Farming of Surrey. 



413 



There are but few leases, most of tlie occupiers being tenants-at- 

 will. The rate of rental is about IO5. per acre ; rates, 2s. in the 

 pound ; rent-charge in lieu of tithe, 45. per acre ; for woodlands 

 the rent is 55. to IO5. per acre. 



A great increase in the quantity of stock kept in the Weald is 

 a proof of the improvement in the farming, and is a guarantee 

 of an increase of productiveness in the future. The means by 

 which this change has been brought about consist in the intro- 

 duction of mangold, the cultivation of cabbage for horned stock, 

 and the extended growth of turnips and swedes for sheep. The 

 land will not always admit of being folded ; but it is now cus- 

 tomary to cart the roots to the sheep in yards, a method of feed- 

 ing which is becoming general, and cannot fail to be of great 

 advantage. Sheep are of the Southdown breed, and oxen either 

 Sussex, Hereford, Devon, Welsh, or Short-horn. 



The implements are necessarily heavier than in other districts, 

 but those of a lighter construction than w^ere formerly used are 

 found to answer ; the Guildford swing-plough is occasionally 

 used, but more generally one of heavier make, with a wooden 

 beam and cast-iron fittings. The Suffolk drill is preferred. 



The system of cropping is greatly improved by the more ge- 

 neral growth of green crops and roots. Fallow for wheat is still 

 the foundation of the system. The following is the usual course : 

 — 1 fallow, 2 wheat, 3 seeds, 4 oats ; after which, if the land is 

 sufficiently clean, tares are sown, and fed off before fallowing. 

 • When the land is tolerably friable turnips and sw^edes are sown 

 in the place of tares, and, if the season is sufficiently dry, are 

 folded on the land, otherwise they are carted to the yards. The 

 sorts are, of turnips the green-round, and of swedes, Skirving's 

 and the green- top ; they are drilled by the end of May, or as 

 soon after as possible. Garrett's horse-hoe is sometimes used, 

 but is not generally considered available here on account of the 

 hardness of the ground. Red wheat is more common than 

 white, and the sorts are golden-drop, castle-glory, fluff, and 

 trump ; the white and black one-sided Tartarian oat is sown. 

 Barley is increasing in growth in localities where it was not 

 formerly thought of. 



The greatest improvement which has taken place in the culture 

 of this heavy land district is the breaking up of the stubble in 

 autumn, or as soon after as the weather will permit, exposing it 

 to the influence of frost, then ploughing it twice or thrice, and 

 taking a crop of roots or tares instead of a clear fallow for wheat. 



It may be mentioned that bad roads are, comparatively speak- 

 ing, unknown. 



Guano, nitrate of soda, and superphosphate, are in general 

 use. 



