Farming of South Wales. 



133 



the system. Thus in some elevated tracts, oats succeed oats, or 

 may be varied with a crop of potatoes, and at length the land 

 {when it will not double its seed) is, with oats, laid down in grass, 

 till the time arrives for its undergoing similar treatment. Again, 

 in the barley districts, there is, 1 wheat ; 2 barley ; 3 peas ; 

 4 barley : or 1 wheat ; 2 barley ; 3 barley ; 4 barley : or 1 barley ; 

 2 barley ; 3 peas ; 4 barley ; and then laid down, generally for 

 the same number of years as it has borne crops. In a wonderful 

 district of Cardigan, barley (without other manure than sea-weed 

 and sea-sand) has been grown for many years in succession. One 

 field is mentioned as having been cropped with barley for 100 

 years, without a single alteration. In some parts of Carmarthen 

 the campaign of cropping is opened with taking wheat on a limed 

 and manured ley; but still the general practice of the country is 

 the one before mentioned, to the further detail of which I now 

 propose to return. 



The ley field selected for fallow has furrows opened at the 

 distance of 10 to 15 yards. The furrow slices are then carted 

 into convenient heaps or " mixens," and there mixed with lime. 

 Very often this is dispensed with, and the lime either set about 

 the ley, or carted on the fallow during the summer. The land is 

 ploughed during the winter months, and before the autumn it 

 receives two more ploughings, and is well harrowed and rolled. 

 It is generally imperfectly cleaned, as no couch is burned or 

 picked off. Root weeds, too, are merely allowed to wither ; but 

 should the summer prove wet, they do not die. At some leisure 

 period the farm-yard manure is carted to the field, and thrown on 

 those mixens already mentioned. All is packed over, and about 

 September it is set about the land, varying from 15 to 20 loads per 

 acre. Three bushels of wheat are now sown broadcast, and the 

 field drawn out into ridges three feet wide. Six furrows complete 

 the ridge; but before the last is taken up, about half a bushel 

 more seed is applied. Nothing further is done (with the excep- 

 tion sometimes of a little hand or spud weeding) till the time for 

 cutting arrives. The ridges are of course nearly semicircular, and 

 it is stated, that they prevent the water lodging, and the rougher 

 the surface is left the better, as it protects the plant from cutting 

 winds, and the land is not so liable to be washed by the constant 

 rains. Wheat is still often cut with a hook, reaped, swived, or 

 bagged. But all corn is more commonly mown, and neatly laid 

 by the cradles which are attached to the scythes. The wheat is 

 expertly and carefully bound, and immediately put into small 

 "haddocks" or ''mows." The foundation of the knee-mow is 

 formed by placing four sheaves in a square on the ground, the 

 ears o£ each sheaf resting on the lower end of the other. A 



