356 



Farming of Lincolnshire. 



a sub-soil of clay often so near that, by ploughing deeply, enough 

 can be brought up to give a solidity to the top-soil, — a condition 

 so highly necessary for the growth of corn and other crops. 

 When the clay is too deep to be thus raised, it is trenched, the 

 trenches being parallel, and about 5 yards apart. The clay 

 thrown out on both sides covers the land, and after being pul- 

 verised by the frost and well intermingled with the peat, gives 

 the soil the requisite degree of strength and consistency. The 

 next operation is liming. From 4 to 5 chaldrons per acre are 

 used, the expense of which, including the labour of putting on, 

 is about 155. per chaldron. The first crop is cole, which is 

 always fed off in the autumn or early part of the \vinter. The 

 same kind of artificial manure is drilled in with the seed that is 

 made use of on the wolds, viz., bones raw or dissolved, guano, 

 &c., and mixed with ashes. Turnips are not much sown, on 

 account of their liability to produce fingers and toes." Wheat 

 is the next crop, mostly white varieties; but this being sub- 

 ject to injury from water and naturally dependent upon the 

 nature of the seasons on such land, there is great uncertainty 

 both as to the quantity of the yield and the quality of the grain. 

 Occasionally large crops are produced, of 5 or 6 quarters per 

 acre. The weight varies from 15 to 18 stones per coomb, the 

 yield being as variable also ; and the better it weighs the more it 

 generally yields. Poland oats follow, the produce very unequal, 

 but not so uncertain as that of the wheat. This crop is suc- 

 ceeded by seeds for pasture, grazed by sheep and young beasts 

 for two and sometimes three years, the former having an allow- 

 ance of oil-cake, thus putting the land into good heart and a high 

 state of cultivation." Two white crops are then taken, viz., oats 

 followed by wheat, or vice versa. For a change, beans are some- 

 times grown on the strongest land, if clean ; but the crop is so 

 uncertain that it is not generally sown. Various deviations are 

 of course practised, the most common rotation adopted on the 

 carr land will, however, stand thus: — 1. rape, 2. wheat, 3. oats, 

 4. seeds, 5. seeds, 6. oats, 7. wheat. 



On the opposite side of the river Ancholme the carrs are of 

 smaller extent. Below Winterton, Roxby, Appleby, &c., a large 

 portion of the land is being ploughed up, and much has been 

 brought into tillage within a few years. After paring and burn- 

 ing it produces abundant crops of oats, wheat, and rape, to the 

 profit of the occupiers; their former surface having been in some 

 parts a coarse grass of bad quality, and in others a short sharp 

 grass of similar inferiority. No farm-yard manure is applied to 

 the virgin land in the flat ; but by boning it for turnips (which 

 are grown on it in this locality), and feeding off the seeds, it 

 brings a great bulk of corn, thus furnishing plenty of straw with 



