Farming of Leicestershire. 323 



times four men were required to hold and steady this ph)ugh in 

 the ground, and six or eight more with pickaxes and bars fol- 

 lowed to get the stones from the furrows, which were 18 inches 

 wide, and 10 inches deep ; and when those of a size too large to 

 get out by this means were met with, they were marked, and 

 afterwards broken and removed. 



Naturally the soil is springy and wet, and much of the 

 drainage at first put in was too shallow, or has become so from 

 the sinking consequent on the consolidation of the soil and the 

 frequent removal of stones, which are gathered off in each rota- 

 tion. Stones were extensively used for the first drainage, but 

 where re-drainage has been done tiles have been put in ; although 

 much land has been re-drained, there yet remains much requir- 

 ing it. 



The subsoil varies very much ; in the same field may be found 

 marl and sand, mixed and separate, a poor yellow clay full oi 

 stones, and a sort of moor-sand pan which can hardly be picked 

 through. 



The expense of reclamation has been met in various ways ; 

 sometimes by the tenant holding long lease, and at others by the 

 owner. 



Mr, Perry Herrick, who owns a considerable part of the forest, 

 gave his tenants 10/. per acre for reclamation, and then charged 

 them rent at the rate of 20^. per acre for such land reclaimed by 

 this money. 



After reclamation as above, the land was limed and sown with 

 oats, which usually yielded a fair crop after the lime. The next 

 crop is also oats, and generally better than the preceding. Lime 

 is then applied again, and followed by a good crop of wheat, and 

 the next year it is fall(jwed ; the usual rotation, a 6-course, then 

 follows. About 2 tons per acre of lime is the quantity usually 

 applied. 



The above was the 'practice of Mr. Shield and other good and 

 judicious managers; but there are not wanting many who have 

 cropped as long as any turf was left or corn would grow, so 

 thoroughly impoverishing the soil that it became a costly process 

 to get it into condition again. 



The usual 6-course rotation consists of, first, roots ; the swedes 

 being sown on the ridge, and the white turnips broadcast. Both 

 farmyard manure and artificials are in some instances applied to 

 the swedes, but more generally cither one or the other singly. 

 Good crops are obtained, the subsoil being cool, and the higher 

 range of elevation attracting many showers, which do not reach 

 the lower lands. 



Part of the roots are consumed on the ground by sheep, and 



