in Northumberland and Durliam in 1887. 589 
The following table has been compiled from Mr. G. J. Symons' 
' British Rainfall.' 
Rainfall at different stations in Northumberland compared with 
that recorded at Greenwich Observatory. 
Averapo 
Averace 
Average 
1860-1869. 
1870-1879. 
1880-1887. 
Inches. 
Inches. 
Inches. 
N. Shields, Rosella Place 
26-06 
28-02 
27-30 
Whittles Dean 
25-42 
27-75 
27-45 
Ilderton (Lilburntovver, near Wooler) 
28-66 
31-33 
31-41 
51-16 
48-49 
Dii'continued. 
25-18 
25-39 
24-11 
The conditions of a low summer temperature, with a more 
than average rainfall, are favourable to the growth of Oats 
rather than Wheat, and to the successful cultivation of Turnips. 
The formation of the county, the elevation of a considerable 
portion of the land, and the moist climate, indicate a pastoral 
rather than a corn growing country. 
Estates and Owners. — The county contains many large pro- 
perties ; one of them, that of the Duke of Northumberland, 
comprises 181,606 acres, or nearly ith of the whole county. The 
Parliamentary Return of owners of land * shows 22 proprietors of 
more than 10,000 acres each, and 141 owners of from 1000 
to 10,000 acres each. A careful cdculation from the figures 
given in this return shows the following facts as regards North- 
umberland and Durham, compared with England and Wales : — 
Percentage of Total Area held by Owners. 
Northumber- 
land. 
Durham. 
Enpland and 
Wales. 
Of 1000 and under 10,000 acres .. .. 
16-50 
36-53 
46-97 
39-90 
33-04 
27-06 
43-38 
40-30 
16-32 
100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
The excellence of Northumbrian farming, and the high 
character of its farmers, are in no small degree owing to the 
existence of these large estates. Certainly no county in 
England can show farms better provided with the necessary 
buildings. The farm houses are solid, comfortable homes, 
without much pretension in outward appearance, but containing 
* Parliamentary Paper No. 335 of Session 1876. 
