79 



MEDIUM LANDS : 



Elevation. The Ordnance maps furnish the means of 

 ascertaining the general elevation of every district, and 

 the valuator should inform himself upon the subject ; but, 

 as the effects of elevation upon the growth of crops is 

 unequal, his purpose will be served by observing what 

 crops are really grown at certain heights. If wheat cannot 

 be successfully grown, no matter how excellent in other 

 respects, land cannot rank as prime arable. 



Superficies. In like manner, a soil which, if level, 

 would be prime, if it lie on the slope of a hill, or in a 

 mountainous district, or if a considerable portion of its 

 arable land be steep and difficult to labour, should be 

 classed as medium. But, if a portion only of a farm be of 

 this character, and the remainder level, the steep part 

 should be separated from the level by a valuation line, and 

 rated on its merits. 



Drainage. No clay or heavy lands can be considered 

 prime, unless thorough drained. 



Subdivisions. The internal fences of a farm, if too nu- 

 merous, badly formed, misplaced, or containing timber trees, 

 or high untrimmed hedges, form so serious an impediment 

 to labour, that the valuator may see reason to reduce 

 prime lands to medium on their account. The consider- 

 ations which should influence him in considering this 

 subject are 



1st. The rotation which should be followed, if the land 

 were judiciously cultivated. 



2nd. The adaptation of the subdivisions of the farm to 

 such a rotation. 



If the quinquennial rotation were considered best adapt- 

 ed for the farm, and that it were divided into any number 

 not a multiple of five nor judiciously adapted to that 

 system of farming the practical management of the farm 

 is rendered more difficult, and without some change on 

 the fences the occupier is involved in a series of unequal 

 exertions and irregular operations, requiring great skill 

 and forethought. This remark, however, does not equally 



