Farming of Northamptonshire. 



51 



Marl Subsoil. — Tliis varied admixture of soil comprises the 

 greater part of the arable and inferior pasture-land throughout 

 the county. It commences at the southern extremity near to 

 Brackley, and extends to Towcester and Stony Stratford on the 

 north-east, and to Banbury on the west. From Towcester it 

 diverges to the east, taking nearly the whole of that side of the 

 county south of the river Nene, from Northampton to Thrap- 

 stone (excepting small portions of woodland or peaty soils). 

 Some of the same description of land will be found in the northern 

 extremity of the county, in the vicinity of Etton and Helpstone, 

 running southerly in the direction of Stamford, KingsclifFe, Brig- 

 stock, Grafton, Cranford St. John's, to Finedon, where it meets 

 the tract of red soil. Another tract, being rather of a browner 

 and deeper soil, commences in the interior of the county near to 

 Maidwell and Naseby, taking a southerly course towards Wat- 

 ford and Daventry, and extending along the south-eastern side of 

 the county. The limestone soil is considered the best when it 

 is an admixture of strong loam and limestone, with a stony sub- 

 soil over a limestone rock. It then grows a very good quality of 

 corn. The mixed clayey loam, with a stiff retentive subsoil, 

 consisting of marl, sand, and a portion of stiff clay intervening, 

 is not so convertible for cultivation, nor so productive, and is oc- 

 casionally very shallow of soil, and liable to run together after 

 heavy rain, thereby retarding vegetation. Draining is indispens- 

 able on the mixed clayey loams for their proper culture. This soil 

 forms the greater part of the weak pasture-land of the county. 



No. 5. Stiff Clay Soil, ivith Clay and Marl Subsoil. — The 

 largest quantity of this soil extends along the north-western side 

 of the county, commencing in the localities of Bulwick and 

 Blatherwycke, extending in the direction of Haselbeech, Welford, 

 Kilsby, Crick, to Braunston. Another tract lies on that side of 

 the county adjoining Hunts, commencing at Titchmarch, and run- 

 ning northerly in the direction of Loddington and Warmington, 

 with some small portions occasionally intervening in the afore- 

 mentioned limestone and mixed clayey districts. This soil forms 

 the strongest wheat and bean land, and also some of the richest 

 pasture-land. The subsoil consists in some localities of a strong- 

 blue clay, and in others of a yellow, sticky, tenacious clay, with 

 white chalky stones in it. Both of these require drainage for the 

 profitable cultivation of the surface-soil. 



No. 6. Moory or Peaty Soil, tvith Gravelly and Clay Subsoil. 

 — The fen-land below Peterborough forms the greater part of the 

 land of this description in the county, with some small portions 

 in the woodland districts called " Hen mouldy land." From its 

 loose texture it is not very productive of corn, especially that part 



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