HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. [93 



tion ; grass land, that can be watered at pleasure by the mill stream, 

 after passing through the farm-yard ; and upland pasture, out of 

 the reach of water ; this last being occasionally refreshed by top- 

 dressing with dung or compost. 



The meadows on the rivers are subject to occasional damage from 

 summer floods, whereby the hay may be fouled, spoiled, or carried 

 away ; but this does not often occur. An inundation in May, 1805, 

 Continued several days, and left the ground slimy, and apparently 

 chilled and starved, but it soon recovered, and the grass ran to a 

 great crop. The hay harvest of 1805 had been upon a very large 

 scale, and from the showery season, got together with great dif- 

 ficulty. Near 250 acres having been mown for hay, eleven very large 

 stacks had been made from it, besides a great quantity of old hay 

 in hand. One of the old stacks was estimated to contain 100 tons 

 of hay ; and Lord Anson, we believe, had then the largest stock of 

 hay of any individual in the county. 



The land that can be watered at pleasure (of which there is a 

 considerable quantity), is forced to an early spring of grass, and re- 

 served for the ewes and lambs. The unsound parts having been 

 drained, no inconvenience has been found, or is apprehended, as 

 likely to arise from this practice. 



This great farming concern was, in 1805, managed under the di- 

 rection of Mr. Wheelock, the farming steward, by 22 labourers and 

 two men servants, and one man managed the mill and malt-house : 

 the labourers had then 10s. per week each the year round, and a 

 good allowance of beer, with ale in harvest, and now and then a 

 gratuitous dinner, at the option of their employer; and all the regu- 

 lar work let by the piece. Additional hands are employed in 

 harvest, and in improvements, as a great deal of under-draining had 

 been, done, and the drains filled up with rock stone, heath, and 

 earth, after boring in different places in their bottom. The farm is 

 now under the management of Mr. Stamford, and affords a brilliant 

 example of the good effects of the Norfolk system, and of the Drill 

 Husbandry. 



Live Stock. The cow stock, in 1805, were of the very best long- 

 horned sort : Lord Anson's cattle are now of the Devon breed. His 

 Lordship's Devon bull is a very good one, and his stock of cows 

 by constant attention and selection, will, ere long, be of the first- 

 rate character : about 30 dairy cows are kept. An elegant dairy 

 has been fitted-up, and finished with marble, which is appropriated 

 to the immediate use of the family. A number of young cattle are 



