82 
The Agriculture of Pembrokeshire. 
Pembrokshire farm ; in largest numbers come fowls of various 
breeds and crosses, and the quantities of young reared in the 
count}" in the course of a year must be enormous, numbers being 
constantly sent to more populous parts for sale. Probably 
ducks come next in point of numbers, then geese, and in smaller 
numbers turkeys. 
Rahhits. — The rabbits of this county — more especialh- of the 
coast line and some of the islands — haye possessed a reputation 
for years, not only for the excellence of their flesh, but for the 
superior quality of their skins. ]Many thousands are sent 
annually to the large midland towns. 
The table on p. 81 shows an increase in the number of 
horses ; a large increase in cattle, especially in milking cows, 
and cattle under two years of age. The numbers of sheep are 
still considerably below those of 1875. Pigs haye varied 
slightly in number from one period to another. The poultry 
returns have only been made for the last two years, and do 
not include those kept in towns, or bj cottagers with less than 
a quarter of an acre of land. 
Arable Land. 
We come now to the arable part of Pembrokeshire-farming, 
and the prominence of the barn and threshing-machine at the 
homestead, and the lime-kiln in a suitable spot for the advent 
of limestone and anthracite coal, show at once the importance as 
well as the source of success of this department. For many 
years, no doubt, corn-growing was a very profitable occupation, 
but in recent times prices have fallen, seasons have been un- 
favourable, and labour has increased so much in value, that it 
is difficult to sav whether it even pays any profit. Suffice it to 
say much land has already been laid down to grass, and this 
process still continues. Corn-growing has been chiefly carried 
on within a few miles of the coast-line, or in a part accessible 
bv water. The reason for this has, no doubt, been that^ lime- 
stone is to be obtained in the south of the county only, and the 
strata bein? readily accessible to the many off-shoots of Milford 
Haven quarries have existed on its banks for generations. 
Limin(f. — The greater portion of the anthracite coal used is 
also raised and shipped in the south. From these two circum- 
stances it has resulted that a large number of small coasting vessels 
have been employed in the carrying of limestone and coal for 
agricultural purposes. During spring and summer for a long 
series of years all the little nooks on the coast where it was 
possible for a smack of from 20 to 50 or more tons burden to get 
in have been studded with heaps of limestone, to be carted to 
the adjacent kiln as required. Haverfordwest, almost in the 
