56-4 Small Holdings in Lancashire. [nov., 



the immediate neighbourhood. A few cattle are generally kept, 

 say three or four cows and some young stock, but no sheep. 

 The rotation usually practised is a five-course one, consisting 

 of early potatoes (with catch crops of cabbages, cauliflowers, 

 &c), oats, late potatoes,, wheat, seeds (clover and ryegrass). 

 An alternative course of cropping adopted to a less extent is 

 early potatoes with catch crops, late potatoes, wheat, oats or 

 barley, seeds. Seeds are rarely allowed to remain more than 

 one year. The success of agriculture in the district is mainly 

 dependent upon the potato crop and its accompanying catch 

 crops ; special attention is devoted to their cultivation, and 

 in no part of the country is the potato crop seen in greater 

 perfection. The method adopted in the management of the 

 early crop and the succeeding green crop is practised but little, 

 and possibly not at all, outside the county ; there must, however, 

 be many localities for which it is well suited and to which it 

 could be introduced with advantage. It had its origin in the 

 market garden area near Liverpool, and has extended over a wide 

 area in this district during recent years. It is now extensively 

 practised in parishes where it was practically unknown fifteen 

 years ago. 



Potato growing. — The early potato crop is almost invariably 

 taken after seeds, for the crop is found to flourish better 

 and also to be of better quality when following sward. 

 The sward is lightly ploughed — skimmed or pared — in 

 autumn, and after the turf has decayed it is pulled to 

 pieces with the cultivator and harrows. A good deep 

 furrow is then taken and the ground remains in this con- 

 dition until spring. Dung is very rarely ploughed in during 

 autumn or winter ; most of those who have tried this method 

 find that it does not answer. After the land has been brought 

 into a good tilth in spring, it is drawn out into ridges 27 in. 

 wide, and dung is applied in the furrows at the rate of 20 to 

 25 tons per acre. The dung comes from Liverpool and other 

 Lancashire towns ; its cost varies with the season, but in 

 spring it can generally be obtained delivered at the local railway 

 stations at about 6s. to ys. per ton. The use of artificial manures 

 either alone or in conjunction with dung, is exceptional. The 

 ridges are split to cover the dung, and the potatoes, previously 

 sprouted in boxes, are either planted in holes, made along the 



