{ 183 ] 
cold, owing to its own retentive nature, and to the 
frequent intervention of a vein of clay. 
Bradon Foreft, (between Cricklade and Malm- 
fbury) is an exception to the whole. It is a cold 
iron clay to the very furface; fo bad, as tobe called, 
by way of diftinction, “ Bradon Land,” and was 
never fo well applied, as when in its original ftate 
of wood-land. 
Climate —The climate of this diftrict is various, 
and though, in general, milder than that of the 
high lands in the South-eaft diftrict, is neverthelefs 
cold, and in general, unfavourable to the purpofes 
of early {pring vegetation, owing probably to. the 
cold retentive nature of the under-foil of great part 
of this diftrid. 
STATE OF PROPERTY AND FARMS. 
Ir has been already obferved, that this diftrict was 
formerly, and at no very remote period, pofleffed 
chiefly by great proprietors, who leafed out the 
greateft part of it in {mall eftates for ves renewable, 
at which time the country in general was in an 
open common field ftate, and moft of the leffees 
lived on their own holdings. But that fince that 
period, many divifions of property had taken place, 
and freeholders had been created by the difmem- 
berment of manors, and gradual extinction of life- 
hold 
