Farming of Surrey. 



415 



used — not simply as a preventive — is when the kiln is situated 

 on the farm, and the materials for burning are near at hand, and 

 not otherwise valuable. 



The beneficial effect of quick-lime proceeds from its property 

 of decomposing some of those organic and inorganic substances 

 which previously existed in the soil in an insoluble form, and 

 rendering them soluble, thus converting the dormant elements of 

 fertility into a state fit for appropriation by the growing crop. 

 These fertilizing agents are now supplied in a cheaper and more 

 universal form by the introduction of the various artificial ma- 

 nures ; and it is to this circumstance that the great diminution 

 in the use of lime throughout the country is to be attributed. 



The Interference of Small Inclosures ivith Improved Husbandry. 

 — This is best appreciated by the farmer who has experienced 

 its numerous evils — evils which are too well known to need re- 

 petition, and upon which nothing new can be said here, though 

 it is a subject upon which it is feared the experience of the 

 Surrey farmer has been both wide and of long duration. 



Setting aside the harbour for slugs, sparrows, rabbits, and 

 other vermin, the injury done by shading and absorbing the 

 nourishment of the crops, and the encouragement of weeds and 

 couch upon the headlands, all unnecessary hedges and timber 

 must invariably occupy ground which ought to be more pro- 

 fitably applied, and which might be tilled at a cost not greater 

 than that required to keep the hedge-rows in order. That crisis, 

 however, which has roused the energies of all connected v/ith 

 agriculture, and made them strive " to make two blades of grass 

 grow where but one grew before," has struck at the root of this 

 great evil, and all but the tourist may be delighted by the sight 

 of hedges and timber falling in all directions. The change in this 

 respect within the last few years has been immense, and still 

 proceeds. 



Perhaps it may be said that throughout the chalk range the fields 

 are of good size ; and around Guildford, where for many years 

 an excellent example of good farming has been afforded, but little 

 improvement in this respect could be effected. On the loams 

 of Godalming — and in fact wherever the best land is found — the 

 fields ai^e, or are fast becoming, of good size. Improvements of 

 all kinds are most tardy in reaching the poor soils, and those 

 which afford the least return for their introduction. On some 

 of the clay of the London basin, where draining is still required, 

 the fields are much encumbered by timber and hedge-rows ; and 

 it is probable that the two improvements of draining and grub- 

 bing Avill take place together. The smallest inclosures are to 

 be found in the Weald, and this is the only case where the 

 advantages of grubbing are less obvious ; but, upon some of the 



