156 



Farming of South Wales. 



would be performed. The only way therefore to hope for the 

 accomplishment of such a desirable national object is for the land- 

 lords to perform it, and charge the tenants five per cent, on the 

 outlay ; and should the landlord not have a sufficiency of spare 

 cash, fortunately the Drainage Act supplies money to all who 

 condescend to apply. Still there are many impediments in the 

 way. First, the absence of tiles and pipes. It has been sug- 

 gested that a temporary kiln and a tile-making machine, under 

 the direction of an experienced workman, would produce a great 

 quantity very cheaply. There is plenty of clay in almost every 

 district for the manufacture of pipes, and slates, when cut to the 

 required size, form capital and cheap soles for the tiles. Again, 

 the labourers have not the remotest idea of digging an under- 

 drain ; but happily there exists the West of England and South 

 Wales Draining Company, who really perform the work, as they 

 profess, in the most " scientific, economical, and effectual man- 

 ner." If therefore one large proprietor, or several smaller ones, 

 would unite and engage the Company to drain their estates, the 

 most beneficial results must accrue. Independently of the in- 

 crease of produce, &c, it would practically show the farmer 

 the best way hereafter to dispose his drains, and the labourer 

 would see how to dig the drain, manage the new-fashioned tools, 

 and judiciously place the pipes. The influence might at first be 

 confined to a small locality, but as the advantages became glaring, 

 others, seeing its profit, would follow the example, and the result 

 would probably be that a large district would be effectually 

 drained. It has been found that in draining the majority of land 

 here, a regular system should be pursued, for the soil is so fre- 

 quently injured by the combined influence of springs and surface- 

 water, that nothing short of thorough drainage on such ground 

 will be found satisfactory. The imperfect manner in which 

 draining has been hitherto executed causes it to be so little appre- 

 ciated. This must have been the case in Mr. Davies's time, or 

 such an able and learned writer could not have asserted that 

 covered drains in clayey land was an " ideal improvement,' 1 or 

 recommended stone drains " to be covered with gravel to the 

 very surface." 



There can be no doubt that landlords should raise the farm 

 buildings, and the lease tenants would cheerfully keep them in 

 repair; but the repairs in this country are so heavy, that it is not 

 fair to burden the tenant with them entirely. Some tracts are at 

 a great distance from lime, the winds are continually damaging 

 the roofs, the moisture of the air rots the wood, and iron speedily 

 corrodes* if not covered with annual coats of paint. In selecting 



* " Armoure will not indure in this conntrye halfe the tyme it will doe in England ; 

 for let armouve be cleaned ever soe well, in one week it will grow rusti." — Hist. Pem- 

 broke, 1600, 



