428 Report on the Agi-i culture of Cumberland, Sj-c. 



yet it slioukl be understood that there ought to be a limit even to 

 putting land down to pasture, in place of its being devoted to the 

 growth of corn and roots. No doubt the most choice soil would 

 pay best in grass ; the second-class and inferior might be cropped 

 under a system of rotation, so that a supply of corn and roots 

 would be ensured for the winter. The breadth of arable land 

 being thus reduced, it could then be more generously treated, to 

 the end that it might produce maximum crops for winter con- 

 sumption. 



In the body of this paper, I have touched upon many of the 

 improvements which have been effected within the past 21 years, 

 chiefly with reference to the point already mentioned. A few- 

 additional points, however, claim attention on account of their 

 importance. 



The establishment of auction-marts, for the sale of fat cattle and 

 sheep, has been a great boon to both sellers and buyers. The 

 latter now know where to go to obtain their weekly supplies ; 

 the former are sure of their money at the fall of the auctioneer's 

 hammer. The Agricultural Hall, Cockermouth, established 

 several years ago, by Mr. Robinson Mitchell, was one of the first 

 in the north of England, and still continues to be an excellent mart 

 for the sale of stock. Close upon 10,000 cattle (principally fat) 

 and from 40,000 to 50,000 fat and keeping sheep are disposed of 

 within the year. One of the rules of this mart is, " that no seller 

 be allowed to bid either directly or indirectly for his own stock," 

 so that all the sales are purely bona fide. This system has given 

 the buyers full confidence, and the sales are always animated, 

 and prices high. At certain seasons, there are special sales of 

 bulls, rams, lambs, &c., &;c., so that the aggregate business done 

 in the year is very extensive. The Christmas fat show has no 

 rival in this district, and it may be fairly styled " The Smithfield 

 of the North." Last year the fat stock sold at the two sales im- 

 mediately preceding Christmas, which were only three days apart, 

 realized within a trifle of 12,000/. From these figures some 

 idea may be formed of the extent of the business transacted at 

 the West Cumberland Christmas Fat Show. 



There has been a marked improvement in the kind and quality 

 of implements used within the past 21 years. Reapers, mowing- 

 machines, hay-rakes, tedders, oilcake-breakers, pulpers, grinding 

 mills, double-furrow ploughs, and a host of agricultural imple- 

 ments have been gradually introduced, and the work of the 

 labourer has, in consequence, been much lightened. Steam cul- 

 tivation has made a little, but not very marked progress. On a 

 large scale, it will doubtless work wonders, but it is not quite so 

 available for small farms. Costly, and to a certain extent, cum- 

 liersome, it appeals chiefly to men of capital — men who have large 



