24* Extraordinary Fertility of the Soil. 



How much longer this land is capable of en- 

 during such treatment remains to be proved : 

 so long, however, as the rent can be procured, 

 the land will have no rest, but continue to be 

 let in the present mode. Parts of other estates 

 in this district are let in the same way. My 

 information was derived from Mr. Bertie, the 

 land agent to Lord Sunderlin, on whose correct- 

 ness I can rely. I was by no means surprised 

 at this information, as I have frequently met 

 with instances of the same extraordinary fertil- 

 ity ; and have much regretted that I have not 

 had an opportunity of examining the nature 

 of the land so occupied. The soil of Sprin- 

 gles is a deep loam ; the substratum, a lime- 

 stone gravel. I was much struck with the 

 strength of the stubbles on the lands adjoining 

 this property. To the limekilns in the neigh- 

 bourhood may possibly be attributed a great 

 portion of the luxuriance of the crops, the ge- 

 neral management being incompetent to the 

 effect, and deserving great reprobation. 



A considerable number of gentlemen's seats 

 appeared in this line, with extensive plantations 

 about some of them. We were greatly per- 

 plexed by the sheep on the road, an inconve- 

 nience which attended us for more than thirty 

 miles, but which, however, afforded us an ample 



