Farming of Waricichshire. 477 



favouring^ the growth of oak and othor timber. Generally through- 

 out the tract the surface consists of a soil more or less heavj, with 

 an abundance of rolled gravel-stones, here and there giving way 

 to sand, as at Sutton Coldfield, Meriden, and Cubbington. Marl 

 is dug almost everywhere. 



The lias, shale, limestone, and clay occupy that portion of 

 the county south of the line before pointed out ; and some out- 

 liers of these beds also cross the Avon, and are thrown up be- 

 tween Stratford and Alcester. 



There is a detached range of hills belonging to the inferior 

 oolite on the borders of Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire ; 

 among these the bold escarpment of Edge Hill commands a view 

 of the famous battle-field below, and of an extensive tract of 

 country. 



Allowing for the differences of good and bad farming, which 

 in Warwickshire are unusually great, the systems pursued on 

 the lighter soils are much the same in every locality. We shall 

 endeavour to give a general outline of the varieties of routine 

 pursued, defining, as nearly as we can, the practices of the dif- 

 ferent districts. 



The Avon District is a strip of loamy soil running across the 

 county from Stratford to Rugby, following the course of the 

 Avon, and extending three or four miles on either side of its 

 banks ; the strongest loam, and probably the most productive 

 land in the county, is a level tract between Stratford and War- 

 wick, which forms the northern limit of the Vale of Evesham. 

 Mr. Murray pronounces the farming here the best in the county ; 

 and perhaps the distinction still exists, but not to the discredit 

 of the farming skill to be found in other parts of it. 



Tiie farms here are large, averaging 300 acres ; there are a 

 few of small size, and some of 500 or (iOO acres ; rents are from 

 25*'. to ?)()s. for the second-rate land, and 355. or 40^. for the best ; 

 rates, 2s. (ul. to 3.s. G(/. ; tithe rent-charge, 3^. to bs., sometimes 

 redeemed. The course of cropping is 1st, turnips ; 2nd, barley ; 

 3rd, seeds, or peas, or beans ; 4th, wheat ; 5th, beans ; and on 

 the strong land, 6th, wheat. \ etches for fodder are largely 

 grown. The plan of taking intermediate crops of them is on the 

 decrease ; l)ut occasionally turnips are taken after early vetches,^ 

 and also alter the most forward crop of wheat or peas. Neither 

 rye nor trifolium is grown. The wheat-stubbles are forked in 

 autumn, ploughed 6 to 8 inches deep, ploughed again in spring, 

 and once or twice more afterwards, the dung- beine: turned in the 

 last tune, and the swedes drilled on the Hat with a tojvdressing 

 of guano and .superphosphate. In a few instances, the improved 

 practice ol ploughing in the dung in autumn has commenced, 

 VOL. XVII. 2 K 



