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hollows and fides of the hills are occupied in the culture of 

 hops, and the remainder in meadows and paftures ; thefe are 

 of an excellent quality, though greatly difproportioned to 

 the arable land. 



The manufaflure of baize, fays, and lately of blankets, 

 in this town, has had a difadvantageous efFe6l upon the 

 agriculture of the parifh, by increafing the burthen of poor's 

 rates upon the farmer ; and which is alledged to be in no 

 wife compenfated by any convenience which the parifhoners 

 exclufively draw from the manufadory, by the afliftance of 

 labourers in hay-time and harveft, as the furrounding parifhes 

 equally participate in the advantage of procuring hands in 

 the bufy feafons, and are not contributory to the rates. 



The higher parts of the Parifhes of PEBMARSH and 

 COLNE ENGANE may be defcribed, a brown tender loam 

 upon a brick earth, the greater part of which has been much 

 benefited by hollow draining. The fides of the hills are much 

 inconvenienced by fprings ; though the lighter lands that are 

 properly drained, aiFord excellent turnips. A very different 

 foil prevails through the parifhes of WHITE and WAKES 

 COLNE, being that of a ftrong compadl clofe clay, ex- 

 tremely retentive of water, and lying upon a tough red clay 

 or tile earth. 



Much of this land has been hollow drained at a pole 

 apart, colling about a guinea per acre, but with fo little 

 cfFe61:, as in a great meafure to difcourage that important 

 pradlice. The means at prefent purfued to relieve the 

 land of its furface water, is to ufe the land-fall plough, and 

 to water furrow ; and though thefe operations are performed 

 in the beft poffible manner, the land is flill left faturated 

 ■with water, and is m.uch later in the feed time and harveft 

 than the adjacent parifhes. 



Tht 



