Norfolk Farming. 2^7 



(lid not waste In like manner. Stock now leave on the Saturday 

 ;',nd are in the salesmen's layers that evening, fresh for the me- 

 tropolitan market on Monday morning. The cost of the rail is 

 considerably more than the old droving charges ; but* against 

 that there is the gain of 205. a-head on every bullock a Norfolk 

 farmer sends to town, to say nothing of being able to take imme- 

 diate advantage of a dear market. 



The last number of the ' Quarterly Review ' contained a very 

 clever article on the progress of English agriculture. It is grati- 

 fying to the farmers of this county to find that the improved culti- 

 vation of England and of Norfolk are treated as synonymous terms, 

 for the greater part of this paper in the ' Quarterly ' refers more 

 to improvements in Norfolk agriculture than to the progress of 

 farming generally throughout the kingdom. From the middle of 

 the last century Norfolk has stood foremost in everything which 

 tends to elevate this important branch of our national wealth ; 

 and though its honourable position is not so conspicuous now, 

 the very able writer in the ' Quarterly ' remarks, that, " if Nor- 

 folk no longer occupies its leading position, it is not because it 

 has dropped behind in the race, but because other counties have 

 pushed forward, and the course of events are tending to equalize 

 the arts of cultivation throughout the kingdom." This is, doubt- 

 less, very true ; the farming of otlier counties has Avonderfully 

 progressed, and it is always easier to make a start than to keep 

 the lead ; but it would puzzle any one to find another district, 

 Avith a naturally barren soil like West Norfolk, that annually 

 produces such large supplies of corn, meat, and wool for our 

 increasing population. Other parts of the country may be quite 

 as well farmed, and there may be districts where occupiers 

 save more money, but none in wiitch sucli an amount of the neces- 

 saries cf life is raised by artificial means. At any rate, Norfolk 

 farmers cannot be taxed with having stood still. On the con- 

 trary, they have exerted themselves to the utmost to produce 

 " victuals, drink, and clothing " for this great nation. In the 

 latter part of the low times, which ranged from 1847 to 1853, the 

 production of corn in Norfolk sensibly diminished, whereas the 

 better price of the last few years has again caused an increased 

 growth. After a succession of unremunerating years, not only do 

 very inferior soils go out of cultivation, that is, are kept as sheep- 

 •walks or grass, but less corn, less meat, and less roots are pro- 

 duced on good lands — for artificial manure and artificial food do 

 not always rise and fall with the price of corn. The sudden start 

 in the value of wheat in 1853 must be fresh in the memory of 

 every one engaged in agriculture. The effect of this rise on the 

 farming of Norfolk was a subject of general remark, and it so 



VOL. XIX. X 



