i6 WESTMORLAND AGRICULTURE, 1800-1900 



land, basing his estimate upon the poor rate of the county from a return 

 made to the House of Commons in 1785. Much of this was included 

 in the high mountainous districts, but there were also the extensive 

 commons in low situations, besides the higher moors and fells. Benty 

 grass, brackens, and heath, with savin bushes and holly trees and 

 patches of sweet green pasture here and there between constituted 

 the growth of the commons and moors. Speed's view of the county 

 in 161 1 WEis, " It is not commended either for plenty of corne or cattle, 

 being neither stored with arable grounds to bring forth the one, nor 

 pasturage to breed up the other." A century earlier so precious and 

 valuable were the woods to the farmers for food for their animals, 

 that at the request of the tenants of Hawkshead and Colton, the 

 bloomeries in Furness were suppressed in 1565, " that the tops and 

 croppings of their woods might be preserved for the nourishment of 

 their cattle in winter." In 1774 West writes : " The woodlanders of 

 High Furness were charged with the care of the flocks and herds, 

 which pastured the verdant sides of the fells ; and in winter to browse 

 them with the tender sprouts of the holly and ash. This custom has 

 never been discontinued in High Furness ; and the holly-trees are 

 carefully preserved for that purpose, where all other wood is cleared 

 off, and large tracts of common pasture are covered with these trees 

 as to have the appearance of a forest of hollies. At the shepherd's 

 call the flock surrounded the holly-bush, and receive the croppings 

 at his hands, which they greedily nibble up and bleat for more. The 

 mutton so fed has a remarkable fine flavour." Pennant travelling 

 along the road from Hawkshead to Graythwaite notes, " In one place 

 I observed a holly park, a tract preserved entirely for sheep, who are 

 fed in winter with the croppings." The savin and holly bushes on the 

 intakes are still eagerly eaten by the sheep when the snow lies long 

 on the ground. The commons were crowded with sheep and cattle 

 of all ages, ponies and stags,* and flocks of geese, which latter were 

 turned out in the spring as soon as the goslings were strong enough 

 to take care of themselves. To such an extent did this overcrowding 

 obtain that it was always a fight for the bare, sweet patches which 

 alone could afford any sustenance ; " so keenly shaved by the incessant 

 nibbling of the numerous herbivorous animals which it had to main- 



• Young horses. 



