State of Agriculture in Northumberland. 



153 



the farm-buildings and offices, but still great tracts of land were 

 not brought regularly under the plough, most farms being di- 

 vided into what was called the infield and outfield land ; the 

 former being subjected to a severe course of cropping, with very 

 inadequate cultivation ; the latter left to its native produce as a 

 pasture for sheep and young cattle, or if choice portions of it 

 were occasionally broken up, it was to rob it of its fertility by the 

 production of a succession of corn crops, and then to leave it to 

 recruit itself by several years of pasture. But it was not till 

 about the middle of the last century that the rapid and spirited 

 improvement in the agriculture of Northumberland began to 

 show itself, from which we must date the era of its present ad- 

 vanced system. 



Men of intelligence, activity, and industry were attracted from 

 other quarters to settle in the fertile vales in the northern parts of 

 this county, of whom none bear a more distinguished name in the 

 annals of agricultural improvement, or are more deserving of the 

 praise and gratitude of their countrymen, than the late Messrs. 

 Culley. These able men, who had traversed the provinces of the 

 land which were considered to possess the most approved modes 

 of husbandry and the best descriptions of stock, migrated in the 

 year 1 767 from their paternal property on the banks of the Tees 

 into the district in Northumberland called Glendale, carrying 

 with them superior knowledge and intelligence, which they 

 brought at once to bear in their extensive undertakings with un- 

 remitting application and perseverance. The example set by 

 these and other energetic and spirited agriculturists, together 

 with the signal success which attended their exertions, gave a sti- 

 mulus to the surrounding district, and in a few years the inexpert 

 operations and languid system of husbandry which had previously 

 prevailed gave place to others of extraordinary expedition and effi- 

 cacy. The owners of property too, fortunately for themselves, for 

 the cause of improvement, and the benefit of the country at large, 

 co-operated with their spirited tenants in the great work which was 

 in progress, by giving them farms of such size as to afford scope for 

 their operations to be conducted with economy and effect, and for 

 such length of lease (not less than twenty-one years) as afforded 

 the guarantee of a return for their outlay and industry. Without 

 the security and inducement to expend capital, which leases afford 

 to tenants, such a rapid change as that we are contemplating 

 never could have been effected. The growing of turnips had 

 been introduced partially and upon a small scale, sown broadcast 

 and hoed by gardeners, for several years before ; but it was not 

 until between the years 1760 and 1770 that the system now in 

 universal practice of sowing them upon raised drills, with manure 

 well prepared and applied immediately below the plants, afford- 



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