Farming of Leicestershire. 293 



arising from the usual mode of conducting the drainage in this 

 county, by stating an instance told to him " where the tenant, 

 getting the tiles gratis, laid in a new drain immediately over the 

 top of one previously put in, the defects of which he thus ex- 

 pected to remedy. The original defect was want of depth, and 

 this was no cure. In despair the man resigned the farm, and his 

 successor on commencing operations discovered first one row of 

 tiles, and then a second beneath it. By going considerably 

 deeper than the lowest he drained the field." 



Says Mr. Caird, " How much disappointment and waste of 

 capital might have been saved by the exercise of an intelligent 

 supervision by the landlord at the first in the outlay of his own 

 money." 



When draining is required extensively (and there are few 

 estates in this Division which either has not or does not require 

 it) by far the best plan is for the owner to execute the whole 

 work under competent supervision, and charge the tenant a fair 

 percentage on the outlay. 



Size of Farms, &c. &c. — Fences, &c. 



The size of the farms ranges from 50 to 800 acres, the sizes 

 most general being from 100 to 300 acres ; but there are many 

 small holdings of from 20 to 70 acres. 



The small farms are usually tenanted by dairy farmers, who 

 in this district make the famed Stilton cheese. 



In many parts of the district the hedges, and in some instances 

 the fields, are thickly studded with timber-trees. Where trees 

 are in moderation in a grazing district, perhaps no great harm 

 can ensue, as their baneful qualities are in some measure balanced 

 by their usefulness in affording shade and shelter in hot weather 

 and in cold, but the extent to which on some estates they prevail 

 renders them a very serious encumbrance, as they occupy much 

 valuable land, and make a poor return for it. 



The enclosures generally are of a fair size, varying from 5 to 

 50 acres, the sizes most common being from 10 to 20 acres, 

 nearly everywhere fenced by huge whitethorn hedges. 



The Leicestershire Ox Fence is seen in this Division in great 

 luxuriance. It is formed by a double line of plants, and is 

 allowed to attain a height of 10 to 14 feet, being cut and laid 

 once in fifteen years. 



When a hedge is cut the ditch is cleaned out, and the 

 " browse " from the cuttings put in it to protect the young shoots, 

 or a " prick mickle " is made on the top of the bank, which 

 answers the purpose more effectually. On the other side, where 



