14 



The cropping from 1846 to Michaelmas^ 1850, was adapted to suit 

 the convenience of the Demesne; but in consequence of the extreme 

 poverty of the soil at Michaelmas, 1850, the land was farmed with the 

 object of improving- its fertility by increasing the productiveness of the 

 Water-meadows, the Hookland Arable, and the Field and Down Arable. 

 The farm proved useful as an auxiliary to the Demesne lands and the 

 Park Dairy in maintaining three additional horses for the former, and in 

 wintering the young stock reared for the latter. It must be remembered, 

 however, that these additional horses assisted farming operations by 

 affording extra strength during critical seasons. The mode of letting the 

 farm on the produce principle was made use of by the Right Honourable 

 Sydney Herbert, as a test in letting the farms on the Pembroke estates.''^ 



The course of cropping between 1850 and 1863, was that about two- 

 thirds of the Hookland Arable, and two-fifths of the Field and Down 

 Arable were in cereals. 



Special plots, about thirteen acres in all (called " acres " on the map) 

 adjacent to the Homesteading, were separately cultivated for roots and 

 green forage, and about one-sixth in cereals. The roots and green food 

 from these plots were carted to the buildings, and were consumed by the 

 working horses and fattening beasts. It was ultimately intended, after 

 having got the plots into condition, to cultivate them as market gardens, 

 but this idea was abandoned in consequence of the farm being so much 

 injured by game from the adjacent covert?;. 



The average of the entire j^eriod has been four-ninths of the area in 

 cereals, and five-ninths in hay, root, and green crops. The accounts from 

 Michaelmas, 1850, to 187o, have been minutely kept, and the results, 

 which the following statements show, arise from a system of farming 

 which may be taken as an exception to the prevailing husbandry of the 

 neighbourhood, where the production of corn, and the rearing and sale 

 of draft ewes and lambs is the practice, and fattening of stock the 

 exception. The recapitulation of the first thirteen years' results shows 

 that the infertility of the farm was overcome, the produce of cereals per 

 acre and the quantity of meat produced during that period being equal to 

 the average of the twenty-three years — viz., from 1850 to 1873 inclusive. 



* AVith its result he was in a position to advise his hrother, Eohert Henry, Earl 

 of Pemhroke and Montgomery, as to his future action consequent ujion the changes 

 effected in agriculture through the abrogation of the Corn Laws. He also interested 

 himself, at his cost, in improving the estate by purchasing intermixed adjacent properties 

 of vast importance to the estate. Further, I must add, he and his mother, Catherine, 

 Countess of Pembroke and Montgomery, imdertook to a great extent the duty of sup- 

 plying the temporal and spiritual wants of the poor on the estate, showing thereby a 

 kindness and forethought for those around them which has rarely been equalled. 



