600 
Report on the Farm-Prize Competition 
across its north-west angle, it falls into the Tyne at Der- 
wenthaugh. The Wear comes from Kilhope Law and runs 
by Weardale to Stanhope, thence by Bishop Auckland and 
Durham to Bishop Wearmouth and Sunderland. The upper 
portion of Weardale is said to be a fine grazing district. The 
lower part of the course of this river is very circuitous, and the 
scenery near Durham is charming. The Tees rises in Cum- 
berland, and forms for 60 miles the boundary between Durham 
and Yorkshire. The geological features of Durham are very 
similar to those of Northumberland. 
" M.agnesian limestone forms the coast from S. Shields to Hartlepool ; new 
red sandstone extends thence to the Tees, and westwards up the lower part 
of the Tees valley. A coal formation occupies a space of about 25 miles 
by 10 in the central and northern parts of the county, and millstone grit, 
shale, sandstone, and carboniferous limestone, severally or variously occur in 
the west." — ' Parliamentary Gazetteer.' 
Mr. John Coleman, in his Report to the Duke of Richmond's 
Commission on Agriculture, describes the New Red Sandstone 
district as for the most part covered by drift clay, and the soil 
as poor in character. Where, however, the sandstone comes to 
the surface, as in the higher parts, the soils are friable and suitable 
for turnip-growing and sheep-breeding. Of the magnesian 
limestone district, he writes : — 
" The surface, though occasionally covered by a strong drift, is generally 
derived from the decomposition of the limestone rock, and it is consequently 
of a fertile character, and, indeed, is by far the most valuable agricultural land 
of the country." 
Of the coal measures he says : — 
" A large proportion of the soil is of a good workable character, suitable for 
the growth of roots and their consumption on the land." 
The Mountain Limestone district Mr. Coleman describes as 
" principally a wild, bleak district almost bare of timber." 
Estates and Owners. — The distribution of landed property in 
Durham is less remarkable than in Northumberland. In the 
Parliamentary Return already referred to, only two proprietors 
are returned as having more than 20,000 acres, about* 40 per 
cent, of the whole area is in properties of less than 1000 acres, 
and about 27 per cent, in estates of more than 10,000 acres. 
Size of Farms. — There is a very marked difference in the size 
of holdings in Northumberland and Durham : 70 per cent, of the 
whole area returned is in holdings of from 50 to 300 acres, 
while less than 5 per cent, is in what may be called large farms 
exceeding 500 acres. 
Allotments, S^-c. — The following particulars are abstracted 
from the Return of the Agricultural Department as to Allotments, 
1886:— 
