[ 223 ] 
parch up in dry feafons; at which times they like- 
wife labotr under great inconveniencies for want 
of water, with which the greater part of thefe hills 
is abundantly fupplied. 
The Properties are moftly large, and the occupa- 
tions likewife; there are however fome exceptions 
in both; but it is the opinion of experienced men, 
that farms of from 200 to 500 acres, can be mana- 
ged with much greater advantage to the farmer and 
the publick, than fmaller ones. 
In the vallies, and where the land is of a fuffici- 
ent f{taple for permanent meadow and pafture, it is 
moftly in that ftate. Sheep and cow downs are 
likewife frequently met with; but the quantity of 
land thus employed, bears but a {mall proportion 
to what is occafionally under the plough; fome few 
parifhes on the fides of the hills, however, are an 
exception to this rule, in which perhaps half the 
land is meadow and pafture, worth from 20s. to 
30s. peracre. In thefe fituations, dairying is moftly 
followed, in preference to grazing ; the fort of cows 
chiefly Gloucefterfhire, frequently crofled and im-/ 
proved from other breeds.* Moft farmers dairy a 
little for home confumption; and though the nature 
of the foil renders fheep the live flock chiefly to 
be attended to, yet a fufficient quantity of cattle 
* With what breeds, chiefly ; and what particular one is fuppofed 
te make the greatest improvement ? 
generally 
