THE WESTERN COUNTIES. 241 



grass. The number of milcli cows it maintains is above 

 one hundred thousand, each of which gives from two 

 hundred to four hundred pounds of cheese, and fifteen 

 to twenty pounds of butter. The rent of grass-land 

 exceeds in general 30s. ; but as arable land is lower, 

 the general average of the county is 26s. to 28s., the 

 farmer paying tithes and taxes. Property is less divided 

 than in Gloucester and Somerset, but farming is quite as 

 much so. There are scarcely more than one or two farms 

 of four hundred acres, the majority being not more than 

 seventy, and a large number in the cheese districts are 

 under twelve. 



This agricultural condition is not attended with the 

 same inconvenience here as it is in Gloucester and Somer- 

 set, either because there is not a corresponding division 

 of property, or more probably owing to the neighbour- 

 hood of the manufacturing districts, which offer immense 

 outlets. A labourer's average wage is 12s. per week, or 

 2s. per working day. Drainage is general, and the use 

 of supplementary manures frequent. 



This ancient and prosperous rural economy has not 

 prevented the spirit of innovation from finding its way 

 into Cheshire. Mr Littledale's farm on the Mersey, 

 opposite to Liverpool, is already famous for its admirable 

 stabulation. The cows on this farm never go out, 

 which appears monstrous to the graziers in the neighbour- 

 hood : in summer they are fed on clover, Italian rye- 

 grass, and green vetches ; in winter, on corn, chopped 

 hay, turnips, and beetroot. It is asserted that by this 

 means eighty-three milch cows and fifteen working 

 horses are easily kept upon eighty acres. 



The Marquess of Westminster, a very extensive pro- 

 prietor, and whose magnificent residence is the ornament 

 of the county, is a great encourager of draining ; he has 



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