50 



Farming of Northamptonshire. 



It is not very productive of natural herbage, makes good sound 

 sheep pasture, but does not throw up sufficient quantity of grass 

 to afford a good bite for cattle. 



No. 2. Red Sandy Soil, loith a Sandy and Clay Subsoil. — The 

 quantity of this description of soil is not very extensive ; it is prin- 

 cipally found in the interior of the county, extending probably 

 about 7 or 8 miles round the county town, and even there to be found 

 only in spots, generally at the foot of a hill, and extending into 

 the valley. Some portions of this soil will be found in the pa- 

 rishes of Blisworth, Milton, Rothersthorpe, Wootton, Harleston, 

 Duston, Dallington, Moulton, Overstone, and other neighbouring 

 parishes. This soil may be considered as ranking the highest in 

 natural fertility. It includes some rich pastures and meadow 

 land, and the arable portion produces the finest crops of corn and 

 roots. It is generally very deep in staple, possessing from 8 to 

 18 inches of deep alluvial soil, when the subsoil becomes more 

 tenacious ; a bed of blue clay is generally found about 3 feet 

 below the surface. This union of the surface soil with the sub- 

 soil gives that great advantage over any other description of land, 

 combining both fertility and strength. Whenever the subsoil is 

 Tery tenacious, and the clay near the surface, this land is im- 

 proved by drainage. 



No. 3. Gravelly Soil, with a loose Stony and Sandy Subsoil. — 

 The principal part of these soils will be found in the valleys 

 of the rivers Nene and Welland, and by the side of the small 

 streams in various parts of the county — the largest tract of 

 arable land of this description at the northern extremity of the 

 county, commencing at Peterborough and extending towards Mar- 

 ket Deeping, including the parishes of Walton, Wenington, 

 Glinton, Peakirk, Northborough, Maxey, and several adjoining 

 parishes, running eastward to Carr Dyke, the old boundary be- 

 tween the high land and the Fen District. Small portions of the 

 same soil will be found in several other parts of the county too 

 numerous to particularize. 



It is good working land for cultivation, but soon decomposes 

 all vegetable manures applied to it, and is called " hungry land." 

 When it contains a considerable portion of fine silt or sand, it 

 is not very productive. The subsoil is principally composed of 

 a continuance of sand and gravel with occasionally veins of clay 

 and white marl. The sub-stratum is very porous, but is benefited 

 by deep drainage, the water lying deep below the surface. W^hen 

 meadows of this soil are regularly irrigated by the overflowing of 

 the river or brook, they grow abundant crops of grass, without 

 any other manure. 



No. 4. Limestone and mixed Clayey Loam, loith Stony and 



