6 Farming of Bedfordsliire. 



where the system of thus ridging up the lands has prevailed for 

 ages. 



On an even surface, draining, at regular intervals, is doubtless 

 the correct principle ; but even w^ith such a surface, on very 

 retentive soils, the drains ought to be at intervals of not more than 

 22 feet, that is, three drains in the chain. On thoroughly open 

 porous soils, with deep drains, it is difficult to say to what distance 

 water may be drawn ; there is now a striking illustration, just on 

 the border of the county, where the Grand Junction Canal 

 Company, to obtain Avater for their reservoir, have recently dug 

 a drain that has laid dry the wells of entire parishes. 



But, to return to the ridged-up lands. When the draining is 

 completed our more skilful farmers lower them, only so far as 

 the soil will permit, and then strike out the new lands, often 

 obliquely over the drains, taking care to secure the best fall. 



Many of the best farmers adopt at present the narrow 

 twelve-furrow ridges : a plan Avhich enables them to drill and 

 harrow with the horses in the furrow. Thus they avoid poach- 

 ing the land when wet. Among others, Mr. Pain and his sons at 

 Felmersham have long adopted this system, and the county 

 cannot boast of better farmers. There are others, however, who, 

 after reducing judiciously the old lands, plough straight, but not 

 in narrow ridges. 



Here and there, perhaps, you may encounter a farmer whose 

 reverence for the old serpentine system of ploughing is so pro- 

 found, that, for the life of him, he will not go in any other 

 direction. There are farms in the county where modern culti- 

 vation is scarcely known. A drive from Bedford to Kimbolton 

 still exhibits too many illustrations. Indeed there are everywhere 

 some men who are so wedded to the usages of a dead past as to 

 regard with suspicion any innovation on the old routine, even 

 though the facts of science and the experience of practical men 

 declare the change to be an absolute improvement. To the credit 

 of Bedfordshire, however, be it said, that cases of this descrip- 

 tion are exceedingly rare ; and the few remaining venerators of 

 antiquity are gradually adopting those methods of farming which 

 modern times have proved to be superior to those of a by-gone age. 



Tillage aijd Cropping. — Different modes of farming this strong 

 land are still adopted. The most prevalent is the four-course 

 system, viz. — 



First year. — Fallow ; about one moiety being sown with Avinter 

 tares, fed off Avith sheep or moAvn green for the farm-horses, and 

 then properly tilled. Another small part sown Avith mangold- 

 Avurzel or tankard-turnips ; the latter being fed off early in the 

 autumn ; the remaining portion left a naked falloAv, or soAvn late 

 with rape or mustard. 



