258 



Farming of Cumberland. 



On the higher farms, where purchased food is not much 

 resorted to, the calves are reared in the spring months, when 

 milk is most plentiful, with one or two in winter, which are gra- 

 dually accustomed to oatmeal-gruel, hay-tea, or boiled chaff and 

 turnips, as the milk is withdrawn. And it is usual for the 

 winter-bred calves to make the best cattle. 



On the larger arable farms, where cattle are also bred, the 

 calves are reared at all seasons, with a preference to those 

 dropped in winter or early spring. Among tliese each feeds his 

 calves according to his ideas of economy and utility,* with home- 

 groM^n or purchased food, linseed or oilcake being commonly 

 preferred ; and some ingenuity is often exerted with a view to 

 spare milk from the calves for the use of the household, or for 

 sale, if near towns. When the grass declines in autumn, the 

 young calves are put upon the clovers, or on grass seeds after 

 harvest. Some are kept out on the seeds and the best of the 

 pastures all winter, with a small allowance of hay or other food. 

 And there are some farms where the risk of black quarter, other- 

 wise inflammatory fever, is much less frequent among calves in 

 the field than among those in the house. 



Agistment of Cattle is largely practised, over the whole county. 

 The extensive parks of Gowbarrow and Glencoin, adjoining 

 XJllswater, accommodate a large quantity. Greystoke Park annually 

 carries from 800 to 1000 head of agisted cattle, in addition to 

 the beautiful dun highland herd. Spadeadam, Bewcastle, Nichol- 

 forest, and many other parishes along the mountain sides, have 

 large agisting pastures. On the princely holms of Esk, where 

 the feuds of old were so frequently contested, and where no cattle 

 could then be trusted, now 300 graze in peace. Burgh Marsh is 

 also an excellent and extensive pasture of this kind, and so is the 

 park at Muncaster Castle. There are very many other pastures 

 of lesser extent, where cattle are agisted at prices varying from 

 3 guineas at the Netherby holms, to 2 shillings on the steads of 

 Borrowdale. Many thousands are annually sent out in this way, 

 and remain from May till about the 1st or 10th of October. 



The common way of rating the prices of agistment is by the 

 standard of a three years old heifer, which is reckoned a full 

 stint ; and all the other prices are regulated by it. 



£ s. d. 



If the full stint is worth 2 0 0 



The two-years old is 110 0 



The yearling 10 0 



A three-years old horse 4 0 0 



A two-years old 3 0 0 



A yearling . . . . . . .200 



* The least troublesome and most economical way of rearing late spring calves 

 is to put them to nurse with a cow giving about five quarts per day. This has 

 long been practised by the author, who occasionally rears lambs in the same way — 

 one cow rearing two or three at a time. 



