ME. COKE OF HOLKHAM 81 



were raised, were deserted for the sands of tlie eastern 

 counties ; the metropolis drew its meat supplies from Nor- 

 folk. The cattle were sent up to Smithfield under the 

 care of drovers, who took a week on the journey. The 

 busiest time of the year was from April to June. The 

 quantity of animals fattened on nutritious food gave the 

 farmer the command of the richest manure, fertilised his 

 land, and enabled him not only to grow wheat, but to 

 verify the maxim, 'never to sow a crop unless there is 

 condition to grow it luxuriantly.' 



Coke also improved the live stock of the county. On 

 his own estate, after patient trial of other breeds, he 

 adopted Southdowns and North Devons. But his efforts 

 were not confined to the home farm. Early and late he 

 worked in his smock-frock, assisting his farmers to im- 

 prove their flocks and herds. Grass lands were wholly 

 neglected till he gave them his attention. If land wanted 

 seeding, farmers threw indiscriminately on the gi'ound a 

 collection of seeds, drawn at haphazard from their own or 

 their neighbours' ricks, containing as much rank weed or 

 rough grass as nutritious herbage. It was a mere chance 

 whether the farmer aided the sour or the sweet grasses in 

 the struggle for existence. Stillingfleet, in 1760, dis- 

 tinguished the good and bad herbage by excellent illustra- 

 tions of the kinds best calculated to produce the richest 

 hay and sweetest pasture. Coke was the first farmer who 

 appreciated the value of the distinctions. During May 

 and June, when the grasses were in bloom, he gave his 

 botanical lessons to the children of his tenantry, who 

 scoured the country to procure his stock of seed. 



Convinced of the community of interests among 

 owner, occupier, and labourer. Coke stimulated the enter- 

 prise of his tenants, encouraged them to put more capital 



G 



