Farming of Derbyshire. 



vation annually extending, the produce having 

 exceeded 7 quarters per acre. 



The estate of Sutton, with Sutton-cum-Duck- 

 manton, comprising the entire parish of Sutton, 

 is on the coal-series, and the property of Robert 

 Arkwright, Esq. This fine estate came into the 

 family possession 27 years ago by purchase, since 

 which time continual improvements have been 

 going forward. The soil is of various kinds and 

 quality, abounding in minerals ; the greater part 

 being grazing and meadow land. The course of 

 cropping having been given, it only remains to 

 notice a few novelties observed in the course of 

 these inquiries. According to Farcy's Report, 

 the celebrated Mr. Elkington was employed by 

 the then possessor, Job Hart Price, Esq., to drain 

 the estate in 1794 and 1795.* Elkington's sys- 

 tem proved a failure, as it generally did on mineral 

 soils, and his claims for compensation being dis- 

 puted, it was left to reference. The plan of 

 draining first adopted by Mr. Arkwright was the 

 2-feet-deep Deanstone system with tiles and 

 stones, but it was only partially successful. The 

 quantity of tiles required to accomplish this, and 

 the many acres to be drained, was a serious money 

 consideration. Accordingly it was determined to 

 cut the drains across the lands from 10 to 20 yards 

 apart, increasing the depth to 2 feet 6 inches. It 

 is an opinion of Mr. Arkwright that " rapid per- 

 colation is injurious" — that " if the water is in 

 motion only, and never allowed to stagnate all is 

 done that is necessary." This plan was followed 

 several years, and many thousands of tiles saved. 

 Unfortunately for this system, the drains were too 

 shallow and too wide apart. The plan had not a 

 fair trial ; but many acres of land chiefly on grass 

 have received great benefit. The cross draining 

 was continued, but the drains Avere taken deeper 

 and at less width. This plan was followed for 

 some time on the Sutton estate. Presently, and a 

 few years ago, another system of draining was 

 introduced by the proprietor, and as it is novel, 

 and has some claims to originality, I shall give a 

 section of it to make it better understood. 



The plan is called ridge-draining, to contradis- 



* Vide Farey's Jieport, vol. iii. p. 377. 



