Hcxgrave and Leyjields. 
443 
not much goodness in it, if it be late in the season. They 
are more certain of good barley on the sand land, and five years 
out of six it makes a finer description of malt. The barley is 
sent to Fiskerton, Mansfield, and Newark, and the best of it is 
generally sold in the shape of malt to Burton. There are 200 
acres of old grass, which have been laid down some years, but 
the grass land is not equal to that at Ley fields. The fields are 
generally from 12 to 25 acres, and one or two range from 50 to 
70, "down-fall land." They have not needed much draining, 
but some of the strongest fields have been furrow-drained at the 
depth of 2 or 3 feet. There is no lack of water, which comes 
under the forest from Derbyshire, and is so soft that nitrate 
of silver will not turn colour in it. The quicks grow well even 
on the sand if they get a good start, and are protected for one 
or two years with brush thorns after planting. 
The previous owner and occupier put five quarters of bones 
on every acre at Hexgrave as they became fallows, and the effect 
was visible for 20 years. The grass land is now dressed with 
half-inch bones and dust, three quarters to the acre, or 6 or 
7 loads of common manure spread direct from the heap. One 
load put on as soon as the crop is taken produces more effect 
than two in winter. Much of the grass land is simply dressed 
by knocking about the manure left on it with the fork. More 
than 10 acres of grass are very seldom hained for hay, but they 
rely on red-clover, and generally win about 50 acres a year, and 
have also a few vetches for the horses in May and June. They 
never grow rape, as all the land in course is wanted for turnips. 
The mowers begin with their scythes about Waterloo-day, and 
the haymaking is generally over by Mansfield fair, July 10th. 
From 35. to 4s. 6fZ. an acre is paid for cutting grass and clover, 
and the hay is all made by hand. The regular labourers do the 
mowing both of the ha}- and the white crops, and the harvest is 
got in by Irish or Derbyshire men, who are littered down on 
straw in the barn or corn chamber. The bulk falls under the 
scythe, but this year Hornsby's and Bamlett's reapers were used 
with success. Mowers are paid at the rate of 7s. 6c?. to 10s. 
an acre for wheat, and more if the crop is heavy, 8s. to 9s. or 
10s. for barley, and 7s. or 8s. for oats. 
The regular men get 10s. for coal money, during harvest, and 
with allowance for supper and over-hours a man will earn about 
5/. in three weeks, and sometimes more with the help of his 
wife and children. At Leyfields the beer is given through the 
bailiff, whereas at Hexgrave 5 bushels of malt (four for the year 
and one for harvest) are allowed annually, and the labourers brew 
at hom«. 
Wheat and oats principally are the first crop on the sand 
