Farming of South Wales. 



135 



4 or 5 lbs. In the interior of the country the prices of the corn 

 are often much higher than the English markets, though of in- 

 ferior quality; but the whole of the transactions are of a very 

 retail character, and no quantity of any grain can be disposed of 

 at once. For barley, two of the small wheat ridges are ploughed 

 together, which is two yards wide. In the spring the land is 

 harrowed, and this is often performed in a very curious manner. 

 First, a large square harrow, to which the horses are attached at 

 the corner, — and at the other extremity is fastened by a rope or 

 chain about a yard long a smaller harrow. The horses always 

 trot, and the animals and boys are better fed when performing 

 this sort of work. It is supposed the loose and rapid action of 

 the small harrow behind, pulverises the ground better, and more 

 effectually shakes out the couch grass. Two bushels of barley 

 are then sown and ploughed in, and two more bushels sown in 

 the top ; the sowing all above the furrow is becoming more ge- 

 neral. The season for putting in barley is generally from the 

 first week in April to the middle of May. The harvesting the 

 barley is similar to that of wheat, only the barley is allowed to 

 lie some time before binding, to permit the weeds and clover to 

 wither. With the exception that 5 or 6 bushels of seed are used,, 

 the cultivation of oats is the same as barley. Perhaps the land 

 may remain unploughed till the spring, and then be sown on one 

 furrow. About 8 lbs. of red clover (Trifolium pratense) and half 

 a bushel of rye grass is the general quantity of seed sown when 

 laid down for grass. The rye grass-seed is generally grown by 

 the farmer, or by some neighbour, and not unfrequently collected 

 from the hay. It is therefore often impregnated with large quan- 

 tities of couch (Agropyrum repens) ; and if the land were laid 

 down clean, the seed applied is sufficient to poison it. It is need- 

 less to state that land returned to grass in this impoverished and 

 foul state can grow very little. The clover makes a feeble effort 

 to distinguish itself during the first year, and then naturally dies 

 away. The field for the next four or five years presents a whity 

 brown appearance, and sends forth nothing but sour unprofitable 

 herbage, and is often covered with furzes, brambles^ and undis- 

 turbed mole-hills, which tend still more to lessen its produce. 

 It is a curious fact, that land laid down even in this exhausted 

 state, will, after a term of rest, again produce very fair crops when 

 broken up. 



A rough Debtor and Creditor Account (without interest of ca- 

 pital, &c.) of one acre for ten years, may perhaps assist in con- 

 veying a general idea of the amount of produce and profit or loss 

 under the old system. Good land would stand about thus ; and 

 as nothing is charged for straw, the manure is put at a very low 

 rate : — 



