Farming of Surrey. 



405 



Forty years ago, many acres were appropriated for this purpose, 

 which the extended suburbs of the metropolis have since covered 

 with streets and buildings ; and the market gardens have been 

 pushed farther into the country. A great portion of the northern 

 part of the county is now occupied by them ; as at Battersea, 

 Wandsworth, Mortlake, Streatham, &c. Extensive nurseries 

 have been established in different parts of Surrey, upon the sand 

 and peat soils which are adapted for them ; and several noted 

 ones are situated at Woking, Knap Hill, and Bagshot. 



The Chalk District consists of the elevated ridge which has 

 already been described as stretching throughout the entire 

 breadth of the county. The Downs, which constitute a con- 

 siderable portion of this district, are hereafter noticed in connec- 

 tion with the greensand, as forming an important portion of the 

 farms lying on that formation. In a few instances, the natural 

 herbage which clothes the sides of the chalk ridge, producing 

 alike ati imposing prospect and a useful pasturage, has been 

 broken up and brought under tillage ; but the change seldom 

 results in improvement, the unlevel position of the ground 

 opposing a natural barrier to its cultivation, while the scantiness 

 of the produce forms a very insufficient return for the necessary 

 outlay. Under these circumstances, the Downs will remain one 

 of the most prominent features of a beautiful locality, and it is 

 to be hoped that in no case the desire for " improvement " will 

 be carried so far as to destroy the beauties of the country, unless 

 a decided advantage to agriculture can be secured as the result. 



The other soils of this district, besides the rubbly land and the 

 pure chalk, are the sands and the flinty clays of the diluvium 

 which overlies the chalk, as already indicated. In the neigh- 

 bourhood of Banstead and Wal ton -on-the- Hill, where this de- 

 posit is extensively developed, there is a considerable area of barren 

 heath. The heavy "black land" which occurs in the same 

 locality, and the loam produced by the intermixture of these 

 various soils, complete the list. 



The size of the farms varies from 200 to 600 acres, the average 

 being about 300 ; the fields are generally large and open, far 

 more so than in any other district, so that little improvement in 

 this respect can be effected. The rate of rental is about 1/. per 

 acre, rates 4lS. ; and in the eastern portion of the district (Avhere 

 the nearness of the London market raises the value of the pro- 

 duce) the rent-charge amounts frequently to 7^. per acre. 



The course of cropping does not differ from that which is most 

 common throughout the county, being the 4 or 5 course, viz. : — 



1, Turnips ; 2, Barley ; 3, Seeds ; 4, Wheat ; or, 



1, Turnips ; 2, Barley ; 3, Seeds ; 4, Wheat ; 5, Oats. 



In the eastern part of the district, and within convenient dis- 



2 E 2 



