136 ENCLOSIN.G. 



Mr. Cubit, ofCatfield, thinks, that where enclosing 

 has converted land to arable, the poor get as much by 

 gleaning as they did by the common: the high price ot 

 cattle has lessened the number of their. cows: geese and 

 fuel have been of late their chief advantage ; nor does he 

 remark, that those who support themselves by commons, 

 are riclier, or better ofFthan otheis depending on the labour 

 of the farmers. 



MARHAM. — ENCLOSED 1793. 



^antity.—Nczv 40GO acres in the parish; lOOO turf 

 and fen ; not 500 acres of old enclosures. 



Rent. — Before the enclosure, between i lool. and I200l. ; 

 now twice as much. 



Corn. — Very greatly increa'^ed. 



Coivs. — Lessened considerably ; for there were many 

 renters of lol. 12I. or 15I. a year, who loaded the com- 

 mons with cattle. 



Sheep. — As many now as before. 



Poor. — An allotment of 205 acres of turf moor for fuel, 

 and feeding cows, &c. for which they pay, as a regula- 

 tion, 2s. per annum for a cow, and 3s. for a mare ; and 

 in this manner 30 are supported better than they were 

 before the enclosure. This measure has been so favourable 

 that the poor have not suffered at all. 



Rates. — Before the enclosure they were from is. to 2s. 

 Since, 6d. to 8d. ; except the late scarcity, in which 3s. 



Improvement. — In ilie Fen the improvement has been 

 very great, by means of paring and burning ; upon which 

 they sow cole for sheep feed ; but some have seeded it. 

 Then oats, producing lO to 14 combs per acre: after 

 •this, some have sown wheat; and others goneon \^itIl two 

 or three more crops of oats, and have, by over cropping, 

 hurt the land, and dope themselves no good. The fen soil 

 js not good and solid, but ratlier loose dtivXfratliy. 



Much 



