Agriculture of Durham. 91 



beneath, and deep draining mi2:ht be expected to make great 

 improvement. Tliis district comprises the townships of Sock- 

 burn, Dinsdale, Hurvvorth, and Neasham, and there is of it about 

 6000 acres, averaging in value about 28^. The clay subsoil, with 

 little exception, surrounds the town of Darlington, and from Hur- 

 Avorth continues towards the west until it reaches the river Skerne. 

 Tliis river, at the point where it enters into the river Tees, as 

 well as lor some distance northwards, seems to divide the strong 

 clay lands of Hurworth and Dinsdale from the light gravelly soil 

 prevailing about Coniscliffe, Carl bury. Pierce Bridge, &c. Of 

 the last mentioned there may be about 4000 acres, averaging 21."?. 

 an acre. The soil from here to Barnard Castle for a limited 

 breadth from tlie river Tees is a richer loam, which in some 

 places is worth 305. an acre ; but the soil becomes thinner and of 

 less value as we leave the river and ascend the rising ground 

 towards the nortli. At Arctideacon Newton and around that 

 place we have from 1200 to 1400 acres, averaging 18a\ an acre. 

 Beyond that we have a stripe of land of better equality, reaching 

 from VVhessoe by Denton to Killer by, perhaps about 3000 acres, 

 averaging 286\ or 29^. Vo the north and north-east of Barnard 

 Castle we have the Raby estates, belonging to the Duke of Cleve- 

 land, and Streatlam, balonging to John Bowes, Esq. On both 

 estates there is a great variety of poils and values. Upon the 

 Duke's estates there may be from 3000 to 4000 acres, averaging 

 20a-. an acre. At Cockfield, which lies to the north of Raby, and 

 from thence to Woodland, there is a tract of poor shallow soil, 

 lying partly on the shale and partly on the millstone grit of the 

 coal formation. In this district there is about 5000 acres, worth 

 on an average no more than 9s. per acre. I trace the same poor 

 unproductive soil across the whole county, from the district just 

 alluded to up to its northern boundary. It lies along the whole 

 eastern boundary of tlie limestone of the mining district, and 

 seems to form the more elevated portion of the coal formation, 

 upon which there has been the smallest share of alluvial deposit 

 or vegetable soil ; indeed in many places the shale and sandstone 

 " crop out to the day." It may be interesting to put down a few 

 of the townsliips which comprise this tract of barren land, with 

 their estimated acreage and rental : — 



Tt)wnsliips. Acreage. Eental. 



Cockfield an.l Woodland .. .. 4,4 IG .... £2,203 



Laiiglov Dale 4,';85 .... 1,972 



'Lyucsack and Soft lev .. .. 5,040 .... 2,703 



Hamsterk'v .. .' 4,003 .... 1,500 



South lic'diiurn (;,7(;5 .... 1,039 



Mug:j;k's\vick 7,098 .... 1,738 



Acres .. .. 32,913 £11,93-) 



Or ujion an average 7s. 3 /. an acre. 



