58 



Farming of Derbyshire. 



Sydney Smithers, Esq. Very few of the buildings are spouted, and the rain- 

 water is continually damaging the farm-yard manure. One reason why they 

 are not spouted may be — they are covered with thatch without slates at the 

 eaves." 



The Sheep on these upland farms are generally of the Leicester 

 blood. Their wool is not of that fine staple and quality found 

 in the south. Nature has prepared the coat to the climate, by 

 making it longer and coarser, and more hairy in the staple to 

 resist the rains. Sheep-sheds are much wanted : it will be of 

 no use introducing a finer-woolled animal without houses for them 

 to shelter in. Where the sheep have been accustomed to sheds 

 they house themselves, and frequently are seen anticipating the 

 storm by making their way to shelter. 



5. The Clays and Gravels of the New Marl and New Red Sand- 

 stone, ivith the Alluvium of the Valleys of the Trent and Dove. — 

 This portion of the county is a highly-favoured region. It is, 

 agriculturally speaking, "the Eden" of Derbyshire, a "land 

 of wheat and of barley." The alluvium soils and detritus of 

 the rivers are subject to natural irrigations, and the streams 

 bring down by their overflow the essence of fertility from the 

 mountain lime, the shales, and higher lands. The subjoined 

 analysis by Mr. Haywood of soil taken from a field at Marston- 

 on-Dove, in the occupation of Mr. Heacock, gives the fol- 

 lowing : — 



Alluvium soil from the Dove Meadows. Mechanical analysis : — 



Coarse silicious sand ...... 15 *860 



Fine soil 58-170 



Impalpable slay 19*170 



Organic matter in a state of decay . . . . 6 • 800 



100-000 



100 parts contain, in a chemical analysis : — 



Organic matter, as stated above, containing a little ) n . oq^ 



nitrogen J 



Water 9*700 



Silicates, containing '640 of potash, and 'ISO soda . Z 71 -300 



Alumina — Oxide of iron and manganese . . . 11*130 



Carbonate of lime and magnesia .... *840 



Phosphoric acid (combined) ..... "ISl 



Sulphuric acid (do.) '005 



Chlorine -004 



Soluble potash and soda *004 



Soluble silica . -006 



Loss ..... '080 



100*000 



2^o(e hy Mr Haywood. — " This soil contains all the elements necessary for 

 the growth of plants, and would be benefited by ammoniacal tillages alone." 



