416 Report on the Arjricultare of Cumberland, 



consider that the corn and meal which pig's consume pay much' 

 better when given to cattle or sheep, and so the majority are 

 content to keep only two or three pigs to consume the offal which 

 is not available for any other class of stock, such as the refuse 

 from the dairy, and the waste from the kitchen. For some time 

 past a few farmers have been in the habit of buying' strong shots at 

 Annan, and they find them to pay much better than the younger 

 home-bred pigs, as they have attained almost full size at the 

 time they are purchased. 



Poultry. 



Very little attention is paid to the breeding and rearing of 

 poultry as a paying speculation. A few are kept upon the 

 homesteads merely to consume the scattered grains and other 

 waste produce, but few farmers rear with a direct view to 

 profit. While there are some distinctive breeds, as the Dorking, 

 Cochin-China, Brahma, Houdan, and pure game, such as used to 

 be found in the cockpits, most of the poultry-yards contain a 

 mixture of various sizes, colours, and crosses. Eggs, like most 

 commodities, have gone up in price very much of late, the 

 demand in the towns keeping pretty good pace with the supply, 

 without any export trade. 



Size of Farms. 



According to the Returns of 1873, the average number of 

 acres held by each occupier is 69. Of 38 counties in England 

 enumerated, the average size of the farms in 12 is greater than 

 that of Cumberland ; 1 is just the same, and that of 25 is 

 smaller. I may notice that there has been for many years a 

 tendency to increase the size of holdings ; but in the absence of 

 statistics directly bearing upon the point, it is impossible to 

 say to what extent the enlargement of farms has been carried on 

 since 1853. However, I may state that the tendency is not nearly 

 so marked as formerly, Avhen a very large proportion of small 

 farms existed, the occupiers having just sufficient land to prevent 

 them from earning a decent living as farm-labourers, and too 

 little to keep them well-fed, well-clad, and enable them to 

 secure for their children a fair education. As an instance of 

 many small farms having been thrown into one, a better example 

 can scarcely be adduced than that of Oakbank Farm, near Long- 

 town, the land of which at one time comprised 11 holdings. 



Large Farms. — There are several large farms in the moun- 

 tainous districts of Cumberland, each containing from 4000 

 to 5000 acres. They are principally grass-farms, consisting 

 of large tracts of mountain land used as sheep-runs, and a 



