The Agriculture of Worcestershire. 451 



the county drained is about two-thirds, but probably only one- 

 third is done properly, about half of this being under loan and 

 Government inspection. 



The favourite depth where the high-backed ridges exist is 

 3^ feet in the furrows, using 2-inch pipes ; but of course, where 

 the lands are level a greater depth is attained. 



The light land is principally farmed on the four-course system, 

 with the exception of sometimes taking wheat a second time 

 instead of barley. 



Other farmers, who have their land clean and in good con- 

 dition, adopt the five-course shift, or take turnips, wheat, 

 barley, clover, wheat. This is a very satisfactory course, for, 

 where high farming is followed combined with chafF-cutting and 

 pulping, sufficient straw is not grown on the four-course system 

 unless sheep are the principal stock kept. 



In the neighbourhood of Kidderminster, a portion of the turnip 

 crop is sometimes displaced by potatoes, the growth of which is 

 highly remunerative even for stock. 



I have been much surprised that more attention is not given 

 to the growth of cabbage. With the exception of a few leading 

 farmers, this plant is not cultivated to any extent in the county ; 

 the largest field (about 20 acres) I have seen was Mr. Randell's, 

 it was all planted with cabbage, besides some other portions of 

 the farm. The scarcity of keep within the last two seasons has 

 led to great increase in the growth of this plant, especially the early 

 sorts, such as the Enfield, which should be planted in October 

 that they may be ready for cutting in the following summer ; 

 they are then very valuable for lambs and young stock, the sprouts 

 yielding a second crop for folding on in September. 



On much of the heavy land the old fallowing system is still 

 followed, after which wheat is planted, then beans, peas, Lent- 

 grain, or clover ; then wheat, followed by fallow again. Others 

 put half roots and half naked fallow, so as to fallow once in 

 eight years ; but I am convinced that on the heaviest land the 

 naked fallow maybe dispensed with by autumn cultivation, early 

 planting of roots on the ridge, a free use of the grubber horse- 

 hoe, and the removal of the roots in September, so that wheat may 

 be planted before the 20th of October. 



On some farms the rotation has been to a great extent modified 

 by the amelioration that has taken place in the land by clay- 

 burning. This is especially valuable upon the Lias, both physi- 

 cally and chemically. 



Mr. Randall, in 1844, thus described it in Vol. v., p. 118, of 

 this Journal: — "The proper mode is to move the soil with a 

 pick-axe, breaking it all the time as much as possible; it is 



