Farming of Herefordshire. 



453 



impeded in their growth ; this proper control the farmer cannot 

 possibly possess unless in possession of sufficient roofed shelter. 

 It would be difficult to say whether the rearing of store stock 

 or fattening of cattle is the system best calculated to produce the 

 largest amount of annual gain to the bulk of Herefordshire 

 farmers. On considering all the circumstances of his position, 

 a mixed system may probably prove the best. A very great 

 number of oxen are fattened within the county, namely, on the 

 heavy soils of the cornstones, the rich alluvial flats which occupy 

 considerable areas on the banks of the Wye, and other local 

 rivers ; on some of the last-named places, the pasturage may 

 almost compare for its feeding qualities with the celebrated 

 Lincolnshire marshes, w^hich stretch from Skegness to Wainfleet. 

 The great capabilities of the general soils of Herefordshire for 

 the cultivation of root and other green crops, and the consequent 

 power conferred on the farmer to maintain a larger quantity of 

 stock, either as stores or fattening cattle, during the winter season 

 than in summer, has caused the present out-buildings of the 

 farmsteads in this county to fall short of the requirements needed 

 by the altered system of husbandry which is so rapidly taking 

 place on all light soils, such as those which constitute the major 

 part of the surface of Herefordshire. Some further remarks will 

 be made relative to this subject in a subsequent section. 



The extent of Draining effected in the County. — The amount of 

 draining executed in Herefordshire is by no means so extensive 

 as might be desirable, seeing the benefits which it would confer. 

 Several reasons concur to prevent the rapid extension of drainage, 

 amongst which may be mentioned the great extent of orchards 

 and timber which not unfrequently will be found to present 

 impediments : on some of the lands which would be most bene- 

 fited by drainage no outfall exists ; this latter remark applies 

 particularly to the alluvial flats already noticed. Whilst naming 

 this, it will be well to draw attention to the fact, that if drainage 

 be carried on to any serious extent in Herefordshire, the flat 

 alluvial lands on the banks of the rivers and streams will be 

 subjected to inundation on every recurrence of a heavy fall of 

 rain, unless precautions are previously taken to afford greater 

 facilities for the passage of the water along its present courses, 

 by the withdrawal of weirs and other impediments to its progress ; 

 under existing and ordinary circumstances these rich meadows 

 are almost annually overflowed, and it is only necessary to draw 

 attention to the extensive inundations which have taken place 

 during the two years just past as a full illustration of the subject. 

 Il, therefore, so much damage and inconvenience have iDeen 

 incurred under the existing state of things, how much more 

 serious may the injury become unless proper precautions are taken 



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