322 



On the Farming of Suffolk. 



of wet land during winter, the more free application of manures 

 to green crops on both light and heavy land, and a better ma- 

 nagement of pasture-land. On this head Mr. Rodwell writes : 

 On the subject of grass-lands an essay might be well written, 

 not only in pointing out the management of the greater pro- 

 portion of every variety, but in suggesting improvements by 

 following the examples of other grass counties. On this sub- 

 ject, however, I will not enlarge, and only repeat that which 

 I have long practised, and difl'used to all where the position 

 of parties and condition of soils admit it : viz., that as a general 

 rule, pasture and meadow grounds are not only less "productive in 

 every way to the landlord and tenant, but that the diminution 

 of labour and the very obvious loss of production to the com- 

 munity, are subjects well deserving the consideration of every 

 writer on agriculture, and feel assured that you will not lose sight 

 of so important a feature as tlie " converting pasture-land into 

 arable." 



I fear I shall be unable to do more than echo these suggestions ; 

 for Mr. Bravender, in the Journal ' (vol. vii. p. 161) has so 

 well estimated the gain to the landowner, the tenant, the la- 

 bourer, and the community at large on various descriptions of 

 land, that I will refer those who have any doubt of the benefit to 

 be derived from breaking up much of the pasture-land of Suffolk, 

 to the calculations that gentleman has made in the latter part of 

 his essay. 



Reclamation of Waste Lands.- — Much is still required in the 

 reclamation and enclosing of waste lands, particularly the com- 

 mons, some of which are even yet to be found in the heavy-land 

 district, and are doubtless of a productive quality. There is still 

 a considerable breadth of heath-land in the neighbourhood of 

 Orford and VVoodbridge, and on the western side of the county ; 

 much of it has so sterile an appearance that unless more than the 

 average amount of capital and skill were employed in its reclama- 

 tion it would be a profitless task. However, if long leases were 

 granted, or compensation allowed to the tenant for improvements, 

 there is no doubt that farmers of sufficient capital and skill would 

 be forthcoming to render these barren tracts into a good state of 

 cultivation. One would imagine that these barren soils and 

 black heaths would be more profitable if planted with trees, 

 sorts suited to the soil being selected : it would at least be a 

 means of increasing the future productiveness of the soil, if it was 

 ever brought into cultivation. But it is the old enclosed part 

 of Suffolk in which there is the greatest room for the reclamation 

 of waste land ; like other early enclosed counties, a great part 

 of Suffolk is disfigured in all directions with hedges and ditches : 

 many of these might be removed without injury to the drainage. 



