of Looe reaches within a few miles of Leſkard. The Roaps are of ſtone, and in ſome parts extremely well kept. The gates few, and the tolls moderate. Toll Roads are now formed between moſt or all of the market towns. The Roads of Cornwall were, formerly, very rough and dangerous; eſpecially acroſs the open heaths, among the Mines! yet, at the firſt introduction of them, in this Country, obſtinate riots took place. MINES. Some, but not many, in this ride:=Theyare, now, I underſtand, chiefly confined to the Weſtern parts of the County. B 3 Ihc & ———————.— 6 EXCURSION IN The MANUFACTURE Of the Diſtrict, I believe, is principally W oollen Varn, for the Devonfhire Sergemakers and Clothiers- The rowxsülPs appear to be large,--- with numerous Hamlets. The pRopuek, of the Incloſures, moſtly Corn. The Hearhs ſupport thie cattle in ſummer, and great part of the winter months. The principal requiſite is in courſe, Straw, to feed them with, in the depth of winter. Some Meadows appear in the bottoms; but little upland graßs is ſeen: and but very little Moodland; except in the Dingles, at the heads of the vallies, next the heaths. FüUEL. Towards the Mountains, Turf (provincially“vags')and Peat(provincially Turf.) Büut little of the Peat, of theſe hills, is firm enough, it ſeems, to be charred (as on Dartmore), for the uſe of Black- ſmiths. INckosuREs. The Mountains and their ſkirts are open:--the lower lands all in- cloſed. 1 The FIELDS are well fized, and well formed. F SAne ENCES „—2* —— CORN W AL. I. ⸗ FENOPS. The banks thinner and lower, than in Weſt Devonfhire; but of the ſame form. The BuILDINGS are moſtly of Stone and Slate: ſome“Cob'— or Mudwall. CRoPncs. Wheat and Barley, with ſome Oats and Turneps(unhoed), with a little Clover and upland Ley. But not a Bean nor a Pea(unleſs harveſted), in this Ride! The cATTLE are of the Weſt of Eng- land breed: bred and kept on the heaths, in great numbers, from yearlings to aged Oxen: working theſe occaſionally from the heath! The SüEEP oOf the heaths are tall, and ill formed: ſome polled, ſome horned: yet, apparently, all of the ſame old ſtock: the Ewes are now at rut: the Rams have moſtly large horns. BEFaAasTs of LABOR. Some Oxen and Horſes in carriages. But Packhorſes ſeem ſtill to be much in uſe. IMPLEMENTS. A lingular kind of two- wheel carriage, for Horſes or Oxen, is here in common uſe; eſpecially, I believe, to carry harveſt produce upon. It is called B 4 a wAIN;“ 8 EXCURSION IN aᷓ wAIN3“ and it is a hay cart, or wain, without ſides: having only two arches bending over the wheels, to keep the load from bearing upon them! with a wince behind. How fimple; and, being low, how eaſily loaded! I met two on the road, laden with wool; each, with two oxen at the pole, and two horſes before them. MaäANURE. Lime and Beat afhes are univerſal. A conſiderable portion of the country is now ſet with roof heaps of Lime, and with velled Beat, now burning. A V great quantity of earth, I ſee, is burnt. All, no doubt, for Wheat. Theoriſts I V Eind are, here, againſt burning the ſoil; but Farmers, to a man, I underſtand, are for it. The rILrLAGE is apparently better, here, than in Devonfhire. About Leſkard, the land appears to be in a good ſtate of culti- vation. ORCHARpS evidently diminifh, with the diſtance Weſtward. WoopLANDsS.— Very few: ſome diſtant Oak coppice.— Peeling on the ſtub extends into Cornwall, ORNA- CORNWALI. 9 ORNAMENT. The views are frequently picturable, and ſometimes grand: but they cloy, through a frequency of repetition, and a degree of ſameneſs. HaARvESTING. Buſy handreaping:“ ſaw ſeveral women at work. Make ſhocks of ten ſheaves: nine in a fquare, and one as a hood, as in Devonfhire. But, unleſs the ſtraw be long, and the hood ſheaf be made large and ſtraight, the covering is incompleat. Mow chiefly with bows; but cradles, I fee, are to be ſold. About Bodmin, the Wheat in general ſeems to be made into“ arriſp mous,“ or field ſtack- lets, of about a load each. FuRZE. There are two diſtinct ſpecies, or varieties, now in full blow. The lower ſkirts of the uncultivated hills are gilded with them. One of them is the creeping ſort, which is common to the Southern Counties; the other is called the“ French Furze;“ and Taviſtock, I underſtand, has long been a market for Furze ſeed. The GENERALSTATE OF HUSBANDRVY, in ſome parts of this ride, is above medio- grity; except in the culture of Turneps. Between 10 EXGURSION IXN Between St. Ive and L.eſkard, is a paſſage of as well cultivated land, as Semoſt in the kin iedan Towxs. Callington, is a fmall market town; aa a Sorough. Loeſeard is a large, populous, dece Alooking place, and would appear reſpectab ble in any part of fthe King- dom. Ilt is likewiſe a borough. Bodmin, though one of the County towns, is much inferior, in fize and reſpectability. This, too, is a Sorough. BODMIN ro BUCKLAND. THEELEVvATION of the Country is very great, between Bodmin and Five Lanes, over Bodmin Down, and Temple Moor. Some very high points of view are reached. Saw the cliff and the eſtuary of Padſtow. In a clear day, both ſeas are obſervable (near Fowey and Padſtow). Some re- markable rugged mountains are ſeen towards the North coaſt. Paſſed«Doſmary Pool,“ a ſmall lakelet, about a mile in circum- ference, upon the higher part of theſe heaths; —————— ⁴ ————ᷣ——————— GORNWALIL. 11 heaths; and croſſed a quaking bog; which has formerly, no doubt, been a lake, From the elevations ſurmounted in this ride, and from the top of the caſtle of Launceſton, perhaps half of Cornwall, and a very large portion of Devonſhire, are ſeen over: the whole a ſtrongly featured country CLIMATURE. Some Wheat vpon the hills is ſtill quite green. The harveſt, in this elevated ſituation, is in general very late. Sometimes, being prolonged, till after Michaelmas*. SURFACE. About ten miles of the upper part of the heaths, over which this road paſſes, is tamely billowy; the ſwells reſembling thoſe of the Downs of the Sou- thern Counties; with lofty mountains on each hand; a charming ride, in fine weatber. The remaining ten miles, to Launceſton, and from thence to Buckland, is the ſame abruptly broken country, which prevails throughout the more cultivated parts of the two Counties. The * An intelligent fellow traveller; formerly of Bodmin: now of Launceſton. b EXCURSION IN n 82 The soix towards Bodmin is of a mean quality; nevertheleſs, the Downs and Moors are thickly ſtocked with Cattle and Sheep; eſpecially with the former: ſaw, on one of the higher knolls, ſome hundreds in a herd! About Launceſton, are ſome wellſoiled, but very ſteep hills. At Milton Aöbols! is a plot of the fineſt graſsland in the King- dom! Grazing ground of a very ſuperior quality. The Midland Counties cannot ſhew better. Alſo about Lamerton and Taviſtock, is ſome good grazing land. MINES. There is no“mine“ within ſight of this ride. But two or three confi- derable“ ſtream works' are ſeen: one of which I ftopt to look into. In a ſtream work, there is no“ lode“ or body of ore; the tin being lodged in fmall particles or fragments, among the earth(at two or three to twenty or thirty feet deep) which is waſhed by a rill or ſtream, conveyed, by art, to the required ſpot*; the metal and ſtones remaining; While the ſoil is carried — away * Query, Have STREAMWCORKS given riſe to EATS,“* or made Strcams, in this Country? CORNWAILI. 13 away with the ſtream: thus annihilating the land, in the moſt compleat manner in- genuity could deviſe. RIVERS. The Tamer and Tavey: alſo the heads of ſome of the Southern rivers. The RoAp in general is good. FPor a conſiderable way, the ſtones are covered with a kind of rough ſand, or ſmall gravel, apparently, the looſe materials of which granite is compoſed; making an admirable road. INCLOSUVRE.— The moors are open: ex- cept ſome ſmall incloſures, about Temple S&c. Cultivated lands are everywhere in- tcloſec. 4 PHRopvo— as before. MaNUFACTURE.— Yarn. BuILDINGS.— Stone and Slate. At Launceſton the houſes are moſtly faced with Slates: ſome of them three or four feet fquare. The Church is of Moorſtone, deeply and richly ſculptured! Subſtantial, and beautiful, as a Gothic building: the workmanſhip muſt have been immenſely great; ſeeing the hardneſs of the materials — a ſhining granite. FIELDS 14 EXCURSION IN FIEEDS— as before. FENCES increaſe toward Devonſhire; ſwelling to their fulleſt magnitude, at Buck- land Place. CRops- as before; excepting the gra- zing grounds of Milton and T. aviſtock. CATTLE. The Moor ſtock are of the Weſt of England breed: fäaw ſome oxen which would fat to fixty or ſeventy ſtone on theſe heathy mountains! All in very good itore condition. SHEEP. The ſame tall, aukward ſort, as about Bodmin. nac GoATs. Saw ſeveral browzing on furze. I was told that numbers are kept in Cornwall, for milking; ſome herds con- fiſting of a hundred head; and that Goats' and Kids' flieſh are not uncommon in the Corniſh markets. BEAST OF LABOR— as above. MaANURE. Beat afhes, and“ ſea ſand;“ a fine ſpell marl; which is brought in great quantities from the North coaſt, by the Padſtow river, to within three miles of Bodmin; and carried, by land, many miles. TILLAGE— as before. HaA R— QCORN W A I. I. 15 HARVESTING-“ the ſame. STATE OFP HUSBANDRY,— much the ſame:— ſomewhat inferior. ORCHARDS increaſe toward Devon- ſhire. WoopLANDS. There are few in Corn- wall; except on the banks of the Tamer. ORNAMENT. The mountain views are extenfive and grand: thoſe from the lower points are frequently pictureſque. Tow-s. Temple, a DESERTED VIL- LAGEI The only one J have ever ſeen. Some years ago, not a ſingle perſon lived in the townſhip!(a Curacy appendant to Bliſland) and only one little farmhouſe is the ruins of half a dozen more; the body of the Church down; the Chancel remains. Gor. DSMITH, ſurely, muſt have travelled this road! Launceſton— provincially and univerſally, throughout the country,““Laanſon, is a genteel looking place; but aukwardly ſitu- ated; on the brink and ſide of a very ſteep hill. The ſtreet leading to Newport is as ſteep, almoſt, as the roof of a houſe. The caſtle, which has been a very ſtrong fortreſs, Com- now inhabited: 86 EXCURSION iIN commands ſome charming views. Nac⸗ bort a paltry borough:-— a mean looking hamlet; belonging to the pariſh of St. Ste- phen's, a village which ſtands oppofite to Launceſton. Milton Abbots a charming ſituation. Theé Abbots were admirablée judges of ſoils and ſituations. Taviſtock is alſo well fituated; and was heretofore fa- mous for its abbotrny. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. Iam agree- ably diſappointed with reſpect to Cornwall. From what I had ſeen on'the banks of the Tamers, Iexpected to have found, as I went farther Weſtward, a wretched country, wretched roads, wretched towns, wretched accommodations, and wretched inhabitants: On the contrary, the country, whether in point of foil or cultivation,—except the higher mountains, and they are good in their kind,—is above mediocrity. The roads, their unlevelneſs apart, are among the beſt in the kingdom. The towns, ſub- ſtantial and neat. The accommodations, equal to anything met with, out of the great roads. The inhabitants, intelligent, civil, are faid to be extremely hoſpitable, re 3. 71— * See No. 2. of the following MiNUTES. C G RN W A 1. I. 17 are affable, clean in their appearance, and handſome in their perſons. What moſt diſguſts a ſtranger, in travelling through Cornwall, is the inordinate number of its boroughs; and this impropriety lies not with the people of Cornwall. There are none, indeed, ſo ſenſible of it, as the inha- bitants themſelves. Vox. II. C DaART- — — —— 1 —— 4 2** — S ——— WW VNCULTIVATED ENVITRONS. HE Incidents, which led me to a knowledge of this Diſtrict, are various. I had repeated occaſions to tra- verſe the WesrERN SKIR TS Of Dartmore. 1 purpoſely aſcended the SoUVTHERN HEIGHTS, to view the ſtriking features which that ſide of it exhibits, and to catch a bird's eye view of the Diſtriet of the South Hams. I croſſed the SUMMIT, in travelling between Morton and Buckland, And I ſkirted the NoRTH-WESTERN MARGIN, in paſſing between Taviſtock and Oke- hampton. Ihave, therefore, had opportu- nities of ſeeing almoſt every ſquare mile of C 2 its 26 DISTRIC. its furface, and of obſerving its natura 1 cha- racters, in different and diſtant parts. The SITUATION, of this uncultivated tract of country, is toward Is the Weſterm de of Devonfhire; being, in part, ſepa- rated from the Corniſh mountains, by the eultivated banks of the Tamer: but, to the North of Taviſtock, the ſkirts of Dartmore, and thoſe of the uncultivated wilds of Cornwall, may be ſaid to unite: for al- though tliey are ſtrewed with plots of cul- tivated lands, there is no regular line of ſeparation; and the fame niged country ſpreads wide, on the Nort th-Weſt quarter, towards Launceſton, and to the immediate environs of Okehampton- n the South, lies the fertile Diſtrict of the South Hams; and a continuation of the Chudleigh or Hall Down Hills, br roken i manner, is zt on the Eaſt, from the da moſt ſtriking. The weer EN T of theſe wild lands is not eaſy to eſtimate; there being no deter- minate line, on the owiir ict ſide. A circle of twenty miles diameter, would, perhaps, comprize the whole extent of the open DARTMOR V. 21 Spen lands, in this part of Devonſhire; ex- clufively of the incloſed lands, which lie intermixed among them. Admitting this ſuppoſition to be ſufficiently near the truth, to give a general idea of the extent of thoſæ open lands, we may ſay that they eover more than three hundred ſquare miles of ſurface, — amount to more thah two hundred thouſand acres. In ELEVATION above the ſea, theſe lands are greatly varied. The extended fummit of the main body of the mountain, is raiſed, in a ſingular manner, above the ſurrounding country; eſpecially on the South ſide. Looking down, even from the midway ſtages, upon the South Hams, an upland Diſtrict, the comparative elevation is ſo great, as to render the idea of difficulty, in travelling acroſs the latter, truly ridicu- lous. Nevertheleſs, the ſea waſhing, in a height is inconſiderable, compared with that of many leſs mountain-like maſſes, which occur in the more central parts of the Iſland. On the North ſide, the ſtages are lengthened, and the general deſcent C 3 much 22² HISTRIG T. much leſs abrupt. The outſkirts, round Brent Tor, and towards Launceſton, form an extended flat, mean in elevation, com- pared with the towering heights, which overlook it, on either ſide*. The SURFACE, of Dartmore proper, is truly mountainous. The compofition is grand; the lines in general lengthened, 20 the features large: not abrupt and broken, like the minor hills of Devonfhire. Nevertheleſs, the ſummits of ſeveral of the higher fwells of Dartmore are truly ſavage, and rendered finely pictureſque, by reaſon of immenſe piles of ſtones, or huge frag- ments of rock, thrown confuſedly together, in * The conical hillock of BRENT-ToR, pointed wickh rugged rocks, and ſurmounted by a Church! riſes in the center of this wide flat. From the grounds of Buck- land, this hillock aſſumes the character of a mountain height of conſiderable magnitude; and, in navigating the Sound of Plymouth, it is uſed as a landmark, at more than twenty miles diſtance;— yet, in reality, it is but an inconſiderable hillock. A proof of the extreme levelneſs of this paſſage of country. LAUNCESTON CASTLE, crowning a higher, but more 1 rotund eminence, is another ſtriking feature of the fame fine, broad, ſavage face. ih the moſt groteſque manner: ſometimes crowning the kniolls, but oftener hanging on their brows. In ſoine parts, the furfacè is thickly ſtrewed with ſtones; which, in many in- ſtances, appear to have been collected into piles, on thie tops of prominent hillocks; as if in imitation of the natural Tors.— The ‧eſtone burroos,“ of Dartmore, reſemble the Cairns, of the Chiviot änd Grampian hills. 4 The WATERS of this tract of moun- tain are merely the torrents, which pour down its furrowed ſides, in every direction. The DaARF is the moſt conſiderable ſtream that owes its fupport to theſe hills. The SOILS of theſe unreclaimed lands are greatly above the par of mountain ſoils, in thie Iſtand at large. They are ſuperior to thoſe of the Highlands of Scotland, and very fuperior to thoſe of the North of Eng- land. Some of the higher ſwells, it is true, are covered with black moory earth; and in the dips between them, peat bogs are frequent, and dangerous, not only to ſtrangers who travel the croſs roads, but to E 4 paſ- 24 HPISTRICGT. b paſturing ſtock. And, in many parts, the ſoil is much encumbered with ſtones; which, in ſome, occupies, perhaps, half the ſurface. Nevertheleſs, there are extenſive 3 tracts, even of the upper grounds, that enjoy a loamy ſoil, nearly free from ſtones, and of a fufficient depth for cultivation: wanting nothing but a genial climature, and a proper ſupply of manure, to render them valuable, as arable lands. And ſoils of ſtill better quality are obſervable, on ſome of the mar- ginal Commons; though, on, others, thoſe of inferior value may be found. The SUBSOILS are equally various. I have obſerved a ſtoney rubble, or foul vELLOW GRAVvEL, reſembling that of the Norkfhire mountains; alſoa friable, BRoWN Rock; and, even on the higherhills, LOAM, of a ſufficient depth for every purpoſe of land. 4 The PRESENT PRODUCTION of Dartmore and its uncultivated environs may with ſome little licence be ſaid to be HERB- AGE!— greenſward! even of the higheſt bleakeſft hills; frequently intermixed, how- ever, with HEATH; Which, indeed, chiefty occupieꝰ? DARTMORE. 25 occupies the worſt- ſoiled parts of the moun- tain; while, on the lower grounds, the FüURZE, particularly the trailing fort, is prevalent. There is little if any woop, I believe, on the unappropriated parts of this tract of country: the FyEL, uſed by the bordering inhabitants, being the produce of the peat-bogs, and the black moory ſoils; as in other mountainous Diſtricts*. The APPLICATION of the paſturable produce, which this uncultivated wild at preſent throws out, is to cCArTLE, SHEEP, and HoRsEs, and ſome few RABBITS. The RIGHT oOfDEPASTURE belongs to different intereſts. A conſiderable part of the mountain is FoREST LAND, ſubject to the ſuperiority of the DuoHv oy CoRN- wALL. The dutſkirts, and parts of the hills, are appendant to the MANoRS of the ſubjoining country; and the right of paſ- turage veſted in the appropriated lands of thoſe manors, And beſide this intrinſic right, * Some of the pEAr is of a ſuperior quality; admit- ting of being-HARRED; and in this ſtate, it is uſed by 4 BLaACkSMITHs, inſtead of pit coal, “ 1 15 - 36 PRESENT APPLICATION. —— ᷣ right, over their reſpective commons, many of thoſe lands have a preſctiptive right, on V the foreſt, by paying an inconſiderable ſum b — a few pence— annually, under the name of Venville money, to the Duchy. The Duchy, nevertheleſs, preſerves the right of ſtocking the foreſt lands, by agiſtment: and ſtock are fent, in numbers, from diſ tant townfhips; paying aà Very lOw* price for their paſturage: not more than a ſhil- ling or eighteen pence, a héad, being paid ſor the fummer's run of cattle! Befide the CATILE thus brought to- gether by agiſtment, great numbers are reared, by the V enville tenants, on the verge of the foreſt; under a routine of practice that has been already mentioned*. The SHEEP, being drawn together, from various quarters, differ as to breed. On the Southern hangs, and on the upper parts of the mountain, the polled breed of che South Hams are moſtly ſeen- But, on mhe Northern and Weſtern ſides of it, the partially horned bręed, which has been . n0- * SKee Vol. I. P. 244. 3——— 5„ mn —ꝛꝛÿ;————————F—ꝛ—x—x— 5 DARTMORP 4) noticed“, are prevalent; correſponding, in general appearance, with the eſtabliſhed breed of the Corniſh mountains; but of a better frame. In winter, thoſe ſheep are drawn down to the incloſed country, where the ewes drop their lambs, and return with them, in the ſpring, to their mountain paſture. Hence, the leading OBECT of the MOORSIDE PFARMER is to raiſe fodder enough for his cattle, and to preſerve graſs enough for his ſheep, to fupply them, du- ring the winter months; depending, al- moſt wholly, on the commonable lands, for their ſummer maintenance; his milking cows and rearing calves excepted: work- ing oxen are, everywhere, ſeen on the commonable land, both of Devonſhire and Cornwall: their work, under this treat- ment, being in courſe moderate. The PRESENTVALUE oftheſe lands appears, from this general view of their application, to be far from inconſiderable. I had not an opportunity of eſtimating the aggregate Sec Vol. IJ. P. 259. 23 PRESENT APPLICATION. aggregate of the ſtock they ſupport. But an eye, accuſtomed to obſervations of this nature, may readily diſcover, that, in a POLITICAL LIGHT, theſe uncultivated lands are, at preſent, of ſome eſtimation. For admitting that a Moorſide Farmer, by the aſſiſtance of theſe lands, in ſupporting his ſtock nine or ten months of the year, is enabled to rear, and forward to market, twice the number of cattle and fheep(or even one fourth of ſuch additional nu mber), that he could without their affiſtance,— the aggregate increaſe of produce to the community, would be found, on calcu- lation, to be worthy of public regard. And, in a PRIVATE point of view, if one may judge from the good eſtimation in which Venville farms are held,— from the extraordinary prices which the Moorſide men give for rearing calves,— namely, fif- teen to twentyfive ſhillings, at three days old! a price which they nowhere elſe bear, — and from the comfortable livelihoods which the fmalleſt of theſe farmers are enabled to make,—theſe lands are not, at — 5 83 Prelent,*⁴ VI holly throw 11 AWaV.⸗ Never — 8——xix— .—— 1—————— ——-——— 8— DAR TMO R K. 29 Nevertheleſs, though they are doubtleſs of conſiderable value, at preſent, it does not follow that they are, at preſent, in their moſt valuable ſtate. To ſpeak, in poſitive terms, of the means requiſite to the IMPROVEMENT of this uncultivated tract of country, might be preſumptuous, in one who has confeſ- ſedly given it only a curſory incidental examination. But it has alſo been pre- miſed, that the paſſage of country, under conſideration, is of a ſpecies fimilar to the Moors of Vorkfhire, and the Mountains Gf Perthfhire,— both ofwhich Ihave examined with attention, and have, at different periods of time, ſeparately digeſted my ideas, with reſpect to their improvement: cir- cumſtances which enable me to ſpeak, with greater confidence, on the improvement of the moory mountains of Devonſhire; whoſe diſtinguiſhing characteriſtics lie, chiefly, in the fuperiority of ſoil and climature, com- pared with thoſe of the unreclaimed lands of Vorkſhire and Perthſhire. — In 3⁰ PROPOSED MPROVEMENTS. In ſuggeſting hints for the improvement of Dartmore and its uncultivated environs, it will be proper to conſider the mountain or foreſt lands, ſeparately from the commons, and lower grounds of the extenſive flat which has been mentioned; as they appear to me to require ſomewhat different prin- ciples of improvement. In the improvement of the HIGHER LANDS, the leading objects appear, to me, to be woop and HERBAGE. Their cli- mature, I apprehend, unfits them for the profitable production of CokN: and a want of manure is another bar to this ſpecies of produce. Neverthelefs, there may be dips and unreclaimed vallies, which, as limited bome grounds, might admit of a courſe of arable management. But ſpeaking generally of theſe lands, the firſt means of improvement appears to me, to be that of PLANTING, Or otherwiſe covering with wood, the sroNxEv suUR- FACES: not more to encreaſe the value of theſe particular parts, than to improve the climature of the whole. The Birch, the Mountain Soré, and the Larch, il judiciouſly P 1O= ——————— 5——— ———— —— — — E — DARTMORE. 3* Propagated, would flouriſh, I apprehend, on the bleakeſt expoſures. To improve the HERBAGE oOf the freer furface of theſe expoſed lands, various means might be ſuggeſted. Running high PENCE MouUNps acroſs the current of the Southweſt winds, and planting them with Birch, Mountain Sorh, Elder, Holly, Furze, Broom, Xc. in the Devonſhire manner; but making the top of the mound hollos. or concave, to collect and retain moiſture, and to ſkreen the Young plants, or ſeedlings, in their tender ſtate. It were impoſſible, perhaps, to con- ceive a better fence, for bleak mountain lands, than the ordinary hedge of Devon- ſhire. The mound is an immediate fence and fhelter; and the coppice wood, as it grew up, could not fail, from its relative height above the fubjoining lands, to 1M- FROVE their CrIMATURE; and encourage, in a particular manner, the grozotb f berbage; beſide being, at the ſame time, ſingularly friendly to paſturing ſtock. The only doubt, as to the propriety of raiſing ſuch fences, acroſs the bleak lands of Dart- more, —— ———— 8— 2— ——— — 2 ——— ——-—˖QOVB:BOÿOOCO—ꝑ—CQ—C—— 32 PROPOSED IMPROVEMEN TS. more, lies in the expence of doing it: for, great as the poſitive advantages would doubtleſs be found,— if the expence of raiſing them overbalanced theſe advan- tages, ſuch means of improvement would be altogether ineligible to be profecuted, by Indibiduals, however profitable the effect might be to the Pablic. The freer, bet- ter-ſoiled parts of Dartmore, I am of opinion, would pay Individuals, amply, for this CARDINAIL IMFROVEMENT. To change the preſent produce to more profitable paſturage, either in the open or an inclofed ſtate, different means might be purſued. BoRNING OE THE HEATH Of the black môory parts, and paſturing them hard with Hheep, would tend to extirpate the heath, and bring up berbage in its place. 1 The Cheviot hills of Northumberland, and ſimilar hills in the South of Scotland, were Peechln broꝛ ught to their preſent ſtate of preen turf, by this means. SopDBU XING the more loamy ſoills, ſowing rn AND GRASS SEEDS, and . 3 FoLDING OFFTHE PRODUCE, With DARTMORE. 33 — would be a ready means of meliorating the herbage. If, by the intervention of Hedge mounds, the climature of theſe Hills could be ren- dered ſufficiently genial for the maturation of RAPE SEED, and ſhould their ſoils be found fufficiently productive of this va- luable crop, the propriety of erecting ſuch fences would no longer remain doubtful; as a full crop of this grain would amply repay any reaſonable expence that could bè incurred by incloſing; and the incloſure would amply recompenſe the loſs, which the ſoil could ſuſtain, from the exhauſtion of one grain crops: graſs ſeeds being, in courſe, ſown with the rape ſeed, or over the plants in the ſpring; or a due portion, at either ſeaſon. By pRAINING the ſpringy ſſopes of hills, and perhaps ſome of the Peatbogs, the produce of thoſe parts might be very ma- terially improved:. By waTFRINCG, füch parts of the lower ſlopes as can command water, the herbage, perhaps, might be eſſentially bettered. VoI. II. D But 44 PROPOSED IMPROVEMEN PS. But very much would depend on the quality of the water; and this experience would readily prove. By MANURING, fomething might doubt- leſs be done, towards the melioration of the herbage. The vegetable mold of the Peatbogs, either in a crude recent ſtate, or in the ſtate of charcoal, or in that of aſhes, would, with moral certainty, be found ſerviceable to the loamy ſoils. And earthy ſubſtances, which, if ſought for, might doubtlefſs be found, could not fail of pro- ducing beneficial effects, on the black moory lands. It is needlefs to add, that if Lime could be brought to theſe lands, at a mo- derate expence, there would be little riſque in the free uſe of it. With its powerful aid, even CoRN might be produced, on many of the lands under notice; but whe- ther with eventual advantage, either to the Proprietor or the Public(unleſs on a fmall (cale), is a matter of great uncertainty. The moſt profitable 8TοÆ for theſe 18 jands, in the ſtate of improvement above 92 ſuggeſted, would probably be found to be / 777* 3/, /,„, O‿*ει Caltle, Sheop, and Kabbits. There PDARTMOR F. 35 There appears to be many ſituations in which the laſt would be moſt eligible. Seeing the local ſituation of theſe weak- foiled lands,—- between the markets of Exeter and Plymouth,---and the favorable turn of ſurface, which Nature has given to many of them, for the propagation of this ſpecies of farm ſtock, it is rather extraor- dinary that RABBIT WARRENS ſhould not be more common, in this Diſtrict, than they appear to be at preſent. But, perhaps, the true reaſon has been already aſſigned. See Vol. I. Page 271. In the improvement of the LOWER GROUNDS of this extenfive tract of un- reelaimed lands, CLIMATURE is the firſt object of atten- tion. It is well known, to thoſe who have embraced opportunities of obſerving natural effects, that the Climature of an extended and naked plain is frequently more ſevere and chilling, both to the animal and the vegetable creation, than that of a billowy ſfurface, of much Sreater elevation. The wind, in paſſing over the latter, is broken into eddies, and its effects are thereby D 2 ſoftened: —— —— —jj44—— ———— —, 36 PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS. ſoftened: beſide, let the blaſt blow fromf V 21 „hence it may, ſome part of ſuch a ſurface will always afford a degree of ſhelter, to I 4 animals that have free range OVer it; and d even vegetables, that are fixed, enjoy by M turns, as the wind ſhifts, the advantages of üä its ſfhelter---while, over an extent of naked level furface, the curtent ruſhes forward 1 with unabating force; and let it fet from 1 whatever quarter, vegetables and animals 3 are equally expoſed to jts unrelenting ſe- 4 verity. Some Oaks, ſcattered over the Hat of wild lands now under conſideration, might be adduced, with numberleſs other facts, in evidence ofthe truth of this theory- p' They are cut down flat, as with an edge- tool. Had they ſtood on the heights of Maker, expoſed to the immediate ſea blaſt, they would not probably have ſuffered more. Hence, in this Btuation, as on the hills, hi the firſt ſtep towards improvement would ul perto convert to WoopLAND, ſuch parts as are unfit for cultivation; and to raiſe V CopPPICE HEDGES acrofs the line of the moſt miſchievous winds, as ſkreens to the culturable lands. In — —— 1. 4 ———. 2 DAR T MORE. 3 In a Climature thus improved, and with m a ſufficient ſupply of LIME, at a moderate e price, I am of opinion that ſome conſide- to rable proportion of theſe flat lands might be d ſubjected, with profit, to a courſe of arable y Management. But without a plentiful 3 ſupply of Lime, or other calcareous Ma- d NURE, it appears to me more than probable, d from what I have ſeen of theſe lands, that 2 very few of them would pay for cultivation, 3 as arable lands. Tam therefore ofopinion, that, without the aſſiſtance of INLAND NAVIGATION, . this extenſive tract of Country muſt neceſ- ſarily remain in its preſent ſtate, or be im- proved as paſture grounds, in the manner 1 V which has been already ſuggeſted, for the e b higher lands of Dartmore. 1 V Viewing this wide extent of Country, . which, with moral certainty, might be 6 V highly improved, by means of a plentiful „.. fſupply of LIME: V lewing, next, the numerous tracts of uncultivated lands be- 3 tween Okehampton and Biddeford, which 5 are evidently ſtill more improveable, as br V will preſently be fhewn, and by the fame he D 3 MANURE: 3. ₰ In 38 PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS. MaäNURE:---And, laſtly, viewing the ex- tenſive tracts of Woodland, ſeen in paſſing between the places laſt mentioned, and the value of SHIP TIMBER at Plymouth,-- there can be little riſque in faying, that there is no other Diſtrict in this Ifland in whichthe LANDEDINTEREST calls equally loud for Inland Navigation, as the line of Country between PLVMOVTH and BIDDE- FORD. And ſeeing, at the ſame time, the length, and ſtill more the uncertainty, of the paſſage, between Wales and the port of Plymouth, by ſea; and the quantity of cuLM which is now uſed for burning Lime, on the banks of the various Eſtuaries that branch out of it, as well as coALs for the uſe of Plymouth and its neighbourhood, it appears that the INTFERESTS Of TRAFFIC are alſo concerned. Finally, admitting, what I believe is known to be a fact, that it is the bulky articles, here particularized—- nameély, LIME, CoALS, and TIMBER, not the Boxes and Bales of Trade, that render Inland Navigation profitable,- it may be fairly concluded, (d/ DARTMORE. 39 concluded, that no Line of Canal is more likely to pay, than that now under con- ſideration. The proper direction, of the Southern part of the Line, is evident. The TIDL flows within the Eſtuary or Mouth of the TaAavEv: and, where the Tide ends, the CaNxAl fhould commence; winding up the valley of the Tavey, to TAavisTock; a branch being thrown off, up the valley of the Walkham, to HaRRow BRIDGT, for the uſe of the extenfive Commons in that neighbourhood, and to catch the uſe of the public road which there croſſes the valley. Above Taviſtock, the main line would ſtill wind with the valley of the Tavey, to the FOOT OF THE DARTMORE HII.L.IS(a moſt deſirable point to be gained),--and thence bend acroſs the uncultivated flat, towards OKEHAMPTON. In travelling between Taviſtock and Okehampton, I obſerved(between Lydford and the latter place) that the road was re- paired with LIMESTONE L-black marble; 1 a circumſtance which renders it more than robable, that the raw materials of im prove- N D 4 ment 40 PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS. ment lie within the field to be improved; and that Fourr only would be wanted, to render the proſecution eaſy and profitable. Without intending to cenſure the ſupine- neſs, which has lately prevailed in this Country, with reſpect to the permanent improvement of its ſurface, I will not heſitate to fay, that had advantages, like V thoſe which are here adduced, occurred within the interior of the Iſland, they would long ago have been ſeen and embraced: and that whenever the ſpirit of enterprize, in this extreme part of it, ſhall fhift its ground, from MiNING to AGRICUVILTURE, the Improvement which is here pointed out, will be carried into effect. PISTRNT 12 OIST RNIOI IHEZ FEOUNZII. NORTH DEVONSHIRE. PREFATORY RPMARKS. N accurate Definition of what is fa- £ miliarly called“ NoRTH DEVoON,“ or“ the North Country,“ I fhall not attempt to give. It is generally applied, I believe, to the Country lying towards the North Coaſt; round Biddeford, Barnſtaple, and South Moulton. But the Diſtrict to which this name aptly applies, is ſituated between the Mountain of Dartmore and the Sea;-- comprizing a wide extent of Country: di- verſified, it is true, in ſoil and ſurface; but it has no diſtinct ſeparation of parts, large enough to warrant its being divided into ſeparate Diſtricts. As the only opportunity I had of col- lecting information, reſpecting this Diſtrict, Was 4² PREFATORY REMAREKS. was obtained by an EXCURSION, under- taken for the purpoſe of viewing its pro- minent features, and of remarking the overt practices, which meet the eye of every Traveller, who looks attentively round him,— I will not attempt a digeſted Regiſter, either of the Diſtrict, or its Rural Management; but offer a Tranſcript of my Travelling Journal*. The route which I thought it proper to take, was from OEENANiP ToOR to Ha- THERLEY, TORRINGTON, BIDDPDEFORP, BaARNSTAPLE, SoUTR MovIL Tox, and acroſs the Country to DuLVERTON(to * It is, however, with diffidence and ſome reluctance, T adopt this mode of publication. And I have only to ſay, in its behalf, that the ſeries of remarks, Which are here Eendlirdhd aroſe om aets and enreellehe that and were in e dic he fev ſubjecks of Remark- remained under the eye. The defective ſtyle, in which they appear, is the con- venient one of a Journal,—or verbal ſcetch book. It is conciſe; and the pronoun, or the verb, which may fre-, quently be wanting, is readily to be underſtood. If the firſt perſon were uſed, egotiſin would diſguſt: if the ſecond(as it is in the ordinary ſtyle of Journals) fenſe would be ſacrificed. NORTH DEVONSHIRE. 43 catch a view of Exmoor and the fine ſcenery of its Envirorss); and thence, to BaAaMPToN and TIVERToON. O0 ER E HA M PTO N AND IPS ENVIR O N 83 SUNDAY I48SEPTEMPER, 1794. THE TOWN, well ſized and reſpect- able, conſidering the recluſeneſs of its ſituation, is ſeated in a deep baſon, broken into three parts, by the narrow wooded vallies of the Oke and its two principal branches: the former winding towards the North, the latter ſpreading wide to the Eaſt and Weſt; and embracing, as with arms, the Northern point of the Dartmore Mountain; which here forms a flattened ſtage, of confiderable extent and elevation; overlooking the town, and forming one ſide of the baſon in which it is ſituated. The face of the ſteep is finely hung with wood; — moſtly large full-headed Oaks; being Part — 48 ENVIRONS OF OKEHAMPTON. part of the ancient demefne lands, belong- ing to the Caſtle of Okehampton; whoſe ruins ſtill occupy a peninſular hillock that faces this bold woody ſteep; being divided from it by the Weſtern branch of the Oke. The ſcenery truly alpine. Sheep, of a diminutive ſize, are grazing among the ruins Of-the Caſtle. Various in head, as thoſe of Weſt Devonſhire and Cornwall. Some of them reſembling very much, in head and carcaſe, the ſize apart, the improved breed of Dorſetſhire. The ſite of the Caſtle, and the ſteep rug- ged height, on the face of which it ſtood, appears to be compoſed of flatey rock, ſimilar to that of Weſt and South Devon- ſhire. Upon this eminence, and on the Weſter brink of the Baſon, ſtands the principal Church of Okehampton: proudly fituated; and forming a good object from the oppo- „ ſite height; making one feature of a fine landſcape. The entire Environs, and the views from them are rich and beautiful; but the ſcale is ſmall. A truly monaſtic fituation; rieh 3————— NORTH DEVONSHIRE. 43 — rich and recluſe--yet, I believe, without the veſtige of a monaſtery! The fertile ſwells are now loaded wit! h graſs; and ſome of them ſtocked with good Cows, of the North Devonfhire breed. But little corn; and moſt of this is ſtill in-the field. The North fide of a Mountain Diſtrict is naturally liable to a backwardneſs of climature. OKEHAMPTON 44 1 0RR IN G TO N. (17 Miles) MONDAY 15 SEPTEMBER, 1794 ASCEND, by a ſteep ill conducted road, the Weſtern banks of the Oke, and leave the cultivated Environs, at one mile from the Town. Delightful morning! The Okehampton hounds are gone out, towards the hills of Dartmore, another pack NIOW 46 OKEHAMPTON ro TORRINGTON. now paſs the carriage, towards the oppoſite hills. A finely wild ſporting country. Enter an extenſive furze-grown Com- mon; apparently well ſoiled, and the ſub- foil rotten ſlate. Land fit for almoſt any purpoſe of Huſbandry. Several plots of this Common are now ſodburnt and liming for Wheat! The entire Common lies in narrow ridges, as if it had undergone the ſame operation, and been ſuftered to lay down again to reſt, after one crop of corn had been thus taken. The Stock, now on this ill applied tract, are ſmall Sheep; fimilar to thoſe near Okehampton. A rich Valley opens to the right: to the left a mixed Country; marked by the Church of Ingerley: a pleaſing though gayly coloured object. But the morning 1s fine; and Nature herſelf appearing gay, a white waſhed ſteeple aſſimilates with the ICene. Enter an incloſed, but rough, upland Country. Farm houſes and Cottages mean: moſtly of mud and thatch. Hedgemounds ———— 9—— —.,— NORTH DEVONSHIRE. ₰ Hedgemounds in the manner of Weſt Devonſhire; but not, in general, ſo high. See red ſoil, in the valley to the right. More furze-covered Commons— highly improveable: a waſte of property to ſuffer them to remain in their preſent unpro- ductive ſtate. A patch of Wheat ſtubble on one of theſe Commons, diſcovers, in its own ſtrength, that of the land. Some rubbifhly ill bred Cattle, on theſe Commons. The natural produce of com- monable lands. Croſs a cold olayey Dip; and enter more extenſive Commons. Thouſands of acres of dwarf furze, which ought to be ſup- planted by Wheat, Beans, and Clover. Some Timber Trees ſeen ſcattered over the Incloſures. Graſs Incloſures velled for Wheat; as in the South of Devonſhire. The ſpring and the autumn furzes are here intermixed, as in Cornwall and Welſt Devonſhire. A billowy, wooded, Kentiſh view opens to the left. A newly ————————⸗⸗⸗————ꝛ—ꝛ—ꝛꝛõ-U-ñnᷓ— 48 OkE EHAMPTON T5 TORRINGTON. A newly planted Hedgemound. The plants as thick as the arm, and cut down to two or three feet high, as in Weſt Devon- ſhire. The Hedgewoods Birch, Hazel, Afh. Enter a cold-ſoiled Woodland Diſtrict. Inſtance of Scotch Firs planted on this cold retentive foil! Still more extenſive tracts of dwarf furze. Notonly the Commons, but ſome Incloſures, are cropped with this unprofitable plant; the whole of theſe furze grounds lying in narrow Wheat ridges. The common Sheep, here, are ſmall and moſtly polled. A large parcel of hewn Timber, fit for Ship Building, collected by the ſide of the road. The fſubſoil of theſe Commons is a red 8 layey gravel. G Enter an incloſed, red fſoiled plot of Country,—the immediate Environs of HaTHERLY: a mean market Town: moſtly or wholly built ini red earth and . OtheéTS hatch. Some of the houſes white-waſhed, —— NORTH DEVONSHIRE. 49 Sthers rough-caſt. Obſerved Reed in ſheaves; as in the Weſtern pa urts of the County. A beaut Ifanlly wodded Dip breaks, to the jeft: the valley of the Torridge . Leave the red ſoil, about a mile from Hatherly. The ſubſoit a deep grouty rubble: red as oker. Enter a cold, vale Country. The ſubſoil a pale coloured clay. A narrow flat of river- formed land Buildings entirely of clay Four Oxen, two Horſes, two Men, and — a Boy, at plow! A fhameful fall of young Timbe ded ac now A charming broad woo dopens to the Weſt;=--between Hatherly and Sheepwafh. And, now, a wide flat of Marſhe eglected, un- ently in a wild, es to the right; apparer prôoductive ſtate. G. S. 1 s Norcliff's, app 8 ſh— IIlar1II IaI108. Hewiſh, Sir on the oppoſite banks of theſe A bad Turnpike road traces a high ridge of cold white clay,--commanding a ſtrongly featured country VOL. II. E Ridges —— 50o OKEHAMPTON ro TORRINGTON. Ridges of Lime and Earth, for Wheat, are common in the adjoining Incloſures. Coppice Hedges univerſal. Deſcend, bya ſteep road, into a well ſoiled Dip of Land. The ſubſoil ſlatey rubble, or rotten ſlate rock. Very few Orchard Grounds in this Country. Aſcend Padſtow“ Hill: an inſulated eminence; commanding a fine circle of views. To the South, the Mountain of Dartmore riſing bold to the view, and forming a remarkably ſtrong feature from this point. To the Eaſt, the riſing banks of the Oke and the Taw; apparently, well ſoiled, and well cultivated; the foreground of this view, the Valley of Marland'- or Marfhland, in a ſtate of neglect,--much of it occupied by furze; to appearance, highly improveable. To the North, a ridge of well ſoiled arable upland. To the Weſt, a well wooded Diſtrict. A delightful morning: with the Lark in full ſong:--and with hounds in full cry! A diſtant view of the North Country, now begins to open. The — 4—— ——VW——— ——— 1— G —“—:—— NORTH DEVONSHIRE. 5t The Country, here, wholly incloſed: moſtly in large ſquare Devonſpire Fields. Paſſed the firſt Cart: drawn in the Cleve- land manner! three horſes; one in the ſhafts, the other two abreaſt, and guided by réins: loaded with bark, for the port of Biddeford; to be there ſhipped for Ireland. Croſs a well timbered Hollow. Much valuable Ship Timber, in this Diſtrict. Cloſe woody lanes,--how tantalizing to a Traveller! Enter a well ſoiled paſſage; moſtly arable. Some patches of Turneps and Clover. Very few Field Potatoes in this Diſtrict, A Box: Winſcot: the firſt Houſe Ihave pafſed, in this ſtage. Still a well foiled arable Country. Farms ſeemingly of good ſize; and not ill culti- vated. Obſerve ſeveral good FHorſes. Q. Bred in this Diſtrict?— Another paſſage of good upland Country. Skirted by a cold ruſhy bottom. E 2 Meet 52 OKEHAMPTON To TORRINGTON. Meet a ſtring of Lime Horſes, from Biddeford; eight or ten miles. Lime, here, a prevailing manure. Hedgemounds increaſe in height: this, altogethier, a gouth Devonfhürc-lile Diftrict An extenſive view opens to the left. Inſtance of a cropt Hedge. What a loſs to the Traveller, that the practice is not prevalent. Large white Pigs, in a good form. A Kine view of the V alley of Torrington burſts upon the eye- Orchard Grounds encreaſe. A charming back view of the Valley above Torrington: vwell formed ground, happily enr iched with wood and water- An extenfive and rich view, to the right, including the Eaſtern ban S of the Taw. An inſtance of limed Graf(sland. hip down to the Bridge of Torrington. 8 1P A† REN APE E8 GE ERAE NEMARERSo. THE Townſhips, in this ſtage, appear to be of the middle ſize. The Churches, in general, tall and conſpicuous. NORTH PEVONSHIRE. 5z Of the State of Inclofure, it may be ſaid, that about half the lands, which fall im- mediately under the eye, are incloſed; the reſt, in coarſe furzey Commons, capable of great improvement, The Fields are generally well ſhaped, and well ſized; as in Weſt and South Devonſhire. The Pences, throughout, are fimilar to thoſe in the Southern parts of the County. But the Mounds are ſomewhat narrower and lower. Woodlands extenſive. Oak the prevail- ing wood. Much fine Timber: much alſo in a ſtate of Coppice. The C Grounds are few and ſmall. The Arable Crops appear, by the ſtubbles, to be chiefly Vrns heat and Oats: but alto- gether fmall, in he herrion an o the Graſs- lands and Purze Grounds, which occupy this Line of Country; eipeealr towards Okehampton. The Climature ſomewhat forwarder than about Okehampton. The crops moſtly harveſted. E The —— 54 GENERAL REMARKS. The preparations, now going on for the next year's crop of Wheat, are the very ſame, here, as in the South of Devonfhire; namely, ley ground burnt and limed. Very few Cattle, or Sheep, are ſeen in the Inclofures; which are now full of graſs. The ſtate of Huſbandry, on the whole, is conſiderably below par. 1 TORRINGTON AND L S ENVIRON S. THE TOWN is proudly ſituated on the brink, and partly hanging on the brow, of the Eaſtern bank of the Oke. It is a large inland Market Town; but has no thorofare to fupport it. There is no poſting inn, in the place! and only one chaife kept for hire. Nevertheleſs, the Town is neat, and the people alive. Circumſtances to be ac- counted for, only, in the many family reſi- dences, which appear in its neighbourhood, and which ſeldom fail to meliorate the mannerg ——————yy—————— NORTH DEVONSHIRE. 5S manners of every claſs of thoſe, who fall within the ſphere of their influence. The view from the ſite of the Caſtle- now a Bowling Green--is uncommonly fine. A wooded amphitheatre, richly di- verfified: with a lengthened bend of water in the middle ground:—- and with fox- hounds in the woods! 4ORRING ITON MONDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER, 1794. A well ſoiled Common near the Town; ſtocked with ſmall neat ſheep. Paſs between well ſoiled Incloſures: a rich and beautiful Country. Croſs a lovely wooded valley: thriving Oak Timber; well thinned, and ſet out. A fmall Vorkfhire plow. The firſt I have obſerved in the County. E 4 The 56 ORERINGTON ro BIDDEFORD, The ſurface broken, abruptly, into hill and dale: a truly Danmonian paſſage. Surmount a clean upland Country. The ſubſtratum br own T uſty rock. Reach the ſummit of the ridge: a furze- grown waſte. A broad view of the Briſtol Channel meets the eye; Wl ith extenſive land views, on eicher ſide. On the one hand, Hartland Point is a prominent and ſtriking feature; on the other, Exmore? riſes boldy to the view. Deſcend towa rds Bidde ford. Meet Ktrings of Lime Horſes, with pack- ſaddles and bags of Lime. Alſo two-horſe Carts, wi ith Lin ne and Sea ſand, TIS, GENERAL REMARK. This Paſſage of Country, in Soil, Surface, and apparent General Management, per- fectly reſembles the South- Weſtern parts of Devonſihire. BIDDEFORD EEEEEEEEEahhqgbõqõõẽõUéUéglMlMl[»NgNR!ſ]—v—]ñv]gggßß NORTH DEVONSHIRE. 97 BIDDEFORPD ENVIRONs. TUESDAV, 16 SEPTEMBER, 1794, THE Town is remarkably forbidding, Meanly built houfes(timber, brick, or mud, covered with bad ſflate or thatch), ſtuck againſt a ſteep hill. The ſtreets, of courſe, are aukward; and moſt of them are narrow. In the vacant ſpaces between the ſtreets, immenſe piles of furze faggots riſe, in the fhape of houſes, and make the houſes themſelves appear more like hovels than they really are. Theſe dangerous piles of fuel are for the uſe of the pottery, for which only, I believe, this Town is celebrated: chiefly, or wholly, the coarſer kinds of earthen ware. EThe Bridge of Biddeford is an extraor- dinary erection: a high thick wall, run acroſs ———— —ÿ—ÿ—ÿ—:——:—————.— 58 BIDDEFORD ANp ITs ENVIRONS. acroſs the river or narrowed eſtuary; with Gothic gateways, here and there, to let the water paſs, The tide out: many men employed in loading packhorſes, with ſand, left in the bed of the river: and, in every vacant corner about the Town, compoſts of earth, mud, aſhes,&c. are ſeen. Shell ſand is ſaid to be plentiful on the coaſt; but little, if any of it, is brought up this river. On the ſhore of the eſtuary, oppoſite to the Town, are ſeveral limekilns, now in full work. Numbers of packhorſes, and a few carts, loading, or waiting for loads. The ſtone, chiefly, and the culm with which it is burnt, wholly, brought acroſs the chan- nel, from the coaſt of Wales. The kilns ſimilar to thoſe of Weſt Devonſhire. This lime is carried fourteen or fifteen miles; chiefly on horſeback. STRo.. NORTH DEVONSHIRFE 59 8ZE. STROLL UPON THE HIGHLANDS, TOTHE SoucuTHANDWEST OP THE TowX. The ſubſoil of the ſkirts of the hill, is a Slate rubble. A baſe kind of Slate is uſed as a covering,. Some charming views, from the midway ſtages of this eminence. To the North, the conflux of the eſtuaries of the Taw and the Oke,—backed by the cultivated hills of the coaſt. To the South, a beautiful bend of the narrowing eſtuary of the Oke, loſing itſelf in the winding wooded valley of that river; ſkreened, on either hand, by wooded heights, and backed by wilder diſtances. Each of theſe views is worthy of the pencil. The former is grand; but the latter is more picturable, as a landſcape. The home views, on every ſide, are pleaſing. The ſurface finely broken; reſembling that in the environs of Bridport; but the features 60 EIDDEFORD AND ITS ENVIRONS. The whole country is incloſed; moſtly in large fields, with coppice fences—cut down by the wind: a ieetntinnne more favorable to the admirers of natura 1 land- ſcape, than to the huſbandman. No hedgerow timber: 4 put a few groups of trees are ſcattered on the hills. The 8₰ with coppi ice wood, 1 4b a H He ſa— The ſtock, obſeryable from thiis ftation, 1 L 8 e 1— 4 ttle and ſheep. he former in herds, are ca d fheey as it the farmns were large. The ſheep are above the middle ſize,— and 1 mah polled. Nearer the fummit of the hill, the land is colder, and the herbage co gf: abound- ing with Marſh Fleabane and other aquatic weeds. But the fummit itſelf is again dry, ſound, and tolerably well ſoiled. A wide circle of views are ſeen, from an Object Houſe(in ruins) nearthe fummit. A very extenſive view opens to the South Eaſt. But the horizon is too hazy to trace it to its fartheſt diſtance. To the South Weſt, a ftrongly featured u pland Diſtrict; large ½,, ſteep banks of the Oke, are chiefly hung [.O— NORTH DEVONSHIKRE. 61 large well turned cultivated fwells, ſepa- rated, and the face of the country diver- fified, by winding wooded vallies, in the beſt ſtyle of Kent or Herefordſhire; with tall and ſtately towers of Churches ſcattered over the wide ſpreading ſcene. On the upper ſtages of this eminence, and in deſcending its Weſtern declivity, I obſerved many you ung horfes; much of. the Vorkſhire Prged bnt ſomewhat ſhorter and thicker. Alſo ſome good North Devonſhire cows. BIDDEFORD MARKET. A few fat, and ſome ſtore cattle; with three or four heifers and calves. The heifers ſomewhat ſinall; but neat; and with remarkably fine bags! the moſt pro- miſing appearance of milk, that I have ob- ſerved, in the Devonſhire breed of cattle. A few fheep, and two or three colts (weaned foals) in halters. The Corn Market well filled with long two-buſhel bags; chiefly of wheat. The 652 ElIDDEFORD Ap ITS ENVIRONS. The fhambles full of good mutton— with a ſcanty ſhow of beef. Salmon in confiderable plenty; but no ſea fifh! The women'’s market well ſupplied. Cart loads of country bread, expoſed in the market place, for fale. A market article, this, which I have not before b- ferved. Vpon the whole, the Market of Bidde- ford may be ſet down as very reſpectable. STROILL UPON THE RISING GROUVNDS, ON THE NoORTHI SIDE OF THE TOwN. Theſe grounds are ſeparated from the hill on which the Town is ſituated, by a creek of marſhland, in its natural ſtate, as formed by the tide; excepting a plot of ſeven or eight acres, which is now em- banking: an operation, which, if it were carried on, with proper exertion, could not fail to pay threefold for the money expend- ed. If the men, who are employed upon 1t, NORTH DEVONSHIRE. 63 it, may be conſidered as a ſample of the Laborers of North Devon, they exceed, in idleneſs, their Countrymen of the Weſt. A low bank, thrown up acroſs theſe marſhlands, furnifhes, at once, a ſafe road, and gives effect to a tide mill, ſituated near one end of it. A rich loamy fſoil to the very ſummit of this hill: a narrow ridge. A good view ofthe Bay of Barnſtaple, and its finely diverſified coaſt: here, a flat ſhore; there ſteep lofty cliſts. Some charmin g near views are ſeen from theſe grounds. Tapley(Mr. Cleveland's) a fine ſituation, is ſeen with advantage. The entire environs are ſtudded with hbouſes: ſome of them ſubſtantial; others neat. Vet ſtill we find the Town itſelf a contraſt to Torrington. The influence even of halfa ſcore families is not ſufficient to burniſh the appearance and manners of a ſmall ſeaport Town, in a remote ſituation. GENERAL 64 BIDDEFOKD AxP IrS ENVIRONS. CENERAL REMARKS.— The climature of this Diſtrict is evi- dently later, than that of Weſt Devonſhife: much of the corn, growh in it, is yet out There are few orchards in theſe environs- Several carts appèar; but no waggons- Packhorſes are chiefly prevalent. The ſtate of huſbandry is on a pat, with chat of the reſt of the County, I have yet ſeen; or ſomewhat fuperior: a laudable aſſiduity, in collecting and mixing manures, is ſingularly conſpicuous. On a general view of the Diſtriet, at this it reſembles south Devonfhire, ſo ſeaſon, atural characters, much, with reſpect to n and PFarm Management, that, in a regiſter oftheir Rural Economy, they mi ght well be conſidered as one and the ſame Diſtrict; rvab xcepting an obſerva le 1 breeds of cattle and horſes, and except a ſomewhat freer in this part of the County; uſe of wheel carriages, here, South Hams, and Weſt Devonſhire. than in the 8 ſuperiority in the —— ——::::ßöFVöͤV——-’nõr— 4—ö ʃ NORTH DEVONSHIRE. 65 BIDDEFORD 1 0 EARNSTAPEE (Eight miles.) wEDNESDAVY, 17 SEPTEMBER, 1794. ANOTHER broken billowy Diſtrick: high rotund fwells, ſeparated by deep narrow vallies. The materials of theſe hills appear to be chieffy rotten flate, or ruſty ſlate-ſtone rubble, ſimilar to that of Weſt Devonfhire and Cornwall. Creeks of marfhland branch out of the eſtuary of the Taw: the ſoil of theſe marfhlets is fomewhat reddiſſ. Now ſtocked with cattle. But they are at pre- ſent in a rough unreclaimed ſtate, and appear to be highly improveable. The road of ſtone, and remarkably good. VoL. II. F The 66 BIDDEFORD ro BARNSTAPLE. The ſtems of corn ſtacks thatched with reed. Leave a ſweet woody dell, to the right. A ſtuccoed barn: mud-wall plaiſtered. A breed of remarkably tall white Pigs. Roof heaps of lime and earth compoſt, on unbroken ſward. Q. For Wheat? Paſs over a well-ſoiled upland country: the ſubſtratum earthy ſlate, up to the ſoil. A few ſtone buildings obſervable. High mound coppice hedges, full of growth. The timber trees, on tbis hide 2f the County, are remarkably ſhorn with the Northaoſt wind. The wide valley of the Taw opens to the view,— and the nature of the Country changes, from clean ſound land, to a cold aquatic ſoil: alder ſwamps, ruſhy incloſures, and rough furze grounds; with much oak wood. The coppices in general healthy; but the timber much injured by the coldneſs of the ſubſtratum, and the winds from the ſea. One wood compleatly ſtag-headed: a waſte of property to let it ſtand. Meet ſeveral flocks of“ Exmore“ lambs; many NORTH DEVONSHTRE. 6» many hundreds; invariably horned; and, moſtly, even in carcaſe; on their way to the Northweſt of Devonſhire, and the North of Cornwall, to their winter paſture. An inſtance of coppice wood, on a flat ſurface; as in Kent and Suſſex: the firſt inſtance of it, I have obſerved, in the Weſt of England. Enter on the deſcent into the vale, or valley, of Barnſtaple. A large field breaſt-plowed, and now burning. Still a cold ſoiled, well timbered Diſ. trict. Much furze-grown rough ground; which appears to be very capable of im- provement. See a heath-covered knoll, to the right. Good cows; moſtly of a dark blood-red colour. Towards the foot of the hill, the land improves. A broad flat of meadows and marſhlands. Good grazing cattle, in rich marſhes. Some large houſes are ſeen, among the fine ſcenery, on the oppoſite banks of the valley. F 2 The 68 BIDDEFORD T0 BARNSTAPLE. The bridge of Barnſtaple is ſimilar to that of Biddeford. GERNERAIL REMARKRS. The climature improves; no cotn ob- ſervable in the field, in this ſtage. The produce—arable crops, graſs, wood, and roughets of furze, and rubbiſh. Townſhips— appareutly large. The whole Couptfy ncloſed;— moſtly, in large fquare ſtelds. The farms apparently of a good ſize. The fences truly Danmonian. The cattle, which appeared, are of a good ſort. But not fuperior to what I ex- pected to have ſeen, in this neighbourhood. No Sheep obſerved, in the incloſures: Nor wheel carriages, on the road. In the general ſtate of huſbandry, nothing neuo ſtruck me, in this paſſage of country. The moſtobvious improvement, ofwhich it appears to be capable, is that of draining, burning, and fallowing, the cold rough lands. 3 BARN- ☛ᷣ‿ NORTH DEVONSHIRE. 69 RARNMST APL R AND 1 1 3 ENVIRONS. THE day inceſſantly rainy, and ill cal- culated for pedeſtrian examinations. The Towu is reſpectable. The ſtreets are wider and better laid out, than thoſe of old Towns generally are. Many of the houſes are ſubſtantially built of brick. But the covering, here, is of the ſame mean-looking flate, as that which is in uſe at Biddeford. Leith carts and Highland fledges(or im- plements very much reſembling them!) are ſeen in the ſtreets of Barnſtaple. Some fmall craft in the river, and in a creek which waſhes one fide of the Town. And two fmall veſſels on the Stocks. Pilton, a pleaſant village, adjoins to Barn- ſtaple. F 3 A bold —y————————, ————— ——. m —— 2 —— „o BARNSTAPLE AND ITs ENVIRONsS. A bold Promontory, which riſes abruptly in the center of the broad valley, above the Town,— ſevering the Taw from the Brook of Pilton and its ſweetly winding woody Dell,— forms a ſtriking feature, among the aſſemblage of picturable ſcenes, which the environs of Barnſtaple appear, even through the dim medium of rain, to be capable of affording. BARRNSTILAPLE T 0 S0UTH MOULTON. (Eleven Miles.) wWEDNESDAVY, I7 SEPTEMBER, 1794. A RICH flat of meadows and marſh- lands, above the Town; nearly a mile wide: evidently formed by the tide and floods. The Country, on either fide, picturably broken, and well wooded. Some fine Cows now in the meadows. Sea * 4 NORTH DEVONSHIRE.„ Sea ſand compoſt is here in uſe. Paſs through Newport, a large village. The Buildings chiefly Earth and Thatch; but ſome Brick, Stone, Slate, and Pantile, in uſe. The breed of very tall white Pigs ſtill continues. Meet more Exmore Lambs going Weſt- ward to their wintering grounds. The day is ſet in for rain; yet the appear- ance of the Country is delightful beyond deſcription. Perhaps rain, as varniſh, mellows the Views. The ſubſtratum, here, flatey rock; worn into hollow ways. Lofty ſwells productive to their ſummits, as thoſe of the South Hams. 5 The prevailing ſubſoil, ſlatey rubble. A valley opens to the left; richly ſoiled, well cultivated, and ſtocked with fine cattle. Some large orchards in this valley. Cloſe woody hedges, with ſome timber in them. The roads in a ſhameful ſtate: evidently injured by the hedges. Why is not the Law enforced? In this Country, where 4 wood- 72 BARNSTAPLE T0 80UTH MOULTON. woodlands abound, and where coals may be had at a reaſonable rate; no ſerious evil could ariſe were all the hedges in it fhorn to their mounds. Sca ſand compoſts are ſtill ſeen by the ſide of the road(5 miles from Barum'). A fmall waſte hillock appears to the right. The ſubſtratum— a maſs of rock, broken into chequers,— and riſing to the ſoil. Get a broad view of the rich and beauti- ful VALLEY OF SWIMBRIDGE. A large flock of Sheep appear on its baſe. Inſtance of Oats now green as Graſs! the ſecond inſtance obſerved? A wide view opens to the Faſt; but is curtailed by the hazeyneſs of the atmoſphere. Rich graſsland, to the ſummits of the ſwells. The Valley of the Taw opens, at ſome diſtance to thie right: a wooded Diſtrict. A fine back view of the Eſtuary and its banks: broad, but grand, and picturable. An obvious improvement, in the line of road. The hill is croſſed, when its baſe might be traced nearly on the level. The NORTHDEVONSHIRE. 73 The fields in this Country, as in the South of Devonfhire, appear to be large in pro- portion to the Farms. A breed of ſmall ſheep; apparently with fine wool. Rock and flate rubble riſe to the ſoil of rich graſsland. Grazing Cattle, on the higher hills; as in the South Hams. Meet a pair of wheels: the firſt from Biddeford. The road improves. A ſweet Country; but moſt difficult to be ſcen? A diſtant view, at t length, opens to the Eaſt. Black Limeſtone road: tolerably good. Philley, Lord Forteſcue's noble place, breaks at once upon the eye: a finely wooded baſon. The Timber zbundant, and ſeem- ingly well ſet out. A berd of young cattle, and a flock of ſheep, in the grounds about the houſe. The Farmery large; beſpeaking a ſuit- able portion of demeſne in hand. A very —— ꝗMq—ͤ—;— 74 BARNSTAPLE TO SOUTHMOSLTON. A very deep quarry of black Limeſtone. Similar, in appearance, to the Chudleigh marble: but the color is leſs bright. This capacious quarry is not leſs than fiſty feet deep. The ſtones are bi ought up fom the lower depths on horſeback; and the water raiſed by a horſe pump. Pafs a ſtring of two-horſe carts, guided rith reins, in the Cleveland manner! Has a colony of Clevelanders formerly ſettled in North Devonfhire, and brought with them their carts and horſes? See page 5I. Vile roads again: and in the neighbour- hood of a great man's reſidence! But, per- haps, his Lordſhip's Lime Work is the principal cauſe of the evil. The color of the materials, and the ſtate in which they at preſent lie, give them every appearance of roads to Coal pits. Still an incloſed, well ſoiled Country. A ſtately Tower, proudly ſituated. North Moulton? Mount a rich well turned fwell, and enter the Town of South Moulton. S0UTH 2 NORTH DEVONSHIKRE. 75 80OUTH MOUL TO N AND 178 ENVIRON S. THURSDAVY, I8 SPTEMBER, 1794. THE TOW, which conſiſts of a ſpa- cious well built Market Place, ſurrounded with inferior ſtreets, caps a rotund hillock, ſituated among other hillocks of a ſimilar nature, and wearing ſimilar appearances; rich and beautiful in a ſuperior degree. The ſoil a rich greazy loam. The ſubſoil pale rubble, or rotten ſlate, or a kind of ſoft checkered rock. Some wood in the vallies; but not one acre of unproductive land, to be ſeen, in the neighbourhood. One of the fineſt farming Diſtricts in the Kingdom. Walked towards the Barton of Great Hill to view Mr. Trigg's Breed of Cattle; which is reckoned one of the firſt in this neigh- bourhood. ———uᷓ yſyÿꝑ-ſſ—— 76 800 TH MOLTON axp 17TS ENVIRONS. hourhood. And the Diſtrit of south Moulton is fpoken of as the firſt, for the North Devonfſhire breed. Saw ſix of his Cows. All of them good. One of them ſuperior to the reſt: remark- able in the carcaſe; well loined, wide at the hips, and ſquare in the quarters; with a fine head and bone. The horns alſo fine, and fhorter than ordinary. The color a lightifh! plood-red; the reſt darker, and moſtly with ſmokey faces. All of them low on their legs: a fize between the Glo- ceſterſhire and the Herefordſhire. The day is too tempeſtuous, to keep the elne and I have already gained a ſufficient ea of the North Devonſhire breed of Prie A farther examination might gra- tify; but could not inſtruct: they are evidently a fuperior variety of the middle- horned breed. And are of courſe one of the firſt breeds of Cattle in the Ifland. GENERAI. 8 NORTH DEVONSHIRE. 77 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS, ON THE COUNTRY BETWEEN BIDDEFORD AND SOUTH MOULTON, INCLUDING T HEIR ENVIRONS. INa general view of this Line of Country, — whether we attend to the height or formation of its ſurface,—to its ſoil, its ſubſtrata(a fhort paſſage on the Weſt of Barnſtaple excepted), or their preſent pro- duce; to the ſtate of incloſure, the ſize or ſhape of fields, or the nature of their fences, —to the ſpecies of arable crops(no trace of the bean crop or other article of pulſe now obſervable); or the manner of pro- ducing them(ſo far as it appears at this ſeaſon); or to the liveſtock or animals of labor(except as above excepted“)---it ſ0 perfectly reſembles the Diſtrict of South Devonfhire, that they might be conceived to havée once been united; and to have been forcibly ſeparated, and thrown into their preſent * See P. 64. —————;———————————-—— 78 GENERAIL OBSERVATIONsS. preſent ſituations, by the Mountain of Dartmore, in one of Nature's convulſive paroxiſis, having broken them aſunder, and placed itſelf in the breach. SoUTH MO ULTON 06 DULVERTON. (Thirteen Miles) THURSDAV, 18 SEPTEMBER, 1794. AT leſs than two miles from the Town, leave its fertile Environs. A pretty but unproductive valley to the left: alders, ruſhes, and rough grounds. Climb the ſide of this valley. The ſub- ſtratum cloſe rock, up to the ſoil: no inter- vening rubble, or other earthy ſubſoil: the land lean, and the produce weak: a con- traſt to the neighbouring lands; though the ſoils appear to be ſmilar. Another rainy day, with a ſtorm of wind. Meet 841 NORTH DEVONSHIRE. 79 Meet a drove of cart horſes, and a ſtring of ſaddle horſes, om their way to the Fair of Barnſtaple; the Property of a Dorſetſhire Dealer. 3 Mount a rough furze-grown height, an extenſive Common,-and catch a broad view to the South: apparently, a cold in- fertile Diſtrict. Bend to the left, from the Tiverton road; and enter narrow woody lanes, barely pervious, by a carriage. Break out of this paſs, into other Com- mons; and nearly approach the heaths of Exmore; a narrow- valley only intervening. EXMoORE, in this point of view, is with- out feature; appears as a flat, or at moſt, a tamely billowy heath. Its hills ſcarcely riſe above the cultivated ſwells that en viron them. This fide of it, at leaſt, has not a trait of the Mountain character. Wind along the brink of the valley. The oppoſite banks apparently well ſoiled and well cultivated; though they form the immediate ſkirts or margin of the Moor. Some wooded Dells branch out of the valley. Sheep. 30 S0UTH MOULTON ro DULVERTON. Sheep on theſe Commons, ſimilar to thoſe of Weſt Devonfhire and Cornwall! part horned; part hornleſs. See corn in arriſh mows; or ſmall field ſtacks. Trace a ridge of cold land: a woodland ſoil; and leave a fimilar dip to the right. Enter and ſkirt a wide fern-grown Com- mon: large plots of fern now in ſwath. Alſo dwarf furze, and fome heath. The ſoil deep and culturable. Approach ſtill nearer the Exmore Heaths: now crimſoned with bloſſoms; which brighten as the day clears up. The ſoil of the Moor Skirts ſomewhat red. Laid out in large ſquare Danmonian Fields. Much of it in a ſtate of arable land: a few Turneps. The valley widens, and breaks into well ſoiled hillocks. The two pariſhes of Eaſt and Weſt Anſtey appear to be in a good ſtate of culture. Several plowed fields; apparently clean fallows. Meet ſtrings of Lime Horſes; from Bampton Lime Works. Several NORTH DEVONSHIRE. 81 Several inſtances of good young Cattle, of the North Devon Breed. Building Materials--Earth and Thatch: an entire ſuite of new Farm Buildings, juſt finiſhed, of theſe materials. Loſe fight of the Exmore Hills; but ſtill keep the brink of the valley; having en- Joyed a tolerably level road for ſeven or eight miles! Holly abounds in this cold ſituation: it is ſeen to mix frequently with the Alder. Leave the high ground, and deſcend into the valley. Subſoil ſlatey rubble. Stirring Wheat Fallows, with four oxen: the firſt oxen, and the firſt plow, Ihave ſen at work, in North Devonfhire! Narrow Wheat ridges, as in Weſt Devonſhire. The road, of black Limeſtone, is narrow but well laid out, Thick polled Sheep, as in the South Hams. Inſtance of watering Graſsland: the firſt I have obſerved, in North Devonſhire. **ᷣ Dunſtone,“ and good Graſsland, as about Moulton. VoL. II. G A Lime 32 S0U TH MOUI.TON ro DULVERTON- A Lime kiln: black ſtone, lodged among s Dunſtone. Some tolerably large Orchards; with low Devonſpire trees; though within the County of Somerſet. Another Sea, or rather Bay, of rich Danmonian ſwells. Approach DuEVyERTON; by another Gothic bridge. DULVERT O N AND 1T8 ENVIRONS. TIIIS fmall Market Town is fituated in a deep narrow valley; chieffy near its baſe, but ſomewhat climbing up its Eaſtern bank. The Church conſpicuous and neat; andh the place altogether, has a plain, neat, and pleaſing appearance: and immediately below the Towen is a fmall place, Pickſton, belonging to the Ackland family. The approach from Moulton is ſingularly ſtriking. Pickſton, a plain dreſſed place, firſt NORTH DEVONSHIRE. 33 firſt meets the eye; and immediately the Town, equally unſuſpected, burſts abruptly into the ſequeſtered ſcene: a rich and. beautiful Baſon, hemmed in on every fide; the valley to the North being cloſed with ſteep winding banks hung with Coppice wood; and, on the other hand, the riſing grounds and avoods of Pickſton forman im- pervious ſkreen; the Exmore Hills juſt ſhowing themfelves above the middle ground of the view; a meek, modeſt, lovely little picture. WaLkK UPON THE HILIL ABOVE TIHE Towy. A charming view, from the midway of the ſteep, of the valley below(in this point of view alſo cloſed in as a baſon), incladine Pickſton. 4 Reach a deſerted place of view, on the ſummit of the hill; and catch a moſt in- tereſting detail of the winding valley of Dunſbrook; the e yé tracing it within the wilds of Exmore: ſteep, narrow, and G 2 thickly 343 DULVFRTON AND 17s ENVIRONS. thickly wooded; with a flip or coomb, 04 water formed land, waving with the ſtream; a finely alpine ſcene. At a fharp bend of the valley, imme- diately under the eye, and facing a long reach, that points to the North Weſt, the Coppice wood is eut down, by the wind, in a very ſingular manner; even at this diſ- tance-twelve or fifteen miles---from the Sea. But the bleak air of Exmore may, Alone, be equal to produce the effect. The foil of this Eminence is dark-co- lored and fertile, to its higheſt ridge. Large fatting Wedders now grazing upon it. some fine Cows, on a neighbouring ſwell. Whichever way the eye is turned, it meets with ſomething rich or beautiful. But perhaps its judgement has been warped by meeting with more than was expected- The ſtyle of ſeenery is ſingular. There is much in the ſituation of Dulverton that reminds me of Blair of Athol; though, in Kenery, they ſomewhat differ. DULVERTON NoRTH PDFVONSHIR E. 35 dL VERRTON 1 O 1 I V E R IO N. (Thirteen Miles) THURSDAVY, 18 SEPTEMBER, 1794. PASS under Pickſton Houſe, a low white building, within a deer paddock. Many ſheep obſervable in the baſon of Dulverton: all thick-carcaſed, and polled. Obſerve ſeyeral wheel carriages,--carts and waggons,---on this road, and in Dul- verton: on their way to and from Minehead, and other parts of the Coaſt. Three-wheeled barrows, drawn by horſes; uſed in ſetting about manure. Beginning to ſow wheat. Shovel out the interfurrows; as in Weſt Devonſhire. The valley contracts, and the tall im- pending trees, with which its ſides are hung, G 2 appear — 86 DUILVERTON ro TIVERTON. appear to cloſe it, as below Blair*. But, V breaking through this paß, a wide valley, b diverſified with bold rotund knolls, is entered. — Lime horſes ſeen creeping up the ſteep ſides of the hills. More good Cows in the valley. The road good, and the day fine. b 4 The ſoil of this paſſage is rediſh;— the ſubſoil rubble, the lower ſtratum rock: ſeldom- failing criteria of fertile land. Leave the valley, and furmount a rou gh furze-grownheight. A few large Beeches ſcattered over this Diſtrict. Catch a good back view of Exmore, and V ſcem to leave it. A wide view opens to the South Weſt. Stin keep the hills; a well ſoiled, upland Diulticckc See the Exe, at ſome diſtance, winding at the foot of a tall ſteep woody bank; a paſſage of natural ſcenery,--ſketched with a broad free pencil. Deſcend * △ Seat of the DuKE OF ATHON2 in the Perthihire Highlands. NORTH DEVONSHIRE. 87 Deſcend precipitoufly into another fertile and recluſe plot of Country;— the beautiſul Environs of Bampton. BAMPTON-— a fmall mean market town; overlooked by an extenſive Limework, whoſe ragged excavations and heaps of rubbiſh ſeem to conſpire with the town to disfigure this ſweetly deſigned paſſage of Nature. But the face of a Country cannot be disfigured to a better purpoſe, than that of contributing to its improvement. Theſe works arc ſaid to have been carried on, time immemorial, for the purpoſes of huſbandry. The ſtrata of theſe Quarries lie ſteeply fhelving. The Limeſtone, in thick ſeams of large irregular blocks; divided by thin ſeams of rediſh baſe ſtone; and by thicker ſtrata of brown earth; ſome of it ſoft and light as ſoot! and ſoils the fingers as ſoot or oker; having every appearance of a valuable pigment. The workmen call it „ rotten ſtone.“ The ſtone, in general appearance, re- ſembles that of Chudleigh; darkly colored, and interſperſed with white veins; but the Bampton ſtone has a purpliſh caſt, and G 4 ſparkles 88 DULVERTON To TIVERTON. ſparkles with micaceous particles, and is of a looſer texture, than that of Chudleigh. The rubbiſh of the Quarries is carried out on horſeback; and the ſtone drawn up to the kilns, in three wheeled HoRsE BARROWS;— which, an old Laborer tells me, have been uſed, in this Country, beyond memory. The conſtruction and dimenſions of one of theſe barrows are as follow: The form is that of the common old-faſhioned wheel- barrow of moſt Diſtricts. The fides nearly upright, ſomewhat ſpreading outward, and Projecting behind the body of the barrow; and are there ſhaped into handles; for the purpoſe of moving it, by hand; or adjuſt- ing it readily to the required ſituation. The hind wheels are fitted upon a ſquare axle, which is placed under the hind part of the body of the implement; and which turns round with them, as that of the Highland, The fore wheel has 3 drag chain adapted to it, to check the and Cumberland cart. motion of the carriage in deſcent. The —— —— NORTH DEVONSHIRE. 89 Piank, about two feet diameter, and bound with iron. The width of the body of the barrow is three feet, behind, two feet ſix inches, before, and four feet long. The depth ofthe ſfides, and of the head and tail boards, twelve inches. The headboard leans ſomewhat forward, over the fore wheel; which is rather fſmaller than the hind ones, and turns on iron ſpindles, in- ſerted in the part ofthe ſides which project before the body of the barrow; as in the ordinary wheelbarrow. The draft is by common crane-neck ſtaples, fixed on the outfide of the fore part of the implement, near the pivots of the fore wheel*. The fuel of theſe Limeworks is Welch culm, fetched, hy land, from Watchet, fixteen miles. 4 Draw * BAMPTON BaARROW. This implement might be uſed with great advantage, on many occaſions; eſpecially in moving earth, or other heavy looſe materials, a fhort diſtance. It is more manageable, by hand, than the Gurry Butt of Weſt Devonfhire, and carries a much greater load. I traced it from Dulverton to Tiverton; and ſaw one near Taunton. I have not obſerved it, in any other part of the Ifland, go DULVERTON ro TIVERTON. Draw the kilns, with heartſhaped ſhovels, formed of parallel bars, as the gridiron; the interſpaces ſuffering the aſhes and fmall lime to drop through; and thus cleaning the ſtone lime, at an eaſy expence of labor. The price of ſtone lime, three ſhillings the hogſhead;— of the aſhes, two ſhillings, for the uſe of the Maſon! Several orchard grounds, in the neigh- bourhood of Bampton. Aſcend a long ſteep hill, and catch another back view of Exmore, and of the finely diverſified environs of Bampton and Dulverton. Reach a rough, improveable, red-ſoiled height; from which Dartmore, for the firſt time, is ſcen riſing to the view. The Exe ſtill continues to wind among high upland ſwells, which riſe on either kde of it: the furface gently billowy; the Downs of the Southern Counties, or the Wolds of Norkſhire, in a ſtate of incloſure, The Soil, Subſoil, and Road, red. A dunged fallow; the firſt obſerved, in this journey. NORTH DEVONSHIRE. 9r Field ſtacklets common. Paſs between Beechen coppice-hedges- The VaAaLE OF EXxETER burſts open, with fine effect. Alſo a broad view of the more Eaſtern confines of Devonſhire pre⸗ ſents itſelf. Now, a rich Vale view, of the Bradnich quarter of the Vale of Exeter, is ſpread under the eye. Deſcend, by a long ſroen ſteep, to TIVvERTON. REMAERKS. The eleyation of this paſſage is very great, for a well-ſoiled cultivated Diſtrict. The higher lands are nearly equal in ele- vation to the Exmore hills; yet The climature is forwarder than that of the North coaſt, whoſe lands lie lower: the harveſt, here, is entirely finiſhed. The furface billowy, in the ſtricteſt ſenſe: no regular ridge and valley. The river and brooks ſeem to wind among the hills. The 9² DULVERTON Tro TIVERTON. The ſoil, in general, is rich and pro- ductive, as that of Vale Diſtricts; except the very fummits of a few of the higheſt hills. The ſubſoil, of the beſt lands, is invariably a flatey rubble; the under ſtratum, a looſé rock, broken into checkers or long-cube pieces, of fizes according to the depth at which they lie; enlarging in ſize as the epth encreaſes; until the rock becomes cloſe and firm. The ſubſtance of this rock, whether entire or broken, appears to be the ſame as that of Slate, but wanting its lami- nated texture. ——„ NORTH DEVONSHIRE. 93 FURTHER CGENERAL REMARERSEB 9 N VORTH DEVOVSHIRE*. TIIE Inhabitants, throughout, appear to be civilized and intelligent; the lower claſs differing much, in theſe reſpects, from thoſe of the mining country. Their fuel— wood and Welch coals. Their employments— huſbandry, and the worſted manufactory. The Farmers appear to be of the middle and lower claſſes: moſtly, plain, decent- looking, working Huſbandmen, of twenty to fifty or a hundred pounds a year. I ſaw few, if any, which appeared to be of the ſuperior order of Farmers. The woodlands are moſtly in a ſtate of coppice.—Some timber; but not much large * For former Remarks, ſee page 77. — 44 94 GENERAI, REMARKS. large Ship timber obſerved; except be- tween Okehampton and Torrington. The Orchard grounds of this Diſtrict appear to be inconſiderable, compared with thoſe of the other Diſtricts of Devonſhire. No Rabbit Warren fell under the eye; indeed the lands, paſſed through, are in general too good for that applieation. To Apiaries, however, the goodneſs of the lands cannot be an objection; yet 1 obſerved few, if any Bees, in this large tract of country. The ſtate of Huſbandry, from this cur- ſory view of it, appears to be ſuperior to that of South Devonfhire; and on a par with that of the kingdom at large. In the management of Liveſtock, eſpecially Hor- ſes, Cattle, and Swine, North Devonſhire, it is probable, has, for ſome length of time, paid more than ordinary attention. DIS- *— 5——— 1 ——————— D1STRICI THE FIEIII. THE VALE OF EXETER. HlE information I obtained, reſpecting this highly favored Diſtrict, and its Rural Practices, aroſe in TRAVELLING repeatedly through its central parts, in dif- ferent directions; in examining, at different times, the FNVIRONS Of EXETER, TIVER- ToN, and HoNxiToN; and in going over that part of the DRARE EsTAaTE, which lies within its limits. The Weſtern parts of the Diſtrict, the neighbourhood of CREDIToON, is the only part which has not engaged more or leſs of my attention. As the materials, which I occaſionally gathered, lie ſcattered in my Journals, I will 96 DLSTRIGC f. will here collect them into the Regiſter form; as being beſt calculated to give a comprehenſive idea of this intereſting paſ- ſage of country, which deſerves à more minute examination, than I have been able to beſtow upon it. However, from what will here appear, we ſhall find it reſemble ſo much the other parts of Devonſhire, which Bave been more cloſely examined, that a minute detail is the leſs requiſite. — 8—— S————— —— NN— VALE OF ENETER. 97 A GEVERAL LVIEIEU O F T III1 8 DISIRIG1. I. ITUATION. This natural Diſtrict is more accurately defined, than any other Divifion of the WEsT oF ENGLAND. It accompanies the Exe and its eſtuary, from the ſea to the Tiverton hills, juſt deſcribed, which form its Northern boundary. This boundary is continued, towards the Eaſt, by Black Down, to the Heights of Honiton; the South-Eaſt quarter being contracted, by a range of barren high lands, between the Otter and the Exe. The Weſt ſide of the eſtuary of the Exe is, in like manner, contracted, by Hall Down, and a continu- ation of the ſame range of Heights, to the North of Exeter; where the Vale ſpreads VoL. II. 5 Weſt- ——2——=— 98 DISIRICL I. Weſtward, to the neighbourhood of Cre- diton. The Northern extreme of Dart- more, or the unprodutive lands in its vicinity, with the range of hills firſt men- tioned, define its more Weſtern boundary. II. EXTENT. The irregularity of the outline, of this Vale Diſtrict, renders it dificult to calculate ite contents, with exactneſs. If I were to riſk a random eſtimate, it would be, that, including its marginal banks, and ſome unproductive hillocks which riſe- in its area, it contains about two hundred ſquare niles of ſurface. III. ELEVAIION. This is by faf the leaſt elevated extent of furface, in De- vonfhire. It may be termed a Vale Diſ- trick; eſpecially the central and more Southerly parts of it. It is overlooked by lands of much greater elevation, on almoſt every ſide. IV. SURFACE. There are two modes of examining and judging of the ſurface of a Country, like that which is now under notice. Its more prominent features, and greater VALE OF ENETEK. 99 Sreater variations, are beſt obſerved from the eminences which overlook it: its ſmaller inequalities, by travelling acroſs it. I have had abundant opportunities of examining the Vale of Exeter, in both theſe ways. From Black Down, and other Eminences of the Eaſtern Confines,— from the Halldown Hills, on the oppoſite ſide,— from the Tiverton Hills on the North,— and moſt eſpecially from an inſulated Hil- lock, ſome mile or two to the North of Exeter(from whence almoſt every ſquare mile of its ſurface is commanded), I have ſeen its greater variations; and, by travel- ling between Honiton and Exeter; Honi- ton and Nutwell, on the Eaſtern banks of the eſtuary, below Topfham; between Nutwell and Exeter, by different roads; and between Exeter and Bradnich, Col- lumpton,&c. to Taunton; I have had opportunities of obſerving its minor ine- qualities. On the whole, it may be ſaid of this Diſtrict, that although it partakes more of the character of a Vale, than any other part of the County, it is barely entitled to that H 2 diſ- —————.— —— 2 2 4——— ———— ͦ————[O[— 100 DISITRIGI. diſtinction. Between Tiverton and Exeter, it is beſet with prominences of conſiderable magnitude, obliterating, in ſome points of view, the Vale character; and between Exeter and Collumpton, much billowy ſur- face intervenes: nevertheleſs, round Ot- tery, the Clyſts, and along the Eaſtern bank of the eſtuary towards Exmouth, and in the environs of Exeter,—we find much true Vale country: deep rich ſoil, lying with a ſurface, ſufficiently elevated, and ſufficiently varied, to admit of mixed culti- vation; with a portion of low flat lands, adapted to the production of herbage only. Vv. CLIMATURE. The frequency of rain, which renders Weſt Devonſhire un- comfortable to live in, and, in a wet ſeaſon, ungenial to Agriculture, is much leſs ex- perienced in the Vale of Exeter. The paſſing vapours that are ſufficiently buoyant, to elude the attractive powers of the more Weſterlymountains, travel undiſturbed over this paflage of depreſſed ſurface; whoſe climature appears, by the opportunities I have had of obſerving it, whether in the Spring, VALE OE ENXETLER. 101 Spring, or in the Harveſt months, to be forwarder, than that of any other part of the WEsST OF ENGLAND, which has par- ticularly engaged my attention. The winters of this, as well as of the more Weſtern Diſtricts, are mild, compared with thoſe of the central and Northern parts of the Ifland. In the neighbourhood of Exeter, Graſs may be ſaid to grow freely, through the winter months; at leaſt, in moderate winters. VI. WATERS. The Ex, and its fine ESTUARY below Topfham, are its chief waters. But two principal branches of the Exe, divaricating Eaſt and Weſt, and a portion of the OrTER, with their nume- rous branchlets, water the interior of the Vale. At Tiverton, the Exe has barely acquired the River character. And even at Exeter, it ranks low among the Rivers of the Ifland. VII. SOIL. This varies exceedingly, and ſhows the Diſtrict, it covers, to be formed with fragments of various origin. H 3 This 102 DPISITRIC. This diverſity and intermixture of ſoils will beſt appear, in detaibs as they fell under my obſervation. HoxlToN Tro ExETER. The ſoil va- rious: much deep ſtrong good land. Part brown; part ſtrongly tins with red. The firſt red ſoil obſerved, in entering the Weſt of England. ENVIRONS OF EXPTER. The ſoil round the Town is a rediſh, deep loam, of an extraordinary quality. To the North of the Town, it varies in productiveneſs, with the fubſtrata. Where the rock does not riſe too néear the ſurface, it is productive to the Hunmats of the higher ſwells. On the D South, between Exeter and Topſham, a riſing ground, of ſome extent, exhibits arable Snd. af the firſt quality: Wheat, Beans, and Flax, luxuriating on ſome parts of it; other portions of it, being of a lighter weaker quality. M luch of the red ſoil, in the neighbourhood of Exeter, is of a ſtrong, argilaceous, binding quality; and, as ſuch, differs eſſentially from the ordinary ſiliceous ſoil of the County. N— P TXETER VALE OEEXEITE R. 1⁰3 EXETER TO NUTWELI(by Heavytree and Bifhop's Clyſt). The ſoil and ſubſoil inclined to red, intermixed with a fmall quantity of gravel; the whole hardening, in ſome places, into a fort of pudding ſtone; which is uſed for ordinary buildings. ENVvIRONS OF NUTWELL+. The ſoil various: ſome ſtrong good red land; much dark, pebbly loam, of a tolerable quality; ſome light ſandy ſoil; and other ſtill poorer, black, and moorlike. At the feet, and ing on the ſides of the marginal ſwells, above Woodbury, a cold weak woodland EXxETER TOwAaRDs TAUNTON. The hills, in general, light turnep and Barley land. In the intervening paſſages of Vale, a ſtrong red loam is prevalent;— good wheat and bean fſoil. About Bradnich, a rich valley of graſsland. ENVIRONS Of TIVvERTON. The foil, in general, red, and much of it of a ſuperior quality: towards Maiden Down, through H 4 Hal- * The reſidence of the late SIR FRANCIS DRAKE, now of LoRpb HEATHFIELD, 104 PISTRIGII. Halberton, three or four miles from Tiver= ton, is a paſſage of red-ſoiled rich Vale country. VIII. SUBSOIL. It might be thought ſuperfluous to detail the remarks on this ſubject, which l made in different parts Of the Vale: let it therefore ſuffice to ſay, that the lands of the Vale of Exeter, as thoſe of other Diſtricts, are characterized by their reſpective ſubſtrata, rather than by their ſurface foils: that the ſtrong red ſoils cover ſtrata of clay or loam of the fame color: that the ſtrong brown ſoils are likewiſe incumbent on brick carth, of a kindred color; that the rich productive lands, round Exeter, towards Tiverton, and in various parts of the area of the Vale, have a peculiar kind of carthy gravel for their baſis; and in ſome places, as on the banks of the Exe, a cleaner gravel is ob- ſervable. On the Weſt ſide of the Vale, ſome of the higher lands have a ſort of ſlate rock riſing to the ſoil. But the pre- vailing ſubſoil of the high grounds, which riſe in the area of the Vale, is a red ſand. And VALE OF EXETER. 105 And in an inſtance, between Tiverton and Maiden Down, a variegated ſubſtratum is ſeen; compoſed of thin layers of red and white loam and ſand; reſembling what is obſervable in Gloceſterſhire, and under the red lands of Nottinghamſhire. Theſe cir- cumſtances plainly fhow, that the Vale of Exeter has been formed from various ma- terials, and of courſe exhibits a variety of lands. GCGENERAI REMARK. This intermixture of lands is ſeen, in an intereſting point of view, from the inſu- lated hillock, already mentioned, in the neighbourhood of Exeter(Stoke Hill I think it is called). The deep rich Vale lands are thickly ſet with Hedgerow Elms, pruned up to poles, and riſing in cloſe order, as we ſee them in the Vales of Gloceſterfhire, and on the rich deep lands in the neighbourhood of the Metropolis! Has this ſpecies of pro- duce, and this peculiarity of practice, riſen ſpon- — ——„4 ·—⸗:-—— 106 DISTRELCL. ſpontaneouſly out oef the nature of the lands? or has the tree, and the method of treating it, been imported from the Con- tinent, eſtabliſned on the banks of the Thames, and from thence tranſplanted to thoſe of the Severn and the Exe? IX. On the POLITICAL DIVISIONS of this Diſtrict, I find few remarks; except what relates to the ſizes of TowNSHIPS;O which appear to be fmaller, than what I have obſerved in the other parts of Devon- fhire: a circumſtantial evidence, this, among others that will preſently be adduced, that the fertile Vale under notice was early cultivated, and thereby acquired an early population. X. PUBLIC WORKS. The only IN- AND NAVIGATION, Which this Diſtrict t preſent enjoys, is that of the Eſtuary of 3 Exe, to Topſham; with an artificial! Navigation, from thence to Exeter. And, perhaps, the only CaNAL. that could be proſecuted with profit, to the County at large, would be one from Exeter, by Cre- diton, VALE OFR ENET E R. 107 diton, to Okehampton, there to join the one propoſed, between Biddeford and Ply- mouth*. And even this 1 fuggeſt with diffidence, from my not haviny ſufficiently traced the ground, in detail. The Fa 1s, in every reſpect, what could be wiſhed. If this triple Canal fhould be executed, Devonſhire might, with good reaſon on her ſide, boaſt of her acquired, as well as of her natural advantages. Poſſeſſed of ſuch a public work, ſhe would ſtand unrivalled in facility of internal transfer: there would ſcarcely be a farm in the County, ſituated at more than one day's journey of a team from water carriage;— an accommodation, whether in bringing in manures, or carry- ing off produce, which no other County, I believe, can claim; and which, in a Country where wheel carriages are, in ſome caſes, difficult to uſe, would be an advantage to the LANDED IN TEREST, ſcarcely to be calculated. The Roaps of the Vale are moſt re- markable for their cloſeneſs; narrow lanes, beſet with mounds, and overhung with trees. * See Page 39. —=— ———O——rrg— 108 DISTRICGCI. trees. This charge, however, does not lie, znvariably. The more public Roads are, in general, well formed and well kept: the barrel gently convex, and the materials (moſtly ſtone— ſome gravel), properly re- duced. The STATEOF INCLOSURE is the ſame, here, as in the other Diſtricts of the County. The appropriated lands are univerfally in- cloſed: a few rough ſummits of hills, ap- parently commonable lands, remain open. This State of Incloſure is probably of long ſtanding; and, from the ſmallneſs of the fields, obſervable in many parts of the Vale; eſpecially round Exeter and on the Eaſtern banks of the Eſtuary, it is reaſonable to ſuppoſe that thoſe parts, at leaſt, were early zncloſed. What ſerves to corrobo- rate this idea, the mounds of the hedges are lower here, than in the Ham Diſtricts; and are, in general, furniſhed with Timber Trecs. l. ThePRESENTPRODUCTIONS * of the Lands of the Vale are chiefly ARABLE CROPS and HERBAGE; with a profuſion VALE OIT EXETER. 109 3 profuſion of HEDOEwOODS; and ſome 3 ORCHARD GROUNPDS; but with very little woOPLANp, in the area of the Vale; not even in the more hilly parts of it. 3 Nevertheleſs, the Diſtrict, Iunderſtand, does not ſupply itſelf fully with grain; 3 at leaſt, not with wEAT; which is im- ported, occaſionally; and chiefly, I believe, 1 from the Iſle of Wight. But the Country is populous. The Serge Manufactory em- ploys many hands throughout the Diſtrict, d and finally concenters at Exeter. Vet, of 1 DAIRVY PRODUCE, the Vale is enabled to t ſend ſome ſupply to the Metropolis. e 6 XII. Of the preſent 9TATE OP L. SOCIETV, in this Diſtrict, I am prepared 5 to ſay but little. es The Towäs, in general, are populous, 5; cheerful, reſpectably built, and finely fitu- e- ated. The ſituation of Tiverton is ſingu- larly fine. The couNTRYHABITATIONsS are ge- N naerally mean in their appearance, from the ſy nature of the materials of which they are 14 almoſt univerſally conſtructed; namely, on red 8———— ———————— 110 HST RICI. red earth and thatch. The neatneſs of the latter, however, is ſuch as to render this ſpecies of covering more tolerable and leſs improvident, here, than it is in countries where ſtraw is beaten to pieces with the flail, and laid on with leſs dexterity, than is the“ reed' of the Weſt of England. Earthen walls, rough caſt, and covered with a reed roof, form a neat and com- fortable habitation. The EMPLOYMENTS Of the Inhabitants are thoſe of. Nuſbandry, and the ſame 9) J, branch of the Woolen Manufadl ure which * 1 4 OCS prevails throughout the County: 8151 ER EMPLOYMENTS, which ought to pre- vail, more or leſs, in every Diſtrict of the Ifland. XIII. Of the BACE of this falr COUNTRV it were impoſſible to ſay too many fine things. But, as its goodly fea- tures might loſe much of their force in my own deſcription, I1 will briefly ſet it down at what its baßhy Inhabitants believe and aſſert it to be--““ the richeſt fineſt Country in the world.“ II 1 — — —— 5 d — VALE OF EXETER. 111 T H E KRURAL ECONOMV O F 44 X, NAAAr 3 △ MANAGEMENT OF ES HE only particulars which iiu forcibly, relative to this fubject, 1. Laying out Farm Lands. II. Farm Buildings. III. Hedgerows. I. DISTRIBUTION OF FARM LANDS. Thefe ncccis not better evidence of the firſt Laying out of Lands, in this Diſtrict, being different from that of South Devonfhire, than the ſmallneſs of Fields, and the intermixture of Farm Lands, ob- ₰9 ſervable in the Vale: at leaſt in that part of — — 2 re——— „—————————— ———————— 112 MaANAGEMENT OF ESTATES. of it which I had the beſt opportunity of examining; namely, the Eaſtern banks of the Eſtuary; which, in theſe particulars, might vie with Eaſt Norfolk. 1 Whether this intermixture of ſmall fields has ariſen from the lands being diſtributed, ori ginally, among[mall hand-labor huſband- men, or from their having been once in a ſtate of common arable fields, as in other parts of the Kingdom, and have been kept in that intermixed ſtate, by the nature of life-leaſe-hold, is a point which, probably, might now be difficult to aſcertain. Where theſe lands ſtill remain under life-leaſe-hold, it is diffcult to do away the evil; but, where they are free from that tenure, the impropriety of ſaffering them to remain in ſo unprofitable a ſtate, reſts with the Proprietors and Managers of Eſtates. II. Of the FARM BUILDINGS of the Vale, little is required to be faid. They are, in general, without plan, and meanly built: earth and ſtraw being the chief matérials. Even the farm yard fences are VALE OF EXETRR.12 J ate of“ cobb:“ in ſome inſtances raiſed ten or more feet high, with folding doors, widée enough to admit laden pack horſes . and with ſheds, perhaps, on the inſide: thus forming comfortable ſtraw yards, at a moderate expence. The favorite material of theſe walls ap- pears to be the ſtrong red loam mixed with gravel, which has been mentioned, and which acquires, in drying, a ſtonelike hard- nels.*„ If kept dry, it will ſtand for ever. This material of building(earth of various ſorts under the general name of cobb) has been uſed, here, time immemorial. Barns and dwelling houſes, of almoſt every fize, are built with it. The walls from fourteen inch to two feet thick; the flues of chimneys being carried up with the gables, as in building with ſtones or bricks. III. IIEDeEROWS. In chis reſpect, too, the incloſures of the rich deep lands of the Vale refemble the wood-bound Pightles of Eaſt Norfolk. NOL. II.— The —— — — 114 MaANAGEMENT OF ESTATES. The Elms of the Hedges have been already noticed. Oak Pollards, and, in ſome parts, Oak Timber Trees, ſtand thick on the Hedge banks, or grow out of their ſides, or at their baſes; with Coppice wood riſing between them, as in Kent, and other Diſtricts. I mention this circumſtance the rather, as it forms one of the few diſtinctions, which mark this Eaſtern Diſtrict, from Nor h and South Devonhire*. wOODLANDsS. ON this ſubject, nothing of importanee ſtruck me, except what relates to the MANAGEMEN Tor HEDGE WOODS. The Corpich woop is treated, as in Weſt Devonfhire; the Oak ſtubwood being peeled on the ſtem. And * It is in a manner necdleſs to remark, that the GATE- WAYS Of Devonfhire are adapted to Horſe- and- Crooks Pt* rather than to Wheel Carriages. Even where the latter are in partial uſe, ſeven or eight feet is the uſual width. Gark posTs, within the reach of Dartmore, ate cor- monly of Moorſtone. VAIL. I OFE ENRERTE R. 115 And in the Management of HæpGEROW TIMBER, the only particular, which is noticeable, is that of lopping, not only Elms, but Oaks, to bare ſtems! a practice which is not common to Hedgerows, only; but which I have ſeen extended, in this Diſtrict, ſfor the firſt time, to Grove Timber! Oak Woods!! A practice ſo deſtructive of private pro- perty, and publio benefit, can only have ariſen in a ſcarcity of fuel, or in the rapine of tenants, and the neglect of thoſe who ſhould reſtrain them. Indecd, I would hope that the practice is not univerſal; at leaſt with reſpect to Wood Timber; but is confined to the eſtate which I more par- ticularly examined. The practice of pruning off the fide boughs af Hedgerow Elms is a venial crime; provided it be not deferred too long from the laſt cutting. In the more valuable applications of the Elm, knottineſs of texture is a deſirable quality. But in moſt, or all, the uſes to which the Oak is applied, a cleanneſs of grain is its beſt recommendation. 1*2 AGRICLILTURE. 116 A GRILCULT UR Py. AGRICULTURE. I. FARMS. From the ſize of Farmeries, and the appearance of PaRkRMERsS, this Diſtrict reſembles the reſt of the County, in the s12 E of its Farms. II. BEASTS OF LABOR. In this reſpect, too, the Vale of Exeter is truly Danmonian. OXEN are uſed in plowing; PaAck HORSEs in carriages of every kind; even to the gates, and within the ſtreets of Exeter. I have ſeen, in its immediate Henvirons, dung ſetting about with“ horfe and potts* In this inſtance, three horſes, with a man to fill and two boys to drive, formed the ſett. The diſtance fifty to a hundred yards. The diſpatch far from inconfiderable. III. IMPLEMENTS * See Vol. I. P. 122. 7 VALFE OQOEEXEITER. 117 III. IMPILEMENTS. Still we find ourſelves within the limits of Danmonia. The PLow, here, is more truly heraldic, even than in Weſt Devonſhire. The body longer, and the beam ſhorter: the end of the beam merely ſhooting before the point of the ſhare! IV. PLAN OF MANAGEMENT. In the ARkAEBLE CRoOPps of the Vale, we find a deviation from thoſe of the more Weſtern Diſtricts:— ariſing, no doubt, from an alteration in the quality of the ſoil. On the ſtrong cold lands, in the area of the Vale, Peans are a common crop; and, on the richer deeper foil, Flax is not unuſually grown. Aud, perhaps, in this part of the County, a greater proportion of Cows are kept for the BUTTER DaIRV. But, in other reſpects, I have detected no obvious marks, in the outlines of Management, which diſtinguiſſ this from the more Weſtern Diſtricts of Devonfhire. V. MANURE. The ſame roof ſhaped heaps of LIME GœMPOST, that are common 12 in 118 AGRICUI TURE. in South Devonihire, are obſervable in thie Vale of Exeter. The upper parts of the PPper P Vale are fupplied with Lime, from the borders of Somerfetfhire: the central and are ſupplied, by water, with ſtones, which are burnt at Exeter, an ad on the banks of the Eſtuary, after the manner of Weſt! Ihave ſeen no traces of th Devonfhire. e SHEEP FOLD in this or any other part of the County. VvI. WHEAT is here grown on hafrOW ridges, genera ally running diagonally acroſs the ſlope, as in Welt Devonfhire,&c. VII. All the BEAN CROPS, that 1 obſerved, broad caſt manner. were raiſed in the random or VIII. TURNEPS. The HoING of Turneps is coming into practice, in the Vale. clean good crops. I obſerved, in different parts of it, Ix. GRASSLAND. On the Manage- ment of Grafsland, nothing ſtriking, or remarkable, —õ——ͤ VALEOFEXERTER. 119 remarkable, occurred to me, in this Diſtrict; except an inſtance or two of ſmall parcels, which lie in a rough, unproductive ſtate; apparently for want of being properly freed from ſuperfluous moiſture. X. ORCHARDS. Many fmall Garden Orchards are ſcattered, in every part of the Vale. In the Environs of Tiverton, I obſerved ſome full ſized Orchard Grounds. And the Villages round Exeter are en- wooded, with Apple Trees; which are ſtill Danmonian: but, as the borders of Somer- ſetfhire are approached, the ſtems increaſe in length; as will be more particularly noticed, in the VYAE OP TAUNTON. XI. CATTLE. This being a Dairy, rather than a Breeding Diſtrict, a mixture of breeds may be expected. Nevertheleſs, in the more remote parts of the Vale, I have obſerved different inſtances of fine Cattle, of the pure North Devonſhire ſort. In the neighbourhood of Exeter, many Alderney, or ˙‧French Cows' are ſeen; 1 4 and n———— 126 4GREIGUETURI. and a mongrel ſort, betwen that and the 1 Devonſhire breed, are not uncommon. XII. The DAIRY. The produce of the Dairy, here, as in Weſt Devonſhire, is BUTTER and SKIM-MILK CHEESE. This ſpecies of Farin Produce has in- ereafed, of late ycars; the butter, even of this extreme part of the Ifland, being now ſent, in greater or leſs quantity, to the London Market. Nevertheleſs, the cLoUTINGOFCREAM, I underſtand, ſtill remains the prevalent practice of the Vale; in which, however, ſome RAW-CREAM DAIRIES' are already Kabliſhed:: and, as the practice of raiſing cream, or fuffering it to riſe, in the natural way, has gained poſſeſſion of the DAIRY pPISTRICT(which will preſently be de- ſeribed), on the Eaſtern banks of the Vale, there will be little riſque in predicting, that it will require no great length of time, to extend itfelf over the area. How long it will afterwards take it, to climb over the Weſtern banks, into South Devonſhire, is much more difficult to foreſee. * VALE OEFE EKNRE IL R. 121 XIII. What SWINE I have obſerved, in the Vale, are of the ſame tall white ſort, which appears to be common to the County. XIV. SHEEP. The Sheep which are KEFARED in the Vale, are chiefly, I believe, of the HoUðSE-LAMR BRERED. But the more ordinary ſtock of the ſmaller Farmers are bred on the Heights about Tiverton; and are the ſame variouſly headed race, which is common to all the high lands of Devonſhire and Cornwall. On the rich grazing lands, below Exeter, I have remarked a large polled breed; ſfimilar to that which has been noticed, about Totneſs. So commonly do Soils in- vite congenial Stock. HIS RNICT 11 1A SAH. AN O A! WEST DORSETSHIRE, INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. FIHE paſſage of country, to which I have given this appellative diſtinction, is at once NATrURAL and AGRICULTVU- RAL. Natural, as poſſeſſing a peculiarity, as well as a uniformity of ſtyle, in the formation of its ſurface;—— agricultural, as having the ſame leading object, in its plan of Rural Management. Nevertheleſs, Iwas led to an examination of it, by circumſtances more fortuitous, than thoſe which attended the ſurveys of ſome of — 4 7 4ℳ E forming this public Regiſter, 124 BrSTRIG T of the other Diſtricts, noticed in thele Volumeés. In my firſt journey, into the WEST OF ENGLANp, being ſtruck with the appear- ance of the country, about Bridpoft, I ſtopt a few days to examine it; and went over it, lome miles round, on eitlier fide: thus gaining a competent knowledge of the Eaſtern part of the Diftrict, and a general idea of its Rural practices. In paffing, re- peatedly, between Br e and Honiton, I have had opportunities of ſceing ſomething of the Center of the Diſtrict. travelling between Crewkern and Chard, And, in and afterwards taking a deliberate view oOf the Drake Eſtate, lying in the Valley of Yarcombe, I compafted the Northern margin, and ſaw much of its Weſtern ex- tremity: thus gaining a comprehenſive idea of the whole Diſtrich; except its South- Weſtern quarter. But, notwithſtanding the information I had collected, reſpecting the paſſage of eountry here brought forward, I might, in hare paſſed it, as an intermediate Diſtrict, had it not con- conſtituted a ſtriking part of that extraor- dinary tract, of which theſe Volumes have hitherto been treating, and of which I am deſirous to render my account as full as pofſible. In attempting to give a comprehenſive view of this Diviſion of the Weſt of Eng- land, I will briefly digeſt the particulars that ſtruck me, in the curſory views which I have had of it; and firſt of the 943A4 I I. SITUATION. Its boundaries are the lower flatter Vale lands of Dorſetſhire, and Somerſetſhire, on the North*. The Vale of Exeter, on the Weſt. The Chalk Hills * The indeterminate boundary, on the Somerſetfhirs ſide, may be caught from the following remarks, made between Crewkern and Chard. CREWKERRN tO CHaARD. Leave the Limeſtone lands, at Crewkern. Aſcend, by a fandy hollow way, a furze grown Com- mon, with a gravelly ſubſoil. Alcend 125 PIS IERIG P. Hills of Dorfetfhire, on the Eaſt. And the Sea, on the South, II. The EXTENT is about twenty miles from Eaſt to Weſt; and twelve or nfteen, from North to South. III. It ELEVA IION is great. kt rifes abruptly from the Sea, by ſteep cliffs, in ſome parts of great height; the loweſt of the fwells are high upland; rifing, towards the Northern margin, to mountain heights. IV. 80UR Aſcend ſtill higher, a chalky hill; a fragment of the Dorſetſhire Downs. On the left, a Devonſhire Hollow, or« Trough,“ of fine graſsland. 2 Extenſive views over Somerſetſhire, towards Taunton. Paſs Hinton, Lord Poulett's. Travel on a high ridge of hill(White Down); very extenſive views, into Devonſhire, and Somerſetſhire. A charming green baſon, at the foot of the hill: large graſs incloſure; with a few hedgerow Elms. A wide range of Danmonian ſurface; hills and hollows, on a large ſcale, and ſpreading, without limits, towards Devonthire. The frſt Devenſpire bedgebans. — 1 1 Deſcend towards Chard. 1 WEST DORSETSHIRE, Kxc. 127 IV. SURFACE. By the formation of its ſurface, this Diſtrict is moſt ſtrongly marked; exhibiting the Danmonian ſtyle, in all its purity. Immediately upon the coaſt, the hills are many of them rotund, and fertile to their ſummits; but, farther from the Sea, they are moſtly flattened on the top, and comparatively infertile with the wide wind- ing vallies, which ſeem to worm their Way in among them; diſplayin gthe moſt broken and troubled ſurface. Sötill farther towards the Northern margin, eſpecially towards the Weſtern extreme, the ground breaks into more regular ridges and vallies; branching out, in the ordinary manner of mountain ſurfaces. The wider Vallies, that have fallen under my notice, are the Valley or Baſon of Bea- minſter; the Valley, or, as it 1s called, the Vale, of Marſhwood; the Valley of Var- combe*, and that of Upottery: each of them, *⁴ The VapLEV OF YARCOMBE. This Valley con- tains part of three Pariſhes, lying, I believe, in three Counties: 128 BDISTRIGCPT. them, except the laſt, containing ſeveral hundred acres of valuable land. V. CLIMATURE. In the lower lands of this Diſtrict, even in its more Northern vallies, the ſeaſons are early. In 179 1, Haymaking was at its height, in the neigh- bourhood of Bridport and Beaminfter, the beginning of July; and, in 1794, Raygraſs was ready to ſhoot into head, in the Valley of Yarcombe, the firſt of May. I fhould conceive it to be, on a par of years, ten days or a fortnight before Weſt Devonthire. VI. WATERS. Each Branch Valley of the Northern margin has its rivulet or brook; which, collecting, form the upper branch of the Otter, the Axe, and the Brook or River of Bridport: the Axe re- ceiving the principal part of the waters of che Diſtrict. VII. 80IL.8. Counties: namely, Memdbury, in Dorſetſhire; Whit- Manton, in Somerſetſnire: and Varcombe, in Devonſhire: — the laſt comprizing the principal part of its lands. WEST DORSETSHIRE, c. 129 VII. SO0ILS. Theſe vary, in different parts of the Diſtrict. In the Bridport quarter,—thie lowèr lands are moſtly of a ſuperior quality—deep rich loams— throw- ing out full crops of Wheat, Beans, Flax, and Hemp; and, in this part of the Diſ- trict, the ſides and even the ſummits of the fwells and hillocks are many of them well ſoiled; the beſt a limeſtone loam; others of a lighter ſandy nature. But, in the Valley of Yarcombe, and apparently in the neighbouring Vallies, much of the ſoil is a ſtrong red loam, lying on a cool baſis,— Wheat, Beans, and Oak, land. The ſoil of the higher hills, throughout this Diſtrict, is a fandy loam, intermixed with a fingular ſpecies of ſtone, a baſe kind of flint; a ſpecies of ſoil and accompani- ment, which are common to the higher leis fertile hills of Eaſt Devonſhire, and are extended to the Halldown Heights, on the Weſt ſide of the Vale of Exeter; and which, the flints at leaſt, are peculiar per- haps to this part of the Ifland:11 have not obſerved them in any other. Vox. II. K VIII. SUB. 130 PISTRIGEI VIII. SUBSOILS. Theſe are various, as the ſoils, the paſſage of country under notice reſembling the Vale of Exeter, in this reſpect. The cool red ſoils have a ſtrong clayey loam for their baſe; the rich lands in the environs of Bridport, have either a lighter loam, or a ſort of flinty gravel, beneath them: the hills are of ſand, intermixed with flints, with here and there a maſs of limeſtone. IX. FOSSILS. The moſt uſeful Foſſil production, that fell under my notice in this Diſtrict, is LIMESTONE; which is raiſed, not in the neighbourhood of Brid- port only, but more or leſs in other parts of it. Beſide being burnt into Lime, it is uſed as a walling material, as well as for paving Slabs, Drain Bridges, and Stiles; large Slabs of it being not unfrequently ſet onedge for this purpoſe. It is alſo uſed as a road material. It appears as a maſs of conglutinated ſhells; reſembling much, in general appearance, the Suſſex marble: a ſpecies of Limeſtone dug out of the ſtrong lands — —— —Oℳ—— ————— WEST DORSETSHIRE, Kc. 131 lands of the Wild of Suſſex; whereas, this is found on the dry ſummits of hills. On ſome of the Northern Heights, de- tached maſſes of CHALK are found— frag- ments, probably, of the neighbouring hills. White Down, between Chard and Crew- kerne, appears to be chiefly compoſed of Chalk; and isthe moſt Weſtern collection of that Foſſil, which I have obſerved; or which, probably, is found, in this Ifland. X. ROADS. The Roads, in the more recluſe Vallies, are nearly in a ſtate of Nature: the antient Horſe paths of the Foreſt ſtate: crooked, narrow, numerous, and full of floughs. XI. STATE OF INCLOSURE. The lower grounds are wholly incloſed; the hills, at preſent, are open; but they ſhow evident marks of their having been, here- tofore, in a ſtate of incloſure and cultivation! diſcovering ſtrong lines, which, on the wide Commons of Varcombe and the neigh- bouring Pariſhes, ſtill remain perfectly le- K 2 gible; 132 D1SIRICI. ₰ gible; and which are not yet obliterated, on the higher more barren ſummits, in the neighbourhood of Bridport. Tradition, in this Eaſtern Diſtrict, as well as in the Weſt of Devonſhire, ſpeaks of theſe open neglected lands, as having once pecn mWlalited. But this ingenious liſ- torian aſſigns different reaſons, for their being abandoned to the neglect, in which we now find them. On the Weſtern ſide of the County, we are told, it was owing to a decreaſed population. But, on the Eaſtern, to a widely differing circumſtance. Here, the hills were firſt inhabited; by reaſon of the Vallies being, in the early ſtages of ſociety in this Country, ſo full of Wolves, as to be rendered uninhabitable, bythe Human Species. In proceſs of time, however, the latter crept down the ſides of the hills; clearing off the wood, as they deſcended; until at length the Wolves were driven away, or deſtroyed; the Vallies taken poſſeſſion of; and the hills, in conſe- quence, given up, for a more fertile ſoil, and a more genial climature. This WEST DORSETSHIRE, c. 13 This marvellous tale of tradition, what- ever may have given riſe to it*, ſeems altogether unneceſſary, to explain the phe- nomenon under notice; as it may be ac- counted for in a more ſimple and reaſonable way; there being nothing different, in the preſent appearances of theſe Commons, from thoſe of the Commons of North De- vonfhire, that are actually, at this time, undergoing the very operations, which, in all human probability, moulded the faces of thoſe of Eaſt Devonſhire into their preſent form; and which, heretofore, left ſimilar veſtiges of incloſure and cultivation, on the ſurfaces of ſome of the commonable lands of Weſt Devonſhire †. The moſt ſtriking difference between the appearances obſervable on the Commons of Yarcombe, and on thoſe of Buckland, is, that the lines K 3 on * TRaADITIoOx, when it reaches not farther than a few generations, is entitled to every reſpect, and is fre- quently good authority. On perilous events, as of war or peſtilence, it is able to go much farther back, than it is reſpecting the ordinary and quiet operations of Agri- culture. † See Vol. I. P. 32. * ₰ ₰ 134 DISTRICT. on the former are much ſtronger; ſome of the ſtill mouldering hedge mounds having no appearance of being more than a century old; ſome of them, perhaps, are of more modern date: indeed, incroachments, of a ſimilar nature, are made at the preſent time. There can be little doubt, Jthink, of the truth of the poſition, that it was once the prevailing practice of Devonſhire, to CuL- TIVATE ITS COMMONABLE LANDS,; in a manner fimilar to what we have ſeen prac- tiſed, not only on public Commons, but in private Inclofures, at this time*. It is reaſonable to ſuppoſe, that, in early times, the ℳpes of the ſward or coarſer covering, were depended on, as manure: and that, afterwards, Lime was uſed, as an additional ſtimulus. And it may be allowable to conjecture, that, through the means of theſe two powerful ſtimulants,— without returning any part of the produce, thus extracted, to the ſoil,— it at length pecame ſo much exhauſted, as no longer to repay the expence of cultivation. What cor- „ See Vol. I. P. 149. Allo Vol. II. P. 48. — WEST DORSETSHIRE, Kc. 135 corroborates this idea is, that the only part in which I have obſerved the practice con- tinued, to the preſent day, is that in which Lime is moſt difficult to procure; and where it may not yet have been obtained in ſufficient quantity, to lower the lands to the laſt ſtage of exhauſtion. Having proceeded thus far, I muſt men- tion, here(though ſomewhat out of place), a circumſtance relating to the CoM MoN RIOGHTS Of Eaſt Devonſhire: Iſpeak more particularly of the Manor of Yarcombe; whoſe Commons belong excluſively to the Lord of the ſoil, and are ſtocked(without ſtint) by his own tenants, only. The “lands,“ as they are emphatically called, of other Freeholders, within the manor, have no right of Commonage! A cuſtom of manors which may have eluded my re- ſearches in other parts of the County. Should it be ſaid, that this circumſtance favors the ſtory of the Wolyes, for that theſe lands were private property of their reſpective Lords, and were thrown up for the uſe of their own tenants only, I will not gainſay it. I have, perhaps, already done 4 more ——————,—— —— ͤ 3 1—— —“— —— 136 DISTRIGT. more than my duty; and I leave it to the Antiquary, whoſe bent leads him to topo- graphical enquiries, to determine the point. Therefore, returning to what more im- mediately relates to the ſubject matter of this Regiſter, I will finally obſerve, that, whatever may have been the circumſtances which led to the incloſure of the Vallies under notice, they were made from the unreclaimed foreſt ſtate; without the in- tervention of common fields* or ſtinted paſtures; judging, I mean, from their preſent appearances; which reſemble thoſe of the Incloſures of Kent, Hereford- ſhire, and other Diſtricts; which have been, undoubtedly, incloſed from a ſtate of unre- claimed woodland. The hedgerows are crooked, and furniſhed with timber; and the banks raiſed, in imitation of thoſe of Pevonſhire; but are much lower than the alto- * It is to be obſerved, however, that, to the Eaſt of Bridport, I ſaw ſome faint traces of common arable fields: but in the area or the Weſtern parts of the Diſtrict, I obſerved no appearances of that ſort. —————————— WEST DORSETSHIRE, c, 137 2 altogether artificial mounds of the more Weſtern part ofthe County. XII. The PRESENTPRODUCTIONS of the Soils of this Diſtrict are woop (chiefly of Hedgerows,--not much de- tached Woodland),—-AKABLE CROPs, FRUIT TREES, and GRASS;— the laſt being the moſt prevalent produce of the incloſed lands. The Hills are overgrown with DwARF FURZE, HEATH, and COARSE HERBAGE; a few oOf the more barren parts of them being occupied chiefly by heath. XIII. The TOWNsS of this Diſtrict are BRIDPORT on the Eaſt, AXMINSTER near the center, HoN-i ToN on the Weſt, CREWKERNE and CHaRp on the North, with different Sea Ports on the South. XIV. VILLAGES. In this particular, the Diſtrict under view is ſtrictly Dan- monian: the Villages, that have fallen under my eye, are inconſiderable; the farm houſes and cottages being happily ſcattereg over the areas of the Townfhips: a cir- cumſtance 2—— 135 DISTRICr. cumſtance more or leſs obſervable, perhaps, in every part of the kingdom, where in- cloſures have been made from a ſtate of Woodland, or of Paſturage: cloſe arrange- ments of houſes, in the form of Villages, being moſt obſervable, in Common-Field Diſtricts*, XV. HABITATIONS. The BuILD- ING MATERIALS, here, are various. Stones of different forts are in uſe; but earthen walls are, nevertheleſs, prevalent; and, on the whole, the habitations of this Eaſtern Diſtrict are much inferior to thoſe of Weſt Devonſhire; which far excels the reſt of the County, in this particular. XVI. The PRESENTAPPEARANCE of the Face of this Country may be con- ceived, * The LAVYING OUT OF TowsHIPs, and their PRESENT STATE OF INCLOSURE, are ſubjects ſo very intereſting to a mind employed in Agricultural Reſearches, that no apology can be wanting for the Remarks that are interſperſed in theſe Volumes, reſpecting them; as no other Department of the Iſland furniſhes ſo many ſtriking facts, relating to theſe ſubjects, as the WEsr or ENGLAND. WEST DORSETSHIRE, Rc. 139 ceived, from what has been ſaid, reſpecting jts Surface, its Productions, its State of Incloſure, and the Diſtribution and Style of its Habitations. Viewed from ſome elevated points, where the barren or infertile ſummits of the hills only are ſeen, it has all the appearance of a Mountain Diſtrict. But, in travelling through it, and ſtill more in penetrating its recluſer parts, the moſt ſtriking tranfitions are produced, and compofitions the moſt picturable are caught. It is obſervable, however, that the pre- vailing characteriſtic of the views of this paſſage of Country is Beauty, rather than pictureſque Effect; differing much, in this reſpect, from the wilder ſcenery of the Weſt of Devonſhire. In Circles of Views, this paſſage of Country abounds. The Summit of the Knoll, the Brink of the Sea Cliff, on the Weſt ſide of the Harbor of Bridport, is an intereſting point; commanding Land and Sea Views of the firſt caſt. On Beaminſter Down, one of the broadeſt and richeſt circles of ſcenery, this Iſland affords, is ſeen 140 PISTRTGC. ſeen with every advantage. In variety, extent, and richneſs, conſidered jointly, 1 know nothing that equals it. To the Eaſt, the ſoft dillaury ſfurface of the Chalk Hills of Dorſetfhire, even to their farther ex- treme. To the Weſt, the more rugged mountain ſummits of Devonſhire, with Dartmore(I believe) riſing in the fartheſt diſtance. To the North, the rich Vales 8 erelhgitle⸗ backed by the Quantoc ad Mendip Hills, with a portion of the Brila Channel breaking in between them. To the South, the ſingularly broken and beautiful ſurface, in the Environs of Brid- port; the varied ſummits of the hills giving feature and additional effect to the Bay of Bridport; ſpreading its ample ſurface im- mediately under the eye; its Weſtern Coaſt being finely broken and varied, by ragged promontories, and bold cliſts; and its Paſtern terminated, by the Ifle of Port- land; with mackrel ſkiffs playing on the furface of the Bay, and with veſſels of burden plowing their way acroſs it., . THE — 4A GRILCUI, TIURE O F r HIS DISTRICF. 7 leading Object, in viewing it, eſpecially its Weſtern quarter, being that of catching OBVIOUS IMPROVEMENTS, in the MANAGEMENT OF AN FPSTATE, rather than to regiſter the minutiæ of its AGRICULTURE, Jam the lefs prepared to enter into a detail of its practices. I fhall therefore confine my remarks to a few general heads.— I. FARMS. The diſtinguiſhing cha- racter of Farms, in the interior of the Diſtrict, is Graſsland. There are many which have very little, if any, arable land; being ſtrictly pAlRv PARMsS. In ——————————— 242 AGRICGCUI IT UR E. In s1zE, the Farms of this Eaſtern Diſtrict are conformable to thoſe of the reſt of the County; being moſtly of the lower claſs. But, here, it is not uncommon for one man to hold two or three diſtinct Farms: ſtocking them with cows, and letting them out to dairymen: a practice however which admits not of commend- ation; and which will be renoticed. II. FARMERS. Even in the moſt recluſe part of the Diſtrict, Imet with ſome intelligent men. And although the ruſt of prejudice may not yet be ſufficiently worn away, the late memorable change, in the management of the dairy, ſhows de- monſtrably, that the ſpirit of improvement 18 awake, and augurs much for the benefit of the Country. III. BEASTS OF LABOR. In the interior of the Diſtrict, OxEN are in uſe; but, in the Eaſtern quarter CAͤRT HoRsEs prevail. IV. IMPLEMENTS. —————— —QOè O——————ÿõ—,— ——— WEST DORSETSHIRE, Kcc. 143 IV. IMPLEMENTS. The only thing that ſtruck me, as excellent or peculiar, in the conſtruction of the F arming Utenſils of this Diſtrict, relates to the VokE; whoſe draft iron, or ſtaple, is inſerted, not perpen- dicularly, as it uſually is; but diagonally, entering the lower angle of the hind part of the Yoke, ſhooting upward and forward to the oppofite angle; Wwhere it is keyed, in the uſual manner. This prevents the bend of the bow from bearing too hard againſt the throat of the Ox, and is theoretically good. How it operates, in other reſpects, in practice, I had not an opportunity of obſerving. V. PLAN OF MANAGEMENr. In the general outline of practice, obſervable in the more Weſtern parts of this Diſtrict, we find little which ſpecifically differs from that ofthe County at large. The oßjEoTs are nearly the ſame, and the means uſed in obtaining them fimilar. The difference lies chiefly with the proportional quantity of each ſpecies of produce. In Eaſt, as in Weſt Devonſhire, the objects are permanent graſs, 144 4AGRICUL, T URF. V graſs, arable crops, and temporafy leys ¹ part of the grafs, in both Diſtricts, being applied to dairy cows, for butter and ſkim cheeſe. But the proportion of Graſsland, and the proportional number of cows, is much greater here, than in the Weſtern parts of the County. Of the lower grounds n 1 of the Valley of Varcombe, four fifths, per- haps, are in a ſtate of graſs, permanent or temporary; and this is chiefly depaſtured by cows; the number of working cattle 7 being few, and the ſheep and young cattle g fe chielly confined to the hills, and upper grounds 1 The- ARABLE CROPS oOf the interior of 6 che Diſtrict are chiefly Wbeat, and Oats; no Beans! and but little Barloy. The suocohssioN is fimilar to that of Welſt Devonfhire: ley ground, partially fallowed for Whn with one or two crops 1 of oats; gral ſs ſeéeds being ſown with the laſt crop. Some take dats, wheat, Oats, agrecably to the practice of the Midland Diſtrict; whoſe ſoil and fubſoil are very ſimilar In —— — WEST DORSETSHHIRE, Rc. 145 In the more Eaſtern parts of the Diſtrict, there are ſhades of difference obſervable in the Plan of Management: which, probably, partakes more or leſs of that of the Vales of Dorſetfhire, and the rich low lands of Somerſetfhire, from which this part of the Diitrict, now under view, is ſeparated by a narrow ridge of hill, only. But what marks the Rural Management of the Environs of Bridport moſt evidently, is the culture of bemp and ſlax,—to ſupply the conſumption of a MaAaNUFACTORY Of SAILCLOTH and coRDAGE(from the cable ofa manof war, to the fineſt packing thread), which has long been carried on, there: giving employment to the female villagers of the neighbourhood; and, of courſè, operating as a mutual benefit to Agriculture and Commerce. A mutual good, however, which can only fubſiſt, in a rich-foiled Diſtrict. VI. MANURES. LIM is more or leſs in uſe, throughout the Diſtrict: being burnt, from ſtone found within it, with Welch culm; at leaſt in the Bridport quarter. Vol. II. L Formerly, 146 AGRICUL I U R E. Formerly, much“ MARL“ has been uſed, in the valley of YVarcombe; which exhibits „marl pits'“ of conſiderable capacity, and old enough to have produced Oaks of con- ſiderable ſize; perfectly reſembling the „marl pits,“ and the“ marl' of the Mid- land Counties: namely, a red clayey loam, without the leaſt proportion of calcareous matter in its compoſition! and, What is noticeable, the marl of this Diſtrict, as that of the Midland Counties, is now giving way to lime: the change, if one may judge from general appearances, having taken place about the ſame period of time! In the Pridport quarter, I obſerved the SHEEPFOLD, in more than one inſtance; agreeably to the Dorſetſhire practice. VII. GRASSLAND. Notwithſtanding this may be confidered as the main object of the Diſtrict under view, I obſerved nothing praiſeworthy in its Management. In the Valley of Varcombe, where the ſoil is tenacious, and the ſubſoil retentive, the Graſslands, whether permanent or tempo- rary, are injured by ſuperfluous moiſture: all —————— WEST DORSETSHIRE, Kc. 147 an injury which is not ſo much owing to a want of draining, fubterraneoufly, as from their lying too flat, to ſhoot off, with pro- per effect, the ſuperficial waters. The natural conſequence is, much of the ſurface is over-run with aquatic weeds and the coarſer graſſes, when it ought to be occu- pied by nutritious and more profitable herbage. It is to be obſerved, that the Spring wATERS of this Diſtrict are of an ame- liorative quality, and that they are here, as in Weſt Devonſhire, partially, and inac- curately, led over the Graſslands. VIII. ORCHARDS are common, in every part of the Diſtrict. I bring them forward, here, merely to ſay of them, what may be readily conceived, that, with reſpect to the ſtature of the trees, and the order in which they are arranged, they form a mean between the Orchards of Devonſhire and thoſe of Somerſetſhire. The ſtems are, here, ſomewhat taller, than in Weſt Devon- ſhire, but are confiderably fhort of the Engliſh ſtandard. And, in the cloſeneſs L 2 of 143 A GRICUILAT UIR F. of arrangement, they ſtill more reſemble the Devonfhire Orchard. I ſpeak more particularly of thoſe of the Valley of Varcomb*. 1 INX. LIIE DAIRY. This has been, time immemorial, a Dairy Diſtrict. For- merly, its produce was cHEEsSE, made from the neat milk; probably of the Somerſet- ſhire kind, ſold under the name of Bridge- water Cheeſe; ſome of which I have met with of a very ſuperior quality. The Valley of Varcombe was noted for its pro- duce, which was known in the Vale of Exeter, by the name of Membury Cheeſe. Indeed, its foil and herbage are ſuch, as never fail to produce fine Cheeſe, if properly manufactured. It is naturally a Cheeſe Diſtrict. Nevertheleſs, of late years, its produce has been changed to BUTTER, for the London * In approaching theſe Hills, from the Eaſtward, the Orchards of Chard were the firſt that ſtruck me, as par- taking of the Devonfhire Orchard. The ſtems fhorter than thoſe of Dorſetfhire and Somerſetfhire; but tall enough for young Cattle to paſture beneath the Treecs. ——— WEST DORSETSHIRE, c. 149 London market; to which it is ſent in tubs, as from the North of England: a change which has been brought about, by the powerful influence of the London prices, Compared with thoſe of the Country. The sIz ES OF PAIRIES, judging from what fell under my own obſervation, riſe to thirty or forty Cows, I ſaw one of near forty. The BREED GOF Cows, employed in theſe Dairies, is that of the WESTOF ENGI- ARND namely, the well formed, clean, middle. horned breed, which is common to the Counties of Somerſet, Devon, and Corn- wall. In the neighbourhood of Bridport, I ſaw a tolerably good Dairy of Cows, of a mixed breed; apparently a croſs between the middle and the long horned breeds. Formerly, the Cows uſed in theſe Dairies Were chiefly RFARED, in the Country; but, of late years, Butter has borne 10 pro- fitable a price, as to induce the Farmers to forego the rearing, and to PURCHASE their Cows: a practice which, if it ſhould con- tinue, will ſoon introduceę a mixture of ſtock. L 3 Of —— 150 AGRIGUI. T U R E. Of the DAIRY MANAGEMENT, of the Diſtrict under view, I can fay little: 1 collected nothing on the minutia of practice worth regiſtering. Its preſent practice can ſcarcely be ſaid to be, as yet, eſtabliſbed. It was not, therefore, an object; even had I had leiſure to attend to it. Io regiſter the minutiæ ofthe Dairy Management, ſo as to render the detail intelligible and uſeful, is. a tedious an nd irkſome taſk; and requires, not only time, but a ſpeciss of oppor tunity, which did not occur to me, in this Diſtrict. Many of theſe Dairies are LET tODAIRY- MEN, at a certain rent for each Cow; the Farmer keeping up the ſtock, and ſupplying them with paſturage and winter food; and finding a dwelling as well as a dairy houfe, for the renter. It is common for opulent men to hold a plurality of farms, and to let them out to baes ei kemams, in this Way: practice which is injurious to an eſtate; as tendins to let down d the buildings and the fences of farms, thus occupied by under tenants; who have not ſo permanent an intereſt, in keeping t them up, as a leſſee, on firſt tenant, vr makes the place his reſidence, — WEST DORSETSHIRE, c. 151 reſidence, and expects to occupy the pre- miſes for a length of time; and who is himſelf liable for dilapidations. X. SHEEP. Iobſerved, inthe Bridport quarter, ſome fine flocks of DoRSETSHIRE EwEs: kept as breeding flocks; fimilar to thoſe of the Vale of Exeter, and Weſt Devonſhire, which have been already ſpoken of. The Sheep of the higher hills are of the ſame mountain ſort, which oc- cupy the other hills of Devonfhire and Cornwall, 1.4 SoME SOM H IN T S I M PROVEMENT 9 F 7 1 1 1 A1 0 7. T has been mentioned, that my chief intention, in going over it, eſpecially its Northweſtern quarter, was that of en- deavoring to point out the probable means of its Improvement. And although my examinations, and the reſult of them, were moſtly of a private nature; ſome of the Remarks, they gave riſe to, may, never- theleſs, bear the public eye, and may be more or leſs uſeful, to thoſe who have pro- perty in the Diſtrict, and who are deſirous to improve its condition. Nor may the ſuggeſtions, here thrown out, be altogether inapplicable to other Diſtricts. The WEST DORSETSHIRE, c. 1531 The few ſubjects of Improvement which J can bring forward, here, with propriety, aré, I. The HILLS, or COMMONABLE LANDS. Something has been already ſaid reſpecting the PRESENT STATE oOf theſe lands; ſo far as relates to their ſoil, and the marks of cultivation which appeac on their ſurfaces. The SsolLEs, however, are various in quality. Some of theſe hills are covered with a loamy ſoil, of ſufficient depth and texture to admit of profitable cultivation*: while others are nearly deſtitute of mold. The latter, very fortunately, is by far the ſmaller proportion. The PRESENTPRODUCF has been men- tioned, as being furze, heath, and the coarſer graſſes: interſperſed, however, with patches of ſward. The * At the head of the Valley of Varcombe, cultivation and permanent Incloſures climb up the ſide—there a gentle ſlope hanging to the North— and ſpread over the top of the hill. And ſome of the ſoil of the Common appears to be of a quality, ſimilar to that of the cultivated In- cloſures. 154 PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS. The PRESENT STOCK is an inferior kin of Sheep; and young Cattle. The MEANS OF IMPROVEMENT appear, to me, to he thoſe which I have ſuggeſted, abowe, fDr the improvement of DaR T- MoRE The fr ſtep is to ſeparate the cuiturable 3 from the unculturable lands;—to cut off the ſteep ragged brows of the hills, for PELANTINGC. And the next, to incloſe V the flatted tops of the hills, for cpELTI- vATION; or for open SiEEE waLk, oOr — REABBIT WARREN; aiesahh to the ſoil ace, and con nably with the Pro- CROUNDS, VALLEY LANPS, OT BOT ToMs,“ as they are called, are capable, V none ſtrikes the eye more ieihiy, than b that of its HEDGEROW TIMBER; which 18, at preſent, in a ſtate of ne Rjirct. The practice of lopping Oak Timber —— WEST DORSETSHIRE, Re. 1535 Timber Trees, ſo fhamefully prevalent in the Vale of Exeter, is extended, in ſome degree at leaſt, to this Diſtrict. The ſoil of theſe Valley lands is peculiarly ſuitable for the growth of Oak Timber; and, on the broad hedge banks, which interſect them, Ship Timber of the firſt qualit might be raiſed, in great abundance, with little i injury to the Occupiers of the lands, compared with the advantages which would therefrom accrue to the Proprietors and the Public. Vet we ſee theſe valuable nurſeries, in many parts deſtitute, or very deficient, with reſpect to this ineſtimable article of produce: owing, principally or wholly, to neglect, or a want of ſkill, in the Management of Eſtates. The CoPPloE woob of theſe Hedgerews being reaped by the Tenants, they have an intereſt in deſtroying, and preventing the growth, of TIMBER TREBES: a circumſtance whicl calls for double diligence, on the part ol thoſe who have the ſuperintendance of Eſtates. There is, evidently, ſufficient room, in the wide Hedgerows of theſe lands, to grow an abundan of fuel, for the 156 PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS. the Tenants, and a valuable ſupply of Timber, for the Landlord, and the Public. The means of Improvement are evident. Take down the trees, that are irrecoverably maimed, or which are ſtunted, or fully grown, and number thoſe, which are proper to be left ſtanding. Train up the young ſtands, or timberlings, ſo as to give them length of ſtem; not more to improve them as Timber Trees, than to prevent their doing unneceſſary injury to the crops on either ſide, and to the Coppiee wood, which thall hereafter riſe beneath them. And ſet out, in vacant ſpaces, at every fall of Cop- pice wood, ſuch promiſing ſhoots, as ſeldom tail to riſe among Coppice wood, growing on a ſoil ſo favorable to the Oak, as that of the Valley Lands which are now under çonfideration. The laſt is a bufineſs which requires particular circumſpection. It cannot, for obvious reaſons, be left to a Tenant or his workmen, with ſafety; at leaſt not to Fenants in general. The only way, in which it can be done with a certainty of ſuccefs, is to ſend round an experienced and WEST DORSETSHIRE, Rcc. 157 and faithful Woodman, previoufly to the cutting ſeaſon, to ſet out, and diſtinguiſh with paint, or other conſpicuous and per- manent mark, the plants which are proper to be left for ſtandards. In this Diſtrict,—where the ordinary Woods are uſually cut out, in winter, leaving the Oak ſtanding, until the barking ſeaſon agreeably tothe Danmonian Practice,-there would ſcem to be a favorable time for marking the ſtandards, between theſe operations. But when it is conſidered, that the ſeedling plants, which ought always to be choſen where a choice Olcrs itſelf, are frequently of inferior ſize to the ſapling ſhoots from the ſtubs, and generally too inconfiderable to be left for peeling, ſuch interval of time is too late. We may, therefore, without heſitation or hazard, give it in opinion, that every OAKLAND Es- TATE, having wide woody Hedgerovys, ſhould have an eſtabliſhed regulation, re- quiring its tenants to give due notice of their intentions, previouſly to the Hufkins of their Hedgewoods; in order that the proper plants, they contain, may be marked for 153 PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS. for ſtandards; they being allowed a full compenſation for the wood thus marked, as well as for the attention and care which may be requiſite, in preſerving them from injury: giving due encouragement to the tenants, who encourage the growth of Timber upon their reſpective farms— and treating with neglect, thoſe who are neg- ligent of its preſervation. For Remarks on Training Hedgerow Timber, and its Effects on Arable Crops, ſee PLANTING and RURAL ORNAMENT, Vol. I. Pages 56 and 96. III. PLAN OE FARM MANAGE- MENT. Some alteration, in the arable department of Management, ſeems to be wanted. The temporary leys are moſtly foul, weak, and thin of herbage; owing, doubtleſs, to the practice of taking two or three grain crops, in ſucceſſion, and laying the land down in a ſtate of exhauſtion, as well as foul, and out of tilth. Perhaps taking a crop of beans, in rows well cleaned, between the wheat and the oat crop, might be found doubly beneficial; as introducing —— ͤ—OO——O—OO,—ñCO—BBꝛ—᷑õ/pꝑ— — —ÿ—ÿ—ÿ——˖B—˖—————— WEST DORSETSHIRE, c. 159 a ſpecies of produce, new to the ſoil; and ſerving to prepare it for the reception of the graſs ſeeds, by a fallow crop. In caſes where the ſoil is very foul, a whole year's fallow is, of courſe, requiſite. IV. In the MANACGEMENIT of the SOIL, two or three Improvements are ob- vious. Much VNDERDRAINING is wanted; not only in the meadows or lower lands; but on the riſing grounds and hangs of the hills. Stones are plentiful; and ſod drains might be found to anfwer on the ſtronger lands. Another Improvement, which preſents itſelf, in the Management of the Soil, relates to the method of IAVING IT DOWN To GRASSs. In Weſt Devonſhire, where the ſubſoil is abſorbent, and the ſoil friable ahd firm, it is perfectly right to lay it down, as flat and ſmooth as pofſible. But, here, where the ſoil is tenacious, and the fubſoil retentive, and much of it kept in continual ſurcharge, by the waters pent up beneath it, the prao- tice is in a degree abſurd. Nevertheleſs, thie 2—— 5— —“—[-d.— —„“ 60 PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTB. the practice of theſe two diſtant Diſtricts⸗ with reſpect to the depoſiting, or forming the ſurface of their ſoils, with the plow, to receive the given crops, is preciſely the ſame. For wheat, the foil is gathered up into narrow ridges; and is laid flat, for every other crop. The Improvement which ſtrikes me, as proper to be propoſed for this Diſtrict, is that of keeping the land in ridges, of half a ſtatute rod in width, for every crop; Of of preſerving the preſent narrower ridges for wheat, and throwing two of them together, for beans, oats, and ley herbage: being ever mindful to form the ſurfaces of the ridges gently convex, to ſhoot off the ſuperfluous rain water which falls on them; with deep narrow interfurrows, to receive the water; and with croſs trenches, to convey it away, to the neighbouring ditches and common ſhores: a principle of Management, which is applicable to all cool retentive foils, in the Iſland. V. MANURES. In a remote fituation, like that which is now more particularly under —— WEST DORSETSHIRE, Kc. 161 under notice, every experiment and expe- dient ſhould be uſed, to meliorate the con- dition of its lands, and to make up for the loſs, they annually ſuſtain, by the produce carried off, without any foreign ſupply or return for ſuch exhauſtion. Lime appears to be the only extraneous, or factitious Manure, at preſent in uſe: a Manure whoſe operation is generally weak, on cool, co- heſive lands. Inthe RuRAl. EooNoMv of YoRKSHIRE, I ventured to ſuggeſt, as a probable means of meliorating ſtrong coheſive ſoils, the burning of their ſurfaces;— not more for the aſhes, as a Manure, than for the cinders, or BURNT CLavy, which ſuch a proceſs neceſſarily produces, as a means of improvin g the contexture of ſuch coheſive ſoils*. And I have lately been informed, that the burning of the clay of drains, and ſpreading it over the ſtrong coheſive lands of Somer- ſetihire, is now practiſed, with great advan- tage. Theſe ſimple and cheap operations are, at leaſt, ſubjects of experiment, in every Diſtrict, whoſe lands are of a cloſe retentive nature. Vo. II. M The * See YORk. Ecoy. Vol. I. Page 212. 8 313 Bttttttlittg== — — —iœꝑ— 162 ROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS. The lands, now immediately under con- ſideration, have another probable means of Improvement within their reach; and which can rarely be commanded, by lands of a fimilar nature. I mean the BLACkK MOORY EARTH oOf the heaths, which in- cloſe and overlook them. There is doubt- leſs much earth of this kind, which lies at preſent uſeleſs on the hills, and which can- not, there, be turned to ſo uſeful a purpoſe, as, in much probability, it may, in the Vallies: applying it, either in a ſimply digeſted ſtate;— or in compoſt with lime; or in the ſtate of coal, or of aſhes;— as a ſhort courſe of experiments, attentively con- ducted, could not fail to determine. DIS. H1 ACI 14, f V77. 1 I1 E vALEF OF TAUNTON, AND1 13 ENVIR O N S: TOGETHER WITH CURSORY REMARKS IN A JOURNEVY THROVGH 0 M E ASE S HIA. IN September 1791, on my way from △ Weſt Devonſhire to Suſſex, I ſtopt ſome days at TAuNTON; to look round its fine Environs; and to get a general view of the Natural Characters, and ſome inſight into the Rural Management, of this celebrated Paſſage of Country. I, then, not only M 2 examined 5————— 8 8 ————— 4 164 PISTRIG P. examined the Area of the VALE, on either ſide, but aſcended the QuANToc and the BLACKDOwN HILLS, which over look it; and went into one of the SEDGEMoORES, which mark Somerſetſhire ſo diſcriminately, from the reſt of the Iſland, I have, ſince, had repeated occaſions to travel through the Vale: and, in the autumn of 1794, on leaving Devonſhire, I renewed my attention; continuing my Remarks THROUGH THE CoUNTV, in the line be- tween T'iverton and the Devizes. In making out this ſketch, I find it moſt convenient to myſelf, and J believe it will be found moſt advantageous to the Reader, as being moſt perſpicuous, to keep theſe Paſſages diſtinct: treating of the Vale, as the main fubject; and joining the reſt, as appendices. 1 * 4 4 T H E VALE OF TAUNTON. IIE siITUATION of this fertile Vale or Diſtrict, is in the Weſtern Quarter of Somerſetfhire. Its NATuURAL BOUNDARIES are, on the North, the Quantoc Hills, which ſeparate it from the Vale of Bridgewater: on the South, the Blackdown Hills, which ſever it, in a ſimi- lar manner, from the Vale of Exeter:— and, on the Weſt, the Skirts of Exmore and the broken hilly Diſtrict of the Coaſt. On the Eaſt, it is leſs accurately defined;— the riſing grounds of Curry, and the exten- ſive marſh of South Sedgemore, may be confſidered as its natural boundary. Its EXTENT is fmall. It is barely entitled to the diſtinction which is here given it, and which it not uncommonly bears; though, in natural characters, its M 3 dimenſions —————— 166 DISTRIG1. dimenſions apart, it is, in the ſtrict ſenſe, a Vale Diſtrist. One hundred fquare miles, I apprehend, would contain the whole of zts more valuable lands, The ELEVATION of its Area, above the ſea's ſurface, is, even at preſent, incon- ſiderable; yet is ſufficient to keep it dry and healthy. Nor does any part of it, except its lower extreme, appear to have ever been liable to the tide, or collected floods: it contains none of ſuch level marfhes, or“moors,“ as are ſcattered in the central and Southern parts of Somerſetſhire. In SURFACE, as has been intimated, this Diſtrict takes the Vale character. Its area is diverfified with riſing grounds, and interſperſed with low meadowy lands. The banks, on either fide, riſe to a great height. On the South fide, the foot of Blackdown ſhelves ſinoothly, though ſome- what ſteeply, into the Vale; but, on the North, the Quantoc Hills riſe abruptly, and with a more broken and ſtrongly fea- tured front. From Cotherſton Lodge, which crowns a prominent knoll, that juts out from theſe hills, the entire ſurface of the VAL E OF TAUNTON. 167 the Vale is commanded. It is cloſed, to the Weſt, by a crowd of hillocks,— in tu- mult wild aſſembled: a genuine paſſage of that fingular ſpecies of ſurface, which is common to the Weſtern extreme of the Ifland; and which may be ſaid to termi- nate, or rather to commence, here- The CLIMATURE of this Vale might be prejudged, from its fituation. The bafes of high extended hills are generally cool; and backward, with reſpect to ſeaſons:—eſpecially if they face the North; and ſtill more eſpecially, if the ſubſtrata are of a coheſfive retentive nature; as are thoſe of the South fide of the Vale of Taunton. In the ſecond week of Sep- tember 1791, mueh barley was ſtill un- harveſted, and ſome uncut. The 8OILS of this, as of many other contracted Vale Diſtricts, vary in quality, with the hills which form them. Much öf the North fide of the Vale of Taunton is a deep rich ſand—a carrot ſoil: while the oppoſite ſide is chiefly the ſame ſtrong red loam, which we have found in the Valley of Varcombe, and in the Vale of Exeter; M 4 an . 155 HISIRICI. and alſo, in ſmall plots, in the South Hams, and in North Devonſhire. The SUBSOILS are ſtill more various- In the area of the Vale, a Gravel is ſeen: under the rich red ſands of Biſhop's Ly- diard, a concrete fubſtance of the ſame color, and of various degrees of hardneſs, prevails. This concretion, in ſome places, takes the nature of rock; which, on being expoſed to the air, acquires a great degree of hardneſs, and is uſed as a building mate- rial. Under the ſtrong red ſoils, of the oppoſite ſide of the Vale, a deep loam, of a ſimilar nature, is found: and, under this, fubſtrata of white ſandy ſubſtance, harden- ing in ſome inſtances into a kind of ſtone, is ſeen interlayered with red loam; an accompaniment, perhaps, which is common to all the ſtrong red lands of the Iſland. The RIVER of the Vale is the ToNER, or TAUN,— which is rendered NAVI- GABLE to Taunton. The freightage is chiefly, Welch CoALs, for fuel, and CuLM, for burning Lime. The chief PRODUCTION of this fer- tile Diiſtrict is, at preſent, CoRN. There 18 VAL E OF FTAUNTON. 159 is very little GRAss obſervable; unleſs near the Towns; and by the ſides of the Tone, and its branches. And, even from the commanding point of Cotherſton, not more than two or three ſinall plots of wWoODLAND are ſeen, in the area of the Vale. The HEDGERoOw’S, however, are full of wood; and, when viewed from the oppoſite banks, a greater degree of woodineſs appears. The whole is in a STATE OF IN- CLOSURE; with PIELDsS of various form and ſize. FENCES. In the Vale of Taunton, we trace, by broken ſteps, the decline and termination of the DANMONIAN FENCE. In the more Weſtern and central parts of the area of the Vale, the prevailing Fence reſembles that of the Valley of YVarcombe, and the lower grounds of the Vale of Exeter: namely, a low broad bank, loaded with coppice wood, and hedgerow timber trees: the former moſtly Oak; the latter Elms, fhorn of their boughs, as in the ordinary practice of the kingdom. But, in paſſing down the Vale, the HAw- THORN 170 DIS-TRIC7 THORNHEDGE begins, by degrees, to miss with the coppice mounds, and, before the Eaſtern extremity is reached, becomes the prevailing Fenceè. Inthe MANAGEMENT OFFARMs, the Vale of Taunton differs, in ſome re- ſpects, from the DaNMoNlaN HUs- BaNpRY; eſpecially in the outline or PLAN OF MANAGEMFNT. I is properly an ARABLEDISTRICT: the TEMPORARY LEy, which is common to Devonſhire, ſcarcely appears to extend into this Vale. In the ſecond week of September, half the Diſtrict, as ſeen from the hills, was PLowED GROUND, or TURNEPSI the reft appeare t0 be PERMANENTGRAss, with the Lrde 5 then unharveſted, and STuBBLES unbroken up. Nevertheleſs, in MiNUTIAL PRACTI= CEs, partieularly in the management of Lime, the burning of Beat, and the ſowing of Wheat, che Vale purfues the Devonfhire method. The CROPS are Mbeat, Barloy, Oals, and Beans, the laſt more eſpecially, on the Ktronger lands of the South ſide of the Vale-. DRCBH ARDS. — X VALE OF TAUNTO N. 171 ORCHARDS. The height of Orchard trees, as of Hedges, undergoes a change in this Diſtrict. In travelling, between Exe- ter and Taunton, the ſtem of the Apple tree is ſeen to lengthen towards Somerſetfhire; but not in uniform progreffion: And, in paſſing from Tiverton, into the Vale, ſimilar appearances are ſeen. The firſt full-ſtemmed Engliſp Orchard was ob- ſerved, in the neighbourhood of Wel- lington.. But as this and other particulars, relating to the remarkable tranſition,— obſervable in Rural Practices, on leaving the Weſtern Peninſula, or extreme part of the Iſland,— will appear in the following JoURNAL, it is unneceſſary to enter farther, in this place, on the particular management of the Vale of Taunton. THE 272 PISTRIGI. 1 H E S.UANTOC HIA Lé S. TIHESE form a narrow- range of Moun- tain Heights, which riſe near the junction of the Parret and the Tone, below Taun- ton, and lead, in a Northweſt direction, towards the Coaſt of the Iriſh ſea, or Briſtol Channel; dividing the low fertile lands of the Vale of Taunton, from thoſe of the Vale of Bridgewater. Their ELEvATION, with reſpect to the adjoining lands, is confiderable; though their poſitive height, above the tide, is not great. They are, however, too high, and too mountainlike, in their general aſpect, to be merely deemed upland; yet not of ſufficient importance to be ſtyled mountain. The sUuRFACE oOf theſe hills, or rather hain of hills, is greatly diverſified. They reſemble, in ſurface, ſoil, and preſent pro- duce, the hills of Faſt Devonfhire; and, like thoſe, have been heretofore cultivated (in whole or in part): the vallies or breaks, between THE QCCANTOC HILLS. 173 between them, being now in a ſtate of culti- vation. The soiL ofthe extended ſummit, to the Eaſt of Cotherſton Lodge, appears to be of a nature that would pay for cultivation; being now chiefly covered with graſs and the upland ſedges. But, to the Weſtward, the ſoil appears to be more barren, and much of the produce heath. There being evident traces of Limeſtone on theſe hills, their IMPROVEMENT, in much probability, might be rendered very profitable, to individuals. The inſulate ſituation of theſe Hills ren- ders them highly intereſting, to thoſe who admire the ample ſcenery of Nature. The Mendip Hills, and the principal part of Somerſetfhire which lies to the South of them; the Hills of Wiltſhire and Dorſet- ſhire; Beaminſter Down, with the other prominent Hills of Eaſt Devonſhire, ter- minating with Black Down; diſtant Hills, in Devonſhire; Exmore, and the Hillocks of the Coaſt; with the Briſtol Channel and its Holms, backed by the Welch Moun- tains; ſpread out wide to the view. THE 1 H E BLACR-DOIUN HILZLS. IT has been ſaid, that theſe Hills form the Southern bank of the Vale of Taunton, and ſeparate it from the Vale of Exeter; and, in like manner, they divide the Coun- ties of Somerſet and Devon, They are a continuation of the Axminſter Hills; form- ing their Northweſtern extremity. In ELEvATION, they exceed everything in their neighbourhood; equally overtop- ping the Quantoc and the Axminſter Hills. In ſurface, they reſemble the reſt of the mountain heights of this extreme of the Ifland; namely flat, or ſwelling; divided by wide open Dells, or ſhallower Dips; and partially ſevered, by deep rich Vallies or * Troughs'— as they are called—of culti- vated lands. The extreme point, to the Weſt, forms a bold Promontory; wearing: Oon PDISTRICGT. 6 THE BLACK-DOWN HILLS. 175 on its Northweſtern brow, a mountain appearance. The sorI of the ſummit is of an inferior quality; of a black moory nature: and ſtrewed with the ſfame baſe kind of Flints, that are obſervable on the other hills of Eaſt Devonfhire; and this without any traces of Chalk: an unufual circumſtance, worthy of the Naturaliſt's attention. The sTock of theſe mountain heights are young cattle of the Weſt of England breed, and moſt of them neat: with the ſame aukward, half-horned breed of Sheep, that are common to all the wild lands of this extremity of the Iſland. On the Northern hang,— about the mid- way,—of theſe hills, are quarries of LIME- SToxE, found in a ſingular ſtate. The quality of the Stone is evidently that of the Clayſtone of Gloceſterſhire, of Lei- ceſterſhire, and of the Vale of Belvoir; but inſtead of being depoſited in regular ſtrata, it is found in detached fragments, bedded, promiſcuouſſy, in pale-colored earth; fimilar to that with which it is interlayered, in the inſtances above men- tioned; 176 DISTRICN tioned;— as if the ſtrata of Stone had been broken to pieces, while the earthy matter was in a plaſtic ſtate, and the maſs had been blended, by ſome violent agitation. The color of the Stone is blue, internally, and white, towards the ſurface; and burns to a ſomewhat ſulphur-colored Lime; re- ſembling that of Barrow, in Leiceſter- ſhire*. FURTHRER REMARKS ON THE LIME= sSToNE OF WEST 8OMERSFTSHIRE. I afterwards examined the Limeworks and quarries of the Hills, which bound the Vale of Taunton to the Eaſt, and which are entirely detached from the Blackdown and Axminſter Hills. Here, the ſame Stone is found, in regular unbroken ſtrata; as they appear in the quarries of Gloceſterſhire, Leiceſterfhire, x&c. but with a very ſtriking difference re- ſpecting their fituation. In the places abovementioned, they are lodged beneath the ſurface Of low flat Vale lands; whereas, 11 THE BLACK-DOWN HILLS. 177 in the inſtance under notice, they break out of the face of a lofty and ſteep hill. Nevertheleſs, ſuch is the impervious and retentive quality of theſe ſtrata, that the land which lies over them, even in this elevated fituation, and cloſe upon the brink of a precipice, which probably has here- tofore been the waterworn cliff of an eſtuary or arm of the ſea, is cold and un- genial, as that which covers their watery bed, in the low- grounds of the Vale of Gloceſter. The ſurface, in many places, is occupied by Coltsfoot. A field, cloſe upon the brink of the cliff which overlooks the marſh, or Sedgemore, that will preſently be noticed, was under fallow for Wheat, at the time I was upon theſe Hills(in Sept. 1791); and, from the complection of the ſoil, it appeared to be barely worth the labor of cultivation. How much more depends on the quality of the ſubſtratum, than on that of the ſoil itſelf: the very ſoil, here under notice, if incumbent on an abſorbent ſubſoil, would be worth threc or four times its preſent value. VOr. II, N S0UTH 178 pISTEREGCT. 50UTIH SEDGEMORE. FPROMI the eminence juſt mentioned, I had a favorable opportunity of gaining a general view of this rich Level of marſh- lands. And, by riding a few miles within its area, paſſing through its herds and flocks, and converſing with thoſe who were attending to them,— I had a fimilar oppor- tunity of obtaining the particulars of in- formation, which a curſory view required. The natural boundaries of theſe marſhes are the Limeſtone Heights, abovemen- tioned, on the South and South-Eaſt; on the Weſt, the broken baſe of the Eaſtern extremity of the Quantoc Hills, and the narrowed moutb of the Vale of Taunton. On the North, the Parret and the Tone are confidered as the boundary of the Moor“ immediately under conſideration; their junction forming the extreme point to the North. But lands of a ſimilar naturé SOUTH SEDGEMORE. 179 nature are ſeen to ſtretch away beyond that point, to the North-Weſt. In the view from the hills, there appears to be an EXTENT of theſe lands ten or twelve miles in length, and ſome miles in width, under the eye. But the outline is extremely irregular. The ELEvATION oOftheſe lands(the part I examined at leaſt) is ſuch as to ſecure them, at preſent, from the tide; nor did I learn that land floods incommode them, in any conſiderable degree. 1* Their suRFACE is level as that of the water, which, with moral certainty, once occupied the ſpace they now fill. If we calculate on the rapid increaſe of earthy matter, at the mouths of rivers, whoſe waters are collected from rich arable lands; — and on the decreaſing depth of the Sca; which, though perhaps not equal to what ſome modern Writers conjecture, has probably been conſiderable, during the laſt millennium of time;— it is reaſonable to ſuppoſe, that ſince the firſt ſettlement of this Ifland, the Sea rolled its rapid tides within N 2 the 180 HIS8 T RILGCI. the area now under contemplation: and the rapidity of the tides, in the eſtuary of the Parret, as of the Severn, accounts more fully for the rapid increaſe of Jand; occa- ſioned by the ſilt forced up, by the“ Boar'“ or Eagre, which is common to the rivers of the Severn Sea †. The preſent name of the marfhes of Somerſetfhire, is a fufficient evidence, to prove, that, at the time it was aſſigned them, the reclaim was not compleated: that they were, at the time it was applied, 111 *x This ſtriking natural effect, I have repeatedly ob- ſerved, on the banks of the Severn, near Gloceſter; where, at certain times of the tide, and moſt eſpecially during a ſtrong Weſterly wind, a body of water, ſome few feet in depth, ruſhes impetuouſly up the Channel of the river; gliding, as it were, upon the deſcending waters; ruſhing out at the more abrupt bends, and dafhing its ſpray to a very great height, on every obſtruction; attended by ſounds, which may ſometimes be heard to a conſiderable diſtance. This effect is probably cauſed, by the form and ſituation of the Briſtol Channel; which receives the tide, from the Atlantic, by a wide opening, and contracts towards the muths of the rivers that are thus affected. The narrowing eſtuary of the Humber, produces a ſimilar effect. SOUTH SEDGEMORE. 181 in a ſtate of Fen; not in that of firm, dry Lærſblands, as we now find them. The sorL of this marſh is a red loam, of conſiderable ſtrength and tenacity; re- ſembling, with great eXactneſs, that of the Iſle of Alney, and the other marſh or meadow lands of the Severn*; except in the deeper tinge of red which the ſoil of South Sedgemore has received, from a greater mixture of colored water, which the red foils of the Vale of Taunton, and the North-Eaſtern baſe of the Blackdown hills, have furniſhed. The HERBAGE is ſingularly fine: appa- rently the Dogstail(Cynoſurus Crihlatus), Raygraſs, and White Clover; with, how- ever, ſome plots of thiſtles, on the drier parts, and ſtripes of ſilver weed( tentilla Anſerina) on the fides of the drains, and more ſwampy places. Hence, this extent of marſhes may be conſidered as land of the ürſt quality: fit for every purpoſe of permanent graſsland. N 3 The * For farther Remarks on the formation of Marſh and Meadow lands, ſee che RuRAI EoONOMY OI Gre- CESTERSHIRE, Vol. I. P. 170. 18² DISTRIC I. The sTrock which it bore, at the time I was over it, were Horſes, Cattle, Sheep, and Geeſe. Of the Horſés, I ſaw nothing which ſtruck me as requiring notice. The Catile conſiſted chiefly of young growing ſtock--moſtly two or three years old. With, however, many Cows; ſome of them apparently in milk, or recently thrown up. The condition of moſt of theſe Cattle was good; many of them were full of flieſn; though the graſs was ſhort, as that of Sheep and Geeſe Commons uſually is found. Aged Cattle, I under- ſtood, are brought forward on theſe com- monable lands, to be finiſhed with after- graſs. The Sbeep were chiefly or wholly of the horned breed; and had been put upon theſe lands, for the purpoſeof fatting. In a favorable year, it ſcems, they get tolerably fat. But much drought bakes thoſe clayey lands, and much rain renders them too wet for Sheep-. The myriads of Geeſe are incalculable. The whole are ſubjected to the operation of — o —;ʒ— ·—.——Q— N———Q—:QQ—Q———— SOUTH SEDGEMORE. 183 of pulling.“ They are now(13 Sep- tember) covered with down, only. The operation, I was informed, is repeated ſeveral times, in the courſe of the ſummer, and found very profitable. They are kept on the Moor,“ all winter. In long- continued froſt and ſnow, they are fed, and, generally, I was told, with Beans. REMARKS. FROM thisgurſory view, of theſe un- appropriated lands, they appear to be of ſome confiderable value, in their preſent commonable ſtate. But viewing them as being, naturally, grazing and mowing grounds of a fuperior quality; and ſceing the uncertainty of ſeaſons in this climate; there can be little doubt of their being capable of affording much greater profit, to individuals, and to the Community, in a ſtate of appropriation and divifion. The prompt objection to the alteration is that of giving a check to the rearing of Cattle; and, ſome will add, to the rearing N 4 of 184 DISTRIG T. of Geeſe. The laſt, however, is not an object of ſufhcient importance, either in RURAL, oOr PoLITICAL. ECoNoMv, to weigh, as an argument, on this ſubject;— though the feathers may be entitled to their full weight. And, with reſpect to the former, it may be ſaid, that it cannot be good policy to ſufter lands to lie in an under-productive ſtate; by way of forcing the propagation of any particular ſpecies of animals; tothe detriment of the aggregate produce of the Country. CURSORY ——— —⏑⏑::n2n—.ͤ— CURSORY REMARERS IN A JOURNEY THROUGR SOMERSETSHIRE. 1II VEB 1O N † 6 TAUNTON: (Twentyone Miles.) FRIDAVY, I9 SEPTEMBER, 1794. EAVE the charming environs of Ti- verton: the fineſt ſituation in Devon- ſhire; and one of the firſt in the Ifland. Meet many lime carts, from the works on the borders of Somerſetfhire. The lime moſtly in bags: ſome in bulk. Pack- * In continuation of that through NokTH DEVvo- SHIRE. I muſt again apologize for the nakedne; of theſe remarks, — — 136 TIVERTON 10 TAUNTON. Packhorſes laden with hay, in truſſes. A view of the rich environs of Bradnich opens: backed by the hills of Eaſt Devon- ſhire. Paſs through a rich plot of country, round Halberton(three miles). The ſub- ſoil red grouty g gravel; as near Hatherley. Some fields of fine turneps; beautifully clean. The road good: now mending, with Hlinty gravel, or broken flints. More good turneps;; near Sampford. A pariegated ſubſoil: red and white. Enter flat furzegrown commons, and leave the rich Diſtrict of Tiverton. The Blackdown hills, with mountain features, appear in front, and at hand. Meet more lime carts, and ſome wag- gons: the laſt of the Weſt of England con- itruction. Inſtance of mowing dwarf furze: a ſecond workman following, with a rake, to ſorm the ſwaths into faggots. Paſs a young plantation of ſoOfeft trees, of different ſpecies; put in among dwarf furze: the firſt inſtance of planting(ex- cepting SOMERSETSHIRE. 187 cepting the Scotch firs near Hatherley) ob- ſerved in this journey of near a hundred miles! Pits of red gravel, by the ſide of a good road. The ſubſoil—a ſeam of waterworn gra- vel, and rough pebbles. Leave the Vale of Exeter. Join the Exeter road(nine miles), and enter Maiden Down: a wide furzegrown common: the depreſſed ridge which ſepa- rates the Vales of Exeter and Taunton. A broad view of Somerſetſhire breaks upon the eye: the Vale of Taunton, backed by the Quantoc hills. Obſerve ſmall and very neat cattle, on the commons. A deep white ſandy ſubſtratum, and heavy ſandy roads. Some good oxen of the Somenſetſpire breed. Not ſo dlaan as the beſt of the North Devonſhire. More beautitfully clean turneps. Sandy road, and hollow way: the ſub- ſtratum red ſandy rock. 188 TIVERTON ro TAUNTON. A tall Engliſh orchard!(near Wel- lington) the ſtems five or ſix feet high. Inſtance of burning Beat, in the Devon- ſhire manner. Weſtcountry waggons prevail: no in- ſection. A fallow laid up, in ribs and trenches. Poor village huts. Six oxen ſtirring a fallow of ſtrong red land. Meet a ſtring of culm carts; on their way, from the Taunton Navigation, to the Limeworks. Some neat clean young cattle. Dip into a cloſe wood-bound flat: high hedges and hedgerow timber; as in Eaſt Norfolk. The hedgebanks lower; but ſtill wide, and partake of the Devonſhire coppice hedges. Devonfhire tools in uſe, here. The pointed ſhovel, common. Paſs ſeveral pieces of good clean. tur- neps. Hedge trees univerſally lopped. A few 8SOMERSETSHIRE. 189 A few fingle Hawthorn hedges begin to appear. Several inſtances of ſtubble turneps. Some thick polled ſheep. Lime compoſt, on headlands, as in De- vonſhire. Inſtance of bean ſtubble, or the arriſh'“ of ſome other pulſe, dunged for wheat. Some good Somerfetfhire oxen: dark blood red. Subſoil variegated: ſtreaks of red and white. Healthy, tallſtemed, Engliſh orchards. Leave the red land: the ſoil and ſubſoil, now, of a light brown color. Obſerve ſmall mountain ſheep; partially horned; as thoſe of Okehampton. Much hedgerow timber; moſtly Elm. A dairy of good cows. Charming road; with a hi gh broad foot- path. A London-like approach to TaAUNTON;— a large, well built, hand- ſome town: the tower of the Church of St. Mary is fingularly tall and baautiful. 1II 190 TIVERTON ro TAUNTON. TIE MARKET OF TAUNTON. THE Market Place of Taunton is one of the firſt in the Kingdom; whether as to ſize, neatneſs, or accommodations: a trian- gular inclofure, fitted up with ſtreets of covered ſtalls, for butchers meat, and fur- niſhed with ſpacious colonnades, for corn, poultry,&c. and one for cheeſe, bacon, and other articles,—ßwhich are ſold, rerail, by farmers' wives and daughters: an unuſual, but a very political way of bringing theſe articles, at once, to the conſumer; without the intervention of mere dealers. The Corn Market, here, as in Norfolk, is held in the afternoon; beginning about three o'clock. Much corn in the market, in narrow two bufhel bags; each ſeller having a tray, to fhoot part of a bag into, that its quality may be the better ſeen. Obſerved no ſamples; but underſtand that much is ſold through their medium*. TAUNTON chiefly made in 1791. * Theſe Remarks, on the Market of Taunton, Were ——— SOMERSETSHIRE. 191 T A N I O N T1 0 8 0 M ERIO N. (Eighteen Miles.) SATURDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER, 1794 THE Country, for the firſt two miles, is nearly flat: then ſomewhat ſwelling: a rich fine country. Hawthorn hedges common. 3 Many ſtubble turneps: ſome of them promiſing.. Much arable land: ſoil moſtly a ſtrong red loam. Many wheat ſtubbles turned under: an evidence of the forward ſtate of huſbandry. Arriſh mows common, in this part of Somerſetſhire.. Inſtance of an Ox cart, with the yoke hüung to the pole, by means of a wooden bow, inſtead of an iron ring. Doubtleſs the —— 4—— ———————— ———————————— —;—’’V’’’’,;— 192 TAUNTON r0 SOMERTON. the primitive method. Beautifully ſim ple 3 but liable to accidents. Mifletoe obſervable in thie ofchards! The plow of Somerſetfhire has a long but well turned moldboard; with a wreſt, ſtanding ſomewhat high: and with a lad- der-piece behind, which ſteadies a long, flender, right handle, fhooting forward to the beam. Leave a plot of vale land, to the right. The under ſtratum ap red earth, and a fort of w pears in ſeams of N aite ſtoney ſub- ance. Wheat ſtubbles in narrow ridges, as throughout Devonthire. Man, y fallows, for wheat, are feen. Act of Parliament hedges, againſt the roqad. The ffrſt, Brrnd. of San extent, from the Landsend. Still many he gerow Elnis. Inſtance of paring and burning. A large field orchard going to decay. Paſs ſome good young cattle. 90 A CA The pointed fhovel ſtill in uſe. Croſs a dip of cold weak land(five miies) A rainv ———— ͦo *——— SOMERSETSHIRE. 193 A rainy ſtormy morning. How con- venient is a carriage, and how productive of information! A tablet full of intereſting facts, in travelling five or ſix miles; not- withſtanding the unfavorableneſs of the morning. A traveller on horſeback could not look up: nor if anything met his eye, could he note it, with conveniency*. Ox carts(wains or coops) common. Inſtance of a young field orchard(at North Curry). The plants tall, and ſet out at good diſtances, in the beſt Here- fordſhire manner. A quarry of blue building ſtone. Many orchard grounds. A newly planted quickſet hedge. Many neat young cattle. The ſoil and ſubſoil ſtill red. Good limeſtone road †. VoE. II. O Aſcend * This remark applies to TRAVELLING. In exa- mining a particular Diſtrict or sTATIoN, RIDING ON HORSEBACK is preferable to a carriage; and wALEINO, infinitely preferable to either. † A ſingular method of breaking road materials, eſpe- cially the baſe flints, that have been repeatedly mentioned, 19 482 194 TAUNTON ro SOMERTON. Aſcend the limeſtone heights*. Cafts and waggons, at the lime kilns: no pack horſes. A good back view of the Vale of Taun- ton. A broad view of South Sedgemore,— covered with cattle, fheep, and geeſe; and, over it, a view of the Poldown and Men- dip hills. Some good horned lambs. Thin limeſtone land; and more lime kilns. A rich looking valley of land opens to the right. Inſtance of a field orchard, in a ſtate of arable culture, as in Herefordſhire. A Sedgemore, or Marſh, of ſome extent, is ſeen to the right. Swing plows univerſal. More field orchards. The hedges of the road cropped. A herd is obſervable in this Country: a one-handed hammer being uſed, by a workman ſitting: a method which, it is aſſerted, is more expeditious, than the ordinary one of uſing the fledge hammer. & G 3 See Page 176. 1 2 — ————ꝑ—òℳ——-———Q—;——— 8 OMERSETSHIRE. 198 A herd of tall thin white pigs.. Continue upon cold limeſtone heights- Paſs Burton Pynſent. A neat farmery, and large farm. Clèan fallows, 38 good clover. Farm hedges kept down to fence height. Four heavy horſes plowing broken ground. 3 Six oxen employed in the ſame ope- ration; with heavy long ſwing plows. A full hedgerow of apple trees; as about Bromyard in Herefordſhire. Paſs through Curry Rival. Strong cold land: wheat, beans, and clover. See large flocks of horned fheep; of a breed fimilar to that of Dorſetſhire and Eaſt Devonſhire. Leave the limeſtone heights, and deſcend towards Langport. A wide Vale Diſtrict opens to the right. A naked Chiltern Country, in front, and to the left. Six oxen at plow, and four at harrow: all in yoke: alſo two at plow, with two horſes before them; as in the South Hams 0 2 of . 4 ½ 3 4 1 ’ 1 1 . 196 TAUNTON ro SOMERTON. of Devonſhire; and as formerly in Vork- fhire. See Ham Hill, or Hamdown Hill; a broken promintent, ſtriking object. Flat-roofed hayricks, as in Cleveland. Croſs the Parret, at LAaNGPORT,— a mean market town. A Navigation and Coal Yard. Pantiles in uſe, as a covering. Enter a common field: the firſt from the Landsend. Foul bad huſbandry: couch and thiſtles- The ſubſoil limeſtone gravel; yet the land appears to be cold and weak. Flocks of ſheep now in theſe open fields- Another flat of marſhes appear to the right. Doꝛons. Large depreſſed ſwells of arable lands, with fhallow graſſy dips between them: part in open common fields,— part incloſed. A windmill appears: the firſt in this journey. Large flocks of fheep, in the open fields. A ſheep fold: the firſt. 4 An In front, a wide range of limeſtone 8O MERSETSHIRE. 197 M. An open naked Cambridgeſhire⸗like Country. Catch a diſtant view of the Dorſetſhire hills. Many good cart horſes, on the road. Large limeſtone flags—or coarſe marble b ſlabs— raiſed near the road. The plow team-— four horſes, at length. The tops of the ſwells are dry- ſtone to the ſurface: but the ſides appear cold and weak. Foul thiſtly common fields. A roughly broken paſſage, to the left. A large ſheep fold. Somerton appears in a broad flat; or M fhallow baſon; with rifing grounds on every ſide. A large field of rough old graſsland: apbropriated waſte. An ox waggon, partially loaded with 7 ſtraw, and thatched: doubtleſs, a harveſt waggon, thus ſet by for the next ſeaſon. t Enter SoMERToN,— another mean mar- ket town: the ſuburbs in ruins. 1 0 3 SOMERTON 5——————— — Q[—————— 198 8S0MERTON ANp 1Ts ENVIRONsS. 8O M E R T O N A ND LI S ENVIRON S. A DECAYING Place: the remains, probably, of a good Town: now, evidently, in neglect. The building materials limeſtone and thatch. The ſtones neatly formed, as in the Vale of Pickering. Below the Town, towards the Eaſt, the environs are beautifully broken. A valley of rich marſh land, overlooked by bold wooded knolls. Large good oxen, and good, horned wedders, now grazing in the marſhes. 8O M E N I O N + 0 S HIPTON MALLEFE T. (Fifteen Miles.) SATURDAVY, 20 SEPTEMBER, 1794. CROSS the meadowy valley, and wind among the rugged hillocks, which form its Northern bank. A flock ————— ——Vʒ—ʃ— ꝙ— 8.O MERSETSHIRK. 199 A flock of very neat, horned ewes:— in the beſt Dorfetſpire form. Aſcend a thin ſoiled limeſtone ſwell. The Valley re-opens, to the right. Pafs a dairy of indifferent cows. The ſoil encreafes in ſtrength. Small fields and hedgerow elms: evi- dences of deep well ſoiled land; but unuſual in elevated ſituations. The Country now more open; and a fine Valley is diſcloſed to the left. A remarkable line of road; on a well ſoiled ridge, with a rich Vale Diſtrict, on either hand: the Vallies of Somerton and Glaſtonbury. The conical hillock, near Glaſtonbury, ſurmounted by a tower, is a ſtriking ob- ject, in this point of view.. Strong wheat ſtubbles, on theſe uplands. A fallow for wheat, now folding. Marble quarries on either ſide of the road. Many men at work; and teams waiting. Moſtly raiſed in large flabs, ſix or eight inches thick, and ſeveral feet in dimenſions. Lie horizontally, and near the 0 4 ſurface 200 SOMERTON AND ITS ENVIRONS. ſurface of level ground. Men employed in poliſhing them. The color a blue grey. Village buildings of ſtone and pantile. Some orchards, on this cool ſoil. But the ſubſtratum is calcareous. The Valley or Vale of Glaſtonbury, backed by the Mendip Hills, ſpreads wide beneath the eye. Enter cold-ſoiled common fields(five miles). Beans a prevailing crop. The ſoil a cold crumbling clay; like that over the clayſtone of the Vale of Gloceſter. Reach the point of the cold-ſoiled ridge; and deſcend into the VYALE OF GLASTON- BURV X. Croſs the river Brent, at Lydford. A parcel of ill formed cows, moſtly black. Cold Vale land— at preſent bare of her- bage. The * This is a difficult paſſage of country to claſs. It is more than a ZValley; yet wants ſomething of the Vale character. However, below the part, here croſſed, it ſeems to ſpread wider, and to acquire a variety of outline and diverſity of ſurface. I denominate it of Glaſtonbury, as it contains that antient place. 7ℳ SO MERSETSHIREF. 201 The mile ſtones ſhamefully defaced; but how eaſy to remedy the defect, with paint. Marble ſtiles and fences common. Elm trees and pollards, ſcattered over graſs incloſures. Still a cold flat Vale Diſtrict. The fields blue, with Devilsbit( Scabioſa fucciſa). The graſs incloſures interſected with ſurface drains. A very cold plot of country: weak and languid, even at this ſeaſon of the year. Adapted to the cheeſe dairy, and the rearing of cattle. Some lean cows: but of a better breed than the laſt. Many pollards in the hedges. A plot of woodland, well timbered; much of the land of this Vale is well adapted to oak timber. The hedgerows, at leaſt, ought to be filled with it. The whole in a ſtate of graſs; no arable land ſeen from the road. Another dairy of ſmall ill formed cows. Hayſtacks in the fleld; as in the dairy Diſtricts of Yorkihire. The land improves: ſtill wholly in graſs. A well- 202 8S0MERTON TO SHIPTON MaALLET. A well ſoiled riſing ground, in front; wholly covered with graſs. A large dairy of cows, of the middle- horned breed; but not of the Devonſbire variety. Hayſtacks capped, only, with thatch; as in the Yorkihire practice. Some roomy good cows: variouſly colored? Arrive at the foot of the hill: the Vale is ſome three or four miles wide. The road acroſs it is a ſtraight line. Q. Roman? Another dairy of many colored cows. Reach the upper ſtages of the ſteep— and enjoy the views:— extenſive, rich, and picturable. Good grafsland upon theſe hills; and ſtocked with good cows. From the ſummit of the hill, an entire circle of views are commanded: a wide ſea of graſslands: the hills and the Vale equally green. The fubſoil, of this fertile upland, is limeſtone gravel, in thin layers, between loam. Some 8SO MERSETSHIRE. 203 Some very good cows, on theſe hills. Another Vale opens to the left: a fine, ſtrongly featured country. A large Marſh or Sedgemore appears to the lelt. Obſerve ſeveral ſpeet cows.- are they natives of Somerſetfhire*? Many good ſheep,—of the Dorſetfhire, or Weſt of England breed. They appear to be common to Dorſetſhire, Eaſt Devon- ſhire, and this part of Somerſetſhire. A rick frame loaded with ſtraw, and thatched as a roof. Meet a load of Somerfetſpire« reed:“ differing from that of Devonſpire; as having the ears cut off: confiſting of clean ſtraight unbruiſed ſtems only. Deſcend into another Valley of graſsland: narrower, but better ſoiled, than the laſt. Limeſtone ſtill raiſed by the ſide of the road: * This fingular variety, which is obſervable in Gentle- men's grounds, in different parts of the Iſland, is given by Aor, chiefly or wholly. A sHEET cow reſembles a red cow of North Devonſhire, or Weſt Somerſetſhire, with a white fheet thrown over her barrel; her head, neck, ſhoulders, and hind parts, being uncovered. ———-— 2 4 ks=‚OMERTON ro SHIPTON MALLET, road: thick ſtrata of brown earth between the ſeams of ſtone; differing from the blue marble. Inſtance of underdraining, with flat ſtones ſet up, in the form of the letter V, inverted. Aſcend another range of graſsland ſwells. Stone fence walls, on theſe uplands: the firſt, from the weſtward, in this line of road. Some, in courſes of dry ſtones, al- ternately with other courſes, laid in earth mortar, Inſtance of unbitten aftergraſs; the firſt obſerved, in this ſtage:— a dairy country. Good horned wedders, in theſe graſs grounds. L eave a rich grafſy hillock, to the right. The valley of Shipton opens prettily:- rich graſsland, beautifully ſurfaced; but disfigured with ſtone fences. SHIPTON ———— S O MERSETSHIRE. 203 8 H I P O N AND ITS ENVIRONS. A SMALL Market Town; ſituated neat the head of a fine valley. The church ſtately, and in a good ſtyle of architecture. Several neat houſes: a ſeat of the woollen manufacture. On the North fſide of the valley, are ſome bold hillocks, compoſed wholly of maſſes of limeſtone, covered with a rich deep ſoil. The rock remarkably ſtron g: very different from the blue marble, before noticed. This, in general appearance, reſembles more the ſtone of St. Vincent's rock, near Briſtol. A limekiln and large quarries;— ſeem- ingly of long ſtanding. Afhen pollards ſcattered over theſe graſs- lands; chiefly by the ſides of ſtone walls: a practice I have elſewhere obſerved, on well ſoiled limeſtone lands. Some conſiderable dairies of good cow', in theſe environs. SHIPTON 1 4 1 ‿ 10 SHIFPTON MALLET TO FROME. 8HIPTON MALI.BET 6 E R 9 M E. SUNDAVY, 21 SEPTEMBER, 1794. CROSS che valley above the town: the water a mere rivulet. No appearance of mills of manufacture. AX fhameful road toll: and this where materials are ſo abundant. Paſs a dairy of twenty or thirty good cows. A large flock of ſheep, on a thinſoiled hillock to the right. Riſe another graſſy height: the ſoil rediſh; the ſubſoil limeſtone gravel. A foul wheat ſtubble; and an attempt at turneps. Dairy men are bad arable farmers. More —— ——y-— 80O MERSETSHIRE. 287 More large light-colored cows; alſo à few calves: the firſt obſerved in this Diſtrict! More finch-backed, Gloceſterſhire-like cows: with ſome mixed- breed heifers: how little young ſtock appears. A wide view, to the right, backed b bz the broken heights of Stourton. Still graſsland and afhen pollards: with ſome ſtone fences; but more thorn hedges. Paſs ſome large dairy farm. A herd of good Weſt of England co a fin gle Iricdaree —. 2 ◻ — — 24 A limeſtone quarry: a ſtrong rediſh rock: the ſoil over it red, and of good depth. Leave the limeſtone graſsland Country. 8 Enter a weakſoiled arable Diſtrict: the ſoil ſtill red: in appearance, the ſame as that which covers the limeſtone rock. The ſoil ſtill weaker: ſandy and wet. A ſtrongly featured coun atry to the right; about Stourton. A wide Vale Diſtrict opens, in front. 82 The fertile Vale of Trowbrid ge: ſkreened, on the right, by tke Wiltthire Do 1— WII 14 808 SHIPTON MALLET ro FROME. and, on the left, by the diſtant hills of Gloceſterſhire; with the broad Vale of North Wiltſhire winding in between them. Deſcend into another graſsland dairy Diſtrict. Large mottled eows: ſomewhat of the ſhort-horned appearance: a few of their horns ſhooting forward and dipping at the points 4— The Warminſter Hills appear at hand. The ſubſoil, again, a limeſtone rubble. Good hawthorn hedges. Wheat already in a green, graſſy ſtate 1 Leave a woodland valley, to the right (ſix miles). More wheat, in Weſt of England ridges. The towered height of Stourton forms a prominent feature. Drop into a broken wooded Vale Diſtrict; the head of the Valley of Frome. Graſsland— and dairy cows;— of the middle-horned breed, and the finch-backed variety. Hayſtacks in the fhape of dumplins, or — 8O MERSETSHIRE. 209 Round rodden cow cribs, as in Gloceſter- ſhire. A fmall orchard or two. Large dairy grounds, intermixed with arable incloſures. A flock of good Wiltſhire ewes. Croſs a ſweetly wooded dell. The ſubſtratum, on the weſt ſide, red ſhattered rock; on the eaſt ſide, pale ſoft rubble: diſtinct maſſes of materials. Village Buildings— ſtone pantiles and thatch; with ſome heavy ſtone-flates. Paſs a Iarge farmery, on the right. A paſſage of fine graſsland. Good ſtone road, between cropped hedges. Enter FROME: a large well built place; in a fine ſituation. Several neat boxes, in its environs: the town likewiſe neat; though a manufacturing place:— Leeds, without its coals and dirt. The Warminſter and Longleat Hills, are good objects from theſe environs. Vox. II. P FROME ———————— ———:—————õÿõ— 5 210 FROME ro DEVIZES. ER O M E T oO P E V I 7. E. 3. (Twrenty Miles) SUNDAV, 21 SEPTEMEER, 1794 MORE deep loam on limeſtone: with mixed cultivation: graſs and arable. Stone walls, in the environs of Frome, as of Shipton: ugly, it is true; but ef- fectual againſt hedgebreakers. Both of them are manufacturing towns; and, of courſe, inhabited, by the diſſolute and daring. A large dairy of longiſh-horned cows: apparently of a mixed breed. A rich, clean country(two miles). The name of the village, on a board, at the entrance of“ Beckington:“ a liberal act, in thoſe who placed it there. A large ——— SO MERSETSHIRE. 211 A large dairy of mixed cows. The road hedges legally kept. Field hay ricks ſtill common. Three full-bred longhorned cows; the firſt. Deep clayey ſubſoil(four miles). Single-wheeled plows, with winding wooden moldboards. A recent incloſure, from a ſtate of com- mon. The land a deep loam. The quickſets guarded with two lines of dead hedgework. A flat, yet apparently, dry country. Enter WILTSHIRE. A cold flat vale paſſage. Farm houſes—of timber and brick pan- nels; with weatherboarded barns; as in the Southern Counties. Riſe a dryer, betterſoiled ſwell of land: Stocked with large herds of cows. Fat cart horſes, at graſs(Sunday). A view of North Wiltſhire opens, in front.. Longhorned Cows, and Weſt of England Oxen. P 2 Paſs 21²2 FROME ro DEVIZES. Paſs through TRowBRIDGE; aM fair town, finely fituated. Many good houſes. The principal ſtreet is remarkably neat. Seatéd on a clean ſwell of rich land; over- looking a fweetly wooded baſon, backed by the Wiltſhire Hills. Catch a broad and extenfive view of the Vale of Nerth Wiltſhire. The road hedges univerſally ſfhorn. Inſtance of high graſsland ridges, as in Gloceſterfhire and North Wiltfhire: the firſt obſerved in this journey. Some large orchard grounds. Bad roads: foft limeſtone is among the worſt of road materials. Many hedgerow Elms. Singlewheel plows, in common uſe. Some very foul bad farming: And a large incloſure of rough anthilly land: left, in this waſteful ſtate,— as if to keep the arable lands in countenance. Gates, with four bars, and ſhouldered hartrees, univerfal, acroſs this Vale. Twenty full-bred lon ghorned cows. A fine Vale Diſtrict: rich wades of graſs- land(3 miles from Trowbridge). More 80 MERSETSHIRE. 213 More rich graſslands; ſtocked with longhorned cows: now apparently in full poſſeſſion. Many hedgerow Elms: ſome of them large. A compleat dairy countr y(three to four miles). A fmall gooſe and pig common: how much like: many paſſages of the Vales of Gloceſterſhire. A good longhorned bull; and ſome heifers. See, in a— fine loam, three feet deep, on limeſtone Some patches of field potatoes. A wide extent of Elm-wooded Vale, to the right, Many good Wiltſhire ſheep. The baſe, or unbroken area, of the Vale terminates. Aſcend the fair hillock of Seend.— charming ſituation! rich and beautiful views, rn every point: three or four habitable houſes ſcattered on the hill: elegant village! Croſs a dip of rich arable land: ſtrong dark brown ſoil. Wheat and beans; 5 no clover! P 3 Aſcend 214 FROME T⁰ DEVIZEsS. Aſcend the firſt ſtage of the Wiltſhire Hills, to DEævizEs; a large and reſpectable market town; finely ſituated. From its environs, catch a broad view of the rich and extenſive Vale of Trowbridge;; backed by the rifing grounds of Somerſet- ſhire, and diſtanced by th Mendip Hills;— tracing back, with the eye, a principal part of this day's journey.“ A GENERAL —— A GEWERAL IVIEI 0 FE THE MORE SOUTHERN PARTS 0 F 80 MERSETSHIRE. FIIHE Line of Country, which paſſed more immediately under the eye, in this journey, varies much, in Natural Cha- racters, and Rural Management; ſeparating, analytically, into The Vale of Taunton; The incloſed Limeſtone Heights, between the Tone and the Parret; The open-Field Diſtrict, or Limeſtone Downs, between Langport and Somerton: The ſtrong arable Lands, on Limeſtone, between the Brook of Somerton and the Brent; The Vale of Glaſtonbury; b T 4 The —yꝛö,—— 216 GENERAL VIEW. The rich Graſsland Limeſtone Heights, on either ſide of Shipton Mallet; termi- ntlas in The Vale of Trowbridge. The ELEVATIONOfthis Line of Country is inconſiderable; unleſs towards its Eaſtern extremity. The tide flows, or has hereto- fore flowed, within much of theſe Southern parts of Somerſetfhire; extenſfive flats of marſhes being ſeen on either hand. About Shipton, and thence towards F rome, the ground riſes, but not conſiderably, and the waters which fall on it divide; part of them paſſing weſtward to the Bay of Bridge- water; the reſt falling into the branehes of the Avon. P SURFACE is ſingularly diverſified; the hills frequently riſe abruptly, from wide flat vallies, or extenſive tracts of marſhes, hich ſpread their broad level furfaces between them; givit ag them, in ſome points of view, and tanugh a humid atmoſphere, the appearance of Iflands. The cLiMaTURE is probably forward. Every appearance of harveſt had paſled away. The ——⏑———— — õ— 8 OMERSETSHIRE. 217 ThewaTrERs,--SOILS,SUBSOILS,— and FossIEs, are detailed in the Journal; and it may be needleſs to remark, here, that, between the Vales of Taunton and Trowbridge(both of which have evidently been formed, with heterogeneous materials), the Country is a continued chain of LIME- sToNE hills; or that the nature of the ſtone is ſtrikingly different; conſiſting of two diſtinct ſpecies of Limeſtone; which doubtleſs have had ſeparate origins; the wide Valley of Glaſtonbury appeating to divide them. The INLAND NAVIGATIONS, obſerved, are th hoſe of Taunton and an pore Few par rts of this Ifland are better adapted to navigable Canals, than this part of Somer- ſetſhire: and ſurely, the Brent and the Avon, ſecing the Coals, the Limeſtone, and the Manufacture, which lie between them, night be joined with advantage. ThesrAaTE OF INCTOSURE appears in the detail: the entire Country is incloſed; except the moors or common marſfhes, and the paſſage of open common fields, between Langport and Somerton. The 218 GENERAL VIEw. The PRoODUCTIONS may likewiſé be gathered from the detail. To the Weſt of the Valley of Glaſtonbury, arable crops are orevalent: in that Vale, and to the Eaſt of it, graſéland is the almoſt only produce, even to the confines of the County, and through the whole of the Vale of Trow- bridge: an extent of graſsland Country, which is rarely met with; eſpecially where the furface is greatly diverfified. Of οodland, this Line of Country, the Vales which terminate it excepted, may be ſaid to be deſtitute: and the hedgerovwν οd is inconſiderable; the fuel being chiedy, perhaps, peats of the fens and marſhes. VILLAGE and FARM BUILDINGS are wholly of ſtone, covered with thatch, tiles, or a heavy kind of flate. Left the mud wall, in the Vale of Taunton; and met the half-timber building, and weather- boarding, in the Vale of Trowbridge. A BROAD CILOTH MANUPACTURE, of conſiderable extent, I believe, is carried on, in the Eaſtern parts of this Line of Country. But, in travelling it, few traces of ſuch a manufacture appear. The manufacturing Diſtricdts 80O MERSETSHIRE. 2¹⁹ Diſtricts of Vorkfhire, and Lancaſhire,— more eſpecially thoſe of the woolen manu- factures, are marked by their dirt and miſery: companions, however, which, it would appear, in travelling throu gh Somer- ſetſhire and Wiltſhire, are not eſſentially neceſſary to the woorEN MANUFACTURE the moſt NATURAL, as well as the moſt PoLITICAL, branch of I Manufacture, this Ifland can encourage. The FARMsS, Or parcels of land in the occupation of individuals, appear to be ſmall; eſpecially the arable farms, on the Weſt nde of the County, where the life- leaſe tenure is prevalent, and extends, 1 believe, more or leſs throughout the county of Somerſet, and within that of Wilts. On the Eaſt ſide of the County, there ap- pears to be ſome dairy farms of a greater magnitude. BPASTS Of LAEOR. On the arable ſide of the County, Oxen are prevalent, and freely uen. in all the ordinary works of huſbandry; but, in the dair y country, and on the herer or Wiltſhire, a leſs prafitable race —— —— ——— ————— 220 GENERAI VIE W. ce of animals(for the Public at le aſt) is, 4 fe: 3— mon ſ* X 22 12 in COI DI 01 Ule* 0 55 6——— Ihe cCATTLE Of Sômerſetfhire are va- bus. The Weſt of England breed are confined to the Weſtern and Southern parts of the County; the Vale of Glaſtonbury appearing, * TaAX ON fHoRsEs. In theſe days of famine and raxation,—what political blindneſs muſt that be, which ſuſters the produce of the Co zntry to be conſumed, by animals that make no return to the magazine öf human food; nor makè any adequate recompenſe to the Cammunity, for the expence they are hourly creating. Animals that are preying on the ſuſtinence which is wanted to fuppreſs the cravings of the ſpecies. Animals for whoſe ſupport the Country may be ſaid to be now paying ſums incalculable. And, ſurely, they ought to be made accountable for an adeduate part of the debt they are lavifhly incurring. A tax of one Guinea, a year(on every horſe, whether ufed i in huſbandry or othery iſe), for the firſt three years, with an additional tax of one Guinea, a a year, every third year, ſo long as foi und policy fhall ſee right(thus allowing time for the rearing of eattle), will raiſe an immenſe revenue; will leſſen, eſſentially, the conſum, ption of grain; 7 and throw into the markets an abundant increaſe of —— 1 · 1 Anma fOod. Por Remarke., and Galeulatr-ame e Por Kemarks, and Pewla e on the C Wet F Nl.. Lftect Of Horſes 411G Cattle, 8 Beaſts 0 I aft 111 . bu. UTEr ESe wrr Fiu ſbandry, ſee S Rb RAL ECONOMr of the MIDI AN 1 CoUkTIEs, Vol. I. Page 4bο —Q—QQQCOQOC—˖·—— SOMERSETSHIRE. 221 appearing, in the Line of Country travelled through in this journey, to be the Northern boundary of this breed. The cows of the dairy Diſtrict are probably bought in; many of them have the marks of the Glo- ceſterſhire breed; while others wear ap- pearances of the middle-horned breed of the North of Vorkfhire: 3 ght co and irregularly pied: a variety of co o in the middle-horned breed, which I did nor expect to have met with, in Somerſet- ſhire. Knowing that the long-horned breed have been for a length of time eſtab- 21 1 5* liſned in North Wiltſhire, and the red breed . 7„» IAAI in the Vale of Taunton, I expected to have found a mixture of theſe two breeds, rather lave not 6. 1. been es the fubject of ſurprize, thanf its 5 5 cattle. I did not expéect to find what in Smithfield is emphatically called“ horne fheep,—- and much leſs the Dozſetſpire .— variety of that fort,---inhabiting, as a native . 2. breed, any part of Homerſetſhire. Bus 1 perhaps the y are IWOi: Pi SVarellt, 111 50er- fetfne, 222 GENERALE VIEW. ſetſhire, as in Devonſhire, on the Dorſet= ſhire ſide of the County. Of swixE, Somerſetfhire appears ſtill to perſevere in the old white breed; which may be ſaid to be in full poſſeſſion of the more Weſtern Counties. Of BEES Tbherved but one ſolitary hive! In the long Line of Country, between Cornwall and Wiltſhire, I do not recollect to have ſeen more than half a dozen of thoſe induſtrious families!—- whoſe labors are „7. clear gain to a Country,--who contribute to the National ſtock without diminiſhing. any other article of its produce. ——— WEST Ok EN GLAND. AROM the foregoing F. gaminations, it is evident, that the Point of Land, which is the more immediate ſubject of ⁴ theſe Volumes, forms a NATURAI. DP- PARTMENT of this Kingdom; and that it was, heretofore(and ſtill indeed may be ſaid to remain), a PENINSULA,-partially cut off, by inlets of the Bays of Bridgewater and Bridport, from the main body of the Ifland. It is equallye vident, from theſe ſurveys, that the Department now in view is, at preſent, under a courſe of RURAIL MA NACGEMFNT Which difters, in many reſpects, fr O 42 RETROSFECTIVE VIEW. from that of the Ifland at large; and whoſe baſis, it is highly probable, has had a ſepa- rate origin. Judging from the modern practice of colonization, it is reaſonable to ſuppoſe, that the Bays, Inlets, and Eſtuaries of Rivers, in this Iſland, were the firſt ſettled; and that, as inhabitants encreaſed, culti= vation, by progreſſive ſteps, approached the higher lands; climbing, in the courſe of time, to the interior heights Admitting that Cornwall and Devonfhire were early colonized, and the whole of them by the ſame people; and that, after- ward, a colony of a different race, took pofſeſſion of the inlets of the Bay of B Bridge- water, and the rich and ample ſhores, which, at that time, they doubtleſs afforded, the differences that are now obſervable, in the Rural Practices of their deſcendants, may be, with leſs difficulty, reconciled. On this principle of colonization, the Vale of. khae the time of ſettle- ment(or invaſion) been the ſame,—would naturally ——— n —— B——xq —— y————— 8 WEST OF ENGLAND. 22s naturally have belonged to the ſettlers(or invaders) of the Bay of Bridgewater; but admitting, what will not 1 believe be doubted, that the Vale of Exeter was priorly poſſeſſed, and that its inhabitants liad over- topped the depreſſed ridge which divides theſe Vales, before their Northern neigh- bours had approached it, the VALE OF TaAUNToON would, in courſe, fall into the hands of the firſt ſettlers; and the ſame circumſtances would naturally attend the range of heights, and their Northeaſtern ſkirts, which form what have here named the DarRv DisrTRIOT. In proceſs of time, and when the entire Country became ſubject to the fame Go- vernment, a mixture of practices would take place, and the two eſtabliſhied ſyſtems of Management would mix, and blend with each other, in the manner in which we find them, at the preſent day. The Practices which, now, more parti- cularly diſtinguiſh what, for the ſake of perſpicuity, I have denominated the DAN- MONIAN HUsSBANDRY,--will appear in VoI. II. the 246 RETROSPECTIVE VIEW. the following detail: ſome particulars of which, however, are common’to the four moſt Weſtern Counties; as if they had once been politically united; with cuſtoms diſtinct from thoſe of the reſt of the Iſland: the particulars, here alluded to, relating to matters of Policy, rather than to Agri- culture. The cuLTIVvATION OF COMMONABLE LANDsS is, I believe, peculiar to this ex- tremity of the Ifland. TheLIFE-LEASEHOLD TENURE, though not peculiar to the Weſt of England, is the moſt prevalent within it. The uniform prevalency of sMALI. PARMsS mark it, in a fimilar manner. The ſingular MaNAGEMENT OF COF- PICE woop, which has been deſcribed, is common, and perhaps peculiar, to the De- partment in view. The extraordinary FPENCPS oOf this part of the Ifland mark it moſt diſcriminately— common and peculiar to the Peninfula! even to this day!! EARTHEN WALLS, though not peculiar to the Weſt of England, is in no other quarter WEST OF ENGLAND. 227 quarter of the Iſland, carried up ſo high, and ſo ſubſtantially, as in this. The circumſtance of having no fixed places of hiring, or ſtated times of changing, FARM SERVANTsS, is, I believe, peculiar to the more Weſtern Counties. The practice of putting out the children of paupers to farmers, as APPRENTICES IN HUSBANDRV, isS, as an eſtabliſhed cuſ- tom likewiſe, peculiar to this part of the Ifland. That of performing cARRIAGEF ON HORSEBACkK, may now be ſaid to belong to this extreme part of the Iſland, only. Even in the Highlands of Scotland, it is in a manner laid aſide. Many or moſt of the IMPLEMENTS and TooLs of this Peninſula are peculiar to it. The practice of BURNING BEAT(by velling, harrowing,&c.), for wheat and turneps, is likewiſe peculiar to this Penin- ſula.. In the MANAGEMENT OF LIME— as in ſeparating the ſtones and afhes; mixing it with earth; as well as the manner of (12 ſpreading ——— 228 RETROSPECTIVE VIEW. ſpreading it on the land,---this part of the Ifland differs widely from the reſt. In the HARVEST MANAGEMENT, We meet with many ſingular traits of practice. The Arriſh Mow appears to be common to the Peninſula,--even to its outſkirts. HousINGSTACKs, by hand, though petty, is peculiar. And wINNOWING, in the open air, though once, doubtleſs, the uni- verſal practice, is now peculiar to Devon- ſhire and Cornwall; I mean, as the pre- vailing practice of an extenſive, well ſoiled, cultivated Country. The method of TRRASHING wMEAT, without bruiſing the ſtraw, is peculiar to the more Weſtern Counties: with, how- ever, a notable difference that has been mentioned*. In the Management of particular Crops, the sowiNG OF WwHEAT is the moſt re- markable. But the cuLTUREOFTURNEPS may, at this day, be confidered as almoſt equally extraordinary. The TEMPORARY LEVy, oOf flve or fix years, though not peculiar to this Penin- — fula 5 * See Page 203. ₰ WEST OF ENGLAND. 229 ſula; yet marks it, very diſcriminately, from the other Weſtern and„Southern Counties. WaTERING THE SLOPES Op HIILLS, though not uncommon, at preſent; yet, a century ago, it was probably confined to this point of the Ifland; and is, at this time, nowhere elſe ſo prevalent. By its oRCHARD GRODNpS, this De- Partment of the Iſland is moſt diſcriminately marked. By the purity of its Breed of CaTTILE, which though not Fbecihically peculiar to this Department, are evidently a diſtinct Variety; which, in all human probability, have deſcended, lineally, and without ad, mixture, from the native breed. The fatting of GRAss cALVEs, though not peculiar to this part of the Ifland, being likewiſe common in Norfolk, may never- theleſs be conſidered as a diſtinct prao- tice; as, in the interſpace of two hundred miles, which ſeparates them, I have not obſerved it, in the ordinary practice of Farmers,. 93 The 230 RKETROSPECTIVE VIEw. The ſingular method of RAIS8ING cREAM, Which is practiſed in this Country, may be called its own. The BLEEDING Of grown CATTLE, for the SLAUGHTER, I have not met with, out of this Department. The practice of keeping swINE to two or three years old, and the method of fat- ting them, are peculiar to this Country. That of boiling their food, and of letting all the females remain in a ſtate of fe- cundity, may likewiſe be mentioned as peculiarities. The Mountain slEPP of this part of the Ifland, appear to be peculiar to it. Thoſe of the Mendip Hills I have not had an opportunity of examining. In the suEPHERDING oOf fheep, We have ſeen ſome ſtriking traits of practice- And the practice of siaARING fheep, without previoufly wASHING their wool, is at preſent peculiar to a part of this Peninſula. In this detail of peculiarities, we find many which cannot owe their origin to the firſt WIST'OF ENGLAND. 231 firſt civilized poſſeſſors, But what ſtrikes us moſt forcibly, in examining it, is, that in the lapſe of centuries, its Rural Practices fhould not have afſimilated, more freely, with thoſe of the Iſland at large, 4 MINUTES 8 ————— ——————,— ———. 2—— —————ö———— ꝗ—— MINUTES WEST DEVONSHIRE. INTRODUCTORVY REMARKS. HE EXTEMPORARY OBSER- VATIONS, that are here offered, may be conſidered as a continuation of thoſe, which occurred in my PRACTICE, in SURREVY, in NoRFOEK, and in the M1pDLAND DISTRIOT. If theſe which I am now offering, and with the ſame ſacrifice of feelings that has ever attended my publication of extempo- rary Memoranda, have any claim to pecu- liarity of character, it conſiſts in their pointing 234 INTRODUCTORVY REMARKS. pointing out the regular approach to the Field of Improvement, and the requiſite cautions obſervable, in entering it; ſo as to be able to paſs through it, with ſafety and advantage. In this aggregate capacity, it is preſumed, they may be found uſeful to thoſe who are deſirous to enter a field, in which foreſight and circumſpection are, in a ſuperior de- gree, requiſite. Their individual claims I preſume not to adjuſt. 24 MINUTS. INU T ER S. I. 1791. JuIv ROM PLYMOUVTHR tO PESTRIr. 14th. BuckLaNp PLAcCE. Three or four miles from the Town of Ply- mouth, the fertile incloſed lands of its envi-- rons terminate; the traveller entering, appa- rently, the outikirts of Dartmore. To the right, wild furze-grown Commons and wooded Vallies are ſeen; to the left, up- land Incloſures. In diſtance,— the ragged Tors of Dartmore on the one hand, the Corniſſ Mountains on the other: the ſcenery truly mountainous; the Valley of the Tamer, and a cultivated dip to the right, being overlooked, and in a great meaſure hid from the view. About ſeven miles from Plymouth, the uekLA*n PLAck. Valley of the Tavey opens; and the road, extremely unlevel, dips down to Buok- LAND 236 I. BUCKLAND PLACE. M 1 N U T E S. Jerr LANp PLACE; ſituated ſomewhat below the midway of the ſlope; at the head of a Coomb,“ or inferior Valley; in this caſe ſhallow, and ſpreading wide as it deſcends. The ſituation is naturally recluſe, and is now rendered truly ſo, by long neglect. The remains of the Priory is the preſent habitation; and has been a refidence of the FAMILY OF DRaAKL, from the time of the CIRCUMNAVIGATOR, Who purchaſed it. Some half centur y ago, much planting has been done, round the ſite of the Mo- naſtery; and, during the laſt tio enty or thirty years, ſcarcely a bough has been touched. The tower of dhc h Priory, with a monaſtic barn of extraordinary ſize, and with various Gothic buildings, the remain- ing Offices of the Monaſtery, are ſeen(in the immediate approach through a grove of trees which fill the head of the Valley with a ſullen gloom), as in a foreſt, far diſtant from the haunts of men. 179. WEST DEVONSHIRE. 237 jeur 2. elow ofa caſe dd,— lis ct.— ent JurV 14. Rode over the DEMESNE EeELANP the LANDSs of BUckLAND PLACE. The lie buildings are beſet on every ſide with ü. tall groves(and ſome of them overhung ing with large-grown trees, which are injurious lo. to their roofs, and liable to cruſh them in 16 their fall), except on the lower ſide, to the e0 Weſt, where the Valley is choaked up with ih fruit trees, for ſome diſtance below the 2 T houſe; which is thus involved continually in a damp and ſtagnant air; unfit for men 38 or animals to breathe. An over ſtocke li rookery, which occupies a conſiderable part 4 of theſe groves, is rendered, by this cloſe ley atmoſphere, offenſive in the extreme. But, burſting from this gloom, one of the firſt farms in the Iſland is entered. It con- tains near ceight hundred acres of land: lying on every ſide of the houſe; but chiefly 1T 238 2* BUCKLAND FARM. M I N U Es. JIuLV chie fly pelow ik. Almoſt five hundred acres(including hedges,&c.) are in culti- vation; the reſt in old woodlands, groves, and orchard grounds. Near thirty acres of the lower grounds of the Valley, over whieh a principal part of the cultivated lands are ſpread, have long been imperfectly watered, by a rill that riſes in the uppermoſt part of the farm, and falls down the Valley into the Tavey; which forms the Weſtern boundary of the farm, for more than a mile. The upper part of the Valley of the Tavey is a ſteepſided dell; hung with wood on either ſide; having a narrow meadowy bottom. The very Wye and its banks! winding in the moſt picturable manner; with here and there a rugged rock rifing above the coppice wood; its limits, with reſpect to this farm, cloſing, in a narrow ſecluded part, with a ſalmon weir, thrown acroſs the river; forming a cataract of no mean effect. The lower part of the Valley is more open; the river terminating, within ſight from the lovely ſwelling grounds of this monaſtic demoſits, in a winding eſtu- 791. WEST DEVONSHIRE. ary; which is there margined with ſteep banks,— feathered to the water, with the woods of Mariſtowe. 3⸗ JIurV 15. Rode into CoRNwALL; by Dinham Bridge, Beer-alſton, Calſtock Paſſage(Ferry), Calſtock Church— New Bridge— acroſs the Heath— and back by Dinham Bridge. A moſt zomantic ride! How much the ſcenery of this Diſtrict reſembles that of Monmouthſhire,&c.: ſteep wooded banks of rivers; here broken and rugged, there fhowing a ſteeper face of rock. The heaths, on the Corniſh ſide of the Tamer, ſtrewed with blocks and fragments of gra- nite, add to the favageneſs of the ſcenery, whether viewed at hand or in diſtance. And the inhabitants appear as rude and un- cultivated as their Country: the Ferryman . at 2. BUCKLAND FARM. DISTRICT. 1 4 — — 240 ₰ 5. DISTRICT. MMEEILNS. SAI. MON WEIR. M INUTE S. Jorv at Calſtock is in the loweſt ſtage of civili- zation. The Valley of the Tavey, at the height here croſſed, is a mere dingle, wooded down to the river. But that of the Tamer, op- poſite and below Calſtock, is open, well ſoiled, and ſet with orchards; the river, here, beginning to expand into an eſtuary; the tide flowing ſome mile or two above the Village of Calſtock. Neverthelefs, its windings are moſt abrupt and ſtriking; the antient manſion of Curtéeel marking one ef its bends, in the happieſt manner. The upper part of the eſtuary is ſet with limekilns on either ſide; for the uſe of the Country near and above them, the ſtones and oulm being brought up in maſt veſſels*. The cultivated conntry is, now, everywhere ſtudded with lime heaps. d Immediately above the tide's way is a Salmon Weir; and, above this, the wild ſavage ſcenery juſt deſcribed; in the midſt of * Obſerved two dinner kettles boiling on the top of one of theſe kilns. If the nature of the fuel requires that the fire fhould burn outwardly, this is a frugal practice. If not, it is an extravagant way of dreſſing dinners. 179 1. WEST DEVONSHIRE. of which, near Newbridge, is a copper mine, now working. 241 3** In this part of the ride, at thie foot of HORsEs. Hingſtone, one of the higheſt of the Weſ- tern mountains, I obſerved two Corniſh mares and foals, the ſmalleſt I have ſeen; the mares not more, I apprehend, than eleven hands high. Xoung cattle, and even oxen, are ſeen on theſe heaths. But no hseh appeared in any Har of this morning's ſtroll. The climature, even of the Vallies, is later than that of Eaſt Devonfhire. Wheats are ſtill green. On the Upper lands much graſs is yet unmown! but evidently receiv- ing great injury by ſtanding. The produce is corn, graſs, heath, and wood; the two latter covering, in this rude broken ride, much the largeſt proportion of ſurface. Vox. II. R ſoxY CLIMATE. PRODUCE. 242 DISTRICT. M I N U T E s. Jurr 4. Iur v 16. Rode to the skiRTS OF THE DARTMoORE HILLS; over Roborough Down, to Mavey, Walkhamton,&c.*† Roborough Down, with the chain of rough Commons which reach from hence to near Plymouth, forming an oblong de- preſſed fwell, has every appearance of being a fragment of the Dartmore Mountain †; from which it is ſeparated by an irregular Valley, containing three or four townſhips of cultivated land. Some of this land is of a very * In company with Mr. STAPLETON of Buex- LAND: a man to whoſe ſuperior intelligence Iowe much: a man who, with fourſcore years of experience, poſſeſſes an activity of body and mind, which many men, of half his years, would be happy to enjoy. † It has been obſerved, however, that the prevailing ſtone of theſe Downs is very different, in compoſition and texture, from the quartzoſe granite of Dartmore and the Corniſh Mountains; between which this ſwell is fitu- ated: affording an intereſting ſubject to the Geologiſt. mn very lot of cre, i inthis The Joy cl and m Tons) Hil The motth hornec caſe: mn ab Th e en rame. o ther The ſu duffex. The 3ood 0 did not One ot od k. leur THE dugh K— in of nence 8 de- being ün †. gular lhips 1s of very Buex- emuch: poſſſſes of half eralling tion and and the ltu- bogit 1791. WEST DEVONSHIRE. a very ſuperior quality; one conſiderable plot of it letting at forty or fifty ſhillings an acre, in this bleak and humid climate, and in this remote fituation. The more central parts of this Valley now contain ſome fine crops of wheat, and much tolerable barley. But the ſoil grows weaker, and leſs productive, as the Hills of Dartmore are approached. The Sheep on the ſkirts of the hills are moſtly polled; but ſome individuals are horned: they are very uneven as to car- caſe: ſome of them, nevertheleſs, are not in a bad form. The Cattle, ſeen in this morning's ride, are everywhere clean, and moſtly of good frame. Chiefly of a dark red color; a few of them with white Gloceſterihire ſpines. The ſize that of Gloceſterfhire, and Weſt Suſſex. The Plow Team is chiefly Oxen. Saw fix good ones in a Team, in light work; yet did not perform, even that, with due effect. One of the pairs, with a proper plow, in good hands, would make much better work. R 2 It 243 SHEEP, CATTLE. PLOW TEAM. 244 4 · NAMES OF HUNDREDS. „ p* 438 7 d W 1 7 7 1 E S. A 1 N U 1 Jorr It may be remarked, that the Hundred, or ſubdiviſion of the County, which includes a confiderable part of the Diſtrict of Weſt Devonhire, takes its name, or is underſtood to have taken its name, from the Common which I croſſed and repaſſed, this morning; or from ſome Town or Village which gave name to the Common; and of which there are at preſent no traces„ In this ſtroll, I croſſed repeatedly the ARTIFICIAL BROOK, which waters the Town 4 I his Sotehwnds with the tradition of Eaſt Devon- fhire.(See page 132.) It is probable, however, that tlie Down, at leaſt, received its name from an extraordinary pile of roek, or large ſtones, the remains ok which ſti N form a ſtriking object, on che face of theſe wild lands: bearing ſome reſ ſemblance to the Tors of the Mountains. In the provincial dialect of the Diſtrict, Roo, is ſtill com- monly uſed for roub; and Burroc is the ordinary name of a hæap, whether of earth or ſtones(a combination which 1s ſtill ſtrictly preſer ved in pronunciation). Under this rough pile of rocks, which may„ heretofore, have been more Conſiderable than it is at f ent, the huts of the firſt ſettlers may have been raiſed; or Druidical Af emblies have been held. The etymons of the names of HUNDREPDS, Or pävl- are moſt difficult; and the Anti⸗ eſted iu S10NS OF COUNTIES, at leaſt, is inter in their elucidation. aAr V 3A 6 . 1 † VE 1 8 he Runin 1791. WEST DEVONSHIKRE. 245 hich dlur 5— 1 4.. fmh Town of Plymouth, and which is taken 4. . J.. ct of e out of a fmall river, in one of the Vallies pi vMobur PLX MOI TH Sunderh of Dartmore. It is a treafure, not only to LEAr. de Comnu Plymouth, but to the long range of dry smori, uplands, through which it paſſes. This whichg public good owes its valuable exiſtence to whichtn one of the Drake family: namely, the Grandfather of the prefent Sir F rancis catedy Drake. He not only furniſhed the water, watenth from his own manor, but alſo the plan; Tom and, in gifficult caſes, directed the execution. of Eatt Daon- mextraordin of which ſe wild lant he Mountail. 5. no) 1s ftiller ordimr) I bimation Fhe h. Urt JvTY 27. Yeſterday, rode to TaMER- bisTkler. de, lare be TON, On the Eaſtern banks of the Tamer; duss dthe i diverſifying the road through this extraor- icl Afemmble.— üi aan dinary paſſage of country. e an The ſurface is broken in a moſt remark- KREDS) adteä able manner. The Stroudwater hills of m nion. Gloceſterſhire are not more diverſified. H 3 But 1 —————— ———.———————— —————=—— 2———— —————————— — — 246 5⸗ DISTRICT. SURVEVING A DISTRiCT. TAMERTON FAIRK. NU T E 3. jorx M 1 But a ſtill more extraordinary feature, of this little Diſtrict is formed, by bays, creeks, and inlets, of the eſtuary of the Tamer, winding in among the wooded hillocks, in a manner which l have nowhere elſe obſerved, in this Ifland; but in perfect re- ſemblance of the ordinary ſcenery, of the more broken margins, of the Weſt India and Bahama Iflands. Nevertheleſs, the ſoil, where the Vallies have any width, is of a good quality; and even the tops of ſome of the fwells are good arable land: ſo that, notwithſtanding the Country, in ſome points of view, appears to be covered with wood, from the quantity which hangs on its ſteeper acclivities, it contains a conſiderable proportion of culti- vated ſurface. The Crops, and the Syſtem of Manage- ment, are the ſame as thoſe which I have obſerved, in my former rides: ſo ſoon is the general outline of Management caught! A Fair held yeſterday, at the ſweetly ſequeſtered Village of Tamerton Foliot, gave me an opportunity of ſeeing ſomething more of the Liveſtock of the Diſtrict. The jw fertur, Vys, ekeeh, e Tan. hillo here eli erfect n. h, of th NeK Ind- che Valle ality; 91 ſwell ur thitandux h. appeu 1 quanti vities, i of culti Malog ich Jhase bon b the auobt! d lMeetl on Fold ſametli- ria. Ih 1791. WEST DEVONSHIRE. The Cattle—provincially Bullocks— were moſtly of the Weſt Devonſhire,&c. breed: namely, bred on the Eaſt and Weſt banks of the Tamer: they are in general clean, well framed, and not ill fleſhed: but there were few in a fit ſtate to be Handled. Half a ſcore remarkably fine oxen, eight or nine years old, of a ſize and form for anything which is required of oxen, ſtood as fat bullocks, for the butcher; but were barely forward enough for oil cakes, or other forcing food. If futtened, they would ——— E— 8 .———— ————————————— weigh eighty or ninety ſtones(of 14lb.) a bullock. 1 Alſo two Barnſtaple heifers'—in a beautiful form, and as ſoft as moles, at two years old! and for this reaſon they were brought, here, to be ſold to the butcher. What an error in practice an error, I un- derſtand, which is prevalent through the Country: there are two on tHis Barton, I find, in the ſame predicament. Thoſe which are of a nature to fat at two years old, are murdered“/ thoſe which will not, are kept to breed from! R 4 A few 4 3—— — — — 247 5. CAaTTLE. CRAZINO. CATTLE. BREEDING. —— —— ——— ——— —* —— —— — 248 5. CATTLE. SHEEP. FAIRS. M I N UT E s. JuLV A few ſhorthorned and polled cattle were ſhown: different Gentlemen, it ſeems, having introduced them into this County. But they are fortunately diſliked by the farmers; wha prefer their own breed; and, prejudice apart, they have good reaſon for their partiality; their own being a much more eligible breed for a thinſ oiled Diſtrict. Their great defect is in milk, and perlabs this defect may have induced the Gentle men of the County to bring in the Hlolder- neſs breed; and, if they are kept merely for the dairy, no miſchief may enſue. The Sheep were moſtly mountaineers— provincially“Moor Sheep: thin, Teraggy- illformed creatures. The Fairs of this Country begin about eight o'clock, and laſt till about twelve. Jovr 179¹ Nuur 1791. WEST DEVONSHIRE. 249 Were em, Unty. the 6. and,. for JuLV 29. Hitherto, I have been look- LN latir3. uch ing round me, and aſcertaining facts. menowp. tric. 1. I have traverſed the Country, for a haps few miles on every ſide, and have gained a ntle- general idea of its outline of management. lder- 2. I have ſtudied a map of this noble erely Farm; traced its outlines; and furveyed, repeatedly, every field and parcel of it. 15— 3. I have aſcertained its préeſent produce, ggy, or ſtate of occupancy, by analyfing, claſſing, . and reuniting its various parts: thus bring- dout ing into one view the exact quantity of 3 Culturable lands, b Orchard grounds, Planted groves, 3 Natural woodlands, Hedges, lanes,&c.&c.&c. 4. I have tabled the suockssrox, or ſtate of occupancy of each individual field in cultivation,—during the Lasr Fouf ſorr IEARS. 5. In ——— —,——————— ——. — — 8 ———— 5 — 4— 5 2———————————————— —ſͤſ 250 M INUTE. Jvrv 6. 5. In the margin of this table, I have PRFLIMINA noted the ſpecies and quantity of MANURE Masnep. which each field has received, during that der. period; the term of the miniſtry of the prefent Hine. 6. I have regiſtered the ARRANGBR- MENT, tabled the crops and fallows, of THE PRESENT VEAR;, 10 as to fhow, JFirſt, the number, name, ſize, and crop of each field; arranged according to their reſpective numbers in the map, which correſpond with their natural ſituation in the farm: ſecondly, the fields, arranged agreeably to their reſpective crops; thus coming at the aggregate quantity of each; and, tbirdly, the totals of theſe aggregates, to prove the truth of the analyſis*. 7. A table ol the LIVvESTOCK, now on the farm, 8. The quantity of MANURE IN STORF. 9. The — * This method I ſtruck out, during my practice in Surrey(ſee MixuTrEs oF AGkicULTURE IN SURREVY), and have invariably followed it, in the dif- ferent parts of the Iſland, in which I have practiſed. 2 Jurr 179t. WEST DEVONSHIRE. 251 I Me 9. The IMPLEMENTS, Rc. at preſent 6. ünne ufe.. nemhwden. g that 10. The wokkFEOPEE now employed. Mursovr- d8f the Until theſe particulars be aſcertained, and ſpread out before the eye, ſo as to be NGE- referred to, in the moſt extemporary way, 8, Of no man fhould preſume to give orders, or hhow, ſuggeſt improvements, in huſbandry. Nor, p of then, until he has conſidered well their The genius of the Country; and ghich The locality of the given farm, as to on in markets, water carriage,&c.&c.; alſo Ingec Its natural characteriſtics, or fitneſs for Drs corn or graſs, dairying or grazing,&c.&c. ah, taken collectively as a farm; as well as dt) The aſpect, ſoil, ſubſoil, and ſtate of tillage, of its ſeveral parts, Ren But, having duly informed himſelf in theſe requiſites; and having aſſiduouſly hn caught, and preſerved, the hints for im- The provement, which firſt impreſſions may have furnifhed him with, any man, having agir previoufly an adequate knowledge of the r n general ſubject, both in theory and practice, te dl may venture to begin, with cautious ſtep, dicc to enter upon its improvement: being how- ————————¼, —.————————C——— 6. PRELIMINA- RIES OF IMPROVE- MENT. 1 LOVW. M I N U T fE S. IvLv 7 however, even then, careful not to derange the eſtabliſhed machine of management; until one, which is preferable, be ready to replace it: beginning with its more glaring improprieties and defects, as they occur fairly in the courſe of management; at once, to fave unnecefſary expence, and to prevent unneceſſary alarm, 7. JuL.v 29. The lands of this farm are evidently much out of tilth. The young leys are overrun with fern, and thoſe of three or four ycars old are bare of graſs. But no wonder; they have been moſlly leyed, I find, agreeably to the cuſtom of the Country, after three ſucceffive crops of grain; for which not more than three or four plowings are uſually given! Indeed, were more to be aſſigned them, the Plow of the Country would be ina- dequate to the taſk af cleaning them. It 1s the —— 2 479 z. WBSIDLVYVONSAHIKRE. the worſt Swing Plow I have ſeen. The beam ſhort and clumſy, and the body long and illformed, without a riſe or wreſt, to force open the furrow; the mold-board being ſet high above thie keel or ſoal of the Plow; which operates, in looſe ground, as the Kentiſh Turnwreſt Plow; making a mark only, not opening a furrow*. A foul piece of ground, intended for Wheat, but which I wiſh to cleanſe tho- roughly, for Barley the enſuing Spring, by way of making a beginning in the great work of purgation, I ſaw tantalized by this ineffective implement. However, by fixing a wreſt in the uſual place, Belor the mold-board(the work of a few minutes), it cleared its way, and effectod more in going once over the ground, than the ſame Implement, without this ſimple addition, would have done in going OVST * The DEvoNSHIRE PLOw reſembles much, in gene- ral appearance, the Plow of the Herald and the Sign Painter: a circumſtantial evidence, that it has heretofore been prevalent in the Kingdom; or that the Heraldic Figures of this Country, and the Plow of Devonfhire, are equally of Norman extraction. —.————— *————— —— ——— 3 ———— ÿmÿõ——— PLOW. IMPROVE- MENT OF PLOWS, 254 7⸗ IMPROVE- MENT OF PLOWsS. M N U I E 3. jpr. over it almoſt any number of times; and this without vexing the Plowman, or alarm- ing the Country, with“a new-faſhioned Plow.“— Being defirous, however, to get the Implement into a better form, and to adapt it to two Oxen or two Horſes, I have em- braced an incident, to gain a pretence for conſtructing a Plow, ſuitable to that purpoſe. A fmall plot of ground, which is ſo much encumbered with trees, that a team cannot work in it, and which has in conſequence been“ hand beaten“ and“ hacked over,“ to free it from the foul ſtate in which it has long lain, Was nevertheleſs capable of being plowed, with a fmall Plow, and a ſingle Horſe. In conſtructing this little Implement, I ſuffered the Plow-wright to purſue his own beaten track, with reſpect to principal pieces and general conſtruction; deviating chiefly in the proportion of the ſeveral parts, making the beam proportionally longer and the body of the Plow ſhorter, than in the Plow of the Country: adding, however, a wreſt, and endeavouring to give the mold- 1791. WEST DEVONSHIRE. mold-board the proper caſt. It fully anſwers the intended purpoſe; and bids fair to ſuperſede the introduction of the Vorkihire Plow, for two Oxen or Horſfes. It has, indeed, one main advantage over any alien Plow: it is ſet to work and regu- lated, as the ordinary Plow of the Country; is indeed a Devonſhire Sewl; and as ſuch it is held. Seeing this, it ſtrikes me, that a ſimilar kind of ſucceſs may be obtained, in any Diſtrict, by adopting the general con- ſtruction of the faſhionable Plow of the Country, whether it be the Wheel, the Foot, or the Swing Plow; only altering the proportions, and giving the oPERATIVE PARTS the requiſite caſt. June, 1795. Men, who have never attempted to introduce improvements in Agriculture, may confider theſe ſacrifices, to the prejudices of eſtabliſhed cuſtoms, unneceſſary and trifling; but thoſe who have had experience, in this nice matter, will ſee their propriety. JuLX — 255 — 7. IMPROVE- MENT OF PLOWS. A PRINCIPLE OFIMPROVE- MENT. 256 SALMON I l N U T E H⸗ JuLT JurY 3t. The Sar MoN FISHERNY 0f the Tavey is appendant to this eſtate. The WEIR, which has been mentioned, 1s a work of conſiderable magnitude and expence, It confiſts of a ſtrong dam or breaſtwork, ten or twelvée feet high, thrown acrofs the river, in a part where two pro- jecting rocks ſerve happily as buttreſſes to the maſonry; which is built ſomewhat eompafſſing or archwife(but not regularly nor fuffciently), to reſiſt the preſfure and ſorce of the waters, in times of flood; when they are collected, by the flopes of the Dartmore Hills, and fent down with extraordinary impetuoſfity. At one end of the dam, is a weir houſe“ or TRAP; on the principle of the Vermin trap, whoſé entrance is outwardly large, but contracted inwardl)y, ſo as to elude or prevent the eſcape of the animal which has taken it. It is remarkable, Jurr 179t.) WEST DEVONSHIRE. 257 remarkable, however, with reſpect to 8. ſalmon, that although the entrance is by no SAta means ſo narrow as to prevent even the largeſt from returning, it is believed that there is no inſtance of thoſe which have once entered, quitting their confinement, RY 0.. though they may have remained in it ſeveral eſtate.. days. A circumſtance, perhaps, which dlene can only be accounted for, in the natural dde 6 propenſity, or inſtinct, which directs them dam d. againſt the ſtream, and will not ſuffer them thromn to give up any advantage which they may ho li have gained; the aſcent into the trap being reſes an effort of difficulty: in this caſe perhaps nenrlat too great. gularlyy On the higher fide of the trap(which is 4 re and ſome twelve or fifteen feet ſquare on the lood; inſide), oppoſite to the entrance, is an opes d opening or fluice in the ſtone work,— or Vil rather the rock,— as a paſſage for the water. eend d This opening has two lifting floodgates: AP; 0l the one cloſe, to fſhut out, occaſionally, the vii whole of the water; the other a grate, to ntraded ſuffer the water to paſs, and at the ſame he elcayr time to prevent fiſh of any confiderable ſize t lt’ from eſcaping. When the trap is ſet, the. urlable, Vol. II. 8 cloſe M ILN U T ER S. Jurr cloſe gate is drawn up, with an iron crow: thus ſuffering the water to paſs through the houſe. On the contrary, to take the fiſh which have entered, the cloſe gate is let down, and the trap is preſently left in a manner dry. It is obſervable, that the narrowed en- trance of the trap is judicioufly placed, ſomewhat above the floor; ſo that before the ſalmon are ferioufly alarmed by the fall of the water, it has ſunk below the mouth of the trap, and their retreat the more effectually cut off; for by following the water, near the floor, they are led away be- neath the tunnel]: which, like the open floodgate,&c. is made of ſtrong wooden bars, opea enough to permit the paſſage of the water, but not that of the fiſh. The top or covering of the trap is a floor of planks, nearly level with the top of the weir; on the lower ſide of which the trap is, of courſe, ſituated. Some days ago, when the water was un- uſually low-— provincially and not impro- perly“ ſmall'— the whole river paſſed through the weir houſe. But the recent rains —— 8— 2———— ————ͤ—— ——————. 1791. WESI DEVONSHIRE. rains have ſwoln it to a tenfold ſizse. The water now pours over the weir, in a denſe, broad ſheet; ſmooth, and glaſſy above; but furrowing as it deſcends; and producing, in its fall, a white foaming whirlpool; the regularity of the fall being broken, on one ſide, by the torrent, ruſhing down the ſteep deſcent from the fluice, and, on the other, by the margin of the river burſting its way over the native rock,—a pleaſing object is produced; while the extreme recluſeneſs of the fituation,— the wild coppice wood on the one hand, and the high grown, impending timber on the other, — add to the picturable effect of the ſcene: which, in a mild evening after rain, is ſtill heightened, and rendered more intereſting, by the animating and beautiful accompa- niment of ſalmon, diſplaying fetes of futile agility;-e-throwing themſelves far out of the water, in endeavouring to ſurmount the cataract; or ſtruggling, with more fatal zeal, to reach the treacherous hold, from whence there is no return. The ſpecies of fiſh taken at this weir are ſalmon, ſalmon peel— provincially 8 2 re paill,“ ——— *——— 4 —— —— — ———— 239 8. SALMON WEIR. RIVER FISH. — NET FISHING. N 1*N, U I E S. Jurv te pall, and, at ſome certain ſeaſons, a few trouts. But the principal part of the produce of this fifhery is taken by NET FISHING. The river, for near a mile below the weir, js broken into rapids and pools, ſome of them very deep- Seven or eight of theſe pools are adapted to the ſeine or draw net, which is drawn once, or twice a day, by four men: with horſes to carry the net, and the fiſh caught; and with dogs to con- vey the end of the rope acroſs the water, where it is too deep or inconvenient to be forded. G The fiſhing ſeaſon commences, in khis river(the Tavey), the middle or latter end of February(but on the Tamer not until ſeveral weeks afterward!), and cloſes in October or November; when the weir is thrown open, and the fiſh, afterward, ſuf- fered to go up to ſpawn.. Preſently after a flood, and when falmon are abundant, ten or twelve are frequently taken at a draught; ſometimes more; up- wards of a hundred, it is ſaid, were once drawn to ſhore- No 1791. wEST DEVONSHIRE. 261 No wonder that a fifhery thus productive, 8. and lying at a diſtance from any habitation,„ G llg ſhould be liable to the depredations of PoACHERS: efpecially as the river forms the boundary of a mining pariſh, notorious for its pilferers. They have been known to come down in bodies, like the game poachers of Norfolk; bidding ten or a dozen men defiance. The net poaching is done, chiefly, in the night; while the river abounds with freſh water. But, in the day time, when the water is dead and clear, the poachers are not inactiye; then uſing the ſpear, which they throw with dexterity, and, by this practice, are known to carry oſt numbers. Nor does daylight deter them, wholly, from net fifhing, when the water 18 fa- vorable and fiſh in plenty. Teſterday, in paſſing, with the Hine and his ſon, through the meadows which margin the river, a party of three or four net poachers were diſcovered. They fled, on our approach; taking refuge among the underwood of the oppoſite banks; leaving behind them a net which has doubtleſs çoſt them the pro- nits of many a month's illicit practice. 8 3 AUGUST REMARES ON RAIN. NM I N T E S. AUGVUST 9. Avou9ST 1. The RAINS of this Country take a fingular appearance: at leaſt, have done ſo, in the commencement of the heavy ſhowers, which have followed each other with little intermiſſion, during ſeveral days paſt. They come on, in a ſort of miſt, or fine rain: not of uniform denſfity; but driving before the wind, in perpendicular laminæ, with void interſpaces; reſembling more, in their proportions and general ap- pearance, combs of honey in the hive, than any other object I can bring to my mind. Theſe rains are brought by the Southweſt wind; are the pröduce of clouds arriving from the ſea, and, being laid hold of by the high lands of this Diſtrict, are checked in their courſe, and overtaken by thoſe which follow; thus becoming more and more denſe, until the heavieſt rain is brou ght on. On this theory, which is verified by fact, Cornwall and this Weſtern and inter- mountainous Uobhr 1791. WEESTDEVONSHIRE. mountainous Diſtrict of Devonſhire, receive more rain than the Vale of Exeter; and this a greater quantity, than the more cen- tral Diſtricts of the Ifland. I have repeatedly obſerved the high lands of Maker and Mountedgecumbe, which riſe fullto the view, from the higher grounds of this demeſne, arreſting a cloud on its arrival from the channel; appearing to hold faſt its lower limb, while the upper parts ſeemed eagerly haſtening to the Dartmore Mountains; and while the ſurrounding Country was enjoying the fineſt weather. The ſingular appearance, remarked above, may perhaps be accounted for, in its being the firſt ſtage of precipitation of the vapors which previoufly formed the unbroken cloud, or uniform miſt. The vertical po- ſition of the laminæ apart, the appearance very much reſembles that of the firſt breaking of the cloud, produced by ſolutions of calcareous matter and fixed alkali; into the flocks which form, and follow each other to the bottom of the flaſk. 8 4 AuGS 263 REMAREKS ON RAIN. DSTRICT. ORCHARPDS. MINUT E 8. Aucvsr 10. AuGuST Zz. Rode to the vIRTUoOuS LADY; a mine, ſituated on the banks of the Tavey, a few miles northward of this place, amidſt the wildeſt ſcenery which ſteep-ſided vallies, rocks, woods, and bleak heaths, can well give. Not one new or intereſting idea, in the Rural Economy of Weſt Devonſhire, ſtruck me, in this ſtroll; except that of paring off and ſubverting, apparently with a Breaſt Plow, the“ ſpine“ or rough ſod of an or- chard: not with a view of burning it; but for the purpoſe of letting it rot, as a“ dreſ- ſing’ or manure to the roots of the trees! a practice, I underſtand, which is not un- uſual. In this caſe, the orchard is rocky; many ſtones, or points of rock, appearing above the ſurface. Inverting the ſward may not Operate more as a manure, than as, by checking the vegetation of the graſs and weeds, it may give püunn 1,9r. WEST DEVONSHIRE. 265 give additional air, moiſture, and freedom 19 to the fibrils of the roots of the fruit trees. ORCHARDS. Nothing, indeed, could well effect this purpoſe better. For the inverted turf being laid flat, and evenly over the ſurface, the os ſhoots from the roots which are not de- s of ſtroyed by the cutting, may be ſimnothered, oi his or checked, by the covering. which bleak in the— ſtruck 11. paring Breaſt Aueusr 7. I have, at length, got a2 prowmo. n or- wHIP-KEIN PLoOw fully into its work, in ; but the field. Sec MIN. 7. dreſ- The firſt day, the horſes were led. The trees ſecond driven, with reins; by a youth, ot un⸗ walking at the ſide of the plow; as much rocky; to make the horſes tractable, and render the earin new operation leſs irkſome to the plowman, as to teach the ycung man the uſe of the yent reins, in harrowing; which is here two lgtt perſons work; even though but one horſe twy were employed. gue This, ————— ——N————— 11. PLOWING. INTROPU- CING WIIIP REINS. CopPplcE HEDGES. M 1 N U l ES. AuUGVST This, the third day, the horſes are be- come tractable; and the plowman is guiding and driving them himfelf: making, with two ſorry rips, and the light plow above defcribed, as good work, as ſix oxen are making, in the fame field, and the ſame work, with the clumſy tool of the Country. IN FUTURE,— let two plowmen afſiſt in the introduction of whip reins, holding and driving alternately: thus, while the horſes are rendered manageable, the plowmen will learn the uſe of the reinos. 1 2⸗ AUeUST 8. A great defect and incon- veniency of the MouNp CoPPICE FPENCES of this Diſtrict, I ſee, is their being liable to be torn down by ſtock, whether cattle or fheep, ſcraping away the baſe of the mound, and letting down the ſides, perhaps in wide ſhoots. The foil thus ſhot down is a ſtep to greater miſchief; and, if not ſtopt, a paflage is made, acroſs the mound. To Avourr are bo. dicing with above en are ſame mtry. diſt in g and horſes n wil To prevent theſe miſchiefs, many Diſtrict, and particularly of this eſtate, nee been faced with ſtone:— the orc dinary flate rock of the country; moſtly ſet on-edge, or rather on-end; which, by the people of the Country, is conſidered as preferable to laying them horizontall ly, Moit of the fenges een faced with ſtone, on in the maſon's manner. of this farm have both ſides; equal perhaps to the fee ſimple value of the land. For, the mound ſwell, at an expence, from firſt to laſt, as the roots in the body of the facing is of courſe bulged out, and is at length thrown down; thus leaving the fence, if not tigiely re- paired, in a worſe ſtate than thoſe which have been left free for blackthorns, and other bruſhwood, to grow and defend the ſides of the banks. Where this bruſhwood has got hold, and outlived the overhanging, and drip, of weiceſpreading coppice wood, growing on he top of the mound, the ſides are ſecure; for being cropped and ſtunted by paſ- turing ſtock, they have grown, in many parts, thick and impervious: and it is ex- traordinary, 287 12. COPPICE HEDGES. —õõ—— 268 12. COoPPICE HEDGES. GUARDING HEDGE MOUNDS. M I N I E 8. AuGUST traordinary, that the idea of planting or encouraging ſuch bruſhwood, and ſtriking off the overhanging topwood, to prevent its being checked in its growth, ſhould not have taken place; inſtead of that of facing the ſides with ſtones; feteht, perhaps, ſome diſtance on horſeback. Seeing the evident propriety of this treatment, I have been applying it to a hedge, of three or four years growth, from the laſt cutting; as a ſpecimen, or pattern, for the remainder of ſuch as will admit of its application. The blackthorns and other fhrubs, which grow at the foot of the mound, and on its fides, I have endeavoured to ſpread, over the face of the mound; faſtening them, there, with hooked pins, as fruit trees to a wall: firſt clearing the brambles and weeds which grew before and behind them; and, afterward, trimming off the looſe ſpray on the face of the whole: whether thorn, furze, bramble, or briar. Finally, with a long handled hook, ſtriking off the over- hanging boughs of the coppice wood; leaving a regular face, as even as the live 5 ſtu ff. b. pie wa —— Araas anting u 1 ſbilin preren dould no ff facin perhap of this 2tto; vth, fron patter, admit Gf s, Wlch nd on is ad, over g them rees to? nd weech M; u fpray- er thor, , wih the oſer- oe Wod g the lie of. 179t. WEST DEVONSHIRE. ſtuff, at preſent, will admit of: not perpen- dicular; but leaning ſomewhat inward, towards the middle of the fence; ſo as to give every twig, from the bottom to the top, light, air, and headroom. An advantage of this operation, beſide that of putting the fence in the way of improvement, is that of freeing the borders from weeds and brambles, and from the drip and fhade of outhanging boughs. 13. AvGUuST II1. Rode to the head of PrLYMoUTH LEAT.* This ARTIFICIAL EROOkK is taken out oöof the river MEW, towards its ſource; at the foot of Sheepſtor Tor; in a wild moun- tain dell. 3 I expected * Leat, Late, or Laxe, as it is ſometimes pronounced, is perhaps a corruption of Lead or Conductor; being ap- plied, I believe, to any arftificial channel for conducting water, —õ—————õ——— 269 12. GUARDING HEDGE MOUNDS PLVYMOU TIE BROOK. 270 3 9 3. 6 8 3 PL. VMOUTI 1 BROOK. 1 4 8 8 4 7 M I N U † E S. Auever I expected to have found an accurate gauge, to regulate the quantity of water; agreeably to the act of parliament, under which it is taken. But in this I was diſappointed. The Mew, itſfelf, is there but a moderately ſized brook. Acroſs it a weir or dam is formed, of large rough ſtones, with which the bed of the brook is thickly ſtrewed. A paltry, ill ſſiapen, vooden frame or floodgate, with a gully underneath it(through which moſt of the water paſſes), receives about half the waters of the Mew; now lower than uſual, but not at their loweſt. In the dam is another flioodgate; lying lower than that of the made brook, to draw otf the water from this, during r epairs. G The dRuene of the Leat differs, in di- menſfions, according to the ground it is led over. Acroſs open plain.. t is ten or twelve feet wide, with flat ſloping banks; the water running ſix or eight inches deep, according to the deſcent; which is gene- rally ſufficient to make it ripple gently Over the pebbles, with vhich its bottom is ſtrewed; ſorming a living ſtream, a lovely brook. Arorn dacchrat f watr. t, unde 8 T WA s then Acroſs i e roug. brocki- ſbapen 12 gulh t of the he wates ſual, bot Hanother ol the er from „ in G— t ig lel lt i ten g banbs nes deey 18 gelt· epthy ofe ltremed, 1791. WEST DEVONSIHIIR k. The chief difficulty, in executing this valuable work, was in carrying it Tn the point of an almoſt perpen dicular roc! where a wooden aqueduct was firſt con- ſtructed; but where a more ſubſtantial Channel has fince been formed, with maſonry. It is obſervable that the mill of M lavey, ſituated beneath this brook, and fed b by the ſame ſource, the Mew,— and about whoſe waters, for want of accurate and ſubſtantial regulators, a perpetual contention is kept up,.--is fed by an artit feal. channel, per- fectly reſemb Sling the Leat un der deſcription. The mill of Milton, near this pla 18 ſ. plied with water, in a ſimi ar manner. And, it is highly probable, lsis Mill Leats furmiſhed the deſigner with of the Plymouth Brook* Whatever fortunate thou eeh gave riſe to t, its utility is great: not only in ſup Pplying a— town with wa ter; but in watering * In ſome part of the Mill I. eat of N Mavey, a ſtone, I was told, is placed, with the date, 1600, upon it. The artificial Brook, or New- River, of L ondon was executed about 1610. 13. PLYMOUTH BROOK. MILL LEATS. MADE BROOES. 272² 13. MaADE BROOKS. i N U I E§6. Avoeusr watering a chain of uplands, fifteen or twenty miles in extent. The gratification experienced in falling in, abruptly, as fre- quently happens, with ſo ample a ſtream, in places where ſuch an object is the leaſt expected, yet where jt js moſt wanted, 1s of a fingular and ſuperior kind. How many Ktuations, in this Iſtand, wanting ſuch relief, might have it in a ſimilar way. Where a fufficient quantitv of water can be had at the ſource, much of the coſt might be repaid, by letting off branches, to the adjacent country. Upon Roberough Down, a rill is taken out of the Plymouth Brook, for the uſe of a Gentleman, who lives ſome two miles off, eloſe by the banks of the Tamer! This rill not only ſupplies bis houſe, but fur- niſhes water to paſturing ſtock, in its way. In this caſe, the quantity of water is accurately regulated, by a perforated ſtone, ſet on-edge, in a ſort of ſtone trough; the aperture circular, and about three and a half inches diameter: furnifhing a fufficient ſupply, Avern 179. WEST DEVONSHIRE. 273 fteen or ſupply, if frugally managed, for a hamlet 13. ifienimn or village. MaDE BROOKS. es fee But the ancient rights 85 wWATER MILLS eam, in are bars to improvements of this nature, as de leal well as to the watering of lands: rights, nted, t however, which might, ow, be alienated without exceſſive inconvenience to the Uand,— community 5 windmills and ſteam engines it in rendering th dem no longer necsſary; though, in ſome ſituations, a few might ſtill be dtet can uſeful. the cot ranches, taken Kegfe 14 lles off, ¹Thä AUSUST 12. Rode to PLvyMPToON, in bot fr. the SovrH HAMs of Devonſhire. its way. The ſcenery about Plymbridge is ſweetly DisrRIC7 watel 5 recluſe; forming a happy contraſt to the ted ſiohs, open view from Lord Boringdon's arches; eh;t the from whence Plymouth Sound and Har- ree d bour, with the intereſting ſcenery which ſoffelen ſurrounds them, are ſeen immediately under lapph the eye. VoL. II. T A broad 4 — A———————————————*—— ————=—ͤ——————— 274 n 14- DISTRICT. 1 PLVMPTON 3 FAIR. PLVMPTON. MI IN U I E 8. AueusT A broad view of the South Hams is alſo commanded from this proud point. The Country immediately belowit, about Ridgeway and the Plymptons, is ſingularly broken; yet moſt of it well ſoiled. A Fair, of ſome repute, led me to Plymp- ton, this morning. But it fell ſhort of my expectation. About a hundred and fifty head of cattle, chiefly cows and calves; with a few half-fat oxen, and leſs than half-fat cows. Alſo a few pens of ſheep; moſtly poor thin-carcaſed animals. Altogether a mean collection. The Borough of Plympton is moſt en- viably ſituated. The climature mild, al- moſt, as that of the South of Europe. The ſcenery around it delightful; and the ſoil ofa ſuperior quality; yet, in its nature, dry and clean. Proviſions of every kind abundant and cheap. The Town, or rather large genteel Village, is itſelf neat; its in- habitants reſpectable; and it is ſituated near a great public road, without being in- commoded by it. AUGUST Abou 1 159 2 1 WEST DEVONSHIRE 275 s A vabout zularly ymy- 13. ert of 1 and AuGuST 12.(See MiN. 12.) Soine TKaININO HEDGES. 8 and older hedges, on the ſides of harveſt roads, d leß whoſe boughs were grown too large, and ens Of reached too high, to be cut from the umalb. ground, Ihave had“ pared' in the follow- ing manner. t en- Put two oxen to a waggon, and two men —, al- into it, with hooks of different lengths; rope. placing the waggon cloſe to the hedgebank. d the In this fituation, the men were level with zture, their work; cutting out the larger boughs, Kind with common hedg⸗ bills, and ſtriking off rather the ſpray, with lighter tools; the waggon its in- proceeding with the work. tuatedh In this way, the two men cleared, in the mgi courſe of yeſterday afternoon, not leſs than a hundred rods, ſufficiently to prevent the corn from being thraſhed out, or torn off — the harveſt waggons, by the outhanging -005 ů T 2 boughs. 276 15. TRAINING HEDCES. RECLAIM- INGLAND. M 1 N U E 5. AuenST boughs. A diſpatch which could not have been obtained in any other manner. Even in the training of younger hedges (of this Country), a waggon might be em- ployed with advantage. 16. AUGUST 13. CLEARING ARABLE LaNps FROM SToNES. The ſoils of this Diſtrict are much incommoded with ſtones of different kinds; but chiefly with the ate rock, of which the Country may be ſaid to be formed; and a ſpecies of chryſtal — provincially“ whitaker“— which is fre- quently met with in large blocks, either entire, or partially incorporated with the flate rock. A field, now under fallow,—which has long been noted for ſewl⸗=breaking, I am clearing in this way. The plowman carries, in the body of his ſewl, a parcel öf ſmall rods; and, where he finds a ſtone, ſets up . one ABL of this ſtones the y be ryſtal fre- either h the ch los „Lan carries f ſmall 3 ip one 779r. WEST DEVONSHIRE. one of his marking ſticks. Two men fol- low, with ſhovels, mattocks, and crows, raiſing the ſiones; and baring the zoes, to be raiſed, at leiſure, by men accuſtomed to quarry work. Thus, at a comparatively trifling expence, the land is freed, plow- furrow deep, for ever, from obſtructions: not only of the plow, but of harrows; which would now be ſeen riding upon flat ſtones, from one end of the field to the other, were not a perſon employed to follow, and releafe them from ſo aukward and un- profitable a ſituation: leaving, however, the ſtones upon the land; leſt this part of his employment ſhould be wanting, in future. 17. AUGUST 27. CLEARING FOUE LANDS. (See MiN. 7.) This and another piece, ſtill fouler, and in a worſe ſtate of tillage, I have treated, and intend to treat, in the following manner. About a month ago, one of theſ fields, then in a ſtate of looſe broken ground, was 13 laid 277 16. RECLAIM- INGLAND. RECLAIM- INGLAND. 6u 2 78 17. RECLAIM- 1NG LAND. TILLAGE. M IN U I. S. AudusT laid up into narrow ribs(the gardener's trenches) by a half plowing; with a wreſted plow, and with thę ſtern ſet TEN INCHES wide; forcing up the ridgets, as high and ſharp as poffible; in order to deſtroy the root weeds, by drought, and by breaking their field of paſturage; and to give the ſeeds of weeds an addition of air and ſurface to promote their vegetation. About a weck ago, the firſt-plowed part was harrowed acroſs the ribs, with long- tined harrows;— levelling the ſurface com- pletely, and following them with a roller and finer harrows, hung behind it: thus grinding down every clod, and effectually deſtroying every ſeedling weed which had vegetated.- h ſürface is now thickly ſet with another crop of ſeedling weeds,— which I am turning under by oNE DEEP PLOWING, acroſs the former ribs, and in narrow plits, but with a BROAD SHARE, and with a STERN TwELVE IMCHPS wIDE; thus moving every particle of the ſoil, about TENINCHES DEEP(fome inches deeper, perhaps, than it has ever been plowed before), ——* ——— —ʒ—⅓;— — 1791r. WE SBRIT DEVONSHIRE. before), leaving the furface rough and cloddy. Over this rough ſurface, I am ſpreading a moderate dreſfing of yard dung; to be dragged and rolled and harrowed, until the dung be effectually incorporated, with the freſh raw ſoil, brought up; thereby to me- liorate it, and to force the ſeeds of weéeeds, with which it has, no doubt, been amply ſupplied, century after century. The weed ſeeds having ſpent themſelves, and the crude ſoil having received the in- fluence of the atmoſphere, the dreſſing will be turned in, with a mean-depth or ſome- what fhallow plowing; and the ſurface be ſuffered to remain in the rough ſtate, in which the plow leaves it, during winter. In the ſpring, as ſoon as the clods have thrown out their ſeedling weeds, and the weather will permit, the ſurface will be ground down to powder, to provoke the remainder to vegetation; and, in due ſeaſon, be ſown with barley and ley herbage. Thus, for the loſs of oNE YEAR'SRENT, theſe fields will probably be benefited for twenty years to come. 1 4 The 279 17»*, MANURING. FAILOWING. 280 EIGHTEEN MONTHS FALLOw. M I N U T E s. Abousr 1794. The ſucceſs has anfwered the fulleſt expectation. The field which was managed more immediately under my own eye, is, Iam of opinion, five pounds an acre better for the operation; reckoning on twenty years, from the time of performing It. It is obſervable, that, in every caſe where circumſtances will allowit, an EIGHTEEN MONTHS FALLOW ſhould be broken up, in autumn, or early winter, by a rib plowing; ſuffering it to lie, in an expoſed ſtate, during winter. This, beſides em- ploying the winter's froſts in the great work of purification, forwards the buſineſs of the enſuing ſummer, and renders the whole operation a matter of leiſure and conve- niency; and, in the end, COMPLEAT: putting the ſoil in its moſt profitable ſtate of exertion, for a length of years. Under proper management and with the aſſiſtance of FALLOw CROPs, Lands, THUS EF- FECTUALLV RECLAIMED, may not require a repetition of the operation, for half a century afterwrards. where EEN roken farib poled s em. work ofthe rhole onve- AT: e ate Under ſtance EF. — 1791. WEST DEVONSHIRE. 18. AUGUST 28. A field of twenty-four acres was ſowing with Turneps, when I arrived here;—with too little tillage, too little ſeed, and ſome of it with dung much too long; the harrows drawing the ſeed into ſtripes and bunches. The conſe-— quence is, the crop is irregular, and the few plants which appear are nearly ſuff- cated in wild Muſtard, and other weeds. Some light hoes were ordered to be made, from old fithe blades; and ſix of them were put into the hands of women, who had never hoed, and one into the hands of a man, who had. The directions, in going the firſt time over the ground, were, to thin the luſters or bunches, and to check the weeds; without attempting to ſet the Turnep plants out, ſingly, or at full diſtances; and even, in doing this, to proceed flowly at the outſet. Hitherto, 281 HOING TURNEPS. 18. HOING TURNpS. N U. E. 9. 1 M. I Hitherto, they have performed this work better than was expected. Indeed, by adhering to the rules, here laid down, Turnep hoers will ſpontaneouſly grow out of them. By ſetting off ſlowly, and not attempeing too great nicety, at Krft, the employment becomes pleafurable, and the eye and the hands are imperceptibly taught the art: eſpecially if the greater errors which ariſe be, from time to time, pointed out, by one who is converſant in the ape- ration. They have now begun to go over the firſt-ſown part, a ſecond time; ſetting out the plants fingly, and at due diſtances; namely ten to twelve inches apart(the hoes being eight inches long); cxcept Mhere two plants ſtand near each other, in a vacant ſpace; in which caſc, both plants are permitted to ſtand*. Hoing Turneps, with eight inch hoes, made rom ſithe blades, is moderate work for women(ſuch hoes are light and paſs freely * For more particular remarks and directions, reſpect- ihg this opecation, ſce Mip. ECoN. Vol. II. P. 198. AuUGUST ———— 1791. wEST DEVONSHIRE. freely through the ſoil); and, by proceed- ing on khe principles kere adopted, any woman, with an eye and hands, may be ſoon taught the art: will, in one full eaſon, become a fufficient Turnep hoer. Howeligible, in Countries where women are not employed in reaping, to teach them the uſe of the Turnep hoe. What avails the ſlown aeſs of their work, the firſt ſeaſon, compared with the introduction of ſo valu- 6— able a practice:: eſpecially to a large occu- pier; and, ſtill more, to a man of large eſtate. 19. SEPTEMBER 1. It is cuſtomary, here, to ſhoe working oxen; although they are rarely employed upon the road. The ſtonineſs of the ſoils, and rockineſs of the lanes and driftways, may account for the practice. In the form of the ſhoes, or the method of ſetting them on, I ſee little new. A few parei⸗ 28 18. HOING TUKRNEDS. 6 SHOEING OXEN. —— — — — N k N 8 E. 3. SEPT. particulars of practice, nevertheleſs, require to be noticed. Having been caſt, or thrown, and his legs bound together, in the uſual manner, the animal is forced nearly upon his back, and his feet hoiſted up to a con- venient height, by means of a forked pole, ſome ſive feet long; the fork taking the bandage which binds the feet, the other end being fixed firmly in the ſward, upon which they are ufually thrown. This fimple contrivanee ide es great firmneſs, ſteadineſs, and convenieney to the ope- ration. That the indrviduals may be the more conveniently laid hold of, and trammelled, the team are driven to the place of mhoeing, in their yokes, and hung together with chains, the hindmoſt ehain being faſtened to a large root, or ſtool, in the hedge; by the ſide of Which they are uſually placed; in order to prevent their running off, on ſeeing one of their companions thrown down and roughly treated, in her ſight, — immediately under their eyes Today, the remaining three of a team, ſhoeing in this extraordinary way, being alarmed — 179. WEST DEVONSHIRE. 285 ) 6. rnun alarmed and rendered ſavage, by ſeeing the 19. 4 l.— thron ſavage treatment of their comrades, broke SHOEING h. OXEN. the ulr from their hold; ran off; the pair throw- Allal 2. J ing down the ſingle ox encumbered by his rly upa* daca yoke;— dragged him;— broke off one of 2d p0 his horns, with its core cloſe to his head; — Inn l cut the finew of his fore leg, almoſt 8 M. 85 de g through, with one of the hooks; and have eller.. thus entirel) ſpoilt Bim. d, upon 2 Seee— In Some means of facilitating the fhoeing T1ii— of oxen are much to be deſired. I am otf flumnel,.„. 1 opinion that were rearing calves, which are hhe Ope.. 3 intended for work, accuſtomed to have b their feet taken up, and their hoofs beaten de more. lei with a hammer; and were a repetition of melle. 3. 84— this practice to take place, in the winter delnd, ſeaſon, when the ſteers are in the yards, or 2).. 1 er wit in ſtalls, they might afterwards be fhod as ene horſes lge; h Working cattle ſfhould alſo be accuſ- LDkklne ATTLKEE nhcdi tomed, from their earlieſt age, to be driven of, a and led about, ſingly; ſhould be wholly trorn reclaimed from a ſtate of wildneſs; as work- er fo ing horſes are. The ox, under kind and generous treat- aamn, ment, is eafily familiarized, and rendered „beibg docile. Darmed — 286 4 QENERAL WORK. 4 4 1 IMPROVE- f MENTS SUGGESTED. 1 3 4* 25. LeNpoOx, 1794. Having, in the ſuimmer of 1790, pent ſome months at Maidſtone, in Kent; to regiſter the Hor cULTURE, and the other branches of Rural Economy, as they are practiſed in that fertile Diſtrict; and having, in the Spring and early part of the Summer of 1791, paid ſoine attention to the Parnham practice of cultivating ac hops, as well as to that and other Ruraàl Subjects, in Weſt Suſſex; I judged it expe- dient to return to Farnham, early in Sep- tember, in the ſame year, to be preſent 1. 1 the picking and curing, in that Diftric; 82 in order to enable me, the better, to draw up a Berlie cal account of the management of the Hop; in a general account of the Rural Practice 8 Sorrienn Coux- TIES; which I hope foon to offer to the Public. Before f left Buckland, I digeſted the ideas which I had colles Kted, reſpecting the preſent preſent ſtate and improvement of its 25. charming demeſne. Many of thoſe ideas MpRovr- — 3 MENTS related, of courſe, to private concerns; suGGESTED. 2 7 1—. many of them appear, in the foregoing Digeſt, of the practice of the Diſtrict at ſuinret large; and others, in the preceding Mi- lltone, nutes. Some few of them, howéever, have LTUR not yet been introduced into this Work; conony, and theſe are inferted, here. Fer wha Jikrit; applies to the Barton of Buckland is more par d. or leſs applicable to the lands of the ſur- ttenticn rounding Country, and may furniſh hints Niraimg for thoſe of other Diſtricts. r Nural dEXpé- 7 Sey- ten This, in foil and furface, is properly a LeAnn ibri SHEEP FARM. Sheep, Turneps, Barley, DRY. Varn temporary Leys, and Wheat, ought cer- 3 tainly to be conſidered as PRIMARY eini OBEoTrs. The DAIRVY ſeems to ſtand i ſecond; as being, in this ſituation, profi- 45 table in itſalf; and as a ſource of working wüt cattle. But no part of it appears to be dür well adapted to the GRAZING OF CAT- ſted tlr E dingthe, rreſen 2. 1— j — 20. OBIECTS OF HUSBAN- DRV. RIVER BREAKS. M 1 N IH f E 8 TLE, which preſents itſelf as a ſubordinate object; to be confined merely to the aged cows and oxen, which the farm itſelf throws off. A main object, on many accounts, is to keep the manager at home. Hence, adopt a courfe of tillage, fuitable to the foil and ſituation; with liveſtock fuitable, in ſpecies and proportion, to the crops: adhering as cloſely to this outline of management, as ſcaſons and circum- ſtances will permit. Under thefe regu- lations, the Hine would have little to take off his attention from the interior operationis of the farm; except the diſpoſal of its immediate produce. He would have no riding about the Country to buy ſtock, nor any trifling away of his time, in felling them. Farming and jobbing can ſeldom be united, with profit: even by a Principal; much leſs by an Agent. Some RIvER BREAES are wanted to defend the meadow lands. Stones, not timber, appear to be the proper materials for theſe Breaks. 1794 · Uitable eſtock to the outline ercum- regu- to take eratiof, 1 ot its aye N ſtock, felling dom be neipal nted to nes, nll materil 1794. Hitherto, piles and planks had been uſed, to confine the rapid Tavey within its channel; much valuable timber having been uſed, 4 m time to time, in e weiring;“ while the bed of the river is 1 S ·. 1 2.—— ſtrewed with tereu f for this S Pole I had one conſtructed, as a ſpecimen, the moſt difficult ſituation ac ſaloih ,— in front of the Salmon Weirn, and within the reach of its whirlpool, in times of g GC floods; at one fourth of the e xpence which ber break would have coſt. It is built with ary ſtones, collected from the river bed. 1— 1 1— The permanency of this looſe ſtonework depends, entirely, on the principle con- ₰ 1 8 ſtruction. The face of the Break is every current; which acts upon 1 as ſuper- incumbent weight on an arch. The baſe line, ſome fifteen or twen aty yards long, is the ſegment of a circle, with its outer or 1 1— convex fide to the water. The wall, from four or five, to two or three feet high, is 5 ,—z,—— 1 Carrled UP Ol ering, Very conſiderably, ae ſtream; not with a ſtraight line, VO. II. but 289 20. RIVER BREAERS. 290 20. RIVER BREAKS. „ 1 N U T f. 8. but ſomewhat convex, and rounding off at the top,— until it forms nearly a horizontal paving. The ſtones are laid, with their larger ends inward; and not horizontally, but dipping, in ſuch a manner, as to lie ſquare with the face of the wall; which is hus placed in the poſturèé of falling, towards the bank of earth, that was rammed in firmly behind, as the wall was carried up. The whole to be filled in, level with the adjoining meadow; thick turf being firmly laid, in continuation of the pave- ment; that the water, when it Ooverflows the meadow, may paſs ſmoothly over the break, and thereby prevent the adjoining ſward from being torn up, by a diſturbed current. A violent flood diſplaced ſome of the uppermoſt ſtones, for want of the ground being filled up, and prôperly finiſhed, behind them; and the eddy of the W eir pool ſcooped away part of the gravel from the foundation, ſo as to endanger it; until large ſtones were thrown againſt it, for its de- fence. Where there is a proper choice fſtones; and — g oflr ri2ontl- th thei ontally, to lie hich is fallin 9, rammed carried gel with rf bein pafe- 9 8 perfiow per the joining Koorbed of the ground behind elr po0 WEST DEVONSHIRE. and if the top and foundation be from time to time attended to; a river Break, built on theſe principles, may endure for a length of years. The preſent dairy cows, ſome few ex- cepted accord ill with the Barton of Buck- 4 αᷣ land: which is entitled, in every point of view, to the fineſt breeds of liveſtock the Ifland at preſent poſſeſſes. The degenerate A breed, now upon it, are unprofitable, even s molds for working oxen; the breeding of which ought to be a principal object in keeping them. Some of the oxen, the deſcendants of the old ſtock of the farm, are almoſt unexceptionable: their ſize being their principal deficienncy. The preſent degeneracy of the cattle appears to have ariſen out of a wrong principle of management, of the late hines; namely, that of ſelling everything inclined to fat- neſs, ſo as to fetch money; and buying in anything for cheapneſs, without regard to ſpecific quality Ae. LI 2 x& This error in practice has been mentioned before; — 1 he put jt is of fo treacherous and miſchievous a nature, it CaAnn cannot be too often reprobated. 291 20. RIVER BREAKS. 2 20- SALMON FISHERV. MͤN 1I E s. The Salmon Fiſhery, at preſent, is a nurſery of Poachers; owing not ſo much to the remoteneſs of its reſpect to the ee as to the ſkreens of wood, which now riſe on either ſide of the river; and hide thein, in a great — 8 8 G C5 1 from detection. Under its preſe ment, it is an object worth rhe nermiß t0, and of courſe draws them off from honeſt, but leſs profitable, employments. The moſt eligible courſe to be taken ap- pears to be that of throwing difficulties in their way; ſo as to make it not wort! their attention. To attempt to prevent them by force, eſpecially while the mines remain open, would evidently be imprudent. 7) Perhaßps, the men, who are employed in Lrer me the net, ſhould be paid not by the tide, or the number of times they draw it, but by the number, or weight, of the ſiſh caught: thus uniting their own intereſt 8 1 with that of their employer. Even nig ht at, by this means, be conficle- —₰ (/. 85 A (d d; not ſo much by keeping watch, as by every pool being fifhed care- 1 77. Fully, before the night came on. Now, if the net be wetted, their hire is due. ——ę——ᷓꝗ—— t, b WEST DEVONSHIRE. 293 3 much Or perbaps deſtroy the net-fifhil ng alto- 20. ' With gether; by Plaeine obſtructions in the ALMON eens of pools; and depend eele on the Weir: rllnT. of the which, if properly regulated and duly at- Alure, tended, would perhaps receive all the fiſh nage- which enters the river; or, in much proba- dding bility, a far greater Durnbe„ than are now from legally taken, by the weir and nets jointly. Nents. Giving a weir man a fixed proportion of the n ap- produce,—for his attendance during the ties in fiſhing ſeaſon,— for ſeeing that the pools worth were kept guarded to prevent net fifhing,— revent for keéping down the ſkreens,— and for ninés attending daily and hourly, during dead lent. Water, to prevent ſpearing,— would, in this ed in caſe, be requiſite. the At preſent, the Fifhery is either neg- w it. lected, or it interferes, unprofitably, with e fſ the ordinary buſineſs of the Farm. tereſt On whatever principle a Fiſhery of this night kindis conducted, the perſons employed in Mide- it ought to be rewarded, in proportion to epig the quantity taken; eſpe cially when they . are not immediately under the eye of their 7 employer.. U 5 OoToBßrh 294 DISTRICT. GEOLOGY. M IN U 1 E. Ocr- 2.1* Ocroßnn 3o. Rode to Mir Tox ABBOTS; by TAVISTOCK and LAMER- ToN. Some charming graſslands about Taviſ- tock; ſtill better before Lamerton; and yet more excellent, at Milton Abbots. Confiderable herds of fine oxen, and good fatting cows, are now in theſe grounds: ſome of which are ſtill full of graſs;— highly colored, and apparently af a ſuperior quality. How extraordinary, that Plots, ſuch as theſe are, ſhould be ſcattered in ſo bleak and barren a Country. Between Lamerton and Milton, an unproductive Heath inter- venes; the rich lands of the latter being nearly ſurrounded with ſuch Heaths, and overlooked by Mountains: the fituation inhoſpitable in the extreine. The fertile lands of Lamerton and Taviſtock are inſu- lated in a fimilar manner. But Oer ILTox AMER- t Tavil- e; and ots. cen, and n theſt full of entiy of fuch 3¹ do bleas 179. WEST DEVONSHIRE. But the extent of theſe lands, collectiv 2* — 3 y, is fmall: and in a ſurvey of the R 7 Practice of the Weſt of England, hoß are rather a fubject of admiration, than of im- portancé. NovEMBER I. The ROUGHCAST wwork of this Diſtrict is executed in a ſu- perior manner; being not only durable, but pleaſing to the eye. Some lately done at Ivybridge is equal, in beauty, to dreſſed ſtone work. Mr. Sta- pleton's houſe, in this neighbourhood, done in a ſimilar way, has now ſtood up- wards of half a century; and, excepting at the immediate foundation, and beneath ſome of the windows, where water has been ſuffered to lodge, the whole remains as firm as when firſt done; appearing to have acquired a ſtonelike tex tture. In both theſe caſes Chryſtaline gravel has been uſed; U 4. and à 295 212 CEOLOGVY. CO ATING BUILDINGS. —-— 296 22. COATING BUILDINGS. M I N I E S. Nov. and both of them are falſe-jointed, to re- ſemble dreſſed ſtone work. An intelligent workman, whom J acci- dentally converſed with on this fubject, ſuggeſted an admirable fheory of the operation of roughcaſting; making an accurate diſtinction between this and Stucco work. STvoco being laid on, In h f baſle, more or leſs air is unavoidably ſhut up,— let it be ev er ſ ſo well worked; and the very expanſion and contraction of this air, by heat and froſt, is ſufficient, to break the texture of the Stucco. Beſide, let the working be done ever ſo carefully, cracks, though not evident to the eye, will be formed in drying; and if, by means of theſe microſcopic fifiures(or of thoſe formed by the expanſion and partial ischpe of the con- fined air), water take poſſeſſion of the air cells, the periſhing and peeling become na- tural conſequences. RouoHcasr, on the contrary, being applied, in a fiuid ſiate, and by little and little, ſills up every pore, and cranny in the face of the wall; as well as in the face of eVery N Noy le Very air, by ſet the racks, I be theſe ed by econ. he alf me lla- being le and „ 91 Ace U elely — SG 1 N TISAST H P 01. VV I 1 L. V ◻ NS 11 K E. 7 1 , ene aſee h He VOAJ 1uCCSCGII 8 GOat; VIC be . 1=— 10 tore anotner COoat 18 Snveco is analogous to the materials of a dam, or the bank of a canal, formed with earth, in a of paſte: ROUGH CoaT- 1NG, to the puddle of Canal Makers: to intimately mixed with water, Ppermitted to ſubfide in a liquid ltate:. thus 1 SAS A 4—— 1 Preventing alr Cells; and forming a cloſe, XBBSAAN 2 homoæelleot 5 LIIId1S⸗ η DEOCEMBER 10. TURNEPS.(See MiN. 18.) Several acres of theſe Turneps were, in my abſence, omitted to be hoed. I CHARLOCkK, As FO0D OF CATTLE. . ——— ———— ͦD————ʃ MI N U EE S. DzEzc. — A found them, overgrown with Charlock,— a yard high, and as yellow as a Rape field: the ſeeds of the lower pods being fully föormed. Part had been drawm by hand gccording to the cuſtom of the Country ₰ 24 5 XIIT O* ₰ 7 and thrown in heaps: an expenſiv vaſteful pra A fems cart loads were ordered to be unozine elidf enough to prevent, as much as poffible, the injury of the Turneps,— and low enough, to get beneath the pods ne Charlock; and were ſtrewed over 2Q 1 2 an adjoining paſture ground. ꝙ Sheep eat the tips of the leaves of the Turneps, partially cut off by the ſithe; and alſo the leaves of the Charlock; but eft the pods and the ſtalks of the latter, in a great meafure untouched. 1 5 eating the whole up, clean; before they picked up the Turnep leaves. 5 1 7 rprade LaA † K H 1 T 7 Four Or Hve eles kept about twenty head of young and ſtore cattle, near three wecks. Had the food been given to them 7 b V cch=r 1791. WEST DEVONSI IR L. 299 de fiell Kore cattle, a month. This, added to the 234 g fully faving of the expence, compared with that HARLOCK, phand, Öf drawing, cannot be reckoned at leſs than weue duntl), twenty ſhillings an acré. e and They eat it ſo voraciouſly, that one or two of them were repeatedly plown, or do pe ſufflated, byit: and a heifer failed ſo much, while at this food, chat it was thought right to have her butchered. On opening eps,— 1 3 her, howeé her diſorde eared evi- e poch her, however, her diforder appeared evi dd Ofe dently to have been of ſome duration; a part of her inteſtines being in a ſtate of 3 of ſfr decay. The pungency of the Charlock 484 1 †f the; might, or might not, have ſtimulated her bunt diſorder. „ 7 Be this as it may, it 18 fufficiently proved, 2) 1 that healthy cattle may be kept on Char- nar- lock in pod, with ſafety and profit*. UlOCkK; 4 DECEM e they 4 * Part of it, the rough Charlock or WILDP MusTARD 7 uf. Q 6- Feni(Sinapis Arvenſis); Part, the ſmnooth Charlock, or WILD er thret Pape(Braſſica Napus). co themn t Wa, rly 95 ſtore l CABBAOES. M IN U T E. 5. Drc. 24. ECEMEBER IO. The only uſeful idea I have been able to collect, from the late manager of this farm, is his method of cut- ing garden Cabbages. Inſtead of clearing the ſtalk or ſtem from the lower leaves, and croſs-ſlitting the Lrown or top of the ſtalk, in the uſual manner,—he cuts out the body of the Cabbage, only; letting all t the open, large Ipreading leaves, remain upon the ſtem. The conſe equence is a ſecond, and per- haps a third, e crop of Cabbages; not one, but many, upon a ſtem; third crop, a Cabbage tree. There are a31 l . ſ now, in the garden 3 place, ſeveral ſteins, with four, five, or more wellſized 1 table Cabbages on cach: and, applied to 8 PP field Cabl Cabbages, which are cut early, the principle may be a good one. The old 88 onr* leaves continue to draw up the ſap, until j9 DrTr 8 VISOTOUs forming, by the —— de. — 179 1. WEST DEVONSHIRE. vigorous ſhoots are formed; when they are obſerved to droop, decay, and fall at the foot of thie plant; being, perhaps, in every ſtage of their decay, uſeful to the young proge ny; in ldins the ground, in keeping down the weeds, and in furniſhing a fupply of mephitic gas to their riſing offspring: advantages which are loſt, in the ordinary i method of treatment. Many of the Pehndee are killed by t ſudden check of the ſap, and thoſe nds ſuryive, throw Oout numerons, and Of Ccourfe, weak 1, er ellime 1 fhoots; few of them ſwelling to any ſize, — or taking the Cabbage form. — η‿O 25 DECEMBER I18. A 800IETV Of ACRI- CULTURE, I underſtand, is now forming in the South Hams. In my late excurſion, throngh Diſtrict, I heard of aPlow- ing Match,“ at Kingſbridge, and another, at Ivybridge; where Meetings of Country Gen- ——— 0 24. CABBAGES. ACEICUL TURAL 80CIETIES. 302 2§. AGRICUL- TURAL S0CIETIES. M I N U. T K 8. Dre. Gentlemen, and ſubſtantial Veomen, diſtri- buted REWARDS TO GOOD WORKMEN: a rational Inſtitution, which, while it con- tinues to adhere to this principle, cannot fail of proving beneficial to the Country. If mere pRECEPTIVE SOCIETIES, with- out the power of EXAMPLE, IN THEM- SELVEs, can be materially ſerviceable to the advancement of Agriculture, their object, I am of opinion, ought to be that of EN- COURAGING GOOD HUSBANDRY, among pPROFESSIONAL MEN: Of ſearching for SUPERIOR HoUSBANDMEN; and diſtin- guiſhing them, in ſuch manner, as to create a ſpirit of emulation; and of afſiſting ſuch diſtinguiſt ed Managers to procure re- quiſite means of improvement. Thus placing them in a conſpicuous light, and making them the honorable inſtruments of that example, which a mere preceptive Society has not, in itſelf, the power of ſetting. But, on a LARGE ESTAT F⸗ this may be 7 t to know, th Tiipineds „ 2 S 1. r r, r vho are moſt worthy of being made the diſtin- Da-. 1791. WES T DE V ONSHHIRF. 393 n, diſti. KMx. diſtinguiſhed leaders of ſts Sihrererrene 25. . 12 1 4 11 . and his caſe, he can encourage them, AGRicuE- It Con. and, in this Ca 19 elllll TURAI. according to their merit; without being sociEriEs. liable to the cabals of Theoriſts and Ad- venturers, to which mixed Societies are Türm ever fubject. A few pounds expen KEM-— 4 le to the robjec ö“ . would, in moſt caſes, pay him ten intereſt*. 11„a H vn tenants imn annual V, aimons his OWI tel 141118, 111 ItIu- lating them to accurate management, 1 Theſe reflections ſuggeſt Inſtitutions oFf Assole. ding for 0NS OF .—. 1— V in a higher order. Let men of landed pro- 1 ditte-. perty aſſociate: not ſo much for the par- M1EN. ticular purpoſe of ENCoURAGING GOOD HUSBANDRY among rneir tenants, as for the more general intention of aſcertaining the fuitable eee i ezode under whic! conduct the MANAGEMENT Of ESTATES. Temoßfte Krumen— H 8 receptin power 0-* In a Sketch of the RURAL ECONOMV oOf the CEN- 1 TRAL HIGHLANDS 8 Scotland, which I had the honor of preſenting, in 1794, to the BoAkp OF AGRICUL- TURE, as a Report concerning that part of the Ifland, 1 3.. tol. I I purſued this idea; propoſing to divide a large eſtare adiricun into Diſtricts, or Officiaries; and to place a ſuperior XA12— 2 An h Manager in each, as a diſtinguiihed Leader, in Rurd Improvements, 37“ 41 4 Gältln⸗ † 9— ———.——— 2 7————————— —————OO-— ᷓ—e—— n—— 8 “ .„† N 4 Dzc. 2 — — 2 — — R 2 ſeeing, evidently, not S in the under ſurvey, but in other Diſtricts 1 7 12 5 of the Ifland, that a greater defalcation of — , e 4 IVate pi ropert 18 11CuIISG, S errOrs O1 72 rc ar f rS 5 ba mnure POIICIIOI OI SCILaeES O E=ny) 1111DILIO= 4 + 91 1OLy 2 1 4₰ ention to T PH=Lrn have 4 Practiéal. KnC have no intereſts fub erent pri inciple 7 1 1 S 11, 1 ain Squall) 4 · SOCIETIES OF 1 ES V. 1 MY ot e MIDrAb Societies are .3. a imllatit I11IIIIIAtn ents beESIl OCSII 1d1) 272, 20⸗ „a Ggieries h2V vinci- 1l SOCiSstiss ν˙ε 2Q.... 1 1 1— 11 †eo 11 vwrh HF„ PHaVe hean 1fIrmeg Sorearno 11011CtS 111 VIIIC tS I14VS deel 10111180, L 8 gltatine 2— ₰½ Der 1791. WEST DEVONSHIRE. 305 in th The ſubjects, that would naturally offer 25. itric themſelves to ſuch Aſſociations, are the AGclehe— tion oM following. GeNrLr. The preſent management of landed pro- M E r perty, in the Diſtrict of Aſiociation. es The laying out of eſtates, into farm lands, or ſuch as are adapted to culti- 3 vation, and into woodlands, or ſuch as are i fitteſt for the production of timber or Ppe coppice wood. The fuitable fizes and characters of 1 farms. der erhe The ſpecies of tenancy. we turncd The forms of leaſes. 8 P The qualifications of tenants. ni The proper ſeaſons and termsof removals, receiving rents,&c.&c. Thage The encouragement of good managers, arj df and the diſcountenancing of bad ones. The permanent improvement of farm Se lands, by draining, watering,&. And Fe their more temporary melioration, by ma- kits in nures, ſodburning, tillage,&c. ntimens The plan, and conſtruction, of farm int P yards, and buildings. 5* Vor. II. X The a 1. ———ᷓↄ—ᷓ—pꝑyᷓᷓ 2 306 1 3 2 25. 1 A880CIA- TIONS OP “ LANDED L CENTLE- MEN. 3 4 81 7 M I N U 1 E 5. Dre. The management of hedges. The management of timber, woodlands, and plantations. And the more general improvement of the given Diſtrict of Aſſociation;— by Public Embankments. Public Drains. Public Navigations. Public Incloſures. The melioration of Tithes, and The Poor's Rate: as well as the regulation of County concerns; and the ſupport of The landed Intereſt; which has lain neglected and trampled on, by Commerce and Manufactures, until the Country is no longer able to provide fuſtinence for its inhabitants †. SEPTEMBER * For a ſtriking evidence of the truth of this aſſertion, ſee the RuRAIL ECoNOMY oOf the MipLaND CouUNTMES, Vol. II. P. 294. 4 b!5 ſer tion, INTIES ——————— ——— ·4.-—.— 1792. WEST DEVONSHIRE 26. 1792. SEPT. 24. The MoNASTERY BaRN oOf this place is perhaps the firſt to be found, at this day, in the Iſland: not in reſpect to fize, though it is large, but in regard to the ſtate of preſervation,— both of its walls, and its roof. This Barn, having been built under the Pack-horſe plan of Huſbandry, was moſt inconvenient for carriages; having only one pair of doorways, in the middle of it; with a paſſage through, and a thraſhing floor on either fide of the roadway. The width of the barn(namely, twentyſeven feet in the clear), not permitting waggons to turn within the area, the Corn has ever been thrown, from the waggons, upon the floors, and thence flung, from hand to hand, to either end of the barn! which is a hundred and fifty feet in length. The obvious method of improvement was to break out doorways, towards the ₰ X 2 ends; — BARN OF BCCKLANb. 30⁰8 26. 4 BARN OF BUCKLAND. NATURE OF CEMENT. —— THE USES OF RILLS. M I N U 1 KEK 5. SEPT. ends; ſo as to divide the whole length of the barn, into fix bays or mowſteads, with a floor between each two, in the Engliſb manner: an arduous taſk, which is now executing; and which will render it one of the firſt barns in the Kingdom. The labor of cutting theſe doorways is nearly equal to that of cutting through ſolid rock, of equal thickneſs; namely, three feet. The cement is of an extraor- dinary quality: as hard almoſt as granite; eſpecially on the North ſide of the build- ing. That of the South or rather South- Weſt wall is much more friable: a circum- ſtance which has been obſerved in other old buildings of this place; and which is entitled to Philoſophic enquiry. *₰ 27/⸗ SEPTEMBER 24. A Spring in the upper art of this Farm ſupplies the houſe with water. It alſo ſupplies a drinking pool, near — ⏑OQ—— denr 1792. WEST DEVONSHIRE. 3⁰09 noth df near the yards; and its natural courſe 27. , nith carrying it through a fmall Strawyard, a THE O2 Engiih trough is placed acroſs the rill, for the uſe 3 is now of the yard cattle. it one It has alſo, time immemorial, been led over ſome graſs lands, which lie below the vaßs is yards,—on the float-and-drain principle. hrooa But although this rill is ſeldom if ever namely dried up— leading it along the ſides of the traof. Valley, through upland inelofures, which grüite, are deſtitute of water for ſtock, and their eheld. value of courſe thereby much depreciated, I danli— does not appear to have been thought of. ohr In the courſe of laſt Summer, being de- aie ſixous to know if this rill could be carried vrih through an in ended fuite of yards, on the ſidé of the Valley, I toock the level, and found not only that object to be attainable, but alſo that it may be led with eaſe into two waterlefs fields, which lie above theſe yards; and, through them, into. four or five more(equally in want of water for ſtock), ſituated beyond them. In aſcertaining theſe facts, I made ufe of enr a maſon's long level, inverted: a plummet T 1 X 2 hole Ing J00, ledl .— —————————— 2—————— 2 ———ſ. ꝑj 3——— ———————nͤ 4— * ͤͤͤͤͤ„— 310 27. THE USES OF RILLS. 8 4 4* 4 I . 2 CONSTRUC- 4 TION OF A NEW LEVEL. — . 1 4 4 —— N U T E 3 M I hole being previouſly cut in the head of the ſtandard; upon the ground, the arms of the level the crown of which being ſet were ſteadied by rods, in the horizontal pofition; and a carpenter' 8 rule held acroſs another rod, ſet up, at as great a diſtance as a clear ſight would admit öof, and at a height upon the ſtaſt, equal to the herehn of the level. Finding this a moſt ſimple and perfect inſtrument, but difficult to adjuſt, by reaſon of its inſtability, I have ſince had a FRAME LEVvEL made, on the ſame principle; namely, with a ſtraight edge, or top rail, anſwering to the baſe board of the long levél; with a broad piece falling down from the middle of it, anſwering to the ſtandard; to ſuperſede the uſe of the rods; and with two end pieces or legs, together with a bottom rail, eight or nine inches from the ground, and with diagonal braces, to keep the whole firm, and prevent the middle or plumb line from getting out of, the ſquare, with the ſtraight edge of the top rail; which is ſeven or eight feet long, and SEPr. —— S———ᷣᷣ’———— 1792. WEST DEVONSHIRE. 3¹1 and the height about four feet*. And, as 27. an improvement of the rule and rod, I Let ee contrived a cRoss sTAFF; namely, a flip NEw IEVEIA of thin deal, about five feet and a half long, with a croſs piece, about two feet long and three inches wide, fixed in the edge of it, at the exact height of the level; the top of the ſtaff rifing twelve or eighteen inches above the upper edge of the croſs piece, that the hand of the perſon who holds it up may not interfere with the view †. With this inſtrument, I have lately traced FDioſſerle the PLowiNG LEvEL of the intended rill, RILLS. for watering the yards, and the grounds beforementioned. To aſcertain the proper fall of a rill of this intention, I previoufly took the run- ning level of the antient floating Leat of che meadows †; and finding its fall irre- +* 4. gular, * Half a rod long, and a quarter of a rod high, are eli- gible dimenſions, when great accuracy is required. But a fhorter length, as one third of a rod, is more handy. † This croſs piece fhould be of white wood, as deah or be painted white, that it may be the more diſtinctly ſeen, at a diſtance. † Ses Vol. I. P. 2006. —.—— ͥͥ˖,—·——— — 5—. ———p——— ——y 3——a 8ZöZö—ö—0————— 27. coNDUOT- IG MADE RILLS. PROPER FALL OF RILLS. NII N U T E S. SEPT gular, I took it in two places, where the variations were greateſt. In the firſt, the fall was twentyſeven inches, in one hun- tyl dred and ten feet; which is nearly one inch, or one foot, of fall, to fifty inches, or fifty feet, in length. In this part the current is in a degrec rapid; the fall much too great for the general intention. The fall, in one hundred and ten feet of the other part, is barely fix inches; which is only one meaſure of perpendicular height to two hundred and twenty of horizontal length. But in this part, the motion is too ſluggiſh: the furface of the water is nearly ſimooth; barely dimpling; no ripple, or agitation appears. The fall is evidently too little for à water courſe, in wbich there is not a conſtant ſtream. I have therefore fixed upon oNE MEA- SURE INAHUNDRED, as the proper fall of a Water courſe, into which water is occa- ſionally thrown; for the purpoſes of wa- tering lands, filling drinking pools, ciſterns, &c.&c. To adjuſt the level to this deſcent, I meaſured one hundred feet in length, and having Sepy, re the t, the hun. inch, fifty nt i great , in part one 9two noth. gilh: oth— ation little dot a MEA- fall of occa- ftwa- ſerno, ent,I „ and aring —yy y y— —— E————ͤ—ſ——— 179. WEST DEVONSHIRE. having nicely aſcertained the DFAD LEVEL, I depreſſed the range of the top bar, one foot below the upper edge of the croſs piece of the ſtaff, and, while in that poſition, I marked the ſituation of the plumb line, on the face of the level; the plummet hole being made wide for this purpoſe: thus fixing the FæowiNG LEVEL. With this deſcent, I have traced a line, from an intended reſervoir, and from point to point, through the fields of one ſide of the farm, and find that it reaches, even with this deſcent, within every field: and that three fourths, or a larger proportion, of the furface are capable of being floated, from this intended pool. To ſee the actual motion of water falling one in a hundred, I have had fifty yards of the upper end of the line opened, and find the current fully ſufficient; a lively rippling ſtream; more active perhaps than is neceſ- ſary. But the leakage being the leſs, the quicker the water moves, we may ſafely conclude, that one foot of fall in a hundred feet of length is nearly perfoch. —.. 3 1 By 27. PROPER FALL OF RILLS. —;:2— ũqpqÿꝑp— M I N 1 E S8. By the ſame means, I have alſo found that, from a ſimilar reſervoir to be formed near the ſource of the rill, water might be conveyed to every field, and almoſt every acre of the oppoſite ſide of the farm. The uſes of theſe reſervoirs will be thoſe of havit ng in readineſs, during the ſummer months, Vrſen the rill is weak, aà body of water to throw into drinking pools, ciſ- terns,&c.: a weak current turned into a dry trench is abforbed by its perforations and fiſſures, for ſometime, at leaſt, after it is turned in: Whereas a body of Water, ruſhing quiekly along it, not only in part eſ capes abſorption, but tends to fill up the leaks: and, in winter, theſe reſervoirs will be uſeful in ſcouring the trenches, and in hoarding up bodjes of water, for the purpoſę of irrigation. out theſe rills, I have laid the 1 g 4. 1 S head or upper end of each, from two to three feet below the intended ſurfaces of their Lehe Nire een Vlich when 11. 4 a body 0f water, tWo or three feet den 3 and SEPT. — den. 1792. WEST DEVONSHIRE. 315 d founs and the whole extent of the ſurfaces of the 22. for. e ou— 1 USES OF torne baſons, may be poured into the rills, faſter os Awonhn ght be or flower, as occaſion may tequire. 1 every thoſe 3 mmer 28. doy O cil into SEPTEMBER 30. The FlgOriſts of this„DESTBOTY- — ING EARTE- . hav 2 5 ORMS. raton Diſtrict have an effectual and ready way WORMsS. zlterit of DESTROYING EAERTRH woRMs, in their rafer knots and borders; by the means of an in- Water, un er fuſion of wallnut-tree ledves. The proceſs p the is this:---fill a veſſel nearly full, with leaves, ufll gathered in the firſt or ſecond week of ue September;--Cover them with water, and rpob let them ſtand two or three days, until the water has acquired a blackiſh green color. With this infaſion, the beds and alleys are uid t watered, by means ofthe common watering w0 to r pot. The worms Pre eſently riſe to the Ces 0l ſurface, and die in apparent agony. ull.. 5.. It ſtrikes me that this intereſting fact DaikiNo Mgate, 3 POOLS. 3 may be turned to a profitable urah in the forming Of DRINKING POOILs. It is —„.——— ——— —— ‧)‧)ͤͤͤöͤöͤ—“— ——————·——nnnſ 3¹6 28. DLRINKING POOLS. M I N U. 5. probable, that leaves of the walnut, ſpread under the clay, would have the fame effect as the lime, which' is now in uſe*. Reflecting on this fubject, it appears to me further probable, that the uſe of clay, in making pools, may be diſpenſed with. Thus:-form the baſon; puddle with the beſt of the excavated mold; ſtrew on leaves; and pave with liq uid mortar; made up with their infufion,---if required. The baſon form of the pit is an objection to puddling; and could not, perhaps, be effected otherways, than progreſſively with the paveméent; by puddling above each ring, and bedding the ſtones in the medi- cated matter; pouring in liquid cement, where it might appear to be wanted. Or, perhaps, the medicated batter would in itſelf de ſufficient. This is a fubject of great importance, in upland ſituations. Forming drinking pools with clay and lime(great as was the diſ⸗ covery) is difficult and expenfive; and any means of fimplifying the proceſs would be valuable. SPP= à Jee Vokk. EcCox. Vol. I. P. 145. SEPT. aen 1792. WEST DEVOESHIRE. . 4 — fpreul 8 e effec ears to f clay, with. th the 2 . SEPTEMBER 30. FARM BUIILDINGS. LAVYINGOHIT Senes 5 FARMERHIES. ie Where a blank is given,— where the p wit 4 ap vi ground may be choſen,—where there are no buildings already erected,—or, where jeckion there are given buildings, if they ſtand in apo, de the defired fituation,— few difficulties can ly with ariſe, in laying out a Farmery. ze each But where the ſite is given,— vhere medl- there are principal buildings already fixed ment, on the ſpot,—and theſe on aukward ground, . O, and in aukward fituations with reſpect to uld in each other, as they are on this farm, it requires great ſtudy and invention to render ance, i the yards and additional buildings conve- 9 Po0 nient, or commodious. he di. In this caſe, the capital barn, already TanMERV and an- mentioned, is ſituated between the dwelling uckLaxp. nallib houſe, and a range of ſpacious office orp. buildings,—on the ſide of a ſteep hill; the . out 3 —Vʒ3ʒꝛ⅓:——— 31⁸ 29. FARMERV OF BUCKLAaND. CATTLE NARDS. N k.. SryT. 7 128.. out buildings above,--the houſe he low- the barn;-with other offices, at a con- ſiderable diſtance. The deſirable object, here, was to collec the wiole into a compact form, in the im- mediate vicinity of the barn. And this has been effected, by forming a ſemi- octagon yard, in the front of the principal range of buildings; and i loüide it with a line of cattle ſheds; the area of the yard be eing formed into a receptacle for the dung of the ſheds and ſtables. This form of a farm yard, though I have been led to it by circumſtances, cannot per- haps be improved; even where a blank ſite is given; except by that of a compleat octagon. An OCTAGONAIL VARD is warm, and is much more commodious than a ſquare one; by reaſon of the fharp inconvenient angles being cut off; and octagonal fheds are equally commodious; each ſide having its range of ſtalls, with fodder houſes in the angles, between them: a gangway, in this caſe, running from end to end, before the heads of the cattle, and through the ſtore houſes; 1792. WEST DEVONSHIRE. 7 houfes; which have doors opening to the of the ſheds, it be hay, road, on the back or outer ſide o to receive the food;--whether ſtraw, roots, or other material. 30. OcroßnRs. The doors of the ſtore houſes of theſe ſfheds are hung to open dutward; to Prevent a waſte of room, and to render them more ſecure againſt in- truders. To increaſe the ſecurity, they are hung with a fall to the catch; and to pre- vent their being injured by the weather, when open, they have alſo a fall, backward, eaves of the buildi ing To effect this, the balance point is place under the l in the 11 10— way, between the two extreme poſitions of the door; ng ſet at right angle to the line of the building, has a fall to either hand*. which, bein The *x See Mrp. EcCox. Vol. II. P. 79. for practical rules on this ſubject. 39. CATTLE VAADS, HANGINB DOORS. 320 39. HANGING D00 RS. 4 EFEECT OF RUST? 1 N U T f. 8. Oer. The hooks and catches are laid into blocks of moorſtone, and worked up into the jambs of the doorways; the material of building being a coarſe ſchiſtus, or flate ſtone. The hooks of the new doorways of the barn I am likewiſe laying into moorſtone; receſſes being hewn out of the jambs to receive the blocks; which are large, and fixed firmly in their places 3-—firſt, by means of wedge-ſhaped ſtones, driven in above them; and, afterwards, by wedging them in more firmly, with thin pieces of iron; forcing out the cement, at every crevice. It is obſervable, that the hooks of the original doors of the barn, which are in like manner laid in ſtone, have moſt of them burſt their bounds, and broken off more or leſs of the outer parts of the ſtones they are reſpectively laid in. A ſenfible and ex- perienced ſtone maſon is of opinion, that theſe fractures are oceaſioned by the ruſting of the iron; having, he ſays, carefully traced the effect, in ſeveral inſtances. But Orr aid inn up inc materul or ſlatt of the ſtone, nds to ge, and Irſt by ven in wedging lecés d at eyery 1 d the e inlhe f theg more q theyar and el. on, thit erſtog ly trace Bä 1792. WESI DEVONSHIRE. But may not this effect be cauſed by the ſuſceptibility of metals, with reſpect to heat and cold? Or may not the miſchiefs, in the inſtance under notice, have been done by the jarring of the heavy doors, blown violently to, by the wind? I have, how- ever, obſerved ſimilar fractures, in caſes where the laſt ſuggeſted cauſe could not ſo eaſily operate. Facts, which require a ſucceſſion of ages to produce them, are too intereſting to be paſſed without attention. The efféct here noticed is obſfervable in many ancient buildings, and the operation of the ruſt of iron is not, perhaps, accurately under- ſtood. 21 OoToßER 13. Doors hung on hooks laid into the wall, as above deſcribed, re- quire to be hung in rabbetg. For, if they are hung in betaeen the janbs, rain and ſnow will beat in: if they lap over, on the VoOL. II. 54 out- — 1—— .————„ ————— — ——, 321 30. AN EFFECT OF RUST. HANGINOG D00s. — ————ꝑO—— 32²² 31. HANGING DOORS. L.IMING LAND. M 1 N U E S. Oer. outſide, they are expoſed to the weather, are in harm's way, and are unſightly. A rabbet, of due dimenſfions, obviates theſe inconveniences. Ad I have found that, for ledge doors, made of inch boards, and hung to fall back under the eaves, in the manner above mentioned, three inches deep, each way, are the proper dimenſions. 32. OcroßER 28. Laſt year, I had the lime, for wheat, ſet about the field, in waggon- load heaps; with the intention of mixing with it the velled Beat, or the aſhes that might ariſe from it, as the ſeaſon ſhould render moſt convenient. But I left the Country, before Ihad an opportunity of ſeeing the operation, properly performed. This year, fimilar heaps being ſet about, I have had them covered, thickly, with unburnt Beat, collected with the team rake, e Irudge,“ of the Country; and the 5 whole —Q——ͦ—ÿ 2——Uyõyõ ᷑‿ Oer. 179. WEST DEVONSIIRE. 323 veathtr,.nn, y 4 whole duly“ melled or mixt, in the 32. thes Devonſhire manner*; with a fmall de- Iane d th viation in this caſe. 1 The oPeration being purpoſely begun before the middles ofthe heaps were fallen, 4 the they were firſt pulled abroad, with a hack; dep, thus giving a rough mixture to the un- 3 ſlacked knobs of lime and the wet Beat, under which they were deeply buried. This brought on a quick diſſolution of the lime; whoſe heat, of courſe, operated in the deſtruction of weed ſeeds and animalculæ; and, while the heat was at its height, the whole were intimately mixed together; 3d the thus ſaving, by one eaſy proceſs, the endleſs lo, in labor of two tedious operations. lon of eaſhes ſeaſol ut Ileft 33 vnitd. mned. Ocromnä 28.(See MN. 27.) In con- adeie taboct ducting this rill through an open grove of -, viih tall trees, I have found ſome difficulties: mule, not only the ground but the trees were nl k I 2 given. vyJck* Sce the Article LIMF, Vol. I. Page 158. 4——— 2——— ————.—— Q————————— 324 ₰ 33 coxDUOT- 1NG RILLS. Ocr. P. M I N given. By purſuing the following methods, theſe difficulties have been overcome. Having, by means of the frame level and croſs, aſcertained the general deſcent, or flowing level, through the whole extent of the grove; and having, in this operation, gained a general idea of the requiſite di- rection of the rill, by means of ſtakes placed at the ſeveral ſtations of the croſs ſtaff, wherever clear views could be caught through the openings between the trees,— the intermediate ſpaces, between the ſtakes, were traced by the eye, ſo as to endeavour to follow the natural level of the ground, without forming abrupt bends in the chan- nel;— parrying between the two. The ſuppoſed line being thus ſet out, the ſurface of the ground was cleared two or three feet wide on either ſide of it, from leaves and other incumbrances, and the top ſoil removed for manure; thus making a hollow pathway through the grove, ſome four or five feet wide. The next operation was to level this pathway; which was likewiſe done by the eye, from ſtake to ſtake; paring off the PrO- 1—‿½ dim 8 Oo ng methu- rcome. frame ki Soperan equiſite des dh e croß k l be can the tte⸗ eenthettl to endead f twe g zin thech wo. us Ktoht 1/92. WEST DEVONSHIRE. 1* protuberances, and caſting or wheeling them into the hollows. To come at the true line, and to render the flowing level perfectly uniform, a narro W v pathlet, the width of the ſpade, was formed on the upper ſide of the broad path- way. This pathlet was formed, with the frame level in hand; ſinking trenches in the itill protuberating parts, and raiſing banklets in the hollows; thus fixing the 8 SHowing level, at each level's length; 5— and, at the ſame time, Vnne the face, or exact 1 lower ſide of it, in ſuch manner as to eaſe the bends, and give a in dogen flowing line to the rill. In order to bring che buſineſs of forming the bed of the rill to a certainty, and tisreby Jeredtm, to render any furthier ſuperintendance un- e o necefſary, yet to prevent error in the exe- wes I! cution, I formed a gauge for the laborers to thosm work by. egve This gauge conſiſts of a board, forming the ſegment of a circle; the chord or t bt greateſt length being three feet, the greateſt „eht depth twelve inches, Lhis gives thie . dimenſions of the bed of the rill. To keep . 13 the — 325 — 33⸗ CONDLUCT- 1NG RILILS. 326 33. coxpUcT- ING RILLS. MIN U I E 8. Ocr. the bottom of it, exactly true to the flowing level, ſo that the current or ſtream may be perfectly uniform,— this gauge is fixed under a maſon's ſhort level; the end of one of the arms projecting, three or four inches, beyond one end of the gauge. The trench being ſunk, to nearly its pro- per depth, by the eye, kept on the adjuſted margin, the projecting end of the level is placed on the ſame marginal guide, and the plummet line being brought to the perpendicular(and the baſe of the level of courſe rendered horizontal), the bottom of the trench is finiſhed, with certainty. This evening, I have had the water turned into the upper part of the trench thus formed, by two common laborers, who never before, perhaps, took a level in their hands. The current is not only de⸗ ſirable, as to deſcent; but is perfectly uni- form,— without alteration. Hence the practicability and certainty of this method of forming the channels of rills,—as well as the eligibility of one mea- ſurèe in a hundred, for the deſcent or fall,-- are fully aſcertained. The /79. WEST DEVONSHiRE. 327 le eni The dimenſfions above ſtated,—namely, 33- müia three feet wide and one foot deep,—(a ſiae orbrn. tkm fully ſufficient for any purpoſes, at preſent end ofn intended by this rill) Ihave adopted as the ur inche fitteſt for the part which paſſes under trees, and which will be liable to be choaked by wism. leaves and falling twigs. But a part which te adjulr croſſes an open graſs ground, and where he leel- cattle will frequently paſs and repaſs, I wide, a have had formed by a ſhallower gauge: ht to namely, a ſegment four feet wide and eight d leyel inches deep; the bank on the lower ſide botton of it being made broad, and flatly convex; iny. to prevent the cattle from treading in the he wate ſides: and, to give it more immediate firm- le trenc neſs, it is turfed with the ſods, taken from laboren the part which is now the bed of the rill. a levell t only feckyju 34. certait nunre- DEOEMBER 8. The laying out and Lavmoour f ohene- forming of RoAps have engroſſed a prin- Ho he⸗ tor fl⸗ cipal part of my attention, during the laſt two or three weeks; and, ſo far as relates Ih to ————— 3²8 34. LAVING OUT ROapbs. MIN U TF E 3. DEe. to convex roads, on a deſcent, I have brought this uſeful art to method and a degree of certainty.— In the forming of roads, as in the con- ducting of rills, the frame level and croſs are accurate and ready guides. The given points of the intended road having been marked, the moſt defirable line, whether as to utility or ornament, i8 to be ſet out, with tall ſtakes placed at equal diſtances, as ten paces from each other. Theſe preparatory ſteps having been taken ſome days previous to the com- mencement of the work,— in order to give time for deliberate adjuſtments,—the level and the croſs are placed at the oppoſite extremities of the line, or as near them as a clear ſight can be caught from the one to the other; and the level being deliberately adjuſted to the croſs, the ſituation of the plumb line is marked, on the face of the level; and thus the rake or degree of DPESeENT is determined and fixed; and, of courſe, a uniformity of deſcent, if required, may thereby be accurately preſerved, in every part of the line. If this wind much; the —— 1792. VISIT DEVONSMHIR F. —.-. 1 447. the degree of inclination or deſcent will be and 1—. diminiſhed, as the length of line is en- Lat, creaſed; and, if an exact uniformity be e con.—. En Kannadh an allowance ſhould be made ſor croß h(lewiati ite te der eW ſuch deviation. But, it the declivity be long, relaxations in the line of aſcent, at E road fuitable diſtances, have their uſe for heavy üiadle carriages, and are not diſpleaſing to the eye. tent, W The degree of deſcent being erennnwd ced at the next ſtep is to try if the line marked out a each correſpond with it. This is done b) keep- haring ing the level in its Ulechn and ſecting up e com- the croſs at the foot of each ſtake, or at the to gie feet of as many as occaſion msiiies elelel If the marked line deviate, much, from polite the line of general level; ſo as to render Lemn 5 the road inconvenient, or encreaſe e, unne— one to ceffarily, the expence of making it, a freſh erately line is ſet out; endeavouring to parry, of the between the true line of direction, and the eofthe true line of deſcent, glee 1 The line of direction being finally de- and, termined on, and adjuſted, a ſtrong ſtump, rcuiah or flender pile, two feet or more in length, rteb, 1 is entered, with an iron crow, at the foot Imach of each ſtake; and driven down to the general 33⁰ 34 KOADS. 14AVING OUT M N W E E S Drc. general rake of the intended ſurface of the road, when finiſhied. This is readily done, by placing the feet of the level, on this intended line of ſurface, and Puttina the foot of the croſs upon the head of each ſtump; continuing to keep the level to the rake line, and to drive the ſtump, until the arms of the croſs are ſeen to range exactly, with the ſtraight edge of the level; or, ellen is frequently more expeditious, eſpecially where the ſubſoil is ſtoney, by placins the foot of the croſs againſt the fide of the pile, and raiſing or lowering it, until the raking level be caught; then marking, and ſawing off, the head of the ſtump: proceeding in this manner, until each ſtake is ſupplanted by a pile. Where the ground is very rough and uneven, it is convenient to break down the protuberances, by the eye, previouſly to the adjuſtment of the piles. The piles being adj uſted, a regular trench or pathway is formed, the whole length of the line of road ſet out, at a depth below the heads of the ſtumps, equal to the intended thickneſs of the covering materials ——᷑—ę—õ—KQ—QC—OꝭC—ñÿSẽ—ÿpL————†— —— — de 179. WRST DEVONSHIRF. 331 df mmaterials: namely, in private roads and 34 ordinary caſes, one foot: leaving the piles Lar NSu de feet ſtanding in the middle of the trench or rface, pathway; ſhowing one foot of their length n the above the intended bed of the road, with keen another foot, or a ſufficient length in the the ground, to keep them firmly in their places, leen until the road be finiſhed; the heads of lge of the piles being the requiſite guide to the more covering. ſoll i This trench or pathway being the true crol middle line of the bed of the road, an ng or unerring guide is given to the workman, Ught, and the buſineſs of the artiſt is at an end. 31 of The reſt is mere labor, which may be per- ner, formed, by ordinary workmen, under ge- neral directions. and The BED OF THE ROAD I make flat, or Ieec nthe nearly ſo; the outer 1,„only, dipping l to ſomewhat beneath the general level; the convexiture of the road, being given dul with the rough foundation muterials. whole depth ual b 1793. verihig erinb ————— ————— ——— — —.——=— 2ł 85 M ILN UT E s. JAN. 17 3. JaNUaRv 29. There are, now. .S on this demefne, fortyfive acres of Over- grown copEioE woop; namely, wood of about Küüti years growth. The lands of this Diſtrict being in general unfriendly to the Oak, after it attains a certai growth, much of the ſpray and upper branches of this w ood are beginning decav. Initead of 1 in value, 52 ably getting worſé, every year 3— eſpecially with reſpect to its bark, which is at preſent a, valuable part of it. Wehty years, I find, is the uſual growth of coppice wood, here, andevery circum Mſtance weighed, it is perhaps, on the wrhole, the moft 5 The ufual price of coppice Wood, at twenty vears grow vth, has been of late years 8, the cuſtomary 4 ten to twelvye pounR 3 4 AN. 1793. WESI DELVONSHIRKE. 7 acre“ of the country*; for wood growing on land of a quality, eaual to that of arable lands, which are worth ten or twelve ſhil- lings the KRatute acre. Of courſe, wood- lands afford, to their proprietors, little more than half the annual rent of farm lands, of equal quality. For ſuppoſe coppice wood of twenty years growth ſells for ten pounds the provincia acre,—this is but barely equivalent to ſeven ſhillings an acre, received annually for farm 3 lands; as, in the courſe of twenty years, ¹ the intereſt of the ſeveral-annua al ſums re- d ceived, and the accumulatii ng intereſt there- upon ariſing, amounts to nearly half the principal: and, if a farther reduction be made for the difference between the pro- vincial and the ſtatute acre, we ſhall bring I —— down this nominal rent of ten ſhillings, an 3 ce acre, a year, to little more than five. 4 G, Twenty pounds, an acre, have bee Mt offered for twenty acres of the beſt of th coppice wood; unde r the conditions being * The CUSTOMARVY ACRE' of this Diſtrict is cal- al) culated on eighteen feet to the perch: five provincial acres 3 being about equal to ſix ſtatute acres. — 334 35. RENTAI. VALUE. RECLAIMING COPPICE GCROCNDb. M I NR U T F. JAx. being allowed two years for the felling of it;— and to pay at Chriſtmas for the quantity taken down in the preceding year; agreeably to the ufual cuſtom of the Diſtrict. This farther delay of the receipt of the principal, and the attendant loſs of intereſt, is a farther reduction of the annual rent of the land; yet is ſeldom, perhaps, taken into the account, in calculating the net produce of woodiands. On calculation, I find that twenty pounds an acre, for wood of thirty years growth, does not neat more than ſeven ſhillings and ninc pence an acre, received annually, and put out, at fimple inter d. at five percent. At four percent, and reckoning 1 nothing for intereſt on the nenraee intereſt to a casfiche radle ſuin)) this 3 ladee does not neat more than eight ſhillings and five pence an acre, a year, receives d annually as rent; even fuppoſing the whole money to be paid 85 ch „About thirty acre this tract of woo 4 214 2 1 1 2 2 7 land lies on a culturable e dopr; and wan Oe 1793. WEST DEVONSHIRE. be worth, in a ſtate of full cultivation, fif- teen to twenty ſhillings an acre: whereas, in a ſtate of woodland, it has probably never paid more than one third of the- money; and is not, in reality, worth more than half of it. The propriety of reclaiming it, from its preſent unprofitable ſtate, admits not of diſpute; and the means of bringing it into cultivation is the only point which remains to be determined. To dig up the roots entirely, ſo as to admit the plow, in the firſt inſtance, would not only be expenſive; but, by bringing up the fubſtrata, the cultivated ſoil would be debaſed, and rendered unproductive for a courſe of years. But, by clearing away the whole, level with the ground, or a little within the ſur- face of it; and drefſing this freed ſurface with lime, in order to diſſolve, the more readily, the leaves and decayed wood with which it is thickly covered; and by giving a degree of evenneſs to the ſurface with the harrow and the roller; ſowing fuitable graſs ſeeds between the operations; a fheep walk RECLAIMING COPPIOE GROUND. ooͤöoͤoböZ—ͤ—ͤͤöͤöͤöͤöͤöoͤöͤöͤöͤöoͤoͤöoͤöoͤöoöͤöoöo—ö“ — ** ——— 3 5. K Trdhr OPPICE EROd. COPPICE VWOOD. CONDITIONS OF SALE. hi IN 8. JAN walk would be immediately obtained; and, in a few years, when the roots were de- cayed, and a turf formed over them, the land might be broken up with eaſe and profit*. * A& 3— 6 FEBRUARVYIS.(See the laſt MixvrE.) A few days ago, I ſold the whole of this coppice wood, at the high price of twenty two pounds ten winiesn n acre; and un- 4 der the following favorable conditions †. The whole to be taken down in two years; namely, in the years 1793 and 1794. * For former Remarks on this Method of Reclaiming Woodlands, ſee VORK. ECON. Vol. I. page 316. † Theſe Cond it'ons are inſerted, here, for the general purpofe of giving the Reader an opportunity of compan ing them with thoſe ofother Diſtricts; and to aſſiſt, eventually, in drawing Forms of CoNpITIONS OF SALES; wnich, as FoRMs OF LEAsSEs, are at preſent, in a degree vague and unfixed. 1793. WEST DEVONSHIRF. 337 1 1u re 1 1794.— One hundred pounds of the pur- 36. n, the chaſe money to be paid down each year, Ce 1s e anl previouſly to the commencement of the cutting; one moiety of the remainder of the amount of what ſhall be taken down in each year, at Midſummer; the other moiety at the enſuing Chriſtmas. The purchaſer to be allowed a ſquare perch for each tree ſtanding among the coppice wood, and a quarter of a perch, for each ſtandle of the laſt cutting. To finiſh the cuttings, by vrr.) Midſummer, and to clear the ground, by the f this Chriſtmas following, in each year,&c.&c. wenty Previoufly to this advantageous bargain, dun- I had an offer of twenty pounds an acre, *. for the whole, tô be taken down in five two FCafs. an The difference between theſe two prices deee 1799 appears, on a ſuperficial view of them, to wOoD. 3 be little more than a hundred pounds. But if the intereſt of money, and the growth of the ſucceeding wood be taken into the d Perr calculation, the ſuperior advantages of the 3 latter will be found to amount to more ventual 3 St than two hundred pounds: as appears in ar ugx the following ſtatement. Vox. II. 2 Firſt, — ñ ñ————— 8 2. 2—— — ͤͤöͤſͤſͤſͤhͤhͤſͤſſſ.—hh„—·—·—— 33⁸ 36. SALE OF COPPICE WOODb. M I NeoU T E s. öPPrr. Firſt, forty five acres, at 201. an acre, and taking down nine acres a year. Princ. Int. 5 5 4. K d. Iſt Vear, 180, 00 Growth of Wood at 8s. 3 12 0 2d 180 9 0 3d 180 18— 10 16 0 4th 180 27 14 0 5th 180 36 18 0 06 900 Prin. 90 54 0 0 90 Intereſt 54 Growth of Wood. L. 1044 the total Advantage, at the end of five years. Secondly, forty five acres at 221. 108. and twenty two and a half acres, a year. Princ. Int. LK. 3. d. K. 5. d. A. 5 A. Ift Vear, 506 5 0◻ 00 0; 0 Growth of Wood, 9 0 2d 506 5 0 258 6 3 18 0 0 3d 00 0 0 50 12 6 18 00 ath 00 0 50 12 6— 18 00 öth 00 00 50 12 6— 18 00 1012 10 06 177 3 9 81 00 177 3 9 Intereſt 81 Oo o Growth of Wood. 1270 13 9 total Advantage at the end of five ysars. 1044° O as above L.226 13 9 fuperior Advantage*. FEBRUARY * Theſe Statements are publiſhed, for the inſtruction of thoſe, to whom calculations of this kind may not be familiar. The uſe of them is obvious. 5 37. 7 4 10 16 0 4 59 FEBRUARY 14. The ſide walls of an etelde ..— 1. UILDINGS. 1e ancient monaſtic building having fled from 5 do the upright,—by the buttreſſes in front having given way at the foundation, and by the back wall being impelled forward, by a load of earth and a road, behind it,— 08. and(the ground, on the outfide, being ſeveral feet higher than on the inſide) I have ſe- cured, in the manner hereafter deſcribed. 4 34 What rendered this caſe the more diffi- — do cult was the circumſtance of both walls requiring ſupport; yet both of them in- .. clining the ſame way; ſo that there was . no tie to be got, nor any purchaſée to be had. If the front wall had been ſtayed, by freſh buttreſfes; ſtill the back wall(againſt 3 which the preſſfure immediately acted) would have remained, in a degree unſup- ported. There are, in this, as in other 33UANY. 117—. 3äu3 Gothic buildings, no binding beams to the en roof; nor any other tie between the two ay Wot he ma) 4 2 walls, — 5 82——— 8———— 233‧11o3eoeeeſ ———— — 340 37 SECURINOG B0ILDINGS. M I N I E 5. FEB. walls, than the floor beams of a chamber. Beſide, buttreſles, in front, would have been inconvenient, and unſightly; and, like other ſupports on the ouxſides of buildings, would have been liable to the drip of the eaves, and to the effects of the weather. The expedient, which I hit upon, was that of raiſing ſtrong BuTTRESSES, On the INSIDE OF THE BUILDING, againſt the back wall; which is thus firmly ſtayed, and effectually prevented from farther in- clination; and, at the ſame time, firm pur- chaſes are obtained, for the purpoſe of tying in the front wall; which has been done in ſuch a manner as will probably be the means of prolonging the duration of the building,— a few more ages of time. The ties, in this caſe, are large oak floor- beams; which äre ſecurely fixed, in front, to the old buttreſſes; and, to the back wall, by means of large blocks of granite or moorſtone; in ſhape, the lower fruſtums of ſquare pyramids. Theſe blocks are laid in, fluſh with the outſide of the wall, and with their bafes outward; beds or receſſes having been accurately cut out of the rocklike In umber. ve been e other would cayes, „ Was on de t the ſtayed, er in- mpur- pole of s been bly be lon of ne. foor- front, e back granite ruſtums are lii II, un receles of the rochlle 1793. WEST DEVONSHIRE. rocklike ſubſtance of the wall, to receive them. Through theſe blocks, paſs ſtrong iron bars, or pins; which are firmly ſtrapped to the ends of the beams(bearing on the tops of the buttrefſfes); and which are ſecured, and the ties drawn tight, by means of ſtrong wedges or keys, drawing againſt broad firm diſks of iron, bearing againſt the perforated blocks; which thus operate as dovetails to the ties. In building theſe buttreſſes, the foun- dations, as well as each courſe of ſtones, were made to dip towards the wall, in the ſame proportion as the buttreſſes incline, or batter: the courſes being kept at right angle to the line of batter, or face of the buttreſs:—a principle which ought not to be deviated from. For, by adhering to it, the reſiſtance is rendered the greateſt; and, by placing the buttreſs in a falling poſture, towards the wall, it ſettles the more firmly againſt it; while, by toothing the one into the other, as has been done in this caſe, the whole ſettles, intimately and firmly, into one 7. 2 FEBRUARY — —ͤ—— —„— 2ſſ˙ 341 37. SECURING BCILDINGS. BUILDING BUTTRESSES, — yͤͤöͤh— — —— ——— SHEEP FARMING. TEMPORA- RY GRASS- LANDS. FEBRUARY 16. On a farm on which SHEEP are a principal object, TEMPORARY LEVYS productive of fheep feed become, likewiſe, an object of the firſt magnitude. The practice of mowing, the firſt year, leys intended for five or ſix years duration, 18 a crime for which nothing, but neceſſity, is admiſſible as an excuſe. By this impro- vident ſtep, the ſward or turf is rendered thin of plants, for ſeveral ſucceeding years. Not only the more delicate ſpecies of herbage, which ſeldom fail to riſe after a ſhort courſe of aration, are liable to be checked or fmothered, by the luxuriant growth, and impervious ſhade, of culti- vated herbage; but the cultivated herbs, themſelves, are in fome certain degree weakened, and their number decreaſed; eſpecially if the ſoil be much exhauſted, or be out of tilth. On —— In 79 3 WEST DEVONSHIRE. 343 On this farm, a ſtriking inſtance of the 38. miſchief ariſing from the practice of mowing TEMPORA- ſuch leys, the firſt year, is at this time moſt AI Acdos. evident. The young ley grounds, which were mown laſt ſummer, may be faid to be now unoccupied; except by daiſies, bich groundſel, and a few other weeds. One of them, though the land is of a ſuperior ome, quality, is not worth, for the coming year, tude. five fhillings an acre. Whereas, had it vleys been paſtured down, cloſe, laſt ſpring and wBa ſummer, it would, in all probability, have ty, is been worth five times that rent--for this pro- and ſeveral ſucceeding years,--as a fheep lered paſture. ears. To every farm, on which cultivated leys, ledewe 5 of of five or ſix years duration, make a part of ter a the plan of management, the moſt defirable o be appendage is a fufficiency of MEADOW uriant LANDS,OTPERENNIAL MOWINGGROUNDS, lli⸗ to furniſh the farm with a fupply of hay, herbs, without being under the neceſſity of mow- begre ing temporary leys, the firſt year; and eaſad. happily circumſtanced is the farm, whoſe d e ſituation, with reſpect to the quality and quantity of water it commands, enables it on 2 4 to M I N U T E 8. FEB. to produce, by IRRIGATION, a ſuſficiency ofhay, to carry its requiſite liveſtock, through the winter months. The demeſne lands of this eſtate are for- tunately in this ſituation. Some twenty or thirty acres of them have been more or leſs watered, time immemorial; and with water of a ſuperior quality. The effects of the flate-rock waters of this Diſtrict are ſuperior to thoſe of any others I have had an opportunity of obſer- ving; the chalk waters of Wiltſhire and Hampfhire excepted. There are flopes of hills on this and the ſurrounding farms, which are now as green and gr, to the eye at a diſtance, as the rankeſt wheat in May X. Seeing theſe advantages, I have been aſſiduous to aſcertain the facts reſpecting the poſſibility of watering the different parts of this eſtate; and I found, ſome time ago(ſee MIN. 27.), that almoſt every acre of it is capable of being flooded, artificially, by running water. The GaNTITY OF WATER, * It is everywhere obſervable, and is moſt intereſting, hhat the ſteeper the flope, tlie more obvious is the effect. Feh 1793. WEST DEVONSHIRE. 345 dlene waATER, however, that can be conveyed to 38. woug it, though fufficient to furniſn paſturing srupymo ſtock, with a valuable ſupply of beverage, Dndedr. e for. is too ſmall for the purpoſes of irrigation. Mun, ty or But the miſchiefs arifing from the prac- rleſs tice of mowing ley grounds, the firſt year, Nater having lately preſſed more cloſely on my mind, I have been ſtudying, with redoubled ers of attention, the capacity of the different f any grounds of this farm, with reſpect to water. obſer⸗ And I have diſcovered, that a ſufficiency of re and them, to anſwer, fully, the purpoſes re- pes of quired, are capable of receiving an abundant farms, ſupply of water; and that ſuch a ſupply to the may be brought to them, at a fmall ex- at in pence. But the waters which are already within Renm been the farm, claiming the firſt attention, I ng the have, hitherto, been endeavouring to turn zarts of them to the beſt advantage; by conducting 99(lee them properly over the lands which moſt f it is command them, W. yj This has been effected by taking the Ty or water out of its natural channel, at different aTI, heights, and conveying it to the ſeveral ſtages of the flopes, over which theſe lands atereltine 1 4 de efe 6. 416 — 8 2 7.—— 2—— —õÿ——— —————— —jjjj ͤZöͤͤͤſ—jj——, 28 85 ⁹ϑ WaATERING 81.0OPES. PROCESS OF IRRIGA- T1ON. W I N U I E 3. FEB. are ſpread, by means of main floats, leats, or artificial rills, for the purpoſe of feeding the floating trenches, which diſtribute and ſpread the water over the faces of the ſlopes. 1 In ſetting out and forming theſe con- ducting channels, I have found the frame level and croſs ſafe and ready aſſiſtants; and the deſcent ofone meaſure in a hundred moſt eligible;— as giving a lively motion to the water, and a firm bottom to the chan- nel, without wearing away its ſides. In conducting channels of this intention, acroſs grounds much varied in furface, and where a degree of ornament is required to be joined with uſe, as was the caſe in this inſtance, ſome attention is requiſite. If the ground be implicitly followed with the level, not only a circuitous length of chan- nel and a waſte of land, but ſhort angular unſightly bends, are produced. If, on the contrary, ſtraight lines are attempted acroſs a varied ſurface, the labor of raiſing the hollows, and ſinking the knolls, is great, and the beauty of the line is wholly loſt. Hence, where the ground does not natu- rally — 1. In leats, o ling the te and of the con- frame dant; undred motion echan. tentlon, ace, and vired to ein this Uthe ith the fchun. Hoathe dacroß 3 1 ung the 1793. WEST DEVONSHIRE. rally afford the given line, the MIDDLE CoURsE is requiſite to be choſen. In this inſtance of practice, 1 have found it beſt to ſet out the line, firſt by the level, crooked or ſtraight, as the ground directs; then, to give it the required direction, by the eye; and, afterward, to correct the eye with the plummet; leſt the line ſhould lie much too high or too low, in any particular part:— for a ſteepſided trench is liable to be trodden in by cattle, and a ſharp ridgey bank is equally liable to be torn down by their tread: while, over a fhallow trench, and a broad fwelling bank, they ſtep without injury. But, in watering the hangs of hills where a blank fite is given, and where no fences already exiſt, there are few caſes, perhaps, in which the main floats ſhould be liable to the paſſage of ſtock. The uppermoſt is, of courſe, laid as high as the flowing level from the ſource will allow, and neceſſarily divides the watered from the unwatered lands; and is, of courſe, a giben line of fence. If the valley be narrow, or the foot of the flope, which commands the water, 347 38. PROCESS LAYINGOUT WATERED LANDS. 34⁸ 38. LAVYINGOVT WATERED LANDS. M E N U fE E 8. FEB. water, be ſhort, one main floating trench is ſuffcient. For by running parallel trench- jets along the face of the flope, at once to collect the diſperſed waters, from above, and to diſtribute them more evenly below; and by letting down a ſupply of water to the lower trenchlets, when the upper ſide of the flope is fuf Hiciently watered; one main float is ſufficient to ſupply a field's width of land. And, if a continuation of the ſlope require it, another main float, and another fence, may, and in general ought to run parallel to the firſt. There are two reaſons why fences of this ſort ſhould be placed on the upper hide of the floating rill. The water is more eafily let off, into che working trenches, than it would through a fence; and eſpecially through a hedge; whoſe roots, and the holes of the vermin they harbor, would be the cauſe of a continual waſte of water. Viewing fences, thus winding along the wavy ſurface of a flope, in the light of ornament, à light in which they ought to ppear within chis demeſne, an additional notive, for running them along the ſide of a wavy In xench i trench. once to aboye, elow; iter to r fde ; One felds tion of dat, and ought 1 hl Of w ellly twait geclil ad thi wolll f ſmatet lo th lot d cuott döiion d 1t 1 7JpT 4 Val- 1793. WEST DEVONSHIRE. If the broad ſwelling bank, which ought to accompany ſuch a rill on the lower ſide, were formed into a walk,— determined in width, and always a wavy rill, ariſes. kept dry, by a working trench, on its lower margin,—the bank would be rendered firm, by the preſfure of the foot, and, in this inſtance, a delightful ſtroll will be obtained, at an eaſy coſt. 39. FEBRUaRVY 20. I have at length the pleaſure of ſeeing a Two-ox PLow com- pleatly in its work. Two oxen, in yoke, with a ſingle chain paſſing from it, to the draft iron of the plow, and driven, with whip reins, by the plowman, have been employed, during the laſt fortnight, in giving the firſt fleet plowing of turnep grounds: a work which they perform with aſe and diſpatch. This is the ſimpleſt and cheapeſt plow- teain 343 29 ₰ ◻ LAVINGOUT WATERED LANDS. PLOWING WITH TVO OXEN. FEB. 350 M I N U T E 8. 39. team I have yet ſet to work. The yoke V if made light and well V prowINe and fingle chain, a two-ox plow, V VWITH TwO OXEN. fitted to the oxen, are, for in light work, much preferable to collars, traces, and ſplinter bars; which are com- plex, expenſfive, and for ever entangling V with the reins; and the ſplinter bars are a ead of a light heavy incumbrance, at the h ſwing plow. SEPTEMBER, 179 have had two of the teams, in fullwork: employi in ſtirring fallows; which they do with great effect: plowing eight or nine inches plows which clear their work. and the ope- 4. This ſummer,. ſe admirable plow- deep, with To make the labor the leſs, ration the more effective, the flices are cut narrow; not more than ſix or ſeven inches wide; by which means this cheap and eafy equal to ſpade 1 plowing becomes nearly work;— more eſtective than any number b of the partial plowings, ufually given to V broken ground, in this Diſtrict. Ih. 1793. WEST DEVONSHIRE. 35 The yok and wel M ploy, collar, 40. e com- augling Makon 12. In the Autumn of 1791, FaRMERX OF BUCK. s are a I deſigned and ſet out, and have now LAND. alobt brought into a train of finithing, a ſuite of FARM VARDS and BUILDINGS, On a large mer,] ſcale. See MiNUTE 29. plow- I have not leiſure to regiſter, in detail, Kie the minutiæ of this improvement; but a vith ſew particulars ſtrike. dun A DUNGYARD Ofa ſemi-octagon form, HrreTiE work. incloſed, on one ſide, with cattle ſheds, and, YAkhs. eope- on the other, by a line of ſtables and Aem are cut offices; with oppoſite gates and a carriage inches road, by the ſide of the latter; is, in every nd eal Point of view, in which I have yet ſeen it, ſale very eligible.. number BATTERING FOUNDATION WAI.ILs. EUILDINC. ren b The ſurface of this yard, by reaſon of the form of the ground(ſee page 317.), neceſ- ſarily riſes, in one part of it, nine or ten feet, above the road, which pafſes on the outſide NAkc3 of the ſheds conſequently, the weight of eart¹l, 35² 40. BUILDING. CATTLE SHEDS, M N U T† E L⸗ MaRCIR earth, encreaſed by the weight of the ſheds, and that of the cattle they may con- tain, rendered it neceſſary to counteract the inward preſſure; and this has been effec- tually done, by carrying up the foundation of the back wall of the ſheds, ſo as to lean againſt the load, and thereby act as a gene- ral buttreſs againſt the prefſure. This ſoundation wall leſſens from four feet at the baſe, to two ſeet at the floor of thé ſheds, and level of the yard; not with à ſtraight line of inclination; but with a gentle curvature, reſembling that of the ſpreading baſe of a well grown tree. The proper WIDTR of süEpDs, for full- grown cattle, with a three-feet paſſage before their hesds, is one ſtatute rod(fix- teen feet and a half) from out to out of the building; the back wall(in this caſe of ſtonc) being two feet thick. The PiLLARS Of theſe fheds are of oak, and eight inches fquare, ſet uhon blocks of moorſtone; out of which riſe ſhort iron pins, to keep the feet of thie poſts in their places; the tops of the ſtones declining gently from the pins; to prevent any water from Mac- of the gf conr act the effec⸗ dation lean gene- Thö feet at of the with 2 with 2 of the r foll⸗ allage (fx- out of s caſe 1793. WEST DEVONSHIRE. from lodging upon them; and thereby to elude, as much as poſſible, the decay of the timber. The proper wiprH OF A STALI, for two middle-ſized working oxen, is ſeven feet. Cows, though of fmaller ſize than oxen, require as much or more room, for the convenienèy of milking them, and ſuck- ling their calves. A danger of making ſtalls too wide is that of the cattle turning round in them; and by that means placing themſelves, in an aukward and dangerous ſituation, with reſpect to their fellows. This danger, however, is to be guarded againſt by a poſt riſing in the middle of the ſtall, immediately before the fhoulders of the cattle; in a line with the front poſts of the PARTIAL PARTITIONS X: and a poſt in this place may be found uſeful to faſten calves to, during the time of ſuckling. The proper LENGTH OF sTaAaLLs, for Devonſhire oxen, of the larger ſize, is nine feet; namely, three feet the width of the trough, and ſix feet the platform, or reſting Vol. II. A a place; * See Mip. Ecox. Vol. I. P. 33. 353 40. CATTI. E SHEDS. .— ——nxÿ 354 40. CATTLE SHEDS. DUNG PITS. M IN U TE. MaRkeH place; with a depreſſion, or deſcent, of one to two inches, from the outer rail of the trough, to a break or drop in the pavement, ſix inches deep;— formed by ſtrong flat flate ſtones, ſet on edge; nearly perpendi- cularly, but ſomewhat inclining to the ſtalls. From the bottom of this break, to the line formed by the baſe ſtones of the pillars, the PAvEMENT takes a gently convex or ſwelling form, and thence deſcends, by a continuation of the ſame curve, to the brink of the dung pit; into which, of courſe, the water, falling from the eaves of the ſheds, readily finds its way. On the higher ſide of the yard, the PUͦᷣ-G PIT fhelves, with a gentle deſcent, from the baſes of the pillars; but, on the lower ſide, it was found convenient to fſink it, more abruptly, from a broad path, or gangway (fix feet wide from the pillars), to the depth of three or four feet. The bank or ſteep ſide of this dung pit is formed of the ſame ſlate ſtones, as are the walls of the ſheds; not, however, perpendicularly, as bank walls of this intention are frequently carried llaa 1793. WEST DEVONSHIRE. 553 'Er carried up; but very much battering, or 40. of t falling back towards the ſheds; the angle DbNG PITs. ement, of inclination, from the perpendicular, ng fut being not leſs than thirty degrees. The pench. foundation of this wall was dug, and the o the courſes of ſtones laid, not horizontally, but at right angle, or fquare, with the line of d the reclination; the earth being firmly rammed dlllen, in behind, as the wall was carried up. The wex or uppermoſt or coping ſtones are large and „ bf ſtrong; ſerving as bonds to the wall, and to the as a buttreſs to the convex pavement, above ch, of mentioned; which preſſes againſt theſe. e eayes coping ſtones, on one ſide, and againſt thoſe which form the outer edge of the VNG platforms of the ſtalls, on the other, as an n the arch bears on its butments. rücde, On a ſtage below this principal dung- more yard, and on the upper fide of the barn, a mgriuy STRAwWYARD, for looſe cattle, and ſtore i the ſwine, is ſhaped out of the ſlope of the hill ank o on which this farmery is ſituated. And of the behind the range of offices, which form ofe one fide of the dung yard, is another ſtraw 1, yard. And between theſe two ſtraw yards s a MILKRING VYARD. u A a 2 Theſe cariiel ———————— r 1 ———.———————— 356 4⁰. VWATERING NARDS. M I N U I Ff 8. MaReH Theſe three yards are warERED, by means otf the made rill, ſpoken of, in MINUTE 2); and which which has been pafſes through theſe yards, in channels, partially or wholly open, ſtock; and thence 1. to its natural the principa al ſ „. channel. d for the uſe of e through a a coveréed drain, In paſſing through trawyard, it runs along the top of a dwart wall, oroffset(at the foot of a Sence wall), twelve or fifteen inches high, from the level of the yard; teen inches wide; and about four- veeß a ehael ſix inches deep on the back part, ſhelving upward to an angle in front; and divided by upright ſtones, placed edgeway acroſs the rill; which has, here, a conſfiderable deſcent: conſequently, each obſtruction forms an eddy, ſmall pool, or drinking place; eight or ten head of cattle being able to drink, at the ſame time, and with the moſt perfect conveniency. Finding, by experience, that too copious a fupply of water is, on many accounts, troubleſome, in a rill of this intention, I aſcertained the exact ſize of the ſtream re- quired, by means of gauges of different di- menſions, — — 1793. wEST DEVONSHIRE menſions, ſet acroſs the channel. And having found, that a bore of two inches diameter gave the deſired ſupply, I have fixed a ſtone, perforated with a bore of this diameter, in a penſtock of oak, and placed this acroſs the channel, above the yards, with a waſte water channel, immediately above it; ſo that an inordinate ſupply of water, ſent down, by rains or otherwiſe, is effectually prevented. In this yard, the ſtall cattle are to be watered, and to be allowed to amuſe them- ſelves, in the middle of the day; while the ſtore ſwine are collecting in the dung yard, whatever the ſtalls or the ſtables may afford them; being carefully kept out of that yard, while the cattle are in their ſtalls: principle of management, which can never be departed from, with propriety. The ſuperfluous rain water, or VARD LIQoOR, Oftheſe ſeveral yards, paſs off, in the foll owing manner. That of the dung yard(as well as thoſe of the inferior yards) paſſes, firſt, into the principal ſtraw yard; in a pit, or hollow part, of which it makes its firſt depoſit. From hence the collected A 2 3 waters ———— 40. WAIERINOC vARDS. FARM VARD ECONOMYV. VARD 11DO. — 2——— ——————————.——— —-— ÿ/pj EE——————-————— 358 M I N U T E S. Mancu 1793, 40. waters will be led through paved courts, NAds. and a ſtable yard,— collecting in their paſ- ſage, and by proper aſſiſtance, in times of rain, the fulliage which ſuch places are ever accumulating,—to a common receptacle; where, havingdepoſfited their groſſer feculen- cies, they will fall immediately into the main 4 float that has been mentioned, mis with its 3 4 ſtream, and afſiſt in fertilizing the meadow lands which lie below theſe yards, INDEX. I N b E X 10 I H E TEWO VOI. U M ES. A. A BSTRACT RIGHTS, Weſt Devon, i. 48. Acre, Cuſtomary, its Con- tents, ii. 333. After Graſs, Weſt Devon, 1. 211. Agricultural Practices of Diſ- tricts; Reflections on their Origins, i. 131. — Societies, Re- marks on, ii. 301. Agriculture, a Branch of Rural Economy, i. 55. —, Weſt Devon, i. 98.. —⁰—, Souath Hams, 1. 292. —„on the Im- provement of, South De- von, i. 317. „Vale of Exe- ter, li. 1I16. ——, Weſt Dorſet, 1i. 141. — Analyſis of Slate Rock, i. 16. of Sea Sands, i. 154. —-of Waters, wanted, i. 209. Appearance of the Country, Weſt Devon, i. 40. — of the Hams, i. 289. — of South Corn- wall, ii. 9. —— of the Moun- tains of Cornwall, ii. 15. —— of Exmore, ii. 79: —— of the Vale of Exeter, ii. 110. — of Weſt Dorſet, South ii. 138. Apples, Diſpoſal of, by Num- ber, 1. 301. —, Remarks on, as a Food of Swine, N. i. 223. Apprentices, Weſt Devon, 1. 110. —, their improper Treatment, i. 111. A a 4 Arrange⸗ 1 ND E x Arrangements and Tables of Agriculture, ii. 249. Arriſn Mows, Method of Making, i. 171. Artificial Graſſes, i. 202. RKills, Weſt Devon, 1. 61. Aſſociations of Landed Gen- tlemen, propoſed, ii. 33. Auction of Devonſhire, i. 71. B. BARK, its Market in Weſt Devon, i. 56. Barley, Thraſhing, in Weſt Devon, i. 183. —, andits Management, Weſt Devon, i. 191. Bampton, and its Environs, 1i. 87. , Barrow, 1 88. Barn of Buckland. 307. Barnſtaple and its ſnräcs ii. 69. -- to South Moulton, ii. 70. Barometer, its Uſes, i. 129. Bari ow of Bampton, ii. 88. Battering Foundation Walls, Remarks on, ii. 351. Beaminſter Down, Views from, ii. 139. Beans, Vale of Exeter, ii. 118. Beaſts of Labor, Weſt Devon, 1. 113. ‚SouthHams, i. 293. 1 Beaſts of Labor, South Corn- wall, ii. 7. „Vale of Exe- ter, il. 116. „Weſt Dor- ſet, ii. 142. ——, South So- merſet, ii. 219. „the Oxen of Devon excellent as, 1. 242. Beat Burning, i. 144. Beating Axe, i. 141. Beech, its Natural Charac- ters, 1. 36. Bees, Remarks on, ii. 222. Biddeford and its Environs, ii. 57. —-to Barnſtaple, ii. 65. Blackdown Hills, ii. 174. Bleeding Cattle for the Slaughter, i. 247. Blue Slates— ſee Liſt of Rates, i. Boar or Eagre, Kemarks on. N. ii. 180. Bodmin, ii. 10. to Buckland, an Ex- curſion, ii. 10. Boiling the Food of Byine. 1. 258. Box Clubs, i. 290. Breaſt Plow, i. 142. Breed OfCattle, Wes Dev on, 1. 240. „South So- merſet, ii. 221. -Sheep, Weſt Devon, and Remarks thereon, i. 259. Breeding —— — ——— I N P EB X. Breeding Cattle, Weſt De- von, 1.243. —„Remarks on Weſt Devon, ii. 247. -Swine, Weſt Devon, 255. —— Sheep, Weſt Devon, i. 264. -Liveſtock, on the Improvement of, South Devon, 1. 316. Brent Tor, a remarkable Euminence, N. ii. 22. Bridge of Biddeford, and Extraordinary Erection, 1i. 57. Brook, Artiſficial of Ply- mouth noticed, ii. 244. — of Plymouth, de- ſcribed, ii. 269. Brooks Artificial, their An- tiquity in Dev onſhire, i ii. 271. „Remarks on, ii. 272. Buckland, Flock of Sheep, 1. 262. to Bodmin, an Ex- curſion, ii. 3. Place deſcribed, 1i. 235. Farm deſcribed, ii. 23 7 „Improvementsof, ſuggeſted, ii. 286. Barn, ii. 307. Farmery, ii. 317. Farmery, further Remarks on, ii. 391. — — Building Materials, Wel Devon, i. 27. and 62. „Vale of Exeter, ii. 112. againſt Banks of Earth, ii. 351* -the Sides of Pits, Remarks on, ii. 355. Buildings, Remarks on Se- curing, ii. 339. Burning Beat, 1. 145. off the Heath of Waltes, ii. 32. Burnt Chy, Remarks on, as a Manure, 1i. 161. Buſſes, or Graſs Calves, Weſt Devon, i. 249. Butter, Weſt Devon, i. 249. Buttreſſes, on the Situation of. ii. 340. „ on Building, ii. 6 341. C. CABBAGES, Remarks 08 Cutting, ii. 300. Calculations on the Sale Value of Coppice Wood, 1i. 337.— Callington, ii. 10. Calſtock, Village of, ii. 240. Calves, Weſt Devon, i. 248. Canal Propoſed, between Plymouth and Biddeford, ¹. 38. „ Vale of Exeter, ii. 106. Canker, ———— I N DE X. Canker, Remarks on, i. 220. Carriage doneon Horſeback, 1. 11z. Carrying Corn, on Horſe- back, i. 175. Cart Horſes, Weſt Devon, 1. 117. Cattle, Weſt Devon, i. 239. — of Devonſhire de- ſcribed, i. 240. —, Conjectures on the Native Breed of, in this Ifland, i. 241. — of Cornwall, i. 243. ——, South Hams, i. 302. —, on the Improvement, of South Devon, i. 316. ——, South Corn all, 11. 7. —, of the Mountains of Cornwall, ii. 14. , Dartmore, ii. 26. —, of South Moulton, li. 76. —, Vale of EXxeter, 1li. 119. —, Weſt Dorſet, ii. 149. —, South Sedgemore, 11. 182. —,South Somerſet, ii. 220. —, Skirts of Dartmore, ii. 243- —, Valley of the Tamer, 3i. 24 7 — ,Remarks on the Short-horned Breed, ii. 248. of Buckland, Re- marks on Breeding, ii. 29 5. Cattle affect Charlock or Wild Muſtard, ii. 297. —, Bleeding, for the Jlaughter, i. 247. , Breeding, Weſt De- von, i. 243. „Fatting, Weſt De- von, i. 246. ⸗, Rearing, Weſt De- von, i. 245. - Sheds, their proper Width, ii. 3 52. — Stalls, their proper Dimenſions, ii. 353. „ Working, Weſt De- von. i. 116. Cement, Remark on its Na- ture, 1i. 308. Chalk, Weſt Dorſet, ii. 131. Charlock, as Food of Cat- tle, ii. 297. Cheeſe, Weſt Devon, i. 254. Cherry, a Coppice Wood, in Weſt Devon, i. 85. Chefnut, a Coppice Wood, in Weſt Devon, i. 84. Chemiſtry, applicable to the Analyfis of Waters, 1. 209. — of Axriculture, applicable to Tanning, i. 95. Chineſe Policy, with reſpect to Mines, i. 40. Cider Rooms, i. 224. — Preſs of Devon, i. 228. „General Obſervations on, i. 233. -Management, Im- provement of, South De- von, i. 315. Clay, 1 N PE X. Clay, Burnt, Remarks on, as a Manure, ii. 161. Clearing Arable Land from Stones, ii. 276. Climature, Weſt Devon, i. 11. and 129. , South Cornwall, z1. 4. —„ Mountains of Cornwall, 1i. 11. of Dartmore, its Means of Improvemenrt, 11. 31. — ‚, its Means of Im- provement, on the lower Lands of Dartmore, ii. 35. —,, Okehampton to Torrington, ii. 53. —, Environs of Bid- deford, ii. 64. —, Biddeford to Barnſtaple, ii. 68. —, Dulverton to Ti- verton, ii. 91. ——, Vale of Exeter, 11. 100. ——, Weſt Dorſet, ii, 128. —, Vale of Taun- ton, ii. 167. —, South Somerſet, ii. 216. „Valley of the Tamer, ii. 241. Clouting Cream, Method of, i. 249. ‚Remarks on, i. 251. —, Remarks n 1 pe hahle tinn on 18 Probable Continu- 4 ance, i1. 120. Coating Buildings, Gene- ral Remarks on, ii. 295. Cob Walls, Method of Form- ing, i. 62. „„ Vale of Exeter, 1i. 113. Colic of Devon, deſcribed, 1. 23 5- Colonization, Remarks on, 1i. 224. Common Rights, Eaſt De- von, ii. 135. Commonable Lands, Im- provement of, ii. 153. Commons, their Cultivation in Weſt Devon, i. 32. „Cultivation of, North Devon, ii. 46. —, General Remarks on their Cultivation, ii. 132. Conditions of Sale of Cop- pice Wood, ii. 356. Conducting Made Kills, ii. 311. —, Fur- ther Remarks, ii. 323. Converſon of Wood, i. 95. Coppice Fences, on Pru- ning, ii. 266. Grounds, Remarks on Keclaiming, ii. 334- Wood, Species of, Weſt Devon, i. 84. Manage- Coppice — „ 1. 90. „Age of Cur- ment 0 ting, ii. 332.— Coppice 1 N DE X. Cappice Wood of Buckland, 11. 3 32. „ Conditions of Sale of, ii. 336. 3„KRental Va- Ine of, ii. 332. Cordwood, Dumenſions and Price, i. 95. ——, Selling by Weight, N. i. 95. Corn Mills of Devon, i. 30. — Corn Stacks, Form otf, 1. 179. „ Thatching, 1. 178. — Swaths, Method of Turning, i. 173. —, Method of Binding, i. 174. Corniſh Wain, i. 120. and di. 7. Cornwall, 11. 3. Excurſion in, „General Obſer- vations on, 1i. 16. „Strollinto, ii. 293. Covering Materials, Weſt Devon, i. 64. Courſe of Practice, Weſt Devon, i. 135. Courſe of Crops, Weſt De- vol, 1. 130. Crewkerne to Chard, N. 54. 125. Crooks, 1. 121. Crops, Weſt Devon. i. 134. =, South Hams, i. 29 — — Crops, Vale of Exeter, ii, II. — Weſt Dorſet. ii. 144. —., Vale of Taunton, li. 170. Cultivated Herbage, and its Management, 1. 202. Caltivating Leys, Remarks on, 1. 311. Cultivation, its Probable Progreſs in Devonthire, i- 33. of Commons, North Devon. ii. 46. Cuſtomary Acre, its Con- tents, ii. N. 333. p. DAIRY Management, Weſt Devon, 1 248. and ii. 148. „Vale of Exeter, ii. 120. , Diſtrict, 11. 123. —, Men, weſc Devon, li. 150. Dairies, Letting, Remarks On, 11. 150, Danmonian Huſbandry, Re- troſpective View of, ii. 225. ——, Pe- culiarities of, ii. 226. Dartmore, and its Unculti- vatęd Environs, ii. 19. „its preſent Value, — Dartmore, 1N P E xX Dartmore, Improvements of, propoſed, ii. 29. —, Ride on the Skirts of, ii. 242. Deer, Wild, formerly com- mon, in Weſt Devon, i 165. Deſtroying Earth Worms, 11. 315. Devizes, ii. 214. Devonſhire Cattle, compared with other Breeds. i. 240. -Colic, Remarks on, i. 235. Diſtrict, Welt Devonſhire, 4. 7. — „South Hams, i. 277. „North Devonlhire, ji. 41. , Vale of Exeter, ii. 97. — 4, Weſt Dorſet, ii. 123. „Vale of Taunton, ii. 163. ——, Plymouth to Buck- land, ¹i. 235. —, Valley of the Ia- „mer, 1i. 239. „Skirts of Dartmore, 1i. 242. , Environs of Ta- merton, ii. 245. „Banks ofthe Tavey, li. 264. „ Buckland to Plym- ton, ii. 273. , Milton Abbots, ii. 294. 82——jjjjjy— — Diſtricts Agricultural, i. 3. -Natural, i. 2. —of Weſt of Eng⸗ land, i. v. Dog of the Weſt Devon Shepherds, i. 266. Doors, Remarks on Hang- ing, ii. 319. — Further Remarks on Hanging. ii. 321. Dorſetihire Breed of Sheep, 1. 201. Draining propoſed, as an Improvement of Dart- more, ii. 33. Dray of Devonſhire, i. 120. Drinking Pools, Remarks on Forming, with Walnut- tree Leaves, ii. 315. Driving Oxen, i. 116. Drudge, or Team Rake, 1. 125. Duchy of Cornwall's Rights on Dartmore, ii. 25. Dulverton and its Environs, li. 82. —— to Tirerton, ii. 85. Dung, Weſt Devon, i. 153. - Pit of Buckland, ii. 354 F. Earth of Heath, Remarkson, as a Manure, ii. 162. —-Walls, Vale of Exe- ter, iI. 113. Earth 4 —j— ———-—— —— 1 N D Earth Worms, Method of deftroying, ii. 315. Eighteen Months Fallow, tligibility of, ii. 280. Elevation, Weſt Devon, 5. 10. „South Hams, i. 278. -, Soath Cornwall, 3I. 3. of —. Mountains Cornwall, i¹. 10. —, Dartmore, 1i. 21. ——, Vale oi EXceter, 11. 98. —— WeſfDorſer, iI. 126. —— Vale of l aun- ton, ii. 166. ——, South Somerfet, ii. 216. Elm of Hedgerows, Re- marks on, 1i. 105, — Timber improved by jadicious Lopping, ¹i. 115. Embankment near Bidde- ford, ii. 62. Employments, Weſt Devon, 1. 28. Eftabliſhed Practices, their Importance, i. 135. Eſtates, Weſt Devon, „Laying out, 1. 57. Wel Devon, i. 59. ‚their Management, Weſt Devon, i. 58. —, their Management, with reſpect to the S1zes of Farms, i. 103. —, Management ol, Vale of ExXxeter, 11. 111. Excurſion in Corawall, il. 3. —ᷣ—ꝛ—— E X. Excurſion, threugh North Devonſhire, ii. 41. Exmore, its Appearance, 1i. 79. Extent, Weſt Devon, i. 9- ‚South Hams, i. 277⸗ ‚Dartmore, 1i. 20. „Vale of Exeter, ii. 98. —, Weſt Dorſetſhire, 11. 126. „Vale of Taunton, F. FACE of the Country, Weſt Devon, 1. 40. —, South Hams, 1. 289.. Fair of Tamerton, ii. 246. — Plymion, ii. 274. Fairs for Stock, Weſt De- von, i. 185. — of Welt Devon, Re- mark on, 11. 248. Fall of KRills aſcertained, ii. 312. Fallowing, a fucceſsful In- ſtance of, i. 140. propoied as an Im- provement of South De- vonſhire, i. 312. —, Proceſs of, ii. 27 8. Eighteen Months, its Eligibility, 11. 280. Farms, Diſpoſal of, i. 69. „ Cccupying, i. 70. for three —, Sellins, Lives, i. 71. Farms, —·————— -/— 4I NDBH Xx. f.e Nortu Farms, their Charadters, Farm-Vards of Buckland, Weſt Devon, 1. 98. Final Remarks on, ii. 351. „ Sizes of, Weſt De-——, on Watering, von, i. 101. 1i. 356.. 3—, General Obſerva- Tammers. Wefthevom,i. 0. 774 tions on the Sizes of, i.„South Hams, i. 292. 20. 102.„WeſtDorſet, ii. 14. eter,—, Plans of, Weſt De- Farmeries, WeſtDevon, i. 60. von, i. 104.-—, Remarks on Lay-) ulre,—-, Managementof, Weſt ing out, ii. 317. Devon, i. 130. Farmery of Buckland, 1i. 317. mon,—, Management, South„ 1hr- Hams, i. 294. ther Remarks on, ii. 351. —, South Hams, i. 292. Fatting Cattle, Weſt Devon, —., Vale of Exeter, ii. i. 246. 116.- Sheep, Weſt Devon, —, Weſt Dorſet, ii. 141. 1. 270. Weſt—, South Somerſet, ii. Swine, and Remarks 219. thereon, i. 2 57.— vouth Farm Apprentices, their po- Felling Coppices, i. 93. litical Value, i. 1 12. Timber, an Inſtance 246.— Buildings, Vale of of ſhameful Practice, i. 88. 4 Exeter, ii. 112. Fences, Weſt Devon, i. 68. Le⸗— Lands, Laying out, Danmonian, their Weſt Devon, i. 60. probable Origin,&. i. 66. Re-—„their Hiffory,— South Hams, i. 288. Weſt Devon, i. 100.—, South Cornwall, ii. med,——, their Diſtribu- v. tion, Vale of Exeter, ii.„Eaſt Cornwall, ii. 14. ul Iw 111.-, Okehampton to Tor- — Vard Management, rington, 11. 93. 4 anlm Weſt Devon, i. 179.—, Vale of Taunton, De-— en il. 763. tne Improvement,——, Danmonian, its Ter- wu. South Devon, i. 312. mination, Vale of Taun- lortbs— Vards, on the Improve- ton, ii. 169. 30 ment of, South Devon, i.—ͤ-, on Pruning, ii. 266. 1. 308..—, farther Remarks on —— General Eco- Training, ii. 27§. 25 nomy of, i. 357. Fence thket 4 Farr- ☛ 3—————— —————y ———— 1 N PF Fence Mounds, äs an Im- provement of bleak Situ- ations, ii. 31. Fiſh, Weſt Devon, i. 34- — Poachers, ii. 261. Fiſtery ofthe Tavey, ii. 260. „Improve- ment of propoſed, ii. 292: Flowing Level of Rills aſ- certained, 1i. 313. Fodder Straw, Weſt Devon, 1. 184. Food, Weſt Devon, i. 27. Formof Leaſe, South Devon, 1. 77. —— on the Im⸗ provement of, South De- von, i. 309. Forming Roads, Remarks on, il. 331.. Foſſils, Weſt Devon, i. 18. —, Weſt Dorſet, ii. 130. Foundation Walls, on Bat- tering, 1i. 351. Fowls, Weſt Devon, i. 282. —, Remarks on their Fe- cundity, i. 273. Foxtail, Meadow, wanting, N. i. 205. Frame Level Conſtructed, 1i. 3 10. —, its Uſe in Gonducting Rills, ii. 310. —, us Uſe in Laying out Roads, ii. 328. Free Stone, Weſt Devon, 1. 18. Frome, ii. 209. -—== to Devizes, ii. 210. E X Fruit Liquor, Weſt Devon) 1. 223. 3—, General Ob- ſervation on, i. 233- Fuel, Weſt Devon, i. 28. Furniture of Pack Horſes, 1. 121. Furze, Dwarf Trailing, N. 1. 37. Furzes of South Cornwall, 1i. 9. G. GAME, Weſt Devon, i. 165. Gate Poſts, Devonſhire, N- il. 114. Gateways, Devonſhire, N. ii. I4. Geeſe, South Sedgemore, 1i. 182. General Principle, in the Management of Eſtates, 1. 192. Remarks on the Progreſs of Cultivation, in Devonſhire, i. 32. on the Salmon, i. 36. — on the Danmonian Fence, i. 65. — on Letting Farms by Auction, i. 73. on Taking down Coppice Wood, i. 93- on the Sizes of Farms, i. 102. General — INDEX. General Pemarks on the Pointed Shovel,&c. 3. 127. on Pro- vincial Practices, i. 131. . on Sod- burning, i. 146. onthe Ap- plication of Lime, as a Manure, i. 160. on the Breeds of Cattle, in this Ifland, i. 24 1. on North Devon, ii. 77. further on North Devon, ii. 93. on the Lands of the Vale of Exe- ter, ii. 109. — on the Cul- tivation of Commons, Weſt Dorſet, ii. 132. on Hedge- row Timber, ii. 154- on the Southern Parts of Somer- ſetſhire, ii. 215. ——— General Remarks on Water. ing Slopes, ii. 345. on Life- Leaſehold, i. 44. on Semi- nating Wheat, i. 190. on the Turnep Culture, i. 197. — on Or- chards and Fruit Liquor, 1. 233. on Corn- wall, ii. 16. Geological Remarks on the Limeſtone of Weſt Somer- fetſhire, ii. 175. , South Somerſet, ii. 217. „ Weßl Devon, ii. 242. on the Country round Milton „Abbots, ii. 294. Glaſtonbury, Vale of, ii. 200. Goad,&c. for driving Oxen, N. 1. 118. Goats, Mountains of Corn- wall, ii. 14. on the Gradation of Farms, Re- Danmonian Huſbandry, marks on, i. 102. 1i. 225. Graſs Calves, Weſt Devon, — on Coat- 1. 249. ing Buildings, ii. 295. Graſſes Cultivated, i. 202. — on Con- Graſslands, and their Ma- ducting Rills, ii. 323. nagement, Weſt Devon, on Laying 1. 204. out Roads, ii. 327., South Hams, on the i. 209. Rental Value of Coppice, Vale of Exeter, Wood, ii. 332. 1i. 118. Fol. I1. B b Graſslands, —y ——————.— IN DE x. Graſslands, Weſt Dorſet, 1i. 146. Grazing, Weſt Devon, ii. 247. —.—-Grounds of Milton Abbots, ii. 294. Gurry Butt, i. 121. H. HABITATIONS, Weſt Devon, i. 27. „ Vale ol Exeter, ii. 109.. , Weſt Dorſet, ii. 138. Hams, their probable Ori- gin, i. 33. 8 Handbeating, i. 142. anging Doors, Remarks on, 1i. 319. 3„ Purther Remarks on, ii. 321. Harrows of Weſt Devon, 1. 125. Harveſted Crops, their Ma- nagement, 1. 179. Harveſt Holla, Weſt Devon, N. i. 170. Harveſting, Weſt Devon, 4. 166. -ͤ-, South Cornwall, 11. 9. , Management of Welt Devon, General Re- marks on, i. 179. Hatherly, ii. 48. ————— Hawthorn, uncommon, in Weſt Devon, i. 85. Hay Harveſt, Weſt Devon, 1. 209. Hedges, Weſt Devon, i. 65. ‚on Pruning, ii 266. „ Training, lI. 279. Management on the Improvement of South Devon, i. 308. Mounds, Guarding, 1i. 275. erows, —, Vale of Exeter, 11. 11 z. Hedgerow Timber, Vale of Exeter, ii. 115. — Timber, Ma- nagement of, propoſed, ii. 154. Hedgewood, Management of, Weſt Devon, i. 95. Herbage of Dartmore, Im- provement of propoſed, Hewing Wheat, Weſt Devon, 1. 168. Hogs, Weſt Devon, i. 257. Homeſtall Management, 1. 129. Homeſteads, Weſt Devon, i. 60. N. i. 91. Horſes, Working, Weſt De- von, i. I15 and 117. 1 Horſes, South Hams, . α 1 N D E X. Horſes, Weſt Devon, i. 238. —, Tax on, Propoſed, ii. 220. — ofthe Corniſh Moun- tains, ii. 241. Horſe Barrow, ii. 88. Hours of Team Labor, i. 119. Houſe Lamb Breedof Sheep, 1. 261. — ‚their⸗ Quality, i. 263. „ 2 Ne- mark on, i. 265.. Houſing Stacks by Hand, 1. 190. Jundred Courts, Weſt De- von, 1. 21. Hundreds, Names of, Re- marks on, ii. 244. Huſbandry Danmonian, its Termination, Vale of Taunton, ii. 170. J. IMPLEMENTS, Weſt De- von, i. 119. 3„ South Hams, i. 294. —„ South Cornwall, ii. 7. —, Vale ol xeter, il. 117. —, Weſt Dor- fet, ii. 143. Improvement, Spirit of, Weſt Devon, i. 106. Improvements, their flow Progrefs, i. 61. propoſed, South Devon, i. 308. ——- of Dartmorèe propoſed, ii. 29. - of Devonſhire propoſed, by a triple Ca- nal, li. 107. , Weſt Dorſet, ii. 152. — of Sedge- mores, Remarks on, ii 183. —., Preliminaries of, ii. 249. —— of Plows, 1i. 253. —, a general Principle, on introducing, 1i. 25 5. — of Buckland ſaggeſted, ii. 286. —-, how beſt pro- moted, ii. 302. ——,on Studying the Site of, ii. 344. Incloſures, Weſt Devon, 4. 3 7. , their probable Origin in Devonfhire, 1. 31. „State of, South Hams, 1. 287. , South Cornwall, ii. 6. „Moun- tains of Cornwall, ii. 13. „ Oke- hampton to Torrington, ii. 53. B b 2 Inclo- 1IN DE X. Ingloſures, State of, Vale of Exeter, ii. 108. „ Weſt Dorſfet, ii. 131. ‚Vale of Taunton, ii. 169. —„ South Somerſet, ii. 217. Inhabitants, Weſt Devon, i. 24. Inland Navigation, South Hams, i. 284. requi- ſite as an Improvement of Dartmore, ii. 37. propo- ſed, between Plymouth and Biddeford, ii. 38. —„Vale of Exeter, ii. 106. ‚Vale of Taunton, ii. 168. Introduction of Improve- ments, the Cautions ne- ceſſary to, ii. 255. Irrigation, its Hiſtory in Weſt Devon, i. 206. „Weſt Dorſet, il. 147. —, its Advantages, ¹i. 344. Irrigating Slopes, Practical Remarks on, ii. 34 5. L. LABORERS, Weſt Devon, i. 107. Lambs, their time of drop- ping, Weſt Devon, i. 264. Lambs, the time of Wean⸗ ing, Weſt Devon, i. 264. Landed Eſtates, Weſt Devon, 1. 57. ——, their Ma- nagement, Weſt Devon, 1. 68. Landrd Gentlemen, Aſſoci- ations of, propoſed, ii. 303. Langport, ii. 196. Larch, its probable Value, in Weſt Devon, i. 387. Launeeſton, ii, 5S Laying Land down to graſs, practical directions on, ii. 159. — to graſs, Re- marks on, ii. 342. out Eſtates, Weſt Devon, i. 59. Farmeries, ii. 317. — Farm Lands, Weſt Devon, i. 60. Farm Lands, Vale of ExXeter, 11. 111. — Roads, ii. 327. Townſhips, N. —— li. 138. Watered Lands, 11. 347. Leaſes, Forms of, Weſt De- Von, i. 77. Leat of Plymouth, noticed, 1i. 244. , deſeri- bed, ii. 259. Leats of Potwater, Weſt Devon, i. 61. Leſkard, ii- 10, Letting ——— R— ENDEX. Letting Farms, in Weſt De- von, 1. 73.. —, by Auction general Remarks on, i. 73. Level, a new one conſtruc- ted, ii. 310. Ley Grounds, Remarks on, 1. 311. ——, on the Im- provement of, South De- von, 1. 314. —, on Mowing, the firſt Vear, ii. 342. Life Leaſehold, Tenure de- ſcribed, i. 43. ‚ its Diſad- vantages, i. 44. ‚ its Means of Annihilation, i. 47. Life Leaſes, Mode of Selling, 4. 71. — , Conditions of, 4. 72. —, their Eſtimate Value, i. 72. Lime, Weſt Devon, i. 156. —, General Remarks on the Application of, i. 160. —, Method of Spreading, 1. 159. —, neceſſary as an Im- provement of the lower Lands of Dartmore, ii. 37. —, Preparation of for a Manure, i. 158. „ſeparating the Afhes ef, 1. 157. Liming Land, an Inſtance of Practice, ii. 322. Lime Kilns, Weſt Devon, 1. 196. Lime Kilns, Biddeford, ii. 58. „Bampton, ii. 27. —, Calſtock, ii. 240. Limeſtone, Weſt Dorſet, 1l. 130. — ‚Weſt Somerſet, ii. 176. ——, South Somerſet, 11. 217. Linhays, deſcribed, i. 61. Liſt of Rates, i. 319. M. MANAGEMENT of Cop- pices, i. 90. of Eſtates, a Branch of Rural Economy, 1. S4. — of Eſtates, Weſt Devon, i. 58. of Eftates, with reſpect to the Size of Farms, i. 103. of Eſtates, Vale of ExXeter, ii. 111. of Eſtates, Ge- neral Principle of, i. 152. of Eitates, a Principle ſuggeſted, ii. 157. of Eſtates, Im- provements of propoſed, li. 303. — of Farms, Weſt Devon, i. 130. B b Manage- — 1 N D E X. Management of Farms, South Hams, i. 294. of Farms, Vale of Taunton, ii. 170. —(He edgewood, Weſt Devon, i. 9. —— os GaTlands, — 1. 205. —— oft growing Crops, Weſt Devon, i. 164. of the Soil, Weſt Devon, i. 137. of Solls, South Hams, 1. 295. ofs Soils, an Im- provement of, Weſt Dor- 3 Et, 11. 159. — — —.— of Timber, in Weſt Devon, i. 88. —— of Woodlands, a Branch of Rural Eco- nomy, 1. 55. — — of Woodlands, Weſt Devon, i. 87. Manor Courts, their Advan- tages, i. 22. — Weſt Devon, 1. 49. Manorial Rights, a ſingular one in Devonſhire, i. 32. ——, Weſt De- von, i. 49. Manors, Weſt Devon, i. 21. Manufactules, Weſt Devon, 1. 23. ——, Village, their Adv antages, i. 50. ſhould go hand — in hand with Agriculture, i. 51. Manufactures declining, their Effects on the Poor's Rate, 1. 290. ——, South Corn- wall, ii. 6. „,Vale of Exeter, „Weſt Dorſet, 11. 145. —, South Somer- fet, 11. 218. Manures, and their Manage- ment, Weſt Devon, i. 153. South Hams, i. — , South Cornwall, —, North Cornwall, ii. 14. as an Improvement Dart- more, ii. 34. —, Vale of Exeter, 11. 117. —, Weſt Dorſet, ii. 145. —, Improvements by, ſaggeſted, Weſt Dorſet, 11. 160. Manuring Fallows, ii. 279. Markets, Weſt Devon, i. 185. — of Bidde ford„ 11. 61. of Taunton, ii. 190. Marſh Lands, Nerrarke on their Formation, ii. 179. Marl, Weſt Dorſet, ii. 146. Meadow Foxtail wanting, Weſt Devon, N. i. 205. Meadow † Meadow Lands, Weſt De- von, i. 204. —- Plants, Weſt De- von, N. 1. 204. Melling Lime, Method of, 1. 159. Mill Leats of Devonſhire, ii. 271. Milton Abbots, 1i. 294. Minerals, Weſt Devon, i. 19. Mines inimical to Agricul- ture, i. 19. —., their Effect on So- eisty, 1. 393 —, their Profit to the Lord of the Soil, i. 49. -, South Cornwall, ii. 5. - in Eaſt Cornwall, ii. 12. Mining, its preſent Seat, N. 1. 39. Miſeltoe, unknown, in Weſt Devon? i. 222. Moorſide Farmers, Objects 0f, ii. 27. Moory Earth, Remarks on, as a Manure, ii. 162. Moulton, South, and its En- virons, ii. 75. —, to Dulver- ton, ii. 78. Mounds of Hedges, on Guarding, ii. 268. Mountains of Cornwall and Devonſhire, ii. 1. Ride to, — —————.—ʒ—— 1 N D E. X. N. NATIONAL Domain of Weſt Devon, i. 20. Natives of Devonſhire, their Habitudes, i. 25. Natural Boundaries, Devon, i. 9. Navigation, Inland, ſee IN- LAND NAVIGATION. Newport, Boroughof, 11. 16. North Devon, Diſtrict of, ii. 41. Weſt ——, General Remarks on, ii. 93. Nutwell, ii. 103. 0. OAK BARK, its Market, in Weſt Devon, i. 96. —, its Characteriſtics, in Weſt Devon, i. 86. — Timber ſhamefully lopped, Vale of Exeter, ij. 115 Oats, Weſt Devon, i. 193. Objects of Huſbandry, Weſt Devon, i. 133. of Huſbandty, Vale of Exeter, ii. 117. of Moreſide Harmers, li. 27. —— of Huſbandry moſt eligible, at Buckland, ii. 286. B b 4 Oceu- I N D E P Occupiers of Devonſhire, i. 70. „Weſt Devon, i. 104. Octagonal Vards, Remarks on, ii. 318. *„ further Remarks on, ii. 35 1⸗ Okehampton and its Envi- rons, ii. 43. — to Torrington, 31. 45. Orchards, and their Manage- ment, Weſt Devon, i. 213. -—, GeneralObſerva- tions on, i. 233. ——, South Hams, i. 300. , South Cornwall, ii. 8. „ Eaſt Cornwall, 11. 15. „ their Character, near Dulverton, ii. 82. ——Vale of Exeter, ii. 119. ——, Weſt Dorſet, ii. 147. ——, Danmonian, their Termination, N. ii. 148. ——, Danmonian, their Termination, Vale of Taunton, ii. 171. „Vale of Taunton, iI. 171. — ii. 264. Orchard Grounds, Remarks on their Application, i. 422. „onBreaſtPlowing, Orchard Grounds, on the Im- provement of, South De- von, i. 315. Oxen, as Beaſts of Labor, in Weſt Devon, i. 116. —, Method of driving, i. 116. —, Breaking in, N. i. 118. ——, a favorite Team, Weſt Devon, i. 118. —, Remarks on Shoeing, 11. 283. „Remarks on Training for the Yoke, ii. 285. —, on Plowing with àa Pair, ii. 349. P. PACKHORSES, Weſt De- von, 1. 115. „on the compa- rative Diſpatch of, N. 1. 115. —, South Hams, i. 293. Padſtow Hiil, ii. 5o. Paring Spade, i. 142. Paring and Burning, general Remarks on, i. 146. Paſturage of Dartmore, ii. 25. Peat, charred for the Uſe of Blackimiths, N. ii. 28- Peeling Coppice Wood ſtand- ing, 1. 93. Pigs, Weſt Devon, i. 257. Pilchard A — I N D E X. Pilchard Fiſhery, i. 35. Pillars of Sheds deſcribed, ii. 352. Pitching Corn Sheaves, i. 177. Plan of Management, Weſt Devon, i. 130. ‚Vale oOf Exeter, ii. 117. ——, Wen Dorſet, ii. 143. „ an Improvement of Weſt Dorſet, ii. 158. — ‚Vale of Taunton, ii. 170. — of Farming, with re- ſpect to Grafs Land, ii. 343 — of Farms, Weſt Devon, 1. 104. Plans of Management, Re- flections on their Origin, 1. 131. Planting Orchards, i. 218. , propoſed in Weſt Devon, i. 86. — Devon, i. 310. ₰ ——» as an Improvement on Dart- more, li. 30. —-;,) Weſt Dorfet, li. 154. Plow of Weſt Devon, i. 123. ‚ further Remarks on, ii. 252. —, of the South Hams, i. 294. —, of South Devon, on Improvement of, i. 311. — Plow, of Devonſhire, Re- marks on its Origin, ii. 253. Plowing, in Weſt Devon, i. 138. ———, with Whip Reins, ii. 265. ——, with two Oxen, ji. 349. Plow Team, Weſt Devon, 1. 116. —, Hours of Work, i. 119. ——, South Hams, i. 293. ——, Skirts of Dart- more, 11. 243. ymouth, i. 23. to Buckland, it. pf 235 Leat, noticed, ii. 244. „ deſcribed, ii. 269. Plymton, fine Situation of, 1i. 274. Poachers of Fiſh, ii. 261. Political Diviſions, Weſt De- von, i. 21. Economy, its- prime Object, i. 40. of the Chi- neſe, 1. 40. ; the ra- tional Alliance of Agri- culture and Manufactures, 1. g 1. ; Remarks on the Woollen Manufac- ture, ii. 110. Poors —————,·,·,·—ſ—EöE—·—· 4 — —— 1 1 1 1 N PB E. Poors Rate, Weſt Devon, i. 50. aſſſted by Vil- lage Manufaures, i. 50. , South Hams, i. 2900. Py encreaſe a declining Manufacture, Potatoes, and their Culture, 1. 193. Potts of Pack Horſes, i. 122. Potwater Leats, Weſt Devon, 1. 61. Poultry, Weſt Devon, i. 272, Pound Houſe, or Place of manufacturing Cider, i. ! Practice 8, their flow Pro- greſs, i. 198. Preliminaries of Improve- ment, ii. 249. Private Property, Weſt De- von, i. 43. Produce of Wheat, by the Acre, Weſl Devon, I. 19 1. 2 Barley, by the Ac 193. prodccäem, Weſt Devon, ——, politically viewed in Welt Devon, i. 38. —-,S South Hams, —.—, Souch Corn- wall, ii. 6. Dartmore, ii. Productions, Vale of Eæe- ter, nI. 108. — 1i. 137. „ Weſt Dor ſet, „Vale of Taun- ton, 1i. 169. —— South Somer- ſet, ii. 218. Prognoſtics ill attended to- Wes Devon, j. 129. P; opanation of Woodlands, Weſt Devon, i. 86. Proprietors, Weſt Devon, 1. 57. — ccupying Lands, Redrchioen on, 1. 50. Provident Societies, i. 29. Provincial Practices, general Remarks on, i. 131. boſſeſfory Rights, Weſt De- von, i. 43. Public Works, Weſt Devon, i. 29. —— Vale of Exe- ter, il. 106. RABBETS of Doorways, their Uſe, ii. 321. Rabbits, Weſt Devon,** 27 Kabbit 1 — 1 N DEX. 22 Rabbit Warrens propoſed as Remarks on the regiſtering dt an Improvement of Dart- of the Harveſt Manage- more, 11. 35. ment, N. 1. 174. 1 Rain, its Eflect on Natural on the ſlow Pro- Scenery, ii. 70 and 71. greſs of Practices, i. 198. r of Weſt Devon, Re-— on Bleeding Cat- marks on, ii. 262. tle for the Slaughter, Rape Seed propoſed, as a i. 247. Crop for Dartmore, ii. 3Z3.— onthe Term Buſs, 4 Rates, Liſt of i. 319. N. 1. 249., Nearing Cattle, Weſt Devon,-—— on Scalding Cream, i. 24. 9. 1. 251. 1— Swine, Weſt Devon,— on the Devonſhire 1 1. 245. Method of fatting Swine, 7 Reclaiming Land from 1. 257. Stones, 1i. 276.— on the native A from Breed of Sheep, in De- Weeds, ii. 277. vonſhire, i. 259. - the Soil, Remarks on the Houſe on, i. 312. Lamb Breed of Sheep 4 Coppice Grounds, 1. 265. 11. 334.— on the Shepherd- 4 Reed, its Eligibility, as a iag of Sheep, i. 257. Covering, i. 64.— on the Walhing of —, Method ofmaking up, Sheep, i. 259. 1. 132. on the Fecundity Remarkson the ſlow Progreſs of Fowls, i. 273. of Improvements, i. 61.— on Townſnips, on the Wages oſ 1. 283. Farm Laborers, 1. 108. on the Effect of 2— on Horſchack Car- declining Manufactures riage, i. 113. on the Poors Rate, i. 290. —— oantne Devonſhire— on the Renewal of Plow, i. 123. Sierd, 3. 311„. on Tools of Hufſ-. 5 rholie bandry, i. 129. ing the Soil, i. 3 12. 3— on the Origin of SS Lauhare⸗ provincial Practices, i. 131. DS of Ley Grounds, 4— oan eſtablithed ‧31¹4 i Praclices, i. 135. Remarks 1—,———— — — — — — 1 N B ER X. Remarks on the ſubſtantial Improvements of Agricul- ture, i. 317. rPr on Examiniag the Surface of a Country, 11. 98. on the Hedgerow Elm, il. 195. — on the Incloſure of Vale of Exeter, ii. 108. on the Alliance of Hulbandry and the. Wool- len Manufäctare, ii. 110. — on the Diſtribution of Farm Lands, Vale of Exeter, ii. I11. on the probable Continuance of Clouting Cream, ii. 120. on the Congeni- ality of Soils and Stock, 11. 121. onletting Dairies, ⸗ ð— 1i. 1,0. on laying Land to Grafs, ii. 159. on Burnt Clay, as a Manure, 1¹i. 151. on the Moory Earth of Heaths, as àa Ma- nure, 11. 161. on the Limeſtone of Weſt Somerſet, ii. 176. on the Formation of Marſh Lands, ii. 179. on the Improve- ment of Sedgemores, ii. 183. Remarks on Travelling in Rain, ii. 193. on the Woollen Manufacture, ii. 219. on the Coloniza- tion of this Ifland, ii. 224. -r onthe Rodborough Stone, ii. 242. on the Names of Hundreds, ii. 244. — on Surveying a Diſtrict, ii. 246. on the Plow of the erald, N. ii. 253. on the Introduc- tion of Improvements, ii. 253. on the Rains of Weſt Devon, ii. 262. on Made Brooks, — — ii. 272. — on Cutting Cab- bages, ii. 300. —— on LSocieties of Agriculture, ii. 301. on the Nature of Cement, ii. 308. on Laying out Farmeries, il. 317. —— on the Effect of Ruſt, ii. 32 1. on the Rabbets of Doorways, ii. 320. on KReclaiming Coppice Grounds, ii. 334. on Calculating the Value of Coppice Wood, 11. 337. —— on ſecuring Boild- ings, ii. 339.— — — — — Remarks 1 N PD L X. Remarks on the General Economy of Farm Yards, 11. 357- Removals, Weſt Devon, i. 82. Rent, Weſt Devon, i. 82. Rental Value of Coppice Wood, ii. 332. Reſervoirs, their Uſe to Made Rills, ii. 314. Retroſpective View of South Devon, i. 305⸗ of the Weſt of England, ii. 223. Right of Depaſturage on Dartmore, ii. 29. Rills, Artificial, Weſt Devon, 1. 61. —, the various Uſes of, li. 308. —, on Conducting, ii. 311. , proper Fall ot, ii. 312. —, Practical Remarks on Cena ucting, ii. 32 River Breaks of Bu N a ii. 288. forming with Stone, ii. 289. River Fich of the Tavey, ii. 259. Roads, Weſt Devon, i. 30. —, South Hams, i. 285. —, Soath Cornwall, ii.„. —, Mountains f Corn- wait, ſi. 13. —, Valè of Exeter, ii. 107. —, Welt Dorſetſhire, ii. 131. —, General Remarks on Laying out, ii. 327. — Remarks on Forming 7 321. 1 1 5.1. 33 1 Method of Roborough Stone, Remarks on, ii. 242. Hundred, Con- jectures reſpecting its Ety- mon, ii. 244. Roller of Weſt Devon, 1. 12 F. Rough Caſt, Weſt Devon, 1. 64. General Re- marks on, ii. 299. Rural Economy defined, 1. 53. Practices, Reflections on their Origins, i. 131. Ruſt, Remarks on its Effect, m. 320. 8. 4 SALE of Coppice, Calcula- tions on, ii. 337. ——, Condi- tions of it, 11. 336. Salmon, its Habits, i. 36. —, its Valae as a Na- tional Produce, i. 36. — Fiſheries, Weſt De- von, i. 354 Fiſhery of the Ta- vey, Improvement pro- poſed, ii. 292. Weir of the Tamer, 11 240. — of the Tavey — deſcribed, il. 2 5½6. 1447 5 S NNae Scalding Cream, Method of, calding — 2 2—.———ÿÿÿÿ——-y——— ⸗N D Scaldivg Cream, Remarks on, i. 251. Sea Sand of Devonſhire, 1. 154. -—,. Analyſis of, i. 154. — Winds, their Effects, 11. 66. Securing Buildings, Remar! — 8ᷣS on, ii. 339. Sédgemore, South, ii. 178. Sedgemores, Conjecture on their Formation, 1i. 179. ——, Remarks on their Improvement, ii. Seed Proceſs, Weſt Devon, of Wheat, Weſt Devon, 1. 137. Seed Weeds, Means of Ex- tirpating, 1. 140. Selling Farms for Three Lives, i. 71. Semination, Weſt Devon, i. 164. —— of Wheat, Weit Pevon, i. 137. Servants, Weſt Devon, i. 108. Setting Sun, its Uſe as a Prognoſtic, i. 130. Shearing Sheep without waſhing, i. 269. Sheds for Cattle, their pro- per Dimenſions, ii. 352. Sheep, Weſt Devon, i. 259. , Houſe Lamb Breed O5, 1. 261. -of Buckland Place, 1. 262. —, Remarks on ſelecling Varjeties of, i. 262. E X. Sheep, South lams, i. 3oz. —, on the Improvement of South Devon, i. 316. , South Cornwall, ii. 7. -, Mountains of Corn- wall, 11. 14. ——, Dartmore, 11. 26. —-, Okehampton, ii. 44. —, Vale of Exeter, il. 121. -, Remark on their Congeniality with Soils, 11. 121. —, Weſt Dorſet, ii. 151. — South Sedgemore, li. 192. —, South Somerſet, ii. 221. —, Skirts of Dartmore, 11. 242. —, Tamerton Fair, ii. 248. Sheet Cows, Remarks on, il. 223. Shepherding Sheep, Weſt Devon, 1. 266. Shepherds' Dog of Weſt Devon, 1. 266. Shipton and its Environs, iI. 205. 8 to Frome, ii. 206. Shocks, Setting up, Welt „Devon, i. 170. Shoeing Oxen, Remarks on, 11. 283. Short Crooks, i. 122. Shovel, pointed, General Remarks on, i. 127. Sites of Improvement, on ſtudying, ii. 344- Situation, Weſt Devon, i. 9. S1tuatlon,, I N D E X. Situation, South Hams, i. 277. ‚Dartmore, ii. 20. „Vale of Exeter, 1i. 97. ——r, Weſt Dorſet,&c. ——, Vale of Taunton, li. 165. Sizes of Farms, Weſt Devon, 4. 101. „General Ob- ſervations on, i. 103. Skim Cheeſe, Weſt Devon, 1. 294. Skirting, Method of, 1. 144. Slate Rock, i. 15. , analized, i. 16. — Covering of Devon, ſee LIST OF Rargs. tir Slating Walls, i. 63. Sledge of Devonfhire, i. 120. Slopes, Practical Remarks on Watering, ii. 349. Sodburning, Weſt Devon, 1. 14T. —, General Re- marks on, i. 146. ———, applicable to Waſte Lands, i. 151. —, as an Improve- ment of Heathy Lands, 41. 32. Soils, Welt Devon, i. 3. —, Management of, Weſt Devon, i. 137. —, Unreclaimed, Weſt Devon, i. 139. ⸗ . d — South Hams, Soils, South Cornwall, ii. 4. —, Mountains of Corn- wall, 11. 12. —, Dartmore, ii. 23. „Valeof Exeter, ii. 101. Weſt Dorſet, ii. 129. —, Vale of Taunton, 11. 107. — — 2 —, South Sedgemore, 11, 181. —, Skirts of Dartmore, 11. 24 3. —, clearing, from Stones, 11. 276. —, reclaiming, from Weeds, ii. 277 Proceſs, an Improve- ment of, Welt Devon, 11. 169. ——— South Hams, 1. 296 .290. Somerſetifhire, Journey through, ii. 1895. ◻ ——, General 3 5 View of its Southern Somerton and Environs, 11. 198. r to Shipton, ii. 198 4 2 Societies, Provident, i. 29. 5A. 4 ofAgriculture, Re- ◻ — Ee mars On, 11. 301. ₰ ———-——. àa Hint offered to, i. 317. Society, State of, Vale of Exeter, 11 109. th Mar a e South Hams, the Diſftrict Oof, 2„7 52 ——— 2₰“—— —,————— 8 —— — — — 1 N D South Devon, Retroſpective View of, 1. 305. South Devon, Improve- ments propoſed for,. i. 308. South Moulton and its En- 1rOnS, 11. 75. to Dulver- ton, 11. 78. +rr Sedgemore, ii. 178. Spade, or Paring Spade, 1. 142 Sparrows, Weſt Devon, 1. 165. Spayed Heifers, not in Uſe, Weſt Devon, i. 117. Spaying not practiſed, i. 255. Speculative Commerce, its Miſchiefs, i. 102. irit ofImprovement, Weſt Devon, i. 106. Stock, Weſt Devon, i. 134. Stacks, Houfing by Hand, 1. 180. Stalls of Cattle, their proper Dimenſions, ii. 353- Stannary Laws, want Re- viſing, i. 19. State of Huſbandry, South Cornwall, ii. 9. Spi „ Envi rons of Biddeford, ii. 64. —„ North Devon, ii. 94. Society, Welſt De- von, 1. 23. — „ Vale of Eeter, il. 109. Stock, Dartmore, 1i. 25. — Fairs, Weſt Devon, 4. 185. E X. Straw for Fodder, i. 184. — Vards of Buckland, 11. 355. Stream Work, a Deſcription Of, 11. 12. Stucco, General Remarks on, ii. 296. Studying the Site of Im- provement, ii. 344. Subjects of Agricçultural Sur- vey, i. 4. Subplow, South Hams, i. 2956. Subſoil, Weſt Devon, i. 15. —, South Hams, i. 282. ——, South Cornwall, ‚Dartmore, ii. 24. „ Vale ol FEeter, 11. 104. ‚Weſt Dorſet, ii. 130. „Vale of Taunton, 1i. 168.— Succeffion, Weſt Devon, 136. —, Sourh Hams, 1. 295. of Arable Crops, on the lmprovement of, South Devon, i. 310. „ Weſt Dorlet, 11. 14 Surface, Weſt Devon, i. 10. ‚South Hams, i. 278. ‚South Cornwall, zi. 4. „Mountains of Corn- wall, 11. 11. „Dartmore, ii. 22. ‚Vale of Exeter, 11. 98. Sur⸗ ———— — ——— I.N D. E X. Surfaces, Methods of Exa- mining, ii. 98. „Weſt Dorſet, 1i. 127. „Vale of Taunton, li. 166. —, South Somerſfet, 11. 210. Survey of Devonfhire, de- feribed, i. 71. Surveying a Country, Ge- neral Remarks on, i. I. „ Ne- marks on the Mode of Travelling, ii. 193. — a Diftrick; the Outlines ſoon caught, 1i. 246. Swimbridge, Valley ot, 1i. 72. Swaths of Corn, Method of Turning, 1. 173. „Method of Binding, i. 174. Swine, Remarks on App as the Food of, N. i. 223. —=, Welt Devon, i. 25½ 5. —, a new Breed of in- troduced, 1. 256. —, on boiling the Food 0f, 1. 258. —, on the Improvement of, South Devon, i. 316. —, Vale of Exeter, 11. 12 1. —, South 33. 222. Somerſet, Von. II. T. * TABLES of Crops,&c. their Uſe, ii. 249. Tamerton and its Environs, 11. 245- 3 Fair, ii. 246. Tanning, an Object of Che- miſtry, i. 96. Taviſtock, i. 23. Taunton, Market of, ii. 190. ‚Town of, ii. 189. — to Somerton, ii. 191- Tax on Horſes Propoſed, 11. 220. Team Labor, Hours of, 1. 119. Team Rake, or Drudge. 1. 125.. Temple, a deſerted Village, ii. 15. Temporary Leys, and theit Culture, i. 202. „ Remarks on, 1. 311. „Remarks on mowing the firſt Vear, ii. 342. 1 Tenancy, South Hams, 1. 290. Tenure, Weſt Devon, i. 43. Thatching Corn Stacks, 1. 173. Thraſhing Wheat, in Weſt Devon, 1. 181. — Barley, in Weſt Devon, i. 183. E Tillage, 1 N D E X. e, South Cornwall, „W eſt Devo Oon.11. ok Fallows, ii. 2 Timber, its Managemer nt, in Welſt Devon, i. 88. —[rees, Species of, Weſt Devon, i. 84. —„ their pro- Per Management ſuggelt- ec ai 11. 154. —- hes, Weſt Devon, i. 49. Tiverton to Taunton, ii. 185. Tools of Weſt Devon, i. 127 7 Tormenting, 1. 296. Operation or 85 orrington and its Environs, 11. 54. —— to Biddeford, 1i. 55. Towns, Weſt Devon, i. 23. — South Hams, 1.284. „South 11. 16. —— Eaſt Coinwall, 11. 15. —, Weſt Dorſet, 1i. 137. Townſhi hips, Weſt Devon, 4. 22. Cornwall, —, South Hams, 1. 283. — ⁴, Remarks on, 1. 283. — Vale of Exeter, ii. 106. Tradition reſpecting the Cultivation of Commons, 11. 132. Tradition, Note on its Au- thenticity, ii. 133. Training Hedges, ii. 27 5. Trav elling, Nernarks 11. 193. Trowbridge, ii. 212. Turnep Crop, on the Im- provement of, South De- von, i. 313. Culture, General Obſervations on, i. 197. Turneps and their Culture, Weſt Devon, i. 194. ¹, South Hams, i. 299. —, Vale of Exeter, 11. 118. , Hoing of, duced, 11. 281. „ Mowing theWeeds of, ii. 297. Two-Ox Plowteam, ii. 349. on, intro- V. VALE of Exeter, Diſtrict oOf, ii. 95. „Character of, defined, ¹i. 99. — of Taunton, Of, li. 163. Glaſtonbury, ii. 200. Trowbridge, ii. 212. Vegetating Proceſs, Weſt Devon, i. 164. Velling, Method of, i 143. Venville Right, its Nature, il. 20. Diſtrict Vermin, IL N D E X. Vermin, Weſt Devon, i. 16 5. Village Manufactures, their Benefit to ⁴ Country, 1. 50. 7111 von 4 Villages, Weſt Devon, 1. 24. —, V eft Dorſes,is 137. W ð* WAGES, Weſt Devon, i. 108. — oOf Farm Laborers General Remarks on, 1. 103. Waggons, Weſt Devon, 1. 119. Wain oöof Cornwall, i. 120. and ii. 7. Walnut Tree Leaves, their Effect on Earth Worms — 11. 315⸗ .-, their probable Uſe in forming Drinking Pools, ii. 315. Nalhing of Sheep, Remarks on, 1. 269. Waſte Lands improveable, hy Sodburning, 1. 1 F. Water Mills Bars to Im- rovement, ii. 273. Waters, Weſt Devon, 1. 12. - ofWeſt Devon, their Effect on Land, i. 208. and ii. 344. „their Analyſis deſt- rable, 1. 209. —, South Hams, i. 27 79. „ Daxtmofe, ii. 23. —, Vale of Exeter, 11. 101. 3 —, Weſt Dorſet, ii. 128. Waters, Qualities of, Welt Dorſet, ii. 147. th eir different Qua- lities, with Reſpect to Land, ii. 344. of Fa arm Yards, Diſ- — poſ 11 of. 15—⸗ W tered Me 3 es, and their Management, Welt De- von, i. 200. their 2 Advantages, 1¹1. 344 ——, Laying out, ii. 347. Watering Propoſed, as aun Improvement of Dart- more, 11. 33. — Slopes, Practical Remarks on, ii. 345. -x the rards 0f Buckland, ii. 3 56. Weather, Weſt Devon, i. 129. Weeding, Weſt Devon, 1. 164. Welt Devon, Difricet of, i. 7. ,—— Natural Cha⸗ racters of, i. 8. Weſt of England divided in- to Diſtrigts, 1. 5. „Retroſpec- tive View ot, ii. 223. Wheat, Weſt Devon, i. 186. „South Hams, i. 297. ‚a new YVariety of, 1. 297⸗ „ Vale of EXeter, 1i. 118. „General Obſerva- tions on Seminating, 1. 190. r Wheat, ———— ——— 4 5 1 8 8 2 — EäN D E X. Wheat, Hewing, i. 168. „Thraſhing, in Weſt Devon, i. 181. Whip Keins, on introducing, it. 26 5. Whitaker, 1. 16. Wild Muſtard affected by Cattle, ii. 297. — Oats, Inſtance of Ex- tirpation, i. 140. Winnowing, Method ol, Weſt Devon, i. 184 Wolves, Tradition reſpect- Woodlands, Weſt Devon, 1. 83. —, their Manage- ment, in Weſt Devon, 1. 87. ——, ERaſt Cornwall, 11. 15. —, Okehampton to Torrington, ii. 93. —, Vale of Exeter, Working Cattle, Weſt De- von, 1. 116. — e, the Devon- ſhire Breed excellent as, 1. 242. , a Mode of Treatment ſugge ſted, 1i. 285. — Horſes, Weſt De- von, i. 7I5. and i. 117. Workpeople, Weſt Devon, 1. 107. V. YVARCOMBE, Valley of, N. ii. 127. Vard Liquor, Diſpoſal of, 1i. 357. Vard, Octagonal, Remarks on, ii. 318. and 351. Voke, of Devonihire, its ad- 31. 114. mirable Conſtruction, Woollen Manufacture, Re- 1. 125. marks on, ii. 219. N 1. —— —— —— ———— ——— —————— W O ER E 8 Written by the ſame AurHox, A N D To be had of the PuBLISHERS oOf theſe Volumes; (In two Volumes, Octavo,] THE RURAL ECONOMY O F NORFEOELk:; compriſing the MaNAaGEMENT Of LaNbgsD EsrATES, and the PRESENT PRACTICE Of Hus- BANDRY, in that County. ALSO, 3(In rwo Volumes, Octav,] 2845 8 THE RURAL ECONOMY 0F XORKRSHIRE; Comprizing the MANAGEMENT oOf LaNDpED EsrATEs, and the PRESENT PRACTICE Of Hus- BANDRVY, in the agricultural Diſtricts of that County. —————— ———— 5— ————-— ALSO, (In Tro I'olumes Octavo,) THE RURAL ECONOMY 0 F GLOUCESTERSHIRE; together with the Dairy including its DalRav NoRrH WILTSHIRE; and the IR † N Management of Management of ORxCHARDS and FRUIT LIQ-oß in HEREFORPDSHIRE. ALSO, C Two Volumes Octavo,) TIIE RURAI. ECONOMY 0T TIHE MIDLAND COUNTIES; including the Management of Livesrock, in LEICESTERSHIRE, and its Environs; together with Minutes on AGRICUUTURE and PLaNTINO, in the Diſtrict of the Midland Station. r For ſome kccount f the general Deſion of Wbich the Four laßt Worts form Parts, ſée tbe Adcréſs prefxed to Uhe RuURaIL EcoxoMv ꝙ† NoRFon k. Being a Second Edition, with large Additions, of PLaNTING and ORNAMENTAL GARDENINO, ALSO, ( In Tto Volumes Odavo,) PLANIING AND RURAL ORNAMENT. a Practical Treatiſe. — — — — —— . ———=———— 8 — 5— Colour& Grey Coruroſ Chart e Hed Magenta CQyan Green vollow Grey?2. Grey3 Grey 4 Blue Black White Grey 1„ ☛ —— —