224 



Farming of Cumberland. 



since 1798 — probably the oldest perfect farm accounts in the 

 county. 



The farm of Lowthian Gill is on the coarse grit of the new red 

 sandstone, and the soil largely intermixed with its detritus ; a 

 very few years ago some hundreds of its acres were valued at 

 from 4.9. to 10^. per acre; everything about the farm is most 

 systematically and properly conducted. 



A brief statement of the proceedings of a farm on which the 

 very best and purest stock of short-horned cattle, Leicester sheep, 

 and short-eared pigs are carefully and judiciously reared, will 

 show the courses of husbandry found most suitable on the soils 

 of a low situation, nearer the mountains, viz. at Kirkoswald, 

 the soils of which differ from the others described. The owner 

 farms 400 acres of his estate, and feeds off a large number of 

 sheep and cattle annually. His lower farm has been limed after 

 draining, within the last few years, at the rate of 270 to 300 

 bushels per acre. A part is fine alluvial holmes, in permanent 

 grass, over which the lioods of the Eden occasionally sweep, and 

 leave more or less fertilising sediment. The whole farm and 

 stock are exceedingly well managed, and reflect great credit on 

 the spirit and enterprise of the owner. Much of the corn crop 

 (which is always very heavy) is cut with the scythe. Farm 

 accounts are regularly kept, and the balance struck annually. 



It may be objected that the statements quoted relate to men 

 of independence, who can afford to farm high without feeling its 

 cost, and who set examples which ordinary farmers cannot follow. 

 This may in some measure be true. But it must be kept in 

 mind that they belong to a class composed of men of education 

 and reflection, who wish to improve and conduct their farms on 

 the best possible principle, who mix in the society of and ex- 

 change agricultural information with the best farmers of all the 

 counties of the United Kingdom, who study and investigate the 

 information they receive by scientific rules and comparisons 

 which the unlettered farmer cannot avail himself of, who need 

 not spare expense in proving the benefit or inutility of the 

 details of their theory or practice, who are equally ready to give 

 as to receive information, whose field-practice cannot be hidden, 

 and who have learned to despise the jeering of men who perhaps 

 laugh at, yet profit by their examples. It may not always follow 

 that the best educated men make most money by farming, for 

 there are money-makers and money-losers in all classes and in 

 all pursuits ; but it is unquestionable that well-educated men 

 are better able to conduct their farms properly, and, above all, 

 are able to keep accounts * and to know at any time how their 

 affairs stand as to profit and loss. 



* The disability of the general run of farmers to keep accounts, places maiy a 

 man's affairs beyond remedy before he is aware of it; the leathern purse or canvas 



