xiv] FIRST LITERARY EFFORTS 209 



after a considerable period of dry weather, when, from the burnt appear- 

 ance of the surface, you would imagine it to be perfectly free from 

 moisture, if you venture to kneel or lie down upon it you will almost 

 instantly be wetted to the skin. 



The plants which compose these barren slopes are a few grasses, 

 among which are the sweet vernal grass (Anthoxanthum odoratuiti) and 

 the crested hair grass (Ktzleria cristata), several Cyperaceae — species 

 of carex or sedge which form a large proportion, and the feathery cotton 

 grass {Eriophorum vaginatuni). The toad-rush (jfuncus bufotiius) is 

 frequently very plentiful, and many other plants of the same kind. Several 

 rare or interesting British plants are here found often in great profusion. 

 The Lancashire asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum) often covers acres with 

 its delicate yellow and red blossoms. The spotted orchis (O. metadata) is 

 almost universally present. The butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris) is also 

 found here, and the beautiful little pimpernel {Anagallis tenella). The 

 louseworts (Pendicularis sylvatica and P. palustris), the melancholy 

 thistle [Cincus heterophyllus), and the beautiful blue milkwort (Polygala 

 vulgaris), and many others, are generally exceedingly plentiful, and afford 

 much gratification to the botanist and lover of nature. 



The number of sheep kept on these farms is about one to each acre of 

 mountain, where they live the greater part of the year, being only brought 

 down to the pastures in the winter, and again turned on the mountain 

 with their lambs in the spring. One hundred acres of pasture and " short- 

 hay meadow " will support from thirty to forty cattle, ten or a dozen calves 

 and oxen being sold each year. 



The farmers are almost invariably yearly tenants, consequently little 

 improvement is made even in parts which could be much bettered by 

 draining. The landlord likes to buy more land with his spare capital (if 

 he has any) rather than improve these miserable farms, and the tenant is 

 too poor to lay out money, or if he has it will not risk his being obliged to 

 leave the farm or pay higher rent in return for his permanently improving 

 another person's land. 



The hedges and gates are seldom in sufficiently good repair to keep 

 out cattle, and can hardly be made to keep out mountain sheep, who set 

 them completely at defiance, nothing less than a six-foot stone wall, and 

 not always that, serving to confine them. The farmer consequently spends 

 a good deal of his time in driving them out of his young clover (when he 

 has any) or his wheat. He is also constantly engaged in disputes, and 

 not unfrequently litigation, with his neighbours, on account of the mutual 

 trespasses of their stock. 



The Welshman is by no means sharp-sighted when his cattle are enjoy- 

 ing themselves in a neighbour's field, especially when the master is from 

 home, otherwise the fear of the " pound " will make him withdraw them 

 after a short time. 



On almost' every farm water is very plentiful, often far too much so, 

 and it is sometimes run over a meadow, but in such a manner as to 

 lose one-half of the advantage which might be derived from it. The 

 VOL. I. P 



