272 RUKAL ECONOMY OF ENGLAND. 



separates England from Scotland has, nevertheless, pretty 

 good pasture, and on these the race of sheep which bears 

 their name takes its rise. The beauty of the valleys in- 

 tersecting these hills is much praised, especially that of 

 the Tyne, which follows the line of the old Pictish wall, 

 and debouches at Newcastle. The land there is excellent, 

 and lets at a high rent. 



The agriculture of the lowlands of Northumberland has 

 a high reputation. In making an agricultural tour in Eng- 

 land, everybody tells you to go north, visit Northumber- 

 land, and, if possible, go to Scotland. As far as regards 

 Scotland, the advice is good, but not quite so in respect to 

 Northumberland. This preference is based to a certain 

 extent upon a predilection for the light soils, which lie 

 between the mountains and the coast, and upon which 

 the quinquennial course took its rise, known as the 

 Northumberland rotation : it is simply a modification of 

 the Norfolk 1st, turnips; 2d, wheat or barley; 3d, 

 clover ; 4th, clover ; 5th, oats. It was there also that 

 the sowing of turnips in drills was first introduced, now 

 so generally adopted by all good farmers. But the clay- 

 lands all along the coast did not escape the crisis. 

 Nevertheless, large property and large farming there pre- 

 dominate. A considerable portion of the county belongs 

 to the Duke of Northumberland, and other noblemen and 

 wealthy gentlemen possess large estates there. The cele- 

 brated Chillingham Park, belonging to Lord Tankerville, 

 is sufficiently extensive to admit of a particular kind of 

 wild cattle being kept in it. The general size of farms 

 in the county is from two hundred and fifty to five 

 hundred acres ; some are one thousand, and even twenty- 

 five hundred. The farmers are reckoned wealthy, and 

 some undertake several large farms at one time. 



