1090 



STATISTICS OF AGRICULTURE. 



Part IV. 



mechanist, resident at Woburn. The same accommodations 

 on a square plan forms a house more convenient for placinc 

 furniture, (fig. 774.) Wattle and dab, that is, clay plastered 

 on hedge work of splinters, or on wood frame work, and also 



the Pis(f manner of clay-workinp, In use in some places, both 

 for farm-houses and cottages. Pia^ walls found warmer and 

 cheajjer than any other, and when whitewashed said to make 

 good cottage walls. 



and the an- 



4. Occupation. 



Many farms of from 200 to 500 acres; average 150 acres ; 

 Duke of Bedford's farms generally of the average size. Farm- 

 ers much improved by the example of Woburn 

 nual meetings. The experiments made by 

 Francis Duke of Bedford were to ascertain 

 the quantities of hay consumed by working 

 oxen; comparison between large and smaU 

 cattle as to food ; comparative value of 

 different foods, &c. Tithes mostly in lay 

 hands; farms held generally from year to 

 year, some on leeises of fourteen or twenty - 

 one years. 



5. Implements. 

 Plough of the swing kind, with a wooden 



board and a wedge nailed on as a mould 

 board, one fixed hemdle, and a loose one 

 called a plough staff; the whole singularly 

 rude, though in general use throughout the 

 county. Improved forms of all machines 

 introduced by the Duke of Bedford's North- 

 umbrian manager, and other enlightened 

 men. A good straw cutter and winnowing 

 machine, mvented by Salmon ; also an ex- 

 cellent w^eigliing machine. j 



6. Enclosing. 

 Formerly three-fourths of the county unenclosed, now chiefly 



enclosed. 



7. Arable Land wretchedly ploughed. 



Fallows, whicli occur on the clays generally once in there 

 years, badly worked. Usual crops arc fallow, wheat, beans. 



or fallow, barley, beans; turnips common on the sands 

 and chalks, sown broad-cast, and hand-hoed. Chiccory 

 was tried by the Duke of Bedford, who found it yield ample 

 produce; had twelve acres wiuch, in 1797, kept six sheep per 



acre from the second week in April till'Michaelmas ; four and a 

 half kept ten sheep an acre from the se<;ond week in April till 

 22d July, and then seven per acre to end of October, Sheep 

 thrive well and free from diseases. 



775 



many places covered with 



8. Grass Land. 

 Of very limited extent, and 



sedge (carex), and anthills. 



9. Gardens and Orchards. 



' Gardens of Sandy and Girtford long celebrated for the ex- 

 cellence and abundance of their culinary vegetables. Soil a 

 deep sand, of a yellowish brown color ; products pease, beans, 

 cucumbers, potatoes, parsneps, and carrots, radishes, cabbage 

 plants, and turnips; sent to market in all directions to the 



distance of sixty miles. Cucumbers chiefly to London, and 

 sold at ten and twenty shillinp a bushel for pickling. Orch- 

 ards small. Potatoes, gooseberries, and other small fruits 

 grown in cottage gardens. 



10. Woods and Plantations. 



About 7000 acres, situated on the slopes of hills on cold 

 marly clays. Various new plantations formed by the principal 

 proprietors, especially the Duke of Bedford. FWze grown on 

 some of the sandy hills, for burning lime. Some fine trees of 



