8 Farming of Bedfordshire. 



off at the Swan, straight away through Kempston, he proceeds 

 down the fields to the edge of the Race Meadow ; crosses the 

 Ampthill-road, and so makes his way to Medbury Farm, in the 

 occupation of Mr. Manning. Our sportsman must now keep 

 the rising ground south of Harrowden, and proceed straight 

 on, at the back of Cardington, Cople, and Willington, up to- 

 Muggerhanger : he will there reach the highway. Now, let him, 

 trot down the road towards Girtford-bridge, till he arrives at 

 Mr. Pawlett's fai'm, on the right, and on crossing it he might 

 take a bird's-eye view of the beautiful and far-famed Leicester 

 flock belonging to that gentleman. Leaving the farm at Brook- 

 End he must encompass Caldecote, Broom, part of Southhill^ 

 Stanford, and Biggleswade, till he reach Stratton Park. 



All Ijeyond him, on the east, is nothing but strong land, while 

 on the west lie the fertile lands of Biggleswade, screened from 

 the east and north-east winds by the sandy hills and plantations, 

 and known by the appropi'iate appellation of " The Garden of 

 Bedfordshire." 



A part of Sutton and Potton are convertible soils, as well as 

 Sandy Warren, but more sandy in their texture tlian the lands he 

 has been passing. Thence his path would lie straight away for 

 Sandy Station, leaving the wild hills to the right and the village 

 to the left, till he reach, by the Great North Road, Tempsford 

 Great House, when on the rising ground, in front, he would 

 see just below him one of the finest views in Bedfordshire, the 

 beautiful water-fall at the point where the Ivel empties its waters 

 into the Ouse. Leaving the park, on the north side, he would 

 cross the home-fields, north of Lamb-cote End, to the small 

 bridge on the Little Barford road, thence down to the river,, 

 taking the track of the barge-horses till he nears Little Barford. 



He has now to bear off again to the Little Barford road, 

 through the village, and, in order to avoid getting into Hunts,, 

 makes his way to Eaton Water-mill. This is his farthest point 

 to the north. There he fords the river, and reaching the Old 

 North Road, turns back, taking in but a strip of land on either 

 side of the Ouse, till he passes Roxton, skirting Great Barford 

 Hill, where the area widens greatly, and with the Ouse again 

 full in sight he bears off on his way to Renhold, fast by Howbury 

 House, over Goldington Green, and makes for the Bedford 

 House of Industry. 



Let him keep clear of the town on one hand, and of Clapham 

 Hill on tlie other, and pursue his journey till he reach the village ; 

 then trot round the flat lands of Oakley, back by the river to the 

 point from which he started. The great connected sections 

 of the better kind of gravelly soils of the county are thus, I 

 believe, pretty accurately chalked out. Interspersed along the 



