64 



Farming of Derby shire. 



There are many liquid-manure tanks in the county, but none 

 making ; and complaints and disappointments are common as 

 to their usefulness. The presence of tanks has, in some in- 

 stances, prevented the spouting of buildings. " It does not 

 matter," said a farmer, " all goes into the tank forgetting the 

 continued dilution of the tank-water increased the labour attend- 

 ing it, and damaged its usefulness. The great expenses which 

 have attended the construction of tanks, the pump, the water- 

 cart, prevent many farmers from giving them up altogether, and 

 employing them for other purposes : " they will try a bit 

 longer." On some farms the buildings have been spouted, and 

 the tank converted into a rain-water cistern. In South Derby- 

 shire, near to Burton, it is " suspected " they will presently be 

 converted into grain-pits. The most effectual way of making 

 and preserving manures, simple and inexpensive, will be found 

 at the Long Course Farm, near Chesterfield, before noticed 

 under the coal-series. 



With the progress now making in farm-buildings should be a 

 continued progress in the construction of well-sheltered sheep- 

 sheds. The experiments of Mr. Cavendish show the advantages 

 of protecting sheep from the rains and the cold ; and the gene- 

 rally-expressed opinion of farmers of their great utility are so 

 many proofs how much these additions to the farm-steads are 

 required in the high districts. 



Derbyshire has been famous for its breed of horses, particularly 

 for the road. Before the enclosures the colts were turned out on 

 the open commons, and not taken to work so early as at the pre- 

 sent time. This breed of horses was in a great degree main- 

 tained by the liberality of the Duke of Devonshire, who kept at 

 Chatsworth one stud of stallions of known excellence, who for a 

 nominal price served the mares of his tenants and the neighbour- 

 ing gentlemen. Derbyshire horse-breeders, having such ad- 

 vantages, were particular in the choice of mares ; while the stud- 

 groom exercised an active surveillance on the make, shape, and 

 qualifications of the mares to do justice to the blood of Old 

 Warwick, Raven, Aaron, Woeful, Pilgrim ; and a better selec- 

 tion of mares is again wanted. It would be well if some brand 

 or shame could be fixed on the many mongrels put to horse to 

 produce valueless and unsaleable things like their dams, as cer- 

 tainly as " like produces like." 



It is a question of the highest importance to the owners and 

 occupiers of upland farms and estates how far judicious and ex- 

 tensive plantations would improve the climate and increase the 

 temperature. And there is another question : Would plantations 

 pay ? The latter cannot safely be answered. It is premature to 

 anticipate the price of the oak when planting the sapling ; and it 

 is impossible to offer any opinion what new. wants or new de- 



