42 WEST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE 



on cheese, sheep, and young stock, the only out- 

 goings being a little artificial food, rates and taxes, 

 and hired labour in a week or two of harvest. 



Where sheep formed a large item, as is the case 

 on most of these farms, the price of wool made much 

 difference in their prosperity. It had been as low 

 as 3jd. (for Scotch sheep) for many years, and was 

 now making 7^d. Otherwise agricultural depres- 

 sion does not seem to have been felt amongst them 

 to any great degree. The men seem to live well, and 

 do not overwork themselves. But they are thrifty, 

 accustomed to work, and good judges of stock, 

 which latter point is often the secret of profitable 

 farming. 



To sum up the chief points of this district : 

 Agriculture generally does not seem depressed ; 

 the village population is not decreasing, and there 

 is little poor relief. There are not many very large 

 farms, the greater number being of such a size as 

 can be worked by the family, who thoroughly 

 understand their business. There is much good 

 land suitable for milk-production and cattle-rearing, 

 and the poorer land pays well with sheep. The land 

 being more adapted for this class of farming than 

 for tillage no doubt accounts for the fact that there 

 are not many very small holdings used as adjuncts. 

 On the red lands at Kirby Stephen, and nearer 

 towns such as Northallerton, holdings of the latter 

 class occur in fair numbers. 



There are good markets in the larger Yorkshire 

 towns, and the great number of visitors to the 



