320 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



upon land which had formerly been ranch neglected, by a very ex- 

 tensive system of under-draining-, clearing off rubbish by the irri- 

 gation of his meadows, by improved culture on the upland, and by 

 manure. He cultivates the common and Swedish turnip upon the 

 Northumberland system, in small ridges, and horse-hoes between ? 

 he has used lime freely, and is making important experiments 

 with peat ashes. The estate abounds with peat, which is dug in 

 squares, laid in heaps, and set on fire when dry, and thus without 

 other fuel burnt to ashes. The ashes can be produced at less than 

 a penny per bushel, and it is supposed that one hundred bushels 

 per acre is equal to a dressing of lime. It may be drilled-in with 

 the seed for any crop, or scattered over grass-land, corn, or any 

 crop, in the manner in which soot is spread, and is of universal 

 application. Large crops of turnips and grain have been thus 

 raised without any other manure. 



This parish contains 100 houses, 100 families ; 297 males, %89 

 females : total, 586 inhabitants. 



In this parish was a water called Shebben or Shebden-pool, which 

 is noticed by Plot as being in his time the resort of a great number 

 of Pewits. In one of his plates (tab. 19. in chap, vii.) is a represent- 

 ation thereof, and the manner of taking them. The Pewit is a bird 

 which he considered " the strangest whole-footed water fowle that 

 frequents this county." He terms it the Larus Cinereus Ornitho- 

 logi, the Larus Cinereus Tertius Aldrovandi, and the Cepphus of 

 Gesner and Turner. In some counties it is called the Black Cap, 

 and in others the Sea or Mire-crow. 



Respecting their appearance, habits, and value, he writes thus : 

 " Being of the migratory kind, their first appearance is not till 

 about the latter end of February, and then in number scarce above 

 six, which come, as it were, as harbingers to the rest, to see whe- 

 ther the hafts or islands in the pooles (upon which they build their 

 nests) be prepared for them ; but these never so much as lighten, 

 but fly over the poole, scarce staying an hour : about the sixth of 

 March following, there comes a pretty considerable flight, of a hun- 

 dred or more, and then they alight on the hafts, and stay all day, 

 but are gone again at. night. About our Lady-day, or sooner in a 

 forward spring, they come to stay for good, otherwise not till the 

 beginning of April, when they build their nests, which they make not 

 of sticks, but heath and rushes, making them but shallow, and 

 ing generally but four eggs, three and five more rarely, which are 

 gtboiit the bigness of a small hen-egg, The hafts or islands are pre* 



