38 



Farming of Lancashire. 



sixth of that used during the preceding twelve months. N.B. 

 Cake given to horses, no allowance for." 



Draining, when necessary in this district, has been done 

 chiefly with horseshoe-tiles, and for soles the refuse slates from 

 the quarries of the country. There are four tileries in Fur- 

 ness, two belonging to the Earl of Burlington, and two to other 

 parties. In the former they have made pipe-tiles, during the last 

 year, of ll-inch bore, still using the horseshoe for the main drains. 

 The drains are cut 3| to 4 feet deep, at intervals varying from 10 

 to 14 yards ; and the whole expense of making the drains, carting 

 the tiles, &c, is paid by the landlord, and the tenant charged 5 

 per cent, on the outlay. 



In the year 1838 the North Lonsdale Agricultural Society 

 was established ; the shows are usually held at Ulverstone, some 

 time in October ; and to this Society may be attributed in some 

 measure the great improvement in stock and farming, but 

 especially the former. But to Mr. William Cranke, of Hawk- 

 field, is due the merit of first introducing the short-horns 

 into his native country of Furness. As far back as 1813 this 

 gentleman brought some of this stock from the banks of the 

 Tees. They were not favourably received, and for a long time 

 after their arrival the old long-horns kept their ground ; but in 

 1838 this gentleman received from his friends and neighbours a 

 substantial proof of the high opinion in which they held his 

 services as an agriculturist, in the shape of a silver salver of 25 

 guineas; and, as a whole, the stock Over-sands is equal, if not 

 superior, to that of any other district in the country. 



I have thus endeavoured to describe the soils and important 

 points in the general or particular management of land through- 

 out this county, with the chief improvements and alterations at 

 present going on ; and I propose now to consider separately under 

 their respective heads the character of their buildings, stock, 

 implements, &c. ; with the improvements still required in the 

 reclamation of waste lands, and conclude with a few remarks 

 on the present prospects of agriculture in Lancashire, and the 

 condition of the farm-labourers. ' 



Buildings. — The materials of the buildings in this county 

 are brick and stone, and vary according to the different situations 

 and circumstances of the districts. These are, however, easily 

 defined : throughout the whole of the eastern or northern parts, 

 the rough stone buildings prevail, with flags or slates for the 

 roofing. On the low country to trie south and west, where stone 

 is scarce and clay abundant, bricks are in use, with thatch ; but 

 in the better class slate is found, imported either from North 

 Wales or brought from the north of the county. In the low 



