Cultivation of Moorland. 383 



rather than objectionable swamps. But this is only possible 

 after drainage, and that of some years' standing. 



As previously remarked, grass-land is to be classed under 

 three heads, — 1st, the water meadow ; 2nd, the enclosures under 

 grass in course of cultivation ; 3rd, the open or hill pastures. 



The hill land is used for summering ground, and some few 

 native sheep and ponies are turned out to "pick a living" 

 during the winter as best they can. The rough grassy hills will 

 keep at the rate of one full-sized beast upon three acres from the 

 1st of May to the 1st of October. Upon the forest of Exmoor, 

 Somerset, large blocks of land containing some thousands of acres 

 are depastured in this way, cattle being kept during the above 

 period at the following prices : — 



£. s. d. 



Cattle. — Three years old and upwards 100 



Two j-ears old, and under three years 15 



Yearlings, and under two years 12 



Sheep. — Any a.ie, including young lambs and shepherding .. 2 3 



Horses. — Horses of any age 150 



Ponies for the summer 15 



Ponies for twelve months 150 



No difficulty is experienced in getting a sufficiency of stock, 

 and some parties have continued their custom for a period almost 

 unknown. 



The return afforded by the above plan is at the rate of from 

 Ss. Qd. to 4a'. per acre, in addition to which a goodly number 

 of breeding ponies are kept by the proprietor, making an addi- 

 tional rent of say 1.?. per acre, and this witliout the aid of extra 

 fences, roads, or buildings. 



The taking in of tattle to summer upon these hills and the 

 adjacent farms is now an established custom, and any number 

 may be liad from the neighbouring corn lands and dairy distric ts. 

 The latter farmers usually place out their yearling heifer stock, 

 and the former parties send their steers and in-(alf licifers. 

 Tliere is also a rather extensive practice carried on by other 

 parties, who consign their better animals to the north Devon 

 farmers for summering upon what is provincially termed " best 

 keep," and for which they pay a higher rate, — in most instances 

 about double the price charged uj)()n the forest hills: this is a 

 practice equally agreeable to botli parties, and has existed for 

 generations past. 



The nteaduu'-lands, owing to their more fortunate position for 

 shelter '{at the foot of the incline) and for the reception of all 

 washings of soil and manures from the upper lands and from the 

 farm, have every advantage for improvement, and the production 

 of abundant hay crops without the aid ot larnivard manure. 

 This manure is usually carted upon the pasture lands al)ove the 



2 1)2 



