state of Agriculture in Northumberland. 



159 



pears that the great increase in the value of such lands arose much 

 more from their improved cultivation than from tlie advance in 

 the price of produce. The rent of this farm in 1786 was 800/. ; 

 it consisted of 1200 acres: it then rose to lOOOZ, ; and in 1812 

 it Avas let for 3200/.; being just four times its rental in 1786. 

 The estate of Pawson. in the same neighbourhood, which consists 

 of good turnip-land and sheep-pasture, advanced within the 

 same period from 560/. to 2140/. I have been obhgingly fa- 

 voured with the rental of estates of Earl Grey, some of which 

 consist of fine tm-nip-soil and others of strong wheat-land, with a 

 portion of grazing pasture. Seven farms of the former descrip- 

 tion produced, in the beginning of the present century, a rental 

 of 5560/. ; but, falling out of lease, were re-let for 12,057/., the 

 present rental, being an increase of 6497/. or about 117 per cent. 

 While six other farms, of strong land, under similar circum- 

 stances, advanced from 3925/. to 4642/., giving an increase of 

 717/., or 18 per cent. : which shows the great advantage of friable 

 or turnip-soils over retentive and clay-soils, though of good qua- 

 lity and favourably situated, as are those in question, being near 

 the coast. I have not had an opportunity of ascertaining the 

 rental of these estates in 1786, as of those previously quoted, but 

 apprehend it would not exceed one-third of its present amount. 

 Others of Lord Grey's farms, which partake of a medium quality 

 between turnip and strong land^ have experienced a medium 

 advance. 



If the system of furrow- tile draining and subsoil ploughing 

 should have the effect, as in some instances it has been proved to 

 have, of converting strong and retentive into turnip-land, what an 

 immense increase of wealth to individuals, and of produce to the 

 public, might be obtained ! With this view a large manufactory 

 for draining-tiles, on the Tweeddale patent, has been established 

 on the last-mentioned property ; and the noble owner has, with 

 the prudence and liberality which have always characterised him 

 as a landlord, instituted an extensive process of draining at his 

 own cost, for which outlay the tenants pay interest. In stating 

 the great advance of income produced by land, it is proper to 

 remark, that it has by no means been realised by the owners in 

 the degree which appears upon paper ; for, on every one of the 

 farms referred to, a large expenditure has been incurred by the 

 landlord, in buildings and other improvements, in some instances 



nearly 4000/., gives it as his opinion that the average produce of the colder 

 lands on the coast will not exceed 24 bushels for wheat, 30 for barley, 36 for 

 oats, and 22 for beans. He also considers that the general produce of the 

 district has increased from 20 to 30 per cent., upon lands let on leases of 

 21 years, since the year 1800. I am inclined to think that he states the 

 average produce too low. 



