TYPES OF CULTIVATION 129 



Types of Cultivation. 



The estate is situated on a high plateau exposed 

 to all the winds ; the best land is light, on stone 

 brash or limestone ; the soil is shallow, and drying 

 readily, can be worked in all weathers. It is particu- 

 larly suitable for potatoes, which with barley form 

 the chief crops, besides which many grow wheat 

 for home consumption, oats, roots, carrots, and 

 fodder crops vetches and lucerne. All keep pigs 

 and poultry. Men with grass land elsewhere keep 

 a few cows ; those cultivating two or three holdings 

 keep horses and plough, etc., for the men with the 

 smaller lots, or who have other occupations. 



A few only go in for market-gardening crops to 

 sell retail in Witney. One man, occupying 7 acres, 

 has nearly all his holding under garden cultivation, 

 and is well planted with apples, plums, cherries, 

 and bottom fruit (currants and gooseberries). He 

 grew vegetables under and between the fruit-trees 

 after the Evesham style. He also grew barley for 

 his pigs, and potatoes for sale to commission agents 

 in Oxford and Bristol. He employed very little 

 labour, but his wife and small children could help a 

 good deal. He kept a horse, and worked part of 

 the land with implements. 



' Nips ' i.e., the refuse from the blanket fac- 

 tories is very much used for manure. It can be 

 had for 17s. 6d. a ton, which equals about two 

 cartloads. 



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