FARMS. 31 



more likely to produce a result nationally beneficial, than 

 any of the laws which have been stupidly and absurdly 

 called for. 



Farmers. — The Norfolk farmers are famous for their 

 great improvements, the excellency of their management, 

 and the hospitable manner in which they live and receive 

 their friends, and all strangers that visit the county. I 

 have on various occasions found how well they merit their 

 reputation. 



In respedl to their husbandry, the farming mind in this 

 county has undergone two pretty considerable revolutions. 

 For 30 years, from 1730 to 1760, the great improve- 

 ments in the north western part of the county took place, 

 and which rendered the county in general famous. For the 

 next 30 vears, to about 1790, 1 think they nearly stood still ; 

 they reposed upon their laurels. About that period a second re- 

 volution was working: they seemed then to awaken to new 

 ideas: an experimental spirit began to spread, much owing, 

 it is said, to the introdudlion of drilling; and as so new a 

 practice set men to thinking, it is not unlikely: nothintr 

 can be done till men think, and they certainly had not 

 thought for 30 years preceding. About that time also, 

 Mr. Coke (who has done more for the husbatidry of this 

 county than any man since the turnip Lord Townshend, 

 or any other man in any other county), began his sheep- 

 shearing meetings. These causes combined (for what I 

 know, the former sprung partly from the latter) to raise a 

 spirit which has not subsided. The scarcities, and con- 

 sequent high prices, brought immense sums into the 

 county, and enabled the farmers to exert themselves with 

 uncommon vigour. Experiments in drilling shewed that 

 farmers might step out ot the common road, without any 

 danger of a gaol. South Down sheep came in about the 

 *;ame time. Folding was by many gradually given up. 



These 



