100 A(jricidturc of Durham. 



entering upon the farm at all seasonable times, in order to see 

 that it is properly managed accoi'ding to the agreed scheme of 

 liusbandry ; ;ind there is invariably a penalty specified of a cer- 

 tain additional rent per acre for every acre of the farm managed 

 contrary to the stipulations or agreement. 



Sijstem of Hushandri/. — The system under which the greatest 

 proportion of this county was managed at one time was that 

 which has been styled the " Two Crop and Fallow System." 

 The rotation then was — 



1. Fallow. 1. Fallow. 



2. Wheat. ^ 2. Wheat. 



3. Oats. ^^' 3. Beans. 



4. Fallow. 4. Fallow. 



Bailey mentions both of these rotations, and I have heard from 

 various quarters that they prevailed to a great extent. They do 

 not do so now. Draining and a more liberal supply of manure is 

 enabling the farmers to introduce a better system, and this old 

 one is all but extinct. There was much excuse for it while it 

 lasted. The land was deplorably and universally in want of 

 draining. Turnips were a rare crop. Artificial manures were 

 unheard of. The farm-yard manures could not be had in suf- 

 ficient quantities ; for so little stock was kept that a sufficiency 

 was seldom produced upon the premises. Lime was certainly to 

 be had in some localities, but not in all ; for in those days the 

 roads all over the county were kept in bad repair, and railways 

 had not been introduced. In reference to the railways, what ad- 

 vantages we possess now, in comparison to what the inhabitants 

 of the county possessed so recently as 1809, when Mr. Bailey 

 could say — " There are no iron railways used as public roads in 

 this county " — a glance at the county map will show the great 

 number there are now. The advantage of these railways is very 

 great to the farmers of this county, both in enabling them to 

 convey their produce to market, and in the more plentiful and 

 cheap procuring of lime and manure. 



The system of husbandry which now prevails is the four- 

 course system, under which, as a general rule, the rotation of 

 crops is made to vary much according to local circumstances — 



On Light Soils. 



1. Turnips, eaten off the ground with sheep. 



2. Wheat, sown down with seeds. 



3. Clover, either pastured with sheep or mown. 



4. Barley or oats. 



On Strong Soils. 

 1. Bare fallow. 2. Oats. 3. Seeds. 4. Wheat. 



The above are frequently adopted. In regard to t!ic rotation 



