Book I. 



AGRICULTURE OF CHESHIRE. 



IIGS 



of the auricula, camation, polyanthusj or pink, of the most ap- 

 proved qualities in their several kinds ; and which, after being 

 raised here, have been dispersed over the whole kingdom. But 

 not only flowers, but fruit, have been objecto of their attention. 

 The best gooseberries now under cultivation had their origin in 

 the county of Lancaster ; and, to promote this spirit, meetings 

 are annually appointed at different places, at which are public 

 exhibitions of ditt'erent kinds of flowers and fruits, and pre- 

 miums adjudged. These meetings are encouraged by master 

 tradesmen and gentlemen of the county, as tending to promote 

 a spirit which may occasionally be diverted into a more im- 

 portant channel. Those little societies for promoting the im- 

 proved culture of the gooselierry prevail most in the southern 

 parts of the county. They have unquestionably had much in- 

 fluence in bringing the different scrts of this iruit, and the cur- 

 rant, as well as some others, to their jiresent state of improve- 

 ment. The gooseberry, both of the red and white kind, is now 

 in most placts grown to a very considerable size, in some situa- 

 tions as large as a pigeon's egg. This is chiefly effected by 

 keeping the plants much cut m their branches, and having 

 well rotted nch manure applied frequently about their roots, 

 the land being kept perfectly clear abor.t them. The annual 

 publications, called The Manchester Gooseberry-book, and The 

 Manchester Horver-book, contain the names of the principal so- 

 cieties, ar.d of the prizes awarded each year, and a vEiriety of 

 other information." (Dickson, p. 428.) 



An orchard of sixty-four acres on the banks of the Irwell, 

 near Manchester, and some others in sheltered places near the 

 ptincipal towns ; but tl;e prevailing wtst winds is much against 

 their increase. 



9. Woods and Plantations. 



A good deal of planting going forward in most parts of the 

 county, but not much old iimber or copse. 



10. Improvements. 



Of moss bogs and marhhes there is great extent, nnd we have 

 already noticetl the principal modes of improving them. (IS.^S.) 



A good deal of draining, paring, and burning, Eind liming 

 has been done, and also irrigation in several places. A good dial 

 of low sod embankment along the northern part of the coast, 

 especially at Rosshall, by Ilesketh. It was pvopofed some years 

 ?go to embank Lancaster and Ulverstone sands, by w'hich 

 nearly 40,000 acres of sandy soil would have been gained at an 



expense of 150,000i., or according to some much less : but owing 

 to the difficulty of getting the small proprietors of fisheries and 

 other trifling interests to agree, the idea was dro^iped at the time 

 and not resumed. The proposed modes of procedure for this, 

 and other intended embankments, are given in the report. 

 Bog lands have been extensively cultivated by the celebrated 

 Koscoe, of which some account has been already given. (4649.) 



11. Live Stock. 



Cattle, the Lancashire, or lonij-homed, made the basis of 

 Bakewell's improvements ; a good many short-homed also 

 bred, when the dairy is the object. Larger grass farms near 

 the populous towns furnish milk, the smaller ones butter, 

 and the remote farms cheese. 100 cows kept in Wakefield's 

 dairy near Liverpool. Cheese made resembles that of Che- 

 shire, and chiefly from the lorg-horntd, or native breed. 



Sheep not very common in this district. 



Horses very generally bred of the strong team kind, stout 

 compact saddle horses, and middling size and bone for the 

 stage and mail coaches. 



12. Political Econojny. 



Roads bad in most places, owing to the want of good mate- 

 rials, and the moist climate. In the coal tracts about Man- 

 chester, Bolton, and Wigan, the roads are all paved, as it was 

 thought no other would stand the heavy tiafRc on them. 

 These pavtd roads are said to be the most expensive, and most 

 disagreeable of any ; but th< y have here no other kind of ma- 

 terial that will stand heavy cartage. 



An ingenious road-maker in the neighbourhood of Warring- 

 ton has of late exploded the common convex form, and adopt- 

 ed that of one inclined plane ; the inclination just sufficient to 

 throw off occasional water. The road between V\'orsley and 

 Chowbeat was made in this form, but it was found not to an- 

 swer, as, though it threw off the water, high and heavy 

 laden waggons were exposed to much danger of being over- 

 turned. 



Various canals and iron railwsys ; those of the Earl of Bridg- 

 water the most celebrated, but others of recent date more 

 extensive. Many different manufactures ; cotton in its differ- 

 ent branches the most important ; also, woollen, flax, iron, 

 and, in short, almost as great a variety as in Deibyshire. Seve- 

 ral agricultural societies ; that of Manchester established in 

 1767. 



7813. The ISLE OF MAN contains about 220 square miles. {Edin. Gax. 1827.) 



General Viem, The interior is mountainous, ridges of hills 

 being separated by high table lands ; the climate is moist, with 

 frequent fogs ; and the soil is chiefly loam, on a bottom of stiff 

 clay. No minerals of any consequence are found on the island, 

 except lead, and some copper, and iron. Limestone, thin blue 

 slate, greyw acke, and granite are found in several places ; an 

 immense tract called the Curragh, which was formerly a bog, 

 extends nearly across the island. It now product-s excellent 

 crops ; but an extensive stratum of peat is still found under the 

 gravel and clay, containing trunks of very lar^e oaks and pines, 

 which all lie in one direction, as if overturned or deposited by 

 a common impulse. 



The Duke of Athol was formerly lord proprietor of the whole 

 island, but the sovereignty was purchased from him bv the 

 English government, 1765. 



Agriculture has of late years made some progress, though 

 nenrly two thirds of the island still lemain in a state of natuie, 

 and are only used for grazing ; there is a good deal of wood in 



the north part of the island ; wheat was formerly not cultivated 

 on account of a prejudice which prevailed respecting its liabi- 

 lity to be infected with the smut ; large crops are, however, 

 now raised, of the cleanest and best quality. Barley and oats 

 are raised in great quantities, as are also turnips and potatoes. 

 Flax and hemp are ^rown in rich enclosures. Many of the finer 

 sorts of fruit, however, cannot be reared. The sheep are small 

 and hardy, and their flesh is excellent ; the wool of a particu- 

 lar breed", called the Loughton, is thought of a venr superior 

 quality. Great numbers of cattle are fattened here for export- 

 ation ; and 30,000 hogsheads of butter aie sent to England an- 

 nually. Toultry, eggs, and' fish, are abundant and cheap. 

 Thin oatcakes are the usual bread of the inhabitants. 



Political Ecmwmj). The roads to the principal towns are 

 tolerably good, but the by-ways are almost impassable. The 

 island is considered healthy, and the inhabitants generally at- 

 tain a great age. 



7814. CHESHIRE. 665,600 acres of verdant surface, exclu.sive of upwards of 10,000 acres of naked 

 sands in the estuary of the river Dee. It is one of the most productive grass-land districts in the kingdom, 

 the grass retaining its growth and verdure, in a great degree, during the whole year, owing to the moist- 

 ure and mildness of the climate. The department of husbandry in which it excels is cheese-making ; 

 and it is also noted for its salt-works from brine springs and rock. {Medges' General View, 1794. Hol- 

 land's General View, 1806. Marshal's Review, 1809.) 



1. Geographical State and Circumstances. 

 Climate, supposed the most rainy in the kingdom. 



General surface an extended plane, apparently thickly cover- 

 ed with wood. Barren hills on the eastern margin of the 

 county. 



S'oiVi chiefly clayey or sandy ; clay prevails, but very generally 

 the two earths blended together, producing clavey loam and 

 sandy loam. 



Sul;soil chiefly clay, or marl ; but also rammel, foxbench, gra- 

 ve', or red rock. Rammel is a composition of clay, sand, gravel, 

 and oxide of iron ; it is in strata of from eighteen to thirty 

 inches, on white-coloured sand, or clay marl. Foxbench is iron 

 ore or oxide, which crumbles to pieces when exposed to the 

 air ; but is hard and rocky when under the soil, and is more 

 injurious to trees than rammel, as it cannot be penetrated by 

 their roots. 



Minerals, Fossil salt and coal both extensively worked. 

 There is also copper, lead, and freestone, but very little lime- 

 stone. Salt is made from brine springs, as at Droitwich (7792.), 

 and from beds of fossil salt. The former have been worked 

 from time immemorial, and the latter from about 1670. By 

 the operation of blasting, and the mechanical instruments 

 usually employed in mining, the rock is obtained in masses of 

 considerable size, differing in form and purity. The purer 

 rock is pounded and used without other preparation ; but the 

 less pure is dissolved and refined in the same manner as brme. 



Water. Several rivers and meres ; the former are very 

 m.uddy af;er rains, and not remarkable for the - fish ; but the 

 latter abound in pike, bream, perch, dace, and eels. 



2. Property. 



Few counties of eqiial extent with so many %vealthy land- 

 owners. Fifty proprietors resident in the countv, with estates 

 of from thre t to 10,000/. a year, and as many from one to 3000/. 

 " From the advantages which have been derived from trade, 

 and from the eHiects of the increa.se of taxes, which have pre- 

 ventetl a man living with the same degree of comfort on the 

 same portion of land he could formerh , many of the old owners 

 have been induced to sell their estates, and new proprietors 

 have spread themselves over the country, very different in 

 their habits and prejudices. It may be doubtful whether the 

 change on the whole has been disadvantageous. Land, when 

 transferred, is generally improved bv its new possessor. \\ ith 



a view, and often a more enlightened view, of its advantages 

 and resources, he brings with him the means and the disposition 

 to try experiments, and to give to his new acquisition its greatest 

 value. He feels the want of comforts and conveniences, v\ hich 

 custom had rendered familiar to -a former occupier; he builds, 

 drains, and plants ; and, by his spirit and example, stimulates 

 all around him to increased exertions. 



3. Buildings. 



Many noble mansions, especially that of the Earl Grosvenor, 

 at Eaton. 



Faitn buildings, on the large dairy farms, in the iniddle of 

 the county, extensive and convenient ; in other places the 

 reverse, and crowded in villages ; old buildings of shed-work, 

 wattled work, and clay, ana cover; d with thatch; new of 

 brick and slate. An excellent set cf buildings [fg- 1112.J has 

 been erected at Brorafield, near Warrington, on the estate of 

 Sir P. Warburton. " A gentle descent from the ground at 

 the front of the house has afforded Beckett, the occupier of this 

 farm, the opportunity of conveying from a pond [a] a small 

 stream through the farm -yard, with whtch he irrigates the 

 meadows below the buildings. The superior richness of vege- 

 tation in these meadows furnishes abundant proof of the ad- 

 vantage which Beckett derives from availing himself of this 

 assistance." 



Beginning with the dwelling-house of this farmery, it con- 

 tains an entrance and passage (1), house-pl,)ce (2), servants, 

 dining-room (3), back parlour (4), dairy, with whey pans and 

 sink-stone (5), room for the cheese after it is taken out of the 

 salt (6), milking-house and salting-room (7), stairs to cheese- 

 room (8), parlour with a cellar under (9), pantry (10). The 

 immediate appendages of the house chiefly connected with the 

 dairy are ranged on three sides of the inner yard ( 1 1 ), and con- 

 sist of a coal-house (12), wa-sh-house, with ]>ipeon-house over 

 it (13), pump (14), pipe to boiling-pans (1.5), boiler for pig 

 meat (16), privy (17), place for ashes (IS), privy (19), inner 

 pig-cot (20), outer pig-cot (21), passage (22), inner pig-cot (23), 

 outer pig-cot (24), inner n'g-cot (25), outer pig-cot (id6), pas- 

 sage (27), inner pig-cot (2ft), outer pig-cot (29). 



The farmyard cbnsists of a court, containing a large duck- 

 pond and dunghill, surrounded by a broad passage, and en- 

 closed on the west, east, and south sides by buildings, the 

 north side being tlie wall of the inner yard. These buildings 



