Farming of Lincolnsldre. 



369 



with the open fields and the low lands yet imperfectly drained, 

 in the absence of steam-engines, there is much land which yet 

 requires the commencement of tile-draining, or its improvement 

 by executing it at a greater depth. The warp is strong land to 

 work; and among the implements is the same peculiar plough 

 which is used in the eastern and southern lowlands of Lincoln- 

 shire, viz., the Yorkshire two-horse swing-plough, furnished with 

 a " skeith" instead of a straight coulter. It is a small wheel or 

 disc of iron, sharp at the periphery, running level with and 

 close to the ploughshare, and is preferable to the coulter where 

 the land is strong and perfectly free from stones. The Isle of 

 Axholme waggons are of a peculiar construction, and very useful; 

 they are very light, with narrow wheels, and are made with a 

 pole like a coach, so that either a pair or 3 or 4 horses can be 

 attached. 



The roads were in a very bad condition forty years ago, but 

 there are now some excellent thoroughfares constructed of mate- 

 rial from the Yorkshire coast. The bye-roads are still miry in 

 wet weather, and would be almost impassable were it not that a 

 narrow pavement of flagstones, termed a " causey," is generally 

 found alongside, affording a firm and expeditious pathway for the 

 foot passenger and equestrian. 



The occupations are remarkably small in the Isle of Axholme, 

 300 acres being considered a large farm. In the parish of Haxey 

 there are only three or four farms of 250, 300, or 400 acres each, 

 half of the remainder being less than 50 acres, and the rest under 

 10 acres; whilst roods, half acre, and acre pieces are general on 

 ^all the open field land. This minute subdivision of the soil into so 

 many holdings suggests a comparison with some districts in Ire- 

 land, where squalid poverty is seen attempting to cultivate simi- 

 larly small plots of equally rich land ; but the likeness exists only 

 in the partition, not in the management, of the land, and the con- 

 dition and habits of the people are widely different. It is true 

 that in some respects the open field lands are not so well culti- 

 vated as the larger farms ; underdraining cannot be well done 

 where nearly every land (5, 10, or 20 yards in width) belongs to 

 separate men, and neither can the grazing of sheep be practised ; 

 but in the tillage and pulverisation of every inch of the soil, and 

 the constant and complete cleaning of the land and the crops, the 

 small farmers have a good substitute for many agricultural im- 

 provements. Their land is chiefly managed by the spade, hoe, 

 and fork; though many keep a horse and plough, &c., for them- 

 selves and neighbours. They are very industrious, and, as indus- 

 try creates its own reward, usually meet with success in their 

 cropping. Many may be poor, but as a general rule they are 

 well off, earning for their families an independent livelihood. 



VOL. XII. 2 B 



