Wealden Clay of Sussex. 193 



process most destructive to wheats in the spring, and of course 

 at harvest time. 



Many farms in the Weald are carried on with capital incredibly 

 small, and there are not a few farmers occupying from 50 to 200 

 acres who never think of fattening a beast, or even a sheep ; but 

 this is becoming less the case than formerly, and in this respect, 

 as in many others, a progressive improvement is very obvious. 

 The small farmers generally keep two or three cows, cross-bred 

 animals with some Sussex blood in them, ill-made, and bad 

 handlers, but useful as dairy cattle. The pigs are generally good, 

 but are not kept in any great numbers. 



It is a common practice in tlie Weald for farm.ers to take in a 

 score or two of Kentish lamljs to pick about the land from 

 Michaelmas to Lady-day, at about 6s. each, and in order that 

 they may not lose the little poor grass which they yield, the 

 farmers do not plough their stubbles till late in the spring. The 

 lambs have the run of the farm, fences, sbaws, and all, picking 

 up just what they can find, and occasionally having a little 

 inferior hay given to them ; but in this wretched manner they 

 benefit neither themselves nor tlie land. Southdown lambs are, 

 I believe, never put out in this way. 



In consequence of keeping so little stock, farmers have not 

 much to do in the Avinter, and if more stock were kept, better 

 buildings would be absolutely necessary, for many farms in the 

 Weald are but ill provided with dry warm sheds against the 

 storms of winter, though of all things such provision is one of 

 the most useful. Bakewell, many years since, put this in a very 

 iew words — " Good lodging is as much to a beast as his food, and 

 it is a great deal cheaper^ 



A sheep-farmer on light land may make shift with few build- 

 ings, but where cattle are reared and fed, and the manure from 

 them has to be taken care of, good buildings must be provided, 

 or the most cannot be made of their food. Landlords can never 

 reap the full benefit of their properties till they improve them 

 thoroughly. Useless fences and shaws must be swept a-vay 

 before the land can be drained to any advantage, and roads must 

 be made to and on every farm ; for it is a fact that there are 

 farms which actually have no road leading to them, and where 

 the occupant, even though owner of the soil, can only cart to 

 and from his land by the sufferance of his neighbours. 



Making good roads in a country of stiff clay must always be 

 attended with considerable expense, more especially when Hints 

 are only to be had from a distance. Sandstone, it is true, is 

 found imbedded in the clay at different depths all over the 

 Weald, but though this is the material chiefly used for road- 



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