540 Biographical Sketch of Sir H. S. Meysey Thompson, Bart. 



of the grey towei's of York Minster. To the north you may see 

 wonderfully improved park land — in June yellow with the 

 butter-cup. At no great distance, embowered in trees, there is 

 the ancient'parish church. Westward, following the home circle 

 of cultivation, the new approach, crossing a serpentine lake, 

 leads through a grass-field, on deep hazel loam, to the Kirby 

 home farm. Beginning with 250 acres, this home farm, in 1867, 

 had grown to 670 acres, of which 300 acres was grass. At fiirst 

 he maintained a pure herd of shorthorns, but this was sold in 

 1848 ; he always, however, had a well-bred bull. The sheep, of 

 Tthe Leicester breed, were also carefully selected. There is here 

 a characteristic of the Kirby estate — a covered foldyard. In 

 every direction may be traced the hand of the improver — he 

 was no mere paper farmer — drainage, which he thoroughly under- 

 stood — marling — enlarged fields. Towards the south point on 

 the home circle of cultivation, there is tlie new home farm of 340 

 acres with its covered fold-yard. Many of the buildings, with 

 corrugated tiles, are only just finished. Some land here is poor 

 clay, much cracked ; two large fields have been recently laid down 

 to permanent grass : thanks to artificial manure, the ground is 

 pretty well covered, and there is clover ; still the general impres- 

 sion is, that on this bad land the good grasses say to the farmer, 

 *' Wait a bit." There is close by an old pasture, of which its late 

 improver was very proud — a triumph of skill in old grass cultiva- 

 tion. Previously the quaint old tenant of this " deafish " field 

 used to say : " the grass came a week afore Barnaby fair ! — June 

 22nd — and went a week after ! " Difficulty has been experienced 

 in getting good grass seed — some has been lately got from 

 the hay-crop of Wensley Dale, some from the neighbourhood of 

 Knaresborough. Circling eastwards, and entering the park from 

 the east, there is a fine field of grass, laid down thirty years ago : 

 thirty-two Irish cattle, bought in May, were in June feeding 

 here, and many cribs about told of other food than grass. 

 Passing by experimental grass-plots, interesting only as showing 

 the interest to the last which the careful experimenter took in 

 'his latest practical study, we regain the front park — our point 

 of original departure — to admire, beneath the well-cared-for 

 plantations, 40 fat bullocks ; as sleek, fat, and restful as a rich 

 pasture and rich artificial food could possibly make them. Stay — 

 to complete our landscape, we want a foreground figure. It is 

 more than imagination that enables us to dash him in — an 

 ancient tenant and neighbour — he will tell us that Sir Harry 

 was respected and influential elsewhere, but in addition, around 

 Kirby Hall he was much and generally beloved. 



Health failed — gradually, very gradually. A sojourn in the 

 south of France. A welcome return to Kirby. More illness ; 



