that used to be done 'by 2 horses, 6 men, and 1 boy, and in 

 other things the same has occurred." Of the turning of tillage 

 into grass land, he writes : " One shepherd looks after the 

 stock on an area which probably gave work to four or five 

 families when under the plough; this is a great loss to the 

 country. At present there seems sufficient labour for require- 

 ments." Flax cultivation, which used to find winter employ- 

 ment for many, has almost entirely died out, and no fresh 

 industries appear to have arisen which would tend to check the 

 decline in population. 



DORSET. Fruit farming, vegetable growing, &c., appear to 

 have made very little progress. Mr. Duke writes : " Neither 

 fruit farming, vegetable growing, or poultry rearing has been 

 taken up to a sufficient extent to influence the population in 

 this district. The system of farming hereabouts, beyond the 

 laying of arable land to grass, has altered but little during 

 my experience of 35 years, and I think the character of the soil 

 and climate will militate against any beneficial change." 



DEVON. No particular agricultural industry appears to have 

 been developed. 



CORNWALL. Mr. Thomas writes : " I should think that the 

 alteration in the general system of farming, and the use of up- 

 to-date machinery, have affected the demand for labour to the 

 extent of at least 20 per "cent." Mr. Richards remarks that 

 special crops, such as early potatoes, have decreased owing to 

 the scarcity of labourers. Mr. Menhinick states that poultry 

 iraising for egg production has greatly increased, but chiefly 

 as an extra item in the farm account. No particular industry 

 appears to have arisen. 



DIVISION IV. 



(a.) Counties of Northumberland, Durham, York (North Riding) 

 and York (West Riding). 



NORTHUMBERLAND. No special industries have arisen to 

 check the decline in population. A few acres of strawberries 

 have been planted near towns. 



DURHAM. Mr. Kent writes : " No special industry has been 

 grafted into farming in this district, but more attention is paid 

 to small products, such as poultry, fruit, &c., worked in con- 

 junction with the ordinary farm routine." In some parts a 

 much larger quantity of potatoes and turnips is grown than 

 formerly. 



YORK (NORTH RIDING). Mr. King states that in his district 

 20 years ago cheese making and stock rearing were the prin- 

 cipal work on the farms; at the present time a great many 

 farmers are selling their milk, and, consequently, not rearing 



