Farming of NorthamptonsJiire. 



99 



under a superior system of manan^ement, they yield a laro^cr 

 annual produce. At the time of the inclosurc tlie one now be- 

 longing to Mr. W. Johnson was apportioned to a shrewd Scotch 

 banker, whose instructions to the Commissioners were, to place 

 him on the worse side of the field, and to give him a good extent 

 of acreage. His request was granted : he commenced build- 

 ing a good homestead, and the property has since that period 

 doubled in value. 



Many such instances might be given of the increased value of 

 this land on each side of the road leading from Northampton to 

 Highgate House, passing through the parishes of Kingsthorpe, 

 Boughton, Brampton, Spratton, and Creaton. Similar land is 

 also found in the parishes of Harleston, Dallington, Duston, 

 Moulton, Pitsford, and adjoining parishes. A district of land 

 formerly sown with rye instead of wheat has now become one of 

 the most fertile and best farmed in the county. The extension 

 of the turnip system has produced a supply of food for sheep, 

 which, being consumed on the land, has supplied manure for the 

 barley crop ; the land being then sown with seeds, and grazed, 

 has given both strength and solidity to the ground for the suc- 

 ceeding crop of wheat. 



Another tract of the same land, alike improved by a similar 

 mode of treatment, extends from Northampton in the direction of 

 Abingdon, Weston, Billing, Ecton, and Earl's Barton ; at Wilby 

 the soil changes and becomes more tenacious, but gets lighter at 

 Wellingborough, running in the direction of Finedon and Irthling- 

 borough. This is naturally a richer soil than the former districts, 

 having more depth of staple, and less sand. It grows fine crops 

 of corn, and is well farmed. 



Mr. Pitt has inserted (p. 66-7) the amount of stock kept in the 

 parish of Roth well previous to the inclosure, as follows : — 



Horses, estimated 120 



Cattle, number actually kept . . , 360 

 Sheep, ditto 1920 



I should consider that at the present time the horses kept v> ill 

 be about the same number ; but the cattle may be estimated at 

 500, and the sheep 3000. If the same estimate were to be made 

 (and I think it might justly be made) with regard to all the other 

 parishes which have been inclosed during the last forty-five 

 years, the result would show a large increase of stock kept. 



There has also been som.e improvement in the better cultiva- 

 tion of the heavy land, and the extension of a better system of 

 drainage. Mr. Pitt refers to some districts which since the time 

 he made his report have been greatly improved. At page 300 

 he writes as follows : — 



Blis worth has a common field on a grey stonebrash loam ; the crops much 



n 2 



