130 HIGH FARMING IN NORTHUMBRIA 



averaged from i8s. to 255. an acre. But the land is not 

 rich some of it indeed is very poor there are no large 

 markets very close, and labour is highly paid, for the 

 Northumbrian hind stands at the head of the agri- 

 cultural wage-earners. The farms had mostly been in 

 the same hands for many years, in some cases for 

 generations, and none were to be let. Taking into 

 consideration the rents paid for the class of land, the 

 climate, and the high wages, only a determined and 

 skilful race of farmers could attain the prosperity of 

 which we saw so many signs. 



