18 Farming of Bedfordshire. 



much in grass, and still less under tillage. Here and there are 

 spots that will grow mangold, but of corn there is no certainty. 



The whole area of the county, as observed in the introduction, 

 comprises about 296,320 acres. The Editor of the ' Parlia- 

 mentary Gazetteer' makes the pasture more than twice the quan- 

 tity of the arable land. This is probably a typographical error, 

 as there must be fully three acres arable to one of pasture. I 

 do not pretend to the strictest accuracy in this matter, as there 

 is mucli of the inferior grass-land every year being converted 

 into tillage. But from the best information I can collect, the 

 following, I believe, will be found tolerably correct : — 



Of arable, say 210,320 acres. 



Upland grass, meadow and commons 70,000 ,, 



Which leaves for woods, wastes, roads, and waters 16,000 ,, 



Total acres 296,320 



Population about 130,000, the larger portion of which is 

 employed, directly or indirectly, in farming and gardening 

 pursuits. 



The climate is generally considered healthy, not less for stock 

 than for the human family, and very favourable for the growth 

 and maturity of corn. The mildew, which formerly much affected 

 the low land crops by the rivers, is fortunately now, from what 

 cause I know not, much less frequent. 



The Bedford vale (as it is often termed), running south-east by 

 east, Is justly regarded as the finest portion of the county as a 

 farming distiict, in which are also to be found some of the 

 finest market-gardens of the kingdom. 



The Great Northern Railway, which runs through the heart 

 of these market-gardens, has proved a most valuable acquisition. 

 The direct Leicester to London, via Bedford and Hitchin, will 

 complete the accommodation both in the carriage of their goods 

 and supply of manure. During the spring and summer months, 

 this is by far the most interesting part of the county. To see 

 the hundreds upon hundreds of these enterprising and industrious 

 men, working in their little well-cultivated plots, from dawn of 

 day till night, is, to strangers in particular, a most interesting 

 spectacle, while it is quite astounding to learn the amount which 

 this busy hive will sometimes extract from an acre of land. 



The Stock of the county has scarcely less improved than its 

 agriculture. 



The farm-horses have improved, but not perliaps in the 

 same degree as the neat-cattle and the sheep. There are a 

 few studs of good Suffolk horses, but generally our farmers are 

 not particular as to the breed and colour of their farm-horses. 

 The proportion of sward, or low grass-land, being small, there 



