Farmmci of Lmcolnshire. 



357 



which to manure the light turnip lands that require it. On this 

 land, which contains a large proportion of vegetable matter, lime 

 is needed in order fully to dev^elope its capabilities; and the cir- 

 cumscribed area upon which this great stimulator of a vegetable 

 soil has been applied indicates one of the principal deficiencies 

 observable in the management of these carrs. However largely 

 the farmers here may have studied the best way to maintain the 

 fertility of new arable land, it is pretty certain that theirs is not a 

 self-sustaining or permanent system of husbandry. Thousands of 

 acres of the southern Fens have been impoverished by upland 

 farmers taking undue advantage of their untamed strength and 

 richness ; and the fenmen who succeed those managers can testify 

 that bone-dust, no matter in what abundance, is no compensation 

 for the loss of all the vegetable and mineral ingredients which the 

 straw would have returned to the soil. Farming seems easy when 

 the land is fat ; but the carrs are not inexhaustible, and cannot 

 long bear rifling in favour of the hills. The adoptors of this 

 system, whilst endeavouring to bring the rich and poor soils into 

 a medium state of productiveness, must avoid the unhappy result 

 of leaving both in an inferior condition; and it is highly pro- 

 bable that they would meet with greater success by keeping the 

 products of the good land for its own maintenance, and improving 

 the light land by other means (with the money now spent in 

 bones for the carrs). There is no danger of the carr land be- 

 coming too powerful ; and as there is no doubt that the new land 

 is actually robbed, suffering by the present method of exchange, 

 perhaps it would be best to reap the benefit of its superabund- 

 ance upon its own surface, and begin so to do before any import- 

 ant deterioration has occurred. 



The characteristics of cultivation that mark the portion already 

 treated of are not found in the more southern carrs, which are 

 bisected by the Ancholme from Brigg southward, because of the 

 greater depth of the peat and the inefficient drainage. A four- 

 course rotation is commonly practised, rape being extensively sown 

 instead of turnips, as it is better adapted to the land. The pro- 

 duce is estimated at a general average per acre of 3 quarters, 

 6 bushels of wheat ; barley 4 quarters, G bis. ; oats 7 quarters. 

 Fifty years ago the carrs between Bishop Bridge and Brigg were 

 rented at 145. an acre, and that north of Brigg at 2\s. ; the aver- 

 age rental of the whole tract at the present time is about 25^. or 

 30s. per acre. The imperfection of the general drainage checks 

 all improvement ; let that efficiency in this respect which renders 

 underdraining practicable be once attained, and this long-drowned 

 and deserted level will become as well-cultivated as any other 

 portion of the county. 



The next part of Lincolnshire to be adverted to is that between 



