from March 25, 1838, to March 25, 1846. 



35 



as one. This was allowed, with the understanding that, during 

 the time the sheep or any part of them were in the park, the 

 farm should be charged with an agistment price of 3d. per head 

 per week„ By reference to the account it will be seen that the 

 flock now consists of 744 sheep, a most enormous flock, I admit, 

 for a farm of this extent. The privilege of turning the flock into 

 the park, although a great advantage to the farm, is not, how- 

 ever, so beneficial as at first sight may appear ; for the whole of 

 the flock has been kept upon the farm during the winter months ; 

 and in 1841, 1842, 1843, and 1844, the agistment amounted to 

 about 45Z. only, equal to 300 sheep for twelve weeks, at 3d. per 

 week each; and in 1845 the agistment amounted to 60/., equal 

 to 300 sheep for sixteen weeks at the same rate. It is well 

 known that the herbage of a park where a large herd of deer is 

 kept, as in this instance, is not very beneficial to other stock ; 

 and this remark is fully borne out by the circumstance, that the 

 sheep are entirely fattened on the farm, and that previously to 

 1841 it was customary to purchase Welsh and Southdown sheep 

 for the sole purpose of eating the coarse grass left by the deer. 1 

 consider the advantage derived to the farm from the park scarcely 

 equal to what would be obtained from a good sheep-walk, which 

 many Southdown farms possess, and where it is usual to fold sheep 

 on the arable land from the sheep-walk, which is 7iot done at Hall 

 Farm. The privilege of turning stock into the park was always 

 allowed upon the same terms when the tenant required it. 



A reference to the account will show that the main dependence 

 of a farm of this description must be upon stock; indeed, it is 

 impossible to keep a soil of this character in good heart and 

 condition without it, or without incurring an expense which will 

 effectually prevent any profit from being derived from its culti- 

 vation. During the five years from 1838 to 1842, the sums 

 received for sheep amounted to only 1565Z. 135. 6d., while at the 

 same time the sums paid for sheep purchased amounted to 6791. 

 145., leaving a balance in favour of the farm of 885/. 19^. 6d. 

 only, or ]77l 3s. lid. per annum. From 1843 to 1845, inclu- 

 sive, the sums received for sheep amounted to 1311/. 13^. 3d.. 

 while during the same period the money expended in the pur- 

 chase of stock amounted only to 44.1. 8s., leaving a balance in 

 favour of the farm of 1267/. 55. 3d., or 422/. 85. 6d. per annum. 

 The difference in the returns of the two periods arises from the 

 circumstance of a breeding-flock having been gradually substi- 

 tuted for a dry one ; and I trust there will be no occasion to pur- 

 chase much stock in future. The price of stock at the present 

 period may be alluded to as in great measure accounting for the 

 profit of the farm ; but in answer to this I must remark, that the 

 present profit is not much greater than the loss sustained during 



