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in. — On the Farming of Nortliamiitonsldre. By William 

 Bearn, Land Valuer. 



Prize Report. 



In endeavouring to write a Report on the Farming of Northamp- 

 tonshire, I feel that, as a practical tenant farmer, there may be 

 many faults in the style of the composition ; it may often lack 

 both clearness and conciseness, and I may fail in presenting it in 

 a popular form : still I am willing to leave it to public critics, 

 believing that it will receive at their hands any approval it may 

 be found to deserve, while of its numerous defects they will be 

 candid and considerate judges. 



Northamptonshire is one of the midland counties. It is of a 

 long irregular shape ; bounded on the north by the river Welland, 

 which divides it from the adjoining counties of Lincoln and Rut- 

 land; on the east by Cambridgeshire, Hunts, and Bedfordshire; 

 on the south by Bucldnghamshire and Oxfordshire ; and on the 

 west by Warwickshire and Leicestershire. Its length from Aynho, 

 its south-west point, to Crowland, its north-eastern extremity, is 

 about 70 miles, and its width varies from 7 to 26 miles across. 

 It is estimated to contain 1016 square miles, or 650,240 statute 

 acres, about 40,000 of which are woods and forest lands. Its 

 population in 1841 was 199,228. 



The climate is generally considered favourable for vegetation 

 and health. The surface consists of hills and dales, well watered, 

 intersected with woodland and plantations, v/ith many gentlemen's 

 seats, and presents some beautiful scenery. Some of the hills in 

 the vicinity of Daventry are very high, commanding extensive 

 views, and range across the country in a northerly direction towards 

 Braybrooke. The highest point in the county is supposed to be 

 in the vicinity of Cold Ashby and Welford, and is 800 feet above 

 the level of the sea. There is no bog or waste land to any extent^ 

 but extensive woods and forest lands, in the vicinity of Rock- 

 ingham, Geddington, and Brigstock, occupying from 8000 to 

 10,000 acres of land ; Whittlewood Forest extends 1 1 miles, and 

 occupies 7000 acres, Salcey Forest and Yardley Chace about 3000 

 acres. 



The principal rivers are the Nene and the Welland. The Nene 

 takes its rise from two small streams, one rising in the vicinity of 

 > Naseby, and the other in the neighbourhood of Fawsley and 

 Watford, both uniting at Northampton, where the river becomes 

 navigable to Peterborough, and from thence flows into Cam.-, 

 bridgeshire. The Welland rises near to Sibbertoft, and runs in a 

 north-easterly direction, dividing the county from Leicestershire, 

 Ptutland, and Lincolnshire, and leaves the county at Crowland : it 



