A HISTORY OF BUCKINGHAMSHIRE 



a very good malting sample. The best results are obtained when barley 

 follows wheat : white wheat is much more grown than red, and is usually 

 a capital sample of good weight and a fine plump berry. The straw, 

 too, is singularly free from mildew, bright and good, and generally sells 

 at a very good price. Clover is usually sown with a proportion of rye- 

 grass, and is then known as ' mixture,' and it may as a rule be depended 

 upon to give a good return every eight years. The proximity of London 

 causes both hay and straw to be sold in large quantities off many farms, 

 and it is to be feared that the manure to compensate this wastage of the 

 land is very frequently not forthcoming. 



The implements used on the farms are of the kind common to all 

 counties. Many of them on the smaller holdings are extremely old- 

 fashioned, but in general they are fairly up to date. The plough used 

 more than any other in the hill districts, and known here as the ' swing' 

 plough, has two equal-sized wheels in front with a stout iron standard 

 springing from the axle, which works free in a loop on the end of the 

 beam, thus forming a sort of fore-carriage. It is claimed for it that it 

 gives much more freedom of action, and does better work on the side of 

 the hills than the ordinary two-wheeled ploughs. It is in common use 

 on the light lands in Suffolk, and is there known as the ' gallows ' 

 plough. The ' one-way ' or ' turn-wrest ' plough is coming more into 

 favour, and is useful for turning the furrows all down-hill in steep land. 

 It is, however, somewhat cumbersome and looks unhandy. On the large 

 farms the steam tackle is much used in the autumn for breaking up 

 both corn and clover stubbles and is a distinct saver of labour. The 

 various proprietors are kept very busy when the weather is favourable. 

 The usual price for medium sized lots is about 1 2s. an acre for plough- 

 ing, 1 2s. an acre for cultivating twice, and 3^. an acre for harrowing. 

 Mowing machines and self-binders are everywhere used for the hay and 

 corn harvests, and the light and handy American horse-rakes are much 

 appreciated. The light-running local waggons are used in preference to 

 carts for carrying the hay and corn, much skill being displayed by the 

 drivers in clearing some of the steep fields, while accidents very rarely 

 happen. The corn is all thrashed by the travelling thrashing machines, 

 a very costly process by the time everything is paid for. The 

 cheerful sound of the flail in the fine old barns is no longer heard, and 

 the fixed thrashing machine has quite disappeared. 



The land was at one time in the great majority of cases held by 

 leases of five, seven, or fourteen years, but a great deal of it is now held 

 by yearly agreements. The landlord apparently does not like to alienate 

 his property for any length of time in case values should improve, and 

 the tenant fears that there may still be a lower depth of depression to be 

 reached, and consequently does not care to risk a lease. Michaelmas 

 entry is practically universal, and the valuations of tenant-right are taken 

 in the usual way. The outgoing tenant thrashes his own corn and 

 markets it, the incoming tenant takes the hay and straw. There is no 

 hard and fast rule as to terms : on some estates they are taken at market- 



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