On the Improvements in West Norfolk. 5 



The Suffolk breed of pigs has always been one of the most valu- 

 able in the kingdom, but Lord Leicester has found that, by cross- 

 ing them with the Neapolitan breed, a much more profitable 

 sort is produced. The pure Neapolitan pigs, though their meat 

 is superior to that of any English pig, are such bad breeders, that 

 they are not advantageous to a farmer, but when crossed with the 

 Suffolk their constitution and breeding qualities are greatly im- 

 proved, and the cross-breed continues to possess the extraordinary 

 aptitude to feed of the Neapolitan without the weakness of their 

 constitution. 



Llaving thus, by keeping animals of a thrifty and profitable 

 sort, increased greatly the number of his live stock, and by the 

 purchase of rape-cake and the application of marl, in addition to 

 the increased quantity of manure which his live stock produced, 

 improved the fertility of the land, he overcame the difficulty of 

 growing wheat, and he adopted the present Norfolk course of 

 husbandry. The farm at Holkham assumed the appearance of 

 fertility which it has since ever held, and attracted the attention of 

 every one at all interested in the improvement of agriculture. 

 The stock upon this farm, and still more the annual exhibitions 

 of the sheep-shearing proved the great superiority of the South- 

 down over the Norfolk breed of sheep, the latter were abandoned 

 rapidly by the neighbouring farmers, and now in the whole tract 

 of country between Lynn and Llolkham such an animal as a 

 Norfolk sheep is not to be seen. The Norfolks have been 

 entirely superseded by the South-downs. Of late years indeed 

 it has JDecomxC very much the custom both with the farmers gene- 

 rally and also with Lord Leicester himself to put a portion of their 

 South-down ewes to a long-wooUed ram, the produce from this 

 cross having proved extremely profitable, but still in all cases the 

 store flock continues to be of the South-down breed. With re- 

 spect to cattle the example of Lord Leicester has not been sg 

 universally followed. The polled Suffolk or Norfolk breed still 

 hold their ground. But though his example in keeping a breed- 

 ing herd of Devon cattle has been followed only to a limited 

 extent, yet the more important object of carrying a large quantity 

 of stock upon their farms is universally attended to by the 

 Norfolk farmers. The nature of the soil and the scarcity of old 

 pasture is such, that no improvement can be made in cattle by 

 summer-grazing, but all the farm-yards are well stocked during 

 the winter. By this system a large quantity of valuable manure 

 is produced, and the occupiers of this light and weak soil are 

 enabled to cultivate it to advantage. A very small proportion, 

 however, of this stock is bred in Norfolk. 



There is scarcely any situation where it would be advantageous 

 to a farmer to breed all the cattle which he fattens, although 1 



