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CHAPTER XVI. 



THE WESTEEN COUNTIES. 



IF the southern region is the zone of cereals, and the east 

 the chief domain of the four-course system, the charac- 

 teristic of the west is grass, that primitive wealth of the 

 English soil. The rural prosperity of this region is of old 

 standing. At one time the entire agricultural wealth of 

 the island was confined to two zones, grass in the west 

 and part of the central districts, and corn-lands in the 

 south-east ; the remainder was nothing but heaths, marshes, 

 and uncultivated mountains. Later, however, these corn- 

 lands have been surpassed by the light soils worked 

 on the quadrennial rotation ; but the grass -lands have 

 maintained their old superiority. The rain which falls 

 in the west of England is three times more than in the 

 east; and some influence upon vegetation seems to be 

 caused by the saline particles which the sea breezes from 

 the west deposit on that side of the island. A similar effect 

 is observable upon our western coasts. From time imme- 

 morial, whole counties there form but one immense prairie 

 covered with flocks, and successive generations of cattle 

 have continued to deposit an amount of manure, which 

 still goes on increasing. These prairies, like the coal, are 

 gifts of Providence. The whole rural economy of Eng- 

 land owes its origin to them, for their existence has 

 taught English farmers the importance of cattle. The 



