Farming of Derbyshire. 



29 



This appears to be the common practice on the g;rit soils of 

 the coal series, but it is subject to variations, as more or less 

 sheep are kept on the farm. Generally they are in small 

 numbers, the farmers on these soils trusting more to cattle and 

 dairy purposes, rather than the breeding and fattening of sheep. 

 The great bulk of the turnips are drawn and consumed in the 

 stall by cows, and in many parts of the county excellent 

 cheese and butter are made. On the colder and retentive soils 

 the course of cropping is as follows : — 



1st Year. — Fallow. 



2nd do. Wheat. 



3rd do. A Clover, mown. 



4th do. ditto pasture. 



5th do. Wheat or oats. 



6th do. Spring or winter beans. 

 Fallow. 



It must be observed, in treating of these arable soils, that 

 where the drainage is perfect the fallows are sown with turnips, 

 cabbages, or other root-crops, and the extent of the root-crop is 

 depending on the season and other circumstances. As much 

 land as can be got ready by the end of June, or the first week 

 in July, is sown with turnips, and the remainder is allowed to 

 go on for wheat. Some good pasture and meadow lands are found, 

 and, where drained, are continually improving, and the quantity 

 of sheep are on the increase. I very much regret the continued 

 rains of the winter of 1852-3, and the severe frost which 

 followed, should have prevented me examining with a farmer's 

 eye this interesting district. Beginning near Nottingham, and 

 continuing north, the Erewash Vale is rich in its agriculture, 

 but it is richer far in coal and iron. 



The extensive farms of William Jessop, Esq., of Butterley 

 andCodnor Park, are in a high state of cultivation, and Golden 

 Valley " annually shows to the reaper its golden harvest. Some 

 years ago these farms w^ere more particularly devoted to the 

 breeding of short-horns, and high prices were given to esta- 

 blish a stock. The pets and the forcing system have for some 

 time been abandoned as " flat, stale, and miprofi table," and a 

 more economical and profitable plan adopted. The farms on 

 the Butterley and Codnor estates are thoroughly drained from 

 3 to 4 feet deep ; but it will require many years to complete the 

 drainage immediately surrounding. South of this the drainage 

 is discreditable and the farming neglected ; or, it may be, the 

 district looks worse by contrast with the garden-cultivation before 

 alluded to. It must, however, be admitted that something is 

 doing : some draining is going on, and some progress made to- 

 wards the reclamation of these cold and impracticable clays. 



