68 



Farming of NorthamptonsJiire. 



a heavy roll, and a chain hung on the coulter of the plough to 

 cause it to be covered over by the fuiTow. 



The heavy soil of this county is frequently laid in lands, some 

 of them very crooked and " high-backed," having a serpentine 

 form with deep furrows, up which the drain is generally placed. 

 Draining of this soil is absolutely indispensable for its cultivation, 

 except the limestone soils on a limestone rock, or the deep gra- 

 velly soils. I have been more particular in describing the culti- 

 vation of the heavy soils, because they form the greater part of 

 the land of the county, and also because there is more difference 

 in their management than on the red turnip-soils, owing to their 

 varied and changeful character. The most prevailing custom is to 

 take three crops after the fallow, one of them to be pulse ; where 

 this is departed from, the land is generally of a superior quality, 

 or receives a greater amount of expense in cultivation. Whenever 

 a system of cross-cropping is carried out by repeated crops of 

 white corn the land is soon exhausted.^ and it is both injurious to 

 the land and unprofitable to the occupier. To sow land out of 

 condition is always a losing game, and a 'more generous and 

 liberal mode of cultivation is the most profitable to the occupier 

 and more beneficial to the community. 



At harvest, wheat is principally reaped at prices varying from 

 85. to 15s. per acre, according to the bulk of the crop. In the 

 northern part of the county, adjoining Lincolnshire, many farmers 

 mow all their wheat: the swarthy falling towards the standing 

 corn, keeps the ears from the ground ; one man mowing,' and 

 another man following to tie up ; or a man is often assisted by 

 his wife, who, following him, takes the corn, laying it down in 

 sheaves ; the man tying it up as he returns, and the woman car- 

 rying back the scythe ; the work done at from 85. to 12^. per 

 acre. Mr. Webster, of Peakirk, who adopts this plan, informed 

 me that the great advantage of mowing wheat was, that when the 

 corn was cut, and set up in rows about 20 3-ards apart, it gave 

 him an opportunity of setting his scarifier to work, and preparing 

 the ground for the ensuing crop of winter beans. 



Wheat, when carried, is generally set on post-hovels or made 

 into round cobs, the outsides being pared, and, when thatched, 

 present a very uniform and neat appearance. Great attention is 

 paid in some localities to the neatness of the " rick-yards," but in 

 others they often present an untidy and loose appearance. 



Barley and oats are mown and carried loose to the barn or 

 stock-jard ; the price for mowing is from 2s. Qd, to Ss. Qd. per 

 acre. Beans are hooked, when strong and bulky, at Qs, to Ss, 

 per acre. Peas are also hooked or mown at prices from 4:S. to 

 65. per acre ; but a great portion of the harvest work is done by 



