Pitchill, Tiksford, and the Grove. 
491 
tated its being left a bare fallow in 1865. In the autumn it was 
sown with wheat, and in the spring laid down with seeds, which 
were fed off' in the summer of 18G7. In 1868 it was again 
wheat, and this spring it had a very promising crop of winter 
beans. 
The second portion, which was rather the largest of the three, 
was in a somewhat better condition than the rest; and although 
the crop of wheat which it bore in 1664 was very poor, it was 
possible to carry out something like the usual system, namely, — 
beans in 1865, wheat in 1866, beans in 1867, seeds in 1868,* and 
this year again wheat. 
The third part also bore a wheat-crop in 1864, but the stubble 
was so foul that the land was left a bare fallow and thoroughly 
cleaned the next year, being sown with wheat in the autumn. 
In 1867 it was vetches fed off" ; in 1868 wheat again, and this 
year peas. 
These fields comprise the whole of that portion of the arable land 
wliich is situated south of the road called Long Lane, leading 
from Throckmorton to Peopleton. Crossing this road we come, 
on the western side of the homestead, to an occupation-road, 
which has recently been made good by Mr. Bomford at a cost of 
Is. per cubic yard for burnt clay, which was spread on it to a 
depth of about 1 foot thick, so that 1 cubic yard would suffice 
for a running yard on a road 9 feet wide. The cost of the burnt 
clay per cubic yard comprised D^d. for coal and Qid. for 
burning. 
Bordering this road is a large field, termed the Big Ground ; 
and the remaining closes, whose descriptions follow, are met 
with in succession until the boundary of the farm is reached. 
Bif/ Grouud. — This field already merits its name by measuring 
about fifty-four acres, which were formerly allotted to four fields, 
namel}", (1) twenty-two acres ; (2) seven acres ; (3) thirteen acres ; 
and (4) twelve acres. 
(1.) Of the 22 acres comprised in this portion, 14 acres 
were in peas in 1864, and 8 in winter beans ; but neither of 
them are worth mentioning, except as an indication of the 
general condition of the farm. The former yielded an extremely 
bad crop, and the latter, having failed entirely, were sown with 
vetches, which, with an additional and spontaneous crop of wild 
oats, were fed off by sheep. In the autumn it was drilled with 
wheat, upon which seeds were sown the following spring, and 
burst up in June, 1866. In 1867 it was wheat again ; in 1868 
partly mangolds and partly turnips, which proved a failure in con- 
sequence of the ravages of a grub ; and this year it is again wheat. 
* Seeds have been sown upon beans on a few other occasions. 
