SOIL AND MARKETS 271 



Quality of Land, etc. 



A great part of the land now under cultivation 

 is reclaimed moorland, and seems to produce fair 

 crops of oats and roots ; it seems specially suitable 

 in places for permanent pasture, as hay is the main 

 crop. The North Devon breed of cattle are hardy, 

 and thrive on pastures which would not suit a 

 heavier class of cattle. A good deal of the land is 

 a yellow clay, which, the inhabitants say, is ' either 

 iron or mire.' It is impossible to get on it in a wet 

 spring, and it bakes hard after wet in summer. 

 This year (1905) the oats are very late, owing to the 

 delay caused by the late rains, and after a week's 

 drought the harrows could not get through it. 



Disposal of Produce. 



The markets are : Okehampton, 10 miles ; Hols- 

 worthy, 7 miles ; Launceston, 10 miles ; and 

 Tavistock. 



The small people's produce is chiefly bought up 

 by dealers. A very large number of pigs and sheep 

 are sent to London from Halwill, and there are two 

 big slaughter-houses near the station, which give 

 employment to a number of men holding land. 



The pig-dealers come round with young pigs to 

 sell to the small people, buying them up later when 

 fat. Butter, cream, and poultry are bought up by 

 the local regraters for the Plymouth and Torquay 

 markets. 



