V] RAISING OF THE FERTILITY LIMIT 69 



acre; some used stocking-hoes, and gruhhed the 

 gi'ound 5 inches deep, carefully picking out the large 

 stones that were beneath the surface ; this plan cost 

 50/- per acre. On Potter's Hill farm, breast plough- 

 ing and burning was adopted ; and this course 

 appeared to answer better than any of the others." 

 The banks were either thrown do^vn by spade labour 

 to fill up the hollows, or gradually ploughed down. 

 Vast quantities of wood ashes were available for 

 manure and were spread as required on the fields. 

 Oats and turnips were grown during the first year, 

 much of the cultivation being done by hand; the 

 yield of the former was well up to the average of the 

 district and of the latter well above it (probably 

 because this crop had received superphosphate) and 

 for the five years over which the record extends the 

 tenant was satisfied with the returns. The landlord 

 (the Crown) was also well satisfied ^ The recorder 

 further lays stress on the great moral gain to the 

 district — a point strongly emphasized by all advocates 

 of enclosure. "Formerly, when deer and game 

 abounded on the coverts, deer-stealers and poachers, 

 idlers, and thieves, were numerous around; conflicts 

 between them and the keepers were frequent; im- 

 prisonment and transportation caused many families 

 to lose their paternal head, and where matters did 



1 I understand that over the whole fifty years the returns have not 

 been so satisfactory. 



