Farming of South Wales. 



165 



cultivated land for their settlements, and therefore all the best 

 and level spots are occupied by their descendants. But few of 

 the Welsh have the chance of witnessing and seeing- the effects of 

 good farming", and the language forbids them to wander out of 

 their district in search of practical information, and the English- 

 man, who would introduce improvements, finds that the strange 

 tongue presents an insurmountable obstacle to his laudable 

 effort. 



The various defects of the agricultural management of South 

 Wales have been plainly, but, it is hoped, fairly stated ; and they 

 are laid bare with a sincere desire to arouse attention and quicken 

 improvement. The principal permanent improvements require a 

 vast outlay of capital, and, with the present low price of all agricul- 

 tural produce, there is little inducements either for the landlord 

 or tenant, to embark money with so poor a prospect of remunera- 

 tion ; still, if good farming is not very profitable, a bad system is a 

 certain loss; and all must strive " to produce the most at the least 

 cost." But it should be particularly remembered in Wales, that 

 a system of cropping must be adopted which, instead of injuring, 

 will improve the soil. Then may the Welsh farmer hope to over- 

 come the natural obstacles which now impede his progress, and 

 place the hitherto neglected agriculture of his country on a level 

 with the improved districts of England. 



P.S. — I have to offer my warmest thanks and best acknowledg- 

 ments for the kind assistance I have received from the following 

 gentlemen, who (among others) have obligingly furnished me 

 with various and important particulars of the farming in their 

 respective localities, viz. — Mr. Evan Williams, near Brecon ; 

 Mr. E. W. David, Cardiff; Mr. Wm. Edmond, Swansea; Mr. 

 Geo. Goode, Carmarthen; W.H.Lewis, Esq., Cardigan; and 

 Mr. Isaac Williamson, Pembroke. 



VII. — Description and Use of an Improved Agricultural Drain- 

 age Level, with the Process of Levelling, as required for Agri- 

 cultural Purposes. By T. Cooke^ Optician and Mathematical 

 Instrument Maker, York. 



The process of levelling, even for agricultural purposes, is one 

 that has been generally considered to require a complicated and 

 costly instrument, and difficult to use ; in consequence, many 

 draining operations have been attempted without the aid of 

 an instrument for taking levels, and frequently, as might have 

 been expected, much useless labour and expense have been 

 incurred, before the object attempted was satisfactorily attained. 



