132 



Farming of South Wales. 



war, a demand sprang up for corn in the English markets. This 

 was the case when Mr. Davies made his report, and he observes, 

 " Corn culture becoming a source of much greater profit than 

 heretofore, violations of the old approved principles took place, 

 and they were almost entirely abandoned." Since then the 

 stupendous copper works and large iron mines, the numerous 

 collieries, and the Dock-yard, have all increased the consumption 

 and improved the demand. Instead of South Wales exporting 

 corn to Bristol and Liverpool, she now receives large quantities 

 from those and other parts. However, the agriculturists of the 

 districts most accessible to good markets discovered that, in 

 order to increase their produce, they must improve their farm- 

 ing and adopt better rotations ; while those more remote exhibit 

 a similar style of tillage to that practised years ago. Thus 

 the south of Pembroke, the neighbourhood of Laugharne, and 

 the great portion of the counties bordering on England, are 

 farmed in a judicious and most superior manner. Indeed, 

 many parts of Glamorgan produce such crops of wheat and 

 turnips as could compete with any county in England. But 

 to attempt to minutely relate the "peculiarities" of the many 

 commendable systems pursued on the borders of South Wales, 

 would only be to describe the various ramifications of Monmouth 

 and Hereford farming. Even the traveller by the Swansea or 

 Carmarthen mails cannot fail to notice how conspicuous and 

 beneficial is the influence of English farming when first he 

 enters Wales, and how gradually that superiority dies away. But 

 it is the general farming of the district which must claim special 

 attention, and I must now proceed to consider the rotation of 

 crops usually found. As few of the leases of South Wales con- 

 tain restrictive clauses, each farmer crops as he thinks best, and 

 probably no two men in one parish pursue a precisely similar 

 plan. Still in the west and central districts, after comparing the 

 numerous variations that occur, the following will be found the 

 common course of the country : — 



Good Land. Inferior Soils. 



1. Naked Fallow. 6. Clover. i. Fallow. 6. Grass. 



2. Wheat. 7. Grass. 



3. Barlev. 8. Do. 



4. Oafs.' 9. Do. 



5. Barley. 10. Do. 



2. Wheat. 7. Do. 



3. Barley. 8. Do. 



4. Oats. 9. Do. 



5. Clover. 10. Do. 



It must not be imagined that in the interior of South Wales, 

 there are not frequent beams of better agriculture. Many gentle- 

 men farm largely and well, and perhaps some spirited tenant 

 may follow his example. But their efforts and their improve- 

 ments are confined to small localities, and are the exception, not 

 the rule. The other isolated modes do not alter the principle of 



