Farminc) of Northamptonshire. 



95 



was very successful on the greater part of tlie estate, but in some 

 cases it did not secure a complete drainage. In the month of 

 January last I rode over one of the farms in company witli Mr. 

 Wm. Higgins of Northampton, for the purpose of valuing the 

 acts of huisbandry between the outgoing and incoming tenant, and 

 we both noticed that for about 3 yards on each side of the drains 

 it was sound riding, but when we got about 5 yards from the 

 drain the water stood upon the surface, and our horses sank in 

 fetlock deep. Had the drains been 6 or 8 yards asunder, it would 

 have been a more successful drainage. During the last two years 

 his lordship has not done any drainage, but has given tiles to his 

 tenantry, they doing the labour. 



At the present time Lord Southampton is very much improving 

 an estate that he purchased of the Duke of Buckingham, com- 

 prising the parishes of Astwell and Faulcott, having from 100 to 

 120 men draining. The work is done upon the principle recom- 

 mended by Mr. Parkes, viz. 4 feet deep, but the intervals are 

 varied according to the nature of the subsoil. The drains run in 

 parallel lines, either across or up the furlong into main drains, 

 laid out according to the natural fall ; the ditches are deeply dug 

 out, to give a speedy transit for the water to flow away. The 

 pipes used vary, according to the length of drainage, from 2 to 5 

 or 6 inches in diameter. After the land is thus drained the 

 " lands " are got down by the summer fallow, and the rain falling 

 on an even surface percolates through the soil into the drains. 

 His lordship has also erected some new buildings, and will in a 

 few years materially improve and increase the produce of the 

 estate. 



Some few years ago the late Marquis of Northampton had some 

 part of his estate at Castle Ashby drained on the plan recom- 

 mended by Mr. Smith of Deanston. The materials used were 

 broken stones, placed about 9 inches deep at the bottom of the 

 drains, which were cut 3 feet deep and 6 yards apart ; it was 

 found to answer very well, but in consequence of the expense of 

 carting and breaking the stones pipes are now used, which his 

 lordship supplies to his tenantry at the kiln, they performing 

 the labour. The pipes furnished are 2-incli bore, with larger 

 sizes for the main drains. His farm bailiff, JVIr. John Robinson, 

 informed me, that on the land in his own occupation the tiles are 

 put in from 3 feet to 3 feet 6 inches in depth, and from 5 to 6 

 yards apart, and the lands laid up a little round in the centre ; 

 the furrows ploughed out and trenched across the headland, to 

 facilitate the water getting away more freely after heavy rain. 



Lord Lilford, who owns a very fine estate, extending about four 

 miles on both sides of the turnpike-road leading from Thrapstone 

 to Oundle, commencing at Titchmarsh, pays one-third of the 



