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Farming of Derbyshire. 



districts. Nothing would be more interesting, in an agricultural 

 point of view, than self-registering thermometers placed in imme- 

 diate proximity to plantations, or within range of their influence, 

 and compared with others in exposed and similar altitudes. 

 This would be a valuable test, and sufficiently show the advan- 

 tage of giving shelter, and explain the secret of growing wheat 

 at the elevation of Stanton-house. But then comes the ques- 

 tion — would it pay ? and what kind of trees would best flourish 

 on Derbyshire mountains? 150 years ago the larch was a 

 stranger, and treated as an exotic, and confined to a glass-house ; 

 and it is probable that many foreign trees of the pine tribe, now 

 luxuriating in the wilds of Canada, or the snowy heights of 

 Kamtschatka, or the Himalaya, would flourish in the moorland 

 waste or the rocky precipices of the mountain-lime and the mill- 

 stone-grit. Sufficient at present is not known of these plants to 

 give a definite opinion as to their usefulness on English soil ; but 

 the inquiry is going forward, and will, without doubt, result in 

 the importation of many useful forest plants from northern wilds. 

 In accordance with these views I have the high authority of Sir 

 Joseph Paxton, who, in reply to my inquiry, states, " the red 

 pine (Pinus resinosa) produces the yellow deal of Canada, and 

 would, without doubt, grow well in the highest situations, but 

 it has not been tried extensively." With respect to the forest 

 trees of the Himalaya, Sir Joseph says, " some would possibly 

 flourish in Derbyshire ; although the weather is cold in their 

 native habitats, the great amount of sunlight elaborates their 

 juices and perfects their wood, so that any amount of cold can 

 be endured without injury. The Cembra pine would grow 

 in the most exposed places ; its wood is not equal to many others. 

 Riga deals are made of a great variety of pines, and the common 

 Scotch fir (Pinus sylvestris rigensis)." Nothing but a judicious 

 examination of the soil and subsoil, guided by experience, could 

 determine the kind of British trees best adapted for particular 

 soils or situations. All the trees will flourish in the lower 

 valleys : in South Derbyshire there are magnificent specimens of 

 the oak, the elm, and sycamore ; but the land is too valuable to 

 grow timber except for ornamental purposes. 



To all those gentlemen and friends who have kindly aided me 

 in preparing a Report of the Farming of Derbyshire, I offer 

 my best thanks ; and, whether successful or otherwise, I shall 

 not regret the attempt, having obtained much valuable informa- 

 tion by the inquiry, and many valued friends and acquaintance, 

 although continued rains and snow-storms prevented my visiting 

 some interesting parts of the county, and doing that justice to 

 the merits of " Derbyshire Farming" which it deserves. 



