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IN THE CUSTODY OF TME
BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY.
SHELF N°
ADAMS
103. r
GENERAL VIEW
OF THE
AGRICULTURE
OF THE COUNTY OF
NORTHAMPTON,
WITH
OBSERVATIONS ON THE MEANS OF ITS IMPROVEMENT.
DRAWN UP FOR. THE CONSIDERATION OF
The Board of Agriculture and Internal Improvement,
TO WHICH IS ADDED,
An APPENDIX, containing a Comparifon between the English and Scotch Syflems of Hufbandry, as pradifed in the Counties of North- ampton and Perth.
BY JAMES DONALDSON,
DUNDEE.
EDINBURGH:
PRINTED BY ADAM NEILL AND COMPANY.
M Dec XCIV.
J'- ADAMS I 03. g^
ADVERTISEMENT.
THE following valuable communications, refpediing the pre- lent ftate of hufbandry in the county of Northampton, and the means of its Improvement, drawn up for the confideration of the Board of Agriculture, Is now printed, merely for the purpofe of its being circulated there, In order that every perfon, interefted In the welfare of that county, may have It In his power to exa- mine it fully before It is publifhed. It is therefore requefled, that any remark, or additional obfervatlon, which may occur to the reader, on the perufal of the following flieets, may be tranf- mltted to the Board of Agriculture, at Its office in London, by whom the fame fhall be properly attended to; and, when the returns are completed, an account will be drawn up of the ftate of agriculture In Northampton-fliire, from the information thus accumulated, which, It Is believed, will be found greatly fupe- rlor to any thing of the kind ever yet made public.
The Board has followed the fame plan, In regard to all the other counties In the united kingdom ; and. It is hardly necef- fary to add, will be happy to give every afllftance In its power, to any perfon who may be delirous of Improving his breed of cattle, fheep, ii^c. or of trying any ufeful experiment in huf- bandry.
INTRODUCTION.
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE IS an inland county, fitua- ted within the 53d degree of north latitude, and near the centre of England. It is bounded on the eaft, by the counties of Cambridge and Hunt- ingdon ; on the fouth, by Buckingham and Bed- ford ; on the weft, by Warwick and Oxford •, and on the north, by Leicefter, Rutland, and Lincoln.
This county is of an oblong form ; its greateft; length from the fouth-weft corner near Aynhos, to the north-eaft boundary at Crowland, is 65 miles ; its greateft breadth from Higham Park on the eaft, to Stanford on the weft, is 32 miles ; but its mean breadth may be reckoned at 14 miles, making a fquare fuperficies of 910 miles, or 582,400 acres.
Surface. — The furface of this county is as pecu- liarly advantageous for cultivation, as it is delight- ful and ornamental. In no other part of the king- dom, perhaps, are more agreeable and extenfive landfcapes to be feen. Here, there are no dreary waftes, nor rugged and unfightly mountains, to of- fend the eye, or to intercept the view. The fur- face is no where fo irregular, but it can be applied to every purpofe of huft)andry and tillage. Every hill is cultivated, or may be kept in a profitable ftate of pafturage, and every inequality in the furface contributes to its ornament and beauty.
The upper and middle parts of this county are richly ornamented with extenlive woods, which are interiecled with numerous viftas and beautiful
B lawns.
■.\.
(■ 6 )
lawns. The various avenues of trees, extending in many parts for miles together, the rivers and ftreams winding along the vales, and anfwering the necefTary purpofes of machinery, agriculture and trade, — the many beautiful villages and populous towns, with their churches and lofty fpires, (20 of which may be feen at a time), when viewed from an eminence, prefent a profped beautifully diverfi- fied, and highly pidlurefque, and which cannot fail to delight the eye, and enliven the heart of every fpedator.
Soil. — There is great variety in the foil of this diftricl, and feveral very diilincSl kinds are found in almofl; every parilli or lordlbip. Thefe may be clafled as follows :
i/?,* Strong, deep ftapled foil, chiefly confifting of clay, free from any mixture of ftone or gravel.
id. Light, thin, reddiib foil, chiefly confilling of loam 6 or 8 inches deep, on a bed of fl:one, here called Kealy, or Scaley rock.
3^, A rich loam of B or 10 inches deep, with a mixture of gravel, the under ftratum being clay, mixed with fmall pieces of red or white fl:one.
^tb, A thin, ftaple, light clay, very retentive of •water.
^th, Fen and meadow land.
Climate. — The climate of this county is very fa- vourable both to health and vegetation, and this may be accounted for from its fituation and other natural- advantages.
It is abundantly fupplied with excellent water. The furface of the ground is no where fo elevated, as to confine the foggy and unwholefome vapours (which at times arife in this a d in every country) from being fpeedily dilperfed. As there are no high hills here, it is in a great meafure exempted from
deep
( 7 )
deep falls of fnovv, and long continued rains, which are fo injurious to farmers in the vicinity of mountain- ous regions ; and as the feafons change gradually, the health of the inhabitants is little affedted by them, and the operations of hufbandry are leldom long or unexpedledly fufpended by the inclemency of the weather.
Rivers and Waters. — There are perhaps few di- ftridls better fupplied with water tlian this, while the inconveniencies which fo often happen from en- joying that advantage, are here felt but in a very in- conliderable degree. In almoft every part, it a- bounds with fine fprings, which being very plenti- ful in the upper part of the county, form numerous fmall brooks and rivulets, feveral of which uniting in their courfe towards the fea, at length become navigable rivers.
There are five rivers which take their rife in this county, the Nen, Welland, Oufe, Learn, and Char- •well ; and what is very remarkable, confidering the different courfes which they take, the fources of the former and of the two latter are faid to fpring out of one hill, near Catefby and Hellidon, in the hun- dred of Fawfley.
The Charwell, after running for feveral miles a- long the weftern boundary of this county, enters Oxfordfliire, and joins the Thames at the city of Ox- ford.
The Leam joins the leffer Avon near Warwick, , and afterwards joining the Severn, falls into the weftern ocean.
The Nen is the moft confiderable of thefe rivers. , After taking its rife, as above mentioned, it is quickly joined by a number of orher fmall ftreams and brooks in the vicinity of Daventry, and con- tinues its courfe from thence to Northampton, where it becomes navigable, and forms a confider- able .
( 8 )
alile river, extending its courfe along the eaft fide of the county, it pafles Wellingborough, Thrapllon, Owndle and Peterborough, and from thence, by a new cut, (called Morton's Learn), to Wifbech, be- low which it difcharges itfelf into the German O- cean.
The Welland takes its rife near Hawthrope, in the hundred of Rothwell, and winding along the north boundary of the county, it pafles by Rock- ingham and Stamford, where it becomes navigable-, from thence to Spalding, below which place it com- municates with the fea.
The Oiife, which is one of the principal rivers in the kingdom, takes its rife from a fpring called Oufe-well, near Brackley, in the hundred of Sut- ton. It quickly leaves this county, and after taking a circuitous courfe through part of Buckingham- Jhire, touches again upon it at Stoney Stratford ; from whence it pafles to Newport-pagnel and to Bedford ; from which lafl place it is navigable to the fea at Lynn.
Thefe are the moft confiderable rivers ; but there are a great many fmall ftreams and brooks, which, after taking various windings through different parts of the county, difcharge themfelves into one or o- ther of thefe rivers; and befides the. convenience and advantage which the inhabitants enjoy from fuch an abundant fupply of water, thefe rivers and flreams, are not only ufeful for fupplying the mills for grinding wheat and corn, of which there are great numbers erefted upon the banks, but great advantages are alfo derived from the navigation of the Neil and the Welland, particularly the former, as it pafles through the greateft; part of the county, and by means of which the inhabitants are fupplied from the ports of Lynn and Wilhech with coals, fir-timber and other articles, while confiderable
quantities
( 9 )
quantities of oak, bark, and grain are fent back in return.
TOWNS, POPULATION, and MANU- FACTURES.
This diftrid is divided into 20 hundreds*, com- prifing now 316 parifhes, or townfliips, though on the firft divilion of the county into parifhes, the number was 330 ; but feveral of them have been united of late years. The principal market-towns are Northampton, (the county-town), Peterborough, Wellingborough, Kettering, Owndle, Kigham-fer- rers, Towcefter, Brackley, Daventry, Rockingham, Rowell or Roth well, Weldon and Cliff. Though it was not poflibie to afcertain the number of inhabitants with any great degree of corrednefs, yet from the information received of the population of particular parifhes in different parts of the diftrid, the num- ber of inhabitants may be reckoned at 400 in each of the country parilhes or townfhips, and 3C00 in each of the market-towns, making in all 167,600,
C of
* England was firfl divided into tithings and hundreds by King Alfred, about the year 900. The ancient tithings confifted of 10 men and their families ; and as by the original inftitution, 10 of thefe tithings were directed to meet once every 2 or 3 weeks, in order to inquire into the ftate of the country, fuch meetings were therefore called hundreds. By this law, the honed inhabitants of every village or townfhip, became an- fwerable in their own private fortunes and property, for all the honfe breakings, rob- beries, and other depredations committed within their refpeftive diftrifts, and were alfo compelled to aflbciate with their neighbours in arms, in order to fupprefs every aft of violence, aijd to maintain peace and public order. And it is worthy of remark, that the damages fuftained by individuals, in confequence of the very alarming riots which happened in London in the year 1780, were levied on the inhabitants at large, on the principles laid down in this very ancient inftitution.
( 10 )
of which by far the greater proportion is employed in agriculture.
The principal manufadlures carried on in this di- ftricl, are, flioes, bone lace, and woollen fluffs, prin- cipally tammys, callimancoes, and everlaftings.
In Northampton, and ibme of the neighbouring towns, upwards of a thoufand hands are employed, in making Ihoes for the fupply of the army and navy, and the ihops in London, and alfo for expor- tation to different parts of the world. About ycoo or 8000 pairs are manufadured weekly in time of peace; but at prefent, (July 1794), in confequence of the war, from 10,000 to 12,000 may be manu- faflured in the fame period. The price runs from 3 s. 6 d. to 5 s. and upwards the pair. The me- dium price may be reckoned at 4 s. 3 d. of which about I s. 6d. is paid for labour.
The leather is purchafed partly in this and the neighbouring counties, but chiefly from the Lon- don market. A journeyman earns from 7 s, to 14 s. the week ; but from 9 s. to 10 s. may be conlidered as the general average.
In Wellingborough, and the neighbourhood, and towards the fouth-weft corner of the county, from 9000 to 10, GOO perfons, moftly young women and boys, are employed in lace making. They earn from 2 d. to 1 s. 6 d. the day, generally, however, about 6 d. nearly one feventh part of which muff be dedudted for materials, in the proportion as 3 s. to 20s. and confequently 17 s. in the pound of the value of the article are paid for labour. The price varies from three halfpence to 15 s. the yard ; and what feems very extraordinary, rifes regularly one halfpenny the yard. The greateft demand is for that quality which fells from 2 s. to 3 s> ^fr yard. All The thread of which the lace is made, is import- ed from Flanders, and the goods, when 'finiflied, are partly exported to America, the Weft India iflands,
and
( " )
and Ireland, but by far the greater proportion is ufed in Britain.
The woollen manufadlory is principally confined to Kettering, and its neighbourhood. This ma- nufadure was in the higheft perfedion it has ever attained at the beginning of the prefent war. A very confiderable nuitiber of perfons were employ- ed, in the diiferent branches of it, at that time. It is difficult to form any probable guefs at the num- ber ; but perhaps from 5000 to 6000 would not be an extravagant calculation. At prefent, not more than one half of the number of perfons are em- ployed in it. . The wool, in the firft inftance, is bought by the manufacturers of the growers, or far- mers in the neighbourhood. It then undergoes a very minute aflbrtment ; and the different kinds of wool, which are found in every fleece, are appro- priated to fupply the proper markets, in the differ- ent parts of the kingdom where they are refpedive- ly manufadured. Thus, for inflance, the coarfelt,. or long-ftapled wool, is fent into Yorkfliire, where it is made into broad cloths and flannels ; the finelf , or fliort-ftapled, is referved for the home manufaftory, for the purpofe of being made into tammys ; and fome of the moll inferior of the laft defcribed wool, is likewifc confumed here in making calamancoes, and everlaftings. After the wool is ibrted, and the different kinds are affigned, to the refpedlive pur- pofes for which they are befl adapted; that which is intended to be manufactured at home, is combed, and then delivered out, in fmall quantities, to the lower clafs of people in the neighbourhood, to be fpun and reeled, for which they are paid fo much per pound, according to the finenefs of the thread into which it is converted ; it is then returned home to the manufacturer, who has it wove into fuch kind of fluft' as the quality of the thread will belt anfwer. As foon as the goods are completed, they.
are
( I» )
arc immediately fent to the London and the York- fhire markets, where they are purchafed by perfons who drefs and dye them, and prepare them either for the fupply of their retail cuflomers, or for ex- portation to foreign markets. The fpinning and reeling are chiefly performed by the females, and boys from lo to 14 years of age. The price allow- ed, is from 10 d. to i s. 6 d. per pound. A tole- rable fpinner, who is induftrious, earns, upon an average, 6 d. per day. Sorters are paid at the rate of 6d. per tod of 28 lb.; combers receive 2s. for every 13 lb. of wool. A good hand will make 9 s. or 10 s. per week. A weaver from 5 s. 6d. to 6 s. 6 d. per piece for tammys, confifting of 32 yards in length, by 22 inches in breadth ; and for everlaftings, from 5 s. to 17 s. per piece of the fame fize, according to the finenefs; and a good weaver will earn is. 6d. per day.
STATE OF PROPERTY.
There are many very confiderable eftates in this diftridl, and by far the greateft part oF the landed property is in the pofleffion of noblemen and gen- tlemen, who refide at leafl fome part of the year in the county.
There are few eftates, the rentals of which ^'s.- cteA lu. 10,000 per annum ; there are a great many others under that fum, down to L. 1000 a-year, and the remainder of the property is either polfef- fed by thofe whofe rentals amount to from L. 500 to L. 800, or by that refpedable clafs of men who have been long known in England under the de- nomination of Teomanry, who either occupy their own eftates, of the value of from L. loo to L. 300,
or
( 13 )
01" who, befides their: own eftates, rent extenfive farms from the landlords in their neighbourhood.
EXTENT OF FARMS, LEASES and RENT.
There are no very large farms in this county ; for although great progrefs has of late years been made in inclofing the open fields, yet the lands have been in many inftances parcelled and let out again to the former tenants, who occupied them in the open field ftate, and to fuch extent as it was fup- pofed their abilities and circumftances would en-' able them to manage properly ; fo that it is only in the old inclofed parifhes, where there are farms of any confiderable extent ; and even there, the rent of one farm feldom exceeds L. 500 a-ycar. In the new inclofed parilhes, the farms are generally from L. 100 to L. 300 per annum, and in the open field lands, the rents run from L. 50 to L. 150.
This county may be faid to be principally occu- pied (with a very few exceptions indeed) by te- nants at will, the few leafes that are granted are of no longer endurance than for 7, 14 or 21 years ; and the general conditions contained in them are, that the tenants {hall purfue a certain rotation of cropping ; that they (hall not break up any old pa- fture ground ; that they Ihall not difpofe of hay or ftraw off the farm; and that they Ihall keep the houfes, buildings and fences in proper or- der. The terms of entry are either at Ladyday or Michaelmas, the former being, the period for enter^ ing upon a grazing farm, and the latter on an arable farm. The rent is paid half yearly, and in equal portions. The firft payment is ufually made twelve
D months
( 14 )
months after the term of entry, and fo on half year- ly during the currency of the leafe.
The average rent of the inclofed lands, which are generally exempted from tithes, may be ac- counted at 20 s. the acre, that of the open field lands, which are fubjedl to the payment of tithes in kind, may be reckoned at 8 s. The tithes may be reckoned at from 3 s. to 3 s, 6d. per acre over the whole open field farm, including even that part of it which is annually under fallow.
MODES OF TILLAGE adopted for raifing the dif- ferent Species of Crops.
In every part of this dillricft, plowing is perform- ed by a man and a boy, with 3, 4, and fonietimes 5 horfes in a fingle length ; and though the foil (as has been already obferved) is of very different qua- lities, yet the fame expenfive mode of plowing, with a few exceptions, univerfally prevails.
. IVheat. — A certain proportion of the tillage lands
is regularly under wheat, perhaps about one third
of the whole. It is generally fown in the open
fields after fallow, but on the inclofed farms alfo,
after beans or clover ftubble. When intended to
be fown on fallow, the land is firft plowed late in
the. autumn, and a fecond time in the courfe of the
fummer, before which dung from the farm-yard,
without any earth or other mixture, at the rate of
11 or 14 cart loads *, is laid on the acre ; and the
third * Dimenfions of the ordinary dung cart.
Length at top, 7 feet 6 inches.
Ditto at bottom, 5 feet g, inches.
Breadth at top, 3 feet 9 inches.
Ditto at bottom, 3 feet.
Height of fides, a feet.
( 15 )
third plowing (for more than three plowings are feldom given) takes place in the end of September or beginning of Odtober. About 3 bnfliels of feed are fown on the acre, the average returns may be reckoned at 26 bufliels The fpecies cultivated here are the Hertford(hire white, the Eflex down, and the red Lammas, or common r:d. This mode of hufbandrj, however, is more peculiar to the open fields. A different mode of preparing the land for wheat is praclifed in the inclofed farms, where me- liorating crops can be produced.
Beans and Peas are generally cultivated fepa- rately, the former in confiderable quantities. They are commonly fown after wheat, though beans fonie- times are fown on lands broke up from grafs. The land is once plowed, fonietimes in winter, but ge- nerally early in fpring, according to the feafon ; and in the end of February, or beginning of March, feed, at the rate of 5 bufhels, is fown on the acre. This crop is in general very uncertain, efpecially on the light lands ; but may be eftimated, for a courfe of years, and including all the various foils on which they are cultivated, at 14 bufliels ^^r acre, on the open fields, and 20 bufliels on the old inclofed lands. The kind in ufe here, is the common horfe-bean.
Oats. — There is but a fmall quantity of oats cul- tivated, compared with the other fpecies of grain j not fo much indeed as is fufficient for the confump- tion of the ordinary working cattle, which are prin- cipally fed with beans. Oats are here fown after wheat, barley, and grafs. In every cafe, one plow- ing fuffices, which is generally given in the fpring. And about the beginning of March, feed, at the rate of 5 or 6 bufliels, is fown on the acre. The average returns may be accounted at 36 bulhels per
acre.
( '6 )
acre, on the open fields, and 40 bufhels on inclofed land. The fpecies moft cultivated, are what are here called the fliort fuiall, and the Polilh oat.
Barky is cultivated nearly in the fame proportion with wheat. It is generally fown after turnip. The land is once plowed, commonly about Lady-day, and feed at the rate of from 4^- to 5 bufliels, is fown on the acre. The return may be reckoned at 34 budiels the acre. The common long-eared barley is the only kind cultivated.
Rye is feldom cultivated here as a crop, though frequently as fpring food for Iheep ; it is generally fown after oats or barley ; the land is plowed,, and the feed fown immediately after harveft, and the ftieep are folded upon it about Lady-day. This is confidered, and juftly, as a great improvement, as the rye is ready to be folded upon by the time the crop of turnip is eat off, and the Iheep by this means are kept on in good order, till the beginning of the grafs feafon. It may alfo be obferved, that it is an additional crop gained, becaufe the rye is eat off in fuch time as to give an opportunity to prepare the land for a turnip-crop ; indeed, all the preparation neceffary >is plowing, as in confequence of the ftieep folding, the field mud be well ma- nured for the fucceeding crop, whatever it may be.
■ Rape or Cole is alfo cultivated as winter and fpring food for ftieep. The land is plowed three times, and generally manured before the laft plow- ing with yard-dung. About one-eight of a bufliel of feed is fown on the acre. The time of fowing is in the month of June, or the beginning of July. The flieep are folded in the fame manner as on rye or turnip, and continue till about the end of February ; and if the winter is favourable, and not
very
( 17 )
very wet, tlie cole is foinetimes allowed to (land for feed, when 30 bufliels on an average is produ- ced from the acre. This article varies very much in price, from L. 18 to L. 35 per laft.
Turnips are cultivated in confiderable quantities on every farm under tillage. The land is generally plowed four times ; the firll time, after harveft ; the fecond time, in April ; the third time, in the end of May, or the beginning of June ; and the land being then manured, they begin lowing turnip in the end of June, and finifh about the middle, or end of July. The feed is always fovvn broadcaft, and very foon after the turnips appear with the rough leaf; they are handhoed, by way of thinning them, which operation is repeated once, or oftener in the courfe of the feafon, as occalion requires. The turnip-crops are always eat off by flieep, and principally by lambs ; though a great number of wedders are fatted for home confumption, and for the London market, particularly about Northamp- ton, and the higher parts of the county. The fheep are penned on the turnip-field in fquare folds, ac- cording to the number, about 100 commonly on an acre. Thefe pens, or hurdles, are made of the un- derwood fold in the forefts •, they are made 2 yards long, and coft about 6 d. each.
Very few cattle are fatted on turnip here ; when that is done, a few of the largefl turnips are drawn from the field, and given to the cattle in the ftall. They are alfo occafionally fed on hay, at leaft once or twice a-day. An ordinary crop of turnip fells at from L. 3 to L. 5 per acre, the price depending greatly on the feafon, and on the price of wool.
Potatoes are not cultivated here to any extent, the quantity neceffary for the confumption of the in- hxibitants being very trifling, and the diftance from the London market too great, to allow the farmers to fend them there with advantage.
E Meadows,
( x8 )
Meadoivs. — There is a very great extent of mea- dows in this dillridl, not lefs than 40,000 acres. They are in general of a rich fertile nature, owing to the frequent overflowing of the waters, and pof- fibly, no artificial means, in the prefent ftate of mat- ters can be devifed for their improvement. Indeed, the fjftem of watering meadows, or any other kind of land, is feldom pradlifed here ; and it is but in very few inftances, except along the banks of the rivers, where the lands are capable of that im- provement. The moft conliderable track of mea- dow is that, on each fide of the river Men, begin- ning feveral miles beyond Northampton, and, ex- tending down to Peterborough, which, from the circuitous diredtion, and various windings of the river, between thefe two points, may be fuppo- fed to pafs through a country of more than 60 miles in extent.
In the few inftances vyhere artificial means have been ufed in watering thefe meadows, this mode of improvement has exceeded the moft fanguine ex- pedtation of the farmer, not only in producing a quantity of grafs greatly more abundant than in former years, but alfo in improving the quality. But unfortunately for thofe occupying thefe mea- dows, they are in general not only debarred from ufuig the river, as a means of ameliorating the foil, but when extraordinary floods take place, the crops of hay are fo much damaged as to be comparatively of little value. This happens in a great meafure in confequence of different perfons having feparate and oppofite interefts in this river.
The perfons here meant are the proprietors of the navigation, and thofe having right to ered mills, between whom, and thofe interefted in the prefer- vation of the meadows at large, many difputes a- rife. If an arrangement could be eftedled, by which a more uninterrupted courfe could be procured for
the
( 19 )
tlie river, thefe extenfive meadows would certainly advance in value to the extent of feveral thoufand pounds a-year. It muft alfo be obferved, that the mills are generally built in the word poflible fitua- tions ; for in place of being erecfted on the fides of the meadows, and fupplicd by a lead or cut from the main body of the water, they are built on low ground, and every miller has the command of the whole river, by which means an obftinate man has it in his power, in time of flood, to injure his neigh- bours with impunity, and that too without, in any degree benefiting hirafelf.
Artificial Grajfes. — The kinds of artificial grafles ufually fown in this dill:ri6l, are broad or red clover, at the rate of 20 lb. the acre. When the lands are intended to be broken up, after one or two years, the quantity of red clover is fometimes diminifhed, and 41b. or 51b. of trefoil are added.
When jthe lands are intended to lie in grafs for a number of years, the feeds fown are, 41b. red clo- ver, 16 lb. white ditto, and one-half bufliel rye- grafs.
Saintfoin is fometimes cultivated, but not gene- rally.
Chicory. — The only experiment made of this plant, is by Mr Martin, on his farm of Janfor Lodge, near Oundle. He has planted about 2 acres ; and in the end of July it had a very promifing appearance. He will, if defired, chearfully communicate the refult of this experiment to the Board of Agriculture.
HARVESTING the CROPS.
The mode of harvefting the corns, which is uni- verfally adopted in this diftrict, is as follows : — The
wheat
( 20 )
wheat is reaped with the fickle : Tiiis work is either performed by people hired for the harveft, (which generally continues about a month), or by under- takers, who reap, bind, and fet it up in fliocks j for which they receive from 6 s. to 9 s. the acre, ac- cording to the bulk of the crop. And, when this o- peralion is performed, and the wheat carried home, and put into the barns, the flubble is mowed with fcythes, and raked together in heaps, which, when done by the great, or piece, cods about 2s. the acre. The ftubble is carried home to the flack-yard, and is ufed in thatching houfes, and as litter for the cattle.
The other fpecies of crops are all mowed by the fcythe, either by men employed for the whole har- veft, or at a certain price per acre, which varies from IS. 3 d. to 2 s. Oats and peas are feldom mo- ved out of the fwaths, in good weather, till ready to be carried home. Barley and beans are repeat- edly turned over, before they are in a condition to be built, cither in the barn, or in the ftack-yard ; and when the waggons are employed in carrying home the crop, all hands, that can be fpared, are en- gaged in raking the grounds, which is done with long headed rakes, made for the purpofe. The hay harveft operations, are carried on in the fame man- ner here, as in all other parts of the kingdom.
Having been favoured with an account, of the particular days on which harveft commenced on a farm near the centre of the county, for the laft feven years, it is here fubjoined.
|
1787. |
13th Aiiguft. |
|
|
1788. |
4th ditto. |
|
|
1789. |
1 8th ditto. |
|
|
1790. |
1 6th ditto. |
|
|
1791. |
8th ditto. |
|
|
1792. |
13th ditto- |
|
|
J793- |
I ft ditto. |
MANURES, |
( 21 )
MANURES.
Lime. — This county abounds with limeftone in almoft every corner, and conliderable quantities are manufadlured for the purpofes of building, yet very little is ufed as a mean of improving the foil; al- though, where it has been properly applied, its ef- feds have been abundantly confpicuous. One great reafon why it has not come into more general ufe, may be owing to many injudicious experiments ha- ving been made, where the quantity ufed has been too fmall to produce any beneficial effedts. There can be no doubt but lime applied in a proper man- ner, and, in fufficient quantities, from 300 to 400 bufhels of powdered lime to the acre, would operate very powerfully on moft of the foils in this diftridl ; and it is to be hoped, thofe proprietors who pay fo laudable an attention to the improvement of their ertates, and of the country at large, will make luch experiments on their own farms, as will be the means of introducing the general ufe of this valuable manure, which has in other countries been produc- tive of fudi great improvements, Lime-fliells fell at from 6d. to yd. the buftiel at the kiln, though it might be manufadlured on much lower terms, in kilns properly conftruded.
Marl is not ufed here as a manure, though there is rich (hell-marl in different parts of the county, particularly on his Grace the Duke of Buccleugh's eftate of Boughton, and Sir George Robinfon's e- ftate of Cranford. The effcds of this manure, in pro- ducing great crops both of corn and grafs, are well known in many parts of Scotland, and it would no
F doubt :
( 22 )
doubt operate as powerfully here, if properly ap- plied *,
Woollen
* The marl which has been difcovered upon the Boughton eftate, was found in a low, and, rather wet fituation in Boughton-park, at about 20 inches from the fur- face, which confifls of a dark rich loamy foil ; a white loamy earth prefents itfelf, mix- ed with a great quantity of fine fmall flielly fubftances, which, when perfedlly drained and dried, either by the fun or fire, adheres together in lumps, and becomes extremely light. Upon immerging a piece of it in common vinegar, it caufes a great effervefcence. The flielly particles in a great meafure diffolve, and the whole foon becomes a fmooth liquid pliiller. This ftratum of white earth is from 12 to 18 inches in thicknefs, when another ftratum is found, confifting of a darker coloured earth, with a large mixture of blue clay, and a much fmaller quantity of fliells than the white kind. This laft ftra- tum continues about the fame depth as the former, when the ftrong clay makes its ap- pearance The following valuable information, refpefting this marl, has been given by
an injenious and learned chvmift in Scotland.
" I have affayed the two marls ; one of them is almofl; white and chalky ; the other, of a " yellowifli colour, and darker, and more plaftic, like clay. The firft is as rich a marl *' as ever I affayed. It is, when perfeftly dry, very nearly equal in value to the firft chalk, " or beft limeftones ; the difference is not more than 2 or 3 per ce?tt. ; and it has the ad- " vantage, as a manure, of not needing to be burnt. But when newly taken up from " its bed, it muft contain 'a confiderable quantity of water, and its value will be the " lefs by this quantity of water, whatever it is. If, for example, one ton weight of "■ the wet marl contains a quarter of a ton of water, it will be equal in value to three- " fourths of a ton nearly of the beft unburnt limeftone. The quantity of water is " eafily learned, -by weighing a quantity of the wet marl, and then drying it tho- " roughly, and laftly weighing it again.
" The yellowiili and more clayifti marl is of little value in comparifon with the form- " er. It contains only when perfedlly dry, one part of calcareous or lime earth in ten •' of marl ; the nine parts being clay and fand. Marls, however, not richer than this, " are valuable in fome places that are at a diftance from lime, and in ufing them, a " greater quantity is laid on the foil, to make up for their defedl; in quality."
From the above chymical experiment, it appears, that the white earth contains a much larger proportion of calcareous matter, than the darker coloured. There cannot be the fmalleft doubt of both proving a very valuable manure, particularly for grafs-ground ; but a much fmaller quantity will be required for that purpofe, of the former, than of the latter. It is prefumcd a confiderable quantity of this marl might be found in the neigh- bourhood, but chiefly in low aud moift fituations. The fame ftratas of earth here men- tioned having been found, by digging in many other places, near to which this has been difcovered. White earth of the fame kind, has been found at the bottom of a pond in a low wet part of the park, at the diftance of near3C0 yards from the firft fituation, from
which
( 23 )
IVoollen Rags arc the only artificial manure ufed irt this diftriiS to any extent. Befides, what are procu- red in the county, ccniiderable quantities are pur- chafed from Leicefterfliire, and the other neighbour- ing counties. They cofl: about 4 s. the hundred weight, befides 2 s. for chopping. Six hundred weight is generally applied to an acre. This kind of manure is generally ufed as a preparation for a crop of barley, and is found to anfwer well.
Compojl Dunghills are feldom made, the dung be- ing in general carried direA from the flraw-yard to the field.
When comports are made, they confifl of farm- yard dung, and the fcourings of ditches, or foil col- ledled on the fides of roads, together with a certain quantity of lime. The farmers who follow this praftice, confider the extraordinary expence, and trouble, as fully compenfated, by the benefit, which the lands receive, from the addition of the rich earth, and rotten vegetables, which are thus procured, and which operate more powerfully in confequence of the lime, with which they are mixed.
PRE-
which it is conceived, there muft be a continuation of the different flratas of earth be- fore defcribed ; though inftances have been known where marl of this kind has been bred, and produced, by the continual accumulation of putrified vegetable fubftances par- ticularly in low fwaropy fituations covered, or, furrounded by trees, and wood which is the cafe with the pond here mentioned. — An experiment is iptended to be made this autumn in Boughton-park, by laying various proportions of the two marls upon differ- ent kinds of foil, and in different fituations; the effects of which, at any future time will be very willingly communicated to the Board of Agriculture, fhould fuch a cir- cumftance be thought woithy of notice. If this kind of drefling is found to exceed or even to equal the effects of common manure, it may prove an important circumftancc as no doubt great improvements may be made upon meadow and pafture ground, where fuch affiftance can be procured. It would certainly be worth while, to procure a marl ioring iron, to examine the firuta of all the meadows, and low fpots in the county.
( 24 )
PRESENT STATE of the COUNTY, in regard to AGRICULTURE, and, the Modes of Manage- ment.
It has already been ftated, that there are 316 pa- -riflies in the diftricV, 227 of which arc in a ftate of inclofure, and 89 in open field ; beiides which, there are many thoufand acres of woodlands, and a large track of rich valuable land, called the Great Peterborough Fen, in a ilate of commonage ; fo that fuppofing the inclofed part of the county at prefent under the moll approved modes of management, there is above one third of the whole, by no means in the beft ftate of cultivation of which it is fufceptible.
In defcribing the prefent ftate of the county, it may be proper to clafs it under the five following divifions, viz. old inclofure, new inclofure, open field, commons, and woodlands ; and to give a par- ticular account of the different modes of manage- ment pradifed by the tenants who occupy the lands, under all thefe various divifions.
Old Inclofures. — Perhaps one half of the inclofed parifties, may be denominated old inclofures, at leaft that proportion may be faid to be occupied as gra- zing farms, which is the ufe to which old inclofed lands in this county is generally applied.
STOCK and MANAGEMENT of a FARM ufed for BULLOCKS, and SHEEP grazing, or fat- ting for the Butcher.
One hundred and feventy acres old pafture, 70 acres meadow, rent L. 300, poors rates, and other parochial taxes 5 s. 6 d. in the pound of rent, lands exonerated from tithes.
Soon
( 25 )
Soon after Ladyday, the farmer begins to pur- chafc bullocks, and the breeds of Shropfliire and Hereford(hire are preferred. Jn the courle of the fummer a few Scotch and Welfh cattle arc bought in. The ftock never exceeds 70 bullocks and hei- fers. He begins felling off in September, and by the beginning of February the whole is difpofed of.
From the end of Oflober hay is given twice a day in the field. The cattle are configned to a falefman in London.
The expence of fending them there, including the falefman's commiffion, amounts in fummer to 6 s. 6 d. and in winter to 7 s. each. The buying- in price of Shropfhire and Herefordfliire cattle is from L. 13 to L. 14, and the felling price from L. 17 to L. 18. About 100 ewes with lamb (generally of the Shropfhire breed) are purchafed in the month of September, at about L. 21 the fcore. Sixty wedders of one year old, here called Shearlings, alfo of the fame breed, are purchafed about the beginning of winter. The price about L. 16 per fcore. Begin felling off the lambs (many of the ewes have two lambs) in May. The average price L. 22 the fcore. The ewes are fold from September to December at about the fame price with the lambs. The wedders, after they are fhorn, are fold in May and June, about L. 36 the fcore. Expence of lending to Lon- don I s. to I s. 2 d. each. A few young horfes are generally reared.
SERVANTS.
I fhepherd, at 8 s. per week.
A man or boy, at 5 s. per ditto.
No work- horfes or implements of hufbandry.
Dairy Farm. — Extent 2co acres pafture, and 50 acres meadow. — Rent L. 280. — Tithe free. — Poor rates, i£c. 3 s. Milk from 45 to 55 cows ; prefers the fhort horned Yorkfliire. Plows none of the land,
G but
C =6 )
but makes as much meadow-hay as ferves for pro- vender in winter, and on which the cows are whol- ly maintained during that feafon. Purchafes llraw for litter, which generally cofts about 30 s. the wag- gon load. A few breeding mares are kept, and 5 or b young horfes, but no young cattle. From b to 10 cows with calf, and fatting for the butcher. The calves are fold to EfTex and other counties, where they are fed for veal. Keeps about 20 hogs in fum- mer, and about half that number in winter. The buying-in prices from 20 s. to 25 s. They are kept 4 or 5 weeks, and fed entirely on milk. They are fold in London at from 30 s. to 40 s. each. The expence of fending there i s. 4 d. each. About 1 20 Iheep are regularly kept as a breeding ftock. But- ter, and milk: for the hogs, are the only produce of the dairy. The butter is fent twice a week to Lon- don by the ftage-waggon. The price from May to November is 8 d. and from November to May lod. per pound. There is nothing pai'ticular in the man- ner of managing the dairy.
NUMBER or SERVANTS,
2 men.
I fhepherd.
1 boy.
2 women.
No work- horfes or implements of hufbandry.
Theie are feveral farms, where a fmall portion of the lands are in tillage, and which properly falls to be defcribed under this head. The mode of ma- nagement, however, is fo nearly fimilar (except in that particular) to the one before mentioned, as ren- ders it only neceflary to ftate, that on thefe farms, a bieedmg ftock, to a certain extent, is regularly kept ; and that it is principally on fuch farms, where attention has bten p;iid to the improvement of the difterent breeds. The Dilhley or new Leicelter breed
of
( 27 )
of (beep, which is confidcred as the bell yet known, is generally introduced on all thefe farms.
New Inclofures. — In what is called the new in- clofed townlhips or parilhes, a iyilem of alternate corn and gral's huiTjandry is adopted ; a certain por- tion of meadow is generally allotted to each farm, where it is pradicable ; and fome particular fields are kept in conftant pafturage.
Particulars of a Farm, containing 220 Acres, be- fidcs 40 Acres of Meadow. — Rent L. 400. — The Liinds Tithe free, — Poors Rates, l^c. 3 s. 6 d. in the Pound.
ROTATION OF CROPPING.
ift year, fallow, part turnip, the land dunged.
2d year, \\ heat, barley after the turnip.
3d year, beans or peafe.
4th year, barley, witti iB lb. red clover to the acre,
5th year, clover.
6th year, ditto.
7th year, part beans and part oats.
NUMBER OF SERVANTS.
2 plowmen.
2 boys.
I (hepherd.
1 w omen fervants.
STOCK.
9 horfes.
2 or 3 young horfes. 8 cows.
20 hogs, old and young.
A breeding ftock of Iheep, confifting of about 200.^
Par-
( 28 )
Particulars of a Farm, contain'rtig 200 Acres of Tillage-land, and 100 Acres in a State of Pa- fturage. — Rent L. 300. — Tithe free. — Poor-rates 3 s. in the Pound.
ROTATION OF CROPPING.
Oats.
Turnip.
Barley.
Wheat, with 20 lb. white clover, one-half bufliel
rye-grafs, and 4 lb. red clover. Grafs made into hay. Ditto, pafture. Ditto, ditto. Ditto, ditto.
NUMBER OF SERVANTS.
4 plowmen. 4 boys.
1 ftiepherd.
2 women fervants.
STOCK.
13 horfes.
3 or 4 young horfes.
20 cows and young cattle.
A breeding flock of 200 fheep on an average.
15 hogs, old and young.
N. B. By the above rotation, fallow is excluded, one half of the farm being under corn and turnip, and the other half under grafs. Though it may be proper to obferve here, that no general rotation of cropping is eftablifhed in the county, each landholder or his agent, fixing on that, for which the foil and fituation of the farm is confidered as befl adapted.
Open Field Lands. — Without entering into a par- ticular detail, of the wretched fyflem of hufbandry, univerfally adopted in the open field pariflies in
this
( 29 )
this part of the report, it is only neceffary to ftatc iimply what the fyltem is.
Particulars of a Farm in the Open Field State, containing loo Acres arable, 20 Acres Meadow, and 150 Acres Ley or Failure. — Rent, L. 118, — Tithes payable in kind. — Poor-rates, and other Parilh-taxes, 5 s. in the Pound of Rent.
ROTATION OF CROPS.
ill year, fallow, part turnip, the land dunged or
folded with fheep. 2d year, wheat, barley after the turnip. 3d year, beans, and a few acres under oats.
SERVANTS.
2 men.
1 boys.
2 women fervants.
I Ihepherd takes care of all the fheep in the parilli.
STOCK.
7 horfes.
9 cows.
6 or 8 hogs.
130 fheep of all ages.
Commons. — Though there is not one acre of wafte lands in this county, properly fo called, yet there are many thoufand acres in the open field lord- Ihips in a Hate of common pafturage, which, under proper management, might be made to produce abundant crops both of corn and grafs, while at prefent they do not yield pafturage, which can at the higheft computation be eftimated at 5 s. the acre. Indeed, if the calculation was fairly made, the oc- cupiers are not benefited to the extent of half that fum, as the ftock which they fend to depafture upon
H thefe
( 30 )
thefe commons, is liable to fo many dilcafes and accidents, as one year with another, nearly counter- balances any advantages which can be derived trom pofleffing this right ; while, on the other hand, the keeping fuch extenlive tracks of land in a ftate of commonage, is attended with one very great dif- advantage to the farmers in the neighbourhood, becuufe, while thefe rights of commonage are con- tinued, no attention whatever will be paid to the improvement of the breed of Hock ; for it is not to be fuppofed, that a farmer who depends on the fcanty food which thefe commons afford for the maintenance of his cattle, horfes and fheep, will ever be at much expence or trouble for the improvement of the different breeds. Without enumerating all the various commons of fmall extent, fituated in diffe- rent parts of the county, or the nature or extent of the common rights of pafturage, poffeffed by thofe who refide in the neighbourhood of the forefts and chafes, it may only be neceffary here to mention particularly that of
THE GREAT PETERBOROUGH FEN.
A track of fine level land, containing between fix and feven thoufand acres, of a foil equal to any per- haps in the kingdom of Great Britain, and fufcep- tible of the higheft cultivation. It is fituated be- tween Petei-borough and Crowland, towards the north-eaft bounds of the county, and is fubjedt to the depafturage of the cattle, horfes and fheep of 32. parilbes or townfliips in the neighbourhood, which comprife what is commonly called the Soke of Pe- terborough, i he farmers who live in the townfhips immediately adjoining, confider their right of com- monage as of no value to them ; and it may there- fore be fuppofed, that thofe who live at the diftance of 8 or 10 miles cannot be much benefited thereby^ Indeed, conlidering the preient mode of manage- ment.
C 31 )
mcnt, it is impoflible that any advantage can arife to the perfons having right therein. That it is a valuable track of land, however, if under proper cultivation, is fully afcertained from the following circumllance. The annual expence of keeping the drains, bridges, &c. in proper repair is confiJer- able ; and the means adopted by thofe concerned, for railing a fund for this purpofe, is to let a cer- tain number of acres to fome tenant in the neigh- bourhood for a courfe of corn cropping, for 3 or 4 years, when it generally rents at from L. 3 to L. 5 per acre. From this account, it may be fafely ftated, that if thefe fix or feven thoufand acres were converted into private property, and divided into farms of a proper fize, the whole might be rented on leafes of moderate endurance, at from 20 s. to 30 s. per acre ; and it may further be obferved, that the produce of thefe lands, under that fyftem, would exceed what they now yield, to the extent of many thouland pounds a-year, while the additional num- ber of hands which would be requilite for the cul- tivation of thefe farms, could not be fliort of 1300 or 1400. The advantages, therefore, both of a pu- blic and private nature, which mud neceflarily re- fult from a divifion of this common, are fo obvious, as to require no illuftration.
The perfon who is moil materially interefted, is Earl Fitzwilliam, though a great many others are, to a certain extent, concerned. From the truly re- fpedable character of that Noble Lord, there can be no doubt, that a proper application made to him^ from all thofe having intereft in the divifion, would be attended with the bell confequences, as, from his difpofition to be ferviceable to thofe who refide in his neighbourhood, he would chearfully embrace fo favourable an opportunity of materially promoting their interefl:. But as the whole inhabitants of thefe 32 parifhes, may be fajd to be in fome degree con- cerned^
( 3^ )
cerned, and as it would anfwer no good purpofe, to call together fo numerous a body of people, it might therefore be proper, that a meeting fhould be held in each parilli, and powers granted to one of the mod refpeftable of the inhabitants, to meet a perfon deputed by each of the other pariflies, in or- der to make the application, and procure his Lord- fhip's confent to the meafiire ; and if obtained, of which there is no reafon to doubt, application might then be made to Parliament, who would no doubt agree as to the propriety of the divifion, and pafs a bill, appointing commiffioners to negotiate the bufi- nefs in common form.
Among the various important objefts, which natu- rally fall under the conlideration of the Board of A- griculture, there are none, which, in their confe- quences, will prove more extenfively beneficial in a national point of view, than their giving every poffible aid to thofe fpirited proprietors, who are anxious to promote the improvement of the country, by bringing the commons and wafte lands under culti- vation, as nothing will fg certainly promote or main- tain an increafed population.
With refpedl to what are the bell means to be purfued in regard to the common in queftion, it would be improper in this report to determine. It appears only necefiary to repeat, that the improve- ment of it, would give regular employment to a great nun)ber of hands, and furnifh the public markets, with an additional quantity of feveral thoufand quar- ters of grain annually ; all which can be effeded, without being attended with any bad confequences whatever.
IVoodlands. — There are feveral very extenfive tracks of woodlands in this dillrid ; they confift ei- ther of forells, chaces, or purlieu woods. The moft confiderable foreft is that of Rockingham, which is fituated in the northern parts of the county, begin- ning
. . ( 33 .0 j^
ning near the village of Wansford, on the great north road from London to Edinburgh, extending for near 20 miles towards the centre of the county, and forming almoft a continued chain of woodland country : There are two other extenfive forefts, viz. Whittlebury and Salcey, lying towards the fouth border of the county ; the chaces are thofe of Ged- dington and Yardly ; the former in the neighbour- hood of Rockingham foreft, and the later in the vi- cinity of Salcey foreft.
The purlieu woods, are both extenfive and nume- rous, particularly towards the lower parts of the county, and upon the borders of the foreft of Rock- ingham ; and befides thefe, there are feveral fmall tracks of woodlands, very advantageoufly and orna- mentally fituated, in many other parts of the county.
The whole of what are now coniidered to be fo- reft woods, are fubjeft to the depaflurage «f the deer, and at a ftated time of the year, to the depaf- turage alfo of the cattle belonging to thofe who refide in the adjoining townfliips, and who claim to be pof- fefied of a right of commonage ; on thefe accounts, the profit arifing to the proprietors of thefe woods, ifrom the cutting of the timber, and underwood, is •fmall, compared with that arifing from regular well managed purlieu woods, which are not fubjedi to the annoyance of the deer and cattle.
The underwood in the forells and chaces, princi- pally confifls of black and white thorn, afii, fallow, maple, and a fmall proportion of hazle. They are generally cut at from 12 to 1 3 years growth; the diS'erent woods are divided into as many parts or iales, as the number of years growth at which the underwood that is cut may amount to, fo that a re- gular rotation in cutting takes place every year.
Jl'hc proprietors of the midervvood in the foreft woods, me empowered by the ancient laws -and cu- lloQis of the foreft, to fence in each part orfale, a«
1 fooii
( S4 y
foon \% it is eut, and to keep it in band, as it is here termed, for 7 years, except againft the deer, which are let in at the expiration of 4 years ; but the cattle belonging to the commoners, are not let in till the end of 7 years from the time of cutting •, fo that there are always 7 parts or fales conftantly in band, and in which the cattle of the commoners are not permitted at any time to departure. But from the depredations to which the young underwood is fubjed, by fo early an invafion of the deer and cattle, even at the regular and dated times be- fore mentioned, befides the great damage frequent* ly fuftained from inattention to the repairs of th©- fences, during the time it fhould be kept in band •, the heavy expences attending the making a new fence in the firft inftance, and the continual expence incurred in keeping it in repair, during the time it ihould ftand, make the profit arifing from the un- derwood, very inconfiderable to the proprietor, com- pared with any moderate rent that might be expedl- ed from the land. The foreft underwood, through he whole fale, or part which is cut, does not in ge- neral bring above L. 4 the ftatute acre, though fometimes it is fold as high as L. 6 the acre upon an average of the whole fale ; but this depends entirely on good management in keeping the fences in pro- per repair, fo as to prevent the deer and cattle from breaking in before the limited periods, as well as in fuffering the underwood to (land to a greater age than ufual.
At the time the underwood is to be cut, it is par- celled out into fmall regular fized lots, generally confifting of about a ftatute rood of ground ; the di- vifions of the lots are made by cutting a number of fmall pafTages or openings called trenches, which inter- fedl each other at regular diftances, and thefe trenches are juft cut wide enough to admit of a paflage be- tween each lot ; the underwood is valued and fold
ftanding.
(35 )
ftanding, and the purchafers cut it and carry rt a»^ way at their own expence. A confiderable part of it is made into hurdles for folding fheep on turnip ; the remainder is applied to other purpofes, and ufcd as firewood, there being no coals in the county, but what are brought up the rivers Nen and Welland.
A fall of oak timber * is generally made at the proper feafon in that part, or f ale, in which the un- derwood has been cut ; and this fall confifts of the mod unthrifty and unimproving trees, but the quan- tity and defcription of timber, muft depend of courfe upon the ftate of the wood, as to the ftock of timber.
Jt is a general cuftom in the foreft-woods, to va- lue and fell the trees ftanding. Diftind and fepa- rate valuations are generally put upon the timber, the top, and the bark refpedively. And it fome- times happens, that thefe three articles are fold to three different purchafers ; but it is more ufual to fell the tree and the top together, referving the bark, which is fold to one purchafer, previous to the fall of timber being made. The conditions and prices vary in different parts of the country ; they run generally, however, at from 7 s. to 9s. in the pound of the value of the tree.
The Prices of Timber in this Diftrift are as follow;
Oak, from is. 4d. to 2 s. 6 d. />(?r foot. Afti, from lod. to i s. 6 d. /»f r ditto. Elm, from gd. to is. ^A. per ditto.
Poplar, from 6d. to iSr per ditto.
Evety
* There is a very fmall quantity of the oak timber taken out of the foreft woods con- ftimed in the country. It principally confifts of timber of a large fize, and more fit for the ufe of the navy than for country purpofes. It is therefore generally bought in large bargains, by contraftors for the navy, who come into the county regularly every year, during the feafon for felling the oak timber. But if no fpeedy and eifedhial means are taken for the better management and prefervation of the foreft woods, in order to pro- •cure a regular fucceffion of oak timber, the navy will, in a fliort time, be deprived of this valuable refour.ce.
(36)
- Every other kind of white wood, fuch as beech, chefnut, lime, Sic. fell at fomething more than the price of fire- wood.
It is a certain truth, and well worthy of the fe- rious conCderation of Government, that the depre- dations committed in the extenfive forefts and chafes in this county, by the deer and cattle, in deftroy- ing the young trees at a very early period, prevent the poffibility of obtaining any conhderable fuccef- fion of oak-timber, as fcarce any faplings or young oaks are to be feen, although there are undoubtedly a great number of feedlings produced by the falling of the acorns ; yet, when the number of deftruftive enemies, to which they are expofed in their in- fancy, is confidered, it is a wonder how any of them efcape their devouring jaws.
If the forefts in the other patts of the kingdom are under the fame management, there is no man who wifhes well to his country, but muft; be alarmed at the profped: of the deficiency, which, in procefs of time, muft take place in regard to that valuable article, oak-timber, for the fupply of the navy of this kingdom. The evil certainly requires a fpeedy and effectual remedy to be applied. What that may be, the wifdom of the Legifiature can beft deter- mine ; but, as particular attention was paid during the furvey on which this report is founded, to the ft:ate of thefe forefts and chaces, compared with thole woods which are private property, it may be proper to add, that the difference is obvious to the moft cur- fory obferver. In the one, a young thriving oak- tree is fcarcely to be feen, whereas, in the other, a regular fucceflion appears in every quarter. The miferable ftate of the Royal Forefts does not origi- nate from any want of public fpirit in thole who have at prefent the charge of them, but neceftarily arifes fi-om the errors of an ancient fyftem, which had in view more the prefervation of deer than of
timber >
( 37 )
timber ; and cnnfequently (acrificed the preferva- tion of the latter, for the purpofe of fecuriiig food for the former.
Perhaps the beft plan that could be adopted, would be to diifcreft all thele woodlands, under le- Vere reftiidioiis hoAvevcr, in regard to certain pro- portions ot them being continued as forefts lor the production of oak timber. Thofe having right to the timber and underwoud. being alio bound to give a conipenfation in land to the commoners, having a right of commonage in theie forells and chafes, and according to the nature and extent of their dif- ferent rights. Were fome fuch plan adopted, cer- tain confiderable portions of thefe forells and chafes, might be devoted folely to the purpofe of growing oak-timber, and one perfon only having intereft in them, there is no doubt proper attention would be paid, in order to bring on a regular fucceflion of timber, which could be effecfted, vvhilft at the lame time, a confiderable improvement might be made in the growth and value of the underwood.*
FARM
» I am indebted to Mr Edmonds of Boughton-houfe, for the follovvinu very intereft- ing Obfervations, and for many others fcattered in various parts of the Report.
Purlieu -woods are thofe woods which are fituate immediately in the vicinity of the foreft, and which, at one time, formed a part of it; but the refpeclive owners having at fome former periods, obtained grants and permiflion from the Crown to disforeft them, and to confider them as their own private property, they are not now fubjecl to any of the laws and regidations to which foreft-woods are fubjecl.
MANAGEMEXT OF PURLIEU WOODS.
THE management of what are called purlieu woods in this diftrift, differs material- ly from thofe of the chafe and foreft woods. Thefe woods being entire property, of courfe there is no obftacle to prevent the proprietors of them from purfuing the bell mode of cultivation and management in their power ; but this advantage has been in very few inftances taken ; and little improvement towards rendering them more produdlive and profitable to the refpedlive owners has been made. The underwood in thefe woods principally confifts of hazle, alh, fallow, white and black, thorn, and fome maple ; it is generally cut from 1 1 to j 4 years growth, when the feafon for cutting
K arrives,
( 38 )
FARM BUILDINGS.
In this county, as well as in the greater part of England, the farmers rtill live crowded together in
villages,
arrives, ■wliicli is as foon as the leaves are completely off. That operation is perform- ed under the direftion of the owner of the woods or his agent. The part intended to be cut is parcelled out for the convenience of the purchafers into regular fized lots, con- fifting of 20 flatute fquare poles each. The whole of the underwood growing upon each lot is indifcriminately cut, and laid in one direftion, on the ground from which it is produced ; and in feme inftances care is taken to feleft fuch aflr poles, as are of a lar- ger fize and proper to be converted to more valuable purpofes, than thofe which are in- difcriminately fold with the underwood. So foon as the operation of cutting is com- pleted, and the wood parcelled out as above defcribed, a valuation is put upon each lot or parcel, according to its quality, and what it may confift of ; and the whole is then fold to fuch perfons as may be inclined to purchafe the refpeilive lots or parcels, who, over and above the price of the underwood, repay the expence of cutting it, which is proportioned at fo much per pole upon each lot according to its quantity. Such as the prefent mode of management is in thefe woods, their produce is much more coniide- rable to the proprietor than foreft; or chafe woods ; but it is believed it is by no means equal to the produce of well cultivated woods in other parts of the kingdom. The average price of underwood, cut from 1 1 to 14 years growth, is about L,.6per flatute acre ; but it is fometimcs fold fo high as L. 8 per acre.
The underwood of the purlieu woods, as well as of the other woods in this dillri£t, (the management of which is exa£Hy the fame as that of the purlieu woods), is princi- pally bought by bakers, who confume it as fuel. A confiderable quantity of the fmooth wood is manufactured into llieep-hurdles, which are ufed for tempor<.ry fencing : but in all cafes, a refervation is made by the purchafers of the alti and fallow poles which are ufed for various ufeful purpofes in hufljandry. A fall of oak timber is ufualiy made in that part or quarter from whence the underwood is cut ; the quantity of which, of courfe, depends upon the ftate of the wood, as to a flock of timber.
The oak timber in the purlieu and private woods, on account of tliere being io good a fucceffion, as well as on account of there being a great deal of underwood, feldom at- tains to fo large a growth as that found in the forefl and chafe woods ; it is therefore much more fit and convertible for country ufcs, and for all purpofes of building and Imfbandry, and is principally bought by carpenters, joiners, wheelwrights, and other artificers in the neighbourhood.
Chafe IVoods. — There are two chafes in the county, viz.. Gcddlngton and Yardly. Til'; form:r was one; a part of Rockingham foreft ; but permiflion was given by the
Crown
( 39 )
villages, or townfliips, as was the pradlice in the moft remote ages, and when the fyftem of open,
or
Crown many years fince, to the anceftors of the Montagu family to disforcft it, and to convert it into a chafe ; the latter, it is prefumed, was once a part of 5alcey foreft, and has been disforefled likewife.
Geddin^ton Ciba/e, is {uppokd to contain about 14CO acres, of which 'perhaps 1200 acres are woodland, the remainder confifls of lawns, plains, ridings and viftas. The whole is now the joint property of his Grace the Duke of Buccleugh, and the Right Honourable Earl Beaulieu, fubjeiS to a commonage at a ilated time of the year, viz. from May-day to about Martinmas, for the adjoining townfliips. Deer are kept in it ; and it is in every refped managed like the foreft woods, as to fencini> out the deer and commoners cattle from that part which is annually cut. The woodland is divided into 18 parts or fales ; in one of which the underwood is cut, and a fail of timber made every year. It is afterwards fenced in for 7 years, (vi-z. 4 years from the deer, and 7 from the cattle) ; fo that there are always 14 parts out of 18 open to the former, and II parts out of 18 open to the latter, befides the plains, ridings and viftas, a fmall part of which only are at any time included within the fence of the parts which are cut. Although there is at this time a valuable ilock of oak timber in this chafe, principally confining of trees of a large dze, and which have been the growth of ages; yet per- haps this extenfive and valuable track of woodland exhibits at this moment the moft ftriking and lamentable inftance of the evil and pernicious confequences that muft ine- vitably attend property circumftanced as the foreft and chafe woods are. The depre- dations and ravages committed by the deer and cattle upon the young fprigs and coppices, at fo early an age, not only prevent even the fmalleft poflibility of obtaining a regular fucceffion of oak timber, but caufe a daily diminution in the growth of the under- wood. The injury fuftained by the deer being admitted into the young fpring wood ia the firft inftance, is very confiderable ; but that injury is fmall indeed, when compared to the deftruclive havock made by the devouring jaws of a herd of hungry cattle, ad- mitted into the young coppice juft as the leaves have begun to appear, and at a feafon of the year when it fome times happens they have juft furvived a ftate of fa- mine, the confequence of a want of fufficient fodder, in a hard and fevere winter. All the townfhips uiing a commonage in thefe woods (except one) are in an open field ftate, and no attention is paid by the occupiers to the defcription of cattle bred and reared, which are of the moft inferior kind, and which, in confequence of the inability of the occupier of an open field farm to procure a fuiliciency of food for their fupport in the winter feafon, are reduced to an extreme ftate of Jeaimefs and poverty at the time they are turned into tlie woods, when whole herds of them rufli forward lika a tor- rent, and every thing that is vegetable and within their reach, inevitably falls a facri- ilce to their voracious and devouring appetite. Under thefe circiimftances it is not at all furprifing that contagious maladies are frequently the fatal confequence ; to which caufe a
confiderable
( 40. )
oV common field hiifb.indry univerfally prevailed. Though ihefe crowded lituations mi||,ht no duubt
be
cdnfiderable number oF cattle fall vidtims ; and the lofs faftaiiied by the owners not only deprives them of any profit or emolumenc frum thoi'e that are fortunate e- nongli to furvive tlie malady, but prevents their deriving any advantage from the com- monage that year, and probably for many years- to come. Such ire rhe incimvtnien- ces wliich mult ever attend property lield under a mixuu-e of interefts, fo extremely ini- mical to each other as thofe of the commoner and the proprietor of the timber and un- derwood arc, in woods of this nature. Can there, at this time, be a fubjeft to which the wirdom of the Legiflature ought more fpeedily to be direded ? Ihe great and alarm- ing decreafe of oak timber in this country is univerfally acknowledged and lament- ed by^ every individual ; and it is prefumed there is not a Briton but who muft be fen- fible how much that invaluable article tends, at this moment, to the prefervation and defence of his country, againft a neighbouring nation, frantic with zeal to pro- pagate their diabolical fyflems throughout the civilized world. Thole who are in the habit of managing woods, no doubt feel a very fenfi&le refpeft for fo fine and venerable a produftion of nature as that of an oak tree arrived at its full perfetlion, both in fize and growth ; it is truly a living monument of tlie works of the Creator ; and no one can direft the fatal axe to be applied to its root, without reflefting that he is about, in a few minutes, to deftroy what whole ages have been employed in producing ; but it would, it is conceived, be feme conlolation to fuch a perlon, could he difcover in look- ing round this venerable trunk, fome companions left to furvive its lofs, and who, in a young and thriving ftate, might receive additional vigour by the removal of their neigh- bour. But this, alas ! in the prefent ftate of things, is a confolation that cannot be ob- tained ; for it mull be next to a miracle indeed, if a young oak lapsing efcapes the nu- merous enemies to which it is expofed in ils infancy. And if the fyllem now praftiled in thefe woods, with regard to cutting down all fuch timber trees as appear mature, and in an unthriving ftate, is long purfued, the r«lult muft be, that in a very few years, there will not be a lingle oak tree large enough for the ufe of his Majefty's navy left in them.
It is prefumed, the fame fadls and circumftances here ftated, will apply to many thou- fand acres ot woodland in this county, as well as to many very confiderable trafls of the fime defcription in the kingdom. Muft it not then be a ferious, important, and very lamentable refleftion to the mind of every man who willies for the prefervation of his country, that the Legiflature do not immediately take fome adive and efTeftual meafures to avert tlie impending evil that mult othcrwife inevitably take place ? Before thofe advantages that will attend an improved iyftem of management in ihe foreft and chafe woods are enumerated, it will be necelTary to take the liberty of lug- gefting the mode by which they may be attained. An iiiclofure of all the open field pariftics having a commonage in the woods, muft undoubtedly be the firft and princi- pal
( 41 )
be attended with confiderable advantages in ancient times, and though the fyftem of open field hulbandry,
where
pal objeft to be obtained. That inclofure fliould extend to fuch parts of the foreft and chafe woods as are fituated within thofe parifhes refpeftively. The afl of Parliament to be obtained for the purpofe, fhould contain proper powers for the commiflioners there- in appointed, to afcertain the value of the whole commonage in the woods, and to di- vide and proportion the value of that commonage among the feveral townlliips or pa- rifhes, according to the number of pcrfons who may be found by them in each parifli or town{hi[), to be entitled to any fliare or proportion of fuch commonage, and accord- ing to their refpeflive rights and interefb. The commiflioners ihould alfo be empow- ered to fet out fo much land, being part of the eftate which the proprietor of the woods may be pofTefled of in each paridi or townlliip, to every commoner, as they may judge equal in value to the proportion of the commonage to which fuch commoner may be entithd, and which they may judge to be a full and adequate compenfation to inch commoner, for his right and intereft in the forell or chafe woods. The land fo to be givea in compenfation to each commoner, as aforefaid, to be added to the allotment of land which each commoner may be entitled to, in right of his eftate and intereft in the open fields and commons, which allotment Ihould be laid as contiguous to the dwel- ling-houfe or homeftead of the commoner as poffible. It is prefumed this mode might be adopted in all cafes, where the proprietor of the woods is poflefTed of an eftate and property in the open fields and commons, or of any old inclofed lands belonging to the parifti or townlhip in which the woods may be fituated, to enable the commilTioners to fet out a fufficient part of fuch property as they may judge equal in value to the whole of the commonage of fuch parilh or townfliip ; but inftances may occur where the pro- prietor of the woods may not be poffeiled of either of thofe advantages ; in that cafe, a fufficient quantity of the woodland might be grubbed up and cleared, and confidered as part of the land intended to be inclofed, and might be valued and allotted by the com- roiiFioners accordingly.
The prefent ftate in which the foreft woods are held, it is feared, will neverthelefs, in a great many inftances, make it impofliible for the fyftem above preferibed to be generally adopted; the remaining intereft ftill referved to the Crown, with relpect to the deer and othtrr matters in thefe woods, will prevent the proprietor of them from being able to accede to any meafures that may be fuggefted for their advantage and improvement,, until fome previous arrangement takes place. It is hoped the commiflioners of the land-revenue, who, it is underftood, have now thcl'e matters under confideration, will devife fome means by which fo formidable an impediment as a mixture of int.'rcils inuft inevitably be to the improvement and advantage of landed property, may be done a'vay, and by which the refpeclive owners and proprietors of the foreft woods may be enabled to purfue the beft polFible fyftem of management in tlie cultivation of the)i..
The advantages refulting from fuch meafures being adopted, as have be.-n fuggefted, in regard to the foreft and chafe woods, would not only be very ftnCV^y fol: by the indivi-
L dii.Js
C 4-- )
where pradifed, precludes the poflibility of placing the tarm-houles in centrical fituationsj yet it ap- pears furpriling that the buildings belonging to the farms in a ftatc of inclofure, fliould Hill remain at filch a diftance from the farms ; there being but very few inftances where the houfcs are properly fituated in the centre of the farms. The inconve- niences which the farmers mutt labour under in confequence of refiding at fo great a diftance from their farms ; and the lofs of time and confe- quent extra-expencc, of bringing the produce from the extremity of the farm to their hotne yard, (as it is here called), and of carrying the manure to the diilant fields, are lb obvious, as to require no ex- planation.
The farm buildings are in general as badly con- (Irufted, as they are improperly placed. It being only on fuch farms where the houfes have been recently built, and under the diredtion of the landlord's
fteward,
duals immediately interefted, but would be fo extenfi ve as materially to afFeifl the nation at large. — Firjl, In refpeft to the individuals interefted. Upon the deer and cattle being totally excluded from the woods, no interior fences would be required, and the proprietor would be at liberty to continue fuch parts of his property as he might think, fit, in a wood- land flate, and would be enabled to introduce fuch a fyftem of management in the cul- tivation of thofe parts continued in wood, by means of which their produce might be very confiderably increafed. The remainder of the parts not contmued in wood, might be cleared and grubbed up, and converted to iome ufeful purpofes of agriculture. The commoner, inltead of depending upon the precarious and uncertain advantage arifing from turning his flock, into the woods, would become the poffeffor of a portion of land, the produce of which, when properly cultivated, would be a certain and valuuole refource in contributing towards the maintenance of himfelf and his family. Secondly, In regard to the national advantage. Upon the inclofure of the fields and commons, an improved fyftem of management in the cultivation of the arable lands would take place, by which means an increafed quantity of corn and gi-ain would be brouuht to market. The pfifture knd mif^ht be very much improved by the aid of meliorating crops and artificial grafles, which would be the means of producing an improved breed of catrle and fheep. And, lafily Property, in however fmall portio is it mig'it be div ded, would become entire, aid free from thofe inconveniences that muft ever attend it when held and enjoyed by a mixture of interefts fo extremely inimical to each other.
( 43 )
ftewarJ, where any attention has been paid either to regularity or convenience.
It is the pradice for the proprietor, to furnifh materials, (except draw for thatch), and the tenant to be at all the expence of other repairs. And therefore, conlidering the uncertainty of the te- nure on which he holds them, it is no wonder that he fhould allow the houfes to fall into a ruinous condition. Upon the whole, it is certain that the farm-houfes in this diftrid, are not kept in that tenantable ftate of repair, which is for the mutual intereft of the landlord and tenant.
The farm-houfes are built either of ftone or brick, and covered with flute or flraw. The barns, which are very large in proportion to the farm, owing to the pradice which here prevails of houfmg as much of the crop as poffible, are either built wholly of ftone, and clay ufed as cement ; or partly of itone wall, on which a houfe framed of wood (generally oak) is ereded, and plaftered over the fides with clay. They are commonly thatched with ftraw. The byres, ftables, i^c. are generally built of ftone, and covered in the fame manner, and with the fame materials as the barns.
IMPLEMENTS of HUSBANDRY.
The waggons, carts, rollers, and other implements of huft)andry, are fo fimilar to thofe in ufe in the neighbouring counties, and which have been fully defcribed in fome of thefe reports, particularly in that of Leicefter, that it is deemed unneceflary to fill up this report, with what would have fo much the appearance of repetition.
The
( 44 )
The principal implement, the plough, is a clum- fey piece of work, with a long mafly beam, and an ill formed timber mould-board, better adapted as a machine for 4 or 5 horfes to pull along, than for the purpofe of turning over a neat clean furrow. And it cannot admit of a doubt, but that with a well conftrudled light plough, with a call iron mould- board, (fuch as are common in many parts of England and Scotland), a man wit'h two horfes a-breaft, and without a driver, would do as much work, and to better purpofe, than is here done by a man and a boy, wit)i 3, 4 or 5 horfes ; indeed by the practice of the county, this is clearly admitted, as a double furrow plough, of a fimilar conftruc- tion with the other, is pretty generally ufed, and which does double work with the fame number of horfes.
LABOURERS, and the price of LABOUR.
As there are no large manufacturing towns fitu- ated in this diftricl, the variations in the price of la- bour are not confiderable ; and it is, upon the whole, more moderate than could well be expeded.
The wages of a ploughman by the year, are from L. 8 to L, 10, with board and vvalhing. ■ A young man or boy, from L. 4 to L. 5.
A female fervant, about L. 4, ic s.
A labourer in fummer, receives is. 4 d. witboo* board, and in winter 1 s.
In hay-harveft, a man earns from 9 s. to los. per week, and a woman 4s. without board; th(jugh each is allowed, a certain quantity of beer.
In corn-harvell, a man hired by the month, re- ceives about L. 2, IDS. befides board ; a woman is paid at the rate of i s. the day without board.
Wheat
C 45 )
Wheat is threflied at 2 s. 6 d. oats, i s. 4d. bar- ley, I s. 9 d . and beans, 1 s. 3 d. per quarter.
A carpenter by the day, has 2 s. 4d. in fummer, and 2 s. in winter.
A mafon 2 s. 4d. without board.
A blackfmith charges 5 d. for a horfe-flioe.
Wrought iron, fuch as is ufed in mounting ploughs or carts, cofts 4^ d. the pound.
Inclofing land, which is here always done with ditch and hedge, cofts 1 s. 6 d. the running yard, and includes the price of the quicks, carting the ditches, a double row of poft and rail, and keeping the hedges clean, and the fences in repair for 5 years.
Labour commences in fummer at 6 o'clock in the morning, and ceafes at the fame hour in the even- ing ; during hay and corn harveft, labour begins at 5 o'clock in the morning, and ceafes about 7 o'clock in the evening ; and in winter, the operations of hufbandry go on from day-light to dark.
A man and a boy with 3 or 4 horfes, and a one furrow plough, will plow one aci"e in the day. This is done in what is here called one journey : In fummer they are at work by 6 o'clock in the morning, and go between 7 and 8 hours without in- terval ; after which the men are principally em- ployed during the remainder of the day in pro- viding food for the horfes.
The maintenance of the fervants is here a very expenfive article to the farmer. The breakfaftcon- iifts of cold meat, with cheefe, bread and beer. For dinner, roaft or boiled meat with pudding, and for fupper the fame as at breakfaft ; and be- fides ale, allowed on extraordinary occafions, they have fmall beer at command at all hours. The luxury in which this clafs of people live, accounts
M in
( 46 )
in a great meafure for the neceffity of levying fuch immenfe fums annually for the fupport of the poor in England. While it is perfedlly certain, that a perfon living in Northumberland, or North Britain, on ordinary fare, will do fully as much work, and to as much purpofe, as a Northamptonfliire plough- man, who is maintained at a much greater ex- pence.
POOR-RATES.
The poor-rates vary greatly in this diftridt ; in the country villages they run from 2 s. to 5 s. in the pound of real rent, paid by the tenant to his land- lord, and in the towns much higher, particularly at Kettering, where, owing to the late decline in the woollen manufadlure, they are advanced fo high as 12 s. in the pound.
It might juftly be deemed prefumption in the writer of this Report, were he to enter fully into the difcuffion of a fubjedl fo complicated as that of poor- rates ; in the inveftigation of which, fo many able pens have been employed. He cannot how- ever avoid remarking, that the evil appears to be getting to fuch a height, as will render it foon ne- ceflary to adopt fome meafures more efFedual than any that have hitherto been attempted, in order to keep this heavy tax within any reafonable bounds. And what is of ftill more importance, to curb that fpirit of licentioufnefs, which fo generally reigns within the walls of a parifli work-houfe, from whence fliame and honell pride feem to be for ever banilhed.
MARKETS
( 47 )
MARKETS and FAIRS.
Befules the weekly markets which are held in all the principal towns, for the fale of butcher- meat, and other articles of provilions, there are feveral ftated annual fairs for the iixle of cattle, horfes and fheep.
The price of provifions are as follow
Beef and mutton, 4id. per lb Lamb, 5 d. to 6 d. per do. Veal, 4 d. do. do. Pork, 4t d. do. do.
Butter, 8 d. to 10 d. do. Cheefe, 4 d. to 5 d. do. Bread, i-Jd. do.
A goofe, 3 s.
A turkey, 3 s. 6 d.
A duck, I s.
A hen, i s. 3 d.
A chicken, 6 d.
Eggs, 6 d. per Icore.
The quantity of wheat and flour annually ex- ported from this county is very great ; but it was not poffible, by any means, to afcertain the amount, as the greatert proportion is tranfported by land-carriage. The wheat is fold by the farmers to the millers in their neighbourhood, who convert it into flour, and difpofe of it in the neighbouring counties of Leicefl;er, Nottingham, and Warwick, and great quantities are annually fent down the Nen to Wilhech. A great proportion of the bar- ley crop is made into malt, and confumed in the county. The oats, and a great part of the beans, are confumed by the horfes ; a fraall quantity of beans are, however, annually exported to Wilbech and other places.
Having been favoured with an account of the prices at which the bufliel of wheat, barley, oats, and beans was fold on a particular farm in this di-
ftridL
( 48 )
ftridt for the laft fix years, it is here fubjoiaed, and may be depended upon as corredt.
AVERAGE price, per Bufhel of Wheat, Barley, Oats, and Beans, from the year 1787 to 1792 in- clufive.
Gene- ral ave.
rage.
Wheat, Barley, Oats, Beans,
|
1787. |
1788. |
1789. s. d. 6 44 2 n I "Si 3 6 |
1790, s. d. 6 64r 3 3 2 4 3 " |
1791. s. d. 6 34 3 li^ 2 54 3 iOt |
1792. |
|
s. d. 5 51 2 6i 2 oi 3 7i |
s. d. 5 8i 2 6i 3 H |
s. d. 5 loi 3 4t 2 6i 4 If |
d.
6 o4: 2 II
2 2
3 9
ROADS and BRIDGES.
There ave few diftridts which can boaft of a greater number of handfome, well built ftone- bridges ; every brook and rivulet is made paflable by means of a flone arch ; and the bridges on the larger rivers do credit to the public fpirit of the inhabitants.
It is to be regretted, that as much cannot be faid in refpedl to the roads. Thefe, it mud be acknow- ledged, difplay no great ingenuity either in the en- gineer who planned, or in the undertakers or over- feers who executed the work. The great roads leading through the county are all turnpike, and are fupported, partly by the money coUefted at the different toll-bars, and partly by the ftatute-labour impofed by adl of Parliament. Each tenant who occupies a farm of L. 50 of rent being bound to perform 3 days labour of a cart with 3 horfes, and 2 men yearly, on the turnpike-roads within the pa- ri(h, and the fame on the private or parochial roads ; and where there are no turnpike-roads with- in
C 49 )
in the parifh, the whole 6 days labour h applied to the repairs of the parifli-roads.
From this account it miglit be fuppofed, that the roads in this diftriA would be kept in a proper Hate of repair ; but the contrary is the cafe, particular- ly in regard to the private or parifli roads, which are in many places in a very ruinous fituation, and, in general, fo Uiirrow as to admit of only one track. It is true indeed, that the country is but indifferent- ly fupplied with metal proper for road-making, the ftone being very foft, and apt to grind into powder ; — but it is equally true, that, in place of breaking the ftone properly, and laying it on carefully to a proper depth, it is generally laid on the roads in the fame ftate in which it is raifed out of the quar- ry ; and in place of being broke with hammers, that operation is only performed in the courfe of time by the cart-wheels.
In place of employing contradors who do not re- fide in the neighbourhood, and who, for the moft part, execute the work in a very flovenly manner, it would be for the intereft of all concerned, to farm both the public and parochial roads to adlive and intelligent farmers in the neighbourhood, who would be induced by a fpirit of emulatidn, and a regard for charader, to perform the work properly. Till fome fuch plan as this is adopted, there is little chance that the roads in this diftrid; will be put in a proper ftate of repair.
LIVE STOCK.
On the firft view, it will appear furprifiiig, that) in this diftrift, where fo great a proportion of the lands are in a ftate of pafturage, little or no atten- tion has been paid, till of late, to the improvement
N of
C 50 )
of the different kinds of flock ; yet, wfien re- ference is made to the manner in which the farms are occupied, as before mentioned ; and when the vicinity of the great London market is confidered, it will not be thought extraordinary. Of late years, indeed, the improvement of the breed of flieep has become an objedt of the firfl importance with many of the mofl refpedfable and intelligent farmers.
Black Cattle. There are very few of this fpecies of flock reared in this county, a few in the open field lordfliips excepted ; and thefe are fo croffed and mixed with the breeds of other counties, which arc often improperly chofen, and are fo ftint- ed in their food, as to render them comparatively of little value.
In the few inflances where attention is paid to the breed of cattle on the inclofed farms, the long ' horned are the kind generally preferred, and are far
fuperior to the original breed of the county, both in fize and fliape, as well as in the other advantages which ought to be attended to by every farmer w-ho occupies a breeding- farm, namely, their extraordina- ry difpofition to fatten, and to lay the greateft quan- tity of flefli and fat on the rump, loins, and other parts of the body, which always fell higheft at market.
The dairy farmers in the fouth-weft part of the county, however, prefer the fliort horned Yorkfliire cows, from which county they are principally fup- plied. And, as they never rear any calves, they fell them when a few days old, to a fet of men who make a trade of carrying them to the markets of Buckingham, and other places, where they are pur- chafed by dairy farmers from KlTex, to be fattened for veal for the London market*.
It • Confidering the diflance which thefe calves are carried, from this county to Eflex,. being from 70 to 80 miles, ir may be proper to give feme account of the extraordinary
manner
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It is proper in a report of this kind, to mention the names of thofe gentlemen, and farmers, who have been mod inftrumental in introducing better modes of hulbandry, and improvements in the breed of ftock ; and though little has hitherto been done, comparatively fpeaking, in introducing a better breed of neat cattle, into this county, yet, Mr Pearce of Chapel Brampton, and Mr Robinfon, at Wellingborough lodge, deferve to be mentioned, as having been at con iiderable expence and trouble in this reiped.
Mr Pearce bought a bull calf of the late Mr Fowles of Rollright, in the year 1790, at one hun- dred guineas ; and having fold part of his ftock in the year 1793, was abundantly compenfated for this outlay of money, from the very high prices which he received for what he difpofed of; as a proof of which, it may be mentioned, that he fold a bull-calf of this breed, only ten days old, at 40 guineas ; and, that a bull and four cows were fold for L. 331 : 5 : 6.
Horfes. — There were very few work horfes bred in this county formerly, though, of late years, con- fiderable pains have been bellowed in improving the breed of this ufeful animal ; and from the in- creafed demand, and the confequent high price, the attention of the induftrious farmer, will, no doubt, be more generally turned to this important objed. The horfes ufed in the operations of huf-
bandry,
manner in which they are tranfported. Sometimes 10, i;, or 20, are put into a cart being laid on their backs on ftraw, and their feet tied. They are maintained frequent- ly for 8 or 10 days together on nothing but wheat-flour and gin, mixed together, which are here called gin-balls. In this manner, mod of the calves bred on the other farms in the county are difpofed of; fuch a number only being reared as are neceffary for. keeping up the ordinary ftock of milk-cows.
( 5* )
bandry, are for the moft part purchafed in the cotlfi- ties of Derby, Lincoln, and York ; lliey are bought in at two or three years old. The objed of the Northampton-fhire farmer being to purchafe horfes, which arc likely to anfvver either for the coach, the army, or large waggons, he keeps them two, and fometimes three years, and generally diipofes of them at a profit of from L. 7 to L. lo. A horfe pro- per for the coach, fells for about L. 40 at five or fix years old ; a horfe of the fame age for the army, at about L, 25 ; and a dra>' or waggon horfe, at a- bout L. 3c.
Some years ago, it was the pradlice here, to rear blood horfes ; but experience has proved, . that thefe animals, however valuable they may ftill be in the eftimation of the gentlemen, are unprofitable to the farmers, becaufe the leaft blemifli renders them al- together unlaleable ; and if they fliould not meet with any accident, they muft remain fo many years on the farm, before they can be fent to market with advantage, as to render the profit precarious, and trifling. Such horfes as are now bred are fit to go into the team at two years old, and after two or three years fervice on the farm, they are generally fold for one or other of the purpofes above men- tioned. It is woi-thy of remark^ that a few days a- go a horfe of the lad defcription, with only one eye, was fold for forty guineas, while it is well known that a blood horfe, with fuch a blemifli, would fcarcely have been worth notice.
Some of Mr Bakewell's beft horfes have covered in this county fome years, though at a very heavy expence to the individuals who fubfcribed for pro- curing them. There is nothing, perhaps, that would tend more to the general improvement of thi fpecies of (lock in the county, than if a number of the proprietors were to purchafe fome of the beft
ftallions
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ftallions that could be found in the neighbouring diftriifls, fo that the tenants might be accommo- dated without any great expence or trouble. It was by this means that the breeding of blood horfes came into fuch general pradice here. And therefore, if the proprietors were to adopt this plan, it would in- duce their tenants to turn their attention to the breeding of fuch horfes as are ufeful in the opera- tions of hufbandry, as well as for various other pur- pofes ; for which the county is peculiarly well fi- tuated, the diftance from London being fo great as to prevent the farmer from experiencing a rife of rent, or an additional charge for labour on that ac- count ; while he is, on the other hand, within the reach of the bell market which this or any other kingdom can afford for the fale of draught horfes.
Sheep. — There are here three different breeds of fheep, which may be clafTed as follows, viz. The original breed of the county, the old improved, and the late improved, or new Leicefter breed. About 50 or 60 years ago, when this diftridl was in gene- ral in the open field ftate, no attention was paid to the improvement of the breed of Iheep. The points which marked a good Iheep, in the opinion of the people of thofe days, were, the wool thick fet on the back, an open rump, loin wide, legs open, and bones clean from wool, oppofed to what is now call- ed gum or coarfenefs. They were generally fent to market from i\ to 4 years old, and weighed on an average about 18 lb. the quarter. This breed, how- ever, are now very rare, being confined to thofe parts of the county vphere commons abound.
About 25 years ago an improvement was at- tempted, by crofling the ancient breed with tups from Warwicklhire and Lincolnfhire, the breed of WarwicTclhire being noted for great bone or fize, and that of Lincolnfhire for the quantity of wool.
O With
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With the fuccefs of this expeiimcnt the farmers feemed perfeclly fatisfied, as a general opinion pre- vailed that the animal would feed in exact propor- tion to the fize of bone, and that an additional quan- tity of wool might be produced, without any detri- ment to the carcafs. This practice, therefore, went on for many years. The new breed improved great- ly in fize, and the farmers gave themfelves no trou- ble to afcertain whether the increafe in fize and weight could be accounted really beneficial or not. And fo fixed and rivetted were they in the opinion of the good choice they had made, that it Avas not without much difficulty they could be perfuaded of the poffibility of introducing any additional im- provement. This, however, has of late years been effefted, and the new Leicefter or Difhley breed " (which form a complete contrail to the former) are . pretty generally introduced, owing principally to the following circumfliance: Mr Bakevvell, whofe name flands unrivalled in this line, about the year 3788, inftituted a fociety, confifting of himfelfand 15 or 16 other refpedable farmers in Leiceilerfliire ■and the neighbouring counties *. This fociety had for its objed the improvement of the different breeds of flock, particularly of flieep. And by almoft every account, they feem to have fucceeded beyond their nioft fanguine expedations.
To follow them through alltlie experiments which they have individually made, or to detail the proois which they are ready to produce, in regard to the difference of bone, offall, wool, &c. in order to af- certain the advantages which the new Leicellerlhire breed poiTeires over evtry othei", would be an end-
lefs
* Of this number, the following members refide in this county :
Meffis J. and S. Robinfons, Wellingborough ; Mr Jolin Tomlins, Rockingham Park ; Mr John Eennet, Watford ; surd Mr John Manning, Arflingworth.
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lefs ta(k. And though thefe experiments feem to liave been fairly and canJidlv made, yet, as none have been attempted, in order to prove the fuperio- rity of any other breed over this, it appears a matter of more general importance, to rtatc fully in what refpecfts this breed is faid by thofe more immediately interefted, to excel all others ; and then leave it to the impartial public to determine whether they have fucceeded, and to what extent.
ijl, It is faid, that this breed will, on a given quan- tity and quality of food, produce a greater profit to the farmer than that of any other.
id. That they are extremely handfome or well made, and therefore more difpofed to fatten.
j,d. That they carry more flefh and fat on the fame weight or fize of bone.
^th. That they will thrive on fuch pafture as o- ther flocks would fall off upon.
tjth. That an acre of land will maintain or fatten a greater number of them than of any other breed which bear the fame proportion in fize of carcafs.
6th, That though the quantity of wool is about one fifth lefs than that of the old Northampton-lhire breed, yet the value by the pound is about one tenth more ; and that, for the reafon laft mentioned, both the quantity and quality of the wool, if the return is calculated by the acre, muft be in favour of this breed.
'jth, That this breed are ready for market in A- pril or May, whereas the others cannot be offered for fale before September or Oclober ; and that, therefore, not only a greater number can be kept on an acre, as above mentioned, but a fummer's grafs is faved in the one cafe, which is ufed in the other.
^th. That the mutton of this breed, in confe-
quence of the clolenefs of its texture, will keep fe-
verai honrs longer in warm weatfeer than that of any
other of the fame fize.
Thefe
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Thefe are the moft valaablfe properties which this breed of fheep is faid to poflefs over all others •, and if they really do poflefs them, it is not to be wondered at that their fuperiority fliould be fo ftre- nuoufly maintained.
On the other hand, it is aflerted by many, that all the boafted fuperiority confifts more in the high prices at which the members of the fociety difpofe of their tups, than in any real improvement in the fhape or conftitution of the animal j and therefore they affirm, that this fuperiority muft fall to the ground, as the breed comes to be more generally introduced.
It is perfedly clear, that high prices given for any fpecies of breeding ftock, certainly does not, in every injlance, prove the intrinfic value or fuperiority of the breed ; and therefore, if the new Leicefter breed of Iheep have nothing elfe to recommend them, they will not long keep up to their prefent charadier ; but thofe who feem anxious to depreciate this breed, ought to come forward with fomething more likely to carry convidion to the mind, than bare unfup- ported aflertions, which they cannot expeft will meet with much credit.
The particulars above ftated, in whtch this breed are faid to excel all others, (and which have been in- ferted here, in order to bring the queftion fairly to iflue), may be proved trug orfalfe, by every intel- ligent farmer in the neighbourhood j but as no at- tempt of this kind has hitherto been made, it is but fair at prefent to fuppofe that the fuperiority really remains unqueftionable. The writer of this Report pretends to no particular knowledge in regard to the different breeds of Iheep, and is one of thofe who would be ready to fuppofe that the fize alone is what (lamps additional value on either a Iheep or a bullock J and, therefore, what is here ftated, is
the
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the fubftance of what he learned in the courfe of his furvey, rather than his own private fcntiments. It is, however, the general opinion over the kingdo:n at large, uheth.er it be luell or /// founded, that the new Leiccfter breed of fliecp is fuperlor to every other. Though it is not intended to ftate that they have attained the higheft poflible degree of perfec- tion to which it is practicable to bring the fpccies, it is prefiimed that even Mr Bakewell hinii'elf, deeply interefled as he is, will not maintain this point ; and therefore, in place of with-holding that degree of praife to which this fociety feems to juftly entitled, it would be fortunate for the community at large, if fome men, equally knowing and attentive, would endeavour to prove the poflibility of improving the breed to a ftill higher degree of perfection ; in the profecution of which attempt, every well wiflier to his country will be anxious for their fuccefs. It may be added, that one great objection to the new Leicefter breed of Iheep, is their difpojition to fatten to an extraordinary degree, and that they are not fo delicate eating as thofe fheep which require longer time to be ready for the market. It is believed, that the warmed advocates for this breed of flieep^ will not hefitate to allow their difpofition to fatten, though they may difpute the other point, which de- pends in a great degree on the talle of the confu- mer; but if it is certain, that a quarter of this mut- ton, weighing upwards of 30 lb. will only have 2 lb. weight of bone, while a quarter oi the old improved North amptonjhire breed, of the fame weight, will have about 5 lb. the improvement of the breed is at once determined, fo far as the opinion of the great body of the confumers can go ; as a mechanic, or labourer, who has a large family to fupport, by his earnings, if fenfible of the fact, will be ready to a- gree, with the new Leicefter fociety, that an im- provement has really been efTeded, at leaft to the
P extent
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extent of the value of 3 lb. of meat, in a quarter of mutton, compared with that of an equal weight of bone. It has been calculated, that every inhabitant in the kingdom eats a fheep in the year. The calculation di.es not feem to be extravagant, and therefore the great queftion in a national point of view, whether the breeds of thefe animals are improved, or reduced, to the value of i s. the head, appears of very great im- portance, and no doubt merits every degree of at- tention which the Board of Agriculture can bellow, the difference either way being nearly equal to L. 400,000 a-year. The manner in which this fpe- cies of (lock is managed, and the prices, and con- ditions on which the tups are hired out, are fo parti- cularly mentioned in other reports of this nature, that it is judged proper to avoid a minute detail here, as not tendmg in any degree to promote the objed in view.
OBSTACLES to IMPROVEMENT.
The obftacles to improvement may be claffed un- der the following heads :
The continuance of open field lands ; Tithes payable in kind ; and, The want of leafes.
Open Field Lands. — The management of the open field farms is governed by the eftabliflied cuftoms which have prevailed in the parifh for ages. An open field parifli may be claffed into three divifions, viz. tillage, meadow, and paflurage.
The tillage lands are cropped in the manner be- fore mentioned, and the feveral occupiers muft con- form to the ancient mode of cultivation of each di- vilion or field in which their lands are refpedively fituated ; from which it will appear, that one obfti-
nate
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Hate tenant (and fortunate muft that parifti be ac- counted, where only one tenant of that defcrii; ion is to be found) has it in his power to prevent the introdudlion of any improvement, however bene- ficial it may appear to the other inhabitants of the parilh. The tillage lands are divided into finall lots, of two or three old faihioned, broad, crooked ridges, (gathered very high towards the middle, or crown, being the only means of drainage that the manner In which the lands are occupied will admit of ), and confequently the farmer poflelfing lo© acres, muft traverfe the whole extent of the parifli, however large, in order to cultivate this fmall portion. The great additional expence of cultivating lands, fo fi- tuated, muft be obvious to every farmer of common underftanding ; while the never-ending rotation of corn-crops, to which the lands are fubjected, muft render them incapable of producing any tolerable returns.
The meadows are kept in a ftate of common pa- fturage from the time the hay is carried off till La- dy-day, by which means the crops of hay are very indifferent, compared with thofe produced on in. clofed lands properly managed.
The leys are generally divided into three fields ; one is allotted for the pafturage of the flieep, an- other for the cows, and, on the third, the lliameful practice of tethering the horfes is ftill continued. And by every information that could be procured, it appears that the ftock is not kept with a view to any profit that can poffibly arile from the fales, but merely as the means of cultivating and manuring the foil. Indeed, long experience has evinced, that no fpecies of ftock kept in thefe open fields, can be carried to market on terms nearly fo ad- vantageous, as the fame articles reared by thofe farmers who occupy inclofed lands ; nor is it to be fuppofed, confidering the manner in which the ftock is treated, that the owners will pay much attention
to
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to the improvement of the different breeds. While the numerous inconveniencies attending the occupa- tion of land, ib difperfed and intermixed, as open field lands always are, will remain for ever a bar to the introdudlion of any improved fyftem of huf- bandry ; the greateft, indeed the only objedion againft inclofing is, the depopulation of the panlli, which, it is fiid, generally takes place in confequenge thereof: AVhile it maybe admitted, that the in- habitants of a parifii mua undergo a very material alteration in their fituations, in confequcnce of its being incloied ; yet it does not follow of courfe, that depopulation muft be the confequence; as, though feveral of thofe who occupy fmall farms, muft necemirily be removed, in order to enable the proprietors to clafs the lands into tarms of a pro- per fize -, vet it is equally clear, that a new let of people muft be introduced, fuch as hedgers, ditch- ers, road-makers, and labourers of every defcription ; and therefore, this may rather be called a fliifting of population from one village to another, than an expulfion from one particular parilh : And were it clear, that depopulation was the conlequence of in- clofing a parifti, that depopulation does not arife from the inclofing, but from the total alteration of fy- ftem which commonly takes place in the management of the lands. For if, in place of laying down the lands in grafs, which but too generally happens on thefe occafions, they were cultivated in an al- ternate courfe of corn and grafs huftjandry, the number of hands necefl-ary for the cultivation, and carrying on the various improvements, which would in fuch a cafe be immediately introduced, would be at leaft equal to the number of inhabitants in the open field ftate.
The average rent of an acre of open field land in this diftria, including the value of the tithes, which mav be reckoned at 3 s. 6 d. per acre, may amount
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to II s. 6 d. while the average rent of an acre of the incloled lands, which are generally exempted from tithes, may be accounted at 20 s. which makes the difference of 8 s. 6 d. per acre ; and as there are 89 pariihes in this county, in the open field flate, which may contain nearly 150,000 acres, the rent which the proprietors of thefe pariQies lofe by keeping them in an open field ftate, may be eftimated at upwards of L. 60,000 a-ycar ; while at the fame time the intro- dudion of improvements are precluded, and confe- quently an increafe of rent on rational principles. It may, however, be proper to add, that humanity, as^ well as ftricl propriety, Ihould induce thofe who aft as commiflioners under an inclofing bill, to give a compenfation in land in every cafe where pof- fible, to thofe having a right of commonage in the parifli, in place of a confideration in money, by which means thofe people, in place of being obliged to remove, would be induced to build Imall cot- tages upon their own property.
One great obftacle to the inclofing of pariihes, feems to be the very great expeuce to which the proprietors are fubjected, in procuring the a<5l of Parliament, and carrying it into execution. As this complaint is general all over the kingdom, it is to be hoped, that fome plan will be deviled by the Legiflature for obviating this difficulty, and for en- abling proprietors to efieftuate this great improve, ment with more facility, and at leis expence. There is not perhaps any one circumllance regarding the agriculture of England, that deferves the feriuus at- tention of the Board of Agriculture more than this.
Tithes.— 'T\\t colleding of tithes in kind is very generally complained of, and in thofe parifiies -where that mode is adopted, it certainly operates very powerfully againft the introduction of improve- ments in hufljandry ; while at the fi^me time it is attended with very difagreeable confequences, both
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m a religious p.nd political point of view, a-; it is often the means of crejiting Tuch divifions between the clergyman and his parifliioners, as renders the religious inih-uclions of the former of little avail, while it loofens that chain of intercouife and con- ^ledion which it is confidered cf fo much importance to keep united. It has happened, (though to the credit of the clergy of this diftricl be it faid, the in- ftances are very rare), where the tithes have beeir let to a layman for the purpofe of opprelfion. he. has been laiown to exert that authority with which he was inverted, and has not only taken the tenth fhock of corn, and the tenth cole of hay, but alfo the tenth Iamb, pig, hen, egg, ijc. nay has even gone into the garden, and taken not only the tenth part of the fruit, but alfo the tenth of the produce of the kitchen-garden. Under fuch circumftances as thefe, jt may be afked, who is the farmer who would not feel himfelf aggrieved ?
Many plans have been fuggefted, in order to bring about an arrangement of tithes, and to place them on fome permanent footing. It has been pro- pofed, that the proprietors fliould farm the tithes in each parifh, or that a corn-rent llrould be fixed by the average price of grain for a number of years pad ; but that which appears moft likely to meet general approbation, and which feems beft calcu- lated to do juftice to all parties, is to give the cler- gyman a compenfation for his tithes in land, becaufe the depreciation in the value of money has been fo great, as to render any arrangement which is to be founded on it as a medium by which the value is to be afcertained in future times, very uncertain ; whereas the produce of land muft always bear re- ference to the value of money at the time.
Whether the open field pariflies are to be inclo- fed, or allowed to remain in their prefent ftate, ftill it is humbly fuppofed, that a general arrangement might be made refpeding the tithes, by giving a
compenfation
C (53 )
compenfation in land ; and that. upon the fame prin« ciples, in which thofe who r.dl, as comniillioners under inclofing bills, determine thefe matterg, which is generally by finding the clergyman entitled to one fifth or one fixth of the tillage land, and one ninth of the palture, or. two thirteenths of the whole parifli.
Were this defirable objed by any means obtain- ed, improvements in agriculture, and the different breeds of flock, would no doubt take place ; and inftead of the clergyman and his parifliioners living in a ftate of contention, or warfare, we fliould fee them living as one great family, in harmony and peace, and the clergyman confidered as the parent and preferverof that bond by which they are united.
Want of Leafes. — Next to the modes of culture, and the management of flock, which itiujl accord- ing to the prefent fyftem be univerfally pradlifed in the open field lands, and the colledling of tithes in kind, nothing can operate fo powerfully againft the fpirited exertions of farmers, in regard to the in- trodudion of better modes of cultivation, and great- er attention to the improvement of the different fpe- cies of ftock, than the want of leafes.
Every farmer who poffeffes a farm from year to year, muft feel that kind of dependence which muff tend in a greater or lefs degree to damp his fpirit for improvement, and inuft prevent him from do- ing that juftice to his farm, which would enable him to pay the higheft poflible rent to his land- lord, or to procure that fair profit to himfelf, to which the extent of capital funk in carrying on the operations of the farm, and his own induftry, are entitled.
In fuch a fituation, the prudent farmer muft be reftrained from any fpirited expenditure, however much he may be fatisfied that the improvements which might thereby be introduced, would, under
other
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other circumftances, prove beneficial both to his landlord and himfelf.
In every country where improvements have been fuccefsfully and extenfively carried on, leafes have been granted, and every proper and reafonable en- couragement given to the tenants ; and where this mode of letting lands on leafe has been introduced, the proprietors have in every inftance found it for their intereft to purfue the fame plan ; becaufe they faw that the tenants, feeling themfelves poflefled of an intereft in the improvement of the foil, beftowed every degree of attention on that objedl, and the landlord, at the expiration of the leafe, confidering himfelf juftly entitled to derive fome advantage from the exertion and induftry of the former tenant, to whom he had given this affurance, demands and re- ceives an additional rent. The beft proof, in this cafe, that granting leafes is the moft probable means of fecuring the improvement of farms, is to refer to the particular diftrift now under review, where it will be found, that it is only on thefe farms where leafes are granted, that improvements are carried on to any extent.
It is true indeed, that few rnftances have occurred here, where the proprietors have not behaved to their tenants with that honour and good faith becoming their rank and fortune. Yet there are inftances where tenants have been obliged repeatedly to agree to pay an advance of rent, rather than remove, while, from the uncertainty of the tenure on which they held their farms, they were debarred from making thefe exertions, which an advance of rent demand- ed, and which always happens in fuch cafes when leafes are granted.
While the proprietors remain fatisfied with the rents which they receive, (which in general are high enough under the prefent circumftances), it is not probable that any material alteration will take place, cither in regard to the manner of letting the land, or
the
C 65 )
tlie fyftem of agriculture. But if a general rife of rent fliould take place, it will be neceflary to fscure the tenant that permanent intereft in the farm, which will entitle him, with propriety, to adopt thofe means of improvement which will enable him todojuftice both to the landlord and himlelf. It may be added, that if leafes were granted on a rea- sonable advance of rent, and for 19 or 21 years the community at large, as well as the individuals more immediately interefted, would be benefited thereby; and this particular diftrid, which is fo favourably fituated, would, in a few years, be one of the beft cultivated in the kingdom.
IMPROVEMENTS SUGGESTED,
From the preceding account of the modes of cul- tivation adopted in this diftridl, it appears that about one third of the tillage lands have been for ages, and are ftill continued, under a conftant courfe of corn- cropping. It is not neceflary to point out at greater length the impropriety of an adherence to this fy- ftem, nor to recapitulate the reafons (lated for re- commending fo flrongly an alteration in the manage- ment of the commons and woodlands. What has been already ftated, will, it is to be hoped, induce the proprietors, and thofe immediately concerned, to turn their attention to thofe objeds, and their own good fenfe, more than any thing that can be ftated in a report of this kind, will enable them to adopt fuch meafures, as are moft likely to promote the improve- ment of the country, in thefe refpeds.
There is a very fmall proportion of what may be called the old inclofed lands at prefent under the plough, and whether it is owing to that univerfal prejudice which has long prevailed among land- lords, againft the breaking up of old pafture fields, to want of activity in the occupiers, or to the im- proper manner in which they were at firft laid
R • down
C 66 )
down to grafs, it is not neceflary here to determine ; ■but it muft be obfervcd, that thefe lands are not at prefent devoted to the mod profitable purpofe to which they might be applied, being in many places greatly over-run with ant-hills, and producing a coarfe and unwholefome fort of herbage. Thefe lands would, no doubt, be made much more pro- dudlive by plowing, artificial manure, and other means of improvement that might be adopted. Two objedions naturally occur in the mind of the land- lord againfl plowing up thefe old inclofures, as they are called: The ift is, That the tenant would re- ceive a great additional advantage by the luxuriant crops of grain which he would reap, and without making any additional acknowledgment to the land- lord ; and the 2d is. The rifk which the landlord runs, that the tenant will not beftovv due pains in laying down the fields again into grafs. But, if the fyftem is a good one, (and the praftice of almofl every other country proves that it is), thefe two difficul- ties may be eafily obviated, as the landlord may ftipulate with the tenant, for an advance of rent during the period when the lands are in the eourfe of. corn-cropping, and he has it completely in his power to punifh the tenant for any adl of impro- priety he may be guilty of, in regard to the man- ner of laying down the lands into grafs.
The new inclofed lands are in general well mana- ged ; and where the foil is of a reddifli colour, with a fmall mixture of gravel, (of which there is a confider- able extent, particularly towards the middle and upper parts of the county), the rotation of crop- ping pradifed, that of the one half in grafs, and the other half in corn and turnip, feems the bell adapt- ed for keeping it in a high ftate of cultivation, and the alternate eourfe of corn and grafs hulbandry, is probably the moft advantageous that can be intro- duced, both for landlord and tenant ; as, from the great number of flieep which can be kept upon the
artificial
( 6; )
artificial food, produced on a farm, confifting of a proportionable quantity of this kind of land, the oc- cupier is enabled to relieve and affift his natural pa- fture grounds, as circumftances and the feafons may require. And this mode of management feems alfo beft calculated to enable the tenant to pay the land- lord the greateft poffible rent, while it prevents him from fuffering thofe inconveniencies which muft ne- ceflarily happen by the fall of prices, to that far- mer who can carry to market one fpecies of com- modity only.
To a perfon acquainted with the beft modes of cultivation adopted in all the more improved parts of Scotland, where every kind of foil, from the light lands of Norfolk, to the ftrong clays of Lincolnfhire, are to be met with, it muft appear furprifing to fee a man and a boy, with four or five horfes, employed for the greateft part of a day, in plowing an acre of land, while in almoft every part of North Britain, the fame operation is performed in lefs time by a man and two horfes, without a driver.
If neat light ploughs, with caft-iron mould-boards, were introduced, there is no doubt but a man with two horfes, would do the fame work which they now perform with double the number, and to as good purpofe. It is, therefore, worthy of the at- tention of thofe proprietors who take a pleafure in cultivating a farm on their own eftates, to make the experiment ; for it is a well known fadl, that by leflening the expence of cultiva- tion, the tenant is enabled to pay a higher rent ; and a great proportion of what is faved in this re- fpedt goes ultimately into the landlord's pocket.
For the fame reafon, it may be proper to recom- mend the introdu6tion of the machine now fo gene- rally uied in Scotland for threfliing grain ; and which, from feveral years experience, has been found to execute the work to much better purpofe than can
be.
( 68 )
he performed by manual labour. It is worked either by 2 or 4 horfe», where water cannot be procured ; and it will threfti from 20 to 40 bufliels in an hour, and feparates the corn trom the chaff at the fame tinie •, while the ordinary fervants on the farm are fufficient to put the unthreihed corn into the ma- chine and carry off the ftraw. The expence ol thefe machines, on an yverage, does not exceed L. 8c ; and the intereft of money, and annual tear and wear, may be reckoned at L. 10 a year. In a country where the threfliing of 1 20 quarters of grain cofts that fum, the introdiidtion of fuch a machine as this mull be a great improvement.
CONCLUSION.
In the preceding Report, every degree of pains has been taken, in order to give a faithful account of the prefent ftate of hulbandry in this county ; and while, on the one hand, the defedls in the modes of cultivation, and the manner in which the opera- tions of hufbandry are in general conduded, have been freely mentioned ; on the other, fuch as ap- peared to be the great outlines for improvement, have been pointed out ; and after ftating that a fpi- lit for improvement is certainly intioduced among all ranks in this country, and which, if properly en- couraged, by the removal of thofe obftacles which muft ever operate as a bar againft the general in- trodudion of fpirited agriculture, cannot fail to be attended with the moil beneficial confequeiices, in every point of view. It therefore lemains only to make thofe acknowledgments which are fo jullly due, for the affiftance received from many reiped- able Noblemen, Gentlemen, and Farmers, whofe polite attention, and friendly manner of communi- cating their fentiments on every lubjefl connected with the furvey, rendered the employment in eve- ry refpedl fatisfadlory and agreeable.
A P P E N D I X.
COMPARISON between the English and Scotch Syrtems of Hufbandry, as pradifed in the Counties of Northampton and Perth.
HAVING been diredled by the Pi-efident of the Board of Agriculture, to draw up a comparative ftatement, of the different modes of huf- bandry, pradifed in the county of Northampton, which is fituated nearly in the centre of England ; and that of Perthlhire, lying near the centre of Scotland, — it may be neceffary to ftate, for the information of an Englifli reader, that the county of Perth is the Yorkfhire of Scotland in point of extent, and pretty fimilar to the Weft Riding of Yorkfliire, and Weftmore- land, in refped to furface and general appearance, there being many bleak barren mountains, and extenfive lakes, in each of thefe countries.
The Carfe of Gowrie, which may be very properly denominated the Garden of Scotland, is fituated in Perthlhire. This is a track of rich deep clay land, containing about 30,000 acres, fuperior in fertility to any in Scotland, and not to be furpalTed by any of the fame extent in England.
In order to form a corred: idea of the rural economy of the two di- ftricls, prior to the introduction of improvements in the modes of Agri- culture in either, it may be proper to obferve, that previous to the year ncc, the ft ite of fociety in England and Scotland, appears to have been pretty much the fame.
About that period. King Alfred divided the kingdom of England into tithing'- and hundreds ; and the honeft inhabitants of every village or touiiihip, became by that law anfvverable, in their own private fortunes and property, for all the houfe-breaking, robberies, and other depreda- tions, committed within their refpedlive diftrids, and were alfo bound, to aff'iciate with their neighbours in arms, in order to reprcfs every aQ. of violence, and to maintain peace and public order. In Scotland, before the laws came to be properly refpecled, or the executive government pof- feffed that power and ..uthority, neceffary to prevent the great feudal Ba- rons, and their dependents, from haraffing and diftreffing their lefs povver-
a ful
( 2 )
ful lu-iglibour?, it was common for the farmers, w ho then lived in village". to enter into an agreement, called a bond of good neighbourhood, in which all ads which could be conllrued into bad neighbourhood were narrated, and certain penalties annexed to the coniniiirion of each, and from the joint manner in which they occupied the lands, (which was the fame as is flill praClifed in the open field parilhcs in England), as well as from the conditions contained in tliefe bonds, they were induced to turn out in arms, on any general invafion of their property.
This being the ancient (late of both countries> and it being well known that a regular Government, together with the arts and habits of civilized fociety, and improvements in Agriculture, were much earlier introduced into England than into Scotland, it may appear difficult to account for the manner in which both countries are now inhabited. In England the farmers ftill living crowded together in villages, as in former tiujes ; where- as, in the cultivated parts of Scotland, every farmer lives m the centre of his own farm, as if the feudal fyftem had never exifted. But that dif- ficulty will be removed, wiien, on the one hand, the manner of culti- vating the open field lands in England is confidered, and that inclofing has only come into general pradice of late years ; and, on the other, that there does not appear to have been any commonable lands in Scotland ; that fince the year 1560, the payment of tithes in kind (except in a very- few indances, and thefe where the tithes are in the pofleffion of lay pro- prietors) have been aboliflied, and that the lands were in general poflef- fed by great proprietors, who, when ever they were inclined, had it in their power, for the reafons juft now mentioned, to divide their lands, and make fuch arrangements with their tenants as they judged moll likely to promote the improvement of their efiates ; and that where a townfliip was poflefied by two or more proprietors, in place of a tedi- ous negotiation with the Clergyman, and thofe having right of com- monage, and an expenfive application to Parliament for an inclofing bill, which is the cUfe in England, the divifion of fuch lands, was effeded by an aclion or procefs before a Court of law, (which was attended with little expence), or amicably fettled, by a reference to fome man of re- fpedable character in the neighbourhood.
In the following ftatement, attention has been paid to reduce all 4he articles therein mentioned, to the ftandard of the weights and meafures generally ufed in England, and the rents and returns in both countries, are calculated by the Englifli acre, and by the Winchelter bufliel of 8
gallons.
( 3 )
gullons. It may be neceffary, however, to mention, that the Englilh fta- tute acre contains 4840 fquare yards, and the Scotch llatute acre 6150 fqiuire yards. A quarter, or eight Winchcfter buflicl;, contains 17,203 cubic inches. The boll of barley or oats, Linlithgow nieafure, (which is the (landard of Scotland), contains 12,822 cubic inches, and a boll of wheat or beans meafures 87S9 cubic inches.
LEASES.
NORTHAMPTON-SHIRE.
In this county, there are fcarcely any lands held by tenants under leafes, except thofe granted by the Bifhop, Dean, and Chapter of Peterborough, which are for ll years, renewable every 7.
The tenants, in general, poffefs their farms only from year to year. There are, however, written agreements entered into between the landlords and tenants, in which the mode of cropping the lands is fpecified.
The farm-houfe and offices, are gene- rally kept in repair, at the joint expence of the parties ; though, in a great many inftances, the whole expence relts with the tenant.
The tenant, is, on all occafions, exprefsly debarred from breaking up any old pa- fture-grafs, and from felling hay or ftraw.
The term of entry, to a grazing farm, is at Lady-day, and to tillage lands, at Mi- chaelmas.
The fize of the farms is much the fariie !n both counties.
PERTH-SHIRE.
There are few inftances in this county, where lands are now poffeiTtd without leafe. The common term of endurance is for 19 years, though fometimes the leafe is granted for the lifetime of the tenant, if he fhould furvive after the ex- piration of that period.
The terms contained in the leafe are, that the tenant fliall receive the hoiifes in a complete ftate of repair on his entry, that he Ihall keep them in proper order during the leafe, and leave them equal in value at his removal.
Particular m.odes for cropping the lands are fp:;cified, and certain penalticg or ad- ditional rents are flipulated, for every de- viation from thefe rules.
The tenant is generally bound to refide with his family on the farm, and is de- barred from fubfetting or affigning his leafe, and from felling any ftraw off the farm.
The tenant enters to the houfcs at Whitfunday, and to the lands, at tlie fepa- ration of that year's crop from the ground. The outgoing tenant has a liberty of fel- ling his laft crop before it is reaped, and it is generally difpofed of in this way, which prevents any interference between the outgoing and incoming tenant.
O B S E R.
( 4 )
OBSERVATIONS. There is nothing that has tended fo much, to the general introduaion of improvements in Agriculture, which have taken place in Pcrthihire, within thefe 50 or 60 years, as granting leafes for a conliderablc number of years, to fubllantial, intelligent, and cnterpriling tenants.
By this means, artificial manures, fuch as lime and marl, have come to be very commonly uftid ; for in confequence of receiving a leafe for 19 or 38 years, the tenant thereby acquires a permanent intereft in the farm, and on that confideration, commences his operations in the moll adive and fpirited manner, and always drains, and limes, or marls that portion of the farm, which is in fallow, during the firft courfe af the rota- tion prefcribed in the leafe.
But a farmer in Northamptonfhire, who holds his farm from year to year, muft poilefs great faith indeed in the honour of his landlord, if he expends L. 400 or L. 500 on that kind of artificial manure, (which, though fure, is yet flow in its operation), or on any other means of improvement, frorn^ which immediate returns cannot be expeded. And it is a certain fa£t, that a Perth (liire farmer would rather pay 3 s. or 4 s. per acre of addi- tional rent for a farm of tillage land in Northamptonftiire, on a leafe of 19 or 21 years, than the prefent rent, and hold the farm on fuch an uncertainty, as ftiould prevent him in prudence from cultivating it to the bell advantage.
RENT AND TAXES.
NORTHAMPTON-SHIRE.
The rent oi" Inclofed lands, runs from 17 s. to 25 s. per acre, excliilive of tithes, fro\n which the inclofed land is generally exempted. The average may be reckon- ed at 20 s. to which maj be added 3 s. in the pound for poor-rates.
The open field lands run from 6 s to 10 s. per acre, medium about 8 s. befides about 3 s. 6 d. per acre for tithes ; the poor-rates the fame as above mentioned.
The rents are paid in money by half- yearly inllalments. The firll half year's rent being payable : i mouths afie^ the tenant's entry to the farm.
PERTH-SHIRE.
The rent of lands in the Carfe of Cow- rie is from 30s. to 4,5. per acre, ave- rage about 3j s.
For lands in the open field flate, from 10 s. to 16 s. medium, about 13 s.
For inclofed lands, "which are all cul- tivated in an alternate courfe of corn and grals liulbandry, 22 s. per acre may be reckoned ihe medium rent.
The rents in the Carfe of Gowrie are paid partly in money, and partly in wheat and barley.
In other parts of the county the rents are paid in money, and titlier at Maum- mas, (about the 22d of November;, alier reaping the crpp, or, the one half at that term, and the other half at Whitfunday following.
OBSER-
. [ 5 ]
OBSERVATIONS.
The diflerence of rent in favour of the Perthfhire proprietor, may ap- pear furpiiiing to thofe, who do not know, that in Scotland there are no tithes, poor-rates, or other taxes which atfecT: the tenant in his charader of farmer. The clergymen in Scotland are all paid by the landholders. On the abolition of Popery in that kingdom, in the year 1560, the proprietors pofleffed themfelves of the church-lands, and a certain quan- tity of money and grain was then allotted to each Protejtant Clergyman, which generally bore a proportion, to the ftate of the cultivation of the parirti, and the confequent value of the tithes at the time.
The poor are in general maintained by the voluntary contribution of the inhabitants, which takes place every Lord's day, either immediately before or after divine fervice. There is, however, an old Scotch atl of Parliament ftill in force, by which the proprietors and tenants are liable to be aiTefled equally in fuch an additional fum, as may be judged necef- fary to fupport the poor of each parifh ; but this adt is feldom put in force, and it only happens in thofe parilhes in the neighbourhood of the mountainous parts of the country, where the greateft number of the poor people refide.
The fum neceflary to maintain the poor in any particular parifli, a- mounts only to a ftw pounds in the year, which may be accounted for, by the fimple manner in which they live, oat-meal and potatoes being their principal food ; and that when reduced by unforefeen accidents or old age, to have recourfe to this mode of procuring a maintenance, they are fatisfied with a very fmall fum, ajking in charity, what their neighbours in the fame clafs in England, demand as a matter of right. Indeed, few on- ly, but fuch as are deiUtute of relations able to fupport them, make the application, it being conlidered difgraceful both to themfelves and their relations, to have their names entered on what is called the poors roll.
Another reafon, why the rents have got fo high in Perthfliire of late years, is the pradice now univerlally eftablillied of granting leales for a certain number of years, by wi)ich the tenants are enabled to cultivate the lands better, and confequently to raife greater crops ; to which may be added, the great faving which has taken place by ploughing with a man and two horfes without a driver, mllead of the former pradice, when a man and a boy, and four horfes, were conlidered indifpenfably necef- fary. For it is a well known fad, that a great proportion of what is
b gained
[ 6 ]
gained by the tenant, from his fiiperior management of a farm, as well as of v.'hat he faves, by leflening the expcnc« of cultivation, fooner or later, &nds its way into the landlord's pocket.
CLIMATE.
Periods at which feed-time and harvefl commenced in the different counties, for the fix preceding years, from 1788 to 1793 inclufive.
NORTHAMPTON-SHIRE.
The periods at which feed-time and harveft commenced on a particular farm in this county for the fix preceding years, from 1788 to 1793, '^•'^1 ^^ found in the following Tables :
PERTH-SHIRE.
Below is an account of the periods at which feed-time and harveft commenced on a particular farm in the Carfe of Gow- rie, from 1788 to 1793, inclufive.
|
Years. |
Wheat. |
|
1788. 1789. |
|
|
1790. 1791. 1792. |
5th oa. 6th ditto. |
|
1793- |
27th Sept. |
Spring Corn.
5th Mar.
I ft ditto.
28th Feb.
Barley.
nth Mar. 1 5 th ditto. 2ift ditto.
|
Harveft commences. |
Years. |
|
4th - Aug. 1 8th ditto. |
1788. 1789. |
|
1 6th ditto. |
1790. |
|
8th ditto. |
1791. |
|
13th ditto. I ft ditto. |
1792. 1793- |
Wheat.
nth Sept. nth ditto. 13th ditto. 14th ditto.
4 th oa.
lothSept.
|
Spring Corn. |
Barley. 1 |
|
7th April. 6th ditto 3d March. 7th ditto. 9th April. 25th Mar. |
6th May. 9th ditto. 6th ditto. 4th ditto. 7th ditto. 3d ditto. |
Harveft commenced.
2 5 til Aug.
27 th ditto.
27th ditto.
1 8th ditto.
29th ditto.
28th ditto.
OBSERVATIONS.
By the above ftatement, it appears, that there are about 15 days diffe- rence in the commencement of harveft, in favour of Northamptonfhire, on an average of thefe fix years.
The climate in the Carfe of Gowrie, may be confidered as equal to that of any other part of Scotland. And that of the other parts of Perthlhire, as fuperior to the northern counties of England.
ROTA-
( 7 )
.ROTATION of CROPPING, moll generally approved ot" and practifed, iu each of the Counties, for raifing the different Species of Grain.
NORTHAMPTON-SHIRE.
The old inclored lands are generally kept in a Hate of palhirage.
The open field lands, at leaft that part of thL-m which is confidered proper for til- lage, is nnder a conftant courfe of corn- cropping, as follows, vi-z.
ift year, fallow or turnip.
jd wheat, part barley.
3d beans, with a few acres in oats.
The new inclofed lands are principally employed in the cultivation of grain, and cropped in tUe manner under mentioned, viz.
ift year, fallow, part turnip.
ad wheat, barley after the turnip.
3d — — beans or peafe.
4th barley, with 18 lb. red clover.
5th clover.
6th ditto.
7th ■ ■ part beans, and part oat>.
PERTH-SIIIRE,
On the rich lands in the Garfe of Cow- rie.
I ft year, fallow. 2d year, wheat. 3d year, beans or peafc. 4th—— barley, with 20 lb. red-clover, and I bufhel rye-grals.
5th clover.
6th oats.
On the lands adjoining, the following; rotation is adopted.
I ft year, peafe, or other green crop. 2d — — wheat.
3d barley, with grafs-feeds, as a-
bove mentioned.
4th clover.
5th oats.-
On the inclofed lands.
ift year, turnip.
2d — barley, with 8 lb. red-clover, 81b. white, 41b. rib-grafs, and i' or 2 buftiels rye- grafs.
3d grafs, generally made into hay.
4th pafture.
5th ditto.
6th ditto.
7th oats.
8th ■ barley.
OBSERVATIONS.
Without aflerting that the rotations for raifing the different crops of grain cultivated in Perthfliiire, or on the new inclofed lands in Northamp- tonlhire, are the beft adapted to the different foils, or fuperior to any
other
( 8 )
other that can be introduced, it may be proper to obferve, that the lands under fuch management, are much more likely to produce valuable crops, both of grain and grafs, than if they were allowed to remain always in grafs, or kept in a conftant ftate of tillage. Experience has indeed proved, that the bed land in Northamptonfhire, when allowed to remain long in grafs, is apt to be over-run with ant-hills, and to produce but very indifferent crops. And it is prefumed, it will not require much reafoning to prove, to the fatisfadion of every intelligent farmer, that lands which, are kept conitantly under a courfe of corn-cropping, mull be worn out and exhaufted, to fuch a degree, as to render the crops of little value, compared to what might be expected on the fame lands, if managed ac- cording to any of the rules above mentioned.
AVERAGE RETURN per Acre, of the different Species of Crops, in the different Counties, for the fame number of Years, from 1787 to 1792, inclufive.
NORTHAMPTON-SHIRE.
PERTH-SHIRE.
Years.
17S7. 1788. 17S9. 1 7<)o. 1791. 1792.
Uiv. by
6.
General Kveragc,
|
Wheat. |
Barley. |
Oats. |
Beans. |
|
Buni. |
Bu(h. |
Bufii. |
Bulh. |
|
2F-f |
2Rt |
43l |
2J |
|
2.S |
19 |
33 |
21 |
|
2.T |
5-*, |
53i |
26 |
|
22^ |
.^5T |
4S |
2^4- |
|
22t |
.^■i |
39 |
20t |
|
= ^t |
27i |
35 |
20 '30 |
|
152 |
ib6 |
252 42 |
|
|
251 |
3' |
2'l |
Genera! ave- rage by the a: re of all thi-le grains.
Bulliels.
3ot 324
27i
iRo
30
Years.
1787 1788 17S9
179° 1791
1792
Div. by 6
General Average, ^
Wheat. Barley
Bulh.
22^
29i 2lf
24-1- 24t
Bufh.
32t 4't 324-
3s;t 48
24f
J44 224
Oats.
Bud.,
4'T
4.1
i3
4«T
37i
279
46^
Beans.
Buni.
21
22
35 16
138
23
Generalave- rage by the acre of all thefe grains.
Ludi.
set
36 31 34 39
2i4
196 324-
OBSERVATIONS.
By the above table, it appears, thqt the returns by the, acre "of the dif- ferent fpecies of crops, except wheat, is in favour of PenhQiire, or ra^
ther
C 9 )
ther the Carfe of Gowrie ; for the calculation is formed from the returns on a particular farm in that diftrid, though it Ihould be oblerved, that that farm is not cultivated agreeable to the rotation above mentioned, conll- derably more than one-fix.th of it being annually under wheat, fome part of which is fovvn after peafe, or clover Hubble ; and therefore the crops muft be fuppofed inferior to what might be expecHied, or what is really reaped, from lands regularly fallowed and dunged, either on that or any other farm in that corner of the county.
AVERAGE PRICES by the Bufhel, at which Wheat, Barley, Oats,' and Beans, were fold off a particular Farm in each of thefe Counties, for the Years above mentioned.
NORTHAMPTON-SHIRE.
|
1787. s. d. 5 Si 2 6i 2 0^ 3 7i |
1788. s. d. 5 8i 2 f4 1 io| 3 H |
1789. s. d. 6 44 2 7i I H 3 6 |
1790. s. d. 6 64 3 3 2 4 3 " |
1791. 6 34 3 It 2 Si 3 ic'4 |
1792. |
|
|
Wheat, Barley, Oats, Beans, |
s. d. J loi 3 4i 2 6i 4 li |
|
G |
eiie- |
|
ra |
ave. |
|
rage. |
|
|
*. |
d. |
|
6 |
o4 |
|
2 |
II |
|
2 |
2 |
|
3 |
9 |
|
1787. s. d. 5 5 3 it |
|
|
Wheat, Bailey, Oiits, Bean«, |
PERTH-SHIRE.
1788. 17S9. 1 1790.
d.
4
^^
7i\
d.
y
7t
d. J
7
it
Si
|
1791. |
1792. |
|
s. d. |
s. d. |
|
5 ° |5 5 3 ci J ..{i 2 64- 1 2 10 3 It 14 f'i |
Gene-
|
rai ave- |
|
|
rage. |
|
|
— |
|
|
s. |
d. |
|
5 2 2 |
44 •i |
|
3 |
5 |
OBSERVATIONS.
It appears that the price of oats is higher in Perthfliire than in Northamp- tonlhire, but that all other kinds of grain, fell higher in the lad mentioned county. That the price of oats fliould be higher in Scotland than in Eng- land, will not be thought furprifing, when it is confidered, that there, the great body of the inhabitants live principally on oat-meal, whereas in Eng- land, the bread generally ufed is made of wheat flour. The difference in the prices of the other fpecies of grain in favour of Northamptonlhire, may be accounted for, by obferving, that Northamptonfliire is perhaps more clofely inhabited than any other county in England, where no great cities, or large manufadluring towns are fituated, and that therefore the farmers in general find a market for their grain at home, or in the immediate neigh-
c bouihood J
[ 10 ]
boiirhood ; and that though the Carfe of Gowrie, properly fo called, is as clofely inhabited as Northamptonfhire, yet the inhabitants ot" Perthfliire bear no proportion to thofe of Northamptonfliire, when the extent of the two counties are compared, and therefore the Perthfliire farmer, muft look to a diftant market for the fale of his furplus grain, which he gene- rally finds at Lcith or Glafgow, and which he avails himfelf of by means of the Frith of Tay, and the inland navigation which is opened between the Forth and Clyde, by which grain is tranfported from this laft men- tioned county, to Glafgow, which is the bell market in Scotland. But the farmer in Perthfliire, mufl; be at an expence greater perhaps than the difference above fl;ated, in conveying his grain to the bell market ; or, which is the fame thing, mufl: fell his grain on terms fo much lower, as to enable the merchant to tranfport it with advantage to himfelf.
DIFFERENCE of the Value of the returns by the Acre, in each of the Counties.
NORTHAMPTON-SHIRE.
25^ bufliels wheat, the produce -of one acre, at 6 s. old. L. 7 13 o|^
31 bufhels barley, at 2 s. 11 d. 4 10 5 42 ditto oats, at 2 s. 2 d. 411 0
2i4 ditto beans, at 3 s. p-j- d. 4 i 6^
Total average j6fr ««na«, L. 20 16 o
PERTH-SHIRE.
24 bulhels wheat, the produce of one acre, at 5 s. 4i d. - L. 6 9 o
37 j- bulhels barley, at 2 s, 8-| d. 5 i 11 46^ ditto oats, at 2 s. 61 d. 518 2
23 ditto beans, at 3 s. 5 d. 318 7
Total average /f /•«««««, L. 21 7 8
OBSERVATIONS.
From the two firfl; tables the above one has been formed, in order to fliew the extent and value of the returns by the acre, in each of thefe counties, for a number of years, and by which it appears, that the balance is in favour of the Carfe of Gowrie, to the extent of 1 1 s. 8 d. on four acres, or 2 s. 11 d. on each acre.
It was not poffible to afcertain corredlly, the weight of the crops of hay raifed on the acre in Northamptonfliire ; but from the information re- ceived, 18 cwt. may be confidered as the full average of meadow-hay, and about 25 cwt. that of artificial grafs.
On the farm in the Carfe of Gowrie, above mentioned, the average -crop of hay by the acre, for 6 years, is nearly 29 cwt. There are no
natural
( " )
natural meadow- fields in this diftridV, nor indeed in any other part of Perthftiire, except in the valleys, and along the fides of tlie dreams and ri- vers in the Highlands, where, owing to the latenefs of the climate, and tlie great falls of rain to which vthat country is fubjea:, the crops of meadow- hay are often very precarious.
LABOUR.
Tlie PRICE of LABOUR NORTHAMPTON-SHIRE.
Butcher- meat, from 4 d. to 5 d. per lb.
Poultry, from i s. 2 d. to i s. 4 d. each.
EgffS, - 6 d. to 8 d. per fcore.
Butter, - 8 d. to 10 d. per lb.
Cheefe, - 4 d. to 5 d./.fr do.
The wages of a ploughman, from L. 8 to L. 10.
A young man or boy, from L. 4 to L. 5.
A female fervant, from L. 3, 10 s. to L. 4, 10 s.
Day labouring in funimer, without board, from I s. 2 d. to I s. 4 d.
Ditto in winter, 10 d. to is.
A man for the harveft montli, from L. 2, 2 s. to L. 2, 10 s.
A woman by the day, i s. without board.
Grain is threflied at from i s. 3 d. to 2 s. 6 d. per quarter.
When the ploughmen receive board-wages, it is generally at the rate of 6 s. the week all the year round ; but they are more commonly maintained in bed, board and waftiing in the farmer's fa- mily.
The ordinary breakfaft and fupper Li cold meat, with bread and cheefe, and for dinner, either roaft or boiled meat, with pudding. Ale is allowed them on many occaiions, and fmall beer they have always at command.
Labour commences about the fame hour, at the diftereat feafons, in each of the counties.
and PROVISIONS.
PERTH-SHIRE.
Butcher-meat, from 3 d. to 4 d. fier lb.
Poultry, from i s. to 1 s. 4 d. each.
Eggs, - 6 d. to 8 d. per dozen.
Butter, - • 6 d. to 8 d. per Ih.
Cheefe, from 2? d. to 3^ d. per lb.
The wages of a ploughman, from L. 8 to L. 10.
A young man or boy, from L. 3 to L. 5.
A female fervant, from L. 3 to L. 4.
Day labourer in fummer, without board, I s. to I s. 2 d.
Ditto in winter, from 8 d. to to d.
A man for harveft work (which is gene- rally finiflied in 20 working days), re- ceives about L. I, 5 s. and a woman a- bout 17 s.
Grain is threflied at from 1 s. 4 d. to i s. 8 d. per quarter.
When fervants are boarded in the farmer's houfe, the ordinary fare is for break- faft and fupper pottage made of oat- meal, fait and water, which is eat with milk. For dinner foup, or, as it is pro- vinciaUy called, broth made with pot- barley, vegetables, and butcher-meat. But the more general pradice is to give each ploughman a certain allowance of oat-meal, (about 36 ounces a-day), and tliree pints of fweet-milk, or double that allowance of butter-milk. They lodge and eat in a houfe disjoined from the farm -houfe, and coo.k their own viftuals.
OBSERVA-
( 12 )
OBSERVATIONS.
From the above flatement it appears, that the odds in the price of labour and provifions is much lefs than could have been expeded. The only material difference being in the maintenance of the farm-fervants.
A Northamptonfhire farmer conliders 6 s. per week as a reafonable al- lowance for the board of a ploughman, which, for 52 weeks, amounts to - - - - L. 15120
The Perlhfhire farmer furniflies his ploughman with that quantity of oat- meal, which, on the average price of meal for a number of years, amounts to 2 s. per week, to which, if 10 d. per week is added for milk, makes the whole expence for the year - - L. 7 7 4
For coals, bed-cloaths, i^jc. Is'c. may be added, 098
7 17 c
L. 7 15 o
Thus, in confequence of the different modes in which the farm-fervants are maintained in the different counties, the PerthQiire farmer faves about L.7,i5s. a-yearfor each of hisfervants, which the othermuftexpend. There is no probability, however, that the Northamptonfliire farmer can avail himfelf of any information he may receive in regard to this particular, as his ploughmen will not be difpofed to give up their roaft beef and pud- ding, and betake themfelves to oat-meal and milk. But it is humbly fub- mitted to his confideration, whether he might not Itffen the expence of cultivating his farm, by reducing the number of fervants and horfes. The pradtice of plowing with a man and 2 horfes, without a driver, is general, not only in Perthftiire, but all over Scotland. Whereas, in Nor- thamptonffiire, a man and a b<y, with 3, 4, or 5. horfes, are employed to plough an equal quantity, vvhu h, for the fake of calculation, may be reckoned at an acre a-day in both counties ; and let it be luppofed alfo, that thefe men and horfes are employed in plowing' the whole year round, in which pe;iod they will each have plowed 313 acres, — in that cafe the different accounts of the expence would ftand as under.
NORTHAMP.
( 13 )
NORTHAMPTON-SHIRE.
Ploughman's wages, L. lo o o
Boy's wages, - 500
Boys board, at 4 s. per week, 10 8 0 Maintenance of 4 horfes, at
L. 15 each, - 60 o o
L. 8 5 8 o
PERTH-SHIRE
Ploughman's wages, L. 10 o *
Maintenance of 2 horfes at
L. 1 5 each, - 30 o o
L. 40 o o
By the above account, including only the wages of the fervants, and the maintenance of the horfes, which are alike in both counties, the ex- pence of plowing an acre of land in Northamptonfliire amounts to about
5 s. 6 d, while the fame operation is as well performed in the Carfe of Gowrie, or in any other part of Perthfliire, for 2 s. 6 d. leaving a dif- ference of 3 s. per acre ; but as a greater number of acres are annually plowed on every farm, in a ftate of tillage, than the farm really con- tains, (fome fields being repeatedly plowed) the additional expence of plowing a farm in Northamptonfliire, (and which it is certainly in the power of every farmer in that county to fave), may be eftimated at 4 s.
6 d. per acre. A'^. B. It is hardly neceflary to obferve, that the above cal- culation includes only fuch articles as are the fame in both counties, and not the whole expence .0? plowing an acre in either. It may alfo be re- marked, that the total annual expence of cultivating an acre of tillage- land in either county, is very different from what is above dated ; for a particular explanation of this, reference is made to the table in the re- port of the Carfe of Gowrie, where it appears, that the expence of cul- tivating a farm of i-jz Scotch acres, exclufive of rent, amounts to L. 657,. 6 s. 4 d. or L. 2 : 8 : ^ per Scotch acre.
WOODS
( H )
WOODS and PLANTATIONS.
NORTH AMPTON-SHIRE.
In diis county there are very exteniive Woods, and forefts, though, as has been obfersed, they are not under the beft modes of management, nor by any means fo profitable as they would be, if they were converted into private property.
There are no young plantations, or any means ufed, (but in particular cafes), to preferve a proper fucceflion of yoiuig trees.
PERTH-SHIRE.
This county cannot noiv boaft of forefls or woodlands. Though from the great number of large oak and fir trees which are found in all the moOes and fvvamps in the higher parts of the country, it is perfedlly certain, that at fome remote pe- riod, a great part of the diftrift has been covered with trees ; the only veftiges of which that now remain, are feveral exten- five trafts of copfe-wood oak, along the fides of the difF-rent rivers and lakes, which are generally cut every 25 years.
The prefent landholders, however, feem extremely anxious to make up for the deficiency of their predeceflors in this refpe£l. And many thoufand acres (not fufceptible of cultivation), are now covered with ufeful and omaniental plan- tations. As one inftance of which, may it be proper to obferve, that the Right Honoiurable Lord Kinnaird, a few years ago, paid L. 800 for planting 200 Scotch acres. The plants confilled of oak, a(h, beech, elm, plane, fpruce, and Scotch fir, and to the number of 3000 to the acre.
OBSERVATIONS.
If more attention is not paid to the woodlands in Northamptonfhire, it is impoflible that any fucceflion of trees can be preferved, and the forefts muft in time fall into decay. The ancient forefts in Perthfhire, though they ftill retain the name, are now deftitute of trees. And indeed there are few old trees to be feen in the county, except the ornamental planta- tions around the caftles, and houfes, of the proprietors.
If, however, no pains is taken to preferve a fucceflion of trees in Nor- thamptonfliire ; and if the fpirit for planting, which has become fo gene- ral among the Perthfliire proprietors of late years, ftiould continue, rhe
contraft
( ^5 ')
contraft in this particular (which is at prefent fo much in favour of Nor- thamptonfliire) will not long continue to be fo (Iriking.
LIME.
NOKTHAIMPTON-SHIRE,
There is abundance of limeftone in al- moft every corner of the county ; yet, ex- cept for the purpofes of building, very little is manufadhired in the diftrift. Though in kilns properly conflruded, it can be bunied on terms fo low as to en- able the manufadhirer to fell it at the rate of 4 d. or 5 d. per bulhel.
PERTH-SHIRE.
Tlicre is no limeftone but in the re- mote pans of this county, and tliat h of fo hard a nature, as not to be reducible to powder, but by means of coal. The di- ftance and expence of the carriage of which is fo great, as to amount almoft to a prohibition. Limeftone fhclls, after be- ing burned in the eaft coait of England, and the fouth of Scotland, is imported here by fea, and cofts about 4-j- d. per bufh- el.
OBSERVATIONS.
The value of lime as a manure is vpell known in Perthfhire, and its ef- feds in producing great crops both of corn and grafs (after an experience of upwards of 50 years) have been afcertained to the fatisfadion of every farmer in the diftridt.. — The quantity of powdered lime Jaid on the acre in general (reckoning that every bufhel of fhells will produce 3 bulhels of powdered lime) is about 380 bufhels the acre; and confequently the coft per Englifh acre is about L. 2 : 7 : 6. — Lime is generally laid on the land in the courfe of a fallow, as a preparation for wheat ; — it is general- ly done in the month of July, or beginning of Auguft, and plowed in with a very fhallow furrow ; and before the laft plowing is given, (which is generally in September), about 24 loads of dung from the farm-yard, is alfo laid on the acre. The dung-carts ufed in the Carfe of Cowrie, are nearly as large as thofe ufed in Northamptonfhire. — In the narrow di- ftricft of the Carfe of Cowrie alone, which, as has been obferved, does not contain above 30,000 Englifh acres, lime, to the value of L. 1800 per an- mm, has been imported for the laft 7 years ; — and has been principally, indeed almoft wholly, ufed as manure.
In Northamptonfliire, though lime can be procured in almoft every parifh, it has hitherto been but partially ufed as a manurc-^-And whe- ther
( i6 )
ther it is that the experiments which have been made, have not been ju- dicioufly condudted, or that the farmers, from the want of leafes, are pre- vented from expending money in the purchafe of a manure, from which no immediate return can be expeded ; certain it is, that there does not appear any great probability of its being foon introduced into general ufe, without the united exertion of the landlords.
COMMONS and WASTE LANDS.
NORTHAMPTON-SHIRE.
It is only in thofe parifhes in this county which have been inclofed that the lands are held in feveralty. The open field townfliips are held both by proprietors and tenants, in the fame manner as was the praftice at the time they were firft cultivated. And there, what in Scotland is called run-ridge, or run-field, univerlal- ly prevails. To the preceding report re- ference is made to an accoiuit of the man- ner in which the commons and wood- lands are occupied.
PERTH-SHIRE.
In this county the lands are all held iil feveralty ; and commons, or what was formerly known by the name of run-> tdge property, is fcarcely known ; even in the rocky and mountainous parts of the country, where the furveyor cannot drag his chain, every proprietor knows the bounds of his own eftate ; and where ar- tificial boundaries cannot be fixed, natu- ral ones, fuch as flreams of waer, or the fummits of mountains, are made ufe of to afcertain the marches.
OBSERVATIONS.
The abolition of run-ridge or run-field, may be reckoned the firft dawn of a fpirit for improvements in Agriculture that appeared in Scotland, and which, added to another excellent plan adopted by the landlords, which hasr been already taken notice of, viz, that of granting leafes, accounts \\\ a great mcalure for the very great improvements which have lately taken place in that kingdom ; and it cannot admit of a doubt, that were the open field parifhes in Northamptonftiire divided and inclofed, and the com- mons and woodlands converted into private property, in ihe manner in which the lands in Perthfliire now are, the moft fubftantial improvements would of courfe be introduced ; and the produce of the lands, under fuch fuperior cultivatiuii, as would m that event take place, become greatly mure abundant.
HARVESTING
( 17 )
HARVESTING the CROP.
NORTH AMPTON-SHIRE .
In this county the wheat is reaped witli jickles, and the barley, and oats, and beans are mowed with the fcythe, and after be- ing turned over are put up in coles in the field, like hay, where they Hand feme time, and are afterwards carried home, and either put into the bams, or built and thatched in the flack-yard.
The wheat is cut very high from the ground, and being bound up in flieaves, is allowed to remain in Ihocks in the field till it is ready to be houfed ; and after that is done, the ftubble is cut with fcythes, and carried home to the ftraw- yard, where it is either ufed for litter, or for thatching houfes.
PERTH-SHIRE.
In this county, and indeed almofl every where in Scotland, the corns are all cut with fickles, in the fame manner as wheat is reaped in England. And after having remained fome time in Ihocks, or what is here called _/?oo^j, it is carried home, and built up, and carefully thatched in the (lack- yard, from whence it is carried into tlie barns to be threlhed as occafion requires.
OBSERVATIONS.
There is no operation of hulbandry in which there is a greater diffe- rence than in the manner of harvefting the crops in the different coun- ties, as appears above.— The mode adopted by the Perthfhire farmer no doubt requires more hands to be employed to get an equal number of acres cut down in the fame fpace of time. — But whether his getting it done more completely, and all at once, may not in the end put him on a foot- ing with the Northamptonfhire farmer in point of expence, (fuppofing the rate of wages and board-wages to be the fame), appears rather doubt- ful. Certain it is, that were the Northamptonfhire plan adopted in this county, it would be attended with great rifk, as the climate is fo much later, by which means, in bad harvefts, the corns are injured by the great falls of rain which fometimes take place, even notwithflanding of the great pains which is generally ufed to fet up the fliocks in a manner the beft calculated to defend the grain from injury. — It may be well worth the confideration of the farmers in both counties, to confider whether it is not pradicable to lay the corn from the fcythe in fuch a manner, as that it could be eaiily bound up into flieaves. Could this be effeded, it is proba- ble that the Northamptonfhire farmer would annually fave a confiderable
e quantity
( i8 )
quantity of grain, which is at prefent loft among the ftiibble, after every exertion that can be ufed in raking the field ; and, on the other hand,- the Perthftiire farmer would be enabled td accomplifti the work in a flimter period, and to as much purpofe, while he would be relieved from the ne- ceffity of trufting to people from the remote parts of the country, for cut- ting down his corns. — Such an invention as this juft now mentioned has been found out, and is laid to be very limple in its conftrudion, being nothing more than a piece of pliable wood, formed into a kind of bow, one end fixed on the fcythe, and the other on the handle. — if it is found
to anfwer in praftice, it will certainly be an improvement of real utility.
The Icarcity of hands was probably the frft caufe that induced the En-T. lifu farmer to ufe the fcythe in cutting down his corns ; — and that caufe has induced fome farmers in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh to adopt the fame plan this year.
CONCLUSION.
Tlie preceding comparative account of the two counties might Iiave been extended to a great many other articles, inch as farm-houfes and offices, roads and bridges, implements of bujhandry, &c. &c. but as no ma- terial difference appears in thefe refpects, it was judged luineccflary to en- ter into a minute detail of the particulars in either county. It may ap- pear furpriling to fome readers, that no account is given of the live ftock in theie counties •, but without extending that article to a great lengtii, it was found impoffible to ilate any thing on the fubjed that would have tended in any great degree to information. — Suffice it therefore to lay, that in both counties there is yet great room for tlie adive and intelligent farmer to iiitroduce im[)rovements in the breeds of the different ipecies of ftock. Such a fpirit has, however, become pretty general among the fp.r-
rs in both diftrids, and which, if aided by the landlords, will no doubt
a few years produce very beneficial confequences.
It is only neteflary further to add, that every endeavour has been ufjd in order to execute this commillion with candour andimpartiality. Ar,d the poheral di-ji'iiplion of the modes of Agriculture and lituation of the tenants in each county, will, it is lioped on inveftigation, be found to be coniiftent with trutli.— Tlie time allowed for making tlie furvey of any particular eoivnty, is fuch as to fubjed the furveyor to the nccelnry of
procuring
mer in a
( 19 )
procuring much of the neceflary information from thofe rcfident in the diftrict, without having it in his power to inquire minutely into the par- ticulars himfelf, and which in this cafe may have been either improper- ly communicated or not perfectly underilood.
If any misftatement of facts fliould appear in the preceding ac- count, it is hoped the candid reader will attribute it to the caufes al- ready mentioned, rather than to any want of attention on the part of the furveyor. Any deficiencies that may appear, will no doubt be amply fup- plied by the gentlemen, and intelligent farmers, to whom copies of this Report will be tranfmitted by the Board for their remarks and obferva-
tions.
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