72 
Tas 
removing obftructions, which will tend to the ge. 
neral drainage of the country, and be a lafting im- 
provement. Some of the land upon the fide of this 
river, is rich enough for an acre and a quarter to 
carry a full-fized Devonthire ox through the fum- 
mer. - Moft of the hay in this vale is of an excel- 
lent quality, and beafts thrive well through the 
Winter upon it, without any other food. An ave-— 
rage value of it to the farmer is forty fhillings, but 
if fold to towns, it produces fifty fhillings a ton. 
One ton of hay*will keep an ox twelve weeks, al- 
lowing him one hundred weight and a half per 
week, which is fufficient to laft from Chriftmas to 
the middle of April; the profit upon the ox is efti- 
mated at five pounds a head each, and barren cows 
and heifers are reckoned to pay fitty fhillings per 
head each. 
There is a fhew of cattle and fome fheep at Stal- 
bridge, in this vale, every Monday fortnight thro’ 
the year, which is the beft market for fat cattle in 
the county, and about one hundred and twenty in 
number are bought and fold here, one market day 
with another. 
The other cattle grazed here, are either home 
breds, or heifers brought from Ringwood and other 
Hampfhire fairs, and when fat, fupply the home- 
market, and fometimes are fent to Salifbury. 
The breed of pigs in this county is not fo good 
in fhape, as either the Hampfhire, Berkfhire, or 
Hertford fhire 
