A HISTORY OF SUFFOLK 



the same firm a far more acceptable implement has been introduced — a light 

 steel-tined cultivator. These are largely used all over the county. 



The old light-land gallows plough, which I believe was largely in 

 fashion ioo years ago, is still in use on some farms. The four-horse 

 threshing-machine went down before the steam threshing-machine. 



The plough is not yet out of date, but the steam cultivator is freely 

 used on large farms and those who have it one year hire it again the next. 

 The elevator used for stacking clover and barley relieves man of the hardest 

 work he is ever called upon to perform, but this, too, can only be used on 

 large farms. But to trace the gradual development of the implements used 

 in Suffolk farming would require an essay for itself. 



The comparative yield per acre of crops between the present day and 

 what our forefathers extracted from the soil is not easily arrived at. There 

 is an immense increase of the farmers' output in everything grown in Suffolk. 

 But much of this comes from land being brought into cultivation which was 

 formerly barren heath or sheep-walk ; the land has less rest now than formerly. 

 Probably there were almost as heavy crops of wheat grown seventy years ago 

 as are produced now, but the average is greater. More barley is grown per 

 acre, and more acres are devoted to this crop than was the case in the early 

 decades of the past century. There is probably no increase in the acreage of 

 beans or in quarters per acre. The root crop must have trebled in area, and 

 vastly increased in weight per acre. The application of artificial manures, 

 and the greater demand for meat, have contributed to successful root culture. 

 Of late years landlords have thrown fewer impediments in the way of farmers 

 selling the produce off the land than when there was great choice of tenants. 

 Advantage has been taken of this in sending roots into London ; in the 

 cultivation of large areas of potatoes, and in selling vegetables and straw to 

 supply the demand in provincial towns. 



The introduction of mangolds has contributed to the production of 

 meat in an incalculable degree. The writer once heard one of the largest 

 farmers in the county, with an extensive business as valuer and land agent, 

 say that he had no doubt the introduction of this root had added as much as 

 3J. an acre rental value to all heavy land in Suffolk. It enables the stiff lands 

 to maintain stock all the year round ; and the keeping quality of mangold 

 enables the large flockmaster to meet the late springs without, as in former 

 times, having to go to great expense in artificial food. 



The soils of the county and the farming resulting therefrom may be 

 divided as follows : — 



The Red Sand, which forms a belt on the coast running from Woodbridge 

 almost to Yarmouth, and roughly speaking, is bounded on the west by the 

 railway. But line of demarcation is very irregular, stronger soils cutting in to 

 it and almost severing its continuity. Much of the district is sheep-walk ; much 

 more has been sheep-walk, and from years of good cultivation is now useful 

 light land. In places there is little soil above the sand, but it produces 

 excellent turnips, which are made the foundation of good crops of barley fit 

 for the choicest malt-making. 



The thin skurmed grittv soil in West Suffolk comprises a large area, 

 which, except for the fen-land, forms the north-west corner of the county. 

 Starting from some four or five miles due north of Thurston station, the 



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