HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. [97 



cerns, having let those farms which he had in hand, merely for the 

 sake of improving them. 



He has now only a small flock of merinos, as the overwhelming 

 importation of fine wool from Spain and Germany, has rendered 

 the British merino wool very difficult of sale. His farm, from the 

 extent of water-meadow he has made upon it, is better calculated 

 for the dairy than for sheep stock. These meadows have been 

 made with considerable cost and contrivance. From an ornamen- 

 tal piece of water near the Hall, the stream is conducted to thresh, 

 grind, and perform many useful purposes, at the farm-yard ; after- 

 wards it irrigates a large extent of meadow, and produces an 

 abundant crop of hay. In short, wherever irrigation is practica- 

 ble, the water upon this farm is not suffered to run to waste. 

 Much under-draining has been done, the effects answering the 

 most sanguine expectations : tiles only are used, which are made 

 upon the farm. The dairy cows are of the Devon breed, and 

 have a considerable mixture of the blood of Mr. Childe's 

 well-known stock at Kinlet. Mr. Toilet has for his team, 

 and for the plough, introduced the Cleveland breed of horses, from 

 the north of Yorkshire, and Durham. They are a remnant of the 

 native English breed, before the introduction of the Arabian blood 

 for the turf and the field, and of the Flemish horse for the waggon 

 and the plough. The colour of them is bay ; they are active, with 

 great bone and much muscular strength. They are well calcu- 

 lated for the plough and the coach; and for the use of the cavalry 

 would perhaps be unrivalled. From the breed being constantly 

 crossed with blood-horses, for the purpose of breeding hunters and 

 coach-horses, the race was in danger of becoming extinct. It will 

 probably now be continued : if that is the case, it will chiefly arise 

 from the exertions of Mr. Mason, of Chilton, (the celebrated 

 breeder of Durham cattle), and some other spirited agricultural 

 gentlemen in Durham. It is chiefly owing to the friendly atten- 

 tions of Mr. Mason, that Mr. Toilet has procured this breed. His 

 stock at present consists of six mares, a filley, and three colts. 



Mr. GROVE, of SHENSTONE PARK, has for a long time paid great 

 attention to agricultural pursuits. His farm is well managed, and 

 his flock of Leicester sheep are in high repute. 



Mr. TENNANT, of LITTLE ASTON, is also a great improver. The 

 draining upon the lower part of his estate at Aston, has been exe- 

 cuted at vast labour and expence. It has fully answered its pur- 

 pose, having reclaimed a considerable tract of land, now highly 



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