Amateur Farming. 349 



South-Down and New Leicester rams. Wool-staplers depart 

 laden with merchandise. Flockmasters sum up their takings 

 at the rate of Is. per pound for long wool, \s. Vdd. for South- 

 down, and as much as hs. for Anglo-Spanish. Experts who 

 have met and exchanged views, go back to their farms either 

 shaken or confirmed as to their previous convictions. Many 

 are disposed to practise secretly as an experiment what pos- 

 sibly they openly ridiculed when under the influence of his 

 Grrace's good cheer, and all are perfectly satisfied that the few 

 hours thus stolen out of the busiest working season of the 

 year have not been wasted, even though no lucky bargains 

 have helped to replenish their purses.^ 



BAKE WELL. 



It would never do to omit in a chapter like this a short visit 

 to Dishley, though Bakewell belonged properly to the pro- 

 fessional class of husbandman. No one approaching this farm 

 could fail to recognise that he was in the vicinity of one who 

 practised the most advanced husbandry. There was a neat- 

 ness about the hedgerows and a cleanliness about the grounds 

 which at once attracted attention. There being no inn in the 

 neighbourhood visitors had to rely entirely on the hospitality 

 of Bakewell, nor did they suffer on this head. From the mo- 

 ment that they set foot on his ground to the moment that they 

 withdrew it, they experienced the greatest civility from master 

 and servants. No one could fail to recognise the great farmer. 

 He was from all reports the prototype of Leech's John Bull 

 (which, unless we are mistaken, represents the portrait of a 

 well-known Yorkshire agriculturist now dead). In Bakewell 

 were combined the weather-beaten jovial visage, the broad 

 shoulders, the hearty manner and stout frame of an English 

 yeoman. From the loose brown coat to the leather breeches 

 and top boots John Bull stood personified. Even in the days 

 when women curtsied and men bowed before addressing one 



* Compare GentlemarCs Magazine, August, and Supplement, 1799, and 

 Journal of the B.A.S.E., nub voc. " Agriculture of the House of Russell." 

 By the Editor, vol. ii. p. 11, 1891. 



